CHAIR OF THE COMMITTEE. PLEASE CALL THE ROLL. >> COUNCILMEMBER RIVERA. >> PRESENT. >> COUNCILMEMBER SOLOMON. >> HERE. >> COUNCILMEMBER HOLLINGSWORTH. FOUR PRESENT. >> THANK YOU VERY MUCH. AND I WANT TO NOTE WE'RE ALSO JOINED BY COUNCILMEMBER MOORE. ALL RIGHT, IF THERE'S NO OBJECTION, THE AGENDA WILL BE ADOPTED. HEARING NONE, THE AGENDA IS NOW ADOPTED, AND WE WILL NOW BEGIN OUR PUBLIC COMMENT PERIOD. LET'S SEE, RELATING TO THE ITEMS WITHIN THE PURSUE OF THE COMMITTEE. CLERK, HOW MANY PEOPLE ARE SIGNED UP TO SPEAK TODAY? >> COUNCILMEMBER, WE HAVE 21 IN PERSON PUBLIC COMMENTERS AND 7 VIRTUAL. >> ALL RIGHT, GIVE ONE MINUTE AND START WITH TEN IN-PERSON PUBLIC COMMENTERS AND GO TO ONLINE, FINISH THOSE, AND THEN COME BACK. THANK YOU. PLEASE READ THE INSTRUCTIONS. >> I'LL CALL ON THE SPEAKERS IN ORDER THEY SIGNED UP TO SPEAK STARTING WITH IN- PERSON COMMENTERS AS COUNCILMEMBER NELSON MENTIONED, YOUR MIC WILL BE CUT OFF SO WE CAN MOVE TO IT NEXT SPEAKER. >> I WANT TO NOTE WE DO HAVE A FORMER COUNCILMEMBER PRESENT, SO OUR TRADITION IS TO LET THAT PERSON GO FIRST AND THEN PROCEED WITH THE NEXT PEOPLE. AND FOR THE RECORD I NOTE THAT COUNCILMEMBER HOLLINGSWORTH HAS JOINED US. >> THANK YOU, COUNCIL PRESIDENT. YEAH, THE FIRST IN- PERSON PUBLIC COMMENT WILL BE FORMER COUNCILMEMBER -- >> OKAY, GO AHEAD WITH THE ORDER. >> ALL RIGHTY, FIRST WE'LL HAVE PAMELA REESE, AND I APOLOGIZE IN ADVANCE IF I MISS PRONOUNCE YOUR FIRST OR LAST NAME. THANK YOU. >> HELLO. I'M PAULA REESE. I WORKED IN DOWNTOWN SEATTLE FOR 45 YEARS. MY DESIGN FIRM SPECIALIZES IN HOW TO MAKE REALLY SUCCESSFUL NEIGHBORHOODS. ORANGE BOROUGH MEDIA HAS PLASTERED THEIR DIGITAL SPACECRAFT ALL OVER TWO OF OUR PROJECTS IN TWO OTHER CITIES. THEY'RE ANNOYING AND UNSIGHTLY UNITS SEEM TO DOMINATE THE STREETS. IT SHOULDN'T HAPPEN HERE. NOT FOR RED BULL AND NOT FOR COCA- COLA, THEIR MAIN ADVERTISER. PLEASE TELL IKE TO TAKE A HIKE. FOR 35 YEARS I'VE REPRESENTED THE THOUSANDS OF CITIZENS WHO HAVE CAREFULLY BEEN HERE TO MAINTAIN SEATTLE'S AD BAN SINCE THE 1960s ALLIED ARTS WAS BEFORE US. CURRENTLY THE PUBLIC IS UNAWARE OF THIS. IF ALLOWED, THERE WILL BE RIGHTFUL LAWSUITS IN THE WINGS BY MUCH LARGER PLAYERS THAT HAVE BEEN TOLD -- >> THANK YOU, PAULA. >> OUR BUSINESSES ARE TOLD NO. >> THANK YOU, PAULA. THANK YOU. NEXT WE HAVE ELLEN. FOLLOWING ELLEN, WE HAVE ALICE. AND AFTER ALICE, WE HAVE CAROLYN. COME ON DOWN. >> WE UNDERSTAND WE HAVE 2 MINUTES, SO I WILL TRY TO KEEP MINE DOWN TO 1. I'M A CITIZEN AND I'M A FORMER VICE CHAIR OF THE SEATTLE DESIGN COMMISSION. I'M OPPOSED TO THE DIGITAL KIOSKS. THIS 8 FOOT BY 3 FOOT FLASHING SCREENS WILL HAVE A DELETERIOUS EFFECT ON THE CHARACTER OF OUR CITY. EACH KIOSK WILL FLASH 920 TIMESTIMES AN HOUR AND ALLOW BOTH STATX AND MOVING IMAGES FOR A TOTAL OF 21,600 TIMES IN 24 HOURS. WHEN WE'RE TRYING TO WEAN CHILDREN FROM THEIR SCREENS AND WE KNOW HOW DETRIMENTAL THIS IS TO OUR SOCIAL FABRIC, WHY IN THE WORLD WOULD WE ALLOW THIS IN OUR CITY? THE PROGRAM VIOLATES THE CITY'S SIGN CODE AND WOULD NEVER BE APPROVED UNDER THE CODE. THE TERM PERMIT IS A SHAMEFUL WAY OF UNDERMINING CITY POLICY. ORANGE BURROW MEDIA HAS WITHHELD THEIR FINANCIAL PROJECTIONS, AND THE DIRECTOR'S REPORT HAS FAILED TO SHOW DATA OF HOW THE IMPACTS IN OTHER CITIES -- >> THANK YOU, ELLEN. >> I'D LIKE TO LEAVE THE REST OF MY TESTIMONY ALONG WITH MY COMMENTS I PREVIOUSLY SENT TO COUNCIL SO THEY'LL GET RECORDED FOR TODAY. THANK YOU. >> JUST A REMINDER, WHEN YOU HEAR THE CHIME, JUST A REMINDER YOU HAVE 10 SECONDS LEFT. JUST A REMINDER. ALICE, GO AHEAD. >> THE SEATTLE CITY COUNCIL HAS REQUIRED COUNCILMEMBER TO RECUSE THEMSELVES FROM VOTES WHEN THEY HAVE A CONFLICT OF INTEREST. THIS HAS BEEN GOING ON FOR 45 YEARS. I THINK SOME OF YOU HAVE NOT EVEN FINISHED ONE TERM, SO WHY? WHAT IS THIS? I MEAN, REALLY. OUR RULES ARE SIMILAR TO OTHER LARGE CITIES AROUND THE COUNTRY AND THEY DON'T SEEM TO BOTHER THEM. GIVEN THE INCREASING LACK OF TRUST AND FAITH IN ELECTED OFFICIALS DUE PRIMARILY BY THE CHAOS AND CORRUPTION AND CONFUSION I WOULD THINK TWICE IF I WERE YOU IF I VOTED FOR THIS. DO YOURSELVES A FAVOR AND VOTE NO. >> THANK YOU, ALICE. FOLLOWING THAT WE HAVE CAROLYN, FOLLOWING THAT WE HAVE ALEX ZIMMERMAN, AND THEN APRIL. COME ON DOWN. COME ON CAROLYN, ALEX, AND APRIL. CAROLYN? >> I'M CAROLYN MALONE. SHOULD PUBLIC SERVANTS FIRST RESPONDERS, THAT IS FIRE, POLICE, AMBULANCE DRIVERS FIRST PRIORITY AND SIMPLE DUTY, A MAJOR DUTY NOT BE ROAD RAGING IN THE STREETS BUT SAVING LIVES, NOT TRYING TO DAMAGE MY HEARING BECAUSE I'M STANDING AT 5th AND CHERRY PROTESTING SEATTLE ROAD RACIST COPS. I TAKE NOTE OF ALL THOSE SIREN HARASSERS AND VIOLATORS, AND THEY SIMPLY FIND ME WHEREVER I GO, EVEN RIDING BUSES, FIREMEN CIRCULATE AROUND CAUSING THE BUSES TO STOP. THESE PEOPLE, SERVANTS, PUBLIC SERVANTS SHOULD BE REINTRODUCED TO THEIR PRIMARY DUTY, WHICH IS TO SAVE LIVES, NOT DAMAGE MY HEARING. THANK YOU. >> THANK YOU, CAROLYN. FOLLOWING THAT WE HAVE ALEX, APRIL PUTNY, AND THEN RACHEL SNELL. THANK YOU. >> MY NAME IS ALEX. I WANT TO SPEAK RIGHT NOW ABOUT THE KIOSK. ANOTHER STUPIDITY. SO I HAVE SOMETHING I CAN RECOMMEND YOU RIGHT NOW. YESTERDAY COME NEW STATISTIC. FOR FIVE YEAR COME FROM NUMBER ONE, COME TO NUMBER TEN. AND CRIME, HOUSING, AND HOMELESS WE'RE NUMBER ONE FROM THE BOTTOM. IT HAS HAPPENED FOR FIVE YEARS. HOW IS THIS POSSIBLE? CAN SOMEBODY EXPLAIN TO ME? >> ALL RIGHT, AFTER ALEX WE HAVE APRIL PUTNY, RACHEL SNELL, AND JORDAN CRAWLEY. THANK YOU. >> HI, THANKS FOR THE OPPORTUNITY TO HEAR MY TESTIMONY TODAY. APRIL PUTNY HERE TODAY ON BEHALF OF THE SEATTLE WORLD CUP ORGANIZING COMMITTEE IN SUPPORT OF RESOLUTION 32170. WE ARE REALLY EXCITED LIKE ALL OF YOU TO BE WELCOMING HUNDREDS OF THOUSANDS OF FANSFANS THE CITY NEXT SUMMER. IN ADDITION TO ALL OF THE PEOPLE WHO ARE NORMALLY GOING TO BE HERE TO ENJOY OUR BEAUTIFUL SUMMERS, AND WE REALLY THINK AFTER HAVING A CHANCE TO REVIEW AND SEE THE KIOSKS, THAT THESE ARE GOING TO BE AN AMAZING ASSET TO OUR CITY BOTH DURING THE WORLD CUP AND LONG AFTER THE FINAL WHISTLE. THERE'S TWO THINGS IN PARTICULAR WE'RE REALLY EXCITED ABOUT WITH THESE KIOSKS. ONE, THE ON DEMAND TRANSLATION. IT'S SO IMPORTANT TO BE ABLE TO PROVIDE ASSISTANCE TO THE HUNDREDS OF THOUSANDS OF PEOPLE WHO ARE GOING TO BE COMING HERE, MANY FROM INTERNATIONAL PLATES, SOME OF WHOM MAY HAVE LIMITED ENGLISH PROFICIENCY. THAT'S GOING TO BE TRUE LONG AFTER THE WORLD CUP AS WELL, AND THIS WILL HELP NAVIGATE THE CITY WITH EASE. THE OTHER THING WE'RE REALLY EXCITED ABOUT IS THE DYNAMIC CALENDER, WHICH WE'VE HEARD FROM THE CITY COUNCIL PREVIOUSLY. IT'S IMPORTANT TO MAKE SURE WE'RE SENDING PEOPLE OUTSIDE INTO THE OTHER PARTS OF INTO DOWNTOWN COR DOR, OUTSIDE THE DOWNTOWN COR DOR INTO OTHER PARTS OF THE CITY, AND THIS WILL ALLOW PEOPLE TO DO THAT. >> THANK YOU. >> HELLO, MY NAME IS RACHEL SNELL. OVER THE PAST FEW DAYS UHAVE HEARD FROM MANY SEATTLEITES LIKE MYSELF WHO STRONGLY OPPOSE ROLLING BACK ETHICS. WHY WOULD ELECTED OFFICIALS WHO WERE VOTED INTO OFFICE BY THE PEOPLE EVEN CONSIDER A PIECE OF LEDGETIATION THAT IS STRONGLY OPPOSED BY THE PEOPLE? I SAID THIS TUESDAY, AND I'M GOING TO SAY IT AGAIN. YOU ARE NOT ENTITLED TO DEMAND OUR TRUST AND SUPPORT. YOU HAVE TO EARN OUR RESPECT AND TRUST. HOW DO YOU EARN THIS? THROUGH BEING TRANSPARENT AND HONEST WITH YOUR CONSTITUENTS ABOUT WHO YOU ARE AS INDIVIDUALS AND BY VOTING NO ON ROLLING BACK ETHICS PROTECTIONS OR PREPARE FOR MASSIVE PROTESTS AND MASSIVE BACKLASH. >> ALL RIGHT, FOLLOWING RACHEL WE HAVE JORDAN CRAWLEY, HOWARD GAYLE, AND TAYLOR BACK. WELL. >> HELLO, CHIME JORDAN CRAWLEY. A LETTER COSIGNED BY FIVE LOCAL PARTY ORGANIZATIONS COLLECTIVELY REPRESENTING 98% OF THE CITY. SEATTLE SHOULD SET THE ETHICAL STANDARD, NOT FAIL TO MEET IT. STRENGTHEN OUR DEMOCRACY, NOT ERODE IT, AND FOSTER PUBLIC TRUST, NOT DESTROY IT. YESTERDAY BEFORE THE ETHICS AND ELECTIONS COMMISSION I GOT TO HEAR SOMETHING I DIDN'T EXPECT TO HEAR SO SOON -- THE QUIET PART SAID OUT LOUD, THAT THIS COUNCIL BELIEVES THE PRIVILEGE OF THIS CITY ARE AT RISK OF LOSING THEIR INFLUENCE OVER LEGISLATION IN SEATTLE, THAT THEY BELIEVE THIS BILL WILL PROTECT THE INTERESTS OF SEATTLE'S DEVELOPERS, LANDLORDS AND THE WEALTHY FEW. IF LOSING THEIR INFLUENCE MEANS PRESERVING THE RIGHTS OF SEATTLEITES, THEN THE CODE OF ETHICS IS DOING EXACTLY WHAT IT SHOULD, REQUIRING THIS COUNCIL BE INDEPENDENT, IMPARTIAL, AND RESPONSIBLE TO THE PEOPLE. YOU REPRESENT US, NOT YOURSELVES. REJECT THIS BILL. [ APPLAUSE ] >> THANK YOU. AFTER JORDAN WE HAVE HOWARD -- >> OKAY, PLEASE REFRAIN FROM CLAPPING IN BETWEEN SPEAKERS. THANK YOU. >> HOWARD GAYLE, DISTRICT 7. THE CENTRAL STAFF MEMO PROVIDED FOR THE ETHICS LEGISLATION TODAY HAS A SECTION TITLED OVERVIEW OF CITY AND STATE ETHICS CODE, YET IT FAILS TO MENTION ANY STATE. WHY? OBVIOUS. BECAUSE CALIFORNIA AND OREGON THE ONLY OTHER WESTERN STATES, PROHIBIT ALL ELECTED OFFICIALS FROM VOTING WITH A CONFLICT OF INTEREST. ALSO INTERESTINGLY OMITTED FROM YOUR MEMO, THE WASHINGTON STATE CONSTITUTION ADOPTED 135 YEARS AGO BY VOTE OF THE PEOPLE DEMANDS RECUSAL FOR ALL STATE LEGISLATORS, YET YOU'RE PROPOSING LEGISLATION THAT'S GOING TO HAVE A LOWER STANDARD THAN OUR STATE CONSTITUTION. THE QUESTION IS WHY WOULD YOU DO THAT? AGAIN, THIS LEGISLATION SUPPOSEDLY DENIES -- I'M SORRY, THIS LEGISLATION IS RATIONALIZED ON THE BASIS THAT THE CURRENT SYSTEM DENIES MEMBERS AN EQUAL VOICE WHEN THERE'S A COUNCILMEMBER RECUSED. THAT -- IF COUNCILMEMBERS HAVE A CONFLICT OF INTERESTS AND RESIDENTS DON'T LIKE THAT, THEY CAN VOTE THEM OUT. THAT'S WHAT SHOULD BE DONE. >> THANK YOU. ALL RIGHT. [ APPLAUSE ] ALL RIGHT, AFTER HOWARD, WE HAVE TYLER AND MIKE STEWART. >> GOOD AFTERNOON. MY NAME IS TYLER BLACKWELL, AND I'M THE TRANSPORTATION IMPROVEMENT DIRECTOR FOR THE SOTO BIA. I'M HERE TO SPEAK ON RESOLUTION 2170 PERTAINING TO THE INTERACTIVE MEDIA KIOSKS. THE SOLUTION IS A WIN- WIN FOR SOTO BUSINESSES AND THE DISTRICT'S VISITORS. THROUGH WAY FINDING AND REALTIME TRANSIT INFORMATION THE PUBLIC WILL BE ABLE TO BETTER NAV FWAT THE DISTRICT AND ITS AMENITIES. LOCAL BUSINESSES WILL GAIN GREATER VISIBILITY THROUGH THE USE OF THESE KIOSKS CONNECTING THE PUBLIC THROUGH SOTO'S CULTURAL GEMS AND EXPERIENCES THAT OFTEN GO UNSEEN. AND WITH THE INCLUSION OF SOCIAL SERVICE APPS, THESE KIOSKS WILL HELP CRITICAL RESOURCES AND HELP THE SOTO'S UNHOUSED POPULATION. FURTHER THIS PROVIDES OPPORTUNITIES WITH THE REVENUE SHARING BIA ALLOWING US TO REINVEST IN OUR COMMUNITY AND REAUGMENT THE SERVICES WE PROVIDE. SOTO HAS MUCH TO GAIN THROUGH THIS INSTALLATION AND WE STRONGLY SUPPORT THIS RESOLUTION. THANK YOU. >> THANK YOU. APOLOGIES FOR MISPRONOUNCING YOUR FIRST NAME. S-U-P-E-R-R-I-V- E FOLLOWED BY MIKE STEWART AND AFTER MIKE WE HAVE ANNA. >> THANKS, COUNCILMEMBERS, FOR ALWAYS ACCEPTING ME AND ALLOWING ME TO BE HERE. I OPPOSE THE ROLL BACK OF ETHICS RULES BECAUSE I FEEL THE DIRECT ATTACK AGAINST LOW INCOME PEOPLE AND POOR PEOPLE -- INSTEAD YOU SHOULD FOCUS ON FUNDING FOR ROADS, INFRASTRUCTURE, THE SIDEWALKS, THE ARTS. >> THANK YOU. FOLLOWING THAT WE HAVE MIKE STEWART, ANNA SMOLLEY AND DWEND LN HART. COME ON DOWN. >> GOOD AFTERNOON, CHAIR MEMBERS OF THE COMMITTEE. WE ARE AN IMPROVEMENT ORGANIZATION THAT REPRESENTS HUNDREDS OF BUSINESSES AND THOUSANDS OF RESIDENTS IN THE BALLARD NEIGHBORHOOD. I'M HERE TODAY TO SUPPORT RESOLUTION 32170, WHICH WILL HELP ESTABLISH AN INTERACTIVE MEDIA KIOSK PROGRAM IN THE METROPOLITAN IMPROVEMENT DISTRICT, THE BALLARD IMPROVEMENT AREA, AND THREE OTHER BUSINESS DISTRICTS IN SEATTLE. INTERACTIVE KIOSKS AND NEIGHBORHOOD BUSINESSES LIKE BALLARD WOULD BE A GAME CHANGER. I'VE HAD AN OPPORTUNITY TO USE THE IKE KIOSKS IN OTHER MAJOR U.S. CITIES, AND THEY PROVIDE AN INCREDIBLE EXPERIENCE NOT ONLY FOR VISITORS BUT FOR LOCALS AS WELL. THEY PROVIDE HELPFUL FUNCTIONS SUCH AS TRANSIT INFORMATION WAY FINDING, INTERACTIVE KIOSKS. KIOSKS ALSO HELP ACTIVATE PUBLIC SPACES AND ALLOW NEIGHBORHOOD BUSINESS DISTRICTS LIKE OURS TO PROMOTE ADVANCE, AND SUPPORT OUR LOCAL COMMUNITY AND OUR SMALL BUSINESSES. THANK YOU FOR THE TIME, AND I ENCOURAGE YOU TO SUPPORT THIS RESOLUTION. THANK YOU. >> THANK YOU. FOLLOWING THAT WE HAVE ANNA SMOLLEY AND THEN WE HAVE -- >> I'M WITH COMMUTE SEATTLE TODAY TO SUPPORT THE IKE KIOSKS. ON COMMUTE SEATTLE WE'RE FOCUSED ON HELPING PEOPLE FIGURE OUT THE BEST WAY TO GET IN AND AROUND SEATTLE FOR THEM. THE IKE KIOSKS WILL SERVE AS PRIMARY POINT OF INFORMATION FOR MANY INCLUDING LOCALS TO TOURISTS TO HELP THEM GET AROUND. HOW DO YOU EVEN KNOW WHAT TO LOOK UP? IKE GIVES FOLKS A NEW WAY TO FIND INFORMATION WITHOUT HAVING TO BE SURE OF THE INFORMATION THEY ARE LOOKING FOR. AN EXAMPLE OF THIS IS WHEN PEOPLE COME TO SEATTLE AND THEY'RE HOPING TO GET AROUND TO SEE THE SIGHTS. HOW WOULD THEY KNOW OFF THE LINK LIGHT RAIL OR THE FREE WATERFRONT SHUTTLE? IKE WOULD BE THE ANSWER TO THAT. IT PROVIDES THE INFORMATION THEY'RE ALREADY LOOKING FOR RIGHT IN FRONT OF THEM. IKE ALLOWS US TO SHARE TAILORED AND SPECIFIC INFORMATION TO CREATE A LESS OVERWHELMING WAY TO EXPERIENCE THE CITY. WE REALLY BELIEVE THAT IKE ALLOWS ALL FOLKS TO ACCESS INFORMATION ABOUT HOW TO GET AROUND. >> THANK YOU. THANK YOU. ALL RIGHT, OUR LAST IN- PERSON PUBLIC COMMENTER FOR NOW WILL BE HART. >> SEATTLE IS A MAJORITY REPRESENTER CITY BUT WE'RE ONLY SCRAPING BY WHILE HUGE CORPORATIONS RAKE IN MASSIVE PROFITS OFF OF OUR BACKS AND IT'S COMPLETELY ABYSMAL COUNCIL WOULD LIKE TO WRITE IT FOR LANDLORDS TO -- THINGS THAT SARA NELSON HAS STATED SHE WANTS TO ROLL BACK AND ATTACK, AND IT'S NOT SURPRISING THESE ATTACKS ON OUR DEMOCRATIC PARTY -- ON THE STATE LEVEL DEMOCRATS ARE SLASHING THE BUDGET # BILLION CUTTING BUDGETS TO HOSPITALS, SCHOOLS AND PUBLIC SERVICE. JUST LAST YEAR THE CITY COUNCIL TRIED TO ATTACK OUR MINIMUM WAGE VICTORY. YOU AND YOUR PARTY ARE SHREDDING THROUGH EVERY LAST BIT OF GOODWILL WORKING PEOPLE HAVE LEFT. YOU'VE HEARD THAT ON TUESDAY. YOU'VE HEARD IT ON TUESDAY. AND DON'T THINK IF YOU VOTE FOR THIS YOU WON'T BE THROWN OUT IN THE NEXT ELECTION. >> ALL RIGHT, WE WILL TRANSITION NOW TO THE REMOTE PUBLIC COMMENTERS. AND JUST A REMINDER WHEN YOU HEAR THE CHIME, YOU'LL HAVE 10 SECONDS LEFT. IF YOU EXCEED THAT TIME, YOUR MICROPHONE MAY BE CUT OFF SO WE CAN MOVE ONTO THE NEXT SPEAKER. SO, YES. AND IF YOU'RE ALSO OFFERING REMOTE PUBLIC COMMENT PLEASE MAKE SURE TO PRESS STAR 6 TO UNMUTE YOURSELF. THE FIRST REMOTE CALLER WILL BE VALERIE S. VALERIE, PLEASE FEEL FREE TO PRESS STAR 6 TO UNMUTE YOURSELF. VALERIE, PLEASE PRESS STAR 6. ALL RIGHT, WE'LL COME BACK TO YOU, VALERIE. NEXT WE'LL HAVE ADAN CARROLL. ADAN, PLEASE PRESS STAR 6 TO UNMUTE YOURSELF. >> THIS LEGISLATION AS I WREPREDICTED DEGETTING MORE BAG LASH THAN ANYTHING YOU'VE DONE BEFORE THIS BECAUSE OF HOW OBVIOUS IT IS. I'D LIKE TO REMIND YOU A COUPLE OF THINGS THAT MAKES IT EVEN MORE OBVIOUS. YOU ARE NOT FOLLOWING THE AMENDMENT PRINCIPLE WHERE THESE RULES WOULD NOT CHANGE UNTIL AFTER THE NEXT ELECTION. IT'S EVEN MORE BLATANTLY SELF-SERVING. SECOND, YOU HAVEN'T THOUGHT ABOUT THE FACT THESE RULES ARE IN PLACE NOW SO ANYONE WHO HAS A CONFLICT WOULD HAVE TO RECUSE THEMSELVES FROM VOTING ON THESE RULES. THIRD, YESTERDAY IN THE ETHICS AND ELECTIONS COMMITTEE MEETING, THEY HAD TO POINT OUT TO DIRECTLY CONTRADICT ONE OF YOU WE DON'T MAKE ETHICS RULES TO FURTHER POLITICAL GOALS NO MATTER HOW IMPORTANT THE POLITICAL GOALS MAY OR MAY NOT BE. THOSE PRINCIPLES ALWAYS APPLY. I DON'T UNDERSTAND HOW MUCH MONEY -- >> THANK YOU. NEXT WE'LL HAVE ODIN. PLEASE PRESS STAR 6 TO UNMUTE YOURSELF. >> MY NAME IS ODIN, AND I'M A RENTER IN DISTRICT 3. I'M ADDRESSING COUNCIL BILL 120978. I'LL QUOTE DIRECTLY FROM THE BILL'S SUMMARY AND FISCAL NOTE ON SEATTLE'S WEBSITE. THIS LEGISLATION WOULD ENSURE FULL REPRESENTATION BY PROVIDING ADDITIONAL OPPORTUNITY FOR COUNCILMEMBERS TO PARTICIPATE IN LEGISLATIVE MATTERS IN WHICH THEY HAVE A FINANCIAL INTEREST OR OTHER CONFLICT OF INTEREST. THAT JUST SOUNDS BAD. I'M STRONGLY OPPOSED TO THE PROPOSED CHANGE OF SEATTLE'S ETHICS CODE THAT WOULD ALLOW SEATTLE TO VOTE ON LEGISLATION THAT WOULD POSE A CONFLICT OF FLORIDA. IT'S A MIRACLE WE EVEN THESE SAFE GUARDS. HAS A NINE- YEAR SEATTLE RESIDENT I ONLY LEARNED ABOUT THIS RULE WHEN I READ NEWS COVERAGE ABOUT THIS THREAT TO THE ETHICS CODE. THIS IS NOT A GOOD LOOK AND THIS CHANGE WILL OPEN UP WAYS FOR ELECTED OFFICIALS TO USE THEIR POSITIONS. I AM EXTREMELY CONCERNED TO HEAR OF THIS PROPOSAL AND I URGE YOU TO OPPOSE IT. >> THANK YOU. NEXT WE'LL HAVE ALBERTO ALVAREZ. PLEASE PRESS STAR 6 TO UNMUTE YOURSELF. >> ROLLING BACK RULES OF ETHICS TO ALLOW FOR MORE CORRUPTION WOULD BE A SYSTEMIC FAILURE BY THIS COUNCIL. SELF-DEALING, SELF- INTEREST, AND SELF- RIGHTEOUSNESS WILL INFLICT CRITICAL DAMAGE TO THE PROTECTIONS OF PUBLIC GOOD WE ALL DEPEND ON. CHAOS AND HARM BY WEALTHY POLITICIANS IS NOT HYPOTHETICAL. IT IS A FACT. NO ONE ON THIS COUNCIL IS IMMUNE TO CORRUPTION. THIS LEGISLATION GOES FAR BEYOND ALLOWING A SMALL GROUP OF LANDLORDS TO LINE THEIR POCKETS. GOD ONLY KNOWS WHAT FUTURE CITY COUNCILS WOULD DO IF GIVEN FREE REIGN TO ENRICH THEMSELVES. COUNCILMEMBER CATHY MOORE, PLEASE TAKE DOWN YOUR BILL. >> ALL RIGHT. I SEE THAT VALERIE, YOU'RE BACK ON. PLEASE PRESS STAR 6 TO UNMUTE YOURSELF, VALERIE. ALL RIGHT, WE'LL TRY AGAIN, VALERIE. CONTINUING ON, MARSHALL BENDER, PLEASE PRESS STAR 6 TO UNMUTE YOURSELF. >> HI, I FINALLY MANAGED TO UNMUTE. I'M SO SORRY. THIS IS VALERIE FROM DISTRICT 2. I'M COMMENTING ON THE PROPOSAL TO CHANGE HOW CITY COUNCIL HANDLES VOTING WHERE THERE'S A FINANCIAL CONFLICT OF INTEREST. YOU'RE GETTING A LOT OF PUBLIC COMMENTS ABOUT CHANGING THE ETHICS REQUIREMENT FOR RECUSAL THAT HAS BEEN IN PLACE FOR DECADES. IT IS ESPECIALLY CONCERNING THAT THIS IS PROPOSED JUST BEFORE AN UPCOMING VOTE ON ROLLING BACK TENANT PROTECTIONS. I'VE LEARNED OVER THE YEARS THAT WHEN PEOPLE IN POWER SEEK TO MINIMIZE OR GLOSS OVER STRUCTURES FOR ACCOUNTABILITY AND FAIRNESS, THOSE PEOPLE ARE NOT TO BE TRUSTED. TRUSTWORTHY PEOPLE WHEN THEY HAVE SOME DEGREE OF POWER OR PRIVILEGE WANT ACCOUNTABILITY AND TRANSPARENCY BECAUSE THEY HAVE A SENSE OF RESPONSIBILITY AND RELATIONSHIP TO OTHER PEOPLE. THAT SENSE OF RESPONSIBILITY AND ACCOUNTABILITY OUTWEIGHS SOME INCONVENIENCE ONE MIGHT EXPERIENCE FROM, FOR EXAMPLE, NOT BEING ABLE TO BE A LANDLORD, A COUNCILMEMBER AND VOTE ON ISSUES. ETHICS RULES EXIST TO PREVENT ABUSE AND PROTECTION -- >> THANK YOU, VALERIE. ALL RIGHT, WE'LL CONTINUE WITH MARSHALL BENDER. PLEASE PRESS STAR 6 TO UNMUTE YOURSELF. THANK YOU. GO AHEAD, MARSHALL. >> SORRY. ANY COUNCILMEMBER WHO VOTES ON THE -- IS MAKING A MISTAKE. I LIVE IN DISTRICT 5. I'M A RENTER. I REALLY SUGGEST YOU CONSIDER REMAINING CONSTITUTIONAL AND VOTE NO ON ANY CHANGE TO THE ETHICS CODE. WE DO NOT NEED TO BE AN OUTLIER AMONG THE U.S. WEST COAST. LIKE IT WAS SAID EARLIER OREGON AND CALIFORNIA BOTH HAVE THESE LAWS STATEWIDE. WE SHOULD HAVE THEM TOO IN OUR CITY. AND YOU ALL MUST REMAIN ACCOUNTABLE TO CONSTITUENTS. THAT MEANS REMAINING TRANSPARENT AND RECUSING YOURSELF FROM VOTES WHERE YOU HAVE A CONFLICT OF INTEREST. WE HAVE SO MANY OTHER ISSUES TO TACKLE IN THIS CITY FROM POLICE VIOLENCE TO THE LIBRARY ASSISTANCE FUNDING TO HOMELESSNESS, SO DON'T WASTE YOUR TIME PASSING TERRIBLE UNCONSTITUTIONAL ETHICS CODE CHANGES BECAUSE YOU'RE NOT GOING TO WIN YOUR RE- ELECTION IF THIS IS WHAT YOU'RE FIGHTING FOR. THANK YOU. [ APPLAUSE ] >> ALL RIGHT, THANKS FOR THAT. NATALIE MORGAN, PLEASE PRESS STAR 6 TO UNMUTE YOURSELF. >> HI, MY NAME IS NATALIE MORGAN. I'M THE ORGANIZER FOR FAIR VOTE WASHINGTON, A NONPARTISAN NON- PROFIT WORKING ON DEMOCRACY REFORM MEASURES LIKE RIGHT CHOICE VOTING, AND LIKE MANY OF THE FOLKS HERE I AM ALSO, OF COURSE, HERE AS A SEATTLE RESIDENT TO EXPRESS MY OPPOSITION TO THE NEW PROPOSAL CONCERNING THE SEATTLE ETHICS CODE. I'M CONCERNED ABOUT THE PROPOSED CHANGES TO THE ETHICS CODE THAT WOULD ALLOW COUNCILMEMBERS TO VOTE ON MATTERS WHERE THEY HAVE A FINANCIAL CONFLICT OF INTEREST. I URGE YOU TO OPPOSE THIS PROPOSAL AND MAINTAIN OUR CURRENT LEVEL OF TRANSPARENCY AND PUBLIC TRUST IN OUR CITY GOVERNMENT. SEATTLE SHOULD BE CONTINUING ITS LEADERSHIP IN MODELING A JUST AND TRANSPARENT DEMOCRACY, NOT ROLLING BACK PROTECTIONS THAT ARE ALREADY IN PLACE ESPECIALLY DURING TIMES LIKE THIS. THIS PROPOSAL HARMS BOTH TRANSPARENCY AND DEMOCRACY, AND AS A RESULT WILL ERODE PUBLIC TRUST, AND I THINK WE ALL KNOW WHAT A PERILOUS POSITION PUBLIC TRUST IN GOVERNMENT IS IN RIGHT NOW. PLEASE MAINTAIN THE SAFE GUARDS THAT ARE ALREADY WORKING AND VOTE NO ON THIS UNNECESSARY PROPOSAL. THANK YOU. [ APPLAUSE ] >> CARLY, PLEASE PRESS STAR 6 TO UNMUTE YOURSELF. >> HI, MY NAME IS CARLY AND I'M A RENTER IN SEATTLE, AND MORE IMPORTANTLY I'M A MEMBER OF WORKERS STRIKE BACK, AN ORGANIZATION FOUNDED OFF THE MASS MOVEMENT OF WORKING PEOPLE THROUGH THE CITY COUNCIL OFFICE. LAST YEAR I ATTENDED MY FIRST CITY COUNCIL MEETING TO FIGHT BACK. I WAS ABSOLUTELY APPALLED AT THE APATHY THAT WAS ON ALL THE COUNCILMEMBERS' FACES WHILE WORKING PEOPLE CAME UP AND SHARED HOW THEY WERE BARELY SCRAPING BY WITH MINIMUM WAGE. AND NOW REALLY ANOTHER ATTACK ON WORKING PEOPLE. STOP TAKING MONEY FROM CORPORATE LANDLORDS. STOP TRYING TO REPEAL THESE ETHICS LAWS SO THAT YOU CAN VOTE IN FAVOR OF THESE MILLIONAIRE LANDLORDS. IT'S SO OBVIOUS WORKING PEOPLE ARE NEVER AT THE INTEREST OF YOUR PROPOSALS, AND IT'S FRANKLY DISGUSTING. IF YOU ARE A WORKING PERSON AND A RENTER IN SEATTLE, VISIT WORKERSSTRIKEBACK.ORG TO GET ORGANIZED AND HELP OTHER WORKING PEOPLE FIGHT BACK AGAINST THESE CORRUPT POLITICIANS. >> THANK YOU. NEXT WE HAVE DAVID HANES. >> STOP CLAPPING IN BETWEEN SPEAKERS. I'VE SAID THAT MANY TIMES. PLEASE, RESPECT THE RULES OF DECORUM FOR THE -- GO AHEAD. >> POINT OF ORDER. POINT OF -- POINT OF ORDER. >> WE'RE GOING TO CALL A RECESS 5 MINUTES. >> PLEASE CALL THE ROLL. >> COUNCILMEMBER RIVERA. >> PRESENT. >> COUNCILMEMBER SOLOMON. >> HERE. >> COUNCILMEMBER HOLLINGSWORTH. >> PRESENT. >> COUNCILMEMBER KETTLE. >> HERE. >> CHAIR NELSON. >> PRESENT. >> FIVE PRESENT. >> THANK YOU VERY MUCH. WE WILL PROCEED WITH THE MEETING, AND I WILL REPEAT, PLEASE DO NOT CLAP IN BETWEEN OUR -- IN BETWEEN SPEAKERS. THAT IS DISRUPTIVE. IT PROLONGS THE TIME THATTHAT WE SPENDING IN PUBLIC COMMENT. WE HAVE ALREADY GONE OVER THE 20 MINUTES, BUT I'M GOING TO LET EVERYBODY'S SPEAK. IT IS DISRUPTIVE BEHAVIOR TO FAIL TO COMPLY WITH THE RULES OF THE CHAMBERS AND ALSO TO FOLLOW THE DIRECTION OF THE PRESIDING OFFICER, SO, PLEASE SHOW RESPECT -- >> POINT OF ORDER. POINT OF ORDER COUNCIL PRESIDENT. THIS IS CONSIDERED DISRUPTIVE BEHAVIOR BECAUSE WE CANNOT CONTINUE WITH OUR MING. IN RESPECT FOR THE PEOPLE THAT ARE HERE THAT WE HAVE A MEETING WITH, THIS IS UNACCEPTABLE. >> YES. IT'S IN VILES OF COUNCIL RULE 11D1, SO, PLEASE, LET'S PROCEED. >> ALL RIGHT. GOING BACK TO CARL NELSON. PLEASE PRESS STAR 6 TO UNMUTE YOURSELF. CARL? >> CAN YOU HEAR ME? >> YES, WE CAN. GO AHEAD. >> THANK YOU. LADIES AND GENTLEMEN, MEMBERS OF THE COUNCIL, MY NAME IS CARL NELSON. I'M A 16- YEAR SEATTLE RESIDENT REPRESENTER, AND MEMBER OF THE SMALL BUSINESS TENTANT ASSOCIATION. I'M HERE TODAY TO EXPRESS BY OPPOSITION TO THE CHANGE IN THE ETHICS LEGISLATION. THE PUBLIC COMMENTS AT THE MEETING WERE UNANIMOUSLY IN PROPOSED TO ROLL BACKS IN ETHICS. Y8D I WOULD ALSO LIKE TO ADDRESS SOMETHING COUNCILMEMBER MOORE SAID AT HER OWN MEETING. THE ONLY WAY TO HAVE LOCAL TRUST IN GOVERNMENT IS FOR LOCAL GOVERNMENT TO BE EFFECTIVE FOR LOCAL GOVERNMENT TO ACTUALLY SOLVE PROBLEMS, END QUOTE. MY RESPONSE TO THIS IS SIMPLY ASK WHAT PROBLEM IS BEING SOLVED BY ROLLING BACK ETHICS LEGISLATION, AND HOW DOES IT ENGENDER TRUST WHICH RENTERS ON THE COUNCIL ARE ALREADY OUTNUMBERED BY LANDLORDS AND A COUNCIL WHERE LEADING MEMBERS HAVE OPENLY EXPRESSED HOSTILITY -- >> THANK YOU. NEXT WE HAVE DAVID HANES. PLEASE PRESS STAR 6 TO UNMUTE YOURSELF. >> WE NEED TO KICK OUT THE LANDLORDS WRITING LAWS TO OPPRESS THE WORKING CLASS AND THE TENANTS AND ANY POLITICIAN THAT CAN CHANGE THE MORALITY OF THE LAWS AND CREATE A STALL IN PROGRESS THAT SUPERSEDES THE BAD LAWS BUT STILL CONSPIRE TO PUT RESTRICTIONS ON THE COMPREHENSIVE PLAN AND CHEAT A MULTITUDE OF YOUNGER GENERATIONS SO WE HAVE A REALLY BAD QUALITY IN- HOUSING SO IT DOESN'T ACHIEVE WHAT THE CITY COUNCIL -- THAT IS USED TO OPPRESS WORKING CLASS SO THEY CAN HALF THE COST OF HOUSING AND DEREGULATE IT. WE NEED TO ADD TRANSPARENCY TO THE RENTAL CONFLICTS OF INTERESTS TO SEE WHERE THE COUNCIL IS COMING FROM AND KEEP THE ENFORCEMENT OF THE MAJORS WITHOUT ALL THESE DELETIONS AND CHANGES SO YOU DON'T HAVE TO BE MORE TRANSPARENT WHEN YOU START NEGOTIATIONS AND REPRESENTING THEM IN BAD FAITH. YOU'RE REPRESENTING THEM IN BAD FAITH. WE DON'T NEED YOU TO DO A DISSERVICE TO OUR WORKING CLASS ANYMORE. GET OUT OF OFFICE IF YOU'RE GOING TO KEEP -- >> ALL RIGHT, THEN, THE LAST REMOTE SPEAKER WILL BE KATE RUBEN. KATE, PLEASE PRESS STAR 6 TO UNMUTE YOURSELF. >> MY NAME IS KATE RUBEN. I'M THE CO- EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR OF THE SEATTLE, THE INTERIM COCHAIR OF THE SEATTLE RENTERS COMMISSION AND A VOTER UNDER DISTRICT 2. I'M CALLING TO URGE YOU TO REJECT THIS PROPOSED ROLL BACK OF SEATTLE'S ETHICS CODE. FOR 45 YEARS OUR CITY HAS REQUIRED ELECTED OFFICIALS TO RECUSE THEMSELVES FROM VOTES INVOLVING FINANCIAL CONFLICTS OF INTEREST. VOTERS ELECTED THIS COUNCIL WITH THE UNDERSTANDING THOSE RULES WOULD APPLY. CHANGING THE RULES IS A VIOLATION OF PUBLIC TRUST. THIS IS NOT ABOUT WHETHER OR NOT YOU BELIEVE YOU CAN REMAIN IMPARTIAL. ETHICS RULES ARE NOT BUILT ON PERSONAL INTEGRITY. THEY'RE BUILT TO PROTECT THE PUBLIC WHEN INTEGRITY FALLS SHORT, AND NO ONE KNOWS WHO WILL HOLD THESE SEATS IN THE FUTURE. ELECTED OFFICIALS SHOULD BE HELD TO A HIGHER ETHICAL STANDARD, NOT A WEAKER ONE. OREGON AND CALIFORNIA MAINTAIN STRONG RECUSAL RULES FOR THIS EXACT REASON. I AS A DISTRICT 2 RENTER AND VOTER STAND FIRMLY OPPOSED. VOTE NO. THANK YOU. >> THANK YOU. ALL RIGHT, WE'LL RESUME BACK TO THE IN- PERSON PUBLIC COMMENTERS. FIRST WE WILL HAVE CALVIN FOLLOWED BY -- COME ON DOWN. >> [ INAUDIBLE ] WE WORKERS STRIKE BACK WILL NOT STAND ASIDE AND ALLOW IT TO HAPPEN. WHEN RENTERS RIGHTS ARE UNDER ATTACK, WHAT DO WE DO? >> COME ON DOWN. >> [ INAUDIBLE ] AND SAY THEY'RE TALKING ABOUT YOUR UNACCEPTABLE BEHAVIOR THAT'S UNACCEPTABLE. DO YOU KNOW WHAT THE EVICTION RATES ARE FOR CHILDREN AND BLACK RENTERS? SHAME ON YOU. SHAME ON THE DEMOCRATIC PARTY TO BE SO OPENLY CARRYING WATER FOR BIG BUSINESS AND CORPORATE LANDLORDS, WHICH IS WHAT THIS ETHICS LAW REVERSION -- REVERSAL IS ALL ABOUT. IT IS ABOUT MAKING SURE THAT YOU HAVE ENOUGH YES VOTES TO REPEAL THE RENTER RIGHTS LAWS THAT WE HAVE WON, AND IT REALLY SHOWS THAT THE DEMOCRATIC PARTY IS ONLY VERY SLIGHTLY DIFFERENT THAN TRUMP THAT THEY ARE NOT OPENLY RIGHT- WING IN THEIR RHETORIC, BUT IN REALITY THEY ARE AS TIED TO BIG BUSINESS AS THE REPUBLICANS ARE, AND THAT IS WHY WE HAVE LAUNCHED -- THAT IS HOW WE DEFEATED JOY HOLLINGSWORTH AND THE CITY COUNCIL'S ATTEMPT TO DISMANTEL OUR $15 VICTORY, THAT IS HOW WE'RE GOING TO DEFEAT YOU IN THIS AS WELL. >> THANK YOU. DOMINIC COME ON DOWN. DOMINIC WOLFGANG WALLACE, KARIM DUSTIN. >> HI, I'M DOMINIC WOLFGAK HOLLIS, I'M A FIGHT BACK AND WORKERS DISTRICT 3 VOTER AND ALSO A MINIMUM WAGEWORKER. I REMEMBER THE ATTEMPTED ATTACKS ON MY WAGE BY HOLLINGSWORTH AND WE WILL NOT BE FORGETTING THE ABSOLUTELY SHAMEFUL ATTACKS YOU HAVE ON WORKING PEOPLE CONSISTENTLY IN THIS CITY YOU ARE A DISGRACE TO YOUR SEAT THE SEAT THAT WON ALL THESE RENTAL PROTECTIONS IN THE FIRST PLACE, AND IT'S APPALLING YOU EVEN GOT THERE IN THE FIRST PLACE. WHAT COULD POSSIBLY BE THE POINT OF RECALLING THIS ETHICS CODE EXCEPT SELLING OUT RENTERS TO THE LANDLORDS WHO ARE ALREADY MAKING SEATTLE AN INCREDIBLY DIFFICULT CITY TO LIVE IN. I NEED THOSE $3 AN HOUR. I DON'T KNOW WHAT YOU THINK LIVING IN YOUR DISTRICT IS LIKE HOLLINGSWORTH, BUT IT IS ATROCIOUS TO TRY AND SURVIVE IN THIS CITY RIGHT NOW. IN THE ABSENCE OF RENT CONTROL CORPORATE LANDLORD GOUGE REPRESENTERS AS A NORMAL BUSINESS PRACTICE. BUT ON TOP OF THAT THERE ARE THREE CLASS ACTION LAWSUITS -- BY ENGAGING IN SHADY PRICE-FIXING AND MANIPULATE RENTS. >> AFTER DOMINIC WE HAVE KAREN, DUSTIN. COME ON DOWN, KAREN. >> GOOD AFTERNOON. MY NAME IS KAREN. I'M A LIFELONG CITIZEN OF THIS ONCE PROUD CITIZEN AND A MEMBER OF WORKERS STRIKE BACK. I STAND BEFORE YOU TODAY TO SPEAK FOR THE WORKERS OF THIS CITY WHO CAN'T BE HERE BECAUSE THEY'RE AT THEIR JOBS WORKING LONG HOURS TO KEEP A ROOF OVER THEIR HEADS AND THE HEADS OF THEIR CHILDREN, SOMETIMES THEIR AGING PARENTS, AND OTHER FAMILY MEMBERS WHO WOULD OTHERWISE BE UNHOUSED IN THIS UNFORGIVING TERROR WE HAVE THE AUDACITY TO CALL AN ECONOMY. EVERY DAY MORE AND MORE OF THOSE ARE FACING THE REALITY THEY CAN NO LONGER AFFORD TO LIVE IN SEATTLE AND ARE FORCED TO MAKE LONG COMMUTES TO OLYMPIA AND BEYOND WHERE THEY CAN AFFORD RENTS AND WHERE THEIR CHILDREN CAN GO TO SCHOOL, AND WHEN THEY'RE AWAY FROM THEIR CHILDREN CAN NO LONGER BE PARENTS FOR ALL THOSE LONG HOURS OF ALL THOSE LONG DAYS. I CAN'T BELIEVE WE'RE STANDING HERE TODAY DISCUSSING THE POSSIBLE ROLL BACK OF THE ETHICS CODE, AND I BELIEVE YOU'RE EXPOSING YOURSELF BARE TO WHERE YOUR ALLEGIANCES REALLY FALL. AND IT AIN'T WITH THE WORKING CLASS AND THE POOR OF THIS CITY. >> DUSTIN, COME ON DOWN. DUSTIN. >> IF YOU CONTINUE THIS BEHAVIOR, I WILL ASK THAT YOU BE ESCORTED FROM THE ROOM. PLEASE STOP. THIS IS DISRUPTIVE BEHAVIOR. THIS IS DISRUPTIVE BEHAVIOR. >> POINT. POINT OF ORDER. >> -- UNABLE TO CONTINUE THE ORDERLY MEETING. >> POINT OF ORDER. THIS IS DISRUPTIVE BEHAVIOR. POINT OF ORDER, COUNCIL PRESIDENT. THIS IS DISRUPTIVE BEHAVIOR FOR US TO CONTINUE OUR BUSINESS AS A COUNCIL TO DO THIS MEETING. I JUST WANT THAT THE RECORD. POINT OF ORDER, THIS IS CONTINUED DISRUPTIVE BEHAVIOR FOR US TO CONDUCT OUR BUSINESS. >> I WANT TO GET ON WITH THE MEETING, SO I WILL SAY THANK YOU VERY MUCH FOR COMING TO ASSISTANCE. I DON'T WANT TO DRAG THIS OUT. WE'VE GOT THREE ITEMS -- MANY ITEMS ON OUR AGENDA. I WOULD LIKE TO PROCEED. I AM ASKING YOU, PLEASE FOLLOW THE DIRECTIONS AND LET US GET THROUGH PUBLIC COMMENT. WE WILL CONTINUE WITH PUBLIC COMMENT. THANK YOU VERY MUCH. AND WE'LL SEE WHAT HAPPENS. THANK YOU. >> ALL RIGHT, WE GOT DUSTIN, SMITH, AND SUMMER MILLER. COME ON DOWN. DUSTIN, YOU HERE? LONG? >> MY NAME IS LONG. I'M A MEMBER OF WORKERS STRIKE BACK, A REVOLUTION OF WORKERS. WORKING PEOPLE AND THE PRESS ARE REELING UNDER THE COST OF LIVING CRISIS AND HORRIFIC ATTACKS BY TRUMP AND THE REPUBLICANS, AND WE FACE THE PARASITIC CORPORATE LANDLORDS EVERY MONTH. OTHERS HAVE MADE IT CLEAR THAT REWRITING OF THESE ETHICS RULES IS A STEP IN ATTACKING WORKERS RIGHTS AND RENTERS RIGHTS. IT IS DESPICABLE AND YET PREDICTABLE THAT THE DEMOCRATS WANT TO TEARDOWN THE VICTORIES THAT HAVE MADE HISTORIC IMPROVEMENTS IN OUR STANDARDS OF LIVING. WE NEED TO FIGHT BACK. WORKERS STRIKE BACK WILL HELP TO WAGE DEEP, OFFENSIVE FIGHTS AGAINST TRUMP AND REPUBLICANS. WE WILL ALSO TAKE ON DEFENSIVE FIGHTS AGAINST THE DEMOCRATS. BUT MOST IMPORTANTLY WE UNDERSTAND THE BEST DEFENSE IS A GOOD OFFENSE. THAT IS WHY WE HAVE TAKEN ON MEDICARE FOR ALL AS ONE OF OUR CORE DEMANDS IN OUR FIGHT THE RICH CAMPAIGN TO SHOW THESE CITY DEMOCRATS AND THEIR BILLIONAIRE MASTERS WHAT A PISSED OFF WORKING CLASS IS CAPABLE OF, THAT THEY HAVE OVERSTEPPED THEIR BOUNDS AND WE WILL FIGHT BACK. [ APPLAUSE ] >> M. SMITH FOLLOWED BY SUMMER MILLER. >> THANK YOU. I'M A RENTER IN DISTRICT 3. I'M A MEMBER OF REVOLUTIONARY WORKERS AND WORKERS STRIKE BACK. IT'S DESPICABLE THAT THE SEATTLE DEMOCRATS ARE ATTEMPTING TO UNDUE THE BASIC PROTECTIONS THAT WORKING CLASS RENTERS HAVE IN THE CITY THAT WE WON AGAINST THE LANDLORDS, AGAINST THE MILLIONAIRES AND BILLIONAIRES AND BIG BUSINESS. IT WAS WON BY -- COUNCIL OFFICE, HER SOCIALIST COUNCIL OFFICE AND THOUSANDS OF WORKING PEOPLE THAT FOUGHT FOR THIS. WE WON DESPITE OPPOSITION FROM THE DEMOCRATIC PARTY IN THIS CITY INCLUDING SOME OF THE DEMOCRATS ON THIS COUNCIL RIGHT NOW. WE WON A CAP ON LATE RENT FEES AT $10 A MONTH, 6- MONTH NOTICE FOR RENT INCREASES, ECONOMIC EVICTION ASSISTANCE, A BAN ON WINTER EVICTIONS, A BAN ON SCHOOLYARD EVICTIONS. CLOSING THE LOOPHOLE, THE RIGHT TO A LAWYER FOR REPRESENTERS FACING EVICTION, LIMITING MOVEMENT FEES, REQUIRING LANDLORDS TO PROVIDE VOTER REGISTRATION. THIS IS WHAT THE DEMOCRATS ARE TRYING TO DISMANTLE, AND YOU'RE TRYING TO EVICT RENTERS FROM THIS HALL SO YOU CAN MORE EASILY EVICT RENTERS FROM THEIR HOMES -- >> SUMMER. >> IT'S OUTRAGEOUS. WE NEED A NEW PARTY. >> THANK YOU. >> EVERY SINGLE DEMOCRAT -- >> YOUR TIME HAS EXPIRED. PLEASE HAVE YOUR SEAT. >> SUMMER? >> MY NAME IS SUMMER MILLER AND I'M HAD TO TAKE IN A RENTER AND SECTION OFF MY BEDROOM. WHAT'S DESPICABLE IS THAT INSTEAD OF FIGHTING THESE LANDLORD CAR TELLS SEATTLE'S DEMOCRATIC POLITICIANS ARE DOING THEIR BIDDING. NOW THEY'RE DOING THEIR BEST FROM VOTING ON RENTER LEGISLATION, A CLEAR ATTACK ON THE BASIC PROTECTIONS WORKING CLASS RENTERS FOUGHT TO WIN. LET'S BE CLEAR THESE ARE THE SAME DEMOCRATS WHO TRIED TO REPEAL OUR $15 MINIMUM WAGE LAST YEAR THAT WE FOUGHT BACK AND DEFEAT. THAT VICTORY RAISED THE WAGE FOR ALL WORKERS. NOW WE NEED TO FIGHT BACK AGAIN. ALL THOSE VICTORY, THE CITY COUNCIL DEMOCRATS FOUGHT US EVERY STEP OF THE WAY. THEY'RE ONLY INTERESTED IN PROTECTING THE PROFITS OF CORPORATE -- >> THANK YOU. COUNCIL PRESIDENT, THAT CONCLUDES PUBLIC COMMENT. >> THANK YOU VERY MUCH. WE HAVE NOW REACHED THE END OF OUR LIST OF PUBLIC COMMENTERS. PUBLIC COMMENT PERIOD IS NOW OVER. WOULD YOU PLEASE READ ITEMS 1 THROUGH 3 INTO THE RECORD. >> AGENDA ITEMS NUMBER 1 THROUGH 3, APPOINTMENT 03146, APPOINTMENT 03147, AND 03148 APPOINTMENTS AS MEMBERS OF SEATTLE FIRM COMMISSION, BRIEFING DISCUSSION AND POSSIBLE VOTE. >> ALL RIGHT, WHY DON'T OUR FOLKS COME UP TO THE TABLE. SORRY FOR THE LENGTH OF DISRUPTION. PLEASE COME UP AND HAVE A SEAT. SO JUST A LITTLE BIT OF BACKGROUND BEFORE WE GET STARTED. WHEN WE FORMED -- COUNCIL FORMED SEATTLE FILM COMMISSION IN I THINK IT WAS SEPTEMBER 22, 2022, AND IN APRIL 2023 THE INAUGURAL FILM COMMISSION WAS APPOINTED, AND THEY'VE BEEN SERVING ON STAGGERED ONE AND TWO- YEAR TERMS. THIS YEAR THREE OF OUR FILM COMMISSION MEMBERS ARE TRANSITIONING OUT, AND I WOULD LIKE TO EXPRESS THE MY UTMOST GRATITUDE TO BETH BARRETT, LAURA JEAN CRONEN AND MELISSA PERCELL FOR THEIR SERVICE AND ALSO THEIR -- MELISSA IN PARTICULAR, HER PARTNERSHIP IN FORMING THE FILM COMMISSION. IN ANY CASE, I EXPRESS MY GRATITUDE FOR THEIR SERVICE, AND I'M REALLY EXCITED TO MOVE FORWARD AND BRING SOME NEW TALENT TO THE COMMISSION. SO PLEASE GO AHEAD AND BEGIN YOUR PRESENTATION. INTRODUCE YOURSELVES FIRST AND THEN BEGIN. >> THANK YOU, CHAIR NELSON AND COUNCIL PRESIDENT NELSON. I AM NOT A COMMISSIONER. I'M THE FILM PROGRAM MANAGER FOR THE OFFICE OF ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT. I'M THE LIAISON TO THE SEATTLE FILM COMMISSION. THANK YOU FOR THAT INTRODUCTION. I WOULD LOVE TO INTRODUCE FOLKS -- GIVE A LITTLE BIT OF ADDITIONAL BACKGROUNDS ON THE COMMISSION, IF THAT'S ALL RIGHT. >> LEZE DO. >> OKAY, I WILL BE SHARING A QUICK LITTLE DECK HERE. ALL RIGHT. AS COUNCIL PRESIDENT AND CHAIR NELSON MENTIONED THE SEATTLE FILM COMMISSION WAS ESTABLISHED IN 2023 THROUGH LEGISLATION BY THEN COUNCILMEMBER NELSON, I BELIEVE. THE COMMISSION IS SETUP WITH 11 POSITIONS. EACH OF THEM HAVE -- REPRESENT A DIFFERENT DISCIPLINE IN THE FILM INDUSTRY. THE COMMISSION -- THE COMMISSION'S DUTY AND WORK IS TO ADVISE THE CITY AND THE OFFICE OF ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT ON WAYS TO EQUITABLY GROW FILM JOBS AND THE FILM INDUSTRY AND THE FILM COMMUNITY. FIVE OF THE POSITIONS ARE APPOINTED BY CITY COUNCIL, FIVE BY THE MAYOR, AND ONE IS BY THE COMMISSION ITSELF. AS COUNCIL PRESIDENT NELSON MENTIONED, THE COMMISSION'S -- COMMISSIONERS SERVE ONE, TWO, AND THREE- YEAR TERMS. AND I WANT TO ECHO COUNCIL NELSON'S THANK YOU TO THE THREE TERMING COMMISSIONERS MELISSA PERCELL WHO REPRESENTED THE UNIONS, LAURA JEAN CRONEN WHO REPRESENTED THE EDUCATION AND EDUCATION PROGRAMS, AND BETH BARRETT WHO PRESENTED FILM FESTIVALS AND CONTENT DISTRIBUTION. IT'S BEEN WONDERFUL TO WORK WITH THEM OVER THE PAST TWO YEARS. AND WHEN THE POSITIONS WERE BEING -- BEGINNING TO BE TERMING OUT, THE OFFICE OF ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT OPENED UP A PUBLIC APPLICATION PROCESS SIMILAR TO WHAT WAS PERFORMED WHEN THE COMMISSION WAS FIRST DEVELOPED IN 2023. IT WAS OPEN FOR TEN DAYS, LOTS OF RECOMMENDATION, AND LOTS OF APPLICATIONS CAME IN. WE HAD 19 TOTAL, AND FROM THAT POOL AND THE RECOMMENDATIONS FROM THE COMMISSION ITSELF, THE MAYOR'S OFFICE AND CITY COUNCIL CHOSE THE APPOINTMENTS HERE TODAY. SO I WOULD LOVE TO INTRODUCE, I BELIEVE DAVIS IS ONLINE. IS THAT CORRECT? YES. DAVIS POWELL WHO IS APPOINTED TO POSITION NUMBER TWO, FILM INDUSTRY LABOR UNIONS. TAKE IT AWAY, DAVIS. >> YES, MY NAME IS DAVIS POWELL, AND GOOD AFTERNOON COUNCILMEMBERS AND COUNCIL PRESIDENT. THANK YOU FOR ALLOWING ME TO APPEAR VIRTUALLY. I'VE BEEN DOWN IN OREGON AND STILL AM RIGHT NOW ON VARIOUS UNION BUSINESS. I'M THE LOCAL EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR FOR THE SAG- AFTRA PORTLAND IN SEATTLE LOCALS COVERING WASHINGTON, ALASKA, IDAHO, AND MONTANA. MY OFFICE IS BASED IN SEATTLE, AND I'VE BEEN HAPPY TO SAY THAT I'VE BEEN A SEATTLE RESIDENT FOR SEVERAL YEARS NOW, HAVING ORIGINALLY MOVED FROM THE SOUTHEAST ATLANTA AREA. I HAVE BEEN THE EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR FOR THE LOCALS SINCE ABOUT AUGUST OF 2022, AND I STARTED WITH SAG- AFTRA IN FEBRUARY OF 2021 AS THE BROADCAST BUSINESS REPRESENTATIVE REPRESENTING THE TELEVISION AND RADIO STATIONS THAT ARE -- THAT ARE UNION REPRESENTED IN THE PACIFIC NORTH WEST. I'M AN ATTORNEY BY TRADE, AND THE VAST MAJORITY OF MY CAREER HAS BEEN SERVING AND REPRESENTING UNIONS. I'VE BEEN PRACTICING SINCE 2012, AND I WOULD ESTIMATE THAT NINE TO TEN YEARS OF MY PROFESSIONAL CAREER HAVE BEEN -- HAVE BEEN DEDICATED TO REPRESENTING UNIONS, AND A GOOD CHUNK OF THAT HAS NOW BEEN WITH THE SAG- AFTRA AND THE FILM INDUSTRY. I HAVE MADE MANY CONNECTIONS WITH SEVERAL UNIONS, ESPECIALLY THE ENTERTAINMENT UNIONS IN BOTH SEATTLE AND ELSEWHERE. I'VE BEEN ABLE TO FOSTER VERY GOOD RELATIONSHIPS WITH IOPSI 488, THE LOCAL TEAMSTERS UNIONS, AMERICAN FEDERATION OF MUSICIANS, ALONG WITH MANY OTHERS AS WELL AS -- I'M LARGE WITH MLK LABOR, THE CENTRAL LABOR COUNCIL, WHICH COVERS -- REPRESENTS THE VARIOUS UNIONS IN KING COUNTY AS WELL AS THE WASHINGTON STATE LABOR COUNCIL THE STATE AFFILIATE OF THE AFLCIO. SO WITH THE MY EXPERIENCE, I'M VERY HAPPY TO SAY THATTHAT BRING A GOOD REPRESENTATION FOR THE LABOR UNIONS NOT JUST TO SAG-AFTRA AND THE ACTOR PERFORMERS BUT ALL OF LABOR AS WELL AS SERVING AS A EAR AND A MOUTHPIECE FOR LABOR AT LARGE. >> THANK YOU, DAVIS. I WOULD NEXT LIKE TO INTRODUCE -- IF I CAN GET THE PAGE -- KD HALL. >> THANK YOU SO MUCH, CHRIS. I'M KD HALL. I'M A CLASSICALLY TRAINED STRATEGIC COMMUNICATOR FROM DETROIT. LOVE SEATTLE, BEEN HERE 18 YEARS. I'M ALSO A CLASSICALLY TRAINED JOURNALISTS, GRADUATED FROM COLLEGE EXACTLY 20 YEARS AGO TO THE DATE. AFTER COLLEGE, MY PATH WAS DIFFERENT THAN MOST. I ACTUALLY WAS FACING SOME PRETTY SERIOUS TIME IN PRISON BECAUSE I WANTED TO BE A JOURNALIST AND I DIDN'T HAVE THE FUNDING TO PAY FOR IT. AFTER GETTING OUT OF TROUBLE AND OUT OF THAT SITUATION, MY BOYFRIEND MARRIED ME, WE BECAME HUSBAND AND WIFE AND WE MOVED TO SEATTLE -- ACTUALLY SPOKANE, TO BE EXACT. IN THAT TIME I HID IN EDUCATION FOR 11 YEARS AND I KEPT GETTING BEAT DOWN WITH JOURNALISM, WANTING TO DO IT. EXACTLY 12 YEARS AGO I STARTED MY NON- PROFIT, WHICH IS K.D. HALL ORGANIZATION. THE PURPOSE OF MY NON- PROFIT IS TO ENSURE ANYONE BUT REALLY WOMEN AND GIRLS TO MAKE SURE -- MY GOAL WAS TO -- AT THIS POINT I'VE GRADUATED ABOUT 68 WOMEN OUT OF COLLEGES OUT OF WASHINGTON STATE, 1,000 GIRLS OUT OF MY GIRLS ON THE RISE PROGRAM. THESE ACCOLADES ARE COOL, BUT WHAT I'M MOST PROUD OF OUT OF MY SIX EMMY NOMINATIONS FOUR OF THEM ARE WITH STUDENTS AND I'M VERY PROUD OF THAT. AS FAR AS ACCOLADES GO WHERE DO SIT ON THE EMEAWARDS FOR INDIVIDUALS WHO DON'T KNOW. I'VE BEEN THERE FOR FIVE YEARS. I'M NOW OVER SCHOLARSHIPS, SO I GIVE OUT FUNDING AND I'M A FILLEN THRUPIST AS WELL FOR YOUNG MEN AND WOMEN GOING INTO JOURNALISM. JUST BECAME A SEATTLE SPORTS COMMISSIONER A MONTH AGO, AND I'M ALSO THE PARTNERSHIP CHAIR FOR THE SEATTLE ASSOCIATION OF BLACK JOURNALISTS. I THINK I'M GOING TO BE DOING FILM UNTIL THE DAY I DIE, AND SO THIS APPOINTMENT MEANS THE WORLD TO ME. IT TRULY DOES BECAUSE THE DAY THAT I WAS CONVICTED WAS EXACTLY 20 YEARS AGO TODAY. SO TO SIT HERE IN FRONT OF ALL OF YOU AND TO KNOW THAT HOPEFULLY I WILL BE A PART OF COMMISSION, NOT ONLY AM I PROUD, BUT I GUARANTEE YOU THIS. I WORK HARD, AND DON'T CARE ABOUT BEING A FIRST. I WANT TO MAKE SURE I'M NOT, LIKE, THE LAST PERSON TO COME THROUGH. SO ONE THING YOU CAN COUNT ON FROM ME IS THAT FILM SCHOOLS, I WORK IN THEM. I DON'T JUST DO IT FOR TV. I'M REALLY IN THE SCHOOLS. I WORK WITH YOUNG PEOPLE, I COACH THEM, DEVELOP THEM, AND GIVE THEM SCHOLARSHIPS. AND MY GOAL IS TO PARTNER WITH CHRIS AND THE REST OF THE COMMISSION TO ENSURE WE'RE TELLING ALL DIFFERENT TYPES OF STORIES. THANK YOU SO MUCH ALL FOR HAVING ME. >> THANK YOU, K. D. AND I FAILED TO MENTION, KD. IS THE APOINTY FOR POSITION FIVE FILM SCHOOL, FILM PROGRAMS, AND FILM EDUCATORS. ALL RIGHT, I'D LIKE TO INTRODUCE LEX, LAWRENCE ALEXANDER III, APPOINTED TO POSITION 8 FILM FESTIVALS OR FILM CONTENT DISTRIBUTION COMPANIES. >> THANK YOU. CAN EVERYBODY HEAR ME? HELLO, HELLO. THANK YOU FOR HAVING ME. THANK YOU, EVERYBODY, FOR THEIR TIME, LADIES AND GENTLEMEN, AND EVERYONE ON THE COUNCIL. MY NAME IS LAWRENCE ALEXANDER III, PROFESSIONALLY KNOWN AS LEX SCOPE. I AM A FILMMAKER. I AM A FILM LOVER, AND I AM A COMMUNITY ORGANIZER, CULTURAL CURATOR. AND LIKE MY AMAZING -- THANK YOU, SO GREAT. ALL THE ACCOLADES AND ALL THE AWARDS AND ALL THOSE THINGS ARE REALLY, REALLY GREAT, BUT WHAT I'M ABOUT IS BEING ABLE TO CONTINUE THE WORK THAT I DO WHICH IS BRINGING UP UNDERREPRESENTED VOICES IN STORY TELLING SPECIFICALLY BLACK BROWN, TAN, EVERYBODY THAT THE FILM INDUSTRY BEFORE US SYSTEMLY DOESN'T NECESSARILY SHINE THE MOST LIGHT ON. LET'S PUT IT THAT WAY. SO BASICALLY IN OUR UNDERGROUND FILM FESTIVAL THAT WE CREATED, WE'VE BEEN ABLE TO BRING TEN DIFFERENTS FROM HERE EVERY SINGLE MONTH, SHARE THEIR STORIES IN FRONT OF 300 LIVE PEOPLE INSTEAD OF 300 SHARES OR LIKES OR THINGS ON THE SCREEN, AND THE IMPACT THAT HAS BROUGHT HAS BEEN UNDENIABLE, AND BEING A PART OF SOMETHING LIKE THE COMMISSION, I LIKE THAT WORD "IMPACT. " I KNOW BEING INVOLVED WITH AN ORGANIZATION LIKE THIS AND AN INSTITUTION LIKE WE'LL BE ABLE TO CONTINUE OUR MISSION WITH IMPACT, WITH PURPOSE. I WOULD LIKE FOR -- I WOULD LIKE TO LET PEOPLE SEE PEOPLE LIKE ME AND UNDERSTAND THAT WE CAN CREATE A FUTURE OF CREATORS THAT ARE NOT STARVING, THAT ARE NOT HUNGRY, BUT THEY'RE THRIVING, AND I THINK THAT'S THE NUMBER ONE THING I WOULD LIKE TO BE THE TAKE AWAY FROM THIS. AS AN UNDERREPRESENTED CREATOR IN THE SOUTH BY WAY OF SEATTLE. LOVE IT HERE, BEEN HERE 10, 15 YEARS, BUT WHEN I GREW UP I DIDN'T NECESSARILY HAVE A LOT OF THIS ACCESS ALREADY WITH THE SOUTHERN -- WHAT IS IT -- PUBLIC SCHOOL SYSTEM. LET'S JUST SAY SEATTLE'S PUBLIC SCHOOL SYSTEM BLOWS MY MIND EVERY SINGLE TIME I SEE A LOT OF MY NEPHEWS AND WHAT NOT TO SCHOOL UP HERE. YEAH, THANK Y'ALL FOR LETTING ME SPEAK. I'M REALLY HAPPY TO BE HERE AND THIS IS MY FIRST CITY HALL MEETING. IS IT ALWAYS LIKE THIS? THIS IS SOMETHING. I WAS LIKE, OH, VERY, VERY ENERGETIC DAY, SO I APPRECIATE Y'ALL'S TIME. THANK YOU SO MUCH. >> THANK YOU, LEX. THANK YOU, KD. AND OBVIOUSLY I HAVE THE HONOR OF WORKING POTENTIALLY WITH ALL THREE HERE INCLUDING THE REST OF THE REALLY DYNAMIC FILM COMMISSIONERS. I WILL SCROLL UP HERE, SAY A LITTLE THANK YOU AND OPEN UP TO ANY QUESTIONS FROM THE COMMITTEE. >> THANK YOU VERY MUCH. I WOULD JUST LIKE TO SAY, FIRST OF ALL, I EXTEND MY THANKS TO YOU, CHRIS. YOU ARE -- YOU'RE A SEATTLE FILM GUY. I MEAN YOU'RE BASICALLY EVERYWHERE. YOU'RE ALL OVER THE PLACE. YOU KNOW FILM. YOU KNOW THE -- YOU JUST DON'T KNOW THE DISCIPLINE ON ALL THE SUBDISCIPLINES INVOLVED N FILM, BUT YOU ARE OUT THERE AND ADDED SO MUCH LIFE AND YOU'RE A MAJOR FORCE WITH EVERYTHING WE'RE DOING WITH THE FILM COMMISSION, SO THANK YOU SO MUCH. AND MY QUESTION -- I DO HAVE A QUESTION AND THEN I'LL OPEN IT UP. ONE OF THE REASONS WHY I WANTED TO CREATE A SEATTLE FILM COMMISSION WAS NOT ONLY BECAUSE THIS HAS BEEN THE TOP PRIORITY OF THE FILM INDUSTRY FOR YEARS AND YEARS AND YEARS AND IT JUST SEEMED ODD WE DIDN'T HAVE A FILM COMMISSION AFTER SO LONG TO ADVANCE THE PRIORITIES OF EQUITY AND GROWING THE INDUSTRY HERE, BUT IT IS ALSO TO -- TO PUT SEATTLE BACK ON THE MAP AS THE COUNTRY'S BEST FILM MAKING CITY RIGHT? AND WE'RE TIRED OF HAVING FILMS THAT ARE SUPPOSEDLY ABOUT SEATTLE BUT FILMED ELSEWHERE, AND WE WANT TO ATTRACT NEW PRODUCTION AND ALSO GROW OUR EXISTING FILM COMMUNITY AND INDUSTRY. SO ONE OF THE THINGS -- BASICALLY, WE WANT INDUSTRY EXPERTS TO TELL US WHAT TO DO. WHAT CAN WE CHANGE IN HOW WE REGULATE FILM IN THIS TOWN, OR ANYTHING ELSE. HOW CAN WE MAKE IT EASIER TO MAKE FILM IN SEATTLE? SO THAT IS WHAT I AM ASKING YOU FOLKS HERE. IF YOU HAVE ANY IDEAS, HOPEFULLY YOU DON'T HAVE TO SAY THEM RIGHT HERE, BUT IF ANYTHING -- IF YOU HAVE SOMETHING THAT YOU REALLY WANT TO WORK ON THE COMMISSION, DO TELL. AND THAT GOES FOR YOU TOO AS WELL, DAVIS. >> THANK YOU. >> LEX, YOU WANT TO GO FIRST? OKAY, WE WORK WELL TOGETHER. I THINK ONE OF THE THINGS YOU MENTIONED ABOUT HOW DO WE ATTRACT LARGER PRODUCTIONS HERE I THINK AS US BEING INVOLVED IN FILM OUTSIDE OF WASHINGTON STATE AS WELL, JUST RECENTLY I JUST PERSONALLY HIRED IN THE LEAD WRITER FROM THE "POWER" EPISODES, 50 CENTS, AND HE'S A LEAD WRITER AND ALSO WENT TO HARVARD AS A WRITER. I THINK BRINGING THESE PEOPLE INTO OUR CITY IN L.A. , THEY'RE SUFFERING. SO BEING ABLE TO BRING THEM IN AND ALSO BRING IN LARGER PRODUCTIONS, YOU HAVE TO NETWORK, AND YOU HAVE TO LEAVE OUT THE STATE TO DO THAT, TOO SOMETIMES. THAT'S ONE OF THE THINGS I WOULD LIKE TO DO PERSONALLY WORKING WITH CHRIS AND HIS LEADERSHIP. AND THEN REALLY CAPITAL LIESING ON THE SCHOOLS. I THINK IT STARTS IN SIXTH GRADE. WE HAVE TO GET THE ARTS BACK INTO THE SCHOOLS. >> OKAY, FOR ME I THINK THAT -- I KNOW THAT POURING INTO OUR YOUTH NOT NECESSARILY SCHOOL-BASED BECAUSE THAT IS IMPORTANT, BUT EVEN FOR THOSE FOLKS LIKE MYSELF THAT DIDN'T NECESSARILY HAVE THE EDUCATIONAL BACKGROUND, I THINK IT'S ABOUT POURING INTO JUST THE YOUTH AND THE UP-AND- COMING CREATORS AND ALLOWING THEM TO HAVE THE RESOURCES THAT THEY FEEL LIKE THEY HAVE TO GO TO NEW YORK OR L.A. OR CHICAGO OR EVEN ATLANTA. LIKE WE HAVE ALL THOSE THINGS HERE. I FEEL LIKE THERE'S NOT A LOT OF -- I WOULD LIKE TO -- I WOULD LIKE TO BE THE BRIDGE BETWEEN -- THE LIAISON BETWEEN THE PEOPLE WHO DO NOT KNOW WHAT'S GOING ON AND ALL THE AMAZING RESOURCES WE DO HAVE HERE TO KEEP OUR PEOPLE HERE. >> THANK YOU. COUNCILMEMBER HOLLINGSWORTH. >> AWESOME. THANK YOU, COUNCIL PRESIDENT. I'M JUST GOING TO THANK YOU ALL. AND DAVIS, I KNOW THAT YOU'RE ONLINE AS WELL. AND FIRST OF ALL, CHRIS, THANK YOU FOR ALL THE WORK THAT YOU'RE DOING. DAVIS, THANK YOU. I HAVE AN INCREDIBLE AMOUNT OF RESPECT FOR YOU AND THE BREADTH AND DEPTH OF ALL THE INFORMATION THAT YOU PROVIDE AND EXPERIENCE TO THIS, SO THANK YOU. AND THEN, LAWRENCE, THANK YOU AS WELL. I KNOW THAT YOU'RE GOING TO BRING A LOT OF CREATIVITY TO THIS AS WELL. I'M NOT SAYING THAT BECAUSE OF THE WAY YOU'RE PRESENTING YOURSELF TODAY, BUT YOU CAN JUST TELL WITH THE ALL THE LOVE AND PASSION THAT YOU HAVE. AND OBVIOUSLY I'VE KNOWN KD FOR YEARS AND ALL THE WORK YOU HAVE DONE IN THE COMMUNITY. I KNOW YOU DIDN'T TALK ABOUT YOUR -- YOU DID, BUT YOUR NON- PROFIT WORK THAT YOU DID -- THAT YOU DO WITH YOUNG WOMEN IS INCREDIBLE IN OUR COMMUNITY. AND SO JUST WANT TO THANK YOU ALL. WE KNOW THAT THESE POSITIONS ARE NOT PAID, AND SO BEING ABLE TO BRING YOUR EXPERTISE AND YOUR DIVERSITY AND YOUR EXPERIENCE TO THESE IS INCREDIBLE, SO JUST WANT TO THANK YOU ALL FOR YOUR SERVICE TO OUR CITY. SO THANK YOU. >> COUNCILMEMBER RIVERA, AND THEN I ALSO SEE YOU COUNCILMEMBER SOLOMON. GO AHEAD. >> THANK YOU, COUNCIL PRESIDENT. I WANT TO LEND MY VOICE OF GRATITUDE AS WELL TOTO COMMISSIONERS. THESE ARE VOLUNTEER POSITIONS, AND THEY ARE VERY IMPORTANT POSITIONS. AND I PARTICULARLY HAVE A FONDNESS FOR THE ARTS, AS CHRIS KNOWS. AND WE NEED MOREMORE NOW MORE THAN EVER. AND PARTICULARLY FOR OUR YOUNG PEOPLE, AND SO I WANT TO THANK YOU FOR THE WORK THAT YOU DO WITH YOUNG PEOPLE. IT'S REALLY IMPORTANT. AND THEN OBVIOUSLY REPRESENTATION IS REALLY CRITICAL IN THIS INDUSTRY. BECAUSE AS WITH MANY INDUSTRIES, THERE'S BEEN UNDERREPRESENTATIO N FOR TOO LONG. I WANT TO THANK YOU FOR THE WORK YOU DO IN PARTICULAR TO MAKE SURE WE HAVE REPRESENTATION AND BRING MORE YOUNG PEOPLE AND MORE YOUNG PEOPLE OF COLOR TO FILM. IT'S JUST REALLY CRITICAL TO THE WORK, NOT JUST YOUNG PEOPLE, ALL PEOPLE. BUT, AGAIN, IN PARTICULAR YOUNG PEOPLE. THIS IS REALLY THE ARTS AND FILM A PART OF THAT IS SO IMPORTANT TO CHILDREN AND YOUNG PEOPLE, PART OF THEIR DEVELOPMENT. IT IS A REALLY CRITICAL PIECE, LIKE I SAID. SO I REALLY WANT TO THANK YOU FOR THE WORK THAT YOU'RE DOING. DAVIS YOU, TOO, ONLINE. AND PARTICULARLY LIKE I SAID BECAUSE I KNOW THESE ARE VOLUNTEER POSITIONS. WE ALWAYS ARE SO GRATEFUL WHEN AMAZING PEOPLE WANT TO HOLD THESE COMMISSIONER POSITIONS AND REALLY WANT TO DO THIS WORK. WE ARE SO LUCKY THAT WE CAN HARNESS THIS TALENT IN THIS CITY, AND SO THANK YOU FOR BEING HERE. I'M GLAD YOU'RE HERE IN SEATTLE, AND THANK YOU, COUNCIL PRESIDENT, FOR THE OPPORTUNITY TO LEND MY VOICE OF GRATITUDE. THANK YOU. >> COUNCILMEMBER SOLOMON. >> THANK YOU, MADAM PRESIDENT. I ALSO WANTED TO THANK YOU FOR YOUR WORK, YOUR INTEREST, YOUR VOLUNTEERISM IN THE SPACE. I REFLECT BACK ON, YOU KNOW, WHEN I HAD MY SECURITY BUSINESS MANY, MANY YEARS AGO. AND WE WOULD ACTUALLY DO SECURITY FOR MOVIE PRODUCTIONS THAT WERE ACTUALLY IN THIS TOWN. I REMEMBER SITTING ON EQUIPMENT IN PIONEER SQUARE, SANDPOINT, NEWPORT, ALL OVER THE PLACE. SO -- BUT IT ALSO COMES TO SOMETHING THAT COUNCIL PRESIDENT NELSON SAID, WHICH WAS THERE'S SO MANY TIMES WHEN SOMETHING IS SUPPOSED TO BE IN SEATTLE AND WE KNOW IT'S VANCOUVER, RIGHT? I WAS JUST WATCHING AN EPISODE OF "TRACKER" THE OTHER NIGHT AND THEY'RE IN SEATTLE. NO, THEY'RE NOT IN SEATTLE. COME ON NOW. SO IF YOU HAVE IDEAS TO WHAT WE CAN DO TO ATTRACT MAJOR PRODUCTIONS TO THIS TOWN SO THAT SEATTLE IS ACTUALLY REPRESENTED, NOT OUR NEIGHBORS TO THE NORTH, THAT'D BE GREAT. I'D LOVE THAT. THANK YOU VERY MUCH, AND I LOOK FORWARD TO SUPPORTING YOUR APPOINTMENTS. >> WHAT I'VE HEARD IS THERE ARE TWO WAYS PRIMARILY -- FILM INCENTIVES, AND WE HAVE THAT AT THE STATE LEVEL, $15 MILLION I BELIEVE, AND CUTTING RED TAPE. SO LACKING A LOT OF RESOURCES, I'M GAME TO SEE IF THERE ARE WAYS TO MAKE IT EASIER TO MAKE FILM AS IN THE CUTTING OF RED TAPE CATEGORY. COUNCILMEMBER KETTLE. >> THANK YOU, CHAIR NELSON. THANK YOU, EVERYONE, FOR BEING HERE AND YOUR TESTIMONY AND STORIES. ONE THING I WAS THINKING ABOUT PARTICULARLY IN THE CONTEXT THAT THE FILM INDUSTRY, THE FILM WORLD GENERALLY IN AMERICA IS FACING SOME HEAVY HEAD WINDS WHICH HAS RECENTLY COME UP BECAUSE BEING CAUGHT UP IN THE TARIFF DISCUSSION, BUT IT ALSO HIGHLIGHTS THE CHALLENGES THAT WE HAVE. AND SO JUST UNDERLINES THE NEEDS FOR THE FILM COMMISSION TO LEVERAGE WHAT WE HAVE HERE IN SEATTLE IN TERMS OF NATURAL BEAUTY, THE PEOPLE ALL ACROSS THE BOARD THAT WE HAVE THE ADVANTAGES THAT WE HAVE. AND THEN, YOU KNOW, AND MY HOPE THAT YOU DON'T HAVE TO WATCH A HALLMARK MOVIE MADE OUT OF VANCOUVER ALL THE TIME PARTICULARLY WHEN THEY BASE THEM IN SEATTLE. TO COUNCILMEMBER SOLOMON'S POINT ABOUT SEEING QUOTE- UNQUOTE SEATTLE AND IT'S NOT. I JUST WANTED TO SAY THAT AND ALSO THINK IT'S IMPORTANT SINCE YOU'RE ALL COMING FROM THE OUTSIDE, I THINK THAT'S REALLY IMPORTANT. LIKE, I WAS REMARKING ON YOUR REMARKS ABOUT BRINGING THOSE DIFFERENT PERSPECTIVES FROM THE SOUTHEAST BUT OTHER PARTS OF NEW YORK, CHICAGO, L.A. AND THE LIKE. AND I THINK IT'S REALLY IMPORTANT TO BRING THAT HERE AND BRING IT INTO THE MIX, AND I THINK THAT'S GOING TO BE A VERY STRONG NET POSITIVE FOR MOVING FORWARD. AND REALLY WANTED TO HIGHLIGHT THAT POINT BECAUSE THAT STRUCK A CHORD WITH ME. I THINK WE CAN GET USED TO DIFFERENT PIECES HERE IN SEATTLE, BUT BY BRINGING THOSE FRESH EYES LIKE YOU HAVE AND EVERYONE ELSE IS -- I THINK IT'S GOING TO BE REALLY HELPFUL TO US. SO HAVING THAT PERSPECTIVE IS REALLY IMPORTANT, SO THANK YOU. >> ALL RIGHT. I'M NOT SEEING ANYBODY ELSE'S HANDS UP. I'LL JUST SAY THAT FILM CREATES JOBS OF COURSE. LET'S NOT FORGET -- AND GENERATES ECONOMIC ACTIVITY ALSO. AND THERE WILL BE A FILM THAT WE CAN SEE THAT WAS BASED HERE AND THE PRODUCTION WAS MADE HERE, AND WASHINGTON STATE IS FEATURED LIGHTLY. SO STAY TUNED FOR THAT. OKAY, I WILL MOVE THESE APPOINTMENTS. HEARING NO FURTHER QUESTIONS, I MOVE THE COMMITTEE RECOMMEND CONFIRMATION OF APPOINTMENTS 03146, 03147, AND 03148. IS THERE A SECOND? >> SECOND. >> MOVED AND SECONDED TO CONFIRM APPOINTMENTS 03146, 47, AND 48. WILL THE CLERK PLEASE CALL THE ROLL? >> COUNCILMEMBER RIVERA? >> AYE. >> COUNCILMEMBER SOLOMON? >> AYE. >> COUNCILMEMBER HOLLINGSWORTH? >> YES. >> COUNCILMEMBER KETTLE. >> YES. >> CHAIR NELSON? >> AYE. >> ALL IN FAVOR. >> THANK YOU VERY MUCH AND CONGRATULATIONS. AND THIS WILL BE BACK AT FULL COUNCIL NOT NEXT TUESDAY BUT THE FOLLOWING TUESDAY, AND YOU'RE WELCOME TO COME TO THAT AS WELL. THANK YOU VERY MUCH FOR YOUR SERVICE. >> THANK Y'ALL. >> ALL RIGHT, WILL THE CLERK PLEASE READ AGENDA ITEM 4 INTO THE RECORD? ? >> AGENDA ITEM 4, RESOLUTION 32170, A RESOLUTION GRANTING CONSEPPUAL APPROVAL TO THE DOWNTOWN SEATTLE ASSOCIATION TO INSTALL, MAINTAIN, AND OPERATE INTERACTIVE MEDIA KIOSKS IN PUBLIC PLACES LOCATED IN THE METROPOLITAN IMPROVEMENT DISTRICT AND IN PARTICIPATING IMBUSINESS IMPROVEMENTS AREAS FOR BUSINESS AND DISCUSSION. >> ALL RIGHT, WILE THESE FOLKS ARE GETTING SETTLED, I'LL JUST SAY THIS LEGISLATION IS A LONG TIME IN COMING. I HAD MY FIRST MEETING ABOUT THIS IN APRIL 2022 AND HAD BEEN WORKING WITH STAKEHOLDERS FOR THE BETTER PART OF THREE YEARS ON THIS, AND IT'S BEEN A PRIORITY FOR MY OFFICE BECAUSE THERE ARE TREMENDOUS PUBLIC BENEFITS THAT YOU'LL HEAR ABOUT LATER ON IN THE MEETING. AND I JUST HAVE TO SAY THAT I'M VERY HAPPY THAT WE'RE FINALLY AT THE TABLE. THIS IS A RESOLUTION THAT WE'LL BE DISCUSSING TODAY AND HOPEFULLY VOTING OUT OF COMMITTEE THE NEXT TIME, AND THEN THERE WILL BE AN ORDINANCE THAT ACCOMPANIES THIS -- THAT ACTUALLY CONTAINS THE TERMS OF THE CONCEPT THAT WE WILL BE DISCUSSING TODAY. SO THIS IS A TWO-PART -- TWO- PART LEGISLATIVE EFFORT. AND THE RUN OF THE SHOW WILL SIMPLY BE THAT NEXT I WILL HAVE FOLKS INTRODUCE THEMSELVES, AND THEN WE'LL HAVE JON FRAME THE PARTNERSHIP AND A PRESENTATION FROM SDOT AND ANSWER QUESTIONS AND PROVIDE ANSWERS THAT HAVE NOT BEEN PROVIDED BY PREVIOUS SPEAKERS. SO WITH THAT, WOULD YOU PLEASE INTRODUCE YOURSELVES AND BEGIN YOUR PRESENTATION. OR INTRODUCE YOURSELVES, AND JON, YOU'RE WELCOME TO SAY ANY OTHER OPENING REMARKS. >> THANK YOU. >> AND HI, I'M ELISE NELSON. I'M WITH SDOT AND ONLINE VIRTUALLY. >> ALL RIGHT, THANK YOU VERY MUCH. THANK YOU FOR JOINING US EVEN THOUGH YOU'RE SUPPOSEDLY OFF RIGHT NOW. ANYWAY, PLEASE GO AHEAD. >> WELL, THANK YOU COUNCIL PRESIDENT,÷÷ NELSON. AGAIN, THE PRESIDENT OF THE DOWNTOWN SEATTLE ASSOCIATION. WE'RE GRATEFUL TO BE BEFORE YOU TODAY WITH A PROPOSAL TO LOCATE A WAY FINDING KIOSK AND AROUND THE CITY. I WANT TODAY OFFER BRIEF POINTS BEFORE TURNING IT OVER TO SDOT AND OTHERS HERE AT THE TABLE. ONE, YOU'RE RIGHT, COUNCIL PRESIDENT. WE'VE BEEN AT THIS FOR A BIT, AND WE'RE GRATEFUL FOR THE EXTENSIVE REVIEW FOR CITY STAFF, FOR MEETINGS OF THE DESIGN COMMISSION, THE PEDESTRIAN ADVISORY BOARD, THE DISABILITY ADVISORY BOARD, AND THE INPUT OF A NUMBER OF COMMUNITY GROUPS. THANK YOU TO SDOT FOR THEIR THOROUGH WORK AND WORKING WITH US OVER MANY MONTHS AND TO THE MAYOR FOR INCLUDING THIS INITIATIVE IN THE DOWNTOWN ACTIVATION PLAN. NUMBER TWO, GREAT URBAN PLACES, GREAT CITIES, GREAT DOWNTOWNS ARE PLACES THAT ARE EASY TO NAVIGATE, TO FIND YOUR WAY AND TO DISCOVER EXPERIENCES. AND THIS IS A PROVEN TECHNOLOGY THAT'S IN PLACE IN MORE THAN 20 CITIES ACROSS THE U.S. TO HELP PEOPLE DO JUST THAT. FOLKS WHO LIVE DOWNTOWN AND IN THE CITY, FOLKS WHO WORK DOWNTOWN, FOLKS THAT MAY BE VISITING FROM AROUND THE CITY ACROSS THE STATE OR FROM AROUND THE WORLD. GREAT CITIES EMBRACE TECHNOLOGY LIKE THIS TO HELP PEOPLE FIND THEIR WAY. AND WE HAVE A LOT OF NEW EVENTS, NEW INVESTMENTS IN OF OUR DOWNTOWN, A LOT OF NEW BUSINESSES AND A LOT OF NEW ARTS AND CULTURAL ORGANIZATIONS LIKE CANNIBAL ARTS FOR FOLKS TO DISCOVER. NUMBER THREE, OVER MANY YEARS THE CITY HAS SET A HIGH BAR FOR THE USE OF ITS RIGHT AWAY WHEN IT COMES TO PUBLIC STRUCTURES LIKE THIS. WE THINK THAT'S THE CORPORATE STANDARD AND THIS PROPOSAL, THIS INITIATIVE MEET THAT STANDARD. THERE'S EXTENSIVE PUBLIC BENEFIT THAT WILL BE PROVIDED THROUGH THE PROVISION OF THESE KIOSKS WITHIN THE DOWNTOWN AND ACROSS THE NEIGHBORHOOD BUSINESS DISTRICTS. AND FINALLY JUST FOR SOME ADDITIONAL CONTEXT, THE PROPOSAL FOR DOWNTOWN WILL INCLUDE 30 KIOSKS WITHIN THE METROPOLITAN IMPROVEMENT BOUNDARY. THAT BOUNDARY INCLUDES ABOUT 300 SQUARE BLOCKS TO GIVE YOU A PERSPECTIVE OF SCALE. WE LOOK FORWARD TO YOUR QUESTION AND REVIEW, AND AGAIN APPRECIATE THE OPPORTUNITY TO BE BEFORE YOU TODAY. >> ALL RIGHT, WELL, THANK YOU. I'M GOING TO GO AHEAD AND DO THE FIRST FEW SLIDES AND TURN IT OVER TO MY COLLEAGUE, AMY GRAY, WHO'S IN PERSON AT THE TABLE WITH YOU TODAY. THANK YOU FOR HAVING ME ONLINE AND ACCOMMODATING MY REQUEST TO BE VIRTUAL. WE ARE EXCITED FOR THIS PRESENTATION AND THE DISCUSSION TODAY. AS WE BEGIN DISCUSSION ABOUT THE TERM PERMIT FOR DIGITAL KIOSKS AND THE SOLUTION THAT IS FIRST STEP WITH YOU AND THEN WHAT COMES NEXT. SO FOR TODAY'S PRESENTATION, WE WILL BE TALKING ABOUT WHAT THE DOWNTOWN SEATTLE LEGISLATION IS PROPOSING, WHERE THE KIOSKS WILL BE PLACED AND WHAT SDOT RECOMMENDS. AMY WILL GET INTO THE WEEDS AS WELL AS THE TEAM HERE IN FRONT OF YOU. NEXT SLIDE, PLEASE. AS BACKGROUND, THE KIOSKS ARE A NEAR-TERM ACTION THAT IS INCLUDED IN THE MAYOR'S DOWNTOWN ACTIVATION PLAN OR D.A.P. , FOR SHORT, WHICH YOU MAY HEAR TODAY. AND THIS IS INTENDED TO MAKE DOWNTOWN A DESTINATION FOR PEOPLE WHO MAY LIVE AND VISIT HERE. NEXT SLIDE. KIND OF JUST REINFORCING WHAT JON WAS SAYING JUST A MOMENT AGO. THIS IS OGRAMMATIC TERM PERMIT. THE DSA IS OUR APPLICANT WORKING CLOSELY WITH THEIR VENDOR WHICH IS IKE SMART CITY. THE KIOSKS WILL BE MAINTAINED AT NO COST TO THE CITY, AND THE DSA WILL RECEIVE REVENUE THAT CAN BE REINVESTED BACK INTO DOWNTOWN AND OTHER PARTICIPATING DIAs. THE TERM PERMIT STRUCTURE IS WHAT WE'RE PROPOSING FOR USE OF THIS PROGRAMMATIC PROJECT. NEXT SLIDE. THIS IS A TIME LINE, AND YOU'LL SEE THE YELLOW ARROW, WHICH KIND OF MEANS WE'RE IN THE MIDDLE, AND THERE'S BEEN A LOT OF WORK DONE TO DATE, AND THERE'S STILL MORE WORK TO DO. SO LIKE I SAID THE DOWNTOWN ACTIVATION PLAN IDENTIFIES KIOSKS AS AN ACTION IN 2023, AND WE'VE REALLY BEEN WORKING SINCE THEN WITH THE DSA AND IKE SMART CITY. THEY APPLIED OFFICIALLY FOR TERM PERMIT IN SUMMER OF 2023, AND WE'VE BEEN CONDUCTING AN EXTENSIVE AMOUNT OF INTERNAL REVIEW, BRIEFINGS, AND COMMUNITY ENGAGEMENT SINCE THAT TIME. SO THE ARROW MARKS THE START OF OUR CONSIDERATION STAGE. AND WITH THIS WE'LL TRANSITION AS COUNCIL'S PROCESS CONCLUDES TO THE NEXT PHASE, WHICH AMY WILL PROVIDE MORE DETAILS BUT INCLUDE INSTALLATION PERMITTING, WHERE WE LOOK AT SPECIFIC SITES WHERE THE KIOSKS WILL BE PROMISED WITHIN THE METROPOLITAN IMPROVEMENT DISTRICT WITH THE GOAL KIOSKS WILL BE INSTALLED HOPE FELL BEGINNING THIS YEAR AND INTO 2026 AHEAD OF FIFA WORLD CUP. WITH THAT, I'M GOING DO TURN IT OVER TO MY COLLEAGUE AMY GRAY. THANK YOU. >> THANK YOU FOR THE OPPORTUNITY TO PRESENT THIS TO YOU TODAY. SO TERM PERMITS REQUIRE CITY COUNCIL IN TWO STEPS. THE FIRST STEP IS WHY WE'RE HERE TODAY FOR RESOLUTION TO PRESENT THAT. THE STEP TWO IS THE ORDINANCE -- OH, I SHOULD GO BACK. BEFORE CONSIDERATION OF THE RESOLUTION THE PROCESS HAS TO BE COMPLETED AND THIS WAS DONE I THINK IN JANUARY OR EARLY FEBRUARY OF THIS YEAR, AND THERE WAS A DETERMINATION OF NONSIGNIFICANT -- SO THAT HAS BEEN COMPLETE, AND THAT'S WHY WE'RE HERE WITH YOU NUFOR THE RESOLUTION. STAGE IS THE TERM PERMIT ORDINANCE WHICH SETS ALL THE TERMS AND CONDITIONS OF THE PERMIT INCLUDING BONDS AND PROTECTIONS FOR THE CITY. IT INCLUDES INSURANCE AND NOTIFICATION AND RESTORATION REQUIREMENTS AND REPORTING AND ALL THE THINGS WE WANT TO BE CONCERNED ABOUT TO PROTECT THE CITY FOR HAVING THIS PRIVATE STRUCTURE IN THE RIGHT-OF-WAY. AND IT ALSO GRANTS THE TERM FOR THE PERMIT, AND THIS ONE WILL BE IN TWO TERMS, AND IT'S A LITTLE WONKY. IT'S 16 1/2 YEARS FOR THE FIRST TERM. AFTER THAT IS THE PERMITTING. AND SITE PACIFIC LOCATIONS WILL BE IDENTIFIED, AND THE APPLICANT CANNOT OBTAIN THEIR PERMITS UNTIL AFTER CITY COUNCIL WOULD PASS THE ORDINANCE, SO WE'RE STARTING EARLY IDENTIFICATION AND SCREENING THINGS AND WORKING WITH SEATTLE CITY LIGHT AND DECIDING THE COORDINATION, THE AREA WAYS AND CONSTRUCTION PERMITTING. THAT EARLY WORK IS HAPPENING AND IF COUNCIL PASSES THE ORDINANCE, THAT WOULD BE THE POINT THEY CAN GO FORWARD WITH THE PERMIT AND INSTALL. NEXT SLIDE, PLEASE. SO OUR REVIEW IS GUIDED BY CITY MUNICIPAL CODE CHAPTER 1565, AND WE EVALUATE -- WE EVALUATE TO WHICH THE KIOSKS SERVE PUBLIC INTEREST AND THEIR RELATIONSHIP TO THE CITYSCAPE. OUR ANALYSIS INCLUDES REVIEWING THE PUBLIC BENEFIT PROPOSAL TO DETERMINE IF IT ADEQUATELY OFFSETS THE IMPACT OF THE KIOSKS ON THE PUBLIC RIGHT-OF-WAY. OUR REVIEW HAS CONCLUDED THAT THE KIOSK'S PROPOSAL SUFFICIENTLY MET THE RIA, AND THERE'S ALSO ANOTHER REVIEW PART OF THIS WHICH IS THE SEATTLE DESIGN COMMISSION. THIS IS A DESIGN MANDATED STEP FOR YOU, AND THEY LOOKED AT THE URBAN DIAMONDBACKS AND THE PROPOSAL AND AS YOU CAN SEE ON THIS SLIDE THEY MET MULTIPLE TIMES PRESENTED TO THE SEATTLE DESIGN COMMISSION. WE TOOK SOME OF THOSE -- THE RECOMMENDATIONS FROM THE SEATTLE DESIGN COMMISSION AND THEY SAID YOU SHOULD GO TO THE SEATTLE BUILDING COMMISSION, AND THAT WAS HAPPENING. WE INCLUDED SOME OTHER RECOMMENDATIONS INCLUDING LOCATION CRITERIA FOR INDIVIDUAL PLACEMENT AND SITE- SPECIFIC PUBLIC REALM IMPROVEMENTS ALONG WITH OTHER THINGS. I'M GOING TO TURN IT OVER TO MARK FOR HIS PORTION. >> THANKS. WE ARE A CONSULTANT TO IKE SMART CITY AND REALLY HELPING TO FACILITATE CONVERSATION WITH DESIGN COMMISSION AND ALSO WITH COMMUNITY ENGAGEMENT IN THE PROCESS OF CITING THE KIOSKS THEMSELVES. LET ME LEAVE IT ON THIS FOR A SECOND BECAUSE THE KIOSKS HAVE BEEN HERE BEFORE. IT'S BEEN DOWNTOWN A COUPLE OF TIMES, BEEN DOWN STAIRS AT THE COMMISSION AS YOU CAN SEE ON THE SCREEN. WE ALSO HAD IT AT COMMUNITY DAY IN WEST LAKE PARK. IKE HAS BEEN GREAT AT GETTING HERE SO YOU CAN EXPERIENCE THE KIOSK ITSELF, WHICH IS THE BEST WAY TO UNDERSTAND IT. WE HAVE A PROJECT SITE WHICH HAS BEEN USED TO ENGAGE IN PUBLIC COMMENTS. WE'VE PRESENTED TO NEIGHBORHOOD ASSOCIATIONS, NOT JUST BIAs BUT PIKE COR DOR, UPTOWN ALLIANCE, SOUTH LAKE UNION, BELLTOWN SOTO, SO QUITE A FEW. AND THEN COMMUNICATED DIRECTLY WITH -- JON'S TEAM HAS COMMUNICATED ON SEVERAL OCCASIONS WITH HAD BIAs AND OTHER SPEAKERS REPRESENTED TODAY. ALSO DIVERSITY OF COMMUNITY GROUPS, SO THERE'S BEEN EXTENSIVE OUTREACH BY OUR PROJECT TEAM PROGRAM AREAS IS FOCUSED ON THE MID, AND OUTSIDE OF THAT WE HAVE FOUR INITIAL BIAs. OUR NEW WATERFRONT EXTENDING OUTSIDE OF THAT ZONE, SEATTLE WATER DISTRICTS, AND PARK BOULEVARDS ARE EXCLUDED. TWO PHASES. INITIAL PHASE AS 30 IN AM MID, THAT'S THE FIRST PHASE. THAT'S FOR FIFA 26, WE'VE GOT A SHORT TIME FRAME. THAT'S OUR GOAL. SECOND PHASE AS AMY MENTIONED IS TO THEN EXPAND INTO THE MIDGETS 30 ADDITIONAL KIOSKS AND 20 ADDITIONAL WOULD BE SPREAD AMONGST THE BIAs, SO THAT'S 80 TOTAL. THE KIOSK DESCRIPTION AS YOU'VE SEEN DOWN STAIRS IS OVER 8 FEET TALL, ABOUT 3 FEET WIDE AND ABOUT A FOOT DEEP. THE SCREEN SIZE ITSELF IS LITTLE OVER 12 FEET. THE KIOSK IS A VERY ROBUST STRUCTURE. IT'S BEEN INSTALLED OVER A NUMBER OF CITIES, WELL OVER 20 CITIES AROUND THE UNITED STATES. IT'S WEATHER-PROOF. IT IS EROSION RESISTANT, DUST AND WATER RESISTANT. WE GET A LOT OF COMMENTS WHAT IT YOU HIT IT WITH A BASEBALL BAT, IT'S SHATTER-PROOF. AND THE BIG THING HERE IS IKE MAINTAINS THESE THINGS WITH BSA. A VENDOR THAT WILL MAINTAIN THEM. THEY'LL BE ON THE SPOT IF SOMETHING IS DAMAGED OR TAGGED. IT'S IN THEIR OWN INTEREST TO MAKE SURE THESE THINGS ARE OPERATIONAL, TO MAKE SURE THEY'RE FUNCTIONING PROPERLY. TWO MODES OF OPERATION. THE FIRST IS A PASSIVE MODE. THIS IS A DEFAULT MODE WHERE IT'S RUNNING THROUGH THE LOOP. I'LL HAVE A SLIDE AND A SHORT VIDEO TO SHARE WITH YOU. THE SECOND IS ENGAGEMENT WHERE YOU GO UP AND HIT THE SCREEN. ADVERTISING IS MINIMIZED, AND THEN YOU HAVE A SCREEN YOU CAN ENGAGE WITH, AND THERE'S A NUMBER OF THINGS YOU CAN ENGAGE WITH WHEN YOU GET INTO ENGAGE MODE. SO THE KIOSK ITSELF, THERE'S AN 80- SECOND LOOP. EACH SLIDE 10 SECONDS EACH, THAT'S THE FIRST LOOP. THERE'S A MINIMUM OF A QUARTER OR 25% OF THE CONTENT IS PUBLIC COMMENT. AS CLAIRE OR JESSICA WILL TELL YOU, OFTENTIMES ADVERTISING ADVERTISING SOLD AND THAT CAN GO UP TO 30, 40% PUBLIC CONTENT. THERE'S A DAILY MINIMUM WHERE THERE'S A HIGH ROTATION WHERE A MINIMUM OF AN EIGHTH OF THE CONTENT WILL BE PUBLIC. I'M GOING TO SEE IF I CAN DO THIS. GO TO THE -- IT'S ONE LOOP. OKAY, THE KIOSKS ARE LOCATED WHERE THEY'RE SUPPOSED TO BE IN THE FURNITURE ZONE, IN THE LANDSCAPE FURNITURE ZONE. SO THEY ARE A STRUCTURE WHERE YOU'D FIND A STREET TREE, BIKE RAFRP, A BENCH, STREET SIGN, UTILITY POLE, ET CETERA. THEY FIT NEATLY WITHIN THAT SPACE. THEY HAVE TO BE SET A MINIMUM OF 18 INCHES OFF THE CURB SPACE PER CODE AND HAVE A MINIMUM OF 12- INCH CLEARANCE ON THE PEDESTRIAN SIDE. SO THAT EXTENDS THE SIDEWALK ZONE FROM THE 6 TO 8 FEET THAT WE OFTEN SEE TO 7 OR 9 FEET. LOCATED AWAY FROM INTERSECTIONS OR SIDEWALKS. WE WERE RESPONSIBLE FOR THAT CITED CRITERIA SO THERE'S TRANSPORTATION STANDARDS IN THERE THOROUGHLY REVIEWED WITH S-DOT AND ALL COMPLIES WITH THE MUNICIPAL CODE AND STREETS AND COORDINATED WITH STREET CLOSURES AND EVERYTHING ELSE. THE PUBLIC BENEFITS AND OTHER FEATURES AS WE'RE CALLING THEM, SO THIS IS ONE OF THE THINGS COMING OUT OF COMMISSION. REALLY TO FOCUS IN ON ELEMENTS THAT WOULD ENHANCE PEDESTRIAN ROUTES, YOU'RE EXPERIENCE AS YOU WALK DOWN THE SIDEWALK AND A RIGHT-OF- WAY EXPERIENCE. SO A COUPLE OF EXAMPLES ON THE SCREEN HERE ARE THINGS LIKE FIRE BASKETS, BIKE RACKS ALL IN THE VICINITY OF THE KIOSK AND ALSO REPAIRING BROKEN, REDUND DEPENDENT FURNISHINGS WITHIN THE RIGHT-OF-WAY. OTHER FEATURES INCLUDE AND THIS IS VERY IMPORTANT A FINANCIAL ONE, FIRST PHASE OF REVENUE IS DIRECTED DIRECTLY TO DSA. IT'S ANTICIPATED APPROXIMATELY $1. 1 MILLION WILL BE GENERATED. POTENTIAL FOR NEW INCOME FOR THE CITY OVER AND ABOVE THAT IF IT'S ACHIEVED. PHASE TWO, SAME THING HAPPENS AGAIN WITH THE DSA, ADDITIONAL MONEY AGAIN WOULD GO TO THE CITY. AND THEN DSA WOULD THEN DIVVY UP THE MONEY FOR THE KIOSKS THAT ARE LOCATED WITHIN EACH OF THE DIAs. THEY WOULD GET THEIR SHARE OF IT REVENUE GENERATED THERE. PUBLIC SAFETY. DURING ONE OF OUR COMMISSION MEETINGS WE HAD SEATTLE FIRE DEPARTMENT, SEATTLE POLICE DEPARTMENT, AND THE CARE TEAM, AMY SMITH, SHOWED UP AND BRIEFED THE IMPORTANCE OF THE KIOSK TO THE COMMISSION MEMBERS. SO THE KIOSK HAS THE ABILITY TO SHARE ALERTS AND OTHER MESSAGING FROM THE CITY, EQUIPPED WITH AN EMERGENCY CALL BUTTON ON THE SIDE OF THE UNIT. CAN SHOW WAY FINDING DURING SPECIAL EVENTS OR UNPLANNED DEMONSTRATIONS GIVES INFORMATION DURING SEVERE WEATHER -- NATURAL DISASTERS. DISPLAYS PUBLIC SAFETY AND EMERGENCY WARNINGS IMMEDIATELY WHEN ISSUED BY THE CITY AND THEN IT'S CONNECTED TO FEMA'S ALERT FEED TO SHOW PUBLIC SAFETY WARNINGS IN REALTIME. IN THE ENGAGE MODE, SO THIS IS AGAIN WHEN YOU GO UP AND TOUCH THE SCREEN, IT CAN PROMOTE PUBLIC ART. SO IT CAN BE HYPERLOCAL. THIS IS GEOLOCATED, SO IT REALLY RESPOND TO THE NEIGHBORHOOD ITS WITHIN, PROVIDE INFORMATION ABOUT LOCAL ARTS, CULTURE COMMUNITY EVENTS, PROMOTE LOCAL BUSINESSES, GIVES INTERACTIVE WAY FINDING COORDINATED WITH SEEMA SEATTLE AND SPENT A LOT OF TIME MAKING SURE THIS WAS COORDINATED SO THINGS LIKE COLOR, LANGUAGE ARE ALL COORDINATED WITH THEIR SYSTEM. AND IF YOU LOOK AT THEIR WAY FINDING PROGRAM, YOU'LL SEE THIS IS IDENTIFIED -- DIJFUL WAY FINDING IS IDENTIFIED WITHIN THEIR FAMILY OF SIGNAGE. AND THEY ALSO ACKNOWLEDGE THIS IS BETTER SERVED BY PRIVATE INDUSTRY BECAUSE OF TECHNOLOGY ADVANCING SO QUICKLY. AND LASTLY, IT PROMOTES CIVIC AND SOCIAL RESOURCES INCLUDING SAFE SHELTER AND SUPPORTIVE HOUSING. IN THE PASSIVE MODE, THE -- AGAIN, THIS IS WHEN IT'S RUNNING THROUGH THE LOOP. THE KIOSK GIVES COMMITTEE AND CITY MESSAGING, SO IT PROMOTES LOCAL NONPROFITS AT NEIGHBORHOOD COUNCILS, BIAs AND CITY DEPARTMENT AND INCLUDES A PUBLIC DEPARTMENT PROGRAM. IKE HAS THEIR OWN PROGRAM WITHIN THE COMPANY THAT RUNS THIS. WE'VE PLANNED TO COORDINATE DIRECTLY WITH DSA AND THEIR STAFF THAT RUNS ART PROGRAMS THROUGHOUT THE SOUTH, SO REALLY PROMOTING LOCAL ARTISTS. THIS IS KIND OF A LOW BAR FOR THESE FOLKS TO GET IN AND PROMOTE THEIR ARTWORK, AND IT ALSO INCLUDES A CURATOR, AND THESE ARE PAID POSITIONS. AND THEN WE PROVIDE FREE WI- FI AS WELL AROUND THE KIOSK ITSELF. >> OKAY, SO WE ARE RECOMMENDING TO YOU, COUNCIL, YOU CONCEPTUALLY APPROVE THE TERM PERMIT FOR THE INTERACTIVE KIOSKS, AND AS NOTED EARLIER THERE WILL BE A SECOND STEP OF APPROVAL WITH BRINGING TO YOU AN ORDINANCE. NEXT SLIDE, PLEASE. SO THIS IS A TIME LINE OF THETHE LEGISLATIVE ACTIONS. TODAY WE'RE WITH YOU, AND THEN THE SECOND COMMITTEE MEETING ON MAY 22nd WILL INVOLVE DISCUSSION, AND YOU COULD POTENTIALLY VOTE ON THE RESOLUTION AT THE TIME. ON MAY 22nd AS WELL WE'LL GIVE OUR FIRST BRIEFING ON THE TERM PERMIT ORDINANCE. ON JUNE 3rd IF THE RESOLUTION IS RECOMMENDED OUT OF COMMITTEE, IT WILL GO TO FULL COUNCIL FOR THE VOTE. AND THEN ON JUNE 5th WOULD BE THE SECOND DISCUSSION AND POSSIBLE VOTE ON THE ORDINANCE AND A FULL COUNCIL VOTE ON THE ORDINANCE ESTIMATED AT JUNE 10th, AND THAT WOULD BE TIME THAT THEY COULD ACTUALLY OBTAIN THE CONSTRUCTION PERMITTING AND START WORKING IN THE RIGHT-OF-WAY. AND THANK YOU VERY MUCH FOR YOUR TIME HERE. ALYSE AND ARE AVAILABLE TO ANSWER ANY SDOT QUESTIONS AND I'LL TURN IT OVER TO CLAY AND JESSICA. >> GOOD AFTERNOON CITY COUNCIL AND COUNCILMEMBERS. WE BELIEVE WE'RE BRINGING FORWARD A REALLY COMPELLING PLAN AND PROPOSAL FOR SEATTLE. A BIT OF BACKGROUND ON US THAT DIDN'T COME FROM THE PRESENTATION. WE ARE ON THE GROUND IN 23 CITIES ACROSS THE COUNTRY, HOT AND COLD, BIG AND SMALL. BALTIMORE, HOUSTON, MIAMI, TAMPA TO NAME A FEW. ON THE WEST COAST WE ARE LIVE AT BERKELEY AND SAN DIEGO, AND A COUPLE MORE LATER ON THIS YEAR. IN EACH CITY WE LEARN SOMETHING NEW AND MAKE OUR PRODUCT A LITTLE BETTER. AND I THINK WHAT WE'RE BRINGING FORWARD IN SEATTLE WILL REALLY RESPECT THE COMMUNITY AND REFLECT ITS VALUES. AND WE'RE HERE TO ANSWER ANY QUESTIONS YOU MAY HAVE, AND THANK YOU, AGAIN, FOR THE TIME. >> THANK YOU. I -- I WILL -- IS THERE ANYTHING YOU WOULD LIKE TO ADD BEFORE I OPEN IT UP TO QUESTIONS? >> WOULD YOU GO BACK TO THE SCHEDULE, THE COMMUNITY SCHEDULE? SO I JUST WANTED TO HIGHLIGHT FOR THE COMMITTEE MY CENTRAL STAFF PAPER HIGHLIGHTS THE RESOLUTION CURRENTLY BEFORE YOU DOESN'T GIVE A LOT OF COUNCIL DIRECTION. IT'S REALLY A BIT PRO FORMA IN TERMS OF WHAT WE WOULD SEE IN THE PERMIT. WITH THIS AGGRESSIVE SCHEDULE, THERE'S A DRAFT AVAILABLE THEN THAT MIGHT BE THE APPROPRIATE PLACE TO KIND OF LOOK AT WHAT ACTUALLY GOES INTO -- RATHER THAN TAKING IT INTO RESOLUTION WE CAN FOCUS ON THE ACTUAL ORDINANCE IF THAT'S GOING TO BE COMING BEFORE US SOON. I WOULD NOTE THE DESIGN COMMISSION DID NOT RECOMMEND THE PROPOSAL BUT THEY PROVIDED FEEDBACK ON CONSIDERATIONS FORFOR BENEFIT AND MITIGATIONS FOR CONSIDERATION IF IT WERE TO MOVE FORWARD, AND SO THOSE ARE THE TYPES OF THINGS YOU WOULD EXPECT TO SEE IN THE DRAFT ORDINANCE. >> I WILL NOW OPEN THE FLOOR UP TO QUESTIONS FROM MY COLLEAGUES. COUNCILMEMBER KETTLE, VICE CHAIR. >> THANK YOU, CHAIR NELSON. WELCOME. I'VE MET -- ACTUALLY I'VE MET A MAJORITY OF THE TABLE TO INCLUDE OUR REPRESENTATIVES FROM THE COMPANY IKE. VERY NICE TO MEET YOU AND GET TO DEMONSTRATIONS. I'VE GOTTEN ESSENTIALLY A DEMONSTRATION AND A HALF, SO THANK YOU FOR THAT. CAN YOU BRING UP THE SLIDE WITH THE PUBLIC SAFETY PIECES TO IT? ACTUALLY THE SLIDES ARE NOT NUMBERED, BUT FOR THOSE WHO DON'T KNOW, BY THE WAY, WE HAVE A BRIEFING IN FRONT OF ME, I'LL ADD IT TO THE AGENDA IN CASE YOU'RE CURIOUS WHAT WE LOOK AT OUR ON OUR SCREEN I HAVE IT SEPARATELY AND I CAN SCROLL THROUGH THE SLIDES AS I WISH TO, WHICH IS A GREAT FEATURE. I JUST WANTED TO SPEAK TO THIS. I UNDERSTAND ONE OF THE THINGS IN TERMS OF THE PUBLIC SAFETY COMMITTEE WHICH I CHAIR, THERE'S A LOT OF DIFFERENT PIECES TO THAT, AND ONE OF THEM IS OAM. CAN YOU SPEAK -- YOU SAY IT CAN SHARE ALERTS. CAN YOU GO INTO MORE DETAILS RELATED TO THAT? AND BY THE WAY, AS I ASK THIS QUESTION EARLIER IN TERMS OF THE 23 CITIES, IF THERE'S ANY ANTIC DOTES OR ANYTHING ALONG THOSE LINES, STARTING OFF WITH THAT KIND OF EMERGENCY MANAGEMENT KIND OF FUNCTION. >> IT'S A GREAT QUESTION, COUNCILMEMBER. AND THERE'S A FEW THINGS WE DO AND WE'VE ACTUALLY MET WITH THE KARS TEAM AND SEATTLE FOLKS IN DIFFERENT EMERGENCY DISCIPLINES TO MAKE SURE WHAT WE'RE DOING WILL WORK FOR SEATTLE. THE MOST OBVIOUS THING WE DO IS WE WORK WITH FEMA'S ALERT SYSTEM, IPAWS OR IF THERE'S ANY INCLEMENT WEATHER OR ACTIVE SHOOTER OR ANYTHING LIKE THAT, IT'LL TAKE OVER THE SCREEN. ANOTHER FEATURE WE HAVE IS OUR 911 BUTTON. ON EVERY UNIT WE HAVE A BUTTON WITH A TWO WAY SPEAKER AND THAT CAN BE CUSTOMIZED. MOST CITIES HAVE 911, AND WE DO SEE IT USED. A QUESTION CAME UP TODAY IN A FEW OF OUR DEMOS IS IT APUZED AND DO WE SEE FOLKS KIND OF HANGING AROUND AND CONSTANTLY HIING THE BUTTON? WE'VE NEVER ACTUALLY SEEN THAT REPORTED IN OUR 23 CITIES. UTWE HAVE SEEN ABOUT PRODUCTIVE USE. ONE WE HAVE IN THE CITY OF BERKELEY ABOUT A YEAR AND A HALF AGO WHERE SOMEONE BRANDISHED A KNIFE AND SOMEONE WHO DIDN'T HAVE A CELLPHONE USED OUR CALL BUTTON AND WAS ABLE TO USE THE EMERGENCY RESPONSE AND DIFFUSE THE SITUATION. SO WE DO SEE IT. >> IT DOES STRIKE ME LIKE A MODERN VERSION OF THE OLD TELEPHONE BOOTH THAT HAS THE BLUE LIGHT AS WELL, WHICH MUST BE A STANDARD GIVEN THE BLUE ON THE BUTTON. ALSO, I THINK YOU SPOKE TO THOSE PIECES, THE ALERTS -- ACTUALLY YOU ASKED MY STAFF A QUESTION. I WAS GOING TO ASK SPECIFICALLY ABOUT THE 911 AS WELL. CAN YOU GO MORE DETAILS IN TERMS OF HOW IT TAKES OVER THE SCREEN? YOU SHOWED YOUR VIDEO. LIKE, EXPLAIN THE PROCESS WHEN IT WOULD BE OVERTAKEN BY LIKE THE AMBER ALERT EXAMPLE YOU MENTIONED, AND HOW DOES THAT WORK, AND FOR HOW LONG, AND WHO CONTROLS IT? AND WHAT'S THE COMMUNICATION -- WHAT'S THE COORDINATION THAT IS DONE WITH WHATEVER CITY OFFICIAL THAT YOU'RE WORKING WITH WHICH KIND OF GOES TO THE LEAD, I GUESS. AND THEN MR. SCHOLES SO PEOPLE UNDERSTAND IKE, CEMENT THAT COMBINATION AS THESE THINGS PLAY OUT. >> I'LL ANSWER THE TECHNICAL QUESTION AND THEN HAND IT TO JON. TWO WAYS, AGAIN, AND YOU CAN SEE THE VISUALIZATION HERE IN THE BOTTOM RIGHT QUADRANT. IPAWS IS ALREADY INTEGRATED INTO THE KIOSKS WITHOUT ANY HUMAN INTERVENTION, WHICH IS REALLY GOOD BECAUSE IF THERE IS AN ACTIVE ALERT THAT'S PUT OUT BY FEMA OR PUT OUT BY THE CITY, IT'LL AUTOMATICALLY GRAB IT. AND THE PORTION YOU SEE THE GENTLEMAN TOUCHING, WHICH WE CALL THE ACTIVE MODE WILL AUTOMATICALLY SHOW THAT RED AND WHITE TEXT AND DISPLAY AN ADVERTISEMENT AND CITY CONCEPT OR ART TO DO THAT AND LAST AS LONG AS THAT'S HAPPENING. IF SOMEONE WERE TO COME AND ACCESS IT, IT WOULD PUT A LITTLE ICON IN THE CORNER THAT'S A FLASHING RED SO YOU KNOW THIS IS HAPPENING, YOU GET MORE INFORMATION. IN ADDITION TO THAT AUTOMATIC TAKE OVER, WE'LL ALSO GET THE CITY EMERGENCY RESPONSE SERVICES A DIRECT LINE INTO THE KIOSK. SO IF THEY WANT TO UP LOAD IMAGES AND DO A TEXT OR EMERGENCY PROTOCOL, THEY'LL SORT OF HAVE THEIR FINGER ON THE BUTTON TO BE ABLE TO DO THAT AND COORDINATE WITH DSA AS WELL. >> FOR OR THE CONTENT, COUNCILMEMBER, PROMOTION OF EVENTS AND COMMUNITY GATHERINGS AND APPLICATIONS THEMSELVES THAT ARE FOLKS ARE INTERACTING WITH IN THE ACTIVE MODE, WE WILL HAVE A CLOSE PARTNERSHIP WITH IKE TO DEVELOP AND HELP CURATE THAT CONTENT BOTH FOR DOWNTOWN AND THEN THE OUTLYING BIAs. THAT'S BEEN A REALLY SUCCESSFUL MODEL IKE HAS EMPLOYED IN WORKING WITH DOWNTOWN ORGANIZATIONS ACROSS THE COUNTRY AND MOST OF THEIR MARKETS THEY HAVE PARTNERSHIPS DIRECTLY WITH THE ORGANIZATION. AND IN FACT IT WAS THE DOWNTOWN DENVER PARTNERSHIP IN 2016 THAT WORKED WITH ORANGE BOROUGH MEDIA TO DEVELOP THIS TOOL ITSELF, AND IT WAS DEPLOYED IN DENVER FIRST, SO WE WILL HAVE AN ONGOING CLOSE RELATIONSHIP WITH IKE. WE HAVE AN ONGOING RELATIONSHIP WITH THE CITY TO MAKE SURE THIS IS A SUCCESSFUL AND RELEVANT PIECE OF TECHNOLOGY IN THE CITY OVER TIME. >> MR. SCHOLES I WAS ALSO LISTENING TO THE MIDAMBASSADORS. IN TERMS OF THE REVENUE AND HOW YOU USE IT FOR THIS PROGRAM, HOW DOES IT PLAY INTO PUBLIC SAFETY? >> SO WE PROPOSED IN OUR TERM IMPROVEMENT ORDINANCE AND OUR AGREEMENT WITH THE CITY THAT REVENUE THAT COMES TO US MUST BE EXPENDED CONSISTENT WITH THE OBJECTIVES AND PROGRAMS AND SERVICES RELATIVE TO THE METROPOLITAN IMPROVEMENT DISTRICT, WHICH THIS COUNCIL RE- AUTHORIZED -- THANK YOU -- BACK IN MAY OF 2023. SO ON ANNUAL BASIS WE PROMISED TO THE CITY HOW THAT 1. 1 MILLION WOULD BE SPENT WITHIN THE PARAMETERS OF THE MID PROGRAMS AND SERVICES, SO ADDITIONAL CLEANING AND SAFETY, HOSPITALITY AMBASSADORS, MORE BEAUTIFICATION OUTDOOR CONCERTS, ET CETERA. AND THE CITY WOULD REVIEW THAT ANNUALLY. SO THE REVENUE TO US GOES INTO THOSE SERVICES. I WOULD NOTE, TOO, WE HAVEN'T MENTIONED THIS BUT OUR AMBASSADORS SEE A LOT OF UTILITY IN WORKING WITH MEMBERS OF THE PUBLIC WHETHER THEY BE FOLKS IN NEED OR FOLKS THAT ARE VISITING OUR DOWNTOWN AND USING THIS PIECE OF TECHNOLOGY TO HELP THEM FIND THEIR WAY. COULD BE FINDING THEIR WAY TO A GREAT EVENT OR COULD BE FINDING THEIR WAY TO A SHELTER BED OR THE WINTER SHELTER AT SEATTLE CENTER THAT'S OPENING IN JANUARY. SO WE SEE A LOT OF UTILITY IN HELPING ALL MEMBERS OF THE PUBLIC AND HAVING OUR AMBASSADORS HAVE ANOTHER FUNCTION THAT'S, YOU KNOW BIGGER THAN THEIR PHONE OR MORE RELEVANT AND ACCURATE THAN A STATIC MAP. >> BEFORE ASKING MY LAST QUESTION, CHAIR, I JUST WANT TO SAY SHOUT OUT TO THE MID AMBASSADORS. TO OUR GUESTS, IF YOU DON'T KNOW THE MID AMBASSADORS, IT'S FANTASTIC PEOPLE. I SPEAK TO THEM ON A REGULAR BASIS WHEN I PASS THEM ON THE STREET. GETTING SOME INTEL WHAT'S HAPPENING IN THAT PART OF THE NEIGHBORHOOD OR JUST THANKING THEM FOR THEIR SERVICE TO OUR CITY. WITH THAT LEAD INTO MY LAST QUESTION. GENERALLY WE GET A MILLION E-MAILS. SOME OF THE E- MAILS ON THIS TOPIC I'VE BEEN RECEIVING HAS TALKED ABOUT THE CRITIQUE IS DISTRACTED DRIVERS. OBVIOUSLY TRAFFIC AND PEDESTRIAN SAFETY IS KEY. CAN YOU SPEAK TO THAT POINT, BECAUSE AS I SEE IT A PERFECT LOCATION WOULD BE WEST LAKE PARK. IT'S LIKE NOBODY'S GOING TO BE DISTRACTED BY IT. CAN YOU SPEAK TO -- ANYBODY, CAN YOU SPEAK TO THE PARAMETERS, THE DIFFERENT PIECES OF THE PROGRAM THAT HELP AMELIORATE THAT SITUATION TO HELP AVOID DISTRACTED DRIVING? >> SURE, THAT WAS A PART OF THE SEPA ANALYSIS. THERE WAS A TRAFFIC ANALYSIS MEMO THAT WAS PUBLISHED AS PART OF IT. THEIR CONSULTANT WORKED HEAVILY WITH OUR TRANSPORTATION OPERATIONS DIVISION, AND THEY ANALYZED LOCATIONS, POTENTIAL LOCATIONS, AND THEY DID THE MATH THAT ENGINEERS DO TO SEE WHERE IS A SAFE STOPPING DISTANCE. DID I SAY IT RIGHT? AND SO ALL THOSE PARAMETERS THAT THEY IDENTIFIED IN THE SEPA CHECKLIST OF REDUCING DRIVER DISTRACTION AND CONFLICTS ARE -- WILL BE INCLUDED IN THE TERM PERMIT ORDINANCE. MARK, DID YOU HAVE ANYTHING? >> WELL, I'M GOING TO TAKE IT DOWN TO LAYMANS TERMS, COUNCILMEMBER KETTLE. SO SITE STOPPING DIFFERENCE WORKING WITH MARTY ON TRANSPORTATION. MARTY WORKED DIRECTLY WITH ONE OF THE CITY'S TRANSPORTATION PLANNERS. AND THIS IS MATH. THEY CAME DOWN TO THE WORST-CASE SCENARIO OF ME CROSSING A CROCK AT A RED LIGHT LOOKING AT MY PHONE AND A DRIVER HAVING TO SEE ME AND REACT. THAT'S -- THAT'S THE SAFETY THAT'S BUILT INTO THE MATH. SO THESE DISTANCES FROM INTERSECTIONS, THINK ABOUT ALL THESE OOPSIES AND THINK ABOUT PEOPLE NOT PAYING ATTENTION WHETHER IT'S PEOPLE, THE PEDESTRIANS OR DRIVERS. THIS HAS BEEN VERY WELL- STUDIED, AND WE FEEL GOOD ABOUT WHAT WE'VE PUBLISHED IN THE SEPA DOCUMENTATION. >> THANK YOU. YOUR ANECDOTE THERE I ALMOST WANTED TO MAKE A PUBLIC SERVICE ANNOUNCEMENT. MAYBE IT'S BECAUSE I GREW UP ON THE EAST COAST BUT I ALWAYS MAKE EYE CONTACT WITH THE DRIVER. >> 100%. A LOT OF MY FELLOW SEATTLEITES, DON'T NECESSARILY DO THAT, SO PUBLIC SERVICE ANNOUNCEMENT, MAKE EYE CONTACT. THANK YOU, CHAIR. >> COUNCILMEMBERS, IF I COULD ADD SOMETHING, JUST TO ADD ON, THIS IS A PROGRAMMATIC TERM PERMIT. THIS IS NOT SOMETHING WE DO NOT SEE OFTEN. WE'VE ONLY HAD ONE OTHER ONE IN THE CITY IN THE PAST. IT DOES IT AT A MUCH HIGHER LEVEL AND LEAVE IMPLEMENTATIONS AS FOR THE PERMITS THAT WOULD BE REQUIRED FOR ACTUAL INSTALLATION, SO THIS IS A HIGHER LEVEL OF COUNCIL REVIEW. TYPICALLY WE WOULD HAVE A SPECIFIC STRUCTURE THAT WE WOULD REVIEW FOR A SPECIFIC LOCATION. THIS IS NOT THAT. AND I WOULD SAY, TOO, WHEN THIS COMES BACK TO YOU IN THE FORM OF ORDINANCE, THERE MAY BE OTHER DOCUMENTATION THAT YOU MIGHT WANT TO KNOW MORE ABOUT INCLUDING UNDERSTANDING BETWEEN DSA AND THE CITY, WHICH WOULD GOVERN SOME OF THE OTHER OPERATIONAL REQUIREMENTS OF THE PROGRAM. >> AND I'LL JUST FINISH UP THAT THE LOCATION CRITERIA THAT'S ESTABLISHED FROM THE SEPA AND WILL WILL BE INCLUDED IN ORDINANCE WHEN APPLIED TO INSTALLATION FOR STREET USE, THAT CRITERIA WILL BE EVALUATED TO MAKE SURE IT MEET ALL THOSE CONDITIONS AND THEN ALSO THE OTHER CONDITIONS FOR CONSTRUCTION AND TRAFFIC MANAGEMENT AND THINGS LIKE THAT. SO THAT -- THEIR INSTALLATION PERMITTING REVIEW WILL ALSO DOUBLE-CHECK THE LOCATION CRITERIA AS ESTABLISHED. >> THANK YOU. COUNCILMEMBER SOLOMON. >> THANK YOU VERY MUCH, COUNCIL PRESIDENT. SOME OF THE QUESTIONS THAT I HAD FOR YOU HAVE ACTUALLY BEEN ADDRESSED BY COUNCILMEMBER KETTLE'S QUESTIONS REGARDING WHAT DO YOU DO WITH THE FUNDING, YOU KNOW, HOW IS IT GOING TO BE USED AS WELL AS DISTRACTED DRIVER PART. SO I'M SATISFIED WITH THE ANSWERS THAT YOU PROVIDED FOR THAT. WHEN I SEE THE COMMENTARY THAT IS COMING TO US, I'M GETTING THE FEELING THAT THERE'S A LACK OF UNDERSTANDING OF WHAT THESE THINGS ARE AND WHAT THEY WILL DO AS WELL AS WHAT THEY ARE NOT AND WHAT THEY WILL NOT DO. SO JUST FOR THE RECORD, ARE THERE GOING TO BE CAMERAS ON THIS THING THAT ARE GOING TO BE RECORDING PEOPLE'S EVERY DAY MOVEMENTS? >> NO. >> OKAY, SO THIS IS NOT SURVEILLANCE TECHNOLOGY THAT'S GOING TO BE OUT THERE THAT OUR REALTIME CRIME CENTER CAN TAP INTO? >> NO, SIR. >> OKAY, COOL, THANK YOU. AND WHO IS RESPONSIBLE FOR THE MAINTENANCE AND UPKEEP OF THESE UNITS? >> THAT WOULD BE IKE, THE VENDOR. SO THIS COMES AT NO COST TO THE CITY, NO COST TO US. AND IKE HAS A VERY GOOD TRACK RECORD ACROSS THE MARKETS THEY'RE IN OF ENSURING THESE ARE OPERABLE, THEY'RE CLEAN, THEY'RE KEPT UP. WE'VE DONE OUR HOMEWORK, VISITED OTHER CITIES, VISITED OUR COLLEAGUES THAT HAVE AGREEMENTS WITH IKE IN OTHER PARTS OF THE COUNTRY AND ARE SATISFIED WITH THEIR PERFORMANCE TO DATE. AND THEIR PERFORMANCE REQUIREMENTS FOR THEIR UPKEEP ARE SPELLED OUT IN THE AGREEMENT WE HAVE WITH IKE AND THE AGREEMENT WE HAVE WITH THE CITY. >> OKAY, GREAT, THANK YOU. AND I THOUGHT I HAD ANOTHER QUESTION, BUT I KNOW WE CAN GET TO IT LATER ON. AGAIN, I JUST WANTED TO ESTABLISH FOR THOSE WHO MAY BE LISTENING, WATCHING, WHAT THESE THINGS WILL DO, WHAT THEY WILL NOT DO, WHO'S RESPONSIBLE FOR MAINTAINING THEM. IT'S NOT THE CITY. THE CITY IS NOT INCURING ANY COSTS IN PUTTING THESE THINGS IN, AND THERE IS FINANCIAL BENEFIT THAT WILL BENEFIT THE, YOU KNOW, DOWNTOWN DSA, DIAs, AS WELL AS THE CITY. IS THAT A FAIR STATEMENT TO SAY? >> CORRECT. >> OKAY, GREAT. THANK YOU. NO FURTHER QUESTIONS. >> WELL, YOU ALMOST DELIVERED MY CLOSING COMMENTS. I JUST WANTED TO SAY THANK YOU VERY MUCH. THIS IS EXCITING TO ME TO BE HAVING THIS FIRST DISCUSSION TODAY BECAUSE AS NOTED BEFORE, I'VE BEEN INVOLVED IN THIS PROJECT FOR A LONG TIME FOR THREE MAIN REASONS. NUMBER ONE, THE PUBLIC BENEFITS, EVERYTHING FROM THE FREE WI-FI TO THE -- TO THE MULTILINGUAL REALTIME INFORMATION FOR PUBLIC TRANSIT AND ALSO FOR EMERGENCY INFORMATION AND THE LIST GOES ON. ALSO BECAUSE THEY ALLOW FOR THE ELEVATION OF LOCAL -- OUR LOCAL SMALL BUSINESSES, AND THAT IS ALWAYS VERY IMPORTANT TO ME, AND THAT'S IN PART WHY THIS IS IN MY COMMITTEE AND NOT, FOR EXAMPLE, IN THE TRANSPORTATION COMMITTEE BECAUSE THERE IS A NEXUS THERE, OF COURSE. BUT THE FACT THAT THE PARTNERSHIP IS BETWEEN THE VENDOR AND DSA, WHICH MANAGES ONE OF OUR BUSINESS IMPROVEMENT AREAS CALLED THE MID- THAT IS ALSO WHY IT'S IN MY COMMITTEE. THAT'S ALSO WHY I'M SUPPORTIVE BECAUSE THE RATE PAYERS IN OUR BUSINESS IMPROVEMENT AREAS TAX THEMSELVES TO BE ABLE TO PROVIDE SERVICES THAT BENEFIT NOT JUST THEMSELVES OR THE SMALL BUSINESS -- NEIGHBORHOOD BUSINESS DISTRICT BUT THE SURROUNDING COMMUNITY. AND THIS WILL -- I'VE ALWAYS FELT THAT IMAGINE DOWNTOWN WITHOUT THE MID, RIGHT? AND IT'S -- IT'S A TREMENDOUS SERVICE, AND I BELIEVE THAT IT'S RIGHT TO ALLOW FOR THE GENERATION OF REVENUE THAT CAN FURTHER HELP THE MID PROVIDE THE SERVICE WE ALL DEPEND ON AND MAKES DOWNTOWN SO GREAT. THAT IS WHY I AM EXCITED FOR THIS GOING FORWARD, AND THERE ARE QUESTIONS THAT NEED TO BE ANSWERED. AND THIS IS OUR FIRST DISCUSSION, AND WE'LL CONTINUE AT OUR NEXT MEETING. AND IF THERE AREN'T ANY OTHER QUESTIONS, I JUST WANT TO SAY THANK YOU VERY MUCH. AND FOR EVERYBODY WHO'S WATCHING, THERE IS A KIOSK DOWN PAP STAIRS. GO GIVE IT A TEST DRIVE AND CHECK IT OUT. HOW LONG WILL IT BE IN THE LOBBY? >> IT'LL BE LEAVING LATER TODAY SO FOR A FEW HOURS WE'LL HAVE IT AROUND. >> THANK YOU VERY MUCH FOR THE PRESENTATION. >> OKAY, IF FOLKS CAN STAY UNTIL 4:30, I THINK WE DO HAVE TIME TO GET THROUGH OUR LAST COMMITTEE ITEM. GO AHEAD. WOULD YOU PLEASE READ ITEM 5 INTO THE RECORD, I BELIEVE? >> YES. AGENDA ITEM NUMBER 5, COUNCIL BILL 120978, AN ORDINANCE RELATED TO CODE OFETICS DEFINING ELECTED OFFICIAL REQUIRING ELECTED OFFICIALS TO DISCLOSE ANY FINANCIAL INTEREST OR CONFLICT OF INTEREST PRIOR TO PARTICIPATING IN LEGISLATIVE MATTERS AND AMENDING SECTIONS 4.16. 030 AND 4.16. 770 OF THE SEATTLE MUNICIPAL CODE FOR BRIEFING AND DISCUSSION. >> I'LL JUST SAY THAT THIS IS IN MY COMMITTEE BECAUSE THE GOVERNANCE COMMITTEE IS THE COMMITTEE THAT OVERSEES THE SEATTLE ETHICS AND ELECTIONS COMMISSION, SO I WILL SIMPLY TURN OVER DISCUSSION TO COUNCILMEMBER MOORE, THE SPONSOR OF THE LEGISLATION TO LEAD THE DISCUSSION. WITH THAT, YOU'RE WELCOME TO -- WHY DON'T YOU GO AHEAD AND INTRODUCE YOURSELVES -- >> YES. I'M WAYNE BARNETT. I'M EXECUTIVE DRESHLGT OF THE SEATTLE ETHICS AND ELECTIONS COMMISSION. >> AND LAUREN HENRY. I'M THE COUNCIL'S LEGISLATIVE LEGAL COUNCIL. >> OKAY, WELL, THANK YOU VERY MUCH, CHAIR. I WANT TO SAY THANK YOU TO THE COUNCIL PRESIDENT FOR ALLOWING ME TO JOIN THE COMMITTEE TODAY TO PRESENT THIS LEGISLATION. THANK YOU TO MR. BARNETT, MR. PEKELIS, AND OUR OWN LEGAL COUNCIL, LAUREN HENRY, FOR BEING HERE TO WALK US THROUGH. I JUST WANTED TO PROVIDE SOME BACKGROUND INFORMATION ON THE DRAFTING OF THE LEGISLATION. SO WE ALL KNOW THAT WE HAD A LOT OF ISSUES COME UP LAST YEAR. AND SO IN THAT CONTEXT, OUR LEGAL COUNCIL LAST NOVEMBER FORWARDED AN E- MAIL TO ALL COUNCILMEMBERS FROM OUR SEATTLE ETHICS AND ELECTIONS DIRECTOR, WAYNE BARNETT, WHO'S HERE WITH US OUTLINING IN GENERAL HIS THINKING ON A POSSIBLE UPDATE TO THE SEATTLE CODE OF ETHICS. AND I GUESS GIVEN MY BACKGROUND AS A LAWYER AND A JUDGE AND SOMEBODY WHO CHAIRED THE BYLAWS REWRITE FOR THE WASHINGTON STATE BAR ASSOCIATION, I DID DECIDE TO -- IT PEAKED MY INTEREST AND DECIDED TO FURTHER EXPLORE THIS. SO I HAVE TO SAY THAT -- AND I DID ASK FOR COUNCIL -- OUR COUNCIL TO PROVIDE ME SOME FEEDBACK ABOUT WHAT DO OTHER JURISDICTIONS DO, WHAT ARE SOME OF THE CONCERNS WITH THIS CURRENT RSMC. AND I HAVE TO SAY THAT QUITE FRANKLY WHEN THE APPROACH OR THE IDEA WAS THAT WE WOULD MOVE FROM A RECUSAL MODEL TO SIMPLY TO A MORE BROAD DISCLOSURE MODEL, THAT I ALSO SHARED SOME OF THE CONCERNS THAT WE HAVE HEARD HERE IN THE PAST FEW DAYS AND THAT WE HEARD YESTERDAY AT THE ETHICS AND ELECTIONS COMMISSION. AND SO IN DOING THAT, WE DID LOOK AT WHAT SOME OR THE JURISDICTIONS DO, AND I WAS ABLE TO PUT TOGETHER A MODIFIED RECUSAL MODEL BASED ON WHAT SOME 06 THE OTHER JURISDICTIONS DO. AND I TOOK THIS TO THE ETHICS COMISSION FOR FEEDBACK IN MARCH. AND WHAT WE FOUND OR I FOUND DURING THAT PROCESS WERE THERE WERE A LOT OF QUESTIONS THAT RESULTED IN HOW DO YOU PARSE A CONFLICT? AND WHEN I WENT BACK TO THE DRAWING BOARD TO FIGURE OUT HOW TO INCORPORATE THOSE SUGGESTIONS, I REALLY GOT BACK TO THE ORIGINAL POINT THAT OUR ETHICS AND ELECTIONS DIRECTOR MR. BARNETT, HAD MADE, WHICH ULTIMATELY COMES DOWN TO ONE PERSON MAKING A JUDGMENT CALL, AND THAT CAN HAVE CONSEQUENCES IN A LEGISLATIVE CONTEXT FOR THE DEMOCRATIC PROCESS AND FOR THE THE AIRING OF ALL VOICES THAT ARE REPRESENTED IN US. AND SO THAT SAID, I WENT BACK TO THE DRAWING BOARD AND CAME UP AGAIN, WITH THE HELP OF COUNCIL, WITH WHAT WE HAVE HERE TODAY. AND I JUST WANT TO ALSO POINT OUT AND MAYBE IF YOU'LL ALLOW ME THE INDULGENCE OF READING FROM THE FEDERAL HOUSE ETHICS MANUAL, WHICH CAME OUT IN 2022, WHICH NOTES THAT FINANCIAL DISCLOSURE PROVISIONS WERE ENACTED TO MONITOR AND TO DETER POSSIBLE CONFLICTS OF INTEREST DUE TO OUTSIDE FINANCIAL HOLDINGS. PROPOSALS FOR DIVESTTURE OF POTENTIALLY CONFLICTING ASSETS, AND MANDATORY DISQUALIFICATION OF MEMBERS FROM VOTING WERE REJECTED AS IMPRACTICAL OR UNREASONABLE. SUCH DISQUALIFICATION COULD RESULT IN THE DISENFRANCHISEMENT OF A MEMBER'S ENTIRE CONSTITUENCY ON PARTICULAR ISSUES. A MEMBER MAY OFTEN HAVE A COMMUNITY OF INTEREST WITH THE MEMBER'S CONSTITUENCY AND MAY ARGUABLY HAVE BEEN ELECTED BECAUSE OF AND TO SERVE THOSE COMMON INTERESTS, AND THUS WOULD BE INEFFECTIVE IN REPRESENTING THE REAL INTEREST OF THE CONSTITUENTS IF THE MEMBER WERE DISQUALIFIED FROM VOTING ON ISSUES TOUCHING THOSE MATTERS OF MUTUAL CONCERN. AND THEN THEY GO ONTO STATE THAT THE PROBLEM OF CONFLICTS OF INTERESTS INVOLVED COMPLEX AND DIFFICULT ISSUES, ESPECIALLY WITH RESPECT TO THE LEGISLATIVE BRANCH. A CONFLICT OF INTEREST IS GENERALLY DEFINED AS A SITUATION IN WHICH AN OFFICIAL'S PRIVATE FINANCIAL INTERESTS CONFLICT OR APPEAR TO CONFLICT WITH THE PUBLIC INTERESTS. SOME CONFLICTS OF INTERESTS ARE INHERENT IN A REPRESENTATIVE SYSTEM OF GUMP OVERNMENT AND ARE NOT IN THEMSELVES NECESSARILY IMPROPER OR UNETHICAL. MEMBERS OF CONGRESS FREQUENTLY MAINTAIN ECONOMIC INTERESTS THAT MERGE OR CORRESPOND WITH THE INTERESTSF THEIR CONSTITUENTS. THIS COMMUNITY OF INTERESTS IS IN THE NATURE OF REPRESENTATIVE GOVERNMENT AND IS THEREFORE IN EVITABLE AND UNAVOIDABLE. AT THE OTHER EME, A CONFLICT OF INTEREST BECOMES CORRUPTION WHEN AN OFFICIAL USES HIS POSITION OF INFLUENCE TO ENHANCE HIS PERSONAL FINANCIAL INTERESTS. THESE EXTREMES ARE THOSE AMBIGUOUS CIRCUMSTANCES WHICH MAY CREATE A REAL OR POTENTIAL CONFLICT OF INTEREST. THE PROBLEM IS IN IDENTIFYING THOSE INSTANCES IN WHICH AN OFFICIAL ALLOWS HIS PERSONAL ECONOMIC INTERESTS TO IMPAIR HIS INDEPENDENCE OF JUDGMENT AND THE CONDUCT OF HIS PUBLIC DUTIES. HENCE, PUBLIC DISCLOSURE OF ASSETS, FINANCIAL INTERESTS, AND INVESTMENTS HAS BEEN REQUIRED AS THE PREFERRED METHOD OF REGULATING POSSIBLE CONFLICTS OF INTERESTS WITH MEMBERS OF THE HOUSE. SO I THINK THAT THAT BEAUTIFULLY SUMMARIZES THE STRUGGLE THAT WE HAVE HERE BEFORE US AND HAS ALSO LED TO THIS PARTICULAR LEGISLATION. AND SO JUST WITH THOSE OPENING REMARKS, I WOULD LIKE TO WITH PERMISSION OF THE CHAIR TO CALL UPON OUR LEGAL COUNCIL TO WALK US THROUGH HER VERY THOROUGH MEMO OUTLINING THE BILL. >> GOOD AFTERNOON, COUNCILMEMBERS. AS I OPEN, I JUST WANTED TO NOTE MY USUAL ROLE IS TO PROVIDE ATTORNEY-CLIENT PRIVILEGE LEGAL ADVICE TO MY CLIENTS IN THE LEGISLATIVE DEPARTMENT. AND WHILE THAT'S STILL MY FUNCTION, TODAY I'M ALSO WEARING A HAT OF A CENTRAL STAFF POLICY ANALYST IN ORDER TO REVIEW THE BILL WITH YOU AND ITS EFFECTS. MY GOAL HERE IS TO RESPOND TO THE QUESTIONS THAT YOU THINK ARE RELEVANT TO MAKE AN INFORMED DECISION ON THE POLICY CHOICES BEFORE YOU. AND I'LL OPEN WITH WHAT THIS COUNCIL BILL DOES AND THEN TURNTURN IT BACK OVER TO THE CHAIR FOR ANY OTHER COMMENTS. SO THIS COUNCIL BILL HAS RELEASED TWO DIFFERENT SECTIONS OF THE CITY OF SEATTLE'S CODE OF ETHICS. THAT IS 4. 16030, AND 4.16070. THERE'S ONE CHANGE I'LL HIT FIRST AND EFFECTS -- TURNING TO THE DEFINITION THIS COUNCIL BILL WOULD CLARIFY THE DEFINITIONS BY ADDING A NEW TERM, AND THAT TERM IS FOR ELECTED OFFICIAL. IT CLARIFIES THAT ELECTED OFFICIAL IS DEFINED BY THE CHARTER AND WOULD INCLUDE THOSE SERVING IN ELECTIVE OR APPOINTIVE OFFICE, SO THAT WOULD BE THE MAYORAL, CITY ATTORNEY AND ALL NINE COUNCILMEMBER SEATS. TURNING TO 4. 16070A, THAT'S WHERE ALL OF THE CHANGES ARE CONFINED, THOUGH THE SECTION DOES CONTINUE THEREAFTER. THE FIRST CHANGE OF NOTE IS TO CREATE AN EXCEPTION TO THE TYPES OF RELATIONSHIPS THAT CATEGORICALLY CREATE FINANCIAL INTERESTS OR CONFLICTS OF INTEREST FOR PEOPLE ACTING ON CITY BUSINESS. THOSE INDIVIDUALS ARE CALLED COVERED INDIVIDUALS THROUGHOUT THE CODE OF ETHICS. SO THAT EXCEPTION IS TO REMOVE A LANDLORD- TENANT RELATIONSHIP FROM THOSE OTHER CATEGORICALLY CREATED FINANCIAL CONFLICTS OF INTEREST. AND SO THAT'S TO NOTE THAT THE MERE RESIDENTIAL STATUS AS A LANDLORD AND TENANT WOULD NOT UNDER THIS COUNCIL BILL -- WOULD NOT RAISE AN AUTOMATIC FINANCIAL INTEREST OR CONFLICT OF INTEREST. SO THAT'S THE FIRST CHANGE. THE SECOND IS TO ADJUST THE WORDING THAT'S FOUND IN SUBSECTION A3, WHAT YOU MIGHT CALL AN APPEARANCE OF CONFLICT OR INTEREST OR A SUBSECTION THAT DEALS WITH SITUATIONS WHERE IT MIGHT APPEAR TO A REASONABLE PERSON WHO KNOWS WHAT'S GOING ON WITH THE SITUATION THAT A COVERED INDIVIDUAL'S JUDGMENT IS IMPAIRED, AND THE CODE GOES ONTO SAY IN CIRCUMSTANCES LIKE A PERSONAL OR BUSINESS RELATIONSHIP SORE SOME SORT OF CONTRACTILE RELATIONSHIP OR TRANSACTION CONCURING THAT MIGHT GIVE RISE TO AN INFERENCE THAT A JUDGMENT IS IMPAIRED. THE CHANGE HERE IS TO THE VERBIAGE THAT INSTEAD OF IT BEING A CLASSIFICATION WHERE ONE'S JUDGMENT IS IMPAIRED, IT'S JUST STATED THAT YOU MAY HAVE A CONFLICT OF INTEREST. SO NOTHING CHANGES ABOUT THE CIRCUMSTANCES OF YOU'RE ASSESSING YOUR BUSINESS RELATIONSHIPS YOUR PERSONAL RELATIONSHIPS AND WHETHER THE TRANSACTION OR ACTIVITY IS GIVING RISE TO THAT ISSUES. IT'S MORE IN THAT JUDGMENT BEING IMPAIRED OR YOU HAVE HAVING A CONFLICK OF INTERESTS, BUT THERE'S NO OTHER EFFECTS HAPPENING THERE. THE THIRD ONE I'LL NOTE HERE IN 0107A THERE'S A PROVISION ALSO IN A3 REQUIRING ELECTED OFFICIALS TO DISCLOSE THEIR CONFLICT OF INTEREST IN WRITING TO THE EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR OF THE SEC, WAYNE BARNETT, AND TO CITY CLERK IN ORDER TO RECEIVE AN OFFENSE TO THE ALLEGED VIOLATION. WHAT THIS MEANS PRACTICALLY IS SUBSECTION A3 HAS CERTAIN SAFE HARBOR PROVISIONS WHERE IF YOU FOLLOW THE PROCEDURES THAT ARE LAID OUT TO DISCLOSE YOUR PERCEIVED CONFLICT OF INTEREST IN THE MANNER PRESCRIBED AND TO HEAR SOME FEEDBACK FROM WAYNE ABOUT WHETHER OR NOT YOU WOULD DO INDEED HAVE A CONFLICT OF INTEREST, THEN YOU CAN CLAIM AN AFFIRMATIVE DEFENSE. THAT IS IF SOMEONE ALLEGES A VIOLATION OF THIS ETHICS CODE, YOU HAVE A DEFENSE TO THAT VIOLATION IF YOU'VE ACCURATELY FOLLOWED THE PROCEDURES THAT ARE IN SUBSECTION A3. SO THIS MODIFIES FOR ELECTED OFFICIALS WHAT THOSE STEPS WOULD BE. THE EFFECT DEPENDS ON WHO YOU ARE AND WHAT TYPE OF MATTER YOU'RE ACTUALLY TAKING UP. FOR YOU AS COUNCILMEMBERS IN YOUR LEGISLATIVE CAPACITY WHEN YOU ARE TAKING UP LEGISLATIVE MATTERS, PRACTICALLY THERE'S NO EFFECT AND DIFFERENCE FOR YOU BECAUSE YOU'RE NOW UNDERUNDER COUNCIL BILL GOING TO BE GOVERNED BY THE SAME DISCLOSURE REQUIREMENTS THAT YOU WOULD SEND YOUR DISCLOSURE TO THE SAME PLACE AS WAYNE AND THE CITY CLERK. NOW, THAT'S DIFFERENT FOR THE MAYOR AND THE CITY ATTORNEY. WHEN THEY ARE LARGELY FUNCTIONING AROUND NONLEGISLATIVE MATTERS, MORE IMPLEMENTING MATTERS, EXECUTIVE MATTERS. FOR THEM, THIS CHANGE WOULD HAVE A MEANINGFUL EFFECT BECAUSE THEIR DISCLOSURE WOULD BE SENT ONLY TO WAYNE AND NOT TO THE CITY CLERK. PRACTICALLY THAT MEANS RIGHT NOW THE CITY CLERK PUBLISHES THE DISCLOSURE ON THE WEBSITE. AND SO MEANINGFULLY THAT -- THAT DIFFERENCE IN DISCLOSURE WOULD MEAN THAT IT'S BEING ONLY SENT TO THE SEC VIA EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR WAYNE BARNETT AND NOT OTHERWISE TO THE CITY CLERK FOR FILING. THE LAST AND MOST SUBSTANTIVE CHANGE PROPOSED BY THIS COUNCIL BILL IS TO HOW ELECTED OFFICIALS PARTICIPATE IN LEGISLATIVE MATTERS. WHAT THIS CODE CHANGE WOULD DO IN EFFECT IS TO TAKE WHAT'S RIGHT NOW A LIMITED EXCEPTION WHEREBY COUNCILMEMBERS ARE ALLOWED TO PARTICIPATE IN LEGISLATIVE MATTERS NOTWITHSTANDING A FINANCIAL INTEREST OR CONFLICT OF INTEREST. WHEN THE MATTERS CONCERN THINGS LIKE TAXES OR SETTING UP FEES OR UTILITY RATE CONSIDERATIONS, WAS A LIMITED EXCEPTION CREATED IN 2018. WHAT THIS COUNCIL BILL WOULD DO WOULD BE TO BROADEN THAT EXCEPTION AND ALLOW FOR COUNCILMEMBERS PARTICIPATING IN A LEGISLATIVE MATTER TO PARTICIPATE NOTWITHSTANDING A FINANCIAL INTEREST OR CONFLICT OF INTEREST PROVIDED THAT THEY FOLLOW THE DISCLOSURE REQUIREMENTS THAT ARE ALREADY WITHIN THE CODE BUT WERE PREVIOUSLY ONLY LIMITED TO THOSE CIRCUMSTANCES IN WHICH YOU HAD AN ISSUE INVOLVING TAXES OR FEES OR UTILITY RATES. SO, IN EFFECT, THIS WOULD BROADEN THE AUTHORIZATION TO ALLOW COUNCILMEMBERS TO DISCLOSE AND PARTICIPATE IN A LEGISLATIVE MATTER IN WHICH THEY HAVE A FINANCIAL INTEREST OR CONFLICT OF INTEREST. >> THANK YOU FOR THAT. CAN YOU -- SO I JUST WANT TO BE CLEAR. A CONFLICT OF INTEREST FINANCIAL OR OTHERWISE, SO THEY HAVE TO POST THAT ON THE CITY WEBSITE. THEY HAVE TO FILE WITH THE DIRECTOR OF ETHICS, AND THEN THEY HAVE TO ANNOUNCE AT COMMITTEE MEETING WHERE THE LEGISLATION IS BEING CONSIDERED IF THEY SIT ON THAT COMMITTEE MEETING OR A FULL COUNCIL, IS THAT CORRECT? >> THAT'S RIGHT. SO ALL OF THAT IS EXISTING CODE PROVISIONS. AND SO THE EXISTING PROCESS WOULD STILL APPLY. IT WOULD JUST APPLY TO PERHAPS MORE MATTERS RATHER THAN JUST THE LIMITED EXCEPTION THAT'S PRESENT IN THE CODE RIGHT NOW. SO YOU POST TO THE CITY WEBSITE, YOU FILE A DISCLOSURE WITH WAYNE BARNETT AND THE SEEC AND FILE A DISCLOSURE WITH THE CITY CLERK. AND THEN FOR COUNCILMEMBERS AT AN OPEN PUBLIC MEETING IPWHICH THE MATTER IS BEING DISCUSSED, YOU WOULD PROVIDE A DISCLOSURE. NOW, THERE'S ONE CHANGE HERE. RIGHT NOW THE CURRENT CODE SAYS YOU WOULD REPEAT THAT DISCLOSURE SO YOU WOULD HAVE A RECURRING DISCLOSURE EACH TIME THE MATTER IS BEFORE YOU AND YOU'RE PARTICIPATING IN THAT LEGISLATIVE MATTER. THE CHANGE HERE WOULD BE THAT YOU DISCLOSE ONE TIME, AND THAT WOULD SATISFY THE CODE PROVISION THAT'S IN FRONT OF YOU. >> AND I THINK YOU AND I HAD DISCUSSED MAYBE THAT MIGHT BE AN AREA OF CHANGE, SO YOU WOULD BE REQUIRED TO DISCLOSE AT THE COMMITTEE MEETING AS WELL AS IN THAT FULL COUNCIL. DO WE HAVE THAT DISCUSSION? >> YES. I'M HAPPY TO TAKE ON ANY PROPOSED AMENDMENTS THAT ANY COUNCILMEMBER WOULD LIKE. AND, YES, WE'VE DISCUSSED THAT AND CAN PUT THAT IN THE WORKS. >> THANK YOU. AND THEN I ALSO JUST WANTED TO WALK THROUGH AND HAVE YOU -- SO WE'VE HAD SOME QUESTIONS RAISED ABOUT -- SO WHAT PARTS OF THE SMC THAT ARE THERE NOW, AND I DID PROVIDE EVERYBODY A COPY OF THE CURRENT SMC, IF YOU WANTED TO LOOK AT THAT, GO DOWN THE RABBIT HOLE. BUT WHAT PART OF THE SMC STILL REMAINS LIKE QUASI-JUDICIAL? COULD YOU WALK US THROUGH? THAT? >> YES. SO SPECIFICALLY TO THE CODE OF ETHICS, THAT'S A COMPLETE CHAPTER OF THE SEATTLE MUNICIPAL CODE. IT'S CHAPTER 4.16. THESE CHANGES CONTAIN DISCREETLY ONE DEFINITION CHANGE IN 030 AND THEN AMENDMENTS TO 070A. THE CHAPTER CONTINUES THEREAFTER SUBSECTIONS "B" AND ONWARD THAT MEMORIALIZE IN SITUATIONS THAT DO RAISE A CONFLICT OF INTEREST FOR COVERED INDIVIDUALS SO COUNCILMEMBERS, ELECTED OFFICIALS, THOSE THAT SERVE AS CITY EMPLOYEES CONDUCTING OFFICIAL BUSINESS. SO THE SECTION DOES PRECEDE SUBSECTIONS "B," "C," "D," "E," "F," "G," ET CETERA AND OTHER SECTIONS OF THE CHAPTER. SPECIFICALLY WE ARE TALKING ABOUT ONLY THOSE TWO SUBSECTIONS WITHIN THE CHAPTER. >> SO THE CURRENT PROVISIONS AGAINST IMPROPER USE OF OFFICIAL POSITION, ACCEPTANCE OF THINGS OF VALUE, INTEREST IN CITY CONTRACTS, PARTICIPATING IN QUASI-JUDICIAL VOTES OR DECISIONS, ALL OF THOSE PROHIBITIONS STILL WOULD BE IN PLACE UNDER THIS PROPOSED BILL. >> THAT'S CORRECT. >> AND THEN CAN YOU TALK A LITTLE BIT ABOUT THE STATE PROVISIONS, ETHICAL PROVISIONS? >> YES. SO MANY OF THOSE SUCCESSIVE PROVISIONS, ATTEMPT TO MEMORIALIZE STATE LAW PROHIBITIONS ON VARIOUS UNETHICAL BEHAVIOR THAT'S ESTABLISHED BY STATE STATUTE, THERE'S SEVERAL CHAPTERS OF THE RCW THAT PERTAIN TO THE ETHICS OF MUNICIPAL OFFICERS. AND NOTWITHSTANDING ANY CHANGE THAT IS APPROVED OR DENIED FOR THIS BODY, YOU ARE ALL STILL BOUND BY THE STATE ETHICAL REQUIREMENTS. THOSE ARE REGULATED SEPARATELY BY THE PUBLIC DISCLOSURE COMMISSION, AND THEN LOCALLY HERE BY THE SEEC. SO THOSE STATE LAW PROVISIONS CONCERN, AS YOU SAID, THE SUBSECTIONS THAT YOU DESCRIBED, BUT I POINT YOU TO -- LET ME JUST GET SOME REFERENCES. >> I THINK PAGE 3 OF YOUR MEMO. >> THAT'S THE ONE. SO RCW 42. 23 CONCERNS THE CODE OF ETHICS FOR MUNICIPAL OFFICERS. SUBSECTION 070 CONTAINS PROHIBITED ACTS FOR MUNICIPAL OFFICERS. THOSE WOULD INCLUDE SECURING SPECIAL PRIVILEGES OR EXEMPTIONS, RECEIVING GIFTS OR GRUTIES FOR A SOURCE OR FOR MATTERS CONNECTED WITH OR RELATED TO THE OFFICER SERVICES, AS SUCH AN OFFICER WOULD OTHERWISE BE PROVIDED FOR BY LAW. THEN TO HAVE BUSINESS OR PROFESSIONAL ACTIVITY THAT WOULD REQUIRE DISCLOSING CONFIDENTIAL INFORMATION THAT YOU ACQUIRED AS PART OF YOUR OFFICIAL JOB. AND THEN FOURTH, DISCLOSING CONFIDENTIAL INFORMATION TO USE IT FOR PERSONAL GAIN. ALL OF THOSE THINGS EXIST, AND EVEN IF THIS COUNCIL BILL WERE TO MOVE FORWARD AND BE PASSED THEY DON'T SUPERSEDE OR INVALIDATE ANY PORTIONS OF OF THAT STATE LAW. I'D ALSO LIKE TO POINT OUT STATE LAW SEPARATELY ADDRESSES OR REGULATES COUNCILMEMBER CONDUCT USUAL EIN A LAND USE CAPACITY WHEN YOU'RE IN A QUASI- JUDICIAL SETTING AND THAT'S UNDER THE STATE'S APPEARANCE OF FAIRNESS DOCTRINE. ALL OF THOSE REGULATIONS WOULD STILL GOVERN THIS BODY. >> THANK YOU. AND THOSE WOULD ALL BE PROACTIVE, RIGHT? YOU WOULD HAVE TO RECUSE YOURSELF BEFORE PARTICIPATING. >> YES. SO THE POINT IN TIME AT WHICH AN ETHICAL DECISION ARISES IS VERY FACT-SPECIFIC. BUT AS EACH OF YOU KNOW IN THE PERFORMANCE OF YOUR OFFICIAL OBLIGATIONS, AS YOU SIT AND CONSIDER VARIOUS POLICY DECISIONS, YOU DO THAT A LENS TO WHAT ARE MY FINANCIAL INTERESTS? WHAT ARE THE OTHER POTENTIAL CONFLICTS OF INTERESTS THAT WOULD PERTAIN TO THIS MATTER ASSESSING STATE LAW TO SEE IF THE -- IF THE MATTER THAT YOU'RE ATTEMPTING TO PARTICIPATE IN WOULD DO ANY OF THESE PROHIBITED ACT, AND THEN LOCALLY LOOKING ALSO TO THE SEATTLE MUNICIPAL CODE AND MAKING THE SAME DETERMINATION. IT'S AT THAT MOMENT IN TIME THAT WHICH YOU HAVE A CONFLICT OF INTEREST OR A FINANCIAL INTEREST THAT'S ARISEN, AND IT'S AT THAT MOMENT THAT YOU ACT. AND I'LL LEAVE IT TO WAYNE TO EXPLAIN THE -- YOU KNOW, THE ENFORCEMENT MECHANISMS AND ALL OF THAT. BUT JUST BECAUSE ENFORCEMENT HAPPENS AFTER THE FACT A VIOLATION MAY BE ALLEGED, AN INVESTIGATION ENSUE, AND SOME SORT OF PENALTY BE PROVIDED EITHER AT THE STATE LEVEL OR LOCAL LEVEL, THAT DOES OCCUR AFTERWARDS. BUT THE MOMENT OF INTERVENTION WHERE RIGHT NOW UNDER THE CODE YOU NEED TO DISCLOSE AND RECUSE YOURSELF IN VARIOUS INSTANCES THAT OCCURS AT THE MOMENT TAT YOU UNDERSTAND AND ATTEMPT TO PARTICIPATE IN A MATTER FOR WHICH YOU'RE PROHIBITED FROM DOING SOMETHING. >> SO THERE'S STILL AN THE STATE CODE TO MAKE A RECUSAL DECISION OR ANY OTHER DECISION THAT FALLS UNDER THESE CATEGORIES? >> YES, THAT'S RIGHT. THE STATE LAW ASKS MUNICIPAL OFFICERS TO ASSESS AND UNDERSTAND÷÷ WHEN THEY MAY BE APPROACHING THESE PROHIBITED ACTS AND TO TAKE ACTION AT THAT TIME. >> THANK YOU. BECAUSE WE'RE SHORT OF TIME I THINK, IF I MAY, DIRECTOR BARNETT, I WOULD JUST LOVE TO KIND OF HEAR YOUR THOUGHTS ON THIS, THE LEGISLATION, KIND OF WHERE YOU LAND IN HAVING TO INTERPRET THE CURRENT CODE AND KIND OF THE -- YOUR THOUGHTS ON HOW THAT'S GOING, AND KIND OF THE DISCUSSIONS THAT WE HAD ABOUT THIS ISSUE. >> YES, WELL, THANK YOU VERY MUCH, COUNCILMEMBER. I THINK THIS PROBABLY TAKES US BACK TO LAST NOVEMBER. THAT WAS WHEN THIS ISSUE FIRST CAME UP, WHEN I FIRST SENT AN E-MAIL TO LAUREN ABOUT THE CONCERNS. I JUST WANT TO BE VERY HONEST. I AM NOT ALWAYS AS HAPPY AS I WOULD BE ENFORCING THE RECUSAL REQUIREMENT WE HAVE IN OUR CODE. THERE ARE TIMES WHEN I FEEL LIKE EVERYONE SHOULD JUST KNOW. WHEN YOU PUT OUT IN PUBLIC WHAT YOUR INTERESTS ARE THEN YOU CAN EITHER RECUSE YOURSELF OR GO FORWARD, AND YOU'RE GOING TO BE HELD ACCOUNTABLE FOR THAT DECISION YOU MAKE BY YOUR VOTERS. SO I JUST THINK THAT'S WHAT I'M USED TO FROM BEFORE I CAME TO SEATTLE. THAT WAS THE RULES I WAS USED TO DEALING WITH, SO, YEAH. BUT HERE I DO THINK WE HAVE A VERY -- SO ETHICS LAWS ARE ON THE SPECTRUM FROM DISQUALIFICATION, WHICH WE HAVE HERE, TO DISCLOSURE, WHICH YOU SEE UNDER THE FEDERAL LAW, WHICH YOU JUST MENTIONED. SO THAT'S ALL THOSE -- THEY'RE ALL ETHICAL MODELS. THEY'RE ALL ACCEPTABLE TO SOMEONE, SO I JUST THINK WE'RE TRYING TO FIGURE OUT WHERE DO WE WANT TO FALL ON THE SPECTRUM? MY CONCERN IS RIGHT NOW THAT'S TOO MUCH AUTHORITY FOR ME FRANKLY AS THE FIRST LINE OF DEFENSE FOR THE COMMISSION IN MAKING THOSE CALLS. >> AND SOME OF THE THINGS THAT YOU HAVE TO DETERMINE, RIGHT, BECAUSE FINANCIAL INTERESTS IS NOT DEFINED. >> RIGHT, IT ISN'T. I SHOULD SAY IN CONFLICT OF INTEREST, TO ME THAT MEANS SOMETHING DIFFERENT THAN FINANCIAL INTEREST. YOU CAN HAVE A FINANCIAL INTEREST IN SOMETHING WITHOUT NECESSARILY HAVING A CONFLICT, SO THAT TO ME -- THAT IS THE NEXT STEP IN THE ANALYSIS, BUT I DON'T KNOW IF WE EVER GET THERE UNDER OUR CODE. I TOLD COUNCILMEMBER WU BACK WHEN SHE WAS ON THE COUNCIL THAT SHE COULDN'T PARTICIPATE IN DISCUSSIONS OF THE GIG WORKER MINIMUM WAGE BECAUSE HER RESTAURANT HAD A CONTRACT WITH A FOOD PROVIDER OR A DELIVERY SERVICE UNDER THOSE PLATFORMS. SO THAT'S WHAT I TOLD HER. YOU HAVE A FINANCIAL INTEREST. I WAS VERY COMFORTABLE IN SAYING. I DIDN'T HAVE TO GASP OR ANYTHING. TO ME SHE HAD A FINANCIAL INTEREST UNDER OUR LAW. BUT I WASN'T SAYING SHE HAD A CONFLICT. TO ME I JUST WAS SAYING YOU HAVE A FINANCIAL INTEREST AND YOU CAN'T PARTICIPATE. >> I THINK ALSO THERE'S ANOTHER SORT OF -- AND THIS CAME ABOUT IN MY UNDERSTANDING AND WHEN THE CODE WAS REWRITTEN -- YOU ALL HAVE TO REMIND ME WHEN IT WAS REWRITTEN, BUT THE OPT OUT FOR BEING THE INTEREST WAS NO GREATER THAN A SUBSTANTIAL SEGMENT. >> RIGHT. I THINK WE PUT THAT IN THE LAW IN MAYBE 2009 OR SOMETHING BECAUSE WE GOT TO, LIKE, TECHNICALLY YOU HAD TO RECUSE YOURSELF. YOU HAVE A FINANCIAL INTEREST AND YOU PASS A LEVY PROPOSAL BUT YOU ALL HAVE TO VOTE ON THAT BECAUSE EVERYONE HAS AN INTEREST IN THAT AND WE'RE ALL GOING TO BE PAYING IT, SO, YES. TO ME THAT'S THE CLASSICAL EXAMPLE OF WHEN THAT APPLIES. >> AND AGAIN, IT JUST SEEMS SOMEONE IS HAVING TO DEFINE WHAT IS A SUBSTANTIAL SEGMENT AND HOW WE WOULD UTILIZE THAT. I THINK YOU WERE TALKING ABOUT THAT IN TERMS OF DISTRICT REPRESENTATION. >> IT USED TO BE A SUBSTANTIAL SEGMENT OF THE CITY'S POPULATION, BUT THEN WE WEPT TO DISTRICTS THAT HOW'D TO BE AMENDED BECAUSE IF YOU SHARE AN INTEREST TO EVERYONE IN YOUR DISTRICT, TO ME THAT'S KIND OF THE SAME THING. YOU SHOULDN'T BE BARRED FROM VOTING ON THAT MATTER BECAUSE YOU SHARE IT WITH A SUBSTANTIAL SEGMENT OF YOUR DISTRICT. >> RIGHT, BUT THAT DOES AGAIN LEAVE DISCRETION OF HOW IS THAT DEFINED, RIGHT? >> WE'VE DONE THAT BY ADMINISTRATIVE DECISIONS SO FAR, THROUGH PROCESSES. AND I THINK THERE'S AN OPTION TO DO THAT THROUGH RULE, SO I THINK THAT MAY BE SOMETHING WE WANT TO LOOK AT. >> THANK YOU. AND THE DIRECTOR OF ETHICS AND ELECTIONS÷÷ COMMISSION, DIRECTOR PEKELIS, CAN YOU TALK TO US YOUR THINKING AS CHAIR ON THE MODELS AND THE HIGHER PHILOSOPHICAL APPROACH TO THIS ISSUE? >> I SHALL DO MY BEST, COUNCILMEMBER. THANK YOU, AGAIN. MY NAME IS ZACK PEKELIS. I'M THE CURRENT CHAIR OF THE ETHICS AND ELECTIONS COMMISSION. I WORK AT PACIFIC LOGGER FOCUSED ON GOVERNMENT ENTITIES AND OFFICIALS AS WELL AS POLITICAL CAMPAIGNS THOUGH OF COURSE NOT CITY OF SEATTLE POLITICAL CAMPAIGNS BECAUSE THAT WOULD CREATE CONFLICT OF INTEREST. IT IS IN MY CAPACITY AT CHAIR OF THE COMMISSION I'M PLEASED TO SHARE REFLECTIONS ON COUNCIL BILL 120978 BASED ON MY EXPERIENCE AS A COMMISSIONER FOR WHICH I'VE SERVED SINCE 2021. THE ETHICS CODES HAVE A STRAIGHTFORWARD PURPOSE TO ENSURE ALL CITY EMPLOYEES INCLUDING ELECTED OFFICIALS DISCHARGE THEIR DUTIES TO SERVE THE PUBLIC INTEREST, NOT THEIR OWN PERSONAL PECUNIARY INTERESTS. IS, I THINK, A FAIRLY CONTROVERSIAL GOAL AND IT'S INDEED DIFFICULT TO CONCEIVE HOW ANY GOVERNMENT CAN FUNCTION WITHOUT SOME MECHANISM TO DO SO. BUT THE MEANS BY WHICH SOME GOVERNMENTS WITHIN THE UNITED STATES HAVE SOUGHT TO ACHIEVE THAT GOAL VARY TO SOME DEGREE PARTICULARLY AS TO THE APPLICATION OF FINANCIAL CONFLICT OF INTEREST RULES WITH RESPECT TO LEGISLATIVE MATTERS. GOVERNMENTS DO APPROACH THE PROBLEM DIFFERENTLY. AT A HIGH LEVEL AS EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR BARNETT ALLUDED TO, THESE MECHANISMS CAN BE CATEGORIZED INTO THREE GROUPS, I THINK. FIRST, ON ONE END OF THE SPECTRUM WOULD COME MANDATORY DECISIONS. SECOND, SOME PROVIDE THROUGH AN INDEPENDENT COMMISSION LIKE OURS OR OTHERWISE TO DETERMINE WHETHER THE RECUSAL OF A LEGISLATOR WAS WARRANTED. THIRD, SOME GOVERNMENTS REQUIRE ONLY DISCLOSURE OF AN ACTUAL OR POTENTIAL CONFLICT OF INTEREST AND LEAVE IT UP TO THE ELECTED OFFICIAL HERSELF TO DETERMINE WHETHER RECUSAL IS APPROPRIATE. THE CURRENT ETHICS CODE LARGELY ADOPTS A BRIGHT LINE MANDATORY RECUSAL REQUIREMENT, AS MS. HENRY OUTLINED IN SOME DETAIL. SO THE CODE GENERALLY REQUIRES DISQUALIFICATION WHEN THE EMPLOYEE, A FAMILY MEMBER, A ROOMMATE, FOR EXAMPLE, HAS A FINANCIAL INTEREST. THERE IS NO DE MINIMIS EXCEPTION, WHICH MAKES IT SOMEWHAT UNIQUE AND QUITE STRICT. SO EVEN IF THE EMPLOYEE'S POTENTIAL FINANCIAL INTEREST IS VERY, VERY SMALL, THAT DOES NOT BY ITSELF EXEMPT THE LEGISLATOR OR EMPLOYEE FROM THE DISQUALIFICATION REQUIREMENT THAT'S STILL REQUIRED. THERE ARE EXCEPTIONS. AGAIN, AS MS. HENRY OUTLINED. FIRST, THERE'S AN EXCEPTION OF THE PROHIBITED FINANCIAL INTEREST IS SHARED WITH A SUBSTANTIAL SEGMENT OF THE PUBLIC AS DEFINED BY THE COMMISSION AS COUNCILMEMBER MOORE AND EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR BARNETT HAD MENTIONED. THE COMMISSION HAS NOT YET PROMULGATED SUCH A RULE, THOUGH WE COULD DO SO AND PERHAPS WE SHOULD DO SO. AND I'D WELCOME A DIALOGUE WITH THIS COUNCIL IF THAT IS, INDEED, WHAT WE WILL PURSUE. SECOND, THERE'S AN EXCEPTION FOR LEGISLATIVE MATTERS THAT CONCERN GENERALLY APPLICABLE ASSESSMENTS TAXES FEES AND THE LIKES. DISCLOSURE IN THAT IS STILL REQUIRED. SO THE PROPOSED LEGISLATION I THINK AS EVERYONE ACKNOWLEDGES WOULD REPRESENT A SIGNIFICANT SHIFT IN THE APPROACH AND WOULD REQUIRE ONLY DISCLOSURE AS WELL AS MANDATORY DISQUALIFICATION. THE BENEFITS AND DRAWBACKS OF SUCH A CHANGE ARE IN MY VIEW FAIRLY SELF- EVIDENT AND COULD BE RECITED IN A POINT, COUNTER POINT DEBATE AD NAUSEAM. FROM A PURELY GOVERNMENT ETHICS STANDPOINT MY VIEW IS THAT THERE IS NO ONE, SINGULAR RIGHT RULE TO ADDRESS LEGISLATIVE CONFLICTS OF INTERESTS. IT DEPENDS ON A VARIETY OF CIRCUMSTANCES INCLUDING CIRCUMSTANCES TO THE JURISDICTION. THERE ARE TRADEOFFS IN THE CURRENT RULE. THERE ARE TRADEOFFS IN THE PROPOSED RULE. THERE ARE TRADEOFFS IN ANY CONCEIVABLE RULE THE COUNCIL COULD ADOPT. BUT AS LONG AS THE SYSTEM IS CLEAR AND ADMINISTERABLE, AND I THINK BOTH THE CURRENT SYSTEM AND PROPOSED AMENDMENT ARE, IT'S FUNDALLY A POLICY CHOICE AS TO WHERE ALONG THE SPECTRUM MANDATORY DISQUALIFICATION, ADJUDICATION DISCLOSURE THE CITY SHOULD FOLLOW. I DO WANT TO RAISE A FINAL POINT THAT REALLY WAS PROMPTED BY YESTERDAY'S COMMISSION MEETING. WHILE ANY NUMBER OF SYSTEMS MAY ULTIMATELY BE JUSTIFIABLE FROM AN ETHICS STANDPOINT THE REASONS FOR ADOPTING THEM ARE CERTAINLY NOT ALL CREATED EQUAL. IT IS ONE THING IF THE COUNCIL AMENDS THE FINANCIAL CONFLICT OF INTEREST RULES BECAUSE IT DETERMINES IN GOOD FAITH THE BILL WOULD IMPROVE THE ORDERLY FUNCTIONING OF DEMOCRATIC GOVERNMENT. BUT IF THE COUNCIL AMEPDS THE CODE WITH AN EYE TOWARDS PARTICULAR POLICY OBJECTIVES ANTICIPATING THAT ONE OR MORE DISQUALIFICATIONS WOULD BE COMPELLED UNDER THE CURRENT PROVISIONS, THAT WOULD BE A CAUSE FOR CONCERN. AND I THINK IT'S PRECISELY THAT CONCERN THAT MOTIVATES MUCH OF THE PUBLIC COMMENT AND OPPOSITION TODAY AS WELL AS THE PUBLIC COMMENTS THE COMMISSION HEARD IN ITS MEETING YESTERDAY AFTERNOON. INDEED, NUMEROUS COMMENTERS YESTERDAY SPECIFICALLY MENTIONED SOME FORM OF THE THEORY TRUE OR NOT THAT THE ETHICS AMENDMENT HAS BEEN PUT FORWARD OR IS BEING CONSIDERED OR BEING PUSHED TO ENSURE NO COUNCILMEMBERS WOULD BE DISQUALIFIED FROM VOTING SPECIFICALLY ON LANDLORD- TENANT LEGISLATION. ON THE FLIP SIDE I WOULD SUSPECT SOME WHO SUPPORT WOULD -- THIS BEING POLITICS IT IS NOT UNCOMMON FOR THE ADVOCATES ON OPPOSING SIDES OF IMPORTANT ISSUES TO ASSUME THE WORST OF THEIR OPPONENT'S MOTIVES. AND TO BE CLEAR, I DO NOT CAST ASPIRATIONS ON ANY REASONS FOR CONSIDERATIONS OF THIS BILL OR ON ANY COUNCILMEMBER'S ULTIMATE VOTE ON IT. BUT AS CHAIR OF THE ETHICS AND ELECTIONS COMMISSION I URGE THE COUNCIL TO CONSIDER THE BILL ON ITS OWN MERITS FROM A GOVERNMENT STANDPOINT OF HOW IT MAY AFFECT ANY SPECIFIC INTENDED LEGISLATION OR PENDING LEGISLATION. ONE PRACTICAL SUGGESTION I'LL CLOSE WITH RAISED BY A COMMENTER YESTERDAY IS TO DELAY THE EFFECTIVE DATE OF ANY CHANGE TO ENSURE ANY COUNCILMEMBER ELECTED TO SERVE UNDER THE EXISTING RULES ABIDE BY THEM DURING THEIR TERMS IN OFFICE, IN OTHER WORDS I THINK UNTIL 2028. THAT MIGHT AVOID ANY UNFORTUNATE APPEARANCE THAT THE RULES ARE BEING CHANGED FOR PARTICULAR POLICY OBJECTIVES RATHER THAN TO SERVE GOOD GOVERNMENT GOALS. AND THOSE REFLECTIONS, I THAPG THE COUNCIL FOR ITS ATTENTION AND I'D BE PLEASED WITH ANY QUESTIONS. >> THANK YOU. TURN IT OVER TO QUESTIONS. >> I HAVE A QUESTION. I'M NOT SEEING ANY HANDS UP. DIRECTOR BARNETT, YOU MADE A COMMENT ABOUT WHERE YOU WORKED BEFORE. AND SO THE SITUATION THAT YOU'RE IN HERE IS -- MAKES YOU UNCOMFORTABLE COMPARED TO WHERE YOU WORKED BEFORE AND THAT'S BECAUSE THE NATURE OF OUR CODE IS WHAT MORE FUZZY OR SOMETHING? >> IT'S MUCH MORE STRICT. AND IT'S ALSO LIKE I WORKED ON THE EAST COAST BEFORE, SO I KIND OF COME FROM BIG CITY POLITICS, AND BOTH IN NEW YORK AND BOSTON, THERE RULES ARE MORE TOWARDS DISCLOSURE IF THEY EVEN APPLY AT ALL TO THE LEGISLATION, WHICH THEY DON'T. THEY'RE MUCH DIFFERENT PLACES. DIFFERENT RULES. >> AND SO THAT IS -- SO IS THAT WHAT WAS GUIDING YOUR RECOMMENDATION FOR THIS -- THIS LEGISLATION? >> MOVING TOWARDS -- >> I UNDERSTAND COUNCILMEMBER MOORE WAS WORKING ON SOME POSSIBILITIES, BUT THEY DIFFERED FROM YOURS. YOU JUST THOUGHT THAT -- I DON'T WANT TO SPEAK FOR YOU -- >> THIS IS BACK IN THE NOVEMBER. I SHOULD SAY THIS IS BEFORE ANY OF THIS. I RAISED THE ISSUE. AND FRANKLY JUST COMING FROM BOSTON WHERE WE JUST HAD A DIFFERENT POLITICAL CULTURE, SO THAT'S ALL. >> I CAN JUST CLARIFY. I WENT THROUGH THIS EXERCISE OF DOING A MODIFIED RECUSAL AND KIND OF CAME TO THE KIND OF SAME CONCLUSION THAT, AGAIN, THERE ARE MANY WAYS TO DEFINE FINANCIAL÷÷ INTERESTS, MANY WAYS TO DEFINE SUBSTANTIAL SEGMENT OF THE POPULATION, MANY WAYS TO DEFINE, YOU KNOW, IS IT OF MATERIAL INTEREST, IS IT OF REMOTE INTEREST, IS IT DE MINIMIS INTEREST? WHAT IS A SUBSTANTIAL SEGMENT? HOW SMALL IS THE GROUP? HOW LARGE IS THE GROUP? AND TRYING TO ANSWER THOSE QUESTIONS ARE VERY DIFFICULT, AND HENCE I CAME BACK TO THE ORIGINAL POSITION THAT OUR DIRECTOR HAS, WHICH IS REALLY WHAT WE WANT IS SOMETHING THAT'S OPERATIONAL, IT'S RELATIVELY EASY TO EMPLOY, AND IT DOES REQUIRE FULL TRANSPARENCY AND DISCLOSURE. AND I THINK THAT PAETS PART OF WHAT'S GETTING LOST HERE IS WE'RE NOT SAYING, YEAH, YOU REMOVE THE RECUSAL REQUIREMENT. YOU DON'T REMOVE THE DISCLOSURE REQUIREMENT. IN FACT, I THINK THIS BILL ENHANCES THE CIRCUMSTANCES ON WHICH DISCLOSURE IS REQUIRED, AND THERE ARE MANY WAYS IN WHICH PEOPLE IN THIS OFFICE CAN IMPROVE THEIR POSITIONS THAT DON'T CURRENTLY FALL UNDER THE -- UNDER THE CURRENT ORDINANCE, WHICH I THINK WOULD IN TERMS OF CONFLICT OF INTEREST, DISCLOSING THAT. BUT I JUST WANT TO BE CLEAR I'M NOT IN OPPOSITION TO WAYNE HERE. THANK YOU. >> I UNDERSTAND. COUNCILMEMBER RIVERA? >> THANK YOU, COUNCIL PRESIDENT. AND THANK YOU ALL FOR BEING HERE. WAYNE, YOU I AND I HAVE WORKED TOGETHER FOR A LONG TIME AND YOU KNOW I'M CONSTANTLY SEEKING YOUR COUNSEL ON THIS ISSUE. AND I AGREE THAT WE SHOULD NOT -- THIS IS TO APPLY TO EVERYTHING, NOT FOR ONE PARTICULAR REASON. AND I WILL SAY IN THE TIME, IN THE YEAR -- UNDER A LITTLE YEAR AND A HALF THAT I'VE BEEN HERE, THIS HAS COME UP FOR ME. AND LESS SO FINANCIAL AND MORE JUST, YOU KNOW, BECAUSE MY SPOUSE HAS SAT ON A BOARD, AND IT JUST SEEMED -- AND I ALWAYS WANT TO ERR, AS WAYNE KNOWS, ON THE SIDE OF CAUTION WITH THIS. SO I'M CONSTANTLY MAKING SURE I AM CLEAR ON WHAT THE RECOMMENDATION MEANS. IT SEEMS TO ME -- SO WITH ALL THAT SAID, IT SEEMS TO ME THIS KEY PIECE HERE TO COUNCILMEMBER MOORE'S POINT IS A DISCLOSURE PIECE. THAT SEEMS -- LIKE, TO ME THAT IS THE CRITICAL PIECE. YOU KNOW, IF PEOPLE ARE IN THESE POSITIONS AND NOT DISCLOSING, THIS IS A HUGE PROBLEM. AND THE DISCLOSURE PIECE THEN LETS EVERYONE KNOW. WE'RE NOT HIDING ANYTHING, WE'RE DISCLOSING. AND THEN IN THIS DISTRICT SPECIFIC SITUATION THAT WE FIND OURSELVES, IT SEEMS I -- IT IS PRUDENT TO BE LOOKING AT THIS GIVEN THAT, THEN, IT LIMITS OUR ABILITY TO REPRESENT OUR CONSTITUENTS WHEN WE'RE DISTRICT-SPECIFIC, FOR THOSE OF US DISTRICT-SPECIFIC. AND SO, YOU KNOW, I AM COMPELLED TO BUY THAT ASPECT OF IT BECAUSE WE WERE PUT HERE TO REPRESENT OUR CONSTITUENTS. AND IF THEY WANT SOMETHING, THEN WE'RE NOT ABLE TO ADVOCATE FOR THAT -- WHAT THEY WOULD WANT AND VOTE ON WHAT THEY WOULD WANT. I DON'T KNOW IF YOU HAVE -- IT'S MORE OF A COMMENT THAN A QUESTION, BUT I DON'T KNOW IF YOU HAVE ANYTHING YOU WANTED TO ADD TO THAT, WAYNE. BUT I KNOW YOU AND I HAVE HAD MANY CONVERSATIONS OVER THE YEARS, NOT JUST THIS YEAR BUT IN PARTICULAR THIS YEAR ABOUT THAT PIECE, THE DISCLOSURE AND ABILITY TO BE ABLE TO -- TO VOTE ON SOMETHING UENTS WANT. >> COUNCILMEMBER KETTLE? >> THANK YOU, CHAIR NELSON. I JUST WANTED TO SAY THANK YOU FOR EVERYONE FOR BEING HERE. DIRECTOR BARNETT, CHAIR PEKELIS. >> PEKELIS, IT RHYMES WITH SHEHALIS. ABSOLUTELY USELESS OUTSIDE OUR STATE. >> THANK YOU. AND MS. HENRY, THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR COMING AND PRESENTATION. I DO LIKE THE CHAIR'S COMMENTS FOR THIS. I WILL SAY I DO HAVE CONCERNS AND QUESTIONS. THAT'S WHY I DO HAVE A MEETING SETUP WITH COUNCIL AND MR. BARNETT. I THINK IT'S GOOD TO MEET WITH YOU AS WELL AND MAYBE NOT POSSIBLE WITH SCHEDULES BUT TO LOOK AT THAT. I ONLY WANT TO MAKE ONE POINT HERE AT THIS TIME, AND I THINK IT'S MY FAVORITE WORD, AND IT'S GRACE. I DO BELIEVE WE NEED SOME GRACE IN THE CITY. IT'S A VERY IMPORTANT TOPIC, AND THAT'S WHY I HAVE CONCERNS AND QUESTIONS. BUT I THINK THE TONE OF WHAT ONE COULD SAY IS ATTACKS OR THE COMMENTS THAT HAVE BEEN BANDIED ABOUT BASICALLY LACK THAT GRACE IN TERMS OF WHAT'S BEHIND DIFFERENT PIECES, AND I THINK THAT WOULD BE HELPFUL TO THE WHOLE CONVERSATION IF WE DO BRING IN A CERTAIN AMOUNT OF GRACE AND A CERTAINCERTAIN UNDERSTANDING. WE DO TALK ABOUT THE FINANCIAL -- BASICALLY OUR FINANCIAL STATUS AND THE LIKE. AND A LOT OF COMMENTS ARE BEING MADE WITH THIS. THERE'S NO RESEMBLANCE TO FACTS BECAUSE THE KING COUNTY ASSESSOR DRAMATICALLY INCREASES THE VALUE OF YOUR HOME OR MAYBE INFLATIONARY REASONS, YOU KNOW, THE STOCK MARKET HAS GONE UP. THAT COULD ALL DISAPPEAR TOMORROW. SO THIS IDEA, YOU KNOW, OF WHAT THAT REALLY MEANS I THINK IS AN EXAMPLE. I THINK WE SHOULD HAVE GRACE AND UNDERSTANDING IN TERMS OF A VERY SENSITIVE TOPIC, HOW WE'RE CONDUCTING OUR DISCOURSE ON IT. SO THAT'S JUST ALL I WANTED TO SAY BASICALLY WAS THE IDEA OF HAVING GRACE, HAVING A CONVERSATION. AND THIS HAS BEEN GOOD AND I WILL FOLLOW UP ON IT TO ADDRESS THE CONCERNS AND QUESTIONS THAT I HAVE. THANK YOU, CHAIR. >> BECAUSE WE ARE RUNNING LOW ON TIME, I AM PRIVILEGING COMMITTEE MEMBERS, AND THEN I WILL GET BACK TO COUNCILMEMBER STRAUSS. COUNCILMEMBER SOLOMON, PLEASE PROCEED IF YOU HAVE A COMMENT. >> VERY QUICKLY SO THAT COUNCILMEMBER STRAUSS CAN HAVE HIS SAY. JUST LIKE WITH THE DISCUSSION ABOUT KIOSKS, THERE'S THE PERCEPTION OF WHAT THESE THINGS ARE, AND THEN THERE'S THE REALITY. WHEN IT COMES TO THIS LEGISLATION REGARDING DISCLOSURE VERSUS RECUSAL AND HOW THIS IS GOING TO IMPACT A PARTICULAR PIECE OF LEGISLATION THAT MAY OR MAY NOT COME BEFORE FULL COUNCIL, THERE'S THE PERCEPTION OF HOW IT'S GOING TO BENEFIT A GROUP OR DISENFRANCHISE ANOTHER GROUP AND THEN THERE'S THE REALITY OF WHAT THIS THING ACTUALLY SAYS, AND THAT'S, YOU KNOW, HEARING THE DISCUSSION THAT'S GOING ON, THAT'S ONE OF THE FIRST THINGS THAT POPS INTO MY MIND. THE SECOND THING THAT POPS INTO MY MIND IS A CONSTITUENT BASICALLY TELLING ME THAT I SHOULD RECUSE MYSELF FROM ANYTHING THIS COUNCILMEMBER DISCUSSES REGARDING POLICE BECAUSE I USED TO WORK FOR THE POLICE DEPARTMENT. TO WHICH I SAY, WELL, I'M KIND OF A SUBJECT MATTER EXPERT ON THAT, SO WOULDN'T YOU WANT ME TO LOOK AT THESE THINGS WITH THAT LENS? AND THE THIRD THING, AGAIN FULL DISCLOSURE, THERE'S A LOT OF TALK ABOUT RENTERS AND LANDLORDS AND THE WHOLE BIT. I'M A LANDLORD. I'VE BEEN A LANDLORD MULTIPLE TIMES. SO, AGAIN, IF I'M LOOKING AT LANDLORD- TENANT ISSUES, I'M GOING TO HAVE THE PER SPECTIVE OF SOMEONE WHO'S BEEN A LANDLORD. I CAN'T ERASE THAT. YET, I THINK IT'S APPROPRIATE, MORE THAN APPROPRIATE FOR ME AS A A LANDLORD TO DISCLOSE THAT. SO I'M ALL FOR MORE DISCLOSER, FOR MORE TRANCE PAERPS. AND I'M ALSO FOR IF IT CROSSES THAT THRESHOLD, YEAH, RECUSE. AND WE NEED TO BE HELD ACCOUNTABLE FOR OUR DECISIONSDECISIONS -- OUR DECISIONS AND POSITIONS. AND THE MORE INFORMATION THAT PEOPLE HAVE ABOUT WHERE WE'RE COMING FROM, OKAY, WHEN WE'RE MAKING THOSE DECISIONS, THE BETTER. NOW, YOU KNOW, AGAIN, HOW DO YOU DEFINE CONFLICT OF INTEREST OR FINANCIAL INTEREST? I DON'T KNOW. MAYBE WE'LL GET THERE, BUT, YOU KNOW, AT WHAT POINT DOES -- AGAIN, WHERE'S THE LINE? WHERE'S THE THRESHOLD? AND I THINK THAT MAY NEED TO BE DEFINED. BUT I'M SAYING ALL THIS TO SAY THAT I WANT MORE TRANSPARENCY. I WANT MORE ACCOUNTABILITY. AND IF THAT MEANS DISCLOSURE, LET'S DO THAT. YET, WHERE THERE IS THAT KERNEL OF, HUH, IS IT OR IS IT NOT, I WOULD ERR ON THE SIDE OF RECUSE. JUST SAYING. SO THAT'S ALL I HAD. THANK YOU. >> COUNCIIR. AND I KNOW THAT WE'RE STARTING TO RUN TIGHT ON TIME, SO I'LL TROOLIMIT MY QUESTIONS. I'M GOING TO ASK, THOUGH, WE HAVE THIS PANEL BACK BEFORE US AGAIN SO WE CAN HAVE A ROBUST DISCUSSION BECAUSE THIS IS INCREDIBLY IMPORTANT INFORMATION. MR. PEKELIS, THANK YOU FOR YOUR MENTION THAT WE SHOULD BE CONSIDERING THIS BILL ON ITS OWN MERITS. FOR ME THAT IS EXACTLY WHAT I'M DOING. I'M CONSIDERING THIS IN THE LEGISLATIVE HISTORY THIS PROPOSAL HAS BEEN IN BEFORE THE COUNCIL IN 2016, 2018 IN CONVERSATION LAST YEAR AND IS HERE BEFORE US AGAIN TODAY. MR. BARNETT, GOT A COUPLE QUESTIONS FOR YOU JUST TO START OFF. HOW MANY YEARS HAVE YOU BEEN IN THIS ROLE EITHER HERE OR IN BOSTON? >> 23 YEARS TOTAL, 20 YEARS HERE IN SEATTLE. >> AND BOSTON WAS YOUR LAST POST BEFORE THIS? >> YES, IT WAS. >> TAKING A LITTLE BIT OF LEVITY HERE, DID YOU EVER PROVIDE FRANK SKIFFINGTON AN ETHICS VIOLATION? >> NO, I DID NOT. >> ANYONE READ -- >> PLEASE BE QUICK WITH YOUR QUESTIONS. WE ARE RUNNING OUT OF TIME. I WANTED TO HAVE A HARD STOP AT 4:30. WE'RE NOW GETTING UP TO 5:00 SO PLEASE PROCEED. >> LET ME JUMP RIGHT INTO THE MEAT OF IT. I'D LIKE TO ASK SEVERAL FACTUAL QUESTIONS RIGHT NOW AND FIGURE OUT THIS LEGISLATION. DIRECTOR BARNETT, IN SEPTEMBER OF 2024 COUNCIL PRESIDENT SARA NELSON E- MAILED YOU DISAGREEING AND YOUR GUIDANCE COUNCILMEMBER WU RECUSE HERSELF ON VOEING ON THE BILL THAT WOULD REPEAL SEAL'S MINIMUM WAGE ORDINANCE. IS THIS A CORRECT UNDERSTANDING? >> I'M NOT SURE -- THE COMMISSION NEVER MADE A DECISION ON THAT. THIS WAS ONLY ME, SO THAT'S KIND OF THE WAY THESE THINGS NORMALLY GO, YES. >> YOU WERE PUT IN THE MIDDLE. IN THAT E- MAIL CHAIN THE COUNCIL PRESIDENT ACCUSED YOU OF NOT GIVING THE FULL -- IS THAT CORRECT? >> YES. THANK YOU VERY MUCH. >> AND TWO MONTHS LATER THERE WAS A REQUEST MADE BY THE COUNCIL'S LEGAL COUNCIL TO DETAIL YOUR INTERACTION ON THE ETHICS CODE AND LEGISLATIVE PROCESS, AND IT'S THEN WHERE YOU SAID THERE'S ROOM FOR POTENTIALLY AMENDING THE ETHICS CODE. IS THAT CORRECT? >> YES. >> AND IT SEEMS TO ME THAT SINCE JANUARY OF LAST YEAR WHEN COUNCILMEMBER NELSON BECAME COUNCIL PRESIDENT THERE HAS BEEN MORE SCRUTINY AND QUESTION -- >> POINT OF ORDER. IT SOUNDS THIS IS VEERING INTO AN IMPUGNING OF INTENT OR INTEGRITY OF A COLLEAGUE, SO YOU ARE WELCOME -- YOU AND I CAN TALK ABOUT THIS IF YOU WOULD LIKE WHAT GENERATED THIS, BUT THIS IS -- >> NO PROBLEM. I WOULD LIKE TO CONTINUE ASKING MY QUESTIONS. >> I AM THE CHAIR OF THIS MEETING, SO YOU ARE GOING -- YOU'RE WELCOME TO GO AHEAD, BUT PLEASE BE AWAREAWARE THAT -- >> LET ME REFRAME. IT SEEMS THAT IN THE LAST 18 MONTHS THERE HAS BEEN MORE SCRUTINY AND PRESSURE PUT ON YOU AND THE COMMISSION ABOUT THE RULINGS THAN UNDER PREVIOUS COUNCILS. WOULD YOU FEEL THAT'S FAIR TO SAY? >> I'M NOT SURE. I JUST FEEL THERE'S MORE ISSUES COMING UP. THERE'S MORE ABOUT PEOPLE ARE MORE FOCUSED ON THIS ISSUE IN A WAY THAT'S NOT NORMAL. I NEVER HAD THIS BACK WHEN JAN -- THESE ISSUEERIZE MORE APPARENT, YES. >> AND IN THESE LAST FEW YEARS YOU'VE BEEN PUT INTO DECIDING WHAT COULD BE INTERPRETED AS POLITICAL DECISIONS? I GUESS THOSE ARE MY WORDS. DO YOU FEEL LIKE YOU'RE BEING PUT IN THE MIDDLE SOMETIMES? >> NO, I'M BEING ASKED TO DO MY JOB, AND I'M DOING MY JOB. >> AND YOUR JOB IS TO PROVIDE FEEDBACK AND I'D SAY IT'S UP TO US AS ELECTED OFFICIALS WHETHER TO TAKE YOUR FEEDBACK OR NOT. FROM MY SPER SPECTIVE AND MY OPINION IT SEEMS YOU ARE BEING IN A TOUGH PLACE BECAUSE WE HAVE COUNCILMEMBERS RECEIVE AN OPINION THAT DOESN'T FIT THEIR NARRATIVE, THEY'RE PUSHING BACK ON YOU. THE OTHER OPTION AS ELECTED OFFICIALS TO TAKE YOUR FEEDBACK, EITHER USE IT OR DISREGARD IT. IN MY OPINION YOU SHOULD NOT BE IN A SITUATION TO STAND YOUR GROUND ON -- >> COUNCILMEMBER STRAUSS, IT SEEMS AS THOUGH YOU ARE TRYING TO GET INTO SOMEBODY ELSE'S MIND ABOUT WHAT HIS THINKING WAS WHEN RECEIVING E- MAILS FROM COUNCILMEMBERS. PLEASE BE DIRECT ABOUT YOUR QUESTIONS AND KEEP THEM TO A FACTUAL BASIS. WE ARE -- IT IS GETTING LATE. >> THIS IS ALL ON PUBLIC RECORD. AND TO THE PUBLIC AND TO MY COLLEAGUES, I DON'T THINK WE SHOULD BE CHANGING THE ETHICS CODE BECAUSE AN ELECTED DOES NOT LIKE THE OPINION OF US. WHAT HAPPENS WHEN SOMEONE ASKS YOUR OPINION AND DOES NOT TAKE IT. THE EXAMPLE IN THE MEDIA RECENTLY IS A FORMER COUNCILMEMBER WHO HAD AIRBNBS, PROPOSED LEGISLATION REGARDING SHORT- TERM RENTALS. WHAT HAPPENS IF YOUR OPINION WAS NOT REQUESTED AND A COUNCILMEMBER TOOK A VOTE ON AN ISSUE THEY HAD A FINANCIAL INTEREST IN? WHAT HAPPENS FROM THERE? >> THAT'S DIFFICULT TO SAY. I THINK AT THE END OF THE DAY THE COMMISSION'S ONLY POWER IS TO LEVY PENALTIES, SO WHAT WOULD HAPPEN IS SOMEBODY WOULD BRING A COMPLAINT OR I WOULD BRING A CHARGE, AND THE COMMISSION WOULD DECIDE ON WHETHER THERE WAS A VIOLATION OR NOT. >> THANK YOU. I'VE GOT A FEW MORE QUESTIONS. >> I WILL ASK THAT COUNCILMEMBER RIVERA, DID YOU HAVE YOUR HAND UP? WE'RE GOING TO SHARE IN THE QUESTIONS. WE ARE TRYING TO FINISH THIS MEETING SO YOU CAN HOLD YOUR QUESTIONS AND THEN ALLOW FOR SOMEBODY ELSE. COUNCILMEMBER RIVERA, I SAW YOUR HAND UP. DID YOU HAVE A QUESTION OR NOT? >> NO. I ACTUALLY HAD A COMMENT. >> YOU'RE WELCOME TO MAKE IT. >> MY COMMENT WAS EARLIER WHEN WE WERE TALKING, I WANT TO MAKEMAKE IT REALLY CLEAR THAT I DO NOT TAKE THIS -- THESE DECISIONS LIGHTLY AND THAT I HAVE ALWAYS APPRECIATED WAYNE'S COUNSEL, WHICH WE ALL HAVE WE TAKE. AND WHEN I HAVE HAD QUESTIONS, WAYNE IS ALWAYS OPEN TO A DIALOGUE BACK AND FORTH TO GET TO WHAT IS NEEDED, AND THAT'S TRUE NOT JUST FOR SINCE I'VE SAT HERE BUT, WAYNE AND I HAVE HAD THE PRIVILEGE OF WORKING TOGETHER ON OTHER CITY BUSINESS. AND, YOU KNOW, WE'VE ALWAYS HAD A BACK AND FORTH DIALOGUE, AND SOMETIMES THAT IS NECESSARY TO GET TO WHAT SHOULD BE DONE. AND SO I WANTED TO BOTH STATE THAT AND THEN ALSO SAY THAT, YOU KNOW, IN NO WAY -- I MEAN, I AM FULLY SUPPORTIVE OF ETHICS. I HAVE A LAW DEGREE, WHICH I TAKE VERY SERIOUSLY, THOUGH I'M NOT PRACTICING. AND THIS IS REALLY SOMETHING AGAIN, THAT I DON'T TAKE LIGHTLY, AND I WANTED TO SAY THAT FOR THE RECORD BASED ON ALL THE CONVERSATION THAT WE HAVE HEARD. SO THANK YOU FOR ALLOWING ME TO MAKE MY STATEMENT, AND I'M DONE. THANK YOU, COUNCIL PRESIDENT. >> THANK YOU. YOU MAY PROCEED, COUNCILMEMBER STRAUSS. PLEASE REFRAIN FROM BEING DISRESPECTFUL TO OUR PRESENTERS. >> I APOLOGIZE IF I'VE BEEN DISRESPECTFUL TO YOU, DIRECTORS AND LAUREN. MR. PEKELIS, I'D LIKE TO ASK YOU A FEW QUESTIONS, IF I MAY. >> PLEASE. >> YESTERDAY THEY TALKED ABOUT LEGISLATION OF THREE COMMISSIONERS THAT WERE THERE. COMMISSIONERS HALLS SAID SHE HAD CONCERNS ABOUT THE DRAFT, ONE DID NOT WEIGH IN ON THE MERITS, AND YOU HAD IDEAS THIS LEGISLATION LIKE TODAY SHOULD NOT TAKE EFFECT UNTIL THE NEXT ROUND OF ELECTIONS. THIS IS INTERESTING TO ME. FOR ME I ALSO BELIEVE THAT THE VOTERS NEED AN OPPORTUNITY TO WEIGH IN EITHER ON THIS CONVERSATION OR ON THE LEGISLATION. CAN YOU EXPAND YOUR THINKING THERE? >> WELL, COUNCILMEMBER STRAUSS, I WANT TO BE CLEAR I'VE STUDIOUSLY AVOIDED TAKING A POSITION ON THIS LEGISLATION. I DO BELIEVE IT IS A POLICY MATTER, AND IT IS COUNCILMEMBER'S JOB TO ON THE BENEFITS AND DRAWBACKS THAT THE CURRENT SYSTEM OR AN AMENDED SYSTEM MAY PROVIDE. I DID IN YESTERDAY'S COMMISSION MEETING AS WELL AS TODAY RELATE AND ECHO THE COMMENTS OF ONE OF THE PUBLIC COMMENTERS. I BELIEVE HER NAME WAS NATALIE THAT SUGGESTED DELAYING THE EFFECTIVE DATE OF THE LEGISLATION. I DON'T BELIEVE THAT I ADOPTED THAT AS MY OWN SUGGESTION. AGAIN, I THINK IT'S THIS COUNCIL'S SOLEMN DUTY TO EVALUATE THE MERITS OF THAT POSSIBILITY AS WELL AS THE REST OF THE PROPOSED LEGISLATION. >> TO FOLLOW THROUGH WITH THAT THE OPTIONS WE WOULD WOULD BE DELAYING THE EFFECTIVE DATE OR SENDING THIS TO THE BALLOT. IS IT NOT BEING OR THOSE ARE THE TWO OPPORTUNITIES OR OPTIONS THERE? >> I DO THINK THAT QUESTION WOULD BE BETTER DIRECTED TO YOUR COUNCIL. >> I AM GOING TO ASK THAT DO YOU HAVE ANY CLOSING -- I WOULD ASK THAT YOU -- YOU REQUEST THAT YOU CAN GET SOME OF THOSE QUESTIONS ASKED OFF- LINE, BUT NOW WE ARE AT 5:03, AND I DO WANT TO GIVE THE SPONSOR OF THE LEGISLATION CLOSING COMMENTS BECAUSE I'VE ALREADY KEPT FOLKS AFTER A HALF HOUR AFTER I ASKED THEM TO STAY A HALF HOUR IN ADDITION. >> ONE LAST THING. MY REQUEST HERE ON THE RECORD FOR YOU AND FOR OUR COLLEAGUES IS TO HAVE THE PANEL BACK BECAUSE WHILE I CAN ASK THESE QUESTIONS IN PRIVATE, IT IS IMPORTANT FOR ME TO HAVE IT ON THE PUBLIC RECORD SO OUR VOTERS CAN SEE. >> AND AS THE CHAIR OF THIS COMMITTEE, I DO NOT KNOW IF I WILL BE ABLE TO DO THAT, AND WE'VE GOT A PRETTY FULL SCHEDULE IN MY COMMITTEE WITH OTHER LEGISLATION GOING FORWARD. SO I WOULD LIKE TO NOW PASS THE LAST WORD TO COUNCILMEMBER MOORE TO SPEAK TO -- TO WRAP UP, IF YOU WOULD LIKE. >> ALL RIGHT, THANK YOU, CHAIR. WELL, I DO WANT TO SAY THANK YOU TO EVERYONE WHO'S BEEN HERE TODAY. THIS IS A -- IT'S A VERY HEATED CONTROVERSIAL TOPIC. IT SEEMS LIKE EVERYTHING THAT WE TALK ABOUT IN SEATTLE THESE DAYS IS HEATED AND CONTROVERSIAL. WE ARE JUST TRYING TO GET WORK DONE. WE ARE JUST TRYING TO DO THE BUSINESS OF THE CITY, SO I DO APPRECIATE YOUR HONEST ANSWERS YOUR NUANCED ANSWERS, YOUR LEGAL ANSWERS. THIS IS ABOUT OPENING A DISCUSSION. TODAY WAS ABOUT HAVING A DISCUSSION. IT WAS REALLY, I THINK, AN ATTEMPT TO TRY TO HIGHLIGHT HOW COMPLEX AND DIFFICULT THIS ISSUE IS AND THAT THERE ARE MANY DIFFERENT APPROACHES THAT ARE ALL VALID IN AND OF THEMSELVES, AND ULTIMATELY IT IS A POLICY DECISION. AND I JUST REALLY APPRECIATE THE THINKING THAT HAS GONE INTO THIS AND THE QUESTIONS OF THE COLLEAGUES. I'M CERTAINLY HAPPY TO WALK THROUGH -- YOU KNOW, I -- AS I SAID IN MY OPENING REMARKS WHEN I GOT THE INITIAL VERSION FROM COUNCIL I THOUGHT, HMM, I'M GOING TO WORK THROUGH THIS MYSELF, AND I PUT LAUREN THROUGH MANY MONTHS OF AGONY IN DOING SO. SHE WAS A WONDERFUL -- WONDERFULLY PATIENT WITH ME AND REALLY DID TRY TO WORK THROUGH SOME OF THINGS WE'VE TALKED ABOUT TODAY. THERE IS NO EASY ANSWER, AND WE REALLY ARE JUST TRYING TO FIND A WAY TO MAKE SURE ALL VOICES ARE HEARD AND THAT WE ARE ABLE TO REPRESENT ALL VOICES. SO IN TERMS OF -- I DON'T KNOW IF WE ARE COMING BACK, BUT I DID WANT TO SAY THAT IF THERE ARE POTENTIAL AMENDMENTS, I WOULD ASK LAUREN TO E- MAIL A DEADLINE TO ALL COUNCILMEMBERS FOR AMENDMENT CONCEPTS. I THINK I MENTIONED ONE TODAY ABOUT REQUIRING DOUBLE DISCLOSURE OF FULL COUNCIL AND COMMITTEE. AND OTHER THAN THAT, I JUST WANT TO SAY THANK YOU VERY MUCH, CHAIR, FOR GIVING ME THE OPPORTUNITY TO PRESENT AND TO UTILIZE -- TO TAKE UP YOUR COMMITTEE'S PRECIOUS TIME TODAY. >> THANK YOU. DO YOU ALREADY KNOW WHEN YOU WOULD LIKE AMENDMENTS? >> I DON'T. BUT I'LL E- MAIL OUT SHORTLY. >> THANK YOU. OKAY. WITH THAT, I'M NOT SEEING ANY OTHER COMMENTS -- THERE IT IS. I SEE IT. GO AHEAD. >> BUT THIS ISN'T ABOUT THIS. IT'S JUST ABOUT THE MEETING. I JUST WANTED TO STATE FOR THE RECORD THAT I FULLY RESPECT AND UPHOLD THE RIGHT TO FREEDOM OF SPEECH. I KNOW THAT THIS COUNCIL DOES AS WELL AND MY COLLEAGUES, AND I THINK THIS PRINCIPLE IS REALLY FUNDAMENTAL TO OUR DEMOCRACY AND THE WORK THAT WE DO. HOWEVER, I WILL CALL OUT -- I WILL CALL OUT WHEN PUBLIC COMMENTERS QUESTION MY BLACKNESS. AND IT'S A FORM OF RACISM AND WHITE SUPREMACY. AND MY OTHER COLLEAGUES DO NOT HAVE TO EXPERIENCE THIS TYPE OF RACISM AND WHITE SUPREMACY THAT MY OTHER -- AND I'M GETTING A LITTLE EMOTIONAL RIGHT NOW, AND I APOLOGIZE BECAUSE THE AMOUNT OF RACISM THAT WE HAVE TO TAKE AS BLACK COUNCILMEMBERS IS QUITE DESPICABLE IN THIS PROGRESSIVE CITY. I HAVE A VOICE MAIL IN MY OFFICE WITH PEOPLE CALLING ME THE "N" WORD CONSTANTLY. WE HAVE PEOPLE QUESTIONING MY BLACKNESS HERE AS PUBLIC COMMENTERS. AND IT'S DISAPPOINTING. IT'S VERY DISAPPOINTING. THEY DON'T EVEN KNOW WHERE TEN BLACK CHURCHES ARE, COULDN'T EVEN NAME TEN BLACK PEOPLE, DOESN'T EVEN KNOW THE AVERAGE HOUSEHOLD INCOME OF A BLACK FAMILY. IT'S $50,000 IN THIS CITY. AND I JUST HAD TO SAY THAT BECAUSE IT'S VERY DISRESPECTFUL, AND IT'S RACIST. AND YOU CAN BE PROGRESSIVE AND RACIST IN THIS CITY, AND I'VE SEEN IT FOR THE LAST 15 MONTHS. AND IT'S DISGUSTING THAT WE HAVE TO SIT HERE AND SEE THAT. SO I HAD TO CALL IT OUT, COLLEAGUES, BECAUSE I AM VERY DISAPPOINTED. VERY DISAPPOINTED. WE WILL RESPECT PEOPLE'S RIGHT TO FREEDOM OF SPEECH. I CAN TAKE IT CONSTANTLY, BUT I WILL NOT TOLERATE THE RACISM BLATANTLY QUESTIONING MY BLACKNESS. FOR THE RECORD. THANK YOU. >> THANK YOU. HEARING NO FURTHER BUSINESS, THIS MEETING IS ADJOURNED. IT IS 5:09 P.M.