>>> GOOD MORNING. IT IS 9:34
A.M., DECEMBER 13th, 2022
MEETING OF PUBLIC SAFETY AND
HUMAN SERVICES COMMITTEE WILL
COME TO ORDER. I'M LISA
HERBOLD, CHAIR OF THE
COMMITTEE. WILL THE CLERK
PLEASE CALL THE ROLL?
>> COUNCILMEMBER NELSON?
>> PRESENT.
>> COUNCILMEMBER LEWIS?
>> PRESENT.
>> COUNCILMEMBER PEDERSEN?
>> PRESENT.
>> COUNCILMEMBER MOSQUEDA? AND
CHAIR HERBOLD?
>> HERE. THANK YOU. I WILL
CHECK FOR COUNCILMEMBER
MOSQUEDA'S PRESENCE IN A
MOMENT. I DID GET A TEXT SAYING
SHE'S HERE, SO HOPEFULLY WE'LL
SEE HER ON THE SCREEN. TODAY
WE'LL BE HEARING THE
APPOINTMENT OF MARY RUFFIN TO
THE SEATTLE COMMUNITY POLICE
COMMISSION, THE APPOINTMENT OF
ADRIAN DIAZ AS SEATTLE POLICE
CHIEF. WE'LL HEAR AN UPDATE ON
THE SEATTLE DEPARTMENT OF
CONSTRUCTION & INSPECTIONS AND
WE'LL BE HEARING TESTIMONY IN A
PUBLIC HEARING ON THE 2023
DRAFT ANNUAL CONSOLIDATED
ACTION PLAN. WE'LL NOW APPROVE
THE AGENDA FOR THE COMMITTEE
MEETING TODAY. IF THERE IS NO
OBJECTION, OUR AGENDA WILL BE
ADOPTED. HEARING NO OBJECTION,
TODAY'S AGENDA IS ADOPTED. AT
THIS TIME WE'LL TRANSITION INTO
PUBLIC COMMENT. I WILL MODERATE
THE PUBLIC COMMENT PERIOD. EACH
SPEAKER WILL HAVE TWO MINUTES
TO SPEAK. WE'LL ALTERNATE
BETWEEN VIRTUAL AND IN-PERSON
COMMENTORS AND I'LL CALL IN THE
ORDER THEY REGISTERED. IF YOU
HAVE NOT REGISTERED TO SPEAK,
YOU CAN SIGN UP ON THE
COUNCIL'S WEBSITE BEFORE THE
END OF THE PUBLIC COMMENT
SECTION. WHEN I CALL A
SPEAKER'S NAME, IF YOU'RE USING
THE VIRTUAL OPTION, YOU'LL HEAR
A PROMPT, AND ONCE YOU HAVE
HEARD THAT, PLEASE PRESS STAR
SIX TO UNMUTE YOURSELF. BEGIN
BY STATING YOUR NAME AND THE
ITEM WHICH YOU'RE ADDRESSING.
SPEAKERS WILL HEAR A CHIME WHEN
TEN SECONDS ARE LEFT IN THEIR
ALLOTTED TIME. ONCE YOU HEAR
THE CHIME, WE ASK THAT YOU
BEGIN TO WRAP UP YOUR PUBLIC
COMMENTS. THE SPEAKER'S MIC IS
MUTED AFTER TEN SECONDS TO
ALLOW US TO HEAR FROM THE NEXT
SPEAKER. ONCE YOU HAVE
COMPLETED THE PUBLIC COMMENT,
PLEASE DISCONNECT FROM THE
LINE. IF YOU PLAN TO CONTINUE
FOLLOWING THE MEETING, PLEASE
DO SO THROUGH THE SEATTLE
CHANNEL OR LISTENING OPTIONS
LISTED ON THE AGENDA. WE'VE GOT
ABOUT 20 OR SO PEOPLE SIGNED UP
FOR PUBLIC COMMENT. WE HAVE 15
SIGNED UP FOR VIRTUAL COMMENT,
SIX NOW FOR COMMENT IN PERSON.
AND I WILL BEGIN BY CALLING
NAMES TWO AT THE TIME. WE'LL
BEGIN WITH THE INDIVIDUALS
SIGNED UP TO SPEAK? PERSON,
MATT CHAN AND TONYA WU.
>> MY NAME IS MATT CHAN. I'M
AND ORGANIZER IN THE CHINATOWN
INTERNATIONAL DISTRICT. I'M
HERE TO SPEAK IN SUPPORT OF
APPOINTING ADRIAN DIAZ AS
SEATTLE POLICE CHIEF. I'VE HAD
CONVERSATIONS WITH CHIEF DIAZ
BOTH PRIVATELY AND PUBLICLY AND
ONE OF THE THINGS THAT
IMPRESSED ME DURING THE DIRECT
ACTION WE HAD IN THE CHINATOWN
DISTRICT ABOUT THE MEGASHELTER
WAS THAT HE SUPPORTED US. HE
WAS ONE OF THE FEW CITY
OFFICIALS THAT STEPPED FORWARD
TO PUMP THE BRAKES BECAUSE WE
HADN'T MEASURED THE IMPACT ON
THE COMMUNITY, WHICH I THOUGHT
WAS A PRUDENT THING TO SAY. THE
NEXT DAY HE WAS NAMED POLICE
CHIEF. IT TOOK A MEASURE OF
COURAGE TO COME OUT AND SAY
SOMETHING LIKE THAT, WHICH IS
THERE WAS SOME PARALLEL TO A
STATEMENT LIKE THAT. WHEN HE
WAS INTERVIEWED ON FRIDAY, HE
REITERATED THAT STATEMENT. ONE
OF THE THINGS THAT IMPRESSED ME
WAS, HE SAID THAT MOST OF THE
TIME, ALMOST DAILY, HE WOULD
DRIVE THROUGH THE CID TO SEE
HOW THINGS WERE. TO ME THAT'S
SOMETHING THAT'S REAL. IT
WASN'T A POLITICAL STATEMENT.
IT WAS SOMEONE WHO ACTUALLY
CARES ABOUT OUR NEIGHBORHOOD. I
THINK THAT FOR MOST OF THE
PEOPLE IN THE NEIGHBORHOOD,
THEY WANT POLICE PRESENCE
THERE. THEY WANT PUBLIC SAFETY.
I KNOW THAT'S A CONTENTIOUS
ISSUE ABOUT THE OVERPOLICING,
BUT IN THE CID, I BELIEVE IT'S
UNDERPOLICED IN MANY WAYS. I
WANT TO VOICE MY SUPPORT FOR
CHIEF DIAZ.
>> THANK YOU.
>> HE'S IN THE COMMUNITY AND
KNOWS THE COMMUNITY. WE SEE
CHIEF DIAZ FREQUENTLY IN
BUSINESSES AND ON OUR STREETS,
SO WE KNOW HIM AND TRUST HIM.
HE'S RESPECTFUL FOR DIFFERENT
OPINIONS AND THAT HE REALLY
CARES ABOUT THE CHINATOWN
INTERNATIONAL DISTRICT AND ALL
COMMUNITIES. MORE THAN
ANYTHING, OUR COMMUNITIES NEED
AN ADVOCATE, ALLIES TO UPLIFT
THE VOICES OF OUR SENIORS AND
BUSINESS OWNERS AND RESIDENTS,
MANY OF WHOM DO NOT SPEAK
ENGLISH. WHEN WE REALLY NEEDED
HIM, HE WAS THERE TO ADVOCATE
FOR WHAT WE WANTED AND WHAT WE
NEEDED IN THE COMMUNITY,
ESPECIALLY WHEN WE NEEDED
PUBLIC SAFETY, WHEN WE NEEDED
TO HAVE OUR VOICES HEARD ON
DIFFERENT ISSUES REGARDING THE
COMMUNITY. HE KNOWS HOW TO
BRIDGE THE CULTURAL GAP, THE
LANGUAGE GAP. WE TRUST HIM AND
WE LOOK FORWARD TO SEEING HIM
IN OUR COMMUNITY AND WORKING
WITH HIM IN THE FUTURE. THANK
YOU.
>> THANK YOU. NEXT SPEAKER,
HOWARD GAYLE THEN CODY
ZELEWSKY.
>> GOOD MORNING, HOWARD GAYLE
COMMENTING ON OUR FAILED POLICE
ACCOUNTABILITY SYSTEM. THE
FIRST AGENDA ITEM THIS MORNING
IS THE APPOINTMENT OF MARY
RUFFIN AS A MEMBER OF THE
COMMUNITY POLICE COMMISSION. I
WONDER IF YOU WILL INFORM MS.
RUFFIN THAT HER ROLE IS TO BE
WINDOW DRESSING TO AN
INCREASINGLY DYSFUNCTIONAL
COMMISSION THAT IN THE LAST FEW
MONTHS CANCELED MEETINGS,
ATTACKED PEOPLE WHOSE LOVED
ONES WERE KILLED BY POLICE. NOT
SURPRISING FOR A COMMISSION IN
TEN YEARS HASN'T HAD A PERSON
IMPACTED BY GUN VIOLENCE. A
RECENT EXAMPLE, THE SEPTEMBER
29th MEETING WITH CPC EXECUTIVE
DIRECTOR BRANDY GRANT AND GO
COCHAIR HARRIET WALDEN WITH
COUNCILMEMBERS HERBOLD AND
MORALES, WHERE THEY WERE
BULLIED INTO NOT REPRESENTING
PEOPLE IMPACTED BY POLICE
VIOLENCE, THE VERY PEOPLE
IGNORED FOR THE LAST DECADE.
THIS WAS AN ACTION TAKEN
WITHOUT THE VOTE OR KNOWLEDGE
OF THE COMMISSIONERS. AND YOUR
SECOND ITEM IS THE APPOINTMENT
OF ADRIAN DIAZ AS POLICE CHIEF.
IF HIS ANSWERS TO THE
QUESTIONS, HE HAS A PROACTIVE
STANCE ON POLICING, NOTING THAT
HE SERVES ON THE BOARD OF THE
RESEARCH FORUM, THE NATIONAL
GROUP THAT FOR OVER SEVEN YEARS
HAS BEEN TRAINING ON THE
METHODS TO NOT KILL PEOPLE WITH
WEAPONS. YET CHIEF DIAZ HAS
BEEN PART OF THE CULTURE IN
SEATTLE POLICING THAT'S KILLED
18 PEOPLE SUFFERING A MENTAL
HEALTH CRISIS IN THE LAST 18
YEARS, ALL PEOPLE WITH AN EDGED
WEAPON OR NO WEAPON AT ALL,
LIKE THE STILL UNNAMED PERSON
KILLED IN JANUARY THIS YEAR,
DEREK HADDEN KILLED THE DAY
BEFORE, RYAN SMITH AND DANNY
RODRIGUEZ, KILLED THE YEAR
BEFORE THAT. YOU'RE NOT FOOLING
THE PUBLIC BY DRESSING UP THE
DECADE OF FAILURES AS SOMETHING
TO BE PROUD OF.
>> THANK YOU. NEXT SPEAKER IS
CODY ZELEWSKY THEN DAVID
GLICK.
>> HELLO. I WOULD LIKE TO THANK
ANDREW LEWIS AND THE SEATTLE
CITY COUNCIL TO DEPRIORITIZE
PSYCHEDELICS AS OUR CITY IS ON
THE CUTTING EDGE OF TREATMENT
AND TREATING MENTAL HEALTH
CRISIS WITH NOVEL METHODS. BUT
THE CITY COULD DO MORE.
CODIFYING THE PRIOR RESOLUTION
WOULD SEND THE MESSAGE THAT
SEATTLE IS INVESTED IN PROFOUND
MENTAL HEALTH TREATMENTS. WE
STRONGLY URGE THE SEATTLE CITY
COUNCIL TO TAKE THE STEP OF
PUTTING THIS RESOLUTION ON THE
BOOKS FOR GOOD. AS THE STATE
CONTINUES TO DEBATE THIS
SESSION, THIS BRINGS MUCH
NEEDED ATTENTION TO THE ISSUE.
THANK YOU.
>> THANK YOU. NEXT SPEAKER WILL
BE DAVID GLICK, FOLLOWED BY
RUMENTA HELZUSGA.
>> I'M A LAW-ABIDING TAX PAYING
CITIZEN IN YOUR DISTRICT, MR.
LEWIS. THANKS FOR COMING TO THE
MEETING IN PERSON. THAT SHOWS
THAT YOU'RE A PROFESSIONAL. I'M
HERE TO TALK ABOUT PUBLIC
SAFETY BECAUSE I DON'T FEEL
SAFE IN THIS CITY, HAVEN'T FOR
YEARS. I RIDE THE LIGHT RAIL TO
WORK. IN FOUR OF THE LAST EIGHT
TIMES I RODE THE LIGHT RAIL,
THERE WERE VAGRANTS ON THE
TRAIN. THEY WERE AGGRESSIVE,
VIOLENT, AND MAKING EVERYONE ON
THE TRAIN FEEL UNSAFE. I SEE NO
LAW ENFORCEMENT ON THE TRAINS.
I DON'T SEE ANYBODY CHECKING
FARES. IT'S UNSATISFACTORY.
WHOEVER IS IN CHARGE OF PUBLIC
TRANSPORTATION, I THINK IT'S
MR. PEDERSEN, I WOULD IMPLORE
YOU, PLEASE INCREASE SECURITY
ON THE TRAINS. I TALKED TO THE
SECURITY GENTLEMAN ON THE RAMP
ONE DAY AND HE SAID THEY ARE
MANNED 40%. 40%. WE HAVE TO DO
BETTER THAN THAT AND PROTECT
THE LAW-ABIDING TAXPAYERS OF
SEATTLE. MY GIRLFRIEND WHO WAS
RECENTLY RUNNING ON A SIDEWALK
BY FREMONT, WAS SHOVED OUT INTO
THE STREET BY A VAGRANT. SHE'S
ALSO A LAW-ABIDING TAXPAYER OF
THIS CITY, WHO SHOULD ENJOY THE
RIGHTS OF BEING SAFE. WE ARE
NOT. SHE IS NOT SAFE. SHE WAS
ALMOST KILLED BY SOMEONE IN
THIS CITY, A VAGRANT. I
GUARANTEE YOU THAT PERSON HAS A
RECORD. SHE CALLED THE POLICE.
THERE WAS NO RESPONSE. THERE
WAS A CYCLIST INVOLVED IN THE
SAME EVENT. HE WAS ALSO PUSHED
BY THIS PERSON. DO YOU THINK IF
ONE OF THOSE TWO PEOPLE HAD
BEEN KILLED, AND THE
RESPONSIBILITY THAT WOULD COME
DOWN ON YOUR SHOULDERS, A
CITIZEN KILLED IN THIS CITY IN
THOSE CIRCUMSTANCES. PLEASE
ADDRESS PUBLIC SAFETY. BE REAL,
TAKE IT SERIOUS, BECAUSE THIS
IS NOT A SAFE CITY. THANKS FOR
LETTING ME SPEAK.
>> THANK YOU. NEXT SPEAKER IS
RUMENITA ANZELKA, I THINK?
FOLLOWED BY RANDALL ROWANG. IF
YOU COULD HIT STAR SIX, WE
COULD BE ABLE TO HEAR YOU.
>> GREAT, THANK YOU.
>> THANK YOU FOR TAKING THE
TIME TO CONSIDER PLANT
MEDICINES. SOMEONE CLOSE TO ME
SUFFERS FROM CONFUSION AND
ANXIETY THEIR WHOLE LIFE, TRIED
MEDICATIONS AND THERAPY BUT
DIDN'T LIKE THE WAY THE
MEDICATIONS MADE THEM FEEL.
THEY FOUND A COMMUNITY OF
PEOPLE FROM ALL WALKS OF LIFE
ALSO SEEKING ALTERNATIVES TO
THE TRADITIONAL PARADIGM OF,
MENTAL HEALTH AND SPIRITUAL
HEALTH. MORE PEOPLE ARE USING
PLANT MEDICINE IN COMBINATION
WITH EXERCISES AND MEDITATION,
AND THEY FOUND WAYS TO BECOME
WHOLE AFTER TRAUMA OR LOSING A
LOVED ONE OR FACING DIFFICULT
DIAGNOSES OR LIFE DECISIONS. IN
THE WORK WITH PLANT MEDICINES,
THEY FOUND TREMENDOUS VALUE IN
EVERY ASPECT OF THEIR LIFE AND
PROVIDED THEM WITH NEW WAYS OF
BEING THAT'S IMPROVED THEIR
QUALITY OF LIFE AND THOSE CLOSE
TO THEM. I BELIEVE THESE
MEDICINES SHOULD BE ACCEPTABLE
IN SAFE ENVIRONMENTS TO THOSE
WHO COULD ALSO BENEFIT FROM
THESE TYPES OF EXPERIENCES.
THANK YOU.
>> THANK YOU. RANDALL WUANG.
>> I'M A LIFELONG RESIDENT OF
SEATTLE. I'M SPEAKING IN
SUPPORT OF CHIEF ADRIAN DIAZ'S
APPOINTMENT. HE'S BEEN THERE
FOR THE CHINATOWN COMMUNITY,
SHOWING UP TO NUMEROUS EVENTS,
COMMUNITY EVENTS, SHOWING HIS
SUPPORT FOR THE COMMUNITY. HE'S
ONE OF THE FEW ADVOCATES,
ACTUALLY PROBABLY ONE OF THE
ONLY ADVOCATES THAT SPOKE
AGAINST HAVING THE SHELTER IN
THE CID COMMUNITY. HE'S BEEN IN
THE SEATTLE POLICE FORCE ALL
HIS CAREER AND RIDING PATROL
ALL THE WAY UP TO CHIEF. HE
NEEDS TO BE THERE AS A TRUE
LEADER. I'M IN FULL SUPPORT AND
WE DO NEED MORE SAFETY AROUND
THE CITY. THERE IS TOO MUCH
VIOLENCE, TOO MUCH BUSINESS
GETTING DESTROYED BY ALL THE
VIOLENCE AND ROBBERIES. MY DAD
HAS BEEN WORKING IN THE SEATTLE
COMMUNITY FOR 45 YEARS AND HE
DOES SUPPORT THE COMMUNITY.
THAT'S ALL I HAVE TO SAY.
>> THANK YOU.
>> GOOD MORNING, I'M WITH
PUBLIC HEALTH SEATTLE KING
COUNTY. I'M THE STRATEGIC
ADVISOR ON REGIONAL GUN
VIOLENCE AND I'M HERE THIS
MORNING TO TESTIFY OR TO LEND
MY SUPPORT IN THE APPOINTMENT
OF CHIEF ADRIAN DIAZ TO THE
OFFICIAL TITLE AND POSITION OF
CHIEF OF THE CITY OF SEATTLE.
THANK YOU, CHAIR HERBOLD AND
MEMBERS OF THE COMMITTEE,
VIRTUAL AND HERE PRESENT THIS
MORNING FOR MAKING THIS A
PRIORITY. I'VE WORKED WITH
CHIEF DIAZ SINCE ABOUT 2005 IN
A VARIETY OF CAPACITIES. AS A
PERSON WHO STARTED A PROGRAM IN
THE COMMUNITY TO ABATE GUN
VIOLENCE AND SUPPORT PEOPLE
DIRECTLY IMPACTED, I'VE HAD THE
OPPORTUNITY TO WORK WITH CHIEF
DIAZ. IN 2008, WORKED ALONG
CHIEF DIAZ AND OTHERS TO HELP
BUILD OUT THE SEATTLE YOUTH
VIOLENCE INITIATIVE. WE WERE
DEPLOYED TO WASHINGTON, D.C. TO
LEARN FROM COMMUNITY LEADERS ON
HOW THEY PARTNERED WITH LAW
ENFORCEMENT TO SUPPORT
COMMUNITY-LED PUBLIC SAFETY
EFFORTS THAT CENTERED THOSE
LEADING THE CHARGE ON GUN
VIOLENCE. WE WANTED TO WORK ON
THE NATIONAL FORUM FOR
PREVENTING YOUTH VIOLENCE.
AGAIN, I WANT TO TESTIFY AS A
KEY PRIORITY TO A STRATEGY THAT
BOTH HE SUPPORTS AND WE KNOW
WORKS. THAT CONTINUES TODAY IN
HIS EFFORTS TO SUPPORT THE
LEADERSHIP OF THE EFFORTS
ADDRESSING REGIONAL GUN
VIOLENCE, PARTNERED WITH CHIEFS
OUTSIDE THE CITY OF SEATTLE,
AND HELPED REGIONAL APPROACHES
IN THE PAST THAT RESULTED IN
ZERO HOMICIDES IN THE PAST
BECAUSE OF EFFORTS BETWEEN LAW
ENFORCEMENT AND THE COMMUNITY.
IT'S AN HONOR TO TESTIFY IN
SUPPORT OF HIS APPOINTMENT AND
NOTE THAT WE WILL STAND IN
SUPPORT OF THE ONGOING
PARTNERSHIP AS HE LEAVES THE
SEATTLE POLICE DEPARTMENT AND
WORKING WITH THE COMMUNITY.
>> NEXT IS MARCUS STUBBLEFIELD,
THEN FOLLOWED BY DANNY A.
>> THANK YOU. I'M HERE IN
SUPPORT OF THE APPOINTMENT OF
CHIEF DIAZ TO THE POLICE CHIEF.
I'VE WORKED WITH ADRIAN
PROBABLY 25 YEARS, STARTING
WITH GANG INTERVENTION WHEN HE
WAS A PATROL OFFICER, DOING
WORK IN THE COMMUNITY. MY
CURRENT ROLE, I WOULDN'T PUT
ALL THIS ON THE POLICE CHIEF.
IT'S A UNIFIED APPROACH. HE
BRINGS STRONG ACCOUNTABILITY,
STRONG LEADERSHIP,
COMMUNITY-DRIVEN APPROACHES
THAT I THINK IS WHAT WE NEED TO
MAKE OUR COUNTY AND CITY SAFER.
I'M IN FULL SUPPORT OF HIS
APPOINTMENT AS THE CHIEF AND
LOOK FORWARD TO THE CONTINUED
RELATIONSHIP AS WE MOVE FORWARD
TO MAKE OUR COMMUNITY SAFER.
THANK YOU.
>> NEXT IS DANNY A, FOLLOWED BY
ANNA F. IF YOU COULD HIT STAR
SIX SO WE CAN HEAR YOU?
>> CAN YOU HEAR ME?
>> YES, THANK YOU. HI, I'M
CALLING FROM THE FIRST HILL
NEIGHBORHOOD. I SUPPORT
DECRIMINALIZING NATURAL PLANT
MEDICINES. I WANT TO THANK THE
COUNCIL FOR PASSING THE
DECRIMINALIZATION RESOLUTION
LAST YEAR BUT THIS IS NOT
ENOUGH TO ENSURE THE LONGEVITY
OF THE PROGRAM. I CAN
PERSONALLY ATTEST TO THE POWER
AND SAFETY OF THESE MEDICINES.
THESE ARE THINGS RESIDENTS
SHOULD HAVE ACCESS TO WITHOUT
THE FEAR OF INCARCERATION.
PLEASE HELP KEEP SEATTLE A
LEADER IN THE DECRIMINALIZATION
ORDINANCE. THANK YOU.
>> ANNA F, FOLLOWED BY
DOMINIQUE DAVIS.
>> HELLO. I WOULD LIKE TO THANK
OUR SEATTLE CITY COUNCIL FOR
PASSING THE RESOLUTION TO
DECRIMINALIZE PLANT
PSYCHEDELICS. TODAY I WANT TO
URGE THE CITY COUNCIL TO MAKE
THIS INTO AN ORDINANCE. I GREW
UP IN A SMALL CONDO UNDER THE
SHADOW OF THE SPACE NEEDLE .
ONLY IN THE LAST FEW YEARS
WHERE MY INTEREST IN
PSYCHEDELICS BEGAN, MAINLY IN
THE FORM OF PSILOCYBIN. I
LEARNED ABOUT THE USE OF THE
MEDICINE IN CONJUNCTION WITH
MINDFUL PRACTICES. I STARTED
TAKING MICRODOSE AND NOTICED
PERCEPTIVE LIFE CHANGE. I KEPT
THIS A SECRET FOR A COUPLE
YEARS UNTIL I RECENTLY
INTRODUCED THIS TO MY MOTHER,
WHO SUFFERS FROM CHRONIC PAIN
AND OCCASIONAL DEPRESSION. I
PROPOSED THIS SUMMER TAKING A
SMALL AMOUNT OF MEDICINE DURING
OUR WALK. THIS WAS A MEANINGFUL
MOMENT FOR BOTH OF US IN OUR
RELATIONSHIP AND WE ARE ABLE TO
ENGAGE IN DEEP CONVERSATIONS
AND ENJOY THE WORLD AROUND US
TOGETHER. THIS IS A PLANT THAT
PRODUCES VALUABLE MEDICINE TO
ME, MY FAMILY AND THE
COMMUNITY. IF IT WERE MORE
FREELY AVAILABLE, I WOULD USE
IT TO HELP MY MOTHER. THANK YOU
FOR LISTENING.
>> THANK YOU. DOMINIQUE DAVIS
IS NEXT.
>> HELLO, COUNCIL. AS YOU
KNOW, BOOTS ON THE GROUND, MY
TEAM IS BOOTS ON THE GROUND. WE
ARE IN THE MIX OF GUN VIOLENCE
AND COMMUNITY SAFETY EVERY DAY.
YOU'RE KIND OF GETTING A
DIFFERENT PERSPECTIVE WHY WE
SUPPORT CHIEF DIAZ. HE'S BEEN
GROUNDED IN OUR COMMUNITY FOR A
VERY LONG TIME. HE'S BEEN
CONNECTED TO US FOR SO MANY
YEARS, AND SEEING HIM BEING
ELEVATED INTO THIS POSITION IS
VERY WELL DESERVING. THE
COLLABORATIONS WE HAVE BEEN
ABLE TO BUILD, THE WAY WE HAVE
BEEN ABLE TO WORK WITH EACH
OTHER IN THE FIELD HAS BEEN
NOTHING MORE THAN ASTONISHING,
ESPECIALLY LATELY SINCE HE'S
BEEN IN THIS POSITION OF
COMMAND. I WANT TO CONTINUE
THIS RELATIONSHIP BECAUSE IT
ENHANCES OUR WORK. WHEN WE CAN
TELL SPD WE NEED YOU OVER THERE
OR OVER HERE, IT'S KIND OF LIKE
SHOWING THEM HOW TO POLICE US,
AND TO HAVE LEADERSHIP IN FAVOR
OF THAT. IT'S BEEN AWESOME. I
WANT TO BE SURE WE CONTINUE TO
BUILD ON THAT. I DON'T WANT TO
GO BACKWARDS. I'M HOPING THAT
WE CAN GO AHEAD AND CONFIRM
HIM, GET HIM IN POSITION, KEEP
COLLABORATING WITH HIM, WORKING
WITH HIM. AND HIS LEADERSHIP
TRICKLES DOWN TO THE REST OF
HIS TEAM. I'VE SEEN THE CHANGES
SINCE HE'S BEEN IN LEADERSHIP,
SOME OF THE ATTITUDE CHANGES.
I'VE GOT TO BE HONEST, I NEVER
THOUGHT THAT WE'D BE ABLE TO
COLLABORATE FROM A
COMMUNITY-BASED ORGANIZATION
AND OUR PARTNERSHIPS AT THIS
LEVEL WITH LAW ENFORCEMENT. IT
WAS ALWAYS KIND OF JUST PUSHING
AGAINST EACH OTHER, AND LAW
ENFORCEMENT FELT A LITTLE
THREATENED THAT WE MIGHT TRY
AND TAKE SOME OF THEIR
POSITIONS OR JOBS, AND THAT'S
NOT IT. WE HAVE TO HAVE
SOMEBODY IN THE SPACE THAT
UNDERSTANDS WE ARE
COLLABORATING TOGETHER AND THIS
IS A UNIFIED FRONT WE NEED TO
BUILD TO ADDRESS ALL THE ISSUES
IN THE COMMUNITY. THANK YOU.
>> ALEX ZIMMERMAN NEXT,
FOLLOWED BY LIAM B. [ SPEAKING
FOREIGN LANGUAGE ]
>> I'M VERY HAPPY. RIGHT NOW
WE HAVE NEW CHIEF IN TOWN, SOME
FREAKING IDIOT AND CLOWN WE
HAVE BEFORE MANY TIME. QUESTION
VERY SIMPLE RIGHT NOW: CAN ONE
CLOWN CHOOSE ANOTHER CLOWN? SO
WE HAVE A CLOWN. THIS NAME OF
CLOWN VERY POPULAR. HIS NAME
MR. HARRELL. YOU, MAYOR, YOU
CLOWN. MULTIMILLIONAIRE AND
NEVER FOR ONE YEAR, EVERY
STUPID COMES BEFORE. BUT THIS
CLOWN FOR ONE YEAR, NEVER HAVE
A Q & A. WE CAN'T EVER BRING A
COMPLAINT. CAN THIS CLOWN
CHOOSE ANOTHER CLOWN? IT'S
EXACTLY WHAT'S HAPPENED. CAN
SOMETHING CHANGE? NOTHING WILL
BE CHANGED. PEOPLE WILL BE
KILLING ONE ANOTHER BECAUSE WE
HAVE A CIRCUS, A CLOWN, MAYOR
CLOWN, EVERYBODY IN THIS
GOVERNMENT CLOWN RIGHT NOW. ALL
STUPID AND CLOWN. AND EVERYBODY
HAPPY. IT'S A PROBLEM RIGHT
NOW. THIS CLOWN TOOK ALL, DON'T
SHOW US FACES. HARRELL CLOWN
FOR MANY YEARS AND WE CHOSE HIM
BECAUSE HE'S A PROFESSIONAL
CROOK AND CLOWN. STAND UP,
SEATTLE IDIOT, MAKE HIM HAPPY.
>> NEXT SPEAKER LIAM B IS
SHOWING AS NOT PRESENT, SO
WE'LL MOVE TO BEN SIRCO AND
RACHEL SERBENAK.
>> HI, I'M BEN. I'M SPEAKING
TODAY IN SUPPORT OF PASSING THE
DECRIMINALIZING PSYCHEDELICS
ORDINANCE. THANK YOU FOR GIVING
ME TIME TO SPEAK.
COUNCILMEMBERS, YOU HAVE OF
HEARD ME SPEAK DOZENS OF TIMES
IN THE PAST TWO YEARS ABOUT THE
BENEFITS OF THE PSILOCYBIN AND
PLANT MEDICINES AND HOW THEY
ALLOWED ME TO BECOME A
SUCCESSFUL MEMBER OF SOCIETY.
YOU HAVE HEARD THE SAME STORIES
FROM HUNDREDS OF SEATTLE
RESIDENTS AND HEARD FROM THE
SPEAKERS BEFORE ME. TODAY I
WANT TO TALK ABOUT WHY YOU
SHOULD PASS OUR ORDINANCE TO
DECRIMINALIZE PLANT MEDICINE.
YOU PASSED THE RESOLUTION AND
WERE MET WITH PRAISE INCLUDING
SEATTLE TIMES, GQ AND EVEN
ROLLING STONE MAGAZINE, AMONG
MANY OTHERS. THERE'S BEEN NEXT
TO NO BACKLASH, IN A TIME OF SO
MUCH DIVISION. THIS WAS A HUGE
WIN FOR CITY COUNCIL AND A
BIGGER WIN FOR THE RESIDENTS OF
SEATTLE. ALL WE ARE ASKING IS
FOR YOU TO FINALIZE YOUR
DECISION AND GIVE SEATTLE ONE
MORE VICTORY. WE NEED TO SHOW
TE U.S. THAT SEATTLE IS A CITY
THAT LISTENS TO ITS PEOPLE.
THIS IS A WIN FOR EVERYONE AND
SEATTLE DESERVES THIS. DO THE
RIGHT THING AND PASS OUR
ORDINANCE. THANK YOU.
>> NEXT IS RACHEL .
>> THANK YOU FOR PASSING THE
RESOLUTION TO DECRIMINALIZE AND
WE HAVE BEEN JOINED BY MANY
LEADERS. I'M CODIRECTOR OF
RESPONSIBLE STUDENT ACCESS AND
COMMUNITY HEALING REACH
WASHINGTON, VOLUNTEERING WITH
PLANT MEDICINE ALLIANCE
WASHINGTON, PSYCHEDELIC SUPPORT
VOLUNTEERS AND MORE. THE
RESIDENTS OF SEATTLE, WHAT YOU
ALL HAVE DONE AT THE CITY WIDE
LEVEL IS EXCELLENT. IT'S
IMPERATIVE THAT WE CODIFY THIS
PROGRESS INTO AN ORDINANCE AS
SWIFTLY AS POSSIBLE. I ENVISION
A WORLD WHERE ALL PEOPLE HAVE
THE LIBERTY TO HEAL, GROW AND
LEARN WITH PSYCHEDELICS. THIS
WILL HELP RESIDENTS OF SEATTLE
TO FEEL SAFE IN GETTING,
GATHERING, GROWING AND
DISTRIBUTING PSYCHEDELIC PLANTS
AND FUNGI. THANK YOU.
>> THANK YOU. NEXT IS ALISE
FOLLOWED BY CHRIS. IF YOU
COULD, HIT STAR SIX SO WE CAN
GET YOU OFF MUTE.
>> THANK YOU. THANK YOU SO
MUCH, CITY COUNCIL MEMBERS FOR
ALLOWING ME TO SHARE MY
TESTIMONY TODAY. AS A MEMBER OF
PSYCHEDELIC MEDICINE ALLIANCE,
WE GREATLY APPRECIATE THE WORK
YOU HAVE DONE TO DECRIMINALIZE
PSYCHEDELICS IN SEATTLE. WE'D
LIKE TO CONTINUE PUSHING FOR
THE CREATION OF AN ORDINANCE
ORDINANCE. I'VE BEEN ABLE TO
WORK ON A PATH OF HEALING AND
I'M ABLE TO LIVE A FULL AND
MEANINGFUL LIFE. I'VE ALSO
WITNESSED A LOT OF GROWTH IN
PERSONAL RELATIONSHIPS WITH
FRIENDS AND FAMILY. IT'S
ALLOWED ME TO OPEN UP,
COMMUNICATE AND SHARE EMOTIONS.
IT'S HELPED ME STRENGTHEN MY
COMPASSION AND KINDNESS, AND
GIVEN ME AN OPPORTUNITY TO FEEL
MORE LOVE AND SHARE MORE LOVE.
BECAUSE PSYCHEDELICS HAVE
IMPROVED MY LIFE AND THE LIVES
OF OTHERS, I REQUEST THAT AN
ORDINANCE BE ENACTED TO PROTECT
US AND THE CHANGES WITHIN THE
COMMUNITY. THANK YOU.
>> THANK YOU. NEXT IS CHRIS
FOLLOWED BY JOAN WARREN.
>> HELLO . GOOD MORNING,
COUNCIL. THANK YOU FOR A
STELLAR JOB IN HELPING US GET
THE PSYCHEDELIC MEDICINE
PROGRESSION GOING. THIS IS
OBVIOUSLY IN SUPPORT OF THAT.
I'M A MEMBER OF THE PSYCHEDELIC
COMMISSION ALLIANCE OF
WASHINGTON. I'D LIKE TO START
WITH MY PERSONAL EXPERIENCE.
THE USE OF PSYCHEDELIC MEDICINE
HAS TRANSFORMED MY LIFE IN
INCREDIBLE WAYS. FIVE YEARS AGO
MY FATHER PASSED AWAY
UNEXPECTEDLY FROM AN AGGRESSIVE
FORM OF CANCER. THEN I LOST MY
BUSINESS AND MY RELATIONSHIP
WITH MY GIRLFRIEND. I HIT ROCK
BOTTOM BASICALLY. TO HELP
OFFSET THE SUICIDAL THOUGHTS
AND DEPRESSION, I'D TRIED
EVERYTHING I COULD FIND AND
NOTHING WORKED. WASN'T UNTIL
PSYCHEDELIC MUSHROOMS THAT I
WAS ABLE TO HAVE A MENTAL
BREAKTHROUGH AND MY PEACE AND
BALANCE WERE RESTORED. IN AS
LITTLE AS A COUPLE DOSES. I NOW
UNDERSTAND THE POWER AND
GRAVITY OF THE PSYCHEDELICS. MY
ONLY REGRET IS THAT I HADN'T
TRIED THEM SOONER. I HAVE A
DEEP INTEREST IN THE
CRIMINALIZATION OF THE
MEDICINES AND WISH TO EXPAND MY
KNOWLEDGE WITH THESE MEDICINES
TO IMPACT THE GROWING MENTAL
HEALTH CRISIS. MENTAL HEALTH IS
A PRIMARY COMPONENT IN
PROGRESSION OF SOCIETY AS A
WHOLE AND PSYCHEDELIC MEDICINE
COULD BE A CATALYST FOR THAT. I
URGE YOU TO LOOK PAST THE
STIGMA AND FOCUS ON THE MENTAL
HEALTH CRISIS AND THESE NATURAL
THERAPEUTICS THAT HAVE BEEN
AROUND FOR CENTURIES.
APPRECIATE YOUR TIME.
>> NEXT UP, WE'LL MOVE TO THE
FINAL SPEAKER WE HAVE SIGNED
UP, PAT DONAHUE. GO AHEAD.
>> MY NAME IS ATTORNEY PAT
DONAHUE, LICENSED TO PRACTICE
LAW IN WASHINGTON STATE SINCE
2014 AND FOUNDING MEMBER OF THE
PSYCHEDELIC BAR ASSOCIATION. MY
COMMENTS ARE NOT ON BEHALF OF
THE PSYCHEDELIC BAR
ASSOCIATION. MY COMMENTS ARE IN
REGARDS TO THE ANNUAL ACTION
PLAN. LIKE MANY OTHERS, I WOULD
LIKE TO THANK SEATTLE FOR
LEADING THE CHARGE IN PASSING
THE DECRIMINALIZATION
RESOLUTION. I AGREE WITH
EVERYONE WHO'S SPOKEN TODAY
THAT THE CITY CAN DO MORE,
CONTINUE TO LEAD THE NATION
DOWN THIS PATH. I ENCOURAGE
SEATTLE TO CODIFY THE
RESOLUTION AND ENSHRINE THE
PROTECTIONS FOR THE PSYCHEDELIC
MEDICINE OF WASHINGTON. THANK
YOU FOR YOUR TIME AND
ATTENTION.
>> THANK YOU. THAT IS THE LAST
PERSON THAT WE HAVE SIGNED UP
THAT IS SHOWING AS PRESENT. WE
HAVE TWO SPEAKERS STILL NOT
PRESENT. WITH THAT, WE WILL
CONCLUDE THE PUBLIC COMMENT
PART OF THE MEETING AND MOVE ON
TO THE REGULAR ITEMS ON THE
AGENDA. THANK YOU EVERYONE WHO
PARTICIPATED. WILL THE CLERK
READ AGENDA ITEM ONE.
>> APPOINTMENT 02422,
APPOINTMENT OF MARY RUFFIN AS
MEMBER COMMUNITY POLICE
COMMISSION FOR A TERM TO
DECEMBER 31, 2024.
>> THANK YOU, MR. CHAIR. WE ARE
JOINED BY THE COMMUNITY POLICE
COMMISSION COCHAIR, JOEL
MARKEL, AND NOEL ALDRIDGE OF MY
STAFF TO PRESENT THIS
APPOINTMENT. THIS IS A COUNCIL
APPOINTMENT, MEANING THE
COUNCIL IS THE NOMINATING
AUTHORITY. COULD YOU BRIEFLY
SPEAK TO THE WORK THAT THE CPC
DOES AS THE ORIENTATION FOR
MEMBERS OF THE VIEWING PUBLIC?
THEN AFTER, A QUICK OVERVIEW,
AND WE'LL INTRODUCE THE
APPOINTMENT. THANK YOU.
>> THANK YOU, COUNCILMEMBER
HERBOLD AND THANK YOU FOR
INVITING ME TO SPEAK TODAY. MY
NAME IS JOEL MERKEL, AND I'M
PLEASED TO SPEAK TO MARY
RUFFIN'S APPOINTMENT. THE
SEATTLE COMMUNITY POLICE
COMMISSION WAS CONSTITUTED
UNDER THE CONSENT DECREE THEN
MADE PERMANENT IN THE
ACCOUNTABILITY ORDINANCE IN
2017. THAT INCREASED THE SIZE
OF THE COMMISSION FROM 15 TO 21
COMMISSIONERS. THERE ARE SEVEN
APPOINTED BY THE MAYOR, SEVEN
BY THE CITY COUNCIL AND SEVEN
BY THE CPC. WE MAKE
RECOMMENDATIONS TO THE MAYOR
AND CITY COUNCIL WITH THE INPUT
FROM THE COMMUNITY, AND WE ARE
REALLY EXCITED FOR MARY RUFFIN
TO JOIN THE COMMISSION AND
PARTICIPATE IN THESE WORK
GROUPS, INCLUDING COMMUNITY
ENGAGEMENT, BEHAVIORAL HEALTH,
POLICE PRACTICES, STATE
LEGISLATIVE AGENDA AND
COMPLAINT AND APPEALS. THE
MISSION IS TO AMPLIFY AND BUILD
COMMON GROUND AMONG COMMUNITIES
AFFECTED BY POLICING IN
SEATTLE, AND TO CHAMPION
PRACTICES CENTERED ON JUSTICE
AND EQUITY. FOR THOSE REASONS,
WE ARE EXCITED FOR MARY
RUFFIN'S APPOINTMENT. SHE
BRINGS A LOT OF ENTHUSIASM AND
ENERGY, AND SHE'LL BE A
TREMENDOUS ASSET TO THE
COMMUNITY POLICE COMMISSION. WE
THANK THE COUNCIL FOR PUTTING
FORWARD HER APPOINTMENT.
>> THANK YOU SO MUCH.
APPRECIATE YOU BEING HERE WITH
US THIS MORNING. CAN YOU PLEASE
PRESENT THE APPOINTMENT?
>> MARY RUFFIN IS A COMMUNITY
MEMBER WHO UNDERSTANDS THE
LONG-REACHING IMPACTS OF POLICE
RELATIONS WITH COMMUNITIES OF
COLOR. AS BOTH AN UNDERGRADUATE
STUDENT AND LAW STUDENT AT THE
UNIVERSITY OF WASHINGTON, SHE
HELD SEVERAL LEADERSHIP
POSITIONS FOCUSED ON ADVOCATING
FOR COMMUNITY. SHE CURRENTLY
SERVES AS THE VICE CHAIR FOR
THE SOLID GROUND BOARD OF
DIRECTORS, AND WORKS A REAL
ESTATE LAW CLERK AT FOSTER
GARVEY P.C . SHE'S EAGER TO USE
HER ANALYTICAL SKILLS AND
PERSONAL EXPERIENCE TO AID THE
COMMISSION . SHE'S SEEN THE
IMMEDIATE AND LONG-LASTING
IMPACT OF COMMUNITY POLICINGS
RELATIONS.
>> THANK YOU. NOW TO MARY
RUFFIN, APPRECIATE YOU BEING
WITH US THIS MORNING. THANK YOU
AS WELL FOR YOUR WILLINGNESS TO
SERVE IN THIS IMPORTANT
CAPACITY, REALLY EXCITED TO
HAVE YOU JOIN US AND USE YOUR
EXPERIENCE AND UNDERSTANDING OF
THE LONG-REACHING IMPACTS OF
POLICE RELATIONSHIPS WITH
COMMUNITIES OF COLOR. AND JUST
HAND IT OVER TO YOU IF YOU WANT
TO SAY A FEW WORDS ABOUT YOUR
INTEREST IN SERVING ON THE
COMMUNITY POLICE COMMISSION.
AFTER WE HEAR FROM YOU, WE'LL
TURN IT OVER TO COUNCILMEMBERS
IN CASE THEY HAVE QUESTIONS.
>> SURE, THANK YOU FOR HAVING
ME. I THINK A LOT HAS BEEN
TOUCHED ON HERE BUT I'M
EXTREMELY EAGER TO GET STARTED
ON THIS WORK AND REALLY FOCUSED
ON FOSTERING RELATIONSHIPS
BETWEEN THE COMMUNITY AND
POLICE. I THINK WE NEED TO WORK
TOGETHER ON THIS. I'M VERY
AWARE OF THE CRITICISMS RAISED
TODAY. THAT'S A HUGE REASON I'M
HERE. THANK YOU FOR HAVING ME,
EAGER TO GET TO WORK.
>> THANK YOU, MARY. ANY
QUESTIONS FROM COLLEAGUES IN
CHAMBERS OR VIRTUALLY? I'M NOT
SEEING ANY RAISED HANDS HERE.
LOOKS LIKE YOU GET THE SEAL OF
APPROVAL THIS MORNING. WITH
THAT, I WILL MOVE THAT THE
COMMITTEE RECOMMEND THE
CONFIRMATION.
>> SECOND.
>> THANK YOU SO MUCH.
APPRECIATE IT. IT HAS BEEN
MOVED AND SECONDED TO RECOMMEND
CONFIRMATION OF THIS
APPOINTMENT. ARE THERE ANY
COMMENTS? NOT SEEING OR HEARING
ANY EVIDENCE OR DESIRE TO
COMMENT. WILL THE CLERK PLEASE
CALL THE ROLL?
>> COUNCILMEMBER MOSQUEDA?
>> AYE.
>> COUNCILMEMBER NELSON?
>> AYE.
>> COUNCILMEMBER PEDERSEN?
>> YES.
>> VICE CHAIR LEWIS?
>> YES.
>> CHAIR HERBOLD?
>> YES.
>> FIVE IN SUPPORT.
>> FANTASTIC. AGAIN,
CONGRATULATIONS, MARY. THE
APPOINTMENT WILL MOVE FORWARD
TO THE JANUARY 3rd CITY COUNCIL
MEETING. AGAIN, THANK YOU SO
MUCH FOR YOUR WILLINGNESS TO
SERVE IN THIS CAPACITY. WE'LL
MOVE ONTO AGENDA ITEM NUMBER
TWO. PLEASE READ INTO THE
RECORD THE AGENDA ITEM TWO.
>> APPOINTMENT 02417,
APPOINTMENT OF ADRIAN Z. DIAZ
HAS SEATTLE POLICE CHIEF.
>> THANK YOU.
>> GOOD MORNING AND GREETINGS.
WE ARE JOINED BY SEEN YEAR
DEPUTY MAYOR HARRELL AND DEPUTY
DIAZ. JUST A COUPLE QUICK WORDS
TO MAKE PUBLIC FOR THE CONTEXT.
AS THE CITY CHARTER REQUIRES,
THE MAYOR IS RESPONSIBLE FOR
APPOINTING THE CHIEF OF POLICE.
THE APPOINTMENT MUST BE
CONFIRMED BY THE COUNSEL. MAYOR
BRUCE HARRELL ANNOUNCED THE
APPOINTMENT OF INTERIM CHIEF
DIAZ TO THE POSITION OF
PERMANENT CHIEF IN LATE
SEPTEMBER, AND DID SO IN
ACCORDANCE WITH THE PROCESS
ESTABLISHED BY THE CHARTER. THE
COUNCIL COULD NOT CONSIDER THE
APPOINTMENT DIRECTLY AFTER THE
SEPTEMBER ANNOUNCEMENT BECAUSE
REGULAR COMMITTEE MEETINGS WERE
SUSPENDED FOR THE COUNCIL
DELIBERATIONS ON THE 2023-24
BUDGET. PART OF OUR PROCESS,
ONCE A RECOMMENDATION FOR
CONFIRMATION IS MADE TO THE
COUNCIL, THE COUNCIL COLLECTS
QUESTIONS FROM OURSELVES AS A
BODY AND SHARE THEM WITH THE
CHIEF OR WHATEVER NOMINEE WE
ARE CONSIDERING, AND REQUEST
THAT THOSE RESPONSES ARE
PROVIDED PUBLICLY. WE HAVE DONE
SO, AND THOSE WERE SHARED BOTH
WITH COUNCILMEMBERS LAST WEEK
AND MEMBERS OF THE PUBLIC WITH
A LINK TO THE AGENDA. WITH
THAT, I'LL TURN IT OVER TO
SENIOR DEPUTY MAYOR HARRELL TO
PRESENT THE APPOINTMENT.
>> THANK YOU. FIRST OF ALL,
THANK YOU TO THE COMMITTEE. A
SPECIAL THANKS TO COMMITTEE
CHAIR HERBOLD AND COUNCIL
PRESIDENT JUAREZ WERE SERVING
ON THE COMMITTEE TO SEARCH FOR
THE NEXT POLICE CHIEF. I KNOW
THIS IS A LOT OF HARD WORK TO
DO RIGHT BEFORE THE BREAK AND I
LOOK FORWARD TO US ALL GETTING
A LITTLE BIT OF DOWN TIME AS
WELL. I'M HONORED TO PRESENT
INTERIM CHIEF ADRIAN DIAZ AS
OUR PERMANENT CHIEF. AS YOU CAN
HEAR FROM SON-IN-LAW OF THE
COMMENTS TODAY, HE'S HAD A
STRONG COMMITMENT TO COMMUNITY
THAT DIDN'T BEGIN JUST WHEN HE
STARTED AS INTERIM CHIEF, BUT
THAT'S BEEN HIS ENTIRE CAREER
IN POLICING. YOU CAN SEE CHIEF
DIAZ HAS HAD NATIONAL
LEADERSHIP ON POLICING AND
ACCOUNTABILITY. HE'S STEPPED
FORWARD NOT ONLY FOR THE
BETTERMENT OF SEATTLE BUT FOR
THE BETTERMENT OF POLICING AND
THE CONVERSATIONS WE ARE HAVING
AROUND POLICING NATIONALLY.
IT'S AN HONOR TO BE HERE TODAY
BECAUSE IF WE WERE NOT BRINGING
HIM FORWARD, HE HAVE WOULD HAVE
CERTAINLY GOTTEN SNATCHED UP BY
SOME OTHER CITY LOOKING FOR
EXCELLENCE. HE HAS A SOLID
FOUNDATIONAL LEADERSHIP THAT
I'VE ALWAYS APPRECIATED. IT'S
NOT VERY SHOWY. IT'S ROOTED AND
GROUNDED IN THE FACT THAT HE
SHOWS UP, EVEN WHEN THERE'S NO
CAMERAS AND NO POINTS FOR
SHOWING UP, HE SHOWS UP AS A
QUIET LEADER AND A MEMBER OF
THE TEAM. HE KNOWS WHEN TO STEP
FORWARD AND WHEN TO LITTLE THE
REST OF THE TEAM SHINE AS WELL.
HIS LEADERSHIP STYLE IS
AUTHENTIC, IT'S VERY REAL. THE
COMMUNITY HAS SEEN THAT FROM
HIM AND THE COMMUNITY KNOWS
THAT'S WHAT THEY ARE GOING TO
GET FROM HIS ONGOING
LEADERSHIP, SO IT'S A PLEASURE
TO BE ABLE TO RECOMMEND HIM AS
OUR NEXT POLICE CHIEF FOR THE
CITY OF SEATTLE, AND ALSO TO
KNOW THAT WE HAVE A GOOD FUTURE
IN FRONT OF US WITH HIM IN THIS
ROLE. THANK YOU, COUNCIL.
>> BEFORE WE OPEN IT UP FOR
QUESTIONS, CHIEF DIAZ, TAKE IT
AWAY.
>> THANK YOU. THANK YOU,
COUNCIL. COUNCILMEMBER HERBOLD
AND ALSO TO ALL THE
COUNCILMEMBERS THAT PROVIDED
INPUT IN THE SEARCH PROCESS.
IT'S BEEN A LONG COUPLE YEARS
SINCE I TOOK OVER. IN TAKING
OVER, I KNEW THAT I HAD BIG
CHALLENGES AHEAD. BUT WE WERE
ABLE TO ESTABLISH A LOT OF
RELATIONSHIPS WITH THE CITY
COUNCIL. I REALLY APPRECIATE
THE CITY COUNCIL'S LEADERSHIP
AND WHERE WE'RE AT TODAY AND
ALL THAT WE HAVE BEEN ABLE TO
ACCOMPLISH. MY BIGGEST FOCUS IS
MAKING SURE THE DEPARTMENT IS
FOCUSED ON THEIR MISSION, AND
THAT'S HELPING PEOPLE. ONE OF
THE BIGGEST THINGS I'VE DONE
OVER THE COURSE OF MY CAREER IS
REALLY MAKE SURE THAT -- I
STARTED DOING A LOT OF YOUTH
VIOLENCE WORK AND DEPUTY WORK
AS A SENIOR DEPUTY MAYOR.
THAT'S REALLY BEEN THE
FOUNDATION, TRYING TO MAKE SURE
I HELP THE COMMUNITY OUT AND
FIGURE OUT HOW WE CAN MAKE SURE
THE COMMUNITY IS THRIVING AND
BEING SUCCESSFUL WITH
EVERYTHING THEY DO. WHEN I LOOK
AT ALL THE CHALLENGES WE HAVE
FACED AND TO WHERE WE'RE AT
TODAY, WE STILL HAVE MANY
CHALLENGES AHEAD. I HAVE A
STAFFING CHALLENGE, VIOLENT
CRIME THAT'S ALSO RISING, BUT
WE ARE MAKING SIGNIFICANT
MARKS. THE LAST THREE MONTHS,
WE HAVE SEEN VIOLENT CRIME DOWN
23%. THAT'S A HUGE WIN FOR ALL
THE OFFICERS AND EVERYBODY
THAT'S GOING OUT AND TRYING TO
DO THE GOOD HARD WORK OF
SOLVING CRIME AND MAKING THE
CITY SAFE. WE ARE SEEING SOME
OTHER CRIMES GOING ON AND WE
NEED TO ENCOURAGE PEOPLE TO
REPORT CRIME. THIS IS THE PUSH,
TO BE SURE PEOPLE ARE REPORTING
CRIME. WE KNOW SOMETIMES OUR
RESPONSE TIMES ARE LONGER, BUT
WE HAVE TO UNDERSTAND HOW WE
ARE GOING TO HAVE PEOPLE IN THE
RIGHT PLACE AT THE RIGHT TIME
TO DRIVE CRIME DOWN OVERALL. I
THINK THAT'S PART OF THIS
REBUILDING OF THE DEPARTMENT.
ALSO RIGHT NOW WE HAVE HAD A
LOT OF CHALLENGES IN THE
DETECTIVE UNITS. WE HAVE TAKEN
AN OVERVIEW OF THE WHOLE TO BE
SURE WE ARE REBUILDING IN THE
RIGHT MANNER, TRAINING OFFICERS
IN THE RIGHT MANNER, GIVING
THEM THE PROPER EQUIPMENT TO BE
SUCCESSFUL AND MAKE SURE THE
CITY IS SAFE. I APPRECIATE THE
MAYOR AND SENIOR DEPUTY MAYOR,
STEADFAST IN THEIR SUPPORT, AND
ALSO THE CITY COUNCIL THAT'S
PUSHED ME TO THE POINT WHERE
I'M AT NOW. IT'S AN HONOR SO
THANK YOU.
>> THANK YOU. WE HAVE HEARD
FROM MANY OTHER COMMUNITY
LEADERS HERE TODAY AND YOU ARE
VERY WELL LOVED IN MY DISTRICT,
PARTICULARLY IN THE SOUTH PARK
COMMUNITY. I THINK WHEN YOU GO
TO SOUTH PARK, IF THEY COULD
LIFT YOU OVER THEIR HEADS AND
SHOUT HERO, THEY WOULD DO SO
EVERY TIME YOU CAME TO THE
NEIGHBORHOOD. YOU HAVE DONE
DEEP COMMUNITY RELATIONSHIP
BUILDING AND REALLY AMAZING
WORK WITH THE YOUTH IN THAT
COMMUNITY. ALSO WANT TO GIVE
YOU PUBLIC RECOGNITION FOR THE
FACT THAT IT WAS A
LONG-STANDING PRIORITY OF THIS
COUNCIL TO STAND UP THE
COMMUNITY SERVICE OFFICER
PROGRAM. IT DIDN'T HAPPEN AS
QUICKLY AS WE WOULD LIKE, DUE
TO NO RELUCTANCE ON YOUR PART
AT ALL. YOU HAVE DONE GREAT
ESTABLISHING THAT PROGRAM.
>> THANK YOU.
>> WITH THAT, I WILL SEE
WHETHER OR NOT MY COLLEAGUES
HAVE ANY PARTICULAR QUESTIONS.
COUNCILMEMBER LEWIS?
>> YES, THANK YOU. I WANT TO
START WITH A CLARIFICATION
BECAUSE COMMENTS WERE RAISED IN
PUBLIC TESTIMONY THAT THE CHIEF
ACTIVELY OPPOSED A PROJECT
FUNDED BY THE COUNCIL AND THE
COUNTY TO PROVIDE PLACES FOR
PEOPLE WITH SEVERE MENTAL
HEALTH CHALLENGES OR OTHER
PUBLIC HEALTH ISSUES TO GET OUT
OF TENTS AND INSIDE. I WANT TO
GIVE THE CHIEF A CHANCE TO
CLARIFY WHETHER HE'D ACTIVELY
UNDERMINED THE MAYOR'S PRIORITY
IN THE COMMUNITY. THERE WERE
ASSERTIONS MADE TO THAT EFFECT
AND I WANT TO GIVE THE CHIEF A
CHANCE TO CLARIFY.
>> THANK YOU, COUNCILMEMBER
LEWIS. I DID NOT UNDERMINE THE
COUNCIL AND THEIR POSITION. I
HAD GREAT CONCERNS WITH THE
AMOUNT OF SHOOTINGS WE HAVE HAD
IN THAT COMMUNITY, OVER 50
SHOTS FIRED IN THAT COMMUNITY.
WE HAVE TO BE SURE WE ARE
PUTTING THE RIGHT SERVICES AND
THINGS IN PLACE TO BE SURE THAT
COMMUNITY THRIVES. THERE ARE
MANY CONCERNS FROM COMMUNITY
MEMBERS, FROM THE SENIOR
CITIZENS WALKING DOWN THE
STREET AND FEELING UNSAFE, AND
FEELING LIKE THEY'VE BEEN
CRIMINALIZED. WE PUT A LOT OF
SERVICES INTO THAT LOCATION.
I'VE BEEN PART OF THE SALVATION
ARMY AND THEY ALSO HAVE A
LOCATION JUST SOUTH OF THAT
AREA. SO WE WANT TO BE SURE
WE'RE PUTTING IN THE RIGHT
PLACES FOR HOUSING THE
UNSHELTERED POPULATION. THOSE
ARE THINGS THAT I'M VERY
CONSCIOUS OF AND MAKING SURE AS
CITY THAT PEOPLE ARE GETTING
THE RIGHT SERVICES IN THE RIGHT
AREAS. THE ONE THING I CAN TELL
YOU IS THAT IT'S REALLY TRYING
TO BE MINDFUL OF THE OVERALL
PUBLIC SAFETY COMPANIES OF IT
AND MAKING SURE WE ARE AT THE
TABLE TO ADDRESS THOSE ISSUES
IN A SAFE MANNER. THOSE ARE THE
CONCERNS I DID RAISE. THOSE ARE
THINGS WE'D NORMALLY ADDRESS IN
ANY PROJECT THAT WOULD BE
THROUGHOUT THE CITY.
>> THANK YOU, I APPRECIATE THAT
CLARIFICATION. I THINK THE
INPUT AND FEEDBACK FROM THE
CHIEF TO THOSE PROPONENTS, IT'S
APPROPRIATE AND DESIRABLE. I DO
WANT TO TALK ABOUT STAFFING. WE
RECENTLY GOT THE QUARTERLY
REPORT FROM THE DEPARTMENT ON
STAFFING NUMBERS. IT IS GOOD TO
SEE A YEAR OVER YEAR INCREASE
TO 962 ACTIVE SERVING OFFICERS
INDICATED AS OF THIS MONTH. THE
REPORT DOES INDICATE THAT THE
DEPARTMENT IS PROJECTING BY
DECEMBER 2024, WE'LL BE AT 980
ACTIVE OFFICERS. CAN WE CONFIRM
THOSE NUMBERS?
>> YEAH, IT WOULD BE A
PROJECTION. IF WE'RE MAYBE NOT
MEETING OUR HIRING GOALS OR IF
WE SEE MORE OFFICERS LEAVE THE
DEPARTMENT, WE KNOW WE HAVE 101
OFFICERS IN LONG-TERM LEAVE
THAT POTENTIALLY COULD RETIRE.
SOME ARE MILITARY OR OUT ON
MATERNITY LEAVE. IT'S HARD TO
DECIPHER HOW MANY OF THAT 101
MIGHT END UP LEAVING THE
DEPARTMENT. I THINK RIGHT NOW
WITH THE RECRUITING AND HIRING
PLAN THAT THE CITY COUNCIL
HELPED FUND, HOPEFULLY WE CAN
MEET THOSE HIRING PROJECTIONS.
I THINK IF WE GET TO THE LOW
LEVEL OF SERVICE, WE HAVE TO BE
SURE WE HAVE MINDFUL
DISCUSSIONS ABOUT WHAT THINGS
WE REALLY HAVE TO TAKE OFF OUR
PLATE TO BE SURE WE ARE
PROVIDING THE LEVEL OF SERVICE
THROUGHOUT THE CITY.
>> RIGHT. RIGHT NOW WE ARE
PLANNING FOR AN INCREASE OF 18
ACTIVE OFFICERS TWO YEARS FROM
NOW?
>> TWO YEARS, YES. I THINK
THAT'S ABOUT RIGHT. I COULDN'T
TELL YOU THE EXACT NUMBERS.
>> AND THE ONLY REASON I RAISE
THAT, I APPRECIATE THE
PROJECTIONINGS ON TRENDS AND
REALITY WE ARE FACING SO WE CAN
PLAN ACCORDINGLY. BUT I WANT TO
CAUTION AGAINST CONTINUING WHAT
I THINK HAS BEEN A NOT GREAT
JOB OVER THE LAST TWO YEARS OF
MEETING OUR PUBLIC SAFETY
OBLIGATIONS BASED SOLELY ON
OFFICER HIRING. OFFICER HIRING
IS IMPORTANT. WE NEED TO BE
DOING IT. WE NEED TO BE WORKING
TO INCREASE THE NUMBER OF
SERVING OFFICERS. BUT WE CANNOT
HONOR CHARTER OBLIGATIONS TO
PUBLIC SAFETY JUST THROUGH
OFFICER RECRUITING IF WE ARE
ANTICIPATING ONLY NETTING 18
ADDITIONAL OFFICERS IN THE NEXT
TWO YEARS . IN THE SAME
QUARTERLY REPORT WE JUST GOT
FOR 2022, THERE WERE 92,000
SERVICE OVERTIME HOURS FOR
TRAFFIC AND EVENT STAFFING FOR
THE DEPARTMENT. 32,000 OF THOSE
RELATED JUST TO SPORTING
EVENTS. AND ALL THOSE HOURS
AREN'T GOING TO BE ABLE TO BE
DISPLACED. I WOULD IMAGINE A
SIGNIFICANT PORTION OF THEM
COULD BE. THE FIRST PLACE I
WOULD THINK, AND I GET THIS A
LOT IN THE COMMUNITY WHEN
TALKING TO OTHER FOLKS WHO HAVE
BEEN THE VICTIMS OF A BURGLARY,
THEN GO TO A SEAHAWKS GAME AND
SEE POLICE EVERYWHERE. IT'S A
BIG POINT OF COMMUNITY
FRUSTRATION. I WOULD THINK
FIRST, FIGURING OUT WAYS TO CUT
DOWN ON THAT 92,000 SERVICE
HOURS TO HIRE PRIORITY IN THE
COMMUNITY. I WANT TO ASK ABOUT
THAT THEN PIVOT TO A DIFFERENT
TOPIC. EVENT AND TRAFFIC
STAFFING AND REDISTRIBUTING
THOSE HOURS AND YOUR STRATEGIES
TO DO THAT?
>> AS WE LOOK AT ALL THESE
EVENTS WHERE WE BRING IN 40,000
TO 60,000 PEOPLE, WE HAVE GREAT
CONCERNS OF ANY POTENTIAL ACT
OF VIOLENCE THAT COULD OCCUR IN
AND AROUND THE AREA, FROM A
VEHICLE COMING THROUGH BARRIERS
TO A VARIETY OF DIFFERENT
ASPECTS OF THIS. SO WE HAVE TO
MAKE SURE WE HAVE OFFICERS IN
AND AROUND. THE OTHER COMPONENT
IS THAT SOME OF THE PARKING
ENFORCEMENT IS UNDERSTAFFED. WE
CAN UP STAFF THEM AND BE ABLE
TO UTILIZE THEM IN THE RIGHT
MANNER. THAT HELPS US BE ABLE
TO REDUCE THE AMOUNT OF
FOOTPRINT OUR PATROL OFFICERS
ARE SPENDING. I KNOW THAT MANY
OF THE TIMES WE ARE ACTUALLY
UTILIZING A LOT OF OFFICERS,
IT'S OVERTIME BECAUSE IT'S
USUALLY ON A SATURDAY OR SUNDAY
AND PEOPLE NEED TIME OFF AS
WELL, SO WE ARE TRYING TO
BALANCE THAT COMPONENT OF IT.
WE HAVE PURCHASED AND UTILIZED
BARRIERS TO HELP US USE LESS
PERSONNEL IN THOSE AREAS. BUT
THIS IS A CHALLENGING COMPONENT
OF IT. AND THE OTHER THING IS
SOME OF THOSE HOURS ARE
REVERSIBLE. IT'S NOT LIKE I CAN
TAKE THAT 30,000 AND PUT IT
INTO PATROL BECAUSE THOSE ARE
REIMBURSABLE FROM MANY OF THE
SPORTS TEAMS. UNLESS THE CITY
COUNCIL WOULD LIKE TO FUND THAT
SEPARATE AND BE ABLE TO TAKE
THAT MONEY AND BE ABLE TO
UTILIZE IT. RIGHT NOW OUR
OFFICERS ARE WORKING JUST IN
PATROL SHIFTS, 99% OF ALL
SHIFTS BEING AUGMENTED. I WOULD
LOVE TO FIGURE OUT ALSO HAVING
TO WORK, EVERYONE HAVING TO
WORK THAT DOUBLE SHIFT JUST TO
KEEP THINGS SAFE AND GOING ON
THE STREETS. SO I DO SPEND A
LOT OF TIME THINKING ABOUT HOW
WE HIRE PEOPLE AS QUICKLY AS WE
CAN, BECAUSE WE WILL BURN OUR
PEOPLE OUT. THAT IS A GREAT
CONCERN FOR US AS WELL, BECAUSE
IF WE BURN PEOPLE OUT, THEY'RE
GOING TO RESPOND TO THE
COMMUNITY IN A DIFFERENT WAY .
OVER THE COURSE OF MY CAREER,
I'VE BEEN INVOLVED IN SO MANY
DIFFERENT COMPONENTS OF
NONPROFITS, MAKING SURE THEY'RE
ENGAGED FROM YOUTH VIOLENCE,
CRITICAL INCIDENT RESPONSE, TO
ALSO CRISIS INTERVENTION. RIGHT
NOW WE HAVE A CIC MEETING AND
WE ARE BRINGING ALL THE
NONPROFITS IN TO TALK ABOUT THE
CRISIS AND HOW WE'RE DEALING
WITH IT AND HOW WE CAN CREATE
EFFICIENCIES IN THE SYSTEM.
I'VE BEEN A HUGE COMPONENT OF
THAT. SO I THINK THERE'S BOTH
COMPONENTS OF THAT. INCREASE
INVESTMENTS IN MENTAL HEALTH,
INCREASE INVESTMENTS IN A
VARIETY OF MENTAL HEALTH
SERVICES THAT WILL HOPEFULLY
TAKE SOME OF THAT WORK FROM THE
OFFICERS RESPONDING TO CALLS.
>> AND I WANT TO STAY ON THE
OVERTIME FOR A SECOND. I DON'T
WANT OUR WIRES TO GET CROSSED
HERE, BECAUSE I DO TOTALLY
AGREE, NORMAL PATROL SHIFTS ARE
BEING AUGMENTED BY OVERTIME. MY
SUGGESTION IS, IF THE PREMIUM
IS ON, WHERE ARE 962 DEPLOYABLE
IN-SERVICE OFFICERS CAN BE, WE
ARE MAKING A CHOICE IN HOW WE
ARE DISTRIBUTING OUR RESOURCES
TO HAVE THOSE BODIES DEDICATED
TO ACTIVITIES THAT THE GENERAL
PUBLIC DOES NOT THINK ARE THE
HIGHEST ACUITY PUBLIC SAFETY
CHALLENGE WE ARE FACING. I KNOW
THERE'S OTHER HURDLES WE NEED
TO FACE BUT I'M SUGGESTING A
PORTION OF THOSE HOURS AND THE
POLICE THAT REPRESENT THOSE
HOURS COULD GO FORWARD, IN SOME
CASES, MAYBE JUST HAVING A DAY
OFF INSTEAD OF NEEDING TO FILL
AND HONOR THOSE OVERTIME SLOTS
OR GOING BACK TO PATROL AND NOT
NEEDING US TO RELY AS MUCH ON
OVERTIME, BECAUSE THEY DON'T
HAVE TO GO RESPOND TO A DEEP
DRAFT AND FILL A POSITION AT A
SPORTING EVENT. SO I THINK WE
HAVE HAD A GOOD BACK AND FORTH
ON THAT. I WANT TO HIGHLIGHT
THAT AS SOMETHING THAT WILL
CONTINUE TO BE A COUNCIL
CONCERN AND SOMETHING WE WANT
TO TAKE ADVANTAGE OF YOUR
PARTNERSHIP AND LEADERSHIP TO
WORK ON.
>> OKAY.
>> THAT MIGHT BE A GOOD
OPPORTUNITY BECAUSE YOU JUST
STARTED TALKING ABOUT
ALTERNATIVE RESPONSE. YOU KNOW,
I THINK THIS IS THE OTHER
MITIGATION STRATEGY. IF BASED
ON THE DEPARTMENT'S OWN
PROJECTIONS, EVEN THOUGH WE ARE
GOING TO TRY AND BEAT THOSE
PROJECTIONS, WE'LL HAVE A
SIMILAR NUMBER OF DEPLOYABLE
OFFICERS NOW AND A YEAR FROM
NOW. ONE OF THE MITIGATION
STRATEGIES COULD BE SOME OF
THESE OVERTIME CATEGORIES WE
JUST DISCUSSED. THE OTHER COULD
BE OVERTIME RESPONSE. I WANT TO
PREFACE THIS LINE OF
QUESTIONING BY TALKING ABOUT
COMPARING WHAT I THINK ARE TWO
FAIRLY SIMILAR CITIES BASED ON
A LOT OF METRICS: ALBUQUERQUE,
NEW MEXICO AND SEATTLE. BUDGETS
ARE FAIRLY SIMILAR . SIMILAR
SIZE DEPARTMENTS, SIMILAR RATE
OF ATTRITION. THE DIFFERENCE IS
STARK WHEN WE TALK ABOUT
RESPONSES THAT DON'T REQUIRE A
POLICE RESPONSE. IN JUNE 2020,
AROUND THE SAME TIME MEMBERS OF
THIS COUNCIL WERE TALKING ABOUT
CREATING A THIRD PUBLIC SAFETY
DEPARTMENT AND CIVILIAN
ALTERNATIVES TO POLICE, ALSO
BUT CONSIDER SEE ALBUQUERQUE
STARTED THEIR PROCESS AS WELL.
WE HAVE TWO YEARS OF GROUPS,
PROMISES AND TALKING,
MISREPRESENTATIONS IN SOME
CASES, NOT FROM YOU, CHIEF DIAZ
BUT A PREVIOUS MAYORAL
ADMINISTRATION. ALBUQUERQUE HAS
AN $11 MILLION THIRD PUBLIC
SAFETY DEPARTMENT THAT'S
COMPLETELY CIVILIAN. IN 2021
THEY RESPONDED TO 16,000 CALLS
FOR SERVICE. THEY BUILT THEIR
DEPARTMENT IN SIX MONTHS,
BETWEEN CALLING FOR IT IN JUNE
2020 AND STARTING DOING STUFF
IN 2021. THEY HAVE A FULL YEAR
OF RESPONDING TO THINGS. 8,000
OF THOSE CALLS COMPLETELY
DISPLACED FROM POLICE SERVICE,
8,000 CALLS POLICE DIDN'T NEED
TO RESPOND TO BECAUSE THEY
BUILT IN THOSE RESPONSE
SERVICES. THEY JUST EXPANDED IT
BY $4 MILLION. THEY ARE GOING
TO HAVE 75 ADDITIONAL FTEs IN
THE FIELD THAT DO THE WORK
CURRENTLY POLICE WORK. IF
THAT'S AND ALTERNATIVE
RESPONSE, IF THEY CAN BUILD A
MATURE, THOROUGH,
WELL-RESOURCED, RESPONSIVE AND
EFFECTIVE ALTERNATIVE RESPONSE
IN TWO YEARS AND ALL WE CAN DO
IS TALK FOR TWO YEARS, WHAT DO
WE DO TO GET BACK ON THE RIGHT
TRACK AND WORK IN PARTNERSHIP
WITH THE HARRELL ADMINISTRATION
AND YOUR LEADERSHIP TO DO THIS?
THERE'S REALLY NO EXCUSE IF A
CITY LIKE ALBUQUERQUE CAN GO
ZERO TO 100 IN SIXES, AND WE
ARE NOWHERE AFTER TWO YEARS.
>> I DON'T DISPUTE THAT. I
BELIEVE AS YOU NOTED, WE HAVE
HAD TWO DIFFERENT
ADMINISTRATIONS. WE ARE
CURRENTLY WORKING AND HAVING
THOSE DISCUSSIONS. I THINK IN
THE BUDGET THERE IS A DUEL
DISPATCH FUNDED COMPONENT OF
THIS. WE HAVE BEEN WILLING AND
WANTING TO HAVE THESE
DISCUSSIONS ABOUT MOVING
SOMETHING FORWARD. WE ARE ALSO
BUILDING OUT THE CSO PROGRAM
AND FIGURING OUT HOW BEST TO
UTILIZE THEM. WE ARE THERE AT
THE TABLE. WE WANT TO BE
RESPONSIVE BECAUSE WE KNOW IF I
CAN REDUCE A LOT OF CALLS FOR
SERVICE, WE HAVE BEEN
SUPPORTIVE AT HEALTH ONE AND
TALKED ABOUT TRIAGE ONE TO TRY
AND GET THAT GOING. THERE ARE
MANY CALLS FOR SERVICE THAT
WHEN WE GET THERE, IT'S A
MEDICAL ISSUE OR SOMETHING ELSE
THAT'S NOT A CRIMINAL ISSUE.
FIGURING OUT WAYS TO REDUCE
THAT LEVEL OF CALLS FOR SERVICE
WILL HELP OPEN UP THE AREA FOR
MANY OFFICERS TO GO AND RESPOND
TO OTHER PRIORITY CALLS. SO WE
ARE WILLING TO HAVE THAT,
FIGURE OUT HOW WE DID IT. WE
HELPED WITH THE R & D, LOOKED
AT THE REPORTS AND DISPOSITION
TO FIGURE OUT HOW WE CLASSIFY
THIS INTO A RESPONSE LEVEL. I
THINK THIS COULD BE MINDFUL IN
HOW WE DO THIS WITH
EVIDENCE-BASED COMPONENTS OF
IT.
>> JUST RELATED TO
COUNCILMEMBER LEWIS' LINE OF
QUESTIONING, YOU DID MENTION
TRIAGE ONE UNDER THE PREVIOUS
ADMINISTRATION. THAT WAS
ABANDONED DURING THE TRANSITION
OF THE ADMINISTRATIONS. THAT
PROPOSAL, YOU MENTIONED THE
NUMBER OF 8,000 CALLS FOR
SERVICE. THAT PROPOSAL WAS
DESIGNED TO HANDLE ABOUT WHAT
WAS ESTIMATED, BASED ON THE
ANALYSIS, ABOUT 8,000 CALLS PER
YEAR. I THINK ONE OF THE THINGS
THAT IS REALLY IMPORTANT IN
THIS WORK IS APPRECIATE YOUR
LEADERSHIP, APPRECIATE YOUR
PARTNERSHIP, AND THE
EXECUTIVES' COLLABORATION. IN
MANY OF THESE CITIES WHERE WE
HAVE SEEN THE DEVELOPMENT OF AN
ALTERNATIVE TO TRADITIONAL
POLICE RESPONSE, THERE HAVE
BEEN POLICE CHIEFS THAT HAVE
REALLY BEEN AT THE FOREFRONT
DRIVING THOSE CHANGES IN A
PUBLIC AND ACTIVE WAY. I THINK
WE NEED THAT. WE NEED NOT ONLY
YOUR PARTICIPATION AND
COLLABORATION, BUT WE NEED YOU
TO ALSO BE FROM A PUBLIC SAFETY
PERSPECTIVE, DRIVING THESE
CHANGES BECAUSE THERE ARE ONLY
SO MANY CALLS FOR SERVICE THAT
OUR CURRENT POLICE OFFICERS CAN
ADDRESS.
>> I COULDN'T AGREE WITH YOU
MORE. I THINK THERE'S OTHER
AREAS WHERE I'VE ALSO DRIVEN
THIS COMPONENT. THE CRISIS
CRITICAL RESPONSE WAS CREATED
RIGHT AFTER WE ESTABLISHED IT
IN 2008 AND IT TOOK A BREAK.
WHEN WE HAD THE SHOOTING IN
2020, I WAS A DRIVER AND THAT
WAS ONE OF THE PROGRAMS WE HAVE
ACTUALLY SET UP . I THINK THERE
ARE OTHER AREAS THAT WE CAN BE
STRONGER IN.
>> JUST REALLY BRIEFLY, CHIEF
DIAZ, I DO LOOK FORWARD TO THIS
BEING A FRUITFUL AREA OF
COLLABORATION AND I DO KNOW
THAT, YOU KNOW, THE HARRELL
ADMINISTRATION HAS TALKED ABOUT
CREATING A THIRD DEPARTMENT. I
THINK THAT'S A BIG AREA OF
COLLABORATION. I GUESS JUST
HIGHLIGHT THE SENSE OF URGENCY
ON THIS. SEEMS FROM LOOKING AT
OTHER PLACES THAT WE DIDN'T
HAVE TO WAIT FOR DOZENS OF
DIFFERENT STUDIES, DOZENS OF
DIFFERENT TASK FORCES, DOZENS
OF DIFFERENT WORK GROUPS. IT
SEEMS LIKE THERE WAS MORE OF A
PROCESS WHERE PEOPLE WENT OUT
IN THE STREET AND SAW THE LEVEL
OF COMMUNITY NEED, THEN BUILT
SOMETHING THAT WAS RESPONSIVE
TO IT. JUST FROM THE
CONVERSATIONS I HAVE IN THE
COMMUNITY ON A REGULAR BASIS,
IF YOU'RE A BUSINESS OWNER THAT
HAS TO NEGOTIATE EVERY SINGLE
DAY WITH SOMEONE WHO'S CAMPING
IN FRONT OF YOUR BUSINESS, AND
WE ARE JUST UP HERE HEMMING AND
HAWING, LOOKING AT POWER
POINTS, IT'S INCREDIBLY
FRUSTRATING, UNDERSTANDABLY.
IT'S EMBARRASSING FOR THE CITY
TO STAND THERE AND SAY, WE
CAN'T REALLY ARREST THIS
PERSON. THEY WILL BE RELEASED
WITHIN 24 HOURS ANYWAY. I CAN
BOOK THEM FOR TRESPASS OR
OBSTRUCTING THE SIDEWALK.
THERE'S NOTHING WE CAN DO. THEN
YOU CALL THE LINE THAT GOES
NOWHERE TO TRY AND GET A SOCIAL
SERVICE WORKER. IT BREEDS
INCREDIBLE FRUSTRATION. WE KNOW
WHAT THE NEED IS. WE HAVE THIS
MASSIVE VOLUME OF PEOPLE IN THE
CITY WITH SIGNIFICANT MENTAL
HEALTH ISSUES AND COMMITTING
HIGH VOLUMES OF LOW LEVELS OFS.
WE HAVE A LOT OF PRESENCE BUT
NOT MUCH ENGAGEMENT. WE HAVE
PEOPLE AROUND THAT ARE LOOKING
AT THE SITUATION, BUT YOU KNOW,
THEY'RE NOT IN A POSITION WHERE
THE POLICE REALLY FEEL LIKE
THEY CAN AFFECT AN ARREST OR
THERE'S NOT A PROVIDER THAT HAS
THE NECESSARY EXPERTISE IN THE
MOMENT TO BE ABLE TO AFFECT A
RESOLUTION WITH THAT PARTICULAR
HOOKED UP TO 911 EXCEPT THE
POLICE. AGAIN, JUST TO BRING IT
BACK, IF WE'RE GOING FROM 962
TO 980 OFFICERS IN TWO YEARS,
WE HAVE TO DO SOMETHING IN
ADDITION TO THE HIRING AND
RECRUITING GOALS. THAT METRIC
ALON IS NOT GOING TO BE ENOUGH
TO MEET OUR CHARTER ON PUBLIC
SAFETY AND BUILD IT LIKE IN SIX
MONTHS LIKE THEY DID. THIS
DISTRICT CAN'T WAIT ANY LONGER
FOR THIS. THEY JUST CAN'T. I'M
NOT GOING TO CURSE, BUT THEY
ARE UPSET. I'M JUST GOING TO
LEAVE IT AT THAT. I WILL VOTE
FOR YOUR CONFIRMATION AND LOOK
FORWARD TO WORKING WITH YOU. MY
LINE OF QUESTIONING TODAY HAS
BEEN TOUGH BY I KNOW IT'S
BECAUSE YOU'RE A SERVING LEADER
AND YOU CAN TAKE IT, AND THESE
KINDS OF TOUGH CONVERSATIONS
ARE WHAT YOU'RE SIGNING UP FOR.
WE ARE GOING TO WORK TOGETHER
IN GOOD FAITH TO FOCUS ON THESE
PROBLEMS, AND THESE ARE THE
THINGS I'LL KEEP PUSHING ON. I
LOOK TOWARD TO WORKING WITH YOU
TO GET THEM DONE, SO THANK YOU
SO MUCH.
>> THANK YOU, APPRECIATE IT.
>> I HAVE A COUPLE QUESTIONS
BUT I'M HOLDING THEM UNTIL
OTHERS.
>> I DON'T HAVE A QUESTION.
>> SO, SHIFTING A LITTLE BIT TO
THE ISSUE OF INVESTIGATIONS, WE
KNOW THAT THE DEPARTMENT HAS
SIGNIFICANTLY FEWER OFFICERS
THAN IT DID IN THE START OF
2020. YOU HAVE I THINK WISELY
WORKED TO SHIFT RESOURCES TO
PATROL SO WE HAVE THE RESOURCES
TO RESPOND TO HIGH PRIORITY 911
CALLS. BUT THAT'S RESULTED IN
SOME DEFICIENCIES IN
INVESTIGATIVE UNITS,
PARTICULARLY AS RELATED TO
GENDER-BASED ASSAULT. I'M JUST
WONDERING, THE MAYOR'S ORDER
ASIDE, WHAT CAN YOU DO IN THE
DEPARTMENT TO ADDRESS THE
STAFFING ISSUES? I KNOW YOU
HAVE DONE SOME THINGS ALREADY.
I DON'T KNOW AT THAT THE
GENERAL PUBLIC IS AWARE OF
THEM. MAYBE YOU CAN SHARE WHAT
YOU HAVE DONE AND WHAT YOU WANT
TO DO.
>> WE HAVE MANY UNITS THAT ARE
CURRENTLY DOING MORE ON THE
OPERATIONAL SIDE, FROM THE
VEHICLE AND TRAFFIC UNIT TO THE
ANTICRIME SCENE TO THE BICYCLE
UNITS. WE END UP REALLY
CONSOLIDATING THE DEPARTMENT,
SO HAVING CERTAIN SECTIONS TO
TRY AND CONSOLIDATE THE
LEADERSHIP STYLE. IF YOU HAVE
FIVE CAPTAINS OVERSEEING A
SECTION OR ONE OVERSEEING FIVE
SECTIONS, THAT REQUIRES FIVE
CAPTAINS. PERSONNEL SHRUNK.
IT'S REALLY ABOUT TRYING TO
RIGHT-SIZE THE DEPARTMENT
BECAUSE WE HAVE SEEN THE
REDUCTION IN THE AMOUNT OF
OFFICERS THAT WE HAVE. THAT'S
ONE COMPONENT. ALL THE PEOPLE
LEFT FROM SPECIAL UNITS
ACTUALLY HAVE RETURNED. SO WE
HAVE PUT THAT PERSONNEL BACK
INTO THOSE SPECIAL UNITS. WE
HAVE IN THE SEXUAL ASSAULT
UNIT, WE SAW THE DROP DOWN TO A
LOW LEVEL NUMBER FOUR. WE HAVE
NOW GOT EIGHT PEOPLE IN A SHORT
PERIOD OF TIME. EACH OF THE
UNITS WE ARE LOOKING AT
IDENTIFYING, WE HAVE SOMEBODY
FROM ASU DOING KIND OF AN
OVERALL ASSESSMENT OF THE
SEXUAL ASSAULT, ANYTHING FROM
TRAINING, HOW WE TRAIN OUR
DETECTIVES TO JUST HOW WE
APPROACH OUR INVESTIGATIONS,
HOW WE LOOK AT IT FROM A TRAUMA
APPROACH. WE HAVE ALREADY DONE
THE FIRST ASSESSMENT OF REVIEWS
WITH THE WASHINGTON JUSTICE
TRAINING COMMISSION, AND WE ARE
GOING TO HOPEFULLY BE ABLE TO
GET RECOMMENDATIONS FROM THAT.
SOME OF THAT IS RELATED TO
TRAINING AND JUST HOW WE TRAIN
OUR PATROL OFFICERS, WHICH IS
SOMETHING YOU HAVE DISCUSSED
GREATLY WITH ME ABOUT JUST
PROVIDING TRAINING FOR PATROL
OFFICERS AND SEXUAL ASSAULT,
MAKING SURE WE HAVE A TRAUMA
INFORMED APPROACH. SO THAT IS
JUST WITH THE SEXUAL ASSAULT.
WE ARE ACTUALLY DOING THIS
ACROSS ALL INVESTIGATIONS. WE
ARE BRINGING IN A GROUP OF
PEOPLE THAT WILL WILL BE DOING
A FULL REVIEW AND FIGURE OUT
RECOMMENDATIONS OR WHAT WE'RE
DOING RIGHT. THERE ARE MANY
AREAS OF OUR INVESTIGATION THAT
PEOPLE ARE DOING THE RIGHT
THING, BUT THEY ARE SHORT
STAFFED AND CAN'T DO SOME OF
THE EXTRAS WE'D LIKE TO DO. ONE
OF THE THINGS WE WANT TO BE
SURE THEY'RE DOING -- AGAIN,
I'VE HAD TO SHIFT PERSONNEL,
RESTORE PERSONNEL BACK INTO
THOSE UNITS. I KNOW IT'S A
CHALLENGING TIME BUT EVERY
MONTH I'M PUTTING PEOPLE BACK
INTO UNITS. SOME AREN'T GETTING
PROMOTED OR LEAVING THE JOB AND
I HAVE TO REFILL THOSE SPOTS.
IT BRINGS NEW ENERGY INTO THE
UNIT AND CREATES A DIFFERENT
PERSPECTIVE AND DIFFERENT LIGHT
BECAUSE OF OTHER PEOPLE EARS
EXPERIENCE. THAT WILL HELP
DRIVE OUR APPROACH.
>> AND IF YOU COULD SPEAK TO
THE APPROACH TO DISCIPLINE. AS
CHIEF YOU'RE RESPONSIBLE FOR
DISCIPLINE. A RECENT OFFICE OF
INSPECTOR GENERAL DISCIPLINE
AUDIT SHOWED THAT POLICE
CHIEFS, NOT JUST YOU, BUT
HISTORICALLY, ARE MOST LIKELY
TO CHOOSE THE LOWER END OF THE
DISCIPLINE RANGE THAT'S
RECOMMENDED BY THE DISCIPLINE
COMMITTEE. I'M WONDERING
WHETHER OR NOT YOU COULD SPEAK
TO THE CRITERIA THAT YOU PLAN
TO USE AS PERMANENT CHIEF TO
DETERMINE DISCIPLINE.
>> YEAH, FROM THAT AUDIT, I
BELIEVE THEY JUST REVIEWED FIVE
CASES OF MY DISCIPLINE. THERE
WAS TWO ON THE LOW AND THREE ON
THE TOP END, COULD BE VICE
VERSA. BUT I WAS RIGHT IN THE
MIX OF ALMOST THE 50/50
POSITION. I'VE HAD TO MAKE
QUITE A FEW DETERMINATIONS, AND
I'VE HAD TO MAKE CLOSE TO TWO
DOZEN TERMINATIONS IN A SHORT
PERIOD OF TIME, WHICH IS
UNHEARD OF. NOT BECAUSE I ENJOY
IT, CERTAINLY NOT SOMETHING I
ENJOY. BUT OFFICERS OR
PERSONNEL, IF THEY HAVE MADE AN
ACTION, THEY NEED TO BE HELD
ACCOUNTABLE. I LOOK AT WHAT THE
ACTION IS, DISHONESTY? I TELL
PEOPLE IF YOU LIE, YOU DIE. I
CAN'T HAVE A LEVEL OF
DISHONESTY IN THE DEPARTMENT.
SECOND IS IF YOU'RE RACIST OR
MAKE A RACIST COMMENT, YOU'RE
DONE AS WELL. THIRD, I LOOK AT
CRIME. SO I'VE LITERALLY MADE
THOSE TERMINATIONS AND HELD
PEOPLE ACCOUNTABLE FOR A LOT OF
THEIR ACTIONS. I ALSO TRY TO
MAKE SURE I'M HOLDING OUR
SUPERVISION ACCOUNTABLE. YOU
KNOW, WHEN SUPERVISORS ARE NOT
SUPERVISING, SOMETIMES THOSE
ACTIONS OF AN OFFICER NEED THAT
SUPERVISOR JUST TO TELL THEM,
YOU'RE GOING IN THE WRONG
DIRECTION. IT'S HARD TO
DISCIPLINE THAT OFFICER WHEN I
KNOW THE SUPERVISOR WAS AT
FAULT. SO I TRY AND HOLD THE
SUPERVISORS ACCOUNTABLE, ALL
THE WAY UP THROUGH THE RANKS
AND EVEN ASSISTANT CHIEF. I'VE
HAD TO MAKE DEMOTIONS OR GET
RID OF CIVILIAN COMMAND STAFF
IN CERTAIN POSITIONS. THOSE ARE
THINGS THAT I'M ALWAYS THINKING
ABOUT TO BE SURE OUR DEPARTMENT
HAS THE RIGHT PEOPLE IN PLACE.
WHEN WE LOOK ACROSS DISCIPLINE,
THERE ARE SOME LEVELS OF
DISCIPLINE THAT MIGHT BE THE
LOW END BECAUSE THEY HAVEN'T
HAD AN ISSUE OR HISTORY AND
DONE REALLY GOOD WORK. IT WAS
SOMETHING THAT JUST, YOU KNOW,
THEY WERE RUDE AND I'LL GIVE
THEM MAYBE A WRITTEN REPRIMAND
OR ACTION OR SOMETIMES IT'S
RETRAINING. BUT I'M LOOKING AT
IF THERE'S A PATTERN OR
HISTORY, AND HOW TO INTERVENE
IN THAT SITUATION. I HAD AN
OFFICER THAT HAD NEVER USED A
CUSS WORD BUT WHAT HE FOUND
HIMSELF DOING, HE WAS JUST
RUDE. PEOPLE FELT THERE WAS A
LEVEL OF RUDENESS. IT GOT CLOSE
TO A TERMINATION BECAUSE OF HOW
MANY TIMES HE WAS INVOLVED IN
DOING THAT. I PUT KIND OF A
DIFFERENT TYPE OF DISCIPLINE OR
APPROACH TO IT. I GAVE HIM 30
DAYS OFF AND PUT SEVERAL
STIPULATIONS FOR HIM TO
ACCOMPLISH. NOW THAT OFFICER
HAS BEEN RESTORED WITH NOT A
COMPLAINT OVER THE LAST TWO
YEARS. SO YOU REALLY HAVE TO
THINK ABOUT HOW YOU GET THE
OFFICER BACK TO WORKING
FUNCTION WHERE THEY ARE DOING
REALLY GOOD WORK. AT THE END OF
THE DAY, THAT'S WHAT WE WANT
FOR OUR COMMUNITY. WHEN THE
OFFICERS' ACTIONS CAUSE ISSUES
OF TRUST WITH THE COMMUNITY,
THOSE OFFICERS NEED TO GO. I'VE
HELD TRUE TO THAT.
>> AND A FOLLOW-UP TO THAT, ONE
OF THE RECOMMENDATIONS COMING
OUT OF THAT OIG AUDIT WAS MORE
TRANSPARENCY IN THE CLOSED-CASE
RECOMMENDATIONS OR THE
CLOSED-CASE FINDINGS RATHER,
MORE TRANSPARENCY IN WHAT THE
RECOMMENDED DISCIPLINE WAS. SO
SIMILARLY TO THE FACT THAT OUR
OPA ORDINANCE REQUIRES THE
CHIEF TO NOTIFY A NUMBER OF
PARTIES IN A CASE WHERE THEY
ARE REVERSING OR MAKING CHANGES
TO AN OPA DISPOSITION, THE
RECOMMENDATION OF THE OIG WAS
TO MAKE MORE TRANSPARENT WHAT
THE RANGE OF RECOMMENDED
DISCIPLINE WAS. AGAIN, IN THE
CLOSED CASE SUMMARIES , THE
IDENTITY OF THE OFFICER IS
PROTECTED.
>> I DIDN'T LOOK AT THAT
COMPONENT OF THE REPORT.
>> THANK YOU SO MUCH, AND
THANKS AGAIN TO CHIEF DIAZ AND
DEPUTY MAYOR HARRELL FOR
ALREADY FIELDING A NUMBER OF
QUESTIONS THAT OUR COLLEAGUES
HAD. I WANTED A CHANCE TO CHIME
IN AND THANK YOU FOR YOUR
RESPONSE AS WELL . YOUR
DEDICATION TO MAINTAINING A
COMPASSIONATE POLICE FORCE IN
COMBINATION WITH YOUR CLEAR
BELIEF THAT POLICE ARE NOT THE
SOLE MECHANISM FOR PUBLIC
SAFETY. I WANTED TO THANK YOU
FOR THOSE RESPONSES. I THINK IT
HELPS ROUND OUT THE OVERALL
HOLISTIC APPROACH THAT WE ARE
TRYING TO WORK TOWARDS AS WE
THINK ABOUT SUPPORTING
TRADITIONAL PUBLIC SAFETY AS
WELL AS COMMUNITY SAFETY.
THANKS FOR THOSE CONVERSATION
POINTS THAT YOU'VE OUTLINED
TODAY. IT GIVES ME A LOT OF
HOPE FOR THE FUTURE OF THE
DEPARTMENT UNDER YOUR
LEADERSHIP AS WELL AS THE
COLLABORATIVE RELATIONSHIPS
THAT YOU HAVE IDENTIFIED
BETWEEN THE DEPARTMENT AND THE
COUNCIL. I WANT TO THANK YOU
FOR THE WORK YOU HAVE DONE TO
ESTABLISH RELATIONSHIPS WITH
THE COUNCIL. I THINK YOU NOTED
THAT YOU'RE HAPPY WITH WHERE WE
ARE AT TODAY WITH THAT
RELATIONSHIP AND WITH THE
PUBLIC POLICY INVESTMENTS AND
PUBLIC SAFETY. I THINK THAT'S
REALLY IMPORTANT TO UNDERSCORE
AND TO LIFT UP. YOU WOULD THINK
OTHERWISE IF YOU ONLY READ THE
SEATTLE TIMES EDITORIAL BOARD
OR RECENT NEWS COVERAGE ON
CABLE. SO GIVEN THE
MISINFORMATION THAT'S BEING
SPEWED THAT COMES SOMETIMES
FROM WITHIN OUR OWN CITY
COUNCIL CHAMBERS, THAT
CLARIFICATION IS CRITICAL. WE
HAVE APPRECIATED WORKING WITH
YOU IN ADDRESSING WHAT YOU HAVE
IDENTIFIED AS YOU TOP PRIORITY,
IMPROVING PUBLIC SAFETY
REDUCING CRIME. YOUR VISION
ABOUT THE RESPONSES, YOU HAVE
CONTINUED TO COME BACK TO THE
VISION AND WANTING TO FILL THAT
VISION. YOU NOTED YOUR INTEREST
IN THE PROGRAM TO REORGANIZE
STAFFING AND MAKE SURE OFFICERS
ARE AVAILABLE FOR THE TYPES OF
PROGRAMS AND SERVICES THEY
SIGNED UP FOR WHEN THEY WANTED
TO BE AN OFFICER. SO I
APPRECIATE THAT VISION AND LOOK
FORWARD TO WORKING WITH YOU.
AND YOU NOTED VIOLENT CRIME IS
DOWN 23% IN RECENT MONTHS. I
APPRECIATE THAT YOU AND MAYOR
HARRELL ARE CONTINUING TO LIFT
UP THIS INFORMATION, BECAUSE
VIOLENT CRIME BEING DOWN 23% IS
A VERY GOOD INDICATION THAT WE
ARE WORKING TOWARD ADDRESSING
THIS EPIDEMIC OF CRIME THAT IS
FACING OUR COUNTRY. I THINK AS
A COUNTRY WE ARE ALL GRAPPLING
WITH HOW TO DO MORE UPSTREAM
INVESTMENTS, TO BE SURE PEOPLE
HAVE THE SECURITY THEY NEED,
WHETHER IT'S HOUSING
OPPORTUNITIES OR ACCESS TO
MENTAL HEALTH SERVICES AND A
COMBINATION WITH INVESTMENTS
FOR OFFICER RETENTION AND
FUNDING. I ALSO WANTED TO THANK
YOU SPECIFICALLY AS THE CHIEF
AND THIS ADMINISTRATION,
CHOOSING TO NOT NEGOTIATE
PUBLIC POLICY OR INSERT
UNFOUNDED FEAR OR STRESS INTO
THE COMMUNITY VIA THE PRESS,
UNLIKE THE PREVIOUS
ADMINISTRATION. I APPRECIATE
THAT YOU'RE WORKING WITH US,
WORKING WITH OUR OFFICE AND
ADDRESSING PUBLIC SAFETY NEEDS
AND MAKING SURE THOSE ARE
INCLUDED IN THE BUDGET. IT WAS
THE DIRECT CONFIRMS WE WERE
ABLE TO HAVE WITH THE HARRELL
ADMINISTRATION AND TALK ABOUT
THE INVESTMENTS FOR THE SEATTLE
POLICE DEPARTMENT AND OTHER
DEPARTMENTS THAT RESULTED IN
ADDITIONS IN PUBLIC SAFETY. IT
WAS DIRECT CONVERSATIONS WITH
US AND THE EXECUTIVE TEAM THAT
I THINK HELPED US FIND COMMON
GROUND. SO I WANTED TO ASK YOU
IF YOU HAD ANY ADDITIONAL
COMMENTS THAT YOU WOULD LIKE TO
OFFER. I REALLY APPRECIATE YOU
BEING AT THE BILL SIGNING AND
FOR YOUR LEADERSHIP AND SHOWING
UP THERE FOR THE FINAL BUDGET
THAT WAS SIGNED. IS THERE
ANYTHING ELSE YOU WOULD LIKE TO
ADD ABOUT WHERE WE'RE HEADED?
>> NO, I THINK RIGHT NOW WE
HAVE BUILT GOOD RELATIONSHIPS.
YOU NOTED EVERY ASPECT OF WHAT
WE'RE TRYING TO DO FOR THIS
CITY AND PUBLIC SAFETY AND
MAKING SURE WE HAVE THE RIGHT
INVESTMENTS IN THE RIGHT PLACE.
FOR MY JOB, I LOOK AT SEVERAL
DIFFERENT MARKERS. I LOOK AT
THE AMOUNT OF GUNS OUR OFFICERS
ARE RECOVERING AS A MARKER OF
HOW WE WORK TO BRING VIOLENT
CRIME DOWN. WE ARE ALMOST 30
GUNS SHORT OF THE AMOUNT OF
GUNS WE RECOVERED WHEN WE HAD
FULL STAFFING IN 2019. THAT'S A
REMARKABLE FEAT FOR THE
OFFICERS AND THE HARD WORK THEY
DO EVERY DAY. THEY ARE
RESPONDING TO CRIME AND GOING
OUT AND DOING IF WORK. WE HAVE
SEEN A REDUCTION IN THE USE OF
FORCE THAT'S BEING APPLIED IN
THE FIELD AS WELL. WE HAVE SEEN
ALMOST A 48% REDUCTION FROM
2018 TO 2021. WE ARE SEEING THE
COMPLAINTS OF OFFICERS DROP
DRASTICALLY AS WELL, THE
COMPLAINTS THAT GO TO OPA. AS A
CHIEF, THESE ARE THE THINGS
THAT YOU WANT. YOU WANT
OFFICERS TO GO OUT AND DO THE
GOOD WORK OF RECOVERING GUNS
AND DRIVING CRIME DOWN. YOU'RE
ALSO SEEING THEY ARE DOING IT
WITH LESS FORCE AND LESS
COMPLAINTS. THAT'S WHAT WE WANT
FOR THE CITY, TO PROVIDE THE
HIGHEST QUALITY OF PUBLIC
SAFETY AND SERVICE. THERE'S
STILL A LOT FOR US TO DO AND
STILL ACCOMPLISH BUT WE'RE
GOING TO CONTINUE, AND I THINK
WE COULD HAVE AN EXTREMELY SAFE
CITY THAT SEATTLE ONCE KNEW.
>> EXCELLENT. IF I MAY, JUST A
FEW MORE COMMENTS AND
QUESTIONS?
>> ABSOLUTELY.
>> THANK YOU, CHIEF DIAZ FOR
THAT RESPONSE. I LOOK FORWARD
TO CONTINUE TO WORK WITH YOU.
AS WE ALL KNOW, BUDGETS CAN
ALWAYS BE CHANGED AND AS WE
HAVE DONE WITH EVERY OTHER
DEPARTMENT, WE ANNUALLY LOOK TO
SEE WHAT WE CAN DO TO MAKE
ADDITIONAL INVESTMENTS AND
RESHIFT PRIORITIES WITHIN THE
DEPARTMENT. SO THAT COMMITMENT
IS TRUE FOR THE DEPARTMENT IN
THE FUTURE. JUST TO SUMMARIZE
SOME OF THE INVESTMENTS I'M
EXCITED WE WERE ABLE TO SECURE
IN THE FINAL BUDGET WITH
ADDITIONS TO THE PROPOSED
BUDGET AS WELL, THIS IS A
DOCUMENT THAT FULLY FUNDS THE
SEATTLE POLICE DEPARTMENT'S
RETENTION AND RECRUITMENT
POLICY, NO CUTS TO OFFICERS OR
RECRUITMENT STRATEGIES. IT
MAINTAINS FUNDING FOR
RECRUITMENT AND RETENTION
PLANS. IT ADDS FUNDING FOR
THERAPY FOR SURVIVORS OF
DOMESTIC VIOLENCE, ADDS FUNDING
FOR GENDER-BASED VIOLENCE, ADDS
HALF A MILLION DOLLARS FOR THE
SAFE COMMUNITIES PROGRAM. IT
ADDS POSITIONS BACK TO THE
COMMUNITY CENTER, FUNDING FOR
TWO MORE POSITIONS AT THE CSCC
TO IMPROVE CALL TIME. IT ADDS
$5 MILLION TO OUR PARTNERSHIP
WITH LEAD AND COLEAD, ADDS FOR
A 911 PROGRAM TO SEND MENTAL
HEALTH PROFESSIONALS FOR PEOPLE
EXPERIENCING MENTAL HEALTH
CRISES. IT EXPANDS THE GUN
VIOLENCE REDUCTION PROGRAM,
PRIORITIZES $4 MILLION FOR
MENTAL HEALTH SERVICES FOR
SCHOOLS, RESPONDING TO THE
DEMAND FOR MORE NEED FROM
STUDENTS. IT FOCUSING ABOUT A
QUARTER MILLION DOLLARS FOR THE
BEHAVIORAL OUTREACH IN CID,
RESTORING THE HATE CRIME
PREVENTION CRIME FOR THE
ORGANIZATIONS WHO HAVE BEEN
PROVIDING STRATEGIES. IT ADDS
FUNDING FOR THE FIRE DEPARTMENT
LADDER AND MEDIC VAN IN
DISTRICT ONE FOR LADDER 13 AND
MEDIC 26 VAN. WE KNOW THAT'S AN
IMPORTANT PUBLIC SAFETY ELEMENT
ALONG WITH SPD, ESPECIALLY IN
THE SOUTH END. AND WE
APPRECIATE THAT THE MAYOR AND
THAT THE DEPARTMENT IDENTIFIED
80 POSITIONS TO BE MOVED TO THE
GENERAL FUND TO HELP US INVEST
IN SOME OF THESE CRITICAL AND
GENERAL FUND INVESTMENTS, AND
AGAIN RECOGNIZING WITHIN THE
DEPARTMENT IN THE FUTURE IF
STAFF ADDITIONS ARE NEEDED OR
FUNDING IS NEEDED, WE CAN
EVALUATE THAT IN THE PROCESS.
THANK YOU FOR THAT. I WANTED TO
ASK YOU A QUICK QUESTION ABOUT
HOW YOU PLAN TO GET INFORMATION
OUT, NOT JUST TO THE PUBLIC,
BUT MAYBE THE PRECINCTS AS
WELL. I THOUGHT I SAW A
REDUCTION IN PRECINCT FUNDING.
THANKS TO THE GREAT WORK OF
CENTRAL STAFF AND YOUR BUDGET
TEAM, REALIZED THERE WAS NO
REDUCTIONS TO THE PRECINCTS
PROPOSED. INSTEAD YOU
SUGGESTED, I BELIEVE,
REORIENTING SOME OF THE FUNDING
CURRENTLY GOING TO THE
PRECINCTS AND ALLOWING THAT
FUNDING TO BE UNDER YOUR
PURVIEW TO HAVE GREATER
COORDINATION AND EFFICIENCIES.
THERE WAS NO REDUCTION IN THE
FUNDING BUT SOME OF THE
PREVIOUS FUNDING ON PAPER IS
ACTUALLY GOING TO THE CHIEF'S
OVERALL BUDGET SO YOU CAN HAVE
GREATER COORDINATION. CAN YOU
TALK ABOUT THE VISION THAT WE
SEE OUTLINED IN THE PROPOSED
BUDGET DOCUMENT AND WHAT YOU
CAN DO TO HELP DISPEL ANY
INFORMATION COMING FROM WITHIN
THE PRECINCTS AS WELL TO ANY
FOLKS OUT IN THE COMMUNITY WHO
THINK THERE WAS A REDUCTION IN
PRECINCT FUNDING OR THE
MISINFORMATION UNFORTUNATELY
ABOUT THE CUTS IN OFFICERS, TO
LET THEM KNOW THERE WERE NO
CUTS IN OFFICERS OR TO THE
PRECINCTS OR OVERALL SPD
INVESTMENTS. CAN YOU TALK ABOUT
YOUR VISION AND HOW YOU CAN
HELP US GET CLARITY AND THE
CORRECT INFORMATION OUT?
>> I HAD THE ASSISTANT CHIEFS
REPORT EVERY WEEK ON EVERY
OVERTIME DOLLAR SPENT. THAT
KEPT IT UP FRONT AND HOW WE
MEET OUR BUDGET. OVER THE LAST
TWO YEARS, I CONTINUE TO DO
THAT. EACH PRECINCT AND SOME
SPECIAL UNITS SOMETIMES WAIT
AND DON'T SPEND THE MONEY THEY
NEED TO BE ABLE TO SPEND. SO
WHAT I'VE DONE IS TAKEN SOME OF
THAT MONEY AND WHEN THEY HAVE A
PROJECT THEY WANT TO FOCUS ON,
WHETHER IT'S, WE NEED NEW
CHAIRS FOR THIS OR SOMETHING
ELSE, WE CAN THEN FIGURE OUT
HOW TO ALLOCATE IT TO THAT
PROJECT . IT WAS JUST TAKING
CONTROL TO HELP ALLOCATE THE
FUNDING WHERE IT'S NEEDED. WE
WERE ABLE TO GET FUNDING AND
REDO SOME OF THE KITCHENS, AND
THAT SAVED US MONEY AS A CITY
TO NOT HAVE TO SPEND ON THAT.
THERE ARE LITTLE PROJECTS AND
EACH CAPTAIN CAN HELP
ARTICULATE THOSE ITEMS. IT
COULD BE EQUIPMENT, ITEMS
NEEDED FOR PATROL SERVICES.
SOMETIMES WHEN ONE PRECINCT
GETS IT, I LIKE TO BE SURE ALL
THE PRECINCTS GET IT. IF IT
WORKS IN ONE PRECINCT, IT WILL
WORK IN THE OTHERS. THIS
PROVIDES MORE UNIFORMITY
THROUGHOUT THE OPERATION.
>> THAT'S VERY HELPFUL, THANK
YOU. ONE EXAMPLE WHERE I THINK
THIS IS COMING UP IS THE
NONEMERGENCY NUMBER. SOME FOLKS
HAVE BEEN TRYING TO REACH THE
NONEMERGENCY NUMBER AND WE KNOW
THE DEPARTMENT AND EXECUTIVE
ARE WORKING CLOSELY WITH YOU TO
TRY AND SCALE UP THE OFFICERS
SO THERE'S MORE OFFICERS ACROSS
THE BOARD. WHEN THE
NONEMERGENCY NUMBER IS NOT
ANSWERED, THAT COULD BE A CSCC
ISSUE. WHEN THE NONEMERGENCY
ISSUE IS NOT ANSWERED AND
THERE'S CHATTER ONLINE ABOUT
THE CONCERNS, SOME THINGS I'VE
SEEN ONLINE HAVE TRIED TO SORT
OF PIN THAT ON A CUT OR
REDUCTION TO SPD FROM COUNCIL,
AND WE KNOW THAT THAT'S NOT
TRUE. ANY OTHER THOUGHTS YOU
HAVE ABOUT WORKING WITH THE
CSCC, 911 CALL CENTER OR OTHER
STRATEGIES TO IMPROVE THE
NONEMERGENCY NUMBER OR IS THAT
PART OF THE PARTNERSHIP THAT
YOU ENVISIONED?
>> YEAH. THE NONEMERGENCY
RESPONSE IS ACTUALLY RUN BY THE
CSCC. I CAN'T SPECIFICALLY
ARTICULATE WHAT THEY WOULD BE
DOING TO BE SURE THAT GETS
ANSWERED. ONE THING WE ARE
DOING NO 2023 IS WE ARE ALREADY
IN THE PROCESS OF BUILDING A
NEW ONLINE REPORTING SYSTEM.
THE ONLINE REPORTING SYSTEM
THAT CURRENTLY EXISTS, IT
SOMETIMES CRASHES IN THE MIDDLE
OF SOMEONE REPORTING A CRIME,
OR IT DOESN'T HAVE ACCESS TO
THE LANGUAGE. WE ARE IN THE
PROCESS OF BUILDING A NEW
SYSTEM AND HOPEFULLY THAT WILL
BE OPERATIONAL WITHIN SIX
MONTHS. IT CAN BE DONE IN
MULTIPLE LANGUAGES AND ALLOWS
US TO REACH DIVERSE
COMMUNITIES. TYPICALLY ON A
NONEMERGENCY CALL, PEOPLE ARE
REPORTING SOMETHING THAT MAY
NOT NEED AN OFFICER IN PERSON.
SO BY HAVING A NEW ONLINE
REPORTING SYSTEM THAT'S MUCH
MORE EFFICIENT, IT ALLOWS
PEOPLE TO ACCESS IT IN A VERY
EASY MANNER. WE WOULD THEN BE
ABLE TO DIRECT PEOPLE INTO THAT
FUNCTION. WE HAVE A TELEPHONE
REPORTING UNIT, SO IT DOES
REQUIRE A NONEMERGENCY CALL TO
BE DIRECTED TO THE TRUE
REPORTING OR TELEPHONE
REPORTING UNIT. ONE THING WE
ARE DOING IS TRYING TO PUT THEM
RIGHT TO THE TELEPHONE
REPORTING UNIT. THOSE ARE A
COUPLE THINGS WE ARE WORKING
TOWARDS. BUT THE NEW ONLINE
REPORTING SYSTEM IS SO CRUCIAL
BECAUSE RIGHT NOW IT TAKES
ABOUT 40% OF ALL OUR REPORTS
ONLINE. EVEN IF SOMEBODY DIDN'T
WANT TO GO TO THE NONEMERGENCY
LINE, THEY COULD GO TO THE
ONLINE REPORTING SYSTEM AND
MAKE A REPORT. IF THEY REQUIRE
AN OFFICER, THEY HAVE TO GO TO
THE EMERGENCY LINE.
>> THANK YOU. THAT'S REALLY
HELPFUL CLARIFICATION FOR THE
COMMUNITY AS WELL, BECAUSE WHEN
THEY HEAR THE NONEMERGENCY
NUMBER IS NOT BEING ANSWERED
BECAUSE OF FALSE INFORMATION
REGARDING REDUCTIONS TO SPD, IT
DOESN'T MAKE ANY SENSE. THERE'S
NO REDUCTION AND THERE'S NO
CONNECTION BETWEEN SPD DIRECT
INVESTMENTS AND THE CALL
CENTER. IN FACT, WE ADDED
POSITIONS TO THE CALL CENTER TO
HELP IMPROVE THOSE NUMBERS. I
HAVE TWO MORE QUESTIONS, IF
THAT'S OKAY.
>> I HAVE A FOLLOW-UP QUESTION,
FIRST.
>> SORRY ABOUT THAT.
>> YOU'RE GREAT. ON THE ONLINE
REPORTING SYSTEM, WHAT'S THE
TIMELINE ON THAT? IT IS REALLY
IMPORTANT IN ADDRESSING THE
NEEDS OUT THERE. I WAS AT A
COMMUNITY MEETING LAST NIGHT
AND THIS TOPIC CAME UP. NOT
ONLY WHEN IT WILL BE REVAMPED
TO ACCOMMODATE DIFFERENT
LANGUAGES, BUT WILL IT ALSO
ALLOW FOR A BROADER NUMBER OF
CRIMES THAT DO NOT REQUIRE A
RESPONSE TO BE ACCOMMODATED?
FOR INSTANCE, CAR THEFT, WHERE
IT'S ALREADY OCCURRED AND
SOMEBODY JUST -- OR OTHER TYPES
OF VEHICLE THEFTS, IT'S ALREADY
OCCURRED AND THEY JUST WANT
SOMETHING FOR INSURANCE TO
REPORT. THERE ARE SEVERAL TYPES
OF CRIMES PEOPLE COMMENT TO ME,
BEING FRUSTRATED NOT BEING ABLE
TO USE THE ONLINE FOR.
>> WE ARE LOOKING AT ALL
PRIORITY THREE CALLS, TYPICALLY
A CALL THAT'S A CRIME HAS
OCCURRED AND THE SUSPECT IS
GONE, NO ONE IS THERE AND IT'S
ALREADY BEEN HANDLED. THAT'S
WHERE THE PRIORITY THREE, MOST
OF THOSE GO TO ONLINE
REPORTING. THERE ARE SOME
PRIORITY THREE CALLS THAT WOULD
NOT GO TO THAT, SUCH AS MAYBE A
DOMESTIC VIOLENCE ASSAULT THAT
OCCURRED LIKE FOUR HOURS AGO.
SO BEYOND THE STATE MANDATED
ARREST POLICY, THAT WOULD
REQUIRE AN OFFICER. WE WANT
CERTAIN CALLS TO HAVE THAT
FUNCTION. BUT WE HOPE WITHIN
THE NEXT SIX MONTHS TO HAVE
THIS OPERATIONAL. I WANT THIS
DONE BEFORE THE SUMMER MONTHS,
WHERE WE WOULD EXPERIENCE
PRIDE, 4th OF JULY, MLB
ALL-STAR, TORCHLIGHT AND SEA
FAIR. WHEN YOU HAVE ALL THESE
DIFFERENT EVENTS THAT COULD
POSSIBLY BRING ISSUES ABOUT,
YOU WANT YOUR PERSONNEL
AVAILABLE. THAT IS GOING TO BE
CRUCIAL FOR US TO BE ABLE TO
DIRECT A LOT OF PRIORITY THREE
CALLS TO AN ONLINE REPORTING
SYSTEM FOR THOSE SUMMER MONTHS.
THAT'S MY GOAL, FREEING UP OUR
PERSONNEL TO FOCUS ON WHAT WE
NEED TO DO. USUALLY THE UPTICK
IN SHOOTINGS AND SHOTS FIRED
ARE THEN, AND WE CAN BE MORE
NIMBLE WITH OUR RESPONSE.
>> WE'LL LOOK FOR MORE REPORTS
ON THAT GOAL OF GETTING UP AND
RUNNING BEFORE SUMMER.
COUNCILMEMBER MOSQUEDA?
>> THANK YOU. I WANTED TO GO
BACK TO ONE OF THE QUESTIONS
YOU PROVIDED IN WRITING TO THE
COUNCIL HERE IN OUR
QUESTIONNAIRE. QUESTION 18, I
REALLY APPRECIATE YOUR RESPONSE
AND WANTED TO CHAT MORE ABOUT
WHAT MIGHT BE NEEDED TO FULFILL
THAT VISION. THE KING COUNTY
JAIL DECLINES TO HOLD PEOPLE
FOR MANY CRIMES AND THERE'S AN
INCONSISTENCY IN THE APPROACH
COURTS TAKE. SUPPORT FOR
DIVERSION PROGRAMS AND OTHER
ALTERNATIVES ARE OFTEN POORLY
SUPPORTED AND THERE IS
CONFUSION. CAN YOU TALK ABOUT
WHAT WE MIGHT WANT TO DO TO
INCREASE SUPPORT OR
CLARIFICATION, RESOURCES FOR
DIVERSION PROGRAMS OR
ALTERNATIVES TO ARRESTS AND
INCARCERATION? WHAT MIGHT WE BE
ABLE TO DO IN PARTNERSHIP WITH
YOU TO SUPPORT THE PROCESS WHEN
WE KNOW THAT KEEPING THEM IN
JAIL FOR LOW LEVEL CRIMES OFTEN
EXACERBATES THE ISSUE. ANY
THOUGHTS ON WHERE WE COULD WORK
WITH YOU OR A VISION THAT YOU
HAVE AROUND REDUCING THE IMPACT
OF HAVING FOLKS JAILED FOR
LONGER PERIODS OF TIME, AND
MAYBE THUS INCREASING THE
CHANCE THEY COULD BE ENGAGED IN
CRIMINAL ACTIVITY IN THE
FUTURE?
>> YEAH. YOU KNOW, ONE OF THE
THINGS IS TRYING TO UNDERSTAND
AT WITH THE SEATTLE MUNICIPAL
COURT HOW WE CAN UTILIZE OUR
COURTS BETTER. I THINK THAT'S A
FUNCTION THAT'S SOMETIMES
UNDERUTILIZED. AND STILL
WANTING ACCOUNTABILITY, BUT
ALSO FINDING WAYS THAT YOU
COULD CREATE INVESTMENTS INTO
APPROACHES. MANY YEARS AGO, I
ACTUALLY HELPED WITH KING
COUNTY TO ESTABLISH THE FAMILY
INTERVENTION RESTORED SERVICES,
A RESPIT CENTER FOR YOUTH. THE
LAW READ THAT WE HAD TO
MANDATORY ARREST JUVENILES FOR
DOMESTIC VIOLENCE ISSUES BUT IT
DIDN'T SAY WE HAD TO BOOK THEM
IN. IN MANY CASES WE WERE
PROVIDING A LEVEL OF SERVICES.
LOOKING AT A SIMILAR MODEL TO
THAT FOR OTHER CRIMES IS
SOMETHING WE CAN LOOK AT. I
THINK WE ALSO TALKED ABOUT OUR
SUPPORT OF HAVING FRONT END AND
BACK END SERVICES, WHETHER IT'S
MENTAL HEALTH, UNSHELTERED
POPULATION. THOSE INVESTMENTS
ARE CRUCIAL, AND ALSO TRYING TO
FIGURE OUT WHEN SOMEBODY MAY BE
INCOMPETENT TO STAND TRIAL. WE
HAVE A COUPLE THOUSAND PEOPLE
THAT FIT IN THIS CRITERIA. HOW
ARE THEY GETTING SERVICES WHEN
BEING RELEASED? IT'S A HUGE
CONCERN BECAUSE THOSE ARE
USUALLY PART OF THE HIGH
UTILIZERS OF THE CRIMINAL
JUSTICE SYSTEM. HOW DO WE BE
SURE THEY ARE GETTING SERVICES
THAT ARE INVESTED IN THE
COMMUNITIES.
>> THANK YOU SO MUCH, I'LL LOOK
FORWARD TO WORKING WITH YOU ON
THAT AND BUILDING OUT THE
AFFECTED PERSONS PROGRAM IN
PARTNERSHIP WITH THE WITH THE
OFFICE OF POLICE
ACCOUNTABILITY. WE'LL LOOK
FORWARD TO HAVING YOU AT THE
TABLE AS WE TALK ABOUT THE
POSSIBILITY OF BUILDING THAT
OUT TO ASSIST VICTIMS OF POLICE
VIOLENCE OR THEIR FAMILIES TO
BE SURE EVERYBODY HAS SUPPORT.
ONE THING INCLUDED IN THE
BUDGET, ADDITIONAL REQUIREMENTS
FOR THE CONTRACTED SCREENER,
THE APPLICANT SCREENER OR
PARTNERSHIP FOR THE
ORGANIZATION WE ARE GOING TO
PARTNER WITH. WE HAVE ASKED
THEM TO SCREEN FOR EXTREMIST
IDEOLOGIES, GIVEN THAT WE HAD
SIX OFFICERS PART OF THE
JANUARY 6th RIOT ON THE
CAPITOL. I WANT TO KNOW WHAT
YOU'RE LOOKING FOR WITHIN THE
RANKS. WE TALKED ABOUT YOUR
PHILOSOPHY FOR FOLKS WHO ARE
NOT ADHERING TO THE OATH OF
OFFICE. DO YOU HAVE ANY OTHER
THOUGHTS ABOUT THE SCREENING
OPPORTUNITIES PROVIDED IN THE
BUDGET OR WAYS THAT YOU CAN
HELP ROOT OUT EXTREMIST
IDEOLOGIES?
>> YEAH, SO WE ACTUALLY HAD
DONE SOME GROUND WORK HERE,
JUST HIRING PRACTICES AND WHAT
OUR ASSESSMENTS WERE. NOT ONLY
FROM THE PSYCHOLOGY SIDE, BUT
JUST THE SCREENING PROCESS IN
GENERAL. THE SECOND COMPONENT
IS INCREASING THE LEVEL OF
WELLNESS. WE KNOW THAT WHEN AN
OFFICER STRUGGLES WITH THEIR
LEVEL OF WELLNESS, THEY MIGHT
END UP TRYING TO GRAB ONTO
SOMETHING THEY WOULDN'T
HAVE HAD ONE OF OUR EXECUTIVE
DIRECTORS DO EXTENSIVE RESEARCH
AND HAS ACTUALLY NOW PRESENTED
IN FRONT OF THE WHITE HOUSE IN
THIS AREA ON EXTREMISM IN
POLICING. IN CONJUNCTION WITH
THE PREVIOUS CHIEF, THERE'S
ALSO A LOT OF WORK WE HAVE DONE
ON THE FRONT END TO LOOK AT HOW
WE ADDRESS THIS ISSUE, MAKING
SURE THERE'S NO EXTREMISM
WITHIN OUR DEPARTMENT. YOU
KNOW, SOMETIMES YOU'RE GOING TO
HAVE THINGS THAT ARE GOING TO
HAVE ONE-OFF SITUATIONS. ALSO
IN THAT PROCESS, I HAD TO MAKE
TERMINATIONS FOR PEOPLE
DIRECTLY INVOLVED IN THE
INSURRECTION. THOSE ARE ISSUES
I WOULD IMMEDIATELY ADDRESS
GOING FORWARD. I THINK WE CAN
PROVIDE SOME OF THE WORK WE
HAVE DONE ON SOME OF THE
EXTREMISM AND POLICING RESEARCH
THAT WE HAVE PUT TOGETHER.
>> THANK YOU SO MUCH.
>> THANK YOU. AS A FOLLOW-UP TO
THAT, I'M GIVEN THE OPPORTUNITY
TO PROVIDE INPUT TO THE OFFICE
OF THE INSPECTOR GENERAL FOR
THEIR ANNUAL WORK PLAN. I'VE
MADE A REQUEST THAT THE OIG
REVIEW HOW SPD REVIEWS
CANDIDATES APPLYING FOR
POSSIBLE EXTREMIST TIES OR
WHITE SUPREMACY TIES. I KNOW
THAT'S AN AREA YOU DO WORK
SCREENING FOR AND YOUR
BACKGROUND DOES WORK AROUND
SOCIAL MEDIA ACTIVITY. I THINK
THIS IS AN AREA WHERE WE COULD
IMPROVE.
>> THANK YOU.
>> ALL RIGHT. THANK YOU FOR
BEING SO PATIENT WITH ALL OF
OUR QUESTIONS. THERE MIGHT BE
SOME ADDITIONAL COMMENTS BEFORE
WE TAKE A FINAL VOTE. LET'S
MOVE TO GET THE CONFIRMATION IN
FRONT OF US. I MOVE THAT THE
COMMITTEE RECOMMENDS THE
CONFIRMATION. IS THERE A
SECOND?
>> SECOND.
>> IT'S BEEN MOVED AND SECONDED
TO RECOMMEND THE CONFIRMATION
OF THE APPOINTMENT. ANY
ADDITIONAL COMMENTS?
>> THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR COMING
IN TODAY.
>> I'VE SEEN YOU AT ALL
DIFFERENT KINDS OF EVENTS IN
COMMUNITIES ALL OVER THE CITY
WITHOUT CAMERAS, WITHOUT HUGE
AUDIENCES. YOU WERE THERE
BECAUSE YOU WERE INVITED. I
HAVE TO SAY THAT I NOTICE THAT
AND I THINK THAT'S WHAT YOU
HEAR REFLECTED IN THE COMMENTS
PEOPLE HAVE SAID BEFORE THIS
ITEM WAS OFFICIALLY SPOKEN
ABOUT. I JUST WANT TO
ACKNOWLEDGE AND THANK YOU FOR
BEING WILLING TO CONTINUE
SERVING. YOU BECAME ACTING
CHIEF AT A TIME OF GREAT
TURMOIL, ALL OF A SUDDEN. THEN
WE HAVE THE PANDEMIC AND OTHER
THINGS GOING ON IN THE CITY. WE
ARE TRYING TO ADDRESS OUR
HOMELESSNESS CRISIS, AND
SOMETIMES A LOT OF THINGS GOING
ON EXTERNAL TO THE DEPARTMENT
OR ACTUALLY EVEN TO LAW
ENFORCEMENT ON YOUR PLATE TO
DEAL WITH. I JUST WANT TO SAY
THAT, THANK YOU VERY MUCH FOR
LEADING DURING THE PAST COUPLE
YEARS, AND SINCE I'VE BEEN
HERE, I'VE JUST ENJOYED OUR
WORKING HARDSHIP. THANK YOU
VERY MUCH.
>> THANK YOU. THANK YOU VERY
MUCH.
>> COUNCILMEMBER NELSON, ANY
OTHER COMMENTS TO BE MADE
BEFORE WE CALL THE ROLL? GREAT.
I TOO HAVE REALLY ENJOYED
WORKING WITH YOU AND ECHO
COUNCILMEMBER NELSON'S POINTS
HOW MUCH I ADMIRE THAT YOU TOOK
ON THE LEADERSHIP AT SUCH A
CHALLENGING TIME, AND YOU WANT
TO STICK WITH IT AND STICK WITH
US, STICK WITH SEATTLE AND THE
COMMUNITY THAT YOU CAME FROM.
THERE'S A LOT TO BE SAID FOR
THAT. REALLY APPRECIATE THE
OPPORTUNITY TO WORK WITH YOU IN
THE COMING YEAR.
>> THANK YOU.
>> CLERK, PLEASE CALL THE ROLL.
>> COUNCILMEMBER MOSQUEDA?
>> AYE.
>> COUNCILMEMBER NELSON?
>> AYE.
>> COUNCILMEMBER PEDERSEN?
>> AYE.
>> VICE CHAIR LEWIS?
>> YES.
>> CHAIR HERBOLD?
>> YES.
>> FIVE IN SUPPORT.
>> THANK YOU. THE MOTION
CARRIES. AND THE COUNCIL
RECOMMENDATION THAT THE
APPOINTMENT BE CONFIRMED WILL
BE SENT TO THE JANUARY 3rd CITY
COUNCIL MEETING. HOPE YOU'LL BE
ABLE TO JOIN US THEN.
>> THANK YOU SO MUCH.
APPRECIATE IT.
>> THANK YOU. ALL RIGHT.
THANKS, FOLKS IN THE AUDIENCE
FOR YOUR PATIENCE. WILL THE
CLERK PLEASE READ AGENDA ITEM
THREE.
>> SDCI UNREINFORCED MASONRY
PROGRAM UPDATE.
>> GREAT, THANKS. WHILE PEOPLE
ARE TAKING THE TABLE, I JUST
WANT TO GIVE A FEW OPENING
REMARKS. FIRST I WANT TO SAY
THIS UPDATE FROM SDCI AND THE
OFFICE OF EMERGENCY MANAGEMENT
ON THE DEVELOPMENT OF THE
UNREINFORCED MASONRY PROGRAM
DERIVES FROM A RESOLUTION THE
COUNCIL PASSED LAST YEAR
ESTABLISHED THE BENCHMARKS FOR
POLICY DEVELOPMENT IN THIS
AREA. A NUMBER OF YOU AT THE
TABLE PLAYED A REALLY IMPORTANT
ROLE IN THAT RESOLUTION. I
APPRECIATE YOU GATHERING HERE
TODAY FOR AN UPDATE. CAN WE
START WITH A QUICK ROUND OF
INTRODUCTIONS, NAME AND
AFFILIATION? THEN WE CAN
PROCEED WITH THE PRESENTATION.
>> GOOD MORNING,
COUNCILMEMBERS .
>> THANK YOU SO MUCH. PLEASE
LEAD US ON THE PRESENTATION. I
WANT TO SHARE WITH THE VIEWING
PUBLIC THAT I'VE BEEN ALERTED
THE NEW PERSON WHO'S LEADING UP
THIS REALLY IMPORTANT POLICY
WORK IDENTIFIES HERSELF AS THE
LESLIE KNOPE OF EARTHQUAKES.
REALLY, REALLY GLAD TO HAVE
SOMEBODY HERE WITH US WHO'S
EXCITED TO GET INTO THE DETAILS
OF THIS.
>> DO YOU HAVE THAT POWERPOINT
OR NEED ME TO PLUG IT IN?
>> I THINK IT'S RUN FROM YOUR
TABLE.
>> IT IS SET OUT TO RUN FROM
THAT ONE. WE TESTED IT .
>> THANKS FOR YOUR PATIENCE. A
LITTLE BACKGROUND ON REINFORCED
MASONRY BUILDING. URMs WERE
TYPICALLY BUILT BEFORE 1945,
AND THE PAR WALLS ARE NOT
SECURED TO THE FLOORS AND THEY
HAVE A GREATER RISK OF DAMAGE
IN AN EARTHQUAKE, AND WILL
OFTEN COLLAPSE. THAT'S A DANGER
TO THE OCCUPANTS IN THE
UNREINFORCED MASONRY BUILDINGS,
BUT ALSO TO PEDESTRIANS WHO MAY
BE WALKING BY AND EVEN
MOTORISTS IN THE STREET. WE ARE
ALL FAMILIAR WITH THE 2001
EARTHQUAKE THAT HIT SEATTLE. I
WAS IN THE OLD SEATTLE BUILDING
AND UNDERNEATH MY DESK HOLDING
ON FOR DEAR LIFE. THE CADILLAC
HOTEL IS A PERFECT AND
UNFORTUNATE EXAMPLE OF AN
UNREINFORCED MASONRY BUILDING,
AND WE HAVE THE DAMAGE THAT
RESULTED FROM THAT EARTHQUAKE.
OF COURSE WE ARE AT RISK OF
HAVING A MUCH GREATER MAGNITUDE
EARTHQUAKE IN SEATTLE. WE HAVE
OVER 1,000 UNREINFORCED MASONRY
BUILDINGS IN SEATTLE. OVER
2,000 AFFORDABLE UNITS ARE IN
UNREINFORCED MASONRY BUILDINGS.
MANY OF THESE ARE HISTORICALLY
SIGNIFICANT. WE HAVE ABOUT 23
MILLION SQUARE FEET IN
UNREINFORCED MASONRY IN
SEATTLE. THIS IS A GREAT
PARTNERSHIP BETWEEN SDCI, THE
OFFICE OF EMERGENCY MANAGEMENT,
AND ASAP. MANY OTHER CITY
DEPARTMENTS AND NOT FOR PROFITS
AND BUILDING OWNERS THROUGHOUT
SEATTLE WILL BE INVOLVED. I
JUST WANTED TO HIGHLIGHT SDCI'S
PURPOSE STATEMENT: HELPING
PEOPLE BUILD A SAFE, LIVABLE
AND INCLUSIVE SEATTLE. I THINK
URMs FIT INTO THAT PURPOSE
STATEMENT PERFECTLY. THIS IS
ABOUT MAKING SURE WE HAVE SAFE
BUILDINGS IN SEATTLE. SO A
LITTLE BIT ABOUT TODAY'S
PRESENTATION, THE HISTORY OF
THE EFFORT. IN 2012, THE CITY
PUT TOGETHER A URM POLICY
COMMITTEE. SDCI COMPLETED AN
INVESTOR OF UNREINFORCED
MASONRY BUILDINGS BACK IN 2016.
IN 2017, THAT COMMITTEE
DELIVERED THEIR RECOMMENDATIONS
TO THE CITY. UNDER YOUR
LEADERSHIP, COUNCILMEMBER
HERBOLD, AND THE PREVIOUS
MAYOR, THERE WAS A JOINT
RESOLUTION THAT WAS PASSED A
YEAR AGO, WHICH LAID OUT A WORK
PROGRAM FOR US. I'M DELIGHTED
THAT WE FINALLY HAVE THE URM
PROGRAM MANAGER ON BOARD, WHO
YOU'LL HEAR FROM SHORTLY. WE
CONTINUE TO WORK ON THE
DEVELOPMENT FOR URMs THAT
YOU'LL HEAR ABOUT FROM OUR
PRINCIPAL ENGINEER. WE WANT TO
DEVELOP AN IMPLEMENTATION PLAN,
SUBMIT TO THE CITY COUNCIL A
URM RETROFIT PROGRAM. AND LAST
BUT NOT LEAST, PROVIDING
SUPPORT FOR YOUR OWNERS AND
OCCUPANTS WHO LIVE IN THOSE
BUILDINGS. WE ARE IN THE
PROCESS OF FUNDING ADDITIONAL
STAFFING. THANK YOU, CITY
COUNCIL, FOR APPROVING THE
ADDITIONAL ENGINEER PLANS, A
REVIEWED POSITION THAT WE'LL BE
HIRING FOR IN 2023 TO START
REVIEWING THESE PROJECTS. WE
ARE WORKING ON A COMMUNICATIONS
STRATEGY AND A FUNDING STRATEGY
BECAUSE WE DO HAVE SOME
BUILDINGS OWNED BY THE CITY
THAT ARE UNREINFORCED MASONRY
BUILDINGS. I'M GOING TO PASS IT
ONTO AMANDA, WHO'S GOING TO
TALK ABOUT THE ONGOING WORK IN
THIS PROGRAM .
>> THANK YOU. WE ARE GOING TO
SPLIT THIS INTO TWO SIDES. ON
THE POLICY SIDE, HIT THE GROUND
RUNNING HERE, I WAS JUST HIRED,
ON DAY 12 WITH THE CITY. THANK
YOU FOR HAVING ME HERE SO SOON.
I SPENT 12 YEARS WORKING ON
MITIGATION AND SUPPORTIVE
RESPONSE TO EARTHQUAKES IN UTAH
AND ALASKA. UTAH HAD ONE RIGHT
AFTER THE BEGINNING OF THE
PANDEMIC AND THEY HAD MULTIPLE
URM FAILURES, WHICH WOULD HAVE
RESULTED IN MANY DEATHS HAD IT
NOT BEEN FOR THE LOCKDOWN AND
PEOPLE WEREN'T WHERE THEY
NORMALLY WERE. AS THE URM
PROGRAM MANAGER, I'LL BE
RESPONSIBLE FOR TAKING MANY OF
THE RECOMMENDATIONS AND
RESOLUTIONS AND TURNING THEM
INTO THE MANDATORY RETROFIT
ORDINANCE, AS WELL AS A PROGRAM
TO IMPLEMENT THAT. THAT WILL
INVOLVE WORKING WITH THE
RECOMMENDATIONS THAT THE POLICY
COMMITTEE HAD DEVELOPED, WHICH
INCLUDES SUPPORTING FUNDING FOR
THE PROGRAM, HELPING PEOPLE
NAVIGATE THE PERMIT PROCESS AND
UNDERSTANDING THE REQUIREMENTS,
AS WELL AS FINDING WAYS TO
MITIGATE DISPLACEMENT OF
TENANTS WHEN THE BUILDINGS ARE
BEING RETROFITTED. I'M LOOKING
FORWARD TO COLLABORATING WITH
YOU MOVING FORWARD, AS WELL AS
COORDINATING WITH THE OFFICE OF
HOUSING AND HUMAN SERVICES,
DEPARTMENT OF NEIGHBORHOODS AND
KING COUNTY AND OTHER GROUPS
LIKE HISTORIC SEATTLE AND ASAP.
>> I'LL TALK ABOUT THE
TECHNICAL DEVELOPMENT FRONT OF
THIS BRANCH. EVEN BEFORE THE
HIRING OF AMANDA, WE HAVE BEEN
TRYING TO MAKE PROGRESS ON THE
TECHNICAL FRONT.
BACK IN APRIL OF THIS YEAR WE
REENGAGED THE STRUCTURAL
COMMUNITY AND FORM LATE IT HAD
URM TECHNICAL STANDAR TASK
GROUP, AND HELD A KICKOFF
MEETING BACK IN JULY OF THIS
YEAR. THE TASK GROUP HAS BEEN
MEETING OVER THE PAST FEW
MONTHS FOR MULTIPLE TIMES .
THE GOAL IS TO HAVE THIS UPDATE
DONE BY THE MIDDLE OF 2023
AHEAD OF THE RETROFIT
ORDINANCE. HOPEFULLY WE CAN
PROVIDE THE ENGINEERING
COMMUNITY WITH SOME ASSURANCE
OF THESE RETROFITS AND
ENCOURAGE OWNERS TO VOLUNTARILY
PROCEED WITH THE PROJECT EVEN
BEFORE THE MANDATORY PROGRAM
HAS BEEN ESTABLISHED .
>> IT WAS FORMED TO BRING ALL
THE STAKE HOLDERS IN THE URM
DISCUSSION TOGETHER TO IDENTIFY
CONCERNS AND WORK TOGETHER TO
SOLVE FOR THESE TO DEVELOP AND
ADVOCATE FOR A WORKABLE PLAN
FOR MANDATORY SEISMIC UPGRADES
IN THE CITY. THESE INCLUDE
ARCHITECTS, ENGINEERS, BUILDING
OWNERS, DEVELOPERS, HISTORIC
PRESERVATIONISTS, HISTORIANS,
AFFORDABLE HOUSING
ORGANIZATIONS, THE CITY, THE
COUNTY, AND MOST IMPORTANTLY
LEADERS FROM THE COMMUNITY WITH
THE LARGEST NUMBER OF URMs.
WORKING GROUPS MET FOR NEARLY A
YEAR AND TOOK THE
RECOMMENDATIONS TO THE MAYOR'S
OFFICE IN FALL OF 2019. AT THAT
MEETING, ALL AGREED ON MINIMAL
TECHNICAL STANDARDS, WHICH IS
BEING PRESSURE TESTED, AND THE
NEED FOR A RETROFIT PROGRAM
THAT WOULD ADDRESS COST
MITIGATION FOR BUILDING OWNERS,
SOLUTIONS FOR DISPLACEMENT,
STREAMLINED PERMITTING
PROCESSES, AND SUPPORT FOR
COMMUNITIES IN UNDERSTANDING
AND NAVIGATING THE RETROFIT
PROCESS. THE COUNCIL WAS
APPRECIATIVE AND ASAP IS
THRILLED TO HAVE AMANDA ON
BOARD, AND WE LOOK FORWARD TO
WORKING WITH HER IN
IMPLEMENTING AND DEVELOPING AND
ADVOCATING FOR A SUCCESSFUL
PROGRAM THAT WILL ALLEVIATE THE
IMMEDIATE SAFETY THREAT POSED
BY URMs. I PERSONALLY WANT TO
THANK COUNCILMEMBER HERBOLD FOR
HER SUPPORT AND HER TEAM FOR
ADDRESSING THIS CRITICAL ISSUE
BEFORE IT'S TOO LATE.
>> THE MOST SUCCESSFUL PART OF
ANY PROGRAM IS MITIGATION. THIS
WILL SAVE LIVES NOT ONLY FOR
THOSE WHO LIVE OR WORK IN URM
BUILDINGS BUT FOR ANYONE IN THE
CITY OF SEATTLE. WE ARE MOBILE
ALL THE TIME SO ANYONE CAN BE
IMPACTED BY A URM BUILDING. WE
APPRECIATE OUR PARTNERSHIP WITH
SDCI AND OTHER CITY
DEPARTMENTS, AND ALSO WITH THE
PRIVATE SECTOR. IT REALLY TAKES
ALL OF US WORKING TOGETHER IN
ALL OUR DIFFERENT AREAS TO MAKE
THIS PROGRAM A SUCCESS. THE
OFFICE OF EMERGENCY MANAGEMENT
WILL FOCUS ON COMMUNITY
ENGAGEMENT, OUTREACH NOT ONLY
WITH COMMUNITIES ACROSS SEATTLE
BUT ALSO WITH THE PRIVATE
SECTOR TO TALK ABOUT FUNDING
OPPORTUNITIES, TIMELINES, HOW
TO MAKE THIS A REALITY SO
PEOPLE REALLY UNDERSTAND WHAT
THE REQUIREMENTS ARE AND HOW
THEY CAN BEST ENGAGE IN THE
QUICKEST AND SAFEST MANNER
POSSIBLE. I WANT TO THANK YOU,
COUNCILMEMBER HERBOLD, FOR YOUR
SUPPORT OF THIS WORK. URMs ARE
SEEN ALL OVER THE WEST COAST
AND WE ARE THE LEADER IN THIS
AREA. I'M SURE THERE WILL BE
OTHER ORGANIZATIONS IN
METROPOLITAN CITIES FOLLOWING
OUR LEAD, SO THANK YOU FOR
THAT.
>> FOR THE NEXT STEPS, WE ARE
GETTING ME UP TO SPEED. WE'LL
BE HIRING THAT NEW STRUCTURAL
ENGINEER NEXT YEAR, AND WE ARE
LOOKING TO CONTINUE AGAIN WITH
THE DEVELOPMENT OF THAT
TECHNICAL STANDARD, HOPEFULLY
BY MAY 2023. LOOKING FORWARD TO
WORKING WITH YOU MOVING FORWARD
AND COORDINATING ON ANY FUTURE
LEGISLATIVE ACTIONS AS WELL.
OUR NEXT QUARTERLY REPORT WILL
BE OUT MARCH 1st OF NEXT YEAR.
>> SO WE DO HAVE ALREADY SOME
EXAMPLES OF PROPERTY OWNERS WHO
ARE TAKING THE INITIATIVE, WHO
ARE NOT WAITING TO HAVE THE
STANDARD. I KNOW START SEATTLE
HAS DONE SOME SEISMIC
RETROFITS. HAVE WE LEARNED
ANYTHING FROM THEIR EXPERIENCES
AND PERHAPS RELATED TO THAT,
THE CHALLENGE OF FINANCES. THE
STATE AUTHORIZED THE COUNTY TO
CREATE THE PROGRAM AND THE
COUNTY HAS THAT UP AND RUNNING
NOW. HAVE WE LEARNED IF THAT'S
BEING USED? IS IT AN ADEQUATE
FUNDING MECHANISM OR DO THERE
NEED TO BE ADDITIONAL
INCENTIVES CREATED?
>> IT IS A POTENTIAL OPTION FOR
FINANCING. WE HAVE A MEETING
WITH THEM LATER THIS WEEK TO GO
THROUGH THOSE OPTIONS BUT IT
LOOKS VERY PROMISING. I'M
WORKING ON SETTING UP A MEETING
WITH HISTORIC SEATTLE, AND WE
ARE CERTAINLY WANTING TO LEARN
FROM THEM AND LOOK AT HOW WE
CAN APPLY THOSE LESSONS LEARNED
TO FUTURE RETROFITTED
BUILDINGS.
>> I THINK WITH RELATION TO THE
COMMUNITY ENGAGEMENT YOU'RE
DOING, REALLY AMPLIFYING THOSE
BUILDING OWNERS WHO HAVE GONE
THROUGH THE PROCESS
VOLUNTARILY, AND BASICALLY
TAKING THEM OUT AS A CASE STUDY
TO TALK ABOUT THEIR WORK. IT'S
REALLY IMPORTANT BECAUSE I
THINK THIS IS GOING TO BE AN
AREA WHERE THERE'S A LOT OF
TREPIDATION ABOUT THE
REQUIREMENTS. I APPRECIATE THAT
WE ARE GOING TO BE LOOKING AT,
I BELIEVE, THE RECOMMENDATIONS
ARE SIMILAR TO THE ONES WE
RECEIVED SEVERAL YEARS AGO. WE
ARE PHASING THEM IN ACCORDING
TO THE MOST VULNERABLE
BUILDINGS THAT ARE GATHERING
PLACES, FOR LACK OF A BETTER
WORD, FOR MEMBERS OF THE
PUBLIC. SO IT'S NOT A
REQUIREMENT THAT'S GOING TO BE,
YOU KNOW, OBLIGATED TO AS A
REGULATION THE DATE THE
ORDINANCE IS PASSED. WE'LL WORK
TO HAVE STRATEGIES TO DEAL WITH
THE DIFFERENT TYPES OF
BUILDINGS, DIFFERENT OWNERS OF
BUILDINGS. SOME OF THESE ARE
CITY OWNED, SO WE'LL NEED TO
WORK TO FINANCE THOSE AS WELL.
JUST REALLY WANT TO SAY I THINK
USING AS A CASE STUDY THE
OWNERS WHO HAVE ALREADY DONE
THIS, IT'S GOING TO BE REALLY
IMPORTANT IN COMMUNITY
ENGAGEMENT AND EDUCATION.
>> AS COUNCILMEMBER HERBOLD
POINTED OUT, THERE'S APHESESSED
REQUIREMENT. I ALWAYS FORGET
THE EXEMPT YEARS BUT I THINK
IT'S 7, 9 AND 11. MANY WILL
WANT TO IMPLEMENT THESE SOONER
SO IT'S IMPORTANT TO WORK WITH
THEM QUICKLY.
>> HOPEFULLY WE'LL HAVE MADE A
LOT MORE PROGRESS. WE ARE
THRILLED AMANDA IS ON BOARD AND
WE'LL HAVE AN UPDATE ON THE
STRUCTURAL PLANS EXAMINER. WE
NEED TO GO FORWARD AND WORK IN
EARNEST ON THE COMMUNICATION
STRATEGY AND START DOING A LOT
MORE OUTREACH NOW THAT WE ARE
GETTING STAFFED UP.
>> AND WE CONTINUE TO MEET WITH
THE EXPERTS THAT ARE PASSIONATE
ABOUT THIS TOPIC. WE JUST HAD A
MEETING YESTERDAY AND WE ARE
MAKING PROGRESS. IT'S A
DELICATE BALANCE BETWEEN
WANTING TO RETROFIT THE
BUILDINGS AND BALANCE THE COST
OF HOW TO RETROFIT THESE
BUILDINGS, AND ALSO THE RISK WE
HAVE TO ACKNOWLEDGE THAT THEY
ARE TAKING ON WHEN THEY PROCEED
WITH A DIFFERENT LEVEL OF
RETROFITTING. IT'S HOW TO
BALANCE THE COST OF
RETROFITTING THEM COMPARED TO
THE RISK THEY ARE TAKING ON
WITH AN EARTHQUAKE.
UNFORTUNATELY OVER THE PAST TEN
YEARS WE HAVE A BETTER
UNDERSTANDING DUE TO THE
RESEARCH AT THE UNIVERSITY OF
WASHINGTON. THE ACCELERATION OF
UNDERSTANDING HAS INCREASED SO
WE HAVE TO LEARN HOW TO BALANCE
SOME OF THESE METHODS HOW TO
RETROFIT THE BUILDINGS SO
OWNERS ARE NOT SCARED AWAY FROM
DOING IT. HOPEFULLY WE CAN MAKE
PROGRESS AND REPORT TO YOU IN
THE NEXT REPORT.
>> ANY OTHER COMMENTS OR
QUESTIONS?
>> THANK YOU. I THINK YOU BEING
HERE IN PUBLIC SAFETY AND HUMAN
SERVICES DRIVES HOME THE POINT
THAT THIS IS A PUBLIC SAFETY
ISSUE. THE POTENTIAL OF THESE
GORGEOUS BUILDINGS FAILING,
IT'S A PUBLIC SAFETY ISSUE. SO
THIS LENDS URGENCY TO THE NEED
TO MOVE FORWARD ON THIS ISSUE .
IT'S A REALLY EXPENSIVE AND
COMPLICATED PROBLEM, SO I
APPRECIATE THAT WE HAVE A
STRONG PUBLIC/PRIVATE EFFORT
GOING FORWARD. I LOOK FORWARD
TO THE NEXT STEPS COMING
FORWARD.
>> THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR YOUR
PATIENCE WITH THE AGENDA TODAY.
WE ARE LATER THAN YOU
ANTICIPATED BUT APPRECIATE YOU
BEING HERE WITH US. IN THE NEW
YEAR, LET'S TALK MORE ABOUT
WHAT WE CAN EXPECT IN THE NEXT
REPORT. JUST LOOK FORWARD TO
COLLABORATING MORE. THIS WILL
BE A BIG PRIORITY OF MINE IN
2023.
>> THANK YOU.
>> THANK YOU, COUNCILMEMBERS.
>> WILL THE CLERK PLEASE READ
IN THE FINAL AGENDA ITEM.
>> AGENDA ITEM FOUR, 2023 DRAFT
ANNUAL ACTION PLAN PUBLIC
HEARING.
>> THANK YOU VERY MUCH. WE'VE
GOT SOME PRESENTERS FROM
COUNCIL CENTRAL STAFF AND HSD.
BEFORE I HAND IT OVER, WE ARE
GOING TO HEAR FROM ALLY, DEPUTY
DIRECTOR FROM COUNCIL CENTRAL
STAFF TO SUMMARIZE WHAT THE
HEARING IS ABOUT. THEN WE'LL
PROCEED TO THE PUBLIC HEARING,
THEN WE'LL GET ANY ADDITIONAL
NEEDED INFORMATION FROM HSD TO
HEAR ABOUT NEXT STEPS .
>> GOOD MORNING, CHAIR HERBOLD
AND COMMITTEE MEMBERS. I'M ALY
PENNUCCI FROM CENTRAL STAFF.
>> I THINK WE ONLY HAD ONE
OTHER PERSON.
>> THAT'S RIGHT, DEBRA
REINHART, CURRENTLY IN THE
HUMAN SERVICES DEPARTMENT.
>> THANK YOU. SO TODAY'S PUBLIC
HEARING IS ON THE DRAFT 2023
ANNUAL ACTION PLAN. THIS IS AN
INTERIM STEP REQUIRED BY THE
U.S. DEPARTMENT OF HOUSING AND
URBAN DEVELOPMENT THAT THE CITY
IS REQUIRED TO TAKE PRIOR TO
THE FINAL ADOPTION OF THE
ANNUAL ACTION PLAN THAT WILL
OCCUR AFTER THE CONGRESSIONAL
APPROPRIATIONS ARE MADE IN
2023. THIS IS A REQUIRED STEP
THAT BASICALLY REFLECTS
DECISIONS MADE IN THE 2023
ADOPTED BUDGET FOR HOW SPECIFIC
GRANT MONEY WILL BE SPENT IN
2023. IT'S THE COMMUNITY BLOCK
GRANTS, HOUSING OPPORTUNITIES
FOR PEOPLE WITH AIDS, EMERGENCY
SOLUTION GRANTS AND WHOLE
INVESTMENT PARTNERSHIP PROGRAM
FUNDS. THE ALLOCATION OF THE
FUNDS REFLECTED IN THIS DRAFT
PLAN IS BASED ON THE
APPROPRIATIONS THE COUNCIL
RECENTLY APPROVED IN THE 2023
ADOPTED BUDGET, AND GUIDED BY
THE FIVE-YEAR CONSOLIDATED PLAN
FOR HOUSING AND COMMUNITY
DEVELOPMENT. TAKING THIS
INTERIM STEP ALLOWS THE CITY TO
START SPENDING FUNDS IN EARLY
2023, AND THEN AFTER CONGRESS
MAKES THEIR FINAL
APPROPRIATIONS, HSD WILL GO
THROUGH ANOTHER PROCESS OF
PUBLISHING A FINAL PLAN AND
PROVIDING ANOTHER OPPORTUNITY
FOR PUBLIC COMMENT. COUNCIL
WILL HOLD ANOTHER PUBLIC
HEARING AND LATER IN 2023
COUNCIL CAN ADOPT THE PLAN.
THAT'S GENERALLY THE PROCESS.
NEXT YEAR HSZ WILL BEGIN
DISCUSSIONS AND PREPARE THE
NEXT FIVE-YEAR PLAN TO GUIDE
FUTURE INVESTMENTS OF THESE
FUNDS.
>> ANYTHING TO ADD, DEBRA?
>> WE DON'T HAVE A POWERPOINT.
I'LL JUST CONFIRM THE COMMENTS
SHE MADE. WE ARE IN THE FIFTH
YEAR OF OUR CURRENT
CONSOLIDATED PLAN AND WILL
BEGIN OUR NEXT FIVE-YEAR PLAN
NEXT YEAR, AT THE SAME TIME WE
ARE ADOPTING THE ALLOCATION AND
AWARD AMOUNTS FOR THE 2023
ANNUAL ACTION PLAN DRAFT THAT
YOU'RE SEEING TODAY. THESE ARE
PLACE HOLDER NUMBERS. WE ARE
INSTRUCTED BY HUD THAT UNTIL WE
GET THE FINAL GRANT AWARD
LETTERS, WHICH WE ARE HOPING
FOR BY THE SECOND QUARTER OF
2023, WE CANNOT SUBMIT THE
FINAL ANNUAL ACTION PLAN, FOR
OBVIOUS REASONS. IF THERE'S A
CHANGE IN THE GRANT MONEY, WE
HAVE TO RECONCILE THE ORIGINAL
PLAN AND BRING IT TO COMMITTEE
THEN FULL COUNCIL WITH
LEGISLATION PACKAGE AS SOON AS
WE FINISH OUR AWARD LETTERS.
THE 2023 ANNUAL ACTION DRAFT
PLAN HAS A WIDE RANGE OF
ACTIVITIES, FROM SERVICES FOR
THOSE EXPERIENCING
HOMELESSNESS, TO THE
DEVELOPMENT OF MORE AFFORDABLE
HOUSING, JOB TRAINING, MAKING
PARKS MORE ACCESSIBLE. SO
THAT'S JUST KIND OF AN
OVERVIEW. AND THANK YOU FOR THE
OPPORTUNITY TO SCHEDULE THIS
PUBLIC HEARING AT THIS TIME TO
BRING THIS DOCUMENT FORWARD,
ALLOWING OUR PREAWARD
AUTHORIZATION FROM HUD.
RECOGNIZING HOW DIFFICULT IT IS
TO SCHEDULE TIME DURING THIS
TIME OF THE CALENDAR, WE
GREATLY APPRECIATE YOUR
EFFORTS.
>> ABSOLUTELY. THANK YOU TO MY
COLLEAGUES FOR STAYING WITH US
SO WE CAN MAINTAIN QUORUM AND
GET THIS DONE BY THE END OF THE
YEAR AS REQUIRED. ABSOLUTELY,
THANKS ALL AROUND. WITH THAT, I
WILL OPEN UP THE PUBLIC
HEARING. I HAVE NOBODY SIGNED
UP IN PERSON. THE CHAMBERS ARE
EMPTY. CLERK, CAN YOU LET US
KNOW WHETHER OR NOT WE HAVE ANY
VIRTUAL TESTIFIERS?
>> NO ONE HAS SIGNED UP SINCE
PUBLIC COMMENT THIS MORNING, SO
IT DOES NOT APPEAR ANYONE
SIGNED UP VIRTUALLY FOR THE
PUBLIC HEARING.
>> OKAY. SO WE ARE OPENING AND
CLOSING THE PUBLIC HEARING. ARE
THERE ADDITIONAL COMMENTS?
>> AS DEBRA EXPLAINED, WE WILL
EXPECT AN UPDATED, REVISED
ANNUAL ACTION PLAN ONCE WE GET
NOTIFICATION OF THOSE AWARDS TO
COME BEFORE THE COUNCIL
COMMITTEE AND FULL COUNCIL.
ANYTHING ELSE WE SHOULD COVER
BEFORE? ALL RIGHT. SEEING HEADS
SHAKING NO, THE NEXT PUBLIC
SAFETY AND HUMAN SERVICES
COMMITTEE WILL BE TUESDAY,
JANUARY 10th, 2023. BEFORE WE
ADJOURN, ANY OTHER COMMENTS
FROM COLLEAGUES? SEEING NONE,
THE TIME IS 11:59 A.M., AND WE
ARE ADJOURNED.