.
>>> THE SELECT BUDGET
COMMITTEE OF THE SEATTLE CITY
COUNCIL.
TODAY IS OCTOBER 29th, 2020.
IT IS 2:04 P.M.
I WANT TO THANK YOU ALL FOR
JOINING US AGAIN.
WE HAD A ONE HOUR RECESS FOR
OUR LUNCH BREAK.
THANK YOU VERY MUCH,
COLLEAGUES AND STAFF AND TEAMS
FOR MAKING THIS BREAK AND THIS
REMOTE MEETING POSSIBLE.
BEFORE CONTINUING WITH OUR
DISCUSSION, COULD WE PLEASE
HAVE THE CLERK READ THE ROLL
CALL FOR THE RECORD?
>> COUNCIL MEMBER STRAUSS?
>> PRESENT.
>> COUNCIL MEMBER GONZALEZ.
>> HERE.
>> COUNCIL MEMBER HERBOLD.
>> HERE.
>> COUNCIL MEMBER JUAREZ.
>> HERE.
>> COUNCIL MEMBER LEWIS.
>> PRESENT.
>> COUNCIL MEMBER MORALES.
>> HERE.
>> COUNCIL MEMBER PEDERSON.
>> HERE.
>> COUNCIL MEMBER SAWANT.
>> HERE.
>> AND CHAIR MOSQUEDA.
>> PRESENT.
>> 9 PRESENT.
>> THANK YOU VERY MUCH, MADAM
CLERK.
PREVIOUSLY ON OUR SESSION ONE,
WE GOT THROUGH THE FIRST FIVE
ITEMS ON THE AGENDA ALL THE
WAY THROUGH THE OFFICE OF
SUSTAINABILITY OF ENVIRONMENT.
WE'LL NOW CONTINUE WITH ITEM
6, SEATTLE PARKS AND
RECREATION AND I ACCIDENTALLY
REVERSED THEM BEFORE, SO I
WANT TO MAKE SURE WE'RE
FOLLOWING THE AGENDA AS
PUBLISHED.
CLERK, DO YOU MIND READING IN
ITEM NUMBER 6 AND 7 FOR THE
RECORD, AND WE'LL START.
>> ITEM 6 AND 7, SEATTLE PARKS
AND RECREATION AND SEATTLE
DEPARTMENT OF CONSTRUCTIONS
AND INSPECTIONS.
>> EXCELLENT.
OKAY, THANK YOU VERY MUCH,
EVERYBODY.
LET'S GO ON WITH SPR.
PARKS AND RECREATION.
I WILL TURN IT OVER TO TRACEY.
GOOD AFTERNOON, TRACEY.
>> COUNCIL MEMBERS, GOOD
AFTERNOON.
I'M WITH COUNCIL CENTRAL
STAFF, HOPING TO SLIP IN AND
OUT QUICKLY WITH FIVE CBAS FOR
SEATTLE PARKS AND RECREATION.
THE FIRST IS SPR01A01.
COUNCIL MEMBER MORALES
SPONSORED THIS.
IT WOULD ADD $150,000 TO PARKS
AND RECREATION TO ESTABLISH A
STUDY FOR THE NEEDS OF THE
GEORGETOWN COMMUNITY INCLUDING
THE POTENTIAL NEED FOR A
COMMUNITY CENTER.
>> COUNCIL MEMBER MORALES?
>> ALL RIGHT, THANK YOU.
COLLEAGUES, I HAVE TERRIBLE
INTERNET TODAY, SO I'M LEAVING
MY CAMERA OFF IN HOPES I DON'T
LOSE CONNECTION AGAIN.
THIS IS FOR $150,000 AS TRACEY
SAID TO FUND A FEASIBILITY
STUDY FOR GEORGETOWN.
OUR OFFICE OF PLANNING AND
COMMUNITY DEVELOPMENT THROUGH
THE EQUITABLE COMMUNITY
DEVELOPMENT REPORT ASSESSED
SEATTLE COMMUNITIES BASED ON
THE FOLLOWING INDICATORS.
PROXIMITY TO COMMUNITY
CENTERS, ACCESS TO PUBLIC
LIBRARIES, ACCESS TO GROCERY
STORES, ACCESS TO PARKS AND
OPEN SPACE, AND AIR POLLUTION
EXPOSURE RISK.
GEORGE TOUCHDOWN HAS NONE OF
THESE EXPECT FOR AIR POLLUTION
EXPOSURE RISK AND A COUPLE OF
SMALL PARKS.
SO PART OF WHY WE'RE DOING
THIS IS BECAUSE THE COMMUNITY
IS REALLY INTERESTED IN ACCESS
TO A COMMUNITY CENTER.
THE REPORT EXPRESSES THE
RATIONALE OF WHY IT MATTERS
THAT COMMUNITIES HAVE WALKABLE
ACCESS TO COMMUNITY CENTERS,
STATING THAT COMMUNITY CENTERS
PROVIDE LOW COST FITNESS,
RECREATION, AND LEARNING
OPPORTUNITIES.
THEY'RE ALSO PLACES WHERE
RESIDENTS CAN CONNECT WITH
EACH OTHER, AND BY TAILORING
PROGRAMS TO THE DEMOGRAPHICS
OF SURROUNDING RESIDENTS AND
GIVING PLACES FOR GROUPS TO
GATHER, THEY CAN ALSO HELP
SUPPORT ETHNIC COMMUNITIES.
THESE PLACES CAN, FOR EXAMPLE,
PROVIDE INEXPENSIVE VENUES FOR
FORMS OF EXPRESSION SUCH AS
DANCE THAT ARE CENTRAL TO
CULTURAL IDENTITY.
GEORGETOWN IS ONE OF THE FEW
AREAS IN THE CITY IDENTIFIED
AS A, UM, THROUGH THE RACIAL
EQUITY INDEX AREA AS AN AREA
THAT RANKS AS LACKING OR
LIMITED ON ALL OF THE
INDICATORS I MENTIONED ABOVE.
IN 2017, THE SEATTLE PARKS AND
REC PARK AND OPEN SPACE PLAN
HAD SEVERAL TARGET GOALS,
WHICH INCLUDE THAT HAD EVERY
HOUSEHOLD IN SEATTLE SHOULD BE
úWITHIN 1 TO 2 MILES OF A
COMMUNITY CENTER.
DESPITE THIS, UM, THE
COMMUNITY CENTER'S STRATEGIC
PLAN DID NOT INCLUDE AN
ASSESSMENT OF GEORGETOWN.
BUT THERE ARE VARIOUS REPORTS
THAT HAVE IDENTIFIED THE NEED
FOR OPEN SPACE AND COMMUNITY
SPACE IN GEORGETOWN, INCLUDING
THE GEORGETOWN GREEN SPACE
VISION.
FINALLY, UM, THE PARKS AND REC
HAS OUTSTANDING COMMITMENTS TO
ADDITIONAL, TO ADD COMMUNITY
CENTERS THROUGHOUT THE CITY.
THE LIST THAT WE HAVE INCLUDES
GREEN LAKE, LAKE CITY, MERCER,
SOUTH LAKE UNION AREA.
THESE PROJECTS ARE ON A
PRIORITY LIST TO BE, UM,
POSSIBLY TO BE FUNDED WITH
FUTURE PARK DISTRICT FUNDING.
THE COUNCIL HAS ASKED FOR
FEASIBILITY STUDIES FOR THE
AURORA COMMUNITY DELAYED DUE
TO COVID.
NOTABLY, NONE OF THE
NEIGHBORHOODS ON THE LIST ARE
IN GEORGETOWN OR THE SOUTH
END.
SO I'M ASKING ON BEHALF OF OUR
GEORGETOWN RESIDENTS THAT WE
INCLUDE THE EDITION OF
GEORGETOWN AS A FEASIBILITY
STUDY PRIORITY, AND WE FUND
THAT STUDY WITH THE
$150, $150,000.
>> THANK YOU, COUNCIL MEMBER
MORALES.
YOU CAME THROUGH NICE AND
CLEAR.
HAPPY TO HAVE YOU PRESENT THAT
WITH NO TECHNICAL ISSUES.
WANTED TO MAKE SURE YOU KNEW
THAT.
I DID HAVE A QUESTION ABOUT
THAT, UM, LAST COMMENT THAT
PERHAPS EITHER THE PROPOSED
COUNCIL MEMBER OR CENTRAL
STAFF CAN ANSWER.
CAN YOU I ELABORATE MORE ON
THE
COMMENT ABOUT CITY-WIDE TOWARD
THE NORTH END AND WHAT THE
DELAY IS CITY-WIDE?
>> IN TERMS OF THE, I WASN'T
SURE ABOUT THE FEASIBILITY
STUDY?
I THINK IT WAS JUST BECAUSE OF
THE PANDEMIC, PARKS AND
RECREATION COULDN'T GET OUT
AND DO THE FEASIBILITY STUDY.
THEY'RE PLANNING ON, BUT
COULDN'T DO THE COMMUNITY
ENGAGEMENT THEY WANTED TO DO
BECAUSE OF THE PANDEMIC.
>> I SEE.
SO MAYBE THE COUNCIL MEMBER, I
DON'T MEAN TO PUT WORDS IN
YOUR MOUTH, BUT THE POINT IS
OTHER FEASIBILITY STUDIES HAVE
BEEN ADVANCED TO VARIOUS
STAGES, BUT PUT ON HOLD
BECAUSE OF THE PANDEMIC.
NOTHING SIMILAR WAS PROPOSED
FOR GEORGETOWN IN THE PAST, SO
YOU'RE TRYING TO PLAY CATCH
UP?
>> THAT'S RIGHT.
>> OKAY.
GOT IT.
>> MADAM CHAIR, IF I MAY?
>> GO AHEAD COUNCIL MEMBER
JUAREZ.
>> TRACEY, YOU MAY WANT TO
FLUSH THIS OUT MORE.
THE REASON WHY GREENWAY AND
LAKE CITY WERE DESIGNATED, AND
PARTICULARLY LAKE CITY, IS
BECAUSE AFTER THE SIX-YEAR
STUDY FROM PARKS, THOSE TWO
WERE SET FOR DEMOLITION.
BEING BUILT IN THE 50s,
THAT'S BASICALLY WHERE THE
CAPITAL WENT.
THEN AURORA HAD A STUDY, AND
THEY HAD NOTHING EVER.
THAT'S WHY THEY HAD THE
FEASIBILITY STUDY LAST YEAR
THAT'S NOW ON HOLD.
SO THERE WASN'T A PREFERENCE.
WE BASE IT ON THE
SUPERINTENDENT'S SIX-YEAR
CYCLE AND THE STUDY FROM WHICH
THE VOTERS PASSED THE
METROPOLITAN PARK DISTRICT IN
2019.
AND THEY WERE SPECIFIC ON HOW
WE COULD SPEND THAT MONEY
LOOKING FORWARD.
LONG STORY SHORT, WHEN WE GET
INTO NEXT SPRING, AND WE CAN
FINALLY GET BACK OUT THERE AND
LOOK AT THE PARK DISTRICT AND
THE MONEY AND START THE CYCLE
AGAIN, I'M HOPING THAT WE CAN
CAPTURE PLACES THAT COUNSELOR
MORALES JUST SHARED WHERE WE
CAN INCLUDE THOSE KIND OF MARK
PARKS, GREEN SPACES, ALL THOSE
THINGS.
I JUST WANT TO MAKE SURE THAT
HISTORICALLY, STATISTICALLY,
FINANCIALLY, BUDGET-WISE, THAT
PEOPLE UNDERSTAND IT WASN'T
JUST A MATTER OF OH, WE'LL DO
THESE COMMUNITY CENTERS AND
FEASIBILITY STUDY.
THEY WERE BASED ON THE PARKS
REPORT AND THE FACT THAT AS I
SHARED, GREEN LAKE AND LAKE
CITY HAVE BEEN SET FOR DEMO
FOR ALMOST FIVE OR SIX YEARS.
SO IT'S BEEN A LONG TIME
COMING.
THAT'S WHY.
ANY YOU WANT TO ADD TO THAT
TRACEY EXCEPT THE FACT THAT
WE'RE GOING TO TRY AND START
UP THE SIX-YEAR CYCLE AGAIN
AND BE ABLE TO CAPTURE THE
OTHER NEEDS OF OTHER COUNCIL
MEMBERS' DISTRICTS?
>> RIGHT, I THINK THAT'S
ABSOLUTELY CORRECT.
AND I THINK THE 2016 STRATEGIC
PLAN DID IDENTIFY REBUILD AS
THE BEST OPTIONS FOR LAKE CITY
AND GREEN LAKE PUTTING THEM ON
THE PATH TO HAVING MORE ROBUST
PLANNING FOR THOSE TWO
COMMUNITY CENTERS TO BE
REBUILT AND WOULD HAVE TO BE
FUNDED IN THE NEXT NPD.
AND WE HAVE THE NEW COMMUNITY
CENTER GOING INTO, UM, THE
FORMER MEGABLOG PARCEL IN
SOUTH LAKE UNION, AND THERE
ARE IMPROVEMENTS THAT WILL
NEED TO BE MADE TO THAT SPACE.
THERE'S A FEW SIGNIFICANT
COMMUNITY CENTERS IN LINE
NEEDING FUNDING IN THE NEXT
NPD OR THROUGH OTHER CITY
RESOURCES.
>> TRACEY, CAN YOU DO ME A
FAVOR AND MAYBE POST, AND
CERTAINLY SHARE WITH COUNCIL
MEMBER MORALES THAT STUDY?
BECAUSE I WANT PEOPLE TO KNOW
WE DIDN'T JUST PICK AND
CHOOSE.
WE LITERALLY WENT FROM THE
STUDY.
AND YOU KNOW, BEEN WORKING ON
THIS SINCE 2015.
I WANT EVERYONE TO HAVE THE
SAME INFORMATION SO WHEN T
WHEN WE START THE CYCLE AGAIN,
I CAN START SITTING DOWN WITH
OUR COLLEAGUES AND DISTRICT
REPRESENTATIVES ABOUT
PARTICULAR NEIGHBORHOODS IN
NEED.
BUT RIGHT NOW, AS YOU KNOW,
PARKS AND NPD TOOK
MULTIMILLION DOLLARS HITS TO
BACK FILL THE GENERAL FUND,
AND I THINK PARKS IS A
COMPLETELY OTHER DISCUSSION.
THANK YOU.
>> YEP.
>> OKAY, THANK YOU FOR THAT
CONTEXT.
COUNCIL MEMBER MORALES, PLEASE
GO AHEAD.
>> I JUST WANT TO RESPOND TO
COUNCIL MEMBER JUAREZ.
I'M CERTAINLY NOT MEANING TO
INDICATE OR IMPLY THERE WAS A
RANDOM SELECTION OF WHAT'S
HAPPENING.
I'M MERELY POINTING OUT THAT
THE GEORGETOWN NEIGHBORHOOD
SUFFERS FROM ALL OF THE
INDICATORS THAT ARE IDENTIFIED
AS PROBLEMATIC IN TERMS OF
ACCESS TO SERVICES AND
SUFFERING FROM THE AIR AND
NOISE POLLUTION THAT THE
NEIGHBORHOOD, DUE TO WHERE
IT'S SITUATED, IS COPING WITH.
AND SOMETHING LIKE A COMMUNITY
CENTER WILL HELP TO OFFER THE
KIND OF SERVICES AND ACCESS TO
RECREATION, INDOOR RECREATION
IN PARTICULAR, THAT FOLKS IN
THE NEIGHBORHOOD ARE REALLY
ASKING FOR.
LOOKING FORWARD TO TALKING
AGAIN WITH YOU AND TRACEY TO
MOVE FORWARD IN THAT.
>> ABSOLUTELY.
THANK YOU COUNCIL MEMBER
MORALES.
>> OKAY, THANK YOU SO MUCH.
THANK YOU ALL.
LET'S MOVE ON.
>> MOVING ON TO ITEM SPR2A1
SPONSORED BY COUNCIL MEMBER
LEWIS AND COSPONSORED BY
COUNCIL MEMBERS MORALES AND
PEDERSON.
THIS WOULD ADD $50,000 TO THE
SEATTLE PARKS AND RECREATION
NEIGHBORHOOD RESPONSE PROGRAM
IN THE 2021-26 CAPITAL
IMPROVEMENT PROGRAM.
THIS ACTION RESTORES FUNDING
TO THE PROGRAM THAT WAS
REDUCED BY $50,000 IN THE
MAYOR'S 2021 PROPOSED BUDGET,
BRINGING TOTAL FUNDING FOR
THIS PROGRAM TO $250,000 IN
2021.
>> GREAT, COUNCIL MEMBER
LEWIS, PLEASE.
>> YES, THANK YOU SO MUCH
TRACEY.
THIS BUDGET AD REALLY COMES
FROM TALKING TO COMMUNITY
MEMBERS WHO REALLY VALUE THE
SERVICE OF THE RESPONSE THE
PROGRAM HAS BEEN ABLE TO
PROVIDE IN ALLOWING FOR QUICK,
MINOR INFRASTRUCTURE
REPLACEMENTS AND BEING REALLY
RESPONSIVE TO PEOPLE
ORGANIZING THE COMMUNITY AND
USING THE PARKS AND ABLE TO
IDENTIFY, UM, THINGS THAT CAN
ENHANCE, YOU KNOW, OUR PARKS
SYSTEM AND THE EXPERIENCE AND,
UM, YOU KNOW, I REALIZE
THERE'S STILL A CONSIDERABLE
AMOUNT OF MONEY LEFT IN THIS
EVEN WITH THE $50,000 CUT.
I WANTED TO BRING THIS FORWARD
TO MAKE SURE THAT AS WE'RE
GOING FORWARD YOU KNOW, THIS,
THESE CRITICAL, SORT OF BASIC
GOVERNMENT PROGRAMS THAT, YOU
KNOW, SIMILAR TO, UM, YOUR
VOICE YOUR CHOICE AND OTHER
THINGS I'M RAISING THROUGHOUT
THE PROCESS ARE STILL
SUSTAINED AND THERE'S
CONTINUITY.
I KIND OF PUT THIS IN THE SAME
CATEGORY AS A SERVICE THE CITY
PROVIDES AND WOULD LIKE TO SEE
MAINTAINED.
>> ANY ADDITIONAL COMMENTS ON
THIS ONE?
ALL RIGHT, THANKS.
WE DID HAVE A QUICK DISCUSSION
ABOUT THIS LAST WEEK.
WONDERFUL.
THANK YOU VERY MUCH.
LET'S MOVE ON TO THE NEXT ONE.
>> THIS IS SPR3A1 WITH COUNCIL
MEMBER LEWIS AS THE SPONSOR.
THIS WOULD ALLOW PARKS AND
RECREATION TO CONDUCT A
FEASIBILITY STUDY LOOKING AT
STRATEGIES FOR ACTIVATING THE
EAST GREEN BELT WHICH OFFERS
TRAIL ACCESS, BENCHES, AND
TRAIL VIEWS OF LAKE UNION, BUT
THE PRESENCE OF GARBAGE DUMPED
IN THE AREA AND OTHER ISSUES
IN THE GREEN BELT HAS RAISED
SAFETY CONCERNS BY THE
COMMUNITY AND HAS CAUSED A
SLIPPAGE IN THE USE AND
ENJOYMENT OF THE AREA BY THE
RESIDENTS.
WE'D LOOK AT OVERCOMING THE
SAFETY CONCERNS.
THE COUNCIL REQUESTS THAT SPR
PROVIDE A REPORT BY
JUNE 30th, 2021.
>> THANK YOU.
COUNCIL MEMBER LEWIS?
>> THANK YOU, TRACEY.
SO THE EAST QUEEN ANNE GREEN
BELT IS A REALLY UNIQUE PART
OF OUR OUTDOOR SPACE.
IN PRACTICE IT WORKS LIKE A
FAIRLY LARGE, UM, PARK SYSTEM
THAT COULD RIVAL, ON THE OTHER
SIDE OF QUEEN ANNE, KINNEAR
PARK.
THAT'S A DEVELOPMENT THAT'S
SORT OF FULLY DEVELOPED AND
UPDATED FOR RECREATIONAL USE.
AND EVEN FOR BIKE AND
PEDESTRIAN CONNECTIONS OF
INNER BAY TO THE UPTOWN
NEIGHBORHOOD AND QUEEN ANNE.
I THINK THAT A SIMILAR PROJECT
COULD BE UNDERTAKEN WITH THE
EAST QUEEN ANNE GREEN BELT TO
PROVIDE THOSE KINDS OF
RECREATIONAL OPPORTUNITIES TO
THE NEIGHBORHOOD ON THAT SIDE
OF QUEEN ANNE AND POTENTIALLY
CONNECT VARIOUS PARTS OF THE
NEIGHBORHOOD WITH TRAIL
NETWORKS SCOOP RECREATIONAL
OPPORTUNITIES.
AS I'VE SAID BEFORE, WHILE IT
IS ACCESSIBLE, IT'S NOT REALLY
MAINTAINED, AND THERE'S NOT A
BROADER PURPOSE OR VISION FOR
THAT SPACE, EVEN THOUGH IT'S
OWNED PARTIALLY BY PARKS AND
SOME OF IT OWNED BY OTHER CITY
DEPARTMENTS.
IT WOULD BE REALLY GOOD TO
START DEVELOPING A STRATEGY,
ESPECIALLY NEXT YEAR AS WE
LOOK INTO THE LONG TERM
INVESTMENTS WE'LL BE MAKING IN
THE PARKS DISTRICT AND REALLY
MAKING THE BEST USE OF THIS
LARGE PARCEL OF OPEN SPACE
THAT'S ALREADY IN PUBLIC
OWNERSHIP, BUT CURRENTLY BEING
UNDERUTILIZED.
>> THANK YOU VERY MUCH,
COUNCIL MEMBER LEWIS.
I DON'T SEE AN ADDITIONAL
QUESTION.
LET'S KEEP GOING.
>> SPR4A1.
AGAIN, PRIMARY SPONSOR BEING
COUNCIL MEMBER LEWIS AND
COUNCIL MEMBERS STRAUSS AND
GONZALEZ AS COSPONSORS.
THIS STATEMENT OF LEGISLATIVE
INTENT WOULD REQUEST BARKS IN
COLLABORATION WITH SDOT TO
STUDY THE FEASIBILITY COST AND
PROCESS INVOLVED IN THE
POTENTIAL DEVELOPMENT OF A
PARK ON SDOT OWNED PROPERTY AT
THE SOUTHWEST CORNER OF MERCER
STREET AND DEXTER AVENUE NORTH
INTERSECTION.
IT'S CURRENTLY SDOT RIGHT OF
WAY CREATED AS PART OF THE
AURORA TUNNEL CONSTRUCTION
PROJECT.
COUNCIL REQUESTS WE PROVIDE A
REPORT ON THE RESULTS OF THE
STUDY BY SEPTEMBER 2021.
>> THANK YOU, COUNCIL MEMBER
LEWIS?
>> SO THIS IS A PARCEL OF
PROPERTY THAT I'M AWARE OF
JUST FROM WALKING AROUND THE
CONTRADICT AND HAVE BEEN FOR
THE LAST COUPLE OF YEARS.
INITIALLY WHEN I BROUGHT THIS
FORWARD, I HAD BEEN A LITTLE
MORE PRESCRIPTIVE AND FLOATED
THE IDEA OF A DOG PARK.
THAT'S PARTLY INFORMED BY THE
FACT THAT WHENEVER I KIND OF
WALK BY THIS PARCEL, IT'S
BEING USED AS A SORT OF
UNSANCTIONED DOG RUN ALREADY.
BUT THAT CONCEDED, YOU KNOW,
I'M NOT REALLY THAT
PRESCRIPTIVE ABOUT WHAT
PARTICULAR USE PARKS WOULD
WANT TO MAKE OF IT, BUT IT'S
CLEAR THAT PEOPLE ARE USING IT
FOR RECREATIONAL AND OUTDOOR
PURPOSES.
I THINK IT'S A UNIQUE
OPPORTUNITY TO TAKE ADVANTAGE
OF THE PARCEL THAT AS TRACEY
SAID WAS CREATED FROM THE
TUNNEL PROJECT.
THIS USED TO BE A CONCRETE
HOLE IN THE GROUND BACK IN THE
DAY BEFORE WE HAD THE MERCER
REALIGNMENT AND EVERYTHING
THAT WENT INTO THAT.
I DON'T REMEMBER THE ROAD THAT
USED TO BE THERE, BUT IT WAS
DEFINITELY VACATED BECAUSE NOW
THERE'S GREEN SPACE.
SO THE LAND CURRENTLY, FROM
WORK THAT KATHERINE SIMS IN MY
OFFICE DID BEFORE SHE WENT OFF
TO LAW SCHOOL AND KIND OF
WORKING ON THE PROJECT WHEN WE
WERE ACTUALLY STILL MEETING IN
PERSON, SO IT'S BEEN AWHILE
THAT MY OFFICE HAVE BEEN
DEVELOPING IT, FOUND THAT IT
IS CURRENTLY OWNED BY SDOT, SO
IT'S IN CITY OWNERSHIP, AND I
BELIEVE THIS WOULD BE A GOOD
FIRST STEP TO LOOK AT, UM, THE
FEASIBILITY OF WHETHER THIS
WOULD BE AN APPROPRIATE PARCEL
FOR, UM, DEVELOPING A PARK AND
TRANSFERRING IT FROM SDOT TO
PARKS AS THE GENERAL FUND GETS
A LITTLE MORE FLUSH IN THE
FUTURE.
>> WONDERFUL.
THANK YOU VERY MUCH.
ANY QUESTIONS?
THANK YOU FOR THE EXPLANATION
FOR THE AMENDED APPROACH HERE.
I SEE COUNCIL MEMBER MORALES
AND LEWIS.
I'M SORRY.
COUNCIL MEMBER SAWANT,
PEDERSON, STRAUSS, AND
GONZALEZ ARE ADDED ON AS
COSPONSORS ON THIS ONE.
>> ALL RIGHT, WRAPPING IT UP
HERE.
THE LAST FOR PARKS, 5A1.
PRIMARY SPONSOR COUNCIL MEMBER
SAWANT.
THIS ALLOWS US TO WORK WITH
THE SNOQUALMIE INDIAN TRIBE TO
PRODUCE SIGNAGE AT LICHTEN
SPRINGS FOR THE CULTURAL
SIGNIFICANCE OF THE SPRINGS.
IT'S REQUESTED TO BE COMPLETED
NO LATER THAN MAY 31st,
2021.
>> THANK YOU.
COUNCIL MEMBER SAWANT?
>> THANK YOU.
AND THANKS TO THE COSPONSORS.
WE REQUEST THE COUNCIL TO WORK
WITH THE SNOQUALMIE TRIBE.
INDIGENOUS ACTIVISTS IN
SEATTLE HAVE BEEN WORKING TO
AMPLIFY THE HISTORY OF LICHTEN
SPRINGS, AND THIS YEAR THEY
SUCCESSFULLY LANDMARKED THE
SPRINGS, WHICH I BELIEVE THIS
IS THE FIRST TIME THEY'VE
PROTECTED SOMETHING OTHER THAN
A BUILDING.
ALMOST 3,000 PEOPLE SIGNED A
PETITION CIRCULATED BY THE
URBAN NATIVE EDUCATION
ALLIANCE SUPPORTING THEN
LANDMARKING AND EXPLAINING
THAT SINCE TIME IMMEMORIAL, IS
THE SPRINGS HAVE BEEN A SACRED
SITE FOR THE TRIBES OF THE
PUGET SOUND REGION.
FOR COUNTLESS GENERATIONS, THE
PEOPLE HAVE GATHERED TO
HARVEST THE SACRED RED OAK OR
MEDICINE USED FOR TRADITIONAL
HEALING, CEREMONY, SPIRITUAL
RENEWAL, AND CELEBRATIONS.
LICHTEN SPRINGS IS ONE OF THE
LAST REMAINING CULTURAL SITES
OF THE PEOPLE.
WE'RE ASKING THE PARKS
DEPARTMENT TO INSTALL
HISTORICAL SIGNAGE LIFTING UP
THIS HISTORY.
WE'VE BEEN IN TOUCH WITH PARK
STAFF AND THE PARKS DEPARTMENT
HAS BEEN SUPPORTIVE AND
HELPFUL.
BUT BECAUSE THIS HAS BEEN
DEMANDED FOR SEVERAL YEARS, MY
OFFICE AND COMMUNITY
ORGANIZERS WANT TO MAKE SURE
THE MAYOR'S OFFICE FOLLOWS
THROUGH ON COMPLETING THE
PROJECT AND IT'S NOT A
CASUALTY OF BUDGET CUTS TO THE
PARKS DEPARTMENT.
SO WE REQUEST MARKS TO
CONTINUE WORKING WITH THE
INDIGENOUS ACTIVISTS TO
COMPLETE THE DESIGN AND
INSTALLATION OF THIS HISTORIC
AND CULTURAL SIGNAGE.
>> THANK YOU, COUNCIL MEMBER
SAWANT.
COUNCIL MEMBER SAWANT WAS
JOINED BY COUNCIL MEMBERS
MORALES, LEWIS, AND JUAREZ,
ALSO COUNCIL MEMBER STRAUSS,
COUNCIL PRESIDENT GONZALEZ,
AND COUNCIL MEMBER, THAT'S IT.
WE GOT THOSE FIVE EXTRA ADDED.
THANK YOU VERY MUCH.
THAT WRAPS UP PARKS AND
RECREATION!
>> THAT'S RIGHT!
>>> OKAY, I BELIEVE WE'RE ONTO
OUR FINAL CATEGORY.
READY TO WALK THROUGH SDIC?
>> YES, COUNCIL CENTRAL STAFF.
I'LL WALK THROUGH THESE 11
COUNCIL BUDGET ACTIONS AND
SLIDES IN THE PROPOSED BUDGET
FOR 2021.
FIRST AGENDA ITEM 30.
THIS WOULD ADD A HOUSING
TECHNICIAN TO SDIC TO THE
PROPERTY OWNER ASSISTANCE
GROUP FOR OUTREACH.
THIS WOULD RESTORE, UM,
FUNDING AND A POSITION OF
AUTHORITY AND POSITION
AUTHORITY FOR A POSITION THE
COUNCIL ADDED LAST YEAR, BUT
WHICH WAS NOT FULFILLED AS
REPURPOSED IN THE BUDGET FOR
ELEVATOR INSPECTOR.
COUNCIL MEMBER STRAUSS IS THE
PRIMARY SPONSOR AND JUAREZ AND
GONZALEZ ARE
COSPONSORS.SPONSORS.
>> YES, THANK YOU.
IN PREVIOUS YEARS WE'VE
PROVIDED FUNDING TO HIRE
ADDITIONAL STAFF FOR THE GROUP
THAT RESOLVES REQUESTS FOR
TENANT SERVICES.
THIS PROGRAM BENEFITS BOTH
LANDLORDS AND TENANTS.
THE POSITION WAS NEVER HIRED,
AND IN THE 2020 BUDGET, IT WAS
REDIRECTED TO BE AN ELEVATOR
INSPECTOR POSITION WITHIN THE
DEPARTMENT, AND THAT POSITION
IS ALSO NECESSARY.
SO THAT'S WHY I'M PROPOSING TO
ADD NEW FUNDING AND
RE-ESTABLISH THIS POSITION OF
AUTHORITY.
THE PROPERTY OWNER TENANT
ASSISTANCE GROUP NEEDS
ADDITIONAL STAFFING TO RESOLVE
COMPLAINTS AND REQUESTS, THEIR
TURN AROUND TIMES ARE NOW UP
TO 68 DAYS, WHICH IS A
DIFFERENCE FROM YEARS PAST.
WITH THE ECONOMIC FALLOUT OF
COVID-19 CONTINUING AND
EVICTION MORATORIUMS
EVENTUALLY LIFTING, I EXPECT
THEIR WORKLOAD TO GO UP, NOT
DOWN.
I BELIEVE WE SHOULD BE
PROACTIVITY BE PROVIDING THE
RESOURCES TO HANDLE THIS
INCREASE OF CASES.
THAT'S WHY I AM BRINGING THIS
FORWARD.
THANK YOU.
>> THANK YOU, COUNCIL MEMBER
STRAUSS.
ANY ADDITIONAL COMMENTS OR
QUESTION?
I SEE COUNCIL MEMBER LEWIS
ADDING THE NAMES INCLUDING
JUAREZ AND GONZALEZ.
THANK YOU VERY MUCH,
COLLEAGUES.
>> QUESTION?
>> YES, SO SORRY COUNCIL
MEMBER HERBOLD.
I'M USED TO LOOKING FOR THE
VIRTUAL HANDS.
REAL HAND!
GO FOR IT!
>> I JUST WANT TO CONFIRM THAT
I HEARD COUNCIL MEMBER STRAUSS
CORRECTLY.
HE SAID, UM, COUNCIL MEMBER
STRAUSS, DID YOU SAY, UM, THAT
THE FUNDING WAS NOT USED FOR
THE PURPOSE OF TENANT OUTREACH
STAFFER BUT INSTEAD WAS USED
FOR AN ELEVATOR INSPECTOR?
>> THAT' MY UNDERSTANDING.
>> THAT'S CORRECT.
AND I THINK WHAT THAT REFLECTS
IS A COUPLE OF THINGS.
ONE IS A HIRING FREEZE
ASSOCIATED WITH A DOWNTURN IN
GENERAL FUND REVENUE THIS
YEAR, AND ALSO THIS IS TRUE
ACROSS DEPARTMENTS AND A
COUPLE OF POSITIONS AT SDIC,
REPURPOSING POSITION AUTHORITY
TO KEEP PEOPLE EMPLOYED, UM,
WITH FUNDED POSITIONS.
>> SO A HIRING FREEZE FOR THE
COUNCIL'S PRIORITIES, BUT NOT
FOR THE EXECUTIVES.
I WOULD LIKE TO ADD MY NAME TO
THIS, PLEASE.
>> THANK YOU, COUNCIL MEMBER
HERBOLD.
NEXT ONE.
>> MOVING ON TO AGENDA ITEM
31.
THIS WOULD ADD TWO POSITIONS,
AN ARBORIST AND HOUSING
INSPECTOR AND FUNDING THE
POSITIONS TO IMPROVE
ENFORCEMENT OF REGULATIONS
SPONSORED BY COUNCIL MEMBER
STRAUSS WITH COSPONSORS
MORALES AND PEDERSON.
>> THANK YOU.
COUNCIL MEMBER STRAUSS.
>> THANK YOU.
THIS PROPOSAL ADDS FUNDING TO
EXPAND ENFORCEMENT OF TREE
REGULATIONS BY HIRING TWO
ADDITIONAL MEMBERS OF THE TEAM
THAT CONDUCTS ENFORCEMENT.
I THINK ALL OF OUR OFFICERS
HAVE EXPERIENCED GETTING CALLS
FROM COMMUNITY MEMBERS ABOUT A
TREE BEING TAKEN DOWN WITHOUT
THEIR KNOWING, AND WE OFTEN
CAN'T DO ANYTHING.
PART OF THAT IS BECAUSE WE
NEED A TREE PROTECTION
ORDINANCE, BUT IN THE INTERIM,
BEFORE WE PASS THAT ORDER
ORDINANCE,
WE CAN ADDRESS THE CURRENT
WEAKNESSES IN ENFORCEMENT
PRACTICES.
I'VE HEARD TOO MANY EXAMPLES
OF STAFF GETTING THERE A
MINUTE TOO LATE AND FINDING A
STUMP WHERE THE TREE ONCE
WAS,, AND IN 2018 THEY WERE
SOLVED IN 51 DAYS.
IN 2019 IT WAS 169 DAYS, AND
THIS YEAR IS 147 DAYS.
AND THAT'S NOT DUE TO CITY
STAFF NOT DOING THEIR JOB.
IT'S JUST THAT WE'RE AT A TIME
THAT WE NEED MORE ATTENTION
PAID AND RESOURCES TO BE ABLE
TO ENFORCEMENT THE REGULATIONS
ALREADY ON THE BOOK.
OUR STAFF NEED TO BE EQUIPPED
TO PROTECT TREES AND PREVENT
ILLEGAL REMOVALS.
BY ADDING ADDITIONAL
REINFORCEMENT, TEAMS WILL BE
ABLE TO REACH THE TREES BEFORE
THE REMOVALS HAPPEN.
THANK YOU.
>> THANK YOU.
ANY ADDITIONAL QUESTIONS?
SEEING NONE, WE DO HAVE
COUNCIL MEMBERS ALREADY
SIGNING UP TO SUPPORT THIS.
COUNCIL MEMBERS MORALES AND
PEDERSON JOINED BY SAWANT AND
LEWIS.
LET'S MOVE ON.
>> MOVING ON.
THIS REQUIRES QUARTERLY
REPORTING ON TURN AROUND TIMES
INCLUDING A TOTAL REVIEW DAYS
AT SDCI AS WELL AS A BASELINE
REPORT WOULD BE REQUIRED IN
MID-JANUARY.
COUNCIL MEMBER STRAUSS IS THE
PRIMARY SPONSOR OF THIS
POTENTIAL AMENDMENT WITH
COUNCIL MEMBERS PEDERSON,
JUAREZ, AND GONZALEZ ARE
COSPONSORS.
>> COUNCIL MEMBER STRAUSS.
>> THANK YOU.
COLLEAGUES, AS YOU MAY SEE, I
HAVE MY PRIME SPONSORSHIPS
WITHIN THE COMMITTEE IN WHICH
I CHAIR.
THAT'S WHERE MY FOCUS HAS
BEEN, AND I APPRECIATE EARN
WORKING THEIR COMMITTEES.
THANK YOU SPECIFICALLY TO
COUNCIL MEMBERS GONZALEZ,
PEDERSON, AND JUAREZ FOR YOUR
COSPONSORSHIP OF THIS
LEGISLATIVE INTENT WHICH WOULD
REQUIRE THEM TO REPORT ON
PERMIT REVIEW TIMES AND
PROGRESS ON MEETING REVIEW
TURN AROUND GOALS.
THE REPORT SHOULD INCLUDE
PROCESS TIMES FOR SIMPLE
CONSTRUCTION PERMITS, COMPLEX
CONSTRUCTION PERMITS, AND
MASTER USE PERMITS.
THEY'VE BEEN MANAGING A LONG
BACKLOG OF PERMIT APPLICATIONS
FOR YEARS, AND IT'S COMMON FOR
IT TO TAKE 24 MONTHS FOR
REVIEWS TO BE MADE.
IT DOESN'T JUST CREATE A
CHALLENGING LEVEL OF
UNPREDICTABILITY FOR
APPLICANTS, BUT ALSO REDUCES
OUR ABILITY TO BRING THE
HOUSING WE NEED ONLINE IN AN
EFFICIENT MANNER.
THEY'VE TAKEN GREAT STEPS IN
RECENT YEARS TO ADDRESS THE
BACKLOG, INCLUDING INCREASING
PERMIT FEES AND CHANGING STAFF
PRACTICES, WHICH HAS BETTER
ENABLED THEM TO TURN AROUND
PERMITS QUICKLY.
THIS WILL HELP COUNCIL BETTER
UNDERSTAND THE ADDITIONAL
BARRIERS THAT REMAIN TO
SHORTENING REVIEW TIMES SO WE
CAN ADDRESS COMPLICATIONS OR
BARRIERS IN REAL TIME AND
IDENTIFY HOW COUNCIL MAY BE
ABLE TO HELP IN THIS
JURISDICTION.
THANK YOU.
>> ANY ADDITIONAL QUESTIONS OR
COMMENTS?
YOU SO YOU'RE LOOKING FOR
POINT IN TIME INFORMATION TO
BETTER INFORM FUTURE POLICY
DECISIONS?
>> THAT'S CORRECT, CHAIR.
POINT IN TIME INFORMATION TO
HELP US CRAFT POLICY, AND IF
BARRIERS, UM, APPEAR ALONG THE
WAY OR ARE DISCOVERED THROUGH
THIS PROCESS, IT ENABLES US TO
TAKE ACTION IN REAL TIME.
>> THANK YOU VERY MUCH.
JOINING PEDERSON, JUAREZ, AND
GONZALEZ IN COSPONSORSHIP IS
COUNCIL MEMBER LEWIS AND
COUNCIL MEMBER MORALES.
THANK YOU.
>>> MOVING ON TO AGENDA ITEM
NUMBER 33.
THIS IS SDCI4A1 SPONSORED BY
COUNCIL MEMBER STRAUSS AND
COSPONSORED BY COUNCIL MEMBERS
JUAREZ AND GONZALEZ.
THIS WOULD ADD HALF A MILLION
DOLLARS FOR OUTREACH EDUCATION
AND OTHER SERVICES TO THE
GENERAL FUND.
THERE'S ABOUT $650,000 IN THE
MAYOR'S PROPOSED BUDGET FOR
THESE SERVICES.
LAST YEAR SDCI COMPLETED ABOUT
$915,000 FOR TENANT SERVICES,
SO THERE WERE SOME ONE TIME
ADDITIONS REFLECTED IN THE
MAYOR'S 2021 BUDGET.
IT'S SIMILAR TO AGENDA ITEM
37, SO YOU COULD CONSIDER THEM
TO BE DISTINCT AND OR ADDITIVE
TO EACH OTHER.
>> THANK YOU.
COUNCIL MEMBER STRAUSS, PLEASE
GO AHEAD.
>> THANK YOU, CHAIR.
THANK YOU COUNCIL PRESIDENT
GONZALEZ AND JUAREZ FOR
COSPONSORING.
THIS PROPOSAL WOULD INCREASE
FUNDING FOR SDCI FOR OUTREACH
AND EDUCATION CONTRACTS BY
$500,000 AND AN 81% INCREASE
OVER THE PROPOSED BUDGET.
THE REQUEST RECOGNIZES THE
IMPORTANCE OF THIS WEEK AND
INCREASE IN NEED FOR THE
SERVICES THAT WILL LIKELY
RESULT FROM THE ECONOMIC
IMPACTS OF COVID-19 AND THE
EVENTUAL END OF THE STATE
LEVEL EVICTION MORATORIUM.
THIS YEAR, THESE GRANTS HAVE
BEEN PROVIDED TO ORGANIZATIONS
TO ASSIST TENANTS BEING ABLE
TO STAY IN THEIR PLACES AND
PROVIDE SERVICES INCLUDING
EVICTION DEFENSE, CASE
MANAGEMENT, TENANT COUNSELING.
>> THANK YOU VERY MUCH.
ANY QUESTIONS?
COUNCIL MEMBER SAWANT, PLEASE
GO AHEAD.
>> THANK YOU.
AS NOTED, THIS BUDGET
AMENDMENT IS EFFECTIVELY THE
SAME AS AMENDMENT 37 ON
TODAY'S AGENDA FROM MY OFFICE.
TO KEEP THINGS SIMPLE, I
ALREADY INDICATED I
COSPONSORED THIS BUDGET
AMENDMENT, AND URGE COUNCIL
MEMBER STRAUSS TO ALSO
COSPONSOR NUMBER 37 TO SIMPLY
COMBINE THEM.
IN REALITY IT WOULD HAVE BEEN
FAR SIMPLER WHEN STRAUSS HAD
COSPONSORED THE BUDGET
AMENDMENT SENT WEEKS AGO
RATHER THAN SUBMITTING A
DUPLICATE, BUT IT DOESN'T
MATTER.
WHAT MATTERS IS THESE TENANT
RIGHTS ORGANIZATIONS ARE
FUNDED.
I COSPONSOR HERE AND URGE
COUNCIL MEMBERS TO DO THE SAME
ON ITEM 37, EFFECTIVELY URGING
ALL TO SUPPORT BOTH.
I'LL HOLD MY OTHER POINTS
ABOUT WHY THIS FUNDING IS SO
IMPORTANT WHEN WE COME TO
NUMBER 37.
THANK YOU.
>> THANK YOU.
>> VERY GOOD.
I SEE COUNCIL MEMBERS JUAREZ,
GONZALEZ JOINED BY COUNCIL
MEMBER SAWANT, MORALES, AND
HERBOLD.
EXCELLENT.
THANK YOU SO MUCH.
LET'S GO ON.
>> AGENDA ITEM NUMBER 34,
SDCI5A1 SPONSORED BY COUNCIL
MEMBER SAWANT WITH COSPONSORS
MORALES AND GONZALEZ.
THIS IS A STATEMENT OF
LEGISLATIVE INTENT WHICH
REQUESTS REPORT BY SDCI ON THE
MICHAEL COHENS AND COST OF
SETTING UP A TRANSFERABLE
RENTAL HISTORY SYSTEM THAT
WOULD REQUIRE REPORTING TO THE
SUSTAINABILITY AND RENTER
RIGHTS COMMITTEE.
>> THANK YOU.
COUNCIL MEMBER SAWANT PLEASE
GO AHEAD.
>> THANK YOU, AND THANK YOU TO
MY COSPONSORS AND COUNCIL
MEMBER JUAREZ INDICATED SHE
WANTS TO COSPONSOR.
THIS STATEMENT OF LEGISLATIVE
INTENT REQUESTS THE SEATTLE
DEPARTMENT OF CONSTRUCTION AND
INSPECTION DESIGN AN
ADMINISTRATIVE STRUCTURE AND
ESTIMATE ASSOCIATED COSTS FOR
THE CITY TO MAINTAIN
TRANSFERABLE HISTORY
BACKGROUND CHECK REPORTS.
THE INTENTION IS DOING THE
ADMINISTRATIVE PLANNING THAT
WILL ALLOW THE SUSTAINABILITY
AND RENTER'S RIGHTS COMMITTEE
TO DRAFT AND PASS AN ORDINANCE
CREATING A STRUCTURE TO ALLOW
THE RENTAL HISTORIES OF
TENANTS TO BE TRANSFERABLE
FROM ONE LANDLORD TO THE NEXT,
ALLOWING PERSPECTIVE TENANTS
WHO PAID FOR A BACKGROUND
CHECK ALREADY TO USE IT FOR
EACH HOUSE APPLIED TO, AND
ALLOW THE CITY TO SET POLICY
FOR WHAT IS AND ISN'T
ACCEPTABLE CONTENT FOR A
BACKGROUND CHECK.
FOR EXAMPLE, I THINK RENTERS
SHOULD BE ABLE TO REMOVE
AMENDMENTED, UNJUST
CONVICTIONS NOT UPHELD BY THE
COURTS FROM RENTAL HISTORIES,
BUT RIGHT NOW THERE'S NO
TECHNICALLY FEASIBLE WAY TO
PRESENT IT TO LANDLORDS.
THERE ARE REAL ADMINISTRATIVE
CHALLENGES TO MAINTAINING
TRANSFERABLE RENTAL HISTORIES,
LIKE PRIVACY CONCERNS AND
OTHERS BEYOND THAT.
SO THIS ASKS THE DEPARTMENT TO
THINK THROUGH HOW TO ADDRESS
THE CHALLENGES IN PREPARATION
FOR MAKING THAT POSSIBLE.
>> THANK YOU.
ADDITIONAL COMMENTS OR
QUESTIONS?
COUNCIL MEMBER JUAREZ, YOU
MENTIONED SHE'D LIKE TO
COSPONSOR, IS THAT CORRECT?
>> YES, THAT'S CORRECT.
>> THANK YOU VERY MUCH COUNCIL
MEMBER JUAREZ.
WE HAVE YOU REFLECTED ALONG
WITH COUNCIL MEMBER LEWIS.
AND I DON'T SEE ADDITIONAL
HANDS, SO TO SUMMARIZE WE HAVE
COUNCIL MEMBERS MORALES,
JUAREZ, LEWIS, AND GONZALEZ
SIGNING ON AS COSPONSORS WITH
COUNCIL MEMBER SAWANT AS PRIME
SPONSOR.
>> THANK YOU VERY MUCH.
AND COUNCIL MEMBER HERBOLD,
JUST SAYING YOUR NAME FOR THE
RECORD.
YOU ADDED YOUR HAND ON THAT AS
WELL.
WE GOT THAT.
OKAY.
>> MOVING ON TO AGENDA ITEM
35, SDCI6A1, ANOTHER STATEMENT
OF LEGISLATIVE INTENT THAT
REQUIRES REPORT BY SDCI ON
STANDARD RESIDENTIAL LEASE
TERMS.
THE TERMS WOULD BE DEVELOPED
IN CONSULTATION WITH THE
SEATTLE RENTERS COMMISSION AND
COULD INFORM FUTURE
LEGISLATION.
SPONSORED BY COUNCIL MEMBER
SAWANT AS THE PRIME SPONSOR
AND ADDITIONAL SPONSORS IN
MORALES AND GONZALEZ.
>> THANK YOU VERY MUCH.
COUNCIL MEMBER SAWANT.
>> THANK YOU.
AND THANK YOU TO COUNCIL
MEMBERS MORALES AND GONZALEZ
FOR THEIR COSPONSORSHIP.
I BELIEVE COUNCIL MEMBERS
HERBOLD AND LEWIS HAVE ALSO
COSPONSORED IF I'M NOT WRONG.
LIKE THE PREVIOUS ITEM, THIS
PROPOSES ALSO A STATEMENT OF
LEGISLATIVE INTENT REQUESTING
THE DEPARTMENT OF CONSTRUCTION
AND INSPECTIONS TO WORK WITH
THE SEATTLE RENTERS COMMISSION
TO DRAFT STANDARD TERMS
APPROPRIATE FOR ALL
RESIDENTIAL RENTAL LEASES WITH
INPUT FROM ORGANIZATIONS
REPRESENTING RENTERS AND
LANDLORDS.
IN THE LAST MEETING OF THE
RENTERS COMMITTEE CHAIRED BY
MY OFFICE, WE HEARD FROM
RENTERS WHO WERE PROHIBITED
FROM DISPLAYING BLACK LIVES
MATTER SIGNS IN THEIR WINDOWS.
THIS IS ONE EXAMPLE.
IT'S JUST ONE OF THE MANY
OUTRAGEOUS AND UNJUST LEASE
TERMS THAT RENTERS ACCEPT IN
THEIR LEASES BECAUSE THE
OVERWHELMING MAJORITY OF
RENTERS HAVE NO POWER OVER
WHAT'S ACTUALLY IN THEIR
LEASE.
AT THE TIME IDEA THAT THE
LEASE IS A MUTUALLY AGREED
UPON AND NEGOTIATED DOCUMENT
IS A FICTION IN MOST
CIRCUMSTANCES.
SO THE INTENTION OF THIS
STATEMENT OF LEGISLATIVE
INTENT SO TO PREPARE FOR A
FUTURE ORDINANCE TO REQUIRE
ALL RESIDENTIAL RENTAL LEASES
TO INCLUDE CERTAIN STANDARD
TERMS.
THERE WILL BE SOME STANDARD
TERMS THAT SHOULD MAKEUP BASIC
RIGHTS AND RESPONSIBILITIES
FOR ALL RENTERS AND ALL
LANDLORDS.
IT WILL REQUIRE BROAD
COMMUNITY INPUT TO KNOW WHAT
LEASE TERMS SHOULD BE
CONSIDERED UNIVERSAL, TO THE
STATEMENT REQUEST THAT THE
DEPARTMENT AND RENTER
COMMISSION WORK ON MAKING
THOSE RECOMMENDATIONS.
>> THANK YOU COUNCIL MEMBER
SAWANT.
ANY QUESTIONS?
NOT SEEING ANY QUESTIONS.
I SEE COUNCIL MEMBERS HERBOLD
AND LEWIS JOINING WITH COUNCIL
MEMBER MORALES AND GONZALEZ
AND COSPONSORS.
THANK YOU VERY MUCH.
>> ALL RIGHT, MOVING ON TO
AGENDA ITEM NUMBER 36,
SDCI7A1.
THIS WOULD ADD $750,000 IN
GENERAL FUND TO SDCI FOR
EVICTION LEGAL DEFENSE
PARTNERSHIPS.
>> THANK YOU VERY MUCH.
COUNCIL MEMBER SAWANT?
>> THANK YOU.
AGAIN, THANK YOU TO COUNCIL
MEMBER MORALES AND COUNCIL
PRESIDENT GONZALEZ, AND I
BELIEVE ALSO COUNCIL MEMBERS
LEWIS AND HERBOLD WHO HAVE
AGREED TO COSPONSOR.
THIS BUDGET ACTION ADDS
$750,000 TO THE DEPARTMENT OF
CONSTRUCTION AND INSPECTIONS
TO CONTRACT WITH A RENTER
EVICTION DEFENSE ORGANIZATION
TO PROVIDE FREE LEGAL DEFENSE
FOR ANY RENTER FACING EVICTION
IN SEATTLE.
IF THE COUNCIL SUPPORTS THIS,
MY OFFICE WILL ALSO PROPOSE AN
ASSOCIATED ORDINANCE TO CREATE
THE RIGHT TO COUNSEL FOR ALL
FACING EVICTION IN SEATTLE.
THERE ARE ABOUT 1200 EVICTION
COURT FILINGS IN SEATTLE, NOT
COUNTING UNFILED EVICTIONS OR
EVICTION NOTICES.
THE HOUSING PROJECT ESTIMATES
$750,000 WOULD FUND AN
DECISIONAL 5 ATTORNEYS AND 2
PARALEGALS, AND ALSO IS VERY
EMPHATIC IN STATING THAT THIS
IS ABSOLUTELY NECESSARY, NOT
ONLY GIVEN THE PREVAILING
STATUS, BUT ALSO WHAT WE
EXPECT TO SEE ONCE THE
MORATORIUMS ARE LIFTED.
SO IT'S REALLY IMPORTANT THAT
RENTERS HAVE AN ATTORNEY WITH
THEM.
AND STUDIES HAVE SHOWN THAT
WILL BE A WAVE OF EVICTIONS
AFTER THE EMERGENCY ENDS AND
THE MORATORIUMS ARE LIFTED.
EVEN OUTSIDE OF THE PANDEMIC
ITSELF, THERE'S A RECESSION
WHICH HAS BEEN, UM,
UNFORTUNATELY EXACERBATED
BECAUSE OF THE PANDEMIC.
SO THE OVERALL NUMBER OF
TENANTS WHO WILL BE FACING
EVICTIONS IN THE NEAR FUTURE
IS GOING TO LIKELY EXPLODE.
A COUPLE OF YEARS AGO, THE
PEOPLE'S BUDGET MOVEMENT WON
THE FIRST FUNDING, AND THE
FOLLOWING YEAR WE WERE ABLE TO
INCREASE WITH COUNCIL SUPPORT
TO 2 EVICTION DEFENSE
ATTORNEYS.
THE HOUSING JUSTICE PROJECT
ESTIMATES A 56% OVERALLEST T
SUCCESS RATE SINCE 2019 IN
KEEPING TENANTS HOUSED.
UP FROM LESS THAN 24% TWO
YEARS AGO.
SO EVEN THESE SMALL
INVESTMENTS HAVE HAD A BIG
IMPACT.
AND ANYONE THAT'S BEEN A
RENTER KNOWS THAT MAKES ALL
THE DIFFERENCE.
NOT HAVING AN EVICTION ON YOUR
RECORD MAKES ALL THE
DIFFERENT.
THIS BUDGET AMENDMENT WOULD
PROVIDE FUNDING TO MAKE ACCESS
TO LEGAL REPRESENTATION A
RIGHT FOR ANY RENTER FACING
EVICTION IN SEATTLE, BUT OF
COURSE WE NEED TO FOLLOW IT UP
BY AN ORDINANCE TO CREATE THE
RIGHT TO COUNSEL FOR ALL
RENTERS FACING EVICTION.
>> THANK YOU VERY MUCH COUNCIL
MEMBER SAWANT.
ANY OTHER QUESTIONS?
I HAVE A QUESTION ABOUT THE
SEQUENCING.
BECAUSE YOU FUNDED OR
CHAMPIONED AND THE COUNCIL
FUNDED POSITIONS IN THE PAST
THAT DIDN'T REQUIRE THAT
LEGISLATION, CAN YOU TALK
ABOUT WHAT THE DIFFERENCE IS
BETWEEN EITHER ADDING
ATTORNEYS TO THIS POSITION OR
POLICY CHANGES YOU'RE SEEKING
THROUGH LEGISLATION?
>> UM, I THINK THEY, UM, I
WOULD SAY THEY ARE BOTH
NECESSARY PIECES MEANING THE
FUNDING FOR THE EVICTION
DEFENSE TTORNEYS IS
ABSOLUTELY CRUCIAL BECAUSE
WITHOUT THAT FUNDING THEY
WOULDN'T HAVE THE POSITIONS.
SO JUST HAVING THE FUNDING
MAKES A DIFFERENCE.
AND I'M NOT SURE, I MEAN, IT'S
HARD TO PREDICT HOW MANY
RENTERS WILL BE, WILL BE IN
THE UNFORTUNATE POSITION OF
HAVING TO SEEK THIS KIND OF
ASSISTANCE, BUT WE DEVELOPED
THIS DOLLAR FIGURE ESTIMATE
BASED ON WHAT THE HOUSING AND
JUSTICE PROJECT ADVISED US, SO
IN THAT SENSE, THIS BUDGET
ITEM WOULD BE THE FUNDING TO
MAKE THIS POSSIBLE, BUT WE
ALSO WANT TO ENCODE IT IN THE
LAW THAT IF YOU ARE A RENTER
FACING EVICTION IN SEATTLE,
THEN BY LAW YOU HAVE THE RIGHT
TO A LEGAL DEFENSE.
>> THANK YOU FOR THAT
CLARIFICATION.
ALSO, JUST FOR CENTRAL STAFF,
CAN YOU REMIND US AS WELL, WE
DO HAVE SOME FUNDING THAT WE
HAVE AS A COUNCIL CHAMPIONED
FOR 2021 THROUGH THE JUMP
START PAYROLL TAX I THINK TO
THE TUNE OF $8 MILLION, IS
THAT CORRECT?
>> I DON'T KNOW.
PERHAPS IF ALY IS ON THE LINE,
SHE CAN CHIME IN.
I CAN TELL YOU WHAT WAS
APPROPRIATED LAST YEAR, WHICH
DOESN'T ANSWER YOUR QUESTION,
BUT THAT WAS $230,000.
BUT THAT'S SOME ADDITIONAL
CONTEXT.
I'M NOT SEEING ALY --
>> I'M HERE.
SORRY.
THAT'S RIGHT, SOME OF THAT IS
FOR THE HOME BASE PROGRAM THAT
HAS EXPANDED IN COVID AND
EVERYTHING, SO IT'S NOT FOR
EVICTION LEGAL DEFENSE,
HOWEVER IT'S A GOOD
PARTNERSHIP BETWEEN THE
ATTORNEYS THAT WORK WITH THE
HOUSING JUSTICE PROJECT AND
OTHER THINGS TO HAVE A
RESOURCE AVAILABLE TO HELP,
UM, CURE EVICTIONS IF THERE
ARE FUNDS AVAILABLE SO THE TWO
INVESTMENTS WOULD WORK HAND IN
HAND.
WITH YOU THOSE FUND IN THE
JUMP START WERE TO THE HUMAN
SERVICES DEPARTMENT FOR RENTAL
ASSISTANCE AND HOMELESS
SERVICES, WHICH DOESN'T
TYPICALLY INCLUDE FUNDING FOR
THE EVICTION LEGAL DEFENSE.
>> THAT'S VERY HELPFUL.
THANK YOU VERY MUCH.
OKAY.
THANK YOU VERY MUCH.
LET ME JUST SUMMARIZE THAT.
WE HAD ONE ADDITIONAL COUNCIL
MEMBER LEWIS.
SO THANK YOU VERY MUCH.
LAST THREE.
COUNCIL MEMBER PEDERSON.
>> WE HAVE ONE MORE HERE FROM
COUNCIL MEMBER SAWANT.
>> SORRY, I KEEP BEING ONE
LINE OFF IN MY SPREAD SHEET.
>> SDCI8A1.
IT WOULD ADD $500,000 FOR
OUTREACH, EDUCATION, AND
ORGANIZING.
COUNCIL MEMBER SAWANT IS THE
PRIME IT WILL SPONSOR.
>> ALL RIGHT, COUNCIL MEMBER
SAWANT.
SORRY TO CUT YOU OFF THERE.
LET'S DO YOUR LAST ONE.
>> NO PROBLEM.
AND THANK YOU TO COUNCIL
MEMBERS MORALES AND LEWIS FOR
COSPONSORING.
AS I MENTIONED, WHEN WE JUST
DISCUSSED THE PREVIOUS ITEM ON
TODAY'S BUDGET, IT'S A BUDGET
AMENDMENT TO INCREASE FUNDING
FOR RENTER'S RIGHTS
ORGANIZATIONS.
ORGANIZATIONS LIKE THE TENANTS
UNIT OF WASHINGTON STATE DO
INCREDIBLY IMPORTANT WORK TO
HELP EDUCATE RENTERS ABOUT
THEIR RIGHTS AND ORGANIZE
BUILDINGS TO BARGAIN
COLLECTIVELY AGAINST LANDLORDS
WHO MIGHT BE EXPLOITED OR EVEN
ABUSIVE.
THEY DO HEROIC WORK WITH
CHRONICALLY INSUFFICIENT
RESOURCES, AS WE KNOW, AND
GIVEN THE DELUGE OF EVICTIONS
EXPECTED OVER THE NEXT YEAR IN
SEATTLE, AND THIS IS GOING TO
BE A NATIONWIDE PROBLEM, IT'S
ESSENTIAL THE CITY INCREASE
FUNDING TO THESE COMMUNITY
ORGANIZATIONS.
HALF OF SEATTLE IS RENTING,
AND THE FUNDING AVAILABLE TO
SUPPORT THEM IS SHOCKINGLY
LIMITED.
AND EVEN WITH SUCH LIMITED
RESOURCES, THESE ORGANIZATIONS
HAVE HAD A SIGNIFICANT IMPACT.
MY OFFICE HAS BEEN PROUD OVER
THE LAST TWO YEARS TO JOIN THE
SEATTLE RIGHTS GOOD CAMS WHERE
RENTERS FROM ACROSS THE CITY
SEE POSTERS IN THEIR
NEIGHBORHOOD AND COME TO HAVE
THEIR QUESTIONS ANSWERED AND
GET SUPPORT IN HOUSING
SITUATIONS.
AND WE WERE ALSO PROUD TO JOIN
THE WASHINGTON HOUSING
COMMUNITY ACTION NETWORK SOME
YEARS AGO IN SUCCESSFULLY
FIGHTING TO LIMIT RENTER
MOVEMENT FEE, AND WE HAVE
AGAIN AND AGAIN WORKED WITH
THE TENANT UNION TO HELP
REPRESENTERS WHOSE RIGHTS HAVE
BEEN VIOLATED.
AGAIN AND AGAIN RENTERS HAVE
CALLED MY OFFICE, AND WE GET
THEM IN TOUCH WITH ORGANIZERS
AND THE TENANT'S UNIT ALONG
WITH THE RENTERS RIGHTS
ENFORCEMENT STAFF.
THERE'S NO QUESTION THESE
ORGANIZATIONS ARE OVERWORKED,
AND I HOPE ALL COUNCIL MEMBERS
COSPONSOR THIS SMALL INCREASE
IN THEIR FUNDING.
>> THANK YOU.
ADDITIONAL COMMENTS ON THIS
ONE?
THANK YOU SO MUCH.
I SEE COUNCIL MEMBER MORALES
AND LEWIS SIGNED ON AS
COSPONSORS.
I THINK WE'RE TO OUR LAST AND
FINAL CATEGORY.
THE LONG AWAITED LAST THREE
FROM COUNCIL MEMBER PEDERSON.
SORRY, Y'ALL.
LET'S GO THROUGH THOSE.
COUNCIL MEMBER, WALK US
THROUGH THIS.
>> YES, THE LAST ACTION IS
SDCI9A1 ADDING $250,000 IN
GENERAL FUND TO DEVELOP AND
IMPLEMENT A DATA AND
MONITORING CENTER TO TRACK
ECONOMIC AND PHYSICAL
DISPLACEMENT.
THE ACTION IS CONTEMPLATED BY
THE COMPANION RESOLUTION TO
THE CITY WIDE MHA BILL.
COUNCIL MEMBER PEDERSON IS THE
PRIMARY SPONSOR AND COUNCIL
MEMBERS HERBOLD AND MORALES
ARE COSPONSORS.
>> THANK YOU, IT'S REALLY
REFRESHING TO FIND THIS COMMON
GROUND THAT WE HAVE ON
DISPLACEMENT ISSUES.
WE DISCUSSED THIS DURING ISSUE
IDENTIFICATION.
I KNOW WE SUPPORT CREATING
MORE AFFORDABLE HOUSING
THROUGHOUT SEATTLE, AND IN
ADDITION TO SUPPORTING NEW
CONSTRUCTION, WE ALSO WANT TO
ENSURE A NET GAIN, SO WE NEED
TO TRACK AND MEASURE
AFFORDABLE HOUSING.
WHEN MOVING AHEAD WITH NEW
CONSTRUCTION PROJECTS, WE WANT
TO ENSURE WE HAVE A DETAILED
AND ACCURATE SYSTEM TO PACK
THE POTENTIAL LOSS OR
DEMOLITION OF EXISTING NATURAL
OCCURRING AFFORDABLE HOUSING
AND.
THIS ENABLES US TO BETTER
QUANTIFY AND MITIGATE OUR NEW
AND EXISTING STOCK OF
AFFORDABLE HOUSING.
SO THIS ASKS THE CITY
EXECUTIVE TO CREATE DATA AND
REPORT US TO ON THE STATUS AND
TREND OF INCOME HOUSEHOLDS.
THIS NEEDS TO INCLUDE RENT
LEVELS AND THE SUPPLY OF
AFFORDABLE HOUSING.
WE NEED TO BETTER UNDERSTAND
THE NET IMPACTS.
THESE FUNDS ARE NEEDED TO SET
UP THE SYSTEM TO COLLECT THE
DETAILED HOUSING DATA TO
INSURE WE ACHIEVE THE GOALS OF
MORE LOW INCOME HOUSING, MORE
INTEGRATION IN OUR
NEIGHBORHOODS, AND LESS
DISPLACEMENT OF SEATTLE
RESIDENTS.
THANK YOU.
>> THANK YOU COUNCIL MEMBER
PEDERSON.
QUESTIONS OR COMMENTS?
OKAY, I'M SEEING NO QUESTIONS
OR COMMENTS.
THANK YOU VERY MUCH.
LET'S GO TO THE NEXT ONE.
>> THE NEXT ACTION IS
SDCI10A1, A STATEMENT OF
LEGISLATIVE INTENT SPONSORED
BY COUNCIL MEMBER PEDERSON,
COSPONSORED BY HERBOLD AND
LEWIS.
THIS REQUESTS THAT SDCI AND
THE OFFICE REPORT TO THE
COUNCIL OF LAND USE AND
NEIGHBORHOODS COMMITTEE ON
PAYMENT VERSUS PERFORMANCE
UNDER THE MANDATORY HOUSING
AFFORDABILITY PROGRAM AS THE
COUNCILMEMBERS WILL RECALL,
WHEN THE COUNCIL ADOPTED THE
FRAMEWORK FOR THE MANDATORY
HOUSING AFFORDABILITY PROGRAM
THROUGH THE ORDINANCE, THE
COUNCIL INTENDED IN AREAS
OUTSIDE OF DOWNTOWN AND SOUTH
LAKE UNION, DEVELOPERS SHOULD
BE INDIFFERENT FOR LARGER
SIZED PROJECTS AS TO PAYMENT
AND PERFORMANCE, SO THIS IS A
REPORT TO HELP QUANTIFY HOW
DEPARTMENT OF WATER AND
POWERRERS ARE MAKING THE
CHOICES SINCE THE PROGRAM WAS
IMPLEMENTED.
>> THANK YOU.
COUNCIL MEMBER PEDERSON?
>> THANK YOU, CHAIR AND THANK
YOU TO MY COSPONSORS.
THE FRAMEWORK FOR THE
MANDATORY HOUSING AFFORDABLE
PROGRAM REQUIRES REAL ESTATE
DEVELOPERS TO INCLUDE HOUSING
FOR LOW INCOME HOUSEHOLDS IN
THE HOUSING PROJECTS OR TO PAY
A FEE IN LIEU OF PERFORMANCE
TO THE CITY OFFICE OF HOUSING
TO CONTRIBUTE TO THE
CONSTRUCTION OF AFFORDABLE
HOUSING.
THAT ORDINANCE SETS POLICY ON
THE BALANCE OF ON SITE
PERFORMANCE AND PAYMENT IN
LIEU AS FOLLOWS.
THE COUNCIL WILL CONSIDER
RAISING PAYMENT AMOUNTS TO
PREVENT A BIAS TOWARD PAYMENT.
WE WANT A 50/50 BALANCE ON
SITE RIGHT NOW VERSUS WRITING
A CHECK AND BUILDING IT LATER.
BUILDING THE AFFORDABLE
HOUSING ON SITE INPUTS SOCIAL
JUSTICE PRINCIPLES SUCH AS
BUILDINGS IT IMMEDIATELY,
INSTEAD OF YEARS LATER, AND
INTEGRATING THE AFFORDABLE
HOUSING WITHIN EACH
NEIGHBORHOOD INSTEAD OF
CONCENTRATING IT ELSEWHERE.
WHILE THE CURRENT STATUS IS
REPORTED ANNUALLY BY THE
OFFICE OF HOUSING, WE SHOULD
SEE THE DATA MORE FREQUENTLY
AND COMBINE IT WITH THE
INFORMATION FROM THE SEATTLE
DEPARTMENT OF CONSTRUCTION AND
INSPECTION BECAUSE DEVELOPERS
INDICATE THEIR CHOICE WHEN
THEYAPPLY FOR PERMITS.
THIS REQUESTS WE PRODUCE THE
DATA TOGETHER AND MORE
FREQUENTLY SO WE CAN REALLY
KNOW IF WE'RE MEETING THE GOAL
OF THE 50/50 BALANCE.
THANK YOU.
>> ADDITIONAL COMMENTS OR
QUESTIONS?
I'M SEEING NONE.
YOU DID SPEAK TO THIS, COUNCIL
MEMBER PEDERSON.
YOU MENTIONED THE INFORMATION
IS ALREADY BEING GENERATED IN
THE MHA ANNUAL REPORT.
BASICALLY YOU'D LIKE TO SEE
THAT QUARTERLY?
>> YES, AND THEN MAKING SURE
IT'S COMBINED WITH THE SDCI
INFORMATION.
>> OKAY.
AND WHAT EFFECT WOULD THIS
HAVE IN ADDITION TO THE REPORT
THAT WE'RE ALREADY RECEIVING?
YOU WOULD BASICALLY USE IT TO
INFORM POSSIBLE POLICY
POSITIONS ON AN ANNUAL BASIS?
>> IF THE GOAL IS 50/50, WE
NEED TO KNOW FOR SURE IF WE'RE
ACHIEVING 50/ 50, AND IT'S
POSSIBLE TO CONSIDER UPDATING
THE POLICIES TO GET BACK TO
THE 50/50 IF WE'RE NOT
ACHIEVING IT.
BUT THE INITIAL THING IS JUST
GETTING THE REPORT THAT'S
COMBINED AND MORE FREQUENT.
>> OKAY.
THANK YOU SO MUCH.
I DON'T SEE ADDITIONAL
QUESTIONS ON THIS.
I MAY HAVE SOME FOLLOW UP
QUESTIONS ON THE SORT OF
DESIRED GOAL FOR THIS REPORT,
AND THEN ALSO ON THE PREVIOUS
ONE, THERE'S A LOT OF
DIFFERENT WAYS TO DEFINE
DISPLACEMENT.
ECONOMIC DISPLACEMENT,
CULTURAL DISPLACEMENT,
PHYSICAL DISPLACEMENT, AND
WOULD LIKE TO MAKE SURE WE'RE
LOOKING AT THE ROLE THAT
DEVELOPMENT IS HAVING AND NOT
JUST USING DISPLACEMENT AS ONE
BLANKET TERM.
I'LL FOLLOW UP WITH YOU ON
THOSE ITEMS.
AND I DON'T KNOW IF YOU HAD
ANY THOUGHTS ABOUT A CERTAIN
TYPE OF DISPLACEMENT BEING
EVALUATED.
>> WHAT I UNDERSTAND THE
PROPOSAL WOULD BE USING
INFORMATION THAT, UM,
PARTICIPANTS IN THE RENTAL
REGISTRATION PROGRAM WOULD
PROVIDE, SO IF THAT SENSE THAT
WOULD ALLOW THE CITY TO GET
DISAGGREGATED INFORMATION
ABOUT CURRENT RENTS.
THEY'D PROBABLY NEED TO BE
AGGREGATED FOR THE PURPOSES OF
REPORTING, BUT WOULD PROVIDE A
LEVEL OF INFORMATION THAT THE
CITY DOESN'T CURRENTLY HAVE
ABOUT RENTS BY BUILDING.
>> VERY HELPFUL.
OKAY, NO DECISIONAL QUESTIONS?
COSPONSORS HERBOLD AND LEWIS
AND SAWANT AS WELL.
>>> OKAY.
ANY OTHER AMENDMENTS TODAY?
ONE MORE.
LET'S DO THIS LAST ONE.
>> THE FINAL ACTION AFTER
DISCUSSION TODAY IS SDCI11A1.
THIS IS SPONSORED BY COUNCIL
MEMBER PEDERSON WITH
COSPONSORS IN COUNCIL MEMBERS
HERBOLD AND LEWIS.
THIS WOULD PROVISO $758,000
FOR THE GOVERNMENT POLICY
SAFETY AND SUPPORT BUDGET
CONTROL LEVEL AT SDCI.
THAT'S THE BUDGET CONTROL
LEVEL THAT FUNDS CODEVELOPMENT
WORK AND CONSTRUCTION
CODEVELOPMENT WORK THAT.
PROVISO WOULD BE AUTOMATICALLY
RELEASED WHEN AN ORDINANCE
MEETING CONTEMPLATED BY 39102
FOR UPDATED TREE PROTECTION
REGULATIONS.
SO IT WOULD BE RELEASED WHEN
THAT ORDINANCE IS TRANSMITTED
TO THE COUNCIL.
>> EXCELLENT.
COUNCIL MEMBER PEDERSON.
>> THANK YOU.
AS WE KNOW, THE CITY COUNCIL'S
BEEN TRYING TO WORK WITH THE
EXECUTIVE TO UPDATE AND
STRENGTHEN THE CITY'S TREE
ORDINANCE FOR AWHILE NOW, AND
THIS IS TO IMPROVEMENT QUALITY
OF LIFE.
IT'S FOR ENVIRONMENTAL JUSTICE
REASONS.
THE COUNCIL ADOPTED RESOLUTION
31902 IN 2019 TO ACHIEVE THIS
RESULT IN 2020.
DUE TO A VARIETY OF
CIRCUMSTANCES WE DON'T HAVE
THAT NEW TREE ORDINANCE YET.
THIS PROVISO WOULD STRONGLY
ENCOURAGE SDCI TO PRIORITIZE
THEIR WORK IN 2021, AND WE
NEED THE EXECUTIVE TO COMPLY
WITH THE RESOLUTION AND NEED A
STRONGER TREE ORDINANCE TO
PROTECT THE URBAN FORESTRY
CANOPY.
HAPPY TO ANSWER QUESTIONS
ABOUT THIS.
>> QUESTIONS, COLLEAGUES?
COUNCIL MEMBER STRAUSS.
>> THANK YOU, CHAIR AND
COUNCIL MEMBER PEDERSON FOR
YOUR CONTINUED DEDICATION TO
TREE PROTECTION WORK.
AS THE LAND USE AND
NEIGHBORHOODS COMMUNITY CHAIR
AND EVEN ACTUALLY BEFORE I
CAME TO BEING A COUNCIL
MEMBER, I HELPED DRAFT THE
RESOLUTION YOU JUST
REFERENCED.
AND SINCE TAKING OFFICE, I'VE
BEEN WORKING WITH YOU AND SDCI
TO MOVE THAT ORDINANCE AND
OTHER DIRECTOR RULES FORWARD.
MAINTAINING A COLLABORATIVE
RELATIONSHIP WITH THE
DEPARTMENT WE'RE WORKING WITH
IS QUITE IMPORTANT TO ME, AND
MAYBE THAT'S PARTLY DUE TO THE
FACT THAT I AM CHAIRING THAT
COMMITTEE.
AND AS YOU MAY HAVE KNOWN, AND
AS I SHARED WITH YOU, I HAD A
SIMILAR FORM A THAT WOULD
PROVISO WORK WITHIN SDCI TO
FOCUS ON COUNCIL DRIVEN
ACTIONS.
THIS IS A BUDGET PROVISO
THAT'S BEEN IN PLACE IN YEARS
PAST.
SO I PUT THAT FORM A FORWARD,
AND YOU MAY NOTICE THAT ON THE
COUNCIL BRIEFING MONDAY
OCTOBER 12th, I STATED THAT
I HAD 14 FORM AS, AND BY THE
TIME THE AGENDAS WERE
PUBLISHED, I ONLY BROUGHT
FORWARD 14, AND THAT'S BECAUSE
THIS WAS ESSENTIALLY THAT
14th PROVISO.
I'VE BEEN ASSURED THAT THE
WORK WILL BE COMPLETED, AND IF
IT'S NOT COMPLETED, WE CAN PUT
THIS PROVISO IN PLACE DURING A
QUARTERLY SUPPLEMENTAL BUDGET.
SO AT THIS TIME I HAVE GREAT
CONCERNS WITH THIS PROVISO,
SIMPLY BECAUSE I'M LOOKING TO
RETAIN THAT POSITIVE WORKING
RELATIONSHIP WITH THE
DEPARTMENT, AND I'M CONCERNED
THIS PROVISO COULD SET BACK
THE WORK RATHER THAN MOVE IT
FORWARD.
AS ALWAYS, I AM DEDICATED TO
CONTINUING TO WORK WITH YOU ON
THIS, AND SHOULD THIS PROVISO
BE NEEDED IN THE FUTURE, I
KNOW THAT WE HAVE QUARTERLY
OPPORTUNITIES TO PUT ONE.
THANK YOU.
>> THANK YOU COUNCIL MEMBER
STRAUSS.
ANY ADDITIONAL COMMENTS?
SEEING NONE, THANK YOU FOR
THAT BACKGROUND.
ALSO COUNCIL MEMBER STRAUSS
AND THE WALK THROUGH OF THIS.
>>> OKAY, HAVE WE REACHED THE
END OF THE LIST NOW?
>> YES.
>> THANK YOU VERY MUCH FOR
BEARING WITH ME.
SORRY I WAS ONE LINE AHEAD A
FEW TIMES THERE TOWARDS THE
END OF THE DAY.
I KNOW IT'S BEEN A LONG DAY
FOR EVERYONE, AND THERE'S ONE
MORE LONG DAY COMING.
I HOPE YOU GET A LOT OF REST
TONIGHT AND EAT A GREAT
BREAKFAST BECAUSE TOMORROW IS
SCHEDULED TO BE A RELATIVELY
LONG DAY IN COMPARISON.
ALY, WOULD YOU SAY THAT'S
ACCURATE IN THE PREVIEW FOR
TOMORROW?
>> YES, TOMORROW YOU'LL HEAR
PRESENTATION OF PROPOSALS
RELATED TO THE DEPARTMENT OF
TRANSPORTATION, THE
HOMELESSNESS RESPONSE, AND THE
SEATTLE FIRE DEPARTMENT AND
RELATED DEPARTMENTS LIKE THE
PROPOSAL TO MOVE THE
DEPARTMENT ENFORCEMENT
OFFICERS OUT OF SPD AND OTHER
RELATED FUNCTIONS.
SO THERE'S ABOUT 50 OR SO
PROPOSALS, THAT'S THE MOST.
SO I EXPECT BOTH BY TOPIC AND
THE NUMBERS, IT COULD BE A
LONGER DAY.
BUT YOU'RE ALL MOVING THROUGH
THEM RELATIVELY QUICKLY, SO
THANK YOU FOR THAT.
>> ABSOLUTELY.
I'LL ECHO THE THANK YOU, AND
THANK YOU TO CENTRAL STAFF AND
OUR COMES, IT, CLERKS TEAMS,
INDIVIDUAL OFFICES AS WELL.
WE'LL GET YOU OUT OF HERE
ABOUT TWO HOURS EARLY AND PLAN
TO SEE YOU TOMORROW AT
9:30 A.M.
FOR OUR FINAL
MEETING TO WALK THROUGH FORM
BS ON OCTOBER 30th, 2020.
FRIDAY.
PUBLIC SIGN UP OPPORTUNITIES
STARTS AT 7:30, SO WE'LL GIVE
30 MINUTES AGAIN AT THE TOP OF
THE AGENDA.
AND BEFORE WE CLOSE OUT, I
WANT TO GIVE ANYBODY WHO
DIDN'T GET A CHANCE TO
PHYSICALLY RAISE THEIR HAND TO
VIRTUALLY RAISE THEIR HAND OR
SPEAK UP DURING THE COSIGNING
PERIOD TO LET US KNOW IF YOU
WANT TO COSPONSOR ANY OF THE
AMENDMENTS.
EXCELLENT.
DID A GOOD JOB TODAY FOLKS.
ENJOY THE REST OF YOUR
EVENING.
SEE YOU TOMORROW AT 9:30.
THIS MEETING IS ADJOURNED.
THANK YOU, ALL.