>>> WILL THE CLERK PLEASE CALL
THE ROLE?
THE CLERK MIGHT BE MUTED.
[ ROLL CALL ]
>> THANK YOU SO MUCH THE CITY
OF SEATTLE ISSUED A
PROCLAMATION DUE TO THE
CORONAVIRUS MARCH 3, 2020 SINCE
THEN THE GOVERNMENT HAS ISSUED
A STAY HOME AND STAY HEALTHY
ORDER THROUGH MAY 4 AND HAS
BEEN ANNOUNCED THAT IT WILL BE
EXTENDED THROUGH MAY 31 OF 2020,
TO COMPLY WITH THE
RECOMMENDATIONS, THE SEATTLE
CITY COUNCIL IS BEING REMOTELY
AND PARTICIPATING
ELECTRONICALLY THE CITY COUNCIL
ANTICIPATES CONTINUING PRACTICE
FOR CITY COUNCIL POTENTIAL
MEETINGS THROUGH MAY 31.
COUNCIL RULES ARE SILENT AS
OTHER MEETINGS TO ALLOW THE
COUNCIL TO CONDUCT THE ROLES
WILL NEED TO BE SUSPENDED I
WILL MOVE TO SUSPEND COUNCIL
RULES TO ALLOW CONDUCTING
MEETINGS THROUGH MAY 31 SO IF
THERE IS NO OBJECTION THE
COUNCIL RULES WILL BE SUBMITTED
FOR ALL TO PARTICIPATE
ELECTRONICALLY THROUGH MAY 31,
2020.
COUNCIL MEMBER PEDERSEN?
>> THANK YOU, WANTED TO CLARIFY
WHAT WE ARE APPROVING.
IS THIS STILL SUBJECT TO A
REVIEW OF THE TYPES OF
LEGISLATION TO MAKE SURE THEY
ARE EITHER COVID RELATED OR
NECESSARY AND ROUTINE?
>> YES THE VOTE WE ARE TAKING
IS PARLIAMENTARY IN NATURE WE
ARE VOTING ON WHETHER OR NOT WE
HAVE TO BE IN CHAMBERS OR IF WE
CAN CONTINUE MEETING VIA ZOOM.
IF THERE IS NO OBJECTION THE
RULES WILL BE SUSPENDED TO
ALLOW COUNCILMEMBERS TO
PARTICIPATE ELECTRONICALLY
THROUGH MAY 31, 2020 ANY
OBJECTIONS?
THE COUNCIL RULES ARE SUSPENDED
AND MEETING WILL PARTICIPATE
ELECTRONICALLY THROUGH MAY 31.
PRESENTATIONS, MOVING ON TO
PRESENTATIONS.
EARLIER THIS MORNING I ASKED
FOR A SIGNATURE ON PROCLAMATIONS
THE ONLY PRESENTATION WE HAVE
TODAY.
I WILL MAKE COMMENTS REALLY
BRIEF BUT AGAIN THIS WEEK IS
MUNICIPAL CLERKS WEEK.
AN OPPORTUNITY TO RECOGNIZE HOW
THE OFFICE OF THE CITY CLERK
AND MUNICIPAL CLERKS CONTRIBUTE
TO THE FUNCTIONING OF LOCAL
GOVERNMENT.
WE KNOW THAT ARE PRAYING CITY
CLERK STAFF ARE A VITAL PART OF
OUR LOCAL GOVERNMENT HERE
CREATING ACCESS TO ARCHIVES,
MAKING SURE THEY ARE RECEIVING
PUBLIC DOCUMENTS INCLUDING THE
CITIZEN INITIATIVES THAT ARE
FILED TO THE CLERKS FOR
PLACEMENT ON THE BALLOT.
THERE ARE SO MANY PUBLIC
FORWARD WAYS THAT THE CITY
CLERK SHOWS UP EVERY DAY AND
THERE ARE EVEN MORE COUNTLESS
WAYS THAT A CITY CLERK SHOWS UP
BEHIND THE SCENES TO MAKE SURE
OUR JOB IS A LOT EASIER
INCLUDING HELPING TO FACILITATE
THESE KINDS OF MEETINGS, MAKING
SURE WE HAVE ALL OF THE
INFORMATION WE NEED TO RUN
EFFICIENT PUBLIC MEETINGS AND
WE REALLY APPRECIATE ALL OF THE
WORK THAT MONICA MARTINEZ
SIMMONS, EMILIO, JODY AND SO
MANY OTHERS IN THE COUNCIL
EXCUSE ME IN THE CITY CLERK'S
OFFICE DO EVERY DAY TO REALLY
MAKE SURE THAT OUR CITY
GOVERNMENT IS FUNCTIONING AT
ITS BEST.
SO THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR
ALLOWING ME THE OPPORTUNITY TO
MAKE THIS PRESENTATION PUBLICLY,
USUALLY WE WOULD DO THIS IN
CHAMBERS AND HAVE THE BENEFIT
OF SEEING THE FACES OF THE
FOLKS WHO WORK IN THE OFFICE
BUT UNFORTUNATELY THE TIMES WE
ARE DO NOT ALLOW US TO CONVENE
BUT I DID WANT A MOMENT TO
RECOGNIZE THE TREMENDOUS WORK
THAT THE CITY CLERK'S OFFICE
DOES ON BEHALF OF US AND BEYOND
THE PEOPLE OF SEATTLE.
WOULD ANY OF MY COLLEAGUES LIKE
TO MAKE ANY REMARKS RELATING TO
THE PROCLAMATION?
COUNCILMEMBER STRAUSS.
>> REITERATED MY COMMENTS
EARLIER THAT WHEN I AM
NAVIGATING OUR COUNCIL RULES
AND PROCEDURES I RELY ON CLERKS
AND DEPUTY CLERKS AND I HAVE
CONTINUED TO BE IMPRESSED WITH
THE LEVEL OF NUANCE AND
ASSISTANCE THEY ARE ABLE TO
PROVIDE ON A REGULAR BASIS AND
I APPRECIATE JODY AMELIA AND
MONICA.
>> ANY OTHER COMMENTS?
COUNCILMEMBER MOSQUEDA.
>> I WILL ECHO MY APPRECIATION.
WHEN I CAME BACK FROM MY
PARENTAL LEAVE AND WAS ACTING
AS PRESIDENT PRO TEM FOR A FEW
WEEKS I CANNOT THANK THE OFFICE
ENOUGH FOR HELPING ME NAVIGATE
THOSE EARLY WEEKS BACK AND THEY
WERE ON THE FRONT LINE AS WE
CAME UP FOR STRATEGIES WITH THE
COUNCIL PRESIDENT'S OFFICE AND
OTHER DIRECTORS FOR HOW TO
RESPOND AND SERVE THE PUBLIC
AND PROTECT THE HEALTH OF STAFF
AND COUNCILMEMBERS DURING THE
TIME OF COVID SO THEY WERE
EXTREMELY HELPFUL UNDER
UNPRECEDENTED TIMES AS ALWAYS.
THANK YOU TO THEM EVERYDAY FOR
PROTECTING PUBLIC HEALTH AND OUR
HEALTH.
>> IT SHOULD GO WITHOUT SAYING
THAT MANY CLERK STAFF ARE STILL
SHOWING UP EVERY DAY WITH THEIR
PUBLIC FACING JOB THEY ARE
CONSIDERED ESSENTIAL WORKERS
AND WE KNOWLEDGE MANY OF THE
FRONT-LINE WORKERS AND A LOT OF
OTHER INDUSTRIES BESIDES
GOVERNMENT WE OFTEN DO NOT TAKE
THE TIME TO THANK OUR OWN CITY
OF SEATTLE EMPLOYEES INCLUDING
THOSE IN THE CITY CLERK'S
OFFICE WHO ARE SERVING PUBLIC
FACING FUNCTIONS LIKE CHRIS IN
THE RECEPTION AREA AND FOLKS ON
THE THIRD FLOOR WHO ARE HERE
EVERY DAY ENSURING TO SERVE THE
PUBLIC FUNCTION.
SO TO OUR VERY OWN ESSENTIAL
WORKERS THANK YOU FOR ALL THE
WORK THAT YOU DO NOW AND THAT
YOU HAVE DONE IN THE PAST AND
THAT YOU WILL DO IN THE FUTURE
WE TRULY APPRECIATE ALL THE
WORK THAT YOU DO.
OKAY COLLEAGUES WE ARE GOING TO
GO AHEAD AND MOVE THROUGH THE
AGENDA, NEXT ITEM APPROVAL OF
MINUTES, THE MINUTES OF THE
CITY COUNCIL MEETINGS OF APRIL
20 HAVE BEEN REVIEWED IF THERE
IS NO OBJECTION THE MINUTES
WILL BE SIGNED.
THE MINUTES ARE BEING SIGNED
AND I ASKED THAT THE CLERK FIX
MY SIGNATURE TO THOSE MINUTES.
IF THERE'S NO OBJECTION THE
INTRODUCTION AND REFERRAL
CALENDAR WILL BE ADOPTED.
THE INTRODUCTION REFERRAL
CALENDAR IS ADOPTED.
THE AGENDA WILL BE ADOPTEDWITH
NO OBJECTION.
HEARING NO OBJECTION THE AGENDA
IS ADOPTED.
AT THIS TIME WE ARE GOING TO
OPEN UP REMOTE PUBLIC COMMENT
FOR ITEMS ON THE CITY COUNCIL
AGENDA, INTRODUCTION AND
REFERRAL CALENDAR AND THE 2020
WORK PROGRAM.
THERE'S A SEPARATE PUBLIC
HEARING ON AGENDA ITEM 1
COUNSEL BILL 119785.
BEFORE WE BEGIN I WANT TO
REMIND MY COLLEAGUES AND THE
PUBLIC THIS IS A PILOT AND WE
ARE TESTING OUT THE PROCESS.
THIS IS THE THIRD OR FOURTH
TIME WE HAVE DONE THIS BUT WE
ARE STILL FINDING IMPROVEMENTS
SO I ASKED THAT EVERYONE BE
PATIENT AS WE LEARN TO OPERATE
IN REAL TIME AND NAVIGATE
THROUGH THE GROWING PAINS AND
IMPLEMENTATION OF THIS TOOL
MOVING FORWARD.
WE WILL LOOK FOR WAYS TO FINE-
TUNE THIS PROCESS AND ANY
FEATURES THAT ALLOW FOR
ADDITIONAL MEANS OF PUBLIC
PARTICIPATION.
IT REMAINS THE STRONG INTENT TO
HAVE PUBLIC COMMENT INCLUDED
REGULARLY THE CITY COUNCIL
RESERVES THE RIGHT TO END OR
ELIMINATE PUBLIC COMMENT
PERIODS IF WE BELIEVE THE
SYSTEM IS BEING ABUSED OR IT'S
NO LONGER SUITABLE TO BE
CONDUCTING THE MEETING
EFFICIENTLY. TODAY I WILL
MODERATE THE PUBLIC COMMENT
PERIOD AS A REMINDER TO THOSE
WHO ARE ON THE LINE LISTENING
AND TO US ON COUNCIL WANTED TO
SORT OF GIVE FOLKS THE REMINDER
OF HOW THE PUBLIC COMMON GROUP
WILL BE MODERATED.
THE PERIOD WILL BE FOR 20
MINUTES, EACH SPEAKER WILL BE
GIVEN TWO MINUTES TO SPEAK I
WILL CALL ON EACH SPEAKER BY
NAME AND THE ORDER IN WHICH
THEY REGISTERED ON THE WEBSITE.
IF YOU HAVE NOT REGISTERED TO
SPEAK YOU CAN SIGN UP BEFORE
THE END OF THE PUBLIC COMMENT
BY GOING TO THE COUNCIL WEBSITE
BY GOING TO THE COUNCIL
WEBSITE@SEATTLE.GOV/COUNCIL.
THE PUBLIC COMMENT LINK IS
LISTED ON THE PUBLISHED AGENDA.
WHEN I CALLED THE SPEAKER NAME
STAFF WILL UNMUTE THE MICROPHONE
AND THE AUTOMATIC PROMPT OF YOU
HAVE BEEN UNMUTE IT WILL BE THE
QUEUE THAT IT IS THEIR TURN TO
SPEAK SO I WOULD ASK THAT
SPEAKERS BEGIN BY STATING THE
NAME AND THE ITEM THEY ARE HERE
TO SPEAK TO US ABOUT, PUBLIC
COMMENT SHOULD RELATE TO AN
ITEM ON THE AGENDA.
INTRODUCTION AND REFERRAL
CALENDAR FOR THE 2020 WORK
PROGRAM.
I WILL REPEAT THIS FOR ANYBODY
ON THE LINE WE DO NOT ACCEPT
COMMENTS ON COUNSEL BILL 119785
AT THIS TIME THE PUBLIC HEARING
FOR THAT BILL WILL BEGIN AFTER
THIS GENERAL PUBLIC COMMENT
PERIOD IS OVER.
SPEAKING OF NEW TOOLS WE HAVE
BEEN TESTING OUT THIS WAS
TESTED OUT LAST WEEK BUT THERE
WILL BE A NEW AUDIBLE FEATURE
ADDED TO NOTIFY SPEAKERS THAT
THEY HAVE 10 SECONDS LEFT IN
THEIR ALLOTTED PUBLIC COMMENT
TIME.
THIS IS A 10 SECOND NOTICE TO
THE SPEAKER TO BEGIN WRAPPING
UP THEIR COMMENT.
IF THEY DO NOT END THEIR
COMMENT AT THE END OF THE TIME
ALLOTTED THE MICROPHONE WILL BE
MUTED TO ALLOW US TO CALL ON
THE NEXT SPEAKER.
SO WE ASK THAT YOU PLEASE
DISCONNECT FROM THE LINE AFTER
COMPLETING COMMENT AND IF YOU
FOLLOW THE MEETING WE ASKED
THAT YOU DO SO VIA SEATTLE
CHANNEL OR ANYONE OF THE
LISTENING OPTIONS LISTED ON THE
AGENDA.
WITH THAT BEING SAID I WILL
BEGIN THE PROCESS OF CALLING
FOLKS WHO HAVE PREREGISTERED
FOR PUBLIC TESTIMONY TODAY.
YOU WILL SEE THE TIMER IN FRONT
OF YOU THAT GIVES YOU TWO
MINUTES, YOU WILL GET A 10
SECOND MORNING WHEN YOUR TIME
IS ABOUT TO END AND AT THE END
OF THE TWO MINUTES, YOUR CALL
WILL BE MUTED.
IT IS 2:17 P.M.
, WE WILL GO UNTIL 2:37 P.M.
IN PUBLIC COMMENT THE FIRST
SPEAKER IS ANGIE GERALD.
>> HELLO CAN YOU HEAR ME?
>> WE CAN.
>> HI CAN YOU HEAR ME?
>> WE CAN.
THANK YOU.
I AM HERE TO COMMENT ON
EVICTION LEGISLATION MY HUSBAND
AND I RENT TWO HOUSES.
CURRENT TENANTS HAVE A MIX OF
WORKING-CLASS AND PUBLIC
SERVICE JOBS AND SO FAR THEY
HAVE BEEN ABLE TO PAY THEIR
RENT.
WE ARE READY TO HAVE
CONVERSATIONS BEYOND THAT I AM
VERY CONCERNED THE EXTREMES OF
EVICTION AND RENT LEAVE
ACTIVISM COMBINED WITH THE
FLURRY OF UNPRECEDENTED
LANDLORD LEGISLATION LIKE FIRST
IN TIME ARE SHIFTING THE LOCAL
MARKETS TO LARGE CORPORATE
LANDLORDS WHO CAN BETTER HANDLE
THE INCREASED RISK AND
COMPLEXITY OF TENANT RELATIONS,
SELECTION AND NOW THE
UNSTEADINESS OF RENTAL CONTRACT.
WE NEED VOICES ON CITY COUNCIL
WHO INCORPORATE LOCAL SMALL
LANDLORDS FOR LEGISLATIVE
ACTION, WE NEED A STRONG FOCUS
ON EVICTION PREVENTION PROGRAMS
NOT LENGTHENING LEGAL CONTRACTS.
IF SEATTLE WANTS TO BE A CITY
WITH LOCALLY OWNED RENTAL
HOUSES DUPLEXES AND OTHER UNITS
CITY COUNCIL NEEDS TO
INDIVIDUALLY AND COLLECTIVELY
DEMONSTRATE THAT, TODAY'S
LEGISLATION DOES NOT REFLECT
THAT.
THANK YOU.
THAT CONCLUDES MY COMMENTS.
>> NEXT SPEAKER IS ROGER VALDES.
>> HELLO.
ROGER VALDES SPEAKING ON BEHALF
OF HUNDREDS OF HOUSING
PROVIDERS ACROSS THE CITY.
YOU HAVE HEARD FROM OVER 400 OF
THEM THAT WANT TO LET THE COVID-
19 BAN EXPIRE HOUSING PROVIDERS
LIKE AN 80-YEAR-OLD WOMAN WHO
DEPENDS ON INCOME FROM HER
SINGLE RENTAL UNIT TO SURVIVE
AND HOUSING PROVIDERS LIKE THE
ONE WITH HUNDREDS OF UNITS WITH
DELINQUENCY FROM PEOPLE WHO ARE
LOOKING AT LAYOFFS IN THE
MONTHS AHEAD.
WHAT YOU'RE PLANNING TO DO WITH
THIS PROPOSAL WILL HAVE A
LASTING IMPACT FOR PEOPLE WHO
NEED HOUSING, HOUSING PROVIDERS
PROVIDE A PLACE FOR PEOPLE TO
LIVE, THE INCOME THEY EARN
COVERS COST OF MAINTENANCE AND
IMPROVEMENTS, RESIDENTS OR
CUSTOMERS AND OFTEN FRIENDS
NOBODY WANTS TO EVICT
RESIDENTS.
THIS IS AN INCOME PROBLEM.
FOR PEOPLE WHO HAVE LOST THEIR
JOBS AND INCOME NEED THE
BENEFITS DUE TO THEM.
THE COUNCIL SHOULD BE WORKING
ON THAT INSTEAD YOU ARE SENDING
A SIGNAL TO PEOPLE IN THE CITY
THAT PAYING RENT IS NOT
IMPORTANT, YOU CANNOT SOLVE A
HUNGER PROBLEM BY ABOLISHING
SHOPLIFTING LAWS TO ENCOURAGE
GROCERY STORES WHO PROVIDE FOOD
ACCESS AND INCOME.
WHAT YOU'RE ABOUT TO DO WILL
CREATE LONG-LASTING IMPACT FROM
DELINQUENCY, DAMAGE TO HOUSING
AND WILL DISCOURAGE NEW HOUSING
IN THE FUTURE.
THANK YOU.
>> THANK YOU.
YOU MAY NOTE I AM TAKING A PAUSE
GIVING I.T.
THE OPPORTUNITY TO RESET THE
TIMER.
I APOLOGIZE FOR THE AWKWARD
PAUSE. NEXT SPEAKER IS DAVE.
>> GOOD AFTERNOON MY WIFE AND I
OWN A APARTMENT BUILDING IN
SEATTLE.
I AM CALLING TO FOLLOW-UP WITH
THE EMAIL I SENT TO ALL OF YOU
FOLKS OVER THE WEEKEND WITH A
COUPLE COMMENTS ON THE BILL,
FIRST REFERRALS WILL NOT WORK,
MOST RESIDENTS WHICH STRUGGLE
TO CATCH UP ON ONE MONTH RENT
OVER FIVE MONTHS THAT WOULD BE
A 20% INCREASE, CATCHING UP ON
SIX MONTHS OVER ONE YEAR WOULD
BE AN I WATERING 50% INCREASE
AND IT IS VERY HARD TO IMAGINE
A RESIDENT WILLINGLY CONTINUING
TO PAY CATCH-UP RENT AFTER
VOLUNTARILY OR WHATEVER REASON
MOVING OUT AT THE END OF THEIR
LEASE.
I HATE EVICTIONS AND THANKFULLY
I HAVE ONLY HAD TO DO TWO
DURING THE 14 YEARS WE HAVE
OWNED THE BUILDING.
THEY ARE EXPENSIVE, TIME-
CONSUMING AND RELATIONSHIP
DESTROYING.
THEY ARE THE ABSOLUTE LAST
RESORT BUT HAVING SAID THAT AN
IMPORTANT TOOL FOR HOUSING
PROVIDERS WHEN ALL ELSE FAILS.
HERE IS A WAY THE CITY COULD
MITIGATE HOUSING PROVIDERS
LOSSES.
THAT IS TO REIMBURSE
APPROPRIATELY DOCUMENTED COVID-
19 HARDSHIP RELATED FORGIVEN
NOT JUST DEFERRED RENT THROUGH
PROPERTY TAX AND UTILITY FEE
CREDITS.
THIS WOULD BE A WIN FOR ALL
WITH THE CITY PROVIDING
MATERIAL ASSISTANCE BOTH THE
HOUSING PROVIDERS AND TO
RESIDENTS.
ANY COVID-19 RELATED ORDINANCE
SHOULD, IN MY VIEW INCLUDE AN
OBJECTIVE DEFINITIONS OF WHEN
THE EMERGENCY IS OVER.
AND WHEN REGULAR RULES APPLY.
SECOND AS DRAFTED 119784 EXCUSES
RENT FOR PAYMENT FOR ALL
REGARDLESS OF THE
>> THANK YOU, THE NEXT SPEAKER
IS DANA FRANK.
>> THANK YOU.
MY NAME IS DANA FRANK AND I AM
A 55-YEAR-OLD AFRICAN-AMERICAN
WOMAN AND LIFELONG SECOND-
GENERATION HOUSING PROVIDER
WITH 100 RENTAL UNITS, BEING A
HOUSING PROVIDER HAS ALWAYS
BEEN MY LIFE WORK I HAVE NEVER
HELD ANOTHER JOB, IN THE 1950s
MY FATHER AND MOTHER STARTED
INVESTING IN SEATTLE CENTRAL
DISTRICT, I GREW UP WITH MY
SISTERS PUTTING TICKETS ON TO
FUNDING.
MY FATHER HAS BEEN GONE ALMOST
25 YEARS AND TO THIS DAY I AND
MY MOTHER THERESA WHO WAS ON
THE FRONT PAGE OF THE SEATTLE
TIMES PERSISTENCE PAYS FOR
BLACK FAMILIES INVESTING IN THE
CENTRAL DISTRICT GET UP EVERY
DAY TO WORK FULL-TIME ON
RENTALS.
MY MOTHER IS 88 AND MY SON IS
26.
WE ARE ASTOUNDED THAT OUR
EFFORTS TO FIGHT RED LIGHTING
AND GET FUNDING ARE IMPACT BY A
SELF-PROCLAIMED STRIKE AND
EVICTION BANDS, WE HAVE BEEN
HONORED TO PROVIDE QUALITY
HOUSING FOR RESIDENTS, WE HAVE
GREAT WORKING RELATIONSHIPS
THAT HAVE DEALT WITH
INDIVIDUALS AFFECTED BY COVID
ON A CASE-BY-CASE BASIS.
OUR RESIDENTS HAVE LEGAL
OBLIGATIONS TO PAY RENT SO WE
HAVE RESPONSIBILITY TO PROVIDE
HOUSING.
CENTRAL, CAPITOL HILL, COLUMBIA
CITY IN CENTRAL AREAS HAVE BEEN
UPDATED WITH ELEVATORS PULLS,
ROOF, GRANITE TOPS, LAMINATE
FLOORS AND AMENITIES, DUE TO
INCREASED CRIME WE HAVE ADDED
SECURITY CAMERAS AND MORE, IF
WE ARE DENIED RENT THE
PROPERTIES WILL LACK FUNDING.
REPAIRS WILL NOT BE SEEN, THE
LONG-TERM EFFECT OF THE BAN AND
RENT STRIKE IS WE WOULD BE
FORCED TO SELL TO GIANT
INVESTMENT GROUPS AND WOULD
WIPE OUT EFFORTS AND MY ABILITY
TO PASS LEGACY TO MY CHILDREN
AND THEIR FUTURE.
RESIDENTS AFFECTED NEED
ASSISTANCE FROM THE GOVERNMENT
BUT WE SHOULD NOT BE PENALIZED,
THANK YOU.
>> THANK YOU.
NEXT IS CHARLOTTE.
>> CAN YOU HEAR ME?
>> YES WE CAN.
>> OKAY I'M CHARLOTTE THIS'LL A
SMALL HOUSING PROVIDER IN THE
COLUMBIA CITY NEIGHBORHOOD AND
I'M SPEAKING TO THE PROPOSAL TO
EXTEND THE MORATORIUM ON
EVICTIONS, CREDIT REPORTING AND
LATE FEES.
I CALL MYSELF A HOUSING
PROVIDER BECAUSE THE LANDLORD
RENTS LAND BUT HOUSING PROVIDER
DOES MORE.
WE PROVIDE HOUSING WITH A ROOF,
PLUMBING, HEAT, ELECTRICITY AND
APPLIANCES.
THIS PAST FALL I PUT A NEW ROOF
ON THE HOUSE I SHARE WITH MY
TENANTS BECAUSE IT STARTED
LEAKING, THAT COST $10,000
WHICH I DID NOT HAVE SO I PUT
IT ON MY CREDIT CARD.
I HAVE TO PAY THE BILL NO
MATTER WHAT, MY PROPERTY TAX
WENT UP SO DID MY INSURANCE, I
WILL NOT GET ANY EXEMPTION FROM
ANY OF THESE BILLS.
NO ONE WANTS TO EVICT A TENANT
ESPECIALLY NOT ONE WHO LOST
THEIR JOBS BECAUSE OF
UNFORTUNATE CIRCUMSTANCES BUT
EVICTION AND CREDIT REPORTING
ARE THE ONLY TOOLS HOUSING
PROVIDERS HAVE TO ENFORCE RENT
COLLECTION.
IF HOUSING PROVIDERS CAN
NEITHER EVICT NOR MAKE CREDIT
REPORTS WILL WOULD PREVENT A
PERSON FROM LIVING RENT-FREE
FOR SIX MONTHS OR A YEAR AND
THEN SKIPPING OUT WITHOUT
PAYING THEIR BILL.
WHEN THE MORATORIUM IS LIFTED
THE ANSWER IS NOTHING.
THIS BILL WOULD CREATE A
LOOPHOLE THAT COULD BE
EXPLOITED BY DISHONEST PEOPLE
WITH NO INTENTION OF PAYING
THEIR RENT LEAVING HOUSING
PROVIDERS ON THE HOOK FOR
THOUSANDS OF DOLLARS.
I UNDERSTAND THE PERCEPTION
THAT LANDLORDS HAVE HIGH PROFIT
MARGINS AND CAN AFFORD TO
ABSORB THIS BUT IT IS NOT TRUE.
MOST SMALL HOUSING PROVIDERS
CANNOT AFFORD IT AND WOULD BE
FORCED TO SELL OR GO BANKRUPT.
THAT CONCLUDES MY COMMENTS.
I WANT TO THANK THE CITY CLERK.
THANK YOU.
>> THANK YOU CHARLOTTE. OUR
NEXT SPEAKER IS, WAITING FOR
THE TIMER.
NEXT SPEAKER IS MARILYN YEM.
>> I'M SPEAKING AGAINST BOTH
COUNSEL BILLS THE PROPOSAL TO
EXTEND THE EVICTION MORATORIUM
BY SIX MONTHS.
BEING A SMALL LANDLORD THIS HAS
FORCED US TO TAKE PERSONAL
LOANS OF THOUSANDS OF DOLLARS
WITH NO WARNING, NO RESOURCES
TO COVER WITH NO GUARANTEE OF
REPAYMENT, THE CARE ZACH DID
NOT PROVIDE RELIEF FOR SMALL
LANDLORDS.
MORTGAGES ADD UP TO OVER
$100,000 A YEAR FOR OUR RENTALS
AND THAT WOULD BE DEVASTATING
FOR ME AND MY HUSBAND TO COVER
ALL ON OUR OWN.
IF LANDLORDS CANNOT USE
EVICTIONS TO REPORT NONPAYMENT
TENANTS WILL BE SIGNIFICANTLY
INCENTIVIZED NOT TO PAY RENT,
THIS LEGISLATION DOES NOT
REQUIRE A TENANT ACTUALLY BE
IMPACTED BY COVID-19 TO USE THE
MORATORIUM, IT IS UNFAIR TO
TENANTS TO DEPRIVE THEM OF
ASSISTANCE NEEDED AND ENCOURAGE
THEM TO INCUR DEEP RENTAL DEBT.
IT IS UNFAIR TO HOUSING
PROVIDERS TO PREVENT
ENFORCEMENT OF PAYMENT PLANS
AND NONPAYMENT FOR TENANTS WHO
CHOOSE TO NOT PAY FOR HOUSING.
THIS IS TELLING PEOPLE THEY
DON'T HAVE TO PAY RENT EVEN IF
THEY ARE ABLE TO AND REMOVING
THE DISINCENTIVES THAT NORMALLY
EXIST.
SOME OF YOU INSIST EVERYONE WHO
CAN PAY RENT WILL DO SO BUT
THEN YOU HAVE A COUNCILMEMBER
TELLING RENTERS WHO CAN PAY
RENT THEY SHOULD NOT.
EVICTIONS IN KING COUNTY BELOW
THE NATIONAL AVERAGE IS NOT AN
EVICTION PROBLEM IT IS AN
INCOME PROBLEM BIGGER THAN ANY
INDIVIDUAL LANDLORD CAN SOLVE.
RENTAL ASSISTANCE IS NEEDED TO
GIVE RENTERS THE ASSURANCE THEY
CAN PAY BILLS ALLOWING EVERYONE
TO MEET THEIR OBLIGATION AND IT
CAN BE DIRECTED TO THE PEOPLE
WHO NEED IT RATHER THAN
GRANTING A RENT TO BROKE
PROGRAMMERS YOU CAN MAKE BETTER
LAWS THAN THIS.
PLEASE VOTE NO.
THANK YOU.
>> NEXT SPEAKER IS NEIL WILSON.
>> HELLO MY NAME IS NEIL WILSON.
I AM SPEAKING IN RELATION TO
THE EVICTION MORATORIUM.
I THINK THE COUNCIL EVICTION IS
-- IT'S MORE ABOUT MAKING BIG
CHANGES AND EVEN NATIONALIZING
HOUSING.
RHETORICALLY I AM ASKING WHY IS
THE COUNCIL ENACTING
LEGISLATION TO SUPPORT A RENT
STRIKE?
THE COUNCIL HAS USED THE MULTI
FAMILY HOUSING COUNCIL FOR
INFORMATION BUT IT IS IMPORTANT
TO USE THIS CORRECTLY.
BACK IN APRIL ON APRIL 6 THERE
WAS 30% OF RENTERS THAT CANNOT
PAY RENT BUT THIS HAS BEEN
CONTINUED TO BE USED THROUGHOUT
THE MONTH, AS OF APRIL 26 91.5%
OF RENTERS HAVE PAID ALL OR A
PORTION OF THE RENT AND THAT
AMOUNT IS ONLY 4% BELOW THE
SAME TIME PERIOD IN 2019.
SO THERE ARE A COUPLE OTHER
STATEMENTS.
COUNCIL FEELS IT IS IMPORTANT
ENOUGH TO INCLUDE ADVISEMENT BY
THE HOUSING COUNCIL IN THIS
CURRENT LEGISLATION.
THEY ALSO ADVISED TO DO A 90
DAY POSTPONEMENT ON EVICTION,
NOT NINE MONTHS AS EFFECTIVELY
THIS WOULD BE IF YOU START IT
FROM THE DAY THEY MADE THEIR
STATEMENT IN MARCH.
AND REALLY IT IS EFFECTIVELY
GOING TO BE A ONE-YEAR
MORATORIUM IF THIS, THE MAYOR
EMERGENCY DECLARATION ENDS ON
JUNE 15.
A COUPLE OTHER THINGS.
OKAY I AM DONE, THANK YOU VERY
MUCH.
>> THANK YOU SO MUCH.
NEXT SPEAKER IS LESLIE HOGE.
>> I AM LESLIE HOGE FROM
FREMONT.
I WANT TO START WITH THE
SOLUTION.
I THINK IT IS THE JOB OF
GOVERNMENT NOT PRIVATE PEOPLE
TO CARE FOR THE VULNERABLE SO
ALL OF US SHOULD BE DOING OUR
FAIR SHARE.
GOVERNMENT SHOULD PROVIDE
GENEROUS HOUSING VOUCHERS, FOOD
VOUCHERS AND MEDICAL VOUCHERS
FOR PEOPLE IN JEOPARDY OF
LOSING ESSENTIALS.
THIS SUPPORTS SO EVICTION WILL
ONLY BE USED IN DIRE
CIRCUMSTANCES.
MY HUSBAND AND I ARE SMALL-SCALE
MOM-AND-POP HOUSING PROVIDERS.
RENT IS SO FAR BELOW MARKET
THAT WE OPERATE ON VERY THIN
MARGINS AND MORTGAGE IS ONLY
ONE SMALL PART OF THE EXPENSES.
WE RENT TO ARTISTS AND SELF-
EMPLOYED PEOPLE, PEOPLE WHO
LOOK MARGINAL WHEN WE RENTED
THEM ALTHOUGH IN TIME WE
PROBABLY DON'T EVEN HAVE THAT
OPTION ANYMORE.
WE ARE WORKING WITH VULNERABLE
RESIDENTS NOW GIVING THEM
DISCOUNT, OFFERING PAYMENT
PLANS, WHATEVER WE CAN DO TO
WORK TOGETHER WITH THEM BECAUSE
WE ARE ALL IN THIS TOGETHER BUT
ESPECIALLY WHEN THEY CAN AFFORD
TO PAY WE WILL LOSE PROPERTY
AND WE WILL NOT BE ABLE TO
EVICT A NONPAYING TENANT,
THANKFULLY WE HAVE NEVER HAD TO
EVICT ANYBODY AND I HOPE WE
NEVER HAVE TO.
SO IF WE LOSE OUR PROPERTY THE
SUPPLY OF AFFORDABLE HOUSING OR
WHAT PASSES FOR IT IN THE CITY
WILL DISAPPEAR.
WE ARE SELF-EMPLOYED STRUGGLING
LIKE TENANTS AND MANY OTHERS,
WE RELY ON RENT TO PAY OUR BILLS
LIKE HEALTH INSURANCE AND
GROCERIES IN ADDITION TO THE
MAINTENANCE, REPAIR AND THE
OTHER EXPENSES THAT GO ALONG
WITH RENTING PROPERTIES.
YOU ARE ASKING US TO WORK FOR
FREE AND GIVE UP CONTROL OF
PROPERTY WITH AN EVICTION BAN
AND WITH RENT FORGIVENESS.
I AM WONDERING IF ANYBODY IN
COUNCIL IS WORKING FOR FREE AS
WELL.
THANK YOU FOR LISTENING TO ME,
GOODBYE.
>> THANK YOU SO MUCH.
NEXT SPEAKER IS JOHN WISDOM.
>> THANK YOU.
I FULLY SUPPORT THE SOLUTIONS
PROVIDING DIRECT SUPPORT TO
TENANTS IN NEED RATHER THAN THE
EVICTIONS BAN THAT WOULD LIKELY
HAVE SWEEPING NEGATIVE
CONSEQUENCES FOR SMALL LANDLORDS
AND THE SUPPLY OF AFFORDABLE
RENTAL HOUSING IN SEATTLE.
AS RETIREES AND SMALL LANDLORDS
MY WIFE AND I CANNOT AFFORD TO
PROVIDE FREE HOUSING WITHOUT
COMPENSATION ANY MORE THAN A
SMALL LOCAL FAMILY FARM OR
CORNER GROCERY STORE COULD
PROVIDE FREE FOOD FOR HUNGRY
COMMUNITY WITHOUT COMPENSATION
TO COVER THE COST.
THE REALITY FOR ANYONE
PROVIDING FOOD OR SHELTER IS
THE FACT THAT EXPENSES HAVE TO
BE PAID AND THOSE EXPENSES MANY
OF THE COST ARE REQUIRED BY
REGULATION.
HOW DO WE MAINTAIN AN APARTMENT
WITHOUT RENTAL INCOME?
HOW DO WE PAY PROPERTY TAXES?
RENT IS OUR BASIC INCOME AND WE
SHOULD NOT BE FORCED TO WORK
WITHOUT COMPENSATION AS WE NEED
TO BE ABLE TO BUY ESSENTIALS
FOR SURVIVAL, A TENANT MAY BE
OBLIGATED TO PAY BUT THERE IS
NO ASSURANCE THEY WILL HAVE THE
MEANS TO DO SO WHEN THE BAN IS
OVER.
THIS PROPOSAL IS TOO FAR-
REACHING AND WILL HAVE
UNINTENDED CONSEQUENCES.
EVERYONE WILL HAVE LICENSE TO
STOP PAYING RENT WITHOUT REAL
CONSEQUENCE.
THIS MEANS THAT A TENANT WHO
MAKES MUCH MORE MONEY THAN MY
WIFE AND I CAN STOP PAYING AND
INFLICT HEAVY FINANCIAL AND
EMOTIONAL CONSEQUENCES ON THE
FAMILY.
SMALL LANDLORDS ARE FORCED OUT
OF BUSINESS AND WHO BENEFITS?
BIG CORPORATIONS WOULD DEEP
POCKETS NOT THE TENANTS WHO
RELY ON US FOR HOUSING.
>> THANK YOU FOR CALLING IN
TODAY.
WE ARE CLOSE TO OUR 20 MINUTE
MARK SO I'M GOING TO HAVE TO
EXTEND PUBLIC COMMENT IF THERE
IS NO OBJECTION.
I WILL ALSO EXPEDITE THE PROCESS
AND ASK THAT THE PUBLIC COMMENT
NUMBER BE SET TO ONE MINUTE
32nd TO ALLOW US TO GO THROUGH
THE REST OF THE LIST.
WE HAVE ABOUT 12 SPEAKERS LEFT
THAT ARE PRESENT SO I'M HOPING
THAT WILL BE ENOUGH TIME TO GET
THROUGH SO I WOULD LIKE IF
THERE IS NO OBJECTION TO EXTEND
PUBLIC COMMENT UNTIL 3:00 P.M.
IT IS CURRENTLY 2:36.
WE WILL GO AHEAD AND EXTEND
PUBLIC COMMENT UNTIL 3:00 P.M.
AND THEN MOVING TO ITEMS OF
BUSINESS.
FOR THOSE ON THE LINE WE HAVE
REDUCED THE TIME TO ONE MINUTE
30 SECONDS AND I APOLOGIZE TO
HAVE TO DO THAT BUT WE HAVE
SEVERAL OTHER SPEAKERS SIGNED
UP AND I WANT TO MAKE SURE WE
HAVE AN OPPORTUNITY TO HEAR
FROM EVERYONE.
NEXT SPEAKER IS JENNIFER
>> GOOD AFTERNOON CITY
COUNCILMEMBERS I AM A HOUSING
PROVIDER AND MANAGE 12
RESIDENTIAL UNITS IN QUEEN AND
AND CAPITOL HILL'S.
I TAKE PRIDE IN PROVIDING CLEAN
WELL TRAINED MAINTAIN MARKET
HOUSING.
I APPRECIATE THE PASSION AND
DESIRE TO HELP THOSE WHO HAVE
SUFFERED FINANCIALLY DUE TO THE
PANDEMIC HOWEVER CITY COUNCIL
SHOULD NOT BE CALLING FOR RENT
STRIKE OR EVICTION MORATORIUM.
WE ASSUME ALL RESIDENTS HAVE
SUFFERED FINANCIAL HARDSHIPS
BUT THIS IS NOT THE CASE, THE
SEATTLE TIMES HAD AN ARTICLE
DOCUMENTING 10.6% OF WASHINGTON
RESIDENTS ARE BEHIND ON APRIL
RENT WHICH MEANS 89.4% ARE NOT
BEHIND ON THEIR RENT.
I FIND A SIMILAR PERCENTAGE IN
THE UNITS I MANAGE WHERE 11 OUT
OF 12 RESIDENTS OR 91.7% HAVE
NOT SUFFERED FINANCIAL SETBACK
PREVENTING THEM FROM PAYING
RENT, THESE RESIDENTS PAY THE
RENT.
I WORK WITH MY RESIDENTS WHO
NEED ASSISTANCE TO COME UP WITH
SOLUTIONS.
UNIVERSALLY ASKING EVERYONE NOT
TO PAY RENT AND BENDING
EVICTIONS PREVENTS HAVING
PROVIDERS WHO TRULY NEED HELP
AND IT HURTS OUR CITY, THE
SEATTLE BUDGET INCLUDES REVENUE
FROM PROPERTY TAXES AND UTILITY
BILLS PAID BY AREA HOUSING
PROVIDERS, IN ADDITION HOUSING
PROVIDERS HIRE BUSINESSES AND
TREAT PEOPLE LIKE ELECTRICIANS
LUMBERS AND CARPENTERS, LESS
INCOME IS LESS SPENDING,
CALLING FOR RENT STRIKE AND
EVICTION MORATORIUM ARE NOT
REASONABLE CREATING FINANCIAL
RESPONSIBILITY WHICH NO
BUSINESS CAN AFFORD.
I URGE YOU NOT TO PASS THESE
AND TO PROVIDE TIMELY ASSISTANCE
.
>> THANK YOU SO MUCH.
NEXT SPEAKER IS ALEXANDER. I'M
SORRY I WILL BUTCHER YOUR LAST
NAME.
>> HELLO MY NAME IS ALEXANDER
AND I AM 26 AND I JUST JOINED
THE FAMILY BUSINESS.
WE OWN AN APARTMENT BUILDING AND
SINCE JOINING LAST YEAR I HAVE
ALREADY SEEN THE PROCESS FOR
SCREENING APPLICANTS BECOME
MUCH MORE COMPLEX AND EXPENSIVE
AND WE ARE SPENDING MORE AND
MORE TIME RUNNING THE RISK OF
TENANTS AND THOSE TYPES OF HOW
WE ARE GOING TO SCREEN
APPLICANTS WHEN WE ARE MAKING
DEVELOPMENT DECISIONS.
IF THE CITY CONTINUES TO PURSUE
THIS COURSE OF ACTION, IT'S
GOING TO MAKE IT MORE DIFFICULT
FOR US TO SUPPORT NEW
DEVELOPMENTS IN THE FUTURE, IF
INVESTORS ARE WONDERING ANYTIME
IN THE FUTURE THAT THE RENT
COULD POSSIBLY BE PUT ON HOLD
IT MAKES IT DIFFICULT FOR THEM
TO BE SATISFIED IF THEY CAN
MAKE A LONG-TERM INVESTMENT IN
SEATTLE.
THE CITY NEEDS TO CONSIDER
SUPPORTING INDIVIDUALS RATHER
THAN ASKING FOR A BAN AND
UNDERMINING LAWFUL CONTRACTS.
WE DO NOT SUPPORT THE COUNCIL
BUILD.
THANK YOU.
>> THANK YOU.
NEXT SPEAKER IS EDMUND WITTER.
>> HELLO MY NAME IS EDMUND
WITTER AND AROUND THE HOUSING
JUSTICE PROJECT, WE COULD
ADMINISTER THE HOMEBASE PROGRAM
WITH UNITED WAY.
I AM URGING YOU TO PASS THE
ORDINANCE 11 7984 ALONG WITH
HER PROPOSED AMENDMENT, THE
NEED FOR INTERVENTION, WE HAVE
ENOUGH RENTAL ASSISTANCE
AVAILABLE FOR STRUGGLING
TENANTS BUT WHEN WE OFFERED
HELP FOR APRIL WE RECEIVED
WITHIN 48 HOURS OVER 7000
APPLICATIONS AND I EXPECT WE
WILL ONLY HELP TO THOUSAND OF
THE 7000 APPLICANTS.
WE NEED TO FIGURE OUT A SOLUTION
AND WE DO NEED TIME TO FIGURE
OUT HOW WE CAN HELP TENANT AND
THE LANDLORD'S AND THIS IS ONE
WAY TO PUT A PAUSE AND MAKE
SURE WE HELP ALL THE TENANTS
WHO ARE STRUGGLING NOW.
I UNDERSTAND THE NEED FOR OTHER
RELIEF THAT'S AVAILABLE BUT AT
THIS POINT AND TIME A SYSTEM IS
NECESSARY TO PUT A PAUSE,
CONGRESS DID ISSUE A 120 DAY
MORATORIUM BUT IT DOES AFFECT A
LOT OF MORTGAGES, THIS IS
PROVIDING ADDITIONAL RELIEF FOR
THOSE AS WELL SO I URGE YOU TO
PASS THIS ORDINANCE.
>> THANK YOU.
OUR NEXT SPEAKER IS ROB RIGHT.
>> HELLO EVERYONE I LIVE IN
DISTRICT 4. FIRST LET ME SAY
THANK YOU TO THE COUNCIL FOR
YOUR TIME AND WILLINGNESS TO
LISTEN.
I AM HERE TO ASK YOU TO VOTE NO
ON THE PROPOSAL TO EXTEND THE
MORATORIUM ON RENTAL EVICTIONS.
MY WIFE AND I OWN THREE SMALL
APARTMENT BUILDINGS IN SEATTLE,
WE PURCHASED THE FIRST BUILDING
SIX YEARS AGO AS AN INVESTMENT
IN FAMILY FUTURE WITH THE HOPES
OF HOW THE INCOME CAN SUPPORT
PAYING OUR KIDS EDUCATION AND
EVENTUALLY RETIREMENT.
WE ARE VERY MIDDLE-CLASS AND
LIKE MANY OF YOU EACH MONTH WE
ARE MAKING SACRIFICES AND ARE
PRIORITIZING WHAT TO PAY.
FOR MONTHLY BILLS.
I CERTAINLY FULLY SUPPORT YOUR
EFFORTS TO PROVIDE ASSISTANCE
TO RENTERS IN NEED BUT MY ASK
IS THAT YOU HELP THEM BY
ENACTING PROGRAMS TO SUPPORT
THEM TO PAY THEIR RENT AND
OTHER BASIC NEEDS, TAKING AWAY
THE RIGHTS FOR LANDLORDS TO
EVICT WILL ENCOURAGE SOME
TENANTS TO TAKE ADVANTAGE WHICH
SIMPLY IS NOT FAIR TO ME AS A
PROPERTY OWNER AND IT IS NOT
GOOD FOR CITY LONG-TERM HEALTH.
I SHOULD ALSO ADD THAT I HAVE
NEVER EVICTED A TENANT AND I'M
CURRENTLY WORKING WITH SEVERAL
TENANTS ON PAYMENT PLANS WITH
NO INTENTION TO RAISE RENT FOR
THE FORESEEABLE FUTURE.
PLEASE PROTECT MY PROPERTY
RIGHTS BY VOTING NO.
>> THANK YOU FOR BEING WITH US.
NEXT IS JESSICA.
>> HELLO COUNCIL MY NAME IS
JESSICA I AM A LIFELONG RENTER
WITH 13 YEARS RENTING IN
SEATTLE, EIGHT YEARS
SPECIFICALLY IN WALLINGFORD AND
I HAVE BEEN A PROPERTY MANAGER
FOR OVER SEVEN YEARS IN MARKET
RATE AND SUBSIDIZED APARTMENTS
I AM ASKING YOU TO PASS COUNSEL
BILL 119874 BUT NOT TO ADD ALEX
PETERSON'S AMENDMENTS.
THE PEOPLE WHO NEED THE MOST
PROTECTION DURING AND AFTER
COVID ARE LIKELY RENTING FROM
SMALLER LANDLORDS, LOWER INCOME
TENANTS AND THOSE UNABLE TO
MET RENTAL REQUIREMENTS ARE
MORE LIKELY TO RENT FROM
SMALLER LANDLORDS THESE ARE
SERVICE INDUSTRY FOLKS WHO RELY
ON TIPS, TENANTS WITHOUT
PREDICTABLE YEARLY INCOME.
TENANTS WHO WORK NIGHT SHIFTS,
ODD HOURS, SINGLE-PARENT
FAMILIES, FAMILIES THAT HAVE
GONE THROUGH DIVORCE, PARENTS
IN NONTRADITIONAL FAMILY
STRUCTURES.
I AM PROBABLY THE FIRST TENANT
YOU HAVE HEARD FROM TODAY, IN
ADDITION I DON'T THINK SOMEONE
WHO OWNS THREE BUILDINGS IS A
SMALL LANDLORD BECAUSE AS A
RENTER I OWN NO BUILDINGS AND
THEY OWN THREE.
SO THAT IS SOMETHING TO TAKE
INTO ACCOUNT.
IN A TIME OF MASS AND EMPLOYMENT
AND ON WE ARE STRUGGLING TO
KEEP UP WITH THESE CLAIMS AND
TO PAY CITIZENS AS QUICKLY AS
POSSIBLE IT SEEMS THE
AMENDMENTS ARE MORE PUNITIVE.
THANK YOU VERY MUCH FOR YOUR
TIME THIS EVENING I DON'T KNOW
IF YOU HAD A CHANCE TO READ THEM
BUT THANK YOU FOR YOUR TIME AND
YOUR SERVICE.
>> THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR
CALLING AND.
NEXT SPEAKER IS CANDACE.
>> HELLO THIS IS CANDACE CAN
YOU HEAR ME?
>> WE CAN.
>> GREAT.
WANTED TO TOUCH BASE WITH YOU
TO OPPOSE COUNSEL BILL 119784.
AGAIN MY NAME IS CANDACE AND I
WORK WITH A SERIES OF DIFFERENT
APARTMENT OWNERS TO HELP GUIDE
THEM THROUGH THE PROCESS OF
OWNING THEIR PROPERTY.
I HAVE MET WITH SEVERAL
COUNCILMEMBERS REGARDING SOME
OF THE MOST RECENT ORDINANCES
AND I WOULD JUST LIKE TO
MENTION THAT I REALLY TALK TO
HUNDREDS OF THESE MOM-AND-POP
OWNERS AND I CAN TELL YOU WHEN
THIS COVID CRISIS BEGAN, NOT
ONE LANDLORD EVEN THOUGHT ABOUT
EVICTION AS EVEN A REMOTE FIRST
STEP.
THE IDEA THAT THAT IS THE FIRST
IDEA IN A HOUSING PROVIDER'S
MIND IS REALLY UNFAIR.
RIGHT NOW IF YOU'RE WONDERING
WHAT HOUSING PROVIDERS ARE
DOING, THEY'RE TRYING TO FIGURE
OUT HOW TO WORK WITH THEIR
TENANTS THAT ARE HAVING TROUBLE
PAYING AND BALANCING OTHER
EXPENSES THAT THEY HAVE TO PAY
LIKE PROPERTY TAXES WHICH,
ALTHOUGH DO JUNE 1 WILL STILL
BE OLD AT THAT TIME.
PROPERTY OWNERS ARE PUTTING IN,
THE PROPERTY TAXES ON THEIR
CREDIT CARD BILLS, THEY'RE
TRYING TO WORK WITH LENDERS TO
PUSH BACK THE MORTGAGE
REQUIREMENTS THAT THEY HAVE TO
PAY, IT IS NOT --
>> IT YOU FOR BEING WITH US
TODAY.
NEXT SPEAKER IS WILLIAM.
>> THANK YOU VERY MUCH.
MY NAME IS WILLIAM I AM ASKING
THE COUNCIL TO VOTE AGAINST THE
EXTENSION OF THE EVICTION
ORDINANCE.
MY WIFE AND MYSELF ON RENTAL
PROPERTIES IN SEATTLE AND WE
ONLY HAD ONE TENANT THAT COULD
NOT AFFORD TO PAY THEIR RENT.
IN APRIL AND THEY WERE PROVIDED
ASSISTANCE BY THE HOUSING
CONNECT PROGRAM.
I WOULD STRONGLY SUGGEST AS AN
ALTERNATIVE TO THE ORDINANCE
THAT THE CITY LOOK AT ITS
HOUSING LEVY FUNDS AND OTHER
FUNDS TO HELP SUPPORT THE
HOUSING CONNECT PROGRAM TO
PROVIDE RENTAL ASSISTANCE WHERE
NEEDED, THE EVICTION BEEN HELPS
PEOPLE OF MEDIUM AND HIGH
INCOME PEOPLE BY THE FACT THAT
IF YOU ARE IN LESS THAN $62,000
EVERY YEAR YOU'RE MAKING MORE
MONEY BECAUSE OF THE CARES ACT
ADDITIONAL INSURANCE THAN YOU
WERE BEFORE.
IT HAS BEEN WELL DOCUMENTED
THERE ARE PEOPLE VOLUNTARILY
NOT PAYING THEIR RENT EVEN
THOUGH THEY CAN AFFORD TO.
WHAT THIS DOES IS ENCOURAGES
THAT ACTION AND AS MANY OF THE
TESTIMONIES BEFORE ME HAVE SAID
WE ARE SMALL LANDLORD HAVE OUR
OWN BILLS.
PROPERTY TAXES, ONE RENTAL
PROPERTY IN THE CITY OF SEATTLE,
IT WENT UP 101% IN THE LAST 10
YEARS.
INFLATION WAS 18.6% DURING THAT
TIME.
PLEASE VOTE NO.
>> NEXT SPEAKER IS BRETT FRANK.
>> MY NAME IS BRETT FRANK AND I
AM A 26-YEAR-OLD THIRD-
GENERATION HOUSING PROVIDER
WORKING WITH MY MOTHER YOU
HEARD FROM EARLIER AND MY
GRANDMOTHER.
IS A GRADUATE FROM THE
UNIVERSITY WASHINGTON SCHOOL OF
BUSINESS I TOOK MY SCHOOLING
FROM WASHINGTON AND BY WATCHING
MY FAMILY IN THE HARD FIGHT
ACQUIRING REAL ESTATE THE
COUNCIL ACTIONS CONCERNED ME
FOR MY LONG-TERM ABILITY TO
CONTINUE TO PROVIDE QUALITY
AFFORDABLE HOUSING.
WE INTERACT WITH RESIDENTS WHO
ACCESS THEIR NEEDS REPAIRS AND
CONCERNS, WE HAVE RESIDENTS WHO
HAVE LIVED IN BUILDINGS FOR 10,
20 OR 30 YEARS MORE AS WE TAKE
CARE OF ONE OF LIFE'S GREATEST
NEEDS.
WE HAVE A STAFF OF EMPLOYEES 20
PLUS YEARS AND INSURMOUNTABLE
NUMBERS OF CONTRACTORS PAINTERS
ELECTRICIANS AND PLUMBERS WHO
DEPEND ON THE RENT TO KEEP
CYCLES GOING.
GIVING RESIDENTS AN EXCUSE NOT
TO PAY ESPECIALLY FOR THOSE WHO
ARE ABLE WILL CREATE A HABIT
AND THE TRICKLE-DOWN EFFECT IS
EASY TO SEE.
PROVIDERS WILL NOT BE ABLE TO
MAKE MORTGAGES AND REPAIRS,
LANDLORDS WILL HAVE TO SELL TWO
BIG CONGLOMERATES.
IN MY LIFE THE LANDSCAPE OF
SEATTLE HAS CHANGED SO MUCH, I
HAVE SERVED MY FRIENDS AND WE
BELIEVE WE WERE NOT GOING TO A
RESTAURANT AND TAKE FOOD AND
NOT EXPECT TO PAY OR FOR THAT
MATTER ANY SERVICE YOU OFFER.
IF YOU WORK YOU EXPECT TO GET
PAID, A HOUSING PROVIDER
PROVIDES HOUSING THE SAME
SHOULD BE TRUE DO NOT GIVE A
SIGNAL THAT NOT PAYING IS AN
OPTION.
PLEASE VOTE NO.
>> THE NEXT SPEAKER IS ELIZABETH
.
>> HELLO CAN YOU HEAR ME OKAY?
>> WE CAN.
>> THANK YOU SO MUCH AND GOOD
AFTERNOON.
I'M GOING TO COMMENT ON
AMENDMENT 3 B, WHAT THE CURRENT
FUNDS IN A RENTAL SYSTEM
PROGRAMS IS IT ENOUGH FOR
CITIZENS TO EASILY ACCESS AND
GET APPROVED?
WHAT'S THE LANGUAGE ACCESS?
OF THE 1 MILLION ON
UNEMPLOYMENT HOW MANY HAVE
GIVEN UP TRYING TO APPLY?
CAN WE OUT AT YOUR HOUSE
COUNCILMEMBER PEDERSEN WHEN WE
ARE EVICTED YOU KNOW THE
NUMBER OF AVAILABLE SHELTERS,
THE CITY WAS ALREADY BATTLING A
HOUSING CRISIS.
IS THIS WHAT YOU WANT TO DO TO
ADD INSTEAD OF HELPING?
THIS PANDEMIC HAS
DISPROPORTIONATELY AFFECTED
WOMEN AND PEOPLE OF COLOR.
WHY ARE YOU TRYING TO TARGET
THE MOST VULNERABLE?
ARE THE LIVES OF THOSE WHO RENT
LESS THAN YOURS OR HOMEOWNERS?
WE NEED TO FINANCE LET ALONE
OWN PROPERTIES AS A PRIVILEGE,
YOUR PRIVILEGE IS SHOWING,
THANK YOU FOR YOUR TIME AND
HAVE A GREAT AFTERNOON.
>> THANK YOU FOR CALLING IN.
NEXT SPEAKER IS JEFFREY COOK.
>> CAN YOU HEAR ME NOW?
>> WE CAN.
>> OKAY THANK YOU I'M ASKING TO
ASK THE COUNCIL TO VOTE AGAINST
THE RENT MORATORIUM.
AS SOMEONE SAID I HAVE
PRIVILEGE, THANK YOU.
I DON'T KNOW THIS COUNCIL
UNDERSTANDS THE IMPLICATIONS OF
THE RENT STRIKE I WOULD LIKE TO
BELIEVE THE COUNCIL IS HERE TO
FAIRLY LIFT ALL CITIZENS BUT
NOW IT SEEMS THE COUNCIL IS
TAKING US VERSUS THEM WHEN WE
ARE ALL IN NEED, I WANT YOU TO
STOP UNDERMINING ONE GROUP OF
CITIZENS YOU ARE IRRATIONALLY
DECIDING CAN HANDLE EXCESSIVE
FINANCIAL BURDEN, WE OWN ONE
SMALL RENTAL HOME THAT WE
BOUGHT FROM AN ELDERLY NEIGHBOR
WHO DID NOT WANT TO SEE IT TORN
DOWN, WE SPENT MONTHS FIXING IT
UP HOPING TO RENT IT OUT COST,
THERE ARE PART-TIME WORK AND
UNEMPLOYMENT AVAILABLE TO THEM,
WE ARE OUT OF WORK AND ON
UNEMPLOYMENT OURSELVES.
WE ARE TRYING TO BE PART OF THE
HOUSING SOLUTION, LOCAL
LANDOWNERS PROVIDING HOUSING
FOR THE WORKING CLASS.
WE ALREADY DISCOUNTING THE RENT
AND USING UNEMPLOYMENT TO
SUBSIDIZE TENANTS BUT THIS IS
NOT A LONG-TERM SOLUTION.
THERE IS NO PROFIT BEING MADE
ONLY MONTHLY LOSS ON OUR PART,
TENANTS ARE HEARING THE CALL
FOR A RENT STRIKE AND ARE
ASSUMING LANDLORDS ARE GETTING
RESOURCES TO COVER COSTS.
THEY WILL START PAYING RENT AND
THIS WILL EVENTUALLY FORCE
PEOPLE LIKE US TO SELF RENTAL
HOMES, DO YOU WANT US TO HELP
OR NOT?
WE ARE ASKING FOR THE COUNCIL
TO SUPPORT EVERYONE.
WE DON'T HAVE TO DO THIS FOR
YOU WILL MISS SMALL LANDLORDS
WHEN WE ARE GONE.
THANK YOU.
>> THE NEXT SPEAKER IS ANDREW
GRANT HOUSTON.
>> GOOD AFTERNOON.
THIS IS ANDREW GRANT HOUSTON.
SPEAKING TODAY AS A SMALL
BUSINESS OWNER.
I AM SOMEONE WHO RUNS MY OWN
PRACTICE OUT OF MY HOME AND IT
IS A HOME THAT I RENT FROM
SOMEONE ELSE AND I'M SPEAKING
IN SUPPORT OF 11 9784.
BECAUSE I AM ONE OF THOSE MANY
SMALL BUSINESS OWNERS WHO IS
STILL WAITING ON FUNDING AND
ACCESS FROM THE FEDERAL
GOVERNMENT.
LOOKING AT THIS PIECE OF
LEGISLATION NOT JUST FOR MYSELF
BUT FOR OTHER PEOPLE IN A
SIMILAR SITUATION WHERE YES WE
WOULD LOVE TO PAY OUR RENT IF
WE ARE ABLE TO BUT WE ARE STILL
WAITING TO HEAR BACK FROM THE
FEDERAL GOVERNMENT ABOUT THINGS
THAT WE APPLIED FOUR MONTHS AGO,
I JUST HEARD BACK MY
APPLICATION HAS BEEN REVIEWED
FOR ECONOMIC INJURY DISASTER
LOANS AND I APPLIED AT THE END
OF MARCH AND I JUST HEARD BACK
TODAY THEY ARE LOOKING AT
APPLICATION.
SO IN MY MIND THE LEGISLATION
IS THE LIMIT OF THE CAPABILITY
OF WHAT YOU CAN DO A CITY
COUNCIL MEMBERS.
I KNOW FOR MYSELF WHAT I AM
TRYING TO DO OUTSIDE OF THIS IS
HOPEFULLY GET MORE WORK BECAUSE
I'VE HAD A LOT OF PROJECTS
PAUSED BECAUSE OF COVID.
I WANT TO ENSURE PEOPLE CAN
STAY IN THEIR HOMES BECAUSE
UNLIKE WHAT WAS DISCUSSED SO
FAR, NO ONE TALKED ABOUT THE
IMPLICATIONS OF PEOPLE BEING
OUT ON THE STREET AND HOW THAT
AFFECTS THE SPREAD OF COVID.
I ASK THAT YOU PLEASE PASS THIS
BILL TODAY.
THANK YOU.
>> NEXT UP IS MARK BRONSON.
>> GOOD AFTERNOON MY NAME IS
MARK BRONSON I AM A LONGTIME
RENTER OF DISTRICT 3 AND I
SUPPORT THE EXTENSION OF
EMERGENCY TENANT PROTECTION
UNDER CONSIDERATION.
I STRONGLY OPPOSE A PROPOSED
AMENDMENT THAT PROVIDES
EXEMPTIONS FOR TENANT
PROTECTIONS FOR SMALL LANDLORDS.
DUE TO SEVERE HOUSING SHORTAGES
IT IS QUITE DIFFICULT AND
COMPETITIVE TO FIND AN
APARTMENT IN SEATTLE, RENTERS,
THOSE AT THE LOWER END OF THE
INCOME SCALE DO NOT OFTEN HAVE
A CHOICE ON WHAT TYPE OF
LANDLORD TO RENT FROM, ANYONE
WHO HAS ATTEMPTED TO RESEARCH
THE OWNERS OF A RENTAL CAN TELL
YOU MANY RENTALS ARE MASSED BY
A WEB OF LLC, THERE IS NO WAY
FOR RENTER TO TELL HOW MANY
RENTALS THAT A LANDLORD OWNS
AND IF THAT INFORMATION IS
AVAILABLE TO THE CITY, LANDLORDS
SHOULD NOT HAVE THE ABILITY TO
EXPLOIT LOOPHOLES REGARDLESS OF
HOW MANY UNITS THEY OWN, PLEASE
PROTECT AND EXPAND PROTECTION
FOR ALL RENTERS IN SEATTLE,
THANK YOU FOR YOUR TIME AND I
HOPE YOU ALL STAY HEALTHY.
>> THANK YOU FOR BEING WITH US.
NEXT SPEAKER IS KYLE WOODRING.
>> GOOD AFTERNOON THE
GOVERNMENT AFFAIRS DIRECTOR FOR
THE RENTAL HOUSING ASSOCIATION.
RHA HAS A MEMBERSHIP OF OVER
5000 PROVIDERS WHO PAY LESS
THAN $20 A MONTH FOR RESOURCES
FOR SELF MANAGED ARE PRETTY.
EVEN BEFORE THE ORDERS ON
ADDICTION OUR ORGANIZATION WHAT
IS ONE OF THE FIRST TO PUT OUT
BUSINESS PRACTICES HOLDING LATE
FEES AND WORKING WITH RENTERS.
WE STAND READY TO WORK WITH
STAKEHOLDERS AND DEVELOP
POLICIES TO ADDRESS THE
FINANCIAL CRISIS WE CANNOT
SUPPORT THIS LEGISLATION.
THIS BILL CONTAINS NO NEXUS
CONTAINING THE PROHIBITION OF
INCOME DUE TO THE LOSS OF COVID-
19 AND IT WILL NULLIFY THE
FILING OF EVICTION FOR PAYMENT
OF RENT.
OUR OFFICE RECEIVES CALLS DAVID
FROM HOUSING PROVIDERS WHO ARE
CONFUSED ABOUT IF THOSE WHO CAN
PAY THEIR RENT ARE REQUIRED TO
UNDER EMERGENCY EXECUTIVE
ORDERS, THEY READ PROMOTION OF
RENT STRIKE AND CANNOT
UNDERSTAND WHY INDIVIDUALS
CHOOSE NOT TO PAY THEIR RENT
EVEN THOUGH THEY WORK NORMALLY
THROUGH THE CRISIS.
WE ASK POLICYMAKERS TO LOOK
CLOSELY AT THE DATA THAT SHOWS
LESS THAN 10% OF THE RENT
PAYMENT SHOWS UP WITH THE
HOUSING PROVIDER, THOSE
FOREGOING PAYING RENT ARE NOT
PAYING TAXES, UTILITIES,
MAINTENANCE ON THE PROPERTY AND
ARE HURTING NEIGHBORING MEMBERS
WHO ARE STRUGGLING.
WE CONTINUE TO PRACTICE BEST
PRACTICES AND ARE HELPING TO
GET ALL PARTIES THROUGH THIS
UNPRECEDENTED PERIOD BUT WE ARE
NOT SURE WHAT WILL HAPPEN.
>> THANK YOU FOR CALLING IN.
LAST SPEAKER SIGNED UP AND
PRESENT THIS AFTERNOON.
MALEIC.
>> HELLO.
HEY SEATTLE CITY COUNCIL I AM A
SMALL LANDLORD IN THE CITY OF
SEATTLE AND I'M ASKING YOU TO
VOTE AGAINST THIS EVICTION
EXTENSION. I JUST KIND OF WANT
TO PAINT THE SCENE FOR
EVERYBODY.
PEOPLE ARE CALLING LANDLORDS
SMALL LANDLORDS PRIVILEGED AND
I DON'T THINK PEOPLE ARE
LOOKING AT THE GRAND SCALE OF
THINGS.
MOST OF THE BUILDINGS THAT
LANDLORDS OWN THEY DON'T
ACTUALLY OWN, THEY ARE
MORTGAGED AND YOU ARE TALKING
TO SOMEONE, SAY THAT I MAKE
$100,000 A YEAR SOMEONE MAKING
35,000 OR 40,000 IS CALLING ME
PRIVILEGED BUT LOOK AT THE
MILLIONAIRES AND BILLIONAIRES
THAT RUN THE CORPORATIONS AND I
KNOW EVERYBODY HAS GOOD
INTENTIONS BUT THIS EXTENSION
IS REALLY GOING TO MAKE IT A
LOT HARDER FOR LOW INCOME
SEATTLE RESIDENTS TO FIND
HOUSING BECAUSE THE NEXT TIME I
HAVE SOMEBODY WHO HAS A MINIMUM
WAGE JOB I WILL THINK THREE
TIMES ABOUT WHAT MY CRITERIA
WILL BE BECAUSE OF THE
NIGHTMARE THAT I HAD TRYING TO
EVICT SOMEBODY WHICH NOW I
CANNOT SO I'M NOT SAYING I'M
TRYING TO EVICT SOMEBODY BUT IF
THAT WERE TO HAPPEN AND I DO
WORK WITH MY TENANTS AND
THERE'S ONE THAT CANNOT AFFORD
TO PAY RENT AND THEY ARE ON A
PAYMENT PLAN BUT THIS ENCOURAGES
BAD ACTORS IN MY OPINION.
PLEASE VOTE AGAINST IT.
>> THANK YOU FOR CALLING IN
TODAY.
ONE LAST SCAN OF THE PUBLIC
COMMENT, IT LOOKS LIKE WE HAVE
GONE THROUGH THE ENTIRE LIST OF
FOLKS WHO SIGNED UP FOR PUBLIC
COMMENT TODAY.
SO I WILL GO AHEAD AND CLOSE
OUT THIS PERIOD OF PUBLIC
COMMENT AND WE WILL BEGIN THE
BUSINESS PORTION OF OUR AGENDA.
WE WILL GO MOVING TO PAYMENT OF
THE BILLS.
WILL THE KIRK PLEASE READ THE
TITLE?
>> ORDERING THE PAYMENTS
THEREOF.
>> I WILL MOVE TO PASS, IS
THERE A SECOND?
>> SECOND.
>> MOVED AND SECONDED THAT THE
BILL PASS ANY OTHER COMMENTS?
HEARING NONE, WILL OCCUR PLEASE
CALL THE ROLL ON THE PASSAGE OF
THE BILL?
>> ADAM CLERK YOU MAY BE ON
MUTE.
>> THANK YOU.
>> AYE.
AYE.
LEWIS AYE MORALES AYE
MOSQUEDA AYE PEDERSEN AYE
GONZALEZ AYE NINE IN FAVOR
NONE OPPOSED.
>> THE BILL PASSES AND THE
CHAIR WILL SIGN IT.
AFFIX MY SIGNATURE TO THE
LEGISLATION ON MY BEHALF.
REPORTS OF THE CITY COUNCIL
AGENDA ITEM 1 PLEASE READ THE
SHORT TITLE.
>> ITEM 1 COUNTABLE 119769
FUNDING FOR HOUSING AND
COMMUNITY DEVELOPMENT PROGRAMS
ADOPTING THE CITY OF SEATTLE
2020 ANNUAL ACTION PLAN TO THE
2018 THROUGH 2022 CONSOLIDATED
PLAN FOR HOUSING AND COMMUNITY
DEVELOPMENT AND AUTHORIZING ITS
SUBMISSION TO THE UNITED STATES
DEPARTMENT OF HOUSING AND URBAN
DEVELOPMENT.
>> THANK YOU SO MUCH.
SO, BEFORE, THIS IS THE BILL
REQUIRING PUBLIC HEARING BEFORE
I OPEN THE PUBLIC HEARING I'M
GOING TO TURN IT OVER TO
COUNCILMEMBER MOSQUEDA THE
SPONSOR OF THE BILL TO PROVIDE
US WITH INTRODUCTORY REMARKS.
THE FLOOR IS YOURS.
>> THANK YOU.
AS I MENTIONED THIS MORNING
THIS BILL IT OFF THE ANNUAL
ACTION PLAN DETAILING HOW THE
CITY WILL SPEND ITS ANNUAL
ENTITLEMENTS OF FOUR FEDERAL
GRANTS INCLUDING THE COMMUNITY
DEVELOPMENT BLOCK GRANTS, THE
HOUSING OPPORTUNITIES FOR
PEOPLE WITH AIDS, THE EMERGENCY
SOLUTION GRANTS AND THE HOME
INVESTMENT PARTNERSHIPS PROGRAM
OTHERWISE KNOWN AS THE HOME
GRANTS.
A DRAFT OF THE PLAN, BASED ON
BEST ESTIMATES OF HOW MUCH
FUNDING WE WOULD RECEIVE WAS
INCLUDED IN THE 2020 ADOPTED
BUDGET THEY WERE BOTH HEARD IN
THE FINANCE AND NEIGHBORHOODS
COMMITTEE IN DECEMBER 2019.
WE HAVE NOW RECEIVED NOTICE OF
THE ACTUAL GRANT AMOUNTS SO
THIS COUNCIL NEEDS TO ADOPT THE
FINAL PLAN FOR SUBMITTAL TO
FEDERAL HUD.
ONE SMALL TECHNICAL PIECE THE
PLAN WAS TRANSMITTED AND HAS
BEEN UPDATED BY THE EXECUTIVE.
THERE IS A PROPOSED SUBSTITUTE
REFLECTING THE VERY LATEST
INFORMATION ON FEDERAL GRANT
FUNDS AND THE PROJECTS THEY
SUPPORT.
YOU CAN FIND A LINK TO THE
PROPOSED SUBSTITUTE ON THE
COUNCIL AGENDA.
VERY BRIEFLY THIS PLAN INCLUDES
25 MILLION FUNDS FOR SUPPORTING
PEOPLE IN SEATTLE INCLUDING 3.4
MILLION EMERGENCY SHELTER
OPERATIONS AND CASE MANAGEMENT
TO MOVE PEOPLE TO PERMANENT
HOUSING, 7.8 MILLION TO PROVIDE
HOUSING FOR PERSONS LIVING WITH
AIDS AND THEIR FAMILIES, 1
MILLION TO IMPROVE FIRE SAFETY
AS SEATTLE HOUSING AUTHORITY,
6.4 MILLION AFFORDABLE HOUSING
PRESERVATION AND DEVELOPMENT,
2.8 MILLION FOR SMALL BUSINESS
STABILIZATION.
MOST OF THESE FUNDS WERE
INCLUDED IN THE 2020 BUT IT
THIS PLAN REFLECTS WE RECEIVE
MORE GRANT MONEY THAN EXPECTED
AND THESE FUNDS WERE ADDED TO
THE AFFORDABLE HOUSING PROGRAM
AND THE SMALL BUSINESS
STABILIZATION FUND.
THAT IS A QUICK OVERVIEW MADAM
PRESIDENT.
>> THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR THOSE
INTRODUCTORY REMARKS.
I AM JUGGLING BETWEEN SCREENS
SO I APPRECIATE YOUR PATIENCE.
I AM ACQUIRING THE PUBLIC
HEARING LIST MAKING SURE IT IS
ACCURATE FOR OUR STAFF THAT IS
LISTENING AS I OPEN UP THE
COMMENTS FOR PUBLIC HEARING.
IF YOU CAN LOOK TO THE
SPREADSHEET FOR THOSE WHO HAVE
SIGNED UP FOR PUBLIC COMMENT TO
MAKE SURE THEY HAVE INDICATED
THEY ARE SPEAKING ON THE
CORRECT COUNSEL BILL I WOULD
APPRECIATE YOU CLEANING UP THE
LIST ACCORDINGLY AS I MAKE THE
INTRODUCTORY REMARKS FOR PUBLIC
HEARING.
AS PRESIDING OFFICER I AM
OPENING THE PUBLIC HEARING ON
COUNSEL BILL 11 975 RELATING TO
THE ADOPTION OF THE 2020 ANNUAL
ACTION PLAN.
THE ONLINE REGISTRATION TO SIGN
UP TO SPEAK AT THE HEARING
OPENED AT NOON TODAY AND I WILL
CALL ON SPEAKERS IN THE ORDER
REGISTRATION.
THE ONLINE REGISTRATION WILL
REMAIN OPEN UNTIL THE
CONCLUSION OF THIS HEARING THE
RULES WILL APPLY TO THE PUBLIC
COMMENT PERIOD.
EACH SPEAKER WILL BE PROVIDED
TO MINUTES AND A 10 SECOND
WARNING TO WRAP UP COMMENTS.
SPEAKER MICROPHONES WILL BE
MUTED AT THE END OF THE
ALLOTTED TIME, PUBLIC COMMENT
RELATED TO COUNSEL BILL 119785
IS ONLY BEING ACCEPTED AT THIS
PUBLIC HEARING.
SPEAKERS WILL BE ASKED TO BEGIN
COMMENTS BY STATING THEIR NAME
AND I KNOW WE HAD A COUPLE OF
DIFFERENT PUBLIC COMMENTS
PREREGISTRATION SHEETS GOING
AROUND, THIS PUBLIC HEARING IS
ONLY TO ACCEPT COMMENTS ON
COUNCIL BILL 119785 RELATED TO
THE ADOPTION OF THE 2020 ANNUAL
ACTION PLAN AS DESCRIBED BY
COUNCILMEMBER MOSQUEDA.
SO MY HOPE IS THAT STAFF HAVE
WORKED ON THE SIGN-UP SHEET TO
MAKE SURE WE HAVE GOT THOSE WHO
ARE ON THE LIST ONLY AS IT
RELATES TO COUNCIL BILL 119785 .
OKAY I WILL GO AHEAD AND BEGIN
THE PUBLIC COMMENT PERIOD.
IF WE CAN GET THE TIMER UP ON
THE SCREEN THAT WOULD BE GREAT.
THANK YOU SO MUCH.
GO AHEAD AND CALL THE FIRST
SPEAKER WHO APPEARS TO BE, IT
LOOKS LIKE EVERYBODY WHO SIGNED
UP FOR COUNCIL BILL 119785 IS
NOT PRESENT.
WE HAVE ONE PERSON PRESENT, I
WILL CALL ON HIM AND SEE IF HE
HAS TESTIMONY RELATED TO THIS
MATTER.
JOHN WISDOM.
>> I WILL PASS, THANK YOU.
>> THANK YOU SO MUCH.
OKAY.
AND THE ONLY OTHER PERSON JUST
TESTIFIED ABOUT THE EVICTION
REFORM BILL. IT IS NOT APPEAR
HE IS INTERESTED IN TESTIFYING
ON THIS ISSUE.
OKAY, SO WE DON'T HAVE ANYONE
ELSE THAT HAS SIGNED UP FOR
PUBLIC COMMENT ON COUNCIL BILL
119785.
BASED ON THE REGISTRATION SHEET
THAT I AM LOOKING AT.
SO I'M GOING TO GO AHEAD AND
CLOSE OUT THE PUBLIC HEARING.
THE PUBLIC HEARING OF COUNCIL
BILL 119785 IS NOW CLOSED,
WRITTEN PUBLIC COMMENT IS
BEING ACCEPTED ON THIS ITEM AND
FOR THOSE INTERESTED YOU CAN
EMAIL US UNTIL THE COUNCIL
PASSES THIS BILL WHICH IS
SCHEDULED TO OCCUR MONDAY UNTIL
THE COUNCIL PASSES THIS BILL
WHICH IS SCHEDULED TO OCCUR
MONDAY, MAY 11 UNTIL THE
COUNCIL PASSES THIS BILL WHICH
IS SCHEDULED TO OCCUR MONDAY,
MAY 11, 2020 AT 2:00 P.M.
REGULARLY SCHEDULED MEETING.
OKAY.
SO JUST TO DOUBLE CONFIRM I
WANT TO MAKE SURE STAFF
CONFIRMS THERE IS NO MEMBER OF
THE PUBLIC IN THE QUEUE BEFORE
CLOSING THE PUBLIC HEARING.
OKAY.
>> I DO NOT SEE ANYBODY.
>> THANK YOU SO MUCH.
THERE IS NO MEMBER OF THE
PUBLIC PRESENT FOR THE PUBLIC
HEARING ON COUNCIL BILL 119785
WE WILL OFFICIALLY CLOSE THE
PUBLIC HEARING PERIOD AND WE
WILL MOVE INTO AGENDA ITEM 2
PLEASE READ ITEM 2 INTO THE
RECORD.
>> COUNCIL BILL 119783
RELATING TO THE CITY RESPONSE
TO THE 2020 COVID-19 CRISIS
AMENDING ORDINANCE 126000 WHICH
ADOPTED THE 2020 BUDGET.
ACCEPTING FUNDING FROM NON-CITY
SOURCES CHANGING APPROPRIATIONS
TO VARIOUS DEPARTMENTS AND BODY
CONTROL LEVELS AND VARIOUS
FUNDS IN THE BUDGET DECLARING
EMERGENCY AND ESTABLISHING AN
IMMEDIATE EFFECTIVE DATE VOTED
BY 3/4 OF THE CITY COUNCIL.
>> I WILL MOVE TO PASS COUNCIL
BILL 119783 IS THERE A SECOND?
>> SECOND.
>> MOVED AND SECONDED TO PASS
COUNCIL BILL 119783
COUNCILMEMBER MOSQUEDA I WILL
GIVE THE FLOOR TO YOU TO MAKE
SOME INTRODUCTORY REMARKS.
>> THANK YOU.
AS I MENTIONED THIS MORNING I
HAVE HAD THE CHANCE TO WORK ON
A SUBSTITUTE BILL INCLUDING A
HANDFUL OF AMENDMENTS IN AN
EFFORT TO HAVE A CONVERSATION
ABOUT THE BILL MAY I MOVED TO
AMEND THE COUNSEL BILL SO WE
CAN HAVE THAT DISCUSSION ON THE
SUBSTITUTE?
>> OKAY.
SO YOU WANT TO MOVE TO AMEND
COUNCIL BILL 119783 BY
SUBSTITUTING VERSION 7 FOR
VERSION 2 IS IT?
>> YES I WOULD LIKE TO MOVE TO
AMEND COUNCIL BILL 119783 BY
SUBSTITUTING VERSION 7 FOR
VERSION 2. MOVED AND SECONDED
TO AMEND THE BILL BY
SUBSTITUTING FOR VERSION 7,
COUNCILMEMBER MOSQUEDA BACK
OVER TO YOU TO SPEAK TO THE
SUBSTITUTE .
>> IT YOU VERY MUCH.
AS WE TALKED ABOUT THIS MORNING
THIS IS AN ORDINANCE IN ITS
AMENDED VERSION TO ACCEPT
APPROPRIATED FEDERAL AND STATE
FUNDS RELATED TO COVID-19
PANDEMIC CRISIS AND RESPONSE
INCLUDING PARTIAL CARES ACT
FUNDING.
THIS IS THE FIRST OPPORTUNITY
FOR THE CITY TO APPLY FEDERAL
APPROPRIATIONS AND OTHER
LOCATIONS TO OUR CITY TO RESPOND
TO THE COVID CRISIS.
WE APPRECIATE THE WORK THE CITY
BUDGET OFFICE, OFFICE OF HOUSING
AND THE MAYOR'S OFFICE HAS
PROVIDED TO US, THEY PRESENTED
LAST WEEK A FULL POWERPOINT
PRESENTATION ABOUT PLANS TO
DISTRIBUTE THESE FUNDS.
I SUBMITTED A HANDFUL OF FOLLOW-
UP QUESTIONS REGARDING THE PLAN
FOR SHELTERED AND
INTENSIFICATION AND EMERGENCY
HOMELESS COVID RESPONSE.
WE HAVE SUBSEQUENTLY AT THE END
OF LAST WEEK HEARD A NUMBER OF
PROVIDERS WHO ARE PROVIDING
DIRECT SERVICES TO THOSE WHO
ARE MOST VULNERABLE IN THE
COMMUNITY WHO ARE IN NEED OF
HOUSING, FOOD SERVICES,
CLEANING, PPE, STAFF PAY FOR
THE FOLKS WORKING IN HOMELESS
SHELTERS.
ONE OF THE GREAT PIECES THAT WE
KNOW IS THIS WILL NOT BE THE
LAST OPPORTUNITY FOR FEDERAL
FUNDS, FORTHCOMING DOLLARS
INCLUDE FEMA DOLLARS WITH
REIMBURSEMENTS OF 130 MILLION
IN FEDERAL CORONAVIRUS RELIEF
FUNDS, 30 MILLION FROM THE
DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE AND
FUTURE CARES ACT ALLOCATIONS.
WE ARE LOOKING FORWARD TO
HAVING A ROBUST CONVERSATION IN
THE NEAR-TERM ABOUT HOW THE
SOURCES WILL BE USED FOR A
COMPREHENSIVE HOLISTIC STRATEGY
THAT MEETS THE NEEDS OF
HOMELESS SERVICES AND
PROVIDERS, RENTAL ASSISTANCE,
SMALL BUSINESSES AND MORE AS WE
RESPOND TO THE COVID CRISIS.
WE KNOW WE NEED TO ACT QUICKLY
WITH THESE DOLLARS THAT ARE
ENHANCED, I APPRECIATE ONGOING
CONVERSATION WITH THE BUDGET
OFFICE TO ENSURE WE CAN GET
THESE DOLLARS OUT THE DOOR AS
YOU CAN SEE IN SUBSTITUTE
VERSION 7. THIS INCLUDES
ONGOING FUNDING TO MAKE SURE WE
ARE GETTING MONEY OUT THE DOOR
FOR SMALL BUSINESS
STABILIZATION, FUNDING OUT THE
DOOR FOR BUILDING STABILITY
FUND WE HAVE INCREASED SOME OF
THE MONEY GOING TO THAT FUND TO
$1.4 MILLION.
WE HAVE SPLIT 1.4 MILLION AMONG
HOMELESSNESS PREVENTION AND
RENTAL ASSISTANCE EFFORTS AND
AT THIS POINT WE HAVE ADDED
CLARIFICATION IN THE AMENDED
BILL IN FRONT OF YOU.
WE HAVE CLARIFIED WE WOULD LIKE
FOOD SUPPORT FRONT SHELTERED
PERSONS AS AN APPROPRIATE USE
OF EMERGENCY SERVICE GRANT
DOLLARS.
WE HAVE ADDED THE DESIRE TO
INCLUDE MAIL DELIVERY TO
PERMANENT SUPPORTIVE HOUSING AS
AN APPROPRIATE USE UNDER THE
CARES ACT FUND AND WE
UNDERSTAND THERE IS ONGOING
CONVERSATIONS ABOUT HOW THE
FUNDS MAY BE USED AND WE BELIEVE
ENSURING MAIL DELIVERY TO THOSE
IN PERMANENT HOUSING IS
APPROPRIATE AND QUALIFIED USE
AND WE LOOK FORWARD TO MAKING
SURE FOLKS GET ACCESS TO THOSE
MEALS.
LOOKING FORWARD TO HAVING
FUTURE CONVERSATION ABOUT THE
$1.4 MILLION WE ARE HOLDING BACK
IN ALLOCATIONS IN THIS ROUND OF
CARES ACT FUNDING TO ALLOW FOR
TIME FOR CONVERSATION WITH THE
EXECUTIVE OFFICE AND HOMELESS
SERVICE PROVIDERS PENDING THAT
FUTURE CONVERSATION ABOUT WHAT
CAN BE FUNDED WITH EXISTING
FUNDS FROM HST OR OFFICE OF
HOUSING WE WILL HAVE MORE
INFORMATION TO CONSIDER.
I MENTIONED A HANDFUL OF ISSUES
THAT ARE NEEDED AMONG HOMELESS
SERVICES PROVIDERS INCLUDING THE
ISSUES WITH SUPPORT STAFF AND
PPE AND MORE SO THAT IS A
CONVERSATION THAT HAS ALREADY
BEGUN.
WE WANT TO ACT QUICKLY SO MY
COMMITMENT TO YOU IS THAT WE
COME BACK WITH AN UPDATE ON HOW
THOSE CONVERSATIONS ARE GOING
AND LOOK FORWARD TO RELEASING
THE 1.4 MILLION HOPEFULLY FOR
ADDITIONAL APPROPRIATIONS TO
RENTAL ASSISTANCE AS WE HEARD
TODAY AND WE LOOK FORWARD TO
GETTING FEEDBACK FROM THOSE
SERVICES PROVIDERS.
I AM FEELING CONFIDENT ABOUT
THE ONGOING CONVERSATIONS WE
HAVE HAD WITH SUPPORTING
RESIDENTIAL AND BUSINESS
TENANTS.
I APPRECIATE THE CONVERSATIONS
YOU ALL HAVE HAD PARTICIPATED
IN AS WE ADVANCE AND PROTECT
TENANTS AS SMALL BUSINESS
TENANTS AND AS RESIDENTIAL
TENANTS AND WE ARE HOPING THAT
THE CONVERSATION OVER THE NEXT
WEEK WILL TRULY ADD TO A ROBUST
AND COMPREHENSIVE APPROACH TO
PROTECTING THOSE EXPERIENCING
THE CONSEQUENCES OF COVID.
I WILL NOTE THIS IS AN EFFORT
TO MAKE SURE WE ARE RESPONDING
NOT JUST TO THE ECONOMIC NEEDS
AS WE TALK ABOUT BUILDING
STABILITY FUNDS AND SMALL
BUSINESS STABILIZATION FUNDS WE
TRIED TO WORK THE TIGHT ROPE TO
MAKE SURE WE ARE CONTINUING
ONGOING EFFORTS TO RESPOND TO
THE HEALTH CRISIS.
SO THAT IS SORT OF THE IMPETUS
OF THE STRATEGY IN FRONT OF YOU
WITH THE BILL THAT WE HAVE AS
AMENDED.
MY OFFICE HAS SPOKEN WITH THE
FOLKS AT UNITED WAY RENTAL
ASSISTANCE ABOUT THE APPROACH
WE ARE PROPOSING IN SUBSTITUTE
VERSION 7 AND THEY HAVE LET US
KNOW THEY ARE HOLDING, THEY
HAVE LET US KNOW HOLDING A
PORTION OF THE RENTAL
ASSISTANCE FUND TEMPORARILY
WILL NOT CAUSE NEGATIVE IMPACTS
ON FOLKS ASSESS RENTAL
ASSISTANCE AND THEY ARE
CONCERNED ABOUT THE UPCOMING
JUNE 4 DATE WHEN THE MORATORIUM
EXPIRES AND WE HAVE COMMITTED
TO WORKING WITH THEM ALONG WITH
THE ENTIRE COUNCIL TO ENSURE
FUNDS ARE RELEASED PRIOR TO THE
DATE.
I WILL LEAVE IT AT THAT AND
TURN IT BACK OVER TO YOU
COUNCIL PRESIDENT GONZALEZ.
>> THANK YOU SO MUCH.
WE ARE CURRENTLY CONSIDERING
THE PROPOSED SUBSTITUTE AND WE
ADDRESSED THE SUBSTITUTE IN THE
SUBSTANTIVE BILL, SO ARE THERE
ANY QUESTIONS ON THE PROPOSED
SUBSTITUTE AS, AS INTRODUCED BY
COUNCILMEMBER MOSQUEDA ? OKAY
LET'S GO AHEAD AND TAKE A VOTE
ON THE ADOPTION OF THE
SUBSTITUTE.
WILL OCCUR PLEASE CALL THE ROLL
ON THE ADOPTION OF THE
SUBSTITUTE BILL?
>> SAWANT
>> AYE
>> STRAUSS
>> AYE
>> HERBOLD
>> AYE
>> MORALES
>> AYE
>> LEWIS
>> AYE
>> JUAREZ
>> AYE
>> MOSQUEDA
>> AYE
>> PEDERSEN
>> AYE
>> GONZALEZ
>> AYE
>> NINE IN FAVOR, NONE OPPOSED
.
>> THE MOTION CARRIES THE
SUBSTITUTE IS ADOPTED AND
VERSION 7 IS NOW BEFORE THE
CITY COUNCIL.
ARE THERE ANY OTHER FURTHER
COMMENTS ON THE BILL AS AMENDED?
>> I WILL JUST SAY AGAIN THIS
IS THE FIRST OPPORTUNITY FOR US
TO ACCEPT FEDERAL FUNDS.
I HOPE THIS SETS THE TONE FOR
THE ASSISTANCE WE WOULD LIKE TO
SEE APPLIED ACROSS THE CITY IN
TERMS OF RENTAL ASSISTANCE AS
WELL AS FAMILIES AND
INDIVIDUALS, WORKERS FOR SMALL
BUSINESS AND AS YOU WILL SEE IN
THE NEXT FEW DAYS SPURRING
ADDITIONAL CONVERSATIONS AND
INVESTMENTS IN THOSE WHO ARE
MOST VULNERABLE AND LIVING IN
CONGREGATE SHELTERS.
THIS MORNING WE HAD A
CONVERSATION ABOUT THE DESIRE
TO SEE THE EXECUTIVE AND
DEPARTMENTS MOVE IN THEIR
STRATEGIES AND REALLY DIVING
INTO THE RECOMMENDATIONS THAT
HAVE COME OVER IN THE LAST FEW
DAYS FROM THE DIRECT HOUSING
SERVICE PROVIDERS AND HOMELESS
SHELTERS PROVIDER TO MAKE SURE
WE ARE RESPONDING TO THE
ONGOING PUBLIC HEALTH NEED IN
THOSE SETTINGS.
WE KNOW THAT IT IS CRITICAL TO
NOT ONLY PARTICIPATE IN SOCIAL
DISTANCING BUT WE CANNOT KEEP
DISTANCES WHEN PEOPLE ARE
LIVING IN CONGREGATE SHELTERS.
VERY INTERESTED IN FOLLOWING UP
WITH ALL OF YOU.
I KNOW COUNCILMEMBER HERBOLD
EXPRESSED INTEREST TO SEE
MOVEMENT ON THIS EFFORT IN THE
NEXT FEW DAYS AND WE WILL BE
COMING BACK VERY SOON ABOUT THE
RELEASE OF THE 1.4 MILLION.
>> THANK YOU, ARE THERE ANY
FURTHER COMMENTS ON THE BILL AS
AMENDED?
COUNCILMEMBER HERBOLD.
>> FIRST I WANT TO THANK
COUNCILMEMBER MOSQUEDA FOR THE
LANGUAGE CLARIFYING THAT
SENIORS LIVING IN PERMANENT
SUPPORTIVE HOUSING WILL BE
ELIGIBLE TO RECEIVE MAIL
DELIVERY FUNDED BY THE FEDERAL
OLDER AMERICANS ACT.
OUR FRIENDS AT THE HOUSING
DEVELOPMENT CONSORTIUM CONVEYED
A REQUEST TO FIND WAYS TO
SUPPORT MAIL PROVISION FOR
PEOPLE IN PERMANENT SUPPORTIVE
HOUSING SO I APPRECIATE THE
SUBSTITUTE INCLUDES THAT
LANGUAGE.
AS MENTIONED THIS MORNING, I
HAVE SOME RESERVATIONS AROUND
REDUCING THE AMOUNT OF FUNDS
AVAILABLE FOR RENTAL ASSISTANCE.
UNDER NORMAL BUDGET TIMES WE
FIND RENT ASSISTANCE PROGRAMS
TO THE TUNE OF ALMOST $4
MILLION.
WE ADDED AN ADDITIONAL MILLION
DOLLARS A COUPLE WEEKS AGO, WE
WERE POISED TO ADD ANOTHER $1.5
MILLION.
WE ARE REDUCING THAT TO $750,000
BUT WE REALLY APPRECIATE THE
UNDERSTANDING FROM
COUNCILMEMBER MOSQUEDA THAT
THIS IS A TEMPORARY PAUSE.
I WANT TO PROVIDE A LITTLE MORE
DETAIL ABOUT THE CONVERSATIONS
THAT MY OFFICE HAVE HAD WITH
THE HOME-BASED PROGRAM AND THE
UNITED WAY MORE THAN 7000
HOUSEHOLDS APPLIED FOR APRIL
RENT OVER A 48 HOUR PERIOD OF
TIME.
THE ESTIMATES ARE THEY WILL BE
ABLE, WITH THE CURRENT FUNDING,
THEY WILL BE ABLE TO ASSIST
ABOUT 2000 OF THE 7000
HOUSEHOLDS SO THE NEED FOR RENT
ASSISTNCE IS GREAT AND WE
UNDERSTAND THAT THEY WILL BE
DOING ANOTHER OPPORTUNITY FOR
PEOPLE TO APPLY FOR RENT
ASSISTANCE ON MAY 18.
SO I THINK A SHORT DELAY ON
PROVIDING DOUBTFUL FUNDING FOR
RENT ASSISTANCE IS ACCEPTABLE
AND AS COUNCILMEMBER MOSQUEDA
MENTIONED EARLIER , THE UNITED
WAY AND THE HOME-BASED PROGRAM
IS SUPPORTIVE OF US DOING SO.
I'M COMFORTABLE WITH HOLDING
BACK SOME FEDERAL FUNDS FOR A
LIMITED PERIOD OF TIME AND I
WANT TO SAY I REALLY SUPPORT
THE GOAL OF HOLDING THESE FUNDS
BACK FOR A SHORT PERIOD OF TIME.
IF THE GOAL IS INDEED TO
FACILITATE A CONVERSATION WITH
THE EXECUTIVE ABOUT HOW TO
ENSURE THAT PEOPLE WHO ARE
LIVING IN CONGREGATE CARE IN
UNSAFE AND UNHEALTHY CONDITIONS,
THAT ARE ABLE TO MOVE INTO
PLACES WHERE THEY CAN STAY SAFE
AND HEALTHY.
WE KNOW THAT OUTBREAKS OF COVID-
19 AMONG PEOPLE IN CONGREGATE
SHELTERS IN THE PAST SEVERAL
WEEKS IS INCREASING GREATLY.
CASES AMONG PEOPLE, THAT ARE
EXPRESSING HOMELESSNESS ARE
ACCELERATING AS NEW CASES IN
THE COUNTY AS A WHOLE HAVE
STABILIZED.
2 TO 3 WEEKS GO PEOPLE
EXPERIENCING HOMELESSNESS ONLY
COMPRISED 1% OF TOTAL CASES
WHERE YESTERDAY THEY ARE 40% OF
TOTAL CASES.
SO AGAIN I APPRECIATE THE
OPPORTUNITY TO HIT PAUSE ON THE
FULL ALLOCATION OF THESE FUNDS
SO WE COULD DEAL
COMPREHENSIVELY WITH THE
CHALLENGES BEFORE US.
>> THANK YOU COUNCILMEMBER
HERBOLD.
COUNCILMEMBER STRAUSS I AM
HEARING A LITTLE BIT OF AMBIENT
NOISE FROM YOUR PHONE IF YOU
DON'T MIND MUTING THAT WOULD BE
HELPFUL.
THANK YOU.
>> MY SINCEREST APOLOGIES.
>> THAT'S OKAY WE ARE ALL
LEARNING THIS TOGETHER.
ARE THERE ANY OTHER COMMENTS ON
THE BILL AS AMENDED?
COUNCILMEMBER SAWANT ?
>> THANK YOU PRESIDENT
GONZALEZ.
I WILL OF COURSE BE SUPPORTING
THE BILL AND THE ATTEMPT TO
FIGURE OUT IF FUNDS CAN BE
ALLOCATED FOR THE BE
DENSIFICATION OF THE SHELTERS.
I THINK ALL OF THIS DISCUSSION
ILLUSTRATES THE NO WIN SITUATION
CREATED BY LOCAL, STATE AND
FEDERAL FINANCES WHEN BIG
BUSINESS DOES NOT PAY THEIR
FAIR SHARE.
I THINK UNLESS GOVERNMENT AT
ALL LEVELS HAVE POLITICAL
COURAGE TO CREATE PUBLIC REVENUE
FOR PROGRESSIVE SOURCES WE WILL
END UP AS THE RECESSION GETS
DEEPER AND WORSE AND MORE
WIDESPREAD WE WILL END UP BEING
FORCED TO USE NOT ONLY THIS
APPROACH BUT ULTIMATELY WE
DESPERATELY NEED FUNDING FOR
THE HOME-BASED RENTAL
ASSISTANCE PROGRAM AND WE ALSO
NEED FUNDING TO ALLOW FOR
SOCIAL DISTANCING WITHIN THE
HOMELESS SHELTER SYSTEM AND
BOTH NEED TO BE PASSED AND THE
ONLY SOLUTION IS TO EXPAND THE
PUBLIC ESPECIALLY IN A CITY
LIKE SEATTLE THE MOST
PROGRESSIVE TAX SYSTEM WE WILL
SEE BUDGET REVENUES BE DEEPLY
IMPACTED AS JOBLESSNESS OR
WORKING PEOPLE KEEP GOING UP
BECAUSE WORKING PEOPLE ARE
SHOULDERING THE BURDEN SO IT'S
A MATTER OF MATHEMATICS AS WELL.
I THINK IT WAS VERY IMPORTANT
THAT THE HOUSING JUSTICE PROJECT
ADMINISTRATOR SHOWED A VIDEO TO
US THAT HAD RECEIVED THEY HAVE
RECEIVED 7000 APPLICATIONS FOR
THE HOME-BASED FUNDS OVER 48
HOURS.
AND THE PROGRAM CAN ONLY HELP
1000 APPLICANTS AND MY
CONCLUSION MIGHT BE SLIGHTLY
DIFFERENT FROM OTHER
COUNCILMEMBERS.
I THINK THIS SHOWS WITH A
JOBLESSNESS DRAMATICALLY GOING
UP AND THE NUMBER OF APPLICANTS
WHO NEED THE FUNDS RAPIDLY
RISING, THAT IN COMBINATION
WITH SKYHIGH RENT AND THE
AMOUNT OF MONEY THAT WILL BE
NEEDED IN TERMS OF DOLLARS, THE
SHEER NUMBER OF DOLLARS THAT
ARE NEEDED TO COVER RENT AND
PEOPLE WILL NOT BE ABLE TO PAY
RENTAL ASSISTANCE IS NOT A
VIABLE SOLUTION, NOT A VIABLE
PROPOSAL BY ITSELF IN THE
ABSENCE OF TAXES ON BIG
BUSINESS AND THE WEALTHY OF
LOCAL STATE AND LOCAL LEVELS TO
GENERATE THE REVENUES TO BE USED
, THE SKILL OF RENTAL
ASSISTANCE NEEDED BUT EQUALLY
IMPORTANT AND MORE IMPORTANTLY
RENTAL ASSISTANCE AT THIS
MOMENT BECAUSE IN A RECESSION
SOMEBODY PAYS THE PRICE THE
ONLY QUESTION IS WHO WILL PAY
THE PRICE SO RENTAL ASSISTANCE
AT THIS MOMENT ON A LARGE SCALE
ON THE BASIS OF PUBLIC FUNDS
WOULD EFFECTIVELY MEAN A BAILOUT
FOR LANDLORDS AND PROPERTY
MANAGEMENT CORPORATIONS GIVEN
HOW RENTERS AND TENANTS ARE
EXPLOITED SO IN ADDITION FOR
ALL THE RENTAL ASSISTANT WHICH
I SUPPORT WE NEED TO HAVE A
FIGHT FOR FULL SUSPENSION
WITHOUT CONSEQUENCE OF RENT
PAYMENTS AND MORTGAGE AND
UTILITY PAYMENTS FOR RENTERS
AND HOMEOWNERS AND SMALL
LANDLORDS AND THE BIG BANKS,
CORPORATE LANDLORDS AND WALL
STREET SHOULD PAY FOR THE
CRISIS.
I WILL SHARE OVER 9000
WASHINGTON RESIDENTS HAVE SIGNED
THE COMMUNITY PETITION FOR SUCH
A SUSPENSION WITHOUT
CONSEQUENCE OF RENT MORTGAGE
AND WE ARE SEEING SIMILAR
PETITIONS AND CAMPAIGNS,
HUNDREDS ALL OVER THE NATION
FROM OTHER ORGANIZATIONS.
>> THANK YOU COUNCILMEMBER
SAWANT.
AND THE OTHER COMMENTS ON THE
BILL AS AMENDED?
OKAY I DO NOT SEE ANYONE ELSE
RAISING THEIR HAND OR SENDING
ME MESSAGES FROM THOSE ON THE
PHONE SO I WILL GO AHEAD AND
CLOSE OUT DEBATE AND ASKED THE
CLERK TO PLEASE CALL THE ROLL
ON THE PASSAGE OF THE BILL AS
AMENDED.
>> SAWANT AYE STRAUSS AYE
HERBOLD HERBOLD AYE JUAREZ
AYE LEWIS AYE MORALES AYE
MOSQUEDA AYE PEDERSEN AYE
PRESIDENT GONZALEZ AYE.
ITEM 9 FAVORITE ON THE POST.
>> THE BILL PASSES AS AMENDED,
PLEASE AFFIX MY SIGNATURE TO
LEGISLATION ON MY BEHALF.
WILL LOOK LIKE PLEASE READ ITEM
3 INTO THE RECORD?
>> AGENDA ITEM 3 COUNCIL BILL
119784.
RELATING TO TERMINATION OF
RESIDENTIAL RENTAL TENDENCIES
PROVIDING A DEFENSE TO
EVICTIONS OCCURRING WITHIN SIX
MONTHS OF THE TERMINATION OF
THE MAYOR'S RESIDENTIAL
EVICTION MORATORIUM AS AMENDED
BY RESOLUTION 31938 AMENDING
SECTION 22.20 6.160 OF THE CODE
DECLARING EMERGENCY AND
ESTABLISHING IMMEDIATE
EFFECTIVE DATE.
>> THANK YOU SO MUCH.
I AM GOING TO MOVE TO PASS
COUNCIL BILL 119784 IS VERY
SECOND?
>> SECOND.
>> MOVED AND SECONDED TO PASS
THE BILL SO WE HAVE SEVERAL
AMENDMENTS TO GO THROUGH SO MY
SUGGESTION IS THAT WE GO
THROUGH THE AMENDMENTS FIRST
AND THEN WE CAN HAVE A
DISCUSSION ABOUT THE BILL AS
AMENDED BEFORE WE TAKE A FINAL
VOTE ON THE BILL.
SO I WILL GO AHEAD AND KICK OFF
THE CONVERSATION.
TO MAKE A MOTION TO AMEND
COUNCIL BILL 119784 AS
PRESENTED ON AMENDMENT ONE ON
THE AGENDA.
>> SECOND.
>> MOVED AND SECONDED TO AMEND
THE BILL, COLLEAGUES AS A
SPONSOR OF THE AMENDMENT I WILL
ADDRESS FIRST AND THEN WE CAN
ENGAGE IN CONVERSATION.
AMENDMENT ONE IS A VERY
NONCONTROVERSIAL AMENDMENT.
IT IS A VARIATION OF TECHNICAL
CHANGES SO THE AMENDMENTS WOULD
MAKE A GRAMMATICAL CORRECTION
REFERRING TO THE DATE. IT ALSO
ADDS ADDITIONAL COMPLIANCE FOR
GOVERNOR ORDER 20-28. I'M HAPPY
TO ENTERTAIN QUESTIONS OR
COMMENTS ABOUT AMENDMENT ONE.
HEARING AND SEEING ON I WOULD
ASK THE COURT PLEASE CALL THE
ROLE ON THE ADOPTION OF
AMENDMENT ONE.
>> SAWANT SAWANT AYE STRAUSS
AYE HERBOLD AYE JUAREZ
JUAREZ AYE LEWIS AYE
MORALES AYE MOSQUEDA AYE
PEDERSEN AYE PRESIDENT
GONZALEZ AYE . NINE IN FAVOR,
NONE OPPOSED.
>> THE AMENDMENT IS ADOPTED.
I'M GOING TO GO AHEAD AND CALL
ON COUNCILMEMBER PEDERSEN WHO
HAS AMENDMENT TWO.
>> THANK YOU COUNCIL PRESIDENT.
THE VIEWING PUBLIC NOW MIGHT NOT
KNOW THAT WE DID TALK ABOUT
THIS, THIS MORNING DURING
COUNCIL MEETING SO BEAR WITH ME
AS EVERY PIECE SOME COMMENTS
BUT TO SET THE TABLE FOR THE
THREE AMENDMENTS THAT I HAVE
TODAY I REALLY APPRECIATE THE
COUNCIL PRESIDENT WORKING HARD
ON THIS LEGISLATION, COUNCIL
BILL 119784 I AGREE WE NEED TO
DO WHAT WE CAN AS A CITY
GOVERNMENT TO PREVENT EVICTION.
I AM PROUD TO JOIN MY COUNCIL
COLLEAGUES AND THE MAYOR TO
SUPPORT MULTIPLE RELIEF
PACKAGES AND CHANGING
REGULATION'S TO PROVIDE RELIEF.
THIS INCLUDES FUNNELING
MILLIONS OF ADDITIONAL DOLLARS
TO EVICTION PREVENTION AND
RENTAL ASSISTANCE.
I ALSO WANT COMPASSION OF
POLICIES TO BE SUSTAINABLE.
SOME CONSTITUENTS JUST LIKE
PEOPLE WHO CALLED IN TODAY,
SOMEWHERE IN FAVOR, SOMEWHERE
OPPOSED AND TO RECONCILE THESE
OPPOSING VIEWS IPO FORWARD
THESE AMENDMENTS WHICH I BELIEVE
WILL BE HELPFUL FOR THE
SUSTAINABILITY AND THE
LEGISLATION.
I STARTED BY CONSIDERING THE
APPROACH WE TOOK TO AMEND THE
LEGISLATION FOR MORATORIUM ON
EVICTIONS DURING THE COLDEST
WINTER MONTHS AND THEN CONSIDER
DIFFERENCES WITH THE CURRENT
COVID CRISIS.
THE FIRST AMENDMENT BEFORE US IS
TO EXEMPT SMALL LANDLORDS
DEFINED AS THOSE WITH FOUR OR
FEWER UNITS.
DO I NEED TO MOVE THE
AMENDMENT?
>> YES YOU DO BEFORE WE DISCUSS.
THE MAGIC WORDS TO PUT
AMENDMENT TWO IN FRONT OF US.
>> MOVED TO AMEND COUNCIL BILL
119784 AS PRESENTED ON
AMENDMENT TWO ON THIS AGENDA.
>> SECOND.
>> MOVED AND SECONDED TO AMEND
THE BILL, COUNCILMEMBER
PEDERSEN YOU CAN NOW ADDRESS
AMENDMENT TWO.
>> SIMILAR TO THE SITUATION
WHEN WE WERE CONSIDERING THE
WINTER MONTH BAN ON EVICTIONS
OR MORATORIUM ON EVICTIONS AT
THAT TIME.
WE HEARD FROM A LOT OF LANDLORDS
ON A COUPLE OF UNITS, THREE
UNITS, FOUR UNITS, WHO ARE
STRUGGLING TO PAY THEIR
MORTGAGES, PROPERTY TAXES,
PROPERTY INSURANCE AND THEY ARE
OPPOSED TO THE BILL, A LOT OF
THOSE THAT HAVE WRITTEN TO US
SO THIS EXEMPTION WOULD BE IN
THE SAME SPIRIT OF WHAT WE
PASSED DURING THE WINTER
MORATORIUM.
HAPPY TO ANSWER QUESTIONS.
>> THANK YOU COUNCILMEMBER
PEDERSEN.
I WOULD SAY IN RESPONSE TO THIS
THAT AS I MENTIONED DURING
COUNCIL BRIEFING I AM NOT
SUPPORTING AMENDMENT TWO AND I
WOULD LIKE TO TALK A LITTLE BIT
MORE ABOUT WHY.
OVER 50% OF RESIDENTS ARE
TENANTS WHO LIVE IN SMALL
MEDIUM AND LARGE MULTI FAMILY
BUILDINGS AND MANY OF THEM ARE
FEELING THE NEGATIVE IMPACTS OF
THE PUBLIC HEALTH CRISIS
CAUSING AN ECONOMIC CRISIS OF
MASS.
PROPORTIONS.
THAT BURDEN IS BEING FELT BY
LOW-WAGE WORKERS WHO FIND
THEMSELVES, MANY FOR THE FIRST
TIME IN THEIR LIVES UNEMPLOYED,
MANY ARE RENTERS WHO WOULD
BENEFIT FROM THIS LAW IN
PARTICULAR SO THIS AMEND AND IS
PROPOSED WOULD STRIP MANY OF
THE RENTERS OF THE ABILITY TO
ASSERT THIS DEFENSE IF AND WHEN
THEY NEED IT IN THE SIX MONTHS
AFTER THE EVICTION MORATORIUM
DECLARED BY THE MAYOR IS
LIFTED, THE INTENT OF THE BILL
IS TO PROVIDE ACCESS TO AN
ADDITIONAL EVICTION OFFENSE
DEFENSE TO AS MANY TENANTS AS
POSSIBLE REGARDLESS OF IF THE
TENANT MADE A CHOICE TO RENT
FROM A CORPORATE LANDLORD OR
SMALL LANDLORD SO UNFORTUNATELY
I BELIEVE THIS CREATES TOO MUCH
OF A CARVEOUT THAT MAY RESULT
IN LIVING THOUSANDS OF RENTERS
WITHOUT ACCESS TO MAKE
OPPORTUNITY TO PREVENT EVICTION
IN A COURT PROCEEDING IN THE
SIX MONTHS AFTER THE
TERMINATION OF THE EVICTION
MORATORIUM AND FOR THOSE
REASONS I WILL BE VOTING NO AND
I WOULD ASK MY COLLEAGUES TO
JOIN ME IN VOTING NO ON THIS
AMENDMENT.
JUST WANTED TO SHARE THOSE
COMMENTS BEFORE I INVITE
COMMENT FROM MY COLLEAGUES.
ANYONE ELSE WANT TO MAKE A
COMMENT?
COUNCILMEMBERS SAWANT, JUAREZ
AND LEWIS SO COUNCILMEMBER
SAWANT THE FLOOR IS YOURS.
>> I WILL BE OPPOSING THIS
AMENDMENT WHICH WOULD STRIP
RENTERS OF THEIR PREVENTIONS
AGAINST CONVICTION ESPECIALLY
IN THE CONTEXT OF A PANDEMIC
AND A GLOBAL RECESSION THAT
WILL BE AS DEEP OR DEEPER THAN
THE GREAT RECESSION.
MY OFFICE HAS BEEN CONTACTED BY
HUNDREDS OF RENTERS OVER THE
YEARS AND WE HAVE SEEN THE BIG
CORPORATE LANDLORD'S ARE FOR
MORE LIKELY TO BE RESPONSIBLE
FOR VIOLATING RENTER RIGHTS BUT
WE HAVE SEEN THE WORST
LANDLORDS DIVIDE THEIR
PROPERTIES UP INTO MULTIPLE LLCS
AND HAVE THOSE OWNED BY OTHER
LLCS AND SO ON TO OBSCURE WHO
OWNS WHAT.
THIS PROVISION MAKES IT
DIFFICULT FOR RENTERS TO KNOW
IF THEY ARE PROTECTED BY THE
LAW.
IN THE RARE CASES WHERE THE
EVICTION MIGHT BE PURSUED BY A
SMALLER LANDLORD COUNCILMEMBERS
AND ELECTED OFFICIALS NEED TO
DECIDE WHO MOST NEEDS OUR
SUPPORT, FAMILIES ON THE VERGE
OF BEING EVICTED LOSING
EVERYTHING ESPECIALLY IN THE
CONTEXT, MANY LIKELY BECOMING
HOMELESS AS A RESULT, HAVING
DAMAGED CREDIT AND HAVING DEBT
ON THEIR HANDS, POSSIBLY DYING.
ARE WE GOING TO STAND UP FOR
THEM OR SOMEBODY WHO OWNS FOUR
OR 10 OR 100 RENTAL HOME?
ANOTHER IMPORTANT POINT WHO IS
A SMALL LANDLORD IS A VERY
SUBJECTIVE ISSUE.
FROM THEIR OWN ADMISSION.
ONE OF THE TWO ORGANIZING TOWN
HALLS FROM APRIL, WE HAD A
SMALL LANDLORD TELL US WHO
ATTENDED THE TOWN HALL, THEY
TOLD US THEY HAD WORKED WITH
THEIR TENANT WHO WAS LAID OFF
AND THEY PROACTIVELY APPROACHED
THE TENANT TO NEGOTIATE AN
AGREEMENT THAT WORKS FOR TENANT
AND SMALL LANDLORD AND I WOULD
URGE ALL LANDLORDS TO NEGOTIATE
SUCH AGREEMENTS WITH TENANTS
AND BE ON THE SIDE OF TENANTS
NOT BIG PROPERTY MANAGEMENT
CORPORATIONS AND LANDLORDS.
OBVIOUSLY COUNCILMEMBER
PEDERSEN IS CHOOSING TO
REPRESENT LANDLORDS AND IT IS
UNFORTUNATE THE AMENDMENT WAS
PRESENTED AT THE MORATORIUM
LEGISLATION THAT WAS PUT FORWARD
AND IT WAS UNFORTUNATE THAT
SOME COUNCIL MEMBERS VOTED YES,
THE AMENDMENT WAS BAD THEN AND
IT IS BAD IT NOW FOR RENTERS.
COUNCILMEMBER PEDERSEN TALKS
ABOUT RECONCILING BETWEEN THE
INTEREST OF LANDLORD AND RENTERS
, BUT AS A MEMBER OF THE CITY
OF SEATTLE RENTER COMMISSION
SAID IN PUBLIC COMMENT TODAY,
AS SOMEBODY WHO OWNS MULTIPLE
BUILDINGS OF APARTMENTS THAT IS
NOT THE SAME AS A WORKING-CLASS
RENTER BARELY GETTING BY WHO IS
NOW STATISTICALLY LIKELY TO
LOSE THEIR JOB WITH THEIR INCOME
EVEN IF THEY HAVE NOT LOST
THEIR JOB.
I DO NOT THINK WE SHOULD MAKE
IT EASIER TO READ THE WORKING-
CLASS TENANTS.
WE SHOULD LEARN FROM WHAT
HAPPENED IN THE WAKE OF THE 2007
-2008 RECESSION WERE NEARLY 8
MILLION MIDDLE-CLASS HOMEOWNERS
WERE STRIPPED OF THE ONLY
LIQUIDITY THEY EVER HAD.
THAT WILL NOT BE COMING BACK
ANYTIME SOON SO WE CAN SEE
CRISES SUCH AS THE GREAT
RECESSION AND THE RECESSION NOW
UNLESS WE HAVE A MOVEMENT
FIGHTING BACK WILL BE USED NOT
ONLY TO DENY RENTERS AND
WORKING-CLASS PEOPLE OF THEIR
RIGHT DURING THIS PANDEMIC BUT
ALSO TO EXTRACT MORE FROM THEM
AND TO EXTRACT THEM IN
DIFFERENT WAYS.
>> THANK YOU COUNCILMEMBER
SAWANT, I WILL CALL NOW ON
COUNCILMEMBER LEWIS AND I
THINK I HAVE HERBOLD IN THE
QUEUE.
>> I WANT TO THANK COUNCILMEMBER
PEDERSEN FOR BRINGING THIS
FORWARD AND I APPRECIATE THE
SPIRIT IN WHICH IT WAS
INTRODUCED.
I SUPPORTED A SIMILAR AMENDMENT
DURING DISCUSSION OF THE WINTER
EVICTION LEGISLATION.
I THINK IT MADE SENSE IN THE
CONTEXT OF THAT POLICY IN THAT
WE WERE MOVING INTO NEW
TERRITORY.
IT WAS A PROACTIVE POLICY ABOUT
CLEAR POLICY PREFERENCE AND WE
WERE SHIPPING THE FIRST IN THE
NATION ORDINANCE TO ACCOMPLISH
THAT POLICY GOAL.
I THINK THE CIRCUMSTANCES ARE
DIFFERENT FOR A LOT OF REASONS
ARTICULATED EARLIER BY
COUNCILMEMBER GONZALEZ NAMELY
THAT WE HAVE WIDESPREAD AND
MASSIVE UNCERTAINTY OVER 1.4
MILLION WASHINGTON RESIDENTS
ARE ON UNEMPLOYMENT, HAVE LOST
THEIR JOBS, FACE SIGNIFICANT
INSECURITY ABOVE AND BEYOND THE
PRECARIOUS SITUATION THAT A LOT
OF FOLKS WERE IN BEFORE THIS.
GIVEN THAT AND GIVEN THAT
POLICY GOALS ARE DIFFERENT HERE
THIS IS EMERGENCY LEGISLATION
NOT TO BE IN EFFECT IN
PERPETUITY BUT TO BE IN EFFECT
FOR A BRIEF PERIOD OF TIME.
IS DESIGNED TO MAKE SURE THAT
WE HAVE FOLKS INSIDE ABLE TO
REMAIN IN PLACE, TO NOT BE IN A
POSITION WHERE THEY ARE
EXPERIENCING HOMELESSNESS, TO
MAKE SURE THEY ARE IN A
POSITION WHERE THEY CAN BE
ISOLATED FOR PUBLIC HEALTH
REASONS TO OBSERVE SOCIAL
DISTANCING AND OTHER GUIDANCE
THAT THE GOVERNMENT HAS APPLIED
AND THAT THE CERTAINTY AND
ABILITY TO DO THAT WILL NOT BE
IMPACTED BY THE UNCERTAINTY OF
AN EVICTION PROCEEDING AND WE
KNOW THAT RISK OF DISPLACEMENT
WILL PERSIST AFTER THE ORDERS
ARE OVER.
WE WILL NOT COME OUT ON THE
OTHER SIDE OF THIS AND ALL OF
THE SUDDEN BE IN A POSITION
úWHERE THE ECONOMY WILL SPRING
BACK.
IS GOING TO BE A LONG AND
DIFFICULT RECOVERY SO A BUFFER
PERIOD BETWEEN THE END OF THE
ORDERS COMING BACK I THINK
WOULD BE APPROPRIATE. I THINK
THAT EXEMPTING SUCH A LARGE
NUMBER OF UNITS WOULD UNDERMINE
SOME OF THE PUBLIC POLICY
RATIONALE OF THIS EMERGENCY
LEGISLATION SO I WILL BE VOTING
AGAINST THIS AMENDMENT BUT I DO
APPRECIATE THE UNDERLYING
RATIONALE FOR BRINGING IT
FORWARD BUT I THINK GIVEN THE
SCOPE OF THE FOCUS IT IS
PROBABLY NOT THE BEST APPROACH.
>> THANK YOU COUNCILMEMBER
LEWIS, COUNCILMEMBER HERBOLD.
>> THANK YOU SO MUCH.
AS A COUNCILMEMBER WHO, IN THE
WINTER EVICTIONS LEGISLATION
DID VOTE FOR EXEMPTION FOR
SMALL LANDLORDS, I WANT TO
SPEAK TO THE REASON WHY I AM
NOT SUPPORTING THAT NOW.
HAS COUNCILMEMBER LEWIS JUST
SPOKE, I THINK THE POLICY AND
THE REASON FOR THE POLICY THAT
WE ARE CONTEMPLATING RIGHT NOW
IS VERY DIFFERENT IN LIGHT OF A
HEALTH EMERGENCY AND THE IMPACTS
ON THE GENERAL PUBLIC'S HEALTH.
WHEN PEOPLE ARE HOMELESS.
SECONDLY, I WANT TO JUST SORT OF
, AS A RELATES TO MY SUPPORT OF
THIS AMENDMENT FOR THE WINTER
ELECTION OR WINTER EVICTION
LEGISLATION, AT THAT TIME I HAD
CONFLATED THE SEATTLE
DEPARTMENT OF CONSTRUCTION AND
INSPECTION RENTAL HOUSING
REGISTRATION PROGRAM
REQUIREMENTS AS A RELATES TO
SMALL LANDLORDS AND LARGE
LANDLORDS.
THE GROUP HOLDS INFORMATION
ABOUT THE SIZES OF THE NUMBER
OF UNITS IN BUILDINGS NOBODY
HOLDS THE INFORMATION ABOUT
WHETHER OR NOT SOMEBODY IS A
LARGE OR SMALL LANDLORD.
SO I DO NOT BELIEVE THERE WOULD
BE A WAY FOR A TENANT TO BE ABLE
TO ASSERT THAT THERE LANDLORD
WAS A LARGE OR SMALL LANDLORD
IN EXERCISING THIS DEFENSE
BECAUSE IT IS NOT INFORMATION
THAT THE CITY COLLECTS, THE
INFORMATION THAT THE CITY
COLLECTS RELATES TO THE NUMBER
OF UNITS IN INDIVIDUAL
BUILDINGS FOR PURPOSES OF
ASSESSING AN INSPECTION FEE SO
THAT IS ANOTHER REASON TO NOT
SUPPORT THIS AMENDMENT AT THIS
TIME.
>> THANK YOU COUNCILMEMBER
HERBOLD.
IS THERE ANYONE ELSE WHO WOULD
LIKE TO SPEAK?
COUNCILMEMBER STRAUSS, PLEASE.
>> THANK YOU.
MY THOUGHTS WERE SUMMARIZED AS
WELL, COUNCILMEMBER PEDERSEN I
APPRECIATE YOU BRINGING THIS
AMENDMENT FORWARD.
I DID VOTE FOR THE AMENDMENT ON
THE WINTER EVICTION AND BECAUSE
THAT IS A PERMANENT POLICY PUT
IN PLACE AND THIS POLICY IS
TEMPORARY IN NATURE I WILL NOT
BE SUPPORTING THE AMENDMENT,
THANK YOU.
>> THANK YOU SO MUCH.
ANY OTHER COMMENTS ON THIS
AMENDMENT?
OKAY.
COUNCILMEMBER PEDERSEN IT IS
YOUR AMENDMENT SO I WOULD LIKE
TO GIVE THE SPONSOR OF THE
AMENDMENT THE LAST WORD SO IF
YOU WOULD LIKE TO GIVE US SOME
LAST WORDS ON YOUR AMENDMENT
BEFORE I CALL TO VOTE PLEASE
FEEL FREE TO DO SO.
>> SURE, I APPRECIATE THE
PROCESS.
I'M GLAD THAT I BROUGHT IT
FORWARD AND I'M GLAD PEOPLE
WERE ABLE TO AIR THEIR VIEWS ON
HOW THEY DIFFER.
I SEE THE RATIONALE AND RESPECT
IT, READY TO CALL FOR A VOTE ON
THE AMENDMENT.
>> I WANT TO ECHO THE SENTIMENTS
OF SOME OF MY COLLEAGUES WHO
APPRECIATE WHAT WAS POTENTIALLY
MOTIVATING YOUR DESIRE TO WANT
TO BRING AMENDMENT TWO FORWARD,
OBVIOUSLY WE HAVE A DIFFERENCE
OF OPINION AS TO THIS
PARTICULAR AMENDMENT BUT I
APPRECIATE THAT WE CAN ENGAGE
IN A RESPECTFUL DEBATE ABOUT
THOSE DIFFERENCES AND ULTIMATELY
MOVE THE POLICY FORWARD STILL
SO THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR
REACHING OUT TO ME PERSONALLY
AND HAVING THAT CONVERSATION
ABOUT THE FACT THAT YOU WERE
BRINGING FORWARD THIS AMENDMENT
AND OTHERS AND GIVING ME AN
OPPORTUNITY TO HAVE AN OFF-LINE
CONVERSATION WITH YOU ABOUT
THAT.
AT THIS POINT I WILL ASK THAT
THE CLERK PLEASE CALL THE ROLE
ON THE ADOPTION OF AMENDMENT
TWO.
>> SAWANT NO.
STRAUSS , AND NO, HERBOLD, NO,
JUAREZ, NO, LEWIS, NO,
MORALES, NO MOSQUEDA, NO,
PEDERSEN, AYE.
PRESIDENT GONZALEZ , NO.
>> ONE IN FAVOR, 80 POST.
>> THANK YOU, THE MOTION FAILS
AND THE AMENDMENT IS NOT
ADOPTED.
COUNCIL MEMBER PEDERSEN, I
KNOW YOU HAVE ANOTHER AMENDMENT
FOR US TO CONSIDER SO I WILL
HAND IT OVER TO YOU TO MAKE A
FORMAL AMENDMENT FOR DISCUSSION
ON AMENDMENT THREE, EXCUSE ME,
YES AMENDMENT THREE B.
>> YES, SO THIS AMENDMENT IS
ABOUT EITHER DOING GOOD FAITH
EFFORTS TO SHOW THAT THE TENANT
HAS APPLIED FOR RENTAL
ASSISTANCE PROGRAM OR WITH MORE
FLEXIBILITY FROM THE
PERSPECTIVE OF MORE FLEXIBILITY
THEY SIMPLY SELF CERTIFIED.
I WOULD LIKE TO MOVE AMENDMENT
THREE B AND I KNOW THERE IS A
PROPOSED REVISION FROM
COUNCILMEMBER HERBOLD THEY CAN
DISCUSS IN THIS BUT I WOULD
LIKE TO MOVE AMENDMENT 3 B SO
WE CAN DISCUSS IT.
>> SECOND.
>> MOVED AND SECONDED TO AMEND
THE BILL WITH VERSION 3, EXCUSE
ME AMENDMENT THREE B AS
DESCRIBED BY COUNCILMEMBER
PETERSON.
COUNCILMEMBER PEDERSEN DID YOU
WANT COUNCILMEMBER HERBOLD TO
MAKE REMARKS BEFORE YOU MAKE
YOURS?
>> I WOULD LIKE TO SET THE
TABLE 1st AND THEN I WOULD
WELCOME HER REVISION DISCUSSION.
>> GREAT, COUNCILMEMBER
PEDERSEN THE FLOOR IS YOURS ON
AMENDMENT 3 B.
>> THIS AMENDMENT 3 B WOULD
BASICALLY SAY THAT THE TENANT
WOULD HAVE TO SHOW OR SAY THEY
HAVE A GOOD FAITH EFFORT TO
OBTAIN RENTAL ASSISTANCE FROM A
PUBLIC, PRIVATE OR NONPROFIT
RENTAL ASSISTANCE PROGRAM OR
THEY CAN SUBMIT A DECLARATION
OR SELF CERTIFICATION STATING
THAT THEY HAVE SUFFERED
FINANCIAL HARDSHIP AND
THEREFORE ARE UNABLE TO PAY
RENT.
LET ME EXPLAIN HOW IT GOT TO
THIS POINT.
AGAIN, LOOKING AT WHAT WE DID
DURING THE WINTER EVICTION
MORATORIUM WHEN, WHICH I ENDED
UP VOTING FOR, THERE WERE
SEVERAL AMENDMENTS TO THAT.
AT THAT TIME THERE WAS WHAT WE
CALLED A MEANS TEST SO WE
BASICALLY SAID THOSE WITH NO
INCOME, LOW INCOME OR MODERATE
INCOME WERE ELIGIBLE FOR THAT
IN THE WINTER EVICTION BAN.
HOWEVER, A MEANS TEST TODAY MAY
NOT MAKE SENSE AND SOMEBODY WAS
EARNING 80% OF THEIR INCOME IN
2019 FOR THEIR TAX RETURN THEY
MAY NOT BE NOW BECAUSE OF THE
COVID EMERGENCY.
SO THE MEANS TEST WAS NOT
PRACTICAL RIGHT NOW.
AND THEN THE IDEA WAS TO LINK
IT TO COVID, A HARDSHIP THAT IS
INCURRED HOWEVER, THE DIRECT
LINK TO COVID IN TERMS OF THE
TENANT STATING THEY HAD A
HARDSHIP DUE TO COVID WAS
REMOVED WHAT THE SUBSTITUTE
VERSION.
SO THAT IS HOW, WITHOUT THAT I
WAS LOOKING FOR A WAY FOR THE
TENANT, THE WHOLE IDEA IS TO
PREVENT THE EVICTION.
SO THE IDEA IS TO HAVE THEM
SEEK THE FINANCIAL ASSISTANCE
AND RENTAL ASSISTANCE, ALL
THESE PROGRAMS WE HAVE BEEN
TALKING ABOUT THAT ARE AVAILABLE
AND TO SIMPLY STATE THAT THERE
WAS A GOOD FAITH EFFORT TO MAKE
THAT RENTAL ASSISTANCE.
IN CONVERSATIONS WITH SOME
FOLKS INCLUDING COUNCIL
PRESIDENT WHO POINTED OUT NOT
EVERYBODY IS ELIGIBLE FOR THE
PROGRAMS, THERE ARE BARRIERS
FOR CERTAIN FOLKS, THEN IT CAME
DOWN TO SAYING THAT OR SIMPLY
SELF CERTIFYING THERE IS
FINANCIAL HARDSHIP SO THAT'S
HOW THE AMENDMENT HAS EVOLVED
AND I THINK THERE IS FURTHER
EVOLUTION HERE ABOUT TO TAKE
PLACE WITH COUNCILMEMBER
HERBOLD AND THE PROPOSED
REVISION.
>> THANK YOU COUNCILMEMBER
PEDERSEN.
I DID WANT TO REITERATE THAT
THIS MORNING I INDICATED THAT I
MIGHT BE WILLING TO SUPPORT A
SELF CERTIFICATION DECLARATION
PATH.
INITIALLY I THOUGHT YOU WERE
INTENDING TO REVISE YOUR
AMENDMENT IN SUCH A FASHION
THAT YOU WOULD BIFURCATE THE
AMENDMENT TO IN GOOD FAITH
ACCESS RENTAL ASSISTANCE FROM
THE SORT OF NEW OPTION TO
PROVIDE A DECLARATION OF
FINANCIAL HARDSHIP FOR THE
INABILITY TO PAY RENT AND SO
WHEN I SAW THE REVISED AMENDMENT
THAT HAPPENED TO THOSE TWO
THINGS COUPLED, INNOCENT PUT
THEM IN THE SAME AMENDMENT AND
LED ME TO THE CONCLUSION I
CANNOT SUPPORT IT BECAUSE IT IS
STILL INCLUDED IN THE LANGUAGE
AROUND THE NEED TO ACCESS
RENTAL ASSISTANCE AS ONE OF THE
WAYS, THROUGH FINANCIAL
HARDSHIP TO APPROVE.
SO I KNOW THAT THERE HAS BEEN
CONVERSATION FROM THIS
AFTERNOON ABOUT A POTENTIAL
DECISION AND REVISION TO YOUR
PROPOSAL THAT MIGHT CREATE AN
AMENDMENT THAT WOULD BE MORE
PALATABLE TO ME, WHICH WOULD BE
ONE THAT ALLOWS FOR DECORATION
AND SELF CERTIFICATION BUT NOT
REQUIRED A SORT OF EXHAUSTION
OF ADMINISTRATIVE REMEDY TO GO
THROUGH THE PROCESS OF SHOWING
THAT YOU TRIED TO ACCESS RENTAL
ASSISTANCE.
SO AGAIN I APPRECIATE THE
INTENT THAT YOU HAVE HERE TO
CREATE SOME SORT OF REQUIREMENT
ON BEHALF OF THE TENANT TO GIVE
ASSURANCES THAT THEY ARE IN FACT
EXPERIENCING FINANCIAL BURDEN
AND I'M GOING TO SORT OF LEAVE
IT AT THAT AND OPEN IT UP FOR
ADDITIONAL COMMENTS AND SEE IF
PERHAPS COUNCILMEMBER HERBOLD
WANTS TO SPEAK UP AT THIS POINT.
YOU ARE ON MUTE.
>> ARE YOU INVITING MY
AMENDMENT COUNCIL PRESIDENT?
>> YES.
>> IT SOUNDS LIKE WE ARE.
>> FANTASTIC, I MOVED TO AMEND
VERSION 2 OF AMENDMENT 3 B,
THIS IS THE VERSION NOTED AS
VERSION 3, PERHAPS BEFORE I READ
WHAT THE CONTENT OF THE
AMENDMENT IS SHOULD BE CHECKED
TO SEE IF THERE ARE ANY
OBJECTIONS TO WAIVING THE RULES
FOR THIS AMENDMENT AS WELL?
>> YEAH.
SO I KNOW THAT COUNCILMEMBER
HERBOLD YOU HAVE THIS PROPOSED
AENDMENT TO THE AMENDMENT SO
IN ORDER FOR US TO CONSIDER
THIS AMENDMENT COUNCIL RULES
WILL NEED TO BE SUSPENDED.
IF THERE IS NO OBJECTION
COUNCIL RULES RELATED WILL BE
SUSPENDED.
SO HEARING NO OBJECTION, THE
RULES ARE SUSPENDED AND NOW
COUNCILMEMBER HERBOLD YOU ARE
FREE TO MOVE YOUR AMENDMENT
THAT WOULD AMEND COUNCILMEMBER
PEDERSEN AMENDMENT 3 B.
>> I MOVED TO AMEND VERSION 2
OF AMENDMENT 3 B, THE VERSION
REFERENCED AS VERSION 3.
AMENDING THE LAST SUBSECTION 2
DELETING THE WORDS HAS APPLIED
FOR OR MADE A GOOD-FAITH EFFORT
TO OBTAIN RENTAL ASSISTANCE
FROM A PUBLIC PRIVATE OR
NONPROFIT RENTAL ASSISTANCE
PROGRAM.
IF ADOPTED THIS SECTION 2 WOULD
STILL INCLUDE A DECLARATION OR
SUB CERTIFICATION ASSERTING
THAT THE ATTENDANT HAS SEVERED
FINANCIAL HARDSHIP AND IS
THEREFORE UNABLE TO PAY RENT.
>> SECOND.
>> MOVED AND SECONDED TO AMEND
AMENDMENT 3 B, COUNCILMEMBER
HERBOLD WOULD YOU LIKE TO
SPEAK MORE TO YOUR AMENDMENT?
>> THANK YOU, I APPRECIATE
COUNCILMEMBER PEDERSEN
BRINGING BOTH VERSIONS OF THESE
AMENDMENTS FORWARD.
MY INTENT IN THE AMENDMENT TO
THAT MOST RECENT VERSION 3 B IS
REALLY JUST TO STREAMLINE WHAT
IT IS THAT WE EXPECT A JUDGE TO
TAKE A LOOK AT.
AND CONFIRM. THE CERTIFICATION
BEING SIGNED IS SOMETHING THAT
A JUDGE CAN REVIEW.
AND DECEPTION IN SUCH A
CERTIFICATION IS CONSIDERED
PERJURY.
WHEREAS THE DETERMINATION OF
WHETHER OR NOT SOMEBODY HAS
MADE A GOOD-FAITH EFFORT TO
OBTAIN RENTAL ASSISTANCE,
INTERJECTS A CERTAIN AMOUNT OF
COMPLEXITY TO A JUDGES DECISION
IN THIS AREA AND AGAIN THIS IS
INTENDED TO RELEASE STREAMLINE
AND LIFT THE BURDENS ON THE
COURT FOR MAKING THESE
DETERMINATIONS.
>> THANK YOU COUNCILMEMBER
HERBOLD, COUNCILMEMBER
PEDERSEN.
>> THANK YOU, I WELCOME THIS AS
A FRIENDLY AMEND AND APPRECIATE
HOW THIS HAS EVOLVED BY THE
CONVERSATIONS.
I JUST WANTED TO CLARIFY MY
INTENT, IS THAT IT WOULD BE
GOOD FAITH EFFORTS TO DEEM
RENTAL ASSISTANCE OR TO SUBMIT
OR PROVIDE THE DECLARATION SO
THE TENANT COULD DO EITHER ONE
OF THOSE, SO THERE WERE A
COUPLE DIFFERENT PATHS FOR THEM
BUT I UNDERSTAND THE
TREPIDATION OF SOME APPEARANCE
OF ADDING A BARRIER WHICH I DO
NOT WANT TO DO SO I JUST WANTED
TO CLARIFY THAT
>> THANK YOU FOR THAT
CLARIFICATION.
I REALLY APPRECIATE
COUNCILMEMBER HERBOLD, YOUR
PARTNERSHIP IN ADVANCING THIS
AMENDMENT TO AMENDMENT 3B.
I THINK IT IS A GOOD FIX, IT
DOES STREAMLINE THINGS AND WHILE
I APPRECIATE COUNCILMEMBER
PEDERSEN YOUR ORIGINAL
AMENDMENT INCLUDED THE WORD OR
, IT STILL MADE ME NERVOUS AS
TO HOW THAT WOULD BE APPLIED IN
PRACTICE BY A JUDGE OR HOW IT
WOULD BE UTILIZED BY LANDLORDS
IN EVICTION PROCEEDINGS.
SO I THINK THIS IS A MUCH
CLEANER APPROACH, CERTAINLY ONE
OF THE THINGS THEY COULD PUT
INTO THEIR SELF CERTIFICATION
OR DECORATION IS A
REPRESENTATION THEY TRY TO
ACCESS RENTAL ASSISTANCE AND
WERE NOT ABLE TO SECURE IT, SO
I THINK THIS IS AN ELEGANT
SOLUTION TO THE, THE UNDERLYING
ISSUE THAT YOU ARE TRYING TO
RESOLVE COUNCILMEMBER PEDERSEN
TO YOUR ORIGINAL AMENDMENT.
FOR THE BENEFIT OF MY
COLLEAGUES, WE HAD A
CONVERSATION WITH THE KING
COUNTY BAR ASSOCIATION HOUSING
JUSTICE PROJECT LAWYER WHO WE
HEARD IN PUBLIC TESTIMONY
EARLIER.
HE INDICATED IN TERMS OF ON THE
GROUND PERSPECTIVE HAVING
EXPERIENCED REPRESENTING
TENANTS IN THESE COURT
PROCEEDINGS THAT THEY BELIEVE
THIS IS A GOOD SOLUTION AND
WOULD NOT PRESENT ANY
ADDITIONAL BARRIERS TO ACCESS
THE EVICTION DEFENSE AND HAS
CONFIDENCE THAT A JUDGE WOULD
SEE A DECORATION SIGNED UNDER
THE PENALTY OF PERJURY AS
ACCEPTABLE EVIDENCE TO BE ABLE
TO SUPPORT MAKING A CASE IF
THIS DEFENSE IS ASSERTED IN
EVICTION PROCEEDINGS.
I TOOK HIM TO GO WITH THE
REPRESENTATION
>>> COUNCILMEMBER SAWANT?
>> THANK YOU, I THINK THAT
COUNCILMEMBER HER WORLDS VERSION
I WILL STILL BE VOTING NO ON
THIS AMENDMENT, I FIND IT
DISTURBING THAT COUNCILMEMBERS
ARE EVOKING THIS IDEA THAT THIS
BOGEYMAN OF A BAD TENANT THAT'S
WHEN YOU SKIP OUT ON RENT, I'M
NOT SAYING IT DOESN'T HAPPEN,
MAYBE IT DOES, BUT THE POINT
IS, POLICYMAKING HAS TO BE
BASED ON STATISTICAL EVIDENCE,
AND IT OVERWHELMINGLY, NOT JUST
MOSTLY, EVICTIONS, ABSOLUTELY
TARGETING THE MOST VULNERABLE
IN OUR SOCIETY, THE REPORT
SHOWED THAT BLACK COMMUNITY
MEMBERS, ESPECIALLY BLACK WOMEN
AND SINGLE HOUSEHOLDS, THE ONES
THAT ARE MOST TARGETED, BASED
ON THAT EVIDENCE AND THE FACT
THAT VAST MAJORITIES OF WORKING
PEOPLE ARE GOING TO HAVE JOB
LOSSES IN INCOME LOSSES, OR
SUFFERING, THE ONLY IMPACT OF
THIS AMENDMENT IS TO FORCE
PEOPLE WHO ARE ALREADY LOSING
EVERYTHING, AS I SAID, IT IS
STILL A POINTLESS INDIGNITY,
ALREADY IN DIRE FINANCIAL
STRAITS.
OTHER THAN BEING ODIOUS TOWARDS
WORKING PEOPLE WHO ARE ALREADY
FACING THE RECESSION, I DON'T
KNOW WHY THIS GOOD-FAITH EFFORT
BURDEN IS NOT BEING PUT THAT ON
LANDLORDS, FOR THOSE REASONS I
WILL BE VOTING NO ON THIS
AMENDMENT.
>> THANK YOU COUNCILMEMBER
SAWANT.
ANY OTHER COLLEAGUES WANT TO
MAKE ANY COMMENTS?
COUNCILMEMBER STRAUSS?
>> JUST CLARIFYING, WE ARE
ABOUT TO VOTE ON THE AMENDMENT
TO COUNCILMEMBER PEDERSEN'S
AMENDMENT?
>> THAT IS CORRECT.
ANY OTHER QUESTIONS OR COMMENTS
FOR MY COLLEAGUES?
OKAY, SO
>> SORRY, IS A PROCESS POINT,
HAVE WE VOTED ON THE AMENDMENT
TO THE AMENDMENT?
I BELIEVE WE JUST PUT IT ON THE
MOTION.
MAYBE I AM WRONG.
>> NO, WE HAVE MOVED AND
SECONDED TO CONSIDER
COUNCILMEMBER HERBOLD'S
AMENDMENT TO AMENDMENT 3B, WE
ARE GOING TO VOTE ON THE
AMENDMENT TO COUNCILMEMBER
PEDERSEN'S AMENDMENT, BUT WE
HAVEN'T VOTED YET ON
COUNCILMEMBER PEDERSEN'S
VERSION, THE VERSION NEXT AS
AMENDED.
PARLIAMENTARY PROCEDURE IS THE
BEST.
[ LAUGHTER ] ALL RIGHT FOLKS,
OKAY, AND THE OTHER COMMENTS ON
THE AMENDMENT AS PROPOSED BY
COUNCILMEMBER HERBOLD?
SO LET'S SEE HERE, WILL THE
CLERK CALLED THE ROLE ON THE
AMENDMENT TO VERSION 2 OF
AMENDMENT 3B?>> SAWANT
>> AYE.
>> STRAUSS?
>> AYE.
>> HERBOLD?
>> AYE.
>> JUAREZ?
>> AYE.
>> LEWIS?
>> AYE.
>> MIRELES?
>> AYE.
>> MOSQUEDA?
>> AYE.
>> PETERSON ?
>> AYE.
>> PRESIDENT GONZALEZ?
>> AYE.
>> NINE IN FAVOR, NONE
OPPOSED.
>> EMOTION CARRIES, THE
AMENDMENT IS ADOPTED IN VERSION
2 OF AMENDMENT 3B IS BEFORE THE
COUNCIL AS AMENDED, CONSIDERING
COUNCILMEMBER PETERSON'S
AMENDMENT, AS WE JUST AMENDED
IT, ANY COMMENTS ON THE AMENDED
-- AMENDMENT AS AMENDMENT
AMENDED?
I'M GOING TO GO AHEAD AND ASKED
THE CLERK TO CALL THE ROLE, ON
ADOPTION OF AMENDMENT 3B AS
AMENDED?
>> SAWANT?
>> NO.
>> STRAUSS?
>> AYE.
>> HERBOLD?
>> AYE.
>> JUAREZ?
>> AYE.
>> LEWIS?
>> AYE.
>> MORALE IS?
>> NO.
>> MOSQUEDA?
>> AYE.
>> PEDERSEN?
>> AYE.
>> RESIDENT GONZALEZ?
>> PRESIDENT GONZALEZ?
>> AYE.
>> SEVEN IN FAVOR AND 2
OPPOSED.
>> THE EMOTION CARRIES AND THE
AMENDMENT IS ADOPTED.
WE ARE GOING TO MOVE NOW TO
AMENDMENT NUMBER 4, I WILL MOVE
TO AMEND COUNCIL BILL 119784,
AS PROPOSED AN AMENDMENT 4 ONTO
THE AGENDA.
IS THERE A SECOND?
>> SECOND.
>> MOVED AND SECONDED TO AMEND
THE BILL, SO AMENDMENT 4,
COLLEAGUES, IS AN AMENDMENT
THAT WOULD REMOVE A COURT
ORDERED PAYMENT PLAN, WE ARE
SIMPLY REMOVING THE REQUIREMENT
THAT A JUDGE ORDER A PAYMENT
PLAN AS THE ONLY REMEDY
AVAILABLE IF THE EVICTION
DEFENSE IS SUCCESSFULLY
ASSERTED.
WE HEARD CONCERNS FROM FOLKS
OVER AT THE HOUSING JUSTICE
PROJECT ABOUT THE SHEER VOLUME
OF APPLICATIONS FOR ASSISTANCE
THROUGH THE HOME-BASED FUNDS,
AND AS A RESULT OF THE SHEER
SHOCK OF NUMBERS, RECEIVING
7000 APPLICATIONS, AND REALLY
THE HOUSING PROJECTS ESTIMATION
THEY MIGHT BE ABLE TO HELP
2000, IT REALLY CREATED A LOT
OF CONCERN FOR FOLKS WHO ARE
PROVIDING DIRECT SERVICES.
THAT A PAYMENT PLAN WOULD BE
REALISTIC AND IN EVERY SINGLE
CASE, AND SO INSTEAD OF
REQUIRING THAT A PAYMENT PLAN
BE INSTITUTED AND POTENTIALLY
CREATING SOME KIND OF LEGAL
FINANCIAL OBLIGATION, THAT
INSTEAD WE SHOULD ALLOW A JUDGE
TO CONTINUE TO HAVE DISCRETION
IN TERMS OF IDENTIFYING WHICH
REMEDY WOULD BE MOST
APPROPRIATE BASED ON THE FACTS
OF THE CASE, IF A DEFENDANT IS
SUCCESSFUL IN ASSERTING EIGHT
EVICTION DEFENSE, SO I THINK IT
IS MORE APPROPRIATE FOR US TO
ALLOW A JUDGE THE LATITUDE THAT
THEY NEED BASED ON WHATEVER THE
RECORD IS IN FRONT OF HIM OR
HER, TO CRAFT APPROPRIATE
REMEDIES, A RENTAL PAYMENT PLAN
COULD BE ONE OF THOSE, BUT IT
COULD ALSO BE SOMETHING
ENTIRELY DIFFERENT.
AS A RESULT, I AM ADVANCING
THIS AMENDMENT TO REMOVE THAT
REQUIREMENT FROM THE SUBSTITUTE
BILL.
I AM HAPPY TO TAKE ANY COMMENTS
OR QUESTIONS ON THAT PARTICULAR
AMENDMENT.>> SECOND.
>> GREAT.>> ANY ADDITIONAL
COMMENTS OR QUESTIONS ON THAT?
>> ALL RIGHT, HEARING NONE, I
WOULD ASK THE COURT TO CALL THE
ROLE ON THE ADOPTION OF
AMENDMENT 4.>> SAWANT.
>> AYE.
>> STRAUSS.
>> AYE.
>> HERBOLD.
>> AYE.
>> JUAREZ?
>> AYE.
>> LEWIS?
>> AYE.
>> MIRELES MORALES.
>> AYE.
>> MOSQUEDA?
>> AYE.
>> PEDERSEN?
>> AYE.
>> PRESIDENT GONZALEZ CLICK
>> AYE.
>> 9 IN FAVOR, NONE OPPOSED.
>> EMOTION CARRIES AND THE
AMENDMENT IS ADOPTED.
ONE LAST AMENDMENT IS AMENDMENT
5, SPONSORED BY COUNCILMEMBER
PEDERSEN, I WILL HAND IT OVER
TO HIM.
>> YES, AMENDMENT 5 IS A
REPORTING REQUIREMENT THAT WE
WOULD BE ADDING TO THE BILL, SO
WITHIN TWO MONTHS OF THE
EFFECTIVE DATE OF THE
ORDINANCE, THE SETTLED
DEPARTMENT OF CONSTRUCTION,
INSPECTION AND THE OFFICE OF
HOUSING WILL PROVIDE A REPORT
TO CITY COUNCIL ON THE OF
LIMITATION OF THIS ORDINANCE,
AND THE DATA IS HARD FOR THEM
TO GATHER, BUT THEY ARE GOING
TO COME BACK TO US WITH WHAT
THEY CAN GATHER ON THE EVICTION
STATISTICS, WHO IS USING THE
DEFENSES, WE WILL BE ABLE TO
DIGEST THE INFORMATION, FIND
OUT HOW THE ORDINANCE IS
WORKING, WHILE WE ARE IN THE
MIDDLE OF THE SIX-MONTH PERIOD.
SO I WOULD LIKE TO OFFICIALLY
MOVE THIS AMENDMENT AND TO KNOW
THAT COUNCILMEMBER HERBOLD WILL
HAVE A SIMILAR DIVISION, GO
AHEAD AND MOVE THE VERSION,
HOLD ON A SECOND.
>> FIVE A?
>> MOVING VERSION 2. OF
AMENDMENT NUMBER 5A.
RIGHT, THE PREVIOUS AMENDMENT
PASSED, FOR ME, THIS WILL BE
MOVING 5A.
>> SECOND.
>> BARRED ME, I AM BEING TOLD
BY STAFF I SHOULD BE MOVING 5B.
>> I WAS STRATEGICALLY PAUSING
TO GIVE YOU AN OPPORTUNITY TO
SHUFFLE THROUGH YOUR PAPER, I
BELIEVE IT IS 5B.>> YES.
IS THERE A SECOND?>> SECOND.
>> IT HAS BEEN MOVED, AND
SECONDED TO ADOPT AMENDMENT 5B,
AGAIN, COUNCILMEMBER HERBOLD, I
HEAR THAT YOU HAVE A AMENDMENT
TO THIS AMENDMENT.
TO CONSIDER IT, THE COUNCIL
RULES WILL NEED TO BE
SUSPENDED, IF THERE IS NO
OBJECTION, THE RULES WILL BE
SUSPENDED.
HEARING NO OBJECTION,
COUNCILMEMBER HERBOLD, YOU MAY
NOW MOVE YOUR AMENDMENT.
>> RIGHT, WELL, I THINK THERE
IS A LITTLE BIT OF A
MISUNDERSTANDING, I WAS NOT
INTENDING TO MOVE IN AMENDMENT,
AND ALTERNATIVE AMENDMENT
AMENDMENT 5, GIVEN I HAD SOME
CONCERNS ABOUT AMENDMENT 5.
JUST BASED ON THE FACT THAT I
UNDERSTAND THAT AS DCI HAS
INFORMATION ABOUT WHAT HAPPENS
IN EVICTION COURT, THEY ONLY
GET INVOLVED IN THESE MATTERS
IF THERE IS A VIOLATION OF THE
LAW.
AND SO PEOPLE DON'T CALL AS GCI
FOR ASSISTANCE IN COURT, WHEN
THERE IS AN EVICTION, I WAS NOT
PLANNING TO BRING THIS
AMENDMENT, NOR WAS I PLANNING
ON OFFERING AN AMENDMENT TO
THIS AMENDMENT, ALTHOUGH I
RECOGNIZE THAT THE SCRIPT THAT
WE HAVE BEEN PROVIDED SAYS SO.
[ LAUGHTER ] SO I THINK --
>> COUNCILMEMBER HERBOLD.
JUST A MINUTE, WE ARE ENTERING
INTO PARLIAMENTARY NIGHTMARE
LAND.
BEFORE THIS, AND I SAW THE
EMAIL AS WELL, COUNCILMEMBER, I
JUST WANT TO CLARIFY,
COUNCILMEMBER HERBOLD, YOU DID
NOT INTEND TO MAKE AN AMENDMENT
TO EITHER VERSION OF
COUNCILMEMBER PEDERSEN'S
AMENDMENT IS THAT CORRECT?>> I
DIDN'T INTEND TO BUT I FEEL
OBLIGATED BECAUSE THERE BUT HE
THOUGHT I WAS GOING TO, I HAVE
A SCRIPT, IN GOOD
úSPORTSMANSHIP, OFFER THE
AMENDMENT, I HAVE RESERVATIONS
ABOUT THE AMENDMENT.
>> DON'T THINK ANYBODY ON THE
MEETING TODAY'S CLAMORING FOR
MORE AMENDMENTS, SO IF YOU DO
NOT WISH TO COME VENTURE
AMENDMENT, THAT IS YOUR CALL.
>> THE DIFFICULTY THOUGH IS
THAT IF MAJORITY OF
COUNCILMEMBERS DO SUPPORT
COUNCILMEMBER PEDERSEN'S
AMENDMENT, IT CANNOT PASS
WITHOUT BEING -- THERE BEING A
CHANGE TO IT BECAUSE OF OUR
PREVIOUS AMENDMENTS.
>> WHY DON'T WE HAVE A
CONVERSATION ABOUT AMENDMENT 5,
AND WE CAN SORT OF ASSESS
WHETHER OR NOT THERE NEEDS TO
BE SHIFTING IN TERMS OF YOUR
POSITION AROUND INTRODUCING AN
AMENDMENT HERE.
WE HAVE RECEIVED NOTICE FROM
ARE VERY CAPABLE CENTRAL
STAFFER, THAT WE MOVED THE
WRONG VERSION OF THE AMENDMENT,
SO I'M GOING TO ASKED THE CLERK
WHAT OUR OPTIONS ARE, IF
COUNCILMEMBER PEDERSEN HAS
ALREADY MOVED THE VERSION,
WHAT WE ARE REQUIRED TO DO
UNDER ROBERTS RULES OF ORDER TO
PUT THAT TO REST.
AND PUT THIS UNDER VERSION.
>> THEY CAN DECIDE AS A BODY TO
WITHDRAW THE MOTION, TO AMEND
THE BILL TO A NEW VERSION 5B IF
THEY WANT TO WITHDRAW IT, AS
LONG AS THERE IS NO OBJECTION.
MOVING FORWARD WITH THE CORRECT
VERSION OF THE AMENDMENT.
>> IS THERE AN OBJECTION TO
WITHDRAWING PROPOSED AMENDMENT
5B.>> HEARING NO OBJECTION, THE
MOTION TO CONSIDER THE PROPOSED
AMENDMENT.
AND BACK OVER TO YOU,>> JUST
FOR THE VIEWING AUDIENCE TO
EXPLAIN, THERE WERE VERSIONS A
AND B BECAUSE THEY WERE
CONTINGENT UPON WHAT WOULD
HAPPEN IN PREVIOUS AMENDMENTS,
IT CHANGES THE ORDERING OF THE
ORDINANCE AND THE LETTERING IN
THE NUMBERING OF IT, WHAT I
WOULD LIKE TO DO IS CORRECTLY
MOVE 5A VERSION 2, IT IS A
BECAUSE WE PASSED THE PREVIOUS
AMENDMENT I HAD, WE WILL GO
WITH A, AND VERSION 2 BECAUSE
WE PASSED COUNCILMEMBER HERBOLD
REVISION, REMOVING THE
REFERENCE TO SEEKING GOOD FAITH
EFFORTS TO SEEK RENTAL
ASSISTANCE, SO WE ARE MOVING
THE ONE THAT THE CENTRAL STAFF
RECOMMENDED, WE ARE NO LONGER'S
CONSIDERING THE GOOD FAITH
EFFORT, THAT IS OUT, THAT'S WHY
WE HAVE VERSION 2 OF LITTER
FIVE -- 5A WHICH I'M NOW
MOVING.
>> IS THERE A SECOND?
>> SECOND.>> MOVED AND SECONDED
TO CONSIDER PROPOSED AMENDMENT
5A, VERSION 2, COUNCIL MEMBER
PEDERSEN DO YOU HAVE ANYTHING
ELSE TO ADD CLICK
>> YES, JUST A REPORTING
REQUIREMENT TO HAVE THE
DEPARTMENTS SGCI, COME BACK TO
US WITH HOW IT'S BEING
IMPLEMENTED, AND THE DATA
AVAILABLE TO THEM IS LIMITED, I
THINK IF WE ARE GOING TO PASS
AN ORDINANCE THAT IS MAKING
THESE CHANGES, IT IS HELPFUL TO
HEAR HOW IT IS GOING FROM THE
DEPARTMENTS.
THANK YOU.>> NOW I'M GOING TO
OPEN IT UP FOR DEBATE AND
DISCUSSION, COUNCILMEMBER
MORALES?
>> I AM NERVOUS ABOUT THIS
AMENDMENT, WITH SUSAN AN
EMERGENCY TIME, WERE TALKING
ABOUT PROTECTING PEOPLE HAVING
FINANCIAL PROBLEMS NOW WITH AN
INABILITY TO PAY APRIL RENT,
PROBABLY NOT THIS MONTH'S RENT
OR NEXT MONTH, THERE IS NO
QUESTION THAT THE PROTECTION
THAT THIS BILL IS INTENDING TO
PROVIDE IS GOING TO BE
NECESSARY AND USEFUL, THIS KIND
OF IN AMENDMENT OPENS THE DOOR
TO REMOVING THE DEFENSE, IF
IT'S NOT USED ENOUGH, WHY ARE
WE DOING THIS, WE WILL KNOW IF
IT'S JUST FOR NOT -- USEFUL OR
NOT IF IT IS USED, I DON'T KNOW
úIF HAVING A REPORTING
REQUIREMENT TO TELL US IT WAS
USED IS A USEFUL STEP TO PUT IN
PLACE RIGHT NOW.
THAT IS ALL.
>> COUNCILMEMBER HERBOLD?
>> I DON'T HAVE ANY OBJECTION
TO THE CITY RECEIVING THE
INFORMATION, I THINK ALL
INFORMATION IS HEALTHY, AND I
WOULD NOT PRESUPPOSE THAT WE
ARE ASKING FOR THE INFORMATION
BECAUSE OF SOME FUTURE INTENT
TO ARGUE THAT WE USED TO TOO
MUCH OR TOO LITTLE, ANALYZING
THE IMPACTS, OF THE ORDINANCES,
IS A GOOD PRACTICE, MY CONCERN
IS THAT SGCI SIMPLY DOESN'T
HAVE INFORMATION, KING COUNTY
SUPERIOR COURT IS THE BODY
THAT WOULD HAVE THE INFORMATION
AND THE FILINGS, AS IT RELATES
TO THE DEFENSES AND THE USE OF
THIS PARTICULAR JUST CAUSE, AND
WHETHER A CERTIFICATION WAS
FILED, SOMEBODY DOESN'T HAVE
INFORMATION, AND I WOULD BE
HAPPY TO WORK WITH THE
AMENDMENT SPONSOR TO TRY TO
FIGURE OUT HOW WE CAN GET THIS
INFORMATION FROM KING COUNTY
SUPERIOR COURT IN THE FUTURE,
BUT I DON'T THINK IT IS A
MECHANISM THAT IS APPROPRIATE
TO PUT ON SGCI, BUT JUST THINK
IT MIGHT BE BURDENSOME TO
THEM.>> I THINK I'VE HEARD SOME
OF THE SIMILAR CONCERNS THAT
COUNCILMEMBER HERBOLD HAS
HEARD, AGAIN IN MANY INSTANCES,
WE ASK FOR REPORT BACK
SPECIFICALLY FOR NEW POLICIES
WHERE WE WANT TO BE ABLE TO
ASSESS THE EFFECTIVENESS OF THE
POLICY, WHEN YOU LOOK AT LABOR
STANDARD LAWS, ALMOST ALL OF
THEM INCLUDE A DEEP EVALUATION
OF HOW THE LAW IS WORKING OR
NOT WORKING, AND I HAVE BEEN
HAVING THE BENEFIT OF THOSE
REPORT BACK REQUIREMENTS, NOT
BECAUSE I HAD AN INTENT TO
UNRAVEL IT IN THE FUTURE, OR
MAKE AN ARGUMENT THAT IT WAS
BEING USED TOO OFTEN, BUT
BECAUSE I THINK IT IS HELPFUL
INFORMATION AND DATA TO
CONTINUE TO FINE-TUNE THE
POLICY TO MAKE SURE THOSE LAWS
ARE ACTUALLY MEETING THE NEEDS
OF THE PEOPLE IT IS INTENDED TO
BENEFIT.>>> IN THIS INSTANCE,
AGAIN, I DON'T THINK IT IS THE
REQUIREMENT TO HAVE SGCI TO GO
THROUGH THE EFFORT OF
MONITORING THE SUPREME -- KING
COUNTY COURT FOR A PERIOD OF
SIX MONTHS, A SHORT-LIVED
EVICTION DEFENSE, AND I THINK
THAT WHAT WE ARE TRYING TO
ACCOMPLISH HERE IS CREATING
MAXIMUM ACCESS TO THAT, AND
WHILE I APPRECIATE THE DESIRE
TO HAVE SOME SORT OF METRIC
ASSOCIATED TO IT, I AM NOT SURE
THAT IS A FEE FUNDED AGENCY,
SDCI HAS THE CAPACITY TO DO
THIS WORK, AND I'M NOT SURE I
WANT THEM TO INVEST THEIR
RESOURCES INTO THIS BODY OF
WORK WHEN THE LAWS INTENDED
ONLY FOR A SIX-MONTH PERIOD OF
TIME AFTER THE CONCLUSION OF
THE EVICTION MORATORIUM HAS
AND I SEE THAT COUNCILMEMBER
MOSQUEDA HAS RAISED THEIR HAND.
>> THANK YOU FOR THE
CLARIFICATION OF WHAT THIS IS
TENDED TO DO, I AM TORN AS
WELL, I BELIEVE GETTING THE
DATA IS IMPORTANT, I HEARD
THERE MIGHT BE FOLLOW-UP
CONVERSATIONS TO BE HAD TO MAKE
SURE THAT FOLKS ARE GETTING
ACCESS TO THESE SERVICES.
ONE THING THAT I WILL NOTE, IF
WE WERE TO GO DOWN THIS ROUTE,
THROUGH SDCI OR ANOTHER BODY,
GIVEN HOW RACE AND ETHNICITY
WILL BE REPORTED, WE KNOW
HISPANICS ARE FOUR TIMES MORE
LIKELY TO BE ADMITTED INTO THE
HOSPITAL DUE TO COVID AND 2 1/2
TIMES MORE LIKELY TO DIE, WHEN
WE THINK ABOUT THE PROTECTIONS
WE ARE PUTTING INTO PLACE, AS
WE THINK ABOUT GETTING FEEDBACK
ABOUT THESE PROGRAMS, AND ANY
FUTURE REPORTING BACK, I WOULD
LIKE TO SEE RACE AND ETHNICITY
REPORTED BACK.
SDCI IS PROBABLY NOT
NECESSARILY THE RIGHT BODY TO
DO THIS, I APPRECIATE THE
SPIRIT IN WHICH THE AMENDMENT
WAS PUT FORWARD, COUNCILMEMBER
HERBOLD, HAD INDICATED, THE
RACE AND ETHNICITY COMPONENT,
DUE TO THE DISPARITY THAT WE
SEE AND HOW IT IS AFFECTING
COMMUNITIES, THANK YOU VERY
MUCH.
>> THANK YOU.
I THINK THE BIGGER ISSUE THAT
COUNCILMEMBER HERBOLD IS
FLAGGING IS THAT THE CAD --
CITY OF SEATTLE DOES NOT TRACK
ANY OF THIS INFORMATION,
PERIOD, WE ARE NOT IN THE
BUSINESS OF ARBITRATING, BEING
THE ARBITRATORS AND THE FINDERS
THAT IS SOMETHING THAT IS ES.
WITHIN A DIFFERENT
JURISDICTION, BEING KING
COUNTY, AND WE DON'T CURRENTLY
HAVE ANY SORT OF DATA SHARING
PLAN WITH THEM, RELATED TO THAT
INFORMATION.
SO I SUPPOSE THAT THE WORRY
REALLY IS, ARE WE SITTING UP
SDCI FOR INHERENT FAILURE OR
SETTING THEM UP TO REQUIRE THEM
TO EXPEND RESOURCES THAT THEY
MAY NOT HAVE ACCESSIBLE TO THEM
TO SET UP A DATA COLLECTION
PROCESS FOR A DEFENSE THAT IS
ONLY GOING TO BE IN EXISTENCE
FOR SIX MONTHS, BY DEFINITION
IN THE ORDINANCE.
COUNCILMEMBER?
>> I HAVE REGULAR MEETINGS WITH
SDCI, AND WHILE I TRULY DO
APPRECIATE THE DESIRE FOR DATA
SO THAT WE CAN CREATE GOOD
PUBLIC POLICY, I'M NOT SURE
THAT DATA THAT IS HARD TO
IDENTIFY FOR A TEMPORARY BILL
IS THE BEST USE OF TIME, AND I
WILL REITERATE MY REQUEST, FOR
ADDITIONAL INFORMATION, BUT I
MADE LAST WEEK, AND VOTING NO
ON THIS BILL TO ENSURE THAT
THEY HAVE STAFF TIME TO CREATE
THE ORDINANCE THAT I AM
REQUESTING, THANK YOU.>> ANY
OTHER COMMENTS OR QUESTIONS FOR
MY COLLEAGUES?
I'M GOING TO GO AHEAD AND CALL
FOR A VOTE ON THIS PARTICULAR
AMENDMENT, WILL THE CLERK
PLEASE CALL THE ROLL ON
ADOPTION OF AMENDMENT 5A
VERSION2?
>> SAWANT?
>> NO.
>> STRAUSS?
>> NO.
>> HERBOLD?
>> NO.
>> SAWANT SIX?
BIGGER NO.
>> LEWIS?
>> NO.
>> MORALES?
BIGGER NO.
>> MOSQUEDA?
>> NO.
>> PEDERSEN ? BIGGER>> AYE.
>> GONZALEZ?
>> NO.
>> 1 YES, NUMERATE NO.
>> THAT CONCLUDES THE LIST OF
AMENDMENTS, ON THIS PARTICULAR
BILL, THANK YOU FOR SLUGGING IT
OUT WITH ME, I KNOW IT IS 4:30
PM, LET'S GO AHEAD AND MOVE
ALONG, ANY COMMENTS ON THE BILL
AS AMENDED?
COUNCILMEMBER LEWIS?
>> THANK YOU COUNCIL PRESIDENT,
I JUST WANT TO MAKE A COUPLE OF
COMMENTS BEFORE THE VOTE, I
FULLY INTEND TO VOTE FOR THIS
LEGISLATION, AND I APPRECIATE
YOU FOR BRINGING IT FORWARD, IS
ONE OF THE NEW -- 1 OF 2
RENTERS HERE, I THINK IT'S
IMPORTANT THAT WE KEEP PEOPLE
INSIDE IN THIS TIME OF
UNCERTAINTY IN ADDITION TO
PUBLIC HEALTH THREATS, I WOULD
CLARIFY FOR THE PEOPLE THAT
COMMENTED EARLIER WHEN WE HAD
PUBLIC COMMENT WHEN WE ADDRESS
THE BILL, THERE IS NO CITY LAW
AUTHORIZING, CONDONING OR
ALLING FOR PEOPLE TO NOT PAY
THEIR RENT, JUST BECAUSE THERE
IS A MORATORIUM ON EVICTIONS
DOES NOT MEAN THAT THE CITY IS
SEEKING TO CONDONE FOLKS NOT
PAYING RENT, NOR IS A RENT
STRIKE AN OFFICIAL CITY POLICY,
THAT IS IMPORTANT FOR MEMBERS
OF THE PUBLIC TO KNOW.'S
COUNCIL, FOR THE RECORD,
ADDITIONALLY, TO EVERYONE
EARLIER WHO WAS TALKING ABOUT
IT AS AN ALTERNATIVE TO THE
MORATORIUM, PUTTING MONEY INTO
RENT SUPPORT AS WAS ALLUDED
EARLIER, THIS COUNCIL HAS PUT
MILLIONS OF DOLLARS INTO DIRECT
RELIEF BEFORE AND DURING THIS
CRISIS, WITH MORE ON THE WAY.
IT IS A PRIORITY OF THE
COUNCIL, IT WILL CONTINUE TO
BE, WE FACE THE PROBLEM, WE
HAVE 1.4 MILLION WASHINGTONIANS
THAT ARE UNEMPLOYED, AND STATE
AND FEDERAL UNEMPLOYMENT AND
RELIEF HAS BEEN SLOW COMING,
HARD TO ACCESS, GLITCHY,
WEBSITES ARE CRASHING, AND WE
ARE IN A PERIOD OF IMMENSE AND
EXTREME UNCERTAINTY WE REALLY
MAKING THE RENT, WHILE THEY
COULD ORDINARILY BE ABLE TO PAY
THE RENT ON TIME, IT MIGHT TAKE
SOME FOLKS A LITTLE BIT MORE
TIME TO DO IT, AND I'M SURE
THAT MANY OF THE LANDLORDS WHO
COMMENTED EARLIER AND YOU HAVE
BEEN CONTACTING MY OFFICE, I
COMPLETELY BELIEVE THE
REPRESENTATIONS, THEY ARE
EXCEPTIONAL, CUTTING THEM SOME
SLACK.
WE CAN'T MAKE POLICY AS A CITY
COUNCIL THAT IS JUST GOING TO
TRUST THAT FOLKS THAT ARE
FACING COMPLETELY UNIQUE
HARDSHIPS ARE NOT GOING TO BE
PUT IN A POSITION WHERE THEY
ARE GOING TO BE ON THE STREET
AND IN A PRECARIOUS POSITION
DURING THIS PUBLIC HEALTH
CRISIS, AND THEN LATER DURING
THE SLOW AND CIRCUITOUS
RECOVERY, AND I ALSO WANT TO
FLAG TO A LOT OF THE LANDLORDS
WHO COMMENTED EARLIER, THERE
ARE A LOT OF ACTIONS THAT THE
CITY AND STATE HAS DONE TO HELP
TO ALLEVIATE THE PRESSURES THAT
LANDLORDS ARE FACING, DELAYED
PAYMENTS OF PROPERTY TAXES THAT
KING COUNTY IS DOING.
WE ARE DELAYING PAYMENTS OF THE
TAXES GIVEN THE HARDSHIP OF THE
CURRENT CRISIS, THE CITY IS
DELAYING UTILITY PAYMENTS FOR
FOLKS WHO HAVE TO PAY
UTILITIES.
ALL THESE THINGS ARE DESIGNED
TO TRY TO DEFER SOME OF THE
COSTS OF LANDLORDS, WHILE WE
KNOW FULL WELL BECAUSE OF THE
NATURE OF WHAT IS HAPPENING IN
THE MARKETPLACE, SOME RENT MAY
BE DEFERRED BECAUSE PEOPLE HAVE
TROUBLE PAYING RENT OR HAVE
RELIEF TO COME THROUGH BEFORE
THEY CAN DO IT.
AND I JUST WANT TO STATE AS THE
TENANT, WHO IS CURRENTLY IN A
STATE THAT HAS A EVICTION
MORATORIUM, I PAID MY RENT, I
AM IN THE POSITION TO PAY IT, I
WILL CONTINUE TO DO IT, BECAUSE
THAT'S AN OBLIGATION I ASSUMED
WHEN I SIGNED THE LEASE, I AM
NOT REFUSING TO PAY MERELY
BECAUSE THERE IS A MORATORIUM
IN PLACE, AND MOST OF MY
RENTERS WHO ARE IN A POSITION
TO PAY WILL PAY.
RENTERS ARE PROFESSIONALS, TWO
OF THEM ARE ON THE SEATTLE CITY
COUNCIL, SOME OF US AS RENTERS
ARE GIG WORKERS THAT ARE
SUFFERING IN ON THE MARGINS,
SOME OF US WORKED IN
RESTAURANTS, AND BEEN
UNEMPLOYED, THE INDUSTRY IS
FALLING OFF A CLIFF.
WE ARE GOING TO PAY.
WE ARE NOT GOING TO HOLD OUT
PURELY BECAUSE WE ARE IN A
POSITION WHERE THERE IS A RENT
MORATORIUM AND A PERCEPTION
THAT WE COULD, WE ARE NOT GOING
TO DO THAT, IT IS JUST NOT
SOMETHING THAT IS GOING TO
HAPPEN.
BUT WE DO KNOW THERE'S GOING TO
BE LOTS OF PEOPLE WHO ARE NOT
IN A POSITION TO PAY BECAUSE
THEY ARE SUFFERING FROM THE
HARDSHIPS, AND WE WILL CONTINUE
TO SUPPORT RENT SUPPORT FOR
PEOPLE TO MEET THOSE
OBLIGATIONS, AND MAKING SURE
PEOPLE HAVE THE RESOURCES TO
PAY LANDLORDS.
I WANT TO TAKE THIS MOMENT TO
CLEAR UP SOME OF THE
MISCONCEPTIONS.
TO EXPLAIN WHY I'M GOING TO
VOTE ON THIS LEGISLATION TODAY.
I WANT TO CONTINUE TO WORK WITH
EVERYONE WHO TESTIFIED PUBLICLY
BEFOR TO MAKE SURE THAT WE CAN
CONTINUE TO FIGHT FOR RELIEF
AND PROTECTIONS FOR RENTERS AS
WELL AS GET THROUGH THE CRISIS
TO MAKE SURE THOSE DEFERRED
RENT PAYMENTS, NOT FORGIVEN,
úWILL BE MADE ULTIMATELY WHEN W
GET ON THE OTHER SIDE OF THIS.
THANK YOU MADAME PRESIDENT FOR
BRINGING THIS FORWARD, I WILL
BE VOTING IN FAVOR OF THIS
LEGISLATION.>> THANK YOU
COUNCILMEMBER LEWIS, WILL
STATED, ANY OTHER COMMENTS ON
THE BILL AS AMENDED.
COUNCILMEMBER SAWANT . THE
FLOOR IS YOURS.
>> THANK YOU, THANK YOU
PRESIDENT, I AM HAPPY TO VOTE
YES ON THE LEGISLATION, A STEP
TOWARDS PREVENTING THE DELUSION
OF EVICTIONS, THE MOMENT THAT
IT ENDS, TENS OF MILLIONS OF
RENTERS ARE UNABLE TO PAY RENT
DOES -- BECAUSE IT'S NOT LIKE
THEY ARE REFUSING TO, THEY ARE
UNABLE TO PAY RENT BECAUSE THEY
HAVE LOST WORK HOURS AND JOBS
TO THE EMERGENCY SITUATION, IN
THE FIRST WEEK OF APRIL, 31% OF
RENTERS WERE UNABLE TO PAY THE
RENT IN FULL, I HAVEN'T SEEN
THE MAY STATISTICS COME OUT
YET, BUT I'M SURE THAT THE
CRISIS IS CONTINUING ESPECIALLY
IN THE LIGHT OF THE DATA, WE
HAVE SEEN THAT FEDERAL STIMULUS
CHECKS HAVE NOT REACHED
HOUSEHOLDS THAT ARE ELIGIBLE
FOR IT.
WE KNOW THAT PROBLEM IS
TRANSLATING INTO THE IMPACT ON
LIVES OF TENS OF THOUSANDS OF
PEOPLE, WORKING PEOPLE, MANY OF
WHOM ARE RENTERS, THE VAST
MAJORITY OF WHOM ARE RENTERS.
THIS WOULD MEAN THAT TENS OF
THOUSANDS OF RENTERS ARE UNABLE
TO PAY THEIR RENT RIGHT NOW.
IT WOULD BE COMPLETELY
UNACCEPTABLE FOR THEM TO BE
EVICTED WITH EVERYTHING THAT
ENTAILS.>>> IN 2017, INCLUDING
-- ACCORDING TO THE REPORT,
MANY WHO WERE EVICTED ENDED UP
HOMELESS, MANY CHILDREN,
WORKING-CLASS PEOPLE OF COLOR,
4 COMMITTED SUICIDE.
THAT IS WHY THE RENT STRIKE
MOVEMENT NATIONWIDE, HUNDREDS
OF ORGANIZATIONS THAT ARE
INVOLVED IN DEMANDING THAT
RENT, MORTGAGE AND UTILITY
PAYMENTS BE SUSPENDED, OR
CANCELED DURING THIS EMERGENCY.
AND DEMANDING THAT RENTS BE
FROZEN FOR THE REST OF THE
YEAR, MEANING NO RENT INCREASES
FOR THE REST OF THE YEAR.
AND AS I'VE MENTIONED IN THE
PAST, THE ONLINE PARTICIPATION
WAS STARTED BY ACTIVIST, AND
SIGNED BY 3 MILLION SIGNATORIES
NATIONWIDE, OUR STATEWIDE
PETITION HAS BEEN SIGNED BY
MORE THAN 9000 WASHINGTONIANS,
IT IS INTERESTING TO SEE
SOMETHING THAT IS POLITICALLY
IMPOSSIBLE IN ONE MOMENT
BECOMES COMMONPLACE, OUR
MOVEMENT FOUGHT FOR AND WON THE
BAN ON WINTER EVICTIONS, THE
FIRST OF ITS KIND IN THE
COUNTRY.
AND NOW CITIES AND STATES
ACROSS THE COUNTRY IN THE
CONTEXT OF THE PANDEMIC HAVE
BANNED EVICTIONS, AT LEAST
TEMPORARILY, AND EXTENDING
THOSE RIGHTS ON ONES LIKE THIS
ONE THAT WE WILL BE VOTING ON,
COUNCILMEMBER PEDERSEN HAS
POINTED OUT THE AMENDMENT,
SUPPOSEDLY HAVING SMALLER
LANDLORDS, THINK HER FOR NOTING
THIS, AS I NOTED, THE MAJORITY
OF THE COUNCIL DID NOT AGREE AT
THAT TIME, WHICH IS ACTUALLY
THE TRUTH, IT IS VIRTUALLY
IMPOSSIBLE FOR RENTERS TO PROVE
THAT THE LANDLORD IS A QUOTE
UNQUOTE SMALL LANDLORD, AT THAT
TIME, IT PASSED, THE MAJORITY
OF THE COUNCIL VOTED FOR, BUT
NOW IT IS IMPORTANT THAT THE
MAJORITY OF THE COUNCIL STOOD
AGAINST THAT.
THE MARKET HAS COMPLETELY
FAILED TO MAKE HOUSING HE'S IN
-- HUMAN RIGHT, AND ALWAYS
POINTING OUT THE PRIVATE MARKET
WILL NOT MEET HUMAN NEED, THAT
REALITY HAS NOW MAGNIFIED THE
IMPACT IT HAS ON HUMAN MISERY.
AS FAR AS THE RENT STRIKE, AND
THE RENTS -- THE DEMANDS OF THE
RENT STRIKERS, ONCE THE
MORATORIA ARE LIFTED, THERE
WILL, IF RENTERS DON'T FIGHT
BACK AND GET ORGANIZED, THEY
WILL FACE A MASSIVE WAVE OF
EVICTIONS THROUGHOUT THE YEAR,
WE SAW THAT, MIDDLE-CLASS
HOUSEHOLDS BEING DESTROYED BY
THE BIG BANKS AND MORTGAGE
HOLDERS, ALREADY WE ARE SEEING
BIG LANDLORDS AND PROPERTY
MANAGERS NOT COMPLYING WITH
EXISTING LAW.
I JUST GOT AN EMAIL FROM A
RENTER TODAY WHO SAID A BIG
PROPERTY MANAGER THAT IS
VIOLATING THE GOVERNOR'S ORDER,
RENTERS ARE BEING FORCED TO
FIGHT TO HAVE EXISTING LAW
ENFORCEMENT.
THE EMERGENCY ORDERS, THAT IS
WHY RENTERS NEED TO GET
ORGANIZED AND THAT IS THE
PURPOSE BEHIND IN NATIONWIDE
RENT STRIKE MOVEMENT, INCLUDING
HUNDREDS OF COMMUNITY
ORGANIZATIONS.
AND TENANT STRIKE
ORGANIZATIONS.>>> LASTLY, IN
ADDITION TO FIGHTING FOR
RENTERS RIGHTS, A MASSIVE
EXPANSION OF SOCIAL HOUSING, I
WOULD REALLY URGE THE COUNCIL
SUPPORT THE AMAZON TAX PROPOSED
BY COUNCILMEMBER MORALES AND
MYSELF AND I AM HAPPY TO VOTE
YES.
>> INC.
YOU COUNCILMEMBER SAWANT.
COUNCILMEMBER STRAUSS?>> THANK
YOU, JUST WANTING TO SAY YOU
KNOW, THIS IS A CRISIS, AN
INTERNATIONAL PANDEMIC THAT WE
ARE RESPONDING TO, WE ARE NOT
CONDUCTING LIFE AS NORMAL AS WE
DID MONTHS AGO, I WANT TO THANK
EVERYONE WHO IS PARTICIPATING
IN LOOKING OUT FOR THE
NEIGHBORS IN THEMSELVES, WHEN I
READ THE TALE OF 2 LANDLORDS,
REGARDING COMMERCIAL LANDLORDS,
THERE'S A CLEAR DIFFERENCE
BETWEEN PEOPLE WHO ARE LIVING
IN SEATTLE AND PART OF THE
COMMUNITY AND PART, FOLKS ARE
NOT, I WANT TO THINK ANY
PERSON, A LANDLORD OR ANY OTHER
BUSINESS, WHO HAVE LOOKED OUT
FOR YOUR NEIGHBOR AND ALLOWED
úPAYMENT PLANS ARE NOT GONE
THROUGH.
PROVIDING AFFORDABLE BELOW
MARKET RATE.
THANK EVERYONE FOR PITCHING IN.
>> THANK YOU COUNCILMEMBER,
AND COUNCILMEMBER MOSQUEDA?
>> THANK YOU COUNCIL PRESIDENT,
JUST WANTED TO OFFER A NOTE OF
APPRECIATION FOR ALL THE WORK
THAT YOU'VE DONE ON THIS
LEGISLATION, I KNOW IT HAS BEEN
MANY WEEKS OF REFINING DRAFTS
ON THE LEGISLATION, WE HEARD
INITIAL FEEDBACK FROM TENANTS
ADVOCATES AND THE COMMUNITY
NETWORK ABOUT THE LEGISLATION
RELATED TO REMOVING BARRIERS
FOR THOSE WITH ECONOMIC
HARDSHIP BASED ON STATUS OR THE
GIG ECONOMY, DIFFICULT TO
PROVIDE DOCUMENTATION OF
FINANCIAL HARDSHIP, SHOWING
COVID CAUSED AN INABILITY TO
PAY RENT, THANK YOU FOR
INCORPORATING THE FEEDBACK.
THIS LEGISLATION WOULD PROVIDE
PROTECTION FOR TENANTS WHO ARE
MOST IMPACTED BY THE ECONOMIC
EFFECTS DURING THE MONTHS WHEN
THEY ARE MOST VULNERABLE, SIX
MONTHS AND 6 MONTHS AFTER THE
CIVIL EMERGENCY HAS LIFTED, IT
IS ONE PIECE OF THE PUZZLE, WE
NEED RENT AND MORTGAGE
FORGIVENESS TO PROTECT
LANDLORDS, RENTAL ASSISTANCE ON
A MASSIVE SCALE, AND MORE
INVESTMENTS AND DEDICATED
REVENUE FOR BUILDING AFFORDABLE
HOUSING TO STAY HOME AND
HEALTHY.>>> I WANT TO
UNDERSCORE THE POINT THAT A LOT
OF FOLKS MADE ON THE NATIONAL
CALL AND I TRIED TO HAMMER
SAME, WE KNOW IT'S IMPORTANT TO
GET FEDERAL ASSISTANCE FOR
SMALL LANDLORDS, HOUSING
ENTITIES, HOCKING COUNTY, AND
NONPROFIT HOUSING PROVIDERS,
HAVING THE TYPE OF ASSISTANCE
WITH SUPPORT FOR OMAR'S BILL,
WILL BE CRITICAL.
RIGHT NOW WE HAVE STATISTICS
FROM PRE-COVID THAT SHOW THE
TYPE OF FOLKS THAT ARE ALREADY
EXPERIENCING HOUSING
DISCRIMINATION AND MORE LIKELY
TO FACE EVICTIONS ARE WOMEN,
PEOPLE OF COLOR, THE LGBTQ
POPULATION, WITH COVID, WE ARE
WANTING TO DOUBLE DOWN ON
COMMITMENTS TO PROTECT THESE
VULNERABLE POPULATIONS, I
APPRECIATE THE EFFORT YOU HAVE
PUT FORWARD.
THE STAKEHOLDERS, THE
COMMITMENT TO LIFT UP OUR
PROTECTIONS FOR FOLKS,
ESPECIALLY FOLKS EXPERIENCING
DISCRIMINATION AND PRIOR TO
COVID.
HAPPY TO VOTE YES.
>> THANK YOU.
ANY OTHER COLLEAGUES HAVE
COMMENTS ON THE BILL AS
AMENDED?
OKAY, I WILL CLOSEOUT DEBATE
BEFORE WE CALL THIS BILL TO A
VOTE, COLLIES, THE BILL WE HAVE
BEFORE US TODAY IS IN DIRECT
RESPONSE TO THE COVID-19
CRISIS.
WHEN THIS CRISIS STARTED TO
UNFOLD, WE SAW THOUSANDS OF
WORKERS AND INDEED NOW WE KNOW
WILL OVER 1 MILLION WORKERS WHO
HAVE ABRUPTLY LOST THEIR JOBS,
HOURLY WAGE EARNERS WITH THE
HOSPITALITY AND TOURISM
INDUSTRIES HIT PARTICULARLY
HARD, IN SOME INSTANCES, IN THE
INDUSTRY IN THE FIRST WEEK
ALONE, UNEMPLOYMENT FILINGS
WENT UP BY OVER 600%.
DURING THE MONTH OF MARCH, WE
SAW UNEMPLOYMENT FILINGS MORE
THAN DOUBLE IN ONE WEEK, ONLY
FOR THAT NUMBER TO INCREASE BY
842% THE FOLLOWING WEEK.
LAST WEEK THE SEATTLE TIMES
REPORTED THAT MORE THAN 1 AND 5
WASHINGTONIANS HAVE APPLIED FOR
UNEMPLOYMENT BENEFITS.
AND WE KNOW THIS NUMBER WOULD
BE GREATER IF EVERYONE ASHLEY
COULD APPLY.
I AM PROUD OF OUR CITY AND
STATE FOR THE?
SCIENCE DRIVEN RESPONSE TO
CONTAIN THE SPREAD OF THE
CORONAVIRUS AND FLATTEN THE
CURVE.
THE DECLARATION OF STATES OF
EMERGENCY, ACTIONS BY THE MAYOR
AND GOVERNOR TO PUT MORATORIUMS
IN PLACE AGAINST RESIDENTIAL
EVICTIONS IN MID-MARCH, WILL
KEEP MANY PEOPLE SAFE IN HOUSE,
APPRECIATIVE TO THEM FOR THE
ACTIONS THEY TOOK AND THE
ATTORNEY GENERAL OFFICE FOR
DOING ENFORCEMENT.
HOWEVER WE KNOW THAT
MORATORIUMS WILL EXPIRE AT
THEIR EARLIEST SOMETIME IN
JUNE, IT IS UNLIKELY THAT THE
CIVIL EMERGENCY WILL BE LIFTED
AT THAT SAME TIME.
RECOVERY IS GOING TO TAKE TIME,
AND WE KNOW THERE ECONOMY THE
ECONOMY WILL BE BACK IN PHASES,
AND WAS SOCIAL DISTANCING
PROTOCOLS, IT WILL CONTINUE TO
PRESENT ISSUES, WHETHER OR NOT
WE WILL COME OUT OF THIS
ECONOMIC CRISIS.
AND QUICKLY OR SLOWLY.
THE LIKELIHOOD OF MORATORIUMS
BEFORE THE CONCLUSION, A WINDOW
OF TIME WHERE MANY PEOPLE
REMAIN VULNERABLE IF THEY ARE
PARTICULARLY IMPACTED BY THE
PANDEMIC.
THIS LEGISLATION CAN HELP
PEOPLE STAY HOUSE, THAT IS THE
BOTTOM LINE.
IT EXPANDS ON THE CITY'S JUST
CAUSE EVICTION ORDINANCE,
SIMILAR TO DEFENSES CREATED BY
THAT ORDINANCE, IT CREATES A
ADDITIONAL TOOL AND A DEFENSE,
A TENANT MAY USE EVICTION COURT
PROCEEDINGS BUT IT IS A TIME-
LIMITED TOOL.
THIS BILL, WHICH WOULD COVER
THE PERIOD OF TIME BETWEEN THE
END OF THE MORATORIUM DURING
THE CIVIL EMERGENCY AND WHEN HE
CARRIES IT OVER, MAKING THE
TOOL AVAILABLE TO THOSE WHO
NEEDED FOR A PERIOD OF SIX
MONTHS AFTER THAT DATE.
IT IS NOT AN EXTENSION OF
MORATORIUMS BY THE MAYOR OR THE
GOVERNOR, IN FACT DOES NOT
PROHIBIT LANDLORDS FROM TAKING
ACTIONS ASSOCIATE WITH
EVICTIONS, FILING OF UNLAWFUL
DETAINER IS, DETERMINATION
NOTICES OR A WRIT OF
RESOLUTION.
A LOT OF THE TESTIMONY THAT WE
HAVE BEEN RECEIVING IN THE
PUBLIC MAKES IT SEEM AS THOUGH
WE ARE GETTING RID OF ALL OF
THE LANDLORD-TENANT LAWS AND
THAT IS NOT THE CASE.
WHAT WE ARE DOING IS ENHANCING
EXISTING LANDLORD AND TENANT
LAWS TO BENEFIT TENANTS WHO ARE
GOING TO NEED ADDITIONAL TIME
TO GET THEIR FEET GROUNDED AND
TO BE ABLE TO CONTINUE TO DIG
OUT OF THIS ECONOMIC CRISIS.
SO I WANT TO MAKE SURE THAT WE
ARE ROOTING OUR POLICY IN THOSE
REAL RENTER STORIES, AND WHO IS
BEING IMPACTED BY THE REALITY
OF THIS ECONOMIC CRISIS, AND
THE INTERSECTION BETWEEN THE
ECONOMIC CRISIS AND HOUSING
STABILITY.
SO MY OFFICE UNDERTOOK THE
OPERATIVE COLLECTING STORIES,
IMPACTED BY THE CRISIS, OF THE
PEOPLE RESPONDED WITH THEIR
STORIES, WITH THE EXERCISE WE
LEARNED, NEARLY 64% OF
RESPONDENTS LOST THEIR JOBS DUE
TO THE CRISIS, WITH MANY
WAITING SEVERAL WEEKS BEFORE
UNEMPLOYMENT BENEFITS WOULD
COME IN, AN ADDITIONAL 18 OF
THE RESPONDENTS 18%, THEIR
INCOME SEVERELY REDUCED AS A
RESULT OF THE BUSINESS CLOSURE
BECAUSE OF THE PANDEMIC.
SOME TENANT SHARED THAT WHILE
SOME OF THE LANDLORDS HAD
REDUCED THE RENT, MOST PEOPLE
DIDN'T UNDERSTAND HOW THEY
WOULD EVER BE ABLE TO PAY THE
RENT ON MAY 1. IN FACT WE HAVE
HEARD STORIES OF PEOPLE
SKIPPING MEALS EACH DAY TO SAVE
MONEY FOR RENT, UTILITIES AND
OTHER EXPENSES, AFTER THEIR
HOURS WERE SEVERELY CUT, PEOPLE
SHARED THAT THEY WERE AT RISK
OF LOSING HEALTH INSURANCE
BECAUSE THEY WILL DROP BELOW
FULL-TIME STATUS, SHARING WITH
US I JUST DON'T KNOW,
TERRIFIED, WE JUST MOVED INTO
THIS APARTMENT AFTER ESCAPING
FROM A HORRIBLE LANDLORD, NOW
WE ARE SAFE, NOW WE ARE AFRAID
WE WILL LOSE IT ALREADY, WE
DON'T KNOW WHERE WE WILL GO, I
CAN'T DO A MOVE DUE TO ABUSIVE
FAMILY, WE FEEL HELPLESS.
ANOTHER RENTER SAID THEY LIVE
WITH FOUR PEOPLE, ALL ARE OUT
OF WORK, MANY DON'T MEET THE
STANDARDS FOR UNEMPLOYMENT AND
THEY DON'T KNOW HOW THEY WILL
PAY RENT IN THE MONTH OF MAY.
THESE ARE REAL STORIES FROM OUR
CONSTITUENTS THROUGHOUT THE
CITY, WHO WOULD SEE RELIEF
POTENTIALLY OUT OF THIS LAW IF
WE WERE TO PASS IT TODAY.
THESE ARE THE STORIES THAT WE
NEED TO ROUTE THE POLICY IN,
AND WE HEAR ABOUT THE
UNEMPLOYMENT SYSTEM, WORKING
OVERTIME TO KEEP UP, WE KNOW
TENS OF THOUSANDS IN THE CITY
ARE STILL WAITING TO GET THOSE
PROMISED BENEFITS.
THE LEGISLATION IS A WAY TO
HAVE MORE TIME FOR PEOPLE
IMPACTED BY THE CRISIS TO
FIGURE THINGS OUT, THESE
INDIVIDUALS AND FAMILIES WHO
HAVE A LONGER ROAD TO RECOVER
FROM THE CRISIS.
AND MANY OF US ON THE COUNCIL,
HAVE BEEN ADVOCATING FOR MORE
RENTAL ASSISTANCE AND
ADDITIONAL MORTGAGE RELIEF, AND
DEFERRAL OF PROPERTY TAXES, TO
HELP RENTERS AND SMALL
LANDLORDS ALIKE, AND WORKING
WITH THE STATE AND FEDERAL
PARTNERS, MAKING SURE THE NEEDS
ARE MET THROUGH COVID-19 RELIEF
AND PACKAGES, UNCOMMITTED,
FOLKS ON THE COUNCIL ARE
COMMITTED TO THAT, AND WITH
THAT I AM EXCITED ABOUT CALLING
THIS PARTICULAR COUNCIL BILL TO
A VOTE, WITH THAT BEING SAID,
I WILL ASK THE CLERK TO CALL
THE ROLE FOR PASSAGE OF THE
BILL AS AMENDED.>> SAWANT?
>> AYE.
>> STRAUSS?
>> AYE.
>> HERBOLD?
>> AYE.
>> JUAREZ?
>> AYE.
>> LEWIS?
>> AYE.
>> MORALES?
>> AYE.
>> MOSQUEDA?
>> AYE.
>> PEDERSEN?
>> AYE .
>> PRESIDENT GONZALEZ?
>> AYE.
>> 9-0.>> THANK YOU CLERK, THE
BILL PASSES AS AMENDED, THE
CHAIR WILL SIGN IT AND I WOULD
ASK THE CLERK TO AFFIX MY
SIGNATURE TO THE LEGISLATION
THAT WE HAVE, THANK YOU FOR
THAT WONDERFUL CONVERSATION, I
THINK WE ARE DOING SOMETHING
REALLY IMPORTANT FOR THOUSANDS
OF RENTERS ACROSS THE CITY, SO
THANK YOU SO MUCH.>>> WILL THE
CLERK READ THE SHORT ITEMS --
TITLES OF ITEMS 4-6.
>> CB 119780, RELATING TO THE
DEPARTMENT OF FINANCE AND
INVESTOR SERVICES, AUTHORIZING
THE DIRECTOR OF FINANCE AND THE
MISTREAT OF SERVICES TO
NEGOTIATE AND EXECUTE A REAL
PROPERTY LEASE WITH EPIC LIFE
CHURCH, A SITE LOCATED AT 1050
LEAGUE -- 10503 INTERLAKE
AVENUE., CB 119782, AND
ORDINANCE RELATING TO THE
FINANCING OF OUR FACILITIES,
CREATING A FUND FOR DEPOSITING
PROCEEDS OF LIMITED TEXT
GENERAL OBLIGATION BONDS IN
2021, CB 119781, RELATING TO
THE SEATTLE DEPARTMENT OF
FINANCE AND THE MISTREAT OF
SERVICES, AUTHORIZING THE
ACQUISITION OF REAL PROPERTY BE
IDENTIFIED IN KING COUNTY
RECORDS.>> GOOD TO SEE YOU,
THANK YOU SO MUCH MADAME CLERK,
COUNCILMEMBERS, READING ITEMS 4-
6 IN THE RECORD, WE WILL
DISCUSS THEM AS A PACKAGE, WITH
A SEPARATE VOTE ON EACH BILL,
AS THE LEAD SPONSOR,
COUNCILMEMBER HERBOLD WOULD YOU
LIKE TO ADDRESS THESE?
>> I WILL ADDRESS ALL THREE OF
THEM TOGETHER.
CB 119780 IS A BILL THAT
ESTABLISHES AN INTERIM STATE
THESE, THE SITE, SUCH AS LEASE
TERMS, PARKING AND FUNDING, THE
TERM PERIOD GOES FROM JANUARY 1
2021 UNTIL DECEMBER 31 2026.,
CB 119781, AUTHORIZES
PRIMARILY TO PURCHASE PROPERTY,
IN MERIDIAN AVENUE NORTH, AS
THE PERMANENT SITE FOR FIRE
STATION 31, THE BILL LIMITS THE
MAXIMUM PURCHASE PRICE FOR THE
PROPERTY TO $4.5 MILLION.
CB 119782, DOES A NUMBER OF
THINGS, CREATING A NEW FUND
CALLED THE 2021 MULTIPURPOSE
LIMITED TEXT GENERAL OBLIGATION
BOND FUND, THE PURPOSE IS TO
RECEIVE THE FUNDS AND
DISTRIBUTE THE BOND PROCEEDS,
WE WILL NOT BE ISSUING BONDS
RIGHT NOW, WE ARE GOING TO BE
REPLENISHING THE FUND WITH
FUNDS FROM AN INTERFUND LOAN,
8.2 MILLION DOLLARS, OF THE
INTERFUND LOAN FROM THE
CONSTRUCTION AND INSPECTIONS
FUND TO THIS NEWLY CREATED
FUND.
PAYING BACK THE $.2 MILLION TO
THE CONSTRUCTION AND EXPECTION,
ONCE WE ISSUE THE LTG O BOND
FUND.
AND THEN FINALLY, THE BILL
ITSELF CREATES A NEW CAPITAL
PROJECT WITHIN THE CAPITAL
IMPROVEMENT PROGRAM, THE
PROJECT IS CALLED FIRE STATION
31 REESE BASEMENT --
REPLACEMENT FUN.
AND I APPRECIATE THE LEADERSHIP
OF THE CHIEF SCOGGINS, THE
DIRECTOR, CALVIN, LOCAL 27, AND
COUNCILMEMBER WHO IS ALSO
SPONSOR, COUNCILMEMBER JUAREZ,
TIP OF THE HAT FOR HER EFFORTS
DURING THE BUDGET PROCESS LAST
YEAR, AND IDENTIFYING $100,000
OF REFUNDS AS A WAY TO
JUMPSTART THE NEED FOR THIS
REPLACEMENT STATION.
>> THANK YOU, ANY OTHER
COMMENTS ON THE BILLS BEFORE
US?>> COUNCIL PRESIDENT,
COUNCILMEMBER SCOPING PERIOD
-- JUAREZ HERE, WHAT DID YOU
WANT TO DO?
>> DISCUSSING ALL THE BILLS, WE
WILL TAKE SEPARATE VOTES, IF
YOU HAVE ANY COMMENTS ON ANY OF
THE THREE BILLS, NOW IS THE
TIME TO MAKE THOSE COMMENTS.
>> GREAT, YES, ITEMS 4-06,
THANK YOU COUNCILMEMBER HERBOLD
FOR COVERING THE BASICS AND THE
DETAILS, THE LEGISLATION BEFORE
US TO RELOCATE FIRE STATION 31
IN THE NORTHGATE NEIGHBORHOOD,
DISTRICT 5, SPECIAL THANKS OF
COURSE TO CHIEF SCOGGINS, AND
KENNY STEWART, THE PRESIDENT OF
THE FIREFIGHTERS UNION IN LOCAL
27, LOCATED SOUTH OF NORTHWEST
HOSPITAL.
WEST OF I-5 AND NORTHGATE MALL,
FIRE STATION 31 WAS LOST WHEN
FIREFIGHTERS WERE RELOCATED TO
OTHER STATIONS, RELOCATION WAS
NECESSARY DUE TO ENVIRONMENTAL
TESTING WHICH REVEALED
UNHEALTHY CONDITIONS, AND IT
HAS BEEN AN ONGOING ISSUE FOR A
FEW YEARS.
SINCE THEN I HAVE BEEN PLEASED
TO BE IN REGULAR CONTACT, AND
THE FAS DIRECTOR ABOUT NEXT
STEPS, THE CURRENT CAPACITY IN
THE SYSTEM DEMAND ON THE
STATION, THE FUTURE DEMAND.
ONE OF THE BUSIEST STATIONS,
WAS BUSY, HIGHER RESPONSE
TIMES, EXCEEDING THE FIRE
DEPARTMENT STANDARDS.
IT MAKES US VERY HAPPY.
>>> IN THE END, THE CITY
CONCLUDED THAT THE CURRENT
STATION 31 IS TOO SMALL TO MEET
THE NEEDS OF ANTICIPATED
POPULATION GROWTH, WITH LIGHT
RAIL AT NORTHGATE, AND
HOPEFULLY OUR OTHER STATION OF
THE ROAD, ON 130th.
AT ANY RATE, MEETING THE NEEDS
OF GROWTH AND INCREASED SERVICE
DEMAND, RATHER THAN TRYING TO
SALVAGE AN ENVIRONMENTALLY
UNHEALTHY AND UNINHABITABLE
STATION THAT WILL SOON BE TOO
SMALL, THE RECOMMENDATION WAS
THAT THE STATION SHOULD BE
REPLACED.
SO WITH THAT, I URGE MY
COLLEAGUES TO PASS COUNCIL BILL
CB 119780, CB 119782, CB
119781.
THANK YOU.>> THANK YOU SO MUCH
COUNCILMEMBER JUAREZ.
>> ANY QUESTIONS OR COMMENTS ON
ANY OF THESE THREE BILLS?
COUNCILMEMBER SAWANT?
>> THANK YOU.
I SUPPORT IMPROVING THE
INFRASTRUCTURE, INCLUDING THE
DEVELOPMENT OF THE NEW FIRE
STATION 31, WHICH IS
ESSENTIALLY BEING AUTHORIZED BY
THESE THREE BILLS.
FOR THOSE WHO AGREE WITH THAT,
I JUST WANTED TO POINT OUT FOR
THE BENEFIT OF THE PUBLIC, THE
BILL IN AGENDA ITEM 5 IS
TOTALLY ROUTINE LEGISLATION
AUTHORIZING THE INTERFUND LOAN,
MAKING FUNDING IMMEDIATELY
AVAILABLE WHEN YOU CAN MOST
EFFICIENTLY BE USED, STATING A
PLAN FOR HOW THE LOAN WILL BE
REPAID, AND I HOPE MEMBERS OF
THE PUBLIC NOTICE THE
DIFFERENCE BETWEEN HOW THE
POLITICAL ESTABLISHMENT HAS
TALKED ABOUT THE INTERFUND
LOAN, PROPOSED BY MAYOR DURKIN,
THAT IS NOT AT ALL, AND THAT
PROPOSED BY US IN OUR AMAZON
TAX BILL TO MAKE COVID RELIEF
STIMULUS CHECKS IMMUNITY
AVAILABLE TO WORKING-CLASS
FAMILIES.
ULTIMATELY TO BE PAID FOR OF
COURSE BY THE TAX ON BIG
BUSINESS.
RATHER THAN DISCUSS THIS IN THE
TAX ON THE COVID RELIEF AND
JOBS PROGRAM, THE POLITICAL
ESTABLISHMENT INSTEAD HAS
MOSTLY FOCUSED ON THE
ADMINISTRATIVE INTERFUND LOAN
LEGISLATION IN ATTEMPT TO SOW
CONFUSION AND DISTRACT FROM
THESE ISSUES, THE MAYOR HAS
TOURED NEW STATION SAYING
QUOTE, THE INTERFUND LOANS, THE
FUNDS THAT THEY WANT TO ROB,
I'M NOT SURE THEY HAVE THE
AUTHORITY TO DO THAT BECAUSE
THEY WERE ALL VOTER APPROVED
INITIATIVES, AS IMPORTANTLY
THERE IS THE EXTENT THE ABILITY
TO HAVE INTERFUND LOANS, WE
MIGHT NEED THAT JUST TO BALANCE
THE BUDGET THIS YEAR.
THERE IS NO SCENARIO UNDER
WHICH WE WILL RECEIVE CHECKS
THIS YEAR, I DON'T THINK IT IS
RESPONSIBLE TO TELL PEOPLE
DURING THESE HARD TIMES.
I HOPE MAYOR DURKIN WILL
CLARIFY IF SHE THINKS IT IS
RESPONSIBLE TO TELL THE FIRE
DEPARTMENT THAT THEY WILL BE
PURCHASING THE LAND, FUNDED
WITH THIS INTERFUND LOAN.
OBVIOUSLY AN INTERFUND LOAN OF
$200 MILLION FOR COVID-19
RELIEF FOR UP TO 100,000
FAMILIES IS A TOTALLY DIFFERENT
SCALE THAN THE $8 MILLION IN
QUESTION TODAY, AND IT WOULD BE
APPROPRIATE IF ELECTED
OFFICIALS WERE OPENLY TO
DISCUSS WHETHER THE CITY HAD
ACTUALLY HAD LOANS TO FUND
ACTIVITIES OF THAT SIZE, SO
THAT'S WHY I MADE SURE THAT THE
RESEARCH WAS PRESENTED THAT
STRONGLY DEMONSTRATED THAT THE
CITY DOES HAVE SUFFICIENT
FUNDS.
INSTEAD, THE MAYOR HAS
DISHONESTLY CLAIMED IT WAS
SOMEHOW TECHNICALLY IMPOSSIBLE
OR ILLEGAL TO CARRY OUT THE
INTERFUND LOAN, A COMMON TACTIC
TO CONFUSE PEOPLE IN THEIR
FIGHT FOR SOCIAL JUSTICE.
LIKE IN CONGRESS, FOR DECADES,
THEY HAVE JUSTIFIED OPPOSING
SINGLE-PAYER HEALTHCARE BY
CLAIMING THAT IT IS IMPRACTICAL
AND TOO COMPLICATED, WORKING
PEOPLE SHOULD NOT BELIEVE THAT
FOR ONE MOMENT, I WILL OF
COURSE BE VOTING YES ON ALL
THREE PIECES OF LEGISLATION,
INCLUDING THE TOTALLY ROUTINE
LEGISLATION, AUTHORIZING THE
INTERFUND LOAN TO PROVIDE
BRIDGE FUNDING FOR THE PROJECT,
I URGE MEMBERS OF THE PUBLIC TO
SEE THIS EXAMPLE OF HOW AN
INTERFUND LOAN AUTHORIZATION
LEGISLATION WAS APPROACHED AS A
COMPLETELY UNCONTROVERSIAL
ISSUE COMPARED TO THE WAY THE
MAYOR HAS REACTED TO THE AMAZON
TAX LEGISLATION RELATED
INTERFUND LOAN.>>> THANK YOU,
AND THE OTHER COMMENTS OR
QUESTIONS FOR MY COLLEAGUES?
COUNCILMEMBER HERBOLD?
>> COUNCILMEMBER SAWANT
PARTIALLY MADE THIS, BUT I WANT
TO UNDERSCORE THIS IS A VERY
DIFFERENT IN SCALE, THIS
INTERFUND LOAN, FOR 8.2 MILLION
DOLLARS, AND THE SOURCE OF THE
INTERFUND LOAN IS A VERY
DIFFERENT SOURCE, THE
CONSTRUCTION INSPECTION FUN FOR
A SMALL NUMBER OF DOLLARS, IT
IS NOT $50 MILLION FROM 4
DIFFERENT ENTITIES, I'M NOT
COMMENTING ON THE LEGALITY OF
THE LATTER FUND, I'M JUST
SAYING THAT THIS IS A DIFFERENT
SOURCE OF FUNDS, FOR THE
INTERFUND LOAN, IN A MUCH
SMALLER NUMBER.>> THANK YOU
COUNCILMEMBER HERBOLD.
ANY OTHER COMMENTS?
OKAY, TAKE YOU SO MUCH TO BOTH
COUNCILMEMBER HERBOLD AND
JUAREZ FOR WALKING US THROUGH
THESE BILLS, LOOKS LIKE NO
OTHER ADDITIONAL COMMENTS, WE
WILL MOVE FORWARD WITH EACH
BILL, COUNCILMEMBERS WILL HAVE
A FINAL OPPORTUNITY TO PROVIDE
COMMENTS IF THEY WISH BEFORE WE
VOTE ON EACH ITEM, WE WILL
BEGIN WITH ITEM 4, I WILL MOVE
TO PASS COUNCIL BILL CB
119780, IS THERE A SECOND?
>> SECOND.>> THANK YOU.
MOVED AND SECONDED, ALREADY
SPEAKING TO THE BILL, ARE THERE
ANY OTHER ADDITIONAL COMMENTS
ON THE BILL?
HEARING AND SEEING NONE, PLEASE
CALL THE RULE ON THE PASSAGE OF
THE BILL.
>> SAWANT.
>> AYE.
STRAUSS?>> AYE.
>> HERBOLD.
>> AYE.
>> JUAREZ.
>> AYE.
>> LEWIS.>> AYE.
>> MORALES.
>> AYE.
>> MOSQUEDA.
>> AYE.
>> PEDERSEN.
>> AYE.
>> PRESIDENT GONZALEZ .
>> AYE.
>> 9-0. THE BILL PASSES AND
CLERK PLEASE AFFIX MY SIGNATURE
TO LEGISLATION.
>>> ITEM NUMBER 5, MOVING TO
PASS COUNCIL BILL CB 119782,
IS THERE A SECOND?
>> SECOND.
>> MOVED AND SECONDED, ANY
FURTHER COMMENTS ON THE BILL?
HEARING AND SEEING NONE, PLEASE
CALL THE ROLL ON THE PASSAGE OF
THE BILL.>> SAWANT.
>> AYE.
>> STRAUSS.
>> AYE.
>> HERBOLD.
>> AYE.
>> JUAREZ.
>> AYE.
>> LEWIS.
>> AYE.
>> MORALES.
>> AYE.
>> MOSQUEDA.
>> AYE.
>> PEDERSEN.
>> AYE.
>> PRESIDENT GONZALEZ.
>> AYE.
>> 9-0.
>> THE BILL PASSES, THE CLERK,
PLEASE AFFIX MY SIGNATURE TO
THE LEGISLATION.>>> MOVING ON
TO AGENDA ITEM 6, MOVING TO
PASS CB 119781, IS THERE A
SECOND REX MEEKER SECOND.
>> IT HAS BEEN MOVED AND
SECONDED.>> SECOND.
>> ANY OTHER COMMENTS ON T█HE
BILL?
SEEING NONE, PLEASE CALL THE
ROLL ON THE PASSAGE OF THE
BILL.
>> SAWANT .
>> AYE.
>> STRAUSS.
>> AYE.
>> HERBOLD.
>> AYE.
>> JUAREZ.
>> AYE.
>> LEWIS.
>> AYE.
>> MORALES.
>> AYE.
>> MOSQUEDA.
>> AYE.
>> PEDERSEN.
>> AYE.
>> PRESIDENT GONZALEZ.
>> AYE.
>> 9-0.
>> THE BILL PASSES, THE CHAIR
WILL SIGN IT AND I WOULD AS THE
CLERK TO AFFIX MY SIGNATURE TO
LEGISLATION.
>>> COLLEAGUES, WE ARE IN OTHER
BUSINESS ONE ITEM OF OTHER
BUSINESS.
>> THANK YOU COLLEAGUES FOR
TAKING TIME TO LOOK AT THE
LETTER THAT I HAVE CIRCULATED,
FOR THE LAST WEEK OR SO, I
WOULD LIKE TO THINK THE
COUNCILMEMBER, HER SUBJECT AREA
PURVIEW ON THE COUNCIL.
MAKING THE LETTER MUCH BETTER,
I WANT TO THANK HER FOR GIVING
ME GRACE IS.
WORKING WITH CONSTITUENTS IN
DISTRICT 6, IN REGARDS TO THIS
LETTER, I KNOW THAT THE WORK
FROM THE CONSTITUENTS IN
DISTRICT 6, HAVE BEEN CONTACT,
RESTAURANTS UNITED IN
PARTICULAR, IN CONTACT WITH
RESTAURANTS AND BUSINESSES
ACROSS THE CITY, THIS IS A
CITYWIDE LETTER.
THE GENESIS AROSE FROM NUMEROUS
ORGANIC DISCUSSIONS MY STAFF
AND I HAD WAS SMALL BUSINESSES,
AND THEM ORGANIZING, AS THE
COVID PANDEMIC OCCURRED, IT
BECAME CLEAR TO US THAT THE
STRUCTURE, EXECUTION AND
MAGNITUDE OF THE PROGRAMS WERE
SHORT OF ADDRESSING THE REAL
NEEDS OF OUR LOCAL
ESTABLISHMENTS.
GREATLY APPRECIATIVE OF FELLOW
COUNCILMEMBERS AND EVERYONE WHO
PROVIDED CONSTRUCTIVE COMMENTS
JUST UPON THEIR OWN
INTERACTIONS WITH RESTAURANTS,
AND SMALL BUSINESSES IN THEIR
DISTRICTS, AND WE HAVE
INCORPORATED ALMOST EVERYONE'S
ADDITIONS, WE ARE SENDING THIS
LETTER TO SENATOR PATTY MURRAY,
MARIA CANTWELL, REPRESENTATIVE
ADAM SMITH, AND OTHERS,
GOVERNOR JAY INSLEE, ATTORNEY
GENERAL BOB FERGUSON, THE
>> LORI JENKINS, AND SENATE
MAJORITY LEADER ANDY BILLIG,
DECIDING TO COMBINE THE FEDERAL
AND STATE LETTERS TO PROVIDE
BOTH THE WASHINGTON STATE LEVEL
AND THE FEDERAL LEVEL
DELEGATIONS, THE UNDERSTANDING
OF WHAT WE ARE REQUESTING IN A
COMPREHENSIVE MANNER, MY STAFF
HAS WORKED WITH SMALL
BUSINESSES TO HELP THEM
NAVIGATE THE DIFFERENT LAYERS
OF RESOURCES, AND DIFFERENT
LEVELS OF GOVERNMENT, IT IS
CLEAR THAT WE NEED TO BE
COORDINATED IN THESE WAYS.
AND THE DISTRICT, AMY RAYMOND,
LAURA GRACE AND HALEY, YOUR
WORK AROUND THIS HAS BEEN
PRODUCTIVE AND VERY HELPFUL.
I REALLY APPRECIATE ALL THE
WORK THAT YOU DO IN OUR
DISTRICT AREA.
SEATTLE RESTAURANTS UNITED, ON
BEHALF OF MANY RESTAURATS, THE
LIST IS TOO LONG FOR THE
CONVERSATION, IN PARTICULAR,
BAKERS, AND FREMONT CHAMBER OF
COMMERCE, BRANDY, AND THE
NEIGHBORHOOD ASSOCIATION,
CHRIS, YOUR ASSISTANCE HAS BEEN
HELPFUL.>>> I WILL BRIEFLY
HIGHLIGHT WHAT IS IN THE
LETTER, BROKEN INTO FIVE
CATEGORIES, THE FIRST CATEGORY
IS INCREASE FLEXIBILITY FOR
SMALL BUSINESSES, SUPPORTING AN
EXTENSION WITH THE SEATTLE
MORATORIUM ON COMMERCIAL
EVICTIONS AT HIGHER LEVELS OF
GOVERNMENT.
THE BUSINESS MORTGAGE PAYMENTS
AND PAYROLL CREDITS TO
COMPENSATE WORKERS FOR LOST
WAGES, COVERING 100% WAGES FOR
WORKERS, BUCKET NUMBER 2 IS
GREATER PREDICTABILITY FOR
LOCAL PARTNERSHIPS, CLARITY AND
GOVERNMENT MESSAGING,
ESPECIALLY DIFFICULT AS THERE
ARE DIFFERENT LAYERS OF
GOVERNMENT WITH FRONT LEVELS OF
RESOURCES.
PROCEDURAL AND LEGAL GUIDANCE,
WITH PROGRAMS, PROVIDING
FUNDING FOR TECHNICAL
ASSISTANCE, NON-ENGLISH
SPEAKING SMALL BUSINESS OWNERS
AND THOSE WITHOUT REGULAR
ACCESS TO THE INTERNET, ACCESS
TO MEDIATORS, THE FOURTH
BUCKET, JUST KIND OF HITTING
HIGH LEVEL RIGHT NOW, WE HAVE
BEEN IN THIS MEETING FOR OVER
THREE HOURS AND IT IS AFTER
5:00.
I JUST WANT TO BE RESPECTFUL.
EQUABLE EQUITABLE ACCESS, A
GRANT PROGRAM THAT THAT ARE
ALIGNS WITH THE NEEDS OF SMALL
BUSINESSES, PROPER --
PROCESSING OF PPP BEING
STANDARDIZED, SMALL BUSINESSES
HAVE EQUITABLE ACCESS TO
FUNDING OPPORTUNITIES,
REMEDYING SEVERE STRUCTURAL
ISSUES WITH THE PBP BENEFITS,
DIRECTING GRANT STIMULUS, FOR
THE BUCKET BEING LONG-TERM
SOLUTIONS BEYOND THE IMMEDIATE
CRISIS, SOMETHING WE TALKED
ABOUT IN COUNCIL TODAY, COUNT
SILK, IT WILL EXTEND BEYOND THE
LAST DATE.
THAT WE HAVE ON THE CALENDARS.
COUNCIL.
PROVIDING FEDERAL STILLNESS
FUNDS TO CITIES, ADVOCATING THE
BUSINESSES, SUSPENSION,
DECREASE IN FEDERAL TAXES ON
THESE BUSINESSES, INSTITUTING A
PBP STYLE LOAN, FORBEARANCE ON
THESE LOANS, REHIRING, LAYING
OFF THE WORKERS, INCREASE
PRODUCTION AND DISTRIBUTION OF
PERSONAL PROTECTIVE EQUIPMENT.
THAT IS A SHORT SUMMARY OF A
LONG LETTER, I APPRECIATE
EVERYONE PARTICIPATING IN THIS,
I WOULD ASK FOR YOUR SIGNATURE
ON THIS LETTER.
THANK YOU.
>> THANK YOU COUNCILMEMBER
STRAUSS.
ANY COMMENTS OR QUESTIONS A
LETTER, WE WILL DO A? ROLL CALL
TO ALLOWED COUNCIL MEMBER
STRAUSS TO SECURE HIS
SIGNATURES, JUST WANTED TO
PROVIDE AN OPPORTUNITY TO ASK
QUESTIONS OR RESPOND BEFORE
DOING SO?
LOOKS LIKE FOLKS ARE READY, I
WOULD ASK THE CLERK TO CALL THE
ROLE TO SECURE SIGNATURES ON
THE LETTER AS SUBMITTED BY
COUNCIL MEMBER STRAUSS.
>> SAWANT.
>> AYE.
>> STRAUSS.
>> AYE.
>> HERBOLD.
>> AYE.
>> JUAREZ.
>> AYE.
>> LEWIS.
>> AYE.
>> MORALES.
>> AYE.
>> MOSQUEDA.
>> AYE.
>> PEDERSEN.
>> AYE.
>> PRESIDENT GONZALEZ.
>> AYE.
>> 9-0.
>> THANK YOU SO MUCH, COUNCIL
FOR STRAUSS, YOU GOT YOUR
SIGNATURES, PLEASE FEEL FREE
TO MOVE FORWARD WITH THAT.
COLLEAGUES, THIS CONCERN --
CONCLUDES ARE VERY LONG MEETING
TODAY, THANK YOU FOR YOUR
PATIENCE AND YOUR ACTIVE
ENGAGEMENT IN TODAY'S MEETING,
THAT CONCLUDES ALL ITEMS OF
BUSINESS ON OUR AGENDA, THE
NEXT CITY COUNCIL MEETING IS
MONDAY, MAY 11, 2020 AT 2 PM,
AND WE ARE NOW ADJOURNED, THANK
YOU SO MUCH, GOODBYE.
>> GOODBYE.