SEATTLE CITY COUNCIL BRIEFING MEETING WILL COME TO ORDER. THE TIME IS TO:02. WILL THE CLERK PLEASE CALL THE ROLL? >> COUNCILMEMBER >> REPORTER:. >> PRESENT. >> COUNCILMEMBER RIVERA. >> PRESENT. >> COUNCILMEMBER SAKA. >> HERE. >> COUNCILMEMBER STRAUSS. >> HERE. >> COUNCILMEMBER HOLLINGSWORTH. >> PRESENT. >> COUNCIL PRESIDENT. EIGHT PRESIDENT. >> PLEASE NOTE THAT COUNCILMEMBER MORALES IS EXCUSE. IF THERE IS NO OBJECTION, THE MINUTES OF DECEMBER 26 -- DECEMBER 16, 2024 WILL BE ADOPTED. THE MINUTES ARE ADOPTED . I WANT TO START BY WELCOMING EVERYBODY BACK TO THE FIRST COUNCIL BRIEFING OF THE YEAR. I HOPE YOU ALL HAD A RELAXING BREAK AND REJUVENATING, ET CETERA. I DO HAVE SOME SAD NEWS I WANTED TO MENTION IN CASE YOU MISSED IT. A WEEK AGO SUNDAY, JENNIFER WINKLER, A LONG-TIME MEMBER OF THE LEGISLATIVE DEPARTMENT, FAMILY PASSED AWAY. SHE WAS HIRED IN SEPTEMBER 2001 AS THE CITY RECORDS MANAGER AND SERVED IN THIS ROLL THROUGH HER RETIREMENT IN JULY 2023. MOST OF YOU WERE NOT HERE, BUT PERHAPS I AM SEEM RECOGNITION FROM COUNCILMEMBER MOORE, BECAUSE SHE WAS HERE WHEN WE WERE SERVING COUNCILMEMBER CONLON. SHE PASSED. I WANTED TO SEND MY CONDOLENCES TO HER LOVED ONES. MOVING RIGHT ALONG. WE HAVE ONE LETTER FOR SIGNATURES TODAY . THE PRESENTATION ON THE VACANCY IN DISTRICT 2 AND EXECUTIVE SESSION. AT TOMORROW'S MEETING, THERE IS ONE ITEM ON THE INTRODUCTION AND REFERRAL CALENDAR. IT IS THE WEEKLY BILL PAYMENT ORDINANCE. THE CONSENT CALENDAR INCLUDES THE WEEKLY BILL PAYMENT ORDINANCE, AND THERE ARE NO PIECES OF LEGISLATION FROM COMMITTEES THIS WEEK. FINALLY, PLEASE STOP BY THE SECOND FLOOR DESK AND WELCOME THE NEWEST MEMBER OF THE TEAM. ALL RIGHT. NEXT UP, WE WILL GO RIGHT INTO THE PRESENTATION. ON THE DISTRICT 2 COUNCIL POSITION VACANCY PROCESS. I WOULD LIKE TO THANK THE STAFF WHO HAVE BEEN WORKING VERY, VERY -- ARE YOU WANTING SOMETHING? I SAW YOU POINTING. >> SORRY. IS ASKING THE CLERK IF I NEEDED TO SHARE MY SCREEN. >> OKAY. THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR WORKING VERY HARD ON THIS PROCESS. THERE IS A LOT OF BACKGROUND WORK THAT GOES ON WHEN WE FILL A VACANCY. YOU HAVE BEEN HARD AT WORK. WE DO HAVE THAT INFORMATION ON OUR WEBSITE. I WILL INVITE YOU TO BEGIN YOUR PRESENTATION NOW , AND FIRST, INTRODUCE YOURSELVES, PLEASE. >> MY NAME IS TRAGEDY FOR. I AM SEATTLE CITY CLERK. >> I AM LAW -- LAUREN HENRY, LEGISLATIVE LEGAL COUNSEL. >> I'M GOING TO TAKE A MOMENT TO SHARE THE SCREEN SO EVERYONE CAN SEE THE PRESENTATION. I HOPE I AM SPEAKING LOUD ENOUGH FOR EVERYONE TO HEAR. I JUST WANTED TO TAKE A MOMENT. THANK YOU, COUNCIL PRESIDENT, FOR RECOGNIZING THE PASSING OF JENNY WINKLER. SHE CAME FROM THE OFFICE OF THE CITY CLERK. IT IS A HUGE LOSS FOR OUR WORKGROUP THERE. ONE OF THE BIGGEST THINGS THAT I KNOW OF HER WAS THE RECORD., A CITYWIDE PROGRAM THAT AFFECTS EVERY DEPARTMENT. IT TOOK A LOT OF ADVOCACY AND HARD WORK ON HER PART TO BRING TO OUR CITY. I REALLY WANT TO THANK YOU FOR ACKNOWLEDGING HER. MOVING ON TO THE POSITION VACANCY. AS WE KNOW, COUNCILMEMBER MORALES IS -- HERE WE GO. COUNCILMEMBER MOREL IS IS RESIGNING FROM HER POSITION AS OF TODAY. THEREFORE, THE VACANCY WILL BE EFFECTIVE TOMORROW, JANUARY 7, 2025. THE APPOINTMENT PROCESS FOR THIS VACANCY IS 20 DAYS , AS ESTABLISHED BY SEATTLE CITY CHARTER. NOTES THAT IF YOU DO THE MATH ON THAT, IT WOULD HAVE LANDED ON A SUNDAY. BY CHARTER, THE LAST DAY IS THE 27th. APPOINTED -- YOU EVER THE APPOINTED COUNCILMEMBER WILL BE WILL SERVE UNTIL THE NEXT GENERAL ELECTION RESULTS ARE CERTIFIED . THAT WOULD BE GENERAL ELECTION OF 2025. SO UNTIL NOVEMBER 2025. THAN WHOEVER IS ELECTED AT THAT ELECTION, THE GENERAL ELECTION, WILL BE THE REPRESENTATIVE WHO WAS SWORN IN ONCE THE RESULTS ARE CERTIFIED. MUCH LIKE WE JUST SAW WITH COUNCILMEMBER >> REPORTER:. THERE IS PUBLIC INFORMATION AVAILABLE ON THE WEBSITE DEDICATED TO THIS VACANCY. APPLICATIONS ARE CURRENTLY OPEN . THE APPLICATION PERIOD OPENED ON JANUARY 2 AT 8:00 A.M. APPLICATIONS NEED TO BE SUBMITTED TO THE EMAIL AND THEY NEED -- TO CLARIFY, THEY NEED TO BE RECEIVED BY THE CITY CLERK'S OFFICE BY 5:00 P.M. ON JANUARY 9. THE REASON WHY WE SAY THAT IS BECAUSE IF YOUR EMAIL WAS SENT AT 5:00 P.M., BUT WE RECEIVED IT AT 5:01 P.M., WE CANNOT ACCEPT THAT APPLICATION. IT IS VERY IMPORTANT TO NOT SEND IT AT THE LAST MINUTE. THE APPLICATION MUST INCLUDE A COVER LETTER, A RESUME, AND THE FINANCIAL INTEREST STATEMENT FORM THAT CAN BE FOUND ON THE WEBSITE. THIS FINANCIAL INTEREST STATEMENT FORM , IT IS IMPORTANT TO MAKE SURE YOU HAVE THE CORRECT ONE. IT WILL SAY IT IS FOR THE POSITION 2 AND NOT POSITION EIGHT LIKE THE LAST VACANCY. I WANT TO MAKE SURE ANYONE SUBMITTING IS MAKING SURE THEY HAVE THE RIGHT DOCUMENT. ESPECIALLY BECAUSE THE FORM HAS BEEN UPDATED TO INCLUDE THE APPLICANT'S NAME AND ADDRESS. WE NEED THAT TO BE ABLE TO VERIFY THEM WITH KING COUNTY ELECTIONS THAT THEY ARE, IN FACT, CITIZENS OF DISTRICT 2. SO BY STATE LAW, AND THE CITY CHARTER, CANDIDATES MUST BE A CITIZEN OF THE UNITED STATES, A QUALIFIED ELECTOR OR OF THE STATE OF WASHINGTON , ABLE TO READ AND WRITE THE ENGLISH LANGUAGE, AND A REGISTERED VOTER OF THE CITY OF SEATTLE AND RESIDENT OF THE DISTRICT REPRESENTED, IN THIS CASE, DISTRICT 2, FOR AT LEAST 120 DAYS PRIOR TO FILING THE DECLARATION OF CANDIDACY. ONCE THE APPLICATION PERIOD IS CLOSED , ACTUALLY, CONCURRENTLY WE ARE ALSO BRINGING AN APPLICATION PERIOD FOR COMMUNITY ORGANIZATIONS. ACCORDING TO CHARTER, WE ASK COMMUNITY ORGANIZATIONS TO EITHER SUBMIT THE APPLICATION TO MODERATE THE PUBLIC FORUM, WHICH IS REQUIRED FOR THE VACANCY PROCESS WHERE THE PUBLIC CAN ASK QUESTIONS AND FIND OUT MORE FROM THE CANDIDATES FOR THE VACANT POSITION, OR THEY CAN MERELY SUBMIT FEEDBACK ABOUT THE RECOMMENDATIONS FOR THE FORM STRUCTURE . QUESTIONS THAT SHOULD BE POSED TO DO THE CANDIDATES, OR ANY ACCESSIBILITY CONSIDERATIONS. THIS APPLICATION IS RUNNING CONCURRENTLY TO THE APPLICATION FOR THE CANDIDATE. IT IS JANUARY 2 THROUGH JANUARY 9. THEY NEED TO BE RECEIVED BY 5:00 P.M. A LETTER OF INTEREST IS SUBMITTED TO THE WEBSITE , THE COUNCIL VACANCY@SEATTLE.GOV. CURRENTLY ON THE SCREEN IS THE TENTATIVE CALENDAR OF EVENTS . THE VACANCY , YOU KNOW, THE SEAT IS BEING VACATED TODAY. THE VACANCY OFFICIALLY STARTS TOMORROW . THE APPLICATIONS OPEN ON THE SECOND AND LAST UNTIL THE NINTH. AND THE WONDERFUL STAFF IN THE OFFICE OF CITY CLERK WILL WORK TO PROCESS THESE APPLICATIONS. WE ARE CURRENTLY RECEIVING THEM. WE HAVE TO SEND THEM TO KING COUNTY ELECTIONS TO BE VERIFIED. THERE WILL BE THAT TIME FROM THE LAST APPLICATION RECEIVED TWO WHEN WE CAN PROVIDE A LIST OF THE QUALIFIED CANDIDATES. THAT WILL BE UNTIL THE 13th. THERE WILL BE THE EXECUTIVE SESSION WHERE YOU ALL GET TO NOTE THE LIST OF APPLICANTS AND DISCUSS THAT AND EVALUATE QUALIFICATIONS. AND THEN, COUNCIL MEMBERS WILL NEED TO REVIEW THESE APPLICATIONS. THEN WE HAVE ON THE 17th THE MEETING CHOOSING THE FINALISTS. HOPEFULLY THE COMMUNITY FORUM WILL BE ON THE 21st. THEN WE HAVE A SPECIAL MEETING TO INTERVIEW THE APPLICANTS, AND THEN THAT FINAL MEETING TO FILL THE VACANT SEAT WILL BE ON THE 27th. AS WE KNOW, IF WE DO NOT FILL THE SEAT ON THE 27th, COUNCIL MUST MEET EVERY BUSINESS DAY UNTIL THEY FILL THE SEATS. -- SEAT . THAT'S ALL I HAVE. A BRIEF OVERVIEW OF VACANCY. ARE THERE ANY QUESTIONS? >> I DO HAVE A QUESTION. I WANTED TO MAKE SURE PEOPLE UNDERSTAND. WHEN YOU WERE -- CAN YOU GO BACK UP TO THE CALENDAR? YOU MADE A POINT OF SAYING THAT IT TAKES TIME BETWEEN WHEN YOU GET ALL OF THE APPLICATIONS TO WHEN WE SEE THEM. WHAT YOU ARE DOING IN THAT PERIOD OF TIME IS REDACTING . >> THANK YOU. >> YOU ARE REDACTING INFORMATION BECAUSE THESE ARE PUBLIC RECORDS, BUT WE WANT TO MAKE SURE WE ARE ABLE TO PRESERVE THAT. >> YEAH, THE PRIVACY. I SAID PII AT ONE POINT. PERSONAL INFORMATION -- I ALREADY FORGOT WHAT THE ACRONYM MEANS. THE REDACTED INFORMATION THAT WOULD IDENTIFY THE CANDIDATES. USUALLY ON YOUR RESUME YOU HAVE THE PHONE NUMBER AND ADDRESS. WE WILL REDACT THAT . EMAIL ADDRESSES AND THINGS LIKE THAT. THAT TAKES SOME TIME . I WANT TO THANK OUR PUBLIC DISCLOSURE OFFICER , BECAUSE HE CAME UP WITH THE IDEA OF USING ONE OF OUR INTERNAL PROGRAMS THAT USUALLY -- EASILY REDOX INFORMATION. HOPEFULLY, IT WILL GO FASTER. WE ALSO NEED TO COMPILE IT INTO AN EASILY ACCESSIBLE FORMAT FOR COUNCIL MEMBERS TO BE ABLE TO GO THROUGH. WE DON'T WANT TO THROW BUDGET PDFS YOUR WAY. THAT DOES TAKE SOME TIME AS WELL. AS I MENTIONED , TO GET THE INFORMATION VERIFIED BY THE KING COUNTY ELECTIONS, WHO WAS IN THE MIDDLE OF TRYING TO WIN AN ELECTION FOR FEBRUARY AS WELL. >> -- THAT INFORMATION, THE INFORMATION IS PROVIDED TO COUNCIL MEMBERS, BUT ALSO TO THE PUBLIC AT THE SAME TIME. IT WILL BE AVAILABLE ON THE WEBSITE BY THE 14th. AND SO, ANYONE WHO HAS SUBMITTED AN APPLICATION WILL KNOW IF THEIR APPLICATION WAS ACCEPTED AND APPROVED BY THAT LIST. >> GOT IT. HOW MANY PEOPLE OF APPLIED SO FAR? >> APPROXIMATELY NINE. >> OKAY. GOT IT. BECKY VERY MUCH. THE REASON YOU SAY TENTATIVE, YOU AND I HAVE SPOKEN ABOUT THIS. THERE IS THE WHITTLING DOWN TO A LIST OF FINALISTS. WE DID THAT LAST TIME, BECAUSE WE HAD ABOUT 90 SOMETHING APPLICATIONS. DEPENDING ON THE NUMBER OF PEOPLE WE HAVE THIS TIME, WE MIGHT NOT HAVE TO GO THROUGH THAT STEP. I JUST WANTED TO MAKE SURE THAT IS WHY YOU PUT IN THE WORD TENTATIVE AND THERE. >> CORRECT. YOU KNOW, THIS IS WHAT IS BEING PRESENTED TO COUNCIL TO APPROVE , COUNCIL PRESIDENT. AND SO, YES, PART OF THAT IS THAT WE HAD MANY MORE APPLICANTS. I WILL SAY IF WE HAVE NINE BY DAY -- WHAT ARE WE? ABOUT THREE DAYS IN . I DO ANTICIPATE AT LEAST DOUBLING THE NUMBER, IF NOT MORE, BECAUSE A LOT OF THE APPLICATIONS RECEIVED LAST TIME CAME ON THE LAST DAY. THAT IS WHY I REALLY DO WANT TO EMPHASIZE TO NOT WAIT UNTIL 4:59 TO SUBMIT YOUR APPLICATION. >> PEOPLE ARE PROOFREADING. [ LAUGHTER ] OKAY. THANK YOU FOR THAT. LET'S SEE. I'M GOING TO OPEN IT UP TO QUESTIONS HERE. DO ANY OF MY COLLEAGUES HAVE ANY QUESTIONS ABOUT THE PROCESS? WOW. SEE HOW EXPERIENCED WE ARE ALREADY? ALL RIGHT. IF YOU DO, WE HAVE CAPABLE FOLKS HERE READY TO ANSWER ANY QUESTIONS THAT MIGHT COME UP GOING FORWARD. THANK YOU VERY MUCH. >> THANK YOU. >> I WERE TO THE PUBLIC, TO INDIVIDUALS AND ORGANIZATIONS THAT WANT TO BE INVOLVED IN THE PROCESS, AND/OR CONSIDERED FOR APPOINTMENT TO THE VACANCY, BE SURE TO GET YOUR MATERIALS IN BY 5:00 ON JANUARY 9. PREFERABLY, BEFORE THAT. WE WELCOME YOUR INTEREST. >> I WANT TO ALSO REMIND PEOPLE IF THEY HAVE ANY QUESTIONS ABOUT THE VACANCY PROCESS, THEY CAN STILL EMAIL THE SAME EMAIL ADDRESS I CHECKED IT. WE HAVE AT LEAST TWO PEOPLE DEDICATED TO CHECKING IT. ALSO, IF THEY REACH OUT TO THE CITY CLERK ON SEATTLE.GOV OR JUST CALL OUR OFFICE, WE CAN ANSWER ANY QUESTIONS THEY HAVE ABOUT THE PROCESS. >> THANK YOU VERY MUCH. ALL RIGHT. OKAY. MOVING ON TO THE SIGNING OF LETTERS AND PROCLAMATIONS. COUNCILMEMBER STRAUSS HAS A LETTER FOR SIGNATURE TODAY IN SUPPORT OF THE SEATTLE INDIAN HILLS BOARD'S THUNDERBIRD TREATMENT CENTER COUNCILMEMBER STRAUSS, PLEASE LIVE THE DISCUSSION ON THE LETTER FOR ANY ADDITIONAL FEEDBACK BEFORE AND REQUEST SIGNATURES TO BE AFFIXED. >> THANK YOU, COUNCIL PRESIDENT. IF I MAY COME A MOMENT OF PERSONAL PRIVILEGE SPEAK ABOUT JENNIFER WHEN CLEAR. -- WINKLER. WHEN I FIRST CAME ON HIS STAFF, I TOOK MY TRAINING WITH JENNIFER. THE CITY CLERK , SCHEEREEN DEDMAN, BRIEFLY MENTIONED THIS. SHE CREATED THE PROGRAM WE ARE ALL RELYING ON WITHIN OUR OUTLOOK THAT ARCHIVES THE WORK WE DO HERE FOR POSTERITY , BUT WAS ALSO SET UP FOR THE ENTIRE STATE. WITHOUT JENNIFER, MUCH LIKE THE LAST CITY CLERK THAT TOOK US FROM HAVING BITERS HERE ON THE DAIS, WHICH IS WHY IT WAS BUILT WITHOUT COMPUTER SCREENS, TO TODAY, IT IS AN IMMENSE AMOUNT OF WORK TO TAKE US FROM ANALOG TO DIGITAL. JENNIFER DID AN AMAZING JOB. HERE IS TO YOU, JENNIFER. WHAT I HAVE BEFORE YOU TODAY IS A LETTER THAT I CIRCULATED LAST MONTH ON THE 7/17. WE WERE HOPING TO BRING THIS BEFORE RECESS. BUT I GOT THE LETTER IN ON A THURSDAY RATHER THAN WEDNESDAY. JUST SPEAKING ABOUT THIS. THE SEATTLE INDIAN HILLS BOARD, IT IS IN SUPPORT OF THE HEALTH BOARD THUNDERBIRD TREATMENT CENTER. MEMBERS OF THE INDIGENOUS ADVISORY COUNCIL REACHED OUT TO ME AS CHAIR OF THE COMMITTEE REGARDING THIS. IN THIS LETTER, TALKS ABOUT THE OPIOID CRISIS THAT CONTINUES TO BE ONE OF THE GREATEST AND DEADLIEST PUBLIC HEALTH CHALLENGES OF OUR TIME. WE KNOW THE IMPACT IS BEING FELT ESPECIALLY HARD BY OUR NATIVE INDIAN AND ALASKA NATIVE RESIDENTS DYING OF OVERDOSE AT A RATE MORE THAN FIVE TIMES HIGHER THAN NON-HISPANIC WHITE RESIDENTS. THE CITY OF SEATTLE'S INDIGENOUS ADVISORY COUNCIL HAS ALSO SENT A LETTER SUPPORTIVE OF THE THUNDERBIRD TREATMENT CENTER TO KING COUNTY . IN THEIR LETTER THEY POINT OUT THAT DESPITE VARIOUS EFFORTS TO ADDRESS THIS ISSUE, THERE REMAINS A SIGNIFICANT GAP IN ACCESS TO COPPERHEADS OF TREATMENT SERVICES FOR THOSE STRUGGLING WITH ADDICTION. TODAY THERE ARE CURRENTLY ONLY 140 INPATIENT BEDS IN KING COUNTY, AND THUNDERBIRD TREATMENT CENTER WOULD INCREASE THAT BY 62% TO 240. COLLEAGUES, I URGE YOUR SUPPORT. WE HAVE BEEN ASKED TO SUPPORT THIS BY MEMBERS OF THE INDIGENOUS COUNCIL. -- >> WANT TO PRY VIED CONTACTS. ON OCTOBER 20 AFTER MEETING WITH BUDGET CHAIR STRAUSS TO SHARE MY BUDGET PRIORITIES, PUT OUT MY NEWSLETTER LISTING SEVEN OF THEM, ONE OF WHICH WAS PROVISO JUMPSTART FUNDS IN 2025 FOR PROPECIA TO THE SEATTLE INDIAN HILLS -- HEALTH BOARD FOR THE TREATMENT CENTER. I PROVIDED THIS BACKGROUND . IN 2020 THE SEATTLE INDIAN HILLS -- HEALTH BOARD CLOSE DISTRICTS TREATMENT CENTER BECAUSE IT WAS AGING AND COULD NO LONGER ACCOMMODATE THE INCREASING NUMBER OF PEOPLE SEEKING TREATMENT. THE SEATTLE INDIAN HEALTH IS SCHEDULED TO OPEN THE NEW TREATMENT CENTER ON VASHON ISLAND IN MID 2025. IT WILL OFFER A 45 DAY LONG COURSE OF TREATMENT BASED ON A MODEL CALLED INDIGENOUS KNOWLEDGE INFORMED SYSTEMS OF CARE , WHICH BLENDS MODERN TREATMENT PLANS WITH TRADITIONAL MEDICINE AND CULTURALLY ATTUNED CARE. THERE IS A ONE $.6 MILLION GAP IN THE THUNDERBIRD TREATMENT CENTER CAPITAL CONSTRUCTION BUDGET RESULTING FROM INCREASED FINANCING COSTS. FILLING IT IS A PRIORITY FOR ME BECAUSE THE HEALTH BOARD'S PREVIOUS FACILITY MADE UP 20% OF THE CITY STATE LICENSE TREATMENT BEDS AND HAD THE LOWEST RELAPSE RATE IN THE STATE, AND UNTIL A RECENT INVESTMENT IN VALLEY CITY'S BEHAVIORAL HEALTH, THE ONLY SEATTLE FUNDING FOR COMPREHENSIVE RESIDENTIAL DRUG TREATMENT WAS 300,000 IN THE 2024 BUDGET. THAT IS NOT ENOUGH. ALTHOUGH THE FACILITY WILL BE LOCATED ON VASHON ISLAND, THE HELP FOR PRESIDENT AND CEO EXPECTS THAT 70% TO 80% OF THE PATIENTS SERVED AT THUNDERBIRD WILL BE FROM SEATTLE. SO AGAIN, THESE ARE OUR RESIDENTS, EVEN THOUGH THEY ARE GOING TO VASHON TO BE TREATED AND HEALED. THIS IS GOING TO LARGELY SUPPORT AND SERVE SEATTLE RESIDENTS. I DO VERY MUCH APPRECIATE IF PEOPLE WOULD SIGN ON THEIR SUPPORT . I HOPE IF ANYBODY FROM THE COUNTY IS HEARING THAT THEY COULD SEE THE IMPORTANCE OF THIS FOR THE MENTAL AND SPIRITUAL HEALTH OF OUR -- WELL, FOR OUR URBAN TRIBAL PEOPLES, AND ALSO JUST BECAUSE IT IS THE RIGHT THING TO DO. I THINK -- I WILL PUT A PLUG IN. IF THERE'S ANYBODY FROM THE BUDGET OFFICE LISTENING, I THINK IT WOULD ALSO -- IF WE COULD EVENTUALLY FIND FUNDING , OR WHENEVER, THPOSSIBILITY TO PROVIDE SOME SEATTLE AT SOME POINT BECAUSE IT DIDN'T GET INTO THE BALANCING PACKAGE. I THINK THAT IS VALID AS WELL. NOT TO DISCOURAGE THE COUNTY. ARE THERE ANY OTHER COMMENTS? OKAY. I WILL ASK, SINCE THERE IS NO FURTHER DISCUSSION, PLEASE CALL THE TO DETERMINE WHICH COUNCILMEMBERS WOULD LIKE THEIR SIGNATURES AFFIXED TO THE LETTER IN SUPPORT OF THE TREATMENT CENTER. >> [ ROLL CALL ] 86 ENSURES. >> THANK YOU VERY MUCH. OKAY. -- EIGHT SIGNATURES. THANK YOU VERY MUCH. OKAY. NOW IT IS TIME TO PREVIEW CITY COUNCIL ACTIONS, COUNCIL AND REGIONAL COMMITTEES. THE ORDER IS ESTABLISHED BY THE ROTATED ROLL CALL FOR CITY COUNCIL MEETINGS, WHICH IS DESIGNATED ALPHABETICALLY BY LAST NAME AND WITH A COUNCIL PRESIDENT CALLED LAST. THE ROLLCALL ROTATION BEGINS WITH COUNCILMEMBER >> REPORTER:. PLEASE BEGIN, AND THEN HANDED OVER TO COUNCILMEMBER RIVERA. THANK YOU. >> FABULOUS. HAPPY TO KICK US OFF IN THE NEW YEAR. HI, EVERYBODY. STARTING OFF WITH THE COMMITTEE AND CHAIR. SUSTAINABILITY CITY LIGHT ARTS AND CULTURE WILL HAVE THE FIRST MEETING OF THE YEAR ON THE 17th, FRIDAY. IT WILL BE AT 9:30 A.M. WE WILL RECEIVE A BRIEFING AND DOWNLOAD FROM CITY LIGHT ABOUT THE OUTAGES FROM THE WIND STORM . LOOKING TO EXTERNAL COMMITTEES, THE REGIONAL POLICY COMMITTEE WILL BE MEETING THIS WEEK WHERE THEY WILL APPROVE A WORKPLAN WE WILL ALSO BE RECEIVING REPORTS ON ANNUAL UPDATES RELATED TO HOUSING, AS WELL AS THE MENTAL ILLNESS DRUG DEPENDENCY PROGRAM. ALSO LOOKING AND DISCUSSING TO PLACE A PROPOSITION FOR A SPECIAL ELECTION BALLOT RELATED TO THE REGIONAL AUTOMATED FINGERPRINT IDENTIFICATION SYSTEM IN KING COUNTY. LOOKING FORWARD TO THAT DISCUSSION. SINCE WE HAVE BEEN ON RECESS, I DON'T HAVE TOO MUCH ROOM -- TO REPORT RELATED TO COMMUNITY, BUT I WOULD SHARE A HAD THE AMAZING OPPORTUNITY TO SPEAK TO THE WASHINGTON INSTITUTE FOR DEMOCRATIC FUTURE TALKING ABOUT EXPERIENCE AS A YOUNG LEADER, AND JUST REALLY INCREDIBLE GROUP OF YOUNG LEADERS THAT WILL BE SERVING THE REGION AGES 21 THROUGH 39. A STATEWIDE COHORT. IT IS ALWAYS VERY ENCOURAGING TO SEE THE NEXT GENERATION STEPPING UP TO LEADING OUR CITY AND STATE. LASTLY, ONCE AGAIN IN RECOGNITION OF COUNCILMEMBER MORALES'S DEPARTURE TODAY. AS WE ARE LOOKING TOWARDS APPOINTING SOMEONE TO THE POSITION, WANTING TO BE SURE WE BRING SOMEONE ON BOARD WHO CAN SERVE THE DISTINCT AND UNIQUE NEEDS OF DISTRICT 2. THANK YOU. >> COUNCILMEMBER RIVERA. >> THANK YOU, COUNCIL PRESIDENT. HELLO, COLLEAGUES. NICE TO SEE EVERYONE AGAIN AFTER RECESS. I KNOW MANY OF US WERE WORKING REMOTELY, BUT WE HAVE NOT SEEN EACH OTHER. IT IS NICE TO REALLY BE BACK AND SEE ALL OF YOU AGAIN. I HOPE YOU HAD A RESTFUL AND PEACEFUL TIME WITH YOUR LOVED ONES. THIS WEEK MANY OF YOU HAVE MEETINGS ON YOUR CALENDAR TO HAVE PRELIMINARY CONVERSATIONS ABOUT THE UPCOMING FAMILIES EDUCATION PRESCHOOL PROMISE LEVY . SINCE MY OFFICE WILL BE LEADING THE RENEWAL PROCESS ON THE LEGISLATIVE SIDE, I HAVE SCHEDULED MEETINGS WITH ALL OF YOU IN THE NEXT COUPLE OF WEEKS. I LOOK FORWARD TO HAVING CONVERSATIONS WITH YOU EVERY STEP OF THE WAY AND HEARING FROM YOU ALL ON YOUR INITIAL THOUGHTS. THIS WEEK I WILL ALSO BE ATTENDING A COMMUNITY COUNCIL MEETING . I LOOK FORWARD TO HEARING FROM THOSE NEIGHBORS. THEY HAVE LOTS OF QUESTIONS ABOUT THE COMPREHENSIVE PLAN AND WITH THE PROPOSED ZONING CHANGES WILL MEAN FOR THEIR NEIGHBORHOOD THAT THEY WOULD LIKE TO SHARE WITH ME. I'M LOOKING FORWARD TO ENGAGING IN CONVERSATION WITH THEM. ON FRIDAY I WILL BE APPEARING ON THE SEATTLE CHANNEL'S COUNCIL ADDITION WITH HOST BRIAN CALLAHAN, ALONG WITH MY COLLEAGUES, COUNCIL MEMBERS MOORE AND >> REPORTER:. I LOOK FORWARD TO THAT CONVERSATION. ALSO, ON FRIDAY MORNING I WILL ATTEND THE MEMORIAL FOR THE METRO BUS DRIVER WHO WAS FATALLY STABBED IN THE U DISTRICT RIGHT BEFORE THE HOLIDAYS. I WILL SAY THAT I DID ATTEND RIGHT BEFORE THE HOLIDAYS A CANDLELIGHT VIGIL THAT HAD BEEN HELD BY HIS COLLEAGUES AT METRO AND THE DRIVERS UNION. IT WAS A REALLY TOUCHING VIGIL. I KNOW THAT THE DRIVERS ARE VERY CONCERNED, AS AM I ABOUT PUBLIC SAFETY ON BUSES. IT IS SOMETHING WE KEEP TALKING ABOUT. I APPRECIATE COUNCILMEMBER SAKA, DURING THE LAST BUDGET PROCESS, YOU GIVING ATTENTION TO THIS . IT IS SOMETHING THAT, YOU KNOW, LOOKING TOWARDS METRO AND THE COUNTY ON HOW WE CAN MAKE SURE THAT WE ARE PROVIDING A SAFE ENVIRONMENT FOR OUR WORKERS THAT WORK ON THE BUSES, AND ALSO FOR THE RIDERS. I AM SOMEONE WHO IS A BIG PROPONENT OF PUBLIC TRANSPORTATION. AS WE LOOK TOWARD OUR CLIMATE GOALS, WE REALLY DO WANT TO MAKE SURE THAT PEOPLE ARE TAKING OUR TRANSPORTATION OPTIONS, AND WE NEED TO MAKE IT SAFE FOR PEOPLE TO RIDE. AND SO, THIS IS AN ONGOING CONVERSATION. I KNOW THERE ISN'T ANYONE UP HERE WHO DOESN'T CARE ABOUT IT. I LOOK FORWARD TO CONTINUING CONVERSATION WITH ALL OF YOU, AND KING COUNTY METRO, WHO OVERSEES THE BUSES, OBVIOUSLY, AND SOUND TRANSIT, FOR THAT MATTER. I HAVE ALSO TALKED TO SOUND TRANSIT ABOUT SAFETY ON THE LIGHT RAIL. ANYWAY, ALL THAT TO SAY, CONTINUING CONVERSATION, AND ALSO, I WILL BE ATTENDING THAT MEMORIAL ON FRIDAY. MAYBE I WILL SEE SOME OF YOU THERE. IT IS VERY SAD. MY HEART GOES OUT TO THE FAMILY. THANK YOU. UNLESS THERE ANY QUESTIONS, I WILL TURN IT OVER TO COUNCILMEMBER SAKA. >> THANK YOU, COUNCILMEMBER RIVERA. HAPPY NEW YEAR, COLLEAGUES. WELCOME BACK. I'M PERSONALLY EXCITED TO BE BACK AFTER A WONDERFUL RECESS BREAK . I AM READY TO HIT THE GROUND RUNNING. I STARTED THAT THIS MORNING FOR AN EARLY WITH SURE HOLLINGSWORTH'S SELECT MEETING ON THE COMP PLAN. I HAVE NOT FELT MORE ENERGIZED OR MOVED TO GO EVEN HARDER IN THE PAINT THIS YEAR ON ALL THINGS LEGISLATIVELY AND CONSTITUENT ISSUES, INCLUDING PUBLIC SAFETY. ALSO AGAIN, THANK YOU COUNCILMEMBER HOLLINGSWORTH FOR YOUR LEADERSHIP AND STEPPING UP TO SHEPHERD AND LEAD THE COMP PLAN PROCESS. I AM GRATEFUL FOR YOU AND STAND READY TO SUPPORT YOU IN ANY WAY I CAN IN THAT EFFORT. I WILL TRY TO BE A GOOD COLLEAGUE AS BEST AS I CAN. A GOOD SEPARATELY ELECTED COLLEAGUES. ALL RIGHT. ON THE TRANSPORTATION COMMITTEE FRONT, THE COMMITTEE MEETING TOMORROW MORNING IS CANCELED. COLLEAGUES, NO WORRIES THERE. WE ARE FINALIZING THE AGENDA OF THE NEXT ONE, WHICH WILL BE ON TUESDAY, JANUARY 21. WE ARE IN THE PROCESS OF FINALIZING THE AGENDA. WORKING ON THE NUTS AND BOLTS OF TRANSPORTATION POLICY. AT THE CITY LEVEL. KEEP OUR CITY MOVING SAFELY AND EFFICIENTLY. IN TERMS OF POLICY AREAS FOR 2025, TRANSPORTATION, YOU KNOW, THERE ARE A NUMBER OF THINGS. I SHARE A LOT OF THIS, MORE FULL DETAIL AT THE COMMITTEE LEVEL, BUT I WILL SHARE A SLIGHTLY HIGHER LEVEL HERE AS WELL. A COUPLE OF THINGS. SPEED CAMERA DEPLOYMENT . A LOT OF FUNDING FOR SPEED CAMERAS OF ALL TYPES, INCLUDING SPEED CAMERAS IN SCHOOLS, AND ALSO NON-SCHOOLS. KEENLY INTERESTED IN MAKING SURE WE ACTUALLY BRING THAT TO LIFE AND BUILD IT . GET THOSE SET UP AND DEPLOYED. MAKE THEM OPERATIONAL . EXECUTE, IF YOU WILL. ALSO, WE'RE GOING TO BE TAKING UP THE TRANSPORTATION LEVY PROVISO , THE MEGA LEVY , SUPER, WHATEVER, I DON'T KNOW, THAT BUDGET CHAIR STRAUSS CALLED IT. YOU KNOW, FIGURING OUT THE PROCESS FOR , YOU KNOW, CONSIDERING REMOVAL , LIFTING THAT. ALSO, TRANSIT SECURITY IS HUGE . ALLOWED AND SQUEAKY WHEEL ON THAT. MY FIRST YEAR THE WHOLE TIME UNAPOLOGETICALLY , AND I WILL CONTINUE TO DO SO. MORE NOT TO COME. -- ON THAT TO COME. CONFIRMATION PROCESS OF THE LEVY OVERSIGHT COMMITTEE AND TRANSPORTATION FUNDING TASK FORCE WILL COME THROUGH COMMITTEE. AS WELL, EVENTUALLY, ONCE THE MAYOR MAKES HIS DECISION ON A REPLACEMENT FOR THE DIRECTOR OF SDOT, THAT WILL INVARIABLY COME THROUGH OUR COMMITTEE AS WELL. PLUS, MANY MORE TOPICS. EXCITING TIMES IN THE TRANSPORTATION POLICY FRONT HERE IN THE CITY OF SEATTLE. I GUESS IN THE COMMUNITY I JUST WANT TO NOTE THAT I AM REALLY, REALLY EXCITED THAT I WILL BE ATTENDING THE WEST SEATTLE CHAMBER LUNCHEON EVENT LATER THIS WEEK, I THINK ON THURSDAY . I WILL BE DELIVERING THE KEYNOTE ADDRESS THERE FOR THE SMALL BUSINESS COMMUNITY OF WEST SEATTLE. EXCITED FOR THAT. ALSO , I GUESS, ON THE TOPIC OF TRANSIT SECURITY , COUNCILMEMBER RIVERA, THANK YOU FOR BRINGING THAT UP. AS COUNCILMEMBER RIVERA NOTED, WE LOST WAS HIS NAME. A TRANSIT OPERATOR, BUS DRIVER . WENT TO WORK THAT EVENING ON THAT SHIFT WITH REASONABLE EXPECTATIONS THAT HE WAS GOING TO BE ABLE TO COME HOME TO HIS FAMILY WHENEVER HIS SHIFT WAS OVER. HE WAS TRAGICALLY MURDERED , AND HIS PLANS WERE CUT SHORT. HIS FAMILY IS FOREVER IMPACTED, AND OUR CITY AND METRO, I KNOW, IS IMPACTED FOREVER AS WELL. LOOK, I ATTENDED -- RIGHT AFTER THAT HAPPENED, I ATTENDED THE LOCAL 587 , THE PRESIDENT ORGANIZED A PRESSER. ACTUALLY, THE MORNING OF. I WAS HONORED TO ATTEND THAT. I GOT TO SEE COUNCILMEMBER >> Reporter: THERE AS WELL UNDER SUCH HORRIBLE CIRCUMSTANCES. ANOTHER LOCAL ELECTED OFFICIALS -- AND OTHER LOCAL ELECTED OFFICIALS. LATER DURING A RECESS , AS COUNCILMEMBER RIVERA NOTED, THERE WAS A CANDLELIGHT VIGIL. MOVING. IT HAPPENED IN HER DISTRICT. BUT IT COULD HAVE JUST AS WELL HAPPENED IN ANY OF OUR DISTRICTS. TO BE HONEST, IT COULD HAPPEN ANYWHERE OUTSIDE THE CITY AS WELL. IT WAS GOOD TO SEE COUNCILMEMBER RIVERA, COUNCILMEMBER STRAUSS, COUNCILMEMBER >> Reporter: THERE WERE OTHER -- I THINK I EVEN THOUGHT CITY ATTORNEY DAVIDSON WAS THERE . IT WAS GOOD TO HONOR THE CANDLELIGHT VISUAL -- VIGIL CAPACITY THE LEGACY OF SEAN. I TOO AM GOING TO BE HONORED TO JOIN AND PRIORITIZE ATTENDING THE OFFICIAL MEMORIAL FOR HIM ON FRIDAY , THIS COMING FRIDAY . YOU KNOW, I WANT TO CONTINUE TO SHOW UP AND SUPPORT THE FAMILY, METRO, THE TRANSIT UNION HERE , LOCAL 587 , AND THE COMMUNITY AS BEST I CAN. I HAVE UNAPOLOGETICALLY BEEN TALKING ABOUT TRANSIT SECURITY ALL LAST YEAR. SCREAMING IT FROM THE ROOFTOPS AS LOUD AS I CAN. TO THE DISMAY OF SOME. TRANSPORTATION POLICY ADVOCATES AND EXPERTS. AT LEAST, SELF-PROCLAIMED. WHY ARE YOU TALKING ABOUT THAT, ROB? IT IS NOT A SHINY NEW THING. I'M GOING TO EXPOSE THE DEEP DARK UNDERBELLY FOR A MOMENT OF WHAT I LEARNED IN MY FIRST YEAR IN OFFICE , AND A YEAR BEFORE THAT ON THE CAMPAIGN TRAIL. THE TOPIC OF TRANSIT SECURITY DOESN'T GET A LOT OF ATTENTION. WE DO A LOT FOR IT, WE FUND INITIATIVES, WE HAVE DONE THAT AND WILL CONTINUE TO, BUT IT DOESN'T GET A LOT OF ATTENTION OR PRESS CONFERENCE -- COVERAGE, FOR THAT MATTER. I THINK THERE ARE TWO REASONS FOR THAT. TWO MAIN REASONS. WHEN WE TALK ABOUT TRANSIT SECURITY, IT DOESN'T INVOLVE US LAUNCHING A SHINY NEW THING. SHINY NEW OBJECT. THERE IS NO COOL RIBBON-CUTTING CEREMONY WE CAN ATTEND GET CAMERAS IN FRONT OF. REASON NUMBER ONE. REASON NUMBER TWO IS -- AND THIS IS MORE DIFFICULT AS WE STAY IN LOCAL GOVERNMENT , BUT IT REQUIRES US TO COLLECTIVELY ACKNOWLEDGE OUR SHORTCOMINGS AND IMPERFECTIONS . THE STATUS TRANSIT SECURITY ISN'T WHERE IT SHOULD BE. WE HAVE OPPORTUNITIES TO MAKE MORE INVESTMENTS AND MORE IMPROVEMENTS TO IMPROVE PEOPLE'S LIVES . IN SOME CASES, MANY CASES, SAVE LIVES. BUT AT ITS CORE, THE SECOND PIECE IS THAT IT REQUIRES US TO ACKNOWLEDGE IT IS NOT -- WE HAVE OPPORTUNITIES. IT REQUIRES A CERTAIN LEVEL OF BEING VULNERABLE . THAT IS HARD TO DO AS LEADERS AT THE ELECTED LEVEL, AT THE DEPARTMENT LEVEL. IT IS HARD. BUT I HAVE BEEN TALKING ABOUT IT FOR A LONG TIME. ALONGSIDE MANY OF YOU ALL AS WELL. COUNCILMEMBER, PUBLIC SAFETY CHAIR KETTLE HAS BEEN A CHAMPION, COUNCILMEMBER RIVERA CHAMPION OF TRANSIT SECURITY, COUNCIL PRESIDENT, CHAMPION . THIS IS SOMETHING WE ALL HAVE AN OPPORTUNITY TO FURTHER INVEST IN AND STRENGTHEN ON A GO FORWARD BASIS. I DON'T CARE IF THERE'S NOT A SHINY NEW THING ATTACHED TO THIS. A RIBBON-CUTTING OPPORTUNITY. I HAVE NO AUTHOR'S PRIDE IN THIS FIRST YEAR . WE WILL CONTINUE TO ACKNOWLEDGE OUR SHORTCOMINGS AND ACKNOWLEDGE OUR OPPORTUNITIES TO GET BETTER. IT IS NOT A REFLECTION OR INDICTMENT OF ANYONE DEPARTMENT OR ANY ONE AGENCY OR JURISDICTION OR CITY, SEATTLE INCLUDED. I THINK THE PRESIDENT OF TRAGEDY FIVE LOCAL 587 MADE THAT CLEAR. THIS IS A COLLECTIVE OPPORTUNITY WE HAVE. IT IS COUNTERPRODUCTIVE TO POINT FINGERS AT METRO OR SOUND TRANSIT OR ANY TRANSIT AGENCY OR ANY CITY . THIS IS AN OPPORTUNITY WE ALL HAVE COLLECTIVELY TO DO BETTER. WE'VE DONE A LOT, AS COUNCILMEMBER RIVERA NOTED ALREADY. THIS PAST BUDGET CYCLE WE FUNDED $2 MILLION, COLLEAGUES. $2 MILLION. WE BUILT UPON ANOTHER ADVOCATE OF TRANSIT SECURITY , COUNCILMEMBER STRAUSS. HE LED THE EFFORT TO GET GUARDIANS, EXCUSE ME, AMBASSADORS , TRANSIT AMBASSADORS . WE BUILT UPON THAT EFFORT DURING THE BUDGET, AND NOW ALLOWED MORE SOCIAL WORKERS. TRANSIT AMBASSADORS AND SOCIAL WORKERS . AND WE ALSO ADDED -- $1 MILLION FOR THAT. WE ALSO ADDED $1 MILLION FOR EXTRA CONTRACTED TRANSIT SECURITY, INCLUDING TRANSIT POLICE, WHETHER METRO POLICE OR SPD, WHATEVER WE CAN WORK WITH THE EXECUTIVE DEPARTMENTS TO FIGURE OUT THE BEST WAY TO SPEND THAT MONEY. WE DID A LOT THROUGH PURE, RAW INVESTMENT POWER THIS PAST BUDGET CYCLE. WRITING A CHECK. WE ALSO DID ANOTHER IMPORTANT THING, EXERCISED OUR POWER AS WELL. DIDN'T GET PROBABLY ANY PRESS COVERAGE OR ATTENTION, BUT REALLY, REALLY IMPORTANT. ANOTHER THING WE CAN DO HERE IS WRITE CHECKS AND COMPEL THE DEPARTMENTS TO PROVIDE INFORMATION AND DISCLOSE INFORMATION. THERE WAS ONE TRANSIT SECURITY SLI WE DID. COSPONSORED BY PUBLIC SAFETY CHAIR KETTLE. AND I THINK YOU AS WELL, COUNCILMEMBER RIVERA. IT REQUIRED ENHANCED REPORTING AND TRANSPARENCY ON THE INCIDENCE OF TRANSIT SECURITY. A HIGH LEVEL PATH TO A PLAN FOR , ULTIMATELY, A REGIONAL APPROACH TO TRANSIT SECURITY. WE DID ALL THOSE GREAT THINGS . GOOD START IN 2024. BUT SADLY, DESPITE OUR EFFORTS AT THE COUNCIL LEVEL, AND AT THE CITY, IT COULD NOT HELP THE FAMILY OF SEAN YEM . THE INK WAS STILL DRYING ON THE MAYOR'S BUDGET LEGISLATION SIGNATURE. COULDN'T FIGURE OUT A WAY TO ACTUALLY SPEND IT AND CONTRACT FOR THAT MONEY . OF COURSE, THE DEPARTMENT IS WORKING WITH OTHERS. A LOT OF DEPENDENCIES WORKING WITH OTHER DEPARTMENTS THAT COLLECT THE DATA TO BRING TO LIFE THE SLI. WE DID A LOT. WE WILL CONTINUE TO DO MORE THIS YEAR. WE NEED TO DO BETTER . YOU DON'T LIKE ME TALKING ABOUT TRANSIT SECURITY, IT DOESN'T GET BETTER FOR YOU THIS YEAR. I WILL BE PERFECTLY BLUNT ABOUT THAT. MAKE NO APOLOGIES ABOUT THAT. TRANSIT SECURITY IS ONE OF THOSE THINGS WHERE -- I WILL TAKE AN ANALOGY TO WHAT I HEARD COUNCILMEMBER MOORE SAY APPROPRIATELY THIS MORNING IN ANOTHER CONTEXT WITH THE COMP PLAN. TRANSIT SECURITY IS NOT LIKE THE FIELD OF DREAMS WHERE IF YOU BUILD IT , TRANSIT SERVICE IS NOT LIKE THE FIELD OF DREAMS WHERE IF YOU BUILD IT, THEY WILL COMFORT YOU CAN'T POLITELY EXPAND AND ADD NEW SERVICE LINES. NO . WE NEED TO CREATE THE CONDITIONS WHERE PEOPLE ARE DELIGHTED TO TAKE IT, ARE EXCITED TO TAKE IT. THAT MEANS KEEPING IT SAFE. NOT JUST RELIABLE . NOT JUST EXPANDING FREQUENCY . AND RELIABILITY. KEEPING IT SAFE. AT THE END OF THE DAY, TRANSIT IS A CHOICE FOR MANY. I HAVE BEEN THERE. I HAVE BEEN TRANSIT DEPENDENT BEFORE. IT IS HUMBLING FOR ME . NOW I SIT ON THE REGIONAL TRANSIT COMMITTEE AT THE COUNTY LEVEL WHERE WE ARE TALK ABOUT POTENTIALLY ADDING RAPID LINE SERVICE FOR THE OLD BUS ROUTE THAT USED TO TAKE ME TO WORK AT SOUTH CENTER MALL. ROUTE 150. I HAVE BEEN THERE BEFORE . I KNOW WHAT IT IS LIKE. NOT EVERYONE IS TRANSIT DEPENDENT . WE NEED TO CREATE CONDITIONS -- AND THESE ARE UNCOMFORTABLE CONVERSATIONS. WE NEED TO MAKE TRANSIT SAFER FOR ALL. THAT MEANS RIDERS , THAT MEANS OPERATORS , AND I KNOW PRESIDENT WHITFIELD WAS CALLING FOR TWO MAIN THINGS AT A HIGH LEVEL. IN LIGHT OF THE MURDER . IS CALLING FOR ENHANCED PROTECTIONS FOR THEIR DRIVERS, WHICH I STRONGLY SUPPORT, AND LOOK FORWARD TO PARTNERING WITH METRO AND ANYONE ELSE TO FIGURE OUT WHAT THEY MIGHT NEED FROM A CITY PERSPECTIVE TO BUILD AND IMPLEMENT . TALKING ABOUT PROTECTIVE BARRIERS AND CAGES , AMONG OTHER THINGS. IF THAT MEANS WE HAVE TO PAY A LITTLE MORE FOR THE TRANSIT SERVICE , FINE. HE IS CALLING FOR EXTRA TRANSIT SECURITY TO PROTECT THEIR DRIVERS . ALSO, AT A HIGH LEVEL, CALLING FOR US TO FINALLY ALIGN ON A REGIONAL APPROACH TO TRANSIT SECURITY, WHICH WE DON'T CURRENTLY HAVE TODAY. I STRONGLY SUPPORT THAT SLI . THAT LITTLE NITTY-GRITTY SLI WITH COOL DETAILS AND POLICY WONKY STUFF DOESN'T GET COVERED OR REPORTED. THAT PUT US IN THE RIGHT DIRECTION TO HELP US DIRECTLY ACHIEVE THAT . BUT WE NEED A REGIONAL APPROACH TO TRANSIT SECURITY. BECAUSE SEAN YEM'S SERVICE TO OUR REGION , AND ULTIMATELY, HIS SACRIFICE IS MY COMMITMENT TO MAKE SURE HE WASN'T KILLED AND WASN'T MURDERED IN VAIN. WE NEED TO DO MORE . WE NEED TO TREAT THIS WITH THE URGENCY THAT THIS ISSUE -- THIS ISSUE WITH THE URGENCY IT DESERVES. IT IS BORING TO SOME. I GET IT. I DON'T CARE. ALL RIGHT. I WILL GET OFF MY SOAPBOX. REST IN PEACE TO BROTHER SEAN YEM . MY THOUGHTS AND CONDOLENCES , AND FOR ME, PRAYERS, ARE FOR HIM AND HIS FAMILY. LOOK FORWARD TO MAKING SURE WE MAKE SURE HIS SACRIFICE WAS NOT IN VAIN. AND THAT WE PROTECT RIDERS AND DO MORE TO PROTECT OPERATORS AND RIDERS ALIKE. THANK YOU. >> COUNCILMEMBER. I HAVE A QUESTION. THANK YOU FOR THOSE MOVING WORDS. COLLECTING MYSELF. WHEN IS THE BUDGET ACTIONS WE TOOK FOR SECURITY PERSONNEL ON METRO BUSES -- WHEN DOES THAT GO INTO EFFECT? WHAT WERE THE DATES SPECIFIED IN THAT LEGISLATION? >> THANK YOU, COUNCIL PRESIDENT. OF INITIAL THOUGHTS ON THAT. I WILL COME ANY CLARIFICATION THAT THE BUDGET CHAIR MIGHT HAVE. WE APPROPRIATED THAT MONEY TO BE SPENT IN 2025. IT IS IN A LINE ITEM THAT THE EXECUTIVE DEPARTMENTS CAN, AND SHOULD, SPEND, AND START CONTRACTING FOR, TODAY. YESTERDAY. TOMORROW. WE HAVE APPROPRIATED. SO ASAP, NEEDED IT YESTERDAY. BUT I UNDERSTAND THAT IT TAKES SOME TIME ON THE EXECUTIVE DEPARTMENT SIDE TO OPERATIONALIZE BUT I DO KNOW WE HAVE A STRONG PARTNER WITH THE MAYOR. I THINK THERE IS OPPORTUNITY FOR FURTHER PARTNERSHIP TO EXPEDITE THIS AND DO IT MORE QUICKLY. BUT I KNOW THAT THE MAYOR IS COMMITTED TO THE SAME PRIORITIES I SHARE. I KNOW MANY OF YOU SHARE AS WELL. I THINK THAT MEMBERS OF THE PUBLIC SHARE. THAT IS MY INITIAL REACTION. IF YOU HAVE ANY OTHER COMMENTS -- >> THANKS, COUNCILMEMBER SAKA. REALLY WILL SET. TO ADD ONTO THAT, A YEAR PREVIOUS WAS AT A TIME THERE WERE SOME CHALLENGES IN FRONT OF THE COUNTY COURTHOUSE. METRO SECURITY WAS INCREASED, BUT THEY DID IT INCREASE ANY ON BUS -- WHERE THE SECURITY OR AMBASSADORS. IT WAS AT THAT POINT THAT I PASSED A PROVISO ON THE SEATTLE TRANSPORTATION BENEFIT DISTRICT TO ADD AMBASSADORS TO ANY BUS GOING TO LIGHT RAIL OR DOWNTOWN . UM HE HAD A LITTLE BIT OF A BACK-AND-FORTH ON THE DAIS AT THE END JUST BECAUSE IT WAS A YEAR LATER AND METRO HAD NOT DELIVERED. I THINK THAT IS WHERE MY FRUSTRATION SITS RIGHT NOW. SEATTLE PAYS THE BENEFIT DISTRICT AT A RATE THAT METRO CAN'T SPEND . AT FIRST THEY SAID THEY COULDN'T HIRE ENOUGH OPERATORS, AND THAT IS WHY WE HAD TO CUT BUSES IN OUR CITY. AND THEN, I GAVE THEM THE OFFRAMP ARE SAYING, IF YOU CAN'T HIRE OPERATORS, CAN YOU HIRE AN EVERYDAY PERSON TO BE ON THAT BUS SO THE OPERATOR DOESN'T HAVE TO PLAY THE RECORDING OF PLEASE TURN DOWN YOUR MUSIC. IT CAN BE A SAFE PERSON FOR THE KIDS RIDING THE BUS FOR THE FIRST TIME. CAN ASKED PEOPLE TO PICK UP THE BOTTLE THAT IS ROLLING AROUND THE BACK OF THE BUS. YEAR LATER THEY COULDN'T DELIVER. I DON'T KNOW IT IS SOMETHING I AM GOING TO WORK WITH YOU ON, ROB. IT IS NOT A PRESS CONFERENCE. IT IS AN OUTCOME. SOMETHING YOU WERE SHARING DURING THE BUDGET PROCESS IS THAT OUTCOMES ARE THE THING THAT WE ARE LACKING AT TIMES. WE REALLY FOCUS ON -- OUTCOMES ARE WAY MORE IMPORTANT THAN POP AND CIRCUMSTANCE -- POMP AND CIRCUMSTANCE. I AM WITH YOU. IT WAS REALLY GOOD TO SEE YOU AND COUNCILMEMBER RIVERA AT THE CANDLELIGHT VIGIL. THIS WAS A PREVENTABLE AND UNNECESSARY DEATH. WE CAN'T LOSE SIGHT OF HOW SEAN LOST HIS LIFE. >> COUNCILMEMBER RIVERA. >> THANK YOU FOR THOSE MOVING WORDS. I REALLY WANTED TO ADD THAT , YOU KNOW, I WANTED TO ACKNOWLEDGE TIMOTHY NELSON, A FELLOW DRIVER WHO WAS DRIVING THE BUS WHERE THE SUSPECT ENTERED THE BUS, AND HE BRAVELY, AND VERY CALMLY, CALLED SEATTLE POLICE SO THEY COULD COME AND APPREHEND THE SUSPECT. AND THEY DID SO SAFELY AND WITHOUT INCIDENT . AND SO, I REALLY DID WANT TO ACKNOWLEDGE TIMOTHY AS WELL. THANK YOU FOR WHAT YOU DID. I CANNOT IMAGINE HOW , YOU KNOW, ALL THE EMOTION AND FEELINGS TIMOTHY WOULD HAVE HAD WHEN THAT HAPPENED. LIKE I SAID, HE WAS VERY BRAVE. THEY WERE ABLE TO HAPPY AND -- APPREHEND THE SUSPECT, WHO HAS BEEN APPREHENDED AND CHARGED. I WANTED TO ADD THAT SO FOLKS KNOW WHERE THIS WAS . COUNCILMEMBER STRAUSS, THANK YOU FOR THE LAST PIECE. I AM VERY INTERESTED TO HEAR -- YOU HAVE HEARD US SAY THAT WE DON'T OVERSEE METRO, AND WE DON'T OVERSEE SOUND TRANSIT. WE ARE PARTNERS AND DO GIVE MONEY TO THOSE AGENCIES. SO HOW DO WE PARTNER TO MAKE SURE THAT THE SAFETY PIECE IS BEING DONE? BECAUSE ONE THING, MANY THINGS, BUT I JUST NOTED AT THAT CANDLELIGHT VIGIL THE FRUSTRATION FROM THE MANY DRIVERS THAT SHOWED UP TO PAY RESPECTS TO THEIR FELLOW DRIVER, SEAN , IS THAT THEY HAVE BEEN ASKING THE COUNTY FOR CERTAIN THINGS TO BE PUT IN PLACE , CERTAIN SAFEGUARDS, AND THOSE HAVE NOT HAPPENED, INCLUDING SOME KIND OF BARRIER BUT IT SEEMS LIKE SOME OF THESE THINGS ARE NO-BRAINERS. I CAN'T IMAGINE PUTTING A BARRIER WOULD BE VERY COSTLY, OR THAT THAT CAN'T HAPPEN ON THOSE BUSES. I DON'T KNOW WHY. I AM INTERESTED IN LEARNING MORE ABOUT THAT . BUT THESE ARE THE CONVERSATIONS THAT WE NEED TO HAVE, AND WE NEED TO MAKE SURE WE ARE FOLLOWING UP WITH BOTH THE COUNTY AND SOUND TRANSIT ON IN GENERAL. BECAUSE I KNOW THERE ARE SAFETY CONCERNS ON THE LIGHT RAIL AS WELL . ALTHOUGH I UNDERSTAND THE DRIVERS ON THE LIGHT RAIL ARE PROTECTED . SOMETIMES THEY HAVE TO RESPOND TO THINGS THAT PUT THEM IN HARMS WAY. NOT TO TAKE AWAY FROM THE METRO. THEY DEFINITELY NEED SOME KIND OF BARRIER. I VERY MUCH SUPPORT THAT. LOOKING FORWARD TO ALL THOSE CONVERSATIONS. LIKE I SAID, I WANTED TO REALLY ACKNOWLEDGE TIMOTHY NELSON AND SPD FOR APPREHENDING THE SUSPECT. THANK YOU. >> MADAME COUNCIL PRESIDENT, THANK YOU. THANK YOU, COUNCILMEMBER RIVERA AND COUNCILMEMBER STRAUSS FOR BUILDING UPON WHAT I SAID. THANK YOU. WE ARE A TEAM HERE. ESPECIALLY I WANT TO ACKNOWLEDGE COUNCILMEMBER RIVERA FOR CALLING OUT TIM. I HAD A CHANCE TO MEET HIM AT THE CANDLELIGHT VIGIL. SILVER LINING IN ALL THIS, TIM IS A HERO. AND SO, I APPRECIATE HIM AND ALL THE OPERATORS THAT EVERY DAY KEEP US MOVING AROUND THE CITY EFFICIENTLY AND EFFECTIVELY . I TAKE TRANSIT PERSONALLY MYSELF REGULARLY, ALMOST DAILY. I AM PROUD OF IT AND WILL CONTINUE TO DO SO. BY MY INITIAL READ, I THINK THAT IS WHY I WANT MORE DATA. THAT IS WHY WE CALLED FOR THE SLI. BUT BY MY INITIAL READ, YOU KNOW, I THINK WHAT HAS BEEN REPORTED TO ME SO FAR , WITHOUT MY REQUEST, THE NUMBERS OF INCIDENTS OF CRIME AND VIOLENCE ON TRANSIT SEEM TO BE DOWN . OVERALL. TRENDING . INCREMENTALLY YEAR OVER YEAR . THAT MAY BE TRUE . MAYBE NOT. I DON'T KNOW. WE WILL LEARN MORE WHEN WE GET THE SLI. BUT IT IS DISRESPECTFUL AF THAT WE SAY THAT RIGHT AFTER SEAN YEM IS MURDERED . YOU CAN SAY THE MEDIA SENSATIONALIZE IS ALL THESE THINGS. OKAY. MAYBE. THE PROBLEM ISN'T AS BAD AS, I DON'T KNOW, PERCEPTION IS REALITY. WE HAVE JUST AS MUCH OF A PERCEPTION PROBLEM AND JUST AS MUCH OF AN OUTCOMES AND RESULT PROBLEM UNDERLYING ALL OF THIS. I AM COMMITTED TO DOING MORE IN THE WAYS I MENTIONED WORKING COLLABORATIVELY ASIDE YOU ALL AND THE MAYOR'S OFFICE AND ALL THE MANY STAKEHOLDERS INVOLVED, TRAGEDY FIVE LOCAL 587, MAYOR, METRO, SO MANY FOLKS. IN ANY EVENT, I WILL STOP THERE. THANK YOU, MADAME COUNCIL PRESIDENT. >> THANK YOU. COUNCILMEMBER STRAUSS. >> THANKS. THANK YOU, COUNCILMEMBER D2. -- SAKA. THERE IS NOT MUCH ON THE DOCKET RIGHT NOW. WHAT I CAN TELL YOU IS THAT WE'RE TAKING THIS MONTH OF JANUARY TO REFLECT ON ALMOST AN ENTIRE YEAR WORTH OF BRIEFINGS AND ANALYSIS , AND THEN BUDGET WORK OF LAST YEAR. WE WILL BE CREATING A CONTINUED BUDGET REFORM DOCUMENT THAT CAN HELP EVERYONE UNDERSTAND WHAT WENT WELL, THE LESSONS LEARNED , AND TAKING FROM YEARS PREVIOUS TO INFLUENCE HOW WE MOVE FORWARD IN THE FUTURE. BECAUSE YOUR SLI WAS MEN THAT ONE OF MANY, IF WE DON'T RECEIVE THE INFORMATION , IT WAS JUST A PIECE OF PAPERWORK. WE NEED TO CONTINUE THIS BUDGET REFORM WORK. THERE IS NO COMMITTEE THIS WEEK. I SEE ANOTHER COUNCILMEMBER IS TAKING THEIR SWEET COMMITTEE TIME FOR ANOTHER COMMITTEE. NICE WORK. LATER THIS MONTH , AND COUNCIL PRESIDENT, MY OFFICE WILL WORK WITH YOUR OFFICE. IT IS MY UNDERSTANDING THERE MAY BE A FEW LAND USE ITEMS THAT NEED TO BE PASSED BEFORE THE APPOINTMENT IS DONE. IF THAT IS THE CASE, I AM HAPPY TO USE MY FINANCE NATIVE COMMUNITIES AND TRIBAL GOVERNMENTS TIMESLOTS FOR LAND USE. I KNOW ALL THE LAND USE ARE TAKEN UP BY THE COMPREHENSIVE PLAN. I WILL LET OUR STAFFS WORK THAT OUT. SHARING THIS FOR US AS A GROUP HERE THAT THIS IS WHAT IS GOING ON IN THE COMMITTEE. ON THE EXTERNAL COMMITTEES, I WILL BE ATTENDING THE SEATTLE CITY EMPLOYEE RETIREMENT SERVICES BOARD OF ADMINISTRATION MEETING THIS THURSDAY. AND THE SOUND TRANSIT SYSTEM EXPANSION COMMITTEE. COUNCILMEMBER RIVERA, I HEAR YOU. THERE IS ALWAYS MORE TO DO TO MAKE SOUND TRANSIT BETTER. I WILL TELL YOU ANECDOTALLY THAT I HAVE HEARD SOUND TRANSIT IS OPERATING HEADS ABOVE METRO AS FAR AS TRANSIT SECURITY. THE FUN FACT, I DON'T KNOW IF YOU ALL KNOW THIS, IS THAT SOUND TRANSIT IS OPERATED BY PIERCE TRANSIT , METRO AND COMMUNITY TRANSIT. SOUND TRANSIT PAYS THE BILLS. THEY PUT THE NAMES ON THE SIDE OF THE BUSES, BUT IT IS ALL RUN BY METRO DRIVERS, PIERCE COUNTY DRIVERS, COMMUNITY TRANSIT DRIVERS. WHEN WE WERE AT THE CANDLELIGHT VIGIL, I WAS TALKING TO SOME OF THE FOLKS THAT ARE METRO EMPLOYEES THAT ARE ON THE RAIL DIVISION. LIGHT RAIL. AND SO, IF WE HAD THE SAME PEOPLE DOING THE SAME WORK IN GENERALLY THE SAME PLACES, WHY ARE WE HAVING TWO VERY DIFFERENT OUTCOMES? WE HAVE HAD THIS CONVERSATION. I SHARE THAT BECAUSE SOUND TRANSIT WAS ON MY NOTES. IN SOUND TRANSIT EXPANSION, WE WILL BE HAVING AN ADMINISTRATIVE AGREEMENT REGARDING THE STRIDE 405 RAPID TRANSIT PROJECT, AS WELL AS WORKING ON THE OPERATIONS AND MAINTENANCE FACILITY SOUTH . THAT IS COMING INTO DEVELOPMENT DOWN ON FEDERAL WAY. WE WILL NEED TO PURCHASE SOME PROPERTIES DOWN THERE. WE'RE GOING TO WORK ON THE DRAFT COMMITTEE WORK PLAN FOR THE YEAR. I DO NOT HAVE OFFICE HOURS THIS WEEK. IT IS THE FIRST WEEK BACK AFTER RECESS . WE DID HOLD OVER 20 HOURS OF OFFICE HOURS IN THREE WEEKS IN DECEMBER ON TOP OF GOING ON A FEW WALKING TOURS WITH RESIDENTS. WE DO HAVE OFFICE HOURS NEXT WEEK, THE WEEK AFTER, AND THE WEEK AFTER THAT. WE HAVE TIMES HELD IN FEBRUARY, BUT WE HAVE NOT OPENED THEM UP FOR SCHEDULING YET. THANK YOU, COLLEAGUES. THAT IS MY REPORT. IF THERE ARE NO QUESTIONS, I WILL HANDED OVER TO COUNCILMEMBER HOLLINGSWORTH. >> THANK YOU, COUNCILMEMBER STRAUSS. APPRECIATE THAT. PARKS, UTILITIES, TECHNOLOGY MEETING WILL BE WEDNESDAY, JANUARY 22 AT 2:00 P.M. WE ARE WORKING ON THE AGENDA RIGHT NOW. I KNOW YOU ALL ARE ANXIOUSLY AWAITING THAT. PLEASE BE PATIENT. WE WILL GET THAT ON THE DOCKET. I ALSO SAID IT BEFORE, BUT I WANT TO THANK YOU ALL AGAIN FOR BEING AT THE 9:30 A.M. SELECT COMMITTEE FOR THE COMPREHENSIVE PLAN . THE NEXT MEETING WILL BE JANUARY 15 AT 2:00 P.M. AFTER THE -- AFTER THE MAYOR SENDS DOWN THEIR PLAN, I WILL BE SCHEDULING MEETINGS WITH EVERYONE ONE-ON-ONE AND CONNECTING WITH FOLKS JUST MAKING SURE THAT, YOU KNOW, BEHIND THE SCENES STUFF WE CAN GET SOME INFORMATION THROUGH TO EVERYONE. PLEASE STAY FORWARD WITH THAT. LOOK FORWARD TO THAT. OTHERWISE, ONE THING I WANTED TO MENTION. I KNOW PUBLIC SAFETY IS HUGE. WE HAVE TALKED ABOUT IT AND HAVE MADE SIGNIFICANT PROGRESS IN PUBLIC SAFETY COMMITTEE. THANK YOU, COUNCILMEMBER KETTLE. I WANT TO SAY THIS PUBLICLY. I SENT CHIEF SCOGGINS AN EMAIL LAST WEEK. THERE WAS A GENTLEMAN WHO OVERDOSED AT THE PARK BY MY HOUSE. I SAT THERE IN MY CAR AND WATCHED HOW FIREFIGHTERS RESPONDED . THEY PERFORMED CPR ON THIS GENTLEMAN FOR 20 STRAIGHT MINUTES. THEY DID 10 ROTATIONS OF TWO MINUTES WHILE THEIR ARMS GOT TIRED AND THEY ROTATED TO THE NEXT PERSON. I, FOR SURE, BUT THIS GENTLEMAN HAD PASSED AWAY AND WAS GONE. BUT THEY NEVER GAVE UP. THE LAST ROUND THEY FOUND A PULSE . THIS GENTLEMAN SURVIVED. IT ALSO WAS A BIGGER PICTURE. HE HAD BEEN IN THE PARK ON FENTANYL FOR WEEKS. I WANT TO SAY THIS PUBLICLY, BECAUSE I SAID THIS PRIVATELY BEFORE, I DON'T KNOW WHAT THE ANSWER IS. I KNOW WE HAVE -- WE ARE MAKING PROGRESS, BUT WHAT IS GOING ON ON 12th AND JACKSON, BROADWAY AND JOHN AND NORTH BROADWAY, AND OTHER PLACES IN THE DISTRICT, IT IS REALLY HEARTBREAKING. IT REALLY HAS IMPACTS. A LOT OF THESE PLACES ARE ALSO BY SCHOOLS. I AM LOOKING FORWARD TO WORKING WITH COUNCILMEMBER RIVERA ON THE FAMILY EDUCATION LEVY BECAUSE I SIT HERE AND SAY, WHAT ABOUT THE CHILDREN? WHAT ABOUT OUR KIDS RIGHT NOW? THEY HAVE TO WALK THROUGH THIS AND BE EXPOSED TO THIS. THEY HAVE TO ENDURE A LOT OF THESE UNFORTUNATE SITES AND SEEING PEOPLE SUFFER RIGHT NOW. I JUST REALLY WANT TO THANK OUR FIRE DEPARTMENT, BECAUSE THEY ARE RIGHT NOW -- WE HAVE PUT THEM IN VERY UNCOMFORTABLE POSITIONS, REALLY TOUGH POSITIONS WHERE THEY ARE STRESSED OUT TO THE MAX RESPONDING TO THESE CALLS SO OFTEN. I AM VERY THANKFUL FOR THEM FOR THAT, BUT IT TOOK A LOT . IT TOOK A TOLL ON THEM . ANYWAY, I WANTED TO POINT THAT OUT. I HAVE SEEN IT. I BEEN AROUND IT. I GET THE EMAILS CONSTANTLY ABOUT IT, ESPECIALLY KIDS THAT HAVE TO WALK THROUGH IT AND GET OFF AT A BUS STOP AND SEE IT AND SMELL IT, INHALE IT AND BE AROUND IT. I'M LOOKING FORWARD TO US TO FIGURE OUT TO FIND SOLUTIONS. WHAT WE'RE DOING RIGHT NOW, WE HAVE GOT TO GET BETTER. I WANTED TO THROW THAT OUT THERE. I'M LOOKING FORWARD TO WORKING WITH COUNCILMEMBER RIVERA AND YOUR OFFICE, WITH THE FAMILY EDUCATION LEVY, TO FIGURE OUT SAFETY MEASURES FOR OUR KIDS, AND ACTIVITIES FOR OUR KIDS SO WE CAN CONTINUE TO KEEP THEM SAFE DURING THIS PROCESS. ANYWAY, I WILL STOP THERE. ANOTHER INTERESTING FACT. IF YOU'RE BORN THIS YEAR, YOU ARE IN THE NEW GENERATION. GENERATION BETA. IT SOUNDS VERY SCARY TO ME. SOUNDS LIKE A CONTROLLING GENERATION FULL OF COOL THINGS THAT THEY WILL DO WITH TECHNOLOGY. BUT GENERATION BETA. LOOKING FORWARD TO GENERATION ALPHA, THE YOUNG GENERATION, AND GENERATION BETA IS THE NEXT UP-AND-COMING GENERATION FOR OUR KIDS. THANK YOU. COUNCIL MEMBER KETTLE. >> >> HOLD ON A SECOND. COUNCILMEMBER MOORE. >> CAN I ASK A QUESTION? >> ABSOLUTELY. >> MAYBE YOU DON'T WANT TO SHARE. ARE YOU PREPARED TO TALK ABOUT THE BROADWAY FLATS? >> ABSOLUTELY. THANK YOU FOR THE QUESTION. COLLEAGUES, BROADWAY FLATS , THE INCIDENT WITH AN ENCAMPMENT THAT WAS RESOLUTION AND MEMBERS WERE MOVED INTO BROADWAY FLATS, WHICH IS OFF OF BROADWAY AND JOHN IN MY DISTRICT. I'VE NEVER HAD AN ISSUE WITH THE -- YOU KNOW, THIS IS HOW WAREHOUSING FOLKS, WHICH IS INCREDIBLY IMPORTANT. IT WAS THE PROCESS. THE PROCESS WAS OFFERING WRAPAROUND SERVICES TO OUR INDIVIDUALS THAT NEED HELP . AND ADDRESSING THAT IMMEDIATELY WITH THE ASSESSMENT AS WE MOVE THEM IN, AND ALSO UNDERSTANDING THAT IT IS A PROCESS AND THE LONG-TERM-CARE OF WHAT THAT LOOKS LIKE. WE HAVE MADE STRIDES. I AM REALLY HAPPY WITH THE RESPONSE WE HAVE GOTTEN FROM KING COUNTY REGIONAL HOMES AUTHORITY -- HOMELESS AUTHTHE AT ARE PULLING FORTH AND SAYING, HEY, THESE ARE SERVICES WE CAN PROVIDE, THIS IS WHAT WE DELIVER CARE HAS STEPPED UP. URBAN LEAGUE IS ONE OF THE CONTRACTORS DID ALL THESE PEOPLE HAVE STEPPED UP. I'VE BEEN HAPPY WITH THE RESPONSE. I WANT TO MAKE SURE THIS DOES NOT HAPPEN AGAIN. WE HAVE TO HAVE PROCESSES AND PROCEDURES IN PLACE WHEN WE MOVE PEOPLE FROM ENCAMPMENTS INTO BUILDINGS THAT WE ARE ADDRESSING SOME OF THE ISSUES AND SOME OF THE NEEDS IMMEDIATELY FOR SOME OF THE ACTIVITY THAT WAS IS COMPLETELY UNACCEPTABLE IN THAT BUILDING. ANYWAY, I WANT TO THANK SOME OF MY COUNCIL MEMBERS. I KNOW YOU ALL ENGAGED IN THAT PROCESS. WE HAD A BUNCH OF MEETINGS BEHIND THE SCENES. I AM VERY ENCOURAGED ABOUT MOVING FORWARD WHAT THIS LOOKS LIKE TO MAKE SURE THAT PEOPLE ARE SAFE, HEALTHY, AND WE CAN MAKE SURE THAT WE ARE GETTING PEOPLE THE RIGHT HELP THEY NEED . BUT I REALLY APPRECIATE THAT QUESTION, COUNCILMEMBER MOORE. YOU SIT OVER HOUSING AND HUMAN SERVICES. I REALLY APPRECIATE THAT YOU BROUGHT SOME CONCERNS AS WELL , AND COUNCIL PRESIDENT AS WELL. THANK YOU BOTH. WE DID GET THAT RESOLVED. I REALLY AM ENCOURAGED OF THE PATHWAY FORWARD THAT KING COUNTY REGIONAL HOMELESS AUTHORITY AND OTHER FOLKS ARE TAKING. THANK YOU. >> I WILL NOTE THAT YOU AND I ALSO SERVE ON THE BOARD OF HEALTH. THIS IS ANOTHER AREA WHERE LAST YEAR I HAD AN AMENDMENT TO THE WORK PLAN TO PUT OUR RESPONSE TO THE OPIOID CRISIS . WE ONLY GOT TWO BRIEFINGS ON WHAT IS ALREADY HAPPENING. WE HAVE TO BE ON THAT AND MAKE SURE IT IS A PRIORITY, NOT JUST TO BRIEF THE BOARD, BUT TO DO SOMETHING DIFFERENT . BECAUSE IT IS GREAT THAT WE HAVE FOCUSED ON REDUCING OVERDOSES, FATAL OVERDOSES. THAT IS EXCELLENT BY THE WIDESPREAD DISTRIBUTION OF NARCAN, BUT AS YOU NOTED, WE HAVE TO WORK ON THE PREVENTION SIDE, ESPECIALLY WITH OUR YOUTH. THAT IS ALL TIED TOGETHER. I BELIEVE THAT ON ALL OF THE BOARDS AND EXTERNAL COMMITTEES THAT WE ALL SERVE ON THAT WE HAVE TO MAKE SURE WE ARE REPRESENTING THE INTERESTS OF OUR CONSTITUENTS AND FOCUSING ON THE THINGS THAT ARE ABSOLUTELY 100% URGENT I WOULD SAY THAT , OF COURSE, PUBLIC SAFETY , A MORE ROBUST RESPONSE TO THE FENTANYL CRISIS IS RIGHT UP THERE. >> COUNCIL PRESIDENT. THANK YOU, COUNCILMEMBER HOLLINGSWORTH. I LOOK FORWARD TO WORKING WITH YOU ON THE LEVY. I ALSO KNOW THAT WE ARE CURRENTLY FUNDING THE HUBS, COMMUNITY SAFETY HUBS, THAT ARE HELPING KIDS . COUNCILMEMBER MOORE AND I , COUNCILMEMBER STRAUSS -- STRAUSS WAS INTERESTED IN A NORTH HUB. WE ARE CREATING A NORTH HUB TO MANAGE FOR SOME OF THIS WITH KIDS. ALSO, I KNOW YOU PUT IN A SLI ABOUT THE YOUTH PROGRAMS . THIS IS ALL CONNECTED. AND SO, I'M LOOKING FORWARD TO GETTING THE RESULTS OF THE SLI. I'M LOOKING FORWARD TO THE CONVERSATIONS WITH THE HUMAN SERVICES DEPARTMENT ON THE WORK THEY ARE CURRENTLY DOING ON THE HUBS, AND SOME OTHER YOUTH VIOLENCE SAFETY PROGRAMS . ALSO, OUR PARKS DEPARTMENT, WHO HOST TEEN NIGHT AND THINGS OF THAT NATURE. LOOKING AT THE RESULTS OF ALL OF THIS. IS THIS HELPING? IS IT NOT HELPING? WHAT DO WE NEED TO BE DOING? AND OF COURSE, WORKING WITH COUNCILMEMBER KETTLE ON THE PUBLIC SAFETY COMMITTEE SIDE OF THINGS ON HOW WE ENSURE THAT THIS ACTIVITY IS NOT OCCURRING BY SCHOOLS AND PLAYGROUNDS. BECAUSE REALLY, RIGHT NOW, THERE IS NOTHING IN PLACE THAT I KNOW OF -- I MEAN, YOU KNOW, TO REALLY ADDRESS THESE ACTIVITIES HAPPENING NEAR SCHOOLS AND PLAYGROUNDS. THAT IS ALL PUBLIC SAFETY RELATED. SO I WANT TO HEAR MORE. I KNOW THIS WILL BE THE TOPIC OF CONVERSATION FOR PUBLIC SAFETY THIS YEAR AS WELL. I WANTED TO SAY , YES, TWO MORE OF ALL OF IT AND ACKNOWLEDGE THAT WE HAVE ALL ASKED THESE QUESTIONS AND WORKED TOGETHER TO ADDRESS SOME OF THESE THINGS, AND THE OUTCOME PIECES ARE IMPORTANT BECAUSE WE DON'T KNOW HOW TO HELP IF WE DON'T KNOW IF WHAT WE'RE DOING IS WORKING OR NOT CURRENTLY. THANK YOU FOR RAISING THAT. >> THANK YOU, EVERYONE, FOR JOINING AS -- US AT THE PUBLIC SAFETY COMMITTEE MEETING TODAY. ACTUALLY, FIRST I WANTED TO WELCOME -- NORMALLY AND COUNSEL BRIEFING WE DON'T HAVE AN AUDIENCE. I WANT TO WELCOME THOSE IN CHAMBERS TODAY. APPARENTLY A FAMILY. I REMINDED LAST YEAR OF A FATHER WHO BROUGHT TWO SCOUTS WITH HIM TO SEE DEMOCRACY IN ACTION. EXCELLENT. I LIKE IT VERY MUCH TO SEE THAT. WELCOME. ON THE PUBLIC SAFETY POINTS, WE ARE IN A NEW YEAR. OBVIOUSLY, WE HAVE DONE A LOT ON PUBLIC SAFETY IN 2024. IN '25, SOME MEAN AREAS WILL BE, YOU KNOW, WORKING ORDINANCES THAT NEED TO BE UPDATED , AND SEPARATELY, THE CRIMINAL JUSTICE SYSTEM IS OF CONCERN TO ME. THAT IS AN AREA WE NEED TO BRING SOME DAYLIGHT TO. A THIRD ONE THAT KIND OF CAME OUT OF THE BUDGET PIECE TOO THAT WAS JUST REFERENCED IS, YOU KNOW, THE COMMUNITY SAFETY PIECE. I THINK IT IS IMPORTANT FOR THE COMMITTEE TO LOOK AT THAT, BECAUSE THIS IS KIND OF LIKE THE NEXT LAYER OF ALTERNATIVE RESPONSE. LOOKING AT THIS AND GOING THROUGH BUDGET, I HAVE NOTED SOMETIMES HE REPORTS TO DEPARTMENT NEIGHBORHOODS, SOMETIMES HUMAN SERVICES AND DIFFERENT PIECES. I HAVE A SAYS THAT NOBODY KEEPS THE BIG PICTURE. I THINK IT'S IMPORTANT FOR THE COMMITTEE TO DO THIS DUE DILIGENCE FROM A PUBLIC SAFETY PERSPECTIVE . INTO CHAIR STRAUSS, FROM THE BUDGET PIECE TOO. THIS KIND OF GOES TO, YOU KNOW, COMMITTEE WORK PREPARING AND SUPPORTING BUDGET , IN THIS CASE, 2025. I LOOK FORWARD TO THAT. OF COURSE, FOR THOSE NOT ON THE COMMITTEE, COUNCILMEMBER RIVERA, YOU ARE ALWAYS WELCOME. PARTICULARLY GIVEN THE EDUCATION ANGLE. AS COUNCILMEMBER HOLLINGSWORTH NOTED, WE HAVE TO DO, AS SHE WOULD SAY, FOR OUR BABIES. I THINK THAT IS VERY IMPORTANT. ALSO BROUGHT UP TODAY, TRANSIT SECURITY. I WANT TO THANK TRANSPORTATION CHAIR SAKA FOR HIS WORK ON THIS. CLEARLY, WE HAVE BEEN DOING A LOT OF WORK CONVERSATIONS. THE LEVY, THE TRANSPORTATION PLAN. A LOT OF THINGS AHEAD OF THOSE TWO ACTIONS. OBVIOUSLY, TRANSIT SECURITY IS VERY IMPORTANT. IT PLAYS INTO OUR RELATIONSHIP. IT GOES INTO OUR STRATEGIC FRAMEWORK PLAN. I WILL SAY PILLAR SIX, WORKING WITH THE COUNTY AND THE STATE. THE COUNTY, IN TERMS OF KING COUNTY METRO, BUT ALSO THE KING COUNTY SHERIFF'S OFFICE. WE HAVE ENGAGED HARD AND KEPT THE PRESS ON. WE WILL CONTINUE TO DO SO THIS YEAR. THAT IS WHERE SHOWS UP WITH THE THIRD AVENUE PROJECT AND SO FORTH. WE NEED TO DO MORE IN TERMS OF ENGAGING WITH THE COUNTY. YOU KNOW WHAT? SOMETIMES WE HAVE TO DO OUR BEST. THIS IS WHERE THE BUDGET ACTION IS SO IMPORTANT. WE ARE PUTTING OUR MONEY WHERE OUR MOUTH IS. WE'RE STANDING UP TO CONTRIBUTE AND PARTICIPATE. IN TERMS OF THE TRAGIC INCIDENT WITH SEAN YEM AND FOR THE WHOLE ATU LOCAL 587 FAMILY, WE HAVE TO DO TRANSIT SECURITY BETTER. THIS IS BROADER TOO. THIS IS PUBLIC HEALTH. WHERE ARE WE WITH ADDICTION WORKING WITH THE COUNTY? THE STATE? MENTAL HEALTH. IF WE NEVER ADDRESS THE PUBLIC HEALTH AND MENTAL HEALTH ASPECTS OF WHAT WE ARE FACING, AS I HAVE OFTEN SAID, WE WILL SUCCEED IN PUBLIC SAFETY UNTIL WE DO SO. WITH THAT SAID, AND GOING BACK TO COUNSEL BRIEFING, THE FIRST PUBLIC SAFETY COMMITTEE MEETING OF 2025 WILL BE ON THE 14th, THE MORNING OF. WE WILL BE LOOKING, AS I NOTED, AT ORDINANCES THAT WILL BE UPDATED. IN THIS CASE, THE LESS LETHAL ORDINANCE OF CROWD MANAGEMENT. I DO HAVE A CHAIR AMENDMENT PACKAGE THAT WILL BE REFINING THIS WEEK. I'VE TALKED TO MANY OF YOU. I DEFINITELY NEED TO TALK TO COUNCILMEMBER MOORE. WE HAVE TRIED MANY TIMES. BUT WE WILL MEET TO TALK ABOUT THE PACKAGE. AS A REMINDER, DUE TO THE UNIQUE CIRCUMSTANCES WITH THE CONSENT DECREE, YOU KNOW, WITH THE FEDERAL MONITOR AND SO FORTH, AMENDMENTS ARE DUE BY THE NINTH. MR. DAWSON IS THE APPOINTED CONTACT. SEPARATELY, THIS WEEK IN TERMS OF COMMUNITY AND REGIONAL ORGANIZATIONS, WE HAVE SOUTHLAKE UNION COMMUNITY COUNCIL THIS TUESDAY. TUESDAY IS THE TRANSPORTATION POLICY BOARD. FRIDAY I WILL BE MEETING WITH THE MARINE EXCHANGE OF PUGET SOUND . ALSO, THE PORT OF SEATTLE. AFTER THAT, AND I BRING THIS UP BECAUSE THIS IS ANOTHER PUBLIC SAFETY PIECE AS WELL, I WILL BE HAVING A MEETING WITH SDOT DIRECTOR AND NEW PIKE PLACE PDA EXECUTIVE . THIS IS IMPORTANT , OBVIOUSLY, WITH THE TRAGIC INCIDENT IN NEW ORLEANS IN TERMS OF THE KILLING OF SO MANY WITH, SADLY, THE VETERAN WHO COMMITTED THAT HE THIS ACT. WE NEED TO LOOK AT THE PUBLIC SAFETY AS IT RELATES TO PIKE PLACE BY BRINGING IN THE RELEVANT PLAYERS TOGETHER. PIKE PLACE PDA, SDOT, AND THEN SET UP MOVING FORWARD. I HAVE RECEIVED A NUMBER OF EMAILS ON THIS. I HAVE NOT HAD A CHANCE TO RESPOND. THIS WILL BE PART OF THE DISCUSSION ON FRIDAY WITH THOSE TWO INDIVIDUALS, AND MAY BE MORE GIVEN THE DIRECTOR WILL BE RESIGNING , TO SET UP THE BIGGER STAKEHOLDER PROCESS, WHICH CAME OUT OF THE SEATTLE TRANSPORTATION PLAN . WE WILL WORK THIS. I SPOKE TO THE NEW PDA DIRECTOR . BY APRIL PROBABLY, WE WILL HAVE THAT MEETING TO LOOK AT WHAT WE CAN DO AHEAD OF THE SUMMER SEASON TO ENSURE THAT WE HAVE A FUNCTIONING PIKE PLACE MARKET, BUT ALSO OFFERS THE OPPORTUNITY FOR A GREAT EXPERIENCE FOR THOSE THAT COME TO INCLUDE THOSE PEDESTRIANS. NEXT WEEK , TUESDAY IS A PUBLIC SAFETY COMMITTEE, THURSDAY IS THE KING COUNTY BOARD OF HEALTH, AND ALSO REGIONAL WATER QUALITY COMMITTEE THAT I SERVE WITH COUNCILMEMBER HOLLINGSWORTH. ALSO ON FRIDAY, I WILL BE JOINING OPCD WITH THE QUEEN ANNE HISTORICAL SOCIETY AS THEY TALK ABOUT THE CONFERENCE A PLAN. ON FRIDAY WE WILL BE MEETING WITH THE ST. PAUL'S CONSTITUENCY IN TERMS OF UPTOWN AND THE CHALLENGES AND WHAT IS HAPPENING IN THAT NEIGHBORHOOD. THAT IS IT . COUNCIL PRESIDENT, I TURN OVER PENDING QUESTIONS TO COUNCILMEMBER MOORE. >> GO AHEAD. >> THANK YOU. THANK YOU VERY MUCH. HAPPY NEW YEAR TO EVERYONE. IT IS NICE TO SEE ALL OF YOUR SMILING FACES. I'M LOOKING FORWARD TO OUR SECOND YEAR TOGETHER . LOTS OF GOOD THINGS AHEAD, I BELIEVE. THE NEXT MEETING OF HOUSING IN HUMAN SERVICES COMMITTEE IS THIS WEDNESDAY. ON THE AGENDA WE HAVE NINE COMMISSION APPOINTMENTS. WE ALSO HAVE OFFICE OF HOUSING PRESENTATION AND HSD PRESENTATION ON THE CITY'S GENERAL RESPONSE TO COMMERCIAL EXPLOITATION . WE DO HAVE A HUMAN TRAFFICKING PROCLAMATION THAT WILL BE COMING FORTH. I JUST THOUGHT IT WOULD BE NICE TO HAVE A LITTLE BIT OF CONTEXT AND BACKGROUND ON WHAT IS HAPPENING WITH HUMAN TRAFFICKING AND COMMERCIAL SEXUAL EXPLOITATION IN THE CITY AS IT WAS A MAJOR TOPIC LAST YEAR FOR LEGISLATIVE ACTION. IT IS JUST SOMETHING WE NEED TO CONTINUE TO BE MINDFUL OF. FOR EXTERNAL COMMITTEES, I WILL BE ATTENDING THE REGIONAL POLICY COMMITTEE WITH COUNCILMEMBER RINCK. I WILL ALSO ATTEND THE AGING AND DISABILITY SERVICES COMMITTEE THIS WEEK . A COUPLE OF THINGS. I WILL ALSO BE APPEARING ON COUNCIL EDITION ON FRIDAY. I'M TRYING TO GET MY RESEARCH SO I AM PREPARED FOR THE QUESTIONS FROM THE EMMY AWARD-WINNING PROGRAM AND PRESENTER. I WAS ABLE TO MEET WITH A NUMBER OF DISTRICT 2 POTENTIAL APPLICANTS FOR THE VACANCY . UNLIKE THE LAST PROCESS WHEN I DID NOT MEET INDIVIDUAL -- INDIVIDUALLY, I DECIDED TO DO SO THIS TIME AROUND. I AM MORE THAN HAPPY TO MEET WITH ANYONE WHO IS SEEKING THAT APPOINTMENT. PLEASE FEEL FREE TO REACH OUT TO MY OFFICE . ADDITIONALLY, I AM STARTING UP OFFICE HOURS AGAIN. WE WILL HAVE OFFICE HOURS THIS COMING WEDNESDAY EVENING , REMOTE HOURS. AND THEN, MOVING BACK TO THE REGULAR THURSDAY AFTERNOON HOURS. WE WILL BE MEETING LATER IN THE WEEK WITH CEO KENNISON , CACR HA. BASED ON THE EVENTS THAT HAPPEN WITH BROADWAY FLATS, AND I AM PLEASED TO SEE THAT IS RESOLVING IN A POSITIVE WAY, BUT I THINK IT DID RAISE A LOT OF CONCERNS FOR ME. I THINK ALSO FOR COUNCIL PRESIDENT AS THE REPRESENTATIVES ON KCHRA GOVERNING BOARD, CERTAINLY SOMETHING I WILL BE BRINGING FORTH FOR DISCUSSION ABOUT HOW WE CAN MAKE SURE WE HAVE ALL OF THOSE THINGS IN PLACE SO WE DON'T HAVE DIFFICULT ISSUES THAT OCCUR -- THAT OCCURRED AT BROADWAY FLATS. WE ALSO HAVE THE OPPORTUNITY TO DO TWO, UNFORTUNATELY, -- NOT THAT THEY WERE BRIEF, IT WAS UNFORTUNATE THE FACT THAT I HAD TO DO THEM. TO INTERVIEWS. ONE RELATING TO A MID AFTERNOON SHOOTING JUST TWO BLOCKS OFF OF AURORA IN A RESIDENTIAL NEIGHBORHOOD ON A SATURDAY. IT WAS A WEEK AGO SATURDAY. ONE PIMPED HAD CORNERED ANOTHER ONE IN THEIR CAR AND GOT OUT OF THE CAR IN THE MIDDLE OF THE DAY, 12 A CLOCK, NO CONCERN ABOUT THE PEOPLE WALKING THEIR DOGS, ABOUT BEING ACTUALLY CAUGHT ON VIDEO. AND UNLOADED 10 TO 12 SHELLS INTO THIS OTHER CAR AND PROCEEDED TO CHASE IT. THIS IS AN INDIVIDUAL KNOWN TO THE POLICE TO BE A PIMPED . THEY WERE ABLE TO GET THE LICENSE PLATE NUMBER. WONDERFUL FOOTAGE OF THIS INDIVIDUAL 'S FACE. NEEDLESS TO SAY, THE RESIDENTS WERE EXTREMELY CONCERNED. SPD DID DO -- THEY OPENED AN ACTIVE INVESTIGATION. I BELIEVE, BASED ON CONVERSATIONS WITH THE CAPTAIN, WERE ACTIVELY PURSUING AN ARREST. THEY DID ALSO ASK THAT, IF PEOPLE CONTINUE TO HAVE SIGHTINGS OF THIS CAR IN THE NEIGHBORHOOD, TO PLEASE CALL 911. I JUST BRING THAT UP BECAUSE, UNFORTUNATELY, WE ARE STILL SEEING GUN VIOLENCE IN DISTRICT 5 AND ALONG AURORA. WE'RE STILL SEEING GUN VIOLENCE DIRECTLY ASSOCIATED WITH THE COMMERCIAL SEXUAL EXPLOITATION GOING ON UP THERE, WHICH WAS THE IMPETUS FOR THE LEGISLATION WE PUT FORTH AND PAST. I AM ALSO CONCERNED THAT THE PROCESS OF GETTING THINGS IN PLACE TO BEGIN ENFORCEMENT , BOTH RELATING TO SELLERS, BUT MORE IMPORTANTLY, RELATING TO BUYERS INTO THE THEMSELVES IS MOVING SLOWLY. I AM TELEGRAPHING THAT I WILL BE REACHING OUT TO SPD , HSD AND THE MAYORS OFFICE TO SET UP A MEETING SO WE CAN -- I THINK WHAT WE NEED TO HAVE IS A POINT PERSON TO KEEP TRACK OF ALL THE DIFFERENT PIECES AND BRING IT TO FRUITION. BECAUSE WE CANNOT CONTINUE TO HAVE PEOPLE FEEL THEY CAN BRAZENLY ENGAGE IN GUN VIOLENCE WITH NO CONSEQUENCES FOR THAT. WE NEED TO MAKE SURE THAT THE COMMERCIAL SEXUAL EXPLOITATION IS BEING ADDRESSED. IT SHOCKS ME TO HAVE HEARD MANY OFFICERS IN THE NORTH PRECINCT ARE UNAWARE OF THE FACT THAT WE ACTUALLY REINSTATED THE LOITERING LAW. I WOULD LIKE TO NOTE FOR THE RECORD THAT, WHILE THERE IS A SIGNIFICANT CURRICULUM AND TRAINING REQUIREMENT RELATED TO ITS ENFORCEMENT AROUND SELLERS, THERE IS NOT A SIMILAR REQUIREMENT AROUND ENFORCEMENT AGAINST THE BUYERS THE EMPHASIS OF THIS BILL WAS TO ARREST AND PROSECUTE BUYERS, AS WELL AS THOSE WHO ARE DOING THE EXPLOITATION , THE PIMPS. IT CONCERNS ME WE HAVE NOT HAD LAW ENFORCEMENT, WHO WAS REQUESTING THE REINSTATEMENT OF THIS TOOL, HAS NOT NECESSARILY BEEN MADE AWARE OF THE FACT THAT IT EXISTS OR THAT IT IS BEING SLOW TO BE IMPLEMENTED I UNDERSTAND THE POLICY HAS TO BE WRITTEN. THERE IS A PROCESS, BUT IT IS ALSO IMPORTANT FOR LAW ENFORCEMENT TO KNOW THAT WE HAVE BEEN RESPONSIVE TO THEIR REQUEST FOR TOOLS. JUST SO THAT THEY ARE AWARE OF THAT WHEN CONSTITUENTS ASKED THEM ABOUT WHAT IS GOING ON. THERE ABLE TO GIVE ACCURATE INFORMATION AS WELL. THE OTHER INTERVIEW RELATED TO TREES. WE CONTINUE TO SEE THE INDISCRIMINATE CUTTING OF TREES RELATING TO DEVELOPMENT . UNFORTUNATELY, THE TREE ORDINANCE , THAT PIECE OF THE TREE ORDINANCE CONTINUES TO NOT WORK WELL. WE HAVE LEGACY CAPITAL, A REPEAT VIOLATOR OF THE ORDINANCE , AGAIN ENGAGE IN -- I WOULD GO SO FAR AS TO SAY THAT THEY DID NOT COMPLY WITH THE REQUIREMENTS FOR NOTICE . IT WAS ONLY BECAUSE OF THE EFFORTS OF ALERT NEIGHBORS THAT SEVERAL TREES WERE NOT ILLEGALLY CUT DOWN. THIS REMAINS A PROBLEM. THIS IS AN ISSUE I HAVE COMMITTED TO ADDRESSING . I KNOW THAT WE WILL HAVE THE OPPORTUNITY THROUGH THE COMP PLAN TO BEGIN TO DISCUSS TREES. I'M ALSO THINKING WE NEED TO ADDRESS, DO SOMETHING SOONER THAN JUST A LEASING -- LENGTHY COMP PLAN BECAUSE WE'RE LOSING TREES AT TOO RAPID A RATE IN TERMS OF PRIVATE DEVELOPMENT. IT IS UNDERMINING ARE VERY GOOD GOALS OF INCREASING OUR TREE CANOPY ACROSS THE CITY, PARTICULARLY IN THE SOUTH AND ON PRIVATE LAND. AGAIN, I REMAIN CONCERNED ABOUT WHAT IS HAPPENING AND NOT HAVING SUFFICIENT STAFF OR COMMITMENT TO BEING ABLE TO BE RESPONSIVE WHEN THEY ARE NOTIFIED OF POTENTIAL VIOLATIONS, NOT GETTING PEOPLE OUT TO THE SITE ON TIME TO LOOK AT WHAT IS HAPPENING ACTORS SUCH AS LEGACY CAPITAL, WHO SEEM TO BE THE ONES WHO RECURRING THEY SHOW UP WITH THE SORT OF ATTEMPTS TO CIRCUMVENT THE PARTS OF THE TREE ORDINANCE THAT ARE THERE TO PROTECT AND PROVIDE DUE DILIGENCE, NOTICE , CONTINUE TO BE ABLE TO ACT WITHOUT MUCH -- WITH SORT OF A MINOR SLAP ON THE HAND. THAT IS PROBLEMATIC. I JUST WANTED TO BRING THAT UP. THE LAST THING I WILL MENTION IS, I DON'T KNOW GIVEN TODAY IS JANUARY 6, CERTIFICATION OF THE NATIONAL ELECTION . OVER THE HOLIDAY I WAS READING AN ARTICLE WHERE IT NOTED THAT STEVE MILLER, WHO WILL BE FROM'S DEPUTY SECRETARY ON POLICY, HIS AMERICA FIRST ORGANIZATION SENT OUT A LETTER TO 259 JURISDICTIONS AND REPRESENTATIVES WHO ARE IN WHAT WE CALL SANCTUARY CITIES THREATENING ALL OF US WITH ARREST AND PROSECUTION SHOULD WE IMPLEMENT OUR MUNICIPAL LAW . AND THOSE WHO WE ASKED TO IMPLEMENT THOSE LAWS . I LOOKED AT EVERY SINGLE LETTER . SEATTLE WAS NOT LISTED, BUT WASHINGTON WAS. I'M NOT SURE IF THAT IS BECAUSE WASHINGTON HAS A STATE LAW AND MANY OF THE OTHER JURISDICTIONS WERE MUNICIPAL JURISDICTIONS. BUT I FOUND IT DEEPLY TROUBLING, NEEDLESS TO SAY . I'M NOT SURE IT COULD LEGALLY BE IMPLEMENTED, BUT THE FACT THAT A MEMBER OF THE TRUMP ADMINISTRATION FEELS AT LIBERTY TO SEND A THREATENING LETTER TO ELECTED REPRESENTATIVES WHO ARE SIMPLY EXECUTING THEIR RESPONSIBILITIES AS THEY WERE DULY ELECTED TO DO SO, I FIND THAT DEEPLY TROUBLING. I'M GOING TO MAKE AN OFFICIAL REQUEST AGAIN THAT WE HAVE A COUNCIL BRIEFING , MAYBE IT NEEDS TO BE EXECUTIVE SESSION. I WANT TO HEAR FROM THE CITY ATTORNEY WHAT THIS MEANS TO HAVE THIS LETTER SENT TO JURISDICTIONS THAT QUALIFY OR CONSTITUTE SANCTUARY CITIES . I ALSO WANT TO KNOW WHAT WE ARE LOOKING AT GOING FORWARD IN OUR RELATIONSHIPS AND INTERACTIONS WITH THE TRUMP'S ADMINISTRATION AROUND IMMIGRATION WE HAVE AN ACTIVE -- WE HAVE AN OFFICE OF IMMIGRANT REFUGEES AFFAIRS. WE ARE ACTIVELY RESETTLING PEOPLE. I FEEL COMPLETELY AT A LOSS IN TERMS OF HOW WE ARE PREPARED TO DEAL WITH THE EXECUTIVE ORDER I ANTICIPATE WILL BE COMING SHORT ORDER MANDATING MASS DEPORTATIONS. I ALSO WANT TO KNOW HOW WE'RE GOING TO DEAL WITH HOUSING FUNDING. IS THE FUNDING GOING TO BE THREATENED BASED ON WHAT WE ARE SIMPLY DOING HERE AS THE LAWS REQUIRE ? I AM RESPECTFULLY REQUESTING , COUNCIL PRESIDENT, THAT WE HAVE SOME KIND OF BRIEFING ALONG THOSE CONCERNS. IF THERE ARE NO QUESTIONS, I WILL TURN IT OVER TO YOU. >> THANK YOU VERY MUCH FOR MENTIONING THAT. MY OFFICE HAS BEEN IN COMMUNICATION WITH YOUR OFFICE AND COUNCILMEMBER RIVERA AND THE MAYOR AT THIS OFFICE TO RESPOND TO YOUR REQUEST AND FOR INFORMATION ABOUT HOW WE ARE RESPONDING AT THE STATE -- HOW WE ARE RESPONDING TO FEDERAL ACTIONS LOCALLY, AND ALSO SPECIFICALLY WHEN IT COMES TO IMMIGRATION , ET CETERA. I HAVE TWO COUNCIL MEMBERS THAT I AM RESPONDING TO . IT IS JUST A QUESTION OF THE DATE OF THAT BRIEFING , AND PROVISIONALLY, THINKING ABOUT THE 13th. AND THEN, POSSIBLY, ALSO FOLLOWED BY EXECUTIVE SESSION. IT IS ALL BEING WORKED OUT. I WILL LET YOU KNOW MORE. >> I WILL JUST ADD, THANK YOU COUNCIL PRESIDENT, I DID HAVE A CONVERSATION WITH THE MAYOR'S OFFICE BECAUSE I REQUESTED OUR OFFICE OF IMMIGRANT AND REFUGEE AFFAIRS TO COME TO COMMITTEE SINCE IT IS UNDER THE COMMITTEE I CHAIR. THE CONVERSATION WAS THAT IT WAS BEST THAT IT WAS WITH FULL COUNSEL SO WE ALL HEAR THE INFORMATION AND THAT THEY WILL COME AS A PART OF THAT, BUT JUST A MORE HOLISTIC ON ALL THE ITEMS THAT YOU JUST TALKED ABOUT. THAT WAS REQUESTED. NOW THIS IS HOW IT HAS COME TO A BIGGER , BROADER, I SHOULDN'T SAY BIGGER, A BROADER -- TO THE FULL COUNSEL SESSION. >> JUST A SECOND. COUNCILMEMBER CATTLE. >> THANK YOU, COUNCIL PRESIDENT. I WANTED TO THANK COUNCILMEMBER MOORE FOR HER REMARKS ON DIFFERENT PIECES, TO INCLUDE THE SEXUAL EXPLOITATION BILL, AND TO COUNCILMEMBER STRAUSS . IF WE DON'T FOLLOW WELL, IT ENDS UP BEING A PIECE OF PAPER. IN THAT ORDER, I AM SCHEDULED TO MEET WITH THE CHIEF ON WEDNESDAY. I WILL ALREADY BE ASKING, BUT I WILL SAY TO YOU, AND AS YOU SAID, I WILL ASK ABOUT WHAT WE DID IN 2024. I WILL START OFF WITH SOAP. AND THEN SODA, AND THE TECHNOLOGY CCTV AND HOW THAT IS COMING ALONG. FOR COUNCIL PRESIDENT, I WILL ASK ABOUT RECRUITMENT AND INCENTIVES. ALONG WITH STREET RACING, WHICH I THINK I HEARD THIS WEEKEND AT 6:00 IN THE MORNING FOR MY HOUSE. JUST A FOLLOW-UP IN TERMS OF WHERE WE ARE WITH THOSE BILLS AND PUT THESE PIECES IN PLACE. IT IS SUPER IMPORTANT WE DO SO , BECAUSE IF WE WANT TO MAKE MORE PROGRESS IN 2025, THESE PIECES NEED TO BE PUT IN PLACE TO FULL EFFECT. THANK YOU, COUNCILMEMBER MOORE, FOR BRINGING THAT UP. BY THE WAY, SINCE I MENTIONED THE CHIEF. WE WILL HAVE CHIEF BARNES AS WELL. I DID MEET WITH HIM IN NOVEMBER. ONCE WE GET DATES, WE WILL BE WORKING THAT AS WELL. SORRY FOR NOT MENTIONING THAT EARLIER. >> ALL RIGHT. LET'S CONTINUE THIS THEME HERE. I WILL TALK ABOUT WHAT IS HAPPENING IN MY COMMITTEE, WHICH IS THIS THURSDAY, IN A MOMENT, BUT I DO WANT TO NOTE THAT IT SEEMS LIKE WE ARE ENGAGED IN SOMEWHAT OF A PUBLIC SAFETY COMMITTEE MEETING. I DO WANT TO NOTE THE PRESS RELEASE I SENT OUT THIS MORNING ON BEHALF OF -- WELL, FROM THE OFFICE OF THE PRESIDENT, URGING CONTINUED FOCUS ON PUBLIC SAFETY IN 2025 AFTER RECORD NUMBER OF BILLS PASSED IN 2024. WE HAVE SPOKEN ABOUT SOME OF THOSE. I SENT THAT OUT TODAY BECAUSE I DO -- BECAUSE IT DOES COINCIDE WITH THE RECEIPT OF AN EMAIL FROM ADAM SCHAFFER AND THE EXECUTIVES TODAY BASICALLY SENDING DOWN THE PAPERWORK, MAKING IT OFFICIAL AS OF JANUARY 25 THAT WE WILL HAVE AN ACTING CHIEF OF POLICE . SO NOW IS THE TIME NOT TO REST ON OUR LAURELS, BUT TO BUILD ON OUR MOMENTUM AS THE LEGISLATIVE BODY. WE CAN PASS THE LAWS, THEY NEED TO BE IMPLEMENTED. THIS PRESS RELEASE WAS BASICALLY SAYING -- AND IT CAME WITH A LIST OF 14 PUBLIC SAFETY RELATED PIECES OF LEGISLATION THAT COUNCIL PASSED LAST YEAR. THE BASIC MESSAGE IS SIMPLY, OKAY, WE PASSED THIS LEGISLATION, WE NEED TO KEEP OUR FOOT ON THE PEDAL IN MOVING FORWARD ON PUBLIC SAFETY. WE ARE NOT DONE YET. AND WE NEED TO WORK WELL WITH THE EXECUTIVE . I WAS PERSONALLY WELCOMING ACTING CHIEF BARNES . JUST SAYING THAT COUNCIL SERVES -- COUNCIL IS HERE AS A WILLING PARTNER IN MAKING OUR CITY A SAFER PLACE. IN THIS PRESS RELEASE, I DO MENTION THE SODA AND SOAP LEGISLATION THAT WAS PASSED. I NOTE IT IS NOW UP TO THE MUNICIPAL COURT JUDGES AND SPD OFFICERS TO IMPLEMENT . AND SO, WE ALL HAVE TO DO OUR PART. I DO RECOMMEND THAT PEOPLE READ THAT, TAKE A LOOK AT THE LIST OF LEGISLATION PASSED IN 2024, AND I LOOK FORWARD TO CONTINUING OUR FOCUS ON THAT. THANK YOU VERY MUCH, COUNCILMEMBER AND ALSO PUBLIC SAFETY CHAIR KETTLE, FOR THE -- FOR THAT PRESS RELEASE. AS WE HAVE DISCUSSED ALL AFTERNOON, THIS IS TOP OF MIND. EVEN THOUGH WE'VE GOT A HUGE PROJECT ON OUR PLATE, WHICH IS THE COMPREHENSIVE PLAN UPDATE AND FILLING OF THE DISTRICT 2 VACANCY, PUBLIC SAFETY REMAINS THE CORE RESPONSIBILITY. WE CANNOT -- WE WANTED TO LOSE FOCUS, I'M SURE, BUT WE NEED TO MAKE SURE THAT WE ARE ALWAYS THINKING ABOUT HOW EVERYTHING IS INTERCONNECTED IN WHAT WE DO. AND ALL OF OUR ACTIONS, ALSO IN THE EXTERNAL COMMITTEES. ALL RIGHT. AS I SAID, THIS THURSDAY WE WILL HAVE THE FIRST MEETING OF THE GOVERNANCE ACCOUNTABILITY AND ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT COMMITTEE AT 2:00 ON THURSDAY , AND WE WILL BE HAVING THE SECOND DISCUSSION AND POSSIBLE VOTE ON THE Q4 EMPLOYMENT ORDINANCE. IF YOU REMEMBER, WE HAD THE FIRST DISCUSSION AT THE LAST MEETING LAST YEAR. I AM LOOKING TOWARD A POSSIBLE VOTE, BUT I WILL CHECK WITH YOU, COUNCILMEMBER RIVERA, TO MAKE SURE YOU GOT YOUR QUESTIONS ANSWERED. I WANT TO RESPECT THAT AS WELL. ALSO, ONE THING I AM VERY MUCH LOOKING FORWARD TO AND EXCITED ABOUT, WE ARE HAVING A ROUNDTABLE DISCUSSION WITH A PANEL OF RESPECTED AND EXPERIENCED ARCHITECTS OF COMMERCIAL, RESIDENTIAL AND MIXED-USE PROJECTS OF ALL DIFFERENT SIZES TO DISCUSS PERSISTENT PROBLEMS WITH OUR PERMITTING PROCESSES. THIS IS AT THE BEHEST OF JIM GRAHAM, FOUNDER OF THE WORLD-FAMOUS ARCHITECTS. AND THE LIST OF PRESENTERS WILL BE FINALIZED LATER THIS AFTERNOON. WHY IS THIS IMPORTANT? BECAUSE WHETHER YOU ARE TRYING TO REMODEL A KITCHEN OR BUILD A MIXED-USE PROJECT IN ONE OF OUR NEIGHBORHOOD DISTRICTS, OR GET THEM APPROVED, IT SEEMS AS THOUGH SOME OF THE SAME PROBLEMS KEEP COMING UP OVER AND OVER AGAIN WITH PERMITTING. COMMON COMPLAINT IS THAT THERE IS NO -- THERE IS A LACK OF PREDICTABILITY ABOUT WHEN ALL THE PERMITS WILL BE APPROVED, AND THERE SEEMS TO BE SOME ITERATIONS OF CORRECTIONS . THOSE ARE JUST A COUPLE OF THE SYSTEMIC PROBLEMS WE HAVE HAD. WE HAVE HAD AN AUDIT ON OUR PERMITTING SYSTEM. THAT HAS BEEN PRESENTED AS WELL TO COUNCIL. THIS FALLS IN THE ACCOUNTABILITY DEPARTMENT. WE HAVE SOME INDUSTRY EXPERTS THAT ARE COMING TO JUST MAKE SURE WE ARE FOCUSED ON SOME OF THE THINGS THAT ARE HOLDING UP THEIR WORK AND ECONOMIC ACTIVITY IN THE CITY. AND SOME PRACTICAL RECOMMENDATIONS WE MIGHT BE ABLE TO FOLLOW THROUGH ON. I HAVE SPOKEN WITH THE MAYOR'S OFFICE. IT'S NOT LIKE HE IS UNAWARE OF THIS. THAT WILL BE AN INTERESTING DISCUSSION. I INVITE FOLKS WHO AREN'T ON THE COMMITTEE TO ALSO PARTICIPATE. YOU ARE VERY WELCOME. I WILL SKIP EVERYTHING ELSE I WAS GOING TO SAY, BECAUSE IT IS FREE:37. WE DO HAVE AN EXECUTIVE SESSION TODAY. HOLD ON A SECOND. I WANT TO MAKE SURE -- >> COUNCIL PRESIDENT? >> WAIT A MINUTE, PLEASE. MAKING SURE -- ONE MORE THING. COMING UP THIS WEEK I WILL BE AT THE LEGISLATIVE EMPLOYEE RECOGNITION CEREMONY. I LOOK FORWARD TO HONORING THE SERVICE OF LONG TIME STAFF. THAT IS COMING UP THIS THURSDAY. OF COURSE, YOU ARE ALL WELCOME, AND I HOPE TO SEE YOU THERE. >> THEY CAN, COUNCIL PRESIDENT. NOTING FOR THE RECORD, I DON'T NEED A RESPONSE. GESTATING FOR COLLEAGUES -- GESTATING FOR COLLEAGUES THAT I HAVE NEVER IN THE PAST SEEN A BODY OF WORK REMOVED FROM A COMMITTEE AND PLACED IN ANOTHER COMMITTEE. I BELIEVE THE PANEL YOU WILL HAVE, IT SOUNDS ABSOLUTELY PERFECT. IT IS ABSOLUTELY SUPPOSED TO GO TO THE LAND USE COMMITTEE. I WILL LEAVE IT AT THAT. THIS IS A PRACTICE I'VE SEEN EMPLOYED A COUPLE OF TIMES. I WILL RAISE IT EVERY TIME I SEE IT HAPPEN. >> I DISAGREE THAT THIS IS AN A REGULAR PRACTICE. IT IS ALL IN HOW YOU LOOK AT AN ISSUE. LIKE I SAID, WE HAVE HAD PUBLIC SAFETY ISSUES IN MY COMMITTEE. ONE OF THE THEMES OF OUR DISCUSSION IS THAT THINGS SEEM TO BE ALL CONNECTED. IF YOU ARE PERCEIVING THIS AS A SLIGHT OR GOING OUTSIDE MY BOUNDS, I WILL SIMPLY SAY THE TITLE OF MY COMMITTEE IS GOVERNANCE , ACCOUNTABILITY AND ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT. AS I NOTED, OUR ISSUES WITH PERMITTING DO SLOW ECONOMIC ACTIVITY, AND THIS IS AN ACCOUNTABILITY ISSUE. IF THINGS ARE GETTING BETTER, EVEN THOUGH THEY HAVE BEEN ADDRESSED IN ANOTHER COMMITTEE, IT IS OUR RESPONSIBILITY AS AN OVERSIGHT BODY TO MAKE SURE WE DO ABSOLUTELY EVERYTHING WE CAN TO IMPROVE OUR CITY'S PROCESSES. IS THERE ANYTHING ELSE PEOPLE WOULD LIKE TO SAY? OKAY. IF THERE IS NO FURTHER BUSINESS, WE WILL NOW MOVE INTO THE EXECUTIVE SESSION. HEARING NO FURTHER BUSINESS. IT IS NOW TIME. I AM ANNOUNCING THAT THE SEATTLE CITY COUNCIL WILL CONVENE INTO EXECUTIVE SESSION. THE PURPOSE OF THE EXECUTIVE SESSION IS TO DISCUSS PENDING, POTENTIAL OR ACTUAL LITIGATION. THE EXECUTIVE SESSION IS AN OPPORTUNITY FOR THE COUNCIL TO DISCUSS CONFIDENTIAL LEGAL MATTERS WITH CITY ATTORNEYS AS AUTHORIZED BY LAW. ILLEGAL MONITOR FROM THE CITY ATTORNEY'S OFFICE IS ALWAYS PRESENT TO ENSURE THE COUNCIL RESERVES QUESTIONS FOR OPEN DISCUSSION. EXPECT THE TIME OF THE EXECUTIVE SESSION TO END BY 4:40 P.M. IT COULD END EARLIER THAN THAT. IF IT DIES, THIS MEETING WILL END -- IF IT DOES, THIS MEETING WILL END AUTOMATICALLY. IF THE EXECUTIVE SESSION EXTENDS, I WILL ANNOUNCE THE EXTENSION AND EXPECTED DURATION. ALL RIGHT. THE COUNCIL BRIEFING MEETING WILL OFFICIALLY ADJOURN. THE NEXT REGULARLY SCHEDULED COUNCIL BRIEFING MEETING IS ON GENERAL 13, 2025 AT 2:00 BM. THANK YOU VERY MUCH, EVERYBODY. SEE YOU IN A FEW MINUTES.