>>> GOOD MORNING, EVERYONE.
THANK YOU FOR JOINING US ON THE
SELECT BUDGET COMMITTEE. TODAY
IS WEDNESDAY, OCTOBER 11, 23.
WILL CLICK PLEASE CALL THE ROLE
>> COUNCILMEMBER LISA HERBOLD.
COUNCILMEMBER DEBORAH JUAREZ.
>> PRESENT.
>> COUNCILMEMBER ANDREW LEWIS.
COUNCILMEMBER TAMMY MORALES.
COUNCILMEMBER SARA NELSON.
>> PRESENT.
>> COUNCILMEMBER ALEX PEDERSEN.
>> PRESENT.
>> COUNCILMEMBER KSHAMA SAWANT
.
>> PRESENT.
>> COUNCILMEMBER .
>> PRESENT.
>> SIX PRESENT.
>> I WILL BE SURE TO ANNOUNCE
THEM. THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR
JOINING US TODAY. WE DID HAVE
HANDFUL OF PEOPLE THAT WANT TO
PROVIDE PUBLIC COMMENT. WE WILL
DEFINITELY ACCOMMODATE THAT.
PLEASE COME ON IN. THIS WILL B
A PRESENTATION FROM SOULFUL
STAFF. THESE DIRECTORS ARE
HANDY. WE ALSO HAVE THE
2023-2024 ADJUSTMENT PROPOSED
OVERVIEW. THAT WILL BE A
PRESENTATION FROM CENTRAL STAFF
SESSION TWO WILL BEGIN AT 2:00
P.M. WE WILL GO INTO THE
FOLLOWING ITEMS. GENERAL FUND
BALANCING ANALYSIS, WILL BE
PRESENTED BY CENTRAL STAFF
ACTIONS. WE WILL CONCLUDE TODAY
WITH A SUMMARY OF THE JUMPSTART
FUND BALANCE ANALYSIS. THIS IS
WHAT WE HAVE DONE PARTIALLY WIT
SOME OF THE PROPOSED CHANGES
THAT WE SEE IN THE BUDGET FROM
THE MAYOR'S OFFICE. THAT WOULD
INCLUDE THE DIRECTOR. WE WILL
START EVERY MEETING WITH THE
PUBLIC COMMENT AT THE BEGINNING
OF THE DISCUSSION. WE HAVE A
FULL HOUR BREAK FROM ALL OF OUR
INCREDIBLE TEAM MEMBERS. THEY
MAKE THE BUDGET COMMITTEE
MEETINGS POSSIBLE. THOSE
MEETINGS WILL AT LEAST BEGIN AT
1 P.M. WE CAN GIVE YOU
ADDITIONAL TIME. THIS IS FOR TH
LUNCH BREAK. WE WILL DO THAT
THROUGHOUT THE NEXT THREE DAYS.
THIS IS DAY ONE OUT OF THREE.
COUNCILMEMBER LISA HERBOLD, IS
IN THE WEIGHT ROOM. CAN SOMEONE
ADMIT HER? VICE CHAIR LISA
HERBOLD, IS PRESENT. I WANT TO
MAKE SURE THAT SHE GETS NOTED.
WE WILL ADJOURN FOR AN HOUR
RECESS AS SOON AS SESSIONS ONE
AND TWO ARE DONE. IF WE CAN GET
AS MUCH DONE BEFORE 1:00 AS
POSSIBLE. WE ARE GOING TO TRY T
GET YOUR AFTERNOON FREED UP.
THAT IS STANDARD PRACTICE. ARE
THERE ANY ADDITIONAL
COUNCILMEMBERS THAT HAVE JOINED
US? OKAY. VICE CHAIR LISA
HERBOLD, IS PRESENT.
>> I'M SORRY IF I MISSED IT. I
DON'T HAVE THE AGENDA BEFORE ME
WILL THERE BE PUBLIC COMMENT?
>> YES, THERE WILL. RIGHT AWAY.
>> HEARING NO OBJECTION, THE
AGENDA IS ADOPTED. HEARING NO
OBJECTION, WE'RE GOING TO MOVE
INTO PUBLIC COMMENT. THANK YOU
TO THE FOLKS WHO DECIDED TO
PROVIDE PUBLIC COMMENT. YOU WAN
TO HEAR THEM AS WELL AS ONLINE
PEOPLE. AS WELL AS THE PEOPLE
THAT SIGNED UP ONLINE.
>> EXCUSE ME. WE HAVE 28 ONLINE
>>, THE PEOPLE DO WE HAVE IN TH
ROOM? WONDERFUL. IT WILL DO ALL
THE THE PEOPLE ONLINE. THAT
WILL BE FANTASTIC AND WE WILL
GET GOING. THANK YOU FOR ASKING
FOLKS WERE WATCHING, WE WANT TO
MAKE SURE WE HAVE PUBLIC COMMEN
EVERY TIME AT THE BEGINNING FOR
AT LEAST HALF AN HOUR.
>> HELLO, SEATTLE. WE ARE THE
EMERALD CITY. THE CITY OF
FLOWERS AND GOODWILL. BUILT ON
INDIGENOUS LAND. TRADITIONAL
TERRITORY OF THE PEOPLES. THE
SEATTLE CITY COUNCIL WELCOMES
REMOTE PUBLIC COMMENT, AND IS
EAGER TO HEAR FROM RESIDENTS OF
OUR CITY. IF YOU WOULD LIKE TO
BE A SPEAKER, PROVIDE A VERBAL
OR PUBLIC COMMENT, YOU CAN
REGISTER TWO HOURS PRIOR TO THE
MEETING VIA THE SEATTLE CITY
COUNCIL WEBSITE. HERE'S SOME
INFORMATION ABOUT THE PUBLIC
COMMENT PROCEEDINGS. SPEAKERS
ARE CALLED UPON IN THE ORDER IN
WHICH THEY REGISTERED ON THE
COUNCIL'S WEBSITE. EACH SPEAKER
MUST CALL IN FROM THE PHONE
NUMBER DIVIDED WHEN THEY
REGISTERED ONLINE. THEY ARE
USING THE MEETING I.D. AND
PASSCODE. THIS WAS EMAILED UPON
CONFIRMATION. IF YOU DO NOT
RECEIVE EMAIL CONFIRMATIONS,
THESE CHECK YOUR SPAM OR JUNK
MAIL FOLDERS. A REMINDER, THE
SPEAKER MEETING I.D. IS
DIFFERENT FROM THE GENERAL
LISTEN LINE. THIS IS PROVIDED O
THE AGENDA. ONCE A SPEAKER'S
NAME IS CALLED, THE MICROPHONE
WILL BE UNNEEDED. AUTOMATIC
PROMPTS WILL SAY THE HOST WOULD
LIKE YOU TO UNMUTE YOUR
MICROPHONE. THAT IS YOUR QUEUE
THAT IT IS YOUR TURN TO SPEAK.
AT THAT TIME, YOU MUST PRESS
STAR SIX. YOU WILL HEAR A PROMP
SAYING YOU ARE UNNEEDED. BE SUR
THAT YOUR PHONE IS UNMUTE IT ON
YOUR END, SO THAT YOU WILL BE
HEARD. AS A SPEAKER, YOU SHOULD
BEGIN BY STATING YOUR NAME, AND
ITEM YOU ARE ADDRESSING. A CHIM
WILL SOUND THAN 10 SECONDS ARE
LEFT WITH YOUR ALLOTTED TIME. A
A GENTLE REMINDER, WRAP UP YOUR
PUBLIC COMMENTS. AT THE END OF
THE ALLOTTED TIME, THE
MICROPHONE WILL BE MUTED. THE
NEXT SPEAKER REGISTERED WILL BE
CALLED. ONCE SPEAKERS HAVE
COMPLETED PROVIDING PUBLIC
COMMENT, PLEASE DISCONNECT FROM
THE PUBLIC COMMENT LINE. JOIN U
BY FOLLOWING THE MEETING VIA
SEATTLE CHANNEL BROADCAST, OR
THROUGH THE LISTENING LINE
OPTION. THIS IS LISTED ON THE
AGENDA. THE COUNCIL RESERVES TH
RIGHT TO ELIMINATE PUBLIC
COMMENT IF THE SYSTEM IS BEING
ABUSED. OR, IF THE PROCESS
IMPEDES THE COUNCIL'S ABILITY T
CONDUCT ITS BUSINESS ON BEHALF
OF RESIDENTS OF THE CITY. ANY
OFFENSIVE LANGUAGE THAT IS
DISRUPTIVE TO THESE PROCEEDINGS
OR THAT IS NOT FOCUSED ON AN
APPROPRIATE ATOMIC AS SPECIFIED
WITH COUNSEL RULES, MAY LEAD TO
THE SPEAKER BEING MUTED BY THE
PRESIDING OFFICER. OUR HOPE IS
TO PROVIDE AN OPPORTUNITY FOR
PRODUCTIVE DISCUSSIONS THAT WIL
ASSIST OUR ORDERLY
CONSIDERATIONS OF ISSUES BEFORE
THE COUNCIL. THE PUBLIC COMMENT
PERIOD IS NOW OPEN. WE WILL
BEGIN WITH THE SPEAKER ON THE
LIST. STAR SIX, AFTER YOU HEAR
THE PROMPT OF BEING MUTED.
>> THE FIRST SPEAKER.
>> CALLING FROM DISTRICT SIX.
ASKING YOU TO TAKE ACTION TO
REDUCE SEATTLE'S FUNDING FROM
THE POLICE DEPARTMENT. THEY ARE
INFLICTING VIOLENCE ON SEATTLE
RESIDENTS. NO HUNGER. THIS IS
WHAT WE CAN DO. WE'RE GOING TO
BE ALIVE. A FULL COMMITTEE IS
COMMITTED FROM THESE POLICE
OFFICERS. THIS IS UNDER THE
MISTAKEN IMPRESSION THAT I
UNDERSTAND THE VIOLENCE. THIS
IS CAUSED BY INEQUALITY. THEY'R
MAKING CUTS TO HOUSING. THEY AR
SIMULTANEOUSLY ACTIONS. YOU ARE
CREATING A MORE EQUITABLE CITY.
YOU'RE TRYING TO REDUCE THIS
BUDGET. 213 GHOST POSITIONS THA
THEY HAVE NO INTENTION OR
ABILITY TO FILL. $31 MILLION OF
UNUSED SALARIES. FOR THE SAKE O
ACCOUNTABILITY, IT SHOULD BE
DEFUNDED. COUNSEL SHOULD CUT
FUNDING. IT IS KNOWN TO BE
HARMFUL AND EQUITABLE. IT IS
EFFECTIVE AT ACCOMPLISHING ITS
DAILY GOALS. THEY HAVE
STABILITY AND WILL BILLING THAT
IS POUNDING. THEY HAVE THE
SOLIDARITY BUDGET. WE ARE
REGARDING DEFUNDING THEM. THIS
IS SIDEWALKS, TRANSPORTATION,
AFFORDABLE CHILDCARE, AND BASIC
INCOME. THANK YOU FOR LISTENING
>> OUR NEXT SPEAKER --
>> A MORNING, COUNCILMEMBERS.
I'M HERE FOR THE DOWNTOWN
EMERGENCY SERVICE CENTER. WE
HAVE INFLATION ADJUSTMENTS. WE
ARE TRYING TO DO THIS IN THE
PAST YEAR. THIS APPLIES TO ALL
OF THESE CONTRACTS. IF OUR
COMMUNITY HAD NOT LOOKED AT THA
EVERYDAY, WE WERE TRYING TO GET
THIS HANDLED WITH THE CITY. WE
WERE LOOKING AT THE INFLATION
ADJUSTMENTS. WE HAVE
SUPPLEMENTAL INFLATION
SUPPORTS. THIS IS PROVIDING
SUPPORT TO SO MANY OF OUR
NEIGHBORS. WE ARE LOSING GROUND
WE ARE LOOKING AT THE WORKERS.
WE ARE TRYING TO ALLEVIATE THIS
BY ANSWERING ALL OF THIS. WE AR
LOOKING AT THE INFLATION
ADJUSTMENT. THIS IS A DIFFERENT
CONTRACT. WE HAVE INFLATION
ADJUSTMENTS. IT IS ALL ABOUT
THE SUCCESS OF OUR COMMUNITY.
THIS IS A 2% INCREASE. THIS IS
THE MAYOR'S BUDGET. WE WOULD
LOVE TO SEE SUPPORT. THANK YOU
SO MUCH FOR EVERYTHING YOU DO.
>> OUR NEXT REMOTE SPEAKER.
>> GOOD MORNING. I SUPPORT THE
SEATTLE SOLIDARITY BUDGET. THI
IS A MATTER OF BASIC
RESPONSIBILITY. THEY ARE
ACTUALLY CREATING THE ULTIMATE
ACTIONS. THEY HAVE OVER 210
GHOST POWERS. THEY HAVE NO PLAN
OR INTENTIONS TO FILL THE
FUNDING ACTIONS. THIS IS
ALLOWING THEM TO CLAIM NO
EXPENDITURES THAT ARE PART OF
THE BUDGET NEUTRAL. THEY ARE IN
EXCESS OF ALL OF THE PLANS. THE
HAVE A LARGE GENERAL FUNDS,
MEETING IN 2025. A LOT OF
COUNCIL MEMBERS HAVE SAID THAT
THEY WANT TO FIND THESE
EXPENDITURES. IF YOU WANT TO
CARE ABOUT IT, THIS IS ALL ABOU
IT. YOU ARE NOT CARING ABOUT
THAT. WE KNOW WHY THE CITIES AR
CURRENTLY DEFUNDING A PORTABLE
HOUSING FUND. VISION ZERO,
LOOKING AT SCHOOLS. THEY ARE
KEEPING PEOPLE ALIVE AS THEY
SEE. WE ARE LOOKING AT THIS
FISCAL OVERSIGHT. WE ARE LOOKIN
TO ASK THESE COUNCILS. THEY
MANAGED TO FIND ALMOST A HALF $
MILLION TO FUND THE PROJECT
ANYWAYS.
>> WE ARE MOVING TO THE IN
PERSON SPEAKERS. AMY SUMMERS.
>> AMY SUMMERS, HERE ON BEHALF
OF THE INSTITUTE OF PEOPLE FOR
ASSESSING PROGRESS. WE ARE
TESTIFYING WITH RESPECT TO THE
SHOT SPOTTER TECHNOLOGY. THIS I
ANOTHER OPPOSITION TO THAT.
HAVE SEVERE PROBLEMS WITH IT.
THEY LEAD TO HEIGHTENED INTENSE
TRANSACTIONS. WE FEEL STRONGLY
RATHER THAN GOING TO TRY TO GET
THIS MONEY. THEY WILL REJECT
THIS BY THE MAYOR. THEY ARE
IMPROVING EQUITY IN OUR CITY.
THEY HAVE TRUE ACCOUNTABILITY.
WE REALLY SUPPORT THESE EFFORTS
TOWARDS ANOTHER PATH. THEY
EMPHASIZE MENTAL HEALTH SUPPORT
THEY ARE NOT LIMITED TO ARMED
OFFICERS RESPONDING. WE HOPE
THEY ARE GOING TO BE SPEAKING
OUT ABOUT THE PROPER PROPOSALS
TO USE THIS TECHNOLOGY THAT IS
DEEPLY PROBLEMATIC.
>> I SEE SO MANY HOPELESS
COMPLACENCY'S FROM MY PEERS.
THEY KEEP TELLING ME THAT ONE
PERSON CAN CHANGE THE WORLD.
THEY ARE STARTING TO CONVINCE
ME. YOU GUYS HAVE THE POWER TO
CHANGE THE CITY. THIS IS WHERE
IT ALL STARTS. WE ARE
DETERMINING ALL OF THESE COST
ANALYSIS. WE HAVE ECONOMIC
JUSTIFICATIONS. THEY ARE TRYING
TO ACCOMPLISH SOMETHING GRAND.
INVEST. THANK YOU.
>> IS OUR NEXT IN-PERSON
SPEAKER.
>> GOOD MORNING, COUNSEL. I'M
THE EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR OF THE
SEATTLE SERVICES COALITION. I'M
HERE JUST TO REMIND EVERYBODY
ABOUT THAT REPORT THAT WAS
ALREADY MENTIONED. WE HAVE
HUMAN SERVICE PROVIDERS. WE HAV
ALL THE MANY SECTORS THAT HAVE
BEEN TAKEN CARE OF. ESPECIALLY
THOSE WHO HAVE BEEN FURTHER FRO
JUSTICE TO DO HISTORICAL
OPPRESSIONS. HUNDREDS OF YEARS.
LIKE OUR LAST COMMENT, YOU HAVE
THE POWER TO START CHANGING
THAT. IT IS MORE DRAMATIC. WE
ARE VERY LOOKING AT THESE 2%
WAGE INCREASE. WE ARE VERY
GRATEFUL FOR YOUR SUPPORT. WE
ARE NOTICING AGAIN, BEING
GRATEFUL FOR NO CUTS TO THAT
ONGOING FUNDING FOR HUMAN
SERVICES. A LOT OF THEM HAVE
BEEN INSPIRING, BUT EXPIRING AT
THE SAME TIME. THEY HAVE DEEP
IMPACT AND SERVICE. THEY HAVE
NO CUTS. THEY ARE MAKING AIR
QUOTES FOR PEOPLE WHO CAN'T SEE
ME. THEY HAVE CUTS TO SERVICES.
WE ARE HOPING THAT THERE SHOULD
BE SOME ADDITIONAL FUNDING FOR
THOSE CLASSES. I JUST WANT TO
REITERATE ALL OF THIS. WHO DOE
THIS WORK?
>> WE HAVE OUR NEXT REMOTE
SPEAKER. EMILY PENNER.
>> HELLO?
>> GOOD MORNING, NUMBERS.
>> WE ARE LOOKING AT THE
SECURITY INITIATIVE. WE HAVE
DIFFERENT PARTNERSHIP
COALITIONS. WE HAVE ANOTHER
PARTNERSHIP COALITION. I HAVE
OTHER DELIVERIES. WE HAVE STREE
HUMAN SERVICE PROVIDERS. THIS
IS THE ONGOING SERVICE. THEY
HAVE ANOTHER BUDGET PACKAGE.
THIS IS DEALING WITH
COUNCILMEMBER TERESA MOSQUEDA.
THANK YOU FOR THE COUNSEL FOR
THE ONGOING COMMITMENT. THIS I
WHAT WE MENTIONED. THIS IS A
FULL RANGE EQUITY CONTRACT. WE
HAVE DIFFERENT SERVICES. THIS I
ANOTHER ACTION THAT IS PART OF
THE FUNDING. THIS IS ALREADY A
DIFFERENT TRAIN SYSTEM. WE HAVE
NEGATIVE IMPACTS. THIS IS READY
I WAS TRYING TO LOOK AT THE
SERVICES. ALL SINCE 2015. WE AR
LOOKING AT OTHER IMPACTS. WE
ARE TRYING TO GO ACROSS MULTIPL
AGENCIES THAT I HAVE WORKED OUT
THEY HAVE OTHER POPULATIONS. WE
HAVE OTHER MAIL PROVIDERS.
>> NEXT SPEAKER.
>> IN MORNING.
>> I'M HERE WITH GREATER
COMMUNITY OF WASHINGTON. WE HAV
THE BEST PROTECTION IN THE
COUNTRY. WE ARE TRYING TO GET
THE COUNSEL. WE HAVE NATIONAL
LEADERSHIP. THIS IS THE WORK
THEY HAVE DONE. HOW HAS THE
SEIMEI AND CITY SEEN IT WORK?
THEY HAVE THE COUNSEL MAKING
SURE THAT THEY ARE DOING IT. WE
HAVE THEM AGAINST WORKERS, AND
BLACK WORKERS. THEY HAVE
DIFFERENT POSSIBILITIES. THEY
HAVE MANY VIOLATIONS. THEY ARE
HISTORIC THEY HAVE CUT ALL THAT
OUT. THEY ARE EAGER TO WORK WIT
THE CONSUL. THEY HAVE OTHER
ENFORCEMENTS. I THINK THEY NEE
TO GROW AS WELL. WE ARE LOOKIN
AT THESE ORGANIZATION HOURS.
THEY HAVE ANOTHER SERVICE
COALITION. THEY WERE TRYING TO
SUCCESSFULLY GET IT. 2024, IT
IS A DIFFERENT INDUSTRY. WE HAV
ALL THESE DIFFERENT SETTLEMENTS
WE ARE TRYING TO NOT ENFORCE TH
LAW. WE HAVE DIFFERENT WORKERS.
>> OUR NEXT SPEAKER.
>> IS AS ON BEHALF OF UNITED WA
OF KING COUNTY. IT IS SIMPLE.
WE ARE LOOKING AT THESE FOR
PROCESSES. I'M TRYING TO FILE
THE TAXES. IF THEY WAIT TO FILE
FOR TOO LONG, WE ARE TRYING TO
GET THIS TO STOP THEMSELVES FRO
HAPPENING. $42 MILLION OVER TH
LAST FIVE YEARS. A 300% RETURN.
COMMUNITY MEMBERS CAN VISIT THE
UNITED WAY ACTIONS. WHAT WE DO
IS ALMOST ENTIRELY CONDUCTED
LIKE THIS. THIS IS EACH YEAR,
TRYING TO SUPPORT THEIR
NEIGHBORS. $6 MILLION. THIS IS
DIFFERENT SITUATION.
>> IS OUR NEXT SPEAKER. JESSE
FRIEDMAN.
>> GOOD MORNING. ON THE POLICY
EXPERT FOR EXTERNAL CARES. WE
HAVE ANOTHER INCREASE FOR'S
HUMAN SERVICE WORKERS. WE HAVE
TIGHT FUNDING FOR HOMELESS
SERVICE MEMBERSHIPS. THEY'RE
PROVIDING STABILITY FOR THE
STAFF. YOU WILL HEAR ME COMPLAI
ABOUT IT FOR A WHILE. THIS IS
THE COUNTY COALITION ON
HOMELESSNESS. SPECIFICALLY
JOINING MY COLLEAGUES. THIS IS
DIFFERENT CONTRACT. THIS IS A
7.5 INFLATION INVESTMENT. THIS
INCLUDES THE RAPID REHOUSING
PROGRAM. WE USE THESE CARE
INCREASES AS WAGES. WE HAVE THE
CONTRACT IN WHICH THEY WERE
LOOKING AT IT. WE ARE TRYING T
HAVE THESE INCREASES. THEY ARE
TRYING TO GO WITHIN THE BUDGET.
THEY ARE TRYING TO LOOK IN THE
FINAL BUDGET.
>> AND HIS TWO SPEAKERS, MIRAND
TORRES, ALICE LOCKHART.
>> CAN YOU HEAR ME?
>> YES WE CAN.
>> I LIVE IN DISTRICT TWO. WE
ARE WORKING WITH THOSE OVER 35
ORGANIZATIONS. THIS IS IN FAVOR
OF INCREASING THE BUDGET. WE
HAVE ANOTHER INFLATIONARY
INCREASE. WE ARE LOOKING AT
OTHER AQUEOUS, LOOKING AT
ANOTHER ADVOCACY. THIS IS THE
SURVIVORS ABUSE. THEY ARE TRYIN
TO DESIGN AND SUPPORT THEIR
NEEDS. WE HAVE GENDER-BASED
SILENCE. MANY MORE, THEY HAVE
FOUND THEMSELVES DRAWN TO LARGE
PROJECTS. THIS HAS BEEN ROOTED
IN GENDER ROLES. THEY HAVE THES
SAME SYSTEMIC AREAS FROM ALL
THESE OTHER INEQUITIES THAT WE
SEE. WE ARE LOOKING AT THESE
WAGE EQUITIES. WE KNOW THERE IS
A GREATER UNDERSTANDING ABOUT
HOW YOU ARE MOVING IN THESE
FIELDS. YOU HAVE A HARD TIME
HIRING QUALIFIED STAFF. YOU ARE
RETAINING THE EFFORT THAT WE
HAVE. I'M TRYING TO SEE
COMMUNITY ADVOCATES IN OUR
FIELD. THEY NEED TO SEE A FUTUR
IN OUR FIELD WHERE THEY CAN
STAY. THINGS RETIRE. THEY WERE
SITTING IN THE WORK. THEY WERE
TRYING TO TONE THE EFFICACIES.
THIS IS WHAT I WANTED TO SHARE
TODAY. THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR
SUPPORTING US. WE URGE YOU TO
CONTINUE TO DO SO TO HELP US GE
CLOSER TO CLOSING THE GAP THANK
YOU SO MUCH FOR THE OPPORTUNITY
>> NEXT SPEAKER, CARLOS AND
SHANNA.
>> IN MORNING, COMMITTEE. I'M
WITH 250 CL. THESE EXCEPTIONS
HAVE A JUMPSTART RIGHT. 11 OF
THE COURSE. WHETHER OR NOT YOU
SUPPORT ALL THESE THINGS PRETTY
SHOULD NOT COME OUT OF IT. WE
ARE LOOKING AT OTHER ACTIONS.
WE HAVE OTHER OPTIONS. WE HAVE
DOWNTIME ACTIVATIONS. THEY ARE
NOT THAT. WE HAVE OTHER
RETENTION BONUSES. THIS IS AN
EXTREMELY EFFECTIVE ACTION. IT
IS SIMPLE. WE ARE ELIMINATING
THOSE COSTS. WE LOOK FORWARD TO
YOUR AMENDMENT.
>> [ INAUDIBLE ] GRADE
>> WE ARE WORKING AROUND THE
FOOD SECURITY. WE HAVE A
CENTRAL HUMAN SERVICE WORKERS.
WE ARE INCREASING THIS WITHIN
THE MAYOR BUDGET. THEY HAVE ALL
OF THESE WORKERS. THEY ARE
TRYING TO BE ENTIRELY READY.
THEY HAVE HUMAN SERVICE WORKERS
I LOVE THAT I GET TO HAVE A
FULL-TIME JOB. IT IS NOT ENOUGH
TO MEET UP WITH RENT AND THE
COST OF THE CITIES. IT IS GOIN
WELL SO FAR THIS YEAR. THESE
WAGES ARE SO LOW. WE ARE HIRING
FOR THOSE POSITIONS. WE ARE
LOOKING AT STAFF PROGRAMS FOR
THE PAST YEAR AND A HALF. WE
HAVE INFLATION ADJUSTMENTS. WE
HAVE SERVICE CONTRACTS.
>> NEXT IN PERSON SPEAKER,
STEFAN.
>> I'M IN DISTRICT 6. I WORK AT
THE REGIONAL CENTER. I'LL STILL
LOOK AT THE BUDGET COMMITTEE. W
WANT ANOTHER BRIEF COMMENT ON
THE SAFETY PUBLIC BUDGET.
PARTICULARLY FROM THE RECENT
REVISED PROVISIONS FROM THESE
GATHER SHOTS. THIS ANALYSIS HAS
BEEN CONSIDERED AGAIN. YOU ALSO
HAVE TO ACCOMMODATE THE ABILITY
TO LOOK AT THE GLASS BEING
SHATTERED. THIS IS ANOTHER
RESPONSE TIME FROM LESS THAN 30
MINUTES. I WOULD LIKE TO SEE IT
DETECT AND DISPATCH WITH REASON
WE ARE BREAKING WINDOWS IN
BALLARD. THERE SHOULD BE SOME
RESPONSE. 90 MINUTES OR MORE. I
WOULD LIKE TO SEE THE FUNDING.
THIS IS ALL IN PERSON. WE NEED
TO PUT MORE MONEY IN THE
CONTRACTORS POCKETS. WE ARE
GOING TO WORK ON SOMETHING. I
WISH YOU THE BEST OF LUCK IN
THAT ONE. THAT IS ALL I HAD TO
SAY TODAY. KEEP UP THE GOOD
WORK.
>> WE HAVE REMOTE COMMENT. WE
HAVE THE NEXT REMOTE SPEAKER.
>> ARE YOU ABLE TO HEAR ME?
>> IN MORNING. THANK YOU VERY
MUCH.
>> THIS IS THE KING COUNTY
COALITION FOR HOMELESSNESS. THI
IS PART OF THE COALITION. I
APPRECIATE THE OPPORTUNITY TO B
PRODUCED THIS MORNING. WE WILL
HEAR THAT LATER ON. THIS IS
ANOTHER MANAGER. THEY HAVE THE
INFLATION ADJUSTMENTS. I WANT T
START TO BRING HOPE TO THIS
PUBLIC COMMENT CONVERSATION.
THEY ARE LOOKING ALL ACROSS THE
STREET FROM SEATTLE CITY HALL.
THIS IS WHAT THEY DO FOR PEOPLE
WHO DIED BY VIOLENCE. THEY WILL
BE STANDING FOR THE PARTICIPANT
IN THE COMMENTS. THEY KNOW WHO
DIED ON FRIDAY. HE DIED
PREMATURELY. THEY HAVE THIS
PROCLAMATION. IT IS ALL ABOUT
THE UNDERLYING CAUSES. WE HAVE
CHRONIC DISEASES. WE ARE TRYIN
TO LOOK AT THESE DIFFERENT
PEOPLE. THIS IS 28 YEARS IN KIN
COUNTY. THEY'RE TRYING TO LOOK
AT THESE HOUSING STRUCTURES. WE
ARE GLAD THAT THEY HAVE THESE
ROTORS. THEY'RE TRYING TO KEEP
IT GOING PRIMARILY.
>> THEY ARE CLOSE UP. WE ARE
LOOKING AT THE NEXT STEP.
>> JULIA BUCK, THE NEXT SPEAKER
>> IN MORNING, COUNCIL MEMBERS.
THEY ARE ALL CALLING ON BEHALF
OF THEM. BECOME ONE WITH OTHER
COLLEAGUES. THIS IS THE SERVICE
COALITION. THEY HAVE POTENTIAL
HUMAN SERVICE WORKERS. THEY HAV
INFLATION ADJUSTMENTS. THIS IS
ALL TOWARDS STABILIZING WORKERS
THEY HAD A COUPLE OTHERS. THEY
WERE TRYING TO GET IT GOING WIT
ALL WORKERS. THEY HAVE OTHER
CONTRACTS. THIS IS A QUICK
EXAMPLE OF WHAT THEY NEED. THI
FAMILY IS EXPERIENCING
HOMELESSNESS. WE HAVE
TRANSPORTATION UNITS. THEY HAV
PERMANENT HOUSING ACTIONS. THE
COUNCIL HAS DONE THAT SO FAR.
THEY ARE ENSURING THE 7.5%
INCREASE. THEY HAVE DONE THAT
WELL SO FAR.
>> THIS IS INCLUDING THEIR LIFE
STOCKS. I WOULD LIKE TO SPEAK
SPECIFICALLY TO A PROGRAM. WE
HAVE THE SEATTLE COMMUNITY OF
RESPONSES. WE CURRENTLY HAVE
65% OF THE VIOLENT CASES. THIS
IS ALL ABOUT THE ATTORNEY'S
OFFICE. MANY OF THESE ARE
BECOMING OF THE VICTIMS ISSUES.
IT IS CLEAR THAT I HAVE THIS
EXPERIENCE. I HAVE DEALT WITH
DOMESTIC VIOLENCE. I CAN TELL
YOU THIS FROM A 911 CALL. THIS
WAS NOT A SOLUTION. MY MOM WAS
ONE OF THOSE 65% THAT DECLINED
IN ORDER TO PURSUE THE CASE. TH
RECOMMENDATION IS HERE FOR A
PUBLICLY FUNDED PILOT PROGRAM.
THIS IS SOMETHING WE SHOULD TRY
THIS IS ANOTHER PROBLEM THAT
NEEDS TO BE ADDRESSED. THIS IS
WITH THE COMMUNITY RESPONSE. AL
WE CAN DO IS PUT SOMEBODY IN
JAIL. IT IS NOT THEM ECHOING
THEIR COMMANDS. THEY HAVE THE
INITIAL THREE-YEAR COMMITMENT.
THANK YOU.
>> ZOE, FOLLOWED BY JEN.
>> IN MORNING. DEVELOPMENT
ASSOCIATE FOR RAINIER VALLEY.
THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR PASSING
EQUITABLE RAGE ACTIONS FOR THIS
CITIES STAFFING CRISIS. WE ARE
LOOKING AT THE IMPORTANCE OF
THESE ISSUES. THEY HAVE ANOTHE
75% WAGE INCREASE. THIS IS WHAT
WE ARE MENTIONING FROM EARLIER
TODAY. THEY HAVE THE RISING
COST OF LIVING. THEY ARE DOING
THAT FOR OURSELVES AND OUR
FAMILIES. I KNOW THAT YOU SHARE
OUR VALUES. PLEASE KEEP THE
FUNDING IN THE BUDGET READY TO
GO. MAKE SURE THAT THE SERVICES
ARE INCLUDED. THANK YOU SO MUCH
FOR YOUR TIME.
>> WE HAVE OUR NEXT SPEAKER. SH
IS FOLLOWED BY DARCY WENDY.
>> THIS IS CO-CHAIR OF THE
SEATTLE COALITION. I'M HERE
TODAY TO SPEAK IN FAVOR OF THE
NONPROFIT HUMAN SERVICE WORKERS
THEY HAVE THE INFLATION
ADJUSTMENTS, AND WAGE ACTIONS.
WE APPRECIATE THE MAYOR. WE
INCLUDE THESE BUDGETS. THANK YO
FOR LOOKING AT THESE WAGE
EQUITIES. WE HAVE OTHER BUDGETS
WE PRIORITIZE THE ONGOING
INVESTMENTS. NO CUTS TO
SERVICES. WE ALSO HAVE A 7.5%
INCREASE ACROSS ALL CONTRACTS.
WE RECOMMEND RESTORING DIFFEREN
VESSELS. THIS IS THE WORK OF
HUMAN SERVICES THAT IS CRITICAL
WE ARE LOOKING AT THESE
BEHAVIORAL HEALTH ACTIONS. WE
HAVE THE INVESTMENT FROM HUMAN
SERVICES. THEY ARE INGESTING
INFLATION AND WAGES. THEY ARE
HELPING US TO START THE WAGE
EQUITY GAP ACROSS ALL CONTACTS.
WE ARE RECOMMENDING ALL OF THE
STUDIES. THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR
THE INFLATION ADJUSTMENT, AND
INCREASE. THANK YOU.
>> NEXT SPEAKER, WENDY, FOLLOWE
BY TONYA.
>> HELLO, AND GOOD MORNING. I A
THE COEXECUTIVE DIRECTOR AT THE
HUNGER INTERVENTION PROGRAM.
THIS IS ALL ABOUT DISTRICT FIVE
THIS INCLUDES DISTRICT 3. I
WANT TO USE MY TIME TODAY TO
URGE THE COUNCIL TO RESTORE
FUNDING. THIS IS A ONE-TIME
REQUEST. $300,000. THIS IS PUT
FORWARD BY THE MEAL PARTNERSHIP
COALITION. FOOD AND OPERATIONAL
COSTS ARE LOOKING AT THESE EQUI
INVESTMENTS THAT HAVE BEEN
PROVIDED BY THE SEATTLE SOUP
VERSUS PROGRAMS. THEY HAVE
136,000 MEALS. THIS IS FROM THE
LAST FISCAL YEAR. WHO WILL BE
IN ANOTHER DEFICIT. WE ARE
TRYING TO MEET THE NEED. I AM
PROUD TO SAY THAT THEY HAVE
BEEN MISSING IMPROVEMENTS. WE
ARE GETTING OUR EMPLOYEES
CLOSER TO A LIVING WAGE. THIS
IS WHEN IT COMES TO WAGE EQUITY
AND IMPROVEMENT. THERE IS NO
GOING BACKWARDS. THEY ARE
FIXED. WE HAVE THE COST FOR
EQUIPMENT AND SUPPLIES. YOU
MADE DRASTIC CUTS. THIS IS IN
OUR UPCOMING BUDGET. IT HAS TO
COME OUT OF OUR FOOD BUDGET.
ONE OF THE VERY FEW ITEMS THAT
HAS FLEXIBILITY. WE HAVE THE
MEAL PARTNERSHIP COALITIONS.
>> I'M A BLACK NON-BINARY
RENTER IN DISTRICT TWO READ
THEY ARE TARGETING POPULATIONS
TO SURVIVE. IT IS TIME FOR THE
COUNCIL TO FINISH THE JOB THAT
THEY STARTED IN 2020. THEY HAVE
213+ POSITIONS. THEY ARE CARING
FROM THESE POSITION
AUTHORITIES. THEY ARE FILLING
YEAR AFTER YEAR. THAT SHOULD BE
TREATED DIFFERENTLY. GO TO
THESE POSITIONS. THIS IS OVER
10% OF THE ADJUSTMENT DEFICIT
IN THE 25 BUDGET. THEY REMOVE
ALL OF THEM. THESE BUDGET
CORRUPTIONS, NONE OF THEM
HAPPEN. WE DO NOT WANT THE SHOP
ACTIONS. WE HAVE ALL OF THE
SOUND THINKINGS. WE DO NOT WANT
ANY SPIDER. THEY HAVE THE
OTHER PRIORITIES AND
COMMUNITIES BEING PITTED
AGAINST WANTS ANOTHER. $85
MILLION OF GEMSTAR FUNDS ARE
BEING MOVED TO THE GENERAL
FUND. THIS IS A BIG SURPRISE
LESTER. THIS IS IN THE END OF
2023. THIS IS ALL OVER THE
COUNTRY. THEY HAVE BEEN ROLLING
OUT. THEY HAVE GUARANTEED
INCOME PROGRAMS. THEY HAVE
UNCONDITIONAL MONTHLY PAYMENTS.
THEY HAVE BEEN IMPACTED BY OVER
POLICING AND CRIMINALIZATION.
THE ENCAMPMENT REMOVALS ARE IN
LEASING THE DEATH RIGHT OF THE
HOUSE NEIGHBORS. WE HAVE THE
REMOVAL OF THE 38 BILLION. WE
HAVE THE CITY BUDGET. INSTEAD,
WE ARE REDIRECTING THESE FUNDS.
WE HAVE THE OUTREACH FOR THESE
REDUCTION SERVICES. WE HAVE
OVERDOSE PREVENTION SITES. WE
HAVE SUPPORTED HOUSING. WE ARE
TRYING TO HELP THESE PEOPLE.
>> WE HAVE HALEY AND JOSH AS
OUR NEXT SPEAKERS.
>> MORNING COUNCILMEMBERS.
COMMUNITY DEVELOPMENT MANAGER.
I LIVE IN DISTRICT SIX. I URGE
YOU TO LOOK AT THIS INFLATION.
THIS INCLUDES THESE CONTRACTS,
BEING HELD BY OTHER RAMS THAT
WERE ON THE LIST. WE ARE
ADJUSTING SOME HUMAN SERVICES
CONTRACTS. THEY PUNISH HOMELESS
SERVICE PROVIDERS. IT THIS IS
ABOUT THE GOVERNMENT SERVICE
AGENCIES. COMMUNITY AGENCIES
NEED THOSE ADJUSTMENTS. THEY
CONTINUE DOING THE ESSENTIAL
WORK. THEY ARE HELPING PEOPLE
EXPERIENCE HOMELESSNESS TO
SURVIVE. THEY ARE GETTING
DIFFERENT HOUSING. IN ADDITION
TO INFLATION ADJUSTMENT, I URGE
THE COUNCIL TO SUPPLY
ADDITIONAL WAGE INCREASES FOR
PROVIDERS. THEY ARE LEAVING
THE SECTOR FOR HIGHER-PAYING
JOBS. THIS IS 7% OVER THE NEXT
TWO YEARS. 2% IN THE MAYOR'S
BUDGET IS A START, BUT IT IS
NOT ENOUGH. PEOPLE WORKING IN
HOMELESS SERVICES, ARE TRULY IN
CONTROL. THEY ARE NOT PAID FOR
THE CRUCIAL WORK THEY DO EVERY
DAY. I WANT TO THANK YOU FOR
EVERYTHING EARLY THIS YEAR, FOR
SHOWING OF SUPPORT IN THE
SERVICE WAGES. I HOPE YOU TAKE
THESE IMPORTANT STEPS TO
REALIZE THAT GOAL. THINK.
>> THE NEXT SPEAKER, IS JOSH.
>> ON THE CASE MANAGER IN
SEATTLE. THIS IS FOR ADULTS
EXPERIENCING HOMELESSNESS. YOU
HAVE WAGE EQUITY AND SERVICE
WORKERS. WE HAVE CURRENT WAGE
INCREASES. WE HAVE THE CURRENT
LOW WAGES OF HUMAN SERVICE
WORKERS. IN POORLY, WE HAVE
CLIENTS IN NEED. EVERY
ORGANIZATION THAT I WORK WITH,
FROM HOUSING TO MENTAL HEALTH
CARE, IS UNDERSTAFFED. ONE
EXAMPLE, IS GOING TO BE
ILLUSTRATING THE HARM THAT THIS
CAUSES TO CLIENTS. THEY HAVE
PERMANENT SUPPORTING HOUSING
PROGRAMS, TO SWITCH THESE
UNITS. THEY HAVE OTHER
SERVICES. THE ADULTS HAVE THESE
PROGRAMS. THIS IS NOT ABOUT
ANYONE IN THE HOUSING PROGRAM.
WHEN ONLY CONTRACTED TO WORK
WITH FOLKS WITH EXPERIENCE. WE
ARE LOOKING AT THE CURRENT
CASELOAD. WE ARE DEMONSTRATING
THE CONSISTENT LACK OF SERVICES
THAT FOLKS IN NEED RECEIVE DUE
TO STAFF SHORTAGES. THEY
ALREADY HAVE THESE SERVICE
WORKERS. WE ARE PAYING MORE. WE
HAVE CONSISTENT STAFF MEMBERS.
WE HAVE CLIENT SELECTS. WE'RE
TRYING TO WORK TOGETHER TO
IDENTIFY THE ANGLES AND SERVICE
FUNDINGS. THANK YOU SO MUCH.
>> NEXT SPEAKER.
>> CAN YOU HEAR ME?
>> HELLO. I'M LOOKING AT THE
GREENWAYS. SEATTLE CITY BUDGET
COALITION. I SUPPORT ALL OF THE
SPEAKERS, AND WHAT THEY HAVE
MENTIONED. THEY HAVE SUPPORTED
SOME OF THESE PROJECTS THAT
THEY WERE DELIVERING. THEY HAVE
SEVERELY BEEN UNDERFUNDED READ
21 PEOPLE HAVE ARTIE BEEN
KILLED BY TRAFFIC VIOLENCE THIS
YEAR. THIS IS ON TREND FOR
EVERYTHING BEING HIGH AMONG
THOSE IN THE LAST TWO YEARS.
THEY HAVE BEEN KILLED ON FOURTH
AVENUE ALONE. THEY HAVE FUNDED
THEM BY VISION ZERO. THEY HAVE
A COUPLE OF LINES OF PAINT.
THEY WILL SLOW DRIVERS DOWN,
AND WON'T STOP ANYTHING TO GET
THERE. PLEASE DO NOT CUT THIS
FUNDING. I WOULD LIKE TO
ENCOURAGE THE COUNCIL TO
PRIORITIZE PASSING THE
CORRECTED REVENUE THIS YEAR. IT
IS IMPERATIVE TO HAVE THE
PROJECTIONS FOR 2025. THEY ARE
FINALLY ABLE TO STAY ALIVE.
THANK YOU.
>> OUR NEXT SPEAKER, PENNY
O'GRADY.
>> HELLO. MY NAME IS PENNY. I
LIVE IN NORTH GREEN LAKE. AND
IN FULL SUPPORT OF THE
SOLIDARITY BUDGET. I WANT TO
SPEAK TO THE REVENUE
STABILIZATION IDEAS. WE ARE
INCREASING THE REVENUE STREAM
HURRIED WE BOUGHT OUR HOME. WE
MOVED TO THIS NEIGHBORHOOD IN
1996. MY BLOCK CONSISTS OF 25
HOUSES. I KNOW ALL MY
NEIGHBORS. THROUGHOUT ALL OF
THAT TIME, ALL OF THESE HOUSES
WERE READY. THREE HOUSES AT A
TIME HAVE BEEN VACANT. BY
VACANT, I MEAN OUTSTANDING FOR
A YEAR OR MORE. TWO OF THESE
HOUSES HAVE BEEN VACANT FOR A
WHILE. IN THE PAST FOUR YEARS,
THE TWO HOUSES WHICH ARE
CURRENTLY EMPTY, HAVE GIVEN A
SERIES OF UNSHELTERED PEOPLE
SHELTER. NOT ONLY WOULD A
VACANCY TAX RAISE REVENUE, BUT
IT WOULD ALSO MAKE MORE HOUSING
AVAILABLE. IN TURN, IT WOULD
REDUCE THE COST OF HOUSING. I
THINK IT IS IMMORAL TO LEAVE
EMPTY HOUSES READY. THEY HAVE
OBLIGATIONS TO MAKE SURE THAT
THE HOUSING SETTINGS ARE THERE
FOR PEOPLE TO LIVE IN. THIS IS
AT A PRICE THAT WE CAN AFFORD.
THEY HAVE ANOTHER ACTION. IT
COST THE CITY SOME MONEY. HE
WAS NOT TRYING TO CONSIDER IT.
IT WAS IMPORTANT TO CONSIDER
WHAT THEY ARE PROPOSING. THIS
IS ALL ABOUT THE INCOME STREAM.
THANK YOU FOR CONSIDERING IT. I
WANT TO SAY THAT MY BLOCK IS
WHAT
>> NEXT SPEAKER IS PARIS
CHAPMAN.
>> COUNCIL, THIS IS PARIS
CHAPMAN. I'M CURRENTLY LIVING
IN DISTRICT 7 AND WORKING IN
DISTRICT 3. I'M SPEAKING TO THE
ATTITUDE FOR AND IN FAVOR OF
INCREASES IN THE BUDGET FOR
HUMAN SERVICE WORKERS, I'VE
WATCHED SOME OF MY COLLEAGUES
BECOME HOMELESS WHILE
SUPPORTING, AND I ALSO
CURRENTLY WORK IN THE REALM OF
GENDER VIOLENCE AND TAKE
ANOTHER YEAR FROM PREVENTATIVE
PROGRAMS AND POLICIES AND
CONTINUAL INVESTMENT IN BOTH
HARM SOLUTIONS AND POST HARM
SYSTEMS. CRIMINAL SYSTEMS THAT
CAUSE HARM FOR SURVIVORS. I'M
ALSO A SURVIVOR OF DOMESTIC
VIOLENCE SO I'M ASKING THAT WE
PASS POLICY IN FAVOR OF
GUARANTEED BASIC INCOME THAT
WILL CREATE PREVENTATIVE
SOLUTIONS FOR SYSTEMIC AND
INTERPERSONAL VIOLENCE. WE KNOW
THAT IT TAKES AN ENORMOUS
AMOUNT OF COURAGE FOR SURVIVORS
TO SPEAK OUT, AND THAT HAVING
ECONOMIC POWER IS ONE OF THE
MOST SOCIOECONOMICALLY SOUND
WAYS TO CREATE SOLUTIONS FOR
INTERPERSONAL AND SYSTEMIC
VIOLENCE, AND THAT INVESTMENT
IN CRIMINAL LEGAL SOLUTIONS HAS
ONLY LED TO MORE VIOLENCE AND
LESS RESOURCES, LESS
PREVENTATIVE MEASURES FOR
SURVIVORS. AND I ALSO WANTED TO
NAME THAT IN THIS PAST YEAR
I'VE WORKED ON CAMPAIGNS FOR
CRIMINALIZED SURVIVORS WHO HAVE
BEEN HARMED BY TRAFFICKING, BY
DOMESTIC AND SEXUAL VIOLENCE,
ET CETERA, AND ONE SURVIVOR IN
PARTICULAR WHO WAS DENIED
MEDICATION AND ACCESS TO THEIR
FAMILY DURING THAT TIME, WHILE
THEY WERE AT KING COUNTY JAIL.
>> OUR NEXT SPEAKER IS ELLA
FOLLOWED BY PAT THE JELLY.
>> HELLO, MY NAME IS ELLA AND
I LIVE IN DISTRICT 6 RIGHT NOW.
I'M A CHILD CARE WORKER AND I'M
CALLING TODAY WITH MY SUPPORT.
SPECIFICALLY I'M CALLING FOR
YOU ALL ON THE SEATTLE CITY
COUNCIL TO TAKE THIS
OPPORTUNITY TO REDUCE OUR
ALREADY VERY LARGE POLICE
BUDGET FOR SERVICES THAT WE
KNOW KEEP US SAFE AS PEOPLE
HERE. AS SOMEONE WHO HAS WORKED
IN THE EDUCATION FOR MANY
YEARS, IT'S WILD TO ME THAT
THERE ARE OVER 200 POSITIONS
INCLUDED IN THE POLICE
DEPARTMENT THAT DON'T EVEN
EXIST. I'M TRYING TO IMAGINE
WHAT THIS WOULD BE LIKE IF
TEACHING POSITIONS WERE FUNDED
IN THIS WAY, WHERE WE KNOW THAT
WE HAD THIS HUGE SHORTAGE OF
EDUCATORS AND SOCIAL WORKERS
AND WE DON'T EVEN HAVE FUNDS TO
HIRE MORE PEOPLE. SO YES, I'M
CALLING FOR THOSE FUNDS TO BE
TAKEN OUT OF THE POLICE BUDGET
AND PUT TOWARD SERVICES WE
KNOW IN THE COMMUNITY MAKES US
SAFER AND HAPPIER IN THE CITY.
I ALSO WANT TO SAY THAT MANY OF
US HAVE BEEN CALLING FOR MORE
OF THESE DEMANDS TODAY AND THIS
IS JUST A TINY FRACTION OF WHO
IN THE CITY SUPPORTS THESE
DEMANDS. THERE'S SO FEW PEOPLE
THAT COULD CALL INTO DAY ON A
WEDNESDAY AT 10:00 A.M. OR
11:00 A.M., BECAUSE WE ARE OUT
THERE WORKING, WE'RE OUT THERE
DOING OUTREACH, WE ARE TAKING
CARE OF OUR FAMILIES. I JUST
WANTED TO BE HERE TO SAY
THERE'S SO, SO MANY PEOPLE WITH
THIS EXPERIENCE OUT THERE THAT
AREN'T HERE TODAY. THANK YOU.
>> OUR NEXT SPEAKER IS PENTA
JOLLY FOLLOWED BY ANSELL
KRASNER.
>> GOOD MORNING. I'M IN
DISTRICT TWO. IMA PROGRAM
DIRECTOR AT HUMMINGBIRD
INDIGENOUS FAMILY SERVICES AND
I OVERSEE OUR GUARANTEED BASIC
INCOME PROGRAM. IS THE FIRST
AND ONLY GUARANTEED INCOME
PROGRAM IN THE UNITED STATES
THAT SUPPORT INDIGENOUS
FAMILIES. AND I WOULD LIKE TO
SHARE MY SUPPORT FOR THE
SOLIDARITY BUDGET, AND I FEEL A
LOT OF IT WAS GOOD AROUND
GUARANTEED INCOME. THAT'S A
REALLY POWERFUL SOLUTION THAT
ADDRESSES MANY OF THE ISSUES
THAT HAVE BEEN BROUGHT UP TODAY
AND OVER 100 GUARANTEED PILOTS
NATIONALLY THAT ARE HAPPENING.
DURING THE PANDEMIC IT'S BEEN
SHOWN THERE'S SO MUCH EVIDENCE
AROUND INCREASING HOUSING AND
SECURITY, BETWEEN THE RATES OF
GENDER-BASED VIOLENCE,
DECREASING RATES OF SUBSTANCE
USE, DECREASING RECIDIVISM
DURING PREGNANCY AND EARLY
CHILDHOOD. SOME SHOWN TO
IMPROVE CHILD BRAIN
DEVELOPMENT. THERE'S SO MANY
WAYS THAT BY GIVING FOLKS
DIRECT FREE CASH THEY'RE ABLE
TO SPEND IT IN THE WAYS THAT
THEY NEED. IT ADDRESSES
INJUSTICES THAT ARE OUT THERE
FOR THE COMMUNITY, AND IF WE
ALLOCATED THE SURPLUS BUDGET
FROM THE SEATTLE POLICE
DEPARTMENT, THE CITY OF SEATTLE
COULD HAVE A GUARANTEED INCOME
PILOT PROGRAM FOR 500 FAMILIES
FOR A YEAR. SO WE BELIEVE
EVERYONE DESERVES TO HAVE WHAT
THEY NEED TO MEET THEIR BASIC
NEEDS. THERE'S A WAY TO
RECOGNIZE EVERYONE'S DIGNITY
AND HUMANITY AND TO HONOR AND
VALUE THE LABOR OF FOLKS,
REGARDLESS OF IF THEY WORK FOR
WAGES, WHICH IS VOLUNTEERING
FOR FAMILIES AND COMMUNITIES.
IT GIVES FOLKS NOT JUST
POSSIBILITY TO MEET THEIR BASIC
NEEDS BUT TO CREATE A COMMUNITY
OF BELONGING AND GIVE PEOPLE
THEIR DREAMS FOR THE FUTURE.
SEATTLE IS SEEN AS A BEACON FOR
PROGRESSIVE --
>> NEXT SPEAKER IS ANDRA
FOLLOWED BY PAUL MARA FIGUEROA.
>> WOW, MY NAME IS ANDRA
KRANZLER. I'M THE DIRECT ARE OF
THE TENANT LAW CENTER. THE
TENANT LAW CENTER'S MISSION IS
TO REDUCE HOMELESSNESS BY
PREVENTING ILLEGAL AND
UNNECESSARY EVICTIONS. WE HAVE
VULNERABLE TENANTS IN OUR
COMMUNITY BY FOCUSING ON
NEGOTIATION RESOLUTION AND TO
PRESERVE TENANT HOUSING, TENANT
SUBSIDIES, OR ALLOW FOR
RELOCATION TO SUITABLE HOUSING
THAT IS HABITABLE. AND WE ARE
TRYING TO REDUCE THE STIGMA OF
EVICTION BY WORKING WITH OUR
PARTNERS TO GIVE OPPORTUNITY TO
FIGURE OUT HOW WE CAN HELP OUR
RESIDENTS, OUR RENTERS AND OUR
NEIGHBORS, GET HOUSED AFTER AN
EVICTION. WE SUPPORT HOUSING
AND ESSENTIAL NEEDS, SERVICES
FOR FAMILIES AND VARIOUS
PROGRAMS AND RAPID REHOUSING
FOR FAMILIES. WE WORK IN
PARTNERSHIP WITH SEATTLE
DEPARTMENT OF CONSTRUCTION AND
INSPECTION TO ENFORCE THE CITY
OF SEATTLE'S RENTERS RIGHTS AND
WE REALLY NEED TO MAKE SURE
THAT THE ADDITIONAL FUNDING
PROPOSED IN THIS BUDGET TO
INCREASE FUNDING TO EXPAND
FUNDS FOR ORGANIZATIONS THAT
PROVIDE EVICTION LEGAL DEFENSE
IS CRUCIAL AND NECESSARY. WE
ARE ALSO SUPPORTIVE OF THE --
TO SUPPORT ECONOMIC RELOCATION
DISPLACEMENT ASSISTANCE. IT'S
REALLY IMPORTANT THAT RENTERS
HAVE OPPORTUNITY TO RESOLVE ANY
ISSUES WITH THE LANDLORD AND
STAY HOUSED. MANY LANDLORDS ARE
NOT IN COMPLIANCE WITH THE
RESIDENTIAL LANDLORD/TENANT ACT
AND ARE TAKING FLAGRANT ACTION
TO VIOLATE RENTERS RIGHT. TO ME
IT'S NOT JUST MEANINGFUL DUE
PROCESS, IT'S MAKING SURE
PEOPLE ARE GETTING COST
REDUCTION, LIVING IN HABITABLE
DWELLINGS AND THERE THAT NOT
ARE GETTING HARASSED -- THANK
YOU.
>> OUR LAST SPEAKER WILL BE
HOMERO FIGUEROA.
>> HELLO, CAN YOU HEAR ME?
>> GOOD MORNING, YES WE CAN.
>> THANK YOU SO MUCH. PALM ERA
FIGUEROA, I'M A RESIDENT OF
SEATTLE. I'M HERE AS A
COMMUNITY MEMBER AND ORGANIZER
THAT HAS BEEN IN THE LAST FEW
DAYS SUPPORTING THE CHURCH IN
TUKWILA, THE CHURCH THAT IS
ACTUALLY RECEIVING FIGURES IN
THE MASS NUMBERS NOW, ALMOST
EVERY DAY. I'M HERE NOT WITH A
SPECIFIC ASK BUT JUST TO LET
YOU KNOW THAT THERE'S A GROUP
OF 40 ORGANIZATIONS ALREADY
WORKING AND SUPPORTING EACH
OTHER TO FIND SOLUTIONS. WE SEE
THIS AS A BIG EMERGENCY. I KNOW
THAT THE CITY HAS EMERGENCY
FUNDS THAT THEY COULD ALLOCATE.
I THINK IT IS A REGIONAL
PROBLEM. IT'S NOT SPECIFIC TO
TUKWILA. WE KNOW FOR A FACT
THAT THE SEATTLE POLICE HAVE
THEIR FAMILIES THERE. THERE'S
OVER 70 CHILDREN LIVING IN THE
RAIN, INTENTS RIGHT THERE,
RIGHT NOW. IT'S BEEN IN THE
NEWS FOR THE LAST WEEK. I WANT
TO CALL TO YOUR ATTENTION,
APPEAL TO YOUR HUMANITY AND GET
SOME EMERGENCY FUNDS TO BE
ALLOCATED TO THIS ALREADY WORK
HAPPENING WITH THE IMMIGRANT
AND REFUGEE OFFICE IN SEATTLE
AND THE STATE. AND I JUST WANT
TO URGE YOU TO TALK TO THEM,
LOOK AT THE PROJECT AND LOOK
INTO EMERGENCY FORMS FOR THESE
VERY IMPORTANT ISSUES. I THINK
THAT THIS IS AN EMERGENCY.
THESE ARE MOSTLY BLACK AND
LATINX FAMILIES. A LOT OF KIDS
LIVING IN TENTS. BABIES,
ACTUALLY. SO APPEALING TO YOU
TO TAKE INTO ACCOUNT, TALK
ABOUT IT AND ADD IT TO THE
BUDGET. THANK YOU. APPRECIATE
YOUR JOB.
>> WE HAVE ONE MORE REMOTE
PUBLIC COMMENTOR AND THEN ONE
IN PERSON PUBLIC COMMENTOR.
TIFFANY?
>> [ INAUDIBLE ]
>> HOPEFULLY FOLKS CAN HEAR ME
BECAUSE I'M LOSING MY COMPUTER
AND I CAN'T HEAR YOU. THANK YOU
SO MUCH FOR TAKING MY CALL
TODAY. I WORK IN DISTRICT 4 AND
I'M CALLING TODAY TO REALLY
EMPHASIZE WHAT MANY OF MY OTHER
COLLEAGUES HAVE EMPHASIZED
AROUND HUMAN SERVICE WAGES. THE
DEMAND BUDGET FOR INCLUDING A
2% WAGE INCREASE, BUT THAT IS
JUST THE FIRST STEP IN
CORRECTING DECADES OF
UNDERFUNDING OF HUMAN SERVICES
AND ITS WORKERS. WE REALLY WANT
TO HIGHLIGHT THAT THE GREATER
INVESTMENTS ARE NEEDED TO FULLY
CLOSE THE WAGE GAP THAT WAS
IDENTIFIED IN THE STUDY AND
MEET THE RECOMMENDATION OF AN
INCREASE BY 2025. THE WAGE
STUDY CONFIRMS WHAT COMMUNITY
AND SERVICE WORKERS HAVE BEEN
SAYING ALL ALONG, THAT A
PENALTY IS APPLIED TO THIS BILL
IN THE FORM OF LOW WAGES FOR
THOSE WHO ARE WORKING IN THAT
FIELD. CARERS ARE A VISIBLE
FORM OF LABOR THAT HAS
HISTORICALLY BEEN PERFORMED BY
PEOPLE OF COLOR AND WOMEN AND
THAT IS THE REASON THEY KNOW
THAT. IN ORDER TO PROVIDE THE
CARE SERVICES THE BEST THAT WE
NEED BY PEOPLE THAT ARE
CURRENTLY STRUGGLING, WE MUST
BE ABLE TO ACTIVELY STAFF AND
RETAIN QUALITY EMPLOYEES, ALL
OF WHICH MEANS PAYING HUMAN
SERVICE LABOR A COMPARABLE WAGE
WITH OTHER PEOPLE. WAGES ARE A
RACIAL EQUITY OUTCOME. SO WE
WANT TO URGE CITY
COUNCILMEMBERS, COMING UP WITH
THE ADDITIONAL ADJUSTMENTS SO
THAT WE CAN MOVE OUR GOALS OF
OUR WAGE EQUITY LAID OUT INTO A
STUDY, AND TO ENSURE THAT THE
EMPLACEMENT INVESTMENTS ARE IN
ALL HUMAN SERVICE CONTRACTS.
THANK YOU FOR YOUR PARTNERSHIP
ON THIS ISSUE.
>> OUR LAST SPEAKER WILL BE IN
PERSON AND THAT IS DEBBIE MY
ADA.
>> GOOD MORNING, DOES THIS
WORK? GOOD MORNING. LAST NIGHT
I ATTENDED A DEBATE HOSTED BY
K AND KX ABOUT THE ISSUE OF
HOMELESSNESS IN THE CITY OF
SEATTLE, AND I SEE ONE MEMBER
HERE THAT WAS THERE LAST NIGHT,
AS WELL. BUT ONE OF MY CONCERNS
AND QUESTIONS IS THE
TRANSPARENCY OF THE BUDGETS FOR
THE TINY HOUSE VILLAGES. I'M
CONCERNED BECAUSE I HAVE
INFORMATION IN REGARDS TO STAFF
THERE, THAT HAVE BEEN ARMED
WITH GUNS AND ONE OF MY
CONCERNS WAS THAT AT LAST
NIGHT'S DEBATE A LOT OF THE
TOPICS FOCUSED ON THE CARE,
FIRST , OF THE INDIVIDUALS THAT
ARE SEEKING STABLE HOUSING AND
SEEKING HOMES. BUT THE TOPIC
THAT WASN'T ADDRESSED AT ALL
WAS THE ORGANIZATIONS THAT ARE
RUNNING THESE TINY HOUSE
VILLAGES, AND WHAT TYPE OF
FUNDS THAT THEY ARE RECEIVING,
AND WHO ARE THE PROPER PEOPLE I
WOULD TALK TO WITH SUCH
INFORMATION OF STAFF MEMBERS
THERE, GOING EVERY DAY TO WORK
ARMED WITH WEAPONS, AND
MANAGEMENT ACTUALLY KNOWING
ABOUT THAT. I APPRECIATE YOUR
TIME THIS MORNING. THANK YOU.
>> THAT CONCLUDES OUR PUBLIC
COMMENTOR'S.
>> OKAY, THANK YOU SO MUCH.
JUST CONFIRMING THERE'S NOBODY
LEFT IN THE ROOM OR ONLINE THAT
WOULD STILL LIKE TO DIAL IN.
GREAT. I WANT TO THANK MY
COLLEAGUES, COUNCILMEMBER
STRAUSS JOINED US,
COUNCILMEMBER HERBOLD HAD
JOINED AND WE COULDN'T HEAR HER
EARLIER, BUT SHE WAS ONLINE,
AND COUNCILMEMBER LEWIS LET ME
KNOW THAT HE'S ON HIS WAY.
OKAY, THANKS. THAT'S A LITTLE
BIT BETTER. THANK YOU FOR
DIALING IN TODAY FOR ALL THE
PEOPLE WHO PROVIDED PUBLIC
COMMENTS. THANKS TO THE FOLKS
WHO OFFERED THEIR THOUGHTS. AND
AGAIN, YOU CAN REACH US ANY
TIME AT COUNCIL AT SEATTLE.GOV.
I ALSO WANT TO -- LET'S SEE,
REMIND FOLKS ONE CLARIFICATION
THAT I MENTIONED AT THE
BEGINNING OF EACH OF OUR
MEETINGS. WE WILL HAVE PUBLIC
COMMENT TODAY, TOMORROW,
FRIDAY, SERVE AS THE ISSUE
IDENTIFICATION SERIES. SO WE'RE
TREATING ALL OF THESE MEETINGS
PLUS A MONDAY BRIEFING AS ONE.
THAT ACTUALLY IS THE FULL
PUBLIC COMMENT FOR THIS PORTION
OF OUR AGENDA. AND AGAIN, IF
YOU DIDN'T GET THE CHANCE TO
DIAL IN, FEEL FREE TO EMAIL US
AT COUNCIL AT SEATTLE.GOV. OUR
NEXT PUBLIC HEARING WILL BE ON
OCTOBER 18th AT FIVE: P.M. YOU
WILL GET THE CHANCE TO PROVIDE
IN-PERSON OR REMOTE PUBLIC
COMMENT FOR THE ENTIRE EVENING,
OCTOBER 18th AT 5:00 P.M. THE
NEXT PUBLIC MEETING THAT WE
HAVE FOR THE BUDGET COMMITTEE
IS GOING TO BE OCTOBER 27th,
WHICH WE WILL HAVE PUBLIC
COMMENT AT THE BEGINNING OF
THAT MEETING, AS WELL. AND THEN
IF ANYBODY IS INTERESTED IN
PROVIDING PUBLIC COMMENT AGAIN
ON NOVEMBER 13th AT 5:00 P.M.,
WE WILL BE ABLE TO HAVE A FULL
PUBLIC HEARING FULLY DEVOTED TO
HEARING FROM YOU THEN. THOSE
ARE THE NEXT THREE
OPPORTUNITIES COMING UP, AND
AGAIN, OUR FULL REVISED AGENDA
IS ON OUR SOCIAL MEDIA AND WE
WILL BE SENDING THAT OUT. I
KNOW I SENT IT OUT YESTERDAY IN
OUR NEWSLETTER. YOU CAN FIND
THAT ON OUR WEBSITE AND GET THE
FULL AGENDA FOR THE UPCOMING
COMMITTEE MEETINGS. THANKS TO
EVERYBODY WHO PARTICIPATED
TODAY. THE REMOTE FOR
DISSIPATION IS APPRECIATED. IT
HELPS US REDUCE ANY
TRANSMISSION OF COMMUNICABLE
DISEASES, INCLUDING COVID AND
THE FLU. THANK YOU FOR HELPING
TO KEEP OUR COMMUNITY SAFE WITH
YOUR REMOTE PUBLIC COMMENT, AS
WELL. THAT ALSO HELPS TO
PROVIDE GREATER SOCIAL
DISTANCING IN THE ROOM HERE.
>>> COLLEAGUES, I JUST WANT TO
THANK YOU FOR LISTENING TO THE
ROBUST PUBLIC COMMENT THAT WE
HAD HERE TODAY. I WANT TO ALSO
THANK OUR CLERK. THANK YOU VERY
MUCH, MADAME CLERK, FOR
MANAGING THE PUBLIC COMMENT
HERE TODAY. I WANT TO THANK THE
COUNCIL PRESIDENT WHO SENT OUT
AN UP DATED SELECT BUDGET
COMMITTEE MEMO FOR THE 2023
SELECT BUDGET COMMITTEE
DELIBERATION THAT OUTLINED OUR
2027 BUDGET CONVERSATION --
2024 BUDGET CONVERSATIONS. THIS
MEMO OUTLINED A NUMBER OF
PROCESS CHANGES SO THAT WE CAN
HAVE A FULL AND ROBUST
DISCUSSION IN OUR COMMITTEE AS
IT RELATES TO THE PROPOSED
BUDGET. I NOTED YESTERDAY THAT
THERE'S CHANGES IN THE BUDGET
TO THE TUNE OF NEARLY $20
MILLION. SO HAVING THIS
ADDITIONAL TIME TO HEAR FROM
YOU, FROM MEMBERS OF THE
PUBLIC, TO GIVE CENTRAL STAFF
THE OPPORTUNITY TO DIVE INTO
THE DETAILS AND ALIGN OUR
PROCESS, REALLY I THINK WILL
HELP STREAMLINE THE DISCUSSION
OVER THE NEXT FEW WEEKS.
>>> JUST TO SUMMARIZE, THE MEMO
ESTABLISHES THE COMMITTEE
MEETINGS FROM OCTOBER 10th TO
NOVEMBER 15th 2023 TO BEGIN AT
10:00 A.M. I DO WANT TO REMIND
US THAT THE EVENING PUBLIC
MEETINGS THAT ARE DEDICATED TO
PUBLIC HEARINGS BEGIN AT 5:00
P.M. PEOPLE CAN SIGN UP TO
PROVIDE PUBLIC COMMENT TWO
HOURS PRIOR TO THE MEETING
ONLINE AND ALSO IN THE ROOM.
THERE WILL BE ONE MEETING ON
OCTOBER 20th. THAT IS A BIG
CHANGE. WE HEADED ON OCTOBER
19th PRIOR TO THE RELEASE OF
THE NEW MEMO. SO THAT MEETING
ON OCTOBER 19th IS BEING MOVED
TO OCTOBER 20th, INSTEAD. AND
INSTEAD OF HAVING A 10:00 A.M.
START TIME, WE WILL PROBABLY
HAVE AN 11:00 A.M. START TIME,
OR AFTER THE LAND-USE COMMITTEE
CONCLUDES. 11:00 A.M. AT THE
EARLIEST OR IF LAND-USE
COMMITTEE IS STILL GOING THEN
WE WILL HAVE A CHANCE TO BEGIN
OUR MEETING AFTER THE LATEST
COMMITTEE MEETING. BUT PLEASE
DO PLAN TO ATTEND AT 11:00 A.M.
OUR SHARE OF LAND-USE HAS
RAISED THEIR HAND. GOOD
MORNING, COUNCILMEMBER STRAUSS.
ANYTHING TO ADD TO THAT UPDATE?
>> GOOD MORNING, THANK YOU
CHAIR MOSQUEDA. IT SEEMS WE
WILL LIKELY BE ABLE TO END OUR
LAND-USE COMMITTEE WITHIN THE
HALF AN HOUR, MAYBE 45 MINUTES
AT THE EARLIEST. LOOKING AT
MAYBE 10:00 OR EVEN 10:15 A.M.
START IF THAT HELPS AT ALL.
>> GREAT. I WILL CHECK IN WITH
CENTRAL STAFF AND THE COUNCIL
PRESIDENT. PROBABLY AT THIS
POINT, TO AVOID ISSUING ANOTHER
MEMO, WE'LL JUST KEEP IT AT
11:00 A.M. AND GIVE FOLKS A
LITTLE BIT OF A BREAK. BUT
REALLY APPRECIATE YOU PUTTING
UP ADDITIONAL TIME FOR
EVERYBODY TO BE ABLE TO
TRANSITION FROM LAND-USE TO THE
BUDGET COMMITTEE MEETING.
COLLEAGUES, WITH THAT IN MIND,
PLEASE DO PLAN TO PARTICIPATE
PROMPTLY AT 11:00 A.M. ON
OCTOBER 20th.
>>> THE MEMO ALSO REMOVES THE
MEETING PREVIOUSLY SCHEDULED
FOR WEDNESDAY, OCTOBER 18th,
BUT I WOULD LIKE TO REMIND YOU
THAT WE KEPT UP YOGURT 16th.
THAT IS A MONDAY SO WE COULD
HAVE DISCUSSION ABOUT
OUTCOMES. THERE'S BEEN A LOT OF
CONVERSATION FOR MY COLLEAGUES,
FROM MEMBERS OF THE COMMUNITY,
MEMBERS OF THE PRESS, ABOUT
SEEING THE OUTCOMES OF THE
INVESTMENTS THAT WE'VE MADE.
AND AS WE CONSIDER BUDGET
DELIBERATIONS FOR THE NEXT 12
MONTHS, AS THE SECOND PART OF
OUR BIENNIAL PROCESS, I
THOUGHT IT WAS REALLY IMPORTANT
FOR US TO COME BACK TO THAT
CONCEPT ABOUT MEASURING
OUTCOMES AND TANGIBLE
IMPROVEMENTS IN PEOPLE'S LIVES
WITH THE PUBLIC INVESTMENTS
THAT ARE BEING MADE. MONDAY,
OCTOBER 16th, FROM 10:00 TO
AROUND 12:30 OR 12:00, YOU WILL
HAVE AN OPPORTUNITY TO HEAR
FROM THREE PANELS WHO WILL BE
FOCUSING ON HUMAN SERVICE
PROVIDERS AND THE OUTCOMES OF
THE INVESTMENTS IN THEIR WAGES.
THE SECOND PANEL WILL INCLUDE
MEMBERS OF OUR AFFORDABLE
HOUSING COMMITTEE. WE'LL BE
TALKING ABOUT THE INVESTMENTS
THAT WE'VE BEEN ABLE TO MAKE
INTO BUILDING MORE HOUSING,
ESPECIALLY FOR OUR COMMUNITY AT
RISK OF DISPLACEMENT. AND THE
LAST PANEL WILL INCLUDE
REPRESENTATIVES OF THE
COMMUNITY WORKING ON GREEN NEW
DEAL INVESTMENTS AND EQUITABLE
DEVELOPMENT INVESTMENTS. AGAIN,
THAT IS MONDAY, OCTOBER 16th
STARTING AT 10:00 A.M. THE MEMO
ALSO SUMMARIZES THAT FOR
COUNCILMEMBER AMENDMENTS TO THE
PROPOSAL THAT WE WILL BE
RELEASING AS THE CHAIR'S
PROPOSED BUDGET, YOU WILL HAVE
AN EXPERT. WE'VE MOVED THE
AMENDMENT DEADLINE FROM OCTOBER
23rd TO TUESDAY, OCTOBER 24th.
AND IF -- IT UPDATES THE RULES
FOR COMMITTEE CONSISTENT WITH
THE 2023 GENERAL RULES AND
PROCEDURES OF THE CITY OF
SEATTLE AS ADOPTED IN
RESOLUTION 32096. THANK YOU
AGAIN TO THE COUNCIL PRESIDENT
AND TO CENTRAL STAFF FOR
WORKING ON THOSE UPDATED MEMOS
AND TIMELINES. AGAIN, THANKS TO
MEMBERS OF THE COMMUNICATIONS
TEAM WHO WILL BE RECONFIGURING
OUR SOCIAL MEDIA IMAGES, AND WE
HAVE SHARED THAT CALENDAR WITH
YOU. THANKS TO CENTRAL STAFF
BUT MORE INFOGRAPHICS WILL BE
HEADED YOUR WAY, SOON. WITH
THAT, I WOULD LOVE FOR US TO
GET INTO THE HEART OF THE
AGENDA. MADAME CLERK, COULD YOU
PLEASE READ AGENDA ITEM NUMBER
ONE INTO THE RECORD?
>> AGENDA ITEM 1, INTRODUCTION
OF PROCESSES OF REVIEW FOR
BRIEFING AND DISCUSSION.
>> WE ARE EXCITED TO HAVE WITH
US DIRECT THEIR ESTHER HANDY
AND DEPUTY DIRECTOR ALY
PENNUCCI WITH US TODAY. JUST
FOR OPENING FRAMEWORK, IF YOU
WANT TO TAKE THE PRESENTATION
DOWN FOR A MINUTE, I'M GOING TO
OFFER SOME OPENING COMMENTS AND
THEN I'LL HAND IT OVER TO OUR
CENTRAL STAFF TEAM. COLLEAGUES,
AS I MENTIONED IN OUR FIRST FEW
MEETINGS OF THE SELECT BUDGET
COMMITTEE MEETING, AS YOUR
BUDGET CHAIR THIS YEAR, AGAIN,
I AM VERY EXCITED THAT WE ARE
CONTINUING TO MOVE IN THE
DIRECTION OF TRYING TO CREATE
TRUE BIENNIAL BUDGETING. WE DID
NOT HAVE THAT IN 2020, AS WE
REPAIRED FOR CALENDAR YEAR
2021, AND WE DID NOT HAVE THAT
IN 2021 AS WE PREPARE FOR
CALENDAR YEAR 2022. THAT'S
BECAUSE WE WERE AT THE HEIGHT
OF THE ONGOING PANDEMIC AND THE
REVENUE PICTURE WAS REALLY
UNKNOWN FROM FUTURE YEARS. OUR
GOAL WAS TO ALWAYS TO TRY TO
HAVE A PAST COUNCIL BUDGET THAT
INCLUDES THE UPCOMING CALENDAR
YEAR AS CODIFIED THE ORDINANCE,
AND THEN AN ENDORSED SECOND
YEAR BUDGET THAT IS PASSED VIA
RESOLUTION. AS WE WORK TOWARDS
TRYING TO CONCRETIZE OUR
COMMITMENT TO BIENNIAL
BUDGETING, IT WILL CREATE
GREATER SUSTAINABILITY AND
PREDICTABILITY FOR OUR
BUDGETING. I APPRECIATE THAT
MAYOR HARRELL HAS ENGAGED
REALLY CLOSELY WITH OUR OFFICE
AND THE CITY BUDGET OFFICE,
ENGAGING VERY CLOSELY WITH
CENTRAL STAFF ON THIS
COMMITMENT TO TRY TO MOVE
TOWARDS TRUE BIENNIAL BUDGETING
AGAIN, AS WE CONTINUE TO TRY TO
COME OUT OF THE ONGOING
PANDEMIC. IT IS ONGOING AND THE
IMPACT ON OUR LOCAL ECONOMY AND
COMMUNITY IS ONGOING, BUT OUR
COMMITMENT TO TRYING TO MOVE
BACK TO BIENNIAL BUDGETING AND
ACTUALLY PUT IN STRONGER
SIDEBOARDS TO THAT BIENNIAL
BUDGETING PROCESS IS SOMETHING
THAT'S VERY MUCH SHARED, I
BELIEVE, BETWEEN THE EXECUTIVE
AND THE LEGISLATIVE BRANCH. AS
BUDGET CHAIR THIS YEAR, WE
RECEIVED THE PROPOSED BUDGET
FOR THE SECOND HALF OF THIS
BIENNIAL BUDGET, WHICH WE ARE
CALLING A MID-BIENNIUM
ADJUSTMENT. I WISH WE COULD
JUST CALL IT A SUPPLEMENTAL,
BECAUSE I THINK THAT MAKES IT
EASIER FOR FOLKS TO UNDERSTAND.
BUT A MID- BIENNIUM ADJUSTMENT
FOR CALENDAR YEAR 2024, I HAVE
THREE PRIORITIES THAT WE ARE
GOING TO CONTINUE TO FOCUS ON.
THE FIRST IS ACCOUNTABILITY.
THE SECOND IS SUSTAINABILITY
AND THE THIRD IS EQUITY. SO
THOSE ARE THE THREE PILLARS
THAT I WILL BE LOOKING AT AS WE
UNDERTAKE THE PROCESS OF
FINALIZING THIS MADE BIENNIUM
ADJUSTMENT. LAST YEAR, IN THE
WAKE OF DIRE ECONOMIC
FORECASTS, WE DID PASS A 2023,
2024 BIENNIAL BUDGET THAT
REJECTED AUSTERITY, THANKS TO
THE SHORT-TERM ONE TIME USE OF
JUMPSTART PROGRESSIVE PAYROLL
TAX, USING HIGHER THAN
ANTICIPATED REVENUE THAT WAS
COMING IN OVER THE PROJECTED
EXPENSES, OVER THE DOLLAR
AMOUNT THAT WE HAD ORIGINALLY
ASSUMED WHEN WE PASSED THE
LEGISLATION IN 2020. USING
THOSE HIGHER THAN ANTICIPATED
REVENUES, WE WERE ABLE TO
INVEST IN CORE GOVERNMENT
SERVICES AND PRIORITIZE KEEPING
OUR COMMUNITY CARED FOR AND
HOUSED, CONNECTED AND
RESILIENT, AND HEALTHY AND
SAFE. BUT ALSO ENSURING THAT WE
MAINTAINED OUR COMMITMENT
BEFORE INVESTING FUNDING INTO
THE JUMPSTART REGRESSIVE
PAYROLL TAX CATEGORIES AS
DEFINED BY THE STATUTE.
INVESTING THOSE DOLLARS MADE IT
POSSIBLE FOR US TO INCLUDE A
HISTORIC INVESTMENT OF HALF $1
BILLION. THAT'S HALF 1 BILLION
WITH A B INTO AFFORDABLE
HOUSING ACROSS THE BIENNIUM,
MADE LARGELY POSSIBLE DUE TO
THE USE OF JUMPSTART
PROGRESSIVE PAYROLL TAX. WE
INVESTED IN PUBLIC SAFETY AND
COMMUNITY HEALTH BY INVESTING
IN EARLY INTERVENTION AND
UPSTREAM SOLUTIONS THAT CREATE
GREATER SELF-DETERMINATION,
ECONOMIC STABILITY, AND HELP
ADDRESS THE RISING TRAUMA AND
INCOME INEQUALITY THAT WE HAVE
SEEN GROW OVER THE PAST FEW
YEARS, ESPECIALLY DURING THE
COVID CRISIS. I'M LOOKING
FORWARD TO WORKING WITH YOU
COLLEAGUES TO KEEP OUR WORD AND
MAINTAIN OUR COMMITMENTS TO
PUBLIC SAFETY AND COMMUNITY
HEALTH BY REJECTING AUSTERITY,
DENYING ATTEMPTS TO
RE-JUMPSTART OR REBRANDING
EXISTING PROGRAMS UNDER NEW
NAMES. IT IS IMPERATIVE THAT WE
CONTINUE OUR COMMITMENT TO CORE
GOVERNMENT SERVICES AND SHOW
THE EVIDENCE OF THOSE
INVESTMENTS. THAT IS WHY MY
BREATHING IS SO IMPORTANT. OUR
FIRST PILLAR OF ACCOUNTABILITY,
WE HAVE SET UP A PROCESS AS
I'VE BEEN YOUR BUDGET CHAIR
OVER THE LAST NOW THREE YEARS,
GOING INTO MY FOURTH YEAR
SERVING AS YOUR BUDGET CHAIR.
WE'VE SET UP A PROCESS THAT
CREATES GREATER TRANSPARENCY
AND CONTINUITY WITH AN EYE
TOWARD SUSTAINABILITY FOR THE
FUTURE. WE HAVE TRANSPARENTLY
SHOWN THE BUDGET FORECAST OVER
THE NEXT SIX YEARS BY LIFTING
UP THAT SIX YEAR FINANCIAL PLAN
THAT WAS BURIED IN FISCAL NOTES
WHEN I FIRST STARTED THIS
PROCESS, TO REALLY SHOW THE
PROJECTED REVENUE AND EXPENSES
OVER THE NEXT HALF A DOZEN
YEARS. BY DOING SO, WE CAN
ENABLE THE COMMUNITY AND OUR
COLLEAGUES, THE CITY AS A
WHOLE, TO SEE THE CONSEQUENCES
OF DWINDLING REVENUE STREAMS ,
AND THE NEED TO SERVE A GROWTH
IN OUR POPULATION. AS THE
SEATTLE TIMES REPORTED, A 21%
INCREASE IN THE SEATTLE
POPULATION OVER THE LAST
DECADE, AND JUST LAST YEAR WE
WERE THE NUMBER ONE LARGEST
GROWING CITY IN THIS COUNTRY.
WITH INCREASED POPULATION AND
INCREASED NEED, DUE TO THE
ONGOING PANDEMIC, WE HAVE AN
OPPORTUNITY AND AN OBLIGATION
TO CONTINUE TO SERVE OUR
COMMUNITY AND TO SERVE OUR MOST
HONORABLE, AND ENSURE THAT WE
ARE CREATING A GREATER SHARE OF
PROSPERITY AS WE DO SO. THE
SECOND PILLAR ON
SUSTAINABILITY. AS WE REVIEW
THE MAYOR'S PROPOSED
MID-BIENNIUM ADJUSTMENTS FOR
CALENDAR YEAR 2024, I'M GOING
TO BE LOOKING AT THE
SUSTAINABILITY, NOT JUST FOR
THE NEXT 12 MONTHS, BUT FOR THE
NEXT SIX YEARS AND AT LEAST
THE NEXT TWO YEARS AFTER THAT.
IT IS REALLY IMPORTANT,
COLLEAGUES, THAT WE RESPOND TO
THE INCREASED NEED, BUT NOT
TAKE FUNDING FROM EXISTING
PROGRAMS AND SERVICES FOR NEW
PROPOSALS OR NEW PILOTS THAT
ARE NOT YET TESTED, WHEN WE
HAVE ONGOING NEEDS. YOU HEARD
TODAY FROM FOLKS WHO ARE VERY
CONCERNED ABOUT HUMAN SERVICE
CONTRACTS. YOU HEARD FROM FOLKS
WHO ARE CONCERNED ABOUT FOOD
SECURITY, PEOPLE WHO ARE
CONCERNED ABOUT HOUSING, THE
CORE SERVICES THAT WE MUST
INVEST IN AS WE LOOK AT
MASLOW'S HIERARCHY OF NEEDS FOR
OUR COMMUNITY. THAT I THINK
WILL HELP US IDENTIFY WHERE WE
CAN CREATE SUSTAINABLE
INVESTMENTS, AND OF COURSE MAKE
SURE THAT WE PRIORITIZE ON THE
INVESTMENTS FOR UNDERFUNDED
SERVICES. NUMBER THREE, IN
TERMS OF EQUITY, IN THESE TIMES
OF LIMITED RESOURCES AND WITH
JUMPSTART ALREADY TEMPORARILY
BACKFILLING COFFERS, I BELIEVE,
AND AS BUDGET CHAIR I WILL BE
LOOKING AT PRIORITIZING
MAINTAINING INVESTMENTS TO
PROMOTE GREATER EQUITY ACROSS
SEATTLE. THROUGH CRITICAL
INVESTMENTS IN AFFORDABLE
HOUSING AND RESIDENTIAL
SERVICES, INVESTMENTS IN
CLIMATE RESILIENCE, INVESTMENTS
IN WAGE EQUITY FOR FRONT-LINE
WORKERS, AND INVESTMENTS IN
SMALL BUSINESSES IN THE ARTS
AND CULTURE, WHO MAKE OUR LOCAL
ECONOMY RUN AND MAKE US MORE
EQUITABLE. THINK YOU FOR
BEGINNING THIS PROCESS AND YOUR
FLEXIBILITY AS WE RECEIVE THE
PROPOSED BUDGET IN OUR EFFORTS
TO CREATE A BIENNIAL PROCESS.
I'M THANKFUL FOR YOUR TIME AND
I KNOW MANY OF US HAVE
COMPOUNDING NEEDS THAT WE WISH
WERE ADDRESSED THROUGH OUR
COMMITTEES THROUGHOUT THE YEAR,
BUT I ASK FOR YOUR CONTINUED
ATTENTION AND YOUR FOCUS OVER
THE NEXT
>> Reporter: TO 4 DAYS. TODAY,
THURSDAY AND FRIDAY, AND HALF
THE DAY ON MONDAY, AS WE REALLY
DIVE INTO THE PROPOSED BUDGET
IN FRONT OF US SO THAT WE CAN
HEAR FROM YOU WHAT YOUR
PRIORITIES ARE FOR
SUSTAINABILITY, EQUITY AND
ACCOUNTABILITY. I THINK WE WILL
HAVE AN OPPORTUNITY HERE RIGHT
NOW FROM CENTRAL STAFF ABOUT
THE BUDGET PROCESS AND THE
OVERLAY OF THE PROPOSED BUDGET,
AND WE KNOW THAT TO ACCOMPLISH
SOME OF THE PRIORITIES IN THE
BUDGET, WE WILL ALSO HAVE TO
HAVE CORRESPONDING LEGISLATION.
BOTH THE DISCUSSION THAT WE
WILL HAVE IN OCTOBER, LARGELY
FOCUSED ON BUDGET NUANCES AND
CHANGES THE COUNCILMEMBERS
WOULD LIKE, THAT WILL BE
FOLLOWED IN NOVEMBER WITH FINAL
ACTION ON BUDGET AND ACTION ON
CORRESPONDING LEGISLATION.
THERE'S A LOT GOING ON.
APPRECIATE YOUR COMMITMENT AND
YOUR ATTENTION TO THE
DISCUSSIONS OVER THE NEXT 30
DAYS, SO WE CAN ALIGN OUR
PRIORITIES AND OUR COMMITMENTS
WITH THE COMMUNITY
CONVERSATIONS THAT WE'VE HEARD
OVER THE LAST FEW YEARS, AND
ESPECIALLY THE LAST FEW WEEKS
AS WE PERCEIVE THE 2024
MID-BIENNIUM ADJUSTMENT, AND
HEAR FROM YOU ABOUT HOW WE'D
LIKE TO FINALIZE THIS PROCESS
AS WE CONCLUDE OUR EFFORTS IN
JUST SIX WEEKS. WITH THAT I'LL
TURN IT OVER TO CENTRAL STAFF.
THANK YOU VERY MUCH DIRECTOR
HANDY FOR BEING HERE WITH US
AND AGAIN, DEPUTY DIRECTOR
PENNUCCI.
>> THANK YOU, CHAIR MOSQUEDA
AND COUNCILMEMBERS. I AM ESTHER
HANDY, YOUR CENTRAL STAFF
DIRECTOR AND I WILL DO A BRIEF
TALK BEFORE HANDING IT OVER TO
THE TEAM. I REMIND YOU THAT TWO
WEEKS AGO BUDGET DIRECTOR
JULIE HINCKLEY WAS HERE TO
PRESENT THE MAYOR'S PROPOSED
BUDGET ADJUSTMENTS, WHICH HAD
BEEN FRESHLY TRANSMITTED TO THE
COUNCIL. DIRECTOR DINGLEY, IF
YOU ARE LISTENING, WE
APPRECIATE THE COLLABORATION
WITH YOUR OFFICE AS WE HAVE
WORKED TO FULLY UNDERSTAND
THOSE PROPOSED ADJUSTMENTS.
YOUR CENTRAL STAFF TEAM THEN,
ALONG WITH COUNCILMEMBER IN
LEGISLATIVE ASSISTANCE, HAVE
SPENT THE LAST TWO WEEKS
LOOKING UNDER THE HOOD. WE TAKE
APART THE BUDGET. WE PUT IT
BACK TOGETHER TO UNDERSTAND
SORT OF HOW THOSE TRANSACTIONS
THAT UNDERLIE THE BUDGET GET TO
OUTCOMES THAT DIRECTOR DINGLEY
PRESENTED. AND WE DO THAT
EXERCISE TO HELP COUNCILMEMBERS
AND THE PUBLIC BETTER SEE AND
UNDERSTAND THE TRADE-OFFS THAT
THE EXECUTIVE MADE TO DEVELOP
THEIR PROPOSED ADJUSTMENTS. SO
WE ARE HERE TO HELP YOU
UNDERSTAND THE CHOICES THAT YOU
HAVE AS THE COUNCIL CONSIDERS
WHETHER TO ADOPT, AMEND, OR
REJECT THE LIMITS OF THE
PROPOSED ADJUSTMENTS. YOU CAN
GO AHEAD AND GO TO THE NEXT
SLIDE, WHICH FRAMES UP OUR
GOALS TODAY. I WOULD NOTE THAT
TODAY IN PARTICULAR IS GOING TO
BE THE MOST TECHNICAL DAY OF
OUR PRESENTATIONS. WE HAVE OUR
FULL TEAM ON THE LINE BUT YOU
WILL LARGELY BE HEARING FROM
OUR FISCAL TEAM. I WANT TO
THANK DEPUTY DIRECTOR THERE
PENNUCCI, TOM MIKESELL AND IT
INSISTED FOR THEIR QUICK AND
CLEAR WORK TO HELP US ALL
UNDERSTAND THESE ADJUSTMENTS.
OUR GOAL IS TO HELP YOU
UNDERSTAND THE BIG PICTURE, TO
PREPARE YOU FOR THE DEPARTMENT
SPECIFIC CONVERSATIONS THAT
WILL HAPPEN ON THURSDAY AND
FRIDAY, BOTH WITH OUR TEAM AND
THE EXECUTIVE AND CITY BUDGET
OFFICE AT THE TABLE FOR THOSE
HEARINGS. AS WE GET INTO THE
DETAILS TODAY, THERE WILL BE
MOMENTS THAT FEEL LIKE THAT
INFORMATION WE ARE PRESENTING
IS DENSE OR PERHAPS CONFUSING.
I WELCOME YOU TO SLOW US DOWN,
ASK YOUR QUESTIONS, MAKE SURE
YOU'RE UNDERSTANDING WHAT THE
OFFICE IS PRESENTING. THERE MAY
ALSO BE MOMENTS TODAY WHERE THE
ANALYSIS FEELS POINTED. PERHAPS
A CHOICE ABOUT THE EXECUTIVE
NEED OR WANT THAT THE COUNCIL
HAS MADE IN THE PAST. I WANT TO
SAY, OUR GOAL HERE IS NOT TO
POINT ANY FINGERS, BUT RATHER,
EXPLAIN THOSE DECISION POINTS
THAT LED US TO THE PROPOSED
ADJUSTMENTS, SO THAT YOU THE
COUNCIL CAN DECIDE WHETHER YOU
WOULD MAKE THE SAME CHOICE OR
NEW ONES. SO OUR GOAL IS TO SET
THAT BIG PICTURE. I'M GOING TO
HAND IT OVER TO DEPUTY DIRECTOR
PENNUCCI, WHO IS GOING TO FRAME
UP A COUPLE POLICY CHOICES,
POLICY QUESTION FOR YOU TO
THINK ABOUT IN THE
PRESENTATION, WALK THROUGH THE
PROCESS, AND THEN WE'LL GET
INTO -- OPEN UP THE
PRESENTATION.
>> THANK YOU DIRECTOR HANDY.
MORNING CHAIR MOSQUEDA AND
COUNCILMEMBERS. I'M ALY
PENNUCCI, YOUR COUNCIL CENTRAL
STAFF. IF WE COULD MOVE ON TO
THE NEXT SLIDE, AS DIRECTOR
HANDY NOTED WE WERE ABOUT TO
DRIVE INTO PRESENTATIONS FROM
CENTRAL STAFF'S FISCAL POLICY
TEAM. WE'LL COVER A LOT OF
GROUND TODAY AS WE GO FROM AN
OVERVIEW OF THE ENTIRE BUDGET
TO A FOCUS ON TWO OF THE CITY'S
MAJOR FUNDS, THE GENERAL FUND
THAT SUPPORTS GENERAL
GOVERNMENT PROGRAMS AND
SERVICES AND THE JUMPSTART FUND
THAT SUPPORTS BENDING AND
SPECIFIC EQUITY AREAS TO
ADDRESS ISSUES IN OUR
COMMUNITY. YOU WILL SEE
THROUGHOUT OUR MEMOS AND
PRESENTATIONS TODAY, A
REOCCURRING THEME OF BUDGET
SUSTAINABILITY. AS WE HAVE DONE
FOR THE LAST SEVERAL YEARS,
WE'VE ANALYZED AND DESCRIBED
FOR THE COUNCIL AND THE PUBLIC
ISSUES RELATED TO BUDGET
SUSTAINABILITY AND THE ISSUES
REMAINED THE SAME. AGAIN THIS
YEAR THE ANNUAL GENERAL FUND
BUDGET COULD NOT BE BALANCED
WITHOUT TEMPORARY SUPPORT FROM
ONETIME STRATEGIES, AND WE
CONTINUE TO SEE REVENUE SOURCES
THAT SUPPORT OTHER SPENDING
FROM OTHER CITY FUNDS THAT
STAGNATE -- STAGNATING OR IN
DECLINE. THIS WORK IS NOT MEANT
TO SUGGEST THAT THE CITY SHOULD
STOP SPENDING . MUCH OF THE NEW
SPENDING PROPOSED THIS YEAR AND
ONGOING SPENDING APPROVED IN
PREVIOUS YEARS ARE INVESTMENTS
THAT ARE RESPONDING TO CRITICAL
COMMUNITY NEEDS, AND IN MANY
AREAS THOSE NEEDS FAR EXCEED
THE CURRENT SPENDING LEVELS.
BUT IN THE ABSENCE OF LONG-TERM
STRATEGIES, WE OFFER THESE
QUESTIONS FOR YOU TO REALLY
THINK ABOUT HOW DECISIONS FOR
THE CITY'S 2024 BUDGET WOULD
IMPACT THE CITY'S ABILITY TO
MAINTAIN OR EXPAND THE MANY
SERVICES THAT ARE NEEDED. THIS
BECOMES INVESTMENTS IN SMALL
BUSINESSES, WORKFORCE
DEVELOPMENT, STRATEGIES TO
ADDRESS THE CITY'S ON THE STATE
OF EMERGENCY, COMMUNITY SAFETY,
PUBLIC HEALTH, AFFORDABLE
HOUSING, PUBLIC SAFETY, AND THE
LIST GOES ON. AS WE GO INTO
THIS BALANCING EXERCISE AND YOU
ALL MAKE DECISIONS ABOUT IF YOU
AGREE OR DISAGREE WITH THE
MAYOR'S POLICY CHOICES, WE ASK
THAT YOU KEEP THESE FRAMING
QUESTIONS IN MIND. IT'S NOTED
AT THE BOTTOM OF THE SLIDE,
THERE ARE TRADE-OFFS IN ANY
BALANCING STRATEGY. YOU ALL
HAVE THE FINAL CALL ON HOW TO
PRIORITIZE THE RESEARCH AMONG
COMPETING NEEDS AND THINK ABOUT
HOW WE SUSTAINED THOSE IN THE
FUTURE. MOVE TO THE NEXT SLIDE.
THIS SLIDE HIGHLIGHTS THE
UPDATES TO THE PROCESS THAT
WERE DESCRIBED IN DETAIL BY
CHAIR MOSQUEDA. SO I WON'T
SPEND TOO MUCH TIME GOING OVER
THEM AGAIN, BUT PERHAPS IF I
COULD JUMP TO THE NEXT SLIDE
YOU CAN SEE HOW THIS SHOWS UP
ON THE CALENDAR. SO ON THE 18th
AND 19th YOU WILL SEE THERE ARE
NO LONGER BUDGET HEARINGS BUT
THERE IS STILL A PUBLIC HEARING
ON OCTOBER 18th, ON OCTOBER
20th THERE IS A NEW MEETING
WHERE YOU WILL HEAR AN UPDATE
ON THE REVENUE FORECAST UPDATE
THAT WILL BE RELEASED ON THE
17th AND WILL BE PRESENTED
AGAIN IN COMMITTEE ON THE 20th,
ALONGSIDE THE SHERIFFS
BALANCING PACKAGE AND THE
CHANGE ON THE DEADLINE FOR
COUNCILMEMBER BUDGET AMENDMENT
PROPOSALS ON THE 24th INSTEAD
OF THE 23rd. THE REMAINDER OF
THE CALENDAR, THE DATES AND
TIMES REMAIN THE SAME OTHER
THAN ADJUSTING TO A 10:00 A.M.
START TIME FOR MOST MEETINGS.
WE MOVE TO THE NEXT SLIDE .
THIS SLIDE OUTLINES THE
DEPARTMENTS AND TOPICS THAT
WILL BE COVERED FOR THE REST OF
THE WEEK. ON THURSDAY AND
FRIDAY CENTRAL STAFF WILL BE
JOINED BY THE CITY BUDGET
OFFICE, DEPUTY MAYORS AND
EXECUTIVE STAFF WILL BE ON THE
LINE TO ANSWER QUESTIONS DURING
THOSE DISCUSSIONS. AS YOU
COULD SEE THIS YEAR, IN THE
SECOND YEAR OF A BIENNIUM THERE
WERE ONLY SEVEN DEPARTMENTS
WHERE CENTRAL STAFF HAS
IDENTIFIED ISSUES FOR YOUR
CONSIDERATIONS. AND TO INFORM
YOUR DECISIONS AHEAD. THESE
DISCUSSIONS ARE AN OPPORTUNITY
FOR COUNCILMEMBERS TO ASK
QUESTIONS AND PROVIDE DIRECTION
TO STAFF ABOUT THE ISSUES AND
OPTIONS IDENTIFIED BY STAFF
THAT YOU MAY WANT TO PURSUE.
THE DISCUSSIONS YOU HAVE OVER
THE NEXT THREE DAYS WILL HELP
US TO BETTER UNDERSTAND YOUR
PRIORITIES AND INTERESTS AS WE
QUICKLY TURNED TO PREPARING THE
CHAIR'S BALANCING PACKAGE. NEXT
SLIDE. FOLLOWING THOSE BUDGET
HEARINGS, THERE WILL BE AN
IMPORTANT UPDATE ON THE 17th
THAT WILL ALSO BE DISCUSSEDED
ON THE 20th. THAT SAME WEEK
WILL BE THE FIRST OF TWO PUBLIC
HEARINGS AND THE PRESENTATION
OF THE BALANCING PACKAGE. WE
WILL THEN MOVE INTO THE
AMENDMENT PROCESS. AS WE MOVE
ON TO THE MAIN SHOW TODAY, I,
TOO WANT TO OFFER MY
APPRECIATION FOR THE ENTIRE
CENTRAL STAFF TEAM FOR THEIR
THOUGHTFUL ANALYSIS THAT JUST
DEMONSTRATES TO ME EVERY DAY
THEIR DEEP COMMITMENT TO PUBLIC
SERVICE AND ATTITUDE TO THE
CITY BUDGET OFFICE WHO HAVE
ANSWERED OUR ENDLESS QUESTIONS
OVER THE LAST TWO WEEKS. EXTRA
SHOUT OUT TO ADD TO WHAT
DIRECTOR HANDY COMMENTED ON
ABOUT THE FISCAL POLICY TEAM,
TOM AND ADON HAVE WORKED
ENDLESS HOURS SINCE WE'VE
RECEIVED THE BUDGET JUST TWO
WEEKS AGO, TO DO THEIR OWN
ANALYTICAL WORK , TO TRY TO
TRANSPARENTLY UNRAVEL THE STORY
OF THE TRADE-OFFS EMBEDDED IN
THE MAYOR'S PROPOSAL WHILE ALSO
SUPPORTING OUR ENTIRE TEAM
THROUGH CREATING AND SUPPORTING
OUR ANALYTICAL TOOLS AND
SHARING THEIR SUBJECT MATTER
EXPERTISE TO SUPPORT ALL OF OUR
ANALYSIS. THANK YOU AND THANK
YOU TO THE ENTIRE TEAM. YOU ARE
ALL PART OF WHAT HELPED ME WANT
TO SHOW UP FOR THIS WORK EVERY
DAY. AND TO THE COUNCIL
MEMBERS, THE DISCUSSIONS AND
DECISIONS AHEAD ARE NOT EASY
ONES BUT OUR TEAM IS READY TO
WORK WITH ALL OF YOU OVER THE
NEXT SEVERAL WEEKS TO
UNDERSTAND YOUR PRIORITIES AND
TURN THEM INTO BUDGET
AMENDMENTS, ULTIMATELY A
BALANCED CITY BUDGET FOR 2024.
AND WITH THAT I'LL TURN IT BACK
OVER TO THE CHAIR UNLESS THERE
ARE QUESTIONS.
>> THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR
>>> AS I ASK MY COLLEAGUES IF
THEY HAVE ANY QUESTIONS, I WANT
TO OFFER A FEW ADDITIONAL
COMMENTS HERE. I WANT TO THANK
YOU, CENTRAL STAFF, AND THAT
INCLUDES THE ENTIRE TEAM, FOR
ALL THE WORK THAT YOU ARE GOING
TO ENGAGE IN WITH US AS WE
CREATE THE 2024 FINALIZED
BUDGET. THANK YOU FOR THE
OVERVIEW THAT YOU PROVIDED AND
THE SHIFT IN THE COMMITTEE
PROCESS HERE, TO ENSURE THAT WE
HAVE AN EXPANDED APPROACH THAT
INCLUDES THE CHAIR'S PACKAGE.
GIVEN THE LARGE CHANGES THAT WE
SEE FROM THE PREVIOUS 24
ENDORSED BUDGET AND THE
PROPOSED BUDGET IN FRONT OF US,
IT'S IMPORTANT THAT WE HAVE
TIME TO ANALYZE THE IMPACTS AND
RIGHTLY APPRECIATE, AS YOU
NOTED, THE CENTRAL STAFF
ANALYSTS WHO ARE LOOKING AT HOW
REVENUE STREAMS PROPOSED BY THE
MAYOR IMPACT OUR BALANCING
PACKAGE AND IMPACT PROGRAMS
THAT WE WANT TO CONTINUE TO
DELIVER IN 2024. WE WILL LEARN
MUCH MORE ABOUT THAT THROUGHOUT
THE PROCESS OF TODAY'S
DISCUSSION. THANK YOU FOR YOUR
DUE DILIGENCE TO PROVIDE
INCREDIBLE, THOUGHTFUL MEMOS. I
HOPE EVERYONE HAS HAD THE
CHANCE TO READ THEIR CENTRAL
STAFF MEMOS AND THE HELPFUL
POWERPOINT PRESENTATIONS THAT
PROVIDE AN ILLUSTRATIVE SUMMARY
OF HOW SOME OF THESE CHANGES
HAVE BEEN PROPOSED IN THE
PROPOSED BUDGET . THANK YOU
AGAIN FOR WORKING WITH US AS WE
CREATED THIS PROCESS CHANGE IN
FRONT OF US, AS I THINK A
CHAIR'S PACKAGE WILL ALLOW US
TO DO OUR DUE DILIGENCE TO MAKE
SURE WE'RE MAKING GOOD ON OUR
PROMISES TO THE COMMUNITY,
CREATING GREATER TRANSPARENCY
ABOUT THESE CRITICAL FUNDS AND
ENSURING THAT WE ARE APPLYING
AN EQUITY LENS TO THE PROPOSAL
TO SET UP OUR CITY AS BEST WE
CAN FOR GREATER SUSTAINABILITY
AND SHARED PROSPERITY IN THE
FUTURE. THANK YOU COLLEAGUES
FOR ENGAGING WITH US IN THIS
PROCESS SO THAT WE HAVE THE
OPPORTUNITY TO STREAMLINE YOUR
AMENDMENTS, AS WELL, BY
INCLUDING AS MANY SELF
BALANCING AMENDMENTS INTO THE
CHAIR'S PROPOSED PACKAGE. IT
LEAVES US MUCH MORE TIME TO
DISCUSS INDIVIDUAL AMENDMENTS
THAT HAVE OTHER POLICY
IMPLICATIONS FOR US, AND AS YOU
HEARD YESTERDAY, ADDITIONAL
LEGISLATIVE DISCUSSIONS TO BE
HAD, AS WELL. WE ARE WORKING ON
SCHEDULING A ROUND OF MEETINGS
WITH EACH OF YOUR OFFICES TO
BETTER UNDERSTAND ANY INITIAL
PROPOSED AMENDMENTS THAT YOU
WERE LOOKING AT. THANK YOU FOR
THE FIRST ROUND OF DISCUSSIONS
THAT WE'VE HAD WITH COLLEAGUES
AND I BELIEVE WE ARE SCHEDULED
WITH EVERYONE NEXT MONDAY
AFTERNOON, AS WELL. AS WE WALK
THROUGH THIS PRESENTATION,
PLEASE MAKE SURE TO NOTE ANY
ADDITIONAL CHANGES THAT YOU
HAVE TO YOUR PRIORITY LIST,
BECAUSE I THINK THEY'RE
INTERESTED IN HEARING FROM YOU
DIRECTLY ABOUT THAT AS WE
ENGAGE IN OUR PROCESS TO CREATE
THE CHAIR'S PROPOSED PACKAGE,
AND LOOK FORWARD TO THOSE
DISCUSSIONS ON MONDAY. VICE
CHAIR HERBOLD, WE HAVE YOU IN
THE QUEUE NEXT. THEN WE'LL GO
TO COUNCILMEMBER NELSON. I WANT
TO WELCOME OUR VIEWERS WHO ARE
OUTSIDE. HELLO EVERYBODY,
YOU'RE WELCOME TO COME IN. WE
ARE IN THE MIDDLE OF OUR BUDGET
DELIBERATION DISCUSSION. COME
ON IN AND FEEL FREE TO JOIN US.
VICE CHAIR HERBOLD, WE ARE
BEING JOINED BY A COHORT,
PERHAPS A CLASS. WHY DON'T YOU
TAKE YOUR QUESTION AND WE'LL
SEE WHO'S IN THE AUDIENCE, AND
I WILL WELCOME THEM.
>> THANK YOU SO MUCH. JUST A
REAL QUICK QUESTION. LOOKING AT
THE CALENDAR ON THE 17th AND
BALANCING PACKAGE BECOMING
PUBLIC ON THE 20th, DOES THAT
MEAN THAT YOUR BUDGET BALANCING
PACKAGE AS PROPOSED WILL
INCLUDE THE CONSIDERATION OF
THE NEW INFORMATION COMING FROM
THE REVENUE FORECAST?
>> THAT'S CORRECT AND I'LL ASK
CENTRAL STAFF IF THEY WANTED TO
ADD ANYTHING. BUT ALLOWING US
TO INCLUDE FEEDBACK FROM THE
REVENUE FORECAST ON THE 17th
HELPS US TO IDENTIFY ANY
ADDITIONAL REVENUE POSSIBLE FOR
COUNCILMEMBER PRIORITIES, AND
THAT WOULD BE INCLUDED THEN IN
THE ROLLOUT ON THE 20th.
CENTRAL STAFF, DO YOU HAVE
ANYTHING YOU'D LIKE TO ADD?
>> I HOPE FOR YOUR OPTIMISM
THAT IDENTIFIES RESOURCES TO
HELP AID IN DEVELOPING YOUR
PACKAGE AND SUPPORTING
COUNCILMEMBER PRIORITIES. IT
MAY ALSO BE THE CHAIR HAVING TO
MAKE HARDER DECISIONS TO
ADDRESS ANY CHANGES THAT REDUCE
THE REVENUES ASSUMED IN THE
MAYOR'S BUDGET.
>> THANK YOU VERY MUCH, VICE
CHAIR, FOR THAT QUESTION.
COUNCILMEMBER NELSON, I TURN TO
YOU. I WANT TO WELCOME
OFFICIALLY THE NINTH GRADERS
FROM THE BUSH SCHOOL WHO ARE
HERE WITH US IN THE CHAMBER.
THAN GOOD TO SEE YOU. A LOT IS
HAPPENING, FROM THE NATIONAL TO
THE LOCAL LEVEL AS IT RELATES
TO YOUR GOVERNMENT. THANKS FOR
JOINING THIS LEGISLATIVE BRANCH
ON SEATTLE CITY COUNCIL AS WE
CONSIDER THE EXECUTIVE BRANCH
BEING THE MAYOR'S PROPOSED
BUDGET THAT WAS JUST
TRANSMITTED TO US THREE WEEKS
AGO AND WE ARE STARTING OUR
PROCESS OF ANALYZING THAT
PROPOSED BUDGET SO WE CAN
FINALIZE THE BUDGET FOR NEXT
YEAR IN THE NEXT SIX WEEKS
HERE. SO THANKS FOR JOINING US
ON DAY ONE OF OUR ISSUE
IDENTIFICATION, FROM CENTRAL
STAFF. MUCH OF IT IS STILL
HYBRID. THAT'S WHAT YOU SEE MY
COLLEAGUES ON THE SCREEN.
COUNCILMEMBER NELSON, PLEASE GO
AHEAD.
>> THANK YOU VERY MUCH. MOSTLY
CLARIFICATION, BECAUSE I DON'T
KNOW WHAT THE DEFINITION OF
TRUE BIENNIUM BUDGET REALLY IS,
BUT IT WAS MY UNDERSTANDING
THAT THE PROCESS INVOLVED US
PUBLICLY PRESENTING AND VOTING
ON OUR SELF BALANCING
AMENDMENTS AND PASSING THEM ON
A SIMPLE MAJORITY VOTE OF FIVE.
SO THEN THOSE ARE ASSEMBLED
INTO THE COUNCIL BUDGET AND
PAST WITH SIX. SO WHEN THE
CALENDAR IS FROM NOVEMBER 13th
TO THE 15th, IT SAYS BUDGET
DELIBERATIONS, DISCUSSION AND
VOTING ON COUNCILMEMBER
AMENDMENTS, IS THAT WHAT YOU'RE
TALKING ABOUT, WE PRESENT OUR
AMENDMENTS BUT THEY ARE TO THE
BALANCING PACKAGE INSTEAD OF
THE MAYOR'S PROPOSED BUDGET ,
AND THEN WE PASS THOSE ON FIVE
AND THEN WE GO FORWARD ON THE
21st WITH THE WHOLE THING?
>> THANK YOU SO MUCH, I'M GOING
TO TURN TO DEPUTY DIRECTOR
PENNUCCI WHO IS GOING TO BE
MUCH MORE ELOQUENT THAN I WAS.
PLEASE GO AHEAD, DEPUTY
DIRECTOR PENNUCCI.
>> THANK YOU. CHAIR MOSQUEDA,
COUNCILMEMBER NELSON, THE
PROCESS IS NOT SIMILAR FROM
PREVIOUS YEARS, SO THERE WILL
BE A PACKAGE RELEASED ON THE
20th, YOUR AMENDMENTS THAT YOU
PROPOSED, SELF BALANCED
AMENDMENTS BY THE 24th WILL BE
AMENDMENTS TO THAT PACKAGE. SO
THAT BECOMES A BASE. ON
NOVEMBER 13th, 14th AND 15th,
THAT IS WHEN THE COMMITTEE
TAKES VOTES. YOU WILL VOTE LIKE
-- YOU WILL THINK OF THE
BALANCING PACKAGE AS ONE BIG
AMENDMENT AND YOU ALL WILL
PROPOSE POTENTIALLY CHANGES TO
THAT, OR YOU MAY PROPOSE SELF
BALANCED AMENDMENTS THAT ARE
ADJUSTING OTHER PORTIONS OF THE
BASE BUDGET THAT WERE NOT
IMPACTED BY THE CHAIR'S
BALANCING PACKAGE. WE WILL HAVE
MANY MORE CONVERSATIONS ABOUT
PROCESS. THOSE MEETINGS ARE
WHERE WE GET INTO THE FUN
PARLIAMENTARY PROCEDURES AND A
BIT OF GYMNASTICS ON HOW YOU
PULL SOMETHING OUT OF THE
PACKAGE, AND SUBSTITUTE YOUR
ALTERNATIVE PROPOSAL IF IT IS A
COMPETING PROPOSAL TO THE
PACKAGE. AND SO THERE WON'T BE
ANY VOTES AS ORIGINALLY
INTENDED UNTIL THE 14th AND
15th OF NOVEMBER. DOES THAT
ANSWER YOUR QUESTION,
COUNCILMEMBER NELSON?
>> I THINK I WOULD JUST ADD TO
THAT, THE COMMIT MINCE, THE
REMAINS FROM OUR OFFICE THAT WE
ARE TRYING TO DO MINIMAL
CHANGES TO NEW PROGRAMMING
WOULD LIKE TO SEE. THE HOPE IS
TO TRY TO GET AS MANY AS THOSE
INCLUDED AS POSSIBLE IN THE
DELIBERATIONS THROUGHOUT THE
NEXT TWO WEEKS SO THE BALANCING
PACKAGE INCLUDES THOSE ON THE
20th.
>> I'M GETTING A BETTER GRASP
OF IT AND I DO APPRECIATE THAT
YOU ARE MEETING WITH ALL OF US
ON MONDAY TO HEAR OUR
PRIORITIES. BUT WE WON'T BE
ABLE TO HEAR EVERYBODY ELSE'S
PRIORITIES BECAUSE WE WON'T BE
PUBLICLY PRESENTING THEM,
RIGHT? BECAUSE THEY MIGHT FALL
OFF THE TABLE AND NOT GET INTO
THE BALANCING PACKAGE OR
SOMETHING LIKE THAT?
>> GO AHEAD, DEPUTY DIRECTOR.
>> SO WHAT WILL BE PRESENTED ON
THE 20th ARE THOSE PRIORITIES
THAT THE CHAIR ACCOMMODATES IN
HER PACKAGE. I WOULD EXPECT
UNLESS THERE ARE A CHANGE OF
HEART THAT ISN'T ANYTHING IN
THE PACKAGE THAT YOU WILL
PROPOSE AS A SELF BALANCED
AMENDMENTS ON THE 24th, AND
THOSE WILL BE PUBLICLY
PRESENTED AND DISCUSSED AS AT A
HIGH LEVEL ON OCTOBER 27th. AND
THEN WE WILL SPEND THE NEXT
COUPLE OF WEEKS WORKING WITH
YOU TO DEVELOP THOSE THE
AMENDMENTS, TO REFINE THEM FOR
DISCUSSION AND VOTE IN
MID-NOVEMBER.
>> THAT LAST PART WAS HELPFUL.
THAT'S WHERE. THE 27th IS WHEN
THOSE THINGS CAN BE -- OKAY,
THANK YOU VERY MUCH. I
APPRECIATE IT.
>> RATE EDUCATION. THANK YOU,
COUNCILMEMBER NELSON.
COUNCILMEMBER MORALES, PLEASE
GO AHEAD.
>> THANK YOU, CHAIR MOSQUEDA. I
JUST WANT TO SAY I AM MAYBE NOT
LOOKING FORWARD TO THIS PROCESS
BUT REALLY WANT TO APPRECIATE ,
YOU'RE LOOKING FORWARDING YOUR
VALUES AND YOUR APPROACH TO
THIS PROJECT. IT IS GOING TO BE
-- WE ARE GOING TO HAVE SOME
TOUGH DISCUSSIONS AND I JUST
WANT TO ECHO YOUR SENTIMENTS
ABOUT REALLY MAKING SURE THAT
WE ARE CENSORING SUSTAINABILITY
IN THIS BUDGET. WE KNOW WE HAVE
A STRUCTURAL PROBLEM HERE THAT
WE ARE GOING TO TRY TO ADDRESS.
AND I THINK AS ALLIE POINTED
OUT IN HER MEMO REGARDING
JUMPSTART, WHAT WE ARE TRYING
TO DO IS HELP THE CITY MAKE THE
NECESSARY CHANGES TO SHIFT
SEATTLE'S ECONOMY TO BE MORE
EQUITABLE AND MORE ECOLOGICALLY
SUSTAINABLE. SO I AM WITH YOU
AS I LOOK AT THE BUDGET OVER
THE NEXT SEVERAL WEEKS. I'LL
BE REALLY HAPPY WITH HOW WE ARE
CENSORING OUR MOST VULNERABLE
COMMUNITY MEMBERS AND HOW WE
REALLY ARE MAKING SUSTAINABLE
COMMITMENTS TO THE VITAL
SERVICES AND PROGRAMS THAT
EVERYBODY IN THE CITY KNOWS WE
NEED AND IS TALKING ABOUT WITH
REGULARITY. SO GOT SOME
PRIORITIES AND IT'S GOING TO BE
INTERESTING CONVERSATIONS, AND
I JUST APPRECIATE YOU PUTTING
YOUR SORT OF PRINCIPLES,
GUIDING PRINCIPLES OUT AS WE
ARE HAVING THIS.
>> THANK YOU SO MUCH,
COUNCILMEMBER MORALES. I
APPRECIATE ALL OF YOUR
CONTRIBUTIONS IN LAST YEAR'S
BUDGET DELIBERATIONS AS WELL AS
OUR FULL COLLEAGUES WHO HELPED
PROVIDE ADDITIONAL FEEDBACK TO
WHAT WE WOULD LIKE TO SEE IN
2024. THAT ENDORSED 2024 BUDGET
WILL SERVE AS THE FOUNDATION
FOR US TO ANALYZE AND REVIEW
THE PROPOSED BUDGET THAT WE
RECEIVED AND MANY OF YOUR
THOUGHTFUL AMENDMENTS WERE
INCLUDED IN LAST YEAR'S ROUND
OF AMENDMENTS AND THE FINAL
BUDGET. THAT WE ENDORSED. SO
THANKS AGAIN FOR THAT PAST
WORK. THANK YOU FOR YOUR
PARTICIPATION THIS YEAR, AND
AGAIN, ESPECIALLY AS WE LOOK
OUT TO THE CLASS WHO IS
OBSERVING CIVIC ENGAGEMENT HERE
IN THE CHAMBERS HERE TODAY, I
THINK THIS IS A REALLY TOUGH
MOMENT FOR OUR COUNTRY, FROM
THE NATIONAL TO THE LOCAL LEVEL
AS WE TRY TO RESPOND TO
COMPOUNDING NEEDS. APPRECIATE
EVERYBODY'S ENGAGEMENT AS WE
CREATE THE 2024 PROPOSED
BUDGET. COUNCIL PRESIDENT,
THANKS AGAIN FOR YOUR TEAM AND
YOUR PERSONAL WORK WITH US AS
WE GOT OUT THE CLARIFICATION
MEMO. AND I'M GOING TO TURN IT
OVER TO THE CLERK FOR
INTRODUCTION OF THE SECOND ITEM
ON OUR AGENDA.
>> AGENDA ITEM 2, 2024 PROPOSED
ADJUSTMENTS TO OVERVIEW FOR
BRIEFING AND DISCUSSION.
>> GREAT. WITH US TODAY WE
CONTINUE TO HAVE DEPUTY
DIRECTOR PENNUCCI, DIRECTOR
HANDY, AND WE ARE BEING JOINED
BY EDIN CYSTIC OF CENTRAL
STAFF, WHOSE NAME WAS MENTIONED
EARLIER. THANKS FOR BEING WITH
US TODAY AND IF YOU'D LIKE TO
INTRODUCE YOURSELF, YOUR SLIDES
ARE READY TO GO.
>> THANK YOU, CHAIR MOSQUEDA.
BEFORE I TURNED THIS OVER TO
WALK YOU THROUGH THE OVERVIEW,
I WANTED TO LET YOU KNOW THERE
IS A SUPPLEMENTAL AGENDA
ATTACHED TO THE MEMO FOR YOUR
REFERENCE THAT WE WON'T BE
PRESENTING TODAY. THIS
SUMMARIZES THE 31 PIECES OF
BUDGET LEGISLATION THAT MAY BE
CONSIDERED DURING COUNCIL'S
BUDGET DELIBERATIONS. THIS
INCLUDES LEGISLATION
TRANSMITTED WITH THE MAYOR'S
PROPOSED BUDGET ADJUSTMENTS
AND COUNCIL INITIATED
LEGISLATION THAT WE HAVE
IDENTIFIED TO DATE. THIS LIST
MIGHT CHANGE AS YOU SHAPE THE
PROJECT OR WANTED TO MAKE SURE
THAT FOR THE PUBLIC IN ADVANCE
OF ADDRESSING THIS BUDGET
LEGISLATION, AND FOR ALL OF YOU
THERE IS A SUMMARY OF WHAT WE
EXPECT TO SEE THAT YOU WILL
WILL WILL BE WORKING ON LATER
IN THE PROCESS.
>> I WANTED TO ASK I.T. TO LET
IN OUR COLLEAGUE COUNCILMEMBER
LEWIS IN THE WAITING ROOM AND
IT NEEDS TO BE ADMITTED,
PLEASE.
>> GOOD MORNING, COUNCIL
MEMBERS. MY NAME IS EDIN SISIC
WITH COUNCIL CENTRAL STAFF. YOU
MENTIONED IN YOUR OPENING
REMARKS, GOAL OF THIS
PRESENTATION AND THE MEMO THAT
WAS DISTRIBUTED YESTERDAY IS TO
PROVIDE A HIGH LEVEL VIEW OF
NOTABLE CHANGES BETWEEN 2024
ENDORSED AND PROPOSED
ADJUSTMENTS. SO IT'S AN
OPPORTUNITY FOR US TO SEE THE
BIG PICTURE FROM THE START OF
THIS BUDGET PROCESS AND ASSESS
THE POTENTIAL IMPACTS OF THE
CHOICES THAT COME, IN A BROADER
SENSE, AND ALSO THE SENSE OF
FOUNDATION AND THE CONTEXT FOR
ALL OF THE INDIVIDUAL
PRESENTATIONS THAT WILL FOLLOW
TODAY AND FOR THE REMAINDER OF
THE WEEK. SO CAN WE PLEASE MOVE
TO THE AGENDA? I'LL START WITH
A HIGH LEVEL BUDGET SNAPSHOT OF
THE 2024 PROPOSED ADJUSTMENTS
AND IDENTIFY KEY DRIVERS OF
EXPENDITURE AND REVENUE CHANGES
INCLUDING OPERATING AND CAPITAL
IMPROVEMENT PROGRAM BUDGET
ADJUSTMENTS, POSITION CHANGES,
ESSENTIAL SERVICE COSTS, AND
WERE IDENTIFIED , I'LL
HIGHLIGHT POLICY ISSUES FOR THE
COMMITTEE'S CONSIDERATION. SO
GOING INTO THE FIRST SLIDE
BUDGET SNAPSHOT, WHAT THESE
CHARTS SHOW AT A VERY HIGH
LEVEL IS THAT 2024 PROPOSED
BUDGET ADJUSTMENTS TOTAL $7.8
BILLION ACROSS ALL DEPARTMENTS
AND FUNDS. THIS REPRESENTS AN
INCREASE OF JUST OVER $400
MILLION, WHICH IS ABOUT 5.5%
ABOVE THE 2024 LEVELS. AT THE
FUND LEVEL, ALMOST 90% OF THAT
$400 MILLION INCREASE IS IN
THREE MAIN SPU FUNDS -- LOW
INCOME HOUSING, TRANSPORTATION,
AND THE PROPOSED $51 MILLION
GENERAL FUND INCREASE. SO THOSE
MAKE UP THE BULK OF THAT CHANGE
FROM THE 2024 ENDORSED LEVELS.
MOVING TO THE NEXT SLIDE --
>> I JUST WANTED TO NOTE FOR MY
COLLEAGUES, IF YOU DO HAVE
QUESTIONS THROUGHOUT THE
PRESENTATION I THINK WE ARE
TAKING QUESTIONS. IS THAT
RIGHT, CENTRAL STAFF? WE GOING
TO TAKE QUESTIONS THROUGHOUT
THE PRESENTATION SO OF COURSE
IF YOU HAVE ANY QUESTIONS IN
THE MIDDLE OF THE PRESENTATION,
JUST RAISE YOUR HAND AND WE'LL
TRY TO CATCH YOU BEFORE WE MOVE
TO THE NEXT SLIDE. PLEASE
CONTINUE. THANK YOU.
>> GETTING INTO SOME OF THE
MORE NUANCED DETAILS AND
SEPARATING THE OPERATING BUDGET
FROM THE CIP, WHICH WILL BE
COVERED LATER IN THE
PRESENTATION, OF THAT TOTAL
$407 MILLION INCREASE, ON AND
BUDGET REPRESENTS ABOUT 255
MILLION, WHICH IS ABOUT JUST
OVER 4% INCREASE FROM THE 2024
ENDORSED BUDGET PER ATTACHMENTS
A AND B IN THE MEMO PROVIDE
MORE DETAIL AND ITEMIZE ALL OF
THE CHANGES AT THE FUND LEVEL
LAND AT THE DEPARTMENT LEVEL.
BUT FROM THE PERSPECTIVE OF THE
DEPARTMENTS, THERE ARE FOUR
CITY DEPARTMENTS WITH
SIGNIFICANT OPERATING BUDGET
INCREASES BETWEEN THE ENDORSED
AND PROPOSED ADJUSTMENTS WITH
THE OFFICE OF HOUSING LEADING
THE WAY. THE PROPOSED
ADJUSTMENTS AND ALSO OFFICE OF
HOUSING ASSUMED THE PASSAGE OF
THE 2023 SEATTLE HOUSING LEVY
THAT IS PROJECTED TO GENERATE
APPROXIMATELY $138 MILLION
ANNUALLY. THE ADJUSTMENTS
REFLECT THE NET INCREASE OF $88
MILLION, WHICH REPRESENTS THE
DIFFERENCE BETWEEN THE ANNUAL
AMOUNT OF REVENUE GENERATED
FROM THE 2016 LEVY AND THE
ANTICIPATED 2023 LEVY.
>> LET'S PAUSE THERE. IF WE CAN
JUST PAUSE THERE. COUNCILMEMBER
HERBOLD, DID YOU HAVE A
QUESTION ON THAT FIRST PART?
>> ON THE SLIDE, I'M HAPPY TO
WAIT UNTIL THE SLIDE IS
FINISHED .
>> PLEASE GO AHEAD, EVEN.
>> SO FOR SPU, THE $76 MILLION
CONTRIBUTED TO TWO CHANGES ,
FIRST SPU IS PROPOSING TO
EXERCISE THE USE OF $16 MILLION
OF THE SOLID WASTE FUND BALANCE
TO PAY OFF OUTSTANDING DEBT .
AND SECOND, THE DEPARTMENT IS
ANTICIPATING $15 MILLION IN
INCREASES RELATED TO THE CITY'S
CONTRACT WITH KING COUNTY FOR
THE TREATMENT OF WASTEWATER,
WHICH IS THE LARGEST OPERATING
EXPENSE FOR THE WASTEWATER
FUND. FLEET CAPITAL REPLACEMENT
AND LIABILITIES RELATED TO
JUDGMENT AND CLAIMS, THE
LITIGATION EXPENSES ARE THE
PRIMARY COST INCREASES IN FAS'S
PROPOSED ADJUSTMENTS, AND
LASTLY THE INCREASE IN HST
INCLUDES HUMAN SERVICES
PROVIDERS, WAGE EQUITY AND
CONTRACT INFLATION, SETTLEMENT
PROCEEDS BY APPROPRIATIONS OR
PROGRAMS AND SERVICES
ADDRESSING DRUG USE AND DRUG
USER HEALTH NEEDS, AND
EXTENDING THE THURGOOD AVENUE
PROJECT IN PARTNERSHIP WITH WE
DELIVER CARE PROGRAM. I AM
READY FOR THE QUESTION NOW.
>> GREAT, VICE CHAIR HERBOLD.
PLEASE GO AHEAD.
>> THANK YOU SO MUCH. MADAME
BUDGET CHAIR, IN THE OPENING
REMARKS YOU DESCRIBED A CHANGE
TO THE PROCESS AND A CHANGING
RULES TO ACCOMMODATE THE CHANGE
OF PROCESS FROM WHAT WE HAD
PREVIOUSLY DISCUSSED AS THE
SECOND YEAR BIENNIUM
STREAMLINED PROCESS. AND AS I
UNDERSTAND IT, THE CHANGES ARE
DRIVEN BY AN UNDERSTANDING OF
MORE CHANGES THAN WE
ANTICIPATED IN SPENDING IN THE
2024 PROPOSED BUDGET FROM WHAT
THE COUNCIL ENDORSED LAST YEAR
FOR 2024. DO THESE CHANGES HERE
REFLECTED ON THIS SLIDE, DOES
THAT INCORPORATE THE TYPES OF
CHANGES THAT IS DRIVING THIS
DECISION TO CHANGE THE PROCESS?
JUST WANTING TO GET A HANDLE ON
THAT A LITTLE BIT.
>> DIRECTOR HANDY, DO YOU WANT
TO T UP AN ANSWER?
>> YES, COUNCIL CHAIR MOSQUEDA.
I'M HAPPY TO FIRM UP JUST A
COUPLE PIECES HERE THAT MAY BE
HELPFUL AND THEN HAVE YOU
RESPOND. COUNCILMEMBER HERBOLD,
I THINK THE PLACE YOU ARE GOING
TO SEE THE SORT OF LONGER
DISCUSSION ABOUT THE
ASSESSMENT OF WHAT REALLY COULD
-- INFORMATION THAT IMPACTS
BALANCING OF THE BUDGET IS
LATER THIS AFTERNOON IN THE
JUMPSTART PRESENTATION. THAT
AT THE HIGH LEVEL, IN THESE BIG
FUNDS, NONE OF THESE ARE OF
SORT OF SIGNIFICANT SURPRISE.
IT WAS REALLY WHEN WE DUG IN
THERE THAT THERE WERE CHOICES
THAT COULD JUMPSTART THE
GENERAL FUND ON THE ORDER OF
$30 MILLION-$40 MILLION, AND
THOSE ARE THE FUNDS THAT ARE
PARTICULARLY TIGHT AND HAVE
SUSTAINABILITY ISSUES NOW. I'VE
DISCUSSED THAT.
>> VERY HELPFUL. I WAS LOOKING
AT THESE CATEGORIES AND SORT OF
SCRATCHING MY HEAD. THERE'S NOT
A LOT OF DISCUSSION TO BE DONE
ABOUT THESE PARTICULAR CHANGES
ONCE HOUSING LEVY DRIVEN, SPU
HAS BEEN TAKEN OFF THE CALENDAR
FOR DISCUSSION. THE HUMAN
SERVICES DEPARTMENT REFLECTS
SHARED PRIORITIES AND THAT'S
REALLY HELPFUL TO UNDERSTAND
THAT I JUST NEED TO WAIT AND
DELVE MORE INTO THE DISCUSSION.
THANK YOU FOR REMINDING ME OF
IT.
WE APPRECIATE THE RULE THAT WAS
IN PLACE -- THE PROCEDURE IS
ADOPTIONING RESOLUTION 32.0.96
CREATED A BALANCED PACKAGE WHEN
WE SAW THE REDUCED
APPROPRIATIONS OR A CHANGE IN
THE APPROPRIATIONS WE COULD USE
FOR THE BALANCING THINK ABOUT.
WE -- I THINK IT IS SUBSECTION
I OR 1 THAT WE CAN ENSURE THAT
THERE IS A POSSIBILITY OF
HAVING A CHAIR'S REVISED
BALANCING PACKAGE IF THERE IS A
DIFFERENCE OR A SIGNIFICANT
CHANGE IN THE FORECAST OR,
QUOTE, OTHER INFORMATION THAT
IMPACTS ASSUMPTIONS ABOUT
AVAILABLE RESOURCES TO BALANCE
YEAR'S BUDGET. SO GIVEN THE
LATTER HALF OF THE SENTENCE AND
THE IMPACT OF POTENTIALLY $20
TO $30 MILLION THAT HAVE
CHANGED THE AVAILABILITY FOR
CHANGING THE ASSUMPTIONS.
BUDGET WE ARE MOVING FORWARD
WITH THAT PORTION OF THE RULE.
THANK YOU, VICE CHAIR AND THANK
YOU AGAIN TO THE COUNCIL
PRESIDENT FOR THE ANALYSIS AS
WELL. I DON'T SEE ANY
ADDITIONAL HANDS. I THINK WE
CAN MOVE TO SLIDE FOUR.
>> SO THE PROPOSED ADJUSTMENTS
INCLUDE 110 FULL-TIME
EQUIVALENT SPD POSITIONS FOR A
TOTAL OF 13241 ACROSS ALL THE
FUNDS. I HAVE TO PREFACE THIS
SAYING THIS NUMBER INCLUDES ALL
THE RECRUITS THROUGH THE 2023
SUPPLEMENTAL LEGISLATION AND
THE NUMBER IS CURRENTLY AN
ADDITIONAL 110. SO UP TO 110
PROPOSED IN 2024, 40 ARE
FUNDED BY THE GENERAL FUND. OF
THOSE 40, 31 ARE ONGOING AND IN
ADDITION, 16.5 OF THE NEW
PROPOSED STEs ARE FUNDED BY THE
JUMPSTART FUND OF WHICH 14.5
ARE ONGOING. MOVING TO THE NEXT
SLIDE, THE NEXT SLIDE PROVIDES
ALL OF THE PROPOSED FTE CHANGES
BY THE DEPARTMENT THAT SHOWS
THE BULK OF THE FNL GENERAL
FUND POSITIONS ARE IN THE FIRE
DEPARTMENT AND 24 OF THOSE ARES
TO SUPPORT OPERATIONS IN WEST
SEATTLE AT FIRE STATION 26 AND
37 AND THAT INCLUDES 12.5 IN
SDOT. I WON'T GO THROUGH THE
FULL LIST AS PART THIS
PRESENTATION BUT A LOT OF THOSE
SUPPLEMENTAL FTE PROPOSALS ARE
EXPLAINED IN THE MEMO STARTING
TO PAGE TWO ACCOMPANIED BY
ATTACHMENTS AND WILL BE COVERED
BY THE DEPARTMENTAL PAPERS.
SO MOVING TO THE NEXT SLIDE,
CITY EMPLOYEE SALARYS AND
BENEFITS REPRESENTS
APPROXIMATELY 1/3 OF THE $7.7
BILLION PROPOSED BUDGET IN 2024
AND OVER HALF OF THE GENERAL
FUND PROJECT. APPROXIMATELY 90%
OF THE 110 ADDITIONAL FTEs ARE
REGULAR ONGOING POSITIONS AND
ONGOING BUDGET TASKS. WHILE
SOME OF THEM MAY BE CRITICAL TO
DELIVER IN 2024, THESE ARE THE
PROJECTED ANNUAL OFFERINGS
BEGINNING IN 2025 ANY PROPOSAL
THAT ADDS A POSITION THIS YEAR
SHOULD BE CONSIDERED AN
EMPLOYEE UNTIL THE BUDGET
ISSUES ARE TAKEN CARE OF OR
PROVIDING THE FUNDING FOR THE
POSITIONS UNTIL THE COUNCIL CAN
MAKE A DECISION ABOUT HOW THE
CITY WILL ADDRESS THE PROJECTED
DEFICIT IN THE '25- '26 BUDGET.
>> BEFORE YOU MOVE ON -- OH,
I'M SORRY.
>> THAT IS WRAPPING UP THE FTE.
>> COLLEAGUES, I WANT TO OFFER
ANALYSIS I WILL BE USING AS WE
LOOK THROUGH THIS AND ENCOURAGE
TO YOU SHARE YOUR THOUGHTS AS
WELL WITH ME OR YOUR COLLEAGUES
IN THE COMMITTEE. GIVEN THE
SUSTAINABILITY ISSUES, I THINK
IT'S IMPORTANT THAT WE APPLY
SCRUTINY TO NEW POSITIONS. NEW
POSITIONS FOR EXAMPLE IN
ECONOMIC RESILIENCE AS
COUNCILMEMBER NELSON AND I
TALKED ABOUT, WE ARE LARGEY
FUNDED WITH ONE-TIME
INVESTMENTS LAST YEAR BECAUSE
WE WANTED TO SUPPORT ONGOING
INVESTMENTS IN THE FUTURE YEAR.
THERE MAY BE NEW POSITIONS THAT
HAVE SUSTAINABLE FUNDING YEAR
OVER YEAR WITH FUNDING LIKE
THAT BUT WHEN WE LOOK AT NEW
POSITIONS THAT ARE FUNDED
EITHER WITH UNDER FUND OR
GENERAL FUND FOR ONGOING
NATURE, I THINK IT WILL BE
REALLY CRITICAL FOR US TO
SCRUTINIZE THE NEED FOR NEW
POSITIONS GIVEN THE
SUSTAINABILITY QUESTIONS. POINT
POINT TO YOU CENTRAL STAFF'S
MEMBERIO, CENTRAL STAFF'S NOTES
IN THEIR MEMO THAT 98 OF THE
FULL-TIME EMPLOYEE PERMANENT
POSITIONS ARE GOING TO HAVE
ONGOING BUDGET IMPACTS.
SO FOR ME, I AM NOT
QUESTIONING THE NEED OR MERIT
OF THOSE POSITIONS YET BUT THE
QUESTION FOR ME WILL BE REALLY
THINK ABOUT THE SUSTAINABILITY
AND THE OUTCOME OF THOSE
INVESTMENTS AND DO WE HAVE THE
FUNDS YEAR OVER YEAR? HOW WILL
WE ENSURE SUSTAINABILITY IN THE
FUTURE? OBVIOUSLY WE WILL HAVE
CONVERSATIONS ABOUT REVENUE IN
NOVEMBER AS WELL BUT THOSE ARE
QUESTIONS WE REALLY MUST ANSWER
BEFORE THE END OF THE NOVEMBER
TIME FRAME. VICE CHAIR HERBOLD,
PLEASE GO AHEAD.
>> THANK YOU. I AM SURE YOU
KNOW WHAT I AM GOING TO SAY BUT
I SURE HOPE WE CAN CONSIDER
FAVORABLY THE SUSTAINABILITY OF
THE POSITIONS FOR THE FIRE
DEPARTMENT THAT IF NOT FUNDED
WILL MEAN THE LOSS OF AN ACAR
IN SOUTH PARK NOT ONLY SOUTH
PARK BUT THE SURROUNDING AREAS,
IMPACTING RESPONSE TIMES OF
SURROUNDING AREAS AND THE
LADDER TRUCK IN WEST SEATTLE.
SO THAT WAS I REALLY
APPRECIATED YOUR ASSISTANCE IN
THE LAST BUDGET CYCLE, AND THIS
YEAR IS THE YEAR I THINK THAT
WE NEED TO REALLY LOOK AT THE
STAFFING FOR MAINTAINING THE
SERVICES.
>> AND IT LOOKS LIKE DIRECTOR
PENNUCCI MAY HAVE A COMMENT ON
THAT.
>> THANK YOU, COUNCILMEMBER
HERBOLD FOR THE COMMENT AND
QUESTION. I WANT TO REITERATE
SOMETHING. EDIN SAID, AND I
WANT TO BE CLEAR BECAUSE
SOMETIMES WE MOVE QUICKLY
THROUGH SOME OF YOUR
PRESENTATIONS BUT WE RECOGNIZE
THAT SOME OF THE POSITIONS
CRITICAL TO PROVIDE THE CORE
CITY FUNCTIONS LIKE FIRE
PROTECTION FOR ALL OF US, AND
SO WE ARE NOT SUGGESTING THAT
NEVER, EVER TO ADD POSITIONS IN
THIS YEAR'S BUDGET BUT DOING
THAT WITH YOUR EYES WIDE OPEN
AND IT MIGHT MEAN EXISTING CITY
POSITIONS. SO I APPRECIATE THAT
SPECIFIC EXAMPLE. THAT'S AN
AREA WHERE IT'S HARDER TO ARGUE
THE NECESSITY.
>> EXCELLENT. COUNCILMEMBER
MORALES, PLEASE GO AHEAD.
>> OKAY, CHAIR. THIS IS REALLY
MORE OF A COMMENT THAN A
QUESTION BUT I DO WANT TO THANK
EDIN FOR POINTING OUT IN THE
MEMO, PARTICULARLY, INDIRECT
COSTS. DURING MY OFFICE'S
REVIEW OF THE BUDGET WE LABELED
INDIRECT COSTS BUT ARE POLICY
EFFORTS OR NEW SHIFTS. SO WE
THINK IT'S IMPORTANT FOR US TO
BE VERY CLEAR WHAT THAT MEANS
AND WHAT IT MEANS FOR THE
BUDGET PROCESS. I WANT TO THANK
EDIN FOR THE FRAMEWORK IN THE
MEMO ABOUT INDIRECT COSTS AND
INDIRECT COSTS FOR POLICY
CHANGES. I THINK ANOTHER
EXAMPLE OF WHY WE NEED TO BE
LOOK CAREFULLY AND APPRECIATE
THE HARD WORK THAT CENTRAL
STAFF IS DOING TO UNDERSTAND
WHAT ALL THE DOCUMENTS NEED.
>> EXCELLENT. THANK YOU. WELL
DESERVED APPRECIATION. LET'S GO
ON TO THE NEXT SLIDE.
>> THANK YOU. THE PROPOSED
JUDGMENTS APPLY TO ALL
DEPARTMENTS BY APPROXIMATELY
THERE ARE $000,000 OR APRIL 3%
AND I HAVE VERY GENERAL
DEFINITIONS. A PROCESS TO
ACCOUNT FOR THE FULL COST OF
OUR CITY-PROVIDED SERVICE AND
INDIRECT COSTS IN ADDITION TO
DIRECT COSTS. INDIRECT COSTS
ARE COMMONLY REFERRED TO AS
OVERHEAD, AND THOSE THAT
ACCOUNT FOR SUPPORT SERVICES
THAT I PROVIDED FOR MULTIPLE
DEPARTMENTS, FAS , IT, AND
HEALTHCARE, AND THROUGH A COST
ALLOCATION PLAN, THE CITY
IDENTIFIES THE CITY THROUGH THE
SERVICE COST THROUGH ALL
DEPARTMENTS TO ENSURE THAT THEY
ARE FAIRLY AND ACCURATELY
PAYING FOR THE SERVICES THAT
THEY ARE PROJECTED TO RECEIVE
SO FOR EXAMPLE THAT I HAVE
HERE, THE FLEET'S DEPARTMENT,
IT WILL MAINTAIN THE CITY'S
FLEET CENTRALLY MANAGED BY FAS.
AND THIS PROVIDES A LIST OF
COSTS AND A SHORT SUMMARY OF
WHAT DRIVES THE CHANGES. SO WE
WILL START WITH -- OKAY. NEXT
SLIDE. THANK YOU. FAS CHANGES
PRIMARILY FOR TECHNICAL TO
ACCOUNT FOR INFLATION AND
MARKET ADJUSTMENTS AND FUEL AND
ALSO FAS IS PROPOSING A
MECHANIC'S POSITION TO MEET THE
AVAILABILITY RATE AND I SEE
THAT COUNCILMEMBER PEDERSEN HAS
A QUESTION.
>> I CAN WAIT UNTIL THIS SLIDE
IS DONE. IT'S ABOUT THIS
OVERALL ISSUE.
>> I WILL QUICKLY RUN THROUGH
THIS. SO CHANGES FOR CENTRAL
COSTS INCLUDE INCREASED
SECURITY AND INFRASTRUCTURE
COST, ADDITIONAL UTILITY
PROJECTS AND ADJUSTMENT FOR
INCREASED MAINTENANCE COSTS
AND UPGRADES. AND THE H.R, THE
DRIVER FOR H.R, AND THE
REMAINDER OF THE COSTS INCLUDE
ADJUSTMENTS TO THE RETIREMENT
RATE AND OTHER INFLATION-RELATE
D INCREASES, HEALTH CARE COST
ADJUSTMENTS, INSURANCE AND SO
ON, SO DETAILS ON FOUR AND FIVE
OF THE MEMO.
>> THANK YOU. EXCELLENT.
COUNCILMEMBER PEDERSEN?
>> THANK YOU, CHAIR MOSQUEDA.
THIS IS THE FIRST TIME I AM
SPEAKING DURING THE MEETING AND
I WANT TO ADD MY THANKS TO
CENTRAL STAFF'S WORK IN DELVING
INTO THE BUDGET AND
HIGHLIGHTING THIS ISSUE IN
PARTICULAR IS IMPORTANT BECAUSE
THE HIGHER COST OF INTERNAL
ADMINISTRATIVE OVERHEAD
EXPENSES IS ANOTHER EXAMPLE OF
WHAT I MEAN WHEN I SAY CITY
HALL HAS A SPENDING PROBLEM,
NOT A REVENUE PROBLEM. I AM
TRYING TO FIGURE OUT HOW IT'S
POSSIBLE THAT THE CENTRAL
INTERNAL SERVICES ARE PROJECTED
TO COST $30 MILLION MORE THAN
WHAT THE CITY ENDORSED A YEAR
AGO. WHICH OF THE COSTS WERE
NOT ANTICIPATED JUST NINE
MONTHS AGO? I THINK THIS IS A
TRADE OFF OF THE GOVERNMENT
FEEDING ITSELF RATHER THAN
FEEDING THE DOLLARS INTO THE
COMMUNITY AND I THINK IT'S
BETTER IF WE INVEST SOME OF THE
$34 MILLION TO ADDRESS
PRIORITIES IN THE COMMUNITIES
LIKE REDUCING HOMELESSNESS OR
FIXING THE BRIDGE
INFRASTRUCTURE AND SAFETY AND I
WILL BE TAKING A HARD LOOK
INSTEAD OF HAVING THIS STAY
INTERNAL TO THE CITY. THANK
YOU.
>> THANK YOU. ANY INITIAL
COMMENTS FROM THE CENTRAL STAFF
ABOUT THE WHY? COUNCILMEMBER
PEDERSEN I THINK THAT IS WELL
CAN HAVED RECEIVED AND I KNOW
LOOKING ACROSS ALL DEPARTMENTS
AND NOT IN DEFENSE OF IT, BUT
CENTRAL STAFF IF YOU HAVE IF
ANY ADDITIONAL CONTEXT FOR US?
>> THANK YOU. I WILL STEP IN,
AND CHAIR MOSQUEDA, THANK YOU
AND I WANT TO NAME THE CONTEXT
LIKE THE CITY AND OTHER
BUSINESSES ARE DOING IS THE
COST OF BUSINESS IN A VERY HIGH
INFLATION ENVIRONMENT. SO THE
FAMILY BUDGET, THE COST
GROCERIES AND THE COST OF GAS
HAVE GONE UP SIGNIFICANTLY. WE
THINK THROUGH THE CENTRAL COSTS
THROUGH THAT LENS AND HOW
INFLATION HAS IMPACTED THE
SERVICES, THE COST OF DOING
BUSINESS FOR THE CITY AND
COUNCILMEMBERS, THERE ARE
POLICY CHOICES THAT YOU CAN
MAKE WITHIN THAT AND THE
EFFICIENCIES IN THE FACE OF A
HIGH INFLATION ENVIRONMENT BUT
WE ARE NOT TERRIBLY SURPRISED
TO FIND THE CENTRAL COST RATES
GOING UP AT A HIGH RATE IN THE
CURRENT ECONOMIC CONTEXT AND
POLICY CHOICES CAN'T SOLVE THAT
BUT THIS IS SOME OF WHAT IS IN
FRONT OF YOU IN THE CURRENT
BUDGET.
>> ANYTHING ELSE YOU WANT TO
ADD TO THAT?
>> THE NEXT SLIDE WILL COVER
WHAT I HAVE TO ADD.
>> GREAT.
>> AND SOME OF THE OPTIONS WE
HAVE GOING INTO THE FUTURE.
SO IF YOU COULD PLEASE GO
THROUGH THE NEXT SLIDE? SO
WHILE CERTAIN CENTRAL SERVICE
COST CHANGES IN THE BUDGET ARE
EASY TO TRACK, THE
HEALTHCARE-RELATED COSTS AND SO
ON, A COMPREHENSIVE ANALYSIS
HAS BEEN DIFFICULT TO NAVIGATE
TO UNDERSTAND THE IMPACT AND
COST AND THE INTERNAL SERVICE
COST. OR IT COULD BE REVIEWED
WITHOUT SIGNIFICANT IMPACT FOR
RESOURCES OR OTHER INVESTMENTS,
AND SO IT'S A -- IF THE COUNCIL
IS INTERESTED IN REDUCING
COSTS, WE CAN EXERCISE THE
RIGHT TO -- YOU HAVE THE OPTION
TO HAVE A QUESTION FOR ALL
SERVICE COSTS AND THE IMPACT. I
WILL NOTE THAT A LOT OF THAT
$34 MILLION IS PART TECHNICAL
ADJUSTMENTS AS WELL AS THE
RETIREMENT COST INCREASE WHICH
I BELIEVE WE WILL HAVE A LOT OF
OVERVIEW AND MORE DETAILS ON.
>> THANK YOU. I -- JUST A QUICK
NOTE TO SAY THANKS FOR
IDENTIFYING THIS IS AN AREA
WHERE GREATER TRANSPARENCY IS
THE GOAL HERE. WE HAVE TALKED
ABOUT HOW WE WOULD LOVE TO GET
MORE TRANSPARENCY OVER THE FTE
s FUNDED SO WE CAN HAVE A
BETTER ADJUSTMENT IN REALTIME
OVER ANY POSITIONS WITH REDUCED
FUNDING NEEDS EARLIER. SO WE
DON'T SEE LARGE AMOUNTS ROLLING
OVER YEAR AFTER YEAR IN THE
UNDER SPEND. SO THANKS FOR
IDENTIFYING THIS AS AN AREA FOR
MORE ACCURATE BUDGETING AS WE
MOVE TO MORE REALTIME BUDGETING
IN THE FUTURE. CLEARLY, THERE
ARE A LOT OF SYSTEMIC CHANGES
THAT ARE NEEDED OR IP SYSTEMS
NEEDED TO GET THE REALTIME
ANALYSIS, AND WE APPRECIATE THE
CITY BUDGET'S OFFICE INTEREST
IN MOVING IN THAT DIRECTION AS
WELL. BUT GIVEN THE REVENUE
CHALLENGES THAT WE FACE AND THE
NEED FOR US TO HAVE REALTIME TO
NAVIGATE THE POCKETS THAT ARE
NOT BEING SENT, THAT COULD HELP
US TO REPROGRAM THE DOLLARS IN
OTHER HIGH-NEED CATEGORIES SO
MONEY DOESN'T SIT ON A SHELF IN
THE ONGOING PANDEMIC AND IN
SMALL BUSINESS COMMUNITIES.
OKAY. LET'S GO ON.
>> NOW WE ARE GETTING INTO THE
-- APPROXIMATELY -- SO THE
24-29 PROPOSED CAN TOLL
IMPROVEMENT PROGRAM $1.4
MILLION IN 2024, WHICH
REPRESENTATIVE AN INCREASE OF
$23 MILLION, AND COMPARING THE
2023 ADOPTED BUDGET TO THE
PROPOSED ADJUSTMENT. IT
INCREASED TO $7.4 MILLION, OR A
3% INCREASE, AND SO THE CIP
REMAINS UNCHANGED OVERALL, OR
THE ADJUSTMENTS OF SHIFTING THE
2023 RESOURCES THROUGH
SUPPLEMENTAL LEGISLATION INTO
THE OUTREACH. SO AS WE MOVE ON
TO THE NEXT SLIDE,
APPROXIMATELY AS YOU CAN SEE ON
THIS CHART, APPROXIMATELY $5.1
BILLION, 2/3 OF THE BUDGET FOR
THE PROPOSED CIS FOR
UTILITY-FUNDED PROJECTS, CITY
LIGHT AND SPU AND MOSTLY FUNDED
BY RATES, AND WE HAVE SDOT CIP
OF $1.4 BILLION, ALMOST 20% OF
THE TOTAL SIX-YEAR CIP WHILE
THE GENERAL GOVERNMENT
DEPARTMENTS ACCOUNT FOR THE
REMAINING 50% AND IN THE
INTEREST OF TIME, I WON'T GET
INTO THE INDIVIDUAL
DEPARTMENTAL STANDINGS OF THE
CIP BUT THE OVERVIEW IS
PROVIDED IN THE MEMO STARTING
ON PAGE SIX AND ATTACHED TO THE
MEMO. SO I WILL WRAP IT UP
WITH THE LAST SLIDE THE LAST
SLIDE IS RELEVANT TO REGARDING
REFUNDING WHICH IS AN EXCISE
TAX IMPOSED ON THE SALE OF REAL
PROPERTY AND A SIGNIFICANT
SOURCE OF THE CITY'S CIP WITH A
VARIETY OF PROJECTS ACROSS THE
CITY'S CAPITOL AND SO YOU MAY
RECALL AT THE AUGUST COUNCIL
MEETING THAT THE FORECAST WAS
THE PROJECTIONS IN THE 2023-
'24 ADOPTED BUDGET WAS 17.4 IN
2023 AND 32 MILLION IN 2024.
AND I SHOW IN THE TABLE THE
PROPOSED REET FORECAST DOUBLED
FROM '24 TO '28 AND IN
ADDITION FROM '24 TO '29, THERE
WAS A RECOVERY STARTING IN
2025, AND DEPARTMENTS HAVE ADD
BACK THE 2023-2024 REDUCTIONS.
THE TABLE ALSO SHOWS THAT THE
PROJECTED DEBT SERVICE IS
EXACTLY 30% OF THE REV VIEWS
WHICH IS THE MAXIMUM LEVEL SET
INTO FISCAL POLICY AND RECEIVED
'28 AND '29 NUMBERS AFTER THESE
SLIDES AND MEMO WERE PUBLISHED.
AND WE CAN CONFIRM THAT WE ARE
JUST BELOW THE 30% THRESHOLD.
AND SO GIVEN THE ECONOMIC
UNCERTAINTY, WE HAVE LEARNED
THAT IT'S VERY DIFFICULT TO
ACCURATELY PROJECT WHAT WILL
HAPPEN IN THE FUTURE BUT GIVEN
THE UNCERTAINTIES, IT'S
IMPORTANT TO ANALYZE THE
POTENTIAL TO UNDER PERFORM
PROJECTION. PART OF THE
ALTERNATIVE ANALYSIS SHOULD
INCLUDE IMPACT AND LITIGATION
OPTION AND ALTERNATIVE GAP
INSURANCE TO AVOID THAT. AND ON
THAT NOTE, THAT CONCLUDES MY
SLIDES.
>> OKAY. THANK YOU SO MUCH. I
DO WANT US TO GO BACK TO SLIDE
12 REAL QUICK. AND THEN I'LL GO
TO COUNCILMEMBER NELSON AND IF
ANYONE ELSE WANTS TO TEE UP. I
WANT TO UNDERSCORE THE RELATIVE
UNSUSTAINABILITY EXCISE TAFNTLE
WE NEED TO CAUTION OURSELVES
USING REET. LAST WEEK WE ABSORB
BODY A $64 MILLION DECREASE IN
THE REAL ESTATE EXCISE TAX REV
VIEW WITH A NET DECREASE OF 9.4
MILLION IN GENERAL FUND
REVENUES AND A DECREASE IN THE
SUGAR-SWEETENED BEVERAGE TAX
AND WE WERE ABLE TO ABSORB THIS
HIT AND PRIORITIZING PROJECTS
IN SPENDING CATEGORIES THAT
PROJECTS IN DEVELOPMENT BUT
TRIED NOT TO GO DOWN THE ROUTE
OF BRAND NEW PROJECTS OR PILOT
IDEAS AND KEEPING THE MOMENTUM
THAT WAS ALREADY UNDERWAY. SO
THESE ARE REALLY TOUGH
DECISIONS AND WE TRIED TO AS I
LOOK AT MY STAFF AND
COLLEAGUES, YOU WILL REMEMBER
THIS BUT WE TRIED TO MAKE SURE
THAT THE UNDER INVESTED AREAS
ACROSS THE CITY, THE HIGHEST
NEEDS WERE PRIORITIZED FIRST
BUT THERE IS A HUGE NEED FOR
SUSTAINABLE REVENUE SO THE REET
FUNDS EBB AND FLOW YEAR AFTER
YEAR AND QUARTER TO QUARTER AND
I WANT TO UNDERSCORE THAT NOTE
IN CENTRAL STAFF'S COMMENTS AS
WELL. COUNCILMEMBER NELSON, YOU
ARE UP NEXT. PLEASE GO AHEAD.
>> THANKS, COULD YOU GO BACK TO
SLIDE 11 PLEASE? WE APPRECIATE
WITH THE UTILITIES THAT WE
NOTED THE PROPOSED INCREASE IS
PAID FOR BY RATE. SO
THAT IS NOT MONEY THAT WE HAVE
TO COME UP WITH OR THAT IS NOT
TAKEN FROM ANOTHER POT OR
PROJECT WIPED OFF THE BOOKS. SO
ARE -- BUT IT DOESN'T LOOK LIKE
THERE ARE ANY OTHER INCREASES
REALLY. SO SAFE TO SAY THAT THE
MOST OF THESE BULK OF THE
INCREASES OF CIP IS, NUMBER
ONE, IN THE UTILITIES AND
ACCOUNTED FOR BY RATE
INCREASES?
>> LARGELY, THAT IS CORRECT.
THERE IS SOME DECREASE RISK
MOSTLY IN THE REET FUNDS
BECAUSE OF THE REPRODUCTION IN
THE FORECAST AND REVENUE
FORECAST AND THERE ARE SOME
INFLATIONARY COSTS AND
MOVEMENTS FROM THE PROJECTS AND
MOVEMENTS, MOVING BUCKETS OF
PROJECTS INTO A PROGRAMMATIC
LEVEL. YOU WILL SEE THAT BUT
OVERALL, THE DEPARTMENTS STAY
WITHIN THEIR ENDORSED LEVELS IN
THE 2023-2028 PARAMETERS FOR
CIP.
>> THANKS.
>> THANK YOU. ANY ADDITIONAL
COMMENTS ON THE SLIDES? EDIN,
WE WILL PROBABLY ADJOURN AFTER
THIS PRESENTATION SO IF THERE
IS ANY ADDITIONAL INFORMATION
THAT YOU WOULD LIKE TO PROVIDE
ON THIS SLIDE, SLIDE 11, THAT
GETS INTO THE DETAILS THAT YOU
PROVIDED UNTIL THE MEMO F THERE
IS TWO OR THREE CATEGORIES THAT
YOU WANTED TO POINT OUR
ATTENTION TO, FEEL FREE TO AND
WE WOULD ADJOURN AND COME BACK
AT 2:00 P.M. FOR THE REMAINDER
OF THE MEETING.
ANYTHING YOU WOULD YOU WOULD
LIKE TO FOCUS ON HERE?
>> LET ME SEE WHAT I COVERED IN
THE MEMO AND SEE IF THERE IS
ANY PARTICULAR DEPARTMENT FOR
CIP THAT I COVERED, SO ONE
SECOND. SO, YEAH. I COULD TALK
A LITTLE BIT ABOUT THE SDOT
SUPPLEMENTAL, SO THE CHANGES
REFLECT MOSTLY THE PROJECT
DELIVERY SCHEDULE THAT DON'T
IMPACT THE PROJECTS, AND THERE
IS ONE PROJECT THAT THE ALASKAN
WAY PROJECT THAT HAS FUNDING
THERE AND THEN FOR THE
PARKS-RELATED PROJECTS TO
RESULT, THE CHANGES WILL REDUCE
BY $20 MILLION AND ADD BACK $25
MILLION. SO HOWEVER, TO ADDRESS
THE DECREASE IN REVENUE, SOME
OF THE SMALLER ONGOING PARTS
PROGRAM THOSE ARE NOT EXPECTED
TO BE RESTORED. THEN THE
REMAINING OF THE PROJECTS ARE
CITY LIGHT RELATED IN TERMS OF
THE OVER ALL INCREASE, AND SO,
MOSTLY STU ACTUALLY BECAUSE THE
SOLID WASTE FACILITY PROJECTS
-- THE SHIFTS TO WATER QUALITY
WITH INFLATIONARY COSTS THAT
WERE ADDED TO THE PUBLIC
PORTFOLIO.
>> OKAY.
>> I WILL SAY POTENTIALLY
IDENTIFIED BY CENTRAL STAFF
REGARDING THE CIP ADJUSTMENT, A
LOT OF THAT WILL BE COMING
TOMORROW AND ON FRIDAY.
>> OKAY. EXCELLENT.
THANK YOU. I AM NOT SEEING ANY
ADDITIONAL HANDS FROM MY
COLLEAGUES WITH COMMITTEE
JURISDICTION OVER THE AREAS
RIGHT NOW SO WE WILL PROBABLY
HAVE DISCUSSION DISCUSSION AS
WE GET INTO EACH OF THOSE
DEPARTMENTS FORTHCOMING. THANK
YOU FOR LIFTING UP THIS
INFORMATION IN THIS
ILLUSTRATIVE WAY THAT YOU HAVE
DONE ON THIS CHART. I THINK
THIS IS HELPFUL TO SEE
PROJECTED FUNDS OVER A SIX-YEAR
FORECAST. IS THERE ANY
ADDITIONAL QUESTIONS THAT THE
COLLEAGUES HAVE? OKAY. HEARING
NO QUESTIONS, I WILL CALL US
INTO RECESS TO RETURN AT 2:00
P.M. FOR THE REMAINDER OF OUR
DISCUSSION, AND THAT GIVES YOU
AN HOUR AND A HALF FOR LUNCH
AND STAFF, THANK YOU FOR
GETTING US THROUGH THE FIRST
PART OF THE DAY. WE WILL
RECONVENE AT 2:00 P.M., AND IF
THERE IS NO OBJECTION WE WILL
BE IN RECESS. HEARING NO
OBJECTION WE ARE IN RECESS, AND
SEE YOU AT 2:00 P.M. AND THANK
YOU FOR THE SEATTLE CHANNEL FOR
BROADCASTING THIS.
SEE YOU IN A BIT.