>>> THANK YOU.
GOOD MORNING.
THE APRIL 26th 2022 MEETING OF
THE PUBLIC SAFETY AND HUMAN
SERVICES COMMITTEE WILL COME TO
ORDER.
IT'S 9:31 A.M.
I'M LISA HERBOLD.
WILL THE CLERK PLEASE CALL THE
ROLL?
>> CHAIR LEWIS?
>> HERE.
>> COUNCILMEMBER MOSQUEDA.
>> PRESENT.
>> COUNCILMEMBER NELSON.
>> PRESENT.
>> COUNCILMEMBER PEDERSEN.
>> PRESENT.
>> CHAIR HERBOLD?
>> HERE.
>> FIVE PRESENT.
THANK
YOU.
>> THANK YOU SO MUCH.
WE WILL HEAR FIVE ITEMS.
THE FIRST WILL BE AN
APPOINTMENT BY THE POLICE
COMMISSION REFERRED TO FULL
COUNCIL AND A VOTE SCHEDULED
FOR NEXT WEEK'S MEETING.
THIS IS A COUNCIL APPOINTMENT
BUT ONE RECOMMENDED FOR
CONSIDERATION BY THE POLICE
COMMISSION.
AGAIN, WE ARE NOT VOTING TODAY.
THIS IS REFERRED DIRECTLY TO
FULL COUNCIL.
WE WILL VOTE ON THAT NEXT WEEK
BUT WE WANTED A CHANCE TO HEAR
FROM THE APPLICANT.
WE WILL HEAR A PRESENTATION ON
THE CITY ATTORNEY'S OFFICE,
AND WE'LL BE HEARING A
QUARTERLY REPORT ON THE SEATTLE
POLICE DEPARTMENT'S STAFFING
AND RESOLUTION OF 320050 FOR
POLICE HIRING AND A COUNCIL
BILL THAT I WILL BE INTRODUCING
TO THE DEPARTMENT OF HUMAN
RESOURCES TO AMEND PERSONNEL
RULES TO INCLUDE HIRING
LIMITED TO SPD TO PAY FOR NOT
MOVING EXPENSES FOR NEW HIRES
AND LIFT THE PROVISO TO ALLOW
FOR THE MOVING EXPENSES TO BE
FUNDED FOR POLICE OFFICERS,
OTHER EMPLOYEES AND HIRE
ADDITIONAL RECRUITERS, NEXT UP,
WE WOULD HEAR THE SEATTLE
POLICE DEPARTMENT'S
PRESENTATION ON THE GENDER-
BASED VIOLENCE INVESTMENTS,
AND FINALLY A BRIEFING ON THE
LEGISLATION WALKING THE STAFF
THROUGH A MEMO INCLUDING STWIF
SEPARATE ISSUE AREAS, AND THIS
ITEM IS ON THE AGENDA FOR
PRESENTATION ONLY.
DISCUSSION TIME IS LIMITED.
NO VOTES WILL BE TAKEN.
WE'LL MOVE TOWARDS APPROVING
OUR AGENDA FOR THE MEETING.
WITH NO OBJECTIONS, TODAY'S
AGENDA WILL BE ADOPTED.
HEARING NO OBJECTIONS, THE
AGENDA WILL BE ADOPTED.
I WILL MONITOR THE PUBLIC
COMMENTS IN THE FOLLOWING
MANNER.
BECAUSE OF THE NUMBER OF
SPEAKERS, EACH MINUTE WILL BE
GIVEN ONE MINUTE TO SPEAK.
I WILL CALL A SPEAKER BY NAME
IN THE ORDER THAT THEY HAVE
REGISTERED ON THE COUNCIL'S
WEBSITE.
IF YOU WOULD LIKE TO REGISTER
BUT NO NOT DONE SO YOU CAN DO
TO THE COUNCIL'S WEBSITE UNDER
AGENDA.
I WILL CALL A SPEAKER'S NAME
AND YOU WILL HEAR A PROMPT.
YOU NEED TO HIT STAR SIX AND
STATE YOUR NAME AND THE ITEM
YOU ARE ADDRESSING.
THE SPEAKERS WILL HEAR A CHIME.
ONCE THE SPEAKER HEARS THAT
CHIME, WE ASK THAT YOU WRAP UP
YOUR PUBLIC COMMENT.
IF YOU DO NOT WRAP UP YOUR
COMMENT, THE SPEAKER'S MIC WILL
BE MUTED TO ALLOW US TO HEAR
FROM THE NEXT SPEAKER.
ONCE YOU HAVE COMPLETED THE
COMMENT, WE ASK THAT YOU
DISCONNECT FROM THE LINE AND
YOU CAN FOLLOW THE MEETING ON
THE SEATTLE CHANNEL.
AND WITH THAT, AS MENTIONED, I
WILL BE CALLING ON SPEAKERS TWO
AT A TIME.
OUR FIRST SPEAKER IS LAKISHA
FOLLOWED BY HOWARD.
WELCOME.
>> MY NAME IS LAKISHA FARMER.
I AM THE PUBLIC SERVICES
DIRECTOR FOR WORKING
WASHINGTON.
THIS PROCESS HAS TAKEN OVER TWO
YEARS AND THERE IS SO MUCH TO
SAY BUT SINCE I ONLY HAVE A
MINUTE I NEED TO CUT TO THE
CHASE.
WE NEED THE POLICY TO BRING UP
THE LARGELY BLACK AND BROWN
WORKFORCE.
MARGINALIZED WORKERS DEPEND ON
BASIC PROTECTION AND SMALL
BUSINESSES DESERVE TO NOT BE
MISTREATED AND PEOPLE WHO
DEPEND ON THESE DESERVE
ACCESSIBLE RESOURCES.
THIS CAN ONLY HAPPEN WITH LARGE
CORPORATIONS USE THEIR PROFITS
WISELY LIKE WE ARE ALL
REQUIRED, AND IN CASE YOU'RE
WONDERING, EVERYONE DESERVES
THIS RIGHT.
OUR REGION IS TO MOVE FORWARD
FOR STRONGER WAGES FOR GIG
WORKERS.
>> THANK YOU, AND HOWARD IS
OUR NEXT SPEAKER.
HOWARD?
>> GOOD MORNING.
HOWARD DALE COMMENTING ON OUR
FAILED POLICE SYSTEM.
FRIDAY THIS WEEK WILL MARK THE
SECOND ANNIVERSARY OF AN SPD
KILLING, SHOT TO DEATH BY THE
SPD HOLDING HIS INFANT DAUGHTER
AND THE NEXT FEW WEEKS WILL
MARK THE THIRD ANNIVERSARY OF
THE KILLING OF RYAN SMITH, AND
THE SECOND ANNIVERSARY OF BARRY
PAVER, BOTH BLACK MEN
EXPERIENCING A MENTAL HEALTH
CRISIS WHILE WIELDING A KNIFE
AND BOTH KILLED WITHIN SECONDS
OF THE POLICE CONFRONTING THEM
AND RULED IMPROPER BY THE
POLICE ACCOUNTABILITY SYSTEM.
YET INSTEAD OF DISCUSSING HOW
TO MAKE POLICE MORE
ACCOUNTABLE, THIS COMMITTEE
WILL TALK ABOUT HOW TO
INCENTIVIZE POLICE TO OPERATE.
I CONGRATULATE THE SEATTLE
HUMAN RIGHTS BY VOTING
OVERWHELMINGLY TO REACH STATUS
IN THE COURTS THAT HAS GONE FOR
YEARS AND FAILED TO BRING
POLICING TO SEATTLE.
>> THANK YOU.
NEXT IS PETER.
>> GOOD MORNING.
THIS IS PETER CONDIT.
I AM CALLING ON THE COUNCIL ON,
AND PD BONUSES.
I MYSELF WAS ATTACKED BY THE
SPD THIS YEAR.
THE CITY DID NOT PROVIDE AN
INTERPRETER, AND DOES NOT HAVE
ADEQUATE SHELTER.
SO A FEW NEIGHBORS AND I STOOD
IN THE WAY, AND THE COMMANDING
OFFICER WAS VISIBLY UPSET AND
ESCALATED HIS THREATS.
ANOTHER OFFICER SHOVED ME TO
THE GROUND AND I GOT UP, AND
OTHER PEOPLE WERE ASSAULTED
TOO.
THEY COULD NOT DEESCALATE
BECAUSE THE MAYOR AND THOSE OF
YOU LISTENING RIGHT NOW WOULD
HAVE HAD TO TRULY COMMIT TO A
COMPASSION PLAN.
AND YOU WILL CONTINUE TO BE
COMPLICIT IN THE VIOLENCE IF
YOU CONTINUE TO GIVE COPS MORE
CASH.
>> THANK YOU.
OUR NEXT SPEAKER, CARMEN
FIGUEROA FOLLOWED BY ANNA
POWELL.
CARMEN?
>> HELLO.
I AM CARMEN FIGUEROA, AND THE
INDUSTRY EXECUTIVES AND
SHAREHOLDERS HAVE MADE MILLIONS
IN PERSONAL PROFIT OFF OF MY
LABOR AND HAVE NO INTENTION OF
INVESTING IN ME OR ANY OF THEIR
WORKERS.
THERE ARE LOBBYISTS, SOME OF
WHICH YOU WILL HEAR FROM IN
THIS FORUM, WILL MAKE
OUTLANDISH CLAIMS WHY GIG
WORKERS SHOULD BE PAID, AND
THEY WILL DEMAND TO DELAY
EQUITY WITH STUDIES AND ASK
CLEVERLY WORDED QUESTIONS TO
PIT MINORITY SMALL BUSINESSES
AGAINST GIG WORKERS OF COLOR.
THE APPS HAVE COPIOUS AMOUNTS
OF DATA THAT THEY CONTINUOUSLY
ANALYZE.
RATHER THAN EXPAND PAY MODEL
MAKING SOCIAL ECONOMIC EQUALITY
POSSIBLE FOR GIG WORKERS, THEY
COLLAPSE THE DATA AND TRANSFER
MORE PROFITS FOR THEMSELVES.
>> THANK YOU.
OUR NEXT SPEAKER IS ANNA POWELL
FOLLOWED BY DAVE GILMORE.
>> HI.
iNAME IS ANNA POWELL.
I AM THE MANAGER OF GOVERNMENT
RELATIONS FOR DOORDASH.
WE FEEL STRONGLY THAT THE
LEGISLATION NEEDS MORE WORK AND
BETTER CONSIDERATION TO BETTER
UNDERSTAND THE IMPACT BEFORE
IT'S PASSED.
DESPITE A YEAR OF MEETINGS
THERE WAS NO ATTEMPTS TO
UNDERSTAND THE IMPACT OF THIS
LEGISLATION.
DOORDASH HOWEVER, ESTIMATES
THAT YOU CAN EXPECT COST
INCREASE FOR CONSUMERS
INCLUDING IN LOWER INCOME
COMMUNITIES WHERE 30% ARE
DELIVERIES.
DOORDASH IS NOT OPPOSED TO AN
EARNING STANDARD AND HAS, IN
FACT, SUPPORTED THEM IN OTHER
PARTS OF THE COUNTRY.
HOWEVER, THIS EARNING STANDARD
CALCULATED AT 200% OF SEATTLE'S
MINIMUM WAGE USING A TYPICAL
DOORDASH IN SEATTLE IS TOO
HIGH.
WE WOULD BE HAPPY TO CONTINUE
TO DISCUSS THE WAGES.
THANK YOU.
>> THANK YOU, ANNA.
DAVE GILMORE WILL BE FOLLOWED
BY DJ.
DAVE?
>> I AM CO-FOUNDER OF OPTIMISM
COMPANY IN SEATTLE.
I AM HERE TO SUPPORT MOVING
FORWARD ON THE PAY OUT POLICY,
AND A MEMBER OF THE LABOR
STANDARDS ADVISORY COMMISSION,
WE HAVE IDENTIFIED THIS AS A
PRIORITY TO ADVANCING WORKER
RIGHTS AND SENT A LETTER TO THE
MAYOR AND COUNCIL ADVISING THE
SAME.
WE REPRESENT BOTH WORKERS AND
BUSINESSES AND THE COMMUNITY AT
LARGE BUT I'M HERE AS A
BUSINESS OWNER TODAY.
I VALUE FAIR TREATMENT FOR MY
EMPLOYEES.
WE BELIEVE THAT BUSINESSES
SHOULD BE RESPONSIBLE FOR
WORKERS' WAGES AND NOT JUST THE
WHIM OF OUR CUSTOMERS.
LIVING WAGES ARE GOOD FOR MY
BUSINESS.
IT'S GOOD FOR THE WHOLE
ECONOMY.
YOU HEARD FROM MANY GIG WORKERS
SUPPORTING THIS BILL THAT THEY
ARE NOT GUARANTEED LIVING
WAGES.
AS A FOOD BUSINESS, WE ARE
EXPECTED TO OFFER DELIVERY TO
OUR CUSTOMERS BUT I DON'T TO DO
BUSINESS WITH DELIVERY SERVICES
THAT DON'T PAY MINIMUM WAGE AND
PROVIDE BASIC RIGHTS TO OUR
WORKERS.
WE DON'T HAVE ANY INSIGHT INTO
WHAT THE INDIVIDUALS ARE
MAKING, AND THEY ARE MAKING
THEIR MONEY OFF THE BACKS OF --
>> DJ WILL BE FOLLOWED BY LIEF
GAREN.
>> I AM A BALLARD RESIDENT AND
SMALL BUSINESS OWNER AND I AM
CALLING ABOUT BONUSES FOR SPD.
BONUSES FOR COPS THREATEN
PUBLIC SAFETY.
THE 2021 STUDY FOUND THAT SPD
SHOULD BE THE PRIMARY RESPONSE
FOR 27% OF THE CALLS SPF
HANDLES.
THE CENTER FOR AMERICAN
PROGRESS FOUND THAT 28.6% OF
CALLS HANDLED BY SPD SHOULD BE
HANDLED BY THEM.
INSTEAD OF WORKING TO TRANSFER
THE CALLS, THEY INSIST ON A
THIRD PARTY ANALYSIS THAT HAS
NOT MATERIALIZED IN DEMANDING
THE 2022 BUDGET INCLUDING A $19
MILLION SLUSH FUND FOR
POSITIONS IT HAS NO PLANS TO
HIRE THIS YEAR.
TWO WEEKS AGO IN BALLARD, A
GROUP OF FIVE OFFICERS REFUSED
TO GIVE A HOMELESS VETERAN FIVE
MINUTES TO GET HIS BELONGINGS
TOGETHER DESPITE BEING TOLD HE
WOULD HAVE 30 MINUTES TO PACK
UP.
>> THANK YOU, AND LIEF WILL BE
FOLLOWED BY KAILEY CONDIT.
LIEF, WILL YOU HIT STAR SIX,
PLEASE.
>> ARE YOU ABLE TO HEAR
>> ?
>> YES.
PERFECT.
>> HERE WE GO.
I AM A FORMER DELIVERY DRIVER
FOR UBER EATS AND HERE IN
SUPPORT OF THE POLICY.
THE SCHEDULING FREEDOM MADE THE
JOB APPEALING BUT I DECIDED
THAT THE DRAWBACKS NO LONGER
MAKE IT WORTHWHILE.
THE STANDARD FARE WAS LOW IN
2016 AND EFFECTIVELY CUT WITH
INFLATION.
GRANTED UBER HAS BEEN PROVIDING
US WITH AN EXTRA 35 CENTS FOR A
TRIP TO COMPENSATE FOR THE
INFLATING FUEL PRICES BUT THIS
IS NOT ENOUGH.
WE NEED A REAL MILEAGE COST,
AND THAT IS BASING THE MILEAGE
ON IRS RATES AND NOT THE RATES
BY UBER.
THE VISIBLE AMOUNTS ARE NOT IN
THE WILL TRIP HAS BEEN
COMPLETED, SO WE CANNOT
DETERMINE IF THAT IS
WORTHWHILE.
WE SHOULD NO LONGER HAVE TO
GUESS WE MAKE THE JOB WORTH IT.
THANK YOU.
>> THANK YOU.
KAILEY CONDIT FOLLOWED BY CHRIS
WOODARD.
>> GOOD MORNING.
THIS IS KAILEY CONDIT FROM THE
UNIVERSITY OF WASHINGTON N
2021, BOTH HOMICIDES AND 911
VOLUMES WERE DOWN.
SPD HAS PLENTY OF STAFFING AS
INDICATED BY THEIR ABILITY TO
SEND DOZENS OF OFFICERS AND
VEHICLES TO INCIDENTS.
THE 2020 NARKS NICJR STUDY
FOUND THAT NO POLICE BACKUP
COULD RESPOND TO 49% OF 911
CALLS.
POLICE HAVE BEEN AGAINST THE
IDEA OF OFFERING
RESPONSIBILITIES AND HIRING
BONUSES.
THE ENTIRE SALARY SAVINGS COULD
BE USED FOR SOCIAL HOUSING AND
BUDGETING INSTEAD OF BEING USED
TO HIRE MORE COPS.
THANK YOU.
>> THANK YOU.
OUR NEXT SPEAKER IS CHRIS
WOODARD FOLLOWED BY McKENZIE
FAITH.
HIT STAR SIX, PLEASE.
>> GOOD MORNING,
COUNCILMEMBERS.
I AM CHRIS WOODWARD AND THE
DEVELOPMENT DIRECTOR SPEAKING
IN SUPPORT OF A RESOLUTION
CALLING FOR THE DEVELOPMENT OF
AN SPD STAFFING HIRING
INCENTIVE PROGRAM TO CELEBRATE
HIRING OF NEW OFFICERS.
I REGULARLY HEAR FROM PIONEER
SQUARE COMMUNITY MEMBERS AND
RESIDENTS THAT THEY ARE
CONCERNED ABOUT THE INCREASE OF
VIOLENT CRIME AND NON-VIOLENT
CRIME.
THE CITY SHOULD EXPLORE ALL
TOOLS TO ADDRESS RISING CRIME
LEVELS INCLUDING PROGRAMS TO
REBUILD SPD STAFFING LEVELS TO
ENSURE SAFETY AND STABILITY
HERE IN PIONEER SQUARE AND
ACROSS THE CITY.
THE ONGOING RECOVERY REQUIRES
NEIGHBORHOOD STREETS AND
SIDEWALKS AND PUBLIC SPACES TO
BE SAFE AND WELCOMING FOR ALL.
THANK YOU SO MUCH.
>> THANK YOU.
OUR NEXT SPEAKER IS McKENZIE
CHASE FOLLOWED BY MARIA
HERNANDEZ.
>> I AM McKENZIE CHASE AND I
WORK AT THE SEATTLE METRO
CHAMBER OF COMMERCE AND HERE TO
SPEAK ON APP-BASED WORKERS
MAKING SURE THAT THEY SHOULD
MAKE A COMPETITIVE WAGE AND IT
SHOULD BE ADDRESSED TO THE
INDUSTRY REALITY.
THE ISSUE IS COMPLEX AND
INVOLVES GROCERY DELIVERY,
CHILD CARE, AND HOME REPAIR.
WE STRONGLY URGE CITY COUNCIL
TO CLASS DEFINITIONS INSTEAD OF
MAKING THE CRITICAL DECISIONS
FOR THE RULE MAKING PROGRESS.
WE URGE CITY COUNCIL TO STUDY
AND ADDRESS UNINTENDED HARMFUL
CONSEQUENCES ESPECIALLY FOR LOW-
INCOME RESIDENTS, FOR EXAMPLE,
SOMEONE OF LOW LIMITED ABILITY
TO GET GROCERIES.
WE SUPPORT THE IMPACT ON
DRIVERS AND BUSINESSES AND
CUSTOMERS.
THANKS SO MUCH FOR THE
OPPORTUNITY TO SPEAK THIS
MORNING.
>> THANK YOU.
OUR NEXT SPEAKER IS MARIA
HERNANDEZ.
I THINK WE NEED TO SET THE
CLOCK DIFFERENTLY.
THANK YOU VERY MUCH.
.
>> I AM MARIA HERNANDEZ.
[ THROUGH TRANSLATOR ]
>> I AM MARIA HERNANDEZ, AND I
WORK FOR DOORDASH.
MY AREAS FOR MOST OF MARCH WAS
LESS THAN 1230 AND THE COST OF
WORKING WAS $371.
I MADE LESS THAN $600 WHICH IS
A LOT LESS THAN THE
APPLICATIONS CLAIM WE EARN.
WE RECEIVE PAYMENT OF 73 CENTS
PER MILE BECAUSE THE ACTUAL
MILEAGE COST IS 58 CENTS, AND
WE DRIVE ADDITIONL MILEAGE
BETWEEN ORDERS.
AND THE GAS CONTINUES
INCREASING IN COST EVERY TIME
THAT I GO TO FILL UP MY TANK.
I AM DISAPPOINTED TO SEE THAT
THE SEATTLE CHAMBER OF COMMERCE
ISN'T PAYING A POLICY.
>> THANK YOU SO MUCH, MARIA,
AND THANK YOU TO OUR
INTERPRETER FOR YOUR SERVICES.
MUCH APPRECIATED.
NEXT, WE HAVE MICHAEL FOLLOWED
BY ADRIAN.
MICHAEL?
>> GOOD MORNING,
COUNCILMEMBERS.
I AM MICHAEL WOLF.
I'M THE EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR OF
DRIVE FORWARD.
I WANT TO START BY SAYING
IMMEDIATELY THAT DRIVE FORWARD
DOES SUPPORT THE CREATION OF A
MINIMUM EARNINGS STANDARD FOR
GIG WORKERS.
WE'VE HAD DISCUSSIONS WITH YOU
ABOUT OUR OCCASIONS TO SOME OF
THE METHODS IN WHICH THIS BILL
ENACTS THAT STANDARD.
WE WOULD ENCOURAGE CONTINUED
DIALOGUE AROUND THE ISSUES
ESPECIALLY AROUND THE ISSUE OF
SETTINGS OF A RATE OF PER-TRIP
METHOD AS THAT WOULD IN OUR
CONTINUE CREATE AN ARTIFICIAL
LEVEL OF MINIMUM WAGE.
AND WE BELIEVETHE GIG WORKERS
SHOULD HAVE THE OPPORTUNITY TO
EARN MORE THAN THE MINIMUM
WAGE.
WE WOULD LIKE TO SEE THIS SPLIT
INTO TWO BILLS, ONE DEALING
WITH THE MARKETPLACE COMPANIES
AND ONE WORKING WITH DELIVERY
COMPANIES.
A SURVEY MUCH DELIVERY DRIVERS
LAST YEAR SHOWED THAT SOME
DRIVERS EARNED LESS THAN
MINIMUM WAGE AND THIS IS WHY WE
SUPPORT CREATING A MINIMUM WAGE
WITH THESE CHANGES.
THANK YOU.
>> THANK YOU.
OUR NEXT SPEAKER IS ADRIAN
FOLLOWED BY ARIANA.
ADRIAN, HIT STAR SIX.
IF YOU CAN HEAR US, ADRIAN, WE
NEED TO YOU HIT STAR SIX SO WE
CAN HEAR YOU.
OKAY.
I AM GOING TO TRY ONE MORE
TIME.
PERFECT.
>> HELLO.
SORRY ABOUT THAT.
I AM A MEMBER OF THE TRANSIT
WRITERS' UNION AND A CUSTOMER
ON GIG DELIVERY APPS FOR
DOORDASH AND UBER EATS AND I'M
HERE TO URGE YOU TO PASS THE
PAYOUT POLICY.
I'M A SURVIVOR OF ACUTE
LEUKEMIA, AND THE TREATMENT
LEFT ME WITH CHRONIC PAIN AND
LOWER IMMUNITY AND I DON'T HAVE
THE ENERGY TO DRIVE AND SHOP
AND COOK MY OWN FOOD.
I SEE DELIVERY WORKERS AS PART
OF THE HELPING PROFESSION.
SOMETIMES, I FEEL GUILTY WITH
RELYING ON THE APPS, AND I AM
CONCERNED ABOUT HOW THE
COMPANIES TREAT THE DELIVERY
WORKERS.
I AM ANGRY THAT THEY ARE USING
ME TO MAKE AN ARGUMENT FOR
THEIR FINANCIAL BENEFIT.
GIG WORKERS DESERVE TO GET PAID
A LIVING WAGE AND TREATED AS
PARTNERS.
THANK YOU.
>> THANK YOU.
OUR NEXT SPEAKER IS ARIANA AND
ARIANA WILL BE FOLLOWED BY
ALEX.
ARIANA?
>> I AM ARIANA FROM DISTRICT
FOUR AND I'M CALLING ON BEHALF
ON OBJECTING TO THE HIRING OF
SPD.
THE ANALYSIS OF THE HIRING
PROGRAM FOUND THAT SPD DID NOT
EXPERIENCE AN INCREASE IN
HIRING AND IT HAS A LIMITED
IMPACT.
THE CITY RAN A BONUS HIRING
PROGRAM THAT WAS NEVER
ANALYZED.
SPD WAS SUPPOSED TO PROVIDE THE
COUNCIL A FINAL REPORT OF THE
PROGRAM, AND IT'S FISCALLY
IRRESPONSIBLE TO DO ANOTHER
BEFORE ANALYZING THE PROGRAM.
HAVE A GOOD DAY.
THANK YOU.
>> THANK YOU.
OUR NEXT SPEAKER IS ALEX.
ALEX?
>> HI.
MY NAME IS ALEX, AND I AM A HHD
CANDIDATE AND A WATCHDOG IN
DISTRICT 3 WHILE I WORK ON MY
DISSERTATION.
FOR MANY YEARS, ROVER AND WAG
DON'T HELP WITH PET CARE AFTER
THE INTRODUCTION AND PEOPLE
STOP TRANSACTING THROUGH THE
APPS AND THEY TAKE AS MUCH AS
THEY CAN GET AWAY WITH, $100
FOR LONGER TERM WORK AND NAMING
SUB-MINIMUM WAGES FOR ON-DEMAND
DOG WALKERS TRYING TO SUPPORT
THEMSELVES.
A LARGE SHARE OF PET WORK IS IN
THE APPS MAKING IT HARDER FOR
THE WORKERS TO GET WORK
ELSEWHERE.
THE GIG APPS HAVE MARKET
DOMINANT POSITIONS AND THE
EFFECTS NEED TO BE REGULATED TO
REASONABLE FEES.
THANK YOU.
>> THANK YOU.
WE HAVE GONE TO THE END OF OUR
PUBLIC COMMENT PERIOD BUT I
WOULD LIKE TO HEAR FROM MORE
SPEAKERS.
THE PUBLIC COMMENT ACCORDING TO
THE RULES IS 20 MINUTES BUT IF
THERE IS NO OKAY, I WOULD LIKE
TO SUSPEND THE RULES TO ALLOW
AN ADDITIONAL 20 MINUTES FOR A
TOTAL OF 40 MINUTES OF PUBLIC
COMMENT.
ANY OBJECTION?
HEARING NO OBJECTION, PUBLIC
COMMENT HAS BEEN EXTENDED.
WE'LL MOVE OVER TO JUSTIN WHO
WILL BE FOLLOWED BY ANNETTE.
>> GOOD MORNING.
I AM JUSTIN, THE DIRECTOR OF
GOVERNMENT AFFAIRS FOR THE SAME
DAY DELIVERY PLATFORM SHIPT.
THANK YOU FOR ALLOWING ME TO
SHARE A LITTLE ABOUT SHIPPEDS T
AND EXPRESS CONCERN.
IT ALLOWS SHOPPERS TO WORK AS
LITTLE OR AS MUCH AS THEY WANT,
AND FLEX FLEXIBILITY IS
SOMETHING THAT THE SHOPPERS
VALUE.
LAST YEAR, SHOPPERS MADE ON
AVERAGE, BETWEEN $25 AND $35 AN
HOUR WHEN FACTORING IN PAID
BONUSES AND TIPS AND INVOLVES
NUANCE AND COMPLICATED FACTORS
TO MAKE SURE THAT THE SYSTEM
WORKS FOR CUSTOMERS AND
SHOPPERS.
THIS POTENTIAL LAW RISKS
ECONOMIC OPPORTUNITY.
WE ASK THAT YOU HEED OUR
CONCERNS OVER THIS MEASURE.
PLEASE FEEL FREE TO REACH OUT
ANY TIME.
THANK YOU.
>> ANNETTE IS OUR NEXT SPEAKER.
ANNETTE?
>> HI.
CAN YOU HEAR ME?
>> YES, WE CAN.
>> OKAY.
THIS IS ANNETTE IN DISTRICT
FOUR.
I'M ADAMANTLY OPPOSED TO HIRING
BONUSES FOR SPD THAT HAS YET TO
COMPLY WITH THE MODERATE
REQUIREMENTS THAT HAVE BEEN IN
PLACE FOR 10 YEARS.
ALL SALARY SAVINGS SHOULD BE
TRANSFERRED FROM SPD TO
COMMUNITY-BASED SOLUTIONS.
BONUSES REWARD AND FURTHER
INCREASE POLICE VIOLENCE AND
NOTHING TO INCREASE PUBLIC
SAFETY.
IN FACT, THEY MAKE US ALL LEFT
SAVE.
I HAVE WITNESSED BIKE COPS
USING THEM AS WEAPONS TO SMACK
PEOPLE WHO ARE EXERCISING THEIR
RIGHT TO PROTEST.
THE WAY THEY TREAT ME, AN OLD
WHITE WOMAN, IS MILD COMPARED
TO THE BRUTALITY THAT THEY
TREAT BLACK AND BROWN PEOPLE
AND WAY TOO MANY DEATHS AT THE
HANDS OF SEATTLE COPS.
IT'S SIMPLE.
WE DON'T NEED HIRING BONUSES
BECAUSE THE ABSOLUTE LAST THING
THIS CITY NEEDS IS MORE COPS.
>> THANK YOU.
AND NEXT IS TIFFANY.
TIFFANY?
HIT STAR SIX, THAT WOULD BE
GREAT.
THANK YOU.
>> GOOD MORNING.
I AM TIFFANY, THE WESTERN
REGION POLICY MANAGER FOR
INSTACART.
INSTACART IS OPPOSED AS WE HAVE
THE STATED PROPOSAL BEFORE YOU
TODAY WHICH IS PROBLEMATIC FOR
CUSTOMERS AND LOCAL RETAILERS
WHO USE YOUR PLATFORM,
AND EVERY MEMBER SHOULD BE
AWARE IT WOULD LESSEN THE
SERVICES OFFERED ON THE
PLATFORM AND INCREASE THE COST
TO CONSUMERS AND JEOPARDIZE
EARNING OPPORTUNITIES FOR
WORKERS.
WE HAVE A CITY-FUNDED IMPACT
STUDY UNDER THE FAIR SHARE
LEGISLATION IN MOVING THE PER
MINUTE PER MILE FORMULA AND
REPLACE IT WITH A STANDARD OF
120% OF MINIMUM WAGE AND
COVERING ONLY INDEPENDENT
CONTRACTORS AND THAT IS TO
EMPLOYEES ALREADY COVERED BY
CITY AND STATE LAWS.
INSTACART APPRECIATES THE
POSSIBILITY TO TAKE PART IN THE
STAKEHOLDER MEETING AND WILL
CONTINUE TO MOVE FORWARD.
>> THANK YOU.
WE'LL MOVE TO ELENA AND WADE.
>> GOOD MORNING,
COUNCILMEMBERS.
I AM HERE IN SUPPORT OF THE
PAYUP POLICY.
WE BELIEVE THAT ALL WORKERS
SHOULD HAVE BASIC WORKING
STANDARDS AND PROTECTIONS.
THAT PROTECTION BY YOU AND
WORKER RIGHTS ADVOCATES HAS
MADE SEATTLE A NATIONAL
LEADERS, BUT GIG WORKERS LIKE
DOORDASH AND INSTACART ARE
EXCLUDED FROM THE STANDARDS AND
LEFT BEHIND.
MULTIBILLION DOLLAR BIG
COMPANIES GET AWAY AS PAYING AS
LITTLE AS $2 A JOB FOR THE
PEOPLE WHO DO THE WORK AND
ALLOW THE COMPANIES TO PAY A
SUB-MINIMUM WAGE FOR WORKERS
WHO ARE DISPROPORTIONALLY
PEOPLE OF COLOR AND PEOPLE WITH
DISABILITIES, LGBTQ COMMUNITY
AND THE ELDERLY.
PLEASE VOTE TO PAY UP.
LIVE OUT, CARVE OUT.
>> THANK YOU.
AND THE NEXT SPEAKER IS WADE
FOLLOWED BY ERIC.
>> HI.
GOOD MORNING.
WE NEED TO PAY FOR EVERY JOB
THAT WE DO.
IT CAN BE DIFFERENT BASED ON
THE TIME OF THE DAY.
WE HAVE TO WAIT AT A WAREHOUSE
FORKS, AND EACH EDGE PAY $4,
AND SOMETIMES T DOESN'T COVER
OUR GAS.
WE USED TO BE A GUARANTEED RATE
FOR EVERY HOUR ON SHIFT.
THE RATE WAS $16.75 PER HOUR,
BELOW MINIMUM WAGE.
AND THEY HAVE TAKEN AWAY THE
HOURLY RATE.
AND WE STILL HAVE TO CLOCK IN
THE WAREHOUSE AND WAIT FOR ONLY
$4 PER JOB.
IF THIS IS AMENDED PER WEEK,
THEY KEEP PAYING $4, WE WON'T
GET PAID FOR OUR WORK.
GIG WORKERS NEED TO KNOW EVERY
JOB SHOULD PAY AT LEAST MINIMUM
WAGE.
THANK YOU.
>> THANK YOU.
AND ERIC WILL BE FOLLOWED BY
RAYMOND.
ERIC?
>> GOOD MORNING, AND THANK YOU
FOR THE OPPORTUNITY TO LET ME
SPEAK WITH YOU GUYS TODAY.
I'M ERIC, AND HAVE BEEN IN
SEATTLE FOR OVER A YEAR.
AFTER WORKING IN THE
ENTERTAINMENT INDUSTRY, I FOUND
MYSELF NEEDING QUICK
OPPORTUNITIES.
I NEVER WOULD ASSUME THAT MY
SERVICES WERE WORTH WHAT I
FOUND THEM TO BE.
BECAUSE I SET MY OWN HOURLY
RATE, I COULD BE CONFIDENT THAT
I AM EARNING WHAT I DESERVE.
THE COUNCIL'S EFFORTS ARE
APPRECIATED BUT I ENCOURAGE THE
COUNCIL TO LEARN ABOUT THE
COMPANIES THAT WILL BE
IMPACTED.
I HAVE BEEN ENABLED TO WORK AS
AN INDEPENDENT CONTRACTOR.
CASH GRAB HAS LET ME CHOOSE
WHERE I WORK AND ANYWHERE I
WORK.
CAN I WORK DIRECTLY FROM
CLIENTS.
AS YOU WORK ON THIS BILL,
PLEASE KEEP IN MIND I
APPRECIATE THE HANDS OFF
APPROACH THAT CASH GRAB USES
AND I DON'T WANT MOREOVER
SIGHT.
AGAIN, THANK YOU FOR YOUR TIME.
>> THANK YOU.
RAYMOND WILL BE FOLLOWED BY
JAMIE.
>> GOOD MORNING.
I AM RAYMOND EVANS AND I'M A
GIG WORKER IN THE SEATTLE AREA.
I WORKED ALL THE APPS AND FOUND
THAT THE DIVISION IN THE
MARKETPLACE WOULD SERVE A
DISSERVICE.
ONE, IT WOULD UNDERMINE THE
SERVICE, ONE SERVICE OVERLY
POPULATED AND ANOTHER WOULD BE
ALMOST NEGLECTED BUT WHAT IS MY
CONCERN IS WE ARE TALKING ABOUT
THIS IN 2022.
EQUAL PAY.
THE 1963 VOTING RIGHTS
ESTABLISHED LAWS FOR THE
PROTECTION OF OUR RIGHTS BUT
WE HAVE PEOPLE PROMOTING AN
AGENDA THAT IS CONTRIBUTING TO
THE EROSION OF OUR SOCIETY.
AND IF WE WANT INCLUSION AND
SOCIAL JUSTICE, THE COUNCIL IS
URGED TO DO THE RIGHT THING AND
ENSURE THAT THIS IS INCLUDED.
I CLOSE MY ARGUMENT.
>> THANK YOU SO MUCH AND OUR
NEXT SPEAKER IS JAMIE FOLLOWED
BY JACKIE.
>> GOOD MORNING,
COUNCILMEMBERS.
I AM JAMIE.
WE URGE THE COMMITTEE TO OPPOSE
CB 12294.
THIS IS A WELL-INTENTIONED
EFFORT TO HELP THE DELIVERY
DRIVERS TO HAVE A RISE IN COST
OF LIVING BUT IT WILL LEAD TO
HIGHER COSTS FOR SEATTLE
FAMILIES AND FEWER ORDERS FOR
DRIVERS AND GIG WORKERS.
WE ALL WANT TO SEE LIVABLE
WAGES FOR SEATTLE, BUT THE
GROCERY DELIVERY AND DOG
WALKING WILL SEE HIGHER
INCREASES, AND THIS WILL HAVE
AN IMPACT ON OUR MOST
VULNERABLE POPULATION.
>> THANK YOU, AND WE WILL HAVE
JACKIE COMING UP NEXT.
JACKIE?
>> GOOD MORNING, COUNCILMEMBER
HERBOLD.
I AM JACKIE WITH DRIVE IT
FORWARD, AND MY JOB IS TO KEEP
MY EAR ON THE GROUND FOR GIG
WORKERS.
WE HAVE 2600 MEMBERS AND WE
HAVE SEVERAL HUNDRED THAT WE
HAVE BEEN IN CONTACT WITH, AND
THEY HAVE BEEN IN CONTACT WITH
THE COUNCILMEMBERS IN REGARDS
TO THE PAYUP LEGISLATION.
AND WE ARE EXCITED ABOUT MOVING
FORWARD WITH CREATING THE LABOR
STANDARDS THAT WILL MAKE IT A
BETTER EXPERIENCE ON THE ROAD
AND FINDING A WAY TO MAKE A
LIVABLE WAGE STANDARD.
THE BIGGEST CONCERNS OF THE
MEMBERS IS THE CONFUSION, THE
LANGUAGE, SOME PARTS AMBIGUOUS
AND INCLUDES SEVERAL DIFFERENT
MARKETS.
THE REQUEST IS TO NARROW DOWN
THE FOCUS TO THE DELIVERY WORK
AND BRING THE LABOR STANDARDS
--
>> THANK YOU, JACKIE.
AND THE NEXT SPEAKER IS VISHNU.
>> GOOD MORNING.
GOOD MORNING.
WE REPRESENT 10,000 WORKERS
INCLUDING JANITORS AND SECURITY
OFFICERS AND AIRPORT WORKERS.
AND I AM HERE FOR THE POLICY TO
ENSURE THAT THEY ARE PAID A
MINIMUM PAGE AND OTHER BASIC
PROTECTION.
THEY HAVE A LOT IN COMMON.
MANY OF US ARE IMMIGRANTS AND
PEOPLE ARE COLOR, AND WE ARE
TOO OFTEN OVERLOOKED AND
EXCLUDED AND TREATED AS
INVISIBLE.
PEOPLE DOING GIG WORK DESERVE
TO BE AT LEAST MINIMUM WAGE,
AND THEY DESERVE RESPECT AND TO
HAVE THE SUPPORT TO ADDRESS THE
ISSUES THEY FACE.
IS PASSING PAY UP WOULD VANCE
RACIAL EQUITY AND PUT MONEY IN
COMMUNITY BUSINESSES AND GIVE
THE GIG WORKERS THE BASIC
RIGHTS EVERY WORKER NEEDS.
THROUGH OUR HARD WORKS, WE HAVE
MADE IT A GOOD JOB, AND TIME
FOR SEATTLE TO MAKE GIG WORK A
GOOD JOB, TOO.
WE URGE YOU TO SUPPORT THIS
POLICY.
THANK YOU.
>> THANK YOU.
THE NEXT SPEAKER IS KAREN AND
KAREN IS FOLLOWED BY MICHAEL,
AND MICHAEL IS SHOWING AS NOT
PRESENT.
KAREN?
HI..
>> I'M KAREN A MEMBER OF THE
TRANSIT RIDER'S UNION AND I AM
IN SUPPORT OF RAISING PAY AND
PROVIDING OTHER PROTECTION TO
GIG WORKERS.
LAST NIGHT WHEN A CLASSMATE OF
MINE, WHEN I WAS ONLINE, COULD
SEE THAT I WAS HURTING SHE
SURPRISED ME WITH A DOORDASH
CERTIFICATE FOR CERTAIN.
IT WAS SO THOUGHTFUL.
NUTRITIOUS FOOD OFTEN GOES OUT
THE WINDOW DURING A PAIN FLARE
AND A HARD-WORKING WOMAN
DELIVERED IT WITHIN 20 MINUTES.
I WANT HER TO BE ABLE TO EAT,
TOO.
AND I WAS LUCKY TO HAVE A GIFT
BUT OFTEN I ORDER USING MY
INCOME FROM DISABILITY.
WHY SHOULD A CEO THINK THE
WORLD REVOLVES AROUND HIM WHILE
NOBODY IS PROPERLY PAYING THE
FOLKS WORKING HARD TO CREATE
THE VALUE?
I JUST WANTED TO SAY THAT
SOMEONE WHO DOES GIG WORK ON
THE SIDE WHO SUPPORTS HIS
KIDDO, WE BONDED.
AND WHY SHOULD --
>> THANK YOU.
OUR NEXT SPEAKER IS MICHAEL,
AND MICHAEL IS FOLLOWED BY
KENNY.
MICHAEL?
>> HELLO.
CAN YOU HEAR ME?
>> YES, WE CAN.
>> ALL RIGHT.
THANKS, YEAH.
YOU ALL HAVE HEARD ME BEFORE.
I WANT TO QUICKLY ADDRESS THE
THING THAT I HAD TO QUICKLY
ADDRESS DURING THE PRESS
CONFERENCE.
THEY WILL CLAIM THEY HAVE TO
RAISE PAY TO TAKE $400 MILLION
OR WHATEVER EXTRA MONEY THEY
GIVE TO THE CEOs.
I HAVE APP, AND THEY CAN'T
AFFORD TO RAISE PRICES BUT IF
THEY RAISE PRICES THEY WILL
UNDERCUT, AND THEY ALREADY
CHARGE RESTAURANTS AND
CUSTOMERS AND MAKE THE WORKERS
PAY FOR EVERYTHING.
THEY DON'T DESERVE TO CHARGE
MORE MONEY,
AND I KNOW THIS FOR A FACT.
I AM TIRED OF THE COMPANIES
TELLING WHAT YOU SAY THEIR
EMPLOYEES ARE MAKING.
I MAKE $25 AN HOUR AND I HAVE A
SYSTEM AND I WORK IN DOWNTOWN
SEATTLE AND I WORK RUSHING.
YOU CANNOT MAKE MORE DELIVERING
DOING WHAT I DO.
I AM TIRED OF COMPANIES TALK
ABOUT MONEY WHEN THEY LIE AND
MISREPRESENT.
>> THANK YOU, MICHAEL.
AND OUR NEXT SPEAKER IS KENNY
FOLLOWED BY COCO.
>> HI.
THIS IS KEN IN DISTRICT SIX.
PUBLIC SAFETY IN WELL RESOURCED
COMMUNITIES, NOT HEAVILY
POLICED COMMUNITIES, AND
POLICE CAN CAUSE HARM AND NOT
SOLVE PROBLEMS.
THE SOLUTION TO HOMELESSNESS
IS HOMES.
THE SOLUTION TO CRIMES WITH
POVERTY IS ALLEVIATING POVERTY.
POLICE DON'T NEED BONUSES.
WE LIKE TO REFER TO NEWS
NARRATIVES THAT YOU HELPED TO
CREATE, CLAIMING THAT SEATTLE
IS DANGEROUS.
TO GET PERSPECTIVE, THE TRAVEL
BLOG.
SEATTLE IS ONE OF THE SAFEST
CITIES IN THE U.S., NOTING THAT
THE U.S. AS A WHOLE IS RANKED
121 ON THE GLOBAL INDEX PROVING
THAT POLICING DOESN'T WORK.
THE U.S. SPENDS MORE ON
POLICING THAN ANY OTHER
COUNTRY.
COUNCILMEMBERS, REMEMBER THAT
YOU REPRESENT ALL RESIDENTS NOT
JUST BUSINESS INTERESTS AND
REJECT HIRING BONUSES FOR SPD.
>> THANK YOU.
OUR NEXT SPEAKER IS COCO AND
COCO FOLLOW BE FOLLOWED BY
TAYLOR.
COCO?
>> HELLO, COUNCIL.
MY NAME IS COCOA COCO, AND I
AM A DISTRICT THREE MEMBER WHO
OFFERED POLICE BRUTALITIES
PROTESTING FOR BLACK LIVES.
THE SPD IS STILL IN VIOLATION
OF THE DOJ AND CONTINUES TO
MURDER MY BLACK AND BROWN
NEIGHBORS WITH IMPUNITY.
THIS VIOLENT, CORRUPT
DEPARTMENT SHOULD NOT BE
REWARDED WITH BONUSES BUT
RATHER CONTINUE TO SHRINK EVERY
YEAR AND BUILT WITH TRUE PUBLIC
SAFETY INVESTMENTS WITH
PREVENTION AND RESOURCES FOR
FAMILIES AND TREATMENT AND
HEALTHCARE AND HOUSING.
PLEASE VOTE NO FOR BONUSES FOR
OUR VIOLENT KILLING POLICE
DEPARTMENT.
WE NEED TRUE COMMUNITY
POLICING.
THANK YOU.
>> THANK YOU, COCO.
AND WE HAVE TAYLOR FOLLOWED BY
ANNA.
>> HI.
MY NAME IS TAYLOR AND I AM
CALLING TO REJECT THE HIRING
BONUSES TO SPD AND INSTEAD PUT
THE SAVINGS TO COMMUNITY-DRIVEN
SOLUTIONS.
IT WOULD BE IRRESPONSIBLE TO
HAVE GRANT THE HIRING BONUSES
WITHOUT ANALYZING THE PRIORING
HIRING BONUSES.
IT FOUND THAT SPD DID NOT HAVE
AN INCREASE IN HIRING AND PAY
WAS NOT A BARRIER TO HIRING OR
RETENTION MUCH AND AT A
MINIMUM, THE ANALYSIS NEEDS TO
LOOK AT HIRING RETENTION AND
PERFORMANCE AND DONE BY AN
INDEPENDENT THIRD PARTY.
WE ALSO DON'T NEED COPS.
CALLS FOR SERVICE WERE LONER
2021 THAN IN PREVIOUS YEARS.
40% OF 911 CALL TYPES CAN BE
RESPONDED BY COMMUNITY AND NOT
SPD.
INSTEAD OF BONUSES LOOK AT WHAT
THE DATA IS TELLING US AND GIVE
THE MONEY TO THE COMMUNITY
BASED SOLUTIONS.
THE ENTIRE SALARY SAVINGS
SHOULD BE TRANSFERRED TO THE
COMMUNITY FOR INVESTMENT AND
TRULY PUBLIC SAFETY.
>> THANK YOU, TAYLOR.
OUR NEXT SPEAKER IS ANNA
WILLIAMS FOLLOWED BY ENRIQUE.
ANNA?
>> HI COUNCIL.
I AM AN WILLIAMS, A RESIDENT,
PARENT, AND SMALL, OWNER AND
URGING YOU TO VOTE NO FOR
HIRING BONUSES FOR THE POLICE.
I DON'T THINK THE CRIMES HAPPEN
OUT OF THE BLUE.
I THINK A LACK OF SOCIAL
RESOURCES PUT PEOPLE IN
POSSESSIONS AND THEY COPE WITH
THE BEST WAY THAT THEY KNOW HOW
GIVEN THE RESOURCES THAT THEY
HAVE.
POLICE OFFICERS DO NOT PREVENT
CRIME.
THEY RESPOND TO THE CRIME AFTER
THE FACT.
WHAT HAPPENS IS STABLE HOUSING,
STABLE CHILD CARE AND THE
ABILITY TO WORK, AND I HAVE A
4.5-YEAR-OLD AS YOU HEAR IN THE
BACKGROUND, AND MY FAMILY IS
RECOVERING FROM COVID, AND I
FELT I WAS GOING TO LOSE MY
MIND BUT BECAUSE OF DOCTORS
VISITS,
AND -- MOM IS TALKING.
CAN I HELP WHEN YOU I AM DONE,
AND I WAS ABLE TO DO WORK
REMOTELY AND KEPT ME FLOATING
AND I WAS --
>> THANK YOU.
AND OUR NEXT SPEAKER IS
ENRIQUEA.
>> GOOD MORNING.
I AM SPEAKING ON BEHALF OF THE
A MEMBERSHIP OF 35 COMMUNITY-
BASED ORGANIZATIONS WORKING
TOWARDS AN END TO GENDER
POLICY.
I AM SPEAKING IN STRONG SUPPORT
FOR INCREASED INVESTMENT FOR
SERVICES TO PREVENT GENDER BASED
VIOLENCE.
COMMUNITY BASED ORGANIZATIONS,
MANY OF WHICH ARE CULTURAL
SPECIFIC, OFFER THE MOST
EFFECTIVE PATH TO PREVENT MORE
HOMELESSNESS INTERVENTION.
HOWEVER, PRIOR TO COVID, WE
HAVE EXPERIENCED INCAPACITATE
THAT HAS MADE IT DIFFICULT FOR
SURVIVORS.
AND AT THE SAME TIME, THERE IS
A SKYROCKETING COMMAND FOR
COMMUNITY SERVICES.
MANY PROGRAMS ARE REPORTING
THAT SERVICES UP TWO TO THREE
TIMES THIS YEAR, AND --
>> THANK YOU, AND OUR NEXT
SPEAKER IS ALLISON FOLLOWED BY
JULIA.
ALLISON?
>> GOOD MORNING.
THANK YOU, COUNCILMEMBER
HERBOLD AND MEMBERS OF THE
COMMITTEE.
I AM ALLISON FORD THE PUBLIC
POLICY MANAGER FOR UBER IN THE
PACIFIC NORTHWEST.
I AM REGARDING THE PAY UP
POLICY WITH THE CONCERNS FOR
THE UNINTENDED CONSEQUENCES
THIS BILL COULD HAVE IF PASSED
THROUGH IN THE CURRENT FORM.
UBER CONTINUES TO BE SUPPORTIVE
OF THE DRIVER-EARNING STANDARD
POLICY.
HOWEVER THIS, BILL WILL REDUCE
ACCESS TO WORK OPPORTUNITIES
FOR PLATFORM DRIVERS AND
ADVERSITY IMPACT SMALL
BUSINESSES AND INCREASE PRICES
ON CONSUMERS.
WE BELIEVE THIS BILL COULD BE
GREATLY IMPROVED BY FURTHER
CONSIDERATION OF ALL THE NEED
BACK THAT WAS COMMUNICATED FROM
STAKEHOLDERS AND FURTHER
CONSIDERATION OF THE POLICY
OPTIONS THAT HAVE BEEN
PRESENTED TO YOU.
THE COMMUNITY TO POST THIS
AMENDMENT PROCESS SHOULD TAKE
THE FULL-TIME TO UNDERSTAND ALL
OF THE IMPACT.
THANK YOU.
>> THANK YOU SO MUCH.
AND OUR NEXT SPEAKER IS OLGA
FOLLOWED BY DAVID.
GO AHEAD.
>> HI.
I AM OLGA FAGAN, AND I AM A
BUSINESS OWNER IN DOWNTOWN
SEATTLE.
THANK YOU FOR TAKING MY
COMMENT.
I AM IS HIRING AND IMPLEMENTING
THE POLICING FOR SEATTLE.
WE NEED TO HAVE CREATE
ACCOUNTABILITY FOR POLICE AND
SUPPORT THE CENTRAL COMMUNITY
WITH SOLUTIONS NOW.
WE NEED TO HAVE -- SMALL
BUSINESSES AND DIVERSE
RESIDENTS FOR SUCCESS.
AS FAR AS GIG WORKERS, THEY
SHOULD HAVE FAIR BENEFITS.
THANK YOU.
>> THANK YOU SO MUCH.
AND OUR NEXT AND FINAL SPEAKER
IS DAVID.
DAVID?
DAVID, HIT STAR SIX, PLEASE.
PERFECT.
>> GOOD MORNING.
GOOD MORNING, COUNCILMEMBERS.
I AM DAVID, A FORMER
COUNCILMEMBER, DISTRICT SEVEN,
LIFELONG RESIDENT OF SEATTLE.
AND I AM SPEAKING IN FAVOR
RESOLUTION 32050 SPD STAFFING
ON YOUR AGENDA TODAY.
I FEEL THIS RESOLUTION IS
IMPORTANT BECAUSE IT ADDRESSES
A SIGNIFICANT SHORTAGE OF
POLICE OFFICERS TO PROTECT OUR
CITY.
I SUPPORT THIS RESOLUTION
BECAUSE IT DOES THE FOLLOWING:
INDICATES THE COUNCIL'S SUPPORT
FOR THE PROGRAM TO HIRING OF
THE NEW OFFICERS AND SETS A
POLICY DIRECTION FOR $1.4
MILLION UNSPENT FUNDS TO PAY
FOR THE INCENTIVES AND ALLOW US
TO BE MORE COMPETITIVE AND
ATTRACT A GOOD FLOW OF
APPLICANTS TO THE POLICE FORCE
AND TO BE MORE SELECTIVE TO
HIRE THE OFFICERS FOR DIVERSE
COMMUNITIES AND MULTILINGUAL
AND BE COMMUNITY ORIENTED.
THANK YOU SO MUCH.
>> THANK YOU.
AND THAT IS THE END OF PUBLIC
COMMEND AND MOVE TO ITEM NUMBER
ONE.
>> COMMITTEE AGENDA NUMBER
NUMBER ONE, 02187, APPOINTMENT
OF JOEL C. MERKEL AS A MEMBER,
COMMUNITY POLICE COMMISSION FOR
A TERM TO DECEMBER 31, 2024.
>> THANK YOU SO MUCH.
AND FIRST, WE ARE GOING TO HEAR
A FEW WORDS ON THIS COUNCIL
APPOINTMENT TO THE POLICE
COMMISSION GIVEN, AGAIN, THAT
THIS NEEDING HAPPENS BEFORE THE
FULL COUNCIL MEETING THIS
AFTERNOON AND WE'LL BE VOTING
NEXT TUESDAY AT FULL COUNCIL.
WE ARE JOINED BY THE POLICE
COMMISSION CO-CHAIR REVEREND
WALDEN, AND NEWELL ALDRICH
FROM MY STAFF, AND THIS IS AN
APPOINTMENT THAT WAS REFERRED
TO US FOR CONSIDERATION.
REVEREND WALDEN?
>> GOOD MORNING, AND THANK YOU
FOR THE OPPORTUNITY TO SPEAK ON
BEHALF OF THE COMMUNITY POLICE
COMMISSION.
AND I WELCOME MR. MERKEL TO THE
POLICE COMMISSION AND HELP US
TO GET THE WORK DONE AND THE
POLICE ACCOUNTABILITY WORK.
IT HAS BEEN AMPLIFIED BY THE
COMMUNITY,
AND I AM JUST REALLY EXCITED.
HE HAS BEEN DILIGENTLY BEEN
HOLDING OUR FEET IN TRYING TO
MAKE SURE THAT WE KNOW THAT
HE'S OUT THERE AND, OF COURSE,
THIS IS OUR 13th REGION.
WE WERE CONSTITUTED UNDER THE
CONSENT DECREE AND ORDINANCE IN
2017 THAT MADE US A PERMANENT
ENTITY, PART OF THE CITY
GOVERNMENT AND THE POLICE
COMMISSION AND WE MOVED FROM 15
COMMISSIONERS TO 21 AND HOPING
THAT THAT WOULD HELP US TO GET
THE WORK DONE.
WE ARE COMMISSIONER-DRIVEN, OUR
ENTITY PART OF THE CITY, OUR
GOVERNMENT, SO THANK YOU SO
MUCH FOR THE COMMUNITY AND
WELCOME, MR. MERKEL.
THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR APPLYING.
THANK YOU.
>> THANK YOU SO MUCH, REVEREND
WALDEN.
NEWELL, DO YOU WANT TO SAY A
FEW WORDS AND THEN WE'LL HAND
IT OVER TO MR. AMERICA SMELL.
>> THANK YOU.
JOEL MERKEL HAS 14 YEARS OF
PUBLIC SERVICE WORKING IN THE
U.S. SENATE AND THE COMMUNITIY
PROSECUTOR'S OFFICER AND SERVED
FOR U.S. SENATOR MARIA CANTWELL
OF WASHINGTON STATE AND
COORDINATED WITH THE WHITE
HOUSE WITH CONGRESSIONAL
OFFICERS AND CONSTITUENT WORKS
TO CARRY OUT THE OVERSIGHT
INCLUDING THE CAUSES AND
IMPACTS OF THE 2008 FINANCIAL
MARKET POLICY AND POLICY AND
LEGISLATIVE RESPONSES INCLUDING
DRAFTING AND NEGOTIATING
ASSOCIATIONS OF THE WALL STREET
REFORM LAW.
IN THE PROSECUTOR'S OFFICE HE
HAS TRIED DOZENS OF DOMESTIC
VIOLENCE AND SEXUAL ASSAULT
CASES WORKING WITH VICTIMS MANY
OF WHOM HAVE MARGINALIZED
COMMUNITIES AND STRUGGLE BEING
THRUST INTO THE LEGAL SYSTEM.
HE SERVED ON AN OFFICE-WIDE
GROUP TO DETERMINE CRIMINAL
JUSTICE REFORM AND RACIAL
EQUITY AND UTILIZED HIS POLICY
BACKGROUND FROM THE U.S. SENATE
TO SPEARHEAD AND LEAD THE
EFFORT AT THE WASHINGTON
LEGISLATURE TO EXPAND ON THE
INCARCERATION FOR NON-VIOLENT
CRIMES AND THE LEGISLATURE WITH
THE PRIOR PASSAGE OF THE BILL.
THANK YOU.
>> THANK YOU, NEWELL, AND
JOEL, WE WILL HAND IT TO YOU.
CAN YOU SPEAK ON THE
APPOINTMENT?
>> GOOD MORNING, AND GOOD
MORNING, REV RANDY WALLED OWN
AND COUNCILMEMBERS, THANK YOU.
AND I WANT TO THANK THE POLICE
COMMISSION FOR SELECTING ME FOR
THE COMMISSION.
SEATTLE IS MY HOME AND LIKE
EVERYONE ON THIS CALL, I CARE
DEEPLY ABOUT THE APPOINTMENT.
I AM PASSIONATE ABOUT CRIMINAL
REFORM AND OVERSIGHT AND
ACCOUNTABILITY, AND I AM
EXCITED TO BRING MY
PROFESSIONAL EXPERIENCES FROM
THE UNITED STATES SEPTEMBER AND
AS A CRIMINAL PROSECUTOR TO THE
COMMISSION.
TO AMPLIFY THE VOICE ON POLICE
OVERSIGHT AND ACCOUNTABILITY,
AS MR. ALDRICH MENTIONED, I
WORKED WITH SENATOR MARIA
CANTWELL AND LED THE OVERSIGHT
WITH CONSUMER PROTECTION
AGENCIES UNDER ARREST 2008
FINANCIAL CRISIS.
WE PUSHED THE AGENCIES FOR
INCREASED TRANSPARENCY AND
ACCOUNTABILITY, AND ULTIMATELY
POLICY CHANGES.
FOR THE LAST NINE YEARS, I
SERVED THE RESIDENTS OF KING
COUNTY AS A PROSECUTOR AND
WORKED WITH VICTIMS OF SEXUAL
VIOLENCE AND CHILD ABUSE,
AND ONE THING I AM PROUD OF IN
MY WORK IS I GET TO EXPAND FROM
TRADITIONAL PROSECUTION AND
INCARCERATION AND THAT WAS IN
2019 AND 2020 WHEN I
SPEARHEADED THE LEGISLATIVE
EFFORT TO EXPAND THE DRUG
TREATMENT STATUTE FOR NON-
VIOLENT FELONIES UNDER LAW.
I TESTIFIED UNDER LEGISLATURE.
THE BILL BECAME LAW IN 2021 AND
HAS HELPED MANY COMMUNITY
MEMBERS AVOID INCARCERATION AND
I AM PROUD OF THE WORK I HAVE
DONE WITH GENDER BASED VIOLENCE
AND MANY FROM VULNERABLE
COMMUNITIES.
I HAVE SEEN HOW BUILDING TRUST
WITH LAW ENFORCEMENT IS
ESSENTIAL TO ACHIEVE JUSTICE
AND EQUITY AND THESE
EXPERIENCES HAVE GIVEN ME A
UNIQUE PERSPECTIVE ON
ACCOUNTABILITY AND OVERSIGHT
AND I WANT TO THANK THE
COMMUNITY AND THE COMMISSION
ONCE AGAIN FOR SELECTING ME AND
I AM EAGER TO GET START ON
BEHALF OF THE COMMUNITY.
THANK YOU.
>> THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR YOUR
WILLINGNESS TO SERVE ON THIS
REALLY IMPORTANT COMMISSION.
IT'S SO IMPORTANT TO THE
COMMUNITY AND SO IMPORTANT TO
THE WORK THAT WE ARE ALL ARE
ENGAGED IN TO BUILD MORE TRUST
IN POLICE AND COMMUNITIES AND
INCREASE ACCOUNTABILITY.
I AM WONDERING IF MY
COLLEAGUES, COUNCILMEMBERS,
HAVE ANY QUESTIONS FOR MR.
MERKEL?
COUNCILMEMBER LEWIS.
>> THANK YOU, CHAIR HERBOLD.
GIVEN THAT WE HAVE A PACKED
AGENDA, I WANT TO MAKE A COUPLE
OF COMMENTS.
I KNOW MR. MERKEL PERSONALLY
AND CAN ATTEST TO HIS STRONG
DEDICATION TO PUBLIC SERVICE
AND LOOK FORWARD TO VOTING TO
RECOMMEND HIS CONFIRMATION
TODAY AND LATER TO VOTE AT FULL
COUNCIL.
THANK YOU, JOEL, FOR STEPPING
UP TO SERVE AND REALLY LOOKING
FORWARD TO GETTING YOU ON.
>> THANK YOU, COUNCILMEMBER
LEWIS.
>> AND JUST TO CLARIFY.
WE ARE NOT VOTING AS COMMITTEE
TODAY.
JOEL HAS BEEN GENEROUS TO TAKE
THE TIME OUT TO MEET WITH US
NOW BECAUSE OF THE DIFFICULTY
DOING THAT FOR COUNCIL, AND I
WANTED TO CLARIFY THAT, AND NOT
SEE ANYTHING VIRTUAL OR REAL
HANDS RAISED.
AGAIN, JOEL, APPRECIATE YOU BE
WILLING TO SERVE AND YOUR
PATIENCE, AND I KNOW YOU HAVE
HAD YOUR APPLICATION IN FOR A
VERY LONG TIME AND I AM CERTAIN
WE'LL BRING THIS FORWARD ON
MONDAY.
>> THANK YOU.
>> CLERK, PLEASE READ IN AGENDA
ITEM NUMBER TWO.
>> COMMITTEE AGENDA ITEM NUMBER
TWO, PRESENTATION ON CRIMINAL
CASE BACKLOG FOR BRIEFING AND
DISCUSSION.
>> THANK YOU VERY MUCH.
AND WE ARE JOINED BY NATALIE
WALTON-ANDERSON FROM THE CITY
ATTORNEY AND ATTORNEY ANN DAVE
DAVISON.
I THINK WE WILL HEAR YOUR
PRESENTATION FIRST AND HAVE
QUESTIONS AFTERWARDS.
I KNOW YOU SENT THE AGENDA,
AND I MIGHT TOUCH ON A COUPLE,
TIME PERMITTING AND LOOKING
FORWARD TO A RESPONSE AT A
LATER DATE BUT I WILL TURN IT
OVER TO YOUR PRESENTATION.
>> THANK YOU SO MUCH,
COUNCILMEMBER, FOR INVITING US.
I APOLOGIZE FOR MY VOICE.
I AM WORKING REMOTE AND MY
SPEAKING TIME WILL BE BRIEF SO
I WILL BE ABLE TO COMMUNICATE
AND MY CHIEF NATALIE WALTON-
ANDERSON WILL SPEAK.
AND I WANT TO THANK YOU FOR THE
TIME TO DISCUSS IT IS PLAN TO
MOVE FORWARD OF ADDRESSING THE
BACKLOG OF NEARLY 5000 CRIMINAL
CASES THAT MY OFFICE HAD AT THE
START OF THE YEAR.
WE HAVE SOME OF THE DATA SIGNS
I TOOK OFFICE, AND I KNOW THE
SEATTLE CITY COUNCIL SHARES OUR
COMMITMENT TO DATA
TRANSPARENCY.
AT THE SEATTLE CITY ATTORNEY
OFFICE, WE PLAY A CRITICAL ROLE
IN SAVES, AND WE ARE THE
PROSECUTORS FOR MISDEMEANORS
THAT MAKE UP 2% OF THE CRIME
THAT OCCURS IN THE CITY, AND
THEY DO MATTER WITH DUI, SEXUAL
ASSAULT, WEAPONS CHARGES, AND
ALL LAWS MATTER.
BUSINESS OWNERS ARE STRUGGLING
TO KEEP THEIR BUSINESSES
RUNNING BECAUSE OF REPEATED
BREAK-INS AND THEFT.
THEY ARE REPEAT VICTIMS.
ONE SMALL BUSINESS OWNER IN
BELL TOWN WHO OPENED HIS DOORS
THIS YEAR WAS THE TARGET OF
FOUR BREAK-INS IN THREE MONTHS,
HE IS A REPEAT VICTIM ON WHAT
SEEMS TO BE A MONTHLY BASIS AND
HE HAS TO CHOOSE BETWEEN
REPLACING A BROKEN WINDOW OR
FIRING ONE OF THE FEW REMAINING
STAFF.
HE CAN'T AFFORD TO DO BOTH.
AND ANOTHER SHOP OWNER ON
CAPITOL HILL WAS THE VICTIM OF
THREE THEFTS THIS MONTH.
AND THIS CRIMINAL ACTIVITY
CAN'T BE IGNORED.
WHEN I TOOK OFFICE, WE HAVE
5000 CASES THAT WE ARE CALLING
THE BACKLOG.
I WANT TO STRESS THIS IS
UNUSUAL.
IT'S UNLIKELY THAT A CITY LIKE
SEATTLE WOULD NOT HAVE A
BACKLOG, 5000 IS UNUSUAL.
THE AVERAGE TIME IS 334 DAYS
AND THE LONGEST ONE HAS BEEN
WAITING FOR A DECISION FOR TWO
YEARS.
IT'S UNACCEPTABLE TO WAIT TWO
YEARS TO DETERMINE IF A PERSON
WILL BE CHARGED WITH A CRIME.
WE HAVE A PLAN TO CLEAR THE
BACKLOG AND MOVE FORWARD.
WE ARE USING THE RESOURCES ON
THE CURRENT REREFERRAL AND
BECAUSE OF THAT, MY RECOVERS
WILL BE DECLINING NEARLY 2000.
I WANT TO REINFORCE WE ARE
MAKING THIS DECISION BECAUSE
THIS IS THE ONLY WAY THAT YOU
CAN BEGIN TO RETURNED REALTIME
ACCOUNTABILITY TO THE
MISDEMEANOR CRIMINAL JUSTICE
SYSTEM.
JUSTICE DELAYED IS JUSTICE
DENIED.
THE LONG TEAR GOES, THE HARDER
TO PROSECUTOR.
AND WE WILL MOVE FORWARD AND
REMOVE A MAJORITY OF CASES THAT
WILL LIKELY TAKE TO THE END OF
THE YEARS TO COMPLETE, AND I
WILL BE ASKING FOR TEMPORARY
RESOURCES AND A SUPPLEMENT
BUDGET TO HELP US TO FINISH
THIS WORK.
I WOULD LIKE TO THAT OVER TO MY
CRIMINAL CHIEF NATALIE WALTON-
ANDERSON, AN EXPERIENCED
PROSECUTOR AND IS A WELCOMED
LEADER IN THE CITY ATTORNEY'S
OFFICE.
NATALIE, I'LL HAND IT TO YOU.
>>
GOOD MORNING AND THANK YOU,
ANN.
GOOD MORNING, COUNCILMEMBERS
AND PROFESSIONAL STAFF PARTNERS
THAT HELPED TO HOST US.
MY NAME IS NATALIE WALTON-
ANDERSON AND I WAS ASKED BY AN
DAVISON, THE CRIMINAL NATURAL
CHIEF,
AND I WAS BORN HERE IN SEATTLE.
TO START, I WOULD LIKE TO GIVE
A GENERAL OVERVIEW OF THE
CITY'S PLANS TO ADDRESS THE
BACKLOG AS THE CITY ATTORNEY
HAS INDICATED, THE NEW
ADMINISTRATION GIVEN A BACKLOG
OF NEARLY 5000 REFERRALS.
THE CRIMINAL ATTORNEYS WILL
REVIEW 300 REFERRALS A MONTH.
DUE TO THE STAFFING, OUR
OFFICERS WILL HAVE TO DECLINE
1921 REFERRALS WITH THE AVERAGE
REFERRAL HAVING SAT IN THE
BACKLOG FOR 334 DAYS.
THROUGH THE ADMINISTRATION'S
POLICY CHANGES, WE HAVE ALREADY
REDUCED THE BACKLOG BY ALMOST
550 CASES.
MAY I SEE THE TOP OF THE FIRST
SLIDE.
SO THIS FIRST SLIDE IS
IMPORTANT TO SHOW THE
HISTORICAL BACK GROUND OF THE
NUMBERS FOR THE SEATTLE POLICE
DEPARTMENT.
AS YOU CAN SEE, THE BE NUMBER
OF REFERRALS DROPPED OFF
SIGNIFICANTLY IN 2020 AND BEGAN
RISING AGAIN IN 2021.
THE REFERRALS NUMBERS INCREASED
AFTER QUARTER ONE, AND I WOULD
ANTICIPATE THAT QUARTER ONE AND
QUARTER THREE BE HIGHER THAN
BASED ON THE HISTORICAL DATA
THAN PRESENTED.
IF I MAY HAVE THE SLIDES,
PLEASE.
THIS CHART SHOWS THE STEADY
GROWTH OF THE SEATTLE POLICE
DEPARTMENT REFERRALS THAT MAKE
UP THE BACKLOG FROM 2019
THROUGH TODAY.
IT MAY BE HARD TO SEE.
THIS CHART IS WANTING TO SHOT
DEPTH IN TERMS OF YEARS AND
MONTHS.
BUT WE HAVE ALREADY BEGUN TO
REDUCE THE REST THANKS TO THE
CLOSE AND REVIEW POLICY.
NEXT SLIDE.
AS CITY ATTORNEY DAVISON
MENTIONED IN HER OPENING
REMARKS, MISDEMEANORS OFTEN
SERIOUS.
WE HAVE 971 DOMESTIC VIOLENCE
REFERRALS SITTING IN THE
BACKLOG WAITING TO REVIEW AND
900 ASSAULT REFERRALS WAITING
AND THESE CHARGES ARE NOT
INSIGNIFICANT.
YOU CAN SEE THE CLOSE IN TIME
REVIEW POLICY THAT STARTED IN
FEBRUARY OF THIS YEAR THAT HAVE
HAD ON THIS TIME WITH THE
FOLLOWING REFERRALS FROM THE
SEATTLE POLICE.
IT'S IMPORTANT TO NOTE THAT
THERE ARE STILL REFERRALS IN
THE BACKLOG FROM 2020 AND 2021.
SO THOSE CALLING FOR 2020 AND
2021 FULL TRANSPARENCY WILL
CONTINUE TO RISE.
BOX -- 146 AND 122 WILL
CONTINUE TO RISE UNTIL WE
COMPLETE THE BACKLOG.
BUT IN 2022, THE GREEN COLUMN,
FROM JANUARY 21 TO THIS WEEK T
HAS TAKEN 90 DAYS TO CLOSE
THOSE CASES AND WE WILL
CONTINUE TO AVERAGE 19.
NEXT SLIDE.
HERE IS THE BACKLOG PRIORITY
AREA.
AS YOU CAN SEE, WE ARE
ADDRESSING THE BACKLOG BY
PRIORITIZING.
WE MUST DECLINE THE CRIMINAL
TRES MASS AND NON- DUI TRAFFIC
OFFENSES.
THE CASES HAVE TO BE DECLINED
BECAUSE WE CANNOT TAKE ACTION
ON THE CASES THAT HAVE PASSED
THE STATUTE OF LIMITATIONS.
ALL CRIMES AGAINST PERSONS,
FIREARMS OR DUIs ARE PRIORITY,
AND AT THIS POINT WE WANTED TO
MAKE SURE WE HAD TIME FOR
QUESTIONS.
>> THANK YOU SO MUCH.
>> THANK YOU, COUNCILMEMBER
HERBOLD, FOR HOSTING US.
>> THANK YOU.
CAN YOU TAKE THE PRESENTATION
DOWN SO I CAN SEE EVERYBODY AND
SEE IF WE HAVE ANY QUESTIONS?
>> COUNCILMEMBER PEDERSEN?
>> I WANTED TO THANK THE CITY
ATTORNEY AND THE CHIEF FOR
BEING HERE TODAY AND GOING
THROUGH THIS DATA AND COMING UP
WITH A PLAN ON HOW TO REDUCE
THE BACKLOG GOING FORWARD.
THANK YOU.
>> ABSOLUTELY.
>> ANY OTHER QUESTIONS FROM
COUNCILMEMBERS OR COMMENTS?
COUNCILMEMBER LEWIS?
>> THANK YOU, MADAM CHAIR.
SIMILARLY, I WANT TO EXTEND MY
GRATITUDE THAT COUNCILMEMBER
PEDERSEN HAD FOR NOT ONLY
TACKLING THE BACKLOG BUT A
BACKLOG THAT SORT OF ASSERTED
ITSELF IN THE LAST FIVE TO SIX
YEARS ON A CONSISTENT BASES AND
APPRECIATE THE PROACTIVENESS IN
COMING UP WITH A PLAN.
I WANT TO GO BACK TO THE FOURTH
SLIDE IF POSSIBLE IF THAT CAN
BE PUT UP.
I DON'T KNOW IF THIS WOULD BE A
QUESTION THAT WOULD BE BETTER
FOR CITY ATTORNEY DAVISON OR
MISS WALTON-ANDERSON.
BUT IN TERMS OF THE OUTSTANDING
CASES IN THE BACKLOG THAT ARE
INDICATED ON SLIDE FOUR, THERE
IS A FAIRLY SIGNIFICANT NUMBER
OF TRESPASS REFERRALS THAT
COULD BE 180 ELIGIBLE, MY
QUESTION WOULD BE TO WHAT
EXTENT MIGHT BE THE REFERRAL BE
A COMPONENT OF RESOLVING THE
BACKLOG.
IT WOULD NOT RESOLVE THE ENTIRE
BACKLOG BUT A NUMBER OF CASES
RESOLVED, AND I WONDER IF WE
COULD GET AN UPDATE ON THE
EXTENT TO THAT STRATEGY TO MOVE
THROUGH THESE CASES.
>> ANN, WOULD YOU LIKE TO TAKE
THAT QUESTION?
>> THAT WOULD BE GREAT.
THANK YOU.
THANK YOU, COUNCILMEMBER LEWIS.
WITH REGARD THAT IS A FANTASTIC
PARTNER FOR THE SEATTLE CITY
ATTORNEY'S OFFICE AND THE IDEA
IS TO UTILIZE THE PREFILING
PROGRAM FOR THE CURRENT CASES
COMING IN.
UNFORTUNATELY TO REVIEW THOSE
CSES TO SEE IF THEY ARE
ELIGIBLE, WE HAVE TO COMB
THROUGH THEM.
WE HAVE TWO PROSECUTORS AND ARE
HOPING TO FILL OBVIOUSLY, THE
PRE-FILING POSITIONS THAT
COUNCIL HAS GRANTED US, BUT IT
TAKES TIME TO HAVE COMB THROUGH
THE REFERRALS AND MAKE SURE
THAT THEY CAN BE ELIGIBLE FOR
THE PROGRAM AND WE ARE CHOOSING
TO UTILIZE THE CASES THAT ARE
COMING IN, THE PROPERTY AND
THEFT CASES TO ENGAGE WITH 180.
>> SO NONE OF THE CASES IN THE
BACKLOG ARE ELIGIBLE OR THAT
WILL BE SORT OF A TRIAGING
PROCESS GOING FORWARD TO
DETERMINE IF -- LIKE IF A
FILING DEPUTY FINDS SOMETHING
ELIGIBLE TO GO INTO THAT
CATEGORY.
LIKE IT COULD GO IN THERE OR
THE POLICY IS THESE CASES CAN'T
BE DIVERTED?
>> IT'S BEING MADE A POLICY
DECISION TO DECLINE THESE 2000
CASES.
IT DOESN'T MEAN THAT WE AREN'T
REFERRING CASES TO 180.
WE ARE CHOOSING TO DO THAT
REALTIME WITH THE CASES THAT
ARECOMING IN.
IN ORDER TO GO BACK AND DIVERT
THE CASES THAT WERE DECLINED
BASED ON THE TIME THAT HAS GONE
BY AND THE AMOUNT OF RESOURCES
WE DON'T HAVE, WE ARE MOVING
FORWARD TO THE CASES IN TIME SO
THE EFFORT WOULD BE MORE --
MORE APPROPRIATELY USED FOR THE
CASES CURRENTLY COMING IN.
>> OKAY.
I WILL FOLLOW UP OFFLINE ON
THAT.
I THINK I UNDERSTAND THE PLAN
GOING FORWARD, BUT I APPRECIATE
THE CLARIFICATION.
I THINK IT WAS SLIDE SIX.
>> CAN WE JUST STAY ON THIS
SLIDE REAL QUICKLY?
>> SURE.
>> CAN WE JUST CLARIFY ON THE
SLIDE, THE CASES IN THE
CATEGORIES OF PROPERTY
DESTRUCTION, HARASSMENT,
TRESPASS ARE AMONG THE CASES
THAT ARE DECLINING TO PROSECUTE
IN ADDITION TO ABOUT ANOTHER
400 CASES THAT YOU CAN'T
PROSECUTE BECAUSE OF THE
STATUTE OF LIMITATIONS?
IS THAT CORRECT?
>> COUNCILMEMBER HERBOLD, THANK
YOU.
JUST FOR CLARIFICATION, WE
WOULD COUNT DOMESTIC VIOLENCE,
ASSAULT, DUI AND HARASSMENT AND
WEAPONS CHARGES AS CASES THAT
ARE MOST SERIOUS THAT WE ARE
REVIEWING.
THE CASES THAT WE ARE DECLINING
ARE THEFT, PROPERTY DESTRUCTION
AND TRESPASS AND NON-DUI
TRAFFIC.
>> VERY HELPFUL.
THANK YOU VERY MUCH.
>> AND WHILE WE'RE ON THAT
POINT TO JUST CATEGORICALLY
DECLINE THE THEFT AND
TRESPASSING OR WAS THERE ANY
TRIAGE OF THOSE CASES FOR OTHER
FACTORS THAT MIGHT MAKE THEM
MORE SERIOUS AND PUT THEM INTO
THE 3000 OR SO CASES
CONSIDERED?
I WOULD BE GOOD TO CLARIFY THAT
AS WELL.
>> THANK YOU, COUNCILMEMBER
LEWIS.
YES.
WHAT WE DID WITH THE CASES THAT
WE TYPICALLY FROM THE POLICY
STANDARD DECLINE WE LOOKED AT
THE INDIVIDUALS THAT WOULD BE
MEET THE HIGH UTILIZER CRITERIA
OR HAVE THREE OR MORE IN THE
BACKLOG.
IF THAT'S THE CASE, WE WOULD
PULL THOSE OUT BECAUSE THERE IS
CONSISTENT CONTACT WITH LAW
ENFORCEMENT, AND THEY HAVE
SEVERAL IN THE BACKLOG CUE AND
WE PULLED THEM OUT TO BE ADDED
TO THE PRIORITIZATION TO BE
REVIEWED.
>> SOME OF THE PROPERTY
DESTRUCTION CASES ARE ALSO
GETTING DECLINED.
WAS THERE ANY TRIAGING TO THOSE
IN TERMS OF IT IS NATURE OF THE
PROPERTY DESTRUCTION?
I AM ASKING THESE AT THE SAME
TIME AND THE CRIME AGAINST
PROPERTY DESTRUCTION -- SOME OF
THE PROPERTY DESTRUCTION FACT
PATTERNS CAN BE OBVIOUSLY
PRETTY CONCERNING PARTICULAR LY
IN THE CASE WHERE IS IT'S THE
PERSON'S PERSONAL PROPERTY.
AND UNDER ANY CIRCUMSTANCES,
IT'S CONCERNING BUT I WONDER
ANY TRIAGE FOR CERTAIN PROPERTY
DESTRUCTION FACT PATTERNS WHERE
THERE WAS A PROVABLE CASE,
PARTICULARLY AGAINST PERSONAL
PROPERTY.
AND JUST WONDERING IF SOME OF
THOSE ARE GETTING DECLINED.
>> COUNCILMEMBER LEWIS, THANK
YOU AGAIN FOR THE QUESTION,
AND THESE ARE INCREDIBLY TOUGH
CASES.
A LOT OF US HAVE SPENT A LOT OF
TIME, ESPECIALLY THE ONE SOLE
VICTIM ADVOCATE HANDLING
HUNDREDS IF NOT THOUSANDS OF
REQUESTS FROM VICTIMS WHO ARE
PROPERTY OWNERS AND SMALL
BUSINESS VICTIMS.
AND IT'S VERY DIFFICULT TO
DECLINE THE CASES IN TERMS OF
THE CRITERIA OF BREAKING THOSE
OUT.
WE HAVE IDENTIFIED THE HIGH
UTILIZER CRITERIA AND THOSE
INDIVIDUALS WITH THREE OR MORE
IN THE BACKLOG.
AND WITH THE PROPERTY DAMAGE OR
THE ABILITY TO REVIEW, WE WOULD
LOVE TO HAVE THE RESOURCES TO
NOT DECLINE.
UNFORTUNATELY, WE HAVE BEEN
INCREDIBLY SHORT STAFFED AND WE
HAVE A LIMITED NUMBER OF FILING
DEPUTIES, AND WE ARE ASKING
FOR AN ALL HAND ON DECK
APPROACH, ASKING EVERYONE,
INCLUDING MYSELF, TO REVIEW
CASES TO MINIMIZE THE AMOUNT OF
CASES THAT WE ARE TRYING TO
DECLINE.
>> I WOULD LIKE TO ADD TO WHAT
NATALIE HAS SAID.
EXCUSE ME.
AGAIN, PARDON MY VOICE.
IT'S -- IT'S AN EXTREMELY
DIFFICULT DECISION WE HAVE HAD
TO MAKE BUT TO RESTORE REALTIME
ACCOUNTABILITY FOR TODAY'S
PROPERTY DESTRUCTION AND FOR
THOSE SETS OF CASES, AND WE
HAVE TO DO THIS FOR THAT
BACKLOG.
THIS IS A HISTORIC LOOK BACK.
THIS IS NOT GOING FORWARD, AND
WE WANT TO MAKE SURE THAT
PEOPLE UNDERSTAND THE
DISTINCTION.
THIS IS A CASE FOR AN AVERAGE
OF 334 DAYS.
WE WILL -- WE ARE NOT HELPING
TODAY'S ISSUES AS WELL.
SO WE HAVE HAD TO CREATE THAT
PRIORITIZATION LEVEL.
NATALIE AND HER TEAM HAVE DONE
EXCELLENT IN THIS HARD TASK.
SO I JUST WANT TO SAY THANK YOU
PROBABLY TO HER AND HER TEAM.
>> THANKS SO MUCH.
JUST WANT TO AGAIN FLAG THAT
BOTH MYSELF AND COUNCILMEMBER
LEWIS SPENT SEVERAL QUESTIONS
PROBABLY A WEEK AGO.
I SENT MINE LEFT NIGHT, ABOUT
FOUR, FIVE QUESTIONS ABOUT THE
BACKLOG AND FOCUSED ON THE
IMPACTS OF THE CONTRACT AND MOU
COMMITMENT TO MAINTAIN THE
AVERAGE, AND THE BACKLOG OF
CASES AND PROSECUTION AND THE
OFFICERS AND PUBLIC DEFENDER'S
CASE ASSIGNMENT, SO MOST OF MY
QUESTIONS ABOUT THE BACKLOG WAS
ABOUT THAT, AND I HAVE FOUR
QUESTIONS ABOUT THE INITIATIVE
AND ONE QUESTION THAT I
INTENDED TO SEND AND I CANNOT
AND I WILL FLAG HERE NOW IS
RELATED TO -- I DID INCLUDE A
QUESTION ABOUT HOW YOU INTEND
TO WORK WITH THE HIGH UTILIZERS
BUT A QUESTION I FAILED TO
INCLUDE IS HOW YOU WILL HANDLE
THE CLASS MEMBERS THAT --
TREATING THEM AS HIGH UTILIZE
CASES, NOT CONFLICTING WITH THE
CASES.
>> THANK YOU, COUNCILMEMBER
HERBOLD.
WE LOOK FORWARD TO ANSWERING
THOSE QUESTIONS OUTSIDE OF THE
SETTING.
THANK YOU FOR SENDING THOSE
OVER.
>> AND I AM NOT SEEING ANY
OTHER HAND RAISED.
THANK YOU AGAIN FOR BEING WITH
US.
>> SORRY.
>> OH, SORRY.
>> SORRY.
I HAD ONE.
IT'S A CLARIFYING QUESTION.
>> COUNCILMEMBER LEWIS.
>> EARLIER, THERE WERE COMMENTS
ABOUT THE OFFICE NOT BEING
FULLY STAFFED.
I THOUGHT WE HAD SEEN IN THE
EARLIER ANNOUNCEMENTS THAT THE
OPEN CRIMINAL VICTIM POSITIONS
HAD BEEN FILLED.
WAS THAT JUST A COMMENT ON THE
NEW HIRES STILL BEING ONBOARDED
BECAUSE IT WAS FAIRLY RECENT?
WHERE IS THE OFFICE IN TERMS OF
BEING FULLY STAFFED WITHIN THE
RESOURCES CURRENTLY
APPROPRIATED?
>> THANK YOU, COUNCILMEMBER
LEWIS.
YS.
WE ARE STILL HAVING PEOPLE ON
BOARD AND WE HAVE SOMEBODY
STARTING THIS WEEK AND WE HAVE
ONE MORE POSITION AT LEAST LEFT
TO FILL.
WE HAVE HAD AT LEAST SIX PEOPLE
START.
MY START DATE WAS MARCH 1 AND
THEY ARE DUE THIS MONTH, AND
THE PROCESS OF ONBOARDING THE
INDIVIDUALS TO BE FULLY UP TO
SPEED TAKES SOME TIME.
>> HOW MANY OUTSTANDING
VACANCIES ARE THERE?
>> WE HAVE ONE MORE OUTSTANDING
VACANCY FOR THE CRIMINAL
DECISION AND AGAIN I BELIEVE WE
HAVE SEVERAL POSITIONS OPEN FOR
THE PREFILING THAT THE COUNCIL
HAS GRANTED AS WELL THAT WE
HAVE NOT FILLED YET.
>> THANK YOU.
>> ALL RIGHT.
THANKS AGAIN.
NO FURTHER QUESTION OR
COMMENTS, WE WILL CLOSE OUT
THIS TOPIC.
>> I'M SORRY, COUNCILMEMBER.
THERE IS ONE MORE HAND UP.
>> I AM SO SORRY.
COUNCILMEMBER NELSON.
>> IT'S OKAY.
THANK YOU VERY MUCH FOR THIS
INFORMATION AND ALSO FOR THE
PROACTIVE WORK THAT YOU ARE
DOING.
I HAVE QUESTIONS THAT I WILL
ASK OFFLINE, BUT TO ME, THIS IS
ONE PART OF THE CHAIN OF OUR
PUBLIC SAFETY PROCESSES.
SO I'M IMAGINING THAT BY
SPEEDING UP THE FILING PROCESS,
WE ARE ALL -- NOW WE HAVE -- I
AM WONDERING ABOUT THE IMPACTS
ON OR THE COURT'S
ACCOMMODATIONS ON THE CASES AND
OUR PARTNERS AT THE COUNTY.
CAN THEY ACCOMMODATE
INDIVIDUALS THAT ARE FOUND
GUILTY, ET CETERA, BUT THAT IS
BEYOND THE SCOPE OF THIS
DISCUSSION.
BUT WHEN YOU MAKE A CHANGE IN
THE SYSTEM, SOMETIMES T
REQUIRES CHANGES IN THE WHOLE
COMPREHENSIVE SYSTEM OF PUBLIC
SAFETY.
SO OFFLINE.
THANK YOU VERY MUCH.
>> THANK YOU.
>> AND HAPPY TO RESPOND.
WE HAVE BEEN IN COMMUNICATION
WITH THE COURT AND DPD ABOUT
WHAT THE ANTICIPATED NUMBERS
WILL BE, AND THAT IS
INCREDIBLY IMPORTANT TO
COMMUNICATE WITH EVEN IMPACTED
BY THIS.
>> ALL RIGHT.
THANK YOU.
MUCH APPRECIATED.
>> THANK YOU.
>> LET'S MOVE ON.
WILL THE CLERK PLEASE READ IN
AGENDA ITEM NUMBER THREE.
>> SPD STAFFING UPDATE,
DISCUSSION OF RESOLUTION 32050
AND CITYWIDE HIRING INCENTIVES
FOR HARD TO FILL POSITIONS.
>> ALL RIGHT.
WE ARE JOINED BY GREG DOSS THE
CENTRAL STAFF AND CHIEF DIAZ
AND BRIAN MAXEY YEAH AND MIKE
FIELDS FROM SPD.
WE WILL NOT BE VOTING, BUT WE
WILL START WITH GREG DOSS ON
THE FIRST QUARTER SWORN
STAFFING REPORT AS REQUESTED BY
THE COUNCIL AS PART OF THE 2022
BUDGET.
AFTER THAT, WE WILL MOVE TO
COUNCILMEMBER NELSON'S PROPOSED
RESOLUTION AND TO THE DRAFT
COUNCIL BILL THAT I'VE
SPONSORED.
PLEASE PROCEED.
>> THANK YOU, MADAM CHAIR.
MEMBERS OF THE TIE, CITY,
COUNCILMEMBERS, I AM GREG DOSS
TO TALK ABOUT THE STAFFING
RESOLUTION, 32050,
COUNCILMEMBER NELSON'S
RESOLUTION ON STAFFING AND I
WILL START WITH THE SWORN
STAFFING REPORT.
BEFORE I DIVE INTO IT, I HAVE
TO THANK SPD FOR ALL THE HELP
THAT THEY HAVE PROVIDED OVER
THE LAST WEEK AND A HALF,
PROVIDING THE DATA INFORMATION
AND STAFFING REPORT FOR THE
CENTRAL STAFF MEMO THAT IS
POSTED ON LINE THAT I'LL BE
TALKING ABOUT THIS MORNING.
THEY ALWAYS PROVIDE SO MUCH
DATA AND ARE SO HELPFUL.
THEY MAKE CENTRAL STAFF LOOK
GOOD BUT THE INFORMATION COMING
FROM THEM, AND I HAVE TO
ACKNOWLEDGE THAT AND THANK THE
STAFF.
SO WITH THAT, I WILL DIVE RIGHT
IN.
SO WE LAST TALKED IN JANUARY
ABOUT THE YEAR-END SWORN
STAFFING.
THIS IS GOING TO BE THE Q1, SO
THIS IS GOING TO COVER THE
UPDATES BETWEEN JANUARY AND
MARCH AND SHOW HOW STAFFING HAS
PROGRESSED.
ALLIE, THANK YOU.
AND THAT'S -- THIS IS THE SAME
CHART THAT YOU HAVE SEEN
BEFORE, AND AS YOU CAN SEE, THE
ACTUALS BETWEEN JANUARY AND
MARCH ARE NOT LOOKING VERY
GOOD.
THE ACTUAL SEPARATIONS ARE 43
AND THE ACTUAL HIRES WERE 13.
AND THAT IS QUITE A BIT OFF
FROM WHAT SPD WAS ORIGINALLY
EXPECTING.
SPD WAS ORIGINALLY EXPECTING TO
GET ABOUT -- THEY WERE -- THEY
GOT ABOUT 27 FEWER HIRES.
THEY WERE EXPECTING TO GET 40.
AND THEY GOT 13, AND THEY GOT
ABOUT 19 MORE SEPARATIONS.
THEY WERE EXPECTING 24 AND GOT
43.
SO THE HIRES AND SEPARATIONS
WENT VERY MUCH THE OTHER WAY
FROM WHAT THE DEPARTMENT WAS
HOPING.
IN TERMS OF HOW THAT WORKS OUT
ANNUALLY, WHEN YOU PROJECT OUT
THE END OF THE YEAR, COUNCIL
CENTRAL STAFF AND MYSELF
WORKING WITHIN THE BUDGET ARE
PREDICTING THERE WILL BE 125
SEPARATIONS.
HOWEVER, THE SPD REVISEDS IT
OWN PROJECTIONS AND IS
PROJECTING AT LEAST 113
PROJECTIONS OR 113 SEPARATIONS.
SO SPD IS PREDICTING MORE
SEPARATIONS AS WELL.
AND SPD HAS REVISED THE HIRING
PROJECTIONS DOWN TO 98.
THEY HAD BEEN HOPING TO GET 125
HIRES.
AS IT TURNS OUT, THEY ARE GOING
TO BE GETTING ONLY 98, THEY
THINK SO FAR BASED ON THE
INFORMATION THAT THEY GOT IN
THIS FIRST QUARTER.
SO HOW DOES THAT PAN OUT
THROUGHOUT THE YEAR?
IF YOU LOOK AT THE REST OF THE
YEAR, WHAT WE SEE IS THAT AT
THE END OF THE YEAR, THERE WILL
BE -- ALLIE, GO AHEAD AND FLIP
IT.
THAT'S FINE.
THANKS.
AT THE END OF THE YEAR, WE WILL
SEE THAT THE NUMBER OF FULLY
TRAINED OFFICERS WE HAD
EXPECTED WHEN THE 2022 BUDGET
WAS WRITTEN THERE WOULD BE 1145
TRAINED OFFICERS AND THERE
WOULD BE APPROXIMATELY 147
DEPLOYABLE OFFICERS.
WHAT WE ARE GOING TO FIND IS
THERE ARE GOING TO BE 1103
FULLY TRAINED OFFICERS AND 1011
DEPLOYABLE OFFICERS.
YOU CAN SEE THE DIFFERENCE
BETWEEN WHAT WE EXPECTED IN THE
ORIGINAL BUDGET ASSUMPTIONS FOR
THE 2022 BUDGET AND WHAT WE ARE
PROJECTING NOW, BASED ON THE
LATEST FORECAST.
WE ARE DOWN IN FULLY TRAINED
OFFICERS BY 42 AND DOWN
OFFICERS IN SERVICE BY 36.
THE REASON THE OFFICERS IN
SERVICE NUMBER IS A LITTLE BIT
LOWER, SOME OF THE OFFICERS IN
SERVICE THAT HAVE BEEN OUT,
AGAIN, THIS IS A COLUMN THAT
REFLECTS FOLKS THAT ARE OUT ON
LONG-TERM LEAVE, FOLKS THAT ARE
OUT ON FAMILY LEAVE OR
DISABILITY OR OTHER KINDS OF
LEAVE OR NOT DEPLOYABLE, SOME
OF THOSE FOLKS ARE COMING BACK.
SO THAT'S GOOD NEWS, AND SO
THAT MEANS THAT THE OFFICERS IN
SERVICE NUMBER IS NOT TAKING
QUITE AS BIG A HIT AS THE FULLY
TRAINED OFFICERS NUMBER.
BUT THIS NUMBER IS THE NUMBER
THAT THE DEPARTMENT CALCULATES
THE SWORN OFFICER SAVINGS WILL
BE OFF BY 32.
>> I PUT IN BETWEEN $4.1
MILLION AND $4.5 MILLION.
YOU HEARD ME SAY EARLIER THAT
SPD IS PROJECTING 113
SEPARATIONS AND 98 HIERS AND
THAT THE COUNCIL HAD PROJECTED
ITS BUDGET OF 125 SEPARATIONS.
IT SORT OF DEPENDS ON WHICH
ASSUMPTION YOU TAKE. IF YOU
TAKE THE COUNCIL ASSUMPTION OF
125 SEPARATIONS, YOU GET THE
HIRE NUMBER OF 4.5 MILLION.
IF YOU TAKE SPD'S ASSUMPTION OF
113 SEPARATIONS, YOU GET THE
LOWER NUMBER OF 4.1 MILLION.
EITHER WAY, OBVIOUSLY THE TREND
IS NOT PARTICULARLY GOOD.
BOTH OF THE -- ON THE HIRING
SIDE, SPD AND CENTRAL STAFF ARE
BOTH USING THE SAME NUMBERS
THAT WE ARE ASSUMING THAT THEY
ARE GOING TO HAVE 98 HIRES
MADE UP OF 80 RECRUIT HIRES , 17
LETTERS AND ONE REHIRE. WITH
THAT, I WILL STOP AND ASK IF
THERE IS ANY QUESTIONS ON THE
BIG PICTURE.
OKAY.
GO AHEAD AND FLIP AGAIN.
I THINK WE HAVE FLIPPED ONE TOO
FAR.
THERE WE GO.
GOING TO HOW THIS ROLLS OUT
INTO THE PRECINCT STAFFING.
THERE IS A BIT OF A CHANGE
AROUND IN THE PRECINCT
STAFFING.
THE CITYWIDE CATEGORY TO THE
FAR LEFT IS THE COMMUNITY
RESPONSE UNIT. THIS IS THE UNIT
THAT THE CHIEF STOOD UP A
LITTLE OVER A YEAR AGO THAT
CONSISTS OF MORE EXPERIENCE FOR
OFFICERS THAT HAVE TRANSFERRED
INTO 911 TO BE ABLE TO ASSIST
WITH KEEPING RESPONSE TIMES LOW
. WHAT HAS HAPPENED HERE IS
THAT THIS UNIT HAS BEEN
BASICALLY CUT IN HALF. WE SAW
54 OFFICERS AND I BELIEVE NINE
SERGEANTS LAST TIME AROUND.
NOW, THAT UNIT IS NOT NEARLY AS
BIG BUT THE PRECINCTS
THEMSELVES HAVE MORE OFFICERS
GROWING IN THEM.
I WANT TO MAKE CLEAR THAT THAT
DOES NOT NECESSARILY MEAN THAT
THERE IS MORE STRENGTH IN THE
PRECINCTS.
OVERALL, THE PRECINCT STAFFING
FOR ALL OF THE PRECINCTS
INCLUDING THE CITYWIDE, HAS
GONE DOWN BY FOUR OFFICERS.
REALLY, THIS IS A RESHUFFLING
OF THE DECK. THE CITYWIDE
RESPONSE UNIT HAD BEEN
RESPONDING FROM THE PRECINCTS.
THE FACT THAT THEY HAVE NOW BEEN
DECENTRALIZED AMONGST THE
PRECINCTS, OR ARE AMONGST THE
PRECINCTS ALONG THE WAY, IT
DOES NOT MAKE A LOT OF
DIFFERENCE FROM AN OVERALL
ABILITY FOR SPD TO RESPOND TO
911 CALLS.
THE CHIEF CAN TALK A LITTLE BIT
MORE ABOUT THAT WHEN HE SPEAKS
BUT I WANTED TO MAKE SURE
EVERYONE UNDERSTOOD THAT IF WE
ARE LOOKING JUST PARTICULARLY
AT NORTH AND YOU SEE THAT NORTH
HAS NINE FEWER OFFICERS THAN IT
DID THE LAST TIME AROUND, YOU
SHOULD ALSO KNOW THAT SOME OF
THE CITYWIDE RESPONSE OFFICERS
HAD BEEN WORKING IN THE NORTH
PRECINCT AND THAT THAT NUMBER
IS NOW DOWN.
THE OFFICERS HAD BEEN MOVED
AROUND AND IT IS DIFFICULT TO
DRAW CONCLUSIONS FROM THIS
REPORT.
I MAY NOW ASK THE CHIEF IF HE
WANTS TO COMMENT ON THAT.
I THINK MY COMMENTS ARE MORE
CONFUSING THAN ANYTHING.
>> THANK YOU.
>> THAT WOULD BE GREAT.
IF YOU COULD MAYBE SPEAK A
LITTLE BIT GENERALLY TO HOW
DEPLOYMENT DECISIONS ARE MADE
TO THE PRECINCT, THAT WOULD BE
HELPFUL.
>> THANK YOU CHAIR HERBOLD AND
THE PUBLIC SAFETY & HUMAN
SERVICES COMMISSION.
ONE OF THE THINGS THAT IS NOTED
IS THAT SOME SEE ARGIE WENT
BACK TO PATROL.
THE REASON WHY WE SENT THEM BACK
TO PATROL HIS THERE WERE
SEVERAL PRECINCTS THAT WERE
UNDERSTAFFED.
IT MOVES UP THE STAFFING LEVEL
99.7% OF ALL OF OUR SHIPS
AUGMENTED. OUR WHOLE LEVEL OF
PATROL IS PRETTY MUCH WORKING
SOME LEVEL OF OVERTIME.
I NEEDED TO MAKE SURE THAT WE
ARE TRYING TO LEVY SOME OF THAT
UP.
OUR CRG IS SMALLER. THE
COMMUNITY RESPONSE GROUP IS
ALLOWING US TO HAVE SOME LEVEL
OF PRODUCTIVITY.
THEY ARE ADDRESSING GUN
VIOLENCE, SHOTS FIRED, EVENING
EVENTS THAT WE KNOW COULD
POTENTIALLY RESULT IN SOME
LEVEL OF VIOLENCE.
HAVING A SMALLER GROUP BE ABLE
TO DO THAT DOES NOT MAKE IT
EASIER.
WE ARE COVERING MORE AND MORE
GUNS.
IT IS A LITTLE BIT OF SHUFFLING
THE DECK BUT I AM GETTING LESS
OFFICERS TO BE ABLE TO BE A
LITTLE MORE PROACTIVE IN SOME
OF THE LONG-STANDING WORK THAT
NEEDS TO BE DONE AS WELL ON THE
STREETS.
>> THANK YOU FOR THAT
CLARIFICATION.
LAST SLIDE, PLEASE.
>> THIS IS JUST A COMPARISON OF
HOW PATROL AND 911 RESPONSE
LOOKS OVERTIME.
AS YOU CAN SEE HERE, WHEN
COMPARED WITH HIGHEST POINT IN
RECENT HISTORY, SEPTEMBER 2020,
PATROL IS STILL DOWN QUITE A
WAYS. THE 911 RESPONDERS ARE
DOWN BY 130 SINCE DECEMBER 2020.
IT LOOKS LIKE THE PATROL ITSELF
WAS THAT THE STRENGTH OF 694
AND NOW IT IS DOWN TO 545.
A CONSIDERABLE LOSS THERE. A
LOT OF IT IS DEALING WITH -- A
LOT OF THAT REFLECT'S THE FACT
THAT THE BEATS ARE NOW
SIGNIFICANTLY REDUCED AND THE
SPECIALTY UNITS SUCH AS THE
COMMUNITY POLICE TEAMS AND THE
PRIME RESPONSE TEAMS ARE NOW
GONE.
IT IS REALLY BACK TO BASICS
WITH PATROL WITH THE FOCUS ON
911 RESPONSE.
THAT IS THE STAFFING REPORT.
I AM NOW READY TO JUMP INTO THE
STAFF REPORT MEMO ON THE
RESOLUTION. BEFORE THAT,
COUNCILMEMBER NELSON -- I'M
SORRY.
QUESTIONS FOR THE CHAIR?
>> COUNCILMEMBER NELSON?
>> THANK YOU.
COULD YOU GO BACK TO THE SLIDE
WHERE THE TWO LINES SHOW THE
TRENDS IN STAFFING. I AM NOT A
MATH WIZARD BUT I AM LOOKING AT
THE BOTTOM LINE. FOR ME, WHAT
IS MOST IMPORTANT IS HOW MANY
OFFICERS ARE AVAILABLE TO
PREVENT, FIGHT, AND INVESTIGATE
CRIME.
FROM 1290 DOWN TO 968, DOES
THAT REPRESENT ABOUT A 33%
REDUCTION IN FORCE? I COULD
VERY WELL BE WRONG.
I JUST WANT TO MAKE -- PREVIEW
THE DISCUSSION ABOUT THE
RESOLUTION BECAUSE IT IS THAT
NUMBER THAT IS IMPORTANT
BECAUSE WE ARE TALKING ABOUT
AVAILABLE OFFICERS TO BE OUT
THERE, RESPONDING TO 911 BUT
ALSO INVESTIGATING THE CRIMES
THAT WE ARE MOST CONCERNED ABOUT
LIKE GUNS, GUNS, ET CETERA THAT
IS LEADING TO THOSE 911 CALLS
WHEN WE ARE TALKING ABOUT LOWER
LEVEL CRIMES.
THAT IS MY POINT AND MY QUESTION
. I RECOGNIZE THE DIFFERENCE
BETWEEN THOSE TWO NUMBERS, THE
NUMBER ABOVE, 1114 AND BELOW IT
SAYS 968.
WE TALK ABOUT LEAVE. I THINK
ABOUT 114 PEOPLE ARE ON LEAVE
AND IT IS GREAT NEWS THAT THEY
ARE COMING BACK BUT A LOT OF
THE PEOPLE ON LEAVE ARE
PLANNING ON LEAVING THE
DEPARTMENT FOR VARIOUS REASONS.
THEY ARE USING UP SICK AND
VACATION TIME BEFORE THEY
SEPARATE. THANK YOU.
>> THANK YOU, COUNCILMEMBER.
THAT IS ABSOLUTELY TRUE.
THERE IS, IN THE STAFF REPORT,
A BREAKOUT -- A CATEGORY GO
BREAKOUT OF THE PEOPLE WHO ARE
OUT ON LEAVE. AS YOU KNOW, THAT
IS THE DIFFERENCE BETWEEN AT
1114 NUMBER AND THE 968 NUMBER.
AS YOU NOTED, THERE ARE FOLKS
THAT ARE USING SICK ACCRUED
LEAVE, 75 OF THEM ARE ON SICK
ACCRUED LEAVE. THERE ARE ABOUT
19 THAT ARE ON FAMILY MEDICAL
LEAVE, SEVEN THAT ARE ON
PARENTAL LEAVE AND 16 THAT ARE
ON ADMINISTRATIVE LEAVE. ABOUT
26 ON WORKERS COMP. YOU ARE
RIGHT THAT ABOUT HALF OF THEM
OR SO ARE ON THE KIND OF LEAVE
THAT THEY MIGHT TAKE BEFORE
THEY SEPARATE FROM THE
DEPARTMENT AND THAT IS OFTEN A
GOOD INDICATOR OF A FUTURE
SEPARATION.
THOSE FOLKS ARE NOT DEPLOYABLE
NOW.
IT IS AN INDICATOR OF STREET
STRENGTH AND ULTIMATELY IT
COULD BE THAT THOSE FOLKS NEVER
RETURN WHERE HALF OF THEM MAY
NOT.
>> I THOUGHT I HEARD YOU SAY
THAT THERE WAS A POSITIVE TREND
ON THE ISSUE OF OFFICERS ON
EXTENDED LEAVE. I HAVE A NOTE
HERE THAT THE NUMBER OF OFFICERS
ON DISABILITY OR EXTENDED LEAVE
INCREASED 108 TO 176 FROM
SEPTEMBER TO OCTOBER OF LAST
YEAR AFTER THE ANNOUNCEMENT OF
THE VACCINE MANDATE.
I AM WONDERING, WHERE CAN I SEE
THAT TREND OF SOME OF THOSE
OFFICERS COMING BACK TO WORK?
>> THE POSITIVE TREND IS THE
DIFFERENCE BETWEEN THE YEAR END
NUMBER THAT I GAVE YOU IN THE
JANUARY REPORT. THERE WERE 170
OFFICERS THAT WERE OUT ON LEAVE
AT THAT TIME. IN QUARTER ONE,
THE REPORT I'M GIVING YOU NOW,
THERE ARE 146 THAT ARE OUT ON
LEAVE. I AM TRYING TO THINK OF
THE MATH.
THERE IS 24 THAT IS PRIMARILY
DUE TO -- IT LOOKS LIKE A
REDUCTION OF 10 IN ACCRUED
LEAVE BENEFITS, 10 IN FAMILY
MEDICAL LEAVE AND THEN A FEW
OTHERS HERE IN WORKER'S COMP.'S
AND PARENTAL LEAVE.
>> THANK YOU.
>> COUNCILMEMBER MOSQUEDA?
>> THANK YOU VERY MUCH, MADAM
CHAIR.
THANK YOU VERY MUCH FOR THAT
INITIAL NUMBERS.
I DO HAVE A QUESTION ABOUT THE
DATA SET THAT WAS JUST ON THE
SLIDE.
IF WE CAN POP THAT PRESENTATION
BACKUP.
THE DATA IN TODAY'S
PRESENTATION GOES BACK TO
AUGUST OF 2020 WHEN SPD HAD THE
LARGER NUMBER OF 911 RESPONDERS
DUE TO REASSIGNMENT OF 100
OFFICERS TO 911.
THEREFORE, MAKING IT THAT THE
DATA POINT AS AN OUTLIER
COMPARED TO WHAT WE WOULD HAVE
NORMALLY SEEN. AS I LOOK BACK
AT SOME OF THE PRESENTATIONS
THAT HAVE BEEN PROVIDED BEFORE,
IN THE MARCH 9, 2021
PRESENTATION TO COUNCIL, SPD
STATA SHOWED US IF WE LOOK AT
THE DATA GOING BACK TO 2018
AND WE COMPARE THAT TO 2019 AND
WE COMPARE IT EVEN FURTHER TO
2014, WE SEE THAT
TRADITIONALLY, WE HAVE ALWAYS
HAD JUST OVER 500 OFFICERS IN
911 RESPONSE.
I WILL SHOW YOU SOME NUMBERS
AND I'M HOPING THAT YOU CAN
TELL ME IF THESE ARE ACCURATE
OR NOT THIS PRESENTATION.
IF I AM LOOKING AT 2014, THERE
WAS 545 OFFICERS.
2016, 574 OFFICERS.
2017, 572 OFFICERS.
2018, 544 OFFICERS.
2019, 542.
THIS DOES FACTOR IN TO WHETHER
OR NOT WE ARE SEEING AN OUTLIER
FROM THE 2020 DATA VERSUS THE
FIVE YEARS PREVIOUS TO THAT.
I WOULD LOVE YOUR THOUGHTS
ABOUT THAT.
I ALSO WANT TO NOTE FOR OUR
COMMITTEE AND MEMBERS OF THE
PUBLIC AS A REMINDER, THE
NATIONAL INSTITUTE FOR CRIMINAL
JUSTICE REFORM 2021 STUDY FOUND
-- SOMEBODY SPOKE ABOUT THIS AT
THE UNIVERSITY OF WASHINGTON,
THE 2021 STUDY FOUND THAT 21%
OF ALL OF OUR 911 CALLS WHICH
CONSTITUTE 80% OF THE CALL
VOLUME COULD BE RESPONDED TO BY
AN ALTERNATIVE RESPONDER, NOT A
SWORN OFFICER.
THESE FINDINGS ECHO WHAT WE SAW
FROM THE CENTER FOR AMERICAN
PROGRESS AND THE LAW
ENFORCEMENT ACTION PARTNERSHIP
WHICH FOUND THAT ONLY 28.6% OF
COLLEGES SHOULD ACTUALLY BE
HANDLED BY A SWORN OFFICER.
SPD HAS ACKNOWLEDGED THIS AND
HAS ACKNOWLEDGED THAT IN THIS
EXACT MOMENT, 12% OF THE CALLS
WE ARE CURRENTLY HANDLING COULD
BE IMMEDIATELY TRANSFERRED OUT
OF THE DEPARTMENT.
THE CONVERSATION WE ARE HAVING
TODAY ABOUT WHETHER OR NOT WE
HAVE THE RIGHT SIZE NUMBER OF
911 OFFICERS IS RELEVANT, I
JUST WANT TO MAKE SURE WE ARE
LOOKING BACK TO THE 2014 DATA
THAT HAS BEEN PROVIDED.
I SAW CONSISTENCY THERE.
I AM QUESTIONING WHETHER OR NOT
WE ARE BEING ASKED TO DO RIGHT
NOW, IN TERMS OF EVALUATING THE
RIGHT NUMBER OF OFFICERS FOR
THE CALL IS BEING MESHED UP
WITH A NUMBER OF CALLS THAT WE
SEE FROM OUR OWN DATA ANALYSIS
INDICATING THAT WE DON'T NEED
911 OFFICERS.
IF WE WENT WITH A CONSERVATIVE
ESTIMATE, 12% WOULD NOT NEED A
911 CALL.
I WOULD LOVE TO HEAR OF WHETHER
OR NOT THOSE NUMBERS ARE WHAT
YOU RECALL AS WELL FROM 2014
AND I WANT TO MAKE SURE THAT AS
I SAY THIS, IT IS CLEAR THAT I
AM PRIORITIZING THAT SOMEONE
WHO NEEDS AN SPD OFFICER IS
BEING FREED UP TO RESPOND THAT
THEY ARE NOT GETTING DEPLOYED
TO THESE CALLS.
THE DATA HAS SHOWN THEY DON'T
NEED A SWORN OFFICER WITH A GUN.
>> CAN YOU FLIP TO THE NEXT
SLIDE, PLEASE?
>> I WANT TO MAKE A POINT HERE
THAT THE 911 RESPONSE IS ONE
PART OF THE PICTURE.
THE CHIEF HAS MOVED MANY
SPECIALTY UNIT OFFICERS FROM
THEIR SPECIALTY ASSIGNMENTS INTO
911 SO THAT WE CAN HAVE A
CONSISTENT NUMBER OF 911
RESPONDERS BECAUSE THE CHIEF HAS
RIGHTFULLY COME WITH THE
STAFFING SHORTAGES, REALIZED
THAT PRIORITIZING 911 RESPONSE,
PARTICULARLY THE PRIORITY ONE
CALLS IS INCREDIBLY IMPORTANT
TO OUR COMMUNITY.
WHAT WE ARE NOT SEEING IS THE
NUMBER OF OFFICERS THAT HAVE
BEEN MOVED OFF OF THEIR
ASSIGNMENTS, WHETHER OR NOT YOU
ARE TALKING ABOUT ELDER ABUSE
DETECTIVES, CPT OFFICERS --
THERE WAS A LOT OF OFFICERS --
I DON'T HAVE THE CURRENT
NUMBER.
THERE ARE A LOT OF OFFICERS
THAT HAVE BEEN MOVED OFF OF
THESE SPECIALTY ASSIGNMENTS IN
ORDER TO KEEP THESE NUMBERS OF
911 PATROL UP.
>> THANK YOU COUNCILMEMBER
HERBOLD.
WHILE OUR PATROL STAFFING HAS
STAYED RELATIVELY AT THE SAME
LEVEL, WE ALSO HAD COMMUNITY
OLICING TEAMS, ANTICRIME TEAMS
THAT WERE BACKFILLING AND
SUPPORTING OUR 911 OPERATION.
WE NO LONGER HAVE THAT.
WE HAVE HAD TO HAVE SEVERAL OF
THE DETECTIVES OUT OF THEIR
UNIT AND PUT THEM BACK INTO
PATROL. IF WE DON'T HAVE AN
OFFICER TO RESPOND TO SEXUAL
ASSAULT, WE WILL NEVER HAVE THE
FOLLOW-UP TO BE ABLE TO
INVESTIGATE IT.
I HAVE TRIED TO MAKE SURE THAT
WE HAVE MAINTAINED OUR PATROL
STAFFING LEVELS BUT EVEN AS WE
LOOK AT SOME OF THE PATROL
STAFFING LEVELS A YEAR AGO,
OVER HALF OF YOUR FORCE WOULD
BE IN PATROL. WE WERE UNDER
THAT.
WHAT WE ARE ALSO FINDING IS THAT
99.7% OF THE TIME, WE ARE
AUGMENTING THE SHIFT.
THAT MEANS THAT NO MATTER WHAT
OFFICERS ARE HAVING TO WORK
OVERTIME JUST TO HANDLE THE
BARE MINIMUM, WE ARE GOING TO
CREATE WEAR AND TEAR ON OUR
OFFICERS.
IT CREATES A WHOLE HOST OF NOT
BEING ABLE TO DEAL WITH OUR OWN
INTERNAL TRAUMA BECAUSE WE ARE
CONSTANTLY GOING FROM CALL TO
CALL TO CALL.
IF I LOOK AT THE THREE SHIFTS,
FIRST, SECOND AND THIRD WATCH,
FIRST AND SECOND WATCH ARE
EXCEEDING THEIR AMOUNT OF TIME
ANSWERING 911 CALLS AND NOT
HAVING WHAT WE CALL DOWNTIME TO
BE ABLE TO DO COMMUNITY WORK.
THAT RIGHT THERE CREATES HUGE
LEVELS OF STRESS ON US BEING
ABLE TO RESPOND PROPERLY.
OUR PRIORITY ONE RESPONSE TIME
HAS GONE UP AS WELL IS OUR
PRIORITY TWO CALL WHICH HAS
EXCEEDED OVER 30 MINUTES.
OUR PRIORITY THREE CALLS IS
ALMOST OVER ONE HOUR.
EVEN WHEN PEOPLE DO NEED 911
SERVICES, WE ARE NOT ABLE TO
RESPOND IN THE ADEQUATE AMOUNT
OF TIME.
>> COUNCILMEMBER PEDERSEN, I
SEE YOU HAVE YOUR HAND UP
THERE.
CAN WE MOVE INTO THE DISCUSSION
OF COUNCIL MEMBER NELSON'S
RESOLUTION?
I AM SURE YOUR QUESTIONS WILL
LEAD INTO THAT.
>> I THINK THAT WILL BE
HELPFUL.
SOME OF THE STUFF THAT IS
COMING UP IN DISCUSSION, I AM
ABOUT TO GO OVER IN THE
RESOLUTION.
WOULD YOU MIND PUTTING UP THE
FIRST TABLE IN THE STAFF MEMO?
THANK YOU.
I AM GOING TO GO AHEAD AND
SPEAK TO THE EXACT ISSUE THAT
THE CHAIR BROUGHT UP AND THAT
THE CHIEF WAS TALKING ABOUT.
WHEN WE TALK ABOUT SPD STAFFING
AND WE TALK ABOUT MAINTAINING
RESPONSE TIMES AND MAINTAINING
PATROL NUMBERS, THE COST IS
THAT IT IS COMING OUT OF
TRANSFERS THAT ARE BEING MADE
FROM INVESTIGATIVE UNITS,
SPECIALTY UNITS AND OTHER UNITS
AROUND THE DEPARTMENT.
THIS IS JUST ONE SNAPSHOT OF
HOW THAT LOOKS SINCE 2020,
SINCE THE HIRING OR SINCE THE
SEPARATION STARTED. YOU CAN SEE
HERE THE ACCOUNT OF THE SWORN
IN 2020 AND THE PERCENT OF THE
SWORN IN 2020 AND THE COUNT OF
THE PERCENTAGE IN 2022.
IF YOU TAKE JUST A LOOK AT THE
INVESTIGATIVE UNITS HERE, WHICH
YOU CAN SEE IS, THERE WERE 214
OFFICERS IN INVESTIGATIVE UNITS
IN 2020. THAT IS PROBABLY
SPREAD OUT AMONGST ALL KINDS OF
INVESTIGATIVE UNITS, HOMICIDE,
INVESTIGATIVE UNITS, ET CETERA.
NOW THOSE NUMBERS ARE DOWN TO
161 IN INVESTIGATIVE UNITS.
AS A PERCENTAGE OF ALL SWORN
INVESTIGATIONS, USED TO BE 16%
AND NOW IT IS 14%.
ONE OF THE OTHER AREAS THAT
TOOK A LATHER LARGE REDUCTION
WAS IN SPECIALTY UNITS.
THEY USED TO BE 119 OFFICERS
AND SPECIALTY UNITS.
HERE YOU HAVE EVERYTHING FROM
HARBOR TO K-9 TO S.W.A.T..
NOW, THOSE OFFICERS ARE DOWN TO
33 OR 3% OF SWORN. A LOT OF THE
OFFICERS THAT WERE IN SPECIALTY
UNITS HAVE BEEN TRANSFERRED
INTO PATROL TO KEEP 911
RESPONSE TIMES AS FULL AS
POSSIBLE.
THIS IS THE KIND OF IMPACT THAT
THE CHAIR WAS TALKING ABOUT, TO
KEEP 911 RESPONSE TIMES AS BEST
THEY CAN.
THE DEPARTMENT HAS BEEN WILLING
OFFICERS INTO PATROL AND AS THE
CHIEF SAID, THEY ARE AT A STATE
NOW WHERE IT USED TO BE THAT
51% OF TRAINED SWORN OFFICERS
WERE IN NON-PATROL POSITIONS
AND NOW IT IS 48. THAT HAS BEEN
A RATHER SIZABLE EFFECT ON THE
DEPARTMENT. ALSO, AS THE CHIEF
SAID, ALL OF ITS COMMUNITY
POLICE TEAMS HAVE BEEN DISBANDED
. THE ANTICRIME TEAMS HAVE BEEN
DISBANDED.
THE NUMBER OF OFFICERS THAT ARE
ON FOOT AND BIKE UNITS, IF YOU
LOOK BACK TO 2020, THERE WERE
ABOUT 55 AND NOW THERE IS FOUR.
IT IS A PRETTY SIGNIFICANT
REDUCTION EVERYWHERE ELSE
EXCEPT FOR 911.
I AM NOT GOING TO GO INTO -- I
HAD PLANNED TO GO INTO 911
RESPONSE TIMES AND INTO USE OF
OVERTIME TO AUGMENT PATROL
STAFFING BUT THE CHIEF ALREADY
DID THAT.
>> DOES THIS CHART CAPTURE BOTH
TRANSFERS AND SEPARATIONS?
>> THIS IS A SNAPSHOT OF WHAT
THE DEPARTMENT LOOKED LIKE, HOW
MANY PEOPLE WERE IN THESE UNITS
IN 2020 AND HOW MANY PEOPLE ARE
IN THESE UNITS NOW.
>> SO THE ANSWER WOULD BE YES?
IT INCLUDES BOTH UNITS OF
INDIVIDUALS BEING TRANSFERRED
TO 911 AS WELL AS REDUCTION
FROM SEPARATION?
>> YEAH.
>> THANK YOU.
>> COUNCILMEMBER LEWIS?
>> THANK YOU.
I HAVE A QUESTION THAT I THINK
GOES A LITTLE BIT TO SOMETHING
GREG SAID HE WAS GOING TO
ADDRESS IN MORE DETAIL BUT TO A
CERTAIN EXTENT, AS WE ARE
LOOKING AT SOME OF THE IMMEDIATE
ASSIGNMENT OF OFFICERS, IF
THERE IS A CHART SOMEWHERE
REFLECTING THE NUMBER OF
OVERTIME SHIFTS TO AUGMENT IN
CERTAIN AREAS, I DON'T SEE IT
REFLECTED IN THE CHARTS.
I AM THINKING SPECIFICALLY OF
THINGS LIKE THE HOTSPOT FOCUSES
ON THIRD AVENUE OR IN LITTLE
SAIGON, FOR EXAMPLE.
I UNDERSTAND A LOT OF THAT IS
OVERTIME.
I WONDER WHERE THAT IS
REFLECTED IN TERMS OF TOTAL
SERVICE HOURS, WHICH MIGHT BE
DISTINCT FROM THE NUMBER OF
PERSONNEL, GIVEN HOW OVERTIME
IS DEPLOYED.
>> THE DEPARTMENT DOES KEEP
THAT DATA.
>> THANK YOU.
>> GOING BACK TO COUNCILMEMBER
PEDERSEN.
MY APOLOGIES.
>> THANK YOU, CHAIR HERBOLD.
I REALLY APPRECIATE THIS
ADDITIONAL CONTEXT BEHIND THE
NUMBERS BECAUSE I AM VERY
ALARMED AT REDUCTION OF THE
NUMBER OF OFFICERS AS WELL AS
THE DIFFICULTY IN HIRING NEW
ONES TO SIMPLY REPLACE SOME OF
THE 375 THAT HAVE LEFT. I
APPRECIATE THE ADDITIONAL
CONTEXT OF THE FACT THAT EVEN
IF WE ARE KEEPING THE NUMBER OF
911 PATROL OFFICERS RELATIVELY
STEADY, AS WAS MENTIONED --
THEY ARE WORKING OVERTIME SO IT
COSTS MORE.
CONCERNED ABOUT OFFICER
WELLNESS AND JUST HOW THEY ARE
STAYING HEALTHY AND RESPONDING
APPROPRIATELY UNDER THAT
EXHAUSTION.
THEN, DETECTIVES, COMMUNITY
POLICING OFFICERS AND OTHER
VITAL SPECIALTY UNITS IN THE
911 PATROL SO THAT THERE IS A
REDUCTION IN INVESTIGATION.
THE COMMUNITY POLICING IS NOT
HAPPENING.
ANOTHER POINT IS THAT SEATTLE'S
POPULATION HAS GROWN
SUBSTANTIALLY SINCE 2015.
I AM VERY MUCH LOOKING FORWARD
TO THIS DISCUSSION ON HIRING
INCENTIVES.
I DID WANT TO ASK ABOUT
ALTERNATIVES.
I BELIEVE WE ARE STILL AWAITING
SOME ADDITIONAL INFORMATION
FROM SPD ON WHAT TYPE OF CALLS
COULD BE HANDLED BY ALTERNATIVE
RESPONSES BUT I GUESS THE
QUESTION FOR GREG IS, DO WE
HAVE ANY OF THESE ALTERNATIVE
EMERGENCY RESPONSES READY TO GO
TODAY?
>> THE ANSWER TO THAT IS NO,
THE CITY DOES NOT HAVE
ALTERNATIVE RESPONSES FOR
POLICING AVAILABLE TODAY.
THE CITY HAS SOME KINDS OF
BEHAVIORAL AND MENTAL HEALTH
RESPONSE IS AVAILABLE ON THE
FIRESIDE WITH ITS HELP ONE
PROGRAM BUT ON THE POLICING
SIDE, THOSE RESPONSES ARE NOT
AVAILABLE YET.
THE EXECUTIVE IS WORKING ON
DEVELOPING THOSE RESPONSES AND
MORE SPECIFICALLY, AS HE IS
DOING AN ANALYSIS RIGHT NOW OF
THE CALLS AND TRYING TO
DETERMINE WHICH CALLS COULD BE
ANSWERED BY CIVILIANS PER A
REQUEST FROM THIS COMMITTEE,
THERE IS A RESPONSE THAT IS DUE
IN ABOUT FOUR OR FIVE DAYS, AN
UPDATE THAT THE DEPARTMENT WILL
BE PROVIDING ON ITS ANALYSIS
FOR WHAT TYPE OF CALLS MIGHT BE
RESPONDED TO BY CIVILIANS, A
FIRST STEP IN THAT PROCESS. I
BELIEVE THAT THEY ARE GOING TO
GIVE -- THE CHAIR IS INTERESTED
IN SCHEDULING A PRESENTATION.
>> THANK YOU.
I AM WONDERING -- I SEE YOUR
HAND UP, COUNCIL MEMBER
MOSQUEDA , BUT I AM WONDERING
IF WE COULD ALLOW COUNCILMEMBER
NELSON TO DESCRIBE HER
RESOLUTION OR IF SHE WOULD
PREFER THAT CENTRAL STAFF DID SO
. WE DO NOT HAVE A LOT OF
DISCUSSION OR DEBATE BUT LET'S
AIR THEM OUT.
COUNCILMEMBER NELSON?
>> LET ME FIRST SAY THAT I
WELCOME CONVERSATION AND DEBATE
BECAUSE THIS IS THE ISSUE THAT
HAS BEEN DOMINATING MY TIME.
I HOPE THAT WE CAN AIR
QUESTIONS AND CONCERNS WITH
THIS RESOLUTION.
FIRST OF ALL, LET ME THANK YOU
VERY MUCH, CHAIR, FOR HEARING
MY RESOLUTION IN YOUR
COMMITTEE.
FITTINGLY, WE ARE DISCUSSING IT
ON THE DAY THAT REPRESENTATIVE
WALDEN JOINED US.
SHE WROTE A LETTER TO COUNCIL
IN JANUARY, EARLY FEBRUARY,
BASICALLY CALLING ON COUNCIL TO
HIRE MORE OFFICERS TO ADDRESS
THE INCREASING NUMBER OF PEOPLE
IN THE BLACK COMMUNITY THAT ARE
DYING FROM GUN VIOLENCE.
JUST WANTED TO NOTE THAT
CONVERGENCE BECAUSE IT WAS THAT
LETTER THAT SENT ME DOWN THIS
PATH.
THREE MONTHS AGO, I TOOK AN
OATH TO UPHOLD THE CHARTER AND
PROTECT THE HEALTH AND WELL-
BEING OF MY CONSTITUENTS. AS
ECONOMIC OF ELEMENT CHAIR, I
SET OUT WITH A WHOLE BUNCH OF
POLICIES FOR HELPING SMALL
BUSINESSES BY RESPONDING TO
VICTIMS OF VIOLENCE AND
PROPERTY CRIME HAS DOMINATED MY
TIME.
THAT IS WHY I INVITED A PANEL
OF SMALL BUSINESS OWNERS TO MY
COMMITTEE TO DISCUSS THE IMPACTS
ON THE BUSINESSES AND WORKERS
AND STAFF.
THAT IS A SEPARATE CONVERSATION
BUT REALLY, WHAT DREW ME TO PUT
THIS FORWARD, THIS RESOLUTION,
32050, WAS THE FACT THAT WE ARE
CLEARLY DEALING WITH A PUBLIC
SAFETY EMERGENCY.
WE DON'T HAVE ENOUGH OFFICERS
ON THE STREET TO DEAL WITH IT
AND WE NEED TO USE EVERY TOOL
IN OUR TOOLBOX TO ACCELERATE
THE HIRING OF OUR OFFICERS TO
BRING UP ADEQUATE STAFFING
LEVELS TO SPD.
THAT IS WHY I PUT THIS FORWARD
NOW.
THIS RESOLUTION DOES CREATE --
IT BEGINS THAT POLICY
DISCUSSION.
IT DOES THREE THINGS. IT STATES
COUNCIL SUPPORT FOR SOME SORT
OF STAFFING INCENTIVE PROGRAM.
THEN, IT STATES THE INTENT TO
PROVIDE THOSE WITH INFLUENCE
LAST YEAR ON SALARY AND UNFIT
SAVINGS IN SPD. THEN, FINALLY
IT STATES OUR INTENTION TO
APPROVE BY SEPARATE ORDINANCE
WHATEVER STAFFING CHANGES COMES
FORTH FROM THE EXECUTIVE TO
ACTUALLY START THIS WHOLE
PROCESS OF SWEETENING THE DEAL
SO THAT WE CAN BEGIN THIS SIX
MONTH LONG PROCESS THAT IT
TAKES FROM APPLICATION TO
ACTUALLY GETTING HIRED BY THE
POLICE DEPARTMENT.
WE HAVE HEARD ABOUT THE MEMO
THAT PERHAPS THESE INCENTIVES
DO NOT WORK. WE HAVE MADE THE
POINT OF LOOKING AT HOW MANY
OFFICERS WERE HIRED AFTER HE
TWO MONTH LONG INCENTIVE PROGRAM
THAT WAS APPROVED BY EXECUTIVE
ORDER BY MAYOR DURKAN.
IT IS NOT A GOOD METRIC FOR
DECIDING WHETHER OR NOT THE
STAFFING INCENTIVES WORK. AFTER
ALL, EVERY CITY IN OUR REGION
-- EVERY CITY EXCEPT FOR SPOKANE
-- HAS SOME SORT OF STAFFING
INCENTIVE PROGRAM.
I HAVE TO ASSUME THAT THOSE
JURISDICTIONS ARE SPENDING THAT
MONEY BECAUSE THEY SEE A VALUE
OF THOSE INCENTIVES.
I AM CALLING FOR, IN THIS
RESOLUTION, NOT FOR NEW MONEY
BUT TO USE MONEY ALREADY IN SPD
'S 2022 BUDGET WILL FOR SOME
SORT OF STAFFING INCENTIVE
PROGRAM. WE TALK ABOUT IT BEING
RELOCATION OR HIRING, WHATEVER.
I TRUST THE SPD AND HR TO
DEVELOP A PLAN THAT WILL BE
MOST COMPETITIVE TO MEET THESE
NEEDS.
WE ARE NOT DOING ANYTHING ELSE.
THIS IS LOW HANGING FRUIT TO
FILE NEED TO PUT MORE OFFICERS
ON THE STREET, TO FIGHT,
PREVENT, AND INVESTIGATE CRIME.
WE HEARD A LOT OF NUMBERS TODAY
BUT THE BIGGER PICTURE IS THAT
PEOPLE ARE DYING. WE HAVE SAID
WE WANT TO GET GUNS OFF THE
STREET. OVERDOSES ARE
SKYROCKETING.
WE NEED TO TARGET HIGH-LEVEL
DRUG DEALING TO INVESTIGATE
THAT, TO KEEP MORE PEOPLE FROM
FALLING VICTIM TO ADDICTION AND
OVERDOSE. I AM NOT EVEN TALKING
ABOUT ALL THE CROSS CITY CRIMES
I MENTIONED YESTERDAY IN
BRIEFING.
BASICALLY, THIS RESOLUTION WILL
REQUIRE ADDITIONAL COUNCIL
BILLS TO LIFT THE BILL AND
APPROVE A STAFFING INCENTIVE
PROGRAM.
AGAIN, I COME BACK TO MY POINT.
ARE WE HAPPY WITH THE STATUS QUO
? ARE WE FINE NOT DOING
ANYTHING?
I AM NOT.
I AM RESPONDING TO THE
OVERWHELMING SUPPORT THAT THE
PUBLIC AND THE PEOPLE
THAT:WRITE TO MY OFFICE -- THE
STORIES WE HEAR ON INCREASING
CRIMES IN ALL FORMS, THAT WE
ARE NOT ABLE TO ADDRESS.
THAT IS THE BASIC CRUX OF THIS
PIECE OF LEGISLATION. WE START
A POLICY CONVERSATION WITH THE
DIRECTION THAT I HAVE JUST
DISCUSSED.
IF WE DON'T DO THIS, WHAT ELSE
ARE WE GOING TO DO?
$4.1 MILLION IS A LOT OF MONEY.
I DON'T KNOW HOW ELSE WE WOULD
SPEND THAT AND HOW GOOD WOULD
THAT SERVICE TO MEET WHAT I
THINK IS LOCAL GOVERNMENT'S
FIRST RESPONSIBILITY TO ENSURE
PUBLIC SAFETY.
FOR ME, EVERYTHING ELSE
REVOLVES AROUND THAT, THE
ABILITY TO RECOVER FROM OUR
PANDEMIC AND A LOT OF OUR OTHER
POLICY GOALS.
YEAR-TO-DATE, PER THE MOST
RECENT SHOTS FIRED, HOMICIDE
EVENTS ARE UP. WE HAVE ONLY
TALKED ABOUT THE NUMBERS
OFFICERS.
WE HAVE NOT TALKED ABOUT CRIME
RATES.
HOMICIDE EVENTS ARE UP 17% THIS
QUARTER WITH 17 INCIDENTS
COMPARED TO 10 LAST YEAR IN THE
FIRST QUARTER.
SHOOTINGS ARE UP 138%, OR 62
EVENTS, COMPARED TO 26 OF THE
PREVIOUS YEAR.
THESE ARE REAL, LIVE'S BEHIND
THOSE NUMBERS AND WE'VE GOT TO
DO SOMETHING URGENTLY TO STOP
THE KILLINGS AND MAKE OUR SPACE
SAFER FOR EVERYONE.
THE RATIONALE FOR BRINGING THIS
FORWARD.
IT IS AN EMERGENCY THAT I HAVE
NOT SEEN SINCE I TOOK THE OATH
CONSTITUENTS AND ABIDE BY THE
SECTION OF THE CHARTER THAT
SAYS THAT IT SHALL BE
MAINTAINED ADEQUATELY IN EVERY
CITY THAT IS NOT HAPPENING NOW.
THAT IS THE BIG PICTURE THAT I
WANT TO FOCUS ON AS WE DISCUSS
THE PARTICULARS OF MY RESOLUTION
AND OF WHAT OTHER PIECES OF
LEGISLATION WE WILL BE
CONSIDERING TODAY.
>> THANK YOU, COUNCILMEMBER
NELSON.
COUNCIL MEMBER LEWIS, I HEAR MY
--
>> COUNCILMEMBER HERBOLD, I AM
HAPPY TO DEFER TO COUNCILMEMBER
LEWIS.
>> COUNCILMEMBER LEWIS?
>> THANK YOU SO MUCH, MADAM
CHAIR.
I APPRECIATE COUNCILMEMBER
NELSON RAISING THIS DISCUSSION
BECAUSE I THINK ALL OF US CAN
AGREE THAT WE DO HAVE A HIRING
CRISIS FOR THE SEATTLE POLICE
DEPARTMENT.
THIS COUNCIL HAS FULLY FUNDED
POLICE HIRING CLASSES FOR THE
LAST SEVERAL YEARS.
THERE IS CLEARLY A STRONG
COMMITMENT TO MAKE SURE THERE
IS ROBUST HIRING CLASSES
AVAILABLE FOR SPD . WE HAVE
SEEN THE HIRING CLASSES FALL
SHORT.
COUNCILMEMBER NELSON NOTED IN
HER STATEMENT RIGHT NOW THAT A
LOT OF OUR PIER DEPARTMENTS AND
A LOT OF DEPARTMENTS IN THE
REGION HAVE HIRING BONUSES AND
HAVE NOT BEEN SEEING THE SAME
LEVEL OF RECRUITMENT
CHALLENGES.
IT IS ALSO NOTABLE THAT SPOKANE
-- ACCORDING TO A FEBRUARY 22
ARTICLE -- I BELIEVE THE MEMO
WAS INCORRECT.
I BELIEVE THEY DO HAVE A FAIRLY
MODEST HIRING BONUS.
IT IS $10,000 FOR LATERAL,
$5000 FOR NEW RECRUITS.
SPOKANE HAS SOMETHING LIKE 700
OPENINGS.
IT IS NOT CLEAR TO ME THAT THE
HIRING BONUSES ARE HAVING AN
EFFECT. MY QUESTION HERE IS MORE
, SINCE WE HAVE THE CHIEF AND
WE HAVE SOME FOLKS FROM THE
DEPARTMENT, TO ASK -- I'M
SORRY.
DID THEY LEAVE, COUNCILMEMBER
HERBOLD?
>> I'M HERE.
>> SORRY, CHIEF. I DID NOT SEE
YOU HERE.
>> WHEN WE WERE HAVING THIS
DISCUSSION A FEW WEEKS AGO, ONE
OF THE THINGS I SAID AND THAT
STATEMENT WAS THAT I WOULD
APPRECIATE HEARING FROM THE
DEPARTMENT AT THE MEETING.
JUST TAKE THE 5000 -- WHAT
MAJOR CITIES IN THE UNITED
STATES ARE ABLE TO ACHIEVE THAT
HIRING RIGHT NOW?
AS WE LOOK ACROSS THE COUNTRY,
WE ARE NOT ALONE IN HAVING
CHALLENGES ATTRACTING AND
RETRAINING POLICE.
IT IS HAPPENING IN PROGRESSIVE
CITIES.
IT IS HAPPENING IN CONSERVATIVE
CITIES. URBAN POLICE
DEPARTMENTS ARE HAVING A
CHALLENGE ATTRACTING AND
RETAINING OFFICERS IN MAJOR
CITIES.
I WANTED TO TAKE ADVANTAGE OF
THIS OPPORTUNITY TO H█EAR IF TH
DEPARTMENT PARTICULAR NATIONAL
MODELS IN MIND THAT WERE
LOOKING ATTRACTIVE IN TERMS OF
WHAT THEY ARE DOING TO ATTRACT
NEW RECRUITS AND WHAT SOME OF
THE THINGS THAT ARE WORKING
THAT WE COULD POTENTIALLY
EMULATE, JUST TO TAKE A LITTLE
BIT OF A STEP BACK, RATHER THAN
FOCUSING EXCLUSIVELY ON ONE
SPECIFIC THING.
MY SUSPICION IS FINANCIAL
INCENTIVES WILL BE NECESSARY
BUT NOT SUFFICIENT. I WANTED TO
TURN IT OVER TO THE CHIEF
ADRIAN DIAZ TO HEAR MORE ABOUT
THAT.
>> THANK YOU FOR THAT.
WE WANT TO MAKE SURE WE HAVE A
COMPETITIVE, ECONOMIC PACKAGE
THAT ALLOWS OUR OFFICERS AND
RECRUITS THINKING ABOUT COMING
BACK TO THE DEPARTMENT.
WE LOOK AT TOP PAY. THERE ARE
AGENCIES THAT ARE LESS COSTLY
HAVE A HIRE PAY THAN SEATTLE.
IN SOME CASES, IT TAKES TIME TO
GET THERE.
>> THEY HAVE AN EDUCATION
CENTER.
NINE OF 13 HAVE A HIRING
CENTER.
SIX OF 13 HAVE A CHASE OWNED
CAR.
WHEN IT COMES TO MAJOR CITIES,
A LOT OF MAJOR CITIES HAVE
EXPERIENCED THE SAME THING
WHERE MOST OF THEIR OFFICERS
ARE NOT NECESSARILY IN THE
PROFESSION.
THEY ARE GOING TO AGENCIES
AROUND THAT AREA BECAUSE THEY
ARE OFFERING SOME LEVEL OF
INCENTIVE.
THAT IS SOMETHING THAT WE HAVE
TO MAKE SURE WE ARE PUT INTO
ACTION, A VERY GOOD ECONOMIC
PACKAGE. WE ALSO HAVE TO BE
QUICK AND AGILE.
MANY OF THE AGENCIES ARE MAKING
CHANGES, ADJUSTING THINGS
WITHIN A VERY SHORT PERIOD OF
TIME.
WE ARE TRYING TO NAVIGATE OUR
PROCESS.
THIS IS SOMETHING THAT WE HAVE
TO BE MINDFUL OF.
ONE OF THE OTHER THINGS IN
TALKING WITH SOME OF THE MAJOR
CITIES THAT PEOPLE ARE -- AS
PEOPLE LEAVE THROUGH THE OTHER
AGENCY LOCALLY, THEY ARE HAVING
LESS VIOLENCE. THEY ARE HAVING
LESS THINGS GOING ON.
THERE ARE SEVERAL THINGS WE ARE
TALKING TO PEOPLE ABOUT.
OFFICERS WANT TO FEEL VALUE.
THEY WANT TO FEEL APPRECIATED.
THEY ARE ALSO THINKING ABOUT
THEIR OWN HEALTH AND WELL-BEING.
WHEN CRIME IS GOING UP AND THEY
ARE HAVING TO RESPOND TO CALL
TO CALL TO CALL AND THEY ARE
NOT GETTING DOWNTIME, THAT DOES
PUT A HUGE LEVEL OF STRESS ON
THEM.
IF THEY CAN HAVE LESS CALL
RESPONSE, THAT HELPS THEM WITH
THEIR OWN METHODS. WE HAVE TO
BE MINDFUL OF THAT. AS WE TALK
ABOUT THE CRIME, WE HAVE HAD A
17% INCREASE IN CRIME.
A 22% INCREASE IN VIOLENT CRIME.
ONE OF THE STATISTICS THAT IS
STRIKING TO ME IS THAT 56 OUT
OF THE 127 GUNS THAT WE
RECOVERED HAVE BEEN USED IN TWO
OR MORE INCIDENTS.
WHAT WE ARE FINDING IS THAT
GUNS ARE BEING USED ROUTINELY,
REGULARLY IN SEVERAL CASES.
WE HAD 41 GUNS THAT HAVE BEEN
USED IN FOUR SHOOTINGS WERE MORE
. WHAT WE ARE SEEING IS VERY
SIMILAR TO WHAT PORTLAND HAS
SEEN.
AND HAS ALMOST DOUBLED THE
AMOUNT OF HOMICIDES.
THAT IS WHEN I START TO THINK
ABOUT HOW DO WE ENSURE THAT OUR
OFFICERS HAVE THE TIME OFF TO
BE ABLE TO RECOUP? A HEALTHY
OFFICER WILL HAVE A HEALTHY
OUTCOME IN THE STREET. THAT IS
WHAT WE ALL WANT.
WE DON'T WANT OURSELVES IN SOME
SORT OF A VIOLENT SITUATION
WHERE IT IS NOT SAFE FOR
ANYBODY.
WE REALLY START TO THINK ABOUT
HOW WE TAKE CARE OF OUR
OFFICERS AND HOW DO WE STAFF
ENOUGH OFFICERS SO WE ARE ABLE
TO MEET THE COMMUNITY NEEDS? WE
ARE ABLE TO INVESTIGATE THE
SEXUAL ASSAULT.
THESE ARE ALL VERY, VERY TRYING
THINGS FOR A MAJOR CITY BECAUSE
SOME OF THE LOCAL AGENCIES ARE
GOBBLING UP THAT TALENT THAT WE
ACCUMULATED AND BUILT.
>> ARE THERE PARTICULARLY
CITIES THAT ARE OUTPERFORMING
THE TREND IN THE DEPARTMENT?
THIS IS NOT A GOTCHA. I AM NOT
PERSONALLY AWARE OF ANY. I WAS
JUST CURIOUS IF THE DEPARTMENT
HAD A SPECIFIC SUITE OF PROGRAMS
THAT IS WORKING EFFECTIVELY.
THAT DOES NOT MEAN WE CAN'T BE
THE FIRST BUT I AM JUST
WONDERING.
>> I HAVE TALKED TO SAN DIEGO.
I HAVE TALKED TO BALTIMORE.
HAVE TALKED TO OTHER AGENCIES
ACROSS THE COUNTRY AND THEY ARE
ALL FEELING THE SAME EFFECT,
EVEN IN CITIES THAT HAVE THAT
LEVEL OF SUPPORT.
THERE IS A LOT MORE SCRUTINY IN
THIS JOB IN A MAJOR CITY.
WE ARE JUST TRYING TO FIGURE OUT
-- IT COMES DOWN TO MAKING SURE
WE APPRECIATE OUR OFFICERS,
ACKNOWLEDGE THE HARD WORK
THEY'RE HAVING TO DO IN THE
MOST CHALLENGING TIME AND THEN
MAKING SURE THAT WE HAVE A
COMPETITIVE ECONOMIC PACKAGE
THAT ALLOWS US TO SUPPORT THEM.
ONE OF THE BIGGEST THINGS FOR
THEM IS WE HAVE THE FUNDS TO BE
ABLE TO DO IT AND IT IS BEING
ABLE TO UTILIZE THOSE FUNDS.
>> COUNCILMEMBER MOSQUEDA?
>> THANK YOU VERY MUCH FOR THAT.
AGAIN, I APPRECIATE THE
CONVERSATION HERE TODAY.
THERE IS A FEW POINTS THAT I
WOULD LIKE TO MAKE, BOTH
WEARING THE BUDGET HAT AND ALSO
AS A MEMBER OF THE COMMITTEE
HERE TODAY.
ONE OF THE MOST IMPORTANT
THINGS THAT WE ARE DEALING WITH
AS A CITY RIGHT NOW IS THE
ABILITY TO RESPOND TO THE
URGENT CRISES THAT ARE
AFFECTING OUR COMMUNITY ACROSS
SEATTLE AND TRYING TO MAKE SURE
THAT WE HAVE BOTH THE RESOURCES
TO RESPOND TO THE WAKE OF THE
PANDEMIC AND TO MAKE SURE THAT
WE ARE INVESTING IN MEMBER
SERVICES.
ONE OF THE THINGS WE TALKED
ABOUT THE MOST IS THE NEED TO
PROTECT GENERAL FUND RESOURCES.
SPD'S BUDGET IS PRIMARILY
GENERAL FUND RESOURCES.
AS IT HAS BEEN DISCUSSED, THE
HOUSING COMMITTEE HAS DONE A
LOT OF TIME TALKING ABOUT THIS.
THE CITY IS CURRENTLY FACING A
LONG-TERM STRUCTURAL BUDGET
ISSUE WHERE THE GENERAL FUND
EXPENDITURES ARE OUTPACING THE
GENERAL FUND REVENUE.
THIS IS NOT A SHORTFALL IN
REVENUE, IT IS A GAP IN HOW
FAST REVENUE ARE KEEPING UP
WITH THE INFLATING COST OF
SERVICE AND THE GROWING
POPULATION ACROSS OUR CITY.
ONE OF THE MOST IMPORTANT
THINGS WE NEED TO BE LOOKING AT
RIGHT NOW IS HOW WE ADDRESS
THIS GAP IN ENSURING WE HAVE
THE FUNDING NECESSARY FOR A
ROBUST BUDGET FOR 2023 AND 2024.
THIS IS AN ISSUE THAT WE WILL
SPEND A LOT OF TIME TALKING
ABOUT BUT WE HAVE TO BE LOOKING
AT PRESERVING FUNDING AND ANY
2022 UNDER SPEND SUCH AS
SAVINGS ACHIEVED THROUGH
DELAYED HIRINGS OR ANY UNDER
SPEND IN 2022 FOR FUTURE
INVESTMENTS IN OUR BUDGET.
IF THE PRIVIES OF REMAINS IN
PLACE AND NO OTHER ACTIONS ARE
TAKING TO LIST OR MODIFIED IT,
THE GENERAL FUND RESOURCES WILL
CONTINUE TO BE RESTRICTED
MEANING THAT THE MONEY CANNOT
BE SPENT. AT THE END OF 2022,
THIS MONEY WILL REVERT BACK TO
THE GENERAL FUND AND THOSE FUNDS
WOULD BE ASSUMED AS PART OF OUR
STARTING BALANCE FOR 2023.
MY CONCERN HERE IS THAT THE
RESOLUTION AND THE EXPENDITURE
WE ARE TALKING ABOUT IS
SUSPENDING, MEANING THEY WOULD
BE TAKEN FROM OTHER PROGRAMS,
OTHER INVESTMENTS FROM 2023 TO
2024 IF TAXED.
I AM RAISING QUESTIONS HERE
TODAY ABOUT USING CRITICAL
PUBLIC RESOURCES FOR A POSSIBLE
INVESTMENT IN A POLICY THAT HAS
NOT BEEN PROVEN.
IT HAS BEEN SAID BY SOME THAT
THERE IS NO EVIDENCE TO THE
CONTRARY THAT SHOWS THAT HIRING
DOES NOT WORK.
LET ME POINT SOME OF OUR
COLLEAGUES TO THAT EVIDENCE.
IN THE RECRUITMENT AND
RETENTION WORK GROUP, FINAL
REPORT, THE WORK GROUP DID NOT
IDENTIFY PAY AS A BARRIER TO
EITHER HIRING OR RETENTION SPD
EMPLOYEES AND THEY ALSO DID NOT
IDENTIFY A HIRING BONUS OR A
LACK OF A HIRING BONUS AS A
PROBLEM, NOR THE RECOMMENDATION.
FOUR RECOMMENDATIONS THAT THEY
MADE FROM THE WORK GROUP
INCLUDE A FOCUS ON LEVERAGING
TECHNOLOGICAL SOLUTIONS AND
PROVIDES BUSINESS PRACTICES TO
ENGAGE CANDIDATES DURING THE
HIRING PROCESS, ADVANCED TALENT
QUICKLY THROUGH THE PROCESS AND
EXTEND THE OFFER THROUGH A MORE
COMPETITIVE TIMEFRAME.
I WANT TO TALK A LITTLE BIT
ABOUT COMPETITIVE TIME FRAMES
AND SOME OF THE OFFER CONCEPTS
IN A LATER PART OF THIS
DISCUSSION BUT THERE HAS NOT
BEEN COMPETITIVE CONCLUSIONS
THAT THE HIRING INCENTIVES
LEVEL INCREASES THE NUMBER OF
PEOPLE ENTERING SPD.
SPD HAS NOTED -- I APPRECIATE
THE CHIEF FOR HIGHLIGHTING THIS
-- THAT THE BONUS WAS AN
IMPORTANT FACTOR FOR APPLICANTS
IN DECIDING WHETHER OR NOT TO
APPLY. THE OVERALL NUMBER OF
PEOPLE WHO ENTER INTO THE
SEATTLE POLICE DEPARTMENT
THROUGH THE PROGRAM THAT WE SAW
FROM LATE 2020 DID NOT INCREASE
AS A RESULT OF THE HIRING
INCENTIVES.
I THINK HIRING BONUSES ARE NOT
PART OF THE RECOMMENDATION THAT
WE SAW FROM THE RECRUITMENT AND
RETENTION WORK GROUP, NOR WERE
THEY PART OF THE REPORT OUT
THAT WE HEARD IN YOUR COMMITTEE
LAST TIME FROM THE INNOVATION
AND PERFORMANCE TEAM, MADE UP
OF SPD, SEATTLE DEPARTMENT OF
HUMAN RESOURCES, THE CITY
BUDGET OFFICE, AND OTHER
MEMBERS OF OUR CITY FAMILY.
IF WE SAY WE TRUST HUMAN
RESOURCES, THEN LET'S TRUST THEM
IN WHAT THEY SAID TO US AT THE
LAST COMMITTEE MEETING.
THEY REPORT SHOWS THAT WE HAVE
A WAY EARLY RETIREMENT COMING
AND WE HAVE A COMMITMENT TO
SOCIAL JUSTICE INITIATIVES.
LET'S FOCUS ON DIVERSITY IN OUR
HIRING PROGRAM.
WE CAN FOCUS ON INVESTMENTS FOR
CITY SERVICES AND CREATE
OPPORTUNITIES. LET'S FOCUS ON
EXPANDING THE CONVERSATION
ABOUT RECRUITING AND RETAINING
DIVERSE TALENT AND WHAT IT
TAKES TO BE SOFT-SPOKEN WITHIN
THE CITY.
THE DEPARTMENT OF HUMAN
RESOURCES SAID, OFFERING HIRING
INCENTIVES -- I'M QUOTING HERE
-- IS A SHORT TERM STRATEGY
MEANT TO INDUCE A PROSPECTIVE
JOB OFFICER.
KING COUNTY HAS BEEN OFFERING
PEOPLE INCENTIVES WHILE SOME
DEPARTMENTS IN SEATTLE HAVE
OBSERVED A CLEAR AND POSITIVE
BENEFIT. THIS MUST BE WEIGHED
AGAINST OTHER SOLUTIONS THAT
HAVE POTENTIALLY INHERENT
DRAWBACKS. EQUITY ISSUES FOR
BOTH THE EMPLOYER AND EMPLOYEE,
THEY GO ON TO TALK ABOUT HOW
THESE ONE-TIME SOLUTIONS MAY
NOT COMPENSATE FOR
UNCOMPETITIVE WAITERS. RELEVANT
SKILLS, EXPERIENCES, THEY TALK
ABOUT HOW SIGNING NOTICES CAN
NEGATIVELY IMPACT EMPLOYEE
MORALE AND EMPLOYEES WHO ARE
PROMOTED INTERNALLY AND ALREADY
WORKING THE JOB ARE STILL
UNDERVALUED AND
UNDERAPPRECIATED.
THAT IS THE OPPOSITE OF WHAT I
THINK WE SHOULD BE DOING FOR
OUR CITY FAMILIES RIGHT NOW WHO
HAVE BEEN WORKING THROUGHOUT
THIS PANDEMIC INTO OUR LIKE
EVERYONE ACROSS THIS COUNTRY,
DEALING WITH THE ONGOING STRESS
THAT IS CREATED BY IT.
LET'S LOOK AT WHAT HR HAS
PICKED UP.
WE WANT TO BUILD ON THE
REGULATIONS FROM SOME OF THE
RESOURCES.
THAT IS WHERE I WOULD LIKE TO
LOOK, WITH LIMITED RESOURCES
THAT WE HAVE. GIVEN THE LONG-
TERM STRUCTURAL BUDGET ISSUES,
WE NEED TO LOOK ACROSS
DEPARTMENTS, ADDRESS STAFFING
SHORTAGES AND OPPORTUNITIES FOR
US TO CREATE A MORE STABLE CITY
CORE SERVICES THAT MAY INCLUDE
SPD BUT NEEDS TO BE BROADLY
LOOKED AT ACROSS OUR ENTIRE
CITY FAMILY AND NOT FOCUSED
SOLELY ON THE INCENTIVE PROGRAM
THAT DOES NOT HAVE THE DATA TO
BACK UP WHETHER OR NOT THE
OUTCOME IS SCHEDULE.
MADAM CHAIR, THOSE ARE MY
COMMENTS BOTH FROM THE BUDGET
WEARING HAT AND ALSO FROM THE
CONCERN AROUND DATA.
>> THANK YOU.
I REALLY NEED US TO WRAP IT UP.
WE DEVOTED 30 MINUTES ON THE
AGENDA FOR THIS ITEM.
THIS WAS INTENDED TO DAYLIGHT
THE TWO PROPOSALS.
COUNCILMEMBER NELSON, YOU HAD
ASKED TO COME BACK TO COMMITTEE
FOR A VOTE. WE WILL HAVE MORE
DEBATE THEN. WE HAVE BEEN
DISCUSSING THIS ITEM FOR 55
MINUTES NOW.
I WOULD LIKE ALLIE TO VERY
BRIEFLY DAYLIGHT THE ALTERNATE
PROPOSAL.
THANK YOU.
>> THANK YOU, CHAIR HERBOLD.
GOOD MORNING.
I AM FROM COUNCIL CENTRAL STAFF
. I AM GOING TO ASK GREG TO
SHARE HIS SCREEN, TO PUT UP THE
PROPOSAL THAT IS A COUNCIL BILL
RELATED TO COUNCILMEMBER
NELSON'S RESOLUTION.
COUNCILMEMBER HERBOLD HAS A
DRAFT COUNCIL BILL THAT WOULD
MODIFY THE PROVISO THAT IS
CURRENTLY IMPOSED ON SPD'S
SALARY TABLE IN 2022.
THE MODIFICATIONS WOULD ALLOW
UP TO $650,000 FOR SPD SALARY
SAVINGS TO BE USED TO OFFER TO
PAY FOR MOVING EXPENSES FOR NEW
RECRUITS AS WELL AS A NEW
RECRUITER.
IN ADDITION, IT ASKS THE
SEATTLE DEPARTMENT OF HUMAN
RESOURCES TO AMEND CITY
PERSONNEL RULE TO EXPAND
ELIGIBILITY TO A BROADER RANGE
OF POSITIONS THAT WOULD
CURRENTLY ALLOW US TO BE ABLE
TO OFFER THE EXPENSES FORWARDED
TO THEM IF THE HIRING AUTHORITY
DETERMINES THAT THEY ARE UNABLE
TO RECRUIT IN THE LOCAL AREA.
THAT REQUEST WOULD ASK FOR A
BROAD EXPANSION OF THE MOVING
EXPENSE ALLOWANCES CURRENTLY IN
PLACE. IT ALSO ASKS THE HUMAN
RESOURCES DEPARTMENT TO
PRIORITIZE, IMPLEMENTING THOSE
CHANGES FOR THE SEATTLE POLICE
DEPARTMENT POLICE HIRES IF IT
WOULD MAKE IT MORE EFFICIENT TO
DO THAT CHANGE FIRST AND THEN
TAKE UP THE BROADER EXPANSION
ON A SEPARATE TRACK.
THAT IS A BRIEF OVERVIEW,
COUNCIL MEMBER HERBOLD.
DID YOU WANT ME TO GO INTO MORE
DETAIL?
>> NO. THAT IS GOOD.
I WANT TO SAY A COUPLE VERY
SHORT WORDS ABOUT MY THINKING
ON THIS BILL. THE EXECUTIVE
DOES NOT RECOMMEND THE BONUS
PROGRAM.
WE PROVIDED THAT OPPORTUNITY TO
MAKE THAT RECOMMENDATION WITH
OUR STATEMENT OF LEGISLATIVE
INTENT IN NOVEMBER. COUNCIL
WAS CONCERNED ABOUT THE HIRING
TREND FOR SPD AND THAT IS WHY
WE REQUESTED THE STATEMENT OF
LEGISLATIVE INTENT.
THE EXECUTIVE DOES NOT RECOMMEND
A BONUS PROGRAM, A TRADITIONAL
BONUS PROGRAM BUT THEY ARE
SUPPORTIVE OF LOOKING TOWARDS
SUPPORTING SPD AND OTHER
DEPARTMENTS WHO ARE TRYING TO
HIRE IMPORTANT TO CITY BUSINESS
POSITIONS, PAY FOR THEIR
RELOCATION COSTS.
I REALLY HOPE THAT IN THE
SPIRIT OF ONE SEATTLE, WE CAN
HARNESS THE AGREEMENT THAT ANY
DEPARTMENTS, INCLUDING SPD, ARE
HAVING WITH THESE CHALLENGES.
WE CAN SUPPORT THE BILL. THIS
IS A COUNCIL BILL.
IT WOULD BE IMPLEMENTED IN
CONTRAST TO A RESOLUTION THAT
STATES INTENT.
WHY NOT BOAT TO ACT RATHER THAN
VOTING ON INTENT? I JUST WANT
TO ALSO FLAG THAT WHEN THIS
BILL DOES RELEASE THE COUNCIL
PROVISO ON POLICE OFFICER
HIRING BUT ONLY FOR THE NUMBER
OF DOLLARS THAT ARE ANTICIPATED
TO BE NEEDED WHEREAS THE -- AS
I UNDERSTAND, THERE WAS LITTLE
BIT OF CONFLICT BETWEEN THE
RESOLUTION STATED INTENT AND
THE DESCRIPTION OF IT. MY
CONCERN WOULD BE IF WE WERE TO
FULLY LIFT THE PROVISO, WE
WOULD BE RELEASING ALL OF THOSE
FUNDS TO THE SEATTLE POLICE
DEPARTMENT. MAYBE SOME OF THEM
SHOULD STAY THERE, AS I AM
PROPOSING TO DO BUT WE NEED TO
HAVE CONVERSATIONS BETWEEN THE
DEPARTMENTS AND THE COUNCIL
AND ALSO CONSIDERING AS OUR
BUDGET CHAIR HAS MENTIONED,
CONSIDERING THE OTHER DEMANDS
ON THE BUDGET.
I AM REALLY EXCITED TO BRING
THIS FORWARD.
THIS IS SOMETHING WE CAN DO NOW
. I AM LOOKING FORWARD TO
HAVING MORE CONVERSATION ABOUT
úIT AT OUR NEXT MEETING.
>> COUNCILMEMBER PEDERSEN ?
>> THANK YOU, CHAIR HERBOLD.
I REALLY APPRECIATE
COUNCILMEMBER NELSON BRINGING
FORWARD A RESOLUTION. AS I
MENTIONED PREVIOUSLY, I SUPPORT
HER RESOLUTION.
I'M ALSO INTRIGUED I THE CHAIR
'S PROPOSED COUNCIL BILL
REGARDING RELOCATION EXPENSES.
I WOULD BE INTERESTED IN SEEING
A LARGER NUMBER AND GETTING
SOME ANALYSIS FROM SPD IF THEY
NEED ADDITIONAL DOLLARS AND
WHAT IS IN THE COUNCIL BILL
SINCE THERE IS POTENTIALLY UP
TO $4 MILLION THAT COULD BE
AVAILABLE.
I WOULD LIKE TO OPTIMIZE THAT.
TO APPRECIATE THE COMMENTS FOR
OUR BUDGET CHAIR.
WE ARE VERY FORTUNATE TO HAVE
HER ON THE COMMITTEE, TO KEEP
AN EYE ON THE BUDGET FOR US. I
APPRECIATE THE CONCERNS ABOUT
THE BUDGET SHORTFALL OR GAP
THAT WE WILL BE FACING.
THE WAY I AM UNDERSTANDING
THESE INCENTIVES IS IF THEY END
UP NOT WORKING -- GIVING SPD IS
ADDITIONAL TOOL AT OTHER
JURISDICTIONS HAVE AND THEN IF
THEY DON'T WORK, THE MONEY IS
NOT SPENT. MAYBE THERE IS A WAY
TO GIVE THEM NINE MONTHS, UP TO
$4 MILLION TO MAKE IT WORK AND
IF IT DOESN'T WORK, THEY CAN
REVERT BACK TO SOMETHING ELSE
TO HELP WITH THE BUDGET BUT I
REALLY APPRECIATE THE ROBUST
DEBATE TODAY AND I LOOK FORWARD
TO THE NEXT MEETING.
>> THANK YOU.
COUNCILMEMBER NELSON?
>> THANK YOU VERY MUCH.
I WOULD LIKE TO COMMENT ON A
COUPLE OF NOTES.
I DO NOT SEE THAT THIS STAFF --
THE DEVELOPMENT OF A STAFFING
PROGRAM WILL TAKE AWAY FROM
OTHER NEEDS.
THIS MONEY IS IN PUBLIC SAFETY.
WHAT WILL IT BE SPENT ON
OTHERWISE, GIVEN THE ABSOLUTE
CRITICAL NATURE OF OUR
DETERIORATING PUBLIC HEALTH AND
PUBLIC SAFETY SITUATION AND A
HISTORIC STAFFING SHORTAGE?
WE'VE GOT A PERFECT STORM HERE
THAT NEEDS TO BE DEALT WITH.
THIS MONEY DOES NOT TAKE AWAY
FROM OTHER THINGS.
WHAT I AM HEARING IS THAT PEOPLE
-- THEY GOT THEIR HANDS ON THIS
MONEY TO USE FOR OTHER THINGS.
THAT IS ONE THING I WILL NOTE.
I READ -- ANYWAY -- IT WAS A
GREAT QUESTION BY COUNCILMEMBER
LEWIS TO ASK, WHAT ARE THE
CITIES DOING FOR STAFFING
SOLUTIONS.
WHAT WAS NOT LOOKED AT, ARE
THOSE OTHER CITIES DEALING WITH
THE LEVEL OF SEPARATIONS THAT
WE ARE?
DUE TO LOW MORALE?
DUE TO BETTER OPPORTUNITIES
ELSEWHERE?
LAST WEEK I SPOKE TO AN OFFICER
OUT OF THE NORTH PRECINCT WHO
SAID SHE SIGNED THREE LETTERS
OF RECOMMENDATION FOR OFFICERS
TO LEAVE OUR DEPARTMENT AND GO
ELSEWHERE. I WILL NOTE THAT WE
KEEP GOING BACK TO THIS TWO
PAGE DOCUMENT.
IT DOES NOT PROVIDE NUMBERS
FULFILLING ALL NON-POLICE
DEPARTMENT POSITIONS.
WE DON'T REALLY KNOW WHAT IT
WILL TAKE TO MEET THAT POLICY
GOAL IN THIS ORDINANCE.
ONE THING THAT I WILL SAY IS
THAT I HAVE READ THIS ORDINANCE
AND WHEN I LAUNCHED ON MY
RESOLUTION IN A SPIRIT OF
COLLABORATION, I OFFERED THE
CHAIR THE OPPORTUNITY OF
COSPONSORING.
YOU DECLINED. WE HAVE NOT BEEN
REALLY WORKING IN TANDEM SINCE
THEN.
NOW, WE HAVE AN ORDINANCE THAT,
FROM MY PERSPECTIVE, IS OVERLY
LIMITING OF THE ABILITY OF SPD
TO ACTUALLY CREATE A PROGRAM
THAT WILL BE COMPETITIVE. I
DON'T SEE HOW WE ARE GOING TO
GET TO 98 NEW HIRES THIS YEAR
IF WE HAVE ONLY HAD 13 SO FAR.
CLEARLY, WE NEED SOMETHING ELSE
TO GET US THERE.
AGAIN, YOUR ORDINANCE TO LIFT
THE PROVISO PROVIDES $650,000
FOR RELOCATIONS, EXPENSES, AND
FOR THE HIRING OF A NEW POLICE
RECRUITER WHICH IS A GREAT
THING AND VERY MUCH NEEDED.
THAT LEAVES $400,000, ROUGHLY,
FOR ANY KIND OF RELOCATION
EXPENSES. RELOCATION MIGHT BE
TOO LIMITING -- WE HAVE GOT TO
BRING IN OFFICERS --
>> COUNCILMEMBER NELSON, WE
HAVE TIME BETWEEN NOW AND THE
NEXT COMMITTEE MEETING TO
DEVELOP ADDITIONAL AMENDMENTS
TO EITHER YOUR BILL OR MY BILL
FOR BOTH.
>> I WOULD LIKE TO CLOSE
>> [ INDISCERNIBLE -
OVERLAPPING SPEAKERS ]
>> WE HAVE TWO MORE ITEMS ON
OUR AGENDA.
I WOULD LIKE TO CLOSE --
>> THANK YOU.
WITH ALL DUE RESPECT, THIS
SHOULD BE THE JOB OF THE PUBLIC
SAFETY COMMITTEE.
I DO HAVE AN ALTERNATIVE
ORDINANCE THAT I WOULD LIKE
ALLIE TO BRIEFLY SPEAK AT.
>> AS THE CHAIR OF THIS
COMMITTEE, I AM REQUESTING TO
MOVE ON.
WITH THAT, I AM CLOSING DEBATE
ON THIS ISSUE AND I AM ASKING
THE CLERK TO READ THE NEXT ITEM
IN THE AGENDA.
THANK YOU.
>> AGENDA ITEM NUMBER FOUR,
HUMAN SERVICES DEPARTMENT
PRESENTATION ON GENDER-BASED
VIOLENCE.
>> THANK YOU, ALEX.
>> WE ARE HERE WITH THE HUMAN
SERVICES DEPARTMENT TO PRESENT
ON GENDER-BASED VIOLENCE
INVESTMENTS.
I REALLY APPRECIATE YOU BEING
HERE AND CONSIDERING THE
IMPORTANCE OF THIS MONTH, APRIL
BEING SEXUAL ASSAULT AWARENESS
MONTH.
I THINK IT IS REALLY HELPFUL
FOR YOU TO BE HERE WITH US TO
TALK ABOUT THE INVESTMENTS IN
THIS AREA.
LET'S START WITH THE INCEPTION
PLEASE.
>> THANK YOU.
>> TANYA KIM.
>> REX BROWN.
>> GOOD MORNING.
LAN PHAM .
>> WE WANT TO THANK COMMITTEE
CHAIR HERBOLD AND COMMUNITY
MEMBERS FOR THE OPPORTUNITY TO
PRESENT ON THIS TIMELY AND
IMPORTANT TOPIC OF GENDER-
BASED VIOLENCE THAT I KNOW WE
CAN ALL GET BEHIND.
NEXT SLIDE PLEASE.
>> I'M GOING TO TAKE A MOMENT
TO ACKNOWLEDGE THAT APRIL IS
SEXUAL ASSAULT AWARENESS MONTH.
I THANK CHAIR HERBOLD FOR
SPONSORING THE SEXUAL ASSAULT
AWARENESS MONTH AND
PROCLAMATION AND ALSO JUST A
GENERAL THANK YOU FOR YOUR
ONGOING SUPPORT.
THE GOAL OF THIS EFFORT IS TO
RAISE AWARENESS ABOUT SEXUAL
VIOLENCE AND PREVENTION.
SEXUAL ASSAULT TAKES PLACE
EVERY 60 SECONDS IN THE UNITED
STATES.
DESPITE THE HIGH RATES OF
SEXUAL VICTIMIZATION, SEXUAL
ASSAULT IS EXTREMELY
UNDERREPORTED.
NEARLY 80% OF SEXUAL ASSAULT IS
UNDERREPORTED ACCORDING TO THE
UNITED STATES JUSTICE
DEPARTMENT.
IN ADDITION, SEXUAL ASSAULT
DISPROPORTIONATELY IMPACTS
BLACK AND ADDITIONAL PEOPLE OF
COLOR. LASTLY, I WANTED TO
HIGHLIGHT THAT TOMORROW IS
SEATTLE DENIM DAY.
IT IS A DAY OF RECOMMENDATION
THAT OCCURS EVERY APRIL.
LET ME BRIEFLY EXPLAIN THE
ORIGIN OF THE DAY.
IT BEGAN IN ITALY WHEN A
PERPETRATOR'S SENTENCE WAS
OVERTURNED DUE TO THE COURT
DECLARING THAT THE WOMAN HAD
CONSENSUAL SEX -- THEY BLAMED
THE VICTIM BECAUSE SHE WAS
WEARING TIGHT JEANS THAT COULD
HAVE ONLY BEEN TAKEN OFF WITH
HER HELP. THE NEXT DAY, ITALIAN
WOMEN WORE JEANS TO THEIR
WORKPLACES TO PROTEST THE
ABSURDITY OF THE OVERTURNED
SENTENCE.
IN RECOGNITION OF DENIM DAY
TOMORROW, WE ARE ASKING
EVERYONE TO WEAR DENIM TO
PROTEST AGAINST SEXUAL
VIOLENCE.
I WANT TO ACKNOWLEDGE THAT WE
ARE JUMPING INTO THIS
CONVERSATION -- IT IS VERY
SERIOUS.
MANY OF US ARE AFFECTED OR HAVE
LOVED ONES OR HAVE EXPERIENCED
GENDER-BASED VIOLENCE.
I WANT TO INTRODUCE MY
COLLEAGUE REX BROWN WHO WILL
WALK US THROUGH THE HUMAN
SERVICES DEPARTMENT . NEXT
SLIDE, PLEASE.
>> THANK YOU.
IT IS MY PLEASURE TO BE CO-
PRESENTING TO ADDRESS
INDIGENOUS BASED VIOLENCE.
TODAY WILL GIVE YOU A BRIEF
OVERVIEW OF GENDER-BASED
VIOLENCE AND LAN PHAM WILL
DISCUSS THE IMPACTS OF COVID-19
AND WHAT HST IS DOING TO ITS
SURVIVOR SERVICES REQUEST
PROPOSALS.
WE CAN ADDRESS QUESTIONS.
NEXT SLIDE, PLEASE.
>> TO FRAME UP THIS
CONVERSATION, GENDER-BASED
VIOLENCE IS A RELATIVE TERM
THAT INCLUDES DOMESTIC OR
INTIMATE PARTNER VIOLENCE,
SEXUAL VIOLENCE, AND COMMERCIAL
SEXUAL EXPLOITATION. THE
SEATTLE HUMAN SERVICES
DEPARTMENT INVESTS MORE THAN
$12 MILLION IN GENDER-BASED
VIOLENCE.
THIS INCLUDES A RANGE OF
SERVICES FROM PREVENTION,
COORDINATION OF SERVICES TO
OFFENDER ACCOUNTABILITY.
THE MAYOR'S OFFICE LEADS THIS
WORK THROUGH MANAGEMENT OF
CONTRACTS WITH COMMUNITY.
ANNUALLY, THIS PARTNERSHIP WITH
THE COMMUNITY ALLOWS FOR US TO
RESPOND TO MORE THAN 20,000
CLIENTS. I WILL NOW HAND IT OVER
TO LAN PHAM TO DISCUSS THE
IMPACTS OF COVID-19 ON GENDER-
BASED VIOLENCE AND HST'S
RESPONSE TO THE CHANGING WAYS.
NEXT SLIDE, PLEASE.
>> GOOD MORNING, EVERYONE.
IT IS MY PLEASURE TO JOIN YOU
THIS MORNING TO HIGHLIGHT THE
WORK. 2021 IS A CHALLENGING
TIME FOR ALL OF US.
TO LEARN MORE ABOUT THE IMPACTS
AND TO IDENTIFY NEEDS AND GAPS
DUE TO COVID, COMMUNITY MEMBERS
JOINED US IN A LISTENING
SESSION IN 2021.
WE LEARNED FROM THEM.
THEY COMPRISED OF SUBJECT
MATTER EXPERTS INCLUDING
COMMUNITY MEMBERS.
HERE ON THE POWERPOINT NUMBER
FIVE, WE HAVE HIGHLIGHTED
SEVERAL KEY ISSUES NOTED BY THE
COMMUNITY AND PROVIDERS ON THE
IMPACT OF COVID AND SOCIAL
DISTANCING ON SURVIVORS,
AGENCIES, AND VICTIMS.
I WANT TO SUM IT UP WITH FIVE
KEY TAKEAWAYS HERE. ONE IS THAT
WE SAW A STEEP INCREASE IN THE
NUMBER OF REPORTED DOMESTIC
VIOLENCE, SEXUAL ASSAULT, AND
COMMERCIAL SEXUAL EXPLOITATION
CASES IN OUR COMMUNITY.
IT WAS ALSO REPORTED THAT THERE
WAS AN INCREASE IN INTENSITY IN
THESE SITUATIONS.
IT IS ALSO BACKLOGGED IN
SURVIVOR ASSISTANCE DUE TO
INCREASING THE CASELOAD AND A
DECREASE OF CAPACITY IN SYSTEM
AND SERVICE PROVIDERS FOR
NUMEROUS VICTIMS.
REGARDLESS, COMMUNITY-BASED
SYSTEMS CONTINUE TO PROVIDE
SERVICES TO CONSISTENTLY
SUPPORT SURVIVORS BOTH REMOTELY
AND IN PERSON.
THERE WAS A NEED FOR ADDITIONAL
SUPPORT FOR BOTH SURVIVORS AND
PROVIDERS OF SERVICES.
IN RESPONSE, THE CITY WAS ABLE
TO INCREASE FUNDING FOR VICTIMS
AND SURVIVORS IN THE FORM OF
FLEXIBLE FINANCE SYSTEM,
INCREASE FUNDING FOR PROVIDERS
IN THE FORM OF CAPACITY
BUILDING.
LAST BUT NOT LEAST, CONTINUE TO
CONNECT WITH SYSTEMS AND
COMMUNITY PROVIDERS TO IDENTIFY
AND ADDRESS THE NEEDS.
NEXT SLIDE, PLEASE.
>> THE 2022 SURVIVOR SERVICES
ARE THE EXTENSION OF THIS
SUPPORT.
IT TAKES INTO CONSIDERATION
THAT PROVIDERS SHARE TO BETTER
SUPPORT SURVIVORS VIA A NO
WRONG DOOR APPROACH.
THIS APPROACH FUNDS NOT ONLY
ONE BEST PRACTICE MODEL BUT A
SPECTRUM OF SERVICES RANGING
FROM MOBILE ADVOCACY TO SHELTER
AND HOUSING, THERAPEUTIC
SERVICES, LEGAL SERVICES AND
SPECIALIZED SERVICES FOR
MARGINALIZED POPULATIONS.
FOR $10.9 MILLION, OUR RSP IS
9% OF THE CURRENT INVESTMENT
AND WILL BE RELEASED ON MAY 20
OF THIS YEAR. A PORTION OF THE
FUNDS UNDER SPECIALIZED
SERVICES FOR MARGINALIZED
POPULATIONS WILL BE
PRIORITIZING GENDER-BASED
VIOLENCE PROGRAM DEVELOPED BY
OTHER MARGINALIZED COMMUNITIES.
NEXT SLIDE, PLEASE.
>> HERE ON SLIDE NUMBER SEVEN,
YOU CAN SEE A TIMELINE FOR THE
RSP WITH CONTRACTS STARTING AT
2023.
UPDATES ON THIS PROCESS WILL BE
SHARED ON THE FUNDING
OPPORTUNITIES WEBPAGE AS THEY
BECOME AVAILABLE AND THOSE WHO
ARE INTERESTED CAN GO TO SIGN
UP FOR OUR EMAIL NOTIFICATION
LIST WHILE VISITING THE SITE.
NEXT SLIDE, PLEASE.
>> IN ADDITION TO THE SURVIVOR
SERVICES RSP, WE ARE RELEASING
THE DOMESTIC VIOLENCE
INTERVENTION PROJECT.
THIS IS TO COLLECT THERAPISTS
TO TAKE PART IN THIS EXCITING
IMPLEMENTATION PROJECT, FOCUS
ON A NEW MODEL FOR BETTER
INTERVENTION. THIS PROJECT IS
ONE OF THREE SUCH IN THE
NATION.
IT IS AN IMPLEMENTATION PROJECT
THAT THE COLORADO STATE
DIFFERENTIATED TREATMENT MODEL
WHICH ADOPTS AND APPROACH THAT
FOCUSES ON A COMMUNITY VIA
IT'LL TAKE MISSIVE PLANARITY
TEAM.
THE FUNDING IS SUBMITTED BY A
GRANT FROM THE DEPARTMENT OF
JUSTICE AND THE AMOUNT OF $1
MILLION FOR FOUR YEARS THAT
WILL BE FUNDED THROUGH OCTOBER
2025 WITH THE POSSIBILITY OF
EXTENSION.
WITH THAT, I WOULD LIKE TO
THANK YOU FOR YOUR TIME TODAY
AND I WILL NOW TURN THE
MICROPHONE OVER TO DIRECTOR
KIM.
NEXT SLIDE, PLEASE.
>> I KNOW THAT IN THE INTEREST
OF TIME, I WILL TURN TO CHAIR
HERBOLD TO FIELD ANY QUESTIONS
BUT I WANT TO THANK YOU FOR
ALLOWING US TO BE HERE TO
HIGHLIGHT THIS MATTER.
>> ABSOLUTELY.
I WILL THANK YOU FOR BEING WITH
US AND DON'T AT ALL WANT TO
GIVE THIS CRITICAL ISSUE SHORT
STRETCH. THE COUNCIL'S INTEREST
IN SUPPORTING SURVIVORS AND
SUPPORTING ADVOCATES WHO ARE
DOING THIS CRITICAL WORK IS
EVIDENCED BY SOME OF THESE
INVESTMENTS THAT WERE COUNCIL
CHAMPIONED ITEMS.
THE COUNCIL ADDED $600,000 FOR
SEATTLE RESCUE PLAN IN 2021
FOR GENDER-BASED VIOLENCE
RESPONSE SERVICES.
IN THE 2022 BUDGET, WE ADDED
1.5 BILLION OF GENERAL FUND
DOLLARS FOR MOBILE ADVOCACY
SERVICES. THESE ARE ADDITIONS
THE COUNCIL MADE BECAUSE OF OUR
CONCERN AROUND THE NEGATIVE
IMPACTS OF SEXUAL VIOLENCE,
TRAUMA ON ADULTS AND CHILDREN,
INCLUDING FEAR, MISSED WORK OR
SCHOOL, INJURY AND PHYSICAL AND
MENTAL HEALTH CONDITIONS
INCLUDING SYMPTOMS OF
POSTTRAUMATIC STRESS DISORDER.
THIS IS REALLY CRITICAL WORK.
WE HAVE COMMUNITIES THAT ARE IN
CRISIS AND DEALING WITH TRAUMA
SO WE REALLY APPRECIATE THE
PREVIEW OF THESE INVESTMENTS.
ON THE FUTURE FUNDING
OPPORTUNITY, IS THIS AN
EXPANSION OF THE PROJECT?
WILL ADJUST CONTINUE THE
CURRENT LEVEL OF SERVICES?
AS IT RELATES TO THE SURVIVOR
SERVICES RFP, I AM WONDERING
HOW THE CITY FUNDS OR PROVIDES
LEGAL SUPPORT FOR SEXUAL
ASSAULT SURVIVORS? WHAT TYPE OF
LEGAL SERVICES ARE ELIGIBLE FOR
FUNDING?
>> THANK YOU COUNCILMEMBER, FOR
THOSE QUESTIONS.
I WANT TO ADDRESS THIS FIRST.
THIS PARTICULAR RFQ IS GOING TO
BE IN SERVICE LEVEL.
THE FUNDING FROM THE FEDERAL
GOVERNMENT IS ALREADY DESIGNATED
WHICH IS A PARTNER THAT WE HAD
WORKED ON AND APPLIED FOR THE
FUND.
THAT WILL NOT BE INCLUDED IN THE
RFP.
THAT IS GOING TO OUR PARTNER
ORGANIZATION THAT WE HAVE BEEN
WORKING WITH BUT THIS IS --
THE 149 WOULD BE GOING OUT IN
MAY.
DO YOU HAVE ADDITIONAL
QUESTIONS OR CLARIFICATION
NEEDED?
>> NOT ON THAT.
>> OKAY.
GREAT. THE SECOND ONE IS ABOUT
THE RFP AND LEGAL SERVICES.
CURRENTLY WE ARE WORKING WITH
SEXUAL VIOLENCE LEGAL SERVICES.
THE CITY INVESTED $900,000 IN
LEGAL SUPPORT FOR SURVIVORS OF
GENDER-BASED VIOLENCE.
OF THIS TOTAL, ABOUT 150 IS FOR
SEXUAL ASSAULT LEGAL SERVICES
VIA A CONTRACT WITH A SEXUAL
VIOLENCE SERVICES.
CURRENTLY THEY PROVIDE A NUMBER
OF KEY SERVICES INCLUDING
HOLISTIC AND LEGAL PRESENTATION
, LEGAL SERVICES IN THE FORM OF
IN-DEPTH LEGAL COMPLICATION.
THEY ALSO HAVE INFORMATION AND
REFERRAL HOTLINE.
>> SUPER HELPFUL.
I HAD ONE OTHER QUESTION BUT I
WANT TO PAUSE AND SEE IF MY
COLLEAGUES HAVE QUESTIONS.
NOT SEEING ANY.
I WANTED TO ASK IF YOU COULD
TOUCH A LITTLE BIT ABOUT THE
CHANGING FEDERAL AND STATE
FUNDING LANDSCAPE FOR GENDER-
BASED VIOLENCE SERVICES.
WE KEEP HEARING CONCERNS FROM
OUR PARTNER ORGANIZATIONS ABOUT
A POTENTIAL CHANGING FUNDING
LANDSCAPE AND WE DID HAVE AN
AMENDMENT TO PREVIOUS COUNCIL
RESOLUTION ABOUT FEDERAL COVID
RELIEF, SPECIFICALLY TO INCLUDE
GENDER-BASED VIOLENCE SERVICES
AFTER WE HAD HEARD THAT THERE
WAS AN ANTICIPATED 25% REDUCTION
IN THE FEDERAL VICTIMS OF CRIME
ACT FUNDING ALLOCATED FOR
DOMESTIC VIOLENCE AND SEXUAL
ASSAULT SERVICES IN 2021 AND
2022.
WHAT DO WE KNOW ABOUT UPCOMING
CHANGES IN FEDERAL AND STATE
FUNDS FOR THESE SERVICES AND
HOW THE CITY IS SUPPORTING
ORGANIZATIONS THROUGH THOSE
CHANGES OR HELPING WITH THEM?
>> THANK YOU FOR THOSE
QUESTIONS.
OUR OFFICE REACHED OUT TO THE
COALITIONS AND OTHER FUNDING
PARTNERS TO PROVIDE US WITH AN
UPDATE ON LOCAL AND REGIONAL
FUNDING LANDSCAPES.
THIS WAS SENT OUT ON FRIDAY.
WE ARE STILL RECEIVING A NUMBER
OF RESPONSES COMING IN. SO FAR,
THE RESPONSES COINCIDE WITH
WHAT WE HEARD AT OUR 2020 WHEN
LISTENING SESSIONS. SOME
AGENCIES ANTICIPATE CHANGES IN
THEIR CURRENT GRANTS.
THEY ARE SPECIFIC TO THE
ORGANIZATION RATHER THAN ANY
CHANGE TO OUR RFP PROCESSES
ACROSS THE BOARD.
WITH THAT BEING SAID, WE ARE
ALSO REACHING OUT TO COUNTY,
STATE, AND FEDERAL PARTNERS AND
WE ARE WAITING TO HEAR
RESPONSES DIRECTLY FROM THEM
REGARDING ANY CHANGES IN THEIR
FUNDING LANDSCAPE FOR 2022.
MORE TO COME ON THAT.
>> WE ARE HAPPY TO OFFER THAT
UPDATE TO YOUR OFFICE OR ONE-ON-
ONE.
>> FANTASTIC.
THANK YOU SO MUCH.
>> ANY CLOSING REMARKS FROM OUR
FRIENDS AT AGENCY OR FROM
COUNCIL MEMBERS?
>> ALL RIGHT.
>> SO THIS IS WHAT WE ADDENDUM
FOR TOMORROW?
>> YOU STOLE MY THUNDER.
>> I WILL DOUBLE DOWN ON THAT.
EVERYBODY WEAR DENIM TOMORROW.
I APPRECIATE YOU BEING HERE AND
I APPRECIATE THE CRITICAL WORK
THAT YOU ARE DOING FOR THE
COMMUNITY.
TOMORROW IS DENIM DAY SO PLEASE
DO WEAR YOUR DENIM.
THANK YOU.
FINAL ITEM ON THE AGENDA.
WILL THE CLERK PLEASE READ IN
AGENDA ITEM NUMBER FIVE?
>> COMMITTEE AGENDA ITEM NUMBER
FIVE, COUNCIL THE 120294, AN
ORDINANCE RELATING TO APP BASED
WORKER LABOR STANDARDS
ESTABLISHING COMPENSATION FOR
APP WASTE WORKERS WITH MINIMUM
PAY REQUIREMENTS AND RELATED
STANDARDS FOR TRANSPARENCY AND
FLEXIBILITY.
ADDING A NEW TITLE IN CHAPTER
8.37 TWO SEATTLE MUNICIPAL CODE.
>> THANK YOU SO MUCH.
THIS IS AN ISSUE WHERE CANCEL
CENTRAL STAFF WILL PRESENT TO US
THE VARIOUS ISSUES THAT HAVE
BEEN IDENTIFIED BY
COUNCILMEMBERS, BY STAKEHOLDERS
THAT MIGHT LEAD TO AMENDMENTS
TO THE LEGISLATION.
AGAIN, THIS IS A PREVIEW OF THE
ISSUES. WE DON'T NEED TO GET
DOWN INTO THE DEBATE ON THE
ISSUES. I WOULD EXPECT COUNCIL
MEMBERS TO NOTIFY CENTRAL STAFF
WITH AMENDMENTS THEY ARE
INTERESTED IN BRINGING FORWARD
AND WE WILL HAVE LOTS OF
OPPORTUNITY BOTH IN BETWEEN
MEETINGS, TALKING TO ONE ANOTHER
, AS WELL AS IN FUTURE
COMMITTEE MEETINGS TO DEBATE THE
MERITS OF THOSE AMENDMENTS
SHOULD THEY COME FORWARD.
WITH THAT, I WANT TO HAND IT
OVER TO CANCEL CENTRAL STAFF,
AMY GORE, KARINA BULL AND
JASMINE MARWAHA FOR ALL OF
THEIR INCREDIBLY HARD WORK
PUTTING TOGETHER THIS EXTENSIVE
MEMO. TODAY IS OUR FIFTH
COMMITTEE CONVERSATION SINCE
LAST JULY ON THE POLICY. AS YOU
HEARD ME SAY, WE HAVE ALSO HAD
OVER A DOZEN STAKEHOLDER
MEETINGS.
COUNCILMEMBER LEWIS AND I ARE
CONTINUING TO MEET REGULARLY
WITH STAKEHOLDERS IN SMALL
GROUP SETTINGS.
MUCH OF THE INPUT, WHICH IS
REFLECTED TODAY IN THIS MEMO
DERIVES FROM THOSE DISCUSSIONS.
>> THANK YOU, COUNCILMEMBER.
AFTER A QUICK ROUND OF
INTRODUCTIONS.
MY NAME IS AMY GORE.
>> I AM KARINA BULL WITH
CENTRAL STAFF.
>> THANK YOU CHAIR HERBOLD AND
GOOD AFTERNOON COUNCIL MEMBERS.
AS CHAIR HERBOLD MENTIONED, WE
WILL BE PRESENTING ON AGENDA
ITEM 5 WHICH IS COUNCIL BOW
120294 . THIS BILL WOULD
ESTABLISH A MINIMUM PASTE
STANDARD FOR APP WASTE WORKERS.
A TOUCH TO THE AGENDA TOUCHES
25 AMENDMENTS THAT HAVE EVER
BEEN IDENTIFIED BY
COUNCILMEMBERS OR REQUESTED BY
STAKEHOLDERS. FOR THIS
DISCUSSION, WE WILL WALK
THROUGH SEVERAL THAT ARE
PARTICULAR INTERESTS TO
COUNCILMEMBERS BUT WE ARE ALSO
HAPPY TO TAKE QUESTIONS WERE AT
DRESS ANY ADDITIONAL ITEMS,
TIME PERMITTING.
THE GOAL IS THAT THE MEMO AND
THE DISCUSSION WILL EXPLAIN THE
IMPACTS AND SOME OF THE POLICY
TRADE-OFFS OF POTENTIAL
AMENDMENTS SO THAT COMMITTEE
MEMBERS CAN DECIDE WHICH
AMENDMENTS THEY WOULD LIKE TO
DEVELOP AND SPONSOR.
PLEASE LET US KNOW BY THE END
OF TOMORROW WHAT AMENDMENT YOU
WOULD LIKE CENTRAL STAFF TO
DRAFT AND HAVE REVIEWED PRIOR
TO THE NEXT COMMITTEE MEETING.
I DON'T HAVE A PRESENTATION
TODAY BUT WE ARE PLANNING TO
KEEP THE TABLE THAT IS ON PAGE
2 OF THE MEMO ON THE SCREEN SO
THAT COMMITTEE MEMBERS CAN
FOLLOW ALONG WITH THE MEMO AND
ALWAYS KNOW WHERE WE ARE.
IF THERE AREN'T ANY QUESTIONS,
I WILL GO AHEAD AND GET STARTED
WITH THAT.
>> THE FIRST POTENTIAL
AMENDMENT FOR DISCUSSION IS
NUMBER ONE AND IT IS FOUND ON
PAGE 3 OF THE MEMO.
THIS AMENDMENT WOULD CHANGE THE
DEFINITION FOR ENGAGED TIME FOR
ON-DEMAND COMPANIES AND ON-
DEMAND OFFERS. AS YOU RECALL,
ON-DEMAND OFFER MUST BE
INITIATED WITH TWO HOURS OF
ACCEPTANCE. AS DRAFTED, ENGAGED
TIME FOR ON-DEMAND OFFERS
BEGINS WHEN THE OFFER IS
ACCEPTED BY THE WORKER.
IT IS INTENDED TO REFLECT THAT
A WORKER MAY NEED TO DRIVE
IMMEDIATELY TO THE DESTINATION
OR MAY BE UNABLE TO ACCEPT
OTHER OFFERS BEFORE INITIATING
THE PERFORMANCE.
THIS COULD CREATE A SITUATION
IN WHICH A WORKER IS PAID FOR
TIME BETWEEN SESSIONS AND WHEN
THEY INITIATE THE FORM.
HOWEVER, WE BELIEVE IT IS
UNLIKELY THAT THEY WOULD BE A
TWO ARE GAP BETWEEN ACCEPTANCE
AND INITIATION BECAUSE
COMPANIES WILL LIKELY NOT
PRESENT THE OFFER UNTIL US
CLOSE TO INITIATION AS POSSIBLE
AND BECAUSE WORKERS ARE
INCENTIVIZED TO INITIATE THE
OFFERS AS QUICKLY AS POSSIBLE.
AGAIN, THIS REQUESTED AMENDMENT
WOULD CHANGE THE DEFINITION OF
ENGAGED TIME FOR WHEN THE OFFER
IS ACCEPTED TO WHEN THE OFFER
IS INITIATED.
THIS WOULD LIKELY REDUCE THE
AMOUNT OF ENGAGED TIME TO SOME
DEGREE BUT THE IMPACT WILL BE
DETERMINED BY THE DEFINITION OF
INITIATE PERFORMANCE.
CURRENTLY, THAT IS NOT REFINED
AND LEGISLATION.
IT WAS ANTICIPATED THAT IT
WOULD BE CLARIFIED BY
STAKEHOLDER ENGAGEMENT AND
RULEMAKING, THEREFORE EXACTLY
HOW THIS AMENDMENT WOULD IMPACT
WOULD DEPEND ON THE DEFINITION.
AS THE COUNCIL IS CONSIDERING
THE LEGISLATION, THEY MIGHT WANT
TO AMEND THE LEGISLATION AS
DESCRIBED. COULD PROVIDE
ADDITIONAL CLARITY BY DEFINING
WHAT INITIATION OF THE
LEGISLATION MEANS OR THEY COULD
REQUEST THE OFFICE AND LABOR
STANDARDS TO DEFINE INITIATION
OF PERFORMANCE OR THEY COULD
MAKE A CHANGE TO THE LEGISLATION
AT THIS POINT.
ARE THERE ANY QUESTIONS ABOUT
THAT ONE?
>> I AM HOPING YOU CAN
HIGHLIGHT A NUMBER THAT IS DRAWN
. THAT WOULD BE HELPFUL ON THE
SCREEN.
THANK YOU SO MUCH.
PERFECT.
>> IF THERE AREN'T ANY
QUESTIONS ABOUT THAT, I WILL
MOVE TO THE NEXT ONE.
I WAS GOING TO HOP TO A TABLE
FOR THIS ONE.
THE SECOND POTENTIAL AMENDMENT
FOR DISCUSSION IS NUMBER SEVEN
IN A TOWN ON PAGE 6 OF THE
MEMO.
FOR THIS ITEM, I WANT TO SHOW
YOU THIS TABLE.
THEY ARE INTENDED TO ENSURE
THAT THE MINIMUM PAYMENT COVERS
EXPENSES INCURRED BY WORKERS.
THEY ARE NOT NECESSARILY A ONE-
FOR-ONE REIMBURSEMENT BUT
SHOULD GENERALLY ENSURE THAT
THE INDEPENDENT WORKERS CAN
IMPORT SIMILAR BENEFITS THAT
WORKERS CLASSIFY AS EMPLOYEES
ENJOY.
AS NOTED IN THE MEMO, THERE HAS
BEEN INTEREST IN REDUCING THE
INPUT TO THE MINIMUM PAYMENT
CALCULATION.
THIS INCLUDES REDUCING THE
ASSOCIATED COST FACTOR FROM
1.132 1.1, REDUCING THE
ASSOCIATED TIME PROCTOR FROM
1.21 21.5, REDUCING THE
STANDARD MILEAGE RATE FROM .5
2.3 AND REDUCING THE ASSOCIATED
MILEAGE FACTOR FROM 1.25 21.05.
ON PAGE 8 OF THE MEMO IS A
TABLE THAT SHOW THE TOTAL
IMPACT ON PAYMENT FOR SEVERAL
DIFFERENT TYPES OF OFFERS.
THESE CHANGES WOULD REDUCE THE
MINIMUM PAYMENT RECEIVED BY
WORKERS.
I DO WANT TO HIGHLIGHT THAT
CHANGING THE STANDARD MILEAGE
RATE IS DIFFERENT THAN THE OTHER
CHANGES THAT ARE REQUESTED.
FIRST, IT WOULD HAVE THE
LARGEST IMPACT ON MINIMUM
PAYMENT. IT WOULD PROPOSE THE
STANDARD MILEAGE RATE THAT IS
SET BY THE INTERNAL REVENUE
DEPARTMENT ANNUALLY.
THEREFORE, THE LEGISLATION DOES
NOT CONTEMPLATE ANY WAY TO
CHANGE THE MILEAGE RATE. OF THE
COMMITTEE CHOOSES TO SET A
DIFFERENT MILEAGE RATE, THEY
MIGHT WANT TO CONSIDER HOW THE
RATE SHOULD BE ADJUSTED IN THE
FUTURE TO REFLECT ANY CHANGES
AND ALSO THEY MAY WANT TO USE A
DIFFERENT ROOM TO AVOID
CONFUSION WITH A GENERALLY
MISUNDERSTOOD DEFINITION. THE
OPTIONS FOR THE COUNCIL TO
CONSIDER ARE TO AMEND THE
LEGISLATION TO REDUCE THE
STANDARD MILEAGE TO $0.30 WITH
NO PROVISION FOR ADJUSTMENT
GUIDANCE ON FACTORS FOR
ADJUSTMENTS.
THEY CAN AMEND THE LEGISLATION
TO REDUCE THE STANDARD MILEAGE
TO $0.30 BUT ALSO ADD SOME SORT
OF PROVISION FOR DISCRETIONARY
ADJUSTMENTS FROM THE DIRECTOR
WITH SOME GUIDANCE ON FACTORS
TO CONSIDER FOR ADJUSTMENTS.
THE COMMITTEE WOULD CONSIDER
AMENDING THE LEGISLATION TO
REDUCE THE STANDARD MILEAGE
RATE TO $0.30 FOR PERIODIC
NONDISCRETIONARY ADJUSTMENTS.
THE COMMITTEE COULD ALSO AMEND
THE LEGISLATION TO REDUCE THE
ASSOCIATED FACTOR AND
ASSOCIATED MILEAGE FACTOR AS
REQUESTED.
WAR THEY CAN MAKE NO CHANGE TO
THE LEGISLATION.
ARE THERE ANY QUESTIONS ABOUT
THAT PARTICULAR REQUEST?
>> AS YOU PROBABLY HAVE MADE
THIS PERFECTLY CLEAR, I DID NOT
CATCH IT. IT IS NOT AN ALL OR
NOTHING ON THE TURNING OF THE
DIAL?
IT COULD BE A MIX-AND-MATCH
APPROACH?
>> ABSOLUTELY.
IT DOES NOT HAVE TO BE THAT
PARTICULAR REDUCTION.
THIS IS -- IT IS NOT A SPECIFIC
CALCULATION.
THEREFORE, THE RANGE COULD BE
ANYWHERE BETWEEN WHAT IS
PROPOSED AND WHAT IS REQUESTED
ON ANY ONE OF THOSE PARTICULAR
FACTORS.
>> OKAY.
THE NEXT ONE THAT I WANTED TO
DISCUSS IS NUMBER 11. LET ME
MAKE SURE YOU CAN SEE THAT.
I WILL HIGHLIGHT IT. THE THIRD
POTENTIAL AMENDMENT FOR
DISCUSSION IS NUMBER 11 WHICH
IS FOUND ON PAGE 10 OF THE
MEMO.
THE COUNCIL BILL IS INTRODUCED
WOULD REQUIRE THE COMPANY TO
CAPTIVATE THE MINIMUM PAYMENT
FOR EACH COMPLETED OFFER.
THIS REQUESTED CHANGE WOULD
ALLOW COMPANIES TO CALCULATE
THE MINIMUM PAYMENT PER PAID
PERIOD AND THERE WOULD BE A
MAXIMUM PAY PERIOD OF SEVEN
DAYS, BASICALLY A WEEK.
THE WEEKLY PAY STANDARD IS HOW
PAY IS CALCULATED IN CALIFORNIA
AND THEREFORE, SUMMONED NETWORK
COMPANIES ALREADY CALCULATE
PAYMENTS IN THIS WAY.
IF SEATTLE USED THIS STANDARD,
IT WOULD NOT REQUIRE ANY
TECHNOLOGICAL OR POLICY CHANGES
TO MEET THE SEATTLE
REQUIREMENTS.
HOWEVER, IT COULD RESULT IN THE
MINIMUM NETWORK PAYMENT PAYING
MAXIMUM RATHER THAN A MINIMUM.
THAT IS WHAT FOLKS ARE SEEING
IN CALIFORNIA. IN ADDITION, APP
BASED WORKERS BELIEVE THIS
CHANGE COULD REDUCE THE
OPPORTUNITY TO EARN INCENTIVES
WHICH ARE CURRENTLY MADE
PRIMARILY ON THE OFFER BASED.
THE COMMITTEE COULD CONSIDER
AMENDING THE LEGISLATION AS
REQUESTED FOR NO CHANGE TO THE
LEGISLATION.
ARE THERE ANY QUESTIONS OR
COMMENTS ABOUT THAT?
>> COUNCILMEMBER MOSQUEDA?
>> ON AMENDMENT 11 HERE , WE
ARE HEARING SOME INTEREST THAT
THERE IS WEEKLY PAYOUT BUT NOW
I AM UNDERSTANDING THIS TO BE
MORE ALONG THE LINES OF
AVERAGING WAGES OR COMPENSATION
BY AN ENTIRE WEEK VERSUS THE
HOURS WORKED.
WHILE I UNDERSTAND THERE IS
REFERENCE TO CALIFORNIA, THERE
IS NO OTHER WORKER POOL.
>> I AM NOT AWARE OF ANY OTHER
APP BASED STANDARD THAT IS
CALCULATED ON A WEEKLY STANDARD
OTHER THAN CALIFORNIA BUT I CAN
LOOK INTO THAT.
YOU ARE RIGHT THAT THEY DO
THINK THAT WHEN YOU TALK ABOUT
A WEEKLY PAY STANDARD, THERE
ARE TWO WAYS OF LOOKING AT IT.
ONE IS HOW IS IT ACTUALLY
CALCULATED?
THEN, THE REQUEST IS FOR THE
CALCULATION TO BE BY A WEEK.
IT IS NOT JUST THAT THEY PAYOUT
WEEKLY. THE PAYOUT WEEKLY COULD
BE BASED ON A CALCULATION THAT
IS PER OFFER. JUST TO CLARIFY,
THIS IS ABOUT THE CALCULATION,
NOT WHEN IT IS PAID OUT.
I CAN LOOK FOR SOME OTHER
EXAMPLES OF WEEKLY PAYOUT
STANDARDS FOR APP BASED WORKERS
BUT I'M NOT AWARE OF ANY.
>> COUNCILMEMBER NELSON?
>> THIS AMENDMENT DOES GET AT
ONE OF MY CONCERNS.
A POTENTIAL DEMAND -- REDUCTION
IN DEMAND WITH DRIEST IMPACT
OVER DRIEST INCOME. I DO THINK
THAT THIS GETS TO LOOKING AT
INCOME-BASED ON PREVIOUS WEEKS.
THIS IS PUT FORWARD -- THEY
HAVE PROVIDED AS MANY DETAILS
FOR THAT ALTERNATE WAY OF
FIGURING PAY.
>> IT IS VERY INTERESTING.
DRIVE FORWARD AND WORKING
WASHINGTON ARE TRYING TO
ADDRESS THE VACCINE ISSUE. THEY
WANT TO SOLVE FOR THE SAME
ISSUE.
THEY HAVE DIFFERENT IDEAS ABOUT
HOW TO DO SO.
THEY ARE BOTH CONCERNED ABOUT
CREATING A FLOOR -- DRIVE
FORWARD IS CONCERNED WHAT THE
DAILY STANDARDS WILL CREATE.
THEY ARE AVERAGING OVER THE
COURSE OF THE WEEK.
WE ARE GOING TO HAVE TO PUT OUR
THINKING HATS ON FOR THAT
BECAUSE IT IS COMPELLING TO ME
THAT BOTH GROUPS HAVE THE SAME
CONCERN BUT HAVE A DIFFERENT
CONCERN ABOUT HOW TO ADDRESS IT.
>> ARE YOU READY TO MOVE ON?
>> THE NEXT ITEM THAT THEY
WANTED TO HIGHLIGHT IS
DISCUSSION NUMBER 14.
IT IS FOUND ON PAGE 11 OF THE
MEMO. THIS AMENDMENT WOULD
REMOVE THE TIP AMOUNT FROM THE
LIST OF INFORMATION THAT MUST
BE PROVIDED TO WORKERS FROM
PART OF THE OFFICE
PRESENTATION.
JUST TO CLARIFY, IT IS ONLY
REQUIRED IF THE COMPANY
COLLECTS THAT INFORMATION FROM
THE CUSTOMER PRIOR TO THE OFFER
BEING PRESENTED TO THE WORKER.
THIS CHANGE, WITH RESPONSE TO A
CONCERN THAT PROVIDED
INFORMATION WOULD ENABLE SOME
WORKERS TO ONLY ACCEPT OFFERS
WITH THE LARGEST TIPS WHICH
WOULD MAKE IT MORE DIFFICULT
FOR OTHER WORKERS TO COMPETE
FOR THE HIGHEST TIP OFFERS.
HOWEVER, GIVEN THE TIPS CAN BE
A LARGE PORTION OF A WORKERS
COMPENSATION, KNOWING A TIP
AMOUNT PRIOR TO ACCEPTANCE
WOULD GIVE THE WORKER MORE
CONTROL OVER THE PAY AND HELP
THEM MAKE MORE INFORMED CHOICES
ABOUT WHAT OFFERS TO ACCEPT SO
THAT COUNCILMEMBERS MIGHT WANT
TO CONSIDER AMENDING THE
LEGISLATION AS REQUESTED OR
MAKING NO CHANGE.
>> ARE THERE ANY QUESTIONS
ABOUT THAT?
>> COUNCILMEMBER MOSQUEDA?
>> THANK YOU VERY MUCH, MADAM
CHAIR.
JUST A QUICK QUESTION.
I DON'T BELIEVE NEW YORK CITY
INCLUDED THIS TYPE OF POLICY IN
THEIR PROPOSAL.
IS THAT CORRECT?
>> NEW YORK CITY, I DON'T
BELIEVE SO.
JUST TO BE CLEAR, NEW YORK CITY
HAS NOT YET IMPLEMENTED THEIR
CHANGES.
WHAT THEY HAVE DONE IS
REQUESTED THAT THEIR VERSION OF
OLS DEVELOP POLICY.
IT HAS NOT YET BEEN PASSED.
SOME OF THESE DETAILS HAVE NOT
YET BEEN FINALIZED.
I WILL DOUBLE CHECK BUT I DON'T
THINK THAT IS INCLUDED IN THE
POLICY DIRECTION GIVEN TO THE
DEPARTMENT AS PART OF THE
FOUNDATION FOR THE POLICY THEY
WOULD BE DEVELOPING.
>> MOVING ON. THE FIFTH
POTENTIAL AMENDMENT I WANTED TO
DISCUSS WAS NUMBER 16 AND IT IS
FOUND ON PAGE 12 OF THE MEMO.
THE LEGISLATION AS PROPOSED
WOULD REQUIRE THAT COMPANIES
PROVIDE A WRITTEN RECEIPT TO
THE WORKER WITHIN 24 HOURS AND
WITH ITEMIZED THINGS INCLUDING
COMPENSATION, TIP, ENGAGE TIME,
MILES, AND OTHER INFORMATION
ABOUT THE OFFER AND HOW IT LED
TO THE ACTUAL WAGE PAID.
THE REQUESTED CHANGE WOULD GIVE
COUNCILMEMBERS 48 HOURS TO
PROVIDE THE RECEIPT.
OBVIOUSLY THAT WOULD HELP THEM
BY GIVING THEM A LITTLE BIT
MORE TIME TO DEVELOP THAT.
HOWEVER, ON THE OTHER HAND, IT
MIGHT MAKE IT MORE DIFFICULT
FOR WORKERS TO REMEMBER WHAT
HAPPENED AND TO CORRECT ANY
RECEIPTS OR PAYBACK THAT IS
INCORRECT.
>> THE NEXT TWO THAT I WANTED
TO DISCUSS OUR NUMBER 17, WHICH
IS ON PAGE 12 OF THE MEMO AND
PAGE 18 WHICH IS RIGHT AFTER IT
, BOTH ITEMS 17 AND 18 ADDRESS
MARKETPLACE NETWORK COMPANIES
BUT WITH A MUTUALLY EXCLUSIVE AS
CURRENTLY COMPLETED.
AS WE DISCUSSED PREVIOUSLY IN
COMMITTEE, MARKETPLACE NETWORK
COMPANIES ARE DIFFERENT THAN
OTHER NETWORK COMPANIES.
THEY DO NOT INTERMEDIATE THE
INFORMATION ON THE SCOPE AND
DETAILS OF ANY TYPE OF OFFER
PRIOR TO THE PLACEMENT AND
ACCEPTANCE OF THE OFFER.
THEY ALSO DID NOT MONITOR THE
LOCATION OR MILEAGE AND TIME.
IN RESPONSE, THE LEGISLATION
DEFINES MARKETPLACE NETWORK
COMPANIES AND HAS A DIFFERENT
TYPE OF REGULATION FOR THE
COMPANIES WHICH WE DISCUSSED IN
COMMITTEE ON APRIL 12.
THERE IS INTEREST IN EXEMPTING
MARKETPLACE NETWORK COMPANIES
FROM LEGISLATION.
THIS EXEMPTION WOULD MEAN THAT
MARKETPLACE NETWORK COMPANIES
WOULD NOT HAVE TO MAKE CHANGES
TO THEIR OPERATION IN ORDER TO
COMPLY WITH THE LEGISLATION'S
REQUIREMENT.
I WILL NOTE THAT BOTH THE
COMPANIES AND THE WORKERS ARE
-- THEY BOTH WOULD RATHER AVOID
CREATING MORE TRACKING OF
WORKERS. THAT IS A COMMON GOAL
BUT IT WOULD MEAN THAT WORKERS
PERFORMING OFFERS WOULD NOT BE
COVERED BY ANY OF THE
LEGISLATION PROTECTION
INCLUDING THE MINIMUM PAYMENT
STANDARD, TRANSPARENCY
REQUIREMENTS LIKE INFORMATION
ABOUT THE OFFER PRIOR TO
ACCEPTANCE, NOR WOULD THEY BE
TESTING THE POSITIVE ABILITY
STANDARDS.
>> CREATING ANOTHER THING --
CREATING THIS EXEMPTION
IDENTIFY COMPANIES THAT
CURRENTLY DON'T MEET THE
DEFINITION TO CHANGE THE BILL.
THE COMMITTEE MAY WANT TO
CONSIDER EXCLUDING MARKETPLACE
NETWORK COMPANIES FROM THE
MINIMUM PAYMENT STANDARD OR
OTHER OF THE REGULATIONS THAT
ARE MOST CHALLENGING BUT
MAINTAIN SOME OF THE
TRANSPARENCY AND FLEXIBILITY
REQUIREMENTS.
AGAIN, THE OPTIONS ARE TO AMEND
THE LEGISLATION AS REQUESTED,
AMEND THE LEGISLATION TO EXCLUDE
SOME OF THE REGULATIONS BUT NOT
ALL, OR TO MAKE NO CHANGE TO
THE LEGISLATION.
ARE THERE ANY COMMENTS OR
QUESTIONS ABOUT THAT?
>> THE SEVENTH POTENTIAL
AMENDMENT FOR DISCUSSION IS
NUMBER 18 AND IT IS FOUND ON
PAGE 13 OF THE MEMO.
THIS IS A SECOND OPTION WHICH
WOULD FURTHER REVIVE THE
REGULATIONS.
THESE ARE THREE SPECIFIC
CHANGES THAT HAVE BEEN
REQUESTED.
THE FIRST CHANGE IS TO AMEND
THE MARKETPLACE DEFINITION TO
INCLUDE COMPANIES THAT ARE
PRIMARILY ENGAGED IN THE
SCHEDULED OFFERS RATHER THAN
EXCLUDE THE WAGES AND THAT ARE
PRIMARILY FACILITATED WITHOUT
MONITORING RATHER THAN
EXCLUSIVELY.
THIS CHANGE WOULD EXPAND THE
DEFINITION OF MARKETPLACE
NETWORK COMPANIES AND MAY
RESULT IN MORE COMPANIES
MEETING THE DEFINITION. IT
WOULD ALSO REQUIRE MORE
RULEMAKING BY OLS TO DETERMINE
WHAT PRIMARILY WOULD MEAN IN
THIS INSTANCE.
THE SECOND REQUEST IS TO CHANGE
ENGAGED TIME IS ESTIMATED FOR
MARKETPLACE NETWORK COMPANIES.
FOR MARKETPLACE NETWORK
COMPANIES THAT DON'T TRACK THE
TIME THE WORKER SPENDS
PERFORMING THE OFFER, THE
ENGAGED TIME CAN BE BASED ON AN
ESTIMATE THAT IS AGREED TO BY
THE CUSTOMER AND THE WORKER TO
OFFER ACCEPTANCE.
THEREFORE, PAY WOULD BE BASED
ON THIS ESTIMATE RATHER THAN
THE ACTUAL TIME SPENT WORKING.
THIS REQUESTED CHANGE WOULD GO
A STEP FURTHER AND STATE THAT
THE REQUIRED REASONABLE
ESTIMATE OF ENGAGED TIME COULD
BE MET BY LISTING THE RANGE OF
TIME AND COMPENSATION
EQUIVALENT TO AT LEAST ONE HOUR
OF ENGAGED TIME IN A 24-HOUR
PERIOD.
THIS IS INTENDED TO ADDRESS
SITUATIONS LIKE PET SITTING
WHERE THERE MAY BE TIME SPENT
EITHER AWAY FROM THE TASK WERE
WHEN A WORKER IS NOT COMPLETELY
RELIEVED OF DUTIES.
HOWEVER, IT COULD FURTHER
DIMINISH THE AMOUNT OF ENGAGED
TIME FOR WORKERS, MAKING IT
LESS REFLECTIVE OF THE ACTUAL
TIME WORK AND DECREASE THE
ACTUAL TIME FOR WORKERS.
THE THIRD REQUEST THAT I AM
PUTTING UNDER THIS BUCKET OF
MARKETPLACE REVISIONS IS TO
EXCLUDE MARKETPLACE NETWORK
COMPANIES FROM THE REQUIREMENTS
TO PROVIDE A WEEKLY SUMMARY OF
OFFERS INCLUDING PAY AND OTHER
INFORMATION FOR WORKERS.
AS I MENTIONED PREVIOUSLY,
THERE IS A REQUIREMENT THAT
THERE IS A PER OFFER RECEIPT
THAT IS SENT TO THE WORKER
WITHIN 24 HOURS AS WELL AS THIS
úWEEKLY SUMMARY OF THESE
RECEIPTS.
THE REQUEST IS THAT THE
MARKETPLACE NETWORK COMPANIES
BE EXCLUDED FROM THAT
PARTICULAR REQUIREMENT.
THE OPTIONS RELATED TO THIS
WILL BE TO AMEND THE
LEGISLATION WITH ALL OR SOME OF
THE AMENDMENTS AS DESCRIBED, OR
TO NOT MAKE ANY CHANGES TO THE
LEGISLATION.
OR, AS I MENTIONED BEFORE, TO
EXCLUDE THEM COMPLETELY.
IF THERE IS NOT -- ARE THERE
ANY QUESTIONS OR COMMENTS ABOUT
EITHER 17 OR 18?
OKAY.
IF NOT, I WILL NOW TURN IT
OVER TO THE JASMINE MARWAHA
FOR THE NEXT ITEM FOR
DISCUSSION.
>> THANK YOU.
NUMBER 19 IS A POTENTIAL
AMENDMENT THAT WOULD HAVE THEM
DEVELOP AND PRESENT PROPOSED
RULES TO COUNCIL BEFORE PASSAGE
OF THE LEGISLATION.
UNDER THE SEATTLE MUNICIPAL
CODE, THE DIRECTOR HAS THE
AUTHORITY TO ISSUE RULES AS
DEEMED NECESSARY TO CARRY OUT
THE FUNCTIONS OF THE DEPARTMENT.
IN ADDITION TO THE GENERAL
AUTHORITY, THE PROPOSED
ORDINANCE SPECIFICALLY MANDATES
OR ALLOWS FOR THE OLS DIRECTOR
TO CLARIFY CERTAIN ASPECTS OF
THE BILL.
MY UNDERSTANDING IS THAT
COUNCILMEMBERS MAY HAVE
CONCERNS WITH INVOKING THIS
AUTHORITY. OPTIONS LISTED IN
THE MEMO CAN POSTPONE THE VOTE
ON THE BILL UNTIL PROPOSALS ARE
PROVIDED BY THE OLS DIRECTOR,
TO NOT POSTPONE THE VOTE BUT
REQUEST THAT THE DIRECTOR OF
ELEPHANT RULES, PROVIDE THEM TO
THE COMMITTEE BEFORE THE
EFFECTIVE DATE AND TO NOT
POSTPONE A REQUEST FOR OFFICIAL
RULES.
IF THERE IS INTEREST IN
POSTPONING A VOTE ON THE BILL
UNTIL OLS PROVIDES PROPOSED
RULES, THERE ARE COUPLE OF
THINGS TO NOTE.
ONE, WHATEVER PROCESS OLS MAY
UNDERTAKE BEFORE A BILL IS
PASSED, I AM NOT SURE IF IT
WOULD OFFICIALLY BE ABLE TO BE
FULLY PROCESSED. THERE MAY NOT
BE A LAW WHERE THE PROBLEM
ISSUED RULES WILL BE NECESSARY
TO ADMINISTER AT THAT TIME.
I HAVE TO CHECK WITH THE CITY
ATTORNEY'S OFFICE AND OLS BUT
MY UNDERSTANDING IS THAT ONCE
THE BILL HAS PASSED, WE GO
THROUGH THE OFFICIAL PROCESS OF
PUBLISHING A DRAFT AND HAVING A
COMMENT FILED WITH THE CLERK.
ESSENTIALLY, THIS AMENDMENT
MIGHT CREATE A PREVIEW PROCESS
AND AN OFFICIAL PROCESS AFTER
THE BILL.
AGAIN, I HAVE TO CLARIFY WHAT
THAT LIST IS.
THEN, THERE IS POTENTIALLY
ANOTHER OPTION TO CONSIDER,
WHICH IS TO IDENTIFY THE AREAS
THAT COUNCIL DOES NOT WANT TO
DELEGATE AND THEN TO CLARIFY
THE LANGUAGE FOR THOSE SPECIFIC
ASPECTS OF THE ORDINANCE. I DO
BELIEVE SOME OF THE OTHER
POTENTIAL AMENDMENTS HAVE BEEN
DRAFTED WITH THOSE ISSUES.
>> COUNCILMEMBER NELSON?
>> THE AMENDMENT THAT WAS
SUGGESTED TO ME BY CENTRAL
STAFF AND THAT I FORWARDED AS
MY PREFERENCE WAS DIFFERENT
THAN THE ONE PROVIDED HERE.
IT WAS BASICALLY -- COUNCIL
PAST THE LEGISLATION.
OLS SAYS IT IS RULEMAKING BUT
THE LEGISLATION DOES NOT GO
INTO IT OR WOULD BE IMPLEMENTED
UNTIL COUNCIL THEN APPROVES
THE RULE THAT WAS DEVELOPED BY
OLS. MIGHT BE DIFFERENT WAY OF
GOING ABOUT RULEMAKING BUT A
LOT OF COMPANIES OUT THERE WHO
DON'T KNOW YET IF THEY WILL BE
COVERED BECAUSE -- WE WILL HAVE
A CHANCE TO PERHAPS MAKE TWEAKS
PER THEIR INPUT.
>> OKAY.
THAT IS SOMETHING I WILL HAVE
TO CHECK IN WITH, TO SEE IF IT
WOULD BE SOMETHING TO INCLUDE
IN THE ORDINANCE ITSELF.
THANK YOU.
ARE THERE ANY OTHER QUESTIONS
OR COMMENTS? WE HAVE THE NEXT
SET OF AMENDMENTS WILL BE
DISCUSSED BY KARINA BULL.
>> THANK YOU, JASMINE.
THE NEXT AMENDMENT IS NUMBER 20
AND IT IS ON PAGE 15.
THIS AMENDMENT W█OULD APPROPRIAE
FUNDING FOR AN INDEPENDENT
STUDY OF POTENTIAL IMPACTS OF
THE MINIMUM PAYMENT REGULATION
ON DRIVERS, NETWORK COMPANIES,
PARTNER BUSINESSES, AND/OR
CUSTOMERS.
THE IDEA OF FUNDING A STUDY,
WHETHER IT WOULD HAPPEN BEFORE
OR AFTER LEGISLATION IS NOT NEW
IN CONSIDERATION OF LABOR
STANDARDS.
IT HAS HAPPENED IN THE PAST
WHEN IT WAS ORIGINALLY PASSED.
THERE WAS AN IMPLEMENTATION
STUDY.
IT ALSO HAPPENED BEFORE AND
AFTER THE MINIMUM WAGE FOR
EMPLOYEES, BEFORE THE MINIMUM
COMPENSATION STANDARDS FOR
DRIVERS AND BEFORE AND AFTER
FOR THE SECURE SCHEDULING
COORDINATES.
WILL SOME LABOR STANDARDS ARE
CONSIDERED BY POLICY
ORGANIZATIONS AND BUSINESSES AS
WELL.
AS FAR AS CONSIDERING ITEMS TO
INFORM A DECISION ON WHETHER OR
NOT TO HAVE A STUDY, THERE IS
TIMING ASPECT'S AS WE JUST WENT
OVER BEFORE.
THE PARTICIPATION OF
STAKEHOLDERS AND WHETHER THE
STUDY WOULD JUST BE AN ACADEMIC
STUDY OR WHETHER THE CITY WOULD
ENGAGE WHOLE RANGE OF
STAKEHOLDERS AS DRIVERS AND
COMPANIES AND WORKERS AND
ORGANIZATIONS, THE
ADMINISTRATION OF THE STUDY,
WHAT DEPARTMENT WOULD DO IT AND
THE PATH, IT WAS CONTEMPLATED
IN THE TMC MINIMUM COMPENSATION
ORDINANCE THAT OLS ACTUALLY
CONDUCT THE STUDY.
THAT WOULD NEED TO BE
CONSIDERED.
OF COURSE, THE COST, WHICH
VARIES ON THE BREADTH OF THE
STUDY ITSELF.
THERE IS THE ACADEMIC STUDY,
$53,000, ADDITIONAL MONEY SPENT
ON THE OUTREACH AND ENGAGEMENT.
THERE WAS A TOTAL COST OF ABOUT
$765,000 FOR A THREE-PART STUDY
THAT INCLUDED BASELINE AND THEN
TWO SEPARATE YEARS OF IMPACTS
AFTER THE LEGISLATION WAS
PASSED.
OPTIONS FOR CONSIDERING THIS
AMENDMENT WOULD INCLUDE
POSTPONING THE BOAT ON THIS
BILL TO EXAMINE AND MODEL THE
POTENTIAL IMPACT TO INFORM THE
REGULATION PRIOR TO VOTING.
ANOTHER OPTION WOULD BE NOT
POSTPONING THE VOTE AND FUNDING
A STUDY TO MONITOR THE IMPACTS
OF THE LEGISLATION AFTER IT
GOES INTO EFFECT AND THEN USE
THOSE FINDINGS TO POTENTIALLY
MODIFY THE REGULATIONS OF THE
FUTURE. LAST, TO NOT POSTPONE
THE VOTE OR FUND THE STUDY OF
THE IMPACTS.
ARE THERE ANY QUESTIONS ON THAT
POTENTIAL AMENDMENT?
OKAY.
WE WILL GOING TO THE NEXT ONE
WHICH IS AMENDMENT NUMBER 24 ON
THE MEMO ON PAGE 18.
DETERMINE THE FUNDING NEEDED FOR
OFFICE OF LABOR STANDARDS TO
ADMINISTER AND ENFORCE THIS
BILL.
CURRENTLY, OFFICE OF LABOR
STANDARDS IS ESTIMATING THAT IT
WOULD COST $1.2 MILLION IN THE
FIRST YEAR AND ONGOING TO
IMPLEMENT THIS BILL THAT WOULD
CONSIST OF $566,000 FOR
IMITATION COSTS, WHICH INCLUDES
OUTREACH, CONTRACT WITH
ORGANIZATIONS, ET CETERA AND
ABOUT 670,000 FOR STAFFING.
THAT WOULD BE FOR FIVE
POSITIONS.
THE BUDGET THAT OLS IS PROPOSING
IS OUTLINED IN THE MEMOS.
YOU CAN SEE ALL OF THE
DIFFERENT COMPONENTS OF IT.
THIS WOULD MEAN THAT OLS WOULD
LIKELY NEED TO START WORK
IMMEDIATELY ON THIS LEGISLATION.
IT IS UNKNOWN RIGHT NOW WHAT
PORTION, IF ANY OF THESE
RESOURCES, WOULD BE NEEDED
IMMEDIATELY OR WOULD BE
CONSIDERED AS PART OF THE 2023
BUDGET. CURRENTLY, CENTRAL STAFF
IS WORKING WITH OLS TO DETERMINE
. ARE THERE ANY QUESTIONS ABOUT
THIS PARTICULAR AMENDMENT?
>> RELATED TO THAT, A POTENTIAL
AMENDMENT NUMBER 25 WHICH WOULD
BE IDENTIFYING AND
APPROPRIATING RESOURCES FOR
OFFICE OF LABOR STANDARDS TO
ADMINISTER LEGISLATION.
CURRENTLY, OLS REPORTS THAT
THEY DO NOT HAVE THE RESOURCES
TO ADMINISTER LEGISLATION, HENCE
THE COST ESTIMATE OF $1.2
MILLION. CENTRAL STAFF IS NOT
AWARE OF CURRENT GENERAL FUND
RESOURCES AVAILABLE TO SUPPORT
THIS EXPENSE AFTER OFFSETTING A
REDUCTION OF APPROPRIATIONS.
THERE WOULD BE A NEED TO
IDENTIFY RESOURCES FOR
IMPLEMENTATION OF THIS BILL.
SOME ITEMS TO CONSIDER WOULD BE
OFFICE OF LABOR STANDARDS,
CIVIL PENALTIES.
THERE ARE CIVIL PENALTIES
ALREADY INCLUDED IN THIS
LEGISLATION THAT COULD BE USED
TO SUPPORT OFFICE OF LABOR
STANDARDS.
HOWEVER, THE PRACTICE IS TO
PRIORITIZE CIVIL PENALTIES TO
THE WORKER RATHER THAN TO THE
OFFICE.
THE OFFICE IS TRYING TO COLLECT
A PENALTY TO FURTHER BENEFITS.
HOWEVER, THAT COULD BE CHANGED.
THERE COULD BE MANDATORY
PENALTIES THAT GO TO SUPPORT
THE OFFICE OR SOME
JURISDICTIONS THAT HAVE
PROVISIONS THAT REQUIRE THE
COMPANY TO PAY FOR THE COST OF
THE INVESTIGATION.
THAT WOULD BE SOMETHING THAT
THE OFFICE OF LABOR STANDARDS
WOULD CALCULATE.
THERE ARE A VARIETY OF OPTIONS.
ANOTHER OPTION IS THE OLS SUB
FUND.
THERE IS AN EXISTING LAW THAT
ESTABLISHES A SPECIAL SUB FUND.
SINCE THEN, COUNCIL WOULD HAVE
A MINIMUM ANNUAL CONTRIBUTION
WHERE THE DIRECTOR SAYS WHAT
IS NEEDED TO SUPPORT THE
OFFICES IMPORTANT OUTREACH.
IF THE DIRECTOR WERE TO
INCREASE THAT ANNUAL
CONTRIBUTION, THE APPROPRIATIONS
WOULD HAVE MORE ITEMS IN THE
CITY BUDGET WOULD BE REDUCED.
ANOTHER POSSIBLE IDEA IS A FEE
ON NETWORK COMPANIES. THERE ARE
OTHER ADMINISTRATIVE
ACTIVITIES, THE MOST RELEVANT
EXAMPLE WOULD BE THE TAXES PAID
PER RIDE AND THAT COVERS
ESTIMATED ENFORCEMENT COSTS OF
THE TMC LICENSING VEHICLE
ENDORSEMENTS AND OLS
ENFORCEMENT OF THE MINIMUM
COMPENSATION ORDINANCE.
AS FAR AS OPTIONS TO CONSIDER,
IT COULD BE EXPECTING TO
VOLUNTARILY USE SOME OF THEIR
CIVIL PENALTIES TO COVER A
PATIENT COSTS, MANDATE SOME
PORTION, USES SOME OF THE
BUSINESS AND OCCUPATION TASKS
TO FUND THE IMPLANTATION OR
ESTABLISHES THE TAX TO UNCOVER
THESE COSTS.
THE FINAL OPTION COULD BE TO
DELAY ACTION UNTIL SUFFICIENT
RESOURCES ARE IDENTIFIED.
ARE THERE ANY QUESTIONS IN THAT
POSSIBLE AMENDMENT?
>> I WANT TO THANK YOU FOR
IDENTIFYING WHAT WE SHOULD
CONSIDER ON THE FUNDING PAGE.
>> YOU ARE VERY WELCOME.
I'M NOT SURE IF I MENTIONED IN
MY DISCUSSION OF THE BUDGET
THAT THERE IS A STATE BILL 200
736 THAT IMPACTED OFFICE OF
LABOR STANDARDS FROM CONTINUING
TO ENFORCE THE DRIVER MINIMUM
COMPENSATION.
WE WILL FIND OUT HOW TO FUND
THOSE IN THE FUTURE.
>> I BELIEVE THAT BRINGS US TO
A CLOSE OF THE AMENDMENTS.
AMY, ANYTHING YOU WOULD LIKE TO
ADD?
>> WE CAN'T HEAR YOU.
>> I'M SORRY.
UNLESS THERE ARE ANY ADDITIONAL
QUESTIONS OR COMMENTS FROM THE
COMMITTEE, WE WILL GO AHEAD AND
THANK YOU FOR YOUR TIME.
GIVEN THE NUMBER OF POTENTIAL
AMENDMENTS, WE REQUEST THAT YOU
LET US KNOW WHAT AMENDMENTS YOU
WOULD LIKE TO SPONSOR BY THE
END OF THE DAY TOMORROW SO THAT
WE CAN GET TO WORK MAKING SURE
THOSE AMENDMENTS ARE READY FOR
A VOTE DURING THE COMMITTEE
MEETING.
>> THANK YOU, AMY.
ONE THING THAT HAS NOT BEEN
DISCUSSED YET, AS FAR AS THE
NEXT STEP, CONSIDERING ALONG
WITH MY CO-CHAIR ON THIS
LEGISLATION, A REQUEST OF THE
COMMITTEE TO JOIN US IN A
PUBLIC HEARING ON THIS
LEGISLATION.
MORE TO BE HEARD FROM FOLKS AND
I THINK THAT WOULD BE A GOOD
STEP. MORE TO COME ON THAT.
>> THANK YOU ALL.
>> COUNCILMEMBER MOSQUEDA?
>> I JUST WANTED TO THANK YOU
AND YOUR COSPONSOR AS WELL FOR
YOUR WORK ON THIS LEGISLATION.
GIVEN THREE CENTRAL STAFF
MEMBERS ON THE LINE, THE
TREMENDOUS AMOUNT OF WORK, TO
THANK THEM FOR THEIR TREMENDOUS
WORK ON THE MEMO BECAUSE IT
REALLY HAS BEEN HELPFUL TO SEE
ALL OF THE OPTIONS OUTLINED IN
FRONT OF US. I ALSO HAVE A
LITTLE BIT OF HISTORICAL
PERSPECTIVE ON THINGS LIKE
DOING FINAL ZIPPING UP A
POLICIES AND RULEMAKING AND
NOTING HOW OFTEN THAT HAS
OCCURRED.
WITH SOMETHING LIKE THIS, WHEN
WE ARE TRYING TO HELP AND LIFT
UP AND EMPOWER WORKERS TO MAKE
SURE THERE IS TRANSPARENCY AND
ACCOUNTABILITY, HAVING THE
OPPORTUNITY TO SIT AT THOSE
RULEMAKING TABLES IS SOMETHING
I KNOW THAT HAS BEEN VALUED
FROM DIVERSE STAKEHOLDERS IN
THE PAST.
THERE ARE SO MANY IMPORTANT
LABOR LEGISLATIONS.
WE ARE EXCITED ABOUT THE
OPTIONS THAT HAVE BEEN OUTLINED
HERE IN FRONT OF US AND LOOK
FORWARD TO HEARING MORE ABOUT
THE POSSIBLE HEARING AND REALLY
APPRECIATE EVERYBODY WHO
CONTINUES TO CALL IN AS WELL.
>> THANK YOU, COUNCILMEMBER
MOSQUEDA.
A BIG, BIG THANKS TO AMY,
KARINA, JASMINE, AND OUR OWN
STAFF WHO HAVE BEEN WORKING
REALLY, REALLY HARD ON THIS
LEGISLATION AND GETTING US TO
THE POINT WE ARE AT NOW.
WITH THAT, WE WILL CONCLUDE
THIS ITEM. THE NEXT PUBLIC
SAFETY AND HUMAN SERVICES
COMMITTEE IS SCHEDULED FOR
TUESDAY, MAY 10, 2022.
DO ANY COUNCIL MEMBERS
ANTICIPATE BEING ABSENT FROM
THAT MEETING?
JUST LOOKING TO NOTE THAT EARLY
IF THAT IS THE CASE.
COUNCIL MEMBER MOSQUEDA?
>> EXCUSE ME, MADAM CHAIR.
WHAT DATE ARE YOU TALKING
ABOUT?
>> MAY 10.
>> JUST TRYING TO DO EXTRA DUE
DILIGENCE ON QUORUM. YOU DON'T
HAVE TO LET ME KNOW NOW.
>> I WILL BE HERE.
>> THANK YOU.
>> BEFORE WE ADJOURN, ARE THERE
ANY OTHER COMMENTS FROM MY
COLLEAGUES?
ALL RIGHT.
NOT SEEING ANY.
THE TIME IS 12:50 6 PM YOU GET
YOUR HOUR BREAK BEFORE FULL
COUNCIL.
WE ARE ADJOURNED.
THANK YOU.