>>> GOOD AFTERNOON, THANK YOU
FOR BEING HERE FOR SPECIAL
COMMITTEE, SPECIAL MEETING FOR
THE GOVERNANCE, EQUITY, AND
TECHNOLOGY COMMITTEE.
AND JOINED BY COUNCILMEMBER
LISA HERBOLD WHO HAS A CONFLICT
AROUND 2:30, THANK YOU FOR
BEING HERE AND MAKING TIME FOR
THIS.
WE HAVE TWO APPOINTMENTS, THE
CHIEF TECHNOLOGY OFFICER, SAAD
BASHIR . AND THE APPOINTMENT TO
ELECTIONS AND ETHICS COMMISSION,
RICHARD F. SHORDT . ALEX
ZIMMERMAN, YOU ARE FIRST
FOLLOWED BY STEPHEN KOVACH.
>> THANK YOU, SIR.
>> I AM PRESIDENT OF STANDUP
AMERICA, I WANT TO TALK ABOUT
APPOINTMENT OF CHIEF TECHNOLOGY
OFFICER, FOR THE LAST 30+
YEARS, LAST 10 YEARS, EVERY DAY
I COME AND I KNOW ABOUT CHIEF
DIRECTOR, ALL IDENTICAL.
FOR 30+ YEARS, AS LONG AS I
LIVE IN SEATTLE, I CANNOT FIND
ONE MAN TO WORK FOR GOVERNMENT,
I HOPE WE CHANGE THIS.
THAT IS WHAT IT IS SUPPOSED TO
BE RIGHT NOW, EXACTLY WHAT
HAPPENED RIGHT NOW BECAUSE I
SEATTLE RIGHT NOW'S NUMBER ONE
AND ALL OF AMERICA KNOWS IT
FROM EAST COAST TO WEST COAST.
CHANGE OUR BUSINESS IN CLINICAL
PHILOSOPHIES, EXACTLY WHAT
HAPPENED.
ALL CRIMINALS, VIOLET
CONSTITUTION FIVE TIMES, THIS
PERSON GO TO JAIL FOR LIFETIME.
SO, FOR MANY YEARS, I COME HERE
100 TIMES, TOLD YOU, I DON'T
CARE WHO IS CORRECT, DIRECTOR,
WHO IS CHIEF.
BUT Q&A FOR EVERY DIRECTOR,
EVERY COUNCIL AND EVERY MAYOR,
IT NEVER HAPPENED.
THE LAST GUY WHO DID THIS IS
FIVE YEAR AGO, WHAT IS HIS
NAME, I FORGOT THIS MAYOR, VERY
SMART, BUT Q&A EVERY TWO WEEKS.
I CAN'T REMEMBER HIS NAME.
WHAT IS HIS NAME?
A PURE CROOK AND PIG , I DEMAND
YOU ESTABLISH A POLICY SO EVERY
DIRECTOR, EVERY CHIEF, EVERY
FREAKING IDIOT THAT WORK FOR
GOVERNMENT HAVE A Q&A EVERY
DAY.
>> THANK YOU, SIR.
STEPHEN KOVACH FOLLOWED BY
KATHY PUTZ.
>> HI, I'M STEPHEN KOVACH, WITH
INTERNATIONAL BROTHERHOOD OF
ELECTRICAL WORKERS, LOCAL 77.
I WAS PART OF THE SELECTION
INTERVIEW COMMITTEE THE MAYOR
PUT TOGETHER TO SELECT SAAD
BASHIR AS CFO.
WE INTERVIEWED A LOT OF
CANDIDATES AND SAAD BASHIR
STOOD OUT HEAD AND SHOULDERS
ABOVE THE OTHERS.
HE COMES FROM THE CITY OF
OTTAWA WHERE HE INHERITED A
APARTMENT, TOTAL DISARRAY,
RANKED ONE OF THE LOWEST
APARTMENTS IN THE CITY,
INTERNALLY AND EXTERNALLY AND
IN THREE YEARS HE TURNED AROUND
TO WHERE IT WAS ONE OF THE
BEST.
I BELIEVE HE CAN DO THE SAME
THING WITH INFORMATION
TECHNOLOGY WITH THE CITY OF
SEATTLE.
I ENCOURAGE YOU TO SEND THIS
FULL COUNCIL WITH A STRONG
RECOMMENDATION TO CONFIRM SAAD
AS THE NEW CTO.
>> THANK YOU.
FOLLOWING KATHY WILL BE
JONATHAN.
>> GOOD AFTERNOON.
FOR THE RECORD, MY NAME IS
KATHY PAT, CROWN CASTLE, HERE
TO SUPPORT THE NOMINATION OF
SAAD BASHIR . WE LOOK FORWARD
TO WORKING WITH YOU ON 5G, WE
COMMEND YOUR COMMITMENT TO
MAKING SEATTLE AN EARLY ADOPTER
OF THE TECHNOLOGY AND LOOK
FORWARD TO WORKING CLOSELY WITH
YOU.
AND Q.
>> THANK YOU.
JONATHAN WILL BE FOLLOWED BY
JARED EDWARDS AND JONATHAN,
BEFORE YOU START, I WANT TO LET
YOU KNOW ON APRIL 2, OUR
COMMITTEE MEETING AT 9:30, WE
WOULD LIKE YOU TO JOIN US AT
THE TABLE WITH THE TECHNOLOGY.
I DID NOT HAVE THAT
INFORMATION, I JUST GOT IT.
THAT WOULD BE APRIL 2. PLEASE
PROCEED.
>> WONDERFUL.
THANK YOU, COUNCIL.
FIRST OFF, WELCOME, SAAD TO
SEATTLE.
WE APPRECIATE YOUR LEADERSHIP
IN OTTAWA AND GLAD TO HAVE YOU
HERE.
THAT WAS ACTUALLY PART OF THE
REASON WHY WE CAME, WE THOUGHT
WE WOULD, JUST RELEASED SOME
PILOT OUTCOMES FROM THE 500
INDIVIDUALS WHO WERE ON THE
STREET, HE RECEIVED A BEACON, I
WANT TO MAKE SURE THE COUNCIL
WAS AWARE SOME OF THE
INCREDIBLE STORIES OF
INDIVIDUALS THAT RECEIVED THIS
SMART WALLET CALLED THE BEACON.
WE HAVE A COUPLE PEOPLE HERE,
WHO HAVE EITHER FOUND
EMPLOYMENT OR HOUSING OR FOUND
THEIR WAY INTO RECOVERY AS A
RESULT OF EVERY DAY RESIDENTS
DIRECT LEE INVESTING INTO THEIR
LIVES AS WELL AS CONSTANT
PRESENCE WITH INCREDIBLE
COUNSELORS AT DIFFERENT
AGENCIES AROUND THE CITY.
WE BELIEVE THE EVIDENCE FROM
THE FIRST 500 ON SHELTERED
BEACON HOLDERS JUSTIFIES AN
EXPANSION TO PROVIDE ACCESS TO
1000 MORE PEOPLE ON THE STREET
THIS YEAR, WITH THE BEACON AND
1000 MORE PEOPLE NEXT YEAR WITH
THE BEACON AS WELL TO HELP
EXPANDED INTERVENTION HELP 2500
ON SHELTERED INDIVIDUALS TOTAL.
BUT I WILL GIVE WAY FOR COUPLE
PEOPLE HERE WHO HAVE USED THE
BEACON AND JUST SHARED THEIR
EXPERIENCE AROUND HOW IT HELPED
THEM ADVANCE THEIR LIVES.
>> VERY GOOD.
JARED EDWARDS FOLLOWED BY
JANICE WILSON.
>> GOOD MORNING, CITY COUCIL.
PLEASURE TO BE HERE.
I WOULD LIKE TO START BY SAYING
SIX MONTHS AGO I WAS SLEEPING
IN YOUR LOBBY.
THANKS TO THE BEACON PROGRAM, I
WAS ABLE TO OBTAIN EMPLOYMENT
AT NINTENDO.
I FOUND MENTOR SHIP FROM
SOMEONE IN THE GAMING INDUSTRY
WHICH HAS COMPLETELY,
COMPLETELY TURNED MY LIFE
AROUND.
I ALSO UNDERSTAND IT IS MORE
THAN JUST EMPOWERING US, IT
GIVES BACK TO THE LOCAL
COMMUNITY AS WELL, GIVING
CAPITAL TO THE HOMELESS PEOPLE
THAT SPEND IT ON THINGS THEY
REALLY NEED AND EXCLUSIVELY
THINGS THAT THEY NEED.
THANK YOU FOR YOUR TIME.
>> THANK YOU, SIR.
JANICE WILSON WILL BE FOLLOWED
BY MICHAEL McCULLOUGH.
>> YES, I JUST WANT TO LET YOU
KNOW THE BEACON HAS BROUGHT A
PHENOMENAL AMOUNT OF COURAGE,
NOT JUST TO HAVE A LITTLE BIT
OF EXTRA FINANCES TO BE ABLE TO
GO INTO THE BUSINESS PLACE AND
START COMMUNICATING IN PLACES
WE WOULD NOT NORMALLY TO BUY
CLOTHES, EXCUSE ME, WEATHER
CLOTHING, TO HAVE MEALS, EVEN
WITH A PARTNER.
IT HAS BEEN A GREAT COURAGE.
ALSO, I WOULD LIKE TO SHARE THE
FACT I WAS ABLE, AS AN ADVOCATE
OF CONSTITUTIONAL CHALLENGE, I
AM VERY INTERESTED IN HELPING
PEOPLE WHO CANNOT HELP
THEMSELVES, OR PEOPLE THAT HAVE
NO VOICE OR NEED TO START
COMMUNICATING, THE BEACON IS
HIGHLY RECOGNIZED, THEY ARE
ABLE TO HELP PEOPLE, ENCOURAGE
THEM TO GO INTO THE BUSINESS
PLACE AN ORDER SOMETHING LIKE A
NORMAL PERSON.
I WAS ALSO ABLE TO GO TO A
MEETING WHERE I WAS
REPRESENTING THE BEACON
SAMARITAN.
AND I WAS ABLE TO SHED ENOUGH
INFORMATION I GAVE $500 TO HELP
PAY FOR MY ABILITY WHEN I GO TO
RENT A PLACE WILL NOW BE
COVERED $500 BECAUSE SOMEONE
WAS COMPASSIONATE ENOUGH TO
APPLY THAT APPLICATION AND PUT
THAT ON MY BEACON.
SO, I HOPE, YOU KNOW, THE CITY
AND STATE RECOGNIZE THIS IS A
GREAT OPPORTUNITY TO HELP
PEOPLE HELP THEMSELVES.
THANK YOU.
>> THANK YOU, MA'AM.
MICHAEL FOLLOWED BY RAVEN.
>> GOOD AFTERNOON.
I AM MICHAEL.
THIS IS MY FRIEND, WALKER.
CURRENTLY NOW, I ACTUALLY LIVE
IN THE CITY OF SHORELINE,
BEFORE THAT I WAS HOMELESS IN
SEATTLE FOR APPROXIMATELY 501
DAYS.
IT WAS THE LONGEST, HARDEST
TIME OF MY LIFE.
THE BEACON, JONATHAN,
SPECIFICALLY HELPED ME OUT OF
IT.
IT WAS A VERY VERY TOUGH TIME,
BUT THAT LITTLE BLUE CHIP WAS
SPECIAL.
IT KEPT ME BASED IN WHAT I
WANTED WHICH WAS TO GET OFF THE
STREETS, BACK TO BEING NORMAL.
VERY VERY IMPORTANT POWERFUL
THING.
THERE WERE A LOT OF
DISILLUSIONED PEOPLE IN THE
STREETS RIGHT NOW WHO THINK
PEOPLE DON'T CARE ABOUT THEM BUT
THEY HAVE PROBLEMS REACHING OUT.
AND THEN ON THE OTHER SIDE, YOU
HAVE PEOPLE WHO DON'T KNOW HOW
TO HELP AND THAT IS THE
BEAUTIFUL THING ABOUT THE BEACON
, IT IS ANONYMOUS, YOU GET A
CHIME ON YOUR PHONE, BEACON
HOLDERS NEARBY, READ THEIR
PROFILE, GIVE THEM A COUPLE
DOLLARS.
YOU HAVE DONE SOMETHING GOOD
FOR SOMEBODY.
I WAS TALKING TO SOMEBODY THIS
MORNING ABOUT USING THE BEACON
AND SHE ASKED ME HOW I FEEL IF
I WAS IN NEED AND SOMEONE WENT
TO THE APP AND GAVE TO ANOTHER
BEACON HOLDER INSTEAD OF ME.
WELL, THAT WOULD NOT BOTHER ME
AT ALL BECAUSE THE POINT IS,
SOMEBODY IS DOING SOMETHING TO
HELP SOMEBODY ELSE AND THAT IS
WHAT MATTERS.
I TALKED TO JONATHAN THIS WEEK,
I'VE BEEN OFF THE STREETS ABOUT
A YEAR AND IN THAT YEAR, I WAS
AMAZED AT HOW FAST I PUT THAT
WHOLE THING BEHIND ME AND
REALIZED A LOT OF PEOPLE HELPED
ME OUT, I NEED TO DO THE SAME
THING.
>> THANK YOU.
THE LAST SIGNED UP SPEAKER IS
RAVEN.
>> GOOD AFTERNOON.
SO, THE BEACON HAS HELPED ME
CURRENTLY WITH MANY THINGS,IT
HELPED WITH MY PHONE BILL,
RIGHT NOW I'M LOOKING FOR A
JOB.
IT IS A CONNECTION, IT IS MY
RESPONSIBILITY TO CHECK IN
EVERY MONTH.
EVERYONE WHO DONATES TO THE
BEACON IS LIKE A RELATIONSHIP,
YOU KNOW.
THEY ARE COMING INTO OUR LIVES,
THEY DON'T HAVE TO BUT THEY DO.
THEY CHOOSE TO COME AND HANG
OUT, HELP WITH WHAT THEY CAN.
YOU KNOW, I'VE BEEN ON THE
STREETS 15 YEARS, STILL TRYING
TO GET HOUSING AND A JOB, BUT
THE BEACON HAS BEEN HELPING ME.
I CAN GO TO PLACES AND GET WHAT
I NEED, NOT THINGS I MIGHT WANT
THAT ARE USELESS, BUT THINGS I
NEED BECAUSE OF THE BEACON.
I MET JONATHAN, IT HAS BEEN
AMAZING.
WHAT HIM AND HIS TEAM DOES.
AND SO LIKE IT IS WORTH IT AND
THEN SOME, I REALLY FEEL THAT
WAY.
THANK YOU.
>> ON CUE.
WHAT I WOULD LIKE TO SAY FOR
THOSE TESTIFYING ON BEHALF OF
THE SAMARITN APPLICATION, THE
PLAN IS THIS, THANK YOU FOR
SHARING, THOSE ARE HEARTFELT
STORIES, VERY INSPIRATIONAL.
WHAT I WOULD LIKE TO DO APRIL
2, A FEW THINGS, ONE IS TO SHOW
MY COLLEAGUES ON THE COUNCIL
AND I WILL TALK TO THAT
INFORMATION TECHNOLOGY GROUP
SINCE MANY OF THEM ARE HERE ON
HOW THE TECHNOLOGY WORKS, JUST
FROM A TECHNICAL STANDPOINT.
SO, THE PUBLIC WILL KNOW HOW IT
WORKS, HOW IT ALLOWS PEOPLE TO
CONNECT WITH THE MEDALLION
HOLDER.
WE WILL ALSO INVITE PEOPLE FROM
THE HUMAN SERVICES DEPARTMENT
TO UNDERSTAND POLICY ISSUES,
THE TECHNOLOGY MAY RAISE AND I
TRUST THERE COULD BE SOME
ISSUES THAT CAN BE DEALT WITH,
I'M ACTUALLY FROM WHAT I KNOW
OF AND TO RESEARCH VERY
SUPPORTIVE OF THE TECHNOLOGY.
FROM THAT MEETING, THEN WE WILL
NO DOUBT HOPEFULLY TURN INTO US
CONSIDERING THAT AS AN
INVESTMENT THE CITY MAY WANT TO
CONSIDER AS WE LOOK AT THOSE
EXPERIENCING HOMELESSNESS.
SO, THANK YOU FOR SHARING YOUR
TESTIMONY. WHOEVER WOULD LIKE
TO SHARE THESE STORIES AT THE
TABLE, AND SHARE THE WARES,
THANK YOU FOR YOUR PATIENCE,
JONATHAN.
YOU HAVE BEEN A CONSISTENT
ADVOCATE AND THANK YOU FOR YOUR
PATIENCE.
WITH THAT CONCLUDING PUBLIC
COMMENT, PLEASE READ THE FIRST
APPOINTMENT INTO THE RECORD.
>> APPOINTMENT OF 01252, SAAD
BASHIR , CHIEF TECHNOLOGY
OFFICER OF SEATTLE INFORMATION
TECHNOLOGY DEPARTMENT FOR TERM
JANUARY 1 2023.
>> IF YOUR ESSAY STATED WITH
THE MATTER, PLEASE COME
FORWARD.
I INVITED OTHER FORKS FORKS
FOLKS WELCOME TO COME FORWARD,
WE DON'T FORCE THEM TO COME
FORWARD, PARTICULARLY MEMBERS
OF THE CHANGE TEAM.
LOOK AT THOSE GUYS JUMPING AT
THE OPPORTUNITY.
ALL RIGHT.
SO, WHY DON'T WE, I WILL ASK
YOU SAID ON THAT SITE IF YOU
DON'T MIND, I MAY HAVE
COLLEAGUES JOINING.
THANK YOU VERY MUCH, I
APPRECIATE THAT FLEXIBILITY.
OKAY, LET'S START WITH
INTRODUCTIONS ALL THE WAY DOWN
AND DEPUTY MAYOR, I WILL BRING
IT BACK TO YOU IF YOU WANT TO
START INTRODUCTION WORKS.
FOR THE VIEWING AUDIENCE, THIS
IS THE SECOND MEETING OF THIS
APPOINTMENT, APPRECIATE THE
ANSWERS, COMPREHENSIVE
RESPONSES YOU GAVE THE
COMMITTEE CHAIR, WE SHARED WITH
OUR COLLEAGUES.
LET'S START WITH INTRODUCTIONS.
>> DAVID MOSELEY, DEPUTY MAYOR.
>> SAAD BASHIR .
>> TED WEINBERG.
>> ANTHONY DAVIS.
>> OKAY.
AND I INVITED CHAD AND ANTHONY,
IF I CAN CALL YOU BY YOUR FIRST
NAME, JUST TO MAKE SURE I'M
COVERING ALL MY BASES AND FEEL
FREE TO ADD INSIGHT OR ASK
QUESTIONS.
DEPUTY MAYOR, WOULD YOU LIKE TO
SAY INTRODUCTORY WORDS OR DIVE
IN LIKELY
>> JUST HAPPY TO HAVE THE
SECOND HEARING, COUNCILMAN
HARRELL.
WE ARE VERY PLEASED TO PRESENT
TO YOU THE NOMINATION OF SAAD
BASHIR . I THINK HE STARTED
WITH A VERY AGGRESSIVE PROGRAM
OF OUTREACH AND INPUT FROM
BOTH PEOPLE IN THE DEPARTMENT
AND PEOPLE OUTSIDE THE
DEPARTMENT AND HIS CLIENTS, THE
OTHER DEPARTMENTS THAT CITY
GOVERNMENT.
APPRECIATE THE OPPORTUNITY FOR
HIM TO PROVIDE RESPONSES TO
YOUR QUESTIONS.
>> APPRECIATE THAT.
AND I'M SURE MY COLLEAGUE AND I
MAY HAVE QUESTIONS, AT LEAST I
DO, I WANT TO SAY THANK YOU
AGAIN, NUMBER 77 AND THOSE ON
THE SEARCH COMMITTEE FOR DOING
ALL THE HARD WORK PRODUCING
SUCH WHAT SADDENS SEEMS TO BE A
WELL-QUALIFIED CANDIDATE.
WOULD YOU LIKE TO SHARE
INTRODUCTORY REMARKS OR SHOULD
WE CROSS-EXAMINE?
AGAIN, THANK YOU FOR RESPONDING
TO ALL OF OUR QUESTIONS.
BEFORE I START ASKING QUESTIONS,
DID TED OR ANTHONY HAVE ANY
QUESTIONS?
I WILL LET THE DISCUSSION GROW
ORGANICALLY.
SO, MR. BASHIR, THE QUESTION WE
ASKED, YOU HAVE BEEN ON THE JOB
A FEW WEEKS AT LEAST.
>> FIVE WEEKS.
>> YOU TALK ABOUT NINE AREAS
FOR IMPROVEMENT, I DON'T NEED
YOU TO GO INTO ONLINE AREAS, IT
WAS A REALLY INTERESTING
DESCRIPTION ON WHAT YOU SAW
WHERE THE DEPARTMENT AS A WHOLE
AND THE CITY AS A WHOLE COULD
IMPROVE.
COULD YOU ELABORATE ON A FEW OF
THOSE YOU WOULD LIKE TO TALK
ABOUT IN PARTICULAR?
>> SHIRT.
AGAIN, THANK YOU COUNCIL
PRESIDENT AND COUNCIL MEMBERS
TO CONGREGATE.
EACH ONE OF THOSE NINE IS IN MY
MIND CRITICAL FOR THE CITY TO
LOOK AT.
BUT IF I HAD TO SELECT A
COUPLE, ONE OF THEM FOR SURE
WOULD BE THE SKILLS, ITEM
NUMBER FOUR ON THAT LIST.
AND THIS IS QUESTION NUMBER
TWO, WHERE I TALK ABOUT WHICH
AREAS WE NEED TO FOCUS ON RIGHT
AWAY.
AND I MET WITH ABOUT 250
INDIVIDUALS, ONE-ON-ONE OVER
THE LAST FIVE WEEKS.
MOST OF THEM PEOPLE WORK IN
I.T., MANY IN CLIENT
DEPARTMENTS.
THE THING SCREAMING BACK AT ME
IS, YOU KNOW, A LOT OF PASSION
I.T.
STAFF HAVE TO LEAD
MODERNIZATION EFFORTS.
TO HELP CLIENTS AND THERE'S NO
SHORTAGE OF WORK THAT NEEDS TO
BE DONE, BUT THERE IS A BIT OF
A SKILLS MISMATCH.
THERE ARE MANY THINGS WE ARE
DOING IN THE TECHNOLOGY SPACE
THAT WE ARE DOING A GREAT JOB
IMPLEMENTING SYSTEMS PERHAPS.
BUT WE MAY NOT HAVE DONE AN
EQUALLY GOOD JOB TRAINING OUR
OWN FOLKS TO BE ABLE TO HANDLE
THAT WORK.
SO, FOR ME, THAT IS GOING TO BE
THE THING THAT WILL REALLY BE
THE SECRET SAUCE FOR THE CITY
OF SEATTLE, HOW DO WE GET OUR
750 I.T.
TEAM STRONG TEAM TO GET THE
SKILLS THEY NEED FOR THE NEXT
SEVERAL YEARS?
>> ONE OF THE OTHER ONES I CAN
ALSO SHARE IS ON PROCESSES, I
HAVE A FEELING THE CITY OF
SEATTLE IN GENERAL LIKES A LOT
OF PROCESSES, BUT DEFINITELY
SEATTLE I.T..
DEFINITELY SEATTLE I.T.
IS ALSO NO EXCEPTION, THERE ARE
MANY OPPORTUNITIES.
THESE ARE NOT OPPORTUNITIES I
FIND, COUNCIL PRESIDENT, THIS
IS WHAT I FIND MEETING WITH 200
OR SO STAFF SO FAR, MANY OF
THEM LISTING THEM ONE AFTER THE
OTHER AND MANY OF THEM MAKE
SENSE.
THAT WOULD BE QUICK IMMENSE TO
MAKE IT SIMPLE FOR OUR PEOPLE
TO DO BUSINESS AMONGST
OURSELVES AND HOW WE INTERACT
WITH OUR CLIENTS.
>> ONE THING I WILL QUOTE ON
PAGE 2 OF YOUR RESPONSE, YOU
SAID WHERE EMPLOYEES MAY HAVE
YEARS LEFT IN THEIR CAREER, BUT
SKILLS ARE ALREADY OBSOLETE,
THIS WOULD REQUIRE SKILLS
DEVELOPMENT ON AN URGENT BASIS.
I READ THAT TO SAY WE HAVE TO
INVEST IN OUR OWN EMPLOYEES AND
TECHNOLOGY.
TECHNOLOGY IS CONSTANTLY
CHANGING, CONSTANTLY UPDATED
AND YOU HAVE TO STAY NIMBLE,
INVEST IN OUR OWN EMPLOYEES.
I THINK THAT IS A DIFFERENT
POLICY APPROACH THAN GETTING
RID OF FOLKS AND HIRING NEW
PEOPLE.
I THINK WHAT YOU ARE
EMPHASIZING IS INVESTMENT IN
OUR PEOPLE AND I WAS VERY
PLEASED TO SEE THAT APPROACH.
AM I MISREADING YOUR INTENT
THERE?
>> I THINK SKILLS DEVELOPMENT
IS HANDLED RIGHT, YOU SEE TWO
CLEAR OUTCOMES.
ONE, YOU RELY LESS AND LESS
UPON EXTERNAL PROFESSIONAL
SERVICES, WHICH IS A HUGE DRAIN
IN TERMS OF BUDGET.
THE SECOND THING YOU HOPEFULLY
úSEE IS LOTS OF PEOPLE WHO
CURRENTLY WORK IN I.T.
GETTING REPOSITIONED BECAUSE
THEY HAVE NOW ACQUIRED NEW
SKILLS TO BE ABLE TO CONTRIBUTE
IN DIFFERENT WAYS, WHICH WILL
ALLOW YOU TO USE YOUR EXISTING
SKILLS GET SKILL SET VERSUS HOW
DO I GET RID OF AN INDIVIDUAL
EMPLOYEE AND HIRE SOMEBODY
BRAND-NEW? SO, THOSE WOULD BE
THE OUTCOMES I WOULD BE HOPING
FOR.
>> VERY GOOD.
AND YOU KNOW, YOU'RE BEING
QUESTIONED BY SOMEONE THAT
ACTUALLY WORKED IN A
PROFESSIONAL WORKPLACE BEFORE
THE INTERNET WAS DEVELOPED, AND
SO MANY PEOPLE AT MY VINTAGE
HAVE A RESISTANCE SOMETIMES
TOWARD NEW THINGS.
AND I THINK IN MY MIND, AN
EFFECTIVE LEADER UNDERSTANDS IT
MAY BE EXPERIENCED BY MANY BUT
INSPIRES THEM TO BE BETTER PICK
IT IS ABOUT CONTINUOUS
IMPROVEMENT AND SELF VELTMAN, I
HOPE WE SEE REAL GOOD OUTCOMES
THERE.
I'M GOING ON, I KNOW YOUR TIME
IS LIMITED.
I CAN DO FOR YOU BECAUSE I HAVE
OTHER QUESTIONS.
>> YOU ASKED QUESTIONS ABOUT
QUESTION ONE, IF WE CAN MOVE ON
TO QUESTION TWO, I WOULD LIKE
TO FOLLOW UP.
AS IT RELATES TO QUESTION TWO
SPECIFICALLY, THE PROCESS
QUESTION, YOU REFER TO THE FACT
THE OVERALL GOVERNANCE
STRUCTURES AROUND I.T.
CAN AND SHOULD BE STREAMLINED
AND STRENGTHENED.
CAN YOU TALK A LITTLE BIT ABOUT
WHAT THAT LOOKS LIKE?
>> SHIRT.
DECISION-MAKING OFTEN GETS
OBSTRUCTED WHEN YOU HAVE MORE
THAN THE RIGHT AMOUNT OF
PLAYERS.
IN SOME CASES, THERE MAY BE A
NEED TO SEE IF WE ARE OVER
ENGINEERED WITH MANAGEMENT
LAYERS WE HAVE WITHIN THE I.T.
EXISTING STRUCTURES.
SO, THAT WOULD BE --
>> WE DO SEE MANAGEMENT LAYERS.
>> IN SOME CASES, THAT MAY VERY
WELL BE THE ANSWER.
ALSO, THAT STRUCTURE IS
CURRENTLY, HOW THAT'S STRUCTURE
IS CURRENTLY STRUCTURED, PUN
INTENDED, BY THAT, WHAT I MEAN,
THERE MAY BE AN AREA FOR
EXAMPLE, LET'S CALL IT
MODERNIZATION OF I.T.
WORK, WHICH MIGHT CURRENTLY BE
SPREAD ACROSS I.T.
UNDER DIFFERENT MANAGEMENT,
DIFFERENT DIVISIONS AND MAY NOT
BE GIVING YOU THE WORK YOU'RE
LOOKING FOR AS THE ORGANIZATION.
AND SO, ASSEMBLING SOME OF THOSE
LIKE-MINDED FUNCTIONS UNDER ONE
ROOF, SO THEY CAN BE WITHOUT
ADDING MORE RESOURCES, JUST
MAKING USE OF THE EXISTING
RESOURCES IN A MUCH BETTER WAY,
ANOTHER ASPECT OF STRUCTURE
CHANGES
>> THANK YOU.
>> I WILL BOUNCE A LITTLE BIT
OUT OF SEQUENCE IF YOU DON'T
MIND.
AND ON PAGE 9, IN RESPONSE TO A
QUESTION, PARTICULAR QUESTION
DEALING WITH RS G.I.
ISSUES AND UNDERREPRESENTED
GROUPS, YOU SAID YOU WANTED TO
CREATE A DEPARTMENT, SEATTLE
COLLEGE PROGRAMS, ON PAGE 9,
ESPECIALLY STUDENTS TO HAVE
VOLUNTEER OPPORTUNITIES AND
HIGH SCHOOL STUDENTS BETTER
UNDERREPRESENTED DEMOGRAPHICS
AND EXPOSE THEM TO THE
TECHNOLOGY SECTOR.
AND I HAVE SHARED WITH YOU OF
COURSE, THE WORK PLAN WHICH IS
VERY GOOD, SIGNED BY THE LEADS
IN 2018.
I WANT TO THANK THE MEMBERS
INVOLVED FOR THE.
WHAT YOU SAW EARLIER WAS THE
SAMARITAN SOFTWARE TALKED ABOUT,
ONE OF THE GOALS I'VE ALWAYS HAD
IS TO REALLY DOUBLE DOWN ON THE
USE OF TECHNOLOGY TO ADDRESS
BOTH DIGITAL DIVIDE COMMUNITIES
UNDERSERVED AND
UNDERREPRESENTED AND DEAL WITH
THE HOMELESSNESS ISSUE AS WELL
AND TRY TO FIND THE SOCIAL GOOD
IN TECHNOLOGY.
SO, CAN YOU TALK A LITTLE BIT
ABOUT YOUR NOTION OF REACHING
OUT TO UNDERREPRESENTED GROUPS?
WHAT YOUR THOUGHTS ARE AND WHY
YOU FLAGGED THAT IS SOME OF THE
THINGS YOU WANTED TO DO.
>> SURE, FROM MY PREVIOUS
ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT IN OTTAWA,
ONE OF THE OPPORTUNITIES I HAD
WAS TO FIGURE OUT HOW WE CAN DO
A LOT OF SOCIAL ECONOMIC
DEVELOPMENT, WORK IN THE CITY,
THAT OFTEN INVOLVE THE USE OF
TECHNOLOGY FOR SOCIAL GOOD.
ONE EXAMPLE IS WE HAD A COUPLE
OF FOLKS THAT STARTED A COMPANY
WHERE THEY COULD GIVE VERY
SIMILAR TO THE BEACON PROGRAM,
BUT SOMETHING WERE PEOPLE WHO
HAD, YOU KNOW, EYESIGHT ISSUES,
THEY WERE WANTING TO CROSS THE
ROAD, IT WOULD ACTUALLY TALK
WITH THE SENSOR BUILT INTO THE
TRAFFIC LIGHTS TO INDICATE IT
WAS OKAY, IT WAS SAFE TO CROSS
THE STREET.
AND SO, BEING ABLE TO FIGURE
OUT THOSE OPPORTUNITIES WHERE
TECHNOLOGY CAN GET MARRIED TO
SOCIAL GOOD IS SOMETHING WE
HAVE BEEN ABLE TO DO BACK IN
THE CITY OF OTTAWA A FEW TIMES.
AND SO, THAT IS WHAT I WAS
THINKING OF AS I WAS WRITING
THIS RESPONSE.
YOU KNOW, I'VE SPENT SOME TIME
WITH THE RS JI COMMITTEE WITH
SEATTLE I.T., I KNOW THERE'S A
LOT OF GOOD WORK THAT HAS
ALREADY BEEN COMPLETED, THERE'S
SO MUCH MORE WE CAN DO.
I LOOK FORWARD TO LEVERAGING
AND BUILDING ALL THE DIFFERENT
PLANS WE HAVE FOR 2019.
>> AHEAD.
>> THANK YOU.
THREW OUT YOUR RESPONSE
DOCUMENT, THERE ARE A COUPLE OF
REFERENCES TO CHAT BOTS TO
DISCUSS VARIED ISSUES, WHETHER
OR NOT ADDRESSING CUSTOMER
SERVICE DEMANDS OR LANGUAGE
TRANSLATION.
I'M WONDERING HOW YOU COULD
SPEAK TO THE POTENTIAL LABOR
IMPLICATIONS OF USING CHAT BOTS
AND HOW THAT MIGHT IMPACT OUR
WORKERS, BOTH THE DISCUSSIONS
WITH THE WORKFORCE ABOUT THAT
AS WELL AS, YOU KNOW, HOW YOU
SEE THAT FITTING IN JUST OVERALL
FOR THE CITY AS BEING A CITY
THAT USES OUR GOOD JOBS HERE IS
A REALLY IMPORTANT MEASURE AND
LEVER TO GIVE FOLKS A LEG UP IN
CAREER WAGE JOBS.
>> THAT IS A GREAT LINE OF
INQUIRY.
LET ME READ FOR THE VIEWING
AUDIENCE, EXACTLY THE RESPONSE
COUNCILMEMBER HERBOLD WAS
TALKING ABOUT I WILL USE YOUR
LANGUAGE, UNIFYING THE CALL
CENTER TECHNOLOGY FOOTPRINT
WILL ALSO ALLOW THE DEPLOYMENT
OF COMMON SERVICES SUCH AS CHAT
BOTS THAT CAN PROVIDE
RESPONSES IN MULTIPLE LANGUAGE
TO THE MOST COMMON QUERIES
CREATING FURTHER CAPACITY FOR
CALL CENTERS.
LEVERAGING CHAT BOTS WITH
UNIVERSAL SINGLE SIGN-ON
CAPABILITIES ALLOW RESIDENTS TO
COMPLETE MANY ROUTINE TASKS IN
A SHORTER PERIOD WITH A
CONSISTENT USER EXPERIENCE.
SEVERAL EXAMPLES EXIST IN THE
MARKETPLACE, EXAMPLE IN THE
BANKING INDUSTRY, WERE SUCH
INNOVATIONS ARE HELPING BOOST
CLIENT SERVICES.
I THINK WE ALL LOVE TO BE PUT
ON HOLD 20 MINUTES BEFORE WE
GET A LIVE PERSON, SO, I'M
BEING FACETIOUS OF COURSE, THE
LABOR IMPLICATIONS OF THAT
APPROACH, COUNCILMEMBER HERBOLD
MAKES A GOOD POINT.
MAYBE YOU CAN RESPOND.
>> THAT IS A GOOD POINT, IT
CAME UP IN MY PREVIOUS ROLE AS
WELL.
THE IDEA IS SIMPLE, THERE ARE
MANY ROUTINE TYPES OF QUESTIONS
A TYPICAL CALL CENTER, AGENT OR
SERVICE DESK AGENT, LET'S SAY,
I.T., IS HANDLING.
YOU KNOW, IF I CAN SPEAK ON
BEHALF OF THAT SERVICE DESK
AGENT, THOSE ARE NOT THE FUN
TYPE OF ACTIVITIES THEY DO ON
THE JOB.
THEY ARE WANTING TO ADD A LOT
MORE VALUE WHEN THEY ARE
INTERACTING WITH THE CLIENTS,
REALLY, CHAT BOTS IS A WAY TO
TAKE AWAY THOSE ROUTINE THINGS
SO YOU CAN FREE UP THE CAPACITY
AND HAVE YOUR OWN EMPLOYEES,
THOSE SAME STAFF DO A LOT MORE
VALUE ADDED WORK FOR THE
CLIENTS.
IT IS CERTAINLY NOT A MEASURE
TO REPLACE HUMAN AGENTS,
BECAUSE THAT IS NEVER GOING TO
BE POSSIBLE BUT IT WILL BE FOR
THOSE TYPICAL REQUESTS, 80%,
NOT 80% BUT A LARGE PORTION OF
THE REQUEST A TYPICAL CALL
CENTER GETS ARE VERY ROUTINE,
IT IS THE SAME QUESTION WITH
THE SAME ANSWER, THOSE ARE THE
KINDS OF THINGS YOU WANT TO
ADDRESS WITH CHAT BOTS.
MAYBE I WILL STOP THERE .
ACTUALLY, I WILL ADD ONE MORE
POINT, IT IS NOT JUST ABOUT
CHAT BOTS, IT IS ABOUT ANY
PIECE OF TECHNOLOGY THAT RAISES
CONCERNS THAT WILL NOT TAKE
OVER HUMAN PEOPLE DOING THIS
WORK.
YOU KNOW, IF I TALKED ABOUT
AUTOMATION AND LOTS OF
AUTOMATION OPPORTUNITIES IN
SEATTLE I.T., THE SAME QUESTION
COULD BE ASKED, ARE YOU GOING
TO REPLACE FIVE PEOPLE WITH
SOFTWARE PROGRAM?
CERTAINLY THAT IS NOT THE CASE.
ANYONE OF THOSE AREAS WHERE IS
THAT PERCEPTION, THAT MAY BE
THE POSSIBILITY, MY GOAL WOULD
BE TO WORK CLOSELY WITH PEOPLE
LIKE STEVE AND THE LABOR
STEWARDS WE HAVE IN I.T.
TO MAKE SURE ANY OF THOSE
CONCERNS ARE ADDRESSED AT THE
VERY OUTSET.
>> THANK YOU.
>> SAAD, I WANT TO ASK ABOUT
EMPLOYEE MORALE, WE ASKED YOU A
SPECIFIC QUESTION, HOW YOU PLAN
TO APPROACH EMPLOYEE MORALE,
IMPLICIT IN THAT WAS NOT A
SUGGESTION MORALE IS GOOD OR
BAD OR HIGHER LOW, IT IS JUST,
WHAT ARE YOUR VIEWS TOWARD
THAT?
AND OF COURSE, WITHIN THE CITY,
WE TRY TO GAUGE THAT AND
MEASURE THAT.
MY OWN TAKE ON MORALE HAS
ALWAYS BEEN IT SORT OF STARTS
FROM THE TOP AND MORALE BECOMES
POOR WHEN EMPLOYEES SEE
ARBITRARY AND CAPRICIOUS
DECISIONS AND UNFAIR DECISIONS,
FAVORITISM AND THOSE KINDS OF
THINGS.
ALSO, EMPLOYEES HAVE CONTROL ON
THEIR MORALE IS A CHOICE, WHAT
MORALE THEY PERPETUATE.
IT IS SORT OF A TOP-DOWN,
BOTTOM-UP APPROACH FROM MY
EXPERIENCE.
CAN YOU TALK A LITTLE BIT ABOUT
YOUR ASSESSMENT OF MORALE AND
YOUR ATTITUDE OF MORALE, WHAT
DO YOU DO TO KEEP MORALE AT AN
OPTIMUM LEVEL?
>> I WOULD SAY IF YOU CAN
PROBABLY LOOK AT THE WORKFORCE
IN I.T.
AS A SPECTRUM, AND THAT ARE 10
TO 15% OF THE PEOPLE I HAVE MET
SO FAR, THERE IS NOTHING YOU
CAN DO TO THEM THAT WILL
DECREASE MOREL, THEY ARE HIGH
ENERGY, HIGH PASSION, THEY JUST
WANT TO COME AND DO EVERYTHING
THEY CAN DO IN THAT 7 TO 8 HOUR
DAY.
SO, THOSE ARE GREAT PEOPLE, NOT
MUCH ATTENTION NEEDED TO THEM
IN TERMS OF MORALE PERSPECTIVE.
YOU'VE GOT ANOTHER 10% OR SO,
BASED ON THE SAMPLE SET I HAVE
CURRENTLY SAT DOWN WITH, WHO
HAVE SORT OF GIVEN UP, YOU KNOW,
THEY FEEL LIKE THEY HAVE BEEN
BURNED SO MANY TIMES, THEY FEEL
LIKE THEY HAVE TALKED ABOUT ALL
OF THEIR CONCERNS AND NOBODY
HAS HEARD THEM.
THEY ARE IN A REALLY BAD PLACE.
MANY OF THOSE CONVERSATIONS
HAVE BEEN VERY TOUGH, YOU KNOW,
FOR THEM ALSO, THEY HAVE BEEN
VERY OPEN, I SHOULD SAY, BUT
TOUGH FOR ME TO LISTEN TO THIS
PERSON, REALLY PROBABLY MEANT A
LOT OF THINGS THEY WANTED TO DO
AND NOW FOR WHATEVER REASON,
WHETHER IT IS THEIR FAULT OR
WHOEVER THEY WORKED WITH,
BOTTOM LINE IS, THEY ARE NOT IN
SUCH A GOOD SPOT.
THERE IS A SIGNIFICANT NUMBER
OF PEOPLE WHO ARE IN A BIT OF A
WAIT AND SEE APPROACH, THOSE
PEOPLE I'M MEETING WITH OUR
FEELING VERY ENCOURAGED WHEN
THEY ARE BEING LISTENED TO.
THEY ARE WAITING FOR SKILLS
DEVELOPMENT AND TALENT
DEVELOPMENT TO BE APPLIED TO
THEM.
AND THEY ARE THE PEOPLE, IF WE
CAN TURN A SIGNIFICANT NUMBER
OF THAT, YOU KNOW, 80 PERCENT
OF OUR WORKFORCE IN THAT
HOLDING PATTERN RIGHT NOW, I
THINK YOU WILL SEE CHANGE IN
TERMS OF EMPLOYEE MORALE.
OFTEN, EMPLOYEE MORALE, I THINK
IT SORT OF GETS AFFECTED WHEN
PEOPLE DON'T FEEL LIKE THEY ARE
BEING HEARD.
I THINK MOST PEOPLE I KNOW,
THEY KNOW NOT ALL OF THEIR IDEAS
WILL BE ACCEPTED, NOT ALL OF
THEIR CONCERNS WILL BE
ADDRESSED, BUT THEY WANT TO
MAKE SURE IT IS A SAFE PLACE
FOR THEM TO TALK ABOUT IT.
AND I THINK THAT IS THE KIND OF
ENVIRONMENT I HAVE ALREADY
STARTED AND WILL CONTINUE TO
BUILD.
>> HERE IS MY INTENT AT THIS
POINT, I WILL ACTUALLY HAVE
MORE CONVERSATION RIGHT NOW,
BUT I KNOW COUNCIL MEMBER
HERBOLD HAS A PRESSING MEETING,
WE HAVE HER FOR ANOTHER MINUTE,
I WILL ACTUALLY VOTE NOW, BUT I
WILL CONTINUE THE DISCUSSION
BECAUSE THERE ARE OTHER LINES
OF INQUIRY. WHAT I TRIED TO DO
FOR THE VIEWING PUBLIC, I TRY
TO DO A LOT OF HOMEWORK BEFORE
THIS MEETING.
I APPRECIATE HOW WILLING YOU
HAVE BEEN TO SUBJECT YOURSELF
TO THIS KIND OF INQUIRY, FOR
ME, BECAUSE I'M A TECHNOLOGY
GEEK, THIS IS IMPORTANT TO ME
AND I APPRECIATE THIS.
AGAIN, I WILL CALL FOR THE VOTE
, I WILL KEEP QUESTIONING YOU,
I DON'T THINK I'VE DONE IT LIKE
THAT BEFORE IN 12 YEARS.
THIS IS THE FIRST TIME, THERE'S
A FIRST TIME FOR EVERYTHING
THAT I MOVE FOR THE APPOINTMENT
OF SAAD BASHIR WHICH IS
APPOINTMENT 01252.
>> SECOND.
>> ALL THOSE IN FAVOR SAY AYE.
OPPOSED.
THE AYES HAVE IT, I WILL KEEP
DRILLING YOU EVEN THOUGH I
SHOWED MY HAND, SO TO SPEAK.
>> DON'T HAVE TO HAVE THE
AWKWARDNESS OF MOTIONING AND
SECONDED.
THANK YOU AND CONGRATULATIONS.
>> THANK YOU, COUNCILMEMBER
HERBOLD, AND GOOD LUCK IN YOUR
MEETING.
I WANTED TO TALK A LITTLE BIT
ABOUT YOUR, YOU SAID SOMETHING
INTERSTING ON PAGE 4, YOU
TALKED ABOUT AVOIDING 5 TO 10
YEAR LONG, TALKING ABOUT PLANS,
THIS IS IN RESPONSE TO THE
QUESTION, WHAT EXAMPLES OF
LESSONS LEARNED FROM YOUR PRIOR
JOBS DO YOU HAVE, WHAT SPECIFIC
EXPERTISE AND EXPENSE FROM
PRIOR JOBS YOU ANTICIPATE TO
APPLY IN YOUR NEW POSITION?
YOU TALKED ABOUT AVOIDING 5 TO
10 YEAR LONG AND 100 MILLION
AND HIGHER TRANSFORMATION
PLANT, AND INSTEAD THINKING OF
18 MONTH I.T.
PLANNING SPRINTS.
WHICH I FOUND NOVEL, CAN YOU
TALK A LITTLE BIT ABOUT THAT,
WHAT DOES THAT REALLY MEAN?
HELP ME UNDERSTAND.
>> SURE, COUNCIL PRESIDENT.
AS YOU ALL KNOW, I.T.
IS CREATING SIGNIFICANT
DISRUPTION EVERY FACET OF OUR
LIFE, INCLUDING THE WAY WE RUN
THE MUNICIPALITY OF SEATTLE.
AND SO, TO TRY TO PREDICT WHERE
TECHNOLOGY IS GOING TO BE IN
THE NEXT FIVE YEARS IS GOING TO
BE A BIT OF A GUESSING GAME.
AND YOU HAVE TO SORT OF PICK
ONE OVER THE OTHER SCHOOLS OF
THOUGHT.
SO, THAT IS ONE REALITY WE ARE
FACING, THAT IS TELLING ME
INSTEAD OF PAINTING A PICTURE
AND MAKING IT SOUND VERY
ACCURATE, THIS IS EXACTLY WHAT
WE NEED TO DO IN TECHNOLOGY AND
IT WILL LAST US A FIVE YEARS, I
DON'T THINK THAT WOULD BE A
FAIR STATEMENT.
SO, THAT FLUX TECHNOLOGY
CREATES IS MAKING ME FEEL WE
SHOULD PLAN FOR SHORTER TIME
CYCLES.
THAT IS ONE.
THE OTHER IS, I.T., ESPECIALLY
THE CITY OF SEATTLE IS IN THE
SERVICE BUSINESS, WE ARE NOT
TELLING DEPARTMENT OF
TRANSPORTATION OR UTILITIES HOW
TO RUN THEIR BUSINESS.
THEY HAVE TO DECIDE HOW THEY
WANT TO RUN THEIR BUSINESS AND
I.T.
WANTS TO BE AT THE TABLE TO
SUPPORT THEM ALL THE WAY.
AND NOT CITY OF SEATTLE
DEPARTMENTS, GENERALLY
SPEAKING, MUNICIPAL DEPARTMENTS
ARE NOT REALLY SURE WHERE THEIR
BUSINESSES GOING.
THEY ARE ALSO A LITTLE BIT
NERVOUS ABOUT HOW TECHNOLOGY IS
GOING TO BE DISRUPTING HOW THEY
DELIVER SERVICES TO THE
CITIZENS OF THEIRAPPELLATE B'S.
BECAUSE THEY ARE ALSO NOT VERY
100% SURE, IT MAKES IT
DIFFICULT FOR I.T.
TO PLAN FOR THAT TYPE OF
ENVIRONMENT.
AND MAYBE THE THIRD LAST THING
IS, JUST THE NATURE OF THE
BEAST, WE WORK IN A FOUR YEAR
OR FIVE YEAR CYCLE IN TERMS OF
PUBLIC SECTOR, AND THAT CREATES
A LOT OF UNCERTAINTY IN TERMS
OF WHETHER THESE PLANS WE
CREATE AND SPEND SO MUCH EFFORT
TO CREATE THEM, ARE THEY GOING
TO LAST THE NEXT POLITICAL
LEADERSHIP CYCLE THAT MAY BE ON
THE HORIZON?
AND SO, THAT IS A LESSON
LEARNED, NOT JUST FOR CITY OF
SEATTLE, BUT GENERALLY SPEAKING
PUBLIC-SECTOR.
THIS ANSWER IS NOT SOMETHING
YOU WILL FIND A LOT OF SUPPORT
FOR IF YOU WERE TO SPEAK WITH
THE TOP PROFESSIONAL SERVICES
COMPANY THAT DEAL IN I.T.
BECAUSE THERE'S A LOT OF MONEY
TO BE MADE IN TERMS OF SELLING
THE CITY OF SEATTLE, $10
MILLION TRANSFORMATION PLANT
THAT WILL LAST YOU 20 YEARS.
IT IS NOT A POPULAR ANSWER IN
THE PRIVATE SECTOR, BUT I THINK
THAT IS WHAT THE PRACTICAL
ANSWER IS.
>> VERY GOOD.
WHENEVER THERE'S NEW LEADERSHIP
IN AN ORGANIZATION, IT SEEMS TO
ME A VERY RAMBUNCTIOUS LEADER
WILL COME IN, HE OR SHE SAY
THEY WILL START CHANGING
EVERYTHING, NOT REALIZING THAT
HER DEPARTMENT LIKE I.T., ARE
READY ACTUALLY DOING AMAZING
WORK.
HOW DO YOU GO ABOUT LOOKING AT
THE GEMS IN THE DEPARTMENT, THE
GOOD WORK BEING DONE AS OPPOSED
TO SAYING YOU GUYS ARE DOING
EVERYTHING BACKWARDS HERE, I'M
THE NEW LEADER AND THIS IS HOW
WE WILL DO IT.
I'M PRESUMING YOU DID FIND SOME
OF THE GREAT WORK THEY'RE
DOING, I WOULD REMIND YOU I
HAVE BEEN CHAIRING THE
TECHNOLOGY GROUP 11 YEARS NOW.
>> DEFINITELY, COUNCIL
PRESIDENT.
I HAVE BEEN CARRYING THIS
NOTEBOOK WITH ME IN ALL THOSE
200+ MEETINGS.
AT THE END OF EVERY MEETING, I
DEFINITELY MAKE A POINT TO ASK
THE PERSON, CAN YOU NAME ME A
FEW STARS YOU HAVE IN COMMON,
I HAVE JOTTED DOWN LIKE 30
PEOPLE, THERE'S NO SHORTAGE OF
I.T.
PEOPLE DELIVERING THE SERVICES
THE CLIENTS ARE LOOKING FOR.
WHENEVER I COME ACROSS THOSE,
I'M MAKING A POINT EITHER IN
PERSON, GIVING THEM A PAT ON
THE BACK OR SENDING THEM A
MESSAGE OR EVEN, I THINK IT WAS
DAY BEFORE YESTERDAY ON TUESDAY
WITH MY OWN DIRECT REPORTS, I
JUST LISTED A BUNCH OF NAMES
FOR THEM, I SAID WHEN YOU GO
BACK, THESE PEOPLE ON YOUR
TEAM, MAKE SURE YOU LET THEM
KNOW HOW GREAT OF A JOB THEY'RE
DOING.
SO, IT IS NOT ALL BAD, NO DOUBT
ABOUT THAT.
I THINK WHAT IS MISSING IS THE
TEAM SPIRIT, THE ABILITY TO
WORK AS ONE SINGLE I.T.
TEAM, I THINK THAT IS THE
SHORTHAND.
>> VERY GOOD.
>> MY LAST LINE OF INQUIRY, THE
CONCEPT OF RACE AND SOCIAL
JUSTICE FOR GENDER EQUITY OR
ANTI-HARASSMENT, POLICIES ETC.
, ARE TAKEN PRETTY SERIOUSLY BY
THE CITY, OFTEN WE ARE
CRITICIZED, HOWEVER FOR NOT
PRACTICING THAT WITH WHICH WE
PREACH, PERHAPS PEOPLE SAY WE
ARE EITHER INCONSISTENT OR NOT
AS COMMITTED AS WE HOPED TO BE.
I GUESS THE TRUTH IS ALWAYS
SOMEWHERE IN THE MIDDLE, WE CAN
ALWAYS IMPROVE, I JUST BELIEVE
IN CONTINUOUS IMPROVEMENT.
HOW DO YOU IMPRESS UPON THE
VIEWING AUDIENCE IN THE CITY
YOU ARE TRULY COMMITTED TO
THESE VALUES AS YOU CONTINUE TO
LEAD THIS DEPARTMENT?
>> YOU HAVE TO TAKE MY WORD FOR
IT, COUNCIL PRESIDENT.
BECAUSE I HAVE NOT HAD A LOT OF
CHANCE TO ACTUALLY SHOW YOU IN
ACTION HAVE I WOULD PRACTICE
THESE VALUES.
BUT MAYBE I CAN TALK ABOUT A
COUPLE OF WAYS IN WHICH I MAKE
A POINT I AM BEING A FAIR,
TRANSPARENT MANAGER OF PEOPLE
ONE, AS I HAVE ALREADY
MENTIONED, BEING AS TRANSPARENT
AS POSSIBLE TO THE PEOPLE THAT
WORK IN I.T.
YOU KNOW, WE MAY MAKE TOUGH
DECISIONS, WE MAY CHOOSE A
CERTAIN DIRECTION, BUT MAKING
SURE PEOPLE IN I.T.
AT ALL LEVELS, NOT JUST PEOPLE
OF A CERTAIN TITLE ARE PART OF
THE DECISION-MAKING, THAT IS
IMPORTANT FOR ME.
ONE OTHER SORT OF PRINCIPLE I
HAVE, TO BE FAIR TO THE PEOPLE
THAT ARE ACTUALLY DOING THE JOB,
AND WHO ARE DOING A GREAT JOB,
ONE WAY TO BE FAIR TO THEM IS
TO MAKE SURE YOUR PUTTING A LOT
OF ATTENTION TO THE PEOPLE NOT
PERFORMING. THAT IS ANOTHER WAY
FOR ME TO CREATE FAIRNESS IN
THE WORKPLACE, NOT JUST
REWARDING THE PERFORMERS FOR
ALL THE WORK YOU HAVE TO GET
DONE WITHIN YOUR TEAM.
AND YOU KNOW, BUILDING ON THE
GREAT RSJI PLAN, FOR EXAMPLE,
WE ALREADY HAVE, THAT WOULD BE
A COMMITMENT I ALREADY MADE TO
THE MAYOR AND THIS COUNCIL AS
WELL, I WOULD BE UPPING THE
GAME WHEREVER I CAN AND PUTTING
THE FOCUS ON THAT TYPE OF WORK
AS WELL.
>> VERY GOOD.
YOU HAVE A QUESTION OR POINT?
>> I WANT TO AMPLIFY WHAT HE'S
SAYING, I HAVE BEEN ONE OF THE
CO-LEADS FOR THAT RSJI EXCHANGE
TEAM IN I.T.
A FEW MONTHS NOW, IN THE FIVE
WEEKS HE HAS BEEN HERE SO FAR,
HE HAS MET WITH US SEVERAL
TIMES AND HAS BEEN VERY
SUPPORTIVE OF THE RSJI
INITIATIVE.
IN FACT, HE ASKED US TO PUT
TOGETHER A PROPOSAL THAT
IMPLEMENTS TRULY
TRANSFORMATIVE EFFORTS TO BRING
ABOUT MEASURABLE CHANGE FOR OUR
UNDERSERVED COMMUNITIES WHICH
WILL INCLUDE A WORKFORCE EQUITY
STUDY, SERVICE EQUITY STUDY, AND
DEFINING WHAT HE CALLS
OBJECTIVES AND KEY RESULTS,
OKR'S , FROM THE DIRECTOR LEVEL
ALL THE WAY DOWN SO EACH PERSON
CAN THINK ABOUT RSJI.
I THINK ONE OF THE IDEAS WE
WERE DISCUSSING BEFORE THE
MEETING, THE SAAD SEVEN
FRIDAYS, HAVING DEDICATED TIME
EVERYBODY IS THINKING ABOUT
SAAD SEVEN, EITHER READING A
BOOK OR TAKING A TRAINING CLASS
OR DOING SOMETHING TO ENHANCE
THEIR KNOWLEDGE OF THE
INITIATIVE AND TO REALLY START
MAKING MEASURABLE CHANGE OUT
THERE.
>> VERY GOOD, THANK YOU FOR
THOSE COMMENTS.
YOU DID TALK ABOUT SOME SMALL
AND INFORMAL FUN EVENTS TO KEEP
THE MANTRA GOING, I APPRECIATE
YOUR CREATIVITY THERE.
WELL, I WILL BE VERY PLEASED TO
ANNOUNCE THIS IN FULL
DISCLOSURE, ANTHONY, IF YOU'D
LIKE TO SAY ANYTHING, I'VE
KNOWN ANTHONY SINCE BEFORE HE
COULD HAVE A DRIVERS LICENSE.
NOW YOU ARE AT THE TABLE WITH
ME, BUT I'M VERY GLAD YOU ARE
PART OF THAT TEAM.
DID YOU WANT TO SAY ANY WORDS
BEFORE WE MOVE ON TO THE NEXT
AGENDA ITEM?
>> I GUESS I PRETTY MUCH SECOND
WHAT TED WAS SAYING, I
APPRECIATE THE OPPORTUNITY TO
HAVE AN AUDIENCE WITH YOU.
YOU KNOW, SO EARLY, TO PRESS
UPON YOU HOW IMPORTANT THE WORK
IS, AND TO GET THE ABILITY TO
BRING FORTH MORE IDEAS FOR
CHANGE.
AND NOT JUST CONTINUE WHAT HAS
ALREADY PUT INTO PLACE, BUT TO
START A NEW BECAUSE JUST LIKE
TECHNOLOGY, IF YOU DO NOT
CONTINUE TO GROW OR EDUCATE,
YOU ARE STALE.
AND STALE PEOPLE ARE JUST AS
BAD AS ANTIQUATED TECHNOLOGY,
IT DOES NO GOOD FOR ANYONE.
>> AND Q. LET ME WALK YOU
THROUGH THE RUN OF THE SHOW,
AGAIN, THANK YOU FOR SERVING
THE CITY AND FOR RESPONDING TO
ALL OF OUR INQUIRIES.
WE ARE FINALIZING A COUNCIL
EXPECTATIONS LETTER WE ALWAYS
TRY TO HAVE AND THAT WILL BE
PART OF THE APPOINTMENT FILE
WHEN WE VOTE AND THE VOTE WILL
BE MARCH 18, I WOULD GENERALLY
DO IT NEXT MONDAY, BUT I HAVE A
CONFLICT SO I WILL PRESENT THIS
TO THE FULL COUNCIL MARCH 18 AT
2 PM.
AND WE WILL PROCEED FROM THEN.
AGAIN, AND YOU VERY MUCH.
IF YOU HAVE ANY QUESTIONS, LET
ME KNOW BUT WE WILL BE IN
TOUCH.
>> THANK YOU, TED AND ANTHONY.
NEXT AGENDA ITEM.
>> APPOINTMENT 01265 ,
APPOINTMENT OF RICHARD F.
SHORDT AS MEMBER SEATTLE
ETHICS AND ELECTIONS COMMISSION
FOR TERM DECEMBER 31, 2021.
>> OKAY.
RICHARD, COME ON FORWARD, SIR.
>> SO, WHY DON'T WE START WITH
INTRODUCTIONS ON THAT END AND
WITH MR. BARNETT AND THEN WE
BRING IT TO YOU, RICHARD.
JUST FOR THE VIEWING AUDIENCE,
AND AFTER THAT, WAYNE, IF YOU
HAVE INTRODUCTORY REMARKS, WE
WILL GIVE IT BACK TO PICK
>> I'M WAYNE BARNETT, EXECUTIVE
DIRECTOR OF THE SEATTLE ETHICS
AND ELECTIONS COMMISSION.
>> RICHARD SHORDT, APPLICANT
FOR SEATTLE ETHICS AND
ELECTIONS COMMISSION.
>> WOULD YOU LIKE TO INTRODUCE
THE MATTER?
>> I WILL INTRODUCE THE SENIOR
CORPORATE COUNCIL AT T-MOBILE ,
BEFORE THAT HE HAD
DISTINGUISHED LEGAL CAREER BOTH
IN SEATTLE AND WASHINGTON DC
AND PRIOR TO THAT, ALSO RELEVANT
TO THE WORK WE DO, HE SPENT 10
YEARS ON CAPITOL HILL WORKING
IN THE HOUSE OF
REPRESENTATIVES.
SO, WE ARE VERY EXCITED TO HAVE
RICH ONBOARD.
HE WILL BE REPLACING CHARLIE
ANGELES, WHO ROTATED OFF THE
BOARD AFTER A SINGLE TERM.
I ALSO WANT TO THANK HER FOR
HER SERVICE.
>> THANK YOU, I THANK HER FOR
HER SERVICE AS WELL.
RICHARD, TELL US A LITTLE BIT
ABOUT, YOU DO A LOT OF
COMPLIANCE WORK AND WELCOME TO
THE ETHICS AND ELECTIONS
COMMISSION AS A POTENTIAL
COMMISSIONER.
TELL ME A LITTLE BIT WHAT SORT
OF DRIVE C TO THAT KIND OF WORK
AND ABOUT YOUR EXPERIENCE AT T-
MOBILE AND OTHER LAW FIRMS
DOING COMPLIANCE WORK.
JUST A LITTLE ABOUT YOURSELF OR
THE VIEWING AUDIENCE.
>> ABSOLUTELY.
FIRST, THANK YOU, COUNCIL
PRESIDENT FOR YOUR
CONSIDERATION AND INVITATION.
AS WAYNE SAID, I HAVE BEEN A
PRACTICING LAWYER A LITTLE OVER
A DECADE, BEFORE THAT I HAD A
CAREER ON CAPITOL HILL IN
WASHINGTON DC FOR AROUND A
DECADE.
I THINK CURRENTLY, I AM SENIOR
CORPORATE COUNCIL AT T-MOBILE,
I AM IN THE COMPLIANCE AND
ETHICS DEPARTMENT RESPONSIBLE
FOR BUILDING AND DEVELOPING
BEST IN CLASS COMPLIANCE AND
ETHICS PROGRAM, RESPONSIBLE FOR
A NUMBER OF LEGAL COMPLIANCE
ISSUES INCLUDING THE
WHISTLEBLOWER PROGRAM, PAID
EMPLOYMENT CONTRIBUTIONS
POLICIES, AND I ALSO WORK
CLOSELY AND ADVISE CORPORATE
INTERNAL INVESTIGATIONS TEAMS.
I THINK ALL THOSE EXPERIENCES
AT T-MOBILE, BUILDING A REALLY
STRONG COMPLIANCE PROGRAM
REALLY PLAYED WELL INTO THE
OBLIGATIONS OF SEATTLE ETHICS
AND ELECTIONS COMMISSION'S
HOUSE, OVERSEEN THE ETHICS,
PARTS OF THE CODE,
WHISTLEBLOWER, DEMOCRACY
VOCHER PROGRAM, SO THAT THE
WORK I DO THERE IS REALLY, AND
MY WORK IN PRIVATE PRACTICE AND
MY WORK ON THE HILL, IN
PARTICULAR, I ADVISED MY STAFF
AND MADE SURE OUR OFFICE AND MY
BOSS WAS IN COMPLIANCE WITH THE
HOUSE ETHICS RULES AND OTHER
OBLIGATIONS IMPOSED ON MEMBERS
OF CONGRESS AND THEIR STAFF.
REALLY, I'VE HAD THE
OPPORTUNITY TO HAVE JOBS THAT
ALLOW ME TO APPROACH DECISION-
MAKING AND ETHICS IN A VALUE-
BASED WAY.
I'M A VERY STRONG PROPONENT OF
GOOD GOVERNANCE, REALLY DOING
THINGS THE RIGHT WAY AS WE LIKE
TO SAY.
FORTUNATELY, T-MOBILE, I WORK
IN A GROUP WITH A VERY STRONG
LEADER, A HEADSTRONG CEO, BUT
THEY REALLY ENCOURAGE US TO BE
CREATIVE AND WORK WITH ALL OF
OUR TEAMS AND BUSINESS UNITS TO
APPROACH THINGS FROM A CUSTOMER
FRIENDLY STANDPOINT, EMPLOYEE
FRIENDLY STANDPOINT BUT THE
BOTTOM LINE IS MAKING SURE OUR
CUSTOMERS ARE SERVED CORRECTLY
AND OUR EMPLOYEES DO THINGS THE
RIGHT WAY.
I THINK THE SEATTLE ETHICS AND
ELECTIONS COMMISSION ARE
PARALLELS, OUR GOAL IS TO MAKE
SURE CITY EMPLOYEES OPERATE
THE RIGHT WAY ETHICALLY, IN A
GOOD VALUE-BASED WAY AND ALSO
MAKE SURE OUR CONSTITUENTS,
YOUR CONSTITUENTS ARE
UNDERSTANDING AND HAVE FAITH IN
GOVERNMENT AND FAITH IN THE
EMPLOYEES OF THE GOVERNMENT IN
SEATTLE AND FAITH IN PARTICULAR
THE ELECTIONS PROCESS IS
TRANSPARENT AND ETHICAL AND THE
CANDIDATES ARE ACTING IN AN
APPROPRIATE WAY.
>> VERY GOOD, EXCELLENT
RESPONSE.
YOU KNOW, MY INTERVIEW WOULD
NOT BE COMPLETE WITHOUT ONE
CURVEBALL.
>> RIGHT.
>> ONE OF THE AREAS THAT
CONTINUE TO CONCERN ME, WE HAVE
HAD COUNCIL IT COUNTLESS
DISCUSSIONS, THE ISSUE OF
INTENT, WE ALL KNOW FROM LAW
SCHOOL, IGNORANCE OF THE LOT IS
NO EXCUSE, BUT IF IN FACT,
THERE ARE VIOLATIONS THAT OCCUR
, EITHER ETHICAL VIOLATIONS OR
A CANDIDATE KNOWINGLY VIOLATES
A RULE OR A CANDIDATE
INADVERTENTLY, NOT QUITE AWARE,
THERE'S NO EDUCATIONAL
REQUIREMENT IN THIS EXAMPLE,
SOMEONE MORE AWARE OF THE RULES
THEN OTHERS.
SO, WHERE IN YOUR PROFESSIONAL
JOB OR EVEN AS YOU BECOME A
COMMISSIONER, WHERE DOES THE
ROLE OF INTENT, DO YOU THINK IT
HAS ANY PLACE IN THIS?
BECAUSE I AGAIN, MR. BARNETT
AND I HAVE TALKED ABOUT THESE
KINDS OF THINGS, PARTICULARLY
FOR NEW CANDIDATES, THERE'S A
LOT OF RULES AND REGULATIONS,
SOME ARE BETTER THAN OTHERS IN
KNOWING EVERYTHING, CAN YOU
TALK A LITTLE BIT ABOUT THE
ROLE OF INTENT VERSUS JUST MERE
NEGLIGENCE?
>> ABSOLUTELY.
I WOULD START BY SAYING IN MY
PROFESSIONAL CAREER AND
PERSONAL CAREER, WHEN I WORKED
ON THE HILL, NOT ONLY DID I
WORK IN THE FOREIGN ELECTED
OFFICIAL AND PUBLIC OFFICE, I
HAVE A LOT OF EXPERIENCE ON
CAMPAIGNS.
I HAD TO TAKE A LEAVE OF
ABSENCE TO WORK ON CAMPAIGNS OR
IN MY SPARE TIME I WOULD
VOLUNTEER ON CAMPAIGNS.
I HAVE WORKED ON CAMPAIGNS AT
THE STATE MUNICIPAL AND FEDERAL
LEVEL, I WALKED DOOR-TO-DOOR
WITH MY GOOD FRIENDS RUNNING
FOR CITY COUNCIL, I KNOW IT IS
A HARD JOB.
I KNOW THE NEW AND
INEXPERIENCED CANDIDATES DO NOT
EXACTLY KNOW WHAT THEY ARE
DOING, AND I THINK THE
EXPERIENCE I BRING, THE
UNDERSTANDING OF HOW HARD AND
NUANCED BEING A CANDIDATE,
PARTICULARLY A FIRST-TIME
CANDIDATE CAN BE, WILL HELP
INFLUENCE SOME OF THE
DECISIONS, AT LEAST WILL HELP
ALLOW ME TO EDUCATE AND HAVE
FORTHRIGHT CONVERSATIONS WITH
FELLOW COMMISSIONERS WHEN WE
ARE ASKED TO INTERPRET NEW OR
NOVEL QUESTIONS, PARTICULARLY
AS IT COMES TO THE DEMOCRACY
VOUCHER PROGRAM.
I BELIEVE THE LAST I HEARD,
THERE WERE 40 DECLARED
CANDIDATES FOR CITY COUNCIL, A
LOT OF THEM WILL BE FIRST-TIME
CANDIDATES, AND HOPEFULLY A LOT
OF THEM TAKE ADVANTAGE OF THE
PROGRAM.
EVEN IF THEY DON'T, BECAUSE THE
COMMISSION OVERSEES THE
ELECTIONS POLICY AND ELECTION
CODE FOR THE CITY, WE MAY BE
ASKED TO WEIGH IN, OBVIOUSLY.
WAYNE AND HIS STAFF WILL HAVE A
DIFFICULT, HOPEFULLY REWARDING
TIME LOOKING AT A LOT OF ISSUES
THAT COME TO HIM, IF WE ARE
ASKED TO WEIGH IN ON ANY
DISCIPLINARY DECISIONS OR
RATIFY OR HAVE A HEARING, I
THINK INTENT DOES PLAY A ROLE,
THE CODE, CERTAINLY THE CODE
SPELLS OUT WHAT A VIOLATION IS.
BUT THERE WILL BE ISSUES OF
CREDIBILITY AND UNDERSTANDING
WHAT A PERSON KNEW AND DID NOT
UNDERSTAND TO BE TRUE AND THE
STEPS THEY TOOK, THEY WILL BE
ALLOWED TO EXPLAIN THE
RATIONALE BEHIND SOME OF THE
DECISIONS.
AND I THINK ALTHOUGH I DON'T
WANT TO SAY THERE'S A SLIDING
SCALE, IF YOU ARE NEW YOU GET A
PASS AND IF YOUR EXPERIENCE YOU
DON'T, I THINK WE HAVE TO TAKE
INTO UNDERSTANDING ALL OF THE
EXPERIENCE.
MY ROLE AS A LITIGATOR WILL
HELP INFLUENCE SOME OF THE
QUESTIONS WE MIGHT ASK AND
UNDERSTANDING AS YOU SAID,
INTENT, IT MAY NOT BE A BRIGHT
LINE RULE, IT MIGHT BE
SOMEWHERE IN BETWEEN NEGLIGENCE
OR GROSS NEGLIGENCE OR
MALICIOUS INTENT, IT IS
IMPORTANT TO UNDERSTAND THE
PURPOSE SOMEBODY ACTED.
AND MY BACKGROUND I THINK, MY
UNDERSTANDING OF WHAT IT'S LIKE
TO KNOCK ON DOORS, WHAT IT IS
LIKE TO DIAL FOR DOLLARS, WHAT
IT IS LIKE TO GET HUSTLED OR
GET PAID MEDIA OR EARNED MEDIA,
UNDERSTANDING THE PRESSURES THE
CANDIDATE IS UNDER WILL HELP ME
BETTER UNDERSTAND MOTIVATIONS.
FRANKLY, SS CREDIBILITY WHEN
THEY PROVIDE THEIR ANSWERS.
>> WOW, THAT WAS AN OUTSTANDING
RESPONSE.
I'M NOT SURE HOW I WOULD HAVE
RESPONDED TO THAT QUESTION.
THANK YOU FOR THAT AND YOUR
EXPERIENCE ON YOUR GRASSROOTS
EXPERIENCE, I THINK WILL PAY
OFF IN SPADES.
THANK YOU VERY VERY MUCH FOR
THAT.
I DID NOT HAVE ANY OTHER
QUESTIONS AND I CANNOT TURN TO
MY COLLEAGUE FURTHER QUESTIONS
SO THANK YOU FOR SERVING.
I WILL MOVE THE APPOINTMENT OF
01265, THE APPOINTMENT OF
RICHARD SHORDT TO THE SEATTLE
ETHICS AND ELECTIONS
COMMISSION.
ALL IN FAVOR SAY AYE.
THERE IS NO ONCE I KNOW.
I WILL PRESENT THIS ON THE SAME
DAY I PRESENT MR. BASHIR, MARCH
18.
NO NEED FOR YOU TO BE HERE,
YOU'RE ALWAYS WELCOME TO BE
HERE.
I WILL PRESENT IT AND I'M SURE
THAT COUNCIL WILL BE WARM TO
RECEIVE YOU.
THANK YOU.
>> THANK YOU VERY MUCH.
>> WITH THAT, WE STAND
ADJOURNED.