>>> GOOD MORNING EVERYONE.
FEBRUARY 22nd, 21 COUNCIL
BRIEFING MEETING WILL COME TO
ORDER.
THE TIME IS 9:30 A.M.
WILL THE CLERK PLEASE CALL THE
ROLE.
>> SAWANT?
>> YES.
>> HERBOLD?
>> WARRIORS?
>> COUNCILMEMBER JUAREZ?
>> HERE.
>> THANK YOU.
>> LEWIS?
>> PRESENT.
>> MORALES?
>> YEP.
>> MOSQUEDA?
PEDERSEN?
>> YES.
>> COUNCIL PRESIDENT GONZALEZ?
>> YES.
>> SEVEN PRESENT.
>> THANK YOU SO MUCH, IF THERE
IS NO OBJECTION, THE MINUTES OF
FEBRUARY 16th, 2021 WILL BE OF
ADOPTED.
PRESIDENT'S REPORT, I DON'T
HAVE ANYTHING TO REPORT.
I AM GOING TO LEAD US RIGHT
INTO AGENDA ITEM 3. AN UPDATE
ON OUR STATE LEGISLATIVE SESSION
AND RELATED AGENDA.
I'M GOING TO HANDED OVER TO
DIRECTOR LILY WILSON-CODEGA TO
WALK US THROUGH.
>> GOOD MORNING.
LILY WILSON-CODEGA, OFFICE OF
INTERGOVERNMENTAL RELATIONS.
I'M GOING TO PASS IT ON TO
ROBIN KOSKEY.
>> OFFICE OF INTERGOVERNMENTAL
RELATIONS.
HEADING TO QUINN.
>> QUINN MAJESKI, OFF TO
HANNAH.
>> HANNAH SMITH.
OFFICE OF GOVERNMENTAL RELATION.
>> THANK YOU TEEN GOOD MORNING.
WE ARE BEFORE YOU THIS MORNING
WITH A STATE LEGISLATIVE UPDATE.
MAYBE A LITTLE CLOSER THEN I
SAID TO LAST TIME TO BEING
HALFWAY DONE.
ALMOST HALFWAY DONE WITH THE
2021 VIRTUAL SESSION ENDING ON
APRIL 25th.
WE HAVE PASSED SOME MAJOR
MILESTONES AT THIS TIME IN
SESSION.
IN THE 105 DAY SESSION, HOUSE
OF ORIGIN, POLICY COMMITTEE CUT
OFF THE DEADLINE FOR BILLS TO
PASS OUT OF THE COMMITTEES THEY
ARE INTRODUCED IN.
TODAY MARKS THE FISCAL COMMITTEE
CUT OFF WERE BILLS THAT HAVE A
POTENTIAL BUDGET IMPACT NEED TO
GET OUT OF APPRECIATIONS, WAYS
AND MEANS, TRANSPORTATION
COMMITTEES ETC.
FOR THEM TO STAY ALIVE IN THE
2021 SESSION.
JUST AROUND THE CORNER WE HAVE
HOUSE OF ORIGIN FOR CUT OFF
COMING UP ON TUESDAY AFTER NEXT,
TESDAY AFTER NEXT, WHICH IS
MARCH 9th.
IN THE COMING WEEKS BEFORE
HOUSE OF ORIGIN CUT OFF, WE CAN
EXPECT LEGISLATORS IN BOTH
CHAMBERS WORKING LONG HOURS TO
ADVANCE BILLS ON COVID
RECOVERY, CLIMATE CHANGE
EQUITY, POLICE ACCOUNTABILITY
AND HOUSING.
THANKS TO MANY COUNCILMEMBERS
FOR THEIR ENGAGEMENT IN THE
PROGRESSIV REVENUE AND HOUSING
SPACE RECENTLY.
APPRECIATE A LOT OF THE
COMMUNICATIONS YOU HAD WITH
SOME BUDGET WRITERS.
NOTABLY SENATE WAYS AND MEANS
APPROVED THE NEW TAX ON THE
SALES OF STOCKS AND BONDS AND
CAPITAL GAINS.
PARTNERS ARE HERALDING THAT AS
A MAJOR STEP IN THE LONG EFFORT
TO MAKE OUR TAX CODE LESS
REGRESSIVE IN WASHINGTON STATE.
CONGRATULATIONS TO ALL FOR YOUR
EFFORTS THERE.
I ALSO WANTED TO THANK MANY OF
YOU ON COUNCIL FOR YOUR EFFORTS
AND ASSISTANCE AS WE WORK
THROUGH SOME VERY CHALLENGING
DYNAMICS AROUND ARBITRATION
REFORM AS IT IMPACTS POLICING
HERE IN SEATTLE.
WE ARE GRATEFUL FOR YOUR
LEADERSHIP THERE.
WE ARE GOING TO CONTINUE TO
NEED TO WORK CLOSELY WITH MANY
OF YOU.
MUCH APPRECIATION, AND I WILL
TURN IT OVER TO OUR STATE
RELATIONS DIRECTOR, QUINN
MAJESKI.
>> THANK YOU, THANKS FOR HAVING
US THIS MORNING.
AS LILY MENTIONED, THE BIG NEWS
IN THE BUDGET AND REVENUE
SPACES THAT SENATE DEMOCRATS
UNVEILED AND PASSED OUT OF
COMMITTEE THEIR CAPITAL GAINS
TAX PROPOSAL.
TO SUMMARIZE BRIEFLY, IT IS
SIMILAR IN MANY WAYS TO WHAT
WE'VE SEEN FROM THE GOVERNOR
AND THE HOUSE, ALTHOUGH THERE
ARE SOME DIFFERENCES.
THE SENATE'S PROPOSAL IS A 7%
TAX ON CAPITAL GAINS.
IT EXEMPTS ANYTHING BELOW
250,000.
I WOULD NOTE THAT THAT
EXEMPTION APPLIES REGARDLESS OF
WHETHER YOU ARE A SINGLE OR
JOINT FILER.
THERE IS NOT A DIFFERENT RATE
IF YOU ARE FILING SINGLE OR
JOINTLY.
IT ALSO EXEMPTS RETIREMENT
SAVINGS.
ALL REAL ESTATE TRANSACTIONS.
IT ALSO CREATES A SIMILAR
EXEMPTION TO WHAT THE HOUSE PUT
FORWARD FOR A SMALL FAMILY
OWNED BUSINESSES.
THE EXEMPTION THERE IS FOR
BUSINESS SALES UNDER $6 MILLION.
AS OPPOSED TO THE HOUSE'S
PROPOSAL WHICH IS UNDER $10
MILLION.
THE SENATE'S PROPOSAL ALSO
DIRECTS THE FUNDS.
PROVIDES SPECIFIC DIRECTION FOR
THE REVENUE THAT IS RAISED.
350 MILLION MUST GO TO THE
EDUCATION LEGACY TRUST FUND
ACCOUNT WITH THE INTENTION
THERE OF FUNDING EARLY LEARNING
AND CHILDCARE INVESTMENTS.
THE SPECIFIC INVESTMENTS ARE
NOT STIPULATED, BUT THAT IS THE
GOAL.
THE REMAINING FUNDS WOULD GO
TOWARDS THE TAXPAYER RELIEF
ACCOUNT.
AGAIN, THE DETAILS ARE NOT
STIPULATED WITHIN THE
LEGISLATION, BUT FROM THE
HEARING, IT SOUNDS LIKE THE
INTENT IS TO PROVIDE SOME FORM
OF TAX RELIEF, EITHER THROUGH
REDUCTIONS IN MORE REGRESSIVE
TAXES, OR THROUGH FUNDING OF
PROGRAMS LIKE THE WORKING
FAMILIES TAX CREDIT.
THAT IS REALLY THE ONLY UPDATE
IN THE BUDGET AND REVENUE
SPACE.
I WILL PAUSE THERE FOR
QUESTIONS.
>> ANY QUESTIONS, COLLEAGUES?
AGAIN, AS A REMINDER BECAUSE WE
ARE SHARING THE SCREEN HERE,
IT'S HARD FOR ME TO SEE
EVERYBODY'S HANDS PHYSICALLY
RAISED.
IF YOU DO HAVE A QUESTION,
PLEASE USE THE RAISED HAND
FEATURE IN ZOOM IF YOU'RE ABLE
TO.
I'M JUST SORT OF SCANNING NOW.
I DON'T SEE ANYBODY RAISING
THEIR HANDS SO WE CAN KEEP
GOING.
>> I WILL HANDED OFF TO HANNAH
TO COVER EDUCATION.
>> THANKS, KAREN.
COUNCIL 1121, WHICH GRANTS
WAIVERS TO THE GRADUATION
REQUIREMENTS DURING AN
EMERGENCY HAS NOW PASSED BOTH
HOUSES AFTER PASSING THE SENATE
LAST WEEK.
THE CHILD CARE LICENSING FEE
BILL WE'VE BEEN CALLING
CLOSELY.
SENATE BILL 5136 WAS HEARD IN
WAYS AND MEANS BUT HAS NOT BEEN
SCHEDULED FOR ANY EXECUTIVE
ACTION.
SENATE BILL 5237, OUR 1213,
WHICH IS THE BIG START FOR KIDS
UNDER THIS CHILDCARE BILL.
THAT WAS EXEC'D OUT OF HOUSE
APPROPRIATIONS LAST WEEK WITH
FIVE REPUBLICANS VOTING IN
SUPPORT AND THE SENATE BILL WAS
ALSO EXEC'D LAST WEEK.
A COUPLE OTHER HIGHLIGHTS.
THE BILLS INCREASING ACCESS TO
THE OPPORTUNITIES SCHOLARSHIP
AND THE SCHOOL BOARD ELECTION
QUALIFICATION HAVE BOTH BEEN
PASSED.
ALSO THOSE ARE THE BIG
HIGHLIGHTS FOR EDUCATION.
IF THERE'S ANY QUESTIONS?
>> COLLEAGUES, ANY QUESTIONS ON
EDUCATION?
OKAY, I'M NOT SEEING ANY
QUESTIONS ON THAT SECTION.
HANNAH, I KNOW THAT IN THIS
MORNING I HAD AN OPPORTUNITY TO
TALK TO LILY AND ROBIN.
IN MY OFFICE, RAISED THE ISSUE
HAVE SOME PRETTY ALARMING
STATISTICS RELATED TO DAY CARE
CLOSURES ACROSS THE STATE OF
WASHINGTON.
SO, WE WOULD LIKE TO GET SOME
FOLLOW-UP ON MAKING SURE THAT
THE BILLS THAT ARE CURRENTLY
BEING DISCUSSED IN OLYMPIA ARE
GOING TO BE FOCUSED ON GETTING
MANY OF THOSE DAY CARE
FACILITIES THAT HAVE BEEN
CLOSED BECAUSE OF COVID BACK UP
AND RUNNING.
I THINK HEARING THAT UPWARDS OF
ABOUT 17% OF DAY CARE
FACILITIES ACROSS THE STATE
HAVE NOW BEEN CLOSED BECAUSE OF
COVID IS CERTAINLY NOT GOING TO
HELP GROWING PRESSURES AND
DEMANDS AND NEEDS FOR CHILDCARE
SERVICES.
>> I KNOW THAT HAS BEEN PART OF
THE CONVERSATION.
WE'LL CONTINUE TO ADVOCATE AND
FOLLOW UP WITH YOU ON ANY
DETAILS THERE.
>> GREAT, LET'S KEEP GOING.
>> MOVING ONTO THE
ENVIRONMENTAL SPACE.
A COUPLE KEY UPDATES HERE.
MOST BILLS HAVE MADE IT OUT OF
-- MOST BILLS MADE IT OUT OF
THE POLICY COMMITTEES LAST WEEK
AND ARE IN GOOD SHAPE FOR
FISCAL CUT OFF THIS WEEK.
SO, I WOULD NOTE JUST A FEW
COMPANION BILLS DIDN'T MAKE IT
PAST CUT OFF, BUT THAT'S NOT
SURPRISING.
COMPANION BILLS ARE FEW AND FAR
BETWEEN THIS YEAR.
LEADERSHIP HAS REALLY
DISCOURAGED THEM SO IT'S NOT
SURPRISING TO SEE THEM DROP
AWAY EARLY.
A COUPLE QUICK UPDATES ON HOUSE
BILL 1084.
THIS IS THE BUILDING
DECARBONIZATION LEGISLATION.
THE POLICY COMMITTEE PASSED OUT
A SLIM TWO DOWN VERSION OF THIS
LEGISLATION.
I JUST WANTED TO PROVIDE SOME
DETAILS THERE.
THE SUBSTITUTE VERSION OF 1084
REMOVES THE 70% REDUCTION IN
ANNUAL NET ENERGY CONSUMPTION
REQUIREMENTS.
IT ALSO REMOVES THE NATURAL
CHARGE -- NATURAL GAS SURCHARGE
THAT WOULD BE APPLIED TO
NATURAL GAS USED IN BUILDINGS.
IT DELAYS THE BENCHMARKING FOR
TIER 2 AND TIER 3 BUILDINGS,
WHICH ARE JUST SMALLER
BUILDINGS FROM 2021 TO 2022.
I WOULD NOTE THAT IT KEEPS
SEVERAL IMPORTANT PROVISIONS
THAT OUR OFFICE OF
SUSTAINABILITY AND ENVIRONMENT
IS INTERESTED IN.
IT INCLUDES A RESIDENTIAL
STRETCH CODE.
THAT COULD PROVE REALLY
VALUABLE FOR THE CITY OF
SEATTLE AND OUR OWN LOCAL
EFFORTS.
IT ALSO KEEPS THE HEAT PUMP AND
ELECTRIFICATION INCENTIVE
PROGRAM THAT WOULD BE STARTED
UP OUT OF THE DEPARTMENT OF
COMMERCE.
THAT WOULD HELP MITIGATE
IMPACTS TO LOW INCOME AND
VULNERABLE POPULATIONS.
THAT BILL IS UP FOR EXECUTIVE
NOW IN COMMITTEE.
WE ARE HOPEFUL THAT IT WILL
CONTINUE TO MOVE FORWARD.
THE OTHER BILL THAT I WANT TO
PROVIDE AN UPDATE ON IS 5126.
THIS IS THE CLIMATE COMMITMENT
ACT, ALSO KNOWN AS KAPP AND
INVEST.
THIS IS THE GOVERNOR REQUESTS
LEGISLATION.
ONE OF THE MAIN CLIMATE BILLS
BEING APPLIED THIS YEAR.
SENATOR CARLISLE HAS BEEN
WORKING PRETTY EXTENSIVELY
SINCE LAST WEEK TO ADDRESS SOME
OF THE FEEDBACK THAT WAS
RECEIVED ON THE GOVERNOR'S
PROPOSAL, ESPECIALLY WITH
REGARDS TO CAN BURN AROUND
ENVIRONMENTAL JUSTICE.
LATE LAST WEEK, HE INTRODUCED
HIS SUBSTITUTE.
THE SUMMARY OF THE SUBJECT IT
IS FOUR PAGES LONG SO I'M NOT
GOING TO BE ABLE TO GO INTO A
LOT OF DETAIL.
I DID WANT TO HIGHLIGHT A FEW
COMPONENTS.
IT REQUIRES THE DEPARTMENT OF
ECOLOGY TO CONDUCT AN
ENVIRONMENTAL JUSTICE
ASSESSMENT EVERY TWO YEARS.
IF THE MISSIONS ARE NOT
DECREASING, IT REQUIRES THAT
THEY ADOPT MORE STRINGENT RULES
AND REGULATIONS.
BASICALLY THAT THEY TINKER WITH
THE DIALS ON THE CAP AND INVEST
PROGRAM TO ENSURE THAT THOSE
TARGETS ARE BEING ACHIEVED FOR
OVERBURDENED POPULATIONS.
IT REQUIRES THAT AT LEAST 35%,
WITH A GOAL OF 40%, OF ALL OF
THE INVESTMENTS FROM THE
PROGRAM ARE MADE IN MARGINALIZED
COMMUNITY AND FRONT-LINE
COMMUNITIES.
IT ALSO ADDS TWO TRIBAL MEMBERS
TO THE ADVISORY COMMITTEE.
FINALLY, IT DECREASES -- ONE OF
THE CHIEF CONCERNS OF THE
ENVIRONMENTAL JUSTICE COMMUNITY
WAS THE ABILITY TO USE OFFSET
PROGRAMS AND OFFSET PROJECTS TO
ESSENTIALLY BUY THEIR WAY,
ALLOW COMPANIES AND POLLUTERS
TO BUY THEIR WAY OUT OF MAKING
CHANGES IN WASHINGTON AND IN
LOCAL COMMUNITIES.
IT REDUCES THE COMPLIANCE AMOUNT
THAT POLLUTERS CAN REACH
THROUGH OFFSETS.
FROM 8% TO 5%, AND FIRST
COMPLIANCE PERIOD, AND FROM 6%
TO 4% IN THE SECOND COMPLIANCE
PERIOD.
SO AGAIN, I THINK THERE IS
PROBABLY MORE WORK TO BE DONE
ON THIS LEGISLATION.
IT CERTAINLY FACES -- IT IS
NECESSARY TO IMPLEMENT A BUDGET.
IT IS NOT SOMETHING THAT IS
SIMILAR TO CUT OFF, BUT IT IS
STILL IN ITS POLICY COMMITTEE.
IT HAS QUITE A LONG WAY TO GO,
BUT THIS IS SORT OF THE FIRST
STEP INCORPORATING A LOT OF THE
CHANGES AND RESPONDING TO THE
FEEDBACK THAT THE SENATE
RECEIVED IN COMMITTEE.
SO, I WILL PAUSE THERE FOR ANY
QUESTIONS ON ENVIRONMENTAL
LEGISLATION.
>> COLLEAGUES, ANY QUESTIONS OR
COMMENTS ON THIS ACTION?
OKAY, I'M NOT SEEING ANY HANDS
RAISED, SO WE CAN KEEP GOING.
THANK YOU, QUINN.
>> ALL RIGHT, MOVING ONTO
GENERAL GOVERNMENT.
A FEW UPDATES ON BILLS THAT
DIDN'T CUT OFF.
FIRST, HOUSE BILL 1058,
TECHNICALLY HAS UNTIL TODAY TO
MAKE IT OUT OF FISCAL CUT OFF,
BUT IT IS NOT SCHEDULED FOR A
VOTE, SO IT WILL NOT BE MOVING
FORWARD.
THIS WOULD MODIFY THE
PROVISIONS AROUND THE SALES TAX
FOR ARTS AND CULTURAL PROGRAMS
ALLOWING AUTHORITY IN MAKING
CHANGES.
THAT BILL IS NOT MOVING FORWARD
THIS YEAR.
COMPANION LEGISLATION FOR 1264,
EQUITY IMPACT STATEMENTS, DID
NOT MOVE FORWARD BUT THE HOUSE
VERSION IS STILL ALIVE AND WELL
AND CONTINUES TO MOVE FORWARD.
I MENTIONED THIS, I BELIEVE
LAST WEEK, BUT A BAD BILL WE
WERE TRACKING AND WORKING TO
PREVENT THAT WOULD PREEMPT A
LOT OF CITY'S AUTHORITY AROUND
THE PERMITTING OF
TELECOMMUNICATIONS.
5110 ALSO DID NOT MOVE FORWARD.
FINALLY, OH, SORRY, THAT'S IN A
DIFFERENT SECTION ACTUALLY.
THAT'S IT FOR GENERAL
GOVERNMENT FOR ME.
I WOULD BE HAPPY TO ANSWER ANY
QUESTIONS.
>> THANKS, QUINN.
LOTS OF INFORMATION HERE.
OKAY COLLEAGUES, ANY COMMENTS
OR QUESTIONS ON THIS SECTION?
NOT SEEING ANY HANDS RAISED, SO
WE CAN CONTINUE THROUGH THE
PRESENTATION.
>> I'LL HANDED OFF TO HANNAH ON
HEALTHCARE.
>> THANKS.
IN HEALTHCARE, HOUSE BILL 1477,
WHICH IS THE NATIONAL 988
EMERGENCY HOTLINE CONTINUES TO
MOVE FORWARD.
THE SUBSTITUTE WAS EXEC'D OUT
OF HOUSE FINANCE LAST WEEK.
REPRESENTATIVE OR WALL HAS BEEN
WORKING WITH STAKEHOLDERS TO
REFINE THE BILL AND ADDRESS
SOME CONCERNS OVER THE
IMPLEMENTATION, TIMELINE, AND
COST.
THE BILL HAS BEEN REFERRED TO
APPROPRIATIONS WHERE IT IS
ANTICIPATED THAT IT WOULD BE
TRIMMED PRETTY SIGNIFICANTLY.
SENATE BILL 5068, WHICH IS THE
POSTPARTUM MEDICAID BILL.
IT HAS BEEN VOTED OUT OF WAYS
AND MEANS AND THERE IS GOOD
MOMENTUM FOR THE POLICY THIS
YEAR.
LOOKS LIKE THE FISCAL IMPACTS
WILL NOT BE AS SIGNIFICANT AS
THOUGHT.
THAT IS GOOD NEWS, ESPECIALLY
SINCE THAT IS A BILL THAT WAS
VETOED TOWARD THE END OF
SESSION LAST YEAR.
A FEW BILLS DID NOT MOVE
FORWARD.
THE PRODUCTS SOLD 221+, WHICH
IS OUR REGULATION ON TOBACCO
AND VAPING PRODUCTS, AND --
HOUSE BILL 1191, WHICH EXTENDED
HEALTH CARE COVERAGE TO SOME
UNDOCUMENTED IMMIGRANTS
CREATING A PARALLEL SYSTEM TO
APPLECARE DID NOT MOVE FORWARD
THIS YEAR.
THOSE ARE MY BIG HIGHLIGHTS IN
HEALTHCARE.
>> ANY COMMENTS OR QUESTIONS,
COLLEAGUES?
OKAY, LOOKS LIKE THERE ARE
NONE, SO WE CAN CONTINUE.
>> THANK YOU VERY MUCH, HANNAH.
I JUST WANTED TO HIGHLIGHT A
LITTLE BIT OF BULLETIN
INFORMATION.
YOU'LL NOTICE THAT YOU WILL SEE
SOME STRIKETHROUGH'S ON SOME OF
THE BILLS.
WE JUST WANTED TO MAKE SURE
THAT WE INDICATED THE FIRST
WEEK AFTER A BILL APPEARED TO
NO LONGER BE MOVING FORWARD, SO
WE CROSSED THOSE BILLS OUT.
IN ORDER TO KEEP THIS DOCUMENT
UNDER CONTROL, BILLS THAT HAVE
DIED, WE WILL REMOVE FROM THE
BULLETIN FOR FUTURE VERSIONS OF
IT.
THEREFORE MAKING IT HOPEFULLY A
LITTLE IT EASIER FOR US TO ALL
KEEP TRACK OF.
SO, I JUST WANTED TO HIGHLIGHT
THAT FOR EVERYONE.
AS FAR AS HOUSING GOES, THERE
IS A LITTLE BIT OF A LOW IN THE
LEGISLATURE RIGHT NOW WHERE WE
ARE WAITING FOR BILLS TO MOVE
TO THE FLOOR, FOR FLOOR ACTION
TO BE TAKEN.
ONE UPDATE IS THAT THE SENATE
BILL 5160, EXECUTIVE ACTION WAS
TAKEN IN THE WAYS AND MEANS
COMMITTEE ON FRIDAY.
SO NOW THE BILL WILL BE WAITING
FOR A VOTE IN THE SENATE.
THERE WERE SOME CHANGES MADE TO
THE BILL, HOWEVER I WILL SAY,
THIS IS THE BILL, EXCUSE ME,
THAT PUTS SOME PARAMETERS ON
HOW WE WILL PROCEED WITH TENANT
PROTECTIONS AFTER THE END OF
THE EVICTION MORATORIUM.
SOME CHANGES WERE MADE TO THE
BILL, BUT THIS IS VERY MUCH A
WORK IN PROGRESS.
I THINK THEY ARE STILL NO
GLACIATIONS GOING ON.
THIS SUDDENLY SHOULDN'T BE
VIEWED AS THE FINAL WORD ON
WHERE THESE TENANT PROTECTIONS
WILL LAND.
THERE ARE JUST CAUSE PROVISIONS
OF THE BILL THAT WERE REMOVED.
THE JUST CAUSE EVICTION BILL IS
TO MOVING FORWARD.
1236, THERE IS A POSSIBILITY
FOR THAT TO BE TAKEN CARE OF IN
ANOTHER WAY STILL.
WE DO HAVE JUSTICE CAUSE
PROVISIONS AT THE LOCAL LEVEL.
THE LANDLORD ALSO MUST OFFER A
REASONABLE SCHEDULE FOR PAYMENT
OF UNPAID RENT AND THERE WAS A
QUALIFIER PUT IN THAT MAY NOT
EXCEED MONTHLY PAYMENTS EQUAL
TO 1/3 OF MONTHLY RENTAL
CHARGES.
THAT LIMITS HOW MUCH A LANDLORD
COULD CHARGE IN ANY PAYMENT
PLAN THAT IS AGREED TO.
I THINK THAT'S ALL I HAVE FOR
HOUSING THIS WEEK.
ARE THERE ANY QUESTIONS?
>> COLLEAGUES, ANY QUESTIONS ON
THIS SECTION?
I'M NOT SEEING ANY HANDS
RAISED, SO WE CAN KEEP GOING.
>> WONDERFUL, MOVING ONTO
POLICE REFORM.
AGAIN HERE, MANY BILLS WAITING
FOR ACTION ON EITHER THE HOUSE
OR SENATE FLOOR.
THERE ARE STILL A LOT OF POLICE
REFORM BILLS MOVING FORWARD.
CERTAINLY INDICATING THE
IMPORTANCE THAT THE LEGISLATURE
IS PUTTING ON THIS TOPIC THIS
YEAR.
THERE IS STILL AT LEAST A DOZEN
BILLS THAT WOULD MAKE FAIRLY
SIGNIFICANT CHANGES TO STATE
LAW IN THIS AREA.
HOUSE BILL 1203, COMMUNITY
OVERSIGHT OF LAW ENFORCEMENT.
THAT BILL WAS MOVED OUT OF THE
HOUSE APPROPRIATIONS COMMITTEE
LAST WEEK.
THERE IS STILL WORK BEING DONE
ON THE BILL AND WE ARE WORKING
TO MAKE SURE THAT IT IS ALIGNED
WITH OUR OVERSIGHT IN SEATTLE.
I KNOW I MENTIONED THAT A FEW
TIMES ON MONDAY MORNINGS.
HOUSE BILL 1267 THE GOVERNOR'S
REQUEST FOR INDEPENDENT
INVESTIGATIONS.
EXECUTIVE ACTION WAS TAKEN LAST
WEEK.
THAT BILL IS STILL MOVING
AHEAD.
HOUSE BILL 1310, USE OF FORCE,
IT HAD EXECUTIVE ACTION TAKEN
ON IT LAST WEEK.
IT IS ALSO MOVING FORWARD.
PRETTY GOOD SHAPE ON ALL THESE
POLICE REFORM BILLS.
OTHERWISE, I DON'T HAVE ANY
MORE UPDATES FOR THIS WEEK.
I'D BE HAPPY TO TAKE QUESTIONS.
>> COLLEAGUES, ANY QUESTIONS ON
THIS SECTION?
OKAY, I'M NOT SEEING ANY.
WE CAN KEEP GOING.
>> LOOKS LIKE THERE IS NO
QUESTIONS.
>> APOLOGIES.
I ACTUALLY DON'T HAVE ANY UPDATE
FROM THE PUBLIC SAFETY FIELD
THIS WEEK SO WE CAN MOVE ALONG
WITH THE BRIEFING.
I HAVE TO SAY I MUST BE A
LITTLE SLEEPY THIS MONDAY
MORNING.
>> THAT'S ALL RIGHT.
I'M USING NEW HEADPHONES, SO I
THOUGHT MAYBE I WAS TALKING TO
MYSELF FOR A MOMENT.
ALL RIGHT.
>> I WILL HAND IT BACK OVER TO
HANNAH FOR AN UPDATE.
>> JUMPING INTO SAFETY NET.
HOUSE BILL 1073, WHICH IS
REPRESENTATIVE BARRY'S PAID
FAMILY LEAVE COVERAGES
SCHEDULED FOR EXECUTIVE ACTION
TODAY IN APPROPRIATIONS.
EXECUTIVE ACTION WAS TAKEN ON
HOUSE BILL 1297, WHICH IS THE
WORKING FAMILIES TAX CREDIT.
SENATE BILL 5214, WHICH IS THE
BIG TENANT ASSISTANCE BILL,
ALSO CONTINUES TO MOVE FORWARD.
EXECUTIVE ACTION WAS TAKEN LAST
WEEK.
SORRY.
AS I CATCH UP TO MYSELF.
SENATE BILL 5284, WHICH IS THE
SUB MINIMUM WAGE BILL, TIBBETTS
THE WASHINGTON DEPARTMENT OF
LABOR AND INDUSTRIES FROM
INJURING SUB MINIMUM WAGE
CERTIFICATES AFTER JULY, 2023.
IT PASSED THE HOUSE 42-7 LAST
WEEK.
THAT IS THE END OF MY UPDATE ON
SAFETY NET.
>> ALL RIGHT.
ANY QUESTIONS?
I'M NOT SEEING ANY QUESTIONS.
SO, LOOKING FOR HEADING INTO
TRANSPORTATION NOW.
>> ROUNDING THINGS OUT WITH
TRANSPORTATION.
NOT A WHOLE LOT TO REPORT HERE.
ALL THREE BILLS HAVE MADE IT
OUT OF COMMITTEE AND ARE NOW IN
RULES IN ANTICIPATION OF FLOOR
ACTION.
THEY HAVE ALL PASSED THE POLICY
AND FISCAL CUTOFF.
THEY WILL CONTINUE TO WORK ON
THEM AS THE SESSION PROCEEDS.
HAPPY TO ANSWER ANY QUESTIONS.
>> COLLEAGUES, ANY QUESTIONS,
COMMENTS, THINGS TO FLAG IN THE
AREA OF TRANSPORTATION?
I AM NOT SEEING ANY HANDS
RAISED.
I THINK THAT BRINGS US TO THE
CONCLUSION OF THE PRESENTATION,
YES?
>> IT DOES.
>> ALL RIGHT.
LILY OR ROBIN, OR ANYONE ELSE,
ANYTHING ELSE YOU WOULD LIKE TO
ADD AS WE BRING THIS PORTION OF
THE PRESENTATION TO CONCLUSION?
>> NO, THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR
YOUR TIME TODAY AND FOR ALL THE
ASSISTANCE FROM MANY OF YOU WHO
ARE ENGAGING THROUGHOUT THE
LAST FEW WEEKS.
WE VERY MUCH APPRECIATE YOUR
TIME AND ENERGY.
IMMIGRATE, THANK YOU SO MUCH,
LILY.
THANKS FOR BEING WITH US.
REALLY APPRECIATE YOUR TIME AND
EFFORT.
I KNOW THERE ARE STILL SOME
WAYS TO GO, BUT WE ARE HAPPY
THAT YOU COULD BE WITH US THIS
MORNING.
LOOKS LIKE COUNCILMEMBER
MOSQUEDA HAS A BURNING QUESTION
OR PERHAPS A COMMENT THAT YOU
WOULD LIKE TO MAKE BEFORE I SAY
GOODBYE.
GO AHEAD, COUNCILMEMBER,
MOSQUEDA.
>> THANK YOU VERY MUCH, AND
GOOD MORNING EVERYONE.
I WANTED TO JUST TAKE A QUICK
SECOND TO THANK THE MEMBERS OF
THE OFFICE OF INTERGOVERNMENTAL
RELATIONS TEAM.
THEY HAVE BEEN WORKING WITH US
AS WE RESPOND TO QUESTIONS AND
CONCERNS FROM MEMBERS OF THE
LABOR COMMUNITY WHO WERE PRETTY
APPALLED THAT THE ASSOCIATION
OF WASHINGTON CITIES SIGNED IN
ON HOUSE BILL 1076.
THIS IS THE WORKER PROTECTION
ACT WHICH IS LARGELY BEING
LIFTED UP BY WASHINGTON STATE
LABEL COUNCIL, AND OTHER
AFFILIATES THAT ARE PART OF THE
LABEL COUNCIL.
WE AS A CITY HAVE ALSO BEEN
SUPPORTIVE OF THIS PIECE OF
LEGISLATION.
THIS ALLOWS WHISTLEBLOWERS TO
BRING ACTIONS ON BEHALF OF THE
STATE FOR VIOLATIONS OF
WORKPLACE PROTECTION.
THIS IS A CRITICAL WORKPLACE
PROTECTION PIECE OF
LEGISLATION.
I JUST DIDN'T WANT THERE TO BE
ANY CONFUSION TO THE VIEWING
PUBLIC ABOUT WHERE SEATTLE
STANDS.
THIS IS ABSOLUTELY A PIECE OF
LEGISLATION THAT IS CRITICAL,
ESPECIALLY IN THE WAKE OF
COVID, AND IT REALLY IS A
TREACHEROUS SITUATION WHERE SO
MANY WORKERS ARE IN PRECARIOUS
SITUATIONS.
THEY WILL BE LOOKING FOR WORK.
THEY WILL BE IN DESPERATE NEED
FOR SALARIES AND PAY.
WE DON'T WANT ANYONE TO FURTHER
EXPERIENCE ANY TYPE OF LABOR
VIOLATIONS THAT WOULD PREVENT
THEM FROM COMING FORWARD,
ESPECIALLY IN THE WAKE OF COVID.
IT IS CRITICAL THAT WE REBUILD
OUR LOCAL ECONOMY IN A WAY THAT
WORKS FOR WORKING FAMILIES,
ESPECIALLY OUR LOWEST WAGE
WORKERS AND WORKERS ARE MORE
LIKELY TO EXPERIENCE
DISCRIMINATION INCLUDING
WORKERS OF COLOR, THE LGBT
COMMUNITY, AND SO AGAIN, HOUSE
BILL 1076 IS SOMETHING THE CITY
OF SEATTLE IS STRONGLY
SUPPORTIVE OF.
IT WAS PRETTY SHOCKING TO ME,
AND I KNOW MY COLLEAGUE AS
WELL, ON THE BOARD, TO FIND OUT
THAT THERE WAS A SIGN IN OF CON,
DOES NOT REPRESENT OUR POSITION
AND I APPRECIATE HOW QUICKLY
OUR MEMBERS OF THE
INTERGOVERNMENTAL RELATIONS
TEAM HAVE BEEN WORKING TO
CLARIFY SEATTLE'S POSITION AND
SEEK CORRECTIONS AND HOW AWC
REPRESENTS THEIR AFFILIATES.
THIS IS SOMETHING THAT HAS COME
UP OVER THE YEARS.
THE COUNCIL PRESIDENT IS
FAMILIAR WITH THIS FROM THREE
YEARS AGO.
THERE WAS AN ISSUE I WAS
WORKING ON TWO YEARS AGO
RELATED TO SCOOTERS AND ACCESS
TO MOBILITY ACTIONS.
NOW, I GET THIS.
I'M DISAPPOINTED, BUT I ALSO
WANT TO MAKE SURE I'M CLEAR
WITH MEMBERS OF THE PUBLIC THAT
WE ARE VERY SUPPORTIVE OF 1076
AND HOPE FOR ITS CONTINUED
PROJECT.
THANK YOU AGAIN FOR YOUR
LEADERSHIP IN HELPING TO
CLARIFY THAT.
>> NOT A PROBLEM.
I JUST WANT TO SAY TO THE TEAM,
I KNOW ROBIN, QUINN, AND HANNAH
HAVE BEEN DOING A LOT OF WORK
WITH THEIR CONTACTS WITHIN AWC.
YOU GUYS HAVE SEEN DROPPED
COMMUNICATIONS IN YOUR INBOXES.
CONTINUE TO LET US KNOW HOW WE
CAN BE HELPFUL THERE.
WE WILL CONTINUE TO FOLLOW UP.
SOME GOOD NEWS, THE BILL IS IN
APPROPRIATIONS TODAY.
AS I UNDERSTAND IT, THE CHAIR
IS SUPPORTIVE.
I THINK THAT IS HELPFUL.
>> THANKS FOR LIFTING UP THAT
ISSUE, COUNCILMEMBER MOSQUEDA.
REALLY APPRECIATE YOUR SERVICE
AND THE SERVICE OF
COUNCILMEMBER STRAUSS ON THE
BOARD OF AWC.
I KNOW IT'S A LOT OF HARD WORK
AND A LOT OF IMPORTANT ISSUES
THAT GO THROUGH THAT PARTICULAR
ORGANIZATION.
REALLY APPRECIATE THE
OPPORTUNITY TO SORT OF HIGHLIGT
INSTANCES IN WHICH WE MAY NOT
BE ALIGNED WITH THEIR
LEGISLATIVE EFFORTS.
SO, APPRECIATE THAT.
COLLEAGUES, ANY OTHER COMMENTS
OR QUESTIONS?
HEARING NONE, WE'RE GOING TO GO
AHEAD AND WRAP OUT THIS SECTION.
THANK YOU TO OUR TEAM MEMBERS
FOR BEING WITH US.
WE WILL SEE YOU NEXT WEEK.
UNTIL THEN, THANK YOU AND TAKE
CARE.
OKAY FOLKS, LET'S GO AHEAD AND
MOVE TO THE NEXT AGENDA ITEM,
4.
>>> IT IS A PREVIEW OF TODAY'S
CITY COUNCIL ACTIONS.
I'LL AGAIN CALL ON
COUNCILMEMBERS AS ESTABLISHED
BY THE ROTATED ROLL CALL FOR
CITY COUNCIL MEETINGS.
WE WILL START WITH
COUNCILMEMBER SAWANT, FOLLOWED
BY STRAUSS, HERBOLD, JUAREZ,
LEWIS, MORALES, MOSQUEDA,
PEDERSEN, AND THEN I WILL
CONCLUDE THIS AGENDA
DISCUSSION.
SO, FIRST UP IS COUNCILMEMBER
SAWANT, AND THEN WE WILL HEAR
FROM STRAUSS.
GOOD MORNING.
>> GOOD MORNING.
THANK YOU, COUNCIL PRESIDENT
GONZALEZ.
ON TODAY'S CITY COUNCIL AGENDA
THERE ARE NO ITEMS FROM THE
SUSTAINABILITY AND RENTERS
RIGHTS COMMITTEE.
THE NEXT MEETING, WHICH IS
NORMALLY SCHEDULED FOR
TOMORROW, HAS BEEN RESCHEDULED
FOR MARCH 4th.
I INFORMED THE COUNCIL AT OUR
LAST BRIEFING.
THA WILL BE AT 9:30 A.M.
THAT IS THURSDAY OF NEXT WEEK.
I APPRECIATE COMMITTEE MEMBERS
WORKING WITH MY OFFICE ON THAT
RESCHEDULING.
MY OFFICE HAS SENT THE
LEGISLATION TO THE COUNCIL
PRESIDENT'S OFFICE FOR A
PRODUCTION LAST WEEK FOR THE
RIGHT TO COUNCIL FOR RENTERS
WHEN THEY FACE EVICTION.
I EXPECT THAT WE WILL BE
DISCUSSING THIS IN THE
COMMITTEE NEXT WEEK AND IT HAS
BEEN -- AT OUR NEXT COMMITTEE
MEETING ON THURSDAY.
NEXT WEEK.
I EXPECT THAT IT WILL BE ON
NEXT MONDAY'S REFERRAL CALENDAR.
WE WILL ALSO FURTHER DISCUSS
THE PROBLEM THAT I MENTIONED
BEFORE IN OUR FAST BRIEFINGS OF
DEFAULT EVICTION.
RENTERS WHO DO NOT RESPOND TO
THE NECESSARY PAPERWORK OR ARE
NOT PRESENT, FOR THEIR EVICTION
HEARING ARE EFFECTED BY DEFAULT.
WE HAVE LEARNED FROM
STATISTICAL INFORMATION THAT
THIS IS UNFORTUNATELY ONE OF
THE MOST COMMON OUTCOMES.
WE KNOW THAT HALF THE EVICTIONS
MIGHT BE RELATED TO DEFAULT
EVICTIONS.
THE COMMITTEE WILL ALSO VOTE ON
FOUR REAPPOINTMENTS TO THE
SEATTLE RENTERS COMMISSION.
MY OFFICE IS ALSO PREPARING TO
BEGIN APPOINTMENTS TO THE GREEN
NEW DEAL OVERSIGHT BOARD.
AS SOME OF YOU MAY KNOW, THE
COUNCIL AND THE MAYOR EACH
APPOINT EIGHT POSITIONS, AND
THEN THREE WILL BE APPOINTED BY
THE BOARD ITSELF.
WE HAVE RECEIVED EXCELLENT
APPLICATIONS ALREADY, WHICH WE
ARE REVIEWING.
MEMBERS OF THE PUBLIC HAVE NOT
APPLIED, IF THEY WOULD LIKE TO,
THEY CAN FIND AN APPLICATION
FORM ON MY COUNCIL OFFICE BLOG.
I WANT TO SAY A FEW WORDS OF
SOLIDARITY.
THE MILLIONS OF WORKING PEOPLE
IN TEXAS WHO ARE REELING FROM
THE ENERGY DISASTER, AND ALSO
BECAUSE OF TEXAS ENERGY
NIGHTMARE IS A WARNING SIGN OF
WHAT COULD HAPPEN NATIONWIDE
UNLESS WORKING PEOPLE ACTIVELY
BEGIN TO FIGHT FOR A DIFFERENT
KIND OF SOCIETY.
THE PROFIT MOTIVE AND GAP IN
THE SYSTEM HAS FAILED TO
ADDRESS THE CLIMATE DISASTER,
AND ON TOP OF THAT, HAS CREATED
AN ABSOLUTELY CHAOTIC
INFRASTRUCTURE SITUATION WHICH
IS NOW RESULTING IN CRISIS AND
COLLAPSE FOR MOST OF US WHILE
PROFITS ARE MAXIMIZED FOR A FEW.
LIKE ENRON, FOR PROFIT ENERGY
COMPANIES USE ALL KINDS OF
DEREGULATION AND ACCOUNTING
FRAUD, GAMING METHODS, AND IN
ADDITION TO ALL OF THAT, THERE
HAS BEEN A NEW MECHANISM IN THE
DEREGULATION WHICH IS CALLED
THE ENERGY IMBALANCE MARKET.
ELECTRICITY GETS TRADED LIKE
STOCKS AND BONDS, BUT NOT ONLY
THAT, THERE IS A PERPETUAL
OPTION MECHANISM, WHICH IS
REALLY GOOD FOR MAXIMIZING
PROFITS, BUT ABSOLUTELY
DISASTROUS FOR PROVIDING ENERGY
TO ORDINARY PEOPLE.
TO TENS OF MILLIONS OF
CUSTOMERS.
ON TOP OF THAT, COMPLETELY
INCAPABLE OF DEALING WITH SURGE
DEMANDS THAT ARE MORE AND MORE
LIKELY TO OCCUR BECAUSE OF THE
CLIMATE DISASTER ITSELF.
I'M SAD TO SAY MY OFFICE HAS,
WHEN WE WERE CHAIRING THE
SEATTLE CITY COUNCIL'S ENERGY
COMMITTEE REALLY PUSH BACK ON
THIS ENERGY IMBALANCE MARKET
IDEA.
THAT'S PART OF THE PICTURE,
OBVIOUSLY IT'S NOT THE ONLY
REASON WHY THIS DISASTER IS
HAPPENING.
WE ARE SEEING THE OVERALL
DISASTER THAT HAPPENS TO
DEREGULATION.
IT IS NOT JUST TEXAS.
WE'VE ALREADY SEEN THIS LAST
SUMMER IN CALIFORNIA.
WE ARE GOING TO SEE THIS AGAIN
AND AGAIN.
AFTER HAVING SUBJECTED MILLIONS
OF ORDINARY PEOPLE TO THE
MISERY OF DAYS OF BROWNOUTS,
FREEZING TEMPERATURES, HUMAN
MISERY AND EVEN DEATH, THE
MILLIONAIRE AND BILLIONAIRE
SHELL HOLDERS OF THE BIG ENERGY
COMPANIES ARE SHAMELESS ENOUGH
TO DEMAND WORKING PEOPLE MUST
PAY MASSIVE ELECTRICITY BILLS
OF THOUSANDS, AND IN SOME CASES
TENS OF THOUSANDS OF DOLLARS.
THIS TOTALLY AVOIDABLE TRAGEDY
DEMONSTRATES THAT ELECTRIC
POWER IS TOO IMPORTANT TO LEAVE
TO THE MARKET.
WE NEED A DEMOCRATICALLY
PLANNED ECONOMY, A SOCIALIST
ECONOMY AS A WHOLE, IT IS NOT
JUST INFRASTRUCTURE, IT IS
FOOD, IT IS HEALTHCARE.
IT IS EVERY OTHER MAJOR ASPECT
OF OUR ECONOMY.
THE NEW YORK TIMES PUBLISHED A
VERY IMPORTANT ARTICLE 2 DAYS
AGO TITLED TEXAS BLACKOUTS .2
COAST-TO-COAST CRISES WAITING
TO HAPPEN.
I STRONGLY RECOMMEND THAT
WORKING PEOPLE READ THIS
ARTICLE.
THE ARTICLE SAYS QUOTE, I'LL
JUST QUOTE A FEW SENTENCES.
IT SAYS QUOTE, THE CRISIS
CARRIES A PROFOUND WARNING. AS
CLIMATE CHANGE BRINGS MORE
FREQUENT AND INTENSE STORMS,
FLOODS, HEAT WAVES, WILDFIRES,
AND OTHER EXTREME EVENTS, IT IS
PLACING GROWING STRESS ON THE
FOUNDATIONS OF THE COUNTRY'S
ECONOMY.
ITS NETWORK OF ROADS AND
RAILWAYS, DRINKING WATER
SYSTEMS, POWER PLANTS,
ELECTRICAL GRIDS, INDUSTRIAL
WASTE SITES, AND EVEN HOMES.
FAILURES IN JUST ONE SECTOR CAN
SET OFF A DOMINO EFFECT OF
BREAKDOWNS AND HARD TO PREDICT
WAYS.
MUCH OF THIS INFRASTRUCTURE WAS
BUILT DECADES AGO UNDER THE
EXPECTATION THAT THE
ENVIRONMENT AROUND IT WOULD
REMAIN STABLE, OR AT LEAST
FLUCTUATE WITH THEM FOR DATABLE
BOUNDS.
NOW, CLIMATE CHANGE IS UPENDING
THAT ASSUMPTION, END QUOTE.
IN OTHER WORDS, IN THE ENTIRE
ARTICLE, THE SITUATION THE
AUTHOR DESCRIBES IS SO DIRE
THAT THE ARTICLE IS ACTUALLY
MAKING AN ARGUMENT FOR A
DEMOCRATICALLY PLANNED ECONOMY.
OBVIOUSLY THAT IS NOT THE
INTENTION OF THE AUTHOR.
IT'S VERY IMPORTANT FOR WORKING
PEOPLE AND THE LABOR MOVEMENT
AND THE CLIMATE JUSTICE
MOVEMENT TO HAVE A SOBER
ASSESSMENT OF HOW DIRE THE
SITUATION IS AND HOW URGENT
THINGS ARE THAT WE MAKE THIS --
MAKE A REAL SHIFT AWAY -- NOT
ONLY AWAY FROM FOSSIL FUELS,
BUT TOWARDS DEMOCRATICALLY
OWNED CORPORATIONS, ESPECIALLY
IN THE ENERGY AND
INFRASTRUCTURE SECTOR.
I'LL ALSO SAY THIS IS IN
REFERENCE TO MY EARLIER POINT.
COUNCILMEMBERS MAY REMEMBER A
COUPLE YEARS AGO SEATTLE CITY
LIGHT ENTER THE CALIFORNIA
ENERGY IMBALANCE MARKET.
SOMETHING THAT MY OFFICE IS
IMPOSED..
IN 2016, WHEN THE EXECUTIVE
FIRST PROPOSED EDUCATION
ENTERING THE MARKET, THAT'S
WHEN IT CAME TO THE COUNCIL
COMMITTEE THAT I CHAIRED.
WE AMENDED THE BILL REQUIRING
CITY LIGHT TO PROPOSE ON FAR
MORE CURRENT PROPOSAL BEFORE
COUNCIL APPROVAL.
THE FOLLOWING YEAR, IN 2017,
CITY LIGHT MADE ITS FULL
PROPOSAL IN MY COMMITTEE.
I WAS NOT CONVINCED AND
PROPOSED A BUDGET AMENDMENT
REMOVING THE FUNDING FOR THE
INFRASTRUCTURE NECESSARY TO
ENTER THE MARKET.
UNFORTUNATELY, ONLY CURRENT
COUNCIL PRESIDENT GONZALEZ
AGREED TO COSPONSOR THAT BUDGET
AMENDMENT WITH ME.
SO, IT FAILED.
CITY LIGHT HAS NOW ENTERED THE
ENERGY IMBALANCE MARKET.
YOU SEE THE IRONY.
IT IS A PUBLICLY OWNED UTILITY,
BUT OVERALL THE IMBALANCE
MARKET ITSELF IS HIGHLY
DEREGULATED AND AS I SAID, IT'S
A PERPETUAL AUCTION MARKET.
BECAUSE CITY LIGHT IS A
PUBLICLY OWNED UTILITY, WE ARE
SOMEWHAT SAFER FROM THE KIND OF
BROWNOUTS AND SHOCKING ELECTRIC
ILLS THAT PRIVATE [
INDISCERNIBLE ] HAVE INFLICTED
ON THEIR CUSTOMERS IN TEXAS.
NONETHELESS, THESE EVENTS
SHOULD BE A WARNING FOR ALL OF
US THE MISERY THAT CAN BE
CREATED WHEN ENERGY IS CREATED
LIKE A PROFITABLE COMMODITY
RATHER THAN A HUMAN NEED.
MOST IMMEDIATELY, WE NEED TO
UNITE WITH WORKING PEOPLE IN
TEXAS AND DEMAND THAT THEY GET
IMMEDIATE EMERGENCY FUNDING FOR
WORKING PEOPLE IN TEXAS.
PAID FOR BY THE FOR-PROFIT
UTILITY CORPORATIONS THAT
CREATED THIS CRISIS, CANCELING
ALL UTILITY BILLS FOR WORKING
PEOPLE AND STRUGGLING SMALL
BUSINESSES.
THEY ARE TAKING THESE FOR-PROFIT
COMPANIES INTO DEMOCRATIC
PUBLIC OWNERSHIP.
JUST MAKING IT LIKE CITY LIGHT.
REALLY THERE SHOULD BE CRIMINAL
CHARGES AGAINST THE ENERGY
EXECUTIVES WHO HAVE CAUSED
UNTOLD MISERY.
TED CRUZ MUST DESIGN.
THANK YOU.
>> THANK YOU COUNCILMEMBER
SAWANT.
ANY COMMENTS OR QUESTIONS ON
THAT REPORT?
ALL RIGHT.
HEARING NONE, WE ARE GOING TO
GO AHEAD AND CONTINUE GOING
DOWN THE LINE.
NEXT UP IS COUNCILMEMBER
STRAUSS.
GOOD MORNING.
>> GOOD MORNING, COUNCIL
PRESIDENT, COLLEAGUES.
THERE IS ONE ITEM FROM THE LAND
USE A NEIGHBORHOODS COMMITTEE
ON TODAY'S INTRODUCTION AND
REFERRAL CALENDAR.
BRINGING BUSINESS HOME, A SMALL
BUSINESS FLEXIBILITY BILL
BROUGHT FORWARD TO YOU BY BY
MYSELF AND COUNCIL PRESIDENT
GONZALEZ.
COUNCILMEMBER 120001 MODIFIES
FOR HOME-BASED BUSINESSES FOR
ONE YEAR TO PROVIDE FLEXIBILITY
TO SMALL AND MICRO BUSINESS
OWNERS WHO ARE STRUGGLING TO
STAY OPEN DURING THE PANDEMIC.
AS WITNESSES HAVE BEEN FORCED
TO FIND CREATIVE AND NIMBLE
WAYS TO SURVIVE, OUR LAND-USE
CODE HAS NOT KEPT UP AND TOO
OFTEN HAS HELD THEM BACK.
THIS LEGISLATION FIXES THAT.
I'M EXCITED TO BE INTRODUCING
THIS LEGISLATION TODAY AGAIN
WITH COUNCIL PRESIDENT
GONZALEZ.
ONE EXAMPLE OF THE IMPACT THIS
LEGISLATION WOULD HAVE.
YOU MAY HAVE HEARD ABOUT YONDER
CIDER IN GREENWOOD WHICH OPENED
LAST SUMMER AND HAS SERVED
CIDER TO GO OUT OF THEIR
GARAGE.
YONDER HAD TO SHUT DOWN A WEEK
AGO TODAY BECAUSE IT WAS FOUND
TO BE OUT OF COMPLIANCE WITH
OUR OUTDATED HOME OCCUPATION
RULES.
IT'S NOT JUST ABOUT YONDER.
GOING AROUND, WALKING AROUND
THE NEIGHBORHOOD, I HAVE SEEN
PIZZA SHOPS.
THERAPISTS.
LICENSED MASSAGE THERAPIST.
ALL THESE FOLKS THAT OPERATE
OUT OF THEIR HOMES.
MANY OF THEM ARE OUT OF
COMPLIANCE WITH THE SIGN CODE
OR WITH THE PARKING REGULATIONS.
THIS BILL IS INTENDED TO BRING
FORWARD, MAKE THIS A LEVEL
PLAYING FIELD SO THAT WE CAN
BRING VIBRANCY BACK TO THE
NEIGHBORHOODS.
WE KNOW SMALL BUSINESSES LIKE
YONDER MAKE OUR NEIGHBORHOODS
MORE VIBRANT.
IT GIVES PEOPLE IN THE CITY
MORE THINGS TO DO.
IT'S IMPORTANT THAT WE SOLVE
FOR THIS PROBLEM.
AGAIN, THIS IS A TEMPORARY
PROVISION FOR THE DURATION OF
THE PANDEMIC.
WE WILL BE USING THIS PILOT AS
A MEANS TO STUDY THE BENEFITS
AND DRAWBACKS OF THIS PROPOSAL.
COLLEAGUES, IF YOU HAVE ANY
QUESTIONS, WE WILL BE HAVING A
BRIEFING THIS WEEK.
I LOOK FORWARD TO DISCUSSING
THIS MORE WITH YOU.
ADDITIONALLY, THERE ARE EIGHT
APPOINTMENTS TO THE SEATTLE
PLANNING COMMISSION ON TODAY'S
FULL COUNCIL AGENDA.
THE NEXT MEETING OF THE
COMMITTEE IS THIS WEDNESDAY AT
9:30.
THERE ARE THREE ITEMS ON OUR
AGENDA.
BRIEFING AND DISCUSSION OF
BRINGING BUSINESS HOME, A SMALL
BUSINESS FLEXIBILITY BILL THAT
WAS JUST DISCUSSED.
A BRIEFING FROM THE DEPARTMENT
OF NEIGHBORHOODS ON THEIR OUR
SGI REPORT.
A BRIEFING FROM THE URBAN
FORESTRY REPORT ON THEIR ANNUAL
REPORT AND 2020 WORKPLAN.
JUST WANTED TO STOP AND SEE
COLLEAGUES, ANY QUESTIONS ON
COMMITTEE WORK?
>> OKAY.
COLLEAGUES, WE DO HAVE AN
OPPORTUNITY TO HAVE QUESTIONS
AND COMMENTS ON COUNCILMEMBER
STRAUSS' REPORT.
LOOKS LIKE COUNCILMEMBER
MOSQUEDA MIGHT HAVE A QUESTION.
PLEASE.
>> THANK YOU VERY MUCH.
THANK YOU VERY MUCH
COUNCILMEMBER STRAUSS FOR YOUR
LEADERSHIP ON THIS LEGISLATION
REGARDING THE TEMPORARY ZONING
CHANGES FOR SMALL BUSINESSES,
STOREFRONTS, LIKE YONDER.
I TOO HAVE THE OPPORTUNITY TO
HAVE EMAIL CONVERSATIONS WITH
THEM.
WHEN REALLY ALERTED TO IT, IT
WAS FROM QUITE A FEW NEIGHBORS
FROM THE AREA THAT THOUGHT THIS
WAS PRETTY OUTRAGEOUS THAT THEY
WERE GOING TO HAVE TO SHUT DOWN.
APPRECIATE YOU AND THE COUNCIL
PRESIDENT MOVING FORWARD WITH
LEGISLATION.
IT DOES SEEM LIKE HOW WE HAVE
CHANGED MANY SMALL
INFRASTRUCTURE POLICIES OVER
THE LAST YEAR, THIS IS A GREAT
EXAMPLE OF WHERE WE SHOULD
CONTINUE TO LOOK AT WAYS TO
MAKE OUR COMMUNITIES MORE
WALKABLE.
MORE LIVABLE.
MORE FRIENDLY FOR SMALL
BUSINESSES.
THOSE STREET CLOSURES SHOULD BE
AREAS WHERE SMALL BUSINESSES
CAN CROP UP, ESPECIALLY WHEN
PEOPLE ARE WALKING BY.
I THINK THIS IS A GREAT EXAMPLE
WHERE WE KNOW THAT PARKING IN
FRONT OF BUILDINGS AND FAST
TRAFFIC IN FRONT OF BUILDINGS,
EVEN SMALL ESTABLISHMENTS LIKE
THE ONE THAT WE'VE HEARD ABOUT
FROM THE NORTH END TO THE SOUTH
END, THEY ARE MORE LIKELY TO
HAVE PATRONS WHEN PEOPLE CAN
WALK AND SEE THEM FROM THE
STOREFRONT.
FROM THE STREET INSTEAD OF
HAVING CARS PASS BY THEM OR
PARKED IN FRONT.
I THINK IT JUST MAKES A TON OF
SENSE.
LOOKING FORWARD TO SUPPORTING
THIS AND VERY PLEASED TO HEAR
ABOUT YOU MOVING THIS FORWARD.
THE QUESTION I HAD WAS ARE WE
ABLE TO BOTH HAVE A BRIEFING
AND POSSIBLE VOTE?
OR ARE YOU PLANNING TO DO A
VOTE AT A DIFFERENT MEETING?
>> I BELIEVE THE PLAN RIGHT NOW
IS TO DO A VOTE ON THE SECOND
MEETING.
SO, THIS WILL JUST BE A
BRIEFING AND DISCUSSION.
I'LL LET YOU KNOW IF THAT DOES
CHANGE.
I DON'T BELIEVE THE AGENDA IS
OFFICIALLY OUT.
TO YOUR POINT, WE KNOW THAT
MANY OF THE MOST SUCCESSFUL
BUSINESSES IN OUR COUNTRY AND
IN OUR WORLD WERE ORIGINALLY
STARTED OUT OF THE GARAGE.
PEOPLE'S ENTREPRENEURIAL SPIRIT
NEEDS TO BE GIVEN THE SUPPORT
TO THRIVE, ESPECIALLY DURING
THESE TIMES THAT WE ARE
SPENDING SO MUCH TIME AT HOME.
THIS BILL WOULD PROVIDE THAT
FLEXIBILITY TO BE ABLE TO
SUPPORT THEM IN THEIR
ENTREPRENEURIAL SPIRIT.
I WANTED TO CALL IT THE GARAGE
BILL, BUT IT WASN'T FLYING.
>> COUNCILMEMBER STRAUSS AND I
CAN FIND CONSENSUS ON MANY
THINGS, BUT THE GARAGE BILL WAS
ONE WE COULDN'T AGREE ON.
>> SO TOO.
COUNCIL PRESIDENT, I DO HAVE A
COUPLE MORE ITEMS FROM MY
REPORT.
UNLESS THERE IS QUESTION FROM
OTHER COLLEAGUES.
I DIDN'T HAVE ANY QUESTIONS,
BUT DID WANT TO TAKE AN
OPPORTUNITY TO MAKE COMMENTS
ABOUT THE BILL AS ONE OF THE
COSPONSORS IF THAT'S OKAY WITH
YOU.
COLLEAGUES, I THINK
COUNCILMEMBER STRAUSS HAS DONE
A GREAT JOB TALKING ABOUT WHAT
THIS BILL DOES.
QUEUING UP SOME OF THE
SUBSTANCE TO POLICY ISSUES THAT
THE BILL IS INTENDED TO
ADDRESS.
I ABSOLUTELY AGREE.
I THINK THIS IS A COMMONSENSE
POLICY.
COVID-19 CONTINUES TO KEEP MANY
OF US AT HOME, AND THIS IS ONE
WAY WE CAN BE INNOVATIVE AND
NIMBLE WHILE ADDRESSING OUR
OUTDATED MANDATES AND
REGULATIONS THAT SIMPLY DON'T
MAKE SENSE DURING THIS PANDEMIC
PERIOD OF TIME.
AS COUNCILMEMBER STRAUSS HAS
MENTIONED, YONDER'S TAPROOM IS
A SMALL BUSINESS THAT BROUGHT
TO OUR COLLECTIVE ATTENTION
THIS CODE ISSUE.
IT IS LOCATED ON A POPULAR STAY
HEALTHY STREET.
THEY HAVE DONE A LOT OF WORK TO
ENSURE THAT THEIR BUSINESS IS
MAKING EVERY EFFORT TO BE A
GOOD NEIGHBOR AND TO FIT INTO
THE NEIGHBORHOOD.
OF COURSE THEY RUN INTO MANY
ISSUES, THE LIVER CONTROL BOARD
OR OTHER AGENCIES THAT ARE
DESIGNED TO ENSURE THAT THEY
ARE MEETING PUBLIC HEALTH THE
BUSINESS OPERATING
REQUIREMENTS.
WHEN IT BECAME KNOWN THAT THEY
WOULD HAVE TO CLOSE DUE TO A
HOME OCCUPANCY CODE ISSUE,
YONDER RECEIVED OVER 4000
LETTERS OF SUPPORT FROM LOCAL
COMMUNITY MEMBERS HOPING THAT
THEY WOULD BE ABLE TO STAY OPEN
AND CONTINUE TO SERVE THE
COMMUNITY AND ITS EXISTING
MODEL.
AT A TIME WHEN IT'S NOT JUST
IMPORTANT TO SUPPORT OUR LOCAL
SMALL BUSINESSES, BUT TO ENSURE
THAT THEY WILL BE WITH US ON
THE OTHER SIDE OF THIS PANDEMIC,
IT'S ALSO IMPORTANT TO MAKE
SURE THAT WE ARE CREATING
FLEXIBILITY AND OPTIONS THAT
WILL HELP ENTREPRENEURSHIP AND
OUR MICRO ENTERPRISES.
THIS BILL I BELIEVE WILL HELP
LOWER THOUGH SIGNIFICANT
BARRIERS LIKE ACCESS TO CAPITAL
THAT KEEP MANY, ESPECIALLY
ENTREPRENEURS FROM STARTING A
BUSINESS.
WE KNOW THAT RIGHT NOW ACROSS
THE BIRTH, MANY OF THE MOST
SIGNIFICANT BARRIERS TO BEING
ABLE TO BECOME AN ENTREPRENEUR,
IS RENT.
THAT IS A REAL SIGNIFICANT
BARRIER FOR WOMEN AND FOR
ENTREPRENEURS WHO HAVE THE
DESIRE AND INTEREST TO START A
BUSINESS.
BUT, THE ULTIMATE GOAL OF BEING
ABLE TO MOVE INTO A BRICK-AND-
MORTAR IS ELUSIVE FOR MANY
BECAUSE OF THE COMMERCIAL
ISSUES THAT CONTINUE TO PLAGUE
OUR CITY.
WITH MANY OUT OF WORK DURING
THE PANDEMIC, THIS CHANGE WILL
ALSO I BELIEVE HELP SEATTLE
RESIDENTS START A SMALL
BUSINESS TO ADD MUCH-NEEDED
INCOME TO THEIR HOUSEHOLDS.
THIS WILL HELP US GET, I
BELIEVE, MUCH CLOSER TO AN
EQUITABLE ECONOMIC RECOVERY
THAT WILL, IN ADDITION TO
FACILITATING THE ECONOMIC
RECOVERY REVITALIZATION OF OUR
NEIGHBORHOOD BUSINESS DISTRICT,
WILL ALSO ADD VIBRANCY AND
AMENITIES TO OUR NEIGHBORHOODS
THAT WILL HELP TO MAKE OUR
NEIGHBORHOODS FEEL MORE LIVABLE
AND BE MORE LIVABLE.
I WANT TO THINK COUNCILMEMBER
STRAUSS FOR HIS PARTNERSHIP ON
THIS REALLY IMPORTANT BILL.
I ALSO WANT TO THANK MEMBERS OF
HIS TEAM.
OF COURSE, MY OFFICE. REALLY
LOOKING FORWARD TO THE
CONVERSATION THAT WE ARE GOING
TO HAVE IN YOUR COMMITTEE ON
THIS BILL.
I'M ESPECIALLY EXCITED ABOUT
THE CHANGES THAT I THINK THIS
BILL WILL PUT FORWARD TO BETTER
SUPPORT OUR SMALL BUSINESSES
ACROSS OUR STATE.
THANK YOU FOR GIVING ME AN
OPPORTUNITY TO SHARE MY
THOUGHTS ABOUT THAT REALLY
IMPORTANT BILL SO THAT WE CAN
BRING BUSINESSES HOME.
>> THANK YOU, COUNCIL PRESIDENT.
YOU CALLED OUT A NUMBER OF
THINGS THAT I'D LIKE TO PUT A
FINAL POINT ON.
YOU SUMMARIZED THEM SO WELL.
WHICH IS THAT THESE BUSINESSES
STILL HAVE TO MEET OTHER
REGULATORY CONDITIONS.
WHETHER THIS DEPARTMENT OF
HEALTH, LIQUOR LICENSING. IN
YONDER'S CASE IN PARTICULAR,
BOTH DEPARTMENT AND HEALTH AND
THE LIQUOR CONTROL BELT CAME
OUT AND FOUND THEM IN
COMPLIANCE WITH THEIR
CONDITIONS.
IT WAS THE FACT THAT WE WERE --
THAT THIS LAND-USE CODE WAS THE
FINAL BARRIER.
ONE OF THE THINGS THAT REALLY
SPURRED ME INTO ACTION IS THAT
WE DO HAVE THESE OTHER
BUSINESSES OPERATING IN THE
DISTRICT THAT ARE OUT OF
COMPLIANCE WITH OUR CURRENT
LAND-USE CODE REGULATIONS IN
THIS AREA.
ONCE A COMPLAINT IS MADE, THERE
IS NO WAY TO PULL THAT BACK.
IF ANY OF THE FAIR POSTS THE
MASSAGE THERAPISTS, THE PIZZA
SHOP, IF THERE WAS A FILE
COMPLAINT THERE WOULD BE NO
OTHER COURSE, OTHER THAN TO
CLOSE THEM DOWN WITHOUT THIS
BILL.
YOU BROUGHT THOSE POINTS
FORWARD, AND I JUST THANK YOU
FOR BRINGING THEM FORWARD.
YOU WERE SPOT ON.
COLLEAGUES, ANY OTHER QUESTIONS
ON THIS BILL?
>> I DON'T SEE ANY HANDS RAISED.
HERE WE GO, COUNCILMEMBER
PEDERSEN.
PLEASE.
I JUST NEED TO READ THE BILL.
I HAVEN'T READ IT YET.
I LOOK FORWARD TO READING IT.
MY INTEREST IS PEAKED AFTER
THIS DISCUSSION.
I WILL READ IT IN CONTEXT FOR
COMING TO COMMITTEE.
THANK YOU FOR BRINGING IT TO
COMMITTEE SO WE CAN HAVE A
DISCUSSION ON IT.
>> GREAT, THANK YOU.
IN OTHER WORK, MY OTHER WORK
LAST WEEK I JOINED THE FREMONT
CHAMBER OF COMMERCE TO MEET
WITH THEIR MEMBERS.
THANK YOU COUNCILMEMBER
PEDERSEN FOR ALLOWING ME TO
SHOW UP LATE TO YOUR COMMITTEE.
WE ALSO ATTENDED A COMMUNITY
COUNCIL WHICH IS SQUARELY IN
COUNCILMEMBER JUAREZ'S
DISTRICT.
THANKS FOR LETTING US CROSS THE
BOUNDARIES.
I ALSO ATTENDED THE REGIONAL
TRANSPORTATION COMMITTEE LAST
WEEK.
I FILMED THE COUNCIL ADDITION
OF COUNCILMEMBERS JUAREZ AND
PEDERSEN.
GREAT EXPERIENCE.
THIS COMING WEEK MY STAFF WILL
BE ATTENDING THE FREMONT
NEIGHBORHOOD COUNCIL.
I WILL BE MEETING WITH THE
HUMAN SERVICES INTERIM DIRECTOR
HELEN HOWELL.
I WILL BE MEETING WITH THE
GREEN LAKE CHAMBER OF COMMERCE
PRESIDENT SETTING UP OUR
MONTHLY MEETINGS.
AS WELL AS I WILL BE ATTENDING
THE KING COUNTY GROWTH
MANAGEMENT COUNCIL, PLANNING
COUNCIL, AND THE PUGET SOUND
REGIONAL COUNCIL EXECUTIVE
BOARD THIS COMING WEEK.
HERE IN DISTRICT 6, I CONTINUE
TO HOLD RESIDENT MEETINGS EVERY
WEEK.
I HAD INSPIRING CONVERSATIONS
LAST WEEK WITH NEIGHBORS FROM
SEVERAL AREAS.
WE DID HAVE ONE SNEAK IN FROM
MAGNOLIA.
COUNCILMEMBER LEWIS, SHE HAD
ALREADY SPOKEN TO YOU, SO GOOD
WORK ON YOUR OFFICE HOURS AS
WELL.
WE DISCUSSED MANY THINGS.
I SPOKE TO ONE REPUBLICAN WHO
WAS RAISED IN BROOKLYN AND I
HAD A REALLY GREAT CONVERSATION
WITH HIM.
IT'S NICE TO BE ABLE TO
DISAGREE AND NOT BE
DISAGREEABLE.
WE HAD VERY POINTED
CONVERSATION AND WE CAME OUT
KNOWING THAT WE ARE BOTH IN IT
TOGETHER TO SEE THE SUCCESS OF
THE CITY.
THAT WAS A REALLY GREAT
CONVERSATION.
WE ALSO TALKED WITH OTHER FOLKS
ABOUT CRIME PREVENTION
STRATEGIES, BEHAVIORAL
INTERVENTION PLANS, THERE WERE
TIES IN PEDESTRIAN SPACE.
ADDRESSING HOMELESSNESS ACROSS
THE DISTRICT.
SPECIFICALLY WHY ARE WE NOT
HAVING A FELT DIFFERENCE IN
REGARDS TO HOMELESSNESS, EVEN
THOUGH WE ALLOCATED FOR A SURGE
INVESTMENT IN 2021?
I'M SURE WE'LL HEAR MORE ABOUT
THAT LATER THIS WEEK WITH
COUNCILMEMBER LEWIS' COMMITTEE.
ALSO SPOKE ABOUT THE RESPONSE
TO GRAFFITI, AND REALLY WANT TO
THANK DISTRICT RESIDENTS FOR
TAKING THE TIME TO MEET WITH
ME.
I MEET WITH RESIDENTS EVERY DAY
DURING THE WEEK, AS WELL AS IN
THE EVENING.
THE VIEWING PUBLIC, YOU CAN
SIGN UP ON MY WEBSITE.
I LOOKS FOR. THURSDAY FROM 2:00
P.M.
TO 7:00 P.M.
THAT WAS MY REPORT.
>> THANK YOU SO MUCH
COUNCILMEMBER STRAUSS.
ANY OTHER COMMENTS OR QUESTIONS?
ALL RIGHT, HEARING NONE, WE ARE
GOING TO GO DOWN THE LINE.
NEXT UP IS COUNCILMEMBER
HERBOLD, AND THEN COUNCILMEMBER
JUAREZ.
>> GOOD MORNING.
THIS WEEK I DO HAVE A PUBLIC
SAFETY AND HUMAN SERVICES
COMMITTEE MEETING.
THAT WILL BE TOMORROW, TUESDAY,
AT 9:30 A.M.
THE ITEMS ON THE WORKPLAN, OR
ON THE AGENDA FOR TOMORROW
INCLUDE THE SEATTLE FIRE
DEPARTMENT PRESENTATION ON THE
2021 WORKPLAN.
WE ARE ALSO GOING TO HEAR A
FIRST BRIEFING ON A PIECE OF
LEGISLATION.
THE LEGISLATION ITSELF IS A
SEATTLE POLICE DEPARTMENT
BUDGET BILL.
IT FOLLOWS FROM ACTION TAKEN IN
DECEMBER IN THE FINANCE AND
HOUSING COMMITTEE.
YOU MIGHT RECALL THAT THIS ITEM
HAS BEEN LIFTED ON THE AGENDA
IN PREVIOUS PUBLIC SAFETY AND
HUMAN SERVICES MEETINGS BUT WE
HAVE DISPLAYED DISCUSSION.
ON JANUARY 26, WE RAN OUT OF
TIME AND COULDN'T HEAR IT.
SUBSEQUENT TO THAT, WE HAVE
WORKED TO COMMUNICATE WITH THE
MONITOR ON THE CONSENT DECREE
AFTER SOME COMMENTS FROM JUDGE
ROBART IN THE STATUS CONFERENCE
EARLIER THIS MONTH.
THAT ALSO LED TO A DELAY IN
BEGINNING DISCUSSIONS AROUND
THE BILL.
THIS IS GOING TO BE AN INITIAL,
VERY HIGH-LEVEL, DISCUSSION.
THERE WILL BE AT LEAST TWO
ADDITIONAL MEETINGS AFTER
TOMORROW'S COMMITTEE DISCUSSION.
THE MEETING AFTER THIS ONE
COMING UP WILL INCLUDE AN
OPPORTUNITY FOR THE CITY TO
COME AND PRESENT ON ITS REQUEST
AS IT RELATES TO THE PROPOSED
CUT IN THE BILL.
THERE ARE A NUMBER OF SPECIFIC
REQUESTS THAT SPD IS MAKING AS
IT RELATES TO ITS BUDGET FOR
2021.
SO, FOR THE COMMITTEE MEETING
TOMORROW, WE HAD ORIGINALLY
PLANNED TO HAVE HUMAN SERVICES
PRESENT ON THE COUNCIL FUNDED
$12 MILLION FOR COMMUNITY
SAFETY CAPACITY INVESTMENTS.
YOU MAY RECALL THAT AT THE LAST
PUBLIC SAFETY AND HUMAN
SERVICES COMMITTEE, WE DID HAVE
A PRESENTATION ON FUNDING
PROVIDED FOR THE SEATTLE
COMMUNITY SAFETY INITIATIVE.
THOSE ARE THE GEOGRAPHIC
COMMUNITY SAFETY HUBS
THROUGHOUT THE CITY.
WE HAD A COMMUNITY-BASED
PROVIDER PRESENTATION ABOUT
THOSE DOLLARS, BUT THEN THIS
ADDITIONAL $12 MILLION IS
FUNDING THAT THE COUNCIL
PROVIDED FOR THIS WORK.
FIRST, WE PUT $10 MILLION ASIDE
FOR THIS WORK DURING THE SUMMER
REBALANCING PROCESS.
THEN, FOLKS MAY RECALL THAT
THAT BUDGET WAS VETOED.
WE OVERRODE THE VETO AND
BECAUSE NO SPENDING HAD
OCCURRED IN 2020, WE CARRIED
FORWARD THE DOLLARS AND ADDED
ANOTHER $2 MILLION FOR A TOTAL
OF $12 MILLION IN 2020, TO BE
SPENT IN 2021.
THIS WORK IS A VERY, VERY HIGH
PRIORITY FOR THE COUNCIL.
IF THE HIGH PRIORITY FOR THE
COMMUNITY TO ADDRESS THE
COMMUNITY SAFETY NEEDS OF THE
CITY.
AT THE LAST PUBLIC SAFETY AND
HUMAN SERVICES COMMITTEE, THE
HUMAN SERVICES DEPARTMENT HAD
INDICATED THEY WOULD PRESENT
THE RESULTS OF THEIR COMMUNITY
ENGAGEMENT AND LANDSCAPE
ANALYSIS.
I'VE BEEN PUSHING ALSO TO BRING
THE PROPOSED SPEND PLAN AND
NECESSARY LEGISLATION FOR
COUNCIL TO APPROVE THAT PLAN.
THE BUDGET ACTION THAT WE TOOK
DOES REQUIRE THAT THE COUNCIL
ACT TO RELEASE THE DOLLARS.
SO, HST IS WORKING WITH THE
COMMUNITY ON DEVELOPMENT OF AN
RF FEE.
PART OF THAT WORK INCLUDES
LANDSCAPE ANALYSIS TO LOOK AT
WHERE FUNDS ARE CURRENTLY BEING
SPENT.
I'M JUST TAKING TIME IN
BRIEFINGS TO VERY LIGHTLY TOUCH
ON THIS ISSUE.
WE HAD, LIKE I SAID, INTENDED
TO HAVE A BROADER DISCUSSION IN
COMMITTEE NEXT WEEK.
I JUST WANTED MY COLLEAGUES
HERE ON THE COUNCIL TO BE AWARE
OF OUR EFFORTS TO BRING THIS
FUNDING AND THE NECESSARY
LEGISLATION FORWARD TO RELEASE
IT.
WE FOUND OUT LATE LAST WEEK THAT
HSD WOULD NOT BE ABLE TO BRING
FORWARD THEIR BRIEFING AND
PRESENTATION ON THIS WORK TO
TOMORROW'S COMMITTEE MEETING.
BUT, THEY DO INTEND TO DO SO IN
EARLY MARCH AT THE MARCH NINTH
PUBLIC SAFETY AND HUMAN
SERVICES COMMITTEE.
THEY HAVE INDICATED THAT DESPITE
THIS ADDITIONAL TWO WEEK DELAY
IN THE PRESENTATION OF
LEGISLATION, THE OVERALL
TIMELINE FOR RELEASING AND
AWARDING OF CONTRACTS WILL NOT
BE DELAYED.
I FEEL A REAL SENSE OF URGENCY
IN ACTIVATING THIS WORK.
IT IS INTENDED TO PROVIDE
CAPACITY ADJUSTMENTS, TO
ORGANIZATIONS THAT ARE
ADDRESSING COMMUNITY SAFETY,
BUT PROVIDING ALTERNATIVES TO
POLICING AND THE CRIMINAL LEGAL
SYSTEM.
I HAVE ASKED OF THE DIRECTOR TO
PROVIDE THE DRAFT LEGISLATION
AND LANDSCAPE RESULTS AS SOON
AS POSSIBLE.
I WILL SHARE THEM WITH
COMMITTEE MEMBERS AS SOON AS I
RECEIVE THEM.
HEALTH ISSUES, LAST WEEK I
JOINED THE MAYOR TO VISIT A
CITY RUN POP-UP VACCINATION
CLINIC IN WEST SEATTLE.
THE CLINIC WAS SCHEDULED TO
SERVE 750 LATINX AND VULNERABLE
ELDERS WHO ARE ELIGIBLE TO
RECEIVE THE COVID VACCINE.
THE CLINIC WAS RUN IN
COLLABORATION WITH THE SENIOR
CENTER OF WEST SEATTLE AND OTHER
BUSINESSES.
AS WELL AS THE SEATTLE HOUSING
AUTHORITY.
THE CITY RAN A SECOND CLINIC IN
PARTNERSHIP WITH THE RTS THIS
OF SEATTLE FOCUSED ON
VACCINATING 350 LATINX OLDER
ADULTS IN HILLMAN CITY.
SENIORS IN SOUTH AND SOUTHWEST
SEATTLE ESPECIALLY THOSE 75 AND
OLDER ARE LAGGING SIGNIFICANTLY
BEHIND OTHER PARTS OF KING
COUNTY AND ACCESSING VACCINE,
DESPITE BEING AT SIGNIFICANT
RISK OF DEATH FROM COVID.
ONLY 41 ELDERS IN SOUTHWEST AND
SOUTH SEATTLE HAVE BEEN
VACCINATED COMPARED TO AN
AVERAGE OF 56 ELDERS COUNTYWIDE.
THIS IS DESPITE SOUTHWEST AND
SOUTH SEATTLE ELDERS HAVING THE
SECOND HIGHEST RATE OF COVID
DEATH IN THE COUNTY.
THE LATINX COMMUNITY REPRESENTS
ONLY 10% OF KING COUNTY'S
POPULATION, BUT ALMOST A
QUARTER OF COVID CASES.
ONLY 7% HAVE RECEIVED A
VACCINATION.
I REALLY APPRECIATE THAT THE
CITY IS FOCUSING ITS VIEW
VACCINE DOSES ON THOSE WHO ARE
MOST IMPACTED BY COVID.
REALLY DOING EVERYTHING THAT WE
CAN AS A CITY, GIVEN THE
LIMITED VACCINE SUPPLY, TO
ADDRESS THE GAPS THAT WE ARE
SEEING RESULTING FROM THE
STATEWIDE AND COUNTY ROLLOUT.
RIGHT NOW, WITH THAT LIMITED
VACCINE SUPPLY, AGAIN THE CITY
IS FOCUSING ON ENSURING
EVERYONE IN PHASE ONE A IS
VACCINATED.
THE SEATTLE FIRE DEPARTMENT HAS
MOBILE VACCINATION TEAMS AND
WORKING WITH COMMUNITY PARTNERS
ON TEMPORARY POP-UP VACCINATION
CLINICS.
WHEN SUPPLY IMPROVES, AGAIN THE
CITY IS READY TO GO TO LUNCH
MASS VACCINATION SITES SIMILAR
TO ITS COVID TESTING SITES.
FOR ELIGIBLE PEOPLE IN THE
GENERAL PUBLIC.
AS FAR AS HOW TESTING AND
VACCINE ARE GOING, RIGHT NOW WE
ARE LOOKING AT THE SEATTLE FIRE
DEPARTMENT HAVING DELIVERED
636,000 TESTS UP THROUGH
FEBRUARY 19th.
SEATTLE FIRE DEPARTMENT MOBILE
VACCINATION TEAMS HAVE
ADMINISTERED 5500 VACCINES
THROUGH FEBRUARY 19th.
ALSO WANT TO NOTE ITEMS COMING
UP THIS WEEK AND ATTENDED LAST
WEEK.
THIS WEEK I HAVE THE REGIONAL
LOSS SAFETY AND JUSTICE MEETING
COMING UP.
LAST WEEK, ONE OF THE MAJOR
EVENTS ATTENDED WAS ASKED DOTS
VIRTUAL OPEN HOUSE REGARDING
WEST MARGINAL WAY AND THE
PLANNED IMPROVEMENTS ON WEST
MARGINAL WAY AS PART OF THE
RECONNECT WEST SEATTLE PLAN.
THE MITIGATION AND TRAFFIC NEEDS
DURING THE WEST SEATTLE BRIDGE
CLOSURE.
I THINK THAT IS -- I HAVE
VIRTUAL OFFICE HOURS COMING UP
THIS FRIDAY.
BETWEEN 2:00 P.M.
AND 6:00 P.M.
THAT'S IT, THANK YOU.
>> THANK YOU, COUNCILMEMBER
HERBOLD.
ANY COMMENTS OR QUESTIONS ON
THAT REPORT?
ALL RIGHT.
LOOKS LIKE THERE ARE NINE.
THANK YOU SO MUCH COUNCILMEMBER
HERBOLD.
NEXT UP IS COUNCILMEMBER
JUAREZ, AND THEN IT WILL BE
LEWIS.
>> GOOD MORNING EVERYBODY.
SO, THERE ARE NO ITEMS ON THE
PUBLIC ASSETS AND NATIVE
COMMUNITIES COMMITTEE ON THIS
AFTERNOON'S COUNCIL AGENDA.
HOWEVER, THERE WILL BE A
COMMITTEE MEETING ON MARCH 2nd
AT 2:00.
WE WILL BE HOLDING THE HEARINGS
FOR THE APPEALS FOR THE HUMAN
EXAMINERS FINAL REPORT.
THE REPORT WAS FILED BY THE
FEBRUARY 1st DEADLINE.
RIGHT NOW WE HAVE ABOUT 70
APPEALS THAT HAVE BEEN FILED
WITH THE CITY CLERK.
SO, WE WILL PROBABLY HEAR THE
FIRST 35 OR SO APPEALS AT THE
MARCH 2nd MEETING.
THE SECOND BATCH OF APPEALS AT
THE APRIL 6th COMMITTEE MEETING.
IF YOU HAVE ANY QUESTIONS,
PLEASE CONTACT ERIC ON COUNCIL
CENTRAL STAFF DIRECTLY FOR
QUASIJUDICIAL RULES.
UPDATE ON PARKS.
THE QUEEN CITY REPORT FOR
FEBRUARY 8th TO THE 14th.
AS SOME OF YOU KNOW, SOME OF YOU
HAVE BEEN KEEPING TABS ON HOW
THE CITY'S MONEY IS BEING SPENT
FOR THE SURGE IN CLEAN CITIES.
SOME QUEEN CITY CREWS WERE
DIVERTED TO THE CITYWIDE SNOW
RESPONSE RESULTING IN LESS
CLEAN CITY INITIATIVE WORK THAN
USUAL.
NONETHELESS, THE STATS ARE AS
FOLLOWS.
LOOKS LIKE THEY PICKED UP
ALMOST 700 NEEDLES.
80,000 POUNDS OF TRASH.
VISITED 61 PARKING ENCAMPMENT
LOCATIONS. THERE IS A PARK
EMPHASIS LOCATIONS INCLUDED MLK,
MEMORIAL PARK, AND ST. MARKS
GREENBELT.
THE SHOWER PROGRAM.
THERE WERE SEVERAL DAYS OF SNOW
CLOSURE OF THE PRESIDENTS' DAY
WEEKEND WITH LIMITED THE
PROGRAM.
PARKS SERVED ALMOST 300 USERS.
THE SEVERE WINTER SHELTERS WERE
OPENED AT BITTER LAKE AND
GARFIELD COMMUNITY CENTERS.
SEATTLE PARK AND REC STAFF
PROVIDED A FACILITY AND
CUSTODIAL SUPPORT, CONDUCTED
OUTREACH, AND TRANSPORTED
PEOPLE.
THEY ORGANIZED SUPPLIES AND
DEEP CLEANED DISSENTERS AND
MORE.
RECREATION STAFF MANAGED
FACILITIES AND WORKED CLOSELY
WITH HSD AND THE SHELTER
PROVIDER TO RESPOND TO THE
NEEDS AROUND THE CLOCK.
THE VACCINATION CLINIC, CORRECT
ME IF I'M WRONG, THE
VACCINATION CLINIC AT THE
COMMUNITY CENTER ON WEDNESDAY,
FEBRUARY 17th FROM 11:00 TO
2:00.
SEATTLE PARKS AND REC HOSTED A
COMMUNITY INITIATED VACCINE
CLINIC AT THE OUTDOOR
BASKETBALL COURT AT THE CENTER.
THE SOMALI HEALTH BOARD, THE
EAST AFRICAN COMMUNITY
SERVICES, AND PHARMACY
VACCINATOR 113 ELIGIBLE
COMMUNITY MEMBERS.
SEATTLE PARKS AND REC PROVIDED
A PERMIT FOR THE EVENT AND
ACCESS TO THE OUTDOOR RESTROOM,
TABLES, CHAIRS, AND TENTS.
THE EMERGENCY FOOD DISTRIBUTION
WE ARE STILL CONTINUING WITH
OUR PROGRAM.
OUR NONPROFIT PARTNER FOOD
LIFELINE REPORTED THAT THEY
PROVIDED OVER 1000 INDIVIDUALS
AND FAMILIES WITH BOXES OF
VEGETABLES, MEAT, AND FOODS.
LAST WEEK'S HIGHLIGHTS, I MET
WITH PEOPLE FOR THEIR PLAN OF
BUILDING MORE THAN 200
AFFORDABLE UNITS OR HOMES, AND
A LONGHOUSE ON THE NORTH
SEATTLE CAMPUS.
THIS IS A STRONG PROJECT WITH
AMAZING PARTNERS.
WE WILL BE APPROACHING OUR
LEGISLATIVE DELEGATION FOR
SUPPORT.
AS YOU KNOW, THIS HAS BEEN A
LONG TIME COMING.
WE HAVE BEEN WORKING ON THIS
PROBABLY SINCE 2015.
THIS COINCIDES AND COMPLEMENTS
THE PEDESTRIAN BIKE BRIDGE THAT
WILL SOON BE CONNECTING NORTH
SEATTLE COLLEGE TO NORTHGATE
MALL.
IT SPANS OVER 10 LANES OF I-95.
IT WILL CONNECT TO NORTHGATE
MALL, AND THE NHL TRAINING
CENTER.
SOME OF THE DETAILS OF THE
PROJECT INCLUDE THIS.
TWO RESIDENTIAL BUILDINGS OF
AFFORDABLE HOMES LOCATED ON
CAMPUS SERVING FAMILIES FROM 30
TO 80 AMI.
YOUTH CARE, I'M EXCITED ABOUT
THIS, WILL BE PROVIDING
SERVICES AND SUPPORT FOR YOUTH
TRANSITIONING OUT OF
HOMELESSNESS.
WITH AT LEAST 20 AVAILABLE HOMES
, AT LEAST 20 HOMES AVAILABLE
TO HOMELESS YOUTH.
MEANING THEY CAN ACTUALLY STAY
ON THE CAMPUS.
SOME OF THEM COMING OUT OF HIGH
SCHOOL.
THAT WOULD BE IN GRIM AND
NATHAN HALE.
THEY CAN ALSO DO THE PROGRAM
FOR THEIR FIRST TWO YEARS OF
COLLEGE FREE.
THE NORTH SEATTLE COLLEGE
INVESTMENT IN THE LONGHOUSE,
AND HOPEFULLY WE ARE GOING TO
PUSH MORE FOR NATIVE
EDUCATIONAL PROGRAMMING.
WE WILL COMPLETELY CHANGE THE
CAMPUS, AS YOU KNOW, WE'VE BEEN
PUSHING HARD TO HAVE MORE OF AN
AN INDIGENOUS FOOTPRINT NORTH
OF THE SHIP CANAL.
THE LONGHOUSE WILL CONTRIBUTE
TO A MORE WELCOMING ENVIRONMENT
FOR NATIVE STUDENTS AND
FAMILIES AND INCREASE THE
NUMBER OF NATIVE AMERICAN
STUDENTS ENROLLED.
SERVE AS A RESOURCE TO THE
GREATER COMMUNITY IN NORTH
SEATTLE.
WE EXPECT THE OPENING DATE IS
2024.
MORE TO COME ON THAT.
THIS IS ANOTHER IMPORTANT
COMMUNITY ASSET THAT WE WILL
WELCOME AND CONTRIBUTE ALREADY
TO THE NHL TRAINING CENTER.
THE NHL, WHEN WE ACTUALLY OPEN
UP SEATTLE C ENTER IN OCTOBER
OF 2021, THE GROWTH OF
NORTHGATE CUMMINS AND OF COURSE
YOU HAVE LIGHT RAIL OPENING IN
FALL OF 2021.
LET'S SEE.
NO.
THAT'S NOT IMPORTANT.
THIS IS IMPORTANT.
THE WEEK AHEAD.
MYSELF, SWIFT, AS WE SPEAK, AND
ANOTHER ARE PARTICIPATING OR
ATTENDING VIRTUALLY.
USUALLY I GO EVERY YEAR TO THE
NATIONAL CONGRESS OF AMERICAN
INDIANS.
IT'S AN ORGANIZATION THAT HAS
BEEN AROUND FOR ABOUT 75 OR 80
YEARS.
THE CONFERENCE IS RIGHT NOW
DOING A WINTER CONFERENCE IN
WASHINGTON, D.C. ABOUT 600
TRIBES PARTICIPATE AND WE MEET
EVERY DAY THIS WEEK.
IN FACT, RIGHT NOW I'M
LISTENING TO THE WINTER SESSION
ON WOMEN, NATIVE WOMEN, AND
WERE INDIGENOUS WOMEN.
THE FOCUS WILL BE ON BUILDING
ADMINISTRATION RELATIONSHIPS.
WE ARE EXCITED TO SHARE.
EVERY YEAR WE HAVE REALLY GREAT
SPEAKERS.
RIGHT NOW, REPRESENTATIVE CHUCK
SCHUMER, HOUSE SPEAKER NANCY
PELOSI.
LISA MURKOWSKI, AND DR. FAUCI
WILL BE ADDRESSING US LATER
THIS WEEK.
LAST YEAR I WAS PLEASED TO
INTRODUCE KAMALA HARRIS AT THE
HONORING LUNCHEON.
NOW SHE IS OUR NEW MADAM VICE
PRESIDENT.
WE ARE HONORING ANOTHER PERSON.
THAT IS THE NATIVE AMERICAN
LUNCHEON I'VE BEEN
PARTICIPATING IN FOR 27 YEARS.
IT IS FOCUSED ONLY ON NATIVE
WOMEN IN LEADERSHIP.
WE ALWAYS HAVE OUR
CONGRESSIONAL DELEGATION THERE.
LAST YEAR WAS EXCITING TO HAVE
ABIGAIL HONORED.
WE WILL CONTINUE THAT.
OUR PRESIDENT IS ALSO THE CHAIR
OF THE QUINAULT NATION.
TOMORROW, IT WILL BE FOCUSED ON
THE CONGRESSIONAL CONFIRMATION
HEARINGS.
DEB HOLLAND IS CURRENTLY A
CONGRESSWOMAN FROM NEW MEXICO
AND AN ENROLLED MEMBER OF THE
PUEBLO TRIBE.
SHE IS ALSO A DEAR FRIEND TO ME
AND TO INDIAN COUNTRY.
IF CONFIRMED, SHE WILL BE THE
FIRST NATIVE AMERICAN SECRETARY
OF THE INTERIOR.
THE INTERIOR WAS CREATED IN THE
MID-1800S AND WAS TRANSFERRED
FROM THE WAR DEPARTMENT TO
BECOME ITS OWN DEPARTMENT.
WHY THEY STOPPED WITH PARKS AND
TREES I CAN ONLY GUESS.
ANYWAY, THAT'S WHERE WE ARE AT.
WE HAVE FIVE SENATORS THAT HAVE
PUT A HOLD ON HER CONFIRMATION.
I WILL BE UP AT 6:30 TOMORROW
TO WATCH IT LIVE AND OF COURSE
WE HAVE BEEN SPENDING LETTERS
OF SUPPORT AND WORKING WITH OUR
SISTERS WHO ARE IN TRIBAL
LEADERSHIP POSITIONS TO MAKE
SURE THAT SHE IS SUPPORTED.
I ALSO WILL BE ATTENDING THE
SOUND TRANSIT BOARD OF
DIRECTORS.
WE ARE MEETING THIS THURSDAY
AND WE WILL START LOOKING AT
THE REALIGNMENT SCENARIOS FOR
SOUND TRANSIT STAFF.
I LOOK FORWARD TO REPORTING BACK
ON THAT LONG PROCESS WHEN WE
FINALLY FIGURE OUT WHAT THE
REALIGNMENT ISSUES WILL BE WHAT
THE COST WILL BE, AND HOW WE
WILL ADDRESS THE AFFORDABILITY
GAP.
THANK YOU.
>> THANK YOU, COUNCILMEMBER
JUAREZ.
ANY COMMENTS OR QUESTIONS ON
THAT REPORT?
HEARING NONE, WE WILL GO AHEAD
AND GO DOWN THE LINE TO
COUNCILMEMBER LEWIS.
AFTER COUNCILMEMBER LEWIS WILL
BE COUNCILMEMBER MORALES.
>> GOOD MORNING.
THERE ARE NO ITEMS FROM THE ON
THE INTRODUCTION AND REFERRAL
CALENDAR.
NOR IS THERE ANY LEGISLATION ON
THIS AFTERNOONS FULL COUNCIL
AGENDA FROM THE SELECT COMMITTEE
ON HOMELESSNESS AND STRATEGIES
AND INVESTMENTS.
ON FEBRUARY 24th, THE SELECT
COMMITTEE ON HOMELESSNESS
STRATEGIES AND INVESTMENTS WILL
MEET. ON THE AGENDA, FIRST, THE
PERMANENT SUPPORT OF HOUSING
BILL THAT MY OFFICE HAS BEEN
SHEPHERDING THROUGH SINCE
DECEMBER OF 2020.
WE WILL BE UP FOR A FINAL VOTE
IN THE COMMITTEE AND
CONSIDERATION OF AMENDMENTS.
LOOKING FORWARD TO THAT.
SECOND, WE WILL HAVE A
PRESENTATION FROM THE EXECUTIVE
ON THE SHELTER SURGE TO IDENTIFY
SOME OF THE WAYS WE CAN WORK
TOGETHER TO EXPEDITE AND SPEED
ALONG THOSE CRITICAL COUNCIL
INVESTMENTS THAT HAVE BEEN MADE
AND OVERCOME SOME OF THE
HURDLES THAT ARE CURRENTLY
SLOWING THAT EFFORT DOWN.
I LOOK FORWARD TO THAT
PRESENTATION SO WE CAN REALLY
COME TOGETHER AS A COUNCIL AND
THE MAYOR TO GET THOSE CRITICAL
ASSETS STOOD UP AS SOON AS
POSSIBLE.
IN THAT SPIRIT, I DO WANT TO
GIVE A BRIEF SHOUT OUT TO
SOMETHING I KNOW IS AN ONGOING
HURDLE THAT COULD SPEED UP THE
TINY HOUSES IN PARTICULAR,
WHICH IS TO EXEMPT TINY HOUSE
VILLAGES FROM CERTAIN
REQUIREMENTS.
THIS IS A LONG-STANDING POLICY
GOAL THAT HAS BEEN WORKING ITS
WAY THROUGH THE STATE
LEGISLATURE.
SENATOR JOE WINN HAS A BILL IN
OLYMPIA TO DO IT.
SENATE BILL 5428 STRONGLY
ENCOURAGE ALL MEMBERS OF THE
POND THAT THIS IS A PRIORITY
FOR THE CITY AND THE COMMITTEE
IN THEIR LOBBYING EFFORT IN MY
OFFICE CONTINUES TO WORK ALONG
WITH THE OFFICES OF MANY
COUNCIL COLLEAGUES TO SUPPORT
THIS LEGISLATION.
AGAIN, THAT IS SENATE BILL 5428.
ENCOURAGE FOLKS TO REACH OUT TO
YOUR DELEGATION TO CONTINUE TO
PUSH THIS FORWARD.
THANKS SENATOR JOE WINN FOR HIS
LEADERSHIP IN ADVANCING THIS
IMPORTANT PRIORITY.
MOVING ON, I WANT TO GIVE A
SHOUT OUT TO THE HUMAN SERVICES
DEPARTMENT NOW THAT WE HAVE
SOME DATA AND INFORMATION FROM
THEIR RESPONSE TO THE SNOWSTORM
LAST WEEKEND.
COUNCILMEMBER JUAREZ SHARED
SIMILAR UPDATES TO THE GREAT
WORK THAT PARKES WAS DOING.
THE WORK OF THE HOPE TEAM AND
THE HUMAN SERVICES DEPARTMENT
WAS FEEDING FOLKS INTO SOME OF
THOSE SHELTERS.
PARKES HOSTED AND HELPED SET UP.
THE HOPE TEAM IN THE RUN-UP TO
THE STORM, THE WEEK BEFORE, WAS
ABLE TO SHARE SHELTER
INFORMATION WITH 228
INDIVIDUALS.
THEY PROVIDED 199 PEOPLE WITH
WINTER SUPPLIES AND BASIC NEEDS
LIKE FOOD AND WATER.
DIRECT TRANSPORTED 23
INDIVIDUALS TO SHELTER.
IT'S IMPORTANT TO NOTE THAT
THEY WERE WORKING AS PART OF A
BROADER NETWORK OF FIRST
RESPONDERS ALSO DOING DIRECT
TRANSPORT.
23 IS NOT THE TOTAL NUMBER OF
DIRECT TRANSPORTS.
IT'S JUST THE NUMBER DIRECTLY
ATTRIBUTED TO THE HOPE TEAM,
BUT THEY WERE COORDINATING WITH
THE BROADER NETWORK.
DO WANT TO LIFT UP THE HOPE
TEAM DID DO 23 DIRECT
TRANSPORTS ON ITS OWN.
I JUST WANT TO CLOSE OUT BY
SAYING, AS A FORMER RANK-AND-
FILE CITY EMPLOYEE MYSELF, I
GREATLY APPRECIATE THE WORK
THAT THE HOPE TEAM DID IN BEING
ACTIVE IN THE RUN-UP TO, AND
DURING, THE STORM.
I APPRECIATE THEIR DOGGED ASHY
AGENCY TO STAND UP ADDITIONAL
SHELTER.
INCLUDING THE SEATTLE CITY HALL
SHELTER WHICH WAS OPENED AT
8:00 P.M.
ON THAT SATURDAY.
TO PROVIDE ADDITIONAL SPACE,
EVEN CAPACITY ISSUES, AT THE
OTHER AGENCY SHELTERS.
THESE ACTIONS SURELY SAVED
LIVES AND I LOOK FORWARD TO
HEARING MORE ABOUT THE
ACTIVITIES OF THE HOPE TEAM,
WHICH WAS FORMED THROUGH
LEGISLATION FROM COUNCILMEMBER
MORALES.
AND MYSELF IN THE FALL.
REALLY APPRECIATE THE WORK THEY
DID DURING THAT STORM AND
SURELY WE HAVE MORE WORK TO DO
TOGETHER ON BUILDING AND
IMPROVING ON THAT.
REALLY APPRECIATE THEIR
DILIGENCE IN A TIME OF
DIFFICULT CRISIS.
MOVING ON TO SOME REPORTS FROM
LAST WEEK.
EXTERNAL COMMITTEES THAT I
SERVE ON.
WAS PROUD TO JOIN COUNCILMEMBER
MORALES AND MOSQUEDA AT THE
BOARD OF HEALTH WHERE WE ADDED
TO THE BOARD OF HEALTH WORKPLAN
AFTER CONFIRMING OFFICERS.
I DON'T WANT TO STEAL
COUNCILMEMBER MOSQUEDA'S
THUNDER BUT I WAS PROUD TO
NOMINATE HER TO SERVE AS OUR
CAUCUS'S VICE CHAIR ON THAT
BOARD.
GLAD SHE GRACIOUSLY ACCEPTED
THE NOMINATION AND WILL
CONTINUE TO SERVE IN THAT ROLE.
COUNCILMEMBER McDERMOTT FROM
THE KING COUNTY COUNCIL WAS
REELECTED AS BOARD CHAIRMAN FOR
THE BOARD OF HEALTH.
AFTER RESOLVING THOSE OFFICER
ELECTIONS, WE DID ADOPT A
WORKPLAN INCLUDING, AS WAS
COVERED IN THE NEWS, A
CONVERSATION AROUND THE KING
COUNTY HOME LAW. WHICH, AS WAS
REPORTED, A CROSS CUT IN
DECEMBER OF LAST YEAR INDICATED
THAT IT IS ENFORCED WITH A VERY
STRONG DISPROPORTIONALITY
TOWARDS PEOPLE OF COLOR AND
PEOPLE EXPERIENCING
HOMELESSNESS.
SINCE 2017 IT WAS REPORTED THAT
AT LEAST 43% OF HELMET LAW
CITATIONS WERE SPECIFICALLY
MADE AGAINST PEOPLE
EXPERIENCING HOMELESSNESS.
SO, I LOOK FORWARD TO EXAMINING
THE HELMET LAW, ALONG WITH MY
COLLEAGUES ON THE BOARD OF
HEALTH, TO REALLY GRAPPLE WITH
RECONCILING CRITICAL PUBLIC
HEALTH GOALS AROUND
INCENTIVIZING WEARING HELMETS.
REALLY ASSESSING WHETHER THIS
IS AN EFFECTIVE DETERRENT.
WHETHER THIS IS WORKING.
REALLY CERTAINLY LOOKING AT IF
THERE IS ALTERNATIVE STRATEGIES
THAT DO NOT BEAR THE PROVEN FACT
THAT THIS HAS A
DISPROPORTIONATE IMPACT ON A
LOT OF PEOPLE IN OUR COMMUNITY,
AND ALMOST CERTAINLY THERE ARE
LOTS OF FOLKS NOT WEARING
HELMETS WHO DO NOT FALL INTO
COMMUNITIES.
THIS IS DISPROPORTIONATELY
FALLING ON.
WE CERTAINLY NEED TO LOOK INTO
THE EFFICACY OF THAT RULE AND
LOOK INTO WAYS TO CHANGE THE
STRATEGY SO THAT IT IS NOT
FALLING HEAVILY ON THE MOST
VULNERABLE COMMUNITIES IN THE
CITY.
MOVING ON, I DO JUST WANT TO
DIGRESS A LITTLE BECAUSE WE DID
HAVE A LOT OF PUBLIC COMMENT IN
THE FINANCE COMMITTEE REGARDING
JUST CARE.
AS SOME PEOPLE CAN PROBABLY
TELL FROM MY BACKGROUND, I'M IN
THE OFFICE THIS MORNING, CITY
HALL.
AS MANY FOLKS KNOW, WHEN I COME
TO CITY HALL I TYPICALLY WALK
TO WORK.
WHEN I DO THAT I WALKED THROUGH
DOWNTOWN.
I DID SO THIS MORNING.
I SAW BOARDED-UP STOREFRONTS
THAT HOSTED PROSPEROUS
BUSINESSES PRE-PANDEMIC.
I SAW DOZENS OF OUR NEIGHBORS
SLEEPING IN DOORWAYS WHO NEVER
EXPERIENCED THAT PROSPERITY IN
THE FIRST PLACE.
DOWNTOWN WILL RECOVER.
WE ARE GOING TO WORK HARD AND
WE ARE GOING TO MAKE SURE THAT
DOWNTOWN RECOVERS, BUT WE CAN'T
WAIT FOR THE PANDEMIC TO
COMPLETELY END TO ACT IN
MITIGATING MANY OF THE VERY
REAL IMPACTS THAT HAVE BEEN
EXPERIENCED BY BUSINESSES AND
DOWNTOWN RESIDENTS ON A DAILY
BASIS.
THAT LEADS ME TO THE DISCUSSION
THAT WE HEARD IN THE FINANCE
COMMITTEE PUBLIC COMMENT ON
JUST CARE.
WE HEARD DOZENS OF COMMUNITY
MEMBERS, MANY OF THEM MY
CONSTITUENTS, TESTIFYING TO THE
EFFECT THAT GHESQUIERE HAS HAD
ON THEIR BUSINESSES.
AND TO THE NEIGHBORHOODS.
FOR THOSE UNFAMILIAR, JUST CARE
IS AN OUTREACH, SHELTER, AND
DIVERSION PROGRAM THAT IS
COMPOSED OF, AND SUPPORTED BY,
A CONSORTIUM OF PROVIDERS,
COMMUNITY LEADERS, AND BUSINESS
LEADERS.
INCLUDING THE LAW ENFORCEMENT
ASSISTED DIVERSION PROGRAM TO
THE PUBLIC DEFENDERS
ASSOCIATION.
THE CHIEF SEATTLE CLUB.
THE AGENT COUNSELING AND OTHERS.
JUST CARE SPECIFICALLY REACHES
OUT TO INDIVIDUALS WITH VERY
HIGH BARRIER NEEDS WHO ALSO
HAVE A HIGH LIKELIHOOD OF
POTENTIALLY BEING CRIMINAL
LEGAL SYSTEM INVOLVED, FOR
BEING THE SOURCE OF HIGH-
FREQUENCY DISORDER COMPLAINTS.
IT OFFERS EMPLACEMENTS AND
HOTELS WITH SUPPORT STAFF TO
HELP MEET THEIR UNDERLYING
NEEDS AND ALSO HELP RESPOND TO
THE NEEDS OF BUSINESS DISTRICTS
THAT HAVE HIGH CONCENTRATIONS
OF FOLKS WITH THESE HIGH
BARRIERS TO SUCCESS.
OF THE 194 PEOPLE THAT JUST
CARE HAS PROVIDED OUR REACH TO,
ONLY FOUR HAVE REFUSED
ASSISTANCE.
124 OF THEM HAVE BEEN
SUCCESSFULLY PLACED INTO A
HOTEL WITH SUPPORT SERVICES.
OVER THREE QUARTERS OF THESE
FOLKS HAVE REPORTED NEEDING
MENTAL HEALTH SUPPORT, AND
NEARLY 2/3 HAVE REPORTED AN
ADDICTION TO MATH AMONG OTHER
DRUGS.
I MEET WITH SMALL BUSINESS
OWNERS IN MY DISTRICT IN
PIONEER SQUARE AND SOUTH
DOWNTOWN ON A REGULAR BASIS.
THEY HAVE TOLD ME THAT JUST
CARE HAS BEEN ONE OF THE ONLY
INTERVENTIONS DURING THIS
PANDEMIC WHICH HAS SUCCESSFULLY
AND VISIBLY MOVED A PERSON IN
CRISIS FROM THEIR DOORWAY TO A
PLACE WHERE THEY CAN GET HELP
AND ASSISTANCE.
IMPROVING QUALITY OF LIFE FOR
THAT PERSON, AND FOR THE
BUSINESS OWNER BOTH.
WE KNOW THAT JUST CARE, AND
MOSTLY COUNTY SUPPORTED
PROGRAM, FACES A CERTAIN
SHUTDOWN NEXT MONTH AND LAST
SOME ARRANGEMENT CAN BE REACHED
TO KEEP IT GOING.
BASED ON PRE-EXISTING
RELATIONSHIPS WITH HOTELS AND
PROVIDERS, JUST CARE COULD
DRIVE AND MORE THAN DOUBLE ITS
CASELOAD TO NEARLY 300
INDIVIDUALS WITHIN ITS EXISTING
CAPACITY.
THEY COULD DO THAT THROUGH THIS
FALL WHEN WE ANTICIPATE THE
STANDUP OF LARGER SHELTER
CAPACITY FROM TINY HOMES AND
ENHANCED SHELTER.
THIS WEEK, I'M GOING TO WORK
WITH KING COUNTY, WITH THE
MAYOR'S OFFICE, AND COUNCIL
COLLEAGUES TO TRY TO FIND SOME
KIND OF SOLUTION TO KEEP THIS
CRITICAL WORK GOING BEFORE IT
TURNS INTO A PUMPKIN IN MARCH.
EMPHATICALLY, AND I CANNOT MAKE
THIS POINT STRONGLY ENOUGH,
GIVEN THE STATE OF DOWNTOWN,
REGARDLESS OF WHAT YOUR OPINION
ON HOW YOU CHARACTERIZE THE
ROOT CAUSES OR ANYTHING ELSE,
DOWNTOWN CANNOT HAVE 124 MORE
INDIVIDUALS WHO ARE SUFFERING
FROM ADDICTION AND BEHAVIORAL
MENTAL HEALTH CONDITIONS TO
LEAVE THE HOTEL'S WHERE THEY
ARE CURRENTLY GETTING THEIR
NEEDS MET AND GO BACK TO THE
DOWNTOWN NEIGHBORHOOD.
TO THE CONTRARY, WE HAVE TO
COMMIT, AS A REGION, TO
OFFERING MORE PEOPLE WHO ARE
SIMILARLY SITUATED, AN
OPPORTUNITY TO GET OFF THE
STREET.
I STAND WITH THE DIVERSE
COALITIONS IN THIS GOAL,
INCLUDING THE PUBLIC DEFENDER
ASSOCIATION, COMMUNITY
PATHWAYS, THE DOWNTOWN SEATTLE
ASSOCIATION, AND THE ALLIANCE
FOR PIONEER SQUARE.
BUSINESS DISTRICTS, BUSINESS
OWNERS, DIVIDERS, COMMUNITY
LEADERS, ARE ALL STANDING
TOGETHER ON THIS SAYING WE NEED
TO COME UP WITH A SOLUTION
TOGETHER AND WE NEED TO DO IT
COLLABORATIVELY.
SO, TOGETHER WE CAN CREATE A
PLAN TO PROVIDE THIS
COMPASSIONATE SERVICE AND
PUBLIC SAFETY FURCAL ALL THE
PEOPLE IN THE CITY.
WE NEED TO REALLY START WITH
LEANING INTO THIS PROGRAM TO
MAKE SURE THAT FOLKS THAT ARE
CURRENTLY GETTING THIS CARE AND
ARE NOT STILL IN THE CHINATOWN
INTERNATIONAL DISTRICT IN
PIONEER SQUARE TREATS ARE
CONTINUING TO GET THAT HELP
THEY NEED.
ALSO MAKE SURE WE CAN SUPPORT
THAT PLAN TO GET UP TO ITS
SHOVEL RENTAL CAPACITY, FOR
LACK OF A BETTER TERM, OF UP TO
ABOUT 300 INDIVIDUALS.
IT IS MAKING A PHYSICAL
DIFFERENCE, AND WE STILL HAVE A
LONG WAY TO GO AS ALL OF US
KNOW.
WITH THAT, HOPEFULLY I WILL
HAVE MORE TO SAY BY BRIEFING
NEXT WEEK.
A LOT OF FOLKS OUT THERE IN THE
COMMUNITY EXPECT A CALL BECAUSE
THIS IS GOING TO BE SOMETHING
THAT WE NEED TO REALLY WORK ON
THIS WEEK TO MEET THE DEADLINES
THAT HAVE BEEN SET DOWN BASED
ON THE TIMELINE OF THE EXISTING
PROGRAM.
APPRECIATE THAT OPPORTUNITY TO
DIGRESS ON THAT A LITTLE BIT
MORE.
LOOKING FORWARD TO THIS WEEK.
>> THANK YOU, COUNCILMEMBER
LEWIS FOR THAT REPORT.
COLLEAGUES, AGAIN, IF YOU HAVE
ANY COMMENTS OR QUESTIONS,
PLEASE DO LET ME KNOW.
I SEE COUNCILMEMBER MOSQUEDA IS
IN THE QUEUE.
THEN, MORALES AFTER THAT.
>> THANK YOU VERY MUCH.
THANK YOU VERY MUCH
COUNCILMEMBER LEWIS FOR YOUR
REPORT.
I WANT TO AGAIN APPRECIATE THE
LINE OF TESTIMONY THAT WE HEARD
FOR ALMOST 45 MINUTES ON FRIDAY
AFTERNOON IN THE FINANCE AND
HOUSING COMMITTEE THAT I
CHAIRED.
EVERY SINGLE PERSON WHO SPOKE,
THE SUCCESS OF THE PROGRAM WAS
HIGHLIGHTED.
THE IMPERATIVE CALL FOR ACTION
WAS UNDERSCORED THAT IF WE
DON'T HELP TO SUPPORT JUST CARE
IN THIS MOMENT, FOLKS WILL BE
LINING UP TO GET TENSE AS THEY
LEAVE CURRENT HOUSING.
THAT IS JUST UNACCEPTABLE.
IT IS UNACCEPTABLE TO SAY THIS
IS A KANE COUNTY PROGRAM, AND
THUS A KANE COUNTY PROGRAM TO
SOLVE.
IT IS UNACCEPTABLE TO TELL
STAKEHOLDERS THEY SHOULD BE
CALLING KING COUNTY TO WORK IT
OUT.
IT'S UNACCEPTABLE WHEN THE
FOLKS THAT ARE BEING SERVED ARE
AS YOU SAID, IN PIONEER SQUARE,
AND IN OTHER AREAS, AND MANY OF
THE BUSINESS OWNERS I SPOKE TO
ON A CALL COORDINATED WITH THE
BIA TEAM SPOKE ABOUT THE
IMPORTANCE OF THIS WORK.
REALLY REMOVING THOSE FOLKS
FROM THE STREET WHO WANT TO GET
INTO HOUSING.
REMOVING THEM FROM SOME OF THE
CRIMINAL ELEMENTS THAT WE SEE
BASICALLY PREYING UPON PEOPLE
AND THEIR VULNERABILITIES.
WANTING TO MOVE FOLKS OUT TO
THE STREET TO GET THOSE WHO
NEED HELPING INTO HOUSING.
JUST CARE HAS PERVADED THAT
MODEL.
IT IS ABSOLUTELY SOMETHING I
WILL BE SUPPORTING.
LOOK FORWARD TO WORKING WITH
YOU ON MAKING SURE WE HAVE OUR
STRONG PARTNERSHIP WITH KING
COUNTY LIFTED UP AS WE THINK
ABOUT COMING TOGETHER, HOLDING
HANDS IN THIS EFFORT TO RESPOND
TO THE CRISIS THAT IS
HOMELESSNESS.
IT HAS BEEN EXPONENTIALLY MADE
WORSE BY COVID AND APPRECIATE
YOUR COMMENTS HERE TODAY.
LOOK FORWARD TO WORKING WITH
YOU AND OUR COUNCIL COLLEAGUES
AS WE LOOK FOR IMMEDIATE
SOLUTIONS.
WE SHOULD BE HELPING FOLKS FOLD
UP THEIR TENTS AND WALK INTO
HOUSING, AND THAT'S WHAT JUST
CARE OFFERS.
THANK YOU VERY MUCH FOR
HIGHLIGHTING THE SUCCESS.
THE DATA BEHIND THAT SUCCESS
AND THE WORK WE WILL BE DOING
THIS WEEK ON THAT EFFORT.
APPRECIATE YOUR LEADERSHIP.
>> COUNCILMEMBER MORALES?
>> THANK YOU.
THANK YOU VERY MUCH
COUNCILMEMBER LEWIS FOR THAT
UPDATE AND SUMMARY.
I'M NOT A MEMBER OF THAT
COMMITTEE.
I'M AN ALTERNATE, BUT I WASN'T
THERE.
IT'S REALLY GREAT TO HEAR THAT
THERE IS SO MUCH PUBLIC SUPPORT
FOR THIS PROGRAM THAT WE KNOW.
IT HAS AN ACUTE IMPACT ON THE
FOLKS WHO ARE PARTICIPATING WHO
GET REFERRED, WHO GET HOUSING.
ALSO, HAS AN ACUTE IMPACT ON
THE BUSINESSES THAT ARE
STRUGGLING DOWNTOWN.
SO, I AM REALLY GLAD TO HEAR
THAT THERE IS SO MUCH SUPPORT
AND SO MUCH COMMITMENT TO
ENSURING THAT THIS PROGRAM
CONTINUES TO GET FUNDED.
I'M HAPPY TO LEND A HAND IN
THAT EFFORT AND REALLY LOOK
FORWARD TO FINDING A SOLUTION
TO THIS.
WE KNOW THAT THIS PROBLEM --
THE PROBLEM OF HOMELESSNESS IS
NOT GOING AWAY ANYTIME SOON.
THE COVID CRISIS CONTINUES AND
WE NEED TO MAKE SURE THAT FOLKS
ARE SAFE.
A PROGRAM LIKE THIS THAT HAS
SUCH A PROFOUND IMPACT ON OUR
NEIGHBORS AND IN OUR -- ON OUR
DOWNTOWN BUSINESSES, IS
SOMETHING THERE IS NO REASON
FOR US NOT TO BE SUPPORTING.
I WANT TO THANK YOU FOR YOUR
LEADERSHIP AND LOOK FORWARD TO
HELPING GET THIS THROUGH.
THANKS.
>> THANK YOU, COUNCILMEMBER
MORALES.
ANY OTHER COMMENTS OR QUESTIONS?
COUNCILMEMBER HERBOLD PLEASE.
>> I TOO WANT TO ECHO MY THANKS
AND APPRECIATION TO
COUNCILMEMBER LEWIS FOR
BRINGING THIS FORWARD.
I THINK IT'S VERY, VERY
IMPORTANT THAT THIS COUNCIL DO
EVERYTHING IT CAN TO ACT.
IT MUST BE SAID I BELIEVE, AND
THE PUBLIC MUST UNDERSTAND,
THAT OUR ABILITY TO AFFECT
CHANGE IN THIS AREA IS LIMITED
TO PASSING LEGISLATION TO
APPROPRIATE FUNDING.
IN ORDER TO EFFECTUATE THE GOALS
THAT WE ARE SEEKING TO HAVE AS
A RESULT OF FUNDING, NAMELY THE
CONTINUED FUNDING OF THIS
PROGRAM, JUST CARE AFTER MARCH
15th, THE GOALS OF THE
COMMUNITY MEMBERS WHO ATTENDED
COUNCILMEMBER A SKATERS
COMMITTEE LAST WEEK, WE NEED
THE EXECUTIVE SUPPORT FOR THIS
PROGRAM.
THAT IS THE BOTTOM LINE.
THE MAYOR'S OFFICE AND THE
DEPARTMENTS NEED TO APPROPRIATE
THE FUNDING THAT THE COUNCIL
MAKES AVAILABLE.
WHEN WE HAVE A SITUATION WHERE
THE MAYOR'S OFFICE IS SAYING
THIS IS A COUNTY PROGRAM.
WHEN THE COUNTY HAS REALLY GONE
ABOVE AND BEYOND IN ADDRESSING
THE NEEDS OF THESE TWO
NEIGHBORHOODS OVER THE LAST SIX
MONTHS.
WE NEED TO STEP OUTSIDE OF THE
MINDSET THAT JUST BECAUSE THE
COUNTY FUNDED IT THE FIRST SIX
MONTHS, THAT WE CANNOT DO OUR
PART.
THIS COUNCIL HAS OVER AND OVER
AND OVER AGAIN APPROPRIATED
FUNDING FOR DIFFERENT HOTEL
STRATEGIES, AND NOT A PENNY HAS
BEEN USED.
WE REALLY, REALLY, DESPERATELY
NEED THE SUPPORT OF THE
EXECUTIVE IN ADDRESSING THESE
URGENT NEEDS.
I HOPE THAT WE WILL BE ABLE TO
TURN A PAGE AND SEE THAT WE
HAVE IT AFTER THIS NEXT ACTION.
THANK YOU.
>> COUNCILMEMBER LEWIS, PLEASE.
>> THANK YOU SO MUCH.
I WANTED TO RESPOND BRIEFLY
ABOUT KIND OF THIS QUESTION OF
EXACTLY WHERE THE DIVIDING
LINES ARE GOING TO BE IN TERMS
OF HOW WE CONTINUE ALONG WITH
JUST CARE.
ONE COMPONENT THAT I THINK GETS
IGNORED SOMETIMES, IS LIKE I
MENTIONED IN MY PRESENTATION, A
NUMBER OF THE FOLKS THAT ARE
ENGAGED IN JUST CARE ARE PEOPLE
WHO HAD PRE-PANDEMIC HAD A LOT
OF EXPOSURE TO THE CRIMINAL
LEGAL SYSTEM.
IN NONPANDEMIC CIRCUMSTANCES
MIGHT BE EXPERIENCING
INCARCERATION IN THE KING
COUNTY JAIL.
I'M NOT BRINGING THAT UP TO
ENDORSE INCARCERATION AS A
TACTIC TO ADDRESS MENTAL HEALTH
OR DRUG ADDITION, BUT I'M
ACKNOWLEDGING WHERE THINGS WERE
BEFORE THE PANDEMIC AND SORT OF
THE SHUFFLE THAT WAS MADE LAST
SPRING TO FIGURE OUT A WAY TO
HAVE SOME KIND OF ALTERNATIVE
PLACE TO PUT FOLKS, WHO IN
OTHER CIRCUMSTANCES, MIGHT HAVE
BEEN IN JAIL.
BUT THEY COULD NOT BE IN JAIL
BECAUSE OF THE PANDEMIC.
THE JAIL HAS BEEN DE-
INTENSIFIED AND REDUCED.
THAT IS A COUNTY FACILITY.
THAT IS A BROADER COUNTY
COASTLINE ISSUE.
THERE IS STILL A ROLE WE SHOULD
EXPLORE IN TERMS OF HOW THERE
CAN BE SOME KIND OF COORDINATED
EFFORT WITH THE COUNTY TO KEEP
THIS GOING.
I DON'T WANT TO COMPLETELY SAY
THAT WE COULDN'T CONTINUE TO
EXPLORE THAT ROUTE.
I THINK THERE IS A VERY REAL
REASON WHY THIS IS KIND OF
HOUSED AT THE COUNTY IN THE
FIRST PLACE.
AT A CERTAIN LEVEL IT WAS KIND
OF AS A CRIMINAL JUSTICE
DIVERSION STRATEGY THAT HAS
EVOLVED TO SOMETHING BIGGER
THAN THAT.
IT CERTAINLY STILL HAS
IMPLICATIONS FOR KING COUNTY
CASELOAD.
I THINK THAT THERE IS A WAY,
JUST AS I SAID EARLIER IN MY
COMMENTS, THAT WE SHOULD BE
TALKING TO A BROAD ARRAY OF
STAKEHOLDERS IN TERMS OF WHAT
OUR PLAN IS AS A COUNCIL AND
HOW WE WANT TO STEP INTO THIS.
I'M BEING LESS PRESCRIPTIVE
RIGHT NOW THEN I MIGHT BE A
BRIEFING NEXT WEEK.
IN TERMS OF WHAT I THINK WE
SHOULD EXACTLY DO.
I DO THINK THERE ARE SOME VERY
REAL REASONS WHY THE COUNTY IS
A CRITICAL STAKEHOLDER HERE AND
SOMEONE WE SHOULD CONTINUE TO
TALK ABOUT IN HOW TO EFFECTUATE
THIS PARTNERSHIP TO KEEP JUST
CARE GOING.
IT SHOULD ALSO BE NOTED, JUST
AS A LAST COMMENT, AND THIS IS
SOMETHING I TALKED TO BUSINESS
OWNERS ALL THE TIME.
THEY WILL TALK ABOUT HOW THEY
CALL SPD TO HAVE SOME KIND OF
RESPONSE TO SOMEONE CAMPING IN
THEIR DOORWAY, OR WHO IS
CAUSING CHRONIC PROBLEMS FOR
EXAMPLE.
BECAUSE THE MACHINERY OF THE
KING COUNTY JAIL HAS BEEN
GREATLY SLOW DOWN DUE TO THE
LIMITED NUMBER OF BOOKINGS AND
THE INTENSIFICATION, THAT
CONTACT TYPICALLY DOES NOT LEAD
TO THAT PERSON BEING IN A
POSITION WHERE THEY WON'T COME
BACK TO THAT DOORWAY.
OFFICERS ARE LIMITED IN HOW
THEY -- AND BEING ABLE TO
OBTAIN A BOOKING FROM KING
COUNTY.
WITH JUST CARE, WHEN SOMEONE IS
PERMANENTLY PLACED IN A HOTEL
ROOM, SUPPORTIVE SERVICES, THAT
PERSON WILL STAY THERE WITH
THEIR NEEDS GETTING THAT
INSTEAD OF GOING BACK TO THAT
BUSINESS OWNER'S DOORWAY.
I THINK THAT'S ANOTHER
IMPORTANT CONTEXT SETTING THING
TO DISCUSS.
>> COUNCILMEMBER HERBOLD,
PLEASE.
>> I JUST WANT TO CLARIFY MY
STATEMENT THAT WE SHOULD NOT
USE THE FACT THAT THIS STARTED
OFF AS A KING COUNTY PROGRAM AS
A REASON TO JUSTIFY NOT
SUPPORTING IT NOW.
NO WAY WAS INTENDED TO SUGGEST
THAT WE NOT CONTINUE IN
PARTNERSHIP WITH KING COUNTY.
THANK YOU.
>> OKAY.
EXCELLENT, EXCELLENT POINTS.
I THINK THAT, SORT OF FOR
ADDITIONAL CONTEXT IN THE
SPIRIT OF WHAT COUNCILMEMBER
LEWIS IS SAYING, AND TO THREAD
THE NEEDLE BETWEEN THAT AND
WHAT I'M HEARING YOU SAY,
COUNCILMEMBER HERBOLD, IS WE'RE
EITHER IN THIS AS A REGION, OR
WE ARE NOT.
CREATING FALSE LINES ABOUT WHO
FUNDED WHAT FIRST, TO ME,
SIGNALS THAT WE ARE PERHAPS NOT
AS WHOLLY COMMITTED TO THIS
REGIONAL EFFORT AS WE SHOULD
BE.
IF WE ARE TRULY IN THIS AS A
REGION, DOES IT MATTER IF KING
COUNTY CUT THE FIRST CHECK?
OR, THE SIZE OF THAT CHECK,
WHAT MATTERS IS DOES IT, AND
WILL IT, CONTINUING TO SUPPORT
JUST CARE, WILL IT ENHANCE WHAT
I THINK OUR COMMON GOAL IS HERE?
WHICH IS TO GET FOLKS INSIDE IN
A WAY THAT IS MUCH MORE
EFFECTIVE THAN OTHER SYSTEMS
THAT WE CURRENTLY HAVE IN PLACE.
IT CERTAINLY SEEMS TO ME THAT
THIS PROGRAM LENDS ITSELF VERY
WELL TO OUR OVERALL STRATEGIC
CONVERSATIONS.
AND OUR OVERALL GOALS TO BRING
PEOPLE INSIDE AND TO HAVE
PLACES TO NAVIGATE FOLKS TO
THAT IS SAFER, THAT WILL BOTH
BE SAFER FOR THE PEOPLE
EXPERIENCING HOMELESSNESS, AND
WILL ALSO HELP TO ADDRESS OTHER
CONCERNS RELATED TO IMPACTS OF
THOSE WHO ARE EXPERIENCING
HOMELESSNESS IN DOWNTOWN.
I LOOK FORWARD TO THE
CONVERSATION AS WELL,
COUNCILMEMBER LEWIS.
STAND AT THE READY TO BE
HELPFUL IN ANY WAY THAT I CAN
TO THIS EFFORT AND LOOK FORWARD
TO CONTINUING TO LEARN MORE.
IDENTIFYING CLEAR WAYS THAT THE
COUNCIL CAN BE SUPPORTIVE, BUT
ALSO TO COUNCILMEMBER HERBOLD'S
POINT, WAYS THAT WE CAN
INCENTIVIZE THIS ADMINISTRATION
TO FULFILL COUNCIL'S INTENT AS
IT RELATES TO THE STRATEGIES.
WE ALL KNOW WE ARE HAVING THIS
CONVERSATION IN THE CONTEXT OF
PENDING FUNDING SIX MONTHS AGO
HOTELS AT A SIGNIFICANT SCALE.
WE NEED TO SEE AND HEAR THAT
THAT HASN'T COME TO PERMISSION.
I THINK IT'S IMPORTANT FOR US
TO HAVE THE CONVERSATION AROUND
WHAT WE WANT TO SEE
ACCOMPLISHED.
WE ALSO HAVE TO HAVE A VERY
TRANSPARENT CONVERSATION AND
FORWARD CONVERSATION ABOUT WHAT
HAPPENS IF THE FOLKS WHO ARE
RESPONSIBLE FOR IMPLEMENTING
OUR INTENT, WHICH IS THIS
ADMINISTRATION, IF THEY CHOOSE
TO NOT DO ANYTHING, THEN WE
WILL CONTINUE TO SEE THE
IMPACTS.
THAT I KNOW MANY OF US GET
ENGAGED ABOUT.
ON A DAILY BASIS RELATED TO THE
REALITIES OF THE STATE OF
DOWNTOWN.
ANYTHING ELSE COLLEAGUES ON
THIS ISSUE?
I KNOW WE ARE GOING TO HAVE A
LOT MORE CONVERSATIONS ABOUT
THIS INCOMING COMMITTEE
HEARINGS AND APPRECIATE THAT.
OKAY, LOOKS LIKE THAT CONCLUDES
THIS CONVERSATION.
WE ARE GOING TO GO DOWN THE
LINE.
COUNCILMEMBER MORALES IS NEXT.
THEN MOSQUEDA.
>> GOOD MORNING COLLEAGUES.
THERE ARE NO ITEMS ON THE
COMMUNITY ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT
COMMITTEE ON TODAY'S AGENDA.
THE NEXT MEETING WILL BE THIS
FRIDAY AT 9:30 WHERE WE WILL
HAVE A SLEW OF APPOINTMENTS AND
WE WILL ALSO BE HEARING THE
FINAL PRESENTATION OF THE BLACK
BRILLIANCE RESEARCH PROJECT.
AS YOU KNOW, THIS IS THE
PRELIMINARY RESEARCH, NOT THE
PARTICIPATORY BUDGET PROCESS
ITSELF.
IN ORDER TO BEGIN THAT PROCESS,
MY OFFICE WILL BE MEETING THIS
WEEK WITH THE EXECUTIVE'S
OFFICE.
BEGIN DISCUSSION ABOUT
IMPLEMENTATION AND TO TALK
ABOUT CREATING A SPENDING PLAN
FOR IMPLEMENTATION.
WE NEED TO APPROVE AN ORDINANCE
APPROVING THE SPENDING PLAN IN
ORDER TO LIFT THE PROVISO THAT
FUNDS THE BEGINNING OF
IMPLEMENTATION.
WE WILL BE HAVING THOSE,
BEGINNING THOSE CONVERSATIONS.
MY HOPE IS THAT BY THE MARCH
MEETING WE WILL -- MY MARCH
MEETING, WE WILL BE ABLE TO
MOVE THAT FORWARD.
ON TODAY'S AGENDA WE DO HAVE
RESOLUTION 31993.
ENDORSING THE CREATION OF THE
RANIER VALLEY CREATIVE DISTRICT.
THIS RESOLUTION SUPPORTS THE
APPLICATION TO ESTABLISH THE
DISTRICT AS SUBMITTED.
YOU MAY KNOW DISTRICT TO IS THE
MOST OVERT DISTRICT IN THE
SEATTLE VALLEY.
THE RANIER VALLEY IS A CULTURAL
HOME TO MANY ARTISTS,
MUSICIANS, AND CULTURAL
INSTITUTIONS.
REALLY INFLUENCED A RICH
HISTORY.
IT REALLY CONTINUES TO SHAPE
THE LEGACY OF SOUTH SEATTLE
TODAY.
IT IS MY HOPE THAT WITH THIS
CREATIVE DISTRICT DESIGNATION,
IT WILL NOT ONLY CREATE THE
CULTURAL LEGACY, BUT LIFT UP
AND EMPOWER THE YOUNGER
GENERATION TO CONTRIBUTE TO IT.
AS WE START TO PLAN FOR POST
PANDEMIC RECOVERY, WE WANT TO
ENSURE THAT IT IS JUST AND
EQUITABLE.
IT CENTERS COMMUNITIES THAT
HAVE BEEN MOST MARGINALIZED.
THAT'S WHY IT'S CRUCIAL THAT
SOUTH SEATTLE HAVE A PLATFORM.
THE WORK OF ARTISTS AND
CULTURAL WORKERS WHO MAKE OUR
CITY A VIBRANT WORK PLACE TO
LIVE.
AS WELL AS CREATING NEW
ECONOMIC OPPORTUNITIES FOR
RESIDENTS IN THIS PART OF THE
CITY WHICH HAS HISTORICALLY
BEEN UNDERSERVED BY GOVERNMENT
INSTITUTIONS.
I LOOK FORWARD TO OUR
DISCUSSION AND VOTE THIS
AFTERNOON.
THE SECOND ROUND OF PPP LOANS
WILL BECOME AVAILABLE THIS WEEK
FOR SMALL BUSINESSES.
THERE WILL BE SOME IMPORTANT
CHANGES TO THIS ROUND TO
ADDRESS THE PROBLEM THAT SOME
SMALL BUSINESSES HAD GETTING
CROWDED OUT.
STARTING WEDNESDAY, THERE WILL
BE A TWO WEEK PERIOD WITH ONLY
SMALL BUSINESSES WITH FEWER
THAN 20 EMPLOYEES THAT CAN
APPLY.
THERE IS ALSO SOME IMPORTANT
CHANGES TO THE FUNDING FORMULA
THAT WILL SUPPORT CONTRACTORS
FOR SOLE PROPRIETORS THAT DON'T
HAVE PAYROLL.
JUST AN OWNER.
SO THEY CAN PARTICIPATE TOO.
THERE WILL ALSO BE SOME
ELIGIBILITY CHANGES SO A LONGER
LONGER BARS OWNERS WITH FELONY
CONNECTION OR THOSE HAVE
DEFAULTED ON STUDENT LOANS.
THIS WILL MAKE IT EASIER FOR
MICRO BUSINESSES, WOMEN OWNED
BUSINESSES, AND THOSE OWNED BY
PEOPLE OF COLOR, TO GET A
MEANINGFUL OPPORTUNITY TO
ENGAGE IN THE APPLICATION
PROCESS TO GET THE ACCESS TO
CAPITAL THAT THEY ARE OFTEN
DENIED.
MOVING ONTO DISTRICT.
LAST WEEK I MET WITH COMMUNITY
MEMBERS AND SEVERAL FOLKS FROM
SAFEWAY TO DISCUSS SAFETY
IMPROVEMENTS IN THEIR PARKING
LOT.
THIS IS AN ONGOING
CONVERSATION.
THOSE MEETINGS WILL CONTINUE IN
AN EFFORT TO CREATE A
PARTNERSHIP BETWEEN THE STORE
AND THE COMMUNITY ORGANIZATIONS
THAT ARE DOING COMMUNITY SAFETY
WORK ON THE GROUND.
THIS WEEK I'LL ALSO BE MEETING
WITH RESIDENTS, LOCAL BUSINESS
OWNERS, HOMELESS OUTREACH
SERVICE PROVIDERS, AND THE
SOUTHEAST CRIME PREVENTION
COORDINATOR IN THE MOUNTAIN
NEIGHBORHOOD, TO DISCUSS
COMMUNITY SAFETY ISSUES THERE.
THEN, I WILL ALSO BE ATTENDING
THE VIRTUAL GROUNDBREAKING OF
UNCLE PROX PLACE.
I'M VERY EXCITED ABOUT THIS NEW
DEVELOPMENT OF THE INTERIM
IMMUNITY DEVELOPMENT
ASSOCIATION.
THIS HOUSING PROJECT, WHICH
WILL INCLUDE A MIX OF STUDIO,
ONE, TWO, AND THREE BEDROOM
UNITS FOR LOW INCOME FAMILIES,
HONORS THE LEGACY OF BOB SANTOS.
SEATTLE'S LEGENDARY, WELL, HE'S
JUST A LEGEND IN ALL KIND OF
WAYS.
IS ALSO A LEGENDARY HOUSING
ACTIVIST WHO REALLY HELPED LEAD
THE FIGHT TO PRESERVE THE
CULTURE AND THE CONFUSION OF
THE CHINATOWN INTERNATIONAL
DISTRICT.
LOOKING FORWARD TO DROWNING
INTERIM AS THE COMMUNITY FOR
THIS EVENT ON THURSDAY.
THAT IS MY REPORT.
>> THANK YOU SO MUCH
COUNCILMEMBER MORALES.
ANY COMMENTS OR QUESTIONS ON
THAT REPORT?
ALL RIGHT, HEARING NONE.
WE WILL GO AHEAD AND MOVE OVER
TO COUNCILMEMBER MOSQUEDA.
GOOD MORNING.
>> GOOD MORNING.
THERE ARE QUITE A FEW ITEMS I
WILL TRY TO BE BRIEF.
THERE ARE NO ITEMS ON TODAY'S
FULL COUNCIL AGENDA FROM THE
FINANCE AND HOUSING COMMITTEE.
THOUGH I AM VERY MUCH LOOKING
FORWARD TO VOTING ON RESOLUTION
31993 AS WE CONTINUETO SEE
PRESSURE TO DEVELOP AND
REDEVELOP.
WE ARE SEEING GENTRIFICATION
INCREASE AND I REALLY
APPRECIATE THAT THIS RESOLUTION
CALLS ON US TO BOTH CREATE AND
[ INDISCERNIBLE ] BUILD NEW
AFFORDABLE HOUSING AND HOUSING
UNITS OF ALL TYPES ACROSS OUR
CITY.
REALLY APPRECIATE THIS
COMMUNITY LED EFFORT TO PUSH
FOR CREATIVE STRATEGIES IN THAT
DISTRICT.
FROM THE FINANCE AND HOUSING
COMMITTEE REPORT, OUR NEXT
FINANCE AND HOUSING COMMITTEE
WILL BE ON MARCH 2nd AT 9:30
A.M.
WE WILL TAKE TIME TO HAVE A
BRIEFING DISCUSSION AND
POSSIBLE VOTE ON THE CAPITAL
PROJECTS WATCHLIST.
FOLKS FROM MY COMMITTEE WILL
NOTE THAT ON FRIDAY WE DID NOT
HAVE A CHANCE TO GET TO THOSE
ITEMS, SO WE WILL DO BOTH THE
BRIEFING AND POSSIBLE VOTE ON
MARCH 2nd.
IF YOU DO HAVE ANY AMENDMENTS,
AND THIS GOES FOR THE ENTIRE
COUNCIL, PLEASE DO TAKE A LOOK
AT THE WATCHLIST.
WE WOULD VERY MUCH LIKE TO
ENTERTAIN ANY ADDITIONAL ITEMS
ARE POSSIBLE AMENDMENTS TO THAT
LIST ON MARCH 2nd SO THAT WE
CAN HAVE THAT DISCUSSION AND
COMMITTEE AND BRING IT FORWARD
TO THE FULL COUNCIL.
IF YOU DO HAVE ANY EDITS FOR
ANY OF OUR COUNCIL COLLEAGUES,
PLEASE LET US KNOW.
I'M GOING TO SHOOT FOR NOON ON
WEDNESDAY IF YOU CAN SEND THOSE
OVER TO OUR OFFICE OR WORK WITH
CENTRAL STAFF ON THOSE
AMENDMENTS THAT WOULD BE
GREATLY APPRECIATED.
WE'VE ALREADY TALKED A LITTLE
BIT ABOUT THE CONVERSATION WE
HAD IN THE FINANCE AND HOUSING
COMMITTEE LAST FRIDAY.
I WANTED TO PROVIDE A SUMMARY
FOR ALL COUNCILMEMBERS ON SOME
OF THE KEY TAKEAWAYS FROM THE
LAST PRESENTATION.
OFFERED BY THE CITY BUDGET
OFFICE, FROM OUR
INTERGOVERNMENTAL AFFAIRS TEAM,
AND ESPECIALLY THANKS TO WESLEY
PALMER WHO IS FROM HOLLAND AND
KNIGHT, OUR FEDERAL
REPRESENTATIVE IN THE HALLS OF
CONGRESS.
REALLY APPRECIATE THE WALK-
THROUGH OF THE PRESENTATION IF
YOU HAVEN'T HAD THE CHANCE TO
LOOK AT THE DETAIL POWERPOINT,
OUR OFFICE CAN SHARE THAT WITH
YOU.
SOME IMPORTANT HIGHLIGHTS FOR
YOU ALL FROM THAT CONVERSATION.
WE LEARNED THAT THE
REIMBURSEMENT FOR KING COUNTY,
FOR FEDERAL ASSISTANCE HAS BEEN
ABOUT SIX MONTHS.
THE KING COUNTY PARTNERS HAVE
RECEIVED THEIR FUNDING FOR THE
FIRST SIX MONTHS OF THEIR COVID
RELIEF EFFORTS ALREADY.
WHICH IS GREAT NEWS.
THIS IS HELPFUL FOR US AS WE
SEEK TO GET FEMA REIMBURSEMENT.
OUR PAST EXPERIENCE HAS BEEN A
MUCH LONGER SITUATION THAN THAT.
WE KNOW WE NEED TO BE WORKING
AS FAST AS POSSIBLE TO RECEIVE
FEMA REIMBURSEMENT AND NOT HAVE
THAT DELAY IN REIMBURSEMENT
AFFECT OUR PROGRAMMING AND
SUPPORTIVE SERVICES THAT WE
WANT TO GET OUT THE DOOR.
HEARING THAT FROM BOTH OUR
FEDERAL REPRESENTATIVES, HAVING
THAT UNDERSCORED AS WELL AS OUR
MEETING LAST WEEK, AND AGAIN
SOME QUESTIONS ABOUT THE
REIMBURSEMENT TIMELINE IN
MEETING LAST FRIDAY, GIVES ME
HOPE THAT WE WILL BE ON A MUCH
FASTER TIMELINE THAN ORIGINALLY
ANTICIPATED TO RECEIVE THAT
ALLOCATED FUNDING FROM THE FEDS.
WE ALSO LEARNED THAT THE CITY
BUDGET OFFICE HAS SUBMITTED
FIVE MILLION-DOLLAR REQUESTS
FOR REIMBURSEMENT IN OCTOBER OF
2020.
THEY WILL SOON BE SUBMITTING
FOR ANOTHER $10 MILLION IN FEMA
REIMBURSEMENT REQUESTS.
THIS IS A TOTAL OF $15 MILLION
FOR THE YEAR 2020.
THE TIMELINE FOR WHEN -- AND I
WILL NOTE THAT THAT IS LESS
THAN THE AMOUNT OF MONEY THAT
WE ORIGINALLY THOUGHT THEY WERE
GOING TO BE SUBMITTING FOR OVER
$30 MILLION IS WHAT WE
ORIGINALLY THOUGHT.
I THINK THAT THERE IS ONGOING
QUESTIONS ABOUT HOW QUICKLY WE
CAN ALSO GET THE OTHER A
LOCATION OUT THE DOOR AND
HOPEFULLY BE ABLE TO STILL GET
REIMBURSEMENT FOR THOSE DOLLARS
AS WELL.
THE TIMELINE FOR WHEN THE COVID
RELIEF FUNDS, WHICH WERE AROUND
$130 MILLION, AND WE RECEIVED
THOSE IN 2020, WE KNEW THAT WE
MUST EXPEND THOSE DOLLARS AS
FAST AS POSSIBLE, BUT WE HAVE
NOW LEARNED THAT WE CAN SPEND
THE REMAINING AMOUNT THAT IS
LEFT OVER THROUGH SEPTEMBER,
2021.
IS ABOUT $28 MILLION OF UNSPENT
FUNDS.
BUT, $10.9 MILLION OF THAT WAS
ALLOCATED SPECIFICALLY FOR
VARIOUS PURPOSES WITHIN
DEPARTMENTS.
WE DID ASK FOR CLARIFICATION ON
WHAT THOSE SPECIFIC DOLLAR
AMOUNTS WERE ALLOCATED FOR.
WHAT THE PLAN IS FOR THE
REMAINDER $17 MILLION WHICH I
THINK IS A SUM OF OPPORTUNITIES
FOR FUTURE COUNCIL THE RUSSIAN
FOR CONVERSATIONS WITH THE
EXECUTIVE ABOUT HOW WE WOULD
LIKE TO SEE THE REMAINING
ANALYSIS NEW.
IT ALSO REPORTED THAT THERE IS
ABOUT $17 MILLION, AS I
MENTIONED.
I WANTED TO REITERATE, THIS WAS
ABOUT 25% OF THE FUNDS THAT WE
WERE HOLDING BACK JUST IN CASE
THE CITY NEEDED TO MATCH THE
AMOUNT.
NOW, GIVEN THAT THE EXPENSES
FROM FEMA REIMBURSED EFFORTS
ARE GOING TO BE ABLE TO RECEIVE
FULL REIMBURSEMENT, IT GIVES US
THE OPPORTUNITY TO THINK ABOUT
HOW WE CAN USE THAT $17 MILLION.
BECAUSE THE REVISED FEMA
GUIDANCE FROM THE BY THE
ADMINISTRATION JUST LAST MONTH
WILL NOW PROVIDE 100%
REIMBURSEMENT FOR FEMA ELIGIBLE
EXPENSES.
THAT APPLIES RETROACTIVELY.
THE CITY WILL NOT NEED FUNDING
FOR THE 25% MATCH, OR THE
ROUGHLY $17 MILLION THAT THEY
WERE HOLDING BACK.
HOWEVER, I WANT TO REITERATE
SOMETHING. IT IS SUGGESTED THAT
THE CONTINGENCY STILL MAKES
SENSE IF ANY OF THE REQUESTS
FOR REIMBURSEMENT ARE REJECTED.
CENTRAL STAFF IS WORKING TO
VERIFY THAT NUMBER AND TO MAKE
SURE THAT COUNSEL HAS AN
UNDERSTANDING OF WHAT MIGHT BE
AVAILABLE FOR OTHER CITY'S
NEEDS.
WE ALSO KNOW THAT THERE ARE
SOME RESTRICTIONS APPARENTLY
THAT WILL BE APPLIED TO THOSE
FEMA DOLLARS.
THAT WAS NOTED BY THE CBO.
AS OUR COUNCIL COLLEAGUES SAID,
MANY OTHER CITIES ARE MOVING
FORWARD WITH SPENDING.
SPENDING THOSE FEMA DOLLARS
ASSUMING THAT THERE IS GOING TO
BE 100% FEMA REIMBURSEMENT.
WE SEE THIS IN LOS ANGELES AND
SAN FRANCISCO WITH THEIR
IMMEDIATE USE OF THOSE DOLLARS
FOR STANDING UP HOTEL ROOMS.
VERY SIMILAR TO THE STRATEGY
THAT COUNCILMEMBER LEWIS,
MYSELF, COUNCILMEMBER HERBOLD,
MORALES, AND GONZALEZ ALL SPOKE
OUT IN RESPONSE TO
COUNCILMEMBER LEWIS'S RESPONSE.
I THINK THERE'S A HUGE SENSE OF
URGENCY TO WANT TO MAKE SURE
THAT WE ARE USING THE FEMA
DOLLARS AND THAT WE ARE NOT
HOLDING BACK ANY MONEY OR
HOLDING BACK A OF OUR PROPOSALS.
NOW WAITING FOR THAT TO BE
GREATERCLARIFICATION WHEN WE
SEE OTHER JURISDICTIONS MOVING
FORWARD.
THE DIRECTOR ASSURED US THAT
THERE WILL NOT BE ANY AND THAT
CASH FLOW WOULD NOT BE AN ISSUE.
THIS IS REALLY IMPORTANT FOR US
TO CONTINUE MONITORING AND
WORKING IN PARTNERSHIP TO MAKE
SURE THAT THE 100% OF THE FEMA
REIMBURSABLE EFFORTS TO GET OUT
THE DOOR.
WHAT TO EXPECT NEXT.
WE TALKED A LITTLE BIT ABOUT
DOLLARS THAT WERE CARRYING OVER.
WE TALKED A LITTLE BIT ABOUT
THIS ISSUE OF WANTING TO MOVE
WITH EXPEDIENCY TO MAKE SURE
THAT PROGRAMS AND SERVICES LIKE
JUST CARE QUICKLY MOVES FORWARD
AND NOW WE KNOW THAT WE WILL
HAVE ROUGHLY AROUND $221 MILLION
TO THE CITY OF SEATTLE FROM,
FINGERS CROSSED, THIS NEW
FEDERAL ASSISTANCE THAT IS
COMING -- GOING TO BE
AUTHORIZED BY CONGRESS.
THIS IS A HUGE OPPORTUNITY FOR
CITIES ACROSS THE COUNTRY.
CITIES LIKE OURS WHO STEPPED UP
AND ACTED WITH URGENCY TO
CONTINUE TO BE ABLE TO PROVIDE
NEEDED SERVICES AND HELP FILL
IN THE GAPS WHERE WE HAVE SEEN
A LOT OF UNMET NEED.
EVEN IN SPITE OF OUR EFFORTS TO
TRY TO GET MONEY OUT THE DOOR
THROUGH OUR EARLY COVID RELIEF
FUNDS.
APPLYING THE COVID RELIEF
DOLLARS FROM THE FEDERAL
DOLLARS.
ANTICIPATED USE OF THE RESERVES
KNOWING THAT JUMPS IN REVENUE
ARE COMING IN THE DOOR.
THIS IS AN OPPORTUNITY FOR US
TO DO MORE ASSISTANCE TO SMALL
BUSINESSES, FOOD INSECURE
FAMILIES, HOUSING ASSISTANCE
AND AFFORDABILITY ISSUES.
MAKING SURE THAT THERE IS
PERMANENT SUPPORTIVE HOUSING TO
COMPLEMENT ANY SHELTER SERVICES.
THAT WE DO THIS WITH AN X OR
THE LANDS AS WE SEEK TO
IMPLEMENT THESE NEW DOLLARS.
THE NEW ANNOUNCEMENT FROM THE
FEDERAL PARTNERS, OR FROM OUR
FEDERAL LOBBYISTS ALSO CAME
WITH A CAVEAT THAT WE SHOULD
REMEMBER THAT THIS IS PROBABLY
THE LAST TIME THAT THE FEDERAL
DELEGATION WILL BE ABLE TO STEP
IN AND OFFER COVID RELIEF
THROUGH CONGRESSIONAL ACTION.
WHILE WE ARE VERY MUCH
APPRECIATIVE OF THE FEDERAL
DOLLARS FOR COVID RELIEF AND
RECOVERY EFFORTS, WE NEED TO
THINK ABOUT BOTH THE SHORT AND
THE LONG TERM NEEDS GIVEN THAT
THE SOURCES OF REVENUE FROM THE
FEDERAL CONGRESSIONAL EFFORT
ARE BOTH AN EFFORT TO TRY TO
MAKE SURE THAT WE ARE
REBOUNDING OUR LOCAL ECONOMY,
AND RESPONDING TO THE IMMEDIATE
CRISIS THAT WE SEE SO MANY
FAMILIES DEALING WITH.
SO, WE ARE GOING TO WORK ON
THAT BALANCING ACT AND MAKE
SURE THAT WE RESPOND TO THOSE
IMMEDIATE NEEDS AND THINK ABOUT
THE LONGER-TERM SYSTEMIC
INVESTMENTS TO STRIVE TOWARDS,
AND CREATE, THE FOUNDATION FOR
A MORE EQUITABLE RECOVERY WHEN
CONSIDERING THIS NEXT ROUND OF
FEDERAL DOLLARS.
WE'VE DONE A LOT, COLLEAGUES
AND VERY PROUD OF THE WORK YOU
ALL DID, THE INITIAL PACKAGE
THAT WE PASSED AT $86 MILLION
FOR COVID RELIEF.
THE EVENTUAL COMPROMISED DOWN
TO $45 MILLION OVER TWO YEARS
STILL PROVIDED A TREMENDOUS
AMOUNT OF RELIEF ESPECIALLY TO
IMMIGRANT FAMILIES THROUGH CASH
ASSISTANCE.
WORKING FAMILIES FORCED TWO
ASSISTANCE.
SMALL BUSINESSES AND HARD-
WORKING FOLKS WHO ARE MOST
FOLDABLE PER ON FRIDAY IN
COMMITTEE I NOTED THAT WE WERE
WORKING ON A DRAFT RESOLUTION
FOR YOUR CONSIDERATION, INPUT
AND EDITS TO INDICATE ADDITIONAL
PRIORITY INVESTMENTS.
FOR THE NEW FEDERAL RESOURCES.
BUILDING ON THOSE CONVERSATIONS
WE HAD EARLY LAST YEAR, AS WE
TRACKED THE COVID RELIEF
PROPOSAL AND BUILDING ON
SUBSEQUENT CONVERSATIONS I KNOW
MANY OF US HAVE HAD WITH
COMMUNITY MEMBERS, INCLUDING
FOLKS THAT NEED ONGOING RENTAL
ASSESSMENTS.
SMALL BUSINESSES WHO NEED
FLEXIBLE DOLLARS TO OPEN BACK
UP.
AND HIRE FOLKS TO CHANGE THEIR
PLACES OF EMPLOYMENT TO MAKE
THEM MORE PROTECTIVE OF BOTH
EMPLOYEES AND PATRONS.
WE KNOW THAT WE'VE LEARNED A
LOT IN THE LAST FEW WEEKS AND
MONTHS ABOUT WHAT IS ACTUALLY
CONTINUED TO BE NEEDED RIGHT
NOW.
WE ARE GOING TO BE WORKING ON
COMING UP WITH A RESOLUTION
THAT HELPS PUT SOME PARAMETERS
AND DIRECTION FOR HOW THESE
FEDERAL RELIEF DOLLARS CAN AND
SHOULD BE USED.
YOU CAN EXPECT TO SEE A DRAFT
FROM US FOR YOUR INPUT LATER
THIS WEEK AS WE WOULD LIKE TO
MAKE SURE THAT THE FULL COUNCIL
HAS A CHANCE TO SEE THAT EARLY.
WE WILL BE WORKING TO GET THAT
OUT AND WITH THE COUNCIL
PRESIDENT'S OFFICE, PUBLISHED
AS SOON AS POSSIBLE SO WE CAN
GET FOLKS' FEEDBACK ON THAT.
WE WILL BE CIRCULATING THE
RESOLUTION LATER THIS WEEK AND
LOOK FORWARD TO ANY AMENDMENTS
THAT YOU MAY HAVE IN THE
COMMITTEE ON MARCH 2nd.
AGAIN, 9:30.
IN TERMS OF UPDATES, WE HAVE AN
UPDATE FROM THE OFFICE OF LABOR
STANDARDS.
I WANT TO LET YOU KNOW THEY
LAUNCHED SIX INTERACTIVE
DASHBOARDS LAST YEAR TO PROVIDE
THE PUBLIC WITH DETAILED
INFORMATION ABOUT TECHNICAL
ASSISTANCE, WORKER INCREASE,
OPEN FILED AND RESOLVED
INVESTIGATIONS AND WORKER
REMEDIES.
THE DASHBOARD CAN BE VIEWED AT
THE WEBSITE. IT IS UPDATED
QUARTERLY AND THESE DASHBOARDS
CONTAIN INFORMATION THROUGH THE
END OF 2020, WHICH REFLECTS THE
WORK THAT WELL LASTED TO ASSIST
--, ASSESSED JUST OVER $7.8
MILLION IN FINANCIAL RATHER
THAN SEES.
FOR ALMOST 10,000 WORKERS IN
THE YEAR 2020.
THEY ANSWERED OVER 10,000
QUESTIONS ABOUT THE LAWS DURING
THEIR OFFICE A SHORT LIFESPAN
AND THEY WILL BE UPDATING THAT
DASHBOARD QUARTERLY.
EXCELLENT EXAMPLE OF
TRANSPARENT GOVERNMENT SERVICES
AND HOW THOSE DOLLARS ARE BEING
PUT TO WORK IN ENFORCEMENT AND
EDUCATION.
APPRECIATE THAT.
WE HEARD QUITE A BIT OF UPDATES
ALREADY ON THE VACCINATION
PLANNING EFFORTS.
THAT INCLUDES PARTNERSHIPS.
I'LL JUST NOTE THAT FAS HAS
BEEN WORKING VERY HARD TO AS
SOON AND AM AWAY BETWEEN PUBLIC
HEALTH AND SEATTLE KING COUNTY
TO ASSIST KING COUNTY RESIDENTS
WITH ACCESS TO VACCINATION
SITES BY THE PHONE AS WE HAVE
HEARD SO MANY ELDERS AND FOLKS
WHO ARE VULNERABLE DON'T HAVE
ACCESS TO HIGH-SPEED INTERNET.
A COMPUTER.
MAYBE EVEN A SMART PHONE.
HEARD ABOUT SOME EXAMPLES THIS
MORNING.
THE PHONE IS OFTEN THE BEST
PLACE FOR SENIORS TO BE ABLE TO
GET THE INFORMATION ABOUT HOW
TO ACCESS VACCINES.
IN PREPARATION FOR THE INFLUX
OF CALLS, THE HOTLINE
RESPONSIBILITIES WILL BE
EXPANDED. IN TERMS OF THE
PAYROLL TAX, THANKS AGAIN TO FAS
FOR THEIR ONGOING WORK WITH
JUMPSTART.
JUMPSTART SEATTLE'S PAYROLL TAX
ILLUMINATING.
THEY CONDUCTED THEIR FIRST
PAYROLL EXPENSE TRAINING ON
FEBRUARY 10th.
THERE WERE 108 PEOPLE IN
ATTENDANCE.
THEY WILL CONTINUE TO GET
FEEDBACK.
TO PROVIDE ASSISTANCE.
MAKE SURE THAT THE RULEMAKING
IS EASY TO UNDERSTAND.
WE REALLY APPRECIATE THE
CONTINUED WORK WITH BUSINESSES
WHO ARE PAY YOURS INTO THE
PAYROLL TAX TO GET FEEDBACK ON
HOW THE CURRENT RULES AND
APPLICATION ARE GOING AND MAKE
SURE THAT WE ARE DOING
EVERYTHING WE CAN TO TAKE AWAY
THE GUESSWORK AND MAKE IT EASY
FOR EMPLOYERS TO UNDERSTAND THE
RESPONSIBILITIES UNDER THIS NEW
LAW. LOOK FORWARD TO WORKING
WITH FAS AND ALSO WITH LARGE
BUSINESSES WHO ARE SEEKING TO
COMPLY WITH THIS BILL TO MAKE
SURE THAT WE ARE MAKING THIS AS
EASY AS POSSIBLE.
APPRECIATE THE REPORT ON THAT.
THEN, IN TERMS OF THE
PREPARATION THAT FAS DID FOR
THE CITY'S RESPONSE TO THE SNOW
AND ICE.
THEY PROVIDED 24/7 SUPPORT
THROUGH THE ENTIRE WEEKEND LAST
WEEKEND FILLING REQUESTS FOR
OVER 150 BLANKETS FOR EMERGENCY
SHELTERS.
THEY WORK THROUGH THE GENDERED
TEAM TO REMAIN ON SITE DURING
THE WINTER WEATHER STORM TO
CONDUCT REMOVAL AND PROVIDE
ASSISTANCE.
THE WAREHOUSE TEAM TRANSPORTED
GOODS AND FILLED REQUESTS
DURING THE WORST PART OF THE
STORM ON SUNDAY MORNING.
DELIVERING COTS, BLANKETS, AND
FRIENDLY ICE MELT TO ANIMAL
SHELTERS AND TWO DEPARTMENTS.
THE FLEET MANAGEMENT TEAM
COORDINATED SHOPS FOR EMPLOYEES
TO COVER 12 HOUR DAY SHIFTS AND
NIGHTS, AND THE PROPERTY
MANAGEMENT TEAM PREPARED
TENANTS FOR THE UPCOMING EVENT
BY DROPPING OFF SNOWMELT,
ADDITIONAL SHOVELS AND
COORDINATING THE VENDOR
RESPONSE IN THE DAYS LEADING UP
TO THE EVENT.
IT TAKES A VILLAGE TO RESPOND
TO THESE TYPES OF EMERGENCY
RESPONSE TO THIS REALLY
TERRIBLE WEATHER FOR THOSE
LIVING OUTSIDE, AND FOR THOSE
IN OUR CITY WHO NEED TO
CONTINUE TO PROVIDE SERVICES.
THEY DID A GREAT JOB.
LASTLY, THANKS TO COUNCILMEMBER
LEWIS FOR NOTING THE VICE CHAIR
POSITION AT BOARD OF HEALTH.
APPRECIATE THE SUPPORT FROM
BOTH COUNCILMEMBER LEWIS AND
COUNCILMEMBER MORALES TO
CONTINUE TO SERVE AS YOUR VICE
CHAIR FOR OUR CAUCUS AT THE
BOARD OF HEALTH.
IF YOU'VE SERVED WITH ME, YOU
KNOW I LOVE SERVING ON THAT
BOARD.
JUST A FEW PARTNERS FROM OUR
UPDATES.
PATTY HAS PROVIDED AN UPDATE
LAST MEETING THAT WE HAD LAST
WEEK TO NOTE THAT THE MAYOR AND
SEATTLE FIRE DEPARTMENT HAVE
BEEN GOOD PARTNERS WITH PUBLIC
HEALTH SEATTLE KING COUNTY TO
GET VACCINES TO INDIVIDUALS WHO
ARE NOW ELIGIBLE FOR THE
CATEGORY.
SPECIFICALLY OLDER INDIVIDUALS
LIVING IN SUBSIDIZED HOUSING.
FOCUSED ON AREAS IN SOUTH
SEATTLE AND CENTRAL SEATTLE.
THIS INCLUDES WORK WITH
PARTNERS AT SEATTLE HOUSING
AUTHORITY AND OTHERS.
I WILL BE GOING TO VOLUNTEER AT
THE 775 CLINIC TODAY IN RANIER
BEACH.
I REALLY APPRECIATE OUR UNION
PARTNERS AND ALL THE WORK THEY
HAVE BEEN DOING WITH THE FIRE
DEPARTMENT, OUR CITY, AND KING
COUNTY, TO HELP MAKE SURE THAT
OUR MOST VULNERABLE CARE
PROVIDERS AND THEIR CLIENTS ARE
ABLE TO ACCESS THE VACCINES
WERE ELIGIBLE.
REALLY HONORED TO BE ABLE TO BE
THERE.
LASTLY, I WANT TO MAKE SURE
THAT FOLKS KNOW, COUNCILMEMBER
HERBOLD HAD AN AMAZING ALERT
TODAY.
I'M SURE IT IS ON OUR BLOG.
YOU CAN ALSO GET UPDATES TO
WHAT THE CITY HAS BEEN UP TO IN
RELATING TO VACCINES BY SIGNING
UP FOR ALERTS.
MAKE SURE TO SIGN UP FOR EMAIL
ALERTS THERE.
FOLKS CAN VISIT THE WEBSITE TO
CONSTANTLY GET INFORMATION IN
SEVEN DIFFERENT LANGUAGES ABOUT
HOW TO ACCESS THAT INFORMATION.
COUNCIL PRESIDENT, LASTLY, KIRO
7 REPORTED OVER THE WEEKEND
AMONG NUMEROUS DIFFERENT
OUTLETS HAVE BEEN REPORTING ON
THIS NATIONALLY, ATTACKS
AGAINST ASIAN AMERICANS ARE ON
THE RISE.
THEY ARE ON THE RISE ACROSS
THIS COUNTRY AND INCLUDING IN
SEATTLE.
TARGETING OUR ELDERS IN THE
COMMUNITY AND FOLKS WHO ARE
FROM ASIAN COMMUNITIES.
KING COUNTY PROSECUTORS HAVE
ALREADY FIRED FIVE HATE CRIME
CHARGES THIS YEAR.
TWO OF THEM ARE BECAUSE OF
ATTACKS ON ASIAN AMERICANS. ON
JANUARY 25th, ONE WOMAN IN
SEATTLE WAS PUSHED OVER IN A
CROSSWALK WHILE CROSSING AND A
PERSON SAID TO HER, THEY SAID
TO HER THINGS I'M NOT GOING TO
REPEAT HERE BECAUSE THEY DON'T
DESERVE THAT KIND OF AIRTIME.
THE TYPE OF ATTACKS WE ARE
SEEING ACROSS THIS COUNTRY
DEMAND FOR ALL OF US, INCLUDING
ESPECIALLY PUBLIC OFFICIALS, TO
CONTINUE TO STEP UP AND CONDEMN
AND DENOUNCE ANY AND ALL ANTI-
ASIAN SENTIMENT IN ANY FORM.
THIS WAS TRUE BEFORE COVID AND
IS ESPECIALLY TRUE NOW POST
COVID AS WE SEE THESE TYPES OF
HATE CRIMES CONTINUE TO
SKYROCKET IN THE WAKE OF COVID.
OUR OFFICE WILL BE WORKING ON A
RESOLUTION IN THE UPCOMING
WEEK, AND WE WOULD LOVE TO WORK
WITH YOUR OFFICES AS WELL TO DO
WHAT MANY OTHER JURISDICTIONS
ARE DOING, INCLUDING WHAT ONE
OF OUR FRIENDS IN NEW YORK HAD
LED ON THAT LATE LAST YEAR TWO
CONDEMN ALL MANIFESTATIONS OF
EXPRESSIONS OF RACISM,
XENOPHOBIA, DISCRIMINATION,
ANTI-ASIAN SENTIMENT,
SCAPEGOATING OR OTHER ETHNIC OR
RELIGIOUS INTOLERANCE.
RECOGNIZE THAT THE HEALTH AND
SAFETY OF ALL AMERICANS,
INCLUDING ASIAN AMERICANS, NO
MATTER THE BACKGROUND, MUST BE
OUR UTMOST PRIORITY.
CALLS ON FEDERAL LAW ENFORCEMENT
OFFICIALS WORKING WITH STATE
AND LOCAL OFFICIALS TO
EXPEDITIOUSLY INVESTIGATE AND
DOCUMENT ALL CREDIBLE REPORTS
OF HATE CRIMES AND THREATS
AGAINST ASIAN-AMERICAN
COMMUNITIES IN SEATTLE AND IN
-- TO COLLECT DATA TO DOCUMENT
THE RISE OF INCIDENTS OF HATE
CRIME DUE TO COVID AND TO HOLD
ACCOUNTABLE PERPETRATORS OF
THOSE CRIMES, INCIDENTS, OR
THREATS, HOLD THEM ACCOUNTABLE
AND BRING THE PERPETRATORS TO
JUSTICE.
I LOOK FORWARD TO WORKING WITH
ALL OF YOU, AS I KNOW EVERYONE
OF OUR COUNCILMEMBERS SUPPORTS
MAKING SURE THAT OUR ASIAN
COMMUNITY IN SEATTLE IS FEELING
PROTECTED AND RESPECTED,
ESPECIALLY IN THESE TIMES POST
COVID.
THANK YOU VERY MUCH, COUNCIL
PRESIDENT.
>> THANK YOU, COUNCILMEMBER
MOSQUEDA.
ANY COMMENTS OR QUESTIONS ON
THAT REPORT?
ALL RIGHT.
THANKS, COUNCILMEMBER
MOSQUEDA.
I HAD THE SAME EXACT TALKING
POINTS IN MY SCRIPT FOR THIS
WEEK.
I DID HAVE AN OPPORTUNITY TO
HAVE A REALLY GOOD CONVERSATION
WITH BEN HENRY LAST WEEK.
I ALSO REITERATED MANY OF THE
POINTS YOU MADE.
THOSE KINDS OF DEPLORABLE
HATEFUL ACTS IN OUR COMMUNITY
AGAINST MEMBERS OF THE APA
COMMUNITY ARE ACTUALLY A POINT
AND UNACCEPTABLE.
FOLKS MUST BE HELD ACCOUNTABLE
TO THAT.
ACCOUNTABLE FOR THAT BEHAVIOR.
MUCH SOLIDARITY TO OUR FRIENDS
IN THE API COMMUNITY WHO
CONTINUE TO UNFORTUNATELY BE
SUBJECTED TO THESE RACIST ACTS
AND WE WILL STAND WITH THEM IN
THE FACE OF SUCH HATRED.
TO MAKE SURE THEY FEEL
SUPPORTED WITHIN OUR CITY.
COUNCILMEMBER HERBOLD.
>> I JUST WANT TO ADD.
MAYOR DURKAN AND ACTED LAST
FEBRUARY AND EMERGENCY ORDER
REGARDING HATE CRIMES.
I'D LIKE TO SHARE THAT
EMERGENCY ORDER WITH
COUNCILMEMBERS AS A REMINDER
THAT THERE WERE DELIVERABLES
ASSOCIATED WITH THAT EMERGENCY
ORDER.
DELIVERABLES THAT WERE
SCHEDULED TO BE RECEIVED LAST
OCTOBER, AND TO MY
UNDERSTANDING, BECAUSE OF COVID-
19, THAT WORK AS ANTICIPATED,
OR AS PLANNED, BY THE EXECUTIVE
ORDER, HAS NOT BEEN DONE.
MY RECOLLECTION IS THE REASON
IT WAS NOT DONE WAS BECAUSE THE
EXECUTIVE POINTED TO FUNDING
VULNERABILITIES ASSOCIATED WITH
COVID-19 THAT MADE IT DIFFICULT
FOR THEM TO FIND AND STAFF TO
WORK.
MUCH OF THE APPROACH IDENTIFIED
IN THE DELIVERABLES IS ACTUALLY
NOW BEING LED BY KING COUNTY
GOVERNMENT, WHICH ACTUALLY USED
COVID-19 AS A WAY TO GET
FUNDING FOR THIS WORK.
MAKING THE ARGUMENT, RIGHTLY SO,
THAT UNDER COVID-19, HATE
CRIMES HAVE INCREASED.
SO, USING THAT ARGUMENT THAT
HATE CRIMES HAVE INCREASED,
THEY WERE ABLE TO SUCCESSFULLY
SECURE C.A.R.E.S.
ACT FUNDING TO DO SOME OF THIS
WORK.
I'M STILL MAKING INQUIRIES OF
THE EXECUTIVE DEPARTMENT THAT
ARE SUPPOSED TO BE DOING THE
WORK AS CONTEMPLATED IN THE
EXECUTIVE ORDER, AND I'M HAPPY
TO SHARE WITH FOLKS WHAT I
FOUND OUT OFF-LINE.
THANK YOU.
>> THANK YOU SO MUCH.
OKAY FOLKS.
LOOKS LIKE THERE ARE NO OTHER
QUESTIONS ON THIS PARTICULAR
ISSUE.
SO, I'M GOING TO GO AHEAD AND
WRAP UP THIS SECTION OF THE
AGENDA BY GIVING MY REPORTS.
IT IS BRIEF HERE.
GIVE ME JUST A MINUTE AS I
FUMBLE AROUND MY MULTIPLE
SCREENS TRYING TO FIND IT.
THERE IS NOTHING ON THIS
AFTERNOON'S -- EXCUSE ME FULL
COUNCIL AGENDA FROM THE
GOVERNANCE AND EDUCATION
COMMITTEE.
WE ARE SCHEDULED TO HAVE OUR
REGULAR COMMITTEE HEARING.
THAT WILL BE ON I BELIEVE IT IS
TUESDAY, ONE MINUTE, SORRY, I'M
HAVING SOME TECHNOLOGY
DIFFICULTIES ON MY END.
THERE WE GO.
IT WILL BE ON TUESDAY, MARCH
9th, AT 2:00 P.M.
I ALREADY SPOKE ABOUT THE ITEM
I WILL BE COSPONSORING WITH
COUNCILMEMBER STRAUSS.
REALLY LOOKING FORWARD TO THE
ONGOING CONVERSATIONS THERE.
I DON'T HAVE ANYTHING ELSE TO
REPORT OUT RELATED TO MY
COMMITTEE BUSINESS.
I AM HAPPY TO TAKE ANY
QUESTIONS OR COMMENTS ON WHAT I
HAVE ALREADY REPORTED.
OKAY.
I WILL FOLLOW UP WITH YOU
COUNCILMEMBER, JUAREZ, AROUND
ISSUES FOR THIS AFTERNOON.
I UNDERSTAND YOU MAY NOT BE
AVAILABLE TO ATTEND.
ALL, OR A PORTION OF THIS
AFTERNOON'S MEETINGS.
IF THAT'S THE CASE, WE WOULD
JUST NEED TO KNOW IN ADVANCE SO
WE CAN MAKE A MOTION AT THE TOP
OF THE AGENDA AND GET YOU
EXCUSE.
>> OKAY.
THANK YOU.
>> THANKS ALL.
THAT DOES CONCLUDE OUR MEETING.
WE WILL SEE YOU THIS AFTERNOON
AT 2:00.
BYE, BYE.