>> NOT ALL OF YOU UNMETERED
YOUR MICROPHONES.
WE MAY NEED TO START OVER.
YOU MAY NEED TO UNMUTE THE
MICROPHONES.
UNMUTE.
>> OKAY.
>> CAN WE DO A MIC CHECK FOR
THE COUNCILMEMBERS?
YOU MAY WANT TO START OVER.
THANK YOU.
>> GOT IT.
GOOD MORNING.
THE SEPTEMBER 13th, 2022
MEETING OF PUBLIC SAFETY HUMAN
SERVICES HAS COME TO ORDER.
WILL THE CLERK PIECE CALL?
>> COUNSELOR PEARSON?
>> PRESENT.
>> VICE CHAIR LEWIS?
>> RESID.
>> COUNCILMEMBER HERBALS?
>> HERE.
>> FIVE PRESENT.
>> I APPRECIATE EVERYBODY'S
PATIENTS WITH GETTING STARTED.
WE HAVE A NEW CLERK ON A NEW
SYSTEM.
ON TODAY'S AGENDA WE WILL HERE
APPOINTMENT OF DR. FAISAL KHAN
AS DIRECTOR OF PUBLIC HEALTH
SEATTLE AND KING COUNTY.
WE ARE ALSO HEARING AND VOTING
ON THE APPOINTMENT OF GINO
BETTS JR. AS THE PERMANENT
DIRECTOR OF THE OFFICE OF
POLICE ACCOUNTABILITY FOR A
DISCUSSION AND POSSIBLE VOTE.
WE WILL BE RECEIVING A SHORT OF
THE FROM COUNSEL CENTRAL STAFF
ON THE 911 ALTERNATIVE RESPONSE
AND THE AGREEMENT WITH THE
EXECUTIVE FOR A PATH MOVING
FORWARD IN COLLABORATION ON AN
EFFORT WE WILL HEAR MORE ABOUT
IN A MOMENT.
WE WILL NOW APPROVE OUR AGENDA
FOR THE COMMITTEE MEETING.
THERE IS NO OBJECTION.
TODAY'S AGENDA WILL BE ADOPTED.
I'M SEEING NO OBJECTION.
TODAY'S AGENDA IS ADOPTED.
AT THIS TIME WE WILL TRANSITION
INTO PUBLIC COMMENT. I WILL
MODERATE THE PUBLIC COMMENT
PERIOD.
EACH SPEAKER GETS TWO MINUTES
TO SPEAK.
I WILL STRIVE TO ALTERNATE
BETWEEN VIRTUAL AND IN PERSON
PUBLIC COMMENTERS.
RECOGNIZING THAT THERE ARE NOT
AN EQUAL NUMBER OF COMMENTERS
IN EACH. I WILL CALL IN EACH
SPEAKER BY NAME.
IF YOU HAVE NOT YET REGISTERED
TO SPEAK WHAT YOU WOULD LIKE TO
DO SO YOU CAN SIGN UP BEFORE
THE END OF THE PUBLIC COMMENT
SESSION.
ONCE I CALL A SPEAKER'S NAME,
IF YOU'RE USING THE VIRTUAL
OPTION, YOU WILL HEAR A PROMPT.
ONCE YOU HAVE HEARD THAT PROMPT
YOU NEED TO PRESS STAR AND SIX
TO UNMUTE YOURSELF.
PLEASE START BY STATING YOUR
NAME AND THE ITEM WHICH YOU ARE
ADDRESSING.
YOU WILL HEAR A CHIME WHEN 10
SECONDS ARE LEFT OF THE
ALLOTTED TIME.
ONCE A SPEAKER HERE'S THAT TIME
WE ASK THAT YOU BEGIN TO WRAP
UP YOUR PUBLIC COMMENTS.
IF SPEAKERS DO NOT END THEIR
COMMENTS AT THE END OF THE
ALLOTTED TIME PROVIDED THEY
WILL BE MUTED AFTER 10 SECONDS
TO ALLOW US TO HEAR FROM THE
NEXT SPEAKER.
ONCE YOU HAVE COMPLETED YOUR
PUBLIC COMMENT WE ASK THAT YOU
DISCONNECT FROM THE LINE, IF
YOU'RE CALLING IN.
AND IF YOU PLAN TO CONTINUE
FOLLOWING THE MEETING REMOTELY
YOU CAN DO SO VIA THE SEATTLE
CHANNEL OR THE LISTENING
PTIONS THAT ARE LISTED ON THE
PRINTED AGENDA.
WE HAVE NINE PEOPLE SIGNED UP
FOR PUBLIC COMMENT.
NINE SPEAKERS WERE WITH US
VIRTUALLY, AND ONE SPEAKER THAT
IS WITH US IN THE CHAMBERS, IN
PERSON.
I WILL BEGIN WITH THE SPEAKER
IN PERSON.
MISS CAROLYN MALONE.
>> THANK YOU.
GOOD MORNING.
I'M CAROLYN MALONE.
I'M GOING TO ADDRESS THE ISSUE
OF POLICE HOSTILITY, BRUTALITY,
AND OTHERS YET TO COME INTO THE
CHAMBER TO GIVE ME A BEDTIME.
I HAVE A LEGITIMATE RIGHT TO
SPEAK FOR THE COUNCIL.
FOR ISSUES ABOUT RACIST, ROGUE
SEATTLE COPS LIVING IN MY
APARTMENT BUILDING. THIS
SABOTEUR, THIS GUY HERE, HE
WORKS FOR THE CITY. BUT HE ALSO
COMES IN AND STANDS IN THE BACK
AND CAUSES MY VOICE TO TREMBLE
AND SHAKE, AND MY BODY TO SHAKE.
I AM A CONFIDENT SPEAKER.
I DO NOT TREMBLE UNLESS
SOMETHING DIFFERENT IS GOING
ON.
BUT I HAVE A RIGHT TO SPEAK
ABOUT POLICE BRUTALITY.
I'VE BEEN SPEAKING ABOUT IT FOR
QUITE SOME TIME.
WITHOUT DISCOMFORT TO MYSELF.
THIS IS ILLEGAL TO INTERFERE
WITH MY ABILITY TO VOICE MY
COMPLAINTS ABOUT MY HOUSING
ISSUES AND POLICE BRUTALITY
ISSUES.
SO I DO NOT KNOW THIS PERSON'S
NAME.
HE SHOULD NOT BE ALLOWED TO
COME IN WHILE HOLDING HIS
DEVICE.
I CARRY A CAMERA AND TAKE A
PICTURE.
SOMETIMES THE PICTURES I TAKE
OF PEOPLE VIOLATING THE ARE
BLURRED.
I INTEND TO COME BACK TO THE
CHAMBERS AND SPEAK ABOUT ISSUES
THAT AFFECT MY HOUSING RIGHTS,
PRIVACY RIGHTS, MY CIVIL RIGHTS
, MY CONSTITUTIONAL RIGHTS.
THANK YOU.
>> OUR NEXT SPEAKER IS MR.
HOWARD GAIL.
MR. GALE WILL BE FOLLOWED BY
PENNY O'GRADY.
DR. GILL.
MY APOLOGIES.
>> GOOD MORNING.
HOWARD DEAL WITH SEATTLE
COMMENTING ON OUR FAILED POLICE
ACCOUNTABILITY SYSTEM.
TODAY YOU WILL VOTE ON THE
APPOINTMENT OF GINO BETTS JR.
AS THE NEW DIRECTOR OF THE OPA.
AFTER MEETING WITH THE
COMMUNITY LAST MONTH HE HAS
EXPRESSED CONCERN FOR FOR A
COMMUNITY DEMAND THAT ALL
INVESTIGATORS BE CIVILIAN,
STATING, THE OPA SHOULD CONSIST
OF 100% CIVILIAN INVESTIGATORS.
WHAT MR. GINO BETTS JR. IS
UNAWARE OF IS THIS IS NOT
SOMETHING OUR CURRENT MAYOR,
COUNCILMEMBER HERBOLD, OR THE
CCP SUPPORTS.
IT IS CONCERNING THAT MR. GINO
BETTS JR. HAS STATED ,
HISTORICALLY, OPA HAS DONE WELL
TO PRODUCE TIMELY, THOROUGH,
INVESTIGATIONS.
IS HE UNAWARE THAT THE SEATTLE
POLICE HAVE ESCAPED ANY
SANCTION OR DISCIPLINE FOR THE
ABUSE OF 2020, WITH THE VAST
MAJORITY OF ABUSE CLAIMS
REJECTED BY THE OPA?
IS HE UNAWARE THAT THE OPA
FINDS IT ACCEPTABLE FOR
OFFICERS TO GROSSLY VIOLATE
POLICY AND TRAINING ON DE-
ESCALATION AND THEN NOT BE HELD
ACCOUNTABLE FOR KILLING FOLKS.
AS HAS RECENTLY HAPPENED.
THIS MARKS THE ANNIVERSARIES OF
THE KILLINGS OF HIGHTOWER,
WHOSE SISTER IS STILL WAITING
FOR RECOGNITION AND JUSTICE.
THESE ARE ALL PEOPLE WHO ARE
EXPERIENCING A BEHAVIORAL
HEALTH CRISIS, ALL KILLED BY
THE SPD.
WE DON'T NEED A NEW DIRECTOR
FOR A BROKEN SYSTEM.
WE NEED THE KIND OF POLICE
ACCOUNTABILITY THAT OTHER U.S.
CITIES HAVE EMBRACED.
-- POLICE DISCIPLINE AND MOST
IMPORTANTLY POLICE POLICY.
THINK YOU.
>> OUR NEXT SPEAKER IS PENNY
O'GRADY.
PENNY?
>> HI.
I'M PENNY IN DISTRICT 6. I'M
SPEAKING IN REGARDS TO POLICE
EXPANSION AND PARKS.
ROUGHLY 20 YEARS AGO A
COUNCILMEMBER FOUGHT AN
ORDINANCE IN CITY PARKS THAT
ESSENTIALLY CRIMINALIZED
POVERTY AND UNFAIRLY TARGETED
LACK AND BROWN PEOPLE
DISPROPORTIONATELY.
THE LAW ALLOWED OFFICIALS TO
BAN ANYONE FROM PARKS FOR
NUISANCE VIOLATION.
COUNCILMEMBER HERBOLD WAS
QUOTED AS SAYING , THIS HAS HAD
A DEVASTATING IMPACT ON PEOPLE
OF LITTLE MEANS.
IN 2022 MAYOR HARRELL WANTS TO
CREATE AN ARM OF SEATTLE PLEASE
CALL, PARKS RANGERS, AND 2022,
WHEN THE WEALTH GAP IS GROWING
AND HOMELESSNESS ABOUNDED, I
SUPPORT TRUE PUBLIC SAFETY FOR
ALL.
NEW PARKS LEVY DOLLARS TO BE
INVESTED IN TRANSFORMING OUR
COMMUNITY CENTERS INTO CLIMATE
RESILIENCE HUBS, ADDING FULL-
TIME STAFF IN THESE HUBS WOULD
DO MORE TO PROTECT VULNERABLE
COMMUNITY MEMBERS AND EXPANDING
POLICING INFRASTRUCTURE THAT
ONLY EXACERBATES HARM.
COUNCILMEMBERS, YOUR UPCOMING
VOTE ON THE MESSAGE ABOUT WHO
WE ARE AS A CITY, A URGE YOU TO
VOTE IN LINE WITH ALL OF US.
STOP WASTING YOUR TIME. STOP
THE EXPANSION OF LEASING AND
PARKS AND ENCAMPMENT REMOVAL
WITH OUR PARKS LEVY DOLLARS.
>> ELISE?
>> GOOD MORNING, MEMBERS.
I'M HERE TODAY AS A RESIDENT OF
DISTRICT 3 AND AS AN ADVOCATE
FOR PSYCHEDELIC PLANT MEDICINE.
I WANT TO THANK YOU ALL SO MUCH
FOR PASSING LAST YEAR'S
RESOLUTION TO DECRIMINALIZE
PSYCHEDELICS IN SEATTLE.
DOING THAT REALLY SHOWED US
THAT YOU ARE LISTENING AND THAT
YOU SEE THE POTENTIAL FOR
PSYCHEDELIC PLANT MEDICINE TO
HELP SO MANY MEMBERS OF THE
COMMUNITY WHO ARE AFFECTED BY
MENTAL HEALTH CONDITIONS, LIKE
DEPRESSION, PTSD, AND SUBSTANCE
ABUSE DISORDER
ALTHOUGH THE RESOLUTION IS A
HUGE STEP IN THE RIGHT
DIRECTION WE WOULD LIKE TO SEE
DECRIMINALIZATION CODIFIED INTO
AN ORDINANCE TO FURTHER
ESTABLISH CITY COUNCIL STANCE
AND PROVIDE MORE LEGAL
PROTECTION FOR COMMUNITY
MEMBERS OF SEATTLE.
LAST YEAR THE COUNCIL MENTIONED
THAT PASSING AN ORDINANCE WOULD
BE THE NEXT STEP.
SOME WONDERING, WITH MY
REMAINING TIME, IS IT POSSIBLE
TO RECEIVE AN UPDATE ON THE
PROGRESS AND THE ORDINANCE FROM
THE COUNCIL?
>> ELISE, FEEL FREE TO CONTACT
MY OFFICE, AS WELL AS
COUNCILMEMBER LEWIS AS
COSPONSORS OF THE EARLIER
ACTION.
WE WILL GIVE YOU AN UPDATE.
OUR NEXT SPEAKER IS CODY.
CODY?
>> HI.
CAN YOU HEAR ME?
>> YES.
>> HELLO?
OKAY.
HELLO.
OKAY.
GREAT.
MY NAME IS CODY ZELENSKY, FROM
DISTRICT 4. FIRST OFF, THANK
YOU FOR PASSING THE PSYCHEDELIC
RESOLUTION LAST YEAR.
IT WAS REFRESHING TO SEE THE
SEATTLE CITY COUNCIL TAKE SUCH
A STEP IN MAKING US THE LARGEST
CITY AT THE TIME TO DO THIS.
OH LIKE A SIMPLE STEP TO CODIFY
THIS.
THIS WOULD GIVE THE CITY
PROTECTIONS IN NATURAL
PSYCHEDELIC MEDICINE MORE
STRENGTH AS A RESULT OF YOUR
ACTIONS.
DOZENS OF PEOPLE HAVE FOUND
RELIEF FROM DEPRESSION,
ADDICTION, PTSD, AMONGST OTHERS
WITH NATURAL PSYCHEDELICS.
PASSING AN ORDINANCE WOULD
REAFFIRM SUPPORT FOR
PSYCHEDELICS, BOTH IN
WASHINGTON STATE AND ACROSS THE
COUNTRY.
THANK YOU FOR LISTENING.
>> OUR NEXT SPEAKER IS MICHAEL.
>> MY NAME IS MIKE MULLANEY AND
I'M A RESIDENT IN DISTRICT 3.
PLEASE INVEST TIME IN MAKING
OUR PARKS MORE ACCESSIBLE AND
NOT THREATENING TO ITS
RESIDENTS.
VOTE NO ON ANY PART OF THE PARK
LEVY THAT EXPANDS PARK RANGERS.
THESE NEW PARKS COPS WOULD
FURTHER CRIMINALIZE PEOPLE
EXPERIENCING HOMELESSNESS AND
POVERTY, LEAD TO INCREASED
TRAUMA AND ARREST, AND CAUSE
PERMANENT POOR CONDITIONS.
PLEASED AND -- THERE IS REAL
DANGER THESE POSITIONS WILL BE
USED TO CREATE A PERMANENT CREW
DEVOTED TO DISPLACING OUR HOUSE
WAS NEIGHBORS AND DISCARDING
THEIR BELONGINGS.
AS THE CITY RE-CALIBRATES THE
ROLL OF THE POLICE DEPARTMENT
IT IS VITAL THAT WE DO NOT
INADVERTENTLY CREATE ANOTHER
VERSION OF THE POLICE
SPECIFICALLY FOCUSED ON
TARGETING POOR AND PARK USERS.
>> OUR NEXT SPEAKER IS PETER
CONDIT.
FOLLOWED BY ROXANNE.
>> HELLO.
THIS IS PETER CONDIT IN
DISTRICT 6. I'M CALLING AS A
SURVIVOR OF POLICE ASSAULT THAT
YOU USE THE PARK LEVY DOLLARS
TO MAKE OUR PUBLIC SPACES MORE
ACCESSIBLE AND LESS THREATENING
TO ALL PARK USERS.
I URGE YOU TO VOTE NO ON ANY
VERSION OF THE LEVY THAT
INCLUDES THE EXPANSION OF PARK
RANGERS.
AS CURRENTLY PROPOSED THESE NEW
RANGERS WOULD FUNCTION AS COPS
WITH THE AUTHORITY TO FURTHER
CRIMINALIZE PEOPLE EXPERIENCING
HOMELESSNESS AND POVERTY.
FUNDING THAT WOULD INCREASE
TRAUMA, ARRESTS, HARM, AND
VIOLENCE IN OUR CITY.
IN ADDITION, I URGE YOU TO LOOK
CLOSELY AT THE PROPOSAL TO
CREATE PERMANENT POSITIONS TO
CLEAN AREAS AROUND ENCAMPMENTS
AND PARKS.
THERE'S A REAL DANGER THESE
POSITIONS WILL BE REUSED TO
CREATE A PERMANENT CREW THAT
DISPLAYS OUR HOUSE WAS
NEIGHBORS AND DISCARD THEIR
BELONGINGS.
AS OUR CITY FOCUSES ON
STRENGTHENING THE FOOTPRINT OF
THE SEATTLE POLICE DEPARTMENT
AND THE AUNT ACCOUNTABLE
VIOLENCE THEY BRING, INCLUDING
MYSELF IN 2020, 2021, AND 2022,
IT IS VITAL THAT WE DO NOT
INADVERTENTLY CREATE ANOTHER
VERSION OF THE POLICE IN OTHER
DEPARTMENTS.
IF YOU BELIEVE BLACK LIVES
MATTER DO NOT AUTHORIZE $3.6
MILLION FOR PARK RANGERS WHO
WOULD SPECIFICALLY TARGET --
USERS.
THIS MEANS STOPPING THE
EXPANSION OF POLICING IN OUR
PARKS.
DO NOT FUND MORE COPS.
THANK YOU FOR LISTENING.
>> YOUR LAST SPEAKER THAT WE
HAVE SIGNED UP IS ROXANNE.
ROXANNE?
>> GOOD MORNING.
I WAS IN DISTRICT 3. I'M REALLY
CONCERNED ABOUT THE PROPOSAL TO
USE PARK LEVY FUNDS TO CREATE
PARK RANGER POSITIONS, AND THE
ABILITY OF THESE POSITIONS TO
USE TRESPASS ORDERS.
IT IS COPS BY ANOTHER NAME.
I DO NOT THINK THIS WILL MAKE
OUR PARKS ANY SAFER.
I WOULD URGE YOU TO USE CITY
FUNDING FOR REAL HOUSING, REAL
SERVICES THAT INCLUDE THE
PEOPLE THAT ARE EXPRESSING
HOMELESSNESS, BLACK LIVES
MATTER, AND BLACK PEOPLE ARE
DISPROPORTIONATELY AFFECTED BY
SWEEPS AND THE DISCARDING OF
THEIR BELONGINGS DURING THESE
SWEEPS.
PLEASE, PLEASE VOTE NO ON ANY
PART OF THE EXPANSION OF PARK
RANGERS.
THANK YOU.
>> THAT CONCLUDES OUR PUBLIC
COMMENT PERIOD FOR THE PUBLIC
SAFETY AND HUMAN SERVICES
COMMITTEE MEETING.
FOR THE PUBLIC RECORD I DO WANT
TO ALERT FOLKS THAT DISCUSSIONS
ABOUT THE PARKS LEVY, AS WELL
AS THE INCLUSION OF THE PARKS
RANGERS IS NOT HAPPENING IN THE
HUMAN SERVICES COMMITTEE.
IT IS HAPPENING IN THE SEATTLE
PARKS BOARD.
THAT BODY IS THE BODY OF THE
CITY COUNCIL.
THE NEXT MEETING FOR THAT BODY
IS ON THURSDAY AT 2:30 P.M.
IT WILL BE GOOD TO DIRECT YOUR
TESTIMONY IN THE FUTURE TO THE
COMMITTEE THAT IS HEARING THAT
LEGISLATION.
WITH THAT WE WILL MOVE ON TO
THE ITEMS ON OUR AGENDA TODAY.
WILL THE CLERK PLEASE CALL
AGENDA NUMBER ONE?
>> AGENDA ITEM 1 APPOINTMENT OF
FAISAL KHAN'S DIRECTOR OF
PUBLIC HEALTH SEATTLE AND KING
COUNTY.
>> THANK YOU.
GOOD MORNING.
WE APPRECIATE YOU BEING WITH US
THIS MORNING.
WE ARE JOINED BY DR. KOHN.
SENIOR DEPUTY MAYOR HAROLD,
COULD YOU INTRODUCE DR. KOHN?
>> THANK YOU FOR ALLOWING ME TO
JOIN YOU TODAY TO INTRODUCE --
JOINTLY APPOINTED NOMINEE AND
DIRECTOR OF SEATTLE AND KING
COUNTIES DIRECTOR OF PUBLIC
HEALTH.
THE LAST TWO YEARS HAVE PUT OUR
PUBLIC HEALTH IN THE SPOTLIGHT.
WE HAVE COLLECTIVELY RECOGNIZED
WHAT AN IMPRESSIVE AGENCY THE
PUBLIC HAS WORKING IN THEIR
SERVICE.
OUR TOP-NOTCH HEALTH DEPARTMENT
DESERVES A TOP-NOTCH LEADER,
WHICH WE HAVE FOUND IN DR. KOHN.
BOTH HAVE IDENTIFIED THIS
CAPABLE AND PROVEN LEADER, AND
MANAGER, FOR OUR CRITICAL KING
COUNTY DEPARTMENT OF PUBLIC
HEALTH.
DR. KOHN BRINGS A DEPTH AND
BREADTH OF EXPERIENCE WORKING IN
PUBLIC HEALTH SYSTEMS, BOTH
ACROSS THE UNITED STATES AND
ACROSS THE WORLD.
HE KNOWS WHAT WORKS AND WHAT
DOESN'T.
NOT ONLY CAN DR. KOHN MANAGE A
HIGH PROFILE ORGANIZATION, LIKE
SEATTLE KING COUNTY PUBLIC
HEALTH, HE DOES IT WHILE CARING
DEEPLY ABOUT THE PEOPLE IN HIS
APARTMENT AND IN THE COMMITTEE
AND DOING THE TIRELESS WORK.
DR. KHAN WAS ELECTED AFTER A
COUNTY SEARCH PROCESS, AS
DESCRIBED IN THE MAYOR'S COVER
LETTER TO YOU.
AN IMPRESSIVE 15 PERSON
SELECTION COMMITTEE HELPED
GUIDE THE SEARCH, INCLUDING
COMMUNITY ADVOCATES, PUBLIC
HEALTH LEADERS, AND OUR VERY OWN
COUNCILMEMBER. THIS HAS BEEN A
JOINTLY MADE APPOINTMENT BY
BOTH OF THE KING COUNTY COUNCIL
AND OF COURSE YOU AS A CITY
COUNCIL WILL ALSO CONSIDER DR.
KHAN'S NOMINATION.
IT WILL OCCUR IN JUST A MATTER
OF WEEKS, AS WELL AS HERE.
OUR PUBLIC HEALTH DEPARTMENT
MANAGES A GAMUT OF ISSUES FROM
COMMUNICABLE DISEASES TO
OVERDOSE PRODUCTION.
VIOLENCE INTERVENTION IS ALSO
THE WORK THAT WE WILL BE DOING
JOINTLY AROUND GUN VIOLENCE.
IT'S A DEPARTMENT THAT DESERVES
STRONG LEADERSHIP, WHICH WE
AGAIN HAVE FOUND IN DR. KHAN .
WITH THAT, IT IS MY PLEASURE
AND HONOR TO TURN THINGS OVER
DIRECTLY TO DR. FAISAL KHAN FOR
INTRODUCTION TO THE SEATTLE
CITY COUNCIL TODAY.
>> YOU SO MUCH.
DR. KHAN?
>> THANK YOU.
THANK YOU DEPUTY MAYOR AND
MEMBERS OF THE CITY COUNCIL.
IT'S AN HONOR TO BE HERE.
IT'S AN HONOR TO JOIN THE RANKS
OF THE PREMIER PUBLIC HEALTH
AGENCY IN THIS COUNTRY.
I BRING TO THE TABLE EXTENSIVE
LEADERSHIP EXPERIENCE AND
DIRECT PUBLIC HEALTH SERVICE
DELIVERY EXPERIENCE.
INCLUDING THE MOST CHALLENGING
PRICES THAT WE HAVE FACED IN
THE LAST 100 YEARS IN THE FORM
OF THE COVID-19 PANDEMIC.
THE LIST OF PUBLIC HEALTH
ISSUES TO DEAL WITH IS A LONG
ONE.
I HIT THE GROUND RUNNING.
I LOOK FORWARD TO LEARNING MORE
ABOUT THE SPECIFIC ISSUES IN
VARIOUS PARTS OF THIS REGION.
I'M PRIVILEGED TO WORK WITH AN
AMAZING TEAM HERE AT THE
DEPARTMENT.
I CAN ONLY PROMISE YOU --
CONVERSATIONS IN THE FUTURE.
AS WE SEEK TO TACKLE THIS LONG
LIST OF ISSUES THAT WE ARE
CONFRONTED WITH.
THANK YOU SO MUCH.
>> THANK YOU.
AS A BROUGHT TO ATTENTION
YESTERDAY DURING COUNCIL
BRIEFINGS, NORMALLY AN
APPOINTMENT LIKE THIS WOULD BE
DONE OVER TWO MEETINGS.
THE FIRST MEETING JUST BEING A
BRIEF INTRODUCTION.
THE SECOND MEETING WOULD BE A
MORE COMPREHENSIVE DELVING INTO
THE RESPONSES RECEIVED BY THE
APPOINTMENT TO QUESTIONS THE
COUNCIL PUT TOGETHER.
BECAUSE OF THE SHORT AMOUNT OF
TIME WE HAVE BEFORE GOING INTO
THE BUDGET PROCESS, AND IN
RECOGNITION THAT THIS IS A DUAL
BODY CONFIRMATION, THE SEATTLE
CITY COUNCIL CONFIRMS THE
APPOINTEE AS THE MAYOR'S
NOMINATION.
KING COUNTY COUNCIL DOES THE
SAME.
BECAUSE I DID NOT WANT TO LOSE
ANY TIME IN THIS PROCESS WE ARE
COMPRESSING THE TWO STEPS INTO
A SINGLE MEETING.
DR. KHAN WAS SO GOOD TO
QUICKLY RESPOND TO THE QUESTIONS
THAT THE COUNCIL PULLED
TOGETHER.
THOSE ARE ATTACHED TO THE
AGENDA.
BEFORE WE DIG INTO THOSE
QUESTIONS I WANT TO NOTE THAT
THERE WAS AN OVERSIGHT WHEN
THIS PARTICULAR ITEM WAS
ENTERED AND UPDATED INTO OUR
LEGISLATIVE DATABASE. AS A
RESULT THIS APPOINTMENT WAS NOT
ADDED TO THE INTRODUCTION
REFERRAL CALENDAR TO ALLOW FOR
A COMMITTEE LEVEL VOTE THIS
MORNING.
WHEN I SAY IT WILL NOT ALLOW
FOR A COMMITTEE VOTE THIS
MORNING, THAT IS A TECHNICAL
VOTE.
I'M HOPING THAT WE CAN EXPRESS,
SHOULD WE DECIDE TO DO SO,
EXPRESS OUR NONOFFICIAL SUPPORT
FOR THE NOMINATION MOVING ON TO
THE FULL COUNCIL ON SEPTEMBER
20th.
I KNOW THE COMMITTEE MEMBERS
HAVE PUT A LOT OF CARE AND TIME
INTO REVIEWING MATERIALS,
PROPOSING QUESTIONS, AND
CONSIDERING THIS NOMINATION AS
PART OF OUR OVERSIGHT
RESPONSIBILITY.
I AM INTENDING TO CALL FOR A
VOICE.
MAYBE NOT CALL IT A VOTE.
A VOICE OF SUPPORT AT THE END
OF THIS AGENDA ITEM, WHICH
AGAIN, UNOFFICIAL, WILL BE MADE
KNOWN PUBLICLY AND WILL
CONSTITUTE AN INFORMAL -- FROM
THE CITY.
I WANT TO GET THAT OUT THERE.
THIS ANOMALY HAS BEEN DISCUSSED
WITH THE MAYOR'S OFFICE AND WE
DECIDED THIS WOULD BE THE BEST
COURSE FORWARD.
I SO ENJOYED MEETING WITH DR.
KHAN IN THE MAYOR'S OFFICE TO
DISCUSS DR. KHAN'S PASSIONS AND
INTERESTS IN SERVING IN THIS
CAPACITY.
WE REVIEWED THIS PLAN AND HIS
INTEREST IN JOINING OUR
COMMUNITY.
HIS PROFESSIONAL HISTORY, HIS
ACCOMPLISHMENTS, I'M SO GLAD
YOU COULD JOIN US HERE THIS
MORNING.
DR. KHAN, I APPRECIATED YOUR
OPEN REMARKS.
WHAT MOTIVATES YOU TO WORK IN
PUBLIC HEALTH?
WHY ARE YOU INTERESTED IN
JOINING US HERE IN SEATTLE?
>> THANK YOU.
PUBLIC HEALTH, TO ME, IS A
PERSONAL AND PROFESSIONAL
MISSION IN LIFE.
PUBLIC SERVICE IS A CALLING.
I RECALL MY DAYS IN MED SCHOOL
WHEN MY COLLEAGUES WERE
CHOOSING EXCITING CAREERS IN
CLINICAL MEDICINE AND I WAS THE
NERD WHO WANTED TO FOCUS ON
PREVENTING DISEASE AND FINDING
OUT WHY IT IS THAT INDIVIDUALS,
COMMUNITIES, AND POPULATIONS
END UP WITH DECREASING HEALTH
STATUS INDICATORS TO BEGIN WITH.
OVER THE LAST 26 YEARS I HAVE
BUILT A CAREER IN PUBLIC HEALTH
THAT HAS TAKEN ME TO MANY
DIFFERENT COMPANIES.
SUB-SAHARAN AFRICA AND SOUTH
AFRICA.
AND THEN FINALLY TO THE UNITED
STATES, SOME 25 YEARS AGO.
I HAVE LIVED AND WORKED IN WEST
VIRGINIA, MASSACHUSETTS, RHODE
ISLAND, AND LATELY IN MISSOURI.
I'LL DIFFER PUBLIC HEALTH
SYSTEMS -- IN WHICH HOW PUBLIC
HEALTH ACTUALLY WORKS IN THE
UNITED STATES AND HOW IT
DELIVER SERVICES.
I'M AN INFECTIOUS DISEASE
EPIDEMIOLOGIST BY TRADING.
I COULD NOT HAVE IMAGINED THE
SCALE OF THE WORST PUBLIC
HEALTH CRISIS TO HAVE HIT THE
WORLD IN 100 YEARS WHEN IT
FINALLY HIT US IN EARLY 2020.
THROUGHOUT THE LAST 2 1/2 YEARS
, AS WE HAVE DEALT WITH THE
PANDEMIC, WE HAVE ALSO FOCUSED
ON TRYING TO RETAIN AND EMPOWER
THE PUBLIC HEALTH WORKFORCE WE
RELY ON HEAVILY.
THAT HAS BEEN AN ENTIRELY NEW
MISSION IN LIFE.
I PLACE A VERY HIGH PREMIUM ON
THOSE EFFORTS, LOOKING INTO THE
NEXT FIVE OR 10 YEARS.
I APPROACH MY JOB WITH HUMILITY
AND OPENNESS.
THANK YOU.
>> IS THERE MORE?
>> THAT'S IT.
THANK YOU.
>> MY APOLOGIES.
I AM WATCHING TO SEE IF ANY OF
MY COLLEAGUES HAVE QUESTIONS.
IF I.T.
IS LISTENING, OR PERHAPS IT'S
THE CLERK THAT NEEDS TO DO THIS,
I NEED TO BE ADDED AS A
PANELIST SO I CAN SEE THE NON-
PRESENT PARTICIPATING.
THANK YOU VERY MUCH.
I REALLY APPRECIATE IT.
I CAN SEE WHETHER OR NOT MY
COLLEAGUES ARE RAISING THEIR
HAND.
COUNCILMEMBER NELSON?
>> THANK YOU VERY MUCH.
I WILL DO ONE OF THOSE DELVING
INTO QUESTIONS HERE SINCE WE
ARE ON A COMPRESSED TIMESCALE.
EXCUSE ME, THIS MIGHT BE LONG.
DR. KHAN, IN A COUPLE OF YOUR
ANSWERS YOU SPOKE IN FAVOR
NOTING THAT EFFORTS IN KING
COUNTY FIZZLED OUT BECAUSE OF
PUBLIC SAFETY, IMPACT, AND
LEGAL STATUTORY CONCERNS.
YOU ALSO SAID THAT IN NEW YORK
CITY INITIAL REPORTS INDICATE
ONLY MINOR OPERATIONAL ISSUES.
I DID A LITTLE BIT OF RESEARCH
ON THIS INITIATIVE AND FOUND
THAT IT HAS NO PUBLIC FUNDING.
THAT RAISES QUESTIONS TO ME.
IN CALIFORNIA GOVERNOR GAVIN
NEWSOM VETOED -- ONCE IT WAS
ESTIMATED TO COST $2.6 MILLION.
I'M ALWAYS THINKING ABOUT
FUNDING TRADE-OFFS.
WHEN IT COMES TO DRUG DEPENDENCY
TREATMENT IS MY PRIORITY.
COST WAS A BIG CONCERN WHEN IT
WAS DEBATED WHEN SAFE INJECTION
SITES WERE DIVIDED IN KING
COUNTY.
IT WAS ONLY ABOUT PUBLIC SAFETY
AND LEGAL CONCERNS.
COST WAS AN ISSUE AS WELL.
ONE OF MY QUESTIONS ASKED ABOUT
TREATMENT. HOW CAN WE BETTER
INCORPORATE TREATMENT INTO OUR
RESPONSE FOR HOMELESSNESS?
YOU TALKED ABOUT FUNDING AS A
MAJOR BARRIER TO TREATMENT.
BUT ENTITIES SUCH AS SEATTLE
KING COUNTY PUBLIC HEALTH OUGHT
TO LOOK TOWARD INVESTING IN
TREATMENT.
IT COMES BACK TO LIMITED
RESOURCES.
I'M JUST WONDERING HOW YOU
BALANCE THAT.
YOU TALK TO, JUST A MOMENT AGO,
ABOUT PREVENTION.
OVERDOSE PREVENTION.
THE REASON I'M FOCUSED ON
TREATMENT IS BECAUSE IT GOES
EVEN FARTHER UPSTREAM IN
PREVENTING OVERDOSES BY HELPING
PEOPLE OVERCOME ADDICTION.
HOW DO YOU BALANCE THOSE TWO
POLICY ISSUES?
SAFE INJECTION SITES AND
INPATIENT OR OUTPATIENT
TREATMENT.
>> THANK YOU, COUNCILMEMBER
NELSON.
THIS IS NOT AN ISSUE THAT I
THINK IT'S GOING TO BE RESOLVED
IN THE SHORT TERM.
I SAY THAT ONLY BECAUSE YOU ARE
ACTUALLY RIGHT.
LONG-TERM FUNDING AND
SUSTAINABILITY REMAIN KEY
UNANSWERED QUESTIONS.
RESOURCES ARE LIMITED.
THE FEDERAL GOVERNMENT'S REAL
SOURCES ARE MADE AVAILABLE
THROUGH THE SUBSTANCE USE AND
MENTAL HEALTH SERVICES
ADMINISTRATION.
THEY ARE FAIRLY LIMITED AND
COME WITH STRICT RESTRICTIONS
ON WHAT THOSE FUNDS ARE USABLE
FOR.
JUST SWITCHING TRACKS A LITTLE.
THE NEW YORK CITY INITIATIVE IS
SOMETHING IM KEEPING A CLOSE
EYE ON IN TERMS OF FINDING OUT
WHAT THEIR EVALUATION, REPORTS,
AND DATA REVEAL SIX MONTHS FROM
NOW AND A YEAR FROM NOW.
THEIR CHALLENGE WILL BE LONG-
TERM SUSTAINABILITY AND FUNDING.
I'M ENCOURAGED TO SEE THAT
THERE IS A FAIR DEGREE OF
UNOFFICIAL, IF NOT OFFICIAL
COOPERATION BETWEEN LAW
ENFORCEMENT, ATTORNEYS OFFICE,
IT IS AN EXPERIMENT THAT IS
WORTH WATCHING AND KEEPING AN
EYE ON AND LEARNING FROM.
WHAT LESSONS WILL COME THROUGH
6 TO 11 MONTHS FROM NOW?
12 MONTHS FROM NOW?
WE SIMPLY DON'T KNOW YET.
ON THE TREATMENT FRONT THE
AVAILABILITY AND ACCESSIBILITY
OF TREATMENT OPTIONS THROUGHOUT
THE COMMUNITY IS A MAJOR
CHALLENGE.
UNLESS WE GET TO THAT POINT WE
WILL STRUGGLE TO DEAL WITH THIS
ISSUE.
THERE ISN'T ENOUGH FUNDING IN
THE PUBLIC SECTOR, GIVEN THE
WIDE VARIETY OF COMPETING
PRIORITIES WITHIN PUBLIC
HEALTH, TO SUSTAIN ANY SUCH
EFFORT OVER TIME.
WHETHER IT IS A COMBINATION OF
PUBLIC SECTOR, PRIVATE SECTOR,
COMBINED EFFORT, WHETHER IT IS
PRIVATE OR FOUNDATIONAL FUNDS
OR A COMBINATION OF PUBLIC
SECTOR FUNDS AND FEDERAL FUNDS
THAT ARE MADE AVAILABLE
SPECIFICALLY FOR THIS PURPOSE,
THAT REMAINS TO BE SEEN.
I'M ENCOURAGED TO SEE WHAT THE
OFFICE OF NATIONAL DRUG CONTROL
POLICY HAS, AND IS NOW
BEGINNING TO TALK ABOUT.
I DON'T KNOW WHAT STAGE OF THE
PROCESS THEY ARE AT.
THEY ARE BEGINNING TO ROLL OUT
THEIR PLANS IN TERMS OF
ADDRESSING TREATMENT OPTIONS
AND AVAILABILITY IN MAJOR METRO
AREAS.
HAS BEEN ONE OF THE MAJOR
DISCUSSION ITEMS THERE.
I'M EXCITED TO SEE WHAT THAT
LOOKS LIKE.
MY FEAR REMAINS THEY WILL TAKE
A ONE SOLUTION FITS ALL
APPROACH, WHICH MAY NOT HAVE
THE DESIRED RESULTS.
I LOOK FORWARD TO HAVING
FURTHER CONVERSATIONS ABOUT
THIS.
>> THANK YOU.
AS IT RELATES SPECIFICALLY TO
THE ISSUE, TWO THINGS I WANT TO
SAY, ALTHOUGH WE HAVE NOT BUILT
A BRICKS AND MORTAR SAFE
INJECTION OVERDOSE PREVENTION
FACILITY HERE IN KING COUNTY,
UNDER THE LEADERSHIP OF ROB
JOHNSON, I DID PROVIDE $1.5
MILLION INITIALLY FOR A BRICKS
AND MORTAR FACILITY.
THE DOLLARS WERE SENT TO KING
COUNTY PUBLIC HEALTH.
UNDER THEIR GUIDANCE AND
LEADERSHIP, RATHER THAN
INVESTING IN A BRICKS AND
MORTAR FACILITY, WE INSTEAD
INVESTED IN THE SERVICES IN
EXISTING FACILITIES THAT
PROVIDE TREATMENT AND SEE THIS
POPULATION OF FOLKS WITH
SUBSTANCE ABUSE DISORDER.
I JUST WANT TO CLARIFY THE
OUTCOME OF OUR INVESTMENTS IN
THESE LIFE-SAVING SERVICES.
AS IT RELATES TO FUNDING FOR
TREATMENT, I WANT TO BRING TO
YOUR ATTENTION, DR. KHAN, THE
OPIOID DISTRIBUTOR SETTLEMENT,
AND THE FACT WE HAVE 11 DAYS
UNTIL THE SIGN-ON DEADLINE FOR
THAT SETTLEMENT.
I UNDERSTAND, FROM THE STATE
AG, THAT IF WE DO NOT HAVE 116
OF THE 125 ELIGIBLE LOCAL
GOVERNMENTS RETURN A
PARTICIPATION FORM, NEITHER THE
STATE NOR LOCAL GOVERNMENT WILL
RECEIVE ANY OF THE $518 MILLION
SETTLEMENT.
40 ELIGIBLE JURISDICTIONS ARE
FROM KING COUNTY.
I DO NOT KNOW IF ANY OF THOSE
40 ELIGIBLE JURISDICTIONS HAVE
NOT SENT IN THEIR PARTICIPATION
FORM YET.
GIVEN YOUR FRESHNESS ON THE
JOB, IF YOU DETERMINE WHETHER
OR NOT ANY KING COUNTY
JURISDICTIONS ARE DOING SO OR
HAVE NOT DONE SO.
I AM REQUESTING, IF YOU HAVEN'T
ALREADY OR THE KING COUNTY
BOARD OF HEALTH HAS A LOOK
FURTHER INTO THE ISSUE, THAT WE
DON'T LOSE $518 MILLION IN
PUBLIC FUNDING BECAUSE OF LACK
OF PARTICIPATION OF A KING
COUNTY BOARD OF HEALTH OR
JURISDICTION.
ONE QUESTION I DID WANT TO ASK,
IT RELATES TO A STATEMENT I
MADE EARLIER ABOUT THE FACT THE
NOMINATION IS PUT FORWARD BY
BOTH THE MAYOR AND THE COUNTY
EXECUTIVE AND MUST BE CONFIRMED
BY BOTH THE SEATTLE CITY
COUNCIL AND THE KING COUNTY
CITY COUNCIL.
THE CITY OF SEATTLE ALSO HAS
OVERSIGHT OF THE WORK.
I'M WONDERING, AS THE DIRECTOR,
DR. KHAN, YOU WILL HAVE
RESPONSIBILITY OF BOTH
ENTITIES.
I'M HOPING YOU CAN SPEAK TO
HOW YOU CAN MANAGE THE NUANCE
OF HAVING A RESPONSIBILITY BOTH
TO THE CITY AND THE COUNTY, AND
HOW YOU WILL HANDLE IT IN CASES
WHERE THERE IS CONFLICT OR A
DIFFERENCE BETWEEN THE TWO.
>> DIPLOMACY IS A SKILL THAT I
HAVE PRACTICED AND POLISHED
OVER THE LAST 25 YEARS.
I WOULD EXPECT TO DEPLOY IT IN
GENEROUS AMOUNTS IN NEGOTIATING
ANY SUCH POINTS OF CONFLICT.
CLARITY OF COMMUNICATION, AND
MANAGING EXPECTATIONS, IS MY
JOB.
I WOULD EXPECT TO MAINTAIN
CLEAR CHANNELS OF COMMUNICATION
WITH BOTH OF THE CITY AND THE
COUNTY TO MAKE SURE THE PUBLIC
HEALTH AGENDA REMAINS SOMETHING
THAT WE CONTINUE TO DISCUSS OUT
OF GREATER DETAIL.
YES, THE BAND WITH THE OFF OF
THE PUBLIC HEALTH WORKFORCE AND
THE RESOURCES AVAILABLE TO US
ARE FINITE.
IT IS TRUE THAT PUBLIC HEALTH
CANNOT TAKE ON ENDLESS WORK OR
úEVERY NEW ISSUE THAT COMES
ALONG.
WE HAVE GOT TO FIGURE OUT HOW
TO DISTRIBUTE THE WORKLOAD AND
HOW TO MANAGE EXPECTATIONS.
IN THOSE INSTANCES MY HOPE
WOULD BE TO REACH OUT AND TO
HAVE MEANINGFUL CONVERSATIONS
AND BUILD A RAPPORT WITH
COUNCILMEMBERS, AIDES, AND
STAFF.
WHETHER THE ANSWER IS, YES, WE
HAVE AGREEMENT.
OR WE WILL PUT THIS ON THE BACK
BURNER. THERE NEEDS TO BE CLEAR
COMMUNICATION ABOUT THAT AND A
CLEAR UNDERSTANDING ACROSS BOTH
PARTS INVOLVED.
EASIER SAID THAN DONE, I KNOW.
I'M SURE THERE WILL BE POINTS
OF CONFUSION AND TENSION.
BUT HOPE TO NEGOTIATE THOSE
INDIVIDUALLY AS THEY DEVELOP.
THANK YOU.
>> THANK YOU.
I NEED TO SEE IF MY COLLEAGUES
HAVE ADDITIONAL QUESTIONS THAT
THEY WANT TO INCLUDE HERE.
>> LET'S SEE.
ONE OTHER IMPORTANT QUESTION I
WANT TO PUT ON THE TABLE.
AS WE KNOW, THE PAST TWO AND
HALF YEARS HAVE BEEN INCREDIBLE
FOR THE PUBLIC HEALTH
WORKFORCE, WHICH WAS DEPLETED
BEFORE THE PANDEMIC AND THEN
ASKED TO STEP UP VERY QUICKLY
TO LEAD RESPONSE, SAVE LIVES.
WE HAVE DONE THIS VERY
EFFECTIVE IN KING COUNTY.
WE REALLY OWE THEM A DEBT OF
GRATITUDE.
I'M WONDERING IF YOU CAN SAY A
FEW WORDS ABOUT HOW YOU WOULD
APPROACH LEADING AN
ORGANIZATION WITH AN EXHAUSTED
WORKFORCE, FOR WHICH WE ARE
VERY GRATEFUL.
>> THAT IS PRIORITY ONE FOR ME.
PERSONALLY AND PROFESSIONALLY.
HAVING EXPERIENCED THE ENERGY
SAPPING EXERCISE DURING THE
PANDEMIC OVER THE LAST TWO
YEARS.
I STATED EARLIER THAT YOU ARE
FORTUNATE TO HAVE, AT YOUR
SERVICE, ONE OF THE BEST PUBLIC
HEALTH AGENCIES IN THE COUNTRY.
AND THAT MEANS ONE OF THE BEST
WORKFORCES IN THE COUNTRY.
THAT WORKFORCE IS AVERAGING
GOOD PEOPLE, QUALIFIED STAFF,
EXPERIENCED STAFF.
WE NEED TO STOP THAT TO THE
BEST OF OUR ABILITY. DO
WHATEVER WE CAN TO TAKE CARE OF
THOSE PEOPLE.
OUR TEAMS ARE EXHAUSTED.
THEY ARE MENTALLY, PHYSICALLY,
SOCIALLY, AND EMOTIONALLY
DRAINED AS A RESULT OF WHAT
THEY HAVE HAD TO DO DURING THE
PANDEMIC.
THEY ARE MOSTLY UNDERPAID AND
UNDERAPPRECIATED OF THE BEST OF
DAYS.
THAT IS THE LOT OF PUBLIC
HEALTH NATIONWIDE.
MY PERSONAL GOAL IS TO MAKE
SURE WE OFFER THEM FLEXIBLE
WORK SCHEDULES, MAKE THEIR JOBS
AS ENJOYABLE AS POSSIBLE BY RE-
ENGAGING THEM IN MEANINGFUL
DEVELOPMENTAL WORK. PERSONALLY
AND PROFESSIONALLY.
LINKAGES TO THE WORLD OF
ACADEMIA, ET CETERA, TO GIVE
THEM THE OPPORTUNITY TO GROW AS
PROFESSIONALS.
THAT WILL BE A LONG-TERM
PROSPECT.
THE PIPELINE OF NEW TALENT
COMING INTO THE PUBLIC SECTOR
WORKFORCE IS GROWING.
OPENING UP THAT SPIGOT ONCE
AGAIN, NURTURING THOSE
INDIVIDUALS INTO ENTRY-LEVEL
JOBS SO THAT THEY ARE READY TO
TAKE OVER THE REINS OF PUBLIC
HEALTH 20 OR 25 YEARS INTO THE
FUTURE WILL BE THE MOST
INSURMOUNTABLE CHALLENGE IN
FRONT OF US.
I AM COMMITTED TO MAKING THAT A
POSSIBILITY INTO REALITY IN THE
FUTURE.
I LOOK FORWARD TO ENGAGING ALL
COUNCILMEMBERS AND ENTERTAINING
ALL IDEAS YOU MIGHT HAVE.
MY PRIMARY JOB IS TO TAKE CARE
OF THE PEOPLE THAT TAKE CARE OF
THE PEOPLE.
TO HELP THEM RECOVER, TO HELP
THEM RECHARGE AND BECOME MORE
RESILIENT TO FACE ALL OF THE
PUBLIC HEALTH CHALLENGES.
THANK YOU.
>> THANK YOU.
I APPRECIATE YOUR THOROUGH
WRITTEN QUESTIONS AND YOUR
SINCERE AND FRANK RESPONSES
TODAY.
COUNCILMEMBER MOSQUEDA?
>> THINK YOU VERY MUCH . DR.
KHAN, VERY NICE TO MEET YOU.
I'M EXCITED ABOUT EXPERIENCE
AND PERSPECTIVE THAT YOU BRING
FROM YOUR PAST WORK.
I'M EXCITED TO HAVE SOMEONE OF
YOUR CALIBER IN PUBLIC HEALTH
SEATTLE KING COUNTY.
MY FORMER MENTOR WAS PATTY
HAYES.
I WORKED WITH HER AT THE STATE
DEPARTMENT OF HEALTH.
STILL VERY MUCH FOLLOW
EVERYTHING SHE SAYS.
AS YOU GET INTO THIS NEW ROLL I
HOPE THE ENTIRE COMMUNITY
FOLLOWS EVERYTHING YOU SAY AS
WELL.
WE ARE IN SUCH A CRITICAL TIME.
WE HOPE TO WORK IN TANDEM WITH
YOU, BOTH AT THE STATE,
FEDERAL, AND REGIONAL LEVELS TO
MAKE SURE WE RECEIVE THE
FUNDING NEEDED IN THESE TIMES.
AS PATTY HAS SAID IN THE PAST,
WHEN I WORKED WITH HER, PUBLIC
HEALTH IS DONE BEST WHEN NOBODY
KNOWS ABOUT IT.
IT'S ONLY ONE PUBLIC HEALTH
SYSTEMS FAIL THAT PEOPLE START
TO WONDER, WHY IS MY WATER
BROWN?
WHY AREN'T SYSTEMS WORKING?
YOU ARE COMING INTO ONE OF THE
BEST PUBLIC HEALTH SYSTEMS IN
THE COUNTRY.
AND YET WE ARE CHRONICALLY
UNDER RESOURCED AS WELL.
I LOOK FORWARD TO WORKING WITH
YOU TO MAKE SURE YOU HAVE THE
SUPPORT, YOU HAVE THE PLATFORM
TO GET YOUR MESSAGE OUT, AND
YOU HAVE THE RESOURCES TO DO
YOUR JOB WELL.
I JUST WANT TO THANK YOU AND
YOUR TEAM, WHO HAVE BEEN
HOLDING DOWN THE FORT IN THE
TRANSITION OF THIS PANDEMIC.
I STRONGLY SUPPORT YOUR
NOMINATION AND GREATLY
APPRECIATE MAYOR HARRELL AND
EXECUTIVE CONSTANTINE FOR THEIR
LEADERSHIP IN SELECTING YOU AND
THE ENTIRE NOMINATION TEAM THAT
SENIOR DEPUTY MAYOR HARRELL
OPENED IN HER REMARKS.
A LOT OF PEOPLE SUPPORT YOU AND
WE ARE THANKFUL THAT YOU CHOOSE
SEATTLE TO CALL YOUR NEW HOME.
>> THANK YOU AGAIN FOR YOUR
PARTICIPATION IN THIS SELECTION
PROCESS AS WELL.
AT THIS TIME I WOULDST REQUEST
THAT INFORMATION FROM OUR
COMMITTEE MEMBERS BY VOICE VOTE.
I'M WONDERING IF COMMUNITY
MEMBERS IN SUPPORT OF DR.
KHAN'S NOMINATION AS DIRECTOR
OF SEATTLE KING COUNTY PUBLIC
HEALTH.
SUPPORT?
>> SUPPORT.
SUPPORT.
>> SUPPORT.
>> EXCELLENT.
THANK YOU SO MUCH.
NINE OPPOSED.
NO ABSTENTIONS.
THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR YOUR
PARTICIPATION IN THIS
NOMINATION PROCESS, DR. KHAN.
AND FOR BRINGING YOUR KNOWLEDGE
TO BENEFIT THE PEOPLE OF
SEATTLE AND KING COUNTY.
SENIOR DEPUTY MAYOR HARRELL TO
THANK YOU FOR JOINING US THIS
MORNING TO INTRODUCE DR. KHAN.
>> THANK YOU.
>> MOVING ON.
WILL THE CLERK PLEASE READ AN
AGENDA ITEM NUMBER TWO?
>> AGENDA ITEM 2 IS APPOINTMENT
02332.
APPOINTMENT OF GINO BETTS JR.
AS DIRECTOR OF THE OFFICE OF
POLICE ACCOUNTABILITY, FOR A
TERM TO DECEMBER 31, 2022.
>> I WOULD LOVE IF YOU COULD
INTRODUCE GINO BETTS JR. AND
IF YOU COULD SAY A BIT ABOUT
THE SELECTION PROCESS THAT
WOULD BE HELPFUL AS WELL.
>> WONDERFUL.
THANK YOU SO MUCH.
AGAIN, THANK YOU COUNCILMEMBER
AND THE HUMAN SERVICES
COMMITTEE.
IT IS MY PLEASURE TO BE BEFORE
YOU TODAY TO INTRODUCE MAYOR
HARRELL'S NOMINEE FOR DIRECTOR
OF THE OFFICE OF POLICE
ACCOUNTABILITY, GINO BETTS JR.
YOU WILL RECALL THAT OUR LEGAL
COUNSEL INTRODUCED HIM TO YOU
IN THE LAST MEETING, SHOWING
HIS IMPRESSIVE CREDENTIALS AND
INFORMATION ABOUT THE CANDIDATE
SEARCH PROCESS.
I CAN ANSWER ANY ADDITIONAL
QUESTIONS IF YOU NEE.
WITH GINA WE HAVE SOMEONE
DEDICATED TO FAIRNESS,
TRANSPARENCY, AND
ACCOUNTABILITY.
ALL CHARACTERISTICS SEATTLE
LIKES IN AND ACCOUNTABILITY
LEADER.
HE WILL SERVE AS INTERIM
DIRECTOR.
HE HAS BEEN MEETING WITH
COMMUNITY GROUPS,
ACCOUNTABILITY PARTNERS,
GETTING TO HIS OFFICE STAFF,
AND IN THE TIME SINCE HIS LAST
APPEARANCE HE HAS REACHED OUT
AND OFFERED TO MEET
INDIVIDUALLY WITH EACH OF YOU.
HOPEFULLY SOME OF YOU HAVE HAD
AN OPPORTUNITY TO TAKE HIM UP
ON THAT OFFER.
FOR THOSE FORTUNATE ENOUGH TO
HAVE THE OPPORTUNITY TO CONNECT
WITH HIM, I'M HOPING YOU HAVE
BEEN AS IMPRESSED WITH HIM AS I
AM IN HIS LIVED EXPERIENCE, HIS
PROFESSIONAL RECORD, AND HIS
VISION FOR ACCOUNTABILITY IN
OUR CITY.
I KNOW ALL OF YOU ARE NOT HERE
TO HEAR FROM ME.
I THINK YOU FOR ALLOWING OUR
LEGAL COUNSEL TO PRESENT GINO
HIM AS A COOK -- AS I TOOK A
RARE VACATION.
IN THE SHORT TWO MONTHS ON THE
JOB GINO HAS IMPRESSED ME.
HE'S BROUGHT A RENEWED SENSE OF
ENERGY AND CHANGE THE OPA.
I TRUST YOU WILL FIND THAT HE
WILL MAKE AN EXCELLENT
DIRECTOR.
I WILL NOTE THAT A TRUSTED
ACCOUNTABILITY SYSTEM IS THE
ONLY WAY WE ARE GOING TO ACHIEVE
FULL AND EFFECTIVE COMPLIANCE
WITH THE FEDERAL CONSENT TO
CREATE, WHICH IS WHY MAYOR
HARRELL DID NOT MAKE HIS
DECISION TO APPOINT GINO BETTS
JR. LATELY.
WITH THAT I WOULD LOVE TO
PRESENT GINO TO YOU.
AND TO OFFER INTRODUCTORY
REMARKS AND TAKE QUESTIONS.
I WILL ALSO ADD THAT I HEARD
YESTERDAY THAT IT SHOULD BE A
GOOD TIME TO MEET GINO IN THE
CITY OF SEATTLE.
HOPEFULLY THAT FOLLOWS YOU,
GINO.
I WILL TURN IT OVER TO YOU.
>> THANK YOU.
>> GOOD MORNING.
IT IS INDEED A GOOD MORNING,
COMING OFF OF A SEAHAWKS
VICTORY LAST NIGHT.
MY NAME IS GINO BETTS JR.
THANK YOU, SENIOR DEPUTY MAYOR
HARRELL FOR YOUR COMMENTS.
THANK YOU FOR YOUR CONSIDERATION
OF ME AS OPA DIRECTOR.
I ALSO WANT TO THANK YOU FOR
THE SECOND OPPORTUNITY TO
APPEAR BEFORE YOUR COMMITTEE.
MY LAST APPEARANCE, I HAD A
CHANCE TO OUTLINE MY PERSONAL
AND PROFESSIONAL EXPERIENCES.
BOTH HAVE PREPARED ME FOR THIS
OPPORTUNITY.
AS A BOY IN CHICAGO'S INNER-
CITY I WAS ROUTINELY SUBJECTED
TO UNCONSTITUTIONAL POLICE
PRACTICES.
I GREW UP TO FIGHT AGAINST
POLICE MISCONDUCT AS AN ATTORNEY
. I SERVED AS A COMMUNITY
JUSTICE ASSISTANT ATTORNEY,
WHERE THEY WORK SIDE-BY-SIDE
WITH COMMUNITY LEADERS AND
LOCAL STAKEHOLDERS TO REDUCE
VIOLENCE AND PROBLEM SOLVE
CONCERNS ON CHICAGO'S SOUTH
SIDE.
LAST TIME I ALSO LEFT YOU WITH
LITTLE COMMITMENTS.
COMMITTED TO AVAILING MYSELF
FOR ONE-ON-ONE CONVERSATIONS
WITH EACH OF YOU.
I WANT TO THANK YOU TO ALL WHO
ARE AVAILABLE FOR THOSE
MEETINGS.
I APPRECIATED YOUR INSIGHT AND
YOUR QUESTIONS.
I LOOK FORWARD TO WORKING WITH
ANY OF THOSE THAT WERE
UNAVAILABLE FOR THOSE MEETINGS.
I AM FURTHER COMMITTED TO
BRINGING OPA CLOSER TO THE
COMMUNITY.
SINCE THEN I HAVE STARTED
REACHING OUT FOR MEANINGFUL AND
VALUABLE COMMUNITY INPUT.
SPECIFICALLY, I MET WITH THE
LOCAL NAACP OFFICIALS, POWER
WASHINGTON, THE CPC, AND
OTHERS, TO UNDERSTAND PUBLIC
EXPECTATIONS FOR THE OPA
DIRECTOR.
I ALSO COMMITTED TO WORKING
CLOSELY WITH OVERSIGHT WORKERS
TO INCREASE PUBLIC CONFIDENCE
IN THE POLICE ACCOUNTABILITY
SYSTEM.
TO THAT END I HAVE MET WITH ALL
STAKEHOLDERS AND LEFT
ENCOURAGED BY THEIR HARD WORK
AND DEDICATION TO MAKING
SEATTLE A NATIONAL MODEL FOR
POLICE OVERSIGHT.
I APPRECIATE THAT THESE ARE
JUST THE BEGINNING STEPS OF A
VERY LONG JOURNEY TOWARD
HEALING, UNITY, AND
RECONCILIATION.
IF CONFIRMED BY FURTHER COMMIT
TO TAKING THIS JOURNEY WITH YOU
EACH STEP OF THE WAY.
THANK YOU AND I LOOK FORWARD TO
ANY QUESTIONS YOU MAY HAVE.
>> THANK YOU SO MUCH.
WE APPRECIATE EVERYTHING YOU
HAVE BEEN DOING IN THIS ROLL
SINCE YOU HAVE TAKEN ON THE
POSITION.
AS OF AUGUST 1st YOU HAVE
FULFILLED YOUR COMMITMENTS TO
US.
AND YOU BEGAN THE IMPORTANT
ENGAGEMENT THAT WILL BE SO
SUCCESSFUL FOR YOU TO BUILD
TRUST.
AS YOU SAY, THE MOST IMPORTANT
MEASURE OF SUCCESS IN THIS ROLL
IS COMMUNITY TRUST IN THE
POLICE ACCOUNTABILITY SYSTEM.
I REALLY ENJOYED READING YOUR
REMARKS IN THE WRITTEN
QUESTIONNAIRE.
I HAVE ENJOYED MEETING WITH YOU
IN BOTH OF THE HEARING
COMMITTEE AND THE SELECTION
PROCESS INTERVIEWS.
I REALLY APPRECIATE HOW CLEAR
YOU ARE ABOUT YOUR POSITIONS.
OFTEN ANSWERS THAT WE RECEIVED
THESE CONFIRMATION QUESTIONS
ARE ANSWERED THAT ARE DESIGNED
TO PLEASE EVERYONE.
I REALLY APPRECIATE TWO ISSUES
IN PARTICULAR THAT I THINK
SEATTLE HAS HAD DIFFERENT
EXPERIENCES WITH IN OUR
LEADERSHIP OF THE OPA.
YOUR STEADFAST COMMITMENT TO
RULE ON OPA CASES BASED ON THE
MERITS OF THE CASE RATHER THAN
A CONCERN ABOUT HOW THEY MIGHT
FARE IN THE OUTCOME OF AN APPEAL
IS VERY, VERY IMPORTANT TO THE
INTEGRITY OF THE OPA
INVESTIGATION SYSTEM.
IF THERE ARE OTHER PROBLEMS IN
THE DISCIPLINE SYSTEM THEY
SHOULD BE DEALT WITH THERE.
BY ENSURING YOU ARE MAKING YOUR
DECISIONS NOT BASED ON A FEAR
OR CONCERN THAT A CASE MIGHT BE
OVERTURNED IN APPEAL YOU ARE
ALLOWING A BRIGHT LIGHT ON THE
SUCCESS OF THE OPA SYSTEM, AND
ALSO A BRIGHT LIGHT ON AREAS OF
CONCERN.
I ALSO APPRECIATE, KNOWING OF
YOUR BACKGROUND, COMING FROM AN
ACCOUNTABILITY SYSTEM THAT HAS
A CIVILIAN ICED INVESTIGATION,
AND APPRECIATE YOUR STRONG
SUPPORT FOR A FULLY CIVILIAN
ICED OPA INVESTIGATION SYSTEM.
THAT IS A REALLY IMPORTANT
ISSUE TO THE COMMUNITY, AS YOU
PROBABLY HEARD IN PUBLIC
COMMENT TODAY.
ONE THING I DO WANT TO MAKE
CLEAR FOR THE PUBLIC IS THE
2017 ACCOUNTABILITY ORDINANCE
DOES REQUIRE 100%
CIVILIANIZATION.
THAT ORDINANCE WAS, IN 2017,
FULLY SUPPORTED BY THE COUNCIL,
INCLUDED BY MYSELF.
THIS IS A MOVE THAT
HISTORICALLY THERE HAS BEEN
STRONG SUPPORT FOR.
WE DO RECOGNIZE THAT THOSE ARE
ITEMS THAT NEED TO BE BARGAINED
AND WOULD THINK IT WOULD BE
REALLY IMPORTANT AND VALUABLE
TO HAVE YOUR PARTNERSHIP IN THE
ROLL THAT WE HAVE CARVED OUT
FOR OUR ACCOUNTABILITY PARTNERS
IN THE BARGAINING PROCESS.
I'M REALLY IMPRESSED WITH YOUR
EXPERIENCE, YOUR PASSION FOR
THE WORK, AND YOUR STRONG VISION
FOR WHAT ACCOUNTABILITY MEANS
AND WHAT SUCCESS FOR AN
ACCOUNTABILITY SYSTEM WOULD
LOOK LIKE.
I DO WANT TO ASK A QUESTION.
YOU USE THE WORD, RADICAL
TRANSPARENCY, AND ONE OF HER
QUESTIONS.
I'M WONDERING, ARE THERE THINGS
THAT YOU THINK OF AS RADICAL
TRANSPARENCY THAT HISTORICALLY
HAVE NOT BEEN DOING, THAT WE
SHOULD BE DOING?
WE TALK ABOUT TRANSPARENCY.
THERE IS A LOT OF GOOD
TRANSPARENCY WITH OPA, WITH
GETTING OUT INFORMATION ABOUT
THE STATUS OF CASES WITH HAVING
AN ADVOCATE WHO COMMUNICATES
ABOUT THE STATUS OF CASES, AND
ALSO ABOUT PUTTING INFORMATION
OUT. WHAT DO YOU SEE AS RADICAL
TRANSPARENCY THAT MIGHT BE
SOMETHING NEW THAT WE SHOULD BE
DOING?
>> THE NEXT STEPS IN
TRANSPARENCY WOULD BE TO
RELEASE ALL POLICE VIDEO.
BODY WORN VIDEO, IN CAR VIDEO,
POLICE REPORTS, ANYTHING THAT
WE HAVE ON HAND THAT THE PUBLIC
CAN SCRUTINIZE. HOW DID YOU
ASSESS THIS?
WE SAW THIS OURSELVES.
SO THEY CAN TAKE US TO TASK AND
WE CAN JUSTIFY AT THAT POINT.
THAT IS MY POSITION.
WE SHOULD BE HEADING IN THAT
DIRECTION.
SPECIFICALLY, I WOULD LIKE TO
SEE IT DONE EXPEDITIOUSLY.
I WOULD LIKE TO SEE IT WITHIN
30 DAYS OF THE COMPLAINT BEING
FILED.
>> THANK YOU.
COUNCILMEMBER MOSQUEDA?
>> THANK YOU.
I DID NOT WANT TO INTERRUPT THE
FLOW IF YOU HAD OTHER QUESTIONS
AS WELL.
I DID NOT GET THE CHANCE TO
MEET YOU AT THE LAST MEETING.
I WANTED TO SAY, THANK YOU FOR
YOUR INTEREST IN THIS POSITION.
I DO LIKE THE TERM RADICAL
TRANSPARENCY.
I AM AGGRESSIVELY ELABORATIVE.
I LIKE THE MERGING OF THOSE TWO
WORDS.
I ALSO HAVE OUTSTANDING
QUESTIONS TO OUR COMMUNITY
MEMBERS AS WELL.
I WANTED TO ASK YOU A FEW
QUESTIONS.
MADAM CHAIR, IF YOU NEED TO GO
TO OTHER COUNCILMEMBERS FEEL
FREE TO CUT ME OFF.
IN THE QUESTION AND ANSWER, ONE
OF THE EXTRA STEPS WOULD YOU
MAKE SURE THE SUGGESTED POLICY
CHANGE ACTUALLY RESULTS IN HARM
REDUCTION OR BIAS POLICING?
I DO NOT SEE AN ANSWER THAT
SPECIFICALLY SPOKE TO HARM
REDUCTION OR BIAS FREE
POLICING.
COULD YOU ELABORATE MORE ON
WHAT YOU WOULD LIKE TO DO IN
THIS POSITION?
ESPECIALLY UNBIASED POLICING.
>> WE DO REVIEW ALLEGATIONS OF
BIAS.
WE INVESTIGATE THOSE MATTERS
THOROUGHLY, OBJECTIVELY,
COMPLETELY.
THE PART OF THE QUESTION I KIND
OF FOCUSED ON WAS WHAT STEPS I
WOULD TAKE IF SPD WAS RESISTANT
TO THE REFORMS THAT WE
RECOMMENDED.
SPECIFICALLY, I DO BELIEVE IN
ENGAGING OUR OVERSIGHT PARTNERS.
IF THAT IS INSUFFICIENT TO GET
THE JOB DONE I ALSO BELIEVE IN
MAKING A CASE DIRECTLY TO THE
PEOPLE.
THE PEOPLE IN SEATTLE HAVE NOT
BEEN SHY ABOUT DEMANDING WHAT
THEY DEEM TO BE APPROPRIATE IN
COMMUNITY-BASED POLICING.
I BELIEVE IN MAKING THAT CASE
DIRECTLY TO THE PEOPLE.
THE PEOPLE THAT DEMONSTRATED
THAT THEY CAN TAKE IT FROM THERE
AND MAKE THEIR VOICE HEARD AND
THEIR DEMANDS CLEAR.
>> I WILL DO A QUICK FOLLOW-UP.
I THINK YOU ARE TOUCHING ON
SOME OF THE RESTRICTIONS ON
THIS POSITION.
THE FACT THAT THE OPA HAS
ENFORCEMENT AUTHORITY AS THE
CHALLENGE.
JUST BEING IN A POSITION TO
MAKE RECOMMENDATIONS TO SPD FOR
POTENTIAL DISCIPLINARY ACTION
OR POLICY CHANGES MIGHT NOT
ACTUALLY BE IMPLEMENTED.
YOU HAVE THOUGHTS ABOUT HOW TO
STRENGTHEN YOUR ROLL ? OR HOW
TO ENSURE THAT THE OPA'S
RECOMMENDATIONS ARE CONSISTENTLY
RESPONDED TO IF THEY ARE
DISREGARDED.
>> I'M ENCOURAGED BY OUR PAST
RELATIONSHIP WITH SPD.
THE GROSS MAJORITY OF OUR
RECOMMENDATIONS HAVE BEEN FULLY
IMPLEMENTED.
SOME OF THEM WERE PARTIALLY
IMPLEMENT IT.
THERE ARE CIRCUMSTANCES WHERE
NONE OF THEM HAVE BEEN
IMPLEMENTED.
WHEN THAT HAPPENS, AGAIN, I
BELIEVE THERE ARE ALTERNATIVE
RESPONSES THAT WE CAN MAKE,
INCLUDING ENGAGING OUR PARTNER
STAKEHOLDERS.
>> I BELIEVE THERE ARE FIVE
THAT WERE NOT IMPLEMENTED IN
2021. PROBABLY AROUND 26.
THOSE ARE ALL ON THE DASHBOARD.
ONE OF THE POINTS THAT I'M
HEARING IS THERE HAVE BEEN
EFFORTS TO PUSH OUT THE
PROGRESS, OR LACK THERE OF, OF
IMPLEMENTATION OF SPD
MANAGEMENT ACTION
RECOMMENDATIONS FROM THE OPA,
AND TO MAKE THAT PUBLIC.
I HEAR MR. GINO BETTS JR.
SAYING THAT SIMPLY BEING
TRANSPARENT ABOUT THOSE
RECOMMENDATIONS AND THE STATUS
OF THEM IS INSUFFICIENT.
I THINK I'M HEARING THIS
CONCEPT OF RADICAL TRANSPARENCY
AND MAYBE GOING OUT TO ENGAGE
WITH COMMUNITY IN A MORE
PROACTIVE WAY ABOUT THE STATUS
OF IMPLEMENTED MANAGEMENT
RECOMMENDATIONS.
IT MIGHT BE WARRANTED IN SOME
CASES, DEPENDING ON WHETHER OR
NOT THEY ARE MINOR OR VERY
CRITICAL RECOMMENDATIONS.
OF THE FIVE THAT HAVE NOT BEEN
IMPLEMENTED, THEY AREN'T ALL OF
THE SAME NATURE.
>> RIGHT.
I DO AGREE THE COMMUNITY SHOULD
HAVE INPUT ON ANY POLICY
RECOMMENDATIONS. WE WANT TO
MAKE SURE THE POLICY MEETS THE
NEEDS OF THE COMMUNITY.
THAT IS TOP PRIORITY.
THAT IS THE FRONT END
ACCOUNTABILITY PORTION.
WHEN IT COMES TO THE BACK AND
ACCOUNTABILITY OF INVESTIGATING
INDIVIDUAL CASES, I DO BELIEVE
I NEED AUTONOMY AND SPACE TO
EVALUATE EACH CASE ON A CASE-BY-
CASE BASIS WITHOUT ANY EXTERNAL
INFLUENCES.
WHETHER IT IS SPD OR THE
COMMUNITY FOR THAT MATTER.
>> I HAVE A QUESTION ABOUT YOUR
QUESTION.
>> COUNCILMEMBER MOSQUEDA, CAN
WE SWITCH OVER TO COUNCIL
MEMBER NELSON?
>> THAT SOUNDS GOOD.
I WILL HOLD QUESTIONS FOR THE
OTHER COLLEAGUES.
>> COUNCIL MEMBER NELSON?
>> I DON'T KNOW ENOUGH ABOUT
THE DIVISION OF LABOR BETWEEN
OPA AND THE OTHER BODIES OF OUR
ACCOUNTABILITY SYSTEM.
WHEN YOU SAID THERE IS MORE
TRANSPARENCY, THAT THEY SHOULD
GO OUT INTO THE COMMUNITY TO
TALK ABOUT ACCEPTED
RECOMMENDATIONS, ARE THEY
SUPPOSED TO DO THAT?
OR DOES OPA WORK WITH CPC TO
ENGAGE COMMUNITY?
WHAT ARE THE BODIES?
I ASK BECAUSE I'M SURE THE
INVESTIGATORY BODY OF WORK IS
GOING TO BE TAKING UP MOST OF
YOUR TIME.
>> WAS THAT QUESTION DIRECTED
TO ME, COUNCIL MEMBER?
>> IT WAS A QUESTION TO COUNCIL
MEMBER HERBOLD.
>> SURE.
IT IS WITHIN OPA'S WHEELHOUSE
TO MAKE POLICY RECOMMENDATIONS
AND TO WORK WITH SPD TO
IMPLEMENT THEM, AS WELL AS TO
NOTIFY MEMBERS OF THE PUBLIC OF
WHAT THOSE RECOMMENDATIONS ARE.
I THINK THAT'S WHAT WE WERE
TALKING ABOUT.
>> WHAT MY PLAN IS TO DO IS TO
HAVE A CLOSEOUT MEETING AFTER
EACH INVESTIGATION IS FULLY
INVESTIGATED AND INVITE THE
COMPLAINANT TO COME TO OPA SO
WE CAN OUTLINE EVERYTHING THAT
WE CONSIDERED HOW WE REACHED
OUR FINDINGS, HOW WE GOT THERE.
NOW I'M NOT EXPECTING US TO
AGREE ON EACH OUTCOME.
BUT I THINK THAT LEVEL OF
TRANSPARENCY WILL ADD TOWARDS
COMMUNITY CONFIDENCE IN THE
OVERALL SYSTEM.
SO THAT'S WHAT MY ULTIMATE GOAL
IS.
>> THANK YOU.
>> SENIOR DEPUTY MAYOR HAROLD?
>> THANK YOU.
I WILL ADD TO A LITTLE BIT OF
WHAT COUNCILMEMBER NELSON WAS
ASKING.
THERE IS A RESPONSIBILITY FOR
EACH OF THE ACCOUNTABILITY
PARTNERS TO PLAY THEIR ROLL
WITHIN THIS PROCESS.
THE COMMUNITY POLICE COMMISSION
IS A KEY PARTNER IN THE
COMMUNITY ENGAGEMENT AND
COMMUNITY OUTREACH.
IT SHOULD BE PART OF THE ENTIRE
PROCESS THAT EACH OF THE LEGS
OF THE STOOL OF THE
ACCOUNTABILITY FOR RABBIT ARE
DOING THE ROLES THEY ARE
SUPPOSED TO DO.
BUT ALSO INFORM EACH OTHER AS
TO THE PARTS THEY WILL PLAY IN
THE PROCESS.
I THINK IT'S REALLY CRITICAL
FOR THE CPC TO BE INVOLVED AND
ENGAGED IN COMMUNITY AND IN
MAKING A COMMUNITIES VOICE
HEARD THROUGH THE PROCESS.
BUT ALSO BEING ABLE TO TAKE THE
INFORMATION THEY LEARNED FROM
OPA, TRANSLATED OUT TO
COMMUNITY, AND THEN GET THE
FEEDBACK AND TRANSLATE THAT
BACK OUT TO THE COMMUNITY
PARTNERS.
I RECOGNIZE THAT WE HAVE
SOMEWHAT INHERITED A PROCESS,
LIKE IN ANY GOOD HOUSE
FOUNDATION, YOU WANT TO SHORE
IT UP.
YOU WANT TO MAKE SURE IT'S IN
GOOD SHAPE.
WE'VE BUILT A HOUSE.
THERE WERE A COUPLE YEARS WHERE
THE FOUNDATION WAS SETTLED.
WE NEED TO BE SHORED UP SO WE
CAN REMAIN STURDY.
HAVING A REALLY STRONG OPA
DIRECTOR ALLOWS US TO SHORE UP
PART OF THE FOUNDATION.
AND ALSO ENSURE THAT WE ARE
WORKING WITH OUR OTHER PARTNERS
TO ENSURE THEY HAVE SOLID
FOUNDATIONS TOO.
I WANT TO THANK COUNCILMEMBER
NELSON FOR THAT QUESTION.
IT IS RECEIVED IN TERMS OF ALL
OF THE WORK WE WANT TO DO WITH
OUR ACCOUNTABILITY.
THE ENTIRE ACCOUNTABILITY
SYSTEM.
>> THANK YOU.
I HAVE ONE MORE QUESTION.
COUNCILMEMBER MOSQUEDA , IF YOU
WANT TO GO AHEAD I WILL HOLD
MINE.
>> SURE.
THIS QUESTION IS ABOUT PROCESS.
SENIOR DEPUTY MAYOR, THE
PROCESS IS MORE ON YOUR END.
IT IS ABOUT FOLLOW-THROUGH,
GIVEN SOME CONCERNS AROUND THE
PROCESS FOR THE APPOINTMENT.
WE KNOW THERE HAS BEEN SOME
DISCOMFORT EXPRESSED FROM
COMMUNITY MEMBERS THAT THE
PROCESS DID NOT HAVE ADEQUATE
TIME BUILT-IN FOR ENGAGEMENT
VIA PUBLIC FORMS.
WE KNOW THAT THERE WAS PUTTING
PUBLIC FORM THAT WAS PUT
FORWARD.
WE SAW SOME REPORTING AT THE
END OF JULY, THE PUBLICATION OF
THE NEW FORM COINCIDED WITH A
MEDIA REQUEST.
IT RAISES AGAIN, THE QUESTION
OF BUILDING TRUST WITH
COMMUNITY AND MAKING SURE
PEOPLE FEEL LIKE THEIR FEEDBACK
WAS INCLUDED.
HOW WOULD YOU, IN ITS POSITION
AS OPA DIRECTOR, WORK TO BRING
SEATTLE RESIDENTS IT'S THE
PROCESS, GIVEN THAT SOME FOLKS
MAY STILL FEEL THAT THEIR VOICE
WASN'T BEING HEARD?
WHAT IS THE FIRST STEP WILL DO
TOWARD BUILDING TRUST?
YOU REACHED OUT TO A NUMBER OF
STAKEHOLDERS.
HOW DID THE CONVERSATIONS GO
WITH THE GRASSROOTS BRANCH AND
SO ON?
I HOPE THAT IS MORE OF A
QUESTION FOR THE INCOMING
APPOINTEE ABOUT HOW YOU REALLY
TRY TO BUILD TRUST, GIVEN SOME
OF THE DISCOMFORT THAT HAS BEEN
DISCUSSED BY COMMUNITY MEMBERS.
>> GINO, BEFORE YOU START, LET
ME FIRST ACKNOWLEDGE THAT THE
PROCESS FELL SHORT OF WHAT IS
IDEAL.
I HAVE ALSO PERSONALLY REACHED
OUT TO SOME OF THE STAKEHOLDERS
AND EXPRESSED THAT.
ONE OF THE THINGS THAT I THINK
IS A LITTLE BIT UNFAIR IS THE
PROCESS FELL SHORT.
THE EXECUTIVE BRANCH HAS
IDENTIFIED THAT WE COMMIT TO
DOING BETTER.
THERE WERE SOME DECISIONS MADE
THAT THE CANDIDATE CERTAINLY
HAD NO INPUT OR BEARING ON.
IT IS IMPORTANT THAT THOSE
DECISIONS THAT HAVE TO FOLLOW
THE CANDIDATE THROUGH THE INTRO
OF THEIR TIME WITH THE CITY.
WE FOUND AN EXCELLENT CANDIDATE.
WE FELL SHORT.
THE EXECUTIVE BRANCH FELL
SHORT.
WE HAVE MADE INTERNAL
CORRECTIONS AND ADJUSTMENTS
BASED ON THAT.
WE HAVE ALSO WORKED WITH THE
CANDIDATE TO LET THEM KNOW THE
PROCESS THAT THEY WALKED IN ON.
HE HAS MADE A STRONG COMMITMENT
TO HELP US REGAIN THAT TRUST
AND SUPPORT WITHIN COMMUNITY.
I WILL LET GINO BETTS JR. SPEAK
TO THIS.
WE HAVE IDENTIFIED WHERE WE
HAVE HAD SOME SHORTCOMINGS AND
WE HAVE BEEN WORKING TO FIX IT.
I REALLY HOPE THAT THE PUBLIC
DOESN'T HOLD THE PROCESS, WHICH
SELECTED AN EXCELLENT CANDIDATE
, AGAINST THE CANDIDATE WHO IS
ONE OF THE BEST THAT WE CAN
POSSIBLY ASK FOR.
I HAVE BEEN EXTREMELY IMPRESSED
WITH NOT ONLY GINO'S EXPERIENCE
AND BREADTH OF KNOWLEDGE, BUT
ALSO HIS HEART AND COMMITMENT.
YOU JUST CANNOT FIND THOSE
THINGS IN EVERY INDIVIDUAL.
WE ASKED FOR A UNICORN AND
QUITE CANDIDLY WE GOT ONE.
THERE IS WORK THAT WE WILL DO
TO SUPPORT EARNING THE PUBLIC'S
TRUST AROUND THIS.
BUT CERTAINLY I DON'T WANT TO
FOLLOW AN EXCELLENT CANDIDATE
FOR A POSITION THAT IS
EXTREMELY HARD TO DELIVER ON.
BUT I BELIEVE CAN DELIVER FOR
THE CITY OF SEATTLE. GINO, I
WILL DIRECT IT TO YOU NOW.
>> I DO APPRECIATE THAT EACH
STAKEHOLDER HAS A ROLL WHEN IT
COMES TO POLICE ACCOUNTABILITY .
I DO BELIEVE, NEVERTHELESS,
THERE IS A ROLL FOR OPA TO WORK
DIRECTLY WITH THE COMMUNITY.
SPECIFICALLY WHEN IT COMES TO
THE COMPLAINT FILING PROCESS
BEING ACCESSIBLE TO THE
COMMITTEE.
YOU CAN DO IN PERSON, YOU CAN
DO IT ONLINE, YOU CAN MAILING
YOUR COMPLAINT.
I THINK WE CAN DO A BETTER JOB
OF SPREADING THE AWARENESS OF
OPA.
I DON'T THINK ENOUGH PEOPLE
KNOW ABOUT THE FUNCTION OF OPA.
IF YOU HAVE A BAD ENCOUNTER
WITH THE POLICE OFFICER THERE
IS AN AGENCY TASKED WITH
INVESTIGATING THE SITUATION.
THAT IS ONE PART.
JUST BEING VISIBLE IN THE
COMMUNITY.
ANOTHER COMPONENT IS
MEANINGFULLY VALUING THE INPUT
OF THE COMMUNITY.
THE COMMUNITY, HISTORICALLY,
THEY FEEL LIKE THEY HAVE NOT
BEEN HEARD.
SO I THINK HAVING THAT
MEANINGFUL INTEGRATION IN THE
COMMUNITY, THAT WILL GO A LONG
WAY TOWARD BUILDING THE PUBLIC
TRUST THAT I'M PURSUING.
>> MADAM CHAIR, ONE LAST
QUESTION IF YOU ARE STILL
SEEKING QUESTIONS.
I'M GOING TO GO AHEAD AND ASK
IT I THINK.
I CANNOT HEAR YOU, MADAM CHAIR.
CUT ME OFF.
>> I SAID, GO FOR IT.
>> OKAY.
GREAT.
I WILL GO FOR IT.
I REALLY LOVE THAT THE CHAIR
HAS BEEN SO GENEROUS WITH
HAVING YOU IN THE COMMITTEE
TWICE.
I APOLOGIZE AS WELL THAT I WAS
NOT ABLE TO ASK SOME OF THESE
QUESTIONS ON THE FIRST GO
AROUND.
THIS ONE IS RELATED TO SOME OF
THE PAST WORK.
IN TERMS OF BUILDING TRUST WITH
THE COMMUNITY.
NOT ONLY AN ENGAGEMENT PROCESS
BUT WITH THE PAST PRACTICES OF
OPA, ONE LAST QUESTION ON THIS.
THERE HAS BEEN RECENT MEDIA
COVERAGE IN JULY OF THE OPA'S
APPARENT MISCLASSIFICATION OF
WHAT APPEARED TO BE SERIOUS
INVESTIGATION WHERE THE
ALLEGATIONS AS CONTACT LAW
COMPLAINTS.
AS WE KNOW, CONTEXT LOGS ARE
NOT SUBJECT TO INVESTIGATION
AND ARE EFFECTIVELY CLOSED
ACCORDING TO THE OPA MANUAL.
INCLUDING COMPLAINTS IN THIS
CATEGORY THAT RELATE TO AN
OFFICER'S SEXUAL MISCONDUCT.
RETALIATION, BIAS, AS WELL AS
40 OTHER COMPLAINTS.
GROUPED TOGETHER AS ONE
COMPLAINT AND CLASSIFIED AS A
CONTACT LOG.
MY QUESTION FOR YOU, GIVEN YOUR
RESPONSIBILITY AND THE WORK OF
THE OPA DIRECTOR TO OVERSEE
CLASSIFICATION OF THE
COMPLAINTS, HOW DO YOU PLAN TO
ADDRESS THESE CONCERNS THAT
HAVE BEEN APPARENTLY WELL-
DOCUMENTED?
AND ALSO FUTURE EFFORTS TO MAKE
SURE WE ARE NOT MISS
CLASSIFYING CONTACTS?
>> I AM AWARE OF THOSE CONCERNS
AND ALLEGATIONS.
I WILL SAY THAT THERE IS A
MECHANISM CURRENTLY IN PLACE TO
DEAL WITH IT.
OIG, THEY DO AUDIT OUR CONTACT
LOG AND CLASSIFICATIONS.
I AM COMING IN AS A NEW
DIRECTOR.
SO I WILL BE TAKING A LOOK AT
OUR CLASSIFICATION PROCESS AND
HOW WE CAN IMPROVE THAT GOING
FORWARD.
>> JUST AS MORE TEXTURE TO THE
VIEWING PUBLIC. THEY REVIEW
INVESTIGATIONS.
AS AN AUDIT FUNCTION I BELIEVE
THEY CAN AUDIT THE USE OF
CONTACT LOGS.
TYPICALLY, THINGS THAT ARE
IDENTIFIED AS COMPLAINTS FOR AN
INVESTIGATION, THEY REVIEW EACH
ONE OF THOSE FOR THOROUGHNESS,
TIMELINESS, AND OBJECTIVITY.
AND THE CERTIFICATION MEMOS.
IT IS NOT CLEAR TO ME THAT THEY
DO THAT WITH CONTACT LOGS,
WHICH I THINK IS THE POINT
COUNCILMEMBER MOSQUEDA IS
RAISING.
THIS IS STILL MORE BROADLY AN
AREA, NOT ONLY FOR THE INCOMING
DIRECTOR, BUT IT'S ALSO AN AREA
WHERE THE OIG CAN TAKE A LOOK
AT IT AS A SYSTEMWIDE AREA.
I'M WANTING TO MOVE ON TO ONE
MORE QUESTION I HAVE IN YOUR
WRITTEN ANSWERS, OR ABOUT YOUR
WRITTEN ANSWERS.
YOU TALK ABOUT THE NEW ORLEANS
OFFICE OF INDEPENDENT MONITOR
BEING NATIONALLY LAUDED FOR ITS
PROGRAM.
YOU KNOW TO THAT POST MEDIATION
SURVEYS WILL -- FOUND THE
PROCESS WAS UNBIASED AND
APPRECIATED THE OPPORTUNITY TO
TALK ABOUT THEIR DIFFERENCES.
OUR MOST RECENT PUBLIC SURVEY
OF COMPLAINANTS THAT I RECALL
SEEING LAST YEAR, OR PERHAPS IT
WAS EARLY THIS YEAR.
IT DOES SHOW A HIGH LEVEL OF
DISSATISFACTION WITH THE
PROCESS.
I DO NOT BELIEVE THE SURVEY WAS
FOCUSED ON FOLKS THAT GO
THROUGH MEDIATION ALONE.
BUT I WOULD LIKE TO KNOW, FROM
YOU, WHETHER OR NOT THERE ARE
DIFFERENCES THAT YOU ARE AWARE
OF BETWEEN OUR MEDIATION SYSTEM
AND THE NEW ORLEANS MEDIATION
APPROACH THAT WE SHOULD
CONSIDER ADOPTING?
>> I DO KNOW THAT IT HAS
PLUMMETED IN RECENT YEARS,
SINCE ABOUT 2020.
WE STOPPED DOING MEDIATIONS
ALMOST TOTALLY.
THEN WE HAVE DONE A FEW
RECENTLY.
I'M NOT FAMILIAR WITH THE
SURVEYS YOU ARE REFERENCING BUT
I WOULD LOVE TO TAKE A LOOK AT
THAT AND COMPARE IT TO THE DATA
THAT IS COLLECTED BY NEW
ORLEANS AND SEE HOW WE CAN
ADAPT GOING FORWARD.
>> THANK YOU.
THOSE THAT I'M REFERENCING DID
NOT FOCUS ON MEDIATION, PER SE,
BUT FOCUSED ON USERS OF THE OPA
COMPLAINT SYSTEM.
WE WOULD LOVE TO TALK TO YOU
MORE ABOUT THE STRENGTHS THAT
YOU SEE IN THE NEW ORLEANS
MEDIATION APPROACH.
>> ABSOLUTELY.
I WILL SAY THAT I DO KNOW THAT
COMPLAINANTS IN THE PAST HAVE
COMPLAINED ABOUT THE PROCESS OF
DEALING WITH OPA, SPECIFICALLY
THE INFREQUENCY OF
COMMUNICATIONS WITH OPA AND THE
IMPERSONAL MESS OF THOSE
COMMUNICATIONS.
IN THE PAST THEY WOULD JUST GET
A LETTER TELLING THEM WHAT
HAPPENED WITH THEIR CASE.
IN RESPONSE WE HIRED A
COMPLAINT NAVIGATOR TO HAVE
FREQUENT COMMUNICATION WITH THE
COMPLAINANTS.
IT IS ALSO PERSONAL TO
MUNICATION.
PHONE CALLS, EMAILS, AND SO
FORTH.
REALLY JUST MAKING HIMSELF
AVAILABLE TO THE COMPLAINANTS
THROUGHOUT THE PROCESS AND
MAKING SURE THEY UNDERSTAND THE
PROCESS FROM THE BEGINNING ALL
THE WAY THROUGH THIS POSITION.
>> PERFECT.
I JUST GOT A NOTE THAT I WANT
TO GO BACK TO THE CONTACT LOG
ISSUE.
ALTHOUGH OIG DOES NOT DO
CERTIFICATION MEMOS FOR CONTACT
LOGS THEY STARTED REVIEWING ALL
CONTACT LOGS ABOUT SIX MONTHS
AGO BECAUSE OF SOME OF THE
ISSUES YOU RAISED,
COUNCILMEMBER MOSQUEDA.
>> THEY DID, SIX MONTHS AGO,
START REVIEWING ALL CONTACT
LOGS.
THEY BROUGHT ON A COUPLE OF NEW
STAFF IN THEIR INVESTIGATIONS
UNIT.
THEY ARE REVIEWING EVERY SINGLE
ONE NOW.
BYERLY THEY HAD BEEN DOING SPOT
CHECKS.
NOW EVERY SINGLE ONE THAT
PASSES THROUGH GETS REVIEWED.
>> THANK YOU FOR CLARIFYING
THAT THEY ARE NOT DOING SPOT
CHECKS ANYMORE AND THAT THEY
ARE DOING ALL OF THEM IN REAL
TIME.
I REALLY APPRECIATE IT.
IT IS AN IMPORTANT CHANGE.
THIS JUST SHOWS HOW THIS ENTIRE
SYSTEM, WHETHER OR NOT YOUR
TALK ABOUT THE OPA, OIG, OR
CPC.
IT IS AN EVER EVOLVING SYSTEM
THAT IS DESIGNED TO BE
CONSTANTLY REVIEWING ITSELF AND
MAKING IMPROVEMENTS BASED ON
ITS PAST PRIOR PRACTICES THAT
ARE IDENTIFIED FOR IMPROVEMENT.
I'M SEEING IF ANY OF OUR
COLLEAGUES HAVE ADDITIONAL
QUESTIONS FOR GINO OR SENIOR
DEPUTY MAYOR HARRELL.
I REALLY APPRECIATE THAT YOU
HAVE BEEN HERE WITH US TWICE
NOW.
THIS APPOINTMENT, AGAIN, IS
BEING DONE IN LINE WITH THE
PROCESS THAT THE COUNCIL
ESTABLISHED AT THE MARCH 22nd
COMMITTEE MEETING.
SENIOR DEPUTY MAYOR HARRELL
ACKNOWLEDGED THAT WE DID NOT
GIVE ENOUGH PUBLIC NOTICE FOR
THE PUBLIC FORUM.
I KNOW THAT IN THAT PANEL OF
DISCUSSION THE MODERATOR DID
HAVE A LOT OF QUESTIONS FROM
MEMBERS OF THE PUBLIC,
REGARDLESS OF THE SHORT
TIMEFRAME.
I'M REALLY PLEASED THAT THE
PUBLIC DID PARTICIPATE IN THE
WAY THAT IT DID, IN SENDING
QUESTIONS ON FOR CONSIDERATION
A PUBLIC FORUM.
I ALSO REALLY APPRECIATE GINO,
MAKING SUCH AN EFFORT TO MEET
WITH THE COMMUNITY STAKEHOLDERS
WITH CONCERNS ABOUT THE PUBLIC
FORUM IN HIS MONTH AND A HALF
THAT HE HAS BEEN HERE WITH US
ON THE JOB.
I'M HEARING AND SEEING NO
FURTHER QUESTIONS.
I WOULD LIKE TO MOVE THAT THE
COMMITTEE CONFIRM APPOINTMENT
02332.
THE APPOINTMENT OF GINO BETTS
JR. AS DIRECTOR OF THE OFFICE
OF POLICE ACCOUNTABILITY.
>> SECOND.
>> WILL THE CLERK PLEASE CALL
THE ROLL?
SORRY.
THERE ARE QUESTIONS.
>> THIS IS NOT A QUESTION.
>> OR A STATEMENT.
>> YES.
A STATEMENT.
GINO AND I HAD A LONG
CONVERSATION ON THE PHONE, AS I
NOTED IN BRIEFINGS YESTERDAY,
WHICH IS WHERE I ASK ALL OF MY
QUESTIONS IN CASE YOU'RE
WONDERING I JUST HAVE TO SAY, I
LIKE HOW SENIOR DEPUTY MAYOR
HARRELL CHARACTERIZED OUR
CANDIDATE AS A UNICORN.
I DID SPEAK WITH MEMBERS OF CPC.
I KNOW HE'S GOT STRONG SUPPORT
FROM THAT BODY.
WHEN WE SPOKE WE FOCUSED ON
TRUST BUILDING.
I THINK THAT IS KEY TO
IMPROVING AND REIMAGINING THE
ACCOUNTABILITY OF OUR POLICE AND
PUBLIC SAFETY SYSTEM.
I FEEL VERY CONFIDENT WE HAVE
THE RIGHT PERSON FOR THE JOB.
THANK YOU VERY MUCH FOR THE
EXTENSIVE SEARCH AND THE
PROCESS THAT CAME BEFORE TODAY.
>> THANK YOU, COUNCIL MEMBER
NELSON.
COUNCILMEMBER MOSQUEDA?
>> THANK YOU VERY MUCH.
I ALSO WANT TO THANK GINO BETTS
JR. FOR HIS INTEREST IN THIS
POSITION.
THIS IS A REALLY IMPORTANT TIME
IN OUR LOCAL AND NATIONAL
HISTORY TO BE STEPPING INTO
THIS ROLL.
I APPRECIATE YOUR INTEREST.
AND TO THE SENIOR DEPUTY MAYOR
AND OUR MAYOR FOR THE PROCESS
THAT THEY HAVE BROUGHT FORWARD.
AS NOTED, REALLY TAKING
RESPONSIBILITY AND OWNERSHIP
OVER SOME OF THE PLACES WHERE
WE KNOW WE WILL DO BETTER IN
THE FUTURE.
I ALSO WANT TO THANK YOU, GINO
BETTS JR., FOR SOME OF THE
WORDS AT THE BEGINNING.
YOU SAID, THE UNFETTERED POWER
OF BARGAINING AGREEMENTS OFFERS
ARBITRATION HEARINGS FOR
PLACEMENT'S CONDUCT BEHIND
CLOSED DOORS.
IT MUST BE ADDRESSED BUT WILL
NOT IMPACT MY DECISION-MAKING.
I REALLY APPRECIATE THAT YOU
ARE CALLING OUT THE DIFFERENT
ROLES THAT YOU STILL HAVE, EVEN
THOUGH THERE ARE AREAS THAT
NEED ADDITIONAL IMPROVEMENT AND
TRANSPARENCY.
PERHAPS RADICAL TRANSPARENCY IS
SOMETHING I LOOK FORWARD TO
HEARING MORE ABOUT.
I MENTIONED I HAVE A FEW
OUTSTANDING QUESTIONS TO SOME
ADDITIONAL STAKE HOLDERS AS
WELL.
SINCE I'M JUST GETTING THE
CHANCE TO ASK SOME OF THESE
INITIAL QUESTIONS TODAY I WOULD
LOVE TO GET THE CHANCE TO CHAT
WITH YOU.
I WILL BE REACHING OUT TO YOU
BEFORE THE VOTE IN FULL COUNSEL
TO HEAR A LITTLE BIT ABOUT THE
ADDITIONAL POLICY WITHIN OPA
THAT YOU MAY WANT TO ADVANCE TO
COMPLEMENT SOME OF THE
IMPROVEMENTS THAT THE CHAIR
NOTED AS IT RELATES TO OIG'S
ROLL.
MAKING SURE WE ARE LOOKING AT
THAT MISCLASSIFICATION OF
COMPLAINTS.
I AM GOING TO ABSTAIN TODAY.
BUT THAT GIVES ME THE ABILITY
T VOTE AT THE FULL COUNSEL.
I THINK THAT, WITH ADDITIONAL
FEEDBACK FROM YOU AND THE
STAKEHOLDERS THAT WE HAVE
REACHED OUT TO, WE WILL HAVE A
GREAT CONVERSATION TO COME IN
THE NEXT WEEK HERE AND I LOOK
FORWARD TO THE FINAL VOTE.
TODAY I WILL BE ABSTAINING,
MADAM CHAIR.
>> THANK YOU, COUNCILMEMBER
MOSQUEDA.
MY APOLOGIES FOR NOT PAUSING
BEFORE REQUESTING THE ROLL CALL.
THAT JUST SHOWS HOW CONFIDENT
AND EXCITED I AM FOR GINO.
WILL THE CLERK PLEASE CALL THE
ROLL?
>> COUNCILMEMBER MOSQUEDA?
>> ABSTAIN.
>> COUNCIL MEMBER NELSON?
>> YES.
>> COUNCIL MEMBER PEDERSEN?
>> YES.
>> VICE CHAIR LEWIS?
>> YES.
>> CHAIR HERBOLD?
>> YES.
>> FOUR IN SUPPORT AND ONE
ABSTENTION.
>> THE MOTION CARRIES.
THE COMMITTEE CONFIRMS THE
APPOINTMENT AND ACTION WILL BE
FORWARDED TO THE CITY COUNCIL
FOR INTRODUCTION AND
CONFIRMATION AT A DATE TO BE
DETERMINED NEXT TUESDAY, THE
20th.
YOU'RE NOT REQUIRED TO ATTEND.
WE MIGHT NEED TO DISCUSS
WHETHER OR NOT WE NEED TO
DELIVER AN OATH OF OFFICE.
THAT MIGHT ACTUALLY BE BETTER
IN PERSON.
WE WILL TAKE THAT UP WITH THE
MAYOR'S OFFICE BETWEEN NOW AND
TUESDAY. WE WILL BE SURE TO
KEEP YOU IN TOUCH.
>> THANK YOU ALL.
I REALLY APPRECIATE YOUR TIME.
>> THANK YOU SO MUCH.
>> GOODBYE.
>> WILL THE CLERK PLEASE READ
IN AGENDA ITEM 3?
>> AGENDA ITEM 3 IS ALTERNATIVE
911 RESPONSE UPDATE.
>> THANK YOU.
THIS IS AN UPDATE.
NOT ON THE RISK MANAGEMENT
DEMAND STUDY THAT SPD IS DOING.
ALTHOUGH, I UNDERSTAND THAT
STUDY IS NEAR-COMPLETE.
WE ARE AIMING FOR A BRIEFING
FROM SPD ON THE 27th ON THAT
STUDY.
OUR LAST COMMITTEE MEETING OF
THE YEAR.
BUT THIS IS A BRIEFING, I THINK
WE CAN CONSIDER A PRECURSOR TO
THE RISK MANAGEMENT DEMAND
ANALYSIS.
IT IS REALLY FOCUSED ON THE
WORK THAT I KEEP REFERRING TO
IN COMMITTEE BETWEEN THE
COUNCIL AND THE EXECUTIVE. THEY
EEP PROMISING IT'S ABOUT TO
START.
WE HAVE HAD SOME AGREEMENT ON
GOALS AND TIMELINE.
FINALLY, WE ARE THERE.
WE HAVE AN AGREEMENT. WE ARE
REFERRING TO ITSARAH SMITH AND
BRIANNA THOMAS.
REALLY, REALLY APPRECIATE FOLKS
PUSHING UP THEIR SLEEVES AND
IDENTIFYING A COUPLE OF AREAS
THAT WE CAN MOVE MORE QUICKLY
ON, WELL WE ARE ALSO ANALYZING
THE RISK MANAGED DEMAND
ANALYSIS.
SO I JUST WANT TO TURN IT OVER
TO YOU, ESTHER.
COULD YOU SPEAK TO WHAT THE
TERM SHEET SAYS ABOUT THE
ESTABLISHMENT OF PILOT
PROGRAMS?
>> I CAN.
FOR THE RECORD, ESTHER HANDY,
CENTRAL STAFF DIRECTOR, HERE
TODAY TO PROVIDE AN UPDATE ON
THE PARTNERSHIP WE HAVE BEEN
BUILDING BETWEEN COUNCIL AND
THE MAYOR'S OFFICE TO ADVANCE
ALTERNATIVE 911 RESPONSE.
WE HAVE MEMORIALIZED THAT IN A
TERM SHEET.
THIS IS A STAFF TO STAFF
DOCUMENT AWAITING SIGNATURE.
IT IS NOT A PIECE OF LEGISLATION
THE COUNCIL WILL TAKE FORMAL
ACTION ON.
IN A MOMENT I WILL WALK THROUGH
THE HIGHLIGHTS AND EXPECTED
WORK PRODUCTS THAT WILL COME
FROM THIS THAT WILL BE IN FRONT
OF YOUR COMMITTEE AND INFORM
THE POLICYMAKING.
I WILL NOTE THAT ALSO FROM THE
STAFF TEAM I HAVE SUBJECT
MATTER EXPERTS ON THE LINE.
THEY ARE WORKING CLOSELY WITH
ME AND AVAILABLE IF SPECIFIC
QUESTIONS ABOUT POLICY WORK
COMES UP.
THIS WORK IS DONE -- AND SENIOR
DEPUTY MAYOR HARRELL IS ALSO
PRESENT AND A DEEP APPRECIATION
TO YOU, FOR MOVING THIS WORK
ALONG.
THE WORK SITS IN THE CONTEXT OF
THE BROAD BODY OF WORK THAT THE
COUNCIL HAS BEEN DOING FOR
SEVERAL YEARS TO REIMAGINE AND
IMPROVE PARTS OF OUR PUBLIC
SAFETY SYSTEM AND IMPROVE THE
INFRASTRUCTURE FROM A MORE
DIVERSE SET OF 911 RESPONSES
THAT MEET ALL OF THE NEEDS FOR
FOLKS CALLING THE CITY'S
EMERGENCY LINES.
THAT WORK IS INCLUDED IN
STANDING UP THE COMMUNICATION
CENTER THAT HOUSES OUR 911
DISPATCH SYSTEM.
OUR WORKING GROUP IS DOING A
SITE VISIT LATER TO TALK TO
DISPATCHERS TO INFORM THE
DECISIONS THAT COME IN FRONT OF
THE COUNCIL.
IT IS ALSO INFORMED BY THE
EXISTING EMERGENCY RESPONSE
OPTIONS, INCLUDING HEALTH ONE
FOR MEDICAL RESPONSE.
THAT PAIRS A FIREFIGHTER OR EMT
WITH THE CASE MANAGER.
THE CRISIS RESPONSE UNIT THAT
PARES AN ADVISOR WITH A MENTAL
HEALTH PROFESSIONAL.
AND SECONDARY BEHAVIORAL
RESPONSE PROGRAMS, LIKE THE
EMERGENCY SERVICES PATROL AND
KING COUNTY MOBILE CRISIS TEAM.
SO I WILL PULL UP THE SHEET AND
SHOW YOU A FEW OF THE
HIGHLIGHTS.
GIVE ME ONE MOMENT WHILE I PUT
THAT SCREEN UP.
GREAT.
SO, THIS DOCUMENT STARTS WITH A
CONVERSATION AROUND PARTNERSHIP
AND RECOGNIZING THAT THIS
PARTNERSHIP IS REALLY KEY TO
ADVANCING NEW SOLUTIONS.
WORKING TOGETHER MEANS WE WILL
STRIVE TO AVOID SURPRISES, SO
TO THE EXTENT POSSIBLE WE SHARE
POLICY WORK BEFORE PUBLIC
ANNOUNCEMENTS.
WE WILL COOPERATE TO ACHIEVE
OUR SHARED GOALS.
WE RECOGNIZE THIS IS COMPLEX AND
EVOLVING WORK AND MOST OF OUR
PUBLIC SAFETY SYSTEM IS
EXECUTED THROUGH UNION WORKERS
AND AS SUCH WE WILL CONTINUE TO
PARTNER WITH THE LABOR
RELATIONS POLICY COMMITTEE TO
ADVANCE THESE PROJECTS.
THERE ARE TWO CORE GOALS FOR
THE WORK.
THE FIRST IS THAT WE DEVELOP A
STRATEGY.
A COMPREHENSIVE LOOK AT THE 911
RESPONSE SYSTEM AND THE GOALS
OF THAT SYSTEM ARE TO DIVERSIFY
THE EMERGENCY RESPONSE OPTIONS.
TWO, TO REDUCE HARM AND PROVIDE
AN EQUITABLE SYSTEM OF
EMERGENCY RESPONSE THAT SERVES
VULNERABLE, UNDERSERVED
POPULATIONS.
THAT WE PRESERVE FIRST
RESPONDER CAPACITY, WHERE IT IS
MOST NEEDED, AND WE INCREASE
THE CITY'S RESPONSE TO PRIORITY
THREE AND FOUR CALLS.
THE SECOND GOAL IS TO DEVELOP A
RESPONSE IN THE NEAR TERM THAT
ENABLES THE CITY TO TEST THE
SOLUTIONS AND LEARN FROM
EXPERIENCE IN THE FIELD, THAT
CAN BE IMPLEMENTED IN 2023.
TO ACHIEVE THESE GOALS, WE WILL
PRODUCE FOR WORK PRODUCTS.
AGAIN, MOST OF THESE WILL COME
TO THIS COMMITTEE.
THE FIRST IS AN EXECUTIVE
DRAFTED POLICY DOCUMENT THAT
OUTLINES THE FRAMEWORK FOR
PERMANENT ALTERNATIVE RESPONSE
MODELS.
WE CALL THIS THE COMPREHENSIVE
WORK.
IT WILL LOOK AT ALL CALL TYPES
AND RESPONSE MODELS.
THIS FRAMEWORK IS TO BE
COMPLETED BY THE END OF THE
YEAR, SO OPERATION AND FUNDING
WORK CAN HAPPEN IN 2023 AND WE
CAN HAVE NO RESPONSE OPTIONS IN
THE FIELD BY 2024.
THE SECOND IS A POLICY PROOF
PROPOSAL FOR THE NEAR TERM THAT
CAN BE DESIGNED AND STOOD UP IN
THE NEXT YEAR.
THE THIRD -- AND FOR THAT WE
ARE LOOKING FOR ALL OF THE
MAJOR MODELS AROUND THE COUNTRY
FOR RESPONSE.
LIKE DENVER'S STAR PROGRAM AND
ALSO TAKING A SPECIFIC LOOK AT
OUR LOCAL SYSTEM.
THE THIRD IS DEVELOPING A
POLICY PROPOSAL ON SPECIAL
EVENTS STAFFING FOR STADIUM AND
COMMUNITY EVENTS.
WE RECOGNIZE THIS IS NOT
DIRECTLY RELATED TO ALTERNATIVE
911 RESPONSE, BUT WE BELIEVE
THERE ARE OPPORTUNITIES TO FREE
UP SCARCE STAFFING RESOURCES,
BY DOING SO.
SO LAST NIGHT, THE SEAHAWKS
KICKOFF GAME.
A TYPICAL GAME HAS 60 SWORN
POLICE OFFICERS DIRECTING
TRAFFIC AND DOING SECURITY
ALONGSIDE 20 PARKING
ENFORCEMENT OFFICERS.
WITH THE OPENING OF CLIMATE
PLEDGE, SEAHAWKS, MARINERS,
SOUNDERS, AS WELL AS CITYWIDE
FESTIVALS, SWORN OFFICERS ARE
WORKING AROUND THE CLOCK AND
OUR GOAL IS TO PRESERVE OFFICER
HOURS FOR THE WORK NEEDED TO
DO.
FINALLY THINKING ABOUT A
COMMUNICATION STRATEGY THAT
INFORMS THE PUBLIC HOW TO
ENGAGE WITH THE EMERGENCY
RESPONSE SYSTEM AS IT EVOLVES
SO PEOPLE KNOW WHO TO CALL AND
WHAT RESPONSE TO EXPECT WHEN
THEY MAKE THE CALL.
I WILL NOT WALK THROUGH ALL THE
DETAILS OF THE REST OF THE
DOCUMENT, BUT I WOULD LIKE TO
SHOW THAT THERE IS A TIMELINE
LAID OUT IN BROAD STROKES AND I
WANT TO POINT OUT A COUPLE OF
WORK PRODUCTS COMING YOUR WAY.
SO THE FIRST IS THIS
COMPREHENSIVE EMERGENCY
RESPONSE WORK.
THAT POLICY PAPER IS EXPECTED
AT YEAR-END.
THE FIRST WORK PRODUCT IS THE
RISK MANAGEMENT DEMAND
ANALYSIS, BEING DONE BY SPD.
WE UNDERSTAND IT IS FRESHLY
DONE.
STAFF WILL GET A BRIEFING NEXT
WEEKEND THIS COMMITTEE WILL BE
BRIEFED ON AT THE MORNING OF
SEPTEMBER 27, BEFORE YOU ALL
BREAK FOR BUDGET.
EXTERNAL STAKEHOLDER WORK IS
EXPECTED TO HAPPEN IN
NOVEMBER/DECEMBER.
THE LEAD ON THIS OFFICE WILL
DEVELOP A MORE DETAILED
STAKEHOLDER ENGAGEMENT PLAN AND
WILL UPDATE U.S. THAT IS
DEVELOPED.
THE NEAR-TERM RESPONSE PROGRAM,
WE ARE WORKING TO HAVE A
PROPOSAL.
RECOMMENDATION READY BY OCTOBER
14, SO THE COUNCIL CAN CONSIDER
IT DURING YOUR BUDGET PROCESS.
I WILL NOTE THAT IN THE
SUPPLEMENTAL, COUNCILMEMBER
HERBOLD AND LEWIS SPONSORED AN
AMENDMENT TO MOVE FUNDING
ORIGINALLY DESIGNATED FOR THE
PROGRAM THAT IS NOT ADVANCING
AND PLACED IT IN FINANCE
GENERAL.
THAT IS ONE RESOURCE THAT COULD
BE CONSIDERED TO GET A PROGRAM
OFF THE GROUND.
FINALLY, THE SPECIAL EVENTS
STAFFING WORK GROUP IS MEETING
AND HOPES TO HAVE A PROPOSAL
FOR ANALYSIS LATER THIS YEAR.
THOSE ARE MY HIGH-LEVEL UPDATES
úON THE PARTNERSHIP.
I WILL HAND IT BACK TO YOU,
MADAM CHAIR, AND I AM AVAILABLE
TO ANSWER QUESTIONS.
>> THANK YOU, ESTHER.
SO, I APPRECIATE AS WE ARE
ENTERING INTO THE BUDGET
PROCESS, IT APPEARS THAT WE ARE
LEAVING THIS COLLABORATION WITH
THE EXECUTIVE IN SUCH A WAY
THAT RECOMMENDATIONS COMING
FORWARD CAN BE REALIZED FOR 2023
IN THE BUDGET PROCESS.
IS THAT MORE OR LESS THE CASE?
>> THAT'S CORRECT.
WE ARE COMMITTED TO HAVING AT
LEAST ONE PROGRAM READY TO
ASSIGN FUNDING THAT COULD BE
OPERATIONAL IN 2023.
>> THANK YOU.
JUST LOOKING FOR QUESTIONS FROM
MY COLLEAGUES.
COUNCILMEMBER MOSQUEDA.
>> THANK YOU VERY MUCH, MADAM
CHAIR.
I WANT TO THANK YOU FOR YOUR
LEADERSHIP IN MAKING SURE THIS
ISSUE REMAINS FRONT BURNER AND
FRONT AND CENTER OF OUR
DISCUSSIONS AND DELIBERATIONS
HEADING INTO THE BUDGET.
OBVIOUSLY MANY OF THE
IMPLEMENTATION STRATEGIES THAT
WE ALL HOPED FOR LAST YEAR AND
THIS YEAR NEED TO OCCUR SO WE
CAN DO THE RIGHTSIZING OR
BALANCING, AS WE SEEK TO CREATE
MORE PUBLICLY ORIENTED PUBLIC
SAFETY MODELS.
I WANTED TO ALSO THANK THE
MAYOR'S OFFICE FOR WHAT APPEARS
TO BE A COLLABORATIVE EFFORT IN
THIS DOCUMENT TO MOVE FORWARD
WITH A JOINT UNDERSTANDING,
ALMOST A MEMORANDUM OF
UNDERSTANDING, OF WHAT WILL
OCCUR IN THE FUTURE.
I AM HEARING NONCE.
I WAS NOT QUITE SURE HOW TO
READ WHAT IT MEANT TO HAVE A
TERM SHEET, SO IF WE KIND OF
SEE THIS AS A MEMORANDUM OF
UNDERSTANDING OR MEMORANDUM OF
AGREEMENT BETWEEN BOTH
BRANCHES, THAT IS VERY HELPFUL.
I JUST WANTED TO ASK A QUICK
QUESTION AND I AM SORRY TO
SURPRISE CENTRAL STAFF OR THE
CHAIR WITH THIS QUESTION, BUT
HAVE WE DONE SOMETHING SIMILAR
IN THE PAST OR IS THIS REALLY
AN INNOVATIVE WAY TO MOVE
FORWARD COLLECTIVELY?
RECOGNIZING THERE IS JOINT
INTEREST IN COLLABORATION FROM
THE EXECUTIVE AND LEGISLATIVE
BRANCH.
IS THERE SOMETHING NEW WE ARE
TRYING TO GET TOGETHER TO
COMPROMISE A SHARED VISION, SO
THAT WE HAVE A TIMELINE AND
ACCOUNTABILITY FOR THE
IMPLEMENTATION ACTIONS?
>> THAT IS A GREAT PRIOR
EXAMPLE THAT SHE WORKED WITH
THAT I THINK YOU'LL REALLY
LIKE, COUNCILMEMBER MOSQUEDA.
>> I THINK THE ANSWER IS BOTH.
PART OF WHAT WE MODELED THIS
OFF WAS A PROJECT A COUPLE OF
YEARS AGO.
WRITING AND DESIGNING
LEGISLATION FOR BACKYARD
COTTAGES.
A VERY DIFFERENT SUBJECT
MATTER, IN WHICH CENTRAL STAFF
WAS GOING TO WORK
COLLABORATIVELY WITH THE
EXECUTIVE.
CENTRAL STAFF WAS GOING TO DO
MOREL AND LITTLE COAL WORK THEN
MIGHT BE TYPICAL ON AN EXECUTIVE
PROPOSAL.
I DON'T REMEMBER THE EXACT
TITLE OF THE DOCUMENT CREATED
THAT SAYS HERE ARE JOINT GOALS,
SHARED RESPONSIBILITIES, HERE
IS WHO WILL DO WHAT.
WE HAVE MADE SEVERAL ROUNDS AT
COLLABORATION ON THIS
PARTICULAR PROJECT AND COUNCIL
HAS BEEN WORKING ON IT FOR
SEVERAL YEARS.
RECOGNIZING THAT THIS BODY OF
WORK REQUIRES VERY MUCH
IMPLEMENTATION, OPERATIONAL
DESIGN BY THE EXECUTIVE BRANCH.
THERE IS DEEP POLICY INTEREST
BY THE COUNCIL.
WE SAID, WHY DON'T WE TRY TO
FORM A MORE FORMAL PARTNERSHIP
THAT HAS SHARED AGREEMENT ABOUT
DELIVERABLES AND OUTCOMES ON
THE PROJECT.
SO, GIVING IT A TRY AND SO FAR
THE WORKGROUP IS MAKING GOOD
PROGRESS AND I AM FEELING
HELPFUL ABOUT THE APPROACH.
>> GREAT.
IT IS DEEP POLICY INTEREST BY
THE COUNCIL.
I THINK IT IS IMPORTANT TO
UNDERSCORE, IT IS CODIFIED IN
STATUTE BY THE INTERESTS.
SO THOSE EFFORTS UNDER THE
PREVIOUS ADMINISTRATION DID NOT
GET IMPLEMENTED.
DUE TO THE LACK OF
IMPLEMENTATION UNDER THE
PREVIOUS ADMINISTRATION AND THE
JOINT INTEREST THAT I THINK
THIS TERM SHEET OR MEMORANDUM
OF UNDERSTANDING UNDERSCORES IS
THAT THERE IS MOVEMENT NOW.
AGAIN I WANT TO THANK SENIOR
DEPUTY MAYOR HARRELL WHO I SEE
ON THE LINE AND I KNOW HAS
LEADERSHIP OVER THIS AREA.
THE EXECUTIVE BRANCH FOR THIS
INNOVATIVE EFFORT TO MOVE
FORWARD ON SHARED PRIORITIES,
SO WE CAN ALL SEE SOME ACTION.
LOOKING FORWARD TO MOVEMENT
AFTER MUCH DELAY.
THANK YOU.
>> SENIOR DEPUTY MAYOR HARRELL,
I SEE YOU COMING ON SCREEN.
ANYTHING YOU WANTED TO ADD.
>> I WANTED TO ADD THAT I
RECOGNIZE WE ENTER A
RELATIONSHIP WHERE THE
EXECUTIVE ALREADY HAD A PRIOR
RELATIONSHIP.
NOT THE CURRENT EXECUTIVE, BUT
WHERE THE EXECUTIVE AND
LEGISLATIVE BRANCHES HAD A
PRIOR RELATIONSHIP.
SO YOU KNOW THERE ARE A COUPLE
OF THINGS WE ARE WANTING TO DO
HERE.
ONE OF WHICH IS WE HAVE A FEW
NEW FOLKS AT THE TABLE.
ENSURING WE HAVE A SHARED
COMMITMENT AND SHARED
UNDERSTANDING FOR HOW WE COME
TO THE TABLE TOGETHER.
NOT UNDERSTANDING HOW THAT
WORKING RELATIONSHIP MIGHT HAVE
OCCURRED BEFORE.
MAKING SURE WE HAVE SIMILARITY
IN OUR LANGUAGE AND VALUES.
IT DOES NOT MEAN THAT WE DON'T
ALL RETAIN THE RIGHT TO, YOU
KNOW, POTENTIALLY DISAGREE AND
NOT HAVE 100% ALIGNMENT, BUT WE
ARE WORKING TOWARD THE SAME
GOALS AND VISION.
WHICH I THINK WE ARE DOING.
AND TO SET GROUND RULES FOR
WHATEVER SHARED UNDERSTANDINGS
ARE, TOGETHER.
THIS TERM SHEET, AND THE REASON
WE ARE KIND OF CALLING IT A
TERM SHEET VERSUS AN MOU.
IT IS BECAUSE WE DO RETAIN THE
AUTONOMY OF THE POSITIONS WE
HOLD.
WE DON'T WANT TO SAY, COUNCIL,
YOU CAN'T SPEAK OUT ABOUT THIS
AND THE EXECUTIVE ALWAYS,
AGAIN, RETAINS THE ABILITY TO
SAY WE MIGHT SEE THINGS
DIFFERENTLY.
BUT THE FACT IS, WE WANT TO BE
ABLE TO HAVE A COLLABORATIVE
ENVIRONMENT WHERE WE WORK
TOGETHER TO MOVE THINGS
FORWARD, BECAUSE STALEMATES
DON'T HELP THE COMMUNITIES I
THINK WE ARE ALL TRYING TO
SERVE.
THAT IS REALLY WHAT WE ARE
TRYING TO EXPRESS WITH THIS
KIND OF CODIFICATION OF THE
RELATIONSHIP.
ONE, SETTING BETTER
RELATIONSHIP FOR THE EXECUTIVE
AND LEGISLATIVE BRANCHES,
REGARDLESS OF WHO IS IN THOSE
POSITIONS.
ALSO MAKING SURE WE ARE DOING
THE RIGHT WORK TO MOVE THE CITY
FORWARD AND NOT GETTING STUCK.
YOU KNOW, NOT GETTING STUCK ON
SMALL DISAGREEMENTS AND HOLDING
THE REST OF THE CITY BACK.
HOPEFULLY IT IS RECEIVED WITH
THAT SPIRIT AND THAT WE CAN
CONTINUE A REALLY POSITIVE
WORKING RELATIONSHIP TOGETHER.
>> EXCELLENT, THANK YOU.
COUNCILMEMBER NELSON.
>> THANK YOU.
I HAVE QUESTIONS ABOUT THE
SEPARATE WORK PRODUCT NUMBERS,
SO DO YOU WANT ME TO ASK THEM
ALL AT ONCE?
>> GO AHEAD, ASK THEM ALL AT
ONCE.
>> OKAY, SO FOR WORK PRODUCT 1,
THERE IS A CALL ANALYSIS THAT
WE SEE.
I AM LOOKING AT HOW IT IS
WORDED.
LET'S SEE.
ANYWAY, AN ANALYSIS OF 911
CALLS IS GOING TO BE CONDUCTED.
I JUST WANT TO MAKE SURE, IS
THIS A NEW ANALYSIS?
BECAUSE WE ALREADY HAVE -- IS
THIS DIFFERENT OR WILL IT BE
CONDUCTED BY A BODY OF EXPERTS?
OR CAN YOU JUST CLARIFY THAT?
OKAY, THAT IS ONE QUESTION.
FOR WORK PRODUCT TO, THERE IS
GOING TO BE, IN SEPTEMBER, A
REPORT ON OUR EXISTING PROGRAMS
THAT WE HAVE TO RESPOND TO
PEOPLE IN CRISIS AND WE DO HAVE
LEAD TO.
WE ARE SPENDING $8.6 MILLION,
WHICH SEEMS LIKE A PROGRAM THAT
DOES EXACTLY WHAT WE ARE
CALLING FOR.
SO HOPEFULLY THAT WILL BE
INCORPORATED INTO THIS REPORT.
SPECIFICALLY I AM ASKING AND
ALSO SAYING THAT THE
CONSIDERATION OF HOW 911
DISPATCHERS MIGHT WORK WITH
LEAD CASE MANAGERS OR PEOPLE ON
THE GROUND, I THINK WOULD BE
GOOD AND HOPEFULLY THAT IS
INCORPORATED.
LET'S SEE.
REGARDING THE 911 OPERATIONS
THERE, AT A MEETING IN JULY,
THE DEPUTY CHIEF GIVE A
PRESENTATION ON 911 OPERATIONS
AND DESCRIBED THE MOVE OF
DISPATCH THROUGH SPD AS NOT A
SMOOTH TRANSITION.
AND SO I AM THINKING THAT WE
NEED TO MAKE SURE THAT WE SURE
UP THIS NEW SERVICE FOR THIS
NEW BODY OF WORK.
SINCE IT HAS BEEN MOVED OUT OF
SPD.
AND I HOPE THIS, WHAT WE ARE
LOOKING AT RIGHT NOW, THE TERM
SHEET, IS NOT GOING TO CALL FOR
A DIVERSION OF RESOURCES TO
MAKING SURE THAT WHAT WE'VE GOT
RIGHT NOW, IT RUNS SMOOTHER.
AND THEN, LET'S SEE.
FINALLY IN WORK PRODUCT FOR, WE
DON'T REALLY WANT -- IF WE ARE
TRYING TO GET OFFICERS REMOVED
FROM RESPONDING TO CRISIS,
PEOPLE EXPERIENCING BEHAVIORAL
HEALTH CRISES, ET CETERA, WHY
IS THIS ITEM IN HERE?
LOOKING AT HOW SFD, I MEAN SPD,
STAFF SPECIAL EVENTS.
THAT SEEMS LIKE, IS THAT JUSTIN
HERE BECAUSE COUNCIL IS
EXPRESSING INTEREST IN THAT?
OR IS IT CONTEMPLATED THAT
POLICE WERE NOT RESPONDING TO
WORKING IN SPECIAL EVENTS ARE
GOING TO BE ENGAGED IN THIS
BODY OF WORK AND IF SO DOESN'T
THAT UNDERMINE THE IDEA THAT
OFFICERS WILL BE DOING THIS?
THAT IS ALL OF MY QUESTIONS.
>> I AM HAPPY TO WALK THROUGH
THOSE AND THEN SENIOR DEPUTY
MAYOR HARRELL, IF YOU HAVE
PIECES TO ADD, PLEASE FEEL
FREE TO CHIME IN.
YOUR FIRST QUESTION WAS ABOUT
THE CALL ANALYSIS.
THE CALL ANALYSIS ESSENTIALLY
BUILDS ON THE RISK MANAGEMENT,
DEMAND ANALYSIS THAT SPD IS
DOING.
SO, ESSENTIALLY BY CALL TYPE,
WITH THAT ADDITIONAL
INFORMATION AND THE DATA WE
HAVE TO DATE.
WE WILL HAVE AN OPPORTUNITY TO
FURTHER BREAKDOWN A LOOK AT ALL
OF THE VARIOUS CALLS AND
SPECIFIC RESPONSES THAT WE ARE
CONSIDERING.
SO IT IS NOT AN EXTERNAL PARTY.
THE CALL ANALYSIS IS MEANT TO
BE THE DEEPER DIVE ONCE WE HAVE
THE RISK MANAGEMENT DEMAND WORK,
TO START PARSING OUT CATEGORIES
OF CALLS AGAINST POTENTIAL
ALTERNATIVE RESPONSE SOLUTIONS
AND PROPOSE THAT SHOULD STAY
WITH EXISTING RESPONSES.
THE SECOND CONVERSATION ABOUT
LEAD, I THINK THIS WORK IS
INTENDING TO ENCOMPASS AND LOOK
AT HOW ALL OF THESE PROGRAMS
INTERACT WITH ONE ANOTHER.
LEAD IS NOT CURRENTLY DIRECTLY
DISPATCHED BY 911.
IT IS A COMMUNITY DISPATCH AND
REFERRAL NETWORK.
SO, A DIRECT DISPATCH OF
L.E.A.D.
OFFICERS IS NOT SOMETHING WE
ARE CONSIDERING, BUT WE CAN
CONSIDER WHERE THEY FIT INTO
THE FABRIC OF COMMUNITY CASE
MANAGEMENT.
MENTAL BEHAVIORAL HEALTH
RESPONSE FABRIC THAT OF COURSE
SHAPES WHO IS CALLING 911 AND
NEEDING A DIRECT RESPONSE.
THIRD, YOU ASKED ABOUT 911
OPERATIONS.
AS I MENTIONED, WE ARE VISITING
A DISPATCH CENTER TODAY.
THE SUCCESS AND STABILITY IS
FRONT AND CENTER FOR OUR TEAM
AND I WANT TO SAY THAT THE
MAYOR'S OFFICE CERTAINLY HAS
BEEN BRINGING THAT AS A TOP
PRIORITY TO THE TABLE.
THE IDEA WITH DOING THIS IN TWO
PHASES, OF BEING ABLE TO CHOOSE
SORT OF ONE PILOT, ONE PROGRAM
TO STAND UP IN 2023, IS NOT
ADDING A HUGE AMOUNT OF
COMPLEXITY NEXT YEAR.
BUT STARTING ONE ADDITIONAL
FORM OF DISPATCH THAT CAN BE
DEPLOYED.
THE MORE COMPREHENSIVE WORK,
WHICH WE WILL HAVE A FRAMEWORK
FOR BY THE END OF THE YEAR, WE
HAVE ALL OF NEXT YEAR TO DO
OPERATIONAL WORK, BUDGET,
STAFFING SORT OF ANALYSIS.
SO THOSE WILL BE AVAILABLE IN
2024.
I THINK THAT IS WORKING ON A
TIMELINE THAT GIVES US TIME TO
ONBOARD A PERMANENT DIRECTOR.
AND DO THE PROTOCOL WORK THAT
IS CURRENTLY UNDERWAY, I
BELIEVE WITH AN EXTERNAL VENDOR.
SO THAT BY THE TIME WE ARE
READY TO DEPLOY RESPONSES, THAT
DISPATCH CENTER IS READY.
THEN YOUR FOURTH QUESTION WAS
ABOUT THE SPECIAL EVENTS WORK.
AND I THINK THE ANSWER TO THIS
IS SORT OF YES AND NO.
WE KNOW THAT WITH THE REDUCED
POLICE FORCE THAT WE HAVE RIGHT
NOW, OFFICERS ARE WORKING
OVERTIME ON MULTIPLE FRONTS.
THAT INCLUDES OVERTIME ON THEIR
CORE WORK, AS WELL AS AN
INCREDIBLE NUMBER OF HOURS
STAFFING THE SPECIAL EVENTS.
ONE OF THE GOALS OF THE OVERALL
PROJECT, YOU KNOW, WE ARE
TRYING TO DO A RESPONSE SYSTEM.
WE ARE ALSO TRYING TO INCREASE
OUR RESPONSE TIME AND ABILITY
TO THOSE PRIORITY THREE AND
FOUR CALLS.
WE THINK THERE IS AN OPPORTUNITY
TO ENSURE THAT THE TIME OUR
SWORN OFFICERS ARE SPENDING ON
SPECIAL EVENTS IS LIMITED TO
ONLY WHAT THEY CAN AND NEED TO
BE DOING, SO THAT THEY ARE
ABLE, IN TODAY'S CURRENT
SYSTEM, INCREASE RESPONSE TIME
TO PRIORITY THREE AND FOUR
CALLS, AS WELL AS, YOU KNOW,
THE SWORN OFFICER SAVINGS THAT
MAY BE, AS WE DEPLOY
ALTERNATIVES.
HAPPY TO TAKE FOLLOW-UPS.
SENIOR DEPUTY MAYOR HARRELL,
DO YOU HAVE ANYTHING TO ADD?
>> THANK YOU FOR COVERING THAT.
I THINK IT COVERS A LOT OF IT.
I WILL SAY, JUST TO PUT AN
UNDERLINE UNDER IT, THAT THE
EXISTING PROGRAMS THAT WE HAVE,
THEY ARE NOT ELIMINATED FROM
BEING SERVED.
PROGRAMS LIKE L.E.A.D.
AND OTHERS, THERE MAY BE A
CLEAR UTILIZATION ARE SLIGHTLY
DIFFERENT UTILIZATION OF THOSE
RESOURCES WE HAD AVAILABLE.
WE ARE NOT GOING TO INVENT NEW
THINGS OUT OF WHOLE CLOTH.
THERE MIGHT BE AN ALIGNMENT OF
RESOURCES THAT HELP US TOWARD
SOME GOALS.
THE OTHER THING I WILL ADD IS
THAT WE KNOW THAT THERE NEEDS
TO BE MORE SUPPORT IN AND AROUND
CSCC AND THAT DOES BEGIN WITH
ENSURING THAT WE HAVE A
PERMANENT DIRECTOR IN PLACE.
GOING FORWARD.
SO YOU WILL SEE US ANNOUNCING A
PLAN FOR THE SEARCH FOR THE
PERMANENT CSCC DIRECTOR.
THE INTERIM DIRECTOR HAS BEEN
EXTREMELY GRACIOUS IN HELPING
US GET THAT DEPARTMENT OFF THE
GROUND.
AND WE KNOW THAT THERE IS STILL
A LOT OF WORK TO DO, BUT THAT
DOES BEGIN WITH FINDING THEIR
NEW LEADERSHIP IN MAKING SURE
WE HAVE THE RIGHT RESOURCES IN
PLACE.
>> AND I JUST WANT TO ADD A
COUPLE OF ADDITIONS HERE.
AS IT RELATES TO THE ANALYSIS.
COUNCILMEMBER NELSON, I HEARD
YOU ASK ABOUT HOW IT RELATES TO
THE NICK JR. REPORT.
IT ONLY LOOKED AT HOW CALLS
WERE CLASSIFIED AS THEY CAME
IN.
THE RMD ANALYSIS WILL LOOK AT
HOW THEY WERE CLOSED OUT, SO
THEY CAN DETERMINE WHETHER OR
NOT THERE IS ANY RISK ASSOCIATED
WITH HOW WE MIGHT THINK A CALL
WILL PRESENT ITSELF AND THE
RISK THAT A PERSON GOING OUT TO
ENGAGE IN THAT CALL.
SO I THINK THAT IS AN IMPORTANT
BIT OF TEXTURE FOR WHY THIS
ANALYSIS WILL BE HELPFUL.
I ALSO WANT TO SORT OF MAKE A
BRIGHTER DISTINCTION BETWEEN
THE COMPREHENSIVE WORK, AS
DIRECTOR ANDY REFERENCED, WHICH
THE OUTCOMES FOR THAT MORE
COMPREHENSIVE WORK MIGHT TAKE
MORE TIME, AS OPPOSED TO THIS
PARTICULAR PILOT PROGRAM.
THE EXECUTIVE, SPD IN
PARTICULAR, HAS BEEN REALLY
HELPFUL IN LEVEL SETTING THE
WORK PRODUCT OF THE RMD AND I
JUST WANT TO TAKE THIS
OPPORTUNITY TO ADDRESS THEIR
CONCERNS THAT MANY IN THE CITY
BELIEVE THE ANALYSIS WILL
RESULT IN A LIST OF DISCRETE
CALLS THAT THEY WILL THEN WORK
TO DIVERT.
THAT IS NOT THE NATURE OF THE
PRODUCT.
INSTEAD, THIS COMPREHENSIVE
WORK AS OPPOSED TO THE PILOT
EFFORT WE ARE TALKING ABOUT
NOW, WILL RECEIVE A STAFFING
MODEL AND RISK ANALYSIS.
FOR ALL OF THE DIFFERENT CALL
TYPES.
THIS WILL PROJECT THE RISKS
ASSOCIATED WITH CALL TYPES,
BASED ON A PERFECT
UNDERSTANDING OF THE OUTCOME OF
PRIOR CALLS, IN ORDER TO
PREDICT THE STAFFING NEEDS TO
PROVIDE A DIVERSIFIED RESPONSE
ACROSS DIFFERENT CALL TYPES.
SO WHAT WE ARE DOING, WHAT WE
ARE TALKING ABOUT NOW, MY RESULT
IN DIVERTING CALL TYPES.
IN THE PAST WE HAVE TALKED ABOUT
PERSON DOWN AND WELLNESS CHECKS.
WE WILL SEE WHAT THIS ANALYSIS
RESULTS IN, BUT THE ANALYSIS IS
INTENDED TO ALLOW FOR THE
POSSIBILITY OF A DIVERSIFIED
RESPONSE ACROSS A NUMBER OF
CALL TYPES.
SOME OF THOSE CALLS MIGHT BE
DIVERTED AND SOME OF THEM MIGHT
NOT.
SO I JUST WANT TO CLARIFY THAT
FOR THE VIEWING PUBLIC, BECAUSE
IT CAN BE CONFUSING.
FOR MYSELF AS WELL.
>> THAT REALLY HELPED.
I KNOW A LOT OF PEOPLE SAY, HOW
DO WE KNOW WHAT KIND OF CALLS
THEY WILL BE GOING INTO, SO
THANK YOU VERY MUCH.
>> ABSOLUTELY.
THE OTHER POINT I WANTED TO
MAKE AS IT RELATES TO THE
CHALLENGES OF THE CSCC, I JUST
WANT TO ACKNOWLEDGE THAT MANY
OF THE CHALLENGES WE HAVE HEARD
ABOUT, AS IT RELATES TO CALL
RESPONSE TIME, THE NONEMERGENCY
LINE NOT ALWAYS BEING ANSWERED,
IS AT ITS FOUNDATION, A
STAFFING ISSUE.
MUCH LIKE OUR FIRST RESPONDERS
AND POLICE DEPARTMENT AND THE
FIRE DEPARTMENT.
WE ADDED FUNDING BEYOND WHAT
WAS PROPOSED IN THE BUDGET LAST
YEAR.
THEY ARE WORKING ON HIRING AND
WE ARE SEEING A GREAT
IMPROVEMENT IN CALL RESPONSE
TIME, AS WELL AS FEWER PERIODS
OF TIME WHERE THE NONEMERGENCY
LINE IS BEING ANSWERED.
THAT IS REALLY IMPORTANT.
I ALSO WANT TO FLAG THAT THEY
ARE DILIGENTLY WORKING TO
DEVELOP AND IMPLEMENT THE
PROTOCOL SYSTEM THAT WILL ALLOW
911 CALL TAKERS TO DO THIS
DIVERSIFIED RESPONSE THAT THE
COUNCIL FUNDED IN LAST YEAR'S
BUDGET.
EVEN THOUGH WE ARE NOT
EVERYWHERE THAT MAYBE WE WANT
O BE AT THIS TIME IN THE YEAR,
THERE IS A LOT OF BEHIND-THE-
SCENES WORK THAT IS NECESSARY.
THAT HAS BEEN HAPPENING ON A
PARALLEL TRACK TO THE
DEVELOPMENT OF THE
COLLABORATION WITH THE MAYOR.
SO I JUST WANT TO ACKNOWLEDGE
THAT REALLY IMPORTANT AND
NECESSARY BEHIND-THE-SCENES
WORK.
LOOKING TO SEE IF THERE ARE
OTHER QUESTIONS OR COMMENTS
FROM COUNCILMEMBERS.
NOT SEEING ANY.
AGAIN, I APPRECIATE THIS
IMPORTANT WORK THAT COUNCIL
CENTRAL STAFF ARE WORKING ON,
AS A TEAM, WITH THE EXECUTIVE
STAFF.
AND ALSO TO OUR FRIENDS AT SPD
WHO MIGHT BE LISTENING ALONG,
LOOKING FORWARD TO A BRIEFING
ON THE ANALYSIS LATER THIS
MONTH, SO THANK YOU, VERY, VERY
MUCH.
I AM REALLY ENCOURAGED BY THIS
PROGRESS.
AND WITH THAT, THE NEXT PUBLIC
SAFETY AND HUMAN SERVICES
COMMITTEE IS SCHEDULED FOR
SEPTEMBER 27, 2022.
THAT IS THE DATE THE BUDGET IS
ANNOUNCED, BUT SINCE WE MEET IN
THE MORNING WE ARE ALLOWED TO
HAVE OUR LAST MEETING OF THE
FALL.
SO IF ANY COMMITTEE MEMBERS
ANTICIPATE BEING ABSENT FROM
THAT MEETING, I APPRECIATE
BEING NOTIFIED.
I THINK WE DID A SURVEY OF
COMMUNITY MEMBERS BETWEEN THE
STATE -- THIS DATE AND AN
ALTERNATIVE DATE.
IF ANYTHING CHANGES, PLEASE LET
ME KNOW.
BEFORE WE ADJOURN, ARE THERE
ANY OTHER COMMENTS FROM MY
COLLEAGUES?
SEEING NONE, IT IS 11:31 AND WE
ARE ADJOURNED.
THANK YOU.