>>> GOOD MORNING, I'M DAN
STRAUSS.
THE MARCH 1st, 2021 COUNCIL
BRIEFING MEETING WILL COME TO
ORDER.
THE TIME NOW IS 9:31 A.M.
>> HERBOLD?
>> HERE.
>> LEWIS?
>> PRESENT.
>> MORALES?
>> HERE.
>> MOSQUEDA?
>> YES.
>> PEDERSEN?
>> HERE.
HEAR SOMEONE?
COUNCIL PRESIDENT PRO TEM
STRAUSS?
>> PRESENT.
>> SEVEN PRESENT.
>> THANK YOU.
IF THERE'S NO OBJECTIONS, THE
MINUTES FOR THE FEBRUARY 22nd,
2021 MEETING WILL BE ADOPTED.
HEARING NO OBJECTIONS, THE
MINUTES ARE ADOPTED.
ITEM 2 ON THIS MORNING'S AGENDA
IS THE PRESIDENT'S REPORT.
I AM THE COUNCIL PRESIDENT PRO
TEM, COUNCIL PRESIDENT GONZALEZ
HAD PRESCHEDULED VACATION.
AS WELL AS COUNCILMEMBER
WARRIORS PROVIDED ME ADVANCED
NOTICE THAT SHE WOULD NOT BE
ABLE TO ATTEND THIS MORNING'S
MEETING.
AT FULL COUNCIL TODAY WE WILL
BE INTRODUCING AND VOTING ON
THE RESOLUTION THAT SETS THE
COUNCIL'S WORK PLAN FOR 2021.
AS MANY OF YOU MAY KNOW, IN MY
COMMITTEE, I HAVE VERY STRICT
RULES ABOUT WHAT CAN AND CANNOT
BE SPOKEN TO DURING PUBLIC
COMMENT.
ONE EXAMPLE IS WHEN THE THREE
ADVOCATES CAME IN SAYING WHAT I
LOVE, I REALLY LOVED THAT TREE
SONG, BUT IT WAS OUT OF
COMPLIANCE WITH THE ORDERS OF
THE CORM.
THEY DID RECEIVE A WARNING AT
THAT TIME.
ON THIS AFTERNOON'S AGENDA, WE
DO HAVE THIS RESOLUTION THAT
SETS THE COUNCILS WORKPLAN FOR
2021.
THERE IS A WIDER ARRAY OF
TOPICS THAT PEOPLE CAN SPEAK TO
WITHIN MY STRICT RULES OF
SPEAKING TO ITEMS ON THE AGENDA.
I JUST WANT TO THANK EVERYONE,
EVERY OFFICE FOR WORKING WITH
CENTRAL STAFF TO DEVELOP YOUR
RESPECTIVE WORK PLANS.
ALLIE IS ON THE LINE THIS
MORNING IN COUNCIL BRIEFING TO
PROVIDE A QUICK OVERVIEW AND
ANSWER ANY LINGERING QUESTIONS.
WE'LL COME BACK TO THAT AT THE
END.
ITEM NUMBER THREE IS OUR STATE
LEGISLATIVE SESSIONS UPDATES.
WE HAVE OUR AMAZING OA OUR
TEAM.
DIRECTOR WILSON-CODEGA, ROBIN
KOSKEY, QUINN MAJESKI, HANNAH
SMITH, MY APOLOGIES TO THE REST
OF THE TEAM.
I DIDN'T HAVE YOUR TITLES
MEMORIZED.
I WOULD LOVE TO PASS IT OFF TO
YOU AND GIVE US AN UPDATE OF
WHAT IS GOING ON VIRTUALLY IN
OLYMPIA.
>> GOOD MORNING, LILY WILSON-
CODEGA DIRECTOR OFFICE OF
INTERGOVERNMENTAL RELATIONS.
I'M GOING TO PASS ALONG TO
ROBIN KOSKEY FOR A BRIEF
INTRODUCTION.
>> ROBIN KOSKEY, DEPUTY
DIRECTOR.
>> QUINN MAJESKI, STATE
RELATIONS DIRECTOR.
>> HANNAH SMITH, GOVERNOR'S
AFFAIRS PROGRAM DIRECTOR.
>> THANK YOU, TEEN GOOD MORNING
COUNCILMEMBERS.
WE ARE BEFORE YOU TODAY WITH A
STATE LEGISLATIVE UPDATE WITH
APPROXIMATELY TWO MONTHS IN THE
2021 VIRTUAL LEGISLATIVE SESSION
ENDING ON APRIL 25th.
AT THIS POINT IN SESSION WE
HAVE PASSED SEVERAL MAJOR
MILESTONES.
HOUSE OF LORDS AND POLITY
COMMITTEE, THE FISCAL AND
TRANSPORTATION COMMITTEE
CUTOFFS, AND THE HOUSE OF
ORIGIN CUT OFF IS COMING UP
RIGHT AROUND THE CORNER, NEXT
TUESDAY, MARCH 9th.
LEGISLATORS ARE NOW IN THE
MIDST OF VERY LONG DAYS OF
FLOOR ACTION WITH FOLKS IN BOTH
CHAMBERS CURRENTLY WORKING LATE
INTO THE EVENING TO ADVANCE
PROPOSALS FOR MAJOR CLIMATE
CHANGE POLICIES TO POLICE
REFORM TO PROGRESSIVE REVENUE.
BEFORE I TURN IT OVER TO QUINN,
I SPECIFICALLY LIKE TO THANK
COUNSELOR FOR YOUR ASSISTANCE
WORKING WITH KEY STAKEHOLDERS
AND LEGISLATORS LAST WEEK ON
THE WORKER PROTECTION ACT.
HOUSE BILL 1076.
I ALSO WANT TO THANK THE
ASSOCIATION OF WASHINGTON
CITIES FOR WORKING VERY
COLLABORATIVELY WITH OUR TEAM
AND YOU ALL AT BOTH THE STAFF
AND LEADERSHIP LEVELS, TO WORK
THROUGH OUR CONCERNS AND FOR
MOVING TO A POSITION OF
NEUTRALITY MOVING FORWARD GIVEN
THIS IS SUCH A HIGH PRIORITY
FOR COUNCILMEMBERS MOSQUEDA AND
STRAUSS AS OUR BOARD MEMBERS.
HOUSE BILL 10 W6 PASSED OUT OF
APPROPRIATIONS ON A LARGELY
POLICY LINE VOTE ON THE 22nd.
IN TIME FOR CUT OFF, AND HAS
BEEN REFERRED TO RULES.
I'M NOT GOING TO TURN IT OVER
TO QUINN MAJESKI, OR STATE
RELATIONS DIRECTOR.
>> THANK YOU, COUNCILMEMBERS,
WE APPRECIATE YOU HAVING US
THIS MORNING.
I WILL START WITH AN UPDATE ON
BUDGET AND REVENUE.
IN THE BUDGET AND REVENUE SPACE,
WE ARE IN A BIT OF A LOW.
MOST OF THE MAJOR LEGISLATION
HAS HAD ITS PUBLIC HEARINGS,
HOWEVER ALL OF THESE BILLS ARE
CONSIDERED NECESSARY TO
IMPLEMENT THE BUDGET.
THAT MEANS THEY ARE NOT SUBJECT
TO THE VARIETY OF CUTOFFS THAT
THE LEGISLATURE IMPOSES.
SO, WHILE MOST BILLS HAVE HAD
TO MAKE IT OUT OF THEIR
COMMITTEES AND FACE THE
UPCOMING DEADLINE, TO MAKE IT
TO A FLOOR VOTE AND MOVE OUT OF
THEIR HOUSE OF ORIGIN, THESE
BILLS DO NOT AND WILL CONTINUE
TO BE WORKED ON THROUGHOUT
SESSION.
THE BIG UPDATE IN THE BUDGET
AND REVENUE SPACE IS THAT THIS
MONTH, ON MARCH 17th, THERE IS
THE STATE REVENUE FORECAST.
THIS WILL REALLY FRAME FOR
LEGISLATORS AND BUDGET LEADERS
EXACTLY WHAT THE BUDGET
SCENARIO IS THAT THEY NEED TO
WORK WITH.
WE HAVE THE MOST RECENT UPDATE,
BUT LEGISLATORS LIKE TO HAVE
THE MOST UP-TO-DATE INFORMATION
AS THEY ARE CRAFTING THEIR
BUDGETS.
WE HAVE HEARD ANECDOTALLY, BUT
FROM FOLKS WHO ARE CLOSELY
CONNECTED TO THE REVENUE
FORECAST TEAM, WE ARE LIKELY TO
SEE AN UPTICK IN STATE
REVENUES.
RIGHT NOW, BUT TALK IS THAT WE
ARE LOOKING AT SOMEWHERE
BETWEEN 500 AND $700 MILLION.
OBVIOUSLY THAT NUMBER IS
SUBJECT TO CHANGE.
WE STILL HAVE SEVERAL WEEKS
BEFORE WE HIT MARCH 17th, BUT
THAT IS THE CURRENT PICTURE.
AS WE MENTIONED OVER THE SUMMER,
AS THE REVENUE FORECAST HAS
CONTINUED TO IMPROVE, THAT'S
OBVIOUSLY GOOD FOR THE OVERALL
BUDGET PICTURE.
IT MEANS THAT THERE IS A LESS
OF A GAP THAT NEEDS TO BE
CLOSED.
WITH THIS LATEST INCREASE, WE'D
BE LOOKING AT A RATHER SMALL
SHORTFALL ACTUALLY FOR THE
UPCOMING FISCAL YEAR.
HOWEVER, THE DOUBLE-EDGED SWORD
IS THAT THAT DOES BLUNT SOME OF
THE MOMENTUM FOR REAL
PROGRESSIVE REVENUE REFORM.
THAT SAID, THERE ARE STILL A
NUMBER OF LEGISLATORS WHO ARE
COMMITTED TO REVENUE REFORM IN
BOTH CHAMBERS.
THE FOCUS REALLY SEEMS TO BE
CENTERING IN ON THE CAPITAL
GAINS TAX.
THE SENATE, AS WE MENTIONED IN
OUR PREVIOUS UPDATES, PAST
THEIR PROPOSAL OUT OF
COMMITTEE.
WE HAVE HEARD THAT THE SENATE
IS LIKELY TO TAKE THE FIRST
ACTION IF THEY MOVE FORWARD
WITH CAPITAL GAINS, AS THAT HAS
BEEN SORT OF THE BOTTLENECK IN
THE PAST.
SO, WE WILL BE WATCHING THAT
CLOSELY AND CONTINUING TO WORK
WITH LEGISLATORS AND
STAKEHOLDERS TO SUPPORT THAT
EFFORT.
I THINK THAT IS ALL I HAVE FOR
THE BUDGET AND REVENUE SPACE.
I WILL PAUSE FOR ANY QUESTIONS.
>> I'M SEEING NO QUESTIONS AT
THIS TIME.
>> ARE RIGHT, I WILL PASS IT
OFF TO HANNAH FOR EDUCATION.
>> THANK YOU.
>> THANKS.
A COUPLE UPDATES IN THE
CHILDCARE SPACE.
SENATE BILL 5136, WHICH IS THE
CHILDCARE LICENSING BILL WE'VE
BEEN FOLLOWING.
THAT UNFORTUNATELY WAS NOT
VOTED OUT OF WAYS AND MEANS AND
HAS DIED.
BUT, THERE IS GOOD NEWS IN
SENATE BILL 1213.
OUR 5237, THE FAIR SITES FOR
KIDS ACT.
BOTH VEHICLES CONTINUE TO MOVE
AND ARE PLACED ON SECOND
READING LAST WEEK.
ADDITIONALLY, BILLS INCREASING
THE ACCESS TO THE OPPORTUNITIES
SCHOLARSHIP AND THE SCHOOL
BOARD ELECTION QUALIFICATIONS,
WHICH ALLOWS PERMANENT
RESIDENTS TO RUN FOR SCHOOL
BOARDS HAVE BOTH PASSED TO
ROLES AS WELL.
THOSE ARE THE BIG UPDATES IN
EDUCATION.
I'M HAPPY TO ANSWER ANY
QUESTIONS.
>> I'M NOT SEEING ANY QUESTIONS.
>> MOVING ONTO ENVIRONMENT.
UNFORTUNATELY WE DID SEE ONE
MAJOR ENVIRONMENTAL BILL DROP
OFF THIS AFTER THE MOST RECENT
CUT OFF.
HOUSE BILL 1084, THE BUILDING
DECARBONIZATION LEGISLATION.
THE GOVERNOR REQUEST BILL, ALSO
SOMETIMES KNOWN AS HEALTHY
HOMES, CLEAN BILLS AND, DID NOT
MAKE IT OUT OF APPRECIATIONS.
THAT BILL IS DEAD FOR THIS YEAR.
ON FOUR SAY WE SAW A LOT OF
OPPOSITION FROM FOSSIL FUEL
COMPANIES, AS WELL AS SOME
CONCERNS ABOUT IMPACTS ON
WORKERS.
SO, THAT IS NOT MOVING FORWARD.
THERE IS AN EFFORT TO
INCORPORATE SOME PROVISIONS
POTENTIALLY INTO BUDGET
PROVISOS.
PARTICULARLY AROUND STUDY
BENEFICIAL ELECTRIFICATION.
AS WELL AS LOOKING AT THE
POTENTIAL HEAT PUMP
ELECTRIFICATION PROGRAM IN THE
DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE.
UNFORTUNATELY THAT BILL WILL
NOT BE MOVING FORWARD THIS
YEAR.
BILLS THAT ARE CONTINUING TO
MOVE FORWARD HOWEVER INCLUDE,
HOUSE BILL 1091.
THE CLEAN FUEL STANDARD.
THAT WAS APPROVED BY THE HOUSE
ON SATURDAY.
AS IT HAS BEEN IN PREVIOUS
YEARS, IT WAS A CLOSE VOTE.
LARGELY PARTYLINE VOTE WITH A
FEW DEMOCRATS VOTING NO.
THAT WILL HEAD OVER TO THE
SENATE AND WE WILL BE CONTINUING
TO MONITOR IT CLOSELY THERE.
THEN, AS WE REPORTED LAST WEEK,
SENATOR CARLISLE HAS INTRODUCED
HIS SUBSTITUTE VERSION OF 5126,
WHICH IS THE CLIMATE COMMITMENT
ACT.
THE GOVERNOR REQUESTS
LEGISLATION.
IT MAKES A NUMBER OF CHANGES TO
THE POLICY TO ADDRESS CONCERNS
RAISED BY THE ENVIRONMENTAL
JUSTICE COMMUNITY ABOUT SOME OF
THE PROVISIONS ALLOWING EDITORS
TO CONTINUE ADMITTING.
IT MAKES A NUMBER OF CHANGES
THERE.
THAT WAS VOTED OUT OF COMMITTEE
LAST THURSDAY.
THE SENATE ENVIRONMENT
COMMITTEE, AND IS NOW HEADED TO
WAYS AND MEANS.
THIS BILL IS CONSIDERED AN TIB,
SO IT IS NOT SUBJECT TO CUTOFFS.
WE DO EXPECT IT TO CONTINUE
MOVING.
THAT IS ALL I HAVE FOR THE
ENVIRONMENT.
I WILL PAUSE FOR ANY QUESTIONS.
>> THANK YOU, QUINN.
I'M NOT SEEING ANY OTHER
QUESTIONS.
WHICH SPEAKS ACROSS THE BOARD,
IT SPEAKS TO THE GREAT WORK
FROM YOUR TEAM EVERY WEEK
ANSWERING SO MANY QUESTIONS
THAT WE'VE GOTTEN TO A PLACE
WHERE THERE ARE FEWER QUESTIONS
TO BE ASKED.
>> THANK YOU, COUNCIL PRESIDENT
PRO TEM.
IN GENERAL GOVERNMENT, A COUPLE
UPDATES HERE.
HOUSE BILL 1016, WHICH IS THE
LEGISLATION THAT WOULD MAKE
JUNETEENTH A LEGAL HOLIDAY PAST
THE HOUSE BY A VERY STRONG 89-9
VOTE.
THAT IS HEADED OVER TO THE
SENATE NOW.
HOUSE BILL 1173, THIS IS THE --
WHAT WE KNOW AS THE ARMORY PDA
LEGISLATION.
IT HAS TO DO WITH THE NATIONAL
GUARD FACILITY AND THE
POTENTIAL REDEVELOPMENT OF THAT
AS THEY MOVE OVER TO NORTH BEND.
THAT BILL WAS PASSED BY THE
HOUSE ON A 77-21 VOTE AND IS
ALSO HEADED OVER TO THE SENATE.
ONE UNFORTUNATE UPDATE, HOUSE
BILL 1264, WHICH WOULD
ESTABLISH EQUITY IMPACT
STATEMENTS FOR LEGISLATIVE
PROPOSALS, SIMILAR TO THE RCI
ANALYSES THAT WE DO HERE IN
SEATTLE.
IT UNFORTUNATE DID NOT MAKE IT
OUT OF APPROPRIATIONS, SO IT IS
DEAD FOR THIS YEAR.
WE WILL BE LOOKING TO WORK WITH
STAKEHOLDERS CLOSELY TO ADVANCE
THAT LEGISLATION IN FUTURE
SESSIONS.
I THINK THAT IS ALL I HAVE FOR
GENERAL GOVERNMENT, SO I'LL
PAUSE AGAIN FOR ANY QUESTIONS.
>> AGAIN, NOT SEEING ANY
QUESTIONS.
GOOD JOB TO THE TEAM!
THANK YOU, COLLEAGUES FOR
MAKING SURE THAT ANY QUESTIONS
YOU DO HAVE ARE FOCUSED.
>> I WILL HAND IT OFF TO HANNAH
FOR HEALTHCARE.
>> THANKS, QUINN.
AN UPDATE ON A BILL THAT DIED.
HOUSE BILL 1191, WHICH EXTENDED
HEALTH CARE COVERAGE TO
UNDOCUMENTED FOLKS
UNFORTUNATELY DIED.
THERE ARE EFFORTS TO PURSUE
THAT IN A BUDGET PROVISO, SO WE
WILL BE CONTINUING TO ADVOCATE
FOR THAT POLICY.
BILLS THAT CONTINUE TO MOVE
THROUGH, HOUSE BILL 1477, WHICH
ESTABLISHES THE NATIONAL 988
LINE HERE IN WASHINGTON.
THERE HAVE BEEN LOTS OF
CONCERNS OVER THE
IMPLEMENTATION, TIMELINE AND
COSTS FOR THAT BILL.
A SECOND SUBSTITUTE PASSED OUT
OF APPROPRIATIONS LAST WEEK AND
IS NOW IN RULES.
THE SUBSTITUTE MADE SEVERAL
CHANGES INCLUDING ESTABLISHING
AN IMPLEMENTATION TEAM THAT
INCLUDES CRISIS CALL CENTERS
AND BEHAVIOR HEALTH DELIVERY
SYSTEMS.
IT TURNED MANY OF THE
BEHAVIORAL HEALTH CRISIS ITEMS
INTO RECOMMENDATIONS RATHER
THAN REQUIREMENTS.
THAT INCLUDES THE AVAILABILITY
OF COMMUNITY-BASED MOBILE RAPID
RESPONSE TEAMS.
SENATE BILL 5068, WHICH EXTENDS
POSTPARTUM MEDICAID PASSED OUT
OF THE SENATE ON A 46-0 VOTE.
WITH STRONG FORCE FEATURES AND
SUPPORT AND CONTINUES TO MOVE.
5195, THE REVERSAL MEDICATION
RECOMMENDED AND CONTINUES TO
MOVE.
THE AMENDMENTS REMOVE A
HOSPITAL'S REQUIREMENTS TO
DISPENSE OPIOID MEDICATIONS
UNDER SOME CIRCUMSTANCES.
THAT BILL CONTINUES TO HAVE
STRONG SUPPORT.
SENATE BILL 5313, WHICH IS THE
HEALTH INSURANCE DISCRIMINATION
FOR GENDER REAFFIRMING SURGERY
PASSED THE SENATE 30-17.
AND SENATE BILL 5399, WHICH
CREATED THE UNIVERSAL
HEALTHCARE COMMISSION WAS
PLACED ON SECOND READING.
I'LL PAUSE FOR HEALTHCARE
QUESTIONS.
>> AGAIN, NOT SEEING ANY.
>> WE'LL NOW TURN OVER TO
HOUSING AND HOMELESSNESS.
THERE IS NOT TOO MUCH NEWS ON
THE HOUSING FORUM.
UNFORTUNATELY HOUSE BILL 1035
THAT WOULD PROVIDE A TAX
EXEMPTION IN EXCHANGE FOR
PROVIDING AFFORDABLE HOUSING IN
OLDER BUILDINGS, SOME OF YOU
REMEMBER THE CITY WORKED ON
THIS A FEW YEARS AGO.
A SIMILAR PROPOSAL TO THIS ONE.
THAT BILL DIDN'T MAKE IT OUT OF
THE FINANCE COMMITTEE.
I JUST WANTED TO LET YOU KNOW
THAT HOUSE BILL 1277 WOULD
INCREASE THE DOCUMENT RECORDING
FEES BY $100 TO GENERATE FUNDS
FOR RENT ASSISTANCE AND
POTENTIALLY OPERATIONS AND
MAINTENANCE OF AFFORDABLE
HOUSING HAS BEEN AGREED AS
NECESSARY TO IMPLEMENT THE
BUDGETS.
SO, IT IS NOT SUBJECT TO THE
REGULAR POLICY AND FISCAL
CUTOFFS AND IS STILL BEING
CONSIDERED AND POTENTIALLY
COULD MOVE FORWARD.
I ALSO WANTED TO LET YOU KNOW
ABOUT SENATE BILL 5287,
AFFORDABLE HOUSING INCENTIVES.
THIS BILL IS STILL BEING
NEGOTIATED BY A NUMBER OF
FACTORS, INCLUDING OTHER CITIES,
HOUSING ADVOCATES, AND
LEGISLATORS.
THIS WOULD AUTHORIZE LOCAL
JURISDICTIONS TO IMPLEMENT A 12
YEAR EXTENSION OF A PROGRAM TO
PRESERVE AFFORDABLE HOUSING
UNITS.
IT WOULD ALSO REQUIRE TENANT
PROTECTIONS AS PART OF THE
NEGOTIATIONS GOING FORWARD.
AND WOULD ESTABLISH A 20 YEAR
EXEMPTION FOR AFFORDABLE
HOMEOWNERSHIP, WHICH IS OF
INTEREST TO OUR AFFORDABLE
HOMEOWNERSHIP PROVIDERS IN
SEATTLE, CERTAINLY.
I WILL KEEP YOU POSTED ON THAT.
AS I SAID, THE EXACT DETAILS OF
THE BILL ARE STAINED BUILDING
WORK DONE AND I'LL HAVE TO LET
EVERYBODY KNOW.
IT LOOKS LIKE IT MAY MOVE IN
THE SENATE THIS WEEK.
I WILL KEEP THE COUNCIL POSTED.
I ALSO JUST WANTED TO LET YOU
KNOW THAT THE CITY SIGNED ONTO
A LETTER WITH A NUMBER OF OTHER
AFFORDABLE HOUSING
ORGANIZATIONS AND ANTI-POVERTY
ORGANIZATIONS THAT WENT OUT TO
THE WHOLE LEGISLATURE ASKING
FOR FUNDING AT THE LEVEL OF
$18.5 MILLION AS WAS IN THE
GOVERNOR'S BUDGET FOR
FORECLOSURE PREVENTION IN THE
OPERATING AND SUPPLEMENTAL
BUDGETS.
I'LL JUST PAUSE THERE TO SEE IF
ANYBODY HAS ANY QUESTIONS ON
HOUSING.
HEARING NONE, I THINK I CAN
MOVE ONTO POLICE REFORM.
SOME VERY EXCITING THINGS HAVE
HAPPENED OVER THE LAST WEEK IN
THE POLICE REFORM FORUM.
MANY OF THE -- ALMOST ALL OF
THE PROPOSALS ARE STILL
CONTINUING TO MOVE FORWARD IN
THE LEGISLATIVE PROCESS, WHICH
IS VERY EXCITING.
SEVERAL BILLS PASSED OUT OF
THEIR HOUSE OF ORIGIN LAST
WEEK.
FIRST OF ALL, HOUSE BILL 1054
PASSED THE HOUSE ON SATURDAY
EVENING BY A VOTE OF 54-43.
SOME FAIRLY SIGNIFICANT CHANGES
WERE MADE TO THE BILL.
ONE WAS SOME CHANGES AROUND THE
DEFINITIONS OF MILITARY
EQUIPMENT TO CHANGE THE
DEFINITION OF GRENADES AND
SILENCERS WERE REMOVED FROM THE
DEFINITION OF MILITARY
EQUIPMENT.
THE TEARGAS PROVISIONS OF THE
BILL WERE ALSO CHANGED.
THE ABILITY TO USE TEARGAS WAS
RESTORED AND HOSTAGE
SITUATIONS, SITUATIONS WHERE
INDIVIDUALS MIGHT BE BARRICADED
OR IN SOME RIOT SITUATIONS.
WITH SOME SIGNIFICANT
PARAMETERS AROUND WHEN AND HOW
IT WOULD BE ESTABLISHED THAT
TEARGAS COULD BE DEPLOYED.
THE CHOKEHOLD DEFINITION WAS
MODIFIED SLIGHTLY.
THE MOVING VEHICLE PROVISIONS
OF THE BILL WERE CLARIFIED TO
ESTABLISH WHEN AN OFFICER MAY
FIRE AT A MOVING VEHICLE.
FINALLY, THE K-9 PROVISIONS OF
THE BILL WERE REMOVED.
THE PROHIBITION ON USE OF K-
9'S'S WAS REMOVED AND THERE WAS
A REQUIREMENT PUT IN THAT THE
CRIMINAL JUSTICE TRAINING
COMMISSION MUST ADOPT MODELS ON
USE OF K-9'S. THAT WAS A
STICKING POINT FOR THE BILL,
AND THERE WERE QUITE A FEW
NEGOTIATIONS THAT HAPPENED WITH
THE PRIME SPONSOR AND LAW
ENFORCEMENT AGENCIES TO COME TO
AN AGREEMENT ON THAT PROVISION.
THAT, IN A NUTSHELL, IT'S HOUSE
BILL 1054.
SENATOR PEDERSEN'S OVERSIGHT
AND ACCOUNTABILITY OF POLICE
OFFICERS COLLOQUIAL LOW KNOWN AS
THE CERTIFICATION, SENATE BILL
5051, ALSO PASSED THE SENATE
LATE LAST THURSDAY NIGHT.
THIS BROUGHT IN THE ABILITY TO
DECERTIFY POLICE OFFICERS.
THE VOTE WAS 29-16, BUT NOT
BEFORE 39 AMENDMENTS WERE
OFFERED TO THE BILL.
ALL AMENDMENTS THAT WERE
ADOPTED WERE TECHNICAL IN NATURE
AND DID MAKE SIGNIFICANT
CHANGES TO THE BILL.
QUITE A BIG NIGHT LAST THURSDAY
EVENING ON THE SENATE FLOOR FOR
THAT BILL.
THEN, SENATE BILL 5066, THE
DUTY TO INTERVENE BILL ALSO
PASSED THE SENATE LAST WEEK.
THIS REQUIRES OFFICERS TO HAVE A
DUTY TO INTERVENE WHEN THEY
WITNESS EXCESSIVE USE OF FORCE,
AND IT ALSO REQUIRES POLICE
OFFICERS TO REPORT WRONGDOING
TO THE OTHER OFFICERS'
SUPERVISORS.
REALLY GOOD NEWS THIS WEEK IN
TERMS OF POLICE REFORM PROPOSALS
CONTINUING TO MOVE THROUGH THE
LEGISLATIVE PROCESS.
I'LL STOP THERE FOR ANY
QUESTIONS.
>> I'M NOT SEEING ANY OTHER
QUESTIONS.
>> TERRIFIC.
I'LL JUST MOVE ON TO ONE LAST
BILL.
IN THE PUBLIC SAFETY FORUM, THE
BILL THAT IS ONE OF THE BILLS
THAT WOULD PROHIBIT ON THE
INTIMIDATION.
SENATE BILL 5038 ALSO PASSED
THE SENATE LAST WEEK.
IT'S JUST THE ONE THAT
PROHIBITS OPEN CARRY AT THE
STATE CAPITAL AND PUBLIC
DEMONSTRATIONS.
IT PASSED THE SENATE 28-20.
ALSO A VERY SIGNIFICANT PIECE
OF LEGISLATION TO MOVE FORWARD
THIS YEAR.
SO, SOME GOOD THINGS THIS WEEK.
>> THAT IS INDEED GREAT NEWS.
COLLEAGUES, ANY QUESTIONS?
SEEING NONE, HANNAH, IS TAKEN
AWAY.
>> A COUPLE BILLS THAT PASSED
THIS WEEK IN THE SAFETY NET AND
CIVIL-RIGHTS AREA.
HOUSE BILL 1078 WHICH RESTORES
VOTING RIGHTS -- AUTOMATICALLY
TO PEOPLE WHO COMMITTE
FELONIES, PAST THE HOUSE 5714.
HOUSE BILL 1151, WHICH IS A
VERY PUBLIC ASSISTANT PRIOR TO
BILL PASSED OUT OF THE HOUSE 82-
16.
GREAT MILLS CONTINUING TO MOVE
FORWARD.
OTHER SAFETY NET BILLS WE ARE
MONITORING OUR CONTINUING TO
MOVE FORWARD IN THE PROCESS.
THEY ARE PLACED ON SECOND
READING.
I'LL PAUSE THERE.
ALSO QUICKLY, I MIGHT PASS IT
OFF TO QUINN FOR
TRANSPORTATION.
>> ROUNDING IT OUT IN THE
TRANSPORTATION SPACE, NOT A LOT
TO UPDATE HERE.
TRANSPORTATION LEADERS CONTINUE
TO WORK ON THEIR TRANSPORTATION
REVENUE PROPOSALS.
THAT IS HAPPENING LARGELY IN
THE BACKDROP, BUT AS THE
LEGISLATURE SHIFTS ITS FOCUS TO
FOR ACTION AND IN ANTICIPATION
OF THE UPCOMING REVENUE
FORECAST, LEGISLATORS ARE ALSO
WORKING ON THE BASELINE
TRANSPORTATION CURRENT LAW
BUDGETS.
THE NO NEW REVENUE BUDGET.
WE DON'T ANTICIPATE ANY BIG NEWS
ON THE BROADER REVENUE PACKAGE
IN THE NEXT -- IN THE NEAR
FUTURE.
IN TERMS OF LEGISLATION, HOUSE
BILLS 1301 AND 1304 ARE
CURRENTLY IN RULES AWAITING
ACTION.
WE ARE WORKING CLOSELY ON THOSE
AND TRACKING THEM CLOSELY.
>> WONDERFUL, THANK YOU, QUINN.
COLLEAGUES, ANY QUESTIONS,
DIRECTOR WILSON-CODEGA, ANY
OTHER?
THAT CONCLUDES OUR PRESENTATION
TODAY UNLESS THERE ARE ANY
QUESTIONS.
I JUST WANTED A NOTE TO THANK
COUNCIL PRESIDENT PRO TEM AND
COUNCILMEMBERS FOR THE
ENGAGEMENT AND ASSISTANCE THIS
WEEK.
WE'VE GIVEN THE VIRTUAL SESSION
FORMAT, WE'VE BEEN ASKING A LOT
OF YOU, AND WE ARE VERY, VERY
APPRECIATIVE OF ALL THE WORK
YOU HAVE DONE.
MUCH APPRECIATION THERE AND
LOOK FORWARD TO REAPING YOU
AGAIN NEXT WEEK.
>> WONDERFUL, THANK YOU,
DIRECTOR WILSON-CODEGA.
AGAIN, IT SPEAKS TO THE ROBUST
PRESENTATIONS THAT YOUR TEAM
GIVES US EVERY WEEK, AND
WORKING WITH US INDIVIDUALLY,
AND HOW THIS IS DEMONSTRATED
TODAY IS THAT NO ONE HAD ANY
QUESTIONS.
BECAUSE YOU ARE DOING THE GREAT
WORK AND KEEPING US INFORMED AS
WE GO AND ALSO COLLEAGUES ARE
NOT WAITING UNTIL THE ONCE A
WEEK OPPORTUNITY TO ASK A
QUESTION.
SO, GREAT WORK TO THE OIR TEAM.
>> VERY HIGH COMPLIMENTS.
WE ARE SO APPRECIATIVE OF THAT
AND LOOK FORWARD TO SEEING YOU
AGAIN NEXT WEEK.
>> WONDERFUL, SEE YOU SOON.
>>> COLLEAGUES, WE WILL NOW
MOVE ON TO ITEM 4, THE PREVIEW
OF TODAY'S COUNCIL ACTIONS.
COUNCIL IN REGIONAL COMMITTEES.
WE WILL BEGIN OUR NEXT
DISCUSSION ON THE PREVIEW OF
TODAY'S CITY COUNCIL ACTIONS .
COUNCIL AND REGIONAL
COMMITTEES, I'LL CALL ON
COUNCILMEMBERS AS ESTABLISHED
BY THE ROLL CALL.
THAT IS DESIGNATED
ALPHABETICALLY BY LAST NAME.
THIS WEEK'S ROLLCALL LOCATION
WILL BEGIN WITH ALSO MEMBER.
I WILL CONCLUDE THIS AGENDA
DISCRETION.
SINCE I WOULD HAVE STARTED THE
ROTATION THIS WEEK, I WOULD
HAVE BEEN THE FIRST ONE TO GO.
NEXT WEEK'S ORDER WILL START
WITH COUNCILMEMBER JUAREZ.
IT WILL CONCLUDE WITH ME, AND
THEN THE COUNCIL PRESIDENT
GONZALEZ TO MAINTAIN THAT
ALPHABETICAL ORDER.
SO, COLLEAGUES, NOW WE WILL
BEGIN.
COUNCILMEMBER HERBOLD YOU ARE
UP FIRST.
COUNCILMEMBER JUAREZ IS EXCUSED
FOR TODAY.
FOLLOWING COUNCILMEMBER HERBOLD
WILL BE COUNCILMEMBER LEWIS,
MORALES, MOSQUEDA, AND WE WILL
JUST CONTINUE ON.
THANK YOU, COLLEAGUES.
COUNCILMEMBER HERBOLD?
>> THANK YOU SO MUCH AND GOOD
MORNING.
JUST WANT TO START OFF WITH A
NOTICE THAT THE PUBLIC SAFETY
AND HUMAN SERVICES COMMITTEE
HAS NO ITEMS FOR TODAY'S FULL
COUNCIL AGENDA.
NOR IS A COMMITTEE MEETING THIS
WEEK.
WE WILL BE MEETING NEXT TUESDAY
MORNING.
FROM THE HUMAN SERVICES
DEPARTMENT, THEY HAVE ASKED
THAT I SHARE WITH THE VIEWING
PUBLIC EXCITING NEWS THAT THE
SEATTLE YOUTH EMPLOYMENT PROGRAM
IS PREPARING JOB READINESS
TRAINING AND EMPLOYMENT
OPPORTUNITIES THIS SUMMER,
DESPITE THE UNCERTAINTY THAT
COVID-19 BRINGS.
DEPENDING ON COVID-19'S SAFETY
GUIDELINES AND A NUMBER OF
PARTICIPATING EMPLOYERS, AND
TYPES OF EXPERIENCES THAT
EMPLOYERS CAN PROVIDE, THE
SUMMER PROGRAM MAY INCLUDE IN
PERSON, VIRTUAL, A HYBRID OF IN-
PERSON AND VIRTUAL, OR A SATAN
BASED LEARN AND EARN MODEL.
APPLICATIONS FOR THE SEATTLE
YOUTH EMPLOYMENT PROGRAM 2021
INTERNSHIPS AND EMPLOYERS ARE
NOW OPEN AND WILL CLOSE ON
FRIDAY, APRIL 2nd.
THE PROGRAM WILL RUN JULY
SEVENTH THROUGH AUGUST 17th.
IF YOU WANT TO APPLY, YOU CAN
VISIT THE PROGRAM WEBSITE. NEWS
TODAY IN THE PUBLIC HEALTH AREA,
THE CITY HAS ANNOUNCED THIS
MORNING THE LOCATIONS OF THREE
CITY RUN MASS VACCINATION SITES.
ONE AT THE SOUTHWEST ATHLETIC
COMPLEX IN WEST SEATTLE.
ANOTHER AT THE ATLANTIC CITY
BOAT RAMP IN RAINIER BEACH.
ANOTHER AT THE EVENT CENTER.
THE WEST SEATTLE AND RANIER
BEACH SITES ARE LAUNCHING THIS
MORNING.
THEY ARE ALSO THE LOCATION OF
COVID TESTING AND WILL CONTINUE
TO OFFER THAT SERVICE AS WELL.
APPOINTMENTS WILL BE AVAILABLE
THROUGH THE FALL INITIALLY.
BETWEEN THE TWO SITES, THEY
WILL INITIALLY OFFER 2000 DOSES
PER WEEK ADMINISTERED BY THE
SEATTLE FIRE DEPARTMENT.
LUMEN FIELD IS EXPECTED TO OPEN
IN MID-MARCH IN PARTNERSHIP
WITH SWEDISH, AND THEY WILL
INITIALLY ADMINISTER 5000 DOSES
PER WEEK.
EVENTUALLY, WHEN THE VACCINE
SUPPLY IMPROVES, THE WEST
SEATTLE AND RANIER BEACH SITES
WILL BE ABLE TO ADMINISTER 1000
SHOTS EACH DAY, AND LUMEN FIELD
WILL ADMINISTER UP TO 150,000
SHOTS PER WEEK.
ALL APPOINTMENTS FOR THE
TEMPORARY CLINICS HAVE BEEN
FILLED SO FAR.
WITH PARTNERSHIPS WITH OVER
DIFFERENT ORGANIZATIONS.
CENTRAL, SOUTH, AND WEST
SEATTLE.
TO REGISTER INDIVIDUALS FOR THE
CLINIC, THEY FOCUS ON VACCINE
ELIGIBLE PEOPLE WHO ARE 65 AND
OLDER, WHO LIVE IN AREAS OF
WEST AND SOUTH SEATTLE, MOST
IMPACTED BY COVID-19 CASES.
THE CHOSEN LOCATIONS FOR THESE
MASS VACCINATION SITES SERVE
THE GOALS OF THE CITY'S
RESOLUTION ON VACCINE EQUITY.
WEST SEATTLE, SOUTH PARK, AND
RANIER VALLEY, HAVE THE SECOND
HIGHEST RATE OF COVID DEATHS IN
THE ENTIRE COUNTY.
THERE ARE SENIORS IN THOSE
SPECIFIC NEIGHBORHOODS, 75 AND
ABOVE, THAT HAVE FALLEN
SIGNIFICANTLY BEHIND THOSE IN
OTHER PARTS OF THE COUNTY AT
ACCESSING VACCINES.
ONLY 46% IN WEST SEATTLE, SOUTH
PARK, AND RANIER VALLEY, HAVE
RECEIVED A FIRST DOSE COMPARED
TO 59% COUNTYWIDE.
THE FEDERAL GOVERNMENT FORECAST
SHOWS WASHINGTON STATE
RECEIVING A SMALL BUT STEADY
INCREASE IN VACCINES THROUGH
MID-MARCH WITH A LARGE
PROPORTION RESERVED FOR SECOND
DOSES.
RECENT NEWS THAT THE JOHNSON &
JOHNSON ONE DOSE VACCINE HAS
BEEN IMPROVED WILL SIGNIFICANTLY
INCREASE THE NUMBER OF VACCINE
DOSES AVAILABLE IN THE LONG
RUN, BUT LIKELY IT WILL NOT
MAKE A SIGNIFICANT DIFFERENCE
IN THE SHORT TERM.
THIS WEEK, THE FIRE DEPARTMENT
ADMINISTERED ITS 10,000TH COVID
VACCINE.
ROUGHLY 7% -- 70% OF THOSE
VACCINATED BY THE CITY, THESE
ARE THE VACCINES THAT ARE BEING
DELIVERED BY THE SEATTLE FIRE
DEPARTMENT, THE CITY'S SPECIAL
ALLOCATION THAT HAVE BEEN
REPORTED BACK TO FOCUS ON EVERY
WEEK, 70% OF THOSE VACCINATED
BY THE CITY, BY THE SEATTLE
FIRE DEPARTMENT, IDENTIFY AS
BLACK, INDIGENOUS, AND PEOPLE
OF COLOR COMMUNITIES.
THE STATE HAS LAUNCHED A NEW
RESOURCE FOR INDIVIDUALS WHO
ARE BLIND OR HAVE LOW VISION.
BLIND AND LOW VISION
INDIVIDUALS CAN CALL 360-947-
3330 TO ASK QUESTIONS REGARDING
COVID RESOURCES OR GO TO THEIR
WEBSITE.
KSHAMA HAVE A CHANCE TO SEE IF
THEY HAVEN'T ALREADY.
THERE'S AN EDIT TO REVEAL THAT
APPEARED IN THE SEATTLE TIMES
LAST WEEK.
HE IS THE COURT REPORTED
MONITOR OVERSEEING THE CONSENT
DECREE.
IT IS DEFINITELY A GOOD READ.
IT SHARES A LOT ABOUT HIS
PERSPECTIVE AS IT RELATES TO
MOVING FORWARD IN SEATTLE UNDER
THE CONSENT DECREE.
HE INCLUDED A COMMENT
EMPHASIZING THE IMPORTANCE OF
STANDING UP PROGRAMS IN A
CONTEXT OF SEATTLE POLICE
DEPARTMENT REDUCTIONS.
>> COUNCILMEMBER HERBOLD, YOUR
AUDIO IS A LITTLE MUFFLED OR
BROKEN.
MAYBE I.T., IF YOU HAVE ANY
SUGGESTIONS.
I JUST WANT TO MAKE SURE WE ARE
HEARING YOUR GOOD WORKS.
>> OH.
>> THAT'S GREAT.
>> I'M LIKE I DON'T KNOW WHAT
TO DO FROM HERE BUT OKAY.
I'M JUST WRAPPING UP HERE.
JUST WANTED TO SHARE AND ACCEPT
FROM THAT EDITORIAL.
THE STATE MANAGER THROUGH THE
CONSENT DECREE, THE CITY MADE A
SET OF BINDING PROMISES ABOUT
HOW SPD WILL PROMOTE PUBLIC
SAFETY.
COMPLIANCE WITH THE DECREE
REQUIRES THE CITY PROVIDE
RESOURCES NECESSARY TO CARRY
OUT THOSE PROMISES, STRIPPING
FUNDING AWAY FROM SPD WITHOUT
MEANINGFULLY STANDING UP THE
ALTERNATIVE COMMUNITY RESOURCES
AND SOCIAL PROGRAMS NECESSARY
TO PROVIDE FOR COMMUNITY WELL-
BEING, RISKS UNDERMINING THE
PROGRESS THAT SEATTLE HAS MADE
OVER THE PAST EIGHT YEARS.
I HAVE RAISED WITH FOLKS DURING
BRIEFINGS MEETING, SHARED WITH
EVERYBODY, A LITTLE BIT ABOUT
THE WORK THAT IS BEING DONE IN
MY COMMITTEE TO GET THE FUNDS
THAT THE COUNCIL ALLOCATED FOR
COMMUNITY SAFETY ALTERNATIVES.
THERE HAS BEEN $4 MILLION
RELEASED.
WE ARE WORKING ON ENCOURAGING
AND SUPPORTING THE HUMAN
SERVICES DEPARTMENT AND THE
RELEASE OF ANOTHER $12 MILLION.
THEN, THERE IS THE WORK THAT IS
DONE IN THE IDT, ALSO TO LOOK
AT CREATION OF NEW CRISIS
RESPONSE UNITS INCLUDING
EXPANSION OF HEALTHONE.
THERE IS MORE TO BE DONE AND
MORE TO BE DONE QUICKLY BECAUSE
THERE IS, AS I WROTE IN AN
EDITORIAL A COUPLE WEEKS AGO
NOW, THERE IS REAL URGENCY IN
DEALING WITH AN INCREASE IN
PUBLIC SAFETY CHALLENGES DURING
THIS TIME OF COVID-19.
THEN, LASTLY, JUST VERY, VERY
QUICKLY, I WANT TO MENTION THIS
WEEK I HAVE COMING UP A
REGIONAL WATER QUALITY MEETING
AND THAT IS ON WEDNESDAY.
THEN, FRIDAY AND PARTICIPATING
IN THE HIRING PANEL FOR THE
WATERSHED RESOURCE INVENTORY
AREA, AREA NINE, THE DIRECTOR
FOR THAT. LAST WEEK HELD OFFICE
HOURS FROM THE NIGHT AND TALKED
TO A LOT OF CONSTITUENTS IN
DISTRICT ONE ABOUT MANY
DIFFERENT IMPORTANT ISSUES TO
THE COMMUNITY.
THANK YOU.
>> THANK YOU, COUNCILMEMBER
HERBOLD.
UP NEXT, BECAUSE COUNCILMEMBER
JUAREZ IS EXCUSED, WE HAVE
COUNCILMEMBER LEWIS.
FOLLOWED BY MORALES, AND THEN
COUNCILMEMBER MOSQUEDA, YOU ARE
ON DECK.
>> THANK YOU, PRESIDENT PRO TEM
STRAUSS.
GOOD TO BE HERE THIS MORNING.
INTRODUCTION AND REFERRAL, I
HAVE COUNCIL BILL 120007, WHICH
IS THE RIGHT TO COUNCIL IN
EVICTION PROCEEDINGS.
LEGISLATION THAT I AM
COSPONSORING WITH COUNCILMEMBER
SAWANT.
LOOKING FORWARD TO THAT
DISCUSSION ON THAT IMPORTANT
BILL AS SOMEONE WHO IS STILL A
CURRENT AND STANDING MEMBER OF
THE BAR.
I THINK THE RIGHT TO COUNSEL
IS FUNDAMENTAL IN ANY SITUATION,
WHERE THERE CAN BE A GREAT
DEPRIVATION.
WE KNOW THAT THERE CAN BE FATAL
CONSEQUENCES TO SOMEONE'S
LIVELIHOOD IF THEY ARE DENIED
HOUSING SECURITY AND THAT IN A
LOT OF CASES, WE SEE EVICTION
PROCEEDINGS WHERE THE DECK IS
STACKED HEAVILY AGAINST
TENANTS, AND I FIRMLY BELIEVE
THAT WE SHOULD BE ONE OF THE
MOST RECENT CITIES TO ADOPT
THIS RIGHT.
VERY SIMILAR LEGISLATION IS
CURRENTLY WORKING ITS WAY
THROUGH THE STATE LEGISLATURE.
I LOOK FORWARD TO HAVING THIS
DISCUSSION HERE AT THE COUNCIL
TO FOLLOW THE LEAD OF OTHER
CITIES SUCH AS PHILADELPHIA,
CLEVELAND, NEW YORK CITY, SAN
FRANCISCO.
A PILOT PROGRAM IN HOUSTON.
THIS IS SOMETHING A LOT OF
CITIES ARE DOING AND I THINK
IT'S TIME THAT THIS FUNDAMENTAL
AND ESSENTIAL RIGHT TO COUNSEL
BE EXTENDED TO THESE
PROCEEDINGS.
COMMITTEE REPORTS FROM THE
SELECT COMMITTEE ON
HOMELESSNESS STRATEGIES AND
INVESTMENTS.
COUNCIL BILL 119 975 WAS
UNANIMOUSLY PASSED BY THE
COMMITTEE LAST WEEK.
IT WILL BE BEFORE THE COUNCIL
TODAY FOR FINAL PASSAGE.
THIS OF COURSE IS THE
LEGISLATION STREAMLINING MANY
ASPECTS OF PAYMENT SUPPORTIVE
HEIGHT IS TO MAKE PRODUCTION OF
PERMANENT SUPPORTIVE HOUSING
FASTER, CHEAPER, AND REALLY TO
RESPOND TO THE URGENT NEED THAT
WE SEE EVERY DAY TO HAVE MORE
OF THIS CRITICAL HOUSING
RESOURCE.
I LOOK FORWARD TO THAT
DISCUSSION THIS AFTERNOON AND
LOOK FORWARD TO FINAL PASSAGE
OF THESE ESSENTIAL REFORMS.
JUST CARE UPDATE.
I CONTINUE TO WORK WITH
STAKEHOLDERS AT KING COUNTY, AT
THE MAYOR'S OFFICE, WITH
COUNCIL COLLEAGUES HERE TO SEEK
A CITY ENCOUNTER PARTNERSHIP.
JUST AS A REMINDER TO FOLKS IN
THE COMMUNITY, JUST CARE IS THE
COLLABORATION BETWEEN SERVICE
PROVIDERS, NEIGHBORHOOD
ORGANIZERS, AND BUSINESS
ASSOCIATIONS, THAT HAS BEEN
ACTIVE IN THE CHINATOWN
INTERNATIONAL DISTRICT IN
IONEER SQUARE FOR SEVERAL
MONTHS, MAKING VISIBLE AND
CRITICAL PROGRESS ON THE HIGHEST
BARRIER NEIGHBORS THAT WE HAVE
WITH PUBLIC HEALTH BARRIERS TO
BEING SUCCESSFUL IN PERMANENT
HOUSING.
USING HOTELS IS A STRATEGY
PAIRED WITH WRAPAROUND SERVICES
TO GIVE DIGNITY AND COMFORT AND
SECURITY TO OUR NEIGHBORS WHO
ARE EXPERIENCING THIS
VULNERABILITY.
AS WELL AS PEACE OF MIND TO
NEIGHBORS AND SMALL BUSINESS
OWNERS IN THE INTERNATIONAL
DISTRICT IN PIONEER SQUARE WHO
SHOULD NOT HAVE TO ADD BEING A
SERVICE PROVIDER TO THEIR LIST
OF OBLIGATIONS AS A SMALL
BUSINESS OWNER.
I CONTINUED TO WORK ON FIGURING
OUT A WAY TO MAKE SURE THAT BY
THE END OF THIS MONTH WE HAVE A
PLAN IN PLACE TO DEAL NOT ONLY
WITH THE EXISTING 124 PEOPLE
BEING CARED FOR BY JUST CARE,
BUT TO EXPAND THE CASELOAD OF
JUST CARE TO THE MAXIMUM.
THEY COULD ASSUME ABOUT 300 OR
SO.
THIS IS CRITICAL WORK.
I WANT TO THANK OUR MOVEMENT
PARTNERS ON THIS.
ALLIANCE FOR PIONEER SQUARE.
THE PUBLIC DEFENDER
ASSOCIATION.
AND THE DOWNTOWN SEATTLE
ASSOCIATION.
CHIEF SEATTLE CLUB, COMMUNITY
PASSAGEWAYS, WHO HAVE ALL MADE
IT ABUNDANTLY CLEAR THAT BY
COMING TOGETHER ON THIS
CRITICAL PROGRAM WE CAN MAKE
THE VISIBLE IMPACT ON CHRONIC
HOMELESSNESS ON PUBLIC SAFETY
THAT WE ARE EXPERIENCING IN THE
CENTER CITY ON A DAILY BASIS.
SO, I LOOK FORWARD TO
CONTINUING THIS WORK AND I LOOK
FORWARD TO COUNCILMEMBER
MOSQUEDA'S DISCUSSION AND YOUR
COMMITTEE TOMORROW ON THIS
TOPIC.
MOVING ON TO A FUN ANNOUNCEMENT
ON REDISTRICTING.
I KNOW THAT WE ARE DOING A LOT
THIS YEAR.
THE CITY WILL BE CONVENING ITS
FIRST-EVER REDISTRICTING
COMMISSION, WHICH HAS BEEN
ANNOUNCED BY COUNCIL PRESIDENT
GONZALEZ THAT ASKED THAT I
RELAY THIS TO THE GENERAL PUBLIC
AND BREACH THIS DISCUSSION THIS
MORNING EVERYTHING.
THAT WE WILL BE ASSEMBLING OUR
FIRST EVER FIVE-MEMBER
REDISTRICTING COMMISSION TO
REDRAW THE BOUNDARIES OF THE
COUNCIL DISTRICTS IN
ANTICIPATION OF THE 2020 CENSUS.
THIS IS GOING TO BE A GREAT
OPPORTUNITY.
I'M SURE THERE IS A LOT OF
FOLKS OUT THERE IN THE
COMMUNITY THAT WOULD LIKE TO
PUT THEIR STAMP ON SEATTLE
HISTORY BY BEING ONE OF THE
FIRST MEMBERS OF THE
REDISTRICTING COMMISSION TO
REALLY ENGAGE IN THIS EXCITING
WORK.
I DO WANT TO JUST BRIEFLY
REPORT THERE ARE SOME CHARTER
RESTRICTIONS.
YOU CANNOT BE AN ELECTED
OFFICIAL.
SO, SORRY GUYS, NONE OF US CAN
SERVE ON THIS.
IT'S FOR THE BEST.
THERE IS AN EXCEPTION IF YOU
SERVE AS A POLICING COMMITTEE
OFFICER WHO IS ELECTED.
YOU ARE ELIGIBLE TO STILL SERVE.
YOU CANNOT BE A REGISTERED
LOBBYIST.
YOU CANNOT BE A CANDIDATE FOR
ELECTED OFFICE.
YOU CANNOT BE A CITY EMPLOYEE.
SO, IF YOU'RE SOMEONE WHO DOES
NOT FALL INTO THOSE CATEGORIES,
PLEASE REACH OUT TO US TO SEEK
POTENTIAL APPOINTMENT TO THIS
IF YOU'RE INTERESTED.
THE CITY COUNCIL GETS TO
APPOINT TWO OF THE MEMBERS OF
THE COMMISSION.
THE MAYOR APPOINTS TWO MEMBERS
OF THE COMMISSION, AND THEN A
FIFTH MEMBER IS PICKED BY THE
OTHER FOUR COMMISSIONERS.
SO, APPLICATIONS ARE GOING TO
BE DUE AT 11:59 P.M.
ON MARCH 29th.
OF 2021.
IT WILL BE A 9 TO 12 MONTH
COMMITMENT TO ENGAGE IN THIS
PROCESS AND THERE IS A PER DIEM
FOR REASONABLE EXPENSES
ASSOCIATED WITH YOUR
APPOINTMENT AS A COMMISSIONER.
SO, DO PLEASE REACH OUT TO US
WITH INQUIRIES ON THAT.
AGAIN, THAT IS MARCH 29th,
2021, APPLICATIONS DUE BY
MIDNIGHT ON THAT DAY.
MOVING ON, I DO WANT TO GIVE
ONE LAST SHOT OUT TO A CLUSTER
OF TENANTS THAT HAVE BEEN
PRESENTING AN ONGOING HAZARD IN
THE PIONEER SQUARE NEIGHBORHOOD
FOR SEVERAL MONTHS.
THEY HAVE BEEN SICK CONCEALING
HIGHLY CONCERNING CRIMINAL
ACTIVITY AND NOT BEING USED FOR
SHELTER.
I DID JUST WANT TO THANK,
BECAUSE I THINK WE SEE -- WE'VE
SEEN A LOT OF CASES OF BAD
POLICING, AND WE RIGHTLY
ADMONISH BAD POLICING WHEN WE
SEE IT, AS WE SHOULD, STRONGLY
AND UNEQUIVOCALLY.
I THINK WE SHOULD ALSO
RECOGNIZING GOOD POLICING WHEN
WE SEE IT.
EXERCISING DISCRETION AND
SUBJECT TO CAREFUL
INVESTIGATION.
THE WEST COMMUNITY RESPONSE
GROUP BUILT A CAREFUL AND
DELIBERATE CASE WORKING WITH
STAKEHOLDERS TO IDENTIFY THESE
TENTS THAT WEREN'T BEING USED
FOR SHELTER AND WERE
CAMOUFLAGING ONGOING CRIMINAL
ENTERPRISES.
PROVIDING A GENERAL ISSUE TO
THE COMMUNITY AND FRICTION FOR
OUTREACH WORKERS WHO HAD BEEN
ACTIVE IN THAT AREA.
WITH THE OBSTACLE OF THOSE
TENTS OF THE ACTIVITY THEY
CONCEALED REMOVED, WE CAN NOW
MOVE FORWARD AND PROCEED
UNHINDERED IN THOSE ACTIVITIES
IN THAT IT NEIGHBORHOOD.
I DO JUST WANT TO APPRECIATE
THAT AS WE TRANSITION TO HAVING
MORE OF A FOCUS, OF A SCALPEL
RATHER THAN A HAMMER, AND HOW
WE DEAL WITH LOOKING AT
SITUATIONS IN OUR COMMUNITY OF
PARTICULAR CLUSTERS OF TENTS OR
ENCAMPMENTS, I THINK IT GIVES
MORE CREDIBILITY TO ENFORCEMENT
ACTIONS WHEN WE ARE LEADING
INSTEAD FIRST WITH ENGAGEMENT,
AND THEN COMING IN IN A MORE
SURGICAL WAY TO CONDUCT
ENFORCEMENT ACTIONS WHEN THERE
ARE PROBLEMATIC ACTIVITIES.
I WANT TO JUST CALL OUT THE
INVESTIGATIVE GROUP IN THE WEST
PRECINCT THAT WAS RESPONSIBLE
FOR DOING A DILIGENT JOB.
THAT WAS CAREFUL, THAT WAS WELL-
MANAGED, AND THAT HAS BEEN WELL
REGARDED BY PEOPLE I'VE TALKED
TO IN THE COMMUNITY AS AN
EXAMPLE OF HOW THIS WORK CAN BE
DONE IN A WAY THAT EMPHASIZES
THE PUBLIC SAFETY FOR EVERYBODY
INVOLVED.
BUT, IS NOT OVERLY PRESCRIPTIVE
TO LABELING OUR NEIGHBORS
EXPERIENCING HOMELESSNESS
FORMERLY AS CRIMINALS AND BEING
OVERLY PUNITIVE TO PEOPLE
SIMILAR FOR BEING POOR.
SO, GOOD JOB WEST PRECINCT.
MORE OF THAT CAREFUL
INVESTIGATIVE WORK, DEFINITELY
LIKE TO SEE THAT AND APPRECIATE
YOUR SERVICE.
WITH THAT, MR. PRESIDENT PRO
TEM, I DO NOT HAVE ANY
ADDITIONAL UPDATES.
THANK YOU.
THANK YOU, COUNCILMEMBER, LEWIS.
WELL SAID IN YOUR REPORT AND
THANK YOU FOR YOUR GOOD WORK
THERE.
>> UP NEXT WE HAVE
COUNCILMEMBER MORALES, FOLLOWED
BY MOSQUEDA AND PEDERSEN.
>> GOOD MORNING, THANK YOU.
GOOD MORNING COLLEAGUES.
THERE ARE NO ITEMS ON THE
COMMUNITY ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT
COMMITTEE AGENDA ON TODAY'S
AGENDA.
WE DID MEET LAST FRIDAY AND WE
VOTED TO RECOMMEND APPOINTMENTS
AND REAPPOINTMENTS TO SEVERAL
COMMISSIONS.
WE ALSO VOTED TO RECOMMEND THE
FIRST GROUP OF APPOINTEES TO
THE NEW EQUITABLE DEVELOPMENT
INITIATIVE ADVISORY BOARD.
YOU MAY RECALL THROUGH THE
JUMPSTART LEGISLATION WE
APPROVED $20 MILLION IN FUNDING
FOR EDI.
I'M VERY EXCITED THAT THIS
GROUP IS GETTING SEATED.
THEY WILL HELP GUIDE THE
INVESTMENT DECISIONS WITH THAT
FUND.
IT'S REALLY CRITICAL THAT THEY
GEAR UP THIS YEAR SO THEY ARE
READY.
ALL THOSE APPOINTMENTS WILL BE
COMING BEFORE COUNCIL NEXT
MONDAY ON MARCH 8th.
THE NEXT MEETING OF THE
COMMUNITY ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT
COMMITTEE IS MARCH 16th.
AT 2:00 P.M.
YOU MAY HAVE SEEN IN THE PAPER
THIS MORNING AND OP-ED FROM
RAN CAULKINS AND THE EXECUTIVE
DIRECTOR OF VENTURES.
THEY BEGIN BY HIGHLIGHTING
MONICA MATTHEWS, WHOSE GRAND
OPENING OF QUEEN CARE I
ATTENDED RECENTLY.
THAT WAS EXCITING TO SEE.
REALLY WHAT THEY ARE TALKING
ABOUT IS THE CHALLENGE THAT WE
HAVE IN FACING AN EQUITABLE
RECOVERY.
AS WE KNOW, SMALL BUSINESS
ACCOUNTS FOR MORE THAN HALF OF
THE STATE'S PRIVATE EMPLOYMENT.
NEARLY 1/3 OF ALL SMALL
BUSINESSES ARE MINORITY OWNED.
IT'S THESE VERY BUSINESSES THAT
WERE HIT HARDEST BY THE
PANDEMIC.
THEY ARE ALSO THE BUSINESSES
THAT HAVE SUFFERED A HIGHER
PERCENTAGE OF PERMANENT
CLOSURES IN THE CITY.
SO, THE AUTHORS WRITE, IF THE
FIRST STEP TOWARD AN EQUITABLE
RECOVERY STARTS WITH SUPPORTING
SMALL BUSINESS, THEN WE NEED TO
ADDRESS THE BASIC NEEDS AND
CHALLENGES THAT SIPHON TIME AND
RESOURCES AWAY FROM GROWING A
SMALL BUSINESS.
SO, THEY HIGHLIGHT ISSUES THAT
WE HAVE TO FIX IF WE ARE REALLY
GOING TO DEMONSTRATE OUR
COMMITMENT TO THAT KIND OF A
RECOVERY.
THEY INCLUDE CHILDCARE,
HEALTHCARE, RESIDENTIAL AND
COMMERCIAL RENT RELIEF.
ACCESS TO CAPITAL, STREAMLINED
REGULATIONS AND BETTER
TECHNICAL ASSISTANCE FOR SMALL
BUSINESSES.
SO, AS WE EMERGE FROM THE LAST
RECESSION, THE ECONOMIC
RECOVERY PLAN EMPHASIZED BIG
BUSINESS AS THEY INDICATE.
THIS TIME, WE NEED TO REALLY
START SMALL.
SO, AS YOU KNOW, WE HAVE AN
INTERIM DIRECTOR FOR THE OFFICE
OF ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT.
THERE IS A LOT OF WORK TO DO IN
THE CITY TO ENSURE THAT WE HAVE
AN EQUITABLE ECONOMIC RECOVERY
IN THE CITY.
SO, I'M LOOKING FORWARD TO
WORKING WITH INTERIM DIRECTOR
BANKS TO SUPPORT OUR SMALL
BUSINESSES.
I HAVE INVITED HER TO THE MARCH
MEETING TO PRESENT THE 2021
PROGRAM.
THAT IS NOT CONFIRMED YET, BUT
I DO LOOK FORWARD TO WORKING
WITH HER THIS YEAR.
I ALSO WANTED TO NOTE, I WAS
SORRY TO LEARN LAST FRIDAY THAT
OUR DIRECTOR OF OPC D IS
STEPPING DOWN.
SAM BRINGS A REAL PASSION FOR,
AND COMMITMENT TO COMMUNITY
LEAD PLANNING, PRACTICES AND
PRINCIPLES.
MY HOPE IS THAT WE CONTINUE TO
CENTER THOSE PRACTICES AS WE
BEGIN TE VERY IMPORTANT WORK
OF REVIEWING OUR CONFERENCE A
PLAN, AND AS WE STAND AT THE
NEW EDI ADVISORY BOARD.
LAST WEEK I MET WITH NEIGHBORS
IN MT. BAKER TO DISCUSS ISSUES
RELATED TO HOMELESSNESS AND
PUBLIC SAFETY AROUND THE LIGHT
RAIL STATION.
WE BROUGHT OUTREACH STAFF FROM
REACH AND LEAD TO HAVE A
DISCUSSION WITH COMMUNITY
MEMBERS AND TO STRATEGIZE ON
WAYS TO HELP PEOPLE LIVING ON
HOUSE.
AND TO ADDRESS CONCERNS FROM
THE FOLKS WHO ARE HOUSED WHO
LIVE NEARBY.
FOLLOWING THIS MEETING, MY
OFFICE ENGAGED WITH SEVERAL
DEPARTMENTS TO ALSO ADDRESS
CONCERNS AROUND ROAD,
PEDESTRIAN INFRASTRUCTURE,
STREET CLEANING AND ILLEGAL
DUMPING WHICH IS HAPPENING
QUITE A BIT AROUND THE AREA AND
THE INTERSECTION OF MT. BAKER,
SORRY, RANIER AND MLK.
ADDITIONALLY WE CONNECTED
NEIGHBORS TO PROVIDE MUTUAL AID
IN THE GREEN SPACE WITH
OUTREACH WORKERS SO THE TWO
GROUPS CAN WORK ALONGSIDE EACH
OTHER.
I ALSO LEARNED THAT THIS
MEETING THAT SAYS 2017, MT.
BAKER NEIGHBORS HAVE BEEN
ASKING FOR AN INTERDEPARTMENTA L
TEAM MEETING.
AN INTERDEPARTMENTA L MEETING TO
HAVE A DIALOGUE BETWEEN
RESIDENTS AND DEPARTMENTS.
SO, MY OFFICE IS PUTTING
TOGETHER THAT MEETING FOR
NEIGHBORS ON MARCH 11th, AND
HAVE ASKED REPRESENTATIVES FROM
HSD, SPU, IT'S NOT, OFFICE OF
HOUSING, SPD, PARKS, AND DEAL
WHEN TO PARTICIPATE.
NEIGHBORS HAVE A LOT OF
QUESTIONS ABOUT THE DIFFERENT
DEVELOPMENT PROJECTS,
INFRASTRUCTURE PROJECTS.
JUST DIFFERENT THINGS THAT ARE
HAPPENING IN THAT INTERSECTION.
SO, WE THOUGHT THIS WAS
PROBABLY THE BEST WAY TO GET
THOSE QUESTIONS ANSWERED.
MORE ON THAT AS THE DATE
APPROACHES.
I CONTINUE TO MEET WITH
CONSTITUENTS DURING OFFICE
HOURS.
I HAVE OFFICE HOURS ON SUNDAYS
FROM 3:00 TO 5:00.
AND THURSDAYS FROM 10:00 TO
NOON.
IF YOU'D LIKE TO MEET WITH ME,
YOU CAN REQUEST A MEETING
THROUGH MY WEBSITE OR MY
NEWSLETTER.
THIS WEEK I HEARD FROM
CONSTITUENTS WHO WANT TO HELP
THE CITY PROVIDE MORE EQUITABLE
ACCESS TO EDUCATION AND TO
LITERACY PROGRAMS THROUGH OUR
PUBLIC LIBRARY AND OUR SCHOOL
LIBRARIES.
AND WHO WOULD ALSO LIKE TO SEE
THE STEADY STEP UP ON SHELTER
AND WHO ARE WORKING PROACTIVELY
WITH UN-HOUSED NEIGHBORS TO
ADDRESS EDA CONCERNS IN
PARTICULAR.
WE HAVE A LOT OF FOLKS THAT ARE
IN WHEELCHAIRS WERE HAVING A
HARD TIME MANAGING OUR
SIDEWALKS.
THIS WEEK, I DON'T HAVE ANY
EXTERNAL BOARD MEETINGS.
THE LAST THING I WANT TO SAY,
ACTUALLY I HAVE TWO THINGS.
ON FRIDAY, I SENT OUT A
STATEMENT VOICING MY
FRUSTRATION AND ANGER, AS WELL
AS THE ANGER OF OTHER
SEATTLEITES OVER THE MAYOR'S
DECISION TO LEAVE FEMA FUNDING
ON THE TABLE.
I WANTED TO JUST HIGHLIGHT A
COUPLE PARTS OF THAT STATEMENT
IF YOU WILL INDULGE ME.
AS I'VE BEEN TALKING ABOUT
REGULARLY IN THIS BRIEFING,
HOMELESSNESS IS BY FAR THE
BIGGEST ISSUE THAT MY OFFICE
RESPONSE TO ON A REGULAR BASIS.
EVERYONE IS FRUSTRATED AT WHAT
APPEARS ON THE OUTSIDE TO BE A
LACK OF WILLINGNESS FROM OUR
CITY TO REACT TO THE PLIGHT
FACED BY UN-HOUSED PEOPLE.
THAT'S WHY MY STAFF AND I HAVE
PERSONALLY WORKED WITH
PROVIDERS LIKE GHESQUIERE
REACH, LEAD, AND LEHIGH, TO
ENGAGE WITH AND OFFER SERVICES
TO OUR -- AND SHELTER TO UN-
HOUSED NEIGHBORS IN DISTRICT 2.
THAT'S WHY WE VISITED NEIGHBORS
LIVING UN-HOUSED.
WE WORKED WITH MUTUAL AID
GROUPS TO GET FOLKS MUCH-NEEDED
SUPPLIES.
IT'S WHY WE WORKED HARD TO
STAND UP TO HOMELESSNESS
OUTREACH AND PROVIDER ECOSYSTEM.
AND WHY WE'VE ADVOCATED FOR NO
-- MORE HOTEL AND TINY HOUSE
FUNDING.
WE ALL KNOW COLLEAGUES THAT AS
A COUNSELOR WE ARE USING ALL OF
THE TOOLS AT OUR DISPOSAL,
LEGISLATION, ADVOCACY, AND
BUDGET ACTIONS.
WE ARE EVEN GOING OUTSIDE THE
SCOPE OF OUR WORK TO CONNECT
PEOPLE TO SERVICES AND SHELTER.
THOSE ACTIONS CAN ONLY DO SO
MUCH.
WE NEED A PARTNER IN THE
EXECUTIVE.
THE LEAST WE CAN ASK FROM THE
EXECUTIVE, AND THE BRANCH OF
GOVERNMENT WITH THE MOST POWER
TO CHANGE THE SITUATION, IS TO
SPEND MONEY ON SERVICES WHEN
IT'S AVAILABLE.
TO LISTEN TO THE
RECOMMENDATIONS OF EXPERTS IN
THE FIELD.
TO LEAVE FEMA FUNDING ON THE
TABLE WHEN THE BIDEN
ADMINISTRATION HAS SAID THAT
REIMBURSEMENT IS POSSIBLE IS
FRUSTRATING TO SAY THE LEAST.
IT IS CRUEL TO OUR UN-HOUSED
NEIGHBORS WHO WOULD TAKE A
HOTEL ROOM IF ONE WERE OFFERED.
IT IS PERPLEXING TO MY
CONSTITUENTS WONDER WHY WE
WOULD RATHER LET PEOPLE SLEEP
OUTSIDE WHERE THEY RISK
CONTRACTING COVID.
I THINK WE WILL CONTINUE TO DO
THIS WORK.
WE WILL CONTINUE TO LEGISLATE
PAST BUDGET ACTIONS AND CALL
FOR THE KINDS OF RESPONSE THAT
WE KNOW CAN MAKE AN ACUTE
DIFFERENCE IN THE WAY OUR UN-
HOUSED NEIGHBORS ARE LIVING AND
THEIR ACCESS TO SERVICES AND
SHELTER.
WE NEED A PARTNER TO HELP US
ACTUALLY IMPLEMENT THESE ITEMS.
THE LAST THING I WANT TO SAY IS
THIS AFTERNOON, COUNCILMEMBER
MOSQUEDA WILL PRESENT A
RESOLUTION.
I WILL LEAVE IT TO HER DISCUSS,
BUT I DO WANT TO THANK HER FOR
ACKNOWLEDGING THE ANNIVERSARY
OF OUR FIRST REPORT OF A DEATH
IN WASHINGTON STATE FROM COVID.
HONORING THE FAMILIES WHO HAVE
LOST LOVED ONES AS A RESULT.
I WILL HAVE MORE ABOUT THAT
THIS AFTERNOON.
THAT IS MY REPORT.
>> WONDERFUL.
THANK YOU, COUNCILMEMBER
MORALES.
UP NEXT, WE DO HAVE
COUNCILMEMBER MOSQUEDA.
SHE WILL BE PRESENTING A
PROCLAMATION FOR US TO SIGN.
SO, COLLEAGUES BE READY FOR A
ROLL CALL.
ALSO, THERE IS THE ABILITY TO
DISCUSS THE WORK PLAN.
LET ME JUST MAKE SURE THAT I'M
READING MY SCRIPTS CORRECTLY.
THERE'S AN OPPORTUNITY FOR ALLIE
TO PROVIDE AN OVERVIEW OF THE
ITEM ON TODAY'S AGENDA.
JUST FLAGGING THAT.
THERE ARE GOING TO BE A COUPLE
BREAKS IN THIS REPORT.
COUNCILMEMBER MOSQUEDA, GOOD
MORNING TO YOU.
>> GOOD MORNING.
GOOD MORNING MR. PRESIDENT PRO
TEM AND COUNCIL COLLEAGUES.
I APPRECIATE THE OPPORTUNITY TO
BRING FORWARD A PROCLAMATION AS
THE PRESIDENT HAS NOTED.
AND AS HOW COUNCILMEMBER
MORALES HAS ALSO NOTED.
YOU SHOULD HAVE RECEIVED THE
FINAL DRAFT ON FRIDAY AND AGAIN
SENT AROUND THIS MORNING FROM
MY OFFICE WITH THE FINAL
LANGUAGE AND DETAILS OF THE
PROCLAMATION.
THE PROCLAMATION NAMES MARCH
1st, 2021, TODAY, AS COVID
VICTIMS AND SURVIVORS MEMORIAL
DAY FOR US HERE IN SEATTLE.
YET TODAY, AS WE KNOW, MARK THE
ONE-YEAR ANNIVERSARY OF THE
LOSS OF LIVES FOR FOLKS WHO
HEAR, LOCALLY, WHERE THE FIRST
AROUND THE NATION TO CONTRACT
COVID AND THE FIRST LIVES TO BE
LOST IN OUR COUNTRY AS A RESULT
OF COVID.
LAST WEEK WE SAW OUR COUNTRY'S
COVID-19 DEATH RATE HIT OVER
500,000 INDIVIDUALS.
I'M HONORED TO BRING THIS
PROCLAMATION FORWARD WITH YOUR
SUPPORT TODAY, BUT I'M ALSO
INCREDIBLY SAD TO HAVE THIS
PROCLAMATION IN FRONT OF US.
THIS IS BEING DONE IN
COORDINATION WITH APPROXIMATELY
150 CITIES ACROSS THE NATION
WHO ARE COORDINATED BY THE
SMART CITY POLICY GROUP.
I'M BRINGING THIS FORWARD IN
HONOR OF THE LIVES WHO HAVE
BEEN LOST, AND WHOSE LIVES AND
FAMILIES HAVE BEEN IMPACTED BY
COVID-19, ALONG WITH THESE
OTHER 150 CITIES.
AS WE HONOR AND REMEMBER THOSE
WHO LOST THEIR LIVES TO COVID.
WHILE LOCALLY OUR COUNTY BOARD
OF HEALTH AND BOTH LOCAL HEALTH
SYSTEMS HAVEBEEN WORKING HARD
TO PREVENT THOSE AND TREAT
THOSE WITH COVID, THERE IS
INCREDIBLE CHALLENGES IN FRONT
OF US.
WE TALKED RECENTLY ABOUT THE
INCREDIBLE VACCINE RESPONSE
STOOD UP IF WE JUST HAD ENOUGH
VACCINES TO BE DISTRIBUTED.
WE TALKED ALREADY ABOUT THE
INCREDIBLE DISPARITIES THAT
EXIST ESPECIALLY AMONG LOW
INCOMES AND BLACK, INDIGENOUS,
AND PEOPLE OF COLOR COMMITTEES
ARE MUCH MORE LIKELY TO
CONTRACT COVID AND I FROM THE
ILLNESS.
THIS PROCLAMATION SERVES AS THE
ACKNOWLEDGMENT OF THE DEEP
IMPACT ON THE TOTAL THAT COVID-
19 HAS TAKEN ON OUR COMMUNITIES.
INCLUDING THE LOSS OF LIVES,
THE PEOPLE WHO HAVE LOST LOVED
ONES, AND THE PEOPLE WHOSE
LIVES ARE FOREVER CHANGED DUE
TO THE LASTING IMPACTS OF COVID-
19.
FOR US ON COUNSELOR, AND IN
THIS CITY, WE KNOW THESE ARE
NOT JUST STATISTICS, THESE ARE
NOT NUMBERS, AS YOU WILL HEAR
LATER TODAY, THESE ARE OUR
FRIENDS AND FAMILIES.
THESE ARE OUR TEAM MEMBERS AND
THESE ARE OUR NEIGHBORS.
I APPRECIATE YOUR CONSIDER OF
SIGNING ONTO THIS POPULATION
TODAY TO RECOGNIZE AND HONOR
THE LIVES LOST DUE TO COVID AND
THE YEARS WORTH OF WORK THAT WE
HAVE IN OUR PATHS TO TRY TO
ADDRESS THE CRISIS HAS REACHED
A KRON OUR COMMUNITY MEMBERS.
ESPECIALLY AMONG COMMUNITY
MEMBERS WHO HAVE LOST LOVED
ONES DUE TO THIS VIRUS.
THE MAYOR HAS INDICATED SHE
WILL BE SIGNING ONTO THIS
PROCLAMATION, AND I THANK HER
FOR HER SUPPORT ON THIS WORK
ENTER SUPPORT FOR THIS
PROCLAMATION SPECIFICALLY.
I WANT TO THANK COUNCILMEMBER
HERBOLD, AS WELL AS CHRISTINA
AND HER OFFICE FOR HELPING WITH
THE PROCLAMATION DETAILS AND
LORI IN MY OFFICE WHO HAS LEAD
ON DRAFTING THE PROCLAMATION.
COUNCIL PRESIDENT STRAUSS, I
BELIEVE THAT THE SIGNATURES CAN
BE ADDED TO THIS.
I WILL HAND IT BACK OVER TO YOU
TO WALK US THROUGH THAT PROCESS
FOR COLLECTING SIGNATURES FOR
THE PROCLAMATION.
>> THANK YOU COUNCILMEMBER
MOSQUEDA.
COLLEAGUES, I JUST WANT TO
DOUBLE CHECK.
DOES ANYONE HAVE ANY QUESTIONS?
I'M LOOKING FOR ANY QUESTIONS.
I DO KNOW THAT IF ANYONE DOES
NOT, IS NOT ABLE TO VOTE IN THE
FIRST ROUND, LET'S KEEP THE
VOTING OPEN SO THAT WE CAN COME
BACK.
GREAT TO SEE EVERYONE PRESENT
NOW.
SIGNATURES WILL NEED TO BE
AFFIXED TO THE PROCLAMATION
BEFORE IT IS PRESENTED.
I WILL ASK THE CLERK TO CALL
THE ROLL TO CONCERN WHICH
COUNCILMEMBERS SIGNATURES MAY
BE AFFIXED.
THERE ARE NOT ANY QUESTIONS
BEFORE WE CALL THE ROLE.
CLERK, PLEASE TAKE IT AWAY.
>> HERBOLD?
>> YES.
>> LEWIS?
>> YES.
>> MORALES?
>> YES.
>> MOSQUEDA?
>> YES.
>> PEDERSEN?
>> YES.
>> SAWANT?
>> YES.
>> COUNCIL PRESIDENT PRO TEM
STRAUSS QUESTION MARK
>> YES.
>> SEVEN IN FAVOR.
>> THANK YOU.
WILL THE CLERK PLEASE -- I
GUESS WE ALREADY DID THAT.
WONDERFUL.
THAT TAKES CARE OF THAT.
COUNCILMEMBER MOSQUEDA, I KNOW
YOU HAVE MORE TO DISCUSS.
>> THANK YOU VERY MUCH.
THANK YOU VERY MUCH COUNCIL
COLLEAGUES.
I KNOW THAT PEOPLE WILL MOST
LIKELY HAVE MORE COMMENTS TO
SHARE THIS AFTERNOON AND I
GREATLY APPRECIATE YOUR
SIGNATURES AND SUPPORT TODAY AS
WE WANT TO BRING THIS
PROCLAMATION TO OUR COMMUNITY,
AND ESPECIALLY TO OUR FRIENDS
AND FAMILY MEMBERS AFFECTED BY
THE LOSS FROM COVID.
ON THIS AFTERNOON'S AGENDA,
FROM THE FINANCE AND HOUSING
COMMITTEE, WE WILL HAVE VARIOUS
APPOINTMENTS.
FROM OUR COMMUNITY TO BE MOUSLY
APPOINTED AS THE PERMANENT
DIRECTOR FOR THE OFFICE OF
LABOR STANDARDS.
WE ALSO HAVE THE APPOINTMENT OF
RITA HOWARD, AS A MEMBER OF THE
HOUSING AUTHORITY BOARD.
AND THE APPOINTMENTS OF TWO
OTHERS AS MEMBERS OF THE
SWEETENED BEVERAGE TAX
COMMUNITY ADVISORY BOARD.
FINALLY, WE HAVE A RESOLUTION.
IT ADOPTS THE LEGISLATIVE INTENT
FOR THE 2021 BUDGET.
ALLIE IS HERE FROM CENTRAL
STAFF TO HELP PROVIDE AN
OVERVIEW OF THE STATEMENT OF
LEGISLATIVE INTENT.
IT IS INCLUDED ON THIS
AFTERNOON'S AGENDA.
MR. PRESIDENT, BACK TO YOU.
>> THANK YOU, COUNCILMEMBER
MOSQUEDA.
ALLIE, FEEL FREE TO ANSWER ANY
QUESTIONS.
I WILL START OUT WITH MY
QUESTIONS.
UNDERSTANDING THAT LOOKING AT
THE SCREEN TO LOOK AT IT.
THE CAPITAL IMPROVEMENT PROGRAM.
IS THIS DIFFERENT THAN THE
CAPITAL PROJECT WATCHLIST?
>> YES, GOOD MORNING PRESIDENT
PRO TEM STRAUSS, COUNCILMEMBER
MOSQUEDA.
THIS AFTERNOON'S AGENDA
INCLUDES RESOLUTION 31995 THAT
ADOPTS THE STATEMENT OF
LEGISLATIVE INTENT THAT
INCLUDES THE BUDGET PROCESS.
IN REFERENCE TO THE CAPITAL
IMPROVEMENT PROGRAM, IT IS PART
OF THE PROCESS TO ADOPT THE
2021 BUDGET AS WELL AS THE CIP
PROGRAM.
IT IS AN ENTIRELY SEPARATE
PROGRAM AND ACTION FROM THE
CAPITAL WATCHLIST.
IF YOU WOULD LIKE, I CAN GO
INTO A DEEPER DESCRIPTION OF
THE RESOLUTION.
>> PLEASE DO, YES.
>> GREAT, THANK YOU.
AS I NOTED, THIS RESOLUTION IS
ON THE INTRODUCTION AND
REFERRAL CALENDAR, AND ALSO ON
THE FULL COUNCIL AGENDA FOR
ACTION TODAY.
IT INCLUDES A 29 STATEMENTS --
EXCUSE ME 29 SLIDES THAT WERE
APPROVED AS PART OF THE BUDGET
PROCESS.
AS A REFRESHER, STATEMENTS OF
LEGISLATIVE INTENT, ARE USED
FOR VARIOUS PURPOSES DURING THE
BUDGET PROCESS THROUGHOUT THE
YEAR.
THIS INCLUDES REQUESTS TO GIVE
GUIDANCE ON CITY POLICIES SUCH
AS DESCRIBING HOW COUNCIL
INTENDS A PROGRAM TO OPERATE.
IT REALLY IS JUST A STATEMENT
TO THE EXECUTIVE. SOMETIMES
THEY INCLUDE A CALL FOR
ADDITIONAL STUDIES, SUCH AS
REQUESTING A REPORT ANALYZING
TE EFFECTIVENESS OF A NEW
PROGRAM, OR TO IDENTIFY A
STRATEGY TO STAND UP A NEW
PROGRAM OR TO CONSIDER A
DIFFERENT WAY OF DOING CITY
BUSINESS.
ONE EXAMPLE IS THERE IS A SLIDE
THIS YEAR REQUESTING SOME
CONSIDERATION OF HOW THE CITY
MANAGERS ITS URBAN FORESTS.
FUNCTIONS.
IN ADDITION, IT OFTEN IS
CREATING A WORK PROGRAM FOR OUR
DEPARTMENT OR THE COUNCIL, OR
CALLING FOR A NEW CONCEPT OR
APPROACH.
THERE IS AN EXAMPLE OF ASKING
THE EXECUTIVE TO PARTICIPATE IN
A WORKGROUP REGARDING THE
OFFICE FOR CIVIL RIGHTS REPORT.
THE 29 THAT ARE INCLUDED IN THE
RESOLUTION ARE THE SAME AS WHAT
WAS APPROVED BY THE COUNCIL IN
NOVEMBER, WITH JUST A FEW
EXCEPTIONS.
COMPARED TO WHAT WAS APPROVED
THIS FALL, THERE ARE MINOR
CHANGES TO FOUR OF THE 29.
THIS INCLUDES TWO UPDATES TO
DUE DATES, AND MAKING MINOR
CORRECTIONS OR CLARIFICATIONS
TO THE TEXT OF TWO.
THOSE CHANGES ARE DESCRIBED IN
DETAIL IN THE SUMMARY AND
FISCAL NOTE, OR IN MORE DETAIL
IN THE SUMMER AND FISCAL NOTE,
BUT I'M HAPPY TO ANSWER ANY
QUESTIONS COUNCILMEMBERS MAY
HAVE.
>> THANK YOU FOR THAT REPORT.
I DO SEE A QUESTION FROM
COUNCILMEMBER MOSQUEDA.
COLLEAGUES, THIS IS THE TIME TO
ASK ANY QUESTIONS ON THIS
RESOLUTION ABOUT STATEMENTS OF
LEGISLATIVE INTENT.
COUNCILMEMBER MOSQUEDA?
>> THANK YOU VERY MUCH MR.
PRESIDENT PRO TEM.
THANK YOU ALLIE FOR BEING
PRESENT TO WALK US THROUGH THIS.
I KNOW THIS IS PROBABLY MORE OF
A FORMALITY IN TERMS OF THE
PRESENTATION AND VOTING ON THIS
IS AFTERNOON.
I DO KNOW THAT A LOT OF PEOPLE
SPEND A LOT OF TIME WORKING ON
THE DETAILS FOR THOSE
STATEMENTS OF LEGISLATIVE
INTENT THAT WE INCLUDE IN OUR
BUDGET.
EVERY YEAR, THERE IS VARIOUS
ISSUES THAT WE HAVE ASKED
CENTRAL STAFF AND THE
DEPARTMENT STAFF TO CONSIDER.
THIS IS AS AN IMPORTANT AN ITEM
AS AN INVESTMENT ITEM.
I REALLY APPRECIATE YOUR
ATTENTION TO THIS TOPIC THIS
AFTERNOON, FOLKS.
THE ONE THING I WOULD JUST LIKE
TO PUT OUT THERE, AND ALLIE,
THIS IS NOT SOMETHING THAT I
THINK NEEDS TO BE FORMALLY
ADOPTED, BUT JUST A NOTE THAT
WHEN WE DO RECEIVE REPORTS BACK
FROM THE EXECUTIVE ON THESE
STATEMENTS OF LEGISLATIVE
INTENT, THEY OFTEN JUST SAY THE
SLI NUMBER.
THEY DON'T SAY WHAT THE TOPIC
IS.
IT'S OFTEN VERY HARD FOR FOLKS
TO KNOW WHAT THE TOPIC IS AND
WHO WAS THE ORIGINAL SPONSOR.
IF THERE'S ANY WAY FOR US TO BE
PROACTIVE IN ASKING FOR THE
EXECUTIVE TO INCLUDE THE FULL
TITLE OF THE SLI, AND WHO WAS
THE REQUESTING AUTHOR AS THEY
SEND IT BACK, THAT MAY DRAW
MORE FOLKS' ATTENTION TO
VARIOUS SLI'S.
I KNOW I'M IN THE SAME
CATEGORY.
I KNOW THAT WHEN THEIR ISSUES
OF UTMOST IMPORTANCE AND WE ARE
NOT ABLE TO FULLY ADDRESS THOSE
AND BUDGET IN TERMS OF MONEY
ALLOCATIONS, MANY TIMES WE
INCLUDE SLI'S.
I WANT TO MAKE SURE THAT THAT
HARD WORK DOES GET RECOGNIZED
IN THOSE REPORTS CAREFULLY READ.
>> THANK YOU, CHAIR MOSQUEDA,
I'M HAPPY TO TALK.
WE WORK CLOSELY WITH THE CITY
BUDGET OFFICE AND COORDINATING
THE SUBMISSION AND REVIEW OF
THOSE SLI RESPONSES.
I WILL FOLLOW UP WITH THEM TO
TRY TO ADD THAT SPECIFICITY
WHEN THOSE REPORTS ARE BEING
DISTRIBUTED.
THANK YOU.
I DON'T HAVE ANYTHING ELSE TO
ADD IF THERE ARE NO ADDITIONAL
QUESTIONS FOR ME.
IMMIGRATE, COLLEAGUES?
SEEING NO ADDITIONAL QUESTIONS.
COUNCILMEMBER MOSQUEDA, BACK TO
YOU.
>> THANK YOU VERY MUCH.
THANK YOU VERY MUCH, ALLIE, FOR
THAT WALK-THROUGH TODAY AS WELL.
I DO WANT TO THANK YOU MR.
PRESIDENT.
YOU DID A QUICK PREVIEW OF ONE
ITEM ON OUR HOUSING AND FINANCE
COMMITTEE AGENDA FOR TOMORROW.
SO, THANK YOU VERY MUCH FOR
THAT.
THE FINANCE AND HOUSING
COMMITTEE WILL BE TOMORROW,
TUESDAY MARCH 2nd, AT 9:30 A.M.
COUNCILMEMBERS, THROUGH THE
LEGISLATIVE ASSISTANCE STAFF
MEETING LAST WEEK YOU ALL
SHOULD HAVE RECEIVED AN
INVITATION IF YOU'D LIKE TO
ATTEND THE COMMITTEE MEETING.
IF YOU DON'T USUALLY ATTEND,
YOU'RE NOT ON OUR ROSTER,
YOU'RE WELCOME TO ATTEND.
THERE'S A HANDFUL OF ITEMS THAT
MAY BE OF INTEREST TO THE FULL
COUNCIL, ESPECIALLY AROUND THE
CAPITAL PROJECTS WATCHLIST.
I MENTIONED THIS TWO WEEKS AGO
DURING OUR MEETING.
IF YOU HAVE ANY AMENDMENTS,
WE'D LIKE TO SEE THOSE LAST
WEEK SO WE CAN TRY TO
INCORPORATE ANY AMENDMENTS INTO
THAT LIST FOR OUR CONSIDERATION
ON TOMORROW'S MEETING.
WITH THE HOPE TO TRY TO GET ANY
AMENDMENTS INCLUDED BEFORE IT
COMES TO FULL COUNCIL.
IF YOU HAVEN'T HAD ANY CHANCE
TO DO THAT, AND YOU HAVE A
BURNING AMENDMENT YOU'D LIKE TO
SEE, PLEASE CONTACT US US ASAP
AS THIS ON THE AGENDA FOR
TOMORROW FOR BRIEFING AND
CONSIDERATION AND POSSIBLE
VOTE.
WE WILL ALSO HAVE A BRIEFING
AND TAKE A CONSIDERATION OF
POSSIBLE VOTE ON COUNCIL BILL
120006.
THAT IS THE 2021 LT GO BOND
ORDINANCE.
REVISION FOR SEATTLE CENTER
SIGNAGE PROJECT.
THIS LEGISLATION WOULD
AUTHORIZE AMENDING THE 2021
MULTIPURPOSE LIMITED TAX
GENERAL OBLIGATION BONDS,
ORDINANCE TO INCLUDE $8 MILLION
OF FINANCING FOR A SEATTLE
CENTER SIGNAGE UPGRADE PROJECT.
THANK YOU VERY MUCH TO BRIAN
GOOD NIGHT WHO SPENT A MEMO
ABOUT THIS BILL LAST THURSDAY.
IT WAS SENT ABOUT 1:40 P.M.
TO ALL COUNCILMEMBERS.
I JUST SENT THAT AROUND THIS
MORNING WITH AN AMENDMENT FOR
YOUR CONSIDERATION.
AMENDMENT 1 IS A VERY HELPFUL
AND IMPORTANT AMENDMENT THAT
WILL CLARIFY THAT UP TO $70
MILLION OF THE BOND ISSUED TO
REPAY THE FUNDS FOR THE REPAIR
OF THE WEST SEATTLE BRIDGE THAT
WE APPROVED LAST SEPTEMBER.
IT MAY BE ISSUED AS TAX-EXEMPT
BOND.
VERY IMPORTANT CAVEAT THAT WE
WANT TO MAKE SURE GETS INCLUDED
HERE.
IT IS ANTICIPATED THAT THE
ISSUANCE OF TAX-EXEMPT BONDS
WOULD RESULT IN INTEREST
SAVINGS OF APPROXIMATELY $5
MILLION RELATIVE TO THE
ISSUANCE OF TAXABLE BOND OVER
THE LIFE OF THE BOND, WHICH IS
20 YEARS.
A GOOD GOVERNANCE PIECE HERE.
JUST A SMALL, BUT VERY
IMPORTANT TECHNICALITY.
THIS IS OUR CHANCE TO AMEND IT
TO MAKE SURE WE CAN MAKE THOSE
TAX-EXEMPT AND HAVE A SAVINGS
OF APPROXIMATELY $5 MILLION.
SO, YOU HAVE THOSE TWO
DOCUMENTS IN YOUR INBOX.
WE WILL ALSO HAVE A BRIEFING
FROM CENTRAL STAFF ON THE
FEDERAL FUNDING AND COUNCIL
PRIORITIES AS WE DISCUSSED IN
OUR COMMITTEE LAST WEEK.
THERE IS AN INTEREST, A STRONG
INTEREST, AND CIRCULATING A
RESOLUTION THAT INCLUDES SOME
OF THE VERY URGENT FUNDING
NEEDS WE ALL HAVE OUTLINED THAT
FLOW FROM OUR CONVERSATION FROM
LAST YEAR.
OUR EARLY DISCUSSION ABOUT THE
COVID RELIEF FUNDING, THE
CONVERSATION THAT FILTERED OVER
INTO OUR JUMPSTART SEATTLE PLAN.
AT A VERY HIGH LEVEL, WHAT I
WILL BE SENDING AROUND LATER
TODAY WILL INCLUDE A DRAFT
RESOLUTION FOR YOUR
CONSIDERATION.
WE ARE GOING TO HAVE TOMORROW,
DURING OUR COMMITTEE MEETING,
AND THEN TWO WEEKS LATER ON
MARCH 16th, A CHANCE TO
CONSIDER THIS RESOLUTION.
AT A VERY HIGH LEVEL, THE
CENTRAL STAFF HAS PREPARED A
PRESENTATION THAT ALIGNS WITH
THE DRAFT RESOLUTION.
I'LL BE SENDING AROUND THIS
AFTERNOON FOR YOUR FEEDBACK AND
OPPORTUNITY TO REVIEW, VERY
BRIEFLY, WHAT WE WOULD LIKE TO
DO THROUGH THIS RESOLUTION IS
EXCEPT AND AUTHORIZE THE
EXPENDITURE OF $22.7 MILLION IN
THE EMERGENCY RENTAL ASSISTANCE.
APPROVED BY THE CONSOLIDATED
APPROPRIATION ACT OF 2021.
CONSIDER LEGISLATION
AUTHORIZING EXPENDITURES TO
SUPPORT THE JUST CARE PROGRAM.
AND, IN ANTICIPATION OF
CONGRESSIONAL PASSAGE AND THE
PRESIDENTIAL SIGNATURE OF THE
ARPA, WHICH IS THE MOST RECENT
ROUND OF THE $1.9 TRILLION THAT
IS BEING MADE AVAILABLE IN
RESPONSE TO THE ONGOING NEED IN
COMMUNITIES ACROSS THIS
COUNTRY, CONGRESS IS
CONSIDERING THE $1.9 TRILLION
IN FEDERAL RELIEF THAT IS
AVAILABLE FOR US.
SO, THERE IS A DRAFT RESOLUTION
THAT WILL BE SENT AROUND FOR
YOUR CONSIDERATION.
AS WE PREPARE AND BEGIN
DELIBERATIONS ON THIS
LEGISLATION, I'M EXCITED TO
WORK WITH YOU ABOUT FINALIZING
A DRAFT AND WOULD WELCOME ANY
THOUGHTS THAT YOU MIGHT HAVE
ABOUT WHAT YOU WOULD LIKE TO
SEE IN THIS RESOLUTION.
YOU ARE AGAIN WELCOME TO JOIN
IN ON PROVIDING FEEDBACK ON THE
RESOLUTION AND AGAIN, I
ANTICIPATE A ROBUST
CONVERSATION.
OUR GOAL WILL BE TO ACCEPT AN
AUTHORIZED SPENDING OF THESE
FEDERAL FUNDS SO THAT WE AS A
CITY COLLECTIVELY CAN GET TO
WORK.
CAN GET THESE FUNDS INTO OUR
COMMUNITY AND MAKE SURE THOSE
WHO HAVE BEEN HIT HARDEST BY
COVID HAVE RELIEF THEY NEED.
WE ARE DOING THIS IN
PARTNERSHIP, IDEALLY WITH OUR
COUNTY PARTNERS WHO ARE
SIMILARLY LOOKING AT COVID
RELIEF ASSISTANCE THIS WEEKEND
NEXT WEEK AS WELL.
WE WILL ADOPT THE RESOLUTION
AND THEN ANY FINAL CHANGES AS
SOON AS WE GET FEEDBACK AND
HAVE THIS DISCUSSION AND LOOK
FORWARD TO BEING ABLE TO
HOPEFULLY PASS IT AS EARLY AS
MARCH 16th, AND LOOK FORWARD TO
YOUR FEEDBACK.
THERE'S A LOT GOING ON RIGHT
NOW, BUT I DO HOPE TO SEE MANY
OF YOU IN TOMORROW'S MEETING
ABOUT THIS PRIORITIZED
DISCUSSION.
SMALL BUSINESSES, HOUSING
INSECURE FAMILIES, THOSE WHO
ARE EXPERIENCING HOMELESSNESS,
OUR MOST FOLDABLE WORKERS AND
COMMUNITIES.
LASTLY, AS COUNCILMEMBER LEWIS
NOTED, I'M VERY MUCH LOOKING
FORWARD TO A FINAL I SHOULD SAY
ANOTHER CONVERSATION ABOUT
HOTEL ASSISTANCE.
WE ABSOLUTELY NEED TO SEE
RESOLUTION TO THE CRISIS OF
THOSE WHO ARE SLEEPING IN
HOTELS AND MAKING SURE THERE IS
ASSISTANCE.
THANK YOU VERY MUCH
COUNCILMEMBER MORALES FROM
LEADING FROM YOUR STATEMENT
LAST FRIDAY.
I ABSOLUTELY AGREE WITH ALL
YOUR COMMENTS THAT YOU
MENTIONED THIS MORNING AND WHAT
I READ FROM YOUR STATEMENT LAST
FRIDAY.
WE KNOW THAT IT WOULD BE NOT
JUST HEARTBREAKING BUT
POTENTIALLY DEADLY TO
INDIVIDUALS TO ASK THEM TO
LEAVE HOUSING RIGHT NOW.
150 OR SO PEOPLE LEAVING
HOUSING RIGHT NOW, AND BEING
HANDED A TENT AND WALKING
OUTSIDE, ESPECIALLY DURING THE
CRISIS OF COVID.
STILL ONGOING, THE MORE DEADLY
STRANDS AVAILABLE, AND
PERCOLATING IN THE COMMUNITY.
WE NEED TO HAVE NON-CONGREGANT
SHELTER OPTIONS OPENING, NOT
CLOSING.
I LOOK FORWARD TO HAVING A
CONVERSATION THAT IS A FOLLOW-
UP TO THE DISCUSSIONS WE'VE
BEEN HAVING ALREADY ABOUT NOT
JUST HOW THE CITY IS UTILIZING
THE OVER $2 MILLION OF COUNCIL
APPROVED HOTEL FUNDING, BUT HOW
WE CAN MORE EXPEDITIOUSLY
ACTUALLY WORK WITH THOSE
SCHEDULED DOLLARS THAT ARE
AVAILABLE TO US.
100% REIMBURSABLE BY SAN
FRANCISCO AND LOS ANGELES, AND
SO MANY OTHER CITIES ARE DOING
TO HELP HOUSE THOSE DURING THIS
CRISIS.
THE CONVERSATION I DON'T THINK
IS OVER AT ANY MEANS, AND WE
WILL CONTINUE THE DISCUSSION
TOMORROW.
IN TERMS OF EVENTS ON THE
CALENDAR, LAST WEEK I HAD THE
INCREDIBLE HONOR TO VOLUNTEER
MONDAY, TUESDAY, WEDNESDAY, AND
THURSDAY.
AT THE RANIER BEACH VACCINATION
AND TESTING CLINIC HOSTED BY
THE CITY OF SEATTLE.
BY THE FIREFIGHTERS, MEMBERS OF
LOCAL 27, AND INCREDIBLE
COMMUNITY PARTNERS WHO HELPED
TO GET VERY VULNERABLE ELIGIBLE
FOLKS TO THOSE VACCINE CLINICS.
THANKS SO MUCH TO MEMBERS FROM
SEI YOU, 775, WHO BROUGHT IN
THEIR HOME CARE PROVIDERS AND
MADE SURE THEY HAD ACCESS TO
VACCINES.
LEADERS WITHIN THE CID.
THE CHINATOWN INTERNATIONAL
DISTRICT, AND ALSO MEMBERS OF
THE EAST AFRICAN COMMUNITY WHO
BROUGHT IN ELDERS.
IT WAS AN INCREDIBLE
OPPORTUNITY TO SEE HOW THESE
PILOT EFFORTS TO VACCINATE
THOSE WHO ARE WORKING IN REAL
TIME.
I JUST AM INCREDIBLY HUMBLED.
I THINK VERY MUCH MEMBERS OF
THE FIREFIGHTERS.
SARAH SMITH, CAPTAIN WALLACE,
AND SO MANY OTHERS WHO I HAD A
CHANCE TO SEE FROM THE
FIREFIGHTERS.
AND JEN, WHO IS RUNNING THE
OPERATIONS AND MANAGING THE
STAFF.
SHE DOES AN INCREDIBLE JOB AND
THEY HAVE BEEN WORKING DAY IN
AND DAY OUT ON THE TESTS SINCE
LAST SUMMER.
NOW, ARE REALLY EXCITED TO SEE
THE VACCINES GOING OUT.
THE STAFF WAS MOSTLY YOUNGER
FOLKS.
FOLKS OF COLOR.
WATCHING THE STAFF INTERACT
WITH ELDERS IN CULTURALLY AND
LINGUISTICALLY APPROPRIATE WAYS
WAS REALLY INSPIRING.
AS WE CONTINUE TO ENDEAVOR TO
DO BETTER AND TO DO MORE ON OUR
COMMITMENT TO EQUITABLE EFFORTS
OF VACCINE DISTRIBUTION.
I REALLY AM EXCITED ABOUT THE
UPCOMING MASS VACCINATION
CLINICS AND THE ONGOING WAY
THAT THE CITY IS WORKING WITH,
ESPECIALLY OUR PARTNERS TO GET
INDIVIDUALS INTO VACCINE
CLINICS.
I KNOW THERE'S A LOT OF WORK TO
BE DONE TO STREAMLINE THE
PROCESS FOR MANY OF OUR ELDERS
WHO WERE LOOKING FOR WAYS TO
SIGN UP FOR VACCINES.
WE HAVE A FEW WHO CAME DURING
THOSE DAYS AND SAID HOW DO I
SIGN UP.
REALLY GETTING INFORMATION OUT
MORE BROADLY AND I KNOW THERE'S
A PHONE NUMBER COMING SOON THAT
WILL BE IMPORTANT.
JUST A FEW UPDATES FOR MR.
PRESIDENT FROM THE VACCINATION
PLANNING AND IMPLEMENTATION.
FAS CONTINUES TO LEAD THE
PLANNING AND IMPLEMENTATION OF
VACCINE SITE EFFORTS IN
PREPARATION.
THEY GOT OVER 10,000 ITEMS
NEEDED TO SET UP AND RUN THE
HIGH-VOLUME VACCINATION SITES.
THE HIGH-VOLUME VACCINATION
SITE IS SCHEDULED FOR A SOFT
OPENING IN MID-MARCH, WHICH
COUNCILMEMBER HERBOLD SPOKE TO
AND I'M REALLY EXCITED ABOUT.
HOPEFULLY WE GET A CHANCE TO
VOLUNTEER THERE AS WELL.
COVID VACCINATION HOTLINE.
ALL STAFF HAS BEEN TRAINED AND
CAN REGISTER PATIENT FOR
VACCINES THAT CAN COUNTER
VACCINATION SITES IN KENT AND
AUBURN.
CUSTOMER SERVICE SPECIALISTS
CAN ASSIST PATIENTS WHO DO NOT
HAVE MOBILE PHONES OR INTERNET
AND NEED HELP CANCELING OR
RESCHEDULING THEIR APPOINTMENTS.
WE WILL MAKE SURE TO GET THAT
INFORMATION UP ON OUR SOCIAL
MEDIA AS WELL.
IN TERMS OF UPDATES FROM THE
SEATTLE HOUSING AUTHORITY, THE
SEATTLE HOUSING AUTHORITY HAS
BEEN COLLABORATING WITH THE
SEATTLE FIRE DEPARTMENT AND THE
CITY OF SEATTLE TO PROVIDE
VACCINATION CLINICS TO SEATTLE
HOUSING AUTHORITY PROPERTIES
OVER THE LAST MONTH.
IT'S IMPORTANT TO NOTE THAT FHA
IS A CRITICAL AVENUE TO
PROMOTING MORE EQUITABLE ACCESS
TO VACCINATIONS.
FHA HOUSES MORE THAN ONE IN
THREE OF SEATTLE'S BLACK AND
AFRICAN-AMERICAN POPULATION.
ABOUT HALF OF THE CITY'S
AFRICAN-AMERICAN AND BLACK
HOUSEHOLDS WITH LOW INCOMES WHO
LIVE IN FHA HOUSING.
NEARLY 12,000 FHA POPULATION
RESIDE IN FHA PROPERTIES WHERE
THEY MAKE UP OVER 77% OF THE
RESIDENTS.
IN RECENT YEARS, ROUGHLY 50% OF
THE NEW RESIDENTS WHO WERE
EXPERIENCING HOMELESSNESS WOMEN
MOVED INTO SEATTLE HOUSING
AUTHORITY HOMES.
WHILE MANY OF THE HOUSING
AUTHORITY RESIDENTS LACK
INTERNET ACCESS AND DIGITAL
LITERACY, SHA IS HELPING BY
SCHEDULING VACCINE APPOINTMENTS
THROUGH ON SALT.
THEIR ABILITY TO DO OUTREACH TO
THESE VERY VULNERABLE
POPULATIONS, ON SITE IS AN
IMPORTANT ESSAY TO MAKING SURE
EVERYBODY WHO LIVES IN SHA
HOUSING OF VACCINE.
APPROXIMATELY 70% OF THOSE
ELIGIBLE LIVING IN THOSE
PROPERTIES HAVE PARTICIPATED IN
THE VACCINATION EFFORTS, AND
95% OF THOSE WHO ARE ELIGIBLE
FOR A SECOND DOSE OF ALREADY
RECEIVED THAT SECOND DOSE.
IN CLOSING, MR. PRESIDENT,
THERE IS AN UPDATE FROM THE
BOARD OF HEALTH.
FIRST, THE BOARD DID PASS A
RESOLUTION LAST WEEK OUT
BOARDING THE BOARDS CONCERNED
ABOUT MULTIPLE COVID-19
OUTBREAKS IN FACILITIES
OPERATED BY WASHINGTON STATE
DEPARTMENT OF CORRECTIONS.
THE RESOLUTION REQUESTS THE
WASHINGTON STATE LEGISLATURE TO
HOLD A HEARING ON THE
MANAGEMENT OF COVID-19
PREVENTION AND OUTBREAK IN THE
DEPARTMENT OF CORRECTIONS
FACILITIES AND ASKED THE
LEGISLATURE TO INITIATE
INDEPENDENT INVESTIGATIONS
ABOUT THE ALLEGATIONS OF
MISMANAGEMENT AND THE IMPACTS
OF PEOPLE WHO ARE CURRENTLY
INCARCERATED.
THE BOARD APPROVED THE ANNUAL
WORK PLAN WHICH FOCUSES ON
COVID RESPONSE AND RACISM AS A
PUBLIC HEALTH ISSUE.
THANKS VERY MUCH TO ARETHA FOR
HER WORK ON THE D.O.C.
RESOLUTION AND LETTER. I WANT
TO ALSO NOTE, A VARIANTS STRAIN
OF CORONAVIRUS WAS FIRST
DISSECTED IN SOUTH AFRICA, HAS
BEEN DETECTED IN KING COUNTY AS
úFOLKS I'M SURE ARE AWARE.
THE PATIENT TESTED POSITIVE FOR
THIS NEW VARIANT ON JANUARY
29th.
THE LAB FOUND EVIDENCE OF 19
ADDITIONAL CASES OF A DIFFERENT
STRAND.
THIS BRINGS THE TOTAL NUMBER OF
CASES OF THE VARIANT IN
WASHINGTON TO 39.
WE NEED TO CONTINUE TO DO ALL
WE CAN TO PREVENT THE SPREAD OF
COVID AND PUSHED THE RACE OF
COVID EXPOSURE DOWN.
WE MUST CONTINUE TO FOLLOW
STRICT CDC GUIDELINES INCLUDING
WEARING A MASK WITH TWO LAYERS.
TAT SNUGLY FIT YOUR FACE AND
AROUND HER NOSE.
KEEP YOUR GATHERINGS OUTSIDE OF
YOUR HOME LIMITED WHEREVER
POSSIBLE AND AVOID SOCIAL
GATHERING INDOORS.
MAKE SURE TO WASH YOUR HANDS
OFTEN AND DO NOT TOUCH YOUR
FACE.
CARRY HAND SANITIZER FOR USE
WHEN WATER AND SOAP ARE NOT
AVAILABLE.
STAY HOME IF YOU'RE SICK AND IF
YOU BEEN EXPOSED TO COVID-19.
ISOLATE AND GET TESTED FOR
COVID-19.
THERE IS WALK-UP CLINICS
THROUGHOUT OUR CITY RIGHT NOW
WITH NO WEIGHT.
MAKE SURE YOU DO GET TESTED IF
YOU DO HAVE ANY CONCERN OF
EXPOSURE.
WHEN YOU ARE ELIGIBLE, PLEASE
MAKE AN APPOINTMENT TO GET
VACCINATED.
I WOULD JUST SAY, THAT REMINDS
ME, THAT DURING OUR PAST
BUDGET, WE APPROVED $100,000
FOR A PROJECT.
AS FOLKS SAW IN THE NEWS
COVERAGE, SO FAR ONLY ONE HAS
BEEN INSTALLED. WE WANT TO KNOW
WHEN THAT $100,000 WILL BE
INSTALLED TO MAKE SURE THAT
THERE ARE 63 STREET SINKS
AROUND THE CITY.
I BELIEVE IT WAS COUNCILMEMBER
MORALES WHO MAY HAVE LEAD ON
THIS.
I APPRECIATE THE COUNCIL'S FULL
SUPPORT ON THAT AND WILL BE
LOOKING TO MAKE SURE THAT THAT
TRULY GET SUPPLEMENTED.
THIS IS ABOUT PROTECTING FOLKS
FROM COVID.
THIS IS A PUBLIC HEALTH MEASURE
AND IT IS STILL A PUBLIC HEALTH
DEADLY PANDEMIC RIGHT NOW.
THE CDC IS RECOMMENDING TO WASH
YOUR HANDS WITH SOAP AND WATER
AS I JUST READ.
WE'LL BE FOLLOWING UP ON THAT
AS WELL.
THANK YOU VERY MUCH, MR.
PRESIDENT.
>> THANK YOU, COUNCILMEMBER
MOSQUEDA.
UP NEXT WE HAVE COUNCILMEMBER
PEDERSEN, FOLLOWED BY
COUNCILMEMBER SAWANT, AND THEN
I WILL CLOSE OUT.
GOOD MORNING.
TAKE IT AWAY.
>> THANK YOU, COUNCILMEMBER PRO
TEM STRAUSS.
COLLEAGUES, OR TRANSPORTATION
AND UTILITIES COMMITTEE HAS NO
ITEMS ON TODAY'S FULL CITY
COUNCIL AGENDA AS WITH OTHER
COMMITTEE CHAIRS WE HAVE A
DRAFT WORK PLAN FOR OUR
COMMITTEE FOR 2021.
JUST A QUICK HIGHLIGHT FROM THE
WORK PLAN FOR OUR
TRANSPORTATION UTILITIES
COMMITTEE FOR THE NEXT 10
MONTHS.
WE'LL BE APPROVING AND
MONITORING VARIOUS
TRANSPORTATION AND TRANSIT
PROJECTS FROM THE VOTER APPROVED
SEATTLE TRANSPORTATION BENEFIT
DISTRICT.
WE WILL BE MONITORING THE
RESTORATION OF THE WEST SEATTLE
BRIDGE.
WE WILL HAVING A SENATOR TO
RETURN TO RECESS OUR AUDIT.
WE WILL BE APPROVING
SURVEILLANCE TECHNOLOGY IMPACT
REPORTS FOR TECHNOLOGIES
ALREADY IN USE BY CITY
DEPARTMENTS.
WE WILL BE PUSHING
IMPLEMENTATION OF OUR INTERNET
FOR ALL ACTION PLAN.
WE WILL BE CONSIDERING THE
RATES THAT RESIDENTS AND
BUSINESSES WILL PAY FOR BOTH
SEATTLE CITY LIGHT AND SEATTLE
PUBLIC UTILITIES.
IDEALLY KEEPING THOSE RATE
ADJUSTMENTS WITHIN THE PROMISES
MADE TO RATEPAYERS IN 2018.
OUR NEXT MEETING OF THE
TRANSPORTATION UTILITIES
COMMITTEE IS SCHEDULED FOR THIS
WEDNESDAY, MARCH 3rd, AT 9:30
A.M.
WE HAVE SIX ITEMS ON THE
AGENDA.
A QUICK PREVIEW OF THAT.
THE FIRST TWO COMMITTEE ITEMS
ARE MINOR, ONE IS GRANTING AN
EASEMENT TO THE CITY OF KIRKLAND
TO COMPLETE A PEDESTRIAN BIKE
PATH.
THE SECOND IS THE CREATION OF A
SMALL PUBLIC PATH AND PLAZA
ALONG WITH A HANDFUL OF PARKING
SPACES IN THE EASTLAKE
NEIGHBORHOOD IN DISTRICT 4. THE
LARGER ITEMS ON THE AGENDA
INCLUDE ALLOCATING THE ONE-TIME
RESERVE FUNDING LEFT OVER FROM
THE 2014 TRANSPORTATION BENEFIT
DISTRICT FOR ALREADY APPROVED
TRANSIT RELATED PROJECTS.
THEN, WE HAVE THREE COUNCIL
BILLS TO APPROVE EXISTING
TECHNOLOGIES USED BY THREE
DIFFERENT CITY DEPARTMENTS.
TO GIVE EVERYONE ADDITIONAL
TIME, REPUBLISHED ON LAST
WEEK'S WEEK THE THREE
SURVEILLANCE TECHNOLOGY ITEMS
THAT WILL APPEAR ON THIS WEEK'S
COMMITTEE.
WE WILL BE PROVIDING TWO
COMMITTEE MEETINGS TO HEAR
THOSE ITEMS.
MARCH 3rd AND MARCH 17th.
PURSUANT TO A SO-CALLED
SURVEILLANCE ORDINANCE, WHICH
WAS ADOPTED IN 2017, AND
AMENDED IN 2018 WITH ORDINANCE
125679, OUR EXISTING TECHNOLOGY
AND COMPUTER PROGRAMS UNDERGO
EXTENSIVE REVIEW PROCESS BY THE
EXECUTIVE DEPARTMENTS BY A
COMMUNITY LED SURVEILLANCE
WORKING GROUP AND OTHER
STAKEHOLDERS TO DETERMINE WHICH
TECHNOLOGIES WE ARE USING TO
CONDUCT OUR CITY'S GOVERNMENT
BUSINESS WHILE ENABLING US TO
BE MORE EFFICIENT AND GET MORE
WORK DONE SO THE PUBLIC MIGHT
HAVE SURVEILLANCE CAPABILITIES
OR PRIVACY CONCERNS THAT WE
SHOULD REVIEW.
AFTER DELAYS DUE TO THE COVID
PANDEMIC, WE CAN NOW REVIEW
SEVERAL OF THESE REQUIRED
SURVEILLANCE REPORTS.
THESE TECHNOLOGIES ARE ALREADY
IN USE AND THE SURVEILLANCE
IMPACT REPORTS PROVIDE MORE
INFORMATION ABOUT THEM.
IN ADDITION TO THIS LENGTHY AND
IN-DEPTH PROCESS TO PRODUCE THE
IMPACT REPORTS, THESE
TECHNOLOGIES ARE REVIEWED LATER
BY OUR CITY AUDITOR AND FOR
POLICE ITEMS OUR OFFICE OF
INSPECTOR GENERAL.
SO, WE GOT THOSE ON LAST WEEK'S
INTRODUCTION AND REFERRAL
CALENDAR.
MEMBERS OF THE TRANSPORTATION
AND UTILITY COMMITTEE, WHICH
INCLUDES OVERSIGHT OF OUR
INFORMATION TECHNOLOGY
DEPARTMENT, COULD GET A HEAD
START ON REVIEWING THE NINE OR
10 SURVEILLANCE IMPACT REPORTS.
I RECOMMEND STARTING WITH THE
THREE CENTRAL STAFF MEMOS AND
THEN GOING TO THE SHORTER
EXECUTIVE OVERVIEW SUMMARIES.
THESE TWO ITEMS WILL PROVIDE
CONTEXT BEFORE DIGGING INTO THE
MUCH LARGER SURVEILLANCE IMPACT
REPORTS THEMSELVES.
LISA K FROM OUR CITY COUNCIL
STAFF AND ANOTHER PERSON FROM
MY STAFF ARE AVAILABLE TO
ANSWER QUESTIONS BEFORE THE
COMMITTEE THIS WEDNESDAY
MORNING.
THANK YOU.
>> THANK YOU, COUNCILMEMBER
PEDERSEN.
UP NEXT WE HAVE COUNCILMEMBER
SAWANT, AND THEN I WILL CLOSE
IT OUT.
COUNCILMEMBER SAWANT, GOOD
MORNING.
>> GOOD MORNING, PRESIDENT PRO
TEM STRAUSS AND GOOD MORNING TO
EVERYBODY.
ON TODAY'S CITY COUNCIL AGENDA
THERE ARE NO ITEMS FROM THE
SUSTAINABILITY AND RENTERS
RIGHTS COMMITTEE.
THE NEXT MEETING OF THE
COMMITTEE IS GOING TO BE THIS
THURSDAY, MARCH 4th, AT 9:30
A.M.
IN THAT COMMITTEE, WE HOPE THAT
THE COMMITTEE WILL VOTE ON THE
RIGHT TO COUNSEL LEGISLATION
FROM MY OFFICE, WHICH
GUARANTEES THAT ANY RENTER IN
SEATTLE FACING EVICTION HAS THE
RIGHT TO A LAWYER.
REGARDLESS OF ABILITY TO PAY.
THANK YOU SO MUCH AGAIN
COUNCILMEMBER LEWIS, NOT ONLY
FOR COSPONSORING THIS
LEGISLATION, BUT ALSO FOR
SPEAKING IN SUPPORT OF IT.
OVER THE PAST SEVERAL YEARS,
THROUGH EFFORTS FROM MY OFFICE
IN COORDINATION, WE HAVE ONE
CITY LEVEL PUBLIC FUNDING FOR
ATTORNEYS TO THE HOUSING JUDGE
THIS PROJECT.
THE RIGHT TO COUNCIL
LEGISLATION WOULD COMMIT THE
CITY OF SEATTLE TO CONTRACTING
FOR ALL THE LEGAL
REPRESENTATION THAT WOULD BE
NEEDED.
SUCH THAT THE ATTORNEYS FROM
ORGANIZATIONS SUCH AS THE
HOUSING JUSTICE PROJECT CAN
DEFEND EVERY RENTER FACING
EVICTION WHO NEEDS HELP.
WE KNOW FROM EVIDENCE THAT
HAVING AN ATTORNEY PRESENT
MAKES ALL THE DIFFERENCE TO
TENANTS FACING EVICTION.
IN PREVIOUS YEARS, THE HOUSING
JUSTICE PROJECT ESTIMATED IT
WOULD COST THE CITY
APPROXIMATELY $750,000 PER YEAR.
THIS YEAR BECAUSE OF COVID, IT
IS OBVIOUSLY UNCLEAR HOW MUCH
LEGAL SUPPORT WILL BE NEEDED.
IT WILL REALLY DEPEND ON WHAT
HAPPENS WITH THE EVICTION
MORATORIUMS, AT LEAST IN THE
IMMEDIATE NEXT MONTHS.
AT THIS STAGE THERE IS NO
SUPPLEMENTAL APPROPRIATION
REQUIRED.
THE FISCAL NOTE ACKNOWLEDGES
THIS FUTURE UNCERTAINTY.
THIS IS EXACTLY WHY MY OFFICE
HAS ALSO LAUNCHED A PETITION
DEMANDING THAT MAYOR DURKAN AND
GOVERNOR INSLEE IMMEDIATELY
RENEW THE EVICTION MORATORIUMS
FOR RENTERS, SMALL BUSINESSES,
AND NONPROFITS THROUGH 2021.
THIS ECONOMIC CRISIS FOR
WORKING PEOPLE WILL EXTEND AT
LEAST TO THE END OF THIS YEAR
AND AS SEATTLE AND STATE PUBLIC
HEALTH EXPERTS HAVE RECENTLY
REPORTED, THE PUBLIC HEALTH
CRISIS, WHICH WAS THE ORIGINAL
BASIS FOR THE DECLARATION, ALSO
WILL EXTEND AT LEAST THROUGH
THE END OF 2021, EVEN WITH THE
BEST PROJECTIONS FROM STATE
HEALTH OFFICIALS ON VACCINATION
DISSEMINATION.
BACK TO A RIGHT TO COUNCIL, IN
OUR LAST COMMITTEE MEETING,
NATIONAL EXPERTS REALLY DID A
FANTASTIC JOB IT'S PLANNING THE
RIGHT TO COUNSEL LEGISLATION
THAT EXISTS IN OTHER CITIES.
IN SOME CITIES, THE RIGHT TO
COUNCIL IS GUARANTEED WITHOUT
ANY MEANS.
THIS IS ABSOLUTELY CRUCIAL AS
THEY EXPLAINED BECAUSE ANYTIME
THERE IS [ INDISCERNIBLE ] IT'S
CREATE SIGNIFICANT BARRIERS TO
PEOPLE.
EVEN PEOPLE WHO ARE ELIGIBLE.
WE HAVE SEEN THROUGH FOOD
STAMPS, THIS TESTING HAS
RESULTED IN A SIGNIFICANT
CHILLING EFFECT ON PEOPLE'S
ABILITY TO USE IT.
ONE EXTREME EXAMPLE IS THE CDC
EVICTION MORATORIUM INCLUDES
TESTING REQUIRING RENTERS TO
MAKE A DECLARATION OF FINANCIAL
HARDSHIP.
WHAT HAS HAPPENED IS IN HOUSTON
THE COURTS HAVE INTERPRETED
THAT TO MEAN THAT RENTERS NEED
A NOTARIZED DECLARATION EVEN
THOUGH NOTARIZED IS NOT IN THE
CDC'S RULES.
AS A RESULT, 99% OF ELIGIBLE
RENTERS BECAME DISQUALIFIED
FROM THE EVICTION MORATORIUM.
OBVIOUSLY THAT IS A WORST-CASE
SCENARIO, AND IN MOST CASES IT
WILL NOT HAVE THAT KIND OF
SWEEPING IMPACT.
STATISTICAL STUDIES OVER MANY
DECADES SHOW JUST ABSOLUTELY
STATISTICALLY OVERWHELMINGLY
THAT MEANS TESTING HAS A BAD
EFFECT, NOT A GOOD EFFECT ON
PEOPLE WHO ARE ELIGIBLE FOR
PROGRAMS RECEIVING THOSE
PROGRAMS.
IT'S ALSO IMPORTANT TO NOTE
THAT MEANS TESTING HAS THE
EXACT OPPOSITE EFFECT OF THOSE
WHO OFTEN ADVOCATE FOR IT CLAIM
IT DOES.
MANY TIMES CONSERVATIVE
POLITICIANS ADVOCATE FOR IT
BECAUSE THEY SAY IT PROMOTES
ACCOUNTABILITY IN TERMS OF WHO
GETS THE BENEFITS.
IN OTHER WORDS, MAKING SURE
WELL OFF PEOPLE DON'T STEAL THE
BENEFITS.
IN REALITY, ALL THAT MEANS
TESTING DOES, EVEN IF THERE ARE
GOOD INTENTIONS, ALL IT DOES IS
BECOME A SERIOUS OBSTACLE TO
PEOPLE WHO ARE ELIGIBLE FOR THE
PROGRAMS FROM RECEIVING THE
PROGRAMS.
WE ALSO SAW THIS IN THE CITY
UTILITY DISCOUNT PROGRAMS AS
WELL.
AFTER OUR MOVEMENT PUSHED THE
THEN MAYOR TO MAKE THE OPT OUT,
THE NUMBERS OF ELIGIBLE
HOUSEHOLD WHO WERE ENROLLED
SHOT UP.
IT REALLY SHOWS THAT FOR
ALTHOUGH STATISTICALLY WELL-
ESTABLISHED REASONS, THE ROUTE
TO COUNCIL LEGISLATION SHOULD
NOT CONTAIN THESE.
ESPECIALLY AT THIS TIME OF
EXTREME CRISIS.
I ALSO HOPE THAT THE RIGHT TO
COUNCIL BILLS WILL BE THE FIRST
IN A SERIES OF RENTERS RIGHTS
COMING THIS SPRING FROM THE
COMMITTEE.
IN THURSDAY'S COMMITTEE MEETING
, WE WILL DISCUSS WITH A PANEL
OF RENTAL AND RENTAL RIGHTS
ADVOCATES ABOUT THOSE NEXT STEPS
THAT WE HOPE WILL COME.
ONE KEY ISSUE IS THE ISSUE OF
THE FALSE EVICTION.
HALF THE EVICTIONS IN SEATTLE
ARE DONE BY DEFAULT.
I MENTIONED THE SUPPORT IN OUR
PREVIOUS BRIEFINGS.
IT MEANS THE COURTS AGREE TO
EVICT THE RENTER BECAUSE THEY
DID NOT SHOW UP TO THE HEARING
OR DO THE NECESSARY PAPERWORK.
THIS IS A HUGE PROBLEM AND WE
WILL DISCUSS HOW TO ADDRESS IT
PRIMARILY BY GETTING LEGAL
SUPPORT TO THE RENTERS BEFORE
THEIR DEFAULT.
ALSO BY APPEALING TO THE COURTS
TO ACCEPT THE INDIVIDUAL OF THE
CITY FUNDED ATTORNEYS WHEREVER
POSSIBLE.
THE PANEL WILL ALSO DISCUSS THE
NEED TO EXTEND THE EVICTION
MORATORIUM, WHICH I JUST
MENTIONED.
IF THE MAYOR AND THE GOVERNOR
FAILED TO ACT, IT WOULD EXPIRE
AT THE END OF THIS MONTH.
FINALLY, THE COMMITTEE WILL
VOTE ON FOUR REAPPOINTMENTS TO
THE RENTERS COMMISSION.
ON WEDNESDAY, FAIRBURY 24th,
THE LIVES OF THOUSANDS OF
RESIDENTS AND WORKERS IN THE
SEATTLE CENTRAL DISTRICT IN THE
HEART OF DISTRICT 3 WERE
DISRUPTED BECAUSE OF A
DANGEROUS UNDERGROUND GAS LEAK
AND FIRE.
INVOLVING PIPES CONTROLLED BY
THE FOUR PROFIT CORPORATION
PUGET SOUND ENERGY.
OUR COMMUNITY OWES A DEEP
APPRECIATION TO THE UNION
WORKERS OF THE FIRE DEPARTMENT
FIREFIGHTERS LOCAL 27 AND FROM
PSE, ELECTRICAL WORKERS LOCAL
77 WHO RESPONDED TO THIS
DANGEROUS SITUATION, STOPPING
THE LEAKED GAS AND PUTTING OUT
THE FIRE.
ONCE AGAIN, FRONT-LINE WORKERS
PUT THEMSELVES IN HARMS WAY TO
PROTECT THE REST OF THE
COMMUNITY.
COUNCILMEMBERS WILL HAVE SEEN
THE LETTER FROM MY OFFICE TO
THE STATE UTILITIES AND
TRANSPORTATION COMMISSION
URGING THEM TO COMPREHENSIVELY
INVESTIGATE WHETHER AND TO WHAT
DEGREE PSE HAS NEGLECTED
MAINTENANCE AND SAFETY UPGRADES
THROUGHOUT ITS ENTIRE
INFRASTRUCTURE.
THE GAS FIRE SHOWS YET AGAIN
THE DAMAGE FOR MAGIC PROFIT
ORGANIZATIONS DUE TO THE
COMMUNITY AND THE CLIMATE.
IT IS OWNED BY A CONGLOMERATE.
IT SEEMED TO CARE MORE ABOUT
FINANCIAL RETURNS FOR THEIR
WEALTHY SHAREHOLDERS THAN THEY
DO FOR THE SAFETY AND SECURITY
OF OUR COMMUNITY.
THEY ARE OPERATING GAS LINES
THROUGHOUT SEATTLE AND THE
REGION, BURNING NATURAL GAS AND
POWER GENERATORS ACROSS
WASHINGTON, AND RECENTLY VOTING
ON A MASSIVE LIQUEFIED NATURAL
GAS PLANT IN TACOMA.
IN 2016, AN EXPLOSION LEVELED A
CITY BLOCK IN GREENWOOD
INJURING NINE FIREFIGHTERS,
DESTROYING THREE SMALL
BUSINESSES, AND DAMAGING DOZENS
OF BUILDINGS.
THE STATE UTILITY AND
TRANSPORTATION COMMITTEE FOUND
THAT PSE FAILED TO RETIRE AN
OLD SECTION OF GAS PIPELINE
LEADING TO THE EXPLOSION AND
FIND PSE $1.5 MILLION FOR THIS
NEGLECT.
GIVEN THIS HISTORY, IT'S NOT
SURPRISING THAT CENTRAL
DISTRICT RESIDENTS HAVE BEEN
REACHING OUT TO MY OFFICE WITH
DEEP CONCERNS ABOUT PSE'S
RELIABILITY.
THEIR ANXIETY IS ENTIRELY
JUSTIFIED.
TO SHARE A WORKER WHO SHARE
THEIR THOUGHTS, QUOTE, FOR FIVE
YEARS I'VE WORKED FOR COMPANIES
THAT LOCATE PSE'S UNDERGROUND
FACILITIES IN WASHINGTON STATE
FOR CONSTRUCTION AND EXCAVATION.
THE MAC GIVING SYSTEM FOR THE
POWER AND GAS FACILITIES HASN'T
BEEN UPDATED FOR OVER A YEAR,
AND THERE ARE SEVERAL
FACILITIES THAT ARE MISMATCHED,
AS WELL AS NUMEROUS AREAS WHERE
GAS SERVICES AND MAINS ARE
FAULTY AND NOT LOCATABLE.
GIVEN ALL THIS, I AM NOT
SURPRISED BY WEDNESDAY'S GAS
LEAK AND I'M GRATEFUL THAT NO
ONE WAS HURT.
DUE TO FAULTY INFRASTRUCTURE, I
EXPECT SUCH A SEASHELL SCENE IN
WEDNESDAY'S LEAK ARE LIKELY TO
HAPPEN AGAIN.
WITH MORE FREQUENCY.
I PERSONALLY LOOK FORWARD TO
THE NATURAL GAS SYSTEMS TO BE
SAFELY EACTIVATED SO THAT THE
REGION CAN MOVE TOWARDS
CLEANER, MORE EFFICIENT,
RENEWABLE ENERGY SOURCES.
THE SOONER THE BETTER, AND
SAFER FOR ALL OF US.
AN QUOTE.
I REALLY APPRECIATE THE WORKER
SHARING THIS INFORMATION THAT
HE HAD CLEANED FROM HIS
FIRSTHAND EXPERIENCE FROM
HAVING WORKED ON THESE
PIPELINES.
FROM TEXAS TO SEATTLE, FOR
PROFIT ENERGY COMPANIES LIKE
PSE DO DOUBLE DAMAGE TO OUR
COMMUNITIES.
THEY MAXIMIZE PROFITS BY CUTTING
CORNERS, CAUSING CATASTROPHIC
EXPLOSIONS AND FIRES.
THEY RELY ON FOSSIL FUEL LIKE
NATURAL GAS RESPONSIBLE FOR THE
GREENHOUSE GAS EMISSIONS THAT
ARE CAUSING A CLIMATE
CATASTROPHE.
SEATTLE'S ELECTRICITY IS RUN BY
A PUBLIC UTILITY FOR THE
BENEFIT OF ALL RESIDENTS, NOT
FOR GLOBAL PROFIT-SEEKING
INVESTORS.
IS TIME TO TAKE THE BIG ENERGY
COMPANIES LIKE PSE INTO
DEMOCRATIC PUBLIC OWNERSHIP SO
THAT WORKING PEOPLE CAN HAVE A
SAY OVER THE IMPACTS THAT THEY
HAVE ON THEIR COMMUNITIES, ON
OUR COMMUNITIES AND THE CLIMATE
AND CAN REORIENT THESE
COMPANIES AWAY FROM GAS AND
BACK TOWARDS CLEAN RENEWABLE
ENERGIES.
THANK YOU.
>> THANK YOU, COUNCILMEMBER
SAWANT.
COUNCILMEMBER PEDERSEN, I SEE
YOU HAVE A QUESTION.
COLLEAGUES, THIS WOULD BE THE
TIME IF YOU HAVE ANY QUESTIONS.
COUNCILMEMBER, PEDERSEN.
>> I JUST WANTED TO THANK
COUNCILMEMBER SAWANT FOR
SENDING HER LETTER TO PUGET
SOUND ENERGY OVER THE WEEKEND.
I SUPPORT ONE OF THE MAIN
COMPONENTS OF THAT EFFORT WHICH
IS TO CALL FOR AN INVESTIGATION
OF THEIR PIPELINES AND THEIR
MAINTENANCE AND SAFETY
PROGRAMS.
SO, I APPRECIATE YOU SENDING
THAT OUT.
I MENTION THAT BECAUSE OUR
COMMITTEE FOCUSES ON UTILITIES.
ALBEIT THAT MUNICIPALLY OWNED
UTILITIES THAT WE ARE FORTUNATE
TO HAVE, BUT I APPRECIATE YOU
SENDING THIS LETTER TO PSE AND
TO THE COMMISSION ACTUALLY THAT
OVERSEAS UTIITIES STATEWIDE.
THANK YOU.
>> THANK YOU, COUNCILMEMBER
PEDERSEN.
COLLEAGUES, ANY OTHER QUESTIONS?
COUNCILMEMBER SAWANT, THANK YOU
FOR YOUR REPORT.
FINALLY IS MY REPORT AS YOUR
COUNCIL PRESIDENT PRO TEM THIS
MORNING.
FOR FULL CITY COUNCIL, THERE
ARE EIGHT ITEMS ON FULL COUNCIL
AGENDA.
THE APPOINTMENT OF THE DIRECTOR
OF OFFICE OF LABOR STANDARDS.
LINDA HOWARD, SEATTLE HOUSING
AUTHORITY.
JAYME MARSH AND ONE OTHER PLAYER
AS SWEETENED TAX ADVISORY BOARD.
COUNCILMEMBER 9975. THREE
RESOLUTIONS. ONE ADOPTING CITY
COUNCIL 2020 WORK PROGRAM.
ANOTHER ADOPTING STATEMENT OF
LEGISLATIVE INTENSE FOR 2020 --
2021 ADOPTED BUDGET AND CAPITAL
PERMIT PROGRAM.
THE THIRD SETTING A TIME FOR A
HEARING ON AN APPEALS FOR THE
HEARING EXAMINERS AS WELL AS WE
HAVE A PRESENTATION OF THE
PROCLAMATION WE JUST SIGNED. AT
THE END OF MY REPORT WILL BE AN
OPPORTUNITY TO ASK ALLIE ANY
QUESTIONS THAT YOU HAVE ABOUT
THE RESOLUTION ADOPTED. FROM
THE LAND USE AND NEIGHBORHOODS
COMMITTEE, WE HAVE NO ITEMS ON
THE AGENDA -- ON TODAY'S
INTRODUCTION AND REFERRAL
COUNCIL OR ON THE CITY COUNCIL
AGENDA.
THE NEXT MEETING IS ON
WEDNESDAY, MARCH 10th.
THREE ITEMS WILL BE ON THE
AGENDA.
A DISCUSSION AND VOTE ON
COUNCIL BILL 120001.
THE BRINGING BUSINESS HOME, A
SMALL BUSINESS SUPPORT BILL.
WHICH WE HAD AN INITIAL
BRIEFING ON LAST WEEK.
THANK YOU TO COUNCILMEMBER
PEDERSEN AND COUNCILMEMBER
JUAREZ, YOU BROUGHT REALLY
GREAT QUESTIONS ABOUT THE BILL
THAT HELPED MAKE IT STRONGER
AND EXPLAINED SOME OF THE
NUANCES.
IT'S A VERY NARROWLY FOCUSED
BILL, SO IT CAN SEEM LIKE IT
TAKES ON A LIFE OF ITS OWN WHEN
REALLY IT'S PRETTY NARROWLY
FOCUSED.
SO, YOUR QUESTIONS HELPED
DESCRIBE THAT.
IN OUR NEXT MEETING WE WILL
ALSO HAVE A REPORT FROM STC I
ON THEIR PERMANENT REVIEW TIMES.
WE WILL ALSO HAVE A
PRESENTATION ON -- ON THE
ANNUAL REPORTS.
IN MY WORK LAST WEEK, ON MONDAY
MY STAFF ATTENDED THE FREMONT
COMMUNITY COUNCIL.
ON TUESDAY, NORTH SEATTLE
INDUSTRIAL COMMUNICATION.
I MET WITH THE GREEN LAKE
CHAMBER OF COMMERCE.
THE OWNERS OF RUBEN'S BRUISE TO
HELP GET THEM -- GET MECHANISMS
OF GOVERNMENT WORKING FOR THEM.
ON BACKGROUND, THERE'S MANY
DIFFERENT TYPES OF ISSUES THAT
THEY ARE EXPERIENCING.
SOMETIMES HAVING OFFICES LIKE
MYSELF STEP IN TO HELP MAKE
SURE EVERYTHING IS GETTING DONE
IS HELPFUL.
BEING PRESENT TO ENSURE THAT
RESIDENTS HAVE GOVERNMENT
WORKING FOR THEM IS SOMETHING
THAT IS VERY IMPORTANT TO ME.
I ALSO LAST WEEK MET WITH
INTERIM DIRECTOR HOWELL FROM
THE DEPARTMENT OF HUMAN
SERVICES.
GREAT CONVERSATION.
I SPOKE TO MY BALLARD, THE BLOG
FROM MY MENTORING INTERVIEW.
THAT WAS LAST WEEK.
SO MUCH MORE WAS DONE, BUT
WE'LL GET ONTO THIS WEEK.
ON TUESDAY, MY STAFF WILL
ATTEND THE PENNY RIDGE
COMMUNITY COUNCIL.
I'LL BE ATTEMPTING THE NORTH
PRECINCT ADVISORY COUNCIL ON
WEDNESDAY.
I'LL BE MEETING WITH A GROUP OF
NEIGHBORS AND BUSINESS OWNERS
WHO HAVE BEEN WORKING TO
ACTIVATE THE LEARY TRIANGLE.
FOR 5+ YEARS.
WE WILL BE WORKING TO CONTINUE
THAT WORK THIS WEDNESDAY.
I'LL BE JOINING THE ASSOCIATION
OF WASHINGTON CITIES, BOARD OF
DIRECTORS STEERING COMMITTEE ON
THURSDAY, AS WELL AS PUGET
SOUND REGIONAL COUNCIL GROWTH
MANAGEMENT BOARD ON THURSDAY.
FINALLY, ON FRIDAY, I GOT AN
INTERVIEW WITH AMARI SAULSBERRY
ON MEDIA.
HERE IN DISTRICT 6, I CONTINUE
TO HOLD RESIDENT MEETINGS.
LAST WEEK I HAD CONVERSATIONS
WITH NEIGHBORS FROM DOWNTOWN
BALLARD, EAST VALLEY, GREEN
LAKE, ROYAL HEIGHTS, BLUE RIDGE,
FREMONT, PHINNEY RIDGE, AND
GREENWOOD.
WE DISCUSSED HOMELESSNESS AT
BALLARD COMMONS PARK,
HOMELESSNESS AND GREEN LAKE,
AND ACROSS THE CITY AND
DISTRICT.
úPEOPLE WERE INTERESTED IN WAYS
TO VOLUNTEER IN DISTRICT 6.
FOLKS TALK TO ME ABOUT DENSITY
IN THEIR NEIGHBORHOODS.
ANOTHER INDIVIDUAL WAS CALLING
TO TALK ABOUT THE PARTICIPATORY
BUDGETING.
YOUR VOICE, YOUR CHOICE, AND
POLICE RESPONSE TIMES.
AS ALREADY CAME UP THIS
MORNING, WE HAD A CONVERSATION
ABOUT HANDWASHING STATIONS AND
THE HISTORY OF TRYING TO GET
HANDWASHING STATIONS
DISTRIBUTED ACROSS OUR CITY.
AS WELL AS DISCUSS THE PURPLE
BAG PROGRAM.
HOW DO WE PRIORITIZE ENCAMPMENT
OUR REACH.
ESPECIALLY AROUND SCHOOLYARD
PLAY FIELDS.
I EVEN HAVE THE OPPORTUNITY TO
TALK WITH ONE OF THE 13 PEOPLE
WHO RAN FOR THE SEAT.
IT WAS REALLY GREAT TO HEAR
INSPIRING WORDS FROM CARA.
I THINK ALL OF THE NEIGHBORS TO
TAKE TIME. I HOST OFFICE HOURS
EVERY WEEK.
I'LL BE SPEAKING TO POST TO
THIS THURSDAY, MARCH 4th, FROM
2:00 P.M.
TO 7:00 P.M.
FEEL FREE TO SIGN UP ON MY
WEBSITE.
AGAIN, IN MY ROLE AS COUNCIL
PRESIDENT PRO TEM, WE DO HAVE
OUR FULL COUNCIL TODAY.
THE RESOLUTION THAT SETS THE
2021 WORK PLAN FOR OUR COUNCIL.
THIS IS THE TIME WERE
COLLEAGUES, IF YOU HAVE
QUESTIONS, WE HAVE ALLIE ON THE
LINE.
COUNCILMEMBER PEDERSEN, IS THAT
A HAND FROM EARLIER, OR IS
THAT A HAND FOR RIGHT NOW?
LOOKS LIKE FOR EARLIER, NOT A
PROBLEM AT ALL.
COLLEAGUES, ANY QUESTIONS?
ALLIE, DO YOU WANT TO GIVE US A
BRIEF RUNDOWN ON WHAT WE SHOULD
BE EXPECTING THIS AFTERNOON?
>> HAPPY TO.
AS COUNCILMEMBER STRAUSS
INDICATED, THIS AFTERNOON'S
AGENDA INCLUDES RESOLUTION 31994
, ADOPTING THE COUNCIL'S 2021
WORK PROGRAM.
CONSISTENT WITH PAST YEARS, THE
2021 WORK PROGRAM ORGANIZED BY
COMMITTEE IS A PUBLIC FACING
DESCRIPTION OF POLICY AREAS AND
PROJECTS WITH THE COUNCIL
PLANNING TO ADDRESS DURING THE
COMING YEAR.
THE COUNCIL PRESIDENT'S OFFICE
WILL USE IT AS A GUIDE TO MAKE
FUTURE DECISIONS ABOUT THE
ORDERLY DISTRIBUTION OF
LEGISLATION TO THE COUNCIL
STANDING AND SELECT COMMITTEES.
IT'S ALSO A HELPFUL TOOL
ALLOWING CENTRAL STAFF TO MAKE
STAFF ASSIGNMENTS TO SUPPORT
THE COUNCIL'S LEGISLATIVE
AUTHORITIES.
THE RESOLUTION DOES NOT
REFERENCE THOSE.
JUST NOTE THAT THE WORK PROGRAM
IS A POINT IN TIME LOOK AT WHAT
PROJECTS MAY BE TAKEN UP BY THE
COMMITTEE THIS YEAR, BUT IT IS
A BIT OF AN IMPERFECT CRYSTAL
BALL.
IT IS LIKELY THAT SOME PROJECTS
WILL NOT BE READY FOR ACTION IN
2021 BECAUSE OF CHANGING
CIRCUMSTANCES.
CONVERSELY, COMMITTEES MAY
DECIDE TO TAKE UP OTHER
PROJECTS THAT FOR ONE REASON OR
ANOTHER WERE NOT INCLUDED IN
THE WORK PROGRAM.
AGAIN, THIS IS JUST A WORK
PROGRAM FOR THIS MOMENT IN TIME,
BUT OTHER ACTIVITIES MAY OCCUR
IN COMMITTEES THROUGHOUT THE
YEAR.
THE PLAN IS FOR THIS AFTERNOON
TO ADDRESS THE AIR RESOLUTIONS
AND TAKE ACTION.
THAT WOULD CONCLUDE ADOPTION OF
THE 2021 COUNCIL WORK PROGRAM.
THANK YOU.
>> THANK YOU, ALLIE.
COLLEAGUES, ANY QUESTIONS?
I KNOW, FOR MYSELF, I HAVE BEEN
SO IN THE WEEDS WITH NOT ONLY
MY COMMITTEE, LAND-USE AND
NEIGHBORHOODS WORKPLAN, AND
ALSO COUNCILMEMBER PEDERSEN'S
COMMITTEE WHICH I SERVE AS THE
VICE CHAIR OF THE
TRANSPORTATION AND UTILITIES
COMMISSION, COMMITTEE, SORRY,
NOT COMMISSION.
SO, I'VE BEEN DEEP IN THE WEEDS
ON THOSE.
I CAN ONLY ASSUME THAT EVERYONE
ELSE HAS AS WELL.
IF WE ARE SEEING NO QUESTIONS,
ALLIE, IT SEEMS LIKE YOUR
BRIEFINGS OF COUNCILMEMBERS
HAVE DONE IT STRICT.
GREAT.
SEEING THUMBS-UP.
COUNCILMEMBER MOSQUEDA.
PLEASE.
>> THANK YOU, MR. PRESIDENT.
BEFORE WE WRAP UP, PEOPLE CAN
NOTE THAT I DO HAVE
COUNCILMEMBER JUAREZ'S NOTES.
I'M HAPPY TO LEAVE THOSE WHEN
REPORTED.
>> THIS WOULD BE A GREAT TIME.
>> THANK YOU VERY MUCH COUNCIL
PRESIDENT PRO TEM.
COLLIES, ON BEHALF OF
COUNCILMEMBER JUAREZ, FROM THE
PUBLIC ASSETS AND NATIVE
COMMITTEES THERE IS ONE ITEM ON
TODAY'S FULL COUNCIL AGENDA.
AGENDA NUMBER EIGHT IS
RESOLUTION 31996.
THIS RESOLUTION SET THE TIME
AND PLACE FOR HEARINGS ON
APPEALS TO THE HEARING
EXAMINER'S FINAL REPORT ON
LOCAL IMPROVEMENT DISTRICT
NUMBER 6751.
SHE'LL SPEAK MORE TO THIS
DURING THE COUNCIL MEETING AT
2:00 P.M.
THERE IS ALSO A PANC COMMITTEE
MEETING TOMORROW AT 2:00 P.M.
THEY WILL BE HOLDING THE FIRST
OF TWO HEARINGS FOR APPEALS TO
THE HEARING EXAMINER'S FINAL
REPORT.
A REMINDER TO MEMBERS OF THE
COMMITTEE, CENTRAL STAFF MET --
SENT MEMBERS OF THE COMMITTEE
AND INDEX THAT EASILY NAVIGATES
A LIST OF APPEALS.
IF YOU HAVE ANY QUESTIONS,
PLEASE CONTACT ERIC ON CENTRAL
STAFF FOR ANY QUESTIONS.
THIS IS ALSO A QUASIJUDICIAL
ISSUE.
FROM PARKS.
I REPORT FROM THE CLEAN CITIES
INITIATIVE FROM THE WEEK OF
FEBRUARY 15th TO FEBRUARY 21st,
DURING THE WEEK OF FEBRUARY
15th, THE CLEAN CITY CREW
PICKED UP OVER 700 -- 70,500
POUNDS OF TRASH AND 1344 NEEDLES
FROM 51 ENCAMPMENT LOCATIONS.
FROM THE SHOW PROGRAMS, PARKS
SERVED 400 TO USERS OF THE
PROGRAM WITH UPLIFT NORTHWEST
SERVING 115 USERS AT GREEN LAKE
COMMUNITY CENTER.
THE EMERGENCY FOOD DISTRIBUTION
AT RANIER BEACH COMMUNITY
CENTER INCLUDED TWO LIFELINE
DISTRIBUTION BOXES FOR OVER 1000
INDIVIDUALS AND FAMILIES.
THE IMPROVEMENTS PROGRAM FROM
THE SEATTLE CONSERVATION CORPS,
A UNIQUE PARKS AND RECREATION
PROGRAM FOR PEOPLE EXPERIENCING
HOMELESSNESS, RECENTLY
COMPLETED WORK AT THREE
GARDENS, INCLUDING COLEMAN PARK,
MY MOTHER'S GARDEN, AND HILLMAN
CITY.
FROM THE QUEEN AND POOL, THE
POOL OPENED FOR SEATTLE PUBLIC
SCHOOL'S HIGH SCHOOL SWIM TEAMS
ON FEBRUARY 22nd.
QUEEN AND POOL WILL ALSO BE
AVAILABLE TO ALL SEATTLE PARKS
AQUATIC STAFF FOR TRAINING AND
LIFEGUARD CERTIFICATIONS
GETTING GEARED UP FOR SUMMER.
BETTER TIMES AHEAD.
THE LAKE CITY COMMUNITY CENTER,
AFTER BEING CLOSED FOR ALMOST
11 MONTHS DUE TO COVID, THE
CENTER WAS OPENED AS A DAY
CENTER ON FEBRUARY 13th FOR
HOMELESS INDIVIDUALS IN THE
AREA.
DURING THE CLOSURE OF THE
CENTER, THE CENTER WAS BROKEN
INTO AND VANDALIZED.
THE SEATTLE PARKS AND
RECREATION'S WORKERS SPENT
SEVERAL WEEKS SECURING AND
REPAIRING DOORS, PATCHING AND
PAINTING WALLS, AND MAKING
REPAIRS TO PREPARE FOR THE
FACILITY'S REOPENING.
REGARDING THE JOINT PARK AND
PARKS DISTRICT OVERSIGHT BOARD
COMMITTEE MEETING, THE PARKS
BOARD AND PARKS DISTRICT
OVERSIGHT COMMITTEE MET IN A
JOINT MEETING ON FEBRUARY 25th.
THIS MEETING, INCLUDED
PRESENTATIONS OF THE ANNUAL
JOHN C LITTLE AWARD TO A
LONGTIME SEATTLE PARKS EMPLOYEE
FOR HIS WORK TO REACH OUT TO
ENGAGE WITH SEATTLE'S INNER-
CITY YOUTH.
IN PARTICULAR, IN RECOGNITION
OF HIS EFFORTS TO FORM THE
SEATTLE RUTH GREEN CORPS.
THEY PROVIDE CLEAR PATHWAYS
INTO LIVABLE WAGE JOBS FOR
YOUNG PEOPLE AND FOSTERS LOVE
OF OUTDOORS.
FINALLY, REGARDING THE
INSTALLATION OF THE RESERVOIR
SIGNS, THE RESERVOIR SIGNS WERE
INSTALLED TO MEET A.D.A.
REQUIREMENTS AT JEFFERSON PARK
BEACON RESERVOIR.
MAGNOLIA, AND MAGNOLIA
RESERVOIR.
AS WELL AS OTHER PARKS AND
RESERVOIRS.
LASTLY, SEATTLE TRANSIT LAST
THURSDAY, THE SEATTLE TRANSIT
BOARD OF DIRECTORS HAVE THEIR
REGULAR BOARD MEETING TO
DISCUSS THAT MODEL FOR
REALIGNMENT DISCUSSIONS.
IN ADDITION, THE BOARD APPROVED
TRANSFERRING RANIER VALLEY
SURPLUS PROPERTY TO THE CITY'S
OFFICE OF HOUSING FOR
AFFORDABLE HOMEOWNERSHIP.
YAY!
THIS TRANSFER IS AT NO COST
FOLLOWING THE FEDERAL TRANSIT
ADMINISTRATION APPROVAL LAST
FALL.
I'LL ALSO KNOW, THERE IS A
MODEL THAT WE USED FOR TRANSFER
OF PUBLIC PROPERTIES, WHICH WAS
AUTHORIZED BY THE STATE
LEGISLATURE A FEW YEARS AGO.
VERY EXCITED THAT SOUND TRANSIT
HAD LED THE EFFORT IN THAT WAY.
THANK YOU VERY MUCH
COUNCILMEMBER JUAREZ FOR YOUR
REPORT.
I HOPE I DID IT JUSTICE.
I'M HAPPY TO SEND THAT AROUND
TO COUNCILMEMBERS AS WELL IF
YOU WOULD LIKE TO SEE MORE.
>> THANK YOU MEMBER MOSQUEDA.
COLLIES, ANY COMMENTS,
QUESTIONS, OR CONCERNS, OR
ITEMS FOR THE GOOD OF THE ORDER?
DOUBLE CHECKING, NO FURTHER
QUESTIONS FOR ALLIE.
SEEING NINE COMMANDO ITEMS FOR
THE GOOD OF THE ORDER, THIS
DOES CONCLUDE OUR COUNCIL
BRIEFING FOR MARCH 1st, 2021.
IT WILL BE INCLUDED AT 11:18
A.M.
I LOOK FORWARD TO SEEING YOU AT
FULL COUNCIL THIS AFTERNOON AT
2:00 P.M.
THIS DOES CONCLUDE THE MEETING
AND WE ARE ADJOURNED.