>> IF THERE IS NO OBJECTION
COUNCILMEMBER SAWANT IS EXCUSED
FROM LAST WEEK'S MEETING, MAY
17th.
SO WE ARE EXCUSING YOU KNOW ,
AFTER THE FACT.
WE WANT TO GET THAT DONE.
I'M HEARING NO OBJECTION.
COUNCILMEMBER SAWANT IS INDEED
EXCUSED FROM THE MAY 17th
COUNCIL MEETING.
SORRY ABOUT THAT.
MADAM CLERK, WILL YOU PLEASE
CALL THE ROLL?
>> COUNCILMEMBER STRAUSS?
>> PRESENT.
>> COUNCILMEMBER HERBOLD?
>> HERE.
>> COUNCILMEMBER LEWIS?
>> PRESENT.
>> COUNCILMEMBER MORALES?
>> HERE.
>> COUNCILMEMBER MOSQUEDA?
>> PRESENT.
>> COUNCILMEMBER PEDERSEN?
>> PRESENT.
>> COUNCILMEMBER SAWANT?
>> HERE.
>> COUNCIL PRESIDENT JUAREZ?
>> HERE.
>> NINE PRESENT.
>> TODAY WE HAVE TWO
PRESENTATIONS BEING PRESENTED
BY COUNCILMEMBER .
COUNCILMEMBER HERBOLD HAS A
PROCLAMATION PROCLAIMING MAY,
2022, TO BE MENTAL AWARENESS
MONTH.
COUNCILMEMBER HERBOLD WILL
FIRST PRESENTER PROCLAMATION
AND THEN WE WILL OPEN THE FLOOR
FOR COMMENTS. AFTER THE
COMMENTS WE WILL SUSPEND THE
RULE TO ALLOW GUESTS TO ACCEPT
THE PROCLAMATION AND PROVIDE
COMMENTS.
COUNCILMEMBER HERBOLD, YOU ARE
RECOGNIZED.
>> THANK YOU SO MUCH.
THANK YOU TO MY COUNCIL
COLLEAGUES FOR YOUR ONGOING
SUPPORT OF THIS PROCLAMATION
DECLARING MAY TO BE MENTAL
HEALTH AWARENESS MONTH.
YOU KNOW ABOUT MY PASSION FOR
ADDRESSING THE SHADOW PANDEMIC.
THE CRISIS IN MENTAL HEALTH
THAT IS IMPACTING US ALL.
IT IS BROUGHT ABOUT BY THE PAST
TWO YEARS OF GRIEF, FEAR, AND
ISOLATION.
LAST YEAR YOU MAY RECALL THE
GOVERNOR DECLARED A STATE OF
EMERGENCY DUE TO THE MENTAL AND
BEHAVIORAL HEALTH OF
WASHINGTON'S KIDS.
LAST DECEMBER THE NATION'S
SURGEON GENERAL FOLLOWED SUIT.
WARNING OF AN URGENT NEED TO
ADDRESS THE YOUTH MENTAL HEALTH
CRISIS.
HEALTH SERVICES ARE
FUNDAMENTALLY A RESPONSIBILITY
OF THE COUNTY AND STATE.
I KNOW THAT WE HAVE ALL SEEN
THAT OUR RESIDENTS ARE
SUFFERING.
IN RESPONSE THE COUNCIL HAS
STEPPED UP TO PROVIDE
ADDITIONAL CITY RESOURCES TO
MEET THIS GROWING NEED.
THAT INCLUDES PROVIDING $1
MILLION TO EXPAND MENTAL HEALTH
SUPPORT FOR SEATTLE STUDENTS
AND RESIDENTS.
INCREASING SERVICES FOR PEOPLE
IN BEHAVIORAL HEALTH CRISES
WITH A DOWN PAYMENT ON A NEW
CRISIS FACILITY AND CONTINUED
EXPANSION OF THE MOBILE CRISIS
TEAM.
I'M REALLY PLEASED TO BE ABLE
TO PRESENT THIS PROCLAMATION TO
LEADERS WHO ARE ON THE FRONT
LINE OF ADDRESSING THIS CRISIS.
WE WILL HAVE THE LAUREN SIMMONS,
THE EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR AND CEO
OF THE NATIONAL ALLIANCE ON
MENTAL ILLNESS.
WE WILL HAVE AND, THE PRESIDENT
OF THE BOARD AT WASHINGTON.
IN WE WILL HAVE THE STUDENT
SUPPORT SERVICES SUPERVISOR AT
THE SEATTLE PUBLIC SCHOOLS.
THANK YOU ALL FOR BEING WITH US.
>> DO ANY OF MY COLLEAGUES WANT
TO SHARE ANYTHING BEFORE I
MOVED TO SUSPEND THE RULES TO
GO FORWARD?
OKAY.
I'M NOT SEEING THAT.
IF THERE'S NO OBJECTION THE
COUNCIL RULES WILL BE SUSPENDED
TO ALLOW OUR GUESTS.
I WAS GOING TO READ THEM ALL
OUT BUT COUNCILMEMBER HERBOLD
ALREADY DID THAT.
TO GET THAT WRONG?
IT'S ALICE.
WE ARE GOING TO ALLOW OUR
GUESTS TO HAVE AN OPPORTUNITY
TO SPEAK.
I'M NOT HEARING OR SEEING ANY
OBJECTION.
THE COUNCIL RULES ARE INDEED
SUSPENDED.
ALICE AND LAUREN.
CAN WE LOOK AT THE OTHER PERSON?
YOU ARE RECOGNIZED.
HOWEVER YOU WANT TO DO IT.
>> THANK YOU SO MUCH.
IT IS SUCH AN HONOR TO BE HERE.
I AM LAUREN SIMONS, THE
EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR AND CEO OF
THE NATIONAL MENTAL ILLNESS OF
WASHINGTON STATE.
FOUR MEMBERS THROUGHOUT
WASHINGTON STATE AND OVER 30,000
WASHINGTON RESIDENTS WHO
RECEIVE SUPPORT GROUPS AND
PRESENTATION PROGRAMS EACH YEAR
, I WANT TO THANK THE COUNCIL
FOR TAKING THE TIME TO MAKE
THIS VERY IMPORTANT
PROCLAMATION.
FOR THOSE OF YOU WHO DON'T KNOW
WHAT IT IS, IT IS A THREE-
TIERED ORGANIZATION WHERE THE
COUNTRY'S LARGEST GRASSROOTS
MENTAL HEALTH ADVOCACY
ORGANIZATION IN WASHINGTON
STATE.
WE HAVE 20 LOCAL AFFILIATES
ACROSS THE STATE THAT OFFER
FREE CLASSES FOR SUPPORT
GROUPS, COMMUNITIES AND
EDUCATIONAL PROGRAMS.
ALL AT NO COST.
CONTINUING ALONG IN OUR NEW
PANDEMIC AFFECTED WORLD HAS
CERTAINLY SHOWN US THAT
EVERYBODY RIGHT NOW IS DEALING
WITH A BEHAVIORAL HEALTH ISSUE.
YOU WOULD BE HARD-PRESSED TO
MEET SOMEBODY WHO DOESN'T HAVE
SOME ANXIETY OR DEPRESSION
RELATED TO THE STATE OF OUR
COUNTRY RIGHT NOW.
THIS IS SOMETHING THE COUNCIL
HAS DONE ALMOST EVERY MAY,
WHICH IS MENTAL HEALTH
AWARENESS MONTH.
IT'S SO IMPORTANT TO KEEP DOING
IT AND RAISING THE ISSUE OF
BEHAVIORAL HEALTH, WHICH
INCLUDES SUBSTANCE ABUSE
DISORDER.
WE ARE TALKING ABOUT MENTAL
HEALTH.
AS PART OF OUR WHOLE HEALTH.
I WOULD LIKE TO INTRODUCE
ALICE, THE NAMI BOARD
PRESIDENT.
THANK YOU SO MUCH.
>> I HAVE NO COMMENTS EXCEPT TO
THANK LAUREN FOR HER INCREDIBLE
LEADERSHIP ACROSS THE STATE OF
WASHINGTON.
MANY WONDERFUL THINGS HAVE
HAPPENED IN LAUREN'S TENURE AS
EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR AT NAMI
WASHINGTON.
WE APPRECIATE THE CITY OF
SEATTLE AND THE SUPPORT FOR
MENTAL HEALTH CAUSES.
>> THANK YOU, ALICE.
>> ERIN?
>> THANK YOU.
I AM A STUDENT SUPPORT SERVICES
SUPERVISOR WITH SEATTLE PUBLIC
SCHOOLS.
I AM PROUD TO BE ABLE TO BE
HERE TODAY ON BEHALF OF THE
PUBLIC SCHOOLS AS THE CITY OF
SEATTLE FIRMLY PRESENTS THE
PROCLAMATION, RECOGNIZING MAY
AS MENTAL HEALTH AWARENESS
MONTH.
I WOULD LIKE TO THANK YOU FOR
YOUR RECOGNITION IN SUPPORTING
THE MENTAL HEALTH AND WELLNESS
OF THE CHILDREN, ADOLESCENTS,
AND ADULTS IN THE CITY OF
SEATTLE.
I WOULD ALSO LIKE TO THANK YOU
FOR SECURING MUCH NEEDED
ADDITIONAL MENTAL HEALTH
RESOURCES AND SERVICES FOR THE
YOUNG PEOPLE ENROLLED IN
SEATTLE PUBLIC SCHOOLS.
WE ALL HAVE MENTAL HEALTH AND
WELLNESS THAT NEEDS TO BE
FOSTERED AND CARED FOR, JUST
LIKE OUR PHYSICAL HEALTH.
THE PAST TWO YEARS HAVE HAD
SIGNIFICANT IMPACT ON THE
MENTAL HEALTH AND WELLNESS OF
ALL OF THE MEMBERS OF THE
SEATTLE PUBLIC SCHOOL
COMMUNITY.
OUR FAMILY, STUDENTS, AND STAFF
, HAVE EXPERIENCED
UNPRECEDENTED LEVELS OF GRIEF,
ANXIETY, FEAR, TRAUMA, AND
STRESS THAT CANNOT BE COMPARED
TO ANYTHING THEY HAVE EVER
EXPERIENCED BEFORE.
BELIEVING THAT ALL BEHAVIOR IS
A FORM OF COMMUNICATION, AND
BEING ABLE TO RECOGNIZE MENTAL
HEALTH AND WELLNESS PUBLICLY,
ALLOWS US TO SUPPORT THE ENTIRE
CHILD, THE ENTIRE FAMILY, AND
THE ENTIRE ADULT.
IT'S CRITICAL THAT STUDENTS
HAVE ACCESS TO SAFE AND
SUPPORTIVE ENVIRONMENTS, AND
TRUSTED ADULTS WHO SEE THEM FOR
THEIR BRILLIANCE.
THEY MUST ALSO RECOGNIZE WHEN
THEY ARE STRUGGLING AND IN NEED
OF HELP.
BEING ABLE TO NORMALIZE MENTAL
HEALTH AND WELLNESS IS
SOMETHING WE ARE DOING IN AN
ONGOING BASIS.
WE BELIEVE THIS IS THE FIRST
STEP TOWARD HEALING AND GETTING
THE MUCH NEEDED HELP THAT WE
ALL DESERVE.
AS A COMMUNITY WE ARE STRONGER
TOGETHER AND WE APPRECIATE YOU
INVITING US HERE TODAY TO BE
PART OF THIS REMARKABLE EVENT.
THANK YOU.
>> THANK YOU.
COUNCILMEMBER HERBOLD, DO YOU
WANT TO CLOSE THIS OUT?
I DO WANT TO THANK LAUREN,
ALICE, AND ERIN FOR BEING HERE.
HOW DID YOU PHRASE THAT?
THE SHADOW?
>> THE SHADOW PANDEMIC.
>> THANK YOU FOR PUTTING A NAME
TO THAT.
I KNOW THAT YOU SAID THAT
YESTERDAY MORNING, BUT NOW I
UNDERSTAND.
YOU WANT TO CLOSE US OUT ON
THIS AND THINK OUR GUESTS?
>> THANK YOU.
I'M SO GRATEFUL TO PRACTITIONERS
WHO ARE WORKING IN THIS AREA TO
ADDRESS THESE MENTAL HEALTH
IMPACT. IT'S HAPPENING IN EVERY
WALK OF LIFE.
I WAS JUST THINKING ABOUT THE
IMPACTS OF COVID ON OUR YOUNG
ONES.
AND THE WORK THAT YOU ARE DOING
IN THE SCHOOL.
IT'S SO INCREDIBLY IMPORTANT.
I KNOW THAT HAS BEEN SO
STRESSFUL AND DIFFICULT FOR
YOUR FACULTY AS WELL.
NAMI JUST PUT SOME INFORMATION
IN THE CHAT THAT I WANT TO
TALK TO.
AND IN THE SILENCE FOR MIDDLE
SCHOOL AND HIGH SCHOOL STUDENTS
AS AN IN-SERVICE TRAINING FOR
SCHOOL STAFF AND A SEPARATE
WORKSHOP FOR PARENTS AND
CAREGIVERS FOR YOUTH,
ADOLESCENT, AND YOUNG ADULTS.
SERVING SEATTLE AND KING COUNTY
AS WELL AS THE EAST SIDE AND
SOUTH KING COUNTY BRANCH.
JUST PUTTING A PLUG OUT FOR
NAMI YOUR WAY ON JUNE 4th.
FEEL FREE TO GET IN CONTACT FOR
MORE INFORMATION ABOUT THAT.
AGAIN, THANK YOU FOR GIVING ME
TIME TO PRESENT THIS
PROCLAMATION.
IT RECOGNIZES THAT WITH EARLY
AND EFFECTIVE TREATMENT PEOPLE
WITH LIVED EXPERIENCE OF MENTAL
ILLNESS DO GET BETTER, LIVE IN
RECOVERY, AND LEAD TO
FULFILLING AND EMPOWERED LIVES.
AND BRING VALUABLE KNOWLEDGE ON
HOW TO IMPROVE AND TRANSFORM
CARE.
THANK YOU.
>> THANK YOU, COUNCILMEMBER
HERBOLD.
THANK YOU ALL FOR BEING HERE
TODAY.
WITH THAT WE ARE GOING TO MOVE
ON TO OUR SECOND PRESENTATION.
COUNCILMEMBER MORALES WILL
PRESENT A PROCLAMATION
CLAIMING SUNDAY, MAY 29th, TO
BE PRIDE H DAY.
>> GOOD AFTERNOON, COLLEAGUES.
THANK YOU, EVERYONE.
I'M HERE TO ANNOUNCE THE
PROCLAMATION FOR PRIDE ASIA.
AS I SAID YESTERDAY PRIDE ASIA
REALLY EMBRACES THE AMERICAN
PACIFIC ISLANDER LANDS TO
CELEBRATE, EMPOWER, AND NURTURE
LGBTQ COMMUNITIES.
THEY HAVE AN ANNUAL EVENT THAT
IS MEANT TO CREATE A SAFE SPACE
FOR LGBTQ AND ASIAN PACIFIC
ISLANDERS TO CELEBRATE THEIR
IDENTITIES. I'M VERY HONORED TO
PRESENT THIS PROCLAMATION. I
HAVE HAD THE PLEASURE OF
WATCHING PERFORM ON MANY
OCCASIONS.
AS THE FOUNDER OF PRIDE ASIA
ALASKA HAS ELEVATED THE
IMPORTANCE OF LGBTQ EQUITY. OF
HARM REDUCTION TO THIS
COMMUNITY AND TO PUBLIC HEALTH.
AS WELL AS THE IMPORTANCE OF
SERVING OUR IMMIGRANT AND
REFUGEE NEIGHBORS.
VERY EXCITED TO JOIN THE MAYOR
AND THE COUNCIL IN PROCLAIMING
SUNDAY, MAY 29th, TO BE PRIDE
ASIA DAY.
WHEN YOU ARE READY, COUNCIL
PRESIDENT, I'M HAPPY TO MAKE
THE PRESENTATION.
>> ARE THERE ANY COMMENTS FOR
COUNCILMEMBER MORALES BEFORE I
MOVE TO SUSPEND THE RULES?
OKAY.
I'M NOT SEEING ANY.
THE COUNCIL RULES ARE INDEED
SUSPENDED TO ALLOW
COUNCILMEMBER MORALES TO
INTRODUCE THE GUESTS AND
ACCEPT THE PROCLAMATION AS
PROVIDED.
I'M HEARING NO OBJECTION.
THE COUNCIL RULES ARE INDEED
SUSPENDED.
I'M JUST GOING TO SAY THE FIRST
NAME.
MATTHEW AND ANDREW, YOU ARE
RECOGNIZED TO SPEAK.
IF YOU ALREADY HAVE IT SET UP,
HOW YOU WANT TO DO IT, HOWEVER
YOU WANT TO DO IT.
>> THANK YOU SO MUCH.
I AM ALEXA.
SHE/HER PRONOUNS.
THANK YOU SO MUCH, COUNCIL
PRESIDENT JUAREZ AND
COUNCILMEMBER MORALES.
WE HAVE A COUPLE OF MEMBERS
HERE.
MATTHEW AND ANDREW ARE OUR
AMBASSADORS.
WE WOULD REALLY LIKE TO THANK
THE SEATTLE CITY GOVERNMENT,
OUR MAYOR, AND THE CITY COUNCIL
FOR RECOGNIZING PRIDE ASIA DAY.
I'M GOING TO PUT A LITTLE PLUG
IN THE CHAT BOX.
FOUNDED IN 2012, OUR MISSION IS
TO CELEBRATE, EMPOWER, AND
NURTURE THE MULTICULTURAL
DIVERSITY OF THE LGBTQ
COMMUNITIES THROUGH THE ASIAN-
PACIFIC ISLANDER LENS.
IT'S OUR OPPORTUNITY TO
RECOGNIZE INTERSECTION
ALLERGIES IN ALL OF OUR
IDENTITIES SO WE CAN BE OUR
TRUE, AUTHENTIC SELVES.
AND RECOGNIZE THAT WE ARE
CITIZENS OF THIS MAGNIFICENT
CITY. WE ARE CELEBRATING 10
YEARS. THE CITY COUNCIL AND
CITY MAYORS OVER TIME HAVE BEEN
RECOGNIZING US AND IT REALLY
MEANS A LOT TO US TO REPRESENT
OUR DIVERSE COMMUNITIES.
IT REALLY MEANS A LOT TO US FOR
THE CITY GOVERNMENT TO
RECOGNIZE OUR EXISTENCE AS WE
CONTINUE TO CELEBRATE EACH
OTHER.
WE WANT TO TAKE THIS OPPORTUNITY
TO THANK YOU AGAIN AND INVITE
YOU THIS SUNDAY FOR PRIDE ASIA
FEST.
IT'S FREE.
IT'S ALL AGES.
IF YOU ARE HUNGRY IN OUR
CHINATOWN INTERNATIONAL
DISTRICT, PLEASE COME BY AND
GRAB SOME BUBBLE TEA.
IT'S FROM 2:00 TO 4:00 P.M.
WE ARE GOING TO KEEP
CELEBRATING AT ONE OF THE LOCAL
FAMILY-OWNED BUSINESSES. COULD
CAFE AND BAR.
I JUST WANT TO DO A SITE KNOW
AS A SOCIAL WORKER. I'M REALLY
SO APPRECIATIVE OF OUR CITY
GOVERNMENT TO RECOGNIZE MENTAL
HEALTH AWARENESS MONTH.
THANK YOU SO VERY MUCH FOR
RECOGNIZING THAT.
I ALSO WANT TO TAKE THIS
OPPORTUNITY TO THANK THE
COCHAIR OF THE LGBTQ COMMISSION
FOR COORDINATING THIS WITH
JANET STAFFORD AT THE OFFICE OF
CIVIL RIGHTS.
AS A FORMER LGBTQ COMMISSIONER I
KNOW THE HARD WORK THAT GOES
INTO THIS.
I APPRECIATE EVERYONE'S
PERSEVERANCE AND TIME.
WE ARE JUST SO EXCITED TO
CELEBRATE WITH ALL OF YOU.
THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR
EVERYONE'S TIME. I REALLY LOVE
THE SUPPORT FROM ALL OF YOU.
THANK YOU.
>> ARE WE GOING TO HEAR FROM
MATTHEW AND ANDREW AS WELL?
>> MATTHEW IS A BIT OF A SHY
PERSON.
>> I DON'T WANT TO MAKE YOU
TALK, MATTHEW.
BUT YOU ARE ON THE SCREEN.
YOU DON'T HAVE TO.
>> I CAN DEFINITELY SAY
SOMETHING.
I DEFINITELY WANT TO EXPRESS MY
GRATITUDE TO THE COUNCIL, AS
WELL AS TO ALEXA, FOR FOUNDING
PRIDE ASIA.
AS AN AMBASSADOR TO PRIDE ASIA
I FOUND COMMUNITY WITHIN
SEATTLE AS PART OF THIS AMAZING
GROUP.
AS A CHILD OF IMMIGRANTS OF THE
VIETNAM WAR I WAS ABLE TO FIND
SOMETHING THAT HELPS THE
INTERSECTION ALLEY BETWEEN THE
VERY DIVERSE BACKGROUNDS THAT
WE ALL WALK.
IT HAS BEEN VERY IMPORTANT TO
ME FINDING MY IDENTITY AND ALSO
FOR ME TO BE ABLE TO, AS I SAID
BEFORE, WORK ON MY MENTAL
HEALTH AS WELL.
THANK YOU.
>> COUNCILMEMBER MORALES, IS
THERE ANYBODY ELSE?
NO?
OKAY.
DO YOU WANT TO CLOSE US OUT ON
THE PRESENTATION?
>> I JUST WANT TO SAY THANK YOU
AGAIN FOR BEING HERE.
I THINK IT'S REALLY IMPORTANT
THAT WE ACKNOWLEDGE THE
INCREDIBLE DIVERSITY IN OUR
COMMUNITY AND THAT WE HONOR AND
DEMONSTRATE OUR COMMITMENT TO
PROTECTING OUR DIFFERENT I DID
THESE AND PROTECTING OUR
COMMITTEE MEMBERS.
>> THANK YOU.
I JUST WANT HER HAT.
>> WHEN WE SEE EACH OTHER
SAFELY OUT IN PUBLIC YOU MAY
HAVE IT.
ALICIA WILL BE READING THE
PROCLAMATION UNDER THE LGBTQ
COMMISSION THIS COMING SUNDAY.
THANK YOU SO MUCH.
>> THANK YOU.
THANK YOU, COUNCILMEMBER
MORALES.
>> MY PLEASURE.
>> LET'S MOVE ON.
MOVING ON TO OUR AGENDA.
WE ARE GOING TO THE APPROVAL OF
THE IRC.
THE INTRODUCTION REFERRAL
CALENDAR.
I MOVED TO ADOPT THE
INTRODUCTION REFERRAL CALENDAR.
IS THERE A SECOND?
>> SECOND.
>> THANK YOU.
IT'S BEEN MOVED AND SECONDED TO
ADOPT THE INTERNATIONAL
REFERRAL CALENDAR.
WHAT I UNDERSTAND HERE IS I'M
GOING TO HAVE THE REFERRAL
CALENDAR TO CORRECT COUNCIL
BILL 120332.
IF THERE IS NO OBJECTION ITEM
NUMBER TWO, COUNCIL BILL
120332, ON THE IRC, WILL BE
AMENDED BY CHANGING THE
COMMITTEE REFERRAL FROM THE
COUNCIL PRESIDENT'S OFFICE TO
THE CITY COUNCIL.
I'M HEARING NO OBJECTION.
THE INTRODUCTION AND REFERRAL
CALENDAR IS AMENDED TO REFLECT
THAT ITEM 2, COUNCIL BILL
120332, IS REFERRED TO AS THE
CITY COUNCIL.
ARE THERE ANY COMMENTS?
I'M NOT SEEING ANY.
WILL THE CLERK PLEASE CALL THE
ROLL ON THE ADOPTION OF THE
AMENDED INTRODUCTION AND
REFERRAL CALENDAR?
>> COUNSEL STRESS?
>> YES.
>> COUNCILMEMBER HERBOLD?
>> YES.
>> COUNCIL MEMBER LOUIS?
>> YES.
>> COUNCILMEMBER MORALES?
COUNCILMEMBER MOSQUEDA?
>> YES.
>> COUNCIL MEMBER NELSON?
>> AYE.
>> COUNCIL MEMBER PEDERSEN?
>> AYE.
>> COUNCILMEMBER SAWANT?
>> YES.
>> COUNCIL PRESIDENT JUAREZ?
>> YES.
>> THE INTRODUCTION AND
REFERRAL CALENDAR IS HEREBY
ADOPTED AS AMENDED.
GOING ALONG THE AGENDA WE ARE
ON APPROVAL OF CONSENT
CALENDAR.
WE WILL NOW CONSIDER THE
PROPOSED CONSENT CALENDAR.
ARE THERE ANY ITEMS THE
COUNCILMEMBERS WOULD LIKE TO
REMOVE FROM TODAY'S CONSENT
CALENDAR?
OKAY.
I'M HEARING NONE.
I MOVED TO ADOPT THE CONSENT
CALENDAR.
IS THERE A SECOND?
>> SECOND.
>> THANK YOU.
IT HAS BEEN MOVED AND SECONDED
TO ADOPT THE CONSENT CALENDAR.
WILL THE CLERK PLEASE CALL THE
ROLL ON THE ADOPTION OF THE
CONSENT CALENDAR?
>> COUNCIL MEMBER STRESS?
>> YES.
>> COUNCILMEMBER HERBOLD?
>> YES.
>> COUNCIL MEMBER LOUIS?
>> YES.
>> COUNCILMEMBER MORALES?
>> YES.
>> COUNCILMEMBER MOSQUEDA?
>> AYE.
>> COUNCIL MEMBER NELSON?
>> AYE.
>> COUNCIL MEMBER PEDERSEN?
COUNCILMEMBER SAWANT?
>> YES.
>> COUNCIL PRESIDENT JUAREZ?
>> YES.
>> NINE IN FAVOR AND NONE
OPPOSED.
>> THE CONSENT CALENDAR IS
ADOPTED.
WILL THE CLERK PLEASE AFFIX MY
SIGNATURE TO THE MINUTES AND
LEGISLATION OF THE CONSENT
CALENDAR ON MY BEHALF?
MOVING DOWN THE AGENDA.
I ALWAYS WANT TO SEE THE
CALENDAR.
MOVING DOWN THE AGENDA.
WE HAVE A CHANGE OF HERE.
APPROVAL OF THE AGENDA.
A LITTLE FYI IN THE FUTURE, I
NEED A LITTLE MORE NOTICE THAN
40 MINUTES.
LET'S JUST LEAVE IT AT THAT.
IF THERE IS NO OBJECTION AGENDA
ITEM NUMBER NINE, RESOLUTION
32050, WHICH I UNDERSTAND IS
COUNCILMEMBER NELSON'S
RESOLUTION. IT WILL BE
CONSIDERED BEFORE AGENDA ITEM
8. WE ARE JUST SWITCHING THEM
AROUND.
COUNCILMEMBER NELSON'S
RESOLUTION, WHICH IS AGENDA
ITEM 9, WILL COME FIRST.
AND THEN WE WILL DO
COUNCILMEMBER HERBOLD'S
LEGISLATION AFTERWARDS.
>> OBJECTION.
>> OKAY.
WE HAVE AN OBJECTION.
CAN YOU COMMENT WHY YOU DON'T
WANT THE RESOLUTION TO GO
BEFORE THE ORDINANCE?
>> I THINK WE SHOULD STICK WITH
THE AGENDA AS IS.
IT WAS PRESENTED AND I'M ONLY
LEARNING ABOUT THIS CHANGE
RIGHT NOW, MADAM PRESIDENT.
>> OKAY.
THANK YOU.
THERE IS AN OBJECTION BUT WE
ARE GOING FORWARD.
COUNCILMEMBER MOSQUEDA OBJECTS
BUT THAT IS FINE.
WE ARE JUST GOING TO MOVE ON.
>> COUNCIL PRESIDENT JUAREZ,
úBECAUSE THERE IS AN OBJECTION
WE SHOULD FOLLOW RULE ON THE
AMENDMENT OF THE AGENDA.
>> THANK YOU.
I'M JUST GOING TO DO THAT.
>> I DID NOT GIVE THE SCRIPT.
I APOLOGIZE.
>> I JUST HANDWROTE IT.
SINCE WE HAVE AN OBJECTION WHAT
WE WILL DO IS TAKE A VOTE ON
THE AMENDED APPROVAL OF THE
AGENDA.
MADAM CLERK, WILL YOU PLEASE
CALL THE ROLL ON THE AMENDED-
>> POINT OF INFORMATION,
COUNCIL PRESIDENT.
WHY ARE WE CHANGING THE AGENDA?
>> OKAY.
I PROBABLY SHOULD HAVE DONE
THIS BUT WE HAD A LITTLE
WRINKLE HERE.
COUNCILMEMBER NELSON, THIS IS
YOUR AMENDMENT TO THE THE
AGENDA.
WOULD YOU LIKE TO SPEAK TO A?
>> YES.
I DIDN'T CATCH THIS BECAUSE I
WAS IN A FOUR HOUR PUBLIC SAFETY
MEETING BEFORE THIS.
I APOLOGIZE FOR NOT GIVING MORE
ADVANCED NOTICE.
THESE TWO BILLS ARE RELATED.
MY RESOLUTION, RESOLUTION 32050
, IS A RESOLUTION THAT STATES A
POLICY INTENT THAT BASICALLY,
IF IT PASSES, COUNCIL BILL
120320 WOULD THEN BASICALLY
ENACT.
THIS IS HOW WE HAVE BEEN
CONSIDERING THESE TWO PIECES OF
LEGISLATION IN THE PUBLIC
SAFETY COMMITTEE.
I JUST ASK THAT WE DO SO AGAIN.
I HAVE NO IDEA WHY IT WAS
SWITCHED OR WHAT THE RATIONALE
WAS FOR PUTTING THE COUNCIL
BILL BEFOREHAND.
THE FLOW OF THE POLICY
DIRECTION AND IMPLEMENTATION IS
MORE LOGICAL.
>> OKAY.
LET ME JUST ADD THIS.
WHAT WE LEARNED FROM THE CLERKS,
PLEASE CORRECT ME IF I'M WRONG,
IT WAS JUST A MATTER OF HOW,
PROCEDURALLY, THEY DO
ORDINANCES FIRST AND THEN
RESOLUTIONS.
IT'S JUST A TEMPLATE.
THERE IS NO ILL WILL OR INTENT
OR ANYTHING.
>> IT'S USUALLY LIKE THAT.
WHEN TWO ITEMS ARE ON THE SAME
AGENDA I WAS TOLD THAT IT'S
NORMAL FOR HAVING THE POLICY
INTENT BEFORE THE POLICY
ANYWAY.
BUT I UNDERSTAND.
>> GOOD.
COUNCILMEMBER HERBOLD, AND THEN
WE WILL VOTE ON THE AMENDED
AGENDA.
>> I WAS JUST WANTING TO
COMMENT TO SAY I HAVE NO
OBJECTIONS TO THIS REQUEST TO
CHANGE IN THE AGENDA AND JUST
CONFIRMING THAT THE ORDER THAT
COUNCILMEMBER NELSON PROPOSES
WE TAKE THESE TWO ITEMS IS
CONSISTENT WITH THE COMMITTEE
DISCUSSION ORDER.
THANK YOU.
>> THANK YOU.
I APOLOGIZE, COUNCILMEMBER
HERBOLD.
I FORGOT THAT YOU ARE OKAY WITH
THIS.
I APOLOGIZE FOR THAT.
COUNCIL NUMBER STRAUSS, IS THAT
A NEW HAND OR OLD HAND?
>> YES.
THANK YOU, COUNCIL PRESIDENT.
I'M JUST CONFIRMING THAT NO
MATTER THE ORDER THERE IS NO
CHANGE IN THE SUBSTANCE. SO IT
DOESN'T REALLY MATTER WHICH ONE
WE DO FIRST.
CORRECT?
>> CORRECT.
>> THANK YOU.
>> ONE IS A RESOLUTION AND ONE
IS AN ORDINANCE.
LET'S GO FORWARD.
MADAM CLERK, PLEASE CALL THE
ROLL ON THE AMENDED AGENDA IN
WHICH WE WILL BE VOTING AND
DISCUSSING ITEM 9 AND THEN ITEM
8.
>> COUNCIL MEMBER STRESS?
>> YES.
>> COUNCILMEMBER HERBOLD?
>> YES.
>> COUNCIL MEMBER LOUIS?
>> YES.
>> COUNCILMEMBER MORALES?
>> YES.
>> COUNCILMEMBER MOSQUEDA?
>> NO.
>> COUNCILMEMBER NELSON?
>> AYE.
>> COUNCILMEMBER PEDERSEN?
>> YES.
>> COUNCILMEMBER SAWANT?
>> YES.
>> COUNCIL PRESIDENT JUAREZ?
>> AYE.
>> SEVEN IN FAVOR, TWO OPPOSED.
>> THANK YOU.
THE AMENDED AGENDA IS ADOPTED.
IS THAT CORRECT, MADAM CLERK?
>> THAT IS CORRECT.
>> OKAY.
GOOD.
OKAY.
AFTER THAT BIG THING.
OKAY.
LET'S MOVE ON TO PUBLIC
COMMENTS.
AGAIN, I'M GOING TO READ FROM A
SCRIPT HERE BECAUSE WE WANT TO
MAKE SURE WE HAVE THE RECORD
STRAIGHT HERE.
MADAM CLERK, HOW MANY PEOPLE
ARE SIGNED UP FOR PUBLIC
COMMENT?
>> WE HAVE 23 INDIVIDUALS
SIGNED UP FOR PUBLIC COMMENT.
>> WITH 23 INDIVIDUALS WE WILL
LIMITED TO ONE MINUTE EACH.
ONE MINUTE.
I'M GOING TO GO AHEAD WITH MY
SCRIPT AND THEN I WILL HEAD
OVER TO THE CITY CLERK.
COLLEAGUES, AT THIS TIME WE
WILL OPEN THE REMOTE PUBLIC
COMMENT PERIOD FOR THE CITY
COUNCIL AGENDA.
THE AGENDA INTRODUCTION
REFERRAL CALENDAR, AND THE
COUNCILS WORK PROGRAM.
IT REMAINS A STRONG INTENT OF
THE CITY COUNCIL TO HAVE REMOTE
PUBLIC COMMENT REGULARLY
INCLUDED ON MEETING AGENDAS.
HOWEVER, AS A REMINDER, THE
CITY COUNCIL RESERVES THE RIGHT
TO END OR ELIMINATE THESE
PUBLIC COMMENT PERIOD THAT ANY
POINT IF WE DEEM THE SYSTEM IS
BEING ABUSED OR IS NO LONGER
SUITABLE, EXCUSE ME, FOR
ALLOWING OUR MEETING TO BE
CONDUCTED EFFICIENTLY AND
EFFECTIVELY.
I UNDERSTAND WE HAVE 23
SPEAKERS.
YOU WILL HAVE ONE MINUTE.
OUR MADAM CLERK TODAY IS JODY.
SHE WILL MONITOR THE GENERAL
PUBLIC COMMENT.
I WILL NOW HANDED OFF TO HER TO
READ THE INSTRUCTIONS.
MADAM CLERK?
>> YES.
THE PUBLIC COMMENT PERIOD OF
THIS MEETING IS UP TO 20
MINUTES AND EACH SPEAKER WILL
BE GIVEN ONE MINUTE TO SPEAK.
THE SPEAKERS ARE CALLED UPON IN
THE ORDER OF WHICH THEY
REGISTERED TO PROVIDE PUBLIC
COMMENT.
EACH SPEAKER MUST CALL IN FROM
THE PHONE NUMBER PROVIDED WHEN
REGISTERED AND USE THE I.D.
AND PASSCODE THAT WAS EMAILED
UPON CONFIRMATION.
PLEASE NOTE THAT THIS IS
DIFFERENT FROM THE GENERAL
MEETING LISTEN LINE ON THE
AGENDA.
IF YOU DID NOT RECEIVE AN EMAIL
CONFIRMATION PLEASE CHECK YOUR
SPAM OR JUNK MAIL FOLDERS.
ONCE THE NAME IS CALLED WE WILL
UNMUTE THE APPROPRIATE
MICROPHONE AND YOU WILL HEAR
THE AUTOMATED PROMPT OF, YOU
HAVE BEEN ON UNIT.
THIS IS YOUR CUE TO TURN ON
YOUR AUDIO BY PRESSING STAR AND
SIX TO BEGIN SPEAKING.
PLEASE BEGIN SPEAKING BY
STATING YOUR NAME AND THE ITEM
THAT YOU ARE ADDRESSING YOU
WILL HEAR A CHIME WHEN 10
SECONDS ARE LEFT OF THE
ALLOTTED TIME.
WANT TO HEAR THAT CHIME WE ASK
THAT YOU WRAP UP YOUR PUBLIC
COMMENT.
IF SPEAKERS DO NOT AND THE
PUBLIC COMMENT AT THE END OF
THE ALLOTTED TIME PROVIDED THE
MICROPHONE WILL BE MUTED SO
THAT WE CAN CALL ON THE NEXT
SPEAKER.
ONCE YOU HAVE COMPLETED YOUR
PUBLIC COMMENT WE ASK THAT YOU
PLEASE DISCONNECT FROM THE
LINE.
IF YOU WOULD LIKE TO CONTINUE
FOLLOWING THIS MEETING PLEASE
DO SO VIA THE SEATTLE CHANNEL
OR THE LISTED OPTIONS ON THE
AGENDA.
THE PUBLIC COMMENT PERIOD IS
NOW OPEN AND WE WILL BEGIN WITH
THE FIRST SPEAKER ON THE LIST.
AS A REMINDER, PRESS STAR AND
SIX AFTER YOU HEAR THE PROMPT
THAT YOU HAVE BEEN UNMETERED.
OUR FIRST SPEAKER IS HOWARD
GAIL.
HE WILL BE FOLLOWED BY PETER.
HOWARD?
>> GOOD AFTERNOON.
I'M COMMENTING ON OUR FAILED
POLICE ACCOUNTABILITY SYSTEM.
TOMORROW MARKS THE SECOND
ANNIVERSARY OF THE POLICE
MURDER OF GEORGE FLOYD.
TODAY THE COUNCIL IS SPENDING
ITS TIME FIGURING OUT HOW TO
INCENTIVIZE HIRING MORE POLICE
WITHOUT HAVING DONE ANYTHING IN
THE LAST TWO YEARS TO HOLD
POLICE MORE ACCOUNTABLE,
DESPITE DOZENS OF U.S. CITIES
HAVING DONE SO SINCE THE MERGER
OF GEORGE FLOYD.
ACCOUNTABLE FOR THE FACT THAT
THEY HAVE KILLED MORE PEOPLE IN
THE DECADE AFTER THE CONSENT TO
CREATE -- THE DECADE PRIOR.
FOLLOWING EVERY KILLING TO BE
DETERMINED AS, LAWFUL AND PROPER
. INCLUDING 17 PEOPLE
EXPERIENCING A SEVERE
BEHAVIORA CRISIS.
THE CONTINUING RACIAL DISPARITY
OF THE SPD USE OF FORCE, AND
THE SPD STOPS AND DETENTIONS.
ACCOUNTABLE FOR THE 2020
UNCONSTITUTIONAL INTEGRATION
SLEEP VIOLENT ACTIONS AGAINST
DEMONSTRATORS WITH VIRTUALLY
ALL OFFICERS EXONERATED AND
UNPUNISHED HAVE FEW CASES
RESULTING IN REPRIMANDS.
THERE MUST BE ACCOUNTABILITY OR
WE WILL REPEAT THE VIOLENCE OF
2020.
>> OUR NEXT SPEAKER IS PETER.
PETER?
>> THANK YOU.
THIS IS PETER CONDIT FROM
DISTRICT 6. I'M KIND -- COUNCIL
BUILT ONE 2320 WOULD NOT
IMPROVE PUBLIC SAFETY.
SO FAR THIS YEAR SPD HAS KILLED
THREE PEOPLE. THE KING COUNTY
JAIL HAS KILLED FIVE PEOPLE.
THERE HAVE BEEN 17 HOMICIDES.
THIS MEANS THAT THE COPS IN THE
SYSTEM ARE RESPONSIBLE FOR ONE
OUT OF EVERY THREE KILLINGS IN
SEATTLE.
NOT ONLY THAT BUT THE LAST
MONTH ARTICLE SAID THAT THEY
ARE DISPROPORTIONATELY TARGETING
BLACK, NATIVE AMERICAN, AND
ASIAN PEOPLE WITH THEIR
VIOLENCE.
IT'S PRETTY BAD FOR YOU TO
PROCLAIM MADE TO BE MENTAL
HEALTH AWARENESS MONTH WHEN YOU
ARE TRYING TO GIVE THE SPD MORE
MONEY.
SPD KILLED DEREK ON THE
WATERFRONT IN FEBRUARY OF 2021
WHEN HE WAS HAVING A MENTAL
HEALTH RISIS.
I MYSELF HAVE DEPRESSION AND
ANXIETY, BOTH OF WHICH HAVE
GOTTEN WORSE BECAUSE OF THE
POLICE VIOLENCE I HAVE
EXPERIENCED IN THE LAST TWO
YEARS.
THERE IS NO EXCUSE FOR WHY YOU
ARE NOT SPENDING THIS TIME
SETTING UP A COMMUNITY LED
RESPONSE INSTEAD OF
EXACERBATING MENTAL HEALTH
STRUGGLES.
>> OUR NEXT SPEAKER.
>> HELLO.
THIS IS DISTRICT ONE.
I'M CALLING ON THE COUNCIL TO
REJECT HIRING INCENTIVES FOR
SPD AND INSTEAD TRANSFER ALL OF
SPD'S SALARY SAVINGS OUT OF THE
DEPARTMENT AND INTO COMMUNITY
DRIVEN SOLUTIONS.
THE NATIONAL INSTITUTE FOR
CRIMINAL JUSTICE REFORM, 2021
STUDY OF SPD, FOUND THAT 41% OF
911 CALL TYPES, WHICH ACTUALLY
CONSTITUTE 80% OF CALL VOLUME,
COULD BE RESPONDED TO BY
COMMUNITY AND NOT SPD.
THIS IS BACKED UP BY THE CENTER
FOR AMERICAN PROGRESS AND LAW
ENFORCEMENT ACTION PARTNERSHIPS
IN HE 2020 STUDY THAT FOUND
THAT ONLY 29% OF CALLS SHOULD
BE HANDLED BY SPD.
SPD HAS SAID THAT 12% OF CALLS
THEY CURRENTLY HANDLE CAN BE
IMMEDIATELY TRANSFERRED OUT OF
THE DEPARTMENT.
THEY ARE SIMULTANEOUSLY
FIGHTING TO PREVENT THAT FROM
HAPPENING.
POLICE OFFICER BONUSES WOULD
CONSUME RESOURCES THAT SHOULD
BE SPENT DEVELOPING THE
COMMUNITY-BASED RESPONSES TO
HARM, WHICH WE SO DESPERATELY
NEED.
THANK YOU.
>> OUR NEXT SPEAKER IS JULIA,
FOLLOWED BY BJ.
JULIA?
>> HELLO, COUNSEL.
THANK YOU FOR THE OPPORTUNITY
TO PROVIDE COMMENT TODAY.
I AM ALSO CALLING IN URGING THE
COUNCIL TO REJECT HIRING
BONUSES FOR SPD.
THE PRELIMINARY DATA THAT WE
HAVE GOTTEN FROM HIRING BONUSES
IN 2019 WAS THAT THEY DID
NOTHING TO INCREASE OFFICER
RECRUITMENT AND RETENTION.
THIS IS JUST THROWING
ADDITIONAL MONEY TO SPD, THAT
ALREADY HAS $4.1 MILLION FOR
DISCRETIONARY SPENDING, AND A
BUDGET TO HIRE 125 ADDITIONAL
OFFICERS ON TOP OF THE ROSTER
THAT THEY ALREADY HAVE.
I HEAR ABOUT AN OFFICER
SHORTAGE AND YET THEY HAD THE
OFFICERS TO SEND A S.W.A.T.
TEAM FOR A REPRODUCTIVE RIGHTS
RALLY IN WEST CENTER.
THEY HAD 60 OFFICERS WHO CAN
COME TO A MARCH.
I DON'T UNDERSTAND WHERE THE
STAFFING PROBLEM IS, EXCEPT IN
THEIR PRIORITIZATION OF ISSUES.
THANK YOU.
>> THE NEXT SPEAKER WILL BE BJ.
FOLLOWED BY BRITTANY.
BJ?
>> HELLO.
I AM A BALLARD RESIDENT AND
SMALL-BUSINESS ORDER.
I'M CALLING ON YOU TO REJECT
HIRING INCENTIVES FOR SPD.
-- GIVING SPD ACCESS TO FUNDS
THAT NO ONE CAN CURRENTLY USE
WILL CUT SPENDING ON SOCIAL
SERVICES WITH HOW WE CONTINUE
TO CRIMINALIZE POVERTY AND
MENTAL HEALTH.
-- INSTEAD OF FUNDING SHELTER.
-- INCREASING PLEASE CONTACT
LIKE THIS WILL DESTROY LIVES.
THE SPD AND KING COUNTY JAIL
KILL PEOPLE.
THEY HAVE KILLED EIGHT PEOPLE
COMBINED SO FAR THIS YEAR.
AT LEAST ONE PERSON IN A MENTAL
HEALTH CRISIS.
-- THERE AREN'T SUPPORTS TO
MEET THEIR NEEDS.
REJECT SPD HIRING BONUSES AND
ACTUALLY PAY ATTENTION TO THE
DATA SHOWING THAT WE DO NOT
NEED-
>> OUR NEXT SPEAKER IS BRITNEY.
BRITTANY?
>> GOOD AFTERNOON, COUNSEL.
I'M CALLING AS A RESIDENT OF
DISTRICT 7 TO EXPRESS MY
OPPOSITION TO THE PROPOSED SPD
HIRING INCENTIVE.
BOTH FISCAL RESPONSIBILITY AND
THE VOICES OF THE COMMUNITY AT
LARGE DEMAND THAT PUBLIC MONEY
SHOULD BE SPENT ON EVIDENCE-
BASED AND COMMUNITY CENTERED
PUBLIC SAFETY SOLUTIONS, RATHER
THAN THE INEFFECTIVE THINGS WE
HAVE DONE IN THE PAST.
THANK YOU.
>> OUR NEXT SPEAKER IS WEBER.
FOLLOWED BY PENNY.
>> THANK YOU.
I WOULD LIKE TO REFLECT TO
COUNCILMEMBER LEWIS. AT THE
PUBLIC SAFETY MEETING YOU SAID
-- ALSO THE ONGOING PROJECT TO
MAKE SURE WE CONTINUE TO
DEVELOP AND STAND UP --
OFFICERS DO NOT HAVE TO RESPOND
TO THE SAME CALLS THAT THEY ARE
CURRENTLY EXPECTED TO RESPOND
TO.
I WOULD LIKE TO, AS WE GO
FORWARD, AND AS WE HAVE MORE
HEARINGS FROM THE TOPIC OF
TRANSITIONING -- THOSE ALSO BE
SEEN IN THE CONTEXT OF WHAT THE
SPD STAFFING STRATEGY IS.
I WANTED TO MAKE THAT NOTE
BECAUSE I THINK IT HAS BECOME
EVIDENT THAT THERE IS A
DISAGREEMENT BETWEEN US AND THE
DEPARTMENT.
THERE'S A SIGNIFICANT PORTION
OF CALLS THAT CAN GO TO OTHER
SERVICES.
IT HAS IMPLICATIONS FOR THE
PROFESSIONALS.
IT HAS IMPLICATIONS TOO FOR
OFFICER WELLNESS AND WHAT WE
EXPECT OFFICERS TO DO, GIVING
MORE CLARITY TO THEIR MISSION.
JUST MAKING SURE THAT THERE ARE
A LOT MORE FIRST RESPONDER
SERVICES->> OUR NEXT SPEAKER IS
PENNY.
FOLLOWED BY LEAH.
PENNY?
>> HI.
I'M PENNY IN DISTRICT 6. A
RECENT POLL REVEALED THAT 92%
OF SEATTLE VOTERS CHOSE
ADDICTION AND MENTAL HEALTH
SERVICES AS THE NUMBER ONE
SOLUTION TO ADDRESS CRIME.
THIS IS WHERE VOTERS WANT OUR
TAX DOLLARS DIRECTED.
HIRING MORE POLICE WASN'T EVEN
RANKED IN THE TOP EIGHT
CATEGORY OF SOLUTIONS.
TODAY YOU ARE DECIDING ABOUT
THE FUTURE OF OUR CITY.
ANDREW LEWIS, YOU KNOW HOW
IMPORTANT IT IS THAT WE HAVE AN
ADEQUATE CIVILIAN, NONPOLICE
RESPONSE, LIKE THE STELLAR
DENVER STAR PROGRAM.
THAT SUCCESSFUL CITY THAT THE
FUTURE NEEDS TO BUILD TO
RESPOND TO MENTAL HEALTH CRISES
AND OTHER HUMAN NEEDS.
WE ALL KNOW TAX DOLLARS ARE
LIMITED.
I'M ASKING EVERY CITY
COUNCILMEMBER TO TAP INTO YOUR
COMMON SENSE AND REJECT HIRING
INCENTIVES FOR SPD WHICH KILLS
PEOPLE IN CRISIS.
TRANSFER THAT SALARY TO MENTAL
HEALTH SERVICES AND OTHER
COMMUNITY DRIVEN SOLUTIONS.
IT MAKES SENSE.
IT'S WHAT SEATTLE VOTERS
OVERWHELMINGLY-
>> THE NEXT SPEAKER IS LEAH.
FOLLOWED BY A NET.
LEAH?
>> MY NAME IS LEAH.
I ALSO SPOKE TO YOU IN 2020
WHEN YOU, THE SEATTLE CITY
COUNCIL, PROMISED -- TARGETED
TOWARDS PEOPLE OF COLOR HAS
INCREASED.
YOUR RESOLVE TO ADDRESS THIS
VIOLENCE AND RACISM HAS ENDED.
I WANT TO TELL THE COUNCIL THAT
I REJECT ANY AND ALL HIRING
INCENTIVES FOR SPD AND I DEMAND
YOU INSTEAD TRANSFER ALL OF
SPD'S SALARY SAVINGS OUT OF THE
DEPARTMENT TO COMMUNITY DRIVEN
SOLUTIONS.
DO NOT REWARD VIOLENCE IN OUR
COMMUNITY WITH MONETARY
INCENTIVES.
EVERYONE IS AWARE OF THE IMPACT
OF THE PANDEMIC ON OUR MENTAL
HEALTH.
WE NEED FREE AND ACCESSIBLE
MENTAL HEALTH SERVICES FOR ALL.
INVEST IN MENTAL HEALTH AND
COMMUNITY SERVICES, NOT
POLICING.
DO NOT REWARD AN ORGANIZATION
THAT HAS SUCH A TOXIC STRUCTURE
THAT IT CANNOT RETAIN EMPLOYEES
WITH HIRING INCENTIVES.
INVEST IN THE COMMUNITY.
>> THE NEXT SPEAKER IS ANNETTE.
FOLLOWED BY JODI.
ANNETTE?
>> OTHER THAN HIRING MORE COPS
THE SEATTLE POLICE DEPARTMENT
SHOULD BE DRASTICALLY CUT AND
THE SAVINGS SHOULD GO TO
FUNDING COMMUNITY-BASED
EMERGENCY RESPONSE NETWORKS AND
ALL THE THINGS THAT ACTUALLY
PROTECT US.
>> NEXT UP IS JODI.
>> I'M JODI MASON, A RESIDENT
FROM DISTRICT 2. I'M ASKING YOU
TO REJECT THE HIRING INCENTIVE
FOR SPD AND INSTEAD TRANSFER
ALL OF THEIR SALARY SAVINGS OUT
OF THE DEPARTMENT AND INTO
COMMUNITY DRIVEN SOLUTIONS.
THIS RESOLUTION IN THE COUNCIL
BILL WOULD FURTHER ENTRENCH
SPD'S RACIST VIOLENCE AND
THREATEN PUBLIC SAFETY. IN 2021
THERE WERE HOMICIDES IN THE
CITY AND 911 CALL VOLUME WAS
DOWN.
SPD IS LITERALLY BEING ASKED TO
DO LESS IN THE PRIOR YEARS. IT
ONLY MAKES SENSE THEY SHOULD
HAVE LESS STAFF AND FUNDING.
SPD IS DEADLY AND RACIST AND
THE COUNCIL SHOULD NOT FOR THE
RAMP UP POLICING WHEN THESE
ISSUES REMAIN UNADDRESSED.
A RECENT SEATTLE TIMES ARTICLE
SAID THAT IN 2019 AND 2021
CONCLUDED THAT SPD IS STILL
DISPROPORTIONATELY TARGETING
BLACKS, NATIVE AMERICANS, AND
INDIGENOUS PEOPLE.
THEY ARE ABLE TO DRAW THIS
CONCLUSION DESPITE THE FACT
THAT ONLY ONE THIRD OF THE
POLICE REPORTS WERE FILED,
LEADING CAUSE FOR CONCERN.
>> THE NEXT SPEAKER IS DANA
BARNETT, FOLLOWED BY MATTHEW.
DANA?
>> THIS IS DANA BARNETT.
I'M IN DISTRICT 3. I'M ALSO
CALLING TO OPPOSE THE INCREASED
FUNDING FOR SPD.
THERE ARE SO MANY THINGS THAT
WE COULD INVEST IN TO MAKE OUR
COMMUNITIES HEALTHY AND SAFE.
ONE OF THOSE THINGS THAT I MOST
INTIMATELY INVOLVED WITH IN THE
PAST THREE YEARS IS FUNDING FOR
DOMESTIC WORKERS.
WE RECENTLY -- FOR SEVERAL YEARS
. RECENTLY PROPOSED SOME VERY
ESSENTIAL AND NEEDED
RECOMMENDATIONS AND GOT
$500,000, A MUCH SMALLER AMOUNT
THAN SPD BUDGET, TO WORK ON
THIS IN PRACTICE.
WE WERE THEN TOLD WE HAD TO
TAKE 100,000 OUT OF THAT MONEY.
WE KNOW THAT THERE ARE SO MANY
PEOPLE, LIKE DOMESTIC WORKERS,
WHO ARE ESSENTIAL WORKERS. THEY
ARE STRUGGLING RIGHT NOW AND
CANNOT BE HOME WITH THEIR
CHILDREN WHEN THEIR CHILDREN
ARE SICK.
WE NEED TO INVEST IN SAFE
COMMUNITIES.
NOT IN POLICE.
ESPECIALLY DURING MENTAL HEALTH
MONTH.
THANK YOU.
>> OUR NEXT SPEAKER IS MATTHEW,
FOLLOWED BY KATIE.
MATTHEW?
>> HELLO. MY NAME IS MATTHEW.
I'M A DISTRICT 3 RESIDENT AND A
SALL BUSINESS OWNER IN
DISTRICT 2. I'M CALLING TO
STRONGLY URGE YOU TODAY TO VOTE
AGAINST FUNDING SPD HIRING
INCENTIVES AND ITS RECRUITMENT.
THESE MEASURES WILL NOT IMPROVE
PUBLIC SAFETY.
I FEEL MOST SAFE WHEN I KNOW
THE MOST VULNERABLE AMONG MY
NEIGHBORS ARE BEING TAKEN CARE
OF.
NOT WHEN THERE ARE POLICE ON
THE STREET OR MORE OFFICERS
MENACING PEACEFUL PROTESTS, OR
SHOWING UP IN LARGE NUMBERS TO
ESCALATE THE ALREADY TENSE AND
INHUMANE SWEEPS OF PEOPLE
EXPERIENCING HOMELESSNESS.
I KNOW THAT MANY OF YOU THINK
THIS IS A CHICKEN AND EGG
SITUATION BUT CLAIMING THAT WE
NEED TO CONTINUE FUNDING SPD
UNTIL THERE IS A FUTURE HORIZON
WHERE COMMUNITY RESPONSE IS IN
PLACE IS A HARMFUL FALLACY.
THERE ARE COMMITTEE BASED
GROUPS THAT ARE DOING THIS WORK
ALREADY IN OUR CITY AND THEY
LACK SUFFICIENT FUNDS.
PLEASE DO NOT GIVE MORE FUNDS
TO THE CITY DEPARTMENT THAT IS
KNOWN FOR ITS RACIST, TOXIC->>
COUNCIL PRESIDENT, KATIE HAS
DROPPED OFF.
OUR NEXT SPEAKER WILL BE ANNA
WILLIAMS.
FOLLOWED BY DAVID HAYNES.
ANNA?
>> HELLO.
I'M A HOMEOWNER, A BUSINESS
OWNER, AND A MOTHER IN DISTRICT
4. I'M CALLING ON THE COUNCIL
TO REJECT HIRING INCENTIVES FOR
SPD AND INSTEAD TRANSFER THAT
MONEY TO COMMUNITY DRIVEN
SOLUTIONS.
I REALLY DO BELIEVE THAT IT IS
THE INTENT OF THE COUNCIL TO
I BELIEVE THAT IS ALL OF YOUR
INTENT.
BUT IF YOU LOOK AT THE HISTORY
POLICE REFORM HAS NOT WORKED.
WE HAVE BEEN TRYING TO REFORM
POLICE INCENTIVES SINCE ITS
INCEPTION.
WE HAVE SPENT 200 YEARS TRYING
TO REFORM POLICING. IT'S TIME
TO TRY SOMETHING ELSE.
THAT IS RESOURCE AND COMMUNITY.
TO TRULY THAT PROBLEMS OF
RACIST VIOLENCE IN OUR SOCIETY
LET'S BEGIN WITH THE QUESTION
OF HOW TO REFORM POLICE.
LET'S INSTEAD START WITH THE
QUESTION OF HOW TO BUILD A
HEALTHY AND SAFE COMMUNITY OF
MUTUAL RESPECT AND SEE WHICH
INSTITUTIONS WE NEED TO REACH
THAT GOAL.
IF ANYTHING IT SHOULD BE AT ITS
END RATHER THAN ITS ASSUMED
OUTSET.
>> DAVID, GO AHEAD.
>> THANK YOU.
RENTERS RIGHT.
I RECENTLY REACHED OUT TO THE
NORTHWEST HOUSING JUSTICE
PROJECT ABOUT GETTING OUT OF MY
LEASE AND GETTING MY MONEY BACK
BECAUSE OF UNSAFE, UNHEALTHY,
OPPRESSIVE LIVING CONDITIONS
THAT ARE DENYING THE PURSUIT OF
HAPPINESS, DESTROYING MENTAL
HEALTH, AND ENDANGERING WELL-
BEING.
THERE IS NO CODIFIED LAW TO
PROTECT RENTERS FROM ABUSIVE
INTIMIDATING THREATS BY
LANDLORDS ABOUT EVICTION FOR
COMPLAINING ABOUT HORRIBLE
LIVING CONDITIONS, FINANCIAL
DECISIONS REFUSING TO HIRE
QUALIFIED SECURITY, AND
STOPPING THE CRIMINALS
CONDUCTING ACTIVITIES ON THE
PROPERTY.
NO PROTECTIONS FROM FLAWED,
OBSOLETE DESIGNS, LIKE WALLS
THAT SHAKE LIKE A BOMB WENT OFF.
-- SEPARATELY, AND A DIFFERENT
CONCERN, THE COUNCIL LOOKS LIKE
THEY ARE SETTING ASIDE $35,000
OF FINANCE COMMITTEE TO GIVE TO
RACIST GOVERNMENT UNION
EMPLOYEES WHILE THE SAME
COUNSEL VOTED TO DEFUND 50%
WHILE CONTINUING TO HELP EVIL
->> OUR NEXT SPEAKER IS LARSON.
FOLLOWED BY KAREN.
>> URGE THE COUNCIL TO PASS
ORDINANCE FOR THE CONSTITUENTS
MENTAL HEALTH.
THANK YOU.
>> THE NEXT SPEAKER IS KAREN
CARPENTER, FOLLOWED BY ADAM
KENNEDY.
KAREN?
>> MY NAME IS KAREN.
I'M A RESIDENT OF DISTRICT 1.
I'M CALLING TO URGE THE COUNCIL
TO REJECT SPD HIRING INCENTIVES.
SPD DOES NOT KEEP US SAFE.
SPD DOES SERVE AND UPHOLD WHITE
SUPREMACIST INTERESTS.
THEY TERRORIZE POOR AND
MENTALLY ILL BLACK AND BROWN
MEMBERS OF OUR COMMITTEE.
I THINK WE SHOULD FUNDS
COMMITTEE SOLUTIONS FOR MENTAL
HEALTH RESOURCES AND HYGIENE
SERVICES TO ACHIEVE PUBLIC
SAFETY.
DURING THE CITYWIDE BUDGET CUTS
THAT JEOPARDIZE SOCIAL SERVICES
, COUNCILMEMBER NELSON AND
COUNCILMEMBER HERBOLD SAID THAT
-- AND HAVE REPEATEDLY LIED TO
THE PUBLIC.
SPD ALREADY RECEIVE FUNDING FOR
THEIR STAFFING NEEDS.
THEY SHOULD PRIORITIZE --
SHOPLIFTING AT TARGET AND
STANDING ON STREET CORNERS.
NOT TO MENTION FATALLY SHOOTING
PEOPLE.
RESEARCH HAS SHOWN THAT A LARGE
NUMBER OF 911 CALLS HAVE BEEN
ABLE TO BE HANDLED BY COMMUNITY
AND NOT COPS.
>> ADAM?
>> HELLO.
MY NAME IS ADAM KENNEDY.
I'M A RESIDENT OF DISTRICT 3. I
WOULD LIKE TO ENCOURAGE THE
COUNCIL TO REJECT HIRING
BONUSES FOR POLICE OFFICERS.
MOVE THE SALARY SURPLUS INTO
COMMUNITY FUNDED PROGRAMS.
THANK YOU VERY MUCH.
>> THANK YOU.
OUR NEXT SPEAKER IS VALERIE.
>> THIS IS VALERIE FROM
DISTRICT 2. I'M CALLING ABOUT
THE DRAFT ORDINANCE FOR
INVESTIGATING COMPLAINTS ABOUT
THE CHIEF OF POLICE THAT WAS
INTRODUCED TO THE PUBLIC SAFETY
MEETING THIS MORNING.
IT WAS ABOUT THE CHIEF'S ACTIONS
DURING THE PROTESTS OF 2020.
FOR EXAMPLE, SPREADING
MISINFORMATION AND ACTUALLY
LYING.
IRONICALLY THE ORDINANCE ITSELF
STARTS WITH THE
MISREPRESENTATION THAT THE CITY
OF SEATTLE'S ACCOUNTABILITY
SYSTEM HAS STRENGTH NOT FOUND
IN OTHER MODELS OF OVERSIGHT --
WITH WHICH OTHER SYSTEMS HAVE
STRUGGLED.
WHEN WE LOOK AT INVESTIGATION
FINDINGS, ESPECIALLY ABOUT
PROTESTERS AND SHOOTINGS OF
PEOPLE AND BEHAVIORAL HEALTH
CRISES, OUTCOMES SHOW WE HAVE A
LONG WAY TO GO BEFORE WE CAN
CONGRATULATE OURSELVES.
PLEASE DELETE THE CLAIM THAT
OUR SYSTEM IS THE BEST FROM THE
FIRST PARAGRAPH OF THE
ORDINANCE.
>> OUR LAST SPEAKER TODAY IS
MICHAEL.
MICHAEL?
>> MICHAEL, ARE YOU THERE?
ARE YOU THERE?
>> CAN YOU HEAR ME?
>> GO AHEAD.
>> MY NAME IS MICHAEL.
I'M A RESIDENT CALLING FOR THE
COUNCIL TO REJECT HIRING
BONUSES FOR SPD AND INSTEAD
REINVEST THOSE FUNDS IN
COMMUNITY DRIVEN SOLUTIONS.
THANK YOU.
>> THAT CONCLUDES OUR SPEAKERS
FOR TODAY, COUNCIL PRESIDENT.
>> HOW ARE WE DOING?
>> THAT CONCLUDES OUR LIST.
>> GREAT.
THANK YOU.
MY SPEAKER CUT OUT FOR A
MINUTE.
OKAY.
WE ARE GOOD.
WE GOT THROUGH OUR SPEAKERS.
CORRECT?
>> WE DID.
>> OKAY.
WE REACHED THE END OF THE LIST
OF THE FOLKS THAT HAVE SIGNED
UP FOR PUBLIC COMMENT.
PUBLIC COMMENT IS NOW CLOSED.
MOVING ALONG THE AGENDA. WE
HAVE A PRETTY FULL AGENDA
TODAY, FOLKS.
14 COMMITTEE REPORTS.
ITEM NUMBER ONE IS MINE.
MADAM CLERK, PLEASE READ INTO
THE RECORD.
>> THE REPORT OF THE CITY
COUNCIL, ITEM 1, COUNCIL HILL
120324.
AN ORDINANCE AMENDING ORDINANCE
126490, WHICH ADOPTED THE 2022
BUDGET CHANGING APPROPRIATIONS
TO VARIOUS DEPARTMENTS AND
CONTROL LEVELS AND FROM VARIOUS
FUNDS IN THE 2022 BUDGET.
>> THANK YOU.
I MOVED TO PASS COUNCIL BILL
120324.
IS THERE A SECOND?
>> SECOND.
>> THANK YOU.
IT'S BEEN MOVED AND SECONDED TO
PASS THE BILL.
AS A SPONSOR I WILL ADDRESS THE
BILL FIRST AND THEN OPEN IT UP
TO COMMENTS.
I SHARED SOME OF THIS
INFORMATION WITH YOU ALL
YESTERDAY DURING OUR BRIEFING.
LET ME SHARE IT AGAIN FOR THE
RECORD.
IN LATE 2021, AND EARLY 2022,
THE SEATTLE CITY COUNCIL
ADOPTED SIX SEPARATE ORDINANCES
RELATING TO THE COMPENSATION OF
CITY PERSONNEL, INCLUDING COSTS
OF LIVING ADJUSTMENTS AND
ADDING PAID HOLIDAYS FOR
JUNETEENTH AND INDIGENOUS
PEOPLES DAY.
FUNDS TO COVER THOSE COSTS,
ASSOCIATED WITH THESE BILLS,
WERE BEING HELD IN RESERVES IN
THE GENERAL FUND AND SOME
DEPARTMENT FUNDS UNTIL THE
EXACT APPROPRIATION AMOUNTS TO
EACH DEPARTMENT.
THE LEGISLATION APPROPRIATE
THOSE FUNDS TO CITY DEPARTMENTS
TO FULFILL THESE COMMITMENTS.
IT DID NOT GO TO THE COMMITTEE
BUT WAS RATHER SENT STRAIGHT TO
US, FULL CITY COUNCIL.
SERVING AS THE STAFF ANALYSIS
ON THIS BILL, A MEMO WAS SENT
TO EACH COUNCILMEMBER LAST WEEK.
ARE THERE ANY COMMENTS BEFORE
WE GO TO A VOTE?
I'M NOT SEEING ANY.
>> MADAM?
>> I'M SORRY.
I DID NOT SEE YOU.
GO AHEAD, COUNCILMEMBER NELSON.
>> THAT'S OKAY.
I'VE GOT SOME ALLERGIES.
I WANT TO THANK YOU FOR THIS.
FOR BRINGING ALL OF THESE
DIFFERENT PIECES TOGETHER.
I'M REALLY HONORED TO HAVE
SPONSORED COUNCIL BILL 126505,
WHICH CREATED THE CITYWIDE
HOLIDAY THAT COMMEMORATES THE
JUNETEENTH, WHICH WE ARE
INCLUDING HERE. THE HOLIDAY IS
AN OPPORTUNITY TO NOT JUST
CELEBRATE BUT ALSO TO SPEAK OUT
ABOUT THE WORK THAT SOCIETY
STILL HAS TO DO.
I'M JUST REALLY EXCITED THAT
OUR CITY WORKERS WILL NOW HAVE
THIS DAY TO MARK AN IMPORTANT
COMMEMORATION AND ALL THAT IT
STANDS FOR.
I'M LOOKING FORWARD TO SHARING
THAT WITH THEM.
>> AND ALSO FREE PARKING ON
THOSE TWO DAYS.
>> FREE PARKING!
>> I REALLY WANT TO THANK MY
CHIEF OF STAFF AND THE
EXECUTIVE.
THEY ARE THE ONES THAT PULL ALL
OF THIS STUFF TOGETHER FOR US.
I DO THE EASY PART.
THANK YOU.
THANK YOU FOR THAT.
IT'S BEEN MOVED AND SECONDED.
WE HAVE COMMENTS.
MADAM CLERK, WILL YOU PLEASE
CALL THE ROLE?
>> COUNCIL MEMBER STRAUSS?
>> YES.
>> COUNCILMEMBER HERBOLD?
>> YES.
>> COUNCIL MEMBER LOUIS?
>> YES.
>> COUNCILMEMBER MORALES?
>> YES.
>> COUNCILMEMBER MOSQUEDA?
>> AYE.
>> COUNCILMEMBER NELSON?
>> AYE.
>> COUNCIL MEMBER PEDERSEN?
>> AYE.
>> COUNCILMEMBER SAWANT?
>> YES.
>> COUNCIL PRESIDENT JUAREZ?
>> AYE.
>> NINE IN FAVOR AND NOT A
POST.
>> THANK YOU, MADAM CLERK.
THE BILL PASSES AND THE CHAIR
WILL SIGN IT.
MADAM CLERK, PLEASE AFFIX MY
SIGNATURE TO THE LEGISLATION.
MOVING ON TO ITEM NUMBER TWO.
THIS IS COUNCILMEMBER NELSON'S
ISSUE.
WILL THE CLERK PLEASE READ ITEM
NUMBER TWO INTO THE RECORD?
>> ITEM 2, COUNCIL HILL 120327.
AN ORDINANCE RELATING TO THE
CITY LIGHT AND SEATTLE PUBLIC
UTILITIES DEPARTMENT
TEMPORARILY REMOVING THE CHARGE
OF INTEREST ON DELINQUENT
UTILITY CONSUMPTION AND
UTILIZATION ACCOUNTS.
>> THANK YOU.
I MOVED TO PASS COUNCIL BILL
120327. IS THERE A SECOND?
>> SECOND.
>> THANK YOU.
IT'S BEEN MOVED AND SECONDED.
COUNCILMEMBER NELSON, THE FLOOR
IS YOURS.
>> THANK YOU.
PASSAGE OF THIS BILL WOULD
CONTINUE THE SUSPENSION OF
INTEREST CHARGES ON DELINQUENT
UTILITY BILL BALANCES THROUGH
JUNE 20th, 2023.
FOR RESIDENTIAL CUSTOMERS,
NONPROFIT CUSTOMERS, AND
COMMERCIAL CUSTOMERS WITH
ANNUAL RECEIPTS OF LESS THAN $5
MILLION.
THE INITIAL LEGISLATION TO
SUSPEND INTEREST CHARGES, WHICH
WAS ORDINANCE 126058, EXPIRED
IN AUGUST OF 2020.
SINCE THEN THE COUNCIL HAS
PASSED THREE EXTENSIONS OF THE
POLICY. WITH THE MOST RECENT
EXPIRING ON JANUARY 1st, 2022.
THIS WOULD ESSENTIALLY EXTEND
THIS SUPPORT THROUGH JUNE 20th,
2023.
>> THANK YOU.
ARE THERE ANY QUESTIONS FOR
COUNCILMEMBER NELSON BEFORE WE
MOVED TO THE VOTE?
I'M NOT SEEING ANY.
MADAM CLERK, WILL YOU PLEASE
CALL THE ROLL ON THE PASSAGE OF
THE BILL?
>> COUNCIL MEMBER STRAUSS?
>> YES.
>> COUNCILMEMBER HERBOLD?
>> YES.
>> COUNCILMEMBER LEWIS?
>> YES.
>> COUNCILMEMBER MORALES?
>> YES.
>> COUNCILMEMBER MOSQUEDA?
>> AYE.
>> COUNCILMEMBER NELSON?
>> AYE.
>> COUNCIL MEMBER PEDERSEN?
>> AYE.
>> COUNCILMEMBER SAWANT?
>> YES.
>> COUNCIL PRESIDENT JUAREZ?
>> AYE.
>> NINE IN FAVOR AND NONE
OPPOSED.
>> THE BILL PASSES AND THE
CHAIR WILL SIGN IT.
MADAM CLERK, PLEASE AFFIX MY
SIGNATURE TO THE LEGISLATION.
LET'S GO TO ITEM NUMBER THREE.
THAT IS COUNCILMEMBER NELSON
AGAIN.
MADAM CLERK, PLEASE READ ITEM
NUMBER THREE INTO THE RECORD.
>> AGENDA ITEM 3, COUNCIL BILL
120328.
AN ORDINANCE RELATING TO THE
CITY LIGHT DEPARTMENT AMENDING
TERMS AND CONDITIONS PERTAINING
TO THE EMERGENCY BILL
ASSISTANCE PROGRAM AND
TEMPORARILY EXPANDING ACCESS TO
ASSISTANCE TO CERTAIN ELIGIBLE
HOUSEHOLDS FOR A LIMITED TIME
IN RESPONSE TO THE CORONAVIRUS
DISEASE 2019 COVID EMERGENCY.
>> THANK YOU.
I MOVED TO PASS COUNCIL BILL
120328. IS THERE A SECOND?
>> SECOND.
>> THANK YOU.
IT'S BEEN MOVED AND SECONDED.
COUNCILMEMBER NELSON, THE FLOOR
IS YOURS.
>> PASSAGE OF THIS BILL WOULD
EXTEND THE AVAILABILITY OF
EXPANDED EMERGENCY ASSISTANCE
TO LOW INCOME HOUSEHOLDS UNTIL
DECEMBER 31st, 2023.
PRIOR TO THE PASSAGE OF THE
ORIGINATING LEGISLATION FOR THIS
, WHICH WAS ORDINANCE 126317,
QUALIFYING HOUSEHOLDS WITH
MINOR CHILDREN WERE ELIGIBLE
FOR TWO EMERGENCY CREDITS TO
THEIR UTILITY COUNTS FOR THE
CALENDAR YEAR, WHILE QUALIFYING
HOUSEHOLDS WITHOUT MINOR
CHILDREN WERE ELIGIBLE FOR ONE
CREDIT PER CALENDAR YEAR.
THE POLICY THAT WOULD BE
EXTENDED IN THIS BILL ALLOWS
TWO CREDITS, TOTALING $1000, TO
HOUSEHOLDS WITHOUT MINOR
CHILDREN AS WELL.
THE COUNCIL HAS EXTENDED THIS
POLICY ONCE PREVIOUSLY, MAKING
THE EXPANDED ASSISTANCE
AVAILABLE UNTIL DECEMBER 31st,
2022.
THIS WOULD EXTEND THAT FOR ONE
MORE YEAR.
>> THANK YOU.
COUNCIL MEMBER NELSON, ARE
THERE ANY COMMENTS OR QUESTIONS
FOR COUNCILMEMBER NELSON?
I'M SEEING NONE.
WILL THE CLERK PLEASE CALL THE
ROLE ON PASSAGE OF THE BILL?
>> COUNCILMEMBER STRAUSS?
>> YES.
>> COUNCIL MEMBER HERBALS?
>> YES.
>> COUNCILMEMBER LEWIS?
>> YES.
>> COUNCILMEMBER MORALE IS?
COUNCILMEMBER MOSQUEDA?
>> AYE.
>> COUNCIL MEMBER NELSON?
>> AYE.
>> COUNCILMEMBER PEDERSEN?
>> AYE.
>> COUNCILMEMBER SAWANT?
>> YES.
>> COUNCIL PRESIDENT JUAREZ?
>> AYE.
>> NINE IN FAVOR AND NONE
OPPOSED.
>> THE BILL PASSES AND MADAM
CLERK WILL YOU PLEASE AFFIX MY
SIGNATURE TO THE LEGISLATION?
THING ON TO ITEM NUMBER FOUR.
I SEE IT IS COUNCILMEMBER
PEDERSEN.
WILL THE CLERK PLEASE READ THE
TITLE OF ITEM NUMBER FOUR INTO
THE RECORD?
>> AGENDA ITEM 4, COUNCIL BILL
120329.
AN ORDINANCE RELATING TO
SEATTLE PUBLIC UTILITIES'
EMERGENCY ASSISTANCE PROGRAM.
TEMPORARILY EXTENDING INCREASED
ASSISTANCE RELATED TO COVID
INDUCED CUSTOMER DELINQUENCIES
AND AMENDING SECTION 21.7 6.065
OF THE SEATTLE IMMISCIBLE CODE.
>> I MOVED TO PASS THE COUNCIL
BILL.
IS THERE SECOND?
>> SECOND.
>> THANK YOU, COUNCILMEMBER
PEDERSEN.
THE FLOOR IS YOURS.
>> THANK YOU.
ALL THREE UTILITY BILLS,
UTILITY RELIEF BILLS,
COSPONSORED WITH COUNCILMEMBER
NELSON.
THIS ONE HAPPENS TO DEAL WITH
SEATTLE PUBLIC UTILITIES.
IT DOES THE SAME THING FOR
EMERGENCY ASSISTANCE PROGRAM AS
THE CITY LIGHT BILL WE JUST
ADOPTED A MOMENT AGO.
AS WITH ITS COMPANION BILL THIS
COUNCIL BILL, 120329, SIMPLY
EXTENDS A UTILITY POLICY.
EXTENDING THIS RELIEF THROUGH
2023 WILL BECOME EVEN MORE
IMPORTANT FOR CUSTOMERS OF
SEATTLE PUBLIC UTILITIES
BECAUSE THE KING COUNTY
EXECUTIVE AND KING COUNTY
COUNCIL MEMBERS ARE CURRENTLY
CONSIDERING A SUBSTANTIAL
INCREASE IN WASTEWATER
TREATMENT FEES.
IF KING COUNTY PASSES THE
WASTEWATER TREATMENT FEES,
WHICH COMPRISE OF NEARLY 50% OF
HOUSEHOLDS, THAT IS GOING
DIRECTLY TO THE SEATTLE
CUSTOMERS.
WE CAN PROVIDE RELIEF TO LOWER
INCOME PEOPLE.
THE MORE THE BETTER.
>> I ACTUALLY HAD IT NOTED IN
THE MARGINS THAT THESE ARE ITEM
2, THREE, AND FOUR.
THEY ARE COUNCILMEMBER PEDERSEN
AND COUNCILMEMBER NELSON.
ARE THERE ANY OTHER COMMENTS
FOR COUNCILMEMBER PEDERSEN?
COUNCILMEMBER MOSQUEDA?
>> THANK YOU SO MUCH.
I WANT TO THANK COUNCIL MEMBER
PEDERSEN FOR THE JOINT WORK
THAT WE ARE LOOKING INTO WITH
THE PUBLIC UTILITIES FOLKS TO
MAKE SURE MORE OF THE PEOPLE
WHO ARE QUALIFYING FOR THE
UTILITY DISCOUNT PROGRAM GET
AUTOMATICALLY ENROLLED IN THAT.
THAT'S SOMETHING I HAVE LOOKED
INTO IN 2018 AND 2019.
WITH THE CONTINUED EFFORTS TO
EXTEND ADDITIONAL SUPPORT BUT
ALSO THE CONCERN ON THE HORIZON
THAT MANY OF THESE PROGRAMS ARE
GOING TO SUNSET, HAVING
AUTOMATIC ENROLLMENT AND THINGS
LIKE UTILITY DISCOUNT PROGRAM
AND OTHER STRATEGIES TO SUPPORT
WORKING FAMILIES IS GOING TO BE
REALLY CRITICAL.
I REALLY APPRECIATE YOU TAKING
THE REINS ON THAT,
COUNCILMEMBER PEDERSEN, AND
YOUR QUICK ACTION TO RESPOND TO
THOSE IDEAS.
I LOOK FORWARD TO CONTINUING TO
ENGAGE WITH YOU ON LONG-TERM
POLICY SOLUTIONS.
>> THANK YOU, COUNCILMEMBER
MOSQUEDA.
>> ARE WE ALL DONE?
>> THANK YOU, COUNCIL
PRESIDENT JUAREZ.
>> NO, THANK YOU.
THANK YOU, EVERYBODY.
LET'S MOVE ON.
WILL THE CLERK PLEASE CALL THE
ROLE ON THE PASSAGE OF THE
BILL?
>> COUNCIL MEMBER STRAUSS?
>> YES.
>> COUNCILMEMBER HERBOLD?
>> YES.
>> COUNCIL MEMBER LEWIS?
>> YES.
>> COUNCILMEMBER MORALES?
>> YES.
>> COUNCILMEMBER MOSQUEDA?
>> AYE.
>> COUNCILMEMBER NELSON?
>> AYE.
>> COUNCIL MEMBER PEDERSEN?
>> AYE.
>> COUNCILMEMBER SAWANT?
>> YES.
>> COUNCIL PRESIDENT JUAREZ?
NINE IN FAVOR, NONE OPPOSED.
>> THE CHAIR WILL SIGN IT.
ADAM CLERK, PLEASE AFFIX MY
SIGNATURE TO THIS LEGISLATION.
GOING TO FINANCE AND HOUSING.
COUNCILMEMBER MOSQUEDA HAS
ITEMS FIVE, SIX, AND SEVEN FOR
US.
I UNDERSTAND THAT YOU ARE GOING
TO READ FIVE AND SIX INTO THE
RECORD AND COUNCILMEMBER
MOSQUEDA WILL ADDRESS FIVE AND
SIX TOGETHER BUT WE WILL VOTE
ON THEM SEPARATELY.
MADAM CLERK, PLEASE READ FIVE
AND SIX INTO THE RECORD.
>> REPORT OF THE FINANCE AND
HOUSING COMMITTEE, AGENDA ITEMS
FIVE AND SIX.
COUNCIL BILL 120316. AN
ORDINANCE AMENDING ORDINANCE
126490, WHICH ADOPTED THE 2022
BUDGET, INCLUDING THE 2022
THROUGH 2027 CAPITAL
IMPROVEMENT PROGRAM.
AND COUNCIL BILL 120317.
AN ORDINANCE AMENDING ORDINANCE
126237, WHICH ADOPTED THE 2021
BUDGET, INCLUDING THE 2021
THROUGH 2026 CAPITAL
IMPROVEMENT PROGRAM.
THE COMMITTEE RECOMMENDS BOTH
OF THESE BILLS PASSED.
>> THANK YOU, MADAM CLERK.
COUNCILMEMBER MOSQUEDA, THESE
ARE BOTH YOURS AND YOU ARE
RECOGNIZED.
>> THANK YOU, MADAM PRESIDENT.
THANK YOU DEPUTY CLERK.
THANK YOU TO THE FELLOW
COLLEAGUES FOR SUPPORTING THESE
TWO ITEMS.
THEY BOTH PASSED OUT OF THE
FINANCE AND HOUSING COMMITTEE
UNANIMOUSLY.
THESE TWO SETS OF BILLS
COMPLEMENT OUR ANNUAL EFFORTS
TO TRY TO ENSURE THAT WE HAVE
TRANSPARENCY AND ACCOUNTABILITY
FOR OUR 12 MONTH CALENDAR YEAR
BUDGET.
EVERY YEAR WE HAVE BEEN
CONSIDERING A CARRYFORWARD
ORDINANCE, WHICH BRINGS FORWARD
FUNDING FROM THE PREVIOUS YEAR
TO THE CURRENT FISCAL CALENDAR
YEAR TO MAKE SURE THAT ANY
AUTHORIZED SPENDING THAT HAS NOT
YET BEEN SPENT IS ALLOWED TO BE
SPENT ON THOSE AUTHORIZED USES.
IT ALSO HAS FUNDING INCLUDED IN
THE NEXT SECTION ORDINANCE,
WHICH WE HAVE BEEN CONSIDERING
ON AN ANNUAL BASIS.
IF YOU HAVE HAD THE CHANCE TO
READ THE EXCELLENT MEMO FROM
CENTRAL STAFF, THANK YOU AGAIN
TO CENTRAL STAFF WHO PRESENTED
IN THE MAY 4th MEETING.
AND AGAIN IN MAY.
YOU WOULD HAVE HAD A CHANCE TO
SEE HOW THE EXCEPTIONS
ORDINANCE SHOULD BE THAT.
IT SHOULD BE EXCEPTIONAL.
WE SHOULD NOT BE IN A REGULAR
AND ROUTINE PRACTICE OF
REGULARLY APPROVING SPENDING
THAT WAS NOT AUTHORIZED IN THE
PREVIOUS YEAR, THAT THEN WAS
SPENT AND WE ARE MAKING AN
EXCEPTION FOR THAT SPENDING.
THIS HAS BEEN A REGULAR PRACTICE
IN THE PAST.
WE HAVE MADE CORRECTIONS FOR IT
SPECIFICALLY IN THE AREAS OF
THE SEATTLE POLICE DEPARTMENT
OVER THE LAST TWO YEARS.
WE ARE UNDERTAKING A ROBUST
EFFORT WITHIN THE FINANCIAL AND
HOUSING COMMITTEE MEETING TO
MOVE AWAY FROM EXCEPTIONS
ORDINANCE IS MOVING FORWARD.
IN LARGE PART I WANT TO THANK
CENTRAL STAFF FOR THEIR INTENSE
CONVERSATIONS AND REALLY
COLLABORATIVE DISCUSSIONS WITH
OUR NEW CITY BUDGET OFFICE
DIRECTOR EMMA JULIA TINGLEY,
AND HER TEAM. BETWEEN THE
EXECUTIVE BRANCH AND WORKING
REALLY CLOSELY WITH CENTRAL
STAFF.
I THINK WE ARE ON A GOOD PATH
FORWARD TO FINDING SOME
SOLUTIONS SO THAT WE ARE NOT
ROUTINELY CONSIDERING
EXCEPTIONS ORDINANCE IS.
THAT SAID, THIS YEAR IS NO
EXCEPTION TO THE RULE.
WE DO HAVE IN FRONT OF US THE
FORWARD ORDINANCE AND THE
EXCEPTION ORDINANCE.
ITEMS FIVE AND SIX PASSED
UNANIMOUSLY OUT OF THE
COMMITTEE.
WE HAD A DISCUSSION AND
ANALYSIS FROM CENTRAL STAFF
WHICH HELPED US BREAK DOWN WHAT
THOSE EXPENSES WERE, AND THE
DOLLARS FROM THE CARRYFORWARD
ORDINANCE ARE BEING AUTHORIZED
BY THE COUNCIL.
THANK YOU, MADAM CHAIR, MADAM
PRESIDENT. I WILL CONCLUDE WITH
THAT AND I HOPE TO HAVE YOUR
SUPPORT TODAY.
>> ABSOLUTELY.
COUNCIL MEMBERS, ANY QUESTIONS
FOR COUNCILMEMBER MOSQUEDA FOR
ITEMS NUMBER FIVE AND SIX?
I'M NOT SEEING ANY.
THANK YOU , COUNCILMEMBER
MOSQUEDA, FOR GIVING US THE
UPDATE ON ITEMS FIVE AND SIX.
IF YOU ARE SEEING NONE THEN
LET'S GO TO THE FIRST VOTE ON
ITEM NUMBER FIVE.
WILL THE CLERK PLEASE CALL THE
ROLE ON THE PASSAGE OF THE
AGENDA ITEM 5, COUNCIL BILL
120316?
>> COUNCILMEMBER STRAUSS?
>> YES.
>> COUNCILMEMBER HERBOLD?
>> YES.
>> COUNCILMEMBER LEWIS?
>> YES.
>> COUNCILMEMBER MORALES?
>> YES.
>> COUNCILMEMBER MOSQUEDA?
>> AYE.
>> COUNCILMEMBER NELSON?
>> AYE.
>> COUNCILMEMBER PEDERSEN?
>> AYE.
>> COUNCILMEMBER SAWANT?
>> YES.
>> COUNCIL PRESIDENT JUAREZ?
>> AYE.
>> NINE IN FAVOR AND NONE
OPPOSED.
>> THE BILL PASSES AND THE
CHAIR WILL SIGN IT.
ADAM CLERK, PLEASE AFFIX MY
SIGNATURE TO THE LEGISLATION.
LET'S MOVED ITEM NUMBER SIX.
PLEASE CALL THE ROLE ON ITEM
NUMBER SIX.
>> CUSTOMER STRAUSS?
>> YES.
>> COUNCILMEMBER HERBOLD?
>> YES.
>> COUNCILMEMBER LEWIS?
>> YES.
>> COUNCILMEMBER MORALES?
>> YES.
>> COUNCILMEMBER MOSQUEDA?
>> AYE.
>> COUNCILMEMBER NELSON?
>> AYE.
>> COUNCIL MEMBER PEDERSEN?
>> AYE.
>> COUNCILMEMBER SAWANT?
>> YES.
>> COUNCIL PRESIDENT JUAREZ?
>> AYE.
>> NINE IN FAVOR AND NONE
OPPOSED.
>> THANK YOU, THE BILL PASSES.
WILL THE CHAIR SIGN IT?
PLEASE AFFIX MY SIGNATURE TO
THE LEGISLATION.
MOVING TO ITEM 7. COUNCILMEMBER
MOSQUEDA, THIS IS YOU AS WELL.
WILL THE CLERK PLEASE READ ITEM
7 INTO THE RECORD?
>> AGENDA ITEM 7, COUNCIL BILL
120318.
AN ORDINANCE RELATING TO
APPROPRIATIONS FOR THE
EXECUTIVE DEPARTMENT, AMENDING
ORDINANCE 126490, WHICH ADOPTED
THE 2022 BUDGET. THE COMMITTEE
RECOMMENDS THAT THE BILL PASSED.
>> THANK YOU.
IS THERE A SECOND?
>> SECOND.
>> THANK YOU.
IT'S BEEN MOVED AND SECONDED.
COUNCILMEMBER MOSQUEDA, THIS IS
YOURS.
YOU ARE RECOGNIZED.
>> THANK YOU VERY MUCH , MADAM
PRESIDENT.
AND THANK YOU TO THE HOUSING
AND FINANCE COMMITTEE.
THIS UNANIMOUSLY PASSED OUT OF
THE FINANCE AND HOUSING
COMMITTEE MEETING.
JUST VERY BRIEFLY, AS FOLKS MAY
REMEMBER EMMA OUR CODIFIED
SPEND PLANNED FOR THE
AGGRESSIVE REVENUE WAS UP TO 5%
OF THE FEES THAT ARE BEING
RECOUPED TO USE FOR
ADMINISTRATIONS. AND WE MAKE
SURE THAT THE INTENDED USE AS
WELL STAFF AND THE DOLLARS AND
RESOURCES AND PROGRAMS ARE
GETTING OUT THE DOOR.
WITHIN THIS PIECE OF
LEGISLATION IN FRONT OF US,
THIS IS THE AUTHORIZING
LEGISLATION FOR THE OFFICE OF
HOUSING TO USE A PORTION OF THE
ADMINISTRATIVE AMOUNT TO CREATE
THE STAFFING NEEDED FOR WHAT IS
THE LARGEST PORTION OF
JUMPSTART SPENDING.
THAT IS MAKING SURE WE ARE
BUILDING AFFORDABLE HOUSING.
BOTH RENTAL UNITS AND NEW
HOMEOWNER OPTIONS.
IN THIS PIECE OF LEGISLATION WE
ARE PROPOSING TO DRAW 2.3% OF
THE ADMINISTRATIVE FUNDS, NOT
THE WHOLE 5%.
THE REMAINING AMOUNT GOES TO
THE RENTAL AND HOMEOWNERSHIP
PROGRAMS WITHIN THE OFFICE OF
HOUSING.
I'M REALLY EXCITED ABOUT THIS
PIECE OF LEGISLATION BECAUSE IT
CREATES STAFF CAPACITY FOR THE
AFFORDABLE HOUSING DOLLARS AS
WE CONTINUE TO SCALE UP OUR
INVESTMENTS IN CREATING
AFFORDABLE HOUSING, SUPPORTING
EXISTING HOMEOWNERS AND CREATING
NEW FIRST-TIME HOMEOWNERS.
THANK YOU VERY MUCH TO THE
OFFICE OF HOUSING AND THE
INCREDIBLE STAFF FOR THE WORK
THAT THEY HAVE BEEN ABLE TO DO
THUS FAR AND THE WORK THEY ARE
COMMITTED TO DOING WITH THIS
FUNDING.
THEY WILL BE ADDING STAFF TO
PERFORM A RANGE OF SERVICES AND
ACTIVITIES THAT GO INTO
INVESTING AND PROMOTING
DEVELOPMENT AND THE ACQUISITION
OF AFFORDABLE HOUSING THIS IS
ALL SPECIFIED IN THE DETAILED
SPEND PLAN THAT WE CODIFIED IN
THE STATUTE.
THIS IS TO MAKE SURE WE ARE
BUILDING AFFORDABLE HOUSING AND
ACQUIRING MULTI FAMILY
STRUCTURES THAT MAY BE ON THIS
MARKET TO PULL THOSE OFF OF THE
PRIVATE MARKET AND QUICKLY TURN
THOSE INTO AFFORDABLE HOUSING
OPTIONS THAT WILL BENEFIT THE
HEALTH OF OUR COMMUNITY
POPULATION AND THE HEALTH OF
OUR LOCAL ECONOMY.
JUST BY WAY OF REMINDER, THE
JUMPSTART PAYROLL TAX ADDED $97
MILLION FOR AFFORDABLE HOUSING
IN 2022.
THIS DOUBLED THE AMOUNT OF
HOUSING AND FUNDING THAT WAS
GOING INTO HOUSING FROM LAST
YEAR'S BUDGET COMPARED TO
PREVIOUS BUDGETS.
AS A REMINDER, 62% OF ALL THE
FUNDING THAT COMES IN FROM
JUMPSTART DOES GO TO AFFORDABLE
HOUSING.
WITHIN THAT 62%, THE VAST
MAJORITY, 82%, GOES TO RENTAL
HOUSING SERVICES FOR MAKING
SURE WE ARE HOUSING FOLKS BELOW
30% OF THE AREA MEDIAN INCOME
AND SUPPORTIVE HOUSING.
13% GOES TO COMMUNITY FOCUS
ACQUISITION DEVELOPMENT AND
CAPACITY BUILDING.
5% IS BEING PRIORITIZED FOR
INCREASED INVESTMENT INTO
HOMEOWNERSHIP.
THIS LEGISLATION AUTHORIZES NEW
POSITION AUTHORITY FOR THE
OFFICE OF HOUSING AND MAKING
SURE THE CODIFIED SPEND PLAN IS
THERE.
THANK YOU SO MUCH.
LET'S SEE.
I THINK THAT SUMMARIZES WHAT WE
TALKED ABOUT IN COMMITTEE AND
THE GOOD WORK THAT HAS GONE
INTO STEWARDING THESE DOLLARS
TOWARDS MORE INVESTMENTS AND
AFFORDABLE HOUSING.
AGAIN, MORE THAN HALF OF WHAT
WAS ACTUALLY AUTHORIZED FOR
STAFFING AND ADMINISTRATION,
ONLY HALF OF THAT AMOUNT IS
GOING INTO THE AFFORDABLE
HOUSING UNITS.
THANK YOU TO THE OFFICE OF
HOUSING FOR THEIR GREAT
STEWARDSHIP OVER THESE FUNDS.
>> THANK YOU, COUNCILMEMBER
MOSQUEDA.
ARE THERE ANY COMMENTS OR
QUESTIONS FOR COUNCILMEMBER
MOSQUEDA?
>> I WOULD BE REMISS, MADAM
PRESIDENT, IF I DID NOT THINK
ERIN FOR HER WORK TO GO OVER
THE OFFICE OF HOUSING. THANK
YOU SO MUCH TO HER AND TRACY.
>> THANK YOU FOR RECOGNIZING
THEM.
I DON'T THINK THE PUBLIC
REALIZES HOW HARD CENTRAL STAFF
WORKS TO GET ALL OF THIS STUFF
DONE AND GET IT RIGHT.
THANK YOU FOR RECOGNIZING THEM.
I'M NOT SEEING ANY MORE
COMMENTS OR QUESTIONS.
WILL THE CLERK PLEASE CALL THE
ROLL ON THE PASSAGE OF THE
BILL?
>> COUNSEL NEVER STRAUSS?
>> YES.
>> COUNCILMEMBER HERBOLD?
>> YES.
>> COUNCILMEMBER LEWIS?
>> YES.
>> COUNCILMEMBER MORALES?
>> YES.
>> COUNCILMEMBER MOSQUEDA?
>> AYE.
>> COUNCILMEMBER NELSON?
>> AYE.
>> COUNCIL MEMBER PEDERSEN?
>> AYE.
>> COUNCILMEMBER SAWANT?
>> YES.
>> COUNCIL PRESIDENT JUAREZ?
>> AYE.
>> NINE IN FAVOR , NONE
OPPOSED.
>> THANK YOU.
THE BILL PASSES.
MADAM CLERK, PLEASE AFFIX MY
SIGNATURE TO THE LEGISLATION.
MOVING ON THE AGENDA TO PUBLIC
SAFETY AND HUMAN SERVICES.
THERE ARE TWO ITEMS ON THERE.
IT IS COUNCILMEMBER HERBOLD'S
RESOLUTION.
I'M SORRY, I GOT THAT CONFUSED.
MADAM CLERK, I FORGOT.
WE ARE DOING NINE FIRST.
OKAY.
LET ME BACK UP HERE.
ITEM NUMBER NINE. WE ARE DOING
THAT FIRST.
MADAM CLERK, PLEASE READ ITEM
NUMBER NINE INTO THE RECORD.
>> FOR THE PUBLIC SAFETY AND
HUMAN SERVICES COMMITTEE,
AGENDA ITEM 9, RESOLUTION 32050.
A RESOLUTION RELATING TO THE
SEATTLE POLICE DEPARTMENT,
STATING THAT COUNSEL'S INTENT
TO LIFT A PROVISO ON
ANTICIPATED 2022 SALARY AND
BENEFITS SAVINGS TO FUND
STAFFING INCENTIVES FOR
UNIFORMED POLICE OFFICERS.
THE COMMITTEE RECOMMENDS THAT
THE COUNCIL ADOPT THE
RESOLUTION AS AMENDED.
>> THANK YOU.
COUNCILMEMBER HERBOLD, YOU ARE
RECOGNIZED.
>> THANK YOU SO MUCH.
I REALLY APPRECIATE IT.
THIS IS LEGISLATION THAT IS
SPONSORED BY COUNCILMEMBER
NELSON.
I'M HAPPY TO TURN THE FLOOR OVER
TO COUNCILMEMBER NELSON TO
ADDRESS THE RESOLUTION THE
RESOLUTION IS COMPLEMENTARY TO
THE BILL THAT IS NEXT ON THE
AGENDA, AND THE WORK THAT THE
EXECUTIVE IS PROCEEDING WITH.
WE KNOW THAT MAYOR HARRELL HAS
CONTINUED TO DEVELOP A
COMPREHENSIVE PLAN TO RESTORE
STAFFING. BEFORE TURNING IT
OVER TO COUNCILMEMBER NELSON I
WANT TO EMPHASIZE THAT ALTHOUGH
I DID NOT HAVE ANY OBJECTIONS
TO HEARING HER RESOLUTION FIRST
, I WOULD ACKNOWLEDGE THAT
THESE ARE COMPLEMENTS THREE
PIECES OF LEGISLATION.
I DID NOT WANT TO GIVE THE
IMPRESSION THAT MY COUNSEL BILL
WAS IN RESPONSE TO HER
DEVELOPMENT OF THIS RESOLUTION.
IT'S SORT OF THE FRAMEWORK FOR
THE DEVELOPMENT THAT WE HAVE
BEFORE US.
IT HAS BEGUN DURING THE
COUNSEL'S BUDGET DELIBERATIONS
LAST FALL. WITH THAT I'M HAPPY
TO TURN IT OVER TO
COUNCILMEMBER NELSON.
THANK YOU.
>> THANK YOU.
COUNCILMEMBER NELSON?
>> THANK YOU VERY MUCH.
IT IS OUR DUTY TO DO EVERYTHING
WE CAN TO BRING THE SEATTLE
POLICE DEPARTMENT BACK UP TO
ADEQUATE STAFFING LEVELS.
OR AT LEAST SLOW THE NET
LOSSES.
IN ORDER TO KEEP OUR COMMUNITIES
AND NEIGHBORHOODS SAFE.
EVERY OTHER CITY IN OUR REGION
HAS SOME SORT OF STAFFING
INCENTIVES PROGRAM, WHICH GIVES
THEM AN ADVANTAGE OVER US.
WE KNOW FROM THE HIRING BONUS
THAT WAS IMPLEMENTED BETWEEN
JUNE, 2019, AND MAY, 2020, WE
KNOW THAT THEY WORK.
THAT PROGRAM RESULTED IN A
LEVEL OF HIRES THAT WAS QUOTING
CENTRAL STAFF,
DISPROPORTIONATELY HIGH WHEN
COMPARED TO HISTORICAL AVERAGES.
IN FACT THE HIRES DURING THAT
PERIOD WERE 75% HIGHER THAN THE
PREVIOUS YEAR.
PLUS WE HAD THE MONEY.
ALL WE HAD TO DO WAS ALLOW THE
EXECUTIVE TO USE PROJECTED,
UNSPENT SAVINGS DOLLARS THAT
ARE ALREADY IN SPD'S 2022
BUDGET FOR THIS USE.
AND BY SEPARATE ORDINANCE,
WHICH I HOPE WE WILL DO TODAY.
IT WILL START THE BALL ROLLING.
THIS RESOLUTION STATES THE
COUNSEL'S INTENT TO CONSIDER
APPROVAL BY SEPARATE ORDINANCE
OF SAID HIRING INCENTIVES
úPROGRAM.
I WANT TO UNDERSCORE THIS POINT
BECAUSE THERE HAS BEEN SOME
CONFUSION ABOUT HOW THIS
RESOLUTION RELATES TO
COUNCILMEMBER HERBOLD'S COUNSEL
BILL.
LET ME JUST SAY THAT MY
RESOLUTION IS SILENT ON HOW
MUCH MONEY IS IN SPD'S BUDGET
FOR INCENTIVES, BECAUSE THAT
NUMBER STARTED OUT IN FEBRUARY
AT $1.4 MILLION.
IT HAS GROWN NOW TO AT LEAST
4.5 MILLION.
IT'S ALSO SILENT ON HOW MUCH WE
WOULD MODIFY THE EXISTING
PROVISO TO ALLOW FOR MONEY TO
BE SPENT FOR INCENTIVES, AND
EVEN FOR WHAT KIND OF
INCENTIVES WE ARE TALKING
ABOUT.
IT COULD BE USED FOR HIRING
BONUSES, RETENTION BONUSES,
EDUCATIONAL STIPENDS, CHILDCARE.
FRANKLY I DO NOT CARE WHAT IT
IS USED FOR.
WHAT I WANT IS FOR A STAFFING
INCENTIVE PROGRAM TO BE
DEVELOPED, IDEALLY WITH
COLLABORATION FROM THE
EXECUTIVE AND COUNSEL, THAT
ENDS UP BEING THE MOST
COMPETITIVE WE CAN GET TO
ATTRACT RECRUITS. REALLY GOOD
RECRUITS.
RECRUITS THAT REFLECT THE
DIVERSITY OF OUR COMMUNITY AND
OUR VALUES.
THAT'S WHAT I BELIEVE WILL GO A
LONG WAY TO INCREASING TRUST
BETWEEN THE DEPARTMENT AND OUR
COMMUNITY, AND AS WELL AS THE
ACCOUNTABILITY.
WE DON'T HAVE TO CHOOSE BETWEEN
SUPPORTING COMMUNITY DRIVEN
SOLUTIONS FOR SAFETY AND
EQUITABLE DEVELOPMENT AND
ENSURING ADEQUATE STAFFING OF
OUR POLICE DEPARTMENT.
WE CAN DO BOTH.
THIS IS SIMPLY FOCUSING ON SPD'S
SEVERE STAFFING SHORTAGE BY
CALLING FOR A SECOND INCENTIVE
PROGRAM TO JUMPSTART OR
ACCELERATE THE HIRING OF NEW
OFFICERS.
I DO HAVE TO TAKE A SECOND TO
THINK THE MEMBERS OF OUR
COMMUNITY IN SUPPORT OF THIS
RESOLUTION.
MY GOAL FOR THIS RESOLUTION WAS
JUST TO BEGIN A POLICY
CONVERSATION ON WHAT WE SHOULD
DO ABOUT SPD'S STAFFING SHORTAGE
AND WHAT THIS RESOLUTION DOES
IS SET THE STAGE FOR FUTURE
COUNSEL ACTIONS TO IMPLEMENT
THIS PARTICULAR SOLUTION.
IT'S NOT A MAGIC BULLET BUT WE
HAVE TO DO SOMETHING.
THIS IS THE NECESSARY FIRST
STEP.
I WILL LOOK FORWARD TO YOUR
QUESTIONS AND COMMENTS.
>> MADAM CLERK, PLEASE DO A
POINT OF ORDER FOR ME.
DO WE NEED TO HAVE
COUNCILMEMBER NELSON MOVE HER
PROPOSED AMENDMENT RIGHT NOW?
>> YES.
>> CAN YOU DO THAT?
THEN WE CAN OPEN UP THE FLOOR.
>> I MOVE RESOLUTION 32050.
>> IS THERE A SECOND?
>> SECOND.
>> I'M SORRY.
FOR THE RECORD, CAN WE SAY, "AS
AMENDED."
>> I WILL SECOND THE PROPOSED
AMENDMENT BY COUNCILMEMBER
NELSON.
NOW WE HAVE, IN FRONT OF US,
THE AMENDED RESOLUTION.
>> I THINK WE HAVE TO VOTE ON
THE AMENDMENT.
>> RIGHT.
I'M GOING TO DO THAT RIGHT NOW.
ARE THERE ANY COMMENTS
REGARDING THE AMENDMENT?
>> I SECOND.
>> ANY COMMENTS REGARDING THE
AMENDMENT?
BEFORE WE GO TO A VOTE ON THE
BASE LEGISLATION.
OR THE BASE RESOLUTION.
OKAY.
MADAM CLERK, DO WE GO TO A VOTE
ON THE AMENDMENT AND THEN GO TO
ANOTHER VOTE ON THE BASE
RESOLUTION?
>> YES, COUNCIL PRESIDENT.
WE SHOULD TAKE A VOTE ON THE
AMENDMENT AND THEN FOLLOWING
THAT WE WILL TAKE A VOTE ON THE
RESOLUTION AS AMENDED OR NOT
AMENDED.
DEPENDING ON WHAT HAPPENS WITH
THE VOTE ON THE AMENDMENT.
>> OKAY.
WILL YOU PLEASE CALL THE ROLL
ON THE PROPOSED AMENDMENT?
>> COUNCIL PRESIDENT, POINT OF
ORDER.
>> YES?
>> I'M JUST CLARIFYING THIS IS
THE AMENDMENT AS SHOWN ATTACHED
ON ITEM THREE.
IS THAT CORRECT?
>> IT'S THE AMENDMENT VERSION
1, 32050, SPD STAFFING
INCENTIVES. ONCE WE MOVE THAT
THEN COUNCILMEMBER NELSON CAN
SPEAK TO THAT.
CORRECT?
>> I'M SEEING AMENDMENT ONE,
VERSION 1, D2.
IS THAT CORRECT?
>> CAN I BE LOOKING AT THE
COMMITTEE AND NOT THE
CIRCULATED AMENDMENT FROM
EARLIER TODAY?
>> YEAH.
>> POINT OF ORDER.
I BELIEVE AMENDMENT A WAS
DISTRIBUTED VIA EMAIL, PRIOR TO
NOON TODAY.
THAT IS WHAT I UNDERSTOOD WE
WERE VOTING ON.
I WANT TO MAKE SURE I'M
FOLLOWING THE RIGHT AMENDMENT
>> THAT'S CORRECT.
IT CAME FROM CRAIG.
AMENDMENT A, VERSION 1. SPD
STAFFING INCENTIVES. COUNCIL
MEMBER NELSON IS AMENDING A
RECITAL.
LOGISTICS.
>> YOU WANT ME TO EXPLAIN IT?
>> YES.
MADAM CLERK, DO WE LET COUNCIL
MEMBER NELSON EXPLAIN AND THEN
GO TO A VOTE?
>> IF THERE ARE NO FURTHER
COMMENTS A VOTE WILL BE TAKEN.
THANK YOU.
>> I KNOW.
I NEED TO HAVE COUNCILMEMBER
NELSON EXPLAIN THE AMENDMENT
BEFORE THE VOTE.
CORRECT?
>> YES.
I THOUGHT SHE HAD.
EXCUSE ME.
>> SHE SPOKE TO THE RESOLUTION
BUT NOT THE AMENDMENT.
GO AHEAD, COUNCILMEMBER NELSON.
SPEAK TO YOUR AMENDMENT.
>> THANK YOU VERY MUCH.
I'M SORRY I DID THAT BACKWARDS.
ACTUALLY I WROTE THIS A LONG
TIME AGO. LATE FEBRUARY, EARLY
MARCH.
THE AMENDMENTS ARE SIMPLY
UPDATING ONE RECITAL, THE FIFTH
RECITAL, TO REFLECT THE NUMBERS
IN THE MAY 12th SHOTS FIRED
REPORT, WHICH SHOWS THAT GUN
FATALITIES INCREASED 100% TO
THIS YEAR TO DATE SINCE 2021.
THE SECOND AMENDMENT IS TO THE
EIGHTH RECITAL, WHICH CHANGES
THE RESPONSE TIMES. THE CURRENT
MEDIAN RESPONSE TIME TO
PRIORITY 911 CALLS IS 7.3
MINUTES.
THE CURRENT MEDIAN RESPONSE TIME
TO PRIORITY TO CALLS IS 22.9
MINUTES.
THOSE ARE THE TWO AMENDMENTS I
MADE WITH NEW INFORMATION FROM
THE DEPARTMENT.
>> THANK YOU.
ARE THERE ANY QUESTIONS FOR
COUNCILMEMBER NELSON REGARDING
HER PROPOSED AMENDMENT?
OKAY.
I'M NOT SEEING ANY.
WILL THE CLERK PLEASE CALL THE
ROLL ON THE AMENDMENT?
THE PROPOSED AMENDMENT A.
>> COUNCIL MEMBER STRESS?
>> YES.
>> COUNCILMEMBER HERBOLD?
>> YES.
>> COUNCILMEMBER LEWIS?
>> YES.
>> COUNCILMEMBER MORALES?
>> NO.
>> COUNCILMEMBER MOSQUEDA?
>> NO.
>> COUNCIL MEMBER NELSON?
>> AYE.
>> COUNCIL MEMBER PEDERSEN?
>> AYE.
>> COUNCILMEMBER SAWANT?
>> YES.
>> COUNCIL PRESIDENT JUAREZ?
>> YES.
>> SEVEN IN FAVOR, TWO OPPOSED.
>> THANK YOU.
THE MOTION CARRIES.
THE AMENDMENT IS ADOPTED. THE
AMENDED RESOLUTION IS NOW
BEFORE THE COUNCIL.
IS THERE ANYONE THAT WANTS TO
SPEAK TO THE AMENDED
RESOLUTION?
THIS IS YOUR OPPORTUNITY TO
SPEAK THE COUNCILMEMBER
NELSON'S AMENDED RESOLUTION.
COUNCILMEMBER SAWANT?
>> THANK YOU.
I WILL BE VOTING NO ON THIS
RESOLUTION RELATED TO
REESTABLISHING HIRING BONUSES
FOR THE SEATTLE POLICE
DEPARTMENT.
I WILL ALSO BE VOTING NO ON THE
NEXT ITEM, WHICH IS A RELATED
ORDINANCE.
I WANTED TO CLARIFY FOR THE
MEMBERS OF THE PUBLIC WHO ARE
WATCHING, I VOTED YES ON THE
AMENDMENT TO THE RESOLUTION
BECAUSE IT WAS JUST RELATED TO
A FACTUAL CORRECTION TO THE
TEXT.
THERE IS A SHOCKING DOUBLE
STANDARD WHEN THE POLITICAL
ESTABLISHMENT ADVOCATES FIRE
HIRING BONUSES IN THE SEATTLE
POLICE DEPARTMENT.
THE POLICE HAVE BEEN SOME OF
THE HIGHEST PAID PEOPLE AMONG
SEATTLE EMPLOYEES, MAKING MORE
THAN DOUBLE WHAT IS PAID TO
SOCIAL WORKERS, LIKE HOMELESS
SERVICE WORKERS.
CORPORATE POLITICIANS AND MOST
OF THE CITY COUNCIL MEMBERS
HAVE CLAIMED IN THE PAST, AND
CONTINUE CLAIMING, THAT THEY
CANNOT OPEN HOMELESS SHELTERS
BECAUSE THERE ARE NOT ENOUGH
HOMELESS SERVICE WORKERS TO
STAFF. HIRING BONUSES ARE JUST
A DECENT WAGE INCREASE FOR THE
IMPOVERISHED SERVICE WORKERS
THAT HELP HOMELESS TURN THEIR
LIFE AROUND.
-- FOR YEARS THE DEMOCRATIC
ESTABLISHMENT PARTY HAS USED
THE POLICE CONTRACT AS AN
EXCUSE TO NOT HOLD OFFICERS
ACCOUNTABLE.
HERE WE ARE AFTER CONTRACT
NEGOTIATIONS WITH THE SEATTLE'S
POLICE OFFICER GUILD, AND WE
ARE OFFERING THE POLICE EXTRA
MONEY WITHOUT AN AGREEMENT ON
ACCOUNTABILITY ON A NEW
CONTRACT.
WHAT OTHER CONTRACT NEGOTIATIONS
ARE TREATED LIKE THIS?
WHERE WE ARE ESSENTIALLY
SAYING, WE WILL GIVE YOU THE
MONEY AND THE ACCOUNTABILITY
AGREEMENT IS NEXT.
OR NOT AT ALL.
IT'S COMPLETELY RIDICULOUS.
THE YEARS ARE NOT THE ACTIONS
OF THE ELECTED OFFICIALS THAT
WANT TO INCREASE POLICE
ACCOUNTABILITY, REGARDLESS OF
THE WORDS THEY MIGHT USE.
THESE ARE THE ACTIONS TO HOLD
THE POLITICAL ESTABLISHMENT
THAT DESPERATELY WANTS AN
EXCUSE TO SAY THAT POLICE
BRUTALITY IS BEYOND THEIR
CONTROL.
THERE'S NOT MUCH THEY CAN DO
ABOUT IT.
THEY CAN MAKE SPEECHES.
IN REALITY THEY ARE ADMITTING
THAT THEY HAVE NO WAY FORWARD
TO ADDRESS THE SERIOUS LAPSES
IN ACCOUNTABILITY AND THE
SERIOUS ONGOING PROBLEMS IN THE
POLICE DEPARTMENT.
THESE ARE THE ACTIONS OF THE
DEMOCRATIC ESTABLISHMENT THAT
WANTS TO DISTRACT FROM THEIR
ABJECT REFUSAL TO ADDRESS THE
HOUSING AND HOMELESSNESS
CRISIS.
THE AMOUNT OF POLICE FUNDING
DOES NOT HAVE ANY STATISTICAL
IMPACT ON THE DEGREE OF PUBLIC
SAFETY IN THE COMMUNITY.
úPUBLIC SAFETY IS A REAL ISSUE
IN SEATTLE.
I ABSOLUTELY SHARE THE CONCERNS
THAT ORDINARY PEOPLE HAVE ABOUT
THE RISE IN GUN VIOLENCE.
THERE IS NO DOUBT THAT THIS
NEEDS TO BE ADDRESSED.
DATA SYSTEMATICALLY SHOWS THAT
IT IS PRODUCING INEQUALITY --
AFFORDABLE SERVICES, INCLUDING
CHILDCARE, THAT HAS THE GREATEST
STATISTICAL IMPACT.
ALSO IT HAS AN IMPACT IS WELL-
FUNDED PUBLIC SCHOOLS WITH WELL-
FUNDED AFTERSCHOOL PROGRAMS AND
AVENUES FOR YOUNG PEOPLE AND
COMMUNITY MEMBERS TO ENGAGE.
IF YOU LOOK AT THE DATA YOU
WILL SEE THAT THIS IS HAPPENING
EVEN THOUGH THE INCREASE IN
CRIME AND PUBLIC SAFETY, ALL OF
THIS IS HAPPENING EVEN THOUGH
IT HAS BEEN VOTED FOR MANY
YEARS.
SOCIAL SERVICES AND THE POOR
ARE CONTINUED TO BE GRAVELY
UNDERFUNDED.
AT THE SAME TIME WE KNOW THAT
STUDIES SHOW OVERWHELMINGLY
THAT THE BEST AND ONLY SOLUTION
TO PUBLIC SAFETY ISSUES IS TO
FUND THE NEEDS OF OUR SOCIETY.
TO ADDRESS CRIME, AND
PARTICULARLY TO STOP CRIME
BEFORE IT EVEN HAPPENS, WE NEED
TO FUND HOUSING COME INCREASE
WAGES, AND AND WORKER
EXPLOITATION.
NOT INCREASE AGGRESSION.
AS FAR AS THE POLICE ARE
CONCERNED WHAT WE NEED IS A
COLLECTIVE COMMUNITY OVERSIGHT
COMMITTEE WITH FULL POWERS OVER
THE POLICE, INCLUDING HIRING
AND FIRING WITH SUBPOENA
POWERS.
I WILL BE VOTING NO ON THIS
RESOLUTION AND THE ORDINANCE,
WHICH IS THE NEXT AGENDA ITEM.
>> THANK YOU, COUNCILMEMBER
SAWANT.
ANY OTHER COMMENTS?
OKAY.
COUNCILMEMBER HERBOLD?
>> THANKS.
I WANT TO MAKE A COMMENT . SOME
OF THE AMENDMENTS IN COMMITTEE
CLARIFIED THAT AN INCENTIVE OR
BONUS PROGRAM WOULD HAVE TO
COME BACK TO THE COUNCIL FOR
OUR ADOPTION. I THINK THE
SPONSOR OF THE RESOLUTION MIGHT
HAVE ONE IDEA OF WHAT AN
INCENTIVE PROGRAM LOOKS LIKE.
THAT HASN'T BEEN SETTLED.
I WOULD NOT ASSUME THAT THE
MAYOR'S OFFICE IS GOING TO BE
BRINGING US A PACKAGE THAT
NECESSARILY INCLUDES
TRADITIONAL HIRING BONUSES,
WHERE WE WRITE A CHECK TO
SOMEBODY TO THANK THEM FOR
AGREEING TO COME IN AND WORK
FOR THE CITY OF SEATTLE.
MY UNDERSTANDING OF WHAT THE
MAYOR'S OFFICE IS LOOKING AT IS
A DIFFERENT APPROACH FOR
ADDRESSING OUR RECRUITMENT
ISSUES AND OUR RETENTION ISSUES.
FUNDING RETENTION PROGRAMS.
VERY LIKELY THEY WILL HAVE TO
BE BARGAINED.
JUST BECAUSE WE TALK ABOUT AN
INTENT TO CONSIDER A
RECOMMENDATION THAT IS GOING TO
COME TO US LATER DOESN'T MEAN
THAT WE ARE GIVING A BLANK
CHECK FOR IT.
I THINK IT'S REALLY IMPORTANT
TO BE CLEAR ON WHAT THIS
PARTICULAR RESOLUTION DOES AND
DOESN'T DO.
AND WHERE IT ALLOWS FOR
CONTINUED DIALOGUE AND DEBATE.
I WOULD URGE US NOT TO HARDEN
OUR POSITIONS AROUND THIS ISSUE.
WE DID VOTE FOR A HIRING PLAN
THAT WE ARE NOT GOING TO MEET.
IF YOU SUPPORTED THE HIRING PLAN
IN NOVEMBER I WOULD HOPE THAT
YOU WOULD SUPPORT ADDRESSING
THE REASONS WHY WE ARE NOT
GOING TO MEET IT.
I'M HOPING THAT WE KEEP AN OPEN
MIND AS WE CONTINUE THESE
DISCUSSIONS.
THANK YOU.
>> BEFORE WE MOVE ON,
COUNCILMEMBER HERBOLD, THANK
YOU FOR, AS USUAL, A VERY
STRAIGHTFORWARD AND CANDID
COMMENTS ABOUT HOW THIS CAME
OUT OF THE COMMITTEE AND WHAT
THE TIMELINE HAS BEEN.
WE HAVE BEEN DISCUSSING THIS
FOR A WHILE.
WE DID VOTE BACK IN NOVEMBER
AND DECEMBER.
ARE THERE ANY OTHER QUESTIONS
BFORE I MOVED TO A VOTE?
COUNCILMEMBER MOSQUEDA?
>> THANK YOU VERY MUCH.
UNFORTUNATELY WHAT WE ARE
SAYING WITH THIS RESOLUTION IN
FRONT OF US IS THAT WE ARE
GOING TO BE OKAY WITH LESS
FUNDING BEING AVAILABLE AT THE
END OF THE YEAR FOR 2023 AND
2024 PRIORITIES.
PRIORITIES LIKE INVESTMENTS IN
MENTAL HEALTH.
SOMETHING WE SPENT A GOOD
PORTION OF THE BEGINNING OF
THIS MEETING SPEAKING ABOUT IN
TERMS OF THE IMPORTANCE OF THIS
INVESTMENT, INCLUDING IN THE
WAKE OF SO MUCH HARDSHIP.
WE KNOW THAT THERE ARE
INCREASED NEEDS ACROSS OUR
COMMUNITY AND RESPONDING TO
PUBLIC SAFETY CRISES REQUIRES A
MULTIFACETED APPROACH.
WE HAVE FULLY FUNDED THE HIRING
PLAN AS REQUESTED BY THE
SEATTLE POLICE DEPARTMENT.
THE QUESTION IS NOT WHETHER
THESE FUNDS ARE AVAILABLE OR IF
WE SHOULD USE THEM FOR THIS
PURPOSE.
IF THESE FUNDS ARE GOING TO BE
AVAILABLE IN THE MIDST OF THIS
CRISIS THAT WE ARE HAVING ON A
BUDGET CRISIS, HOW ARE WE
PLANNING TO PRIORITIZE
INVESTMENTS FOR OUR CITY?
I THINK IT'S IMPORTANT TO LOOK
HOLISTICALLY ADD TO THE BUDGET
DOLLARS AVAILABLE AT THE END OF
THIS YEAR TO INVEST THOSE INTO
STRATEGIES THAT WE KNOW
UPSTREAM WORK TO REDUCE HARM
AND TRAUMA FOR MENTAL HEALTH
PRIORITIES TO MAKE SURE THERE
ARE ALTERNATIVE SYSTEMS SO THAT
OFFICERS WERE ARMED WITH A GUN
AND A BADGE ARE NOT ALWAYS THE
FIRST RESPONDERS WHO HAVE TO
SHOW UP.
SO MUCH WORK HAS BEEN DONE.
I WANT TO THANK COUNCILMEMBER
HERBOLD FOR HER LEADERSHIP ON
THAT.
BOTH IN THE BUDGET
CONVERSATIONS AND IN HER POLICY
CONVERSATIONS AND COMMITTEE.
I THINK THE IMPORTANT
OPPORTUNITY IN FRONT OF US IS
TO LOOK AT THE AMOUNT OF
FUNDING AT THE END OF THIS
YEAR AND TRULY MAKE INVESTMENTS
IN UPSTREAM PRIORITIES FOR 2023
AND 2024.
RIGHT NOW WE HAVE A BUDGET
PROVISO THAT IS IN PLACE.
IF WE GO THE ROUTE OF EXPLORING
THIS RESOLUTION IN THE UPCOMING
PIECE OF LEGISLATION THEN WE
ARE MAKING EARLY DECISIONS
ABOUT WHAT IS THE BIGGER
PRIORITY.
WE ARE MAKING THOSE DECISIONS
ACCORDING TO THIS RESOLUTION
FOR INVESTMENTS IN BROAD
S.W.A.T.
INVESTMENTS FOR HIRING
STRATEGIES. THE ORIGINAL INTENT
WAS CLEARLY FOCUSED ON HIRING
BONUSES AND THE SPONSOR HAS
MADE IT CLEAR SHE DOES NOT CARE
WHAT POLICIES THIS FUNDS.
I DO CARE.
I DO CARE THAT WHAT HAS BEEN
RECOMMENDED BY OUR CITY FAMILY,
FROM THE RECRUITMENT AND
INTENTION WORK GROUP, WITH
MEMBERS FROM THE HUMAN
RESOURCES DEPARTMENT AND THE
SEATTLE POLICE DEPARTMENT.
THEY DID NOT IDENTIFY HIRING
INCENTIVES AS A RECOMMENDED
STRATEGY TO ADDRESSING
RECRUITMENT OR RETENTION.
AGAIN, I THINK IT'S IMPORTANT
TO LOOK AT HOW WE CAN UTILIZE
EVERY DOLLAR AVAILABLE AT THE
END OF THIS YEAR AND INVEST
THOSE IN STRATEGIES IN 2023 AND
2024 TO CREATE A WHOLE HOST OF
PUBLIC SAFETY INVESTMENTS THAT
WILL CREATE HEALTHIER
COMMUNITIES.
IF YOU'RE INTERESTED IN WHAT IT
MIGHT LOOK LIKE TO IMPROVE
RETENTION AND RECRUITMENT
STRATEGIES, INCLUDING AT THE
SEATTLE POLICE DEPARTMENT, THEN
WE WOULD BE TALKING ABOUT
INVESTMENTS IN THE BUDGET
COMING UP THAT LOOK AT WHAT THE
HUMAN RESOURCES DEPARTMENT
ACTUALLY PRIORITIZES.
THEY MADE FOUR RECOMMENDATIONS.
NONE OF WHICH WERE RELATED TO
HIRING INCENTIVES.
NUMBER ONE, A FOCUS ON
LEVERAGING TECHNOLOGICAL
SOLUTIONS.
NUMBER TWO, REVISE BUSINESS
PRACTICES AND ENGAGE CANDIDATES
DURING THE HIRING PROCESS.
NUMBER THREE, ADVANCED TOP
TALENT QUICKLY THROUGH THE
PROCESS.
NUMBER FOUR, MORE QUICKLY IN A
COMPETITIVE TIMEFRAME.
THESE ARE STRATEGIES THAT COME
WITHIN OUR OWN CITY DEPARTMENT.
IN THE MIDST OF THIS CRISIS,
WHEN WE ARE TELLING EVERY
SINGLE DEPARTMENT IN 2022 TO
HOLD ON CRITICAL INVESTMENTS,
THINGS LIKE PUBLIC RESTROOMS
AND OUTREACH FOR DOMESTIC
WORKERS.
WE ARE ASKING FOLKS TO HOLD ON
INVESTMENTS THAT THIS COUNSEL
HAS PRIORITIZED, ALONG WITH
PRIORITIES FROM THE EXECUTIVE
TEAM.
WE ARE ASKING THE DEPARTMENTS,
AS YOU HEARD FROM JULIE, THE
CITY BUDGET DIRECTOR IN THE MAY
4th MEETING, TO BE PREPARED FOR
A 6% REDUCTION ACROSS THE
BOARD.
I AM VERY CONCERNED ABOUT A
RESOLUTION THAT AUTHORIZES US
TO GO DOWN A PATH OF ASKING FOR
US TO INVEST IN SOMETHING THAT
IS EITHER NOT RECOMMENDED OR
NOT PROVEN.
THERE WAS SOME DATA SUGGESTED
EARLIER THAT THIS IS A PROVEN
STRATEGY TO INVEST IN INCENTIVE
PROGRAMS GENERALLY.
FROM THE STATEMENT OF
LEGISLATIVE INTENT, -- LAST
YEAR'S BUDGET PROCESS THAT HAD
A CITYWIDE HIRING INCENTIVE
IMPACT ANALYSIS. TO LOOK AT THE
SPD INCENTIVES THAT WERE
OFFERED IN THE FALL OF LAST
YEAR.
AND THE REPORT FROM THE
STATEMENT OF LEGISLATIVE INTENT
SAYS, HIRING INCENTIVES ARE A
SHORT-TERM STRATEGY TO ATTRACT
MORE APPLICANTS.
THE CITY BEGAN OFFERING
INCENTIVES IN OCTOBER OF 2021.
FOR CERTAIN PUBLIC SAFETY
POSITIONS.
AGAIN, NOT AUTHORIZED BY THE
CITY COUNCIL.
THAT'S A DIFFERENT TOPIC.
IT SAYS THE SEATTLE POLICE
DEPARTMENT DID NOT EXPERIENCE
AN INCREASE IN HIRING SINCE
IMPLEMENTING A HIRING INCENTIVE
INTO THE PROCESS IN 2021.
IT GOES ON TO TALK ABOUT THE
HIRING POOL FOR THE SAFETY AND
COMMUNICATIONS CENTER.
IT COULD NOT SAY THAT HIRING
INCENTIVES OR STRATEGY FOR
INCREASING RETENTION WERE THE
SAME.
WE DO NOT HAVE SPECIFICS IN
THIS RESOLUTION ON WHAT IT GOES
TOWARD.
THERE HAS NOT BEEN ANY
LEGISLATIVE INTENT, SINCE THE
BEGINNING OF THIS DISCUSSION,
ABOUT ACTUALLY INVESTING IN
WHAT THE COALITION FOR CITY
UNIONS, OUR EXISTING CITY
WORKERS, WANT TO.
WHAT THEY WANT IS TO MAKE SURE
THEY ARE FEELING RESPECTED AND
CARED FOR IN THIS TIME.
THE COALITION FOR CITY UNIONS,
CITY FRONT-LINE WORKERS HAVE
EXPRESSED EXACTLY WHAT THE
HUMAN RESOURCES DEPARTMENT
SAID.
THAT THERE WOULD BE SERIOUS
UNREST, DISTRESS, FEELINGS OF
RESENTMENT, IF THOSE THAT WERE
BEING HIRED WERE GIVEN
INCENTIVES, BONUSES, OR
ENCOURAGEMENT TO COME WHEN WE
ARE NOT LOOKING AT BETTER PAY
WITHIN OUR OWN CITY AND WE ARE
NOT LOOKING AT STRATEGIES FOR
RECRUITMENT AND RETENTION AMONG
A DIVERSE WORKFORCE.
WE ARE NOT INVESTING MORE IN
APPRENTICESHIP OPPORTUNITIES
THAT ALREADY EXIST IN OUR CITY.
THOSE ARE THE STRATEGIES THAT
OUR OWN CITY WORKERS WANT.
I WILL BE VOTING NO ON THIS
RESOLUTION.
I WILL BE VOTING NO ON IT FOR A
MERE EAT OF REASONS. AS YOU
HAVE HEARD ME TALK ABOUT
BEFORE, BECAUSE OF THE CITY'S
SHORTFALL AND THE BUDGET THAT
WE ARE EXPERIENCING AND THE
NEED TO USE THESE DOLLARS AT
THE END OF THE YEAR.
NUMBER TWO, THIS IS NOT A LIST
OF RECOMMENDATIONS THAT CAME
FROM HUMAN RESOURCES AND THE
WORK THAT INCLUDED THE SEATTLE
POLICE DEPARTMENT.
AND NUMBER THREE, THERE ARE
INVESTMENTS WE COULD BE USING
WITH THESE PRECIOUS DOLLARS, IF
THEY ARE AVAILABLE AT THE END
OF THE YEAR, WITH UPSTREAM
PROCESSES.
AGAIN I WANT TO UNDERSCORE MY
CONCERN ABOUT US MOVING IN A
DIRECTION THAT IS NOT PROVEN,
RECOMMENDED, OR FRANKLY
REQUESTED FOR FRONT-LINE
WORKERS AND CITY STAFF.
THANK YOU, MADAM PRESIDENT.
>> ANY OTHER COMMENTS OR
CONCERNS?
OKAY.
COUNCILMEMBER NELSON AND THEN
COUNCILMEMBER PEDERSEN.
THEN WE ARE GOING TO MOVE ON TO
GO AHEAD . ENDA ITEM.
>> IT REALLY COMES DOWN TO
PRIORITIZING PUBLIC SAFETY OR
NOT.
PURE AND SIMPLE.
I HAVE ALREADY TOUCHED ON ALL
OF THE OTHER THINGS THAT WE CAN
DO TO SUPPORT COMMUNITY
DEVELOPMENT. WAYS OF ADDRESSING
COMMUNITY.
IN 2021 THE COUNCIL SPENT $29
MILLION OR SO ON THE
IMPLEMENTATION OF THE EQUITABLE
COMMUNITY INVESTMENT TASK FORCE
. AS RECOMMENDATIONS FOR
INVESTMENTS.
WHAT WE ARE TALKING ABOUT IS
USING THE MONEY THAT IS ALREADY
IN THE POLICE BUDGET.
THEY WON'T MEET THEIR HIRING
PLAN BECAUSE THEY ARE HAVING A
HARD TIME BEING UNABLE TO
RECRUIT.
LET ME JUST READ SOMETHING FROM
THE CENTRAL STAFF MEMO FROM MAY
10th.
SINCE 2020 SPD INCURRED A NET
LOSS OF 125 POLICE OFFICERS.
ACTUALLY IT WAS 400 TOTAL AND
THEN THERE WERE SOME NEW HIRES.
DURING THAT TIME SPD
TRANSFERRED MORE THAN 100
OFFICERS FROM SPECIALTY
INVESTIGATIVE UNITS TO OTHER
911 RESPONSE TO ADDRESS SPD'S
GOALS FOR RESPONSE TIMES.
THE TRANSFER IS REQUIRED THAT
THEY DISBAND PROBLEM-SOLVING
COMMUNITY POLICE TEAMS AND
PRECINCT-BASED ANTICRIME TEAMS.
TWO, REDUCE THE NUMBERS OF
OFFICERS ON BIKE AND FOOT FROM
55, TO FOUR.
AND REDUCE INVESTIGATION IN
SPECIALTY UNITS BELOW PRIOR
STAFFING LEVELS.
IF WE WANT TO GET GUNS OFF OF
THE STREET AND THE DRUGS THAT
ARE CAUSING THE OVERDOSES THAT
WE SEE EVERYWHERE, WE ACTUALLY
DO HAVE TO MAKE SURE THAT THERE
ARE ENOUGH OFFICERS.
LIKE I SAID, THIS IS NOT AN
EITHER OR SITUATION.
THIS IS NOT TAKING MONEY AWAY
FROM OTHER PRIORITIES.
I WOULD SAY THAT MAKING THAT
POINT IS ANOTHER VERSION OF
DEFUNDING SPD FOR OTHER
PRIORITIES IN OTHER DEPARTMENTS.
THIS IS WHAT WE HEAR THE PUBLIC
SAYING. THEY WANT TO FEEL SAFER
IN THEIR COMMUNITIES.
THIS IS ONE WAY TO GO ABOUT
THAT.
AND YOU ARE RIGHT.
I AM AMBIVALENT ABOUT WHATEVER
STAFFING INCENTIVE PROGRAMS, AS
YOU WILL HEAR IN DISCUSSION
ABOUT COUNCILMEMBER HERBOLD'S
COUNSEL BILL.
THERE WAS COLLABORATION BETWEEN
ME AND COUNCILMEMBER HERBOLD ,
AND THE MAYOR, ABOUT WHAT CAN
BE SPENT MOST EFFECTIVELY TO
BEGIN A MORE ROBUST RECRUITMENT
PROCESS.
I LEAVE IT TO THE PROS TO
FIGURE THAT OUT.
WE HAVE GOT TO DO SOMETHING
ABOUT THE EMERGENCY WE ARE
FACING.
>> THANK YOU.
WE ARE DONE.
COUNCILMEMBER PEDERSEN?
>> THANK YOU, COUNCIL PRESIDENT
JUAREZ.
I JUST WANTED TO NOTE THAT THE
MAYOR HELPED TO BROKER THIS
COMPROMISE AND COLLABORATION.
THESE TWO THINGS GO TOGETHER.
THE RESOLUTION AND THE COUNSEL
BILL.
I WANT TO THANK COUNCILMEMBER
NELSON FOR THIS RESOLUTION AND
COUNCILMEMBER HERBOLD FOR HER
ORDINANCE.
WHAT I HEAR FROM MY
CONSTITUENTS IS A CONCERN ABOUT
THE LOSS OF HUNDREDS OF
OFFICERS.
WE ARE ALL TRYING TO TAKE A
HOLISTIC APPROACH TO COMMUNITY
SAFETY.
TO DO THAT WE HAVE TO ALSO
RECOGNIZE THAT PIECE OF IT.
WHICH IS TRYING TO RESTORE AND
BRING IN SOME NEW OFFICERS,
TRAIN THEM. WE WANT TO REFORM
THE POLICE CONTRACT.
WE ARE GOING TO DO MORE
UPSTREAM PROGRAMS.
WE ARE GOING TO DO THAT IN A
COMPREHENSIVE MANNER.
MAYOR HARRELL'S LEADERSHIP IS
KEY TO THIS, AS WE SEE TODAY.
THANK YOU VERY MUCH.
>> THANK YOU.
COUNCILMEMBER LEWIS?
THEN WE ARE GOING TO MOVE ON.
>> THANK YOU, COUNCIL PRESIDENT.
I JUST WANT TO PUT INTO CONTEXT
A LITTLE BIT, GIVEN OUR
DISCUSSION TODAY, THIS
RESOLUTION IS NOT THE BE ALL
AND ALL PUBLIC SAFETY PLAN THAT
IS FOR THE CITY OF SEATTLE TO
COMPLETELY RESTORE COMMUNITY
SAFETY.
THE ORDINANCE ATTACHED TO IT IS
NOT, IN THE SCHEME OF ALL OF
OUR PUBLIC SAFETY SPENDING, A
SIGNIFICANT OR OVERWHELMING
INVESTMENT IN TERMS OF WHAT WE
ARE UNLOCKING TODAY FOR THE
EXECUTIVE DEAL.
THE REASON I WANT TO HIGHLIGHT
THAT IS THERE IS A LOT MORE WE
NEED TO DO IN COLLABORATION
WITH THE MAYOR TO FOCUS
HOLISTICALLY ON PUBLIC SAFETY.
WE HAVE BEEN CITING IT AT
VARIOUS STAGES IN THIS
DISCUSSION TODAY.
92% OF OUR NEIGHBORS INDICATED
MENTAL HEALTH SERVICES TO BE
THE BIGGEST THING THAT THEY
THOUGHT WOULD BE OUTCOME
DETERMINATIVE FOR PUBLIC
SAFETY.
I COMPLETELY AGREE WITH THAT
FINDING.
IF I WAS PULLED I WOULD HAVE
FOUND THE SAME THING.
IT WAS CRITICAL THAT, AS WE
WORK WITH THE EXECUTIVE TO GET
MORE INITIATIVES, THAT WE
REALLY MAKE SURE WE FOCUS ON
THOSE SECURITY RESPONSES AND
ALSO PLACES WHICH WE DISCUSSED
IN THE PUBLIC SAFETY COMMITTEE
THIS MORNING.
FOR PEOPLE TO GO AND HAVE SOME
VERSION OF INPATIENT ASSISTANCE
OR EASY ACCESS, TRANSITIONAL
HOUSING, LIKE HOTELS SHELTERS.
I WOULD BE REMISS TO VERY
QUICKLY NOT HIGHLIGHT THAT
DENVER AND EUGENE HAVE MATURE
PROGRAMS THAT HAVE BEEN DOING
THIS FOR YEARS.
CITIES FROM ST. LOUIS, TO FT.
WORTH, TO PORTLAND OREGON. THEY
ARE EXPERIMENTING WITH THESE
PROGRAMS.
WE LOOK FORWARD AS WE CONTINUE
TO INVEST.
SALARY, SAVINGS, WHATEVER ELSE.
I WOULD URGE THE MAYOR TO WORK
IN COLLABORATION WITH THE
COUNCIL ON ISSUES LIKE THAT TO
ME TO THE CRISIS OF THE SAFETY
SITUATION IN THE CITY.
I WOULD ALSO JUST ADD THAT TO
MAYOR HARRELL AND HIS SITUATION
HAVE EMPHASIZED MANY TIMES TO
THIS COUNSEL, AND ON THE
CAMPAIGN TRAIL, THAT HE'S
INTERESTED IN DEVELOPING
RESPONSES LIKE THAT.
THEY WOULD BE PART OF THE
COMPREHENSIVE PUBLIC SAFETY
PLAN.
IN VOTING FOR THIS TODAY WE ARE
NOT REJECTING OTHER THINGS.
WE ARE JUST HIGHLIGHTING THAT
POLICE RECRUITMENT AND
RETENTION HAS TO BE PART OF A
COMPREHENSIVE PUBLIC SAFETY
STRATEGY.
I JUST WANTED TO EMPHASIZE THAT
I FULLY EXPECT THE MAYOR'S
ADMINISTRATION TO HAVE
PROPOSALS TO US WITH LOW ACUITY
FIRST RESPONSES AND BEHAVIORAL
MENTAL HEALTH SERVICES.
THANKS.
>> THANK YOU.
I APOLOGIZE, COUNCILMEMBER
NELSON.
I WILL LET YOU HAVE THE LAST
WORD AND THEN WE WILL MOVE TO A
VOTE.
WE CAN'T HEAR YOU.
>> I'M COMING.
ANOTHER WAY OF PUTTING IT IS
SIMPLY THAT RESOLUTIONS ARE
POLICY STATEMENTS OF INTENT.
THEY DON'T CARRY THE FORCE OF
LAW BUT THEY DO COMMUNICATE OUR
PRIORITIES.
THIS RESOLUTION SIGNALS TO THE
VAST POOL OF POTENTIAL RECRUITS
OUT THERE THAT SEATTLE IS
SIMPLY UPPING ITS GAME AND IS
READY TO COMPETE WITH OUR
NEIGHBORING JURISDICTIONS.
IT DEMONSTRATES TO OUR OWN
OFFICERS THAT WE VALUE THE WORK
THAT THEY DO AND WE ARE TRYING
TO GET THEM SOME SUPPORT SO
IT'S NOT SO HARD TO DO THEIR JOB
. THEY ARE STRETCHED VERY THIN.
MOST IMPORTANTLY I THINK IT
TELLS OUR CONSTITUENTS THAT WE
ARE LISTENING.
WE HEAR THEIR CNCERNS AND WE
ARE JUST COMMITTED TO PUTTING
THEIR SAFETY FIRST.
THAT'S IT.
>> THANK YOU.
WILL THE CLERK PLEASE CALL THE
ROLL ON THE ADOPTION OF THE
RESOLUTION AS AMENDED?
>> COUNCIL MEMBER STRESS?
COUNCILMEMBER STRAUSS?
>> ARE YOU THERE?
>> YES.
SORRY.
YES.
>> COUNCILMEMBER HERBOLD?
>> YES.
>> COUNCIL MEMBER LEWIS?
>> YES.
>> COUNCILMEMBER MORALES?
>> NO.
>> COUNCILMEMBER MOSQUEDA?
>> NO.
>> COUNCILMEMBER NELSON?
>> AYE.
>> COUNCILMEMBER PEDERSEN?
>> YES.
>> COUNCILMEMBER SAWANT?
>> NO.
>> COUNCIL PRESIDENT JUAREZ?
>> AYE.
>> FIVE IN FAVOR, THREE OPPOSED.
THE RESOLUTION IS ADOPTED AS
AMENDED.
>> THE CHAIR WILL SIGN IT.
MADAM CLERK, PLEASE AFFIX MY
SIGNATURE TO THE LEGISLATION ON
MY BEHALF.
>> THE COUNT WAS WRONG.
IT WAS SIX IN FAVOR, THREE
OPPOSED.
>> I'M SORRY.
IT STILL DOES PASS AND IS
ADOPTED AS AMENDED.
>> OKAY.
>> THANK YOU.
WITH THAT, FOLKS, WE WILL GO
BACK TO ITEM NUMBER EIGHT.
THAT IS COUNCILMEMBER HERBOLD.
MADAM CLERK, PLEASE READ ITEM
NUMBER EIGHT INTO THE RECORD.
>> COUNSEL BILL 120320.
AN ORDINANCE RELATING TO
APPROPRIATIONS FOR THE SEATTLE
POLICE DEPARTMENT, AMENDING A
PROVISO IMPOSED BY ORDINANCE
126490, WHICH ADOPTED THE 2022
BUDGET, RATIFYING AND
CONFIRMING CERTAIN PRIOR ACTS.
THE COMMITTEE RECOMMENDS THAT
IT PASSES.
>> THANK YOU.
COUNCILMEMBER HERBOLD?
>> THINK YOU SO MUCH.
BRINGING WORK ON THE 2022
BUDGET WE REQUESTED A REPORT
FROM THE EXECUTIVE ON CITYWIDE
HIRING INCENTIVES.
FROM ANALYZING THE VACANCY
ISSUES ACROSS FRONT-LINE WORKERS
, VACANCY ISSUES THAT ARE
CREATING A SERVICE ISSUE WITH
THE PUBLIC OR INHIBITING
SOMEONE FROM DOING THEIR CORE
FUNCTION.
-- NOT JUST INCLUDING POLICE
OFFICERS BUT ALSO TRUCK
DRIVERS, CIVIL ENGINEERS, AND
911 DISPATCHERS.
CONSEQUENTLY THIS BILL WAS
REQUESTED TO AMEND ITS --
APPOINTING AUTHORITIES OF
MULTIPLE DEPARTMENTS.
FLEXIBILITY FOR THE MOVING
EXPENSES FOR PEOPLE WHO ARE
COMING TO WORK IN THESE HARD TO
FILL AND IMPORTANT POSITIONS.
IT DOES INCLUDE POLICE HIRES
BUT IT ALSO IS INTENDED TO
ADDRESS THE LIMITATIONS IN OUR
EXISTING RULES ACROSS SEVERAL
DEPARTMENTS.
CURRENT PERSONNEL RULES LIMITS
THIS FLEXIBILITY.
IF WE ARE DOING NATIONAL
RECRUITING TO FILL POSITIONS IN
DEPARTMENTS ALL OVER THE CITY I
THINK IT'S IMPORTANT THAT WE
LOOK AT THE PAYING COSTS
ASSOCIATED WITH FOLKS MOVING
HERE ON BEHALF OF THE CITY OF
SEATTLE.
THE BILL IS ALSO TO RELIEVE THE
PROVISO ON THE SPENDING FOR THE
SEATTLE POLICE DEPARTMENT.
SOME PEOPLE WERE TESTIFYING TO
NOT SUPPORTING HIRING
INCENTIVES FOR OFFICERS.
I WANT TO CLARIFY.
THIS PROPOSAL ALLOWS FOR
OFFERING PAYMENT OF MOVING COST
FOR NEW HIRES TO FILL HARD TO
HIGHER POSITIONS IN SEVERAL
DEPARTMENTS.
NOT ONLY THE SEATTLE POLICE
DEPARTMENT.
THE RELEASE OF THE FUNDING IS
NOT NEEDED FOR THE OTHER
DEPARTMENTS.
UNLIKE THE SEATTLE POLICE
DEPARTMENT THEY CAN USE THE
FUNDS FROM POSITION VACANCIES
ONCE THE HUMAN RESOURCES
DEPARTMENT CHANGES THE RULES,
ALLOWING HIRING AUTHORITIES TO
PAY RELOCATION EXPENSES OF THE
RECRUITS.
THIS IS NOT JUST FOR THE
SEATTLE POLICE DEPARTMENT, AND
IS NOT THE CASE BECAUSE OF THE
EXISTING PROVISO.
THAT'S WHY THIS LEGISLATION
RELEASE IS $650,000 OF EXISTING
CITY FUNDS FOR SPD FOR THIS
USE.
IT IS NOT NEW FUNDING FOR SPD.
IT IS ONLY TO ALLOW SPD TO AN
INCLUDE WHAT WE WANT TO ALLOW
OTHER DEPARTMENTS TO DO AS
WELL.
THERE ARE ALREADY FUNDS IN THE
DEPARTMENT TO SUPPORT SALARIES
ASSOCIATED WITH THE SPD HIRING
PLAN, TO HIRE 155 OFFICERS AS
FUNDED IN THE 2022 BUDGET.
RELEASING THIS FUNDING WILL
WORK TO ASSIST WITH THAT.
IT MAKES SENSE, GIVEN THAT
EARLIER ACTIONS SUPPORT THE
PLAN.
WE WILL ADD FUNDING FOR THE
CAMPAIGN TO FILL VACANT POLICE
OFFICER POSITIONS AND PAY FOR A
NATIONAL SEARCH COMMITTEE TO
FILL THE CHIEF OF POLICE
POSITION.
LASTLY, BECAUSE I HEARD A LOT
OF FOLKS TALK ABOUT OUR EFFORTS
TO DEVELOP ALTERNATIVES TO
POLICE RESPONSE, TO 911 CALLS.
I WANT TO LIFT UP THE FACT THAT
IN OUR MAY 10th COMMITTEE
MEETING FOR PUBLIC SAFETY AND
HUMAN SERVICES WE HEARD AND
UPBEAT FROM THE EXECUTIVE ON
THE CONTINUATION OF THE 911
CALL ANALYSIS. AND WITH THE
NATIONAL INSTITUTE OF CRIMINAL
JUSTICE WITH ANALYZED CALL
TYPES.
WE HAD THE ANALYSIS LAST YEAR.
NOW THE EXECUTIVE IS PULLING
TOGETHER AN INTERDEPARTMENTAL
TEAM THAT INCLUDES THE COUNCIL
TO MAKE SURE THAT THE ANALYSIS
ON THE REPORT, WHICH ONLY
LOOKED AT HOW CALLS WERE
INITIALLY CLASSIFIED TO EXAMINE
HOW CALLS ARE RESOLVED AS WELL.
THAT WILL ALLOW US TO CLASSIFY
CALLS BY RISK LEVEL IN ORDER TO
ASSIST WITH DETERMINING WHICH
911 CALL CAN BE RESPONDED TO
NOT BY POLICE OFFICERS AND WILL
STILL REQUIRE A SWORN OFFICER.
IT'S NOT JUST ABOUT THE REPORT.
IT'S ABOUT THE NEXT LEVEL
ANALYSIS THAT WE ARE DOING.
I AM REALLY CONVINCED THAT THE
EXECUTIVE IS COMMITTED TO DOING
THIS WORK AND THIS WORK IS
GOING TO CONTINUE THROUGHOUT
THE YEAR.
THE NEXT STEP, 911 DISPATCHERS
WILL BE TRAINED ON SENDING 911
CALLS TO PEOPLE OTHER THAN
POLICE AND FIRE.
THE SEATTLE'S COMMUNICATION
CENTER HAS COMPLETED ITS
REQUEST FOR PROPOSALS AND THEY
ARE WORKING ON IDENTIFYING --
FOR THIS NEW PROTOCOL THAT IS
NECESSARY AS WE DEVELOP A
CONTINUATION OF 911 RESPONSE.
WE ARE LOOKING AT THE
DEVELOPMENT OF THE 911
ALTERNATIVES ON THE JUNE 8th
COMMITTEE MEETING.
THAT WORK IS COMPLETED.
THANK YOU.
>> THANK YOU, COUNCILMEMBER
HERBOLD.
>> I KNOW THE MEDIA HAS
PORTRAYED IT THIS WAY WHICH
ISN'T ALWAYS ACCURATE.
I DON'T THINK COUNCILMEMBER
NELSON AND HER MOLD HAD TO BE
ENCOURAGED OR THERE WAS SOME
KIND OF BROKERING.
I THINK THEY WERE INCREDIBLY
STAYED IN THEIR COMMENTS AND
POSITIONS BUT ALSO COMMITTED TO
WORKING COLLABORATIVELY,
BUILDING CONSENSUS AND WORKING
WITH THE EXECUTIVE AND I THINK
THAT GETS OVERLOOKED SOMETIMES.
I WANT TO GIVE A PARTICULAR
THANK YOU TO COUNCILMEMBER
HERBALS BECAUSE SHE'S BEEN ON
COUNSEL AS LONG AS ME AND SHE'S
BEEN ON THE PUBLIC SAFETY ISSUE
AND SHE SERVES AS I DO SO GOING
BACK TO WHAT COUNCILMEMBER
PETERSON WAS SAYING, THIS IS A
MORE HOLISTIC APPROACH AND I
APPRECIATE ALL OF YOUR COMMENTS
AND YOUR CONCERNS BUT I THINK
AT THE END OF THE DAY WHAT WE
SAW COME OUT WITH THE
RESOLUTION AND THIS LEGISLATION
IS I THINK WHAT PEOPLE WANT
GOVERNMENT TO DO.
I THINK THAT'S WHAT WE ARE
ELECTED TO DO AND THAT IS TO
MOVE FORWARD, TO WORK TOGETHER,
AGREE WHERE WE DISAGREE AND
FIND CONSENSUS AND WHAT IS THE
BEST FOR OUR GREAT CITY.
I WILL GET OFF MY SOAPBOX AND
WITH THAT, MADAME CLERK, WILL
YOU PLEASE CALL THE ROLE?
>> THANK YOU.
I ALSO REALIZE THAT I SPOKE
QUITE A BIT ON THAT LAST BILL
AND I'M HAPPY TO WAIT MY TURN
IF COUNCILMEMBER MORALE US
WOULD LIKE TO GO BEFORE ME.
>> WHY DON'T YOU JUST GO AHEAD.
I APOLOGIZE, COUNCILMEMBER
MORALES AND I WILL LET YOU
HAVE THE LAST WORD, I KEEP
FORGETTING.
>> THANK YOU SO MUCH AND LET ME
PREFACE THIS BY SAYING HOW MUCH
I APPRECIATE AGAIN
COUNCILMEMBER HER BOLD AND HER
LEADERSHIP ON PUBLIC SAFETY.
I CONSIDER HER A THOUGHT
PARTNER NOT ONLY IN HOW WE
ADDRESS PUBLIC SAFETY BUT HOW
WE ADDRESS RESPONSES.
I KNOW SHE CARES VERY MUCH
ABOUT THE POLICY DETAILS MUCH
TO THE KNOWLEDGE OF EVERY
PERSON WHO WATCHES COMMITTEE
MEETINGS SO I KNOW THESE
DETAILS VERY MUCH MATTER TO
HER.
AGAIN I WILL WHERE I'M COMING
FROM ON THIS PIECE OF
LEGISLATION.
THIS COMES DOWN TO, FOR ME, A
QUESTION OF WHETHER OR NOT
THESE FUNDS COULD BE AVAILABLE
AT THE END OF THE YEAR IF
IMPROVISER WERE KEPT IN THE
PLACE.
MANY FOLKS IN OUR COMMUNITY AND
THANKS IN LARGE PART TO
COUNCILMEMBER HERBOLD WHO HAS
CHAMPIONED THESE ADDITIONS
RELATED TO FOOD SERVER SOCIAL
SECURITY, FOOD SERVICES.
WE HAVE A NO NEED IN OUR
COMMUNITY FOR CONTINUAL
INVESTMENTS AND WE HAVE AN
EVOLVING BUDGET SITUATION AND
UNTIL WE HAVE GREATER CERTAINTY
ON THE NUMBER OF DOLLARS
AVAILABLE AT THE END OF THE
YEAR I CAN'T SUPPORT RELEASING
A PROVISO THAT IS CURRENTLY IN
PLACE FOR THE SEATTLE POLICE
DEPARTMENT.
I DO APPRECIATE THAT THIS WAS
BROADER THAN SPD IN TERMS OF
THE MOVING FEES BUT IN TERMS OF
THE PROVISO OF THIS BEEN
LIFTED, THAT IS SPECIFIC TO
SEATTLE POLICE DEPARTMENT
DOLLARS WHERE IT IS A KNOWN
QUANTITY AND I DON'T SUPPORT
THE EFFORT TO EITHER USE IT FOR
A MOVING FEE OR A RECRUITMENT
EFFORT TO GET MORE FOLKS TO
APPLY FOR THE CHIEF POSITION OR
A RECRUITMENT PERSON TO TRY TO
INCENTIVIZE MORE FOLKS TO APPLY
FOR SPD OFFICER POSITIONS.
IN THE FACE OF THE CRISIS WE
ARE FACING IN THE BUDGET AND I
KNOW MANY OF US ARE COMMITTED
TO CONTINUING TO LOOK AT
ADDITIONAL PROGRESSIVE REVENUE
BUT UNTIL WE HAVE THOSE
QUESTIONS ANSWERED, I WANT TO
MAKE SURE WE ARE LOOKING AT THE
RECOMMENDATIONS FROM THE ROOM
RECRUIT MENTAL RETENTION
WORKGROUP AND MORE HOLISTICALLY
LOOKING AT THE END OF THIS YEAR
ABOUT WHERE WE CAN MAKE
INVESTMENTS NEXT YEAR AND IN
THE FOLLOWING YEARS TO WHAT WE
KNOW FRONT-LINE WORKERS WANT
AND THAT INCLUDES MAKING SURE
WE ARE LOOKING AT EXISTING
STRATEGIES TO PROMOTE FROM
WITHIN ESPECIALLY A DIVERSE
WORKFORCE TO MAKE SURE WE HAVE
A BETTER PIPELINE FOR
INTERNSHIPS AND APPRENTICESHIP
OPPORTUNITIES WE ARE LOOKING AT
UNDERPAY FOR MANY POSITIONS AND
WE HAVE IN THE PAST PARTNERED
ON HST AND HUMAN SERVICE WAGES
AND WE KNOW THERE'S GOING TO BE
AN INCREASED NEED FOR MAKING
SURE WE ARE RECRUITING FOLKS
ACROSS OUR DEPARTMENT FOR
MULTIPLE POSITIONS AND I THINK
IT'S NOT JUST RECRUITMENT, IT'S
RETENTION STRATEGIES AS WELL.
I WOULD MUCH MORE PREFERRED TO
BE LOOKING AT RETENTION
STRATEGIES, RECRUITMENT
STRATEGIES, AND OF THE YEAR
HOLISTICALLY WHEN WE KNOW WHAT
THE BUDGET GAP IS OR WHAT
AVAILABLE DOLLARS WE MAY HAVE
AND THOSE AVAILABLE DOLLARS TO
SHRINK IF WE LIFT THIS PROVISO
TODAY.
I'M NOT OPPOSED TO HIRING
INCENTIVES, EXCUSE ME, I'M NOT
OPPOSED TO MOVING FEES BEING
PAID FOR IN GENERAL AND I THINK
THAT COULD BE PART OF THE
OVERALL APPROACH THAT WE ARE
LOOKING AT SUPPORTING AND IN
DOING SO, AND PARTNERSHIP WITH
THE COALITION FOR CITY UNIONS
WHO HAVE BEEN A LONG CALLING
FOR INVESTMENTS LIKE THAT
THROUGH THE LABOR STANDARDS
RELATION COMMITTEE, I'M
FORGETTING THE ACTUAL NAME OF
IT, BUT THE BODY THAT WAS
CREATED TO BRING TOGETHER
MANAGEMENT AND LABOR TO TALK
ABOUT STRATEGIES AND DO JUST
THAT.
I ALSO WANT TO LIFT UP SOME OF
THE THINGS WE TALKED ABOUT IN
COMMITTEE THAT IS UNDERSCORING
THE NEED I BELIEVE FOR US TO
LOOK MORE GENERALLY AT
RETENTION AND RECRUITMENT
STRATEGIES.
NATIONALLY WE ARE SEEING A
DOWNWARD TREND IN POLICE
DEPARTMENT STAFFING LEVELS,
CITIES LIKE ATLANTA, PHOENIX
AND PHILLY HAVE SEEN HUNDREDS
OF OFFICERS LEAVE THE FORCE
PHILADELPHIA IS DOWN 440
OFFICERS.
ATLANTA DOWN 400 TO 500
OFFICERS IN THE LAST THREE
YEARS NEW YORK SAW 5300
OFFICERS LEAVE SINCE 2020.
LOUISVILLE LOST 233 OFFICERS,
PORTLAND, THERE POLICE FORCE IS
NOW UNDER 1100 OFFICERS FROM
WHERE THEY STARTED SO THANK YOU
TO MY STAFF WHO HAS DONE
INCREDIBLE RESEARCH AND PULL
THIS INFORMATION FROM A FORBES
ARTICLE IN LATE APRIL.
THIS IS THE TREND ACROSS THE
COUNTRY AND I THINK MORE
BROADLY INSTEAD OF INVESTING IN
A HIRING BONUS STRATEGY OR A PR
FIRM TO DO OUTREACH FOR A
POLICE CHIEF OR RECRUITER TO
TRY TO GET MORE PEOPLE TO APPLY
TO A POSITION WHERE WE ARE
SEEING NATIONAL TRENDS IN
DOWNWARD STAFFING I WOULD MUCH
MORE PREFERRED TO BE HAVING A
CONVERSATION AT THE END OF THE
YEAR ABOUT WHERE PRECIOUS AND
LIMITED RESOURCES CAN GO AND TO
NOT LIFT A PROVISO NOW SO WE
HAVE MORE RESOURCES ESPECIALLY
RESOURCES AVAILABLE FOR
UPSTREAM INVESTMENTS THAT DON'T
REQUIRE AN OFFICER AND A BADGE
TO SHOW UP.
LASTLY, MADAME PRESIDENT, IN
OUR MANY MEETINGS WE'VE HAD WE
TALKED ABOUT HOW SOME OF THE
STRATEGIES, ALMOST ALL OF THE
STRATEGIES WE'VE INVESTED IN
AND COMMUNITY RESOURCES, OUR
RETENTION STRATEGY FOR
OFFICERS, WE JUST NEED TO
CONTINUE TO GET THOSE DOLLARS
AT THE DOOR CURRENTLY SITTING
THERE AND WORK IN PARTNERSHIP
WITH COMMUNITY PARTNERS SO
THERE'S MORE MENTAL HEALTH
SERVICE PROVIDERS AND COMMUNITY
RESPONDERS AVAILABLE THAT CAN
HELP WITH RETENTION STRATEGIES
AND I THINK WE NEED TO SEE THAT
AS ONE WAY WE ARE INVESTING IN
RETENTION AND HOPE TO DO MORE
TO SUPPORT RETENTION STRATEGIES
BY MAKING SURE THERE ARE
TRAINED AND SKILLED COMMUNITY
RESPONSES THAT WE HAVE BEGUN TO
INVEST IN AT THE END OF THE
YEAR SO LIFTING A PROVISO AT
THIS POINT FOR SPECIFICALLY SPD
AND NOT KNOWING WHAT THE UNDER
SPEND IS IN OTHER DEPARTMENTS,
OTHER DEPARTMENTS WHO WILL BE
OFFERING MOVING FEES AS WELL AS
THE COALITION FOR CITY UNION IS
NOTED, CREATES AN INEQUITY.
THERE IS NOT A KNOWN ANSWER TO
WHETHER OR NOT THERE WILL BE
THE SAME HIRING BONUS, EXCUSE
ME, THE SAME MOVING FEE OFFERED
TO INDIVIDUALS ACROSS
DEPARTMENTS AND THEY RAISE
CONCERNS ABOUT EQUITY AND
PARITY ACROSS DEPARTMENTS AND I
RAISE THAT QUESTION DURING
COMMITTEE AND I HAVE NOT SEEN A
RESPONSE YET SO TODAY I'M STILL
CONCERNED ABOUT THAT.
I WILL BE VOTING NO ON THIS
PIECE OF LEGISLATION IN FRONT
OF US THOUGH I APPRECIATE THE
SPONSORS HARD WORK TO TRY TO
BROADEN OUT MORE HOLISTICALLY
HOW WE ARE LOOKING AT RETENTION
TO OUR CITY FUNDING GENERALLY
AND I LOOK FORWARD TO
CONTINUING THE DISCUSSION AS WE
THINK ABOUT THE 2023-2024
BUDGET.
>> COUNCILMEMBER MORALES?
>> THANK YOU.
COUNCIL PRESIDENT, I WILL ALSO
BE VOTING NO ON THIS.
I DO APPRECIATE THE HARD WORK
OF THE CHAIR OF PUBLIC SAFETY
AND HUMAN SERVICES,
COUNCILMEMBER HERBOLD AND
COUNCILMEMBER NELSON BUT I WILL
BE VOTING NO.
I FEEL LIKE THIS BILL TRIES TO
SOLVE AN ISSUE WITHOUT BASIS IN
THE WELL-FOUNDED INFORMATION
THAT WAS COMMISSIONED FROM THE
COUNCIL.
THE ISSUE IS WE CAN'T SEEM TO
RETAIN OFFICERS.
THIS IS A PROBLEM UNIQUE TO
SEATTLE, IT'S AN EXPERIENCE
HAPPENING ACROSS THE COUNTRY
AND THE DEPARTMENTS OWN
RESPONSE TO THE STATEMENT OF
LEGISLATIVE INTENT AND THE
COUNCIL BUDGET ACTION WAS
INCONCLUSIVE ON WHETHER A
HIRING BONUS HAD ANY IMPACT ON
HIRING NUMBERS AND THE IMPACT
OF THE HIRING BONUS AS HAS
ALREADY BEEN SAID COULD CAUSE
DEEPER CULTURAL PROBLEMS IN A
DEPARTMENT THAT IS STRUGGLING
WITH CULTURE CHANGE.
WE KNOW THAT EMPLOYEES ARE,
EITHER THOSE WHO HAVE BEEN
PROMOTED INTERNALLY CAN ALSO
FEEL UNDERVALUED AND
UNDERAPPRECIATED WHEN THEIR
FINANCIAL PACKAGE DOESN'T MATCH
WHAT NEW POLICE HIRES ARE
RECEIVING.
W HAVE TO CONTINUE TO MAKE
TOUGH FISCAL AND POLICY CHOICES
AND WE ARE STILL GRAPPLING WITH
THE IMPACTS OF COVID AND TO
OFFER THIS KIND OF BONUS TO ONE
DEPARTMENT SENDS THE WRONG
MESSAGE TO THE REST OF OUR CITY
STAFF AND DOESN'T REALLY
ADDRESS THE COMMUNITY'S LONG-
TERM DESIRE FOR ACCOUNTABILITY
AND CULTURE CHANGE IN THE
POLICE DEPARTMENT.
THERE IS NEED FOR CULTURE
CHANGE WITHIN THE DEPARTMENT.
LACK OF OFFICERS IS OF
RETENTION AND MANAGEMENT ISSUE
AND THE RECRUITMENT AND
RETENTION WORKSHOP FOUND THAT
SERGEANTS ARE PROMOTED BASED ON
TEST RESULTS WITH NO REAL
CONSIDERATION GIVEN TO WHETHER
THEY CAN ACTUALLY MANAGE
PEOPLE.
OPA FOUND A CULTURE OF
INSUBORDINATION WHEN THE STATE
DEPARTMENT OF LABOR AND
INDUSTRIES WAS UNABLE TO
COMPLETE INVESTIGATIONS AROUND
MASKING ISSUES, THEY WERE
LITERALLY TURNED AWAY AT THE
DOOR AND THE SEATTLE TIMES
REPORTED ON MAY 5 THAT OFFICERS
ROUTINELY DISPLAYED DIRECT
ORDERS FROM CHIEF DIAZ TO WEAR
MASKS AND OBSERVE SOCIAL
DISTANCING PROTOCOLS.
THERE'S DEFINITELY A CULTURE
PROBLEM AND HIRING BONUSES WILL
NOT SOLVE THAT.
IT'S NOT GOING TO SOLVE THE
MANAGEMENT ISSUE EITHER.
THEN THERE'S THE FISCAL
CONSTRAINTS WE ARE UNDER AND
THE FACT THAT WE HEAR REGULARLY
THAT WE NEED DATA AND EVIDENCE
TO SUPPORT OUR FUNDING
DECISIONS AND I HAVE SEEN NO
EVIDENCE THAT HIRING BONUSES
WILL DO ANYTHING TO ADDRESS OUR
RETENTION ISSUES OR TO ACTUALLY
INCREASE OUR HIRING ABILITY.
AND FINALLY THERE'S THE ISSUE
OF PUBLIC SAFETY.
SORRY, MY HUSBAND'S PHONE.
IF WE REALLY WANT TO INCREASE
PUBLIC SAFETY THERE ARE BETTER
WAYS THAT WE COULD SPEND 4 1/2
MILLION DOLLARS.
WE COULD CREATE AT LEAST ONE
SAFE CONSUMPTION SITE WHICH NOT
ONLY PROVIDES SOMEONE A PLACE
TO DISPOSE OF NEEDLES THAT
ISN'T ON THE STREET, SOMETHING
WE HEAR ABOUT OFTEN BUT ALSO
APPEARS THAT WITH MEDICAL
SERVICES THAT HELP PEOPLE
ADDRESS ADDICTION.
WE COULD BUILD TINY HOUSE
VILLAGES AND FUND SUPPORTIVE
HOUSING UNITS, WE COULD COVER
THE COST OF GROCERIES FOR 116
FAMILIES OF FOUR LIVING AT 30
PERCENT AMI FOR A WHOLE YEAR.
WE COULD COVER $30,000 IN
STARTUP COSTS FOR 150 LOW
INCOME RESIDENTS LOOKING TO
START A SMALL BUSINESS.
WE COULD COVER THE YEARS WORTH
OF BACK RENT FOR FOR ABOUT 100
STRUGGLING RENTERS.
THE POINT IS THERE ARE ANY
NUMBER OF WAYS TO INCREASE LONG-
TERM COMMUNITY SAFETY FOR OUR
NEIGHBORS AND ONE TIME HIRING
BONUSES IS NOT IT.
WE'VE GOT EVERY OTHER
DEPARTMENT BEING ASKED TO MAKE
SIX PERCENT CUTS AND WE ARE NOT
SURE ONE DEPARTMENT WOULD HAVE
DIFFERENT EXPECTATIONS OF WHAT
IS EXPECTED FROM THEIR
DEPARTMENT SO WHILE I
APPRECIATE THE HARD WORK OF
SPONSORS AND THE EXECUTIVE, I
WILL BE VOTING NO ON THIS BILL.
THAN YOU.
>> COUNCILMEMBER HERBOLD, DO
YOU WANT TO CLOSE US OUT?
>> I WASN'T GOING TO SAY
ANYTHING FURTHER .
>> I SAW YOUR HAND UP.
>> I CHANGED MY MIND, I
APOLOGIZE.
I APPRECIATE THE UNDERLYING
BUDGET CONCERNS AS ADDRESSED BY
THE COUNCILMEMBERS BUT I FEEL
LIKE I REALLY HAVE TO CORRECT
THE RECORD BY SOME OF THE LAST
COMMENTS I HEARD, THIS IS NOT
AN ORDINANCE THAT FUNDS HIRING
BONUSES FOR SPD.
THIS IS AN ORDINANCE THAT
DIRECT THE HUMAN SERVICES
DEPARTMENT TO ADJUST ITS RULES
IN A WAY THAT WILL ALLOW
MULTIPLE DEPARTMENTS TO OFFER
TO COMPENSATE NEW EMPLOYEES FOR
THE RELOCATION COST ASSOCIATED
WITH THEIR MOVE TO OUR CITY TO
WORK TO SERVE THE PUBLIC.
IT WAS DESIGNED THIS WAY
SPECIFICALLY IN RECOGNITION OF
WHAT WE HEARD FROM THE HUMAN
RESOURCES DEPARTMENT AS IT
RELATES SPECIFICALLY TO THE
ISSUES OF MORALE, MORALE ISSUES
CREATED WHEN YOU OFFER A
TRADITIONAL HIRING BONUS FOR
ONE KIND OF EMPLOYEE BUT NOT
ANOTHER.
THIS IS INTENDED TO RECOGNIZE
THAT ANYBODY WHO COMES TO WORK
IN OUR CITY, TO FILL A POSITION
WHERE WE ARE HAVING A DIFFICULT
TIME HIRING FOR THAT POSITION
IN THAT POSITION IS A HIGHLY
NEEDED POSITION, THAT WE SHOULD
COMPENSATE THEM FOR THEIR
RELOCATION COSTS.
THIS IS NOT A TRADITIONAL
HIRING BONUS.
THANK YOU.
>> WITH THAT WE ARE GOING TO GO
TO A VOTE.
MADAME CLERK, PLEASE CALL THE
ROLL ON THE PASSAGE OF THE
BILL.
>> COUNCILMEMBER STRAUSS?
>> YES.
>> CONSUMMATE THE HERBOLD?
>> YES.
>> COUNCILMEMBER TRAN LEWIS?
>> YES.
>> COUNCILMEMBER MORALES?
>> NO.
>> COUNCILMEMBER MOSQUEDA.
>> KNOW.
>> COUNCILMEMBER NELSON, YES.
>> COUNCILMEMBER PETERSON.
>> YES.
>> COUNCILMEMBER SAWANT?
>> YES -- NO.
>> COUNCILMEMBER WAR AS.
>> SIX IN FAVOR, THREE OPPOSE.
THE BILL PASSES, PLEASE AFFIX
MY SIGNATURE TO THE LEGISLATION
ON MY BEHALF.
THANK YOU.
WE HAVE DONE ITEMS EIGHT AND
NINE IN REVERSE SO NOW WE ARE
GOING TO GO TO OUR FAVORITE
COMMITTEE, TRANSPORTATION OF
SEATTLE PUBLIC UTILITIES.
I UNDERSTAND COUNCIL MEMBER
PETERSON HAS ITEMS 1011, 12,
AND 13.
>> THE REPORT OF THE
TRANSPORTATION AND SEATTLE
PUBLIC UTILITIES COMMITTEE
AGENDA ITEM 10, COUNSEL BILL
120300, AN ORDINANCE GRANTING
PERMISSION TO 2001 SIX LLC TO
CONTINUE OPERATING AND
MAINTAINING A UTILITY TUNNEL
UNDER THE ALLEY BETWEEN FIFTH
AVENUE AND SIXTH AVENUE NORTH
VIRGINIA STREET, THE COMMITTEE
RECOMMENDS THE BILL PASSED.
>> COUNCILMEMBER PETERSON?
>> THANK YOU.
COUNSEL BILL RENEWS A PERMIT
FOR A UTILITY TUNNEL DOWNTOWN.
THIS BILL WAS PASSED
UNANIMOUSLY BY OUR COMMITTEE.
THANK YOU.
>> THANK YOU.
ARE THERE ANY COMMENTS FOR
COUNCILMEMBER PETERSON?
WILL THE CLERK, ACTUALLY IS
THERE ANYTHING ELSE YOU WANT TO
SAY?
OKAY, GREAT.
WILL THE CLERK PLEASE CALL THE
ROLL ON THE PASSAGE OF THE
BILL.
>> COUNCILMEMBER STRAUSS,
HERBOLD , LEWIS.
MORALE IS, NELSON, PETERSON,
SAWANT, PRESIDENT WARRIORS?
NINE IN FAVOR, NONE OPPOSE.
>> THE BILL PASSES AND THE
CHAIR WILL SIGN.
MADAME CLERK PLEASE AFFIX MY
SIGNATURE TO THE LEGISLATION.
MOVING ON TO ITEM 11, WILL YOU
PLEASE READ ITEM 11 INTO THE
RECORD.
>> COUNSEL BILL 120301 AND
ORGANIZE GRANITE KING COUNTY
PERMISSION TO CONTINUE
OPERATING TWO PEDESTRIAN
TUNNELS UNDER AND ACROSS NINTH
AVENUE.
THE COMMITTEE RECOMMENDS THE
BILL PASSED.
>> COUNCILMEMBER PETERSON?
>> COUNSEL BILL 120301 RENEWS A
PERMIT FOR TWO PEDESTRIAN
TUNNELS FOR HARBORVIEW
HOSPITAL.
THIS BILL WAS RECOMMENDED
UNANIMOUSLY BY OUR COMMITTEE.
THANK YOU.
>> ANY COMMENTS TO OPPOSE THIS
TUNNEL?
NOT SEEING ANY, ALL RIGHT.
COUNCILMEMBER PETERSON?
OKAY.
MADAME CLERK, PLEASE CALL THE
ROLL ON THE PASSAGE OF THE
BILL.
>> STRAUSS, HERBOLD, LEWIS,
MORALES, NELSON, PETERSON,
SAWANT, COUNSEL PRESIDENT
WARRIORS.
9 IN FAVOR, NONE OPPOSE.
>> THE BILL PASSES IN THE CHAIR
WILL SIGN AND WILL YOU PLEASE
AFFIX MY SIGNATURE TO THE
LEGISLATION.
THAT'S GO TO ITEM 12 WHICH IS
ALSO COUNCILMEMBER PETERSON.
>> AGENDA ITEM 12 COUNSEL BILL
120302 GRANTING SWEDISH HEALTH
SERVICES PERMISSION TO CONTINUE
MAINTAINING AND OPERATING AN
EXISTING PEDESTRIAN SKY BRIDGE
OVER AND ACROSS CHERRY STREET
WEST OF BROADWAY AND EAST OF
MINER AVENUE.
THE COMMITTEE RECOMMENDS THE
BILL PASSED.
>> COUNSEL MEMBER PETERSON?
>> THIS RENEWS A PERMIT FOR AN
EXISTING SKY BRIDGE AT SWEDISH
HOSPITAL.
THE BILL WAS RECOMMENDED
UNANIMOUSLY BY OUR COMMITTEE.
>> WE WENT FROM A TUNNEL TO A
SKY BRIDGE.
ANY COMMENTS OR QUESTIONS?
DO YOU WANT TO SAY ANYTHING
ELSE?
>> I HAVE THIS SPEECH PREPARED
BUT I THINK I WILL FORGO IT.
>> THANK YOU.
NOT SEEING ANY OTHER COMMENTS,
WILL THE CLERK PLEASE CALL THE
ROLL ON THE PASSAGE OF THE
BILL?
>> YES.
>> NINE IN FAVOR, NONE OPPOSE.
>> THE BILL PASSES IN THE CHAIR
WILL SIGN AND MADAME CLERK,
PLEASE AFFIX MY SIGNATURE TO
THE LEGISLATION.
MOVING ON TO ITEM NUMBER 13.
COUNCILMEMBER PETERSON, I'M
SORRY, MADAME CLERK, DO YOU
WANT TO READ THAT INTO THE
RECORD AND WE WILL HANDED OVER
TO COUNCILMEMBER PETERSON.
>> RESOLUTION 32053, RESOLUTION
GRANTING CONCEPTUAL APPROVAL TO
CONSTRUCT, MAINTAIN AND OPERATE
THE COMMUNICATION CONDUIT UNDER
AND ACROSS NORTH OF NORTHEAST
NORTH LAKE WAY, THE COMMITTEE
RECOMMENDS THE RESOLUTION BE
ADOPTED.
>> THANK YOU COUNSEL PRESENT.
RESOLUTION 32053 GRANTS
CONCEPTUAL APPROVAL TO ALLOW
DONE LUMBER TO INSTALL A
COMMUNICATION PIPE UNDER LATONA
AVENUE NORTHEAST TO CONNECT THE
EXISTING BUILDING IN
WALLINGFORD TO THE NO BUILDING
IT'S CONSTRUCTING ACROSS THE
STREET.
THIS RESOLUTION WAS RECOMMENDED
UNANIMOUSLY BY OUR COMMITTEE.
THANK YOU.
>> ANY QUESTIONS?
COUNCILMEMBER PETERSON, ANY
CLOSING COMMENTS BEFORE WE GO
TO VOTE?
ALL RIGHT, WILL THE CLERK
PLEASE CALL ROLE ON THE
ADOPTION OF THE RESOLUTION?
>> YES.
>> NINE IN FAVOR, NONE OPPOSE.
>> THE RESOLUTION PASSES IN THE
CHAIR WILL SIGN AND MADAME
CLERK, PLEASE AFFIX MY
SIGNATURE TO THE RESOLUTION.
NOW WE ARE GOING TO THE
SUSTAINABILITY AND RENTERS
RIGHTS AS ITEM NUMBER 14.
MADAME CLERK, PLEASE READ
CANCEL BILL 120330 INTO THE
RECORD.
>> REPORT OF THE SUSTAINABILITY
AND RENTERS RIGHTS COMMITTEE
AGENDA ITEM 14 COUNSEL BILL
120330 AN ORDINANCE RELATING TO
JUST CAUSE OF ACTION, CHANGING
THE CAUSE OF CERTAIN EVICTION
DEFENSES.
THE COMMITTEE RECOMMENDS THE
BILL PASSED AS AMENDED.
>> COUNCILMEMBER SAWANT?
>> THANK YOU, THIS IS A BILL
FOR MY OFFICE IN RESPONSE TO A
COURT OF APPEALS DECISION THAT
OBJECTED TO ONE SMALL PART OF
SEATTLE SIX-MONTH EVICTION
DEFENSE, THAT ORIGINAL
ORDINANCE ACQUIRE REQUIRES
RENTERS A TEST THEY HAVE
SUFFERED FINANCIAL HARDSHIP IN
ORDER TO BE ELIGIBLE TO USE
THAT DEFENSE AGAINST EVICTION.
THE COURT OF APPEALS OBJECTED
TO THE MECHANICS OF THAT,
SPECIFICALLY THERE IS NOT
LANGUAGE GIVING THE LANDLORDS
THE ABILITY TO REBUT THE CLAIM
THAT RENTERS FACED FINANCIAL
HARDSHIP.
I WANTED TO BE CLEAR THAT THE
SIX-MONTH EVICTION DEFENSES
STILL IN EFFECT AS I MENTIONED
YESTERDAY, BECAUSE THE CITY HAS
REQUESTED RECONSIDERATION OF
THE COURT OF APPEALS DECISION
BUT OUT OF AN ABUNDANCE OF
CAUTION AND PARTICULARLY TO
AVOID CONFUSION, MY OFFICE HAS
SPONSORED THIS BILL.
THE INITIAL VERSION OF THE BILL
INTRODUCED BY MY OFFICE ADDRESS
THE COURT OF APPEALS CONCERN BY
SIMPLY REMOVING THE REQUIREMENT
OF FINANCIAL HARDSHIP THEREFORE
THERE WOULD BE NO CLAIM TO
REBUT.
AS I'VE ARGUED IN THE PAST, IT
SHOULD BE A GIVEN THAT IF A
RENTER IS IN EVICTION COURT IS
BECAUSE THEY HAVE SUFFERED
ELSE WOULD THEY BE IN EVICTION
COURT REQUIRING PEOPLE TO
REQUIRE FINANCIAL HARDSHIP IS
LIKELY TO DRAG RENTERS THROUGH
A HUMILIATING PROCESS AND WE
SEE THAT HAPPENING ALL THE
TIME.
THIS HAS A CHILLING EFFECT,
PREVENTING THE VERY PEOPLE, THE
LOW INCOME AND MARGINALIZED
COMMUNITIES THAT THIS DEFENSE
WAS INTENDED TO HELP.
THE BILL THAT WAS DISCUSSED IN
THE SUSTAINABILITY AND RENTERS
RIGHTS COMMITTEE LAST FRIDAY
AND WAS AMENDED TO ADDRESS THE
COURT OF APPEALS CONCERNING AN
ENTIRELY DIFFERENT WAY REMOVING
THE REQUIREMENT FOR FINANCIAL
HARDSHIP THE NOW BILL KEEPS
THAT REQUIREMENT AND ADDS
LANGUAGE EXPLAINING HOW A
LANDLORD CAN REBUT THOSE
CLAIMS.
I DID NOT SUPPORT THAT
AMENDMENT FOR THE REASONS I
JUST EXPLAINED THAT AS I SAID
IN COMMITTEE AND YESTERDAY, I
STILL SUPPORT THE LEGISLATION
BECAUSE IT WILL ALLOW THE
DEFENSE ATTORNEYS TO USE THIS
EVICTION DEFENSE WITHOUT FEAR
OF CONFUSION.
WELL IT IS IS STILL IN EFFECT,
THERE'S A DANGER THAT EVICTION
COURT JUDGES WILL CHOOSE TO
EVICT RENTERS WHO ATTEMPT TO
USE THAT DEFENSE BECAUSE OF THE
CONFUSION.
IF THAT HAPPENS, RENTERS WILL
BE OUT ON THE STREET WITHOUT
THE OPPORTUNITY TO APPEAL WITH
ALL THE HUMAN SUFFERING THAT
ENTAILS SO I URGE
COUNCILMEMBERS TO VOTE YES ON
THIS LEGAL FIX TO THE SIX-MONTH
EVICTION DEFENSE IN ACCORDANCE
WITH THE COMMITTEE'S
RECOMMENDATION, THANK YOU.
>> THANK YOU.
ANY QUESTIONS OR COMMENTS?
COUNCILMEMBER ALICE?
>> I SHOULD HAVE MENTIONED,
CANCEL MEMBER MORALES AGREED TO
COSPONSOR.
>> I SHOULD HAVE CAUGHT THAT.
THANK YOU.
>> YES, I WOULD LIKE TO
REQUEST TO BE ADDED AS A
COSPONSOR AND I DO WANT TO
THANK COUNCILMEMBER SAWANT FOR
ALLOWING ME TO COSPONSOR THIS
AND I WANT TO SHARE WHY THIS
BILL IS IMPORTANT TO ME.
IN 2020 WHEN I VOTED YES ON THE
LEGISLATION, I DID SO KNOWING
THIS PANDEMIC WOULD LEAVE AN
UNIMAGINABLE TOLL ON LOW-INCOME
TENANTS I HEARD FROM COUNTLESS
PEOPLE ABOUT THEIR LOST JOBS,
JANITORS, BARISTAS, RESTAURANT
WORKERS, AND LOTS OF OTHERS
LOSING THEIR JOBS AND I HEARD
THEIR FEAR OF REPRISAL FROM
THEIR LANDLORD SO THAT'S WHAT I
VOTED FOR THAT LEGISLATION TO
PROTECT THEM.
IN 2021 WHEN MY OFFICE WORKED
WITH THE STATE HOUSE STAY
HEALTHY COALITION, IT WAS
BECAUSE LOW-INCOME TENANTS AND
WORKING FAMILIES WERE STILL
ACCRUING DEBT, STILL WORRIED
ABOUT PUTTING FOOD ON THE TABLE
AND PAYING FOR MEDICAL EXPENSES
AND STILL WORRIED THAT THE CITY
WAS NOT OFFERING ENOUGH
PROTECTION.
THE TENANTS WE WORKED WITH WERE
ALSO AFRAID THAT THE SIX MONTHS
WOULD NOT BE ENOUGH TIME FOR
THEM TO CATCH UP AND AVOID
EVICTION.
OUR EVICTION DEFENSE TIED TO
THE CIVIL EMERGENCY WAS PURSUED
BECAUSE WE KNEW THAT TENANTS
NEEDED ANOTHER LAYER OF
DEFENSE.
AS RECENTLY AS THIS MORNING I
HEARD THE NEED FROM A TENANT
ATTORNEY FOR THIS DEFENSE WILL
BE NECESSARY WHEN RENT RELIEF
RUNS OUT LATER THIS SPRING.
ACROSS THE STATE WE STARTED TO
OPEN BACK UP AND TO TRY TO LIVE
AS WE DID IN PRE-COVID TIMES
BUT HERE IN THE CITY, WE ARE
ALSO TALKING ABOUT BRINGING
FOLKS BACK INTO CITY HALL
STARTING IN JUST A COUPLE WEEKS
AND WE MIGHT FEEL LIKE THIS
PANDEMIC IS OVER AND THOSE OF
US WHO HAVE BEEN PRIVILEGED
ENOUGH TO CONTINUE WORKING
THROUGH THIS CRISIS WITHOUT
FINANCIAL STRESS MAY FEEL LIKE
THIS PANDEMIC IS BEHIND US.
THE TRUTH IS IT IS STILL GOING
ON, IT'S STILL TAKING A TOLL ON
NEIGHBORS, AND AMENDING THESE
TWO EVICTION DEFENSES WILL
ALLOW TENANTS WHO ARE STILL
STRUGGLING TO STILL HAVE AT
LEAST ONE LAST LINE OF DEFENSE.
I WILL CLOSE BY SAYING WE STILL
NEED TO KEEP FIGHTING AND DOING
MORE FOR LOW AND MIDDLE INCOME
PEOPLE HERE IN SEATTLE.
WE NEED TO PROVIDE MORE SUPPORT
TO TENANTS SO A FAMILY
EMERGENCY DOESN'T LEAD TO
ADDICTION AND HOMELESSNESS AND
WE NEED TO BUILD MORE
AFFORDABLE HOUSING AND WE NEED
TO INVEST IN SOCIAL HOUSING IN
EVERY PART OF OUR CITY SO
RENTERS ARE NOT AT THE WHIM OF
A PRIVATE MARKET.
WE NEED TO INVEST IN OUR YOUTH
SO THEY ARE JOB READY OUT OF
HIGH SCHOOL OR COLLEGE AND
DON'T EVEN HAVE TO WORRY ABOUT
EVICTION.
AND WE NEED TO INVEST IN
PROTECTING WORKERS SO THEY HAVE
THE SECURITY THAT SO MANY OF US
HAVE HAD DURING THIS PANDEMIC.
I WANT TO THANK THE COSPONSOR,
COUNCILMEMBER SAWANT FOR
ALLOWING ME TO COSPONSOR AND I
INTEND TO VOTE IN FAVOR OF THIS
BILL.
>> THANK YOU, COUNCILMEMBER.
ANY OTHER COMMENTS BEFORE
HANDED OFF TO COUNCILMEMBER
SAWANT TO CLOSE US OUT?
NOT SEEING ANY.
>> I HAVE NOTHING ELSE TO ADD,
THANK YOU.
>> THANK YOU.
WITH THE CLERK PLEASE CALL THE
ROLL ON THE PASSAGE OF THE
BILL?
>> YES.
>> NINE IN FAVOR, NONE OPPOSED.
>> THE BILL PASSES AND THE
CHAIR WILL SIGN IT.
PLEASE AFFIX MY SIGNATURE TO
THE LEGISLATION.
MOVING ON IN OUR AGENDA TO THE
ADOPTION OF OTHER RESOLUTIONS,
I DON'T SEE ANY OTHER
RESOLUTIONS HAPPENING TODAY, IS
THERE ANY OTHER BUSINESS TO
COME BEFORE COUNSEL BEFORE I
MOVED TO ADJOURN?
COUNCILMEMBER STRAUSS?
>> THANK YOU COUNCIL PRESIDENT,
THANK YOU FOR RUNNING SUCH A
WELL-RUN MEETING TODAY.
I WILL BE ATTENDING THE
ASSOCIATION OF WASHINGTON
CITIES ANNUAL FORUM SO I AM
REQUESTING TO BE EXCUSED FROM
FULL COUNSEL, FROM COUNSEL
BRIEFING ON JUNE 20 AND FULL
COUNSEL ON JUNE 21.
>> I'M GLAD YOU GOT THAT IN
EARLY, DULY NOTED.
DOES ANYONE HAVE A PROBLEM WITH
COUNCILMEMBER STRAUSS BEING
GONE THOSE DAYS?
OKAY, WE ARE NOW DONE WITH OUR
CALENDAR.
>> SORRY.
I, TOO WILL BE AT THE BOARD
MEETING BUT I WILL JUST ASK FOR
EXCUSABLE I WOULD ASSESSED TO
BE EXCUSED ON JUNE 21, PLEASE
FOR THE BOARD MEETING.
>> I WAS GOING TO SAY SOMETHING
BUT I DIDN'T WANT TO PUT YOU
ONE LAST.
OKAY,
>> THAT WILL BE THE ONLY TIME
YOU CAN PUT ME ON BLAST FOR THE
RECORD.
>> DOES ANYONE HAVE A PROBLEM
WITH COUNCILMEMBER BEING GONE
ON TUESDAY, JUNE 21?
NOT SEEING ANY, BOTH
COUNCILMEMBERS ARE INDEED
EXCUSED ON THOSE DAYS.
OKAY, THIS CONCLUDES OUR ITEMS
OF BUSINESS FOR TODAY'S AGENDA.
OUR REGULARLY SCHEDULED NEXT
COUNCIL MEETING IS TUESDAY, MAY
31.
WE HAVE A THREE-DAY HOLIDAY, SO
ENJOY, WE WILL NOT BE HERE ON
MONDAY BUT WE WILL BE HERE ON
TUESDAY AT 2:00 AND WITH THAT,
HAVE A GOOD AFTERNOON AND WE
STAND ADJOURNED.
THANK YOU.