>>> GOOD MORNING EVERYONE.
WELCOME BACK.
THE APRIL 5th, 2021 COUNCIL
BRIEFING MEETING WILL NOW COME
TO ORDER.
THE TIME IS 9:31 A.M.
COLLEAGUES, AS WE DISCUSSED
LAST WEEK, COUNCILMEMBER
STRAUSS IS NOT GOING TO BE ABLE
TO JOIN US TODAY AT COUNCIL
BRIEFING OR AT THE CITY COUNCIL
MEETING.
HE HAS BEEN EXCUSED FOR BOTH.
HE IS SERVING JURY DUTY.
HE WILL NOT BE WITH US THIS
MORNING.
THAT BEING SAID, WILL THE CLERK
PLEASE CALL THE ROLL?
MIKE PEDERSEN?
>> HERE.
>> PRESENT.
>> HERBOLD?
>> JUAREZ.
>> HERE.
>> LEWIS?
THEIR PRESENT.
>> MORALES.
>> MOSQUEDA.
>> PRESENT.
>> COUNCIL PRESIDENT GONZALEZ.
>> HERE.
>> SIX PRESENT.
>> THANK YOU SO MUCH.
IF THERE IS NO OBJECTION THE
MINUTES OF MARCH 29th, 2021
WILL BE ADOPTED.
HEARING NO OBJECTION, THE
MINUTES ARE ADOPTED.
PRESIDENT'S REPORT, I DO NOT
HAVE A PRESIDENT'S REPORT THIS
MORNING SO WE WILL JUST DIVE
RIGHT INTO THE STATE AND
LEGISLATIVE SESSION UPDATE AND
WE HANDED OVER TO DIRECTOR LILY
WILSON-CODEGA TO DO A ROUND OF
INTRODUCTIONS AND KICKOFF THE
REPORT.
>> THANK YOU COUNCIL PRESIDENT,
LILY WILSON-CODEGA.
DIRECTOR OF THE OFFICE OF
INTERGOVERNMENTAL RELATIONS.
>> ROBIN KOSKEY, DEPUTY
DIRECTOR.
>> QUINN MAJESKI, STATE
RELATIONS DIRECTOR.
>> HANNAH SMITH, GOVERNMENT
AFFAIRS PROGRAM DIRECTOR.
>> GOOD MORNING EVERYONE.
THANK YOU FOR MAKING THE TIME
TODAY.
WE ARE BEFORE YOU WITH A STATE
LEGISLATIVE BRIEFING WITH
APPROXIMATELY THREE WEEKS LEFT
IN THE 2021 LEGISLATIVE SESSION.
WE DID A BRIEF OVERVIEW OF
BUDGET HIGHLIGHTS AT OUR LAST
BRIEFING.
WE LOOKS FORWARD TO SPENDING
SOME ADDITIONAL TIME WITH YOU
TODAY ON EACH CHAMBER'S
OPERATING PROPOSALS.
GIVEN THE OUTLOOK IS MUCH
DIFFERENT THAN WE HAD
ANTICIPATED.
WITH THE INFLUX OF FEDERAL
DOLLARS TO THE STATE FROM THE
AMERICAN RESCUE PLAN ACT
DOLLARS.
THESE FINAL WEEKS OF SESSION
WILL BE FOCUSED ON THE 2021/2023
PRIORITY.
BOTH CHAMBERS ARE WORKING LONG
DAYS INTO THE NIGHT AND SOME
WEEKENDS ON THE FLOOR.
BOTH THE HOUSE AND THE SENATE
TODAY WILL BE SPENDING FULL
DAYS ON THE FLOOR CONSIDERING
BILLS THAT HAVE NOT YET DIED.
THE REMAINING TWO WEEKS OF
SESSION WILL BE USED FOR EACH
CHAMBER TO RECONCILE
DIFFERENCES IN THE LEGISLATION.
AS THEY HAVE CHANGED AS THEY
MOVE BETWEEN THE TWO CHAMBERS.
I ALSO WANT TO HIGHLIGHT ONE OF
THE COUNCIL'S TOP, HIGHEST
PRIORITIES, CAPITAL GAINS,
CONTINUES TO ADVANCE THIS
SESSION.
WHILE WE DON'T HAVE A TON TO
REPORT THERE, WHEN WILL SPEAK
TO THIS MORE IN DEPTH.
WE ARE THRILLED TO REPORT THAT
IS REFERENCED IN BOTH THE
HEALTH AND SENATE BUDGETS.
I WILL ALSO NOTE THAT THE HUMAN
SERVICES INVESTMENTS, HANNAH
WILL BE SPEAKING TO IN HER
PORTFOLIO, ARE JUST REMARKABLE.
THE SCALE OF THESE INVESTMENTS
AND THEIR ABILITY TO HELP OUR
MOST FOLDABLE FAMILIES, PARENTS,
ISSUES AROUND CHILDCARE,
AFFECTING OUR MOST FOLDABLE,
DMU DID AND REFUGEE.
THAT WE HAVE SEEN AT THE
FEDERAL LEVEL, THE STATE HAS
REALLY STEPPED UP.
I AM VERY MUCH LOOKING FORWARD
TO 100s REPORT TODAY.
ROBIN WILL ALSO SPEAK TO SOME
REMARKABLE INVESTMENTS IN THE
CAPITAL BUDGET AROUND HOUSING
AND HOMELESSNESS.
WITH SOME EXCITING NEWS ON THE
EXPANSION FOR RAPID OPPOSITION
FUNDING AND WE HAVE A SPECIFIC
ASK FOR YOU THAT I KNOW SHE
WILL BE HOLDING UNTIL THE END
TO HELP US BREAK SOME OF THOSE
FUNDS LOSE.
WE HAVE [ INDISCERNIBLE ] APRIL
2nd.
THE CUT OFF IS COMING UP ON
SUNDAY, APRIL 11th.
THE LAST DAY OF THE LEGISLATIVE
SESSION IS SCHEDULED TO BE
SUNDAY, APRIL 25th.
I WILL NOW TURN IT OVER TO
QUINN MAJESKI, OUR STATE
RELATIONS DIRECTOR FOR A STATE
BUDGET UPDATE AND COUNCIL
PRIORITY HIGHLIGHTS.
>> GOOD MORNING, COUNCIL
MEMBERS, THANK YOU AS ALWAYS
FOR HAVING US.
IN THE BUDGET AND REVENUE
SPACE, LAST WEEK WE COVERED A
LOT OF THE SALIENT HIGHLIGHTS
OF THE DIFFERENT BUDGETS.
IN DELIVERING THE COUNCIL
BULLETIN OVER THE WEEKEND,
HANNAH ALSO PROVIDED A MORE IN
DEPTH OVERVIEW OF THE CAPITAL
AND OPERATING BUDGETS.
WHICH IN THE INTEREST OF TIME,
I THINK WE ARE NOT GOING TO GO
THROUGH ITEM BY ITEM.
IF THERE ANY QUESTIONS ABOUT
PARTICULAR ITEMS, WE ARE HAPPY
TO ADDRESS THOSE OR LOOK INTO
THEM AS COUNCILMEMBERS ARE
INTERESTED.
IN TERMS OF THE OVERALL
DEVELOPMENTS ON THE BUDGETS,
LAST WEEK BOTH THE HOUSE AND
THE SENATE PASSED THEIR
PROPOSALS, THEIR OPERATING
CAPITAL AND TRANSPORTATION
PROPOSALS ON VARIOUS DAYS.
THOSE ARE ALL NOW QUEUED UP FOR
THE BUDGET LEADERS, THE CHAIRS,
VICE CHAIRS, AND DRINKING
MEMBERS, TO BEGIN NEGOTIATIONS
ACROSS THE CHAMBERS.
GIVEN THE FACT THAT THERE IS A
PRETTY SIGNIFICANT AMOUNT OF
FEDERAL RESOURCES AVAILABLE, AS
WELL AS THE CONTINUED
IMPROVEMENT OF THE OVERALL --
THE STATE'S OVERALL REVENUE
FORECAST, I DO BELIEVE THAT THE
BUDGETS ARE NOT AS FAR APART AS
THEY HAVE BEEN IN PREVIOUS
YEARS.
THE STARTING POINT FOR
NEGOTIATIONS SHOULD BE A
RELATIVELY GOOD ONE.
THERE ARE DIFFERENCES THAT
BUDGET LEADERS WILL NEED TO
ADDRESS.
BOTH BUDGETS, AS LILY MENTIONED,
TO INCLUDE THE CAPITAL GAINS
TAX.
ALTHOUGH THAT LEGISLATION HAS
NOT SPECIFICALLY MOVED OUT OF
COMMITTEE, THE FACT THAT IT IS
REFERENCED IN BOTH BUDGETS IS A
VERY POSITIVE DEVELOPMENT
THERE.
I THINK THE ONLY OTHER
LEGISLATION UPDATES TO NOTE HERE
IN BUDGET AND REVENUE IS THAT
THE WEALTH TAX, HOUSE BILL 1406,
WAS PASSED OUT OF THE HOUSE
APPROPRIATIONS -- SORRY, THE
HOUSE FINANCE COMMITTEE, AND IS
NOW IN THE APPROPRIATIONS
COMMITTEE.
THIS IS A VERY POSITIVE STEP
FOR THIS LEGISLATION.
IT HAD A PUBLIC HEARING MUCH
EARLIER IN SESSION, BUT HAS
SORT OF SINCE BEEN DORMANT.
I DO THINK THAT IT IS PROBABLY
UNLIKELY THAT IT WILL BE ADOPTED
, PASSED BOTH THE HOUSE AND
SENATE THIS YEAR.
SEEING IT MOVE IN CONTINUE TO
BE PART OF THE CONVERSATION IS
DEFINITELY A VERY POSITIVE
DEVELOPMENT.
I WILL PAUSE THERE FOR ANY
QUESTIONS ON BUDGET AND REVENUE.
>> COLLEAGUES, ANY QUESTIONS OR
COMMENTS ON THIS SECTION?
SORRY, I HAD TO SCROLL.
THANK YOU, COUNCILMEMBER
MOSQUEDA, FOR USING THE
FEATURE.
GO AHEAD.
>> THANK YOU VERY MUCH COUNCIL
PRESIDENT.
THANK YOU OIR TEAM AS ALWAYS.
I AM SO IMPRESSED BY THE
SESSION.
I KNOW THAT IT HAS NOT BEEN
EASY FOR THOSE WORKING ON THE
OUTSIDE AND THE INSIDE SOMMA SO
THANKS FOR ALL THE GREAT NEWS
AND ALL OF YOUR INCREDIBLE
ADVOCACY.
QUINN, JUST INTERESTING IF YOU
CAN BREATHE A BRIEF HIGHLIGHT
OF ANY OF THE CAPITAL BUDGET
INVESTMENTS?
I WANT TO MAKE AN ASSUMPTION WE
ARE TALKING MOSTLY ABOUT
OPERATING, BUT IS THERE
ANYTHING YOU WOULD LIKE TO LIFT
UP FROM CAPITAL, ESPECIALLY AS
IT RELATES TO TRANSPORTATION
AND BRIDGES?
>> CERTAINLY.
APOLOGIES, COUNCILMEMBER
MOSQUEDA, I WAS SAVING
TRANSPORTATION FOR THAT SECTION,
BUT I'M HAPPY TO SPEAK TO THAT
AT THIS POINT.
THE CURRENT LAW TRANSPORTATION
BUDGET -- I GUESS TO FRAME
THIS, WHILE REVENUES AND
OPERATING AND CAPITAL TO A
LESSER EXTENT HAVE REALLY
BOUNCED BACK SINCE THE SUMMER
PERIOD WHERE REVENUES WERE DOWN
SIGNIFICANTLY IN THE STATE'S
BUDGET SITUATION.
TRANSPORTATION REVENUES HAVE
NOT BOUNCED BACK.
SO, THERE IS, IN THE
TRANSPORTATION BUDGET, JUST
UNDER $1 BILLION IN SHORTFALL.
IT IS MORE THAN $1 BILLION WHEN
YOU FACTOR IN TRANSPORTATION
REVENUES, BUT THE SUPREME
COURT'S DECISION ON 976 DID
RESTORE ABOUT $300 MILLION.
BOTH IN THE HOUSE-SENATE
BACKFIELD THAT SHORTFALL WITH
FUNDS FROM THE AMERICAN RESCUE
PLAN.
THE FINAL SORT OF SITUATION IS
VERY MUCH A STATUS QUO.
WHEN IT COMES TO THE CURRENT
LONG TRANSPORTATION BUDGETS.
SO, THOSE BUDGETS DON'T HAVE ANY
SIGNIFICANT INVESTMENTS IN
BRIDGES OR INFRASTRUCTURE.
THAT SAID, CHAIR FIVE, THE
HOUSE TRANSPORTATION CHAIR DID
RELEASE A NEW LAW.
TRANSPORTATION REVENUE PACKAGE
PROPOSAL LAST WEEK.
THAT DID INCLUDE -- WE ARE
PARSING THROUGH THIS AND WE
WILL PROVIDE AN UPDATED SUMMARY
OF THIS AS WELL.
FOR SEATTLE SPECIFICALLY IN
TERMS OF SEATTLE'S SPECIFIC
INVESTMENTS, YOU WILL RECALL
PREVIOUSLY HE DIDN'T HAVE A
PROJECT LIST.
HE DID COME OUT WITH A PROJECT
LIST AT THIS POINT.
THAT DOES INCLUDE $25 MILLION
FOR THE WEST SEATTLE BRIDGE.
$54 MILLION FOR BALLARD, WHICH
INCLUDES THE BALLARD AND
MAGNOLIA BRIDGES.
$20 MILLION FOR SAFETY
IMPROVEMENTS IN NORTH AURORA.
THERE HAS BEEN A LONG-STANDING
ISSUE WITH PEDESTRIAN INJURIES,
BUT INCLUDING RECENTLY SEVERAL
COLLISIONS AND FATALITIES THERE.
THAT IS WHAT IS INCLUDED
SPECIFICALLY FOR SEATTLE
PROJECTS ON THE HOUSE SIDE.
THEN, ON THE SENATE SIDE, CHAIR
HOBBS IS SCHEDULED TO RELEASE
AN UPDATE FOR HIS FORWARD
WASHINGTON PROPOSAL LATER TODAY.
THERE WILL BE A HEARING ON THAT
TOMORROW.
IN HIS PREVIOUS VERSION, HE
INCLUDED $25 MILLION FOR THE
WEST SEATTLE BRIDGE.
SO, WE WILL SEE WHAT COMES OUT
THERE, AND WHEN WE HAVE THAT
INFORMATION I WILL PROVIDE A
MORE DETAILED SUMMARY AND
COMPARISON OF THOSE TWO, NOT
JUST THE SEATTLE PROJECTS BUT
OVERALL BUCKETS OF SPENDING.
THERE ARE SOME SIGNIFICANT
DIFFERENCES THERE.
>> THANK YOU VERY MUCH.
>> ALL RIGHT, ANY OTHER
COMMENTS OR QUESTIONS ON
REVENUE?
OKAY, HEARING NONE, LET'S
CONTINUE.
>> GREAT.
IN THE EDUCATION SPACE, A BIG
UPDATE ON THE FAIR STARTS FOR
KIDS ACT.
WHILE BOTH VEHICLES HAVE BEEN
MOVING THROUGH SO FAR, IT HAS
NOT BEEN DETERMINED THAT THE
SENATE BILL WILL BE THE
VEHICLE.
IT WAS EXEC'D FROM
APPROPRIATIONS LAST WEEK AND
HS BEEN REFERRED TO RULES.
IT IS FULLY FUNDED IN BOTH
VERSIONS OF THE BUDGET.
SO, GOOD NEWS THERE.
ALL THE REMAINING EDUCATION
BILLS WE ARE FOLLOWING HAVE
MADE IT OUT OF THEIR COMMITTEES
BEFORE LAST WEEK'S CUT OFF AND
ARE NOW IN RULES.
SO, I'LL PASS IT BACK TO QUINN
FOR ENVIRONMENT.
>> IN THE ENVIRONMENT SPACE, WE
HAVE SOME GOOD NEWS AND SOME
BAD NEWS THIS WEEK.
AND POSITIVE DEVELOPMENTS,
HOUSE BILL 1091, WHICH IS THE
CLEAN FUEL STANDARD PASSED OUT
OF THE WAYS AND MEANS COMMITTEE.
IT'S A POSITIVE DEVELOPMENT.
WAS REFERRED DIRECTLY TO RULES.
I THINK THERE WAS SOME
CONVERSATION ABOUT WHETHER IT
WOULD GO TO THE CONVERSATION
COMMITTEE IN THE SENATE WHICH
IS THE LOCATION WOULD HASN'T
EXPERIENCED SOME DIFFICULTIES
IN PREVIOUS YEARS.
WHICH IS NOT TO SAY IT DOESN'T
STILL FACE SOME CHALLENGES ON
THE SENATE FLOOR.
THAT IS ONE OBSTACLE THAT HAS
EXISTED IN PREVIOUS YEARS THAT
WILL NOT BE AN OBSTACLE THIS
YEAR.
UNFORTUNATELY, ON THE FLIPSIDE,
HOUSE BILL 1099, WHICH WOULD
HAVE INCORPORATED PLANNING FOR
CLIMATE CHANGE INTO
COMPREHENSIVE PLANNING AND
GROWTH MANAGEMENT POLICIES,
THAT WAS SOMEWHAT SURPRISINGLY,
AT LEAST TO ME AND TWO OTHER
ADVOCATES, AFTER PASSING OUT OF
WAYS AND MEANS, REFERRED TO
TRANSPORTATION.
WITH ONLY TWO BEFORE FISCAL
CUTOFF, IT DID RECEIVE A
HEARING BUT IT WAS NOT VOTED
OUT OF COMMITTEE BEFORE THAT
DEADLINE ON FRIDAY.
THAT BILL IS DEAD FOR THIS YEAR.
I THINK OUR EFFORTS TO
INCORPORATE SOME OF THE
PROVISIONS INTO OTHER
LEGISLATION.
BUT, AT LEAST AS A VEHICLE,
1099 IS NO LONGER ACTIVE.
I'LL PAUSE FOR ANY QUESTIONS ON
ENVIRONMENT.
>> ANY QUESTIONS ON ENVIRONMENT
, COLLEAGUES?
I'M NOT SEEING ANY HANDS
RAISED, SO YOU CAN KEEP GOING,
QUINN.
>> GENERAL GOVERNMENT.
ALL OF THE BILLS WE ARE
TRACKING HAVE MOVED OUT OF THE
PHYSICAL COMMITTEES BEFORE
THEIR DEADLINE ON LAST FRIDAY.
I WOULD JUST HIGHLIGHT A COUPLE
THAT I KNOW ARE OF INTEREST.
HOUSE BILL 1016, THE JUNETEENTH
HOLIDAY.
HOUSE BILL 1173, THE ARMORY
PUBLIC DEVELOPMENT AUTHORITY.
HOUSE BILL 1258, THE MICRO
ENTERPRISE HOME KITCHENS, ALL
PASSED OUT AND ARE NOW IN THE
SENATE RULES COMMITTEE AWAITING
ACTION THERE.
I'LL PAUSE FOR ANY QUESTIONS ON
GENERAL GOVERNMENT.
>> ANY QUESTIONS, COLLEAGUES?
I DON'T SEE ANY HANDS RAISED,
SO I THINK YOU CAN CONTINUE.
>> HEALTHCARE, WE ALSO ARE
MOSTLY GOOD NEWS IS THINGS
CONTINUE TO MOVE SO I'LL JUST
HIGHLIGHT A FEW BILLS.
HOUSE BILL 1477, WHICH SETS UP
THE NATIONAL 988 HOTLINE
CONTINUES TO MOVE AS SCHEDULED.
IT IS SCHEDULED FOR AN
EXECUTIVE SESSION TODAY IN WAYS
AND MEANS.
THERE CONTINUES TO BE A LOT OF
WORK BEHIND THE SCENES TO
ADDRESS SOME OF THE
IMPLEMENTATION TIMELINES AND
JUST THE SCOPE OF THE TASK
FORCE, WHICH INCLUDES A BROAD
VARIETY OF STAKEHOLDERS.
THAT CONTINUES TO MOVE FORWARD.
SENATE BILL 5068, WHICH IS
MEDICAID POSTPARTUM, WAS PULLED
FROM RULES AND THE POLICY IS
FUNDED IN BOTH THE HOUSE AND
SENATE OPERATING BUDGETS.
SENATE BILL 5195, IS ALSO BEEN
EXEC'D AND MOVED TO RULES.
GREAT NEWS OVERALL IN OUR
HEALTHCARE STATE.
I'LL PAUSE THERE FOR QUESTIONS.
>> COLLEAGUES, ANY QUESTIONS?
I'M NOT SEEING ANY HANDS
RAISED, SO I THINK WE CAN
CONTINUE.
>> GOOD MORNING EVERYONE.
A LOT OF GOOD HOUSING BILLS
STILL MOVING.
GOOD NEWS, HOUSE BILL 1070 THAT
ALLOWS THE COUNTY TO USE THE
REVENUE THAT ARE GENERATED
THROUGH THE HOUSE BY HOUSING
SALES TAX FOR ACQUISITION
PASSED THE SENATE AND IS ON THE
WAY TO THE GOVERNOR FOR THE
SIGNATURE.
HOUSE BILL 1108, WHICH
MAINTAINS FUNDING FOR
HOMEOWNERS NAVIGATING THE
FORECLOSURE PROCESS, VERY
IMPORTANT AS WE ARE MOVING
THROUGH THIS PANDEMIC.
IT PASSED OUT OF THE SENATE ON
SATURDAY.
SO, I BELIEVE THAT MAY NEED
CONCURRENCE, BUT THAT BILL IS
ON THE PATH TO FINALLY PASS.
HOUSE BILL 1220 THAT DOES SOME
THINGS AROUND THE GROWTH
MANAGEMENT ACT TO MAKE SURE
THAT HOUSING NEEDS ARE
CONSIDERED AND ALSO PROVIDES
SOME ZONING PARAMETERS AROUND
TRANSITIONAL HOUSING, PERMANENT
SUPPORTIVE HOUSING AND SHELTERS,
IS STILL PASSED OUT OF THE WAYS
IN COMMITTEE ON FRIDAY.
IT IS DEFINITELY STILL A WORK
ARE ONGOING OVER EXACTLY WHAT
THOSE ZONING PARAMETERS WILL BE.
RIGHT NOW, RATHER THAN BEING
FOCUSED ON ZONES WHERE SHORT-
TERM RENTALS ARE ALLOWED, IT IS
BEING FOCUSED ON TRANSPORTATION
AND AREAS THAT ARE WITHIN ONE
MILE OF TRANSIT WOULD BE
REQUIRED TO ALLOW ZONING FOR
SHELTERS, PERMANENT SUPPORTIVE
HOUSING, TRANSITIONAL HOUSING.
I DO THINK THAT THERE IS A
CONTINUED ONGOING CONVERSATION,
SO I WILL KEEP THE COUNCIL
POSTED ABOUT THAT.
I KNOW WE DID SEND A LETTER TO
THE LEGISLATURE IN SUPPORT OF
THIS BILL.
HOUSE BILL 1277, THAT WOULD ADD
$100 TO THE DOCUMENT RECORDING
FEES TO GENERATE $100 MILLION
STATEWIDE IS STILL MOVING ALONG.
IT HAS BEEN SCHEDULED FOR A
PUBLIC HEARING IN THE WAYS AND
MEANS COMMITTEE.
I THINK THERE IS AN EFFORT TO
MAKE IT UNDERSTOOD THAT WHILE
RENTAL -- THERE IS SOME RENTAL
ASSISTANCE THAT IS BEING
ALLOCATED THROUGH THE AMERICAN
RESCUE PLAN DOLLARS THAT THE
STATE IS RECEIVING AND THAT
CITIES ARE RECEIVING, BUT THIS
WILL BE AN ONGOING NEED THAT
WILL NOT DISAPPEAR IMMEDIATELY
AFTER THE PANDEMIC IS OVER,
GIVING THE ECONOMIC IMPACT.
TRYING TO DO SOME EDUCATION
THAT THIS IS A REALLY NEED A
BILL TO MAKE SURE WE HAVE THAT
CONTINUING RESOURCE ONCE THE
FEDERAL DOLLARS ARE NO LONGER
AVAILABLE TO US.
HOUSE BILL 1494, THAT CREATES
AN ANTI-DISPLACEMENT PROPERTY
TAX EXEMPTION.
THE FIRST $250,000 OF A HOME
PASSED UNDER THE FINANCE
COMMITTEE ON FRIDAY.
IT IS NOW IN THE HOUSE
APPROPRIATIONS COMMITTEE.
THE CONSTITUTIONAL AMENDMENT
THAT IS NEEDED TO ENACT THAT
EXEMPTION, HR 4204, ALSO PASSED
OUT OF FINANCE ON FRIDAY.
THEN, FINALLY ON THE HOUSING
FRONT, SENATE BILL 5160 PASSED
OUT OF THE APPROPRIATIONS
COMMITTEE ON THURSDAY.
THAT INCLUDES LEGAL
REPRESENTATION FOR TENANTS,
PAYMENT PLANS, AND AN INCREASE
IN THE AMOUNT THAT THE
LANDLORDS MAY RECEIVE FROM THE
LANDLORD MITIGATION FUND.
ALL TO PROVIDE A PATH FORWARD
AFTER THE EVICTION MORATORIUM
IS LIFTED.
THAT'S ALL THAT I HAVE FOR
HOUSING TODAY IF ANYONE HAS ANY
QUESTIONS BEFORE I MOVE ON TO
POLICE REFORM I'LL PAUSE FOR A
MOMENT.
>> THANKS, ROBIN FOR TAKING A
PAUSE.
I SEE THAT COUNCILMEMBER LEWIS
HAS HIS HAND RAISED.
PLEASE.
>> I THINK THIS MIGHT BE THE
APPROPRIATE TIME TO ASK THIS
QUESTION ABOUT THE BUDGET
RELATED TO HOUSING MATTERS.
MY OFFICE THROUGH IT TAKES A
VILLAGE INITIATIVE IS DOING A
LOT OF ADVOCACY AROUND SEEKING
STATE SUPPORT TO EXPAND TINY
HOUSE VILLAGES.
WE HAVE A GOAL OF 12 HOUSE
VILLAGES.
OBVIOUSLY THAT COMES WITH A LOT
OF UPFRONT CAPITAL COSTS.
WE BEEN ABLE TO GET $2 MILLION
IN CAPITAL EXPENSES INTO THE
HOUSE BUDGET, BUT NOW THAT THE
CAPITAL BUDGETS NEED TO BE
RECONCILED, AND IT ISN'T IN THE
SENATE BUDGET, WE ARE TRYING TO
MAKE SURE THAT WE COME OUT ON
THE OTHER SIDE HERE WITH THE $2
MILLION IN CAPITAL SUPPORT FOR
TINY HOUSES.
OBVIOUSLY $2 MILLION WOULD
SUPPORT THE UPFRONT CAPITAL
COSTS FOR THREE TINY HOUSE
VILLAGES AND COULD SUPPORT UP
TO 120 PEOPLE EXITING
HOMELESSNESS INTO TINY HOUSE --
WELL, RATHER EXITING
UNSHELTERED HOMELESSESS INTO
TINY HOUSES.
I WANTED TO JUST ASK, BECAUSE I
THINK WE ARE AT THIS POINT NOW
WHERE WE ARE TRYING TO
RECONCILE THE TWO CAPITAL
BUDGETS.
WHERE WE ARE IN MAKING SURE
THAT $2 MILLION STAYS IN THE
FINAL RECONCILED CAPITAL BUDGET.
>> COUNCILMEMBER LEWIS, IT'S MY
UNDERSTANDING THAT THE WAY THAT
THE SENATE BUDGET IS WRITTEN IS
QUITE FLEXIBLE AND COULD BE USED
FOR A RANGE OF HOUSING OPTIONS
FOR EVERYTHING FROM CREATING A
TINY HOUSE VILLAGE TO ACTUALLY
ACQUIRING BUILDINGS.
WE ARE GOING TO TALK ABOUT THAT
A LITTLE BIT MORE AT THE END OF
THIS BRIEFING.
I DO BELIEVE MY READ OF THE
LANGUAGE IS THAT, IT CERTAINLY
COULD BE USED FOR TINY HOUSE
VILLAGES WITHOUT AN ISSUE,
ALTHOUGH THERE IS NOT A
SPECIFIC SET ASIDE.
>> IN THE SENATE BUDGET?
>> YES.
THAT'S HOW I WOULD READ THE
SENATE BUDGET, BUT YOU COULD
CERTAINLY APPLY TO THE
DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE THROUGH
THE PROCESS AND RECEIVE FUNDING
FOR SUCH A PROJECT.
>> OKAY, SO DO YOU WANT ME TO
DO FOR MY QUESTIONS ON THIS FOR
WHEN WE TALK ABOUT THE CAPITAL
BUDGET LATER IN THE
PRESENTATION THEN?
I DO HAVE SOME FOLLOW-UPS ON
THAT.
>> YOU CAN CERTAINLY ASK THE
QUESTION.
I THINK WE ARE JUST -- I THINK
WE WILL TALK A LITTLE BIT MORE
ABOUT ADVOCATING FOR SOME
ADDITIONAL FEDERAL DOLLARS
STATEWIDE, BUT FEEL FREE.
I'M NOT SURE I CAN ANSWER ALL
YOUR QUESTIONS RIGHT NOW, BUT
I'M HAPPY TO GET BACK TO YOU IF
YOU WOULD LIKE TO SEE THEM.
I CAN EITHER ANSWER NOW OR DO A
CLOSER READ OF THE BUDGET AND
GET BACK TO.
>> I GUESS THAT MY QUESTION IS
JUST I GUESS THAT THIS WOULD
JUST BE -- IF IT'S A MATTER OF
STRUCTURE, THAT THE HOUSE HAS
STRUCTURED THEIR BUDGET IN A
DIFFERENT WAY WHERE THINGS ARE
MORE CLEARLY DELINEATED AND THE
SENATE HAS JUST SORT OF CREATED
A MORE LARGE, GENERAL, MORE
FLEXIBLE AMOUNT OF FUNDS THAT
CAN BE APPLIED FOR.
I GUESS WHAT I'M WONDERING IS
JUST IF THAT $2 MILLION THAT IS
IN THE HOUSE BUDGET FOR TINY
HOUSES IS STILL -- IT SOUNDS
LIKE WHAT YOU'RE SAYING IS IT
IS STILL REFLECTED IN THE
SENATE BUDGET, IT'S JUST THE
MONEY IS APPLIED FOR IN A
DIFFERENT WAY. IS THAT A WAY TO
UNDERSTAND IT?
>> YES, I WOULD SAY THAT THAT
IS CORRECT.
MY READ OF THE SENATE BUDGET IS
THAT IT IS A FLEXIBLE AMOUNT OF
MONEY THAT COULD BE USED FOR
TINY HOUSE VILLAGES.
>> AS PART OF A BROADER POT OF
MONEY?
>> CORRECT.
>> OKAY.
I THINK THAT'S GOOD ENOUGH FOR
NOW.
>> OKAY.
>> THANK YOU.
>> IS THERE ANY OTHER QUESTIONS?
>> ANY OTHER QUESTIONS?
EXACTLY.
I'M NOT SEEING ANY SO I THINK
WE CAN KEEP GOING.
>> WONDERFUL, THEN I WILL MOVE
ON TO POLICE REFORM.
AS WITH HOUSING, MANY PROPOSALS
ARE MOVING ALONG.
HOUSE BILL 1267, THE GOVERNOR'S
REQUEST LEGISLATION THAT WOULD
ESTABLISHED STATEWIDE
CENTRALIZED INVESTIGATION FOR
USE OF FORCE.
EXECUTIVE ACTION WAS TAKEN ON
FRIDAY.
AS WAS THE USE OF FORCE BILL,
HOUSE BILL 1310, AND THOSE
BILLS ARE BOTH IN THE RULES
COMMITTEE NOW.
SENATE BILL 5051, THE
DECERTIFICATION BILL, EXECUTIVE
ACTION WAS TAKEN ON THAT BY THE
HOUSE APPROPRIATIONS COMMITTEE
LAST THURSDAY.
THAT IS NOW IN HOUSE RULES.
SENATE BILL 5066, THE DUTY TO
INTERVENE LEGISLATION WAS --
ALSO HAD EXECUTIVE ACTION TAKEN
LAST WEDNESDAY AND IS NOW IN
THE HOUSE RULES COMMITTEE.
SO, THAT SORT OF THE UPDATES I
HAVE TODAY ON POLICE REFORM.
IF ANYONE HAS ANY QUESTIONS I'M
HAPPY TO ANSWER THOSE.
>> ANY QUESTIONS, COLLEAGUES?
I'M NOT SEEING ANY HANDS RAISED
SO I THINK WE CAN KEEP GOING.
>> FINALLY, IN THE AREA OF
PUBLIC SAFETY, EXECUTIVE ACTION
WAS TAKEN ON FRIDAY ON HOUSE
BILL 1320, THAT STREAMLINES ALL
OF THE PROTECTIVE ORDERS.
THAT BILL IS STILL MOVING ALONG.
SENATE BILL 5226, DRIVING WITH
A SUSPENDED LICENSE, PASSED OUT
OF THE HOUSE TRANSPORTATION
COMMITTEE ON FRIDAY.
FINALLY, AN UPDATE ON WHERE
THINGS ARE WITH THE BLAKE
DECISION, TODAY IN THE WAYS IN
MEANS COMMITTEE AT 10, SENATE
BILL 5476 HAS A HEARING.
THAT IS THE BILL THAT WOULD
ESTABLISH PERSONAL USE AMOUNT
FOR CONTROLLED SUBSTANCES.
REMOVE THE CRIMINAL PENALTY FOR
POSSESSION OF A CONTROLLED
SUBSTANCE THAT DOESN'T EXCEED
THE PERSONAL AMOUNT.
IT WOULD ALSO RISE LAW
ENFORCEMENT TO REFER
INDIVIDUALS TO A FRANTIC
NAVIGATOR.
THE OTHER THING THAT I FOUND
OUT IS THAT IT IS NOT THE
INTENTION OF THE BILL TO CREATE
A NEW MISDEMEANOR THAT WOULD BE
NECESSARY FOR CITIES OR
MUNICIPAL COURTS TO MANAGE FOR
18 TO 21-YEAR-OLDS.
THE SENATOR APPARENTLY DID NOT
INTEND THAT.
IT LOOKS LIKE WHAT WILL
PROBABLY HAPPEN, ALTHOUGH IT IS
NOT IN THE BILL QUITE YET, SO
WE DON'T KNOW FOR SURE, BUT IT
LOOKS LIKE THE APPROACH WILL BE
TO EXTEND THE JURISDICTION OF
JUVENILE COURT FOR POSSESSION
CHARGES FOR 18 TO 20-YEAR-OLDS.
I THINK THAT IS ALL THAT I HAVE
FOR PUBLIC SAFETY.
IF THERE ARE ANY QUESTIONS, AND
IF NOT I'LL HANDED OVER TO
HANNAH.
>> I'M NOT SEEING ANY HANDS
RAISED, SO I THINK WE CAN HEAR
FROM HANNAH.
>> GREAT, THANKS.
SAFETY NET AND CIVIL RIGHTS.
HOUSE BILL 1073, THE PAID
FAMILY LEAVE CONTINUES TO MOVE
FORWARD AND IS IN RULES.
FUNDING FOR IMPLEMENTATION WAS
INCLUDED IN THE BUDGET.
SOME EXCITING NEWS ON THE
PUBLIC ASSISTANCE BILL, HOUSE
BILL 1151.
IT WAS SIGNED BY THE GOVERNOR
LAST WEEK.
THE BILL ALLOWS CONSOLIDATED
EMERGENCY ASSISTANCE TO BE
PROVIDED MORE THAN ONCE IN A 12
MONTH PERIOD, DIVIDES ONE-TIME
CASH BENEFITS, AND TRANSITIONAL
FOOD ASSISTANCE TO FAMILIES.
IT DIRECTS THE DEPARTMENT OF
SOCIAL AND HEALTH SERVICES TO
UPDATE THE STANDARDS OF NEEDS
FOR THEIR CASH ASSISTANCE
PROGRAMS.
BECAUSE OF THE EARLY ACTION
COVID RELIEF BILL, THERE'S AN
ADDITIONAL $12 MILLION PROVIDED
FOR FAMILIES AND INDIVIDUALS
WITH CHILDREN TO ACCESS THE
DISASTER CASH ASSISTANCE
PROGRAM.
SO, REALLY GOOD HUMAN SERVICES
BILLS THERE.
TWO OTHER STRONG SAFETY NET
BILLS THAT WE ARE FOLLOWING OUR
1297, THE WORKING FAMILIES TAX
CREDIT.
5214, [ INDISCERNIBLE ] ARE IN
RULES AND BOTH ARE FULLY FUNDED
IN THE BUDGET.
TO HIGHLIGHT TANNIC RELATED
BUDGET ITEMS, THE HOUSE BUDGET
INCLUDES AN $80 A MONTH DIVERSE
STIPEND FOR FAMILIES WITH
CHILDREN UNDER THREE.
I KNOW THERE IS SOME INTEREST
IN A BILL DOING SIMILAR WORK ON
DIAPERS.
THAT IS THE HIGHLIGHTS FOR
SAFETY NET.
>> THANKS, HANNAH.
THANKS SO MUCH.
ANY COMMENTS OR QUESTIONS ON
THIS SECTION?
LOOKS LIKE THERE ARE NINE.
>> FINALLY IN TRANSPORTATION.
I SPOKE ALREADY TO THE BUDGET
AS WELL AS THE CURRENT STATUS.
TWO QUICK UPDATES ON
LEGISLATION.
FIRST, HOUSE BILL 1301, WHICH
IS PROVIDING ALTERNATIVE
ENFORCEMENT METHODS, INCLUDING
NONMONETARY WARNINGS INSTEAD OF
CITATIONS FOR SOUND TRANSIT.
THAT IS IN THE SENATE RULES
COMMITTEE.
IT HAS PASSED OUT OF THE
TRANSPORTATION COMMITTEE AND IS
CONTINUING TO MOVE FORWARD.
I KNOW THERE WAS INTEREST IN
SENATE BILL 5354, I DO HAVE AN
UPDATE THERE.
UNFORTUNATELY, DESPITE PASSING
THE SENATE 46-3, THERE WAS SOME
LATE OPPOSITION FROM STATE LAW
ENFORCEMENT ON THE LEGISLATION.
IT WAS NOT VOTED OUT OF
COMMITTEE PRIOR TO THE FISCAL
CUT OFF ON FRIDAY.
SO, THAT BILL IS UNFORTUNATELY
NOT MOVING FORWARD THIS YEAR.
IT WILL CONTINUE TO WORK ON THE
ISSUE OVER THE INTERIM.
>> ANY COMMENTS OR QUESTIONS ON
TRANSPORTATION, COLLEAGUES?
I'M NOT SEEING ANY HANDS
RAISED.
>> LILY, DO YOU WANT TO MAKE
ANY CLOSING REMARKS BEFORE I
INTRODUCE THE OPPORTUNITY FOR
ROBIN TO CHAT WITH US?
>> I THINK WE JUST WOULD
APPRECIATE YOUR SUPPORT ON THE
LETTER THAT ROBIN IS GOING TO
SPEAK TO NEXT.
THANK YOU SO MUCH.
>> OF COURSE.
ANY OTHER QUESTIONS OR COMMENTS
ON THE REPORT BEFORE ROBIN
TALKS TO US ABOUT A REALLY
UNIQUE OPPORTUNITY THAT IS
GOING TO COME POTENTIALLY
BEFORE US THIS AFTERNOON?
I'M NOT SEEING ANY OTHER
QUESTIONS.
ROBIN, WHY DON'T YOU GO AHEAD
AND BRIEFED THE COUNCIL ON THE
OPPORTUNITY TO SIGNAL SUPPORT
FOR SOME ADDITIONAL FUNDING IN
THE AREA OF HOUSING.
>> THANK YOU, COUNCIL PRESIDENT
GONZALEZ.
BLAIR HAS BEEN WORKING ON A
LETTER TO THE GOVERNOR AND
LEGISLATIVE LEADERSHIP TO
ADDRESS HOUSING AND HOMELESSNESS
WITH SOME OF THE FEDERAL
AMERICAN RESCUE PLAN DOLLARS
THAT THE STATE HAS RECEIVED.
OF COURSE, THEY ARE GETTING $4
BILLION, AND SIMILARLY TO US,
THEY ARE ABLE TO SPEND $2
BILLION THIS YEAR AND $2
BILLION NEXT YEAR.
WE ARE ASKING FOR A HISTORIC
INVESTMENT IN HOUSING AND
HOMELESSNESS OF $400 MILLION SO
WE CAN BRING PEOPLE
EXPERIENCING HOMELESSNESS
INSIDE AND SECURE MORE HOMES
FOR VULNERABLE PEOPLE IN OUR
COMMUNITIES.
THIS IS A STATEWIDE ASKED.
WE ARE ASKING MANY OTHER CITIES
TO SIGN ON SO THAT WE HAVE A
BROAD COALITION ASKING FOR
THESE RESOURCES.
PART OF THE REASON WHY WE
STARTED THINKING THAT THIS
WOULD BE A GOOD IDEA IN SEATTLE
IS THAT WE ARE SEEING A LOT OF
UNPRECEDENTED OPPORTUNITIES IN
THE REAL ESTATE MARKET AS A
RESULT OF THE PANDEMIC.
THIS ALSO HAPPENED DURING THE
LAST RECESSION AND I THINK
LOOKING BACK, WE PROBABLY
DIDN'T CAPITALIZE ON THAT THE
WAY WE WE MIGHT HAVE.
WITH A ONE TIME INVESTMENT IN
FEDERAL RESOURCES, WE KNOW WE
CAN QUICKLY PURCHASE NEW, NEWLY
COMPLETED, UNDER CONSTRUCTION
LAND, HOTELS OR OTHER BUILDINGS,
TO PROVIDE AFFORDABLE HOUSING
AND SHELTER.
THE VISION OF THIS IS THAT WE
KNOW WE HAVE SOME OPPORTUNITIES
SIMILAR TO THE CLAY THAT WAS
PURCHASED WITH OFFICE OF
HOUSING RESOURCES.
IT'S AN 80 UNIT BUILDING IN
CAPITOL HILL THAT IS
IMMEDIATELY BEING TURNED INTO
HOUSING FOR PEOPLE THAT HAVE
EXPERIENCED HOMELESSNESS AND
VETERANS.
WE KNOW THAT THERE ARE OTHER --
THERE COULD BE OTHER
OPPORTUNITIES OUT THERE LIKE
THAT.
THE IDEA IS THE COMMUNITIES
COULD USE THE RESOURCES FLEXIBLY
SO THAT IF YOU WERE IN A
DIFFERENT COMMUNITY AND YOU
NEEDED SHELTER, YOU COULD DO
THAT.
WE MIGHT CHOOSE TO PURCHASE
BUILDINGS TO CREATE SOME
THROUGHPUT IN OUR HOMELESSNESS
SYSTEM.
THE IDEA IS FOR THIS MONEY TO
MEET COMMUNITY NEEDS.
THE IDEA IS MODELED OFF OF
CALIFORNIA'S HOME KEY WHERE
THEY INVESTED $846 MILLION IN A
SIX MONTH PERIOD TO QUICKLY
BRING 6000 UNITS OF AFFORDABLE
HOUSING AND PERMANENT SHELTERS
ONLINE.
WE BELIEVE THAT THEY ARE GOING
TO DO ADDITIONAL INVESTMENT IN
THAT PROGRAM WITH THEIR
AMERICAN RESCUE PLAN ACT DOLLARS
AT THE STATE LEVEL IN
CALIFORNIA.
SO, I THINK THAT'S PRETTY MUCH
THE LONG AND THE SHORT OF IT.
I GUESS I JUST ALSO KIND OF
WANT TO HIGHLIGHT TOO, THAT WE
ARE THINKING OF THIS AS
TEMPORARY ACQUISITION.
WE ALSO REALLY APPRECIATE THE
LONGER-TERM INVESTMENTS THROUGH
THE HOUSING TRUST FUND.
THAT THE STATE HAS INVESTED.
ALSO, TREMENDOUS OPERATING
BUDGETS INVESTMENTS IN BOTH THE
HOUSE AND SENATE.
APPRECIATING THAT, BUT REALLY
WANTED TO MAKE SURE THAT WE
CAPITALIZE ON THIS MOMENT IN
TIME WHERE WE HAVE THE ABILITY
TO USE FEDERAL RESOURCES TO
BRING PEOPLE INSIDE AND WE HAVE
A REAL ESTATE MARKET THAT WOULD
BE -- HELP US DO THIS IN A WAY
THAT DOESN'T OCCUR VERY OFTEN.
I'M HAPPY TO ANSWER ANY
QUESTIONS.
I WILL CIRCULATE THE LETTER TO
YOUR OFFICES RIGHT AFTER THIS
MEETING, AS SOON AS I CAN GET
IT OUT OF MY MAILBOX, AND YOU
CAN FEEL FREE TO GIVE ME A CALL
IF YOU HAVE ANY QUESTIONS.
I'M HAPPY TO FOLLOW UP.
ALSO, I'M HAPPY TO ANSWER
QUESTIONS NOW, BUT YOU MAY HAVE
SOME ADDITIONAL ONES WHEN YOU
ACTUALLY SEE THE LETTER.
>> THANKS FOR THAT, ROBIN.
I APPRECIATE YOU BRINGING THIS
FORWARD.
I KNOW THAT YOU HIGHLIGHTED
THIS OPPORTUNITY FOR ME OVER
THE WEEKEND.
WE HAD AN OPPORTUNITY TO TALK
ABOUT IT THIS MORNING.
I THINK IT'S A UNIQUE
OPPORTUNITY.
IT IS ONE THAT I HOPE WE WILL
PURSUE, BUT I KNOW THAT FOLKS
MIGHT HAVE SOME QUESTIONS, BOTH
NOW, BASED ON YOUR ORAL
BRIEFING, BUT ALSO AFTER
REVIEWING THE CONTENTS OF THE
LETTER.
IT IS MY HOPE THAT WE WOULD BE
ABLE TO CONSIDER ADDING
INDIVIDUAL COUNCILMEMBER
SIGNATURES TO THE LETTER THIS
AFTERNOON DURING OTHER BUSINESS.
OF OUR FULL COUNCIL MEETING.
SO, I'M HOPING WE CAN GET
QUESTIONS ANSWERED EITHER NOW,
OR BETWEEN NOW AND 2:00 TO
EFFECTUATE THAT GOAL.
I DO SEE THAT COUNCILMEMBER
MOSQUEDA HAS HER HAND UP.
IF ANYBODY ELSE HAS QUESTIONS
LET ME KNOW.
>> THANK YOU VERY MUCH.
COMING FROM THE OFFICE OF
HOUSING I KNOW THAT THIS IS A
STRATEGY THAT YOU HAVE THE
OFFICE OF HOUSING HAVE
CONSIDERED FOR A LONG TIME.
I JUST WANTED TO VOICE MY
SUPPORT FOR THIS APPROACH.
THIS IS SOMETHING I HAVE BEEN
RAISING OVER THE LAST YEAR AT
THE REASONABLE HOUSING
AUTHORITY.
TALKING WITH THE SOUND CITIES
OR MEMBERS AS WELL.
PART OF THE MESSAGE THAT I
THINK WE NEED TO SEND ACROSS
THE REGION, AND THANK YOU ROBIN
FOR WORKING ACROSS THE STATE,
AND THAT THIS IS A WIN/WIN
OPPORTUNITY.
FOR THOSE PROPERTIES THAT ARE
POTENTIALLY GOING TO ELECT OR
OWNERS THAT DO NOT HAVE THE
RESOURCES OR DESIRE TO MOVE
FORWARD, WE DO NOT WANT THERE
TO BE VACANT PROPERTIES,
ESPECIALLY DURING THE MOMENT OF
A HOUSING AFFORDABILITY CRISIS.
AND A HOMELESSNESS CRISIS.
ESPECIALLY IN OUR REGION.
THIS IS TRULY SOMETHING WE
HAVEN'T TALKED ABOUT,
ESPECIALLY IN LIGHT OF THE
COVID INDUCED RECESSION.
THIS IS PART OF THE WAY THAT WE
CAN HELP BUILD OUT OF THIS
RECESSION BY MAKING SURE THAT
THERE IS NOT THERE ELECT
PROPERTIES AND WE ARE TURNING
INTO AFFORDABLE HOUSING AND
APPROPRIATE NON-CONGREGANT
SHELTER AS DIRECTED BY THE CDC.
I THINK IT ALSO DOVETAILS
NICELY WITH THE JUMPSTART
SEATTLE PROGRESSIVE REVENUE
REPORT THAT ALL OF YOU HELP
PASSED.
OVER $240 MILLION A YEAR.
$135 MILLION OF THAT
SPECIFICALLY FOR HOUSING AND
HOMELESSNESS.
INCLUDING AND THAT WAS THE
STRATEGIC ACQUISITION.
THIS RELATES TO LEGISLATION WE
PASSED IN 2018.
THANKS TO PARTNERSHIP WITH THE
OFFICE OF HOUSING, WE CONTINUE
TO SEE THAT WE HAVE MISSED
OPPORTUNITIES TO MISS
PROPERTIES THAT WERE GOING UP
FOR SALE.
IN A VERY HOT HOUSING MARKET,
WHICH THIS STILL IS, EVEN
THOUGH WE ARE IN THE MIDDLE OF
A RECESSION, WE MADE IT MORE
POSSIBLE FOR THE HOUSE TO GO
MORE QUICKLY.
WHEN IT WAS CLEAR THOSE
PROPERTIES WERE ANALYZED FROM
THE PREVIOUS LEGISLATION.
I BRING THAT UP BECAUSE YOU ARE
ON THE CUSP OF HAVING OUR FIRST
PROPERTY PURCHASED BECAUSE OF
THAT LEGISLATION WE CHANGED IN
2018.
WHILE IN HOUSING WE DON'T SEE
OVERNIGHT OR THE NEXT DAY, THE
TYPE OF POLICY CHANGES THAT
IMMEDIATELY LEAD TO HOUSING,
THIS POLICY HERE TODAY THAT
ROBIN IS TALKING ABOUT AND OR
SUPPORT OF THIS LETTER AND
APPROACH COULD MAKE IT POSSIBLE
FOR US TO FIGHT LITERALLY THE
TRANSFORMATION OVERNIGHT LIKE
WE ARE SEEING AT CLAY
APARTMENTS.
VERY MUCH SUPPORTIVE OF THIS.
I THINK IT IS VERY MUCH IN LINE
WITH OUR LONG-TERM COMMITMENTS
OF THE COUNCIL AND OF THE CITY
WANT TO MAKE SURE THERE IS MORE
PROPERTY ACQUIRED AND THAT WE
STOP SELLING OUR CITY PROPERTY
AS WELL TO THE HIGHEST BIDDER.
THIS ACTUALLY ALLOWS FOR THE
CITY TO BRING IN MORE
PROPERTIES.
ROBIN, LOVE TO WORK WITH YOU TO
SEE HOW WE CAN MAKE THIS LONGER-
TERM AS WELL.
AS THIS CONVERSATION
PROGRESSES.
REALLY EXCITED ABOUT THIS AS
YOU CAN TELL AND HAPPY TO SIGN
UP
>> THANK YOU, COUNCILMEMBER
MOSQUEDA.
>> I SHOULD ALSO SAY THIS
BROUGHT TO MIND I THINK
DIRECTOR ALVARADO LET ME KNOW
THAT I WAS REMISS IF I DIDN'T
SAY THE FUNDING FOR THE CLAY IS
FROM A REVOLVING LOAN FUND.
THOSE POLICIES THAT
COUNCILMEMBER MOSQUEDA WAS
TALKING ABOUT WERE CREATED SO
THE OFFICE OF HOUSING COULD BE
NIMBLE AND NAB THESE PROPERTIES
WHEN THEY BECOME AVAILABLE,
HOWEVER IT IS NOT A PERMANENT
SOURCE OF FINANCING.
IT'S MEANT TO REVOLVE SO THEY
COULD DO IT AGAINST ONCE I
FOUND ANOTHER PROPERTY.
TAKE OUT FINANCING AS NEEDED
FOR THE PERMANENT FINANCING OF
THAT BUILDING.
THAT IS SOMETHING WE CAN USE TO
RESEARCH THAT SHOULD THIS
BECOME AVAILABLE.
I SHOULD ALSO SAY THAT YOUR
COMMENTS MADE ME THINK TOO
COUNCILMEMBER MOSQUEDA, THAT
THIS ALSO GIVES ME THE
OPPORTUNITY TO EMPOWER
ORGANIZATIONS TO BE ABLE TO
PURCHASE REAL ESTATE OR OWN
REAL ESTATE BECAUSE THEY DON'T
HAVE TO DEVELOP THE CAPACITY TO
ACTUALLY DEVELOP THE BUILDING.
THEY CAN CERTAINLY MANAGE THE
RESOURCE TO SERVE COMMUNITIES
OF COLOR AROUND THE CITY.
I JUST WANTED TO ADD THAT IN AS
WELL.
>> THANKS FOR THE ADDITIONAL
PIECE OF INFORMATION, ROBIN.
COLLEAGUES, ANY OTHER COMMENTS
OR QUESTIONS ON THE LETTER?
I KNOW THAT YOU ALL HAVEN'T
SEEN THE LETTER.
THAT LETTER WILL BE CIRCULATED
AS SOON AS WE RELEASE OIR FROM
TODAY'S COUNCIL BRIEFING, SO
YOU WILL HAVE AN OPPORTUNITY TO
READ THE FULL CONTENT AND TO ASK
ROBIN ANY ADDITIONAL QUESTIONS.
IT LOOKS LIKE FOLKS DON'T HAVE
ANY MORE QUESTIONS FOR COUNCIL
BRIEFING.
I DO THINK THAT THIS IS AN
IMPORTANT OPPORTUNITY FOR US TO
AGAIN, ENGAGE IN THIS PRETTY
JIK ACQUISITION OF
UNDERUTILIZED PROPERTIES.
STRATEGY THROUGH STATEWIDE
APPROACH I THINK IT'S IMPORTANT
TO ACKNOWLEDGE THAT THERE ARE
SEVERAL CITY LEADERS ACROSS THE
STATE THAT HAVE ALREADY
SIGNALED SUPPORT FOR MOVING IN
THIS DIRECTION.
I THINK IF SEATTLE CAN SHOW UP
AS A GOOD REGIONAL PARTNER IN
THIS EFFORT, I AM HOPEFUL THAT
WE WOULD ALL TOGETHER, ACROSS
THE STATE.
FROM THE WEST SIDE TO THE EAST
SIDE, BE ABLE TO GET THIS EFFORT
ACROSS THE FINISH LINE TO UNLOCK
SOME REALLY SIGNIFICANT NEW
INVESTMENTS IN THIS SPACE.
I WANT TO APPRECIATE OUR TEAM
AT OIR FOR DOING THIS WORK.
>> THANK YOU SO MUCH, COUNCIL
PRESIDENT.
THAT CONCLUDES OUR BRIEFING
TODAY.
THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR YOUR HELP
WITH THE LETTER AND WE WILL GET
THAT OUT SOON.
>> ABSOLUTELY.
THANK YOU SO MUCH.
WE ARE GOING TO LET YOU GO AND
WE ARE GOING TO CONTINUE ON
OTHER ITEMS OF BUSINESS ON OUR
AGENDA.
NEXT UP IS AGENDA ITEM 4, WHICH
IS THE PREVIEW OF TODAY'S CITY
COUNCIL ACTIONS, AND MEETINGS.
TODAY'S ORDER WILL BE AS
FOLLOWS.
COUNCILMEMBER PEDERSEN,
FOLLOWED BY SAWANT, HERBOLD,
JUAREZ, LEWIS, MORALES,
MOSQUEDA, AND THEN I WILL
INCLUDE THIS BY GIVING A REPORT
FROM COUNCILMEMBER STRAUSS AND
ALSO GIVING MY OWN REPORT.
WITHOUT FURTHER ADO,
COUNCILMEMBER PEDERSEN.
YOU ARE UP FIRST.
>> GOOD MORNING COLLEAGUES.
ARE TRANSPORTATION AND
UTILITIES COMMITTEE HAS NO
ITEMS ON TODAY'S FULL CITY
COUNCIL AGENDA.
HOWEVER, ARE TRANSPORTATION AND
UTILITIES COMMITTEE HAS A
MEETING THIS WEDNESDAY, APRIL
7th AT 9:30 A.M.
WE PUBLISHED THE AGENDA ONLINE
THIS PAST FRIDAY AND WE HAVE 12
ITEMS.
PLEASE ALLOW ME TO PREVIEW A
FEW OF THE MOST SUBSTANTIVE
ITEMS.
REGARDING SEATTLE PUBLIC
UTILITIES, AT OUR APRIL 17th,
OR APRIL 7th COMMITTEE, WE WILL
HEAR FROM SEATTLE PUBLIC
UTILITIES ON THEIR STRATEGIC
BUSINESS PLAN.
THIS WILL LEAD INTO A
DISCUSSION ABOUT RATES FOR
CLEAN WATER, WASTEWATER, ALONG
WITH TRASH, RECYCLING AND
COMPOST.
OUR CITY HAS BECOME LESS
AFFORDABLE, AND UTILITY BILLS
BY THEIR VERY NATURE ARE
REGRESSIVE.
WITH LOWER INCOME HOUSEHOLDS
PAYING A HIGHER PERCENTAGE OF
THEIR HOUSEHOLD INCOME FOR
THEIR BILLS.
THEREFORE, OUR GOAL IS TO KEEP
UTILITY RATES LOW.
THANKFULLY DURING COVID, OUR
CITY OWNED UTILITIES BOTH SPU
AND SEATTLE CITY LIGHT HAVE
MANAGED TO KEEP RATES STEADY,
INCREASING ENROLLMENT IN OUR
DISCOUNT PROGRAM, AND WAVING
LATE FEES.
WITH THIS NEW 22 JIK PLAN, IT
APPEARS THAT SPU CAN KEEP OR
EVEN IMPROVE UPON, SOME OF THE
PROMISES ON UTILITY RATES MADE
WITH THEIR STRATEGIC PLAN
APPROVED IN 2017.
WE SHOULD KEEP AN EYE ON
HOWEVER ON SOME COST DRIVERS
DUE TO OUR GOVERNING STRUCTURE
WITH KING COUNTY FOR WASTEWATER
TREATMENT.
WE NOTED A MAJORITY OF KING
COUNTY COUNCIL, UNFORTUNATELY
RAISED THEIR WASTEWATER
TREATMENT THE, WHICH IS PASSED
DIRECTLY THROUGH TO OUR SEATTLE
RATEPAYERS.
WE WANT TO MAKE SURE KING COUNTY
MAKES GROWTH PAY FOR GROWTH
GOING FORWARD.
ESPECIALLY FOR REAL ESTATE
DEVELOPMENT IN SUBURBAN OR
RURAL AREAS OF THE COUNTY.
HERE AT CITY HALL, WE ALSO HAVE
TO BE MINDFUL OF THE SO-CALLED
UTILITY TAX.
THAT OUR CITY GOVERNMENT'S
GENERAL FUND TAKES FROM
RATEPAYERS.
LAST YEAR THE GENERAL FUND
RELIED ON ABOUT $200 MILLION
FROM THE UTILITIES THROUGH A
UTILITY TAX THAT WE CHARGE.
CHARGING THIS UTILITY TAXES A
BUDGETING TECHNIQUE THAT
COUNCILMEMBER HERBOLD HELPED TO
DAYLIGHT WHEN SHE CHAIRED THE
SPU COMMITTEE AND INCREASED
TRANSPARENCY OF THIS BY CALLING
IT OUT ON CUSTOMER UTILITY
BILLS.
TO TAKE NEXT STEPS, WE SHOULD
CONSIDER REDUCING THE REGRESSED
UTILITY TAXES THAT WE CHARGE
AND ENABLE SPU TO USE THE
SAVINGS TO TAKE CARE OF ITS
AGING INFRASTRUCTURE.
IN SUM, DESPITE THE COVID
PANDEMIC, DESPITE THE HIGH
PASTOR AWAY FROM KING COUNTY
FOR WASTEWATER TREATMENT, AND
DESPITE THE UTILITY TAX THAT WE
CHARGE, SPU IS LASER FOCUSED ON
AFFORDABILITY AND EQUITY BY
KEEPING ITS OWN COST DOWN AS A
SHINING EXAMPLE TO ALL CITY
EXAMPLES.
IT DIRECTLY BENEFITS OVER 1
MILLION RATEPAYERS WHO, THANKS
TO THE STRATEGIC PLAN AND
REVISED RATE, WILL NOT NEED TO
SUFFER AN AVERAGE INCREASE ABOVE
WHAT HAD ALREADY BEEN PLANNED
TO BE CHARGED AS PROMISED IN
THE 2017 STRATEGIC PLAN.
IT'S IMPORTANT TO HIGHLIGHT
THAT THE CUSTOMER REVIEW PANEL
FOR SPU HAS ENDORSED THIS NEW
STRATEGIC PLAN AND ITS
CORRESPONDING RATE PATH.
I WANT TO THANK THE DEDICATED
VOLUNTEERS OF OUR CUSTOMER
REVIEW PANEL FOR THEIR COUNCIL
HOURS OF SERVICE TO SEATTLE AS
A WATCHDOG AND A SOUNDING BOARD
FOR THIS ONE BILLION-DOLLAR
CITY OWNED UTILITY ENTERPRISE.
WE WILL BE HEARING THIS
LEGISLATION ON THE STRATEGIC
PLAN AND RATE PATH IN AT LEAST
TWO MEETINGS OF THE
TRANSPORTATION AND UTILITIES
COMMITTEE BEFORE WE APPROVE IT.
ANOTHER ITEM ON COMMITTEE.
TECHNOLOGY MATCHING FUND AWARDS.
THE COVID CRISIS HAS LAID BARE
THE DISPARITIES IN OUR
COMMUNITIES AND MAGNIFY THE
NEED TO BRIDGE THE DIGITAL
DIVIDE.
AS CALLED FOR BY OUR CITY'S
BOLD INTERNET FOR ALL ACTION
PLAN.
EVEN AS WE EXPAND ACCESS TO THE
INTERNET THROUGHOUT SEATTLE,
OUR TECHNOLOGY MATCHING FUND
CONTINUES AS A CORNERSTONE OF
OUR EFFORTS TO CONNECT ALL OUR
CITY'S RESIDENTS TO EDUCATION,
JOBS, AND OTHER BITER SERVICES.
EARLIER LAST WEEK, THE CITY OF
SEATTLE ANNOUNCE THE RECIPIENTS
OF THE 2021 TECHNOLOGY MATCHING
FUND AND WE WILL HAVE A
PRESENTATION ON THE AWARDS AT
OUR COMMITTEE THIS WEEK.
AND MODEST INVESTMENT OF
$343,000, 15 LOCAL
ORGANIZATIONS CAN IMPLEMET
COMMUNITY LED PROJECTS TO
INCREASE ACCESS TO TECHNOLOGY
AND PROVIDE DIGITAL SKILLS
TRAINING TO OVER 2000 PEOPLE
AMONG UNDERSERVED COMMUNITIES.
AS WE CONSIDER HOW TO INVEST
FUNDS FROM THE FEDERAL
GOVERNMENT, FROM SUCH NEW
SOURCES OF THE AMERICAN RESCUE
PLAN ACT, WE CAN BE MINDFUL OF
THE DIGITAL DIVIDE IN THE MIDST
OF OUR HIGH-TECH CITY.
SEATTLE MAYBE A HIGH-TECH CITY
BUT WE MUST ALSO BE AN
INCLUSIVE TECH CITY TOO.
THAT'S WHY WE UNANIMOUSLY
IMPROVED THE INTERNET FOR ALL
ACTION PLAN LAST YEAR.
THERE WERE MANY ORGANIZATIONS
THAT DID NOT RECEIVE GRANTS DUE
TO LIMITED FUNDING.
THE NEW FEDERAL DOLLARS COULD
BE A WAY TO QUICKLY GET
ADDITIONAL INVESTMENTS OUT THE
DOOR TO ADDRESS THE DIGITAL
DIVIDE.
AT THE FOLLOWING COMMITTEE
MEETING ON APRIL 21st, OUR
INFORMATION TECHNOLOGY
DEPARTMENT WILL RETURN TO
PROVIDE AN UPDATE ON THE
INTERNET FOR ALL ACTION PLAN.
THAT WE ADOPTED LAST YEAR.
SURVEILLANCE IMPACT REPORTS.
OUR COMMITTEE WILL ALSO
CONTINUE WORK ON THE SO-CALLED
GROUP 2 SURVEILLANCE IMPACT
REPORTS THAT ASSESS
TECHNOLOGIES ALREADY IN USE BY
CITY GOVERNMENT DEPARTMENTS.
PURSUANT TO THE FOUNDATIONAL
SURVEILLANCE ORDINANCE, ADOPTED
IN 2017 AND REFINED IN 2018,
OUR EXISTING TECHNOLOGY AND
COMPUTER PROGRAMS UNDERGO AN
EXTENSIVE REVIEW PROJECT BY THE
EXECUTIVE DEPARTMENTS OF
COMMUNITY LED SURVEILLANCE
WORKING GROUPS AND OTHER CIVIC
HOLDERS WHILE TECHNOLOGY IS
VITAL TO ENABLE LOCAL
GOVERNMENT TO PROVIDE SERVICES
MORE EFFICIENTLY TO THE PUBLIC,
SOME TECHNOLOGY CAN ALSO HAVE
SURVEILLANCE CAPABILITIES AND
PRIVACY CONCERNS THAT NEED TO
BE EVALUATED WITH SURVEILLANCE
IMPACT REPORTS.
AS WE PROMISED, WE TOOK THE
SINGLE COUNCIL BILL CONTAINING
THE FIVE EXISTING POLICE
DEPARTMENT TECHNOLOGIES
INTRODUCED FEBRUARY 22nd, AND
BROKE IT INTO FIVE SEPARATE
BILLS SO THAT WE CAN BE MORE
NIMBLE AS WE WORK TO AMEND AND
VOTE ON EACH BILL OUT OF
COMMITTEE THIS WEEK.
WE HEARD THESE BILLS ON OUR
MARCH 3rd, MARCH 17th COMMITTEE
MEETINGS.
THIS IS THE THIRD TIME TO
DISCUSS THEM AND FINALLY VOTE
THEM OUT THIS WEDNESDAY, APRIL
7th.
THANK YOU, COMMITTEE MEMBERS
FOR FINALIZING YOUR AMENDMENTS
LAST WEEK SO OUR CITY
ATTORNEY'S OFFICE COULD
COMPLETE A THOROUGH REVIEW OF
THEM.
THESE AMENDMENTS ARE ALREADY
PUBLISHED ON OUR COMMITTEE
AGENDA.
I WANT TO THANK THE COUNCIL FOR
APPROVING THIS SURVEILLANCE
IMPACT REPORTS FOR SEATTLE CITY
LIGHT AND THE FIRE DEPARTMENT
LAST MONTH.
WE ALSO HAVE TO LOOK FORWARD TO
GROUPS THREE, GROUPS FOR A AND
4B TECHNOLOGY TO CONSIDER LATER
THIS YEAR.
FINALLY, THE FIRST ITEM ON OUR
COMMITTEE AGENDA IS A PROJECT
IN LAKE CITY WHICH I'LL LEAVE
COUNCILMEMBER JUAREZ TO SPEAK
ABOUT.
SHE WILL ALSO BE ATTENDING OUR
COMMITTEE THIS WEEK FOR AT
LEAST THAT ITEM.
AND DISTRICT 4, I REALLY WANT
TO THANK SOUND TRANSIT FOR
THEIR COLLABORATION ON TWO
PROJECTS.
AS WE KNOW, THERE ARE TWO LIGHT
RAIL STAGE IT'S OPENING IN
DISTRICT FOR IN A FEW MONTHS
THANKS TO SOUND TRANSIT ONE
STATES AND AT BROOKLYN AVENUE.
ANOTHER IN ROSEVILLE.
REGARDING THE DISTRICT STATION,
THANK YOU SOUND TRANSIT FOR
YOUR WILLINGNESS TO LISTEN TO
IDEAS FROM THE SMALL
NEIGHBORHOOD BUSINESSES AND
BUSINESS IMPROVEMENT AREA TO
ADJUST THE FENCING SO WE CAN
OPEN UP BROOKLYN AVENUE SEVERAL
WEEKS SOONER THAN ORIGINALLY
PLANNED.
THIS WILL OPEN THE HEART OF THE
DISTRICT, GENERATE MORE FOOT
RAFFIC AND CUSTOMERS FO
SMALL BUSINESSES THAT HAVE BEEN
IMPACTED BY THE ONGOING STREET
CONSTRUCTION.
I ALSO WANT TO THANK SOUND
TRANSIT FOR THEIR OPENNESS IN
ALLOWING FOR THE TINY LITTLE
VILLAGE AT THE FORMER STAGING
AREA.
THAT IS THE NEW VILLAGE I'VE
BEEN WORKING ON AT THE CORNER
OF NORTHEAST 45th STREET AND
ROOSEVELT WAY.
THE NONPROFIT LOW INCOME
HOUSING INSTITUTE CONTINUE TO
CONDUCT COMMUNITY OUTREACH
ABOUT THAT TINY HOME VILLAGE,
WHICH SO FAR HAS BEEN WELL
RECEIVED DUE TO THE GROWING
NEED TO GET PEOPLE CAMPING IN
OUR PARKS INSIDE, SAFE AND
CONNECTED TO SERVICES TO
IMPROVE THEIR LIVES.
SPECIAL THANKS TO FORMER CITY
COUNCILMEMBER PACHECO WHO NOW
WORKS FOR SOUND TRANSIT AND THE
NEW HEAD OF THE UNIVERSITY
DISTRICT PARTNERSHIP.
THAT CONCLUDES MY REPORT.
THANK YOU.
>> THANK YOU, COUNCILMEMBER
PEDERSEN.
ARE THERE ANY COMMENTS OR
QUESTIONS ON THAT REPORT?
ALL RIGHT.
LOOKS LIKE THERE ARE NO
QUESTIONS, SO WILL KEEP GOING
DOWN THE LINE.
NEXT IS SO WANT FOLLOWED BY
HERBOLD.
GOOD MORNING.
>> GOOD MORNING.
THERE ARE NO ITEMS ON TODAY'S
CITY COUNCIL AGENDA FROM THE
DISTANT ABILITY AND RENTERS
RIGHTS COMMITTEE.
THE NEXT MEETING OF THE
COMMITTEE IS SCHEDULED FOR A
SPECIAL TIME THURSDAY, APRIL
15th AT 9:30 A.M.
AT THAT MEETING WE WILL HEAR
FROM COMMUNITY ORGANIZERS ABOUT
THE GREEN NEW DEAL AND THEIR
EFFORTS TOWARDS MAKING SURE THAT
SEATTLE GETS ON TRACK TO ITS
GOALS ON CARBON EMISSIONS,
WHICH IT IS ABSOLUTELY NOT ON
TRACK OF RIGHT NOW.
WHICH IS WHAT WE WENT OVER AT
OUR LAST COMMITTEE.
WE NEED TO RAPIDLY ELECTRIFY
OUR CITY INFRASTRUCTURE AND
ULTIMATELY BREAK THE POWER OF
FOSSIL FUEL COMPANIES ON OUR
SOCIETY.
OUR LAST COMMITTEE MEETING RAN
OVER TIME SO WE POSTPONED THIS
AGENDA ITEM.
THURSDAY'S MEETING WILL BE AN
OPPORTUNITY TO CATCH UP ON THAT
IMPORTANT DISCUSSION. THURSDAY,
APRIL 15th.
LAST WEEK MY OFFICE SENT TO THE
CITY ATTORNEY'S OFFICE FOR
FINAL REVIEW TWO RENTERS RIGHTS
BILLS.
ONCE THEY ARE REVIEWED WE WILL
BE SENDING THEM TO THE COUNCIL
PRESIDENT FOR INTRODUCTION.
THE FIRST BILL CLOSES THE
LOOPHOLES IN SEATTLE'S JUST
CAUSE EVICTION PROTECTIONS
USING THE SAME INITIATIVES AS A
FEDERAL WAY BUDGET BILL FROM
2019.
IT ALLOWS LANDLORDS TO RENEW
THE LEASE IS ON FIXED TERM
LEASES.
UNLESS THEY HAVE GOOD CAUSE FOR
REFUSING.
I KNOW COUNCILMEMBER MORALES IS
ALSO INTERESTED IN CLOSING THAT
LOOPHOLE.
THE OTHER BILL WOULD CREATE A
MORATORIUM ON THE EVICTION OF
SCHOOLCHILDREN AND THEIR
FAMILIES AND EDUCATORS EACH
YEAR DURING THE SCHOOL YEAR.
IT IS COMMON SENSE, BUT THERE'S
ALSO MOUNTAINS OF RESEARCH
SHOWING THAT WHEN CHILDREN ARE
EVICTED IT HAS DEVASTATING
EFFECT ON THEIR ACADEMIC
ACHIEVEMENT, THEIR LEARNING AND
DEVELOPING, AND ALSO ON THEIR
MENTAL HEALTH.
IMAGINE TRYING TO FOCUS ON YOUR
SCHOOLWORK WHILE LOSING YOUR
HOME.
THE LOSING HOME REPORT, WHICH
WE HAVE CITED MANY TIMES,
BESIDES THIS RESEARCH ALSO FOUND
THAT OF THE RESPONDENTS WITH
SCHOOL-AGED CHILDREN, 85.7%
SAID THEIR CHILDREN HAD TO MOVE
SCHOOLS AFTER THE EVICTION, AND
87.5% REPORTED THEIR CHILDREN'S
SCHOOL PERFORMANCE STRUGGLED
VERY MUCH BECAUSE OF THE
EVICTION.
OUR BILL WOULD PROHIBIT THE
EVICTION OF CHILDREN, STUDENTS
UP THROUGH 12th GRADE, THEIR
FAMILIES AND EDUCATORS DURING
THE SCHOOL YEAR.
I CONTINUE TO THINK THAT THE
FACT THAT CHILDREN ARE EVICTED
IN ONE OF THE RICHEST CITIES IN
THE RICHEST COUNTRY IN THE
WORLD IS A DAMNING CONDEMNATION
OF GLOBAL CAPITALISM, BUT AT
THE VERY LEAST THE CITY HAS THE
POWER TO STOP EMISSIONS DURING
THE SCHOOL YEAR.
OUR BILL IS MODELED AFTER OUR
WINTER EVICTIONS BANDPASS A
LITTLE OVER A YEAR AGO FROM --
WAS INTRODUCED ON MY OFFICE,
AND THE RENTERS RIGHT MOVEMENT,
INCLUDING RECOMMENDATION BY THE
CITY OF SEATTLE RENTERS
COMMISSION.
IT'S ALSO MODELED AFTER A
SIMILAR BUT A LITTLE MORE
LIMITED RENTER PROTECTION IN
SAN FRANCISCO.
WE SENT THE DRAFT BILL TO GET
INPUT FROM PARENTS OF PUBLIC
SCHOOL STUDENTS IN SEATTLE AND
ALSO TO THE SEATTLE DIVISION
ASSOCIATION AND MEMBERS OF THE
SEATTLE -- THE LEADERSHIP AND
THE RANK AND FILE.
SO THAT WE CAN GET MORE INPUT
FROM THEM.
FINALLY, I WANT TO ADDRESS THE
72 HOUR PARKING BAN.
THE MORATORIUM THAT HAS BEEN
FOR THE PANDEMIC PERIOD.
I WAS EXTREMELY TROUBLED TO HEAR
THAT MAYOR DURKAN'S PLANS TO
REINTRODUCE THE 72 HOUR PARKING
ROW WHICH IS TICKETING OR
TOWING CARS PARKED FOR 72
HOURS.
ESSENTIALLY CRIMINALIZING
PEOPLE FOR BEING POOR AND
ASKING ANYONE WITHOUT A
DRIVEWAY OR GARAGE.
ANYONE WITH A DRIVEWAY OR
GARAGE WILL NEVER GET A TICKET,
HOWEVER IF YOU DEPEND ON STREET
PARKING, THE 72 HOUR RULE CAN
BE EXTREMELY DIFFICULT.
IF YOU LEAVE TOWN FOR FOUR
DAYS, YOU NEED TO FIND A STREET
IN THE NEIGHBORHOOD WHERE THE
72 HOUR RULE IS SIMPLY NOT
ENFORCED.
IN FACT, THAT IS ONE OF THE
PROBLEMS WITH THIS.
THE ENFORCEMENT OF THIS IS VERY
MUCH DEPENDENT ON WHETHER IT IS
A GENERALLY WELL OFF
NEIGHBORHOOD OR IT'S A MORE
WORKING CLASS OR POOR
NEIGHBORHOOD.
THINGS ARE EVEN WORSE FOR OUR
COMMUNITY MEMBERS, MANY OF WHOM
ARE WORKING PEOPLE WHO ARE
FORCED TO LIVE IN THEIR CARS
BECAUSE OF THE ACUTE AFFORDABLE
HOUSING CRISIS IN OUR CITY.
DURING THE PANDEMIC, THERE IS
EVEN MORE REASON TO STOP THIS
BRUTAL HARASSMENT AS THE
HOUSING CRISIS CONTINUES AND
THOUSANDS ARE LEFT IN THE
ECONOMIC LURCH.
FOR THE COMMITTEE MEMBERS THAT
I LIVED IN THEIR CARS, DURKIN'S
MOVE TO REINTRODUCE THE PARKING
BAN COULD BE CATASTROPHIC,
COSTING THEM NOT ONLY THEIR
VEHICLE, BUT ALSO THEIR ONLY
SHELTER AND ALL THEIR
POSSESSIONS.
WE KNOW THE PANDEMIC HAS
WORSENED THE PRE-EXISTING
SEVERE HOUSING CRISIS.
WE NEED AFFORDABLE SOCIAL
HOUSING AND WE NEED FULL FUNDING
FOR A MASSIVE EXPANSION OF
PUBLIC TRANSIT, PUBLIC
TRANSPORTATION, NON-HARASSMENT
OF NEIGHBORS STRUGGLING TO
SURVIVE.
MY OFFICE HAS DISCUSSED THIS
ISSUE'S WITH ORGANIZERS.
THIS HAS BEEN REPORTED IN A
RECENT ARTICLE.
THEY ARE CURRENTLY TERRIFIED
ABOUT WHAT THE REINTRODUCTION
OF THE 72 HOUR PARKING BAN WILL
HAVE ON THEIR LIVES.
I JOIN THESE COMMUNITY LEADERS
AND URGING MAYOR DURKAN TO
IMMEDIATELY EXTEND THE
EMERGENCY MORATORIUM ON THE 72
HOUR PARKING ROW.
THAT IS THE MOST URGENTLY
NEEDED.
I ALSO BELIEVE THAT THE 72 HOUR
PARKING BAN, PANDEMIC OR NOT,
DOES MORE HARM THAN GOOD.
EVEN IN GOOD TIMES, THE 72 HOUR
PARKING BAN EXCLUSIVELY
PUNISHES THE POOR AND WORKING-
CLASS PEOPLE WHO DON'T HAVE
ACCESS TO DRIVEWAYS AND GARAGES.
THE SOLUTION TO ALL OF THESE
ISSUES, WHICH THERE IS A LOT OF
UNITY ON, IS EXPANDING THE
FUNDING FOR AFFORDABLE HOUSING,
SOCIAL HOUSING, THAT IS OWNED
PUBLICLY AND HOUSING THAT IS
AFFORDABLE HOUSING THAT IS
OWNED PUBLICLY BY THE CITY, AND
ALSO EXPANSION IN FUNDS FOR
PUBLIC TRANSPORTATION.
BOTH AT THE CITY LEVEL BY
INCREASING THE AMAZON TAX, BUT
ALSO AT THE REGIONAL AND STATE
LEVEL BY TAXING THE RICH.
IN ADDITION TO ALL OF THIS, WE
HAVE ALSO LAUNCHED A PETITION
FROM MY OFFICE WHICH HAS NOW
ALREADY SINCE JUST LAUNCHING IT
ON SATURDAY EVENING, HAS
GARNERED MORE THAN 300
SIGNATURES.
REALLY CRUCIAL STORIES FROM
COMMUNITY MEMBERS AS TO WHY
THEY SUPPORT THIS, NOT ONLY
FROM OUR HOMELESS COMMUNITY
MEMBERS, BUT FROM OTHERS WHO
DON'T RELY ON THIS MORATORIUM,
AND YET THEY UNDERSTAND THAT
SOCIALLY IT IS IMPORTANT THAT
WE DON'T HAVE SUCH PUNITIVE
RULES THAT END UP ACTUALLY
BEING PUNITIVE TOWARDS POOR
PEOPLE AS A WHOLE.
THANK YOU.
>> THANK YOU.
COLLEAGUES, ANY COMMENTS OR
QUESTIONS ON THAT REPORT?
COUNCILMEMBER HERBOLD, PLEASE.
>> THANK YOU.
AS IT RELATES TO THE MORATORIUM
ON THE PARKING ENFORCEMENT
MORATORIUM, I JUST WANT TO -- I
APPRECIATE COUNCILMEMBER SWAN'S
CONCERNS, AND I SHARE THOSE
CONCERNS.
I DO WANT TO JUST PUT WITHIN
SORT OF A TIMELINE CONTEXT THE
FACT THAT THE POLICE DEPARTMENT
HAD SIGNIFICANTLY LIMITED ITS
TOWING AND ENFORCEMENT OF THE
72 HOUR LAW AS IT RELATES TO
THIS PRE-COVID-19.
THAT'S WHY WE WORKED TO DEVELOP
THE RV MITIGATION PROGRAM.
RATHER THAN FOCUSING ON AN
ENFORCEMENT APPROACH TO THE
FOLKS -- THE FACT THAT PEOPLE
ARE LIVING IN RVs, THEY WORKED
WITH SEATTLE PUBLIC UTILITIES,
THE POLICE DEPARTMENT IN
SEATTLE PUBLIC UTILITIES, TO
DEVELOP THE RV MEDIATION
PROGRAM.
THIS IS SORT OF WITHIN THE
CONTEXT OF THERE BEING A PAUSE,
AGAIN, LONG BEFORE COVID, IN
DOING THE TOWING OF THESE
VEHICLES.
I DON'T THINK IT WAS JUST A
POLICY THAT WAS FORMED MERELY
BY THE NEED.
THE HUMANITARIAN NEED.
IT'S ALSO I THINK IN
RECOGNITION THAT WE DO HAVE A
PENDING CASE IN THE COURTS
AROUND THE LEGALITY OF
IMPOUNDING THE VEHICLES THAT
PEOPLE LIVE IN.
SO, I SHARE COUNCILMEMBER
SAWANT'S QUESTIONS, AND HAD
ACTUALLY BEEN INTENDING TO
ASSESS QUESTION OF THE CHIEF IN
MY REGULAR MEETING WITH HIM
LAST WEEK.
WE HAD TO RESCHEDULE.
WE WILL LOOK FORWARD TO SHARING
WITH FOLKS WHAT I LEARNED WHEN
I DO LEARN SOME MORE ABOUT THIS
ISSUE.
THANK YOU.
>> THANKS SO MUCH,
COUNCILMEMBER HERBOLD.
ANY OTHER COMMENTS OR QUESTIONS?
ALL RIGHT, I'M NOT SEEING
ANYMORE.
SO, WE WILL NOW HEAR FROM
COUNCILMEMBER JUAREZ, AND THEN
LEWIS.
>> GOOD MORNING.
CAUGHT ME OFFGUARD THERE.
I APOLOGIZE.
SO, LET'S SEE.
WE WERE SUPPOSED TO DO A
PROCLAMATION FOR MARSALIS
TURNER LAST WEEKEND AND WE HAD
SOME PROBLEMS AND SCHEDULING
ISSUES.
WE ARE BACK.
I WILL BE PRESENTING A
PROCLAMATION. 10 YEARS OF
SERVICE TO THE SEATTLE PUBLIC
LIBRARY.
SEATTLE CITY COUNCIL SIGNED A
PROCLAMATION LAST MONDAY.
IN REGARDS TO PUBLIC ASSETS AND
NATIVE COMMUNITY COMMITTEES
THERE ARE NO ITEMS TODAY.
THERE IS A COMMITTEE MEETING
TOMORROW AT 2:00.
WE WILL HOLD THE SECOND AND
LAST PUBLIC HEARING ON THE
WATERFRONT LID APPEALS.
I THINK THERE IS A TOTAL OF 69
TOTAL.
UPDATE WITH PARKS AS I DO EVERY
WEEK AND PROVIDE YOUR OFFICES
AND UPDATE OF THE QUEEN CITY
INITIATIVE.
THIS IS THE INFORMATION THAT WE
GET FROM PARKS BY FRIDAY BEFORE
THE MONDAY.
WE HAVE AN IDEA THAT THE MONEY
WE SET ASIDE FOR THE QUEEN CITY
INITIATIVES IN THIS LAST BUDGET
ROUND.
SO, WE ACTUALLY KNOW HOW THE
MONEY IS SPENT AND WHAT THEY
ARE DOING SO WE CAN TRACK IT.
THAT'S THE INFORMATION THAT I
PROVIDE TO YOU EVERY MONDAY
MORNING.
STARTING WITH THE WEEK OF MARCH
22nd, TO THE 28th, QUEEN CITY
CREWS REMOVED 71 POUNDS OF
TRASH.
CREWS ALSO VISITED 62
ENCAMPMENTS, AND CLEANED UP
OVER 8000 NEEDLES.
CHILDCARE, LAST WEEK THE PARKS
DEPARTMENT SERVED 298 CHILDREN
AT 17 CHILDCARE SITES
THROUGHOUT THE CITY.
EARTH WEEK, SINCE 1970, I
WASN'T EVEN BORN THEN.
BIRTHDAY HAS OCCURRED EACH YEAR
ON APRIL 22nd BECAUSE OF THE
IMMINENT THREAT OF CLIMATE
CHANGE.
PARKS IS EXPANDING THEIR EARTH
DAY PROGRAMMING TO BE ON THE
22nd THIS YEAR.
SO, THIS YEAR PARKS IS EXCITED
TO PARTICIPATE IN A WHOLE WEEK
OF EARTH DAY ACTIVITIES VIA A
BROAD NETWORK OF ENVIRONMENTAL
AND OUTDOOR GROUPS AROUND
SEATTLE AND THE PUGET SOUND.
IN ADDITION, I ATTENDED THE
RIDER EXPENSE OPERATIONS
COMMITTEE LAST WEEKEND WHERE WE
VOTED TO APPROVE SEVERAL
CONTRACTS.
JUST A QUICK UPDATE.
AS YOU KNOW, THE AMERICAN JOBS
PLAN IS PENDING AND WE ARE
LOOKING AT $2.5 TRILLION.
MY UNDERSTANDING, WHAT WE HEARD,
IS THAT WE BELIEVE THAT SOUND
TRANSIT CAN DELIVER ON THE
BIDEN ADMINISTRATIVE --
ADMINISTRATION'S PRIORITIES.
WE ARE HAPPY TO REPORT, THAT
SENATOR MURRAY AND CANTWELL,
THERE BILL FOR $1.9 BILLION TO
SOUND TRANSIT PASS LAST MONTH
WE ARE STILL WORKING ON THE
FAIR ENFORCEMENT PIECE AS YOU
HEARD THIS MORNING DOWN IN
OLYMPIA WHAT'S GOING ON WITH
THAT.
THAT IS BEING LED BY
COUNCILMEMBER McDERMOTT AND THE
COMMITTEE THAT HE CHAIRS WHICH
I SIT ON SOUND TRANSIT.
THAT'S IT, THANK YOU.
>> THANK YOU.
SO MUCH.
IN MY SORT OF READING OF THE
NOTES, I REALIZE I ACCIDENTALLY
SKIPPED OVER COUNCILMEMBER
HERBOLD.
>> I THOUGHT YOU DID.
>> THAT'S WHY I CAUGHT YOU OFF
GUARD.
I COMPLETELY FORGOT ABOUT
COUNCILMEMBER HERBOLD.
I'M GOING TO DOUBLE BACK AND
COUNCILMEMBER HERBOLD.
>> I WILL MAKE IT VERY QUICK.
JUST A FEW WORDS ON HEALTH.
A RECENT UNIVERSITY OF
WASHINGTON STUDY FOUND THAT
RESIDENTS ARE DOING A GREAT JOB
WITH PUBLIC HEALTH PRECAUTIONS.
WAR
>> FACE COVERINGS OVER THE
MOUTH AND.
IF YOU ARE PLANNING ON KEEPING
THE APRIL HOLIDAYS WITH FAMILY
OR FRIENDS, FROM ANOTHER
HOUSEHOLD, AS ALWAYS, REMEMBER
TO KEEP UP YOUR PRECAUTIONS,
WHETHER OR NOT YOU'RE FULLY
VACCINATED OR NOT.
COVID TESTING HAS BEEN EXTENDED
AT LEAST THROUGH APRIL 17th AT
THE CITY RUN TESTING AND
VACCINATION SITES IN RAINIER
BEACH AND WEST SEATTLE.
YOU MAY RECALL THAT THERE WAS
SOME CONVERSATION ABOUT ENDING
TESTING AT THOSE LOCATIONS.
BECAUSE OF THE RECOGNITION THAT
WE ACTUALLY HAVE HAD A RISE IN
COVID CASES IN OUR COMMUNITY,
THE EXECUTIVE AND THE FIRE
DEPARTMENT HAVE AGREED TO
CONTINUE TO MAINTAIN TESTING AT
THOSE TWO LOCATIONS.
OF COURSE TESTING IS FREE AND
AVAILABLE TO ALL, REGARDLESS OF
INSURANCE OR DOCUMENTATION
SATUS.
LAST WEEK, THE CITY OPENED ITS
FOURTH FREE VACCINATION SITE AT
NORTH SEATTLE COLLEGE.
COLLABORATION BETWEEN THE CITY,
NORTH SEATTLE COLLEGE, AND
SEATTLE VISITING NURSE
ASSOCIATION, WE NOW HAVE FOUR
VACCINATION SITES IN ADDITION
TO NORTH SEATTLE COLLEGE.
WE HAVE BLOOM AND FIELD EVENT
CENTER, WEST SEATTLE AND
RAINIER BEACH.
ELIGIBLE RESIDENTS CONJOIN THE
NOTIFICATION LIST FOR A VACCINE
AT THESE SITES.
FOR EVERYBODY OUT THERE WHO HAS
NOT BECOME VACCINE ELIGIBLE YET,
ALL ADULTS IN WASHINGTON WILL
BECOME VACCINE ELIGIBLE ON
APRIL 15th.
THAT'S SOME GREAT NEWS TO START
OUR WEEK WITH.
AS FAR AS SOME UPDATES FROM THE
HUMAN SERVICES DEPARTMENT, JUST
WANT TO LET EVERYBODY KNOW THAT
ENROLLMENT OPENS TODAY FOR THE
SENIOR FARMERS MARKET NUTRITION
PROGRAM.
THAT IS A PROGRAM THAT SERVES
8000 LOW INCOME OLDER ADULTS
WHO ARE SELECTED RANDOMLY TO
RECEIVE $40 IN ONE TIME FARMERS
MARKET VOUCHERS IN JULY.
APPLICATIONS ARE AVAILABLE IN
11 LANGUAGES.
THE PROGRAM IS FOR SENIORS WHO
ARE AGES 60 OR ABOVE, OR ABOVE
AGE 55 IF YOU ARE AMERICAN
INDIAN OR ALASKA NATIVE.
TO APPLY, HEAD TO THE WEBSITE
OR CALL COMMUNITY LIVING
CONNECTIONS.
JUST A QUICK UPDATE ON AN ISSUE
THAT I KNOW MANY FOLKS HAVE
BEEN FOLLOWING IN MY PUBLIC
SAFETY AND HUMAN SERVICES
COMMITTEE.
YOU MAY RECALL THAT WE VOTED A
FEW WEEKS AGO TO MAKE A
RECOMMENDATION OFF OF OUR DRAFT
BILL RELATING TO THE LESS
LETHAL WEAPONS REGULATION.
WE DON'T HAVE AN INTRODUCED
BILL YET, AND WE HAVEN'T VOTED
A BILL, AND INTRODUCED BILL OUT
OF COMMITTEE, BUT WE HAVE HAD
SOME RECOMMENDATIONS ABOUT WHAT
A DRAFT BILL MIGHT LOOK LIKE.
THAT IS BEING REVIEWED UNDER THE
CONSENT TO FREE PROCESS.
THE NEWS, THE UPDATE HERE, IS
THAT THE U.S. DEPARTMENT OF
JUSTICE AND THE MONITOR
OVERSEEING THIS CONTENT DAVE
GRIEK ARE CONSIDERING THE DRAFT
BILL.
WE HAD AN INITIAL MEETING WITH
THE DOJ AND THE MONITOR LAST
WEEK WE UNDERSTAND COMING OUT
OF THAT MEETING THAT THEY WILL
HAVE SOME FOLLOW-UP QUESTIONS
FOR THE SEATTLE POLICE
DEPARTMENT.
I WANT TO JUST HIGHLIGHT AN
ITEM THAT I KNOW COUNCILMEMBER
MOSQUEDA MIGHT BE TALKING ABOUT
IN HER UPDATE, BUT I WANTED TO
JUST UPLIFT IT.
IT'S A BRIEFING ITEM THAT I
HAVE ACTUALLY REQUESTED THAT
COUNCILMEMBER MOSQUEDA SCHEDULE
IN HER COMMITTEE.
THE REASON FOR THAT SPECIAL
REQUEST, AND THANK YOU TO
COUNCILMEMBER MOSQUEDA FOR
HELPING TO FACILITATE THAT
SPECIAL REQUEST A COUPLE YEARS
AGO, THE COUNCIL PASSED
RESOLUTION 31863 THAT I
SPONSORED, WHICH CALLED UPON THE
CITY'S LABOR STANDARDS ADVISORY
COMMITTEE, TO DEVELOP
RECOMMENDATIONS TO ADDRESS
MISCLASSIFICATION OF EMPLOYEES
AS INDEPENDENT CONTRACTORS.
LAST MAY, THEY RECOMMENDED TWO
-- TO COUNCIL, SOME POLICY
SUGGESTIONS FOR A FIRST MODEST
STEP TOWARD CREATING MORE
TRANSPARENCY AND ACCESS TO
INFORMATION AMONG PEOPLE WHO
ARE CURRENTLY CLASSIFIED AS
INDEPENDENT CONTRACTORS.
IN SHORT, THEY ARE RECOMMENDING
A POLICY THAT REQUIRES HIRING
ENTITIES TO PROVIDE INDEPENDENT
CONTRACT WORKERS INFORMATION SO
THAT THEY CAN UNDERSTAND THE
TERMS OF THEIR ENGAGEMENT, AND
DETERMINE WHETHER OR NOT THOSE
TERMS HAVE BEEN SATISFIED.
SO, WE ARE GOING TO BE HEARING
TOMORROW IN COUNCILMEMBER
MOSQUEDA'S FINANCE AND HOUSING
COMMITTEE A PRESENTATION FROM
TWO COCHAIRS.
AS FAR AS ITEMS COMING UP FROM
MY ATTENDANCE THIS WEEK, I'LL
BE ATTENDING THE REGIONAL WATER
QUALITY COMMITTEE MEETING WITH
COUNCILMEMBER PEDERSEN.
HE SERVES ON THAT COMMITTEE
WITH ME.
THEN, ALSO, THE WEST SEATTLE
BRIDGE COMMUNITY TASK FORCE
MEETING.
THAT WILL BE OUR 18th MEETING.
LASTLY, I'M GOING TO CLOSE OUT
WITH WHAT IS NORMALLY MY
OPENING, THERE ARE NO ITEMS ON
FULL COUNCIL AGENDA FROM THE
PUBLIC SAFETY AND HUMAN
SERVICES COMMITTEE.
THE COMMITTEE IS NOT MEETING
THIS WEEK.
THANK YOU.
>> THANK YOU SO MUCH,
COUNCILMEMBER HERBOLD.
ANY COMMENTS OR QUESTIONS ON
THAT REPORT?
HEARING NONE, NOW WE WILL HEAR
FROM COUNCILMEMBER LEWIS.
THANK YOU.
>> THANK YOU, MADAM PRESIDENT.
I WILL BE PRETTY BRIEF.
TWO WEEKS IN A ROW, NOT BAD.
SO, THERE'S NO ITEMS FROM THE
SELECT COMMITTEE ON HOMELESSNESS
STRATEGIES AND INVESTMENTS THAT
ARE ON THE AGENDA THIS
AFTERNOON.
NOR IS THERE ANYTHING ON
úINTRODUCTION AND REFERRAL TO G
TO THAT COMMITTEE OR FROM MY
OFFICE.
I DO WANT TO TAKE THIS
OPPORTUNITY, GIVEN THAT WE
MISSED A COMMITTEE MEETING IN
MARCH DUE TO SOME OF THE
LOGISTICAL TIMELINE ON SETTING
UP THE SHELTER SURGE, THAT WE
ARE EXPECTING A ROBUST
COMMITTEE MEETING FOR APRIL.
ON THE SHELTER SURGE FROM OUR
PARTNERS IN THE EXECUTIVE BRANCH
ON HOW THAT IS COMING ALONG.
I DO WANT TO FORESHADOW SOME OF
WHAT I EXPECT TO BE DISCUSSED,
AND ALSO TAKE THAT OPPORTUNITY
MAY BE JUST TO DO A BIT OF AN
OVERVIEW ON SORT OF SOME OF THE
OUTSTANDING ITEMS THAT THE
COUNCIL PASSED IN OUR BUDGET
THAT WE ARE STILL WORKING WITH
THE EXECUTIVE TO REALIZE THE
IMPACT OF SAID INVESTMENTS.
AS MANY FOLKS HERE ON THE
COUNCIL NO, THE COUNCIL FUNDED
545 ADDITIONAL'S SHELTER SPACES.
NONCONFIDENTIAL TO SPACES.
INCLUDING 120 TINY HOUSES, 300
HOTEL ROOMS, AND 125 ENHANCED
SHELTER SPACES TO BE SET UP IN
2020 21.
THROUGH IT TAKES A VILLAGE
INITIATIVE, MY OFFICE IS
SEEKING TO EXPAND THAT NUMBER
EVEN FURTHER THROUGH
PUBLIC/PRIVATE PARTNERSHIP BY
AN ADDITIONAL 360 TINY HOUSES.
THAT WORK IS GOING ALONG QUITE
WELL.
I'VE BEEN INFORMED BY THE LOW
INCOME HOUSING INSTITUTE THAT
THEY RAISED ABOUT $2.5 MILLION
OF THE PRIVATE FUNDRAISING
GOAL, WHICH IS PRETTY
IMPRESSIVE.
I LOOK FORWARD TO CONTINUING
THAT WORK TO REALIZE THIS
ADDITIONAL TIES A HOUSE IS
GOING TOGETHER AS A
PHILANTHROPIC COMMUNITY AND
CITY GOVERNMENT WORKING HAND-IN-
HAND.
THE COUNCIL ALSO RECENTLY
APPROVED $12 MILLION IN
ADDITIONAL SHELTER CAPACITY
FUNDING.
CAPABLE OF CONSERVATIVELY
SUPPORTING 200 MORE NON-
CONGREGANT SHELTER SPOTS.
IN TOTAL, IN THE AGGREGATE,
THIS COUNCIL HAS FUNDED AND IS
SEEKING 1105 SHELTER UNITS TO
BE STOOD UP BEFORE THE END OF
2021, WHICH WE KNOW WILL MAKE A
SIGNIFICANT AND DEMONSTRABLE
VISIBLE IMPACT IN OUR
NEIGHBORS'S EXPERIENCING
HOMELESSNESS BEING ABLE TO GET
OFF THE STREET AND INTO A
PRIVATE DIGNIFIED AND
SUPPORTIVE PLACE TO LIVE.
TO DATE, AS OF LAST MONTH,
APPROXIMATELY 155 OF THESE 1105
SHELTER UNITS HAVE BEEN STOOD
UP.
I WAS VERY ENCOURAGED TO SEE
THAT NEWS IN MARCH THAT THE
FIRST TWO HOTELS ARE OPEN.
SEVERAL HUNDRED MORE SHELTER
UNITS ARE ANTICIPATED IN THE
SPRING.
I LOOK FORWARD TO HEARING AT
THE END OF THIS MONTH THE PLAN
TO SET UP SOME OF THESE
ADDITIONAL UNITS.
WE HEARD EARLIER FROM
COUNCILMEMBER PEDERSEN OF THE
GREAT PROGRESS BEING MADE IN
THE UNIVERSITY DISTRICT.
I THINK COUNCILMEMBER PEDERSEN
FOR HIS LEADERSHIP IN THAT AND
FOR THE LEADERSHIP OF LEHIGH IN
THE HUMAN SERVICES DEPARTMENT.
THERE WILL BE ANOTHER VILLAGE
IN NORTH SEATTLE GOING IN
FAIRLY SOON IN THE SPRING.
I KNOW COUNCILMEMBER JUAREZ HAS
BEEN INTIMATELY INVOLVED IN
THAT AND VERY MUCH APPRECIATE
HER LEADERSHIP IN THAT AS WELL.
I HAVE REQUESTED FOR A
COMMITTEE MEETING ON WEDNESDAY
APRIL 28th, AN UPDATE FROM THE
EXECUTIVE TEAM ON THE PLAN TO
IMPLEMENT THOSE NEAR-TERM
ADDITIONAL SHELTER RESOURCES,
AS WELL AS THE REST OF THE
SHELTER RESOURCES FOR THE
TENDENCY OF 2021.
JUST SO THIS COUNCIL AND THE
PUBLIC CAN HAVE MORE
PREDICTABILITY AND KNOW WHEN WE
ANTICIPATE THESE COUNCIL FUNDED
ASSETS WILL BE COMING ONLINE.
AS I SAID EARLIER, MY
UNDERSTANDING IN THE NEAR-TERM
IS THAT SEVERAL TINY HOUSE
VILLAGES, AS WELL AS A THIRD
HOTEL, MADE POSSIBLE BY THE
RECENT APPROPRIATION OF $12
MILLION FROM THE COUNCIL, CAN
BE EXPECTED THIS SPRING.
WITH MORE HOPEFULLY BECOMING
ALONG.
I DO LOOK FORWARD TO THAT
ROBUST PRESENTATION ON THE
28th.
I THINK IT'S MORE CRITICAL THAN
EVER AS WE ARE GOING INTO WHAT
WE HOPE TO BE A SUMMER OF
RECOVERY, AND WANT TO MAKE SURE
IT IS A SUMMARY OF RECOVERY FOR
EVERYBODY, INCLUDING OUR
NEIGHBORS EXPERIENCING
HOMELESSNESS.
THE SHELTER ASSETS WILL HELP US
TO REALIZE THAT GOAL.
MADAM PRESIDENT, WITH THAT I
DON'T HAVE ANY ADDITIONAL
UPDATES.
I WILL TURN IT BACK OVER TO
YOU.
THANK YOU.
>> THANK YOU, COUNCILMEMBER
LEWIS OF THOSE UPDATES.
LOOKING FORWARD TO YOUR
COMMITTEE AS WELL AND GETTING --
DIGGING INTO THOSE DETAILS THAT
YOU DESCRIBED.
COLLEAGUES, ANY OTHER COMMENTS
OR QUESTIONS ON THAT REPORT?
HEARING NONE, NEXT UP IS
COUNCILMEMBER MORALES, FOLLOWED
BY MOSQUEDA.
GOOD MORNING.
>> GOOD MORNING EVERYONE.
THERE ARE NO ITEMS ON THE
AGENDA THIS AFTERNOON FROM THE
COMMUNITY ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT
COMMITTEE.
I SPENT LAST WEEK, ALL OVER
TOWN.
MEETING WITH FOLKS IN THE
DISTRICT AND SOME OF OUR CITY
WORKERS.
I JOINED HEALTHONE TO OBSERVE
HOW THE TEAM SUPPORTS FOLKS WHO
ARE IN CRISIS.
IT WAS REALLY INSPIRING AND
INTERESTING TO SEE HOW THEIR
PROCESS WORKS IN THE DEEP WORK
THAT THEY DO WITH THE FOLKS
THEY ARE GOING OUT TO VISIT.
WE WENT ON TWO VISITS, AND IN
BOTH CASES, THE CASE MANAGER
MADE PHONE CALLS, SET UP HOME
VISITS FOR PEOPLE.
ONE OF THE PEOPLE WE WENT TO
SEE DID REQUIRE AN AMBULANCE,
SO WE STAYED WITH THE FAMILY
UNTIL THE AMBULANCE ARRIVED.
THE SOCIAL WORKER, THE CASE
MANAGER WHO WAS WITH US, CALL
THE HOSPITAL AND SPOKE TO THE
SOCIAL WORKER AT THE HOSPITAL
TO GIVE THEM THE NECESSARY
BACKGROUND INFORMATION.
SO, IT WAS A REALLY IMPORTANT
OPPORTUNITY TO GO AND LEARN
MORE ABOUT HOW THAT PROGRAM
WORKS.
I DO WANT TO THANK DONNA, LYNN,
ROGER, CHRIS, JOHN, ALL THE
FOLKS WHO SHARE THEIR MORNING
WITH US AND LET US KNOW HOW
THAT PROGRAM WORKS.
I WAS THRILLED TO VOLUNTEER AT
NEWMAN FIELD LAST WEEK.
I DID SPEND WEDNESDAY OUT THERE
TOGETHER WITH ABOUT A DOZEN
OTHER VOLUNTEERS IN MY
PARTICULAR AREA.
PHARMACY SUPPORT.
WE ASSEMBLED ALMOST 4000
VACCINATION BINS WITH SYRINGES,
VACCINATION CARDS, AND OTHER
ITEMS THAT ARE NEEDED BY THE
VACCINATORS.
SO, IT WAS GREAT JUST TO BE
PART OF THAT PROCESS AND REALLY
SEE ON THE BACK END, ALL THE
WORK THAT GOES INTO MAKING SURE
THAT THE FRONT END VACCINATION
LINES GO SMOOTHLY.
SO, REALLY HAPPY TO HAVE HAD
THE OPPORTUNITY TO DO THAT.
I ALSO DID A WALKING TOUR WITH
MT. BAKER RESIDENTS.
I'VE BEEN TALKING FOR A WHILE
NOW ABOUT THE REQUESTS COMING
FROM THAT NEIGHBORHOOD.
I MET WITH NEIGHBORS AND WITH
FOLKS FROM LEAD.
THESE NEIGHBORS ARE THE SAME
ONES THAT I CONVENED AN
INTERDEPARTMENTAL MEETING WITH
LAST MONTH.
I WILL SAY THAT GUNFIRE AND
DRUG DEALING CONTINUE TO BE A
CHALLENGE THERE WITHIN MERE
FEET OF A PRESCHOOL FACILITY.
NEIGHBORS ARE CONCERNED FOR
VERY OBVIOUS REASONS.
I WILL SAY THEY ARE STILL
WAITING FOR A RESPONSE FROM THE
EXECUTIVE AND SOME OF THE
DEPARTMENTS WHO MADE
COMMITMENTS THERE.
IN THE MEANTIME, THEY ARE
INTERESTED IN TEMPORARY USE
PERMITS.
I'LL BE SPEAKING WITH THE
OFFICE OF HOUSING, WHO NOW OWNS
THE FACILITY.
THERE'S THE KINGS HALL PARKING
LOT.
FOLKS ARE INTERESTED IN TRYING
TO ACTIVATE THIS SPACE.
MAYBE A COMMUNITY GARDEN OR
SOME OTHER TEMPORARY TYPE OF
FACILITY.
TEMPORARY USAGE SO THERE'S MORE
EYES ON THE STREET THERE.
THEY ARE ALSO LOOKING TO SOUND
TRANSIT TO PROVIDE BETTER
SECURITY AND LIGHTING FOR THE
SPACE THAT IS BELOW THE MT.
BAKER LIGHT RAIL STATION.
IF ANY OF YOU HAVE STOPPED AT
THAT STATION YOU KNOW THAT IT
IS ELEVATED.
THERE IS APARTMENTS UNDERNEATH.
IS ALSO SOME DARK ALLEY WAYS
UNDERNEATH.
FRANKLY, IT WAS JUST REALLY
DESIGNED BECAUSE AT NIGHT,
THERE WAS NO LIGHTING, NO
VISIBILITY THERE.
THAT IS WHERE A LOT OF THE DRUG
DEALING AND BULLETS HAVE BEEN
FOUND.
MOST RECENTLY ON WEDNESDAY.
LAST MONDAY I JOINED NEIGHBORS,
ORGANIZERS AND ADVOCATES, TO
KICK OFF THE STAY HOUSED, STAY
HEALTHY.
I TALKED ABOUT THE LEGISLATION
THAT MY OFFICE HAS BEEN CRAFTING
WITH MEMBERS OF THIS COALITION
SINCE THE BEGINNING OF THE YEAR.
TO CLOSE THE LEASE TERMINATION
LOOPHOLE THAT IS IN OUR JUST
CAUSE EVICTION ORDINANCE.
SOME OF YOU KNOW THAT WE HAVE
HAD THIS REVIEWED BY LAW OVER
THE COURSE OF SEVERAL MEETINGS.
WITH MY OFFICE IN MARCH, AND
THE LEGISLATION WITH CRAFTED,
IT IS MEANT TO PROTECT RENTERS
WHO ARE FACING HARDSHIP, FACING
EVICTION FROM THE PANDEMIC AS
WELL.
STREET. JUST TO GIVE EVERYBODY
AN UPDATE FOR FUNDING
APPLICATIONS ARE OPEN THROUGH
DEPARTMENT OF NEIGHBORHOODS.
MY OFFICE HAS BEEN COLLABORATING
FOR THE LAST SEVERAL MONTHS TO
HELP GET THIS FUNDING OFF THE
GROUND.
I REALLY WANT TO THANK FOLKS AT
BOTH DEPARTMENTS WHO HAVE BEEN
WORKING CLOSELY WITH THE CLEAN
HANDS COLLECTIVE TO ADDRESS
SOME OF THE CHALLENGES, OR SOME
OF THE PROTOTYPE ISSUES THAT
HAVE COME UP.
SO, TOGETHER WITH ENGINEERS AND
OTHER FOLKS, THEY ARE WORKING
THROUGH THAT AND I'M EXCITED.
THROUGHOUT THESE MEETINGS, MY
OFFICE HAS REITERATED THAT WE
WOULD LIKE TO SEE A MODEL LIKE
THOSE BUILT THROUGH THE CLEAN
HANDS COLLECTIVE VERSUS OTHER
IDEAS THAT HAVE BEEN PROPOSED,
FOR EXAMPLE JUST MAKING THESE
HAND SANITIZER STATIONS.
WHICH DEFEATS THE PURPOSE OF
HAVING WATER AVAILABLE TO
FOLKS.
WE WANT TO MAKE SURE THAT
PEOPLE HAVE RUNNING WATER FOR
THEIR HYGIENE NEEDS.
ESPECIALLY SINCE SEATTLE IS
SORELY LACKING IN PUBLIC
RESTROOMS.
IF WE COULD AT LEAST GET THESE
SINKS OUT THROUGHOUT THE CITY
THAT WOULD BE VERY IMPORTANT.
THERE IS A WEBINAR FOR FOLKS
ARE INTERESTED, ORGANIZATIONS
THAT ARE INTERESTED IN APPLYING.
THAT IS GOING TO ON APRIL 14th.
THE APPLICATION PERIOD CLOSES
APRIL 23rd, AND FUNDING WILL BE
AWARDED IN MAY.
AS ALWAYS, I HAVE OFFICE HOURS
ON THURSDAY MORNINGS FROM 10:00
TO NOON, AND SUNDAYS FROM 3:00
TO 5:00.
CONSTITUENTS CAN SIGN UP
THROUGH MY WEBSITE.
THIS PAST WEEK I SPOKE WITH
CONSTITUENTS WHO WERE LOOKING
FOR AN AVENUE TO TALK TO PARKS
ABOUT NOISE CONCERNS THEY ARE
HAVING.
AS WELL AS CONSTITUENTS WERE
LOOKING FOR A WAY TO GET
INFORMATION FROM OED ABOUT
DIFFERENT KINDS OF PROJECT
FUNDING.
SO, WE ARE HELPING FOLKS WORK
THROUGH THOSE CHANNELS.
COUNCIL PRESIDENT, THAT IS ALL
I HAVE TODAY.
>> GREAT, THANK YOU SO MUCH,
COUNCILMEMBER MORALES.
ANY COMMENTS OR QUESTIONS ON
THAT REPORT?
ALL RIGHT.
HEARING NONE, WE ARE GOING TO
KEEP GOING DOWN THE LINE.
NEXT UP IS COUNCILMEMBER
MOSQUEDA.
GOOD MORNING.
>> THANK YOU VERY MUCH FOR THE
UPDATES.
I DO HAVE A FEW QUESTIONS FOR
COUNCILMEMBERS MORALES AND
PEDERSEN.
I WILL FOLLOW UP AFTERWARDS.
JUST WANT TO FLAG THAT.
I WILL REACH OUT TO YOU LATER
TODAY.
COLLEAGUES, THERE ARE NO ITEMS
ON TODAY'S FULL COUNCIL AGENDA
FROM THE FINANCE AND HOUSING
COMMITTEE.
ON THE INTRODUCTION AND
REFERRAL CALENDAR THERE ARE
THREE ITEMS I WANTED TO FLAG.
WE HAVE AN APPOINTMENT OF THE
LABOR STANDARDS ADVISORY
COMMITTEE.
WE ALSO HAVE COUNCIL BILL
120029.
I AM HAPPY TO COSPONSOR WITH
COUNCIL PRESIDENT GONZALEZ.
I WILL BE BRIEF HERE IN CASE
COUNCIL PRESIDENT IS GOING TO
SPEAK TO IT.
PROVIDING $1.5 MILLION TO
INVEST DIRECTLY INTO THE ASIAN
AND PACIFIC ISLANDER
COMMUNITIES.
THIS WILL BE ON OUR AGENDA FOR
TOMORROW'S MEETING.
CENTRAL STAFF HAS NOT HAD THE
CHANCE TO GO THROUGH THIS PIECE
OF LEGISLATION IN DETAIL.
WE WILL HAVE A PANEL FROM THE
EXECUTIVE COMMITTEE -- A PANEL
FROM THE EXECUTIVE, AS WELL AS
MEMBERS FROM CENTRAL STAFF THAT
WILL BE PROVIDING AN OVERVIEW.
IF YOU HAVE ANY QUESTIONS OR
COMMENTS AND ARE NOT ON THAT
COMMITTEE, PLEASE LET ME KNOW.
I'M HAPPY TO HELP RAISE THOSE
QUESTIONS AS WELL.
A FEW HIGHLIGHTS THAT I WILL
NOTE.
$100,000 FOR COMMUNITY-BASED
ORGANIZATION INTERVENTION
FUNDING INCLUDING FUNDING FOR
COUNSELING MENTAL HEALTH
SUPPORT, RESPONSE IMPAIRED.
300,000 FOR THE HUMAN SERVICES
DEPARTMENT INNOVATION FUND.
FOR MAKING SURE THAT THERE IS
MORE RESPONSE TO FUTURE
RESPECTS FOR RAPOZA.
$100,000 TO THE OFFICE OF CIVIL
RIGHTS FOR CONTRACTS WITH CITY-
OWNED TO FIGHT HATE CRIMES AND
BIAS.
I'M VERY EXCITED ABOUT THE
LANGUAGE IN THERE REGARDING
EARLY LEARNING YOUTH LED
ORGANIZATIONS BEING ABLE TO
RECEIVE PROJECTS AND ADDITIONAL
SUPPORT FOR ORGANIZATIONS WHO
ARE RAISING ISSUES OF
DISCRIMINATION/BIAS/RACISM.
LOOKING FORWARD TO HAVING THAT
DISCUSSION AND HAPPY TO
COSPONSOR WITH COUNCIL
PRESIDENT GONZALEZ.
THE NEXT ITEM IS COUNCIL BILL
1200 30.
THIS ORDINANCE GREW OUT OF
INTENSIVE FINANCE AND
ADMINISTRATIVE SERVICES
RULEMAKING PROCESSES ON THE
JUMPSTART PAYROLL TAX.
VERY EXCITED TO BE ABLE TO
CONTINUE TO ITERATIVE PROCESS
THAT IS LEGISLATED MAKING BASED
ON THAT CONVERSATION.
I WANT TO THANK THEM FOR THEIR
LEADERSHIP AND THE RULEMAKING
PROCESS AND ALL THE ENTITIES
THAT WORK WITH FAS AS THEY
LISTEN TO COMMUNITY PARTNERS
AND PAY YOURS OF THE UPCOMING
TAX TO HEAR HOW IT WOULD BE
APPLIED.
THIS IS AN EXAMPLE OF THE LONG-
STANDING PROCESS THAT I'VE
ALWAYS SAID THAT WE HAVE TO BE
THERE NOT ONLY WHEN LEGISLATION
IS PASSED, BUT AFTER THE INK IS
DRY TO MAKE SURE THAT THE
POLICIES THAT WE PASS ARE
IMPLEMENTABLE AND WORKABLE.
THIS IS A GREAT EXAMPLE OF
WHERE WE SEE AN OPPORTUNITY TO
IMPROVE THE LEGISLATION TO MAKE
IT EASIER TO IMPLEMENT AND WE
WORKED SWIFTLY TO MAKE THESE
CHANGES REFLECTING THE
CONVERSATIONS THAT HAPPENED
DURING THE PROCESS FOR THIS
TECHNICAL CHAIN TO BE APPLIED.
THIS CHANGE WOULD BE ADDITIVE.
IT KEEPS THE ORIGINAL FORMULA
FOR DETERMINING WHO IS
PREDOMINANTLY ASSIGNED IN
SEATTLE, AND IT ADDS AN
ADDITIONAL METHOD FOR
BUSINESSES TO CHOOSE IF THEY
WOULD PREFER TO USE AN HOURLY
RATIO FORMULA TO DETERMINE THE
EMPLOYEE EXPENSES BASED ON
HOURS WORKED IN SEATTLE IN
PROPORTION TO THE EMPLOYEE'S
TOTAL HOURS WORKED BUSINESSES
WILL BE ABLE TO USE THE
ORIGINAL PAYROLL ASSIGNMENT
METHOD AFFECT YOU TO DO SO,
WHICH WE'VE HEARD FROM A NUMBER
OF EMPLOYERS, THAT THEY WOULD
ABSOLUTELY PREFER TO USE
EXISTING LANGUAGE.
WE'VE ALSO HEARD FROM A HANDFUL
OF FOLKS THROUGH THE RULEMAKING
PROCESS THAT THERE IS A DESIRE
FOR AN HOURLY RATIO OPTION AS
WELL.
HAPPY TO ACCOMMODATE THIS.
I THINK THIS TECHNICAL UPGRADE
MAKES IT EASIER FOR.
TO APPLY, AND I WANT TO
UNDERSCORE THAT THERE IS NO
CHANGES TO THE UNDERLYING BILL.
THE SUCCESS, RITZ, ET CETERA.
THIS TRULY IS ADDING AN
ADDITIVE OPTION FOR THOSE
PAYERS TO BE ABLE TO CHOOSE THE
BEST METHODOLOGY FOR THEM IN
APPLYING THE JUMPSTART PAYROLL
TAX TO THOSE WHO ARE CURRENTLY
ELIGIBLE UNDER THE CURRENT
FORMULA.
REALLY EXCITED ABOUT BEING ABLE
TO OFFER THIS AND I HOPE YOU
WILL CONSIDER TAKING A LOOK
THROUGH.
WILL BE UP FOR DISCUSSION IN
OUR COMMITTEE TOMORROW AS WELL.
SPEAKING OF OUR COMMITTEE
TOMORROW, IT'S APRIL 6th AT
9:30 A.M.
THE AGENDA WILL START WITH A
TOUCH POINT ON THE AMERICAN
RESCUE PLAN ACT, 28.
THIS RESPONSE TO THE COVID
RESPONSE AS I MENTIONED IN THE
MEMO THAT YOU RECEIVED, AND IN
THE BRIEFING LAST WEEK, WE WILL
START EACH MEETING WITH 20
MINUTES OF PUBLIC COMMENT.
WE WILL ALSO HAVE THE FIRST
HALF OF THE MEETING DEDICATED
TO TALKING ABOUT ARPA
DEVELOPMENT, WHAT WE ARE THINK
ABOUT HER IN THE CITY, HOW IT
APPLIES TO WHAT WE KNOW COMING
FROM THE KING COUNTY EXECUTIVE
AND COUNCILS WHO ARE
DELIBERATING RIGHT NOW AS WELL.
HOW THEY WILL APPLY THESE FUNDS
AND HOW WE WILL USE THE FIRST
HALF OF EACH OUR MEETINGS
BETWEEN NOW AND THE END OF MAY
TO LOOK AT THE FIRST TRANCHE
AND THE FIRST ORDINANCE IN THE
FIRST TRANCHE.
THEN, WE WILL USE JUNE TO LOOK
AT THE SECOND ORDINANCE RELATED
TO THE FIRST TRANCHE OF FUNDS
AS WELL.
IF YOU HAVE ANY QUESTIONS ABOUT
THAT MEMO OR THE TIMELINE THAT
I SENT AROUND, PLEASE LET ME
KNOW.
WE ARE DEFINITELY INTERESTED IN
MAKING SURE EVERYBODY HAS
ACCESS TO ALL OF THE TIMELINE
INFORMATION.
IF YOU'RE NOT ON THE FINANCE
AND HOUSING COMMITTEE AND WOULD
LIKE TO OFFER AN AMENDMENT, ASK
QUESTIONS, YOU ARE VERY MUCH
ENCOURAGED TO ATTEND THE
MEETINGS.
WE WOULD LIKE YOU TO ATTEND AND
AS THE CHAIR I'M HAPPY TO BRING
FORWARD LEGISLATION ON BEHALF
OF ANYBODY WHO IS NOT ON THE
COMMITTEE SO YOU CAN ALWAYS
PARTICIPATE IN THE DISCUSSIONS
UNDER IDEAS CAN BE WELL
REPRESENTED.
TOMORROW DURING THE MEETING WE
WILL KICK OFF OUR DISCUSSIONS
ON THE AMERICAN RESCUE PLAN
ACT, BY HEARING FROM OTHER
CITIES ON HOW THEY PLAN TO
SPEND THIS FUNDING AND WHAT
PROCESSES THEY ARE GOING
THROUGH.
I WANT TO FEATURE THAT WE WILL
HAVE COUNCILMEMBER VANESSA
POINT IS FROM THE CITY OF
AUSTIN.
A COUNCILMEMBER FROM DENVER
CITY COUNCIL AND COUNCIL
PRESIDENT LISA BENDER FROM
MINNEAPOLIS CITY COUNCIL.
THANKS VERY MUCH TO OUR FRIENDS
AT LOCAL PROGRESS WHO NOT ONLY
HAVE COMPILED AN INITIAL REPORT
ON HOW VARIOUS CITIES ARE
APPLYING THE ARPA FUNDS, BUT
HAVE HELP REACH OUT TO MAKE
THESE CONNECTIONS OF ECONOMIC
THE DOTS WITH SIMILAR WAYS TO
UNDERSTAND HOW THEY ARE
APPLYING ARPA AS WELL.
THEN, WE WILL GO ON TO OTHER
ITEMS ON OUR AGENDA.
THIS INCLUDES THE APPOINTMENT OF
THE SWEETENED BEVERAGE ADVISORY
BOARD MEMBER.
LABOR STANDARDS ADVISORY BOARD
COUNCILMEMBER HERBOLD MENTIONED
THE TRANS.
REQUIREMENT IN OUR COMMITTEE
TOMORROW.
GOING FORWARD AS WELL.
WE HAVE A NUMBER OF DATES. WE
WILL INCLUDE THE RENTAL
ASSISTANCE BILL.
COLLEAGUES, WE HAD A DISCUSSION
ABOUT THIS IN OUR LAST
COMMITTEE MEETING.
THIS IS COUNCIL BILL 120018.
THIS IS PROVIDING ALMOST $23
MILLION FOR RENTAL ASSISTANCE
DIRECT RENTAL ASSISTANCE.
WANT TO HIGHLIGHT TWO
AMENDMENTS THAT WILL BE
CONSIDERED FOR THE COUNCIL
COLLEAGUES CONSIDERATIONS.
THE FIRST AMENDMENT RELATES TO
MAKING AN AMENDMENT TO THE
EXISTING LEGISLATION AS IT WAS
TRANSMITTED TO INSTEAD OF
GIVING $1.5 MILLION TO CITY
LIGHT AND PUBLIC UTILITIES, I
WANT TO RETAIN THOSE DOLLARS
FOR RENTAL ASSISTANCE.
RECOGNIZING THAT THERE WILL BE
ADDITIONAL RELIEF DOLLARS
OFFERED TO PUBLIC UTILITIES,
SPECIFICALLY IN OUR FALL
LEGISLATION.
IN THIS LEGISLATION THAT PASSED
CONGRESS IN DECEMBER, THIS IS
OUR CHANCE TO I THINK GET AS
MUCH MONEY AS WE CAN OUT THE
DOOR TO DIRECTLY TO THOSE WHO
ARE EXPERIENCING HARDSHIP
HARDSHIP RELATED TO THE NEED
FOR RENTAL ASSISTANCE AND OTHER
ISSUES THAT THEY MIGHT BE
DEALING WITH.
THEN, WE CAN PROVIDE ADDITIONAL
RELIEF TO OUR CITY DEPARTMENTS,
HOPEFULLY THROUGH ARPA.
THIS ALLOWS FOR US TO MAKE SURE
THAT THERE IS THE $1.5 MILLION
FREED UP DIRECTLY TO GO TO
FAMILIES IN NEED AND IF I LOOK
AT A CONSERVATIVE ESTIMATE OF
HOW MUCH THIS COULD POTENTIALLY
HELP IT WILL HELP AT LEAST 300
ADDITIONAL FAMILIES.
BE ABLE TO HAVE RENTAL
ASSISTANCE IF I LOOK AT THE
MAXIMUM AVERAGE AMOUNT OF EACH
FAMILY RECEIVING.
I'M COMFORTABLE DOING THIS
BECAUSE WE ALSO KNOW THAT PRE-
PANDEMIC NEARLY 80% OF ELIGIBLE
HOUSEHOLDS HAD NOT SIGNED UP
FOR THE CITY'S CITYWIDE
SUSTAINABILITY UTILITY DISCOUNT
PROGRAM.
WANTED TO REMIND FOLKS THAT
THERE IS STILL AN OPPORTUNITY
TO SIGN UP FOR THOSE PROGRAMS
THAT COUNCILMEMBER PEDERSEN
REFERENCED.
THE WAYS WE ARE CONSTANTLY
WORKING TO IMPROVE THAT PROGRAM.
THIS IS A REMINDER THAT THIS IS
ABOUT A 60% REDUCTION TO THE
CITY LIGHT BILL.
IN ORDER TO QUALIFY YOU WILL SEE
EARNING LESS THAN 70% OF THE
STATE ABOUT THIS MEDIAN INCOME.
THAT AMOUNTS TO ABOUT 7000 A
MONTH OR 72,000 PER YEAR FOR A
FAMILY OF FOUR.
THERE'S LOTS OF INFORMATION ON
THE WEBSITE ABOUT HOW TO APPLY
FOR THE PROGRAM.
LOOKING FORWARD TO CONTINUING
TO WORK WITH COUNCILMEMBER
PEDERSEN TO GET THE WORD OUT
AND HELP TO MAKE THE PROCESS
EASIER.
THEN, WE WILL ALSO WORK WITH
THE ARPA FUNDS TO IDENTIFY
WAYS TO SUPPORT OUR UTILITIES
INTERNALLY.
THE SECOND AMENDMENT,
COUNCILMEMBER PEDERSEN JUST
WANT TO KNOW, THANK YOU FOR
BRINGING FORWARD THIS
AMENDMENT.
HAPPY TO SUPPORT IT AND BRING
IT FORWARD ON YOUR BEHALF.
TO MAKE SURE THAT AS THE
COMMUNITY-BASED ORGANIZATIONS,
ONE OF THE PILLARS WAS ABLE TO
RECEIVE RENTAL ASSISTANCE
DOLLARS TO SUPPORT COMMUNITY
AND FAMILIES DIRECTLY.
THEY WILL ALSO HAVE THE
OPPORTUNITY UNDER THIS
AMENDMENT TO LOOK AT THE COST
OF INTERNET.
IF THE FAMILY IS TELLING THE
COMMUNITY-BASED ORGANIZATIONS I
REALLY CANNOT KEEP MY HEALTH IF
I CANNOT KEEP MY JOB AND MY JOB
RELIES ON ME KEEPING MY
INTERNET, IN THIS MOMENT FROM
HOME, THOSE ORGANIZATIONS WILL
HAVE AN OPPORTUNITY TO HAVE
SUPPORT TO ALLOW FOR FOLKS TO
HAVE THAT.
COUNCILMEMBER PEDERSEN, HAPPY
TO BE SUPPORTIVE OF THAT.
THEN, WE WILL FINALLY HAVE THE
API LEGISLATION THAT I
MENTIONED AT THE BEGINNING.
WE HAVE THAT IN OUR COMMITTEE
WITH A HANDFUL OF FOLKS FROM
THE EXECUTIVE OFFICE.
AND THE JUMPSTART LEGISLATION
WHICH I MENTIONED.
A PACKED AGENDA TOMORROW BUT
LOOKING FORWARD TO WORKING WITH
ALL OF YOU.
WE HAVE EXTENDED THESE
MEETINGS, PLAN TO WRAP THEM UP
BEFORE 1:00 P.M.
MY DESIRE IS TO MAKE SURE THOSE
HAPPEN BEFORE 1:00 P.M.
MY THANKS FOR YOUR EXTENDED
TIME THERE.
LAST WEEK'S EVENTS, WE DID HAVE
THE OPPORTUNITY TO MEET WITH A
NUMBER OF HOUSING AND SERVICE
PROVIDERS.
FOLKS FROM THE REFUGEE
COMMITTEE TO LEARN MORE ABOUT
WHAT THE NEEDS ARE FOR THE ARPA
FUNDS.
WE ARE HOLDING A SERIES OF
ROUNDTABLE DISCUSSIONS TO HEAR
DIRECTLY ABOUT WAYS IN WHICH
FOLKS WOULD LIKE US TO USE OUR
CITY, ARPA ARE ALLOCATIONS.
SO WE CAN HAVE A REALLY INFORMED
DISCUSSIONS ON APRIL 20th WE
WILL BE REPORTING OUT ON SOME
OF THOSE CONVERSATIONS.
I KNOW MANY OF YOU HAVE HAD
VERY SIMILAR DISCUSSIONS.
WE WILL BE ABLE TO COMPARE
NOTES DURING TOMORROW'S MEETING
THIS WEEK I LOOK FORWARD TO
VISITING THE LUMEN CENTER.
I KNOW MANY OF YOU HAVE BEEN
THERE AND I'M EXCITED TO HAVE
THE OPPORTUNITY TO SEE IT IN
REAL LIFE.
AND CONGRATULATE ALL THE FOLKS
WHO HAVE BEEN VOLUNTEERING AND
LOOKING IN THE CENTER AND ALL
ACROSS OUR CITY AS WE STAND UP
OUR RESPONSE TO THE COVID
CRISIS BY MAKING SURE THAT WE
HAVE A TARGETED, EQUITY FOCUSED
VACCINE ROLLOUT.
THE LUMEN CENTER GETTING READY
FOR MASS VACCINATION SITES HAS
BEEN UNDERWAY FOR A LONG TIME.
AS THE DOORS OPEN EVEN WIDER IN
THE UPCOMING WEEKS, IT'S REALLY
EXCITING TO BE ABLE TO TAKE A
LOOK AT THIS AND LOOK FORWARD
TO VOLUNTEERING ONE DAY.
I'M SIGNED UP FOR WEEKS IN
ADVANCE.
I KNOW A LOT OF PEOPLE ARE TOO.
SIGN UP TO VOLUNTEER IF YOU
HAVE NOT YET AND ARE ABLE TO.
IN OFFICE OF LABOR STANDARDS
UPDATES, JUST A REMINDER THAT
THE MINIMUM WAGE AND WAGE STEP
ORDNANCE ARE CELEBRATING
ANNIVERSARIES ON APRIL 1st.
THANKS SO MUCH TO ALL OF THE
WORK THAT OFFICE OF LABOR
STANDARDS HAVE DONE IN
PARTNERSHIP WITH THE OFFICE OF
CIVIL RIGHTS AS WE HAVE ROLLED
OUT INCREDIBLE LEGISLATION OVER
THE PAST FEW YEARS.
WANTED TO MAKE SURE TO THANK
THEM FOR THEIR ONGOING WORK.
THIS IS COUPLED WITH THE DNC'S
MINIMUM COMPENSATION ORDINANCE.
MAKING SURE THAT FOLKS KNOW
THAT THERE WILL BE PUBLIC
COMMENT ACCEPTED ON THE
ORDINANCE THROUGH APRIL 23rd.
5:00 P.M.
THE PROPOSED RULES AND MORE
INFORMATION ABOUT THE LAW CAN
BE FOUND AT THE OFFICE OF LABOR
STANDARDS' WEBSITE.
THE DRIVER REVOLUTION CENTER IS
ALSO AVAILABLE NOW.
THERE IS AN ESTIMATED $5
MILLION TO FUND ORGANIZATIONS
TO PROVIDE DRIVERS WITH THE
FIRST-EVER DRIVER RESOLUTION
CENTER. THIS ORGANIZATION WILL
PROVIDE REPRESENTATION TO
DRIVERS AND ARBITRATION
HEARINGS AND OUTREACH AND
EDUCATION TO DRIVERS ON THEIR
RIGHTS UNDER THE LAW.
WANT TO NOTE THAT FOLKS WILL
HAVE THE ABILITY TO SUBMIT
APPLICATIONS UNTIL MONDAY,
APRIL 26th AT 5:00 P.M.
AGAIN, MORE INFORMATION CAN BE
FOUND ON THE OFFICE OF LABOR
STANDARDS'S WEBSITE.
AGAIN, JUST WANT TO THANK THE
INCREDIBLE FOLKS FROM THE FAS
FOR ALL OF THE WORK THAT
THEY'VE DONE AGAIN.
THEIR ONGOING WORK IS JUST SUCH
A HUGE PORTFOLIO.
THANK THEM FOR THE 2021
PROPERTY INVENTORY REPORT,
WHICH THEY SENT TO US LAST WEEK.
WE ARE EXCITED ABOUT THEIR
ONGOING WORK TO STAND UP THE
HIGH-VOLUME VACCINATION
PLANNING AND IMPLEMENTATION.
PROVIDE CONSTANT SUPPORT TO THE
VARIOUS DEPARTMENTS WHO ARE
SUPPORTING THE LUMEN FIELD AND
ALL OF THE WORK THAT THEY HAVE
BEEN DOING ACROSS OUR CITY.
INCLUDING HELPING THOSE WHO ARE
AT THE LAUNDRY USE -- I'M
SORRY, AN EXTENSION OF THE FAS,
AND A MEMORANDUM OF
UNDERSTANDING WITH THE
UNIVERSITY OF WASHINGTON
LAUNDRY USE AND PPE WAREHOUSE.
THIS IS A REALLY EXCITING
OPPORTUNITY THAT FAS HOPES TO
DRAFT A SIX-MONTH EXTENSION.
INCLUDING A MONTH-TO-MONTH
RENEWAL AND MADE SURE THAT EACH
OF THE PARTIES HAD AN EXECUTIVE
AGREEMENT THROUGH THE REST OF
THE YEAR TO MAKE SURE THAT
THERE WAS AVAILABLE SERVICES AT
THAT SITE.
WITH THAT, HAPPY TO TAKE ANY
QUESTIONS.
>> ANY COMMENTS OR QUESTIONS ON
THAT REPORT?
>> I DON'T THINK SO.
I THINK WE GOT IT ALL.
>> ALL RIGHT.
I WILL ROUND OUT THIS PORTION
BY GIVING BOTH MY REPORT AND
THE REPORT OF COUNCILMEMBER
STRAUSS REALLY QUICKLY.
AS I MENTIONED AT THE TOP OF
TODAY'S MEETING, COUNCILMEMBER
STRAUSS HAS BEEN SELECTED FOR
JURY DUTY.
HE WILL BE OUT FOR A NUMBER OF
CITY COUNCIL MEETINGS HELD
BETWEEN THIS WEEK AND POSSIBLY
THROUGH THE WEEK OF APRIL 12th.
SO, HE HAS ASKED THAT I PROVIDE
A VERY BRIEF REPORT ON HIS
BEHALF THIS MORNING.
THERE ARE NO ITEMS FOR FINAL
ACTION ON THE CITY COUNCIL
AGENDA FOR THE LAND USE
COMMITTEE.
THERE ARE NINE APPOINTMENTS TO
THE SEATTLE YOUTH COMMISSION ON
TODAY'S INTRODUCTION AND
REFERRAL CALENDAR.
OKAY.
THAT IS THE END OF HIS REPORT.
VERY SHORT.
REPORT OF THE GOVERNANCE AND
EDUCATION COMMITTEE.
THE NEXT GOVERNANCE AND
EDUCATION COMMITTEE WILL BE
TUESDAY, APRIL 13th AT 2:00
P.M.
THE AGENDA WILL BE PUBLISHED
LATER THIS WEEK.
ON THE OF THE AGENDA FOR OUR
NEXT MEETING WE WILL INCLUDE A
BRIEFING AND PRESENTATION FROM
THE DEPARTMENT OF EDUCATION AND
EARLY LEARNING ON SEATTLE
PROMISE.
WE WILL ALSO HEAR A
PRESENTATION ON KING COUNTIES
FAST START FOR KIDS LEVY
PROPOSAL.
IN ADVANCE OF KING COUNTY
COUNCIL MAKING A DETERMINATION
AS TO WHAT THE BALLOT MEASURE
WILL LOOK LIKE FOR KING COUNTY
VOTERS LATER THIS YEAR.
WE WILL ALSO CONSIDER TWO
APPOINTMENTS TO THE SEATTLE
ETHICS AND ELECTIONS COMMITTEE.
AS MENTIONED BY COUNCILMEMBER
MOSQUEDA, THIS AFTERNOON'S
CALENDAR INCLUDES COUNCIL BILL
120009 , WHICH I AM PROUD TO
COSPONSOR WITH COUNCILMEMBER
MOSQUEDA.
THIS BUDGET LEGISLATION IS
BEING DONE IN PARTNERSHIP WITH
MAYOR DURKAN, AND I WANT TO
THANK THE MAYOR AND
COUNCILMEMBER MOSQUEDA FOR
THEIR IMPORTANT PARTNERSHIP ON
THIS EFFORT TO PROVIDE DIRECT
RESOURCES AND MAKE INVESTMENTS
TO PROGRAMS FOR THE ASIAN
AMERICAS AND PACIFIC ISLANDER
COMMUNITY.
I DON'T NEED TO DISCUSS THE
DETAILS OF THE BILLS SINCE
COUNCILMEMBER MOSQUEDA DID A
VERY GOOD JOB OF DESCRIBING
THOSE DETAILS ALREADY.
NEEDLESS TO SAY, I'M EXCITED
FOR THESE CONVERSATIONS AND
TOMORROW'S MEETING AND LOOK
FORWARD TO THOSE CONVERSATIONS.
OF COURSE HERE IN SEATTLE WE
HAVE WITNESSED A DANGEROUS RISE
IN ACTIVE HATE AGAINST A API
COMMUNITIES, AND I CONTINUE TO
BELIEVE IT'S INCUMBENT UPON
LEADERS TO COMBAT THIS HATE AND
ENSURE COMMUNITY SAFETY IN THIS
BILL THAT WE WILL DISCUSS
TOMORROW IS A FIRST AND CLEAR
TANGIBLE STEP TOWARDS INVESTING
IN COMMUNITY SAFETY FOR THE
AAPI COMMUNITY.
I'M GRATEFUL FOR THE
OPPORTUNITY TO CONTINUE TO WORK
ON THIS ISSUE AND LOOK FORWARD
TO WORKING WITH EACH OF YOU ON
THIS IMPORTANT EFFORT.
OTHER THAN THIS ITEM ON THE
INTRODUCTION AND REFERRAL
CALENDAR, THERE IS NOTHING ON
THIS AFTERNOON'S FULL COUNCIL
AGENDA FROM THE GOVERNANCE AND
EDUCATION COMMITTEE FOR FINAL
ACTION TODAY.
AS I MENTIONED AT THE TOP OF
TODAY'S MEETING, I DO INTEND TO
BRING FORWARD DURING OTHER
BUSINESS AN OPPORTUNITY FOR
EACH OF YOU TO ADD YOUR
SIGNATURE TO A LETTER TO THE
GOVERNOR THAT WOULD ADVOCATE
FOR A STATEWIDE EFFORT TO
APPROPRIATE $400 MILLION TO THE
ACQUISITION OF UNDERUTILIZED
PROPERTY TO MEET THE LOCAL --
TO MEET LOCAL COMMUNITY
PRACTICE NEEDS TO ADDRESS
HOUSING, AFFORDABILITY INTO
HOMELESSNESS.
ROBIN KOSKEY DID DESCRIBE THIS
EFFORT EARLIER THIS MORNING AND
AT 10:27 THIS MORNING SHE
CIRCULATED A DRAFT LETTER TO
EACH OF YOU AND YOUR OFFICES.
WHILE WE ARE TALKING ABOUT FULL
COUNCIL, IT WILL BE A VERY
SHORT FULL COUNCIL MEETING.
THE ONLY ITEMS OF BUSINESS ON
THE AGENDA ARE APPROVAL OF THE
INTRODUCTION AND REFERRAL
CALENDAR.
I EXPECT THAT IT WILL NOT LAST
VERY LONG THIS AFTERNOON.
NEXT, THIS THURSDAY, APRIL 8th
AT 9:30 A.M.
I DO PLAN TO ATTEND THE PUGET
SOUND REGIONAL COUNCIL
TRANSFERRAL MEETING THEY WILL
MAKE A RECOMMENDATION ON
SUPPLEMENTAL FEDERAL HIGHWAY
ADMINISTRATION FUNDING FOR
PROJECTS ON THE SRC'S ADOPTED
CONTINGENCY LIST.
EVERYTHING WILL ALSO BE
PROVIDED ON THE DELIVERY STATUS
OF 2021 PROJECTS.
THE BOARD WILL ALSO HAVE AN
OPPORTUNITY FOR SMALL BUSINESS
DISCUSSIONS ON HOW TO ADDRESS
SAFETY.
NEXT UP ON SATURDAY AFTERNOON,
MY DAUGHTER AND I HAVE THE
PLEASURE OF TOURING THE MASS
VACCINATION SITE AT LUMEN FIELD.
DURING THAT TOUR I SAW
FIRSTHAND THE MAJOR UNDERTAKING
HAPPENING THERE TO INOCULATE
OUR COMMUNITY FROM THE ONGOING
THREAT OF COVID-19.
I WANT TO THANK THE MAYOR,
HUNDREDS OF VOLUNTEERS, OUR
PARTNERS FROM SWEDISH AND THE
HARD-WORKING FOLKS FROM FAS AND
SEVERAL OTHER CITY AGENCIES
THAT HAVE PUT IN THE HOURS OF
PLANNING AND EXECUTION TO MAKE
LUMEN FIELD THE LARGEST
VACCINATION SITE IN THE COUNTRY.
AS A CITY, WE SHOULD BE REALLY
PROUD OF THIS MASSIVE EFFORT
THAT INCLUDES HUNDREDS OF
VOLUNTEERS WHO ARE
ADMINISTERING VACCINES, HELPING
PEOPLE FIND THEIR WAY, AND
PROVIDING ON-DEMAND, ON-SITE
TRANSLATION AND INTERPRETATION
FOR THOSE WHO COMMUNICATE IN A
LANGUAGE OTHER THAN ENGLISH.
I'LL ALSO TAKE THIS OPPORTUNITY
TO REMIND FOLKS VACCINATED OR
NOT, TO REMEMBER TO KEEP YOUR
MASK ON, WASH YOUR HANDS, AND
MAINTAIN SOCIAL DISTANCING.
COVID RATES ARE SHOWING AN
UPTICK IN KING COUNTY, WHICH I
KNOW WE CONTINUE TO TALK ABOUT.
IT'S IMPORTANT FOR US TO
CONTINUE TO PRACTICE THE CDC
GUIDANCE.
REGARDLESS OF WHETHER YOU HAVE
BEEN VACCINATED OR NOT.
THIS IS AN IMPORTANT COMPONENT
OF GETTING THROUGH THIS PERIOD
OF TIME.
SO, LET'S MAKE SURE THAT WE ARE
CONTINUING TO LOOK OUT FOR EACH
OTHER BY FOLLOWING THESE
RECOMMENDATIONS.
ALSO, I WOULD BE REMISS IF I
DIDN'T SAY THAT I WANTED TO
WISH A HAPPY BELATED BIRTHDAY
TO THE FAS DIRECTOR, WHO ON HIS
BIRTHDAY WAS WORKING AT THE
VACCINATION SITE, AND HOSTING
US ON THE TOUR OF LUMEN FIELD.
HAPPY BELATED BIRTHDAY TO THE
DIRECTOR.
I HOPE HE DID GET TO CELEBRATE
AFTER ALL THAT HARD WORK.
LASTLY, I WANT TO WELCOME A NEW
MEMBER TO MY TEAM. THEY ARE MY
SCHEDULER AND OFFICE MANAGER.
SHE BEGAN HER CAREER AS A
COMMUNITY ORGANIZER IN YAKIMA,
WASHINGTON.
SHE HAS SERVED AS OUTREACH
DIRECTOR AND LEGISLATIVE
ASSISTANT.
SHE CURRENTLY SERVES ON THE
BOARD OF DIRECTORS OF ONE
AMERICA. SHE IS THE PROUD
DAUGHTER OF IMMIGRANTS AND
AGRICULTURAL WORKERS.
SHE RECEIVED A DEGREE FROM
GONZAGA UNIVERSITY.
WE ARE SO EXCITED AND HUMBLED
TO HAVE THE OPPORTUNITY TO WORK
WITH HER HERE IN THE OFFICE AND
TO BENEFIT FROM HER STATE AND
FEDERAL WORK EXPERIENCE.
WHILE SHE IS WITH US AT THE
CITY OF SEATTLE.
I HOPE YOU WILL JOIN ME AND MY
TEAM AND WELCOMING HER TO THE
CITY.
HOPEFULLY WE WILL BE ABLE TO
GIVE HER A MORE PROPER WELCOME
IN THE NEXT COUPLE OF WEEKS.
THAT IS IT FROM ME.
ANY COMMENTS OR QUESTIONS,
COLLEAGUES?
ALL RIGHT.
HEARING NONE, COLLEAGUES AS A
REMINDER, OUR MEETING THIS
AFTERNOON, I DO ANTICIPATE WILL
BE RATHER SHORT BARRING A
SIGNIFICANT AMOUNT OF FOLKS WHO
SIGN UP FOR PUBLIC TESTIMONY.
TO WANT TO THANK YOU FOR ALL OF
YOUR WORK TODAY AND I LOOK
FORWARD TO SEEING YOU THIS
AFTERNOON.
WE ARE ADJOURNED.