>> GOOD MORNING, EVERYONE.
THANK YOU FOR JOINING DAY TWO
OF OUR SELECT BUDGET COMMITTEE
MEETING AS THE SEATTLE CITY
COUNCIL DISCUSSES FORM Bs OUR
AMENDMENT PROCESS TO CONSIDER
VARIOUS PRIORITIES FOR THE
REBALANCED BUDGET.
I'M TERESA MOSQUEDA.
CHAIR OF THE BUDGET COMMITTEE.
IT IS 9:32.
OCTOBER 29th.
WILL THE CLERK CALL THE ROLE.
>> STRAUSS.
>> PRESENT.
>> COUNCIL MEMBER GONZALEZ.
>> HERE.
>> COUNCIL MEMBER HERBOLD.
>> HERE.
>> COUNCIL MEMBER JUAREZ.
>> HERE.
>> COUNCIL MEMBER LEWIS.
>> PRESENT.
>> COUNCIL MEMBER MORALES.
>> COUNCIL MEMBER PEDERSEN.
>> HERE.
>> COUNCIL MEMBER SAWANT.
>> CHAIRMAN MOSQUEDA.
>> PRESENT.
>> NINE PRESENT.
>> THANK YOU MADAM CLERK.
THANK YOU FOR THE ROBUST
DISCUSSION YESTERDAY.
WE'RE GOING TO ENGAGE IN A VERY
LONG DISCUSSION TODAY AND I
WILL MAKE SURE THAT WE GET AN
HOUR BREAK BEFORE LUNCH AND WE
WILL END BY 5:00.
WITH YOUR HELP, WE CAN PERHAPS
END A LITTLE EARLY LIKE
YESTERDAY.
THERE ARE SOME ITEM THAT'S WILL
REQUIRE A LITTLE LONGER
DISCUSSION AND SOME THAT DON'T.
I HOPE IT WILL BALANCE OUT.
BUT WE WILL GIVE IT -- WE WILL
LET YOU KNOW IF WE NEED TO DO
THE TWO-MINUTE ROLE LATER IN
THE MEETING TODAY.
I THINK IF WE GET THROUGH THE
VARIOUS AMENDMENTS PLUS PUBLIC
TESTIMONY THAT LEAVES NINE
MINUTES FOR THE AMENDMENTS.
I KNOW NOT ALL WILL NEED THAT
TIME.
I HAVE CONFIDENCE WE CAN GET
THROUGH THIS AND APPRECIATE
YOUR TIME IN ADVANCE.
BEFORE WE CONSIDER THE AGENERAL
DARKS A REMINDER FOR EVERYONE
THAT MOST OF THE CONVERSATION
WE HAD YESTERDAY WAS AROUND ALL
OF THE FORMS.
>> WHETHER IT HAS BEEN
DISCUSSED WITH RESIDENTS,
STAKEHOLDERS AND IF YOU NEED IT
WHETHER IT WAS REVIEWED BY LAW.
THE CONVERSATION RIGHT NOW ON
POTENTIAL WALK ON AMENDMENTS IS
NOT ABOUT WHETHER OR NOT WE AS
INDIVIDUAL COUNCIL MEMBERS LIKE
THE PROPOSAL.
IT IS ABOUT WHETHER OR NOT WE
FIND IT MERITORIOUS AND FOR THE
PURPOSES TO AMEND THE AGENDA
WHETHER IT HAS ENOUGH
INFORMATION IN FRONT OF US TO
DISCUSS THE PROPOSAL GIVE THEN
IT DID NOT MEET THE ORIGINAL
DEADLINE.
JUST BECAUSE THE PROPOSAL MAY
NOT BE DEEMED RIGHT FOR TODAY'S
CONVERSATION, IF IT DOES NOT
RECEIVE SUFFICIENT VOTES, THAT
DOES NOT MEAN THAT THE
CONVERSATION IS OVER.
WE STILL HAVE THE FORM Cs WHICH
WILL HELP CHANGE OR IDENTIFY
DIFFERENT BALANCING TECHNIQUES
IN THE COUNSEL'S PROPOSED
BUDGET.
WITH THAT, I WANT TO SAY
YESTERDAY'S CONVERSATION WAS
VERY HELPFUL AS WE IDENTIFIED
POTENTIAL QUESTIONS OR ISSUES
AS WE CONSIDER WALK-ON
AMENDMENTS AND THE OTHER FORM
Bs THAT WERE SUBMITTED ON TIME.
I AM AWARE OF AT LEAST ONE WALK-
ON AMENDMENT.
IT WAS CIRCULATED BY 5:00 P.M.
SO TODAY OUR CONVERSATION WILL
BE AROUND WHETHER OR NOT IT HAS
A SIMPLE MAJORITY OF COUNCIL
MEMBERS TO BE CONSIDERED TO
AMEND THE AGENDA.
BUT FOR THE PURPOSES OF OUR
RECORDED MEETING HERE, I WANT
TO MAKE SURE THAT WE GO THROUGH
THE PROCESS AND GET
CLARIFICATION FROM THE CLERK
THAT IT WAS INDEED CIRCULATED
BY 5:00.
COUNCIL MEMBER PEDERSEN I
BELIEVE YOU HAVE ONE AMENDMENT.
AMENDMENT NUMBER 1. I'M GOING
TO ASK THE CLERK VERIFY IF IT
WAS CIRCULATED BY 5:00 P.M.
ON THE PRECEDING BUSINESS DAY.
MADAM CLERK WAS AMENDMENT 1
CIRCULATED BY 5:00 P.M.
>> YES, CHAIRMAN MOSQUEDA IT
WAS.
>> EXCELLENT.
THANK YOU VERY MUCH MADAM
CLERK.
COUNCIL MEMBER PEDERSEN I'LL
TURN IT OVER TO YOU MAKE THE
MOTION FOR CONSIDERATION.
>> THANK YOU, CHAIRMAN
MOSQUEDA.
I MOVE TO AMEND THE AGENDA
TODAY BY ADDING CITY WIDE WALK-
ON AMENDMENT 1 FOR
NONREPRESENTATIVE EMPLOYEES
EARNING 80% OR MORE OF SEATTLE
MEDIAN INCOME PLACING IT ON THE
AGENDA AFTER ITEM 1.
>> THANK YOU.
IT HAS BEEN MOVED.
>> IS THERE A SECOND.
>> SECOND.
>> ITS BEEN MOVED AND SECONDED.
THANK YOU VERY MUCH COUNCIL
MEMBER PEDERSEN.
I'M GOING IT TOWN IT OVER TO
YOU FOR A BRIEF OVERVIEW BEFORE
FOLKS ASK ANY QUESTIONS THAT
THEY MAY HAVE.
>> THANK YOU, CHAIR MOSQUEDA.
I'M SIMPLY ASKING YOU TO
CONSIDER THIS AMENDMENT AS A
POTENTIAL VIABLE OPTION TO
IMMEDIATELY GENERATE SAVINGS
THAT WE COULD REDEPLOY TO MANY
GOOD PROPOSALS WE HAVE PUT
FORWARD TO ADD TO THE BUDGET.
AFFIRM DECISION IS NOT NEEDED
TODAY.
ONCE WE GET THE REVISED
FORECAST IN A COUPLE OF WEEKS
AND HEAR THE REST OF THE
ADDITIONS BEING PROPOSED TODAY
AND TOMORROW, WE CAN DECIDE
WHETHER THE OPTION IS ACTUALLY
NEEDED.
THIS IS AN OPPORTUNITY TO
REDEPLOY MILLIONS OF ADDITIONAL
DOLLARS TO SHELTER THOSE
EXPERIENCING HOMELESSNESS, TO
INVEST MORE IN SEATTLE'S
COMMUNITIES AND FIX OUR
CRUMBLING INTRASTRUCTURE.
DURING THIS TIME OF BACK TO
BACK DEFICITS THIS PROPOSAL
WOULD APPLY TO JUST THE PLANNED
SALARY INCREASES FOR NEXT YEAR
AND FOR JUST THE HIGHER PAID
NONREPRESENTED CITY GOVERNMENT
EMPLOYEES.
SO MANY PEOPLE IN SEATTLE ARE
OUT OF JOBS AND OUR CITY HAS
SUCH DEEP NEEDS I PERSONALLY
DON'T THINK IT IS TIME TO
INCREASE THE PAY OF OUR CITY
GOVERNMENT EMPLOYEES AGAIN.
I DON'T THINK THIS PROPOSAL IS
ABOUT POSTERITY.
THAT IS WHEN YOU'RE SPENDING
LESS MONEY.
BUT THE MAYOR'S BUDGET IS
SPENDING THE SAME AS LAST YEAR
AND WE'RE HOPING T█O ADD TO
THAT.
THE REAL POSTERITY IS WHEN WE
DON'T PROVIDE MORE MONEY WHEN
WE CAN TO HELP THOSE WHO ARE
LITERALLY SLEEPING ON THE
STREETS EVERY NIGHT.
I THINK THEY SHOULD GET THE
HANDS INTO THE MOST VULNERABLE
AND ADDRESS OUR AGING
INFRASTRUCTURE INSTEAD OF
PUTTING MORE MONEY IN OUR OWN
POCKETS.
WE CAN USE THE FUNDS TO SAVE
CITY JOBS AND PREVENT LAYOFFS.
THANK YOU FOR CONSIDERING THIS
AS POTENTIALLY AN OPTION.
>> THANK YOU VERY MUCH COUNCIL
MEMBER PEDERSEN.
AS A REMINDER, WE ARE NOT
CONSIDERING THE DETAILS OR THE
POLICY PROPOSAL ITSELF.
THE MERITS OF WHETHER OR NOT
THE CRITERIA WAS METAPHOR WALK-
ON TODAY IS WHAT WE'RE
CONSIDERING.
A SUMMARY SHEET WAS SENT TO ALL
OF YOU.
WAS IT REVIEWED BY LAW,
DEPARTMENTS, STAKEHOLDERS, ET
CETERA.
SO PERHAPS I WILL OFFER THE
FOLLOWING.
THE PROPOSAL THAT WAS SENT
AROUND DID MEET THE 5:00 P.M.
DEADLINE.
IT WAS REVIEWED BY CENTRAL
STAFF, YES.
IT WAS REVIEWED BY LAW.
AND THE SPECIFIC MEMBERS OF OUR
LEGAL TEAM ARE INDICATED AS
WELL.
AND THE DEPARTMENT WAS
CONSULTED WITH.
THE ANSWER AROUND STAKEHOLDERS
YESTERDAY YOU WILL REMEMBER
THAT I ASKED ABOUT SPECIFIC
STAKEHOLDERS.
THE PROPOSAL DOES NOT APPEAR TO
HAVE A SPECIFIC STAKEHOLDER
ITEM LISTED.
THOUGH RESIDENTS OF SEATTLE WAS
LISTED.
AGAIN, THAT'S NOT NECESSARILY
AN INDICATION OF NOT
SUPPORTING.
I JUST WANT TODAY NOTE JUST
LIKE YESTERDAY EVEN THOUGH THE
DEPARTMENT IN THAT CASE WASN'T
CONSULTED WITH, WE CAN ALWAYS
GET ADDITIONAL INFORMATION.
BUT THOSE THREE CATEGORIES WERE
MARKED YES, LAW, YES, CENTRAL
STAFF AND YES CBO HAS SPOKEN
WITH THE PROPOSED SPONSOR.
ARE THERE ANY QUESTIONS FOR THE
PROPOSED SPONSOR HERE?
>> COUNCIL MEMBER SAWANT.
>> GOOD MORNING.
AND THANK YOU, CHAIRMAN
MOSQUEDA.
I DON'T HAVE QUESTIONS.
BUT I JUST WANTED TO CLARIFY
FOR MEMBERS OF THE PUBLIC
WATCHING THIS THAT I WILL BE
VOTING IN FAVOR OF ADDING THIS
PROPOSAL TO THE AGENDA BECAUSE
I THINK ALL BUDGET PROPOSALS
AMENDMENT PROPOSALS SHOULD BE
DISCUSSED, SUPPORTED OR OPPOSED
ON POLITICAL MERITS AND NOT
PROCEDURAL REASONS.
THAT'S WHY I AM VOTING YES BUT
I DON'T SUPPORT THE SPECIFIC
PROPOSAL AND WHEN IT COMES FOR
FOR DISCUSSION LATER I WILL
EXPLAIN WHY.
>> I'M NOT SEEING ANY
ADDITIONAL HANDS.
COUNCIL MEMBER PEDERSEN I ALSO
WOULD BE INTERESTED IN WHETHER
OR NOT THERE ARE OTHER
DEPARTMENTS THAT YOU WERE ABLE
TO CHECK IN WITH BESIDES CPO
AND CBO ON THE COVER SHEET
WHICH IS POSH IMPORTANT
BECAUSE IT MEETS THE CRITERIA.
IF YOU HAVE THOUGHTS NOW YOU
CAN SHARE THEM OR SAVE THAT AS
WELL FOR THE DISCUSSION.
ASSUMING THIS GETS ON THE
AGENDA.
>> IT WAS CENTRAL STAFF LAW AND
CBO ONLY.
>> THANK YOU.
ALL RIGHT.
I'M NOT SEEING ANY ADDITIONAL
QUESTIONS.
WITH THAT, LET'S GO AHEAD AND
ASK THE CLERK, MADAM CLERK,
WILL YOU PLEASE CALL THE ROLE
ON THE ADOPTION OF AMENDMENT 1
TO THE AGENDA.
>> STRAUSS.
>> YES.
>> GONZALEZ.
>> YES.
>> HERBOLD.
>> YES.
>> JUAREZ.
>> YES.
>> LEWIS.
>> YES.
>> MORALES.
>> YES.
>> PEDERSEN.
>> YES.
>> SAWANT.
>> YES.
>> CHAIRMAN MOSQUEDA.
>> YES.
>> NINE IN FAVOR, NONE OPPOSED.
>> THANK YOU VERY MUCH.
IS THERE ANY OTHER ADDITIONAL
COMMENTS OR QUESTIONS -- I'M
SORRY.
FOR THE RECORD LET ME SAY THE
MOTION CARRIES.
THANK YOU COUNCIL MEMBER
PEDERSEN.
AMENDMENT ONE IS INCLUDED IN
THE AMENDED AGENDA FOR TODAY.
ARE THERE ANY ADDITIONAL
QUESTIONS OR COMMENTS ON THE
AMENDED AGENDA IN FRONT OF US.
PLEASE CALL THE ROLE ON AT
DEPOSITION THE AMENDED AGENDA.
>> STRAUSS.
>> YES.
>> GONZALEZ.
>> YES.
>> HERBOLD.
>> YES.
>> JUAREZ.
>> YES.
>> LEWIS.
>> YES.
>> MORALES.
>> YES.
>> PEDERSEN.
>> YES.
>> SAWANT.
>> YES.
>> CHAIR MOSQUEDA.
>> YES.
>> NINE IN FAVOR, NONE OPPOSED.
>> THANK YOU VERY MUCH, MADAM
CLERK.
THE MOTION CARRIES AND THE
AMENDED AGENDA IS ADOPTED.
THE WALK-ON AMENDMENT WILL BE
CONSIDERED AT THE END OF THE
ITEMS FOR THAT SPECIFIC
DEPARTMENT THIS MORNING.
>> I'M GOING TO NEED TO STEP
AWAY FOR A SCHEDULED MEETING
THAT I COULD NOT RESCHEDULE.
I WILL BE LISTENING INTO PUBLIC
COMMENT VIA THE LISTEN LINE AND
I WILL LET YOU KNOW UPON MY
RETURN.
IF I DON'T RETURN BEFORE THE
FIRST AMENDMENT IS UP, I WOULD
LIKE TO COSPONSOR.
>> THANK YOU VERY MUCH, COUNCIL
MEMBER STRAUSS.
>> THANK YOU.
>> APPRECIATE YOU LISTENING IN
AS WELL.
OKAY.
THANK YOU SO MUCH, COLLEAGUES.
AT THIS TIME WE WILL TURN TO
PUBLIC COMMENT.
WE DO HAVE 14 FOLKS SIGNED UP
FOR PUBLIC COMMENT.
WE HAVE COMMITTED TO 30 MINUTES
AT THE BEGINNING OF EACH OF OUR
MEETINGS.
WE WILL GIVE FOLKS TWO MINUTES
ALLOTTED TIME.
I WILL CALL THE NAMES IN THE
ORDER THAT THEY APPEAR ON THE
LIST.
YOU WILL HEAR A 10 SECOND CHIME
AT THE END OF YOUR ALLOTTED
TIME AND BE CUT OFF AT 2
MINUTES.
PLEASE HANG UP AT THIS POINT
AFTER YOU PROVIDE A PUBLIC
COMMENT AND DIAL BACK IN ON THE
LISTEN LINE OR WATCH ON SEATTLE
TV OR THE OTHER OPTIONS LISTED
ON ON THE AGENDA.
>> HOW, GOOD MORNING.
>> HI.
>> I THINK I'M UNMUTED.
>> YOU'RE GREAT.
>> DISTRICT 7. SEATTLE
COMMUNITY POLICE COMMISSION AT
A COST OF TENS OF THOUSANDS OF
DOLLARS IS NOW ENGAGED IN
FORMULATING BYLAWS AND A
STRATEGIC PLAN DESPITE HAVING
CLEARLY ARTICULATED MANDATES
FROM THE FEDERAL COURT AND IN
SEATTLE CITY LAW.
AND THEY ARE DOING THIS OVER
SEVEN AND A HALF YEARS AFTER
THEY FIRST STARTED MEETING.
SEVEN AND A HALF YEARS.
THE CPC IS DOING THIS BY HIRING
PROFESSIONALS BY PROHIBITING
PUBLIC COMMENT, IGNORING
MANDATE FOR FIVE YEARS AND
HOLDING PUBLIC FORUM AND
IGNORING MANDATES TO HAVE YOUTH
REPRESENTATION ON THE
COMMISSION.
THE CPC IGNORED THE MURDER OF
SMITH IN 2019 AND FAILED TO
TAKE NOTE OF THE SPD MURDER OF
ERIC WHEN IT HAPPENED IN MAY OF
THIS YEAR.
BOTH OF THESE WERE MURDERS BY
SPD OF BLACK MEN IN SEVERE
MENTAL HEALTH CRISIS.
ALL OF THIS IS INDICATIVE OF A
BUREAUCRATIC APPROACH THAT
RELIES ON PAYING PROFESSIONALS
TO TELL A COMMUNITY POLICE
COMMISSION WHAT TO DO INSTEAD
OF ACTUALLY LISTENING TO THE
COMMUNITY.
COUNCIL MEMBERS, PLEASE SUPPORT
COUPS MEMBER SAWANT'S PROPOSAL
TO DEVELOP A TRUE COMMUNITY
BASED INDEPENDENT POLICE
OVERSIGHT ENTITY.
STOP THE PRETENSE THAT WE HAVE
OVERSIGHT.
STOP THE BIFURCATION OF HAVING
THE COMMISSION AND A PSEUDO-BUT
NOT REALLY INDEPENDENT OFFICE
OF PROFESSIONAL ACCOUNTABILITY.
THANK YOU.
>> THANK YOU, THE NEXT PERSON
IS KATE.
GOOD MORNING, KATE.
>> GOOD MORNING.
MY NAME IS KATE RUBIN I'M A
RENTER FROM DISTRICT 2. I'M
CALLING TODAY IN SUPPORT OF THE
SOLIDARITY BUDGET.
WE URGE YOU TO DIVEST FROM SPD
BY AT LEAST 50% AND INVEST
THESE FUNDS INTO BLACK
COMMUNITIES AND HEALTH AND
SAFETY PROGRAMS.
PRIOR TO THE PANDEMIC WE AS
TENANT ADVOCATES WERE PUSHED
INTO HOMELESSNESS THROUGH
EVICTION, RENT GAUGING AND LACK
OF KNOWING YOUR RIGHTS
EDUCATION.
MORE THAN HALF OF SEATTLE
RESIDENTS ARE RENTERS.
47% OF TENANTS WERE RENT
BURDENED WHICH MEANS WE SPEND
30% OF OUR PRETAX INCOME ON
RENT.
LOW INCOME BLACK AND INDIGENOUS
PEOPLE OF COLOR ARE MORE LIKELY
TO BE PEOPLE OF COLOR AND THE
FIRST TO BE PUSHED OUT OF THEIR
HOMES.
WE WERE NOT PREPARED TO
SHOULDER THE MASSIVE JOBLESS
WITH COVID-19.
NOW AS HUNDREDS OF THOUSANDS OF
RENTERS HAVE LOST THEIR JOBS
AND THE FEDERAL GOVERNMENT HAS
FAILED US TIME AND TIME AGAIN,
THIS HAS BECOME EVEN MORE DIRE
FOR SEATTLE RENTERS.
WE ARE BRACING FOR A TSUNAMI OF
EVICTIONS UPON THE END OF THE
MORATORIUM.
WITHOUT FUNDING THE EVICTION
OURTS WILL BE FLOODED AND MANY
TENANTS WILL SELF EVICT WITHOUT
THE HUMILIATION OF GOING TO
COURT.
COMMUNITY BASED ORGANIZATIONS
LIKE THE TENANTS UNIONS AND
OTHERS NEED FUNDS TO CONNECT
RENTERS WITH RESOURCES, PROVIDE
EDUCATION AND ORGANIZE TO MAKE
SURE THAT THEY RECEIVE FAIR
TREATMENT FROM LANDLORDS AND
ARE HOUSED DURING THE PANDEMIC.
THE PANDEMIC WILL NOT BE OVER
ANY TIME SOON AND WE MUST
PROTECT OUR NEIGHBORS.
THANK YOU.
>> THANK YOU.
THE NEXT PERSON IS ROBIN.
GOOD MORNING, ROBIN.
>> HI.
MY NAME IS ROBIN BRIGGS.
I'M A MEMBER OF THE 43rd
DEMOCRATS ENVIRONMENTAL CAUCUS.
I WANTED TO THANK COUNCIL
MEMBER SAWANT FOR HER PROPOSAL
TO ALLOCATE 20 MILLION FROM THE
GENERAL FUND TO TAKE OFF OF
FOSSIL FUELS AND THANK YOU TO
COUNCIL MEMBER STRAUSS AND
GONZALEZ FOR SPONSORING THE
DEVELOPMENT SPECIALIST AND THE
POSITIONS IN OSE.
THESE CHANGES ARE ESSENTIAL FOR
OUR EFFORTS TO REDUCE THE
IMPACT OF GLOBAL WARMING AND TO
GET US ALONG THE PATH OF
DECARBONIZATION WHICH IS
CRITICAL FOR OUR PLANET.
THANK YOU ALL.
>> THANK YOU FOR YOUR TIME THIS
MORNING.
THE NEXT THREE PEOPLE ARE BRENT
MACFARLANE, SARAH CONE AND
JENNIFER.
BRENT, GOOD MORNING.
>> GOOD MORNING, COUNCIL.
I LIVE IN NORTH SEATTLE.
THE OPA IS NOT WORKING FOR
PEOPLE OF THIS CITY.
THE MAKEUP OF OPA IS -- HAS
ONLY TWO CIVILIAN INVESTIGATORS
AND NINE SPD SERGEANTS.
WE NEED AN ELECTED CIVILIAN
CONTROLLED ACCOUNTABILITY
SYSTEM.
I URGE THAT YOU SUPPORT COUNCIL
MEMBER SAWANT'S PROPOSAL TO
FINALLY CREATE THIS SYSTEM TO
HOLD POLICE ACCOUNTABLE.
THIS PROPOSAL WOULD ENABLE THE
CITY OF SEATTLE TO ESTABLISH AN
INDEPENDENT ELECTED COMMUNITY
OVERSIGHT BOARD WITH FULL
POWERS OVER POLICE ACCOUNTABLE,
INCLUDING THE POWER TO
INVESTIGATE REPORTS OF
EXCESSIVE FORCE AND RACIALLY
BIASED POLICING.
TO SUBPOENA WITNESSES AND
EVIDENCE AND TO FIRE OR
OTHERWISE DISCIPLINE OFFICERS
AS NEEDED.
I ASK THAT YOU SUPPORT THIS
PROPOSAL.
THANK YOU.
>> THANK YOU FOR YOUR TIME THIS
MORNING.
SARAH, GOOD MORNING.
>> HIM.
CAN YOU HEAR ME.
>> YES, I CAN HEAR YOU NOW.
THANKS.
>> HI.
MY NAME IS SARAH CONE.
AILMENT RESIDENT OF DISTRICT 6
AND A GRADUATE STUDENT AT U
DUB.
I AM ADDING MY VOICE TO THE
MANY PEOPLE THAT YOU HAVE HEARD
IN SUPPORT OF A SOLIDARITY
BUDGET.
>> THANK YOU SO MUCH.
THANK YOU.
THE NEXT PERSON IS JENNIFER.
GOOD MORNING.
>> GOOD MORNING, COUNCIL.
CHAIR MOSQUEDA.
I HAVE CALLED IN TODAY TO
SUPPORT CONSIDERATION FOR THE
SPD CIVILIAN OVERSIGHT BOARD
PROPOSED BY COUNCIL MEMBER
SAWANT.
I'M A CONSTITUENT OF STRAUSS AS
WELL AS YOU CHAIRMAN MOSQUEDA
AND TERESA GONZALEZ.
AS AN INVOLVED AND CONCERNED
COMMUNITY MEMBER, I HAVE
WATCHED AND ATTENDED FORUMS
WHERE OUR CURRENT ORGANIZATION
CPC AND OPA HAS FAILED TIME AND
AGAIN TO QUESTION CHALLENGE
ENGAGE OR EXECUTE THEIR MISSION
OF POLICE ACCOUNTABILITY.
TO SAY THE SYSTEM IS BROKEN IS
TO IMPLY THAT IT EVER WORKED
AND THAT WOULD BE FALSE.
CCOUNTABILITY BODIES LIKE THE
CPC AND OPA HAVE CONSISTENTLY
BE DYSFUNCTIONAL IN PART
BECAUSE EACH PARTY HAS LITTLE
OR NO ACCOUNTABILITY POWER AND
USES CURRENT OR FORMER S PD
OFFICERS TO GET INFORMATION.
IT IS IMPERATIVE THAT WE HAVE
AN ACTUAL ACCOUNTABILITY BODY
DEVELOPED WITH PRACTICES AND
POWERS TO BETTER PROTECT THOSE
MOST IMPACTED BY SYSTEMIC
RACISM FROM POLICE BRUTALITY
AND USE OF DEADLY FORCE.
FOR MORE THAN 27 PEOPLE WHO
HAVE DIED AT THE HANDS OF
SEATTLE POLICE AND COUNTLESS
COMMUNITY MEMBERS BRUTALLY
BEATEN OVER THE SUMMER A REAL
STEP FOR ACCOUNTABILITY NEEDS
YOUR SUPPORT.
THANK YOU.
>> THANK YOU VERY MUCH.
>> MY NAME IS KENNY STEWART.
I'M A SEATTLE FIREFIGHTER ON
LADDER 8. AND PRESIDENT OF THE
FIREFIGHTERS UNION 27.
ON BEHALF OF THE ALMOST 1,000
FIREFIGHTERS AND MEMBERS OF
LOCAL 27 I WANT TO THANK YOU
FOR ALLOWING ME TO PROVIDE
INPUT ON THE 2021 PROPOSED
BUDGET.
FIREFIGHTERS SERVE THE PEOPLE
OF SEATTLE BY PROVIDING WORLD
CLASS FIRE SUPPRESSION AND
EMERGENCY MEDICAL CARE.
WE TAKE GREAT PERSONAL RISKS IN
DOING SO.
SEATTLE FIREFIGHTERS
CONSISTENTLY LEAD THE WAY IN
FIRE SERVICE AS A MODERN
INNOVATIVE DIVERSE
ORGANIZATION.
I FIRST WANT TO THANK THE MAYOR
FOR PRIORITIZING PUBLIC SAFETY
AND INCREASING THE BUDGET FOR
TWO CRITICAL ISSUES.
THE EXPANSION OF THE HEALTH 1
PROGRAM AND A CRITIC INCREASE
OF FIRE DEPARTMENT RESOURCES
LADDER 13 AND MEDIC 26 TO
ADDRESS THE WEST SEATTLE BRIDGE
CLOSURE.
FIREFIGHTERS HOPE THE CITY
COUNCIL BRIOR ADVERTISES THESE
PUBLIC SAFETY MEASURES AS WELL
AND SUPPORTS THESE ISSUES.
IN ADDITION TO THE BUDGET
PROPOSAL AS WRITTEN,
FIREFIGHTERS ASK COUNCIL TO
FUND THE FOLLOWING PRIORITIES
ON THE AGENDA TODAY.
FIRST STAFFING.
RESTORE THE ADDITIONAL 25
FIREFIGHTER RECRUITS TO
MAINTAIN STAFFING MEMBER FOR
THE CRITICAL SERVICES AND
PROGRAMS IN THE DEPARTMENT AS
OUR WORKLOAD INCREASES.
THE DEMANDS ON FIREFIGHTERS
CONTINUES TO EXPAND DUE TO
GROWTH AND DENSITY OF OUR CITY,
HOMELESSNESS, THE OPIOID ABUSE
CRISIS, THE PANDEMIC, WILDFIRES
AND MORE.
FIREFIGHTERS FOR EXAMPLE HAVE
INCREASED OUR SERVICES SINCE
THE PANDEMIC BEGAN BY STAFFING
FOUR COVID TESTING SITES IN
SEATTLE SIX DAYS A WEEK.
WE HAVE SERVED OVER 300,000
PEOPLE IN PROVIDING THOSE
TESTS.
AUTOMATIC EXTERNAL FIBRIL ATORS
IS THE SECOND ONE.
FIREFIGHTERS AND PARAMEDICS USE
THEM ON A DAILY BASIS.
TURNOUT GEAR.
OUR PERSONAL PROTECTIVE
CLOTHING.
THESE REQUESTS ARE REASONABLE,
RELATIVELY INEXPENSIVE AND WILL
KEEP THE FIREFIGHTERS SAFE.
>> THANK YOU, VERY MUCH, KENNY.
PLEASE SEND THE REST OF YOUR
COMMENTS IN AND SELL CIRCULATE
THOSE TODAY AS WELL.
THE NEXT PERSON IS JIMMY
STREET.
>> IT IS ACTUALLY JIM.
BUT THAT'S OKAY.
>> I'M SO SORRY.
I ADDED THAT.
GOOD MORNING, JIM.
>> I WAS ALWAYS CALLED JIMMY
WHEN I WAS A LITTLE KID.
>> I DON'T EVEN KNOW YOU THAT
WELL.
THAT'S NOT APPROPRIATE
[LAUGHTER]
>> THANKS FOR BEING HERE.
>> MY NAME IS JIM STREET A
MEMBER OF THE 43rd DISTRICT
ENVIRONMENTAL CAUCUS.
THANK YOU TO COUNCIL MEMBER
STRAUSS AND GONZALEZ AND OTHERS
FOR SPONSORING THE FILLING OF
THE TWO POSITIONS IN THE OFFICE
OF SUSTAINABILITY.
THE SENIOR PLANNING AND
DEVELOPMENT SPECIALIST AND THE
CLIMATE POLICY ADVISER
POSITION.
DELAY IN FILLING THESE
POSITIONS IN 2022 WILL LIMIT
THE ACTIVITIES THAT ARE
CRUCIALLY NEEDED TO CARRY OUT
CARBON REDUCTION ACTIONS.
AND THEY WOULD UNDERCUT THE
CITY'S ABILITY TO ESTABLISH
CLIMATE ACCOUNTABILITY
BENCHMARKS.
THANK YOU SECRETARY TO COUNCIL
MEMBER SAWANT AND OTHER COUNCIL
MEMBERS FOR SPONSORING THE
ADDITION OF $20 MILLION TO THE
GENERAL FUND TO SUBSIDIZE LOW
INCOME HOUSING.
THIS IS A REAL SUBSTANTIVE
ACTION NOW TO REDUCE EMISSIONS
AND IT IS A REAL SUBSTANTIAL
ACTION FOR CLIMATE JUSTICE HERE
IN SEATTLE.
IN ADDITION WITH REGARD TO THE
DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION WE
SUPPORT THE PROPOSAL BY MOVE
ALL SEATTLE SUSTAINABILITY
COALITION TO ADD $21 MILLION TO
THE CAPITAL BUDGET FOR REDUCING
CUTS FROM WALKING AND BIKING
PROJECTS.
FURTHER WE WILL ABSOLUTELY NEED
NEW REVENUES TO BALANCE THIS
BUDGET.
WE URGE YOU TO APPROVE NOW THE
$20 INCREASE IN THE VEHICLE
EXCISE TAX DEPENDING ON THE
VOTE IN NOVEMBER ON THE TRANSIT
BENEFIT DISTRICT THE TAX TO
VOTERS IN 2021.
WE SUPPORT CONSIDERATION OF AN
EXCISE CARBON FRANCHISE TAX,
THE SEATTLE GAS TAX AND A 1%
INCOME TAX IN TERMS OF
THOROUGHLY ANALYSIS OF THE
POSSIBLE 2021 REVENUE SOURCES.
THANK YOU VERY MUCH.
>> THANK YOU FOR YOUR TIME THIS
MORNING.
VALERIE, GOOD MORNING.
>> MY NAME IS VALERIE.
I'M A RESIDENT OF DISTRICT 2.
AND I HAVE BEEN FOLLOWING
SEATTLE POLICING FOR THE PAST
TEN YEARS.
IT HASN'T PRODUCED MEANINGFUL
IMPROVEMENT IN POLICE ATTITUDE
OR BEHAVIOR.
WE HAVE AN OPPORTUNITY NOW WITH
THIS BUDGET TO BEGIN TO MOVE
FROM SALES REFORCE TO THE REAL
TRANSFORMATION THAT WE NEED FOR
PEACEFUL SAFE AND EQUITABLE
CITY.
WE HAVE TO CHANGE POLICING BUT
ALSO POLICE ACCOUNTABILITY.
THE SEATTLE ACCOUNTABILITY
STRUCTURE IS INADEQUATE AND
PROVIDES THE ILLUSION OF POLICE
ACCOUNTABILITY WITHOUT THE
REALITY.
IT IS ALSO OPAQUE.
SEATTLE RESIDENTS DON'T REALLY
KNOW WHAT IT DOES OR WHAT OUT
COMES IT PRODUCES.
IN THE WAKE OF SHOOTINGS OF
PEOPLE IN MENTAL HEALTH CRISIS
IN RECENT YEARS AND EXTREME
POLICE VIOLENCE TOWARDS
PROTESTERS THIS SUMMER WE HAVE
BEEN TOLD REPEATEDLY BY
AUTHORITIES LIKE THE MAYOR AND
POLICE CHIEF THAT THE OPA IS
CIVILIAN OVERSIGHT.
IT IS NOT AND IT COSTS MILLIONS
OF DOLLARS EVERY YEAR.
PLEASE SUPPORT COUNCIL MEMBER
SAWANT'S PROPOSAL THAT COULD
CREATE A NEW ELECTED
ACCOUNTABILITY STRUCTURE.
WE NEED A BODY THAT IS
TRANSPARENT AND ANSWERABLE TO
THE PEOPLE WHO PAY FOR IT.
WE PAY FOR POLICING AND WE
DESERVE MUCH BETTER.
THANK YOU.
AND THE LAST FOUR SPEAKERS ARE
--
>> GOOD MORNING.
>> PRESS STAR 6. PERFECT.
GOOD MORNING.
>> GOOD MORNING.
CAN YOU HEAR ME?
>> YES.
>> THANK YOU FOR CHECKING.
>> MY NAME IS LOWERET CULVERT.
I'M A LONG TIME RESIDENT OF THE
NEIGHBORHOOD.
AND I'M ALSO CALLING TO COMMENT
ON OUR SYSTEM OF POLICE
ACCOUNTABILITY.
I'M WELL AWARE I'M STANDING ON
THE SHOULDERS OF THIS SUMMERS
MANY DEMONSTRATIONS AND THE
BLACK LIVES MATTER MOVEMENT
WHICH THAT MANY COUNCIL MEMBERS
SUPPORTED.
ALL OF WHICH EXPRESS STRONG
CONCERNS ABOUT SEATTLE'S POLICE
ACCOUNTABLE AND PROBLEMS. I
THINK IT SHOULD BE OBVIOUSLY
THAT OUR CURRENT ACCOUNTABILITY
SYSTEM DOES NOT WORK FOR A
VARIETY OF REASONS.
ESPECIALLY NOW THERE COULDN'T
BE A BETTER TIME AFTER THE
MOMENTUM AND THE INTEREST BUILT
THIS SUMMER TO TAKE THIS ON, TO
CREATE A CIVILIAN ELECTED
POLICE ACCOUNTABILITY.
NOW IS THE TIME.
>> THANK YOU VERY MUCH.
ANN, GOOD MORNING.
>> GOOD MORNING, ANN.
IT LOOKS LIKE YOU'RE MUTED.
STAR 6 ONE MORE TIME.
WE WILL COME BACK TO YOU, AN.
I SEE YOU.
PLEASE GO AHEAD, ANN.
>> MY NAME IS IAN GORDON.
I'M THE BUSINESS MANAGER FOR
LABORERS LOCAL 12-9 AND A PROUD
NEW RESIDENT OF THE GREENWOOD
COMMUNITY FOR THE PAST FEW
YEARS.
BUT I'M SPEAKING TODAY ON IN
SUPPORT OF TWO POSITIONS AT
SDOT ONE BEING THE ASPHALT CREW
CHIEF AND THE OTHER BEING AN
ASPHALT RAKER.
THE ASPHALT PAVING CREW CHIEF
IS A RELATIVELY NEW POSITION
WHAT IT DOES, IT HANDLES THE
MULTIPLE CREW CHIEFS, THE
OVERALL COORDINATION OF THE
WORK PROJECT, SAFETY SETUP,
TRAFFIC STORM WATER AND IN A
VARIETY OF FIELD SITUATIONS.
THEIR CONTACTS ARE WITH
INSPECTORS, SAFETY OFFICERS AND
OTHER DEPARTMENTS.
THEY MAKE UP FOR THE GAP IN THE
-- BETWEEN THE CREW CHIEF
POSITION AND THE ASPHALT RAKER
POSITION.
THE ASPHALT RAKER IS
RESPONSIBLE FOR MEASURING THE
LAYOUT OF THE PROJECT,
DETERMINING THE AMOUNT OF MIX
TO ORDER FOR THE JOB,
COORDINATING EQUIPMENT
NECESSARY, ORGANIZE SAFETY
SETUP FOR FLAGGERS TO STATE
GUIDELINES, LEADS AND TRAINAS
QUALITY RAKERS.
SIMPLY PUT, THE CREW CHIEFS
WORK TO PLAN THE JOB THAT THE
3,000-FOOT LEVEL.
THE ASSISTANT CREW CHIEF IS THE
ON THE GROUND PERSON WHO IS
RESPONSIBLE FOR COORDINATING
AND PLANNING THE JOB.
SO THERE'S RIGHT MIX AND RIGHT
PEOPLE TO DO EVERYTHING.
THE RAKER.
>> HELLO.
>> YES, YOU HAVE ABOUT TEN
SECONDS.
>> OKAY.
>> GO AHEAD.
>> MEASURES OUT THE PROJECT AND
LEADS IN TRAINING THEAS QUALITY
RAKERS AND LABORERS.
>> THANK YOU SO MUCH IAN.
>> THANKS.
>> YEAH.
IF YOU HAVE THAT IN WRITING AND
YOU WOULD LIKE TO SHARE IT WITH
US AS WELL, THAT WOULD BE VERY
HELPFUL.
THANK YOU FOR THOSE DETAILS
THIS MORNING.
VERY INFORMATIVE.
AND THE LAST TWO SPEAKERS ARE
JESSIE RAULINGS AND SCOUT.
GOOD MORNING, JESSIE.
>> GOOD MORNING.
MY NAME JESSIE RAULINGS AND I'M
THE PUBLIC POLICY MANAGER.
PDA IS A NONPROFIT CORPORATION
THAT WORKS TO ADVANCE PUBLIC
HEALTH CHANGE.
I'M ALSO A MEMBER OF THE LOCAL
GROUP JUSTICE TO HELP WHICH
AIMS TO ADVANCE REALITY BASED
SOLUTIONS, EXCUSE ME, TO OUR
LOCAL DRUG USER HEALTH CRISIS.
THIS MORNING I'M HOPING TO
REQUEST FURTHER SUPPORT FOR TWO
ACTIONS ON THE AGENDA THAT WILL
IMPACT THOSE WHO USE DRUGS BUT
BE BENEFICIAL TO CITY WIDE
SAFETY AND HEALTH.
WHEN WE DISCUSS TRANSFORMING
THE WAYS IN WHICH PUBLIC SAFETY
IS DESIGNED AND IMPLEMENTED IT
IS CRITICAL THE INNOVATIVE
POLICIES BE PART OF THE DESIGN.
I WANT TO THANK COUNCIL MEMBER
HERBOLD AND CHRISTINA AND
COUNCIL MEMBER HERBOLD'S OFFICE
FOR THE BUDGET ACTIONS THAT CAN
INCREASE DRUG USER HEALTH AND
IMPROVE HEALTH FOR ALL SEATTLE
RESIDENTS.
SEATTLE COUNCIL HAS LED THE WAY
ON SAFE CONSUMPTION WHICH IS AN
EVIDENCE BASED INTERVENTION IN
REDUCING DEATHS.
FOR TOO LONG EARMARKED FUNDING
BY MANY COUNCIL MEMBERS HAD SAT
DORMANT.
NOW WE HAVE A CLEAR PATHWAY
FORWARD FOR ALLOCATING THE
FUNDS.
BY SUPPORTING COUNCIL MEMBER
HERBOLD'S BUDGET ACTION TO
TRANSFER DOLLARS TO THE
CONTRACT WE CAN ESPECIALLY SURE
THAT SCS BECOMES A LOCAL
SUCCESS.
IN ADDITION WE WANT TO THANK
COUNCIL MEMBER HERBOLD'S
LEADERSHIP WITH A SECOND ACTION
TO INCREASE FUNDING TO PROVIDE
SERVICES TO PEOPLE WHO USE
DRUGS WHICH IS A COMMON SENSE
PROPOSAL TO ONE OF OUR
COMMUNITY'S MOST DIRE
EMERGENCIES.
ALSO WANT TO THANK COUNCIL
PRESIDENT GONZALEZ, LEWIS,
MORALES AND THE CURRENT SUPPORT
FOR THESE BUDGET ACTIONS.
THANK YOU SO MUCH.
>> THANK YOU SO MUCH.
AND OUR LAST SPEAKER OF THE
DAY, PLEASE GO AHEAD.
>> HELLO, COUNCIL.
I'M A RESIDENT OF DISTRICT 7.
AND I SUPPORT A SOLIDARITY
BUDGET FOR OUR COMMUNITIES IN
SEATTLE. WE HAVE TO INVEST FROM
HARM, POLICE AND POLLUTION AND
INVEST IN WHAT MAKES THE
COMMUNITIES HEALTHY.
I AM VERY PLEASED TO SEE ITEMS
ON THIS AGENDA THAT WILL FUND
COMMUNITY LED INVESTMENTS SUCH
AS AGENDA ITEM 11 AND THOSE
THAT WILL FUND OUR CITY WORKING
TOWARDS A GREEN NEW DEAL.
ITEMS 19, 20, 22.
THOSE CLOSEST TO THE PROBLEMS
ARE CLOSEST TO THE SOLUTIONS.
COMMUNITIES MOST HARMED BY
COVID-19 CLIMATE INJUSTICE AND
RACIST AND CRIMINALIZATION AND
SHOULD TRANSFORM THE BUDGET
INTO ONE THAT SERVES ALL
PEOPLE.
I SUPPORT ITEMS 7 AND 8 WHICH
TOGETHER ALLOCATE NEARLY
$146,000 TO SERVICES OR
PROGRAMS THAT SUPPORT
INDIGENOUS COMMUNITIES.
HOWEVER I BELIEVE MORE NEEDS TO
BE DONE IN SUPPORTING AND
UPLIFTING NATIVE COMMUNITIES
AND ESPECIALLY THE TRIBE.
WE CANNOT CONTINUE JUSTIFYING A
COMMUNITY THAT PRY PORE
ADVERTISES PROFIT OVER PEOPLE.
AND THE SEATTLE POLICE
DEPARTMENT HAS TOO MUCH MONEY
IF YOU NEED TO GET MORE.
THANK YOU SO MUCH.
I YIELD THE REST OF MY TIME.
>> THANK YOU.
THAT CONCLUDES ALL OF THE FOLKS
FOR PUBLIC TESTIMONY THIS
MORNING.
THIS WILL END OUR PUBLIC
COMMENT PERIOD FOR TODAY.
AND WE'RE GOING TO MOVE TON
ITEMS OF BUSINESS ON TODAY'S
AGENDA.
MADAM CLERK, I KNOW WE HAVE A
NUMBER OF ITEMS HERE.
WOULD IT BE HELPFUL FOR THE
RECORD IF WE READ IN THE
TITLES?
>> I BELIEVE THAT WOULD WORK
FINE WE'RE ON CITY WIDE
PROPOSAL LEGISLATION.
>> I WOULD ASK IF YOU WANT TO
READ ALL OF THE ROMAN NUMERALS
SO WE CAN ROLL THROUGH.
>> ON THIS MORNING'S AGENDA
ROMAN NUMERAL 1 CITY WIDE.
ROMAN NUMEROUS 2, FINANCE
GENERAL.
FIND MY PLACE.
ROMAN NUMEROUS NUMBER 3, HUMAN
SERVICES DEPARTMENT.
ROMAN NUMEROUS NUMBER 4,
SEATTLE FIRE DEPARTMENT.
>> EXCELLENT.
>> THAT'S IT FOR THIS MORNING.
THANK YOU.
>> THANK YOU, MADAM CLERK.
THANK YOU FOR ALL OF THE WORK
THAT YOU HAVE DONE OVER THE
LAST NOW ALMOST SIX WEEKS ON
THE PROPOSED BUDGET IN FRONT OF
US.
WE HAVE QUITE A BIT OF
DISCUSSION TO HAVE TODAY.
AND I'M LOOKING FORWARD TO THE
ROBUST DISCUSSION.
WITH US WE HAVE KARINA BOWL.
I SEE YOU POPPED RIGHT UP
THERE.
THANK YOU SO MUCH AND WHY DON'T
WE GO AHEAD AND HAVE YOU DO A
QUICK SUMMARY FOR US ON THE
FIRST ITEM ON OUR AGENDA.
>> THANK YOU SO MUCH.
THIS WOULD ADD A TOTAL OF 2.13
MILLION GENERAL FUND TO
DISTRIBUTE AMONG FIVE
DEPARTMENTS TO RESTORE 15
POSITION THAT'S WOULD BE
ELIMINATED IN THE 2021 PROPOSED
BUDGET FOR BUDGET REASONS.
THE FIVE DEPARTMENTS ARE HUMAN
SERVICES DEPARTMENT, OFFICE OF
ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT, OFFICE OF
PLANNING AND COMMUNITY
DEVELOPMENT, SEATTLE DEPARTMENT
OF TRANSPORTATION, AND THE
SEATTLE FIRE DEPARTMENT.
THIS CBA WOULD ALSO IMPOSE A
PROVISO ON A PORTION OF EACH OF
THE LISTED DEPARTMENTS BUDGET
TO RESTRICT USE OF THE FUNDS TO
SOLELY RETAINING THE POSITIONS.
TO PROVIDE BACKGROUND, THE
EXECUTIVE PROVIDED COUNCIL AND
CENTRAL STAFF, A LIST OF
EMPLOYEES THAT WOULD RECEIVE
LAYOFF NOTICES AS PART OF THE
PROPOSED BUDGET.
INFORMATION FROM CITY BUDGET
OFFICE AND THE DEPARTMENTS ON
THE REASONS FOR ELIMINATION OF
THESE POSITIONS INDICATES THAT
15 OF THESE LAYOFFS CAN BE
CHARACTERIZED AS BUDGET REVERSE
US PROGRAMATIC.
AND USUALLY IDENTIFIED POSSIBLE
NEGATIVE IMPACTS TO PROGRAMS
AND SERVICES.
IN CONTRAST MEANING THAT THE
POSITION HAS JOB DUTIES THAT
ARE NO LONGER NECESSARY DUE TO
A PROGRAM JOB DUTIES OUTSIDE OF
THE CITY OR REASONS NOT
RELATING TO BUDGET.
AND THAT SUMMARIZES THE BUDGET
ACTION.
>> THANK YOU VERY MUCH, KARINA.
COLLEAGUES, THIS IS ONE OF THE
PRIORITY DOCUMENTS THAT I HAVE
PUT FORWARD.
I'M EXCITED TO BE ABLE TO KICK
OFF TODAY'S DISCUSSION ABOUT
RESTORING BUDGETARY LAYOFFS.
THIS SETS A GOOD TONE FOR THE
DAY.
AND I WANT TO THAT I COUNCIL
MEMBER GONZALEZ AND LEWIS FOR
THEIR COSPONSR OF THIS.
COUNCIL MEMBER STRAUSS HAS
SIGNED ON THIS MORNING AND I
APPRECIATE THEIR SUPPORT THIS
WELL.
I SUPPORT WORKERS RIGHTS TO
MAKE SURE THERE IS A STRONG AND
THRIVING LOCAL ECONOMY.
AND WHY DO WE WANT TO PROTECT
AGAINST BUDGET LAYOFFS DURING
ECONOMIC DOWN TURN?
BECAUSE GOVERNMENT SERVICES AND
SPECIFICALLY PUBLIC SECTOR JOBS
ARE THE BACK BONE TO MAKING OUR
ECONOMY RECOVER FASTER.
THIS IS NOT JUST MY OPINION.
THIS IS A FACT.
THIS IS WHAT THE DATA SHOWS
FROM ECONOMISTS AROUND THE
COUNTRY AND AROUND THE GLOBE
AND WE HEARD IT AS EARLY AS
THIS YEAR IN MAY AS THE COVID
CRISIS BEGAN TO EXPOSE THE
ALREADY EXISTING CRACKS IN OUR
LOCAL ECONOMY BOTH AT THE LOCAL
LEVEL AND THE NATIONAL AND
GLOBAL LEVEL.
THIS WAS THE FORM THAT WAS
CALLED THE ECONOMIC REALITIES
OF THE COVID CRISIS WHICH WE
HELD IN MAY.
IF WE WERE IN PERSON, I WOULD
BE SHARING BUT A HANDOUT RIGHT
NOW.
SO I'M GOING TO SHARE THAT
HANDOUT WITH YOU VIRTUALLY IF
YOU WILL INDULGE US FOR A QUICK
SECOND.
I WANT TO SHOW THE DATA
PRESENTED AT THE FORUM.
THANK YOU TO PAT TEE FOR
SHARING THAT INFORMATION.
IF YOU COULD ZOOM IN A LITTLE
BIT.
THIS IS THE DATA FROM THE -- IN
THE PUBLIC INTEREST WHO
PRESENTED DATA FROM THE
AMERICAN PROGRESS REPORT.
THE ORIGINAL DATA WAS PULLED
FROM THE BLS WHICH SHOWS THAT
BY EVERY MEASURE, WHEN STATE
GOVERNMENTS AND LOCAL
GOVERNMENTS CUT PUBLIC SECTOR
JOBS OR CUT PUBLIC SERVICES
DURING A RECESSION BY EVERY
MEASURE LOCAL ECONOMIES ARE
HURT.
IT HURTS NOT ONLY THE
INDIVIDUAL THAT'S WE'RE TRYING
TO SERVE BY MAKING SURE THAT
THEY HAVE THE BASIC SERVICES
THEY NEED.
BUT IT ALSO HURTS OUR ABILITY
TO RECOVER AND IT SPECIFICALLY
HURTS THE PRIVATE SECTOR AS
WELL.
THAT'S AN IMPORTANT TAKE AWAY
FROM THE BOTTOM LEFT HAND
CORNER IN THIS CHART WHICH
SHOWS THE IMPACT WHEN LOCAL
GOVERNMENTS DECIDE TO CUT
SERVICES AND JOBS.
SHE SAYS, THE IDEA THAT
GOVERNMENT SHOULD SEVERELY CUT
SPENDS TO DEAL WITH AN ECONOMIC
DOWNTURN IS A STARVE THE BEAST
APPROACH BUT LEADS TO
INADEQUATE RESOURCES AND
PERSONNEL TO MEET PUBLIC NEEDS
WHICH THEN REINFORCES AN ANTI-
GOVERNMENT SENTIMENT BY
PRESENTING GOVERNMENTS AS THE
PROBLEM.
IT CAN THREATEN TO CREATE A
FISCAL CYCLE OR GROWTH DECLINES
WHICH LOWERS TAX REVENUE AND
THUS FURTHER CREATES OSTERITY.
WE ARE FACING THE LARGEST AND
MOST SUDDEN ECONOMIC SHOCK IN
THE UNITED STATES LARGER THAN
THE GREAT DEPRESSION IN TERMS
OF JOB LOSS.
AND GOES ON TO EXPLAIN THAT
STATE AND LOCAL GOVERNMENTS
SHOULD CONSIDER THEIR
RESPONSIBILITY FOR RESPONDING
TO THE CRISIS BECAUSE OUR
WORKERS AND OUR SERVICES
SHOULDER THE SUPPORT FOR FRONT
LINE SERVICES FOR LOWEST WAGE
AND MOST VULNERABLE RESIDENTS
IN OUR COMMUNITIES.
HE WARNS, RETURN TO ECONOMIC
RECOVERY WILL BE GRADUAL.
AS WE HAVE ALREADY SEEN
ALREADY, IT WILL BE IN WAVES
WHICH IS NOT ONLY A THREAT TO
THE ECONOMIC GROWTH BUT ALSO A
THREAT TO THE HEALTH OF OUR
COMMUNITY AND WE MUST HAVE A
STRATEGIC APPROACH TO SPEND
EVERYTHING THAT WE NEED TO
SPEND ON PUBLIC FRONT LINE
SERVICES AND THOSE WHO PROVIDE
THOSE SERVICES.
THIS REQUIRES EMPLOYEES TO BE
ABLE TO PROVIDE THESE CRITICAL
SERVICES.
HE CONCLUDE THAT'S WHEN LOCAL
GOVERNMENTS PRESERVE SPENDING
AND EMPLOYMENT, THE ECONOMY
RECOVERS FASTER AND THE
UNEMPLOYMENT RATE RECOVERS
FASTER AND JOB GROWTH WAS
FASTER.
HE NOTES IT IS AN OBVIOUS
POLICY CHOICE.
AND LASTLY, BECAUSE IF YOU
HAVEN'T SEEN THE FORM WE ARE
GOING TO PUT UP THE LINK TO
THAT FORM.
IF CITY SLASHED FUNDING DURING
THIS ECONOMIC CRISIS IT COULD
TAKE EVEN LONGER TO RECOVER
FROM THE ECONOMIC DOWNTURN,
PROLONG UNEMPLOYMENT AND THIS
SHOULD BE OUR GREATEST ECONOMIC
FEAR.
THIS IS THE RESPONSIBILITY OF
PUBLIC POLICY MAKERS NOW TO
LOOK FOR WAYS TO MAKE
INVESTMENTS IN THE LOCAL
ECONOMY IN TIMES OF ECONOMIC
LEAGUE.
THIS IS RECOGNIZED ALREADY BY
THIS COUNCIL.
WE PASSED THE JUMP START
PROGRESSIVE REVENUE PROPOSAL.
THIS COUNCIL PUT A SPENDING
PLAN TOGETHER THAT ALLOCATED
AROUND 60 MILLION TO PRESERVE
CITY SERVICES, CARTS AND BY
EXTENSION CITY JOBS.
AND WE RECOGNIZE THAT WE MIGHT
NOT BE ABLE TO PROTECT EVERY
SINGLE CITY JOB, INCLUDING WHEN
THERE'S POLICY OR DIRECTIONAL
CHANGE.
THAT IS NOT THE CASE WITH THESE
POTENTIAL BUDGETARY CUTS IN
FRONT OF US.
THAT IS WHAT THIS FORM B AIMS
TO RESTORE.
THERE IS MONEY IN THE BUDGET.
THERE WAS MONEY IN THE BUDGET
TO SAVE THESE VITAL SERVICES
AND JOBS AND MAKE SURE THAT WE
WARD OFF AGAINST UNNECESSARY
CUTS, ESPECIALLY TO MEMBERS OF
THE COMMUNITY BY WORKERS AS YOU
SEE NOTED IN THE CENTRAL SOUTH
SUMMARY.
COLLEAGUES, THIS IS ONE OF MY
TOP PRIORITIES THAT I LOOK
FORWARD TO WORKING WITH YOU ON.
NOT ONLY IS THIS THE BACK BONE
INFORMER WHAT HELPS AN ECONOMY
RECOVER FASTER, THIS IS THE
BACK BONE OF THE FRAMEWORK THAT
I WANT TO BRING TO THE BUDGET
PRIORITIES IN THE 2020 CYCLE.
ONE, CITY EMPLOYMENT NEEDS
PEOPLE PRESERVING -- MEANS
FEWER PEOPLE THAT WILL RELY ON
OUR SAFETY NET.
SECOND, THE PEOPLE THAT HAVE
MONEY IN THEIR POCKETS BY BEING
ABLE TO KEEP JOBS ARE MORE
LIKELY TO SPEND IT IN OUR LOCAL
ECONOMY.
CITY EMPLOYEES PROVIDE VITAL
SERVICES.
THE DATA SHOWS THE SERVICES AND
SUPPORT THEY PROVIDE TO OUR
RESIDENTS OF OUR CITY RIGHT NOW
HELPS TO MAKE SURE THAT OUR
RECOVERY WILL GROW FASTER AND
THAT THE DISPARITY THAT WE
CURRENTLY SEE WILL BE LESS
SEVERE.
HSD HAS NOTED THAT THE LAYOFF
THAT'S ARE BEING PROPOSED WOULD
NOT RESULT IN LESS WORK.
IN FACT THAT WORK WOULD BE
SPREAD ACROSS OTHER STAFF
MEMBERS INCREASING WORKLOAD
AMONGST AN ALREADY STRESSED OUT
WORKFORCE.
FOURTH, TYPICALLY FIRST IN
FIRST OUT RESULTS IN THE MOST
DIVERSE EMPLOYEES BEING LET GO.
AND WE WANT TO MAKE SURE WE'RE
NOT DOING THIS IN THIS CYCLE AS
YOU CAN SEE AS WELL.
IT IS APPARENT THAT THE TWO
SDOT REPRESENTATIVE POSITIONS
WE'RE LOOKING TO RESTORE, THOSE
FAMILIAR WITH THE POSITIONS CAT
GOERIZE THEM AS GROWTH
POSITIONS.
AND OFFERED OTHER POSITIONS.
THESE ARE PREDOMINANTLY STAFFED
BY PEOPLE OF COLOR.
FINALLY, FIVE, WE WANT TO KEEP
PEOPLE EMPLOYED BECAUSE WE KNOW
THE INSTITUTIONAL KNOWLEDGE
CREATES GREATER EFFICIENCY
AMONGST CITY PROGRAMS.
THEY HAVE ALSO NOTED THAT ONE
OF THEIR POTENTIAL LAYOFFS IS
AN EMPLOYEE THAT WILL NOT BE
ABSORBED AND THAT INDIVIDUAL IN
THIS POSITION HELPS GUIDE
POLICY-BASED AND PRACTICES THAT
ARE RARE.
WE WANT TO MAKE SURE THAT THOSE
-- THAT INSTITUTIONAL KNOWLEDGE
IS BEING ABLE TO BE MAINTAINED.
WE HEARD THAT SAME THING FROM
IAN WHO TESTIFIED TODAY ABOUT
HOW THAT POSITION IS BEING
SLATE TODAY BE CUT ACTUALLY
CREATES THAT CONNECTIVE TISSUE
BETWEEN VARIOUS SERVICES AND
LOSING THAT POSITION COULD BE
REALLY A DETRIMENT.
I KNOW I WENT LONGER THAN WE
USUALLY D I APPRECIATE THAT YOU
HAVE GIVEN ME THE EXTRA TIME
FOR CONSIDERING THIS PROPOSAL
GIVE THEN IT SHAPES THE
FRAMEWORK THAT I'M HOPING TO
BRING TO THIS CONVERSATION
AROUND THE BUDGET AND OUR
CONCERNS AROUND HOW WE CAN GET
OUR ECONOMY BACK AND RUNNING AS
FAST AS POSSIBLE WITH THAT, I
WILL STOP MYSELF AND ASK IF
THERE ARE ANY ADDITIONAL
QUESTIONS OR COMMENTS.
THANK YOU, PATTY, FOR SHARING
THE SCREEN.
WELL, I APPRECIATE ALL OF THE
SILENCE.
DON'T SEE ANY ADDITIONAL -- OH,
PLEASE GO AHEAD COUNCIL MEMBER
SAWANT.
>> THANK YOU.
I SUPPORT THIS AMENDMENT TO
STOP THE MAYOR'S PROPOSED
LAYOFFS OF SEATTLE OF CITY
WORKERS.
WITH HE NEED TO BE CLEAR THAT
THE LAYOFFS ARE A TINY, TINY
FRACTION OF THE BUDGET CUTS IN
THE BUDGET OF THE MAYOR.
IN ALMOST DEPARTMENT THE BUDGET
CUTS ARE TO WHAT IS CALLED THE
CAPITAL BUDGET THAT.
IS THE BUDGET FOR THINGS LIKE
CONSTRUCTION AND MAINTENANCE.
BECAUSE ALL OF THAT
CONSTRUCTION IS CONTRACTED OUT,
THE LAYOFFS ARE OVERWHELMINGLY
TO NOT CITY OF SEATTLE WORKERS,
PUBLIC SECTOR WORKERS BUT
CONSTRUCTION WORKERS HIRED OUT
BY THE CONTRACTORS.
SO ACTIVISTS AND WORKING PEOPLE
WHO WANT AN ALTERNATIVE TO THE
-- TO WHAT IS PROPOSED BY MAYOR
DURKAN BUDGET CUTS MUST LOOK TO
THE FACTS AND NOT ALLOW ELECTED
OFFICIALS CLAIM THAT THEIR
HANDS ARE CLEAN AND THEY'RE
ELIMINATING LAYOFFS WHILE
BEHIND THE SCENES ACTUALLY
UNFORTUNATELY HUNDREDS OR MAYBE
THOUSANDS MAY END UP LOSING
THEIR JOBS.
IN THE TIME THE MAYOR HAS
CLASHED $200 MILLION FROM THE
CITY BUDGET.
CITY COUNCIL AND CENTRAL STAFF
ANALYZED THE DIFFERENCE IN
GENERAL FUND AND FOUND A $27
MILLION DIFFERENCE.
ONCE YOU ACCOUNT FOR ALL OF THE
OTHER SOURCES OF FUNDING LIKE
THE REAL ESTATE EXCISE TASK,
THE CUTS IS WELL OVER $200
MILLION MY OFFICE AND THE
PEOPLE'S BUDGET MOVEMENT HAVE
PROPOSED INCREASING THE RATE OF
THE AMAZON TAX TO ELIMINATE ALL
OF THAT, ALL OF THOSE CUTS.
UNFORTUNATELY SO FAR NO OTHER
COUNCIL MEMBER HAS AGREED TO
SUPPORT THAT PROPOSAL SO IT
WILL NOT BE DISCUSSED DURING
THE FORM Bs THAT REQUIRES THREE
COSPONSORS.
BUT THEY WILL HAVE AN
OPPORTUNITY BEFORE THE FINAL
VOTE OF THE BUDGET IN NOVEMBER.
SO I REALLY URGE COUNCIL
MEMBERS TO LOOK AT THAT VERY
SERIOUSLY.
AND ALSO MY OFFICE WILL BE
BRINGING THAT PROPOSAL FORWARD
FOR THE FINAL BUDGET QUOTES IN
NOVEMBER.
I'M DEFINITELY IN SUPPORT OF
THIS BUDGET AMENDMENT.
BUT ALSO POINT OUT IT RESTORES
1% OF THE MAYOR'S PROPOSED
BUDGET CUTS.
I HOPE WHEN IT COMES TIME FOR
THE FINAL VOTES COUNCIL MEMBERS
WILL SUPPORT RESTORING THE
OTHER 99%.
THANK YOU.
>> THANK YOU SO MUCH. WERE
RESTORED THAT COULD HAVE AN
IMPACT ON SCALING UP HEALTH ONE
BECAUSE THE FIRST PRIORITY IS
ALWAYS GOING TO BE STAFFING
LADDER COMPANIES, STAFFING THE
TRADITIONAL CAPACITY OF THE
FIRE DEPARTMENT TO RESPOND TO
FIRES AND HIRE ACUTITY MEDICAL
SITUATIONS.
UNLESS THE NEEDS ARE MET,
THINGS LIKE HEALTH ONE WILL BE
SEEN AS EXTRA AND ADDITIONAL TO
THE MISSION.
SO THESE CRITICAL INVESTMENTS
ARE ALSO REALLY IMPORTANT TO
SCALING UP THOSE CRITICAL
ADDITIVE FIRST RESPONSE SERVICE
THAT'S HAVE BEEN SUCH A BIG
PRIORITY FOR THE COUNCIL OVER
THE SUMMER AND FALL.
AND THIS IS A REALLY CRITICAL
COMPONENT OF THAT TO MAKE SURE
THAT WE ARE MAINTAINING OUR
OTHER FIRE FIRST RESPONSE
CAPABILITIES WHILE EXPANDING
HEALTH ONE.
SO VERY HAPPY TO JOIN YOU AND
GLAD YOU BROUGHT THIS FORWARD.
>> THANK YOU.
I APPRECIATE ALL OF YOUR
COMMENTS AND SIGN-ONS.
LET'S MOVE ON.
I BELIEVE BEFORE WE CAN GO ON
TO THE NEXT ITEM ON OUR AGENDA
WE HAVE THE WALK-ON AMENDMENT.
IS THIS AN APPROPRIATE PLACE
FOR THAT?
OKAY.
GREAT.
COLLEAGUES AS YOU NOTED THIS
MORNING WITH YOUR VOTE TO AMEND
THE AGENDA, THE WALK-ON
AMENDMENT NUMBER 1 FROM COUNCIL
MEMBER PEDERSEN IS GOING TO BE
CONSIDERED AT THIS SECTION OF
THE AGENDA BEFORE WE MOVE ON.
IF WE COULD ZOOM IN A LITTLE
BIT.
LET ME TURN IT OVER TO CENTRAL
STAFF.
>> I'M KARINA BOWL ON CENTRAL
STAFF.
THIS WOULD AMEND ORDINARY 12
126008 126008.
WHICH MEANS THE EXECUTIVES AND
MANAGER POSITIONS.
ASSUMING THAT THE COUNCIL WOULD
PASS THAT AMENDMENT TO THIS
ORDINANCE THIS WOULD GENERATE
SAVINGS OF $5 MILLION IN THE
2021 PROPOSED BUDGET BY
ELIMINATING ADJUSTED WAGE
INCREASES FOR EMPLOYEES IN THE
NONREPRESENTED POSITIONS WHO
EARN 08% OR MORE OF THE SEATTLE
MEDIAN INCOME WHICH IS ABOUT
$82,000.
AND THEN THE SAVINGS GENERATED
BY THIS PROPOSAL WOULD BE
REINVESTED IN PROGRAMS TO SAVE
CITY JOBS AS COUNCIL MEMBER
PEDERSEN INDICATED EARLIER,
INCREASE INVESTMENTS IN
COMMUNITIES AND REPAIR BRIDGES.
THANK YOU.
>> THANK YOU VERY MUCH.
COUNCIL MEMBER PEDERSEN PLEASE
GO AHEAD.
>> THANK YOU, CHAIR MOSQUEDA.
SO I FEEL LIKE I HAD A GOOD
OPPORTUNITY AT 9:30 THIS
MORNING TO INTRODUCE THIS.
HAPPY TO JUMP INTO QUESTION AND
ANSWER.
>> WONDERFUL.
COUNCIL MEMBER SAWANT, PLEASE
GO AHEAD.
>> IF WE CAN MAKE SURE -- THERE
WE GO.
A LITTLE BACKGROUND NEWS.
THANK YOU FOR WAITING.
PLEASE GO AHEAD.
>> THANK YOU.
AS I SAID BEFORE, WHEN WE WERE
APPROVING THE AGENDA OF TODAY'S
MEETING, I OPPOSE THIS
AMENDMENT.
THIS DOES NOT CUT THE WAGES OF
THE HIGHEST PAID CITY OF
SEATTLE EMPLOYEES.
IT DOES NOT CUT THE PAY OF THE
CITY OF SEATTLE EXECUTIVES.
THIS TARGETS WORKERS WHILE
LEAVING THE BOSS' PAY
UNTOUCHED.
THE MAYOR'S PROPOSED BUDGET
FREEZES THE PAY OF CITY OF
SEATTLE EXECUTIVES BUT THAT
FALLS FAR SHORT OF CAPPING
EXECUTIVE PAY AT NO MARRY THAN
$150,000 AS MY OFFICE AND THE
PEOPLE'S BUDGET MOVEMENT HAVE
CONSISTENTLY ADVOCATED FOR
YEARS.
THOUGH I DO BELIEVE THAT
FREEZING THE PAY OF EXECUTIVES
IS AN IMPORTANT STEP AT THE
VERY LEAST.
THIS BUDGET AMENDMENT WOULD
EXTEND THAT PAY FREEZE TO CITY
WORKERS.
YES, WE ARE IN A RECESSION AND
EVERY TIME THERE IS A RECESSION
UNDER CAPITALISM THE QUESTION
BECOMES WHO WILL PAY FOR THAT
RECESSION?
WORKERS OR BIG BUSINESS.
AND EVERY TIME THERE IS A
RESCISSION WORKERS ARE TOLD IT
IS TIME FOR SHARED SACRIFICE.
WILL THEY PAY WITH PAY CUTS
FURLOUGHS AND CUT SOCIAL
SERVICES OR BUILD A MOVEMENT TO
TAX THE SUPER RICH AND IN
SEATTLE'S CASE EXPAND THE
AMAZON TAX THAT WE JUST WON TO
STOP ALL BUDGET CUTS.
THIS PUTS EVEN MORE OF THE
BURDEN OF THE RECESSION ON
REGULAR PUBLIC SECTOR WORKERS.
THIS IS A SECTION OF THE
WORKING CLASS.
AND I WOULD URGE COUNCIL
MEMBERS NOT TO COSPONSOR IT.
>> THANK YOU.
ARE THERE OTHER COMMENTS OR
QUESTIONS OR COUNCIL MEMBER
PEDERSEN DO HAVE YOU ANYTHING
ELSE.
>> IN THE ABUNDANCE OF CAUTION,
I WANT TO DISCLOSE I'M NOT SURE
IF YOU WOULD BE COVERED BY THIS
OR NOT.
JUST TO GET IT OUT THERE, MY
GIRLFRIEND LAURA BARRED AN
ASSISTANT CITY ATTORNEY MAY OR
MAY NOT BE COVERED BY THIS.
I HAVEN'T LOOKED INTO T I WANT
TO DISCLOSE THAT IN ANY EVENT
IF SHE -- IF SHE IS COVERED OR
IF SHE DOES, THAT DOESN'T
FACTOR INTO MY DECISION MAKING
WITH REGARDS TO THIS BUDGET
ITEM.
I WANTED TO FLAG THAT AS A
POTENTIAL CONFLICT.
>> THANK YOU COUNCIL MEMBER
LEWIS.
I KNOW IT IS A SMALL CITY.
EVEN THOUGH WE HAVE GROWN BY
QUITE A BIT.
THAT MAKES A LOT OF SENSE FOR
YOU TO FLAG IT.
BUT I DON'T SEE THAT REALLY
RAISING TOO MUCH CONCERN TODAY
GIVEN THAT IT IS ON THE MACRO
LEVEL.
APPRECIATE YOU RAISING IT
THOUGH.
I DO HAVE SOME QUESTIONS.
I ASKED WHETHER OR NOT THEs
EMPLOYEES THAT ARE AFFECTED BY
THE COLLECTIVE BARGAINING
AGREEMENT HAVE BEEN REACHED OUT
TO ON THIS.
CAN YOU ELABORATE ANY MORE
ABOUT WHETHER OR NOT THERE HAS
BEEN CONVERSATIONS WITH THE
FOLKS?
>> SURE.
SO THE CITY GOVERNMENT
EMPLOYEES WHO WOULD BE GETTING
THIS RAISE NEXT YEAR THEY'RE
NOT SUBJECTED TO COLLECTIVE
BARGAINING.
>> OKAY.
THANK YOU FOR CLARIFICATION.
ANY ADDITIONAL QUESTIONS.
>> THANK YOU.
I DON'T HAVE ANY QUESTIONS.
JUST A GENERAL COMMENT ABOUT
THIS PARTICULAR PROPOSAL.
I DID EXPRESS SIGNIFICANT
CONCERNS ABOUT THE PROPOSAL AS
ORIGINALLY PRESENTED AND
DISCUSSED BY COUNCIL MEMBER
PEDERSEN DURING ISSUE
IDENTIFICATION PHASE OF THE
BUDGET PROCESS.
I THINK SOME OF THE CONCERNS
THAT I RAISED PARTICULARLY AS
IT RELATES TO THE SPONSOR'S
INTENSES HAVE BEEN ADDRESSED BY
REMOVING REPRESENTED EMPLOYEES
FROM THE PROPOSAL.
I CONTINUE TO HAVE CONCERNS
ABOUT THE IMPACT ON
NONREPRESENTED EMPLOYEES.
I APPRECIATE THE EFFORT TO TO
ADDRESS SOME OF THE RACE AND
SOCIAL JUSTICE ISSUES THAT I
HIGHLIGHTED IN MY COMMENTS
PREVIOUSLY BY LOOKING AT THOSE
EMPLOYEE WHO'S HAVE 80% OR MORE
OF THE SEATTLE MEDIAN INCOME.
I THINK THAT THE REALITY IS
THAT WE HAVE TO BE
EXTRAORDINARILY CAREFUL IN
TERMS OF EXACTLY WHICH
EMPLOYEES ARE BEING IMPACTED.
I THINK IT IS EASY TO THINK
THAT 80% OF SEATTLE MEDIAN
INCOME IS A VERY LARGE VOLUME
OF -- A LARGE AMOUNT OF MONEY
BY WHICH OUR CITY EMPLOYEES AND
THEIR FAMILIES CAN SUSTAIN
THEMSELVES.
I'M NOT CONVINCED THAT IS TRUE.
I HAVE CONCERN ABOUT THIS
PROPOSAL AND WILL NOT BE
SUPPORTING THIS PROPOSAL AT
THIS JUNCTURE.
THANK YOU.
>> THANK YOU, COUNCIL
PRESIDENT.
I DON'T SEE ANY ADDITIONAL
HANDS.
DID YOU HAVE ANY ADDITIONAL
COMMENTS ON THIS.
>> NO.
I WANT TO THANK MY COLLEAGUES
FOR ENABLING US TO HAVE A
GRACIOUS DISCUSSION ABOUT THE
DIFFERENT CONSEQUENCES,
UNINTENDED CONSEQUENCES, THE
CHOICES THAT WE -- THE TOUGH
CHOICE THAT'S WE HAVE TO MAKE.
OTHER CONSIDERATIONS LIKE THE
ONE THAT COUNCIL MEMBER SAWANT
RAISED.
I JUST WANT TO THANK MY
COLLEAGUES FOR THEIR GRACE IN
LETTING US DISCUSS THIS TODAY.
AND, YOU KNOW, AGAIN, WE'RE NOT
TECHNICALLY VOTING ON IT TODAY.
BUT WHEN THE RENEWED REVENUE
FORECAST COMES OUT, IF THERE IS
ANY OTHER SORT OF THING THAT
HAPPENS THAT COULD IMPACT OUR
BUDGET, I WAS ABLE TO VOTE IN
FAVOR OF THE FIRST AMENDMENT
TODAY TO RESTORE THOSE JOBS YOU
KNOW BECAUSE THIS IS ABOUT
PREVENTING LAYOFFS OF CITY
GOVERNMENT EMPLOYEES AS WELL,
IN MY MIND AT LEAST.
I'M NOT SURE WHERE WE'RE GOING
TO FIND THE FUNDING TO DO ALL
OF THE THINGS THAT WE WANT TO
DO.
I APPRECIATE MY COLLEAGUES
ENABLING ME TO AIR THIS AS ONE
POTENTIAL SOURCE IF IT WERE TO
BECOME NECESSARY.
THANK YOU.
>> THANK YOU VERY MUCH COUNCIL
MEMBER PEDERSEN.
LET'S MOVE ON TO THE NEXT
SECTION HERE.
THANK YOU, KARINA.
GOOD MORNING, TOM.
>> GOOD MORNING, CHAIR MOSQUEDA
EXAMINE MEMBERS OF THE
COMMITTEE.
I'M WITH YOUR COUNCIL CENTRAL
STAFF.
WE'RE TALKING NOW ABOUT THE
FINANCE GENERAL SECTION OF THE
BUDGET.
BUDGET ACTION FG1A1 WOULD ADD
$150,000 TO FINANCE GENERAL
RESERVES FOR THE PARTIAL YEAR
COSTS OF ESTABLISHING AN
ECONOMIC FORECASTING OFFICE
THAT WOULD BE DEVELOPED THROUGH
SEPARATE LEGISLATION.
THIS FUNDING WOULD BE COMBINED
WITH EXISTING AMOUNTS IN THE
CITY BUDGET OFFICE BUDGET TO
SUPPORT THE INITIAL SETUP AND
PARTIAL YEAR COSTS OF THE
INDEPENDENT OFFICE.
SIMILAR TO THE KING COUNTY
OFFICE OF ECONOMIC AND
FINANCIAL RESEARCH AND THE
WASHINGTON STATE ECONOMIC
REVENUE FORECAST COUNCIL STAFF,
AN INDEPENDENT OFFICE WOULD
ENABLE ACCESS TO INDEPENDENT
AND CONFIDENTIAL ECONOMIC AND
TAX RESEARCH AND RESOURCES FOR
BOTH THE COUNCIL AND MAYOR AND
WOULD ESTABLISH A LEVEL PLAYING
FIELD FOR THE TIMING OF
RECEIVING THIS TYPE OF
INFORMATION.
LEGISLATION ESTABLISHED IN THE
OFFICE WILL BE INTRODUCED
SEPARATELY.
THE NEW OFFICE'S FINAL
OPERATING BUDGET INCLUDING
STAFF AND OTHER CONSIDERATIONS
WILL BE BASED ON THE BODY OF
WORK INCLUDED IN THAT
LEGISLATION.
TWO PROVISOS WOULD BE RELEASED
WHEN AN ORDINANCE IS RELEASED
FOR THE FORECASTING OFFICE,
INCLUDING $330,000 IN THE CITY
BUDGET OFFICE AND $150,000 IN
THE FINANCE GENERAL BUDGET AS
ADDED BY THIS ACTION.
COUNCIL PRESIDENT GONZALEZ IS
THE PRIME SPONSOR WITH
ADDITIONAL SPONSORS OF COUNCIL
MEMBER MORALs AND LEWIS.
COUNCIL PRESIDENT, THANK YOU SO
MUCH.
PLEASE GO AHEAD.
>> THANK YOU, CHAIR MOSQUEDA
AND TOM THANK YOU FOR THAT.
I MAY NEED TO TOGGLE BACK AND
FORTH.
I'M REPRESENTING THE CITY OF
SEATTLE AT THE ASSEMBLY MEETING
AND WE'RE GETTING CLOSE TO
DOING A ROLL CALL ON THE OTHER
SIDE.
I APOLOGIZE IF I HAVE TO
INTERRUPT MY COMMENTS TO GO
TOGGLE TO THE OTHER SCREEN
HERE.
QUICKLY, I BELIEVE THAT CITY
COUNCIL MEMBERS AND ITS STAFF
SHOULD HAVE EQUAL ACCESS TO THE
ECONOMIC PROVIDED TO THE
EXECUTIVE BRANCH.
OF COURSE WE ALL KNOW THAT THE
CITY BUDGET OFFICE DIRECTLY
REPORTS TO THE MAYOR'S OFFICE
AND THAT EMBEDDED WITHIN THE
MAYOR'S CITY BUDGET OFFICE IS
THE ECONOMIC REVENUE FORECAST
UNIT.
SINCE THE FORECAST GENERATED
WITHIN THE CITY'S BUDGET OFFICE
-- SORRY PARDON ME JUST A
MOMENT.
>> NO PROBLEM.
>> SORRY ABOUT THAT.
>> THANK YOU.
>> THANK YOU FOR REPRESENTING
US.
>> THANKS.
SORRY -- THANK YOU FOR THE
INDULGENCE.
WITHIN THE MAYOR CITY BUDGET
OFFICE, EXECUTIVE STAFF HAS
SOLE RESPONSIBILITY FOR THE
DATA, METHODOLOGY AND INITIAL
CONCLUSIONS PART OF THE
FORECASTING PROCESS.
BOTH BEFORE AND AFTER FORECASTS
ARE COMPLETED CENTRAL STAFF
ANALYSTS WOULD BENEFIT FROM
UNFETTERED ACCESS TO THE
UNDERLYING ASSUMPTIONS DATA AND
OTHER INFORMATION WITH THE
FORECASTING PROCESS AND
RESULTS.
OTHER LEVELS OF GOVERNMENT
INCLUDING KING COUNTY AND
WASHINGTON STATE HAVE
INDEPENDENT FORECASTING UNITS
THAT REPORT JOINTLY TO THE
LEGISLATIVE AND EXECUTIVE
BRANCHES AT THE IDENTICAL TIME.
MY OFFICE AND CENTRAL STAFF
HAVE MET WITH KING COUNTY STAFF
RESPONSIBLE FOR THEIR 2008
CHARTER.
THEY CONFIRMED THAT THE
UTILIZATION OF THIS MODEL HAS
MULTIPLE UPSIDES INCLUDING
INCREASED PUBLIC TRANSPARENCY,
CONFIDENCE, MORE ROBUST
FORECASTS AND IMPROVED
COLLABORATION AND TRUST BETWEEN
THE EXECUTIVE TRUST AND
EFFICACY BETWEEN -- BETWEEN THE
EXECUTIVE AND THE COUNCIL.
I BELIEVE THIS IS AN EFFECTIVE
GOOD GOVERNMENT STRUCTURE WHICH
THE CITY OF SEATTLE SHOULD
EMULATE.
I THINK THIS IS WELL WORTH THE
COST OF IMPLEMENTATION AND IT
SHOULD PROVIDE MANY BROAD
BENEFITS TO THE BUDGETING
EXERCISES FOR MANY YEARS TO
COME.
THANK YOU MADAM CHAIR.
HAPPY TO ANSWER ANY QUESTIONS.
>> THANK YOU, COUNCIL
PRESIDENT.
ARE THERE ANY ADDITIONAL
QUESTIONS?
ITEM NUMBER 3 IS COUNCIL BUDGET
ACTION WHICH ADDS $30 MILLION
OF THE GENERAL FUND TO FINANCE
GENERAL RESERVES FOR STRATEGIC
FUND TO ADDRESS DISPLACEMENT.
AREAS AT HIGH RISK OF
DISPLACEMENT OR IN AREAS OF LOW
ACCESS TO OPPORTUNITY THAT
PRESENT UNIQUE OPPORTUNITIES
FOR TRANSFORMAL ECONOMIC
DEVELOPMENT.
HOWEVER THAT IS PROPOSED TO BE
CUT IN THE THIRD QUARTER
SUPPLEMENTAL BILL PROPOSED BY
THE EXECUTIVE.
THIS ACTION WOULD REAPPROPRIATE
THAT SAME AMOUNT INTO THE 2021
BUDGET.
IT INDICATED THAT NONE OF THE
AMOUNT THAT AAPPROPRIATE RATED
FOR THAT PURPOSE MAY BE SPENT
UNTIL AUTHORIZED BY FUTURE
ORDINANCE AND THE COUNCIL WOULD
ANTICIPATE THE AUTHORITY WON BE
GRANTED UNTIL THE EXECUTIVE
SUBMITS A PROPOSED SPENDING
PLAN FOR THE MONEYS.
THIS ACTION IS SPONSORED BY
COUNCIL MEMBER SAWANT WITH
ADDITIONAL RESPONSE SORES OF
HERBOLD, COUNCIL MEMBER
MORALES.
>> EXCELLENT.
THANK YOU.
COUNCIL MEMBER SAWANT, PLEASE
GO AHEAD.
>> THANK YOU.
AND THANK YOU TO COUNCIL
MEMBERS HERBOLD AND MORALES FOR
SUPPORTING THIS BUDGET
AMENDMENT.
THE MAYOR DESCRIBES THIS AS A
CUT TO THE INVESTMENT FUND IN
THE 3rd QUARTER SUPPLEMENTAL
BUDGET.
BUT THAT LANGUAGE IS
INTENTIONALLY DESIGNED TO MEAN
ABSOLUTELY NOTHING AND TO HIDE
WHAT IS REALLY BEING CUT.
THIS IS VERY DIFFERENT FROM THE
LANGUAGE THAT MAYOR DURKAN USED
IN LAST YEAR'S BUDGET WHEN SHE
TRUMPETED SHE WAS CREATING THIS
FUND AND WOULD WORK WITH
COMMUNITY ORGANIZATIONS TO
INVEST THESE $30 MILLION TO
ADDRESS DISPLACEMENT IN BLACK
AND BROWN COMMUNITIES.
AS I POINTED OUT LAST WEEK, THE
MAYOR TALKED ABOUT THIS $30
MILLION EXACTLY THE SAME WAY
THAT SHE IS NOW TALKING ABOUT
THE $100 MILLION.
BUT SHE HAS NEGLECTED TO INVEST
ONE PEN EVE THE $30 MILLION IN
REAL TIME.
SO IT HAS CAST A SHADOW ON WHAT
WILL HAPPEN WITH THE $100
MILLION AS WELL.
MANY COUNCIL MEMBERS HAVE
EXPRESSED OUTRAGE THAT THE
MAYOR WAS BREAKING THIS
PROMISE.
I HOPE THAT COUNCIL MEMBERS
WILL SUPPORT AND COSPONSOR THIS
AMENDMENT TO FOLLOW THROUGH IN
PRACTICE TO THE PLAYER'S CUT
THAT HAS BEEN CORRECTLY
EXPRESSED IN WORDS LAST YEAR.
THERE IS NO SHORTAGE OF
ESSENTIAL PROJECTS THAT THE
FUNDS COULD BE USED FOR.
UNFORTUNATELY WE ARE IN A
SITUATION WHERE WE ARE SPOILED
FOR CHOICES.
THEY COULD BE USED INFORM BUILD
AFFORDABLE HOUSES FOR CHILD
CARE, FOR COMMUNITY CENTERS IN
PLACES LIKE THE CENTRAL
DISTRICT WHERE HUGE GROUPS OF
SEATTLEITES HAVE BEEN DISPLACED
BY RISING HOUSING COSTS.
THE FUNDS WOULD BE PERFECT FOR
THE ANTIDISPLACEMENT PROJECT.
THAT IS ONE EXAMPLE THAT WE
HAVE ALREADY DISCUSSED
YESTERDAY.
AND THANK YOU TO COUNCIL MEMBER
MORALES FOR BEING THE ONLY
COUNCIL MEMBER WILLING TO
SUPPORT THE PROPOSAL.
I HOPE OTHERS WILL SOON.
THERE ARE COUNTLESS OTHER USES
THAT WILL GREATLY BENEFIT THE
WORKING CLASS COMMUNITY AND
MARGINALIZED COMMUNITIES WHICH
MAKING SURE THAT THESE FUNDS
ARE ACTUALLY USED FOR THE
INTENDED PURPOSE.
AND CUTTING THESE FUNDS IS
SIMPLY UNACCEPTABLE.
SEVERAL GOOD OPTIONS HOW THEY
COULD BE FUNDED.
IT COULD BE FUNDED BY
INCREASING THE AMAZON TAX RATE.
IT COULD BE FUNDED BY DEFUNDING
THE POLICE BY 50%, WHICH WOULD
FREE UP AN ADDITIONAL 170
MILLION.
OR IT COULD BE FUNDED IN OTHER
WAYS THAT ARE BEING DISCUSSED
LAST WEEK.
IF COUNCIL MEMBER SUPPORT
DURING THIS FUNDING WHICH WOULD
BE CONSISTENT WITH THE
STATEMENT, MY OFFICE WOULD BE
FLEXIBLE ABOUT THE FUNDING
SOURCES AS LONG AS IT IS
PROGRESSIVE.
>> THANK YOU VERY MUCH COUNCIL
MEMBER SAWANT.
ARE THERE ANY QUESTIONS OR
COMMENTS.
>> I HAVE A QUICK QUESTION AND
PERHAPS THIS IS FOR TOM.
I THINK IT IS SUMMARIZED NICELY
IN THE DOCUMENT THAT YOU
PROVIDED IN SAWANT'S SUMMARY AS
WELL.
WANT TO REITERATE, THIS PUTS
BACK INTO PLACE THE EXACT SAME
LANGUAGE THAT WAS USED DURING
THE CONVERSATIONS INITIALLY IN
2019 THAT REALLY PUT SIDE
BOARDS AROUND HOW THE 30
MILLION WAS TO BE USED.
IS THIS THE EXACT SAME
LANGUAGE.
>> YES, CHAIR MOSQUEDA.
THIS IS ESSENTIALLY REIMPOSING
-- REPLACING WHAT WAS IN THE
2020 BUDGET AND ADOPTING THE
SAME LANGUAGE.
>> THANK YOU VERY MUCH.
AS COUNCIL MEMBER SAWANT NOTED,
I THINK THERE WERE A LOT PEOPLE
WHO HAD WORKED ON THAT LANGUAGE
AND IT IS IMPORTANT FOR THEM TO
HEAR THAT.
COUNCIL MEMBER HERBOLD, PLEASE
GO AHEAD.
>> THANK YOU.
I WANT TO SHARE WITH THE
VIEWING PUBLIC A PRESS RELEASE
THAT WE RECEIVED FROM PUGET
SOUND SAGE.
SHARE THE CITY GRAHAM STREET
COMMUNITY MEMBERS AROUND THIS
PROPOSAL IN THE MAYOR'S BUDGET
TO REDUCE THESE FUNDS.
THEY REMIND US -- THIS IS A BIT
OF HISTORY TO THE ORIGINAL
ALLOCATION OF THESE FUNDS --
THEY REMIND US WHEN THIS HUGE
PARCEL OF LAND WAS BEING SOLD
IN 2019, WE HEARD FROM A LOT OF
PEOPLE CONCERNED THAT WE WERE
SELLING PUBLIC LAND.
AND I QUOTE, THE PRESS RELEASE
SAYS, WHEN THE MAYOR AND
COUNCIL ULTIMATELY DECIDED TO
SELL THE MERCER MEGA BLOCK TO
THE DEVELOPER, ALEXANDRIA REAL
ESTATE EQUITIES FOR $143
MILLION, COMMUNITY OPPOSITION
WAS SOMEWHAT SOFTENED BY THE
WAY THAT THE CITY PROPOSED TO
ALLOCATE PROCEEDS FROM THE
SALE.
IN PARTICULAR, $78.2 MILLION
WAS EARMARKED FOR AFFORDABLE
HOUSING, INCLUDING 30 MILLION
FOR THE STRATEGIC INVESTMENT
FUND.
THE LOSS OF PUBLIC LAND CITY
LEADERS PROMISED WOULD ENABLE
THE ACQUISITION OF LAND FOR NEW
AFFORDABLE HOUSING AND
COMMUNITY DEVELOPMENT PROJECTS
ELSEWHERE IN THE CITY TO BE
USED TO COMBAT DISPLACEMENT AND
REGENT REIFICATION.
THE MAYOR SAYS ABOUT THE SALE,
I BELIEVE YEARS FROM NOW PEOPLE
WILL LOOK BACK AT THE CHANCE
AND SAY WE SEIZED AN INCREDIBLE
OPPORTUNITY TO MAKE OUR CITY
BETTER BY REINVESTING THE
PROCEEDS DIRECTLY IN HOUSING
ACROSS SEATTLE.
SO I THINK IT IS REALLY
IMPORTANT THAT WE MAINTAIN OUR
COMMUNITIES TO COMMUNITY AS IT
RELATES TO THIS FUNDING.
NOT JUST BECAUSE OF THE CONTEXT
IN WHICH THOSE COMMITMENTS WERE
MADE BUT BECAUSE OF THE GREAT
NEED.
FINALLY BECAUSE THERE ARE
COMMUNITIES WHO ARE RIGHT NOW
ENGAGED IN DISCUSSIONS ABOUT
PRIORITIES INFORMER THIS
FUNDING, I DON'T THINK IT IS
APPROPRIATE TO AGAIN ASK THOSE
SAME COMMUNITIES TO SHIFT THEIR
EFFORTS FROM FIGURING OUT HOW
-- WHAT THE PRIORITIES ARE FOR
SPENDING THIS FUNDING FOR
AFFORDABLE HOUSING NEEDS AND
INSTEAD USE THE SAME DOLLARS
AND ENGAGE IN A PROCESS AROUND
THE MAYOR'S TASK FORCE.
IT JUST FEELS REALLY UNFAIR TO
A COMMUNITY WHO HAS BEEN
MOBILIZING FOR THESE FUNDS AND
WORKING TO PLAN TO SPEND THEM
NOW.
>> THANK YOU.
>> THANK YOU VERY MUCH COUNCIL
MEMBER HERBOLD.
ANY ADDITIONAL COMMENTS.
>> COUNCIL MEMBER MORALES.
PLEASE GO AHEAD.
>> I WANT TO THANK COUNCIL
MEMBER HERBOLD BECAUSE I HAD
THAT SAME PRESS RELEASE PULLED
UP.
THANK YOU FOR READING IT FOR
ME.
I WANT TO ECHO THE SENTIMENT.
WE HAVE COMMUNITY MEMBERS WHO
ARE AS WE SPEAK IN THE PROCESS
OF MAKING PLANS FOR THAT
COMMITMENT THAT WAS MADE TO
THEM.
SO I DO THINK IT IS REALLY
IMPORTANT THAT WE HONOR THOSE
COMMITMENTS AND THAT WE DON'T
ASK FOLKS TO PREPARE THEMSELVES
FOR SOME PROCESS OF APPLICATION
AND REALLY ACKNOWLEDGE THIS IS
AN IMPORTANT IMPORTANT RESOURCE
THAT HAS BEEN COMMITTED AND WE
NEED TO MAKE SURE THAT THE
PROJECTS CAN CONTINUE AND DON'T
GET DISRUPTED BY HAVING TO
PAUSE AND WAIT FOR THE NEXT
ROUND OF OPPORTUNITY TO COME
UP.
>> OKAY.
THANK YOU ALL VERY MUCH.
I DON'T SEE ANY ADDITIONAL
COMMENTS.
THANK YOU.
SO TO SUMMARIZE ON COUNCIL
MEMBER SAWANT IS JOINED BY
COUNCIL MEMBER HERBOLD,
MORALES, LEWIS AND PRESIDENT
GONZALEZ.
THANK YOU ALL.
LET'S MOVE ON TO THE NEXT ITEM.
GOOD MORNING, AMY.
OH, EXCUSE ME.
COUNCIL MEMBER STRAUSS.
>> THANK YOU, CHAIR MOSQUEDA.
I HAVE RETURNED.
I WOULD ALSO LIKE TO SIGN ON TO
THE SECOND ITEM ON THE AGENDA.
>> EXCELLENT.
THANK YOU.
AND THAT WAS COUNCIL PRESIDENT
ITEM ON OUR OFFICIAL AGENDA
THAT WAS SENT AROUND AND THAT
IS THE FIRST ITEM UNDER THAT
SECTION NUMBER TWO FINANCE
GENERAL.
WE WILL NOTE THAT FOR THE
RECORD.
COLLEAGUES I DO HAVE MY HAND
RAISE FUNCTION UP NOW.
SORRY IF I MISSED ANYBODY
EARLIER BUT WE WILL MAKE SURE
TO CONTINUE WATCHING FOR YOUR
VIRTUAL HAND RAISES AND WELCOME
BACK COUNCIL MEMBER STRAUSS.
THANK YOU FOR REPRESENTING US
AS WELL AS THE IMPORTANT
HOUSING EVENT YOU THAT WERE AT.
MOVING ON TO THE NEXT ONE.
AMY.
>> THE NEXT TEN BUDGET ACTIONS
ON THE AGENDA ARE FOR THE HUMAN
SERVICES DEPARTMENT.
>> VERY BRIEFLY FOR OUR VIEWING
PUBLIC I WANT TO MAKE SURE THAT
THEY'RE SEEING -- THANK YOU
VERY MUCH TEAM.
YOU ARE AMAZING.
OKAY.
THAT WAY IF ANYONE IS LISTENING
THEY CAN ALSO SEE THE VISUAL
REPRESENTATION.
SORRY, AMY.
PLEASE GO AHEAD.
>> THAT'S OKAY.
AS I MENTIONED THIS ITEM IS
SPONSORED BY COUNCIL MEMBER
HERBOLD AS PRIMARY SPONSOR AND
MORALs AND STRAUSS.
THIS WOULD ADD ONGOING GENERAL
FUND DOLLARS TO HSD FOR AGE
FRIENDLY SEATTLE.
THIS ACTION WILL RESTORE THE
PROGRAM'S BUDGET TO $603,000
AND AVOID REDUCTIONS IN 2021.
WITH THAT I WILL TURN IT OVER
TO COUNCIL MEMBER HERBOLD TO
DISCUSS FURTHER.
>> THANK YOU.
I REALLY APPRECIATE THE
SPONSORSHIP OF COUNCIL MEMBER
MORALES, STRAUSS AND LEWIS ON
THIS NUMBER.
THE HISTORY OF THE AGE FRIENDLY
TEAM IS IT WAS FORMED FOLLOWING
THE CLOSURE OF THE MAYOR'S
OFFICE FOR SENIOR CITIZENS.
AND IT IS -- HAS BEEN WORKING
TO DEVELOP THE SEATTLE AGE
FRIENDLY ACTION PLAN.
THE AGE FRIENDLY SEATTLE
PROGRAM HANDLES IMPLEMENTATION,
OVERSIGHT AND EVALUATION OF AN
ACTION PLAN TO INCREASE RACIAL
EUITY, INCREASE SOCIAL
PARTICIPATION AND RAISE
AWARENESSES ABOUT THE
CHALLENGES AND OPPORTUNITIES
THAT ACCOMPANY SEATTLE'S AGING
POPULATION.
THE CUT IN THE 2020 BUDGET THE
PROPOSED CUT IS ABOUT 10%.
BY REVERSING THAT CUT, WE CAN
RESTORE PROGRAMMING THAT WOULD
OTHERWISE BE POSTPONED SUCH AS
THE CREATION OF MEMORY LOSS
TRAINING FOR -- FOR STAFF
WORKING WITH OLDER ADULTS AND
THE LAUNCH OF THE AGE FRIENDLY
BUSINESS INITIATIVE.
THE REDUCTION WOULD ALSO IMPACT
PRINTING OUTREACH MATERIALS,
TRANSLATION AND INTERPRETATION
FOR VIRTUAL AND IN-PERSON
EVENTS.
THANK YOU.
>> THANK YOU.
ARE THERE ANY ADDITIONAL
COMMENTS.
>> YES.
>> PLEASE GO AHEAD.
>> THANK YOU.
I'M SORRY.
I SHOULD HAVE GOT THIS ON MY
LIST TO YOU.
WE WOULD ACTUALLY LIKE TO
ASSIST SPONSOR IN THIS BUDGET
ASK AS WELL.
>> THANK YOU.
I'M NOT SEEING ANY ADDITIONAL
HANDS.
WE HAVE A LOT OF FOLKS WHO HAVE
JOINED ON THE FORUM HERE.
SO TO SUMMARIZE, COUNCIL MEMBER
HERBOLD IS JOINED BY COUNCIL
MEMBER MORALES, SAWANT, JUAREZ,
STRAUSS AND LEWIS.
EXCELLENT.
THANK YOU VERY MUCH.
LET'S MOVE ON.
>> AGENDA NUMBER 5.
SPONSORED BY COUNCIL MEMBER
SAWANT AS THE PRIMARY SPONSOR
AS WELL AS COUNCIL MEMBER
JUAREZ AND COUNCIL PRESIDENT
GONZALEZ.
THIS IS A STATEMENT OF
LEGISLATIVE INTENT THAT WOULD
REQUEST THAT HSD CARRY FORWARD
UNSPENT FUNDING FOR SENIOR
CONGREGATE MEAL PROGRAMS TO
2021.
AS YOU'RE AWARE AT THE END OF
THE YEAR THE CITY BUDGET OFFICE
WORKS WITH DEPARTMENTS TO
IDENTIFY ANY UNDERSPENT AND
DETERMINE WHAT SHOULD BE
CARRIED FORWARD INTO THE NEXT
YEAR'S BUDGET THROUGH THE CARRY
FORWARD ORDINANCE WHICH IS
PASSED BY COUNCIL.
THIS BUDGET ACTION WOULD
REQUEST THAT ANY UNUSED FUNDS
FOR SENIOR CONGREGATE MEAL
PROGRAMS UNABLE TO BE USED IN
2020 DUE TO SOCIAL DISTANCING
REQUIREMENTS BE CARRIED FORWARD
AND ADDED TO ANY 2021 FUNDING
FOR THAT PURPOSE.
I WILL NOW TURN IT OVER TO
COUNCIL MEMBER SAWANT TO
DISCUSS FURTHER.
>> THANK YOU.
THIS PROPOSAL WOULD AUTHORIZE
HUMAN SERVICES DEPARTMENT TO
EXTEND CONTRACTS WITH
ORGANIZATIONS SUCH AS ASIAN
COUNSELING AND REFERRAL
SERVICES FOR CONGREGATE MEALS
AND COMMUNITY ACTIVITIES FROM
2020 INTO 2021.
ACTS AS FISCAL SPONSOR FOR NINE
SENIOR PROGRAMS.
THE VIETNAMESE SENIOR
ASSOCIATION, MONG SENIOR
ASSOCIATION.
ELDER ASSOCIATION.
KOREAN SENIOR CLUB AND CLUB
BAMBOO.
IN 2020 HUMAN SERVICES PROVIDED
$126,227 TO ASRS TO SUPPORT
CONGREGATE MEALS FOR THE
SENIORS HELPED BY THESE
PROGRAMS.
HOWEVER DUE TO THE SOCIAL
DISTANCING REQUIRED BY COVID
MANY OF THOSE FUNDS COULD NOT
BE USED FOR THEIR INTENDED
PURPOSE AND HUMAN SERVICES SAID
IF THE FUNDS ARE NOT USED BY
THE END OF THE YEAR, THEY WILL
NO LONGER BE AVAILABLE.
SO WE THINK THIS IS AN
IMPORTANT AMENDMENT.
I'VE HAD THE HONOR OF ATTENDING
EVENTS ORGANIZED BY THE
VIETNAMESE ORGANIZATION, ONE OF
THE 19 ORGANIZATIONS FUNDED BY
ACRS.
IT IS AN INCREDIBLY IMPORTANT
SERVICE TO STAY CONNECTED TO
THEIR COMMUNITIES.
IN ADDITION TO VITAL ACCESS TO
MEALS AND ALSO CULTURALLY
APPROPRIATE ACTIVITIES.
THEY ARE LOOKINGFORWARD TO
RESTARTING CONGREGATE MEALS AND
ACTIVITIES WHEN IT IS SAFE TO
DO SO.
THEY HOPE AT SOME POINT IN
2021, IT WILL BECOME POSSIBLE.
THE DEPARTMENT ESSENTIALLY HAVE
INFORMED THEM THAT IS NOT
POSSIBLE WITHOUT A BUDGET
AMENDMENT.
AND THE FORMAT OF THEIR
CONTRACT IS AUTHORIZED ACRS TO
FUND THESE ACTIVITIES AND ACRS
IS REIMBURSED FOR THOSE
EXPENSES.
IF IT DOES NOT USE THE FUNDS BY
THE END OF THE YEAR THEY ARE
NOT ELIGIBLE FOR REIMBURSEMENT
WITHOUT THIS BUDGET AMENDMENT.
THEY WOULD RATHER WAIT TO USE
THE FUNDS WHEN IT IS SAFE TO DO
SO AND I THINK THAT IS
COMPLETELY REASONABLE AND
CORRECT OF THEM.
SO I HOPE THAT COUNCIL WILL
SUPPORT THAT.
I THINK THAT IS THE CORRECT
THICK TO DO.
THIS WOULD ALLOW ACRS TO USE
THE 2020 FUNDS IN 2021.
>> THANK YOU COUNCIL SAWANT.
ARE THERE QUESTIONS ON THIS
ITEM?
OKAY.
COUNCIL MEMBER SAWANT, THANK
YOU.
NO QUESTIONS AT THIS MOMENT.
I DO SEE THREE ADDITIONAL
COSPONSORS.
SO THANK YOU VERY MUCH
COLLEAGUES.
I'M GOING TO SUMMARIZE THOSE
AND I WANT TO THANK YOU FOR
BRINGING THOSE FORWARD.
SAWANT, HERBOLD, MORALES,
JUAREZ, LEWIS AND COUNCIL
PRESIDENT GONZALEZ.
THANK YOU COUNCIL MEMBER
SAWANT.
NEXT ITEM, PLEASE.
>> NEXT ITEM ON THE AGENDA ITEM
6 IS HSD3A1.
IT IS SPONSORED BY COUNCIL
MEMBER MORALES AS PRIMARY
SPONSOR AS WELL AS COUNCIL
MEMBER HERBOLD AND COUNCIL
PRESIDENT GONZALEZ.
THIS WOULD ADD $85,000 ONGOING
GENERAL FUND TO HSD FOR
STATEWIDE LOBBYING FOCUSING ON
POVERTY ALLEVIATION.
THE CONTRACT WAS FUNDED WITH
$85,000 IN 2020 AND IT REDUCES
FUNDING TO $25,475.
THIS ACTION WOULD INCREASE THE
CONTRACT TO A TOTAL OF
$110,000.
I'M SORRY.
110, $475 IN 2021.
I WILL TURN IT OVER TO COUNCIL
MEMBER MORALES NOW.
>> WE'RE ALL RUNNING AROUND
TODAY.
GOOD MORNING.
SO THIS IS AS WE DISCUSSED LAST
WEEK A LOBBYING CONTRACT.
THIS WOULD RESTORE FUNDING FOR
A REALLY IMPORTANT ONGOING
CONTRACT THAT HAS MADE A HUGE
IMPACT FOR SEATTLE, ACROSS
WASHINGTON STATE.
AND WOULD BRING THE CONTRACT UP
TO $110,000 WHICH REFLECTS THE
TRADITIONAL LEVEL OF INCREASE.
AND JUST AS A REMINDER OVER THE
LAST FEW YEARS, THIS FUNDING
HAS HELPED THE CITY TO ADVOCATE
AT THE STATE LEVEL FOR
EXPANDING HOUSING SERVICES FOR
PEOPLE WITH DISABILITIES, FOR
MAKING IT EASIER FOR FOLK WHO'S
WERE PREVIOUSLY INCARCERATED TO
REENTER THEIR COMMUNITIES.
SO THERE'S A LOT OF REALLY
IMPORTANT STATE LEVEL WORK THAT
HAS TO HAPPEN.
AND SO WE REALLY RELY ON THESE
FOLKS TO HELP WITH OUR LOCAL
NEEDS AT THE STATE LEVEL.
SO I AM HOPING TO HAVE SUPPORT
SO THAT WE CAN CONTINUE THIS
WORK.
THE LEGISLATOR IS GOING TO BE
IN SESSION SOON.
AND WE HAVE TO MAKE SURE THAT
WE HAVE FOLKS ADVOCATING FOR
THE MOST VULNERABLE IN OUR
COMMUNITY.
I'M HOPING THAT MY COLLEAGUES
WILL SUPPORT.
THANK YOU.
>> THANK YOU.
>> SORRY.
I HAD RAISED MY HAND ON THE
ZOOM FEATURE A WHILE AGO AND I
DID NOT SEE IT POP UP.
BUT IT DID.
THANK YOU.
>> THERE YOU ARE.
THANK YOU SO MUCH, COUNCIL
MEMBER SAWANT.
AND PERHAPS I WAS MOVING TOO
FAST AS WELL.
I'LL MAKE SURE TO PAUSE BEFORE
WE GO FORWARD TO MAKE SURE THAT
ALL OF THE NAMES ARE REFLECTED.
COUNCIL MEMBER MORALES HAS BEEN
JOINED BY HERBOLD AND GONZALEZ
AND SAWANT.
THANK YOU SO MUCH.
LET'S GO AHEAD AND MOVE
FORWARD.
>> OKAY.
AGENDA ITEM 7 IS HSD4A1.
THE PRIMARY SPONSOR IS COUNCIL
MEMBER LEWIS WHO IS JOINED BY
COUNCIL MEMBERS PEDERSEN AND
JUAREZ.
THIS ITEM WOULD ADD $46,800
ONGOING GENERAL FUND TO HSD TO
PROVIDE SAFE SERVICES AT A
CULTURAL CENTER SERVING THE
NATIVE AND INDIGENOUS
COMMUNITY.
IT WOULD HIRE A SECURITY GUARD.
I WILL TURN IT OVER TO COUNCIL
MEMBER LEWIS FOR MORE
INFORMATION.
>> THANK YOU.
COUNCIL MEMBER LEWIS.
THANK YOU SO MUCH.
I BROUGHT THIS FORWARD IN
COLLABORATION WITH SOME OF MY
COLLEAGUES TO REALLY MAKE SURE
THAT WE ARE ABLE TO GIVE HSD
THE RESOURCES TO ADEQUATELY
INCREASE OUR INVESTMENT IN AN
INCREDIBLY UNDERSERVED
COMMUNITY IN THE CITY OF
SEATTLE.
I THINK THIS IS A PRETTY MODEST
BUDGET ADD RELATIVE TO THE
IMPACT THAT IT COULD HAVE.
AND I REALLY WANT TO MAKE SURE
THAT EVEN AS WE'RE MAKING TOUGH
DECISIONS WE'RE STILL -- WE'RE
STILL ABLE TO MOVE FORWARD IN
THIS BUDGET ON INCREASING OUR
INVESTMENTS TO TRULY PROVIDE
JUSTICE AND SERVICE AND DIGNITY
TO ALL OF THE PEOPLE IN THE
CITY.
I THINK THAT IS WHAT THIS GOES
TO I DON'T HAVE MUCH IN
ADDITION TO ADD.
WE'VE DISCUSSED A LOT ABOUT THE
ADDS OVER THE LAST COUPLE OF
DAYS.
THERE IS OVERLAP WITH THE ADDS
THAT COUNCIL MEMBER JUAREZ AND
I PUT FORWARD.
BUT WITH THAT, I THINK I WILL
JUST LEAVE THAT AS MY COMMENTS
FOR NOW.
>> THANK YOU.
ANY ADDITIONAL QUESTIONS OR
COMMENTS.
>> THANK YOU FOR THOSE
COMMENTS.
COUNCIL MEMBER JUAREZ, THE NEXT
ONE IS YOURS.
I WILL TURN IT BACK OVER TO
AMY.
>> HSD5A1.
THIS ITEM WOULD ADD $33,000 ONE
TIME GENERAL FUND TO HSD AND
$67,000 ONE TIME GENERAL FUND
TO THE DEPARTMENT OF EDUCATION
AND EARLY LEARNING FOR PROGRAM
SUPPORTING NATIVE AND
INDIGENOUS CHILDREN AND
FAMILIES.
THE FUNDING AT HSD WOULD FUND
FOSTER CARE SUPPORT PROGRAMS
AND THE FUNDING WOULD SUPPORT
THE PRESCHOOL PROGRAM AT
DAYBREAK STAR PRESCHOOL IN
2021.
IT DOES NOT -- BUT DOESN'T
CONTINUE ON TO 2022.
I WILL NOW TURN IT OVER TO
COUNCIL MEMBER JUAREZ FOR MORE
INFORMATION.
>> THANK YOU.
THANK YOU, AMY.
THANK YOU, MADAM CHAIR AND
THANK YOU COUPS MEMBER LEWIS
FOR YOUR SUPPORT AND PEDERSEN
AND ALL THAT SUPPORTED ITEM
NUMBER 7. I'M GOING TO -- I
HAVE SOME PREPARED NOTES BUT
I'M GOING TO GO OFF SCRIPT A
LITTLE MORE TO GIVE MORE
CONTEXT TO THE UNITED INDIANS.
IT IS A SOCIAL SERVICE PROVIDER
AND CULTURAL HOME FOR URBAN
INDIANS SINCE 1970.
BUT THEY OPERATE MANY SOCIAL
SERVICE PROGRAMS.
TODAY'S AGENDA AND BUDGET
REQUEST WE WILL BE DISCUSSING
THEIR REQUEST FOR PRE-K MONEY
AND THEIR INDIAN WELFARE
PROGRAM.
STARTING WITH THE UNITED
INDIANS HAS REQUESTED $100,000
FROM OUR BUDGET PROCESS TO
SUPPORT THEIR EFFORTS TO
CONTINUE PROVIDING SERVICES
DURING THE PANDEMIC.
IN REGARDS TO THE PREK PROGRAM,
THANK YOU TO GONZALEZ FOR
DIRECTING US TO DEALS FOR THOSE
FUNDS.
67,000 WOULD GO TOWARDS
SUPPORTING THE DAYBREAK STAR
PRESCHOOL PROGRAM THROUGH DEAL.
DURING THE PANDEMIC, FAMILIES
ARE EXPERIENCING GREATER
UNEMPLOYMENT, BATTLING FOOD
INSECURITY AND STRUGGLING WITH
REMOTE LEARNING.
CURRENT STATE SUBSIDIES DON'T
ADEQUATELY FUND PROGRAM NEEDS.
THAT'S WHY I'M HERE TODAY IN
SUPPORT OF UNITED INDIANS.
ONLY EARLY LEARNING PROGRAM IN
THE CITY OF SEATTLE.
THE PRESCHOOL PROGRAM PRO
ADVISED ACTIVITIES AND
NUTRITION MEALS.
FAMILIES DEPEND TO IDENTIFY
CULTURAL IDENTITIES TO BECOME
KINDERGARTEN READY.
THESE FAMILIES CANNOT AFFORD
THE COST OF PRIVATE CHILD CARE.
ADDING A THIRD CLASSROOM JUST
TO RESPOND TO THE NEED FOR A
REMOTE LEARNING SPACE FOR
CHILDREN WITH OPPORTUNITIES FOR
OUTDOOR PLAY WHILE FAMILIES ARE
AT WORK.
THEY HAVE DESIGNATED THIS
ADDITIONAL CLASSROOM FOR CHILD
CARE FOCUS FOR AGES 5-7. THE
SECOND PIECE OF THIS IS A
LITTLE MORE COMPLEX.
IF YOU COULD INDULGE ME
INVOLVING THE CHILD WELFARE
PROGRAM.
THE REMAINING REQUEST OF
$33,000 WOULD GO THROUGH HSD.
INDIAN CHILD WELFARE PROGRAM
THEY WILL BE PROVIDING
ADDITIONAL INCENTIVES TO
ENCOURAGE FAMILIES TO BECOME
LICENSED AND SUPPORT THE
CHILDREN PLACED WITH THEM.
NOW, I JUST WANT TO GIVE A
LITTLE BIT OF BACKGROUND HERE.
I DON'T -- WE DON'T ACTUALLY
SPEND A LOT OF TIME TALKING
ABOUT -- I THINK PEOPLE
CULTURALLY KNOW WHAT THEY DO.
DR. MIKE TULLE WHO IS THE CEO
WHO I HAVE KNOWN FOR YEARS AND
OF COURSE I HAVE BEEN INVOLVED
WITH UNITED INDIANS SINCE THE
DAY WE TOOK IT OVER.
I'VE BEEN THEIR LAWYER.
I'VE BEEN ON THEIR BOARD.
I'VE BEEN INVOLVED.
SO I WANT TO GIVE A LITTLE
CONTEXT HERE ABOUT THE INDIAN
CHILD CARE WELFARE PROGRAM.
IT IS IMPORTANT PARTICULARLY IN
LIGHT OF THE FACT THAT THEY'RE
ONLY ASKING FOR $100,000.
THE INDIAN CHILD WELFARE ACT
WAS PASSED IN 1978.
IT WAS ENACTED IN RESPONSE TO A
CRISIS AFFECTING NATIVE
CHILDREN, ALASKA THAT I TIFFS,
FAMILIES AND TRIBES.
STUDIES REVEALED THAT LARGE
NUMBERS OF NATIVE CHILDREN WERE
BEING SEPARATED FROM THEIR
PARENTS EXTENDED FAMILIES AND
COMMUNITIES BY PRIVATE ADOPTION
AGENCIES.
IN FACT RESEARCH SHOWED THAT 25
TO 30% OF ALL CHILDREN THAT
WERE BEING REMOVED, THAT 85% OF
THESE CHILDREN THAT WERE TAKEN
OUTSIDE OF THEIR FAMILIES AND
COMMUNITIES, THAT THERE WERE
WILLING AND FIT RELATIVES
AVAILABLE.
UNITED INDIANS WITH THIS MONEY
DOES THE OUTREACH, CONTACTING
THE TRIBES, DOES THE TRAINING
SO CHILDREN ARE PLACED WELLING
RELATIVES AND EXTENDED FAMILY.
SO THE REASON WHY THIS IS
IMPORTANT BECAUSE IT IS A
FEDERAL LAW AND STATE LAW AND
YOU HAVE ORGANIZATIONS LIKE
UNITED INDIANS AND THE BOARD
THAT OFTEN IMPLEMENT FEDERAL
AND STATE LAW THROUGH STATE AND
CITY MONEY.
SO WHEN YOU GO BACK AND YOU
LOOK AT THIS ACT, CONGRESSIONAL
TESTIMONY DOCUMENTED THE
DEVASTATING IMPACT THAT IT WAS
HAVING UPON INDIGENOUS CHILDREN
FAMILIES AND TRIBES.
THAT CONTINUES TODAY.
THE INTENT OF CONGRESS WAS TO
PROTECT THE BEST INTEREST OF
INDIAN CHILDREN.
THIS IS WHY I SAY THAT.
BECAUSE UNITED INDIANS AGAIN IS
PROMOTING AND IMPLEMENTING THE
VALUES AND THE INTENT OF THIS
FEDERAL LAW THROUGH STATE LAW
ON THE GROUND TO ADDRESS
REMOVAL PRACTICES.
TO ENSURE THE PROTECTIONS.
TO ASSIST FAMILIES.
TO TRAIN FAMILIES.
TO DO OUTREACH.
TO IDENTIFY POTENTIAL HOMES AND
LICENSING AND TRAINING WHICH IS
NO EASY FEAT.
TRUST ME IT IS DIFFICULT TO
WORK WITH THE STATE.
YOU GET MONEY IN THE DOOR.
YOU GET FAMILIES LINED UP TO
CONTACT TRIBES TO PLACE THESE
CHILDREN IN NATIVE-AMERICANS
HOMES AND WORK WITH THE TRIBES
TO FIND WILLING EXTENDED FAMILY
MEMBERS.
SO WHEN YOU PUT INTO CONTEXT,
$33,000 IS NOT A LOT OF MONEY.
BOSS IT IS FUNDS TO MAKE SURE
THAT THEY ARE PLACED WITH
NATIVE FAMILIES.
THAT WE DO THE OUTREACH AND
RECOGNIZE AND HONOR THE
INDIGENOUS PEOPLE.
THE FIRST INDIGENOUS PEOPLE OF
THIS LAND.
SO THANK YOU.
>> THANK YOU VERY MUCH COUNCIL
MEMBER JUAREZ.
ARE THERE ADDITIONAL COMMENTS
OR QUESTIONS?
COUNCIL MEMBER JUAREZ, I'M NOT
SEEING ANY COMMENTS OR
QUESTIONS BUT I'M SEEING A LOT
OF HANDS RAISED TO BE ADD TODAY
YOUR LIST HERE.
IN ADDITION TO COUNCIL MEMBER
JUAREZ AS THE PRIME SPONSOR, WE
SEE THAT THERE ARE EVEN MORE
HANDS RAISING NOW.
BEFORE WE GET GOING. RDED
I'M GOING TO WAIT ONE SECOND
BECAUSE YOU ARE ALL AMAZING AND
EVERYBODY IS WORKING HARD TO
GET SIGNED ON HERE.
OKAY.
I THINK WE'VE GOT EVERYONE.
WE HAVE COUNCIL MEMBER LEWIS
AND COUNCIL PRESIDENT GONZALEZ.
ALSO COUNCIL MEMBER STRAUSS,
PEDERSEN, SAWANT, MORALES AND
HERBOLD.
THANK YOU VERY MUCH ALL.
AND WE WILL MOVE ON TO THE NEXT
ITEM.
THANK YOU COUNCIL PRESIDENT.
I MEAN COUNCIL MEMBER JUAREZ.
>> ITEM NUMBER IS HSD6A1 AND
SPONSORED BY COUNCIL MEMBER
HERBOLD AS PRIMARY SPONSOR AS
WELL AS COUNCIL MEMBERS STRAUSS
AND LEWIS AND MORALES, I
BELIEVE.
THIS ITEM IS A STATEMENT OF
LEGISLATIVE INTENT THAT WOULD
REQUEST THAT HSD PROVIDE A
REPORT ON THE DEMAND AND COST
FOR CITY WIDE DIVERSION
PROGRAMS.
THIS REPORT WOULD BE DUE TO THE
PUBLIC SAFETY AND HUMAN
SERVICES EQUIPMENT BY AUGUST
2nd OF 2021.
I WILL NOW TURN IT OVER TO
COUNCIL MEMBER HERBOLD.
>> THANK YOU.
SO JUST AS A BIT OF BACKGROUND,
YOU MAY RECALL THAT THE COUNCIL
PASSED RESOLUTION 31916 A YEAR
AGO.
NOT QUITE BUT ALMOST IN
NOVEMBER 2019.
THIS RESOLUTION ACKNOWLEDGES
THE CITY'S INHERENT
RESPONSIBILITY TO REDUCE
UNNECESSARY JUSTICE SYSTEM
INVOLVEMENT.
ACKNOWLEDGES THAT PREARREST
DIVERSION PROGRAMS SUCH AS LEAD
REPRESENT A HARM REDUCTION
EVIDENCE APPROACH TO PROVIDE
FOR THE PUBLIC SAFETY.
AGAIN, PREARREST DIVERSION
PROGRAMS IN THE -- IN THE
PUBLIC SAFETY INVESTMENT
PLANNING MODEL THAT THEY
PROVIDED LAST WEEK IS AN
INTERCEPT ZERO TYPE OF A
PROGRAM.
MEANING THE INVESTMENT IN THE
INTERVENTION OCCURS BEFORE THE
-- BEFORE THE INTERACTION WITH
LAW ENFORCEMENT.
THE COUNCIL ALSO DECLARED OUR
INTENT AND OUR COMMITMENT TO
ENSURING THAT THESE PROGRAMS
RECEIVE PUBLIC FUNDING
SUFFICIENT TO ACCEPT ALL
PRIORITY QUALIFYING REFERRALS
CITY WIDE.
AGAIN, ONE OF THE ELEMENTS THAT
IS UNIQUE ABOUT THE CITY'S
PREARREST DIVERSION PROGRAM IS
ITS ABILITY TO TAKE CALLS
DIRECTLY FROM COMMUNITY MEMBERS
AND RECEIVE REFERRALS FROM
FOLKS WHO ARE REPRESENTATIVES
OF OUR BUSINESS COMMUNITY.
ADVOCATES FOR OPEN SPACE.
REPRESENTATIVES OF PEOPLE WHO
ARE CONCERNED ABOUT THE
CONTAMINATION OF OUR WATER
WAYS.
IT ALLOWS LEAD TO INTERACT WITH
FOLKS WHO IN SOME CASES MIGHT
BE HOMELESS.
IN OTHER CASES ARE LIKELY TO BE
CRIMINAL JUSTICE INVOLVED.
BUT TO TAKE THOSE REFERRALS
DIRECTLY FROM COMMUNITY
MEMBERS.
THUS NOT RELYING ON THE 911
CRISIS RESPONSE SYSTEM.
THE CITY INTENDS THAT THE LEAD
PROGRAM OPERATE AT SCALE BY
2023.
AGAIN, THIS IS SOMETHING
EXPRESSED IN OUR -- IN OUR
RESOLUTION PASSED LAST YEAR.
AT SCALE BY 2023 MEANS THAT THE
PROGRAM WILL HAVE THE
APPROPRIATE FUNDING TO ACCEPT
ALL PRIORITY QUALIFYING ARRESTS
AND SOCIAL CONTACT REFERRALS
CITY WIDE.
THE SLIDE ENSURES THAT BUDGET
DECISIONS ARE GUIDED BY WELL
SUPPORTED PROJECTIONS AS
COUNCIL WORKS TO TAKE LEAD TO
SCALE OVER THE NEXT SEVERAL
YEARS WITH REPORT ON PROJECTS
OF REFERRAL AND FUNDING DUE IN
EARLY AUGUST.
LEAD HAS BUILT AND ACTIVATED
COMMUNITY REFERRAL CHANNELS
WHERE THEY CAN DIRECTLY REQUEST
RESPONSE BUT DO NOT NEED TO BE
RESPONDED THROUGH A LAW
ENFORCEMENT LENS.
MANY, MANY PEOPLE IN SEATTLE
SUPPORT ALTERNATIVE RESPONSES
TO PUBLIC ORDER OF CRIME THAT'S
ARE RELATED TO BEHAVIORAL
HEALTH AND EXTREME POVERTY.
THERE IS NO INCREASE IN THE
LEAD BUDGET IN -- PROPOSED FOR
2020.
I AM NOT PROPOSING AN INCREASE.
BUT I DO THINK THAT WE NEED TO
BE INTENTIONALLY ENGAGED AS WE
ARE REIMAGINING OUR PUBLIC
SAFETY RESPONSE SYSTEM FOR THE
-- FOR THE CITY THAT WE ARE
INTENTFULLY ENGAGED IN PLANNING
EFFORTS TO INCREASE FUNDING FOR
THIS PART OF WHAT IS NOW THE
LEAD PROGRAM IS NOW PART OF OUR
PUBLIC SAFETY SYSTEM.
THANK YOU.
ARE THERE ANY ADDITIONAL
QUESTIONS?
OKAY.
COUNCIL MEMBER HERBOLD, I DON'T
SEE ANY ADDITIONAL QUESTIONS.
I DO SEE A HANDFUL OF FOLKS WHO
ARE ADDING ADDITIONAL SUPPORT.
LET'S MOVE ON TO THE NEXT ONE,
COLLEAGUES.
>> NEXT BUDGET ITEM IS ITEM 10
ON THE AGENDA.
IT IS HSD7A1.
COUNCIL MEMBER JUAREZ IS THE
PRIMARY SPONSOR WITH PEDERSEN
AND STRAUSS ALSO SPONSORING.
THIS ITEM WOULD ADD $80,000 IN
ONE TIME FUNDING TO THE 2021
BUDGET TO FUND COMMERCIAL
EXPLOITATION SERVICES AT AN
ORGANIZATION SUCH AS ORA
COMMONS.
THIS WOULD REPLACE ONE-TIME
FUNDING INCLUDED IN THE 2020
BUDGET.
I WILL NOW TURN IT OVER TO
COUNCIL MEMBER JUAREZ.
>> THANK YOU.
SORRY.
I WAS TRYING TO RACE BACK TO MY
DESK BEFORE ME TEA POT WENT
OFF.
AURORA COMMONS.
I'M A BIG CHEERLEADER FOR
AURORA COMMONS.
AS YOU KNOW AURORA COMMONS WAS
FOUNDED IN 2011.
AND IT PROVIDES SPECIALIZED
SERVICES EVERY DAY TO HELP
WOMEN IN THE SEX TRADE INDUSTRY
WHO ARE EXPLOITED OR VICTIMS OF
HUMAN TRAFFICKING.
OVER 500 WOMEN A YEAR ACCESS
THEIR DROP IN SERVICES.
MORE THAN ANY OTHER OF THEIR
PARTNER ORGANIZATIONS COMBINED.
MOST OF THE CLIENTS WHICH
INCLUDES BOTH MEN AND WOMEN ARE
EXPERIENCING HOMELESSNESS AND
MANY ARE FACING ADDICTION AND
MENTAL ILLNESS AS WELL.
CLIENTS ARE FREQUENTLY FILING
DOMESTIC VIOLENCE AND/OR
RECOVERING FROM SEXUAL ASSAULT.
OTHER KEY PARTNERS ARE HARVARD
VIEW HOSPITAL MADISON CLINIC
AND NEIGHBOR CARE AND SEATTLE
KING COUNTY.
SEATTLE HAS INVESTED $80,000 IN
AURORA COMMONS EVERY YEAR SINCE
2017.
THIS REQUEST IS FOR CONTINUING
FUNDED.
WE HAVE SO MANY SUCCESS STORIES
WHEN WE GO TO THE DINNER EVERY
YEAR.
AND SO MANY WOMEN WHO HAVE USED
THE SERVICES, HAVE GOTTEN INTO
TREATMENT AND GOTTEN JOBS TO
THE POINT THAT AURORA COMMONS
HAS EVEN HIRED SOME OF THEIR
FORMER CLIENTS.
NEEDLES TO SAY THESE ARE
CRITICAL SERVICES GIVEN THE
INCREASING NUMBER OF PEOPLE WHO
ARE HOMELESS.
THE SEVERITY OF THE CONDITIONS
AND THE IMPACT OF THE PANDEMIC
ON THIS POPULATION WHICH WE ARE
SEEING MORE AND MORE ALONG THE
AURORA CORRIDOR.
SO I'M HOPING WE WILL CONTINUE
TO SUPPORT THE AURORA COMMONS
SINCE THEY HAVE BECOME THE
SUCCESS STORY THAT THEY ARE.
THANK YOU.
>> THANK YOU.
ARE THERE ANY ADDITIONAL
QUESTIONS?
COUNCIL MEMBER WATER HE IS,
JUST A QUICK QUESTION FROM ME.
I KNOW THAT THE AURORA COMMONS
WAS DISCUSSED YESTERDAY AS
WELL.
THAT WAS MORE RELATED TO THE
CAPITAL EFFORTS.
>> YEAH.
I THINK WE WERE ASKING FOR THE
1.6 TO HELP PURCHASE THE $3.5
MILLION BUILDING FOR THE
CAPITAL SIDE.
THIS HAS BEEN AN ONGOING --
THEY HAVE ALWAYS ONLY ASKED FOR
$80,000 SINCE 2017.
THEY HAVE NEVER ASKED FOR MORE.
THEY'RE TWO SEPARATE ONE.
YOU SEE THE 1.6 ON THE CAPITAL
SIDE AND THE CONTINUED $80,000
ON THE PROGRAMMING SIDE.
NO INCREASE TO CONTINUE THE
SERVICES THAT THEY HAVE BEEN
DOING.
>> GOT IT THANK YOU VERY MUCH.
>> THANK YOU.
AND I ASSUME THEY'RE ON A
CALENDAR YEAR BUDGET OVERALL SO
THIS IS THE POTENTIALLY FACING
THIS PROGRAM GOING AWAY IN
JANUARY.
>> ABSOLUTELY.
AND THAT'S WHAT MY BIG CONCERN
IS.
AGAIN, YOU KNOW WE HAVE THIS
MOMENTUM.
AND IF WE ARE BEING -- I'M JUST
GOING TO SAY THIS BECAUSE I
THINK -- FOR ME TO SAY THIS.
I KNOW WHAT KIND OF DEFINITE
DEFICIT WE'RE FACING.
YOU SHARED MADAM CHAIR OVER
150,000.
I WOULD LOVE TO POP SORE
EVERYTHING.
WHAT WE HAVE AND WHAT OUR
OFFICE IS TRYING TO DO AND WHAT
I TRY TO DO IS BE STRATEGIC
ABOUT WHAT ARE WE FOCUSING ON?
AND WHAT WE HAVE BEEN FOCUSING
ON IS THE HOMELESSNESS ISSUE,
PUBLIC SAFETY AND SOCIAL
SERVICES.
WHAT IS THE BEST USE OF THOSE
FUNDS THAT GO DIRECTLY TOWARDS
THAT?
AND THAT IS WHERE I HAVE BEEN
PLACING NOT ONLY WHAT I AM
PROMOTING BUT WHAT I'M
SPONSORING AND WHAT I AM
SUPPORTING.
IT DOESN'T MEAN OBVIOUSLY JUST
LIKE YOU SHARED YESTERDAY,
MADAM CHAIR, THAT I DON'T AGREE
OR I'M AGAINST SOME OF THE
OTHER ITEMS.
I'M TRYING TO FOCUSING ON WHAT
I KNOW WORKS AND AURORA COMMONS
WORKS.
>> OKAY.
COUNCIL MEMBER JUAREZ IS JOINED
BY PEDERSEN AND STRAUSS.
AND JOINING THEM IS COUNCIL
MEMBER HERBOLD, MORALES,
SAWANT, LEWIS AND COUNCIL
PRESIDENT GONZALEZ.
THANK YOU ALL VERY MUCH.
LET'S MOVE ON TO THE NEXT ITEM.
>> CHAIR MOSQUEDA.
>> I'M SORRY.
COUNCIL MEMBER SAWANT, PLEASE
GO AHEAD.
>> I JUST --
>> ON THE PREVIOUS ITEM.
>> YEAH.
THE REPORT ON CITY WIDE
DIVERSION PROGRAM.
I JUST WANTED TO ADD MY NAME TO
IT.
>> CAN YOU SAY THAT AGAIN
COUNCIL MEMBER SAWANT?
I'M SORRY.
>> IT WAS THE AGENDA ITEM
RELATED TO THE REPORT ON THE
CITY WIDE DIVERSION PROGRAM,
REPORT ON DEMAND.
>> OKAY.
NUMBER 11.
>> NUMBER 11, YES.
>> SPONSORED BY COUNCIL MEMBER
HERBOLD.
OKAY. s THAT WAS THE SLIDE.
WE WILL MAKE SURE THAT YOU ARE
INCLUDED.
AND THEN JUST FOR THE VIEWING
PUBLIC, WE ARE GOING TO ITEM
NUMBER 12 WHICH IS WHAT WE JUST
DISCUSSED.
AND NOW WE ARE ON NUMBER 13
FROM COUNCIL MEMBER HERBOLD.
I'M SORRY.
AMY AND THEN COUNCIL MEMBER
HERBOLD.
>> IT IS SPONSORED BY COUNCIL
MEMBER HERBOLD AS THE PRIMARY
SPONSOR.
IT WOULD CUT $10 MILLION FROM
FINANCE GENERAL FOR THE
EQUITABLE COMMUNITIES
INITIATIVE.
SECOND IT WOULD ADD $10 MILLION
TO HSD FOR COMMUNITY-LED
INVESTMENTS AND THIRD IMPOSE A
PROVISO ON THE $10 MILLION.
AS PART OF THE SUMMER BUDGETARY
VISION COUNCIL AAPPROPRIATE
RATED $4 MILLION FOR PREVENTION
EFFORTS AND $10 MILLION FOR
SAFETY PROGRAMS.
IN A LETTER FROM DEPUTY MAYOR
IT STATED THAT THE 4 MILLION
WOULD BE SPENT IN 2020 BUT THE
10 MILLION WOULD BE DISTRIBUTED
THROUGH AN RFP PROCESS BUT IT
WOULD NOT OCCUR IN 2020 AND
THEREFORE THE APPROPRIATION
WOULD LAPSE.
THE LOAN AUTHORIZED BY COUNCIL
TO COVER BOTH ADDS WOULD NOT BE
EXECUTED.
THIS BUDGET ACTION WOULD CUT
THE 10 MILLION FROM THE 2021
BUDGET FOR THE INITIATIVE AND
ADD THOSE FUNDS TO HSD TO FUND
SCALING FINANCED SAFETY
PROGRAMS AS INTENDED IN THE
2020 BUDGET.
WE ARE WORKING ON THE ACTION
REQUIRED FOR THE 3.1 MILLION OF
THE 4 MILLION APPROPRIATION IN
THE BUDGET.
I WOULD LIKE TO MAKE A NOTE
ABOUT THE PROVISO LANGUAGE IN
THE ACTION.
MY INTENTION WAS TO APPLY THE
SAME PROVISO THAT WAS INCLUDED
IN ORDINANCE 126148 TO THE
PROPOSED 2021 FUNDING BY
INADVERTENTLY USED AN EARLIER
LANGUAGE.
I WILL BE ABLE TO PROMOTE THE
PROVISO LANGUAGE IN THE NEXT
VERSION OF THE BUDGET ACTION.
WITH THAT I WILL TURN IT OVER
TO COUNCIL MEMBER HERBOLD.
>> THANK YOU.
COUNCIL MEMBER HERBOLD.
>> THANK YOU SO MUCH.
APPRECIATE THE REMINDER THAT
THIS IS FUNDING THAT THE
COUNCIL HAS VOTED TWICE TO
PROVIDE.
FIRST IN APPROVING COUNCIL BILL
DURING OUR 2020 REBALANCING
PROCESS.
AND THEN AGAIN IN OVERTURNING
THE MAYOR'S VETO OF IT.
MANY THANKS TO MY COSPONSORS,
COUNCIL MEMBER SAWANT AND
COUNCIL PRESIDENT GONZALEZ.
THIS COMMITMENT TO DISTRIBUTE
THESE FUNDS THROUGH HSD I THINK
HAS BEEN RECEIVED IN OUR LETTER
FROM SENIOR DEPUTY MAYOR FONG.
BUT THERE IS NOT A CLEAR PATH
FOR HOW THIS WOULD BE FUNDED
BECAUSE THE COUNSEL'S ACTION
DURING THE REBALANCING PROCESS
OVER THE SUMMER WAS TO
AUTHORIZE AN INNER FUND LOAN
THAT THE EXECUTIVE HAS STATED
THAT THEY DO NOT INTEND TO
TAKE.
THUS CREATING AN UNBALANCED
BUDGE THE FOR 2021.
SO THE $10 MILLION IS A HIGH
PRIORITY AND A KEY REQUEST OF
THE DECRIMINALIZE SEATTLE.
DURING OUR PROCESS OVER THE
SUMMER I HAVE BEEN SPEAKING TO
THE EXECUTIVE BOAT THE MAYOR'S
OFFICE AND THE HUMAN SERVICES
DIRECTOR ABOUT THE PLANS FOR
ALLOCATING THESE FUNDS.
I MET WITH DIRECTOR JOHNSTON
JUST YESTERDAY.
AND I UNDERSTAND THAT DIRECTOR
JOHNSON HAS SHARED A PROPOSAL
TO THE MAYOR'S OFFICE TO
DISCUSS THE NEXT STEPS FORWARD
IN DEVELOPING THE RFP.
I'M CONTINUING TO MONITOR THEIR
PROGRESS.
AND I BELIEVE THAT HSD IS
ACTING IN GOOD FAITH.
AS IT RELATES TO SPECIFICALLY
DEVELOPING THE RFP.
JUST AS A MATTER OF DETAIL THAT
MIGHT BE USEFUL FOR FOLKS.
THE COMMITMENT THAT WE RECEIVED
IN THE LETTER FROM SENIOR
DEPUTY MAYOR FONG BACK ON
SEPTEMBER 30th INDICATED THAT
HSD WOULD BE WORKING WITH
COMMUNITY AND DEVELOPING THE
RFP ITSELF.
SO RATHER THAN HSD ISSUING THE
RFP WITHOUT HAVING DEEPEN DEEP
ENGAGEMENT AROUND THE
INVESTMENTS THEY PROPOSED, THIS
WILL BE A COLLABORATIVE PROCESS
WITH COMMUNITY AND WITH SERVICE
PROVIDERS.
I HAVE ACTUALLY REQUESTED THAT
DR. JOHNSON CONSIDER THE
INTERCEPT MODEL AS A WAY OF
DOING A GAPS ANALYSIS FOR WHERE
WE NEED ADDITIONAL INVESTMENTS
AND REALLY TAKING A LOOK AT
WHERE -- WHERE WE WANT TO PUT
OUR GREATEST INVESTMENTS ALONG
THE INTERCEPT MODEL AND
DIRECTOR JOHNSON HAS EXPRESSED
AN INTEREST IN CONSIDERING
USING THAT MODEL SORT OF AS THE
FRAMEWORK.
WITH THAT I APPRECIATE
RECEIVING ANY ADDITIONAL
QUESTIONS AND HOPE TO GET YOUR
SUPPORT FOR THIS HIGH PRIORITY
COMMUNITY AND COUNCIL
INVESTMENT.
>> THANK YOU, COUNCIL MEMBER
HERBOLD.
ARE THERE ANY ADDITIONAL
QUESTIONS?
COUNCIL MEMBER SAWANT, PLEASE
GO AHEAD.
>> SO YEAH.
I'VE ALREADY COSPONSORED THIS
AMENDMENT.
SO I DEFINITELY SUPPORT IT.
JUST WANTED TO NOTE FOR MEMBERS
OF THE VIEWING PUBLIC ONE
ONGOING MAJOR PROBLEM WITH THE
PUBLIC ACCOUNTABILITY IT CAN
ONLY ALLOCATE FUNDS AND IS NOT
THE BODY THAT SPENDS THE
ALLOCATED FUNDS.
THAT MEANS THAT THEY ARE PLACED
IN A BANK ACCOUNT AVAILABLE FOR
A PURPOSE BUT THEN IT IS THE
MAYOR'S OFFICE AND THE
DEPARTMENTS THAT SERVE AT HER
BEHEST WHO -- AND THEIR WORK --
I MEAN THOSE DECISIONS ARE
NOT MADE IN PUBLIC BUT THE
MAYOR HAS THE AUTHORITY TO
SPEND THOSE FUNDS.
THIS YEAR THE MAYOR ANNOUNCED
$100 MILLION TO BE ALLOCATED IN
COMMUNITIES OF COLOR.
THERE IS NO GUARANTEE THAT THE
INVESTMENTS WILL HAPPEN OR THAT
THE COMMUNITIES WILL SEE THE
FUNDS.
THIS BUDGET AMENDMENT MOVES $10
MILLION OF THOSE FUNDS OUT OF
ONE BANK ACCOUNT THAT THE MAYOR
CONTROLLED TO ANOTHER BANK
ACCOUNT THAT THE MAYOR
CONTROLS.
EFFECTIVELY IT IS WHAT IT
HAPPENING.
IT LIMITS HOW THE FUNDS CAN BE
INVESTED.
BUT LEGALLY THERE IS NOTHING
THAT REQUIRES THE FUNDS -- IT
IS HOLDING THE MAYOR'S OFFICE
POLITICALLY ACCOUNTABLE.
I WANTED TO POINT THAT OUT.
LIKE I SAID I HAVE COSPONSORED
THIS BUDGET AMENDMENT.
I THINK IT IS IMPORTANT.
AND MEMBERS OF THE PUBLIC
SHOULD KEEP IN MIND THAT THE
ONLY THING THAT WILL HOLD THE
MAYOR ACCOUNTABILITY WILL BE
THE VIGILANCE OF A GRASS ROOTS
MOVEMENT.
>> THANK YOU VERY MUCH.
COUNCIL MEMBER HERBOLD, I
APPRECIATE YOUR CREATIVE
THINKING ON THIS.
I KNOW THERE ARE MANY PEOPLE ON
THE COMMUNITY WHO ARE EAGERLY
AWAITING THESE FUNDS.
TO MAKE SURE THERE IS
APPROPRIATE RESPONSE CAPACITY
IN THE COMMUNITY.
THIS IS A CRITICAL STEP IN THAT
PROCESS.
IS IT FAIR TO SAY THAT YOU HAVE
IDENTIFIED A FUND SOURCE
BECAUSE OF THAT LACK OF ACTION?
MAYBE THAT'S THE WRONG WAY TO
PUT IT.
LACK OF CERTAINTY THAT THE FUND
SOURCE THAT WE ORIGINALLY
IDENTIFIED WAS GOING TO BE
ACTED UPON AND THAT YOU'RE OPEN
AS WELL TO OTHER FUND SOURCES.
>> YEAH.
ABSOLUTELY.
DURING ISSUE IDENTIFICATION,
THE CENTRAL STAFF IDENTIFIED
POTENTIAL FUND SOURCES.
THEY ALSO SUGGESTED THAT IF WE
THOUGHT THE MAYOR'S OFFICE
WOULD HAVE A CHANGE OF HEART IN
2021, WE COULD AUTHORITY A 2021
INTERFUND LOAN.
GIVEN THAT I DON'T HAVE AN
INDICATION THAT THERE HAS BEEN
A CHANGE OF HEART IN THE
MAYOR'S OFFICE TO DO WHAT WE
ASKED THEM TO DO IN 2020 TO DO
SO IN 2021, I DID PROPOSE THE
USE OF THIS PARTICULAR FUND
SOURCE.
AGAIN, THIS IS, AGAIN, ONE OF
THE OPTIONS THAT HAS BEEN
PROVIDED BY CENTRAL STAFF.
BUT ALSO SOMETHING THAT WE'RE
HEARING FROM COMMUNITY AROUND
THIS PARTICULAR FUND SOURCE AS
WELL.
IS THAT THE COMMITMENTS THAT
THE COUNCIL HAS MADE PRIOR ARE
HIGHER PRIORITY.
>> THANK YOU FOR THAT.
ANY ADDITIONAL COMMENTS OR
QUESTIONS?
WONDERFUL.
THANK YOU FOR THAT
CLARIFICATION HERBOLD.
I SEE THIS MAKING SURE THAT THE
$10 MILLION COMMITMENT IS
FOLLOWED THROUGH ON.
I APPRECIATE THAT
CLARIFICATION.
COLLEAGUES I SEE COUNCIL MEMBER
HERBOLD JOINED BY SAWANT AND
GONZALEZ AND MORALES AND LEWIS.
WONDERFUL.
THANK YOU SO MUCH.
LET'S MOVE TO THE NEXT ITEM.
>> JUST THIS SUMMER AS PART OF
THE REBALANCING PACKAGE THE
COUNCIL UNANIMOUS RESTORED THAT
THAT WAS INADVERTENTLY OMITTED
FROM THE CARRY FORWARD
ORDINANCE.
THE ACLU ATTENDED MY SEPTEMBER
27th -- 22nd PUBLIC SAFETY AND
HUMAN SERVICES COMMITMENT ALONG
WITH KING COUNTY PUBLIC HEALTH
TO BRIEF THE COUNCIL ON A
PROPOSED NEW APPROACH TO THE
MODEL.
AND THIS NEW IN APPROACH IS
SIMPLY NOT RELYING ON
ESTABLISHING A -- AND BUILDING
CONSTRUCTING A NEW BRICKS AND
MORTAR LOCATION TO PROVIDE
THESE SERVICES.
PROVIDED THIS NEW APPROACH IS
-- I HAVE INFORMED, I SHOULD
SAY, THIS -- DIRECTOR JOHNSON
OF THIS NEW APPROACH AND ASKED
FOR FEEDBACK.
I UNDERSTAND THAT THAT
INFORMATION HAS BEEN SHARED
WITH THE MAYOR'S OFFICE.
AND WE MAY HAVE -- SOME OF YOU
MAY HAVE SEEN RECENTLY THAT THE
SEATTLE TIMES REPORT THAT THE
MAYOR'S OFFICE SAID THAT THE
MAYOR WAS INTERESED IN
LEARNING MORE HOW THE PROPOSAL
COULD WORK.
AND JUST, YOU KNOW, FOR NOW
THIS ACTION JUST SIMPLY MOVES
MONEY FROM FINANCE GENERAL TO
THE HUMAN SERVICES DEPARTMENT
SO WE CAN BEGIN HAVING THESE
CONVERSATIONS.
THANK YOU.
>> ARE THERE QUESTIONS?
COUNCIL MEMBER SAWANT, PLEASE
GO AHEAD.
>> THANK YOU.
THIS IS -- I HAVE INDICATED MY
SUPPORT FOR THIS ALREADY.
THIS IS AN EXAMPLE OF FUNDING
THAT THE MAYOR YEAR AFTER YEAR
HAS FAILED TO FAILED TO
ACTUALLY USE FUNDS ALLOCATED BY
THE SIT COUNSEL'S BUDGET
DECISION.
THE ALLOCATION OF THAT $1.4
MILLION WAS A BUDGET AMENDMENT
FOUGHT FOR AND WON BY THE
BUDGET MOVEMENT.
AND EITHER IN 2017 OR 2018.
BUT AFTER IT WAS ALLOCATED, THE
MAYOR SHAMEFULLY REFUSED TO USE
THE FUNDS WHILE OPIOID
ADDICTION SPREAD IN THE CITY
AND THE REGION AND IN THE
COUNTRY.
SO I WOULD URGE THE MAYOR TO
STOP THE -- OF THESE FUNDS AND
URGE OTHER COUNCIL MEMBERS AS
WELL.
>> THANK YOU COUNCIL MEMBER
SAWANT.
THIS HAS BEEN ONE OF THOSE
ISSUES THAT WAS PRESENT WHEN I
FIRST GOT SWORN IN.
HERE WE ARE WORKING ON IT FOR
THE LAST YEAR OF MY TERM HERE.
LET'S SEE IF WE CAN GET --
COUNCIL MEMBER STRAUSS PLEASE
GO AHEAD.
>> THANK YOU CHAIR AND COUNCIL
MEMBER HERBOLD FOR BRINGING
THIS FORWARD.
I'M SIMPLY CHECKING MY
UNDERSTANDING.
IS THIS A PROGRAM THAT IS
ALREADY EXISTING AND THIS IS
ADDING DOLLARS TO THAT PROGRAM
OR IS THIS STANDING IT UP?
>> NO.
THIS IS -- THIS IS FUNDING THAT
THE COUNCIL ALLOCATED AND
PARKED IN FINANCE GENERAL IN
2018 IN ORDER TO START THE --
IN ORDER TO DEVELOP AND BUILD
LOCATIONS.
SO THE PLAN ENDORSED BY KING
COUNTY PUBLIC HEALTH AT THE
TIME WAS TO BUILD STAND ALONE
FACILITIES.
THE MONEY HAS BEEN PARKED IN
FINANCE GENERAL.
THE PLAN NOW IS NOT TO BUILD
STAND ALONE FACILITIES BUT TO
FUND EXISTING ORGANIZATIONS
THAT PROVIDE DRUG TREATMENT
SERVICES TO PROVIDE THIS
PARTICULAR SUITE OF SERVICES.
SO THIS IS NOT AN EXISTING
PROGRAM.
IT IS FUNDING FOR A PROGRAM
THAT WE EARMARKED BACK IN 2018
THAT HAS NOT BEEN ALLOCATED
YET.
>> WHAT I HEARD AS WELL AS THE
QUESTION OF ACTUALLY NOT --
WE'RE FUNDING EXISTING
PROGRAMS, RIGHT?
WE'RE NOT STANDING UP NEW
PROGRAMS WITH THESE FUNDS?
IS THAT CORRECT, COUNCIL MEMBER
HERBOLD?
>> WE ARE NOT STANDING UP -- I
MEAN I GUESS IT DEPENDS ON HOW
YOU DEFINE PROGRAMS.
WE WOULD BE FUNDING NEW
SERVICES.
>> EXISTING ORGANIZATIONS.
>> CORRECT.
>> OKAY.
ANY ADDITIONAL QUESTIONS?
ALL RIGHT.
HERE WE GO.
I SEE COUNCIL MEMBER HERBOLD, I
HAD COUNCIL MEMBER MORALES,
GONZALEZ, JOINED BY COUNCIL
MEMBER MORALES STRAUSS, COUNCIL
MEMBER SAWANT.
THAT'S EVERYONE.
THANK YOU SO MUCH.
LET'S GO TO THE NEXT ITEM.
>> NUMBER 13 ADDS $200,000 IN
GENERAL FUND TO HSD TO INCREASE
HARM REDUCTION PROGRAMS AND
IMPOSE A PROVISO.
IT IS SPONSORED BY HERBOLD.
THIS WOULD INCREASE THE HEAD OF
THE SERVICES OF THE EXISTING
AGENCIES THAT COULD PROVIDE TO
REDUCE HARM.
PERHAPS INCREASING STAFF TO
OFFER NEW TYPES OF PROGRAMS OR
AT ADDITIONAL LOCATIONS.
BUT NEW PROGRAMS SOME OF THE
EXAMPLES THAT HAVE BEEN
DISCUSSED ARE PEER AND
COMMUNITY OUTREACH, GOOD
NEIGHBOR AGREEMENTS THAT WOULD
DO SYRINGE PICKUP IN THE AREA
AND PROVIDING INCENTIVES FOR
MEDICARE REIMBURSEMENT FOR
CERTAIN TYPES OF SERVICES.
WITH THAT I WILL TURN IT OVER
TO COUNCIL MEMBER HERBOLD.
>> THANK YOU.
COUNCIL MEMBER HERBOLD.
>> THANK YOU.
SIMILAR TO THE PREVIOUS ITEM
DISCUSSED, THIS DOES NOT SO
MUCH CREATE ANY NEW PROGRAMS
BUT IT EXPANDS THE ACCESS TO
SERVICES OF EXISTING PROGRAMS.
I APPRECIATE THE ACCESS TO HELP
AND DEVELOPING THIS BUDGET TO
COMBAT THE STEADY RISING
OVERDOSE DEATHS IN KING COUNTY
SINCE 2011.
THE COMMITTEE MEETING THAT I
MENTIONED EARLIER HEARD DATA ON
THE RISE IN OVERDOSE DEATHS
JUST LAST MONTH FROM PUBLIC
HEALTH.
FOR THE BENEFIT OF THE VIEWING
PUBLIC, JUST WANT FOLKS TO
UNDERSTAND THAT JUST ACCESS TO
HELP IS AN ORGANIZATION THAT
RECOMMENDS IMMEDIATE SOLUTIONS
FOR DRUG USE OR HELP.
THAT ALSO INCREASES THE SAFETY
AND HEALTH OF ALL OF OUR
COMMUNITIES.
THEY RECOGNIZE THAT THE WAR ON
DRUGS HAS A DISPROPORTIONATE
IMPACT ON COMMUNITIES WITHOUT
CONTRIBUTING TO PUBLIC SAFETY
AND HEALTH AND THEY ADVOCATE
FOR USING RESOURCES ON PROVEN
RESPONSES THAT LACK FUNDING.
SO THIS BUDGET ACTION WOULD --
PUBLIC APPROACH TO SERVE DRUG
USERS WITH THE GOAL OF
EXPANDING THE AVAILABILITY OF
SERVICES FOR DRUG USERS.
THIS INCLUDES ORGANIZATIONS
SUCH AS REACH, HEPATITIS
EDUCATION PROJECT AND AURORA
COMMONS.
THIS IS DESIGNED TO BE FLEXIBLE
AND ALLOW THE ORGANIZATIONS TO
EXPAND THE TYPE OF THAT WOULD
BE MOST IMPACTFU.
THAT COULD INCLUDE EXPANDING
STAFF OR SERVICE HOURS.
SO THAT ORGANIZATIONS COULD
ENGAGE WITH PEOPLE AT -- MORE
PEOPLE AT ADDITIONAL TIMES.
IT COULD INCLUDE ADDING ANOTHER
LOCATION.
SUCH AS MEDICAL CONSULTATION.
AND AS MENTIONED ONE
ORGANIZATION IS CONSIDERING
LAUNCHING A GOOD NEIGHBOR PEER
PROGRAM WHICH WOULD PUT PEERS
TO WORK DURING GOOD NEIGHBOR
OUTREACH IN THEIR COMMUNITY,
INCLUDING ENCAMPMENTS AND
PICKING UP DIRTY SYRINGES.
THIS FUNDING COULD HELP THEM
LAUNCH THAT PROGRAM OR SIMILAR
EFFORTS THAT WOULD INCREASE
PUBLIC HEALTH AND SAFETY.
AND I JUST -- AS IT RELATES TO
THAT LAST POINT, THE CITY
AUDITOR'S REPORT FROM LAST YEAR
AROUND THE PROVISION OF BETTER
HYGIENE THROUGHOUT THE CITY AND
THE COLLECTION OF GARBAGE AND
PROVISION OF HEALTH PROGRAMS IN
RESPONSE TO THE PROLIFERATION
OF OUTDOOR ENCAMPMENTS AND RVs
HAS IDENTIFIED OTHER CITIES
THAT ACTUALLY AS PART OF THEIR
CONTRACTS WITH HSD PROVIDERS
ACTUALLY INCLUDED THIS
COMMITMENT TO THIS TYPE OF GOOD
NEIGHBOR AGREEMENT THAT THE
PROVIDERS WILL THEN WORK WITH
FOLKS IN THE AREA SURROUNDING
THE PHYSICAL LOCATION OF THE
ORGANIZATION TO DO THINGS LIKE
SYRINGE PICKUP, BARGAINING
PICKUP AND BUILDING
RELATIONSHIPS WITH FOLK THAT'S
WORK AND LIVE NEARBY.
THIS IS SOMETHING THAT I LIFTED
UP THROUGH A SLIDE IN LAST
YEAR'S BUDGET PROCESS.
IT DID NOT ACTUALLY MOVE
FORWARD.
BECAUSE THE CHAIR WAS THINNING
THE NUMBER OF SLIDES IN THE
FINAL BUDGET.
I'M REALLY EXCITED THAT A
SERVICE PROVIDER IS CONSIDERING
LAUNCHING A GOOD NEIGHBOR
PROGRAM LIKE THIS AND USING THE
FUND TO DO SO.
I THINK IT WOULD BE A REALLY
GOOD -- A GOOD WAY TO PROMOTE
THESE BEST PRACTICES.
THANK YOU.
>> THANK YOU VERY MUCH.
ARE THERE ANY ADDITIONAL
QUESTIONS FROM -- FOR COUNCIL
MEMBER HERBOLD?
I'M NOT SEEING ANY -- I DO WANT
TO ASK COUNCIL MEMBER HERBOLD,
IS THERE A NEXUS HERE AS WELL
WITH THE ITEM THAT WE JUST
CONSIDERED SIMILAR TYPE
PROGRAMS.
>> YEAH.
I DID ASK THAT QUESTION OF OUR
COMMUNITY STAKEHOLDERS.
THE SUITE OF SERVICES AS
RECOMMENDED THROUGH KING COUNTY
PUBLIC HEALTH THAT LED TO THE
RECOMMENDATIONS ARE DISTINCT.
AND SO THAT FUNDING THAT THE
COUPS AAPPROPRIATE RATED IN
2018 IS DISTINCT FOR THAT SWEET
OF SERVICES.
THIS PROPOSED 200,000 I THINK
IS INTENDED TO BE A LITTLE MORE
FLEXIBLE AND NOT TIED TO
IMPLEMENTING THOSE CAN YOU
THINK COUNTY PUBLIC HEALTH
RECOMMENDATIONS BUT MORE TIED
TO WORKING WITH THE PROVIDERS
AND THEIR CLIENTS TO FIGURE OUT
WHAT OTHER THINGS CAN WE DO TO
BETTER SERVE CLIENTS AND ALSO
ADDRESS NEEDS IDENTIFIED IN THE
COMMUNITY.
>> EXCELLENT.
THANK YOU.
I'M NOT SEEING ANY ADDITIONAL
HANDS AT THIS TIME.
WE WILL SUMMARIZE.
WE HAVE COUNCIL MEMBER HERBOLD
JOINED BY JUAREZ AND LEWIS.
JOINED WHICH SAWANT, COUNCIL
PRESIDENT GONZALEZ AND COUNCIL
MEMBER STRAUSS.
THANK YOU ALL VERY MUCH.
YEP.
THAT LOOKS LIKE IT.
THANK YOU VERY MUCH.
LET'S GO ON TO THE NEXT
SECTION.
>> GOOD MORNING, COUNCIL
MEMBERS.
THE NEXT ITEM ON THE AGENDA IS
CBASFD-001-A-00.
IT WOULD ADD $337,702 GENERAL
FUND TO ADD POSITIONS TO
SEATTLE FIRE DEPARTMENT FOR
HEALTH ONE EXPANSION AND HE I
AM PROSE A PROVISO ON THE HSD
TO SUPPORT THE HEALTH ONE
PROGRAM.
I HAD A DEEPER CONVERSATION
WITH THE SPONSOR AND I WILL
UPDATE FOR A BETTER INTENT.
THE UPDATE WOULD REDUCE THE
NUMBER OF STAFF MEMBERS
ASSIGNED TO THE HEALTH ONE TEAM
AND IT WOULD ALSO ELIMINATE THE
PROVISO AS SFD AND NHD HAVE A
STAFFING AGREEMENT.
DETERMINE WHETHER THERE IS
STAFF THAT COULD BE FOCUSED ON
HEALTH ONE WORK OR REQUIRE
THREE POSITIONS AS TO HSD AND
THE NEXT VERSION OF THE SBA
WOULD REFLECT THAT INFORMATION.
FINALLY THIS UPDATED SBA WOULD
EXEMPT THE VEHICLES FROM ANY
PLANNED FLEET REDUCTION.
WITH THAT, I WILL TURN IT OVER
TO YOU BUDGET CHAIRMAN
MOSQUEDA.
>> THANK YOU, CARLOS.
AND THANK YOU FOR YOUR WORK TO
UPDATE THE FORM AS WELL.
APPRECIATE THE CLARIFICATION
THIS MORNING.
I WANT TO THANK OUR COSPONSORS.
AND I KNOW JUAREZ HAS SIGNALED
HER INTEREST IN SIGNING IN ON.
THIS THE FOLKS THAT HAVE A RIDE
ALONG OR READ UP ABOUT THIS
AWARD WINNING PROGRAM KNOW THAT
THE PROGRAM IS PART OF THE
SEATTLE FIRE DEPARTMENT'S
MOBILENT GRATED RESPONSE UNIT.
THIS STARTED JUST IN 2019 BUT
HAS ALREADY SHOWN SIGNIFICANT
REDUCTION IN THE NUMBER OF
CALLS FROM THE POLICE AND
FIREFIGHTERS AND FREEING UP OUR
FIRST RESPONDERS TO RESPOND TO
EMERGENCIES THAT THEY HAVE BEEN
TRAINED FOR.
THIS PROGRAM HELPS DIVERT 911
CALLS FOR MEDICAL RELATED CALLS
AND WHAT IT IS OUR SINCERE
INTEREST ALONG WITH THE MEMBERS
OF THE FIRE DEPARTMENT IS
MAKING SURE THIS IS NOT JUST IN
POCKETS OF THE CITY BUT CAN BE
SPREAD THROUGHOUT OUR CITY TO
PROVIDE EFFECTIVE AND TARGETED
TRAUMA INFORMED CARE TO THOSE
WHO THEY ARE SERVING.
42% OF MEDICAL CALLS RECEIVED
BY SEATTLE FIRE DEPARTMENT FELL
IN THAT CATEGORY.
MEANING THE ROLLOUT OF THE
ENGINE WAS IMPORTANT AND
HELPING TO FREE UP INDIVIDUALS
WHO ARE ALREADY FACING SEVERE
PERSONNEL SHORTAGE GIVEN THE
COMPOUNDING CRISIS BOTH IN OUR
CITY BUT ACROSS THE COUNTRY AS
WELL.
WE WANT TO THANK OUR FIRE
DEPARTMENT MEMBERS WHO HAVE
BEEN DEPLOYED TO OTHER STATES
LIKE OREGON AND CALIFORNIA,
PICKING UP AND HELPING OTHER
DEPARTMENTS WITH FIGHTING FIRES
THERE.
WE WANT TO THANK OUR FIRE
DEPARTMENT MEMBERS WHO HAVE
BEEN PROVIDING ADDITIONAL
SUPPORT AT THE COVID TESTING
CENTERS.
PEOPLE WHO ARE PULLING MULTIPLE
SHIFTS IN A ROW TO MAKE SURE
THERE IS SUFFICIENT PERSONNEL
OUT THERE.
WE HAVE A SINCERE INTEREST IN
MAKING SURE THERE ARE ENOUGH
FIREFIGHTERS TO DO THE JOBS
THAT THEY HAVE ALREADY SIGNED
UP FOR AND MAKE SURE THAT WE'RE
SCALING UP THIS INCREDIBLE
SYSTEM WE HAVE ALREADY INVESTED
IN THROUGH HEALTH ONE.
STAFFED WITH A TEAM OF TWO
SPECIALLY TRAINED FIRE
DEPARTMENT PERSONNEL AND ONE
CIVILIAN SOCIAL WORKER.
WE HAVE HAD THE CHANCE TO RIDE
ALONG WITH THE HEALTH ONE TEAM
AND ARE APPRECIATIVE THAT THE
PROPOSED BUDGET INCLUDED
SCALING UP TO TWO TEAMS.
HOWEVER WE KNOW WITH ADDITIONAL
NEEDS THROUGHOUT OUR CITY IT IS
INCREDIBLY IMPORTANT FOR US TO
DO EVERYTHING THAT WE CAN TO
MAKE SURE THAT THERE'S
ADDITIONAL PERSONNEL TO RESPOND
TO ISSUES LIKE NONEMERGENCY
MEDICAL ISSUES, THOSE WHO NEED
ACCESS TO SERVICES, INDIVIDUAL
WHO'S ARE SUFFERING FROM
SUBSTANCE ADDICTIONS.
AND THIS IS ALSO TRUE FOR OUR
HOUSED AND UNHOUSED NEIGHBORS.
HEALTH ONE HAS LIMITED
AVAILABILITY CURRENTLY AND
WOULD LIKE TO EXPAND THE
PROGRAM TO ALL FIVE AREAS OF
THE CITY.
THEIR PROGRAM IS SCALABLE AS WE
HAVE HEARD DIRECTLY FROM THE
CHIEF AND THOSE WHO WORK WITHIN
HEALTH ONE.
WE WANT TO BRING THE EXPANSION
IN 2021 TO TWO VANS UP TO THREE
VANS.
THREE UNITS BY MID YEAR NEXT
YEAR.
SO AS YOU HEARD FROM CARLOS,
THIS PROGRAM -- THIS PROVISO
WOULD ADD TWO FIREFIGHTERS TO
THE HEALTH ONE TEAM BY MID YEAR
AND ASSIGN TWO SOCIAL WORKERS
WITH CASE MANAGEMENT EXPERIENCE
FROM HSD WITH EXPERIENCING
PEOPLE WITH DIVERSE NEEDS
INCLUDING CHRONIC CONDITIONS
EXPERIENCED BY MEMBERS OF OUR
COMMUNITY.
THAT INCLUDES SERVICES FOR
INDIVIDUALS WITH DISABILITIES
AND OUR ELDER COMMUNITY AS
WELL.
THIS WOULD INCLUDE AS REQUESTED
FROM OUR CONVERSATIONS WITH THE
TEAM AT HEALTH ONE A SPECIALIST
TO PROVIDE BEHIND THE SCENES
TRIAGE AND REFERRALS AS THEY
EXPAND THE NUMBER OF UNITS THEY
HAVE.
WE HAVE TO MAKE SURE THAT THEY
HAVE THE BACK OF OFFICE SUPPORT
TO MAKE SURE THAT THE
ASSIGNMENTS ARE GOING OUT.
HEALTH ONE IS ONLY TEN MONTHS
INTO THEIR FIRST YEAR RUNNING.
CHIEF SEATTLE CLUB, ASIAN
COUNSELING AND REFERRAL
SERVICES AND CONTINUING TO
EXPAND AND EXPRESS INTEREST IN
WORKING WITH ADDITIONAL
COMMUNITY LED ORGANIZATIONS.
CURRENT CLIENT MAKEUP OF THOSE
WHO HAVE RECEIVED CARE AND
ONGOING SERVICES FROM THE
HEALTH ONE TEAMS IS ABOUT 50%
PEOPLE OF COLOR.
THEY PROVIDE CASE MANAGEMENT
AND REFERRALS TO MENTAL HEALTH
COUNSELORS, HOUSING SERVICES
AND HELP TO MAKE SURE THAT
PEOPLE ARE NOT JUST
EXPERIENCING A REVOLVING DOOR
AT HARBOR VIEW.
THEY ARE NOT SEEKING TO
DUPLICATE THE KING COUNTY
MENTAL HEALTH MODEL NOR IS IT
MEANT TO BE A DUPLICATION OF
THE COMMUNITY LED ORGANIZATIONS
WHO ARE EXPERIENCED IN HARM
REDUCTION AND INTERVENTION
STRATEGIES.
IT IS INTEGRATED INTO THE 911
RESPONSE SYSTEM.
THEY HAVE THE ABILITY TO SEND
OUT MEDICALLY TRAINED PERSONNEL
TO SHOW UP FOR LOW ACUTITY
ISSUES AND DO HANDOFFS TO OTHER
COMMUNITY ORGANIZATIONS AND
MAKE SURE THAT IT IS THEM, THE
HEALTH ONE TEAM, THAT IS
SHOWING UP FIRST WHEN THE CALLS
COME IN TO 911.
AGAIN, THIS PROGRAM IS
SCALABLE.
IT IS READY NOW AND IT IS FULLY
CAPABLE OF BEING A STRONG
PARTNER WITH OUR LED
ORGANIZATIONS PROVIDING AN
ADDITIONAL WAY TO ENSURE THAT
THERE IS A NONARMED INDIVIDUAL
SIGNING UP -- SORRY, SHOWING UP
WHEN WHEW WE REALLY NEED IS A
HARM REDUCTION MODEL.
CURRENTLY OUR FIREFIGHTERS ARE
ANSWERING THE LOW ACUTITY
ISSUES.
IT FREES UP THE FRIGHTS TO
FIGHT FIRES.
AND REALLY EXCITED ABOUT THIS
PARTNERSHIP HERE.
AND FROM A PUBLIC HEALTH
INTERVENTION MODEL, I THINK IT
IS -- IT IS THE RIGHT THING TO
DO AT THIS MOMENT.
AND LOOKING FORWARD TO HAVING
THIS BE COMPLIMENTARY TO THOSE
OTHER PUBLIC HEALTH HARM
REDUCTION STRATEGIES THAT ARE
BOTH COMMUNITY LED AND IN
PARTNERSHIP WITH KING COUNTY.
COUNCIL MEMBER HERBOLD, PLEASE
GO AHEAD.
>> THANK YOU.
I WOULD JUST LIKE TO UNDERSTAND
A LITTLE BIT MORE ABOUT HOW THE
FIVE POSITIONS IN HSD WOULD --
WHAT THEIR ROLE WOULD BE.
AS YOU MENTIONED, CHAIR
MOSQUEDA, THE HEALTH ONE UNIT
COMMUNICATES WHEN THEY HAVE
NEEDS GREATER THAN THOSE THAT
THEY CAN -- THAT THEY CAN
ASSIST WITH.
THEY COMMUNICATE WITH OUR
COMMUNITY SERVICE PROVIDERS TO
PROVIDE THOSE ENHANCED
SERVICES.
I'M NOT QUITE SURE I UNDERSTAND
WHY WE NEED HSD TO PROVIDE
SOCIAL WORK AND CASE MANAGEMENT
SERVICES WHEN -- WHAT I THINK
WE REALLY WANT IS WE WANT TO
SUPPORT THE COMMUNITY-BASED
ORGANIZATIONS THAT PROVIDE
THESE SERVICES.
>> THAT'S CORRECT.
COUNCIL MEMBER HERBOLD, THERE
IS NOT ACTUALLY FIVE HSD
MEMBERS.
CARLOS MENTIONED AT THE
BEGINNING THAT THIS FORM WAS
GOING TO BE AMENDED.
BUT I DO WANT TO CLARIFY,
ABSOLUTELY.
THIS TEAM DOES THE HANDOFF TO
COMMUNITY ORGANIZATIONS THAT
REALLY HAVE, YOU KNOW, TRUSTED
PARTNERSHIPS IN DIVERSE
COMMUNITIES AND WORKING WITH
ORGANIZATIONS THAT DO HOUSING
ASSISTANCE AND ONGOING CASE
MANAGEMENT.
BUT THE CURRENT MODEL IS A
MEMORANDUM OF UNDERSTANDING
WITH HSD TO ALLOCATE A CASE
WORKER TO BE PART OF THE
INITIAL TEAM THAT SHOWS UP.
SO THE CURRENT TEAM IS TWO
FIREFIGHTERS AND ONE CASE
WORKER THAT GO AROUND IN THE
ACTUAL VAN AND SHOW UP AND
SERVE PEOPLE AND TRIAGE ON THE
SPOT IN COMMUNITY.
SO THE PROPOSAL HERE WOULD BE
TO ALLOCATE TWO ADDITIONAL HSD
CASE WORKERS TO BE PART OF THAT
INITIAL TEAM.
BUT NOT TO DO THE ONGOING CASE
MANAGEMENT.
IT WOULD ONLY BE PART OF THAT
TEAM.
AND THEN THE THIRD PERSON WOULD
BE AN ADMINISTRATIVE SUPPORT
PERSON BEHIND THE SCENES.
THE CURRENT MODEL IS A
MEMORANDUM OF UNDERSTANDING
WITH HSD TO PROVIDE THE CASE
MANAGER THAT IS PART OF THE
TEAM.
BUT I UNDERSTAND WHERE THE
CONFUSION IS.
AND I APOLOGIZE FOR THAT.
DOES THAT HELP CLEAR UP?
>> IT HELPS A GREAT DEAL.
I JUST THINK ONE OF THE THINGS
THAT I HAD HEARD EARLIER WAS
SORT OF A CONCERN THAT WE ARE
-- WE'RE INCREASING FUNDING FOR
THE FIRE DEPARTMENT ELEMENT OF
THIS PROGRAM WITHOUT -- MAYBE
THIS WAS HANDLED IN THE EARLIER
VERSION BUT PEOPLE DIDN'T
UNDERSTAND.
THATTHEY ARE RELIANT -- THANK
YOU FOR THE CLARIFICATION.
AND I'M GOING TO RAISE MY HAND.
>> EXCELLENT.
THANK YOU VERY MUCH.
ANY ADDITIONAL QUESTIONS OR
COMMENTS?
I WANT TO THANK ALL OF YOU.
I KNOW THAT MANY OF YOU HAVE
DONE THE RIDE ALONG WITH THE
HEALTH ONE TEAM.
IF YOU'RE ABLE GIVEN THE
CURRENT CRISIS OF COVID.
NOT EVERYONE IS ABLE TO GO OUT
THERE.
REALLY APPRECIATE WHAT YOU ARE
ABLE TO DO, WHICH IS SUPPORT
THIS AND TO LIFT THIS ISSUE UP
RIGHT NOW THIS PROGRAM IS
OFFERING ABOUT 36 HOURS OF
SERVICE A WEEK.
AND SO BEING ABLE TO EXPAND TO
TWO, AND THEN THREE VANS IS
GOING TO BE ABLE TO PROVIDE
MUCH MORE SERVICES ACROSS THE
CITY.
WE KNOW THAT SINCE THIS PROGRAM
HAS LAUNCHED, THERE HAS ALREADY
BEEN 834 INCIDENTS.
ABOUT 25% HAVE BEEN DIRECT
REFERRALS FROM THE 911 SYSTEM
AND 35% HAVE BEEN REQUEST FROM
FIREFIGHTERS OSCINE.
THIS IS A GREAT WAY FOR US TO
SHOW UP WITH THAT COMPASSIONATE
CARE LENS WITH THE CASE
MANAGERS AND AS COUNCIL MEMBER
HERBOLD SAID TO REALLY DO THE
FOLLOW-THROUGH SO THERE IS THE
WARM HANDS OFF TO COMMUNITY
PARTNERS AND IT MAKES IT SO
PEOPLE ARE NOT JUST RUSHING
FROM SCENE TO SCENE GIVEN THE
HIGH VOLUME OF CALLS.
APPRECIATE YOUR SUPPORT.
IN ADDITION TO JUAREZ AND
LEWIS, I SEE COUNCIL MEMBERS
HERBOLD, SAWANT, PEDERSEN.
SORRY.
IN ADDITION TO COUNCIL MEMBER
STRAUSS AND LEWIS WE HAVE
JUAREZ, HERBOLD, SAWANT,
PEDERSEN AND COUNCIL PRESIDENT
GONZALEZ.
THANK YOU ALL VERY MUCH.
LET'S GO ON TO THE NEXT ITEM.
THANK YOU, CARLOS.
>> GOOD MORNING MADAM CHAIR
EXAMINE MEMBERS OF THE
COMMITTEE.
GREG DOSS CENTRAL STAFF TO WALK
YOU THROUGH THE NEXT FOUR
ITEMS.
THE NEXT CBA IS SFD-002-A-001
BROUGHT TO YOU BY COUNCIL
MEMBER HERBOLD AND JUAREZ AND
COUNCIL MEMBER STRAUSS AND
COUNCIL MEMBER GONZALEZ.
THIS PARTICULAR ITEM AS YOU CAN
SEE ADDS $383,000 TO THE FIRE
DEPARTMENT TO FUND EXTERNAL
DEFIBRILLATORS LUCAS DEVICES
AND BALLISTIC SETS.
MOST FOLKS PROVIDE AN
ELECTRICAL SHOCK IN AN CARDIAC
ARREST.
LUCAS DEVICES PROVIDE CPR
COMPRESSIONS WHEN IT IS UNSAFE
TO TO DO SO.
AND BALLISTIC SETS PROTECT
FIREFIGHTERS AT THE SCENE.
THE DEPARTMENT IS UNDERFUNDED
FOR AEDs AND ALL OF THIS
EQUIPMENT IS OF PARAMOUNT
IMPORTANCE IN THE FIELD.
WITH THAT AS A DESCRIPTION,
I'LL TURN IT OVER TO COUNCIL
MEMBER HERBOLD.
>> THANK YOU.
COUNCIL MEMBER HERBOLD.
>> THANK YOU SO MUCH.
GREG DID A GREAT JOB OF
COVERING THIS.
THE -- THE UNION LOCAL 27 HAS
INDICATED THAT THE DEPARTMENT
IS UNDERFUNDED TO MAINTAIN AND
REPLACE ITS COMPLIMENT TIFF
AEDs.
THIS IS A HIGH PRIORITY FOR
LOCAL 27.
AND JUST WANT TO TAKE THIS
OPPORTUNITY TO MAKE A NOTE.
IN CASE YOU'RE MISSING A
PREVIOUS FORM B THAT YOU MAY
HAVE HAD INTEREST IN FROM THE
EARLIER ROUND OF BUDGET
DISCUSSIONS, MY FORM A FOR
BUNKING GEAR IS NOT LISTED.
WE SORT OF TRACKED DOWN THROUGH
SOME QUESTIONS TO THE BUDGET
OFFICE.
AND WE HAVE BEEN ASSURED THERE
IS NO DEFICIT OF WHAT IS CALLED
BUNKING GEAR.
AND IT IS ON A TEN-YEAR
REPLACEMENT CYCLE WITH ALL
FIREFIGHTERS HAVING TWO SETS
THAT ARE NOT EXPIRED.
KNOWING THAT REALLY ALLOWS ME
AND HOPEFULLY MY COLLEAGUES ON
THE COUNCIL TO PUT PRIORITY
EMPHASIS ON BEHALF OF THE
SEATTLE FIRE DEPARTMENT'S NEEDS
ON THIS ITEM 15, THE AUTOMATED
EXTERNAL DEFIBRILLATORS, LUCAS
DEVICES AND BALLISTIC SETS AND
THE ACTION THAT WILL FOLLOW.
>> EXCELLENT.
THANK YOU COUNCIL MEMBER
HERBOLD AND THANK YOU FOR THE
CLARIFICATION ON THAT FORM A AS
WELL.
>>> ARE THERE QUESTIONS HERE ON
THE ITEM IN FRONT OF US?
OKAY.
'M NOT SEEING ANY QUESTIONS.
I DO SEE A LOT OF HANDS RAISED
IN SUPPORT.
SO COUNCIL MEMBER HERBOLD
JOINED BY COUNCIL PRESIDENT
GONZALEZ AND STRAUSS INCLUDES
NOW LEWIS, JUAREZ, PEDERSEN,
SAWANT AND COUNCIL MEMBER
MORALES.
THANK YOU
It is to restore a recruit
class and what is in the 2021
proposed budget.
This action is also brought BY
THE COUNCIL MEMBER TWISTER 1.6
MILLION THAT WAS CUT IN THE
PROPOSED BUDGET IN ABOUT 1.3
MILLION OF THAT WAS FOR
PREEMPLOYMENT TESTING,
RECRUITMENT, AND EQUIPMENT COST
AND PERSONAL COST ASSOCIATED
WITH A 20 FIREFIGHTER RECRUIT
CLASS REDUCTION.
NORMALLY FOR THE FIREFIGHTERS
IT WOULD BE 60 RECRUITS AND
THIS WOULD ADOPT A $1.3 MILLION
REDUCTION AND REDUCE THE SIZE
OF THE CLASS TO 40 RECRUITS
DRUG ADDICTION IN ADDITION THIS
WOULD ALSO REDUCE ABOUT THE
219,000 IN OVERTIME THAT IS
USED TO ADMINISTER FIREFIGHTER
WRITTEN EXAMS ON A ONE-TIME
BASIS JUST TO PUT THIS IN A
LITTLE BIT OF CONTEXT, THE FIRE
DEPARTMENT HAS BEEN
EXPERIENCING ABOVE AVERAGE
ATTRITION THIS YEAR AND IS 412
FIREFIGHTERS THAT ARE AUDIBLE
FOR DETERMINED THE RESTORATION
OF THE RECRUIT CLASS AND ALSO
THE TESTING FUNDING WOULD
ENSURE THAT THERE IS SUFFICIENT
STAFFING I WOULD ENSURE THAT
FIREFIGHTERS DO NOT SUFFER FROM
BURNOUT OR FATIGUE HAVING TO
WORK OVERTIME SHIFTS TO
BACKFILL MINIMUM STAFFING
REQUIREMENTS AND WITH THAT WILL
TURN OVER TO COUNCILMEMBER
HERBOLD . THANK YOU .
>> YOU JUST WANT TO LET FOLKS
KNOW IF I'VE BEEN TALKING TO
MUCH THIS IS MY LAST ITEM NOT
JUST FOR THE MORNING BUT FOR
THE REST OF THE DAY. THANK YOU
. IT IS BEEN CLEAR FOR SEVERAL
YEARS THAT WE NEED TO DO
EVERYTHING WE CAN TO BRING ON
MORE FIREFIGHTERS TO ADDRESS
VACANCIES IN THE COMING WAVE OF
RETIREMENT.
AS GREG MENTIONED, WE HAVE A
HIGHER LEVEL OF ATTRITION THIS
YEAR THAN WHAT WAS PROJECTED AT
THE BEGINNING OF THE YEAR.
LAST YEAR WE WORKED TO EXPAND
THE RECRUIT CLASS IN THE BUDGET
DELIBERATIONS THOSE GAINS WOULD
BE UNDONE IF WE DO NOT KEEP
THEIR BASELINE RECRUITMENT. THE
NUMBER OF SEPARATIONS THIS YEAR
HAVE BEEN 44 SEPARATIONS FOR
WHAT WAS EXPECTED WAS 38 AND
JUST RECOGNIZE THAT FIREFIGHTERS
AS WELL AS OTHER FRONT-LINE
WORKERS AND FIRST RESPONDERS
ARE UNDER A LOT OF STRESS ON
THE FRONT LINE. JUST WANT TO
ACKNOWLEDGE THAT FIREFIGHTERS
HAVE STEPPED UP AND ARE MANAGING
AN INCREDIBLY SUCCESSFUL COVID
TESTING OPERATION, IN ADDITION
TO DOING HIS REGULAR WORK. THE
ISSUE OF ATTRITION AND
SEPARATION OF THE FIRE
DEPARTMENT I THINK OUR UNIQUE
FROM THE DISCUSSIONS THAT WE
ARE HAVING ABOUT THE POLICE
DEPARTMENT AND WITH THE POLICE
DEPARTMENT ARE TALKING ABOUT
WORKING TO RESTRUCTURE THE
DEPARTMENT TO THE LAST OF WHAT
IS HISTORICALLY HAS BEEN DOING
IN THE NEW DUTIES THAT THEY
HAVE TAKEN ON THAT WE FEEL THAT
OTHER NON-SWORN NON-ARMED
RESPONSES ARE MORE APPROPRIATE.
WITH THE FIRE DEPARTMENT, THAT
IS A DIFFERENT SITUATION THAT
WE NEED THE FIRE DEPARTMENT TO
DO EVERYTHING THAT IT IS DOING
AND IT IS NOT A SITUATION THAT
WE CAN SIMPLY ADDRESS A HIGHER-
THAN-EXPECTED ATTRITION RATE BY
FINDING OTHER PEOPLE TO DO WHAT
THE FIRE DEPARTMENT DOES. THAT
IS NOT SOMETHING THAT WE CAN DO
IT FOR THAT REASON, I JUST HOPE
THAT I CAN GET YOUR SUPPORT FOR
MY OTHELLO CITY COUNCILMEMBERS
THAT I WANT TO NOTE THAT THIS
IS I BELIEVE THE HIGHEST
PRIORITY OF THE SEATTLE FIRE
DEPARTMENT AMONG OTHER BUDGET
ITEMS.
THANK YOU.
>> THANK YOU , COUNCILMEMBER
HERBOLD . OTHER ANY ADDITIONAL
QUESTIONS OR COMMENTS?
I DO NOT SEE QUESTIONS OR
COMMENTS PRODUCE A QUITE A FEW
HANDS.
LET'S SEE HERE.
COUNCILMEMBER HERBOLD WAS
JOINED BY COUNCILMEMBER
STRAUSS AND COUNCILMEMBER
GONZALEZ WITH LEWIS,
COUNCILMEMBER JUAREZ, PEDERSEN
, AND COUNCILMEMBER SAWANT IT
LOOKS LIKE EVERYONE.
THANK YOU SO MUCH .
>> EXCUSE ME, CHAIRMAN MOSQUEDA
.
>> COUNCILMEMBER MORALES ?
>> SORRY ABOUT THAT.
I SEE YOU NOW.
>> THANK YOU.
I JUST WANTED TO CHECK.
>> FOR THE RECORD ON WHAT
NUMBER WHERE WE ARE?
>> WE WERE ON SFD 003 .
>> AND A MY CHART THAT IS NOW
NUMBER 18 NUMBER 17 ORIGINALLY
SO YOU GOT YOU ON,
COUNCILMEMBER MORALES.
THANK YOU SO MUCH.
>> OKAY . THE NEXT ONE IS SFD
004-A-001 AND IT IS A PRIMER
SPONSORED BY COUNCILMEMBER
LEWIS COSPONSORED BY
COUNCILMEMBER MORALES AND
COUNCILMEMBER STRAUSS AND
COUNCILMEMBER SAWANT ADDING
141,000 AND ONE FTE TWO AT A
CONSULTING NURSE TO THE FIRE
DEPARTMENT TO PROVIDE SOME
BACKGROUND WHEN A CALL COMES IN.
A CALL TAKER WILL SCREEN THE
CALL TO DETERMINE IF FIRE,
MEDICAL, OR PUBLIC SAFETY
SERVICES ARE NEEDED.
A FIRE OR MEDICAL SERVICES ARE
NEEDED IT WOULD BE TRANSFERRED
TO THE FIRE ALARM CENTER TO BE
ANSWERED BY A FIREFIGHTER WHO
DETERMINES WHAT SERVICES ARE
NEEDED AND SENSE OF THE
APPROPRIATE SFD RESPONDERS.
A NURSE WOULD ANSWER THE CALLS
AND TRIAGE THE CALLS PROVIDING
MEDICAL ADVICE AND HELPING TO
DETERMINE WHAT KIND OF
DISPATCHES NEEDED. WITH THAT AS
A BASIC DESCRIPTION, I WOULD
TURN IT OVER TO COUNCILMEMBER
LEWIS .
>> THANK YOU.
I WILL JUST BE BRIEF . THIS IS
SOMETHING THAT COMES FROM CHIEF
SCOGGINS IS SOMETHING THAT THEY
WANT TO PURSUE. THEY HAVE A
HUNCH THAT HAVING A CONSULTING
NURSE WOULD LEAD TO BEEN ABLE
TO RESOLVE MOST THINGS OVER THE
PHONE RATHER THAN NEEDING TO
DISPATCH A PARAMEDIC TEAM OR
EVEN A HEALTH ONE TEAM, AS
DISCUSSED EARLIER THAT THIS
COULD HAVE AN IMPACT ON
CONSERVING RESOURCES AND ALSO
JUST ON FATIGUE AND FIREFIGHTER
WELL-BEING IN TERMS OF HOW MANY
CALLS THEY NEED TO RESPOND TO
AND HAVE FREQUENTLY THEY NEED
TO BE RESPONDING TO THOSE CALLS
. IN TERMS OF THE STRUCTURE, IF
THIS BECOMES A BIGGER PART OF
THE PRACTICE OF THE FIREFIGHTER
DISPATCH, THEY WOULD NEED MORE
FTEs.
WE CAN HAVE ONE CONSULTING
NURSE AND A 24/7 CAPACITY
PLACE I THINK IT IS APPROPRIATE
TO TREAT THIS A LITTLE BIT LIKE
A PILOT TO PUT FORWARD THE ONE
CONSULTING NURSE MONITOR WITH
THE IMPACT OF THAT CONSULTING
NURSE SERVICE HAS BEEN AND THEN
TALK IN FUTURE BUDGET CYCLES
ABOUT EXPANDING THAT SERVICE TO
BE A MORE COMPREHENSIVE 24/7
COMPONENT OF THE FIREFIGHTER
911 DISPATCH.
I THINK IT IS A GOOD START
GIVEN THE LIMITED RESOURCES OF
THIS YEAR AND CAN HAVE A REALLY
BIG IMPACT FOR THE COMMUNITY
AND FOR OUR FIREFIGHTERS WHO
ARE CONSTANTLY RESPONDING TO
THINGS AND MAYBE ABLE TO CARVE
OUT SOME OF THOSE RESPONSES
THAT CAN BE RESOLVED OVER THE
PHONE BY SPEAKING WITH A
PROFESSIONAL.
>> THANK YOU, COUNCILMEMBER
LEWIS . OTHER QUESTIONS OR
COMMENTS?
>> I DO WANT TO JUST CLARIFY.
THIS WAS NOT A FORMAL REQUEST
THAT WAS MADE BY CHIEF SCOGGINS
. THIS WAS SOMETHING MENTIONED
TO ME IN FEBRUARY OF SOMETHING
THAT WOULD BE A USEFUL ADDITION
TO 911 DISPATCH BUT IT WAS
PURSUED BY THE OWN VOLITION OF
MY OFFICE. I DO NOT WANT TO PUT
THEM OUT THAT HE LIKE CALLED ME
UP AND REQUESTED IT BUT IT HAS
BEEN MENTIONED AS SOMETHING
THAT COUD BE USEFUL. I DECIDED
TO EXPLORE IT.
>> THIS IS SOMETHING WE HEARD
FROM'S MEMBERS WHO EXPRESS
SHOWING P TO CALLS THAT ARE
MEDICAL IN NATURE AND REALLY
HAVING A CONSULTING NURSE TO
TRIAGE THE CALLS. IT IS
IMPORTANT TO CLARIFY BECAUSE
THERE HAS BEEN SOME CONFUSION
THAT THIS IS NOT PROVIDING A
CONSULTANT NURSE TO ANSWER CALLS
BETTER FOR NONMEDICAL ISSUES.
AS GREG COVERED AND PROXY CAN
GIVE A REMINDER TO FIX THE
COUNCIL IS VERY AWARE THE WHEN
SOMEBODY CALLS 911 IF IT IS A
MEDICAL ISSUE THAT GOES TO THE
FIREFIGHTER DEPARTMENT SIDE .
AT THAT POINT IS WHERE THIS
WOULD COME INTO PLAY IF THERE
WAS A CALL THAT COULD BE
HANDLED BY CONSULTING NURSE AT
THAT POINT, THEY WOULD THEN
HANDLE THE CALL QUICK THERE IS
NO CONFUSION ON COUNCIL I WILL
TRY TO HAVE ALL 911 CALLS
HANDLED BY OTHERS BUT THIS IS
HELPING TO REDUCE THE NEED FOR
OUR FIREFIGHTERS TO BE DEPLOYED
OUT OR EVEN CAUSE THAT COULD BE
HANDLED BY A NURSE. WE ARE
ASKING FOR THAT NURSE TO BE
SITUATED ON THE SIDE OF 911.
GREG, WOULD YOU ADD ANYTHING TO
THAT FOR ADDITIONAL EQUIVOCATION
?
>> YOU HAVE ALWAYS HAD A
PERFECT UNDERSTANDING.
>> EXCELLENT.
I APPRECIATE THE CLARIFICATION
AND HOPE FOLKS ARE PAYING
ATTENTION TO THAT.
>> WE HAVE A NUMBER OF FOLKS
HAVE SIGNED ON TO PROVIDE
ADDITIONAL SUPPORT FOR THIS SO
IN ADDITION TO YOUR LEAD
SPONSORSHIP FOR NOW BEING AWARE
ALREADY JOINED BY COUNCILMEMBER
MORALES AND COUNCILMEMBER
STRAUSS AND YOU NOW HAVE
COUNCILMEMBER GONZALEZ ,
COUNCILMEMBER HERBOLD AND
PEDERSEN SIGNING ON AS
COSPONSORS.
I'M JUST PAUSING BRIEFLY TO
MAKE SURE I GOT EVERYONE.
IT SOUNDS LIKE WE DID.
LET'S KEEP GOING.
>>> I PICKED THE LAST ONE ON
THE FIRE DEPARTMENT IS SFD-005-
A-001 SPONSORED BY YOURSELF IN
THE COSPONSORED BY
COUNCILMEMBER HERBOLD AND
COUNCILMEMBER LEWIS ADDING
150,000 FTE AND SFD TO FUND A
CRISIS COUNSELOR WITH TRAINING
TO FOCUS ON DE-ESCALATION,
SCENE SAFETY, AND EVASIVE THE
FUNDS TO KEEP FIREFIGHTERS SAFE
AND INCREASE POSITIVE
INTERACTION WITH PERSONS IN
CRISIS WERE SUFFERING WITH
MENTAL ILLNESS THIS WOULD ALSO
PROVIDE FIREFIGHTERS WITH
ASSISTANCE IN MANAGING DISTRESS
ASSOCIATED WITH A TRAUMATIC
ENVIRONMENT THAT THEY FACE
EVERY DAY. WITHOUT I WILL TURN
IT BACK OVER TO YOU.
>> THANK YOU VERY MUCH . IN MY
CONVERSATIONS WITH FRONT-LINE
FIREFIGHTERS AND THEY SPEAK OF
MOUNTING AND COMPOUNDING CRISES.
SPOKE WITH THE NUMBER OF
INDIVIDUALS EXPRESSING A
POTENTIAL HEALTH CRISIS AND 911
CALLS FORTHOSE SYMPTOMATIC
WITH COVID.
PREFERENCE PROVIDE TIME DURING
THEIR NON-FIREFIGHTER SHIFT
OVER AT THE TESTING CENTER
PEOPLE ARE ALSO EXPERIENCING
THE CRISIS AND THE TRAUMA AND
THE MENTAL TRAUMA AND IT IS
BEING MADE WORSE AND BY THE
COVID PRESENCE AND ALSO A FACT
THAT WE NOW HAVE INCREASING
NUMBERS OF FOLKS WHO ARE LIVING
HOUSING AND SECURE AND THOSE
WHO ARE LIVING HOMELESS IN OUR
STREET PRACTICES IN ADDITION TO
EVERYTHING THEY ARE DOING TO
FIGHT FIRES BOTH HERE AND WITH
OUR PARTNER STATES.
THERE IS A NUMBER OF
INDIVIDUALS WITHIN OUR
FIREFIGHTING TEAM THAT
EXPRESSED THAT THEY THEMSELVES
HAVE SEEN INCREASES AND ON A
DAILY BASIS THEY RESPOND TO
THOSE CALLS WE WANT OUR
FIREFIGHTERS TO HAVE THE
BENEFIT OF BEING SAFE BOTH ON
SCENE AND ALSO HAVING THE
HEALTH PROTECTIONS THAT THEY
NEED WHEN THEY GO HOME AT A
PROCESSING EVERYTHING THAT I
HAVE SEEN DURING THE DAY. IN
THE LABOR MOVEMENT WE HAVE BEEN
WORKING FOR A VERY LONG TIME TO
MAKE SURE THAT FIREFIGHTERS
HAVE THE HEALTH CARE THAT THEY
NEED, GIVEN THE HIGH NUMBERS OF
INDIVIDUAL FIREFIGHTERS WHO
HAVE BEEN EXPOSED TO TOXIC
CHEMICALS WHEN FIGHTING FIRES
BETWEEN ALSO HAVE HIGH NUMBERS
OF CANCER CASES AND DIE AT
EARLIER AGES. I SEE THIS TYPE
OF FORM SUPPORTING THE HEALTH
OF FIREFIGHTERS AS WELL.
NOT ONLY ARE THEY INHALING
TOXIC CHEMICALS, BUT THEY SEE
TOXIC SCENES ON A DAILY BASIS
AND WE WANT THEM TO HAVE THE
BENEFIT OF HAVING A CRISIS
COUNSELOR TO PROVIDE TRAUMA
INFORMED TRAINING ACROSS THE
DEPARTMENT AND TO ALSO MAKE
SURE THAT THERE ARE COUNSELORS
AVAILABLE ON THE PROCESS OF
SCENES THAT ARE CHALLENGING AND
DIFFICULT TO BE ABLE TO PROCESS
THOSE SO THEY CAN BE AT THE
BEST FOR THE FAMILY, COMMUNITY
MEMBER, AND PEOPLE THEY SERVE.
ALSO IT INFORMS HER
FIREFIGHTERS INTERACT WITH
PEOPLE ON A DAILY BASIS WE WANT
THEM TO BE ABLE TO HELP PROCESS
THE STRESS OF THE CITY AND
PROVIDE TRAUMA INFORMED CARE ON
A DAILY BASIS.
ONE EXAMPLE HAS COME UP
RECENTLY I ASKED FOLKS IF I
COULD SHARE THIS STORY.
WHY WE NEED THEM TO BE
AVAILABLE FOR THE ENTIRE
DEPARTMENT GIVEN THE
COMPOUNDING CRISES MANY IN OUR
COMMUNITY TO EXPRESS HIGH
LEVELS OF MENTAL HEALTH CRISES,
INCREASED NUMBER OF DOMESTIC
VIOLENCE SITUATIONS, AND THOSE
FOR VETERANS OR WITH PTSD
HAVING A COMPOUNDING CRISIS AS
WELL AND WE SEE THIS MANIFESTED
IN THE STREET ITSELF.
AND TALKING WITH CHIEF SCOGGINS
, HE MENTIONED MANY OF THE
FIREFIGHTERS ONE WEEK AGO WERE
RESPONDED TO A CALL FOR A YOUNG
TEENAGE GIRL HAD HUNG HERSELF
HAVING THE FIREFIGHTERS HAVE TO
SEE THAT AND THEN BE AT 100%
DISTRICT TO THE NEXT CALL, THAT
IS A VERY HARD SITUATION TO
PROCESS WE KNOW THAT THAT TYPE
OF EXPERIENCE IS NOT UNIQUE TO
WHAT IS GOING ON DURING COVID,
BUT WE HAVE SEEN INCREASED
NUMBERS OF THESE CALLS COMING
IN. IT AFFECTS HOW THEY RESPOND
TO INDIVIDUALS. HAVE BEEN THE
TYPE OF CRISIS COUNSELOR TO
INFORM THE CARE IS CRITICAL BUT
THIS IS A GREAT EXAMPLE OF WHAT
THEY PUT THE CARE INTO ACTION
AND A COULD READ THIS, I WOULD
REALLY APPRECIATE IF YOU WOULD
BEAR WITH ME THAT FIREFIGHTERS
RESPONDED TO A CALL AND
MULTIPLE PEOPLE WERE YELLING
SHE IS UNDERWATER PRACTICES AT
THE PIER ON THE WATERFRONT IN
DOWNTOWN SEATTLE POINTING IN
DIFFERENT DIRECTIONS THE
FIREFIGHTER RESCUE TEAM JUMPED
OFF THE PIER AND SWAM UNDERWATER
TO TRY TO FIND THIS INDIVIDUAL
NOTING THAT THERE WAS ONLY 30
FEET OF CLEAR VISIBILITY
UNDERWATER I DO NOT SEE A BODY.
HE THEN SAW A WOMAN HIDING.
IN HIS OWN WORDS HE SAYS, IT
APPEARED SHE WAS GOING
UNDERWATER AND WAS ACTIVELY
AVOIDING ME.
I SWAM TOWARD HER AND SHE
LOOKED UP SCARED AND READY TO
GO UNDERWATER AGAIN.
I ASKED IF I COULD HELP.
SHE STARED AT ME AND DID NOT
REPLY. I ASKED IF I COULD HOLD
HER HAND AND I REACH AND IN
ACCORDANCE WITH MY TRAINING I
STARTED TO PULL HER IN TO
INITIATE THE RESCUE.
SHE RESISTED AND SAID THAT IS
NOT HOLDING MY HAND.
I RELEASED MY GROUP AND ANALYST
HER FINGERS AND SHE COMPLETELY
RELAXED AND I ASKED IF SHE
NEEDED A HUG AND SHE SAID THAT
IS EXACTLY WHAT I NEED.
I GAVE HER A HUG AND I STARTED
SWIMMING TO INITIATE THE RESCUE
AND SHE PUSHED AWAY FROM ME AND
SAID THAT IS NOT A HUG. I
STOPPED.
I WAS JUST FLOATING AROUND HER
I SAID YOU ARE RIGHT. I PUT MY
ARMS AROUND HER AND I GAVE HER
A PROPER HUG AND SHE WAS STIFF
AND I THOUGHT SHE WOULD PUSH
AWAY AND THEN I LIFTED HER ARMS
AROUND ME AND I SAID WE YOU PUT
YOUR ARMS AROUND MY SHOULDER?
GIVE ME A REAL HUG.
SHE DID AND SHE SCREWS ME HARD.
SHE SAID I AM JUST SO SAD. SO I
SAID I KNOW A LOT OF US ARE SAD
RIGHT NOW.
I THEN SWAM HER TO THE LATTER
AND PUT HER ON THE PIER WE GOT
OUT OF THE WATER TOGETHER. THIS
IS AN EXAMPLE OF WHERE IT IS
JUST NOT RESPONDING TO THE CALL
OR PUT IN THE TRAINING FOR LIFE-
SAVING MECHANISMS IN PLACE BUT
TRYING TO MEET THE CLIENT OR
THE INDIVIDUAL WHERE THEY ARE
AT AND USING THAT CARE TO
REALLY UNDERSTAND.
LATER THE FIREFIGHTER EXPLAINED
THAT THE PATIENT WAS DEFINITELY
HAVING A MENTAL HEALTH CRISIS
THAT WE WANT TO MAKE SURE THAT
WE PROVIDE AS MUCH SUPPORT AS
WE CAN TO FIREFIGHTERS TO
RESPOND TO SITUATIONS LIKE THIS
THAT THEY CAN OFFER THE BEST
CARE AND ARE ABLE TO PROCESS
THE SCENE THAT THEY SEE AND THE
SITUATION LIKE THE ONE WITH THE
YOUNG WOMAN WHO COMMITTED
SUICIDE SO THAT THEY CAN BE AT
THEIR BEST AND ADDRESS THE
MENTAL HEALTH NEEDS OF OUR
FIREFIGHTERS AND HOPEFULLY THE
ONGOING ATTRITION THAT WE HAVE
SEEN TO MAKE SURE THAT THEY
HAVE THE FULL SUPPORT AS THEY
GO TO SERVE OUR MULTIPLE
MOBILE.
THIS WOULD ADD ONE TO HIRE A
COUNSELOR TO HAVE TRAINING THAT
WILL FOCUS ON DE-ESCALATION AND
SCENE SAFETY AND KEEP
FIREFIGHTERS SAFE INCREASE IN
POSITIVE INTERACTION FOR THOSE
SUFFERING WITH ILLNESS. THIS
WOULD ALLOW FIREFIGHTERS WITH
HELP TO MANAGE STRESS AND
PROCESS TRAUMATIC EVENTS ON A
DAILY BASIS. TRENT RHORER VERY
MUCH THANK YOU VERY MUCH FOR HOW
THIS COULD BE PUT IN PLACE. DO
YOU HAVE COMMENTS OR QUESTIONS
ABOUT? THANK YOU FOR BEARING
WITH ME AS I READ THAT AND FOR
YOUR TIME TODAY.
COUNCILMEMBERS COUNCILMEMBER
HERBOLD , LEWIS, COUNCILMEMBER
MORALES AND COUNCILMEMBER
GONZALEZ THANK YOU FOR YOUR
COSPONSORSHIP.
DOES THAT CONCLUDE OUR
FIREFIGHTERS DEPARTMENT ITEMS ?
>> YES.
>> WE HAVE ABOUT 40 MINUTES AND
I WOULD LIKE TO SEE IF WE CAN
GET THROUGH OSE THE TERMS WE
HAVE ABOUT 40 MINUTES LEFT AND
NOT HEARING ANY OBJECTIONS
COULD YOU PLEASE READ THE FIRST
ITEM THAT WAS SUPPOSED TO BE IN
THE SECOND SESSION JUST FOR THE
RECORD AND THEN WE WILL TURN
OVER?
>> YES. V
OFFICE OF SUSTAINABILITY AND
ENVIRONMENT.
>> EXCELLENT.
THANK YOU .
>> WE HAVE THESE ITEMS FROM OSE
AND THE FIRST WITH THE SLI OSE
001 A 001 AND THIS PROPOSED
STATEMENT OF LEGISLATIVE INTENT
WOULD REQUEST THAT OSE AND THE
SETTLED DEPARTMENT OF
CONSTRUCTION AND THE DEPARTMENT
OF FINANCE COLLABORATE WITH THE
OFFICE OF COUNCILMEMBER LEWIS
TO IMPOSE A CARBON EXCISE TAX
ON COMMERCIAL BUILDINGS AND THE
REQUESTED WITH THE SPECIFICS OF
THE PROPOSAL TO INCLUDE A
THRESHOLD, TAX RATE,
EXEMPTIONS, RECOMMENDATIONS AND
RESOURCES REQUIRED TO
ADMINISTER THE TAX.
THIS ANTICIPATES LEGISLATION
WOULD BE REFINED IN THE FIRST
QUARTER OF 2021 WITH THE GOAL
OF HAVING IT READY BY THE END
OF JUNE ANTICIPATING IT WAS
REFERRED TO THE FINANCE AND
HOUSING COMMITTEE.
>> THANK YOU VERY MUCH.
COUNCILMEMBER LEWIS ?
>> THANK YOU. IN ADDITION TO
THE CONSULTATION THOSE CRITICAL
DEPARTMENTS THAT BREATHE
MECHANICAL EXPERTISE AND I
REALLY DRINK AT PUTTING THE
CENTER OF THE MY INTENT TO
REALLY HAVE THIS CONVERSATION
BE COMMUNITY DRIVEN ON THE
SUBSTANCE OF THE POLICY. I'M
NOT BEING PRESCRIPTIVE AT ALL
IN TERMS OF WHAT ANY REVENUE
FROM THIS WOULD GO TO. I THINK
THAT WOULD HAVE TO GO UNDER THE
COMMUNITY DRIVEN PROCESS AS
WELL IN TERMS OF THE FEEDBACK
LOOP OF WHERE IT WOULD BE
REINVESTED IN THE COMMUNITY
CENTER A LOT OF THE GREEN NEW
DEAL PROJECTS THAT WE HAVE BEEN
DISCUSSING AND DEBATING THIS
COULD BE A GREAT SOURCE OF
FUNDING SORT OF IN THE SAME
THINKING IS HOW WE HAVE A
AMMUNITION TAX TO GO TOWARD THE
RESEARCH OF THE VICTIMS OF GUN
VIOLENCE THAT WE HAVE A SODA TAX
TO GO TOWARD FOOD SECURITY AND
HEALTHY EATING.
AND IT IS ALSO TO PAY FOR AND
THIS COULD BE IN THE SAME
PRINCIPLE OF TAXING THE
EMISSIONS OF THE GREENHOUSE GAS
EMISSIONS TO GO INTO A LOT OF
THESE PROPOSALS.
AND IT IS JUST SORT OF
INVESTIGATING THE GENERAL LEGAL
FRAMEWORK OF DOING SOMETHING
AND IT WOULD BE WORKING IN A
SOUND AND I AM CONVINCED IT IS
AND THAT IS SOMETHING WHERE I
WANT TO SHEPHERD THE PROCESS
AND AND ALSO HAVE A B DRIVEN BY
STAKEHOLDERS AND IT IS AS THE
ADDITIONAL TOOL.
LIKE THE SODA TAX IT WOULD GO
TO THESE KIND OF INVESTMENTS.
WITH THAT, IT IS BEEN GREAT TO
HAVE THE CORPORATION TO REALLY
LOOK INTO THIS AND HAVE BEEN
DOING A LOT OF MEETING WITH
POTENTIAL STAKEHOLDERS.
THERE IS A LOT OF COMMUNITY
INTEREST AND REALLY DIVING INTO
THIS TO SEE IF SOMETHING LIKE
THIS COULD PENCIL OUT AND RAISE
REVENUE TO UNDERWRITE A LOT OF
THESE PROJECTS AND WE WILL SEE
WHERE THAT PROCESS GOES NEXT
YEAR.
I THINK IT IS TIME WE FINALLY
EXPLORED THIS. COULD ALSO BE
FOR THE STATE WOULD
CONVERSATIONS AROUND TAXING
CARBON AS WELL. OFTEN TIMES
WHEN SEATTLE PLANS A PLAQUE
THAT IS THE SPUR THAT IS
NECESSARY TO SEE THE BROADER
ACTION IN OLYMPIA AS WELL.
HOPEFULLY THIS COULD SERVE AS
AN EXAMPLE IN THE REGION AND
WOULD LIKE TO SEE IF THIS CAN
MAKE A DIFFERENCE.
>> THANK YOU , COUNCILMEMBER
LEWIS . I SEE COUNCILMEMBER
MORALES AND COUNCILMEMBER
STRAUSS WERE COSIGNED AND NOW
YOU HAVE COUNCILMEMBER HERBOLD
AND COUNCILMEMBER SAWANT AS A .
EXCELLENT.
BEFORE YOU MOVE ON I JUST
WANTED TO NOTE FOR THE RECORD
ON THE PREVIOUS ITEM
COUNCILMEMBER MORALES WAS
HAVING TECHNICAL ISSUES AND I
CAN SEE YOU ON THE LINE ,
COUNCILMEMBER MORALES.
I KNOW YOUR INTERNET WENT OUT
BUT I WANTED TO PASS ON YOUR
ALSO COSPONSORING THE CRISIS
COUNSELOR FOR THE FIREFIGHTERS.
>> THAT IS CORRECT.
>> EXCELLENT.
JUST WANTED TO MAKE SURE THAT
FOLKS KNEW THAT WE HAVE ALL
COUNCILMEMBERS WITH THE STILL .
THE YOUR INTERNET IS OUT I
UNDERSTAND YOU CAN RAISE YOUR
HAND STILL. I'M SORRY YOU JUST
GO AHEAD AND SEND US YOUR
MESSAGE. I BELIEVE THAT THERE
IS A STAR FUNCTION YOU CAN HIT
FOR THOSE ON THE PHONE WHO
WANTS TO RAISE HER HAND. THANK
YOU VERY MUCH. OKAY.
IT WAS LIKE FOR THE DELAY,
COUNCILMEMBER SAWANT .
>> SO IT IS SLI OSE 002 A 001
WHICH WOULD ADD 132,000 OF
GENERAL FUND FOR THE GREEN NEW
DEAL ADVISOR POSITION IN OSE
ADDED TO THE BUDGET TO PROVIDE
SUPPORT TO THE GREEN NEW DEAL
OVERSIGHT BOARD ESTABLISHED
LAST YEAR TO COORDINATE EFFORTS
TO REDUCE CARBON EMISSIONS OF
THE CITY PICKETT WAS NOT FILLED
IN 2020 AND WILL NOT BE FUNDED
IN THE 2021 PROPOSED BUDGET
FIGURES $40,000 GENERAL FUND
THAT WOULD BE AVAILABLE TO
PROVIDE FINANCIAL HARDSHIP
STIPENDS TO THE BOARD MEMBERS
SO ONLY FUNDING FOR THE
POSITION IS ALWAYS NEEDED. OSE
AS INDICATED ITS APPROACH TO
INITIATE THE REQUIREMENT
HIRING PROCESS LATER THIS YEAR
AND EARLY NEXT YEAR.
THIS WOULD ALLOW APPOINTMENTS
TO MEET FORWARD FOR THE BOARD
PROVIDE RECOMMENDATIONS ON HOW
TO IMPLEMENT THE ACTIONS
IDENTIFIED IN THE GREEN NEW
DEAL FOR SEATTLE TO RENEWABLE
ENERGY CENTER AND COMMUNITIES
SET UP AND MOST HARMED BY
RACIAL ECONOMIC AND
ENVIRONMENTAL INJUSTICE THE
BOARD IS ALSO TO PROVIDE
RECOMMENDATIONS ON HOW TO HAVE
THE REVENUE INTENDED FOR GREEN
NEW DEAL INVESTMENTS AND IT
WOULD BE AN ESTIMATED 20
MILLION.
>> GO AHEAD, COUNCILMEMBER
SAWANT .
>> THANK YOU FOR THE
DESCRIPTION TO THIS BUDGET
AMENDMENT WAS STORES AND I
WOULD SAY IT AGAIN THE FUNDING
BY MAYOR DURKAN FOR THE GREEN
NEW DEAL.
AS MENTIONED , THE GOOD NEWS IS
ALSO CLARIFIED BY YOLANDA IS
THAT WE HEARD FROM THE OFFICE
OF SUSTAINABILITY THAT THIS
TIME THEY HAVE BEEN AUTHORIZED
TO HIRE SOMEONE FOR THIS
POSITION PICTURE IN MIND
COUNCILMEMBERS OF THE
BACKGROUND, IN 2019 CLIMATE
ACTIVISTS DEMANDED SEATTLE
SUPPORT THE GREEN NEW DEAL AND
THE CITY COUNCIL PASSED A
RESOLUTION STUDENT SUPPORT
FROM MANY PROJECTS AND
COMMITTING TO ENDING GREENHOUSE
EMISSIONS BY 2030. THE COUNCIL
ALSO ESTABLISHED A GREEN NEW
DEAL OVERSIGHT BOARD TO BE
COMPRISED OF IMPACTED
COMMUNITIES AND TECHNICAL
EXPERTS THE GREEN NEW DEAL
OVERSIGHT BOARD WAS INTENDED TO
HOLD THE CITY ESTABLISHMENT
ACCOUNTABLE FOR FOLLOWING
THROUGH ON THE COMMITMENT
INCLUDING MAKING A
RECOMMENDATION TO THE CITY
BUDGET AND IT IS UNFORTUNATE
THAT MAYOR DURKAN CUT THE BOARD
AS PART OF THE HIRING FREEZE IN
2020.
HE COUNCIL VOTED TO STO
FUNDING BUT THE OFFICE OF
SUSTAINABILITY IS NOT AUTHORIZED
TO SPEND THAT MONEY UNTIL THEY
SEE IT HAS BEEN RESTORED AND
2021, WHICH IS WHAT THIS BUDGET
AMENDMENT WITH TWO PICUS HAS
BEEN A KEY DEMAND OF
ENVIRONMENTAL ACTIVISTS AND
COMMUNITY ORGANIZERS TALKED
ABOUT IT THE COMMITTEE MEETING
THAT WAS CHAIRED BY MY OFFICE
LAST MONTH AND IT IS A DEMAND
OF THE SOLIDARITY BUDGET AND
THE PEOPLE'S BUDGET.
>> THANK YOU . ANY ADDITIONAL
QUESTIONS?
OKAY.
SEE NO ADDITIONAL QUESTIONS SO
IN ADDITION HERE JOINED BY
COUNCILMEMBER HERBOLD ,
COUNCILMEMBER LEWIS, AND
COUNCILMEMBER GONZALEZ . THANK
YOU , COUNCILMEMBER SAWANT .
>> THE NEXT ITEM IS OSE 003 A
001 . THIS WOULD ADD $150,000
GENERAL FUND AND A SPECIALIST
POSITION FOR THE BUILDING
TUNEUPS PROGRAM TO SUPPORT
ENFORCEMENT ACTIVITIES WHICH
WOULD BE CUT IN THE 2021
PROPOSED BUDGET SUSPENDED MOST
OF THESE ACTIVITIES FOR A YEAR.
IT DOES CONTAIN $45,000 OF
GENERAL FUND TO FUND A
TECHNICAL CONTRACT IN LIEU OF
PROVIDING IN-HOUSE SUPPORT,
WHICH IS WHAT THIS BUDGET
ACTION WOULD BE FUNDING
ACQUIRING BUILDING OWNERS OF
MULTIFAMILY AND COMMERCIAL
PROPERTIES TO ANNUALLY REPORT
BUILDING ENERGY EFFICIENCY
PERFORMANCE ACQUIRING BUILDING
OWNERS OF COMMERCIAL FACILITIES
50,000 SQUARE FEET OR LARGER
SUBJECT TO THE BENCHMARK TO
IDENTIFY AND CORRECT
OPERATIONAL DEFICIENCIES EVERY
FIVE YEARS ON AVERAGE IT CAN
REDUCE BUILDING ENERGY USE BY
10%.
THIS WOULD ALLOCATE THE
$100,000 GENERAL FUND FOR THE
POSITION IN THIS POSITION TO
PROVIDE TECHNICAL ASSISTANCE TO
BUILDING OWNERS AND THE $45,000
ALREADY INCLUDED WOULD BE USED
TO SUPPORT THE COST AND THE
REMAINING $50,000 WOULD BE USED
TO FUND A CONSULTANT SERVICES
LIKE PROACTIVE OUTREACH IN
PARTICULAR THOSE LOCATED IN
RACIAL EQUITY PRIORITY AREAS.
THE ESTIMATED OCCURRED IN FIRST
UP TO $140,000 IN FINES FOR
BOTH PROGRAM, $110,000 OF THIS
WOULD THEN BE USED TO FUND
ENERGY IMPROVEMENTS AND
AFFORDABLE HOUSING.
IT IS WITH THE CAVEAT AND THERE
IS UNCERTAINTY WITH THE ESTIMATE
BUT THAT WAS SOMETHING I WANTED
TO NOTE FOR YOU ALL.
>> THANK YOU, COUNCILMEMBER
GONZALEZ .
>> THANK YOU FOR THE GOOD WORK
ON THIS AND ALSO THANK YOU SO
MUCH TO MY COSPONSORS
COUNCILMEMBER STRAUSS AND
COUNCILMEMBER LEWIS . DURING
THE DEPARTMENT OVERVIEW PROCESS
WE HAD AN OPPORTUNITY TO HEAR
FROM DIRECTOR JESSICA ABOUT
SOME OF THE PROPOSED CUTS THAT
THEY WERE MAKING THIS WAS ONE
OF THE CUTS THAT WAS IDENTIFIED
WHICH OF COURSE WE KNOW IS A
VERY SMALL OFFICE RELATED TO
OTHER MAJOR DEPARTMENT. BACK
THEN I EXPRESSED CONCERNS ABOUT
THIS IDENTIFIED PRODUCTION TO
THE BUDGET AND A LARGE PART
BECAUSE WE KNOW FROM A REPORT
THAT WAS PUBLISHED IN 2018
RELATED TO THE CITY STRATEGIES
AND CLIMATE ACTION THAT 30% OF
GREENHOUSE EMISSIONS ACTUALLY
CAUSED BY BUILDINGS. 14% OF
OUTCOMES FOR RESIDENTIAL
BUILDINGS AND 18% FROM
COMMERCIAL BUILDINGS. ONE OF
THE KEY STRATEGIES TO REDUCE
EMISSIONS BY 2030 AND TWO BE
CARBON NEUTRAL BY 2030 IS TO
TACKLE THIS ISSUE OF BUILDING
ENERGY ADMISSIONS ONE OF THE
GOALS OF THE CITY WAS ADOPTED
IN 2008 STATES ONE OF THE GOALS
IS TO REDUCE BUILDING ENERGY
EMISSIONS BY 38% FROM 2008
LEVELS BY 2030. I WORRY THAT BY
PULLING BACK EVEN FOR JUST A
YEAR IN THE FACE OF CLIMATE
CHANGE, AND WE HAVE ALL BEEN
LIVING THE IMPACT OF CLIMATE
CHANGE THIS SUMMER WAS NO
EXCEPTION WITH THE AIR-QUALITY
HAZARDOUS FOR APPROXIMATELY 10
DAYS IN THE SEATTLE AREA. I
WORRY THAT TAKING A YEAR OFF IS
JUST TO HOME TO OUR CLIMATE
ACTION STRATEGY GOALS AS
REITERATED IN 2018.
I HOPE THAT COLLEAGUES WILL
JOIN ME IN THIS MODEST
RESTORATION OF FUNDS TO ENSURE
THAT THE CITY CAN CONTINUE TO
TACKLE BUILDING ENERGY EMISSIONS
WHICH MAKE UP 30% OVERALL
THROUGHOUT THE CITY PREPARE THE
SECOND LARGEST EMITTER OF
GREENHOUSE EMISSIONS DIRECTOR
SAID HE I THINK IT IS IMPORTANT
FOR US TO CONTINUE TO ADVANCE
THIS FUNDING IN ORDER TO MAKE A
DIFFERENCE.
SINCE 2008 SINCE WE HAVE
IMPLEMENTED THESE PROGRAMS
AROUND BUILDING ENERGY
EMISSIONS WE HAVE SEEN A 13%
DECLINE.
WE WANT TO MAKE SURE THAT WE
CAN CONTINUE TO SUPPORT THE
PROGRESS BEING MADE IN THAT
PARTICULAR SECTOR.
>> THANK YOU VERY LUNCH . I DO
WANT TO ASK ONE QUESTION HERE.
ON PAGE 2 OF THE SUMMARY CAN
YOU REPEAT FOR ME? THIS IS
ACTUALLY REVENUE-GENERATING.
>> IT IS FROM FINES SO WHAT
THEY HAVE EXPLAINED IS THAT
THEY HAVE SPENT YEARS WORKING
ON COMPLIANCE AND NOW WHAT THE
TUNA PROGRAMS THEY ARE LOOKING
AT POTENTIALLY THE SOAP BE THE
FIRST YEAR INSTITUTING THE FINE
FOR NOT COMPLYING WITH THE
REGULATION.
>> OTHERS ARE CONCERNED THAT
THE EXPECTED FINE WILL NOT BE
RECUPERATED BY THE CITY IF THIS
WERE NOT ADVANCED.
>> WE WOULD COLLECT NO FINES
AND 2021 IF THE $150,000 IS NOT
RESTORED FOR THIS PURPOSE.
>> ANYTHING ELSE TO ADD
>> PART OF THE REASON THAT THAT
CONCERN EXISTS IS BECAUSE WE
WILL NOT BE ENGAGING IN
COMPLIANCE WORK ANYMORE THIS
SPACE THAT WE HAVE SEEN
MEASURABLE IMPROVEMENT IN THE
AREA OF BUILDING ENERGY
EMISSIONS. THIS IS AN
OPPORTUNITY FOR US TO MAKE SURE
WE DO NOT LOSE THAT MUSCLE
MEMORY AND THE INSTANCES WHERE
THERE IS ISSUES RELATED TO
ENFORCEMENT.
THANK YOU .
>> THANK YOU VERY MUCH .
COUNCILMEMBER GONZALEZ WAS
JOINED BY COUNCILMEMBER STRAUSS
AND COUNCILMEMBER LEWIS AND
ALSO COUNCILMEMBER PEDERSEN,
COUNCILMEMBER SAWANT , AND
COUNCILMEMBER HERBOLD.
THAT CONCLUDES OUR COMMENTS ON
THIS ONE AND LET'S GO TO THE
NEXT ONE.
>> THE NEXT ITEM IS OSE-004-A-
001 COSPONSORED BY
COUNCILMEMBER MORALES AND
COUNCILMEMBER PEDERSEN ADDING
$140,000 OF GENERAL FUND TO
THE CLIMATE POLICY ADVISOR
POSITION TO NOT BE FUNDED IN
THE 2021 PROPOSED BUDGET.
IS RESPONSIBLE FOR OVERSEEING
THE IMPLEMENTATION DEVELOPING
AND IMPLEMENTING A CLIMATE
IMPACT ASSESSMENT TOOL KIT,
CRATING POLICIES TO SUPPORT
GREEN JOBS, EVALUATING RACIAL
EQUITY AN AND ESTABLISHING
BUILDING PERFORMANCE STANDARDS.
ON A RELATED NOTE, THE COUNCIL
ADOPTED 31933 LAST MONTH,
ADDING A REQUIRED ASSESSMENT OF
POTENTIAL CLIMATE IMPACT AND
RESILIENCE TO WHAT ACCOMPANIES
ALL LEGISLATION BEGINNING
JANUARY 1, 2021 PICKERS WAS
INTENDED TO BE INFORMED BY THE
QUANTITATIVE GREENHOUSE GAS
EMISSIONS EVALUATION THAT WOULD
BE REQUIRED BY THE ASSESSMENT
TO OKAY FOR PURCHASING
DECISIONS.
INITIAL WORK CONTINUED THROUGH
2019 BUT WITHOUT THE TOM LENNON
IS SLIPPED TO TO STAFF TURNOVER
BE EXPECTED TO MOVE FORWARD
WITH DEVELOPMENT OF THE TOOL
KIT IN A PILOT TESTING PHASE
WITH SELECT DEPARTMENTS.
>> THANK YOU VERY MUCH,
COUNCILMEMBER STRAUSS.
PLEASE GO AHEAD .
>> THE CLIMATE POLICY POSITION
WAS CREATED TO OVERSEE THE
IMPLEMENTATION OF THE CLIMATE
ACTION PLAN, DEVELOP POLICIES
TO BUILD GREEN JOBS IN THE
RACIAL EQUITY IMPACT OF
DECARBONIZATION AND ASSIST WITH
THAT ASSESSMENT TOOL. THE
COUNCIL ESTABLISHED THIS IN
SEPTEMBER WITH THE HELP OF
COUNCILMEMBER PEDERSEN.
THEY HAVE NOT HIRED THIS
POSITION AT THIS TIME. THE
PROPOSED BUDGET WOULD ON FUND
THIS POSITION AND ONLY HIRING
AND WE JUST CANNOT WAIT TO
IMPLEMENT OUR CLIMATE ACTION
PLAN AS WE HAVE LIMITED TIME TO
MAKE DRASTIC INTERVENTIONS AND
HOW WE ARE LIVING BECAUSE THE
CLIMATE CRISIS IS BEFORE US
TODAY.
THANK YOU .
>> COUNCILMEMBER STRAUSS , I DO
NOT SEE ANY ADDITIONAL
QUESTIONS ON THIS. I DO SEE A
HANDFUL OF HAND AND I GUESS I
WILL ASK YOU A QUESTION IN THE
INTERIM.
IS THERE SYNERGY AS WELL
BETWEEN THIS AND THE GREEN NEW
DEAL ADVISOR POSITION? I
UNDERSTAND THEY ARE VERY
DEDICATED TO THE BOARD THAT WE
ARE CREATING.
>> I THINK I WOULD SAY THE
SYNERGY MIGHT BE CLOSER.
OSE HAS A VACANT INITIATIVE
PROGRAM MANAGER.
WOULD PAY THE PERSON THAT THE
GREEN NEW DEAL ADVISOR REPORTS
TO SO THERE WOULD BE A TIGHTER
RELATIONSHIP I CERTAINLY THINK
THERE IS A LOT OF OVERLAP IN
TERMS OF THE CLAIMANT WORK
WHERE THEY HAVE A NEW CLIMATE
JUSTICE DIRECTOR POSITION
ORIENTING TOWARD ENVIRONMENTAL
JUSTICE THAT IS THE FOCUS OF
ALL OF THEIR WORK. I CERTAINLY
CAN SEE THE COMPLEMENTARY SKILL
SET FOR SURE.
>> THANK YOU VERY MUCH IT
LOOKS LIKE WE HAVE A LOT OF
FOLKS SIGN ON TO THIS WITH
COUNCILMEMBER STRAUSS JOINED BY
COUNCILMEMBER MORALES AND
PEDERSEN AND IS NOW JOINED BY
COUNCILMEMBER HERBOLD ,
COUNCILMEMBER SAWANT,
COUNCILMEMBER LEWIS, AND
COUNCILMEMBER GONZALEZ.
THE NEXT ITEM HERE IN OSE?
>> IT IS OSE-005-A-001
SPONSORED BY COUNCILMEMBER
STRAUSS AND COSPONSORED BY
COUNCILMEMBER LEWIS,
COUNCILMEMBER MORALES, AND
COUNCILMEMBER PEDERSEN ADDING
1.8 MILLION GENERAL FUND TO THE
FRESH BUCKS PROGRAM TO ALLOW
THEM TO PURCHASE AT FARMERS
MARKETS PROVIDING $40 A MONTH
OF VOUCHERS FOR 12 MONTHS FOR A
TOTAL OF $480 PER RECIPIENT.
THE 2021 BUDGET WOULD ALLOCATE
5.3 MILLION TO THE FRESH BUCKS
PROGRAM.
I WENT NOTE THAT THE PROPOSED
1.8 MILLION ADDITION WOULD BE
ENOUGH TO PROVIDE FOR ALL OF
THE PEOPLE CURRENTLY ON THE
WAIT LIST PLUS ABOUT AN
ADDITIONAL 230 PEOPLE.
>> THANK YOU VERY MUCH .
>> THANK YOU . AS WE KNOW, THE
FRESH BUCKS PROGRAM PROVIDES
QUALIFIED RESIDENTS WHO ARE
BELOW 80% OF THE MEDIAN INCOME
WITH FOOD VOUCHERS EXTENDING
THE BUDGET CONSTRAINT TO
PROVIDE ACCESS TO ADDITIONAL
FRUITS AND VEGETABLES
NEIGHBORHOOD GROCERY STORES,
SAFEWAY, AND THE FARMERS MARKET
WHO HAVE SEEN THIS PROGRAM A
VERY SUCCESSFUL AT EXTENDING
THE IN INDIVIDUAL ABILITY TO
BUDGET FRESH PRODUCE AT FARMERS
MARKETS.
NOW MORE THAN EVER IT IS
IMPORTANT TO ENSURE COMMITTEES
HAVE ACCESS TO AFFORDABLE AND
HEALTHY FOOD THAT WE CURRENTLY
SERVE 9061 ENROLLEES WITH A
WAITLIST OF ABOUT 3600.
OSE HAS BEEN ADVISED THAT
THERE'S BEEN A SIGNIFICANT
INCREASE IN ELIGIBILITY THIS
YEAR AND NEED SINCE THE LAST
ENROLLMENT PERIOD ENDED.
THIS FUNDING WOULD ALLOW OSE TO
ENROLL THE ADDITIONAL PEOPLE
ON THE WAITLIST SETTING THEM UP
TO BE ABLE TO ALSO PROVIDE
TRANSIT VOUCHERS TO THOSE WHO
ARE NEWLY ELIGIBLE.
THIS IS ONE OF MY TOP PRIORITIES
BECAUSE ACCESS TO FRESH FOOD
AND VEGETABLES IS SO IMPORTANT.
THIS PROGRAM ALL OF THE HARD
COSTS AND THE OVERHEAD COSTS
ARE ALREADY TAKING CARE OF.
THIS BUDGET REQUEST WAS
SPECIFICALLY SET UP TO ZERO OUT
THE WAITLIST. THAT IS WHY THE
DOLLAR AMOUNT IS $1.8 MILLION
AND IS TO PROVIDE EXTRA
FLEXIBILITY FOR NEW PEOPLE TO
BECOME ELIGIBLE THIS YEAR TO
HAVE ACCESS TO FRESH FOOD AT
LOCAL FARMERS MARKETS AND
GROCERY STORES.
THANK YOU .
>> THANK YOU . ARE THERE ANY
QUESTIONS OR COMMENTS HERE? I
JUST WANT TO REPEAT SOMETHING
THAT I THINK YOLANDA SAID. IS
ALSO NOTED THIS WOULD ALLOW FOR
EVERYBODY WHO'S ON THE WAITLIST
TO BE ABLE TO RECEIVE.
>> THAT IS CORRECT PLUS 230 AND
SO OSE WOULD THEN ENROLL UP TO
2000 PEOPLE ON A WAITLIST
BECAUSE NOT EVERY PERSON USES
ALL TO FUND ADDITIONAL VOUCHERS
SO THAT IS WHY THEY CARRY SUCH
A LARGE WAITLIST SO THAT THEY
CAN SERVE MORE PEOPLE.
>> THANK YOU.
SEE NO ADDITIONAL COMMENTS
COUNCILMEMBER STRAUSS, THE
ROTARY JOINT BY COUNCILMEMBER
MORALES, COUNCILMEMBER
PEDERSEN, AND COUNCILMEMBER
LEWIS WITH ALSO COUNCILMEMBER
HERBOLD AND COUNCILMEMBER
SAWANT JOINING YOU.
THANK YOU VERY MUCH .
COUNCILMEMBER PEDERSEN, I SEE
US GOING IN TO THE SDCI BUDGET.
I WONDER IF WE SHOULD BREAK
HERE AND START AFTER A 2:00
BREAK WITH ALL ITEMS SDCI AND
SPR RELATED.
WITH THAT BE GOOD TO YOU?
>> THIS FIRST ITEM IS ACTUALLY
AN OSE ITEM .
>> I CAN SEE IT NOW. OUR LAST
OSE ITEM . LET'S DO THAT.
LISTED THE LAST ITEM AND IF
THAT IS OKAY WITH FOLKS AND I
SEE COUNCILMEMBER STRAUSS YOU
ARE THE FIRST A NOTE THAT IS
AMENABLE TO YOU WE WILL TAKE A
BREAK AFTER .
>> OKAY.
WE WILL DO THIS LAST ITEM. WE
ARE ON OUR LAST ITEM ON OSE.
>> YES IT IS SLI OSE-006-A-
001.
THIS PROPOSED STATEMENT OF
LEGISLATIVE INTENT AND REQUEST
THAT OSE CONSULT WITH THE
URBAN FORESTRY COMMISSION TO
DEVELOP A PLAN TO TRANSFER ALL
URBAN FORESTRY FUNCTIONS INTO
OSE.
THERE ARE NINE DEPARTMENTS
THAT HAVE A ROLE IN THE CITY
MANAGEMENT OF THESE EFFORTS
INCLUDE MAINTAINING TREES IN
THE PUBLIC RIGHT-OF-WAY AND IT
IS THE PLAN THAT SHOULD INCLUDE
THE IMPLEMENTATION AND USE FOR
IMPLEMENTING THE PROPOSED
REORGANIZATION AND THE RESPONSE
WOULD BE DUE TO THE COMMITTEE
BY SEPTEMBER 15.
>> THANK YOU AND I WANT TO
THANK COUNCILMEMBER STRAUSS FOR
HIS LEADERSHIP ON THE TREES AND
FOR COSPONSORING THIS AND MAYBE
JOINING ON.
AND THE TREES PROVIDE NUMEROUS
BENEFITS INCLUDING THE
ABSORPTION TO REDUCE THE
HARMFUL RUNOFF AND PUGET SOUND.
AND IT HAS THE PROVEN HEALTH
BENEFITS AND THE BIGGER THE
TREE THE BETTER.
WE TAKE A LONG LOOK AT RACIAL
INJUSTICE ISSUES AND WE KNOW
SOME COMMUNITIES OF COLOR ARE
HAVING FEWER TREES AND HAVE
THEM REMOVED WERE OFTEN.
IN 2000 AND THE CITY AUDITOR
DETERMINED THE FACTIONALIZED
MANAGEMENT OF TREES AND URBAN
FORESTRY ISSUES WAS A PROBLEM
IN SEATTLE AND FOR THE PAST 11
YEARS WE HAVE TRIED TO MAKE
THIS APPROACH AND DURING THAT
TIME I'M CONCERNED WE ARE
SEEING A DECLINE IN TREE CANOPY
AND A LOSS OF LARGE TREES AND
THIS GIVES THE EXECUTIVE PLENTY
OF TIME TO PRODUCE A BASIC PLAN
FOR POTENTIAL CONSOLIDATION OF
THE SEATTLE TREE MANAGEMENT
UNDER A SINGLE AGENCY.
IT MAKES IT VERY HARD TO TRACK
THINGS AND THIS WOULD ALSO HAVE
A PREFERENCE FROM AGENCY
FOCUSED ON THE OFFICE OF
SUSTAINABILITY AND ENVIRONMENT.
THANK YOU.
>> THANK YOU . COUNCILMEMBER
STRAUSS ?
>> THANK YOU FOR PUTTING THIS
FORWARD.
I'M HAPPY TO COSPONSOR THIS
REQUEST FOR WE RECEIVED SOME
CONCERNS ABOUT THIS APPROACH
AND I BELIEVE THAT THOSE
CONCERNS CAN BE ADDRESSED AND
THAT OUR STAFF IS ALREADY
WORKING TO DISCUSS HOW TO
ACCOMPLISH THIS I JUST WANT TO
SAY THAT I LOOK FORWARD TO
WORKING WITH YOU TO ENSURE THE
PARAMETERS ARE APPROPRIATELY
DETERMINED AND IT REALLY CANNOT
THANK YOU ENOUGH FOR ALL YOU DO
. THANK YOU .
>> A GOOD EXAMPLE WITH MY
NEIGHBOR THAT I MENTIONED.
THE TREE WAS DOWN AFFECTING THE
PARKING ENFORCEMENT PERSON BUT
IT WAS OVER THE STREET RIGHT
AWAY.
ALL RIGHT.
THANK YOU FOR THE CONVERSATION
ON THIS AND I SEE SOME HANDS UP
SO COUNCILMEMBER PEDERSEN WAS
JOINED BY COUNCILMEMBER STRAUSS
AND COUNCILMEMBER HERBOLD AND
IN ADDITION WE HAVE
COUNCILMEMBER LEWIS,
COUNCILMEMBER JUAREZ, AND
COUNCILMEMBER SAWANT JOINING
AND ALEX LIKE EVERYONE.
NOW I THINK WE WILL GO AHEAD
AND TAKE A BREAK FOR WE WILL
RESUME AGAIN AT 2:00 FOCUSED
ON SDCI . THIS MEETING IS IN
RECESS AND WE WILL RECONVENE AT
2:00.
ENJOY YOUR LUNCH BREAK.
THANK YOU, EVERYONE.