>>> I'M ALEX PEDERSEN SERVING
TODAY AS COUNCIL PRESIDENT PRO
TEM.
COUNCIL PRESIDENT GONZALEZ HAS
BEEN EXCUSED FROM TODAY'S
MEETINGS.
COUNCILMEMBER STRAUSS IS
EXCUSED FROM THE COUNCIL
BRIEFING.
AUGUST 9, 2021 COUNCIL BRIEFING
WILL COME TO ORDER.
THE TIME IS 9:35 A.M.
>> COUNCILMEMBER HERBOLD?
>> HERE.
>> COUNCILMEMBER JUAREZ?
>> HERE.
>> COUNCILMEMBER LEWIS?
>> PRESENT.
>> COUNCILMEMBER MORALES.
>> PRESENT.
>> COUNCILMEMBER MOSQUEDA.
HE MET PRESENT.
COUNCILMEMBER SAWANT.
>> PRESENT.
>> SEVEN PRESENT.
>> APPROVAL OF THE MINUTES.
IF THERE IS NO OBJECTION THE
WILL BE ADOPTED. 2nd, 2021
DURING THE ADDUCTION, THE
MINUTES ARE ADOPTED.
GOOD MORNING COLLEAGUES.
AS WE KNOW FROM OUR CITY
COUNCIL ROLES EACH MONTH A
DIFFERENT COUNCILMEMBER SERVES
AS A BACKUP AS A RARE CASE WHEN
OUR PRESIDENT IS NOT ABLE TO
CHAIR THE MEETINGS.
TODAY IS ONE OF THOSE RARE
CASES THE COUNCIL HAS EXCUSED
COUNCIL PRESIDENT LORRAINE
GONZALEZ FOR THOSE THIS
MORNING'S COUNCIL BRIEFING AND
THIS AFTERNOON'S CITY COUNCIL
MEETING AS THE DESIGNATED PRO
TEM FOR THE MONTH OF AUGUST,
I'LL CHAIR BOTH MEETINGS.
SO, THANK YOU IN ADVANCE FOR
YOUR GRACE AS I WORK THROUGH
THE PARLIAMENTARY PROCEDURE OF
BOTH MEETINGS.
THIS IS A GOOD TIME TO COMMAND
NOT ONLY THE STAFF OF OUR
COUNCIL PRESIDENT, FOR THE
GREAT WORK THEY DO IN PREPARING
FOR THESE MEETINGS AND CRAFTING
THE WEEKLY AGENDAS, BUT ALSO
OUR CITY CLERK TEAM FOR
CRAFTING SUGGESTED STRIPS THAT
WE CAN LEAN ON TO GUIDE
PARLIAMENTARY PROCEDURE.
I'LL SAVE MY REPORT OF THE
TRANSPORTATION AND UTILITY CHAIR
FOR MY TURN WHEN WE PREVIEW
TODAY'S CITY COUNCIL ACTIONS.
WE DO HAVE A SPECIAL
PRESENTATION TODAY.
ITEM 3 ON THE AGENDA.
LET'S GO TO THAT WHICH IS A
PRESENTATION FROM OUR SEATTLE
PUBLIC LIBRARY ABOUT SEATTLE
READS 2021 . THIS YEAR THEY ARE
FEATURING A BOOK OF FICTION
ENTITLED "THE VANISHING HALF"
BY BRIT BENNETT.
AS MANY OF YOU KNOW, THE
SEATTLE READS PROGRAM IS A
CITYWIDE BOOK GROUP WHERE
PEOPLE ARE ENCOURAGED TO READ
AND DISCUSS THE SAME BOOK AS A
WAY OF BUILDING CONNECTIONS
ACROSS COMMUNITIES.
SO, LET'S TURN IT OVER TO OUR
INTERIM CHIEF LIBRARIAN TOM FAY
AND LITERATURE AND HUMANITIES
PROGRAM MANAGER STESHA BRANDON
TO LEARN MORE ABOUT THIS YEAR'S
LITERARY CHOICE AND ASSOCIATE
PROGRAM.
GOOD MORNING.
>> GOOD MORNING.
THANK YOU PRESIDENT PRO TEM
PEDERSEN.
GOOD MORNING COUNCILMEMBERS.
I AM TOM FAY.
I AM CHIEF LIBRARIAN OF THE
SEATTLE PUBLIC LIBRARY.
WE WILL BRIEFLY DISCUSS OUR
SEATTLE READS BOOK THIS YEAR.
THIS YEAR MARKS OUR 23rd YEAR
FOR SEATTLE READS.
AS MENTIONED, THE TITLE IS "THE
VANISHING HALF" BY BRIT
BENNETT.
A HUGE FAVORITE OF THE LIBRARY.
WE ARE EXCITED THAT WE WILL BE
ABLE TO PRESENT THE AUTHOR IN A
DIGITAL EVENT IN OCTOBER OF
THIS YEAR.
AT THIS TIME I'LL TURN IT OVER
TO STESHA BRANDON, THE
LITERATURE AND HUMANITIES
PROGRAM MANAGER OF THE LIBRARY
WILL SHARE A LITTLE BIT MORE
ABOUT THE BOOK AND THE PROGRAM.
>> THANKS SO MUCH, TOM, AND HI
EVERYBODY.
SO NICE TO SEE YOU ALL.
AS WAS MENTIONED, AND THE
LITERATURE AND HUMANITIES
GRAHAM MANAGER AT THE LIBRARY
AND AMONG MANY OF OUR PROGRAMS,
I HAVE THE PLEASURE OF
OVERSEEING SEATTLE READS.
AS YOU MAY REMEMBER, THE IDEA
OF HAVING A CITYWIDE BOOK CLUB
ORIGINATED AT THE LIBRARY IN
1998.
IN FACT HAS BECOME SO POPULAR
THAT IT SPREAD ACROSS THE
COUNTRY, AND ACROSS THE WORLD.
SO, THE PROGRAM IS ONE OF THE
KEY REASONS THAT SEATTLE IS
DESICCATED -- A HIGHLIGHT OR A
KEYSTONE PROGRAM FOR THE
LIBRARY.
I'M SO PLEASED TO BE ABLE TO
TALK WITH YOU ABOUT THIS YEAR'S
SELECTION, "THE VANISHING HALF"
BY BRIT BENNETT.
AS TOM MENTIONED, SHE'LL BE
DOING A DIGITAL PROGRAM FOR THE
LIBRARY IN OCTOBER.
TWO PROGRAMS OCTOBER 5th AND
SIXTH.
I'LL TELL YOU A LITTLE BIT MORE
ABOUT THAT IN A MINUTE.
FIRST I'D LOVE TO TELL YOU A
LITTLE BIT ABOUT THE BOOK TO
WHET YOUR APPETITE.
WE'VE ARRANGED FOR ALL OF YOU
TO GET COPIES OF "THE VANISHING
HALF" . THERE WE GO.
AND COPIES OF THE DISCUSSION
GUIDE AS WELL SO YOU CAN
PARTICIPATE IN THE BOOK GROUP
IF YOU LIKE.
WE SELECTED THIS BOOK AFTER
CONSIDERING MANY OTHER TITLES.
I THINK WE PROBABLY READ 20,
MAYBE 25 TITLES LAST YEAR WHEN
WE WERE LOOKING.
"THE VANISHING HALF" WAS SIMPLY
THE BEST BOOK THAT I READ IN
2020.
IS A MULTI GENERATIONAL MODEL
THAT EXPLORES IDENTITIES AND
CONSIDERS THE LASTING INFLUENCE
OF THE PAST AS IT SHAPES A
PERSON'S DECISIONS AND DESIRES.
THE STORY IS ABOUT TWO SISTERS
WHO GREW UP IN AN AFRICAN-
AMERICAN TOWN.
WHEN THEY ARE 16 THEY RUN AWAY
TO NEW ORLEANS.
IT IS THERE THAT ONE OF THE
SISTERS PASSES OVER AND BEGINS
TO LIVE AS A WHITE WOMAN.
WE READ ABOUT THEIR SEPARATE
PATHS AS THEY GROW UP, MARY,
HAVE FAMILIES.
WE ARE ASKED TO CONSIDER WHY
SOMEONE WOULD ABANDON
EVERYTHING AND EVERYONE THAT
THEY LOVE, AND THE
REPERCUSSIONS OF THAT DECISION.
AS YOU CAN IMAGINE, THERE ARE
TONS OF JUICY THEMES FOR
DISCUSSION.
THE BIG ONE IS AROUND IDENTITY
AND HOW THAT IS DETERMINED.
WE EXPLORE THAT TOPIC NOT ONLY
THROUGH THE PRIMARY STORY OF
THE SISTERS, BUT THERE ARE
OTHER CHARACTERS AS WELL.
FOR EXAMPLE AN ACTRESS WHO GETS
HER BIG BREAK AND A TRANS MAN
WHO IS IN THE PROCESS OF A
MEDICAL TRANSITION.
WE ALSO EXAMINE
INTERGENERATIONAL ANTI-
BLACKNESS, INTERNALIZED
COLORISM AND SHADED THEM.
AND THE SOCIAL AND CULTURAL
POLITICS OF THE JIM CROW SOUTH.
THE BOOK HAS BEEN HUGELY
SUCCESSFUL AND VERY POPULAR.
IT DEBUTED AT NUMBER ONE ON THE
BESTSELLER LIST AND HAS
GARNERED A TON OF AWARDS,
INCLUDING BEING LONG LISTED FOR
THE CARNEGIE MEDAL AND THE
NATIONAL BOOK AWARD AND
SHORTLISTED FOR THE WOMEN'S
PRIZE FOR FICTION.
ADDITIONALLY HBO HAS ACQUIRED
THE RIGHTS TO ADAPT THE BOOK
FOR TV.
IT WILL BE PRODUCED BY A POET
AND A PLAYWRIGHT WHO HAS
WRITTEN SOME PLAYS.
SO, I'LL TELL YOU A TINY BIT
ABOUT THE PROGRAMMING THAT WE
HAVE PLANNED.
AS YOU CAN IMAGINE DUE TO THE
NATURE OF PLANNING A PROGRAM OF
THIS SCALE DURING A PANDEMIC,
AND WITH THE AUTHOR'S
PREFERENCE, WE DETERMINED THAT
DIGITAL PROGRAMMING WITH THE
BEST WAY FORWARD SO WE'LL BE
DOING TWO DIGITAL PROGRAMS WITH
BRIT.
ONE IS A PRIVATE EVENT FOR
PRIORITIZED AUDIENCES PRESENTED
WITH OUR COMMUNITY PARTNERS
WHILE TELL YOU ABOUT IN A
MINUTE.
THE OTHER EVENT WILL BE A
PUBLIC EVENT OPEN TO EVERYBODY.
FOR BOTH PROGRAMS, BRIT WILL BE
INTERVIEWED BY JASMINE SCOTT,
THE PROGRAM DIRECTOR.
WILL BE DOING A FEW AUXILIARY
PROGRAMS AS WELL.
WE ARE PARTNERING WITH OUR
FRIENDS AT THE WRITERS ALLIANCE
TO CREATE WORK INSPIRED BY "THE
VANISHING HALF".
THEY WILL DOING A POETRY
SHOWCASE ON OCTOBER 10th THEN
WE ARE WORKING WITH OUR FRIENDS
TO PUT TOGETHER A BOOK GROUP
AND STORYTELLING EVENING IN
PARTNERSHIP WITH LOCAL EVENT
PRODUCERS.
SO, WE ARE WORKING, WITH
SEVERAL GROUPS.
ADDITIONALLY, THE BLACK
HERITAGE SOCIETY AS WE BEGIN
OUR COMMUNITY LISTENING AROUND
THIS PROGRAM.
AS SOME OF YOU ARE FAMILIAR
WITH THE PROGRAM KNOW, AS WE'VE
DONE IN THE PAST SEVERAL YEARS,
THIS YEAR WE ARE SETTING ASIDE
ABOUT 25% OF OUR UN-CATALOGUED
COPIES FOR PRIORITIZED
AUDIENCES.
THESE BOOKS WILL BE DISTRIBUTED
TO OUR PARTNERS, COMMUNITY
CENTERS, AND SPECIFIC GROUPS.
FOR THOSE THAT MIGHT NOT KNOW,
AND CATALOGUED COPIES MEAN THAT
PEOPLE CAN GET COPIES OF THE
BOOK FROM THE LIBRARY, OR FROM
A COMMUNITY PARTNER AND THEY
DON'T NEED LIBRARY CARDS TO DO
THAT.
YOU CAN LITERALLY WALK IN AND
PICK UP THE BOOK.
WE ARE TRYING TO LIMIT ANY
BARRIERS TO ACCESS SO FOLKS
THAT WANT TO PARTICIPATE CAN.
YOU MAY REMEMBER TOO THAT EVERY
YEAR WE FIND A DIFFERENT WAY TO
COLLABORATE WITH LOCAL ARTISTS,
OR ARTS ORGANIZATIONS.
I'M SUPER EXCITED THIS YEAR THE
COMMISSION WILL BE BY LISA
MYERS.
SHE USES COLLAGE, ASSEMBLAGE,
SCULPTURES AND ALTERED BOOKS.
SHE DESCRIBES HER WORK AS
EXPLORING ISSUES OF IDENTITY,
TRUST AND IMPERFECT MEMORIES IN
THE CONTRADICTORY NARRATIVE IN
AMERICAN SOCIETY THAT
MARGINALIZES THE MOST HONORABLE.
THIS IS GOING TO START WORK IN
OCTOBER AND SHE WILL GIVE A
DIGITAL ARTIST TALK THIS FALL
TO DISCUSS HER PROCESS.
I WAS ACTUALLY LETTING THE
LIBRARY BOARD KNOW LAST WEEK
WHEN I SPOKE WITH LISA, SHE WAS
OVER THE MOON TO BE APPROACHED.
SHE SAID IT WAS HER DREAM
PROJECT.
SHE IS FANS OF THE LIBRARY AS
WE ARE FANS OF HER.
WE ARE VERY EXCITED TO BRING
SUCH AN IN DEMAND AUTHOR AS
PART OF SEATTLE READS THIS
YEAR.
IT GIVES US AN OPPORTUNITY TO
BRING PARTNERSHIPS WE'VE HAD IN
THE PAST WITH SOME WONDERFUL
COMMUNITY ORGANIZATIONS.
I'M JUST SUPER EXCITED.
IT'S ALWAYS A LITTLE WEIRD
DOING PROGRAMMING DURING THE
PANDEMIC, BUT I'M EXCITED THAT
THIS WILL GIVE FOLKS AN
OPPORTUNITY TO CHAT ABOUT
IMPORTANT QUESTIONS, AND
IMPORTANT THEMES IN A DIFFICULT
YEAR.
SO, THAT CONCLUDES MY PREPARED
REMARKS.
I'M HAPPY TO ANSWER ANY
QUESTIONS, IF ANYBODY HAS A
QUESTION.
SO, JUST LET ME KNOW.
>> THANK YOU VERY MUCH FOR NOT
ONLY TALKING ABOUT THE BOOK
THAT YOU'VE CHOSEN, WHICH
SOUNDS SPECTACULAR.
I KNOW SOME PEOPLE WHO HAVE
READ IT AND RECOMMEND IT.
ALSO THE PROGRAMMING AND THE
AMAZING CONNECTIONS YOU HAVE
MADE.
LIFTING UP THOSE GROUPS IN THE
COMMUNITY THAT WILL BE ABLE TO
EXTEND THE ART AND THE THEMES
OF THE BOOK.
COUNCILMEMBERS, ANY QUESTIONS
FOR OUR LIBRARIANS?
ONE OF THE THINGS SOME OF US
MIGHT BE ABLE TO DO IS TO
FURTHER PROMOTE THIS IN OUR E
NEWSLETTERS I HAVE ONE COMING
OUT NEXT WEEK SO I'LL PUT
SOMETHING IN THERE ABOUT IT.
SO, THANK YOU VERY MUCH.
COUNCILMEMBER MORALES.
>> I JUST WANT TO THANK YOU
ALL.
THIS IS EXCITING.
I'M LOOKING FORWARD TO READING
THE BOOK.
I'M IN THE PROCESS OF REREADING
TREVOR KNOW'S BORN OF CRIME
WHICH TALKS ABOUT SOME REALLY
SIMILAR THEMES IN THE SOUTH
AFRICAN APARTHEID CONTEXT.
SO, MAYBE PART OF YOUR
DISCUSSION, OR OUR DISCUSSION
CAN BE A LITTLE COMPARISON.
I'M LOOKING FORWARD TO IT AND I
REALLY APPRECIATE, AS
COUNCILMEMBER PEDERSEN SAID,
THE CONNECTIONS THAT YOU ARE
DRAWING WITH PROGRAMMING AROUND
THE CITY, AND THE ABILITY FOR
THE WHOLE COMMUNITY TO GET
INVOLVED WITH THIS.
THANKS VERY MUCH.
>> THANKS TO YOU.
THANKS TO ALL OF YOU.
>> THANK YOU.
COUNCILMEMBERS, WE CAN GO ON TO
OUR LAST ITEM, AND FOURTH ITEM
ON THE AGENDA FOR COUNCIL
BRIEFING, WHICH IS A PREVIEW OF
TODAY'S CITY COUNCIL ACTIONS,
COUNCIL AND REGIONAL
COMMITTEES.
I WILL CALL ON COUNCILMEMBERS
AS ESTABLISHED BY THE ROTATED
ROLL CALL.
SO, THIS WEEK WE ARE STARTING
WITH COUNCILMEMBER LEWIS,
FOLLOWED BY COUNCILMEMBERS
MORALES, MOSQUEDA, SAWANT,
HERBOLD, JUAREZ , COUNCILMEMBER
STRAUSS IS EXCUSED, AND THEN I
WILL GIVE COUNCILMEMBER --
COUNCIL PRESIDENT GONZALEZ'S
REPORT AND THEN MINE.
SO, COUNCILMEMBER LEWIS, GOOD
MORNING.
>> GOOD MORNING, PRESIDENT PRO
TEM PEDERSEN.
AND COLLEAGUES.
I HAVE A FAIRLY BRIEF REPORT
TODAY.
I WANT TO START OFF AT THE TOP
BY JUST LETTING EVERYBODY KNOW
THAT ON A FAIRLY QUICK
TURNAROUND, TODAY BEING THE
NINTH, WE WILL BE HAVING A
SPECIAL SELECT COMMITTEE MEETING
OF THE HOMELESSNESS STRATEGIES
AND INVESTMENTS COMMITTEE ON
AUGUST 11th.
I DID STATE THAT BRIEFING LAST
WEEK, WHICH IS THIS COMING --
THURSDAY?
SORRY.
I JUST NEED TO MAKE SURE IF
THAT'S IN THE MORNING OR THE
AFTERNOON JUST REALLY BRIEFING.
WEDNESDAY, AND IN THE AFTERNOON.
WE ARE PLACING COUNCILMEMBER
MOSQUEDA'S FORMERLY SCHEDULED
FINANCE COMMITTEE MEETING THAT
HAS BEEN CANCELED FOR THAT TIME
PERIOD.
SO, JUST AS A LITTLE BIT OF
BACKGROUND, LAST MONDAY I
ANNOUNCED THAT I WAS HOPEFULLY
GOING TO HAVE UPDATES AT
BRIEFING THIS MORNING ON TWO
THINGS.
SO, THAT SPECIAL MEETING OF THE
SELECT COMMITTEE, WHICH I CAN
CONFIRM, WILL BE THE AFTERNOON
OF THE 11th TO DISCUSS PROVIDER
CAPACITY ISSUES, AND HOW WE
MIGHT WORK AS A COUNCIL TO
DEVELOP DIVIDER CAPACITY
SUFFICIENT TO MEET THE SCALE OF
THE COUNCIL'S SHELTER AMBITIONS
AS WE MENTIONED IN THE SELECT
COMMITTEE LAST MONTH, THE
COUNCIL HAS FUNDED FOR 2021
ALONE, 2250 SHELTER PLACEMENTS.
250 MORE THAN OTHER LESS
AMBITIOUS PLANS THAT ARE BEING
FLOATED IN THE COMMUNITY.
SO, I THINK IT'S IMPORTANT TO
MAKE SURE THAT WE TALK ABOUT
ALL THE POTENTIAL BOTTLENECKS
ASSOCIATED WITH STANDING UP
THAT SHELTER.
ONE THAT FREQUENTLY EMERGES HIS
PROVIDER CAPACITY.
AND THE ABILITY TO SUFFICIENTLY
STAFF THE SHELTER OPTIONS ONCE
THEY ARE STOOD UP.
WE WILL BE JOINED ON WEDNESDAY
WITH REPRESENTATIVES FROM
SEVERAL ORGANIZATIONS.
WE ARE STILL WORKING TO PRODUCE
OTHER PROVIDERS TO BE PART OF
THAT TABLE.
WE WILL POTENTIALLY HAVE SOME
ADDITIONAL UPDATES EITHER IN
WRITTEN FORM, OR FROM THE HUMAN
SERVICES DEPARTMENT ON SOME OF
THE OTHER OUTSTANDING QUESTIONS
THAT AROSE DURING LAST MONTH
COMMITTEE MEETING I APPRECIATE
THE FLEXIBILITY OF THE COUNCIL.
CLERK'S OFFICE AND THE WHOLE
DEPARTMENT IN INDULGING ANOTHER
SELECT COMMITTEE MEETING THIS
EARLY IN THE MONTH.
DUE TO THE SCHEDULING CHALLENGES
OF US BEING ON RECESS SOON, IT
WAS HARD TO DO ONE, A MEETING
LATER IN THE MONTH TO OBTAIN
THE NECESSARY QUORUM.
I DO THINK THAT GIVEN THE
INTENSE INTEREST AND URGENCY OF
THE SUBJECT MATTER, A MEETING
ON THAT QUICK TIMELINE IS
APPROPRIATE AND WANTED.
SO, I LOOK FORWARD TO HAVING
THAT MEETING.
ON WEDNESDAY AFTERNOON.
THE OTHER THING THAT I PROMISED
AN UPDATE ON FOR BRIEFING TODAY
I'M HAPPY TO REPORT SOME
PRELIMINARY FEEDBACK ON ONE OF
THE ITEMS FROM THE COMMITTEE
LAST MONTH, WHICH WAS THE
DISPUTE REGARDING THE FUNDING
OF THE AMERICAN RECOVERY ACT
VILLAGES THAT THE COUNCIL
APPROPRIATED, RESOURCED TO, AND
THAT THE MAYOR SIGNED INTO
EFFECT IN THE SPRING OF THIS
YEAR.
TO CREATE THREE ADDITIONAL TINY
HOUSE VILLAGES BEYOND THE THREE
THAT THE COUNCIL FUNDED IN THE
2021 BUDGET PROCESS LAST
NOVEMBER.
THERE WAS SOME DISPUTE AS TO
WHETHER THOSE VILLAGE --
VILLAGES WERE CONSIDERED FULLY
FUNDED FOR 2021 I HAVE CONFIRMED
LAST WEEK IN MEETING WITH
OFFICIALS FROM THE MAYOR'S
OFFICE AND HUMAN SERVICES
DEPARTMENT, THAT THERE IS A
COMMITMENT FROM THE EXECUTIVE
SIDE TO MOVE FORWARD WITH AT
LEAST THE PREDEVELOPMENT AND RFQ
FOR THOSE VILLAGES,
ACKNOWLEDGING THAT THEY WILL
LIKELY NOT BE OPERATIONAL IN
2021 BUT, TO COMPLETE THE EARLY
PREDEVELOPMENT PHASE, WHICH AS
WE HAVE LEARNED THIS YEAR CAN
BE A CONSIDERABLE AMOUNT OF THE
PROCESS AND SETTING UP THESE
ASSETS.
TO BE CLEAR, MAYORAL OFFICIALS
COMMITTED TO RELEASING RFQ'S
FOR THOSE THREE VILLAGES,
REQUEST FOR PROPOSALS.
TO PREVENT THE PROVIDER PROCESS
IN TERMS OF WHO WILL OPERATE,
OR BE SELECTED TO OPERATE THOSE
VILLAGES.
TO ENGAGE IN A SITE SELECTION
PROCESS TO IDENTIFY THREE
ADDITIONAL SITES ABOVE AND
BEYOND THE THREE THAT WE'VE
ALREADY BEEN DISCUSSING AS A
COUNCIL AND A CITY.
TO COMMENCE ANY STATE
ENVIRONMENTAL PROTECTION WORK
THAT MAY NEED TO BE DONE BASED
ON THE SITES THAT ARE SELECTED.
AND TO COMMENCE COMMUNITY
ENGAGEMENT PROCESSES AROUND
THOSE SITES TO MAKE SURE THAT
WE ARE DOING OUR DUE DILIGENCE
AND BUILDING COMMUNITY AROUND
THE SITES FOR THOSE TINY HOUSES
, AS WE HAVE DONE AS A CITY.
THAT IS PLENTY OF WORK FOR THE
FINAL QUARTER OF THIS YEAR ON
THOSE SITES.
I DO THINK, AS CHAIR OF THE
COMMITTEE, THAT THAT IS A
REASONABLE EXPECTATION TO AT
LEAST START THERE AND SEE WHAT
WE CAN BUILD TOGETHER AS A
COUNCIL AND EXECUTIVE
LEADERSHIP TEAM ON REALIZING
OUR GOALS TO STAND UP THOSE
THREE ADDITIONAL VILLAGES.
I DO NOT HAVE ANY DEADLINES OR
TIMELINES YET.
FOR EXAMPLE ON THE SUBMISSION
OF THE RFQ'S, WHICH WOULD BE
THE FIRST STEP.
HOPEFULLY WE WILL HAVE A LITTLE
BIT MORE GUIDANCE ON WHERE THAT
IS BY WEDNESDAY WHEN WE CONVENE
THE SELECT COMMITTEE.
OTHERWISE I'M HAPPY TO USE
BRIEFING AS THE OPPORTUNITY TO
DISCUSS THOSE TIMELINES AS THEY
BECOME MORE FILLED IN.
FINALLY, I WILL BE AT THE
MAGNOLIA FARMERS MARKET THIS
COMING SATURDAY.
FROM 10:00 A.M.
UNTIL AT LEAST NOON, PERHAPS A
LITTLE BIT AFTER NOON IN ORDER
TO HAVE IN PERSON DROP IN
APPOINTMENTS WITH CONSTITUENTS
IN THE MAGNOLIA NEIGHBORHOOD.
OTHERWISE, MR. PRESIDENT PRO
TEM, I DO NOT HAVE ANY
ADDITIONAL UPDATES THIS
MORNING.
THANK YOU.
>> THANK YOU, COUNCILMEMBER
LEWIS.
COUNCILMEMBERS, ANY QUESTIONS
OR COMMENTS?
COUNCILMEMBER MOSQUEDA?
>> THANK YOU VERY MUCH.
AS CHAIR OF THE SELECT
COMMITTEE ON HOMELESS SERVICES,
APPRECIATE YOU SCHEDULING
ANOTHER MEETING AND I LOOK
FORWARD TO ATTENDING THAT ON
WEDNESDAY TO CONTINUE THE
PRETTY SURPRISING AND SHOCKING
CONVERSATION ABOUT THE VARIOUS
PRIORITIES BUT I'M GLAD THAT
THERE HAS BEEN AN UPDATE ON AT
LEAST MOVING FORWARD ON THE
THREE TINY HORSE VILLAGES.
NOT ONLY COUNCIL HAD APPROVED
BUT UTILIZE $2 MILLION OF STATE
FUNDING, RECOGNIZING THAT THE
MULTIPLE LEVELS OF GOVERNMENT
ARE TRYING TO RESPOND THAT THE
CRISIS OF COVID HAS PRESENTED
AND WORSENED.
I KNOW THERE WAS A LOT OF
CONCERN AS WELL FROM OUR STATE
PARTNERS, OUR STATE LEGISLATIVE
PARTNERS, ABOUT THOSE $2
MILLION NOT BEING ACTED UPON.
APPRECIATE THE FOLLOW THROUGH
ON THAT.
I STILL HAVE SOME QUESTIONS
ABOUT THE TIMING TO SEE IF WE
COULD STILL TRY TO GET
SOMETHING OPERATIONAL BEFORE
THE END OF THE YEAR.
I THINK THERE'S A LOT OF
CONCERNS FROM SOME OF THE SOME
PROVIDERS THAT YOU BEEN WORKING
CLOSELY WITH, THAT I'VE BEEN
HEARING WITH AS WELL, ABOUT NOT
HAVING MORE VILLAGE SHELTER
BEDS TO HAVE BEFORE WINTER
REALLY HITS.
TO THE EXTENT THAT WE CAN KEEP
PUSHING TO DO WHAT COUNCIL AND
THE MAYOR HAS SIGNED INTO LAW,
BUT COUNCIL HAD PRIORITIZED IN
TERMS OF ADDITIONAL FUNDING
AND TO MAKE SURE THAT WE ARE
STANDING UP THOSE OPTIONS FOR
TINY HOUSE VILLAGES, ALONG WITH
THE HOTEL SHELTERS THAT HAVE
BEEN PRIORITIZED I'M GOING TO
BE INTERESTED MORE IN SOME OF
THAT TIMELINE QUESTION.
APPRECIATE THE UPDATE THERE.
I DID WONDER IF HE HAD ANY
UPDATE AS WELL ABOUT THE SAFE
LOTS AND THE OPPORTUNITY TO
PARTNER WITH THE COUNTY FOR
EXAMPLE, TO BROADEN THE SCOPE
AND NUMBER OF PEOPLE THAT WE
COULD SERVE THERE.
I KNOW THAT WHEN WE WERE
LOOKING INTO SAFE WALK AS AN
ALTERNATIVE OR SPACES FOR
PEOPLE TO HAVE RVs, WE HAD
HEARD THAT THERE COULD BE
VARIOUS STAFFING MODELS THAT
COULD ALLOW FOR EVEN MORE RVs
TO BE LOCATED IN VARIOUS
LOCATIONS.
IF WE PARTNERED WITH KING
COUNTY, WE COULD HAVE A
MULTIPLIER EFFECT OF HOW MANY
PEOPLE WE COULD SERVE I SENT A
LETTER, AS YOU KNOW, TO THE
MAYOR'S OFFICE WITH CONCERNS
ABOUT VARIOUS PLACES AROUND THE
CITY, BUT SPECIFICALLY THIS IS
A REQUEST THAT HAS COME FROM
ADVOCATES FOR THOSE WHO ARE
LIVING UNSHELTERED.
AND ALSO FROM SMALL BUSINESS
OWNERS WHO CONTINUE TO SAY THAT
THERE MUST BE A SAFER PLACE FOR
THESE INDIVIDUALS TO BE ON AN
INTERIM BASIS.
COUNCILMEMBER HERBOLD HAD ALSO
CHARACTERIZED THE SAFE STORAGE
OF RVs AS ALTERNATIVES AS WELL.
I'M WONDERING IF YOU HAVE ANY
UPDATES ON THOSE TWO FRONTS AND
ALSO LOOK FORWARD TO THE
MEETING ON WEDNESDAY.
APPRECIATE IT.
>> MR. PRESIDENT, CAN I ANSWER
THOSE INQUIRIES?
>> OF COURSE.
YOU CAN JUST CALL ME ALEX.
>> OH, GOSH.
THAT'S THE FIRST TIME YOU'VE
EVER TOLD ME TO CALL YOU ALEX.
[ LAUGHTER ] WHENEVER YOU CALL
ME I ALWAYS GO HEY, ALEX.
AND YOU ARE LIKE COUNCILMEMBER
LEWIS.
YOU CAN CALL ME ANDREW
ACTUALLY, JUST TO THROW THAT
BACK.
SO, THANK YOU, PRESIDENT PRO
TEM ALEX.
TO RESPOND TO COUNCILMEMBER
MOSQUEDA'S QUESTIONS, I WILL SAY
, COUNCILMEMBER, I DID NOT
INQUIRE LAST WEEK ABOUT THE
SAFE LOT QUESTION.
I WILL TRY TO RUN THAT DOWN FOR
US IN ADVANCE OF THE COMMITTEE
MEETING ON WEDNESDAY.
AND APOLOGIZE.
THE MEETING WE HAD WAS VERY
SPECIFICALLY ABOUT TINY HOUSE
VILLAGES AND THE BUDGET
IMPLICATIONS GOING FORWARD.
I GUESS TO ANSWER YOUR
QUESTIONS REGARDING THAT FIRST,
WE CAME TO AN AGREEMENT THAT
THE VILLAGES, THOSE THREE
VILLAGES ARE FULLY FUNDED FOR
2021, BUT THEY ARE NOT -- WE
HAVEN'T IDENTIFIED CARRYFORWARD
OPERATING APPROPRIATIONS FOR
2022 YET. BUT, IF THE COUNCIL
MADE THAT CLEAR THAT WE WERE
GOING TO DO THAT, THAT THAT
MIGHT HELP THE BUDGET OFFICE
GET THROUGH THE ISSUES THEY
NEED TO WORK THROUGH IN ORDER
TO DEPENDABLY RECOMMEND FUNDING
THOSE OPERATIONS FULLY.
I DO JUST WANT TO CANDIDLY SAY,
BASED ON OUR PROCESS FOR THE
FIRST THREE VILLAGES, IT SEEMS
LIKE A PRETTY REASONABLE
TIMELINE IF WE WERE TO SPEND
THE REST OF 2021 TO GET THROUGH
THE RFQ, PROVIDER SELECTION,
SITE SELECTION, COMMUNITY
ENGAGEMENT.
THEN, JUST BE READY TO GO,
FULLY FUNDED FOR OPERATIONS FOR
THOSE THREE VILLAGES STARTING
JANUARY 1st.
THAT SEEMS LIKE IT COULD BE
DOABLE.
I WOULD NOTE THAT WE DID FULLY
FUND THOSE INITIAL THREE
VILLAGES TO BEGIN OPERATIONS
BEGINNING ON JANUARY 1st.
KNOWING THAT THAT PROBABLY
WASN'T GOING TO BE
>>> IT JUST SEEMS LIKE THERE'S
A LOT OF PENT UP COMMUNITY
CREATIVITY THAT COULD BE
REPRESENTED IN RESPONSE TO
THOSE RFQ'S.
I'LL TRY TO GET AN ANSWER ON
THAT BEFORE THE COMMITTEE ON
WEDNESDAY.
THAT I CAN EITHER REPORT IN
WRITING FROM THE DEPARTMENT, OR
SOMEONE FROM THE DEPARTMENT CAN
DELIVER IN PERSON.
>> THANK YOU, COUNCILMEMBER
LEWIS.
NEXT UP WE'VE GOT COUNCILMEMBER
MORALES.
GOOD MORNING.
>> GOOD MORNING EVERYONE.
COUNCILMEMBER LEWIS, THANK YOU.
I LOOK FORWARD TO HEARING MORE
ABOUT THE RV SAFE LOTS OF
OPPORTUNITIES AND ALSO JUST TO
THAT MEETING SO THAT WE CAN GET
SOME UPDATES ON HOW THESE
THINGS ARE BEING IMPLEMENTED.
THERE ARE NO ITEMS FROM THE
COMMUNITY ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT
COMMITTEE ON THIS AFTERNOON'S
AGENDA.
OUR NEXT MEETING IS THIS
THURSDAY, AUGUST 12th, AT 2:00
P.M.
I'M REALLY EXCITED BECAUSE WE
WILL BE APPOINTING THE FIRST
COUNCIL TO OUR NEW CULTURAL
SPACE AGENCY.
I'M LOOKING FORWARD TO HEARING
FROM THOSE APPOINTEES, AND TO
HAVING, HEARING A LITTLE BIT
MORE ABOUT THE CONVERSATION OF
HOW WE HOLD SPACE FOR COMMUNITY
DEVELOPMENT, COMMUNITY DRIVEN
DEVELOPMENT, PARTICULARLY AS IT
RELATES TO OUR CULTURAL SECTOR.
WILL ALSO HAVE APPOINTMENTS FOR
THE HUMAN RIGHTS COMMISSION,
THE WOMEN'S COMMISSION, AND THE
MUSIC COMMISSION.
BECAUSE THAT'S HOW WE ROLL IN
MY COMMITTEE.
WE HAVE A LOT OF APPOINTMENTS
TO MAKE FOR OUR VARIOUS
COMMISSIONS THAT ARE SERVING
THE COMMUNITY.
ON THIS AFTERNOON'S FULL
COUNCIL AGENDA WE WILL HAVE TWO
RESOLUTIONS.
RESOLUTION 32013, AND 32014.
THIS IS TO BEGIN THE PROCESS
FOR THE 15th AVENUE BIA,
CAPITOL HILL.
RESOLUTION 32013 INITIATES,
SORRY, THE RESOLUTION INITIATES
CONSIDERATION OF THE BIA, AND
RESOLUTION 32014 STATES THE
CITY'S INTENT TO ESTABLISH THE
BIA, AND SETS A DATE AND
LOCATION FOR PUBLIC HEARING.
ON AUGUST 16th, COUNCIL WILL
INTRODUCE THE COUNCIL BILL
WHICH WOULD CREATE THE 15th
AVENUE BIA AND LEVIED THE
SPECIAL ASSESSMENT TO FUND
ACTIVITIES.
THE PUBLIC HEARING IS SET FOR
WEDNESDAY, SEPTEMBER 8th AT
2:00 P.M.
WHERE THE BIA PROPONENTS AND
OED WILL PRESENT PROPOSALS.
THE COMMITTEE WILL CONTINUE
DISCUSSION AND POSSIBLY VOTE ON
-- AT THE SEPTEMBER 21st
COMMUNITY ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT
COMMITTEE, AND SEND IT TO FULL
COUNCIL FOR CONSIDERATION ON
SEPTEMBER 27th.
SO, ASSUMING PASSAGE BY THE
COUNCIL, THE NEW 15th AVENUE
BIA WILL BEGIN COLLECTING
ASSSSMENTS ON JANUARY 1st,
2022.
THERE HAS BEEN A LOT OF BACK
AND FORTH.
WE WERE HOPING TO DO THIS
PROCESS EARLIER IN THE SUMMER
AND REALLY HOPING TO COMPLETE
THE PROCESS BEFORE WE BEGIN THE
BUDGET CYCLE.
SO, I APOLOGIZE COLLEAGUES FOR
A LITTLE BIT OF LATE NOTICE,
BUT WE ARE TRYING TO GET THIS
MOVING AND TRYING TO GET THIS
PROCESS COMPLETED BEFORE WE
REALLY DIVE INTO THE CYCLE.
DEPARTMENT UPDATES.
I'M SURE YOU WILL ALL BE VERY
HAPPY TO KNOW THAT IN
PREPARATION FOR IMPLEMENTING
THE PARTICIPATORY BUDGET
PROCESS, THE OFFICE OF CIVIL
RIGHTS HAS CREATED THE
COMMUNITY INVESTMENTS DIVISION.
THIS IS A NEW DEPARTMENT
DIVISION TO SUPPORT THE
AND MANAGEMENT OF THE ATION,
PARTICIPATORY BUDGET PROCESS.
THE DIVISION SEEKS TO MAKE
SYSTEMIC IMPACTS THROUGH
COMMUNITY PARTNERSHIPS AND
INNOVATIVE CITY INVESTMENTS
THAT WILL ULTIMATELY LEAD TO
INSTITUTIONAL TRANSFORMATION IN
THE WAY THAT THE CITY BUDGETS
AND INVESTS IN BLACK,
INDIGENOUS, AND PEOPLE OF COLOR.
AND THE COMMUNITIES THAT THEY
RESIDE IN.
SO, IF YOU HAVEN'T ALREADY BEEN
TO THE OFFICE OF CIVIL RIGHTS'
WEBPAGE, CITY WEBPAGE, YOU
SHOULD GO THERE AND CHECK IT
OUT.
THEY DO HAVE THEIR PART OF THE
STORY BUDGETING PAGE THERE.
IT INCLUDES TIMELINES,
BACKGROUND INFORMATION, AND
KIND OF A STATUS UPDATE ON
WHERE WE ARE IN IMPLEMENTING
THE PROCESS.
THE DIVISION WILL DEVELOP
REQUESTS FOR PROPOSAL, CONTACT
WITH ORGANIZATIONS, MAN TAGE
THE CONTRACT DELIVERABLES.
OVERSEE THE EVALUATION OF THE
PROCESS.
AND WILL MAKE RECOMMENDATIONS
TO THE MAYOR AND THE CITY
COUNCIL ON IMPROVING THE PROCESS
ITSELF.
SO, I'M REALLY EXCITED ABOUT
THIS.
I KNOW WE'VE HAD A LOT OF LONG
CONVERSATIONS.
I WILL SAY UPFRONT THAT MY
GOAL, MY HOPE IS THAT AS A CITY,
WE BEGIN TO DO PARTICIPATORY
BUDGETING AS A MATTER OF COURSE.
WE HAVE DONE IT IN THE PAST
WITH YOUR VOICE, YOUR CHOICE.
I'M HOPING THAT WE BEGIN TO
MOVE TOWARD HAVING THIS AS A
NORMAL PART OF OUR BUDGETING
PROCESS.
SO, FOR THE NEXT YEAR WE WILL
SEE HOW THIS WORKS, BUT MY HOPE
IS THAT THIS MOVES FROM A ONE
TIME SORT OF ONE OFF PROCESS TO
A REAL, MORE OF A PILOT.
SO THAT WE CAN WORK OUT THE
KINKS OVER THE NEXT YEAR OR
TWO, AND THEN REALLY START TO
RAMP UP THE WAY WE DO THIS SO
THAT WE CAN REALLY HAVE THE
KIND OF TRANSFORMATIONAL CHANGE
IN OUR INSTITUTIONS THAT ARE
GOING TO BE REQUIRED FOR US TO
HAVE THE KIND OF OUTCOMES WE
SEEK IN OUR COMMUNITIES.
SO, THE OFFICE OF CIVIL RIGHTS
HAS POSTED FOR THREE NEW
POSITIONS TO BEGIN STAFFING
THIS DIVISION, AND I'M REALLY
LOOKING FORWARD TO BRINGING
THOSE FOLKS ON.
THEY ARE COMMUNITY INVESTMENT
MANAGER, STRATEGIC ADVISER, AND
AN ADMINISTRATIVE POSITION AS
WELL.
THIS WEEK I'LL BE MEETING WITH
THE OFFICE OF ECONOMIC
DEVELOPMENT TO GET BRIEFED ON
THE STATUS OF THE BUSINESS
CIVILIZATION GRANTS THAT WERE
AUTHORIZED UNDER THE SEATTLE
RESCUE PLAN.
AND TO REALLY TRY TO UNDERSTAND
HOW ALLOCATION ACROSS
NEIGHBORHOODS IS BEING
IMPLEMENTED.
MY UNDERSTANDING IS THAT THAT
PROCESS HAS NOT YET BEGUN, SO
I'M FEELING A LITTLE
UNCOMFORTABLE WITH THE FACT
THAT IMPLEMENTATION OF THAT
RESCUE MONEY HAS NOT STARTED.
SO, LOOK FORWARD TO MEETING
WITH THE FOLKS AT OED LATER
THIS WEEK, AND WILL FOLLOW UP
WITH COLLEAGUES AFTERWARDS.
LAST WEEK MY STAFF AND I MET
WITH SDOT TO DISCUSS SAFETY
ALONG MARTIN LUTHER KING WAY.
WE WANTED TO TALK ABOUT ROAD
SAFETY FOR PEOPLE WHO WALK AND
BIKE AND ROLL.
THE SAFETY OF FOLKS ALONG THE
CORRIDOR HAS NOT BEEN UP TO THE
STANDARD THAT IT SHOULD BE.
ALL OVER DISTRICT 2, BUT
ESPECIALLY LATELY ALONG THE
LINK CORRIDOR IN THE RAINIER
VALLEY.
THIS IS A HUGE CONCERN FOR ME.
WE HAVE HAD SEVEN FATALITIES IN
THE LAST COUPLE OF YEARS.
SO, WE KNOW THAT THIS REALLY
HAS TO BECOME A PRIORITY.
SO, I'M REALLY PLEASED WITH THE
CONVERSATION THAT WE HAD WITH
SDOT.
MY OFFICE SHARED SEVERAL DESIGN
RECOMMENDATIONS THAT SAFE
STREETS ADVOCATES HAVE BEEN
TALKING TO US ABOUT.
CONSTITUENTS WHO REALLY JUST
WALK ENROLL TO ACCESS THE LIGHT
RAIL STATIONS.
WE WILL CONTINUE TO WORK WITH
SDOT TO TRY TO EXPEDITE SOME
SAFETY CONCERNS, AND SAFETY
MITIGATION ACROSS THE CORRIDOR.
THIS WEEK I'LL BE MEETING WITH
SOUND TRANSIT CEO TO DISCUSS
THOSE SAME CONCERNS AND TO SEE
HOW TOGETHER WE CAN MAKE SAFETY
IMPROVEMENTS IN THE CORRIDOR
THAT REALLY SHOULD HAVE BEEN
BAKED INTO THE LIGHT RAIL LINE
IN THE FIRST PLACE.
SO, WE WILL CONTINUE THAT
CONVERSATION AND SEE HOW
QUICKLY WE CAN GET THOSE
INVESTMENTS MADE.
ALSO LAST WEEK MY STAFF JOINED
WITH SDOT, WITH THE EAST
AFRICAN COMMUNITY SERVICES, AND
SUPER PEDESTRIAN, TO DISTRIBUTE
100 FREE BIKES TO BIPOC YOUTH.
I WANT TO THANK EVERYONE WHO
WAS INVOLVED WITH THIS
OPPORTUNITY.
IT'S REALLY IMPORTANT THAT WE
MAKE SURE THAT OUR YOUNG PEOPLE
HAVE ACCESS TO DIFFERENT
TRANSPORTATION MODES.
THIS IS A REALLY IMPORTANT WAY
FOR THEM TO BE ABLE TO GET
AROUND THE COMMUNITY.
ADDITIONALLY, AS FIRES ARE
RAGING AROUND US, INVESTING AND
SAFE GREEN METHODS OF
TRANSPORTATION, ESPECIALLY IN
COMMUNITIES OF COLOR, IS REALLY
KEY TO REDUCING THE IMPACTS OF
HUMAN-CAUSED CLIMATE CHANGES.
THAT INCLUDES EVENTS LIKE THIS,
AND EXPANDING INFRASTRUCTURE
AVAILABLE TO ALL AGES AND
ABILITIES.
NORMALLY THIS WEEK I WOULD BE
HOSTING OFFICE HOURS AT THE
FARMERS MARKET.
I HAVE HAD TO RESCHEDULE THIS
MONTH, AND NEXT MONTH'S FARMERS
MARKETS MEETINGS TO ACCOMMODATE
SOME OTHER COUNCIL MEETINGS
THAT WE HAVE.
SO, WE WILL NOW BE AT THE
MARKET ON SEPTEMBER 15th.
ON OCTOBER 13th, AND ON
NOVEMBER 6th.
CONSTITUENTS CAN SCHEDULE A
MEETING ON MY COUNCIL WEBSITE,
AND THEY CAN ALSO CONTINUE TO
SCHEDULE A VIRTUAL MEETING ON
THURSDAYS ON MY COUNCIL WEBSITE
AS WELL.
THAT IS ALL I HAVE THIS
MORNING, COLLEAGUES.
THANK YOU VERY MUCH.
>> THANK YOU.
COUNCILMEMBER MORALES, WE DID
GET SOME INFORMATION FROM SOUND
TRANSIT AND SDOT ON THOSE
CROSSINGS.
I FORWARDED TO YOUR OFFICE IF
WE HAVEN'T ALREADY, JUST SO WE
CAN CROSS-REFERENCE IT ON WHAT
YOU WERE TOLD IN THE BRIEFING.
>> GREAT, THANK YOU.
>> SURE.
COLLEAGUES, ANY COMMENTS OR
QUESTIONS FOR COUNCILMEMBER
MORALES?
OKAY, WE'LL GO WANT TO
COUNCILMEMBER MOSQUEDA.
GOOD MORNING.
>> GOOD MORNING.
WE HAVE FOUR ITEMS FROM THE
FINANCE AND HOUSING COMMITTEE
ON TODAY'S FULL COUNCIL AGENDA.
I'LL SUMMARIZE THOSE VERY
BRIEFLY.
THIS INCLUDES COUNCIL BILL
120131 THIS IS REGARDING THE
EQUITABLE COMMUNITIES
INITIATIVE TASK FORCE ORDINANCE
THAT COUNCIL AUTHORIZED THIS
LEGISLATION WAS PASSED OUT OF
THE FALL BUDGET LAST YEAR,
WHICH AUTHORIZED $30 MILLION TO
GO TO THE EQUITABLE COMMUNITIES
PAST OFFICE.
TO SPECIFICALLY RESPOND TO
BIPOC INVESTMENTS.
THE LEGISLATION THAT WE ARE
TALKING ABOUT THIS AFTERNOON
PASSED OUT OF COMMITTEE WITH
TWO AMENDMENTS.
THIS ALLOWS FOR US TO RELEASE
THOSE $30 MILLION AND MAKE SURE
THAT WE ARE INVESTING IN WHAT
THE COMMUNITY HAS REQUESTED.
ONE OF THE AMENDMENTS
ESTABLISHED THAT THE CITY
ACKNOWLEDGES THE EFFECTS OF
PAST RACISM AND IS PURPOSELY
SETTING FORCED EFFORTS TO
ADDRESS THE DISPROPORTIONATE
EFFECT ON BIPOC COMMUNITIES.
THE SECOND AMENDMENT RECOGNIZES
THAT THE CITY MUST LIVE WITHIN
THE LEGAL CONSTRAINTS AS IT
MOVES FORWARD WITH THESE
INVESTMENTS WHAT THIS MEANS IS
WE HAVE BEEN FORTUNATE CONTINUE
TO MAKE SURE THAT WE ARE IN
ALIGNMENT WITH INITIATIVE 200
AND THAT WE ARE FOLLOWING THE
REQUIRED LEGAL PATH TO MAKE
SURE THAT WE ARE GETTING DOLLARS
DIRECTLY INTO COMMUNITIES
AFFECTED BY THESE LINGERING
EFFECTS OF RACISM AND
INVESTMENTS INTO COMMUNITIES.
WE ALSO WANT TO MAKE SURE THAT
WE HAVE THE ABILITY TO TRACK
OBVIOUS INVESTMENTS ARE GOING.
SO WE HAVE PUT THOSE INTO THE
LEGISLATION AS WELL.
I DID HEAR FROM SOME MEMBERS OF
THE TASK FORCE WHO APPRECIATED
THE BILL MOVING OUT, AND LOOK
FORWARD TO HEARING MORE ABOUT
HOW THOSE INVESTMENTS ARE GOING
AS WE CONTINUE TO TRACK THESE
INVESTMENTS WITH COMMUNITY
MEMBERS AS WELL.
THE SECOND THAT WAS COUNCIL
BILL 120150.
THIS IS THE SEATTLE RESCUE PLAN
2. THIS IS OUR SECOND OF THREE
ACTS THIS YEAR THAT AIMS TO GET
FEDERAL DOLLARS DIRECTLY OUT
INTO COMMUNITIES AS QUICKLY AS
POSSIBLE TO RESPOND TO THE
ONGOING CRISES THAT COVID HAS
PRESENTED AND MADE WORSE IN OUR
COMMUNITIES IN TERMS OF
EXACERBATING INCOME INEQUALITY
AND HOUSING INSTABILITY.
THESE INVESTMENTS IN THE
SEATTLE RESCUE PLAN 2 ACCOUNT
FOR ABOUT $50 MILLION.
THIS INCLUDES $28.7 MILLION FOR
RENTAL ASSISTANCE.
$7.7 MILLION FOR SENIOR
INVESTMENTS.
AND $13.5 MILLION FOR SPECIFIC
PROJECTS THAT WERE PREDETERMINED
FROM FEDERAL PARTNERS AND
TRANSPORTATION SERVICES.
AS WELL, IT ALSO INCLUDES A
SPECIFIC GRANT THAT WE ARE JUST
ASKING AS A PASTOR FOR.
THE CITY DOESN'T HAVE ANY
AUTHORITY TO MAKE AMENDMENTS TO
THIS, OR TO REDIRECT THE FUNDS
IN ANY OTHER WAY.
THIS IS $2.1 MILLION THAT GO TO
McCAW HALL THROUGH THE SMALL
BUSINESS ASSISTANCE SHUTTER
VENUES GRANT FROM THE FEDERAL
GOVERNMEN.
AGAIN ON THE TRANSPORTATION AND
McCAW HALL INVESTMENTS THE CITY
IS REALLY ASKING AS A PASS-
THROUGH ON PRIORITIES THAT WERE
ALREADY ESTABLISHED.
EXCUSE ME.
THE THIRD BIT WAS COUNCIL BILL
120147.
THIS IS THE INTERFUND LOAN
LEGISLATION.
THIS IS AN INTERFUND LOAN THAT
THE CITY'S FUNDING AUTHORITY,
AND LET ME JUST LOOK UP THE
ACRONYM HERE REAL QUICK.
THE BODY THAT REPRESENTS
DEMPAC, WHICH LOOKS AT DEBT
MANAGEMENT AND MAKE SURE WE
HAVE POLICY ADVANCEMENTS THAT
ARE GOING FORWARD WITH UNITED
AGREEMENT BETWEEN THE EXECUTIVE
AND THE LEGISLATIVE BRANCH.
THE DEMPAC AUTHORIZED FOR THE
CITY COUNCIL TO MOVE FORWARD
WITH THIS LEGISLATION THAT
ALLOWS FOR THE CITY TO HAVE AN
INTERFUND LOAN OF ABOUT $205
MILLION THAT WILL COME FROM
MULTIPLE CITY FUNDS TO THE
GENERAL FUND AS BRIDGE FINANCING
FOR THE CITY TO REPAY NEXT
YEAR.
THIS IS BRIDGE FUNDING OF OVER
$200 MILLION TO BASICALLY
RECOGNIZ THAT JUMPSTART
INVESTMENTS BEGIN BEING PAID
INTO CITY COFFERS IN 2022 IN
QUARTERLY INSTALLMENTS.
WE HAVE ALREADY MADE SOME
SIGNIFICANT INVESTMENTS,
ASSUMING THAT FUNDING WOULD BE
COMING FOR BOTH 2020, 2021 AND
IN THIS UPCOMING BUDGET WE WILL
BE ASSUMING THAT FOR 2022 AS
WELL.
WE KNOW THAT THOSE FUNDS ARE
COMING, WE UPGRADED THE
JUMPSTART SEATTLE SPECIFIC FUND
SO WE CAN CONTINUE TO TRACK
THOSE DOLLARS.
THE FUNDS THAT WE ARE TALKING
ABOUT WITH THIS LOAN WILL BE
REPAID FROM THE JUMPSTART FUND,
BUT IN ORDER TO MAKE SURE THAT
WE'RE ALL STAYING IN THE BLACK,
AND EVERYTHING IS, AND ALL THE
FUNDS ARE BEING REPLENISHED AT
THE APPROPRIATE TIME, THE CITY
BUDGET OFFICE, TO THE FINANCE
AND ADMINISTRATIVE SERVICES
DEPARTMENT HAS ASKED FOR US TO
CREATE THIS INTERFUND LOAN SO
THAT WE CAN MAKE SURE ALL THOSE
FUNDS ARE AVAILABLE IN REAL
TIME.
WE HAVE THE ABILITY TO PAY THAT
INTERFUND LOAN BACK BEFORE IT
EXPIRES AT THE END OF NEXT YEAR
AND WE ANTICIPATE THAT WE WILL
BE ABLE TO DO THAT MIDYEAR OR
IN THE FALL OF NEXT YEAR.
SO, THIS IS A GOOD BUDGETING
PROCESS THAT HAS BEEN JOINTLY
CRAFTED BY SEVERAL
ORGANIZATIONS.
ENCOURAGE FOLKS TO VOTE YES ON
THAT THIS AFTERNOON SO WE CAN
CONTINUE TO HAVE A STRONG
BUDGET AS WE HEAD INTO THE FALL
DISCUSSION.
THE LAST ITEM ON OUR AGENDA FOR
THIS AFTERNOON IS THE HAZARD PAY
LEGISLATION RELATED TO GROCERY
WORKERS HAZARD PAY.
I WANT TO ANNOUNCE THIS MORNING
THAT WE ARE DELAYING THAT.
WE ARE DELAYING THAT VOTE UNTIL
SEPTEMBER.
I AM GOING TO BE MOVING THIS
AFTERNOON THE AMENDMENT.
WHICH WOULD BE LEGISLATION THAT
WOULD HAVE LIFTED THE HAZARD
PAY REQUIREMENT OF THE
LEGISLATION AND KEPT INTACT
OTHER COMPONENTS LIKE SAFETY
PRECAUTIONS.
WE ARE GOING TO BE REMOVING
THAT TO THE SEPTEMBER 13th
MEETING AT THE EARLIEST, AS WE
REALLY ONLY HAVE ONE MORE WEEK
OF FULL COUNCIL IN FRONT OF US
BEFORE THE RECESS.
THEN, WE ALSO RECOGNIZE THAT
THERE IS THE POTENTIAL TO HAVE
THE SEPTEMBER MEETING MOVED.
THE FIRST SEPTEMBER MEETING
MOVED TO SEPTEMBER 13th.
IT'S IMPORTANT TO ME THAT WE DO
REVISIT THIS CONVERSATION
PUBLICLY SO WE ARE KEEPING THE
PUBLIC AND WORKERS AND
EMPLOYERS INFORMED OF OUR
CONVERSATION.
WE MADE A COMMITMENT TO HAVE
THIS LEGISLATION IN FRONT OF US
AND BE REVIEWED FOUR MONTHS
AFTER IT WAS ENACTED.
THE LEGISLATION THAT WE
ORIGINALLY PASSED WAS NOT
INTENDED TO BE HAZARD PAY IN
PERPETUITY.
IT WAS INSTEAD AN EFFORT TO
MAKE SURE THAT OUR LOWEST WAGE
SURE WORKERS WERE ABLE TO
RECEIVE HAZARD PAY AS THEY
CONTINUED TO FACE HEALTH AND
SAFETY CONCERNS ON THE FRONT
LINES IN GROCERY STORES.
GIVEN THE LATEST CDC GUIDANCE
THAT HAS BEEN SHARED AS OF LAST
WEEK, WE NOW KNOW THAT FULLY
VACCINATED INDIVIDUALS CAN
ABSOLUTELY TRANSMIT COVID-19 IF
THEY ARE NOT PROPERLY WEARING A
MASK.
THE HIGHLY CONTAGIOUS DELTA
VARIANT MAKES UP OVER 90% OF
THE CASES THAT WE ARE CURRENTLY
SEEING IN OUR COUNTRY.
WE ARE GOING TO CONTINUE TO
REVIEW THE BEST PUBLIC HEALTH
INFORMATION AS WE CONTINUE TO
LOOK AT THIS LEGISLATION, AND
WANT TO CONTINUE TO MAKE SURE
THAT WE ARE PROTECTING NOT ONLY
FRONT-LINE GROCERY WORKERS, BUT
THE MEMBERS OF THE PUBLIC THAT
THEY ALSO INTERACT WITH.
THIS IS AN IMPORTANT PIECE OF
LEGISLATION THAT WE PASSED HERE
IN THE CITY.
THERE WAS ALSO SIMILAR
LEGISLATION THAT WAS PASSED UP
AND DOWN THE WEST COAST, AND
ACROSS OUR REGIONAL CITY
PARTNERS AS WELL.
I THINK IT'S IMPORTANT THAT WE
CONTINUE TO LOOK AT THE BEST
PRACTICES FROM PUBLIC HEALTH AS
WE MAKE ANY DECISIONS ABOUT
CHANGING THE LATEST GUIDANCE.
SO, WITH THIS NOTICE I WANT TO
INFORM YOU ALL, THAT I WILL BE
MOTIONING TO REMOVE THAT ITEM
FROM TODAY'S AGENDA.
OUR NEXT FINANCE AND HOUSING
COMMITTEE MEETING WILL BE HELD
ON AUGUST 17th AT 9:30 A.M.
AS A PREVIEW, WE ARE GOING TO
HAVE A PACKED AGENDA.
AGAIN, WE PLAN TO GO AT LEAST
UNTIL 1:00 P.M.
WE WILL MAKE SURE TO ADJOURN BY
1:00 P.M.
WE WILL HAVE THE REAPPOINTMENTS
FROM THE COMMUNITY HOUSING
BOARD.
A BRIEFING ON THE REVENUE
FORECAST.
A POSSIBLE VOTE ON THE MIDYEAR
SUPPLEMENTAL LEGISLATION.
I WANT TO THANK ALL OF YOU FOR
SUBMITTING YOUR AMENDMENTS BY
WEDNESDAY OF LAST WEEK SO THAT
CENTRAL STAFF HAD AT LEAST A
WEEK TO PREPARE THOSE.
WE WANT TO SHARE THOSE
AMENDMENTS WITH YOU EARLY, AND
WE WILL BE SEEKING TO MAKE SURE
THAT COUNCILMEMBERS AND MEMBERS
OF THE PUBLIC HAVE A CHANCE TO
SEE THOSE AMENDMENTS BY
THURSDAY AT THE LATEST THIS
WEEK SO THAT WE HAVE EXTRA TIME
TO REVIEW THEM.
WE'LL HAVE A POSSIBLE VOTE ON
THE MIDYEAR GRANT ACCEPTANCE
LEGISLATION THAT CORRESPONDS
WITH THAT MIDYEAR SUPPLEMENTAL.
AND WE HAVE A BRIEFING,
DISCUSSION, AND POSSIBLE VOTE
ON THE AND FTE ANNUAL REPORT
EXTENSION LEGISLATION.
ANNUAL ACCOUNTING AND FAS
REPORT ON THE RACE AND SOCIAL
JUSTICE INITIATIVE PRESENTATION
FROM THEIR DEPARTMENT.
AS A REMINDER, FOLKS ARE
WELCOME TO ATTEND THE MEETINGS
FOR DISCUSSING MANY OF THESE
BUDGET RELATED ITEMS.
PLEASE LET MY OFFICE KNOW IF
YOU PLAN TO ATTEND SO THAT WE
CAN MAKE SURE THAT YOU HAVE ALL
OF THE ZOOM INFORMATION AND ANY
OF THE LATEST MATERIALS, WHICH
WILL ALL BE PUBLISHED AS WELL.
ALSO WANT TO REMIND FOLKS THAT
IN SEPTEMBER WHEN WE COME BACK
FROM RECESS, DUE TO THE HOLIDAY
SCHEDULE, AND A NEED TO
RESCHEDULE A MEETING LATER IN
SEPTEMBER, OUR MEETINGS WILL BE
ON SEPTEMBER 10th, AND
SEPTEMBER 17th.
THOSE ARE BOTH FRIDAYS.
FRIDAY STARTING AT 9:30 A.M.
FRIDAY SEPTEMBER 10th AND
FRIDAY SEPTEMBER 17th AT 9:30
A.M.
IF YOU HAVEN'T RECEIVED A HOLD
ON YOUR CALENDAR, WE WILL MAKE
SURE TO SEND THAT AROUND SOON.
AND OTHER UPDATES REGARDING THE
BUDGET PROCESS, THERE IS A MEMO
THAT CENTRAL STAFF IS WORKING
ON CURRENTLY THAT WILL
SUMMARIZE THE UPCOMING FALL
BUDGET PROCESS.
WE WILL MAKE SURE TO GET THAT
TO YOUR OFFICES EITHER LATER
THIS WEEK OR EARLY NEXT WEEK SO
THAT YOU CANNOT FALL THE HOLDS
ON YOUR CALENDAR.
KNOW WHEN WE ARE GOING TO HAVE
ALL THE PUBLIC HEARING, THREE
THINGS.
A CHANCE FOR YOU TO ALSO MARK
ON YOUR CALENDAR THE EVENING
PUBLIC TESTIMONY OPTIONS THAT
WE WILL BE GIVEN TO THE PUBLIC
AS WELL.
EACH MEETING WILL START WITH 30
MINUTES OF PUBLIC COMMENT, AS
WELL FOR ANYBODY WHO IS NOT
ABLE TO CALL IN IN THE
EVENINGS, BUT THEN WE WILL GET
INTO OUR ROBUST BUDGET
DISCUSSIONS AS WE HAD LAST
YEAR.
WE ALSO WANT TO MAKE SURE THAT
YOU HAVE A CHANCE TO SEE WHEN
THOSE AMENDMENTS WILL BE DUE,
AND THAT WE ARE MOVING TO I
THINK A MORE STREAMLINED PROCESS
FOR BOTH REVIEWING AMENDMENTS,
AND HAVING THOSE AMENDMENTS
DISCUSSED PUBLICLY.
SO, WE WILL DO AWAY WITH SOME
OF THE ACRONYMS AND TERMINOLOGY
AROUND GREEN SHEETS AND WHITE
SHEETS AND USING THE PROCESS TO
ACTUALLY COME UP WITH AMENDMENT
TIMELINES SO THAT FOLKS CAN SEE
THOSE AMENDMENTS POSTED IN REAL
TIME.
SO, THANKS IN ADVANCE FOR ALL
OF YOUR WORK THIS AFTERNOON.
EXCUSE ME, THIS FALL ON THE
BUDGET.
TO COUNCILMEMBER LEWIS' PLAN AS
WELL, WE WILL CONTINUE TO WORK
TO MAKE SURE THAT WE ARE AS A
COUNCIL MAKING SURE THAT THE
FUNDING IS AVAILABLE FOR THE
VARIOUS PRIORITIES FROM THE
LEGISLATIVE BRANCH.
WHEN THE BILLS GET SIGNED INTO
LAW BY THE EXECUTIVE BRANCH,
THEY GET ACTED.
AS A REMINDER TO ALL, WE ARE
RESTRICTED WITH THE BUDGET
PROCESS FOR JUST BEING A
CALENDAR YEAR.
WE DON'T DO MULTIPLE YEAR
BUDGETS.
WE DON'T HAVE A BIANNUAL BUDGET
IN THE TRUE SENSE.
WE ONLY REALLY HAVE A CALENDAR
YEAR, SO EVERY YEAR WE COME UP
TO A PRIORITY THAT ARE REALLY
RESTRICTED TO THE NEXT 12
MONTHS OF FUNDING.
WE WANT TO MAKE SURE THAT THE
PRIORITIES ARE DISCUSSED AND
NOT HELD BACK BECAUSE OF FUNDS
-- SOME NEW OR SUDDEN
REQUIREMENT THAT THERE BE
AFFIRMATIONS FOR FUTURE YEARS.
WE CANNOT COMMIT WE WILL GO
THROUGH THAT AS A REMINDER FOR
FOLKS AS WELL WHEN WE BEGIN
THOSE BUDGET DISCUSSIONS.
IN TERMS OF EVENTS FROM LAST
WEEK, I HAD THE OPPORTUNITY TO
PRESENT AT THE NATIONAL LEAGUE
OF CITIES LEVERAGING ARPA FUNDS
FOR INTERESTS AND TODDLERS.
WE HAD A CHANCE TO SHARE WITH
MEMBERS WHAT WE WERE DOING AT
THE LOCAL LEVEL TO REALLY IN
DRESS. HOW WE MADE SURE THAT WE
PUT FUNDING FORWARD FOR OUR
CHILDCARE PROVIDERS, INCLUDING
MORE CHILDCARE CENTERS.
WE REALLY HAD A CHANCE TO
HIGHLIGHT THE $8 MILLION THAT
COUNCIL PRIORITY AIDED . $3
MILLION GOING FOR CHILDCARE
ALLOTMENTS, AND $5 MILLION
GOING INTO THE CAPITAL FUNDING
FOR ESTABLISHING NEW CENTERS.
WAS A GREAT CHANCE FOR US TO
HIGHLIGHT THE COLLABORATION
THAT WE'VE HAD, ESPECIALLY WITH
CHILDCARE PROVIDERS AND MEMBERS
OF 9 TO 5. SMALL BUSINESSES AND
NONPROFITS WHO OPERATE
CHILDCARE AND SERVICES.
BY FOCUSING NOT ONLY ON WHAT WE
NEED TO CREATE NEW CENTERS, BUT
HOW WE CAN REALLY INVEST IN
THOSE CHILDCARE PROVIDERS AND
ADDRESS HIGH TURNOVER RATES
GIVEN THAT MANY OF THESE
WORKERS ARE WOMEN.
PEOPLE OF COLOR, IMMIGRANTS,
AND MANY ARE WORKING IN VERY
LOW WAGE JOBS.
SO, AS WE THINK ABOUT HOW WE
CAN ADDRESS TURNOVER, REALLY
INVESTING IN THAT SECTOR AND
CREATING LONG-TERM CAREER
OPTIONS IS ONE SPECIFIC THING
THAT WE LIFTED UP AT THIS FORUM.
WE HAVE DONE A LOT IN THE LAST
YEAR AND A HALF SPECIFIC TO
INFANTS AND TODDLERS AND
CHILDCARE OVERALL.
WE LOOK FORWARD TO CONTINUING
TO STABILIZING CHILDCARE FOR
THOSE PROVIDERS, AND THE
EMPLOYERS SO THAT WE CAN
COMPLETE MORE OPTIONS FOR
WORKING FAMILIES ACROSS THE
CITY, AND JOBS IN THAT SECTOR.
I ALSO WANTED TO SAY A QUICK
NOTE OF SOLIDARITY FOR MEMBERS
OF TEAMSTERS LOCAL 174.
THEY HAVE FOUR CONCRETE
COMPANIES AND ONE CEMENT COMPANY
THAT THEY WORK AT AND THEY HAVE
VOTED TO GO ON STRIKE.
THIS AFFECTS COMPANIES. I
APPRECIATE THE MEMBERS OF
TEAMSTERS 174 FOR ALL OF THE
WORK THEY DO.
WE KNOW THAT THAT'S NOT AN EASY
BOAT TO TAKE, AND LOOK FORWARD
TO CONTINUING TO HEAR HOW THOSE
CONVERSATIONS PROGRESS.
I KNOW THEY ARE GOING TO
CONTINUE MEETING WITH THEIR
MEMBERSHIP AND IDENTIFY WAYS TO
MOVE FORWARD.
I THINK IT'S IMPORTANT FOR US
AS A PUBLIC ENTITY WHO WORKS
WITH MEMBERS OF 174 THE OF THE
CONTRACT THAT WE HAVE WITH
THOSE COMPANIES, THAT WE SHOW
SOLIDARITY AND THE IMPORTANCE
OF MAKING SURE THAT WORKERS'
VOICES ARE HEARD, ESPECIALLY AT
SAND AND GRAVEL AND AMONG
MEMBERS OF ONE 74 AND THE
BUILDING TRADE.
HOPING FOR A RESOLUTION THAT
MEETS THE NEEDS OF WORKERS IN
OUR CITY AND APPRECIATE ALL
THAT YOU DO AND THE COURAGEOUS
VOTE THAT YOU TOOK.
THANK YOU SO MUCH.
THANK YOU, COUNCILMEMBER
MOSQUEDA.
LOOKS LIKE COUNCILMEMBER LEWIS.
>> THANK YOU, ALEX.
COUNCILMEMBER MOSQUEDA, YOU
REMINDED ME WITH YOUR COMMENTS
JUST AT THE END ABOUT THE
TEAMSTERS VOTING TO STRIKE.
I SIMILARLY WANT TO SHARE MY
SOLIDARITY AND SUPPORT FOR
THEIR DECISION AND THEIR
ACTION.
IT REMINDED ME THAT LAST WEEK I
HAD THE GREAT PRIVILEGE OF
ATTENDING A PICKET AND A RALLY
FOR OUR BROTHERS AND SISTERS IN
1199.
HEALTH WORKERS, NURSES, WHO ARE
CURRENTLY ENGAGED IN CONTRACT
NEGOTIATIONS WITH HARBORVIEW
MEDICAL CENTER.
SEEKING AN EQUITABLE AND JUST
CONTRACT.
A CONTRACT THAT CENTERS THE
SAFETY, NOT ONLY OF OUR
FRONTLINE HEALTH WORKERS WHO
ARE HEROES DURING THIS TIME OF
COVID, BUT ALSO THE HEALTH AND
SAFETY AND PROTECTION OF
PATIENTS WHO ARE SUFFERING FROM
CRIPPLING UNDERSTAFFING AND AN
EQUITABLE TREATMENT OF OUR
HEALTH WORKERS.
I JUST WANTED TO RECOGNIZE THAT
LABOR ACTION AS WELL.
YOUR STATEMENT REMINDED ME.
IT WAS VERY POWERFUL TO GO TO
THAT RALLY, SEE SO MANY
COMMUNITY LEADERS STANDING IN
SOLIDARITY WITH THE FOLKS WHO
HAVE BEEN ON THE FRONTLINE OF
OUR COVID RESPONSE, AND HAVE
MADE AS A NATIONAL BEST
PRACTICE FOR RESPONDING TO
COVID.
I JUST WANTED TO LIFT UP THEIR
WORK, LIFT UP THEIR VOICE, AND
SHARE MY VERY, VERY STRONG
SUPPORT THAT THEY ACHIEVE AN
EQUITABLE AND JUST CONTRACT,
WHICH THEY MORE THAN DESERVE
BASED ON THEIR COMMITMENT TO
OUR COMMUNITY.
SO, THANK YOU FOR THE
OPPORTUNITY JUST TO JUMP IN AND
MAKE SURE I ACKNOWLEDGED THAT.
>> THANK YOU.
NEXT WE'VE GOT COUNCILMEMBER
SAWANT.
GOOD MORNING.
>> GOOD MORNING, THANK YOU
PRESIDENT PRO TEM PEDERSEN.
I ALSO WANTED TO EXTEND THE
SOLIDARITY FROM MY OFFICE AND
FROM MY ORGANIZATION, SOCIALIST
ALTERNATIVE.
SAND AND GRAVEL DRIVERS.
AND ALSO TO CARPENTERS LOCAL 30
, WHO ALONG WITH THE SAND AND
GRAVEL DRIVERS, AND MANY OTHER
BUILDING TRADES ARE NEGOTIATING
THEIR CONTRACTS THE SUMMER.
LOCAL 30 MEMBERS HAVE
COURAGEOUSLY BEEN STANDING UP
FOR THEIR OWN RIGHTS, AND HAVE
NOW AT THIS POINT I BELIEVE
VOTED DOWN TWO OR THREE
TENTATIVE AGREEMENTS.
AND HAVE HELD TWO RALLIES.
THE MOST RECENT ONE BEING LATE
LAST WEEK.
WHERE THEY HAD OTHER TRADE
WORKERS ALSO THERE IN
SOLIDARITY WITH THEM AND
SPEAKING UP FOR A DECENT
WORKPLACE.
AND FOR FAIR PAY.
SO, I HOPE THAT THEY ARE ABLE
TO CONTINUE PUSHING FOR THEIR
NEEDS AND I HOPE THAT THEY ARE
AWARE THAT OUR OFFICE IS TOTALLY
IN SOLIDARITY WITH THEM.
THERE ARE NO ITEMS ON TODAY'S
CITY COUNCIL AGENDA FROM THE
SUSTAINABILITY AND RENTERS'
RIGHTS COMMITTEE.
THERE IS ONE ITEM ON TODAY'S
INTRODUCTION AND REFERRAL
CALENDAR AND CITY COUNCIL
AGENDA FROM MY OFFICE.
THAT IS THE RESOLUTION
SUPPORTING COMPENSATION FOR THE
NEW HOPE MISSIONARY BAPTIST
CHURCH IN THE CENTRAL DISTRICT
AND OTHERS DISPLACED FROM THE
CENTRAL AREA BY THE CITY'S
RACIST POLICY OF URBAN RENEWAL
IN THE 1960s.
IT URGES OFFICE OF HOUSING TO
FUND THE NEW HOPE FAMILY
HOUSING PROJECT.
THAT IS A PROJECT FOCUSED ON
COMBATING DISPLACEMENT.
THE RESOLUTION STATES THAT THE
CONTRACT IS GOING TO BE PAST
THIS FALL TO GIVE THE OFFICE OF
HOUSING THE AUTHORITY TO TO
2022 AFFORDABLE HOUSING FUNDS
THIS MONTH.
PROPOSING FREEZING PROGRESSIVE
TAXES ON THE RICH AND BIG
BUSINESS TO FUND MORE
AFFORDABLE HOUSING AND ALSO IT
STARTS WITH APOLOGIZING FOR THE
DESTRUCTIVE EFFECTS OF THE
DISPLACEMENTS FROM THE URBAN
RENEWAL PROGRAMS.
IT URGES ALL CITY DEPARTMENTS
TO FIND OPPORTUNITIES TO MAKE
REPARATIONS FOR THE INJUSTICE.
MY OFFICE REMAINS COMMITTED,
ALONGSIDE THE CENTRAL DISTRICT
COMMITTEE, THE CHURCH COUNCIL
OF GREATER SEATTLE, UNITED
BLACK CLERGY AND OTHER FAITH
LEADERS WHO HAVE STOOD WITH
REVERENCE AND COMMUNITY MEMBERS
TO MAKE SURE THAT WE FOLLOW UP
THE RESOLUTION THAT WILL BE
VOTED ON TODAY WITH THE PEOPLE'S
BUDGET CAMPAIGN TO MAKE SURE
THAT THE EFFORTS ARE FUNDED.
I RESERVE THE REST OF MY
COMMENTS FOR WHEN IT COMES UP
FOR A VOTE THIS AFTERNOON.
THE SUSTAINABILITY AND RENTERS'
RIGHTS COMMITTEE DOES NOT HAVE
A REGULARLY SCHEDULED MEETING
TIME IN AUGUST BECAUSE THE
COMMUNITY REGULARLY MEETS ON
THE FOURTH WEEK OF EACH MONTH,
WHICH THIS MONTH WILL FALL
DURING COUNCIL RECESS.
ADDITIONALLY, THE REGULAR TIME
FOR THE MEETING IN SEPTEMBER
COMES AFTER ALL COMMITTEES HAVE
ESSENTIALLY BEEN SHUT DOWN FOR
THE COUNCIL TO DO ITS BUDGET
PROCESS.
HOWEVER, OUR COMMITTEE HAS
CRUCIAL RENTERS' RIGHTS AND
GREEN NEW DEAL LEGISLATION TO
COMPLETE THIS YEAR, SO WE WILL
BE SCHEDULING TWO SPECIAL
MEETINGS IN SEPTEMBER WHICH WE
HAVE ALREADY DISCUSSED THE
SCHEDULING WITH ALL THE
COMMITTEE MEMBERS.
ONE WILL BE ON SEPTEMBER 21st,
AND THE OTHER WILL BE ON
SEPTEMBER 23rd.
I APOLOGIZE FOR THEM BEING SO
CLOSE TO ONE ANOTHER.
WE TRIED HARD TO MAKE SURE THAT
THE SCHEDULE WAS ABLE TO FIT
FOR ALL COMMITTEE MEMBERS FOR
ONE COMMITTEE TO BE HELD A
LITTLE BIT EARLIER THAN THE
21st, BUT THAT DIDN'T WORK OUT.
SO, I REALLY APPRECIATE THE
COMMITTEE MEMBERS AND VOTING
THE SCHEDULE, AND BEING
AVAILABLE FOR BOTH THE MEETINGS
SO WE ARE ABLE TO CONDUCT THE
WORK OF THE COMMITTEE IN A
TIMELY FASHION BEFORE WE HEAD
INTO THE BUDGET.
REALLY APPRECIATE YOU ALL
WORKING WITH US TO FIND TIMES
THAT WORK FOR YOUR SCHEDULE.
THANK YOU.
>> THANK YOU, COUNCILMEMBER
SAWANT.
COUNCILEMBERS, ANY COMMENTS OR
QUESTIONS FOR COUNCILMEMBER
SAWANT?
OKAY.
NOW WE WILL GO ON TO
COUNCILMEMBER HERBOLD.
>> SO, LET'S SEE HERE.
AS FAR AS ITEMS ON THE FULL
COUNCIL AGENDA TODAY, I DO HAVE
AN AMENDMENT TO THE COUNCIL BILL
120131 THIS IS THE LEGISLATION
THAT APPROPRIATES FUNDING
RECOMMENDED BY THE EQUITABLE
COMMUNITIES INITIATIVE TASK
FORCE.
THIS AMENDMENT IS LINKED ON THE
FULL COUNCIL AGENDA.
BUT, IT FOLLOWS UP ON A
DISCUSSION DURING THE LAST
FINANCE AND HOUSING COMMITTEE
MEETING WHERE I INQUIRED INTO
THE ADMINISTRATIVE COSTS TO
IMPLEMENT THE TASK FORCE
RECOMMENDATIONS.
COUNCIL CENTRAL STAFF CONCERNED
THAT THE ADMINISTERED OF COSTS
ARE ESTIMATED TO BE ABOUT 6.5%,
DEPENDING UPON WHETHER OR NOT
THE PROGRAM TO BE FUNDED IS AN
EXISTING PROGRAM OR A NEW
PROGRAM.
THE ADMINISTRATIVE COSTS ARE
INTENDED BY THE EXECUTIVE TO BE
FUNDED OUT OF THE $30 MILLION
ALLOCATED HERE.
SO, THE BALANCE OF THE $30
MILLION WILL BE AVAILABLE TO
FUND THE RECOMMENDED
INVESTMENTS OF THE TASK FORCE.
SO, THE AMENDMENT I HAVE IS
SIMPLY A RECITAL THAT
MEMORIALIZES THIS INTENTION.
MY PURPOSES JUST FOR PURPOSES
OF TRANSPARENCY FOR THE
INTERESTED PUBLIC.
THAT THIS IS THE INTENT OF THE
MAYOR AS PROPOSED IN THE
COUNCIL AS ADOPTED.
SO, THE AMENDMENT IS INCLUDED
IN TODAY'S COUNCIL AGENDA FOR
YOUR ADVANCED REVIEW.
I APPRECIATE YOUR SUPPORT.
I HAVE NO OTHER ITEMS ON THE
FULL COUNCIL AGENDA.
NONE FROM THE PUBLIC SAFETY AND
HUMAN SERVICES COMMITTEE.
BUT MY DO HAVE A COMMITTEE
MEETING THIS WEEK, SO TOMORROW
AT 9:30 WE HAVE A PUBLIC SAFETY
AND HUMAN SERVICES COMMITTEE
MEETING.
THERE ARE THREE ITEMS ON THE
AGENDA.
THE FIRST IS THE DISCUSSION AND
VOTE ON A BILL TO TRANSFER THE
PARKING ENFORCEMENT UNIT OUT OF
THE SEATTLE POLICE DEPARTMENT.
THE SECOND IS A BRIEFING FROM
THE HUMAN SERVICES DEPARTMENT
ON THE PROCESS AND OUTCOMES OF
COMMUNITY SAFETY CAPACITY
BUILDING RFP.
FUNDED WITH $12 MILLION
PROVIDED BY THE CITY COUNCIL,
IN PART FROM LAST SUMMER'S
BUDGET ADJUSTMENTS.
THEN, INCREASED WITH THE
FUNDING IN THE 2021 BUDGET WHEN
THE 2020 FUNDING WAS VETOED BY
THE MAYOR, AND THEN ALSO NOT
ALLOCATED IN 2020.
I ONLY MENTION THAT BACKGROUND
BECAUSE WE HAVE BEEN SO EAGER
TO GET THESE COMMUNITY SAFETY
INVESTMENTS OUT THE DOOR, AND
I'M EXCITED TO LEARN MORE ABOUT
THE OUTCOMES FROM THOSE
INVESTMENTS PROPOSED BY, AND
SUPPORTED BY, THE CITY COUNCIL.
LASTLY, WE WILL BE HEARING A
REPORT FROM CENTRAL STAFF ON
THE SEATTLE POLICE DEPARTMENT'S
QUARTERLY FINANCE AND STAFFING.
THIS WILL INCLUDE A
PRESENTATION ON SPD'S BUDGET
PROPOSAL.
THAT IS NOT THE BUDGET PROPOSAL
FOR 2022, BUT THIS IS THE
BUDGET PROPOSAL THAT THEY HAVE
MADE RECENTLY DURING OUR
DELIBERATIONS ON THE SECOND
QUARTER SUPPLEMENTAL.
THE BRIEFING INCLUDES A
DISCUSSION OF SEVERAL PUBLIC
SAFETY INVESTMENTS THAT I AND
OTHER COUNCILMEMBERS ARE
PROPOSING TO FIND IN THE SECOND
QUARTER SUPPLEMENTAL.
THOSE DISCUSSIONS ARE HAPPENING
IN COUNCILMEMBER MOSQUEDA'S
FINANCE AND HOUSING COMMITTEE.
WE HAVE HAD A COUPLE OF
DISCUSSIONS THAT HAVE TOUCHED
UPON IT.
WE HOPE TO GO MORE DEEP WANT TO
THE SEATTLE YOUTH EMPLOYMENT
PROGRAM WILL BE HOLDING ITS
ANNUAL SUMMER CAPSTONE EVENT ON
AUGUST 19th FROM 9:30 TO NOON
AT THE SEATTLE CENTER MURAL
AMPHITHEATER.
FOOD AND ENTERTAINMENT WILL BE
PROVIDED AND IT WILL FEATURE
SPECIAL GUEST SPEAKERS,
ACTIVITIES, GAMES AND
OPPORTUNITIES TO MEET AND
NETWORK WITH ALL OF THE SEATTLE
YOUTH EMPLOYMENT PROGRAM
PARTICIPANTS.
THE INTERNSHIP SITE SUPERVISORS
AND PROGRAM STAFF.
AN EVENT TO CONGRATULATE
EVERYBODY FOR THEIR
PARTICIPATION IN THE SEATTLE
YOUTH EMPLOYMENT PROGRAM THIS
SUMMER.
SECONDLY, HSD STAFF THIS WEEK
WILL BE MEETING WITH APPLICANTS
TO THE ASIAN AND PACIFIC
ISLANDER RESILIENCY RFP.
SPECIFICALLY MEETING WITH THOSE
WHO DID NOT RECEIVE FUNDING IN
ORDER TO PROVIDE FEEDBACK TO
THEIR APPLICATION. THEY CAN USE
THAT FEEDBACK IN FUTURE
APPLICATIONS.
THIS IS PART OF HSD'S ONGOING
COMMITMENT TO BUILDING
RELATIONSHIPS AND MAKING THE
RFP PROCESSES MORE ACCESSIBLE
TO THE COMMUNITY.
MOVING OVER TO SEATTLE POLICE
DEPARTMENT ISSUES.
OF COURSE WE'VE ALL LEARNED
THAT LACED LAST WEEK CHIEF DIAZ
FIRED TWO OFFICERS PRESENT
DURING THE ATTACK ON THE DC
CAPITOL ON JANUARY 6th.
I JUST WANT TO MAKE A POINT OF
THINKING CHIEF DIAZ FOR THIS
DECISION.
AND STATING THAT I STRONGLY
BELIEVE IT WAS THE RIGHT THING
TO DO.
THE RECOMMENDATIONS OF THE OPA
TO TERMINATE THE TWO OFFICERS
FOR LACK OF PROFESSIONALISM AND
VIOLATIONS OF LAW AND POLICY,
WERE SOUND RECOMMENDATIONS AND
A VERY NECESSARY STEP FOR
PUBLIC CONFIDENCE IN POLICE
ACCOUNTABILITY.
SEATTLE POLICE OFFICERS MADE UP
THE LARGEST KNOWN CONTINGENT OF
POLICE ATTENDED THE JANUARY 6th
RALLY, MORE THAN ANY OTHER
MUNICIPALITY ACROSS THE
COUNTRY.
MANY OF OUR CONSTITUENTS
QUESTION WHETHER OR NOT THEY
CAN TRUST OFFICERS TO A
DISTENDED THE STOP THE STEAL TO
UPHOLD THE MISSION AND
PRINCIPLES OF SEATTLE POLICE
DEPARTMENT'S CODE OF ETHICS.
I BELIEVE WHETHER OR NOT THEY
WERE DIRECTLY INVOLVED IN THE
INSURRECTION, OR IF THEY
ATTENDED WITH THE INTENT TO
PASSIVELY SUPPORT THE UNLAWFUL
INSURRECTION AND VIOLENT
ASSAULT OF OUR NATION'S CAPITAL,
NEITHER ACT IS AN EXAMPLE OF
PROTECTING FREE SPEECH, NOR
SHOULD OUR SUPPORT OF FREE
SPEECH SHIELD ACCOUNTABILITY
FOR THESE ACTS.
I JUST WANT TO SAY A FEW WORDS
AROUND A RECENT COMPLAINT THAT
THE DEPARTMENT OF ETHICS AND
ELECTIONS, THE DIRECTOR OF
SEATTLE HR INVESTIGATIONS UNIT
AND MYSELF RECEIVED LAST WEEK.
ABOUT THE OFFICE OF THE
INSPECTOR GENERAL.
THIS WAS A COMPLAINT FROM AN
EMPLOYEE THAT HAS RESIGNED, AND
THE COMPLAINT FOCUSED ON WHAT
THE EMPLOYEE CLAIMS IS A
FAILURE TO PROVIDE INDEPENDENT
OVERSIGHT OF OPA AND WHAT THE
EMPLOYEE CLAIMS IS A PATTERN OF
CONCEALING THE TRUTH, AND
AVOIDING PUBLIC DISCLOSURE
REQUIREMENTS.
JUST HIGHLIGHTING THE ROLE FOR
THE OFFICE OF THE INSPECTOR
GENERAL AS DEFINED BY THE 2017
ACCOUNTABILITY ORDINANCE.
THAT LAW STATES THAT THE CITY
OF SEATTLE OFFICE OF INSPECTOR
GENERAL WAS ESTABLISHED TO HELP
ENSURE THE FAIRNESS AND
INTEGRITY OF THE POLICE SYSTEM
AS A WHOLE.
IT'S DELIVERY OF LAW
ENFORCEMENT SERVICES OF
PROVIDING CIVILIAN AUDITING OF
THE MANAGEMENT PRACTICES AND
POLICIES OF THE SEATTLE POLICE
DEPARTMENT AND OFFICER POLICE
ACCOUNTABILITY.
AND OVERSEEING ONGOING FIDELITY
TO ORGANIZATIONAL REFORMS
IMPLEMENTED PURSUANT TO THE
GOALS OF THE 2012 FEDERAL
CONSENT DECREE.
THE MAIN ROLES OF THE OFFICE OF
THE INSPECTOR GENERAL IS TO
MAKE SURE THAT THE OPA
CLASSIFIES COMPLAINTS
APPROPRIATELY. ENSURES THAT THE
LEVEL OF INVESTIGATION IS DONE
CORRECTLY.
ONCE OPA CREATES AN
INVESTIGATION, THE OFFICE OF
THE INSPECTOR GENERAL EXAMINES
WHAT WAS DONE AND CERTIFIES
WHETHER EACH INVESTIGATION IS
OBJECTIVE, THOROUGH AND TIMELY.
THERE HAS BEEN SOME RECENT
PRESS AS WELL ON SOME OF THOSE
CERTIFICATION LETTERS FROM THE
OIG THAT HAS DETERMINED THAT
THE OPA INVESTIGATIONS DID NOT
MEET THE BAR IN THIS AREA.
IF AN ALLEGATION OF MISCONDUCT
INVOLVES OPA, AND PRESENTS A
CONFLICT OF INTEREST FOR OPA,
OIG CAN STEP IN AND HANDLE THE
CLASSIFICATION AND
INVESTIGATION IF NECESSARY.
THEN, FINALLY, THE OFFICE OF
THE INSPECTOR GENERAL REVIEWS
OPA FOR SYSTEMATIC CONCERNS,
JUST AS THE OFFICE OF INSPECTOR
GENERAL WOULD FOR ANY OTHER
PART OF SPD.
SO, WITH AN UNDERSTANDING OF
WHAT THE ROLE IS OF OIG, I
INTEND TO CONSULT WITH ETHICS
AND ELECTIONS AND SEATTLE HR TO
DETERMINE WHETHER I CAN SHARE
THE LETTER WITH YOU SHOULD YOU
BE INTERESTED IN RECEIVING THE
COMPLAINT.
I WILL ALSO INQUIRE WITH THE
SCOPE OF -- WHETHER THIS IS
WITHIN THE AUTHORITY OF THE
REGULATORY BODIES TO CONSIDER.
AND IF THEY ARE NOT IN THE
SCOPE OF THE REGULATORY BODIES
TO CONSIDER, WHETHER OR NOT
THAT THERE IS ANOTHER APPROACH
THAT SHOULD BE UNDER
CONSIDERATION TO REVIEW THE
CONCERNS RAISED.
OTHER ACTIVITIES COMING UP THIS
WEEK, AS FAR AS REGIONAL
COMMITTEE UPDATES, JUST WANT TO
SHARE THAT ON THURSDAY I WILL
BE CHAIRING THE WATERSHED
RESOURCE INVENTORY AREA NINE
MEETING.
I'M REALLY EXCITED TO SAY THAT
FUNDING FOR A NEW DUWAMISH
STEWARD POSITION WILL BE
DISCUSSED IN THIS MEETING.
I HAVE BEEN PROMOTING THE
CREATION OF THIS POSITION FOR A
COUPLE OF YEARS NOW, AND IT'S
ONLY THANKS TO THE ADVOCACY OF
COMMUNITY STAKEHOLDERS,
SPECIFICALLY THE GREEN RIVER
COALITION, AND THE DUWAMISH
RIVER CLEANUP COALITION, THAT
IT LOOKS LIKE THIS FUNDING WILL
BE MOVING FORWARD.
OTHER EVENTS COMING UP THIS
WEEK INCLUDE A WEST SEATTLE
BRIDGE COMMUNITY TASK FORCE
MEETING ON THURSDAY.
THEN, ALSO JUST WANT TO NOTE
THAT THERE WILL BE A CONFERENCE
ON THE CONSENT DECREE SCHEDULED
FOR 1:30 TOMORROW AFTERNOON.
THANK YOU.
>> THANK YOU, COUNCILMEMBER
HERBOLD.
COLLEAGUES, ANY QUESTIONS OR
COMMENTS FOR COUNCILMEMBER
HERBOLD?
THANK YOU.
COUNCILMEMBER JUAREZ.
>> YES?
>> GOOD MORNING.
>> ANYTHING YOU WANT TO LET US
KNOW?
>> YES, THANKS, ALEX.
FIRST OF ALL, GOOD MORNING, OR
COUNCILMEMBER MORALES WOULD
SAY, GREETINGS.
THE PUBLIC ASSETS AND NATIVE
COMMUNITIES COMMITTEE HAD A
MEETING LAST TUESDAY ON AUGUST
3rd.
OUR NEXT MEETING IS FRIDAY,
SEPTEMBER 10th AT 2:00.
SO, FOR TODAY THERE ARE THREE
ITEMS FROM OUR COMMITTEE ON THIS
AFTERNOON'S AGENDA.
THERE IS A BILL TO FINALIZE A
TUNNEL PERMIT BY THE CLIMATE
PLEDGOR IN A. THERE ARE TWO
BILLS FROM THE PARKS DEPARTMENT
AUTHORIZING PURCHASE OF
PROPERTY NEXT TO THE DUWAMISH
WATERWAY PARK AND IN THE NORTH
RANIER HELP URBAN VILLAGE.
ALSO ON THIS AFTERNOON'S
AGENDA, IS COUNCIL BILL 120145,
WITH TIME SPONSORING.
THANK YOU, COUNCILMEMBER
HERBOLD, WITH COUNCILMEMBER
HERBOLD.
THE BRIDGE ACROSS INTERSTATE 5
TO BE NAMED AFTER THE HONORABLE
U.S. REPRESENTATIVE AND CIVIL
RIGHTS LEADER AND ICON, MR.
JOHN LEWIS.
IN REGARDS -- I'LL HAVE MORE TO
SHARE ABOUT THAT AT 2:00.
OKAY, PARKS BETWEEN JULY 28th
AND JULY THE THIRD, THE PARKS
DEPARTMENT SHOWER PROGRAM
SERVED 307 USERS AT SIX
COMMUNITY CENTERS.
THE PARKS DEPARTMENT RECENTLY
OPENED THE INNER LOOP AT GREEN
LAKE PARK TO TWO WAY FOOT
TRAFFIC BUT IS STILL CLOSED FOR
BICYCLES.
DURING THE WEEK OF JULY 26th,
CLEAN CITY CREWMEMBERS PICKED UP
63,000 POUNDS OF TRASH FROM 27
ENCAMPMENTS.
THEY ALSO REMOVED ABOUT -- OVER
1000 NEEDLES FROM THESE
ENCAMPMENTS IN PARKS.
NOT JUST ENCAMPMENTS IN PARKS,
BUT EVERYWHERE.
CREWMEMBERS DEEP CLEANED TWO
PARKS.
SO, THAT'S WHERE WE ARE AT WITH
OUR CLEAN CITY CREW INITIATIVE
FOLKS.
FROM THE SEATTLE PUBLIC LIBRARY.
THE FREMONT BRANCH REOPENED TO
THE PUBLIC ON AUGUST 4th.
THE SEATTLE PUBLIC LIBRARY
RECENTLY PUBLISHED ITS ANNUAL
IMPACT REPORT.
THE REPORT, WHICH HIGHLIGHTS
THE LIBRARY'S PERFORMANCE IN
2020, INCLUDES KEY LIBRARY
STATISTICS AND A MONTH BY MONTH
TIMELINE OF THE LIBRARIES COVID
RESPONSE.
IF YOU'RE INTERESTED, YOU CAN
READ THE REPORT IN ITS ENTIRETY
ON THE LIBRARY'S WEBSITE.
AS FAR AS NATIVE COMMUNITIES,
WE HAVE BEEN REPORTING ON THE
BURIALS OF NATIVE AMERICAN
CHILDREN, NOT ONLY IN CANADA,
BUT IN THE UNITED STATES.
AFTER ALL THIS DISTURBING NEWS
OF MASS GRAVES, I AM SPONSORING
A RESOLUTION THAT WOULD SUPPORT
SECRETARY OF THE INTERIOR DEB
COLLINS CALL TO ACTION TO
UTILIZE FEDERAL RESOURCES TO
ADDRESS THE LASTING HARM ON
INDIGENOUS FAMILIES.
OUR OFFICE WORKED WITH,
COLLABORATED WITH THE NATIONAL
NATIVE AMERICAN BOARDING SCHOOL
HEALING COLLISION TO DRAFT THE
LANGUAGE IN THE LOW VOLITION.
BIG SHOUT OUT TO WORKING WITH
NADEEM.
WE LEANED HEAVILY ON THE
EXPERTISE AND APPRECIATION THE
PARTNERSHIP OF THIS NATIONAL
GROUP THAT HAS BEEN AROUND FOR
A WHILE.
BIG THANK YOU TO DEBORAH PARKER,
CURRENT POLICY ADVISER.
I ASK THAT YOU ALL GET A CHANCE
TO REVIEW THE RESOLUTION THIS
WEEK FOR A FULL COUNCIL
CONSIDERATION ON AUGUST 16th.
AS YOU KNOW, BIG NEWS AT SOUND
TRANSIT.
ON AUGUST 5th, THE SOUND
TRANSIT BOARD UNANIMOUSLY AGREED
TO OPEN THE 130th STREET INFILL
STATION IN 2025, AND THE GRANT
STREET STATION IN 2031 MAYOR
DURKAN AND I SUBMITTED
AMENDMENTS AND SPOKE IN FAVOR
OF THIS TO ENSURE THAT BOTH
NORTH AND SOUTH SEATTLE CAN
ENJOY AND TAKE LIGHT RAIL
ACROSS THIS REGION.
SO, WE ARE VERY, VERY HAPPY
THAT THAT HAPPENED.
I GOT A COUPLE PEOPLE I WANT TO
THANK, BUT I WANT TO GET
THROUGH SOME OF THE BASIS.
THE GOAL OF THE MEETING WAS TO
DETERMINE A STRATEGY FOR
RECONCILING THE $6.5 BILLION
AFFORDABILITY GAP.
WE WORKED TOGETHER TO CREATE AN
APPROACH THAT WILL REDUCE COST
AND MINIMIZE DELAYS.
I AM VERY HAPPY TO REPORT THAT
WE PASSED THE HYBRID RESOLUTION
AND I WAS VERY PROUD TO SERVE
ON THIS BOARD AND ACTUALLY WORK
WITH MY COLLEAGUES AND GET
THINGS DONE.
AS YOU KNOW, I'M PRETTY
PRACTICAL AND HANDS-ON, SO FOR
ME THAT WAS A VERY BIG DAY.
THE INFILL STATIONS, THE ONE AT
GRAHAM STREET WILL OPEN IN 2021
130th WILL BE OPEN IN 2025.
BOTH STATIONS WILL BE IN TIER 1,
WHICH IS VERY IMPORTANT BECAUSE
THERE ARE FOUR TIERS.
IF WE ARE IN TIER 1, WE KNOW
THAT WE WILL MOVE ALONG
ACCORDING TO SCHEDULE,
ACCORDING TO SOUND TRANSIT 3
AND WHAT WE HAD HOPED FOR TO SEE
IN LIGHT RAIL TO REACH THESE
COMMUNITIES.
THANK YOU TO EVERYONE WHO CALLED
IN TO PUBLIC COMMENT, AND I
WANT TO GIVE A BIG THANK YOU TO
THE GRAHAM STREET COMMUNITY
ACTION TEAM.
THE GRAHAM STREET COMMUNITY
ACTION TEAM IS A COALITION OF
SEVEN MULTICULTURAL AND MULTI-
FAITH COMMUNITY BASED
ORGANIZATION SERVING THE GRAHAM
STREET NEIGHBORHOOD THEY HAVE
BEEN WORKING TOGETHER FOR YEARS
WITH THE SOUTH COMMUNITIES
ORGANIZING FOR RACE AND
REGIONAL EQUITY, IN SUPPORTING
GRAHAM STREET STATION INCLUSION
INTO SOUND TRANSIT 3. WE HAD
GOTTEN LETTERS AND ADVOCACY OF
SUPPORT FROM THE GRAHAM STREET
COMMUNITY ACTION TEAM, FROM
SOUTH CORE, AND I BELIEVE PUGET
SOUND SAVES WAS THE
COORDINATING TEAM FOR ALL OF
THEM.
I CAN'T TELL YOU HOW IMPORTANT
THAT WAS WHEN THE MAYOR AND I
WERE ADVOCATING, NOT JUST FOR
130, BUT FOR GRAHAM STREET ON
THE PRINCIPLES OF NOT ONLY
RIDERSHIP, BUT EQUITY.
FOR ME TO FINALLY SEE TO COME
TO QUESTION ALL THE WORDS
ACTUALLY SEEING SOMETHING
HAPPEN.
I'M ACTUALLY PRETTY EXCITED
ABOUT THAT.
LET'S SEE.
IF I HAVE ANYTHING ELSE FOR YOU
GUYS.
NO, I THINK THAT'S IT.
HOLD ON HERE.
FIVE, FOUR, SIX.
NO, THAT'S IT, THAT'S ALL I GOT.
>> THANK YOU, COUNCILMEMBER
JUAREZ.
COUNCILMEMBER MORALES, PLEASE.
>> THANK YOU.
COUNCILMEMBER JUAREZ, I JUST
WANT TO THANK YOU.
I KNOW Y'ALL HAVE BEEN WORKING
REALLY HARD, THIS HAS BEEN VERY
CONTENTIOUS.
IT FEELS LIKE THE GOALPOST HAS
BEEN MOVING A LOT OVER THE LAST
YEAR OR SO.
YOU ARE RIGHT, THE SOUTH CORE
AND GRAHAM STREET HAVE BEEN
WORKING REALLY HARD FOR MANY
YEARS TO MAKE SURE THAT THIS
STATION STAYS -- REMAINS
INCLUDED IN PART OF THE PLAN.
AS I'VE BEEN TALKING SO MUCH
LATELY ABOUT THE SAFETY ALONG
THE LIGHT RAIL CORRIDOR, I
THINK THIS IS ONE HUGE STEP
TOWARDS IMPROVING THE SAFETY
FOR FOLKS.
MY HOPE IS THAT AS THAT STATION
GOES IN, THE SAFETY REQUIREMENTS
WILL BE INCLUDED.
SO, I JUST WANT TO SAY THANK
YOU AGAIN.
I KNOW IT'S BEEN A SLOG, AND
REALLY APPRECIATE YOU WORKING
ON BEHALF OF THE COMMUNITY.
>> BUT, IT WAS A SLOG I WAS
HAPPY TO DO.
I WASN'T REAL EXCITED ABOUT
BEING ON SOUND TRANSIT COME I
HAVE TO SAY THAT.
I'M REALLY GOING TO LOOK TO YOU
COUNCILMEMBER MORALES.
THE GRAHAM STREET STATION, LIKE
WE ARE DOING WITH THE JOHN
LEWIS BRIDGE, I'M HOPING THAT
WE HAVE AN OPPORTUNITY FROM
THIS CITY, AND NOT JUST THE
SOUTH END, BUT EVERYWHERE, THAT
WE HONOR THOSE PEOPLE THAT HAVE
MADE OUR COUNTRY GREAT.
I LOOK FORWARD TO HEARING FROM
YOU AND COMMUNITY AND EVERYBODY
ELSE THAT WE HEARD WHEN WE PUT
IT OUT THERE ABOUT THE JOHN
LEWIS BRIDGE.
IT ISN'T JUST THE GRAHAM STREET
STATION.
THANK YOU.
>> THANK YOU.
COUNCILMEMBER HERBOLD.
>> THANKS.
I KNOW COUNCILMEMBER JUAREZ
HATES IT WHEN WE GO ON AND ON.
>> I DO HATE IT WHEN Y'ALL GO
ON AND ON.
>> I REALLY APPRECIATE YOUR
LEADERSHIP AND REPRESENTATION
OF THE ENTIRE CITY ON THE SOUND
TRANSIT BOARD.
ON BEHALF OF WEST SEATTLE,
REALLY APPRECIATE THE TEARING
UNDER THE CURRENT ACTION IS NOT
WHAT I SAW IN EARLIER PROPOSALS,
WHICH PROPOSED COMPLETION IN
2035, OR ONLY BUILDING TO ONE
STATION IN 2035, AND NOT
SEEKING TO GET TO ALASKA UNTIL
2038.
THOSE WERE, FROM MY PERSPECTIVE,
NOT REASONABLE SOLUTIONS TO THE
FUNDING ISSUES AND AGAIN
REALLY, REALLY APPRECIATE THAT
YOU ARE KEEPING YOUR EYE ON THE
BALL FOR ALL OF SEATTLE'S
COMMUNITIES.
>> WELL, JUST SO WE CAN GO ON
WITH THE LOVE FELD, WEREN'T YOU
ON THE ELECTED LEADERS BOARD?
YOU DID THAT, COUNCILMEMBER
GONZALEZ, AND COUNCILMEMBER
HAROLD, CORRECT?
>> RIGHT.
>> YOU GUYS DID A LOT OF THE
GROUNDWORK.
SO, THANK YOU AND THANK
EVERYBODY.
I'M DONE, COUNCIL PRO TEM
PRESIDENT PEDERSEN.
>> THANK YOU SO MUCH.
[ LAUGHTER ] I WILL BRIEFLY
PROVIDE THE REPORT FROM COUNCIL
PRESIDENT GONZALEZ , WHO IS
EXCUSED TODAY, AND THEN
CONCLUDE WITH MY REPORT.
COUNCIL PRESIDENT GONZALEZ HAS
NO ITEMS ON TODAY'S
INTRODUCTION AND REFERRAL
CALENDAR, AND NOTHING ON
TODAY'S CITY COUNCIL AGENDA.
JUST A REMINDER THAT THE AUGUST
10th GOVERNOR SEND EDUCATION
COMMITTEE MEETING WAS CANCELED.
I QUICKLY GO TO MY REPORT HERE.
OUR CITY TRANSPORTATION AND
UTILITIES COMMITTEE HAS NINE
PIECES OF LEGISLATION ON
TODAY'S FULL CITY COUNCIL
AGENDA.
I BELIEVE THEY ARE ITEMS NINE
THROUGH 17.
ALL NINE ITEMS, I'LL JUST SUM
THEM UP VERY QUICKLY HERE.
ALL NINE ITEMS WERE UNANIMOUSLY
APPROVED BY OUR COMMITTEE, AND
RATHER THAN GO THROUGH THE MALL
THIS MORNING, I ENCOURAGE
COLLEAGUES, IF YOU STILL HAVE
ANY QUESTIONS ABOUT THESE, TO
JUST REVIEW THE CITY COUNCIL
CENTRAL STAFF MEMOS, CONTACT
CENTRAL STAFF OR MY OFFICE
BEFORE THIS AFTERNOON'S MEETING.
THERE WAS NOTHING CONTROVERSIAL
AT THAT MEETING.
THE MOST EXCITING ITEM WAS THE
JOHN LEWIS BRIDGE ITEM WHICH
COUNCILMEMBER JUAREZ WILL SPEAK
MORE TO THIS AFTERNOON I'M
SURE.
THERE IS AN ITEM OF IMPORTANCE
THAT WAS NOT FROM MY COMMITTEE,
BUT I'M A COSPONSOR ON.
COUNCIL BILL 120151 IN THE
SPIRIT OF ENGAGING THE
HOMELESSNESS CRISIS WITH THE
URGENCY IT DESERVES,
COUNCILMEMBER LEWIS AND I
WALKED ONTO LAST WEEK'S
INTRODUCTION AND REFERRAL
CALENDAR THAT COUNCIL BILL
120151, WHICH IS ITEM ONE ON
TODAY'S CITY COUNCIL AGENDA.
THIS EXPEDITED BILL WOULD
AUTHORIZE THE CITY TO AUTHORIZE
SOUND TRANSIT FOR USE OF THEIR
SITE FOR A TINY HOME VILLAGE IN
THE UNIVERSITY DISTRICT.
I'D LIKE TO THANK CENTRAL STAFF,
ESPECIALLY JEFF SIMS FOR
QUICKLY FINALIZING THIS
LEGISLATION SO WE DID NOT HAVE
TO DELAY IT ANY LONGER, AND
THANK YOU COUNCILMEMBER LEWIS
FOR ENABLING US TO GO STRAIGHT
THROUGH THE COUNCIL INSTEAD OF
A COMMITTEE ON THIS.
THE COUNCIL ALREADY AUTHORIZED
THE FUNDS DURING OUR BUDGET
APPROVALS LAST NOVEMBER.
THE NONPROFIT LOW INCOME
HOUSING INSTITUTE KNOWN AS
L.E.H.I., THERE VOLUNTEERS HAVE
COMPLETED BUILDING THESE HOMES .
THE LAST STEP IS APPROVAL OF
THIS LEASE SO WE CAN GET PEOPLE
OFF THE STREETS INTO THEIR OWN
SPACE, AND ON TO A POSITIVE
FUTURE.
THE SITE IS APPROXIMATE 18,000
SQUARE FEET AND CAN FIT
APPROXIMATELY 35, 36 TINY HOME
STRUCTURES.
THE LEASE WILL BE FOR
APPROXIMATELY 2.5 YEARS.
AFTER HOSTING THE TINY HOME
VILLAGE, THE CONSTRUCTION OF
NEW, PERMANENT AFFORDABLE
HOUSING WILL OCCUR ON THE SITE
IN OUR UNIVERSITY DISTRICT.
TO FURTHER EXPEDITE THIS
PROJECT I HAVE ASKED SOUND
TRANSIT TO SIGN THE LEASE TODAY
CONTINGENT UPON OUR ADOPTION.
THEY HAVE AGREED TO DO THAT.
I WANT TO REALLY THANK THEM.
THIS IS THE FIRST TIME THEY ARE
HOSTING A TINY HOME VILLAGE ON
THE PROPERTY.
HAVE ALSO ASKED THE MAYOR TO
SIGN THE LEGISLATION WITHIN THE
NEXT 24 HOURS, AND HER OFFICE
HAS AGREED TO THAT.
FINALLY, OUR FINANCIAL
ADMINISTRATIVE SERVICES
DIRECTOR IS STANDING BY READY
TO SIGN THE LEASE ON BEHALF OF
OUR CITY GOVERNMENT.
SO, I KNOW THE NONPROFIT
L.E.H.I.
IS EAGER TO GET STARTED ON THE
SITE, SO LET'S FINALLY GET THIS
DONE AND GET MORE PEOPLE WHO
ARE EXPERIENCING HOMELESSNESS
INSIDE.
IDEALLY THIS LEASE COULD BE
USED AS A TEMPLATE FOR FUTURE
PARTNERSHIPS, NOT ONLY IN
SEATTLE BUT ALSO THROUGHOUT THE
REGION TO ACCELERATE OUR
RESPONSE TO HOMELESSNESS.
IN DISTRICT 4, THIS PAST
TUESDAY I ATTENDED 10 NATIONAL
NIGHT OUT EVENTS IN MY DISTRICT
IN NORTHEAST SEATTLE.
WHILE THESE ANNUAL EVENTS WERE
CANCELED LAST YEAR DUE TO THE
COVID PANDEMIC, THEY BOUNCED
BACK STRONG WITH HUNDREDS OF
BLOCKS SIGNING UP ACROSS
SEATTLE.
MANY THANKS TO THE NEIGHBORS
WHO ORGANIZED THESE BLOCK
PARTIES. OUR POLICE DEPARTMENT
IS VERY SHORTSTAFFED.
THEY WERE NOT ABLE TO VISIT
MOST OF THE LOCATIONS AS THEY
NORMALLY DO, BUT THE BLOCK
PARTIES I ATTENDED SHOWED A LOT
OF SUPPORT FOR OUR POLICE
OFFICERS AND THE DIFFICULT
CHALLENGES THEY HAVE.
SPEAKING OF WHICH, I WAS UP AT
3:00 IN THE MORNING THIS PAST
WEEKEND TO ATTEND A COUPLE OF
POLICE ROLL CALLS FOR OFFICERS
STARTING A FIRST WATCH, WHICH
IS THE NINE HOUR SHIFT FROM
3:00 A.M.
TO 12:00 NOON.
OFFICERS WERE GENEROUS WITH
THEIR FEEDBACK AND I BELIEVE IT
WOULD BE IN THE CITY'S BEST
INTEREST TO CONTINUE TO BOOST
OFFICER WELLNESS TO ADDRESS
EXTREMELY LOW MORALE.
OFFICER WELLNESS WAS PROMOTED BY
OFFICER LEXI HARRIS BEFORE SHE
WAS KILLED ON I-5 RECENTLY.
SUPPORTING OFFICER WELLNESS
WILL SHOW WE CARE ABOUT THE
CITY EMPLOYEES, AND WANT THEM
TO STAY.
I BELIEVE WE CANNOT AFFORD TO
LOSE MORE HIGHLY TRAINED
OFFICERS AND DETECTIVES HAVE
THE RECORD-BREAKING ATTRITION
THE DEPARTMENT HAS ALREADY
EXPERIENCED, WHICH MAKES IT
DIFFICULT TO COVER THE ENTIRE
CITY AS REQUIRED BY OUR CITY
CHARTER.
AND HAS CAUSED RESPONSE TIMES
TO INCREASE FOR PRIORITY ONE
CALLS.
I'M HOPEFUL WE WILL CONSIDER,
NOT ONLY IN A PROPOSAL THE
DURKIN ADMINISTRATION SENT TO
CITY COUNCIL ON JULY 29th TO
PROVIDE HIRING INCENTIVE FOR
NEW OFFICES, BUT ALSO THINK OF
STRATEGIES FOR RETAINING THE
HIGHLY TRAINED PROFESSIONAL
CITY EMPLOYEES WE ALREADY HAVE.
TO THE OFFICERS LISTENING, I
ENCOURAGE YOU TO STAY WITH
SEATTLE.
THANK YOU.
COUNCILMEMBER LEWIS, PLEASE.
>> THANK YOU, FOR JUST GIVING
ME A MOMENT TO COMMENT AND TALK
ABOUT THE TINY HOUSE LEASE.
I'LL HAVE MORE COMMENTS THIS
AFTERNOON, BUT ONE THING I DID
WANT TO JUST FLAG NOW BECAUSE
IT SEEMS APPROPRIATE GIVEN YOUR
REMARKS ABOUT THE POSSIBILITY
OF USING THIS LEASE, WHICH WAS
NEGOTIATED OVER THE COURSE OF
SEVERAL MONTHS WITH A
CONSIDERABLE AMOUNT OF FEEDBACK
ON BOTH SIDES, TO START THIS
FIRST EVER PARTNERSHIP BETWEEN
SOUND TRANSIT AND THE CITY TO
HOST A TINY HOUSE VILLAGE.
I DID JUST WANT TO NOTE FOR THE
PUBLIC AND FOR THE RECORD HERE,
SOUND TRANSIT HAS PROVIDED
THREE ADDITIONAL PROSPECTIVE
SITES THAT COULD ACCOMMODATE
TINY HOUSE VILLAGES THAT ARE
NOT CURRENTLY BEING USED FOR
ONE OF THE THREE INITIAL SITES
THAT ARE CURRENTLY UNDER
REDEVELOPMENT, INCLUDING THE ONE
IN ROOSEVELT. THE EXPANSION OF
THE INTERBAY VILLAGE, AND THEN
ONE UP IN THE NORTH SEATTLE
NEIGHBORHOOD.
SO, I DO THINK THERE IS PLENTY
OF SCOPE, AT LEAST FOR THE
PRECEDENT THAT THIS LEASE COULD
HAVE TO INFORM ONE OR TWO, OR
EVEN THREE ADDITIONAL VILLAGES
ON THE THREE SOUND TRANSIT
SITES THAT HAVE BEEN PROVIDED,
AND THAT SOUND TRANSIT HAS
INDICATED THEY WOULD BE MORE
THAN WILLING TO HOST A VILLAGE
ON.
I ALSO JUST ATE THIS TO
UNDERSCORE THAT THERE MAY BE
SOME ISSUES WITH POSTING
ADDITIONAL TINY HOUSE VILLAGES.
AVAILABILITY OF SITES IS NOT
ONE MY OFFICE HAS ACCUMULATED A
LIST OF DOZENS OF APPROPRIATE
SITES.
THAT WE COULD PICK KNOWING THAT
WE DON'T HAVE TO PICK ALL OF
THEM.
EVEN IF JUST A COUPLE ARE
SUITABLE.
SO, I DID JUST WANT TO SAY, TO
YOUR POINT COUNCILMEMBER
PEDERSEN, I DO THINK IT COULD
AT LEAST BE A PRECEDENT FOR
MOVING MORE SWIFTLY ON ONE,
TWO, OR THREE OF THOSE
ADDITIONAL SOUND TRANSIT SITES,
AND WE SHOULD BE LOOKING AT
THAT AS A COUNCIL AND A CITY.
>> THANK YOU, COUNCILMEMBER
LEWIS.
LASTLY, TRANSPORTATION AND
UTILITIES COMMITTEE MEETS ON
THE FIRST AND THIRD WEDNESDAY
OF EACH MONTH AT 9:30 IN THE
MORNING.
OUR NEXT COMMITTEE MEETING WILL
BE AUGUST 18th.
THAT CONCLUDES MY REPORT.
SO, COUNCILMEMBERS, WE CAN NOW
ADJOURN COUNCIL BRIEFING, AND
WE WILL SEE YOU ALL THIS
AFTERNOON.
>> THANK YOU SO MUCH.