THIS MEETING WILL COME TO ORDER. IT IS 2:0 3 PM. I AM SARA NELSON, COUNCIL PRESIDENT. WILL THE CLERK PLEASE CALL THE ROLL? >> COUNCILMEMBER RIVERA? COUNCILMEMBER SAKA? >> HERE. >> COUNCILMEMBER TRAN 21? >> PRESENT. >> COUNCILMEMBER HOLLINGSWORTH? COUNCILMEMBER KETTLE? COUNCILMEMBER MOORE? >> PRESENT. >> COUNCIL PRESIDENT NELSON? >> PRESENT. >> SEVEN PRESENT. >> THANK YOU VERY MUCH. THERE ARE NO PRESENTATIONS TODAY SO AT THIS TIME, WE WILL OPEN HYBRID PUBLIC COMMENT PERIOD. PUBLIC COMMENTS SUBMITTED ON TODAY'S AGENDA IN THE INTRODUCTION TO REFERRALS CALENDAR AND COUNCIL WORK PROGRAM. HOW MANY PEOPLE ARE SIGNED UP? >> WE HAVE THREE IN PERSON AND TWO REMOTE. >> LET'S GIVE EVERYONE TWO MINUTES AND START WITH THE IN PERSON COMMENTERS. >> SPEAKERS WILL BE CALLED IN THE ORDER THEY ARE REGISTERED. SPIEGEL'S WHERE TASHA SPEAKERS WILL HEAR THE CHIME AT THE END OF THEIR TIME. WE WILL NOW BEGIN WITH OUR IN-PERSON SPEAKERS. >> OUR FIRST SPEAKER IS DENNIS. >> GOOD AFTERNOON, COUNCIL. THIS LAST TIME I WAS HERE, YOU WILL KNOW CHEAP ADRIANA DIAZ GOT FIRED FOR ALLEGEDLY PROMOTING SOMEONE IN HIS DEPARTMENT HE WAS HAVING AN AFFAIR WITH. I THINK IT IS INSTRUCTIVE TO COMPARE THAT SITUATION TO THE ISSUE I KEEP BRINGING UP ABOUT HOW THE CITY ATTORNEY IS HEARING CASES ON THE BASIS FOR ALLEGED INCOMPETENCE. I TALKED WITH THIS BEFORE, LET'S GO OVER IT AGAIN. THEY HAVE IMPROPERLY FOUND THAT A DEFENDANT WAS IN COMPLIANCE WITH TREATMENT REQUIREMENTS EVEN THOUGH THE DEFENDANT NEVER GOT ONTO A TRANSPORT -- THE LAWYER CLEARLY SAID THE DEFENDANT WAS IN A WHEELCHAIR. SHE MADE ARRANGEMENTS TO GET ON THE TRANSPORT VAN BUT SHE COULDN'T BECAUSE THEY WERE NOT ALLOWED TO TOUCH HER TO HELP HER ONTO THE VAN AND SHE ALSO HAD UPCOMING SURGERIES ARE BEING SHOT IN THE LEGS OF THE TREATMENT CENTER COULD NOT TAKE HER FOR THAT REASON. BESIDES THAT, THE JUDGE DID NOT DISMISS THE CASE AND ACTUALLY DEFERRED MAKING A DECISION ABOUT COMPLIANCE. IN BOTH CASES, EVERY PART OF THE CITY'S ATTORNEY STATEMENT ABOUT HOW SHE HANDLED THE STATEMENT WAS FALSE. REMEMBER WHEN BRUCE HARRELL FIRED ADRIAN DIAZ? HE SAID HONESTY AND INTEGRITY WERE FUNDAMENTAL CHARACTERISTICS FOR ALL CITY EMPLOYEES. IF YOU LIKE, YOU CANNOT SERVE THE COMMITTEE AS A LAW ENFORCEMENT OFFICER. THE PERSON WHO WROTE THAT MEMO WITH THE FALSE ACCUSATIONS AGAINST A JUDGE WAS NATALIE ANDERSON WHO, AS YOU KNOW, IS NOW BRUCE HARRELL'S PUBLIC SAFETY DIRECTOR. WHAT ARE WE DOING? IF YOU DO APPLES TO APPLES COMPARISONS OF WHAT THE CITY ATTORNEY DID VERSUS WHAT CHIEF DIAZ DID, I THINK WHAT HE DID WAS NOT THAT BAD. WHY IS IT BAD TO PROMOTE SOMEBODY OR HAVING AN AFFAIR WITH? THE PERSON MIGHT BE LESS EFFECTIVE AND YOU ARE DEPRIVING ANOTHER PERSON ABOUT JOB. THE CITY ATTORNEY TO DIRECTLY PROVIDE -- DEPRIVE SOMEBODY OF THEIR JOB, REDUCE THEIR EFFECTIVENESS 20 AND THE OTHER JUDGES HAD TO PICK UP THE SLACK. WHAT I THINK THE CITY ATTORNEY DID WAS WORSE. I WILL BE ASKING FOR OFFICE HOURS WITH THE COUNCILMEMBER TO PUT OUT A RESOLUTION ASKING THE CITY ATTORNEY TO ANSWER THESE QUESTIONS. THANK YOU. >> HOWARD? >> HELLO MY. HOWARD DALE, DISTRICT 7. I WANT TO ADDRESS THE ISSUE OF THE IMPENDING CROWD CONTROL LEGISLATION. FIRST OFF, I DO WANT TO THINK WAS COUNCIL MEMBER MOORE FOR BRINGING UP THE MOST CENTRAL QUESTION HERE, WHICH IS, IN AUGUST 2021, THE COUNCIL VOTED UNANIMOUSLY, WITHOUT EXCEPTION, TO PASS THAT WEAPONS BAN. TO NOW MOVE FORWARD WITH SOME KIND OF NEW LEGISLATION WITHOUT TAKING THAT INTO ACCOUNT SEEMS RATHER ABSURD BUT THE MOST IMPORTANT CONCERN IS THAT THERE HAS BEEN NO REAL COMMUNITY INPUT. VERY LITTLE COMMUNITY INPUT, ABSOLUTELY ZERO INPUT FROM THE PEOPLE MOST AT RISK OF BEING HARMED. THIS WOULD BE LIKE HAVING LEGISLATION OF DOMESTIC VIOLENCE AND DECIDING WE CAN JUST HOLD THE CITIZENS OF SEATTLE AND SEE HOW THEY FEEL ABOUT IT. NO. YOU HAVE TO ADDRESS THE CONCERNS AND THE ISSUES OF THOSE MOST AFFECTED. LASTLY, I JUST WANT TO SAY, THIS IS AN EXAMPLE OF A REPORT DONE BY THE UNIVERSITY IN 2011, 14 YEARS AGO. THERE IS A PICTURE THAT I WILL BE SENDING TO YOU GUYS. THERE IS A PICTURE HERE WHEN THE BLAST BALLS THAT ARE USED IN SEATTLE ARE THROWN, IT EXPLODES INTO ANYWHERE FROM 7 1093 SHARP, HEART FRAGMENTS. THIS IS SOMETHING THEY DON'T TELL YOU ABOUT. THE FINAL RESTING POSITION WHEN, IN THIS STUDY THEY THREW THE BLAST A BALL AT A TARGETED PLACE, IT ENDED UP BOUNCING AND GOING ANYWHERE FROM 20 TO TO 200 INCHES AWAY. THIS NOTION THAT YOU COULD AVOID HURTING PEOPLE BY NOT THROWING BLAST BALLS AT PEOPLE IS ABSURD. FINALLY, THERE IS A LOT OF IGNORANCE HERE. BACK IN 2018, THE EXISTING SPD POLICY WAS NOT TO THROW BLAST BALLS AT PEOPLE. COUNCILMEMBER SAKA, I HEARD YOU TALK ABOUT THAT. THIS HAS ALWAYS BEEN THE POLICY AND IT LED TO THE DISASTER OF 2020. MUST YOU TAKE THAT INTO ACCOUNT, WE WILL BE RIGHT BACK WHERE WE WERE. THANK YOU. >> ALEX? >> BEFORE HE BEGINS, I WOULD LIKE TO ACKNOWLEDGE THE COUNCILMEMBER HOLLINGSWORTH IS WITH US. >> ARE YOU A PERSON WHO DON'T LIKE ME? I ASK YOU, YOU DON'T LIKE ME PERSONAL >> WE ARE TALKING ABOUT DEMOCRATS NOW. IT HAS NEVER HAPPENED BEFORE. I COME TO THIS PLACE FOR 20 YEARS. I SUPPORT TRUMP FROM BEGINNING, FIRST DAY. THE SITUATION RIGHT NOW, VERY SIMPLE. HOW WE CAN CHANGE IT. HOW WE CAN BRING TRUMP'S RESOLUTION. RIGHT NOW -- YOU ALL KNOW WHAT THIS MEANS. YOU ARE EXACTLY SAME. I COME HERE EVERY DAY. THIS ROOM IS EMPTY RIGHT NOW. SOMETHING HAPPENED RIGHT NOW. I HAVE NEVER SEEN THIS BEFORE IN MY LIFE. ALMOST IN MY LIFE. WHEN PEOPLE DON'T COME, THEY NOT RESPECT YOU. WHEN THEY NOT RESPECT YOU -- YOU DESTROY THIS UNDER MY EYES. LOOK WHAT HAS HAPPENED NOW. CITY HALL, THREE MINUTE, WITHOUT YOUR CONTROL. NO ONE. VIVA TRUMP. VIVA NEW AMERICAN REVOLUTION. STOP DOING THIS. >> ALEX ZIMMERMAN, I WAS HOPING TO START THE NEW YEAR ON A POSITIVE NOTE. I WILL REMIND YOU THAT THAT IS ABUSIVE LANGUAGE WHICH CONSTITUTES DISRUPTION AGAINST OUR RULES. THIS IS A WARNING. PLEASE STOP THAT. >> WE HAVE ONE LAST IN-PERSON SPEAKER. >> GOOD AFTERNOON. MY NAME IS KATHLEEN. AS MOST OF YOU KNOW, I LIVE IN DOWNTOWN BALLARD, DISTRICT 6. AS WE BEGIN THIS NEW YEAR, I URGE YOU TO REMEMBER THAT YOU ARE LEGISLATING LAWS THAT AFFECT ALMOST 800,000 CITIZENS AND NOT JUST THE NOISY REBEL THAT OFTEN SHOWS UP IN THESE CHAMBERS, ALTHOUGH IT IS QUIET TODAY. YOU ALL HAVE BIG HEARTS AND YOU WANT TO HELP EVERYONE AND ADDRESS -- I ASK THAT YOU STAY FOCUSED ON WHAT IS HAPPENING IN SEATTLE TODAY. FIRST OF ALL, STOP CREATING AND RAISING MORE TAXES AND INTERFERING WITH THE FREE MARKET ECONOMY. FOCUS ON CUTTING EXPENSES, PLEASE . THE MIDDLE CLASS, THEY ARE HURTING. I AM TRYING TO REMAIN A MEMBER OF THE MIDDLE CLASS AND IT IS DIFFICULT. THE INCREASE OF THE MINIMUM WAGE HAS LED TO EVEN MORE SMALL BUSINESS CLOSURES, DECREASED CUSTOMER VOLUME UNLESS JOBS, ESPECIALLY IN RESTAURANTS. THE INCREASING TAXES IN THIS CITY, ON TOP OF THE HIGH COSTS OF LIVING ARE CHASING THE MIDDLE-CLASS AND BUSINESSES OUT OF THE CITY. YOU NEED BOTH OF THESE GROUPS TO PROVIDE THE TAX REVENUE TO FUND THE SERVICES TO KEEP THE CITY RUNNING. CONTINUING TO ATTACK SUCCESSFUL ENTREPRENEURS AND HIGH WAGE EARNERS, WHICH I AM NOT -- I AM A SENIOR NOW -- AND EXPECTING THEM TO BAIL THE CITY OUT FOR FISCAL IRRESPONSIBILITY IS NOT PRUDENT. THEY CAN EASILY GET UP AND GO SOMEWHERE ELSE. WHAT WILL YOU DO THEN? MY GREATEST FEAR IS THAT YOU WILL RAISE THE TAXES ON THOSE STILL TRYING TO LIVE IN THIS CITY. THANK YOU. >> WE WILL NOW MOVE TO ONLINE SPEAKERS. THANK YOU. >> FIRST REMOTE SPEAKER WILL BE ALBERTO FOLLOWED BY DAVID. A REMINDER TO OUR REMOTE SPEAKERS TO PRESS *6 AFTER YOU HAVE HEARD THE MESSAGE THAT YOU HAVE BEEN UNMUTED. GO AHEAD, ALBERTO. >> HOW DO TREES IN MOSS LAKE HELP A NEWLYWED COUPLE BUY THEIR FIRST HOME IN SOUTHPARK? HOW DO TREES IN NORTH QUEEN AND HELP A BLACK FAMILY REDLINE BUY HISTORY BACK INTO THE HOME WHERE THEIR GRANDPARENTS LIVE? HOW DO TREES IN MADRONA HELP A YOUNG COLLEGE STUDENT GET TO WORK FROM WHITE CENTER TO THEIR BARISTA JOB IN CAPITOL HILL? THE WEALTHIEST COMMUNITIES LOBBY TO FIGHT MUCH-NEEDED ENTITIES IN THEIR NEIGHBORHOOD. IRONIC. THEY BRAZENLY TAKE UP THE MANTLE OF NATURE PROTECTORS WHILE HAVING NO PROBLEM SQUATTING ON STOLEN LAND FROM THE DUWAMISH AND SNOQUALMIE PEOPLE. IT IS LAUGHABLE AND SHAMEFUL. THEY WANT TO KEEP THEIR PARKING SPACES LINED WITH TREES AND PEOPLE THAT, QUOTE, DON'T BELONG WERE TO STROLL THOSE VERY SAME STREETS, THE PHONES COME OUT, THE CALLS ARE MADE AND THOSE PEOPLE WHO, QUOTE, DON'T BELONG, ARE NOW MADE SUSPECT. THIS WAS NEVER ABOUT TREES. THIS IS ABOUT KEEPING, QUOTE, THOSE PEOPLE OUT. KEEP THAT IN MIND. THANK YOU AND HAVE A GOOD DAY. >> THANK YOU. NEXT SPEAKER IS DAVID. >> MY NAME IS DAVID. I JUST WANTED TO POINT OUT THAT IF YOU WANT TO KEEP USING THE BLAST BALLS, YOU NEED TO USE IT ON THE OPEN AIR DRUG MARKET. WE NEED SOME PUBLIC SAFETY LAWS THAT SPECIFICALLY POINT OUT TO ALL OF THESE COPS THAT NEED TO BE DEPLOYABLE, CRIMINAL FIGHTERS, TO ACTUALLY BE ABLE TO SURROUND 20 JUNKIE HEAVING LOWLIFES AND STOP THEIR PREDATORY DRUG PUSHERS ON THEIR BIKES AND SCOOTERS AND TRESPASSING LAWS AND BRING THEM TO THE QUESTIONING ROOM TO FIND OUT WHERE THEY KEEP GETTING IT AND THEN YOU TAKE A DRONE AND FOLLOW SOME OF THEM BACK TO FIND OUT WHERE THEY ARE STASHING, WHERE THE HOUSES. YOU HAVE A NEED FOR A 21ST-CENTURY FIRST WORLD QUALITY HOUSING BUILDOUT AND I DON'T THINK IT IS FAIR THAT WE ACCOMMODATE PEOPLE WHO ARE SPECULATING IN THE HOUSING MARKET AS OPPOSED TO YOUNGER GENERATIONS THAT NEED A ROBUST BUILDOUT OF HOMES ARE MORE ENJOYABLE LIVING SPACES INSTEAD OF WATCHING YOUR BACK ABOUT THESE JUNKIE THIEVES THAT ARE ROAMING AROUND THE NEIGHBORHOOD AND POWERING THE METHADONE CLINIC FOR 23 HOURS FOR SOME NARCOTIC ALTERNATIVES THAT LEAVE YOU DROOLING THAT JUST BOTHER PEOPLE IN A DIFFERENT PART OF THE NEIGHBORHOOD, ACTING LIKE YOU ARE SOLVING A PROBLEM WHERE THE ROOT CAUSE IS STILL THE EXEMPTION OF THE DRUG PUSHERS. THE COUNCIL NEEDS TO REALIZE THAT YOU'VE GOT TO STOP FOLLOWING THE MAYOR'S SABOTAGE OF THE INTEGRITY OF POLICE REFORM WHERE HE HAS BEEN RUNNING INTERFERENCE FOR HIS CRIMINAL UNDERWORLD FRIENDS SINCE HE WAS A COUNCIL MEMBER WHO VOTED AND CONVINCED THE REST OF THE COUNCIL TO APPROVE EXEMPTING, AND I QUOTE, LOW-LEVEL DRUG PUSHERS EXEMPTED FROM JAIL. HE IS THE ORIGINAL BOAT TO SABOTAGED THE INTEGRITY OF POLICE REFORM AND PEOPLE HAVE GONE ALONG WITH THE MAYOR'S CHOICE OF EVERY SINGLE POLICE CHIEF WHO HAS BEEN TRAINED TO PERSONALLY -- PURPOSELY EXEMPT DRUG PUSHERS. THEY NEED TO HAVE OVERTIME -- >> THANK YOU. THAT IS OUR LAST REMOTE SPEAKER. OKAY, FOLKS, WE HAVE REACHED THE END OF OUR PUBLIC COMMENT PERIOD. THE PUBLIC COMMENT PERIOD IS NOW CLOSED. IF THERE WAS NO OBJECTION, INTRODUCTION AND REFERRAL CALENDAR WILL BE ADOPTED. HEARING NO OBJECTION, THE INTRODUCTION AND REFERRAL CALENDAR IS ADOPTED. IF THERE IS NO OBJECTION, THE AGENDA WILL BE ADOPTED. HEARING NONE, THE AGENDA IS ADOPTED. NOW WE WILL CONSIDER THE PROPOSED CONSENT CALENDAR ITEMS WHICH ARE THE MINUTES OF DECEMBER 17, 2024 AND COUNCIL BILL 120928 , 929 AND 930. ARE THERE ANY ITEMS COUNCILMEMBERS WOULD LIKE TO REMOVE FROM THE CONSENT CALENDAR? >> SEEING NONE, I MOVED TO ADOPT THE CONSENT CALENDAR. IS THERE A SECOND? >> SECOND. >> IT HAS BEEN MOVED AND SECONDED. WILL THE CLERK PLEASE CALL THE ROLL ON THE ADOPTION OF THE CONSENT CALENDAR? >> COUNCILMEMBER RINCK? >> COUNCILMEMBER RIVERA? >> AYE. >> COUNCILMEMBER SAKA? >> AYE. >> COUNCILMEMBER STRAUSS? >> YES. >> COUNCILMEMBER HOLLINGSWORTH? >> YES. >> COUNCILMEMBER KETTLE? >> AYE. >> COUNCILMEMBER MOORE? >> AYE. >> COUNCIL PRESIDENT NELSON? >> AYE. >> EIGHT IN FAVOR, NONE OPPOSED. >> THERE ARE NO COMMITTEE REPORTS. THE CONSENT CALENDAR HAS BEEN ADOPTED. WILL THE CLERK PLEASE AFFIX MY SIGNATURE TO THE MINUTES AND LEGISLATION ON THE CONSENT CALENDAR ON MY BEHALF? NO COMMITTEE REPORTS FOR CONSIDERATION TODAY AND THERE WERE NO ITEMS REMOVED FROM THE CONSENT CALENDAR. THERE IS NO RESOLUTION FOR INTRODUCTION AND ADOPTION TODAY. ARE THERE ANY OTHER ITEMS OF BUSINESS BEFORE US? ALL RIGHT. SEEING NONE, WE HAVE REACHED THE END OF TODAY'S AGENDA AND OUR NEXT REGULARLY SCHEDULED CITY COUNCIL MEETING IS ON JANUARY 14. IT IS 2:19. THIS IS NOT THE SHORTEST COUNCIL MEETING THAT I HAVE ATTENDED BUT IT IS CLOSE. HEARING NO FURTHER BUSINESS, WE ARE ADJOURNED. THANK YOU.