BRIEFING MEETING.
I WILL CALL IT TO ORDER.
MADAM CLERK, WILL YOU PLEASE
CALL THE ROLE?
>> COUNCILMEMBER LEWIS.
COUNCILMEMBER LEWIS.
COUNCILMEMBER ROBERTS, THANK
YOU.
COUNCILMEMBER MORALE US.
COUNCILMEMBER MOSQUEDA.
>> PRESENT.
>> COUNCILMEMBER NELSON.
>> PRESENT.
>> COUNCILMEMBER PEDERSEN.
>> PRESENT.
>> COUNCILMEMBER SAWANT.
COUNCILMEMBER STRAUSS.
>> PRESENT.
>> COUNCILMEMBER HERBOLD.
>> HERE.
>> COUNCILMEMBER SAWANT.
COUNCIL PRESIDENT WARREN IS.
>> HERE.
>> EIGHT PRESENT.
>> WE CAN THINK BACK ON
COUNCILMEMBER SAWANT.
I KNOW HER TILE IS UP THERE
SOMEWHERE.
MOVING ALONG, IF THERE'S NO
OBJECTION, OF MARCH
13th WILL BE ADOPTED.
NOT SEEING ANY OBJECTION, THE
MINUTES OF MARCH 13th -- AND
STAFF TO GIVE US AN UPDATE OF
WHAT'S GOING ON IN OLYMPIA, THE
WEEKLY PRESENTATIONS ON THE
LEGISLATIVE SESSION, WHICH I
UNDERSTAND WILL BE THE END OF
APRIL, YEAH?
OKAY, FOLLOWING THE STATE
LEGISLATIVE UPDATES, WE WILL
HAVE A PRESENTATION ON THE
STAFF. Y TAX LEVY BY CENTRAL
ALY PENNUCCI WILL BE JOINED BY
EDEN CYSTIC.
EDEN, I HOPE I SAID YOUR NAME
RIGHTS, AND TOMAS KABERLE,
PROBABLY SAID THAT WRONG, TOO.
HOW ABOUT I JUST SAY EDEN AND
TOM?
WE HAVE A PROCLAMATION TO SIGN
TODAY.
IT'S A PROCLAMATION CELEBRATING
THE IRANIAN NEW YEAR DAY, NO
RUSE.
YOU SHOULD ALL HAVE RECEIVED A
COPY OF THAT, I THINK LAST
WEEK.
FOLLOWING THE PROCLAMATION, WE
WILL THEN HAVE INDIVIDUAL
REPORTS BY EACH COUNCILMEMBER,
AND TODAY WE WILL START WITH
COUNCILMEMBER LEWIS.
ON TOMORROW'S AGENDA THE
CONSENT CALENDAR WILL INCLUDE
THE MINUTES AND PAYMENT OF THE
BILLS.
WE WILL TAKE ONE VOTE, AS YOU
ALL KNOW, AND IF ONE OF YOU
WANT TO REMOVE THE ITEMS, IF
YOU WOULD REMOVE IT AND VOTE ON
IT FURTHER ON INTO THE AGENDA.
THERE ARE TWO ITEMS UNDER
COMMITTEE REPORTS ON THE AGENDA
TOMORROW.
THE FIRST IS COUNCIL BILL
12529, CLARIFYING THE STRUCTURE
FOR THE CHARTER POSITION OF
DIRECTOR OF FINANCE.
COUNCILMEMBER MOSQUEDA WILL
SPEAK TO THIS, AS SHE IS THE
SPONSOR.
THIS ITEM WAS RECOMMENDED BY
THE FINANCE AND HOUSING
COMMITTEE.
ITEM NUMBER TWO IS RESOLUTION
32088, APPROVING AN NOA, A
MEMORANDUM OF AGREEMENT WITH
UNIVERSITY OF WASHINGTON
MEDICAL CENTER AND NORTHWEST
CAMPUS REGARDING ESTABLISHING A
DEVELOPMENT ADVISORY COMMITTEE
FOR THE PREPARATION OF THE
NORTHWEST CAMPUS MASTER PLAN.
COUNCILMEMBER MOORE ALICE IS A
SPONSOR AND WILL BE SPEAKIN TO
THAT ITEM AS WELL.
THIS ITEM WAS RECOMMENDED BY
THE NEIGHBORHOOD EDUCATION
CIVIL RIGHTS AND CULTURE
COMMITTEE.
INFORMATION ON ALL THESE ITEMS
ON TOMORROW'S AGENDA OF COURSE
IS ALWAYS AVAILABLE ONLINE.
PLEASE NOTE THAT WE WILL BE
CANCELING MONDAY, MARCH 27TH'S
COUNCIL BRIEFING AND THE NEXT
COUNCIL BRIEFING WILL BE 2:00
ON MONDAY, APRIL 3rd.
ALL RIGHT.
SO WITH THAT, WE ARE GOING TO
SLIDE INTO OUR STATE
LEGISLATIVE SESSION UPDATE, AND
I'M GOING TO HAND IT OVER TO
DIRECTOR CHARLTON.
>> THANK YOU PRESIDENT,
COUNCILMEMBER WARREN IS AND
MEMBERS OF THE COUNCIL.
I'M HERE TODAY WITH MY STATE
RELATIONS DIRECTOR AND STATE
LEGISLATIVE LIAISON.
FOR OUR WEEKLY UPDATES AND
TODAY BEGINS A VERY FAST AND
FULL REMAINDER OF THE
LEGISLATIVE SESSION. MAKE SURE
ANNA AND SAMEER HAVE A CHANCE
TO SHARE SOME OF THE HIGHLIGHTS
THAT HAVE BEEN HAPPENING LAST
WEEK, AND THEN TODAY, THE STATE
SENATE RELEASED ITS VERSION OF
THE CAPITAL BUDGET, FROM THE
CAPITAL BUDGET VICE CHAIR OF
WAYS AND MEANS.
SO WE'LL HAVE A LOT HAPPENING
THIS WEEK AND NEXT WEEK
REGARDING HEARINGS AND VOTES
OUT OF COMMITTEE, AND VOTES OFF
THE FLOOR OF THE HOUSE FOR
VARIOUS BILLS RELATING TO THE
BUDGET.
SO I'M GOING TO LET ANNA
JOHNSON FIRST FILL YOU IN ON
SOME OF THE KEY PIECES OF
POLICY THAT CONTINUE TO MOVE
THROUGH THE LEGISLATIVE PROCESS.
ANNA, WHY DON'T YOU TAKE IT
AWAY?
>> GOOD AFTERNOON EVERYONE,
ANNA JOHNSON, STATE LEGISLATIVE
LIAISON FOR OIR.
AS GAIL MENTIONED, THE SENATE
RELEASED THEIR CAPITAL BUDGET
TODAY AND OVER THE NEXT TWO
WEEKS WE'LL SEE A TOTAL OF SIX
BUDGETS RELEASED.
ONE CAPITAL OPERATING AND
TRANSPORTATION BUDGET FOR EACH
CHAMBER.
THIS AFTERNOON WE ARE ALSO
EXPECT THE NEW STATE REVENUE
FORECAST THAT WILL HELP PREPARE
THE BUDGETS TO BE RELEASED
BASED ON AN UP DATED REVENUE
FORECAST.
SO THAT'S THE PLAN FOR THE NEXT
TWO WEEKS.
ALSO, I WANT TO REMIND YOU THAT
WE ARE ANTICIPATING THE NEXT
CUT OFF, WHICH IS MONDAY OF
NEXT WEEK, WHICH IS OPPOSITE
HOUSE POLICY COST AND SO NOW
WE'RE JUST IN THE THICK OF
POLICY HEARINGS AND EXECUTIVE
SESSIONS OF THE BILLS FROM THE
OPPOSITE CHAMBER, SO THAT'S
WHERE WE'RE AT AND IT'S THE
LEGISLATIVE SESSION.
SO I'M GOING TO START WITH THE
UPDATES OF BUDGET AND REVENUE.
ONE BILL THAT I HAVEN'T HAD A
CHANCE TO SHARE WITH YOU ALL
YET IS HOUSE BILL 1355.
THIS BILL WAS HEARD IN THE
SENATE WAYS AND MEANS COMMITTEE
LAST WEEK.
THIS BILL UPDATES THE PROPERTY
TAX EXEMPTION FOR SERVICE
CONNECTED DISABLED VETERANS AND
SENIOR CITIZENS.
IT EXPANDS ELIGIBILITY BY
INCREASING THE INCOME
THRESHOLDS, AND ALSO ADJUST THE
THRESHOLD CHECK IN TO EVERY
THREE YEARS INSTEAD OF FIVE
YEARS.
THIS BILL PASSED THE HOUSE
UNANIMOUSLY AND IS NOW MOVING
THROUGH THE SENATE.
AND A BILL IN THE CLIMATE AND
ENVIRONMENTAL SPACE THAT I WANT
TO UPDATE YOU ON IS HOUSE BILL
1181 FROM REPRESENTATIVE TO
ART.
THIS BILL HAD A HEARING LAST
WEEK IN THE SENATE COMMITTEE ON
LOCAL GOVERNMENT, LAND-USE, AND
TRIBAL AFFAIRS.
THIS BILL ADDS A CLIMATE CHANGE
AND RESILIENCY ELEMENT TO THE
LIST OF ELEMENTS THAT MUST BE
INCLUDED IN COMPREHENSIVE PLANS
UNDER THE GMA.
THIS BILL MOVED OUT OF THE
POLICY COMMITTEE LATE LAST WEEK
AS WELL, AND IT NOW IS
SCHEDULED FOR A HEARING IN WAYS
AND MEANS THIS WEEK.
>> GOOD AFTERNOON, EVERYBODY.
SAMEER JONES, DIRECTOR WITH
OIR, AND I'LL MOVE ON TO A
HEALTH BILL THAT WE'VE BEEN
WATCHING AT OIR FOR CRISIS
RELIEF CENTERS.
THEY ARE 23 HOUR CRISIS
CENTERS, SENATE BILL 5120
SPONSORED BY SENATOR INGRAM.
IT WAS STILL MOVING AND WAS
HEARD LAST WEEK IN THE HOUSE
HEALTHCARE COMMITTEE, AND IS
SCHEDULED FOR A VOTE OUT OF
COMMITTEE THIS WEDNESDAY.
ON A VIEW -- MANY HOUSING BILLS
ARE STILL CONTINUING TO MOVE.
ONE WAS CLEARED LAST WEEK AND
IS SCHEDULED FOR ACTION LATER
THIS WEEK, IS RELATED TO LOT
SPLITTING.
TO ALLOW CITIES TO SPLIT LOTS
UNDER CERTAIN CONDITIONS.
THIS BILL MOVED OUT OF THE
HOUSE AND IS NOW IN THE SENATE
AND IS SCHEDULED FOR A VOTE AT
THE SENATE HOUSING COMMITTEE
THIS WEEK.
A TENANT BILL TO MOVE HOUSE
BILL 1074, RELATED TO TENANT
DEPOSITS AND DAMAGES.
IT WAS HEARD LAST WEEK AS WELL,
AND SCHEDULED FOR COMMITTEE
THIS WEEK.
THIS BILL REQUIRES A LANDLORD
TO SUBSTANTIATE THE COST OF ANY
DAMAGES WITHHELD FROM A TENANT
DEPOSIT, WITH REPAIR ESTIMATES,
INVOICES OR OTHER
DOCUMENTATION.
IT ALSO EXTENDS A TIMELINE FOR
A LANDLORD TO PROVIDE A
STATEMENT AND DOCUMENTATION FOR
RETAINING ANY PORTION OF THE
DEPOSIT, FROM 21 DAYS TO 30
DAYS.
IT ALSO PROHIBITS A LANDLORD
FROM WITHHOLDING ANY PORTION OF
TENANT DEPOSIT FOR CERTAIN
LANDLORDS.
THE LARGER A LAND-USE DENSITY
BILLS ARE CONTINUING TO MOVE AS
WELL.
SENATE BILL 5456 RELATED TO
TRANSIT ORIENTED DEVELOPMENT
HOUSE BILL 1110 RELATED TO
HOUSING BOTH HAD HEARINGS LAST
WEEK AND BOTH ARE SCHEDULED FOR
EXECUTIVE ACTION THIS WEEK.
IN ANOTHER PRIORITY HOUSING
BILL IS HOUSE BILL 1474 RELATED
TO COVENANT HOMEOWNERSHIP
PROGRAMS.
THAT ALSO TALKED ABOUT
CONTINUING TO MOVE IN A HEARING
IN THE SENATE LAST FRIDAY.
MOVING TO CANNABIS BILLS,
SENATE BILL 5080, SOCIAL EQUITY
IN CANNABIS, THAT BILL HAD A
HEARING IN THE HOUSE LAST WEEK
AND IS ALSO SCHEDULED FOR
EXECUTIVE SESSION THIS UPCOMING
WEEK.
AS A REMINDER, IT EXPANDS THE
STATE'S SOCIAL EQUITY AND
CANNABIS PROGRAM, EXPANDING
RETAIL LICENSES THAT ARE
AVAILABLE AND ALSO ADDING
PROCESSOR AND PRODUCER LICENSE
IS.
ONE OF THE CHANGES THAT WAS
MADE DURING THE PROCESS WAS THE
BILL WAS AMENDED TO ALLOW A
PROCESS FOR LOCAL GOVERNMENTS
TO OBJECT TO THE LCB GRANTING
ANY LICENSE UNDER THIS BILL.
>> MOVING ON TO THE PUBLIC
SAFETY SECTION OF YOUR COUNCIL
BULLETIN, LAST WEEK THE SENATE
HUMAN SERVICES COMMITTEE HELD
REPRESENTATIVE ORTIZ SELF.
THIS INCLUDES PRIVATE DETENTION
FACILITIES AND REQUIRES
DEPARTMENT OF HEALTH TO ADOPT
RULES AND STANDARDS FOR
SANITARY, HYGIENIC, AND SAFE
LIMITATION FOR INDIVIDUALS
DETAINED AT PRIVATE DETENTION
FACILITIES.
IT CREATES A PRIVATE RIGHT OF
ACTION AND CIVIL PENALTIES THAT
WOULD BE ENFORCED BY THE AG'S
OFFICE TO RECOVER CIVIL
PENALTIES.
IT'S SCHEDULED FOR EXECUTIVE
SESSION THIS WEEK.
THERE'S A COUPLE BILLS THAT
WERE HEARD IN THE SENATE LAW
AND JUSTICE COMMITTEE LAST WEEK
THAT SUPPORT VICTIMS.
FIRST HOUSE BILL 1025 FROM
REPRESENTATIVE OR WELL.
THIS SUPPORTS CRIME VICTIMS AND
WITNESSES BY PROMOTING VICTIM
CENTERED, TRAUMA INFORMED
RESPONSES IN THE LEGAL SYSTEM.
A SECOND BILL IS HOUSE BILL 1715
FROM REPRESENTATIVE DAVIS.
THIS IS A COMPREHENSIVE
PROTECTION FOR VICTIMS UNDER
DOMESTIC VIOLENCE AND OTHER
VIOLENCE, INCLUDING FAMILY
MEMBERS AND INTIMATE PARTNERS.
BOTH OF THESE BILLS RECEIVED
BIPARTISAN SUPPORT IN THE HOUSE
AND THEY'RE BOTH SCHEDULED FOR
EXECUTIVE SESSION THIS WEEK.
AND THEN, LAST SECTION IS THE
SOCIAL PROGRAMS AND EDUCATION.
I MENTIONED IN PREVIOUS
BRIEFINGS THAT IT'S A PARTY OF
THE LEGISLATURE TO CREATE
ACCESS TO CHILDCARE THROUGH THE
WORKING CONNECTIONS CHILDCARE
PROGRAM.
THERE'S A COUPLE BILLS THAT ARE
INTENDED TO DO THAT ON MONDAY.
SENATE EARLY LEARNING AND K-12
COMMITTEE HEARD HOUSE BILL 15
20 FROM REPRESENTATIVE FOSSE.
THIS EXPENSE WORKING CONNECTIONS
CHILDCARE ELIGIBILITY ALSO
ANOTHER BILL RELATED TO WORKING
CONNECTIONS CHILDCARE IS SENATE
BILL 5225 FROM SENATOR WILSON.
THIS BILL HAD A HEARING ON
FRIDAY.
THIS ONE EXPANDS ELIGIBILITY TO
INCLUDE THOSE WHO WORK IN
CHILDCARE, AND IT ALSO
PROHIBITS THE SEE WHY F FROM
CONSIDERING THE IMMIGRATION
STATUS OF AN APPLICANT.
BOTH OF THESE BILLS ARE
BIPARTISAN AND WERE ON
COMMITTEES LATE LAST WEEK, AND
THAT IS OUR BRIEFING TODAY,
HELPING TO ANSWER ANY QUESTIONS.
>> LET'S SEE, ARE THERE ANY
QUESTIONS FROM MY COLLEAGUES
REGARDING DIRECTOR TORRINGTON
AND TEAM? ALL RIGHT.
I DO NOT SEE ANY QUESTIONS.
I GUESS WE ARE ALL OKAY UNTIL
WE FIND OUT WHAT'S GOING ON
NEXT WEEK, RIGHT?
COUNCIL PRESIDENT, YOU ARE
HAVING A WORKING SESSION NEXT
MONDAY.
YOU HAD MENTIONED, SO WE ARE
HAPPY TO TALK OFF-LINE WITH
ANYBODY AS HOUSE OF ORIGIN CUT
OFF OF THE OPPOSITE CHAMBER
HAPPENS.
MARCH 29th WE'LL BE SEEING OVER
THE NEXT FEW DAYS THE BILLS
THAT ARE GETTING HURT AND THE
BILLS GETTING EXECUTIVE VOTED
OUT OF COMMITTEE.
SO HAPPY TO KEEP YOU INFORMED
INDIVIDUALLY, SINCE WE WON'T
HAVE A BRIEFING NEXT MONDAY.
>> GREAT.
IS THERE ANYTHING ELSE FOR MY
COLLEAGUES BEFORE WE SAY
GOODBYE TO GAIL AND HER TEAM?
ALL RIGHT, NOT SEE MANY, THANK
YOU DIRECTOR COWLINGTON, THANK
YOU, ANNA, THANK YOU, SAMEER.
OKAY, FOLKS.
MOVING ON INTO OUR AGENDA, WE
ARE GOING TO HAVE AN OVERVIEW
OF PROPERTY TAX LEVY OVERVIEW,
AND CENTRAL STAFF WILL PROVIDE
THIS OVERVIEW AND I BELIEVE
ALLIE WILL -- YOU SHOULD HAVE
ALL GOTTEN AN ADVANCED COPY OF
THE 21 PAGE POWERPOINT AND THE
FIVE-PAGE MEMO, PROPERTY TAX
REVENUES AND DEBT CAPACITY
MEMO, FIVE PAGES, WHICH IS
RIVETING, IF YOU DIDN'T HAVE A
CHANCE TO READ IT.
SO AT THIS TIME I'M GOING TO
JUST HAND IT OVER TO ALLIE AND
TEAM AND LET THEM WALK US
THROUGH THIS PART ARE YOU JUST
GOING TO GO THROUGH THE
POWERPOINT, IS THAT WHAT YOU
ARE GOING TO DO?
>> I'M GOING TO PUT IT UP ON
THE SCREEN.
>> OKAY, WELL THEN THE FLOOR IS
YOURS.
>> THANK YOU COUNCIL PRESIDENT,
GOOD AFTERNOON COUNCILMEMBER.
I'M ALY PENNUCCI OF COUNCIL
CENTRAL STAFF AND I'M JOINED BY
MY COLLEAGUES EDIN SISIC AND
TOM MIKESELL, WHO WOULD I WILL
BE TURNING THE PRESENTATION
OVER TO IN JUST A MOMENT.
BUT AS THE COUNCIL PRESIDENT
TEED UP FOR US, WE DISTRIBUTED
A MEMO AND POWERPOINT THAT IS
ALSO POSTED TO THE AGENDA FOR
THE PUBLIC VIEWING.
I'LL JUST FLAG THAT. THERE'S A
TYPO AT THE TOP OF THE MEMO.
IT WAS DRAFTED IN 2023, NOT
2022.
SO NOTE THIS IS OUR CURRENT
MEMO ON PROPERTY TAXES, AND WE
ARE EXCITED THAT THE COUNCIL
PRESIDENT IS SO ENTHUSIASTIC
ABOUT THIS PRESENTATION.
THERE IS A LOT OF MATERIAL TO
COVER TODAY, IN ABOUT 30
MINUTES, SO WE'LL DO A HIGH-
LEVEL WALK-THROUGH OF A
PRESENTATION, BUT WE ARE ALSO
HAPPY TO MEET WITH YOU
INDIVIDUALLY TO GO INTO MORE
DETAIL AS NEEDED.
SO I'M JUST GOING TO PROVIDE A
QUICK INTRODUCTION, AND THEN
I'LL TURN IT OVER.
WE PREPARED THESE MATERIALS IN
RESPONSE TO QUESTIONS FROM
COUNCIL'S OFFICES DURING
DELIBERATIONS LAST SUMMER ON
THE RENEWAL OF THE PROP
DISTRICT LEVY.
THE CONVERSATION IS REALLY
FOCUSED TO HELP US ALL HAVE A
SHARED UNDERSTANDING OF HOW
PROPERTY TAXES ARE RELATED AND
HOW INDIVIDUAL PROPOSALS TO
RENEW A VOTER APPROVED LEVY
FITS WITHIN THE CONTEXT OF ALL
THE VARIOUS LEVIES.
THE SCENARIOS WE PROVIDED IN
THE LATTER PART OF THE
PRESENTATION, WHICH TOM WILL
COVER, ARE FOR ILLUSTRATIVE
PURPOSES AND DON'T REFLECT ANY
SPECIFIC PROPOSAL ON FUTURE
VOTER APPROVED LEVY NORMS.
THE SCENARIOS WERE DEVELOPED
USING A MODEL THAT THE CITY
BUDGET OFFICE DEVELOPED, AND
THEN CENTRAL STAFF ADJUSTED FOR
DISCUSSION ALONG WITH INPUT
FROM THE OFFICE OF ECONOMIC AND
REVENUE FORECAST.
SO MOVING FORWARD, CENTRAL
STAFF WILL USE THIS MODEL TO
INFORM FUTURE DECISIONS AROUND
LEVY RENEWALS, INCLUDING
COUNCIL UPCOMING DELIBERATIONS
ON THE CITY'S HOUSING LEVY,
AND JUST A QUICK THANK YOU TO
DIRECTOR DINGLEY FROM THE CITY
BUDGET OFFICE AND DIRECTOR
NOBLE FROM THE OFFICE OF
ECONOMIC AND REVENUE FORECASTS
FOR PROVIDING TECHNICAL SUPPORT
AND ANALYTICAL SUPPORT WITH
THESE MATERIALS.
AND WITH THAT, I'M GOING TO
SHARE MY SCREEN AND TURN IT
OVER TO EDEN TO KICK THINGS
OFF.
>> BEFORE WE BEGIN, I'M GOING
TO ASK, WHAT WOULD YOU PREFER?
I WILL ASK MY COLLEAGUES IF YOU
CAN HOLD OFF ON QUESTIONS, BUT
IF PEOPLE HAVE A BURNING DESIRE
TO ASK A QUESTION, BUT MY
PREFERENCE IS WE LET THESE GUYS
GET THROUGH THIS OVERVIEW.
ALL RIGHT.
GO AHEAD.
>> THANK YOU.
THANK YOU TO DEPUTY DIRECTOR
PENNUCCI FOR THAT RIVETING
INTRO.
GOOD AFTERNOON, COUNCILMEMBERS.
MY NAME IS EDIN SISIC WITH
COUNCIL CENTRAL STAFF AND FOR
THIS PRESENTATION I WILL
PROVIDE A BRIEF OVERVIEW OF
PROPERTY TAXES, HOW THEY'RE
CALCULATED USING ONE OF OUR
LEVIES AS AN EXAMPLE, FOLLOWED
BY SOME BREAK DOWNS OF THE
OVERALL IN THE CITY'S PROPERTY
TAX PORTIONS ALONG WITH OTHER
RELATED COMPARISON CHARTS.
INCLUDING HOW WE COMPARE TO OUR
NEIGHBOR CITIES, AND THEN TOM
WILL GO INTO FUTURE LEVY
SCENARIOS AND DECISIONS.
SO BY THE END OF THIS
PRESENTATION AND ALSO MEMO THAT
WE JUST MENTIONED, THAT WE
CIRCULATED PRIOR TO THE
BRIEFING, WE ARE HOPING THAT
THE AUDIENCE WILL GIVE THREE
KEY TAKEAWAYS.
THEY WILL UNDERSTAND THE
DIFFERENCE BETWEEN GENERAL
PROPERTY TAX LEVY AND VOTER
APPROVED LEVIES, UNDERSTAND THE
IMPACTS OF THESE LEVIES TO
PROPERTY OWNERS AND RENTERS,
ND LASTLY WHAT DECISIONS LIE
AHEAD AND HOW EACH INDIVIDUAL
DECISION IMPACTS FUTURE
OPTIONS.
SO WITH THAT, LET'S GET STARTED
WITH SLIDE ONE.
THE OVERVIEW.
THERE ARE THREE DIFFERENT TYPES
OF PROPERTY TAXES THAT COMBINE
TO CREATE THE CITY'S OVERALL
RATE.
WE HAVE THE GENERAL PURPOSE
LEVY, WHICH IS NOT SUBJECT TO
VOTER APPROVAL, BUT IS
DEPENDENT ON COUNCIL BUDGET
ACTION DURING THE BUDGET
PROCESS, AND THIS LEVY
GENERATES ABOUT 1/5 OF ALL
GENERAL FUND REVENUE, THOUGH
THE GROWTH OF THIS LEVY IS
LIMITED TO 1% PLUS THE VALUE OF
NEW CONSTRUCTIONS, WHICH RANGES
BETWEEN .5% AND 2% TYPICALLY.
VOTER APPROVED LEVIES FOR
SPECIFIC PURPOSES, NO ONE HAS
LEVIED LID LIFT BECAUSE VOTERS
AUTHORIZE ABOVE THE STATUTORY
LIMITS, WHICH STRAINS THE
GENERAL SERVICE LEVY.
WE ARE CURRENTLY AT FIVE OF
THOSE AND WILL COVER THE
DETAILS LATER IN THE
PRESENTATION, BUT DOES INCLUDE
THE MOVE SEATTLE LEVY, LOW-
INCOME HOUSING, FAMILIES
EDUCATION, ELECTION VOUCHERS,
AND LIBRARIES FOR ALL.
AND LASTLY, LEVIES TO PAY DEBT
SERVICE AND VOTER APPROVED
BONDS LIKE THE ALASKA WAY SEE
BOND.
THEY ARE CALLED X LEVIES
BECAUSE THEY COUNT AGAINST THE
CITY'S RATE LIMIT, AND THEY
ALSO RECOVER A 60% SUPER
MAJORITY VOTE.
NEXT SLIDE, PLEASE.
SO THIS IS HOW ARE PROPERTY TAX
RATES AND PROPERTY TAX BILLS
CALCULATED.
FIRST OFF IT'S IMPORTANT TO
UNDERSTAND THAT PROPERTY TAX
RATES ARE EXPRESSED IN UNITS OF
$1000 OF ASSESSED VALUE.
SO IN THIS SLIDE AND THE SLIDES
TO FOLLOW, YOU'LL SEE ASSESSED
VALUE BEING DIVIDED BY 1000,
AND THIS IS JUST TO CONFORM
WITH THE STANDARD WAY THAT
PROPERTY TAX RATES ARE
DISCUSSED.
SO THE FIRST PART OF THIS
CALCULATES THE LEVY RATE, THE
LEVY TAX RATE, AND THAT SIMPLY
DONE BY TAKING THE ANNUAL LEVY,
ANNUAL AMOUNT THAT THE LEVY IS
AUTHORIZED TO COLLECT AND
DIVIDING IT BY THE TOTAL
ASSESSED VALUE OF ALL PROPERTY
IN THE CITY.
AND THEN AFTER DETERMINING THE
TAX RATE, CALCULATING THE TAX
AMOUNT FOR AN INDIVIDUAL
PROPERTY IS DONE BY MULTIPLYING
THAT TAX RATE, BY THE ASSESSED
VALUE OF THAT PROPERTY.
AND IN THE NEXT SLIDE, I'LL
PROVIDE A SPECIFIC EXAMPLE
USING THE MOVE SEATTLE LEVY AND
A 2022 MEDIAN ASSESSED HOME
VALUE.
SO WE CAN PUT THE ONE WE FOUND
IN THE PREVIOUS SLIDE INTO
CONTEXT.
SO HERE, THE $100 MILLION AT
THE TOP REPRESENTS THE 2022
REVENUE COLLECTION AMOUNT FOR
THE MOVE SEATTLE LEVY, AND
DIVIDING THAT BY THE $275
BILLION FIGURE, WHICH
REPRESENTS THE TOTAL ASSESSED
VALUE OF ALL OF SEATTLE'S
PROPERTY, PER 1080 FOR A TAX
RATE OF $.37 IN THIS CASE.
SO THE NEXT PORTION, FOR AN
INDIVIDUAL PROPERTY TAX TO COME
OUT, WE TAKE THAT $.37 TAX RATE
AND MULTIPLY IT BY THE
PROPERTY'S ASSESSED VALUE TO
760 K, WHICH IS THE 2022 MEDIAN
ASSESSED VALUE, AND THE MEDIAN
TAX AMOUNT IN 2022 FOR THE MOVE
SEATTLE LEVY WAS $278.52.
AND THIS IS THE LARGEST OF THE
FIVE VOTER APPROVED LEVIES,
ACTUALLY.
NOW THE CALCULATIONS FOR ALL
THE VARIOUS LEVIES ARE DONE IN
A SIMILAR WAY, AND THEN ALL OF
THEM COMBINED MAKE UP THE TOTAL
PROPERTY TAXES.
PER PROPERTY.
AND SO, THIS CHART SHOWS THE
DIFFERENT JURISDICTIONS WHOSE
RATES MAKE UP THE TOTAL
PROPERTY TAX RATE IMPOSED ON
SEATTLE PROPERTY OWNERS.
AS YOU CAN SEE, FOR A MEDIAN
ASSESSMENT VALUE UP TO 760 K,
THE TOTAL TAX BILL WAS JUST
OVER $6700.
AND THE CITY MAKES UP ABOUT A
QUARTER OF THAT AMOUNT, BUT THE
STATE SCHOOL FUND AND SCHOOL
DISTRICTS ACCOUNTING FOR JUST
OVER HALF OF THE TOTAL AMOUNT.
AND THEN THE NEXT SLIDE FURTHER
BREAKS DOWN THE CITY'S PORTION
OF THAT $6700 MEDIAN ASSESSED
HOME VALUE PROPERTY TAX GOAL
AND THE LARGEST PORTION OF THE
CITY'S PROPERTY TAX IS THE
GENERAL PURPOSE LEVY, WHICH
MAKES UP OVER HALF, JUST ABOUT
54% OF THE TOTAL, FOLLOWED BY
THE VOTER APPROVED MOVE SEATTLE
TRANSPORTATION LEVY, WHICH IS
ABOUT 1/5, OR 18% OF THE TOTAL.
AND THAT'S THE EXAMPLE WE JUST
USED A MINUTE AGO.
SO THE CITY'S RATE FOR 2022 IS
$2.37.
PER $1000 ASSESSED VALUE.
THAT INCLUDES THE METROPOLITAN
PARK DISTRICT, MPD'S 2022 RATE
OF $.20.
AND I WILL TURN IT OVER TO TOM
TO DISCUSS THE NEXT COUPLE OF
SLIDES.
>> THANK YOU, EDIN.
GOOD AFTERNOON, MEMBERS OF CITY
COUNCIL.
TOM MIKESELL WITH YOUR CENTRAL
STAFF.
SO WITH THE NEXT TWO SLIDES
I'M GOING TO COVER AND THEN
TURNED BACK OVER TO EDIN BUT
THESE SLIDES ARE SOMETHING THAT
WE HAVE CREATED AT KIND OF A
NEW CONCEPT FOR THIS TYPE OF
PRESENTATION.
THIS IS WITH RESPECT TO RENTAL
HOUSING.
RECENT REPORTS HAVE INDICATED
THAT ACTUALLY MORE THAN 50% OF
SEATTLE RESIDENTS LIVE IN
RENTAL HOUSING, DON'T HAVE ANY
PERSPECTIVE OF HOW PROPERTY
TAXES PLAY INTO RENT.
IT IS AN IMPORTANT
CONSIDERATION.
THE CONTROL IS THAT THERE IS
NOT A REALLY GREAT METRIC FOR
WHAT A MEDIAN RENT IS OR WHAT
WITH REGARDS TO THE MEDIAN
ASSESSED VALUE, WHICH IS WHAT'S
USED FOR PROPERTY TAXES.
TO KIND OF TACKLE THIS
CHALLENGE, WE HAVE WORKED WITH
OPPOSITE ECONOMIC AND REVENUE
FORECAST WHO HAVE HELPED US
ESTIMATE THE VALUE OF A TYPICAL
RENTAL PROPERTY IN THE CITY OF
SEATTLE.
FROM THE WAY THAT WAS DONE WAS
LOOKING AT VALUES FOR MEDIAN
RENT.
THE VALUE OF THAT MEDIAN RENT
IS APPROXIMATELY $2905 AT THE
FIRST OF THIS YEAR.
AND THEN WORKING FROM THAT
VALUE, THE FORECAST OFFICE
APPLIED TO SOME RULES OF THUMB
ABOUT THE CAP RATES AND
MANAGEMENT FEES AND VARIOUS
CONSIDERATIONS DETERMINING RENT
, TO CALCULATE, TO BELK BACK
CALCULATE THE ASSOCIATED
ASSESSED VALUE FOR THAT RENTAL
UNIT.
AND I WANT TO CAVEAT THIS
BECAUSE THERE REALLY IS NO ONE
IN FACT, IT'S ALL FOR RENTAL
HOUSING.
THERE ARE A NUMBER OF DIFFERENT
TYPES OF RENTAL PROPERTIES IN
TERMS OF AGE AND THE NUMBER OF
UNITS, AND FURTHERMORE THE
FINANCIAL CHARACTERISTICS OF
THE RENTAL, THE PROPERTY ITSELF
MAY VERY WHETHER THERE IS
FINANCING INVOLVED OR OWNED BY
THE LANDOWNER.
SO THOSE ARE KIND OF GRAINS OF
SALT TO KEEP IN MIND WHEN
CONSIDERING THESE NUMBERS.
BUT WE DO THE BEST THAT WE CAN,
AND TO PROVIDE A BIT OF
ADDITIONAL INFORMATION INTO THE
DISCUSSION.
SO THAT BEING SAID, AS YOU SEE
ON THIS SLIDE, IF WE USE THE
RENT OF $2100 OR ABOUT $2200,
BACK CALCULATE THAT TO BE AN
ASSESSED VALUE OF $350,000,
THAT EQUATES TO A TOTAL ANNUAL
PROPERTY TAX BILL OF ABOUT
$3100.
AND THIS REPORT, ANNUAL
PROPERTY TAX BILL, AND THAT
COMPARES TO THE ANNUAL RENT OF
ABOUT $2200.
IT'S ABOUT ON A MONTHLY BASIS
ABOUT 15% OF THE RENT.
IT'S IMPORTANT TO NOTE THAT
WHETHER OR NOT THE RENT IS A
100% PASS THROUGH TO THE RENTER
IS UNKNOWN.
THAT AGAIN SHOULD BE DETERMINED
BY THE FINANCIAL
CHARACTERISTICS OF THAT
SPECIFIC FINANCIAL RELATIONSHIP.
HOW MUCH PROPERTY TAXES ON ALL
JURISDICTION BASES FACTORS IN
OR COMPARES TO MONTHLY RENT,
AND IF WE LOOK AT THE NEXT
SLIDE, PLEASE, THIS IS A
SIMILAR CALCULATION FOR JUST
THE CITY TAXES.
THESE ARE ESSENTIALLY
DUPLICATES OF THE TWO SLIDES
PRIOR THAT EDIN SHOWED FOR THE
MEDIAN ASSESSED VALUE, AND
SIMILAR PROPORTIONS FOR THE RENT
PROPERTY CALCULATION BILL, $830
FOR THE FULL YEAR, WHICH IS
ABOUT 3% COMPARED TO THE ANNUAL
RENT, THOUGH ON A MONTHLY BASIS
IT COMPARES TO ABOUT 3% OF YOUR
RENT.
SO AGAIN, THESE ARE SOME ROUGH
CALCULATIONS, IF THERE'S AN
OPPORTUNITY TO ENHANCE THEM AS
WE MOVE ALONG IN THE
DISCUSSIONS, WE WILL DO SO.
BUT FOR NOW, HOPEFULLY THIS
PROVIDES A LITTLE BIT OF
INSIGHT INTO HOW PROPERTY TAXES
IMPACT THE HOUSING COSTS FOR
HALF OF THE RESIDENTS OF
SEATTLE.
AND I'LL TURN IT BACK OVER TO
EDIN TO WRAP UP THE FIRST PART
OF THAT PRESENTATION BEFORE
GOING IN.
>> THANKS, TOM.
SO THIS SLIDE IS RELATED TO
EXEMPTIONS.
WASHINGTON STATE OFFERS FOUR
PROPERTY TAX EXEMPTIONS OR
DEFERRAL PROGRAMS FOR PRIMARY
RESIDENCES.
SO THIS TABLE JUST SHOWS SOME
OF THE BASIC ELIGIBILITY
REQUIREMENTS, INFORMATION FOR
QUALIFYING INCOME LEVELS, FOR
úAVAILABLE PROGRAMS, AND THE
WASHINGTON STATE DEPARTMENT OF
REVENUE WEBSITE WOULD BE THE
PLACE TO GO FOR THOSE
INTERESTED IN LEARNING MORE.
JUST TO PROVIDE A TINY LITTLE
BIT OF DETAIL ON ONE OF THE
PROGRAMS, THE FIRST PROGRAM IN
THE TABLE PROVIDES TAX
EXEMPTIONS FOR QUALIFYING
SENIORS AND DISABLED PERSONS,
AND THIS PROGRAM ALLOWS THE
VALUE OF OUR RESIDENTS TO BE
FROZEN FOR PROPERTY TAX
PURPOSES, AND THE OWNER BECOMES
EXEMPT FROM ALL EXCESS LEVIES
AND POSSIBLY REGULAR LEVIES, AS
WELL.
THIS ACCOMMODATION RESULTS IN
OVERALL REDUCTION OF PROPERTY
TAXES.
AND THEN ONE OTHER INTERESTING
FACT I READ, THE KING COUNTY
ASSESSOR'S WEBSITE, IS THAT
WHILE THESE BENEFIT PROGRAMS
FOR SENIOR CITIZENS AND THE
TABLE PROVIDED, MORE THAN
26,000 QUALIFIED SENIORS AND
DISABLED PERSONS HAVE YET TO
REGISTER FOR THE EXEMPTION.
O ONLY ABOUT ONE IN 100 OF
THOSE ELIGIBLE FOR DEFERRALS
ARE CURRENTLY ENROLLED.
SO ON THE NEXT SLIDE RELATED TO
THIS, KIND OF THE SIMILAR
CHARTS THAT WE SAW EARLIER,
THESE ARE FOR SENIORS.
SO BASED ON INFORMATION FOR
THOSE PREVIOUS COUPLE SLIDES.
I'VE GOT TO GET TO DATA JUST TO
SEE WHAT THE AVERAGE TAX BILL
IS AND HOW IT'S BROKEN OUT.
I FOUND DATA ON THE ASSESSORS
OFFICE WEBSITE.
IT COMBINES STATE, COUNTY, AND
COURT INTO ONE GROUP.
SO YOU CAN SEE FOR A MEDIAN
HOME, A SENIOR TAX BILL IS
ALMOST $3000 LESS, OR ABOUT 42%
LESS THAN WHAT WE SAW IN THE
PREVIOUS CHART.
AND FOR THIS SLIDE, WE ALSO
THOUGHT IT WOULD BE HELPFUL TO
PROVIDE SOME HISTORICAL CONTEXT
IN TERMS OF HOW THE MEDIAN
ASSESSED VALUE AND THE TOTAL
PROPERTY TAX BILL HAD CHANGED
FOR THE LAST SEVERAL YEARS.
YOU'LL NOTICE THAT THE PROPERTY
TAX AMOUNT IS GENERALLY
CORRELATED WITH ASSESSED VALUE,
EXCEPT IN 2019, WHERE TOTAL
PROPERTY TAX AMOUNT DECREASED
WHILE THE MEDIAN ASSESSED VALUE
INCREASED.
THAT'S BECAUSE OF THE STATE
LEVY SWAP PLANNED TO FUND K-12
EDUCATION.
SO 2022 IS ALSO A GREAT EXAMPLE
OF, LIKE WE ALLUDED TO EARLIER,
THAT VOTER APPROVED LEVIES AND
NOT THE RISING PROPERTY VALUES
ARE THE MAIN DRIVERS OF
PROPERTY TAX.
AS YOU CAN SEE IN THE CHART,
THE INCREASE IN THE TOTAL
AMOUNT OF PROPERTY TAXES TO BE
COLLECTED IN KING COUNTY WAS
MODEST FOR THE 2022 TAX YEAR,
ABOUT 3%, DESPITE THE FACT THAT
THE PROPERTY VALUES ROSE BY
ABOUT 5%.
SO THAT COVERS THAT PORTION.
I'LL TURN IT BACK OVER TO TOM
TO GO OVER SOME SCENARIOS FOR
YOU GUYS.
>> PRETTY MUCH THE REMAINDER OF
THIS PRESENTATION WILL TALK
ABOUT FINANCIAL PLANNING
SCENARIOS AROUND THE UPCOMING
LEVY RENEWALS.
WHAT WE HAVE HERE IS THE TABLE
THAT SHOWS ALL OF THE UPCOMING
LEVY RENEWALS THROUGH NOT JUST
THE CITY BUT ALSO OTHER
JURISDICTIONS IN THE CONTEXT OF
THE CALENDAR OF DATES, STARTING
WITH THIS YEAR THROUGH THE NEXT
METRO PARK DISTRICT IN 2028
POINT THE LEVIES ARE
HIGHLIGHTED IN GREEN AND SCHOOL
AND COUNTY I.D.
ARE ALSO INCLUDED IN THE
SCENARIO MODEL FOR PURPOSES OF
SHOWING THE CONTEXT FOR ALL THE
FULL TAX BILL ARE INCLUDED AS
WELL.
BUT THIS IS TO SHOW KIND OF
WHAT THE CURRENT AMOUNT ARE,
THE DURATION IN YEARS AND THE
SEQUENCING OF THE DIFFERENT
DATES THAT ARE INCLUDED IN THE
MODEL THAT'S BEEN BUILT TO
DESCRIBE THE GROWTH IN LEVIES
AND THE CONTEXT OF THE UPCOMING
DECISION.
WE CAN LOOK AT THE NEXT SLIDE,
WE'LL JUST KIND OF COVER THE
HIGH-LEVEL CONSIDERATION THAT
ARE CONTEMPLATED IN THE
MODELING.
FIRST IS THAT THE TOTAL CITY
RATE, SO THIS IS THE RATE
COVERING OUR GENERAL-PURPOSE
LEVY AND IT WOULD NOT INCLUDE
THE METROPOLITAN PARK DISTRICT,
BECAUSE THAT IS A DIFFERENT
TYPE OF JURISDICTION, AND IT
WOULD NOT INCLUDE THE EXCESS
TAX LEVY FOR THAT.
NEITHER OF THOSE ARE INCLUDE
IN THE CAP BUT EVERYTHING ELSE
IS CAPPED AT A TOTAL CITY RATE
OF $3.60 PER $1000 OF ASSESSED
VALUE.
AND THAT'S IMPORTANT, AS YOU'LL
SEE LATER ON IN THE SLIDE,
BECAUSE IT SHOWS KIND OF THE
UPPER LIMITS OF TAXATION
CAPACITY.
AND KIND OF THE SEQUENCING
MATTERS BECAUSE DECISIONS THAT
ARE MADE EARLIER IN THE ORDER
CAN SERVE TO CROWD OUT TAXPAYER
APPETITE TO CONSIDER LARGER
LIFTS FOR DIFFERENT PURPOSES,
AND IN FUTURE DISCUSSION, SO
THAT'S WHY WE DO THIS KIND OF
FINANCIAL SCENARIO, TO SHOW HOW
THE PETITIONS BACKUP ON EACH
OTHER BECAUSE THEY ALL TACK
AGAINST THE SAME TACK OF
ASSESSED VALUE IN THE CITY, AND
THEY ALL, AT LEAST FOR THE
CITY'S PERSPECTIVE, ARE WITHIN
THAT $3.60 TOTAL CAP.
AND AGAIN, I'LL JUST REITERATE,
WE ARE TALKING ABOUT ALL OF THE
CITY, NOT JUST THE LOW INCOME
HOUSING BUT THE TRANSPORTATION
LEVY AND ALL THE OTHER ONES
THAT WE CURRENTLY HAVE.
FURTHERMORE, WE ARE INCLUDING
THE COUNTY, SCHOOL DISTRICT
LEVIES AND ALSO THE COUNTY, THE
NEW COUNTY BEHAVIORAL HEALTH
LEVY THAT IS UP FOR VOTE NEXT
MONTH.
NATHALIE IT IS IMPORTANT
BECAUSE WE ARE WORKING FROM
THIS MODEL.
WE ARE FORKING FROM THE
ASSESSED VALUE FORECAST THAT
CAME UP THE ECONOMIC AND
REVENUE FORECAST IN NOVEMBER OF
LAST YEAR.
WE RECEIVE NOTICE FROM THE
DIRECTOR OF THE FORECAST OFFICE,
THAT THE UPCOMING FORECAST
UPDATE ON APRIL 10th WILL
ACTUALLY REDUCE THE ASSESSED
VALUE FORECAST FOR NEXT YEAR
AND FUTURE YEARS.
SO THAT HAS IMPLICATION FOR THE
RATES THAT ARE SHOWN IN THE
ULTIMATE CAPACITY THAT THE CITY
HAS.
SO AGAIN, WE ALWAYS UPDATE WITH
THE BEST AVAILABLE INFORMATION.
WHAT WE ARE USING NOW IS THE
BEST AVAILABLE INFORMATION, BUT
THE INFORMATION WILL CHANGE AS
OF APRIL 10th.
ALSO WE -- I BELIEVE AS DEPUTY
DIRECTOR PENNUCCI EMPHASIZED,
WE ARE NOT MODELING ANY
SPECIFIC PROPOSALS.
WE DO NOT HAVE ANY PROPOSALS TO
MODEL.
WE ARE JUST SHOWING HOW THIS
MODEL WORKS. BUT IN ORDER TO
KIND OF DEMONSTRATES THE
SENSITIVITIES OF THE DIFFERENT
JUDGMENTS THAT ARE MADE, WE
HAVE THREE GENERAL SCENARIOS TO
SHOW YOU.
ONE IS A SCENARIO THAT ADJUSTS
ALL THE LEVIES FOR INFLATION ON
THE DATE OF RENEWAL, AND THEN
FOR FUTURE YEARS.
SO IT KIND OF RESETS THEM ALL
DUE TO THE TERM OF THE LEVY.
THE NEXT TIER OF ASSUMPTION IS
POTENTIALLY A DOUBLING OR 100%
INCREASE IN THE LEVY VALUE FOR
EACH ONE OF THE LEVIES AT THE
ORIGINAL DATE, AND THEN THE
THIRD AND HIGHEST LEVEL
ASSUMPTION IS THE 200% INCREASE
WHICH WOULD CRIPPLE EACH OF THE
LEVIES.
AGAIN IT'S JUST TO SHOW HOW
SENSITIVE THE MODEL IS.
NONE OF THESE ARE SPECIFIC
PROPOSALS WE'VE RECEIVED.
SO THE AMOUNTS THAT ARE
CALCULATED THROUGH THIS PROCESS
ARE SHOWN HERE AND IT'S JUST
FOR CONTEXT, BUT YOU CAN
UNDERSTAND THE CURRENT LEVY
THAT WE HAVE.
THE FIRST COLUMN ARE THE
CURRENT AMOUNT FOR EACH ONE OF
THESE LEVIES, AND THEN WHAT
HAPPENS IF YOU JUST SAY WE ARE
GOING TO GO BY INFLATION, OR
DOUBLE IT, OR TRIPLE IT.
THESE ARE THE AMOUNTS THAT
WOULD RESULT.
AND IT'S JUST ESSENTIALLY
APPLYING THIS BROAD ASSUMPTION
TO EACH OF THE LEVIES ACROSS
EACH SCENARIO.
SO IF WE COULD GO BACK, AND
IT'S NOT TO SAY THAT'S THE ONLY
WAY THE MODEL COULD WORK,
DIFFERENT DECISIONS COULD BE
MADE ABOUT EACH ONE OF THE
INDIVIDUAL LEVIES AS WE
PROGRESS THROUGH DISCUSSIONS
FOR NOT JUST THE LOW INCOME
HOUSING LEVY, BUT ALL FUTURE
LEVIES, IF THERE'S A MODEL AND
ASSUMPTION THAT WE SHOULD MAKE
ABOUT ANY ONE OF THE INDIVIDUAL
ONES, WE COULD USE THAT
PROPOSAL IF THE MODEL DOESN'T
LIMIT US TO A KIND OF A PEANUT
BUTTER APPROACH TO EVERYTHING.
THAT'S JUST WHAT WE DID BECAUSE
WE ARE JUST SHOWING YOU A BROAD
EXAMPLE.
NOW WE CAN LOOK AT THE NEXT
SLIDE. USING THE MODEL, THESE
SORT OF PROJECTIONS THAT ARE
MADE.
SO THE KIND OF STARTING POINT
IS THAT THE 2022 AMOUNT, AND
THIS IS FOR THE CITY TAX
BURDENS, SO THIS IS THE CITY
LEVY, THE GENERAL PURPOSE AND
THE COMMITMENT.
KIND OF A BASELINE STARTING
POINT AND THEN YOU CAN SEE THAT
IF WE JUST GROW THE LEVY USING
THE INFLATION ASSUMPTION BY
2029, THAT THAT TOTAL TAX BILL,
THE MEDIAN VALUE IS ABOUT
$2500.
FOR THE DOUBLING OF THE LEVY, A
LITTLE BIT SHY OF $3000 ON THE
ANNUAL TAX BILL, AND THEN FOR
THE TRIPLING OF THE LEVY, IT
RAISES TWO $3700 BY THE LAST
YEAR.
AND KIND OF TO PIGGYBACK ON A
COMMENT THAT ED HAD MADE
EARLIER, THIS INCLUDES ALSO
GROWTH IN MEDIAN HOME VALUE, AS
WELL.
IF NOT A FIXED VALUE, THE
MEDIAN VALUE IS ASSUMED TO GROW
BY ABOUT 5% PER YEAR.
THERE IS A COMBINATION OF
FACTORS THAT LEADS TO THE
GROWTH OF THE TAX BILL OVER THE
SEVEN YEARS THAT ARE SHOWING
HERE.
IT'S THE ASSUMPTIONS ABOUT SIZE
OF THE LEVIES BUT IT'S ALSO THE
GROWTH IN THE MEDIAN VALUE
THAT'S AT THE LEVY RATES ARE
ASSIGNED TO.
SO THIS IS DOING THE EXACT SAME
APPROACH EXCEPT LOOKING AT ALL
THE JURISDICTIONS.
SO WHAT WE HAVE NOT DONE IN
THIS SCENARIO IS APPLY THE SAME
INFLATION, DOUBLING AND
TRIPLING ASSUMPTION TO THE
OTHER JURISDICTION.
WE RELIED ON DBO, WHICH IS THE
ORIGINAL AUTHOR OF THIS MODEL,
THERE ASSUMPTION THEY MADE,
WHICH GENERALLY APPROXIMATED
THE SIZE OF PRIOR LEVY
INCREASES FOR THOSE OTHER
JURISDICTION THE LEVIES.
SO THIS ONE BUILDS ON THE
ASSUMPTION THAT THE NEXT LEVY
RENEWAL FOR THOSE OTHER
JURISDICTIONS WILL BE DIFFERENT
TO THE MAGNITUDE OF THE PRIOR
ONE BUT IT DOES MAKE AN
ASSUMPTION AS DESCRIBED BY THE
PORTION OF EACH ONE OF THE TAX
BILL TO SHOW THAT BUILDING IT
FROM A STARTING POINT OF $6700
IN 2022 AT THE INFLATION
SCENARIO WOULD GROW JUST SHY OF
$9000 BY 2029, THE INFLATION
SCENARIO, AND THEN AT THE HIGH
END IT WOULD BE $10,500 FOR THE
TRIPLING SCENARIO.
SO AGAIN, THESE ARE JUST
SCENARIOS, ONCE WE START
RECEIVING DIFFERENT PROPOSALS
FOR MODELING LEVIES ON ANY
OTHER DISCUSSION, WE CAN INPUT
THOSE AND TWEAK ASSUMPTIONS TO
SHOW THE VARIOUS IMPACT, NOT
JUST FOR THE CURRENT LEVY UNDER
DISCUSSION, BUT ALSO
CONSIDERING THE IMPACT FROM
OTHER FUTURE LEVIES, AS WELL.
AND I BELIEVE THERE IS ONE.
SO THIS IS NOT LOOKING AT THE
IMPACT TO THE TAXPAYER, BUT
THIS IS LOOKING AT HOW MUCH ONE
OF THESE SCENARIOS WOULD
GENERATE.
THIS IS A TOTAL AMOUNT OF LEVY
REVENUE UNDER THE VARIOUS
SCENARIOS.
THE TOP LINE OF THE GRAPH IS
THE MAX LEVY.
THIS IS ESSENTIALLY SAYING THAT
THE TOTAL TAX AND CAPACITY FOR
THE JURISDICTIONAL CITY OF
SEATTLE.
THIS IS THE $3.50 PER $1000.
ITS VALUE TIMES THE FORECAST
AND ASSESSED VALUE FOR EACH ONE
OF THOSE YEARS.
THE NEXT LINE BELOW IT IS THE
TRIPLING SCENARIO. WE SAW THE
200% GROWTH PLUS THE LEVY
RESERVE.
WHAT THE LEVY RESERVE IS, IS A
STIPULATION IN OUR CITY DEBT
POLICY THAT SAID 12% OF THE
CITY'S TAX AND CAPACITY SHOULD
BE HELD IN RESERVE FOR
EMERGENCIES.
SO IT'S NOT ACTUALLY A TAX
BREAK THAT HAS BEEN AUTHORIZED.
IT'S JUST KIND OF A RESERVE
CAPACITY THAT WE HOLD ONTO THE
SIDE IN CASE OF AN EMERGENCY.
A VERY KEY TAKE AWAY HERE, AND
ONE IN DISCUSSIONS WITH FOLKS
WITH A RICH HISTORY AT THE CETI
OF SEATTLE IS THAT IF YOU LOOK
AT THAT TOP LEVIES SCENARIO, IT
TOUCHES THE MAX CAPACITY BY
2027.
SO THAT MEANS THAT THE -- THAT
SCENARIO ESSENTIALLY HITS BUT
THEN STARTS TO DECLINE AWAY
FROM OUR MAXIMUM TAXING
CAPACITY IN THAT YEAR.
IN ITS OWN RIGHT AN INTERESTING
OBSERVATION, BUT EVEN MORE
INTERESTING, I GUESS IS THE
WORD, WHEN YOU TAKE INTO
CONTEXT THAT WE EXPECT TO SEE
AN ASSESSED VALUE FORECAST THAT
IS DECREASING.
SO THE TOTAL AMOUNT OF IT
THAT'S VALUED TO GROW IS GOING
TO BE LOWER IN THE FORECAST
THEN WHAT WE HAVE, TO USE THIS
MODEL.
SO IT'S PROBABLY A FAIRLY SAFE
ASSUMPTION THAT AFTER WE UPDATE
THIS GRAPH WITH THE APRIL
NUMBERS, THE GREEN LINE WILL
CROSS THE BLACK LINE,
INDICATING THAT THAT EXAMPLE
SCENARIO OF TRIPLING THE LEVY
WILL BE RESERVED, WILL BE MORE
THAN OUR TAXING CAPACITY COULD
AFFORD.
SO AFTER WE GET THOSE NUMBERS
WE'LL UPDATE AND SEE HOW THAT
LOOKS, BUT THAT'S KIND OF THE
MOST SIGNIFICANT TAKE AWAY IN
THIS OTHERWISE EXAMPLE OF HOW
THE MODEL WORKED.
AND THAT'S ESSENTIALLY THE
DISCUSSION. I'LL TURN IT OVER
TO ALLIE TO TALK MORE ABOUT THE
CHARACTERISTICS OF THE 2022
LEVY.
>> THANK YOU, TOM.
TO WRAP US UP, I'VE JUST GOT
THREE MORE SLIDES THAT I WILL
GO THROUGH REAL QUICKLY.
SO THE NEXT FEW SLIDES WILL
SHOW US HOW WE ARE TRACKING
COMPARED TO OUR NEIGHBORING
KING COUNTY CITIES IN TERMS OF
RESIDENTIAL PROPERTY VALUES,
PROPERTY TAX RATES, AND MEDIAN
PROPERTY TAX BILL.
SO WE EXCLUDE THE CITIES THAT
HAVE A POPULATION IN THESE
GRAPHS.
WE EXCLUDE THE CITIES OF
POPULATION OF UNDER 50,000
PEOPLE AS THOSE ARE PRIMARILY
OUTLIERS IN THE DATA.
SO WHILE LOOKING AT THESE, AS I
MENTIONED EARLIER, PROPERTY TAX
BILL IS A PRODUCT OF TWO
FACTORS.
THE ASSESSED HOME VALUE AND THE
TAX RATE FOR THE JURISDICTION
IN WHICH THAT HOME IS.
SO THIS FIRST SLIDE SHOWS THE
2022 MEDIAN RESIDENTIAL
PROPERTY VALUES FOR THESE 20
CITIES AND YOU'LL SEE THAT
SEATTLE RANKS IN THE TOP HALF
OF THE SEVENTH HIGHEST AT THE
$760,000 MEDIAN HOME VALUE
FIGURE.
AND THE NEXT SLIDE COMPARES THE
2022 PROPERTY TAX RATES, WHICH
SHOWS SEATTLE AS HAVING THE
FIFTH LOWEST RATE, WHICH FOR
2022 WAS $8.53 PER $1000 OF
ASSESSED VALUE, AND SEATTLE WAS
RELATIVELY UNIQUE HERE BECAUSE
OUR ENTIRE CITY HAS THE SAME
TAX RATE, COMPARED TO A LOT OF
OTHER CITIES HAVING MULTIPLE
RATES WITHIN IT DUE TO
OVERLAPPING TAXING
JURISDICTIONS, LIKE SCHOOL
DISTRICTS, HOSPITALS, FIRE
DISTRICTS, ET CETERA.
AND THEN THE NEXT SLIDE WILL
BRING YOU ALL TOGETHER, AND AS
YOU MIGHT HAVE INSPECTED, IF
OUR MEDIAN HOUSING VALUES WERE
HIGHER THAN AVERAGE AND OUR
RATES ARE LOWER THAN AVERAGE,
MEDIAN PROPERTY TAX BILL SHOULD
BE SOMEWHERE RIGHT IN THE
MIDDLE.
THAT'S WHAT THIS GRAPH SHOWS.
SEATTLE'S MEDIAN PROPERTY TAX
BILL IN 2022, AS YOU SAW ON THE
EARLIER CHARTS, WAS $6700.
6710.
SO YEAH, THAT WRAPS UP OUR
PRESENTATION, I BELIEVE.
SO IS THERE QUESTIONS PERTINENT
TO THAT?
>> THANKS EDIN AND TOM.
THAT WAS A LOT OF INFORMATION
IN A SHORT AMOUNT OF TIME.
WE ARE HAPPY TO DO A DEEPER
DIVE AND I'M HAPPY TO TAKE A
FEW QUESTIONS NOW.
I THINK WE HAVE JUST THREE
MINUTES LEFT ON THE AGENDA.
AND JUST REALLY WANTED TO
HIGHLIGHT, SORT OF GET US ALL
GROUNDED IN HOW PROPERTY TAXES
ARE CALCULATED AS WE ENTER INTO
DISCUSSIONS OVER THIS YEAR AND
NEXT YEAR WITH THE HOUSING LEVY
AND TRANSPORTATION LEVY, AND
OTHER THINGS, WE ARE HAPPY TO
WORK WITH INDIVIDUL
COUNCILMEMBERS TO PICK THROUGH
DIFFERENT PROPOSALS OF HOW IT
FITS IN THE CONTEXT OF THE
ENTIRE PROPERTY TAX BILL, AND
HOW THAT MIGHT IMPACT AND
BENEFIT HOMEOWNERS AND RENTERS
AS WELL.
>> WITH THAT, FIRST OF ALL,
THANK YOU GUYS, AND I'M SORRY
ANNA, I WAS SAYING YOUR NAME
WRONG.
THANK YOU FOR PUTTING THIS
TOGETHER, AND THE OVERVIEW.
ARE THERE ANY QUESTIONS OR
COMMENTS THAT MY COLLEAGUES
WOULD LIKE TO MAKE?
IF WE ARE DONE WITH THIS, WE
CAN MOVE ON INTO OUR AGENDA.
>> HEY, I DO NOT SEE ANY
QUESTIONS OR ANY HANDS RAISED.
ALL RIGHT.
OKAY.
I GUESS WE ARE DONE WITH YOU
GUYS.
THANK YOU VERY MUCH FOR
PROVIDING THE CHARTS AND ALL
THE INFORMATION.
IT'S VERY HELPFUL.
ALL RIGHT.
SO LET'S SEE, MOVING ON INTO
OUR AGENDA, FOLKS, ITEM NUMBER
FIVE, LOOKS LIKE WE HAVE A
PROCLAMATION TEED UP TODAY.
COUNCILMEMBER HERBOLD, I
UNDERSTAND THAT YOU HAVE A
PROCLAMATION RECOGNIZING MARCH
20th AS THE DAY OF NOWRUZ,
YOUR SIGNATURE, SO I'M GOING TO
GO AHEAD AND HAND YOU THE
FLOOR.
>> FANTASTIC.
THANK YOU SO MUCH.
LET ME JUST CHANGE MY SCREEN
HERE.
THANKS FOR YOUR PATIENCE.
REALLY APPRECIATE THE
OPPORTUNITY TO BRING FORWARD
THIS PROCLAMATION COMMEMORATING
NOWRUZ, WHICH MEANS NEW DAY.
IT MARKS THE VERNAL EQUINOX IN
THE NORTHERN HEMISPHERE, AND IS
THE FIRST DAY OF THE PERSIAN
NEW YEAR.
NOWRUZ BEGAN TODAY AT 2:24 P.M.
THIS AFTERNOON.
THIS HOLIDAY ORIGINATED IN
ANCIENT PERSIA, MORE THAN 3000
YEARS AGO.
IT'S CELEBRATED BY NEARLY 300
MILLION PEOPLE OF DIFFERENT
FAITHS AND CULTURES AROUND THE
GLOBE, FROM WESTERN, CENTRAL,
AND SOUTH ASIA, TO THE
CAUCASUS, BLACK SEA BASIN AND
THE BALKANS.
THIS HOLIDAY IS THE EMBODIMENT
OF A CENTURIES LONG TRADITION
PROMOTING VALUES OF PEACE AND
SOLIDARITY, AND SYMBOLIZING A
TIME OF RENEWAL AND COMMUNITY,
MARKING THE DEPARTURE FROM THE
TRIALS OF THE PREVIOUS YEAR AND
BRINGING HOPE TO THE NEW YEAR.
REALLY WANT TO THANK EVERYBODY
WORKING TOGETHER ON THIS
CELEBRATORY PROCLAMATION, WHILE
RECOGNIZING THAT THERE ARE
MEMBERS OF THE IRANIAN
COMMUNITY AND AFGHANI COMMUNITY
WHERE THESE HOLIDAYS ARE
CELEBRATED, WHERE COMMUNITY
MEMBERS ARE VERY TIED TO THEIR
FAMILIES BACK HOME, FAMILIES
WHO ARE DEALING WITH
PERSECUTION, DISRUPTION OF
THEIR LIVES, AND REALLY
GRATEFUL FOR THE OPPORTUNITY TO
LIFT UP THE SIGNIFICANCE OF
THIS NEW YEAR MEANS FOR THOSE
COMMUNITIES.
APPRECIATE THAT THE MAYOR IS
SIGNING ONTO THIS PROCLAMATION
IN CONCURRENCE, AND ALSO WANT
TO THANK OUR GOVERNOR FOR ALSO
HAVING ISSUED HIS OWN
PROCLAMATION CELEBRATING
NOWRUZ.
THANK YOU.
>> THANK YOU, COUNCILMEMBER
HERBOLD.
DO ANY OF MY COLLEAGUES HAVE
COMMENTS THEY WISH TO MAKE
BEFORE WE GO TO A VOTE?
ALL RIGHT, NOT SEEN ANY.
MADAM CLERK, WILL YOU PLEASE
CALL THE ROLL TO DETERMINE
WHICH COUNCILMEMBERS LIKE TO
FIX THEIR SIGNATURES TO
COUNCILMEMBER HERBOLD'S
PROCLAMATION?
>> COUNCILMEMBER LEWIS?
>> YES.
>> COUNCILMEMBER MORALES.
>> YES.
>> COUNCILMEMBER MOSQUEDA.
>> YES.
>> COUNCILMEMBER NELSON.
>> AYE.
>> COUNCILMEMBER PEDERSEN.
>> YES.
>> COUNCILMEMBER SAWANT.
>> YES.
>> COUNCILMEMBER STRAUSS.
>> YES.
>> COUNCILMEMBER HERBOLD.
>> YES.
>> COUNCIL PRESIDENT WIRE IS.
>> AYE.
>> NINE SIGNATURES WILL BE
AFFIXED TO THE PROCLAMATION.
>> THANK YOU, AND THANK YOU
AGAIN COUNCILMEMBER HERBOLD FOR
BRINGING THIS FORWARD.
SO WE WILL COME TO THE POINT IN
OUR AGENDA WHERE EACH OF YOU
WILL TELL US WHAT YOU DID LAST
WEEK, THIS WEEK, AND MAYBE NEXT
WEEK.
SO IT LOOKS LIKE THE ROLLCALL
ORDER, WE WILL START WITH
COUNCILMEMBER LEWIS, THEN
MORALES, MOSQUEDA,
COUNCILMEMBER NELSON, PEDERSEN,
SAWANT, STRAUSS, AND THEN
COUNCILMEMBER HERBOLD.
COUNCILMEMBER LEWIS?
>> THANK YOU SO MUCH, MADAME
PRESIDENT.
TODAY JUST TO KICK IT OFF WITH
THE MOST TOPICAL THING WAS
THRILLED TO VISIT PIKE PLACE
MARKET FOR FREE DAFFODIL DAY
AND THE KICKING OFF OF THE
SPRING SEASON.
IT WAS REALLY GREAT TO SEE A
LONG LINE ALL THE WAY DOWN PIKE
PLACE, ONTO FIRST AVENUE, FOR
PEOPLE GETTING IN LINE TO GET
THEIR LIMIT OF TWO FREE
DAFFODIL'S PER PERSON, TO
CELEBRATE THIS FESTIVE CHANGE
OF THE WEATHER.
SO STRONGLY ENCOURAGE COMMUNITY
MEMBERS TO MAKE THEIR WAY TO
PIKE PLACE MARKET TO ENGAGE IN
THIS ACTIVITY AND REALLY WAS
GREAT TO SEE THE MARKET DOING
VERY WELL TODAY, WITH A LOT OF
VISITORS.
AND IT WAS A GOOD WAY TO KICK
OFF THE WEEK.
THE SEATTLE YOUTH EMPLOYMENT
PROGRAM APPLICATIONS ARE STILL
OPEN THROUGH THE END OF THIS
WEEK, SO ENDING FRIDAY, MARCH
24th.
THE SEATTLE YOUTH EMPLOYMENT
PROGRAM SUPPORTS YOUNG PEOPLE
AGE 16 TO 24 FROM QUALIFYING
INCOME HOUSEHOLDS AND
COMMUNITIES THAT EXPERIENCED
RACIAL, SOCIAL, AND ECONOMIC
DISPARITY, WITH A GOAL OF
INCREASING YOUTH AND YOUNG
ADULT ABILITIES TO PURSUE
CAREERS THAT PAY WELL AND ARE
MEANINGFUL TO THEM.
PARTICIPANTS RECEIVE STIPENDS
WHILE GAINING MARKETABLE SKILLS
AND EXPOSURE TO VARIOUS CAREER
FIELDS, AND MANY ARE ALSO
PLACED IN STRUCTURED PAID WORK
SETTINGS WITHIN CITY OF SEATTLE
DEPARTMENTS, AS WELL AS LOCAL
NONPROFIT AGENCIES, TO APPLY
THOSE SKILLS AND HANDS-ON
EXPERIENCE.
SO IF YOU ARE INTERESTED IN
THAT PROGRAM, GET YOUR
APPLICATION IN BY FRIDAY, ARCH
24th.
SEATTLE PUBLIC LIBRARY, THE
CENTRAL LIBRARY AND ALL
BRANCHES OF THE SEATTLE PUBLIC
LIBRARY WILL BE CLOSED ON
WEDNESDAY, MARCH 22nd, 2023 FOR
STAFF IN-SERVICE DAY.
THE CENTRAL LIBRARY BOOK DROP
WILL BE CLOSED, BUT ALL BRANCH
BOOK DROPS ARE GOING TO REMAIN
OPEN.
NEW LIBRARY MATERIALS WILL BE
DUE ON MARCH 22nd, 2023, GIVEN
THE STAFF IN-SERVICE DAY.
ALL BRANCH LIBRARY PARKING
GARAGES ARE ALSO GOING TO BE
CLOSED.
ONE EXCEPTION, THE CENTRAL
LIBRARY GARAGE IS GOING TO BE
OPEN DURING REGULAR OPERATING
HOURS ON THURSDAY, MARCH 23rd
OF 2023.
THE SEATTLE PUBLIC LIBRARY'S
SHORT STORY DISPENSERS, WHICH
PROVIDE ON-DEMAND, PRINTED
SHORT STORIES IN TWO LOCATIONS,
JUST GOT AN EXCITING UP. THEY
NOW FEATURE A NEW COLLECTION OF
STORIES WRITTEN EXCLUSIVELY BY
SEATTLE-AREA AUTHORS.
THE DISPENSERS ARE AVAILABLE
FOR VISITORS AT THE CENTRAL
LIBRARY AT 1000 FOURTH AVENUE,
OR CUSTOMERS WAITING IN LINE
FOR COFFEE AT THE STATION
COFFEEHOUSE IN SEATTLE'S BEACON
HILL NEIGHBORHOOD AT 1600 SOUTH
ROBERTO MY SS FESTIVAL STREET.
FINALLY, REFLECTIONS, 2023.
REFLECTIONS 2023 RETURNS ONCE
AGAIN TO INSPIRE AND LIVEN UP
SEATTLE ARTIST AND THE
COMMUNITY.
FILMED ON THE ELEGANT STAGE OF
PIER 62 ON SEATTLE'S
WATERFRONT, REFLECTIONS DANCE
FESTIVAL 2023 IS ANOTHER
STUNNING LOVE LETTER TO THE
CITY OF SEATTLE.
THE THIRD CHAPTER OF THIS
UNIQUE DANCE FESTIVAL WILL BE
SCREENED AS THE CLOSING PROGRAM
OF THE CITY OF SEATTLE'S RACE
AND SOCIAL JUSTICE SUMMIT
DURING A SPECIAL LIVE STREAM
PROGRAM ON FRIDAY, THIS FRIDAY,
MARCH 24th, FROM 6:00 TO 7:30
P.M.
REFLECTIONS DEBUTED IN THE
FIRST YEAR OF THE PANDEMIC, IN
2020, TO AN AUDIENCE OF 4000
PEOPLE, AND REFLECTIONS 2023
CONTINUES TO FEATURE
CONTEMPORARY DANCERS AND
CULTURAL PRACTITIONERS WHO CARE
ABOUT CULTURE AND EQUITY IN THE
ARTS.
REFLECTIONS IS CO-PRESENTED BY
THE SEATTLE PUBLIC LIBRARY AND
FRIENDS OF THE WATERFRONT
SEATTLE, WITH LEAD PARTNER
SEATTLE OFFICE OF ARTS AND
CULTURE AND THE OFFICE OF
WATERFRONT AND CIVIC PROJECTS.
AND WRAPPING UP THE LIBRARY
SECTION, AWARD-WINNING POET
CLAUDIA CASTRO LUNA IS GOING TO
BE HOSTING A BILINGUAL SPRING
PROGRAM SERIES AT THE SEATTLE
PUBLIC LIBRARY, EXPLORING HOW
WE CAN KEEP CREATIVITY ALLIES.
THE FORMER WASHINGTON STATE
POET LAUREATE HAS GUEST CURATED
THIS SERIES, WHICH KICKS OFF
WITH A PROGRAM CALLED
CREATIVITY EVERY DAY/CREATIVITY
DAD [ SPEAKING SPANISH -- WHICH
EXPLORES CULTURAL PRACTICES
AROUND CREATIVITY.
THE FIRST EVENT WILL BE ON
MARCH 30th AT THE LEVEL FLOOR
ROOM ONE.
AND THE CITY UPDATE --
>> COUNCILMEMBER, YOU WENT ON
MUTE.
SOMEHOW.
IF YOU COULD HEAR US.
>> I CAN HEAR YOU.
ARE YOU TALKING TO ME?
>> SORRY, COUNCILMEMBER LEWIS.
>> I BRIEFLY NEEDED.
MY APOLOGIES.
I DON'T KNOW HOW THAT HAPPENED.
>> IT'S OKAY.
I THOUGHT I WAS IN TROUBLE.
>> YET, BUT JUST TO REPEAT THE
CLEAN CITY PORTION, THE CLEAN
CITY DATA FOR MARCH 6th TO
MARCH 10th, 301 NEEDLES
RECOVERED AND 32,760 POUNDS OF
GARBAGE FROM 143 DIFFERENT PARK
PICKUP LOCATIONS.
AND WITH THAT, MADAME
PRESIDENT, I DON'T HAVE
ANYTHING ELSE TO ADD.
SO UNLESS THERE ARE COMMENTS
FROM COLLEAGUES, AND I DON'T
SEE ANY, THEN I WILL PASS IT
ALONG TO COUNCILMEMBER MORALES.
>> I'M COMING, I'M COMING.
GOOD AFTERNOON, COLLEAGUES.
THANK YOU, COUNCILMEMBER LEWIS.
AS COUNCIL PRESIDENT MENTIONED,
THERE IS ONE ITEM FROM THE
NEIGHBORHOOD EDUCATION, ARTS AND
CULTURE COMMITTEE ON TOMORROW'S
FULL COUNCIL AGENDA, A
RESOLUTION 2088 THAT APPROVES A
DEVELOPMENT ADVISORY COMMITTEE
FOR U DUB MEDICAL CENTER
NORTHWEST CAMPUS, MAJOR
INSTITUTION MASTER PLAN.
THE NEXT COMMITTEE MEETING IS
THIS FRIDAY AT 9:30.
WE'VE GOT A PRETTY PACKED
AGENDA.
SO COLLEAGUES, IF YOU ARE A
COMMITTEE MEMBER AND YOU ARE
GOING TO BE THERE, PLEASE LET
ME KNOW AS SOON AS POSSIBLE.
THE AGENDA WILL INCLUDE A VOTE
ON THE COUNCIL BILL 120525,
CREATING AN ORDINANCE.
WE HAD SOME DISCUSSION LAST
WEEK AND WILL BE VOTING ON THAT
THIS WEEK.
WE'LL ALSO BE PUTTING ON THE
APPOINTMENT OF ERIC WHEELER
SMITH AS DIRECTOR OF THE OFFICE
OF CIVIL RIGHTS, AND WILL BE
JOINED, I'M VERY EXCITED TO
SAY, BY GUESTS FROM RICHMOND,
VIRGINIA, AND FROM THE CITY OF
CHICAGO TO DISCUSS THEIR WORK
ON COMMUNITY WEALTH BUILDING
INITIATIVES. AS YOU KNOW, OUR
DEPARTMENT OF NEIGHBORHOODS HAS
BEEN CONDUCTING RESEARCH FOR
THE LAST YEAR ON THE ROLE THAT
THE CITY MIGHT PLAY IN
FACILITATING AND SUPPORTING
DIFFERENT GENERATIONAL WEALTH
BUILDING PROGRAMS AND PILOTS.
SO THEY'VE BEEN TALKING WITH
FOLKS FROM OTHER CITIES TO SEE
WHAT THEY'RE DOING AND WILL BE
HEARING FROM A COUPLE OF THEM
THIS WEEK.
THIS MORNING I MET WITH
JENNIFER CHAP, MAYOR'S APPOINTEE
FOR THE DIRECTOR POSITION AT
THE DEPARTMENT OF
NEIGHBORHOODS.
I'M LOOKING FORWARD TO WORKING
WITH HER.
I THINK IT'S GOING TO BE A
GREAT PARTNERSHIP, AND I REALLY
DO WANT TO THANK SARAH
MORNINGSTAR, WHO HAS BEEN
SERVING IN THE INTERIM CAPACITY
FOR THE LAST MANY MONTHS, AND
HAS DONE AN EXCELLENT JOB OF
KEEPING THE TRAINS MOVING AT
DOM.
THIS WEEK I'LL BE MEETING WITH
THE DOMESTIC WORKERS COALITION
TO DISCUSS THEIR INTEREST IN
CREATING A PORTABLE BENEFITS
PACKAGE FOR LANDSCAPERS,
NANNIES, HOUSE CARE WORKERS,
PEOPLE WHO ARE DOMESTIC
WORKERS, AND WE'VE BEEN TALKING
FOR ABOUT A YEAR NOW, AND THEY
ARE PULLING TOGETHER A PACKAGE,
SO WE'LL GET AN UPDATE FROM
THEM THIS WEEK.
AS COUNCILMEMBER LEWIS
MENTIONED, ON FRIDAY AFTERNOON
THERE WILL BE THE 2023 RACE AND
SOCIAL JUSTICE INITIATIVE
SUMMIT.
THIS YEAR THE THEME IS ON
HEALING, BELONGING, AND UNITY.
THE MEETING IS GOING TO BE ON
ZOOM AND I'LL BE MAKING SOME
REMARKS AT THE BEGINNING OF THE
EVENT, AND LOOK FORWARD TO
CELEBRATING THE PASSAGE, AT
LEAST OUT OF COMMITTEE, OF THE
RACE AND SOCIAL JUSTICE
ORDINANCE.
PAST WEEKEND I ATTENDED THE
OTHELLO TOWN HALL AT NEW HOLLY,
TO PARTICIPATE IN SOME
COMMUNITY DISCUSSIONS AROUND
ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT AND HEALTH
AND SAFETY, AND I HAVE TO SAY
THERE WERE SEVERAL TAKEAWAYS.
I THINK WE ALL HEAR THESE
SIMILAR CONVERSATIONS ACROSS
THE CITY, BUT THERE'S A CLEAR
DESIRE FROM NEIGHBORS FOR MORE
OPPORTUNITIES FOR YOUNG PEOPLE,
PARTICULARLY AROUND JOB-
TRAINING OPPORTUNITIES, PRE-
APPRENTICESHIP PROGRAMS THAT
THEY ARE CONNECTING THROUGH
SCHOOL, SO WE HEARD A LOT ABOUT
THE RETURN OF YOUTH PROGRAMS,
ESPECIALLY, FOR EXAMPLE, LATE-
NIGHT TEEN PROGRAMS, AND THE
NEED FOR MORE OF THAT AT OUR
COMMUNITY CENTERS, AS WELL AS
AN INTEREST IN A RETURN OF
FUNDING FOR YOUTH PROGRAMS,
ESPECIALLY FOR THOSE THAT KIND
OF DRIED UP DURING THE
PANDEMIC.
RESIDENTS ALSO SPOKE ABOUT
THEIR DESIRE FOR COMMUNITIES
THAT ARE DESIGNED TO ALLOW THEM
TO WALK TO THE PARK WITH THEIR
KIDS, WALK TO A GROCERY STORE,
AND ALSO AN INTEREST IN MUCH
BETTER STREETLIGHTING
THROUGHOUT THE NEIGHBORHOOD.
SO I WANT TO THANK THE FOLKS
WHO ARE ORGANIZING THAT, AND
THANKS TO THE RESIDENCE AND
PROVIDERS WHO CAME OUT TO
LISTEN TO THE CONCERNS THAT
NEIGHBORS HAD.
I ALSO ATTENDED THE COLUMBIA
CITY NIGHT MARKET, WHICH WAS
CHOCK-FULL OF BLACK AND BROWN
VENDORS SELLING JEWELRY, ART,
BODY PRODUCTS, GREAT FOOD.
THIS NIGHT MARKET WAS STARTED
IN 2021, I BELIEVE, BY A GROUP
THAT CAME TOGETHER TO CONNECT
NEIGHBORS TO THESE BUSINESSES,
AND REALLY HELPED PEOPLE,
COMMUNITIES, AND BUSINESSES
THRIVE, ALSO RUN A BIKE
PROGRAM, INVITE CYCLISTS OF ALL
LEVELS ON PARADES THROUGHOUT
THE CITY, AND THE POINT OF
THOSE BIKE RIDES IS ALSO TO
CONNECT -- THEY RIDE, CREATE
PATHS THREE PARTS OF THE CITY
THAT HAVE HISTORICAL
SIGNIFICANCE FOR THE BLACK
COMMUNITY, AND THEY END UP
ALONG THE WAY AT BLACK
BUSINESSES.
THESE ROUTES OFFER EDUCATION
AND AN OPPORTUNITY TO CELEBRATE
BLACK ACHIEVEMENT THROUGHOUT
SO THE NEXT NIGHT MARKET IS
APRIL 15th.
YOU SHOULD COME ON DOWN TO
COLUMBIA CITY AND CELEBRATE
WITH FOLKS THERE.
AND THEN THERE WILL BE A BIKE
RIDE.
THE NEXT BIKE RIDE IS SCHEDULED
FOR MAY 20th.
IF YOU'RE INTERESTED IN DOING
THAT, YOU CAN BE ON AN ELECTRIC
-- I ASKED, TO BE ABLE TO JOIN.
THIS WEEK I'LL BE A GUEST
SPEAKER AT THE SEATTLE GIRLS
SCHOOL FOR ONE OF THEIR
COMMUNITY MEETINGS.
THEY LIKE TO HAVE THEIR YOUNG
PEOPLE TALK WITH FOLKS WHO ARE
INVOLVED IN LOCAL GOVERNMENT
AND TO SHAPE OUR POLICIES, SO
THEY'VE INVITED ME TO JOIN
THEM.
LOOKING FORWARD TO THAT.
AND LASTING FOR ME, SINCE NEXT
WEEK'S BRIEFING IS CANCELED, I
DO WANT TO LET FOLKS KNOW THAT
ON MARCH 29th I'LL BE HOSTING
THE NEXT PANEL DISCUSSIN OF
OUR SEATTLE WITHIN REACH SERIES.
THEY'LL BE DISCUSSING THE
INTERSECTION OF ARTS AND THE
COMPREHENSIVE PLAN, SO REALLY
LOOKING FORWARD TO THAT
DISCUSSION.
WE WILL HAVE CHECO PHILLIPS,
WHO IS A PROGRAM DIRECTOR AT
FORT CULTURE, BRANDY ENGSTROM
FROM THIRD WAVE CREATIVE AND
ERIC AGUAYO, WHO IS THE
COPRESIDENT OF CALLE 24, WHICH
IS A LATINO CULTURAL DISTRICT
IN THE MISSION, AND SAN
FRANCISCO.
SO I'M REALLY LOOKING FORWARD TO
THAT DISCUSSION, AND TO HEARING
MORE ABOUT HOW OUR ARTS SECTOR
REALLY NEEDS US TO BE PAYING
ATTENTION TO THEM, AS WE ARE
DOING OUR COMPREHENSIVE
PLANNING.
BECAUSE AS I'VE SAID MANY TIMES
BEFORE, OUR ARTISTS ALSO NEED
AFFORDABLE PRODUCTION SPACE,
AFFORDABLE REHEARSAL SPACE, AND
PLACES TO PRACTICE THEIR ART AND
PERFORM FOR THE COMMUNITY.
SO LOOKING FORWARD TO THAT
DISCUSSION.
THAT'S ALL I HAVE, COLLEAGUES.
IF I DON'T SEE ANY HANDS -- SO
I WILL PASS IT TO COUNCILMEMBER
MOSQUEDA.
>> THANK YOU VERY MUCH,
COUNCILMEMBER MORALES.
AND I WANT TO COME WITH YOU ON
ONE OF THESE BIKE RIDES SOON .
SO PLEASE LET ME KNOW, AND
FOLKS ARE LISTENING --
>> THAT SOUNDS GREAT.
>> MAYBE ON A SUNNY, SUNNY DAY,
THOUGH.
>> I'LL LET YOU NOW I'M NOT
GOING.
>> WENA FRIDAY IN YOUR HONOR.
>> EXCELLENT.
THANK YOU COLLEAGUES.
WE DID HAVE A SPECIAL FINANCE
AND HOUSING COMMITTEE MEETING
THIS MORNING, WHERE WE HAD A
GOOD DISCUSSION.
WE VOTED ON A HANDFUL OF ITEMS
THAT INCLUDES THE ESTABLISHMENT
OF LABOR STANDARDS REQUIREMENTS
FOR PAID SICK AND SAFE LEAVE FOR
APP BASED WORKERS IN SEATTLE.
VERY GOOD DISCUSSION AND REALLY
APPRECIATE THE VOTE OUT OF
COMMITTEE.
IF YOU HAVE ANY QUESTIONS ABOUT
THE LEGISLATION, AND YOU'D LIKE
TO TALK ABOUT IT MORE BEFORE
NEXT TUESDAY'S VOTE, PLEASE DO.
LET ME OR MY OFFICE ASSISTANT
ALONG WITH KARINA BULL, THE
MAYOR PARTNERS AND THE
EXECUTIVE TEAM PARTNERS AS
WEARABLE AS CARAMEL LEADERS
FROM THE OFFICE OF LABOR
STANDARDS AND RIHANNA THOMAS
FROM THE MAYOR'S OFFICE.
IT'S A JOINT EFFORT HERE AND
I'M REALLY EXCITED TO BE ABLE
TO PASS THESE PROTECTIONS INTO
STATUTE.
AS WE KNOW, SICKNESS CONTINUES
TO PLAGUE US, WHETHER OR NOT
IT'S CODED OR NOT.
THE OTHER ITEM THAT WE VOTED
OUT OF COMMITTEE THIS MORNING
WAS THE MULTI FAMILY TAX
EXEMPTION FOR HOUSING
PROPERTIES.
THIS IS AN EXTENSION OF THE
PROGRAM, SO THAT WE HAVE
ANOTHER YEAR TO REALLY WORK ON
POLICY PROPOSALS AND NEW
CHANGES AND ENHANCEMENTS WE'D
LIKE TO SEE TO THE PROGRAM.
THAT WILL TAKE PLACE IN 2024.
THIS IS ALLOWANCE OF A
CONTINUED POLICY FOR THE NEXT
YEAR INSTEAD OF HAVING IT
EXPIRE AT THE END OF NEXT YEAR.
REALLY WANT TO GET THIS OUT OF
OUR COMMITTEE BEFORE WE TAKE ON
THE HOUSING LEVEE AND OTHER
ITEMS THROUGHOUT THE REST OF
THE YEAR.
THANK YOU COLLEAGUES FOR THE
SUPPORT FOR THE LEGISLATION.
WE WILL SEEK TO HAVE A REPORT
IN OUR COMMITTEE ON THE M FTP
PROGRAM REVIEW LATER THIS LATE
SUMMER OR EARLY FALL, AS YOU
HEARD IN MY COMMITTEE TODAY
THERE'S ALSO A NUMBER OF
PROTECTIONS THAT WE INCLUDED IN
2019 LEGISLATION THAT WILL
CONTINUE AS A REQUIREMENT FOR
THE EXTENSION THAT WE
AUTHORIZED IN COMMITTEE THIS
MORNING.
THE THIRD ITEM THAT WE PASSED
OUT OF COMMITTEE WAS THE 2023
GRANT ACCEPTANCE ORDINANCE.
THIS IS OUR ANNUAL GRANT
ACCEPTANCE ORDINANCE FROM OTHER
GOVERNMENT AND PRIVATE ENTITIES
WHO PROVIDE GRANTS TO THE CITY,
THAT IS OUTSIDE OF OUR NORMAL
BUDGETING PROCESS.
WE GO THROUGH A PROCESS OF
REVIEWING THOSE TO MAKE SURE WE
ARE FULLY AWARE OF PROVIDING
TRANSPARENCY TO THE PUBLIC, AND
I WANT TO THANK COUNCILMEMBERS
HERBOLD AND PEDERSEN FOR THEIR
AMENDMENT TODAY REGARDING ONE
OF THE SPD RELATED ITEMS , AND
THE SUPPORT FOR THAT AMENDMENT,
AS WELL.
THAT IS -- THAT WAS PASSED OUT
OF COMMITTEE AND UP FOR A VOTE
NEXT TUESDAY.
AND THEN FINALLY WE HAD A
BRIEFING ON THE SEATTLE RESCUE
PLAN, THE 2022 YEAR-END REPORT,
AND WE HAVE A LOT OF
APPRECIATION FOR CENTRAL STAFF
AND THE CBO OFFICE, WHO
CONTINUE TO TRACK THOSE
EXPENSES, MAKING SURE THE
ENCUMBERED EXPENSES ARE BEING
REPORTED AND THAT IF THERE'S
FUNDING SITTING AROUND, THAT WE
ARE MAKING SURE WE ARE
EXPEDITING THE PROCESS TO GET
T OUT.
THE GOOD NEWS IS WE ARE AHEAD
OF THE PACK ACROSS THE NATION
WITH GETTING THE FUNDING FROM
THE AMERICAN RESCUE PLAN ACT
AND OTHER COVID RELATED
EXPENSES OUT OF THE DOOR, AND
HAVE BEEN VERY APPRECIATIVE OF
THE CITY'S BUDGET OFFENSE,
RESPONSE TO THE COUNCIL'S
REQUEST TO HAVE HIS REGULAR
MONTHLY REPORTS, QUARTERLY
UPDATES IN OUR COMMITTEE, AND
YEAR-END REPORTS, AS WELL.
WE HAVE ASKED FOR A SUMMARY
DATE SO THAT YOU CAN SING THE
PRAISES OF THE WORK WE'VE DONE
FOR THE SEATTLE RESCUE PLANS,
PLURAL, AT LEAST THREE OR FOUR
OF THOSE IN THE LAST THREE
YEARS, AND LOOK FORWARD TO
GETTING THOSE SUMMARY DOCUMENTS
SO WE COULD REALLY HIGHLIGHT
THE WORK WE'VE DONE IN SEATTLE.
OUR NEXT FINANCE AND HOUSING
COMMITTEE MEETING IS NOT
SCHEDULED UNTIL MAY 17th, AT
9:30 A.M.
WE HAVE DECIDED TO CONVERT ALL
OF OUR FINANCE AND HOUSING
MEETINGS THAT ARE REGULARLY
SCHEDULED BETWEEN THE BEGINNING
OF APRIL AND THE END OF JUNE TO
BE THE SELECT HOUSING LEVEE
COMMITTEE.
THAT IS A COMMITTEE OF THE
WHOLE.
SO IF YOU HAVE NOT ALREADY
RECEIVED A CALENDAR HOLD FOR
THOSE COMMITTEE MEETINGS, WE
WILL MAKE SURE THAT THAT DOES
GET ON YOUR AGENDA.
BUT I BELIEVE THAT HAS TO BE
REPORTED OUT IN THE L.A.
MEETINGS.
THIS IS AN OPPORTUNITY FOR US
FOR THE THREE MONTH PERIOD
BETWEEN APRIL 5th AND JUNE 27th
TO REALLY DEDICATE ALL OF WHAT
WOULD'VE BEEN OUR FINANCE AND
HOUSING COMMITTEE TIMES TWO
DISCUSSING THE HOUSING LEVEE
THAT IS GOING TO BE ON THE
NOVEMBER BALLOT THIS YEAR,
ONCE THE COUNCIL PRESENTED TO
THE VOTERS.
SO AGAIN, WE WILL INITIATE THE
DISCUSSION ON APRIL 5th.
WE WILL HAVE THE LEGISLATION IN
FRONT OF US LATER IN APRIL AND
REALLY HAVE AN OPPORTUNITY TO
HAVE ROBUST DISCUSSION WITH
COMMUNITY PARTNERS AS WELL, IN
MAY AND JUNE.
THAT'S REALLY EXCITING.
BUT WE WANTED TO MAKE SURE WE
KEEP THE MAY 17th MEETING ON
THE BOOKS BECAUSE THIS WILL
OFFER US AN OPPORTUNITY TO GET
AN UPDATE FROM CENTRAL STAFF ON
THE RECENT REVENUE FORECAST
COUNCIL REPORT.
WE ALSO KNOW THE STATE
LEGISLATURE IS IN THE MIDST OF
PROVIDING AN UPDATE OF THE
FORECAST, AS YOU HEARD FROM THE
OIR TEAM THIS MORNING, AND IT
WILL GIVE A BETTER SENSE OF HOW
TO INCORPORATE FEEDBACK FROM
CBO AND CENTRAL STAFF ON OTHER
REVENUE STREAMS THAT WERE NOT
PART OF THE REVENUE FORECAST
REPORT IN THE LAST TWO WEEKS
HERE, SO THAT WE REALLY HAVE A
ROBUST PICTURE OF WHAT REVENUE
STREAMS ARE CHANGING AND ANY
ADAPTATIONS THE COUNCIL MAY
NEED TO MAKE REGARDING '23 OR
'24.
SO AGAIN, BE ON THE LOOKOUT FOR
THE SELECT HOUSING LEVY
COMMITTEE MEETINGS TO BE ON
YOUR CALENDARS BETWEEN APRIL,
MAY, AND JUNE, AND FOR THE
FINANCE AND HOUSING COMMITTEE
MEETINGS MAY 17th AT 9:30 A.M.
IN OTHER DATES, I MAY BE
JOINING OTHER COLLEAGUES -- I'M
NOT QUITE SURE WHO'S COMING,
BUT WE ARE GOING TO GO TO THE
NATIONAL LEAGUE OF CITIES
CONFERENCE IN WASHINGTON, D.C.
I WILL BE TAKEN OFF A LITTLE
EARLY FOR THE BOARD MEETING,
WHICH IS ON FRIDAY.
I WILL ALSO BE HAVING THE
OPPORTUNITIES TO MEET WITH
CONGRESSIONAL MEMBERS THERE.
I'LL BE HIGHLIGHTING OUR
AMERICAN RESCUE ACT PLAN
INVESTMENTS AND APPLAUDING THEM
FOR THE DIRECT FUNDING TO THE
CITY.
THIS IS RELATIVELY UNIQUE IN
THE HISTORY OF NATIONAL FUNDING
DIRECTLY TO LARGE CITIES LIKE
SEATTLE AND I WANT TO SHOWCASE
HOUSE ARREST SUCCESSFUL THAT
DIRECT INFUSION OF CASH HAS
BEEN IN SEATTLE.
WE'LL ALSO BE LIFTING UP SOME
OF THE EARMARK REQUESTS FOR
SOME OF THE SPENDING PATCHES
THAT ARE MOVING FORWARD FOR THE
CITY OF SEATTLE, AND I'M REALLY
EXCITED TO DISCUSS WHAT OUR
CITY HAS BEEN WORKING ON
COLLECTIVELY.
SO THE NATIONAL LEAGUE OF
CITIES, EITHER FOLKS HERE OR
ACROSS THE STATE, I LOOK
FORWARD TO SEEING YOU ALL
THERE.
FINALLY, NOT FINALLY, SECOND TO
LAST, I HAVE AN UPDATE THAT I
WANTED TO SHARE WITH ALL.
IF YOU DID NOT SEE THAT OUR
VERY OWN JOSEPH E HALF FROM THE
COMMUNICATIONS STAFF, FROM
SEATTLE CITY COUNCIL'S
COMMUNICATION DEPARTMENT, HE
HAS WON THE BLUE PENCIL AND
GOLDEN SCREEN AWARD FROM THE
NATIONAL ASSOCIATION OF
GOVERNMENT COMMUNICATORS.
THIS WAS A SPECIFIC AWARD FOR
HIS WORK THAT HE DID ON THE
BUDGET TRANSPARENCY EFFORTS,
THE SOCIAL MEDIA EFFORTS, THE
SPECIFIC WEBSITE, THE
INTERACTIVE TOOLS THAT HE
CREATED.
ALL OF YOU APPLAUDED HIS WORK
OVER THE LAST THREE YEARS. AS
WE'VE BEEN BUDGET CHAIR, WE'VE
BEEN REALLY TRYING TO PROVIDE
GREATER TRANSPARENCY HERE, AND
IT WOULD NOT HAVE BEEN POSSIBLE
WITHOUT JOSEPH P HAAS CONCEPT
OF HOW TO COMMUNICATE THIS OUT
TO THE GENERAL PUBLIC, AND
REALLY MAKE IT AN INTERACTIVE
TOOL, NOT JUST FOR THE PUBLIC
BUT FOR US, TOO, SO WE CAN
QUICKLY SCROLL THROUGH IT AND
SEE WHO WAS PROPOSING
AMENDMENTS, AND WHAT THE FINAL
PRODUCT LOOKED LIKE.
WE HAVE HELPED TO DECONSTRUCT
WHAT THE PROCESS IS FOR THE
CITY'S BUDGET, AND THE AWARD TO
JOSEPH E HALF FROM THE NATIONAL
ASSOCIATION OF GOVERNMENT
COMMUNICATORS IS VERY WELL
DESERVED.
THIS IS SPECIFIC TO THE 23-24
BIENNIAL BUDGET PROCESS, AND
AGAIN, CONGRATULATIONS TO HIM.
THANK YOU FOR YOUR WORK TO HELP
MAKE THIS COMPLEX, SOMEWHAT
BUREAUCRATIC PROCESS MORE
ACCESSIBLE AND DIGESTIBLE AND
CONGRATS ON YOUR BLUE PENCIL
AND GOLD SCREEN AWARD.
OKAY.
I HAVE ONE MORE ANNOUNCEMENT.
COLLEAGUES, WITH OUR PASSAGE OF
THE SICK LEAVE LEGISLATION THIS
MORNING, NOT ONLY IS THIS
HISTORIC IN TERMS OF THE
PROTECTIONS THAT IT OFFERS FOR
WORKERS THEMSELVES, FOR THE
BROADER PUBLIC HEALTH, AND THE
PUBLIC GOOD, INVESTMENTS IN OUR
COMMUNITY HEALTH AND ALSO IN
OUR LOCAL ECONOMY, A GREAT
REASON TO CELEBRATE ALONE.
BUT ANOTHER GREAT REASON THAT
IS AN OPPORTUNITY FOR US TO
COLLECTIVELY CELEBRATE IS THAT
THIS WAS THE LAST PIECE OF
WORKER PROTECTION LEGISLATION,
NOW GOING INTO NEAR SIX YEARS
OF WORK IN OUR OFFICE, SERVING
AS CHIEF OF STAFF, HAS LED ON
LABOR RELATIONS, BUDGET
PROCEDURES, REVENUE REFORM, AND
A NUMBER OF OTHER ISSUES, AND
WE ARE VERY EXCITED FOR HER.
SHE THINGS ABOUT WHAT IS NEXT
FOR HER AFTER CITY COUNCIL AND
IT HAS BEEN AN HONOR OF MIND TO
HAVE HER AS CHIEF OF STAFF IN
MY OFFICE.
I TOLD HER THAT EVERY MINUTE
SHE WORKS FOR THAT OFFICE HAS
BEEN A GIFT, SO I THANK HER FOR
ALL OF HER WORK, HER TENACITY
IN GETTING POLICY THROUGH, HER
COMMITMENT TO COLLABORATION AND
HER DOGGEDNESS WHEN IT COMES TO
STAKEHOLDER RING.
YOU WILL NEVER SECOND-GUESS
THAT A POLICY HAS BEEN
STAKEHOLDERED IN OUR OFFICE
BECAUSE OF COMMITMENT TO THAT
ON ALL THE ITEMS THAT SHE
CHARGES.
SO WE WILL HAVE A PROCLAMATION,
PROBABLY NO SURPRISE TO SAY I
WANT TO HIGHLIGHT ALL OF THAT
WORK AND WE WILL SEND THAT
AROUND TO ALL OF YOU TO BE ABLE
TO SIGN ONTO IF YOU WOULD LIKE
THROUGHOUT THE COURSE OF NEXT
WEEK, AND THEN WE WILL HAVE AN
OPPORTUNITY, IT SOUNDS LIKE
MAYBE TO SIGN ON TO THAT ON THE
APRIL 3rd DAY, WHICH IS
FANTASTIC, BECAUSE OUR HOPE WAS
TO HAVE APRIL 6th, HER LAST DAY
IN THE OFFICE, AND WE WILL MAKE
SURE TO SEND THAT TO THE FLOOR
AND THE EXECUTIVE AND OUR
COMMUNITY PARTNERS AS WELL, A
CHANCE TO CELEBRATE HER ON
APRIL 6. THANKS SO MUCH FOR ALL
THE WORK YOU'VE DONE AND WE'LL
SEND THE INFORMATION AROUND TO
ALL OF YOU AS WELL, ABOUT THE
PROCLAMATION AND THE
CELEBRATION THAT WE ANTICIPATE
COMING UP THAT FIRST WEEK OF
APRIL.
THANK YOU VERY MUCH,
COLLEAGUES.
>>> SENA QUESTIONS, I'M GOING
TO TURN IT TO COUNCILMEMBER
NELSON PURCHASED THE MYKAEL
WRIGHT, HELLO EVERYBODY.
HAPPY SPRING.
THE ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT
TECHNOLOGY AND CITY LIGHT
COMMITTEE WILL MEET ON
WEDNESDAY, AND THERE ARE TWO
ITEMS ON THE AGENDA.
THE FIRST WILL BE ANOTHER SMALL
BUSINESS ROUNDTABLE, THIS TIME
WITH A PANEL OF SMALL HOUSING
PROVIDERS, WHICH IS A STATEMENT
TO THE SMALL BUSINESS COMMUNITY
THAT MY 2022 AND 2023 WORK
PLANS IDENTIFIED FOR ATTENTION
AND SUPPORT.
SO FOR CONTEXT, LAST YEAR ON
FEBRUARY 9th, THE COMMITTEE
HOSTED A PANEL OF NEIGHBORHOOD
SMALL BUSINESS OWNERS AND
REPRESENTATIVES TO TALK ABOUT
CRIME AND ITS IMPACT ON THEIR
WORKERS AND CUSTOMERS AND
LIVELIHOODS. AND THAT
CONVERSATION SURFACED SEVERAL
RECOMMENDATIONS, TWO OF WHICH
WERE IMPLEMENTED, WHICH WERE
CASE CONFERENCING AND THE
STOREFRONT REPAIR FUND.
SO ANYWAY, SMALL HOUSING
PROVIDERS OCCUPY A REALLY
CRUCIAL NICHE OF OUR HOUSING
ECOSYSTEM, BECAUSE THEY PROVIDE
A SUBSTANTIAL PORTION OF
SEATTLE'S BELOW MARKET RATE
HOUSING OPTIONS, INCLUDING MOST
OF THE MULTI-BEDROOM RENTALS
THAT FAMILIES AND STUDENTS CAN
AFFORD.
RETAINING THAT HOUSING STOCK IS
KEY TO OUR HOUSING AND ANTI-
DISPLACEMENT GOALS, AND SO THIS
WILL BE AN OPPORTUNITY TO HEAR
DIRECTLY FROM PROVIDERS ABOUT
SOME OF THE CHALLENGES THAT
THEY FACE STAYING IN BUSINESS
WITH OUR CITY, AND THEY'LL ALSO
PRESENT THIS PARTICULAR SECTOR
OF OUR HOUSING MARKET, AND JUST
TALK ABOUT WAYS THAT THE CITY
CAN SUPPORT THEM GOING FORWARD.
THE SECOND ITEM ON OUR AGENDA
IS A BRIEFING DISCUSSION AND
POSSIBLE VOTE ON COUNCIL HILL
120532, WHICH WOULD AUTHORIZE
CITY LIGHT TO JOIN THE WESTERN
RESOURCE ADEQUACY PROGRAM, OR
WRAP.
RAP IS A NEW VOLUNTARY RESOURCE
ADEQUACY PLANNING AND
COMPLIANCE PROGRAM IN THE
WESTERN UNITED STATES, WHICH
UNITES MULTIPLE PARTICIPATING
UTILITIES.
THE PURPOSE OF THE PROGRAM IS
TO MAKE SURE WE HAVE ENOUGH
RESOURCES TO PROVIDE ELECTRIC
SERVICE UNDER A RANGE OF
CONDITIONS OR SCENARIOS WITH A
SUFFICIENT DEGREE OF
RELIABILITY AND STABILITY.
CITY LIGHT BRIEFED THE
COMMITTEE ABOUT THIS PROGRAM ON
JANUARY 11th IN OUR MEETING,
AND THEY DID THAT IN
ANTICIPATION OF THIS
LEGISLATION ONCE FEDERAL
APPROVAL OF THE TERMS OF THIS
PROGRAM HAD BEEN RECEIVED, AND
THAT HAPPENED LAST MONTH.
CITY LIFE AND ERIC McCONAGHY OF
CENTRL STAFF CIRCULATED MEMOS
EXPLAINING THE DETAILS OF THE
PROGRAM AND THE LEGISLATION TO
COMMITTEE MEMBERS.
SO IF YOU WOULD LIKE MORE
INFORMATION, YOU CAN REACH OUT
TO ERIC FOR THAT, AND PEOPLE
THAT ARE NOT ON THE COMMITTEE,
YOU'RE WELCOME TO THIS
INFORMATION, AS WELL, SO JUST
ASK.
MEETINGS I TOOK LAST WEEK,
LET'S SEEK.
ON MARCH 14th MY STAFF AND I
ATTENDED DOWNTOWN SEATTLE
ASSOCIATION'S 2023 STATE OF
DOWNTOWN, AND DSA PRESIDENT
JOHN SCHOOLS PROVIDED THE STATE
OF DOWNTOWN ADDRESS, AND A
COUPLE DATA POINTS FROM
DOWNTOWN'S REPORT CARD CAUGHT
MY ATTENTION.
A RECORD HIGH OF 104,000
RESIDENTS NOW CALL DOWNTOWN
HOME.
MORE THAN 330,000 JOBS ARE
LOCATED DOWNTOWN, WHICH IS 55%
OF SEATTLE'S TOTAL JOBS. AND
OFFICE WORKERS FOOT TRAFFIC
REACHED 47%, UP 15% AT THE
HEIGHT OF THE PANDEMIC.
SO I DON'T KNOW WHAT GRADE
SEATTLE WOULD GET ON THAT LAST
POINT, BUT IT'S BELOW AVERAGE.
SO JOHN ISSUED BASICALLY A CALL
TO ACTION FOR CITY LEADERS TO
STEP UP TO THE PLATE AND
ACCELERATE EFFORTS ON DOWNTOWN
REVITALIZATION, AND HE
IDENTIFIED FOUR PRIORITY AREAS,
WHICH CAN BE BOILED DOWN TO
MAKE STREETS SAFER, TAKE THE
LEAD ON GREEN WORKERS BACK TO
THE OFFICE, INCENTIVIZE NEW
OFFICES TO LOCATE DOWNTOWN,
BECAUSE IF SAN FRANCISCO CAN DO
IT, WHY CAN'T WE?
AND FINALLY, PET PERMITTING
REDTAPE.
AND YOU HEARD ME TALK ABOUT
SOME OF THESE PRIORITIES FOR
THE PAST YEAR OR SO, SO I
SUPPORT THEM 100%.
WHILE WE'RE WAITING FOR THE
MAYOR TO DEVELOP THE DOWNTOWN
ACTIVATION PLAN, WE CAN WORK
INTERDEPARTMENTAL EON THESE
GOALS BECAUSE WE CAN DO THEM
RIGHT NOW.
SO I SUPPORT TAKING TO HEART
THESE RECOMMENDATIONS.
AND I WILL NOTE THAT BOTH JOHN
SCHOOLS AND THE KEYNOTE SPEAKER
ED GLAESER ENDED ON A HIGH
NOTE, WHICH IS THAT -- AND THEY
WENT THROUGH PERIODS OF
SEATTLE'S HISTORY AND NOTED
THAT WE'VE GONE THROUGH A LOT
OF CHALLENGES IN THE PAST.
THE FIRE, AND THE BUILDING THE
SPACE NEEDLE IN RECORD TIME, ET
CETERA.
SO WE CAN DO IT IF WE FOCUS AND
ALL WORK TOGETHER, THAT WAS THE
TAKE AWAY OF THE EVENT, AS
WELL.
OKAY.
AND IN ADDITION LAST WEEK MY
CHIEF OF STAFF JEREMY MOON
ATTENDED A PANEL DISCUSSION
WITH LOCAL ARTS AND CULTURE
LEADERS HOSTED BY WASHINGTON AND
CONGRESSWOMAN PRAMILA JAYAPAL.
AND HIS REPORT BACK TO THE
OFFICE, HE NOTED THAT ELLEN
WALKER, WHOSE EXECUTIVE
DIRECTOR FOR THE PACIFIC
NORTHWEST L.A.
POSED A REALLY IMPORTANT
QUESTION TO THE CONGRESSWOMAN
ON HOW TO ADVANCE THE NARRATIVE
IN OUR ADVOCACY OF ARTS AND
CULTURE THAT IT'S NOT JUST NICE
TO HAVE ARTS AND CULTURE, THESE
ORGANIZATIONS ARE ECONOMIC
DRIVERS IN OUR CITY.
AND SO, IT'S HOW DO WE ADVANCE
THAT NARRATIVE, AND ALSO IT
DOVETAILS OF COURSE WITH
DOWNTOWN REVITALIZATION, AS
MANY OF THESE ORGANIZATIONS ARE
LOCATED DOWNTOWN.
AND CONGRESSWOMAN CHAYA PAUL
AGREED, AND SHE SAID WE NEED TO
REFRAME THE CONVERSATION AROUND
ARTS AND CULTURE AS AN ECONOMIC
DRIVER BUT ALSO AS SOMETHING
TRANSFORMATIVE.
SHE RECALLED THAT DURING THE
PANDEMIC, ARTS AND CULTURE
ORGANIZATIONS GOT REALLY
CREATIVE WITH THE WAYS IN WHICH
PEOPLE COULD INTERACT WITH ART
AND CULTURE, AND THE
ORGANIZATIONS FROM HOME, AND
ALLOWED US TO FILE RANGE OF
EMOTIONS DURING WHAT WAS A
REALLY DIFFICULT TIME.
AND I HAD TO SAY, I COULDN'T
AGREE MORE, AND NAN WAS
REPRESENTED ON THE PANEL, AS
WELL, AND I'VE BEEN WORKING TO
SECURE FEDERAL FUNDING FOR
VETERAN ORGANIZATIONS, THAT
THEY CAN CONTINUE AFTER THE
PANDEMIC AND STRENGTH.
AND I LOOK FORWARD TO ADDING MY
VOICE TO THE REFRAMING OF THIS
CONVERSATION.
AND THEN FINALLY, MEETINGS I
HAVE THIS WEEK, I -- ON
WEDNESDAY I'LL BE ATTENDING THE
FRED HUTCH RIBBON-CUTTING EVENT
CELEBRATING THE OPENING OF THE
NEW SOUTH LAKE UNION CLINIC,
AND I ALSO WROTE -- I THINK
IT'S DUE THIS WEEK, I'M A
LITTLE BIT -- I WROTE A LETTER
IN SUPPORT OF FEDERAL
APPROPRIATION FUNDING FOR
COMMUNITY GROUPS HOUSING, AND
IF FUNDED, THIS WILL HELP
ENSURE THAT THESE PROPERTIES
REMAIN AFFORDABLE FOR THE LONG
HAUL AND THAT THE RESIDENCE CAN
CONTINUE TO LIVE IN SAFE,
AFFORDABLE HOUSING.
AND THAT IS IT FOR ME.
ARE THERE ANY QUESTIONS?
SEEING NONE, I WILL HANDLE MIKE
TO COUNCILMEMBER PEDERSEN.
>> THANK YOU, COUNCILMEMBER.
GOOD AFTERNOON, COLLEAGUES.
THERE ARE NO ITEMS FROM THE
TRANSPORTATION AND SEATTLE
PUBLIC UTILITIES COMMITTEE ON
THE FULL COUNCIL AGENDA
TOMORROW AFTERNOON.
OUR NEXT MEETING OF THE
TRANSPORTATION AND SEATTLE
PUBLIC UTILITIES COMMITTEE WILL
BE TOMORROW, TUESDAY MARCH 21st
AT 9:30 A.M.
WE HAVE THREE ITEMS ON OUR
COMMITTEE AGENDA.
WE WILL HAVE A BRIEFING AND
DISCUSSION ON OUR -- WITH OUR
CITY OFFICER AND S.TO UPDATE US
ON PROGRESS S.HAS MADE IN
MAINTAINING 10 RECOMMENDATIONS
FROM THE SEPTEMBER 2020 AUDIT
OF SEATTLE AND BRIDGES.
AS YOU MAY RECALL, WE ORDERED
THIS AUDIT OF CITY-OWNED
BRIDGES AFTER THE SUDDEN
CRACKING AND CLOSURE ON THE
WEST SEATTLE BRIDGE IN EARLY
2020.
THE CITY AUDIT FOUND SEVERAL
BRIDGES IN POOR AND SUBOPTIMAL
PHYSICAL CONDITION.
ONE OF THE KEY FINDINGS IS THAT
REPAIR AND MAINTENANCE OF OUR
BRIDGES HAS BEEN HISTORICALLY
UNDERFUNDED.
OTHER THEMES OF THE AUDIT
INCLUDED THE NEED TO IMPROVE
OVERALL ASSET MANAGEMENT ACHES
AND PROCEDURES.
IN 2015 THE MOVE SEATTLE
PROPERTY TAX LEVY PROMISED
INVESTMENTS AND BRIDGES, AND
DURING THE PAST TWO YEARS THE
COUNCIL HAS TAKEN THE
INITIATIVE ON MULTIPLE
OCCASIONS TO INCREASE FUNDING
FOR BRIDGES.
SO MANY THANKS TO THE SEATTLE
RESIDENTS WHO HAVE WRITTEN TO
THE COMMITTEE ABOUT THE NEED TO
DO MORE FOR BRIDGES THAT
CONNECT OUR COMMUNITIES,
SUPPORT ALL MODES OF
TRANSPORTATION, AND ENABLE OUR
ECONOMIC RECOVERY.
WE'LL ALSO HAVE AN AUDIT
BRIEFING FROM S.TO DISCUSS THE
REACTION TO THEIR RECENTLY
COMPLETED FEDERAL AUDIT THAT
MENTIONED SEVERAL S.PROJECTS.
AS YOU MAY RECALL, THE SEATTLE
TIMES POSTED AN ARTICLE LAST
MONTH DESCRIBING PARTS OF THAT
FEDERAL GOVERNMENT 46 PAGE AUDIT
. THAT AUDIT WAS CONDUCTED BY
THE INSPECTOR GENERAL AT THE
U.S. DEPARTMENT OF
TRANSPORTATION, AND ITS
RECOMMENDATIONS WERE DIRECTED
AT VARIOUS ADMINISTRATORS
WITHIN THAT FEDERAL DEPARTMENT.
BUT THE REPORT HAS POTENTIAL
FUNDING IMPLICATIONS FOR
SEATTLE.
I'VE ASKED OUR CITY AUDITOR TO
JOIN US AT THE COMMITTEE TABLE
IN CASE THEY CAN LEND
ADDITIONAL EXPERTISE REGARDING
THIS FEDERAL AUDIT WORK, AND I
ALSO SPOKE TO THE U.S.
INSPECTOR GENERAL'S OFFICE
AFTER THE REPORT WAS PUBLISHED.
THEY CAN FROM THE U.S. DOT MUST
RESUME ALL THESE CONCERNS BY
DECEMBER 31st OF THIS YEAR.
AND FINALLY OUR TRANSPORTATION
COMMITTEE WILL HAVE A BRIEFING
AND DISCUSSION FROM CITY
COUNCIL CENTRAL STAFF ON
TRANSPORTATION PROJECTS THAT
COULD BE BUILT IF WE MOVE AHEAD
WITH A FUNDING SOURCE THAT IS
USED IN 70 OTHER WASHINGTON
STATE CITIES AND ACROSS THE
NATION.
THESE ARE OF COURSE
TRANSPORTATION IMPACT FEES, IN
ADDITION TO AN OVERVIEW
REMINDER OF WHAT IMPACT THESE
ARE, HOW THEY WORK ELSEWHERE,
WE'LL HIGHLIGHT THE MANY
MULTIMODAL TRANSPORTATION
PROJECTS THROUGHOUT THE CITY
THAT WOULD BE ELIGIBLE FOR SUCH
FUNDING.
THIS IS MERELY FOLLOWING
THROUGH ON A COMMITMENT THE
COUNCIL MADE AND REPEATED
NEARLY EVERY YEAR SINCE 2017 TO
KEEP THIS FUNDING OPTION
VIABLE.
BUT FOR MORE INFORMATION, YOU
CAN GO TO COUNCIL'S WEBSITE,
SEATTLE.GOV/COUNSEL/ISSUES/
IMPACT-FEES.
LAST WEEK I ATTENDED THE KING
COUNTY REGIONAL TRANSIT
COMMITTEE.
WE RECEIVED AN UPDATE FROM THE
NEW GENERAL MANAGER OF KING
COUNTY METRO, MICHELLE ALLISON.
THE SOBERING NEWS IS THAT BUS
RIDERSHIP IS STILL DOWN ROUGHLY
50% FROM ITS PEAK IN 2019, BUT
THE GOOD NEWS IS THAT IT HAS
INCREASED YEAR TO DATE THIS
YEAR AS COMPARED TO THE SAME
PERIOD LAST YEAR.
I CONTINUE TO SERVE ON THE
REGIONAL WATER QUALITY
COMMITTEE, WHICH IS PART OF MY
WORK WITH SEATTLE PUBLIC
UTILITIES.
LAST WEEK WE LEARNED THE GOOD
NEWS, THAT KING COUNTY
WASTEWATER TREATMENT DIVISION
ADJUSTED THEIR CAPITAL BUDGET
ASSUMPTIONS SO THEY COULD
MAINTAIN THEIR PROMISED RATE
FOR 2024.
THIS IS IMPORTANT FOR OUR
SEATTLE CONSTITUENTS BECAUSE
ROUGHLY 1/3 OF OUR BILLS FROM
SEATTLE PUBLIC UTILITIES ARE
ACTUALLY PASSED THROUGH TO US
BY KING COUNTY FOR WASTEWATER
TREATMENT.
SO WHEN KING COUNTY STICKS TO
ITS GREAT PROMISES, THAT
ENABLES SEATTLE PUBLIC
UTILITIES AND THE CITY COUNCIL
TO STICK TO OUR GREAT PROMISES.
THAT CONCLUDES MY REPORT.
ANY QUESTIONS BEFORE WE GO TO
COUNCILMEMBER SAWANT?
THANK YOU.
>> THANK YOU, COUNCIL MEMBER
PEDERSEN.
GOOD AFTERNOON, EVERYONE.
THERE ARE NO ITEMS ON
TOMORROW'S CITY COUNCIL AGENDA
FROM THE SUSTAINABILITY AND
RENTERS RIGHTS COMMITTEE.
THE COMMITTEE MET LAST FRIDAY,
MARCH 17th, AND DISCUSSED THE
LEGISLATION FROM MY OFFICE TO
CAP LATE FEES FOR RENTERS, FOR
LATE RENT PAYMENT FOR RENTERS
AT $10 A MONTH.
IT WAS AN EXTENSIVE DISCUSSION
WITH OVER 30 PEOPLE SPEAKING IN
PUBLIC COMMENT, OVERWHELMINGLY
RENTERS URGING THE COUNCIL TO
REGULATE RENT FEES TO $10 A
MONTH AND TO THEN NOTICE FEES.
WE ALSO HAD A FEW LANDLORDS
PREDICTABLY SPEAKING IN
OPPOSITION TO THE LATE FEE CAP
BUT WHAT'S NOTABLE IS THERE
WERE SMALL LANDLORDS WHO
TESTIFIED IN STRONG SUPPORT OF
THE LATE FEE CAP.
A PANEL OF RENTERS AND
REPRESENTATIVES FROM THE
TENANTS UNION OF WASHINGTON, BE
SEATTLE AND THE HOUSING JUSTICE
PROJECT WORKER PRESENT AT THE
COMMITTEE TABLE, AND THEY
ANSWERED QUESTIONS AND PROVIDED
EXAMPLES OF TRULY OUTRAGEOUS
LATE FEES.
THERE ARE CURRENTLY NO LIMITS
TO THE FEES SEATTLE LANDLORDS
CAN GEORGE RENTERS FOR OVERDUE
RENT, WHICH I HAVE REPORTED IN
PREVIOUS BRIEFING SESSIONS.
SOME RENTERS HAVE TOLD US THEY
ARE CHARGED UPWARDS OF $250 AS
SOON AS RENT IS OVERDUE, AND
MANY LEASES HAVE QUALITIES WHERE
LANDLORDS CAN CHARGE AN
ADDITIONAL $30 OR $40 EVERY DAY
THE RENT IS LATE.
OTHER RENTERS EVEN FACED LATE
FEES AND LATE FEE NOTICE
DELIVERY FEES, WHICH AS I'VE
EXPLAINED, IS AN ADDITIONAL FEE
FOR THE PRIVILEGE OF GETTING A
LATE FEE, YOU KNOW, GETTING A
PIECE OF PAPER THAT TELLS YOU
YOU HAVE TO PAY LATE FEES.
WORKING-CLASS RENTERS, THIS IS
A PUNCH IN THE GUT FOR BEING A
FEW DAYS LATE ON RENT AND FOR
PEOPLE THAT ARE TEMPORARILY
UNABLE TO PAY RENT, LATE FEES
CAN SPIRAL OUT OF CONTROL.
I ENCOURAGE ESPECIALLY
COMMITTEE MEMBERS BUT ALL
COUNCILMEMBERS WHO HAVE
QUESTIONS ABOUT THIS
LEGISLATION WHO WERE NOT AT THE
COMMITTEE, TO WATCH THE VIDEO
OF FRIDAY'S COMMITTEE MEETING,
BECAUSE WE HAD MANY
COUNCILMEMBER QUESTIONS ABOUT
WHAT THE PROBLEMS ARE WITH THE
CURRENT LATE FEE THAT THE CITY
HAS, THAT MANY RENTERS ARE
FORCED TO STOMACH, WHY A GAP AT
$10 A MONTH AS PASSED BY THE
CITIES OF AUBURN AND PEORIA AS
THE MOST PROGRESSIVE POLICY
MEASURE, AND WHAT ACCUMULATING
LATE FEES CAN DO TO A RENTER'S
CREDIT SCORE, AND MOST
CRUCIALLY, THE ROLE THAT LATE
FEES CAN PAY IN LEADING TO
POSSIBLE EVICTION, AS THEY KEEP
ACCUMULATING.
AND WE ALSO TALKED ABOUT WHY
THE QUESTION OF LATE FEES IS
UNRELATED TO THE LANDLORD BEING