4th, 2025 MEETING WITH THE SEATTLE CITY COUNCIL WILL COME TO ORDER AND IT IS TO: 02. I MISS HER ANNOUNCEMENT -- I AM SORRY NELSON COUNCIL PRESIDENT. PLEASE CALL THE ROLL. >> [ ROLL BEING CALLED ] EIGHT PRESENT. >> IF THERE IS NO OBJECTION, COUNCILMEMBER HOLLINGSWORTH WILL BE EXCUSED FROM TODAY'S MEETING. HEARING OBJECTION, COUNCILMEMBER HOLLINGSWORTH IS EXCUSED FROM TODAY'S MEETING AND WE DO HEALTH -- HAVE COUNCILMEMBER SAKA JOINING US REMOTELY. THERE ARE NO PRESENTATIONS TODAY SO AT THIS TIME WE WILL OPEN THE HYBRID PUBLIC COMMENT PERIOD. WE DO ALSO HAVE A PUBLIC HEARING ON COUNCIL BILL 120937 WHICH IS LISTED AS ITEM G RIGHT AFTER WE APPROVE THE AGENDA. IF ANYONE IS HERE TO COMMENT ON THAT , PLEASE HOLD YOUR COMMENTS UNTIL THE PUBLIC HEARING AND MAKE SURE YOU ARE SIGNED UP FOR THE RECORD ON THAT. MOVING RIGHT ALONG. PUBLIC COMMENT IS LIMITED TO ITEMS ON TODAY'S AGENDA. THE INTRODUCTION CALENDAR AND THE COUNCIL WORK PROGRAM. HOW MANY PEOPLE ARE SIGNED UP TO SPEAK TODAY? >> WE HAVE TWO IN PRISON AND THREE REMOTE. >> WE WILL START WITH THE IN PERSON COMMENTERS AND EVERYONE GETS TWO MINUTES. >> SPEAKERS WILL BE CALLED. THEY WILL BE CALLED IN THE ORDER IN WHICH THEY ARE REGISTERED. THEY WILL HEAR A CHIME WHEN 10 SECONDS ARE LEFT OF THEIR TIME. SPEAKERS MICROPHONES WILL BE MUTED IF THEY DO NOT END THEIR COMMENTS WITHIN THE ALLOTTED TIME TO ALLOW US TO CALL ON THE NEXT SPEAKER. >> WE WILL START WITH HOWARD GAIL AND THEN ALEX TSIMERMAN . >> GOOD AFTERNOON, HOWARD GAIL, DISTRICT 7. TWO WEEKS AGO AT THE KING COUNTY COURTHOUSE , TWO OF SIX JURORS IN THE KING COUNTY FOUND SPD OFFICER JARED KILLERS USE OF DEADLY FORCE IN THE 2018 GUILT OF ISAIAH WAS NOT LEGALLY JUSTIFIED AND WAS CRIMINAL. THE INQUEST WAS THE SECOND IN HISTORY WITH MORE THAN A SINGLE JUROR SOUGHT I COULD CRIMINAL IN A DEATH. AND THE ONLY INQUEST INVOLVING AN SPD OFFICER OR ANY JUROR COUNT --. BASED ON THE JURORS COMMENTS, FIVE OF POSSIBLY SIX JURORS FOUND EITHER OFFICER KELLER, THE SPD POLICIES AND OR ALL OF THE OFFICERS ACTIONS CAUSED THE NECESSARY KILLING OF --. HAD A MUCH CELEBRATED POLICE ACCOUNTABILITY SYSTEM AND FOUND THE KILLING WAS IN FACT QUOTE, LAWFUL AND PROPER, JUST AS SPD KILLED DENNY RODRIGUEZ, DERRICK HAYDEN . ONE KILLED BY THE SPD COME ALL OF THESE PEOPLE WERE HOLDING THE WEB AND AND WERE EXPERIENCING A SEVERE HEALTH CRISIS WHILE HOLDING A KNIFE. TODAY YOU WILL REAPPOINT FOUR PEOPLE TO THE COMMUNITY POLICE COMMISSION . THE CPC STANDS OUT AMONG OVER 80 CITY COMMISSIONS BEING ONE OF THE VERY FEW THAT PROHIBITS PUBLIC COMMENT , ESPECIALLY IRONIC GIVEN THEY CLAIM TO REPRESENT THE COMMUNITY. WE DISCOVERED, AND ALSO DISCOVERED -- WE DISCOVERED FROM KING COUNTY JURORS WHO ARE FAR MORE CAPABLE OF REPRESENTING FACTS AND REPRESENTING THE COMMUNITY THAN THE CPC HAS BEEN, CALLING AN SPD MURRAY EXACTLY WHAT IT IS. AND MY LAST 22 SECONDS I WILL MENTION, THINK ABOUT NEXT WEEK THE LETHAL WEAPONS BAN AND CROWD CONTROL. YOUR ACTIONS ARE HISTORIC AND THAT THEY WILL PIERCE YOUR IMMUNITY. RESULT IN DIRECT LIABILITY FOR THE INEVITABLE HARMS THAT WILL COME. THANK YOU. >> I, MY NAME ALEXANDER TSIMERMAN I'M MOTHER MEMBER FOR 10 YEARS. YOU HAVE TOO MANY APPOINTMENT AND I SPEAK ABOUT SOMETHING THAT IS VERY IMPORTANT. NUMBER ONE, I'M VERY HAPPY . IT'S VERY IMPORTANT FOR EVERYBODY . I ALWAYS SUPPORT BLACK LIVES MATTER . WHEN I'M A YOUNG MAN I SUPPORT PARTNER , YES, EXACTLY. SO, I WANT TO SPEAK ABOUT APPOINTMENT, PEOPLE IS VERY IMPORTANT. I ALWAYS SUPPORT PEOPLE WHO FIGHT FOR FREEDOM . I ALWAYS SUPPORT PEOPLE WHO FIGHT FOR FREEDOM LIKE AMERICANS 250 YEARS AGO. IT'S FOR FREEDOM, WHY? BECAUSE I AM A FIGHTING FOR FREEDOM FOR A FEW THOUSAND YEARS. IS VERY IMPORTANT. ON EVERYBODY HAS A VOICE, HAVE RIGHT FOR SPEAK COMING UP EVERYBODY WANT TO KILL ONE ANOTHER BECAUSE SOMETIMES IT'S MORE DANGEROUS THAN DYNAMITE. THIS IS EXACTLY WHAT I'M TALKING ABOUT. I DON'T SEE THIS FROM SARA NELSON . YOU ALWAYS GIVE US ONE MINUTE. WHY ALWAYS GIVE US ONE MINUTE? YOU ARE NOT SO BUSY OR TOO MUCH BUSY? I TALKED FOR MANY TIME, 100 TIMES FOR MANY YEARS. EVERYBODY CAN GO ONE DAY PER WEEK AND SPEAK FOR TWO MINUTES WITHOUT CENSORSHIP, WITHOUT YOUR CONTROL . IT'S VERY IMPORTANT. WHENEVER BECOME A FREE GOVERNMENT OR DEMOCRATIC GOVERNMENT IF WE DON'T HAVE FREEDOM OF SPEECH. VIVA RIGHT FOR PEOPLE SPEAK . >> WE WILL MOVE ON TO REMOTE SPEAKERS. >> OUR FIRST SPEAKER WILL BE DAVID HAYNES FOR GENERAL COMMENT FOLLOWED BY ALBERTO ALVAREZ AND I WANT TO REMIND OUR REMOTE SPEAKERS TO PRESS STAR SIX AFTER YOU HAVE HEARD THE MESSAGE THAT YOU HAVE BEEN UNMUTED. GO AHEAD, DAVID. >> THANK YOU, DAVID HAYNES. A FEDERAL INJUNCTION ON THE AUTHORITIES AND DEMAND THAT PRESIDENT TRUMP TAKE THE TARIFFS THAT HE'S GOING TO BE APPLYING AND REIMBURSE THE PROPERTY TAXES FOR KING COUNTY TO -- THAT KEEP GETTING SQUANDERED. WHILE THEY ARE SUBSIDIZING OFFSHORE STRUCTURES . THEY ORDERED ON THE INTEGRITY OF THE INSPECTION THAT BRING CONTRABAND AND DRUGS THAT ACT LIKE AN OPEN BORDER HERE IN SEATTLE. ANYWAY, I WANTED TO ADDRESS SOME THE THAT ARE HEARD FROM CITY COUNCIL YESTERDAY. I'M CONCERNED ABOUT THE IGNORANT IDEA THAT EEI IS A PRIORITY WHEN IF YOU TAKE A LOOK AT THE ACCIDENT THAT TOOK PLACE IN WASHINGTON, D.C. WHERE THE PLANE AND HELICOPTER CRASHED , THERE WAS ONE PERSON DOING TO PEOPLE'S JOBS BECAUSE THE FAA IS SHORT-STAFFED . THOSE LAWSUITS ABOUT THESE WHITE APPLICANTS WHO ARE QUALIFIED WHO WERE DENIED BECAUSE OF DEI AND AFFIRMATIVE ACTION FOR INTERNATIONAL THAT WAS A PURPOSEFUL DISCRIMINATION AGAINST MERITOCRACY, /QUALIFIED INDIVIDUALS REGARDLESS OF SKIN COLOR. IT SEEMS TO ME THAT PEOPLE NEED TO FOCUS ON THE PROBLEMS OF PUBLIC SAFETY THAT HAVE BEEN EXACERBATED BY THE BUTTON PUSHING BOTTOM OF THE BARREL POLICIES THAT PUT IN CHARGE AND TURN AGAINST THE COMMUNITY WITH POWER MONGERING HYPOCRITES WHO WANT TO UNDERMINE THE INTEGRITY OF SOLVING THE HOMELESS HOUSING AND PUBLIC SAFETY CRISIS AND HAVE A GREAT AMERICAN HOUSING BILL THAT WAS A BUNCH OF RACIST HYPOCRITES DUMPING THEIR TRAUMA ON EVERYBODY ELSE INSTEAD OF TREATING PEOPLE LIKE YOU WOULD WANT TO BE TREATED, THEY ARE TREATING PEOPLE LIKE THEY HAVE BEEN TREATED AND THEY WERE EDUCATED BY HATEFUL PERSON WHO IMPLEMENTED SOME PATHETIC RACIST --. >> OUR NEXT SPEAKER IS ALBERTO ALVAREZ AND FOLLOWING MR. ALVAREZ WILL BE JIM WILLIAMS IF HE SIGNS IN BEFORE MR. ALVAREZ FINISHES. GO AHEAD, MR. ALVAREZ. >> KEEP DENSITY FAIR, THE CONSUL IS DESIGNED TO ADD DENSITY TO A VIBRANT CITY IN AN EVER-GROWING STATE. SUPPLIES THE COMP PLAN , SUPPLY TO MAKE DEMAND IS THAT BASIC PRINCIPLE OF ANY MARKET. DISTRICT TWO HAS SEVERED THE MOST FROM DIVESTMENT BY THE CITY CANNOT BEAR THE BRUNT OF INCREASING HOUSING FOR THE ENTIRE CITY. MADRONA, GREEN LAKE, AND EVEN MAPLE LEAF MUST PROVIDE A FAIR SHARE TO COMBAT THE HOUSING AFFORDABILITY CRISIS. SHELTER FOR THE POOR AND THOSE WITH SUBSTANCE RECOVERY, RENTALS FOR THE BRISTOW, THE GROCER AND THE LOCAL LINE COOK , HOMES FOR THE YOUNG FAMILIES SO THEY DON'T DRIVE 1 TO 2 HOURS AND RETURN TO OFFICE GRIDLOCK. KEEP DENSITY FAIR AND DO NOT LET THE WEALTHIEST COMMUNITIES CONTROL THE NEEDS OF THE WORKING PEOPLE . THANK YOU AND HAVE A GOOD DAY. >> THAT WAS OUR LAST REMOTE SPEAKER THAT IS PRESENT FOR GENERAL PUBLIC COMMENT. >> HAVE REACHED THE END OF THE LIST OF REGISTERED SPEAKERS SO THE PUBLIC COMMENT PERIOD IS NOW CLOSED. THANK YOU FOR YOUR KIND COMMENTS TODAY. MOVING RIGHT ALONG , AND THERE IS NO OBJECTION, THE INTRODUCTION AND REFERRAL CALENDAR WILL BE ADOPTED. HEARING ON, THE INTRODUCTION AND REFERRAL CALENDAR IS ADOPTED AND IF THERE IS NO OBJECTION, THE AGENDA WILL BE ADOPTED. HEARING NONE, THE AGENDA IS ADOPTED. WILL THE CLERK PLEASE READ THE TITLE OF THE PUBLIC HEARING ITEM INTO THE RECORD? >> 120937, RELATING TO TAXES GRADING A NEW SALES AND USE TAX DEFERRAL FOR THE CONVERSION OF UNDERUTILIZED COMMERCIAL PROPERTY TO HOUSING AND ADDING A NEW CHAPTER 5.75 TO THE SEATTLE MUNICIPAL CODE. >> THANK YOU VERY MUCH. AS THE CURRENT SPONSOR OF THIS ITEM, I WILL ADDRESS IT AND TURN IT OVER TO COUNCILMEMBER SOLOMON AS CHAIR OF THE LAND-USE COMMITTEE. I WILL DETAIL THE REASONS FOR THAT IN A MOMENT BUT FIRST I WANT TO PROVIDE SOME CONTEXT . THIS BILL IS BEFORE US TODAY GIVEN SOME UNUSUAL CIRCUMSTANCES. AS YOU MAY RECALL THE DAY BEFORE WE WRAPPED UP BUDGET LAST YEAR THE MAYOR'S OFFICE TRANSMITTED RESOLUTION 32156 DECLARING THE CITY'S INTENTION TO ESTABLISH A NEW SALES AND USE TAX DEFERRAL FOR THE CONVERSION OF UNDERUTILIZED COMMERCIAL PROPERTY TO HOUSING. WHICH CAME IN RESPONSE TO A CHANGE IN STATE LAW ALLOWING US TO DO THAT. THE RESOLUTIONS TEXT SET UP PUBLIC HEARING ON THIS BILL THAT WOULD HAVE BEEN IN JANUARY BEFORE THE LAND-USE COMMITTEE AND THE COMMITTEE IN DECEMBER UNANIMOUSLY APPROVED THE RESOLUTION ON DECEMBER 4th. BY THE TIME THE RESOLUTION CAME BEFORE COUNCIL IN DECEMBER 17th FOR A FINAL VOTE, LAND-USE CHAIR COUNCILMEMBER MOORE ALICE HAD ANNOUNCED HER INTENTION TO RESIGN GRADING A VACANCY AFFECTING THE COMMITTEE'S ABILITY TO TAKE ACTION UNTIL THE VACANCY WAS FILLED. AS WE DIDN'T HAVE A LAND-USE CHAIR THROUGH MOST OF JANUARY AND IN ORDER TO KEEP ACTION ON THIS IMPORTANT BILL FROM STALLING, WE DECIDED TO MOVE THE PUBLIC HEARING FROM LAND-USE COMMITTEE TO FULL COUNCIL AND COUNCILMEMBERS AMENDED THE RESOLUTION TO HOLD THE HEARING IN COUNCIL TODAY AND PASSED UNANIMOUSLY. THE RESOLUTIONS HAD PUBLIC HEARING FOR PUBLIC COMMENT OF THE PUBLIC TO COMMENT ON THE BILL THAT WOULD ACTUALLY ESTABLISH A NEW SALES AND USE TAX DEFERRAL. 120937 IN ORDER TO HAVE A LIVE BILL FOR THE PUBLIC TO COMMENT ON AND TO KEEP THINGS MOVING, WE INTRODUCE COUNCIL BILL 120937 AND REFERRED DIRECTLY TO COUNCIL WITH MY SPONSORSHIP. NOW THAT WE HAVE A LAND-USE CHAIR, COUNCILMEMBER SOLOMON WHO HAS AGREED TO TAKE UP SPONSORSHIP AND MOVE THE BILL FORWARD AM I SO THANK YOU VERY MUCH. AFTER WE HOLD TODAY'S PUBLIC HEARING WE WILL ADD HIS NAME AS A SPONSOR WITH MYSELF AS COSPONSOR. AS THIS BILL FROM THE MAYOR ALLOWS US TO IMPLEMENT A CHANGE IN STATE POLICY THAT IS THE RESULT OF THE LEGISLATURE'S PASSAGE LAST YEAR OF ENROLLED SECOND SUBSTITUTE SENATE BILL 6175 WHICH WAS SPONSORED BY SENATOR JAZMIN TRUDEAU AND PASSED BY BOTH CHAMBERS ALMOST UNANIMOUSLY, I AGREED TO COUNCILMEMBER SOLOMON'S REQUEST TO BRING THE BILL BEFORE FULL COUNCIL FOR A VOTE NEXT WEEK WITH THE CAVEAT THAT IT COULD BE DELAYED OR IF NEEDED TO ADDRESS ANY OBJECTIONS OR CONCERNS THAT MAY BE RAISED DURING TODAY'S PUBLIC HEARING. THAT'S THE BACKGROUND OF THIS BILL AND ITS PUBLIC HEARING. I WILL TURN THINGS OVER TO COUNCILMEMBER SOLOMON TO SPEAK TO THE BILL. >> THANK YOU VERY MUCH COUNCIL PRESIDENT NELSON. THE BACKGROUND OF COUNCIL BILL 120937 IT WAS INTRODUCED LAST WEEK AND REFERRED TO THE COUNCIL FOR FEBRUARY 4th PUBLIC HEARING TODAY . THE INTENT IS TO IMPLEMENT A PROGRAM IN SEATTLE THAT WOULD DIFFER SALES TAX AND USE TAX FOR PROJECTS BEING -- WITHIN A 40 BILL HOUSING COMPONENT . COUNCIL MEMBERS VOTED TO ADOPT RESOLUTION 32156 AND DECEMBER 2024 WHICH SIGNALS THE CITY'S INTENT TO ADOPT A SALES USE DEFERRAL PROGRAM FOR THIS PURPOSE. I WANT TO THANK COUNCIL PRESIDENT NELSON FOR SPONSORING THIS LEGISLATION. I WILL ALSO COSPONSOR THIS BILL. OUR NEXT STEPS WILL BE FOR THE COUNCIL TO TAKE ACTION ON THIS LEGISLATION. COUNCIL .120937 AND NEXT TUESDAY'S FEBRUARY 11th FULL COUNCIL MEETING. >> THANK YOU VERY MUCH. AS PRESIDING OFFICER I AM OPENING THE PUBLIC HEARING ON COUNCIL BILL 120937 . CLERK, HOW MANY SPEAKERS ARE SIGNED UP? >> WE HAVE FOUR IN PERSON AND TWO REMOTE. >> LET'S GIVE EVERYBODY TWO MINUTES AND START WITH THE IN PERSON COMMENTERS. >> WE WILL START WITH MARK ANGELINO AND THEN LET THEM IN AND RAYMOND CONNELL . JUST A SECOND. >> MY NECK IS -- MY NAME IS MARK. I'M A MANAGING NUMBER OF STREAM REAL ESTATE. A SMALL LOCAL REALISTIC DEPARTMENT BASED IN SEATTLE. COMMENTING IN SUPPORT OF COUNCIL BILL 120937 CONCERNING OFFICE RESIDENTIAL CONVERSION FOR AFFORDABLE HOUSING AS MANY ARE AWARE, WE ARE PROPOSING TO CONVERT AN OFFICE BUILDING TO MUCH-NEEDED RESIDENTIAL UNITS. THE BILL PROPOSED UNDER COUNCIL BILL 120937 WILL BE THE TRIGGER TO MAKE OUR PROJECT AND MANY OTHERS FEASIBLE SO THAT WE CAN MOVE FORWARD FROM DISCUSSIONS OF CONVERTING UNUTILIZED SPACES TO ACTUALLY BUILDING THEM. IN OUR CASE WE WILL BE USING BOTH MFT PROGRAM AND THIS PROGRAM TO MAKE ALMOST ONE THIRD OF OUR PROJECT AFFORDABLE UNITS THIS IS A GREAT BENEFIT TO THE CITY AND COMMUNITY. I WOULD LIKE TO EMPHASIZE THE NEED TO MOVE THE BILL QUICKLY AS POSSIBLE WITH NO FURTHER DELAYS IN VOTING NEXT WEEK. AS WE ARE CURRENTLY IN THE PERMITTING PROCESS AND ANTICIPATION OF PASSING OF THIS BILL PASSING AND WE WILL BE READY TO START CONSTRUCTION VERY SOON . WE CANNOT START UNTIL THIS BILL PASSES AND WE ARE CONFIRMED AS APPROVED WITH BOTH THE CITY AND STATE. EVERY DELAY PUTS MANY PROJECTS AT RISK OF NOT OCCURRING. I'D BE HAPPY TO ANSWER ANY QUESTIONS. THANK YOU. >> GOOD AFTERNOON , MY NAME IS BILL AND I WORK AT URBAN RENAISSANCE GROUP. I COME BEFORE YOU TODAY TO VOICE MY SUPPORT FOR THE COUNCIL TO APPROVE COUNCIL BILL 120-9372 ADOPT THE PROPOSED RESIDENTIAL CONVERSION HEALTH TAX INCENTIVE. URBAN RENAISSANCE IS AN OWNER MANAGER AND DEVELOPER FOR 10 MILLION SQUARE FEET IN THE SEATTLE AREA. MANY ASSETS IN THE SEATTLE CBD INCLUDING THE BUILDING THE JOSHUA GREENE AT THE CORNER OF FOURTH AND PIKE. TODAY YOU ARE ESTIMATING VALUE AS AN OFFICE BUILDING IS DOWN 75 TO 85% FROM PEAK PRICING. THERE IS VERY LITTLE DEMAND FOR OFFICES WITHIN THE BUILDING WITH MANY OF THOSE OFFICE SUITES STAYING VACANT FOR YOUR SPIRIT SINCE THE PANDEMIC, CONVERSION TO MULTIFAMILY HAS BEEN TOO COSTLY TO COMPLICATE OTHER ASSETS. COUNCIL BILL 120937 WILL IMPROVE THE FEASIBILITY OF TURNING THE 120 ROLLED JOSHUA GREEN BUILDING AND OTHERS INTO BADLY NEEDED AFFORDABLE HOUSING. IT COULD BRING AS MANY AS 100 UNITS TO AN IMPORTANT CORNER IN THE CBD AND HELP ACTIVATE THE AREA AROUND THE BUILDING WITH NEW RESIDENCE AND RETAIL. WE ARE NOW FIVE YEARS AS THE START OF THE COVID PANDEMIC. IT'S TIME TO ACT AND INCENTIVIZE ADDITIONAL AFFORDABLE HOUSING. THERE HAVE BEEN MULTIPLE BRIEFINGS ON THIS TOPIC OF CONVERSIONS AND I WOULD ENCOURAGE THE COUNCIL TO PASS THIS BILL AS QUICKLY AS POSSIBLE. CAPITAL IS BEING ACTIVELY RAISED TO LOOK AT CONVERSION OPPORTUNITIES ACROSS THE UNITED STATES . THIS BILL WILL HELP MAKE CONVERSIONS IN SEATTLE A MORE COMPELLING OPPORTUNITY, GREAT --. CREATE MORE CONSTRUCTION JOBS AND MORE LONG-TERM HOUSING OPTIONS. IF YOU DELAY , THAT CAPITAL COULD GO ELSEWHERE. FOR LITTLE TO NO COST, COUNCIL COULD ADOPT THIS BILL WHICH WILL BUILD UPON THE RECENT SUCCESSES YOU WITNESSED DOWNTOWN THANKS TO YOUR LEADERSHIP. THANK YOU. >> GOOD AFTERNOON MY NAME IS RAY . WE ARE THE OWNER OF SEVERAL MULTI FAMILY BUILDINGS BUT WE HAVE FOUR LEVELS OF OFFICE SPACE THAT HAVE SET IDLE FOR FIVE YEARS. WE DON'T ANTICIPATE LOSING THAT SPACE FOR ANOTHER FIVE YEARS BACK WITH THIS BILL , WHICH WE SUPPORT, WE ANTICIPATE HAVING RESIDENCE MOVED IN BY THE END OF THE YEAR. IF IT'S NEXT WEEK, YES , LATER ON, MAYBE NOT. I THINK THIS IS A BOLD STEP AND I APPLAUD YOU. THANK YOU. >> ALEX IS THE LAST IN PERSON SPEAKER. >> MY NAME IS ALEX TSIMERMAN. I LOVE YOU GUYS, ALL OF YOU. TYPICAL TAXES , TAXES IS GOOD. FOR BILL GATES. FOR 10 YEARS I'M TALKING ABOUT TEXAS AND IT TOOK ABOUT TEXAS FOR THE FIRST $100 BECAUSE PEOPLE --. 10 YEARS I TALK ABOUT THIS . YOU WANT FOR PEOPLE TO PAY MORE TAXES FOR POOR HOUSING , FOR WHERE PEOPLE HOUSING. CAN YOU DO SOMETHING FOR POOR PEOPLE? A LITTLE BIT MORE? YOU WANT TEXAS, NO PROBLEM. BUT NO TEXAS FOR FIRST $100 AND EXACTLY FOR POOR PEOPLE WHOSE INCOME IS VERY LOW, CLOSE TO $1000 . THEY DON'T HAVE A PENNY FOR PAYING FOR FOOD OR GAS. YOU WANT MORE TAXES FOR POOR PEOPLE? WHO PAYS THESE TAXES? YOU DON'T UNDERSTAND HOW STUPID YOU ARE? THAT'S EXACTLY WHAT'S HAPPENING. I SPEAK WITH YOU RIGHT NOW LIKE I SPEAK BEFORE A DOZEN TIMES. STOP TAXES FOR FIRST $100. GIVE POOR PEOPLE A LITTLE BIT AIR FOR BREATHING. THEY ARE MILLIONAIRES . WHY DON'T -- . HE CAN PAY TAXES FOR --. STANDUP, AMERICA. I SUPPORT DONALD TRUMP WHO WANTS TO CLEAR THIS DIRTY GOVERNMENT TOTALLY. THANK YOU VERY MUCH. >> WE ARE MOVING TO REMOTE SPEAKERS. >> OUR FIRST REMOTE SPEAKER IS DAVID HAYNES FOLLOWED BY CARLIN. PLEASE PRESS START SIX ONCE YOU HAVE HEARD THE MESSAGE THAT YOU HAVE BEEN UNMUTED. GO AHEAD, DAVID. >> DAVID HAYNES. WE NEED A LAW THAT TREATS THE JUSTIFICATION FOR GIVING SALES TAX REPRIEVE TO REQUEST THAT THE DEVELOPERS BRING TWO FULL SHIFTS TO EXPEDITE THE PROJECTS SO THEY CAN START WORK RIGHT AWAY. IF WE ARE GETTING A SALES TAX REPRIEVE, IF YOU HAD WORKERS ON THE JOB EXPEDITING THIS PROJECT, BEING PAID PROPER , THAT'S STILL PART OF THE TAX BASE. IF THEY ARE GOING TO -- PERCEPTION OF VALUE THAT THEY [ INAUDIBLE ] ILL-SUITED NEIGHBORHOOD THAT IS STILL UNSAFE BECAUSE COUNCIL STILL DRUG PUSHERS ALONG WITH THE MAYOR. I THINK THE VACANT LOTS THAT THE TAX DOLLARS HAVE ALREADY FINANCED , THOSE PIECES OF LAND NEED TO BE TURNED OVER TO FOR-PROFIT DEVELOPERS TO GO AS HIGH AS THEY POSSIBLY CAN TO CREATE AS MANY EMERGENCY HOUSING OPTIONS , NOT NECESSARILY EMERGENCY BUT SOME SERVICE PROVIDING FOR AFFORDABLE HOUSING THAT WOULD BE ROBUST BECAUSE RELYING ONLY ON OLDER BUILDINGS THAT THE CHAMBER OF COMMERCE OWNS [ INAUDIBLE ] TO FORCE THE MARKET TO REINVEST IN THE PERCEIVED VALUES WHERE THEY ARE BRAGGING HOW MUCH MORE THEY CAN MAKE SOME OLD OUTDATED DILAPIDATED FLOOR PLAN FROM 100 YEARS AGO THAT SOMEHOW IS ICONIC LEAD TRAY SHE CANNOT AND HISTORICALLY PRESERVED AND FORCING PEOPLE TO LIVE IN A MODERN THIRD WORLD SLUMP. HIGHLY MOTIVATED WITH THE RIGHT FINANCING, YOU COULD MAKE SOMETHING PRETTY DECENT , BUT YOU HAVE TO HAVE THESE BUILDINGS TURNED OVER FOR SHELTER BECAUSE YOU HAVEN'T DONE ANYTHING TO BUILD THE CAPACITY OF HOUSING FOR SHELTER AND HOMELESS. >> OUR LAST REMOTE SPEAKER ON THE PUBLIC HEARING IS CARLIN . GO AHEAD. >> MY NAME IS CARLIN I'M A SEATTLE RESIDENT AND WORK FOR A COMPANY CALLED STELLAR HOLDINGS WHICH IS DEVELOPED OFFICE AND MULTI FAMILY IN SEATTLE FOR A FEW DECADES. I JUST WANTED TO HIGHLIGHT SOME OF THE RISKS WITH OFFICE RESIDENTIAL CONVERSIONS. THEY ARE HIGHER RISK THAN GROUND UP MULTI FAMILY AND I HAVE WORKED FOR UNICO BEFORE THIS AND THE PROJECT INTO, THAT WAS REDEVELOPED , IT WAS NOT IN THE FLOOR PLANS BUT THERE WAS AN INTERIOR STAIRCASE THAT WAS DISCOVERED DURING CONSTRUCTION . THE PROJECT HAD TO STOP STRUCTURAL REINFORCED TO HAVE THAT REPURPOSED AS A FLOOR AREA BEFORE A SELLER I MOVED HERE FROM PHILADELPHIA AND THEY HAD THEN ABOUT SIX TO EIGHT OF THESE CLASS B OFFICE CONVERSIONS THAT HAS REVITALIZED CENTER CITY PHILADELPHIA. I WOULD ENCOURAGE YOU TO LOOK AT THOSE AS EXAMPLES. THEY HAVE BEAUTIFUL OFFICE BUILDINGS THAT ARE COMPLETELY DIFFERENT FROM WHAT THE AVAILABLE STOCK IS AND THEY ENCOURAGE PEOPLE TO MOVE AND REPURPOSE CENTER CITY. I'M HOPING THAT SEATTLE CAN BE A TREND AND THIS IS HUGELY IMPACTFUL FOR LOOKING AT CONVERTING SOME OF THESE OLDER OFFICE BUILDINGS . ALSO AT FOURTH AND PIKE, WE HAVE AN OFFICE BUILDING HERE THAT IS SEVERELY STRUGGLING AND I WANT TO UNDERSCORE HOW IMPACTFUL THIS WILL BE. THANK YOU FOR YOUR TIME. >> THERE ARE NO MORE REMOTE SPEAKERS. >> THANK YOU VERY MUCH. WE WILL NOW CONSIDER THE PROPOSED CONSENT CALENDAR. ITEMS ON THE CONSENT CALENDAR INCLUDE THE MINUTES OF JANUARY 27th AND 28, 2025. COUNCIL BILL 120938 WHICH IS THE PAYMENT OF THE BILLS AND FOR APARTMENTS FROM THE PUBLIC SAFETY COMMITTEE. ARE THERE ANY ITEMS COUNCILMEMBERS WOULD LIKE TO REMOVE FROM TODAY'S CONSENT CALENDAR? HEARING NONE I MOVED TO ADOPT THE CONSENT CALENDAR. IS THERE A SECOND? THANK YOU VERY MUCH. IT HAS BEEN MOVED AND SECONDED TO ADOPT THE CONSENT CALENDAR. WILL THE CLERK WAS CALLED THE ROLL ON THE ADOPTION OF THE CONSENT CALENDAR? >> [ ROLL BEING CALLED ] SEVEN IN FAVOR, NONE OPPOSED. >> THANK YOU. THE CONSENT CALENDAR ITEMS ARE ADOPTED. WILL YOU PLEASE AFFIX MY SIGNATURE TO THE MINUTES AND LEGISLATION ON THE CONSENT CALENDAR ON MY BEHALF? COMMITTEE REPORTS, THE FIRST ITEM ON TODAY'S AGENDA IS COUNCIL BILL 120927 RELATING TO FLOOD INSURANCE AND NORMALLY THE LAND-USE CHAIR WOULD SPEAK TO THIS BILL HOWEVER AS OUR NEW LAND-USE CHAIR JUST GOT STARTED LAST WEEK AND IS GETTING UP TO SPEED AND AS THE BILL MAKES AN EXTENSION TO INTERIM REGULATIONS THAT WE EXTENDED A NUMBER OF TIMES OUR LAND-USE VICE CHAIR COUNCILMEMBER STRAUSS HAS SPOKEN TO THESE ISSUES MANY TIMES PREVIOUSLY AND SO I ASKED HIM TO STEP IN AND SPEAK TODAY. HE HAS GENEROUSLY AGREED TO DO SO. WILL THE CLERK PLEASE READ ITEM ONE INTO THE RECORD? >> COUNCIL BILL 120927 RELATING TO FLOODPLAINS, AT THE EXTENSION OF INTERIM REGULATIONS ESTABLISHED BY ORDINANCE 126113 AND AS AMENDED BY ORDINANCE 126536 FOR AN ADDITIONAL SIX MONTHS TO ALLOW INDIVIDUALS TO RELY ON UPDATED NATIONAL FLOOD INSURANCE RATE MAPS TO OBTAIN FLOOD INSURANCE THROUGH THE FEDERAL EMERGENCY MANAGEMENT AGENCY'S FLOOD INSURANCE PROGRAM. >> I MOVED TO PASS CONSUL BUILT 120927. IT HAS BEEN MOVED AND SECONDED TO PASS THE BILL. COUNCILMEMBER STRAUSS YOU ARE ALLOWED TO ADDRESS IT. >> THEY REQUIRED AN UPDATE TO THE FLOODPLAIN TO REFLECT FEMA'S NEW FLOOD INSURANCE RATE MAP, THE NEW INSURANCE STUDY AS WELL AS THE CITY'S AUDIT OF THE FLOODPLAIN REGULATIONS THROUGH THIS AUDIT FEMA IDENTIFIED REAL PLACES THE SEATTLE CODE NEEDED TO BE AMENDED IN ORDER TO COMPLY WITH THEM OVER THE COURSE OF THE LAST SEVERAL YEARS THERE HAVE BEEN NEGOTIATIONS BETWEEN THE CITY AND THE PORT REGARDING THIS SPECIFICALLY WITH SDC I . ONCE IS THE CI -- THIS DECISION WAS AGAIN APPEALED BY THE PORT . SDC IVORY THROUGH DREW AND SEE BUT WORKED WITH THE PORT. THAT WAS COMPLETE AND THEN IN AUGUST OF 2024, SDC I ISSUED A NEW DECISION UPDATED PERMANENT FLOODPLAIN DEVELOPMENT REGULATIONS. THE DECISION WAS NOT APPEALED , HOWEVER THE REASON FOR EXTENSION IS THAT AFTER THE DECISION BUSINESS OWNERS ALONG THE WATERFRONT CAME FORWARD WITH ADDITIONAL CONCERNS , SDC I AND THE MAYOR'S OFFICE ARE WORKING TO RESOLVE THESE ISSUES AND MOVE FORWARD WITH PROPOSED PERMANENT REGULATIONS WITH CITY COUNCIL CONSIDERATION PRIOR TO THE EXPIRATION OF THIS CURRENT INTERIM REGULATION IN AUGUST OF 2025. I URGE A YES VOTE. THANK YOU, COLLEAGUES. >> THANK YOU VERY MUCH. ARE THERE ANY QUESTIONS? ANY COMMENTS? THE BILL HAS BEEN -- I MOVED TO PASS COUNCIL BILL 120927 . IT HAS ALREADY BEEN THROUGH THIS. THERE ARE NO COMMENTS OR QUESTIONS. WILL THE CLERK IS CALLED THE ROLL ON THE PASSAGE OF THE BILL? >> [ ROLL BEING CALLED ] EIGHT IN FAVOR, NONE OPPOSED. >> IT PASSES AND THE CHAIR WILL SIGN IT WILL THE CLERK IS AFFIX MY SIGNATURE TO THE LEGISLATION ON MY BEHALF? THERE WERE NO ITEMS REMOVED FROM THE CONSENT CALENDAR TODAY SO WILL THE CLERK PLEASE READ ITEM TWO INTO THE RECORD? UNDER THE ADOPTION OF OTHER RESOLUTIONS. >> RESOLUTION 321621 THIS IGNITION THE MONTHLY PRO TEM OF THE CITY COUNCIL OF THE CITY OF SEATTLE 2025 SUPERSEDING RESOLUTION 32123 . >> I MOVED TO ADOPT RESOLUTION 32161. IS THERE A SECOND? IT HAS BEEN MOVED AND SECONDED TO ADOPT THE RESOLUTION. I WILL ADDRESS IT FIRST AND THEN OPENED THE FLOOR TO COMMENTS FROM COUNCILMEMBERS. THIS IS A FAIRLY TECHNICAL BILL . RESOLUTION 32161 UPDATES THE MONTHLY COUNCIL PRESIDENT PRO TEM LIST TO INCLUDE COUNCILMEMBER SOLOMON IN PLACE OF FORMER COUNCILMEMBER MOORE ALICE AND SETS COUNCILMEMBER RICK AS THE PRESENT PRO TEM IN PLACE OF COUNCILMEMBER WU. IS THERE ANY QUESTIONS OR COMMENTS? SING NONE, WILL THE CLERK'S OFFICE. GO AHEAD. >> DOES THIS RESOLUTION NOT MAKE OTHER CHANGES AS WELL? >> NO IT DOES NOT. >> IS THAT COMING UP NEXT? >> WE HAVE THREE RESOLUTIONS TO THAT. WILL THE CLERK PLEASE CALL THE ROLL ON THE ADOPTION OF THE RESOLUTION? >> [ ROLL BEING CALLED ] EIGHT IN FAVOR, NONE OPPOSED. >> THE MOTION CARRIES IN THE RESOLUTION IS ADOPTED AND THE CHAIR WILL SIGN IT. WILL THE CLERK IS AFFIX MY SIGNATURE TO THE LEGISLATION ON MY BEHALF? WILL THE CLERK PLEASE READ ITEM TWO INTO THE RECORD? I DON'T ITEM THREE RESOLUTION 32162 RELATING TO COMMITTEE STRUCTURE, MEMBERSHIP, MEETING TIMES, AND DUTIES OF THE STANDING COMMITTEES OF THE SEATTLE CITY COUNCIL FOR 2025 AND SUPERSEDING RESOLUTION 32124. >> I MOVED TO ADOPT RESOLUTION 32162. IS THERE A SECOND? IT HAS BEEN MOVED AND SECONDED TO ADOPT THAT RESOLUTION. I WILL ADDRESS IT FIRST AND THEN OPENED THE FLOOR TO OPEN -- COMMENTS FROM COUNCILMEMBERS. RESOLUTION 32162 UPDATES THE MEMBERSHIP OF COUNCIL STANDING COMMITTEES . THE ONLY CHANGES UP TO THIS RESOLUTION AND AS YOU ARE AWARE, COUNCILMEMBER SAKA WILL TAKE COUNCILMEMBER MORALES' PLACE AND THEN COUNCILMEMBER SOLOMON WILL REPLACE COUNCILMEMBER SAKA IN THE DEVELOPMENT COMMITTEE. IT IS BASICALLY A ONE-TO-ONE SWITCH . THEN COUNCILMEMBER SOLOMON WILL TAKE ON THE REST OF THE STANDING COMMITTEES ONCE HELD BY COUNCILMEMBER MORALES. WILL THE CLERK --. ARE THERE ANY COMMENTS? GO AHEAD. >> I WILL BE SUPPORTING THE CHANGES TODAY AND I'M EXCITED TO HAVE COUNCILMEMBER SAKA JOINED THE FINANCE NATIVE COMMITTEE . I AM NOTING FOR THE RECORD THAT CHANGING COMMITTEE ASSIGNMENTS OUTSIDE OF THE STANDARD TWO-YEAR CYCLE IS OUT OF THE ORDINARY AND NORM. I UNDERSTAND THERE HAS BEEN A LOT OF CHANGES OVER THESE LAST FEW 13 MONTHS AND I WILL BE SUPPORTING THE RESOLUTION. I WANT TO NOTE FOR THE RECORD TO REFLECT I HAVE NOT SEEN THIS TYPE OF ACTION TAKE PLACE SINCE COMING TO CITY HALL. THANK YOU. >> THANK YOU FOR THOSE COMMENTS. IT IS ALSO IRREGULAR FOR -- TO HAVE A VACANCY BUT WE HAVE ALREADY BEEN THROUGH THAT. LET ME TELL YOU WHY I AM DOING THIS. WHEN I WAS GOING THROUGH COMMITTEE ASSIGNMENTS IN PREPARATION FOR THE PRESIDENCY AND THIS TERM, I GAVE PREFERENCE TO THE SENIOR MEMBERS OF THE CITY COUNCIL, YOU AND COUNCILMEMBER MORE ALICE -- MORALES . YOU CHOSE FINANCE AND THEY CHOSE LAND-USE. YOU ALSO WANTED TO BE ON THE SOUND TRANSIT BOARD AND WHEN -- EVEN THOUGH COUNCILMEMBER SAKA WAS TRANSPORTATION CHAIR , THAT WENT FORWARD. HE VERY MUCH -- COUNCILMEMBER SAKA WANTED TO BE -- FIRST OF ALL I WANT TO REMIND FOLKS THERE WERE FOUR PEOPLE WHO WANTED TO BE PUBLIC SAFETY CHAIR. COUNCILMEMBER SAKA WAS ONE OF THOSE PEOPLE. HE ENDED UP CHAIRING TRANSPORTATION AND IT WOULD HAVE MADE SENSE FOR HIM TO -- . IT WOULD HAVE MADE SENSE -- I'M GETTING TO MY POINT ABOUT WHAT IT IS SO REGULAR. AND SO, YOU GOT FINANCE AND SOUND TRANSIT. HE WANTED TO -- I FELT THAT IT WAS CORRECT WHEN IT WAS ANNOUNCED THAT COUNCILMEMBER MORALES WOULD BE LEAVING AND THERE WOULD BE A SPOT LEFT , THERE WOULD BE AN OPEN SPOT ON THE LAND USE COMMITTEE AND HE ASKED FOR AND I THOUGHT IT WAS THE RIGHT THING TO DO. NOT ONLY BECAUSE HE ASKED LAST YEAR AND HAD NOT GOTTEN ANY OF HIS FIRST CHOICES, ALSO BECAUSE I PRIVILEGED YOU AND COUNCILMEMBER MORALES AS THE SENIOR MEMBERS AND SAKA HAS MORE SENIORITY THAN COUNCILMEMBER SOLOMON EVEN THOUGH NOT VERY MUCH THERE AS I EXPLAINED TO COUNCILMEMBER SOLOMON AND OTHER APPLICANTS TO THE ACTUAL VACANCY FOR DISTRICT TWO, I LET PEOPLE KNOW THIS WAS MY INTENTION. WASN'T GOING TO BE A PROBLEM? NO ONE, INCLUDING COUNCILMEMBER SOLOMON SAID IT WOULD BE A PROBLEM TO BE ON MY COMMITTEE INSTEAD OF THE LAND-USE. THAT IS A LONG EXPLANATION FOR EXPLAINING -- I KNOW. FOR EXPLAINING HOW IRREGULAR IT IS, BUT I JUST REALLY IN A COLLABORATIVE SPIRIT, WANTED TO UPHOLD -- NOT APPALLED, I WANTED TO GRANT COUNCILMEMBER SAKA'S WISH AND WELL REASONED ARGUMENT TO BE ON THE FINANCE COMMITTEE. JUST A SECOND. COUNCILMEMBER SAKA ? COUNCILMEMBER STRAUSS? >> I TRY TO INTERJECT TO SAY, YOU DON'T NEED TO EXPLAIN TO ME YOUR REASONING. I WAS STATING FOR THE RECORD. YOU WILL SEE TOMORROW FOR MYSELF IN THE FINANCE COMMITTEE WHERE WE WILL BE TALKING ABOUT THE THINGS WE DO DIFFERENTLY LAST YEAR THE THINGS WE ARE LOOKING TO DO THIS NEXT YEAR AND JUST NOTING THINGS ARE -- WHEN THEY ARE OUT OF THE NORM IN STANDARD PRACTICE BECAUSE WITH SO MANY NEW FOLKS I HAD A CONVERSATION WITH SOMEBODY LAST YEAR ABOUT HOW MANY THINGS HAVE BEEN DIFFERENT THAT I HAD NOT EVER SEEN BEFORE AND THEY DIDN'T REALIZE THAT THINGS HAVE CHANGED. I'M JUST NOTING FOR THE RECORD THAT THIS IS OUT OF THE STANDARD AND NORM. THAT'S WHY I SAID QUOTE, I UNDERSTAND THERE HAS BEEN A LOT OF CHANGE IN THESE FEW 13 MONTHS. THAT INCORPORATES TWO DIFFERENT COUNCILMEMBERS COMING AND GOING . THAT IS A LONG WAY OF SAYING, I JUST WANTED IT NOTED FOR THE RECORD. THANK YOU, COUNCIL PRESIDENT. >> THANK YOU VERY MUCH. ANY OTHER COMMENTS? ALL RIGHT. WILL THE CLERK PLEASE CALL THE ROLL ON THE ADOPTION OF THE RESOLUTION? >> [ ROLL BEING CALLED ] SEVEN IN FAVOR, NONE OPPOSED. >> THE MOTION CARRIES IN THE RESOLUTION -- . >> IN FAVOR, I'M SORRY, EIGHT IN FAVOR NONE OPPOSED. THANK YOU. >> THE MOTION CARRIES IN THE RESOLUTION IS ADOPTED AND THE CHAIR WILL FIND IT. WILL THE CLERK IS AFFIX MY SIGNATURE TO THE LEGISLATION ON MY BEHALF? WILL THE CLERK READ ITEM FOUR INTO THE AGENDA? >> RESOLUTION 32163, RELATING TO PARTS THE PATIENT FOR 2025 ON KING COUNTY COMMITTEES, ORIGINAL COMMITTEES, STATE COMMITTEES, AND CITY OF SEATTLE COMMITTEES AND SUPERSEDING RESOLUTION 23157. >> I MOVED TO ADOPT RESOLUTION 32163. IS THERE A SECOND? IT IS MOVED AND SECONDED TO ADOPT THE RESOLUTION AS SPONSORED OF THE RESOLUTION, I WILL ADDRESS IT FIRST AND OPEN TO THE FLOOR FOR COUNCILMEMBERS. RESOLUTION 32163 UPDATES COUNCIL MEMBERSHIP ON EXTERNAL COMMITTEES . THE CHANGES THERE ARE LIMITED TO COUNCILMEMBER RIVERA TAKING COUNCILMEMBER MORALES PLACE AS A SEATTLE REPRESENTATIVE TO THE ASSOCIATION OF WASHINGTON CITY. COUNCILMEMBER RINK IS TAKING COUNCILMEMBER SAKA'S PLACE ON THAT PSR IS THE ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT DISTRICT BOARD WHICH CONFLICTS WITH FINANCE AND COUNCILMEMBER SOLOMON TAKING THE REMAINDER OF COUNCILMEMBER MORALES COMMITTEE ASSIGNMENTS. ANY QUESTIONS OR COMMENTS? WILL THE CLERK PLEASE CALL THE ROLL ON THE ADOPTION OF THE RESOLUTION? >> [ ROLL BEING CALLED ] EIGHT IN FAVOR, NONE OPPOSED. >> WILL THE CLERK IS CALLED THE ROLL -- EXCUSE ME PICK THE MOTION CARRIES IN THE RESOLUTION IS ADOPTED AND THE CHAIR WILL SIGN IT. WILL THE CLERK IS AFFIX MY SIGNATURE TO THE LEGISLATION ON MY BEHALF? ALL RIGHT. IS THERE ANY FURTHER BUSINESS TO COME BEFORE COUNCIL? WE HAVE REACHED THE END OF TODAY'S AGENDA. OUR NEXT REGULARLY SCHEDULED CITY COUNCIL MEETING WILL BE ON FEBRUARY 11th AT 2:00 P.M. . HEARING NO FURTHER BUSINESS, WE ARE ADJOURNED AND IT IS TO: 44 -- 2:44.