>>> ALL RIGHT, FOLKS. GOOD AFTERNOON. THE OCTOBER 14, 2025 MEETING OF THE SEATTLE CITY COUNCIL WILL COME TO ORDER. IT IS 2:04 P.M. I'M SARA NELSON, COUNCIL PRESIDENT. WILL THE CLERK PLEASE CALL THE ROLL? >> COUNCILMEMBER SAKA? >> HERE. >> COUNCILMEMBER SOLOMON? >> HERE. >> COUNCILMEMBER STRAUSS? >> HERE. >> COUNCILMEMBER HOLLINGSWORTH? >> HERE. >> COUNCILMEMBER JUAREZ? >> HERE. >> COUNCILMEMBER KETTLE? >> HERE. >> COUNCILMEMBER RINCK? >> PRESENT. >> COUNCILMEMBER RIVERA? >> PRESENT. >> COUNCIL PRESIDENT NELSON? >> PRESENT. >> NINE PRESENT. >> THANK YOU VERY MUCH. ALL RIGHT, COUNCILMEMBER JUAREZ HAS TWO PROCLAMATIONS FOR PRESENTATION AND SIGNATURE TODAY. COUNCILMEMBER JUAREZ WILL SHARE COMMENTS ON THE PROCLAMATION, AND THEN I'LL OPEN THE FLOOR FOR COMMENTS FROM COUNCIL MEMBERS. AFTER COUNCIL MEMBERS HAVE MADE THEIR COMMENTS, THE ROLL WILL BE CALLED TO AFFIX SIGNATURES TO BOTH PROCLAMATIONS, AND THEN WE WILL SUSPEND THE RULES TO PRESENT THE PROCLAMATION TO OUR GUEST AND ALLOW OUR GUEST TO PROVIDE BRIEF COMMENTS BACK. COUNCILMEMBER JUAREZ, YOU ARE RECOGNIZED IN ORDER TO ADDRESS THE PROCLAMATION, PROCLAIMING OCTOBER 2025 AS DOMESTIC VIOLENCE AWARENESS MONTH IN SEATTLE. >> THANK YOU, COUNCIL PRESIDENT. I APOLOGIZE. I HAVE TWO PROCLAMATIONS, AND WE HAVE TWO GUESTS, SO I'M GOING TO BRIEFLY GO OVER THEM, AND THEN I KNOW MY COLLEAGUES WILL HAVE QUESTIONS LATER AFTER THE PRESENTATION TO OPEN UP THE FLOOR. SO THE FIRST PROCLAMATION IS DOMESTIC VIOLENCE AWARENESS MONTH IN SEATTLE. THAT IS GOING TO BE PRESENTED BY JUDITH. JUDITH, I'M GOING TO GET YOUR NAME WRONG. WHERE ARE YOU? I SAID IT WRONG, DIDN'T I? I KNEW I DID. JUST LET ME GO WITH JUDITH. JUDITH IS FROM THE MAYOR'S OFFICE. BUT JUST AS A GENERAL ONE, THERE IS ANOTHER ONE AFTER THIS. I'M GOING TO READ THE FIRST SECTION, AND THEN TELL YOU A LITTLE BIT OF WHAT THIS IS. OUR PRESENTERS CAN SHARE MORE. WHEREAS THE NATIONAL DOMESTIC VIOLENCE AWARENESS MONTH WAS FIRST ESTABLISHED IN OCTOBER, 1987, TO FOSTER DIALOGUE, STRENGTHEN SURVIVOR'S PROTECTIONS, EDUCATE LEADERS, AND ENCOURAGE PUBLIC ACTION AGAINST ABUSE. AND I'M GOING TO LET OUR PRESENTERS GO MORE IN DEPTH. BUT I REMEMBER WHEN WE WERE DOING THIS A LONG TIME AGO. SO WHAT WE WANT TO DO AS A CITY, IN THE END IN THE WHEREAS, THE CITY OF SEATTLE IS HOSTING A DOMESTIC VIOLENCE EVENT AT CITY HALL ON OCTOBER 28 FROM 1 11:00 TO 2:00 TO HONOR ADVOCATES, CASE MANAGERS, ORGANIZATIONS AND SURVIVORS WHO CULTIVATE HOPE AND HEALING FOR GENDER BASED VIOLENCE. WHEREAS THIS OCTOBER, THE CITY OF SEATTLE RECOGNIZES THURSDAY, OCTOBER 16 AS PURPLE THURSDAY, A DAY OF ACTION, TO HONOR SURVIVORS, RAISE AWARENESS, AND RENEW OUR PLEDGE TO EDGING DOMESTIC VIOLENCE. I HAVE A LITTLE BIT MORE ON THE SECOND PROCLAMATION. AND I KNOW I'M GOING TO GET THIS NAME WRONG TOO. YOU'RE GOING TO HAVE TO HELP ME OUT. THE SECOND PROCLAMATION IS A LITTLE MORE INTENTIONAL IN DEALING WITH AND DISCUSSING AND ALSO HIGHLIGHTING OUR IMMIGRANT POPULATION. AND IT STARTS OUT AS WHEREAS SEATTLE IS STRENGTHENED BY ITS DIVERSE IMMIGRANT IN REFUGEE COMMUNITIES WHOSE CULTURAL, SOCIAL, AND ECONOMIC CONTRIBUTIONS ENRICH THE LIVES OF OUR CITY. IT BASICALLY GOES IN TO THE DOMESTIC VIOLENCE AND GENDER BASED VIOLENCE THAT HAPPENS IN THESE COMMUNITIES THAT ARE OFTEN SILENT, FOR DIFFERENT REASONS, AND I'LL LET, AGAIN, OUR GUESTS GO INTO THAT. SO THEREFORE THE MAYOR IS GOING TO DECLARE, AS WELL AS SEATTLE CITY COUNCIL, THAT DOMESTIC VIOLENCE AWARENESS MONTH IS THIS MONTH IN SEATTLE. AGAIN, IT STATES AND ENDS WITH RECOGNITION OF THE DISPROPORTIONATE IMPACT OF GENDER BASED VIOLENCE ON IMMIGRANT AND REFUGEE COMMUNITIES, INCLUDING WOMEN, LGBTQ+, AND GENDER DIVERSE SURVIVORS IN SEATTLE. WE URGE ALL RESIDENTS TO STAND WITH SURVIVORS, RAISE AWARENESS, AND HELP BUILD A FUTURE FREE OF VIOLENCE AND FEAR. WITH THAT, COUNCIL PRESIDENT, I'M GOING TO HAND IT BACK TO YOU, AND THEN I'LL HAVE SOME CLOSING COMMENTS. >> OKAY, THANK YOU VERY MUCH FOR THIS PRESENTATION. I'LL NOW OPEN THE FLOOR TO COMMENTS OR QUESTIONS FROM COUNCILMEMBERS? JUST A SECOND HERE. JUST RAISE YOUR HAND TO GET MY ATTENTION AS I PULL THIS UP. ALL RIGHT, GO AHEAD COUNCILMEMBER STRAUSS? >> THANK YOU, COUNCIL PRESIDENT. JUST A NOTE OF APPRECIATION TO COUNCILMEMBER JUAREZ FOR CONTINUING TO HOLD THIS MANTLE UP. THANK YOU TO EVERYONE IN THE AUDIENCE WHO'S RECEIVING THE PROCLAMATIONS FOR THE IMPORTANT WORK YOU DO ON BEHALF OF SEATTLE. NOT GOING TO GO INTO DETAILS HERE, BUT WE RELY ON YOU IN SO MANY WAYS THAN YOU KNOW, SO THANK YOU. >> COUNCILMEMBER KETTLE? >> THANK YOU, COUNCIL PRESIDENT, COUNCILMEMBER JUAREZ, I ALSO SUPPORT THIS. WITH THE DOMESTIC VIOLENCE PREVENTION COUNCIL, THE WORK OF, YOU KNOW, THE FIRE CHIEF, THE DIRECTOR OF HSD, THE CITY ATTORNEY, AND US HERE ON THE COUNCIL DOES A LOT OF WORK IN THIS AREA. IT'S REALLY IMPORTANT, AND WE NEED TO ENSURE WE HAVE THESE BASES COVERED, AND TO REALLY -- A PART OF THAT IS REALLY RAISING AWARENESS, SO THANK YOU FOR YOUR WORK ON THIS. I THINK IT'S REALLY IMPORTANT IN SOMETHING WE CAN BUILD ON. THANK YOU, COUNCIL PRESIDENT. >> I WILL ALSO EXTEND -- OH, COUNCILMEMBER RIVERA? >> THANK YOU, COUNCIL PRESIDENT. I TOO WANT TO EXTEND MY GRATITUDE TO OUR COLLEAGUE, COUNCILMEMBER JUAREZ, FOR BRINGING THIS PROCLAMATION FORWARD. IT IS IMPORTANT TO RECOGNIZE WHAT MANY IN OUR COMMUNITY -- COMMUNITIES DEAL WITH. I THINK WE ALWAYS HAVE TO TAKE THE TIME TO RECOGNIZE THE VARIOUS ISSUES AND STRUGGLES THAT OUR COMMUNITIES ARE FACING IN TERMS OF PROVIDING SUPPORT, A VOICE OF SUPPORT AND DOMESTIC VIOLENCE IS CERTAINLY AMONG THOSE THINGS WE NEED TO SPEAK OUT LOUDLY AGAINST AND SUPPORT OF THE VICTIMS. SO THANK YOU, COUNCILMEMBER JUAREZ, FOR BRINGING THIS FORWARD. I'M SO HAPPY TO LEND MY SUPPORT TO THIS PROCLAMATION. >> THANK YOU. >> ALL RIGHT. I'M NOT SEEING ANYTHING ELSE. I'LL ADD MY VOICE. THANK YOU VERY MUCH AND THANK YOU TO ALL OF THE SUPPORT AND THE PROVIDERS THAT ARE DOING THE WORK OUT THERE BECAUSE I OFTEN THINK OF DOMESTIC VIOLENCE OR GENDER BASED VIOLENCE AS A GATEWAY CRIME. AS A GATEWAY ISSUE THAT LEADS TO SO MANY OF SOCIETY'S ILLS. HOMELESSNESS WHEN FLEEING VIOLENCE IN THE HOME. LOSS OF JOB, LOSS OF CHILDREN BECAUSE THEY GET SOMETIMES SEPARATED FROM PARENTS. IT CAN LEAD ALSO TO VIOLENCE, PERPETUATED WITHIN THE FAMILY UNIT. AND SO BY ADDRESSING IT UPSTREAM, WE REALLY DO -- WE ARE ALSO PREVENTING FURTHER HARM DOWNSTREAM. I ALSO HAVE TO NOTE THAT WHEN WE KNOW THAT WHEN LOOKING INTO THE HISTORY OF PEOPLE WHO HAVE ENGAGED IN SOMETIMES QUITE SERIOUS PUBLIC SHOOTINGS, FOR EXAMPLE, AND OTHER CRIMES. OFTENTIMES IT'S DOMESTIC VIOLENCE IN THEIR HISTORY. SO IT'S AN INDICATOR AS WELL AS SERIOUS PROBLEMS. I THINK IT'S EXTREMELY IMPORTANT WE FOCUS OUR ATTENTION AND INVESTMENT ON THIS ISSUE, SO THANK YOU VERY MUCH FOR BRINGING THIS FORWARD. >> DID YOU WANT ME TO -- >> GO AHEAD. >> OKAY. >> IF NOBODY ELSE WANTS TO MAKE ANY COMMENTS, I'D HAVE TO DO IT -- >> SORRY, I WAS GOING TO WAIT TO DO THE CLOSING. >> GO AHEAD. >> OKAY, GREAT. I JUST WANT TO ADD A FEW OTHER ITEMS IN. THANK MY COLLEAGUES FOR BEING SUPPORTIVE HERE TODAY. THANK THE MAYOR'S OFFICE FOR BRINGING THE FIRST PROCLAMATION, DOMESTIC VIOLENCE AWARENESS MONTH, AND THANK THE SEATTLE WOMEN'S COMMISSION FOR BRINGING THIS FORWARD TO PUT A SPOTLIGHT ON DOMESTIC VIOLENCE IN IMMIGRANT COMMUNITIES. WE ALL KNOW THAT YOU CAN JUDGE A SOCIETY BY THE WAY THEY TREAT THEIR WOMEN AND CHILDREN. LAWS AND POLICIES AND PROTECTIONS. THAT ISN'T JUST THE UNITED STATES, BUT IT'S GLOBALLY. I THINK I READ A UNITED NATION'S CHARTER ISSUE ABOUT THAT. I'M NOT, YOU KNOW, THROWING SHADE ON OTHER COUNTRIES, BUT I THINK WE CAN ALL AGREE THAT HOW A SOCIETY TREATS ITS WOMEN AND CHILDREN AND AFFORDS LAWS AND PROTECTIONS IS REALLY A MEASURE ABOUT ISM. I PROBABLY SHOULDN'T SAY THIS, BUT WOMEN'S RIGHTS OR HUMAN RIGHTS, AND I DIDN'T COIN THAT ISSUE. HILLARY CLINTON DID, BUT I ALWAYS BELIEVE THAT, AND I'M GLAD YOU BROUGHT THIS FORWARD TODAY. I HAVE A QUICK FEW FACTS I WANTED TO SHARE BECAUSE WE KNEW WE WERE GOING TO DO THESE TWO PROCLAMATIONS FOR YOUR GROUP. FOR THE CITY OF SEATTLE, WE HAVE OVER 35 PARTNERS SERVING MORE THAN 10,000 SURVIVORS AND THEIR FAMILIES. THIS IS FOR PARTICULARLY FOR INDIAN COUNTRY. WE HAVE THE GENDER BASED VIOLENCE PROGRAMMING, HELPING INDIVIDUALS FLEEING IT IN THOSE SORTS OF SURVIVORS THAT ARE RECOVERING. I WANT TO THANK THIS COUNCIL AND PRIOR COUNCILS FOR FUNDING THAT EVERY YEAR. WE ALSO KNOW DEPARTMENT OF JUSTICE AWARDED $8 MILLION TO COMBAT DOMESTIC VIOLENCE IN SEPTEMBER -- THIS IS SEPTEMBER 2024. THIS IS WHERE WE DID -- THIS CITY, WE WENT TO WASHINGTON, D.C. ON THE CITY'S BEHALF TO ADVOCATE FOR THE VIOLENCE AGAINST WOMEN'S ACT. AND IT HAS TO BE RENEWED EVERY FOUR YEARS. THAT WAS REALLY IMPORTANT NATIONALLY TO DO. IT WAS ORIGINALLY ENACTED IN 1994. WE WENT BACK TO MAKE SURE IT WAS REAUTHORIZED FOUR YEARS LATER, AND IT WAS REAUTHORIZED IN 2022, AND IT WILL EXPIRE AGAIN IN 2027. SO AGAIN, WE WILL BE IN WASHINGTON, D.C. I WON'T BE HERE, BUT I'M SURE ONE OF MY COLLEAGUES WILL, TO MAKE SURE WE HAVE THAT BECAUSE WE DO GET FUNDING FOR THAT. BUT MORE IMPORTANTLY, IT KEEPS WOMEN, CHILDREN, AND THE ISSUE OF DOMESTIC VIOLENCE IN THE FOREFRONT. AND I THINK THAT'S REALLY IMPORTANT. AND SO WITH THAT, I JUST WANT TO THANK YOU GUYS FOR COMING, GETTING US THE PROCLAMATION, AND PARTICULARLY THE WOMEN'S COMMISSION AND THE MAYOR'S OFFICE. THANK YOU, COUNCIL PRESIDENT. >> THANK YOU. ALL RIGHT. SEEING NO FURTHER COMMENTS. LET'S GO AHEAD AND SUSPEND THE RULE. IF THERE'S NO OBJECTION -- WELL, FIRST OF ALL, LET'S TAKE THE VOTE FOR THE SIGNATURES, AND THEN WE'LL SUSPEND THE RULES FOR OUR GUEST TO SPEAK. OKAY. SEEING THERE'S NO FURTHER DISCUSSION ON THE PROCLAMATION, WILL THE CLERK PLEASE CALL THE ROLL TO DETERMINE WHICH COUNCIL MEMBERS WOULD LIKE THEIR SIGNATURES AFFIXED TO THE PROCLAMATIONS, PROCLAIMING OCTOBER 2025 AS DOMESTIC VIOLENCE AWARENESS MONTH IN SEATTLE? >> COUNCILMEMBER SAKA? >> AYE. >> COUNCILMEMBER SOLOMON? >> AYE. >> COUNCILMEMBER STRAUSS? >> AYE. >> COUNCILMEMBER HOLLINGSWORTH? >> YES. >> COUNCILMEMBER JUAREZ? >> AYE. >> COUNCILMEMBER KETTLE? >> AYE. >> COUNCILMEMBER RINCK? >> YES. >> COUNCILMEMBER RIVERA? >> AYE. >> COUNCIL PRESIDENT NELSON? >> AYE. >> NINE SIGNATURES WILL BE AFFIXED. >> ALL RIGHT. THANK YOU VERY MUCH. OKAY. NOW IF THERE'S NO OBJECTION, THE COUNCIL RULES WILL BE SUSPENDED TO PRESENT THE PROCLAMATION AND ALLOW OUR GUEST TO ACCEPT IT AND PROVIDE REMARKS. HEARING NO OBJECTION, THE COUNCIL RULES ARE SUSPENDED. THE PROCLAMATION WILL NOW BE PRESENTED. AFTER IT'S PRESENTED, JUDITH WHOSE NAME I'M GOING TO MISS PRONOUNCE, FROM THE MAYOR'S OFFICE ON DOMESTIC VIOLENCE AND SEXUAL ASSAULT, AND NASIM FROM THE SEATTLE WOMEN'S COMMISSION WILL PROVIDE SOME BRIEF REMARKS AS WELL. PICTURES. >> HI, GOOD AFTERNOON. MY NAME IS JUDITH, AND I'M WITH THE MAYOR'S OFFICE ON DOMESTIC VIOLENCE AND SEXUAL ASSAULT, WHICH IS PART OF THE SEATTLE HUMAN SERVICES DEPARTMENT. I JUST WANT TO GIVE THANKS TO COUNCILMEMBER JUAREZ FOR PUSHING THIS PROCLAMATION, AND REALLY SHEDDING LIGHT INTO THIS ISSUE OF DOMESTIC VIOLENCE. I ALSO WANT TO THANK COUNCILMEMBER KETTLE FOR HIS WORK AS A COCHAIR FOR THE DOMESTIC VIOLENCE PREVENTION COUNCIL. SO OCTOBER MARKS DOMESTIC VIOLENCE AWARENESS MONTH. A TIME TO REAFFIRM OUR COLLECTIVE RESPONSIBILITY TO PROTECT THE MOST VULNERABLE AMONG US. DV AFFECTS MILLIONS OF INDIVIDUALS ACROSS THE COUNTRY, CUTTING ACROSS EVERY DEMOGRAPHIC AND EVERY COMMUNITY. IT IS NOT ONLY A PERSONAL TRAGEDY, BUT A PUBLIC ISSUE THAT DEMANDS ACTION AT EVERY LEVEL OF GOVERNMENT. AS POLICYMAKERS AND PUBLIC SERVANTS, WE MUST ENSURE THAT SURVIVORS HAVE ACCESS TO SAFE HOUSING, LEGAL PROTECTION, MENTAL HEALTH SERVICES, AND JUSTICE. WE ALSO -- WE MUST ALSO INVEST IN PREVENTION THROUGH EDUCATION, EARLY INTERVENTION, SUPPORT FOR VULNERABLE COMMUNITIES. LET US NOT ONLY RAISE AWARENESS, BUT COMMIT TO LONG-TERM SOLUTIONS. SAFETY IS NOT A PRIVILEGE, IT IS A BASIC RIGHT. THANK YOU. >> THANK YOU. [ APPLAUSE ] >> THANK YOU SO MUCH, THE WHOLE COUNCIL. IS THIS WORKING? PERFECT. THANK YOU. MY NAME IS NASIM. I'M ONE OF THE COMMISSIONERS WITH THE SEATTLE WOMEN'S COMMISSION AS PART OF SEATTLE OFFICE OF CIVIL RIGHTS. I'M ABSOLUTELY HONORED TO BE HERE WITH SOME OF MY AMAZING FELLOW CO-COMMISSIONERS HERE, BRINGING THE ATTENTION TO ADDITIONAL BURDEN OF THE GENDER BASED VIOLENCE AND DOMESTIC VIOLENCE ON IMMIGRANT COMMUNITIES. WHILE THE DATA IS ALREADY STAGGERING FOR DOMESTIC VIOLENCE AND GENDER BASED VIOLENCE IN THE UNITED STATES, ONE EVERY FOUR WOMEN AND ONE IN EVERY NINE MEN HAS EXPERIENCED THIS VIOLENCE IN THEIR LIFETIME. THE DAY IT COMES TO IMMIGRANT COMMUNITIES CAN REACH UP TO 94%. COUNCILMEMBERS, THE MEN AND WOMEN YOU SEE EVERY DAY, MANY OF THEM COME FROM THE COUNTRIES, EITHER FROM BACKGROUNDS OR DISPLACED BY WAR OR THEY ARE REFUGEES. THEY HAVE EITHER EXPERIENCED THESE VIOLENCE FIRSTHAND, AND THEY CONTINUE TO REMAIN VULNERABLE EVEN AFTER MOVING HERE. THERE'S MULTIPLE CULTURAL BARRIERS THAT PREVENT THEM FROM SEEKING HELP OR EXPRESSING THE TRAUMA THEY SUFFERED FROM. TODAY, WE WANT TO TELL THEM WE HEAR THEM, WE SEE THEM, WE KNOW THEIR EXISTENCE, AND WE RESPECT THEIR RESILIENCE. WE KNOW THEY'RE TRYING TO BUILD FAMILIES AMONG US. WE ADMIRE THEM. VIOLENCE IS NOT CULTURAL, IT IS THE PRODUCT OF SYSTEMS THAT TEACH DOMINATION INSTEAD OF EQUALITY. THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR ALLOWING US TO BE HERE TO BRING ATTENTION TO THIS ISSUE. HUGE THANKS FOR RECOGNIZING THIS BURDEN FOR THIS COMMUNITY. [ APPLAUSE ] >> THANK YOU. ALL RIGHT. THANK YOU VERY MUCH EVERYONE. WE WILL NOW, COLLEAGUES, MOVE INTO THE HYBRID PUBLIC COMMENT PERIOD. PUBLIC COMMENT IS LIMITED TO ITEMS ON TODAY'S AGENDA. THE INTRODUCTION AND REFERRAL CALENDAR AND THE COUNCIL WORK PROGRAM. HOW MANY PEOPLE ARE SIGNED UP TODAY? >> YOU HAVE 13 REMOTE AND 16 IN PERSON. >> OKAY. EVERYONE WILL GET ONE MINUTE. LET'S START WITH THE IN-PERSON COMMENTERS. WE WILL GO AHEAD AND DO -- LET'S JUST DO THEM ALL IN PERSON AND THEN REMOTE. IT'S EASIER. >> OKAY. >> SPEAKERS WILL BE CALLED IN THE ORDER OF WHICH THEY'RE REGISTERED. SPEAKERS WILL HEAR A CHIME WHEN TEN SECONDS ARE LEFT OF THEIR TIME. SPEAKERS' MICS WILL BE MUTED IF THEY DO NOT END THEIR COMMENTS WITHIN THE ALLOTTED TIME, TO ALLOW US TO CALL ON THE NEXT SPEAKER. >> WE'RE GOING TO START WITH DEAN. JODY, CAN YOU DO ME A FAVOR? CAN YOU STOP SHARING YOUR SCREEN, AND I WILL DO THE TIMER IN HERE, SO WE CAN TIME THE SPEAKER. THERE WE GO, SO WE CAN SEE. >> WE WILL DOUBLE THE TIME FOR THIS? >> YES. >> I APPRECIATE THAT. >> WE ARE MOVING YOU UP FIRST. >> ARE YOU READY? >> THE INTERPRETER CAN'T SEE. >> THERE WE ARE. >> OKAY, GREAT. THANK YOU. >> CAN THE CAMERA BE MOVED SOME? SO THAT I CAN SEE YOUR PRESENTER BETTER. >> IS IT POSSIBLE TO -- ALSO, I HAVE REQUESTED I DO NEED TO HAVE A TEAM ON THIS CALL WITH ME. I'M SORRY I INTERRUPTED YOUR MEETING TO SAY THAT. >> DO WE NEED TO MAKE AN ADDITIONAL REQUEST OR ARE YOU DOING THAT ON YOUR END? >> I CAN'T CALL -- YOU WOULD NEED TO ADD THEM ON YOUR END. >> THANK YOU SO MUCH. I APPRECIATE YOU. >> ALL RIGHT, I'M READY FOR YOU. >> I AM A RECIPIENT OF MFT. AS AN ADA ACCOMMODATION, I WILL NEED MORE TIME AS MY FINGERS DISLOCATE, AND I AM STILL LEARNING ASL AFTER HAVING MY VOICEBOX REMOVED AFTER A PESTICIDE EXPOSURE UNTIL THE HOTEL. THE WESTERN EXTERMINATOR HIRED BY TONYA, WHO WOULD NOT LET ME MASK, WHILE THEY SPRAYED PESTICIDES IN MY UNITS INDOORS. OUR BUILDING HAS HAD A ROACH AND BEDBUG INFESTATION FOR OVER A YEAR. I AM NOW A STAGE IV CANCER PATIENT AS COUNCILMEMBER JUAREZ SAID, YOU CAN JUDGE A CITY AND COMMUNITY BASED ON HOW YOU TREAT ITS WOMEN. CHILDREN AND CANCER PATIENTS. MFT WAS THE PROMISE IF YOU BUILD THESE LUXURY APARTMENTS THAT YOU, THE CITY, WOULD MAKE SPACE FOR THE PEOPLE WHO ARE SEATTLE. PEOPLE LIKE ME WHO WORKED IN SEATTLE BEFORE CANCER AND WOULD HAVE TO HAVE A POSITIVE BACKGROUND CHECK AND MEET INCOME REQUIREMENTS. I WAS ABLE TO MAKE THESE REQUIREMENTS. BUT SO MANY GOOD TENANTS IN SEATTLE CAN'T. AND NOW YOU'RE TRYING TO UP THESE REQUIREMENTS THAT WOULD DISQUALIFY EVEN MORE APPLICANTS THAT WOULD BE GREAT TENANTS. THE BIGGEST ISSUE IS THAT MFT UNITS COST TOO MUCH AND COST TO CLIENTS NEED TO BE LOWERED. MFT NEEDS TO ACCOUNT FOR THE INSANE INFLATION THE CITY FACES AS FAR AS FOOD COSTS, AND LARGE-SCALED LAYOFFS, AND THE GOVERNMENT FURLOUGHS AND SHUTDOWN. IT NEEDS TO ACCOUNT FOR THE FAMILIES SHELTERING IN PLACE, DUE TO ILLEGAL CONSTITUTIONALIZED RAIDS. ACCORDING TO SEATTLE TIMES, ABOUT 85% OF RENTERS IN THOSE APARTMENTS WERE PAYING MORE THAN 30% OF THEIR INCOME ON RENT, WHILE A QUARTER WERE PAYING MORE THAN HALF THEIR INCOME, ACCORDING TO THE REPORT. LAST YEAR, THE CITY'S OFFICE OF HOUSING PROPOSED THAT ELECTED OFFICIALS LOWER RENT LIMITS IN MULTI-FAMILY PROPERTY TAX EXEMPTION UNITS FROM WHAT THEY CURRENTLY ARE TO FIX THESE ISSUES. DEVELOPERS PROTESTED, SAYING THE REQUIREMENTS WOULD BE TOO EXPENSIVE TO BE WORTH THE TAX EXEMPTION. SO THE CITY CAME BACK WITH A NEW PLAN. THIS PLAN ALREADY RULES OUT MANY SURVIVORS OF DOMESTIC VIOLENCE, FINANCIAL ABUSE, WHO HAS THEIR CREDIT RUINED BY AN ABUSIVE PARTNER. YOU'RE MAKING IT IMPOSSIBLE FOR A STUDENT WITH ZERO CREDIT WHO GOT KICKED OUT OF THEIR HOME FOR BEING GAY OR TRANS. YOU'RE MAKING IT IMPOSSIBLE FOR SENIOR CANCER PATIENT WITH MEDICAL DEBT. I WAS STILL GIVEN A UNIT THAT I HAD TO BE MOVED FROM DUE TO A HOLE IN THE CEILING THAT ACCUMULATED MOLD. MFT ALSO ASKS FOR PROVIDING A POSITIVE CONSISTENT RENTAL HISTORY. THIS MEANS THAT IF YOU EVER COMPLAINED ABOUT ISSUES WITHIN YOUR BUILDING LIKE MINE, YOU MAY NOT BE APPROVED FOR HOUSING. IT MAY BE A STANDARD ACROSS HOUSING IT DISCOURAGES TENANTS FROM BEING ABLE TO COMPLAIN ABOUT SAFETY ISSUES LIKE MINE. THERE ARE GREAT TENANTS FOR THIS PROGRAM, BUT THEY ARE RULED OUT BEFORE THEY CAN APPLY. THEY MIGHT BE VETERANS OR ON SSI, BUT LANDLORDS VIOLATING FAIR HOUSING LAW ARE ADVERTISING ABOUT MFT UNITS AND SOCIAL WORKERS FOR THESE COMMUNITIES AREN'T INFORMED. SEATTLE CITY COUNCIL CURRENTLY WANT TO CHANGE -- >> THANK YOU. >> BY GETTING RID OF CORNER STORES, YOU GET RID OF MOM AND POP BUSINESS THAT OFTEN ARE THE ONLY STORES THAT TAKE EBT. >> WHENEVER IT IS CONVENIENT LIKE THEY DID ON BROADWAY. >> THANK YOU. >> THESE SMALL CORNER STORES WILL STAY FOR DECADES. THEY CREATE JOBS, FEED COMMUNITIES, AND SUPPORT OTHER SMALL BUSINESSES LIKE CONTRACTORS IN THE CITY WHO EAT THERE. I AM SAYING KEEP MFT, BUT YES, WE DO NEED TO CHANGE IT. IT NEEDS MORE ACCESSIBLE TO POOR PEOPLE -- >> THANK YOU VERY MUCH. YOU NEED TO BE CLEAR, SO PEOPLE WHO COME -- THANK YOU, YOU ARE WELCOME TO SEND A PRINTED COPY TO COUNCIL AFTER THE FACT. THANK YOU VERY MUCH. WHO IS NEXT, PLEASE? >> WE'LL NOW GO TO PATRICK FOLEY, THEN EMILY THOMPSON. OH, JUST A SECOND. >> PATRICK FOLEY. SEATTLE DEVELOPMENT COMPANY THAT DOES MOSTLY HISTORIC PRESERVATION AND URBAN INFILL APARTMENT PROJECTS. WE BUILD PROBABLY 3,600 UNITS SINCE THE BEGINNING OF OUR COMPANY. MORE THAN 1,100 WHICH ARE AFFORDABLE. WE'VE BEEN ABLE TO TAKE OR USE THE MULTI-FAMILY TAX EXEMPTION IN LARGE PART TO DELIVER THOSE PORTABLE UNITS. I GUESS I'M HERE TO SPEAK. REAL SIMPLE, THIS IS A MATH EQUATION. PROGRAM SIX, AS IT IS, WE HAVE A THOUSAND UNITS IN THE PIPELINE FROM NORTHGATE TO THE CENTRAL DISTRICT TO THE RAINIER VALLEY. PROGRAM SIX, AS IS, WE WILL NOT BE ABLE TO MOVE THOSE PROJECTS FORWARD IF WE KEEP PROGRAM SIX AS IS. THE ECONOMICS ARE SO TIGHT. FINANCE ABILITY OF IT IS SO TIGHT THAT IT JUST MAKES IT EXTREMELY DIFFICULT. SO IF PROGRAM SIX, WE WON'T BE DOING THOSE PROJECTS. IF PROPERTY SEVEN HAPPENS, WE WILL, SO VERY SIMPLE. I'D APPRECIATE YOUR CONSIDERATION. THANKS. >> HI, I'M EMILY THOMPSON, I'M A LOCAL DEVELOPER FOCUSED ON AFFORDABLE AND WORKFORCE HOUSING IN THE COMMUNITY. I'M HERE TO URGE YOU TO ADOPT PROGRAM SEVEN TODAY. NOT VOTING NOW AFTER ALMOST A YEAR OF WORK HAS GONE INTO THIS IN FAVOR OF YET MORE DISCUSSION IS PUTTING THE SEATTLE PROCESS AHEAD OF PROGRESS. I PERSONALLY DISAGREE WE SHOULD LOWER THE AMI TARGETING, AND TURN THIS TOOL INTO ANOTHER LOW INCOME HOUSING TOOL. I SAY THAT AS A LOW INCOME HOUSING DEVELOPER. THIS IS THE ONLY TOOL WE HAVE FOR MIDDLE INCOME RENTERS. WE OWN AND OPERATE A BUILDING THAT HAS AFFORDABLE CITY SUBSIDIZED UNITS AND MFT UNITS, AND THEY WORK IN COMPLIMENT TO EACH OTHER. AS PATRICK SAID, THE ECONOMIC REALITY OF TODAY IS VERY DIFFERENT THAN WHEN P6 WAS PASSED IN 2018, AND IT'S IMPORTANT P7 WORK AS AN INCENTIVE, AND THE CHANGES TO THE AMI LEVELS ADDRESS THAT. PLEASE REMEMBER THE MFT PROPERTY TAX EXEMPTION IS NOT MEANT TO BE A ONE-FOR-ONE FINANCIAL TRADE-OFF. IT WAS DESIGNED TO BE AN INCENTIVE. SO PLEASE REMEMBER THAT, AND THE VALUE OF THE UNITS THAT IT LEVERAGES. THANK YOU. >> >> HELLO. SEATTLE'S MFTE PROGRAM ISN'T SERVING THE WORKING PEOPLE. IT SUBSIDIZED DEVELOPERS AND PERPETUATES LOW WAGE CONSTRUCTION. ACCORDING TO THE UNIVERSITY'S WASHINGTON REPORT, NEARLY $80 MILLION IN PROPERTY TAXES SHIFTED FROM MFT DEVELOPERS ONTO EVERYONE ELSE. THAT MEANS PEOPLE WHO BUILD AND MAINTAIN THE CITY ARE PAYING FOR SOMEONE ELSE'S PROFIT MARGINS. WHAT DO WE GET FROM THAT? MOSTLY SMALL HIGH-END RENT UNITS, WORKING FAMILIES CAN'T AFFORD, BUILT BY WORKERS, EARNING BELOW THE STANDARD CITY WAGE. WHEN THE CITY HANDS OUT 12 TO 24-YEAR TAX EXEMPTION WITHOUT LABOR STANDARDS, IT CREATES A SYSTEM WHERE WAGES GETS SUPPRESSED, APPRENTICESHIP OPPORTUNITIES DISAPPEAR, AND THE VERY WORKERS BUILDING, AFFORDABLE HOUSING, TO HELP THEMSELVES. THE LOOP THAT WE'RE STUCK IN. OUR ASK IS TO KEEP MFT MOVING, BUT CONVENE 90-DAY STAKE HOLDER PROCESS, WHERE WE ARE RESPONSIBLE CONTRACTORS IN THE CITY TO DRAFT A RETURN WITH LABOR STANDARDS, MINIMUM STAY THAT INCLUDES AREA STANDARD OF PAY FOR CONSTRUCTION WORKERS AND REGISTERED APPRENTICES. IF PUBLISH RESOURCES ARE BEING BUILT TO HOUSING, THEY MUST ALSO BUILD ECONOMIC STABILITY. THANK YOU. >> AND THEN MATT? >> GOOD AFTERNOON. MY NAME IS MATT DAVIES. I'VE BEEN BUILDING HOUSING IN THIS CITY FOR YEARS. MEASURINGS FT IS MARKETED AS AFFORDABILITY. BUT ON THE JOB SITE, IT'S TOO OFTEN CHEAP LABOR AND EXPENSIVE LIVING. UNIVERSITY OF WASHINGTON'S ANALYSIS SHOWS THEY ARE COST BURDEN. THAT'S A SYMPTOM OF POLICY ARCHITECTURE THAT PUSHES DOWN WAGES, WHILE CLAIMING AFFORDABILITY ON PAPER. MEANWHILE THE SAME DEVELOPERS BENEFITING FROM TAX BREAKS, HIGHER SUBS IT RATES FAR BELOW AREA STANDARDS. PEOPLE BUILDING THE UNITS CAN'T EVEN AFFORD TO LIVE IN THEM. THAT'S NOT SUCCESS, THAT'S CIRCULAR POVERTY. OUR CONSTRUCTIVE PROPOSAL DON'T STALL THE ORDINANCE AND PROVE IT. COMMITMENT TO A THREE MONTH CITY LED STAKEHOLDER TABLE THAT TIES MFT TO PREVAILING WAGE AND APPRENTICESHIP. MAKE AFFORDABLE HOUSING MEAN AFFORDABLE TO LIVE IN AND DIGNIFIED TO BUILD. THANK YOU. >> GOOD AFTERNOON. COUNCIL MEMBERS. MY NAME IS MONA, AND I'M A VERY PROUD FEMALE UNION CARPENTER. FROM THE GROUND LEVEL, MFTE PROJECTS ARE FRAMED BY WORKING PEOPLE, TOO OFTEN SUBSTANDARD WAGE CONDITIONS. IT'S NOT AN ACCIDENT. IT'S A POLICY CHOICE. WHEN TAX EXEMPTIONS ARE GRANTED WITHOUT LABOR STANDARDS. LOW WAGES, HOUSING AND SECURITY, MORE AFFORDABLE HOUSING, BUILT AGAIN WITH LOW WAGES. NOT HOUSING POLICY IS ECONOMIC CONTAINMENT. WE CAN BRING THE LOOP WITHOUT STOPPING THE PROGRESS. DIRECT OH AND FAS TO CONVENE A 90-DAY STAKEHOLDER PROCESS WITH LABOR, RESPONSIBLE CONTRACTORS, AND AFFORDABLE HOUSING PARTNERS TO BRING BACK LABOR STANDARDS AMENDMENT. PREVAILING WAGE, PLUS APPRENTICESHIP UTILIZATION. FOR MFTE PROJECTS, NO TAX BREAKS WITHOUT FAIR WAGES. NO AFFORDABLE UNITS, BUILT BY LOW PAYING JOBS. THANK YOU. >> WE HAVE MATT AND THEN FOLLOWING MATT WILL BE DANIEL GALLAGHER AND NORRIS COOPER. >> GOOD EVENING COUNCIL MEMBERS. MFTE IS SOLD AS A TRADE-OFF. TAX BREAKS FOR AFFORDABILITY. BUT ANALYSIS SHOWS ONLY A PART REACHES TENANTS. THE REST BOOSTS MARGINS. WHILE THEY CUT WORKER'S PAY, WE ARE LOSING TWICE. PUBLIC REVENUE OUT, TAKE HOME PAY DOWN. WHEN THE CITY EXTENDS WITHOUT LABOR STANDARDS, THE PUBLIC ENDS UP SUBSIDIZING BOTH SIDES OF THE PROGRAM. RENT ASSISTANCE FOR TENANTS THAT MAKE THE WORKERS NEED THAT ASSISTANCE. YOU CAN CHANGE THAT NOW AND KEEP PROJECTS MOVING. AMEND THE ORDINANCE TO REQUIRE A 90-DAY STAKE HOLDER PROCESS TO DRAFT LABOR STANDARD AMENDMENTS, TIEING MFTE TO PREVAILING WAGE AND REGISTER APPRENTICESHIP. PUBLIC SUBSIDY SHOULD PRODUCE GOODS, GOOD HOMES AND GOOD JOBS. THANK YOU. >> GOOD AFTERNOON, COUNCIL. I'M THE PRESIDENT OF THE COMPANY, ONE OF THE MOST ACTIVE WORK FORCE AND AFFORDABLE HOUSING DEVELOPERS IN THE CITY. I ENCOURAGE YOU STRONGLY TO APPROVE THE MFTE LEGISLATION AS AMENDED IN FRONT OF YOU TODAY. EVERYONE IN THIS ROOM, EVERYONE IN THIS ROOM WANTS THE SAME THING, AND THAT IS MORE HOUSING BUILT AND MORE AFFORDABILITY IN THAT HOUSES. MFTE CONTRIBUTES TO THOSE THINGS. SUPPLY IS THE ANSWER HERE. WE ARE ON SEVERE HOUSING SHORTAGES IN THIS CITY. CONSTRUCTION STARTS HAVE DROPPED TO NEARLY ZERO. NEW PERMIT APPLICATIONS HAVE DROPPED TO NEARLY ZERO. VERY BAD THINGS FOR AFFORDABILITY IN THE FUTURE. MFTE IS NOT THE SOLUTION. WE GRANT YOU THAT. BUT IT'S PART OF THE SOLUTION. PLEASE, PLEASE HELP US PROVIDE MORE SUPPLY OF HOUSING IN OUR CITY, WHERE IT IS NEEDED MOST AND FOR THE PEOPLE WHO NEED IT THE MOST. THANK YOU VERY MUCH. >> WE HAVE NORRIS COOPER AND -- >> I DON'T UNDERSTAND WHAT? OKAY. >> I NEED TO SEE YOUR PRESENTERS, SO I CAN TELL YOU WHAT SHE'S SAYING, PLEASE? JUST A SECOND. ALL RIGHT, THE INTERPRETER NEEDS A TEAM SO THAT THEY CAN TAKE A BREAK EVERY 15 MINUTES. YOU NEED TO PROVIDE A TEAM FOR YOUR INTERPRETER. WE ARE PROVIDING THE REQUEST -- >> STANDBY, HERE COMES ANOTHER ONE. >> WE MADE TWO REQUESTS AT THIS POINT, COUNCIL PRESIDENT, AND WE ARE WAITING FOR SOMEONE ELSE TO JOIN THE CURRENT INTERPRETER. >> OKAY, THANK YOU. >> THANK YOU. >> INTERPRETER BRIAN IS BEING PROMOTED NOW. INTERPRETER BRIAN, PLEASE ACCEPT PROMOTION. >> ALL RIGHT, PLEASE ALLOW YOUR CURRENT INTERPRETER JUST A MOMENT TO INFORM THE SECOND INTERPRETER WHAT IS GOING ON. I DO NOT SEE THEM THOUGH. >> I'M HERE. >> HI, BRIAN. ARE YOU ABLE TO SEE HOST AND PANELIST CHAT? >> ONE MOMENT. YES. >> ONE MOMENT. >> ALL RIGHT, I'LL LET YOU GO AND TAKE OVER. >> OKAY. >> OKAY, WE HAVE AN INTERPRETER, SO WE WILL CONTINUE WITH PUBLIC COMMENT. I BELIEVE WE LEFT OFF ON DANIEL. NOW WE HAVE NORRIS COOPER, IS THAT CORRECT? AFTER NORRIS. >> HELLO, NORRIS COOPER HERE. WORK FOR HOLLAND PARTNER GROUP, MULTI-FAMILY DEVELOPER HERE IN THE SEATTLE REGION. I'M HERE IN SUPPORT OF PROGRAM SEVEN, TRYING TO GET SOME OF OUR PROJECTS STARTED. IT IS ONE OF THE PROGRAMS THAT IS AN INCENTIVE THAT IS A TOOL WE ARE ABLE TO LEVERAGE IF THE FINANCIALS WORK TO PRODUCE MORE HOUSING. WE'RE AT A TIME WHERE WE ARE BATTLING TARIFFS AND INTEREST RATES, ESCALATING CONSTRUCTION COSTS. AND SEATTLE REGION AS A WHOLE, AS A STATE HAS LOST OVER 11,000 CONSTRUCTION JOBS. AS A RESULT OF DEVELOPMENT PIPELINE FALLING SHORT. SO ANYTHING THAT DEVELOPERS CAN DO IN CONJUNCTION WITH POLICY TO PRODUCE MORE HOUSING ADDS TO THE SUPPLY AND IT IS BETTER FOR US ALL. AND THE PROJECTS UNDER CONSTRUCTION, PAY MILLIONS OF DOLLARS IN TAXES AND CREATE JOBS AND REPORT AND HELP THE FUND AS WELL. THANKS. >> HI, D3. YOU'VE BEEN TOLD P7'S GENEROUS TERMS FOR DEVELOPERS WILL BE ENOUGH TO REIGNITE THE HOUSING MARKET, WHICH IS ADMITTEDLY REALLY TOUGH RIGHT NOW. AND BRING BACK THE CRANES. THIS WOULD BE A WORTHWHILE CLAIM TO GENUINELY INVESTIGATE. IT'S A HOST OF OTHER QUESTIONS YOU MIGHT WANT TO ASK AS WELL. FOR EXAMPLE, IF THE JUSTIFICATION FOR P7 IS TO GROW SUPPLY, HOW COME DOES IT ALLOW PROJECTS THAT WORK PERFECTLY FEASIBLE UNDER THE SUPPOSEDLY HORRIBLE P6 TO CONVERT TO THE TERMS OF P7? HOW DOES LETTING EXISTING BUILDINGS GET AN ADDITIONAL 12 YEARS OF TAX BREAKS IN EXCHANGE FOR LESS AFFORDABILITY DO ANYTHING FOR SUPPLY? IF I WERE AT OH OR FDOT, YOU WOULD BE ASKING ME HARD QUESTIONS, AND ASKING ME TO SUBSTANTIATE MY ANSWERS. IT IS HARD TO UNDERSTAND WHY THAT IS NOT THE CASE. >> WE HAVE ERIC KENNEDY AND THEN WE'LL GO TO BENNETT. >> HELLO. MY NAME IS ERIC KENNEDY, AND I AM PART OF THE NATIONAL YOUTH RIGHTS ASSOCIATION. I AM HERE TO ASK THAT THE CITY COUNCIL GIVE THE RIGHT TO VOTE TO THE CITY ELECTIONS TO ALL SCHOOL-AGED MINORS K-12. EVERY SCHOOL KID WHO LIVES IN SEATTLE IS AFFECTED BY THE POLICIES PASSED BY CITY COUNCIL. SO THEY SHOULD HAVE AN EQUAL SAY ON WHO GETS ELECTED TO SIT ON CITY COUNCIL AND IN THE MAYOR'S OFFICE. YOUTH RIGHTS ARE HUMAN RIGHTS. THANK YOU. >> YOU HAVE BENNETT. AFTER BENNETT, I BELIEVE IT'S NATHAN. >> GOOD AFTERNOON. SO I WAS DOWN IN PORTLAND FOR A COUPLE OF DAYS TO DOCUMENT THE PROTEST GOING ON OUTSIDE THE I.C.E. FACILITY. THE OVERWHELMING EVIDENCE THAT I GATHERED WAS THE PROTEST OUTSIDE THE FACILITY ARE OVERWHELMINGLY PEACEFUL AND VIOLENCE HAPPENS AND MOSTLY INSTIGATED BY DHS AND I.C.E. AGENTS PHYSICALLY ASSAULTING PROTESTERS. THIS IS AN ISSUE WHERE I THINK THE ENTIRE CITY COUNCIL, PLUS THE MAYOR, PLUS MOST OF THE CITY ARE ON THE RIGHT SIDE FOR ONCE. BUT ONCE AGAIN, IF YOU'RE HAVING A HEARING TO PROVIDE AN ARGUMENT FOR WHY WE NEED TO RESIST TRUMP FEDERALIZING THE NATIONAL GUARD, FOR SENDING MORE AGENTS TO THIS CITY. I'M HAPPY TO COME BACK AND DO A LONGER PRESENTATION ABOUT SOME OF THE EVIDENCE I GATHERED. GOING TO SEE IF THIS WORKS. NO LAPTOP DOWN. IT'S NOT ENOUGH TIME TO SEE WHAT HAPPENS. WOMEN TALKING TO A ROW OF COPS. SHE IS JUST TALKING PEACEFULLY FOR ABOUT TEN SECONDS. I THINK YOU CAN SEE ON THE SCREEN WHAT HAPPENS. AND THEN SHE IS JUST SITTING THERE, SPEAKING TO THEM, AND THEN THREE, TWO, ONE, BLAST HER IN THE FACE WITH PEPPER SPRAY. WHAT THE HELL? THANK YOU. >> AND THEN THE NEXT PERSON I BELIEVE, LAST NAME IS WALL, AND LILY HAYWARD AND CARTER NELSON AND GABRIEL JONES. >> SORRY FOR MY HANDWRITING. SO I'M HERE TODAY JUST TO EXPRESS MY DISAPPOINTMENT WITH IT HAD CONSERVATIVE CITY COUNCIL MAJORITY. YOU ALL PAID $144,000 A YEAR. INSTEAD OF REPRESENTING YOUR COMMUNITIES, YOU RUN A VERY PETTY AND INEFFECTIVE COUNCIL MAJORITY, BULLYING TAMMY MORALES OUT OF HER SEAT, FAILING TO PASS A BILL OUT OF NINE MONTHS. TURNING THE COMP PLAN IN LATE. IT'S REALLY DISAPPOINTING. DEFUNDING PROGRAMS, ATTACKING THE PREVIOUS COUNCIL, AND GOING ON WITH THE CRUSADES AGAINST CURBS. FRANKLY TWO OF YOU HAVE ENDORSED ALEXIS MERCEDES RINCK WHO IS RUNNING AGAINST A FAR RIGHT MAGA. IT'S DISAPPOINTING -- RACHEL SAVAGE HAS NO PLACE ON OUR COUNCIL, AND I DON'T UNDERSTAND WHY YOU CAN'T PUT YOUR DIFFERENCES WITH ALEXIS AND ENDORSE HER. SARA, YOU'RE GOING TO LOSE IN NOVEMBER, AND YOU'LL HAVE NO REASON TO BLAME YOURSELF AND YOUR COLLEAGUES. COLLEAGUES -- >> WE HAVE LILY AND THEN CARTER NELSON AND GABRIEL JONES. >> GOOD AFTERNOON, LILY HAYWARD WITH THE SEATTLE METRO CHAMBER. WE'RE HERE TO UPDATE THE MFTE PROGRAM SEVEN, WHICH PASSED UNANIMOUSLY OUT OF THE HOUSING AND HUMAN SERVICES COMMITTEE. IT'S THE ONLY TOOL SEATTLE HAS TO CREATE AFFORDABLE HOMES FOR MIDDLE INCOME RENTERS WHO EARN TOO MUCH TO QUALIFY FOR SUBSIDIZED HOUSING, BUT STILL CAN'T AFFORD MARKET RENTS. OVER THE PAST 25 YEARS, MFTE HAS DELIVERED MORE THAN 8,000 BELOW MARKET UNITEDS, WHICH IS NEARLY AS MUCH AS THE SEATTLE HOUSING LEVY. BUT PARTICIPATION HAS DROPPED BY HALF BECAUSE P6 MADE IT TOO COMPLICATED AND EXPENSIVE TO USE FOR MANY DEVELOPERS. P7 FIXES THAT. IT KEEPS STRONG ABILITY, WHILE EXPANDING THOSE EARNING 70% TO 80% BEING PRICED OUT OF SEATTLE. IF WE DON'T RENEW MFTE, THOUSANDS OF RENTERS CAN SEE THEIR RENTS SPIKE. WE NEED TO TACKLE THE HOUSING CRISIS INCLUDING PUBLIC AND PRIVATE SOLUTIONS. PLEASE PASS P7 TODAY, AND ALLOW OUR HOUSING PRODUCTION AT ALL INCOME LEVELS. THANK YOU. >> GOOD AFTERNOON, MEMBERS OF THE COUNCIL, CARTER NELSON. THE COMMERCIAL REAL ESTATE DEVELOPMENT. WE REPRESENT MULTI-FAMILY DEVELOPERS WHO USE MFTE PROGRAM TO DEVELOP HOUSING ACROSS SEATTLE. IT'S VOLUNTARY AND ONE OF THE FEW TOOLS THAT INCENTIVIZE PRIVATE AND BELOW MARKET HOUSING. IF THE PROGRAM ISN'T FINANCIALLY VIABLE TO PARTICIPATE IN, THE AFFORDABILITY IT PROVIDES DISAPPEARS. WE SAW THIS HAPPEN WITH PROGRAM SIX, WHEN AFFORDABILITY REQUIREMENTS WERE PUSHED TOO FAR BELOW MARKET. DEVELOPER PARTICIPATION DROPPED BY NEARLY 50%. THAT WASN'T DUE TO LACK OF INTEREST. IT WAS BECAUSE THE ECONOMICS NO LONGER WORKED. SOME ARE CONCERNED PROGRAM SEVEN RAISES RENTS, BUT THAT'S NOT TRUE. WHAT IT ACTUALLY DOES IS EXPAND ACCESS, BY ADJUSTING AMI LIMITS TO BETTER REFLECT THE MIDDLE INCOME BRACKETS, SPECIFICALLY 70% TO 90% AMI. IT OPENS THE DOOR FOR MORE RENTERS TO QUALIFY FOR DISCOUNTED UNITS. THESE ARE TEACHERS JOURNALISTS RESTAURANT MANAGERS, AND ESSENTIAL WORKERS WHO EARN TOO MUCH TO QUALIFY FOR SUBSIDIZED HOUSING, BUT NOT ENOUGH TO AFFORD MARKET RATE RENTS. THANK YOU FOR THE EXTENSIVE WORK THAT'S GONE ON. >> AND GABRIEL, YOU'RE NEXT AND LAST REGISTERED IN-PERSON SPEAKER, THEN WE'LL GO TO REMOTE SPEAKERS. >> MORNING, COUNCIL. MY NAME IS GABRIEL JONES. I'M HERE TO TALK ABOUT CAL ANDERSON. IT'S BEEN A MINUTE SINCE I'VE BEEN WITH YOU ALL BECAUSE I'M RECOVERING FROM THE AFFECTS OF SPD RUNNING WILD. WE'RE FIVE MONTHS AWAY FROM CAL ANDERSON. THIS IS ABOUT THE TIME WE START GETTING BODY CAMERA FOOTAGE BACK, AND SURPRISINGLY, A LOT WORSE THAN WE CAME TO EXPECT. EARLY LAST WEEK, FOOTAGE CAME OUT OF AN OFFICER WHO IS A SERGEANT, DAVID ADAMS, ATTACKING SOMEONE. THIS PERSON WAS NOT RESISTING, ONLY PROTECTING THEIR HEAD. THEIR HANDS WERE VISIBLE. PUNCHING THE HEAD REPEATEDLY. CONTRADICTING MULTIPLE STATEMENTS HE MADE. ALSO IN THIS FOOTAGE, YOU SEE ME, MOMENTS AFTER I GET TACKLED TO THE GROUND. I PLACE MY HANDS VERY CLEARLY IN THE AIR BEFORE I'M PUNCHED IN THE HEAD OVER AND OVER, WHILE CAUSING NO THREAT TO THE OFFICER. I'LL LEAVE YOU A COPY TO LOOK AT THAT. PERSONALLY, IF I SHOW UP TO MY JOB AND I DO POORLY, I GET REPRIMANDED, FIRED. WHEN YOU DO POORLY, YOU GET UNELECTED, LIKE SARA IS ABOUT TO BE. BUT WHEN SPD DOES IT, THEY GET RAISES, THEY GET BONUSES. THEY GET THE IDEA TO TALK ABOUT SUBSIDIZING HOUSING. IT'S TIME TO MAKE A CHANGE TO SPD. I'LL MAKE SURE NOT A SINGLE ONE OF YOU WILL -- >> WE'LL NOW MOVE INTO REMOTE SPEAKERS, AND A REMINDER TO OUR REMOTE SPEAKERS TO PLEASE PRESS STAR SIX AFTER YOU HAVE HEARD THE MESSAGE THAT YOU BEEN UNMUTED. OUR FIRST REMOTE SPEAKER. GO AHEAD, HOWARD. >> GOOD AFTERNOON, HOWARD. OVER 156,000 FOREIGN BORN SEATTLE ARE UNDER IMMINENT THREAT, AS ARE THEIR FAMILY MEMBERS OR ANYONE WHO MIGHT LOOK FOR -- MAYOR HARRELL'S EXECUTIVE ORDERS LAST WEEK FALL FAR SHORT THE NEED TO PREVENT EGREGIOUS CONSTITUTIONAL ABUSES, MOST NOTABLY THE NEED FOR SEATTLE POLICE TO ACTIVELY PROTECT THE FOURTH AMENDMENT RIGHTS OF SEATTLE. CONTRARY TO THIS, HARRELL HAS QUOTED IN NO WAY ARE THEY, POLICE, ENABLE THIS ABUSE OF POWER FROM THE FEDERAL GOVERNMENT. IN THE FUTURE, DO WE WANT TO BE THE AMERICANS OF THE 1940s WHO COULD ONLY SAY WE DID NOT HELP SEND THOSE FOLKS TO CAMPS? SHOULD WE NOT WANT TO BE ABLE TO SAY WE ACTED TO PREVENT FOLKS FROM BEING TAKEN? 36th LEGISLATIVE DEMOCRATS UNANIMOUSLY PASSED -- [ INAUDIBLE ] REQUIRING SEATTLE POLICE OFFICERS TO ACT DIRECTLY AND AFFIRMATIVELY TO PROTECT THE FOURTH AMENDMENT RIGHTS OF ALL SEATTLE WORKERS. IT'S URGENT YOU ACT ON THIS. >> THANK YOU. OUR NEXT SPEAKER IS MEREDITH. FOLLOWED BY IRENE. GO AHEAD, MEREDITH. >> HELLO, MY NAME IS MEREDITH WITH MEL CREEK RESIDENTIAL. WE OWN AND OPERATE MANY PROJECTS IN SEATTLE USING MFTE. AND I URGE YOUR CONTINUED SUPPORT OF PROGRAM SEVEN AND PASSAGE OF THE LEGISLATION TODAY. WANTED TO ADDRESS ONE TOPIC, RUMOR THERE IS HIGH LEVELS OF VACANCY IN MFTE UNITS. WE HAVE NOT SEEN THIS ACROSS OUR PORTFOLIO AND DO NOT SEE THIS AS A WIDESPREAD PROBLEM. I THINK THERE HAS BEEN A TEMPORARY MOMENT IN THE MARKET, WHERE THERE'S BEEN AN INCREASE IN SUPPLY IN GENERAL IN SEATTLE FROM THE POST PANDEMIC BOOM. BUT NOW YOU'LL SEE SEATTLE'S DECLINE IN NEW ACTIVITY. WE WILL SOON BE LOOKING AT A DROP OFF IN SUPPLY, INCREASING MARKET RENTS, AND VACANCIES DECREASING. SO I URGE YOU TO APPROVE PROGRAM SEVEN TODAY. >> THANK YOU. OUR NEXT SPEAKER IS IRENE, AND IRENE WILL BE FOLLOWED BY WILLIAM SNYDER. GO AHEAD, IRENE. AND REMEMBER -- THERE YOU GO. >> GOOD MORNING, GOOD AFTERNOON, COUNCIL MEMBERS, IRENE HERE, DISTRICT SIX. I ONCE AGAIN URGE YOU TO POSTPONE VOTING ON THIS MFTE REAUTHORIZATION. YESTERDAY I WROTE TO YOU ASKING LARGE NATIONAL CORPORATE REAL ESTATE DEVELOPMENT COMPANIES SHOULD GET SEATTLE TAXPAYERS TO UNDERWRITE THEIR INVESTMENTS. HERE'S ANOTHER EXAMPLE. INTERESTING. MILL CREEK RESIDENTIAL, BASED IN BOCA RATON, FLORIDA, IS A DEVELOPER OF APARTMENTS IN SEATTLE BETWEEN 2017 AND 2025, UNDER THE MODERA BRAND. EVERY ONE OF THEM IS ON THE MFTE DULL. THE EXEMPT ASSESSED VALUE EXCEEDS $320 MILLION IN 2025. BASED ON PROVIDING THE MINIMUM 20% MFTE UNITS, THAT EQUATED TO A TAXPAYER SUBSIDY AN AVERAGE OF $970 A MONTH FOR EACH UNIT. THAT'S ON TOP OF THE RENT THEY CHARGE. ALL OVER SEATTLE, THESE EXPENSIVE NEW APARTMENT BUILDINGS ARE HAVING FIRE SALES TO FILL UP THEIR VACANT UNITS, OFFERING MONTHS OF FREE RENT AND FREE PARKING. >> THANK YOU. OUR NEXT SPEAKER IS WILLIAM SNYDER. FOLLOWING WILLIAM WILL BE SAM. GO AHEAD, WILLIAM. >> GOOD AFTERNOON, COUNCIL PRESIDENT NELSON AND MEMBERS OF THE COUNCIL. MY NAME IS WILLIAM. I'M SPEAKING ON BEHALF OF THE WASHINGTON MULTI-FAMILY HOUSING ASSOCIATION, REPRESENTING 734 PROPERTY MEMBERS AND 92,500 UNITS IN SEATTLE ALONE. OUR MEMBERS OVERSEE MFTE BUILDINGS AND WORK DIRECTLY WITH THE RESIDENTS WHO BENEFIT FROM THIS PROGRAM. UNDER PROGRAM SIX, THAT WORK BECAME FAR MORE DIFFICULT. AFFORDABILITY REQUIREMENTS PUSHED MANY PROPERTIES OUT OF PARTICIPATION. AND THE RECERTIFICATION PROCESS CREATED CONFUSION, ADMINISTRATES STRAINS, AND IN SOME CASES CAUSED RENTERS TO LOSE ACCESS TO THEIR UNITS THEY HAD QUALIFIED FOR. PROGRAM SEVEN IS A CRITICAL IMPROVEMENT. ADMINISTRATION, ADJUST AMI LIMITS TO BETTER SERVE MIDDLE INCOME RENTERS, AND MAKES CONTINUED PARTICIPATION FEASIBLE. WITHOUT THESE CHANGES, MANY PROPERTIES -- [ INAUDIBLE ] THEIR 12-YEAR TERM ENDS. COMMITTED TO BEING A PART OF THE AFFORDABILITY SOLUTION, AND WE APPRECIATE THE COUNCIL SOURCE ON STRONGER -- >> THANK YOU. OUR NEXT SPEAKER IS SAM. FOLLOWING SAM WILL BE ROSALIE. GO AHEAD, SAM. >> HELLO AGAIN, COUNCIL. MY NAME IS SAM. I WORK HERE AT THE SEATTLE LEAD PROGRAM DIRECTOR. GENERATED BY THE PUBLIC SAFETY SALES TAX. WE WORK WITH PEOPLE WHOSE NEEDS WON'T BE ADDRESSED BY SINGULAR CONNECTIONS TO RESOURCES, WHICH IS WHY WE UTILIZE LONG-TERM MANAGEMENT TO BUILD RELATIONSHIPS WITH CLIENTS, CREATE PLANS, CONNECT THEM TO RESOURCES, AND CONTINUE UNTIL THAT PERSON'S SITUATION AND BEHAVIOR HAVE BEEN ADDRESSED. THIS WORK IS COMPLEX BECAUSE OF SITUATIONS FACED BY OUR CLIENTS. LEAD IS A UNIQUE PIECE THAT ALLOWS US TO BRIDGE BETWEEN FIRST RESPONSE AND LONG-TERM PLANNING. I'D LIKE TO APPRECIATE COUNCIL PRESIDENT NELSON FOR WORKING TO ENSURE THE PUBLIC SAFETY SALES TAX CENTER AND SUBSTANCE ABUSE DISORDER, AND RECOVERY RESOURCES, AND THE LONG-TERM CARE THAT CAN STRING THOSE RESOURCES TOGETHER. I'D ALSO LIKE TO THANK COUNCIL FOR THE SUPPORT OF THIS WORK FOR PAST, PRESENT, AND URGE THE COMMITTEE TO ENSURE FUNDING IS STABILIZED IN THE 2026 BUDGET. THANK YOU. >> THANK YOU. WE'LL TAKE A BRIEF PAUSE TO SWITCH INTERPRETERS. >> LAURA, IS THERE A QUESTION? >> I WAS JUST TRYING TO -- THIS IS ONE OF YOUR INTERPRETERS SPEAKING. I WAS JUST TRYING TO GET THE ATTENTION OF MY TEAM BECAUSE HE COULDN'T SEE WE HAD A REPLACEMENT FOR HIM AND THE CHAT WAS DISABLED FOR ME. >> OKAY, PERFECT. JUST WANTED TO CONFIRM. ARE YOU ABLE TO PROCEED? IF YOU NEED ANYTHING ELSE, YOU CAN PROCEED WITH SENDING YOUR MESSAGES VIA THE ZOOM CHAT. OF COURSE, IF THAT DOESN'T WORK, THEN WE'LL SEND YOU AN E-MAIL ADDRESS, IF WE CAN GET SOME SORT OF ADDRESS FROM YOU SPECIFICALLY OR SHOULD WE MAIL THE COMPANY? >> THANK YOU. OUR NEXT REMOTE SPEAKER WILL BE ROSALIE. FOLLOWING ROSALIE WILL BE ALEX MARTIN. GO AHEAD. AND PLEASE REMEMBER YOU MAY NEED TO PRESS -- WELL, YOU WILL NEED TO PRESS STAR SIX. >> DEAR COUNCIL MEMBERS, MY NAME IS ROSALIE. I'M IN SUPPORT OF CB121055 TO EXTEND THE MULTI-FAMILY PROPERTY TAX EXEMPTION KNOWN AS MFTE, BY THE HOUSING AND HUMAN SERVICES COMMITTEE. WITH ONE PROPOSED AMENDMENT THAT RESTORES UNANIMOUS VOTE OF THE COMMUNITY. TO ALLOW MFTE PROJECTS EXPIRING IN 2025 TO RENEW. I MANAGE YOUNGSTOWN FLATS OF WEST SEATTLE. YOUNGSTOWN FLATS IS CURRENTLY PARTICIPATING IN MFTE, BUT A CURRENT AGREEMENT EXPIRES IN DECEMBER 2025. YOUNGSTOWN FLATS HAS LARGE TWO BEDROOM MFTE. OUR TENANTS LOVE THE MFTE UNITS. IT ALLOWS FAMILIES TO PUT DOWN ROOTS IN THE NEIGHBORHOOD OF WEST SEATTLE. THIS IS EXACTLY THE TYPE OF AFFORDABLE HOUSING THE CITY SHOULD PRIORITIZE TO MFTE. WE WANT TO KEEP IT. THE COMMUNITY UNANIMOUSLY PASSED AN AMENDMENT, A COMMITTEE TO ALLOW OUR PROPERTY, ALLOW WITH THE MFTE PROPERTY EXPIRING IN 2025 -- >> THANK YOU. OUR NEXT SPEAKER IS ALEX MARTIN. FOLLOWING ALEX WILL BE SCOTT. GO AHEAD, ALEX. >> GOOD AFTERNOON. MY NAME IS ALEX MARTIN. I'M AN AFFORDABLE PROGRAM MANAGER OVERSEEING SEVERAL MFTE COMMUNITIES IT IN SEATTLE. I'D LIKE TO SPEAK IN SUPPORT OF THE MAYOR'S P7 PROPOSAL. WE'RE PROUD TO PARTICIPATE IN THE MFTE PROGRAM, RECOGNIZE HOW CRITICAL IT IS. SOME OF OUR PROGRAMS WILL BE EXPIRING SOON, AND WE WOULD VERY MUCH LIKE TO CONTINUE OFFERING AFFORDABLE HOUSING THROUGH MFTE. BUT THERE NEEDS TO BE AN ACCESSIBLE PROGRAM. CURRENTLY THE ANNUAL INCOME CERTIFICATION PROCESS IS DIFFICULT, LENGTHY, FEEL LIKE AN INCREDIBLE DIVERSION FOR OUR RESIDENTS. WE FIND RESIDENTS WERE ELDERLY OR LIVE WITH DISABILITIES. CREATE DISPROPORTIONATE STRUGGLES TO COMPLETE INCOME CERTIFICATIONS. EXPERIENCE THAT IS DEEPLY UNCOMFORTABLE FOR THEM. P7 CHANGES TO THE CERTIFICATION PROCESS TO GREATLY ALLEVIATE THESE CHALLENGES. MIDDLE INCOME RESIDENTS WHO FIND THEMSELVES OVERCALING AS THEIR INITIAL ATTEMPT, RARELY OVERQUALIFIED MARGIN. RAISING THE RANGE TO INCLUDE 90% OPTIONS WOULD CREATE MORE ACCESS. PLEASE VOTE IN FAVOR. THANK YOU. >> THANK YOU. OUR NEXT SPEAKER IS SCOTT. FOLLOWING SCOTT WILL BE JOE. GO AHEAD, SCOTT. >> GOOD AFTERNOON, MY NAME IS SCOTT. I'M A PRINCIPAL WHERE WE ARE LOCALLY BASED SEATTLE FOCUSED URBAN HOUSING, HAVING DELIVERED 600 UNITS IN THE CITY OF SEATTLE. I STRONGLY URGE YOU TO ADOPT MFTE PROGRAM SEVEN BECAUSE IT WILL HELP PUSH PROJECTS CLOSER TO FEASIBILITY. PROGRAM SIX SIMPLY DOESN'T WORK. OUR COMPANY HAS RESCINDED MFTE APPLICATIONS ON FOUR OF OUR LAST FIVE COMPLETED BUILDINGS DUE TO LACK OF MFTE FEASIBILITIES, PROVIDING DIRECT EVIDENCE THE PROGRAM IS NOT WORKING AS INTENDED. WE HAVE ANOTHER THOUSAND UNITS IN OUR PIPELINE ACROSS THE CITY. ON AVERAGE, PROGRAM SIX RESULTS IN A LOSS OF REVENUE AND NOT A CONSIDERATION OF THE CITY'S PROJECT. PROGRAM SEVEN PROVIDES ENOUGH REVENUE TO INCENTIVIZE PARTICIPATION. PROGRAM SEVEN WILL ENCOURAGE NEW HOUSING, WILL CREATE WORKFORCE HOUSING, SUPPORT MIDDLE AND INCOME RESIDENTS, AND INCENTIVIZE DEVELOPERS. >> OUR NEXT SPEAKER, JOE. GO AHEAD, JOE. >> THANK YOU VERY MUCH. JOE HERE. I'LL TALK A LITTLE FAST. FIRST, IT'S FROM MY E-MAIL. YOU NEED TO ENFORCE -- AND STOP ANYONE FROM CAMPAIGNING. MOVING ON BECAUSE WE ARE TIME LIMITED. YOU KNOW, I REALLY WANT TO THANK YOU FOR HOLDING THE LINE AGAINST ALEX TSIMERMAN. MOVING ON, I WANT TO TAKE A MOMENT TO CALL AS MUCH AS I'M STILL A HEIDI WILLS FAN. I WANT TO THANK COUNCILMEMBER STRAUSS FOR BEING ON THE BOARD AND ASKING SOME REALLY TOUGH QUESTIONS ABOUT EFFORT LINK. IT IS VERY MUCH APPRECIATED, AS WELL AS MAKING SURE THEY GET THE LIGHT RAIL, AND WE DO GET TO OPEN THE HEIDI WILL STATION SOME TIME IN OUR LIFETIMES. FINALLY, GO MARINERS, GO SEAHAWKS, AND GOD BLESS SEATTLE. THANK YOU. >> THANK YOU HAD. OUR NEXT SPEAKER, FOLLOWED BY OUR LAST SPEAKER. YOU MAY NEED TO PRESS STAR SIX TO UNMUTE YOURSELF. OKAY -- >> SORRY. SORRY ABOUT THAT. GOOD AFTERNOON TO THE COUNCIL. I AM HERE ON BEHALF OF THE UNIVERSITY OF WASHINGTON -- [ INAUDIBLE ] I'M ADVOCATING FOR REJECTING AND REWORKING THE PROPOSAL TO AMEND THE MFTE PROGRAM. NOW, THERE ARE MANY PROGRAMS WITH THE CYCLES AND TAX REVENUES. THE REVISED INCENTIVE -- [ INAUDIBLE ] RAISING THE RENT CAPS TO MARKET PRICES OF 14 TO 22% ACCORDING TO THE SEATTLE TIMES, AND EXTENDING TAX RATES FOR DEVELOPERS -- [ INAUDIBLE ] [ INAUDIBLE ] MFTE IS A POLICY IT IN DESPERATE NEED OF REVISION. [ INAUDIBLE ] I URGE THE COUNCIL TO RECONVENE ON MFTE TO FIGURE OUT A SOLUTION -- >> THANK YOU. OUR LAST SPEAKER. GO AHEAD. >> GOOD AFTERNOON COUNCIL MEMBERS, MY NAME IS HALEY WILLIS. I'M A RENTER IN DISTRICT FIVE. I'M HERE TO URGE YOU TO REJECT THE PROPOSED P7 RENEWED P6 FOR A YEAR, AND RETHINK THE PROGRAM TO PROVIDE THE LEVEL OF AFFORDABLE HOMES WE ACTUALLY NEED. IT WILL MAKE MFTE APARTMENTS MORE EXPENSIVE. IN MANY CASES, CLOSE TO MARKET RATE. THIS IS A BAD DEAL FOR MFTE RENTERS. IT PROVIDES TOO LITTLE PUBLIC BENEFIT TO BE WORK THE $20 MILLION ANNUAL PRICE TAG. WE URGE YOU TO TAKE THE TIME WE NEED TO WORK WITH RENTERS AND OTHER STAKEHOLDERS TO DEVELOP A BETTER PLAN. FOR MAKING THIS RECOMMENDATION ALONGSIDE THE RENTERS PROGRAM, AND OVER 200 SEATTLE RESIDENTS AND WORKERS WHO SIGNED AN OPENER LETTER THAT I SENT YOU EARLIER IN THIS PROCESS. THANK YOU. >> THANK YOU. >> THAT'S OUR LAST REMOTE SPEAKER. >> WE HAVE ONE IN-PERSON SPEAKER. IT WILL BE CAROLINE, AND THEN THAT WILL BE THE LAST REGISTERED SPEAKER. >> GOOD AFTERNOON, FOR THE RECORD, I'M CAROLINE SANDERS. I'M HERE REPRESENTING PDA. WE WANT TO THANK THE EXECUTIVE, THIS COUNCIL, AND SPECIFICALLY COUNCIL MEMBER NELSON FOR HER LEADERSHIP IN ENSURING THAT THE PEOPLE OF SEATTLE WOULD BENEFIT FROM THE OPPORTUNITY CREATED BY THE STATEWIDE HOUSE BILL 2015. NOW THIS VEHICLE IS NOT PERFECT. THERE IS BROAD CONSENSUS THAT IT WOULD BE MUCH BETTER IF WE WERE TO LEVERAGE PROGRESSIVE TAX SOURCE. HOWEVER, THERE IS ALSO CONSENSUS THAT WE CANNOT AFFORD TO DELAY ACTION ON THIS ISSUE, EVEN ONE MORE DAY. SO WE COMMEND YOU FOR STEPPING UP AND USING THE TOOL AT YOUR DISPOSAL TO FORTIFY RECOVERY SUPPORT AS AN IMPORTANT PART OF OUR PUBLIC SAFETY CONTINUUM, AND LEAD AS A PART OF THAT. SO I AM ALSO RELIEVED TO BE ABLE TO SAY EVERY MEMBER OF THIS COUNCIL NOW HAS, IN YOUR POSSESSION, A LEAD DATA PACKET, SPANNING THE LAST TWO YEARS. THIS IS IDENTICAL TO WHAT WE SEND TO THE MAYOR'S OFFICE ON THE MONTHLY BASIS. PLEASE KNOW, I WAS LOATHED TO SEND YOU 240 EXTRA PAGES OF READING AT THIS POINT IN YOUR LIFE. BUT MY TEAM WAS INSISTING YOU NEED IT AT ALL. I KNOW THEY WERE RIGHT ABOUT THAT. SO WE LOOK FORWARD TO DIGGING INTO THE DETAILS WITH YOU. THANK YOU. >> THAT WAS OUR LAST REGISTERED SPEAKER. >> ALL RIGHT, WE HAVE REACHED THE END OF OUR PUBLIC SPEAKER'S LIST, SO THE PUBLIC COMMENT PERIOD IS NOW CLOSED. LET'S SEE, WILL THE CLERK PLEASE READ ITEM 1 -- NO, I HAVE TO GET TO ALL THE OTHER STUFF HERE. LET'S SEE. IF THERE IS OX, THE REFERRAL CALENDAR WILL BE ADOPTED. HEARING NONE, THE INTRODUCTION AND REFERRAL CALENDAR IS ADOPTED. IF THERE IS NO OBJECTION, THE AGENDA WILL BE ADOPTED. HEARING NONE, THE AGENDA IS ADOPTED. WE'LL NOW CONSIDER THE PROPOSED CONSENT CALENDAR IN THE ITEMS ON THE CONSENT CALENDAR ARE THE MINUTES OF SEPTEMBER 23, 2025. COUNCILMEMBER 121085 THROUGH 121087, PAYMENTS OF BILLS. SIX APPOINTMENTS FROM THE HOUSING AND SERVICE COMMITTEE. THREE APPOINTMENTS FROM THE PUBLIC SAFETY COMMITTEE. ARE IT THERE ANY ITEMS COUNCILMEMBERS WOULD LIKE TO REMOVE FROM TODAY'S CONSENT CALENDAR? HEARING NONE, I MOVE TO ADOPT THE CONSENT CALENDAR. IS THERE A SECOND? >> SECOND. >> IT'S BEEN MOVED AND SECONDED TO ADOPT THE CONSENT CALENDAR. WILL THE CLERK PLEASE CALL THE ROLL ON THE ADOPTION OF THE CONSENT CALENDAR? >> COUNCILMEMBER SAKA? >> AYE. >> COUNCILMEMBER SOLOMON? >> AYE. >> COUNCILMEMBER STRAUSS? COUNCILMEMBER HOLLINGSWORTH? >> YES. >> COUNCILMEMBER JUAREZ? >> AYE. >> COUNCILMEMBER KETTLE? >> AYE. >> COUNCILMEMBER RINCK? >> YES. >> COUNCILMEMBER RIVERA? >> AYE. >> COUNCIL PRESIDENT NELSON? >> AYE. >> EIGHT IN FAVOR, NONE OPPOSED. >> CONSENT CALENDAR ITEMS ARE ADOPTED. WILL THE CLERK PLEASE AFFIX MY SIGNATURES TO THE MINUTES AND LEGISLATION TO THE CONSENT CALENDAR ON MY BEHALF? ALL RIGHT, WILL THE CLERK PLEASE READ ITEM 1 INTO THE RECORD? >> THE REPORT OF THE CITY COUNCIL, 121077, AN ORDINANCE RELATING TO CITY EMPLOYMENT, ADOPTING A 2025 CITYWIDE POSITION LIST. >> I MOVE 121077, IS THERE A SECOND? >> SECOND. >> IT'S BEEN MOVED AND SECONDED. I'LL ADDRESS IT FIRST AND THEN OPEN THE FLOOR TO COMMENTS. ALL RIGHT, COLLEAGUES, AMANDA ALLEN IT FROM CENTRAL STAFF SENT OUT A MEMO ON THIS LEGISLATION ON OCTOBER 9, AND I'LL BRIEFLY READ A BIT FROM IT. COUNCIL BILL 120 RSJ 121077 WILL IDENTIFY A 2025 POSITION LIST AUTHORIZING EACH CITY DEPARTMENT OR OFFICE AS OF JANUARY 1, 2025. THE 2025 POSITION LIST REFLECTS A TOTAL OF 1,325 POSITIONS. OF THOSE, 1,890 FULL-TIME EQUIVALENCE. COUNCIL'S CONSIDERATION OF THIS LIST IS AN ADMINISTRATIVE EXERCISE ANTICIPATED BY RESOLUTION 28885. NOTE THE BEGINNING NUMBERS ARE BEING 28, THAT'S A LONG TIME AGO. AND ORDINANCE 127156. RESOLUTION 28885 ADOPTED PROTOCOLS FOR CITY WIDE BUDGETING, INCLUDING THE EXPECTATION THE CITY WOULD ADOPT DEPARTMENTAL WIDE POSITION LIST. ORDINANCE 127156 ADOPTED THE 2025 BUDGET AND ESTABLISHED AN EXPECTATION THAT SDHR WOULD SUBMIT A LIST OF THE CITY'S REGULAR POSITIONS IN EACH DEPARTMENT OR OFFICE AS OF JANUARY 1, 2025 FOR COUNCIL'S CONSIDERATION DURING THE 2026 BUDGET DELIBERATIONS. SO PASSING THIS LEGISLATION WOULD NOT HAVE A SUBSTANTIVE IMPACT ON CITY OPERATIONS EMPLOYEES, FUNDS, OR PRESENT OTHER IMPLICATIONS TO THE CITY. SO THAT'S BASICALLY THE RUNDOWN. ARE THERE ANY COMMENTS? HEARING NO COMMENTS, WILL THE CLERK PLEASE CALL THE ROLL ON THE PASSAGE OF THE BILL? >> COUNCILMEMBER SAKA? >> AYE. >> COUNCILMEMBER SOLOMON? >> AYE. >> COUNCILMEMBER STRAUSS? >> AYE. >> COUNCILMEMBER HOLLINGSWORTH? >> YES. >> COUNCILMEMBER JUAREZ? >> AYE. >> COUNCILMEMBER KETTLE? >> AYE. >> COUNCILMEMBER RINCK? >> YES. >> COUNCILMEMBER RIVERA? >> AYE. >> COUNCIL PRESIDENT NELSON? >> AYE. >> NINE IN FAVOR, NONE OPPOSED. >> THE BILL PASSES, AND THE CHAIR WILL SIGN IT. WILL THE CLERK PLEASE AFFIX MY SIGNATURE TO THE LEGISLATION ON MY BEHALF? AND WILL THE CLERK PLEASE READ ITEM 2 INTO THE RECORD? >> THE REPORT HOUSING PROGRAM, 121055, RELATING TO THE MULTI-FAMILY HOUSING PROPERTY TAX EXEMPTION PROGRAM, RENEWING AND MODIFYING THE PROGRAM, INCLUDING TO MAKE CHANGES IN CONFORMITY WITH STATE LAW. THE COMMITTEE RECOMMENDS THE BILL PASS AS AMENDED. >> ALL RIGHT, COUNCILMEMBER SOLOMON, VICE CHAIR OF THE COMMITTEE, YOU'RE RECOGNIZED TO PROVIDE THE COMMITTEE REPORT. >> THANK YOU. I MOVE TO AMEND COUNCIL BILL 121055 CONSISTENT WITH AMENDMENT A, AND TITLED ADD A POLICY REGARDING DEMOLITION OF UNITS, ELIMINATE THE LATER EXTENSION APPLICATION DEADLINE FOR 2025, EXPIRING PROJECTS, AND ELIMINATE THE PROVISION ALLOWING UNITS IN EXTENDING PROPERTIES TO MAINTAIN THEIR ORIGINAL UNIT DESIGNATION. >> SECOND. >> ALL RIGHT. IT'S BEEN MOVED AND SECONDED TO AMEND THE BILL AS PRESENTED ON AMENDMENT A. COUNCILMEMBER SOLOMON IS THE SPONSOR. >> THANK YOU, COUNCIL PRESIDENT. BASICALLY THIS AMENDMENT WOULD DO THREE THINGS. ONE, BRING THE MFTE PROGRAM IN COMPLIANCE WITH STATE LAW, WHICH REQUIRES SEATTLE TO ESTABLISH REQUIREMENTS, ADDRESSING DEMOLITION OF EXISTING STRUCTURES. TWO, ELIMINATE THE NOW MOVED 2025 MFTE EXTENSION DEADLINE. AND THREE, BETTER ADHERE TO STATE LAW BY STRIKING A PROBLEMATIC REVISION, REGARDING MAINTAINING CERTAIN SINGLE BEDROOM UNIT DESIGNATIONS. IN SHORT, THIS AMENDMENT HAS HELPED ENSURE SEATTLE'S MFTE PROGRAM COMPLIES WITH STATE REQUIREMENTS AND BETTER ALLOWS OFFICE OF HOUSING TO ADMINISTER THE 2025 MFTE PROGRAM, AND I ASK FOR YOUR SUPPORT. >> THANK YOU, COUNCIL MEMBER. ARE THERE ANY COMMENTS ON AMENDMENT A? I AM NOT SEEING ANY HANDS RAISED ON THE SCREEN. ALL RIGHT. WILL THE CLERK PLEASE CALL THE ROLL ON ADOPTION OF AMENDMENT A? >> COUNCILMEMBER SAKA? >> AYE. >> COUNCILMEMBER SOLOMON? >> AYE. >> COUNCILMEMBER STRAUSS? >> AYE. >> COUNCILMEMBER HOLLINGSWORTH? >> YES. >> COUNCILMEMBER JUAREZ? >> AYE. >> COUNCILMEMBER KETTLE? >> AYE. >> COUNCILMEMBER RINCK? >> YES. >> COUNCILMEMBER RIVERA? >> AYE. >> COUNCIL PRESIDENT NELSON? >> AYE. >> NINE IN FAVOR, NONE OPPOSED. >> THE MOTION CARRIES AND AMENDMENT A IS ADOPTED. ARE THERE ANY FURTHER COMMENTS ON THE AMENDED BILL? >> COUNCIL PRESIDENT? >> YES, PLEASE GO AHEAD, COUNCILMEMBER SOLOMON. >> I MOVE TO AMEND COUNCIL BILL 121055, CONSISTENT WITH AMENDMENT B ENTITLED ESTABLISHED CONVERSION PROCEDURES AND CLARIFY THE START DATE OF THE 12-YEAR EXEMPTION FOR CONVERTING PROJECTS. >> SECOND. >> ALL RIGHT. IT'S BEEN MOVED AND SECONDED TO AMEND THE BILL AS PRESENTED ON AMENDMENT B. COUNCILMEMBER SOLOMON AS SPONSOR, YOU'RE RECOGNIZED TO ADDRESS IT. >> THANK YOU, COUNCIL PRESIDENT. THIS AMENDMENT WOULD ESTABLISH APPLICATION CONVERSION PROCEDURES FOR PROJECTS, CONVERTING FROM THE MFTE PROGRAM SIX TO PROGRAM SEVEN. WHILE ALSO CLARIFYING THAT THE START DATE FOR THE 12-YEAR EXEMPTION DOES NOT RESET UPON CONVERSION. THE ATTEMPT BEHIND THIS AMENDMENT IS TO BETTER ENSURE PROJECTS USING MFTE CHOOSE TO USE THE MFTE EXTENSION OPTION. THEREBY FURTHER SECURING CRITICAL AFFORDABLE HOUSING UNITS FOR AN ADDITIONAL 12-YEAR PERIOD. AND I ASK FOR YOUR SUPPORT ON THIS AMENDMENT. >> THANK YOU VERY MUCH. LET'S SEE, ARE THERE ANY QUESTIONS OR COMMENTS? COUNCILMEMBER RINCK? >> THANK YOU, COUNCIL PRESIDENT, AND THANK YOU COUNCILMEMBER SOLOMON FOR BRINGING THESE AMENDMENTS FORWARD TODAY. I JUST WANTED TO BRIEFLY SPEAK TO MY SUPPORT FOR THEM BECAUSE I THINK THEY ADDRESSED SOME OF THE OUTSTANDING COMMUNITY CONCERNS WE HAVE HEARD. SO I WANT TO THANK YOU AGAIN FOR BRINGING THESE FORWARD. I WILL BE SUPPORTING. THANK YOU. >> THANK YOU. ARE THERE ANY FURTHER QUESTIONS? ALL RIGHT. SEEING NONE, WILL THE CLERK PLEASE CALL THE ROLL ON THE ADOPTION OF AMENDMENT B? >> COUNCILMEMBER SAKA? >> AYE. >> COUNCILMEMBER SOLOMON? >> AYE. >> COUNCILMEMBER STRAUSS? >> AYE. >> COUNCILMEMBER HOLLINGSWORTH? >> YES. >> COUNCILMEMBER JUAREZ? >> AYE. >> COUNCILMEMBER KETTLE? >> AYE. >> COUNCILMEMBER RINCK? >> YES. >> COUNCILMEMBER RIVERA? >> AYE. >> COUNCIL PRESIDENT NELSON? >> AYE. >> NINE IN FAVOR, NONE OPPOSED. >> THANK YOU VERY MUCH, THE MOTION CARRIES, AND AMENDMENT B IS ADOPTED. ARE THERE FURTHER COMMENTS ON THE AMENDED BILL? I'M OFFERING YOU THE FLOOR TO SPEAK TO THE AMENDED BILL. >> THANK YOU VERY MUCH, COUNCIL PRESIDENT. AS WE HAVE HEARD FROM OUR COMMUNITY MEMBERS AND OUR HOUSING DEVELOPERS, REALLY CLEAR ONE OF THE THINGS WE NEED IS MORE HOUSING SUPPLY. GIVEN THE ECONOMIC REALITIES OF WHERE WE ARE RIGHT NOW, CONSIDERING WHERE THE VERSION WAS PASSED, THE ECONOMIC REALITIES ARE WE NEED TO DO SOMETHING DIFFERENT SO THESE UNITS WILL PASS, AND WE CAN GET MORE HOUSING UNITS ONLINE. SO I URGE THE PASSAGE OF THE BILL AS AMENDED. THANK YOU. >> THANK YOU. COUNCILMEMBER RINCK? >> THANK YOU, COUNCIL PRESIDENT. APOLOGIES. I WAS SLOW ON MY HAND THERE. I WANTED TO GET THIS LAST WORD ON THIS. I WANTED TO CHIME IN ON A COUPLE OF POINTS HERE BEFORE FINAL PASSAGE. NAMELY THAT I'M GLAD THROUGH COUNCILMEMBER SOLOMON'S AMENDMENT, WE ADDRESSED SOME OF THE OUTSTANDING CONCERNS WITH THE P7 PROPOSAL. I KNOW THIS ADDRESSES SOME OF THE PRIMARY COMMUNITY CONCERNS MY OFFICE HAS HEARD. I'M ALSO VERY HAPPY THAT IN COMMITTEE, THE COMMITTEE PASSED COUNCILMEMBER SAKA AND I'S AMENDMENT, WHICH WOULD REESTABLISH THE SUNSET TO PROVIDE CLARITY ON THE CHANGES IN THE P7 PROGRAM. I THINK THIS ALSO GIVES US THE ABILITY TO BE NIMBLE WHEN WE'RE TALKING ABOUT CHANGING ECONOMIC CONDITIONS. WE KNOW THERE'S BEEN A LOT OF CHANGES IN OUR LOCAL ECONOMY, ESPECIALLY WHEN IT COMES TO THE HOUSING MARKET. ALSO HAPPY TO SEE IN THIS PROPOSAL, WE HAVE CHANGES TO ENSURE RENTERS ARE GETTING A MORE STREAMLINED APPLICATION PROCESS, AND WANT TO THANK AGAIN THE COMMITTEE FOR PASSING MY AMENDMENT TO INCENTIVIZE MORE MULTI-FAMILY UNITS TOWARDS DEVELOPING MORE FAMILY-SIZED HOUSING. IT MIGHT GO WITHOUT SAYING WORTH REITERATING HERE MFTE ALONE CANNOT SOLVE OUR HOUSING CRISIS. WE HAVE SO MANY FORCES IMPACTING OUR ABILITY TO BUILD HOUSING RIGHT NOW. BUT WE ALSO NEED TO FIND WAYS TO SUPPORT MORE DEEPLY AFFORDABLE HOUSING. BUT MFTE IS A TOOL IN OUR TOOL BOX TO CREATE WORKFORCE HOUSING WHILE DISPERSING DEVELOPMENTS TO ADDRESS OUR HOUSING SHORTAGE. WE NEED HOUSING THAT DEVELOPS ON DEEPER LEVEL OF AFFORDABILITY, WHICH IS CONTINUING OUR INVESTMENTS THROUGH THE HOUSING, THE SOCIAL HOUSING DEVELOPER, OUR RENTAL ASSISTANCE, AND THE SUPPORT SERVICES, FIGHTING TO BACK FILL OUR CONTINUUM OF FUNDING. BUT MFTE BEING AN IMPORTANT PROGRAM TO HELP AGAINST WORKFORCE HOUSING IS TREMENDOUSLY IMPORTANT, AND I'LL BE SUPPORTING THE LEGISLATION TODAY. THANK YOU. >> THANK YOU. COUNCILMEMBER KETTLE? >> THANK YOU, COUNCIL PRESIDENT. FIRST, I WANT TO THANK COUNCILMEMBER SOLOMON AND MY COLLEAGUES FOR YOUR WORK ON THIS BILL. I ALSO WANT TO THANK ALL THE PUBLIC COMMENTERS WHO HAVE COME OUT. I REALLY APPRECIATE YOUR COMING HERE TO SPEAK TO THE BILL AND ALL THE ISSUES THAT RELATE TO IT. SEPARATELY, I ALSO WANT TO THANK OH, OFFICE OF HOUSING DIRECTOR, WINKLER-CHIN FOR HER RECENTLY FINISHED MEMO ON THE SEATTLE HOUSING INVESTMENT PLAN, AS WE'VE BEEN CALLING THE SHIP, THE SEATTLE HOUSING INVESTMENT PLAN BECAUSE IT SPEAKS TO MFTE. IT ACTUALLY SPEAKS TO MFTE PLUS MHA, PET, AND ALSO THE LEVY. I REALLY THINK IT'S IMPORTANT TO, YOU KNOW, CENTER THE DISCUSSION ON THAT MFTE AS PART OF -- UM -- THE OTHER REVENUE SOURCES WE HAVE, TO INCLUDE THE MANDATORY HOUSING AFFORDABILITY PROGRAM, THE PAYROLL EXPENSE TAX, AND THE HOUSING LEVY. I THINK IT'S REALLY IMPORTANT TO HAVE THAT CONTEXT. SO I THANK HER FOR BUTTING INTO THE STUDY, INTO THE PLAN BECAUSE IT'S REALLY HELPFUL. I ALSO ASK, YOU KNOW, WE GO FURTHER AND INCLUDE -- BECAUSE AS IT SITS HERE, MFTE ALONE IS EXPECTED TO MEET NEARLY 100% OF THE HOUSING NEEDED AT THE 50% TO 80% AMI BETWEEN 2024 AND 2023. BUT THE AFFORDABLE HOUSING IS JUST ONE PIECE OF WHAT WE'RE LOOKING AT. WE HAVE PERMANENT SUPPORTIVE HOUSE, SOCIAL HOUSING. SO I LOVE IT HAD PLAN, I LOVE READING IT. BUT WE ALSO HAVE TO HAVE A BIGGER PICTURE UNDERSTANDING OF WHAT'S GOING ON WITH HOUSING. WHAT'S GOING ON WITH PERMANENT SUPPORTIVE HOUSING WHERE NOW THE NEW SOCIAL HOUSING WITH THE NEW PDA, PUBLIC DEVELOPMENT AUTHORITY. AND TO REALLY HAVE A TRUE SENSE OF WHAT IS HAPPENING ON THE HOUSING FRONT, PARTICULARLY WITH THE VARIOUS REVENUE SOURCES. TO THAT, I THINK WE NEED TO HAVE A STRATEGY IN TERMS OF THESE FUNDING SOURCES. ARE THEY THE RIGHT MIX? DO WE HAVE IT RIGHT? I BELIEVE, YOU KNOW, AS RELATED TO THE TYPES OF HOUSING, AND ALSO QUESTIONS. THIS HAS COME UP AS I DUG INTO THIS MORE AND MORE IN TERMS OF BUILDING NEW OR MAINTAINING AND PRESERVING WHAT WE HAVE NOW. THIS HAS BECOME A BIGGER ISSUE, AS I'VE BEEN JUMPING INTO THIS. I THINK AN EXPANDED PLAN THAT HAS A STRATEGY PIECE THAT SPEAKS TO THESE IS REALLY IMPORTANT. I DO WANT TO SAY, AGAIN, THANK YOU TO EVERYONE WHO HAS COME OUT TO INCLUDE ON THE DEVELOPER SIDE. BUT ALSO ON THE UNION SIDE, THE CARPENTER'S UNION AND THE BROADER UNION COMMUNITY, YOU KNOW, APPRENTICESHIP PROGRAMS. I'VE OFTEN BEEN SPEAKING TO THIS ON THE MIRROR TIME SIDE, BUT I DO THINK WE NEED TO BUILD APPRENTICESHIPS. WE NEED TO BUILD A PROGRAM THAT REALLY BIDS UP OUR TRADES AND OUR CITY AND OUR BROADER LABOR COMMUNITY. SO I THANK YOU FOR COMING OUT BECAUSE THE OFFICE OF HOUSING IS A PART OF A BROADER STRATEGY. COULD SPEAK TO THIS IN A WAY, IN A WAY THAT LOOKS AT IN TERMS OF HOW CAN WE REALLY ADDRESS ALL THE VARIOUS PIECES. THIS HOUSING PIECE IS SO COMPLICATED WITH SO MANY DIFFERENT FUNDING SOURCES, DIFFERENT HOUSING, ALL THE LITTLE PIECES. BUILD NEW, CONSERVE WHAT WE HAVE. THOSE WE SEE ON THE STREETS, DO THEY ALREADY HAVE HOUSING? WHY DO THEY DO THIS? AND THAT GOES TO PRESERVING THE LIKE. I THINK IF WE DO THIS AND WE CAN FOLD IN THIS PIECE BECAUSE I DO THINK IT IS IMPORTANT. LONG TERM, AGAIN, NOT JUST FOR THE MIRROR TIME, BUT THE ENTIRE LABOR COMMUNITY. THE PROGRAMS IT IN BUILDING IT HAD KIND OF TRADE COMMUNITY IS REALLY IMPORTANT. SO I JUST WANTED TO AGAIN, THANK THEM FOR COMING OUT AND JUST TO CONCLUDE WITH ALL THAT SAID THAT I WILL BE SUPPORTING THE P7 PROGRAM, SO THANK YOU VERY MUCH. >> COUNCILMEMBER RIVERA? >> THANK YOU, COUNCIL PRESIDENT. COLLEAGUES, AS MANY OF US HAVE SAID, WE NEED MORE HOUSING ACROSS THE BOARD IN THIS CITY. I UNDERSTAND IT IS NOT PERFECT, BUT THIS LATEST REITERATION OF THE MFTE PROGRAM ATTEMPTS TO INCENTIVIZE HOUSING AT A TIME WHEN CONSTRUCTION HAS STALLED DUE TO INCREASED COSTS, ESPECIALLY THOSE RELATED TO INCREASED TARIFFS COMING FROM THE FEDERAL GOVERNMENT. IT IS ANOTHER TOOL TO ADDRESS MUCH NEEDED HOUSING. I DO NOT SIT ON THE HOUSING AND HUMAN SERVICES COMMITTEE, AND I APPRECIATE MY COLLEAGUES WHO DO AND WHO WORK WITH THE VARIOUS STAKEHOLDERS AND CONTRIBUTE AMENDMENTS THAT STRENGTHEN THE INITIAL PROPOSAL AND TO OUR LABOR PARTNERS. I REALLY WANT TO SAY WHO CAME OUT FOR PUBLIC COMMENT. I WANT TO THANK YOU FOR BEING HERE. I RECOGNIZE IT IS NOT EASY FOR YOU TO TAKE TIME OUT OF WORK TO COME HERE AND GIVE US PUBLIC COMMENT. SO PLEASE DO KNOW THAT WHILE MAYBE YOU MAY NOT GET THE OUTCOME YOU WOULD LIKE AT THE END OF THIS VOTE. I DO WANT YOU TO KNOW HOW MUCH I PERSONALLY APPRECIATE YOU BEING HERE. I DO NOT TAKE YOUR COMMENTS FOR GRANTED. THESE ARE TOUGH VOTES, AND I KNOW THAT -- I WANT YOU TO KNOW HOW MUCH I APPRECIATE YOU BEING HERE AND HOW MUCH I VALUE YOU. SO THANK YOU FOR BEING HERE. THANK YOU, COUNCIL PRESIDENT. >> COUNCILMEMBER JUAREZ? >> THANK YOU, MADAM CHAIR. I JUST WANT TO START OUT THANKING THE CARPENTERS WHO SHOWED UP HERE TODAY. I'M SORRY. WE KNOW THAT IT TAKES TIME OUT OF YOUR DAY. AFTER BEING UP HERE FOR A FEW YEARS, I APPRECIATE WHEN COMMUNITY GROUPS AND GROUPS LIKE YOURSELF SHOW UP AND SPEAK AND DON'T LET OTHER PEOPLE SPEAK ON YOUR BEHALF. I WANT TO REITERATE WHAT COUNCILMEMBER RIVERA SAID YOU MAY NOT BE COMPLETELY HAPPY, BUT AGAIN, THIS IS A TOOL AND IT IS VOLUNTARY, AND I WANT TO, FOR THAT PURPOSE, THANK YOU. I ALSO WANT TO THANK COUNCILMEMBER SOLOMON FOR JUST SHEPHERDING THIS LEGISLATION. THROUGH NUMEROUS COMMITTEE MEETINGS. AND ALSO HUGE THANK YOU TO GREGORY WHO WORKED WITH COUNCILMEMBER SOLOMON TO MAKE SURE THIS GOT ACROSS THE FINISH LINE. BUT I'LL BE SUPPORTING THIS AND I'LL TELL YOU WHY. THIS IS A CONTINUATION OF WHAT WE SAW IN 1990 WITH THE GROWTH MANAGEMENT ACT WHEN THE CITY ADOPTED MFTE IN 1995. TO FOLLOW THE ORIGINAL INTENT OF THE STATE LAW. I'M SORRY, THE STATE ADOPTED MFTE IN 1995. THE CITY ADOPTED MFTE IN IS THE 98. ORIGINAL INTENT WAS TO GO AHEAD AND STIMULATE CONSTRUCTION, STIMULATE HOUSING OPPORTUNITIES, TRANSIT ORIENTED DEVELOPMENT, WALKABLE NEIGHBORHOODS. SO THAT'S THE LENS IN WHICH I LOOK AT A TOOL LIKE MFTE. SO IN THE BIG PICTURE, THE SCHEME OF THINGS, THAT'S THE ORIGINAL INTENT. AND I WANT TO BE ABLE TO SUPPORT THE ORIGINAL INTENT AND SPIRIT AS OUR COUNTIES AND OUR CITIES GROW, AND THAT WE ARE ACTUALLY PAYING ATTENTION TO THE JOBS THAT ARE COMING ONLINE TO LIVE AND WORK HERE. WE KNOW THAT RENT IS TOO HIGH. AGAIN, AS COUNCILMEMBER RINCK SHARED, THESE ARE JUST ANOTHER TOOL WE COULD WORK WITH DEVELOPERS, NON-PROFITS TO GET PEOPLE HOUSED AND GET THIS STUFF BUILT. I WANT TO THANK YOU FOR GETTING THIS ACROSS THE FINISH LINE. >> THANK YOU. I BELIEVE YOU HAD ONE MORE COMMENT? >> I SHOULD HAVE THANKED OUR COLLEAGUE COUNCIL MEMBER SOLOMON FOR SHEPHERDING THESE THROUGH. THESE ARE HEAVY LIFTS. THIS PROGRAM EXPIRED IN MAY, SO IT WAS SOMETHING WE HAD TO GET DONE QUICKLY, SO I REALLY WANT TO THANK YOU AND YOUR TEAM FOR SHEPARDING THIS THROUGH. ALSO, I NEVER TALK ABOUT THIS MYSELF BECAUSE I FEEL IT IS SELF-SERVING, BUT I WOULD BE REMISS IF I DIDN'T SAY. AND THAT IS ANOTHER REASON WHY MY DAD IS NO LONGER WITH US, SO I TRY NOT TO GET EMOTIONAL EITHER. I WANT YOU TO KNOW HOW MUCH I APPRECIATE YOU BEING HERE AND HOW MUCH I REALLY DO CARE. THAT IS GENUINE FROM THE HEART, SO THANK YOU, COUNCIL PRESIDENT. >> ARE THERE ANY OTHER COMMENTS? I'LL SAY A COUPLE OF WORDS TO LEAVE IT OUT TO CLOSE US OUT. I FIRST WANTED -- I HAVE SPOKEN OF MY STRONG SUPPORT FOR THE MFTE PROGRAM BEFORE. NOW I'D LIKE TO READ AN EXCERPT THAT I READ THIS MORNING BECAUSE IT GETS TO THE ISSUE BEHIND WHAT WE'RE DOING HERE. INCREASED AMI IN THE PROGRAM, SET IN THE MFTE PROGRAM, TO EQUITABLE ACCESS IS RETURNING THE OPPORTUNITY FOR RENTERS WHO EARN BETWEEN 65 AND 90% AMI, THEIR ONE TOOL THEY HAD ACCESS TO RENT DISCOUNT. THIS IS WHAT THE VOLUNTARY PROGRAM WAS MEANT TO DO, WHICH THE HOUSING LEVY AND NON-PROFIT BUILDERS CREATE. IT SHOULD NOT BE LEFT BEHIND. SO ANY WAY, I HOPE YOU -- SO IF YOU DIDN'T READ THAT, THAT IS AVAILABLE FOR YOUR APPROVAL. I'LL REITERATE THAT THIS IS THE ONLY PROGRAM IN OUR CITY THAT PROVIDES FOR UNITS FOR OUR TEACHERS, ARTISTS, RETAIL WORKERS, ETC. I DON'T WANT TO LEAVE THEM OUT. THERE IS A LARGE SWATH OF SEATTLE POPULATION THAT MAKES BETWEEN 60, 70 TO 90% OF AMI THAT IS COMPLETELY LEFT OUT, EXCEPT FOR IF YOU GOT THE MONEY TO BUY A HOUSE, THEN MAYBE YOU CAN AFFORD ONE OF THE HOMES THAT $970 MILLION HOUSING LEVY ALLOWS TO PRODUCE. THAT'S A WORK FORCE SLIVER, BUT IT IS NOT FOR RENTERS, IT IS FOR BUYERS. SO I WILL SIMPLY SAY THAT I'VE BEEN A STRONG PROPONENT OF THIS AND I WILL SAY IT AGAIN. THIS PROGRAM ACHIEVES THREE GOALS. IT INCENTIVIZES THE PRODUCTION OF HOUSING IN GENERAL. WE NEED MORE HOUSING PERIOD. IT ALSO INCENTIVIZES ON SITE THE 25% OF AFFORDABLE UNITS. AND THEN FINALLY, IT NEEDS A POLICY GOAL THAT WE ALWAYS STRIVE FOR, BUT RARELY MEET, WHICH IS MIXED INCOME HOUSING IN THIS CITY. MHA PROVIDES FOR THE DEVELOPERS TO CHOOSE BETWEEN A FEE IN LIEU OR PERFORMANCE ON SITE AND THE VAST MAJORITY OF TIMES, DEVELOPERS CHOOSE TO WRITE A CHECK. THIS IS ALLOWING FOR THE CONSTRUCTION OF WORK FORCE UNITS ON SITE AND WE NEED TO -- THAT'S WHY I SUPPORT THIS PROGRAM. SO I'M OBVIOUSLY GOING TO BE VOTING YES FOR THIS, AND I THINK IT HAS BEEN A LONG TIME COMING. THE PROGRAM SIX EXPIRED LAST YEAR, AND I'M GLAD WE ARE FINALLY AT A POINT WHERE WE CAN TAKE A VOTE ON PROGRAM SEVEN. ARE THERE ANY FURTHER COMMENTS? COUNCILMEMBER SOLOMON, WOULD YOU LIKE TO CLOSE US OUT? >> I THINK IT HAS ALL BEEN SAID. I URGE PASSAGE OF THIS BILL. THANK YOU. >> ALL RIGHT. WILL THE CLERK PLEASE CALL THE ROLL AS AMENDED? >> COUNCILMEMBER SAKA? >> AYE. >> COUNCILMEMBER SOLOMON? >> AYE. >> COUNCILMEMBER STRAUSS? >> AYE. >> COUNCILMEMBER HOLLINGSWORTH? >> YES. >> COUNCILMEMBER JUAREZ? >> AYE. >> COUNCILMEMBER KETTLE? >> AYE. >> COUNCILMEMBER RINCK? >> YES. >> COUNCILMEMBER RIVERA? >> AYE. >> COUNCIL PRESIDENT NELSON? >> AYE. >> NINE IN FAVOR, NONE OPPOSED. >> THE BILL PASSES AS AMENDED AND THE CHAIR WILL SIGN IT. WILL THE CLERK PLEASE AFFIX MY SIGNATURE TO THE LEGISLATION ON MY BEHALF? ALL RIGHT. WILL THE CLERK PLEASE READ ITEM 3 INTO THE RECORD? >> THE REPORT OF THE SELECT BUDGET COMMITTEE, AGENDA 3, 121083, RELATING TO TAXATION, IMPOSING A LOCAL SALES AND USE TAX TO FUND INVESTMENTS IN CRIMINAL JUSTICE. THE COMMITTEE RECOMMENDS THE BILL PASS. >> THANK YOU VERY MUCH. COUNCILMEMBER STRAUSS IS CHAIR OF THE COMMITTEE. YOU'RE RECOGNIZED TO PROVIDE THE COMMITTEE REPORT. >> THANK YOU, COLLEAGUES. AS WE ALL WERE IN THE COLLECT BUDGET COMMITTEE LAST WEEK. THIS BILL WAS PUT FORWARD AS A WAY THAT WAS OUTLINED IN THE RESOLUTION, A WAY TO PROVIDE MANY IMPORTANT RESOURCES FOR SEATTLE WHO ARE STRUGGLING. THIS IS ALSO REQUIRED, IF WE WANT TO BALANCE THE BALANCE AS IT WAS PRESENTED TO US. SO COLLEAGUES, I URGE A YES VOTE. >> ARE THERE ANY COMMENTS ON THE BILL? ALL RIGHT. I'LL GO AHEAD AND MAKE SOME COMMENTS, AS SOON AS I FIND MY NOTES HERE. THESE PROGRESSIVE INVESTMENTS WILL SAVE LIVES AND FILL GAPING HOLES IN OUR RESPONSE TO SEATTLE'S DRUG CRISIS. I LIVED THE CHARGE TO PUT AN ADDICTION TREATMENT AT THE CENTER OF THE CITY'S AGENDA BECAUSE THE FENTANYL EPIDEMIC ARE ROOT CAUSES OF BOTH OUR PUBLIC SAFETY AND CHRONIC HOMELESSNESS CHALLENGES. AND, YOU KNOW, THIS MIGHT BE SHOCKING TO HEAR BECAUSE I THINK BACK THREE YEARS WHEN I TOOK OFFICE. IT WAS VERY SURPRISING TO ME WHEN I FOUND OUT UP UNTIL THE PILOT PROGRAM, I STARTED A COUPLE OF YEARS AGO. THE CITY, NOR THE COUNTY, FUNDED REHAB. AND SO I'M TALKING ABOUT RESIDENTIAL TREATMENT. WE ONLY HAD PROGRAMS THAT OFFER OPIOID USE DISORDER MEDICATION. SO I'M VERY HAPPY TO SEE THAT ONE OF THE LINE ITEMS THAT PASSAGE OF THIS BILL WILL FACILITATE IF WE APPROVE ITS PROPOSAL IN NEED BUDGET. IT'S ONE OF THE -- IT'S AN EXPANSION OF THAT PROGRAM. AND A LONG LIST OF OTHER THINGS THAT ARE ABSOLUTELY NECESSARY TO FILL IN THE GAPS TOWARD PROVIDING A PATHWAY TO RECOVERY FOR OUR SEATTLE RESIDENTS. THE STATE GIVES US VERY LIMITED SET OF TOOLS TO RAISE REVENUE FOR THE ESSENTIAL SERVICES THE CITY PROVIDES. I DON'T LIKE THIS IS A REGRESSING TAX, BUT IT ISN'T ABOUT RAISING TAXES ON WORKING FAMILIES. THIS IS ABOUT USING PUBLIC SAFETY DOLLARS FOR PUBLIC SAFETY. WHEN WE INVEST IN GETTING PEOPLE OFF THE STREETS AND INTO TREATMENT. WE PREVENT CRIME, REDUCE EMERGENCY RESPONSES, AND MAKE EVERY NEIGHBORHOOD SAFER. AND THAT IS SMART PUBLIC SAFETY SPENDING. MORE IMPORTANTLY, IT IS THE MORAL THING TO DO. SO I LOOK FORWARD TO PASSING THIS TODAY, AND THEN WORKING WITH ALL OF YOU TO BE GOOD STEWARDS OF THIS NEW REVENUE BY PRIORITIZING THE INVESTMENTS IN THE HIGHEST NEEDS AREA LIKE TREATMENT RECOVERY AND RECOVERY HOUSING, ETC., AND WILL BE TALKING ABOUT IT IN THE COMING WEEKS. COUNCILMEMBER RIVERA? >> THANK YOU, COUNCIL PRESIDENT. COLLEAGUES, AS I SAID LAST WEEK, I STRUGGLED WITH THIS VOTE, THIS TAX PROPOSAL IS OF A CONCERN TO ME BECAUSE BASICALLY WHAT IT DOES IS TAX POOR PEOPLE TO HELP POOR PEOPLE. I SAY THIS BECAUSE AS WE KNOW, SALES TAX ARE THE MOST REGRESSIVE TAX GOVERNMENTS CAN LEVY, AND THEY HIT OUR LOW INCOME FAMILIES THE HARDEST. WHILE GROCERIES ARE EXEMPT FROM SALES TAX AND MANY OTHER ITEMS THAT ARE LOW INCOME COMMUNITIES PURCHASED THAT ARE NOT EXEMPT LIKE CLOTHING AND SHOES FOR THEIR KIDS, AMONG MANY OTHER IMPORTANT NEEDS. WE KNOW WE HAVE AN AFFORDABILITY PROBLEM IN SEATTLE. THIS PROPOSAL IS JUST GOING TO MAKE THINGS WORSE, COMBINED WITH THE RECENT .1% SALES TAX INCREASE LEVY BY KING COUNTY, SEATTLE SALES TAX WILL BE 10.55%, WHICH IS HIGHER THAN SAN FRANCISCO, NEW YORK CITY, CHICAGO, BOSTON, EVEN AMONG THE EIGHT STATES WITHOUT AN INCOME TAX. WE ARE STILL AT THE TOP, COMPARED TO CITIES OF OUR SIZE. AND WHAT'S MORE, THIS COMES INSTEAD OF WHAT WE REALLY NEED TO BE DOING, TAKING A VERY HARD LOOK AT THE CITY'S BUDGET, FOR THESE REASONS, I WILL NOT BE SUPPORTING THIS PROPOSAL TODAY. THANK YOU. >> I'M NOT SEEING ADDITIONAL HANDS RAISED, BUT I DO WANT TO SAY TO MY COLLEAGUE, I VERY MUCH RESPECT YOUR POSITION, AND I ALSO STRUGGLED WITH IT. THANK YOU VERY MUCH FOR YOUR COURAGE. OKAY. COUNCILMEMBER STRAUSS? >> THANK YOU, IS THIS LAST WORD? >> YEP. >> GREAT. WE'LL MOVE ON TO A VOTE AFTER THIS, I HOPE. JUST TO SAY WE HAD A LOT OF WORK WE ACCOMPLISHED THIS LAST YEAR IN OLYMPIA, REQUESTING DIFFERENT WAYS THE CITY COULD FUND THE PROGRAMS AND RESOURCES WE PROVIDE SEATTLE. THIS IS FROM ALL 281 CITIES ACROSS OUR STATE, WORKING TOGETHER TO ASK FOR NEW REVENUE OPTIONS. BECAUSE AS THE PROPERTY TAX IS CAPPED AT 1% PLUS NEW CONSTRUCTION, OUR ABILITY TO KEEP UP WITH INFLATION IS LIMITED. WITHOUT STATE AUTHORIZATION FOR DIFFERENT OPTIONS, WE CAN'T MOVE FORWARD EXCEPT FOR WHAT THEY PROVIDE US. AND WHILE I WISH WE HAD OTHER OPTIONS, SUCH AS, YOU KNOW, I WISH WE HAD OTHER OUTCOMES THAT CAME OUT OF OLYMPIA. OLYMPIA HAS MORE WORK TO DO TO HELP MAKE CITY'S HOLE AND KEEP UP WITH INFLATIONS, SO WE ARE ABLE TO PROVIDE THE BASIC SERVICES OUR RESIDENTS REQUEST. AT THIS TIME, THIS IS THE OPTION BEFORE US. WE NEED TO TAKE IT. THANK YOU. >> THANK YOU FOR THOSE COMMENTS. OH, COUNCILMEMBER RINCK? >> THANK YOU, COUNCIL PRESIDENT. I'M HOPPING ON BOARD WITH THE CHORUS OF FOLKS SAYING I WISH WE HAD BETTER OPTIONS. I'LL ALSO USE THIS AS AN OPPORTUNITY TO SAY I SINCERELY HOPE WE WORK TOGETHER WITH OUR STATE DELEGATION, THE LEGISLATIVE SESSION TO GET BETTER OPTIONS. BUT ALSO UNDERSTANDING THIS IS WHAT WE HAVE IN THIS MOMENT. YOU KNOW, WHAT WE'RE VOTING ON AUTHORIZES THIS TAX, BUT I UNDERSTAND THE WORK OF TAKING UP THE SPEND PLAN WILL BE A PART OF BUDGET. AND FROM WHAT HAS BEEN TRANSMITTED BY THE MAYOR, THERE IS A LOT OF NEW SPENDING ASSOCIATED ALSO WITH THIS. SO WHILE I CAN APPRECIATE A NUMBER OF THE HIGHLIGHTED INVESTMENT, THEY ARE ALL THINGS I HAVE CERTAINLY CHAMPIONED IN MY CAREER. I ALSO WOULD TAKE A MOMENT TO HIGHLIGHT THAT OUR OWN STRUCTURAL BUDGET CHALLENGES, THINKING ABOUT BUDGET SUSTAINABILITY MOVING FORWARD AND HOW WE GRAPPLE WITH THE CIRCUMSTANCES WE FIND OURSELVES IN, OUR STRUCTURAL BUDGET CHALLENGES. I WANTED TO ADD TO THOSE NOTES. I HOPE THIS IS THE LAST SALES TAX WE APPROVE. I SINCERELY MEAN THAT. MOVING FORWARD, BUT FOR TODAY AND CONSIDERING THE MOMENT WE ARE IN, I WILL BE SUPPORTING THIS LEGISLATION. THANK YOU. >> OKAY. ONE FINAL NOTE. THE PROPOSED SPENDING PLAN THAT CAME WITH THE BILL, AS AN ATTACHMENT THAT WOULD BE THE ADDITIONAL SALES TAX WOULD BE USED FOR OVER THE SUMMER IN JULY. WE BASICALLY SAID 25% OF WHATEVER PUBLIC SAFETY SALES TAX REVENUE BE DIRECTED TOWARD RECOVERY SERVICES, RECOVERY BASED HOUSING, STABILIZING EXISTING SERVICES. AND, IN FACT, I WILL READ OFF THE EXPENDITURES IN HERE. FIVE MILLION FOR LEAD. THAT IS THE STABILIZING EXISTING SERVICES BUCKET. $1.6 MILLION TO EXPAND HEALTH 99 PROPOSED OVERDOSE RESPONSE TEAM. $1.2 MILLION FOR DESC ORCA CENTER PATIENT OUTREACH DIVISION OR POD TEAM. $2.9 MILLION FOR DETOX AND INPATIENT TREATMENT AND RESIDENTIAL SET ASIDE BEDS. AND $1.8 MILLION FOR THE THUNDERBIRD TREATMENT CENTER. SO GLAD WE WERE ABLE TO INCLUDE THAT AS WELL. SO ALTOGETHER THAT EQUALS ABOUT 32% OF THE TOTAL, WHICH IS PRETTY DARN CLOSE TO 25. I BELIEVE I DO HAVE MY MATH CORRECT ON THAT. LET'S SEE, BUT MY STAFF WOULD TELL ME IF NOT. BUT THE POINT IS IT'S ENTIRELY CONSISTENT WITH THE INTENTION WE VOTED ON OVER THE SUMMER. SO RECOVERY WINS ON THIS ONE. THANK YOU VERY MUCH. IF THERE IS NO FURTHER COMMENT? GO AHEAD. >> COUNCIL PRESIDENT, THANK YOU. SINCE YOU READ ALL THAT, I DON'T WANT TO LEAVE IT UNSAID. I, OF COURSE, SUPPORT THUNDERBIRD AND THE OTHER USES OF ATTACKS. I JUST THINK WE SHOULD BE LOOKING THE AT BUDGET AND FIND REVENUE, NOT REVENUE, EXCUSE ME, MONEY TO PAY FOR THOSE THINGS OUT OF OUR EXISTING BUDGET. BUT NOT THAT WE SHOULD BE INCREASING THE SALES TAX. THAT'S REALLY, AS I SAID EARLIER, A REGRESSIVE TAX THAT'S GOING TO HURT OUR LOW INCOME FAMILIES, SO THANK YOU. >> THANK YOU. I UNDERSTAND. I DIDN'T READ IT TOO. >> ALL RIGHT. WILL THE CLERK PLEASE CALL THE ROLL OF THE PASSAGE OF THE BILL? >> COUNCILMEMBER SAKA? >> AYE. >> COUNCILMEMBER SOLOMON? >> AYE. >> COUNCILMEMBER STRAUSS? >> AYE. >> COUNCILMEMBER HOLLINGSWORTH? >> YES. >> COUNCILMEMBER JUAREZ? >> AYE. >> COUNCILMEMBER KETTLE? >> AYE. >> COUNCILMEMBER RINCK? >> YES. >> COUNCILMEMBER RIVERA? >> NO. >> COUNCIL PRESIDENT NELSON? >> AYE. >> EIGHT IN FAVOR, ONE OPPOSED. >> THE BILL PASSES AND THE CHAIR WILL SIGN IT. WILL THE CLERK PLEASE AFFIX MY SIGNATURE TO THE LEGISLATION ON MY BEHALF? AND WILL THE CLERK PLEASE READ ITEM 4 INTO THE RECORD? >> THE REPORT OF THE PARKS, PUBLIC UTILITIES, AND TECHNOLOGY COMMITTEE. COUNCIL BILL 121051, RELATING TO SOLID WASTE SYSTEM OF SEATTLE PUBLIC UTILITIES, REVISING RATES AND CHARGES FOR SOLID WASTE SERVICES, REVISING CREDITS TO LOW INCOME CUSTOMERS FOR SOLID WASTE SERVICES. THE COMMITTEE RECOMMENDS THE BILL PASS. >> COUNCILMEMBER HOLLINGSWORTH IS CHAIR OF THE COMMITTEE. YOU'RE RECOGNIZED TO PROVIDE THE COMMITTEE REPORT. AND THERE WAS A QUESTION FROM COUNCILMEMBER KETTLE. YOU WERE SAYING, COUNCILMEMBER KETTLE, IF THEY COULD ALL BE READ TOGETHER? WHAT WERE YOU MEANING? >> I WAS -- COUNCIL PRESIDENT, THANK YOU. ACTUALLY THIS COMES AFTER THE PUBLIC SAFETY -- I MEAN THE PARKS. >> SORRY. >> BECAUSE THE COUNCIL BILLS, I WAS SPEAKING ABOUT THOSE THREE BEING DONE TOGETHER. SORRY. NOT RELATED TO PARKS. >> OKAY. PLEASE GO AHEAD. SORRY ABOUT THAT. >> NO WORRIES. THANK YOU, COUNCIL PRESIDENT. THERE IS ALWAYS A CORRELATION WITH PARKS AND PUBLIC SAFETY, SO THANK YOU COUNCILMEMBER KETTLE. SEPTEMBER 10, THE PARKS' PUBLIC UTILITIES AND TECHNOLOGY COMMITTEE APPROVED COUNCIL BILL 121051, WHICH SETS SEATTLE PUBLIC UTILITIES SOLID WASTE RATES FOR 2026 TO 2028. THIS ORDINANCE WOULD RAISE SOLID WASTE RATES ON RESIDENTIAL AND COMMERCIAL CUSTOMERS BY AN AVERAGE OF 3.3% OF THOSE YEARS. TRANSPORTATION RATES WILL BE INCREASED BY 5.2% IN 2026 THROUGH 2028. COMBINED, THESE NEW RATES ACCOUNT FOR INFLATION AND ARE ALSO CONSISTENT WITH THE OVERALL AVERAGE RATE PATH OF 3.1% PER YEAR PER SOLID WASTE RATES APPROVED BY SEATTLE CITY COUNCIL A YEAR AGO THROUGH THE SEATTLE PUBLIC UTILITY STRATEGIC BUSINESS PLAN. I DO WANT TO THANK THE COMMITTEE AND DIFFERENT COUNCIL MEMBERS FOR ENGAGING AS WELL. I KNOW THERE WERE SOME CONCERNS, AND I KNOW THERE WERE SOME FOLLOWUPS FOR DIFFERENT COUNCIL MEMBERS REGARDING SOME OF THESE RATES AND THEN SERVICES AS WELL IN DIFFERENT DISTRICTS. I AM CONFIDENT THAT THESE MEASURES WILL ASSURE A MORE HACK THE RAT BILLING FOR SPU AND ALSO ENSURE -- SORRY, I CAN'T READ. WILL ENSURE ACCURATE BILLING FOR SPU AS WELL. I ALSO WANT TO NOTE TOO WHEN SOMETHING COMES BEFORE US AND WE SEE AN INCREASE OF RATES, THE FIRST THING WE ALWAYS TALK ABOUT IS AFFORDABILITY, AND THAT HAS BEEN BROUGHT UP, I KNOW FROM A NUMBER OF PEOPLE, COUNCILMEMBER RIVERA AND ALSO DIFFERENT PEOPLE ON OUR -- IN OUR COMMITTEE. THAT IS ALSO SOMETHING OF MINE I'M VERY CONCERNED ABOUT. JUST TALKING TO SPU AND TALKING ABOUT THE THRESHOLDS FOR ELIGIBILITY FROM DIFFERENT RESIDENTS AND PEOPLE THAT WE NEED TO CONTINUE AS RATES ARE GOING UP. WE NEED TO CONTINUE TO RAISE THRESHOLDS AND THINKING ABOUT DIFFERENT WAYS IN WHICH WE CAN ACTIVATE AND GET PEOPLE INVOLVED IN SOME OF THE RELIEF THAT FOR SOME OF THESE RATES. THAT IS ONE THING WE'RE ALWAYS THINKING OF. I WILL TAKE THIS TIME TO ALSO MENTION THAT 30%, ONE-THIRD, 30% OF OVERALL SOLID WASTE IS ACTUALLY FOOD WASTE. THERE'S A STRATEGIC PLAN TO GET THAT DOWN TO 20% BY 2030. BUT KNOW WE CAN CURE SOME OF OUR FOOD INSECURITY NEEDS BY REDIRECTING FOOD BEFORE IT GETS WASTED AND EXTENDING ITS LIFE AS WELL. THAT'S ALSO A STRATEGY THAT'S IN OUR FOOD ACTION PLAN. SO I WANTED TO TAKE THAT TIME. THERE IS ALWAYS A CORRELATION WITH FOOD ANYWHERE. ALL RIGHT, THANK YOU, COUNCIL PRESIDENT. >> THANK YOU VERY MUCH. ARE THERE ANY COMMENTS? COUNCILMEMBER RIVERA? >> THANK YOU, COUNCIL PRESIDENT, AND THANK YOU, COUNCILMEMBER HOLLINGSWORTH FOR BRINGING THAT UP. YOU ARE ALWAYS SO GRACIOUS. WE'VE HAD A LOT OF CONVERSATIONS ABOUT AFFORDABILITY. YOU AND I SHARE THAT CONCERN. I REALLY APPRECIATE YOUR LEADERSHIP. I VOTED NO AT COMMITTEE AS YOU KNOW, BUT I DO APPRECIATE, AND I BELIEVE YOU'RE DOING EVERYTHING YOU CAN TO ADDRESS AFFORDABILITY, SO I WANTED TO ACKNOWLEDGE THAT. AND THEN I WANT TO SAY COLLEAGUES, THE AFFORDABILITY PIECE IS SOMETHING OF CONCERN FOR ME, ESPECIALLY BECAUSE I HAVE A LOT OF RETIREES IN THE DISTRICT AS YOU KNOW, WHO ARE LIVING ON FIXED INCOME. EVERY TIME WE RAISED SOMETHING, YOU KNOW, THEY ARE DISPROPORTIONATELY IMPACTED AS ARE OUR LOW INCOME COMMUNITIES. SO I WILL ALSO SAY THAT, YOU KNOW, INCLUDED IN THIS RATE INCREASE IS A SPECIAL PICKUP RATE. AND TO BRING THAT PROGRAM TO DO LIKE A COST SHARING MODEL, AND I THOUGHT, YOU KNOW, SOME FOLKS TO UTILIZE THIS SERVICE, YOU HAVE A COUCH THAT YOU NEED TO GET RID OF. YOU CALL FOR A PICKUP. THEY WILL COME, THEY WILL PICK IT UP, AND YOU PAY FOR THAT PICK UP. THIS PARTICULAR PROPOSAL ALSO INCLUDES NOW THE RATE IS INCREASING A CERTAIN PERCENT SO THAT EVERYONE CAN JUST PICK UP AND THEN THEY PICK IT UP FOR FREE. THESE ARE THE KINDS OF THINGS WHILE I SUPPORT SPU COMING TO PICK UP THESE ITEMS, SO THEY'RE PROPERLY DISPOSED OF. IT'S HARD TO CONTINUE TO PASS ALL THESE COSTS ONTO ALL THE CONSTITUENTS ACROSS THE BOARD. BECAUSE A LITTLE FROM HERE AND A LITTLE FROM THERE, ETC., ETC. AND THEN IT ALL ADDS UP. SO I DON'T WANT TO BE CAVALIER ABOUT THIS OR SAY I KNOW PEOPLE MIGHT SAY OH, WELL IT'S A SLIGHT INCREASE. YES, BUT WE'RE INCREASING OTHER THINGS AS WELL. AND THESE THINGS HAVE IMPACT TO OUR LOW INCOME AND ALSO OUR RETIREES ACROSS THE CITY. AND FOR THOSE REASONS, I VOTED NO ON THIS. I'M GOING TO VOTE NO TODAY. BUT I VERY MUCH APPRECIATE AS I SAID MY COLLEAGUE, COUNCILMEMBER HOLLINGSWORTH, WHO HAS DONE AN AMAZING JOB, SHEPHERDING ALL OF THIS THROUGH HER COMMITTEE. AGAIN, I KNOW HOW MUCH SHE CARES. SHE IS ALWAYS FINDING OPPORTUNITIES TO FIND AREAS WHERE WE CAN HELP PEOPLE AND YOU'VE SUPPORTED A LOT OF THE THINGS I BROUGHT IN THE PAST. SO I DO WANT TO RECOGNIZE, I SUPER APPRECIATE THAT. I KNOW YOU CARE -- ANY WAY, THANK YOU, COLLEAGUES. >> ALL RIGHT, SEEING NO FURTHER COMMENTS. OKAY. WILL THE CLERK PLEASE CALL THE ROLL ON THE PASSAGE OF THE BILL? >> COUNCILMEMBER SAKA? >> AYE. >> COUNCILMEMBER SOLOMON? >> AYE. >> COUNCILMEMBER STRAUSS? >> AYE. >> COUNCILMEMBER HOLLINGSWORTH? >> YES. >> COUNCILMEMBER JUAREZ? >> AYE. >> COUNCILMEMBER KETTLE? >> AYE. >> COUNCILMEMBER RINCK? >> YES. >> COUNCILMEMBER RIVERA? >> NO. >> COUNCIL PRESIDENT NELSON? >> AYE. >> EIGHT IN FAVOR, ONE OPPOSED. >> THE BILL PASSES AND THE CHAIR WILL SIGN IT. WILL THE CLERK PLEASE AFFIX MY SIGNATURE TO THE LEGISLATION ON MY BEHALF? AND WILL THE CLERK PLEASE READ ITEM 5 INTO THE RECORD? >> YES, WE WILL GO AHEAD AND GROUP ITEM FIVE, SIX, AND SEVEN, IS THAT THE CASE? OKAY. SO GO AHEAD AND READ THOSE INTO THE RECORD. >> THANK YOU. >> DO YOU WANT TO DO EIGHT AS WELL? OKAY, AGENDAS FIVE THROUGH SEVEN. COUNCIL BILL 121079, RELATED TO THE CITY'S CIVIL INFRACTION CODE, CONFORMING TO SEATTLE MUNICIPAL CODE WITH CHANGES IN STATE LAW AND MAKING TECHNICAL CORRECTIONS. COUNCIL BILL 121080, RELATING TO THE CITY'S CRIMINAL CODE, CONFORMING THE SEATTLE MUNICIPAL CODE WITH CHANGES IN STATE LAW AND MAKING TECHNICAL CORRECTIONS. AND COUNCIL BILL 121081, RELATING TO THE CITY'S TRAFFIC CODE, CONFORMING THE SEATTLE MUNICIPAL CODE WITH CHANGES TO THE STATE LAW AND MAKING TECHNICAL CORRECTIONS. THE COMMITTEE RECOMMENDS THESE BILL PASS. >> AS CHAIR OF THE COMMITTEE, COUNCILMEMBER KETTLE, YOU'RE RECOGNIZED TO ADDRESS THEM. >> THANK YOU, COUNCIL PRESIDENT. COLLEAGUES, COUNCIL BILL 121079, 121080, AND 121081 ARE ALL RELATED IN THE SENSE THIS IS THREE BILLS THAT WILL ALIGN SEATTLE MUNICIPAL CODE WITH THE REVISED CODE OF WASHINGTON. BASICALLY ENSURE THE CITY AND THE STATE'S LAWS ARE IN SYNC. WE HAVE ROUTINE UPDATES TO ALIGN THE CITY CODE TO STATE LAW. THIS IS REALLY DONE BECAUSE WE HAVE TO ENSURE THE CITY ATTORNEY'S OFFICE AND THE SEATTLE MUNICIPAL COURT, AND ALSO SEATTLE PD, THAT CONNECTION CAN BASICALLY ADJUDICATE THESE LAWS. OTHERWISE IT WILL BE FALLING ON THE KING COUNTY. AS YOU KNOW, THEY'RE FOCUSED ON FELONIES, AND THIS WOULD NOT BE DONE. THE CITY, JUST TO REMIND YOU, IS RESPONSIBLE FOR ALL MISDEMEANORS IN THE CITY. SO THIS BASICALLY CATCHES US UP THROUGH THE VARIOUS BILLS THAT HAVE BEEN PASSED OUT OF THE STATE LEGISLATURE THROUGH THE 2025 LEGISLATIVE SESSIONS. AND SO BASICALLY WHAT WE HAVE HERE IS SOMETHING I ALSO SPEAK TO ON A REGULAR BASIS. WE HAVE TO HAVE A FUNCTIONAL CRIMINAL JUSTICE SYSTEM. TO DO THAT, WE HAVE TO HAVE ALL THESE PIECES WORKING. WE HAVE TO HAVE OUR CITY CODE LINING WITH STATE LAW. SO THEN WHEN THE CITY, WHEN OUR POLICE DEPARTMENT TAKES ACTION AND THEN REFERS THE CITY ATTORNEY'S OFFICE THAT THEY CAN TAKE THEIR ACTION. THEN OBVIOUSLY SEATTLE MUNICIPAL COURT AS WELL. THIS IS, AGAIN, ABOUT HAVING A FUNCTIONAL CRIMINAL JUSTICE SYSTEM THROUGH ALL PHASES AND ALL PIECES OF IT. THIS IS BASICALLY A FOCUS FOR OUR COMMITTEE, PUBLIC SAFETY COMMITTEE OVER THE COURSE OF 2025. COUNCIL BILL 121079 RELATES TO THE HARBOR CODE THAT CHANGES THE DESIGNATION AND BASICALLY BRINGS THIS UP INTO ALIGNMENT WITH OTHER TECHNICAL CORRECTIONS. THERE'S A LITTERING INFRACTION PENALTY. BASIC STUFF LIKE THAT, SO IT ALIGNS WITH THE $125 PENALTY. 080 RELATES TO ALLOWING THE CITY ATTORNEY'S OFFICE AND THE SEATTLE MUNICIPAL COURT TO WORK THESE CHANGES IN STATE LAW THAT RELATE TO HAZING. TO FIREARMS AND WEAPONS RESTRICTIONS THAT RESTRICT AND REGULATE THE SALT WEAPONS, PROHIBIT IMPORT DISTRIBUTION OF SALE. VEHICLE PROBLEMS IN THE SECOND DEGREE. CATALYTIC CONVERTER THEFT. SOMETHING WE'VE BEEN SEEING IN OUR CITY OVER THE YEARS. AGAIN, ALL THESE THINGS ARE DONE, SO WE CAN PROPERLY PROSECUTE AND WORK THESE ISSUES, AND AGAIN HAVE A FUNCTIONAL CRIMINAL JUSTICE SYSTEM. 081 RELATES TO TRAFFIC CODE, TECHNICAL CORRECTIONS, AGAIN, BASED ON STATE LAWS. ONE IS TO ENSURE, AGAIN, LINING WITH STATE LAW LICENSE REQUIREMENTS TO MAKE THOSE COVERS YOU SEE ILLEGAL. INCREASE THE RESPONSE TIME TO RESPONDING TO A TICKET FROM 30 DAYS TO THE CURRENT 15. AND ALSO ADDS A NEGLIGENT DRIVING INFRACTIONS IN REGARDS TO VULNERABLE USERS. BASICALLY COVERING UP A GRAY, MIDDLE AREA THAT WE HAVE WITH OUR LEGISLATION, I MEAN, WITH OUR CODE AS IT IS RIGHT NOW. SO AGAIN, IN SUMMARY, THIS IS ABOUT ALIGNING SEATTLE MUNICIPAL CODE WITH THE REVISED CODE OF WASHINGTON, AND I ASK FOR YOUR SUPPORT FOR ALL THREE BILLS, COUNCIL BILL 121079, 121080, AND 121081, THANK YOU VERY MUCH. >> THANK YOU VERY MUCH. ARE THERE ANY QUESTIONS FOR ANY OF THESE BILLS? ALL RIGHT. SEEING NONE, WE'LL GO AHEAD AND WE WILL HAVE TO VOTE ON THEM SEPARATELY. SO WILL THE CLERK PLEASE CALL THE ROLL ON ITEM 5? >> COUNCILMEMBER SAKA? >> AYE. >> COUNCILMEMBER SOLOMON? >> AYE. >> COUNCILMEMBER STRAUSS? >> AYE. >> COUNCILMEMBER HOLLINGSWORTH? >> YES. >> COUNCILMEMBER JUAREZ? >> AYE. >> COUNCILMEMBER JUAREZ? >> AYE. >> THANK YOU. COUNCILMEMBER KETTLE? >> AYE. >> COUNCILMEMBER RINCK? >> YES. >> COUNCILMEMBER RIVERA? >> AYE. >> COUNCIL PRESIDENT NELSON? >> AYE. >> NINE IN FAVOR, NONE OPPOSED. >> THE BILL PASSES AND THE CHAIR WILL SIGN IT. WILL THE CLERK PLEASE AFFIX MY SIGNATURE TO THE LEGISLATION ON MY BEHALF. AND WILL THE CLERK PLEASE READ -- CALL THE ROLL ON ITEM SIX? >> COUNCILMEMBER SAKA? >> AYE. >> COUNCILMEMBER SOLOMON? >> AYE. >> COUNCILMEMBER STRAUSS? >> AYE. >> COUNCILMEMBER HOLLINGSWORTH? >> YES. >> COUNCILMEMBER JUAREZ? >> AYE. >> COUNCILMEMBER KETTLE? >> AYE. >> COUNCILMEMBER RINCK? >> YES. >> COUNCILMEMBER RIVERA? >> AYE. >> COUNCIL PRESIDENT NELSON? >> AYE. >> NINE IN FAVOR, NONE OPPOSED. >> THE BILL IS PASSED AND THE CHAIR WILL SIGN IT. WILL THE CLERK PLEASE AFFIX MY SIGNATURE TO THE LEGISLATION ON MY BEHALF? AND WILL THE CLERK PLEASE READ ITEM -- OR WILL THE CLERK PLEASE CALL THE ROLL ON ITEM SEVEN? >> COUNCILMEMBER SAKA? >> AYE. >> COUNCILMEMBER SOLOMON? >> AYE. >> COUNCILMEMBER STRAUSS? >> AYE. >> COUNCILMEMBER HOLLINGSWORTH? >> YES. >> COUNCILMEMBER JUAREZ? >> AYE. >> COUNCILMEMBER KETTLE? >> AYE. >> COUNCILMEMBER RINCK? >> YES. >> COUNCILMEMBER RIVERA? >> YES. >> COUNCIL PRESIDENT NELSON? >> AYE. >> NINE IN FAVOR, NONE OPPOSED. >> THE BILL PASSES AND THE CHAIR WILL SIGN IT. WILL THE CLERK PLEASE AFFIX MY SIGNATURE TO THE LEGISLATION ON MY BEHALF? AND WILL THE CLERK PLEASE READ ITEM EIGHT INTO THE RECORD? >> AGENDA ITEM EIGHT, COUNCIL BILL 121061, RELATING TO REMOVING THE CITY RESIDENCY REQUIREMENT FOR JUDGES PROTEMPORE IN SEATTLE. >> THANK YOU, COUNCIL PRESIDENT, COLLEAGUES. AS CHAIR OF PUBLIC SAFETY COMMITTEE, I WORK WITH PRESIDING JUDGE CRAWFORD WILLIS IF HAD THE SEATTLE MUNICIPAL COURT ON A REGULAR BASIS, AND WORKING THROUGH THOSE ISSUES AGAIN WITH AN EYE OF ENSURING WE HAVE A FUNCTIONAL CRIMINAL JUSTICE SYSTEM. THE CHALLENGE THE COURT IS FACING THAT'S UNDERMINING THE COURT IS THERE'S A REQUIREMENT TO HAVE RESIDENCY IN SEATTLE. AS YOU KNOW, THERE'S A LOT OF DIFFICULT CHALLENGES ON THIS IN TERMS OF AFFORDABILITY. ALL THOSE KINDS OF CONSIDERATIONS. BUT THEN THERE IS ALSO CONFLICTS IN THE LIKE. SO THIS BILL WILL WAIVE THE RESIDENCY REQUIREMENT AND ALLOW FOR THE COURT TO BRING ON MORE PRO TEM JUDGES AND TO BASICALLY GIVE THE FLEXIBILITY THAT'S NEEDED IN THE COURT FOR THEM TO ACCOMPLISH THEIR MISSION. AND THIS IS REALLY IMPORTANT AS THEY'RE TAKING ON NEW WORK TO INCLUDE THE DRUG PREVENTION AGREEMENT PROGRAM. THINGS WE WORKED THROUGH IN ADDITION TO BRINGING ON MORE MARTIALS, ALL TO MAKE SURE WE MOVE FORWARD ACROSS THE BOARD TO INCLUDE THE DIVERSION PROGRAMS. AS FOR YOUR SUPPORT ON COUNCIL BILL 121064. THANK YOU. >> THANK YOU FOR THAT SYNOPSIS. ARE THERE ANY COMMENTS OR QUESTIONS? ALL RIGHT. I'LL JUST ASK ONE QUESTION. I REMEMBER THIS WAS -- THERE WAS A LOT OF DISCUSSION ABOUT THIS WHEN THEY WERE GOING THROUGH OLYMPIA THIS PAST SESSION, RIGHT? >> THIS IS UNIQUE TO SEATTLE MUNICIPAL COURT. THIS IS NOT SOMETHING OTHER AREAS OF THE STATE ARE HAVING TO DEAL WITH. >> GOT IT. I JUST REMEMBER BEING A PART OF OUR LEGISLATIVE AGENDA AND WHY IT WAS NECESSARY. OKAY. WILL THE CLERK PLEASE CALL THE ROLL IN THE PASSAGE OF THE BILL? >> COUNCILMEMBER SAKA? >> AYE. >> COUNCILMEMBER SOLOMON? >> AYE. >> COUNCILMEMBER STRAUSS? >> AYE. >> COUNCILMEMBER HOLLINGSWORTH? >> YES. >> COUNCILMEMBER JUAREZ? >> AYE. >> COUNCILMEMBER KETTLE? >> AYE. >> COUNCILMEMBER RINCK? >> YES. >> COUNCILMEMBER RIVERA? >> AYE. >> COUNCIL PRESIDENT NELSON? >> AYE. >> NINE IN FAVOR, NONE OPPOSED. >> THE BILL PASSES AND THE CHAIR WILL SIGN IT. WILL THE CLERK PLEASE AFFIX MY SIGNATURE TO THE LEGISLATION ON MY BEHALF? ALL RIGHT, NO ITEMS REMOVED FROM THE CONSENT CALENDAR, AND THERE IS NOT A RESOLUTION FOR INTRODUCTION AND ADOPTION TODAY. IS THERE FURTHER BUSINESS TO COME BEFORE THE COUNCIL? >> COUNCIL PRESIDENT? >> GO AHEAD, PLEASE. >> THIS RELATES TO PUBLIC SAFETY AND IT ALSO RELATES TO WHAT IS HAPPENING WITH OUR FEDERAL GOVERNMENT. WE DO NOT HAVE OUR STANDARD MEETINGS. WE DO NOT HAVE OUR PUBLIC SAFETY COMMITTEE MEETING. SO I WANTED TO TAKE THIS OPPORTUNITY TO SPEAK TO AN ISSUE. I THINK IT IS REALLY IMPORTANT BECAUSE IT IS WHAT WE HAVE BEEN SEEING IN PORTLAND AND OTHER PLACES AROUND CHICAGO AND OTHER LOCATIONS AROUND THE COUNTRY. WE HAVE TO HAVE THIS BASELINE IN FACTS. WE HAVE TO HAVE THIS BASELINED IN REALITY. RECENTLY DHS SECRETARY, KRISTI NOEM SAID IT IS JUST AS SOPHISTICATED AS MS-13, AS ISIS, AS HEZBOLLAH, AS HAMAS, AS ALL OF THEM. AND ISIS BEING, BY THE WAY, ISLAMIC STATE IN IRAQ AND SYRIA, WHICH PREDATED IN THE ARAB WORLD OR ISLAMIC STATE IN IRAQ AND BEFORE THAT, AL QAEDA AND IRAQ. I BRING THEM UP FOR A REASON. BUT THE IDEA OF ANTIFA IS A TERM THE RIGHT HAS JUMPED ON. IN REALITY, THERE ARE BLACK CLAD PROTESTERS WE'VE SEEN IN THE CITY. THE MAYOR RECENTLY MENTIONED BLACK BLOCK, WE'VE HAD THESE PROTESTERS IN CHAMBERS. I'VE SEEN THEM IN LOCATIONS. I HAVE A SENSE OF WHAT THEY ARE. WE'VE SEEN THEM IN DIFFERENT PROTESTS AND THE LIKE, BUT I JUST WANT TODAY SAY TO COMPARE THIS GROUP WITH ISIS AND HEZBOLLAH AND HAMAS IS ABSURD. AS I NOTED, ISIS AND ISI AND GOING BACK, YOU CAN'T COMPARE THE TWO. I WOULD NOTE WAS BEHIND 8 NOVEMBER, 2004. THE ATTACK ON THE 8th OF NOVEMBER THAT YEAR KILLED TWO WITHIN THE PERSONAL SECURITY DETAIL, TWO PEOPLE I KNEW. AND THEIR ACTIONS SAVED THE LIVES OF THAT PRESIDENT'S SPECIAL ADVISER. THAT WAS THE VEHICLE I USED TO BE IN, A VEHICLE THAT WAS TOTALED IN THE ACING THAT. SO THE COMPARISONS FROM THE DHS SECRETARY ARE ABSURD. WE NEED TO GET BACK TO BEING WHERE WE NEED TO BE IN TERMS OF ADDRESSING THE ISSUES THAT ARE BEFORE US. WE ALSO NEED TO GET TO A PLACE WHERE OUR PROTESTS ARE DONE IN THE MANNER OF OUR NAME SAKE, MARTIN LUTHER KING. THIS IS SOMETHING MOST PROTESTERS DO. I WANT TO THANK THEM. I THINK IT IS IMPORTANT TO PROTEST, AND I THINK DOING SO IN THE MANNER OF OUR NAME SAKE AS A COUNTY, MARTIN RUTH KING, IS IMPORTANT. SO I ASK TO DO SO TO INCLUDE THOSE, AS I SAY PROTESTERS, THAT WE ALL DO SO, TO SHOW EVEN FURTHER, OUT OF TOUCH, OUR DHS SECRETARY WITH THEIR ASSERTIONS THAT WHAT WE HAVE IN PORTLAND OR CHICAGO IS SOMEHOW EQUATED TO ISIS, HEZBOLLAH, AND HAMAS. THAT'S ABSURD AS NOTED IN MY EXAMPLE, EXTREMELY ABSURD. SO THANK YOU, COLLEAGUES FOR ME, ALLOWING ME TO HAVE THIS OPPORTUNITY TO SPEAK TO THIS ISSUE BECAUSE IT IS REALLY IMPORTANT THAT WE ARE ALL BASED ON WHAT IS REALITY, SO WE CAN FACE THE CHALLENGES WE FACE TOGETHER. THANK YOU. >> THANK YOU FOR THOSE COMMENTS. OKAY, GO AHEAD. >> THANK YOU, COUNCILMEMBER KETTLE FOR YOUR REMARKS. I REALLY APPRECIATE ALWAYS YOUR LEADERSHIP AS CHAIR OF PUBLIC SAFETY. SEPARATELY, I DID WANT TO SAY BECAUSE WE HAVEN'T HAD AN OPPORTUNITY TO DO A FULL COUNCIL MEETING BECAUSE WE'RE IN THE MIDDLE OF THE BUDGET PROCESS. OCTOBER IS BREAST CANCER AWARENESS MONTH. THIS IS A REALLY IMPORTANT TIME FOR REMEMBER IGNITION AND ALSO TO REMIND FOLKS HOW IMPORTANT IT IS TO WOMEN GET YOUR MAMMOGRAMS. IT SAVES LIVES. I DIDN'T WANT THE MONTH TO END WITHOUT RECOGNIZING THE MONTH AS BREAST CANCER AWARENESS MONTH AND REMINDING FOLKS IF YOU ARE ELIGIBLE, GO GET YOUR MAMMOGRAM. IT REALLY DOES SAVE LIVES, SO THANK YOU. THAT'S WHY I'M WEARING MY PINK RIBBON. >> THANK YOU VERY MUCH. I'LL SAY IN MEMORY OF MY MOTHER, THANK YOU. ALL RIGHT, NOT SEEING ANY FURTHER BUSINESS. HEARING NO FURTHER BUSINESS, WE'LL NOW MOVE INTO AN EXECUTIVE SESSION. ALL RIGHT, AS PRESIDING OFFICER, I'M ANNOUNCING SEATTLE CITY COUNCIL WILL CONVENE INTO AN EXECUTIVE SESSION. PURPOSE OF WHICH IS TO DISCUSS PENDING POTENTIAL OR ACTUAL LITIGATION. THE COUNCIL'S EXECUTIVE SESSION IS AN OPPORTUNITY TO -- FOR THE COUNCIL TO DISCUSS CONFIDENTIAL LEGAL MATTERS WITH CITY ATTORNEYS AS AUTHORIZED BY LAW. A LEGAL MONITOR FROM THE CITY ATTORNEY'S OFFICE IS ALWAYS PRESENT TO ENSURE THE COUNCIL RECEIVES QUESTIONS OF POLICY, RESERVES THE QUESTIONS OF POLICY FOR OPEN SESSION. I EXPECT THE TIME OF THE EXECUTIVE SESSION TO END BY 5:15? ALL RIGHT. 5:15. IF THE EXECUTIVE SESSION IS TO BE EXTENDED BEYOND THAT TIME, I WILL ANNOUNCE THE EXTENSION AND THE EXPECTED DURATION. AT THE CONCLUSION OF THIS EXECUTIVE SESSION, THIS COUNCIL MEETING WILL AUTOMATICALLY ADJOURN AND THE NEXT REGULARLY SCHEDULED MEETING OF OCTOBER 21 WILL BE CANCELED DUE TO ONGOING BUDGET DELIBERATIONS AND THE CITY COUNCIL WILL MEET AGAIN ON OCTOBER 28, 2025 AT 2:00 P.M. COUNCIL IS NOW IN EXECUTIVE SESSION. COUNCILMEMBERS, PLEASE LOG ON TO THE EXECUTIVE SESSION ZOOM MEETING. [ MEETING WILL RESUME AFTER EXECUTIVE SESSION ]