THANK YOU SO MUCH. THE JULY 27, 2020 MEETING OF THE SEATTLE CITY COUNCIL MEETING
WILL COME TO ORDER. IT IS 2:07PM I AM LORENA GONZALEZ PRESIDENT OF THE COUNCIL
CLERK WILL YOU PLEASE CALL THE ROLL MORALES
HERE MOSQUEDA
HERE PEDERSEN
HERE SAWANT
HERE STRAUSS
PRESENT LEWIS
PRESENT HERBOLD
HERE COUNCIL PRESIDENT GONZALEZ
HERE
EIGHT PRESENT.
THANK YOU SO MUCH. PRESENTATIONS, I'M NOT AWARE OF ANY PRESENTATIONS , APPROVAL OF THE
MINUTES. THE MINUTES OF THE CITY COUNCIL MEETING JULY 20, 2020. THERE IS NO OBJECTION,
THE MINUTES WILL BE SIGNED. HEARING NO OBJECTION THE MINUTES WILL BE
SIGNED. ASK YOU TO FIX MY SIGNATURE TO THE MINUTES. IF THERE IS NO
OBJECTION THE PROPOSED INTRODUCTION AND REFERRAL CALENDAR WILL BE ADOPTED. HEARING NO OBJECTION
THE INTRODUCTION AND REFERRAL CALENDAR IS ADOPTED.
APPROVAL OF THE AGENDA. IF THERE IS NO OBJECTION THE AGENDA WILL BE ADOPTED
. HEARING NO OBJECTION THE AGENDA IS ADOPTED. WE ARE NOW GOING TO
CALL PUBLIC COMMENT. AS YOU RECALL WE HAVE SPLIT UP PUBLIC COMMENT INTO
THE TWO SESSIONS. THE FIRST PUBLIC COMMENT AND THE SECOND PUBLIC COMMENT.
SO WE HAVE NOW REACHED THE FIRST OF THOSE TWO PUBLIC COMMENT PERIODS
FOR ITEMS ON TODAY'S AGENDA THAT ARE LISTED FOR FINAL ACTION WHICH ARE
SHOWN UNDER THE COMMITTEE REPORTS AND ADOPTION OF OTHER RESOLUTIONS
SECTION ON THE AGENDA. THIS ADDED OPTION IS A NEW APPROACH TO PUBLIC COMMENT
TO ALLOW ADDITIONAL OPPORTUNITIES FOR MEMBERS OF THE PUBLIC TO
PARTICIPATE AND SHARE THEIR COMMENTS WITH THE COUNCIL. THIS IS AN OPPORTUNITY
FOR US TO MAKE SURE WE CREATE SPACE TO HEAR FIRST FROM THOSE WHO
ARE CALLING ON ITEMS SUBJECT TO FINAL DECISION BY COUNCILMEMBERS TODAY WILL
ALSO STILL CREATING SPACE FOR THOSE WHO HAVE MORE GENERAL PUBLIC COMMENTS
TO PROVIDE THOSE PUBLIC COMMENTS TO US IN A SECOND SESSION. SO, WE
ARE GOING TO GO AHEAD AND BEGIN OUR FIRST PUBLIC COMMENT SESSION. BUT
SEE. I ASK THAT EVERYONE PLEASE BE PATIENT WITH US AS WE CONTINUE TO
LEARN HOW TO BEST OPERATE THIS NEW SYSTEM. PUBLIC COMMENT PERIOD SEPARATION.
WE OF COURSE ARE ALWAYS LOOKING FOR WAYS TO FINE-TUNE THIS
REMOTE PROCESS AND ADDING FEATURES THAT ALLOW FOR ADDITIONAL PARTICIPATION
IN OUR COUNCIL MEETINGS. IT DOES REMAIN A STRONG INTENT TO HAVE PUBLIC
COMMENT REGULARLY INCLUDED ON MEETING AGENDAS. HOWEVER THE CITY COUNCIL
RESERVES THE RIGHT TO AND/OR ELIMINATE THESE PUBLIC COMMENT PERIODS IF
THE SYSTEM IS BEING ABUSED OR IS NO LONGER SUITABLE. ALL MODERATION FOR
PUBLIC COMMENT PERIODS, THE COMMENT PERIOD FOR THIS PARTICULAR PERIOD
WILL BE 20 MINUTES. EACH SPEAKER WILL BE GIVEN , LET ME SEE, WE HAVE
QUITE THE LIST OF FOLKS WHO CALLED IN. WE ARE GOING TO DO ONE MINUTE PER
SPEAKER. I WILL CALL ON EACH SPEAKER BY NAME AND IN THE ORDER IN WHICH
THEY REGISTERED ON THE COUNCIL'S WEBSITE. IF YOU HAVE NOT YET REGISTERED
TO SPEAK BUT YOU WOULD LIKE TO YOU CAN SIGN UP BEFORE THE END OF
PUBLIC COMMENT BY GOING TO THE COUNCIL'S WEBSITE AT SEATTLE.GOV FORD/COUNSEL.
THE LINK IS ALSO LISTED ON TODAY'S AGENDA. ONCE I CALL SPEAKERS NAME
STAFF WILL UNMUTE THE APPROPRIATE MICROPHONE AND THAT WILL BE THE
SPEAKER SKU IT IS THEIR TURN TO SPEAK. I ASK THAT YOU PLEASE START BY TELLING
US YOUR NAME, THE ITEM YOU'RE ADDRESSING AND AS A REMINDER THE FIRST
PUBLIC COMMENT PERIOD IS LIMITED TO ITEMS ON TODAY'S AGENDA THAT ARE
LISTED FOR FINAL ACTION . THESE ITEMS ARE ALSO SHOWN UNDER THE COMMITTEE
REPORTS AND ADOPTION OF OTHER RESOLUTIONS SECTIONS ON AGENDA. SECOND,
PUBLIC COMMENT WILL BE FOR GENERAL PUBLIC COMMENT. SPEAKERS WILL HEAR
A TIME WHEN 10 SECONDS ARE LEFT OF THE ALLOTTED TIME. ONCE YOU HEAR THE
CHIME WE ASK YOU BEGIN TO WRAP UP YOUR PUBLIC COMMENT. AND IF SPEAKERS
DON'T AND THE COMMENTS AT THE END OF THE ALLOTTED TIME PROVIDED THEN
THE MICROPHONE WILL BE MUTED TO ALLOW US TO MOVE ONTO THE NEXT SPEAKER.
ONCE YOU HAVE COMPLETED YOUR PUBLIC COMMENT ASK THAT YOU DISCONNECT FROM
THE LINE IF YOU WISH TO CONTINUE FOLLOWING THE MEETING YOU CAN DO
SO ON SEATTLE CHANNEL OR THE LISTING OPTIONS LISTED ON THE AGENDA. I'M
GOING TO OPEN UP THE FIRST COMMENT PERIOD. I SEE OUR TECH DEPARTMENT
IS READY TO GO. OUR FIRST SPEAKER IS BRITNEY FOLLOWED BY CHARLES .
GOOD AFTERNOON COUNCIL THANK YOU FOR BEING HERE. I NAME IS BRITNEY I'M
THE CHAIR OF SEATTLE GROUP. AND CALLING TO EMPHASIZE SUPPORT OF FUNDING
THE MAXIMAL POSSIBLE AMOUNT FOR TRANSIT SERVICE BY .2% TAX RATE. THOUGH
THE PRESENT IS UNCERTAIN WE MUST LOOK TO THE FUTURE AND DO ALL WE CAN TO
ENSURE TRANSIT CAN EXIST AND CAN PICK UP AFTER COVID. WE CAN KEEP OUR
CLIMATE ATTRACTIVE VICTORY. WE HAVE TO ENSURE THOSE WHO DEPEND ON TRANSIT
NOW CAN GET TO WORK, HEALTHCARE AND CHILDCARE RELIABLY ON TIME. WE
BELIEVE SEATTLE IS IN A MOOD TO TAKE THESE BOLDS STEPS TOWARD A MORE
SUSTAINABLE FUTURE. SEATTLE WANTS TO ENSURE THEY HAVE SAFE TRANSPORTATION
OPTIONS. VOTERS EVEN MORE LIKELY TO SUPPORT BOLD TRANSPORTATION BENEFIT
DISTRICTS EITHER LOCAL OFFICIAL --YOU CAN BE SURE YOU HAVE OUR FULL
SUPPORT TODAY AND AT THE BALLOT BOX IN NOVEMBER. THANK YOU SO MUCH.
THANK YOU SO MUCH. NEXT UP IS CHARLES FOLLOWED BY JULIA.
HELLO MY NAME IS CHARLES. I AM A SEVENTH DISTRICT -- >> HELLO CHARLES.
JUST A MINUTE. YOU ARE BREAKING UP ON US. LET'S TRY THIS AGAIN. WE HAVE
RESET YOUR TIMER. BEFORE WE START PLEASE GIVE ME A TEST, ONE, TWO, THREE.
TEST, ONE, TWO, THREE.
THAT SOUNDS GOOD.
HERE WE GO.
AWESOME. I'M A SEVENTH DISTRICT RENTER AND PRECINCT OFFICER CALLING TO
TALK ABOUT WHAT WE DEAL WITH THE COVID-19 PANDEMIC WE MUST NOT LOSE SIGHT
OF THE EXISTENTIAL THREAT POSED BY CLIMATE CHANGE. INCREASING AND
BETTERING OUR PUBLIC TRANSIT SERVICES IS ONE OF THE SINGLE MOST IMPORTANT
AND MOST EFFECTIVE TOOLS THAT CITIES HAVE IN FIGHTING CLIMATE CHANGE. FOR
THIS REASON AND OTHERS I SUPPORT AMENDMENTS WANTED TO SUIT EXTENDING THE
SALES TAX . THANK YOU VERY MUCH. HAVE A GREAT DAY.
THANK YOU FOR CALLING IN. NEXT UP IS JULIA FOLLOWED BY CHARLIE. >> GOOD
AFTERNOON . MY NAME IS JULIA. I AM WITH PUGET SOUND STAGE. I'M HERE TO
SUPPORT COUNCIL BILL 119833. WE WERE HERE LAST WEEK ADVOCATING FOR A
TRANSFORMATIVE SPENDING PLAN ON THE NEW REVENUE AND TODAY BECOME
FRUSTRATED MAKING A DIFFICULT DECISION BETWEEN TAXING LOW-INCOME
COMMUNITIES TO FUND THAT TRANSIT. REALLY WE NEED BETTER SOLUTIONS FOR
FUNDING TRANSIT AND REGION SOLUTIONS WHICH IS WHY WE STRONGLY SUPPORT
31960 AND LOOK TO PUSH FOR PROGRESSIVE FUNDING SOURCES AND SEEK REGIONAL
SOLUTIONS IN FOUR YEARS. EVEN THOUGH WE NEEDED BETTER CONNECTED REGIONAL
TRANSIT YESTERDAY, SIGNIFICANTLY ERODING SERVICE WE HAVE IN SEATTLE ONLY
FURTHER UNDERMINE COMMUNITIES FACING A TRIPLE THREAT OF VIOLENCE, HIGH
RATES OF COVID-19, DUE TO ENVIRONMENTAL AND RACISM. >> THANK YOU FOR
CALLING IN. NEXT UP IS CHARLIE FOLLOWED BY NATHAN.
MY NAME IS CHARLIE, I AM WITH THE MLK LABOR COUNCIL. I'M ALSO RANK AND
FILE NUMBER OF --I'M HERE TO TALK ABOUT OUR SUPPORT OF THE TRANSPORTATION
DISTRICT. IN SEATTLE AND THE SURROUNDING AREA TRANSPORTATION IS JUST
SOMETHING THAT EVERYONE USES EVERYDAY. OUR REGION CONTINUES TO GROW AND
WORKING PEOPLE NEED TO GET AROUND. WE SUPPORT THIS PROPOSAL AND
SPECIFICALLY THE .2% TAX FOR THIS SIMPLE REASON THAT WE HAVE A
TRANSPORTATION CRISIS . FROM 976 THAT WE DIDN'T VOTE FOR TO THE COVID
CRISIS TO THE WEST SEATTLE BRIDGE WE ARE IN A DEEP HOLE. WE KNOW PEOPLE
AND VULNERABLE COMMUNITIES, NOT EVERYONE CAN WORK FROM HOME OR LIVE CLOSE
TO WHERE THEY WORK. THIS MEASURE WOULD GO SO FAR TO FILLING A BUDGET GAP
AND HELP OUR ECONOMIC RECOVERY . THANK YOU FOR YOUR SUPPORT OF THIS
MEASURE. ON BEHALF OF THE LABOR COMMUNITY I STRONGLY URGE YOU TO PASS IT.
THANK YOU. OUR NEXT SPEAKER IS NATHAN FOLLOWED BY RYAN.
MY NAME IS NATHAN. HELLO, CAN YOU HEAR ME?
WE CAN HEAR YOUR.
OKAY. I LIVE IN BALLARD ALONG 16th AVENUE. I CAN FEEL THE TRAFFIC
INCREASING AS THE ECONOMY REOPENS. WHAT I AM MISSING IS THE TRANSIT, I'M
HOPING NOT TO MISS THAT FURTHER. I LIKE TO SPEAK OUT IN SUPPORT OF
ESPECIALLY AMENDMENTS NUMBER TWO AND NUMBER THREE IN SUPPORT OF
MAXIMIZING INCOME AND MINIMIZING EFFECTS ON ESSENTIAL WORKERS. I
APPRECIATE YOUR TIME. THANK YOU.
THANK YOU FOR CALLING IN TODAY. NEXT UP IS RYAN FOLLOWED BY LEAH.
GOOD AFTERNOON COUNCIL MEMBERS. I NAME IS RYAN. I AM CALLING IT SUPPORT
OF THE FULL .2% SALES TAX. I DO AGREE WITH ALL OF THE ELECTED LEADERS
THAT THIS IS A BRIDGE SOLUTION. BECAUSE OF THAT WE CAN'T , THE BRIDGE
CAN'T FALL SHORT. WE CAN'T BE DIGGING OURSELVES OUT OF A HOLE IN FOUR
YEARS. WE NEED TO GO INTO A FULL METRO CONNECTS PATRICK IT'S , RAPID
LINES IN SEATTLE HAVE BEEN DEFERRED OR EVEN CANCELED ALTOGETHER. NOT
ACCEPTABLE FOR A CLIMATE FORD CITY. I'M ALSO CONCERNED ABOUT THE FOUR
YEAR TIMEFRAME CONFLICTING WITH THE MOVE SEATTLE LEVY WHICH IS ONLY GOING
TO BE A HEAVY LIFT TO GET VOTERS TO APPROVE AFTER THE TIM IN RESPONSE THE
MAYOR HAS GIVEN TO THE LEVY. AND SO I URGE YOU TO GO THE FULL .2% . WE
REALLY CAN'T LEAVE ANYTHING ON THE TABLE. THANKS SO MUCH.
THANK YOU FOR CALLING IN. NEXT UP IS LEAH FOLLOWED BY STACY.
I NAME IS LEE I AM THE WASHINGTON TRANSPORTATION POLICY MANAGER AT COMIC
COLLISION. WE ARE IN STRONG SUPPORT OF A ROBUST FUNDED 2% SALES TAX. THE
TRANSPORTATION SECTOR IS RESPONSIBLE FOR THE LARGEST PART OF SOLUTION.
EXPANDING TRANSIT ACCESS AND OPTIONS IS CRITICAL. FOR SEATTLE TO ACHIEVE
ITS CLIMATE GOALS. ADDITIONALLY TRANSIT IS CRUCIAL FOR MANY MEMBERS OF
OUR COMMUNITY. LOWER INCOME SATELLITES ARE MORE LIKELY TO BE USED TRANSIT
AND FOR VARIETY OF REASONS NOT EVERYONE DRIVES INCLUDING MY OWN
HOUSEHOLD. WE URGE YOU TO HAVE A STRONG ONE AS POSSIBLE BY UTILIZING THE
.02 PERCENT ZERO TAX. ANYTHING LESS COULD PUT US ON A DEATH SPIRAL.
SEATTLE VOTERS OVERWHELMINGLY APPROVED OUR LAST ONE AND SINCE THEN WE
HAVE SEEN GROWING RIDERSHIP. WE MUST BUILD ON THIS PROGRESS RATHER THAN
COMMIT. THANK YOU COUNCILMEMBER MORALES FOR THE AMENDMENT OFFERING THE
.2% SALES TAX. WE URGE THAT YOU SUPPORTED.
THANK YOU FOR CALLING IN. NEXT UP IS STACY FOLLOWED BY CARLISLE.
MY NAME IS STACY. I AM A CURRENT UNIVERSITY OF WASHINGTON RESEARCHER
FOCUSING ON TECHNOLOGY SKILLS AND A FORMER MEMBER OF THE COMMUNITY
ADVISORY BOARD. AND CALLING IT SUPPORT OF INTERNET FOR ALL RESOLUTION. I
BELIEVE THIS BUILDS UPON THE CITY'S LEADERSHIP AND DIGITAL INCLUSION
PROGRAM SUCH AS THE TECHNOLOGY MATCHING FUND GRANT IN THE CURRENT
EQUITABLE INITIATIVE. IT'S CRITICAL WE IDENTIFY OTHER SOLUTIONS TO GET
THE ENTIRE CITY AFFORDABLE BROADBAND SUPPORT THEY NEED. THE WORK ON THE
RESOLUTION IS ON AN ARRESTED TIMELINE BUT NOT FAST ENOUGH FOR THOSE IN
NEED. IT'S TIME FOR THE CITY TO TRULY PRIORITIZE THESE NEEDS AND IDENTIFY
LONG-TERM STREAMS TO SUPPORT THIS. THANK YOU VERY MUCH.
THANK YOU FOR CALLING IN. NEXT UP IS KYLE FOLLOWED BY MATTHEW.
THIS IS KYLE WITH API SUPPORTING ON BEHALF OF OUR CAMPAIGN COUNCILMEMBER
PUTTING FORTH INTERNET FOR ALL. OUR COALITION RECOGNIZES THIS IS A STEP
IN THE RIGHT DIRECTION BUT DOES NOT ADDRESS THE DIRE NEED FOR THOSE WHO
ARE EXPERIENCING LACK OF ACCESS AND LIFE-SAVING RESOURCES. AS WELL AS
KAREN CONNECTION NOW. ALREADY EXISTING TECHNOLOGICAL DISPARITIES AS A
RESULT OF COVID. WE ARE IN SUPPORT OF COMMUNITY CONSULT ON SPD.
SUPPORTING CALLS FOR COUNCIL MEMBERS TO SUPPORT SPD RESPONSIBLE FOR
VIOLENCE AGAINST BLACK, INDIGENOUS PEOPLE OF COLOR INCLUDING SURVIVORS OF
SAID DOMESTIC VIOLENCE. WE REJECT THE USE OF SURVIVORS OF GENDER-BASED
VIOLENCE AS JUSTIFICATION FOR A CITY BUDGET --WE ARE IN SUPPORT OF THE
BUDGET PROPOSAL AND REQUEST FUNDING BE ALLOCATED FOR MORE FREE FUNDING
HOTSPOTS LIKE THE LIBRARY.
THANK YOU. NEXT UP IS MATTHEW FOLLOWED BY ANNA.
MY NAME IS MATTHEW. I AM LEAD ORGANIZER OF THE TRANSIT NEW UNION. I HAVE
A TESTIMONY FROM ONE OF OUR MEMBERS TO READ INTO THE RECORD. MY NAME IS
OLIVIA I LIVE IN DISTRICT 3 AND I'M A MEMBER OF THE SEATTLE TRANSIT
RIDERS UNION. I'M CALLING TO WORK WITH COUNCILMEMBER MORALES'S PROPOSAL
IN BUMPING THE SALES TAX TO .2%. IF THE COUNCIL STICKS WITH THE .1% IT
WILL BE AN IMPACT. I RELY ON THE SERVICE WHERE I WILL BE RETURNING TO
WORK NEXT FALL. THE FOLKS MOST IMPACTED BY BUS SERVICE CUTS ARE DISABLED
PEOPLE LOW INCOME IN BLACK AND BROWN COMMITTEES. I URGE THE COUNCIL TO
ADOPT THE PROPOSAL PROPOSED AMENDMENT. THANK YOU FOR YOUR TIME.
THANK YOU. NEXT UP IS ANNA .
THIS IS ANNA. THE PROGRAM DIRECTOR OF DISABILITY RIGHTS WASHINGTON. I'M A
MEMBER OF THE KING COUNTY ACTING CABINET AND A MEMBER OF THE SEATTLE
PEDESTRIAN ADVISORY BOARD. WE ARE CALLING TO SUPPORT THE FOUR YEAR
INSTEAD OF SIX YOUR TEXT LEVY TO ALLOW US TO LOOK FOR MORE REGIONAL
SOLUTION ON A SHORTER TIMEFRAME. SO WE CAN ENSURE OUR TRANSIT CONCERT
PEOPLE WHO CANNOT AFFORD TO LIVE WITHIN THE CITY LIMITS. WE ARE ALSO
SUPPORTING THE 2.2%. WE HAVE HEARD IT'S NOT FAIR TO ASK PEOPLE DON'T USE
TRANSIT PAY FOR TRANSIT. THIS IS THE SORT OF DANGEROUS AND DIVISIVE
RHETORIC THAT IS ALLOWED THE BALLOT BOX YEAR AFTER YEAR. AND EQUITABLE
AND ACCESSIBLE TRANSIT SYSTEM BENEFITS US ALL. THANKS.
THANK YOU FOR CALLING IN. NEXT UP IS ALMOND FOLLOWED BY RACHEL.
I AM A DISTRICT RESIDENT AND I'M CALLING IT SUPPORT OF THE INTERNET FOR
ALL RESOLUTION. LIABLE INTERNET ACCESS HAS BECOME MORE IMPORTANT AS
PEOPLE FIND WAYS TO WORK, EDUCATE AND LIVE IN THIS NEW ENVIRONMENT. AS AN
EXAMPLE THE LIBRARY LEVY WAS OVERWHELMINGLY SUPPORTED AND PROVIDES
IMPORTANT RESOURCES TO OUR COMMUNITY. EXPANDED WEB ACCESS WILL ENSURE
MORE PEOPLE CAN ACCESS LIBRARY MATERIAL AND OTHER ITEMS. THANK YOU FOR
YOUR TIME.
THANK YOU FOR CALLING IN. NEXT UP IS RACHEL FOLLOWED BY MADELEINE.
HELLO MY NAME IS RACHEL. I AM CALLING TO COMMENT ON ONE 19833 . AND
CALLING AS A BOARD MEMBER OF SEATTLE SUBWAY AND A MEMBER OF THE TRANSIT
RIDERS UNION AND DISTRICT 3. I FULLY SUPPORT FUNDING TO THE FULLEST
EXTENT INCLUDING TRANS 12 TO FUND THE .2%. I ALSO SUPPORT COUNCILMEMBER
PEDERSEN'S EXTENDING TO SIX YEARS. FOR PEOPLE LIKE ME WHO DEFEND ON
PUBLIC TRANSIT AND WANT TO LIVE IN SEATTLE WITHOUT EXPENSES AND POLLUTION
OF RELYING ON A CAR. THIS FALL I WILL BE STARTING MY MASTERS IN URBAN
PLANNING AT THE UNIVERSITY OF WASHINGTON AND WILL DEPENDING ON IT TO GET
TO AND FROM CLASS. THANK YOU FROM YOUR TIME.
NEXT UP IS MADELINE.
MY NAME IS MADDIE AND I'M CALLING FROM DISTRICT 7 IN FAVOR OF INCREASING
THE SALES TAX TO 2%. THE LOSS OF TRANSIT SUET SERVICE, PURCHASING A
VEHICLE OR RELYING ON RIDESHARE WILL BE EVEN MORE UNAFFORDABLE TO OUR
LOW-INCOME MOURNERS. I ALSO ASKED COUNCIL TO CONTINUE THE COMMITMENT TO
THE FUNDING OF SPD AND FOLLOW THE GUIDANCE OF KING COUNTY EQUITY NOW. THE
SEATTLE POLICE DEPARTMENT THE SEASON WAS HORRIFYING. PROTESTERS HAD TO
WARN RESIDENTS TO CLOSE WINDOWS. AND DOORS. IT IS TOO LATE TO REFORM AND
WE NEED TO DEFUND AND RESTART. THANK YOU.
NEXT UP IS KAREN FOLLOWED BY BENJAMIN
MY NAME IS KAREN TAYLOR. I AM FOR AN DISABLED AND AWESOME. I THINK WE
SHOULD FUND TRANSIT AT .2%. THIS IS A REALLY GOOD EXAMPLE OF WHAT
GOVERNMENT CAN DO, WE ALL PAY IN THE LITTLE BITS AND GET SOMETHING. I
CAN'T MAKE A BUS FOR MYSELF. I NEVER WILL BE ABLE TO. I NEED THE
GOVERNMENT TO DO THAT AND I'M RELYING ON YOU ALL TO DO THAT THE BEST WAY
POSSIBLE. AND THE AWESOME PART COMES INTO PLAY BECAUSE TRANSIT ISN'T JUST
FOR WORK. IT'S FOR ME TO PARTICIPATE IN THE COMMUNITY. TO SEE MY FRIENDS
AND FAMILY. TO GO TO A PARK. IN THE COMMUNITY IS BETTER FOR US DISABLED
FOLKS. THERE IS NO REASON FOR US TO BE SHUTTERED AWAY BECAUSE WE CAN'T
AFFORD RIDESHARE OR HAVE A CAR. THANK YOU FOR YOUR TIME AND CONSIDER US
ORDINARY PEOPLE, WHAT WE HAVE TO OFFER AND HOW WE CAN THRIVE.
THANK YOU. NEXT UP IS BENJAMIN FOLLOWED BY KEVIN .
GOOD AFTERNOON I AM ALSO A BOARD MEMBER AND I CURRENTLY LIVE IN RENTING
HOUSEHOLD ON CAPITOL HILL. MY FIANC� WORKS THE HOSPITAL. I AM HERE TODAY
TO ASK THAT YOU PLEASE MINIMIZE THE CUTS TO SEATTLE TRANSIT SERVICE USING
ALL THE TOOLS AVAILABLE TO YOU TODAY. I URGE YOU TO ALLOW VOTERS TO
AUTHORIZE THE TWO TENTS SALES TAX FOR SIX YEARS BECAUSE IT WILL BE THE
BARE MINIMUM WE NEED IN OUR RECOVERY. WE ABSOLUTELY --
WE ABSOLUTELY NEED TO THINK ABOUT THOSE THAT NEED TRANSIT THE
MOST BUT WE MUST ALSO MAINTAIN A VISIONARY GOAL. THERE HAS BEEN A FEW CONCERNS
RAISED ABOUT VOTER APPROVAL. WE TRUST THOSE WILL VOTE FOR TRANSIT.
THE MEASURE IS NOT PERFECT, IT STILL A 40% CUT TO THE SPD ON
TOP OF OTHER CUTS. BUT WE NEED THAT FUNDING FOR TRANSIT SERVICE AND WE NEEDED
IN ORDER TO NOT LIVE A HARSH REALITY.
ASKED UP HIS KEVIN FOLLOWED BY ALICE.
MY NAME IS KEVIN, DISTRICT 6 RENTER PUBLIC SCHOOL EMPLOYEE. I'M GOING TO
ASK YOU TO PLEASE SUPPORT THE INTERNET FOR ALL RESOLUTION. STUDENTS WILL
LIKELY BEGIN THE SCHOOL YEAR HOME AND ANY STEPS WE CAN TAKE TOWARD
AFFORDABLE MISCIBLE INTERNET UTILITY WILL HELP EDUCATION EQUITY EVEN
AFTER SCHOOLS OPEN. I'M ASKING YOU TO SUPPORT THE 2% TAX FOR TRANSIT SO
WE DON'T HAVE TO REDUCE CRUCIAL SERVICE AND FOLLOW DECRIMINALIZE
SEATTLE'S LEAD TO REINVEST 80% OF THE SPD BUDGET.
NEXT UP IS ALICE FOLLOWED BY JASON.
I AM ALICE, 350 SEATTLE IN FAVOR OF AMENDMENT TO. THE PROPOSED 0.1%
WOODCUT 82% OF BUS TRIPS. .2% WOODCUT 40%. THAT IS DEEP ENOUGH. THERE IS
A SINGLE REASON WHY THE SEATTLE METRO AREA COMBUST THE NATIONAL TREND OF
DECREASING BUS RIDERSHIP. WE HAVE GREAT BUSES, WE DEPEND ON THOSE BUSES.
WE DEPEND ON THEM TO GET HOME LATE AT NIGHT, AND WE ARE LEFTS SAFE LESS
SAFE THE LONGER WE WAIT. WORKERS DEPEND ON THEM TO REACH JOBS WHERE THE
EMPLOYER , PEOPLE CANNOT DRIVE DEPEND ON OUR BUS SYSTEM. PEOPLE WHO LOSE
THEIR CARS IN THE COVID ECONOMY WILL COUNT ON OUR BUS SYSTEM. AND THE
PRIVILEGED FOLKS, CONVERSELY PEOPLE WHO NOW TAKE THE BUS WILL BE ABLE TO
BUY CARS TO AFFORD TO GET TO WORK. WITH PRIVILEGED WRITERS WE NEED THEM
NOT TO ABANDON THE BUS SYSTEM THAT HAS BEEN THE SINGLE RAY OF HOPE FOR
GREENHOUSE GAS MISSIONS. PLEASE VOTE FOR IT.
NEXT UP IS JASON FOLLOWED BY KENNY.
THANK YOU. MY NAME IS JASON AND I AM IN SUPPORT OF INTERNET FOR ALL AND
THE ARTISTIC DIRECTOR OF THE BUREAU PROJECT WORK WORKER WAS SEATTLE MUSIC
COMMISSION. I LIVE IN DISTRICT 2. SHOUT OUT TO COUNCILMEMBER MORALES. I
WANT TO PUT WEIGHT BEHIND HIS RESOLUTION AND WANT TO MAKE SURE EVERYONE
KNOWS CLEARLY THAT SO MANY OF OUR SMALL COMMUNITY STATIONS, NONPROFITS
HAVE BEEN CARING SO MUCH WATER FOR DIGITAL EQUITY. WE REALLY NEED THE
LOCAL GOVERNMENT SUPPORT TO PROVIDE A MASSIVE HELPING HANDEDNESS. WE WERE
ABLE TO SCRAPE TOGETHER SOME LAPTOPS FOR KIDS RECENTLY TO DO ONLINE
CLASSES BUT WE REALLY NEED THAT GAP TO BE FILLED. WE ASKED THE SEATTLE
GOVERNMENT AND MOST IMPORTANT WE THE MAYOR'S OFFICE, WHICH HASN'T
HISTORICALLY INVESTED IN THIS INFRASTRUCTURE TO INTERVENE IN ESTABLISHING
PUBLIC AND PRIVATE PARTNERSHIPS THE BRIDGES THE GAPS. WE AND THE DIGITAL
EQUITY COURT ARE PRETTY OUT A LETTER SOON AND WE HOPE YOU CAN TAKE A LOOK
AT IT.
NEXT UP IS KENNY FOLLOWED BY REN�.
THIS IS KITTY, I AM ADDRESSING THE INTERNET FOR ALL RESOLUTION. I'M A
PROFESSOR OF NONPROFIT WASHINGTON HALL. I'M A MOTHER WHO LIVES AND WORKS
, A COHORT MEMBER OF THE WORKGROUP AND SIT ON THE CITY OF SEATTLE'S
COMMISSION. I SUPPORT COUNCILMEMBER PEDERSEN'S RESOLUTION. AFFORDABLE
INTERNET AND THAT IS A PROBLEM AND HAS BEEN A PROBLEM. HAVE DONE ENOUGH
SURVEYS AND REPORTS. WE KNOW THE PROBLEMS AND WE KNOW THE INEQUITIES. NOW
IT'S TIME FOR US TO DO THE WORK. WE NEED INTERNET FOR ALL. PLEASE ADOPT
THIS RESOLUTION. THANK YOU.
NEXT UP IS REN�E. FOLLOWED BY CHARLES. >> I AM THE CURRENT VICE CHAIR OF
THE COMMUNITY TECHNOLOGY ADVISORY BOARD. MY NAME IS REN�E. I LIKE TO
REGISTER MY SUPPORT FOR THE INTERNET FOR ALL SOLUTION. OUR BOARD HAS
TAKEN A LOT OF CARE TO KEEP PULSE ON THE LATEST PROGRESS THE CITY
THINKING IN RESPONDING TO THE COVID CRISIS. WE'VE SEEN THE WORK FROM THE
SEATTLE PUBLIC SCHOOLS AND PUBLIC LIBRARY THEY ARE EMBARKING ON TO
INCREASE INTERNET ACCESS. WE HAD THEM COME SPEAK AT OUR MEETING. IS CLEAR
THIS PROBLEM NEEDS TO BE ADDRESSED AT THE LARGEST SCALE. LOOKING FORWARD
TO PARTNERING WITH CITY COUNCIL IN WAYS TO PROVIDE THIS PROCESS. FOR
EXAMPLE OUR DIGITAL EQUITY COMMITTEE IS ALREADY DEVELOPING A ROBUST BODY
OF WORK ON TELEMEDICINE WITH SPECIFIC FOCUS ON THE ELDERLY WHICH FALLS AT
AN INTERSECTION OF INCREASED MEDICAL NEED AND LIMITED USE OF ACCESS TO
ONLINE TOOLS. ALSO TO PROVIDE A SOLUTION TO THOSE IN SEATTLE WHO
EXPERIENCE HOMELESSNESS WHO FOLLOWED THE INTERSECTION OF INCREASED NEEDS
BUT LACK OF ACCESS. IN SHORT WE ARE EXCITED THAT THE CITY IS COMMITTING
TO FINDING A SOLUTION WE WOULD LIKE TO HEAR MORE DETAILS BUT
IMPLEMENTATION ALONG THE WAY. THANK YOU.
NEXT UP IS CHARLES FOLLOWED BY CORGI.
THANK YOU FOR THE OPPORTUNITY TO SPEAK. I AM A MEMBER OF SEATTLE'S SUBWAY
AS WELL AS A RESIDENT OF PINEHURST IN DISTRICT 5. TESTIFYING IN SUPPORT
OF AMENDMENT ONE AND TWO. MY CURRENT BUS ROUTE 77 IS ALL BUT SET TO BE
ELIMINATED REQUIRING AN EXTRA 30 MINUTES ROUND TRIP TO WALK MY JOB
DOWNTOWN. THIS EXTRA LOSS TIME WILL BE AMPLIFIED BY LESS FREQUENT BUS
NETWORK IF WE DON'T FUND IT TRANSIT AS MUCH AS WE CAN. WAITING 30 MINUTES
DURING THE RUSH HOUR FOR BUS TO SHOW UP WAS A CURRENT SITUATION PRE-
COVID. HOW ANYONE CAN USE THEM WHEN THEY'RE CUT 80%. I YIELD THE
REMAINDER OF MY TIME.
NEXT UP IS CORGI FOLLOWED BY DEVON. >> HELLO. I AM SPEAKING IN SUPPORT OF
THE INTERNET FOR ALL RESOLUTION. I CHAIR THE CITY OF SEATTLE COMMUNITY
TECHNOLOGY BOARD ALONG WITH OUR VICE CHAIR YOU JUST HEARD FROM. AND
APSLEY CRITICAL INTERNET FOR ALL RESOLUTION HAS BEEN INTRODUCED. NEARLY
15,000 ROTAVIRUS CASES IN KING COUNTY, WE NEED TO STAY HOME AND STAY
HEALTHY AND IT'S NEVER BEEN STRONGER. STAYING HOME SAVES LIVES. DURING
OUR MEETINGS WE HAVE HEARD ONE ISSUING , HOW DO WE MAKE SURE OUR KIDS CAN
KEEP LEARNING? THIS PANDEMIC ISN'T GOING AWAY ANYTIME SOON. ONLINE
LEARNING IS THE NEW NORMAL. THE DATA COMMITMENT TO UNIVERSAL INTERNET
ACCESS WITH CHILDREN WHO WERE DISENFRANCHISED WILL PUSH THEM OVER THEIR
PEERS. WE HAVE AN OPPORTUNITY TO JOIN NEW YORK AND CHICAGO AS LEADERS.
THANK YOU FOR YOUR TIME.
NEXT UP IS DEVON FOLLOWED BY GRACE.
THIS IS DEVON FROM UPGRADE SEATTLE CALLING FOR MY SUPPORT TO THE INTERNET
FOR ALL RESOLUTION. THE ACTION ITEMS THAT SUPPORT BROADBAND, I LIKE MANY
OF YOU EARLY ON SOCIAL DISTANCING REALLY MISSING BEING THERE. BUT I AM
RELIANT ON INTERNET INFRASTRUCTURE TO CONNECT AND BE SO VAGUELY ENGAGED
INTO WORK. I CAN'T IMAGINE WHAT LIFE WOULD BE LIKE IF I DIDN'T HAVE A
ROBUST INTERNET ACCESS. FORTUNATELY THERE ARE PLENTY OF PEOPLE IN OUR
COMMUNITY , UNFORTUNATELY THERE PLENTY OF PEOPLE WHO DON'T. A LOT OF US
ARE UNDERSERVED EVEN IF WE ARE NOT THE MOST MARGINALIZED. THE MOST
MARGINALIZED OF COURSE THE MOST UNDERSERVED. THE INTERNET FOR ALL
RESOLUTION IS A VERY STRONG STEPS. I SPECIFICALLY LIKE THE PLUG FOR THE
PLAN TAKING ADVANTAGE OF FEDERAL STIMULUS MONEY COME NOVEMBER. THANK YOU
FOR YOUR TIME.
NEXT UP .
GOOD AFTERNOON MY NAME IS GRACE , I'M CALLING THIS AFTERNOON FOR MY
SUPPORT FOR THE INTERNET FOR ALL SEATTLE RESOLUTION. I AM A PATRON AND
SUPPORTER OF THE SEATTLE PUBLIC LIBRARY AND A SERVING MEMBER OF THE BOARD
OF SEATTLE LIBRARY FOUNDATION. I LIVE IN DISTRICT 4. THE SEATTLE PUBLIC
LIBRARY AND ITS BRANCHES THREAT THE CITY HAVE BEEN A PRIMARY PROVIDER OF
INTERNET ACCESS TO THOSE CITIZENS WHO CANNOT AFFORD IT OTHERWISE. COVID-
19 HAS CLOSED PUBLIC LIBRARIES AND SCHOOLS AS WELL. THE PLACES WHERE
PUBLIC INTERNET ACCESS FOR CITIZENS WHO SEEK INFORMATION FOR EDUCATION,
HOUSING AND JOBS. THESE CLOSURES HAVE EXACERBATED THE DISCREPANCIES
BETWEEN THOSE WITH ACCESS TO THE INTERNET AND THOSE WHO DO NOT. SO, AS A
CITY DETERMINES THE BEST WAY TO BRIDGE THIS PUBLIC ACCESS GET TO THE
INTERNET, THE LIBRARY, FOUNDATION AND RESOURCES TO HELP ADDRESS AND
PRIORITIZE THE IMPORTANT COMMUNITY NEED IN LIFE LIED , INFORMATION
OPPORTUNITY. THANK YOU.
THANK YOU. NEXT UP IS DEREK FOLLOWED BY LINDEN.
HEY THERE EVERYONE, THIS IS DEREK FROM THE COMMUNITY DEVELOPMENT
NONPROFIT IN INTERNATIONAL DISTRICT. I AM CALLING IN TODAY ON THE SEATTLE
TRANSIT BENEFITS DISTRICT TO EXPRESS OUR SUPPORT FOR THE .2% TAX. WE JUST
THINK IT'S UNACCEPTABLE TO HAVE AN 82% SERVICE CUT . THAT WILL
DISPROPORTIONATELY HARM LOWER INCOME ESSENTIAL WORKER FAMILIES. MANY OF
THEM LIVE IN THE AREA THAT WE SERVE SUCH AS THE INTERNATIONAL DISTRICT.
SO WE THINK THIS TAX IS NEEDED TO PRESERVE AS MUCH SERVICE AS POSSIBLE
ESPECIALLY FOR NUMBER SEVEN AND 36 AND 106. AND OTHER ROUTES THAT SERVE
PRIMARILY LOW-INCOME AREAS. THANK YOU FOR YOUR TIME.
NEXT UP IS LINDEN . AND THEN COLLEAGUES, BEFORE WE HEAR FROM LINDEN, WE
HAVE REACHED THE FIRST 20 MINUTES A PUBLIC COMMENT. I'M GOING TO GO AHEAD
AND EXTEND US TO 3:00, THAT'S AN ADDITIONAL , WE WILL GO CLOSE TO AN HOUR
, AT THE END OF THE DAY I'M GOING TO ASK THAT OUR TECH DEPARTMENT, AFTER
THIS SPEAKER REDUCE THE TIME TO 45 SECONDS SO WE CAN HEAR FROM MORE
FOLKS. THIS WILL BE OUR LAST SPEAKER AT ONE MINUTE AND THE REST OF THE
FOLKS WILL BE AT 45 SECONDS. NEXT UP IS LINDEN AND THEN WE WILL HEAR FROM
MICHELLE. >> I NAME IS LINDEN I AM A DISTRICT 6 RESIDENT AND I AM CALLING
IN SUPPORT OF PROPOSED AMENDMENT TWO TO RAISE THE SALES TAX FUNDING FOR
SPD 2.2%. I RELY HEAVILY ON THE BUS ROUTES WHICH WOULD BE DROPPED
DRASTICALLY CUT WITHOUT THIS AMENDED. RESERVING TRANSIT SERVICE IS
KEEPING OUR SUCCESSFUL TOOL RESIDENCE. A ROBUST AND RELIABLE TRANSIT
NETWORK IS GOING TO BENEFIT ALL CITY RESIDENTS INCLUDING THOSE WHO DON'T
USE IT BY REDUCING TRAFFIC AND HARMFUL EMISSIONS. PLEASE INCREASE THE
SALES TAX FUNDING TO 0.2% THE MAXIMUM ALLOWED. THANK YOU FOR YOUR TIME.
WE ARE NOW GOING TO 45 SECONDS. THERE IS NO OBJECTION TO EXTENDING PUBLIC
COMMENT UNTIL 3:00. NEXT UP WE HEAR FROM MICHELLE AND THEN SABRINA.
I MAY FOURTH DISTRICT RESIDENT. I'M CALLING TO DISCUSS RESOLUTION 31596
TO IMPLEMENT INTERNET FOR ALL SEATTLE. THIS PROJECT SHOULD BE SUPPORTED
BY CITY COUNCIL. THE COUNCIL SHOULD SEEK LOCAL AND REGIONAL PARTNERS TO
ENSURE ITS SUCCESS. CONSIDER LEVERAGING EXPERTISE FROM THE SEATTLE
LIBRARY WHICH IS ALWAYS BEEN ESSENTIAL, LIBRARY IS A TRUSTED COMMUNITY
RESOURCE FOR STUDENTS, WORKERS. THANK YOU FOR YOUR SUPPORT OF INTERNET
FOR ALL AND CONSIDERING LABOR IS A NATURAL PARTNER.
NEXT UP IS SABRINA. FOLLOWED BY SHAUNA. >> SABRINA?
THAT WOULD BE ME UNMUTE.
GO AHEAD. >> I AM HERE IN SUPPORT OF THE INTERNET FOR ALL RESOLUTION. I
AM THE PROGRAM DIRECTOR FOR THE NATIONAL INCLUSION ALLIANCE AND A MEMBER
OF THE SEATTLE COMMISSION GROUP. AND THE WASHINGTON STATE INFORMAL
INTERNET ACCESS CRISIS TEAM. IN 2015 I INITIATED UPGRADE SEATTLE , A
CAMPAIGN FOR MUNICIPAL BROADBAND EQUITY . IN THE YEARS SINCE I HAVE
BECOME MUCH MORE FOCUSED ON AFFORDABILITY AND SUPPORT FOR DIGITAL
LEARNERS. IT'S GOING TO TAKE A MULTIPRONGED EFFORT TO GET MORE
SEATTLEITES ONLINE. I THINK THIS RESOLUTION WILL HELP FOCUS THE EFFORT.
THANK YOU.
NEXT UP IS SHAUNA FOLLOWED BY VIC. >> I'M CALLING ON BEHALF OF THE
SERVICE BASED IN THE MAPMAKER NEIGHBORHOOD. I'M CALLING FOR SUPPORT OF
STBD AS WELL AS THE .2%. WELL IT DISPROPORTIONATELY BURDENS DISEASE OF
COLOR LOSING 70% WOULD BE DEVASTATING. IS AN AGENCY THAT SERVES REFUGEES
IN SOUTH SEATTLE AND OUTSIDE THE CITY, WE CONSIDER CLIENTS AND COMMUNITY
MEMBERS RELIANT ON AFFORDABLE TRANSIT. WE SUPPORT AMENDMENT TO AND ENSURE
THE REVENUE TAX PRIORITIZES SERVICE HOURS ON THE SOUTH END. THANK YOU.
NEXT UP IS A VIC FOLLOWED BY CURTIS .
HELLO. THIS IS VIC. SORRY. I AM CALLING ON BEHALF OF OF AN ORGANIZATION
THAT SUPPORTS SURVIVORS OF GENDER-BASED VIOLENCE. I'M THE YOUTH ORGANIZER
AND WE WOULD LIKE TO PROVIDE SUPPORT MUNICIPAL BROADBAND. THE ONLY REGRET
IS IT TOOK SO LONG FOR THIS TO HAPPEN, WE ARE THANKFUL TO COUNCIL MEMBERS
FOR PUTTING THIS FORWARD. WE ARE LOOKING AT YOUTH AND PEOPLE WERE
STRUGGLING TO REPORT ABUSE TO STAY CONNECTED TO FRIENDS , WE KNOW THAT
ISOLATION LEADS TO ABUSE. WE ALSO KNOW THERE ARE MANY YOUTH ORIENTED
ORGANIZATIONS THAT USUALLY GIVE SERVICES BUT ARE SCRABBLING TO REACH
YOUTH WHO EITHER DON'T HAVE INTERNET OR CAN'T AFFORD DEVICES. THIS
INTERNET IS AN IMPORTANT WAY TO INCREASE ACCESS TO RESOURCES.
ADDITIONALLY WE ARE IN SUPPORT OF DECRIMINALIZING SEATTLE'S PROPOSAL, WE
SUPPORT COUNCIL MEMBERS --
NEXT UP IS CURTIS FOLLOWED BY LOGAN.
GOOD AFTERNOON. AND CURTIS, ASSISTANT PROFESSOR OF COMPUTER SCIENCE AT
THE UNIVERSITY OF WASHINGTON. DISTRICT 4. I'M CALLING FOR THE INTERNET
FOR ALL RESOLUTION. MY OWN WORK FOCUSES ON INTERNET ACCESS THROUGHOUT THE
WORLD AND COVID HAS MADE THE EXISTENCE OF THE SOLUTIONS , CL SHOULD BE A
LEADER GIVEN OUR CONNECTIVITY EFFORT. I URGE US TO BE MOVED ON AND
PERSONALLY INVOLVED IN THE FUTURE. THANK YOU.
NEXT UP IS LOGAN FOLLOWED BY DANIEL.
GOOD AFTERNOON. MY NAME IS LOGAN AND I AM DISTRICT 3. I'M SPEAKING TODAY
AND ASKING YOU TO ADOPT THE PROPOSED AMENDMENT TO HAVE THE SALES TAX
COMPONENT .20%. WE CAN'T MEET IT WITH AN AUSTERITY BUDGET. WE ARE
DROPPING THE $60 CAR TAX. HOUSEHOLD SPENDS $3000 IN TAX BEFORE THEY PAY
MORE UNDER A ZERO POINT 2% TAX. ALMOST EVERYONE EXCEPT A FEW ULTRA
WEALTHY FAMILIES COME OUT AHEAD. WHY ON EARTH WOULD WE IN EFFECT CUT
RESERVICE IN IT SESSION RECESSIONS OF THE WEALTHY CAN GET A TAX CUT?
THANK YOU SO MUCH.
NEXT UP IS DANIEL FOLLOWED BY JEREMY. >> I AM DANIEL FROM DISTRICT 6. AM
CALLING IN SUPPORT OF INCREASING THE TRANSPORTATION BENEFIT DISTRICT
SALES TAX TO .0%. RAPID LINE HAS BEEN DELAYED WHICH IS NOT ACCEPTABLE FOR
AN EQUITY FOR CITY. 0.1 OR 0.15% TAX ARE NOT ADEQUATE FOR US TO REACH OUR
GOALS OF THE CITY. I ALSO SUPPORT EXTENDING THE BENEFIT DISTRICT LENGTH
TO SIX YEARS RATHER THAN THREE, ESPECIALLY SINCE WE NOW KNOW THE COUNCIL
HAS THE POWER TO DECREASE THE SALES TAX AND INCREASE EXISTING VEHICLE
LICENSE FEES WITHOUT VOTER APPROVAL SHOULD GET STRUCK DOWN. THANK YOU.
NEXT UP IS JEREMY FOLLOWED BY SARAH. >> GOOD AFTERNOON, MY NAME IS
JEREMY. I COME BEFORE YOU ON BEHALF OF THE SEATTLE KING COUNTY BUS
DRIVERS. WE SUPPORT THE RENEWAL OF THE SEATTLE TRANSPORTATION BENEFIT
DISTRICT. THE TAX FUNDING IS NO EASY MATTER AND YET EVEN IN A PANDEMIC
PEOPLE NEED TO GET TO WORK , GO TO THE DOCTOR, GO TO THE STORE, AND OUR
DRIVERS HAVE CONSISTENTLY SHOWN UP TO MOVE SEATTLE AROUND. TRANSIT HAS
BEEN IN THE MIX, FOR SOME REASONS IT'S NOT ONLY THE SMART CHOICE BUT A
SOUND CHOICE. METRO HAS BECOME A NATIONAL EXAMPLE OF THE TRANSIT WE HOPE
TO BRING IT THERE. THANK YOU.
THANK YOU FOR CALLING IN. NEXT UP IS SARAH FOLLOWED BY ALEX. >> MY NAME
IS SARAH AND I'M A MEMBER OF THE TRANSIT RIDERS YOU NEED. INCREASING THE
SALES TAX 2.2% AS PROPOSED BY COUNCILMEMBER MORALES. THE BENEFIT OF
INCREASING TRANSIT SERVICE OUTWEIGHS THE TAX. IT'S LESS THAN A PERSON
WOULD NEED TO SPEND ON A SINGLE OVERRIDE . PEOPLE WILL BE HIT HARDEST BY
THE LOSS OF TRANSIT SERVICE FOR THOSE WHO NEED IT MOST DURING THE PUBLIC
HEALTH CRISIS. PEOPLE WHO CAN'T AFFORD THE LUXURY OF A PERSONAL VEHICLE.
IF THE CITY COUNCIL TRULY CARES ABOUT LIFE OF SEATTLEITES WHO RELY ON
TRANSIT THEY MUST FUND IT.
THANK YOU. NEXT UP IS ALEX FOLLOWED BY KAREN .
I AM ALEX HUDSON. EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR OF TRANSPORTATION CHOICE COALITION
IN SUPPORT OF COUNCIL 11 9833. RENEWAL OF THE STBD IS NECESSARY TO ENSURE
PEOPLE HAVE WITH A NEED FOR THE LIFELINE INFRASTRUCTURE. THIS GOAL
ARTICLE HAS BEEN TWOFOLD. ENSURE THAT STBD INVEST IN ADEQUATE LEVELS OF
SERVICE AND INCREASE THE POLICY THAT WILL MITIGATE RISK FOR THE MEASURE
IN NOVEMBER. IT'S CLEAR THAT STAKEHOLDERS FROM ACROSS THE COMMUNITY
SHERRY TRANSIT THAT CENTER ON THE NEED TO COUNT ON TRANSIT. IT WILL
UNDOUBTEDLY BRING MORE REVENUE AND I URGE YOU TO SUPPORT ALTERNATIVE RATE
OPTIONS THAT MITIGATE THE RISK IN THE NEXT PHASE.
THANK YOU FOR CALLING IN. NEXT UP IS KAREN FOLLOWED BY ROBERT.
THIS IS KAREN . I LIVE IN SEATTLE DISTRICT 3 AND I'M CALLING TO SUPPORT
INTERNET FOR ALL. AS A MEMBER OF UPGRADE SEATTLE I HAVE BEEN IN FRONT OF
THIS COUNCIL FOR YEARS TALKING ABOUT THE SAME. I'M A LITTLE TIRED OF
DOING IT NOW. THERE ARE TWO WORDS IN THIS RESOLUTION THE GIVE ME HOPE.
AND THAT IS PASSION PLAN. THE CITY OF SEATTLE NEEDS TO ACT ON MUNICIPAL
BROADBAND AND BRING INTERNET TO EVERYONE. I THINK WE ALL REALIZE WE HAVE
BEEN UP AGAINST WITH COVID-19. AND THERE IS NO BETTER REASON TO DO IT
THAN WHAT WE ARE LIVING THROUGH NOW. THANK YOU, FOR MY SUPPORT.
THANK YOU FOR CALLING IN. NEXT UP IS ROBERT AND THEN WE WILL HEAR FROM
JOE.
MY NAME IS ROBERT, DISTRICT 6 RESIDENT, SIERRA CLUB. I URGE YOU TO PASS
THE AMENDMENT FOR THE STBD PROPOSAL TO RAISE THE SALES TAX BY .2%. THERE
AREN'T VERY MANY VOTERS OUT THERE WHO GO FOR 0.1 BUT 0.15 BUT WOULD
SOMEHOW PUT DOWN 0.2. THERE ARE MANY VOTERS WHO HAVE PROVEN THEY WILL
VOTE FOR TRANSIT AND WILL DO SO AGAIN DURING THE CRISIS. WE ALSO CAN'T
RELY ON A REGIONAL SOLUTION. SIX YEARS AGO COUNTYWIDE TRANSIT, I WORKED
WITH TRANSIT ACTIVISTS TO PROPOSE SEATTLE ONLY MEASURE TO SEATTLE CITY
OFFICIALS. WE HAVE TO TAKE CARE OF OURSELVES FIRST. FINALLY PLEASE PASS
THE BROADBAND RESOLUTION.
NEXT UP IS JOE. AND OUR LAST SPEAKER IN THE PUBLIC COMMENT PERIOD IS
CALLING. CHOLINE. >> AND MY BEING HEARD?
YES WE CAN HEAR YOUR.
EXCELLENT. THANK YOU EVERYONE. MY NAME IS JOE, I AM THE DIRECTOR AT
SEATTLE SUBWAY AND I AM URGING YOU TO SUPPORT A POINT TO DISTRICT UNDER A
.1 PLAN I'M CONCERNED BUS SERVICE WILL BECOME UNUSABLE WITHIN FREQUENCY
OF SERVICE COMPOUNDING WITH SOCIAL DISTANCING MEASURES FOR CAPACITY. IN
SUPPORT OF .2, I DO ASK THE COUNCIL TO CONSIDER THE REGRESSIVE TAXATION
IS NOT THE SAME THING IS REGRESSIVE OUTCOME. WERE .2 CAN ACTUALLY CONTAIN
LEVEL OF TRANSIT SERVICE QUALITY THAT YIELDS A NET PROGRESSIVE LIVING
CONDITION FOR PEOPLE WERE .1 CANNOT. WE DEFEATED INITIATIVE 3-1, WE DO
NEED ENOUGH BUS SERVICE HOURS TO AVOID THE TRANSIT DEATH SPIRAL WHERE
LARGE CUTS WILL CREATE A NEGATIVE FEEDBACK LOOP OF DRAMATICALLY FURTHER
REDUCTION LOSS.
LAST UP IS CHOLINE.
THAT AFTERNOON. THANK YOU COUNCILMEMBER PEDERSEN FOR BRINGING , AND
OTHERS FOR BRINGING INTERNET FOR ALL TO COUNCIL. RELIANCE ON INTERNET
ACCESS FOR HEALTHCARE AND ACTIVITY FOR ALL POPULATIONS IS SO NEEDED IN
TODAY'S WORLD, AS MUCH AS ELECTRICITY ITSELF. 20 YEARS AGO WHEN IT WAS
INTRODUCED TO SCHOOLS IN THE RAINIER VALLEY THE PARENTS GOT TO USE THE
COMPUTERS AT SCHOOL AT NIGHT SO THE WHOLE FAMILY BENEFITED. INTERNET FOR
ALL WILL IN PROVIDE ACCESS TO LIBRARIES . WE SUPPORT ALL ACTION PLANS
WHICH DETAILS UNIVERSAL BROADBAND INTERNET SERVICE FOR ALL CITY RESIDENTS
AS A MATTER OF EQUITY. THANK YOU SO MUCH.
THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR CALLING IN TODAY. THAT DOES CONCLUDE OUR FIRST
PUBLIC COMMENT PERIOD ON TODAY'S FINAL ACTION. I'M GOING TO GO AHEAD AND
CLOSE OUT THE PUBLIC COMMENT PERIOD AND WE ARE GOING TO HEAR COMMENTS
RELATED ON THE 2020 WORK PROGRAM PART TWO. IF THERE IS NO OBJECTION THE
PUBLIC COMMENT PERIOD WILL BE EXTENDED UNTIL 3:15 PM WHICH ALLOWS
APPROXIMATELY 20 MINUTES . HEARING NO OBJECTION THE TIME WILL BE EXTENDED
TO APPROXIMATELY 3:15 PM AND WE WILL GO AHEAD AND COMMENCE THE SECOND
PUBLIC COMMENT . WE WILL BE ACCEPTING COMMENTS FOR 20 MINUTES. I ASK THAT
EACH SPEAKER BE GIVEN, GIVE THEIR NAME AND TELL US WHAT THEY'RE CALLING
ABOUT TODAY AND WE WILL OPEN UP THAT PUBLIC COMMENT PERIOD NOW. FIRST UP
IS RICHIE .
THANK YOU. I AM A SUPPORTER AND VOLUNTEER WITH THE COALITION OF SEATTLE
INDIAN AMERICANS AS WELL AS SMALL BUSINESS LICENSE IN SEATTLE. I FOLLOW
THE LEADERSHIP OF KING COUNTY AND CRIMINALIZING SEATTLE. COUNCIL MEMBERS,
WE HAVE SEEN THE COMMITMENT BY DURKAN CONTINUE TO RING HOLLOW. CALLING
SATURDAY CITIZEN PROTESTS RIOTS ACCUSED BY POLICE TO CALL THE VOICE OF
THE PEOPLE TO USE BRUTE VOICE. WHY AREN'T WE TAKING A STRONGER STAND LIKE
PHILADELPHIA? THE ANSWER IS SIMPLE. THE FIRE CHIEF . IMPEACH MAYOR
DURKAN. >> GOOD AFTERNOON EMMA VOLUNTEER WITH A COALITION OF SEATTLE AND
WE FOLLOW THE LEAD OF KING COUNTY IN THE CRIMINALIZING SEATTLE. I CALL
UPON THE COUNCIL REPEATEDLY TO DEFUND THE MILITANT TERRORIST GROUP CALLED
THE SEATTLE PARIS POLICE DEPARTMENT. STARTING WITH MAYOR DURKAN AND THE
CHIEF. THE PAST TWO MONTHS HAVE SHOWN THE SPD ROUTINELY TERRORIZES THE
VERY PEOPLE IT SHOULD PROTECT. USING TEAR GAS, HIDING BADGES, TURNING OFF
BODY CAMERAS, DETAINING PEOPLE WITHOUT CAUSE, THE LIST OF BRUTAL
ATROCITIES IS ENDLESS. AT THIS POINT WE ARE REPEATING THIS LIKE A BROKEN
RECORD. WHAT IS THE COUNCIL WAITING FOR TO ENSURE THE SAFETY OF ITS OWN
PEOPLE? FIRE MAYOR DURKAN. DROP CHARGES ON ALL PROTESTERS.
NEXT UP IS THOMAS . I'M A RESIDENT OF WEST SEATTLE . I WAS INJURED
IN SATURDAY'S PROTEST. I DECIDED TO BE ON THE
LINE FACING POLICE OFFICERS FOR THE FIRST TIME BECAUSE OF THE JUDGE'S
RULING ALLOWING USE OF DEVICES AND USE CASES. I SAW INDISCRIMINATE USE OF
CROWD CONTROL DEVICES. AGAINST THE CROWD , EXPLODING ABOVE HEAD, A WOMAN
BEING MACED IN THE FACE FOR NOTHING OTHER THAN HOLDING A SIGN. AND HAD
TWO INCHES OF SKIN REMOVED FROM MY THIGH THROUGH MY JEANS FOR SOMETHING
THAT EXPLODED BEHIND ME FOR STANDING IN THE FRONT. THE POLICE OFFICERS
ARE WORKING THE LAW. NEED TO TAKE ANOTHER TACTIC AND GET RID OF MAYOR DURKAN
AND SHOW THERE IS ACCOUNTABILITY.
NEXT UP HUSSEIN FOLLOWED BY HOWARD. >> TO WE HAVE HUSSEIN?
HUSSEIN IS ON THE LINE, YES.
HUSSEIN? IT LOOKS LIKE WE MIGHT HAVE TECHNICAL DIFFICULTIES. WE WILL COME
BACK TO US ON IF HE IS AVAILABLE AGAIN. LET'S GO AHEAD AND MOVE OVER TO
HOWARD.
THIS IS HOWARD FROM DISTRICT 7. ON JUNE 15 COUNCIL BAND A VARIETY OF
POLICE CONTROL WEAPONS. AS WITH THE DISCUSSION ON DEFUNDING THE POLICE,
COUNCIL LEGISLATION AND UP WITH FOLKS STILL GETTING ABUSED BUT BY NOW
USING FEWER WEAPONS. THE BEATINGS WILL CONTINUE UNTIL POLICY IMPROVES.
HERE ARE A FRUIT IF YOU TO ENACT. CREATE DISTINCT POLICIES FOR THE
POLICING OF ACTIVITIES AS OPPOSED TO GENERALIZED POLICIES. MOST IMPORTANT
INHIBIT THE USE OF CROWD CONTROL DEVICES THAT CANNOT BE TRACED BACK TO
INDIVIDUAL OFFICERS. MAKE PLEASE USE A --
THANK YOU. NEXT UP IS MEGAN FOLLOWED BY WIN. >> OKAY. CAN YOU HEAR ME
NOW?
WE CAN HEAR YOUR. GO AHEAD.
THAT AFTERNOON I AM MEGAN CALLING REGARDING CITY COUNCIL MAJORITY PLEDGED
TO CUT BUDGET BY -- THERE WAS $180.6 MILLION LEFT IN SPD BUDGET. $94.3
MILLION, IN THE NEXT TWO WEEKS COUNCIL WILL VOTE ON A REBALANCED 2020
BUDGET. CITY COUNCIL CAN PUT THEIR PLEDGE INTO ACTION BY VOTING TO FIRST
ELIMINATE SPD FUNCTIONS SUCH AS NAVIGATION, EXCESSIVE VIOLENCE , TRANSFER
FUNCTIONS OF 911 DISPATCH OUT OF POLICE CONTROL AND SPD BUDGET. REDUCE
SPD BUDGET ACROSS THE BOARD. A CORRECTION AFTER A 60% BUDGET FLOAT AND IN
PLACE FUN COMMUNITY INVESTMENTS INSTEAD. THANK YOU FOR YOUR TIME.
NEXT UP IS WIN FOLLOWED BY STEPHANIE.
GOOD AFTERNOON. MY NAME IS WIN. I LIVE IN BEACON HILL. I'M AN ARTIST AND
EDUCATOR AND I SUPPORT THE PROPOSAL TO DEFUND SPD BY 50% AND TO DIRECT
THOSE FUNDS TOWARD COMMUNITY BASED SOLUTIONS OUTLINED BY DECRIMINALIZE
SEATTLE. I BELIEVE THE VOTE TO DEFUND SPD IS ABOUT ABOUT QUALITY AND
COMMUNITY. WHEN I HEARD THE PRESENTATION BY DEFUND SEATTLE I CAME AWAY
WITH AN UNDERSTANDING THAT THE ALTERNATIVE STRUCTURES WE NEED TO TRULY
SUPPORT SEATTLE'S COMMUNITY'S ARE ALREADY HERE. I BELIEVE IN THE
PRACTICALITY AND POSSIBILITY OF THEIR PROPOSAL. KNOWLEDGE, STRUCTURES,
RELATIONSHIPS ARE ALREADY IN PLACE. TO START AND SCALE UP CITYWIDE
TRANSFORMATION. IT'S TIME AS A CITY TO START LIVING WHAT WE IMAGINE
FREEDOM, EQUITY AND CARE TO LOOK LIKE. THANK YOU.
NEXT UP IS STEPHANIE FOX FOLLOWED BY JOANNA.
MY NAME IS STEPHANIE FOX, I AM A RESIDENT OF BEACON HILL AND EXECUTIVE
DIRECTOR OF JEWISH I AM CALLING TO REINVEST THE COMMUNITY. I BELIEVE IT'S
NECESSARY BECAUSE I DON'T WANT MY TWO- YEAR-OLD CHILD TO GROW UP IN A
CITY WHERE PEOPLE AND INDIGENOUS PEOPLE AND TRANS PEOPLE AND PROTESTERS
ARE BRUTALIZED AND KILLED AND THAT'S WHAT WE CALL SAFETY. BUDGETS ARE
MORAL DOCUMENTS AND THEY DO A SYSTEM AND BUDGET INVESTED IN VIOLENCE AND
CONTROL WILL DO ONLY THAT. SAFETY AND HEALTH WILL FLOURISH WHEN WE
INVESTED OUR COMMUNITY. PLEASE REINVESTING COMMUNITY BASED SOLUTIONS FOR
HEALTH AND SAFETY BY VOTING TO ELIMINATE AND TRANSFER SPD FUNCTIONS BY
ACROSS THE BOARD.
NEXT UP IS JOANNA FOLLOWED BY LEAH.
THIS IS JOANNA, A CONSTITUENT DISTRICT 7. I'M CALLING ON ALL COUNCIL
MEMBERS TO DEFUND THE POLICE BY 50%. MOREOVER WE NEED TO DIRECT THE FUNDS
TOWARDS BLACK AND BROWN COMMITTEES. I NEED YOU TO MEET OUR ADDITIONAL
DEMANDS AS WELL, ALL PROTESTERS INCLUDING THE 45 ARRESTED SATURDAY,
RECALL MAYOR DURKAN LITERALLY GOT THE CROWD CONTROL WEAPON OVERTURNED. A
LEGAL [INDISCERNIBLE] WAS MACED BY A COP. ADDITIONALLY I WOULD LIKE YOU
TO INCLUDE THE THE ORGANIZERS AND BUDGET MEETINGS SINCE WE ARE THE ONES
PUTTING ALL THE WORK, THE CRIMINAL I SEATTLE. I YIELD MY TIME.
NEXT UP IS LEAH FOLLOWED BY DEREK.
HELLO MY NAME IS LEAH. I'M A RESIDENT OF DISTRICT 5. FIRST TIME CALLING
IN SUPPORT OF THE FUNDING FOR 119833 IN SUPPORT OF 31 960. TRANSIT
INFORMATION ACT IS A VITAL INVESTMENT FOR A COUPLE CITY. AFFORDABLE
BROADBAND INTERNET ESPECIALLY CANNOT COME TOO SOON AND THE CURRENT
EPIDEMIC CRISIS HAS MADE IT CLEAR HOW INTERNET IS NECESSARY AND OVERDUE.
X THIS IS IMPORTANT BUT NOT SUFFICIENT TO MEET THIS NEED. SECOND WANT TO
ADDRESS DEPARTMENT OF THE SEATTLE COMMISSION, HER FOCUS ON BIKE SOLUTIONS
, WANTS TO STRESS EQUAL CONSIDERATION FOR VARIABILITY AND FOR WHOM
WALKING AND BIKING IS NOT AN OPTION. TRANSIT PLANNING NEEDS TO WORK FOR
EVERYONE.
THANK YOU FOR CALLING HIM. I APOLOGIZE, MY APOLOGIES FOR FILTERING YOU
INTO THE SECOND PUBLIC COMMENT. IT LOOKS LIKE YOU SHOULD'VE BEEN IN THE
FIRST PHASE. WE WILL TRY TO GET IT RIGHT NEXT TIME. NEXT UP IS DEREK
FOLLOWED BY HUSSEIN. >> I AM A RENTER, I'M CALLING TODAY TO URGE YOU ALL
, SORRY. I'M A RENTER IN DISTRICT 6. I URGE YOU TO USE THE FULL EXTENT OF
YOUR POSITIONS AS CITY COUNCILMEMBERS TO DEFUND SPD BY 50%. INVESTED
BLACK COMMUNITY'S FREE ALL PROTESTERS. IT'S OBVIOUS THEY WILL BE
OBSTACLES LIKE JENNY DURKAN SO I'M CALLING ON YOU ALL TO STAND UP AND
FACES OBSTACLES RATHER THAN USING THEM AS AN EXCUSE. IF JENNY DURKAN IS
BLOCKING THESE DEMANDS, REMOVE HER FROM OFFICE FOR ALLOWING SPD FOR
FLAGRANTLY ABUSING THE CITY. GO AFTER THEM FOR EVERY SINGLE TIME THEY
COME BY UPRISING. IF THAT DOESN'T WORK FIND ANOTHER WAY, THAT IS WHY YOU
ARE ELECTED TO STAND UP.
NEXT UP IS HUSSEIN FOLLOWED BY GABBY
HELLO MY NAME IS HUSSEIN. AM CALLING , WE ARE SEEING MAYOR DURKIN ABOUT
POLICE FATALITY, IT CONTINUES TO RING HOLLOW. CALLING SATURDAY'S CITIZEN
PROTEST RIOTS WAS AN EXCUSE BY THE POLICE TO QUELL THE VOICE OF THE
PEOPLE BY USING BRUTE FORCE. CITY MAYOR WHO CANNOT PROTECT THE RESIDENTS
OF HER OWN CITY FROM BORDER FEDERAL AGENTS BEING SET BY THE FEDERAL
GOVERNMENT, WHY AREN'T WE TAKING A STAND LIKE OTHER CITIES, LIKE
PHILADELPHIA, THE ANSWER IS SIMPLE. DEFUND SPD
THANK YOU FOR CALLING IN. NEXT UP IS GABBY FOLLOWED BY JESSE.
MY NAME IS GABBY. I'M A RENTER IN DISTRICT 6. I'M ALSO A MEMBER OF
GRADUATE STUDENT STUDYING TRAUMA RELATED DISORDERS. I'M HERE TO ADD MY
VOICE TO DEFUND SPD BY 50%, INVEST THAT MONEY INTO THE BLACK COMMUNITY
AND DROP CHARGES AGAINST ALL PROTESTERS. LIVING IN FEAR CAN HAVE UP
PROFOUND IMPACT ON PHYSICAL AND MENTAL HEALTH. EVERY DAY THE SPD IS
OPERATING AT THE CAPACITY IS ANOTHER DAY WE ARE SACRIFICING THE
COMMUNITY. WE NEED COMMUNITY CARE. I URGE EXPEDIENCY IN THIS MATTER.
NEXT UP IS JESSE FOLLOWED BY ETHAN. >> MY NAME IS JESSE, I LIVE IN
DISTRICT 2 . I BELIEVE IN THE FUNDING SPD AND REINVESTING IN THE
COMMUNITY IS NECESSARY. GOING UP IN A WHITE MILITARY FAMILY WITH FAMILY
MEMBERS WHO ARE ALSO POLICE I WRONGLY BELIEVED THAT POLICE , SEEING THE
MURDERS OF MANY IN OUR CITY AND ACROSS THE COUNTRY, I QUICKLY LEARNED HOW
INCORRECT AND HURTFUL THAT BELIEF WAS. THIS WAS AFFIRMED EVEN MORE IN THE
DISPROPORTIONATE FORCE IN THE SPD AND THE PROTESTERS. WHICH I HAVE
EXPERIENCED STARTING MAY 30 BUT PARTICULARLY WHEN IT WAS THREADED INTO
THE CROWD EXPLODED ON MY LEG. I'M DEMANDING THAT YOU SUPPORT THE KING
COUNTY EQUITY NOW AND DEFUND SEATTLE.
NEXT UP IS ETHAN FOLLOWED BY MAXWELL GOODWIN. >> I AM A RESIDENT OF
DISTRICT 2 AND I'M JOINING OTHER CONCERNED CITIZENS TO REMIND THE COUNCIL
TO THEIR PLEDGE TO DEFUND BY 50% STARTING THIS YEAR THE SEATTLE CITY IS
NOT ARMED MOBS OF RACIST OFFICERS ROAMING THE STREET. IT'S HOW THE ACCESS
TO OPPORTUNITY, FOOD, I SUPPORT THE PLAN TO DEFUND SPD AND USE THOSE
FUNDS USED TO BRUTALIZE THE PEOPLE OF SEATTLE AND INVEST THEM INTO
HOUSING AND COMMUNITY SOLUTIONS TO PREVENT CRIME FROM HAPPENING RATHER
THAN PENALIZING PEOPLE WHO ARE FORCED INTO CRIME OUT OF POVERTY.
NEXT UP IS MAXWELL FOLLOWED BY SALLY. >>
MY NAME IS MAXWELL I AM PLANNING TO MOVE , I'M NOT SURE TO WHICH
DISTRICT. I'M A SMALL BUSINESS OWNER IS A SMALL STOREFRONT. CHEMICAL
WEAPONS, EXPLOSIVES THAT SCARE WAY PEOPLE NOT TO MENTION SET UP MILITARY
CHECKPOINTS THE KEEP CUSTOMERS AWAY. SOME BUSINESS OWNERS ARE SCARED ,
HONESTLY YOU PAY ATTENTION TO THE FEW THAT DO THAT , NOT JUST STARBUCKS
AND BIG BANKS, AND THE CLOTHING STORE THAT WAS OWNED BY THE COP. IT'S
PRETTY OBVIOUS THE TRASHCAN TUMBLED IN THE STREETS ARE TO KEEP POLICE
AWAY OR SLOW THEM DOWN WHICH IS UNDERSTANDABLE. NO BROKEN WINDOWS, --
NEXT UP IS SALLY FOLLOWED BY ERICA.
CAN YOU HEAR ME?
WE CAN HEAR YOUR.
OKAY, MY NAME IS SALLY. I AM CALLING AS A SEATTLE RESIDENT PROPERTY
OWNER. I'M CALLING BECAUSE I'VE BEEN SO FRUSTRATED BY WHAT'S HAPPENING IN
THE CITY THAT I CALL HOME. I DON'T THINK I SHOULD HAVE TO REMIND YOU THAT
SEATTLE IS SUFFERING THE EFFECTS OF COVID- 19, NOT ONLY THE EFFECTS OF
THE ILLNESS BUT IT'S EFFECTS ON THE ECONOMY AND QUALITY OF LIFE. OF
COURSE THERE IS THE ISSUE OF HOMELESSNESS IN THE DRUG-RELATED CRIMINAL
ACTIVITY. BUT I AM CALLING ABOUT THE FACT THAT I BELIEVE THE SEATTLE
COUNCIL IS MAKING MATTERS FAR WORSE BY ENABLING THE DELIBERATE WRECKAGE
OF DOWNTOWN AND BEYOND. PEOPLE WHO HAVE BEEN REFERRED TO AS PEACEFUL
PROTESTERS WERE ACTUALLY BEHAVING AS THUGS HAVE BEEN ALLOWED TO
CONTINUALLY CAUSE VIOLENCE . >> THANK YOU FOR CALLING IN. NEXT UP IS
ERICA FOLLOWED BY JENNY.
GOOD AFTERNOON. MY NAME IS ERICA. I COMPLETELY DISAGREE WITH THE PERSON
WHO JUST SPOKE. I HAVE BEEN A PTO FOR THE 41st DISTRICT FOR TWO YEARS AND
JUST RECENTLY MOVED TO THE BALLARD NEIGHBORHOOD. I'M ALSO A --HAVE BEEN
INVOLVED WITH SEVERAL PROTESTS WHERE I'VE BEEN INJURED AND MACED. BY
POLICE OFFICERS. I HAVE A CHRONIC CONDITION OF ASTHMA AND IT'S NOT GOOD.
I'M CALLING TO DEFUND SEATTLE POLICE DEPARTMENT BY 50% AND INSTEAD INVEST
THE MONEY INTO COMMUNITY BASED PROGRAMS LIKE SOCIAL HEALTH AND SOCIAL
WORK. WE MUST PUSH JENNY DURKAN TO DO IS, RESIGN, NOTE , THIS SHOULD BE
AN ISSUE PRIORITY INTERDISTRICT. THANKS.
THANK YOU FOR CALLING IN. NEXT UP IS JENNY PRICE FOLLOWED BY ROBERT. >>
MY NAME IS JENNY PRICE. I AM A RESIDENT OF DISTRICT 6. I'M ALSO A MEMBER
. I'M CALLING TO VOICE SUPPORT FOR THE DEMANDS OF DECRIMINALIZE SEATTLE
AND KING COUNTY EQUITY NOW. WHICH INCLUDE DEFUNDING THE SEATTLE POLICE
DEPARTMENT BY AT LEAST 50% AND REALLOCATING THOSE FUNDS TO COMMUNITY LED
HEALTH AND SAFETY SYSTEMS. I BELIEVE THE FUNDING SPD AND REINVESTING IN
THE COMMUNITY IS NECESSARY TO REDUCE THE AMOUNT OF HARM CAUSED BY RACIST
POLICING AND INSTEAD INVEST IN THE WELL-BEING OF OUR COMMUNITY. BY
REDIRECTING THOSE FUNDS TO THINGS LIKE HOUSING, CHILDCARE AND FOOD
PROGRAMS THE CITY COUNCIL HAS THE OPPORTUNITY TO DEMONSTRATE A COMMITMENT
TO REAL PUBLIC SAFETY. THANK YOU.
NEXT UP IS ROBERT FOLLOWED BY SETH. >> I AM A RESIDENT ADVISOR OF
DISTRICT 5 AND A HOUSING WORKER IN DISTRICT 4. I WANT TO BE SURE WE
INCLUDE IN THE DISCUSSION RESOURCE IMPROVEMENT. DEFUNDING POLICE BY HALF
TO THE TUNE OF $85 MILLION REMAINING THIS YEAR FOR SPECIFIC REINVESTMENT
IN BLACK AND BROWN COMMUNITY'S AND NOT HURTING PROTESTERS THAT SHOULD BE
FREED OR CAGING KIDS IN A JAIL NOW OR IN FIVE YEARS. MAYOR DURKAN SHOULD
TAKE ACCOUNTABILITY AND RESIGN. IN ADDITION WE NEED TO STOP DOING SWEEPS
OF HOMELESS ENCAMPMENTS AND WE NEED TO START FUNDING SERVICES TO GIVE
JOBS TO THOSE WHO NEED THEM . OF COURSE WE NEED TO START LOOKING OUT FOR
RENTERS WHO MAY BE FACING EVICTION SO THAT RENTERS CAN ORGANIZE . I
YIELD.
THANK YOU. NEXT UP IS SETH FOLLOWED BY JOE. >> MY NAME IS SETH, I LIVE IN
DISTRICT 6 AND I'M CALLING TO EXPRESS MY SUPPORT FOR ALL KING COUNTY
EQUITY NOW DEMANDS. I BELIEVE THE COUNCIL SHOULD DEFUND SPD BY AT LEAST
50%. I BELIEVE THE CITY COUNCIL SHOULD REMOVE MAYOR DURKAN FROM OFFICE
BECAUSE SHE HAS SHOWN SHE HAS NO REGARD FOR THE HUMANITY OR SAFETY OF HER
CITY. AND I SUPPORT THE INTERNET FOR ALL BILL. THANK YOU.
OUR LAST SPEAKER FOR THIS AFTERNOON 'S JOE.
THANK YOU , AS ALWAYS YOU ARE AWESOME AS COUNCIL PRESIDENT BUT THAT'S NOT
WHY COLD. I STAND BEHIND THE COMMENTS , I'M CALLING TODAY TO PROTEST VERY
FIRMLY THE REQUEST FOR A SUBPOENA OF PRESS FOOTAGE OF EVENTS. IT'S MAKING
CITIZENS LIKE ME A TARGET. EVEN AT PUBLIC MEETINGS. THIS IS VERY, VERY
DANGEROUS. REMOVING THE MAYOR FROM OFFICE PEACEFULLY AND NONVIOLENTLY,
THIS IS ATTACK ON A FREE PRESS AND WE NEED TO DO SOMETHING. I ASK THAT
YOU PLEASE GET THE SUBPOENA AGAINST OUR FRIENDS OF IMMEDIATE REMOVED.
THANK YOU FOR CALLING IN. COLLEAGUES, THAT CONCLUDES OUR PUBLIC COMMENT
SESSION. IT IS 3:15 PM. WE ARE GOING TO GO AHEAD AND CLOSE OUT OUR PUBLIC
COMMENT SESSION. AND BEGIN WITH ITEMS OF BUSINESS ON OUR AGENDA.
COLLEAGUES, THIS MORNING DURING COUNCIL BRIEFING I MENTIONED
COUNCILMEMBER JUAREZ WOULD NOT BE WILL TO JOIN US IN COUNCIL BRIEFING AND
FULL COUNCIL. I'M HAPPY TO REPORT THAT SHE IS FEELING BETTER AND SHE HAS
BEEN ON THE CALL WITH US AND IN THIS MEETING WITH US. SHE CALLED AND
SHORTLY AFTER ROLLCALL. I WANTED TO MAKE NOTE FOR THE RECORD THAT
COUNCILMEMBER JUAREZ IS PRESENT AND HAS BEEN LISTENING TO PUBLIC COMMENT.
AND I WANT TO WELCOME YOU COUNCILMEMBER JUAREZ TO TODAY'S MEETING. THANK
YOU FOR MAKING THE TIME TO CALL IN AND FOR LETTING US KNOW YOU WOULD BE
ABLE TO JOIN US.
NEXT UP, WE ARE GOING TO GO AHEAD AND DO PAYMENT OF THE BILLS. I ASK THE
CLERK PLEASE READ THE TITLE.
COUNCIL BILL 119836. AND ORDINANCE APPROPRIATE MONEY TO PAY CERTAIN
AUDITED CLAIMS FOR THE WEEK OF JULY 13, 2020 THROUGH JULY 17, 2020 AND
ORDERING THE PAYMENT THEREOF.
IS OUR SECOND? IT'S BEEN MOVED AND SECONDED. ARE THERE ANY COMMENTS?
HEARING NO COMMENTS PLEASE CALL THE ROLLCALL. COUNCILMEMBER MORALES
COUNCILMEMBER MOSQUEDA , COUNCILMEMBER PEDERSEN, COUNCILMEMBER SAWANT,
COUNCILMEMBER STRAUSS, COUNCILMEMBER LEWIS, COUNCILMEMBER HERBOLD ,
COUNCILMEMBER JUAREZ ,
COUNCIL PRESIDENT GONZALEZ. EIGHT IN FAVOR. NONE
OPPOSED.
YOU SO MUCH. THE BILL PASSES. I ASK THE CLERK TO PLEASE AFFIX MY
SIGNATURE TO THE LEGISLATION. AGENDA ITEM NUMBER ONE. PLEASE READ INTO
THE RECORD.
AN ORDINANCE RELATING TO A SALES AND USE TAX; PROVIDING FOR THE
SUBMISSION TO QUALIFIED ELECTORS OF THE CITY AT AN ELECTION TO BE HELD ON
NOVEMBER 3, 2020, A PROPOSITION TO COLLECT A SALES AND USE TAX TO FUND
TRANSIT AND RELATED TRANSPORTATION PROGRAMS IN SEATTLE. THE COMMITTEE
RECOMMENDS THAT THE BILL PASSES AMENDED.
THANK YOU SO MUCH. MADAME CLERK, HERE IS WHAT I THINK WE NEED TO DO
BECAUSE THERE IS A LOT OF MOVING PIECES ON THIS PARTICULAR COUNCIL BILL.
IF THERE IS NO OBJECTION, WE WILL FIRST HEAR FROM THE COMMITTEE CHAIR,
COUNCILMEMBER PEDERSEN TO PRESENT THE COMMITTEE REPORT. AND THEN WE CAN
CONSIDER THE POSSIBLE SEVEN AMENDMENTS IN THE FOLLOWING ORDER. I WOULD
PROPOSE WE CONSIDER AMENDMENT NUMBER TWO WHICH WAS PUBLISHED ON THE
AGENDA, THAT IS COUNCILMEMBER MORALES'S PROPOSAL TO INCREASE THE TAX RATE
FROM .1% TO .2%. THEN I PROPOSE WE CONSIDER AMENDMENT NUMBER SIX WHICH
WAS NOT PUBLISHED ON THE AGENDA, THAT IS MY PROPOSED AMENDMENT AND WOULD
INCREASE THE TAX RATE FROM .1% TO .15%. AND THEN THERE ARE , THERE IS
ANOTHER POTENTIAL AMENDMENT, 6 B THAT WOULD REQUIRE SUSPENDED, THAT IS
BEING POTENTIALLY BROUGHT FORWARD BY COUNCILMEMBER MOSQUEDA. IT WOULD
AMEND , IT WOULD BE AN AMENDMENT TO REMOVE THE INCREASE TO THE LOW INCOME
SPENDING CATEGORY WITH ANY ADDITIONAL FUNDS BEING DIRECTED TO TRANSIT
SERVICE. WE ALSO HAVE AMENDMENT EIGHT, WE CAN CONSIDER AMENDMENT EIGHT
LETTER A OR 8B ALSO NOT ON THE AGENDA, THAT WOULD BE BROUGHT FORWARD BY
COUNCILMEMBER HERBOLD AND GOES TO INCREASE THE EMERGING SERVICE CATEGORY
CAP. WE COULD CONSIDER AMENDMENT NUMBER ONE IS ON THE AGENDA BEING
BROUGHT FORWARD BY COUNCILMEMBER STRAUSS AND PROPOSES STRUCTURING THE
LEVY, CHANGING THE TIME AND LENGTH OF THE LEVY FROM FOUR YEARS TO SIX
YEARS. AND THEN WE WOULD HEAR AMENDMENT NUMBER SEVEN A OR 7B, ALSO NOT ON
THE AGENDA BUT BEING BROUGHT FORWARD BY COUNCILMEMBER STRAUSS WHICH WOULD
CLARIFY THE TERM OF THE MEASURE IF THE TERM OF THE MEASURE IS EXTENDED TO
APRIL, 2025 OR APRIL, 2027. LASTLY WE COULD CONSIDER AMENDMENT NUMBER
THREE WHICH WAS ON THE AGENDA, MY AMENDMENT TO INCLUDE ESSENTIAL WORKERS
IN THE LOW INCOME SPENDING CATEGORY. SO IF THERE IS NO OBJECTION TO THAT
ORDER OF DISCUSSION OF THE AMENDMENTS THEN WE WILL CONSIDER THEM IN THAT
ORDER.
MADAM CHAIR, COULD YOU REPEAT THE NUMBERS FOR ME REAL QUICK IF YOU DON'T
MIND. I GOT THE DESCRIPTIONS WHICH I APPRECIATE BUT I WANT TO MAKE SURE
GOT IT RIGHT.
OKAY. AMENDMENT 2, AMENDMENT 6, POTENTIAL AMENDMENT 6th B. AMENDMENT 8A
OR 8 B. AMENDMENT NUMBER ONE, AMENDMENT SEVEN OR EIGHT, OR 7B. AND WE
CONCLUDE WITH AMENDMENT THREE. IT'S LIKE WE ARE HAVING A SELECT COMMITTEE
MEETING OF THE LEVY. BUT HERE WE GO. I DIDN'T HEAR ANY OBJECTION, NO
OBJECTIONS, LET'S ROCK 'N ROLL. HEARING NO OBJECTION THEY WILL BE
CONSIDERING THAT ORDER. COUNCILMEMBER PEDERSEN, YOU ARE RECOGNIZED TO
PROVIDE THE COMMITTEE REPORT.
THANK YOU. COLLEAGUES, OUR TRANSPORTATION BENEFIT DISTRICT HAS BEEN
OPERATING SUCCESSFULLY FOR THE PAST SIX YEARS AFTER VOTERS APPROVED THE
CURRENT VERSION IN 2014. ON FRIDAY JULY 17 OUR SELECT COMMITTEE ON
SEATTLE TRANSPORTATION BENEFIT DISTRICT FUNDING UNANIMOUSLY PASSED
COUNCIL BILL 119 TO RENEW FUNDING FOR THE IMPORTANT TRANSIT MEASURE. WE
VOTED ON ALL SEVEN PUBLISHED MINUTES AT THAT TIME. A FEMA COMMITTEE WAS
TO PRIORITIZE TRANSIT SERVICE OVER ROADWORK WHICH WE DID BY MOVING MORE
DOLLARS FROM ROADWORK AND TRANSIT AND REQUIRING A MAJORITY OF ALL NEW
FUNDS GO TOWARD TRANSIT SERVICE. I THINK WE CAN ALL AGREE IT'S
DISAPPOINTING THAT TIM'S INITIATIVE 976 WHICH WAS REJECTED BY A WHOPPING
70%'S HAS REMOVED APPROXIMATELY HALF OF THE FUNDING SOURCE. WE HOPE TO
OVERTURN THAT MEASURE IN THE COURTS. IF WE DO OVERTURN IT I SUPPORT
DOUBLING THE CAR TAB REVENUES WE ARE ALLOWED TO INCREASE AS A COUNCIL. AT
THE SAME TIME YOU CAN'T IGNORE THE RIDERSHIP HAS PLUMMETED OVER 72%
DURING THE COVID PANDEMIC. MOREOVER A SECOND WAVE OF THE CORONAVIRUS IS
OF IMMINENT CONCERN AS WE HAVE SEEN WITH OUR GOVERNOR LAST WEEK IMPOSING
ADDITIONAL RESTRICTIONS. YET I AM UPBEAT ON THE FUTURE AND THE FUTURE OF
TRANSIT, THE DEMAND IS GOING TO INCREASE AND HOPEFULLY WE GET BACK TO THE
HIGH LEVELS THAT WERE THE PRIDE OF THE NATION AND WILL CONTINUE TO
INCREASE THAT TRANSIT RIDERSHIP. TODAY THERE ARE ADDITIONAL AMENDMENTS
FOR CONSIDERATION AND WHILE WE ARE LIKELY TO HEAR A ROBUST DEBATE ABOUT
SOME OF THESE AMENDMENTS, I JUST HOPE THE GENERAL PUBLIC SEES THERE IS
UNITY AND THAT WE ALL SUPPORT TRANSIT AND WANT TO RENEW THIS MEASURE. ONE
OF THE KEY AMENDMENTS WE WILL DEBATE TODAY IS ABOUT THE TAX RATE. ONE OF
THE AMENDMENTS PROPOSED TO DOUBLE THE TAX RATE, TO DOUBLE THE SALES TAX
TO .2%. I'M NOT ABLE TO SUPPORT DOUBLING OF THE SALES TAX FOR ALL THE
REASONS WE DON'T LIKE SALES TAX. I AM PLEASED TO SEE THE COMPROMISE
AMENDMENT FROM COUNCILMEMBER GONZALEZ TO MAKE SURE WE GET MORE REVENUE
THAN WAS TRANSMITTED TO US. THIS WILL INCREASE TO .15% WHICH WE DISCUSSED
A LITTLE THIS MORNING. AFTER WE VOTE ON ALL THE AMENDMENTS TODAY, I LIKE
TO MAKE FINAL REMARKS.
THANK YOU.
ABSOLUTELY. THE PRIME SPONSOR OF THE LEGISLATION ALWAYS GETS THE LAST
WORD BEFORE WE CALL ABOUT. THANK YOU SO MUCH COUNCILMEMBER PEDERSEN FOR
THOSE INTRODUCTORY REMARKS. IT IS 325 SO I THINK WE SHOULD GET STARTED ON
THE AMENDMENT WORK. LET'S GO AHEAD AND START WITH AMENDMENT 2. THE
PRIMARY SPONSOR OF THAT IS COUNCILMEMBER MORALES. I'M GOING TO HAND IT
OVER TO COUNCILMEMBER MORALES TO MAKE HER MOTION TO FORMALLY PUT
AMENDMENT TO BEFORE THE COUNCIL.
THANK YOU. I MOVE AS PRESENTED ON AMENDMENT TO ON THE AGENDA.
IS THERE A SECOND?
SECOND.
IT HAS BEEN MOVED AND SECONDED. TO ADOPT AMENDMENT 2. COUNCILMEMBER
MORALES YOUR THE PRIME SPONSOR AND YOU ARE RECOGNIZED IN ORDER TO ADDRESS
YOUR AMENDMENT.
THANK YOU. COLLEAGUES, WE HAD A ROBUST CONVERSATION ABOUT THIS THIS
MORNING. BUT FOR THE BENEFIT OF THE PUBLIC THIS AFTERNOON, I WANT TO
THANK YOU AGAIN FOR THE DISCUSSION WE HAD LAST WEEK ABOUT THIS AMENDMENT.
AS I SAID, I AM LOOKING TO TRY TO PROTECT AS MUCH AS POSSIBLE SERVICE
HOURS UP TO 150,000 SERVICE HOURS FOR OUR NEIGHBORS , EVEN AS WE DO
STRUGGLE WITH AN INCREASE IN SALES TAX. I WITHDREW IT LAST WEEK TO ALLOW
MORE TIME TO HEAR FROM STAKEHOLDERS. AND I WANT TO SAY THAT AFTER
SPEAKING WITH SEVERAL COMMUNITY ORGANIZATIONS IN MY DISTRICT INCLUDING AC
RS, WOMEN'S ALLIANCE, ONE AMERICA, ROOTED IN RIGHTS, LABOR COUNCIL,
TEAMSTERS 117, I HAVE DECIDED TO BRING THE AMENDMENT BACK FOR
CONSIDERATION. THESE STAKEHOLDERS UNDERSTAND WHAT IS AT RISK IF WE MOVE
SOMETHING TO THE BALLOT THAT WILL REDUCE TRANSIT SERVICE SO DRASTICALLY.
SO I DON'T WANT TO BELABOR THE POINT. I JUST WILL SAY THAT THE .2%
INCREASE IS AN EFFORT TO PROTECT THE TRANSIT SYSTEM THAT WE HAVE ALREADY
INVESTED IN . AND CUTTING SEATTLE'S INVESTMENT TO $30 MILLION PER YEAR IT
WILL WIPE OUT THAT SYSTEM AND HARM THOSE WHO NEED TRANSIT MOST. SO I AM
MOVING THIS AMENDMENT AND ASKING FOR MY COLLEAGUE SUPPORT.
THANK YOU COUNCILMEMBER MORALES FOR THOSE REMARKS. I REALLY APPRECIATED
THE AS YOU PUT IT VERY ROBUST CONVERSATION AROUND ALL OF THE AMENDMENT'S
THIS MORNING. THIS IS A CONTINUATION OF THE CONVERSATION OF COURSE.
COLLEAGUES, ANY OTHER COMMENTS ON AMENDMENT 2? COUNCILMEMBER MOSQUEDA,
PLEASE. >> THANK YOU, AS I SAID THIS MORNING I AM SUPPORTIVE OF THE
EFFORTS TO CONTINUE TO INCREASE THE AMOUNT OF FUNDING GOING TO THESE
CRITICAL TRANSIT SERVICES. WE KNOW THE ECONOMIC OPPORTUNITY HAS CUCKOLDED
THE IMPACT AT .1% SALES TAX INCREASE WOULD HAVE ON HOUSEHOLDS AND
ESTIMATES THE AMENDMENT WOULD MEAN AN ANNUAL COST OF ABOUT NINE DOLLARS
PER HOUSEHOLD ACHING ABOUT $25,000 PER YEAR. OR ABOUT $12 PER HOUSEHOLD
MAKING $50,000. WE CAN'T UNDERESTIMATE THE IMPACT OF THAT DOLLAR AMOUNT
ON WORKING FAMILIES. BUT WE ALSO KNOW THAT CUTTING TRANSIT WHICH IS A
LIFELINE ARE THE SAME FOLKS WE ARE CONCERNED ABOUT HAVING TO PAY THIS TAX
WOULD HAVE A MUCH MORE REGRESSIVE AND HARMFUL IMPACT. WITHOUT BEING ABLE
TO GET TO WORK OR CHILD CARE OR OTHER CRITICAL SERVICES LIKE MEDICAL
APPOINTMENTS, WE HAVE HEARD FROM FOLKS WERE SUPPORTING THIS EFFORT. I
WILL CONTINUE TO SUPPORT THIS EFFORT AND IF THIS IS NOT PASS I WILL ALSO
SUPPORT THE OTHER PROPOSAL FROM COUNCIL PRESIDENT GONZALEZ. I WOULD EVER
THINK TO MAKE SURE WE GET ADDITIONAL DOLLARS IN HAND WERE POSSIBLE TO
REDUCE THE BURDEN OF THE CUTS THAT ARE EXPECTED. I APPRECIATE THE EFFORTS
PUT FORWARD TODAY TO DO JUST THAT.
THANK YOU COUNCILMEMBER MOSQUEDA FOR THOSE COMMENTS. ARE THERE ANY OTHER
COMMENTS ON AMENDMENT 2? COUNCILMEMBER SAWANT. PLEASE.
THANK YOU. SALES TAXES ARE A REGRESSIVE TAX THAT PUT THE BURDEN ON
FUNDING TRANSIT ON POOR AND WORKING- CLASS PEOPLE LEAVING BIG BUSINESS
AND THE RICH RELATIVELY UNTAXED. MANY COUNCILMEMBERS HAVE ACKNOWLEDGED
THIS. IF ON THE OTHER HAND WE ALLOW THE CUTS TO HAPPEN IT WILL IMPACT
WORKERS WHO DEPEND ON TRANSIT FOR BASIC ABILITY. THE SAME WORKING
FAMILIES WHO ARE HIT BY THE REGRESSIVE TAXATION ANNOUNCEMENT IN PUBLIC
COMMENT, IT HIT PEOPLE VERY LOW INCOMES, PEOPLE WITH COMMUNITY MEMBERS
WITH DISABILITIES IN MANY DIFFERENT WAYS. AND IT WILL HIT TRANSIT WORKERS
COMMUNITY MEMBERS . THE CHOICE BETWEEN INCREASING THE SALES TAX AND
AUSTERITY CUTS TO BUDGET HOURS IS A FALSE CHOICE WHERE WORKING-CLASS
PEOPLE AND MARGINALIZED COMMUNITY AND POOR PEOPLE LOSE EITHER WAY. IN
DECIDING WHETHER TO SUPPORT THIS AMENDMENT , MOST DECISIVE IS WHETHER
OTHER COUNCILMEMBERS WILL BE WILLING TO SUPPORT PROGRESSIVE FUNDING
ALTERNATIVES TO THIS. TO THE REGRESSIVE TAX. I MENTIONED IN COMMITTEE 10
DAYS AGO THAT LEGALLY IT IS NOT TRUE THAT SALES TAXES ARE THE ONLY OPTION
FOR FUNDING. YES, THE TRANSPORTATION BENEFIT DISTRICT ARE LEGAL CONSTRUCT
AND HAVE CERTAIN IDENTIFIED FUNDING SOURCES. HOWEVER THERE IS NOTHING IN
THE LAW AND THERE HASN'T BEEN ANYTHING A LOT TO PREVENT THE COUNCIL FROM
PASSING SOME OTHER PROGRESSIVE GENERAL FUND TAX AND USING THOSE FUNDS TO
PAY FOR BUS SERVICE. FOR EXAMPLE, THE CITY COUNCIL COULD PASS AN
ORDINANCE TO INCREASE THE TAX IN THE JUST PASSED AMAZON TAX. INCREASING
THAT TAX BY A QUARTER OF A PERCENT WOULD BE SUFFICIENT TO RAISE THE FUNDS
TO ILLUMINATE THE TRANSIT BUDGET CUTS WITHOUT ANY SALES TAX AT ALL. I
ASKED THE QUESTION AT THAT TIME IF COUNCILMEMBERS WOULD SUPPORT THAT.
ANOTHER EXAMPLE IS THE CITY COULD PUT ON THE BALLOT AN INCREASE IN THE
TAX RATE AND USE THAT INSTEAD OF SALES TAXES BECAUSE THEY ARE NOT
REGRESSIVE LIKE SALES TAX. IS LESS PROGRESSIVE, THEY ARE LESS PROGRESSIVE
THAN THAT AMAZON TAX, THE AMAZON TAX ONLY TAXES LARGE 3% OF BUSINESSES.
THEIR MORE PROGRESSIVE THAN SALES TAXES BECAUSE SALES TAXES HIT THE
POOREST HOUSEHOLDS THE MOST. 10 DAYS AGO I ASKED IF ANY COUNCILMEMBERS
WOULD SUPPORT EITHER OF THOSE PROGRESSIVE OPTIONS INSTEAD OF THE
REGRESSIVE SALES TAX AND BUDGET CUTS AND THEY SAID IF SO I WOULD BE HAPPY
TO MAKE THAT MOTION. I INDICATED I WOULD ABSTAIN FROM A VOTE AT THE
COMMITTEE TO GIVE TIME FOR CITY COUNCIL MEMBERS TO SIGNAL SUPPORT FOR
PROGRESSIVE ALTERNATIVE. UNFORTUNATELY I HAVE TO SHARE WITH MEMBERS OF
THE PUBLIC THAT IN THE PAST 10 DAYS I AM NOT AWARE OF ANY OTHER
COUNCILMEMBER SUPPORTING SHIFTING TRANSIT FUNDING TOWARDS AVENUES FOR
PROGRESSIVE TAXATION. THE REALITY IS THE POLITICAL ESTABLISHMENT IN
SEATTLE AND ELSEWHERE ALWAYS TRIES TO PUT THE BURDEN OF TAXES ON WORKING
PEOPLE UNLESS THERE IS A MOVEMENT TO FIGHT BACK. WE WON THE AMAZON TAX
ONLY BECAUSE WE HAD UP MASTIC -- MASSIVE MOVEMENT THAT WAS A CREDIT TO
BIG BUSINESS. A FALSE CHOICE THE WE'RE LEFT WITH TODAY INSTEAD OF
PROGRESSIVE TAXES IS THAT THE POLITICAL ESTABLISHMENT CANNOT BE TRUSTED
TO SUPPORT THE INTEREST UNLESS THEY'RE FORCED TO DO SO BY A POWERFUL
MOVEMENT. HOWEVER, FACED WITH THE SITUATION, MY OFFICE MUST GO TO EITHER
ACCEPT THE MAYOR'S CUT TO METRO OR WORK TO INCREASE PROGRESSIVE TAX. AS I
SAID BOTH CHOICES ARE BAD BUT AS MANY COMMUNITY MEMBERS HAVE SAID IN
PUBLIC COMMENT, TODAY AND BEFORE, THE BUDGET CUTS WILL BE THE MOST
HARMFUL AND FOR ALL THOSE REASONS I WILL VOTE YES ON INCREASING THE
PROPOSED SALES TAX.
THANK YOU COUNCILMEMBER SAWANT. ARE THERE ANY OTHER COMMENTS?
COUNCILMEMBER STRAUSS.
THANK YOU. AS I STATED IN MY COMMENTS EARLIER THIS MORNING, THE DURATION
IT IS WHAT IS MOST IMPORTANT TO ME. JUST BY LISTENING TO MY COLLEAGUES
COMMENTS AND CONSIDERATION BETWEEN .2 AND .15 AND .1, I'M NOT HEARING A
MAJORITY OF COMMENTS . THE WE HAVE TO GO OFF OF HERE, ON EITHER .1 AND
.2, I'M WONDERING IF FOLKS ARE COALESCING AROUND 1.5. THAT IS A QUESTION
OUT OF ORDER BUT I FIGURED I WOULD ASK IT. >> COUNCILMEMBER STRAUSS WE
WILL CONSIDER A .15 AMENDMENT IN THE FUTURE. RIGHT NOW WE'RE HAVING A
CONVERSATION AROUND THE AMENDMENT NUMBER TWO WHICH IS COUNCILMEMBER
MORALES'S PROPOSAL FOR A POINT TO INCREASE. I CAN'T COMPEL COLLEAGUES TO
SAY WHAT THEY DON'T WANT TO SAY. BUT THERE IS OBVIOUSLY THE ALTERNATIVE
PROPOSAL OF AMENDMENT SIX WHICH IS .15. PEOPLE ARE WELCOME TO SIGNAL A
PREFERENCE ONE MIGHT OR THE OTHER IF THEY ARE COMFORTABLE DOING SO. AND
IF NOT, WE WILL KNOW WHERE FOLKS LIE ONCE WE CALL THE AMENDMENT TO A
VOTE. COUNCILMEMBER HERBOLD , EUROPE.
THANK YOU. I WILL BE SUPPORTING THE AMENDMENT NUMBER SIX. I HAVE
EXPRESSED MY CONCERNS IN THE PAST ABOUT INCREASING TAXES THAT HAVE A
DISPARATE IMPACT ON LOW-INCOME PEOPLE AND SALES TAXES IS ONE OF THE MOST
REGRESSIVE FORMS OF TAXATION. I UNDERSTAND FROM THE ANALYSIS THAT
INCREASING THE SALES TAX FROM .1% TO .2% WILL BE FOR CAR OWNING LOW
INCOME HOUSEHOLDS , IT WILL BE OUTWEIGHED BY NOT HAVING TO PAY THE CAR
TAX , I SHOULD SAY CAR OWNING HOUSEHOLDS GENERALLY WILL BE OUTWEIGHED BY
NOT HAVING TO PAY THE CAR TAX AS WELL AS CAR OWNING LOWER- INCOME
HOUSEHOLDS , IF THE LOW INCOME HOUSEHOLDS DON'T HAVE A CAR, THAT WOULD
UNDER THIS PROPOSAL SEE THEIR TAX BURDEN RISE BY INCREASING THE SALES TAX
.1% TO .2%. I UNDERSTAND THERE IS A GOOD CONVERSATION ABOUT IT OR NOT THE
LOSS OF TRANSIT SERVICE OUTWEIGHS THE NEGATIVES AROUND HAVING THE TOTAL
TAX BURDEN FOR LOW-INCOME HOUSEHOLDS WHO DON'T HAVE CARS. BUT I DO
BELIEVE THE COUNCILMEMBER GONZALEZ PUTS FORWARD A GOOD COMPROMISE TO HELP
ADDRESS THE NEGATIVE IMPACT OF LOSS OF TRANSIT SERVICES TO THOSE
HOUSEHOLDS AND ALSO WHILE MINIMIZING THE REGRESSIVE ANTI- OF THE
TAXATION. OF COUNCILMEMBER GONZALEZ EXPLAINED THIS MORNING, I HAVE
CONCERNS THAT THIS IS THE FIRST TAX MEASURE WE'RE GOING TO BE PUTTING ON
THE BALLOT IN A POST COVID TIME. WHERE PEOPLE ARE VERY IMPACTED ACROSS
MANY SOCIOECONOMIC SPECTRUMS , NEGATIVELY IMPACTED BY THE REALITIES THE
COVID-19 --THIS IS SO IMPORTANT TO OUR CITY. THAT THEY REALLY DON'T WANT
TO RISK LOSING IT. I AM MAYBE PERHAPS CAUTIOUS AND RISK-AVERSE I WANT TO
THANK COUNCILMEMBER MORALES FOR THE WORK SHE HAS DONE OVER THE LAST WEEK
TO GENERATE SUPPORT FOR AN INCREASE . I BELIEVE THAT SUPPORT FOR INCREASE
WILL TRANSFER OVER TO A .15% INCREASE. I ALSO WANT TO THANK THE TRANSIT
ADVISORY BOARD FOR WEIGHING IN BOTH ON THE SIZE OF THE TAX AS WELL AS THE
TERMS. THANK YOU.
COLLEAGUES, ANY OTHER COMMENTS ON AMENDMENT NUMBER TWO? COUNCILMEMBER
LEWIS.
THANK YOU SO MUCH. FRANKLY, I AM STILL IN A PLACE WHERE I WOULD LIKE TO
SEE NO INCREASE OF THE SALES TAX AT ALL OVER THE .1%. I UNDERSTAND THERE
ARE LOTS OF TRADE-OFFS THAT THAT WOULD INVOLVE IN TERMS OF SERVICE,
FUTURE SERVICE CUTS POTENTIAL SERVICE REDUCTIONS. I CONTINUE TO BE VERY
OPTIMISTIC THAT THE CITY IS GOING TO PREVAIL IN OUR LITIGATION TO CAR TAX
AGAIN AS A COMPONENT OF OUR TRANSPORTATION BENEFIT DISTRICT STRATEGY.
THAT WE WILL BE ABLE TO WORK WITH THE COUNTY ON A REGIONAL SUCCESSOR THAT
COULD POTENTIALLY GO UP TO $100. ON THE CAR TABS. ABOVE AND BEYOND THE
$60 CAR TABS WE CURRENTLY HAVE. AND THAT THAT REVENUE COULD HAVE A
MASSIVE IMPACT ESPECIALLY ON A COUNTYWIDE BASIS TO RESTORING THOSE
TRANSIT HOURS. BUT, THAT IS STILL A RISK AND THERE IS STILL A LOT THAT
NEEDS TO BE WORKED OUT FOR THAT TO HAPPEN. SO I DO THINK IT IS WARRANTED
TO SEND TO THE PEOPLE OF SEATTLE THE 1.5 NUMBER SO WE CAN HAVE THAT
OPTION TO GO UP THAT HIGH IN THE EVENT WE ARE NOT SUCCESSFUL IN OLYMPIA
LITIGATING IN THE COURT THE INITIATIVE. I WOULD ALSO SIGNAL THAT WOULD BE
MY INTENT TO SEEK ONLY RENEWING THE RENEWING EXISTING .1 IN THE EVENT WE
ARE SUCCESSFUL AND WE DO WANT THE CAR TABS PER MY COMMENTS THIS MORNING.
BUT IN THE MEANTIME TO AVOID THE WORST OF THE REDUCTIONS IN SERVICE I
WOULD SUPPORT THE .15 THE HAS BEEN PROPOSED BY CONSUL PRESIDENT GONZALEZ.
HOPING THAT WE WOULD ACTUALLY NOT HAVE TO REALIZE THAT SALES TAX INCREASE
BASED ON THE SUCCESSFUL RESOLVE LITIGATION. I JUST WANTED TO PUT THAT OUT
THERE . I DO WANT TO THANK COUNCILMEMBER MORALES FOR GIVING US THE OPTION
OF HAVING THIS DISCUSSION. I KNOW THAT IT WAS AN AMENDMENT LAST WEEK, BUT
I THINK IT WAS IMPORTANT THAT THIS WAS THOROUGHLY VETTED, THAT THERE WAS
A LENGTHY CONVERSATION ABOUT THE IMPACTS. I DO THINK THAT THE COMPROMISE
THAT THE COUNCIL PRESIDENT HAS PUT FORWARD IS A GOOD ONE AND IT'S WHAT I
INTEND TO SUPPORT.
THANK YOU, COLLEAGUES. ANY OTHER COMMENTS OR QUESTIONS ABOUT AMENDMENT 2?
SEEING AND HEARING NONE, COUNCILMEMBER MORALES, ANY LAST WORDS YOU WOULD
LIKE TO OFFER? OR WOULD YOU JUST LIKE US TO VOTE?
LET'S JUST DO IT.
FOR THOSE OF YOU WHO CAN'T SEE THE ENTIRE GRID OF THE COUNCIL, MANY OF US
WERE FANNING OURSELVES. WE HOPE EVERYONE IS STAYING SAFE IN HIS HE.
WITHOUT THERE BEING ADDITIONAL DISCUSSION, I'M GOING TO GO AHEAD AND ASK
FOR A ROLE ON THE ADOPTION OF AMENDMENT NUMBER TWO. COUNCILMEMBER MORALES
AYE. COUNCILMEMBER MOSQUEDA
AYE. COUNCILMEMBER PEDERSEN
COUNCILMEMBER SAWANT
AYE.
COUNCILMEMBER STRAUSS
AYE.
COUNCILMEMBER LEWIS
NO.
COUNCILMEMBER HERBOLD
NO. COUNCILMEMBER JUAREZ
NO. COUNCIL PRESIDENT GONZALEZ.
NO. FOUR IN FAVOR, FIVE OPPOSED.
THANK YOU SO MUCH. THE MOTION FAILS AND AMENDMENT NUMBER TWO IS NOT
ADOPTED. SO WE WILL GO AHEAD AND MOVE TO AMENDMENT NUMBER SIX . I WILL
MOVE TO AMEND COUNCIL BILL 119833 AS PRESENTED ON AMENDMENT SIX RECENTLY
DISTORTED.
SECOND.
IT HAS BEEN MOVED AND SECONDED TO ADOPT AMENDMENT SIX. A SPONSOR OF THIS
AMENDMENT, I WILL ADDRESS IT AND OPEN IT UP FOR DEBATE AND DISCUSSION. WE
TALKED ABOUT THIS QUITE A BIT THIS MORNING. I JUST WANTED TO REITERATE
THAT I THINK THAT AT THE END OF THE DATES IMPORTANT FOR THE MEMBERS OF
THE PUBLIC TO KNOW THAT THIS CITY COUNCIL IS COMMITTED TO INCREASING THE
ORIGINAL PROPOSAL WE RECEIVED FROM THE MAYOR TO MITIGATE AGAINST DEEP
SERVICE CUTS TO OUR FREQUENT TRANSIT NETWORK. AGAIN, AS WE MENTIONED AND
DISCUSSED DURING THIS MORNING'S COUNCIL BRIEFING, EVEN UNDER A .15%
MODEL, EVEN UNDER EIGHT .2% MODEL WHICH WOULD'VE BEEN THE MAXIMUM AMOUNT
ALLOWABLE FOR US TO SEND TO THE VOTERS, EVEN UNDER THE MAXIMUM TAXATION
AMOUNT WE ARE STILL EXPECTING CUTS TO SERVICE FROM KING COUNTY METRO AS A
RESULT OF THE COVID-19 ECONOMIC CRISIS. AND A SIGNIFICANT DECREASE IN
RIDERSHIP, IN LARGE PART BECAUSE OUR SYSTEM RELIES ON FARES FOR IT TO BE
VIABLE. I THINK IT IS IMPORTANT FOR US AS COUNCILMEMBERS TO FAIRLY AND
ACCURATELY COMMUNICATE YOUR CONSTITUENTS THAT THE SEATTLE TRANSPORTATION
BENEFIT DISTRICT IS NOT GOING TO BE ADDITIVE IF PASSED BY THE VOTERS AS A
HAS BEEN IN YEARS PAST. BUT INSTEAD IT WILL FUNCTION TO BE A BASE AND TO
HOPEFULLY ALLOW SEATTLE THE FLEXIBILITY TO BUY THE SERVICES WE NEED. BUT
WE WILL STILL BE RELIANT ON KING COUNTY METRO TO PROVIDE THOSE SERVICES.
AND TO COMMIT TO PROVIDING THOSE AVAILABLE SERVICES. SO JUST REALLY
QUICKLY, AT .15%, IT WILL IN ESSENCE PROVIDE US WITH AN ADDITIONAL $14
MILLION PER YEAR . ACCORDING TO THE SEATTLE DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION.
THIS WOULD ALLOW US TO BUY ABOUT 30,000 HOURS FOR WEST SEATTLE IN BETWEEN
120,000 TO 165,000 SERVICE HOURS WOULD BE AVAILABLE SYSTEMWIDE. DEPENDING
ON SOME POLICY DECISIONS WE HAVE TO MAKE DURING THE BUDGET AND ON
COMMUNITY OUTREACH AND FEEDBACK THAT WE WOULD CONSIDER AS A COUNCIL FOR
FINALIZING THE SPEND PLAN. ONCE THE LEVEES APPROVED. YOU ALSO GET THE
POTENTIAL , IF YOU DO THE MATH THERE, IT GETS US TO A POTENTIAL TOTAL
RANGE OF 250,000-200,000 TOTAL SERVICE HOURS IN A 0.15% TAX SCENARIO. TAX
RATE SCENARIO. WITH THE CURRENTLY AVAILABLE REVENUE FORECASTING. FOR A
SENSE OF SCALE, AND UNDER NORMAL CIRCUMSTANCES, 175,000 HOURS COULD
MAINTAIN OUR CURRENT STBD INVESTMENTS IN THE FREQUENT TRANSIT NETWORK
INCLUDING 30, 15 AND 10 MINUTE SERVICE AND NIGHT OWL FUNCTIONS. AGAIN,
WITH METRO'S 20/21 SERVICE BEING STILL QUITE UNCERTAIN, WE I THINK ARE
BEING PRUDENT AND GOING WITH THE .15 PERCENT ROUTE. AND MAKING SURE WE
CAN MAKE SOME SPECIFIC DECISIONS ONCE THE LEVY IS APPROVED THAT IS GOING
TO BE HELPFUL. SO THE , SORRY ABOUT THE INTERFERENCE, QUARANTINE MAKING
AN ARGUMENT ABOUT AN AMENDMENT. LOVE IT. OKAY. I'M GOING TO TRY TO FOCUS
WHILE MULTITASKING. I REALLY APPRECIATE HOPEFULLY THE SUPPORT THAT FOLKS
CAN GIVE THIS POTENTIAL AMENDMENT , AMENDMENT SIX. I THINK IT IS A
REASONABLE ALTERNATIVE. I DO WANT TO THANK COUNCILMEMBER MIRELES AND HER
STAFF , I KNOW THEY HAVE BEEN WORKING REALLY HARD IN HER OFFICE TO
ADVANCE THE PRIOR AMENDMENT. AND SO I THINK IT IS IMPORTANT FOR US TO
RECOGNIZE THE RIGHT NOW WE ARE HAVING A CONVERSATION ABOUT HOW MUCH MORE
REVENUE WE CAN GENERATE IN ORDER TO MITIGATE AGAINST DEEPER SERVICE CUTS.
AND I APPRECIATE THE OPPORTUNITY TO WORK WITH ALL OF YOU ON PUTTING THIS
FORWARD. AND ON MAKING THE BEST CASE POSSIBLE TO OUR VOTERS WHO WILL BE
ASKED TO TAX THEMSELVES IN ORDER TO CONTINUE TO FUND REALLY INCREDIBLY
IMPORTANT TRANSIT SERVICES. AND I AM REALLY HAPPY THAT ONE OF THE
AMENDMENTS WE WILL BE CONSIDERING , THAT I THINK IS REALLY CRITICALLY
IMPORTANT IS AN AMENDMENT THAT WOULD INCLUDE ESSENTIAL WORKERS IN OUR LOW
INCOME PROGRAM. I JUST THINK THAT IS SO IMPORTANT FOR US TO DO ESPECIALLY
GIVEN WHAT WE KNOW ABOUT WHO ESSENTIAL WORKERS ARE IN OUR CITY. AND SO I
LOOK FORWARD TO FOLKS SUPPORTING AMENDMENT SIX AND AMENDMENT THREE THAT
WE WILL BE CONSIDERING LATER ON THAT AFTERNOON. THAT BEING SAID, I'M
GOING TO PASS IT ON AND SEE IF ANYONE ELSE HAS ANY COMMENTS OR QUESTIONS
ABOUT AMENDMENT SIX. COUNCILMEMBER MORALES? >> THANK YOU COUNCIL
PRESIDENT. I KNOW YOU AND I HAD LOTS OF CONVERSATIONS OVER THE LAST FEW
DAYS TRYING TO FIGURE OUT WHAT THE BEST PATH FORWARD IS. I DO WANT TO SAY
I WILL BE SUPPORTING THIS AMENDMENT. FOR ALL THE REASONS WE HAVE BEEN
TALKING ABOUT. WE NEED TO MAKE SURE WE ARE ABLE TO INCREASE OR PRESERVE
AS MUCH TRANSIT AS POSSIBLE , TRANSIT SERVICES POSSIBLE FOR OUR
COMMUNITY. AND I THINK THIS IS AN IMPORTANT STEP FOR US TO TAKE. I DO
PLAN TO SUPPORT THIS.
THANK YOU COUNCILMEMBER MORALES. I APPRECIATE THE SUPPORT. COUNCILMEMBER
MOSQUEDA?
I ECHO COUNCILMEMBER MORALES'S COMMENTS. I WANT TO THANK BOTH OF YOU FOR
CONTINUING TO MAKE SURE THERE IS ADDITIONAL DOLLARS AT HAND. THANK YOU
COUNCILMEMBER PEDERSEN FOR STEWARDING THIS THROUGH. COUNCIL PRESIDENT, I
WOULD VERY MUCH LIKE TO SUPPORT THIS AMENDMENT AND IF POSSIBLE INCLUDE A
FRIENDLY AMENDMENT THAT WE HAD NOT CIRCULATED BEFORE NOW, I WOULD LOVE TO
HAVE AMENDMENT 6B IF IT'S POSSIBLE TO SUSPEND RULES TO CONSIDER THAT AS
TO CONSIDER AMENDMENT NUMBER SIX.
HOLD ON. YES. I'M CATCHING UP AND I PROCEDURE SCRIPT. IT WOULD BE
APPROPRIATE FOR US TO HAVE , TO CONSIDER YOUR AMENDMENT TO MY AMENDMENT
BEFORE WE TAKE A VOTE ON AMENDMENT SIX. SO, WHY DON'T WE GO AHEAD AND GO
THROUGH THOSE STEPS NOW?
THANK YOU. I ASSUME THERE IS NO OBJECTION IF I GO AHEAD AND MAKE THE
MOTION TO CONSIDER?
THANK YOU SO MUCH. I'M SO SORRY. I AM NEEDING MORE COFFEE. COUNCILMEMBER
MOSQUEDA WE'RE GOING TO GO AHEAD AND CONSIDER AMENDMENT , YOUR AMENDMENT
TO AMENDMENT SIX THAT WAS NOT CIRCULATED BY NOON THAT YOU WOULD LIKE TO
PRESENT THAT DID NOT MEET THE COUNCIL RULES. THE COUNCIL RULES WILL NEED
TO BE SUSPENDED BEFORE WE CONSIDER IT. IF THERE IS NO OBJECTION THE
COUNCIL RULES WILL BE SUSPENDED TO CONSIDER AMENDMENT 6B. HEARING NO
OBJECTION THE COUNCIL RULE IS SUSPENDED AND NOW YOU MAY PROCEED WITH YOUR
AMENDMENT.
THANK YOU. I MOVED TO AMEND THE COUNCIL BILL 119833 AS PRESENTED IN
AMENDMENT 6B WHICH WAS RECENTLY DISTRIBUTED.
SECOND. IT HAS BEEN MOVED AND SECONDED. YOU MAY NOW ADDRESS YOUR
AMENDMENT 6B.
THANK YOU SO MUCH. AGAIN, THANK YOU TO YOU AND YOUR OFFICE FOR YOUR
PARTNERSHIP ON THIS POTENTIAL AMENDMENT. 6B PROPOSES TO INCREASE THE RATE
TO 1.5% , I AM SORRY, .15% OF THE COUNCIL PRESIDENT HAS DESCRIBED IT. IT
DOES NOT CHANGE THE SPENDING CAPS. UNDER 6B THE SPENDING CAPS WOULD
REMAIN AS THEY ARE IN THE BILL IS A CAME OUT OF COMMITTEE AND THIS MEANS
INCREASED REVENUE WOULD BE SPENT ON TRANSIT SERVICES AS WELL AS THE OTHER
ITEMS INCLUDED. I REALLY APPRECIATE THE CONVERSATIONS WE HAD THIS
MORNING, YOU WANT TO RECOGNIZE AS WE MOVE FORWARD THERE OBVIOUSLY WILL BE
CUTS TO THE VARIOUS NATURE, TOGETHER THIS COUNCIL IS WORKING THROUGH
THESE AMENDMENTS TO MAKE SURE WE ARE PRIORITIZING KEY SERVICES ESPECIALLY
AS COUNCILMEMBER MORALES DESCRIBED THIS MORNING, SPECIFICALLY FOLKS AND
HURT DISTRICT FOR MORE BLACK AND BROWN COMMUNITIES AND LOWER WAGE WORKERS
ESPECIALLY RELY ARE ON TRANSIT. I WANT TO THANK COUNCIL PRESIDENT
GONZALEZ FOR AMENDMENT THREE WHICH WILL SPECIFICALLY CALL ESSENTIAL
WORKERS IS A CRITICAL IMPORTANT PART OF THIS PROPOSAL. AMENDMENT 6B
SUPPORTING THE ABILITY FOR INDIVIDUALS TO ACCESS KEY TRANSIT SERVICES AND
MAKING SURE WE LOOK AT FREQUENCY OF SERVICES AS WE MOVE FORWARD. I
ABSOLUTELY SUPPORT THE ONGOING CONVERSATIONS AROUND TRANSIT PASSES FOR
LOW INCOME WORKERS AND I THINK WE HAVE AN OPPORTUNITY TO PARTNER WITH THE
COUNTY. THE COUNTY HAS AN UPCOMING LAUNCH OF THEIR FREE AND LOW- COST
FAIR PROGRAM THIS FALL. THAT PROGRAM WILL FOCUS ON LEVERAGING EXISTING
INFRASTRUCTURE TO FULLY SUBSIDIZED SERVICES FOR CUSTOMERS WHO EARN AT OR
BELOW 80% OF THE FEDERAL POVERTY LEVEL. AS WE WORK IN PARTNERSHIP WITH
METRO IT WOULD BE GREAT FOR US TO CONTINUE TO PROMOTE OUR VALUE AS A
COUNCIL THAT WE WANT MORE PEOPLE TO ACCESS TRANSIT SERVICES, MAKING SURE
THE PROGRAM CAN ACCOMMODATE ESSENTIAL WORKERS HAVE A BETTER UNDERSTANDING
OF WHERE THE NEEDS ARE. AND, AS WE DO SO, I THINK THE AMENDMENT IN FRONT
OF US , REALLY MAKE SURE WE ADDRESS AND CONTINUE TO HEAR FROM A LOT OF
THE FOLKS WHO CALLED IN TODAY AND COMMUNITY MEMBERS AROUND THE CITY THAT
WE WANT TO SEE HOW WE CAN ADDRESS THE CUTS IN SERVICES AND FREQUENCY WE
ARE ALREADY HEARING ABOUT , FOLKS WERE CONCERNED, LOW-WAGE WORKERS AND
ESPECIALLY COMMUNITIES OF COLOR ARE ABLE TO MAINTAIN ACCESS TO TRANSIT
SERVICES. I AM EXCITED ABOUT THIS AMENDMENT WORKING IN PARTNERSHIP TO PUT
FORWARD THIS CHANGE SO WE CAN REALLY BALANCE WILL BE HEARD IN TERMS OF
THE REGIONAL GOALS IN THE LETTER THAT CAME FROM THE COUNCIL PRESIDENT.
KING COUNTY, AND OUR ONGOING COMMITMENT TO MAKE SURE THAT THE INCREASE ,
SORRY THAT WE PRESERVE AS MANY ROUTES AS POSSIBLE AND LESSEN THE
REDUCTIONS IN KEY SERVICES SO WE CAN PROMOTE RIDERSHIP, ESPECIALLY FOR
OUR MARGINALIZED NEIGHBORHOODS SO MORE PEOPLE HAVE ACCESS TO TRANSIT AND
ESSENTIAL SERVICES.
THANK YOU COUNCILMEMBER MOSQUEDA. ARE THERE ANY QUESTIONS OR COMMENTS ON
THIS AMENDMENT? I DO CONSIDER IT FRIENDLY AMENDMENT. COUNCILMEMBER
HERBOLD ?
MY QUESTION IS, GIVEN THAT THESE ARE CAPS, NOT MINIMUM SPENDING
REQUIREMENTS, I'M NOT QUITE SURE WHY WE WOULDN'T WANT TO INCREASE THE CAP
FOR ACCESS TO TRANSIT FOR USE, LOW INCOME AND SENIORS GIVEN THAT OUR
PROPOSAL WE HAVE BEFORE US IS TALKING ABOUT AN INCREASE IN OVERALL
REVENUE . IF WE ARE GOING TO INCREASE THE REVENUE SELECTION FROM ONE 10th
OF A PERCENT TO .15%, THAT IS GOING TO RESULT IN A DECREASE IN OVERALL
TRANSIT CAPACITY. AND IT SEEMS LIKE HAVING FUNDING OF, A FUNDING CAP OF
$10 MILLION IS BASED ON A 10th OF A PERCENT. ASSUMPTION OF REVENUE. I
THINK IF WE ARE EXPANDING THE CAPACITY OF TRANSIT WE ALSO HAVE TO BE ABLE
TO CONTEMPLATE THE EXPANSION OF ACCESS AND POPULATIONS TO TRANSIT. AND
AGAIN, THE 23 MILLION COUNCIL PRESIDENT GONZALEZ'S AMENDMENT ISN'T
REQUIRED SPENDING, IT'S A MAXIMUM NUMBER OF DOLLARS TO BE SPENT. AND SO,
I AM CONCERNED YOU'RE NOT ALLOWING OURSELVES TO CONSIDER FOR INSTANCE $11
MILLION IN SPENDING GIVEN THAT WE HAVE THIS INCREASE IN CAPACITY
UNDECIDED BY THE INCREASE IN TAX.
THANK YOU FOR YOUR QUESTION. I WOULD START BY SAYING WE KNOW THAT EVEN
THOUGH IT'S JUST THE CAP, WE KNOW THOSE NUMBERS CAN BE VERY POWERFUL AND
WE DON'T WANT TO SET EXPECTATIONS THAT WE ARE GOING TO HAVE THE ABILITY
TO GO TO A CERTAIN LEVEL OR THAT ANY MONEY IS GOING TO BE DRAWN AWAY FROM
OTHER TRANSIT SERVICES. WE ALSO HEARD STRONGLY FROM TRINITY PARTNERS
INCLUDING TRANSIT AND LABOR THAT FREQUENCY ARE SOME OF THE BIGGEST
PRIORITIES THEY WANT TO SEE INVESTED IN. AND, THIS IS I THINK AN EFFORT
TO ALSO SAY THERE IS ONGOING INVESTMENTS AND PASSES AT OUR COUNTY LEVEL.
SO IT WOULD BE NICE PARTNERSHIP TO MAKE SURE WE ARE NOT DRYING JOURNALS
DOLLARS OVER TO A CERTAIN AREA EVEN THOUGH IT'S CONSIDERED A CAP.
I AM CONCERNED THAT IF WE ARE EXPANDING FREQUENCY OF SERVICE, AND NUMBERS
OF ROUNDS ROUTES AND NOT EXPANDING THE ABILITY OF LOW INCOME PEOPLE AND
SENIORS TO ACCESS THAT WE MAY BE DOING A DISSERVICE IT CERTAINLY SEEMS
LIKE IT SHOULD BE SOMETHING HIGHER THAN THE $10 MILLION THAT WAS BASED ON
A 10th OF A PERCENT OF REVENUE.
ANYTHING ELSE TO RESPOND AT THIS POINT.
NO. I THINK THIS IS THE HARD CHOICE TO MAKE WITH VERY FEW DOLLARS. IT'S
NOT NECESSARILY --WE ARE TRYING TO PRESERVE AS MANY ROUTES AS POSSIBLE.
WE ARE TRYING TO PRESERVE FREQUENCY AND WE DON'T WANT PEOPLE TO HAVE ACT
SIS TO PASSES WHEN IT IS NOT COMING 207 MINUTES AND COMING 40 MINUTE.
ACTION TO PASSES VERSUS FREQUENCY TO SERVICE. WHEN WE PARTNER WITH THE
COUNTY AND BASICALLY WITH THE NUMBER OF ROUTES AND
SERVICES WE HAVE IN PLACE. THE RIGHT HYBRID WITH THE PEOPLE THAT
HAVE PASSES AND THE BUS ACTUALLY CAME. THERE HAVE BEEN THOSE WITH
MORALES'S BILL, YOU WERE ALSO GRAPPLING WITH. BOTH ARE NEEDED AND WE ARE
NOT DRAW AGO LINE THAT WE NIGHT NOT BE ABLE TO MEET
THE QUESTION IS WHETHER WE STILL WANT TO STAY COMMITTED TO THE LOW INCOME
PROGRAMS. I THINK THE ANSWER IS YES. THEN THE QUESTION BECOMES AT WHAT
LEVEL. AND I THINK THAT, YOU KNOW, WE CAN INCREASE IT BY A LITTLE BIT OR
WE COULD INCREASE IT BY A LOT, WHICH WAS MY ORIGINAL AMENDMENT. BUT I
THINK ULTIMATELY WHAT THE OTHER POLICY QUESTION HERE IS WHAT WE WANT TO
SEE IN TERMS OF THE OVERALL HEALTH OF THE FREQUENT TRANSIT NETWORK
CITYWIDE THAT IS ACCESSIBLE TO ALL TRANSIT RIDERS REGARDLESS OF INCOME.
SO I THINK FOR THAT REASON, I CAN UNDERSTAND WHY COUNCIL MEMBER MOSQUEDA
IS BRINGING B, WHICH LEAVE IT IS LOW INCOME FUNDING INTACT, BUT THE LEVEL
OF 17% LEVEL SUBMITTED TO US WHILE STILL SAYING THE ADDITIONAL REVENUE
GENERATED FROM A .15% PROPOSAL CAN AND SHOULD BE USEDED TO FOCUS ON
FREQUENCY AND ENHANCED TRANSIT SERVICES THROUGHOUT THE CITY. SO --SO I'M
--YOU KNOW, IT'S A TOUGH CALL, BUT I WILL LIKELY SUPPORT AMENDMENT 6B,
FAVORING A FREQUENT TRANSIT NETWORK THROUGH THAT MODEL, SO --COUNCIL
MEMBER PETERSON.
THANK YOU. AND I DON'T KNOW IF IT HELPS OTHERS MAKING A DECISION, BUT THE
MEMO WE GOT FROM CENTRAL STAFF BREAKS OUT TO BUDGET THAT S DOT WAS
PLANNING GOING FORWARD. THEY SET THE BUCKETS, THE CATEGORIES AT HIGHER
LEVELS THAN WHAT THEY WERE BUDGETS, SO THEY ARE ONLY BUDGETING $7 MILLION
FOR THE LOW INCOME PASSES FOR ON AVERAGE. THE 10 MILLION BUCKET PROVIDES
A LOT OF CUSHION FOR IT TO GO UP, IF THAT HELPS FOLKS TODAY.
THAT IS HELPFUL. THANK YOU, COUNCIL MEMBER PETERSON. A GOOD REMINDER.
APPRECIATE IT. OKAY. ANY OTHER QUESTIONS OR COMMENTS ON AMENDMENT 6B? ?
ANYTHING IN CLOSING REMARKS, COUNCIL MEMBER MOSQUEDA.
I WANT TO THANK YOU. YOU CLARIFIED BETTER THAN I DID. I APPRECIATE
WORKING WITH THE COUNCIL MEMBERS TODAY TO ADVANCE THIS ROBUST PROPOSAL
YOU HAVE PUT FORWARD, COUNCIL COLLEAGUES AND CONTINUE AS MUCH AS WE CAN
IN THIS TOUGH ECONOMIC TIME TO MAKE SURE WE ARE PROVIDING AS MUCH ACCESS
TO TRANSIT SERVICES AND PASSES, AS WE KNOW THE RECESSION WILL BE LONG AND
THESE SERVICES ARE REALLY INCREED EBB. SO I APPRECIATE THE WORK WE HAVE
DONE WITH YOUR OFFICE, COUNCIL PRESIDENT AND THANK YOU FOR YOUR
FLEXIBILITY ON THIS.
ABSOLUTELY. OKAY. GOING TO GO AHEAD AND CLOSE OUT DEBATE ON AMENDMENT 6B
AND ASK THE CLERK TO PLEASE CALL THE ROLL ON ADOPTION OF AMENDMENT 6 B.
MORALES? MORALES?
AYE CLERIC AYE, YES? THANK YOU. MOSQUEDA?
AYE
PETERSON.
AYE
SAWANT.
AYE
STRAUSS.
YES.
LEWIS.
YES.
HERBOLD.
YES.
JUAREZ.
YES.
COUNCIL PRESIDENT GONZALEZ?
YES.
NINE IN FAVOR, NONE OPPOSED.
THANK YOU, MADAM CLERK. OKAY. ARE THERE --MOTION CARRIES AND AMENDMENT 6B
IS ADOPTED. ARE THERE ANY OTHER COMMENTS ON AMENDMENT 6 AS AMENDED? OKAY.
HEARING NONE, I THINK WE TALKED ABOUT THIS A LOT DURING COUNCIL BRIEFING.
WE HAVE DEBATED A LOT. I WILL ASK THE CLERK CALL ROLL ON ADOPTION
AMENDMENT 6 AS AMENDED.
MORALES?
YES
MOSQUEDA.
AYE.
PETERSON.
NO.
SAWANT
AYE.
STRAUSS.
YES.
LEWIS.
AYE.
HERBOLD.
YES.
JUAREZ.
YES.
COUNCIL PRESIDENT GONZALEZ?
YES.
8 IN FAVOR, 1 OPPOSED.
THANK YOU SO MUCH. THE MOTION CARRIES AND AMENDMENT 6 AS AMENDED IS
ADOPTED. THANK YOU SO MUCH, COLLEAGUES. WE ARE GOING TO GO AHEAD AND MOVE
IN THE ORDER I DESCRIBED. SO WE ARE NOW GOING TO CONSIDER I BELIEVE
AMENDMENT 8B, AND THIS IS GOING TO BE FROM COUNCIL MEMBER HERBOLD AND
PLEASE CORRECT ME IF I GOT THE LETTER WRONG, BUT I DO THINK IT'S 8B, SO I
WILL RECOGNIZE YOU IN ORDER TO HAVE YOU MOVE YOUR AMID 8B.
I MOVE TO MOVE AMENDMENT 8 B.
ANY SECOND.
SECOND
COUNCIL MEMBER HERBOLD, YOU ARE RECOGNIZED IN ORDER TO ADDRESS THE
AMENDMENT.
AGAIN, MUCH LIKE I ARGUED IN THE LAST AMENDMENT, THIS DOES NOT REQUIRE
ADDITIONAL FUNDING. IT HAS A FUNDING CAP FOR COVID-1919 RESPONSE AND
RECOVERY AND THE CLOSURE OF THE WEST SEATTLE BRIDGE IN PROPORTION WITH
THE INCREASE OF THE SIZE OF THE LEVY TO --FROM 6 MILLION TO $9 MILLION.
IT INCREASE IT IS FUNDING CAP, AGAIN, FOR BOTH EMERGING MOBILITY NEEDS
RELATED TO COVID-19 RESPONSE, THAT INCLUDES SOCIAL DISTANCING
REQUIREMENTS OF METRO, BUT ALSO FOR THE CLOSURE OF THE WEST SEATTLE
BRIDGE AND IMPACTS TO WEST SEATTLE AND SOUTH PARK RESIDENTS. S DOT
INDICATED THE BRIDGE WILL BE CLOSED THROUGH THE END OF 2021 AT LEAST AND
THAT IS IF A REPAIR IS CHOSEN, OBVIOUSLY, MUCH LONGER, IF A REPLACEMENT
IS CHOSEN, LAST WEEK THEY INDICATED REPAIR COULD TAKE EVEN LONGER THAN
PREVIOUS ESTIMATES. --OR COULD LAST LONGER THAN PREVIOUS ESTIMATES. MY
REQUEST TO METRO WAS TO GET INFORMATION ABOUT HOW A .1% STB WITH THE
ADDITION OF SERVICE WOULD BE --HOW THE EMERGING NEEDS FUNDING IN THAT
PARTICULAR SCENARIO WOULD STACK UP TO SERVICE CAPACITY PRECOVID-19. AND
THE RESPONSE WITH METRO IS WITH A TENTH OF A PERCENT WITH THE SPENDING
FOR EMERGING NEEDS, IT WOULD ALLOW FOR CAPACITY THAT WOULD BE CLOSE TO
PRECOVID-19 LEVELS, BUT NOT AT THOSE LEVELS. AND, AGAIN, WE NEED IF IN
WEST SEATTLE AND SOUTH PARK TO MOVE FROM 17% PEOPLE TAKING TRANSIT TO
MORE, THERE IS NO WAY WE CAN MEET THAT. ONLY IF IT IS AT CAPACITY
PRECOVID-19 LEVELS. SOME WOULD REQUIRE THIRD PARTY FUNDING, LIKE
ADDITIONAL STBD TO REQUIRING ADDITIONAL TWO BOATS UP TO ALL DAY AND YEAR
ROUND, ADDING 773, 775 WATER TAXI SHUTTLE IMPROVEMENTS AND/OR A NEW THIRD
ROUTE. AGAIN, RAPID RIDE C SERVICE FREQUENCY UPGRADES FOR PEAK AND OFF
PEAK, ROBUST SERVICE BETWEEN ADMIRAL AND DOWNTOWN, WHICH DOESN'T EXIST
RIGHT NOW, AND SUMMARILY ROUTE 50 SERVICE FREQUENCY UPGRADES TO THE SOTO
LINKED STATION. THESE ARE ALL THINGS THAT ARE GOING TO NEED ADDITIONAL
REVENUE ABOVE AND BEYOND WHAT WE ARE CONTEMPLATING RIGHT NOW. AND TASK
FORCE NOTED THEIR PLANS DO INCLUDE ADJUSTING SERVICE IN THE EVENT THERE
IS A HIGH BRIDGE INSTABILITY AND/OR LONG TERM CLOSURE OF THE LOW BRIDGE,
WHICH COULD SHIFT MORE FOR THE NEEDS FOR THE WATER TAXI. SO, AGAIN, THIS
IS NOT -- ALLOWING FOR THE CHANGE IN THE CAP DOES NOT REQUIRE THIS LEVEL
OF SPENDING, BUT IT WOULD ALLOW ADDITIONAL --IT WOULD ALLOW FOR
ADDITIONAL SPENDING OF AN ADDITIONAL $3 MILLION, GOING FROM $6 MILLION TO
$9 MILLION. THAT ISN'T 6 MILLION TO 9 MILLION SPECIFICALLY FOR WEST
SEATTLE BRIDGE-RELATED SPENDING. THAT ALSO INCLUDES THE COVID-19 RESPONSE
AND RECOVERY I CITED. THANK YOU
THANK YOU, COUNCIL MEMBER HERBOLD. ARE THERE QUESTIONS OR COMMENTS ON
PROPOSED AMENDMENT 8B? COUNCIL MEMBER MOSQUEDA.
THANK YOU COUNCIL MEMBER HERBOLD. I'M SORRY IF YOU SAID THIS, BUT CAN YOU
REPEAT FOR US WHAT TYPE OF STAKE HOLDING HAS BEEN DONE OR CONVERSATIONS
WITH THE DEPARTMENT ABOUT WHAT IMPACT THIS SORT OF EARMARKING WOULD HAVE
ON THE PROPOSED USE OF DOLLARS ALREADY?
SO, AGAIN, IT WOULDN'T BE EARMARKING. IT DOESN'T REQUIRE THE SPENDING,
BUT THERE ALREADY IS AN EMERGING NEEDS CATEGORY. THAT IS FOR BOTH COVID-
19 RECOVERY AND EMERGING NEEDS ASSOCIATED WITH THE WEST SEATTLE BRIDGE
CLOSURE. WE SPOKE WITH KING COUNTY METRO LAST WEEK ABOUT WHAT THE IMPACTS
WOULD BE AND WHAT THESE ADDITIONAL DOLLARS COULD BE SPENT ON. I JUST GAVE
THE LIST OF THOSE THINGS, WATER TAXI, THE SHUTTLE TO THE WATER TAXI,
LET'S SEE, WHAT ELSE DID I SAY? ADDITIONAL PEAK AND OFF PEAK SERVICE TO
RAPID RIDE. THIS IS ALL INFORMATION FROM METRO. AND ROBUST BUS SERVICE
BETWEEN ADMIRAL AND DOWNTOWN, WHICH ABSOLUTELY DOES NOT EXIST RIGHT NOW
AND ROUTE FREQUENCY UPGRADES TO THE SOTO LINKED STATION. SO IT'S AN
ADDITIONAL MAXIMUM OF $3 MILLION, AGAIN, NOT ALL $3 MILLION ANNUALLY FOR
THE EMERGING NEEDS ASSOCIATED WITH WEST SEATTLE BRIDGE CLOSURE, BUT ALSO
ASSOCIATEDED WITH COVID-19 RESPONSE AND RECOVERY, WHICH IS VERY FOCUSED
ON MAKING SURE THAT THERE IS THE ABILITY TO ADD SERVICE COMMENSURATE WITH
THE NEEDS TO REDUCE THE NUMBER OF PEOPLE WHO ARE ON EACH BUS.
COLLEAGUES, ANY OTHER QUESTIONS OR COMMENTS ON PROPOSED AMENDMENT 8B?
COUNCIL MEMBER PETERSON, PLEASE.
SO COUNCIL MEMBER HERBOLD, JUST TO CLARIFY, ONE OF THE THEMES IS TO THE
INCREASING MORE DOLLARS TOWARD TRANSIT SERVICE. SO THE CONCERN WITH THE
DIFFERENT CATEGORIES IS THAT THEY MIGHT BE FOR THINGS OTHER THAN TRANSIT
SERVICE. BUT JUST TO CLARIFY FOR ME SUBSECTION E THAT YOU WOULD BE
AMENDING INCLUDES TRANSIT SERVICE.
IT IS ONLY TRANSIT SERVICE. THOSE THINGS ARE ONLY TRANSIT SERVICE. .
SO I THINK THE ISSUE IS, YOU KNOW, THE POLICY QUESTION IS DO WE WANT TO
INCREASE THE AMOUNT IN THE EMERGING NEEDS BUCKET TO WHAT I THINK WOULD BE
A TOTAL OF $9 MILLION IF YOUR AMENDMENT PASSES. DID I GET THAT NUMBER
RIGHT.
A TOTAL OF 9 FROM 6
SO IT WOULD INCREASE THAT FUND BY 3 MILLION FOR EMERGING NEEDS. SO I
GUESS THE POLICY QUESTION IS WOULD WE RATHER HAVE THE ADDITIONAL $3
MILLION GO TO EMERGING NEEDS THAT ARE NOT YET KNOWN OR DO WE WANT IT TO
GO TO SORT OF EXISTING NEEDS THAT WE ARE AWARE OF NOW TRANSIT.
WE HAVE TO SHIFT OUR --THE NUMBER OF PEOPLE TAKING THE BUS FROM 17%, WHO
ARE TAKING THE BUS PRECOVID-19 TO 3%. THAT IS AN EMERGING TERM.
I WAS GOING TO PIVOT AND I THINK EMERGING NEEDS SEEMS TO BE A CATEGORY OF
THINGS THAT ARE STILL DEVELOPING, BUT THAT WE ARE AWARE ARE A GAP IN HOW
WE ARE ABLE TO MEET THE TRANSIT NEEDS OF WRITERS THROUGHOUT THE CITY AND
CERTAINLY THE POINTS YOU MAKE ABOUT WEST SEATTLE IN PARTICULAR ARE
SIGNIFICANT, EVEN PRECOVID WITH MAXIMUM TRANSIT SERVICES BEING PROVIDED:
MOST BUSES, IF NOT ALL OF THE BUSES IN AND OUT OF WEST SEATTLE WERE JUST
PACKED TO TO GILLS. AND SO I THINK WE ARE GOING TO SEE EVEN MORE OF THAT
IN THE FUTURE. SO I AM GOING TO SUPPORT AMENDMENT B --8 B WITH THE
UNDERSTANDING IT IS GOING TO FOR TRANSIT SERVICE PROJECTS THAT WILL HELP
OUR MOBILITY ACROSS THE CITY AND WITH THE UNDERSTANDING THAT CAPITAL
PROJECTS AND NEEDS RELATED TO CAPITAL INFRASTRUCTURE IS A DIFFERENT PART
OF THE LEVY AND ALSO FEDERAL, REGIONAL, STATE, COUNTY RESOURCES TO
ADDRESS THE CAPITAL BASED NEEDS. SO I FEEL COMFORTABLE AFTER THIS
DISCUSSION IN SUPPORTING AMENDMENT 8B. OKAY. ANY OTHER COMMENTS OR
QUESTIONS? ALL RIGHT. I WOULD ASK THAT THE CLERK PLEASE CALL THE ROLL ON
THE DEPOSITION OF AMENDMENT 8B.
MORALES?
NO.
MOSQUEDA? ? MOSQUEDA? PETERSON ?
YES. .
SAWANT.
NO >> STRAUSS.
YES. .
LEWIS.
YES. >> HERBOLD.
YES.
JUAREZ?
YES.
COUNCIL PRESIDENT GONZALEZ?
YES.
COUNCIL MEMBER MOSQUEDA, I DIDN'T GET YOUR VOTE. OKAY.
I'M SORRY. CAN YOU CALL ON COUNCIL MEMBER MOSQUEDA ONE MORE TIME?
COUNCIL MEMBER MOSQUEDA?
YES
SEVEN IN FAVOR, TWO OPPOSED.
THANK YOU, MADAM CLERK. THE MOTION CARRIES AND AMENDMENT 8B IS ADOPTED.
OKAY. WE ARE GOING TO MOVE ALONG NOW TO COUNCIL MEMBER STRAUSS WHO IS
GOING TO MOVE AMENDMENT 1. SO COUNCIL MEMBER STRAUSS, I WILL HAND IT OVER
TO YOU TO MAKE YOUR MOTION.
THANK YOU, COUNCIL MADAM RESPECT. I MOVE TO COUNCIL MEMBER 1.
IT HAS BEEN MOVE AND SECONDED. COUNCIL MEMBER STRAUSS, YOU ARE TO ADDRESS
AMENDMENT 1.
I SPOKE AT LENGTH FOR THE VIEWING PUBLIC'S REFERENCE, UNDERSTANDING THAT
WE HAVE A LOT BEFORE US TODAY, MANY MORE AGENDA ITEMS,LY MAKE THIS PRETTY
CLEAR. SIX YEARS ALLOWS FOR THE CONTINUITY OF SERVICE THAT FOUR YEARS
DOES NOT PROVIDE. IT ALLOWS US TO HAVE A PREDICTABLE AND DEPENDABLE
LENGTH OF TIME FOR US TO BE ABLE TO FUND OUR TRANSIT SERVICE. WHEN WE
LOOK AT REGIONAL TRANSIT BENEFIT DISTRICTS, WHICH I BELIEVE THAT WE NEED
TO MOVE TO, THERE IS STILL THE OPPORTUNITY FOR REGIONAL TRANSPORTATION
BENEFIT DISTRICT TO BE CREATED IN FOUR YEARS. AS WELL IF THAT IS THE
CASE, IT IS STILL IMPORTANT FOR SEATTLE TO MAINTAIN SOME OF ITS LEVERAGE
WITHIN KING COUNTY METRO TO BE ABLE TO PROVIDE THE LEVEL OF SERVICE THAT
SEATTLEIT ES DESERVE. IF WE WERE TO HAVE IT AT FOUR YEARS AND THE
REGIONAL SERVICE --THE REGIONAL AUTHORITY WAS TO BE STIRRED UP, THERE
WOULD STILL BE A 6-MONTH GAP IN OUR ABILITY TO COLLECT AND IMPLEMENT THE
LEVEL --THE REVENUE AND SERVICES THAT WE WANT. I DO HAVE ANOTHER
AMENDMENT TO ADDRESS THAT ISSUE SHOULD THIS AMENDMENT FAIL AND/OR PASS.
SO WE ARE ABLE TO MAKE CHANGES IN THE FUTURE. WE ARE ABLE TO GO BACK TO
VOTERS. WHAT WE KNOW NOW AND TODAY IS WITHIN THIS PANDEMIC AND THIS
CRISIS, ET CETERA, IT'S HARD TO TELL WHAT NEXT WEEK WILL LOOK LIKE, MUCH
LESS NOVEMBER OR IN FOUR YEARS FROM NOW, 2020 IS THE YEAR FOR THE MERGER,
I THINK IT'S IMPORTANT WE HAVE THE AUTHORITY TO RUN THIS TRANSPORTATION
BENEFIT DISTRICT FOR SIX YEARS, EVEN IF WE MAKE CHANGES IN THAT INTERIM.
THANK YOU, COUNCIL PRESIDENT.
THANK YOU, COUNCIL MEMBER STRAUSS. ARE THERE ANY QUESTIONS.
COUNCIL PRESIDENT, IF I MAY, IT'S COUNCIL MEMBER JUAREZ
YES. COUNCIL MEMBER JUAREZ.
YES. WE HAD A LENGTHY DISCUSSION ON JULY 17TH IF YOU RECALL AT 10:00 IN
THE MORNING IN WHICH THE MOTION TO REDUCE THIS FROM 6 TO 4 PASSED, AND I
WAS CONCERNED THEN ABOUT REDUCING THE TERM OR THE DURATION FROM 6 TO 4
YEARS IN LIGHT OF SOME OF THE COMMENT WES TALKED ABOUT BEFORE. THE
VEHICLE LICENSE IN I 976 AND MY CONCERN THAT SEATTLE WILL EXPIRE AND ALSO
SOME OF THE TRANSPORTATION DOLLARS THAT WE SEEK FROM THE COUNTY IN THAT
ELECTION YEAR AND THE ADVISORY BOARD WANTED SIX YEARS AND I TEND TO LOOK
TO PEOPLE WHO HAVE SUBJECT MATTER EXPERTISE AND WHO ARE PRETTY MUCH WAIST
DEEP IN THIS STUFF TO ADVISE US, HENCE THE TRANSIT ADVISORY BOARD. IF WE
ARE GOING TO --IF PEOPLE WANTED TO DOUBLE THE TAX, BUT LESSEN THE YEAR
AND THEN COMPLAIN THAT THIS IS A SALES TAX THAT'S REGRESSIVE OR TAX ON
PEOPLE, THAT SEEMED INCONSISTENT TO ME. SO IN LIGHT OF TODAY'S VOTE, WE
ARE NOW --WE HAVE A COMPROMISE OF WE ARE GOING TO THE AMENDMENTS THAT
PASSED THAT WE ARE NOT GOING TO DOUBLE THE TAX, THAT WE HAD A COMPROMISE
AND THANK YOU, COUNSELOR GONZALEZ AND MOSQUEDA, THAT WE CAN LOOK AT A TAX
OF .15% AND WITH COUNCIL MEMBER HERBOLD'S RESENT PASSAGE THAT WE DID ON
HER AMENDMENT, WHICH I THINK WAS PHENOMENAL, I AGAIN AM GOING TO VOICE MY
SUPPORT THAT THIS SHOULD HAVE STAYED AT SIX YEARS. I'M ONLY GOING TO SAY
THE TAXING AUTHORITY AND OUR ABILITY TO HAVE SOMETHING ON THE BALLOT,
THAT WE AGREE TO TAX OURSELVES IS POWERFUL. AND A QUICK NOTE. I KNOW A
LOT HAS BEEN SAID ABOUT A LOT OF THINGS AND I'M NOT GOING TO TALK A LOT.
THIS ISN'T AN AWARD SHOW THAT WE THANK EVERYBODY AND GOD. I JUST WANT TO
SAY I AM JUST A BIG PROPONENT ON PUTTING THINGS ON A BALLOT WHEN IT COMES
TO A TAX. DOESN'T MEAN I'M AGAINST OR FOR. I THINK THE PEOPLE SHOULD
DECIDE AND WE SHOULD GIVE THEM CREDIT FOR THAT, THAT THEY HAVE AN IDEA OF
WHAT'S GOING ON. THE PROPOSITION THAT THIS COUNCIL MEMBER, ME, THAT
SOMEHOW I'M AGAINST THE --OR AGAINST THINGS AND FOR THE POLICE IS
CATEGORICALLY WRONG. AGAIN, I'M BACK TO A PLAN PERCENTAGE, HOW WE GET
THERE, WHAT WE DECIDE TO PUT OUT TO THE VOTERS AND WHAT WE DON'T AND THAT
WE HAVE A RESPECTFUL CONVERSATION ABOUT HOW THAT HAPPENS AND I'M SORRY
FOR THE SIDE NOTE. AS YOU KNOW, I WASN'T ABLE TO BE THERE THIS MORNING.
SO ANYWAY, I AM GOING TO VOICE SUPPORT FOR COUNCIL MEMBER DAN STRAUSS'S
AMENDMENT THAT THE DURATION OF THIS SHOULD GO BACK TO 6 YEARS, NOT 4 FOR
THE REASONS THAT WERE STATED EARLIER AND COUNCIL PRESIDENT, THANK YOU FOR
GIVING ME THE OPPORTUNITY TO VENT JUST A TAD.
NOT AT ALL. THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR YOUR COMMENTS. ARE THERE ANY --I SEE
MORE HANDS UP. SO WE WILL NOW HEAR FROM COUNCIL MEMBER LEWIS AND COUNCIL
MEMBER HERBOLD. WE WILL FOLLOW HIM. COUNCIL MEMBER LEWIS.
THANK YOU SO MUCH, MADAM PRESIDENT. SO AS WITH THE OTHER DAY I REMAIN
COMMITTED TO THE 4-YEAR. I THINK ALL OF US CAN AGREE THAT THIS IS NOT AN
IDEAL TRANSPORTATION BENEFIT THAT ALL OUR TOOLS ARE TIED UP EITHER IN
COURT OR HAVEN'T BEEN INVENTED YET. I THINK FORCING THE CONVERSATION
EARLIER, AS I DISCUSSED THIS MORNING DURING BRIEFING IS THE BETTER COURSE
FORWARD. TO GET WHAT I THINK WE WOULD ALL LIKE TO SEE, WHICH IS THE
COUNTYWIDE TRANSIT BENEFIT DISTRICT WITH THE $100 CAR TAB FEES AND WITH
THE 1% SALES TAX THAT IS MORE BROADLY ASSESSED, RATHER THAN ONLY ON
SEATTLE TAXPAYERS, I WOULD LIKE TO SEE THAT SOONER, RATHER THAN LATER. I
THINK THAT SETTING IT AT 4 YEARS CREATE THAT IS SENSE OF URGENCY AND THAT
IS WHY I WOULD LIKE TO STICK WITH IT. I DON'T WANT TO SEE THE IMPERFECT
TRANSIT DISTRICT WE ARE GOING TO MAKE LAST MORE THAN IT NEEDS TO OR LAST
LONGER THAN IT NEEDS TO.
COUNCIL MEMBER HERBOLD, PLEASE.
THANK YOU. I FIRST WANT TO THANK COUNCIL MEMBER STRAUSS FOR BRINGING THIS
BACK FOR US. I REALLY APPRECIATE THIS AS SOMEBODY WHO VOTED IN THE
MINORITY LAST TIME IN SUPPORT OF THE 6 YEARS, I'M GLAD WE ARE HAVING
ANOTHER OPPORTUNITY TO DISCUSS THE PROS AND CONS OF BOTH TERMS. I REALLY
BELIEVE THAT SIX-YEAR TERM WILL GIVE US MORE LEVERAGE IN NEGOTIATION. WE
CAN OPT NOT TO COLLECT FUNDS IN YEARS 5 AND 6 IN THE EVENT OF A
SUCCESSFUL MEASURE AND IF IT MEANS HAVING MORE LEVERAGE, THIS IS A SIX-
YEAR TERM. IF SEATTLE HAS FUND INNING PLACE, OUR BARGAINING POSITION IS
BETTER AND ONE OF THE REASONS WHY THIS IS SO IMPORTANT IS OUR MEASURE
INCLUDES FUNDING FOR PROGRAMS TO SUPPORT TRANSIT ACCESSED TO LOW INCOME
RESIDENTS, SENIOR, AND YOUTH AND INCLUDING THE OR CA OPPORTUNITY PROGRAM,
WHICH AS WE KNOW PROVIDES TRANSIT PASSES FOR SEATTLE PUBLIC SCHOOL
STUDENTS IN GRADES K THROUGH 12, AS WELL AS STUDENTS PARTICIPATING IN THE
SEATTLE PROMISE SCHOLARSHIP PROGRAM, AS WELL, AGAIN, AS PROGRAMS TARGETED
TO SENIORS AND PUBLIC HOUSING RESIDENTS. I THINK, AGAIN, OUR BARGAINING
POSITION IS STRONGER TO PRESERVE THE FUNDING OF THESE PROGRAMS WITH A 6-
YEAR LEVY AND IF A 4-YEAR LEVY IS ON THE VERGE OF EXPIRING AND ALSO IF
THE KING COUNTY MEASURE FAILED IN 202 #4SHGS THE CITY WOULD NEED TO GO TO
THE BALLOT AND PERHAPS VERY EARLY 2025, AS WE HAD TO DO AFTER THE APRIL
2014 COUNTYWIDE MEASURE FAILED WITH 46% OF THE VOTE THAT YEAR. SO, AGAIN,
THAT DOESN'T GIVE US VERY MUCH TIME TO COME UP WITH AN ALTERNATIVE
MEASURE AND I DON'T WANT TO REPEAT THE EXPERIENCE THIS YEAR WHEN WE WERE
HOPING THAT THE COUNTY WOULD PUT A REGIONAL BALLOT ON A REGIONAL MEASURE
ON THE BALLOT AND AS WE HAVE SEEN, WE HAVE HAD TO SCRAMBLE A BIT HERE TO
GET OUR VERSION ON WHEN THAT DIDN'T HAPPEN. I SERVED ON THE REGIONAL
TRANSIT COMMITTEE LAST YEAR AND IT WAS DEFINITELY CHALLENGING FOR KING
COUNTY MEMBERS WHO WANTED TO MOVE FORWARD. I DON'T WANT OUR CITY TO BE
LEFT IN THE POSITION THAT WE WERE LEFT IN IN 2014 AND AGAIN THIS YEAR
WHEN WE HAD TO VOTE ON A REALLY QUICKLY DEVELOPED MEASURE. THANK YOU.
THANK YOU, COUNCIL MEMBER HERBOLD. ARE THERE ANY OTHER COMMENTS ON
PROPOSED AMENDMENT 1? COUNCIL MEMBER MOSQUEDA?
THANK YOU, MADAM PRESIDENT. I JUST WANTED TO SAY AS I DID AT THE
BEGINNING OF TODAY'S DISCUSSION, I WILL BE SUPPORTING MOVING FROM 4 YEARS
TO 6 YEARS AGAIN. I KNOW THAT WE ARE ALL COMMITTED TO WORKING ON A
REGIONAL APPROACH, THE RESOLUTION THAT COUNCIL MEMBER PETERSON WILL BE
BRINGING FORWARD LATER TODAY WILL HELP WITH THAT STATED COMMITMENT AS WE
WORK FOR BOTH MORE PROGRESSIVE OPTIONS AND FASTER OPTIONS IN OUR REGION.
THE STD PACKAGE, SIX YEAR SUPPORTS LONG TERM FROM S DOTTED ON NOTHING
PRESENTS REPLACING THIS AS DISCUSSIONS GO WITH THE COUNTY AND GO WELL. I
DID SUPPORT FOUR YEARS PREVIOUSLY. NOW THAT WE HAVE INCREASED THE AMOUNT
AND PROGRESSIVE REVENUE IN HAND, I THINK IT MAKES SENSE TO GO TO 6 YEARS
AND ENSURE WE HAVE SUBSTANTIAL AMOUNT --WE HAVE MORE MONEY TO HELP WITH
SOME OF OUR CRITICAL SERVICES AS WE CONTINUE TO ENGAGE WITH OUR COUNTY
PARTNERS. SO I APPRECIATE BOTH OF THESE ITEMS GOING HAND IN HAND AND I
WILL BE SUPPORTING 6 YEARS.
ANY OTHER COMMENTS?
COUNCIL MEMBER MORALES.
THANK YOU. JUST QUICKLY, I JUST WANT TO RESTATE MY CONCURRENCE WITH
COUNCIL MEMBER LEWIS. I DO THINK THAT WE NEED TO HAVE THE OPPORTUNITY TO
HAVE THE CONVERSATION SOONER WITH THE REGIONAL PARTNERS. I DON'T THINK
EVEN WITH THE ADDITIONAL FUNDING THAT WE ARE GOING TO BE ABLE TO HAVE NOW
THAT THIS IS A PACKAGE THAT WILL TRULY MEET THE NEEDS OF OUR COMMUNITY
AND I THINK THE SOONER WE CAN MOVE FORWARD A SOLUTION AND ENCOURAGE A
DIFFERENT KIND OF CONVERSATION ABOUT HOW WE FUND TRANSIT IN THE AREA, THE
BETTER ALL OF OUR NEIGHBORS WILL BE SERVED. SO I PLAN TO CONTINUE
SUPPORTING THIS AMENDMENT. SORRY: CONTINUE TO SUPPORT 4 YEARS OVER 6.
OKAY. ANY OTHER COMMENTS, COLLEAGUES? OH, COUNCIL MEMBER STRAUSS, CLOSE
OUT DEBATE, PLEASE.
JUST WANTED TO SAY THANK YOU TO YOU, COUNCIL PRESIDENT AND YOU COUNCIL
MEMBER JUAREZ FOR YOUR SPACES. WE TAKE LARGE ISSUES BEFORE US VIRTUALLY
AND WHILE THERE IS A SERIES OF LAYERS OF OTHER CRISES FACING US. THANK
YOU FOR YOUR PATIENCE AS WE DELVE INTO THE DURATION OF THIS BENEFIT
DISTRICT MOVING FORWARD. THANK YOU.
OKAY. COLLEAGUES, SO I'M GOING TO GO AHEAD AND CLOSE OUT DEBATE AND I
WOULD ASK THAT THE CLERK PLEASE CALL THE ROLL ON ADOPTION ON AMENDMENT 1.
MORALES?
NO.
MOSQUEDA.
AYE.
PETERSON.
AYE.
SAWANT.
NO. >> STRAUSS.
YES.
LEWIS.
NO.
HERBOLD.
AYE. I'M SORRY. YES.
JUAREZ.
AYE. >> COUNCIL PRESIDENT GONZALEZ.
NO.
FIVE IN FAVOR, FOUR OPPOSED.
OKAY. THE MOTION CARRIES AND AMENDMENT 1 IS ADOPTED. ARE THERE ANY --
SORRY. HOLD ON A MINUTE. MOTION CARRIES AND MOTION IS ADOPTED. WE ARE
GOING TO NOW MOVE TO AMENDMENT 7B, WHICH IS COUNCIL MEMBER STRAUSS'S
AMENDMENT, SO COUNCIL MEMBER STRAUSS, I AM GOING TO ASK YOU TO MAKE YOUR
FORMAL AMENDMENT OF 7B SO THAT IT CAN BE BEFORE THE COUNCIL.
THANK YOU, COUNCIL SUAREZ. I MOVE 911833 AS PRESENTED.
OKAY. IS THERE A SECOND?
SECOND.
IT'S BEEN MOVE AND SECONDED TO ADOPT AMENDMENT 7B. COUNCIL MEMBER
STRAUSS, YOU ARE RECOGNIZED IN ORDER TO ADDRESS THE AMENDMENT.
THANK YOU, COUNCIL PRESIDENT. I'M BRINGING FORTH THIS AMENDMENT TECHNICAL
CORRECTIONS IS MEANT TO COVER THE WAY TAX COLLECTION OCCURS WHEN THE
DEPARTMENT'S REVENUE IS MEASURE. IT WAS USEFUL IN THE LAST MEASURE AND
ASSUMING THE BENEFIT DISTRICT PASSES AT THE BALLOT BOX, WE WILL STILL
NEED TO HAVE A COLLECTION. WE WILL HAVE A COLLECTION GAP AND THE NEXT
TIME IT WILL BE FUNDED THROUGH THE IMPLEMENTATION OF THE NEXT MEASURE,
WHICH MEANS THAT THIS WILL ENSURE TAX COLLECTION FROM JANUARY 1ST, 2027
TO APRIL 1ST, 2027. THANK YOU.
THANK YOU COUNCIL MEMBER STRAUSS. ANY QUESTIONS ABOUT AMENDMENT 7B? OKAY.
HEARING NONE, WE WILL GO AHEAD AND CALL THE ROLL. I WILL ASK THE CLERK TO
CALL THE ROLL ON THE ADOPTION OF AMENDMENT 7B.
MORALES.
YES.
MOSQUEDA?
YES.
PETERSON.
YES.
SAWANT.
YES.
STRAUSS.
YES
LEWIS.
YES. >> HERBOLD.
YES.
JUAREZ.
YES.
COUNCIL PRESIDENT GONZALEZ?
YES.
NINE IN FAVOR, NONE OPPOSED.
THANK YOU, MADAM CLERK. THE MOTION CARRIES AND AMENDMENT 7B IS ADOPTED.
WE WILL NOW MOVE TO AMENDMENT 3, SO I WILL MOVE TO AMEND COUNCIL BILL
119833 AS PRESENTED ON AMENDMENT 3 ON THE AGENDA. IS THERE A SECOND?
SECOND.
THANK YOU. IT'S BEEN MOVE AND SECONDED TO ADOPT AMENDMENT 3. I WILL
ADDRESS IT REALLY QUICKLY. PRETTY SIMPLE STRAIGHTFORWARD AMENDMENT. WE
ADD A RECITAL CLAUSE THAT ACKNOWLEDGES THAT TRANSIT PROVIDES MOBILE TO
ESSENTIAL WORKERS AS THEY PERFORM ESSENTIAL FUNCTIONS FOR THE EMERGENCY,
REVISES SECTION 2 ITEM C TO ALLOW THE LOW INCOME PROGRAM BUCKET OF
DOLLARS TO BE SPENT AND USED TO PROVIDE TRANSIT PASSES FOR LOW INCOME
MEDICAL WORKERS, HEALTHCARE WORKERS, FIRST RESPONDERS, GROCERY WORKERS
AND OTHER WORKERS DEEMED ESSENTIAL BY ANY STATE ORDER. SO THE EFFECT OF
THIS IS SIMPLY INCLUDE ESSENTIAL WORKERS IN THE LEVY SPENDING PLAN IF THE
VOTERS APPROVE THE LEVY. I AM HAPPY TO ANSWER ANY QUESTIONS OR HEAR ANY
COMMENTS ON AMENDMENT 3. COLLEAGUES, ANY QUESTIONS OR COMMENTS? OKAY.
HEARING NONE, I WILL ASK THE CLERK --
MADAM PRESIDENT, SORRY.
COUNCIL MEMBER MOSQUEDA, PLEASE.
I WANTED TO CHIME IN AND SAY THANK YOU FOR BRINGING THIS FORWARD. I THINK
IT'S REALLY SMART TO INCLUDE THIS AMENDMENT TO MAKE SURE ESSENTIAL
WORKERS ARE EXPLICITLY CALL OUT AND WE EMPHASIZE OUR ONGOING SUPPORT NOT
JUST FOR THE WORK BUT PROGRAMS THAT SUPPORT THEM AND DURING THIS CRISIS
THAT IS COVID, WE KNOW THERE IS INCREASED NEED FOR US TO CONTINUE TO
ELEVATE THIS TYPE OF WORK AND MAKE SURE THAT WE ARE NOT DECREASING
SERVICES THERE. SO I JUST WANT TO SAY THANK YOU BECAUSE I FEEL LIKE THIS
STRIKES A NICE HEALTHY BALANCE OF WHAT WE WANT TO ACCOMPLISH AND EMPHASIS
ON ESSENTIAL WORKERS.
THANK YOU SO MUCH, COUNCIL MEMBER MOSQUEDA. ANY OTHER COMMENTS ON
AMENDMENT 3? OKAY. SEEING NONE, I WOULD ASK THE CLERK PLEASE CALL THE
ROLL ON THE ADOPTION OF AMENDMENT 3. >> MORALES?
YES.
MOSQUEDA?
AYE
PETERSON.
AYE
SAWANT.
YES
STRAUSS.
YES
LEWIS.
YES.
HERBOLD.
YES.
JUAREZ.
YES.
COUNCIL PRESIDENT GONZALEZ.
YES.
NINE IN FAVOR, NONE OPPOSED.
THANK YOU, MADAM CLERK. THE MOTION CARRIES AND AMENDMENT NUMBER 3 IS
ADOPTED AND WE WILL GO AHEAD AND NOW MOVE TO THE SUBSTANTIVE BILL. THERE
ARE NO ADDITIONAL --THERE ARE NO ADDITIONAL AMENDMENTS FOR US TO CONSIDER
ON THIS COUNCIL BILL. SO I WILL MAKE A GENERAL CALL FOR ANY COMMENTS ON
THE COUNCIL BILL AS AMENDED AND COUNCIL MEMBER PETERSON, YOU WILL GET THE
LAST WORD WHEN WE CLOSE OUT DEBATE. COLLEAGUES, ANY QUESTIONS ON THE
COUNCIL BILL AS AMENDED?
SEEING NONE, WE WILL GO AHEAD AND RECOGNIZE COUNCIL MEMBER PETERSON FOR
FINAL REMARKS AND WE WILL CALL THE ROLL ON THIS BILL.
THANK YOU COUNCIL PRESIDENT. YOU SURE THERE ARE NO MORE AMENDMENTS? JUST
KIDDING. THIS IS A GOOD DAY FOR PUBLIC TRANSIT. MANY WERE CONCERNED THAT
WITH THE TURMOIL AND UNCERTAINTY OF THE COVID PANDEMIC AND ECONOMIC
RECESSION WE MIGHT NOT BE ABLE TO RENEW THE FUNDING FOR THIS
TRANSPORTATION BENEFIT DISTRICT. IN FACT, OUR COLLEAGUES AT KING COUNTY
HAD TO TEMPORARILY ABANDON A REGIONAL MATTER AS THEY DIRECT THEIR
ATTENTION TO THE HEALTH CRISIS. WE WANTED TO BEAT THE CLOCK. WE SHARE
COMMON GROUND PUBLIC TRANSIT IS AN ESSENTIAL OPTION TO MOVE THE MOST
PEOPLE IN OUR REGION AS WE LOOK FORWARD TO A VIBRANT ECONOMY AND A
HEALTHY PLANET AND DESPITE THE DIVISIONS AND CONFLICT THAT IS MANY PEOPLE
MIGHT SEE REPORTED IN THE MEDIA, THE MAYOR AND THE CITY COUNCIL WITH PULL
TOGETHER AND ROW IN THE SAME POSITIVE DIRECTION WHEN WE DIRECT OUR
ATTENTION TO A HARD RESPONSIBLE WAY OF GOVERNING. IT WAS HEALTHY FOR US
TO HAVE THIS ROBUST YET RESPONSIBLE DEBATE ON THE TRADE-OFFS AND VARIOUS
DETAILS AND THE COMPROMISE TO MOVE IT FORWARD. IT MAY NOT BE PERFECT FOR
EACH OF US, BUT IT IS NECESSARY FOR EVERYONE. WE ARE READY TO SEND THE
SEATTLE TRANSPORTATION BENEFIT TO THE VOTERS. LET'S DO THIS.
THANK YOU COUNCIL MEMBER PETERSON FOR THOSE REMARKS. I JUST WANTED TO
BEFORE WE HAVE THE CLERK READ --EXCUSE ME -- BEFORE WE HAVE THE CLERK
CALL THE ROLL, I WANTED TO PUBLICLY THANK CALVIN CHOW FROM OUR STAFF
POLICY ANALYST WHO HAS BEEN WORKING ON THIS ISSUE AND REALLY APPRECIATE
ALL OF HIS WORK AND AS THE MEMBERS OF THE PUBLIC WILL SEE, WE HAVE KEPT -
-WE KEPT HIM BUSY UNTIL THE VERY LAST MINUTE WITH ALL OF THESE IMPORTANT
AMENDMENTS FOR OUR CONSIDERATION. SO THANK YOU TO CALND THANK YOU MY OWN
CHIEF OF STAFF BRIANNA THOMAS FOR HER WORK IN SHEPHARDING THE VARIOUS
AMENDMENTS FROM MY OFFICE THROUGH THE PROCESS. SO THANK YOU ALL FOR THE
GOOD CONVERSATION, AND LET'S GO AHEAD AND HAVE THE CLERK READ -- EXCUSE
ME --HAVE THE CLERK CALL THE ROLL ON THE PASSAGE OF THE BILL AS AMENDED.
MORALES.
YES.
MOSQUEDA?
YES
PETERSON?
YES
SAWANT?
YES
STRAUSS?
YES
LEWIS?
YES
HERBOLD?
YES
JUAREZ?
YES
COUNCIL PRESIDENT GONZALEZ?
YES
NINE IN FAVOR, NONE OPPOSED.
THANK YOU MADAM CLERK. THE BILL PASSES AS AMENDED AND THE CHAIR WILL SIGN
IT. I ASK THE CLERK TO PLEASE AFFIX MY SIGNATURE TO THE LEGISLATION ON MY
BEHALF. MOVING THROUGH OUR COMMITTEE REPORTS, WE ARE NOW GOING TO
CONSIDER AGENDA ITEM 2. WILL THE CLERK PLEASE READ ITEM NUMBER 2 INTO THE
RECORD. THE CLERK MIGHT BE ON MUTE.
THANK YOU. THE REPORT OF THE CITY COUNCIL AGENDA ITEM 2, RESOLUTION 31960
REQUIRE IT IS CITY OF SEATTLE RESOLVE TO WORK WITH KING COUNTY ON A
COUNTYWIDE TRANSIT MEASURE PURSUE REVENUE OPTIONS TO REPLACE THE SALE AND
USE TAX AND SUSTAINABILITY CONCERNS.
THANK YOU MADAM CLERK. I WILL MOVE TO ADOPT RESOLUTION 31960. IS THERE A
SECOND.
SECOND
IT HAS BEEN MOVE AND SECOND AND I'M GOING TO GO AHEAD AND RECOGNIZE
COUNCIL MEMBER MOSQUEDA AS THE PRIME SPONSOR OF THE RESOLUTION. YOU ARE
RECOGNIZED IN ORDER TO ADDRESS THIS ITEM.
THANK YOU, MADAM PRESIDENT. IN ORDER TO PUT THE RESOLUTION AS AMENDED IN
FRONT OF US, I WOULD LIKE TO MOVE TO AMEND RESOLUTION 31960 BY
SUBSTITUTING VERSE 4 FOR VERSION 3.
SECOND. IT'S BEEN MOVED AND SECONDED. THANK YOU TO ADOPT THE SUBSTITUTE.
COUNCIL MEMBER MOSQUEDA, YOU ARE RECOGNIZED IN ORDER TO RECOGNIZE THE
SUBSTITUTE.
THANK YOU. COLLEAGUES, THIS IS AN EXCITING VOTE WE JUST TOOK, SO THE
RESOLUTION HERE TODAY IS COUPLED WITH THE IMPORTANT PIECE OF LEGISLATION
THAT WE JUST VOTED ON TO SEND TO THE BALLOT. IT'S COMPLEX IN ITS NATURE
THAT WE ARE FACING ECONOMIC CRISIS AT THE SAME TIME THAT OUR LOWER WAGE
HOUSEHOLDS AND MOST VULNERABLE FAMILIES WILL NEED GOVERNMENT SERVICES
EVEN MORE SO, GIVEN THE UNCERTAINTY NEEDED DUE TO COVID AND INITIATIVES
976 ON THE ECONOMIC DOWNTURN, THE PROPOSAL ON THE BALLOT WILL BE CRITICAL
TO MAKE SURE PEOPLE CAN ACCESS NEEDED SERVICES. THE RESOLUTION CALLS FOR
US TO DO MORE. WE KNOW THERE IS UNCERTAINTY IN ECONOMIC RECOVERY IN FRONT
OF US. WE KNOW IT IS IMPORTANT FOR US TO CONTINUE TO INVEST IN THE
RESILIENCY OF OUR COMMUNITY AND WE CAN DO SO AS WE COUPLE AND WORK
TOGETHER WITH OUR COUNTY PARTNERS. PARTICULARLY, IT'S IMPORTANT FOR US AS
A REGION TO CONTINUE TO INVEST IN OUR LOWEST INCOME COMMUNITIES WHO ARE
DISPROPORTIONATELY PEOPLE OF COLOR AND DISPROPORTIONATELY IMPACTED BY
COVID AND THE ECONOMIC RECESSION AND FRANKLY, THE INEQUITABLE ECONOMY WE
HAD EGG PRIOR TO COVID. TRANSIT IS A LIFELINE AS WE PROMOTE TRANSIT AND
NONCAR MODES OF TRANSPORTATION, IT IS IMPORTANT FOR US TO CONTINUE TO
INVEST IN THOSE SYSTEMS, ESPECIALLY MAKING SURE LOWER INCOME FOLKS AND
ALL SEATTLEITES CAN ACCESS. IN THE PAST MONTHS DUE TO COVID SINCE STD WAS
IMPROVED TRANSIT RIDERSHIP HAS INCREASED SIGNIFICANTLY IN SEATTLE. WE
NEEDED THE MEASURE WE JUST PASSED AND OUR COUNTY PARTNERS TO CONTINUE TO
INVEST WITH US TO CREATE A SYSTEM THAT WILL DIRECTLY BENEFIT OUR ENTIRE
REGION, INCLUDING LOW INCOME COMMUNITIES. SO THE RESOLUTION PUT FORWARD
IS REALLY A PARTNERSHIP, A PARTNERSHIP WITH KING COUNTY, ADVOCATES,
TRANSIT ADVOCATES TO REREGIONALIZE SPENDING AND PLANNING FOR COUNTYWIDE
TRANSIT MEASURE. THIS RESOLUTION WORKS TOWARDS REPLACING PROGRESSIVE
SALES TAX AND USES TAXES IN A MORE PROGRESSIVE WAY FOR TRANSIT SERVICES
AND OTHER SOURCE. WE SPENT A LOT OF TIME OVER THE LAST FEW WEEKS TALKING
ABOUT THE REGRESSIVE WAYS AND WE TALKED ABOUT THIS THIS AFTERNOON. THE
RESOLUTION IN FRONT OF US PUTS FORWARD OUR COMMITMENT TO MAKING SURE THAT
FUTURE TRANSIT PACKAGES ARE MOVING TOWARDS MORE PROGRESSIVE NATURE OF
TRANSIT MAY'VEE HEAVE KNEW SOURCES FOR THESE NEEDS AND ALSO BE RAISING
REVENUE SO THAT WE CAN HAVE A MORE ROBUST INVESTMENT IN TRANSIT SERVICES
AROUND OUR REGION. THE RESOLUTION AS I MENTIONED FOLLOWS A LETTER SENT BY
COUNCIL PRESIDENT -- KING COUNTY PRESIDENT BALLDUSHI AND UP THE GROVE TO
ENGAGE IN CONVERSATIONS AROUND REGIONAL TRANSPORTATION BENEFIT DISTRICT
CONVERSATIONS. PART OF THE LETTER READS "HAND TRANSIT HAS PROVIDED MUCH
NEEDED MOBILITY OPTION FOR ESSENTIAL WORKERS AND FIST SPOERNDS AND PEOPLE
THROUGHOUT KING COUNTY HAVE HAD A WAY TO GET TO ESSENTIAL SERVICES SUCH
AS GROCERY STORES. GREATLY REDUCED, THE NETWORK HAS CONTINUED TO
FUNCTION, CURRENTLY PROVIDING MORE THAN 125,000 TRIPS A DAY. DURING THE
LAST FEW MONTHS OF THE CLOSURES, FOR INSTANCE, WE HAVE SEEN THE ROUTES
WITH THE LEAST REDUCTION IN RIDERSHIP HAVE PRIMARILY BEEN FROM THOSE IN
SOUTH SEATTLE AND SOUTH KING COUNTY. THOSE COMMUNITIES ARE USING TRANSIT
STILL TO MAKE SURE THAT THEY CAN ACCESS KEY ESSENTIAL TRIPS TO SHOPPING,
CHILD CARE AND OTHER CRITICAL SERVICES LIKE HEALTHCARE. I LIKE TO THANK
COUNCIL MEMBER PETERSON FOR COSPONSORING AND MAYOR JURY KIN FOR
CONCURRING, ESPECIALLY THIS RESOLUTION IN FRONT OF US FROM TRANSPORTATION
CHOICES, MLK LABOR AND PUGET SOUND AND ALSO FROM COUNCIL MEMBER BALLDUCHI
'S OFFICE AND ALSO PREVIOUS STD WE HAD. THANK YOU, COUNCIL MEMBER
PETERSON FOR HELPING SHEPARD US THROUGH THIS.
THANK YOU SO MUCH. ARE THERE ANY OTHER COMMENTS ON THE RESOLUTION?
COUNCIL MEMBER SAWANT?
THANK YOU. I WILL BE VOTING IN FAVOR OF THE RESOLUTION FOR REGIONAL
FUNDING FOR METRO BECAUSE WORKING CLASS PEOPLE NEED TRANSIT SERVICE
BEYOND CITY LIMITS AND THE COST OF HOUSING HAS PUSHED MORE AND MORE
WORKING INCLUDING WORKING PEOPLE OF COLOR OUT OF LIMITS. IT IS IMPORTANT
WE DO NOT ALLOW REGIONAL FUNDING TO BE USED AS AN EXCUSE BY ANYBODY ON
THE CITY COUNCIL TO BE USED AS AN EXCUSE FOR OPPOSITION TO LOCAL
PROGRESSIVE FUNDING OPTIONS. I'M NOT IMPLYING THIS RESOLUTION IS DOING
THAT. BUT I'M SAYING IN GENERAL WE HAVE TO BE AWARE OF THAT. AND BECAUSE
I RECALL WHEN WE STARTED FIGHTING FOR THE AMAZON TAX, THE MAYOR AND
CHAMBEROVER COMMERCE IMMEDIATELY RESPONDED SAYING THE ISSUE OF
HOMELESSNESS WERE REGIONAL PROBLEMS. I DON'T DISAGREE. IN FACT THIS IS A
NATIONWIDE PROBLEM, BUT THEY SAID THEREFORE THE CITY OF SEATTLE SHOULD
NOT TAX BIG BUSINESS TO ADDRESS THEM. I SUPPORT THE COUNTY OR STATE IN
ENACTING PROGRESSI TAXES ON BIG BUSINESS OR TRANSIT. IN FACT,LY WARMLY
WELCOME ANY SUCH DEVELOPMENT. BUT I DON'T THINK THAT GIVEN THE PAST
DECADE'S TRAJECTORY WE CAN WAIT FOR THEM TO DO SO. Y WILL HAVE TO
CONTINUE FIGHTING TO IMPLEMENT PROGRESSIVE DEVELOP ND. CERTAINLY MY
OFFICE WILL CONTINUE DOING THAT TO FUND TRANSIT AND DEVELOPMENT IMPACT
FEES IN 2021 AND I URGE THE ORDINARY PEOPLE IN THE MOVEMENT THAT WE NOT
BE SIDETRACKED BY THE HOPE THAT WE HAVE HEARD MANY, MANY TIMES FOR
PROGRESSIVE REGIONAL FUNDING OR FUNDING IN GENERAL.
ARE THERE ANY ADDITIONAL COMMENTS? COUNCIL MEMBER HERBOLD, PLEASE.
THANK YOU. JUST REAL QUICKLY I WANT TO SPEAK AS A COUNCIL MEMBER WHO
REPRESENTS A DISTRICT AT THE SOUTHERN EDGE OF SEATTLE THAT WE REALLY TAKE
A DEEP DO I HAVE IN OUR DISCUSSIONS AROUND THE SEATTLE TRANSPORTATION
BENEFIT DISTRICT ABOUT HOW BUS SERVICE DOESN'T STOP AT THE CITY LIMITS
AND THE LOGIC FOR DESIGNING ROUTES DOESN'T NECESSARILY FIT WITH CITY
BOUNDARIES. IN FACT, SOME OF THE BUS SERVICE THAT VERY LARGE NUMBERS OF
PEOPLE DEPEND ON HAVE MORE STOPS OUTSIDE OF THE CITY LIMITS THAN WITHIN
THE CITY LIMITS. SO IT'S REALLY IMPORTANT IN DESIGNING THIS LEVY AND IN
FUTURE LEVIES THAT WE STRUGGLE WITH HOW TO PROVIDE SERVICE AND WHAT LEVEL
OF SERVICE FOR ROUTES THAT GO ACROSS THE CITY LIMITS BUT THAT OUR
CONSTITUENTS DESPERATELY RELY ON AND THIS RESOLUTION FOR REGIONAL
APPROACH TO TRANSIT FUNDING IS REALLY IMPORTANT FOR THAT REASON AND IN
OTHERS AS WELL. THANK YOU.
THANK YOU SO MUCH, COUNCIL MEMBER HERBOLD. ANY OTHER COMMENTS ON THE
RESOLUTION? OKAY. HEARING NONE, I ASK THAT THE CLERK PLEASE CALL THE ROLL
ON THE ADOPTION OF THE SUBSTITUTE.
MORALES.
YES
MOSQUEDA.
YES.
PETERSON.
YES
SAWANT
YES
STRAUSS.
YES
LEWIS.
YES
HERBOLD. >> YES
JUAREZ? COUNCIL PRESIDENT GONZALEZ.
YES
EIGHT IN FAVOR, NONE OPPOSED.
THANK YOU SO MUCH. THE MOTION CARRIES. THE SUBSTITUTE IS ADOPTED AND
VERSE FOUR OF THE RESOLUTION IS BEFORE THE COUNCIL. ARE THERE ANY
ADDITIONAL COMMENTS ON THE RESOLUTION AS AMENDED? OKAY. HEARING NONE, I
WOULD ASK THE CLERK CALL THE ROLL ON THE RESOLUTION AS AMENDED.
MORALES.
YES >> MOSQUEDA.
SORRY. YES.
PETERSON.
YES
SAWANT.
YES
STRAUSS.
YES
LEWIS.
YES.
HERBOLD.
YES
COUNCIL PRESIDENT GONZALEZ.
YES.
EIGHT IN FAVOR, NONE OPPOSED.
THANK YOU, MADAM CLERK. THE RESOLUTION IS ADOPT AND THE CHAIR WILL SIGN
IT. ASK THE CLERK TO PLEASE AFFIX MY SIGNATURE TO THE LEGISLATION ON MY
BEHALF. COLLEAGUES, REALLY QUICKLY, IF THERE IS NO OBJECTION, COUNCIL
MEMBER JUAREZ WILL BE EXCUSED FROM THE REMAINDER OF THE JULY 27TH CITY
COUNCIL MEETING. HEARING NO OBJECTION, COUNCIL MEMBER JUAREZ IS EXCUSED
FROM THE REMAINDER OF TODAY'S CITY COUNCIL MEETING. I WOULD NOW ASK THE
CLERK TO READ AGENDA ITEM NUMBER 3 INTO THE RECORD.
AGENDA ITEM NUMBER 3, ESTABLISHING CITY COUNCIL TO IMPLEMENT INTERNET FOR
ALL SEATTLE, ENABLING ALL SEATTLE RESIDENTS TO ACCESS AND BROADBAND
INTERNET SERVICE THAT IS AFFORDABLE AND RELIABILITY
THANK YOU, COUNCIL MEMBER CLERK. PETERSON, WE WILL GET TO YOU, CUE YOU
UP. I MOVE TO ADOPT 3196. YOU ARE THE PRIME SPONSOR, WHICH I HAD AN
OPPORTUNITY TO COSPONSOR WITH YOU. I WILL HAND IT OVER TO YOU.
THANK YOU, COUNCIL PRESIDENT. I WILL ALSO READING THE REMARKS FROM
JUAREZ, WHO IS ANOTHER COSPONSOR. THIS COLLEAGUE IS INTERNET FOR ALL
RUSTS LUISING, 31956. I ANNOUNCED AND DISTRIBUTED THE RESOLUTION ON THE
18 AND WE INTRODUCED IT OFFICIALLY ON JULY 6. AND WE --HAPPY TO HAVE
LEADERSHIP OF COUNCIL PRESIDENT GONZALEZ AND COUNCIL MEMBER JUAREZ AND I
KNOW OTHER COUNCIL MEMBERS SUPPORT THIS. SO THANK YOU FOR YOUR COMMITMENT
AND LEADERSHIP TO THIS SOCIAL JUSTICE TECHNOLOGY ISSUE. I DO WANT TO
ACKNOWLEDGE THE EXECUTIVE FOR THEIR EFFORTS THUS FAR TO PURSUE DIGITAL
EQUITY AND ACKNOWLEDGE THE OVER 25 MEETS MY STAFF HAD, INITIAL
PRELIMINARY MEETS WITH STAKE HOLDERS, THIS WILL CONTINUED, THIS OUTREACH
AND ENGAGEMENT PROCESS, DEPARTMENT OF TECHNOLOGY WILL CONTINUE THIS
PROCESS. REALLY THIS RESOLUTION KICK STARTS THE PROCESS OF EXPANDING
ACCESS AND ADOPTION OF INTERNET THAT'S RELIABLE AND AFFORDABLE. THERE IS
A SUBSTITUTE RESOLUTION, SO COUNCIL PRESIDENT CAN REMIND ME ON THE
PROCEDURE FOR THAT. THAT SUBSTITUTE SIMPLY MAKES MINOR AND TECHNICAL
CORRECTIONS AND FLESHES OUT A FEW SECTIONS. STAFF DISTRIBUTED THIS. IT'S
ON THE AGENDA TODAY. THE BIG PICTURE IS THAT THIS IS JUST A RESOLUTION
THAT OUTLINES OUR OPERATIONAL GOAL. IT STATE IT IS IMPORTANCE OF
PROVIDING INTERNET ACCESS TO ALL RESIDENTS IN SEATTLE AND BEGINS THE WORK
OF HEARING BACK FROM OUR DEPARTMENT OF INFORMATION TECHNOLOGY. IN A CITY
THAT PRIDES ITSELF IN LEADING THE WORLD IN TECHNOLOGY, THE COVID CRISIS
HAS LAID BEAR THE INEQUITIES OF THE DIGITAL DIVIDE. WE CANNOT IMPEDE OUR
WORKERS OR HINDER OUR SMALL BUSINESSES AND NONPROFITS. IN THE WORDS OF A
LOCAL NONPROFIT LEADER IN SEATTLE THAT IS SUPPORTING THIS RESOLUTION,
INECK QITYS LEAD TO DISPARATE OUTCOMES. FUNDAMENTAL WAY PEOPLE
PARTICIPATE IN SOCIETY. THIS PROPOSAL WILL MOVE US CLOSE TOWARD EQUITABLE
INTERNET ACCESS. IT'S TIME TO ENSURE RELIABILITY AND AFFORDABLE ACCESS AS
PART OF THE CITY'S INFRASTRUCTURE FOR JUSTICE AND ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT.
LET ME NOW PLEASE READ THE COMMENTS FROM COAT SPONSOR DEBORAH JUAREZ.
COUNCIL MEMBER JUAREZ WRITES WITH THE ADVENT OF THE COAT I HAVE CRISIS,
INEQUITIES IN OUR SOCIETY HAVE BEEN EXPOSED. WE SEE SCHOOL CHILDREN
UNABLE TO ACCESS SCHOOL WORK BECAUSE OF LACK OF ACT SAYS TO TECHNOLOGY.
SMALL BUSINESSES CHALLENGE TO THE ECONOMY. THIS WILL HELP US TAKE A SOLID
STEP FORWARD. WE NEEDED TO EXPAND INTERNET ACCESS AND MAKE IT MORE
AFFORDABLE TO EMPOWER ALL STUDENTS TO PARTICIPATE IN REMOTE LEARNING AND
ENABLE OUR SMALL BUSINESSES TO SUCCEED IN THIS NEW ECONOMY. I, COUNCIL
MEMBER JUAREZ WORKING WITH GROUPS SUCH AS LITERACY SOURCE, A PUBLIC
LIBRARY SYSTEM AND AM PLEASED TO BE A COSPONSOR TO FURTHER EXPAND
INTERNET ACCESS FOR ALL. .
WE DO HAVE TO GET A SUBSTITUTE VERSION BEFORE US, SO I WOULD LOOK TO YOU
TO MAKE THE FORMAL MOTION TO INTRODUCE SUBSTITUTE VERSIONS FOR VERSION
2B.
YES, I WOULD LIKE TO MOVE THE SUBSTITUTE VERSION TO RESOLUTION 31956 AS
PUBLISHED ON TODAY'S AGENDA.
THANK YOU SO MUCH. IS THERE A SECOND?
SECOND.
IT'S BEEN MOVE AND SECONDED TO ADOPT THE SUBSTITUTE. COUNCIL MEMBER
PETERSON, I KNOW YOU JUST ADDRESSED THE SUBSTITUTE. ARE THERE ANY
ADDITIONAL COMMENTS EITHER FROM YOU OR OTHER COLLEAGUES ON THE
SUBSTITUTE. OKAY. HEARING NONE, I ASK THE CLERK PLEASE CALL THE ROLL --
SORRY.
OKAY. NO, THAT'S OKAY. WE ARE JUST VOTING ON A SUBSTITUTE BILL RIGHT NOW
SO WE WILL BE VOTING ON THE WHOLE THING IN JUST A MINUTE. OKAY. GREAT. SO
LET'S GO AHEAD AND HAVE THE CLERK CALL THE ROLL ON THE ADOPTION OF THE
SUBSTITUTE. TFRJTS MORALES.
YES
MOSQUEDA.
YES
PETERSON.
YES
SAWANT.
YES
STRAUSS.
YES
LEWIS.
YES
HERBOLD.
YES
COUNCIL PRESIDENT GONZALEZ.
YES.
EIGHT IN FAVOR, NONE OPPOSED.
THANK YOU SO MUCH. THE MOTION CARRIES. THE SUBSTITUTE IS ADOPTED AND
VERSION THREE OF THE RESOLUTION IS NOW BEFORE THE COUNCIL. AND I'M GOING
TO GO AHEAD AND OPEN IT UP NOW TO COLLEAGUES FOR FURTHER COMMENTS ON THE
RESOLUTION. I THINK I SAW COUNCIL MEMBER SAWANT FIRST AND THEN COUNCIL
MEMBER MORALES AND COUNCIL MEMBER HERBOLD. COUNCIL MEMBER SAWANT, PLEASE.
THANK YOU. I WILL BE VOTING YES ON THIS RESOLUTION, OF COURSE. COMCAST
AND OTHER FOR PROFIT INTERNET SERVICE PROVIDERS ARE NOT INTERESTED IN
INTERNET FOR ALL OR EVEN EQUALITY FOR INTERNET FOR SOME. ACTUALLY THEY
ARE INTERESTED IN THEIR OWN PROFIT. THAT'S WHY THEY MAKE INTERNET SO
EXPENSIVE AND THAT'S WHY THEY SIGN YOU UP AT ONE RATE, ONLY TO HAVE YOUR
BILL SKYROCKET. THAT IS WHY YOUR INTERNET RUNS AT ONE TENTH THE
ADVERTISED SPEED IF YOU ARE LUCKY. WHAT WE REALLY NEED IS MUNICIPAL
BROADBAND, ONE LIKE A UTILITY, PUBLIC UTILITY. MY TIME WITH THE COUNCIL I
HAVE SEEN MANY, MANY STUDIES FOR INTERNET FOR ALL AND MUNICIPAL
BROADBAND. THIS RESOLUTION REQUESTS ANOTHER REPORT AND I WILL SUPPORT.
BUT WHAT HAS BEEN MISSING IN ALL THESE YEARS IS NOT ANOTHER REPORT. WHAT
HAS BEEN MISSING IS THE POLITICAL TAKE ON COMCAST AND ACTUALLY BILL OUT A
MUNICIPAL BROADBAND NETWORK IN THE CITY. POLITICAL WILL IS THE CENTRAL
COMPONENT BECAUSE COMCAST IS COMPLETELY OPPOSE, COMCAST AND OTHER TELECOM
ARE COMPLETELY OPPOSED TO MUNICIPAL BROADBAND AND WINNING BROADBAND WILL
BE ELECTED OFFICIALS WILLING TO TAKE ON COMCAST. OFFICIAL HAVES FOUGHT
FOR THE FUNDING TO BUILD THE PILOT THAT WAS PROPOSED BY ONE STUDY, THAT
IS BUILDING MUNICIPAL BROADBAND IN ONE NEIGHBORHOOD, SEEING, YOU KNOW,
LEARNING LESSONS FROM THAT AND BILLING OUT INTO THE ENTIRE CITY. BUT AT
THAT TIME THEY DID NOT AGREE. THIS COMING AUTUMN, THEY WILL BRING THAT
PILOT BACK. I BELIEVE ALL COUNCIL MEMBERS WHO VOTE YES SHOULD VOTE YES ON
THAT PROPOSAL ALSO. THANK YOU
THANK YOU COUNCIL MEMBER SAWANT. UP NEXT IS COUNCIL MEMBER MORALES AND
THEN COUNCIL MEMBER HERBOLD.
THANK YOU. COLLEAGUES, I DO APPRECIATE THIS RESOLUTION. SEVERAL YEARS AGO
I WAS WORKING WITH UPGRADE SEATTLE TO GET MORE INTEREST OF MUNICIPAL
BROADBAND WITH THE CITY COUNCIL. I THINK IT'S IMPORTANT WE SEEK OUT THE
KIND OF SOLUTIONS THAT OTHER CITIES HAVE TRIED AND, YOU KNOW, UNDERSTAND
WHAT LESSONS THEY HAVE LEARNED ABOUT MUNICIPAL BROADBAND. I WOULD LOVE TO
SEE THAT LANGUAGE RESTORED, UNLESS I'M LOOKING AT THE WRONG VERSION OF
THE RESOLUTION. BUT I THINK MORE IMPORTANTLY, WHAT I WANT TO SAY IS THERE
ARE TWO THINGS TO MAKE SURE WE CONTINUE TO BIRD DOG AS MY TEXAS FAMILY
WOULD SAY. ENSURING THE DIG ONCE ARE FOLLOWED. SO WHEN A CITY BIGS UP A
STREET OR CONSTRUCTS A BIKE LANE THAT PUT THAT PUBLICLY OWNED FIBER DOWN.
THAT'S 90% OF THE COST OF EXPANDING A NETWORK IN THE FIRST PLACE. THE
SECOND THING IS, YOU KNOW, AS COUNCIL MEMBER SAWANT WAS SAYING, WE HAVE
GOT STACKS OF REPORTS. WE KNOW THIS IS AN IMPORTANT TOOL, ESPECIALLY THAT
ISSUE HAS BEEN BROUGHT INTO RELIEF IN LIGHT OF COVID AND UNDERSTANDING
HOW DEEPLY INEQUITABLE ACCESS TO INTERNET IS IN OUR COMMUNITY, ESPECIALLY
FOR YOUNG KIDS WHO ARE STRUGGLING TRYING TO GET THEIR SCHOOL WORK DONE.
SO I REALLY THINK WE NEED TO COMMIT TO A PLAN, A SHOVEL READY MUNICIPAL
BROADBAND PLAN SO IF THERE IS ANY STIMULUS MONEY COMING DOWN THE PIKE IN
THE NEXT FEW YEARS WE CAN APPLY AND WE HAVE OUR PROJECT READY TO GO. I
THINK DEVELOPING A PLAN FOR HOW WE WOULD BUILD THAT OUT COULD REALLY
SUPPORT ANY EFFORTS THAT WE WANT TO MAKE FOR POTENTIAL FEDERAL MONEY AND
WE WILL NEED HUNDREDS OF MILLIONS OF DOLLARS TO GET THIS DONE, BUT
CHATTANOOGA DID IT, I THINK WE NEED TO BE PREPARED TO DO IT TOO.
THANK YOU COUNCIL MEMBER MORALES FOR THOSE COMMENTS. COUNCIL MEMBER
HERBOLD.
THANK YOU. AS EVERYBODY KNOWS, EVERYBODY GETS EXCITEDED FOR INTERNET FOR
ALL. BUT IN THE PAST WHEN THEY HAVE STUDIED IMPLEMENTING MUNICIPAL
BROADBAND, THE COST HAVE PROVEN TO BE A REALLY BIG BARRIER AND IT'S MY
HOPE THROUGH THE RESOLUTION COULD ALLOW FOR THE STUDY OF MORE CREATIVE
METHODS TO DEVELOPING A MUNICIPAL BROADBAND NETWORK. LAST YEAR I WAS
REALLY EXCITED ABOUT A STATE OF LEGISLATIVE INTENT I PROPOSED AND THE
STATEMENT OF LEGISLATIVE INTENT WOULD HAVE DIRECTED SEATTLE PUBLIC
UTILITIES TO EXAMINE THE FEASIBILITY OF UTILIZING THE CITY'S WATER PIPE
STRUCTURE FOR DEVELOPING A MUNICIPAL BROADBAND NETWORK. I PUT TOGETHER A
SLIDE LAST YEAR AND UNFORTUNATELY THE BUDGET DID NOT BRING IT FORWARD AND
I WAS INSPIRED BY THE SUCCESS IN ACORDIS WHERE THEY HAD DRASTIC COST
SAVINGS AND NOT HAVING TO BREAK UP THE STREETS BECAUSE THEY WERE ABLE TO
FEED FIBEROPTIC CABLE INTO THE WATER PIPE. I WANT TO THANK COUNCIL MEMBER
PETERSON FOR EXPLORING THIS CREATIVE METHOD TO BUILD A MUNICIPAL
BROADBAND NETWORK AND LASTLY, I WANT TO JUST ECHO WHAT WE ALL KNOW TO BE
TRUE, THAT THE PUBLIC HEALTH EMERGENCY HAS LAID BARE THE GAPS AND ACCESS
TO SO ME SENSUAL SERVICES IN OUR ECONOMY, ACCESS TO INTERNET IS NO
EXCEPTION AND COVID-19 HAS SHOWED US THAT IT IS MORE IMPORTANT NOW THAN
EVER THAT THE CITY MUST ENSURE THAT EVERYONE HAS RELIABLE AND AFFORDABLE
ACCESS TO THE INTERNET SO THAT WE CAN WORK SAFELY FROM HOME AND OUR
CHILDREN HAVE RELIABLE ACCESS TO CONTINUE THEIR EDUCATION.
THANK YOU CROW COUNCIL MEMBER MORALES HERBOLD. ARE THERE ANY OTHER
COMMENTS? OH, COUNCIL MEMBER MOSQUEDA.
CAN YOU QUICKLY SUMMARIZE FOR ME WHAT THE NEXT STEPS ARE AFTER THIS
PASSES, WHICH I'M GOING TO ENTHUSIASTICALLY SUPPORT?
SURE,LY GO AHEAD AND TAKE THAT QUESTION. THE NEXT STEPS ARE --IT PUTS IT
IN THE COURT OF THE EXECUTIVE, SO --WHICH WHO WE HAVE BEEN TALKING TO
DURING THE DEVELOPMENT OF THIS RESOLUTION. THEY ARE ALREADY DOING DIGITAL
EQUITY WORK. WE NEED THEM TO COME BACK TO US WITH THEIR INITIAL SHORT
TERM-LONG-TERM SOLUTION AND HOW THEY ARE GOING TO PUT FORWARD THE ACTION
PLAN FOR IMPLEMENTING THIS. AND SO THEY ARE GOING TO COME BACK. IDEALLY
WE WILL BE HAVING THE COMMITTEES IN SEPTEMBER. SO THEY ARE GOING TO COME
BACK IN THE MIDDLE OF SEPTEMBER, RIGHT BEFORE THE BUDGET IS UNVEILED BY
THE MAYOR FOR THE FALL BUDGET IN CASE THERE ARE ANY FINANCIAL
IMPLICATIONS FOR WHAT THEY ARE PROPOSING TO DO SO HOPING TO HEAR BACK
WEDNESDAY SEPTEMBER 16 AND THE TRANSPORTATION UTILITIES COMMITTEE.
THANK YOU VERY MUCH. THANK YOU COUNCIL MEMBER MORALES PETERSON FOR THAT
DESCRIPTION. THE RESOLUTION, SUBSTITUTE VERSION ASIDE FROM REESTABLISHING
THE GOALS AROUND ENABLING SEATTLE RESIDENTS TO ACCESS AND ADOPT BROADBAND
INTERNET SERVICE THAT IS BOTH RELIABLE AND AFFORDABLE, IT DOES ALSO DO A
THOROUGH AND SUCCINCT GAP ANALYSIS, SO THIS GAP ANALYSIS WOULD INCLUDE
LISTS -- IT WOULD INCLUDE NO COST AND LOW COST PROGRAMS THAT ARE ALREADY
AVAILABLE IN THE CITY OF SEATTLE AND ALSO LOOKING AT WHERE THE ACTUAL
GAPS FOR SEATTLE RESIDENTS EXIST. SO THIS WOULD BE I THINK AN UPDATE TO -
-EXCUSE ME --IT WOULD BE SORT OF THAT NOVEL APPROACH THAT COUNCIL MEMBER
HERBOLD REFERENCED. SO FOR ME THE BIGGEST PART FOR THIS IS SORT OF
GETTING INTO THAT GAP ANALYSIS. IT'S ALSO AN OPPORTUNITY TO LOOK AT
LESSONS LEARNED FROM OTHER CITIES WHO HAVE BEEN ABLE TO BE SUCCESSFUL AND
ALSO CREATE AGO ACTION PLAN THAT DETAILS RECOMMENDED STEPS FOR --THAT THE
CITY OF SEATTLE CAN TAKE TO EXPEDITE UNIVERSAL ACCESS TO AND ADOPTION OF
AFFORDABLE BROADBAND INTERNET SERVICE FOR SEATTLE RESIDENTS. AND TO DO
THAT IN THE CONSTRUCT OF MEANINGFUL BUSINESS COMMUNITIES, PHILANTHROPIC
INTEREST, SEATTLE SCHOOLS, ET CETERA, ET CETERA, SO IT ALSO I THINK WILL
BE IMPORTANT THAT ACTION PLAN BE INCLUDE QUESTIONS AROUND THE
INFRASTRUCTURE, WHAT RESOURCES MIGHT BE NEEDED IN ORDER TO IMPLEMENT THE
ACTION PLAN AND A TIMELINE THAT WE WOULD LIKE TO FINALLY HAVE AS PART OF
A CLEAR WORK PLAN, ACTION PLAN ON THIS BECAUSE FOR THOSE OF US WHO HAVE
BEEN SERVING ON THE COUNCIL FOR A WHILE, WE KNOW THIS IS NOT THE FIRST
TIME WE HAVE ADDRESSED ISSUES RELATED TO BROADBAND ACCESS, SO IT'S
IMPORTANT FOR US TO MAKE SURE WE ARE ADVANCING THE ONGOING ANALYSIS
AROUND INTERNET FOR ALL. SO I WAS REALLY PROUD TO BE ABLE TO WORK WITH
COUNCIL MEMBER PETERSON IN COSPONSORING THIS RESOLUTION. I WON'T BELABOR
ALL THE POINTS FOLKS HAVE MADE. OBVIOUSLY WE ARE SEE INNING THIS PANDEMIC
AT THE DISPROPORTIONATE IMPACT OF THE LACK OF INTERNET ACCESS WHEN MOST
OF US ARE FUNCTIONING ALMOST ENTIRELY IN OUR PROFESSIONS VIA THE
INTERNET. AND I THINK IT'S SO IMPORTANT FOR US TO FINALLY HOLD TOGETHER
AN ACTION PLAN TO IMPLEMENT THE MANY PREVIOUSLY-STATED GOALS OF THE CITY
AND NOW IS THE TIME TO DO THAT. SO REALLY EXCITED ABOUT THE OPPORTUNITY
TO ADVANCE THIS RESOLUTION AND ADD VANCE THIS BODY OF WORK. ANY QUESTIONS
OR COMMENTS ABOUT THIS RESOLUTION BEFORE WE CALL THIS TO A VOTE? ALL
RIGHT. HEARING NONE, I WOULD ASK THE CLERK PLEASE CALL THE ROLL ON THE
ADOPTION OF THE RESOLUTION AS AMENDED.
MORALES?
YES
MOSQUEDA?
YES
PETERSON?
YES
SAWANT?
YES
STRAUSS?
YES
LEWIS?
YES
HERBOLD?
YES
COUNCIL MEMBER GONZALEZ.
YES
EIGHT IN FAVOR, NONE OPPOSED
THE RESOLUTION AS AMENDED IS ADOPT AND THE CHAIR WILL SIGN IT. I ASK THE
CLERK TO PLEASE AFFIX MY SIGNATURE TO THE LEGISLATION. OKAY. AGENDA ITEM
4, I ASK THE CLERK TO PLEASE READ AGENDA ITEM 4 INTO THE RECORD.
AGENDA ITEM 4, RESOLUTIONS B 1 APPROVING MEMORANDUM REGARDING THE
ESTABLISHMENT, COMPOSITION AND RULES FOR CITIZENS ADVISORY COMMITTEE FOR
PREPARATION OF A MASTER INSTITUTION, MASTER PLAN FOR SEATTLE --
UNIVERSITY.
THANK YOU MADAM CLERK. I MOVE TO ADOPT RESOLUTION 319158. IS THERE A
SECOND.
SECOND
THANK YOU VERY MUCH. IT'S BEEN MOVE AND SECONDED. COUNCIL MEMBER STRAUSS,
YOU ARE RECOGNIZED TO ANNOUNCE THE ITEM. >> APPROVING AND UNDERSTANDING
STAPEDIS, IS APPLYING FOR NEW MAJOR INSTITUTION MASTER PLAN FOR THE CITY.
ONCE A MAJOR INSTITUTION INFORM IT IS CITY OF ITS INTENT TO COMPLETE A
MASTER PLAN, THEY ARE REQUIRED UPON THE CITIZENS ADVISORY COMMITTEE IN
CONSULTATION WITH THE DEPARTMENT OF NEIGHBORHOODS, THIS APPROVES THE
MEMORANDUM OF AGREEMENT WITH THE UNIVERSITY TO ESTABLISH ADVISORY
COMMITTEE AND MEMBERSHIP. MEMBERSHIP OF THE COMMITTEE HAS BEEN
RECOMMENDED BY THE DEPARTMENT OF NEIGHBORHOODS AND HAS ALREADY BEEN
BEGUN, BECAUSE THESE ARE QUASI JUDICIAL IN NATURE, WE SHOULD NOT DISCUSS
THE MERITS OR DEMERITS OF THE MASTER PLANS THEMSELVES, RATHER, INSTEAD,
KEEP CONVERSATION LIMITED TO THE MEMORANDUM OF UNDERSTANDING OR AGREEMENT
-- SORRY --MEMORANDUM OF AGREEMENT BEFORE US. READ THIS AGAIN ON THE
QUASI JUDICIAL --THANK YOU VERY MUCH
ARE THERE ANY QUESTIONS OR COMMENTS OPT RESOLUTION? HEARING NONE, WILL
THE CLERK PLEASE CALL THE RULE ON THE ADOPTION OF THE RESOLUTION.
MORALES?
YES. >> MOSQUEDA?
YES.
PETERSON?
YES
SAWANT?
YES
STRAUSS?
YES
LEWIS?
YES
HERBOLD?
YES
COUNCIL PRESIDENT GONZALEZ.
YES
EIGHT IN FAVOR, NONE OPPOSED.
THANK YOU MADAM CLERK. THE RESOLUTION IS ADOPTED. I CAN THE CLERK PLEASE
AFFIX MY SIGNATURE TO THE LEGISLATION. AGENDA ITEM NUMBER 4, WILL THE
CLERK PLEASE READ --I'M SORRY 5, LOT CLERK PLEASE READ NUMBER 5.
AGENDA ITEM 5, 315, APPROVING AGREEMENT WITH CENTRAL COLLEGE REGARDING
THE RULE CITIZENS ADVISORY COMMITTEE FOR PREPARATION OF A MAJOR
INSTITUTION MASTER PLAN FOR SEATTLE CENTRAL COLLEGE.
THANK YOU SO MUCH. I WILL MOVE TO ADOPT RESOLUTION 31959. IS THERE A
SECOND?
SECOND.
IT'S BEEN MOVE AND SECONDED. COUNCIL MEMBER STRAUSS, YOU ARE THE SPONSOR
OF THIS RESOLUTION AND ARE RECOGNIZED IN ORDER TO ADDRESS THE ITEM. >>
THANK YOU COUNCIL PRESIDENT. AGENDA ITEM NUMBER 5 IS SIMILAR TO 4, WHICH
IS APPROVE AGO MEMORANDUM OF AGREEMENT WITH CENTRAL COLLEGE. THIS SERVES
AS THE PREVIOUS SPECIFIED FOR SEATTLE CENTRAL COLLEGE APPROVE THE
MEMORANDUM WITH SEATTLE CENTRAL COLLEGE TO ESTABLISH THEIR OWN CITIZENS
ADVISORY COMMITTEE AND MEMBERSHIP. THIS IS ALSO --FOR APROOUCHLT --
THANK YOU COULD BE SILL MEMBER STRAUSS. ANY COMMENTS? HEARING NONE, WILL
THE CLERK PLEASE CALL THE ROLL ON THE ADOPTION OF THE RESOLUTION.
MORALES?
AYE
MOSQUEDA?
AYE
PETERSON?
AYE.
SAWANT?
AYE.
STRAUSS?
YES.
LEWIS?
YES
HERBOLD?
YES.
COUNCIL PRESIDENT GONZALEZ.
YES
EIGHT IN FAVOR, NONE OPPOSED.
THANK YOU SO MUCH RESOLUTION IS ADOPT AND THE CHAIR WILL SIGN IT. PLEASE
AFFIX MY SIGNATURE TO THE LEGISLATION.
SEMIS 6 THROUGH 8. WILL THE CLERK READ 6 THROUGH 8.
AGENDA ITEMS 6 THROUGH 8, APPOINTMENTS 1386 THROUGH 1588. MEMBERS OF
PLANNING COMMISSION FOR TERMS APRIL 15 TO 21 AND LAWRENCE SQUIRE MEMBER
CITY PLANNING COMMISSION THROUGH PRINCIPLE 15, 2022.
THANK YOU. MADAM CLERK, BEFORE WE CONSIDER APPOINTMENTS 1586 THROUGH
1588, I AM GOING TO SEE IF THERE IS ANY OBJECTION TO EXCUSING COUNCIL
MEMBER PETERSON FROM THE REMAINDER OF THE JULY 27TH, 2020 COUNCIL
MEETING? HEARING AND SEEING NO OBJECTION, COUNCIL MEMBER PETERSON WILL BE
EXCUSED FOR THE REMAINER OF THE JULY 27, 2020 COUNCIL MEETING. OKAY. I
MOVE TO CONFIRM APPOINTMENT 1586 THROUGH 1588. IS THERE A SECOND.
SECOND
MOVED AND SECONDED. THE APPOINTMENTS HAVE BEEN MOVE AND SECONDED. COUNCIL
MEMBER STRAUSS, YOU ARE THE SPONSOR OF THESE AMENDMENTS AND RECOGNIZED IN
ORDER TO ADDRESS THOSE ITEMS.
THANK YOU COUNCIL PRESIDENT. THESE THREE APPOINTMENTS TO THE SEATTLE
PLANNING COMMISSION COME DIRECTLY TO FULL COUNSEL IN ORDER TORE GET THESE
MEMBERS APPOINTED BEFORE THE AND JEWEL CYCLE PLAN AMENDMENTS, WHICH THEY
WILL BE TAKING UP FOR THE --FOR OUR CITY COUNCIL. PATIENTS MOWAB A IS THE
ADVOCACY MANAGER WHERE SHE MANAGES HOUSING ADVOCACY. SHE HAS ALSO MANAGED
SEATTLE FOR EVERYONE AND SERVED ON THE EXECUTIVE COMMITTEE AND PUGET
SOUND GROWTH MANAGEMENT POLICY BOARD. SHE IS AN APPOINTEE AND I SPEAK
STRONGLY IN FAVOR OF HER. CATHERINE IZEREK IS A PLANNING ADVISOR AND
TEACHES STUDENTS AT THE UNIVERSITY OF WASHINGTON. HER BACKGROUND IS
DESIGN AND LAND USE AND TRANSPORTATION PLANNING. HER MOST RECENT POSITION
AT VIA ARCHITECTURE, SHE WORKED WITH DEPARTMENTS HERE AT THE CITY OF
SEATTLE AND ALSO MEMBER OF THE WEST DESIGN REVIEW BOARD AND BOARD MEMBER
OF THE SEATTLE CENTER FOUNDATION. SHE ALSO HAS MP. LASTLY, ED NELSON
NYGARD, SPECIALIZING IN TRANSPORTATION PLANNING AND POLICY WITH HEALTH
AND SOCIAL EQUITY. ALSO A VALUE LEG RESIDENT AND HE HAS SERVED ON THE
PLANNING COMMISSION SINCE 2014 AND IS BEING REAPPOINTED THIS TIME AS A
COUNCIL. THANK YOU, COUNCIL PRESIDENT. THAT IS MY REPORT.
THANK YOU SO MUCH. ARE THERE ANY COMMENTS ON THE APPOINTMENTS? .
OKAY. HEARING NONE, LOT CLERK PLEASE CALL THE ROLL ON THE CONFIRMATION OF
THE APPOINTMENTS.
MORALES.
YES.
MOSQUEDA.
YES.
SAWANT.
YES.
STRAUSS.
YES.
LEWIS.
YES
HERBOLD.
YES.
COUNCIL PRESIDENT GONZALEZ.
YES.
SEVEN IN FAVOR, NONE OPPOSED
THANK YOU, THE MOTION CARRIES. ANY APPOINTMENTS ARE CONFIRMED. OTHER
BUSINESS, COLLEAGUES, IS THERE ANY OTHER FURTHER BUSINESS TO COME BEFORE
THE COUNCIL?
ARE YOU RAISING YOUR HAND, COUNCIL MEMBER MOSQUEDA?
YES.
COUNCIL MEMBER MOSQUEDA, PLEASE.
I JUST COULD NOT GET MYSELF OFF MUTE FAST ENOUGH. VERY EXCITED TO WORK
WITH HER. SHE HAS BEEN A TREMENDOUS ASSET AS WE HAVE BEEN CONSIDERING
EVERYTHING FROM STATE TO LOCAL HOUSING POLICY. SO GOOD IDEA. GOOD PICK.
THANKS.
ANY OTHER FURTHER BUSINESS TO COME BEFORE THE COUNCIL?
ALL RIGHT. COLLEAGUES, THIS CONCLUDES ITEMS OF BUSINESS ON TODAY'S
AGENDA. OUR NEXT CITY COUNCIL MEETING IS AUGUST 3RD, 2020 AT 2 P.M., HARD
TO BELIEVE, BUT NEXT WEEK IS IN FACT AUGUST. I HOPE THAT YOU-ALL HAVE A
WONDERFUL AFTERNOON. WE ARE ADJOURNED. THANK YOU.