>>> ON TODAY'S AGENDA, WE'LL
HAVE TWO ITEMS. THE FIRST IS A
BILL, COUNCIL BILL 120549
INCLUDING A POTENTIAL AMENDMENT
SECONDLY WE WILL BE HEARING A
BRIEFING ON A DRAFT RESOLUTION
ON PAY EQUITY FOR HUMAN SERVICE
CONTRACTORS. THIS HAS NOT BEEN
INTRODUCED AND WE ARE JUST
WORKING TO DAY LIGHT THE
CONCEPTS AND HAVE A DISCUSSION.
WITH THAT, WE'LL APPROVE OUR
AGENDA FOR TODAY'S COMMITTEE
MEETING. HEARING NO OBJECTION,
TODAY'S AGENDA IS ADOPTED. I SE
SOME HANDS UP. IS THERE A
TECHNICAL PROBLEM?
>> YES, WE HAVE AN ISSUE WITH
THE PUBLIC COMMENT FORUM. WE'LL
BE SENDING UPDATES OUT TO THE
PUBLIC COMMENTORS. LOOKS LIKE
THERE'S NOBODY ONLINE YET BUT
THERE'S AN ERROR SO WE'LL BE
ADDRESSING THAT SHORTLY.
>> OKAY. I'LL CONTINUE TO READ
THROUGH THE PUBLIC COMMENT
INSTRUCTIONS AND YOU CAN LET ME
KNOW THE STATUS OF THE EFFORTS.
WE HAVE AN IN-PERSON PUBLIC
SPEAKER AND WE CAN TAKE THAT
PERSON TO BUY YOU SOME MORE TIM
IF NECESSARY.
>> THANK YOU.
>> THANK YOU. AT THIS TIME WE'L
TRANSITION INTO PUBLIC COMMENT.
EACH SPEAKER WILL BE GIVEN ONE
MINUTE TO SPEAK. I WILL
ALTERNATE BETWEEN VIRTUAL AND
IN-PERSON COMMENTORS AND I'LL
CALL ON PEOPLE IN THE ORDER THE
HAVE SIGNED IN. IF YOU HAVE NOT
REGISTERED TO SPEAK, YOU CAN
SIGN UP BEFORE THE END OF THE
PUBLIC COMMENTS SESSION. IF
YOU'RE USING A VIRTUAL OPTION,
YOU'LL HEAR A PROMPT, THEN
YOU'LL NEED TO PRESS STAR SIX I
ORDER TO UNMUTE YOURSELF. BEGIN
BY STATING YOUR NAME AND THE
ITEM YOU'RE ADDRESSING. SPEAKER
WILL HEAR A CHIME WHEN TEN
SECONDS ARE LEFT IN THE ALLOTTE
TIME, SO YOU CAN WRAP UP PUBLIC
COMMENTS. IF NOT ENDED AT THE
END OF THE ALLOTTED TIME, THE
SPEAKER WILL BE MUTED AFTER TEN
SECONDS. AFTER COMPLETING YOUR
PUBLIC COMMENT, PLEASE
DISCONNECT FROM THE LINE BUT
PLEASE CONTINUE FOLLOWING THE
MEETING THROUGH THE SEATTLE
CHANNEL OR LISTENING OPTIONS
INCLUDED ON THE AGENDA. THIS
SAYS WE HAVE 201 PEOPLE SIGNED
UP FOR COMMENT BUT THAT'S A
MISTAKE. WE HAVE 19 SIGNED UP
VIRTUALLY AND ONE PERSON SIGNED
UP IN PERSON. I'LL PAUSE HERE
FOR A MOMENT AND CHECK, HOW ARE
WE DOING?
>> LOOKS LIKE THEY'RE COMING IN
SO THIS COULD TAKE A FEW
MINUTES.
>> OKAY.
>> I HAVE A QUESTION.
>> WOULD IT HELP, IS IT OKAY IF
I MOVE FORWARD AND TAKE THE
IN-PERSON COMMENTOR THAT WE
HAVE?
>> GIVE US A MIN OR TWO TO CATC
UP. THANK YOU.
>> THANK YOU .
>> OKAY, WE ARE GOING TO TAKE
THE ONE PERSON THAT WE HAVE
SIGNED IN FOR IN-PERSON PUBLIC
COMMENT, THEN WE'LL CHECK BACK
WITH THE TECH SIDE. OUR PERSON
HERE IS BAILEY MATEO, THANK YOU
>> CAN YOU HEAR ME? GOOD
MORNING, CHAIR HERBOLD AND
MEMBERS OF THE COMMITTEE. I'M A
RESIDENT OF SOUTHEAST SEATTLE
AND COME TO THE CHAMBER IN
OPPOSITION OF CB 120549 WHICH
SEEKS TO ESTABLISH POLICIES
ALLOWING SPD TO CHARGE
INDIVIDUALS WITH OBSTRUCTING A
PUBLIC OFFICER. THE PREMISE IS
TO EXTEND ENFORCEMENT OF
RESPONDERS BUT WE ALREADY HAVE
REPERCUSSIONS ON THE STATEWIDE
LEVEL FOR THAT RESPONSE. THERE'
A CLEAR PATHWAY WHERE THIS
SERVES AS A COUNTERPROTEST TOOL
AGAINST SPECIFICALLY PROTESTERS
OF COLOR. ASSAULT CHARGE OF A
PUBLIC OFFICER HAVE HISTORICALL
BEEN USED TO SUPPRESS PEOPLE OF
COLOR AND I ASK YOU REJECT THIS
COUNCIL BILL. THANK YOU.
>> THANK YOU. CAN WE TAKE PUBLI
COMMENT?
>> LOOKS LIKE WE'RE OKAY.
>> GREAT, THANK YOU. OUR FIRST
SPEAKER IS JANICE DEGUCCI THEN
ALICE LOCKHART.
>> GOOD MORNING, CHAIR HERBOLD
AND COUNCILMEMBERS. I'M EXHIBIT
DIRECTOR OF NEIGHBORHOOD NOW AN
I'M HERE TO SPEAK IN FAVOR OF
THE WAGE EQUIVALENT FOR SERVICE
WORKERS. I WANT TO THANK THE
COUNCIL FOR SUPPORTING THIS
RESOLUTION LANGUAGE. OVER 350
INDIVIDUALS SPEAK OVER 40
LANGUAGES WITH TRAINING AND
EDUCATION HERE AND IN THEIR HOM
COUNTRIES. THEY WERE ABLE TO
HELP A NEWLY ARRIVED MOM FROM
AFRICA HELP HER CHILD SUCCEED.
THEY WERE ABLE TO HELP AND GET
BENEFITS FOR HELP. I URGE YOU T
SUPPORT THIS FIRST STEP IN WAGE
EQUITY FOR SERVICE PROVIDERS.
>> THANK YOU. NEXT, ALICE
LOCKHART, THEN MARSHA WRIGHT.
>> GOOD MORNING, COMMITTEE. I'M
ASKING YOU TO REJECT COUNCIL
BILL 120549. THIS INCREASES THE
SCOPE IN WHICH OFFICERS CAN USE
OBSTRUCTION CHARGES, USED
DISPROPORTIONATELY AGAINST
PEOPLE OF COLOR AND WOMEN OF
ECONOMIC MEANS. PLEASE REJECT
THIS BILL IF YOU BELIEVE POLICE
USE THREATS OF OBSTRUCTION
CHARGES TO PUNISH PROTESTERS.
PLEASE REJECT THIS BILL IF YOU
HAVE CONCERNS POLICE MAY BE ABL
TO HANDLE PEOPLE AS POLICE
CORESPOND WITH FIRE, BECAUSE
THEY CAN CLEAR THE AREA AND STO
PEOPLE FROM OBSERVING. ALSO I
STRONGLY SUPPORT EQUITABLE PAY
FOR SERVICE WORKERS.
>>> NEXT, MARSHA WRIGHT THEN JE
MUSIA.
>> GOOD MORNING. I'M HERE TODAY
TO SPEAK IN FAVOR OF THE WAGE
EQUITY RESOLUTION BEING
PRESENTED FOR HUMAN SERVICE
WORKERS. I WOULD LIKE TO THANK
COUNCILMEMBER HERBOLD FOR
INTRODUCING THIS. WE HAVE SEEN
MORE FAMILIES AT THE RESOURCE
CENTERS THAN EVER BEFORE. WE
HAVE PARTICULARLY HIGH DEMAND
FOR THE MOBILE FOOD PANTRY,
WHICH REACHES 300 LOW INCOME
HOUSES PER MONTH THROUGH
PRESCHOOLS AND AFFORDABLE
HOUSING COMMUNITIES. MOST OF TH
FAMILIES WHO RECEIVE FOOD HAVE
CHILDREN UNDER FIVE, BUT WE HAV
A LONG WAITING LIST OF FAMILIES
AND ORGANIZATIONS IN NEED OF OU
SERVICES. WE CANNOT RESPOND
BECAUSE OUR STAFF IS UNDERPAID
AND AT CAPACITY. BEYOND THE
RESOLUTION, I URGE THE COUNCIL
TO BE A LEADER IN SOLVING PAY
ISSUES FOR SERVICE WORKERS IN
SEATTLE. THANK YOU.
>> THANK YOU. NEXT, JEN MUSIA,
THEN EDWIN BRIGADO.
>> GOOD MORNING,
COUNCILMEMBERS. I'M HERE TODAY
TO SPEAK IN FAVOR OF THE
RESOLUTION REGARDING WAGES FOR
SERVICE WORKERS. OUR CITY IS IN
CRISIS WITH HOMELESSNESS AT AN
ALL TIME HIGH. THERE'S A LINE O
PEOPLE OUTSIDE OUR BUILDING
WAITING TO SHOP FOR FOOD AND
ACCESS RENTAL ASSISTANCE AND
CONNECT FOR OTHER CRITICAL
SERVICES. THIS IS AN EXAMPLE OF
WHAT'S HAPPENING ACROSS OUR
CITY. OUR COMMUNITY NEEDS MORE
ASSISTANCE, NOT LESS. WE
URGENTLY NEED THE SKILLS OF
DEDICATED SERVICE PROVIDERS. LO
WAGES FOR HUMAN SERVICE WORKERS
ARE IMPACTING EVERYONE AND THIS
WILL BE A SAFE WELCOMING PLACE
FOR EVEN. THIS RESOLUTION
CREATES A PATH FORWARD IN
BUILDING A SAFE SUSTAINABLE
COMMUNITY WHERE EVERYONE HAS AN
OPPORTUNITY TO THRIVE AND
SURVIVE. THANK YOU.
>> THANK YOU. NEXT, EDWIN,
FOLLOWED BY MICHELLE McDANIEL.
>> HELLO . LET ME START BY
THANKING THE COUNCIL FOR THIS
ORDINANCE AS A MEMBER OF THE
FIRE DEPARTMENT FOR 25 YEARS.
THERE HAVE BEEN MANY OCCASIONS
IN THIS CITY WHERE WE PROVIDE
SERVICES AND IT'S BEEN DELAYED
OR HINDERED BECAUSE OF THIS.
WHILE ATTEMPTING TO CARE FOR A
YOUNG MAN WHO HAD BEEN SHOT, TH
CROWD BECAME HOSTILE AND MADE I
IMPOSSIBLE FOR US TO HANDLE OUR
DUTIES. I WAS ACTUALLY WONDERIN
IF THE PERSON WAS A SHOOTER AND
A CROWD OF 20 DEMANDED WE BEGAN
DOING THE JOB BUT THE
DISTRACTIONS MADE IT MORE
DIFFICULT TO TO DO OUR JOB.
PLEASE KEEP IN MIND I'M ONE OF
NEARLY A THOUSAND FIREFIGHTERS
IN THIS CITY THAT RESPOND TO
THOUSANDS OF CALLS EVERY YEAR
AND THIS IS JUST A SMALL SAMPLE
OF THINGS THAT OCCUR CITY WIDE.
THANK YOU FOR CONSIDERING THIS
ORDINANCE THAT HELPS US CARE FO
CITIZENS IN A SAFE MANNER. THAN
YOU FOR YOUR TIME.
>> MICHELLE WILL BE FOLLOWED B
LIAM ROANNY .
>> I URGE THE COUNCIL TO APPROV
THIS RECOMMENDATION. THIS IS A
GAME CHANGERTOWARD
UNDERSTANDING THE WAY WORKERS
EXPERIENCE BY CHOOSING TO WORK
IN THIS SECTOR. LOW WAGES ARE
PREVENTING FROM BEING ABLE TO
ATTRACT A TALENTED STAFF. MY
ORGANIZATION HAS A 50% TURNOVER
RATE WITH MANY STAFF SAYING THE
LOVE THE MISSION BUT CANNOT MAK
A LIVING IN THE HUMAN SERVICES
SECTOR. THANK YOU FOR THE
OPPORTUNITY TO SPEAK.
>> THANK YOU SO MUCH .
>> GOOD MORNING, EVERYBODY. I'M
IN SUPPORT OF THE BILL FOR FIRS
RESPONDERS. I'M THE ONE HOLDING
ONTO SOMEBODY'S SPINE AND
KEEPING IT FROM BEING DAMAGED
AND BREATHING THERE ARE THEM.
WHEN YOU SHOW UP ON SCENE, THER
COULD BE A HOSTILE CROWD WITH
SOMEBODY ON THE GROUND AND YOU
CAN'T LEAVE. YOU'RE BREATHING
FOR THEM. YOU CAN'T LEAVE
REGARDLESS OF WHAT THE CROWD IS
DOING. WE GET HURT. WE NEED
THESE EXCLUSIONS ZONES. WOMEN
ARE FIVE TIMES, FEMALE
FIREFIGHTERS FIVE TIMES MORE
LIKELY TO BE ASSAULTED. WE NEED
THIS EQUITY BILL. THANK YOU.
>> THANK YOU. TAYLOR RILEY IS
NEXT.
>> GOOD MORNING. I'M TAYLOR AND
I'M A DISTRICT 3 RESIDENT. I
WANT YOU TO VOTE NO TO CB
120549. THERE ARE MOUNTAINS OF
EVIDENCE SHOWING THAT
OBSTRUCTION CHARGES ARE ONE OF
THE MOST RACIALLY
DISPROPORTIONATELY FILED
CHARGED. IN A CITY WITH A POLIC
DEPARTMENT THAT'S CONTINUALLY
DOCUMENTED BIASED POLICING, THI
WILL NO DOUBT INCREASE THE
NUMBER OF PEOPLE IN JAIL WHEN
THE LOCAL JAILS ARE ALREADY
OVERCROWDED AND DEADLY. HOW CAN
YOU CONSIDER A BILL THAT, BY TH
LEGISLATION'S OWN SUMMARY, HAS
BEEN HISTORICALLY USED TO
REPRESS PEOPLE OF COLOR? AND I
SUPPORT EQUITY FOR HUMAN
SERVICES PROVIDERS TO BE PAID
FOR THE WORK THEY DO FOR OUR
CITY. THANK YOU .
>> THANK YOU.
>> GOOD MORNING. I'M SPEAKING I
FAVOR OF THE RESOLUTION FOR WAG
EQUITY FOR SERVICE WORKERS.
CHRONICALLY LOW WAGES MEAN WE
HAVE A HARD TIME RECRUITING AND
RETAINING STAFF SO THEY CAN
LIVE IN SEATTLE AND RAISE KIDS
AND BUILD UP SAVINGS TO RETIRE.
I WANT TO HAVE A ROBUST NETWORK
OF ADVOCATES TO CALL UPON AND
STEADY AND CONSISTENT CARE.
CURRENTLY ALL THESE THINGS ARE
DIFFICULT TO ATTAIN AND I THINK
IT'S IMPORTANT TO NOTE THAT OUR
FIELD IS CREATED BY EVERYONE AN
MANY OF THE VIOLENCE IS RIGID I
GENDER RULES. THESE SAME
BARRIERS ARE ALSO A PART OF
GENDER-BASED VIOLENCE. I SUPPOR
THE EFFORT TO ADDRESS THE WAGE
GAP, CREATING AN IMPORTANT PATH
FORWARD PLEASE APPROVE THE
RESOLUTION LANGUAGE. THANK YOU.
>> THANK YOU. NEXT IS CODY
ZALUWSKY.
>> THANK YOU FOR THE RESOLUTION
PASSED OVER A YEAR AGO APPROVIN
PSYCHEDELIC SUBSTANCES. WE CAN
PROVIDE MORE SUBSTANCE TO THE
RESOLUTION BY STRENGTHENING THI
ORDINANCE TO SUPPORT THE PRIOR
RESOLUTION.
>> NEXT IS B.J. LAST, FOLLOWED
BY DARREN SHOULD BEER.
>> IF YOU HAVEN'T HIT STAR SIX,
THAT WILL UNMUTE YOU.
>> APOLOGIES FOR THAT. GOOD
MORNING. I'M B.J. LAST, CALLING
IN OPPOSITION TO CB 120549. I'M
NOT SURE WHAT THIS BILL IS EVEN
TRYING TO ARE ACCOMPLISH SINCE
THIS IS COVERED BY STATE
LEGISLATURE. WE HAVE FAILURE TO
OBEY AN OFFICER ALREADY THERE,
DISORDERLY CONDUCT AND FAILURE
TO DISPERSE, WHICH COVER THE
ISSUES SO I'M NOT SURE WHAT THI
BILL WILL BE COVERING.
ADDITIONALLY, WE KNOW THE RACIA
DISPARITIES WILL BE MASKED ON
THIS. ALSO SUPPORT PAY AT EQUIT
FOR HUMAN SERVICES PROVIDERS
PROVIDING REAL PUBLIC SAFETY FO
OUR NEIGHBORS. THANK YOU .
>> THANK YOU. NEXT, WE HAVE TWO
PEOPLE NOT PRESENT. I'LL RETURN
IF THAT CHANGES. THE NEXT PERSO
SIGNED UP IS HOWARD GAYLE TO BE
FOLLOWED BY PETER CONDITT.
>> GOOD MORNING: IN A FEW WEEKS
IT WILL BE SIX YEARS THE CPC
FAILED TO MEET THE RESOLUTION
INCLUDES MECHANISMS FOR
INVESTIGATION OF SERIOUS AND
DEADLY USE OF FORCE AND FAILED
TO PROPOSE THE COMPLAINT REPEAL
PROCESS . IT IS NOW CRITICAL TO
GIVE SUPPORT TO THE EFFECTIVE
PERSONS PROGRAM AND ALLOW THIS
PROGRAM TO TAKE UP THE TASK OF
THE APPEALS PROCESS. LAST FALL
YOU PROCLAIMED SUPPORT FOR THIS
PROGRAM. IT'S TIME TO ACT TO BE
SURE THERE'S ONE TINY PART OF A
FAILED POLICE ACCOUNTABILITY
SYSTEM THAT ALLOWS VICTIMS OF
POLICE VIOLENCE TO ADVOCATE FOR
THEMSELVES. THANK YOU.
>> THANK YOU. NEXT SPEAKER
SHOWING PRESENT, DARREN
SHULBERG. THANK YOU.
>> THANK YOU. I'VE BEEN A
SEATTLE FIREFIGHTER OVER 32
YEARS AND I'VE NOTICED AN
INCREASED BOLDNESS FOR CERTAIN
INDIVIDUALS TO INSERT THEMSELVE
INTO OUR ONGOING EMERGENCY
OPERATIONS. SOMETIMES IT'S FIRE
SOMETIMES IT'S MEDICAL. THAT
OFTEN INHIBITS OUR ABILITY TO
CARRY OUT CRITICAL FUNCTIONS IN
A TIMELY MANNER WHEN SECOND
COUNT. A GOOD EXAMPLE, LAST YEA
WHEN THE BALL LARD BLOSSOM
CAUGHT ON FIRE DOWN THE STREET
HERE, WE HAD AN INDIVIDUAL
TRYING TO PULL HOSES AND
HAMPERING OUR EFFORTS TO IT
APPROXIMATE THE FIRE OUT. WHEN
TRIED TO STOP THE GUY, HE TOOK
BROOM STICK AND SNAPPED IT IN
HALF AND AIMED THE POINTY END A
ME. I'M ASKING THE COUNCIL TO
SUPPORT THIS TO SUPPORT OUR
CITIZENS AND EMERGENCY WORKERS.
THANK YOU.
>> THANK YOU. OUR NEXT SPEAKER,
PETER CONDITT, FOLLOWED BY DARC
PETER.
>> THIS IS PETER CONDITT AND I'
CALLING TO SPEAK AGAINST CB
(120)549-6789 ANY PROO TEST
COULD BE SHUT DOWN BY USING THE
ARBITRARY ZONE TO THREATEN
EVERYONE IN AN AREA WITH ARREST
SPD TARGETS FOLKS WHO ARE GENDE
NONCONFORMING AND BLACK AND
INDIGENOUS PEOPLE. ASSAULT
CHARGE OF POLICE HAVE BEEN USED
TO PENALIZE PEOPLE OF COLOR. I
ALSO SUPPORT PAY EQUITY FOR
HUMAN SERVICE WORKERS WHO
PRODUCE SAFETY IN OUR COMMUNITY
THANK YOU FOR LISTENING.
>> GOING BACK TO AMANDA DANIELS
THEN DARCY WENDYA.
>> THANK YOU FOR TAKING THE
RECOMMENDATIONS FROM THE CITY
SERIOUSLY. I WORK IN HUMAN
SERVICES AND WHEN I GRADUATED I
2008, I PAID MORE IN STUDENT
LOANS THAN I DID IN RENT WITH
$11 AN HOUR. TODAY WE ARE IN
ANOTHER DIFFICULT TIME WITH COS
OF LIVING, HOMELESSNESS AND
MENTAL DISORDERS ON THE RISE
THIS WORK IS HARD AND REQUIRES
CARING FOR PEOPLE IN THE MOST
DIFFICULT SITUATIONS IN OUR
COMMUNITY. WE ARE COMPASSIONATE
INDIVIDUALS WHO WANT TO DO THIS
WORK AND WE DESERVE TO BE
VALUED. SEATTLE CAN BE A LEADER
IN THE WAGE EQUITY BY ADOPTING
THE RECOMMENDATIONS FOR THE
STUDY AND ENSURING WORKERS ARE
FUNDED. THANK YOU.
>> THANK YOU. NEXT IS DARCY
WENDYA FOLLOWED BY AIDEN CAROL
>> GOOD MORNING. I'M THE
COEXECUTIVE DIRECTOR AT HUNGER
INTERVENTION PROGRAM. I'M HERE
TO SPEAK IN FAVOR OF THE WAGE
INCREASE FOR HUMAN SERVICE
WORKERS. THIS IS PREVENTING MAN
FROM REACHING THEIR GOALS. I'LL
USE THE MEAL PROGRAM COORDINATO
POSITION AS AN EXAMPLE. AL AT
THIS POINT IT'S ONE OF THE
HIGHEST PAID POSITIONS AND COME
WITH APPROXIMATE FULL BENEFITS,
AND WE STILL STRUGGLE TO RETAIN
STAFF FOR MORE THAN A YEAR,
WHICH IS NOT SUSTAINABLE AND
AFFECTS THE PRODUCT WE ARE ABLE
TO OFFER TO THOSE WHO NEED IT
MOST. WE BEGAN TO RAISE WAGES
BUT COULDN'T KEEP UP WITH
INFLATION AND PAY A LIVING WAGE
IN SEATTLE. THE LAKE CITY
COMMUNITY CENTER, WHICH RECENTL
BURNED DOWN, HAD EXTREMELY
LIMITED HOURS DUE TO STAFFING.
MANY STRUGGLE TO STAY AT FULL
STAFFING AND WON'T OFFER
SERVICES FOR THE NEXT YEAR OR
MORE. I'M PROUD OF THE INCREASE
IN PAY MY ORGANIZATION HAS
INITIATED BUT IT'S NOT ENOUGH
AND WE NEED SUPPORT FROM OUR
LEGISLATORS. THIS IS A GREAT
FIRST STEP AND THANK YOU FOR
YOUR TIME.
>> THANK YOU. AIDEN CAROL, THEN
COCOA WEBER
>> THANK YOU. TO THE
FIREFIGHTERS, WHEN THE POLICE
TELL YOU THEY CANNOT HELP WITH
SITUATIONS UNDER EXISTING LAWS,
THEY ARE LYING TO YOU. IT WOULD
NOT BE THE FIRST TIME.
SPECIFICALLY LIKE FAILURE TO
DISPERSE, THEY ALREADY DO WHAT
THEY WANT TO DO. THE POLICE WAN
AN EXCUSE TO TAKE UP A LARGER
AREA IN SITUATIONS WITH
PROTESTS, ENCAMPMENTS AND AREAS
OF POLITICAL CONFLICT WITH
POLICE. THIS BILL IS NOT
NECESSARY. I WANT TO SAY WE MUS
HALT SWEEPS UNTIL THE HOTEL
CRISIS IS RESOLVED. THERE IS
LITERALLY NO SHELTER FOR MANY
PEOPLE BEING SWEPT. PEOPLE ARE
SHOWING UP AND FINDING OUT THAT
THIS IS ALREADY EFFECTIVELY NO
SHELTER. WE HAVE SHELTER OPTION
BEING REFERRED AND THERE'S MORE
THAN EVER NOWHERE TO GO. WE HAV
EVIDENCE THAT PEOPLE ARE DYING
BECAUSE OF THESE SWEEPS. THE
CAUSES ARISE IN VIOLENCE, LACK
OF HEALTH CARE AND EXPOSURE, AN
CAUSES A RISE IN OVERDOSES. IT'
NOT WORKING, IT'S NOT SAFE, IT'
NOT HELPING ANYONE. AND THE
HOTEL CRISIS IS NOT OVER,
CONTINUALLY DISPLACING MORE
PEOPLE. UNTIL THIS IS RESOLVED,
THERE IS NO MORAL WAY, MORE THA
EVER, TO DO THESE SWEEPS. IT'S
POSSIBLE TO ADDRESS ALL THE
PUBLIC SAFETY AND HYGIENE ISSUE
WITHOUT MOVING PEOPLE. IT'S BEE
MORE THAN TEN SECONDS SINCE THE
CHIME. I APPRECIATE YOUR
COMMENT. IF YOU CAN, PLEASE
FOLLOW UP WITH WRITTEN COMMENTS
AND WE'LL REVIEW THEM. MUCH
APPRECIATED. WE HAVE COCOA AND
THEN TREE WILLARD.
>> I'M A FORMER HUMAN SERVICES
WORKER AND NOW AN EDUCATOR WHO'
NEAR BEING DISPLACED MYSELF IN
CITY WHO HAS NO PROTECTION FOR
RENTERS OR THOSE LIVING ON THE
EDGE. I'M CALLING TO MAKE THE
CONNECTION THAT EVERYONE WHO'S
CALLING TODAY, HUMAN SERVICE
WORKERS AND PEOPLE ASKING YOU
NOT TO EXPAND THE POLICING IN
THE CITY, THEY WANT YOU TO STOP
INVESTING IN CORPORAL PUNISHMEN
AND START INVESTING IN OUR CITY
FOR A LOT OF OBSTRUCTION
CHARGES, I RECEIVED AN
OBSTRUCTION CHARGE AND THESE
OFFICERS ARE TAKING CARE OF A
BLACK SCREAMING WHILE PEOPLE AR
LOOKING FOR HOUSES. THIS CHARGE
IS USED DISPROPORTIONATELY TO
INCARCERATE THE BIPOP COMMUNITY
AND IT WILL BE USED AS A
ANTIDEMOCRATIC PROCESS TO
OBSTRUCT PROTESTS AND IT'S A
CRIME OF DISRESPECT. WHO DO
POLICE USE THE CRIME OF
DISRESPECT ON? PEOPLE THEY DON'
LIKE.
>> WE NEED TO MOVE ON NEXT
SPEAKER. PLEASE SEND IN YOUR
COMMENTS. TREE WILLARD IS NEXT.
>>> GOOD MORNING COUNCILMEMBERS
I'M SO TOUCHED BY THE LAST TWO
SPEAKERS. I'M CALLING TO THANK
YOU FOR YOUR RESOLUTION TO
CONTINUE TO SUPPORT AEGIRITE FO
HUMAN SERVICE PROVIDERS. I SPEN
20 YEARS IN SERVICE MYSELF . MY
HEARTBREAKS EVERY CANADIAN
THAT'S WHY I DO WHAT I DO. I'M
JUST REALLY IMPLORING YOU TO
CONTINUE TO UPLIFT THIS STRUGGL
FOR US TO CORRECT THE WAY THAT
THESE INEQUITIES AFFECT HOW WE
DO WHAT WE DO. YOU HAVE HEARD
ALL MY COLLEAGUES, I'M JUST
SPEAKING FROM MY HEART. THANK
YOU ALL.
>> THANK YOU. NEXT IS JEANIE
ROMIC.
>> GOOD MORNING. I'M SPEAKING
REGARDING THE WAGE EQUITY
RESOLUTION. I LED THE FUNDED BY
CITY COUNCIL THAT EXAMINED THE
PAY LEVELS AND OUR STUDY
INCLUDED AN INTERNATIONAL TEAM
OF EXPERTS AND WE USED
METHODOLOGY FROM PEER-REVIEWED
RESEARCH. I BELIEVE THEY
ACCURATELY REPRESENT THE
FINDINGS OF THE STUDY. MY
COLLEAGUES AND I ARE AVAILABLE
FOR ANY FOLLOW-UP QUESTIONS AND
THANK YOU FOR YOUR TIME.
>> RACHEL HOGAN?
>> GOOD MORNING, COUNCILMEMBERS
I'M CALLING ABOUT 120549. IT IS
AN ALARMING PROPOSITION WHICH I
FEEL GIVES SEATTLE POLICE MORE
POWER TO CRIMINALIZE PEOPLE FOR
PEACEFUL WITNESS OF A SCENE. AT
A TIME WHEN WE HAVE SO MUCH NEE
TO BE MORE WATCHFUL AND PRESENT
AND HAVE WITNESS FOR POLICE
BEHAVIOR. THE EXTREMISM IN THIS
COUNTRY IS TO THE LEVEL THAT WE
CAN NO LONGER ASSUME THAT PEOPL
IN POWER WILL DO THE RIGHT THIN
AND WE MUST HAVE PEOPLE WITNESS
HO WE TREAT OTHERS IN THE
COMMUNITY. I AGREE WITH OTHERS
WHO REJECT THIS CITY BILL. THAN
YOU. THIS IS A VERY OMINOUS
EFFORT. THANK YOU FOR LISTENING
>> THANK YOU SO MUCH. THAT WOUL
CONCLUDE PUBLIC COMMENT AND WE
CAN MOVE ON. THANK YOU EVERYBOD
FOR JOINING US THIS MORNING TO
TESTIFY ON ITEMS ON TODAY'S
AGENDA.
>> AGENDA ITEM ONE, COUNCIL BIL
120549 AMENDING THE CRIME OF
OBSTRUCTING A PUBLIC SUFFICER T
INCLUDE OBSTRUCTING FIREFIGHTER
AND FIRE DEPARTMENT PERSONNEL
AND AMENDING SECTION 12A.16.010
OF THE SEATTLE MUNICIPAL CODE.
>> THANK YOU. JUST A FEW
REMARKS. COUNCILMEMBER LEWIS AN
I HAVE BEEN WORKING TO HELP FIL
THIS AFTER A NEW METHOD OF
TRACKING INTERFERENCE AND
THREATENING BEHAVIOR FOR
EMPLOYEES ATTEMPTING TO PROVIDE
FEAR AND MEDICAL AID. THE CHIEF
SHARED WITH ME MANY PERSONAL
STORIES OF FIREFIGHTERS BEING
ASSAULTED, AND THE NEED TO
UPDATE THE SEATTLE MUNICIPAL
CODE TO INCLUDE FIREFIGHTERS AN
FIRE DEPARTMENT PERSONNEL IN TH
CRIME OF OBSTRUCTING A PUBLIC
OFFICER. AGAIN, THIS PARTICULAR
UPDATE, THERE ARE TWO UPDATES O
THE EXISTING CODE TODAY. ONE
ADDS FIREFIGHTER OR EMPLOYEE OF
THE FIRE DEPARTMENT TO A LONG
LIST OF PUBLIC OFFICERS,
INCLUDING THOSE WHO ENFORCE THE
FIRE CODE LIKE THE FIRE MARSHAL
THE BUILDING INSPECTOR, AND
THOSE ALLOWED TO MAKE ARRESTS O
RESPONSIBLE FOR THE ENFORCEMENT
OF THE STATE AND FEDERAL CODES.
THERE'S A LONG LINE OF PUBLIC
OFFICERS FOR WHOM OBSTRUCTION
EXPECTATIONS CAN BE ENFORCED AN
FIREFIGHTERS ARE EXCLUDED FROM
THAT LIST. I CONSIDER IT A
TECHNICAL CHANGE BECAUSE IT'S
ADDING ONE OFFICER THAT'S
EXCLUDED FROM A LIST OF OTHERS.
THE OTHER CHANGE ALLOWS THE FIR
TO MITIGATE THE USE OF
OBSTRUCTION CHARGES BY ALLOWING
THEM TO CREATE SAFETY PERIMETER
AROUND THEIR WORK. YOU CAN FIND
THAT IN SECTION SIX. JUST WANTE
TO LAY THAT OUT. MY GOAL IS NOT
TO GENERATE NEW ARRESTS BUT TO
REDUCE THE FELONY CHARGE OF A
FIREFIGHTER BY GIVING THE FIRE
DEPARTMENT AND POLICE DEPARTMEN
THE ABILITY TO MAKE LAWFUL
ORDERS, TO GIVE THE ADEQUATE
SPACE AND ACCESS FIREFIGHTERS
NEED TO PROVIDE LIFE-SAVING AID
AT THE SCENE OF AN EMERGENCY
BEFORE INTERFERENCE ESCALATES
FURTHER. WE HAVE SOME GUESTS
JOINING US, GREG DOSS TO PROVID
CONTEXT, AND REPRESENTATIVES
FROM THE FIRE DEPARTMENT AND
LOCAL 27 TO SHARE THEIR
PERSPECTIVES. AT THIS POINT I'M
GOING TO HAND IT OFF TO GREG
DOSS TO GO OVER THE SPECIFICS O
THE PROPOSED CHANGES IN THE
ORDINANCE, THEN WE'LL HAND IT
OFF TO THE GUESTS.
>> HERE TODAY TO TALK ABOUT BIL
120549. THERE IS A STAFF MEMO
AVAILABLE ON THIS BILL. THERE'S
A LOT TO ADDRESS, AS YOU KNOW
AND HEARD IN THE PUBLIC
TESTIMONY. I'LL TRY AND BE
CONCISE AND QUICK BUT I WANT TO
COVER EVERY POINT. WAY OF
BACKGROUND, THE MUNICIPAL CODE
CREATES TIME OF OBSTRUCTING A
OFFICER, INCLUDING THE
INTENTIONAL AND PHYSICAL
INTERFERENCE WITH A PUBLIC
OFFICER AND THE REFUSAL TO LEAV
THE SCENE OF AN INVESTIGATION O
A CRIME WHEN AN INVESTIGATION I
IN PROCESS AFTER BEING ASKED TO
LEAVE BY A PUBLIC OFFICER . FIR
MARSHALS WOULD QUALIFY UNDER
THIS BUT FIREFIGHTER STAFF DO
NOT. INCIDENT RECORDS SHOW
AGGRESSIVE PERSONS HAVE AT TIME
ENGAGED IN BEHAVIOR INTERFERING
WITH THE PERSONNEL ATTEMPTING T
PERFORM THEIR DUTIES, INCLUDING
PATIENTS WHO HAVE BECOME
COMBATIVE WHILE REGAINING
CONSCIOUSNESS AFTEROVER DOSING,
OR PERSONS IN MENTAL HEALTH OR
BEHAVIORAL CRISIS OR OTHER
PERSONS THREATENED OR ASSAULTED
SFD PERSONNEL . THE COUNCIL BIL
WOULD CHANGE IN THE FOLLOWING
WAYS, EXPANDING THE SMC
DEFINITION OF PUBLIC OFFICER TO
INCLUDE SFD FIREFIGHTERS AND
OTHER SFD PERSONNEL WHILE
ENGAGED IN THE PERFORMANCE OF
THEIR DUTIES, AND THE LAST PART
IS IMPORTANT. IT WOULD ADD
REFERENCE TO THE SCENE OF A FIR
DEPARTMENT EMERGENCY RESPONSE.
BY DOING SO, THIS WOULD CREATE
FRAME WORK FOR THE FIRE
DEPARTMENT AND POLICE DEPARTMEN
TO CREATE POLICIES THAT COULD
ALLOW THE CITY TO ESTABLISH
ZONES AROUND FIRE DEPARTMENT
RESPONSES. IN CREATING THAT
FRAME WORK, THE BILL USES
LANGUAGE THAT RECOGNIZES THE
RIGHTS OF THE MEMBERS OF THE
PUBLIC TO RECORD ACTIVITY AS
PART OF THEIR CONSTITUTIONAL
RIGHT. THE BILL WOULD ALLOW IF
DEFINITION OF A PUBLIC OFFICER
TO EXTEND TO SFD PERSONNEL AND
ALLOW THEM TO WORK TOGETHER TO
CREATE AND ENFORCE SAFETY ZONES
AND ENSURE THAT PERSONS OUTSIDE
THOSE ZONES ARE CONSTITUTIONALL
PROTECTED WITH THEIR RIGHTS TO
OBSERVE AND RECORD. NEXT IS
ENFORCEMENT OF THAT OBSTRUCTION
. SOMEONE YELLING OR DISPLAYING
THREATENING BEHAVIOR FROM ACROS
THE STREET IS NOT ENOUGH FOR A
CHARGE OF OBSTRUCTION. THEY HAV
TO TRY AND STOP THE DUTIES BEIN
PERFORMED. THIS COULD NOT OCCUR
AGAINST ANY PATIENTS BEING
TREATED . SO A PATIENT COULDN'T
OBSTRUCT WITH THEIR OWN
RESUSCITATION OR RESCUE. IT
COULD ALLOW FOR THE BETTER
ENFORCEMENT OR FIRST TIME
ENFORCEMENT OF SAFETY ZONES BUT
MAY NOT NECESSARILY ADDRESS ALL
OF THE PROBLEMATIC BEHAVIORS
THAT THE FIRE DEPARTMENT HAS
NOTED IN THEIR PRIOR TESTIMONY
AND IN DATA THEY HAVE PROVIDED
TO COUNCIL. AND TO THE EXTENT
INDIVIDUALS VIOLATE OBSTRUCTION
ZONES OR PREVENT THE PERFORMANC
OF DUTIES, THERE COULD AN
INCREASE IN MISDEMEANORS BUT
IT'S LIKELY THOSE WILL OCCUR
WITH DISPROPORTIONATE IMPACT ON
THE COMMUNITIES AFFECTED. THE
SEATTLE POLICE DEPARTMENT
ARRESTED FOR OBSTRUCTION 242
INDIVIDUALS IN 2022 AND THE
DEMOGRAPHIC ANALYSIS OF
INDIVIDUALS ARRESTED FOR
OBSTRUCTION SHOWS ARRESTS ARE
OCCURRING WITH DISPROPORTIONATE
IMPACT TO COMMUNITIES OF COLOR
STAFF PERFORMED AN ANALYSIS OF
THE ARRESTS AND FOUND THAT 85%
OF THE ARRESTS FOR OBSTRUCTION
ALSO INCLUDED OTHER CHARGE
TYPES, USUALLY AN AVERAGE OF 5.
CHARGES PER EVENT. IF SOMEBODY
WAS CHARGED WITH OBSTRUCTION,
THEY WERE CHARGED WITH SOMETHIN
ELSE AS WELL. THE MOST OFTEN
ASSOCIATE AT CHARGE WAS A
WEAPONS POSSESSION, PRIMARILY A
FIREARM, THEN ASSAULT AND/OR
BURGLARY AND REFUSING TO STOP.
STAFF THEN DID A SEPARATE
ANALYSIS OF THE OBSTRUCTION
CHARGES MADE WHERE THERE WAS NO
OTHER CHARGE MADE, AND IN THOSE
CASES THEY FOUND IT WAS LIKELY
THAT IT WAS DURING THE
INVESTIGATION OF A POTENTIAL
CRIMINAL OFFENSE AND THE
ARRESTEE WAS UNCOOPERATIVE OR
FLED THE SCENE . IT'S ALSO WORT
NOTING THAT FIREFIGHTERS EVERY
DAY PROVIDE TIMELY EMERGENCY
RESPONSE TO 911 CALLS THAT MAY
INCLUDE INCIDENTS LIKE OVERDOSE
REFERRALS AND ENCAMPMENT FIRES.
THIS WOULD ENSURE CARE IS NOT
DELAYED AND DISPROPORTIONATE
IMPACT ON VULNERABLE COMMUNITIE
IS NOT CREATED BY INDIVIDUALS
WHO COULD DIRECTLY ACCESS
FIREFIGHTERS AND STOP THEM FROM
PERFORMING THEIR DUTIES. CENTRA
STAFF HAS BEEN ADVISED THE CAO
IS EXAMINING CASES WHERE
FIREFIGHTERS HAVE BEEN ASSAULTE
BY PERSONS IN THE LINE OF DUTY
THAT CONCLUDES MY REPORT ON BIL
120548. THERE IS AN AMENDMENT O
THE BILL, AND I'M AVAILABLE TO
DISCUSS THE AMENDMENT NOW OR AT
A LATER TIME. FINALLY I WOULD
SAY THERE'S A TECHNICAL
CORRECTION THAT NEEDS TO BE MAD
TO THE AMENDMENT. THANK YOU.
>> THANK YOU SO MUCH. WE'LL TAK
A PAUSE FOR QUESTIONS BEFORE WE
HAND IT OVER TO OUR GUESTS. NO
SEEING ANY, SO I'M GOING TO
HAND IT OVER -- THERE WILL BE
TIME FOR QUESTIONS AFTER WE HEA
FROM EVERYBODY. WE'LL TURN IT
OVER TO SEATTLE ASSISTANT CHIEF
LOMBARD, WHO WORKED WITH US ON
THE AMENDMENT. I APPRECIATE YOU
REPRESENTATION.
>> THANK YOU FOR THE OPPORTUNIT
TO SPEAK TO THIS IMPORTANT
LEGISLATION ON BEHALF OF THE
SEATTLE FIRE DEPARTMENT. I'M
ASSISTANT CHIEF CHRIS LOMBARD,
RESPONSIBLE FOR OVERSEEING THE
TRAINING AND SAFETY AND 911
DISPATCH FOR THE THE FIRE
DEPARTMENT SO THIS IS VERY NEAR
AND DEAR TO ME. THIS IS
PROTECTIONS FOR THE FIREFIGHTER
VERSUS THE EXISTING PROTECTION
FOR FIRE MARSHALS ALREADY. THE
EMTS ARE OFTEN RESTRICTED BY
SAFETY REASONS OR EVEN
PHYSICALLY FROM HELPING THOSE
MOST IN NEED. WE CONCUR THIS IS
NOT ABOUT THE EXPANSION OF
AUTHORITY FOR THE SEATTLE POLIC
DEPARTMENT BUT HELPING UNDER TH
CIRCUMSTANCES. WE ARE HAVING
INCREASED TROUBLE, BEING CALLED
IN WHERE WE ARE NEEDED. I'M
SYNTHETIC TO THE COMMENTS BUT T
THOSE WHO SAY THIS WILL
NEGATIVELY IMPACT COMMUNITIES,
MOST REGRETTABLY, THAT'S ALREAD
HELPING. THIS WILL HELP US
IMPROVE THOSE SITUATIONS BY
BEING ABLE TO GET IN AND HELP
THOSE DISENFRANCHISED. MULTIPLE
TIMES A DAY, WE STRUGGLE TO GAI
ACCESS TO THOSE DISENFRANCHISED
STRUGGLING WITH MENTAL HEALTH
AND SUBSTANCE ABUSE ISSUES. IF
YOU FOCUS ON THE SURROUNDINGS,
IT'S HARD TO LOOK AFTER THE
PATIENT ALWAYS LOOKING OVER THE
SHOULDER. THERE HAVE BEEN OVER
500 OVERDOSE CALLS THIS YEAR,
HUNDREDS FOR THOSE IN MENTAL
CRISIS AND MORE. ASSAULTS AND
THREATENING BEHAVIOR TOWARDS OU
UNARMED MEMBERS WHO ARE TRYING
TO HELP OTHERS ARE AN
UNACCEPTABLE PART OF THESE
RESPONSES. WE ARE STARTING TO
HAVE TROUBLE GETTING THEM EVEN
TO REPORT THEM, FEELING HOPELES
IN REGARDS. SFD MEMBERS HAVE
BEEN HOSPITALIZED FROM ASSAULTS
SOME REQUIRED SURGERY, AND
THREADENNED WITH DEATH AND MORE
THIS IS ABOUT SUPPRESSING THE
PUBLIC'S ABILITY TO PROTEST.
THIS IS ABOUT CREATING A SAFE
AND TEMPORARY BUBBLE TO
PARTNERSHIP THESE MOST IN NEED.
THIS IS NOT ABOUT CLEARING OR
BLOCKING STREETS. THESE BUBBLES
ARE TEMPORARY, ONLY WHILE SFD I
PROVIDING PATIENT CARE. OUR EMT
DON'T SIT ON THE SCENE ANY
LONGER THAN NECESSARY. THANK YO
FOR THE OPPORTUNITY TO ADDRESS
HOW WE CAN SERVE THOSE IN THE
COMMUNITY REQUESTING OUR
EMERGENCY HELP.
>> THANK YOU, ASSISTANT CHIEF
LOMBARD. APPRECIATED. WE'LL HAN
IT OVER TO LOCAL PRESIDENT KENN
STUART FOR HIS REMARKS.
>> I'M A 27-YEAR VETERAN AND I'
A LIEUTENANT ON LADDER 8 IN BAL
BALLARD. THANK YOU FOR BRINGIN
THIS BILL FORWARD TODAY. WE HAV
BEEN STRUGGLING FOR YEARS TRYIN
TO RESOLVE THIS ISSUE AND DEAL
WITH IT. THE HELP THAT'S COMING
IS VERY MUCH APPRECIATED. THIS
WILL PROVIDE MUCH NEEDED
SUPPORT TO SEATTLE FIREFIGHTERS
SO WE CAN PRESERVE LIFE AND
PROPERTY. THAT'S OUR MISSION. W
NEED HELP AT THE INCIDENT SCENE
SO WE CAN DO OUR JOB AND WE NEE
TO REDUCE THE THREAT OF VIOLENC
AND OTHER INSTANCES THAT KEEP U
FROM PERFORMING OUR DUTIES. IT'
INCREASED OVER THE LAST FEW
YEARS . IN PUBLIC AND FOR PEOPL
THAT DON'T HAVE HOUSING, THEY
ARE EXPOSED TO CROWDS AND OTHER
FOLKS AND THEY DESERVE CARE JUS
LIKE ANYONE ELSE. WE BEGAN
CREATING THE FORMAL TRACKING
SYSTEM TO EFFECTIVELY EVALUATE
THIS ISSUE. IT IS INTERESTING T
NOTE THAT FOR MANY YEARS THIS
WAS CONSIDERED PART OF THE JOB.
UNTIL WE STARTED TRACKING IT, W
REALIZE THE LARGE SCOPE OF THE
ISSUE . THESE INCIDENTS SHOULD
NOT BE ACCEPTED OKAY. WE SHOULD
NOT TOLERATE THE THREAT WHETHER
OR NOT ANY PHYSICAL INJURY HAS
OCCURRED. INCIDENT REPORTS ARE
TAKEN SERIOUSLY AND DEALT WITH
APPROPRIATELY. EVERYBODY KNOWS
WHAT IT'S LIKE TO BE THREADENNE
WITH VIOLENCE. IT CHANGES THE
FOCUS OF YOUR ATTENTION. WE WAN
THE FIREFIGHTERS AND EMS TO
FOCUS 100% ON THE JOB AT HAND.
TODAY IT'S OCCURRING ELSEWHERE
IN THE COMMUNITY AS WE PERFORM
ROUTINE DUTIES. WE NEED HELP
WITH THIS ISSUE. THE JOB OF A
FIREFIGHTER IS DANGEROUS AND WE
CAN'T ELIMINATE ALL HAZARDS AND
RISKS. WE ARE GOING TO HAVE A
VARIETY OF INTERACTIONS WITH TH
PUBLIC THAT ARE NOT PRODUCTIVE
OR POSITIVE, AND WE ACCEPT THAT
BUT WHERE WE CAN MAKE SURE THAT
WE CAN EFFECTIVELY RESPOND TO A
HOUSE FIRE, CAR ACCIDENT,
ASSAULT OR MEDICAL EMERGENCY,
IT'S INCUMBENT ON US AND OUR I
THE EMPLOYER IN THE CITY TO
HELP MITIGATE THIS SO WE CAN
SAFELY RESPOND TO THESE
EMERGENCIES. SECONDS COUNT AND
DISTRACTING ACTS DELAY OUR
ACTIONS AND OUR CARE. A PERSON
WOULD HAVE TO BE INTERFERING
WITH THE ABILITY TO PERFORM OUR
DUTIES, NOT JUST YELLING AT US
FROM A DISTANCE, BUT HAMPERING
OUR ABILITY TO TAKE CARE OF
PEOPLE . THEY DESERVE AND NEED
OUR FULL ATTENTION. WE DON'T
NEED THE DISTRACTION. I WANT TO
GIVE YOU A COUPLE OTHER
INSTANCES BEFORE I FINISH. SOME
OF THE THINGS WE HAVE BEEN
EXPERIENCING OVER THE YEARS,
AGGRESSIVE GROUPS OF INDIVIDUAL
SURROUNDING FIREFIGHTERS AS WE
TREAT A PATIENT. I MEAN A CIRCL
OF PEOPLE SO YOU CAN'T SEE A WA
OUT. INDIVIDUALS ATTEMPTING TO
ATTACK THE PATIENT WHILE THE
PATIENT IS UNDER OUR CARE.
INDIVIDUALS STEALING THE
PATIENT'S BELONGINGS OUT OF
THEIR POCKETS OR PURSE WHILE WE
ARE TRYING TO CARE FOR THEM.
AGGRESSIVELY THROWING ITEMS AT
PERSONNEL, SPITTING ON
FIREFIGHTERS, THREATENING WITH
GLASS AND OTHER TOOLS AND
THREATENING US IN A VARIETY OF
WAYS. THESE ARE JUST A FEW OF
THE ISSUES WE DEAL WITH. WE ARE
READY FOR ANY HAZARDS WE
ENCOUNTER AND WE APPRECIATE THE
DEPARTMENT'S EFFORTS AND
ATTENTION TOWARDS HELPING US
IDENTIFY AND MITIGATE THESE
HAZARDS SO WE CAN CONTINUE TO D
OUR JOB. THANK YOU.
>> THANK YOU SO MUCH, PRESIDENT
STUART FOR YOUR REMARKS AND THI
IMPORTANT CONTEXT FOR OUR
DISCUSSIONS TODAY . I APPRECIAT
YOUR COMPARISON TO OTHER TYPES
OF WORKPLACE VIOLENCE, AND IT'S
IMPORTANT TO VISUALIZE THE
CONDITIONS UNDER WHICH
FIREFIGHTERS ARE DOING THEIR
LIFE-SAVING WORK. THEY ARE OFTE
HUNCHED OVER SOMEBODY TRYING TO
SAVE THEM AND DON'T HAVE THE
VISIBILITY TO GUARANTEE SCENE
SECURITY. I THINK IT'S REALLY
IMPORTANT TO CONSIDER WHEN WE'R
TALKING ABOUT CHARACTERING THE
ACTS ON VULNERABLE PEOPLE
NEEDING HELP, RECEIVING HELP
FROM SEATTLE FIRE DEPARTMENTS,
THESE ARE FOLKS WHO ARE
VULNERABLE TO ENCAMPMENT FIRES
PEOPLE BEING BROUGHT BACK TO
LIFE, AND THEY NEED SCENE
SECURITY TO DO SO. I'LL OPEN UP
THE CONVERSATION FOR QUESTIONS
OR COMMENTS .
>> I'M GLAD YOU ADDRESSED THOSE
NEEDING THE AID BECAUSE OF THE
DIFFERENCE IN ACCESS TO HEALTH
CARE. WHEN YOU THINK ABOUT THOS
SUFFERS FROM ADDICTION AND
UNHOUSED, ON OUR STREETS, WE
KNOW OVERDOSES ARE
DISPROPORTIONATELY IMPACTING
BLACK AND NATIVE AMERICAN PEOPL
ON THE STREETS. IF WE CAN'T DO
EVERYTHING WE CAN TO ENABLE TO
FIREFIGHTERS TO PERFORM THEIR
LIFE-SAVING DUTIES, THEN WE ARE
PERPETUATING THE
DISPROPORTIONATALTY OF WHO'S
DYING ON OUR STREETS.
>> THANK YOU FOR THE WORK, YOUR
COMMENTS AS WELL. I SUPPORT THI
LEGISLATION TRYING TO DO THEIR
JOB IN THE FIELD. THEY ARE JUST
TRYING TO DO THEIR JOBS AND HEL
PEOPLE, SO WE NEED TO PROTECT
THEM. THANK YOU.
>> THANK YOU. I HAVE A COUPLE
QUESTIONS OF MY OWN HERE.
TURNING TO SOME OF THE
TESTIMONY WE HAVE RECEIVED
TODAY, VERBAL AND WRITTEN
TESTIMONY, I WANT TO THANK
CENTRAL STAFF GREG DOSS WHO
REFERRED TO THE BILL THAT IT
COULD BE USED TO ORDER PER SAL
OF A PROTEST. A PERSON IS GUILT
OF OBSTRUCTING A PUBLIC OFFICER
IF THEY REFUSE TO LEAVE A SCENE
AFTER BEING IDEA AND ONLY WHEN
HINDERING DELAYS OR COMPROMISES
ACTIONS. IT'S ALSO MENTIONED BY
GREG DOSS THAT THIS LANGUAGE
ITSELF MIRRORS LANGUAGE THAT
EXISTS TO ACTUALLY IN A PARALLE
BILL THAT WAS INTENDED TO
PROTECT PEOPLE'S FIRST AMENDMEN
RIGHTS WHILE THE POLICE
DEPARTMENT IS DOING THEIR WORK.
THAT'S WHY THIS SPECIFIC
LANGUAGE IS INCLUDED IN THERE,
JUST TO BE CLEAR THAT THERE ARE
FINITE CONDITIONS WHEN THE
CHARGE OF OBSTRUCTION CAN BE
USED . TURNING TO THE QUESTION
HAVE, I'M WONDERING, DOES THE
SEATTLE TRACK DEMOGRAPHICS ABOU
THOSE YOU PROVIDED AID TO? I
UNDERSTAND THERE IS THE
POTENTIAL TO STRENGTHEN RACIAL
DISPARITIES , WE ARE WE ARE
DELAYING SERVICES TO THOSE WITH
LESS ACCESS TO PREVENTATIVE
RESOURCES. I IMAGINE THESE
POPULATIONS LIKELY FALL ALONG
OTHER INEQUITIES AS WELL AND I'
JUST WONDERING WHETHER OR NOT
YOU HAVE ANY DEMOGRAPHICS THAT
WOULD HELP US GET TO THAT ISSUE
>> WE DO COLLECT DEMOGRAPHICS
BUT PARTICULARLY THEY ARE MORE
FOCUSED ON THE MEDICAL CARE OF
THE PATIENT . IT IS REALLY ABOU
THE TYPES OF PATIENTS, KNOWING
THERE ARE CHARACTERISTICS FOR
CERTAIN POPULATIONS. WE ARE
COLLECTING INFORMATION ABOUT TH
SEX OF THE PATIENTS THAT WE ARE
RESPONDING TO. THAT'S FOR THE
HOSPITALS TO BE ABLE TO GAUGE
AND ADJUST THEIR CARE
APPROPRIATELY. AGAIN, A LIMITED
SET OF DEMOGRAPHICS IN THAT
REGARD. MORE INFORMATION WOULD
BE JUST THE SCENARIOS WE ARE
GOING INTO. YOU KNOW, WE'LL
CAPTURE WHAT WE ARE SEEING IN
THE AREAS, LIKE AN UNHOUSED ARE
OR POSSIBLE ENCAMPMENT AREA,
SOMETHING LIKE THAT. ROUGH
NUMBERS IN THOSE RECORDS.
>> THANK YOU.
>> AND I WANTED TO PAINT A
LITTLE PICTURE OF WHAT WE ARE
EXPERIENCING. OUR REQUESTS ARE
TYPICALLY FOR THE SPACE AROUND
US SO WE CAN WORK. WE HAVE
FOCUSED ON THE REASONS THAT AR
THE MOST HAZARDOUS AND
DANGEROUS BUT THERE WERE A
VARIETY OF THOSE IMPORTANT TO
THE PATIENT. FOR EXAMPLE,
PRIVACY CONCERNS. OFTENTIMES WE
ARE ASKING QUESTIONS ABOUT A
PERSON'S LIFE, THEIR MEDICAL
HISTORY, ASKING ABOUT THE
POSSIBILITY OF BEING PREGNANT,
ASKING THEM WHAT MEDICATIONS
THEY TAKE, WHAT MEDICAL HISTORY
THEY HAVE. AND WHEN WE HAVE
PEOPLE LEANING OVER, THEY ARE
VIOLATING THIS PERSON'S MEDICAL
CONFIDENTIALITY BECAUSE THEY
HAPPEN TO BE HAVING THIS PROBLE
IN A PUBLIC SPACE. OFTENTIMES
THESE REQUESTS ARE NOT -- WE
DON'T START WITH THE POLICE. WE
ASK YOU TO STEP BACK SO WE CAN
ASK PRIVATE MEDICAL QUESTIONS,
FOR EXAMPLE. THOSE CAN ESCALATE
INTO SOMEBODYING THEY DON'T WAN
TO PROVIDE SPACE FOR THAT PERSO
AND THEIR MEDICAL CONCERNS, AND
THEN THAT GOES DOWN A ROAD WE
FEEL STRONGLY THAT IT IS OUR ON
THE TO PROTECT THAT PATIENT AND
THEIR INTERESTS, AND PRIVACY IS
PART OF THAT RESPONSIBILITY. I
WANTED TO ADD THAT IN AND MAKE
THAT CLEAR AS WELL.
>> THANK YOU SO MUCH. AGAIN,
LOOKING TO SEE IF THERE ARE
COMMENTS OR QUESTIONS .
>> MR. LOMBARD, GOOD TO SEE YOU
AGAIN. I THINK ONE OF THE THING
THAT COMES TO MIND FOR ME OVER
THE YEARS WITH THE DEPARTMENT
AND 27, MORE AND MORE PEOPLE AR
EXPERIENCING BEHAVIORAL HEALTH
CRISES, SUBSTANCE ABUSE CRISES
AND PEOPLE EXPERIENCING
INCREASED TRAUMA. I APPRECIATE
LOCAL 27 CALLING FOR MORE
SERVICES FOR PEOPLE TO GET CARE
I'M HOPEFUL THAT WILL HAPPEN.
OBVIOUSLY THE VOTERS CAN DECIDE
ON THE LEVEE IN FRONT OF VERTS
FOR VOTERS TODAY. THE INCREASED
TRAUMA AND FELT NEED IN THE
COMMUNITY IS BEING SERVED ON TH
FRONT LINES. THESE ARE OUR
PUBLIC RESPONDERS AND I
APPRECIATE THAT WITH ADDITIONAL
SERVICES THERE COULD BE THE
OPPORTUNITY FOR SOME FOLKS TO
EXPERIENCE A MENTAL HEALTH
CRISIS OR ACTING OUT DUE TO
SUBSTANCE ABUSE ISSUES AND
INTERFERING, HOPEFULLY THERE
WILL BE A PLACE PEOPLE TO GET
CONTINUED TREATMENT . I THINK
THIS IS SPECIFIC LEGISLATION
LOOKING AT ONE WAY TO ADDRESS
THE INTERFERENCE WITH THE ISSUE
BEING DELIVERED ON SITE. I KNO
IT'S AN ISSUE FOR THE LOCAL 27
AND I'M OPTIMISTIC THAT
ADDITIONAL SERVICES CAN
POTENTIALLY BE PROVIDED AND KNO
THAT FIREFIGHTERS THEMSELVES AR
REALLY THERE FOR THE PUBLIC
HEALTH NEED, AND OFTEN BECAUSE
OF CHANGES IN UNIFORM, PEOPLE
CONFLATE FIREFIGHTERS WITH
POLICE OFFICERS . I'M WONDERING
IF THERE'S ANYTHING YOU COULD
SHED LIGHT ON FOR OUR TEAM OR
CENTRAL STAFF. IS THERE ANY
EXPLANATION SO THAT FEWER
SEATTLE POLICE OFFICERS HAVE TO
SHOW UP AT THE BEGINNING?
>> SOUNDS LIKE THAT WOULD BE
BEST ANSWERED BY A MEMBER OF TH
FIRE DEPARTMENT. IT'S MY
UNDERSTANDING THAT THIS IS
DIFFERENT THAN THE 911
ALTERNATIVE RESPONSE, WHERE THE
POLICE DEPARTMENT HAS A ROLE IN
DECLARING SCENE SAFETY. IN THIS
CASE, WHICH IS DIFFERENT THAN
WHAT WE HAVE BEEN TALKING ABOUT
IT IS THE FIRE DEPARTMENT WHO
MAKES THE CALL FOR HELP .
>> AND SOMETIMES THESE ARE
COMPETING GROUPS AND THE
PROTECTION IS FOR THE OVERS
TRYING TO ATTACK THE PATIENT,
DEPENDING ON HOW THEY GOT INTO
THESE SITUATIONS . WE ARE
COMPLETELY UNEQUIPPED TO PROTEC
FROM OTHERS AT THE INCIDENT
SCENE OR AROUND THEMSELVES .
SOMETIMES THEY WILL TURN ON US
OR YELL AT US AS WELL, JUST
GIVEN THE CHALLENGES THEY ARE
FACING.
>> AND COULD YOU RESPOND TO THE
ISSUE OF THIS ORDINANCE NOT
INTENDED TO TURN ON ITS END?
IT'S TO EMPOWER THE POLICE
DEPARTMENT TO INSTEAD, THE FIR
DEPARTMENT WILL BE IN THE
DECISION MAKING ROLE OF WHETHER
OR NOT TO CALL THE POLICE FOR
HELP?
>> YES, YES. THANK YOU SO MUCH
FOR THE CLARIFICATION ON THAT
WHEN WE DON'T HAVE A SAFETY
BUBBLE, THIS IS A TOOL TO HELP
US CREATE THAT BUBBLE JUST FOR
THE SHORT TEMPORARY TIME THAT W
ARE IN THERE, WITH THE
UNDERSTANDING THAT WHEN WE
LEAVE, THE PROBLEM OR CHALLENGE
GO WITH US.
>> I DON'T THINK MOST PEOPLE
THINK THEY ARE OBSTRUCTING BY
LEANING OVER US AND YELLING AT
US . WE ARE PROVIDING SERVICE T
THOSE WHO CALL AND NEED HELP.
WHEN WE EXPLAIN THAT, WE NEED
YOUR COOPERATION TO HELP THIS
PERSON, I THINK IT'S AN
OPPORTUNITY FOR THE POLICE OR
ANYONE ELSE TO REALLY INTERACT
WITH THE PEOPLE WHO ARE UPSET,
FRUSTRATED , AND OFTENTIMES GO
TO A BETTER PLACE BECAUSE WE
DON'T HAVE TIME TO EXPLAIN
ANYTHING TO ANYONE. WE ARE JUST
LOOKING FOR HELP TO BE SURE THA
WE CAN HELP PEOPLE AND SUPPORT
OUR MISSION. THANKS.
>> THANK YOU.
>> ONE OF THE THINGS THAT'S
CONCERNING IS HAVING, YOU KNOW,
THE HEALTH RESPONDERS, SEATTLE
FIRE DEPARTMENT AND FIRE
PERSONNEL TRYING TO PROVIDE
HEALTH SERVICES, WHETHER IT'S
RESPONDING TO SOMEBODY WHO'S
HAVING A MENTAL HEALTH CRISIS O
EXPERIENCING AN OVERDOSE, HAVIN
THE SEATTLE POLICE DEPARTMENT
SHOW UP MAYBE WITHOUT THE
REQUEST OF FIRE . YOU KNOW,
SOMEBODY'S HAVING TO RESPOND TO
AN OVERDOSE SITUATION OR A CALL
AT A HOUSE, COULD THIS HELP
ENSURE THAT SEATTLE FIRE IS
REALLY THE ONE THAT'S REQUESTIN
ADDITIONAL BACKUP BEFORE SPD
ARRIVES AT THE SCENE? IS THAT
PART OF THE GOAL HERE?
>> I DON'T KNOW THAT'S SO MUCH
PART OF THE GOAL. WE TRY AND
DON'T USUALLY REQUEST SPD UNLES
WE NEED IT. 500 OVERDOSES THIS
YEAR, SPD IS NOT GOING ON ALL
THOSE WITH US. IT'S ABOUT THE
SIZE OF THE SCENE, HOW CHAOTIC
IS THE ENVIRONMENT WE ARE GOING
TO? IT'S A SMALL SUBSET OF
CALLS, MAYBE BASE ON ADDRESSES
WITH A KNOWN HISTORY . PRESIDEN
STUART MAY HAVE MORE INCITE AS
WELL.
>> THE ONLY THING I WOULD ADD I
WHETHER IT'S ON HEALTH ONE OR
FIRE ENGINE OR CAR, OUR FIRST
RESPONSE IS TO EVALUATE THE
SCENE SAFETY, THEN CARE FOR THE
PATIENT. AGAIN, WE WANT TO AVOI
CONFRONTATION. I THINK THAT IN
RESPONSE TO YOUR QUESTION, IT'S
HAVING THE EXPECTATIONS CLEAR.
RIGHT NOW WE HAVEN'T HAD THIS
DISCUSSION OR THIS IDEA OF
HAVING SPACE TO WORK. I THINK
THERE'S AN OPPORTUNITY HERE FOR
COMMUNICATION EDUCATION TO SAY,
WE ARE NOT ASKING FOR
NECESSARILY ENFORCEMENT OF THE
LAW. WE NEED HELP CREATING SPAC
FOR THIS INCIDENT. THEN WE TALK
ABOUT HOW WE DO THAT . I THINK
THIS WILL REALLY PROVIDE AN
OPPORTUNITY FOR SOME CLARITY
ABOUT WHY WE NEED ROOM. IT'S
GETTING CARE FROM THE CITY
THAT'S TRYING TO PROVIDE IT.
>> THANK YOU SO MUCH. THANK YOU
SO MUCH FOR THAT CONTEXT. I
THINK THAT ONE OF THE THINGS I
WOULD LOVE TO CONTINUE TO DO IS
MAKE SURE THAT WE PROVIDE
SUPPORT TO FIRE AND THE FRONT
LINES 24/7 TO BE SURE THAT
YOU'RE REALLY ONLY SEEING SPD
WHEN REQUESTED, RIGHT? BOTH
UNITS SHOWING UP CAN MAKE IT
COMPLICATED. IF SOMEBODY IS
WAKING UP FROM AN OVERDOSE AND
SEES A COP, THEY COULD HAVE A
DIFFERENT RESPONSE THAN IF THEY
JUST SAW A FIREFIGHTER. I KNOW
THERE ARE STAFFING NEEDS AND
RECRUIT WITH FIRE THAT DON'T GE
ENOUGH ATTENTION AS WELL. I
THINK IT'S IMPORTANT OFFICERS
ONLY SHOW UP IF ABSOLUTELY
NEEDED SO THEY DON'T CHANGE THE
DYNAMIC FOR THE FOLKS YOU'RE
TRYING TO SERVE AS A FIREFIGHTE
PROVIDING A PUBLIC HEALTH
SERVICE. THAT'S SOMETHING I'D
LOVE TO CONTINUE TO WORK WITH
YOU ALL ON.
>> I THINK THAT COULD HELP
ALLEVIATE SOME OF THE STRESS
THAT MIGHT BE OCCURRING IF
POLICE ARE SHOWING UP AND
REQUESTED FROM FIRE. I SEE
PRESIDENT STEWARD HAS SOMETHING
>> SEATTLE FIREFIGHTERS AND
PARAMEDICS PROVIDE EMS FOR THE
PEOPLE OF SEATTLE AND OUR POLIC
OFFICERS DO A GOOD JOB OF
PROTECTING PEOPLE FROM SEATTLE
AND PROVIDING THINGS SUCH AS
SEEN SECURITY AND DEALING WITH
CRIME. WE DON'T WANT TO ENCUMBE
SEATTLE POLICE UNNECESSARILY
COME TO A SCENE. THEY HAVE A LO
OF IMPORTANT WORK TO DO. WE ARE
NOT LOOKING TO INCREASE THAT
BURDEN . WHEN WE DO NEED SUPPOR
AND HELP, WHETHER IT IS A
SEATTLE POLICE OFFICER, A SOCIA
WORKER, OR ANY OTHER RELATED
SERVICE OR PARTNER THAT WE WORK
WITH , WE ARE GOING TO CERTAINL
CALL THEM. AS WE PROVIDE THE EM
SERVICES TO THE PEOPLE OF
SEATTLE, WE LOOK TO OUR POLICE
TO PROVIDE LAW ENFORCEMENT AND
WE WANT TO LEAVE THEM TO THAT
UNLESS ABSOLUTELY NECESSARY.
>> THANK YOU SO MUCH. I BELIEVE
COUNCILMEMBER MOSQUEDA, THAT YO
MIGHT HAVE AN AMENDMENT YOU ARE
THINKING OF OFFERING. I WANT TO
JUST MENTION, FOR THOSE OF US
HERE IN PERSON, THE CLERK
DISTRIBUTED HARDCOPIES OF THAT
AMENDMENT.
>> I WAS JUST -- CAN I SPEAK TO
THAT LAST PART OF THE
DISCUSSION?
>> SURE. PEOPLE HAVE TO KNOW
WHAT THE RULES ARE. THIS WOULD
ADD CLARITY THAT IT IS NOT OKAY
TO JUST OBSTRUCT VEHICLES WHEN
THEY ARE TRYING TO GET TO
SOMEONE WHO IS SUFFERING AN
EMERGENCY WITHIN A PROTEST
SITUATION OR OTHERWISE. TO YOUR
POINT, COUNCILMEMBER MOSQUEDA
AND ALSO , PRESIDENT STEWART,
THIS IS HOPEFULLY GOING TO
REDUCE THE INCIDENCE OF NEEDING
TO CALL SPD FOR REINFORCEMENT.
IT WILL BE CLEAR THAT THE SCENE
IS SAFE FOR YOU TO DO YOUR JOB
AND POLICE AND FIRE TO WORK
TOGETHER AS PART OF THE PUBLIC
SAFETY NETWORK. SOMETIMES THEY
ARE ALREADY AT THE SAME PLACE
AND OTHER TIMES NOT. I THINK
THIS WILL HELP TO STREAMLINE TH
LIFE-SAVING WORK THAT YOU DO.
>> THANK YOU.
>> SO, AM I CORRECT,
COUNCILMEMBER MOSQUEDA , THAT
YOU ARE STILL INTENDING TO BRIN
FORWARD AN AMENDMENT? I BELIEVE
THERE MIGHT BE A TWEAK?
>> YES, MADAM CHAIR. I CAN SPEA
TO THE AMENDMENT AFTER IT GETS
IN FRONT OF US IF YOU PREFER.
SHALL I GO AHEAD AND MOVE IT?
>> NO. THANK YOU FOR YOUR VERY
AND GRACEFUL REMINDER. THANK
YOU. I JUST WANTED TO FIRST MAK
SURE THAT THAT IS THE GAME PLAN
HERE. THANK YOU. AND, TO GET
THOSE READY TO DISCUSS THE
AMENDMENT, I WILL MOVE COUNCIL
BILL 120549. IS THERE A SECOND
>> SECOND. THANK YOU.
>> THANK YOU. COUNCILMEMBER
MOSQUEDA? WOULD YOU LIKE TO MOV
THE AMENDMENT?
>> THANK YOU, MADAM CHAIR . I
WOULD LIKE TO AMEND COUNCIL BIL
120549 BY MOVING AMENDMENT ONE
CIRCULATED VIA EMAIL YESTERDAY
AND PRESENTED ON PAPER.
>> THANK YOU. I WILL SECOND THE
AMENDMENT.
>> I BELIEVE THAT CENTRAL STAFF
MIGHT BE ABLE TO PRESENT IT FOR
FOLKS OF THE VIEWING PUBLIC YOU
HAVE NOT HAD A CHANCE TO SEE IT
I AM HAPPY TO CHAT ABOUT IT
AFTER IF THAT WORKS FOR YOU,
MADAM CHAIR.
>> ABSOLUTELY. THANK YOU. THE
AMENDMENT WOULD REQUIRE THAT FO
ONE YEAR, THE SEATTLE POLICE
DEPARTMENT PROVIDE QUARTERLY
REPORTING OF DEMOGRAPHIC
INFORMATION THAT IS COLLECTED
FOR INDIVIDUALS WHO ARE ARRESTE
UNDER SMC 12 A1610. THAT IS THE
SMC FOR OBSTRUCTING A PUBLIC
OFFICIAL. SPECIFICALLY, WHEN
THEY ARE OBSTRUCTING FIRE
DEPARTMENT PERSONNEL AND THE
PERFORMANCE OF THEIR OFFICIAL
DUTIES OR WHEN OBSTRUCTION
OCCURS AT THE SCENE OF A FIRE
DEPARTMENT EMERGENCY RESPONSE,
PURSUANT TO THOSE CONDITIONS,
THAT WE HAVE BEEN DISCUSSING
AROUND A SAFETY ZONE -- ONE
THING I WOULD NOTE IS THAT THER
IS A TECHNICAL ERROR IN THE
AMENDMENT . IN THREE DIFFERENT
PLACES, IT TALKS ABOUT CITATION
AND THE DEMOGRAPHIC INFORMATION
SHOULD BE COLLECTED FOR
CITATIONS. AS A GROSS
MISDEMEANOR, THIS IS AN
ARRESTABLE OFFENSE SO CITATIONS
ARE NOT BE GIVEN. RATHER, AN
ARREST WOULD BE MADE. SO, THAT
IS A STAFF ERROR AND I APOLOGIZ
FOR THAT. INSTEAD OF SAYING
RECEIVES CITATION, IT SHOULD SA
ARRESTS. THAT IS A TECHNICAL
CORRECTION THAT I CAN MAKE WITH
THE SPONSORS' DIRECTION. THAT I
ALL HE WOULD HAVE. THANK YOU.
>> MADAM CHAIR?
>> THANK YOU SO MUCH. I MIGHT
ASK, IF IT IS OKAY WITH YOU,
THAT CENTRAL STAFF PRESENT TO
THE AMENDMENT, INCLUDING THE
TECHNICAL LANGUAGE ON THE
SCREEN, IF POSSIBLE, SO THE
MEMBERS OF THE PUBLIC AND OUR
COMMUNITY PARTNERS CAN SEE THAT
AS WELL. THIS IS AN AMENDMENT
THAT WE HAD WORKED ON WITH
COUNCILMEMBER HERBOLD. WE HAD
WORKED ON AN AMENMENT TO AN
ORDINANCE A COUPLE OF YEARS AGO
IN 2019, WHEN WE ADDED SOME
LANGUAGE TO THE STATUTE OF THE
SEATTLE MUNICIPAL CODE TO ENSUR
THAT WHEN FOLKS WERE VIOLATING
NOISE ORDINANCES, THAT WE TRACK
THE RACIAL DISPARITIES OR RACE
AND ETHNICITY OF FOLKS WHO
RECEIVING CITATIONS AND ARRESTS
THIS IS AN AMENDMENT TO ADDRESS
SOME OF THE TRANSPARENCY AND
TRACKING DATA THAT I THINK WILL
BE VERY HELPFUL. THERE ARE
CONCERNS ABOUT RACIAL
DISPROPORTIONALITY RELATED TO
THIS LEGISLATION. I APPRECIATE
THAT THERE WAS A CAVEAT NOTING
THE DIFFERENCE BETWEEN WHAT IS
BEING PROPOSED HERE AND OTHER
STATUTES SPECIFICALLY UNDER SPD
THIS AMENDMENT WILL SERVE AS AN
OPPORTUNITY FOR US TO MONITOR
ANY INTERACTIONS WITH MEMBERS O
THE PUBLIC RELATED TO THIS
ORDINANCE TO MAKE SURE WE ARE
MONITORING CLOSELY ANY RACIAL
EQUITY IMPACT SO THAT WE CAN
TAKE FURTHER ACTION IF
NECESSARY. AND, MADAM CHAIR,
THANK YOU FOR THE SUGGESTION ON
THIS AS WE WERE TALKING ABOUT
THIS LEGISLATION AND APPRECIATE
THAT THERE MIGHT BE SOME
ADDITIONAL CLARIFICATION THAT
YOU MIGHT WANT TO ADD AS WELL.
>> THANK YOU SO MUCH. IS THERE
ANY ADDITIONAL DISCUSSION ON
AMENDMENT ONE? COUNCILMEMBER
PEDERSEN?
>> THANK YOU, CHAIR HERBOLD.
THANK YOU, COUNCILMEMBER
MOSQUEDA FOR BRINGING THIS
FORWARD. ADDING THE REPORTING
REQUIREMENTS SEEMS TO ALWAYS BE
A USEFUL TOOL WHEN THERE ARE
CONCERNS RAISED ABOUT SOMETHING
NEW WE MIGHT BE TRYING TO DO. I
IT POSSIBLE TO EXPAND THE
INFORMATION SO THAT WE ARE
GETTING THE DEMOGRAPHIC
INFORMATION OF WHO THE FIRE
DEPARTMENT IS ASSISTING AS WELL
>> THE INFORMATION THAT WE
TALKED ABOUT EARLIER? IF WE SEE
DISPROPORTIONALITY IN THE
ENFORCEMENT ON THE OBSTRUCTION
SIDE, HOW WE COULD WEIGH THAT
AGAINST WHO THE FIRE DEPARTMENT
IS SERVING. AGAIN, THE SLOWING
DOWN OF LIFE-SAVING SERVICES TO
A POPULATION OF PEOPLE IN THE
INSTANCES WHERE OBSTRUCTION
CHARGES ARE ENFORCED, THAT IS A
IMPORTANT CONSIDERATION,
ESPECIALLY, IF WITHOUT A TOOL
LIKE THIS, THOSE BIPOC
COMMUNITIES ARE NOT RECEIVING
THE LIFE-SAVING SERVICES OR
THOSE SERVICES ARE DELAYED. THA
IS A REALLY GOOD QUESTION TO
KNOW WHETHER OR NOT WE CAN HAVE
THAT REPORTING ALONG WITH THE
CITATION PIECE. WE MIGHT BE
ASKING TO DO TOO MUCH IN A
COMMITTEE SESSION AT THIS POINT
WHAT DO YOU THINK, GREG?
>> COUNCILMEMBER, TWO THOUGHTS.
THE FIRST IS, I WOULD WANT TO
CHECK TO SEE IF IT IS POSSIBLE
TO DO THAT. I KNOW THAT IT MAY
BE POSSIBLE BUT I WOULD WANT TO
CHECK TO MAKE SURE THAT POLICE
AND FIRE, THE DATA SYSTEMS COUL
MAKE SURE THAT THEY COULD TRACK
THE INFORMATION OF BOTH THE
PATIENT WHO IS BEING RESPONDED
TO AND THE PERSON WHO WAS BEING
ARRESTED. THEN, YEAH, I WOULD
AGREE WITH YOU THAT THE SCOPE O
THE CHANGE IS A BIT FURTHER THA
JUST THIS AMENDMENT SO THAT ONE
MIGHT BE BETTER OFFERED AT THE
COUNCIL LEVEL.
>> COUNCILMEMBER PEDERSEN? I
ALSO THINK THAT WE HAVE A FIRE
DEPARTMENT THAT WOULD BE VERY
WILLING TO PROVIDE THAT
INFORMATION WITHOUT IT BEING
INCLUDED IN THE AMENDMENT AS
WELL. DEFER TO YOUR PREFERENCE.
>> THANK YOU, CHAIR. THANK YOU
FOR LIFTING UP AND SAYING BETTE
WHAT I WAS TRYING TO SAY. I
AGREE THAT I DON'T WANT TO DELA
THE BILL SO I THINK THAT THOSE
WHO ARE PROVIDING THE REPORT
COULD PROVIDE MORE INFORMATION
THAN WHAT WE ARE REQUESTING AT
THE MINIMUM. THAT IS AN
IMPORTANT ELEMENT OF INFORMATIO
FOR CONTEXT, WHO IS BEING SERVE
AS WELL AS WHO IS RECEIVING TH
CITATIONS OR COMING INTO CONTAC
WITH LAW ENFORCEMENT. KNOWING
BOTH OF THOSE THINGS WOULD BE
HELPFUL. I DON'T KNOW IF WE
COULD CHANGE LANGUAGE INCLUDING
BUT NOT LIMITED TO THIS
INFORMATION HERE, PERHAPS JUST
TO GIVE THE PUBLIC SAFETY
OFFICERS FLEXIBILITY TO REPORT
MORE INFORMATION THAN WHAT IS
HERE. I DON'T KNOW IF GREG DOSS
CAN ADD, INCLUDING BUT NOT
LIMITED TO THIS INFORMATION.
>> I THINK THE PROBLEM,
COUNCILMEMBER PEDERSEN, IS THAT
THE INFORMATION IS COMING FROM
POTENTIALLY TWO DIFFERENT
SOURCES. THE ARREST INFORMATION
WOULD COME FROM SPD BUT THE
PATIENT INFORMATION ON THE
FIRESIDE WOULD BE COMING FROM
THE FIRE DEPARTMENT. THAT IS TH
PROBLEM. SPD GETTING ACCESS TO
THE FIRE DEPARTMENT INFORMATION
AND THEN MARRYING GET UP WITH
THE ARREST INFORMATION AND
PROVIDING ALL OF THAT IN THE
SAME REPORT. THAT IS WHAT I WAS
SAYING EARLIER WHERE I WAS
SAYING I WOULD WANT TO MAKE SUR
THAT SPD COULD DO THAT, EITHER
THAT OR, POTENTIALLY HAVING A
DIFFERENT AMENDMENT THAT WOULD
REQUEST SOME SORT OF DUAL
REPORTING PROCESS THROUGH BOTH
SFD AND SPD. I WOULD HAVE TO
THINK ABOUT THAT A LITTLE BIT.
BUT, I AM NOT SURE -- I GUESS
WHAT I'M SAYING IS THAT I'M NOT
SURE THAT REQUESTING AT OF SPD
RIGHT NOW, I KNOW THAT THEY
COULD NECESSARILY DO THAT,
TECHNOLOGICALLY.
>> THANK YOU, CHAIR . I AM FINE
AS IS. SINCE WE HAVE DISCUSSED
IT PUBLICLY, OF COURSE THEY CAN
PROVIDE ADDITIONAL INFORMATION
IF THEY FEEL THAT WOULD BE
HELPFUL AND WE CAN ALSO EVEN
THINK OF AN AMENDMENT AT FULL
COUNCIL IF OTHERS FELT THAT WAS
HELPFUL AFTER WE CONFER WITH TH
FIRE DEPARTMENT AND POLICE
DEPARTMENT MORE BETWEEN NOW AND
WILL COUNCIL BUT NOT WANTING T
DELAY THE PASSAGE.
>> IS THERE ANY OTHER QUESTIONS
OR COMMENTS ON THE AMENDMENT?
COUNCILMEMBER MOSQUEDA?
>> THANK YOU SO MUCH, MADAM
CHAIR. THANK YOU AGAIN,
COLLEAGUES FOR CONSIDERING THIS
AMENDMENT. I THINK THAT THE
INTENT HERE IS TO MAKE SURE THA
WE HAVE ADDITIONAL DATA TO HELP
US BE INFORMED ABOUT ANY
UNINTENDED CONSEQUENCES HERE. I
AM HOPEFUL THAT THIS WILL REDUC
THE CHANCE THAT AN OFFICER WILL
HAVE TO SHOW UP ON THE SITE TO
BEGIN WITH. WE WANT TO MAKE SUR
THAT WE HAVE SAFE SPACES FOR
PEOPLE, OUR FIRST RESPONDERS T
ADMINISTER THE PUBLIC HEALTH
RESPONSES THAT THEY HAVE BEEN
CALLED TO DO. IT IS REALLY
CRITICAL. ALSO, IF THERE ARE
UNINTENDED CONSEQUENCES, WE WAN
TO KNOW ABOUT THOSE JUST LIKE W
HAVE INSERTED INTO LEGISLATION
IN THE PAST. I ALSO WANT TO MAK
SURE THAT WE ARE TRYING TO GET
AWAY FROM ANY KIND OF
COMPILATION OR CONFUSION BETWEE
THE ROLE IN THE WORK OF FIRE AN
THE ROLE IN THE WORK OF SPD. I
APPRECIATE THAT THERE ARE
DIFFERENT DEPARTMENTS THAT WE
MIGHT HAVE ADDITIONAL DATA BEIN
REFLECTED FROM BOTH .
COUNCILMEMBER PEDERSEN, I LOOK
FORWARD TO HEARING MORE ABOUT
WHAT YOU MIGHT BE INTERESTED IN
LEARNING AS WELL. I THINK THE
CONCERNS WE ARE HOPING TO
ADDRESS IS TO MAKE SURE THAT, I
THERE IS ANY INTERACTION WITH
LAW ENFORCEMENT, IF THERE IS
CITATIONS THAT LEAD TO ARRESTS,
THAT WE ARE TRACKING THOSE.
BEFORE FINAL PASSAGE, I WOULD
LOVE TO LEARN MORE FROM THE
OFFICE OF CIVIL RIGHTS OR PUBLI
DEFENDERS ABOUT ANY OF THE
LANGUAGE WE TALKED ABOUT TODAY
RELATED TO THE COMPOUNDING --
WHAT IS THE WORD YOU USED? I'M
SORRY. THE STACKING OF CHARGES?
GREG, I BELIEVE YOU MENTIONED
THAT . AND, HOW, IF THERE ARE
ADDITIONAL LAWS THAT ADDRESS
THIS STACKING OF CHARGES COULD
RESULT IN MORE FOLKS BEING
ARRESTED OR RESULTING IN THEM
BEING IN JAIL, THAT WOULD BE
HELPFUL TO KNOW BUT I WANTED TO
CONFLATED WITH THE OVERALL GOAL
HERE OF TRYING TO GET SAFER
SPACES FOR FIREFIGHTERS TO BE
ABLE TO ADMINISTER THE IMPORTAN
HEALTH SERVICES AND HOPEFULLY
THAT GETS US THE ISSUE OF POLIC
OFFICERS SHOWING UP WHEN THEY
HAVE NOT YET BEEN REQUESTED BY
SEATTLE FIRE. LET'S MAKE SURE W
ARE ADEQUATELY USING THE
RESOURCES, MAKING SURE THAT
FIRST RESPONDERS AS FIREFIGHTER
HAVE THE JURISDICTION TO
ADMINISTER SERVICES FIRST AND
FOREMOST BEFORE AND ONLY UNTIL
SPD IS REQUESTED. THAT IS
SOMETHING I WOULD LOVE TO
CONTINUE TO EXPLORE AS WELL TO
SUPPORT OUR FIREFIGHTERS TO
ADMINISTER THE SERVICES THAT
HAVE BEEN REQUESTED.
>> THANK YOU. I SEE THAT GREG
HAS ON THE SCREEN MADE THE
ALTERATIONS AS DIRECTED TO THE
AMENDMENT TO REMOVE THE WORDS
RECEIVE CITATIONS AND ADD THE
WORD ARRESTED IN THE TWO PLACES
IN SECTION 2 AND IN THE AFFECTE
STATEMENT. WITH THAT, I WOULD
LIKE TO ASK THAT THE CLERK
PLEASE CALL THE ROLL ON THE
AMENDMENT.
>> COUNCILMEMBER MOSQUEDA?
>> AYE.
>> COUNCILMEMBER NELSON?
>> AYE.
>> COUNCILMEMBER PEDERSEN?
>> YES.
>> CHAIR HERBOLD?
>> YES.
>> FOUR IN SUPPORT.
>> THANK YOU. THE AMENDMENT
PASSES. THE BILL IS BEFORE THE
COMMITTEE AS AMENDED. I WOULD
LIKE TO SHARE SOME THOUGHTS FRO
THE CO-CHAIR OF THE BILL. THAT
WOULD BE COUNCILMEMBER LEWIS. H
DID WRITE TO SAY , I QUOTE, I
REGRET THAT I HAVE A CONFLICT
THIS MORNING AND CANNOT APPEAR
IN PERSON TO SUPPORT THIS
IMPORTANT LEGISLATION.
FIREFIGHTERS ARE ON THE FRONT
LINES EVERY DAY SERVING AS THE
FIRST RESPONDER FOR
NEIGHBORHOODS IN A CRISIS. ON
DAILY BASIS, THE FIRST AID
MEASURES PERFORMED BY
FIREFIGHTERS ARE THE DIFFERENCE
BETWEEN LIFE AND DEATH. SECONDS
CAN MATTER. NO ONE SHOULD HAVE
THE RIGHT TO DELAY A FIREFIGHTE
FOR ADMINISTERING THESE CRITICA
SERVICES. IN SEATTLE, THAT IS
FUNCTIONALLY THE STATE OF OUR
CURRENT LAW. THIS COMMONSENSE
PROPOSAL EXTENDS TO FIREFIGHTER
THE SAME PROTECTIONS ALREADY
ENJOYED BY POLICE OFFICERS AND
OTHER CITY EMPLOYEES. I AM PROU
TO COSPONSOR THIS LEGISLATION
AND LOOK FORWARD TO CONSIDERING
IT WHEN I RETURN. WITH THAT,
OPENING UP THE FLOOR FOR FINAL
COMMENTS IF THERE ARE SOME.
>> COUNCILMEMBER MOSQUEDA?
SHOULD WE HEAR FROM CENTRAL
STAFF FIRST?
>> THANK YOU, MADAM CHAIR. I
HEARD BACK IN REAL-TIME FROM SP
THAT THE DATA COORDINATION
PROBLEM THAT I WAS SPEAKING TO
EARLIER WITH FIRE IS A REAL
PROBLEM, COUNCILMEMBER MOSQUEDA
. THAT IS SOMETHING I CAN WORK
ON, TO SEE IF THERE IS A WAY WE
CAN GET TO YOUR ISSUE AND GET
BACK TO YOU BEFORE THE FINAL
VOTE.
>> COUNCILMEMBER MOSQUEDA?
>> THANK YOU. ONE OF THE THINGS
THAT WE CAN FOLLOW UP WITH
CENTRAL STAFF ON IS HAVING A
BETTER SENSE -- PERHAPS THIS I
PART OF YOUR CONVERSATION WITH
SPD -- ABOUT THE LANGUAGE IN TH
SIMPLE STUFF MEMO THAT SAID THA
THERE WAS ASSURANCES FROM THE
ATTORNEY THAT THESE CHARGES
WON'T BE FILED. OBVIOUSLY,
ASSURANCES ARE NOT POLICY AND I
AM WONDERING IF THERE IS ANY
ADDITIONAL INFORMATION THAT WE
COULD GLEAN FROM THE DISCUSSION
OVER THE NEXT WEEK OR SO FOR
FINAL PASSAGE ABOUT CODIFYING
THAT COMMITMENT IN THIS AS WELL
I THINK THAT WOULD HELP
ALLEVIATE SOME OF THE CONCERN
AROUND YIELDING MORE PEOPLE
BEING IN THE CRIMINAL JUSTICE
SYSTEM AND IF THAT IS A
COMMITMENT FROM THE CITY
ATTORNEY, THAT WOULD BE GREAT T
KNOW. OVERALL, I ALSO WANTED TO
THANK SEATTLE FIRE,
SPECIFICALLY, 27 MEMBERS WHO
HAVE BEEN ON THE FRONT LINE
DURING THE PANDEMIC AND ALSO
OVER THE LAST DECADE DOING MORE
WITH LESS, BEING ASKED TO SHOW
UP TO MORE AND MORE SCENES WHER
PEOPLE HAVE BEEN EXPERIENCING
MULTIPLE COMPOUNDING CRISES,
WHETHER IT IS BEHAVIORAL HEALTH
JUST THE TRAUMA AND STRESS OF
BEING IN THE ELEMENTS OR HAVING
ECONOMIC AND SECURITY. WE KNOW
THAT YOU HAVE BEEN ON THE FRONT
LINES TO RESPOND TO THAT SHADOW
PANDEMIC BEFORE COVID AND YOU
ARE QUITE LITERALLY PUTTING YOU
LIVES AT RISK FOR BEING IN THE
MIDST OF THE PANDEMIC AND
RESPONDING TO TESTING AND
VACCINATIONS. YOU ARE STILL OUT
THERE DOING MUCH OF THAT WORK
THAT HAS NOT LEFT THE WORKLOAD
AND YOU HAVE JUST ADDED IT TO
YOUR PLATE. I WANT TO CONTINUE
TO WORK WITH OUR COLLEAGUES TO
MAKE SURE THAT SEATTLE FIRE AND
SPECIFICALLY OUR FRONT-LINE
FIRST RESPONDERS CONTINUE TO GE
THE TYPE OF INVESTMENTS THAT WE
KNOW ARE SO DESPERATELY NEEDED.
OFTEN, WHEN YOU ARE DOING WORK
WITH PUBLIC HEALTH AND YOU ARE
DOING IT WELL , IT DOES NOT GET
THE ATTENTION OR THE RESOURCES
THAT IT NEEDS BECAUSE YOU ARE
DOING MORE AND MORE WITH LESS
AND PEOPLE ASSUME YOU'RE ABLE T
ABSORB THAT. I AM PROUD WE HAVE
BEEN ABLE TO ADD THE LADDER
TRUCK AND THE MEDIC UNIT AND
HAVE BEEN ABLE TO SEE THE IMPAC
THAT HAS HAD FOR FIREFIGHTERS I
WEST SEATTLE AND SOUTH PARK.
OVERALL, WE KNOW THAT YOU NEED
ADDITIONAL SUPPORT TO DO YOUR
WORK AND TO ADDRESS THE
INCREASED NEED AND DEMAND FROM
THE COMMUNITY, GIVING THE
COMPOUNDING STRESSORS. I JUST
WANTED TO MAKE SURE THAT WE
THANKED YOU FOR THAT WORK AND
ALSO CONTINUE TO DECOUPLE THIS
CONVERSATION FROM THE ONGOING
CONVERSATION ABOUT CONCERNS
AROUND THE CRIMINAL JUSTICE
SYSTEM. I AM HOPE THAT WE CAN
PUT IN SOME CLEAR MEASURES WITH
ADDITIONAL ANSWERS RELATED TO
THE CITY ATTORNEY'S OFFICE FOR
HOW FOLKS THAT HAVE INTERACTED
WITH THE FIRST RESPONDERS IN AN
INAPPROPRIATE WAY GET ACCESS T
THE FOLKS WHO NEED ACCESS TO
FIREFIGHTERS AND GET THAT CARE
WITHOUT BEING INTERRUPTED AND
THAT WE ALL ENSURE THE SAFETY O
FIREFIGHTERS IS CONSIDERED IN
PARAMOUNT AS WE ADDRESS THESE
ISSUES THAT MIGHT HAVE
UNINTENDED CONSEQUENCES. I LOOK
FORWARD TO WORKING WITH THE CIT
ATTORNEY'S OFFICE, HEARING MORE
FROM SPD AND CONTINUING TO
SUPPORT THE MEMBERS OF SFD.
>> THANK YOU SO MUCH. I
APPRECIATE IT. WITH THAT, I
THINK WE ARE READY FOR THE CLER
TO CALL THE ROLE ON COUNCIL BIL
120549 AS AMENDED.
>> COUNCILMEMBER MOSQUEDA?
>> AYE.
>> COUNCILMEMBER NELSON?
COUNCILMEMBER PEDERSEN?
>> YES.
>> CHAIR HERBOLD?
>> YES.
>> THREE IN SUPPORT.
>> THANK YOU. THE BILL NOW MOVE
TO THE FULL COUNCIL MEETING ON
MAY 2 AND I LOOK FORWARD TO THE
CONVERSATION --
>> I THINK THAT WAS FOUR IN
SUPPORT.
>> COUNCILMEMBER NELSON HAD TO
STEP AWAY. SHE DID SEND ME A
NOTE -- SHE DID NOT VOTE JUST
NOW.
>> OKAY. SORRY ABOUT THAT. I
JUST WANTED TO MAKE SURE. I ALS
JUST WANTED TO MENTION WITH THE
CHAIR AND OUR FRIENDS FROM THE
FIRE HERE, I WILL LOOK FORWARD
TO WORKING WITH THE CHAIR,
CENTRAL STAFF, AND FIRE TO MAKE
SURE SOME OF THE QUESTIONS GET
ADDRESSED BEFORE THE FINAL
PASSAGE. THOSE WILL BE REALLY
IMPORTANT TO LIFT UP FOR THE
COMMUNITY AND WE WILL MAKE SURE
THAT WE ARE STAYING IN CLOSE
COMMUNICATION ON SOME OF THOSE
FALLOUT QUESTIONS.
>> ABSOLUTELY.
>> WE DO HAVE COUNCILMEMBER
NELSON BACK. WE HAVE NOW MOVED
ONTO THE NEXT ITEM. I WOULD LOV
TO RECORD HER VOTE.
>> AYE.
>> THANK YOU VERY MUCH.
>> FOUR IN SUPPORT.
>> CLERK, CAN YOU PLEASE RELAY
THE FINAL VOTE?
>> FOUR IN SUPPORT.
>> THANK YOU SO MUCH.
>> COUNCILMEMBER MOSQUEDA, WORK
TO DO BETWEEN NOW AND THE FULL
COUNCIL VOTE . HOPEFULLY WE CAN
GET THAT DONE BY MAY 2 AND , IF
NOT, WE CAN TALK ABOUT WHETHER
OR NOT THERE IS A NEED FOR MORE
TIME. I JUST WANTED TO CHECK
WITH THE OTHER COUNCILMEMBERS
WHO ARE STILL HERE WITH US. WE
HAVE COUNCILMEMBER MOSQUEDA AND
COUNCILMEMBER PEDERSEN WITH US.
WE DO HAVE ONE ITEM LEFT ON THE
AGENDA AND THAT IS THE DRAFT
RESOLUTION ON PAY EQUITY FOR
HUMAN SERVICES CONTRACTORS. I
WANT TO JUST DO A TIME CHECK
WITH FOLKS, IF WE COULD WRAP
THAT BRIEF PRESENTATION UP BY,
SAY, 11:45. WILL YOU BOTH BE
ABLE TO STAY WITH US?
COUNCILMEMBER PEDERSEN?
>> UNTIL NOON OR SO.
>> GREAT. I AM AIMING FOR 11:45
PERFECT. I APPRECIATE IT.
>> IF THE PRESENTERS CAN JOIN U
AT THE TABLE, CAN THE CLERK
PLEASE READ IN AGENDA ITEM
NUMBER TWO?
>> AGENDA ITEM NUMBER TWO, DRAF
RESOLUTION ON PAY EQUITY FOR
HUMAN SERVICES CONTRACTORS.
>> FANTASTIC. WHILE FOLKS ARE
GETTING SEATED AT THE TABLE ON
THE PRESENTATION UP, A COUPLE O
INTRODUCTORY COMMENTS . THIS
ITEM IS PART OF THE COMMITTEE I
CONTINUING INQUIRY INTO PAY FOR
NONPROFIT HUMAN SERVICES
CONTRACTORS. A LONG CONCERN OF
THIS COUNCIL IN PREVIOUS
COUNCILS. AT THE MARCH 14
COMMITTEE MEETING, WE HOSTED A
BRIEFING FROM THE UNIVERSITY O
WASHINGTON LED TEAM OF NATIONAL
AND INTERNATIONAL SCHOLARS,
PRESENTING THE RESULTS AND
RECOMMENDATIONS OF THEIR
IN-DEPTH RESEARCH INTO THE PAY
PENALTY EXPRESSED BY ANYONE
WORKING IN HUMAN SERVICES. THEY
FOUND THAT HUMAN SERVICES
WORKERS ARE PAID 37% LESS THAN
COMPARABLE WORKERS IN OTHER
SECTORS. THE STUDY WAS FUNDED B
A COUNCIL BUDGET ACTION THAT TH
FULL COUNCIL SUPPORTED IN 2021
AND THE RESEARCH PUTS HARD DATA
BEHIND THE ALARMS THAT ARE
MISSION-CRITICAL PARTNERS HAVE
BEEN SOUNDING SINCE THE PANDEMI
BEGAN AND EVEN BEFORE THAT. I
DO HAVE SOME OTHER INTRODUCTORY
REMARKS BUT IN THE INTEREST OF
TIME, I AM GOING TO HOLD THEM
AND I BET OUR CENTRAL STAFF
PRESENTATION WILL COVER MOST OF
WHAT I WAS INTENDING TO SAY
ANYHOW. WITH THAT, I WILL HAND
IT BACK TO CENTRAL STAFF TO
START WITH INTRODUCTIONS AND GE
US KICKED OFF.
>> THANK YOU. I AM JENNIFER
LABRECQUE WITH CENTRAL STAFF.
>> I'M KARINA BULL WITH COUNCIL
CENTRAL STAFF. ME ONE MOMENT
HERE TO SHARE OUR SCREEN.
>> ALL RIGHT. THANK YOU FOR
HAVING US HERE TODAY. THIS
PRESENTATION WILL PROVIDE SOME
BACKGROUND AND CONTEXT ON THE
DRAFT WAGE EQUITY EVOLUTION,
WALK THROUGH THE COMPONENTS OF
THE RESOLUTION AND PROVIDE A
FINANCIAL ANALYSIS OF THE
POTENTIAL COST IMPACTS IN 2024
AND 2025. GIVE ME ONE MOMENT.
THERE WE GO. OKAY.
>> AS CHAIR HERBOLD JUST
MENTIONED, THE UNIVERSITY OF
WASHINGTON SCHOOL OF SOCIAL WOR
WAS BEFORE THIS COMMITTEE
RECENTLY TO PRESENT ON THEIR
COMPLETED WAGE EQUITY STUDY,
WHICH WAS SPECIFICALLY FOCUSED
ON THE NONPROFIT HUMAN SERVICES
INDUSTRY. COUNCILMEMBER HERBOLD
JUST DISCUSSED THESE FINDINGS S
I WON'T REPEAT THEM HERE .
>> I DO WANT TO GO BACK AND
MENTION ONE OF THE FINDINGS FRO
THE UNIVERSITY STUDY IS THAT,
WHILE THERE IS A 37% WAGE GAP,
IT WOULD TAKE A 59% WAGE
INCREASE TO CLOSE. PERCENTAGES
CAN GET COMPLICATED. THIS MAP
HERE SHOWS HOW IT WOULD TAKE A
59% WAGE INCREASE TO CLOSE A 37
GAP. I'M NOT GOING TO SPEND TOO
MUCH TIME ON IT BUT HAPPY TO
ANSWER ANY QUESTIONS AS NEEDED.
>> WOMEN COMPRISE A LARGE
PERCENTAGE OF THE HUMAN SERVICE
WORKFORCE. THEY MAKE UP ALMOST
80% OF THE WORKFORCE AND BLACK
WORKERS ARE ALMOST 3 TIMES AS
LIKELY TO WORK IN HUMAN SERVICE
AS THEY ARE TO WORK IN NON-CARE
INDUSTRIES. THIS INFORMATION IS
FROM THE UW STUDY. IT IS NOT A
COINCIDENCE THAT WOMEN AND
WORKERS OF COLOR ARE
OVERREPRESENTED IN THE HUMAN
SERVICES INDUSTRY AND THE WAGES
ARE LOW. HUMAN SERVICE WORKER
WAGES ARE LOW IN PART BECAUSE O
BOTH A GENDER AND RACIAL
PENALTY. THESE ARE A REFLECTION
OF HISTORIC GENDER AND RACIAL
DISCRIMINATION THAT HAS BEEN
CARRIED FORWARD THROUGH TODAY.
>> AS WE THINK ABOUT THE IMPAC
OF THE WAGE EQUITY GAP, IT IS
IMPORTANT TO REMEMBER THAT HUMA
SERVICES IS THE WORK OF ONE
HUMAN BEING HELPING ANOTHER
HUMAN BEING. WE LEARNED, AS PAR
OF OUR RESEARCH THAT IN EACH OF
THE HUMAN SERVICE DEPARTMENT
ADMINISTER CONTRACTS, 80% TO
100% OF THE CONTRACTS IS USED
FOR WAGES. WHEN WE HAVE EXAMPLE
-- WHEN WE HAVE TROUBLE FILLING
VACANCIES OR HIGH TURNOVER RATE
THAT CAN IMPACT ORGANIZATIONS T
DELIVER ON SERVICES AND TO HELP
SOME OF SEATTLE'S MOST
VULNERABLE PEOPLE. ENLISTED SOM
OF THOSE TYPES OF EXAMPLES HERE
AND I AM SURE YOU HAVE ALL HEAR
VERY SIMILAR STORIES. LOW WAGES
ARE LEADING TO HIGH LEVELS OF
VACANCIES AND HIGH STAFF
TURNOVER. THIS IS INCREASING
COST AND DISRUPTING THE HUMAN T
HUMAN RELATIONSHIPS THAT ARE
ESSENTIAL TO SUCCESSFUL OUTCOME
AND IT IS IMPACTING THE ABILITY
FOR NONPROFITS TO DELIVER
SERVICES.
>> WAGE EQUITY IS AN ISSUE THAT
IS BEING ACKNOWLEDGED AND
ADDRESSED AT A COUNTY AND LOCAL
LEVEL. KING COUNTY IS CURRENTLY
FUNDING A DEMONSTRATION PROJECT
FOR LOW-WAGE CHILDCARE WORKERS
AS PART OF THE BEST STARTS FOR
KIDS LEVY AND HAS INTEGRATED
WAGE EQUITY INTO THE PROPOSED
VETERAN SENIORS AND HUMAN
SERVICES LEVY ON THE CRISIS CAR
CENTERS LEVY.
>> WAGE EQUITY EFFORTS ARE
CURRENTLY FOCUSED ON WORKERS
WHICH IS A TYPE OF AFFORDABLE
HOUSING DESIGN FOR PEOPLE WHO
ARE EXITING HOMELESSNESS AND
HAVE A HIGH LEVEL OF NEEDS. WE
HAVE THE FIVE VARIOUS COMPONENT
OF THE WAGE EQUITY RESOLUTION
BEFORE YOU.
>> THE FIRST COMPONENT
RECOGNIZES A NEAR-TERM AND
LONGTIME RECOMMENDATION FROM TH
UNIVERSITY OF WASHINGTON STUDY.
I WANT TALK TO ALL OF THESE BUT
ONE OF THE RECOMMENDATIONS IS
TO INCREASE WAGES BY 7% WITH
2025 IN ORDER TO STEM THE FLOW
OF WORKERS INTO OTHER
INDUSTRIES. 7% WOULD BE IN
ADDITION TO ANY OTHER
INFLATIONARY ADJUSTMENTS. THE
STUDY ALSO CONTAINED LONG-TERM
RECOMMENDATIONS, ONE OF WHICH I
TO CONTINUE TO MAKE PROGRESS ON
A DANCING WAGE EQUITY AND TO
MAKE SIGNIFICANT PROGRESS
THROUGH 2030. THE SECOND
COMPONENT OF THE RESOLUTION
CALLS FOR COLLABORATION WITH
PRIVATE AND PUBLIC FUNDERS. THI
COMPONENT RECOGNIZES THAT THE
CITY ALONE CANNOT ADDRESS THE
WAGE EQUITY GAP, FULLY
ADDRESSING THE GAP WILL TAKE A
COLLABORATIVE EFFORT AMONG ALL
FUNDERS, BOTH PUBLIC AND
PRIVATE. THIS IS BECAUSE THERE
ARE LIKELY MULTIPLE FUND SOURCE
IN A SINGLE FULL-TIME POSITION
OR DIFFERENT LINES OF BUSINESS
A COMPREHENSIVE EFFORT WILL TAK
A COMMITMENT FROM EVERYONE.
>> THE THIRD COMPONENT OF THE
WAGE EQUITY RESOLUTION IS
FOCUSED ON CONSIDERATION OF
INCREASING HUMAN SERVICE
DEPARTMENT ADMINISTER CONTRACTS
THIS PORTION OF THE RESOLUTION
FOCUSES ON CONTRACTS THAT ARE
ADMINISTERED BY THE FOOD
SERVICES DEPARTMENT. THESE WOUL
BE THE SAME CONTRACTS THAT ARE
REQUIRED -- THAT ARE COVERED BY
THE REQUIRED INFLATIONARY
ADJUSTMENT. THIS SECTION STATES
COUNCIL'S INTENT TO CONSIDER
FOUR THINGS, INCREASING FUNDING
FOR CONTRACTS BY 7% BY 2025,
ADDITIONAL INCREASES IN 2026 AN
BEYOND, WAGE EQUITY INCREASES
THAT ARE IN ADDITION TO
INFLATIONARY ADJUSTMENTS, AND
USING LOWER THAN PROJECTED
INFLATIONARY ADJUSTMENTS TO HEL
REDUCE THE WAGE GAP.
>> ITEM NUMBER FOUR IN THE
RESOLUTION REQUESTS THAT THE
EXECUTIVE WORK WITH COUNCIL --
I'M SORRY. LET ME TAKE A PAUSE
AND SAY , AS YOU MIGHT RECALL,
THE ORDINANCE REFLECTING OR
REQUIRED INFLATIONARY
ADJUSTMENTS FOR A HUMAN SERVICE
ADMINISTER CONTRACTS STRONGLY
ENCOURAGE, BUT DID NOT REQUIRE
CONTRACT INCREASES TO BE USED
FOR WAGES. THE GOAL HERE IS,
WITH THE INFLATIONARY
ADJUSTMENT, IS THAT CONTRACT
INCREASES WOULD BE USED TO
INCREASE THE WAGES OF HUMAN
SERVICES STAFF. THIS PART OF TH
RESOLUTION REQUESTS THAT THE
HUMAN SERVICES DEPARTMENT
PROVIDE A PLAN FOR HOW WAGE,
EQUITY AND INFLATIONARY
INCREASES WOULD BE USED TO
INCREASE WAGES AND FOR HOW
LEGISLATION CAN ENSURE THAT THA
HAPPENS.
>> FINALLY , THE FINAL COMPONEN
OF THE RESOLUTION RECOGNIZES
THAT THE CITY HAS HUMAN SERVICE
CONTRACTS OUTSIDE OF THOSE
ADMINISTERED BY THE HUMAN
SERVICES DEPARTMENT. FOR
EXAMPLE, CONTRACTS AT THE
DEPARTMENT OF EARLY LEARNING.
THIS PART OF THE RESOLUTION
REQUESTS THAT THE EXECUTIVE
PROVIDE INFORMATION ON SUCH
CONTRACTS AND CONSIDER EXTENDIN
INFLATIONARY ADJUSTMENTS AND
WAGE EQUITY INCREASE FOR THEM A
WELL.
>> I WILL SAY THAT THE CODE
REFERENCE CITED HERE IS ADJUSTE
IN THE RESOLUTION AS A STARTING
PLACE FOR DETERMINING WHAT
CRITERIA COULD BE USED TO DECID
IF A CONTRACT WAS A HUMAN
SERVICES CONTRACT OR NOT.
>> NOW I'M GOING TO MOVE INTO
THE FINANCIAL ANALYSIS. CENTRAL
STAFF LOOKED AT WHAT WOULD THE
COST BE TO IMPLEMENT A WAGE
EQUITY PROPOSAL IN 2024 AND
2025? THE NEXT FEW SLIDES WILL
WALK THROUGH THE PROCESS FOR
DETERMINING THE COST, THE
PROCESS FOR DETERMINING COST
UNDER THE WAGE EQUITY PROPOSAL
AND THE TOTAL ADDITIONAL FUNDIN
NEEDED FOR 2024 AND 2025 FOR TH
WAGE EQUITY PROPOSAL.
>> UNDER CURRENT LAW -- THIS
SIDE HERE WALKS YOU THROUGH THE
PROCESS OF DETERMINING THE COST
UNDER CURRENT LAW. UNDER CURREN
LAW, YOU WOULD START WITH THE
CODE OLCOTT CONTRACT AMOUNT
FROM THE CURRENT YEAR AND APPLY
INFLATIONARY RATES. FOR 2024,
THAT RATE WOULD BE 6.7%. YOU
THEN ADD THE TOTAL INCREASE DUE
TO INFLATION TO GET A NEW BASE
CONTRACT AMOUNT.
>> THIS NEXT SLIDE WALKS YOU
THROUGH THE PROCESS FOR HOW YOU
WOULD CALCULATE THE TOTAL COST
HER THE WAGE EQUITY PROPOSAL.
LIKE THE PRIOR SLIDE, YOU WOULD
START WITH THE SAME BASE
CONTRACT AMOUNT FROM THE PRIOR
YEAR. HOWEVER, YOU WOULD FIRST
APPLY THE WAGE EQUITY RATE WHIC
WOULD THEN LEAD TO A HIGHER BAS
CONTRACT AMOUNT. YOU WOULD THEN
APPLY THE INFLATIONARY RATES
THAT HIGHER BASE CONTRACT IN
ORDER TO GET THE TOTAL CONTRACT
COST FOR THAT YEAR. I KNOW SOME
FOLKS MIGHT BE WONDERING ABOUT
WHY THIS PARTICULAR ORDER OF
OPERATIONS? THE DECISION TO
APPLY THE WAGE EQUITY RATE FIRS
WAS INTENTIONAL. IF YOU DON'T
APPLY THE INFLATIONARY WEIGHT T
THE EQUITY INCREASE, YOU ARE
PROVIDING A WAGE EQUITY INCREAS
BUT IMMEDIATELY DIMINISHING THE
IMPACT OF THAT INCREASE.
>> THIS SLIDE HERE SUMMARIZES
THE ADDITIONAL COST FOR THE WAG
EQUITY PROPOSAL, ASSUMING A 3.5
WAGE EQUITY INCREASE IN 2024 AN
2025, A TOTAL COST IN 2024 WOUL
BE 7.3 MILLION AND THE TOTAL
COST IN 2025 WOULD BE $15.5
MILLION. I DO WANT TO NOTE THAT
IF THIS PROPOSAL WAS ACHIEVED ,
THEN THE CITY WOULD HAVE BEEN
SUCCESSFUL IN MEETING THE
UNIVERSITY OF WASHINGTON'S
STUDY, THE RECOMMENDATION AND
THE UNIVERSITY OF WASHINGTON
STUDY TO PROVIDE A 7% WAGE
EQUITY INCREASE BY 2025.
>> IN THE SUMMARY, I JUST WANTE
TO PROVIDE A FEW PLACES FOR
CONSIDERATION. LOW WAGES DO
UNDERVALUE HUMAN SERVICES WORK
AND CAN DISRUPT THE CITY'S
ABILITY TO EFFECTIVELY PROVIDE
HUMAN SERVICES FOR THE CITY'S
MOST VULNERABLE COMMUNITIES.
WHILE THE CITY ALONE CANNOT
SOLVE THE WAGE EQUITY GAP, IT
CAN DEMONSTRATE LEADERSHIP AND
MAKE PROGRESS IN CONTRIBUTING
ITS FAIR SHARE . THIS IS AN
ISSUE WITH SIGNIFICANT RACE AND
SOCIAL JUSTICE IMPLICATINS.
BOTH WOMEN AND BLACK WORKERS AR
OVERREPRESENTED IN THE HUMAN
SERVICES WORKFORCE AND WE KNOW
THAT LOW PAY IS A RESULT OF BOT
GENDER AND RACIAL
DISCRIMINATION. FINALLY, GIVEN
THE CURRENT REVENUE FORECAST,
WAGE EQUITY PROGRESS MAY REQUIR
A CONVERSATION ABOUT POLICY
TRADE-OFFS. TO PUT THAT IN A
CLEARER WAY, IDENTIFYING FUNDIN
TO SUPPORT WAGE EQUITY MAY
REQUIRE REDUCTION OF FUNDING IN
OTHER AREAS. THANK YOU VERY
MUCH.
>> THANK YOU. THIS IS FANTASTIC
WORK. I APPRECIATE YOU PULLING
THIS TOGETHER. AGAIN, THIS BILL
THIS RESOLUTION HAS NOT BEEN
INTRODUCED. I WANT TO LIFT UP
THAT SINCE OUR LAST COMMITTEE
CONVERSATION ABOUT THE
RECOMMENDATIONS, WE HAD TALKED
ABOUT THE NEED TO LINK UP THIS
WORK WITH THE WORK OF THE
REVENUE STABILIZATION WORK
GROUP, PARTICULARLY FOR COSTS
OUT IN 2025. I APPRECIATE THAT
COUNCILMEMBER MOSQUEDA TOOK
THAT ON AND MADE AN OFFER TO TH
RESEARCHERS CREATING AN
OPPORTUNITY TO PROVIDE
INFORMATION ABOUT THE PAY
PENALTY TO MEMBERS OF THE
REVENUE STABILIZATION WORK
GROUP. I WANT TO ALSO LIFT UP
THAT I HAVE BEEN HAVING
CONVERSATIONS WITH THE MAYOR'S
OFFICE AND THE BUDGET OFFICE,
SPECIFICALLY THE BUDGET DIRECTO
ON THE DRAFT RESOLUTION WE ARE
DISCUSSING. IT INCLUDES SOME OF
THEIR IDEAS. WE HAVE RECEIVED
SOME ADDITIONAL FEEDBACK FROM
THE DIRECTOR. IT IS VERY LIKELY
THAT THE NEXT VERSION FOLKS WIL
SEE WILL INCLUDE SOME ADDITIONA
CHANGES BEFORE INTRODUCTION.
AGAIN, THE FOCUS HERE IS REALLY
ON ADDRESSING THE PAY PENALTY.
WE RECOGNIZE THAT SOME OF OUR
CONVERSATIONS PRIOR TO THE
DEVELOPMENT FOR THIS LEGISLATIO
-- WE WANTED TO LIFT UP THE FAC
THAT THE CITY OF SEATTLE IS ONE
OF MANY FUNDERS. WE REALLY NEED
TO MAKE SURE THAT OUR EFFORTS T
RAISE WAGES ARE BLENDED AND I
JUST WANT TO SAY THAT OUR
PARTNERS AT KING COUNTY
REGIONAL HOMELESSNESS AUTHORITY
THE MAYOR'S OFFICE AS IT RELATE
TO THE HOUSING LEVY, FOLKS ARE
GETTING SERIOUS ABOUT INCREASIN
WAGES FOR HUMAN SERVICES
WORKERS, FOR AFFORDABLE HOUSING
BEHAVIORAL HEALTH. IF WE DON'T
DO THE SAME FOR WORKERS WHO ARE
BEING LEFT OUT OF THESE EFFORTS
WHAT WILL HAPPEN IS OUR HUMAN
SERVICES PROVIDERS WILL
INCREASINGLY BE COMPETING FOR
WORKERS WHILE OFFERING LOWER
WAGES. THE OTHER AREA WHERE
WAGES HAVE INCREASED BECAUSE OF
THESE EFFORTS WILL BE DRAWING
WORKERS AWAY FROM THE JOBS
FUNDED BY THE HUMAN SERVICES
DEPARTMENT. I WANT TO UPLIFT TH
FACT THAT THE HUMAN SERVICES
COALITION HAS BEEN REGULARLY
CONVENING A WAGE EQUITY FUNDING
ROUNDTABLE. THIS IS PUBLIC AND
PRIVATE FUNDERS ACROSS
JURISDICTIONS AND THEY ARE
WORKING HARD TO BRING EVERYONE
TOGETHER TO FIND OUR PATH
FORWARD. THAT WORK IS RECOGNIZE
IN THE RESOLUTION AND WE ARE
ALSO ASKING FOR A REPORT BACK
AND THEIR GUIDANCE. I JUST WANT
TO PAUSE HERE TO SEE WHETHER OR
NOT THERE ARE ANY OTHER THOUGHT
OR QUESTIONS. I HAD SEVERAL
SLIDE BY SLIDE POINTS THAT I
WANTED TO LIFT UP BUT WE WILL
SAVE THAT FOR ANOTHER MEETING I
INTEREST OF TIME. JUST LOOKING,
IT LOOKS LIKE COUNCILMEMBER
PEDERSEN HAS HIS HAND RAISED .
GO AHEAD, COUNCILMEMBER
PEDERSEN.
>> THANK YOU, CHAIR HERBOLD. I
WILL LOOK FORWARD TO THE
SPECIFIC CHANGES OR COMMENTS WE
MIGHT BE HEARING FROM OUR CITY
BUDGET OFFICE. WHEN I WAS SEEIN
THIS CONCEPT OF A RESOLUTION, M
FIRST THOUGHT WENT TO THE
REVENUE FORECAST THAT WE HAD
JUST RECEIVED, SHOWING THAT
WHILE THERE IS A SURPLUS IN THE
GENERAL FUND, THERE IS LESS
MONEY THAN EXPECTED COMING FROM
OTHER FUNDS. WHEN WE TAKE OUT
THE GRANT REVENUE, WE ARE LEFT
WITH A NEGATIVE $7 MILLION
LOOKING AT 2023 AND 2024
COMBINED. I AM A LITTLE BIT
CONCERNED ABOUT SIGNALING
TRADE-OFFS FOR GOOD THINGS WE
WANT TO DO BECAUSE I DON'T KNOW
WHAT OTHER GOOD THINGS WE MIGHT
BE GIVING UP. I JUST WANTED TO
SIGNAL MY RESERVATIONS TO
STATING SOMETHING SO RADICALLY
THIS EARLY IN THE BUDGET CYCLE
WHEN I DON'T SEE THE WHOLE
PICTURE OF THE REST OF THE
BUDGET AND WHAT WE MIGHT WANT T
BE INVESTING THE DOLLARS ON.
>> ABSOLUTELY. YOU MAY HAVE SEE
AN EARLIER VERSION OF THE
RESOLUTION. THE ONE BEFORE US
DOES NOT MAKE ANY EMPHATIC
COMMITMENTS. IT USES LANGUAGE
LIKE, WE ARE RECOGNIZING THE
RECOMMENDATIONS THAT WE SHALL
CONSIDER. I TOTALLY APPRECIATE
AND SHARE YOUR DESIRE AND
FEELING OF RESPONSIBILITY THAT
WE NEED TO SEE THE FULL REVENUE
PICTURE BEFORE MAKING ANY
COMMITMENTS. THAT IS A PRINCIPL
THAT I SHARE THAT WAS ONE OF TH
ITEMS THAT THE MAYOR'S OFFICE
AND THE BUDGET OFFICE WEIGHED I
ON. THEY ALSO ASKED FOR THE
SPECIFIC CHANGES REGARDING
CONVENING THE PARTNER
JURISDICTIONS . THERE ARE
SEVERAL THINGS WE INCLUDED IN
THE VERSION BEFORE YOU. WE JUST
RECEIVED SOME ADDITIONAL
SUGGESTIONS FROM CBO MIDDAY
YESTERDAY. AGAIN, I WANT TO BE
OPEN AND FLEXIBLE AND
ACKNOWLEDGE THE DIFFICULTY OF
OUR ECONOMIC ENVIRONMENT.
REALLY, REALLY APPRECIATE YOUR
CONTINUED COLLABORATION. THIS I
AN OPPORTUNITY -- THIS IS ME
STATING TO COUNCIL MEMBERS,
PLEASE, BEFORE WE ARE WORKING O
INTRODUCING THE LEGISLATION, IF
YOU HAVE LANGUAGE TWEAKS, I AM
EAGER TO CONSIDER THEM.
>> COUNCILMEMBER MOSQUEDA, DID
YOU HAVE ANYTHING? I THOUGHT I
SAW YOUR HAND UP BUT NOW I
DON'T. MAYBE WE GOT IT COVERED
WAX ALL RIGHT.
>> NOTHING FROM ME. THANK YOU.
>> FANTASTIC. THANK YOU AGAIN,
COUNCIL CENTRAL STAFF . THANK
YOU TO THE SERVICES COALITION
FOR THEIR WORK. THANK YOU TO TH
UNIVERSITY OF WASHINGTON LED
RESEARCH TEAM FOR YOUR HELPING
US PUT DATA TO THE ANECDOTAL
STORIES THAT WE HAVE BEEN
HEARING FOR A LONG TIME. AGAIN,
THANK YOU TO MY COMMITTEE
COLLEAGUES AND THE MAYOR'S
OFFICE AND THE BUDGET OFFICE FO
ENGAGING IN DISCUSSION ON THIS
IMPORTANT ISSUE. THE NEXT PUBLI
SAFETY AND HUMAN SERVICES
COMMITTEE IS SCHEDULED FOR
TUESDAY, MAY 9, 2023 AT 9:30
A.M. IF ANY COMMITTEE MEMBERS
ANTICIPATE BEING ABSENT FROM
THAT MEETING, YOU CAN LET ME
KNOW NOW OR LET ME KNOW LATER.
BEFORE WE ADJOURN, ANY OTHER
COMMENTS FROM MY COLLEAGUES?
SEEING NONE, THE TIME IS 11:46
A.M. AND WE ARE ADJOURNED. THAN
YOU.