>>> THE DECEMBER 9th, 2021
MEETING OF THE PUBLIC SAFETY
AND HUMAN SERVICES COMMITTEE
WILL COME TO ORDER.
IT IS 9:34 A.M.
AND I AM THE CHAIR OF THE
COMMITTEE, LISA HERBOLD.
COUNCILMEMBER MORALES LET ME
KNOW SHE WOULD NOT BE ABLE TO
ATTEND TODAY, SO SHE IS EXCUSED
FROM TODAY'S MEETING.
WE HAVE COUNCILMEMBERS WITH US,
COUNCILMEMBER PEDERSEN AS AN
ALTERNATE. WE HAVE OTHER
COUNCILMEMBERS JOINING US. WE
WILL BE SURE TO RECOGNIZE THAT
THEY HAVE DONE SO.
>>> SO, MOVING INTO THE AGENDA
TODAY --
>> I'M SORRY, CHAIR.
CAN I CALL THE ROLL?
>> YES, PLEASE. ONE SECOND. I
--
>> OH, DID WE LOSE -- I THINK
WE LOST CHAIR HERBOLD.
PLEASE HOLD ON.
>> ALEX, ARE YOU THE CHAIR NOW?
>> I AM DEFINITELY NOT.
>> THE ORDER OF SUCCESSION
WORKS HERE.
>> I BELIEVE YOU ARE CURRENTLY
CHAIR, COUNCILMEMBER LEWIS.
>> [ LAUGHTER ] OH, WE ARE IN
TROUBLE NOW.
>> SHALL I STOP RECORDING?
>> LET'S HOLD HERE FOR A
MINUTE.
THE COMMITTEE DOES NOT HAVE
QUORUM FOR THE MINUTE.
>> I WILL STOP THE RECORDING.
>> OKAY, THANK YOU.
>> ALL RIGHT, I AM BACK.
SORRY ABOUT THAT, FOLKS.
[ LAUGHTER ]
>> I AM GOING TO START
RECORDING AGAIN, COUNCILMEMBERS.
>> WE ARE RECORDING.
>> THANK YOU SO MUCH.
SORRY ABOUT THE TECHNICAL
DIFFICULTIES THERE.
LET'S MOVE INTO THE CALLING OF
THE ROLE.
>> COUNCILMEMBER LEWIS?
>> PRESENT.
>> COUNCILMEMBER SAWANT?
COUNCIL PRESIDENT GONZALEZ?
CHAIR HERBOLD?
>> HERE.
>> COUNCILMEMBER PEDERSEN?
>> HERE.
>> YOU HAVE THREE COMMITTEE
MEMBERS PRESENT.
>> GREAT.
THANK YOU SO MUCH.
ON TODAY'S AGENDA, WE WILL HEAR
THE FOLLOWING ITEMS.
WE WILL HEAR A PRESENTATION
FROM THE HUMAN SERVICES
DEPARTMENT ON FINANCIAL
STRENGTHENING MEASURES. WE WILL
HEAR A BILL THAT WILL ADD DATA
COLLECTION AND REPORTING
REQUIREMENTS FOR THE PREFILING
AND REBOOKING DIVERSION
PROGRAMS.
WE WILL ALSO HEAR A RESOLUTION
THAT CREATES REPORTING ON THE
DEVELOPMENT OF A HOPEFULLY NEW
REINFORCED REFERENCING PROGRAM.
FINALLY WE WILL HEAR A BILL
CREATING A COMPENSATION PROGRAM
FOR FIRE CHIEF. WE WILL MOVE
INTO APPROVAL OF THE AGENDA FOR
THIS COMMITTEE MEETING.
THERE IS NO OBJECTION.
TODAY'S AGENDA WILL BE ADOPTED.
HEARING NO OBJECTION, TODAY'S
AGENDA IS ADOPTED.
>>> NOW WE WILL MOVE INTO
PUBLIC COMMENT.
I WILL MODERATE THE PUBLIC
COMMENT PERIOD IN THE FOLLOWING
MANNER:THE PUBLIC COMMENT
PERIOD FOR THIS MEETING IS 20
MINUTES AND EACH SPEAKER WILL
BE GIVEN TO SPEAK.
SPEAKERS ARE CALLED UPON IN THE
ORDER IN WHICH THEY REGISTERED
TO PROVIDE PUBLIC COMMENT ON
THE COUNCIL'S WEBSITE.
EACH SPEAKER MUST CALL IN FROM
THE PHONE NUMBER USED FOR THIS
REGISTRATION AND USING THE
MEETING PHONE NUMBER, ID, AND
PASSCODE THAT WAS EMAILED TO
THEM UPON CONFIRMATION.
THIS IS DIFFERENT THAN THE
GENERAL MEETING LISTEN LINE
CALL IN INFORMATION.
AGAIN, I WILL CALL ON EACH
SPEAKER BY NAME AND IN THE
ORDER IN WHICH THEY REGISTERED
ON THE COUNCIL'S WEBSITE.
IF YOU HAVE NOT YET REGISTERED
TO SPEAK BUT WOULD LIKE TO, YOU
CAN SIGN UP BEFORE THE END OF
PUBLIC COMMENT BY GOING TO THE
COUNCIL'S WEBSITE AT SPEAKER
MUST PRESS STAR SIX TO BEGIN
SPEAKING.
PLEASE BEGIN SPEAKING BY
STATING YOUR NAME AND THE ITEM
ONCE YOU GIVE YOUR PUBLIC
COMMENT, DISCONNECT FROM THE
LINE.
>>> RIGHT NOW IT LOOKS LIKE WE
HAVE NINE PEOPLE SIGNED UP FOR
PUBLIC COMMENT. I WILL MOVE
RIGHT INTO THAT.
I WILL READ TWO NAMES AT A TIME
. WE WILL START WITH JAMIE LEE
FOLLOWED BY ALISA NHTSA. JAMIE?
>> HI, CAN YOU HEAR ME?
>> YES, WE CAN'T.
>> HI, THIS IS JAMIE LEE.
I AM THE SEATTLE CHINATOWN
PUBLIC AUTHORITY.
WE HAVE HER COURAGE THE
RESTORATION OF STRUCTURES IN
THE CHINATOWN I.D.
IN A MANNER THAT AFFORDS OUR
OPPORTUNITY TO CARRY ON THEIR
OPPORTUNITIES IN THE
NEIGHBORHOOD.
WE SAW A GLIMPSE OF THE DAMAGE
FROM THE 2001 QUAKE.
WE SUFFERED $2 MILLION IN
DAMAGES AND LOST THREE
RESIDENTIAL UNITS IN ANOTHER.
WE WERE LUCKY THAT WHILE THERE
WERE INJURIES, THERE WAS NO
SUFFERED LOSS OF LIFE.
THE HIGHEST CONCENTRATION OF
UNREINFORCED BUILDINGS WITH 44
BUILDINGS REPRESENTING 900
UNITS.
MANY OF THE BUILDINGS ARE OWNED
BY SMALL PROPERTY OWNERS,
FAMILIES AND HAVE BEEN
RELATIVELY UNTOUCHED FOR
DECADES.
THESE BUILDINGS HOUSE OUR
COMMUNITY, MANY OF WHICH ARE
LOW INCOME, NON-ENGLISH SPEAKING
. THERE IS A CLOSE PROXIMITY OF
THESE BUILDINGS AT EACH OTHER
THAT WILL PROVIDE A NEED FOR
PLANNING.
THIS LEGISLATION IS LONG
OVERDUE.
PRESERVING CULTURALLY
SIGNIFICANT STRUCTURES SPEAKS
DIRECTLY TO OUR NEIGHBORHOOD.
VULNERABLE POPULATIONS SPEAK TO
US BECAUSE PEOPLE ARE
NEGATIVELY IMPACTED WHICH HAS
BEEN OUR CONCERN SINCE WE
STARTED THIS CONVERSATION WITH
THE CITY OVER 10 YEARS AGO.
I WANT TO THANK ASAP AND THE
CITY FOR SOME OF THIS EARLY
WORK.
IT IS TIME TO MOVE TOWARD
IMPLEMENTATION.
I WANT TO THANK COUNCILMEMBER
HERBOLD FOR THIS WORK. I LOOK
FORWARD TO WORKING WITH YOU
ALL.
THANK YOU.
>> OUR NEXT SPEAKER IS LISA
FOLLOWED BY BRAD PATTON. LISA?
>> GOOD MORNING, CHAIR HERBOLD
AND COMMITTEE MEMBERS.
THANK YOU FOR THE EFFORT AND
TIME TO CONDUCT A SPECIAL
MEETING ON SUCH AN IMPORTANT
TOPIC ON REINFORCED MASONRY
BUILDING. AS A DEVELOPER WITH
DECADES OF EXPERIENCE DOING
HISTORIC RESTORATION AND
ADAPTATION ON A NUMBER OF
HISTORIC BUILDINGS SUCH AS THE
STARBUCKS CENTER, MERRILL
PLACE, UNION STATION, AND THE
CADILLAC HOTEL, WE BECAME
EXTREMELY CONCERNED ABOUT THE
FACT THAT THESE BEAUTIFUL
STRUCTURES THAT REPRESENT THE
CHARACTER AND THE HISTORY OF
SEATTLE'S NEIGHBORHOOD WERE
GOING TO BE DESTROYED AND IT
DISAPPEAR IN THE NEXT MAJOR
EARTHQUAKE.
ON RESEARCHING FURTHER, WE
REALIZED THEY HAD NOT BEEN
SEISMICALLY UPGRADED BECAUSE
THERE WAS NO CITY MANDATE TO DO
SO AND NO SUPPORTING PROGRAM TO
HELP BUILDING OWNERS NAVIGATE
THE PROCESS.
WE LEARNED THESE HISTORIC
BUILDINGS LARGELY HELD LOW
INCOME AND SMALL BUSINESSES AND
WERE HOME TO A SIGNIFICANT
PORTION OF THE CITY'S
AFFORDABLE HOUSING STOCK AND A
NUMBER OF ITS SCHOOLS.
IN THE NEXT LARGE EARTHQUAKE,
THESE BUILDINGS WOULD LIKELY
FALL DOWN AND KILL OR INJURE
THOSE IN THEM AS WELL AS BRING
DESTRUCTION AND CHAOS TO THE
CITIES THEY WERE BUILT.
NONE OF THESE THINGS ARE
ACCEPTABLE SO WE PUT TOGETHER A
LARGE GROUP OF STAKEHOLDERS
AFFECTED TO WORK TOGETHER WITH
THE CITY TO DEVELOP A PLAN AND
A PATH FORWARD TO ADDRESS BOTH
THE THREAT AND OPPORTUNITY
REPRESENTED BY U RM.
THIS GROUP, THEY RELIANCE FOR
SAFETY AFFORDABILITY AND
PRESERVATION, WAS MADE UP OF 100
LEADERS, CITY AND COUNTY
OFFICIALS, AFFORDABLE HOUSING
ORGANIZATIONS, ENGINEERS,
BUILDERS, AND DEVELOPERS. THEY
WORK TOGETHER ON IDENTIFYING
CHALLENGES OF MANDATORY SEISMIC
UPGRADES AND SUBMITTING
SOLUTIONS TO CITY AND COUNTY
OVER A PERIOD OF A YEAR.
THEY SUPPORTED THE LEGISLATION
YOU HAVE BEFORE YOU TODAY,
WHICH WILL SAVE LIVES, MAINTAIN
CRITICAL BUILDINGS REPRESENTING
OUR NEIGHBOR'S --
>> THANK YOU.
OUR NEXT SPEAKER IS BRAD PATTON
AND BRAD WILL BE FOLLOWED BY
DYLAN LECOUNTE. BRAD?
>> THANK YOU, COUNCILMEMBER
HERBOLD AND THE COMMITTEE FOR
HEARING THIS IMPORTANT ISSUE.
I AM HERE TO SPEAK ON THE URM .
I AM A FOUNDING MEMBER OF ASAP.
THE 700 U RM'S IN SEATTLE HAVE
AN IMPORTANT BUILDING
ENVIRONMENT.
MOST OF THESE INSTRUCTORS WERE
BUILT IN THE EARLY 1900s.
SEATTLE IS THE CITY WE ALL
RECOGNIZE TODAY.
AS A YOUNG PERSON, I WAS AN EMT
AND SAW INJURIES THAT OCCURRED
IN THE EVENT OF AN EARTHQUAKE.
I SAW THE SENSE OF PERSONAL
RESPONSIBILITY TO CREATE
WORKABLE LEGISLATION TO HELP
ADDRESS THE ISSUE OF SEISMIC
SAFETY BEFORE THE NEXT BIG
EARTHQUAKE HITS.
I HAVE PERSONALLY UPGRADED
SEVERAL URMS AND I'VE SEEN HOW
DELICATELY THESE WERE BUILT.
I'VE SEEN MULTIPLE ELEMENTS
THAT GO INTO A SEISMIC UPGRADE.
WE NEED A SAFE, EQUITABLE
BUILDING AND CITY WE DON'T FACE
A THREAT OF LOSING THESE
STRUCTURES AND THE LARGE AMOUNT
OF AFFORDABLE HOUSING IT CAN
CONTAIN.
MY FRIENDS THAT HAVE WANTED TO
UPGRADE THEIR BUILDINGS, SINCE
THERE IS NO FORMAL PROCESS TO
DO SO, THEY HAVEN'T.
THEY KEEP COMING TO THE CITY TO
UPGRADE THESE BUILDINGS BECAUSE
THEY SEE A SENSE OF
RESPONSIBILITY FOR THE
RESIDENTS OF THE BUILDINGS IN
THE RETAIL SPACES.
PETER AND ALISA FORMED THE
ALLIANCE FOR SAFETY PRESERVATION
TO PROVIDE FEEDBACK ABOUT THIS
ISSUE.
WE WILL CONTINUE TO SERVE THE
CITY IN THAT CAPACITY AS ISSUES
CONTINUE TO EVOLVE.
THANK YOU AGAIN, COUNCILMEMBER
HERBOLD, AND YOUR OFFICE FOR
TAKING UP THIS ISSUE.
>> THANK YOU.
OUR NEXT SPEAKER IS DYLAN AND
DYLAN WILL BE FOLLOWED BY
HOWARD GAIL.
>> GOOD MORNING, EVERYONE.
THANK YOU FOR PROVIDING ME AN
OPPORTUNITY FOR PUBLIC COMMENT
ON THE MASONRY BUILDINGS.
MY NAME IS DYLAN AND WE ARE A
PUBLIC CORPORATION FOUNDED IN
1976 AND WE OWN AND OPERATE
AFFORDABLE HOUSING THROUGHOUT
THE SEATTLE AREA.
RESIDENT SAFETY AND AFFORDABLE
PLACES TO LIVE ARE AMONG THE
TOP PRIORITIES OF MY
ORGANIZATION.
WE HAVE TAKEN THE INITIATIVE ON
A NUMBER OF BUILDINGS TO MAKE
THEM MORE RESILIENT, BUT THERE
ARE VULNERABILITIES THAT STILL
REMAIN.
WE SUPPORT AN ORDINANCE THAT
WILL LEAD TO SAFER COMMUNITIES
AND BUILDINGS CLASSIFIED AS
URM, HOWEVER IT IS CRITICAL
THAT THIS INCLUDES DIRECT
FUNDING TO PAY FOR THE BUILDINGS
TO BE FINANCIALLY OPERABLE.
EXPENSIVE REHAB PROJECTS MANDATE
WITHOUT FUNDING WOULD FORCE US
TO OTHER NEED FOR SUPPLIES, ONE
OF WHICH WOULD BE DISPOSITION,
WHICH A DECISION THAT WOULD NOT
BE TAKEN LIGHTLY.
THANK YOU ONCE AGAIN FOR YOUR
TIME AND THE OPPORTUNITY.
>> THANK YOU, DYLAN.
THE NEXT SPEAKER IS HOWARD GAIL.
HOWARD IS FOLLOWED BY VALERIE.
HOWARD?
>> GOOD MORNING.
HOWARD GAIL, DISTRICT 7. OVER
THE PAST FIVE MONTHS, 11
INVESTIGATIVE PIECES IN THE
SOUTH SEATTLE AMARAL UNCOVERING
CORRUPTION AND GROSS VIOLATIONS
OF TRANSPARENCY IN ALL POLICE
ACCOUNTABILITY AGENCIES.
SOME OF THESE FINDINGS HAVE
BEEN EXPANDED ON AND SUPPORTED
BY INVESTIGATIONS DONE.
THESE ARTICLES REVEALED
ROUTINELY EXONERATING ABUSIVE
OFFICERS FAILING TO PROPERLY
AUDIT THE INVESTIGATIONS.
LISA JUDGE HAS ALLOWED THESE
INVESTIGATIONS BY AN OIG STAFF
MEMBER, A FORMER POLICE OFFICER
WHO WAS STILL CERTIFYING CASES
AND WHO ROUTINELY CERTIFIED
INVESTIGATIONS ABOUT LOOKING AT
EVIDENCE.
WE KNOW ALL OF THIS BECAUSE OF
TWO -- NOT ONE -- TWO STAFF
MEMBERS WHO BECAME
WHISTLEBLOWERS HERE AT ONE OF
WHOM HAD AN HONORABLE MILITARY
CAREER WHO TRIES TO DO THE
RIGHT THING AT GREAT PERSONAL
RISK.
WE KNOW THEY HAVE LOST MANY
STAFF MEMBERS IN THE PAST TWO
MONTHS.
THE INVOLVEMENT OF
COUNCILMEMBER MEMBERS
UNDERMINING THE WORK OF THESE
BRAVE WHISTLEBLOWERS.
IN JUNE OF 2017, COUNCILMEMBER
HERBOLD STATED, "WE ARE ALREADY
SHAMED.
WHAT I AM PLEDGING TO YOU IS TO
WORK ON FINDING A NEW WAY OF
DOING THINGS THAT WE CAN
ACTUALLY GET DIFFERENT RESULTS.
I WILL USE WHAT I HAVE IN THE
CITY TO CHANGE WHAT IS
HAPPENING IN OUR CITY."
THE RESULTS ARE 10 MORE YEARS
-- 10 MORE PEOPLE KILLED BY THE
SPD MANY OF THOSE EXPERIENCING
MENTAL HEALTH CRISES.
CONTINUATION OF RACIAL BIAS,
OFFICERS ESCAPING ANY
ACCOUNTABILITY FOR DEATH AND
HARM.
WE SEE THAT A COUNCILMEMBER HAS
úUSED HER POWER TO ENSURE THAT
NOTHING CHANGES.
>> THANK YOU, HOWARD.
OUR NEXT SPEAKER IS VALERIE WHO
IS FOLLOWED BY CATHERINE.
>> HELLO, VALERIE DISTRICT TO.
WE HAVE SEEN MANY ABUSES OF
POWER BY SEATTLE POLICE IN
RECENT YEARS ALLOWING THOSE
ABUSES TO CONTINUE WITHOUT
ACCOUNTABILITY AND CONSEQUENCES
ALLOWS SPD TO HOLD A POWER BUT
WITHOUT BEING ELECTED AND AT
THE TAXPAYERS EXPENSE. THAT IS
NOT DEMOCRATIC.
IT IS HARMFUL AND DANGEROUS.
IN AUGUST, MY INVESTIGATOR AND
THE OFFICE OF INSPECTOR GENERAL
MADE A DETAIL ABOUT THE
WHISTLEBLOWER COMPLAINT ABOUT
THE INVESTIGATION.
ISSUES RELATED TO THE COMPLAINT
AND THE SEVERITY IN THE POLICE
ACCOUNTABILITY SYSTEM HAVE BEEN
REPORTED IN THE SOUTH SEATTLE
REGION OVER THE PAST FOUR
MONTHS.
I HOPE ALL MEMBERS LOOK AT
THOSE CLOSELY.
THEY ARE IMPORTANT.
DECEMBER 7th TITLED
INVESTIGATING COMPLAINT IN CITY
COUNCIL'S COURT. REPORTS THAT
WHEN THE OIT LOOKS AT THE
DETAILED INFORMATION,
COUNCILMEMBER HERBOLD AND LEWIS
DECLINED TO ACT.
COUNCILMEMBER HERBOLD CONSULTED
ABOUT WHAT INFORMATION TO
REVEAL TO THE JOURNALISTS. WHEN
A WHISTLEBLOWER COMES FORWARD
WITH INFORMATION ABOUT HOW
POLICE ABUSE INVESTIGATIONS,
CITY COUNCILMEMBERS SHOULD ACT
ON JUSTICE.
THEY SHOULD NOT DEFAULT TO THE
STATUS QUO THAT REMAINS THE
COVER UP.
IT IS TIME FOR THE COUNCIL TO
STEP UP AND DO THE RIGHT THING.
INSTIGATE A FULLY IMPARTIAL
INVESTIGATION OF THE OIG AND OPA
.
>> THANK YOU.
OUR NEXT SPEAKER IS CATHERINE
STANFORD AND CATHERINE IS
FOLLOWED BY A EUGENIA.
LET'S SEE HERE. HIT STAR SIX
PLEASE, CATHERINE.
IF YOU CAN HEAR ME, IT LOOKS
LIKE YOU ARE STILL ON MUTE. WE
NEED YOU TO HIT STAR SIX. ONE
MORE TIME, CATHERINE. WE SEE
THAT YOU ARE STILL ON MUTE. IF
YOU COULD HIT STAR SIX, THAT
WOULD IT TAKE YOU OFF MUTE.
OH, ALMOST HAD YOU.
THERE YOU GO.
PERFECT.
>> MY STAR SIX WAS -- ANYWAY,
THANK YOU, COUNCILMEMBERS AND
CHAIR HERBOLD.
THE PRESIDENT ROD KAUFMAN
WANTED TO SPEAK THIS MORNING
THAT HE IS SERVING ON JURY
DUTY.
OUR MEMBERS ARE PRIMARILY
COMMERCIAL PROPERTY OWNERS OF
BUILDINGS OF ALL SIZES AND AGES
. SPEAKING TO THE RESOLUTION OF
CLEARING THE CITY COUNCIL TO
CONSIDER STRATEGIES TO ENSURE
THAT ALL MASONRY BUILDINGS IN
SEATTLE ARE SEISMICALLY RECTA
FITTED. I WANTED TO GIVE A
PERSONAL NOTE THAT I WAS AT
PIKES PLACE MARKET FOR 15 YEARS
INCLUDING DURING THE NISQUALLY
EARTHQUAKE. I KNOW HOW
IMPORTANT IT IS TO TAKE ACTION
TO SECURE THE SAFETY OF OUR
BUILDING NOT ONLY, YOU KNOW,
FOR OUR TENANTS BUT FOR THE
GENERAL PUBLIC AS WELL.
FOR AS LONG AS I HAVE BEEN
ENGAGED WITH THE CITY, I HAVE
IMPLEMENTED A PROGRAM THAT WILL
SECURE OUR BUILDINGS AND WE ARE
REALLY PLEASED AND SUPPORTIVE
IT IS MOVING FORWARD WITH A
SPECIFIC FIRST REPORT.
WE WOULD LIKE TO OFFER OUR
SUPPORT BY CONTINUING TO WORK
WITH OEM BASED ON PREVIOUS
DISCUSSIONS WITH STC I WE HOPE
THAT CONSIDERATION SPECIFICALLY
IS A PREFERRED TOOL WHENEVER
POSSIBLE. COUNCILMEMBER HERBOLD
, I CAN'T SEE YOU NOW, BUT YOU
MAY BE THE ONLY ONE THERE WHO
KNOWS WHAT THIS IS.
I THINK I SAW YOU AT MULTIPLE
MEETINGS. WE APPRECIATE THE
TASK EFFORTS TO UNDERSTAND THE
IMPACT IT HAS HAD.
THANK YOU TO CHAIR HERBOLD FOR
CHAMPIONING THESE EFFORTS FOR
MANY YEARS.
>> THANK YOU, CATHERINE.
NEXT WEEK OR IS EUGENIA. EUGENIA
WILL BE FOLLOWED BY WILLIAM.
EUGENIA, WE SEE YOU ON MUTE. IF
YOU DON'T MIND HITTING STAR SIX
.
>> CAN YOU HEAR ME?
>> YES.
THANKS.
>> GOOD MORNING.
I AM EUGENIA FROM HISTORIC
SEATTLE, A PRESERVATION
DEVELOPMENT AUTHORITY CREATED
BY CITY CHARTER IN 1973.
OUR MISSION IS MEANING PLACES
TO FOSTER LIVELY COMMUNITIES.
YOU MAY BE FAMILIAR WITH SOME
OF THE HISTORIC PROPERTIES WE
OWN, SUCH AS THE CADILLAC
HOTEL, WASHINGTON HALL, AND THE
GOOD SHEPHERD CENTER.
WE SUPPORT RESOLUTION 32033
ESTABLISHING AN UNREINFORCED
MASONRY BECAUSE IT WOULD HELP
BRING A GREATER RESILIENCY TO
THE OVER 1000 URM BUILDINGS IN
SEATTLE.
IT IS NOT A MATTER OF IF, BUT
WHEN A BIG EARTHQUAKE HITS
SEATTLE AND PUGET SOUND.
WE NEED TO BE PREPARED AS MUCH
AS POSSIBLE TO MINIMIZE THE
LOSS OF LIFE AND DAMAGE TO
BUILDINGS, ESPECIALLY URMS .
THE CADILLAC HOTEL SERVES AS A
URM POSTER CHILD . THE GOOD
SHEPHERD CENTER IS A CRITICAL
SRUCTURE IN THE CITY BUT
VULNERABLE IN A SEISMIC EVENT.
IT IS A COSTLY ENDEAVOR.
HISTORIC SEATTLE HAS BEEN
EXTENSIVELY INVOLVED IN WORKING
WITH THE CITY ON URM POLICIES .
I SERVED ON A URM POLICY
COMMITTEE AND OUR EXECUTIVE
DIRECTOR TY KELLY WAS ON THE
EARLIER TECHNICAL COMMITTEE,
BOTH MANAGED BY STC I. WE
SUPPORT THE GOALS OUTLINED IN
THE PROGRAM PARTICULARLY THE
GOAL TO PRESERVE SEATTLE'S
CULTURALLY SIGNIFICANT LANDMARKS
TO CONTRIBUTE TO NEIGHBORHOOD
CHARACTER.
THESE BUILDINGS PROVIDE SPACE
FOR MUCH-NEEDED HOUSING,
OFFICES, AND SMALL BUSINESSES
IMPORTANT TO NEIGHBORHOOD THAT
PARTICULARLY IN COMMUNITIES
VULNERABLE TO DISPLACEMENT.
WE WOULD LIKE TO THANK
COUNCILMEMBER HERBOLD AS WELL AS
ASAP FOR ITS PROACTIVE EFFORTS
FOR SEEKING TO MAKE THE CITY A
BETTER PLACE.
THANK YOU FOR THE OPPORTUNITY
TO COMMENT. WE HOPE THAT
COUNCIL PASSES THIS SOLUTION TO
CONTINUE --
>> THANK YOU SO MUCH . OUR NEXT
SPEAKER IS WILLIAM BLOCK, BUT I
DON'T SEE HIM LISTED SO WE WILL
GO ON TO OUR LAST SPEAKER.
IF WILLIAM BLOCK BECOMES PRESENT
, WE WILL HEAR FROM HIM AS
WELL.
OUR LAST SPEAKER THAT IS
SHOWING AS PRESENT IS DAVID
HAYNES. DAVID?
>> GOOD MORNING.
THANK YOU.
I THINK WE NEED TO HAVE A 21ST-
CENTURY REDEVELOPMENT AND TEAR
DOWN A LOT OF UNSAFE BUILDINGS.
I CALLED HERE TODAY BECAUSE I
THINK IT IS EVIDENT WE NEED TO
INVESTIGATE AN FBI
INVESTIGATION ON THE HUMAN
SERVICES DEPARTMENT. THEY HAVE
BEEN CAUSING UNNECESSARY
SUFFERING ADDING TO THE
HOMELESS CRISIS SINCE RECORDED
VIOLATIONS IN 2018 THAT HAVE
BEEN REPEATEDLY IGNORED BY THE
COUNCIL'S OVERSIGHT WHO USES
HOMELESS MONEY TO REDIRECT TO
OTHER POLICIES, PROTESTERS, AND
ACTIVISTS TO ENSURE ELECTION
SUPPORT WHILE INCOMPETENT
SUBHUMAN MISTREATING DIRECTOR
PARLAYING POLITICALLY CONNECTED
FAVORS TOOK OFF TO POLITICALLY
CONNECT NONPROFITS AFTER
OVERSEEING $386 MILLION WITH NO
LEGITIMATE INCREASE IN HOMELESS
SHELTER FOR THE THIRD WINTER OF
COVID AMISS MALFEASANCE, NO
ACCOUNTING FOR EXPENDITURES,
WHILE MINIMUM INVESTMENT THAT
NUMBERS OF HOMELESS SHELTERS.
CITY COUNCIL REDIRECTED $70
MILLION FROM THE FEDERAL
GOVERNMENT MARKED FOR SHELTERS.
THE CITY COUNCIL WOULD RATHER
PASSIVELY AGGRESSIVE REFUSED TO
MAKE A LEGITIMATE OFFER TO
SOLVE THE HOMELESS CRISIS THEN
NEXT YEAR AFTER WE PAY SOMEONE
ELSE TO DO THE JOB. I THINK WE
NEED AN INVESTIGATION OF THE
ENTIRE HOMELESS INDUSTRIAL
COMPLEXES POLITICAL CONNECTIONS
TO THE COUNCIL'S APPARATUS WHO
DOESN'T CARE ABOUT THE
HOMELESS, WHO IS BRINGING A
RACIST AGENDA TO DECIDE WHO IS
GOING TO BE HELD WITH HIGH
PRIORITY FOR ALL OF THE
CRIMINALS DOWN AT THE
ENCAMPMENT AT PIONEER SQUARE,
WHO WERE BRUTALLY RAPING AND
RUINING PEOPLE'S LIVES. THEY
ARE IN A HOTEL RIGHT NOW WHILE
PEOPLE ARE STILL IN THE STREET
FOR ANOTHER WINTER WHILE ALL OF
THESE MILLIONS OF DOLLARS HAVE
BEEN SQUANDERED BY POLITICALLY
CONNECTED OPERATIVES!
>> THANK YOU, DAVID.
THAT CONCLUDES OUR PUBLIC
COMMENT.
WE WILL MOVE ON TO THE ITEMS ON
THE AGENDA.
I FIRST WANT TO RECOGNIZE THAT
COUNCILMEMBER PRESIDENT GONZALEZ
HAS JOINED THE MEETING.
WELCOME, COUNCIL PRESIDENT
GONZALEZ.
>>> AGENDA ITEM NUMBER ONE,
HUMAN SERVICES DEPARTMENT
PRESENTATION ON FINANCIAL
STRENGTHENING MEASURES FOR
BRIEFING AND DISCUSSION.
>> THANK YOU SO MUCH, ALEX.
I JUST WANT TO OPEN IT UP FIRST
WITH A COUPLE OPENING REMARKS,
IF THAT'S OKAY.
WE WILL DO A ROUND OF
INTRODUCTION.
I AM REALLY HAPPY TO HAVE A
FOCUS FROM THE HUMAN SERVICES
DEPARTMENT, THE CITY BUDGET
OFFICE, AND FA ASK WHO WILL
SHARE WHAT WORK THEY HAVE BEEN
UNDERTAKEN TO STRENGTHEN ITS
FINANCIAL MANAGEMENT CONTROLS
AND PRACTICES.
DIRECTOR NOBLE ALERTED SEVERAL
OF US IN AUGUST VIA A MEMO TO
DIFFICULTIES THEY HAVE BEEN
EXPERIENCING IN MANAGING ITS
FINANCES CONNECTED WITH THE
DEPARTMENT'S RAPID GROWTH OVER
SEVERAL YEARS.
AS A COUNCILMEMBER WITH
OVERSIGHT THROUGH THIS
COMMITTEE, I ASKED FOR A
BRIEFING AT THAT TIME.
THE HUMAN SERVICES DEPARTMENT
HAS SHARED AND THEY RETAIN A
CONSULTANT, ALVAREZ AND MARCIL.
THEY HAD COMPLETED A
PRELIMINARY ASSESSMENT AND THEY
WERE IN THE PROCESS OF
IDENTIFYING IMMEDIATE TASKS FOR
THE DEPARTMENT TO TAKE ON. IN
ADDITION, I THINK MOST PEOPLE
RE AWARE OF THE INCIDENT WITH
THE HSD CONTRACTOR AT MARY'S
PLACE WHO EXPERIENCED
SIGNIFICANT FRAUD EARLIER THIS
YEAR WHERE PAYMENTS FROM THE
HUMAN SERVICES DEPARTMENT WERE
MISDIRECTED TO A FRAUDULENT
ACCOUNT.
DIRECTOR NOBLE FOLLOWED UP WITH
THE MEMO IN OCTOBER PROVIDING
AN UPDATE AND IDENTIFYING THE
NEED FOR ADDITIONAL EMPLOYEES
AT THE HUMAN SERVICES
DEPARTMENT PER THE
RECOMMENDATION OF ALVAREZ AND
MARCEL. THE COUNCIL ADDED EIGHT
POSITIONS TO HSD FOR THE
PURPOSE AND APPROPRIATED
$100,000 FOR THOSE POSITIONS
THAT DIRECTOR NOBLE HAD SET
ASIDE TO PARTIALLY PAY FOR
THESE POSITIONS.
WE ADDED THE POSITIONS ON AN
EMERGENCY BASIS WITH THE
SUPPORT OF DIRECTOR NOBLE.
I'M SORRY, I SHOULD CORRECT
DIRECTOR NOBLE ADDED THOSE AND
THE COUNCIL'S ACTION MADE THEM
PERMANENT. THEY WILL NEED
ADDITIONAL FUNDS TO FULLY FUND
THE POSITIONS THROUGH THE END
OF 2022 AND THEY ARE LOOKING AT
FINDING THOSE FUNDS IN CONCERT
WITH COUNCIL CENTRAL STAFF . IN
ADDITION, LATE IN THE BUDGET
PROCESS THE HUMAN SERVICES
DEPARTMENT IDENTIFIED AN
ADDITIONAL NEED BASED ON FUNDS
THAT THE COUNCIL WAS ADDING TO
THE BUDGET AND THE COUNCIL
CREATED AND FUNDED THREE
ADDITIONAL POSITIONS TO SUPPORT
THE ADDITIONAL SERVICE
INVESTMENTS IN THE 2022 BUDGET
ADDED BY THE COUNCIL.
THESE POSITIONS OR CONTRACTS
AND GRANT SPECIALISTS AND A
STRATEGIC ADVISOR.
I WANT TO THANK EVERYONE AGAIN
FOR JOINING US THIS MORNING.
IF WE COULD DO A QUICK ROUND OF
INTRODUCTIONS, WHO YOU ARE
WITH, WHICH DEPARTMENT YOU ARE
WITH, AND WE WILL GET STARTED
ON YOUR PRESENTATION.
THANK YOU.
>> HELLO.
GO AHEAD, PLEASE.
>> TANYA KIM, ACTING DIRECTOR
OF THE HUMAN SERVICES
DEPARTMENT.
>> BEN NOBLE, CITY BUDGET
DIRECTOR.
>> GLEN LEE, FINANCE AND
ADMINISTRATION SERVICES.
>> THANK YOU.
NEXT SLIDE, PLEASE. WE HAVE THE
OPPORTUNITY HERE -- AND THANK
YOU SO MUCH, COUNCIL CHAIR
HERBOLD, TO PRESENT THE HUMAN
SERVICES DEPARTMENT OR HSD
FINANCIAL OPERATIONAL
IMPROVEMENT PLAN AT COMMITTEE
TODAY.
HSD IS JOINED BY OUR PARTNERS
PRIMARILY BECAUSE THEY ARE
EXCELLENT PARTNERS WITH SUBJECT
MATTER EXPERTISE AND THEIR
SUPPORT IS INVALUABLE, AND ALSO
BECAUSE THIS HAS BEEN A MULTI-
DEPARTMENT EFFORT SPANNING
SEVERAL YEARS. WE WILL
HIGHLIGHT CRITICAL POINTS SO
YOU UNDERSTAND HOW WE GOT HERE,
WHAT THE ISSUES ARE, AND WHAT
THE PATH FORWARD IS.
WE HAVE FOR YOU -- AND I
APOLOGIZE, WE ACTUALLY REMOVED
THE NEXT STEPS AND CHANGED SOME
OF THE ORDER, SO WHAT WE ARE
GOING TO JUST DRIVE IS OUR
FINANCIAL MANAGEMENT BACKGROUND
, THE PRIOR ACTIONS, OUR
OPERATIONAL AND FINANCIAL
IMPROVEMENT PLAN. WE ARE GOING
TO HIGHLIGHT THE IMPROVEMENT
AREAS.
JOE WILL BE SPEAKING A LOT.
WE WILL GIVE YOU A PROJECT
STATUS UPDATE BECAUSE WE HAVE
BEEN ALL HANDS ON DECK WORKING
ON THIS FOR SOME TIME NOW.
WE WILL END WITH RESTAURANTS.
OF COURSE, TIME PERMITTING.
WITH THAT, I WILL HAND IT OVER
TO DIRECTOR NOBLE TO PROVIDE A
LITTLE BIT OF BACKGROUND ON THE
NEXT SLIDE, PLEASE.
>> THANK YOU, DIRECTOR KIM. MY
GOAL IS TO GIVE YOU CONTACTS OF
HOW WE GET HERE. THE MOST
FUNDAMENTAL REASON, THE SCALE
OF THE OPERATION THAT THE HUMAN
SERVICES DEPARTMENT HAS GROWN
TREMENDOUSLY IN THE LAST FEW
YEARS FOCUSED IN PART AND
PARTICULARLY ON THE AREAS OF
HOMELESSNESS, BUT CERTAINLY NOT
EXCLUSIVELY.
AS THE CAPACITY HAS GROWN, WE
AS A CITY DID NOT DO A GOOD JOB
OF RAMPING UP THEIR FINANCIAL
OPERATIONS BOTH IN TERMS OF
THEIR SCALES AND THE NUMBER OF
FOLKS INVOLVED IN THAT WORK BUT
ALSO IN ITS STRUCTURE.
AS YOU WILL SEE MOVING TOWARDS
A MORE CENTRALIZED STRUCTURE
FOR LACK OF A BETTER WORD
DISCIPLINED STRUCTURE.
THAT WASN'T THE ONLY ISSUE
APPEAR THEY ARE OFTEN
COMPOUNDING FACTORS.
ANOTHER ONE IS IN THAT SAME
WINDOW BETWEEN 2016 AND 2021,
PARTICULARLY 2018 IN 2019, AND
AGAIN, DIRECTOR LEE CAN TALK
MORE ABOUT THIS, BUT WE TRACK
BOTH THE REVENUE CENTER COSTS
AND ALIKE.
THIS IS A PARTICULARLY POWERFUL
SYSTEM THAT DID REQUIRE THAT
ALL PARTS GO THROUGH THEIR
EXISTING STRUCTURES AND
REESTABLISH THEM. THE WAY THAT
WAS DONE AT HSD WAS MORE
ALIGNED THAN THE ONE THEY HAVE
BEEN GROWING INTO AND WE ENDED
UP WITH A SYSTEM THAT WAS
OVERLY COMPLEX AND NOT REALLY
SERVING THEIR NEEDS. AN
OPPORTUNITY NOW TO REVISIT SOME
OF THAT AS WELL.
WE WILL TALK MORE ABOUT THE
STRUCTURE AS WELL MOVING TOWARD
A MORE CENTRALIZED VIEW.
INTERESTINGLY ONE OF THE WAYS
THIS MANIFESTS, AND THIS BULLET
IS TALKING ABOUT CASH BALANCE
AND ANTICIPATED. ONE MIGHT
NORMALLY THINK THAT WAS A
RESULT OF EXPENDITURE ISSUES
AND OVERSPENDING, BUT ACTUALLY
MORE LIKELY IN THIS CASE THE
OPPOSITE.
ONE OF THE THINGS THAT IS NOT
NECESSARILY WELL APPRECIATED,
WHEN WE GRANT BUDGET AUTHORITY
AND THE AUTHORITY TO SPEND
MONEY, THAT IS BACKED UP BY
REVENUE FORECAST. SOME OF THOSE
OUR FORECAST OF TAX REVENUES IN
THE CITY CONTINUES.
OTHERS ARE GRANT OR PAYMENTS
THAT WE BILL THIRD PARTIES TO
AND WE PASS TO SERVICE
PROVIDERS.
ONE OF THE ISSUES WE HAVE HAD
IS THE ABILITY TO BUILD THE
FEDERAL GOVERNMENT FOR THE
MONIES THEY ARE COUNTING ON AND
HAVING AS WELL.
THEY MOVE FORWARD WITH
EXPENDITURES TO MAKE SURE THEY
ARE PROVIDED WITH EVERY
REIMBURSEMENT BUT WE WEREN'T
GETTING IT IN A TIMELY WAY
BECAUSE OF SOME OF THE ISSUES
YOU ARE GOING TO HEAR ABOUT.
THAT WAS OBVIOUSLY A BIG RED
FLAG FOR US ON WHERE THINGS
WERE.
ONE OF THE OTHER REALITIES
ABOUT THIS IS THE COVID PANDEMIC
INTERRUPTED AN EFFORT AND
SLOWED US DOWN SOME. WE HAVE
BEEN WORKING HARD ON THIS IN
2018 AND 2019.
AS 2020 HIT AND WE WERE MOVING
FORWARD, THE CITY AS A WHOLE WE
FOCUSED A LOT OF OUR EFFORTS TO
PANDEMIC RESPONSE.
ENTIRELY APPROPRIATE, BUT AS WE
HAVE REACHED A MORE STABLE
LEVEL THERE, OBVIOUSLY THAT
WORK IS ONGOING.
WE HAVE TIME TO REFOCUS AND WE
NEED TO.
YOU WILL HEAR MORE TODAY ON
WHAT THAT REFOCUS LOOKS LIKE AT
HSD.
WITH THAT, I WILL TURN IT OVER
TO GLEN FOR MORE HISTORY.
> THANK YOU VERY MUCH, THEN.
BY THE MID PART OF 2018 AND THE
LATE PART OF 2018, HSD STAFF
AS WELL AS OUR FINANCIAL
AUDITORS COULD TELL THAT WE
WERE STRUGGLING WITH SOME OF
THE PROCESSES AND PRACTICES AND
SO WE DEDICATED STAFF TO A
SPECIFIC ASSESSMENT AND HELPED
WITH TRANSACTIONAL ACCOUNTING
IN SOME OF THE MONTHLY
ASSESSMENT AND SO FORTH NEEDED
TO OPERATE A PROGRAM AS BIG AND
COMPLICATED AS HSD.
ONE OF THE OUTCOMES OF THAT
ASSESSMENT, IT WAS CLEAR TO US
THAT HSD NEEDED A LEAD
FINANCIAL PERSON THAT WAS, YOU
KNOW, AT THE LEVEL OF OR HAD
THE BACKGROUND AND STATURE OF
FAR MORE COMPLICATED
DEPARTMENTS.
HSD IS NOT NECESSARILY THE
LARGEST DOLLAR DEPARTMENT.
IT IS SOPHISTICATED BECAUSE OF
ALL OF THE DIFFERENT FUNDING
SOURCES.
A RECOMMENDATION WAS TO HIRE A
CHIEF FINANCIAL OFFICER. THAT
OCCURRED IN FEBRUARY OF 2020
AND THAT WAS ONE OF THE RESULTS
IN ADDITION, WE WANTED A FIRM
TO COME IN AND HELP US ASSESS
AT A VERY GRANULAR LEVEL HSD
PROCESSES FOR HANDLING EXPENSES
AND SO FORTH.
WE HIRED A FIRM IN APRIL OF
2020 AND THEY DID COMPLETE A
VERY DETAILED ASSESSMENT OF HSD
SITUATIONS. THIS WAS THE
FRANCIS AND COMPANY REPORT.
THEY DID NOT COMPLETE THEIR
ASSESSMENT, UNFORTUNATELY. THAT
HAD TO DO WITH STAFF AND COVID
CHALLENGES AND EVERYTHING.
SO, WITH THAT INFORMATION AND
REPORT, HSD DID TAKE ACTIONS
TO CORRECT SOME OF THEIR
PROCESSES OR IMPROVE THEIR
PROCESSES WITH SOME PRELIMINARY
ANALYSIS BUT BY JULY AND AUGUST
OF 2021, WE REALIZED WE NEEDED
A FIRM TO COME IN AND HELP US
DESIGN AT A DETAILED LEVEL SOME
OF THE IMPROVEMENT AND
IMPLEMENT THEM, SO WE HIRED
ANOTHER FIRM, ALVEREZ AND
MARSAL . THAT ALONG WITH OUR
STAFF HERE AND COMMITMENTS FROM
HSD STAFF IS CURRENTLY A
PROCESS . A GENERAL PLAN WAS
CREATED IN 2021 AND NOW IT IS
THE DETAILED WORK TIME THAT IS
DIFFICULT AND COMPLICATED, BUT
I AM CONFIDENT THERE IS
COMMITMENT FROM OUR STAFF AS
WELL AS HSD TO SEE
IMPROVEMENTS INTO 2022.
>> THANK YOU.
>> CAN YOU JUST TALK A LITTLE
BIT ABOUT 2019 AND THE ACTIONS
THAT HSD BEGAN IMPLEMENTING IN
2019?
>> THERE IS A HANDFUL OF
FRANKLY DETAILED ACCOUNTING
CHANGES THAT WERE IMPLEMENTED,
BUT THEY WERE NOT AS ROBUST AS
WE WERE HOPING FOR.
WE ALSO WERE BANKING ON A NEW
CFO TO COME IN AND DO THE
DETAILED ASSESSMENT AND
ENGINEERING. THE CHANGES WERE
SOME AND IMPROVED A LITTLE BIT.
OUR SUMMARY INFORMATION AND
CLOSING THE BOOKS FOR 2019
RELATIVE TO 2019, BUT IT WASN'T
NEARLY ENOUGH AND WE WERE
WAITING ON A NEW CFO TO PROVIDE
LEADERSHIP TO RESOLVE SOME OF
THE MORE SERIOUS CONCERNS THAT
WE HAVE.
WE ARE NOW IN THAT POSITION OF
HAVING ALL OF OUR RESOURCES ON
BOARD THANKS TO THE ACTIONS YOU
HAVE TAKEN.
>> THANK YOU.
YEAH, IT REALLY SHOWS.
OF COURSE WE UNDERSTAND THE
PACE OF WORK IN 2020, SLOWING
IN RESPONSE TO COVID. BUT IN
2019, YOU KNOW, GIVEN THAT WE
FIRST STARTED SEEING WARNING
SIGNS IN 2018 WITH CBO'S
ASSESSMENT, IT SHOWS THE
IMPORTANCE OF HAVING PEOPLE IN
THE POSITIONS --
>> YES.
>> AND MAKING THAT A PRIORITY
TO KEEP EVERYTHING MOVING, SO
THANK YOU FOR THAT.
>> NEXT SLIDE, PLEASE?
SO HERE WE ARE. WE HAVE AN
OPERATIONAL AND FINANCIAL
IMPROVEMENT PLAN.
I WILL REFER TO ALVEREZ AND
MARSAL AS A&M . IN MY TENURE AS
ACTING DIRECTOR, I AM EXCITED
TO HAVE A CONCRETE PLAN THAT WE
ARE ALL WORKING TOWARD.
TO SUMMARIZE, WE ARE LOOKING
TOWARD A MORE SIMPLIFIED
FINANCIAL STRUCTURE WITH
STRAIGHTFORWARD PROCESSES.
CLEAR SEGREGATION OF WORK AND
IT DUTIES AND APPROPRIATELY
SIZED AND SKILLED FINANCE TEAM.
ALL OF THE POLICIES AND
PROCEDURES THAT GO WITH IT, ET
CETERA. HERE IS A LIST OF
THINGS WE ARE FOCUSING ON AND
MY COLLEAGUE WILL HIGHLIGHT
SOME KEY AREAS.
AS DIRECTOR NOBLE HAD MENTIONED
, AS WELL AS DIRECTOR LEE, WE
ARE IMPROVING THE TIMELINESS
AND ACCURACY OF OUR BILLING
WITH FEDERAL AND STATE FUNDS.
THAT IS A STARTING TO HAPPEN
NOW.
WE ARE WORKING TOWARD
SIMPLIFYING PEOPLESOFT 9.2
FINANCIAL STRUCTURE BEGINNING
IN THE 2022 BUDGET.
WE ARE STREAMLINING OUR
FINANCIAL PROCESSES,
IMPLEMENTING DASHBOARD METRICS
TO PROVIDE ACCURATE FINANCIAL
INFORMATION, REVISE AND IMPROVE
-- REVISE THE APPROACH FOR OUR
CMS TO CCMS TRANSITION IN 2022.
THIS SOUNDS A LOT OF JARGON AND
WE WILL EXPLAIN IN THE FURTHER
SLIDES.
WE HAVE DATA THAT WE USE.
AND THEN INCREASE STAFFING
CAPACITY, WE HAVE TALKED A LOT
ABOUT THIS TO INCREASE BUSINESS
NEEDS AND PROVIDE A MORE
CENTRALIZED MANAGEMENT.
OF COURSE WITH THIS COMMS
TRAINING STAFF ON THE NEW
PROCESSES AND REALLY SUPPORTING
PEOPLE TO BE SUCCESSFUL IN THIS
FUTURE STATE.
NEXT SLIDE, PLEASE?
SO, THE NEXT SET OF SLIDES WILL
BE REVIEWED BY MY COLLEAGUE,
JOE, WHO IS OUR CFO THAT WAS
HIRED.
JOSEPH KASPERSKI WILL HIGHLIGHT
KEY AREAS SO YOU CAN GET A
FLAVOR OF THE ACTUAL WORK.
IT WILL GET DETAILED, BUT JOE,
PLEASE TAKE IT AWAY.
>> THANK YOU AND GOOD MORNING,
EVERYONE.
I WILL WALK YOU THROUGH THE
MAJOR FOCUS AREAS OF THIS
INITIATIVE, STARTING WITH
ACCOUNTS RECEIVABLE, WHICH WAS
PREVIOUSLY DISCUSSED.
THIS IS THE PROCESS OF HOW WE
COLLECT CASH FROM OUR FEDERAL
AND STATE FUNDING SOURCES
MAINTAINED IN THE HUMAN
SERVICES DEPARTMENT.
THESE FUNDS ACCOUNT FOR
APPROXIMATELY 38% OF EXPENSES,
HOWEVER OUR PROCESSES FOR
GENERATING THE REIMBURSEMENT
ARE FRAGMENTED ACROSS THE
DEPARTMENT, WHICH ENDED UP
RESULTED IN A VERY HIGH ERROR
RATE AND OF COURSE, HIGH
REJECTION RATE BY THE STATE.
WE WERE NOT ABLE TO REPLENISH
OUR CASH PAYMENTS BUT WE ARE
BEING MADE FROM AGENCIES WHICH
RESULTS IN A NEGATIVE CASH
POSITION.
THIS PROCESS IS ONE OF OUR
CURRENT TOP FOCUS AREAS AND
WILL RESULT IN CONSOLIDATING
BILLING FEDERAL SOURCES FROM
ACCOUNTING OR WITHIN ACCOUNTING
USING INFORMATION DIRECTLY FROM
OUR FINANCE SYSTEM.
THIS WILL GREATLY IMPROVE OUR
ACCURACY AND TIMELINESS FOR
RECEIVING CASH FROM OUR STATE
AND FEDERAL SOURCES.
NEXT SLIDE, PLEASE?
>> BEFORE WE MOVE ON FROM THAT
SLIDE, I WANT TO UNDERSCORE
WHAT I THOUGHT I UNDERSTOOD, BUT
THERE IS LANGUAGE ON THIS SLIDE
THAT JUST GIVES ME PAUSE THAT I
WANT TO CONFIRM. I WAS UNDER
THE IMPRESSION OF THE
DIFFICULTIES EXPERIENCED IN
ACCOUNTS RECEIVABLE RESULTED IN
PAYMENTS TO THE CITY BEING
DELAYED, BUT NOT ANY SIGNIFICANT
LOST REVENUE OR REIMBURSEMENT
AS IT RELATES SPECIFICALLY TO
THE ACCOUNTS RECEIVABLE
DIFFICULTIES. IS THAT CORRECT?
>> YES. IT DID NOT RESULT IN A
LOSS OF REVENUE. WHAT RESULTED
IN IS THE SIGNIFICANT DELAY.
FOR EXAMPLE, WHEN BILLING THE
STATES, WE BILL MONTHLY FOR
TITLE 19 FOR THE STATE.
EACH BILL HAS TO BE DONE
INCREMENTALLY AND IMPROVED BY
THE STATE.
WHAT WE WERE PREVIOUSLY DOING
WAS SUBMITTING FOUR OR FIVE
MONTHS WORTH OF BILLING AND
THEY WOULD FIND AN ERROR WITH
THE FIRST MONTH AND THAT WOULD
REJECT ALL SUBSEQUENT BILLINGS
THAT WERE DEPENDENT ON ONE
ANOTHER.
THAT IS ONE OF THE PROCESSES WE
HAVE STOPPED. WE WILL SUBMIT
ONE BILL AT ONE TIME, BUT WE
ARE STILL IN THE PROCESS OF THE
BACKLOG OF BILLING, BUT
GENERALLY WE ARE PROBABLY
WITHIN ONE MONTH OF BEING
CURRENT WITH ALL OF OUR BACK
BILLS.
WE ARE GETTING BACK ON TRACK.
>> THANK YOU.
REJECTION DOES NOT MEAN A LACK
OF REIMBURSEMENT.
IT MEANS A DELAY OF
REIMBURSEMENT.
>> THAT SPECIFIC WORD, YEAH.
YOU HAVE THE OPPORTUNITY TO
TAKE THE TEST AGAIN, IF YOU
WILL.
>> SORRY FOR THAT CONFUSION.
NEXT, THE ACCOUNTS PAYABLE
SECTION.
THE NEXT AREA IS OF COURSE THE
ACCOUNTS PAYABLE, A PROCESS OF
PAYING OUR AGENCIES IN ANOTHER
CRITICAL AREA TO ENSURE PAYMENT
WAS RECEIVED AND PROCESSED IN A
TIMELY MANNER.
OUR ACCOUNTS PAYABLE ASSESSMENT
IDENTIFIED AN INABILITY TO
TRACK INVOICES RECEIVED BY
AGENCIES TO ENSURE TIMELY
PAYMENTS WERE BEING MADE.
ANOTHER PARTICULARLY
CHALLENGING AREA IS RECEIVING
MONTHLY INVOICES FROM AGENCIES.
HISTORICALLY, AND WHAT WE ARE
WITNESSING THIS YEAR IS UP TO
70% OF ANNUAL INVOICES BEING
SUBMITTED IN THE NOVEMBER,
DECEMBER, JANUARY TIMEFRAME.
THUS WE HAVE TWO ISSUES, WEIGHT
INVOICES BEING RECEIVED BY
AGENCIES WHICH OUR DIVISION
LEADERS ARE WORKING WITH
AGENCIES TO RESOLVE, AND THERE
IS NOT A CENTRAL ENTRY POINT
FOR THE DEPARTMENT TO RECEIVE
INVOICES.
SO, I HAVE FROM A DEPARTMENT
PERSPECTIVE, I DO NOT HAVE AN
ABILITY TO TRACK WHEN THE
INVOICES CAME INTO THE
DEPARTMENT TO ENSURE THE
PAYMENTS ARE ROUTED AND
PROCESSED IN A TIMELY MANNER.
THIS ALSO MAKES FOCUSING
FINANCIAL STATUS DIFFICULT AS
WELL AS MANAGING OUR CASH
BALANCES CHALLENGING AND
CREATES DELAYS IN CLOSING THE
FINANCIAL SYSTEM AT THE END OF
THE YEAR, WHICH IS WHERE WE ARE
AT TODAY.
NEXT SLIDE.
PROCUREMENT OF GOODS AND
SERVICES.
PROCUREMENT IS ANOTHER AREA WE
WILL BE CENTRALIZING PURCHASING
SIMILAR TO OTHER DEPARTMENTS IN
THE CITY.
THIS WILL ENSURE CONSISTENT
APPROACHES ADOPTED AS WELL AS
PROVIDING SAFEGUARDS.
THIS WILL RESULT IN A NEW
BRANCH BEING CREATED AS WELL AS
SHIFTING RESPONSIBILITIES
CURRENTLY BEING PERFORMED IN
THE COUNTY TO THIS NEW BRANCH.
THIS WILL ENSURE WE HAVE A
SEPARATION OF DUTIES BETWEEN
THOSE ENTERING OBLIGATIONS. I
ADDRESS THE DECENTRALIZED AND
PURCHASING APPROACH.
HSD WILL BE ABLE TO CREATE
CONSISTENT PROCUREMENT PROCESS
AND PROVIDE A CLEAR SEPARATION
OF DUTIES BEFORE THE RECORDING
CONTRACT AND PAYMENTS.
NEXT SLIDE, PLEASE?
ACCOUNTING AND PAYROLL.
THIS AREA IS THE BACKBONE AND
WILL ADDRESS THE FINANCIAL
SYSTEM STRUCTURE WHICH IS
CURRENTLY OVERLY COMPLEX AND
DEPENDENT ON MANUAL INJUSTICE.
WE ARE SIMPLIFYING THE
FINANCIAL WORLD SET AND
ELIMINATING 4000 INDIVIDUAL
ACTIVITIES USED TO TRACK COST
AND ENSURING WE HAVE FULLY
UTILIZED THE CAPABILITY OF OUR
FINANCIAL SYSTEM VERSUS RELYING
ON MANUAL ADJUSTMENTS.
THIS WILL RESULT IN THREE
SIGNIFICANT GAINS, FINANCIAL
TRANSACTIONS THAT WILL BE
RECORDED ACCURATELY AND TIMELY,
AND SUBSEQUENT REPORTS WILL BE
GENERATED SHOWING CURRENT
FINANCIAL INFORMATION. THERE
WILL BE A SIGNIFICANT REDUCTION
IN ERRORS AND GREATER FINANCIAL
TRANSFERS. NEXT SLIDE, PLEASE?
>> JUST REAL QUICKLY, THE
REFERENCE TO THE FINDINGS AND
CONCERNS AUDIT, WHICH AUDIT ARE
YOU REFERRING TO?
THERE ARE A NUMBER OF FINANCIAL
REPORTS.
I JUST WANT TO KNOW WHICH ONE
THAT REFERENCE IS CONCERNING.
>> WELL, WE HAVE SEVERAL AUDIT
OBSERVATIONS OVER THE PAST
SEVERAL YEARS THAT I HAVE NOTED
REGARDING ACCOUNTING AND
PAYROLL.
THE HOUSING AND URBAN
DEVELOPMENT HAS NOTED WE HAVE
BEEN DELINQUENT IN PAYMENTS.
THE STATE AUDITORS HAVE ALSO
NOTED THAT WE HAVE BEEN, I
GUESS, RATHER CUMBERSOME AND WE
HAVE A RATHER CUMBERSOME PROCESS
AND THEY ARE ENCOURAGING A MORE
STREAMLINED APPROACH.
THERE ARE ACTUALLY SEVERAL.
I CAN'T POINT TO A SINGLE AUDIT
. THERE HAVE BEEN SEVERAL
OBSERVATIONS OVER THE PAST.
PART OF THIS INITIATIVE, WE
REVIEW THE PAST AUDIT FINDINGS
AND INSURED CORRECTIVE ACTIONS
WERE APPROPRIATE. IN SOME CASES
THEY WEREN'T.
IN OTHER CASES, I THINK THIS
INITIATIVE WILL ACTUALLY
CORRECT THE UNDERLYING CAUSES
THAT ARE ESSENTIALLY FINANCIAL
REPORTING FOR OUR FINANCIAL
STRUCTURES.
>> THANKS.
SEA FOR OUR BUDGET AND
FINANCIAL PLANNING, THIS EFFORT
WILL FOCUS ON CONSOLIDATING OUR
BUDGET SPONSOR ABILITIES AND
PLANNING IN BUDGET UNDER THE
DIRECTION OF THE BUDGET.
HERE AGAIN THIS AREA WAS
DECENTRALIZED ACROSS THE
DEPARTMENT. THIS WILL IMPROVE
OUR STRATEGIC PLANNING AND
ENSURE THE FUNDING THAT IS
ENTRUSTED IN THE DEPARTMENT
WILL FULLY UTILIZE IN THE
COMMUNITY AND AREAS THAT WE
SUPPORT. REMEMBER, WE HAVE TO
ENSURE THAT FUNDING ENTRUSTED
TO HSD IS SPENT IN THE
COMMUNITIES AND THE AREAS WHERE
IT WAS DEDICATED. FOR OUR
ORGANIZATIONAL STRUCTURE, I
WANT TO THANK YOU FOR
AUTHORIZING THE CREATION OF THE
NEW POSITIONS.
THIS WAS A CRITICAL ITEM ON THE
STRUCTURE TO INCREASE CAPACITY.
WE INCREASED THE STAFF BY EIGHT
NEW POSITIONS IN THE 2022.
POSITIONS IN FINANCE WILL
INCREASE FROM 26 TO 34.
POSITIONS WILL BE FOCUSED ON
ACCOUNTING AND WILL LARGELY BE
SENIOR PRINCIPAL ACCOUNTANTS.
THREE WILL BE FROM THE NEW
PROCUREMENT BRANCH AND --
SORRY.
I APOLOGIZE.
WE ARE HIRING ONE ADDITIONAL
POSITION IN BUDGET. CURRENTLY
RIGHT NOW THE POSITION IN
BUDGET HAS BEEN FILLED AND WE
ARE IN THE FINAL PHASE OF
HIRING AND ONBOARDING THE FOUR
ACCOUNTING POSITIONS. THESE
POSITIONS ALONG WITH THE
IMPROVEMENTS BEING MADE IN OUR
FINANCIAL STRUCTURES AND
PROCESSES WILL PROVIDE THE MUCH-
NEEDED CAPACITY TO ENSURE
JUDICIARY RESPONSIBILITIES TO
CITIES ARE BEING MET.
>> JUST A FINER POINT HERE, I
UNDERSTAND YOU ARE IN THE
PROCESS OF HIRING THESE
POSITIONS.
I KNOW THAT WE HAVE LABOR
SHORTAGE ISSUES IN THE CITY,
ACROSS PRIVATE SECTOR AND
PUBLIC SECTOR, AND ALL
DIFFERENT TYPES OF JOBS. I AM
JUST WONDERING WHAT YOU ARE
FINDING HERE IN YOUR EFFORTS TO
FILL THESE POSITIONS.
>> FORTUNATELY THE CANDIDATES
WE HAVE BEEN PUTTING IN ARE
VERY EXPERIENCED AND SEASONED.
WE ARE NOT HAVING TIME, YOU
KNOW, A CHALLENGE FILLING ANY
ACCOUNTING ROLES AND I
ATTRIBUTE THAT TO THE PAY AND
BENEFITS THAT THE CITY OFFERS.
ON THE BUDGET CANDIDATE POOL,
IT IS NOT AS DEEP.
WE DID FIND A STRONG CANDIDATE
WITH PRIOR CITY EXPERIENCE.
RIGHT NOW I AM SEEING NO
CHALLENGES FOR RECRUITING
QUALIFIED CANDIDATES.
>> GOOD TO HEAR.
>> I WOULD LIKE TO CONCUR ON
THAT. I HAVE SEVERAL VACANCIES
AS WELL BUT THE QUALITY OF
FOLKS APPLYING IS REALLY HIGH.
THE OVERALL LABOR MARKET IS
TOUGH. PUBLIC SECTOR ACCOUNTING
AND FINANCIAL AFFAIRS, WE ARE
DOING OKAY, SO I AM VERY
PLEASED WITH THAT.
>> OKAY.
THE PRIVATE STATUS CURRENT
PROJECT.
EACH WEEK A PROGRESS ASSESSMENT
OCCURS WITH OUR CONSULTANT TEAM
AND ALONG WITH THE DEPARTMENT
IN EACH OF THE AREAS WE
PREVIOUSLY DISCUSSED.
MILESTONES ARE SHOWN ON THE
SLIDE.
THE NUMBER OF UNDERLYING TASKS
NOT COMPLETED.
WE HAVE AN EXCESS OF 250 TASKS
BEING TRACKED FOR THIS
INITIATIVE.
OVERALL WORK IS PROGRESSING
FAIRLY WELL THROUGH MOST AREAS.
RIGHT NOW OUR TOP THREE
PRIORITIES ARE CLOSING THE
FISCAL YEAR, HIRING, AND
ENSURING THE FISCAL YEAR 2022
FINANCIAL STRUCTURE IS
COMPLETE.
FOR THE SPECIFIC AREAS, THE
ACCOUNTS RECEIVABLE AREA WE ARE
FOCUSING ON HIRING POSITIONS,
WHICH IS LAGGING SLIGHTLY
BECAUSE OF THE HOLIDAYS AND
SINCE WE ARE HIRING ACCOUNTANTS
, THEY ARE CLOSING THEIR FISCAL
YEARS AT THEIR PREVIOUS AND
CURRENT. WE WILL HAVE TO MAKE A
TWO WEEK JUMP IN JANUARY TO
START REPORTING. THIS IS
PLACING THE EFFORT A LITTLE
BEHIND SCHEDULE.
ALSO THE INVESTIGATION AND
REVIEW OF RECORDS IS TAKING A
LITTLE MORE TIME THAN
ANTICIPATED.
ONE OF THE IMPORTANT INITIATIVES
OF FOCUS AREAS IS ENSURING THAT
OUR EXISTING RECORDS ARE VALID
AND ACCURATE.
WE FOUND A HANDFUL OF RECORDS
THAT WE ARE INVESTIGATING THAT
MOST LIKELY WILL NEED TO BE
RESOLVED OR WRITTEN OFF.
THAT TOOK A LITTLE BIT OF TIME
BECAUSE THESE ARE RECORDS THAT
DATE BACK TO THE 2020
TIMEFRAME.
ACCOUNTS PAYABLE IS LARGELY ON
TASK. LARGELY ON TRACK.
WE ARE TAKING A VERY DETAILED
APPROACH TO MAKE SURE OUR LIFE
PROCESSES WORK AND ARE SHARED
THROUGHOUT THE DIVISIONS.
A STANDUP FROM THE PROCUREMENT
BRANCH WILL NOT OCCUR UNTIL
LATE JANUARY WHICH IMPACTS THE
SEGREGATION OF DUTIES
MILESTONES.
>>> MOVING ON TO PAYROLL AND
GENERAL ACCOUNTING, THIS IS THE
BACKBONE AND STRUCTURE THAT WE
DISCUSSED.
THE YEAR END CLOSE PROCESS IS
NOT ON TRACK AND IS THE FOCUS
HERE.
ONE OF THE CHALLENGES WE ARE
FACING IS THE NUMBER OF
INVOICES WE ARE CURRENTLY
RECEIVING MUST BE RECORDED AND
RECORDED TO CLOSE THE FISCAL
YEAR APPROPRIATELY.
PROCUREMENT IS NOT ON THE
CRITICAL PATH HERE IT IS NOT ON
THE TO DO LIST IMMEDIATELY BUT
IS AT RISK DEPENDING ON THE
RECRUITING AND HIRING PROCESS.
I AM NOT ANTICIPATING ANY
PROBLEMS WITH THE CANDIDATES.
WE DELAY THE ACCOUNT OR HIRING.
BUDGET AND PLANNING IS
IMPORTANT BUT ONCE AGAIN IS NOT
ON THE PATH AND FOCUSED ON IN
JANUARY OR WE START MAKING
PREPARATIONS FOR THE 2023
BUDGET SUBMISSION.
>> AT RISK MEANS AT RISK OF
DELAY, CORRECT?
NOT AT RISK OF NOT BEING DONE
AT ALL?
>> YES, ABSOLUTELY.
IT IS BASICALLY AN ALGEBRA
ACCOUNT OF THE UNDERLYING TASKS
BEING COMPLETED.
TASKS AREN'T WEIGHTED IN THIS
SCHEDULE AS CRITICALITY. IT IS
PRETTY MUCH JUST ALGEBRA IF WE
ARE MISSING, YOU KNOW, 21 TASKS
, IT WILL BE CONSIDERED RED.
>> AND ON THE AT RISK CATEGORY
ALSO, JUST -- WHEN SOMETHING IS
AT RISK, IT IS NOT DELAYED, IT
IS JUST AT RISK OF BEING DELAYED
.
>> CORRECT.
>> AT WHAT POINT DO YOU
DETERMINE WE ARE MOVING US OUT
OF THE AT RISK CATEGORY AND
INTO THE DELAYED CATEGORY?
ONCE THE TIME YOU HAVE
SCHEDULED FOR THAT TASK HAS
COME AND GONE?
>> YES, THAT IS GENERALLY HOW
IT'S DONE.
THE ORIGINAL PRIVATE SCHEDULE
DATE WE ARE HOLDING FIRM TO,
WHICH WAS VERY AGGRESSIVE.
AS THE UNDERLYING TASKS DO
THAT, THEY WILL BE SHOWN AS
DELAYED AND GIVEN THE NUMBER OF
TASKS THAT ARE EVALUATED AT RISK
, THAT IS WHAT TRIPS IT TO READ
. WE ALSO PUT A LITTLE BIT
MORE, YOU KNOW, PROCUREMENTS AT
RISK, BUT IT IS NOT WHAT I
WOULD CONSIDER RED AND WOULD
NOT BE CONSIDERED RED UNTIL
SOMETIME IN JANUARY.
SINCE WE DID IN HIGHER
ACCORDING TO OUR ORIGINAL PLAN,
THIS WAS ONE OF THE AREAS
PUSHED INTO THE JANUARY
TIMEFRAME.
>> SO IT IS MORE ABOUT
SCHEDULING AND WE ARE HOLDING
OURSELVES ACCOUNTABLE FOR US TO
KEEP MOVING THINGS FORWARD?
THERE ARE A LOT OF DEPENDENCIES
. AS JOE WAS SAYING, WE ARE
STRATEGICALLY PRIORITIZING SOME
AREAS OVER OTHERS. EVEN IF
THERE ARE SOME THINGS THAT ARE
AT RISK OF BEING DELAYED, THAT
MAY BE A STRATEGIC CHOICE
BECAUSE WE REALLY NEED TO FOCUS
ON OTHER AREAS THAT MUST BE
ADDRESSED TO MAKE SURE, YOU
KNOW, WE HAVE OUR GRANT FUNDING
BACK IN AND SO FORTH.
THIS IS ABOUT SCHEDULING AND
MAKING STRATEGIC DECISIONS AS
WE MOVE FORWARD.
I WANTED TO BE TRANSPARENT
ABOUT WHERE WE ARE AT.
>> I'M SORRY. YOU MIGHT HAVE
SAID THIS AND I JUST MISSED IT,
BUT FOR THE ITEM THAT IS
DELAYED, I AM ASSUMING THE
TARGET WAS YEAR END FOR THAT
ITEM?
BASED ON THE DESCRIPTION OF IT.
IMPLEMENT GENERAL ACCOUNTING
CONTROLS AND AT YEAR END'S CLOSE
. I AM ASSUMING THE TARGET WAS
YEAR END?
>> THAT IS CORRECT AND THAT WAS
OUR TOP PRIORITY AREA.
>> I AM ASSUMING THAT ONCE
SOMETHING IS DELAYED, YOU
CREATE A NEW TARGET DATE?
TO COMPLETE IT?
>> NO, WE HOLD THE ORIGINAL
TARGET DATE.
>> OKAY.
>> OH, WHAT YOU ARE SAYING --
I'M SORRY.
I MISUNDERSTOOD THE QUESTION.
>> IF SOMETHING IS ALREADY
MISSED ITS TARGET DATE AND IT
IS DELAYED, DO YOU SET A NEW
TARGET DATE?
>> IF I COULD INTERJECT, WHEN
AND IF WE MISS A DATE, WE
EVALUATE THAT WORKFLOW RELATIVE
TO THE STATUS OF EVERYTHING
ELSE.
I AM MOST CONCERNED ABOUT YEAR
END BECAUSE IN THE END, I CAN'T
SELL CITY BONDS UNTIL IT'S
COMPLETE AND ACCURATE AND WE
HAVE PASSED OUR AUDIT.
IF WE FIND WE ARE HAVING
TROUBLE, WE HAVE TO REORGANIZE
AND ADD MORE RESOURCES PROBABLY
FROM MY STAFF BUT CERTAINLY WE
ORGANIZE OUR PRIORITIES TO MAKE
SURE THE TOP THINGS GET DONE.
I THINK WHAT WE WANT TO PORTRAY
IS FREQUENTLY CERTAINLY KNOW,
YOU KNOW, LESS THAN EVERY
COUPLE OF WEEKS, WE EVALUATE
AND HOW ARE WE HITTING THE
TARGETS AND HOW DO WE NEED TO
ADJUST IN TERMS OF ALLOCATING
RESOURCES OR EFFORTS.
I THINK JOE'S INITIAL POINT
ABOUT THE TOP THREE ITEMS WE
ARE WORRIED ABOUT ARE OUR
PRIORITIES.
AS WE RUN INTO COMPLEXITIES ON
A PARTICULAR ISSUE, WE WILL
FIGURE OUT HOW DIFFICULT IT IS
TO RESOLVE THAT AND HOW MUCH OF
A DELAY IS A PROBLEM,
ESPECIALLY IN THE TOP PRIORITY
AREAS, AND REALLOCATE RESOURCES
AS WE NEED TO TO GET BACK ON
TRACK ON THE TOP PRIORITY ITEMS.
THIS IS COMPLICATED AND FLUID.
WE ARE ACTIVELY ENGAGED AS A
THREE AGENCY GROUP TO REARRANGE
OUR PRIORITIES AND STAFF
COMMITMENTS DEPENDING ON WHERE
WE ARE WITH EACH OF THESE
PROJECTS.
EACH INDIVIDUAL ITEM HERE.
>> SO, AGAIN, THE ITEM I AM
ASKING ABOUT IS THE ITEM THAT
IS MARKED RED, MARKED DELAYED.
IMPLEMENT GENERAL ACCOUNTING
CONTROLS AND EXECUTING YEAR
END
HAS COME AND GONE.
WHAT IS THE NEW TARGET DATE FOR
THAT PARTICULAR ITEM?
IN THIS CONCEPT OF, YOU KNOW,
HOLDING OURSELVES ACCOUNTABLE,
IF SOMETHING IS ALREADY BEEN
IDENTIFIED AS DELAYED, I AM
ASSUMING YOU ARE CREATING A NEW
TIMELINE FOR THAT ITEM.
>> WELL IN THIS CASE WE HAVE A
FIXED END DATE THAT THE BOOKS
HAVE TO BE CLOSED.
IN THIS PARTICULAR MILESTONE,
THERE IS A LISTING -- I DON'T
HAVE THE EXACT NUMBER, BUT THE
ACHIEVEMENTS WE WANTED TO START.
ONE IMPORTANT AREA THAT WE
WANTED TO ACHIEVE WHERE THE
MONTHLY CLOSES.
WE SHOULD BE CLOSING OUR BOOKS
MONTHLY.
WE WANTED THAT DONE IN OCTOBER,
NOVEMBER, AND DECEMBER.
THAT WAY IT MAKES YOUR END VERY
SIMPLE BECAUSE YOU ARE ONLY
DEALING WITH ONE MONTH OF
TRANSACTIONAL INFORMATION.
HOWEVER WE HAVE NOT SUCCESSFULLY
DELAYED OR IMPLEMENTED THOSE
MONTHLY CLOSES FOR SUCH AS
INVOICE BEING RECEIVED IN A
TIMELY MANNER AND A FEW OTHER
FACTORS. THAT IS WHAT IS
PROMPTING THIS AS A READ OR
DELAYED AREA.
THE END DATE OF GETTING
EVERYTHING CLOSED BY MID-
JANUARY IS REALLY NOT OPTIONAL.
IN THIS PARTICULAR AREA.
>> OKAY, THANK YOU.
THAT HELPS A LOT.
THANK YOU.
>> THANKS, JOE. IT IS
COMPLICATED AND AGAIN, I NEED
TO THANK CHAIR HERBOLD FOR
ALLOWING US TO COME TO SPEAK TO
THIS.
WE ARE ALL HANDS ON DECK.
EVEN MYSELF.
THIS IS IMPORTANT TO HSD, OF
COURSE.
IF THERE IS TIME, I AM HAPPY TO
TAKE ADDITIONAL QUESTIONS .
>> LOOKING FOR RAISED HANDS
FROM MY COLLEAGUES HERE.
COUNCILMEMBER PEDERSEN?
>> THANK YOU, CHAIR HERBOLD.
THANKS TO EVERYBODY FROM THE
DEPARTMENT AT HSD , CBO, FAS. I
REALLY APPRECIATE GLEN
MENTIONING THE IMPORTANCE OF
THOSE YEAR END -- THAT YOUR END
INFORMATION.
THAT IS GOING TO BE A PRIORITY.
WITHIN THAT LIST OF PROJECTS,
MAYBE THAT FALLS OUTSIDE THE
LIST OF PROJECTS, BUT WITH AN
INCREASE IN VARIOUS KINDS OF
CYBER ATTACKS AND PHISHING SCAMS
WHERE PEOPLE IMPERSONATE VENDORS
, IT IS NOT SO MUCH THE
TECHNOLOGY TO BLOCK THE
PHISHING SCAM. IT IS WHAT THE
PERSONNEL ARE DOING WHEN THEY
ARE SEEING THESE EMAILS AND
WHAT SORT OF PROTOCOLS THEY
HAVE IN PLACE TO DOUBLE CHECK
WHEN BANK ACCOUNTS ARE BEING
CHANGED OR BANKS ARE BEING
CHANGED, THE PROTOCOL OF
PICKING UP THE PHONE AND
CALLING SOMEBODY WHO IS ALREADY
ON A PREAPPROVED LIST OF
VENDORS OR BANKS.
TELL US A LITTLE BIT ABOUT THAT
TRAINING HAPPENING ON AN
INDIVIDUAL BASIS AND HOW
FREQUENTLY AND HOW WE MAKE SURE
THAT EACH PERSON KNOWS THOSE
PROTOCOLS.
>> THANK YOU FOR THAT.
I JUST WANT TO ALSO HIGHLIGHT
THAT IT IS NOT THE CORRECTIVE
ACTION THAT IS ONLY CENTERED ON
TRAINING HSD STAFF . IT IS THE
ESTABLISHMENT OF NEW PROTOCOLS
IN LIGHT OF THE VERY, VERY
UNFORTUNATE FINANCIAL LOSS TO
HSD THAT I UNDERSTAND IS
LARGELY BEING MADE WHOLE, BUT
NEVERTHELESS, THOSE ARE
TAXPAYER DOLLARS.
THANK YOU.
>> THAT'S RIGHT. I THINK JOE
CAN SPEAK TO HSD AND LEN CAN
SPEAK TO ADDITIONAL SAFEGUARDS.
THANKS.
>> YES, THAT WAS A MOST
UNFORTUNATE THING.
WE WERE A VICTIM OF A FEDERAL
CRIME AND SINCE THAT TIME
FRAME, NOT ONLY DID WE
SUBSEQUENT TO THE INITIAL OR
DISCOVER OTHER ATTEMPTS THAT
WERE BASICALLY NOT ACTED UPON.
ONCE MARY'S PLACE CAME TO OUR
ATTENTION, WE WORKED WITH GLEN
'S TEAM AND WE HAVE ADOPTED A
CITYWIDE APPROACH ON HOW WE
PROCESS OR ACCEPT PAYMENTS,
WHICH PROVIDES A MUCH GREATER
CONTROL AND OVERSIGHT AND
BECOMES INDEPENDENT OF THE
DEPARTMENT AND WITH THAT, I CAN
LET GLEN SPEAK A LITTLE MORE TO
THE CONTROLS IN PLACE BY HIS
STAFF FOR THE CITY.
>> TO YOUR POINT, COUNCILMEMBER
HERBOLD, WE DID ADJUST BEFORE
TRAININGS AND EDUCATION
PROCESSES FOR FRONTLINE
DEPARTMENT STAFF THAT WHEN THEY
RECEIVED EMAILS FOR THIS KIND
OF CHANGE FROM A VENDOR OR A
PROVIDER TO FOLLOW A PARTICULAR
PROCEDURE, WE HAVE DECIDED
BECAUSE OF THE RISK AND THE
AMOUNT OF THESE KINDS THAT HAVE
OCCURRED, IT WAS FAR BETTER FOR
US TO INTERNALIZE THE ANALYSIS
TO MY TREASURY STAFF.
MOVING FORWARD, ANY VENDOR OR
PROVIDER TO THE CITY THAT SENDS
ANY KIND OF COMMUNICATION OF
THE CITY SAYING PLEASE CHANGE
OUR BANK COMES TO A HIGHLY
TRAINED STAFF OF ABOUT THREE OF
US HERE TO EVALUATE AT ARMS
LENGTH.
WE HAVE TWO PEOPLE LOOK AT THE
REQUEST, VALIDATE IT, AND AT
LEAST THIS VERSION OF THIS
PARTICULAR PROBLEM WE THINK WE
CAN HANDLE.
CYBER FRAUD IS EVER GROWING AND
EVER CHANGING AND I WANT TO
EMPHASIZE NO SYSTEM OF THE CITY
WAS EVER TOUCHED BY WHAT
HAPPENED WITH MARY'S PLACE.
THIS WAS A BREACH OF THEIR
SYSTEM, NOT OURS.
WE HAVE PUT VERY STRICT
MEASURES IN PLACE TO TRY TO
PICK UP THIS KIND OF POTENTIAL
FRAUD IN THE FUTURE AND FOR
VENDORS.
>> THANK YOU.
ANY OTHER QUESTIONS?
BEFORE I CLOSE OUT, I WANT TO
RECOGNIZE THE LONG LEADERSHIP
AND PUBLIC SERVICE OF CBO
DIRECTOR BEN NOBLE . REALLY, IT
HAS BEEN SUCH AN HONOR AND
PRIVILEGE TO WORK WITH YOU,
DIRECTOR NOBLE.
I'VE KNOWN DR. NOBLE FOR SO
MANY YEARS AND CAPACITIES AND
YOUR COMMITMENT TO SERVING THE
PUBLIC IS UNPARALLEL AND I HAVE
REALLY ENJOYED WORKING WITH YOU.
I BELIEVE THAT YOU HAVE ALWAYS
HELD THE BEST INTEREST OF THOSE
IN THE PUBLIC THAT WE ARE
ENTRUSTED TO SERVE, THOSE WITH
THE GREATEST NEEDS, AND I
SINCERELY WISH YOU THE BEST OF
LUCK IN YOUR NEW CHALLENGES.
>> THANK YOU SO MUCH,
COUNCILMEMBER HERBOLD.
IT OFTEN OCCURS TO ME THAT YOU
AND I SHARE SOMEWHAT OF A
SIMILAR TENURE IN THE CITY.
YOU ARE AMONG THE MOST
EXPERIENCED COLLEAGUES, IF I
CAN USE THAT TERM.
I WANT YOU TO KNOW THAT MY GOAL
IS TO CONTINUE IN SERVICE TO
THE CITY, SO I AM HOPING TO BE
BACK IN SOME OTHER ROLE.
THE BUDGET DIRECTOR ROLE IS
PARTICULARLY CHALLENGING FOR
REALLY PERSONAL REASONS AND I
AM LOOKING FOR NEW CHALLENGES
AND OPPORTUNITIES.
EVEN JUST IF I COULD, I WANTED
TO EXPRESS MY APPRECIATION FOR
THE COUNCIL 'S SUPPORT IN A
POSITION OF AUTHORITY. IT IS
NOT THE MOST EXCITING POLICY
WORK, BUT IT IS A BACK BEHIND
THE SCENES KIND OF WORK THAT
NEEDS TO BE DONE TO IMPLEMENT
HUMAN SERVICES THAT I KNOW ARE
A PRIORITY TO ALL OF US. AGAIN,
IT IS THE DIRTY LAUNDRY OF THE
CITY, IF YOU WILL.
CREDIT TO HSD AND TO GLEN FOR
STEPPING UP TO THIS.
AND TO THE COUNCIL, YOU ARE
MUCH APPRECIATED.
THANK YOU.
>> COUNCILMEMBER LEWIS?
>> I WANTED TO TAKE A MOMENT TO
EXPRESS MY GRATITUDE TO DR.
NOBLE FOR SERVING IN AN
INCREDIBLY DIFFICULT PERIOD IN
OUR CITY'S HISTORY AND GOING
THROUGH AN UNPRECEDENTED SERIES
OF BUDGET RELATED TO THE UPS
AND DOWNS OF THE COVID CRISIS
AND ACCESSIBILITY TO MY OFFICE
AND ME PERSONALLY THROUGHOUT
THAT PERIOD IN NAVIGATING THAT.
I JUST WANT TO SAY, DR. NOBLE,
IF YOU ARE CONTINUING TO LOOK
FOR THINGS IN CITY SERVICE, I
WILL SEND UNSOLICITED VACANCIES
ON COUNCIL CENTRAL STAFF AS
THEY ARISE FOR YOUR
CONSIDERATION.
HAVING YOU BACK ON THE SECOND
FLOOR WOULD BE DELIGHTFUL IF
THE OPPORTUNITY SHOULD ARISE.
THE LEGISLATIVE BRANCH WOULD BE
LUCKY TO HAVE YOU AGAIN.
BEST TO WHATEVER ENDEAVOR THAT
IS THAT IS IN YOUR FUTURE AND I
HAVE REALLY APPRECIATED WORKING
WITH YOU IN THIS ROLE AND
WHATEVER ROLE TO COME.
SO THANK YOU.
>> THANK YOU.
>> KIND OF HARD TO BITE YOUR
TONGUE THERE, HUH?
[ LAUGHTER ]
>> I WANT TO SAY THANKS TO DR.
NOBLE FOR YOUR SERVICE TO THE
PEOPLE IN THIS CITY AND
OBVIOUSLY IT EXPANDS FOR QUITE
SOME TIME AT THE CITY.
I HAD AN OPPORTUNITY TO WORK
WITH YOU IN 2014 DURING A
DIFFERENT MAYORAL
ADMINISTRATION AND I HAVE
APPRECIATED YOUR HONESTY AND
INTEGRITY AND HOW YOU EXECUTE
YOUR FUNCTIONS IN A HIGHLY
POLARIZED ENVIRONMENT.
I THINK YOU ARE ONE OF THE FEW
PEOPLE WHO ENDEAVOR TO KEEP
FIDELITY TO THE INSTITUTION AND
I HAVE REALLY APPRECIATED THE
OPPORTUNITY TO WORK WITH YOU IN
YOUR ROLE AS THE CITY BUDGET
OFFICE DIRECTOR AND I LOOK
FORWARD TO YOUR NEXT ADVENTURES.
>> THANK YOU.
THIS IS ALL VERY PLEASURING.
YOU SHOULD KNOW THAT THIS
REALLY BRINGS ME JOY. IT IS
BEEN A LABOR OF LOVE.
IT HAS BEEN A TIRING LABOR OF
LOVE, BUT PRESIDENT GONZALEZ,
FIDELITY AND MY GOAL HAVING
WORKED FOR THE COUNCIL AND THE
MAYOR HAS ALWAYS BEEN TO WORK
FOR THE CITY AND IT HAS BEEN A
REAL PLEASURE AND AN HONOR AND
A PRIVILEGE. I THANK YOU FOR
THAT AND I THANK YOU FOR THE
OPPORTUNITY.
>> ALL RIGHT.
WELL, THANKS AGAIN. WE WILL
CLOSE OUT THIS ITEM IF THERE
ARE NO ADDITIONAL COMMENTS HERE
INC.
THESE FOR JOINING US.
WILL THE CLERK PLEASE RED ITEM
NUMBER TWO?
>> COUNCIL BILL 120247 AN
ORDINANCE RELATING TO THE
ORGANIZATION OF CITY
GOVERNMENT; ADDING DATA
REPORTING RESPONSIBILITIES TO
THE CITY ATTORNEY'S OFFICE; AND
ADDING A NEW CHAPTER 3.46 TO
THE SEATTLE MUNICIPAL CODE.
>> THANK YOU SO MUCH.
WE WILL GET TO INTRODUCTIONS IN
JUST A SECOND. SINCE THIS BILL
IS SPONSORED BY COUNCILMEMBER
LEWIS AND COUNCIL PRESIDENT
GONZALEZ, I WOULD LIKE TO
INVITE YOU TO MAKE INTRODUCTORY
COMMENTS ABOUT THE LEGISLATION
BEFORE WE TURN IT OVER TO
COUNCIL CENTRAL STAFF.
>> THANK YOU SO MUCH, MADAM
CHAIR . DO YOU NEED THE
PROCEDURE OR DO YOU WANT ME TO
GIVE AN OVERVIEW?
>> WE WILL GIVE A PRESENTATION.
>> EXCELLENT.
THANK YOU.
I WILL MAKE A COUPLE OF
INTRODUCTORY REMARKS AND TURN
IT OVER TO ASHA FOR THE
DETAILS ON HER PRESENTATION.
EVERYONE AT THE CITY COUNCIL
REALIZED, AND WE HEAR THIS
DAILY FROM OUR CONSTITUENTS,
THE CITY IS FACING A CRISIS OF
PUBLIC SAFETY.
THAT IS ONE OF THE CORE
RESPONSIBILITIES AND CHARTER
OBLIGATIONS OF THE CITY TO
RESPOND TO AND THE SEATTLE CITY
ATTORNEY'S OFFICE PLAYS A KEY
ROLE THAT HAS BEEN EXTENSIVELY
SCRUTINIZED OVER THE COURSE OF
THE LAST SEVERAL YEARS AND
RIGHTFULLY SO IN TERMS OF THE
ROLE THAT OFFICE PLAYS IS A
CRITICAL PART OF OUR PUBLIC
SAFETY INFRASTRUCTURE. THIS
COUNCIL HAS BEEN INCREDIBLY
SUPPORTIVE TO THE WORK AND THE
CITY ATTORNEY'S OFFICE TO MAKE
SURE THEY HAVE THE TOOLS TO
PROTECT THE PEOPLE OF THE CITY
OF SEATTLE FROM ONGOING
CRIMINAL ACTIVITY THROUGH A
VARIETY OF DIFFERENT METHODS
INCLUDING THE CONVENTIONAL
PROSECUTION AND LITIGATION IN
THE SEATTLE CITY COURT AS WELL
AS PROGRAMS AND ALTERNATIVES TO
THE TRADITIONAL CRIMINAL LEGAL
SYSTEM.
THIS YEAR IN THE BUDGET THAT WE
JUST DEBATED OVER THE COURSE OF
THE FALL COUNCIL PUT FORWARD
THE LARGEST INCREASE OR THE
LARGEST BUDGET THE CITY
ATTORNEY'S OFFICE HAS EVER SEEN
TO GIVE OUR FULL FAITH AND
CONFIDENCE TO THE INCOMING CITY
ATTORNEY IN THE TRANSITION TO
MAKE SURE THEY HAVE THE TOOLS
ADEQUATE TO RESPOND TO THE
CRISIS AT HAND.
THAT BUDGET HAS INCREASED TO
$38 MILLION FROM THE PREVIOUS
CYCLE.
WITH THAT INVESTMENT COMES IN
OBLIGATION FROM THE COUNCIL TO
EXERCISE TRANSPARENCY AND
OVERSIGHT OF HOW THAT
UNPRECEDENTED INCREASE THAT IS
WARRANTED IN SPENDING IN THE
CITY ATTORNEY'S OFFICE IS
AFFECTED AND DELIVERING ON A
VARIETY OF METRICS.
THIS BILL IS SOMETHING I HAVE
BEEN WORKING ON WITH COUNCIL
CENTRAL STAFF OFF AND ON SINCE
AUGUST WHEN IT BECAME CLEAR
THERE WOULD BE A TRANSITION.
IT IS NOT AIMED IN ANY WAY
TOWARD ANY INDIVIDUAL.
WE ARE EXPERIENCING LEADERSHIP
TRANSITION AT A TIME OF EXTREME
PUBLIC SAFETY CHALLENGE AS WELL
AS INCREASED INVESTMENT IN THE
OFFICE.
THIS BILL GETS AT THE CORE
COMMITMENT WE HAVE AS CITY
INSTITUTIONS TO MAKE SURE THERE
IS EFFECTIVE TRANSPARENCY AND
WITH THAT GREAT RESOURCE COMES
THAT TRANSPARENCY AND HOW THOSE
PROGRAMS ARE BEING IMPLEMENTED
FOR BOTH THE BENEFIT OF OUR
OVERSIGHT AS WELL AS THE
PUBLIC.
IT MIRRORS SIMILAR DATA SHARING
PRACTICES THAT KING COUNTY HAS
EXERCISED FOR A LONG TIME.
THE PROCESSING ATTORNEY HAS A
DASHBOARD SIMILAR DATA TO THE
PUBLIC.
THIS IS A GREAT AREA OF
POTENTIAL COLLABORATION GOING
FORWARD BETWEEN THE COUNCIL AND
THE INCOMING CITY ATTORNEY TO
MAKE SURE WE ARE EFFECTIVELY
DEPLOYING OUR RESOURCES TO THE
GREATEST EFFECT TO RESPOND TO
THE SAFETY CRISIS.
WITH THAT, CHAIR, I DON'T HAVE
ADDITIONAL COMMENTS.
I WOULD LIKE TO CONCEDE TO
COUNCIL PRESIDENT GONZALEZ AND
I'M LOOKING FORWARD TO HEARING
THE PRESENTATION FROM ASHA.
>> THANK YOU . IT IS A GREAT
OPPORTUNITY TO BE ABLE TO
ADVANCE THIS COUNCIL BILL . AS
A REMINDER DURING THE PROCESS,
COUNCILMEMBER LEWIS MENTIONED
WE DID INCREASE THE AMOUNT OF
DOLLARS AVAILABLE -- OVERALL
DOLLARS AVAILABLE TO THE CITY
ATTORNEY'S OFFICE.
WE INCLUDED LANGUAGE THAT
ARTICULATED DURING THE BUDGET
PROCESS. AGAIN, I BELIEVE THIS
WAS EARLY NOVEMBER OR OCTOBER.
OUR INTEND TO ENGAGE IN THE
LEGISLATIVE PROCESS WOULD
INCLUDE THE STAKEHOLDERS OF THE
CITY ATTORNEY'S OFFICE TO
EVALUATE ADDITIONAL DUTIES OF
THE CITY ATTORNEY'S OFFICE THAT
WOULD ALLOW AN OPPORTUNITY FOR
THERE TO BE INCREASED
TRANSPARENCY IN TERMS OF PUBLIC
REPORTING ON DATA RELATED TO AN
IMPORTANT PROGRAM TO THE CITY
OF SEATTLE AS A WHOLE AND A
PROGRAM THAT IS FUNDED THROUGH
THE 2022 BUDGET. I REALLY DO
THINK IT IS IMPORTANT FOR THE
COUNCIL TO PASS POLICY THAT
WILL ALLOW FOR THAT REPORTING
TO TAKE PLACE AS EARLY ON IS
POSSIBLE IN JANUARY.
AS A REMINDER, MANY DOLLARS
RELATED TO THESE PROGRAMS ARE
PROGRESSIVE AND ARE WAITING FOR
THIS ORDINANCE TO PASS THAT
WOULD CREATE THAT PATH OF DATA
REPORTING THAT WOULD ALLOW FOR
THAT INCREASED TRANSPARENCY AND
ENSURE THAT OUR DOLLARS ARE
BEING USED ON DIVERSION
PROGRAMS IN A MANNER THAT IS
MOST EFFECTIVE TO THE PUBLIC
SAFETY ISSUES FACING OUR CITY.
I AM EXCITED TO HEAR FROM ASHA
ON THE PRESENTATION AND I AM
LOOKING FORWARD TO THIS
MORNING'S CONVERSATION.
>> BEFORE WE HANDED OVER TO
ASHA AS PART OF INTRODUCTIONS,
I JUST WANT TO CONFIRM ALEX,
WERE YOU ABLE TO SEND THE CITY
ATTORNEY A LACK ELECT THE LINK?
>> CAN YOU JUST MAKE SURE SHE'S
NOT IN THE WAITING ROOM?
>> SHE IS NOT.
>> I APPRECIATE THAT.
OKAY, I WILL HAND IT OVER TO
YOU, ASHA.
>> GOOD MORNING,
COUNCILMEMBERS.
I AM ASHA VENKATARAMAN FROM
COUNCIL CENTRAL STAFF . PLEASE
JUST GIVE ME ONE MOMENT.
OKAY. SO AS COUNCILMEMBERS
MENTIONED, WE ARE DISGUSTING
COUNCIL BILL 120247 , WHICH
DESCRIBES THE DUTIES OF THE
CITY ATTORNEY'S OFFICE.
CURRENTLY THERE AREN'T ANY
SECTIONS IN THE SEATTLE
MUNICIPAL CODE ABOUT THE
ATTORNEY'S OFFICE EXCEPT FOR
THE CHARTER PROVISIONS IN
ARTICLE 13 A SECTION 3 OF THE
CHARTER, WHICH TALKS ABOUT THE
RESPONSIBILITY OF THE CITY
ATTORNEY TO HAVE FULL
SUPERVISORY CONTROL OVER
LITIGATION IN THE CITY AND ANY
OTHER DUTIES AS PRESCRIBED BY
ORDINANCE.
THIS ORDINANCE HAS A NEW
SECTION TO THE CODE AND ADDS IN
DATA REPORTING RESPONSIBILITIES
GOVERNING THE CRIMINAL DIVISION
AND PRE-BOOKING DIVERSION
PROGRAMS.
THE LEGISLATION ADDS IN THE
REQUIREMENT FOR THE CITY
ATTORNEY'S OFFICE TO PROVIDE
QUARTERLY REPORT PRIMARILY IN
THE CRIMINAL DIVISION, SO
LOOKING AT THE PERCENTAGE OF
NUMBER OF CASES THAT END UP
BEING CHARGED VERSUS THOSE THAT
END UP BEING DIVERTED, LOOKING
AT WHICH CASES ARE GOING TO
TRIAL AND FOR WHICH OFFENSES
AND WHICH OF THOSE CASES RESULT
IN CONVICTION, LOOKING AT
DISPOSITIONS ON ALL CHARGE
CASES AND GETTING THE COUNCIL
INFORMATION ABOUT RACE,
ETHNICITY, AND GENDER FOR THOSE
INDIVIDUALS INVOLVED IN THE
POLICE REPORT.
ONE SAYING BECAUSE THE CITY
ATTORNEY'S OFFICE IS GOING
THROUGH A TECHNOLOGICAL CHANGE
TO THEIR CASE MANAGEMENT SYSTEM
WHICH WILL HOPEFULLY BE
COMPLETED BY THE END OF NEXT
YEAR, THE COUNCIL SHOULD BE
ABLE TO RECEIVE MORE DETAILED
REPORTS ONCE THAT TECHNOLOGICAL
CHANGE TAKES PLACE.
IT ALSO INCLUDES REPORTING
REQUIREMENTS.
RIGHT NOW THE CITY ATTORNEY'S
OFFICE DOES GIVE THE COUNCIL
ANNUAL REPORTS ABOUT ITS
MAINSTREAM DIVERSION PROGRAMS
UP UNTIL THIS POINT, THAT
PROGRAM HAS SERVED INDIVIDUALS
BETWEEN 18 AND 24 AND ALL OF
THE INFORMATION YOU SEE LISTED
IN THE ORDINANCE AND ON THE
SLIDE IS INFORMATION THAT THE
CITY ATTORNEY'S OFFICE
CURRENTLY PROVIDES IN THEIR
ANNUAL REPORT.
THE LEGISLATION ADDS THIS IN AS
A REQUIREMENT RATHER THAN AN
ELECTED REPORT THAT THE CITY
ATTORNEY'S OFFICE DECIDES TO
PROVIDE.
SORRY, THE PRE-BOOKING
DIVERSION PROGRAM WHICH
CURRENTLY IS IN THE FORM OF THE
LEAD PROGRAM. THE CITY
ATTORNEY'S OFFICE PROVIDES
STAFF SUPPORT TO THE PROGRAM.
THEY HELP WITH WEED, CO-LEAD.
THIS REPORTING REQUIREMENT DOES
NOT GO TOWARD THE CLIENTS
INVOLVED IN THE PROGRAM BUT
LOOKS TO GIVE THE COUNCIL HOW
THE ATTORNEY SUPPORTING THAT
PROGRAM ARE ABLE TO DO THEIR
WORK, SO LOOKING AT PROVIDING
THE COUNCIL WITH INFORMATION
AND TRANSPARENCY ABOUT HOW THIS
WILL WORK FOR THAT STAFF.
SO, THOSE ARE THE ITEMS IN THE
ORDINANCE ITSELF.
THE AMENDMENTS CURRENTLY LISTED
ON THE AGENDA WOULD DO TWO
THINGS.
AMENDMENT ONE, TECHNICAL
CHANGES, SO CHANGES TO SOME OF
THE LANGUAGE THAT IS CURRENTLY
REFERRED TO AS CASES THAT COULD
BETTER BE DESCRIBED AS POLICE
REPORTS, SUCH AS MAKING MORE
ACCURATE THE INFORMATION AND
DATA ASKED AND AFFIXING ONE
TYPO THAT MADE IT THROUGH.
AMENDMENT TWO WOULD ADD IN
NOTICE REQUIREMENTS YOU WILL
SEE THE LANGUAGE THERE ON THE
SLIDE ON YOUR SCREEN AND IN THE
AMENDMENT CIRCULATED ON THE
AGENDA.
THE INTENT IS TO PROVIDE NOTICE
TO THE COUNCIL 90 DAYS BEFORE
IMPLEMENTING MATERIAL CHANGES
TO ITS DIVERSION PROGRAM THAT
INFORMATION ISN'T IDENTIFIED.
IF ANYONE HAS QUESTIONS, I AM
HAPPY TO HELP ANSWER THOSE.
>> THANK YOU, ASHA.
I APPRECIATE THAT.
ANY QUESTIONS?
COUNCILMEMBER LEWIS?
>> THANK YOU, MADAM CHAIR.
ASHA, THANK YOU FOR THAT
OVERVIEW . I WANT TO ASK AS A
MATTER OF RESOURCES AND PUTTING
RECORDING REQUIREMENTS FORWARD
IF ANY OF THE ADS THAT THE
COUNCIL MADE IN THE LAST BUDGET
CYCLE ARE DIRECTLY RESPONSIVE
TO FACILITATING REPORTS LIKE
THIS BECAUSE I SEEM TO RECALL
SOME OF THE NEW POSITIONS WE HAD
TO COMPLY WITH REPORTING
REQUESTS AS PART OF THE JOB
DESCRIPTION AND THEY WONDERED
IF YOU COULD PROVIDE US WITH
ANYTHING ON THAT.
>> SURE.
THAT IS NO PROBLEM.
THIS YEAR THE COUNCIL ADDED
ADDITIONAL POSITIONS TO EXPAND
THE PROGRAM, BUT ONE OF THE
CHANGES TO THE BUDGET IN 2022
GOS TO INCREASE WHAT WOULD
HAVE BEEN A HALFTIME PARALEGAL
POSITION TO A FULL-TIME
PARALEGAL POSITION.
THE INCREASE IN THAT POSITION'S
WORKLOAD AS WELL AS ADDING IN
FOUR ADDITIONAL POSITIONS IN
THE BUDGET WOULD ALLOW THE
OFFICE NOT ONLY TO PROVIDE THE
ONE ANNUAL REPORT THEY
CURRENTLY HAVE BEEN PROVIDING,
BUT IN ADDITION ALLOW THEM TO
PROVIDE ADDITIONAL INFORMATION
REGARDING THE OTHER ELEMENTS OF
THE PROGRAM.
UP UNTIL NOW, THE OFFICE HAS
BEEN PROVIDING THAT ANNUAL
REPORT ON THE MAINSTREAM
PROGRAM BUT HAVEN'T HAD THE
STAFF WERE CAPACITY TO HAVE
CONSISTENT REPORTING ON THE
DRIVERS LICENSE SUSPENDED IN
THE THIRD DEGREE PROGRAM OR THE
DIVERSION PROGRAM WE STARTED IN
2021 RELATED TO A NON-INTIMATE
PARTNER DOMESTIC VIOLENCE.
IF THE COUNCIL DOES NOT DECIDE
TO ADD IN RECORDING
REQUIREMENTS IN THIS
LEGISLATION, THEY WOULD HAVE
THE CAPACITY TO PROVIDE THOSE
REPORTS SO THIS INCREASE IN
STAFFING SHOULD ALLOW THAT
REPORT TO COME THROUGH USING
THAT ADDITIONAL STAFF.
>> THANK YOU.
>> I JUST WANT TO SAY A FEW
WORDS.
THE IMPACT OF THIS BILL AND
WHAT THIS BILL DOES NOT DO, IF
I COULD.
THIS BILL DOES NOT IN ANY WAY
IMPACT THE LAWFUL DISCRETION
VESTED IN THE CITY ATTORNEY
ABOUT HOW CASES ARE PROSECUTED.
THIS IS REALLY A PIECE OF
LEGISLATION AS I UNDERSTAND IT
THAT IS VERY FOCUSED ON OUR
OVERSIGHT AND ACCOUNTABILITY
AND TRANSPARENCY RELATED TO OUR
BUDGET AUTHORITY.
COUNCILMEMBERS LEWIS AND
PRESIDENT GONZALEZ MENTIONED AS
WE CONTINUE TO MAKE INVESTMENTS
IN THESE PROGRAMS, WE HAVE
INCREASED THE OBLIGATION THAT
WE HAVE FOR TRANSPARENCY AND
ACCOUNTABILITY FOR THESE
PROGRAMS.
THIS IS SORT OF AN EVOLUTION OF
WORK THAT THE COUNCIL HAS DONE
DATING ALL THE WAY BACK TO 2015
WITH THE CREATION OF THE SEATTLE
REENTRY WORK GROUP THAT THE
COUNCIL VOTED TO HELP ESTABLISH.
THAT LED TO THE REENTRY WORK
GROUP REPORT IN 2018. THEY
RECOMMENDED EXPANDING PREFILING
DIVERSION TO FOLKS THAT ARE 25
AND OLDER.
AS MENTIONED BEFORE, WE HAVE
PROVIDED ADDITIONAL FUNDING TO
EXPAND THE DIVERSION PROGRAM AND
, AGAIN, THE ATTORNEY HAS
DISCRETION OVER PROSECUTION.
WE HAVE HEARD FROM THE CITY
ATTORNEY ELECT THAT SHE HAS
BEEN BRIEFED ON THE NUMBER OF
UNFILED CASES. AS THEY COME IN,
THEY WILL CONSIDER HOW THEY WILL
RIGHTFULLY USE THEIR
DISCRETIONARY AUTHORITY TO
DECIDE HOW TO ACT ON THESE
CASES.
IT IS REALLY IMPORTANT TO NOTE
IN THE CONTEXT OF THESE UNFILED
CASES THAT 25% OF THE ASSISTANT
CITY PROSECUTOR POSITIONS HAVE
BECOME VACANT SINCE AUGUST AND
THE OFFICE IS UNDER A LOT OF
STRAIN.
EVERY NEW DEPARTURE BRINGS ON
VERY, VERY DIFFICULT DECISION
MAKING, WHETHER IT IS TO
REASSIGN SOMEONE AWAY FROM TO
ADDRESS THESE ISSUES.
THE CITY ATTORNEY ELECT HAS
BEEN INVITED TO PARTICIPATE IN
INTERVIEW PANELS SO SHE CAN
HAVE A SAY IN WHO NEXT WILL
WORK FOR THE OFFICE.
THEY ARE NOT DELAYING THAT WORK
UNTIL THE NEW DISTRICT ATTORNEY
TAKES OFFICE.
THEY HAVE BEEN WORKING TO FILL
THOSE POSITIONS AND UNDERSTAND
THE STATE ATTORNEY ELECT HAS
ADJOINED FOR MANY OF THOSE.
THEY ARE CONTINUING TO EXTEND
THE JOB POSTING WINDOW TO
SELECT MORE APPLICANTS.
I THINK THAT IS IMPORTANT
CONTEXT BECAUSE THE QUESTION OF
THE CASE FILING BACKLOG IS ONE
THAT IS LIKELY TO COME UP AND
THIS LEGISLATION AS I
UNDERSTAND IT IS NOT INTENDED
TO INFLUENCE OR LIMIT THE
DISCRETION OF THE CITY
ATTORNEY.
IT IS TO REALLY FOCUS ON THE
OUTCOME OF THE INVESTMENTS THE
CITY HAS MADE IN A PROGRAM IT
HAS SUPPORTED FOR MANY YEARS
NOW.
COUNCIL PRESIDENT GONZALEZ?
>> THANK YOU, CHAIR HERBOLD. I
WANTED TO MAKE ADDITIONAL
REMARKS NOW HAVING SAT THROUGH
THE PRESENTATION.
THANK YOU, ASHA, FOR YOUR HARD
WORK ON THE ORDINANCE . I
WANTED TO SPEND SOME TIME
EMPHASIZING A POINT YOU HEARD
CHAIR HERBOLD MAKE ON
DISCRETION.
WE AS ELECTED OFFICIALS ON THE
CITY COUNCIL UNDERSTAND AND
APPRECIATE THE IMPORTANCE OF
CHARTER MANDATED DUTIES. ONE OF
THE CHARTER MANDATED DUTIES IS
THE ATTORNEY'S OFFICE AND DOES
PROSECUTORIAL DISCRETION IN THE
ATTORNEY'S OFFICE.
THAT OFFICE IS GOING TO
EXERCISE THAT PROSECUTORIAL
DISCRETION FOR THE NEXT CITY
ATTORNEY.
NOTHING IN THIS ORDINANCE
IMPEDES, IMPINGES UPON, OR
MODIFIES ANY PORTION OF THE
CHARTER OF PROSECUTORIAL
DISCRETION ELECTED TO THAT
POSITION.
I THINK IT IS IMPORTANT FOR
MEMBERS OF THE PUBLIC TO
UNDERSTAND THIS ORDINANCE DOES
NOT MODIFY ANY PROSECUTORIAL
DISCRETION.
RATHER THIS ORDINANCE SIMPLY
ACKNOWLEDGES THE CITY COUNCIL
HAS FUNDED THE EXISTING
DIVERSION PROGRAMS AS THEY ARE
CURRENTLY STRUCTURED.
SHOULD THERE BE CHANGES THAT
THE NEXT CITY ATTORNEY WOULD
LIKE TO CONSIDER, PROPOSE, OR
CONSISTENT WITH HER CHARTER
RESPONSIBILITIES AND DUTIES, I
BELIEVE THAT COUNCIL SHOULD BE
NOTIFIED OF THOSE POTENTIAL
CHANGES.
AGAIN, NOTHING IN THIS ORDINANCE
PREVENTS ANY CITY ATTORNEY
CURRENT, PAST, FORMER FROM
MAKING CHANGES OR PROPOSING
CHANGES TO THE PROGRAM.
IT SIMPLY REQUIRES NOTICE TO
THE CITY COUNCIL IF THOSE
CHANGES ARE ABOUT TO BE
IMPLEMENTED. I THINK THAT A 90
DAY NOTICE IS COMPLETELY
REASONABLE.
I THINK REQUIRING A NOTICE IS
COMPLETELY REASONABLE AND I
THINK IT IS MORE THAN REASONABLE
, IT'S APPROPRIATE TO ASK ONE
OF OUR CITY AGENCIES TO MAKE
SURE THAT THEY ARE PROVIDING
TRANSPARENT DATA DRIVEN REPORTS
FOR US AS A CITY COUNCIL SO WE
CAN BE WELL INFORMED OF THE
EFFECTIVENESS OF SAID PROGRAMS
AND SO WE HAVE A CLEAR
UNDERSTANDING OF WHETHER THE
LIMITED FONDA DOLLARS ARE BEING
UTILIZED FOR THE PURPOSE
INTENDED AND CONSISTENT WITH
WHAT WE VOTED TO APPROVE IN
THIS LAST BUDGET CYCLE AND MANY
BUDGET CYCLES IN THE PAST.
I JUST WANT TO MAKE CLEAR THAT
THAT IS THE MOTIVATION BEHIND
THIS ORDINANCE AND I HOPE FOLKS
WILL SEE THIS AS A GOOD
GOVERNING TOOL TO ALLOW FOR US
TO HAVE GREATER TRANSPARENCY
AND ALLOW THE COUNCIL TO
EXERCISE OVERSIGHT OF PROGRAMS
WE HAVE FUNDED WITHOUT IMPOSING
ANY SORT OF RESTRICTIONS OR
HINDERING DISCRETION. THANK YOU,
MADAM CHAIR.
>> COUNCILMEMBER PEDERSEN?
>> THANK YOU, CHAIR HERBOLD.
I AM JUST AN ALTERNATE TODAY AT
THIS MEETING, SO I AM CATCHIN
UP A LITTLE BIT, JUST FILLING
IN FOR A COUNCILMEMBER WHO IS
NOT ABLE TO ATTEND.
WITH THIS BILL, I KNOW WE ALL
RECOGNIZE THE BENEFITS OF
EFFECTIVE PROGRAMS THAT DIVERT
PEOPLE FROM THE TRADITIONAL
CRIMINAL JUSTICE SYSTEM PATHS
AND WHAT I AM STRUGGLING WITH
AND OF COURSE I WANT THE
DEPARTMENT AND OTHER AGENCIES
WHO WE PROVIDE FUNDING TO TO
IMPLEMENT OUR PROGRAMS AS WE
ASK THEM TO AND THERE ARE ALL
SORTS OF GREAT PROGRAMS THAT I
WOULD LOVE TO SEE THE
RECORDING.
I AM STRUGGLING WITH WHY WE
WOULD AMEND THE SEATTLE
MUNICIPAL CODE TO REQUIRE BASIC
REPORTING ON ONE PROGRAM WHEN I
HAVE SEEN US ASK FOR THIS AND
RECEIVE IT IN OTHER WAYS, SUCH
AS PASSING A STATE OF
LEGISLATIVE INTENT, SENDING A
LETTER, PICKING UP THE PHONE,
BRINGING IT TO THE COMMITTEE.
I AM STRUGGLING WITH THE MEANS
BY WHICH WE TRY TO GET THIS
INFORMATION, WHICH IS BAKING IT
INTO OUR CORE MUNICIPAL CODE.
I AM STRUGGLING WITH THAT.
I UNDERSTAND THERE ARE
AMENDMENTS.
I WILL ENGAGE WITH THOSE. THANK
YOU.
>> THANK YOU, COUNCILMEMBER
PEDERSEN. IS THERE INTEREST IN
ADDRESSING THE WESTERN THAT
COUNCILMEMBER PEDERSEN ASKED?
>> I AM HAPPY TO DESCRIBE MY
INTENT IF IT IS HELPFUL TO
COUNCILMEMBER PEDERSEN.
JUST SORT OF AS A THRESHOLD
QUESTION, AS ELECTED OFFICIALS
AND POLICYMAKERS, WE HAVE LOTS
OF DIFFERENT SCHOOLS. WE HAVE
RESOLUTIONS, STATEMENTS OF
LEGISLATIVE INTENT, COUNCIL
BUDGET ACTIONS , AND WE ALSO
HAVE THE ABILITY TO PASS
LEGISLATION THAT THEN BECOMES
AN ORDINANCE. WE GET TO CHOOSE
AS LEGISLATORS WHICH TOOL WOULD
LIKE TO UTILIZE TO MEMORIALIZE
AND ADVANCE POLICY GOALS AND
INTENT OF THE CITY COUNCIL.
IN THIS INSTANCE, I THINK IT'S
IMPORTANT FOR US TO CREATE A
NEW SECTION IN THE SEATTLE
MUNICIPAL CODE BECAUSE OF THE
SIGNIFICANT IMPORTANCE OF
DIVERSION PROGRAMS TO THE CITY.
WE HAVE BEEN ENGAGING IN THESE
DIVERSION PROGRAM SINCE 2015.
ALL OF THE LITERATURE AND
STUDIES SAY THESE ARE THE MOST
EFFECTIVE WAY TO TACKLE
RECIDIVISM OR IN OTHER WORDS TO
MAKE SURE PEOPLE AREN'T RE-
ENGAGING AND BECOMING REPEAT
OFFENDERS AND ENGAGING IN THE
CRIMINAL JUSTICE SYSTEM. I
THINK IT IS AN IMPORTANT STEP
TO MEMORIALIZE IT AS PART OF OUR
LEGISLATIVE BODY.
I WILL JUST SORT OF NOTE THAT
THE REASON I FEEL AN ORDINANCE
IS IMPORTANT IS BECAUSE IT HAS
THE EFFECT OF LAW AND EMAILED
IS NOT.
NOR DOES A RESOLUTION. I DO
THINK IT IS IMPORTANT TO MAKE
SURE IN AN AREA IN WHICH WE ARE
INVESTING MILLIONS AND MILLIONS
OF DOLLARS, WE REQUEST MINIMAL
REPORTING TO MAKE SURE THIS
THING WE ARE FUNDING IS
ACTUALLY OCCURRING AND
OCCURRING CONSISTENT WITH WHAT
WE INTENDED.
WE CAN CERTAINLY DO THIS
THROUGH THE BUDGET PROCESS, BUT
I WAS TOLD THE QUICKER ROUTE
WOULD BE TO DO IT POST BUDGET.
IN FULL TRANSPARENCY, I WAS
ADVOCATING FOR US TO DO THIS
TOGETHER WITH BUDGET
LEGISLATION AND WAS TOLD THERE
WASN'T AN OPPORTUNITY TO DO
THAT, WHICH IS WHY WE ARE
DEALING WITH IT IN THE POST
BUDGET LEGISLATIVE SESSION
CONTEXT. I HOPE THAT IS
HELPFUL.
I'M NOT SURE IT PERSUADES YOU
BUT I'M HAPPY TO PROVIDE YOU
WITH MORE CLARITY.
>> COUNCILMEMBER LEWIS?
>> THANK YOU.
THE QUESTIONS THAT
COUNCILMEMBER PEDERSEN RAISES
ARE GOOD. HONESTLY I THINK WE
SHOULD REPORT OUR METRICS MORE
BROADLY ACROSS THE CITY.
I DON'T THINK REPORTING METRICS
SHOULD BE CONTINGENT ON A
PARTICULAR CHAIR OR BUDGET
CYCLE OR A PARTICULAR, YOU
KNOW, ERA IN OUR CITY'S
POLITICS.
I THINK BY PUTTING RECORDING
METRICS INTO THE CODE IT CREATES
CONSISTENCY OVER TIME AND HELPS
US WITH BASELINE DATA OVER TIME.
I WOULD ADD WE HAD CONSIDERED
DOING THIS BUDGET LEGISLATION
AND THAT MIGHT BE A GOOD
QUESTION FOR ASHA . I DON'T
RECALL WHAT THE ISSUE WAS WITH
THAT BUT THAT WAS MY PREFERRED
COURSE OF ACTION AS WELL.
THERE WERE REASONS THIS VEHICLE
WAS MORE ATTRACTIVE.
I WOULD SAY THERE ARE OTHER
WEIRD DUTIES THAT THE CITY
ATTORNEY'S OFFICE HAS THAT ARE
MANIFESTED IN DIFFERENT PLACES,
BE A CHARTER OR MUNICIPAL CODE.
FOR EXAMPLE WE GET NOTICE AND
EXECUTIVE SESSION WHEN SEVERAL
OFFERS ARE ABOUT TO BE MADE,
WHICH IS A STRANGE REQUIREMENT
THAT THE CITY ATTORNEY'S OFFICE
HAS.
IT IS A REPORTING AND NOTICE
REQUIREMENT THAT IS SIMILAR TO
A LOT OF WHAT WE ARE REQUESTING
HERE.
TO A CERTAIN EXTENT, WHAT WE
ARE DOING REALLY IS AND THAT
NOVEL RELATIVE TO OTHER DUTIES
IN THE PAST.
I THINK I WILL LEAVE IT AT THAT
UNLESS ASHA HAS ANYTHING TO ADD
.
>> SURE.
I HAVE TWO THINGS.
ONE, IT WAS MAINLY A STAFFING
CAPACITY ISSUE TO BE ABLE TO DO
THAT.
THE SECOND THING I WOULD ADD,
THERE ARE A NUMBER OF
REQUIREMENTS THROUGHOUT THE
DEPARTMENT AND COMMISSIONS AND
FOR A WHOLE VARIETY OF PURPOSES.
I DID A QUICK SEARCH AND WE ARE
LOOKING AT ANYTHING FROM
TRANSPORTATION AND
ELECTRIFICATION TO RECYCLING TO
PAID PARENTAL LEAVE.
THERE ARE A LOT OF REQUIREMENTS
EMBEDDED INTO THE SEATTLE
MUNICIPAL CODE.
THIS AS A REPORTING REQUIREMENT
ISN'T NECESSARILY UNUSUAL OR
SOMETHING TO ADD TO THE CODE.
LASTLY I WILL SAY THE
MECHANISMS WE OFTEN USE FOR
BUDGET TEND TO BE ANNUAL ASKS.
RATHER THAN HAVING YOUR ANNUAL
REPORTING THIS COUNCIL KNOWS IS
COMING IN YEAR AFTER YEAR, FOR
BUDGET PURPOSES IT COMES DOWN
TO LEGISLATIVE INTENT AND
PROVISOS. THOSE ARE THINGS THAT
ARE SNAPSHOTS IN TIME OF WHAT
IS HAPPENING IN THE YEAR WE
HAVE ASKED FOR IT RATHER THAN
AN ANNUAL SET OF INFORMATION
COMING IN FROM THE COUNCIL TO
KEEP UPDATED ON.
I JUST HAVE THOSE AS ADDITIONAL
CONSIDERATIONS.
>> THANK YOU SO MUCH, ASHA . I
WAS GOING TO ADD EXAMPLES BUT I
THINK YOU HAVE COVERED IT WELL.
THAT IS NOT AN UNUSUAL TASK TO
LEGISLATE.
I KNOW THAT WE HAVE A COUPLE OF
AMENDMENTS THAT I WANT TO
CONSIDER, SO IF IT IS OKAY WITH
COUNCILMEMBERS, I WOULD LIKE TO
GET THE BILL BEFORE THE
COMMITTEE IF WE HAVE COMPLETED
THAT INITIAL DISCUSSION
OVERVIEW.
SOUNDS GOOD. I AM GOING TO MOVE
COUNCIL BILL 120247. IS THERE
A SECOND?
>> SECOND.
>> THANK YOU.
WE NOW HAVE COUNCIL BILL 120247
BEFORE US. SO NOW WE HAVE TWO
AMENDMENTS. JUST CHECKING
COUNCILMEMBER LEWIS, WILL YOU
ADDRESS BOTH OF THOSE
AMENDMENTS?
>> I BELIEVE ONE IS SPONSORED
BY COUNCIL PRESIDENT GONZALEZ.
>> MY APOLOGIES.
OKAY.
AMENDMENT ONE IS YOURS. I
BELIEVE IT IS A TECHNICAL
AMENDMENT?
>> YES AND I WOULD MOVE
AMENDMENT ONE HERE
>> IS THERE A SECOND?
>> SECOND.
>> THANK YOU.
ANY DISCUSSION?
I WOULD LIKE TO ADDRESS IT.
COUNTY LEWIS?
>> THIS IS NOT A SUBSTITUTE
AMENDMENT.
IT IS JUST A FEW CHANGES.
I AM HAPPY TO GIVE ASHA A
MOMENT TO SPEAK BUT IT IS MY
UNDERSTANDING THERE IS NO
CHANGE .
>> THANK YOU.
ANYTHING TO ADD?
NO? OKAY.
WILL THE CLERK PLEASE CALL THE
ROLL ON PASSAGE OF AMENDMENT
ONE?
>> COUNCIL PRESIDENT GONZALEZ?
>> AYE.
>>
>> LEWIS?
>> YES.
>> PEDERSEN?
>> SUSTAINED.
>> AND CHAIR HERBOLD?
>> YES.
>> WE HAVE FOUR YESES.
>> THE AMENDMENT IS ADOPTED.
MOVING ON TO AMENDMENT TWO,
COUNCIL PRESIDENT GONZALEZ, AS
SPONSORED WOULD YOU LIKE TO MOVE
AMENDMENT TWO?
>> YES, I ADOPT TO MOVE TWO.
>> IT HAS BEEN MOVED AND
SECONDED.
COUNCIL PRESIDENT GONZALEZ, YOU
ARE RECOGNIZED TO ADDRESS THE
COURT.
>> I THINK ASHA DID A GREAT JOB
. THIS IS A VERY SIMPLE ADDITION
TO THE 3.4 6.020 DUTIES OF THE
SEATTLE MUNICIPAL CODE
REQUIRING THE CITY'S ATTORNEY'S
OFFICE WILL PROVIDE THE CITY
COUNCIL WITH AT LEAST 90 DAYS
NOTIFICATION BEFORE IT
IMPLEMENTS ANY MATERIAL CHANGES
TO THE PREFILING DIVERSION
PROGRAM INCLUDING BUT NOT
LIMITED TO CHANGES IN THE
ELIGIBILITY PARAMETERS FOR
INDIVIDUALS TO QUALIFY, CHANGES
IN THE TYPE OF OFFENSES THAT
ARE ELIGIBLE FOR DIVERSION AND
THE CHANGES IN THE PREFILING
DIVERSION MODEL OR HOW IT IS
BEING ADMINISTERED. SUCH
INFORMATION IS NOT PROTECTED BY
THE ATTORNEY CLIENT WORK
PRODUCT.
REALLY AT ITS CORE, IT IS A
SIMPLE AMENDMENT THAT WOULD
REQUIRE SOME LEVEL OF NOTICE TO
THE COUNCIL BEFORE ANY MATERIAL
CHANGES ARE MADE TO THE
PREFILING DIVERSION PROGRAMS SO
THE COUNCIL, AS I MENTIONED
BEFORE, HAS THE APPROPRIATION
AUTHORITY TO EVALUATE WHETHER
OR NOT SUPPLEMENTAL BUDGET
ACTIONS WILL BE NECESSARY TO
ENSURE THE DOLLARS APPROPRIATED
FOR THE PROGRAM VIA THE CITY
ATTORNEY'S OFFICE ARE BEING
USED IN A MANNER CONSISTENT
WITH THE COUNCIL'S LEGISLATIVE
INTENT.
>> THANK YOU SO MUCH.
ARE THERE ANY ADDITIONAL
COMMENTS ON AMENDMENT NUMBER
TWO?
COUNTY LEWIS?
>> THANK YOU, MADAM CHAIR.
JUST TO SPEAK TO THIS AMENDMENT
BRIEFLY, I THINK IT IS KEEPING
WITH SOME OF THE NOTICE
REQUIREMENTS THAT ARE PART OF
THE DUTIES OF THE CITY
ATTORNEY'S OFFICE AND I SPOKE
EARLIER ABOUT THE NOTICE WE
RECEIVED PRIOR TO SETTLEMENT
OFFERS IN THE CIVIL CASES
DURING EXECUTIVE SESSION.
I WOULD ALSO ADD THAT MAYBE THE
SPONSOR COULD CLARIFY ON THIS,
BUT THIS WOULD INVOLVE MATERIAL
CHANGES WHETHER A PROGRAM WOULD
BECOME MORE PERMISSIVE OR MORE
RESTRICTIVE. EITHER WAY, BOTH
WOULD BE IMPORTANT FOR THE
COUNCIL TO KNOW.
FOR EXAMPLE, IF THE SCOPE OF
CRIMES ELIGIBLE FOR PRETRIAL
DIVERSION IS BEING
INAPPROPRIATELY EXTENDED AS A
MATTER OF POLICY, THE PUBLIC
MIGHT BE CONCERNED ABOUT AND IN
CASES OF EXTREME PHYSICAL
VIOLENCE FOR EXAMPLE, IT'S NOT
JUST ENVISIONING A POTENTIAL
SCENARIO OF ELIGIBILITY BEING
MORE RESTRICTED BUT BEING MORE
PERMISSIVE. AS WE GO INTO
ADDRESSING THE SIGNIFICANT
BACKLOG, I THINK WILL BE
INTERESTING POLICY DISCUSSIONS
BETWEEN MEMBERS OF THE PUBLIC,
THE COUNCIL, THE CITY'S
ATTORNEY'S OFFICE IN SOME KIND
OF NOTICE AND DELIBERATION.
I DO APPRECIATE THE LEGISLATION
OR THIS AMENDMENT PLAYS A
LIMITED ROLE IN WHAT CAN BE
ACCOMPLISHED HERE AROUND
FACILITATING NOTICE BUT
RESERVING THE CITY ATTORNEY'S
OFFICE HAS THE FULL RIGHT HAS A
SUPERVISOR OF LITIGATION TO
DEVELOP ELIGIBILITY ANY WAY
THEY SEE FIT, WHICH IS A
CHARTER OBLIGATION FOR THE CITY
ATTORNEY THAT COULDN'T BE
INFRINGED EVEN IF THE COUNCIL
WANTED TO INFRINGE UPON IT AND
SOMETHING WE SHOULD BE KEEN TO
REMEMBER AS A POTENTIALLY
LEGISLATE IN THIS AREA.
IT PRESERVES ENTIRELY THAT
BEDROCK DISCRETION AND LIMITS AT
TO AREAS THIS COUNCIL HAS
PURSUED IN THIS OFFICE IN THE
PAST.
WITH THAT, I DON'T HAVE
ANYTHING ELSE TO ADD.
I WILL BE VOTING IN FAVOR OF
THIS AMENDMENT TODAY.
>> THANK YOU, COUNCILMEMBER
LEWIS.
AN IMPORTANT PRINCIPLE TO
UNDERSCORE.
PRESERVING ELIGIBILITY FOR ITS
OWN DIVERSION PROGRAMS, SO
REALLY IMPORTANT TO UNDERSCORE
THAT BASIC PRINCIPLE.
COUNCILMEMBER PEDERSEN, I SAW
YOUR HAND UP?
NO?
>> THANK YOU, CHAIR HERBOLD. I
ACTUALLY ABSTAINED ON THE LAST
ONE AND I WILL BE ABSTAINING ON
THIS BECAUSE I'M STILL TRYING
TO GET COMFORTABLE WITH THE
CONCEPT.
I JUST WANTED TO PROVIDE A
HEADS UP.
>> THANK YOU SO MUCH.
THERE IS NO FURTHER DISCUSSION
ON THE AMENDMENT.
WILL THE CLERK PLEASE CALL THE
ROLL ON THE ADOPTION OF
AMENDMENT TWO?
>> AMENDMENT TWO, COUNCIL
PRESIDENT GONZALEZ?
>> AYE.
>> CHAIR HERBOLD?
>> YES.
>> THREE IN FAVOR, ONE
ABSTENTION.
>> THANK YOU.
THE AMENDMENT IS ADOPTED.
>>> BEFORE WE MOVED TO
DISCUSSION OF THE FINAL MOTION
BEFORE US AND ENTERTAIN A ROLL
CALL VOTE ON THAT, ARE THERE
ANY ADDITIONAL COMMENTS ON THE
BILL?
COUNCILMEMBER PEDERSEN?
>> THANK YOU, CHAIR HERBOLD.
COLLEAGUES, I AM STILL TRYING
AND IS STRUGGLING WITH THE
MEANS BY WHICH WE ARE TRYING TO
GET THIS INFORMATION AND WE
HAVE AN UNUSUAL SITUATION WHERE
WE HAVE AN INCOMING CITY
ATTORNEY WHO WILL BE THE ONE
RESPONSIBLE FOR PROVIDING THIS
INFORMATION AND IT'S NOT CLEAR
TO ME WHAT SORT OF
COLLABORATION OR INFORMATION
EXCHANGE HAS OCCURRED WITH HER
ON THIS.
I AM THINKING THAT BECAUSE WE
WOULD BE AMENDING THE SEATTLE
MUNICIPAL CODE TO DO THIS, IT
WOULD BENEFIT FROM ADDITIONAL
TIME.
JUST A FEW MORE WEEKS TO PERHAPS
TALK WITH THE INCOMING CITY
ATTORNEY AND HER TEAM ABOUT THIS
AND HOW IT WILL BE IMPLEMENTED.
IT SETS A GOOD PRECEDET FOR A
NEWLY ELECTED OFFICIAL.
PURSUANT TO OUR COUNCIL RULES,
I WANTED TO MAKE A MOTION TO
POSTPONE OR WITHHOLD TO A
CERTAIN TIME IN THE FUTURE.
SPECIFICALLY I WOULD MOVE TO
HOLD COUNCIL BILL 120240 UNTIL
NEXT YEAR IN THE PUBLIC SAFETY
COMMITTEE.
>> THANK YOU.
I WILL SECOND THAT MOTION FOR
FURTHER DISCUSSION.
COUNCILMEMBER PEDERSEN, ANY
FURTHER REMARKS TO YOUR INTEREST
IN HOLDING THIS ITEM?
>> I THANK YOU FOR LETTING ME
HAVE A LONG INTRODUCTION TO THE
MOTION.
I FEEL I GOT MY POINT OUT
THERE.
THANK YOU.
>> COUNTY LEWIS?
>> THANK YOU, MADAM CHAIR.
OPPORTUNITY TO TALK ABOUT THIS
REQUEST.
TO WITHHOLD TO COLLEAGUES IS
REASONABLE TO GIVE MORE TIME TO
DELIBERATE A CERTAIN ISSUE,
ESPECIALLY IF THERE HAS BEEN AN
ISSUE SPOTTED IN AREAS FOR
ADDITIONAL WORK.
I FRANKLY DON'T THINK THIS IS
AN AREA WHERE I THINK THAT
HOLDS FOR ME.
I HAVE NOT BEEN PRESENTED WITH
OR PITCHED ON ANY SUBSTANTIVE
CHANGES TO THE LEGISLATION
EITHER FROM THE CITY ATTORNEY
ELECT CONSUL COLLEAGUES OR
OTHER STAKEHOLDERS THAT HAVE
APPROACHED ME WHERE I DON'T KNOW
THE BILL WILL CHANGE ALL THAT
MUCH IF IT IS DELAYED.
GIVEN THAT, I DON'T THINK I'LL
SUPPORT A MOTION TO HOLD,
ALTHOUGH I DO RESPECT THE
SPIRIT IN WHICH IT IS BEING
BROUGHT.
I WOULD ADD THAT THIS BILL WAS
SHARED WITH THE CITY ATTORNEY
ELECT ON THURSDAY, DECEMBER
2nd, THE DAY BEFORE IT WAS PUT
ON INTRODUCTION REFERRAL AND A
SEVERAL DAYS BEFORE IT WAS
PUBLISHED. MONDAY OF THIS WEEK
WE DISCUSSED THE BILL
EXTENSIVELY. IT IS NOT
SOMETHING WE HAVE BEEN TRYING
TO KEEP SECRET FRANKLY SINCE
DISCUSSIONS BEGAN IN AUGUST.
I DID HAVE A GREAT MEETING IN
PERSON WITH THE CITY ATTORNEY
ELECT ON TUESDAY, DECEMBER 7th.
IT WAS A GREAT WAY TO GET
ACQUAINTED AND TALK ABOUT
RELATIONS BETWEEN THE COUNCIL
AND THE CITY ATTORNEY'S OFFICE.
IT WAS A VERY CORDIAL MEETING
AND IT WAS GOOD TO BE ABLE TO
BUILD THAT RAPPORT WITH SOMEONE
WHO WILL BE OUR ATTORNEY.
WE WILL BE THE CLIENTS FOR THE
NEXT FOUR YEARS AND IT WAS GOOD
TO HAVE THAT IN PERSON MEETING.
WE DID DISCUSS THE BILL IN THE
MEETING AND WHILE IT WAS
EXPRESSED THERE WAS A DESIRE TO
HOLD THE BILL, THERE WERE NO
SUBSTANTIVE CHANGES RECOMMENDED
IN THAT MEETING FROM THE CITY
ATTORNEY ELECT. ON WEDNESDAY,
DECEMBER 8th, YESTERDAY CHAIR
HERBOLD AND I INVITED THE CITY
ATTORNEY ELECT TO BE INVOLVED
IN THIS PROCESS AS MUCH AS SHE
WANTS TO EXPRESS CHANGES SHE
WANTS TO SEE. I CONTINUE TODAY
REGARDLESS OF WHAT WE DO
WHETHER THIS IS HELD OR VOTED
OUT, THERE WILL BE SEVERAL DAYS
BEFORE WE CONSIDER IT AT THE
DECEMBER 13th MEETING OR
CONSIDER IT SOMETIME NEXT YEAR
IF WE DECIDE TO HOLD IT AT ALL
COUNCIL.
I DO CONTINUED TO HAVE THE
SUBSTANTIVE RECOMMENDATIONS TO
CHANGE THE REPORTING
REQUIREMENTS.
AND WOULD DUALLY CONSIDER THEM,
BUT BECAUSE I HAVE NOT HEARD
ANY SUBSTANTIVE AREAS FOR CHANGE
, I DON'T KNOW HOW PRODUCTIVE
HOLDING THE BILL WILL BE SO FOR
THOSE REASONS, I WILL NOT BE
VOTING FOR THOSE TODAY.
>> I ORDINARILY ALSO RESPECT
WHEN INDIVIDUAL COUNCILMEMBERS
REQUEST A HOLD ON A PARTICULAR
BILL AGAIN IN THIS PARTICULAR
INSTANCE, I THINK WHAT I AM
HEARING AS A PRIMARY OBJECTION
FROM COUNCILMEMBER PEDERSEN AND
HE DOESN'T THINK THERE SHOULD
BE AN ORDINANCE AND THAT
EFFECTIVELY MEANS KILLING THE
BILL AND I JUST DON'T THINK THAT
SORT OF THE ISSUES RELATED TO
THE VEHICLES ARE GOING TO BE
RESOLVED IF AS A THRESHOLD
MATTER COUNCILMEMBER PEDERSEN
AGREES IT SHOULD BE IN AN
ORDINANCE, WHICH IS WHAT I
HEARD HIM SAY OR INSINUATE OR
INFER A COUPLE OF TIMES. I AM
INFERRING THAT HE DOES NOT
BELIEVE THAT THIS POLICY GOAL
SHOULD BE ADVANCED THROUGH AN
ORDINANCE AND I FEEL REALLY
STRONGLY IT SHOULD BE FOR THE
REASONS THAT I STATED
PREVIOUSLY.
I ALSO WILL SAY THAT THIS PIECE
OF LEGISLATION IS NOT
REPRESENTATIVE OF A SUBSTANTIVE
POLICY CHANGE. IT IS QUITE
LITERALLY A SIMPLE ORDINANCE
THAT IMPOSES RECORDING
REQUIREMENTS OF SPECIFIC KINDS
OF INFORMATION FROM THE CITY AS
IT IS NOT CHANGED WHICH WOULD
BE VERY SUBSTANTIVE AND
INCONSISTENT WITH WHAT WE CAN
DO UNDER THE LAW, NOR DOES IT
ENCUMBER THE DUTIES OF THE CITY
ATTORNEY'S OFFICE, SO I LIKE
COUNTY LEWIS CANNOT SUPPORT THE
PURPOSE TO HOLD. WE SHOULD GET
THIS OUT OF COMMITTEE AND OVER
THE FINISH LINE FOR FULL
COUNCIL TO CONSIDER ON MONDAY.
>> THANK YOU, COUNCIL PRESIDENT
GONZALEZ.
BECAUSE I AM SUPPORTIVE OF THE
USE OF MOTIONS TO HOLD WHEN
THERE ARE SUBSTANTIAL POLICY
ISSUES IN GETTING THAT EXTRA
TIME, I'M NOT HEARING THAT
BEING THE ISSUE HERE AND AGAIN
I WANT TO UNDERSCORE WHAT HAS
BEEN SAID.
THERE ARE MANY EFFORTS ON THIS
LEGISLATION AND IN OTHER RELATED
ENGAGEMENTS WITH THE CITY
ATTORNEY ELECT TO BEGIN
COLLABORATION.
AS COUNCILMEMBER LEWIS MENTIONED
, HE HAS MET WITH HER AND
SHARED THIS LEGISLATION WITH HER
. WE INVITED HER TO COMMITTEE.
WE KNOW THE SHERIFF'S OFFICE IS
ENGAGING WITH THE ATTORNEY
ELECT IN THE PROCESS OF HIRING
STAFF FOR 2022 AND VARIOUS
ONBOARDING.
I SERVE TO REPRESENT THE CITY
COUNCIL ON THE REGIONAL LEAD
ADVISORY BOARD WITH THE CITY
ATTORNEY, THE COUNTY PROSECUTOR
, AND WITH REPRESENTATIVES FROM
THE POLICE DEPARTMENT, THE
SHERIFF'S DEPARTMENT, AND
SEVERAL OTHER COUNCIL OFFICES.
WE HAVE A MEETING THIS AFTERNOON
AND WE HAVE INVITED THE CITY
ATTORNEY ELECT TO ATTEND BECAUSE
THE CITY ATTORNEY WILL BE A
MEMBER OF THE LEED POLICY
COORDINATING BODY.
THERE IS NO LACK OF OPPORTUNITY
TO ENGAGE AND NO LACK OF
COMMITMENT TO DO SO ON BOTH
PARTIES. I WAS INTENDING TO
SUPPORT THIS MOTION. I HAVE A
COMMITTEE MEETING ON TUESDAY.
I THOUGHT THAT WAS GOING TO BE
THE MOTION TO HOLD IT UNTIL
TUESDAYS COMMITTEE MEETING, BUT
HEARING THAT YOU ARE LOOKING TO
HOLD IT INTO THE NEW YEAR, I
CAN'T SUPPORT THAT.
SO, WITH THAT, THERE IS NO
FURTHER DISCUSSION.
CAN YOU PLEASE, CLERK, CALL THE
ROLL ON THE MOTION TO HOLD?
>> THIS IS A VOTE ON THE MOTION
TO HOLD.
COUNCIL PRESIDENT GONZALEZ?
>> NO.
>> COUNCILMEMBER LEWIS?
>> NO.
>> COUNCILMEMBER PEDERSEN?
>> YES.
>> CHAIR HERBOLD?
>> NO.
>> THREE OPPOSED, ONE YES.
>> OKAY, THANK YOU.
THE BILL IS BEFORE US.
IF THERE ARE NO FURTHER
COMMENTS ON THE BILL BEFORE US
-- SEEING NONE, CLERK, CAN YOU
CALL THE ROLL ON THE PASSAGE OF
THE BILL?
>> COUNCIL PRESIDENT GONZALEZ?
>> YES.
>> COUNCILMEMBER LEWIS?
>> YES.
>> COUNCILMEMBER PEDERSEN?
>> NO.
>> CHAIR HERBOLD?
>> YES.
>> THREE IN FAVOR, ONE OPPOSED.
>> THE COMMITTEE RECOMMENDS IT
BE PASSED AS AMENDED AND
FORWARDED TO THE DECEMBER 13th
CITY COUNCIL MEETING.
THANK YOU.
WILL THE CLERK PLEASE RED INTO
THE AGENDA ITEM NUMBER THREE?
>> RESOLUTION 32033, A
RESOLUTION DECLARING THE CITY
COUNCIL'S AND THE MAYOR'S
INTENT TO CONSIDER STRATEGIES
TO ENSURE THAT ALL UNREINFORCED
MASONRY BUILDINGS IN SEATTLE
ARE SEISMICALLY RETROFITTED.
>> THANK YOU.
BEFORE WE TURN IT OVER TO
INTRODUCTIONS, I WANT TO DO A
COUPLE OF QUICK OPENING REMARKS.
AS WE HEARD IN PUBLIC COMMENT,
URMs HAVE BEEN AN ONGOING
CONVERSATION AND DISCUSSION.
YOLANDA'S MEMO DOES A GREAT JOB
COVERING THE BACKGROUND
INCLUDING THE COUNCIL'S REQUEST
BACK IN 2012 FOR DRAFT
RECOMMENDATIONS. THAT LED TO
THE CREATION OF THE URM POLICY
COMMITTEE WHO RELEASED THEIR
FINAL IN 2017.
BEFORE GETTING INTO
INTRODUCTIONS AND HANDING IT
OVER TO YOLANDA TO LEAD US
THROUGH THE PRESENTATION, I
WANT TO NOTE THAT IN FEBRUARY
OF 2018, MEMBERS OF WHAT WAS
THEN THE PLANNING AND ZONING
COMMITTEE SENT A LETTER TO
MAYOR DURKAN UNDERSCORING THE
URGENCY AND NEED TO PRIORITIZE
A URM POLICY IN ORDER TO
PREVENT CATASTROPHIC LOSS OF
LIFE WHEN, NOT IF, THE NEXT
MAJOR EARTHQUAKE STRIKES.
SPECIFICALLY THE COMMITTEE
REQUESTED TO FOCUS ON THE 77
BUILDINGS WITH CRITICAL
VULNERABILITY FIRST INCLUDING
HOSPITALS AND FIRE STATIONS.
OF THE FOUR COUNCILMEMBERS ON
THE ZONING COMMITTEE THAT
SIGNED THAT LETTER, TWO OF US
ARE STILL WITH THE COUNCIL,
WHICH IS MYSELF AND COUNCIL
PRESIDENT GONZALEZ.
EVEN THOUGH THE OTHER TWO
COUNCILMEMBERS, ROB JOHNSON AND
MICHAEL BRIAN WHO ALSO SIGNED
THE LETTER, THEY ARE NOT WITH
US.
I AM EXCITED TO TAKE THE NEXT
STEP WHILE WE STILL HAVE
COUNCIL PRESIDENT GONZALEZ ON
COUNCIL . WITH THAT, I WILL
HAND IT OVER TO OUR PRESENTERS
FOR A QUICK ROUND OF
INTRODUCTIONS.
>> THIS IS YOLANDA CENTRAL
COUNCIL STAFF.
>> HI, NATHAN TORGELSON,
DIRECTOR OF THE DEPARTMENT OF
CONSTRUCTION AND INSPECTIONS.
THREE AND CURRY MAYER, DIRECTOR
OF THE OFFICE OF EMERGENCY
MANAGEMENT .
>> THANK YOU.
ALL RIGHT, YOLANDA, DO YOU WANT
TO KICK US OFF?
>> I WILL COMMENCE SHARING MY
SCREEN HERE AND I WILL BE
WALKING YOU THROUGH THIS
PRESENTATION AND INVITE
DIRECTOR NATHAN TORGELSON AND
CURRY MAYER TO CHIME IN.
OKAY.
LET'S GET EVERYTHING SITUATED
HERE.
ALL RIGHT, THE SCREEN LOOKS
OKAY?
>> IT DOES.
>> ALL RIGHT, SO IN THIS
PRESENTATION WE WILL COVER THE
BACKGROUND, PROVIDE AN OVERVIEW
OF THE CITY'S POLICY,
DEVELOPMENT RELATED TO
UNREINFORCED MASONRY BUILDINGS,
COMMONLY REFERRED TO AS URMs
AND I WILL BE REFERRING TO THEM
AS SUCH DURING THIS PRESENTATION
. I WILL DESCRIBE WHAT IS IN
RESOLUTION 32033.
SO URMs ARE BUILDINGS THAT WERE
CONSTRUCTED PRIOR TO THE 1950s
USING BRICK OR CLAY TILE WHERE
THE WALLS ARE NOT SECURED TO
THE FLOORS AND ROOFS. THIS
IMAGE ON THE SLIDE SHOWS WHAT
COULD HAPPEN DURING AN
EARTHQUAKE TO A URM THAT HAS
NOT BEEN RETROFITTED COMPARED
TO ONE THAT HAS.
ON RETROFITTED URMs ARE
PARTICULARLY DAMAGED DURING
EARTHQUAKES.
THEY CAN BE DANGEROUS TO PEOPLE
WITHIN THE BUILDING AND
ENDANGER PEOPLE OUTSIDE THE
BUILDING ON THE ADJACENT
SIDEWALK OR STREET IF IT BREAKS
AWAY AND FALLS INTO THE PUBLIC
RIGHT-OF-WAY.
THIS COULD RESULT IN BLOCKING
THE WAYS IMPEDING EMERGENCY
RESPONSE.
SEATTLE HAS OVER 1100 URMs IN
MORE THAN 50 NEIGHBORHOODS WITH
THE HIGHEST CONCENTRATIONS IN
CAPITOL HILL, PIONEER SQUARE,
AND THE CHINESE DISTRICT.
EARTHQUAKES ARE SEATTLE'S MOST
SERIOUS HAZARD BASED ON
LIKELIHOOD AND POTENTIAL
DESTRUCTIVENESS.
IN THE MOST RECENT EARTHQUAKE
THAT IMPACT SEATTLE, THE
NISQUALLY EARTHQUAKE WAS IN
2001 AND INJURED 400 PEOPLE AND
CAUSED AROUND $2 MILLION IN
PROPERTY DAMAGE WHICH INCLUDED
$8 MILLION IN REPAIR COSTS TO
URMs IN SEATTLE.
IN THE EVENT'S AFTERMATH, 31
BUILDINGS WERE TOO DANGEROUS TO
ENTER.
IN 2017, THE SEATTLE DEPARTMENT
OF INSTRUCTION AND OFFICE OF
EMERGENCY MANAGEMENT REPORTED
TO COUNCIL THAT SEATTLE HAS AN
86% RISK OF BEING HIT BY
ANOTHER 6.8 MAGNITUDE
EARTHQUAKE AND A 33% CHANCE OF
8.0 MAGNITUDE EARTHQUAKE IN THE
NEXT 50 YEARS.
ON THIS SLIDE, I AM JUST
PUTTING THAT WE MAINTAIN A LIST
OF CONFIRMED URMs AND EACH
BUILDING IS CLASSIFIED ON
HEIGHT , OCCUPANCY TYPE, OR
SOIL CONDITIONS.
THIS TABLE SHOWS A NUMBER IN
EACH CLASSIFICATION.
OVER THREE-QUARTERS FALL INTO
THE MEDIUM RISK CATEGORY.
A SMALL PERCENTAGE ARE IN THE
CRITICAL RISK, WHICH AS CHAIR
HERBOLD NOTED, HOSPITALS, FIRE
STATIONS, SCHOOLS.
ARREST OR CATEGORIZED AS HIGH
RISK.
SO THE NEXT COUPLE OF SLIDES, I
WILL JUST PROVIDE SOME
HIGHLIGHTS TO ADDRESS POTENTIAL
HAZARDS POSED BY URMS.
THIS HAS ISSUED BACK TO THE
1970s WHEN THE COUNCIL ADOPTED
STRUCTURAL STANDARDS FOR ALL
URMs , WHICH WERE LATER
REPEALED IT DUE TO FINANCIAL
BARRIERS WHICH CONTINUE TO BE A
THREAT THROUGHOUT THE POLICY
DEVELOPMENT UP TO TODAY. IN
2008, THE CITY CONVENED AT TWO
COMMITTEES, A TECHNICAL
COMMITTEE AND POLICY COMMITTEE
TO PROPOSE A COST EFFECTIVE URM
RETROFIT STANDARD AND
ACCOMPANYING IMPLEMENTATION
PROGRAM.
THREE YEARS LATER, ADOPTION OF
A STANDARD KNOWN AS BOLTS PLUS.
THE POLICY COMMITTEE WAS UNABLE
TO PROVIDE A RECOMMENDATION FOR
AN IMPLEMENTATION PROGRAM
MERRILY DUE TO THE COST
ASSOCIATED WITH IMPLEMENTING
THE STANDARD AND IMPLEMENTED BY
THE TECHNICAL COMMITTEE.
FOLLOWING THIS INITIAL
UNSUCCESSFUL ATTEMPT TO CREATE
A FRAMEWORK FOR A MANDATORY URM
PROGRAM , THE COUNCIL REQUESTED
THEY RECONVENE A NEW POLICY
COMMITTEE IN 2012.
THIS POLICY COMMITTEE ISSUED A
DRAFT RECOMMENDATIONS IN
JANUARY OF 2013.
DEPARTMENTS BEGAN TO DO MORE
WORK ON THIS TOPIC TO HELP
INFORM THE COMMITTEE'S FINAL
RECOMMENDATIONS BY CONDUCTING
AN ANALYSIS, DEVELOPING URMS,
ENGAGEMENT STRATEGIES IN THE
COLUMBIA CITY NEIGHBORHOOD.
SO THE POLICY COMMITTEE ISSUED
ITS FINAL RECOMMENDATION IN
2017 PROPOSING A TIMELINE OF 7,
10, OR 13 YEARS BASED ON
BUILDING VULNERABILITY AND THEY
ALSO PROPOSED A PROCESS FOR
PRIOR REQUIREMENTS.
RECOGNIZING THIS IS A BARRIER
FOR COST OF SEISMIC UPGRADES,
THE CITY PRODUCED A FUNDING URM
RETROFIT REPORT RELEASED IN
MAY OF 2019 WHICH IDENTIFIED
POTENTIAL FUNDING AND FINANCING
MECHANISMS.
REPORT ESTIMATED FEWER THAN
1000 PRIVATELY OWNED URMs WOULD
REQUIRE SEISMIC UPGRADES TO
MAKE THEM STANDARD FOR A TOTAL
COST OF ABOUT $1.28 BILLION.
MORE RECENTLY, LAST YEAR THE
WASHINGTON STATE LEGISLATURE
PASSED AND THE GOVERNMENT
SIGNED INTO LAW HOUSE BILL 24005
WHICH ESTABLISHED A MONETARY
COMMERCIAL PROPERTY FOR CLEAN
ENERGY, ALSO KNOWN AS C-PACER.
THIS CREATES MULTIFAMILY
BUILDINGS AND HELPS COVER THE
COST OF ENERGY EFFICIENCY AND
SEISMIC RETROFITS.
THIS WAS ENCLOSED IN THE 2019
REPORT. AS AUTHORIZED BY THE
STATE, KING COUNTY COUNCIL
RECENTLY ADOPTED A FRAMEWORK
FOR THE PROGRAM AND ANTICIPATES
OPENING THE PROGRAM FOR
APPLICATIONS IN 2022.
FINALLY, THE 2022 ADOPTED
BUDGET INCLUDES A NEW POSITION
IN THE SEATTLE DEPARTMENT OF
CONSTRUCTION AND INSPECTIONS TO
LEAD DEVELOPMENT FOR MANDATORY
URM PROGRAM . ANY QUESTIONS OR
ANYTHING? ALL RIGHT, SO MOVING
ONTO RESOLUTION 32033, THIS
REPRESENTS A SHARED COMMITMENT
BY THE COUNCIL AND THE MAYOR TO
TAKE THE STEPS NECESSARY TO
ESTABLISH A PHASED PROGRAM FOR
URMs . THIS IS INTENDED TO
PROVIDE GUIDANCE TO CITY
DEPARTMENTS AS THEY DEVELOP THE
PROGRAM AND THE LEGISLATION WAS
DRAFTED IN COLLABORATION WITH
STAFF AND THE MAYOR'S OFFICE
AND OFFICE OF EMERGENCY
MANAGEMENT.
IT WOULD ESTABLISH THE
FOLLOWING GOALS AS NOTED ON
THIS SLIDE. FIRST AND FOREMOST,
PROTECTING LIFE SAFETY BY
RISKING REDUCING THE RISK OF
INJURY FROM COLLAPSE OF URMs
IN THE EVENT OF AN EARTHQUAKE
AND IMPROVING SEATTLE'S
RESILIENCY TO EARTHQUAKE EVENTS
SO YOU RECOVER MORE QUICKLY,
AND FINALLY MINIMIZING THE
IMPACT OF A URM RETROFIT ON
VULNERABLE POPULATIONS TO THE
EXTENT THAT IS FINANCIALLY
FEASIBLE . FOR THE PROGRAM
ITSELF, IT WOULD INCLUDE THESE
ASPECTS BUT NOT LIMITED TO THAT
. PROVIDING A DEFINITION,
IDENTIFYING WHICH RETROFIT
STANDARD APPLIES TO EACH URM,
RECOGNIZING THAT WILL VARY ON
THE TYPE OF BUILDING . ALSO
PROVIDING CATEGORIZING BUILDING
TYPES AND PRIORITIZE KEY
BUILDINGS AND SERVICES, SETTING
UP A TIMELINE FOR COMPLIANCE
BASED ON BUILDING TYPE AND
OTHER FACTORS, ENFORCEMENT, AND
ALSO FUNDING OPPORTUNITIES AND
FINANCIAL INCENTIVES TO HELP
MAKE THINGS HAPPEN.
AND THE NEXT SLIDE IS JUST
SPECIFIC QUESTIONS TO CREATE
THE PROGRAM THAT ARE LISTED ON
THE SLIDE HERE I WILL DESCRIBE
IN MORE DETAIL ON THE
LEGISLATION ITSELF HERE I WILL
NOT RED THROUGH ALL OF THOSE
BUT IT WILL INCLUDE
COORDINATION ACROSS MULTIPLE
DEPARTMENTS AND PRIVATE
BUILDING OWNERS AS WELL AS
COMMUNITY ENGAGEMENT AND
BUILDING OWNERS AND TENANTS
THROUGHOUT THE ENTIRE PROCESS.
SOME CITY DEPARTMENTS WOULD
INCLUDE THE DEPARTMENT OF
NEIGHBORHOODS WHO WOULD SUBMIT
RETROFITS OF URMS, THE OFFICE
OF HOUSING TO WORK WITH
AFFORDABLE HOUSE KATE LOCATED
IN URMS.
BUT ALSO THE DEPARTMENT WHO
HAVE CITY OWNED URMs . WE KNOW
THAT SOME OF THE URMs ARE
OWNED BY PUBLIC SCHOOLS AND
PRIVATE SCHOOLS NEED TO BE
COLLABORATED WITH THOSE ENTITIES
. AN IMPORTANT STRATEGY CITED
DURING PUBLIC COMMENT WAS
MITIGATING THE IMPACT OF THE
RETROFIT PROGRAM AND
SPECIFICALLY IN REGARDS TO
CAUSING DISPLACEMENT AS
BUILDING OWNERS INCREASE THEIR
COMMERCIAL AND RESIDENTIAL RENT
TO PAY FOR THE RETROFIT.
ONE OF MY FINAL STEPSON PROCESS
WOULD BE SUBMITTING LEGISLATION
TO THE COUNTS THAT WOULD
ESTABLISH THE PROGRAM.
THE RESOLUTION REQUESTS THAT
THE SEATTLE DEPARTMENT OF
CONSTRUCTION AND INSPECTIONS
OFFICE OF EMERGENCY MANAGEMENT
AND OTHER DEPARTMENTS AS NEEDED
PROVIDE A QUARTERLY REPORT TO
THE COUNCIL BEGINNING ON AUGUST
1st, 2022.
>> THANK YOU, YOLANDA.
DIRECTOR TORGELSON AND MAYER ?
>> I JUST REALLY WANT TO THANK
THE MAYOR AND THE COUNCIL FOR
YOUR SUPPORT FOR ADDITIONAL
STAFFING WE CAN GET GOING WITH
THE PROGRAM.
WHILE I'M NOT EXCITED ABOUT A
FUTURE EARTHQUAKE, I AM VERY
EXCITED TO GET THIS PROGRAM
GOING. FOR THE VIEWING PUBLIC,
I JUST WANT TO EMPHASIZE THAT
WE ARE NOT GOING TO PUT
MANDATORY STANDARDS IN PLACE
NEXT YEAR.
I KNOW THE POLICY COMMITTEE AND
OTHER GROUPS THAT HAVE BEEN
VERY ENGAGED, AND I WANTED TO
CALL OUT PETER AND LISA WHO
HAVE TALKED ABOUT GRADUATED
PHASING PROCESS DEPENDING ON
THE CATEGORIES CRITICAL, HIGH
RISK, OR MEDIUM. ONE PROTOCOL
THAT WAS SUGGESTED WAS A 7, 10,
13 COMPLIANCE PERIOD.
>> THANK YOU FOR THAT LEVEL OF
DETAIL. THAT WAS REALLY
IMPORTANT FOR THE PUBLIC TO
HEAR.
THIS IS REALLY BEGINNING THE
PROCESS OF DEVELOPMENT OF
PROGRAM THAT WOULD BE MANDATORY
. AT SOME POINT IN THE FUTURE,
SO THANK YOU FOR THAT.
DIRECTOR MAYER?
>> THANK YOU.
I WOULD LIKE TO THANK YOU,
CHAIR HERBOLD, FOR YOUR
LEADERSHIP IN THIS AND PUSHING
US FORWARD AND GETTING THE
SUPPORT NOT ONLY FROM THE CITY
BUT FROM ALL OF OUR PRIVATE
SECTOR PARTNERS AND, YOU KNOW,
MY JOB IS USUALLY THE ONE
PERSON WHO CALLS OUT ALL OF THE
SCARY THINGS PEOPLE DON'T WANT
TO TALK ABOUT, SO I AM REALLY
THANKFUL THE COMMITTEE IS
LOOKING AT THIS AND SETTING OUT
A PHASED APPROACH ON HOW WE CAN
BEST HELP PEOPLE IN THE CITY OF
SEATTLE AND I REALLY SEE THIS
PROGRAM AS A MODEL FOR THE REST
OF THE WEST COAST.
THIS IS AN ISSUE UP AND DOWN
THE WEST COAST ALL THE WAY DOWN
THE COAST OF CALIFORNIA.
SAN FRANCISCO AND PORTLAND HAVE
BEEN STRUGGLING WITH URMs , JUST
LIKE WE HAVE FOR QUITE SOME
TIME AND NOBODY HAS BEEN ABLE
TO PUT IN A PROGRAM AT THIS
LEVEL OF DETAIL WITH THIS LEVEL
OF PRIVATE PARTNERSHIP AND WITH
THIS PHASED APPROACH.
I AM REALLY THANKFUL WE ARE
DOING THAT IN SEATTLE.
I AM NOT SURPRISED BECAUSE WE
ALWAYS DO THINGS BETTER.
I AM THANKFUL FOR THE PRIVATE
SECTOR PARTNERS WHO WERE ON
TODAY.
I LOOK FORWARD TO WORKING WITH
YOU WITH ALL OF THE DETAILS ON
HOW WE MAKE THIS WORK FOR
EVERYONE AND HOW WE ALSO PROTECT
VULNERABLE POPULATIONS WHO ARE
MOST AFFECTED BY URMs NOT ONLY
BY DOING THE SEISMIC
RETROFITTING, BUT THE PROCESS
BECAUSE THERE ARE A LOT OF
THINGS THAT NEED TO HAPPEN
ALONG THE WAY SO I LOOK FORWARD
TO WORKING WITH YOU ON THAT.
IT IS REALLY A GREAT EXAMPLE OF
THE WORK THE GOVERNMENT CAN DO
IN PARTNERSHIP WITH THE PRIVATE
SECTOR.
I'M ALSO LOOKING FORWARD TO
WORKING WITH NATHAN AND HIS TEAM
ON THE CITY'S PORTION ON HOW WE
MAKE THIS WORK.
THANK YOU.
>> THANK YOU, DIRECTOR MAYOR.
DURING YOUR APPOINTMENT PROCESS,
WHEN WE FIRST MET I AM LIKE, I
REALLY NEED YOUR HELP GETTING
THIS OVER THE FINISH LINE.
YOU TOLD ME YOU WOULD HELP AND
SURE ENOUGH, HERE WE ARE.
AND TORGELSON, THANK YOU FOR
PLEDGING THE BUDGET REQUEST.
AND THANK YOU, MAYER, FOR
INCLUDING IT. I AM EXCITED TO
GET THIS CONVERSATION GOING IN
PREPARATION FOR, YOU KNOW, WHAT
MOST PEOPLE SEE AS AN
INEVITABLE NEED AND REALLY
APPRECIATE THE ENTHUSIASM OF
EVERYBODY INVOLVED AND
RECOGNIZING THAT SEATTLE IS
OFTEN GROUNDBREAKING IN
HISTORIC POLICY DEVELOPMENT AND
THIS WILL BE NO DIFFERENT, I'M
CONFIDENT.
I KNOW WE HAVE AN AMENDMENT WE
WANT TO GET IN FRONT OF US. IF
THERE ARE NO OBJECTIONS TO THAT,
I WANT TO GET THAT GOING, IF
THAT'S OKAY.
ALL RIGHT, I MOVE RESOLUTION
32033.
I MOVE AMENDMENT ONE AS
DESCRIBED VIA THE EMAIL
YESTERDAY WHICH PROVIDES
CLARITY THAT PDAS WILL BE ABLE
TO PROVIDE RESOURCES AND
COACHING TO OWNERS OF URMs
BECAUSE SOME OF THE PDAS HAVE
REALLY GOOD EXPERIENCE ALREADY.
IS THERE A SECOND?
>> SECOND.
>> THANK YOU.
CAN WE GET A ROLLCALL ON THE
PASSAGE OF THE AMENDMENT?
>> AMENDMENT ONE, COUNCIL
PRESIDENT GONZALEZ?
>> AYE.
>> COUNCILMEMBER LEWIS?
>> YES.
>> COUNCILMEMBER PEDERSEN?
>>
>> YES.
>> THAT IS FOUR IN FAVOR.
>> THE RESOLUTION AS AMENDED IS
BEFORE US.
ARE THERE FURTHER COMMENTS ON
THE BILL?
ALL RIGHT, SEEING NO FURTHER
COMMENTS ON THE BILL, MANY
THANKS TO FOLKS WITH US TODAY
AND ESPECIALLY THE EXTERNAL
STAKEHOLDERS TO THE PROCESS.
LISA, BRAD, EUGENIA, MATTHEW,
AND DIRECTOR MAYER AND
TORGELSON . THIS RESOLUTION HAS
BEEN THE PRODUCT OF MANY MONTHS
OF WORK AT MY OFFICE, THE
MAYOR'S OFFICE, AND EXTERNAL
STAKEHOLDERS.
AS I SAID, I AM EXCITED TO GET
THIS GOING.
IF THERE ARE NO FURTHER
COMMENTS ON THE BILL, WILL THE
CLERK PLEASE CALL THE ROLL ON
THE PASSAGE OF THE RESOLUTION?
>> AS AMENDED, COUNCIL
PRESIDENT GONZALEZ?
>> AYE.
>> COUNCILMEMBER LEWIS?
>> AYE.
>> COUNCILMEMBER PEDERSEN?
>> YES.
>> FOUR IN FAVOR.
>> THANK YOU.
THE RESOLUTION AS AMENDED BE
FORWARDED TO THE DECEMBER 16
CITY COUNCIL MEETING.
>> I'M SORRY, DECEMBER 13th.
>> I'M SORRY.
DID I NOT SAY THAT?
>> YOU SAID THE 16th.
>> I AM VERY SORRY.
I AM LOOKING AT THE 16.
DECEMBER 13th.
PLEASE RED INTO THE AGENDA ITEM
NUMBER FOUR .
>> COUNCIL BILL 120248, AN
ORDINANCE RELATING TO CITY
EMPLOYMENT; CREATING A
COMPENSATION PROGRAM FOR THE
POSITION OF FIRE CHIEF;
SPECIFYING PROVISIONS FOR THE
ADMINISTRATION OF SAID
COMPENSATION PROGRAM; AND
RATIFYING AND CONFIRMING
CERTAIN PRIOR ACTS.
>> THANK YOU.
LET'S TURN IT RIGHT OVER TO OUR
PRESENTERS FOR A QUICK ROUND OF
INTRODUCTIONS.
YOUR NAME AND AFFILIATION AND
WE WILL MOVE INTO THE
PRESENTATION.
>> GOOD MORNING, EVERYBODY.
THIS IS KIMBERLY LOVING, THE
OWNER OF HR DIRECTOR CITY.
>> GOOD MORNING, COUNCIL MEMBERS
. OR GOOD AFTERNOON.
I AM SENIOR DEPUTY MAYOR
SHEFALI RANGANATHAN .
>> I AM ALAINA GOODMAN .
>> KARINA BULL .
>> ALL RIGHT.
WHO WOULD LIKE TO START?
>> I CAN KICK IT OFF AND MY
COLLEAGUES CANNOT WALK THROUGH
THE PRESENTATION IF WE CAN JUST
PULL THAT UP.
I WILL JUST, YOU KNOW, FIRST
THANK YOU ALL FOR THE
OPPORTUNITY TO BE HERE.
COUNCILMEMBER HERBOLD, I WANT
TO THANK YOU FOR YOUR
PARTNERSHIP IN HELPING US GET
THIS ON THE CALENDAR.
WE ARE HERE TO DISCUSS THE
PROPOSED FIRE CHIEF
COMPENSATION PROGRAM. FIRST I
WOULD BE REMISS IF I DID NOT
ACKNOWLEDGE THE OUTSTANDING
WORK OF THE SEATTLE FIRE
DEPARTMENT DURING THE PAST FEW
YEARS. THEY HAVE BEEN AT THE
FRONT EDGE OF THE PANDEMIC
RESPONSE AND ALSO AS WE HAVE
DEALT WITH MULTIPLE CRISES IN
THE CITY INCLUDING CLOSURES OF
THE WEST SEATTLE BRIDGE AND
OTHER CHALLENGES, THEY HAVE
REALLY BEEN THERE EVERY STEP OF
THE WAY.
THE GOAL IS TO HIRE AND RETAIN
THE MOST TALENT AND THE BEST
TALENT WE CAN FIND TO SERVE OUR
CITY AND NOWHERE IS THAT MORE
EXEMPLIFIED AT SEATTLE'S FIRE.
WE HAVE SEEN THEIR
RESPONSIBILITIES GROW AND
EXPAND AS THEY HAVE KEPT UP
WITH TESTING, VACCINATION, AND
AN INCREASING ROLE IN THE
CRISIS RESPONSE. HOWEVER THEIR
COMPENSATION STRUCTURE HASN'T
QUITE KEPT UP WITH THE REALITY
THAT THE ROLE OF FIRE HAS
EXPANDED IN. WE ARE NO LONGER
COMPETITIVE WITH OUR COMPARABLE
CITIES ALONG THE WEST COAST IN
TERMS OF WAGE AND SALARY AND IT
HAS ALSO CREATED OPPRESSION IN
THE FIRE DEPARTMENT.
THIS ORDINANCE SEEKS TO
ESTABLISH A NEW FIRE CHIEF
COMPENSATION PROGRAM WHICH WE
BELIEVE WILL ADDRESS ISSUES
THAT ARE HIGHLIGHTED.
WE LAUNCHED A REVIEW EARLIER
THIS YEAR TO PREPARE ANALYSIS
TO REALLY THINK ABOUT HOW WE
COULD STRUCTURE THE PROGRAM.
ALAINA GOODMAN WILL WALK US
THROUGH THAT ANALYSIS .
KIMBERLY OR I OR ALAINA ARE
HAPPY TO ANSWER ANY QUESTIONS
YOU MAY HAVE.
>> ALL RIGHT, WELL I AM HERE TO
PRESENT THE DATA WE FOUND
DURING THE SALARY SURVEY FOR
THE FIRE CHIEF COMPENSATION
PROGRAM.
THIS IS A SHORT AGENDA.
WE WILL GO TO THE SUMMARY OF
THE REQUEST, CURRENT STATE OF
THE PLAN, OVERVIEW OF THE
SALARY SURVEY WE DID, AND THE
PROPOSED COMPENSATION PLAN.
SO, AS MENTIONED EARLIER, THERE
WAS AN ISSUE WITH THE CURRENT
PAY BAND AS IT IS.
THE SALARY OF THE FIRE CHIEF IS
PART OF THE CORE BAND ALONG
WITH THE DEPUTY FIRE CHIEF, SO
THEY ARE CURRENTLY IN THE SAME
HAND.
SORRY, I JUMPED AHEAD.
HERE IS THE EXECUTIVE BAND.
THERE IS LESS THAN A 4%
DIFFERENCE BETWEEN THE DEPUTY
FIRE CHIEF'S SALARY IN THE FIRE
CHIEF'S SALARY BECAUSE THEY ARE
IN THE SAME PAY BAND.
THE FIRE CHIEF'S SALARY IS
LAGGING MIDPOINT OF MARKET. THE
FIRE CHIEF'S SALARY IS AT THE
MAX OF THE EXECUTIVE BAND, SO
THERE IS NO ROOM FOR MOVEMENT.
SO WE WENT THROUGH OUR USUAL
PROCESS TO REVIEW THE WEST COAST
CITIES THAT WE PREPARE
EXECUTIVES TO.
THE CURRENT PAY FOR FIRE CHIEFS
IS VERY LOW COMPARED TO
COMPARABLE CITIES ACROSS THE
WEST COAST.
WE DID SURVEY THESE CITIES INTO
A GEOGRAPHIC ADJUSTMENT ON THAT
DATA SO IT IS GEOGRAPHICALLY
ADJUSTED BASED ON HOW THAT
SALARY WOULD BE IN SEATTLE.
OUR PROPOSAL IS TO PUT THE
SALARY FOR FIRE CHIEFS AND
THEIR OWN COMPENSATION BAND. WE
ARE PROPOSING THIS BAND TO
ELIMINATE ISSUES WITH THE FIRE
CHIEF AND THE CURRENT BAND. WE
WILL NO LONGER BE LAGGING THE
MARKET WITH THE WEST COAST
CITIES WE COMPARE IT TO.
THIS IS A RANGE SPREAD OF 60%
SO IT PROVIDES FLEXIBILITY OVER
TIME.
AND THAT IS THE END.
>> THANK YOU SO MUCH.
JUST A COUPLE QUICK QUESTIONS.
CAN YOU JUST GIVE US A LITTLE
MORE DETAIL ON WHAT MAKES THE
SEVEN CITIES COMPARABLE TO
SEATTLE?
>> WHEN YOU ARE DOING SALARY
SURVEYS, IT IS IMPORTANT TO
STICK WITH A STANDARD, A
STANDARD A CITY HAS USED FOR
YEARS TO COMPARE EXECUTIVES'
SALARIES TO.
SAN FRANCISCO, SAN DIEGO,
OAKLAND, LONG BEACH,
SACRAMENTO, SAN JOSE, AND
PORTLAND.
THESE ARE CITIES THAT ARE
COMPARALE IN SIZE AND SERVICES
WE PROVIDE.
>> AND SO THE GENERAL SIZE OF
THE DEPARTMENT, THE FIRE
DEPARTMENT IN THOSE CITIES ARE
ALSO COMPARABLE?
>> LIKE I SAID, WE USE A
STANDARD WHEN LOOKING AT ANY
EXECUTIVE SALARIES.
WE ASSUME SO BECAUSE IT IS A
COMPARABLE SIZE.
WE DIDN'T GET INTO DETAIL ABOUT
THE FIRE DEPARTMENT SIZE.
>> SAN FRANCISCO IS COUNTYWIDE,
SO THEIR DEPARTMENT IS ACTUALLY
MUCH LARGER.
IT IS ABOUT 1400 OR SO COMPARED
TO FIRE, WHICH IS CLOSER TO
1000.
THEIR SERVICE AREA IS LARGER
THAN THE CITY OF SEATTLE.
>> AND ONE THING I WANT TO
FLAG, THE LEGISLATION ITSELF IS
RETROACTIVE TO 2021. CAN YOU
EXPLAIN THE PURPOSE OF THAT?
>> SURE.
I THINK PART OF THIS, AND YOU
KNOW I TALKED A LITTLE BIT AT
THE BEGINNING ABOUT A GOAL
AROUND TOWN FOR RETENTION JUST
RECOGNIZING THAT IN 2020 AND
2021, SEATTLE FIRE HAS BEEN
CALLED TO TAKE AN EXTRAORDINARY
ROLE IN THE PANDEMIC RESPONSE.
PARTICULARLY AROUND BOTH
TESTING AND VACCINATION.
THAT ROLE IS QUICK TO FIRE.
WHAT WE WANTED TO ACKNOWLEDGE
IS THAT, YOU KNOW, WHILE WE ARE
ADDRESSING THIS NOW AND IT IS
SOMEWHAT LAGGING, OUR INTENTION
WAS TO ALWAYS TRY TO DO THIS
AND BE RESPONSIBLE TO EXPAND
THE SCOPE AND RECOGNIZE THESE
SALARIES, THE BAND ITSELF HAS
BEEN STAGNANT FOR QUITE SOME
TIME.
WE ARE SEEKING TO DO SOME OF
THAT RETROACTIVELY BECAUSE THE
PANDEMIC DROPPED SOME OF THE
WORK WE WANTED TO DO PRIOR TO
WHERE WE ARE NOW, WHICH IS
DECEMBER OF 2021.
>> ALL RIGHT. ARE THERE ANY
OTHER QUESTIONS FROM MY
COLLEAGUES?
I AM NOT SEEING ANY QUESTIONS.
GIVEN THAT --
>> COUNCILMEMBER, THIS IS
KIMBERLY LOVING. I DON'T HAVE
ANY QUESTIONS BUT I WANT TO
CERTAINLY ECHO THE DEPUTY MAYOR
AND REITERATE AND UNDERSCORE
OUR DEGREE OF CONFIDENCE AS A
CLASSIFICATION COMPENSATION TEAM
WITHIN THE CITY AND JUST THAT
WE FEEL VERY STRONGLY THAT THIS
IS THE RIGHT THING TO DO.
>> THANK YOU, KIMBERLY LOVING.
I APPRECIATE THAT.
I APPRECIATE THE CHIEF'S
SERVICE THROUGHOUT THE YEARS AND
CERTAINLY THROUGH THESE
CHALLENGING TIMES. I APPRECIATE
THAT AS WE GO THROUGH A
TRANSITION IN MAYORS, THE
QUESTION OF LONGEVITY BECOMES
ONE OF CONCERN AND I CERTAINLY
WANT TO MAKE SURE WE ARE WITHIN
THE CONSTRUCTS OF WHAT IS
COMPARABLE PAY THAT WE ARE
PROVIDING THAT RECOGNIZES THAT
WORK AND COMMITMENT.
THAT MAKES SEATTLE A COMPETITIVE
ENVIRONMENT TO CONTINUE TO DO
THIS WORK. SO, NOT SEEING ANY
QUESTIONS OR COMMENTS FROM MY
COLLEAGUES, SO I AM GOING TO
MOVE COUNCIL BILL 120248. IS
THERE A SECOND?
>> SECOND.
>> THANK YOU.
I AM JUST ASKING IF THERE ARE
ANY FURTHER COMMENTS ON THE BILL
? SEEING NO FURTHER COMMENTS,
WILL THE CLERK PLEASE CALL THE
ROLL ON THE PASSAGE OF THE
BILL?
>> COUNCIL PRESIDENT GONZALEZ?
>> AYE.
>> COUNCILMEMBER LEWIS?
>> YES.
>> CHAIR HERBOLD?
>> YES.
>> THREE IN FAVOR.
>> GREAT.
THE MOTION CARRIES AND THE
COMMITTEE RECOMMENDS THE BILL
PASSED.
IT WILL BE FORWARDED TO THE
DECEMBER 13th CITY COUNCIL
MEETING. THANK YOU ALL FOR
JOINING US.
IT WAS GREAT TO SEE MANY OF YOU
I HAVEN'T SEEN FOR A WHILE.
THERE IS NO FURTHER BUSINESS TO
COME BEFORE THE COUNCIL.
THIS WAS A SPECIALLY SCHEDULED
MEETING.
WE WILL HAVE OUR NEXT AND LAST
REGULARLY SCHEDULED PUBLIC
SAFETY AND HUMAN SERVICES
COMMITTEE OF THE YEAR ON
TUESDAY, DECEMBER 14th AT 9:30
A.M.
THE TIME IS 12:14 P.M.
AND WE ARE ADJOINED.
THANK YOU.