GOOD MORNING. THE SELECT BUDGET COMMITTEE MEETING WILL COME TO ORDER. IT IS 9:31 A.M. IT IS NOVEMBER 19, 2024. I AM DAN STRAUSS, CHAIR OF THE SELECT COMMITTEE. WILL THE CLERK PLEASE CALL THE ROLL? >> [ ROLL CALL ] >> CAN YOU PLEASE CALL COUNCILMEMBER MOORE? >> COUNCILMEMBER MOORE. >> PRESENT. >> EIGHT PRESENT. >> THINK YOU. COUNCILMEMBER HOLLINGSWORTH IS EXCUSED UNTIL NOW BECAUSE SHE IS HERE. CAN YOU CALL COUNCILMEMBER HOLLINGSWORTH? >> COUNCILMEMBER HOLLINGSWORTH. >> NINE PRESENT. >> THANK YOU. GOOD MORNING, FRIENDS. WE COME TO THE FINAL MEETING OF THE SELECT BUDGET COMMITTEE FOR THE YEAR. WE ARE GOING TO HAVE ON THE AGENDA TODAY -- SEE WHY I SAID THE WRONG THING EARLIER. I HAD THE WRONG SCRIPT UP. AS I AM PULLING UP THE CORRECT SCRIPT, HERE WE ARE, WE HAVE ON TODAY'S AGENDA, WE ARE CONSIDERING THE REMAINING BUDGET LEGISLATION TO ADOPT A BALANCED BUDGET. WE HAVE COUNCIL BILL 120908 AND 120909, WHICH ARE THE CAPITAL GAINS PROPOSALS. COUNCIL BILL 1209 11, RELATED TO THE SEATTLE CHANNEL , AS WELL AS HYBRID PUBLIC COMMENT . FOR THE PUBLIC COMMENTERS TODAY WHO HAVE CALLED IN ONLINE, WE SENT IN ERROR. WE SENT THE WRONG PHONE NUMBER FOR YOU TO CALL INTO. YOU NEED TO CHECK YOUR EMAIL RIGHT NOW AS THE I.T. DEPARTMENT IS SENDING YOU THE NEW CALL IN LIST. WE ARE STALLING A LITTLE BIT HERE TO MAKE SURE THAT ALL HAPPENS WE DO HAVE MORE THAN 30 PUBLIC COMMENTERS. IT HAS BEEN THE PRACTICE SINCE THE BEGINNING OF THE SELECT BUDGET COMMITTEE WHEN WE HAVE MORE THAN 30 THAT WE HAVE ONE MINUTE PER PERSON. IF WE HAVE MORE THAN 120, WE DO ONE MINUTE PER PERSON UNTIL THE 121st PERSON, AND THEN WE GO TO 30 SECONDS AFTER THAT. WE HAVE FEWER THAN 120 PEOPLE, SO DON'T WORRY, WE WON'T DO THAT. I DID GET OUT OF ORDER HERE. I READ -- WE HAVE THE BUDGET LEGISLATION, WHICH INCLUDES THE PAYROLL EXPENSE TAX. WE HAVE PROPERTY TAX. WE HAVE COUNCIL BILL 120905, THE BUDGET DOCUMENT WITH ATTACHMENT A , B AND THE CLERK FILE WITH CAPITAL GAINS AND SEATTLE CHANNEL. IF THERE IS NO OBJECTION, THE AGENDA WILL BE ADOPTED. HEARING NO OBJECTION , THE AGENDA IS ADOPTED. COLLEAGUES, I WILL SHARE MORE REMARKS REGARDING WHAT WE ARE DOING TODAY AND WHERE WE ARE GOING AND WHERE WE HAVE BEEN. BUT FIRST, LET'S HEAR FROM THE PUBLIC. WE WILL NOW OPEN THE HYBRID PUBLIC COMMENT PERIOD. PUBLIC COMMENTS SHOULD RELATE TO ITEMS ON TODAY'S AGENDA OR WITHIN THE PURVIEW OF THE SELECT COMMITTEE. CLERK, HOW MANY SPEAKERS DO WE HAVE SIGNED UP? >> 16. >> 16 PLUS 16. WE WILL HAVE ONE MINUTE PER PERSON. WE WILL START WITH THE IN PERSON SPEAKERS BECAUSE OF THE TECHNICAL ERROR WE HAD WE WILL GO THROUGH ALL THE IN PERSON SPEAKERS FIRST MALL WE RESOLVE THE CALL IN NUMBER. WITH THAT, I WILL TELL EVERYONE WHERE THEY ARE AT. I WILL READ THROUGH THE WHOLE LIST SO WE CAN CLICK THROUGH. I THINK EVERYONE HAS BEEN HERE BEFORE AND DONE THIS BEFORE. AS A REMINDER, IF YOU ARE IN FAVOR, JAZZ HANDS. WE ARE GOING TO ASK BUT THE ROOM REMAIN IN GOOD DECORUM. HERE WE ARE . [ READING LIST OF NAMES ] WITH THAT, THE HYBRID PUBLIC COMMENT PERIOD IS NOW OPEN. WE WILL BEGIN WITH THE FIRST SPEAKER ON THE LIST. >> GOOD MORNING, COUNCIL MEMBERS. >> HANG TIGHT. WE ARE GOING TO START YOU OVER. CAN YOU DO A MIC CHECK? >> HELLO. >> THERE WE GO. AT YOUR CONVENIENCE. WELCOME. >> GOOD MORNING, COUNCIL MEMBERS. I AM HERE AS A MEMBER OF SOUTH SEATTLE FRIENDS MEETING LOCATED IN COUNCILMEMBER HOLLINGSWORTH'S DISTRICT. I'M ALSO A RESIDENT OF THE SAME DISTRICT AND HAVE LIVED IN SEATTLE FOR 51 YEARS. I STAND UNITED WITH THE CHURCH COUNCIL OF GREATER SEATTLE AND THE COUNCIL ON HOMELESSNESS. MY FAITH TRADITION SAYS BUDGETS ARE MORAL DOCUMENTS. WE MUST PRESERVE AND EXPAND JUMPSTART FUNDING FOR ITS INTENDED PURPOSES. I STRONGLY URGE THE COUNCIL TO AVOID MAKING PERMANENT POLICY DECISIONS ABOUT THE JUMPSTART SPENDING PLAN DURING THIS BUDGET SEASON. SEATTLE NEEDS NEW PROGRESSIVE REVENUE. THE CITY MUST CONTINUE THE WORK BEGUN LAST YEAR BY THE SEATTLE REVENUE STABILIZATION WORKGROUP. I URGE THE CITY COUNCIL TO CONVENE THE JUMPSTART OVERSIGHT COMMITTEE. THIS MAJOR REVENUE STREAM REQUIRES PUBLIC OVERSIGHT TO ENSURE TRANSPARENCY AND ACCOUNTABILITY. THE STRUCTURAL GENERAL FUND SHORTFALL -- >> THANK YOU. THAT IS THE TIME. IF YOU HAVE FURTHER COMMENTS, EMAIL THEM TO US. WITH THAT, REVEREND, FOLLOWED BY. THANK YOU. >> GOOD MORNING. I LIVE IN DISTRICT 4. I SERVE UNIVERSITY CONGREGATIONAL UNITED CHURCH OF CHRIST ALSO IN DISTRICT 4 BUT I STAND HERE IN SOLIDARITY WITH THE CHURCH COUNCIL OF GREATER SEATTLE AND OTHER GROUPS ADVOCATING FOR THE PRESERVATION OF JUMPSTART FUNDS. WE KNOW THAT ALL FAITH TRADITIONS AND PEOPLE OF GOODWILL ALL BELIEVE IN THE GOLDEN RULE . BUT IT SEEMS LIKE THIS COUNCIL IS MORE INTERESTED IN THE GOLDMAN SACHS RULE. ONE THAT IS INTERESTED IN, NOT RAISING PROGRESSIVE REVENUE FROM THOSE WHO CAN AFFORD IT , TO SUPPORT THOSE WHO ARE MOST MEMORABLE. BUDGETS ARE NOT ONLY A MORAL DOCUMENT, THEY ARE A LOVE LETTER TO THE THINGS THAT WE PRIORITIZE. THE THINGS THAT THIS COUNCIL IS SAYING THAT THEY LOVE IS NOT THOSE WHO ARE MOST HURT AND HARMED IN OUR CITY. LET US RISE TO THIS OCCASION AND EMBODY OUR CALLING TO DO UNTO OTHERS AS WE WOULD HAVE THEM DO TO US. THANK YOU. >> THANK YOU, REVEREND. >> GOOD MORNING. I AM ONE OF THE COEXECUTIVE DIRECTORS OF THE CHURCH COUNCIL OF GREATER SEATTLE. I LIVE IN DISTRICT 1. AS YOU'VE HEARD, BUDGETS ARE THE MORAL DOCUMENT. THEY SHOULD REFLECT THE VALUES OF COMMUNITY CARE. WE HAVE BEEN URGING CITY COUNCIL TO ENSURE THAT JUMPSTART SPENDING PLAN AND REVENUE ARE PROTECTED INTO PERPETUITY FOR INTENDED PURPOSES. COUNCILMEMBER MORALES HAS PROPOSED SEVERAL AMENDMENT THAT PRESERVE AN OVERWHELMING MAJORITY OF THE ORIGINAL PLAN. WERE ASKING COUNCIL TO SUPPORT THESE AMENDMENT TO DO ITS PART TO CONVENE THE OVERSIGHT COMMITTEE. IT IS BEYOND TIME FOR SUSTAINABLE POLICY SOLUTIONS THAT INVEST IN OUR COMMUNITIES, ADDRESSING SYSTEMIC RACISM AND LONG-STANDING INEQUITIES. WE NEED COUNCIL TO PRIORITIZE NEW PROGRESSIVE REVENUE STREAMS TO FILL THE CURRENT GAPS , SUCH AS THE PROPOSED CAPITAL GAINS TAX. THANK YOU. >> THANK YOU. >> -- I NEED YOU TO BEGIN YOUR PUBLIC COMMENT . THAT IS HOW YOU ADDRESS THE COUNCIL TODAY. >> YES, SIR. >> WELCOME. >> HOW MANY OF YOU HAVE BEEN TO DISCOVERY PARK ? YOU SHOULD VISIT. A BEAUTIFUL FACILITY. NICE BATHROOMS AND STUFF. UNDER THE BUDGET, IT WILL BE CLOSED. I AM A VOLUNTEER. I WORK FOR THE ENVIRONMENTAL EDUCATION PROGRAM. THERE IS 100 OF US. THIS IS THE MOST EFFICIENT CITY PROGRAM WE HAVE GOT. LIKE $1 MILLION TOTAL BUDGET, FIVE FULL-TIME EMPLOYEES AND SOME PART-TIME. WE CONDUCTED 570 FIELD TRIPS WITH SEATTLE SCHOOLCHILDREN LAST YEAR. ALL VOLUNTEERS. THERE IS 100 OF US. WE WORK FOR FREE. IT IS GREAT. WE LEAD THE KIDS ON THE SEASHORE IN THE FOREST AND THE BIRDS. IT IS SO APPRECIATED. A WONDERFUL PROGRAM. THERE IS SOME FUNDING. THERE IS ONE THAT IS HALF A MILLION DOLLARS TO CONNECT TEENS WITH ENRICHMENT PROGRAMS. THIS IS ONE OF THE BEST ENRICHMENT PROGRAMS THE CITY HAS. LET'S USE IT FOR THAT INSTEAD. AND GO TO -- >> THANK YOU. COMMENTS WELL RECEIVED. GOOD MORNING. >> THANK YOU. CHAIR STRAUSS, MEMBERS OF THE BUDGET COMMITTEE, I AM HERE TODAY REPRESENTING THE OVER 2500 MEMBERS OF THE SEATTLE METROPOLITAN CHAMBER OF COMMERCE . FIRST, WE WANT TO THANK YOU FOR BALANCING THE 25-26 BUDGET WITHOUT NEW REVENUE, INCREASING INVESTMENTS FOR TOP PRIORITIES, AND FOCUSING ON ACCOUNTABILITY AND TRANSPARENCY. TAXPAYERS AGREE THAT OUR INDEX SURVEY RESULTS FROM OCTOBER 2024 SHOW THAT SEATTLE VOTERS , BY A 37 POINT MARGIN, THINK THE CITY NEEDS TO REPRIORITIZE SPENDING WITHIN ITS EXISTING MEANS RATHER THAN RAISING TAXES TO MAINTAIN CURRENT SPENDING. LASTLY, WE ALSO SUPPORT THE PROPOSED FLEXIBLE USE OF THE JUMPSTART PAYROLL TAX REVENUES, WHICH MEANS NO REQUIREMENTS TO USE A CERTAIN PERCENTAGE OF FUNDS ON ANY ONE PRIORITY. NO PROHIBITION, NOW OR IN THE FUTURE. ON USING JUMPSTART FUNDS FOR GENERAL FUND PRIORITIES, AND NO CONSTRAINTS OF FUTURE COUNSEL'S -- >> THANK YOU. IF YOU WOULD LIKE TO CONTINUE, SEND IN ANY ADDITIONAL COMMENTS TO COUNSEL THAT SEATTLE.GOV. -- COUNCILMAC@SEATTLE.GOV. >> GOOD MORNING. I HAVE BEEN A VOLUNTEER NATURALIST IN THE CITY PARKS FOR 12 YEARS. I'M HERE TO URGE YOU TO AMEND THE PROPOSED BUDGET TO SAVE THE CITY'S ENVIRONMENTAL EDUCATION PROGRAMS, THE DEDICATED STAFF THAT RUN THEM, AND TO KEEP DISCOVERY PARK ENVIRONMENTAL CENTERS OPEN AND CITY RUN. I BELIEVE THESE PROGRAMS ARE VITAL TO THE HEALTH AND WELL-BEING OF OUR CITY AS NATURALIST OBVIOUSLY WE CARE ABOUT PLANTS AND ANIMALS IN THE ECOSYSTEM, BUT WHAT WE REALLY, TRULY, DEEPLY CARE ABOUT IS PEOPLE. WE SERVE THE PEOPLE OF THE CITY. WE SHARE OUR WONDER AND JOY AND EXCITEMENT WITH THEM. WE OPEN UP NEW SPACES AND WAYS TO CONNECT WITH THE EARTH IN THE COMMUNITY. WE PROVIDE OPPORTUNITIES FOR THE HEALING POWER OF NATURE. OUR OUTREACH BRINGS IN THOSE WHO HAVE OTHERWISE BEEN SYSTEMICALLY UNDERSERVED. SO MANY OF OUR GOALS ALIGN WITH THE CITY AND COUNCIL 'S GOALS. FOR EDUCATION WE SUPPORT CLAVICLES, THE CITY USED MENTAL HEALTH GOALS -- >> THANK YOU. THANK YOU FOR WHAT YOU DO FOR THE CITY OF SEATTLE. >> GOOD MORNING. -- TAKE IT AWAY. WELCOME. >> I'M A MEMBER OF WORKERS STRIKE BACK. WE NEED MORE AFFORDABLE HOUSING URGENTLY. AND KING COUNTY PEOPLE FACED HOMELESSNESS WITH OVER 1700 BEING CHILDREN BUT COUNCILMEMBER STRAUSER SAID THAT AMAZON TAXES SEND THE GENERAL FUND THE AMOUNT NEEDED TO SUSTAIN CRITICAL SERVICES AND ATTEND EMERGING THESE. CLEARLY THESE COUNCIL MEMBERS DOES THE AFFORDABLE HOUSING OF A CRITICAL SERVICE. THE MAYOR AND THE COUNCIL MEMBERS HERE WANT TO DIVERT FUNDING AWAY FROM AFFORDABLE HOUSING TO MAKE UP A FURTHER BUDGET SHORTFALL. TO FUND THE POLICE DEPARTMENT AND OTHER BUDGET ITEMS. THEY WANT TO TAKE THE BUDGET AWAY FROM THE AMAZON TAXES MAKES UP OVER HALF OF THE CITY UP AS AFFORDABLE HOUSING SPENDING, WHICH IS SUFFICIENT FOR ONLY HALF OF THE NECESSARY AFFORDABLE HOUSING NEEDED TO MEET SEATTLE'S HOUSING CRISIS. IT IS NO WONDER THAT WORKING HOSPITALS HAVE NO FAITH IN THE DEMOCRATS DELIVERING ON LOCAL -- WORKING-CLASS DEMANDS. ONLY VICTORIES ONE COME FROM REPRESENTATIVES INDEPENDENT OF CORPORATE FUNDING SUCH AS SOCIALIST. >> THANK YOU. [ APPLAUSE ] FRIENDS, WE USE JAZZ HANDS THIS MORNING. APPRECIATE THE EXCITEMENT. GOOD MORNING. >> I AM WITH WORKERS STRIKE BACK IN DISTRICT 4. I WILL KEEP THIS BRIEF. WE NEED MORE, NOT LESS, AFFORDABLE HOUSING. DON'T DIVERT THE FAILED -- THE FUNDS TO THE POLICE. YOU'RE UNDERMINING YOUR LEGITIMACY AS A PARTY THAT IS LEFT OF THE REPUGNANCE . -- REPUBLICANS. WE ARE ONE OF THE RICHEST LOCALES IN THE WORLD. THE IDEA WE ARE PURSUING IN AUSTERITY AGENDA IS ABSURD AND SHAMEFUL. THE ANSWER IS SIMPLE. TAX THE RICH. DON'T SQUEEZE THE PEOPLE TO DEATH. TAX THE RICH. MEMBER, YOU REPRESENT PEOPLE AND WHATEVER CITIZENS UNITED THANKS, CORPORATIONS ARE NOT PEOPLE AND MONEY DOES NOT FREE SPEECH. THANK YOU. >> COLLEAGUES, FRIENDS, YOUR TIME IS NOW. JACK JORDAN. GOING ONCE, GOING TWICE. MOVING ON. FRIENDS, I CALLED EVERYONE'S NAMES FROM JUMP SHOW WE COULD BE -- SO WE COULD BE READY TO GO. IF YOU ALL CAN START LINING UP FOR THE ONLINE CALLERS, THE ISSUE HAS BEEN RESOLVED. GOOD MORNING. GOOD TO SEE YOU. >> GOOD MORNING. I'M A MEMBER OF WORKERS STRIKE BACK. I AM HERE TO OPPOSE THE MAYOR AND THIS DEMOCRAT COUNCIL SHAMEFUL ATTACK ON THE AMAZON TAX THAT OUR MOVEMENT WON. MY SISTER JUST GOT PUSHED OUT OF SEATTLE THIS YEAR BECAUSE, AFTER LIVING HERE FOR THE BETTER PART OF A DECADE AS A SINGLE MOTHER AND PUBLIC SCHOOL EMPLOYEE, SHE CAN NO LONGER AFFORD IT. ONE OF MY CLOSEST FRIENDS TOO. AND SOMEBODY WHO HAS BEEN BRIEFLY HOMELESS IN THE CITY AND LIVING A MINIMUM WAGE, I CAN ASSURE YOU THAT IT IS NO ACCIDENT THAT WORKING PEOPLE BEING PUSHED OUT IN DROVES IN THE FACE OF IT SERVED RENTS. THE NEED FOR AFFORDABLE HOUSING IN SEATTLE IS ONLY INCREASING, NOT DECREASING. WE WON THE AMAZON TAX ON THE BASIS OF OVER 30,000 PEOPLE SUNNY ONTO A BALLOT INITIATIVE AT THE HEIGHT OF THE GEORGE FLOYD MOVEMENT BECAUSE THEY RECOGNIZED WORKING AND YOUNG PEOPLE RECOGNIZE THAT BLACK LIVES MATTER IN THE CITY MEANS TAXING THE BIGGEST AMAZON -- YOU CAN'T BE TAMED THAT'S TWO WAYS ABOUT IT. I THINK IT'S BEYOND SHAMEFUL THAT AFTER OUR MOVEMENT FORCE THIS COUNCIL TO ABANDON THEIR ATTACK ON THE MINIMUM WAGE, THEY ARE NOW RESORTING TO THIS. >> THANK YOU. FOR THE MEMBERS OF THE PUBLIC, PLEASE , WE'RE TRYING TO CONTINUE WITH PUBLIC COMMENT HERE. WELCOME. >> GOOD MORNING, COUNCIL MEMBERS. I AM FROM DISTRICT 6 BUT I WOULD LIKE TO CRITICIZE IN THE STRONGEST POSSIBLE TERMS TO AWAY FROM THE DUMPSTER AMAZON TAX AND AWAY FROM SOCIAL PROGRAMS IN THE NEXT YEAR'S BUDGET. THIS IS A BLATANT AND UNJUSTIFIED ATTACK AGAINST WORKING PEOPLE FACING AN UNPRECEDENTED COST-OF-LIVING CRISIS. WE NEED MORE PROGRESSIVE REVENUE, NOT AN ATTACK ON WHAT LITTLE THERE IS. IT IS EVEN MORE SHAMEFUL THIS COUNCIL WOULD PROPOSE INCREASING THE POLICE BUT BY OVER 50% WHEN THE SPD HAS COME UNDER REPEATED READY FOR DISSEMINATION, BOTH INSIDE AND OUTSIDE THE DEPARTMENT. INSTEAD OF INCREASING THE AMAZON TAX MAKE IN SEATTLE'S BIGGEST CORPORATIONS PAY THEIR FAIR SHARE FOR ONCE, YOU PREFER TO TAKE THAT OUT FROM UNDER THE WORKING CLASS. TO ANYONE WHO TREAT SOCIAL PROGRAMS AS A SLUSH FUND FOR YOU TO RATE, SHAME ON YOU. YOU HAVE A MANDATE TO THE WORKING PEOPLE OF SEATTLE. I THINK COUNCILMEMBER WOO KNOWS WHAT HAPPENS WHEN YOU BETRAY IT. THANK YOU. >> THANK YOU. WELCOME. >> IN SEATTLE I AM A TEACHER AND WORK IN A SHELTER FOR HOMELESS YOUNG ADULTS. TODAY I'M HERE TO URGE YOU TO MAINTAIN THE JUMPSTART TAX LEGISLATION AS THE VOTERS COUNCIL AND SMALL BUSINESS OWNERS ATTENDED IT IN 2020. IN THE FACE OF THE RECENT NATIONAL ELECTION, I AM URGING YOU, BEGGING YOU NOT TO ACT LIKE TRUMP AND HIS VOTERS. DO NOT RESPOND TO THE POVERTY CRISIS IN AMERICA WITH FEAR, AS A CHILD MIGHT, AND AS THIS PROPOSED CHANGE TO THE TAX LEGISLATION CLEARLY DOES. INSTEAD, SIT IN YOUR DULL CHAIR AND LOOK AT THE DATA AND LISTEN TO YOUR VOTERS, BE ABLE TO LOOK YOUR FAMILY IN THE EYES , ACT LIKE A GOOD COMMUNITY MEMBER WOULD. PLEASE USE OUR JUMPSTART REVENUE AS IT WAS WRITTEN FOR AFFORDABLE HOUSING. IN SOLIDARITY, THANK YOU. >> THANK YOU. FRIENDS, IF FOLKS AREN'T UP HERE, THEY CAN'T HEAR WHO I'M CALLING IF YOU ARE CLAPPING. THAT IS WHY I'M ASKING FOR THE JAZZ HANDS. IF YOU CAN ALL START GETTING READY. GOOD MORNING. >> THANK YOU. GOOD MORNING, COUNCIL MEMBERS. I HAVE HAD THE HONOR OF DOING COMMUNITY SERVICE WORK IN THE CITY OF SEATTLE AND KING COUNTY FOR OVER 15 YEARS. I'M HERE TODAY IN SUPPORT OF THE DILL RIDGE ROAD SAFETY PROJECT THE COMMUNITY SERVICE HAS DONE WELL WHEN ALL STAKEHOLDERS CAN WALK AWAY FROM A CONVERSATION KNOWING REPRIORITIZE THE SAFETY OF OUR MOST HONORABLE CHILDREN AND FAMILIES IN OUR COMMUNITY THROUGH THE IMPLEMENTATION OF SYSTEMS AND STRUCTURES THAT REFLECT THAT PRIORITY. WE KNOW THAT COUNCILMEMBER SAKA IS COMMITTED TO WORKING COLLABORATIVELY TO FIND SOLUTIONS THAT PRIORITIZE SAFETY FOR EVERYONE, INCLUDING DRIVERS, CYCLISTS, AND PEDESTRIANS ALIKE. I'M HERE TODAY TO BE A VOICE THAT REMINDS US OF THE MOST IMPORTANT PRIORITY, AND THAT IS THE SAFETY OF OUR CHILDREN. I AM CONFIDENT THAT CAN FIGURE THE REST OUT. THANK YOU FOR YOUR TIME. >> THANK YOU. GOOD MORNING. >> I AM A MEMBER OF WORKERS STRIKE BACK IN A DISTRICT 3 LOADER. I'M HERE DEFENDING THE AMAZON TAX . IT IS NOW THE SINGLE BIGGEST SOURCE OF FUNDING FOR AFFORDABLE HOUSING IN THE CITY OF SEATTLE, GENERATING OVER 400 MILLION IN 2024. ANYONE WHO REMEMBERS THE BATTLE FOR RENT CONTROL LEGISLATION IN SEATTLE REMEMBERS WHEN THE DEMOCRATS VOTED THAT BILL DOWN, THEY PROMISED THEY WANTED TO FIGHT THE HOUSING CRISIS IN SEATTLE BY BUILDING AFFORDABLE HOUSING . NOW WE SEE HOW EMPTY THOSE PROMISES ALWAYS ARE IT IS NO SURPRISE THE SAME CORPORATE PARTY THAT HAS LOST THE EAR OF WORKING PEOPLE IN THE NATIONAL ELECTION WOULD LAUNCH THIS DEFENSIVE AMAZON AT A HISTORIC HIGH OF WEALTH INEQUALITY IN THIS COUNTRY. MEANWHILE, COUNCIL MEMBERS ARE PROPOSING A 15.7 INCREASE TO THE POLICE BUT, SHOWING THEIR TRUE SOLUTIONS TO THE HOUSING CRISIS IN THE CITY. THANK YOU FOR YOUR TIME. >> THANK YOU. GOOD MORNING. I AM THE EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR OF THE SEATTLE . I AM A RENTER IN DISTRICT 2 AND A SUPPORTER OF THE SOLIDARITY BUDGET. I'M HERE TODAY TO URGE YOU ALL TO SUPPORT COUNCILMEMBER MORALES 'S LIMITS TO PRESERVE 80% OF THE JUMPSTART FUNDING FOR AFFORDABLE HOUSING AND INVESTING IN OUR COMMUNITIES. I ALSO URGE YOU TO SUPPORT COUNCILMEMBER MOORE'S PROPOSAL FOR CAPITAL GAINS TAX. RENTERS IN THE CITY ARE STRUGGLING. THEY ARE GOING TO BE STRUGGLING SO MUCH MORE NEXT YEAR BECAUSE YOU ALREADY VOTED TO DEFUND TENANT SERVICES BY NEARLY $1 MILLION. SPENDING MORE MONEY TO REMOVE A CURB IN WEST SEATTLE THAN ON HELPING RENTERS. WE ARE EXPECTING PEOPLE TO COME HERE ALL OVER THE COUNTRY FLEEING FOR THEIR BODY ECONOMY , AND WE NEED TO BE ABLE TO PROTECT THEM. WE NEED ENOUGH HOUSING FOR EVERYONE . PLEASE TAKE THESE AMENDMENTS INTO CONSIDERATION. PLEASE DON'T LET THIS BE LIPSERVICE IF YOU CARE ABOUT TENANTS, YOU WILL SUPPORT THESE THINGS. THANK YOU. >> THANK YOU. WELCOME. >> GOOD MORNING. I AM DIRECTOR OF GOVERNMENT RELATIONS POLICY WITH THE HOUSING DEVELOPMENT CONSORTIUM. I'M HERE TODAY TO SPEAK ABOUT THE IMPORTANCE OF THE PAYROLL EXPENSE TAX AND HOW IT IS THE SINGLE LARGEST SOURCE OF REVENUE FOR AFFORDABLE HOUSING. AS YOU CONSIDER AMENDMENTS TO COUNCIL BILL 120912, I URGE YOU TO AVOID MAKING ANY PERMANENT POLICY DECISIONS ABOUT THIS TAX , WHICH IS REALLY CRITICAL TO OUR EFFORTS TO SCALE UP INVESTMENTS IN AFFORDABLE HOUSING, EQUITABLE DEVELOPMENT AND THE GREEN NEW DEAL. WE KNOW THAT THIS IS A DIFFICULT BUDGET BIENNIUM, BUT AS WE LOOK AHEAD TO 2027 AND BEYOND, WE KNOW THAT WE HAVE A STRUCTURAL DEFICIT THAT IS ONLY SET TO GROW. WE NEED TO FILL THIS GAP WITH ADDITIONAL PROGRESSIVE REVENUE, WE CANNOT TAP THE ONE TAX, WHICH IS DELIVERING MAJOR RESULTS IN TERMS OF SCALING UP AFFORDABLE HOUSING , INVESTMENTS AND ONLY DEDICATED FUNDING FOR EQUITABLE DEVELOPMENT. THANK YOU. >> THANK YOU. GOOD MORNING. >> GOOD MORNING, COUNCIL. RESIDENT OF D 6. I'M HERE TO OBJECT TO THE LONG-TERM RATING OF THE -- RATING OF THE JUMPSTART TAX TO BALANCE THE BUDGET. THE JUMPSTART TAXES BEEN EFFECTIVE. IT IS A SOLUTION. WHEN YOU REMOVE THE SOLUTION, WHAT DO YOU BECOME? PART OF THE PROBLEM. THE COUNCIL IS BECOMING PART OF THE PROBLEM. THE QUESTION IS, ARE YOU GOING TO BE PART OF THE PROBLEM IN PERPETUITY OR JUST BRIEFLY? I THINK THE CORRECT ANSWER IS BRIEFLY FOR A YEAR TO BALANCE THE BUDGET, BUT DO NOT RAID JUMPSTART. DEVELOP PROGRESSIVE REVENUE. WASHINGTON STATE IS A TAX HAVEN. WE ALL KNOW THAT. THE IDEA THAT WE ARE OVERTAXED IS JUST WRONG. WILL PEOPLE IN THE CITY WANT IS ORDER. TAKING PEOPLE OUT OF HOUSING PUTS PEOPLE ON THE STREET AND CREATES DISORDER. PLEASE DO NOT TAKE THAT COURSE IN THE LONG RUN. THANK YOU. >> THANK YOU, JIM. GOOD MORNING. >> GOOD MORNING. GOOD MORNING, CITY COUNCIL. I AM A MEMBER OF THE PARKING BRIDGE PRESERVATION SOCIETY. I'M HERE TODAY BECAUSE OF THE RECENT THEFT THAT OCCURRED AT THE PARK BACK IN OCTOBER. THE PARK IS A PARK THAT WAS DONATED TO THE FILIPINO COMMUNITY IN THE 1970S AND 1980S. A GROUP OF ADVOCATES HELP NAME THE PARK. RECENTLY THERE WAS A SOFT. ANYWAY, THE PARK HAS BEEN -- HAS HAD SOME VERY INCREASED GANG ACTIVITY AND CRIMINAL THINGS GOING ON. IT HAS HAD AN ONGOING HOMELESS ISSUE . SO I AM HERE TO URGE THE CITY COUNCIL TO ACTUALLY ACT QUICKLY AND PROVIDE SUPPORT AND RESOURCES NEEDED TO MAINTAIN THIS PARK THAT WE LOVE SO MUCH . THANK YOU SO MUCH. >> THANK YOU. WE HAVE ANOTHER MEMBER OF THE PUBLIC JOINING US. IF YOU WOULD LIKE TO SIGN UP, NOW IS THE TIME. >> I WORK FOR PLYMOUTH HOUSING. WE ARE A MEMBER OF HOUSING DEVELOPMENT CONSORTIUM IN THE SEATTLE KING COUNTY COALITION ON HOMELESSNESS. I ECHO ALL THE MEMBERS MESSAGES ABOUT PRESERVING JUMPSTART. THE 1400 RESIDENTS BENEFIT FROM JUMPSTART EVERY DAY. WHAT THAT MEANS IS THAT THEY GET ADDITIONAL STAFFING , THEY CAN GET HELP WITH GOING TO APPOINTMENTS, THEY CAN GET CONNECTED WITH SERVICES, AND WITHOUT JUMPSTART SPENDING, WE WOULD NOT BE ABLE TO PROVIDE THAT LEVEL OF SERVICE. IT IS VITALLY IMPORTANT. WE ASK THAT YOU PROTECT IT IN PERPETUITY AND ENSURE THAT 62% OF IT GOES TOWARDS HOUSING. IT IS VITALLY IMPORTANT. I ALSO WANT TO THANK COUNCILMEMBER NELSON FOR SUPPORTING FUNDING FOR BEHAVIORAL HEALTH SERVICES . THAT IS SOMETHING THAT PLYMOUTH IS VERY INTERESTED IN APPLYING FOR IN THE FUTURE, AND IT IS VITAL TO HELPING INDIVIDUALS RECOVER AND FIND A PATHWAY TO SUCCESS. THANK YOU. >> THANK YOU, DENNIS. WELCOME. >> IN 2018 AND WORKING PEOPLE FIRST ORGANIZE TO WIN THE TAX ON AMAZON, DEMOCRATS ON THE CITY COUNCIL FOUGHT TOOTH AND NAIL AGAINST THE PERVASIVELY COLLUDED IN ORDER TO GET REPEALED A MONTH LATER. AFTER FIGHTING TO WIN IT AGAIN THROUGH BALLOT MEASURE THAT RECEIVED 30,000 SIGNATURES, THEY HAVE CONTINUED DIVERTING MONEY FROM IT, AND THIS WOULD BE THE BIGGEST INVESTMENT YET. THIS COMES AFTER WORKERS STRIKE BACK AT WORK PEOPLE FORCE THE CITY COUNCIL TO WITHDRAW THEIR DESPICABLE ATTACKS ON THE HISTORIC $50 PER HOUR MINIMUM WAGE VICTORY. ALSO LED BY. THEY IMMEDIATELY PIVOTED TO HER OTHER SIGNATURE VICTORY FOR WORKING PEOPLE. THE AMAZON TAX ON BIG BUSINESS. I PERSONALLY CAN'T AFFORD MY OWN ONE-BEDROOM APARTMENT ON THE PRESCHOOL TEACHERS WAGE. THE AFFORDABILITY CRISIS IS ONLY GETTING WORSE. WE URGENTLY NEED MORE MONEY FOR AFFORDABLE HOUSING, NOT LESS. IT IS ABSOLUTELY SHAMEFUL THAT IN THIS CONTEXT THE DEMOCRAT MAYOR AND ALL DEMOCRAT COUNCIL ARE LOOKING TO DIVERT FUNDS FROM THE AMAZON TOWARD THE ALREADY PUT A POLICE BUDGET. THIS IS A SLAP IN THE FACE TO WORKING PEOPLE. WE NEED TO FIGHT TO INCREASE THE AMAZON TAX. WORKING PEOPLE NEED TO FIGHT HER OWN PRO-WORKER PARTY. >> THANK YOU. >> -- FEEL FREE TO SEND IN THE REMAINDER OF YOUR COMMENTS. WELCOME. >> -- GOOD MORNING. >> GOOD MORNING. I AM A RESIDENT OF DISTRICT 4 AND A WORKERS STRIKE BACK ACTIVIST. I WILL START BY SAYING HOW SHAMEFUL IT IS THAT AFTER BEING FORCED TO WITHDRAW THEIR ATTACK ON HISTORIC $50 MINIMUM WAGE VICTORY JUST MONTHS AGO, THE CITY COUNCIL HAS PIVOTED TO ATTACK THE OTHER SIGNATURE VICTORY OF OUR WORKING-CLASS MOVEMENT. THE AMAZON TAX FUNDING AFFORDABLE HOUSING. HOUSING COSTS IN SEATTLE ARE ONLY GOING OUT. THE COST OF LIVING CRISIS IS ONLY GETTING WORSE. WE URGENTLY NEED MORE MONEY FOR AFFORDABLE HOUSING, NOT LESS. THIS SORT OF THING IS EXACTLY WHAT IS ALLOWING TRUMP AND HIS DANGEROUS IDEOLOGY TO GAIN THE SUPPORT IT HAS AMONG MARGINALIZED AND LOW INCOME VOTERS. AS DEMOCRATS ATTACKING WORKING PEOPLES LIVING STANDARDS ON BEHALF OF BIG BUSINESS. AMAZON TAX WAS PASSED IN 2020 BECAUSE THE MOVEMENT OF TENS OF THOUSANDS OF WORKING PEOPLE IN SEATTLE. THAT IS THE NUMBER OF PEOPLE YOU ARE ALIENATING WITH THIS SORT OF ATTACK. THE CITY COUNCIL FOR THE BACK OF -- BECAUSE WORKING PEOPLE. IF YOU THINK BECAUSE IT IS THE END OF THE YEAR THAT WORKING PEOPLE AREN'T WATCHING THIS AND WON'T RECOGNIZE AND REMEMBER THIS, WE ARE HERE, WE ARE WATCHING, AND WE WILL RECOGNIZE THIS. >> THANK YOU. WE ARE GOING TO MOVE ON TO ONLINE PUBLIC CALLERS. I'M HAVING TO REPEAT MYSELF BECAUSE OF THE DISTURBANCES IN CHAMBERS. WE ARE GOING TO MOVE ON TO ONLINE PUBLIC COMMENTERS. I READ READ -- I WILL READ EVERYONE'S NAME IN ORDER SO YOU KNOW WHERE YOU ARE. [ READING LIST OF NAMES ] WITH THAT, WE'RE GOING TO TAKE IT AWAY. WELCOME. >> HELLO. I AM A SEATTLE PUBLIC LIBRARY EMPLOYEE . THE VIEWS EXPRESSED TODAY BY ME DON'T REPRESENT MY EMPLOYER. I WOULD LIKE THE OPPORTUNITY TO SPEAK AGAIN ON THE BUDGET. IT IS CRUCIAL THAT THE PUBLIC CAN COME OUT HERE AND VOICE GRIEVANCES WITH YOU GUYS BECAUSE YOU DON'T SEEM TO LISTEN TO US. I THINK TO URGE THE JUMPSTART TAX FUND TO SUPPORT COUNCILMEMBER MORALES'S AMENDMENT. IT WOULD BE A FOOLISH AND SHORTSIGHTED DECISION ONLY MAKE OUR CITY UP IS VERY VISIBLE PROBLEMS WORSE. WORKING IN THE LIBRARY, I SEE THESE PROBLEMS DAILY. WHERE PATRONS IN THE LIBRARY WHO HAS STRUGGLED WITH ADDICTION OR ARE HOMELESS AND VICTIMS OF CRIME OR PERPETRATORS OF CRIME. MORE MORE PRESENT IN OUR LIBRARIES AS WE REFUSE TO ADDRESS THESE ISSUES AS A CITY. WHILE THE SPD SLEEPS ON THE JOB, THEY TAKE HOURS TO RESPOND, LIBRARY WORKERS HAVE TO DE-ESCALATE AND KEEP OURSELVES SAFE. THE SOLUTION IS NOT . BUILD HOUSING, KEEP JUMPSTART. THANK YOU SO MUCH. >> THANK YOU. WELCOME. >> YES. I AM A HOST AND PRODUCER FOR SEATTLE CHANNEL WHERE I WORK AS AN INDEPENDENT CONTRACTOR. I WANT TO THANK COUNCIL PRESIDENT NELSON, BUDGET CHAIR STRAUSS IN THE ENTIRE CITY COUNCIL FOR CONTINUING TO WORK OF FINDING THE SEATTLE CHANNEL NOW AND INTO THE FUTURE. I WANTED TO SPEAK IN FAVOR OF THE ORDINANCE SPONSORED BY COUNCIL PRESIDENT NELSON. YOU'RE LOOKING AT IT AT THE END OF THE AGENDA TODAY. SEVERAL IMPORTANT THINGS. IT RESTORES THE CABLE FUNDS DOLLARS THAT WERE DIVERTED AWAY FROM THE SEATTLE CHANNEL IN THE MAYOR UP IN SEPTEMBER BUDGET. THE CABLE STATION SHOULD BE GETTING THE MAJORITY OF THE MONEY, THAT IS WHAT THE COUNCIL ATTENDED MORE THAN 20 YEARS AGO WHEN THE CHANNEL TOOK ITS CURRENT FORM. IT ALSO RECOMMENDS COST ALLOCATIONS TO CITY DEPARTMENTS SUPPORTED BY THE CHANNEL AND PLEDGES GENERAL FUND MONEY TO COVER COSTS OF THE COUNCIL MEETINGS AND OTHER PUBLIC EVENTS ON SEATTLE CHANNEL. LOOKING AHEAD, THE ORDINANCE ASKED THE MAYOR TO GREATER LONG-TERM FUNDING PLAN BY SEPTEMBER OF NEXT YEAR WITH THE HELP OF A WORKGROUP LOOKING AT ALL FUNDING SOURCES. I'M PROUD OF THE WORK WE DO AT SEATTLE CHANNEL. I BELIEVE THIS ORDINANCE PROVIDES A GOOD PATH FORWARD FOR THAT WORK TO CONTINUE AND FLOURISH. NICU. >> THANK YOU. YOU ARE OFF MUTE. WELCOME. ALL >> THANK YOU, GOOD MORNING, CHAIR STRAUSS AND MEMBERS OF THE COMMUNITY. I'M HERE TODAY ON BEHALF OF THE DOWNTOWN EMERGENCY SERVICE CENTER TO SAY THANK YOU FOR YOUR PROPOSED AMENDMENTS TO COUNCIL BILL 120912 ON THE PAYROLL EXPENSE TAX AND JUMPSTART SPENDING PLAN. ADVOCATES HAVE BEEN WORKING CLOSELY TOGETHER SINCE LAST WEEK ORGANIZING AND SPREADING OUR MESSAGE, HOPING YOU WOULD HEAR THAT. WHILE WE UNDERSTAND THE CURRENT BUDGET DYNAMIC, JUMPSTART MUST BE PRIORITIZED IN THE FUTURE AN ONGOING FOR INTENDED USE AS. YOUR COLLECTIVE ACTION TO PRODUCE A VARIETY OF AMENDMENTS ADDRESSING THESE CONCERNS SHOW THAT IT IS POSSIBLE TO COME TOGETHER TO FIND SOLUTIONS THAT WILL WORK FOR THE STABILITY OF THIS VITAL RESOURCE. I URGE YOU ALL TO VOTE YES ON THESE FOUR CRITICAL AMENDMENTS, AMENDMENT FIVE PROPOSED BY BUDGET CHAIR STRAUSS WAS COSPONSORS MOORE AND KHARKIV PARK CAN ALSO AMENDMENT ONE AND TWO, PROPOSED BY COUNCILMEMBER MORALES , AND AMENDMENT SIX, ALSO PROPOSED BY BUDGET CHAIR STRAUSS. PLEASE DO NOT REINSTATE THE LANGUAGE FOR SUNSETTING. THANK YOU ALL. >> THANK YOU. WELCOME. >> DISTRICT 5. COUNCIL, YOU ARE BEEN ON THE JOB FOR OVER 10 MONTHS. WE DIDN'T HAVE TO BE WHERE WE ARE TODAY. EVEN THOUGH WE ARE HERE, YOU KNOW YOU DON'T NEED TO GRAB JUMPSTART TO USE AS A SLUSH FUND FOR THE EXECUTIVES. THE REVENUE STABILIZATION WORKGROUP PRODUCED ITS FINAL REPORT AND CONCLUDING RECOMMENDATIONS FOR PROGRESSIVE REVENUE THAT COULD GET YOU OUT OF THIS FIX IN AUGUST 2023. YOU COULD AVOID THE 2025 MASSIVE BUDGET SHORTFALL WITHOUT SACRIFICING JUMPSTART 'S DEDICATION TO HOUSING, AND GREEN NEW DEAL PROGRAMS , UPON WHICH REAL COMMUNITY SAFETY DEPENDS. WE ARE HERE NOW, AND YOU STILL HAVE A CHOICE. IF YOU HAVE ANY DECENCY, PLEASE REJECT PROPOSALS TO END JUMPSTART AS WE KNOW IT AND GET TO WORK PASSING PROGRESSIVE REVENUE. ONE LAST THING, EARLIER CALLER MENTIONED WAS TERRIBLY SLANTED. I HUNG UP ON IT, AND SO DID OTHERS. THAT IS WHAT THE PERCENTAGES ENDED UP AS THEY DID. >> WELCOME. I SEE YOU ARE ALREADY OFF MUTE. >> THERE I AM. I AM HOST OF ART ZONE ON THE SEATTLE CHANNEL. WANT TO ACKNOWLEDGE THE SEATTLE LEADERSHIP, COUNCIL PRESIDENT NELSON, BUDGET CHAIR STRAUSS AND THE ENTIRE CITY COUNCIL FOR THE QUICK, CLEAR AND DIRECT RESPONSE TO THE PROPOSED BUDGET OF THE SEATTLE CHANNEL. YOUR VISION ACTION SHOWCASES AN IMPRESSIVE FUNCTIONALITY AMONG A GOVERNMENTAL BODY TO OPERATE, WHICH I PRESLEY FIND ENCOURAGING AND INSPIRING. COUNCIL PRESIDENT NELSON'S MEASURE GIVES THE CHANNEL A REPRIEVE SO WE CAN CONTINUE TO CREATE EXCELLENT CONTENT, SERVE EVERY COMMUNITY IN THE CITY , AND ALSO PUT ON THE FRONT BURNER A STATED INTENTTO FIND A STABLE, LONG-TERM REVENUE STREAM FOR THE CHANNEL, WHICH IS SOMETHING THAT HAS BEEN TOP OF MIND A NUMBER OF YEARS. CERTAINLY WITH THE SEATTLE CHANNEL MANAGEMENT TEAM LED BY STATION MANAGER. THE STRUCTURE AND MUSCLE THIS BILL GETS TO FINDING A SOLID VIABLE FUNDING SOLUTION BY SEPTEMBER 2025 PROVIDES A REAL POSSIBILITY OF SUCCESS. THANK YOU FOR YOUR WORK. WE REALLY APPRECIATE THE BRIGHT FUTURE FOR THE SEATTLE CHANNEL. >> THANK YOU. GOOD MORNING. >> GOOD MORNING. I AM A TRANSGENDER MAN TALK ABOUT PAYROLL EXPENSE TAX. THE CITY HAS BUDGET CHALLENGES. WELCOME TO BEING LOWER INCOME IN SEATTLE. RIGHT NOW TRANCE FOLKS ARE REACHING OUT FROM STATES WHERE THEY ARE DISPLAYS. MANY ARE BY KOK -- BIPOC. DO KNOW WHAT IS LIKE SAYING IT IS SO EXPENSIVE THEY SHOULDN'T COME HERE. THE CITY LIKES TO PRESENT ITSELF AS A SANCTUARY, BUT IT IS NOT. JUMPSTART HAS AN ABUNDANCE OF FUNDS, GRAY. POUR EVERY LAST DOLLAR TO HOUSING. STOP PRETENDING YOU CARE ABOUT LOW AND MIDDLE INCOME COMMUNITIES, BECAUSE FOR THE PEOPLE WHO WORK AND LIVE HERE CAN'T FIND A WAY TO MAKE IT WORK, YOU DON'T. I AM BEGGING YOU, PLEASE PROVE ME WRONG. THANK YOU. >> THANK YOU. WELCOME. YOU ARE OFF MUTE. >> GOOD MORNING. IF I HAD TO PICK A WORD TO DESCRIBE ATTITUDE OF THE ADMINISTRATION THE CITY COUNCIL FOR THE PEOPLE OF SEATTLE, IT WOULD BE CONTEMPT. NOW YOU ARE ONCE AGAIN GOING TO SUBVERT WHAT HAD BEEN A QUALIFYING BALLOT INITIATIVE TO FUND HOUSING, AND GREEN NEW DEAL AND FLOW DISPLACING NONWHITE RESIDENTS, WHICH THE PREVIOUS COUNCIL MODIFIED RATHER THAN COMPLETELY KILLED. THE CONSISTENT MESSAGES THAT OUR POLITICAL SYSTEM OFFERS NO MECHANISMS FOR MOST PEOPLE TO MEANINGFULLY INFLUENCE THE STATE'S ACTIONS. WHEN THAT HAPPENS, WE GET , WHEN WE ELECT PROGRESSIVE AND GET MASS INCARCERATION AND HOUSING DEFUNDED, AND THEN ELECT CENTRISTS AND GET MASS INCARCERATION AND HOUSES DEFUNDED WHILE OUR CITY BECOMES MORE UNLIVABLE, HAVE LEARNED THAT DEMOCRACY IS JUST A PRETEXT TO CHOOSE WHO WILL ENACT THE WILL OF CONGRESS. THE NEXT PRESIDENT HAS PROMISED TO AND THE PRETENSE OF U.S. DEMOCRACY. HE IS ALSO HAD TWO SHOTS TAKEN AT HIM ON THE CAMPAIGN TRAIL. BEFORE YOU VOTE TODAY AGAINST THE -- >> THANK YOU. OLIVER, WELCOME. >> THANK YOU, EVERYONE, FOR YOUR TESTIMONIES TODAY. I AM A SEATTLE PUBLIC SCHOOL EDUCATOR. I AM AN LGBTQ SMALL BUSINESS OWNER IS TAX EDUCATE -- ADVOCATE OF THE LEGISLATURE. THERE'S BEEN SO MUCH CONVERSATION TODAY THAT I HAVE APPRECIATED. INEQUALITY HAS NEVER BEEN GREATER IN SEATTLE. STATEWIDE VOTERS JUST APPROVED THE CAPITAL GAINS TAX . THEY WANT THAT STATEWIDE. MEANWHILE, THERE IS KIND OF AN OPPOSITE ROBIN HOOD SITUATION GOING ON HERE. THE OPPOSITE OF ROBIN HOOD IS THE ROBIN BARRIERS OF THE GILDED AGE. VOTERS APPROVED FOUR PROGRESSIVE REVENUE TAXES ON THE RICH TO FIGHT TO AFFORD TO LIVE IN THE CITY. NOT FOR THOSE QUOTE UNQUOTE STRUGGLING TO BUILD THEIR PROPERTY PORTFOLIOS. I AM CALLING TODAY TO SUPPORT MORALES'S AMENDMENTS FOR ACCOUNTABILITY FOR JUMPSTART FUNDS. FOLKS NEED TO LISTEN TO STUDENTS ARE CALLING FOR A STUDENT CITY COUNCIL, JUST LIKE AUBURN IS DOING. >> THANK YOU. YOU ARE OFF MUTE. SORRY FOR GETTING YOUR NAME SO WRONG. >> GOOD MORNING, MEMBERS OF THE COUNCIL. I WORK WITH THE UNION OF WATCHED AS THEY. I'M ALSO A SURVIVOR OF DOMESTIC VIOLENCE AND CERTIFIED TV ADVOCATE. YOU HAVE A TOUGH ROAD AHEAD OF YOU, HOWEVER, ON HOUSE. JUMP START FINDING HAS BEEN A LIFELINE FOR SO MANY PROGRAMS. IT IS CRUCIAL THAT WE NOT ONLY PRESERVE THE FUND, BUT ALSO CONTINUE TO EXPAND IT. I SOMEONE WHO HAS FELT TRAPPED AND HELPLESS OVER THE YEARS, I WANT TO SHARE HOW MUCH MORE EMPOWERED I WOULD HAVE BEEN HAD I BEEN ABLE TO LEAVE MY ABUSIVE MARRIAGE HAD I KNOW MY RIGHTS AS A MENTOR. KNOWLEDGE IS POWER. WHEN RIGHTS COME WITH FREEDOM, THE WORK THAT MUCH HARDER TO KEEP THEM. INVESTING IN THE SERVICES ALIGNED WITH THE CITY UP IS COMMITTED TO ENSURE SAFETY AND EQUITY FOR ALL RESIDENTS. WAS CONTINUED TO BE A CITY THAT STANDS UP TO FOR THOSE WHO NEED IT MOST. THINK YOU IN ADVANCE FOR CONTINUING TO FUND SERVICES. >> THANK YOU. ERICA IS SHOWING NOT PRESENT. WE WILL COME BACK TO HER AT THE END. CALL IN NOW IF YOU WOULD LIKE TO SPEAK. EMILY IS UP NEXT. EMILY, YOU ARE HERE. YOU ARE OFF MUTE. WELCOME. >> GOOD MORNING. THANK YOU. I AM A RESIDENT OF DISTRICT 2. >> HANG ON, REAL QUICK. EMILY, I WILL RESTART YOUR TIME. YOU'RE COMING IN A LITTLE SOFT. HARD TO HEAR YOU. >> OKAY. CAN YOU HEAR ME BETTER NOW? >> A LITTLE BIT BETTER. WE ALSO TURNED UP THE VOLUME HERE IN CHAMBERS. TAKE IT AWAY. >> OKAY. SORRY ABOUT THAT. I WILL TRY TO SPEAK UP. I AM A RESIDENT OF DISTRICT 2 BUT I'M HERE TO SPEAK THIS MORNING ON BEHALF OF THE SEATTLE WOMEN'S COMMISSION. THE COMMISSION STRONGLY URGES COUNCIL TO VOTE YES ON COUNCILMEMBER MORALES'S JUMPSTART AMENDMENT TO ALLOCATE 80% OF JUMPSTART FUNDS FOR COMMUNITY FUNDING PRIORITIES OUTLINED IN THE JUMPSTART FUNDING PLAN STARTING IN 2027 AND PRESERVED THE OVERSIGHT COMMITTEE. JUMPSTART FUNDS SHOULD BE AS THEY WERE ORIGINALLY INTENDED TO SUPPORT HEALTHY, SAFE AND THRIVING NEIGHBORHOODS IN SEATTLE. AS A VOLUNTEER GROUP OF WOMEN LIVING AND WORKING THROUGHOUT THE CITY, SEATTLE WOMEN'S COMMISSION CARES DEEPLY ABOUT OUR CITY AND ITS PEOPLE. WE KNOW HOW IMPORTANT IT IS TO HAVE JUMPSTART EARNINGS SPENT ON AFFORDABLE HOUSING, WE NEW DEAL PROJECTS AND EQUITABLE DEVELOPMENT. INVESTING IN HOUSING, OPERATIONS MAINTENANCE SERVICES AND CAPITAL, FOR EXAMPLE, EQUITABLE DEVELOPMENT AND GREEN JOBS, AS WELL TO KEEP OUR COMMUNITIES GROWING STRONGER TOGETHER. WE SUPPORT COUNCILMEMBER MORALES 'S PROPOSED AMENDMENT . >> THANK YOU. FEEL FREE TO SEND IN ANY ADDITIONAL COMMENTS. FOR THE FOLKS WHO CALLED -- YOU SIGNED UP ARE NOT YET PRESIDENT , I SEE YOU'RE OFF MUTE. WELCOME. >> GOOD MORNING. I AM A BALLARD HOMEOWNER. THE BUDGET WAS A SINGING NATIONAL GENERAL FUND. THE COUNCIL HAD A CHOICE. IS THERE PURSUE PROGRESSIVE REVENUE AND GET RID OF THE SPD SLUSH FUND 30 AUSTERITY BUDGET. THE COUNCIL CHOSE AUSTERITY, DOING A MASSIVE THE FUNDING OF AFFORDABLE HOUSING, TENANT SERVICES, AND OTHER ITEMS, ALL WHILE GIVING COPS MUCH MORE MONEY. COUNCIL LIKES TO TALK ABOUT CRIME A LOT. GUESS WHAT, WHEN EMPLOYERS STEAL FROM WORKERS, THAT IS CRIME. NOW THAT YOU HAVE DEFENDED , THERE IS REALLY NO ENFORCEMENT ON THAT ONE. GREAT JOB, GUYS. WHEN LANDLORDS STEAL FROM TENANTS AND GIVE THEM BOGUS FEES, THAT IS ALSO A CRIME. THAT IS NOW REALLY, YOU JUST ROBBED ALL TENANTS OF PROTECTIONS BY GETTING RID OF TENANT SERVICES AND PUTTING AN ABSURD INCOME REQUIREMENT FOR LEGAL ASSISTANCE, WHICH AMAZINGLY LEFT, THERE ARE NO INCOME REQUIREMENTS FOR BUSINESSES TO GET STOREFRONT OR FUNDS. IT REALLY SHOWS YOU DON'T CARE ABOUT CRIME WHEN THE CHAIN CHAMBER OF COMMERCE DOES IT. [ APPLAUSE ] >> WELCOME. FRIENDLY REMINDER FOR THE PUBLIC, I COULDN'T HEAR MYSELF TALKING THEY ARE WHEN -- WELCOME. YOU ARE OFF MUTE. >> GOOD MORNING. I'M CALLING TO SHOW MY SUPPORT FOR THE SOLIDARITY BUDGET DEMANDS. IT IS MY GUARANTEE I WANT TO -- JUMPSTART PROGRESSIVE REVENUE FUND. AS MANY HAVE SAID BEFORE ME, JUMPSTART HIS SOCIAL PROGRAMS THE SUPPORT THEY NEED TO DO VITAL WORK IN PROVIDING LICENSING AND SERVICES TO THE SEATTLE COMMUNITY AT LARGE, ESPECIALLY THOSE EXPENSING THE EFFECTS OF THE HOUSING CRISIS. THAT IS ALL I HAVE TO SAY. THANK YOU. >> THANK YOU. I AM A TECH WORKER AND RENTER IN DISTRICT 3 BUT I JUST WANTED TO HELP SET THE RECORD STRAIGHT ABOUT THE AMAZON TAX. THE AMAZON TAX IS NOT JUST SOME NICE GIFT FROM COUNSEL DEMOCRATS. RATHER, IT IS SOMETHING WE WENT THROUGH JAMPACKED MEETINGS OF HUNDREDS OF COMMUNITY MEMBERS AT WASHINGTON HALL AND A VOLUNTEER ARMY UNDER THE TAX AMAZON CAMPAIGN THAT COLLECTED OVER 30,000 SIGNATURES ON THE BALLOT INITIATIVE IN A MATTER OF WEEKS. FORCED THE CITY COUNCIL TO TAKE ACTION. I COLLECTED DOZENS OF SIGNATURE SHEETS MYSELF. I WOULD TELL YOU IT WAS THE EASIEST THING EVER. PEOPLE ARE SO FURIOUS AT AMAZON AND THE HIGH COST OF HOUSING. THESE ARE PROBLEMS THAT HAVE ONLY GOTTEN WORSE. WHAT IS BEING PROPOSED NOW IS NOT JUST A MONDAY MOVING AROUND OF FUNDS. IT IS A BETRAYAL TO THE 30,000 SEATTLEITES AND HUNDREDS OF VOLUNTEERS LIKE ME WHO ORGANIZE, FOUGHT AND WON THESE FUNDS FOR AFFORDABLE HOUSING. INSTEAD OF AUSTERITY, WE SHOULD BE INCREASING THE TAXES COVERED IN THE DEFICIT. IF YOU TAKE THIS AWAY FROM US, YOU SHOULD KNOW WE ARE WATCHING AND WILL HOLD YOU TO ACCOUNT. >> THANK YOU. >> THANK YOU, GOOD MORNING. I WANT TO ECHO THE RESOUNDING MAJORITY IN CALLING FOR JUMPSTART TRANSPARENCY. THIS MEASURE WAS NOT PASSED FOR BALANCING A CITY BUDGET. IT WAS MEANT FOR AFFORDABLE HOUSING AND SMALL BUSINESSES AND THE GREEN NEW DEAL. AS EVERYBODY ELSE HAS POINTED OUT, PROGRESSIVE TAX, BIG HIT. NOT SUCH A BIG HIT? GIVING THIS MONEY TO THE COPS AND BUSINESSES. I WOULD ALSO LIKE TO PROTEST SAKA'S EARMARKED FOR TURF IN HIS FIELD THAT HE COACHES ON IN WEST SEATTLE. THAT IS 1.$5 MILLION FROM THE SEATTLE PARKS DEPARTMENT THAT COULD GO TO FUNDING THE ENVIRONMENTAL PROGRAMS AT DISCOVERY AND KHARKIV PARK THAT ARE BEING CUT THIS YEAR. I FIND THAT DISGUSTING. THANK YOU. >> THANK YOU. CHRISTOPHER, YOU'RE NOT UP YET. ALBERTO IS . YOU CAN COME OFF MUTE. -- ALBERTO? WELCOME. >> THANK YOU. COUNCIL, OVER 200,000 SEATTLE VOTERS DELIVERED A MANDATE TO YOU . THE DEMAND IS TO BUILD, BUILD, BUILD AFFORDABLE HOUSING. UPHOLD WORKER PROTECTIONS AND WAGES, TO BUILD A SEATTLE THAT WORKS FOR ALL. IT MUST BE MADE CLEAR THAT SHOWING UP IS NEVER ENOUGH. A PLAN HAS TO BE PUT FORWARD AND REAL ACTION HAS TO TAKE PLACE . A GREAT EXAMPLE IS THE AMENDMENT FOR A PROGRESSIVE TAX ON THE WEALTHIEST GROUPS TO FUND RENTAL ASSISTANCE, HOMEOWNERSHIP AND FIGHT FOOD INSECURITY. I WANT TO COMMEND COUNCILMEMBER MOORE AND ALL MEMBERS WHO SUPPORTED THE PLAN. IT MAY JUST BE A FIRST STEP , BUT THIS IS THE WORK AND PARTNERSHIP WE WANT TO SEE. OUR WORK AND OUR SPENDING IS A BEDROCK OF CITY REVENUE. IT IS TIME THE WEALTHY PAY THEIR FAIR SHARE. AFFORDABLE HOUSING, WORKER PRODUCTIONS, PROGRESSIVE REVENUE. THANK YOU AND HAVE A GOOD DAY. >> THANK YOU, ALBERTA. WE HAVE TO PUBLIC COMMENT SPEAKERS LEFT. I'VE SEEN A COUPLE MORE PEOPLE FROM THE PUBLIC JOIN US AND CHAMBERS. THIS IS LAST CALL TO SIGN UP. YOU CAN SIGN UP ON THE SHEET RIGHT HERE IF YOU WOULD LIKE TO. UP NEXT IS CHRISTOPHER BURKE FOLLOWED BY DAVID. >> GOOD MORNING, BUDGET CHAIR STRAUSS AND COUNCIL MEMBERS. THANK YOU FOR YOUR WORK. I AM THE CEO OF A 50-YEAR-OLD DEVELOPER, MANAGER OF AFFORDABLE HOUSING IN SEATTLE. WE UNDERSTAND THE CITY IS FACING A FISCAL CRISIS. HOWEVER, WE ARE OPPOSED TO THE PERMANENT DIVERSION OF PAYROLL EXCISE TAX FUNDING TO THE GENERAL FUND. THE NEED FOR AFFORDABLE HOUSING HAS NOT ABATED, AS YOU HAVE HEARD OVER AND OVER THIS MORNING FROM YOUR CONSTITUENTS. THESE DEDICATED FUNDS ARE DESPERATELY NEEDED TO MEET THAT NEED. THANK YOU. >> THE JUMPSTART TAX NEVER REALLY SOLVE THE HOMELESS CRISIS, WHICH IS STILL A PRIORITY. THE MHA FEES, WHICH HAVE $1 BILLION FOR AFFORDABLE HOUSING, HAVE CHANGE A COUPLE YEARS AGO WERE ONLY NONPROFITS WERE ALLOWED ACCESS, EVEN THOUGH THOSE NONPROFITS HAVE TO HIRE A FOR-PROFIT , IT IS DELAYING QUALITATIVE HOMES. NOW, I DON'T UNDERSTAND WHY WE CAN FOCUS MORE ON SOLVING THE HOMELESS CRISIS FOR INNOCENT PEOPLE INSTEAD OF CREATING DEBT IN THE BUDGET WHERE WE STILL CONTINUE TO PAY THE SPENDING PRIORITIES AND THE BAD POLICIES THAT ARE BASED ON LOOKING THROUGH THE LENS OF RACISM WHERE YOU JUDGE PEOPLE UP A SKIN COLOR AND IGNORE THE CONTENT OF THE CHARACTER, AND YOU SPEND TENS OF MILLIONS OF DOLLARS BUYING OFF PROTESTERS INSTEAD OF FOCUSING ON THE HOMELESS CRISIS AND STOP THE DRUG PUSHERS FROM JAIL. >> THANK YOU, DAVID. FEEL FREE TO SEND IN ANY ADDITIONAL WRITTEN PUBLIC COMMENTS THAT YOU WOULD LIKE TO SUBMIT. WE HAVE ONE LAST IN PERSON SPEAKER HERE. I APPRECIATE YOU COMING IN. I MIGHT HAVE NAILED IT. I MIGHT HAVE ONE THAT BET. >> HOW DOES IT WORK? >> WE'RE ALREADY TO GO. ONCE YOU START TALKING, WE START THE CLOCK. YOU HAVE A MINUTE. THIS IS MY FIRST TIME HERE. THIS ISSUE IS IMPORTANT TO ME BECAUSE I THINK TAXING PEOPLE WHO CAN AFFORD TO BE TAXED MAKES SENSE. HONESTLY , THE OTHER THING I WANT TO MENTION IS YOU GUYS KIND OF LOOK DISENGAGE. I DON'T KNOW. MY FIRST IMPRESSION WAS THAT , SO FAR NOT A GOOD FEELING IN THE WAY THIS MEETING COMES ABOUT. I DON'T LIKE THAT EITHER. LAST MINUTE KIND OF SEEMS SHADY. DO BETTER. THAT'S IT. [ APPLAUSE ] >> WITH THAT, THE HYBRID PUBLIC COMMENT PERIOD IS NOW CLOSED. WE ARE GOING TO MOVE ON TO THE ITEMS ON OUR AGENDA. I KNOW THAT WE'VE GOT DIRECTOR NOBLE APPEAR. JUST BEFORE YOU JUMP IN, DIRECTOR NOBLE, I WILL SHARE SOME REMARKS GENERALLY ABOUT THE CONTENT OF WHAT WE ARE WORKING ON TODAY . AS A REMINDER, WE WILL TAKE UP THE BUDGET LEGISLATION, THE PAYROLL TAX WITH SIX AMENDMENTS, THE PROPERTY TAX VOTES, CB ONE 2905. WE NEED TO ATTACH A, B, AND THE COURT FILE. MANY OF THESE ITEMS WILL BE BLANK BECAUSE THEY HAVE TO BE FILLED IN BETWEEN THE POINT OF PASSING OUT OF COMMITTEE BEFORE REACHING FULL COUNCIL AS A WAY TO CERTIFY WE HAVE COMPLETED OUR PROCESS IN COMMITTEE. AND SO, TODAY'S THE LAST DAY OF SELECT COMMITTEE SINCE APRIL. FROM THERE, WE WOULD TAKE ON THE TWO REGARDING CAPITAL GAINS, AND THEN THE SEATTLE CHANNEL . THEN WE ARE DONE. COLLEAGUES, I WANT TO THANK YOU FOR BEING HERE TO THE SEVENTH MONTH OF THE PROCESS IS STARTED BACK IN APRIL TO GET US IN A PLACE WHERE WE ARE ABLE TO ADDRESS ONE OF THE BIGGEST STRUCTURAL BUDGET DEFICITS IN RECENT MEMORY. WHILE SAFEGUARDING THE VAST MAJORITY OF PUBLIC FACING SERVICES THAT ARE COMMUNITY RELIES ON. WHEN THE MAYOR MADE HIS BUDGET PROPOSAL, WE FACED A BUDGET STRUCTURAL DEFICIT OF MORE THAN 250 MILLION. LESS THAN A MONTH AGO, A REVENUE FORECAST SHOWED WE WOULD EXPECT NEARLY $50 MILLION LESS IN OUR GENERAL FUND. WHAT THIS MEANS IS THAT THE MAYOR HAS TO TRANSMIT A PROPOSED BUDGET THAT IS BALANCED. ONCE WE RECEIVE THAT FORECAST, THAT PROPOSAL WAS NO LONGER BALANCED. THIS IS ONLY -- THIS IS ONLY HAPPEN IN OCTOBER 2020 AND 2008. WE CONTINUE TO FEEL THE IMPACT OF THE DOWNSTREAM ECONOMIC IMPACTS FROM COVID-19 PANDEMIC. THAT MEANT THAT EVEN THE MAYOR'S PROPOSAL BEING OUT OF BALANCE, IT WAS UP TO US TO COME UP WITH A SOLUTION . A HARD JOB GOT EVEN HARDER. IT WAS NO EASY FEAT. AND WE HAVE MORE WORK TO DO TO ENSURE THE LONG-TERM SUSTAINABILITY OF OUR CITY UP HIS BUDGET. TODAY IS JUST ONE STEP IN THAT LONG-TERM BUDGET REFORM. BY TAKING THE GRADUAL STEP DOWN APPROACH TO DOING THAT, WE HAVE BEEN ABLE TO SAVE CRITICAL INVESTMENTS IN SEATTLE'S SOCIAL NET, SAY BASIC SERVICES THAT ARE CITY DEPENDS ON , AND SAVE PEOPLE'S JOBS. I WANT TO THANK ALL OF YOU FOR YOUR COLLABORATION DURING THIS PROCESS. THE BUDGET REFLECTS PRIORITIES FROM EVERY SINGLE COUNCILMEMBER ON THIS DAIS. I ALSO WANT TO THANK MEMBERS OF THE PUBLIC FOR MAKING YOUR VOICE HEARD. WE'VE HAD FIVE VERBAL PUBLIC COMMENT PERIODS, TWO VERBAL PUBLIC COMMENT PERIODS, 25 PLUS OUR HEARINGS THAT NO ONE WAS CUT OFF FROM, AND I WANT TO THANK -- TAKE THE TIME TO THANK YOU FOR MAKING YOUR VOICE HEARD, AND FOR THOSE WATCHING, I'M SURE MANY OF YOUR PRIORITIES ARE REFLECTED HERE JUST CALLING OUT ONE GROUP IN PARTICULAR. ENVIRONMENTAL LEARNING COORDINATORS. WE HEAR YOU LOUD AND CLEAR. WE KNOW THAT WE HAVE A YEAR TO COME UP WITH A SOLUTION. SOME PROBLEMS WE FACE TO THIS YEAR, WE DID NOT HAVE THAT ADDITIONAL RUNWAY. AT LEAST I PERSONALLY AM VERY APPRECIATIVE OF ALL THE WORK YOU DO. WE ARE USING JUMPSTART THIS YEAR TO PREVENT AUSTERITY BUDGETING. AS WE HAVE DONE EVERY YEAR SINCE THE TAX HAS BEEN IN PLACE. WHILE WE THOUGHT WE WOULD BE OUT OF THE DOWNSTREAM ECONOMIC IMPACTS FROM THE PANDEMIC BY NOW WILL BE PAST THIS TAX, WHAT WE'RE FINDING IS THAT WE ARE IN THE EYE OF THE STORM. IF THE PAST IS ANY INDICATOR OF THE FUTURE, I PREDICT WE WILL BE IN THE STORM FOR AT LEAST TWO YEARS, AND LIKELY, UP TO FOUR. THE REASON I SHARE THAT INFORMATION IS BECAUSE OF THE DOWNTURN FORECAST AMID BUDGET CYCLE. AGAIN, WE WERE ABLE TO PREVENT AUSTERITY BUDGETING THIS YEAR, AND WHILE WE MADE HARD CHOICES, INCLUDING LAYOFFS, WE ARE STILL FUNDING CRITICAL PROGRAMS SEATTLEITES RELY ON. WHERE INCREASING FUNDING FOR OUR FOOD BANKS, MEAL PROVIDERS AND MEAL PROGRAMS. WERE INCREASING THE ACCESS TO AFFORDABLE CHILDCARE TO GET WORKING-CLASS FAMILIES OFF THE WAITLIST INTO THE POPULAR CHILD CARE ASSISTANCE PROGRAM. WE ARE INVESTING IN OUR WORKERS AND SMALL BUSINESSES BY RESTORING FUNDING FOR THE STOREFRONT REPAIR PROGRAM , STRENGTHENING OUR LABOR PROJECTIONS THROUGH ADDITIONAL OUTREACH AND INCREASING FUNDING FOR WORKFORCE DEVELOPMENT AND OPPORTUNITY PROGRAMS. WE'RE DOING RIGHT BY OUR OWN CITY WORKERS BY REDUCING THE NUMBER OF LAYOFFS IN THE CITY. FOR THE WORKERS THAT WE CAN'T KEEP ON LONG TERM, I'VE MADE SURE THEY HAVE ANOTHER SIX MONTHS TO CREATE CONTINUITY WITHIN THEIR JOB PLACEMENT TO ENSURE THEY HAVE THE OPPORTUNITY TO FIND OTHER JOBS, HOPEFULLY, HERE WITHIN THE CITY, SO WE CAN HAVE A SMOOTH TRANSITION, BOTH FOR THEM PERSONALLY AND FOR THE PUBLIC INSTITUTION. WE ARE INVESTING IN COMMUNITY-BASED SAFETY PROGRAMS. WE DELIVER CARE, INVESTING AND HIRING FIREFIGHTERS FASTER AND ANSWERING 911 CALLS FASTER. AND WE ARE INCREASING INVESTMENTS IN AFFORDABLE HOUSING AND HOMELESSNESS, INCLUDING ADDITIONAL FUNDING TO CREATE NEW NON-CONGREGATE SHELTERS LIKE TINY HOUSE VILLAGES, AND TO GET PEOPLE OFF THE STREETS INSIDE. WE HAVE ADDED MORE THAN $7 MILLION IN ADDITIONAL RENTAL ASSISTANCE TO HELP PEOPLE STAY IN THEIR HOMES, 4 MILLION TO HELP BUILD AFFORDABLE HOUSING PROJECTS AND JOB TRAINING CENTER FOR HOMELESS YOUTH IN PARTNERSHIP WITH YOUTH CARE. WE'VE ADDED FUNDING TO HELP PEOPLE LIVING IN THEIR RVS TRANSITION OUT OF THOSE AND INTO SHELTER AND HOUSING. AND ADDITIONAL FUNDING FOR HOMEOWNERSHIP OPPORTUNITIES. BETWEEN THESE INVESTMENTS AND THE MAYOR'S BUDGET PROPOSAL, SEATTLE WILL HAVE MORE AFFORDABLE HOUSING THIS YEAR THAN ANY TIME IN HISTORY. AT THE SAME TIME, WE KNOW THERE'S MORE WORK TO BE DONE. WE HAVE TO CONTINUE WORKING TO BRING HOUSING PRICES -- UNTIL HOUSING PRICES COME DOWN, WE HAVE TO BE PROVIDING MORE AFFORDABLE HOUSING. WE NEED TO IMPROVE OUR ZONING LAWS TO ALLOW FOR MORE AFFORDABLE HOUSING TO BE BUILT, AND WE NEED TO DO MORE TO FINANCE CONSTRUCTION OF THIS AFFORDABLE HOUSING. ADDRESSING AFFORDABLE HOUSING CRISIS IS GOING TO TAKE MULTIFACETED SOLUTIONS, WHICH IS WHY I AM PROPOSING A STATEMENT OF LEGISLATIVE INTENT ASKING FOR THE OFFICE OF HOUSING TO EXPLORE WHAT IT WOULD TAKE FOR SEATTLE TO IMPLEMENT A SIMILAR PROGRAM TO THE BILLION-DOLLAR BOND PROPOSED BY KING COUNTY COUNCIL MEMBERS TO FINANCE A REGIONAL WORKFORCE HOUSING INITIATIVE. I WILL BE THE FIRST ONE TO SAY IT, WE HAVE A LOT MORE WORK TO DO. ESPECIALLY AS WE FACE AN UNCERTAIN FUTURE ACROSS-THE-BOARD. FUNDING FOR SO MANY CRUCIAL GOVERNMENT PROGRAMS COMES INTO QUESTION. WE HAVE RELIED ON THE FEDERAL GOVERNMENT FOR A LOT OF FEDERAL FUNDING OVER THE LAST FOUR YEARS. THAT IS NOT TO BE COUNTED ON. WE HAVE REQUESTED MORE INFORMATION THROUGH THIS BUDGET PROCESS TO CONTINUE OUR STEP DOWN APPROACH TO STRUCTURAL SUSTAINABILITY BECAUSE WE CAN'T GROW OUR WAY OUT OF THIS DEFICIT, WE CAN'T CUT OUR WAY OUT OF THIS DEFICIT, AND IF WE TRY TO ATTEND TO 10 YEARS OF THIS STRUCTURAL BUDGET DEFICIT BEING CREATED OVER 10 YEARS THROUGH HIGH GROWTH, LOW INFLATION ATMOSPHERE, IF WE TRY TO ATTEND TO ALL THAT DECADE OF PROBLEM IN THE MAKING IN ONE YEAR, WE WOULD BE CUTTING PROGRAMS THAT WE WOULD NOT NEED TO CUT. WE WOULD BE CUTTING STAFF AND SEATTLEITES WOULD NOT BE RECEIVING THE LEVEL OF SERVICE THAT THEY SHOULD EXPECT. WITHIN THESE REPORTS THAT WE HAVE REQUESTED, WE REQUESTED MORE INFORMATION ABOUT THE CARE DEPARTMENT ON 911 CALL-CENTER STAFFING AND OPERATIONS. WE HAVE REQUESTED THE CITY BUDGET ANALYZE EARLY RETIREMENT INCENTIVES FOR EMPLOYEES. WE HAVE REQUESTED REPORTS ON PAST BUDGET UNDER SPENT AND GRANTS. WE HAVE REQUESTED REPORTS FROM THE OFFICE OF HOUSING TO CREATE THE SHIP, AS IT IS NOW CALLED, THE SEATTLE HOUSING INVESTMENT PLAN. AND SO MUCH MORE. WE ARE TAKING A FIRST BIG STEP TODAY IN PASSING THIS BUDGET OUT OF THE SLICK BUDGET COMMITTEE, AND WE HAVE MUCH MORE WORK TO DO. WITH THAT, DIRECTOR NOBLE, DEPUTY DIRECTOR , I WILL PASS IT OVER TO YOU TO GIVE US AN OVERVIEW OF THE DAY AND WALK US THROUGH EACH OF THESE VOTES. AND THEN, WE WILL PASS IT TO THE CITY COUNCIL AND BE DONE WITH SELECT BUDGET COMMITTEE. >> THANK YOU, CHAIR. I WILL QUICKLY TURN THIS OVER TO GIVE YOU A PLAN FOR THE DAY. >> OKAY . GOOD MORNING. JUST TO REINFORCE WITH THE CHAIR DESCRIBED AS THE AGENDA FOR TODAY, THE FIRST BATCH OF LEGISLATION THAT WILL BE BEFORE THE COMMITTEE'S CONSIDERATION TODAY IS LEGISLATION THAT IS NECESSARY TO ADOPT THE 2025-2026 BUDGET. THOSE WILL BE THE ITEMS BEFORE YOU STARTING OFF WITH THE JUMPSTART PAYROLL EXPENSE TAX POLICIES. AND THEN, A COUPLE OF PROPERTY TAX ORDINANCES THAT WOULD HAVE LIKELY BEEN IN THE CONSENT CALENDAR LAST WEEK, BUT BECAUSE THEY WERE -- WE WERE WAITING ON RESULTS FROM THE TRANSPORTATION LEVY VOTE AND DECIDED TO HAVE THEM FOR TODAY. OTHERWISE, THE BUDGET ADOPTION ORDINANCE, AND THEN THERE IS A CLERK FILE WITH THE COUNCIL CHANGES TO THE PROPOSED BUDGET THAT WILL CONTAIN ALL THE BUDGET AMENDMENTS THAT WERE ADOPTED LAST WEEK, AND THEN A RESOLUTION. AND THEN WE WILL MOVE ON TO OTHER BUDGET RELATED LEGISLATION, AS NOTED PREVIOUSLY, THE CAPITAL GAINS TAX , USE OF PROCEEDS, AS WELL AS THE TAX ITSELF, AND THEN THE SEATTLE CHANNEL FUNDING PLAN ORDINANCE. WITH THAT, WE CAN MOVE ON TO THE FIRST ITEM ON THE AGENDA. >> WILL THE CLERK READ THE FIRST ITEM INTO THE AGENDA? >> [ ORDINANCE READ ] >> THANK YOU. I MOVED IS THERE A SECOND. >> MOVED AND SECONDED TO APPROVE COUNCIL BILL 120912. CENTRAL STAFF, WOULD YOU LIKE TO GIVE US A BREATHING ? COLLEAGUES, AGAIN, THE WAY THIS IS WORKING TODAY, SIMILAR AS LAST WEEK, WE HAVE CENTRAL STAFF, THE SPONSOR . IF I'M NOT THE SPONSOR, I WILL MAKE A BUDGET COMMITTEE RECOMMENDATION. WE WILL HAVE DISCUSSION. THE SPONSOR WILL SPEAK TO IT . AND THEN WE PASS IT. THAT IS HOW WE ARE GOING TO DO THIS. OVER TO YOU, DIRECTOR NOBLE. >> THANK YOU, CHAIR STRAUSS. TO BRIEFLY SUMMARIZE THE BILL. YOU WILL SEE THAT YOU HAVE SEEN THESE LIES BEFORE. I HAVE A THIRD SLIDE THAT COVERS THE AMENDMENTS THAT HAVE BEEN PREPARED AHEAD OF TODAY . IN ADDITION, THERE IS A LAST WALK ON AMENDMENT CIRCULATED TO YOU NOW THAT WE CAN ALSO DISCUSS. JUST TO REMIND YOU, THIS IS A BILL THAT ESTABLISHES ESSENTIALLY THE SPENDING PRIORITIES AND ELIGIBLE USES OF THE PAYROLL EXPENSE TAX , AS INDICATED ON THE SLIDE HERE. ESTABLISHES EIGHT ELIGIBLE SPENDING CATEGORIES. YOU CAN SEE THE LIST. THEY ARE FAMILIAR TO YOU. I WOULD NOTE THE FOOTNOTE REGARDING YOUTH MENTAL HEALTH AND VIOLENCE PREVENTION. IT IS AND ELIGIBLE FOR THIS ORDINANCE UNTIL AN ALTERNATIVE FUNDING SOURCE IS IDENTIFIED. THE EXECUTIVE -- HAD IDENTIFIED THAT AS AN ELIGIBLE USE THROUGH THE CURRENT BUDGETING AND NOT BEYOND, PRESUMABLY WITH THE INTENT TO FUND THOSE ACTIVITIES WITH THE RENEWAL OF THE FAMILIES AND EDUCATION LEVY. THIS ORDINANCE TAKES A SLIGHTLY DIFFERENT APPROACH, MORE AGNOSTIC ABOUT THAT, BUT ESTABLISHING THAT IT IS UNTIL THERE IS A DEDICATED FUNDING STORES AS AN ALTERNATIVE -- SOURCE AS AN ALTERNATIVE FOR THE TOTAL AMOUNT OF MONEY ALLOCATED TO THE ORIGINAL JUMPSTART PRIORITIES, THE ITEMS LISTED IN THE SECOND TABLE, THE TOTAL AMOUNT OF MONEY DEDICATED TO THOSE, AND THAT AMOUNT OF MONEY IS UP TO YOU. IT CAN CHANGE. BUT OF THE MONEY DEDICATED TO THAT COMBINED SET OF THINGS, THESE PERCENTAGES ARE DESIGNED TO GUIDE, BUT NOT CONSTRAINED, THE ALLOCATIONS. I WOULD NOTE THAT THOSE PERCENTAGES ESSENTIALLY PLY FOR 25 AND 26 IN TERMS OF THE RESOURCES, AT LEAST APPROXIMATELY, PLUS OR -1%. IN ADDITION , THIS ORDINANCE ESTABLISHES A FORMAL REVENUE STABILIZATION ACCOUNT WITHIN THE JUMPSTART FIND. ASSESSING TARGET FOR THAT ACCOUNT AT 10%, INDICATES IT SHOULD BE REACHED WITHIN FOUR YEARS. THEN BUILDS -- COUNCIL A CHOOSE TO MAKE DIRECT CONTRIBUTIONS TO THAT ACCOUNT . IN ADDITION, THERE WOULD BE THIS AUTOMATIC TRANSFER OF ANY, OF HALF OF ANY UNANTICIPATED YEAR END FUND BALANCE IN THE JUMPSTART FUND. AGAIN, THIS APPROACH IS CONSISTENT WITH AN APPROACH USED ON THE GENERAL FUND REVENUE STABILIZATION OR RAINY DAY FUND ACCOUNT . AND THEN, WITHDRAWALS CAN ONLY BE ALLOWED IN SITUATIONS WHERE THE REVENUE FORECAST FELL , EITHER AFTER THE MAYOR PROPOSED HIS BUDGET FOR THE CURRENT YEAR, OR FOR THE -- IF IN THE FOLLOWING YEAR YOU GET EITHER THE APRIL OR AUGUST FORECAST TO DECLINE AS WELL. YOU CAN TAP IN. ELIMINATES THE JUMPSTART OVERSIGHT COMMITTEE, WHICH HAS NOT YET MET. IT REMOVES THE 2040 SUNSET DATE ON THE JUMPSTART PAYROLL EXPENSE TAX. THE LAST BULLET WAS WHEN I ADDED SINCE THE FIRST TIME. A POINT THAT CAME UP. IT DOES STATE INTENT TO REVIEW THESE POLICIES AHEAD OF THE 2029-2030 BIENNIUM. ESSENTIALLY, THESE POLICIES WOULD DEFINITELY BE IN EFFECT FOR THE CURRENT BIENNIUM AND THE NEXT, BUT EXCITATION THAT THEY BE REVIEWED AHEAD OF THE 2029-2030 BIENNIUM. THAT IS THE BASE LEGISLATION . I DON'T SEE ANY QUESTIONS. >> THANK YOU. DIRECTOR NOBLE, I WILL QUICKLY SPEAK TO THIS. WE CAN HAVE DISCUSSION ON THE BASE LEGISLATION IF YOU WOULD LIKE, BUT WE CAN ALSO JUST JUMP RIGHT INTO IT. I WILL MENTION, AS ONE OF THE ORIGINAL SPONSORS OF JUMPSTART, I KNOW HOW CRITICAL IT IS THAT WE INVEST MORE INTO THE JUMPSTART PRIORITIES. AFFORDABLE HOUSING, GREEN NEW DEAL, ECONOMIC REVITALIZATION, EQUITABLE DEVELOPMENT, AND STUDENT MENTAL HEALTH. WE CAN, AND MUST, DO MORE IN THESE AREAS. I WAS QUOTED IN THE SEATTLE TIMES SAYING PRIORITIES CHANGE. THAT WAS IN REFERENCE TO ADDING MENTAL HEALTH TO THIS BUCKET. OVER THE COURSE OF JUMPSTART BEING ON THE BOOKS, PRIORITIES HAVE CHANGED. AS DOCUMENTED BY THE COUNCIL ADDING A PRIORITY LAST YEAR. I WILL ALSO NOTE THAT, AS WE LOOK TO THE NEXT FOUR YEARS, PRIORITIES MAY ALSO CHANGE WITH INCREDIBLE NEEDS OF OUR COMMUNITY THAT WERE NOT FORESEEN IN 2020. THIS YEAR WE STARTED THE BUDGET PROCESS BY FACING THAT $250 MILLION BUDGET DEFICIT , AND THE MAYOR SENT HIS COUNCIL THE PROPOSED BUDGET TOO MUCH AGO. LESS THAN A MONTH AGO WE GOT EVEN WORSE NEWS, WHICH I ALREADY DISCUSSED TODAY. EACH AND EVERY YEAR WE HAVE SPENT, SINCE HE PASSED JUMPSTART, WE HAVE USED A PORTION TO HELP SUPPORT THINGS IN THE GENERAL FUND, WHICH IS THE MAIN SOURCE OF FUNDING FOR MANY IMPORTANT THINGS WE WORK TO DO TO ADDRESS HOMELESSNESS, SUPPORT SMALL BUSINESSES, AND TO FUND PUBLIC SAFETY. IF WE WERE, FOR THE FIRST TIME EVER, NOT TO USE THE HIGHER-THAN-EXPE CTED REVENUES TO OFFSET LOWER-THAN-EXPECTED REVENUES OF THE GENERAL FUND, WE WOULD BE LOOKING AT DEEP CUTS TO CRITICAL SERVICES. FUNDING FOR THINGS LIKE FOOD BANKS TO HOMELESS HIS SERVICES WOULD BE HIT HARD. WE WOULD BE HAVING TO CUT OUR BUDGET WITH , NOT A SCALPEL, WHICH WOULD BE UNACCEPTABLE, IN MY BOOK. OF THE SAME TIME, THE SUPPORT WE LOOK TOWARD STABILIZING OUR GENERAL FUND BE FOCUSING JUMPSTART ON ITS INTENDED PURPOSES. THAT IS THE LEGISLATION I HAVE PROPOSED HERE. ADDITIONALLY, I HAVE GONE A STEP FURTHER TO PROTECT JUMPSTART. THE TAX CURRENTLY WOULD SUNSET OR COMPLETELY GO AWAY BY 2040. IF THAT HAPPENS, IT WOULD LEAVE SEATTLE IN ONE OF THE BIGGEST STRUCTURAL BUDGET DEFICITS IN ITS HISTORY. IF THE TAX WAS ACTUALLY TO BE OFF THE BOOKS, IT WOULD BE A FISCAL DEFICIT, NOT STRUCTURAL. SOMEWHERE NORTH OF HALF $1 BILLION. THAT CAN'T HAPPEN. IT WOULD COMPLETELY DECIMATE THE BASIC SERVICES AND THE PRIORITIES OUTLINED ORIGINALLY. WE WILL BE TALKING MORE ABOUT THAT MOMENTARILY. BUT WE NEED TO HAVE A BILL THAT GUIDES US TOWARDS LONG-TERM FINANCIAL STABILITY AND GOOD GOVERNANCE. AGAIN, WITHIN THE BILL I HAVE PROPOSED, I'VE ADDED THE PRIORITIES BACK IN WITH THEIR PERCENTAGES. WE HAVE CREATED A REVENUE STABILIZATION ACCOUNT FOR JUMPSTART PRIORITIES. IT REVIEWS EVERY TWO YEARS WITH A COMPREHENSIVE REVIEW IN FOUR YEARS. AS ONE OF DIRECTOR NOBLE'S FAMOUS BUDGET SLIDES THAT HAD AND ASKED REX AT THE BOTTOM STATES, FIVE VOTES CHANGES POLICY IN A YEAR. ANY YEAR. AND IN A YEAR. THE LAST THING I WILL SAY, IF WE MAINTAIN A SUNSET AND DO NOT WEAN OURSELVES OFF OF FUNDING THE GENERAL FUND WITH JUMPSTART , WE WILL BE FACING A REALLY BIG CLIFF COMING UP. WITH THAT, SHALL WE START MOVING INTO AMENDMENTS? COUNCILMEMBER WOO. HAVE YOU BEEN PROMOTED YET? >> NOT YET. CAN I BE PROMOTED, PLEASE. >> SORRY. THAT IS WHY I DIDN'T SEE YOU. COUNCILMEMBER WOO. THE FLOOR IS YOURS. >> I AM SO SORRY. THAT WAS A HAND TO GET PROMOTED. >> COPY THAT. I SEE WHAT IS GOING ON UPPER COLLEAGUES, FURTHER DISCUSSION. WE WILL START MOVING INTO AMENDMENTS. >> THANK YOU. THE INTENT HERE WAS JUST TO GIVE YOU THE BRIEFEST SUMMARY OF THE PACKAGE OF AMENDMENT AVAILABLE SO AS YOU TAKE THEM UP, THEY WILL BE TAKEN UP IN THIS ORDER, YOU KNOW IT IS COMING. THE FIRST AMENDMENT IS A STANDALONE ITEM SPONSORED BY COUNCILMEMBER MORALES THAT WOULD SIMPLY RESTORE THE JUMPSTART OVERSIGHT COMMITTEE. THE SECOND AMENDMENT ALSO SPONSORED BY COUNCILMEMBER MORALES WOULD LIMIT THE USE OF JUMPSTART FOR THE FEDERAL -- GENERAL FUND STARTING IN 2027. -- TO 20% OF THE TOTAL RESOURCES. YOU SEE THE REMAINDER DEDICATED TO THE ORIGINAL PURPOSES. THE THIRD AMENDMENT HAS TWO KEY COMPONENTS. ONE IS TO LIMIT THE USE OF JUMPSTART PROCEEDS TO 45% OF THE GENERAL FUND AND DEDICATE THE REMAINDER EXCLUSIVELY TO AFFORDABLE HOUSING. IT WOULD ALSO RESTORE THE 2040 SUNSET OF THE TAX. WE WILL DESCRIBE THESE IN DETAIL ONCE YOU TAKE EACH OF THEM UP. THE FOURTH AMENDMENT IS A STANDALONE TO SIMPLY RESTORE THE SUNSET. THE PREVIOUS ONE SPONSORED BY COUNCIL MEMBER 20, THE SUNSET SPONSORED BY COUNCILMEMBER KETTLE. THE LAST TWO , SPONSORED BY COUNCILMEMBER STRAUSS , THE FIFTH ONE -- AND I WILL DESCRIBE THE LEGAL EFFECT OF THIS. DESIGNED TO MORE CLEARLY EXPRESS COUNCIL 'S A -- INTENT REGARDING THE USE OF PRIORITIES. AND THEN, THE NEXT WOULD PRECLUDE THE USE OF JUMPSTART REVENUES FOR THE GENERAL FUND STARTING IN 2029. THIS BIENNIUM, AND NOT THE NEXT, BUT AFTER THAT. AND THAT, COUNCILMEMBER MOORE, IN ADDITION, HAS A POTENTIAL WALK ON AMENDMENT AS WELL. >> TO HER OWN AMENDMENT? >> IT IS -- UNCLEAR TO ME WHETHER IT IS AN ALTERNATIVE TO NUMBER THREE OR A STANDALONE. >> CAN I RESPOND? >> WE WILL GET TO IT. WITH THAT, LET'S ROLL RIGHT INTO NUMBER ONE . IF YOU WOULD LIKE TO TAKE A DEEPER DIVE . ARE WE DOING DEEPER DIVE SOME PRESENTATIONS? OR WAS THAT THE PRESENTATION? >> THE DEEPER DIVE, WHEN APPROPRIATE. THIS IS RELATIVELY SELF-EXPLANATORY. IT WOULD BE STORE THE JUMPSTART OVERSIGHT COMMITTEE, THE ACTUAL TEXT IS RATHER LONG BECAUSE IT WOULD -- IT SHOWS ALL THE TEXT THAT WOULD OTHERWISE HAVE BEEN ELIMINATED, WHICH DESCRIBES THE DETAILS OF THE COMMITTEE ITSELF. BUT IT IS A VERY SIMPLE TO OVER STASH RESTORE THE OVERSIGHT COMMITTEE. >> COUNCILMEMBER MORALES, YOU ARE RECOGNIZED. >> TO MOVE AMENDMENT ONE. >> THANK YOU FOR BEING A SEASONED PROFESSIONAL. >> I MOVE AMENDMENT ONE. >> SECOND. >> MOVED AND SECONDED TO RECOMMEND AMENDMENT ONE, VERSION 12 COUNCIL BILL 1209 12 . COUNCILMEMBER MORALES, YOU ARE RECOGNIZED. >> THANK YOU, CHAIR. WE'VE HEARD A LOT THIS YEAR ABOUT THE NEED FOR GREATER TRANSPARENCY AND THE NEED FOR MORE ACCOUNTABILITY. WHEN WE HAVE A FUND THAT IS GENERATING TWICE AS MUCH AS WE EXPECTED, IT IS IMPORTANT THAT WE HAVE EYES ON THAT FUND TO ENSURE THAT PUBLIC DOLLARS ARE BEING DEPLOYED APPROPRIATELY FOR THIS OVERSIGHT COMMITTEE IS TASKED WITH PROVIDING OVERSIGHT ON THE SERVICES AND PROGRAMS SUPPORTED BY THE TAX, ITS IMPACTS ON THE NUMBER OF JOBS AND BUSINESSES IN THE CITY , AND OTHER DATA THAT DIRECTLY RELATES TO MEASURING THE IMPACT OF THE TAX ON THE CITY'S ECONOMY. THE COMMITTEE IS REQUIRED TO CONSULT WITH A COALITION OF CITY UNIONS, WITH THE SMALL BUSINESS ADVISORY COUNCIL, THE HOUSING LIVVIE OVERSIGHT COMMITTEE, THE GREEN NEW DEAL OVERSIGHT BOARD, AND OTHER OVERSIGHT BODIES THAT MONITOR PROGRAMS AND SERVICES SIMILAR TO THOSE SUPPORTED BY THIS TAX. WE HAVE HEARD A LOT THIS YEAR ABOUT THE NEED TO COLLECT DATA AND UNDERSTAND HOW OUR GOVERNMENT IS PERFORMING. I THINK THE SAME HOLDS TRUE WITH THIS FUND. WE NEED TO COLLECT THE DATA AND UNDERSTAND HOW WELL ALLOCATION PERCENTAGES ARE SUITED TO THE CAPACITY TO DELIVER. THERE IS A LOT OF WORK THIS TASK FORCE SHOULD HAVE BEEN DOING THIS YEAR . SO FOR THE SAKE OF TRANSPARENCY AND ACCOUNTABILITY, I'M HOPING TO HAVE MY COLLEAGUES SUPPORT TO RESTORE THE OVERSIGHT COMMITTEE. THANK YOU, CHAIR. >> THANK YOU, COUNCILMEMBER MORALES. DISCUSSION? COUNCILMEMBER MORALES -- COUNCILMEMBER SAKA. >> THANK YOU, MR. CHAIR. I WANT TO THANK COUNCILMEMBER MORALES FOR SPONSORING THIS AMENDMENT . YOU KNOW, I WAS HONORED TO COSPONSOR IT FOR PURPOSES OF ELEVATING THE CONVERSATION . THIS IS SOMETHING I DON'T PERSONALLY SUPPORT, BUT I DO THINK IT IS IMPORTANT FOR US TO HAVE THESE CONVERSATIONS . ULTIMATELY, I THINK REESTABLISHING THE OVERSIGHT BOARD WILL HAVE THE EFFECT OF LIMITING THE USE OF JUMPSTART FUNDS. THE BOARD WOULD ALSO BE ACTING WITHOUT A HOLISTIC PICTURE OF THE BROADER BUDGET. THEREFORE, I WILL BE VOTING AGAINST IT, BUT AGAIN, REALLY IMPORTANT CONVERSATION FOR US TO HAVE. MY WANT TO THANK COUNCILMEMBER MORALES FOR BRINGING INFO OR. >> THANK YOU, COUNCILMEMBER SAKA. ANY FURTHER DISCUSSION? LAST CALL FOR DISCUSSION. FINAL CALL FOR DISCUSSION. COUNCILMEMBER MORALES, AS SPONSOR, YOU ARE RECOGNIZED. >> I HAVE NO FURTHER COMMENT. >> THANK YOU. WILL THE CLERK IS CALLED THE ROLE -- ROLL? >> [ ROLL CALL ] >> THREE IN FAVOR, FIVE OPPOSED, ONE ABSTENTION. >> THE MOTION DOES NOT PASS. AMENDMENT ONE VERSION 1 IS NOT ATTACHED TO COUNCIL BILL 120912. MOVING ON TO THE NEXT AMENDMENT COUNCILMEMBER MORALES, WOULD YOU LIKE TO MOVE YOUR AMENDMENT? >> I MOVE AMENDMENT TWO. >> IS THERE A SECOND? >> SECOND. >> MOVED AND SECONDED. COUNCILMEMBER MORALES, AS SPONSOR, YOU ARE RECOGNIZED. >> THANK YOU, CHAIR. THIS AMENDMENT WOULD DO A FEW THINGS. IT WOULD ESTABLISH THE SPENDING PRIORITIES FOR JUMPSTART STARTING IN 2027 . IT WAS SET ASIDE 20% FOR THE GENERAL FUND , REQUIRE CONTRIBUTIONS TO THE REVENUE STABILIZATION ACCOUNT, AND THEN ALLOW REMAINING PROCEEDS TO BE ALLOCATED TOWARDS THE CURRENT JUMPSTART PRIORITIES, INCLUDING STUDENT MENTAL HEALTH AND YOUTH VIOLENCE PREVENTION. WE HAVE, AS I SAID, A LOT OF CALLS FOR MORE DATA BEFORE WE MAKE IMPORTANT DECISIONS, BUT I THINK WHAT WE ALREADY KNOW ABOUT WHAT IS HAPPENING IN THE CITY IS IMPORTANT TO REMEMBER. WE CAN JUST LOOK AT THE 16,000 PEOPLE LIVING ON OUR STREETS TO KNOW THAT WE NEED MORE FUNDING ALLOCATED SPECIFICALLY TO SERVICES THAT SUPPORT THEM. WE HAVE DATA THAT OVER 90,000 SEATTLE HOUSEHOLDS ARE RENT BURDENS. 49% OF PEOPLE PAY MORE THAN 30% OF THEIR INCOME ON RENT. I CAN'T IMAGINE THAT OUR PRIORITIES WILL CHANGE GIVEN THERE IS SO MUCH NEED, SO MUCH ATTENTION IN THE LAST COUPLE OF YEARS TO THE EFFECTS OF OUR INSUFFICIENT AMOUNT OF HOUSING IN THE CITY, AND GIVEN THE TIME WE KNOW IT TAKES TO ACTUALLY BUILD THE HOUSING WE NEED TO HELP MOVE PEOPLE OFF THE STREETS. THAT SAID, LET ME PROVIDE MY COLLEAGUES WITH A SHORT HISTORY OF SIMILAR DATA THAT SEATTLE HAS BEEN TALKING ABOUT FOR YEARS. IN 2017 WE HAD A STUDY THAT FOUND SEATTLE HAD THE FOURTH HIGHEST TAX BURDEN AMONG 51 CITIES. IN JUNE OF THIS YEAR, SEATTLE -- WASHINGTON WAS RANKED FIFTH MOST UNAFFORDABLE STATE IN THE OUT OF REACH REPORT. THE SEATTLE TIMES HAS REPORTED THAT LOW EARNERS IN SEATTLE RANK AMONG THE HARDEST HIT BY TAXES IN THE U.S. FOR THE RECORD, 60% OF AMI IN THE CITY IS $73,000 FOR A FAMILY OF THREE. LAST YEAR THERE WERE OVER 40,000 HOUSEHOLDS AT THAT POINT. OVER 86,000 HOUSEHOLDS MADE LESS THAN $50,000 LAST YEAR. WE KNOW THAT THOSE FOLKS CANNOT PAY THE RENT THAT WE HAVE TO PAY IN THE CITY. IN 2018 AN ANALYSIS FOUND THAT SEATTLE'S TAXES THEM IS AMONG THE MOST REGRESSIVE IN THE STATE. IN 2021 ANOTHER REPORT FROM THE RACIAL WEALTH DIVIDE IN SEATTLE MEANS THAT LOWER MEDIAN HOUSEHOLD INCOMES EXIST IN BLACK, LATINO, NATIVE AMERICAN AND ASIAN HOUSEHOLDS COMPARED TO WHITE HOUSEHOLDS. WE CAN'T JUST TALK ABOUT BEING DATA-DRIVEN AND FISCALLY RESPONSIBLE. WE HAVE TO ACT . THAT MEANS PROTECTING SIGNIFICANT FUNDING THAT CAN ADDRESS THE OVERLAPPING CRISES WE HAVE IN THE CITY OF INSUFFICIENT HOUSING, INCOME INEQUALITY, AND RACIAL DISPARITIES. FINANCING PUBLIC SERVICES MEANS MEETING THE NEEDS OF THE MOST HONORABLE . OUR CHARTER REQUIRES WE PROTECT THE HEALTH AND GENERAL WELFARE OF THE PEOPLE OF SEATTLE. THE PEOPLE OF SEATTLE. WE DO THAT BY ASKING SOME OF THE WEALTHIEST CORPORATIONS IN THE WORLD TO SUPPORT THE BASIC SERVICES THAT THEIR COMMUNITY REQUIRES . SO I AM ASKING MY COLLEAGUES TO ALLOW FOR THE TRANSFER TO GENERAL FUND FOR THE NEXT BIENNIUM, BUT TO COMMIT TO THE PROMISE WE MADE TO THE MOST HONORABLE IN OUR COMMUNITY TO CONTINUE ALLOCATING THE BULK OF THE JUMPSTART FUNDING TO SERVE THE PEOPLE WHO NEED HOUSING AND NEED COMMUNITY SERVICES THE MOST. THANK YOU. >> THANK YOU, COUNCILMEMBER MORALES. COUNCILMEMBER MOORE. >> THANK YOU, CHAIR. AS COSPONSOR, I DID WANT TO -- I WAS PLEASED TO COSPONSOR THIS BECAUSE I WANTED TO START THIS DISCUSSION . BUT I AM NOT GOING TO VOTE FOR HIM. THE REASON IS THAT, UNFORTUNATELY, I SUPPORT DESIGNATING A CERTAIN AMOUNT OF MONEY TO THE GENERAL FUND, AS YOU WILL SEE IN MY AMENDMENT THAT FOLLOWS HERE, BUT UNFORTUNATELY, I DON'T BELIEVE 20% IS ACTUALLY ENOUGH MONEY TO GO TO THE GENERAL FUND. WHEN WE LOOK AT HOW MUCH OF THE PAYROLL EXPENSE TAX WAS DIVERTED TO THE GENERAL FUND FOR 2025, THAT IS 67% . IN 2026, IT WILL BE 45%. WE HAVE TO BE REALISTIC ABOUT THE FACT THAT WE NEED SIGNIFICANT DOLLARS TO MAINTAIN OUR GENERAL FUND , BECAUSE WE HAVE THE DRIVING FORCES ARE PUBLIC SAFETY, HOUSING AND HOMELESSNESS , LIBRARIES AND OTHER CHARTER OBLIGATIONS. AND PENSIONS AND THOSE ARE A HUGE DRIVER OF OUR GENERAL FUND DEFICIT. I THINK WE NEED TO HAVE OUR EYES WIDE OPEN ABOUT HOW MUCH WE NEED TO HAVE IN OUR GENERAL FUND . THAT IS WHY, UNFORTUNATELY, I DON'T THINK 20% QUITE GETS US THEY ARE. BUT THANK YOU FOR BRINGING THIS. >> THANK YOU, COUNCILMEMBER MOORE. FURTHER DISCUSSION? COUNCILMEMBER WOO. >> THANK YOU. I DON'T FEEL, FOR ME, IT IS APPROPRIATE TO LOCK IN SPENDING PRIORITIES WITHOUT KNOWING WHAT CHALLENGES AND OPPORTUNITIES THE FUTURE MAY BRING. THE INCOMING COUNCIL DELIVERY, DISCUSS AND SIT SPENDING PARITIES AND ENSURE IT IS INFORMED BY THE REALITIES OF THE MOMENT. IN THE MEANTIME, I BELIEVE WE SHOULD FOCUS ON MAKING CRITICAL INSTITUTIONAL CHANGES. I WILL NOT BE VOTING FOR ANY OF THE AMENDMENTS THAT SET PERCENTAGES ASIDE FOR CERTAIN FUNDING ASPECTS. >> THANK YOU, COUNCILMEMBER WOO. LAST CALL FOR DISCUSSION. I WILL MAKE SOME REMARKS . COUNCILMEMBER HOLLINGSWORTH. I WOULD LIKE TO THANK ALL MY COLLEAGUES FOR YOUR AMENDMENT FOR PAYROLL EXPENSES. THANK YOU, COUNCILMEMBER MORALES, FOR BRINGING THIS. I KNOW THE BUDGET SEASON WAS INCREDIBLY HARD, AND WE HAVE TO MAKE TOUGH CHOICES REGARDING PAYROLL EXPENSES . MOST OF THE AMENDMENTS, FOR ME, CAME WITHIN THE LAST 24 HOURS. NOT ENOUGH TIME FOR ME TO PERSONALLY BE ABLE TO MAKE A DECISION EITHER WAY FIRMLY. I'M SPEAKING FOR MYSELF. THESE WILL BE LONG-LASTING IMPACTS ON OUR COMMUNITY. SO I DON'T HAVE ENOUGH TIME TO ANALYZE SOME OF THOSE. WITH THAT BEING SAID, I WILL BE ABSTAINING FROM LITERALLY EVERYONE'S AMENDMENT JUST SO YOU ALL KNOW IT IS NOT A YES OR NO FOR ME. I JUST NEED MORE TIME TO HAVE MORE INFORMATION ABOUT THE POTENTIAL IMPACTS. THANK YOU, EVERYONE, FOR YOUR HARD WORK. I REALLY APPRECIATE IT. I WANTED TO LET YOU ALL KNOW ABOUT MY ABSTENTIONS. THANK YOU. >> THANK YOU, COUNCILMEMBER HOLLINGSWORTH. LAST CALL FOR DISCUSSION. FINAL CALL FOR DISCUSSION. WHAT THEY START SPEAKING, WE WILL CONTINUE MOVING FORWARD. THANK YOU. I'M SEEING NO FURTHER HANDS. COLLEAGUES, MUCH LIKE COUNCILMEMBER HOLLINGSWORTH, I WILL BE ADDRESSING MANY OF THESE AMENDMENT IN THE FIRST SET . WHAT I HAVE EXPERIENCED IN THE LAST WEEK WORKING ON THESE AMENDMENTS AND WORKING ON THIS BILL IS THAT THERE IS AN IMMENSE AMOUNT OF DISCUSSION, AND THE DIFFERENCES OF OPINION ARE VERY SMALL. THEY ARE PRETTY DETAILED, IN THE DETAILS. COUNCILMEMBER MORALES, TO YOUR BILL BEFORE US, IF WE HAVE NOT RECEIVED A DOWNTURN BUDGET FORECAST MIDCYCLE IN THIS BUDGET, I WOULD BE CLOSE TO SUPPORTING YOU HERE. BECAUSE WHAT YOU ARE ASKING FOR IS NOT ALL THAT DIFFERENT THAN WHAT IS IN THE UNDERLYING BILL. IT IS JUST WITH A DIFFERENT TOOL. COUNCILMEMBER MOORE, YOUR COMMENTS OF WORKING OUT THE FINER DETAILS BETWEEN YOUR PROPOSAL AND COUNCILMEMBER MORALES'S PROPOSAL, AND YOU AND I WERE ON THE PHONE LAST NIGHT ABOUT VERY SMALL CHANGES THAT WOULD BRING US INTO ALIGNMENT. I APPRECIATE YOUR ENGAGEMENT ON THESE ISSUES. TO COUNCILMEMBER HOLLINGSWORTH, YOUR POINT IS VERY WELL TAKEN, BECAUSE THIS IS JUST THE BEGINNING OF THE CONTINUATION OF THIS CONVERSATION . THIS IS A CONTINUATION OF THE CONVERSATION THAT IS BEEN GOING ON FOR FOUR YEARS. I DON'T FORESEE IT COMING TO AN END THIS YEAR, WHICH IS WHY WE HAVE, IN THE UNDERLYING BILL, THE FACT THAT WE NEED TO COME BACK TO THIS IN TWO YEARS AND TO HAVE A FULL COMPREHENSIVE REVIEW IN FOUR YEARS. WITH THAT, COUNCILMEMBER MORALES, I UNFORTUNATELY WON'T BE SUPPORTING THIS, BUT I DO SUPPORT THE ENDEAVOR , THE INTENT. COUNCILMEMBER MORALES, THE FLOOR IS YOURS. >> I HAVE NO FURTHER COMMENTS. THANK YOU. >> THANK YOU. WILL THE CLERK PLEASE CALL THE ROLL ON AMENDMENT TO TO COUNCIL BILL 9201 -- >> COUNCILMEMBER WOO. >> NO. >> COUNCILMEMBER HOLLINGSWORTH. >> SAME. >> COUNCILMEMBER KETTLE. >> NO. >> COUNCILMEMBER MOORE. >> NO. >> COUNCILMEMBER MORALES. >> YES. >> COUNCILMEMBER NELSON. >> NO. >> COUNCILMEMBER RIVERA. >> NO. >> COUNCILMEMBER SAKA. >> NO. >> CHAIR STRAUSS. >> ABSTAIN. >> ONE IN FAVOR, SEVEN OPPOSED, AND TWO ABSTENTIONS. >> SIX IN FAVOR, I BELIEVE. SIX OPPOSED, SORRY. DIDN'T NEED TO GET YOUR HOPES UP. SIX OPPOSED, TWO ABSTENTIONS, ONE IN FAVOR. THANK YOU. THE AMENDMENT DOES NOT PASS. MOVING ONTO AMENDMENT THREE. COUNCILMEMBER MOORE, YOU ARE RECOGNIZED TO MOVE YOUR AMENDMENT. >> THANK YOU, CHAIR. AT THIS TIME I MOVE AMENDMENT THREE VERSION 1 TO COUNCIL BILL 120912. >> IS THERE A SECOND? >> IT HAS BEEN MOVED TO AMEND COUNCIL BILL 120912 WITH AMENDMENT THREE AS PRESENTED ON THE AGENDA. CENTRAL STAFF , LET'S BRIEF THE AMENDMENT, AND THEN I WILL COUNTS THAT PASS IT OVER TO COUNSEL NUMBER MOORE. >> THANK YOU, CHAIR STRAUSS . I DESCRIBED IT. THIS DIRECTS 45%, STARTING IN 2027, DIRECT 45% OF THE JUMPSTART RESOURCES TO THE GENERAL FUND . SPECIFICALLY, THAT 45% DIVIDED AS 2.5% TO THE RENT STABILIZATION ACCOUNT, THE RAINY DAY FUND, AND 42 8.5% GENERALLY TO THE GENERAL FUND , BUT WITH THE NOTE THAT THE CITY'S COMMITMENT TO THE SET OF JUMPSTART SPENDING PRIORITY SHOULD BE NOTED AN GUIDE THE ALLOCATION OF THOSE DOLLARS. IT WOULD THEN ALLOCATE 55% FOR AFFORDABLE HOUSING. AS I NOTED IN THE DESCRIPTION HERE, THAT WOULD HAVE AN IMPACT ON THE DEFICIT . YOU CAN READ THE DETAILS. AS METAPHOR, IT WOULD INCREASE THE DEFICIT IN 2027 UNPROTECTED BASIS -- ON A PROJECT BASIS BY $16 MILLION. AND ALSO ILLUMINATE THE AUTOMATIC TRANSFER OF UNANTICIPATED YEAR AND JUMPSTART FUND BALANCE TO THE JUMPSTART REVENUE STABILIZATION ACCOUNT . AS CONSTRUCTED, CONTRIBUTIONS TO THE JUMPSTART REVENUE STABILIZATION ACCOUNT WOULD THEN NOT BE AN ELIGIBLE USE OF JUMPSTART ITSELF. THE JUMP START STABILIZATION ACCOUNT WITH THE TO BE FUNDED FROM THE GENERAL FUND OR FROM SOME OTHER SOURCE, SUCH AS THAT.. THIS WOULD RESTORE THE SUNSET OF DECEMBER 31, 2040 OF DECEMBER 31, 2042 THE UNDERLYING TAX. >> THANK YOU, DIRECTOR NOBLE. COUNCILMEMBER MOORE, AS SPONSOR, YOU ARE RECOGNIZED. >> THANK YOU, CHAIR. THIS IS REALLY JUST MY ATTEMPT TO THREAD THE NEEDLE BETWEEN WHAT THE MAYOR'S OFFICE IS REQUESTING, WITH THE CHAIR'S PACKAGE PUTS FORTH, AND WHAT COUNCILMEMBER MORALES HAS PUT FORTH. AS I SAID IN MY COMMENTS IN RESPONSE TO COUNCILMEMBER MORALES'S AMENDMENT, WE HAVE TO BE CLEAR EYED THAT WE ARE NOT GOING TO BE ABLE TO FIND SOME MAGICAL PROGRESSIVE REVENUE SOURCE THAT IS GOING TO SOLVE THE NEED TO USE JUMPSTART FOR DOLLARS FOR GENERAL FUND SPENDING. I THINK IT IS IMPORTANT THAT WE BE REALISTIC ABOUT THAT. I ALSO THINK IT IS IMPORTANT THAT WE GIVE OURSELVES THE FLEXIBILITY. WE HAVE , SINCE THE BEGINNING, AS CHAIR STRAUSS HAS INDICATED, SINCE THE BEGINNING OF JUMPSTART DOLLARS, WE HAVE DIVERTED JUMPSTART MONEY TO GENERAL FUND. THAT IS NOTHING NEW. WE WILL CONTINUE TO DO SO. IT IS REALLY JUST A QUESTION ABOUT, ARE WE GOING TO CONTINUE TO SAY , TO GIVE OURSELVES A SORT OF ARBITRARY DEADLINES? OR ARE WE JUST GOING TO MAKE THAT HARD CALL NOW? AND ACKNOWLEDGE THAT WE ARE GOING TO CONTINUE TO USE GENERAL FUND DOLLARS? THAT SAID, I DO THINK THAT IT HAS BEEN ARTICULATED CONCERN THAT THE REASON WE NEED TO CONTINUE THIS ARTIFICE OF JUMPSTART IS THAT PEOPLE ARE CONCERNED THAT PRIOR TO JUMPSTART WE WERE NOT ADEQUATELY FUNDING THESE CRITICAL AREAS . FROM LOOKING AT IT FROM THE OUTSIDE, I WOULD SAY THAT IS TRUE. I THINK, HOWEVER, NOW THE COMMITMENT IS FIRMLY ESTABLISHED , AND I AM COMFORTABLE THAT, INPUTTING 45%, ARE ACTUALLY 42.5% INTO THE GENERAL FUND, WITH THE STATEMENT WE WILL CONTINUE TO ALLOCATE GENERAL FUND DOLLARS TO THE JUMP FUND SPENDING CATEGORIES, BUT THAT WILL HAPPEN. HOWEVER, AS I HAVE SAID PREVIOUSLY, I AM NOT ENTIRELY CONVINCED THAT WE WILL CONTINUE TO FUND AFFORDABLE HOUSING AT THE LEVEL WE NEED. AND THAT IS WHY I THINK WE DO HAVE TO GIVE OURSELVES A DESIGNATED AMOUNT. I HAVE PICKED 55% . IT IS 7% LESS THAN 62, BECAUSE I KNOW SOME OF MY COLLEAGUES AND MYSELF HAVE ALSO EXPRESSED SOME CONCERN ABOUT, DO WE ACTUALLY HAVE ENOUGH MONEY? ARE WE NOT ADEQUATELY SPENDING THE MONEY THAT WE HAVE OR EFFICIENTLY SPENDING THE MONEY WE HAVE IN OUR OFFICE OF HOUSING BUDGET? AND SO, IT SEEMS TO ME THAT 55% BOTH ADDRESSES THOSE CONCERNS. IT GIVES US TIME TO RESOLVE THE ISSUE WITHOUT SIGNIFICANTLY IMPACTING OUR ABILITY TO CONTINUE TO GROW OUR AFFORDABLE HOUSING FUNDING. ADDITIONALLY, IT IS THE ONE AREA OUTSIDE OF OUR CHARTER OBLIGATIONS IN WHICH WE DO HAVE A LEGAL OBLIGATION TO DELIVER UNDER THE GROWTH MANAGEMENT ACT, AND WE HAVE A LEGAL OBLIGATION TO BUILD 112,000 UNITS IN THE NEXT 20 YEARS. PROBABLY MORE THAN THAT. AND SO, WE HAVE TO GIVE OURSELVES THAT DISCIPLINE OF A DESIGNATED AMOUNT , AND THAT IS WHY I HAVE SAID IT -- SET IT AT 55%. I WOULD ALSO NOTE UNDER THE MAYOR'S PLAN AND THE CHAIR'S PACKAGE, THAT THERE IS NO REQUIREMENT. THESE ARE GUIDELINES TO CONTINUE TO FUND THE IMPORTANT, CRITICALLY IMPORTANT, CATEGORIES OF JUMPSTART. BUT THEY REALLY WAIVER. AS I SAID BEFORE, UNDER THE MAYOR'S PLAN IN 2025, 67% OF GENERAL FUND -- EXCUSE ME, 67% PAYROLL EXPENSE DOLLARS ARE GOING TO THE GENERAL FUND. 33% ARE GOING TO THE TRADITIONAL JUMPSTART. AND 45% OF PAYROLL EXPENSE TAX DOLLARS ARE GOING TO GO TO THE GENERAL FUND. 55% ARE GOING TO STAY IN JUMPSTART. AGAIN, THAT IS THE OVERALL JUMPSTART, NOT A SPECIFIC CATEGORY. IF YOU ADOPT THIS AMENDMENT, OBVIOUSLY, THE MONEY GOING TO HOUSING WILL BE HIGHER THAN WHAT IT IS PROVIDED FOR IN EITHER OF THE MAYOR'S PLANS, AND IT WILL BE CONSISTENT. EVERY YEAR WE WILL START AT THE BASELINE, THE 55% THAT GOES TO AFFORDABLE HOUSING, AND ASSOCIATED SERVICES. I THINK THAT WE NEED THAT CONSISTENCY IN OUR BUDGETING. FOR THOSE REASONS, I ASK FOR YOUR SUPPORT. THANK YOU. >> THANK YOU, COUNCILMEMBER MOORE. COUNCILMEMBER SAKA. >> THANK YOU, MR. CHAIRMAN I WANT TO THANK COUNCILMEMBER MOORE FOR BRINGING THIS FORWARD AND YOUR LEADERSHIP AND HARD WORK AND THINKING THROUGH SO MANY DIFFERENT SCENARIOS . I AM HONORED TO COSPONSOR THIS WITH YOU. THIS IS ANOTHER ONE WHERE I DID COSPONSOR IT TO ELEVATE THE CONVERSATION. I'M GLAD WE ARE HAVING IT. YOU KNOW, THIS IS A CRUCIAL REVENUE STREAM. THERE IS NO MAGICAL PROGRESSIVE REVENUE LURKING AROUND THE CORNER. I THINK THE LIGHTEST WEIGHT OPPORTUNITY, THE LOWEST HANGING FRUIT, SO TO SPEAK, IS GOING TO BE THE CAPITAL GAINS TAX, BUT YOU KNOW, AS I INDICATED BEFORE, I WOULD LIKE TO EXPLORE THAT. ON A GO FORWARD BASIS. AND PERIODICALLY REVISIT THAT ISSUE, ESPECIALLY IF WE ARE ABLE TO MAKE BETTER PROGRESS ON OUTCOMES AND RESULTS. BUT IRRESPECTIVE OF THAT, PUTTING THAT ASIDE FOR A MOMENT, THIS IS A VERY CRITICAL REVENUE STREAM. I ACKNOWLEDGE IT IS DEFINITELY MORE FLEXIBLE THAN ONE OF THE PRIOR AMENDMENTS. I APPRECIATE THE EFFORTS TO INCREASE THE FLEXIBILITY, BUT IT IS STILL A BIT TOO PRESCRIPTIVE FOR ME. I WOULD GENERALLY NOT BE SUPPORTIVE OF CONSTRUCTS AND AMENDMENTS THAT ARE VERY LIMITING AND VERY PRESCRIPTIVE . INSTEAD, I GENERALLY WOULD SUPPORT IDEAS THAT WOULD PRESERVE OUR FREEDOM TO OPERATE AND PRESERVE FULL FLEXIBILITY ON A GO FORWARD BASIS. I THINK THE MAYOR'S ORIGINAL BASE BILL DOES EXACTLY THAT. FOR THOSE REASONS, I WON'T BE SUPPORTING THIS, ALTHOUGH I DO APPRECIATE THE GOOD FAITH AND EARNEST EFFORTS BY COUNCILMEMBER MOORE TO MAKE IT, TO STRIVE TO MAKE IT AS FLEXIBLE AS POSSIBLE. THANK YOU. >> COUNCILMEMBER MORALES. >> THANK YOU, CHAIR. I DO WANT TO APPRECIATE COUNCILMEMBER MOORE FOR BRINGING THIS FORWARD. I WILL SAY THERE ARE A COUPLE OF THINGS I DON'T SUPPORT IN THE DETAILS HERE, WHICH IS WHY I WON'T BE SUPPORTING THE AMENDMENT. THE FIRST OF WHICH IS THE SUNSET DATE. I THINK IT IS PRETTY CLEAR THAT WE WILL HAVE TO BE RELYING ON THIS FUNDING SOURCE FOR SOME TIME . BUT I ALSO REALLY DON'T AGREE THAT WE CAN RELY ON THE EXECUTIVE TO FUND BASED ON THE CURRENT ALLOCATIONS THAT ARE IN THE EXISTING LEGISLATION. IF THAT WERE THE CASE, WE WOULDN'T HAVE HALF OF THE REVENUE FOR THIS YEAR GOING INTO THE GENERAL FUND. I DON'T THINK THAT IS SOMETHING WE CAN RELY ON. I WORRY THAT THE PROGRAMMING THAT WE HAVE ALREADY CREATED , THAT IS ALREADY ESTABLISHED TO SUPPORT, NOT JUST HOUSING, BUT THE SPECIFIC COMMUNITY ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT PROGRAMS AND PROJECTS, ARE REALLY AT RISK IF WE DON'T ALLOCATE THAT FUND I WILL NOT BE SUPPORTING THIS AMENDMENT. THANK YOU. >> THANK YOU, COUNCILMEMBER MORALES. COUNCILMEMBER RIVERA, FOLLOWED BY COUNCIL PRESIDENT NELSON. >> THANK YOU, CHAIR. I TOO APPRECIATE MY COLLEAGUE BRINGING THIS FORWARD. I THINK THIS IS SOMETHING THAT, HONESTLY, WE ARE ALL GRAPPLING WITH. I DO WANT TO SAY THAT THE CITY HAS SHOWN A STRONG COMMITMENT TO HOUSING. I KNOW THAT THE ADOPTED BUDGET FOR THE OFFICE OF HOUSING IN 2019 WAS 69.4 MILLION . IN THIS PROPOSED BUDGET IN 2025, IT IS 342.4 MILLION, WHICH IS AN INCREASE OF FIVE TIMES. I SAY THAT NOT TO SAY THAT THIS IS SUFFICIENT. I SAY THAT TO SAY THAT WE HAVE DEMONSTRATED OUR STRONG COMMITMENT TO HOUSING THROUGHOUT EVERY BUDGET, INCLUDING THIS BUDGET. I THINK THAT IS REALLY IMPORTANT. I ALSO APPRECIATE COUNCILMEMBER CATTLE BRINGING A SLI, STATEMENT OF LEGISLATIVE INTENT, REQUESTING FROM THE OFFICE OF HOUSING A HOUSING PLAN SO WE CAN BETTER MAKE DECISIONS INTO THE FUTURE ABOUT OUR HOUSING, OUR CONTINUED HOUSING INVESTMENTS. ALL THAT SAID, I FEEL THAT PUTTING ANY LIMIT OF THIS KIND AT THIS TIME OF THESE JUMPSTART DOLLARS THAT , IN ALL HONESTY, IT IS THE ONLY REASON WHY TODAY WE DON'T HAVE TO CUT ANY OTHER SERVICES IN THE BUDGET. IT IS BECAUSE WE HAVE THESE FUNDS AND WERE ABLE TO USE SOME OF THE FUNDS TO BACKFILL, IF YOU WILL. IT IS NOT THE APPROPRIATE TIME TO BE LIMITING THE USE OF JUMPSTART DOLLARS BECAUSE I TOO BELIEVE THAT IN THE FUTURE WE WILL ONLY HAVE TO CONTINUE TO USE THIS FUND SO WE DON'T HAVE TO CUT OTHER SERVICES, BECAUSE WE KNOW THAT HOUSING IS AN IMPORTANT SERVICE, AND IT IS ONE OF THE SERVICES THAT WE HAVE TO FUND IN THE CITY. FOR THAT REASON, I WON'T BE SUPPORTING THE LIMITS, BUT I VERY MUCH APPRECIATE AND RESPECT MY COLLEAGUES FOR BRINGING THEIR AMENDMENTS FORWARD , AND I LOOK FORWARD TO THE CONTINUED CONVERSATION . UNDERSCORING THAT I DON'T KNOW ANYONE OF US WHO DOESN'T BELIEVE IN AFFORDABLE HOUSING, AND THAT WE NEED TO CONTINUE TO MAKE INVESTMENTS IN THAT AREA. THANK YOU. >> THANK YOU, COUNCILMEMBER RIVERA. COUNCIL PRESIDENT NELSON. >> A COUPLE OF ADDITIONS TO THIS DISCUSSION. IT ALSO APPLIES A BIT TOO THE AMENDMENT TWO. I WILL BE VOTING NO FOR THIS MEASURE. BECAUSE THE WAY THAT THE -- HOW WE ARE GOING TO BE SPENDING THESE RESOURCES IS TOO VAGUE FOR MY LIKING. I UNDERSTAND THAT WE WILL HAVE AN OPPORTUNITY TO FLESH OUT THE DETAILS AT A LATER DATE, BUT I DO THINK IT IS A GOOD IDEA TO HAVE A FIRMER UNDERSTANDING OF WHERE THE MONEY WILL GO AND HOW WE WILL BE PRIORITIZING WHAT WE ARE SPENDING ON, BECAUSE THAT WILL DETERMINE THE EXTENT TO WHICH THE PUBLIC AND OUR VOTERS AND DIFFERENT CONSTITUENCY GROUPS WILL SUPPORT OUR ACTIONS. I AM CONCERNED THAT THE REDUCTIONS IN SOME OF THE -- IN THE PRIORITIES THAT ARE CURRENTLY PAID FOR BY THE JUMPSTART TAX, WILL REALLY DO SOME HARM TO PEOPLE THAT HAVE BEEN BENEFITING FROM THOSE INVESTMENTS AND HAVE BEEN HOPING FOR THEM IN THE FUTURE. I NOTICED THAT THE REDUCTION , NOT USING JUMPSTART FOR THE OFFICE OF ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT WILL RESULT IN A 20 MILLION , OR 65%, DECREASE IN THAT BUDGET. MANY OF US HAVE SPOKEN POSITIVELY ABOUT THE WORK THE OFFICE OF ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT HAS BEEN ABLE TO DO TO SUPPORT BLACK AND BROWN ENTREPRENEURS AND GENERATE A MORE VITAL BUSINESS ENVIRONMENT IN OUR NEIGHBORHOOD DISTRICTS. THOSE ARE SOME OF THE SPECIFIC REASONS I AM TALKING ABOUT THIS PARTICULAR PROPOSAL . I THINK THE BIGGER PICTURE IS THAT WE MUST REMEMBER THAT THE FLEXIBLE USE OF PET REVENUES FOR GENERAL FUND PURPOSES, HOWEVER IT IS DEFINED AS SLICED UP, IS WHAT IS ALLOWING US TO AVOID THE LAYOFFS THAT WE MAY HAVE TO DO IN THE SERVICE CUTS TO ACTUALLY ADDRESS ERROR $250 MILLION DEFICIT THAT WE WENT INTO THIS WHOLE PROCESS WITH. RECEIVED A BUDGET WITH $76 MILLION DEFICIT IN 2027 , AND THE BALANCING PACKAGE, WHICH REPRESENTED THE PRIORITIES OF NINE MEMBERS ON THIS COUNCIL, AND THAT COMBINED WITH A DECREASED REVENUE IN THE OCTOBER FORECAST, INCREASE THE DEFICIT BY AS MUCH AS 23 MILLION, WHICH THEN ADDED UP TO OUR 27 MILLION DEFICIT , IF YOU INCLUDE THIS REDUCTION IN THE ALLOCATION TO THE GENERAL FUND. ALL I AM TRYING TO SAY IS, EVEN IF WE WERE TO IMPLEMENT IN AMENDMENT THREE, OR IN AMENDMENT TWO, EVEN IF WE WERE TO SEEK AN ADDITIONAL SOURCE OF REVENUE, THE CAPITAL GAINS TAX BEING THE MOST ROBUST AND FETID, IT WOULD GENERATE ONLY 51%, LEAVING US $51 MILLION, LEAVING US WITH AN OPERATING DEFICIT OF 185. NOW WE'RE BACK TO SQUARE ONE. WE ARE BACK TO SQUARE ONE BETWEEN HAVING TO MAKE A CHOICE BETWEEN TAKING MONEY AWAY FROM AFFORDABLE HOUSING AND OTHER NEEDS THAT THE PET HAS TRADITIONALLY SPENT MONEY ON, OR I THINK A MUCH MORE TRAUMATIC AND INHUMANE CHOICE OF LAYING OFF CITY WORKERS AND DIMINISHING THE CITY SERVICES THAT WE OFFER. THOSE ARE THE THINGS THAT ARE LEADING ME AWAY FROM SUPPORTING THESE TWO AMENDMENTS. THANK YOU. >> ANY FURTHER DISCUSSION? LAST CALL ON DISCUSSION. I WILL START SPEAKING, AND WAS WE GO THAT ROUTE, I WILL PASS IT OVER TO COUNCILMEMBER MOORE. LAST CALL ON DISCUSSION. FINAL CALL ON DISCUSSION. THANK YOU, COLLEAGUES. COUNCILMEMBER MOORE, MY COMMENTS ARE PRETTY SIMILAR TO WHAT I SHARED FOR COUNCILMEMBER MORALES. THE AMOUNT OF SPACE WE ARE DIFFERENT ON THIS ONE IS SMALLER THAN WHERE WE ALIGN. THIS WILL BE PART OF OUR CONTINUED CONVERSATION. BACK TO DIRECTOR NOBLES , FIVE VOTES CHANGES POLICY ANY DAY, ANY TIME. UNFORTUNATELY, I WILL BE SUPPORTING YOU ON THIS AMENDMENT. I THINK THAT , AGAIN, IF WE HAD NOT HAD THE DOWNTURN FORECAST MIDCYCLE, WE WOULD HAVE MORE -- WE WOULD NOT BE AS DEEP STILL IN THE STORM AS WE ARE. I COULD HAVE MORE FOLKS ABILITY ON SUPPORTING SUCH AMENDMENTS. COUNCILMEMBER MOORE, AS SPONSOR, YOU ARE RECOGNIZED. >> THANK YOU, CHAIR. I APPRECIATE ALL THE THOUGHTFUL COMMENTS OF MY COLLEAGUES. I KNOW WE ARE ALL TRYING TO -- I KNOW WE ARE GENUINELY GRAPPLING IN WRESTLING WITH THE STRUGGLES IN FRONT OF US. LIKE I SAID, IT IS A CHOICE BETWEEN PUTTING SOME GUARDRAILS ON THE EXECUTIVE OR NOT. AND SO, I HAVE CHOSEN TO TRY TO FIND THE MIDDLE GROUND IN TERMS OF THOSE GUARDRAILS. AND WHERE I COME DOWN ON ME AND DIDN'T GUARDRAILS IS WITH AFFORDABLE HOUSING. THAT IS WHY I HAVE CHOSEN THE 55%, AND ALSO TO ADDRESS THE CONCERNS ABOUT -- I DO APPRECIATE THE SLI THE COUNCILMEMBER KETTLE HAS BROUGHT. WE DO HAVE A DEEP DIVE TO DO AND HOW EFFICIENTLY WE ARE SPENDING OUR HOUSING, BUT AGAIN, AS I THINK WE HAVE LEARNED THROUGH THIS PROCESS, MORE KNOWLEDGE DOESN'T NECESSARILY SOLVE THE UNDERLYING ISSUE OF WHETHER WE HAVE ENOUGH FUNDING. I THINK, ULTIMATELY, THAT IS WHAT WE WILL CONCLUDE WITH THE OFFICE OF HOUSING. PERHAPS WE NEED TO UTILIZE DIFFERENT FUNDING METHODOLOGIES. BUT THE NEED IS GOING TO REMAIN. AND SO, AGAIN, I'VE COME DOWN ON AFFORDABLE HOUSING . THAT IS WHERE I DRAW THE LINE. THANK YOU. >> THANK YOU, COUNCILMEMBER MOORE. WILL THE CLERK PLEASE CALL THE MORALES ON AMENDMENT THREE? >> COUNCILMEMBER WOO. >> NO. >> COUNCILMEMBER HOLLINGSWORTH. >> SAME. >> COUNCILMEMBER KETTLE. >> NO. >> COUNCILMEMBER MOORE. >> YES. >> COUNCILMEMBER MORALES. >> NO. >> COUNCILMEMBER NELSON. >> NO. >> COUNCILMEMBER RIVERA. >> NO. >> COUNCILMEMBER . >> NO. >> CHAIR STRAUSS. >> ABSTAIN. >> ONE IN FAVOR, SEVEN OPPOSED, -- SORRY, SIX OPPOSED, TWO ABSTENTION >> THANK YOU. DEPUTY CLERK , THE MOTION DOES NOT PASS. AMENDMENT THREE IS NOT ATTACHED . MOVING ONTO AMENDMENT FOUR. OVER TO YOU, CENTRAL STAFF. THEN COUNCILMEMBER KETTLE WILL BE FIRST. >> I BELIEVE IT IS SELF-EXPLANATORY. IT WOULD RESTORE THE SUNSET THAT WOULD OTHERWISE BE REMOVED BY COUNCIL BILL 120912. >> THANK YOU. COUNCILMEMBER KETTLE, YOU ARE RECOGNIZED. >> THANK YOU, CHAIR STRAUSS. COLLEAGUES, ON THE TOPIC OF THE PAYROLL EXPENSE TAX, I BELIEVE DROPPING THE SUNSET CLAUSE NOW IS LIKE DECLARING MISSION ACCOMPLISHED ON THE FLIGHT DECK OF AN AIRCRAFT CARRIER. WE NEED BUDGET REFORM. I WOULD LIKE TO THINK CHAIR STRAUSS FOR THE EFFORTS THAT OF BEEN ONGOING THIS YEAR, BUT WE NEED MORE. WE NEED TO COMPLETE THE MISSION, IF YOU WILL, OF BUDGET REFORM. IN ADDITION TO THE REVENUE STABILIZATION WORKGROUP, WE NEED AN EXPENSES STABILIZATION WORKGROUP AND REALLY APPRECIATE ALL THE DIFFERENT DATA REQUESTING SLIDES -- SLI WE HAVE TO INCLUDE THE HOUSING INVESTMENT PLAN . BUT OUR EFFORTS NEED TO BE COMPREHENSIVE. ACROSS THE BOARD. WE NEED BUDGET ACTIONS BACKSTOPPED BY COUNCIL COMMITTEE ACTION . TOO OFTEN IN THIS BUDGET EFFORT , WHICH HAS BEEN MY FIRST EXPERIENCE WITH, WE HAVE HAD CPAS THAT COULD HAVE BENEFITED BY HAVING THAT TOPIC WORKED IN COMMITTEE TO INCLUDE THE FINANCE COMMITTEE, TO INCLUDE THIS PAYROLL EXPENSE TAX. SIMPLY, THAT IS MY POSITION ON THIS IN GENERAL. AND MY POINT REGARDING THE SUNSET CLAUSES THAT I THINK IT NEEDS TO BE DONE , IF NEEDED, AS PART OF A COMPREHENSIVE ANSWER TO WHAT WE ARE LOOKING AT. COLLEAGUES, I ASKED FOR YOUR SUPPORT. THANK YOU VERY MUCH. >> THANK YOU, COUNCILMEMBER KETTLE. I FORGOT MY PRIMARY DUTY IN THIS ONE. COUNCIL MEMBER KETTLE, WOULD YOU LIKE TO MOVE THE AMENDMENT? >> YES. I OF COURSE WANT TO MOVE AMENDMENT FOUR VERSION 12 COUNCIL BILL 120912, PAYROLL SPENDS TAX, 2024 MODIFICATIONS. THINK YOU VERY MUCH. >> IS THERE A SECOND? >> SECOND. >> IT HAS BEEN MOVED AND SECONDED. CENTRAL STAFF IS BRIEF THE BILL. THE SPONSOR HAS SPOKEN TO IT. COLLEAGUES, GENERAL DISCUSSION. COUNCILMEMBER RIVERA. >> THANK YOU, CHAIR. I APPRECIATE COUNCILMEMBER KETTLE BRINGING THIS FORWARD. I AGREED TO COSPONSOR SO WE CAN HAVE THE CONVERSATION ABOUT IT. I ALSO BELIEVE THAT IT IS PRUDENT THAT EVERY SO OFTEN WE DO NEED TO LOOK AT THESE FUNDING SOURCES AND FIGURE OUT, AT THAT TIME, THAT PARTICULAR COUNCIL 15 YEARS FROM NOW WILL HAVE THE OPPORTUNITY TO LOOK AT THIS AND DETERMINE IF ANY CHANGES NEED TO BE MADE. WHAT , IF SO, IN ANY CONTINUED FUNDING FOR THIS PARTICULAR FUNDING SOURCE. IT IS PRUDENT AND FISCALLY RESPONSIBLE AND GOOD GOVERNANCE TO TAKE A LOOK AT THESE THINGS EVERY SO MANY YEARS. THAT IS WHY I AGREED TO , LIKE I SAID, COSPONSOR , AND WHY I WILL BE SUPPORTING TO PUT THE SUNSET BACK ON. I AM AWARE, VERY WELL AWARE, THAT IT IS UNLIKELY WE WOULD NOT NEED FURTHER FUNDING INTO THE FUTURE , BUT I SEE THIS MORE AS A GOOD GOVERNANCE AND AS AN OPPORTUNITY TO RELOOK AT THAT AND MAKE SURE THE FUTURE COUNCIL HAS AN OPPORTUNITY TO WEIGH IN AND DETERMINE WHAT NEXT STEPS SHOULD BE WITH THIS PARTICULAR FUNDING SOURCE. THANK YOU. >> COUNCIL PRESIDENT NELSON. >> JUST A LITTLE BIT OF HISTORY. I WANTED TO NOTE THAT IN 2020 COUNCILMEMBER PAYROLL EXPENSE TAX PROPOSAL HAD A SUNSET DATE OF AROUND 2030. IT WAS DELIBERATED IN THE FINANCE COMMITTEE ENTERING DECEMBER 2020. COUNCILMEMBER PUT FORTH AN AMENDMENT THAT ELIMINATED THE SUNSET ALTOGETHER. THAT IS WHAT PASSED OUT OF THAT COMMITTEE. THEN WHEN IT GOT TO FULL COUNCIL, THERE WAS A COMPROMISE , AND THE SUNSET WAS SET AT 2040. I SAY THIS BECAUSE IT SHOWS THERE IS NOTHING MAGICAL ABOUT 2040. BUT IT DOES REFLECT THAT THERE WAS A DESIRE TO PUT A DATE IN THE GROUND. SOME OF THE COMMENTS DURING THAT MEETING WAS THAT ALL OF OUR PROPERTY TAX, ALL OF OUR VOTER APPROVED PROPERTY TAX MEASURES AND SALES TAX MEASURES DO HAVE A SUNSET. USUALLY WHAT HAPPENS IS THAT THE RENEWAL PROCESS DOES PROVIDE AN OPPORTUNITY, IMPORTANT OPPORTUNITY, TO TAKE A LOOK AT HOW THE FUNDING SOURCE IS GOING, WHAT ADJUSTMENTS SHOULD BE MADE GOING FORWARD. AND SO, THAT IS BENEFICIAL. THAT WOULD BE BENEFICIAL IN THIS CASE AS WELL. I SUPPORT PUTTING BACK THE 2040 DEADLINE FOR THE REASON THAT IT FORCES AN EXAMINATION UPON US. WOULDN'T IT BE GREAT IF WE DON'T NEED THAT MUCH MORE DOLLARS ALLOCATED TO AFFORDABLE HOUSING BECAUSE SO MUCH HAD BEEN BUILT AND MAYBE FIND OTHER NEEDS. BUT THAT IS JUST AN EXAMPLE. ANYWAY, I THINK IT SERVES A PURPOSE. THE SECOND REASON IS THAT I BELIEVE THAT A DEADLINE DOES PROVIDE PSYCHOLOGICAL GUARDRAILS. IT HEDGES AGAINST A TENDENCY TO BECOME OVER DEPENDENT ON A SOURCE OF FUNDING AND NOT DASHING PUT TOO MUCH INTO THE BASKET WITHOUT TAKING ENOUGH OUT. SO I DO THINK IT SERVES AS DASHING SETS THE FLOOR FOR ACCOUNTABILITY. IT IS AN EXPECTATION SETTING MECHANISM, WHICH I THINK IS VALUABLE FOR ALL OF US PROBABLY MISSING MAKERS. -- POLICYMAKERS. FOR THOSE TWO REASONS, I WILL OF COURSE SUPPORT THIS AMENDMENT. I WANT FOLKS TO KNOW THAT THIS SUNSET PUTTING BACK THE SUNSET OF 2040 DOES NOT MEAN THAT WE WILL HAVE TO BE DEALING WITH IT THE NEXT BIENNIUM OR THE NEXT ONE OR THE NEXT ONE. WE ARE BUYING OURSELVES SOME TIME. PERHAPS TOO MUCH, BUT IT DOES GIVE US SOME TIME TO THINK ABOUT HOW WE ARE GOING TO DO SOME RESTRUCTURING OF OUR BUDGETS SO WE DON'T RELY ON THAT SOURCE OF FUNDING FOR PAYING FOR REALLY BASIC GOVERNMENT EXPENSES AND SERVICES . THAT IS WHY. THINKS. >> THANK YOU, COUNCIL PRESIDENT. ANY FURTHER DISCUSSION? ONCE I START CALLING, LAST CALL, AND I START SPEAKING, ONLY COUNCILMEMBER KETTLE WILL SPEAK AFTER ME. LAST CALL ON DISCUSSION. LAST CALL ON DISCUSSION. FINAL CALL ON DISCUSSION. COUNCIL PRESIDENT, IS THAT A NEW HAND? >> TAKING IT DOWN. >> THANK YOU. >> COUNCILMEMBER KETTLE, I APPRECIATE YOUR COMMENTS. HOWEVER, I DON'T BELIEVE THAT ANYONE IS CLAIMING MISSION ACCOMPLISHED. FOR ME, PERSONALLY, IT IS THE EXACT OPPOSITE. I'M SEEING RED LIGHTS FLASHING IN THE CONTROL ROOM. THAT IS WHY WE NEED ADDITIONAL STEPS INTO STRUCTURAL SUSTAINABILITY. TO PUT THIS VERY PLAINLY, IF GENERAL FUND ISN'T ALLOWED USE OF JUMPSTART, THE JUMPSTART NEEDS TO CONTINUE IN PERPETUITY. IF JUMPSTART IS NOT CONTINUED IN PERPETUITY, WE NEED TO BE MUCH MORE REFINED ABOUT HOW WE USE JUMPSTART TO PLUG OUR BUDGET, WHICH PREVENTS AUSTERITY BUDGETING, AND WE NEED TO BE EVEN MORE EGO LIED ON NOT ALLOWING JUMPSTART TO FUND OUR BASIC SERVICES. THOSE ARE THE CHOICES BEFORE US. AND SO, I WILL NOT BE SUPPORTING THIS, BECAUSE AGAIN, IF GENERAL FUND ISN'T ALLOWED USE, THIS TAX NEEDS TO BE ONGOING. IF THE TAX IS NOT ONGOING, THERE NEED TO BE STRONGER LIMITS ON GENERAL FUND. USE OF JUMPSTART. YOU WILL SEE IN THE NEXT AMENDMENT AFTER THIS , ME SPEAKING TO THAT A LITTLE BIT MORE CLEARLY. I WOULD NOT BE YOUR BUDGET CHAIR IF I DID NOT BRING UP THE FACT THAT THE DOWNTURN FORECAST LAST MONTH IS WHAT HAS MOTIVATED A LOT OF THE FLEXIBILITY IN THIS LEGISLATION. WE ARE -- WE ARE NOT OUT OF THE WOODS. WE ARE SO FAR IN THE WOODS IT IS A THICKET SOME FOLKS ARE HAVING TROUBLE SEEING THE TREES.. COUNCILMEMBER KETTLE. >> THANK YOU, CHAIR STRAUSS. I APPRECIATE YOUR COMMENTS. I ALSO APPRECIATE VERY MUCH COUNCILMEMBER RIVERA COUNCIL PRESIDENT NELSON FOR YOUR COMMENTS AS WELL. VERY GERMANE, VERY ON-TOPIC. AGAIN, COLLEAGUES, I ASKED FOR YOUR SUPPORT FOR THIS AMENDMENT. THANK YOU VERY MUCH. >> THANK YOU, COUNCIL MEMBER CAROL. CLERK, PLEASE CALL THE ROLL ON AMENDMENT FOUR VERSION 1. >> COUNCILMEMBER WOO. >> YES. >> COUNCILMEMBER HOLLINGSWORTH. >> ABSTAIN. >> COUNCILMEMBER KETTLE. >> YES. >> COUNCILMEMBER MOORE. >> YES. >> COUNCILMEMBER MOREL IS. >> NO. >> COUNCILMEMBER NELSON. >> YES. >> COUNCILMEMBER RIVERA . >> AYE. >> COUNCILMEMBER SAKA. >> AYE. >> CHAIR STRAUSS. >> NO. >> SIX IN FAVOR, TWO OPPOSE, ONE ABSTENTION. >> THANK YOU. THE AMENDMENT CARRIES. AMENDMENT FOUR VERSION 1 IS ATTACHED TO COUNCIL BILL 120912. MOVING ONTO THE NEXT AMENDMENT . IF YOU COULD ACTUALLY BRIEF BOTH AMENDMENTS, AND THEN I WILL SPEAK TO THEM SEPARATELY. >> CERTAINLY. HAPPY TO DO THAT. AMENDMENT FIVE, THE FIRST OF THESE TWO, AS DESCRIBED IN THE STATEMENT, DESIGNED TO WERE CLEARLY EXPRESSING LEGISLATIVE INTENT REGARDING THE USE OF JUMPSTART PROCEEDS. THAT MAKES PLANE A MORE DETAILED THE EFFECT OF CHANGING. THIS SENTENCE THAT APPEARS HERE, PAYROLL EXPENSES, PAYROLL EXPENSE TAX PROCEEDS ON THE CURRENT VERSION MAYBE ALLOCATED , CONSISTENT WITH RCW TO SUPPORT THE FOLLOWING CITY ACTIVITIES. WHAT FOLLOWS IS A LIST OF THE ELIGIBLE ACTIVITIES. UNDER THE ORIGINAL CONSTRUCTION, THAT EFFECTIVELY SHOULD BE READ AS MAY ONLY BE USED. THE ORIGINAL VERSION DEFINED THE SET OF ACTIVITIES THAT MONEY COULD BE APPROPRIATED TO. THE IMPLICATION IS THAT YOU WEREN'T OBLIGATED AND WOULD NOT BE OBLIGATE IT APPROPRIATE TO EVERYTHING ON THAT LIST, BUT ONLY THINGS ON THAT LIST COULD BE PAID FOR, IF YOU WILL. USING , THE OBLIGATION BECOMES AFFIRMATIVE IN THAT EVERYTHING ON THE LIST HAS TO RECEIVE SOME AMOUNT OF MONEY . THAT SAID, THAT AMOUNT OF MONEY COULD BE AS LITTLE AS ONE DOLLAR. SWITCHING , IT DOESN'T HAVE TO HAVE A SIGNIFICANT LEGAL IMPACT ON THE FLEXIBILITY YOU HAVE TO APPROPRIATE MONEY , AND THAT IS NOT THE INTENT, THE INTENT IS TO EXPRESS MORE AFFIRMATIVELY THE COMMITMENT AT THE LISTED ELIGIBLE ACTIVITIES. IT IS NOT MEANT TO HAVE A SIGNIFICANT LEGAL EFFECT, BUT RATHER AN EXPRESSIVE ONE, IF YOU WILL. THAT IS AMENDMENT FIVE. AMENDMENT SIX WOULD , STARTING IN JANUARY 2029, PRECLUDE THE USE OF JUMPSTART TO SUPPORT THE GENERAL FUND. SO AGAIN, FREE, UNFETTERED USE OF THE GENERAL FUND FOR THE CURRENT BIENNIUM , 25 -- RATHER, THE UPCOMING BY A MAN, 25 HEAVEN 26, AND SUBSEQUENT BIENNIUM, BUT BEYOND THAT, NO MORE GENERAL FUND, IF YOU WILL. AS I NOTE HERE. UNDER THE CURRENT FINANCIAL PLAN FOR THE GENERAL FUND, THERE IS AN ASSUMPTION THAT 204 -- $234 MILLION OF JUMPSTART WE GO TO THE GENERAL FUND IN 2029. BY DEFINITION, PRECLUDING THAT TRANSFER WOULD , BASED ON CURRENT FORECASTS INCREASE THE DEFICIT IN 2029 BY THAT AMOUNT OF 234 MILLION. THAT IS THE EFFECT . >> THANK YOU, DIRECTOR NOBLE. THE REASON I ASKED FOR A BRIEF -- IS THAT A NEW HAND? >> I HAD A QUESTION OF CLARIFICATION FOR SOME OF THESE . >> CAN WE WAIT FOR DISCUSSION? THANK YOU. THE REASON I ASKED FOR BOTH TO BE BRIEF TOGETHER, AND THEN I WILL MOVE THEM ONE BY ONE, IS BECAUSE THIS AMENDMENT WAS ORIGINALLY WRITTEN AS A SINGLE AMENDMENT. I CAN READ A ROOM. I AM GETTING THE SENSE THAT MY SECOND AMENDMENT WON'T PASS. BUT I SEPARATED THEM BECAUSE THE FIRST SECTION OF THIS AMENDMENT , IT WAS INTERESTING . I ALWAYS APPRECIATE THE LEGAL ADVICE FROM THE CITY ATTORNEY UP HIS OFFICE. THIS ONE WAS NEW TO ME. BUT THIS FIRST ONE OF CHANGING MAY TO XIAO UNDER SECTION A WOULD SIMPLY GIVE US MORE DIRECTIVE -- IT WOULD BE MORE DIRECTIVE FROM THE LEGISLATIVE BODY THAT SAYS THESE ARE THE THINGS IN WHICH JUMPSTART CAN BE USED FOR. WITHIN THIS LIST CURRENTLY IS GENERAL FUND. IT GOES BACK TO THE POINTS I WAS MAKING JUST A MINUTE AGO, AND THAT IS WHY IT WAS ORIGINALLY WRITTEN AS ONE. IF WE RETAIN A SUNSET ON JUMPSTART, WE ARE SETTING OURSELVES UP FOR HALF A 1 BILLION DEFICIT IN 2040. IF WE DON'T BEGIN WEANING OURSELVES OFF OF USING JUMPSTART FOR GENERAL FUND, IN FOUR YEARS FROM NOW, BUT IS GOING TO BE A PROBLEM. WHAT IS CLEAR TO ME IS THAT, AGAIN, IT WOULDN'T -- I WOULDN'T BE YOUR BUDGET CHAIR, WE HAVE A NEGATIVE REVENUE FORECAST. WE ARE IN THE MIDDLE OF A STORM. THERE ARE DEFINITELY MORE THINGS COMING OUR WAY IN THE NEXT FOUR YEARS THAN WE EXPECTED A COUPLE WEEKS AGO. THAT IS WHY I SET UP FOR YEARS UNTIL THE NEXT COMPREHENSIVE REVIEW. WITH THESE COMBINED, YOU WOULD ALLOW FOR , YOU WOULD BE DIRECTIVE, AND WE WOULD ALLOW FOR THAT TRANSITION TIME AND FLEXIBILITY. AND CERTAINTY IN THE FUTURE. BUT IF YOU DON'T SUPPORT BOTH OF THEM TOGETHER, THIS ONE AT LEAST MAKES OUR DIRECTIVE A LITTLE BIT MORE CLEAR. THAT IS MY SUMMARY. I'M GOING TO MOVE AMENDMENT FIVE VERSION 1 TO COUNCIL BILL 120912. IS THERE A SECOND? >> SECOND. >> MOVED AND SECONDED. CENTRAL STAFF HAS BRIEFED THE BILL. THE SPONSOR HAS SPOKEN. COUNCIL PRESIDENT. >> SOMETHING THAT WAS COMBINED WITH YOUR LAST COMMENTS IN YOUR EXPLANATION. IT WAS SAID THAT IF THE GENERAL FUND IS AN ACCEPTABLE USE , THE TAX HAS TO GO ON IN PERPETUITY . AND SO, WHY IS THAT? BECAUSE AT SOME POINT -- I AM WANTING TO MAKE SURE I UNDERSTAND . IF IT FUNDS GENERAL-PURPOSE EXPENSES RIGHT NOW, THEN THAT DOES NOT -- I'M STRUGGLING TO SEE WHY IT WOULD HAVE TO GO ON IN PERPETUITY AT SOME POINT. WE COULD ELIMINATE THAT USE AS THOSE EXPENSES AS A RECIPIENT OF THAT SOURCE. >> I DIDN'T MEAN TO SAY OR IMPLY THAT. >> IT WAS CHAIR STRAUSS, AND THEN IT SEEMED AS THOUGH -- >> DIRECTOR NOBLE. THERE IS NOTHING IN THIS THAT WOULD IMPLY THE TAX COULDN'T SUNSET IN 2040 OR COULD IT BE RESCINDED AHEAD OF THAT . AGAIN, THE USES HERE, SHALL BE USED FOR THESE THINGS, BUT AGAIN, IT COULD BE FOR AS LITTLE AS A DOLLAR. I WILL INVOKE MY FAMOUS SLIDE. DEFAME THE COULD RESEND THE TAX COULD ILLUMINATE THE GENERAL FUND , AND THAT WOULD LOGICALLY BE CONSISTENT. THERE IS NOTHING HERE THAT RELATES TO THE SUNSET OR THE TERM OF THE TAX, IF YOU WILL. >> OKAY. >> COUNCIL PRESIDENT, YOU STILL HAVE THE FOUR. >> I HAVE HAD MY QUESTION ANSWERED. >> FANTASTIC. THANK YOU. FURTHER DISCUSSION. LAST CALL ON DISCUSSION. COUNCILMEMBER SAKA. >> FOR CLARITY, ARE WE SPEAKING TO AMENDMENT FIVE AND SIX ? OR DOES AMENDMENT FIVE FOR NOW? >> WE ARE JUST ON AMENDMENT FIVE. ONLY AMENDMENT FIVE HAS BEEN MOVED. WE WILL TAKE THEM UP ONE BY ONE. >> THANK YOU, MR. CHAIRMAN. I CAME INTO TODAY'S MEETING PREPARING TO VOTE AGAINST AMENDMENT FIVE. AFTER SOME OF THIS CONVERSATION , SO FAR, AND THEN ESPECIALLY COUNCILMEMBER MOORE'S LAST COMMENTS ON HER OTHER AMENDMENT, I ACTUALLY AM GOING TO SUPPORT THIS ONE . HERE IS WHY. COUNCILMEMBER MORE APPROPRIATELY NOTED THAT WITHOUT -- IN HER EARLIER AMENDMENT, IT WAS HER ATTEMPT TO REIN IN AND MAKE CRYSTAL CLEAR COUNSEL AND LEGISLATIVE PRIORITIES AND PUT SOME SORT OF GUARDRAILS AROUND THE SPENDING . AGAIN, AND ULTIMATELY THOUGHT ABOUT VOTING , SUPPORTING THAT ONE. ULTIMATELY DECLINED BECAUSE I STILL THINK THE DOWNSTREAM FLEXIBILITY AND FREEDOM TO OPERATE IS , I WILL WEIGH SOME OF THE EARLIER CONSIDERATIONS, BUT SHE IS ABSOLUTELY RIGHT ABOUT, WE NEED TO SET SOME SORT OF COUNCIL DIRECTION AROUND PERMISSIBLE USES OF THAT. COUNCILMEMBER STRAUSS . FROM MY PERSPECTIVE , IN THE ABSENCE OF DOING ANYTHING, YOU KNOW, THE EXECUTIVE WOULD BE FREE TO SPEND OR NOT SPEND AS THEY SEE FIT. EVEN WITH THIS, AS DIRECTOR NOBLE INDICATED, THERE WOULD BE NO FIRM REQUIREMENTS OR ALLOCATION AMOUNTS . WHICH I SUPPORT. BUT THIS IS THE ONLY THING THAT REQUIRES SOME LEVEL OF SPENDING , UNSPECIFIED LEVEL OF SPENDING ON THOSE ENUMERATED THINGS . A NONEXHAUSTIVE LIST, AS I UNDERSTAND IT. BUT THIS IS ALL WE HAVE REMAINING TO SHARE LEGISLATIVE PRIORITIES . AGAIN, EVERYTHING WE CAN OVER RIDE. WE HAVE DONE EVERY YEAR SINCE THIS THING HAS STARTED. WE HAVE OVERRIDE IT EVERY YEAR THROUGH LEGISLATION . BUT THIS IS ALL WE HAVE FOR PURPOSES OF SHAPING THE BUDGET NEXT YEAR. I AM GOING TO GO AHEAD AND SUPPORT IT. NO FURTHER QUESTIONS OR COMMENTS. THANK YOU. >> COUNCILMEMBER SAKA. ANY FURTHER DISCUSSION. LAST CALL ON DISCUSSION. LAST CALL ON DISCUSSION. COUNCIL PRESIDENT. >> -- JUST DOUBLE CHECKING. THIS IS YOUR SECOND TIME SPEAKING FOR ANYONE ELSE? COUNCIL PRESIDENT, YOU ARE RECOGNIZED. >> WE ARE TALKING ABOUT NOT USING JUMPSTART WITHIN ABOUT TWO BIENNIUM SPIRIT -- BIENNIUM. I WANT TO DO A GUT CHECK ON WHETHER OR NOT THIS IS REALISTIC THAT WE CAN TAKE JUMPSTART OUT OF FUNDING , AS A FUNDING RESOURCE FOR GENERAL FUND EXPENSES. LIKE I SAID BEFORE, WE INHERITED A BUDGET THAT HAD A $76 MILLION DEFICIT IN 2027. THE BALANCING PACKAGE INCREASE THAT BY ABOUT 23 MILLION. AND THEN WE CONTINUE TO ADD ONTO THAT THROUGH THE LAST COUPLE OF WEEKS OF THIS PROCESS. JUST REALIZING THAT WE UNDERSTAND THAT IT IS DIFFICULT TO MANAGE THE PRIORITIES OF NINE MEMBERS. AND SO, IF WE ARE NOT ABLE TO TRIM OUR EXPENSES SIGNIFICANTLY, WE ARE POTENTIALLY LOOKING AT LAYOFFS WITHIN FOUR YEARS. AS MUCH AS I ALWAYS TALK ABOUT WE NEED TO LOOK AT HER SPENDING AND REALLY EVALUATE WHETHER OR NOT WE ARE GETTING THE VALUE ADDED OF OUR INVESTMENTS, I ALSO DON'T WANT TO SET US UP FOR A SITUATION WHERE WE HAVE TO MAYBE MAKE VERY DIFFICULT DECISIONS AT THE LAST MINUTE THAT COULD ACTUALLY HURT PEOPLE. AND THEIR PROSPECTS FOR THEIR FUTURES AND FAMILIES, ET CETERA. I GUESS I AM SAYING I APPLIED THE BOLDNESS OF THE NOTION. I'M ALSO CONCERNED THAT WITHIN THAT SHORT AMOUNT OF TIME WE COULD BE FACING PRETTY SEVERE CUTS UNLESS WE MAKE SOME REALLY DIFFERENT POLICY DECISIONS RIGHT NOW. >> I WILL BE VOTING AGAINST THIS. >> COUNCILMEMBER MORALES. >> THANK YOU, CHAIR. I APPRECIATE THE CONVERSATION, BECAUSE I THINK WHAT IT HAS HELPED MAKE CLEAR IS THAT , IF WE CONTINUE TO RELY ON THIS SOURCE OF REVENUE TO FUND GENERAL FUND BASIC CITY SERVICES FOR THE NEXT TWO YEARS, THE NEXT FOUR YEARS UNTIL 2040, WHENEVER IT IS, AND THEN WE DECIDE TO ELIMINATE THE TAX, WE WILL HAVE TO FIGURE OUT HOW TO FILL THAT HOLE . JUST PRECISELY THE PROBLEM WITH NOT HAVING A DIVERSE REVENUE STREAM FOR BASIC CITY SERVICES. IF WE DECIDE TO ELIMINATE THE GENERAL FUND AS AN ALLOWABLE EXPENSE, AND WE DON'T FIGURE OUT HOW WE'RE GOING TO PAY FOR THE THINGS WE HAVE NOW SAID GENERAL FUND WILL PAY FOR, WE'RE BACK TO SQUARE ONE WITH HAVING TO RESOLVE THIS PROBLEM. I THINK IT IS GOING TO BE REALLY IMPORTANT FOR US TO BEGIN THE CONVERSATION THAT SHOULD HAVE HAPPENED THIS YEAR ABOUT HOW WE FIX THAT HOLE BECAUSE IT HAS BECOME REALLY CLEAR THAT WE HAVE A WHOLE, AND THIS CAN'T BE THE LONG-TERM FIX. I DO NOT BELIEVE THIS PARTICULAR AMENDMENT IS NECESSARY, BECAUSE IT DOESN'T CHANGE ANYTHING ABOUT WHAT IS ALLOWED COMPARED TO THE BASE BUDGET, SORRY, THE BASE BILL. BUT I THINK IT HAS RAISED THE BROADER ISSUE THE COUNCIL PRESIDENT DISCUSSES, WHICH IS THAT IF WE ARE GOING TO CONTINUE TO USE GENERAL FUND, AND THEN WE SAY THAT THIS SOURCE CAN'T BE USED FOR THAT IN THE NEXT SEVERAL YEARS, WE HAVE TO FIGURE OUT HOW TO FILL THE HOLE WITH OTHER REVENUE. THANK YOU, CHAIR. >> ACCOUNT -- THANK YOU, COUNCILMEMBER MORALES. FINAL CALL. IS THAT A NEW HAND? >> NO. >> OKAY. FINAL CALL ON DISCUSSION. THANK YOU, COUNCILMEMBER MORALES, FOR YOUR CLARIFICATION THAT THIS DOESN'T CHANGE WHAT IS WITHIN THE SPEND PLAN. AGAIN, THAT IS BECAUSE I SPLIT MY AMENDMENT INTO TWO BECAUSE I CAN READ THE ROOM. WILL THE CLERK PLEASE CALL THE ROLL ON AMENDMENT FIVE VERSION 12 COUNCIL BILL 120912? >> COUNCILMEMBER WOO. >> YES. >> COUNCILMEMBER HOLLINGSWORTH. >> ABSTAIN. >> COUNCILMEMBER KETTLE. >> NO. >> COUNCILMEMBER MOORE. >> AYE. >> COUNCIL MEMBER MORALES. >> NO. >> COUNCILMEMBER NELSON. >> NO. >> COUNCILMEMBER RIVERA. >> NO. >> COUNCILMEMBER SAKA. >> AYE. >> CHAIR STRAUSS. >> YES. >> FOUR IN FAVOR, FOUR OPPOSED, ONE ABSTENTION. >> MOTION FAILS. AMENDMENT FIVE VERSION 1 DOES NOT HANG TO COUNCIL BILL 910 -- MOVING ONTO AMENDMENT SIX. IT HAS BEEN BRIEFED. AGAIN, I WILL MOVE AMENDMENT SIX VERSION 1 TO COUNCIL BILL 120912. IS THERE A SECOND? >> SECOND. >> MOVED AND SECONDED. AGAIN, I DON'T HAVE MUCH MORE TO SAY. I'VE ARTIE SET IT. THIS PAIRED WITH THE LAST ONE -- I HAVE ALREADY SAID IT. THIS PAIRED WITH THE LAST ONE PUTS A DEADLINE OF WHEN WE CAN USE GENERAL FUND FROM JUMPSTART. BECAUSE WITH A SUNSET ON THIS TAX, WE HAVE A LOOMING DEFICIT 16 YEARS FROM NOW I NEED TO PLAN FOR A. I DON'T HAVE ANY FURTHER -- COUNCIL PRESIDENT. >> -- WE ARE IN DISCUSSION NOW. I SEE YOU HAVE A HAND. >> IN MY THE ONLY ONE THAT DOESN'T TURN THEIR THING OFF IMMEDIATELY? EXCUSE ME. >> I THINK SO. THE FLOOR IS YOURS, IF YOU WOULD LIKE IT. IS THAT A NO? OKAY. FURTHER DISCUSSION. FURTHER DISCUSSION. FINAL DISCUSSION. LAST CALL ON DISCUSSION. CLERK, PLEASE CALL THE ROLL ON AMENDMENT SIX VERSION 1. >> COUNCILMEMBER WOO. >> NO. >> COUNCILMEMBER HOLLINGSWORTH. >> ABSTAIN. >> COUNCILMEMBER KETTLE. >> NO. >> COUNCILMEMBER MOORE. >> AYE. >> COUNCILMEMBER MORALES. >> NO. >> COUNCILMEMBER NELSON. >> NO. >> COUNCILMEMBER RIVERA. >> NO. >> COUNCILMEMBER SAKA. >> NO. >> CHAIR STRAUSS. >> YES. >> TWO IN FAVOR, SIX OPPOSED, ONE ABSTENTION. >> THANK YOU. AMENDMENT SIX VERSION 1 DOES NOT CARRY AND WILL NOT BE ATTACHED TO COUNCIL BILL 120912. WE ARE MOVING BACK TO THE BASE BILL. WE HAVE NUMBER SEVEN. THIS IS THE WALK ON AMENDMENT. IS THAT CORRECT? TAKE A NICE DEEP BREATH AS WE CONTINUE MOVING FORWARD. COUNCILMEMBER MOORE, AS SPONSOR OF THIS AMENDMENT, YOU ARE RECOGNIZED. >> THANK YOU, CHAIR. I HAVE A VERBAL AMENDMENT TO THE UNDERLYING COUNCIL BILL 120912, NOW CALLED AMENDMENT SEVEN. I WOULD LIKE TO BRING FORWARD THIS AMENDMENT THAT WAS CIRCULATED TO THE FLOOR VIA EMAIL AT 10:25 A.M. TODAY. EVERYONE WAS PROVIDED A HARD COPY. I WOULD LIKE TO MOVE FORWARD WITH AN ORAL AMENDMENT . IF THERE IS NO OBJECTION, I MOVED TO SUSPEND THE RULES TO ALLOW FOR A VERBAL AMENDMENT TO BE HEARD FOR COUNCIL BILL 120912. >> COLLEAGUES, IT HAS BEEN REQUESTED TO SUSPEND THE RULES . I WILL ASK FOR A VOTE ON THE SUSPENSION OF THE RULES. AT THIS TIME, WILL THE CLERK PLEASE CALL THE ROLL ON SUSPENDING THE RULES REGARDING WALK ON AMENDMENT ? COLLEAGUES, I WILL BE VOTING NO SIMPLY OUT OF A PROCEDURAL STEP. THE SAME COMMENTS I MADE LAST WEEK APPLY TO TODAY. I SUPPORT YOUR WORK, COUNCILMEMBER MOORE. TO SUPPORT WHAT YOU HAVE GOING ON HERE, JUST PROCEDURALLY, I'M SAYING NO. PLEASE CALL THE ROLL? >> COUNCILMEMBER WOO. >> YES. >> COUNCILMEMBER HOLLINGSWORTH. >> YES. >> COUNCILMEMBER KETTLE. >> NO. >> COUNCILMEMBER MOORE. >> AYE. >> COUNCILMEMBER MORALES. >> NO. >> COUNCILMEMBER NELSON. >> NO. >> COUNCILMEMBER RIVERA. >> YES. >> COUNCILMEMBER SAKA. >> AYE. >> CHAIR STRAUSS. >> NO. >> FIVE IN FAVOR, FOUR OPPOSED. >> I AM SEEING NOW THAT IT FEELS BECAUSE SUSPENDING THE RULES REQUIRES TWO THIRDS MAJORITY. ANYONE ON THE PREVAILING SIDE WANT TO RECALL THEIR VOTE? PROVIDING THIS OPPORTUNITY TO RECALL THE VOTE. >> YES. >> COUNCIL PRESIDENT, YOU ARE RECOGNIZED. >> I DIDN'T FEEL TOO STRONGLY ABOUT MY KNOW. I AM FINE SWITCHING IT TO ALLOW FOR THIS TO GO FORWARD. >> THINK IT, COUNCIL PRESIDENT. THE MOTION YOU WOULD MAKE HIS POINT OF ORDER. I WOULD LIKE TO -- I WILL ACTUALLY TURN IT OVER TO THE CLERK. >> IF THERE IS UNANIMOUS CONSENT, COUNCIL PRESIDENT NELSON MAY CHANGE HER VOTE . >> IF THERE IS UNANIMOUS CONSENT, COUNCIL PRESIDENT MAY CHANGE HER VOTE. ANY OBJECTIONS? HEARING NO OBJECTIONS. COUNCIL PRESIDENT HAS CHANGED HER VOTE. THE SUSPENSION OF THE RULES PASSES. COUNCILMEMBER MOORE, YOU ARE RECOGNIZED. >> THANK YOU, CHAIR. I NOW MOVE AMENDMENT SEVEN TO COUNCIL BILL 120912. >> SECOND. >> IT HAS BEEN MOVED AND SECONDED. CENTRAL STAFF, CAN YOU PLEASE BRIEF US? I WILL SAY THAT I HAVEN'T BEEN ABLE TO REVIEW THIS BILL BECAUSE I HAVE BEEN FACILITATING THIS CONVERSATION. I WILL BE VOTING NO. BUT OVER TO YOU, CENTRAL STAFF. >> THE MEAT OF THE AMENDMENT IS IN SECTION D ON THE ALLOCATION OF RESOURCES. IT WOULD DEDICATE 55 -- STARTING IN 20 SUNDAY SEVEN -- 2027, 55% FOR AFFORDABLE HAZING AND THE REMAINING -- HOUSING AND THE REMAINING ALLOCATED TO THE OTHER ELIGIBLE USES WITH THESE PERCENTAGES AS GUYS, BUT NOT CONSTRAINTS. -- GUIDES, BUT NOT CONSTRAINTS. 55% DEDICATED TO AFFORDABLE HOUSING . WITH SIGNIFICANT IMPACTS ON THE GENERAL FUND UNLESS THE RESOURCES WERE SIGNIFICANTLY, THE 45% WERE DIRECTED SIGNIFICANTLY THAT WAY. >> THANK YOU. COUNCILMEMBER MOORE, AS SPONSOR, YOU ARE RECOGNIZED. >> THANK YOU. I TOO CAN READ THE ROOM A LITTLE BIT LATE. I WON'T SPEND A LOT OF TIME ON THIS, BUT THIS IS REALLY JUST, AGAIN, ONE LAST ATTEMPT TO GIVE THE GUARDRAIL OF 55% TO AFFORDABLE HOUSING. BUT ALSO TO MAKE IT VERY CLEAR THAT THE PERCENTAGES, I THINK AS COUNCIL PRESIDENT EXPRESSED SOME CONCERN, THAT WE MIGHT LOSE TRACK OF THOSE ADDITIONAL JUMPSTART FUNDING PRIORITIES . THIS IS TO MAKE CLEAR THAT THOSE PERCENTAGES REMAIN, AND THAT ANY DECISION SHOULD BE GUIDED BY THOSE PERCENTAGES SO WE MAINTAIN THOSE COMMITMENTS TO THE EXTENT WE CAN WITH THE OVERALL FLEXIBILITY. THANK YOU. >> THANK YOU, COUNCILMEMBER MOORE. COLLEAGUES, FURTHER DISCUSSION. COUNCILMEMBER SAKA. >> I ACTUALLY HAVE A QUESTION. QUESTION FOR CENTRAL STAFF AND THE AMENDMENT SPONSOR, COUNCILMEMBER MOORE. I WOULD BE CURIOUS TO BETTER UNDERSTAND THE DELTA DIFFERENCE BETWEEN PROPOSED AMENDMENT NUMBER SEVEN A PROPOSED AMENDMENT NUMBER THREE THAT WE JUST VOTED ON FROM EACH OF YOUR PERSPECTIVES. THANK YOU. >> COUNCILMEMBER -- THANK YOU, COUNCILMEMBER SAKA. I WILL ASK CENTRAL STAFF AND THEN COUNCILMEMBER MOORE TO DESCRIBE THE DIFFERENCE BETWEEN THE AMENDMENT BEFORE US TODAY. >> AMENDMENT THREE WAS CLEAR THAT THE REMAINING SHARE , 55% AFFORDABLE HOUSING AND 45% OF THE GENERAL FUND, THAT WAS THE SPECIFIC USE , THEREFORE, MINIMIZING THE IMPACT ON THE OVERALL DEFICIT. AS WRITTEN, THIS WOULD NOT -- THIS AMENDMENT WOULD NOT PRECLUDE THE USE OF THE ADDITIONAL 45% FOR GENERAL FUND IT IS WRITTEN IN SUCH A WAY WOULD NOT PRECLUDE THAT. THE 55% GOES TO HOUSING. THE 45% IS AVAILABLE FOR OTHER USES. THE LANGUAGE HERE IS PERMISSIVE IN GUIDING, BUT NOT CONSTRAINING, THE USE BACK TOWARDS THE ORIGINAL JUMPSTART PRIORITIES. IT NEEDN'T HAVE A SIGNIFICANT IMPACT ON THE OVERALL DEFICIT . CERTAINLY NOT MORE THAN IN AMENDMENT THREE, BUT IT COULD, DEPENDING ON HOW THAT RESOURCES ACTUALLY ALLOCATED. >> THANK YOU. COUNCILMEMBER MOORE. >> I CAN'T SAY IT BETTER THAN HIM. THANK YOU. >> AMEN TO THAT. >> COUNCILMEMBER SAKA, YOU STILL HAVE THE FOUR. >> THANK YOU, MISSED A. THAT IS WHAT I SUSPECTED BASED OFF MY QUICK READ. I TOO , LIKE YOU, MR. CHAIR, I WASN'T FACILITATED A MEETING, BUT WE ARE LIVE ON THE SPOT. I HAVEN'T HAD A CHANCE TO DO A DEEP DIVE REVIEW AND ANALYSIS OF THE AMENDMENT. THAT IS CONSISTENT WITH EVERYTHING I HEARD, CONSISTENT WITH MY QUICK GLANCE AND STUDY OF THE PROPOSAL. FOR THOSE REASONS, I AM GOING TO SUPPORT THIS ONE . I DO THINK IT IS IMPORTANT FOR COUNCIL TO INSERT SOME SORT OF GUARDRAILS OVER THE PROCESS . YOU CAN'T BE SUPERDUPER PRESCRIPTIVE ON EVERYTHING, BUT IF YOU'RE GOING TO DRAW THE LINE SOMEWHERE, I WOULD AGREE WITH COUNCILMEMBER MOORE THAT IT SHOULD BE ON AFFORDABLE HOUSING. COUNCILMEMBER MOORE HAS SHOWN HERSELF TO BE A TRUE CHAMPION OF AFFORDABLE HOUSING AND TENANTS RIGHTS AND SERVICES, AND I APPRECIATE YOU. I WOULD AGREE WITH THE FRAMING HERE. I THINK THIS STRIKES A BETTER BALANCE BASED OFF EVERYTHING THAT I AM SEEING BETWEEN PRESERVING FLEXIBILITY DOWN THE ROAD, PRESERVING OUR CITY UP HIS FREEDOM TO OPERATE GOING FORWARD, AND ALSO MAKING SURE THAT WE MUST FUND AT A CERTAIN THRESHOLD AFFORDABLE HOUSING, AND THEN IMPOSING GUIDELINES ON THOSE OTHER CATEGORIES OF AUTHORIZED SPENDING, THOSE OTHER AUTHORIZED SPENDING CATEGORIES. THANK YOU, COUNCILMEMBER MOORE, FOR BRINGING THIS FORWARD. THIS GOT ME OVER THE HUMP ON THE OTHER ISSUE. I APPRECIATE YOU. THANK YOU, MR. CHAIR. >> THANK YOU, COUNCILMEMBER SAKA. FURTHER DISCUSSION. COUNCIL PRESIDENT. >> SO WHAT WE ARE SAYING IS THAT WE CAN STILL FUND THE OTHER PRIORITIES, WE JUST DON'T KNOW BY HOW MUCH OR WHICH ONES . AM I CORRECT IN UNDERSTANDING THAT ? >> COUNCIL PRESIDENT, I WILL ASK DIRECTOR NOBLE TO RESPOND. >> I THINK THAT IS CORRECT, YES. >> COUNCIL PRESIDENT, YOU STILL HAVE THE FLOOR. >> OKAY, AND THIS WOULD GO INTO EFFECT IN 2027? >> CORRECT. >> OKAY. MY EDUCATION WORKING THROUGH A LOT OF QUESTIONS TO THE OFFICE OF HOUSING , MANY OF THESE PROJECTS TAKE MANY YEARS TO GO THROUGH THE PROCESS. THERE IS A HALF $1 BILLION CASH RESERVE IN THE OFFICE OF HOUSING BECAUSE THESE PROJECTS TAKE SO LONG TO GET OUT THE DOOR. I'M WONDERING WHETHER OR NOT A DECISION TO DECREASE THE , TO MIX THE FORMULA WILL IMPACT THE GETTING OUT THE DOOR OF SOME OF THESE PROJECTS, AND ALSO DO THE SAME IN THE SAME SPIRIT THE EDI PROJECTS THAT HAVE BEEN AWARDED AND ARE IN THE PROCESS OF HAVING THE MONEY ALLOCATED FOR THEM , AND THAT COULD CREATE SOME PROBLEMS IN THEIR EFFORTS TO ACCESS FINANCING AND FISCAL -- PHYSICAL LOCATIONS. THE SAME THING WITH SOME OF THE GREEN NEW DEAL INVESTMENTS, WHICH TAKE A WHILE TO GET OFF THE GROUND AS WELL WHEN YOU'RE TALKING ABOUT GREEN TECHNOLOGY INFRASTRUCTURE IN SOME OF OUR PUBLIC PLACES, LIKE COMMUNITY CENTERS. I HAVE LEARNED FROM OUR DEPARTMENTS THAT THESE THINGS TAKE TIME. WONDERING WHAT A CHANGE IN ALLOCATION OF FUNDING FOR THOSE EXPENSES OR THOSE EXPENSE AREAS WILL THEN CREATE MORE CONFUSION ABOUT THE ABILITY OF AWARDS BEING SEEN THROUGH FRUITION. >> THANK YOU, COUNCIL PRESIDENT. DID YOU NEED A RESPONSE FROM CENTRAL STAFF? ON THE LAST PART OF THAT? >> NOPE. I JUST WANT TO MAKE SURE I UNDERSTOOD SO I CAN MAKE THAT POINT. >> COUNCILMEMBER MOORE, I WILL RECOGNIZE YOU TO RESPOND TO ANY OF THE COMMENTS FROM THE PERSPECTIVE OF THE SPONSOR. >> OKAY. PART OF THE OBJECTION , AS I UNDERSTOOD IT, TO THE OFFICE OF HOUSING IS THAT THEY HAVE A LOT OF MONEY SITTING, AND PEOPLE ARE CONCERNED THAT MONEY IS NOT GOING OUT FAST ENOUGH. AND SO, PART OF THIS SLI IS TO LOOK AT HOW, YOU KNOW, TO COME UP WITH A FIVE YEAR PLAN . SO I DON'T BELIEVE THAT SETTING IT AT 55%, WHICH IS A LITTLE BIT , 7% LOWER THAN WHAT IT IS NOW, IS GOING TO SIGNIFICANTLY AFFECT THE ABILITY TO GET THE MONEY THAT IS SITTING THERE OUT THE DOOR, OR SIGNIFICANTLY AFFECT ONGOING FUNDING IN THE FUTURE. AGAIN, THAT IS THE BASELINE. WE CAN ALWAYS BUMP IT UP IF WE NEED TO. WE ARE JUST SAYING YOU CAN'T GO BELOW 55%. IN TERMS OF THE OTHER ISSUES, THE REASON I THINK THIS IS A BETTER BILL THAN THE BASE BILL SENT TO US BY THE MAYOR'S OFFICE, THE BASE BILL SETS NO PERCENTAGES. IT SETS NO GUIDELINES. THE BASE BILL SAYS PAYROLL EXPENSE TAX PROCEEDS MAY BE ALLOCATED CONSISTENT WITH RCW 3532 TO SUPPORT THE FOLLOWING CITY ACTIVITIES. IT GOES THROUGH THE JUMPSTART SPENDING PARTIES. ADMINISTRATION, HOUSING AND SERVICES, EDI, INVESTMENTS IN ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT, COMMUNITY PLANNING EFFORTS. IT KEEPS THE CATEGORIES, SETS ABSOLUTELY NO GUIDELINES ABOUT WHAT THE PERCENTAGES SHOULD BE . UNLIKE THIS BILL, WHICH IS AN AMENDMENT TO THE BILL THAT ACTUALLY SETS FORTH GUIDELINES THAT ARE CONSISTENT REMAIN , THEY ARE THE SAME GAVE -- GUIDELINES WE HAVE CURRENTLY SET THAT ARE MANDATORY. YOU HAVE MORE CERTAINTY ABOUT HOW MUCH MONEY SHOULD BE GOING IN THIS BILL THAN WE WOULD WITH THE UNDERLYING BASE BILL. ALL THE GUIDELINES ARE REMOVED. IF THAT IS A CONCERN, I FEEL LIKE THIS GIVES YOU A BETTER SENSE OF, YOU KNOW, THIS IS THE GOAL WE HAVE TO MAINTAIN. THAT WOULD BE MY >> JUST GOING TO POINT OF ORDER FOR CLARIFICATION THAT THE MAYOR'S BILL WAS TRANSMITTED TO US. THE BILL BEFORE US IS TECHNICALLY THE BASE BILL, WHICH HAS PERCENTAGES INCLUDED IN IT, BECAUSE THE BASE WILL BE FOR US IS THE CHAIR'S VERSION. THE BILL TRANSMITTED WAS THE MAYOR'S VERSION, JUST CLARIFYING THAT FOR THE VIEWING PUBLIC. COUNCIL PRESIDENT, THE FLOOR IS ALL YOURS. >> MAY BE ANOTHER QUESTION WILL HELP ME UNDERSTAND A LITTLE BIT BETTER, SO GO AHEAD. >> OKAY. WELL, COUNCIL PRESIDENT, YOU'RE NO DONE FOR THE MOMENT. COUNCILMEMBER MOORE RAISED HER HAND TO SPEAK TO THE ITEMS THAT YOU HAD RAISED, COUNCIL PRESIDENT, THEREFORE COUNCILMEMBER RIVERA, YOU ARE NEXT. WOULD YOU LIKE THE FLOOR? >> YES, FANTASTIC. FLOOR IS YOURS. >> THANK YOU, CHAIR. MY UNDERSTANDING IS THAT WHAT THIS IS DOING IS STARTING IN 27 WE ARE SEEING 55% OF JUMPSTART FUNDS CAN ONLY BE USED FOR THE AFFORDABLE HOUSING PIECE. COUNCILMEMBER MAURA, YOU ARE SHAKING YOUR HEAD YES SO THANK YOU FOR CLARIFYING. I WILL SAY, FOR THE REASONS I STATED EARLIER, AS MUCH AS YOU KNOW, AND YOU AND I HAVE HAD MANY CONVERSATIONS ABOUT THE NEED FOR AFFORDABLE HOUSING IN THE CITY. I AM CONCERNED ABOUT HAMSTRINGING US BY PUTTING THIS PERCENTAGE DOWN, KNOWING THAT WE WILL HAVE TWO, IN TWO YEARS, LOOK AT JUMPSTART AGAIN, AND WE DON'T KNOW TO WHAT LEVEL TO FUND OTHER SERVICES THAT ARE IMPORTANT ALSO IN OUR BUDGET, THAT WE WON'T KNOW WHERE TO FIND FUNDING FROM. SO YOU KNOW IT'S A MATTER OF IF WE CAN FUND THE OTHER SERVICES AND DEDICATE 55% TO AFFORDABLE HOUSING, OF COURSE, BUT I JUST CAN'T SAY THAT TODAY, DEFINITIVELY. WE DEFINITELY SHOULD DO 55% TOWARD AFFORDABLE HOUSING IF WE KNOW WE HAVE OTHER IMPORTANT HUMAN SERVICE NEEDS THAT WE NEED TO PAY FOR, AS WELL, AND FOR THOSE REASONS, I'LL BE VOTING NO FOR THIS BILL, I VERY MUCH APPRECIATE AND RESPECT YOU BRINGING THIS FORWARD, COUNCILMEMBER MOORE. >> THANK YOU COUNCILMEMBER RIVERA. WE GO LAST CALL ON DISCUSSION, LAST CALL ON DISCUSSION. ONCE I START SPEAKING I WILL PASS IT OVER TO COUNCILMEMBER MOORE AND THERE WILL BE NO -- I'M SORRY, COUNCILMEMBER RIVERA, IS THAT A NEW HAND? NO WORRIES, JUST TRYING TO MAKE SURE I DON'T MISS ANYONE. LAST CALL. LAST CALL POINT FINAL CALL AND DISCUSSION . FINAL CALL ON DISCUSSION. I WILL JUST SAY COUNCILMEMBER MOORE, I APPRECIATE THE CONTINUATION OF THE CONVERSATION, AND SOMETHING THAT I SHARED WITH YOU YESTERDAY, I'M GOING TO SHARE ON THE RECORD, IS THAT YOU ARE A HOUSING CHAMPION AND WITHOUT HAVING A HOUSING CHAMPION ON OUR COUNCIL, IT DOES NOT RECEIVE THE ATTENTION THAT IT ABSOLUTELY NEEDS BECAUSE OF THE DECADES OF UNDERINVESTMENT. AND JUST FROM THE BOTTOM OF MY HEART, THE DEEPEST APPRECIATION FOR YOU. WE WOULD BE IN A WORSE PLACE WITHOUT HAVING YOU HERE. WITH THAT, I AM FROM A PROCEDURAL STANDPOINT, EVEN THOUGH AS I VOTED TO ABSTAIN ON THE LAST ONE, I WILL BE VOTING NO TODAY BECAUSE OF MY COMMENTS LAST WEEK ABOUT WALK ON AMENDMENTS. THANK YOU VERY MUCH. WILL THE CLERK PLEASE CALL THE ROLL ON ITEMS SEVEN, COUNCIL BILL -- >> COUNCILMEMBER WE? >> NO. >> COUNCILMEMBER HOLLINGSWORTH. >> ABSTAIN. >> COUNCILMEMBER KETTLE. >> COUNCILMEMBER MOORE. >> AYE. >> COUNCILMEMBER MORALES. >> NO. >> COUNCIL PRESIDENT NELSON. >> NO. >> COUNCILMEMBER DIBELLA. >> NO. >> COUNCILMEMBER SAKA. >> AYE, AND CHAIR STRAUSS. >> NO . >> TWO IN FAVOR, SIX OPPOSED, AND ONE ABSTENTION. >> THANK YOU VERY MUCH. THE AMENDMENT DOES NOT PASS AND WILL NOT BE ATTACHED TO THE COUNCIL BILL. COLLEAGUES, WE HAVE BEFORE US THE UNDERLYING COUNCIL BILL 129012 AS AMENDED. THIS IS FINAL DISCUSSION ON THE BILL BUT I BELIEVE THAT WE HAVE ALL SAID A LOT SO I DON'T HAVE ANY ADDITIONAL CONVERSATION, OTHER THAN TO SAY THIS WORK IS NOT DONE. WE HAVE MORE WORK TO DO. WE WILL BE TAKING THIS WORK UP, BOTH WITH THE REVIEW AT THE BIENNIUM AND THE COMPREHENSIVE REVIEW FOR YOURS, AND SHOULD COUNCILMEMBERS LIKE TO CONTINUE THIS WORK DURING THE FINANCE COMMITTEE THROUGHOUT THE YEAR, I WELCOME THAT OPPORTUNITY. COUNCILMEMBER MOORE, YOU ARE RECOGNIZED >> THANK YOU, CHAIR. I JUST HAD A QUICK CLARIFICATION. SO OF THE AMENDMENTS THAT WERE SUBMITTED TO YOUR BASE BILL, ONLY FOUR REINSTATING THE SUNSET DATE PASTED, IS THAT CORRECT? >> THAT'S MY UNDERSTANDING, CORRECT. ONLY AMENDMENT NUMBER FOUR, WHICH REINSTATED THE SUNSET PASSED, SEE AN ACROSS-THE-BOARD AGREEMENT. >> THANK YOU. >> COUNCILMEMBER MORALES, YOU ARE RECOGNIZED. >> THANK YOU. I JUST WANTED TO SAY THAT I APPRECIATE THE DISCUSSION. I DON'T BELIEVE THAT WE CAN WAIT UNTIL 2029 TO SOLVE OUR STRUCTURAL ISSUE. AS I'VE SAID, WE SHOULD OF BEEN REVIEWING OPTIONS ALL YEAR AND ANY FINANCIAL PLANNER WILL TELL YOU THAT YOU SHOULD NOT RELY ON ONE REVENUE SOURCE FOR THE BULK OF YOUR EXPENSES. THAT'S DANGEROUS. SO GIVEN THAT WE DID ELIMINATE THE GUARD RAILS, WE DID ELIMINATE THE OVERSIGHT OF THIS FUND AND NOW WE ARE ALSO SAYING THAT WE ARE GOING TO SUNSET IT WHILE WE ARE INCREASING OUR RELIANCE ON IT. I WILL NOT BE SUPPORTING THIS BILL. THANK YOU. >> THANK YOU, COUNCILMEMBER MORALES. COLLEAGUES, ANY OTHER DISCUSSION? LAST CALL ON DISCUSSION. LAST CALL ON DISCUSSION. ONCE I START TALKING, THERE IS NO ONE ELSE. LAST CALL ON DISCUSSION. FINAL CALL ON DISCUSSION. WE ARE GOING TO MOVE TO A VOTE. ALL I WILL SAY IS THAT THERE IS MORE WORK TO DO. WE CANNOT FOREVER RELY ON THE JUMPSTART TEXT FOR GENERAL FUND USE. I THOUGHT THAT I HAD PROPOSED A SOLUTION TO THIS AND I CAN SEE THAT IT HAS BEEN CHANGED BY THE WILL OF THE COUNCIL. SO THIS TIME WITH THE CLERK PLEASE CALL THE ROLE ON COUNCIL BILL 120912 AS AMENDED? >> COUNCILMEMBER WE WILL. COUNCILMEMBER HOLLINGSWORTH? >> YES. >> COUNCILMEMBER KETTLE. >> AYE. >> COUNCILMEMBER MOORE. >> NO. >> COUNCILMEMBER MORALES. >> NO. >> COUNCILMEMBER NELSON. >> AYE. >> COUNCILMEMBER RIVERA. >> AYE. >> COUNCILMEMBER SAKA. >> AYE. >> CHAIR STRAUSS. >> YES. >> SEVEN IN FAVOR, TWO OPPOSED. >> THANK YOU, THE MOTION CARRIES AND COUNCIL BILL 120912 WILL BE SENT TO THE CITY COUNCIL FOR FINAL ACTION. COLLEAGUES, FIRST I'M GOING TO TAKE A POINT OF PERSONAL PRIVILEGE. WE'VE GOT RITA HOLTZMAN IN THE AUDIENCE AS WELL AS CHRIS AURILIA. YOU ARE SITTING NEXT TO EACH OTHER. YOU MIGHT BE NEW BEST FRIENDS. I AM HERE TO SAY THAT RITA IS PROBABLY MVP OF PUBLIC COMMENTERS THIS YEAR, BOTH WITH THE TRANSPORTATION LEVY AND WITH OUR BUDGET AND COUNCILMEMBER SAKA, I KNOW THAT YOUR ENGAGEMENT WITH RITA HAS BEEN EXTENSIVE SO I'M JUST HERE SHOWING MY APPRECIATION. I KNOW YOU DIDN'T SPEAK TODAY BUT YOU ARE HERE AND CHRIS AURILIA, WHO DIDN'T MAKE IT FOR PUBLIC COMMENT, IS ALSO A GREAT HUMAN BEING. THE TWO OF YOU MIGHT JUST BE FRIENDS SO I THOUGHT I'D MAKE THAT MENTION. COLLEAGUES, I'M GOING TO MOVE US ON TO THE NEXT ITEM. WE ARE NOT TAKING LUNCH TODAY. WE ARE GOING TO KEEP MOVING THROUGH IT SO IF YOU NEED TO USE THE RESTROOM OR GRAB A SNACK, PLEASE DO SO AT YOUR CONVENIENCE. WE HAVE TO HAVE FIVE COUNCIL MEMBERS APPEAR AT ALL TIMES SO IF YOU NOTICE THAT FOUR OF YOUR COLLEAGUES ARE GONE, DON'T BE THE ONE TO LEAVE, PLEASE . WITH THAT, WE ARE GOING TO MOVE ON TO THE NEXT ITEM. WILL THE CLERK PLEASE READ ITEM 2 INTO THE RECORD? >> COUNCIL BILL 120916 RELATING TO THE LEVY PROPERTY TAXES AND/OR AMOUNTS OF TEXAS TO BE LEVIED AND LEVIED THE SAME UPON ALL TAXABLE PROPERTY PLUS REAL AND PERSONAL FOR BREATHING, DISCUSSION AND POSSIBLE VOTES. >> THANK YOU. CLERK, CAN I READ BOTH ITEMS INTO THE RECORD SIMULTANEOUSLY OR DO I NEED TO READ THEM SEPARATELY? >> SEPARATE VOTES. >> THANK YOU. >> SO I WILL REMOVE COUNCIL BILL 120916 AND 120917. IS THERE A SECOND? IT HAS MOVED AND SECONDED TO RECOMMEND APPROVAL OF COUNCIL BILL 120906 AND 907. COUNCIL CENTRAL STAFF, WOULD YOU LIKE TO BRIEF THE BILL? AND IF WE COULD DO SO, 151 AND THEN THAT'S PRETTY MUCH THIS -- YES, OVER TO YOU BECAUSE THEY ARE SO SIMILAR. >> OKAY. SO COUNCIL BILL 120906 IS THE ALSO KNOWN AS THE LONG PROPERTY TAX ORDINANCE PER WHO WOULD SET THE CITY'S PROPERTY TAX RATE FOR 2025 TO PAY FOR CITY GOVERNMENT ACTIVITIES AND TO PAY DEBT SERVICE ON VOTER APPROVED BOND MEASURES. INCREASES THE PROPERTY TAX BY 1% AS ALLOWED BY STATE STATUTE AND AS ALLOWANCES FOR NEW CONSTRUCTION AND OTHER ALLOWABLE AMOUNTS AND SPECIFIES DOLLAR AMOUNTS TO BE COLLECTED FOR SPECIAL PURPOSES OF VOTER APPROVED PEPPER DETECTS MEASURES SUCH AS THE RECENTLY PASSED 2024 SEATTLE TRANSPORTATION LEVY, AND THIS BILL ASSUMES $187 MILLION FOR THAT FIRST YEAR OF COLLECTIONS, AND THIS TRANSPORTATION LEVY IS REPLACING THE EXPIRING MOVE SEATTLE LEVY. >> THANK YOU. COLLEAGUES, THIS IS A PRETTY STANDARD PIECE OF ACTION THAT IS DONE EVERY YEAR, THAT IS ADJUSTED BASED UPON 1% INCREASE OF ALLOWABLE USES AND ANY CHANGES TO OUR LEVEES. ARE THERE ANY QUESTIONS FOR CENTRAL STAFF AT THIS TIME? SEE NONE, I'M ALSO GOING TO MOVE SLOWLY BECAUSE I GAVE EVERYONE AN OPPORTUNITY TO USE THE RESTROOM AND HAD A COUPLE PEOPLE TAKE ME UP ON THAT OFFER. SO ACTUALLY I THINK WHAT WE WILL DO IS ONCE WE TAKE THIS VOTE I'M GOING TO TAKE A FIVE MINUTE RECESS TO BE HUMAN AND THEN WE ARE JUST GOING TO COME BACK. I'M ACTUALLY GOING TO DO THAT NOW, IF THAT WORKS. >> WOULD LIKE TO WAIT FOR THE TWO MEMBERS TO RETURN, TAKE A RECESS, OR WE CAN ALL LEAVE THE DAIS AND COME BACK AT THE SAME TIME. >> WE SELECT BUDGET COMMITTEE WILL NOW BE AT EASE AND WE WILL LIKELY BE OUT OF EASE IN ABOUT 3 TO 5 MINUTES. WE ARE JUST IN EASE. >> TO BE AT EASE WOULD BE TO REFRAIN, TO STAY IN CHAMBERS FOR TWO RECESS WOULD MEAN THAT WE CAN ACTUALLY LEAVE CHAMBERS IF WE'D LIKE TO DO THAT. >> SELECT BUDGET COMMITTEE IS NOW AT EASE FOR COLLEAGUES FOR ABOUT FIVE MINUTES. >> [ MUSIC ] [ MUSIC ] >> [ MUSIC ] >> COMMITTEE, WHAT IS THE ACTUAL PROPER TERM FOR BEING OUT OF EASE? THERE'S AN ORDER AT EASE AND WHAT'S THE OTHER IN RESPONSE, TO BE OUT OF EASE? ATTENTION. JUST ATTENTION. >> 10 HUT. >> ATTENTION ON THE DAIS. WITH THAT I KNOW THAT WE HAVE BRIEFED BOTH COUNCIL BILLS. I'M GOING TO MOVE -- BOTH HAVE BEEN MOVED. I PUT US AT EASE, HOPING TO HAVE COUNCILMEMBERS RETURNED BEFORE THE VOTE. THAT HAS NOT HAPPENED AT THIS TIME. YOU ARE WATCHING ME SPEAK VERY SLOWLY. WE HAVE ONE MORE. DO YOU KNOW HOW FAR BEHIND YOUR COMPANION IS? I AM GOING TO SLOW -- COUNCILMEMBERS, ANY FURTHER QUESTIONS ON THE TAX BILLS? SEE NONE, I AM SLOWLY GOING TO COUNCILMEMBER MOORE. >> YES. COULD I JUST HAVE A BRIEF OVERVIEW OF WHAT WE ARE VOTING ON? >> SURE. BACK TO CENTRAL STAFF, IF YOU WANT TO GIVE US ANOTHER BRIEFING, JUST TO BRING US BACK. >> THE WAY PROPERTY TAXES WORK IS THAT -- AND THIS APPLIES TO PROPERTY TAXES FOR THE GENERAL FUND AND LEVEES, THAT EACH YEAR THE CITY TELLS THE ASSESSOR, HOW MUCH REVENUE DO WE WANT TO COLLECT AND THAT AMOUNT IS CONSTRAINED BY STATE LAW TO BE NO MORE THAN 1% THAN THE AMOUNT BEFORE, AND IN GENERAL THE LEVEES ARE WRITTEN SO THEY ARE OFTEN QUOTED AS BEING EX-HUNDRED MILLION DOLLARS OVER A CERTAIN NUMBER OF YEARS THEY ACTUALLY SET THIS PRECISE AMOUNT EACH YEAR SO THE TWO ORDINANCES ESSENTIALLY DO THE SAME THING, WHICH IS TO SET THOSE AMOUNTS. SO YOU ARE DETERMINING THE EXACT PROPERTY TAX AMOUNTS COLLECTED FOR THE GENERAL FUND AND FOR THE LEVEES. THESE REVENUES AT THE LEVELS THESE ORDINANCES ARE IN THE BUDGET. THERE ARE TWO ORDINANCES THAT DO THIS, WHICH IS PART OF STATE LAW, APPARENTLY, AND YOU ARE REQUIRED TO DO THE SECOND ONE, THE SHORT ONE, AS WELL. IT IS NOT IN SUBSTANCE. TO PICK THE AMENDMENT MAY NOT HAVE THE DETAIL BUT THAT'S WHY IT'S HAPPENING. THAT'S WHAT'S GOING ON. >> THANK YOU. ANY FURTHER QUESTIONS? WILL THE CLERK PLEASE CALL THE ROLL ON COUNCIL BILL 120906 ? >> COUNCILMEMBER WE? >> YES. >> COUNCILMEMBER HOLLINGSWORTH. >> AYE. >> COUNCILMEMBER KETTLE. >> AYE. >> COUNCILMEMBER MOORE. >> AYE. >> COUNCILMEMBER MORALES. >> COUNCILMEMBER NELSON. >> AYE. >> COUNCILMEMBER RIVERA. COUNCILMEMBER SAKA. CHAIR STRAUSS. NINE IN FAVOR, NONE OPPOSED >> THANK YOU. MOTION PASSES. COUNCIL BILL 120906 IS RECOMMENDED FOR APPROVAL TO THE CITY COUNCIL. COLLEAGUES, I HAVE ALREADY MOVED, IT IS ALREADY MOVED AND SECONDED FOR COUNCIL BILL 12007. I WILL ASK THE CLERK TO PLEASE CALL THE ROLL ON COUNCIL BILL 120907. >> COUNCILMEMBER WE WILL. >> YES. >> COUNCILMEMBER HOLLINGSWORTH. >> AYE. >> COUNCIL MEMBER KETTLE. >> AYE. >> COUNCILMEMBER MOORE. >> AYE. >> COUNCILMEMBER MORALES. >> YES. >> COUNCIL MEMBER NELSON. >> AYE. >> COUNCILMEMBER RIVERA. >> AYE. >> COUNCILMEMBER SAKA. >> AYE. >> CHAIR STRAUSS. >> YES. >> NINE IN FAVOR, NONE OPPOSED. >> 12007 WILL BE SENT TO THE CITY COUNCIL. WE ARE GOING TO MOVE ON TO ITEM FOUR. CLERK, WILL YOU PLEASE READ ITEM FOUR INTO THE RECORD? >> ITEM NUMBER 412-0905 ADOPTING A BUDGET INCLUDING A CAPITAL PROGRAM AND POSITION MODIFICATIONS FOR THE CITY OF SEATTLE FOR 2025 AND CREATING POSITIONS EXEMPT FROM CIVIL SERVICE, LIKE TWO THIRDS VOTE OF THE CITY COUNCIL, FOR BREATHING, DISCUSSION AND POSSIBLE VOTE AND QUICK CORRECTION, CHAIR, THIS WAS MOVED AND SECONDED AND AMENDED AT PREVIOUS MEETINGS AT THIS POINT. THE FINAL ACTION WOULD BE JUST TO TAKE A FINAL VOTE ON THE RECOMMENDATION TO PASS THE BILL AS AMENDED. >> THANK YOU. COLLEAGUES, I WILL ASK CENTRAL STAFF TO BRIEF US ON WHAT IS BEFORE US BECAUSE IT IS, FOR SOMEBODY WHO HASN'T SEEN THIS BEFORE, MIGHT NOT SEEM LIKE IT MAKES SENSE BUT IT IS INCREDIBLY IMPORTANT AND CRUCIAL TO PASSING A BUDGET. WHEN WE GET TO THURSDAY, THIS WILL BE THE TIME YOU WANT TO SPEAK TO THE BUDGET. JUST NOW BEING PREPARED IN SPEAKING AT THIS POINT. WITH THAT, DIRECTOR AND DEPUTY DIRECTOR, COULD YOU WALK US THROUGH AT THE MOMENT, I'LL TAKE DISCUSSION AND THEN WE'LL TAKE A VOTE? >> YES, HAPPY TO DO THAT. COUNCIL BILL 120905 IS THE 2025 BUDGET ADOPTION ORDINANCE. THE KEY ASPECTS OF THIS ORDINANCE ARE ATTACHMENTS LETTER A AND B, WHICH HAVE NOT BEEN UPDATED YET, PENDING THE VOTE OF THIS COMMITTEE. SO JUST NOTING FOR THE PUBLIC. ATTACHMENT LETTER A SHOWS THE CHANGES TO APPROPRIATIONS BY A BUDGET CONTROL LEVEL FOR THE ENTIRE CITY AND NOTES THE MAYOR HAS PROPOSED AND THEN THE COUNCIL CHANGES AND EVERYONE CAN SEE WHAT WAS TRANSMITTED, WHAT THE COUNCIL MADE CHANGES TO AND WHAT SOME OF THOSE CHANGES ARE. ATTACHMENT B JUST SHOWS ANY CHANGES TO POSITION, SO ADDITIONS, REMOVALS OF PERMANENT POSITIONS. SO THAT IS ALL I HAVE TO SAY ON THAT. >> THANK YOU. SO SAID IN ANOTHER WAY, THIS IS FOR POSTERITY TO SEE THE TRACK CHANGES, SO THAT WE HAVE THE MAYOR'S PROPOSAL IN THE CLERK FILE. WE HAVE THE COUNCIL CHANGES TO THE MAYOR'S PROPOSAL AND THEN WE HAVE THE FINAL ACTION THAT'S ADOPTED. WOULD YOU LIKE TO SPEAK ? LET ME ASK THE QUESTION. I'VE HEARD YOU SAY THESE THINGS SO MANY TIMES. I CAN'T REMEMBER. DID YOU GET TO THE CIP, THE CLERK FILE ON THAT RESOLUTION? >> I DID NOT SAY. DID YOU WANT ME TO TALK ABOUT ALL THOSE ITEMS? >> IF YOU COULD GIVE EVERYONE A BRIEF OVERVIEW. I'VE GOT IT IN MY HEAD. >> HAPPY TO DO THAT. SO A SEPARATE PIECE OF ITEM ON THE AGENDA IS THE CLERK FILES 314539. SO THIS ACTUALLY CONTAINS ALL OF THE COUNCIL BUDGET AMENDMENTS THAT WERE DISCUSSED LAST WEEK, THAT WERE ADOPTED BY THE COMMITTEE, AND THAT IS -- THAT WILL BE 151 SEPARATE BUDGET AMENDMENTS, SO THAT WILL BE THE WRITEUPS THAT YOU ALL WORKED WITH CENTRAL STAFF ON DEVELOPING AND THAT WERE DISCUSSED LAST WEEK, AND WILL ALSO INCLUDE THE VOTE TALLIES FOR EACH. SO AGAIN, FOR POSTERITY. SO THE PUBLIC CAN SEE WHO VOTED, HOW, ON EACH OF THE AMENDMENTS, AS WELL AS THE FULL DESCRIPTION AND THE TRANSACTIONS IN EACH OF THOSE BUDGET AMENDMENTS. SO THAT'S CLARIFIED 314539. THAT IS CURRENTLY EMPTY BEFORE YOU BECAUSE IT IS ALSO PENDING A VOTE OF THIS COMMITTEE, AND ONCE THAT HAS BEEN APPROVED BY THE COMMITTEE, IT WILL BE POPULATED BY ALL THE ITEMS, AS I DISCUSSED, AND THEN FINALLY THERE IS A -- BECAUSE IT IS A BIENNIAL BUDGET, WE HAVE A 2026 BUDGET ENDORSEMENT RESOLUTION, AND AGAIN, IT'S A RESOLUTION SO IT'S A LITTLE DIFFERENT FROM AN ORDINANCE BUT IT WILL BE -- IT REPRESENTS THE BASELINE OF WHAT WILL BE TRANSMITTED BY THE MAYOR NEXT YEAR, AND THIS ENDORSEMENT RESOLUTION HAS TWO ATTACHMENTS SIMILAR TO THE BUDGET ADOPTION ORDINANCE, AND ATTACHMENT A AND ATTACHMENT B , SAME GENERAL IDEA BUT FOR 2026 INSTEAD OF 2025. >> THANK YOU, DEPUTY DIRECTOR. THIS IS, COLLEAGUES, WHERE -- WHY WE CANNOT AMEND THE BUDGET ANYMORE AFTER TODAY. WE DO, WE'LL BE BACK HERE NEXT WEEK. IT'S NOT SORRY, THAT'S NOT A THREAT. THAT'S JUST A REALITY. LIKE HERE WE ARE. SO WHEN WE PASS THIS, WHEN WE FINISH OUR ACTIONS TODAY, THESE DOCUMENTS WILL BE FILLED IN BECAUSE ONLY ONCE WE PASS THESE BILLS OUT OF COMMITTEE, IS OUR ACTIONS FINALIZED, SO IT'S JUST WHERE WE ARE TODAY. COLLEAGUES, ANY QUESTIONS? THIS IS THE DISCUSSION PERIOD OF COUNCIL BILL 120905. COUNCILMEMBER RIVERA 2 >> THANK YOU, CHAIR. WHAT WAS INCLUDED IN THE AGENDA FOR TODAY IS NOT -- I DON'T SEE THE LIST OF THE CHANGES THAT WE MADE. SO WAS THAT INCLUDED IN OUR AGENDA? >> THANK YOU, COUNCILMEMBER RIVERA. IT IS NOT INCLUDED IN THE AGENDA BECAUSE IT CAN ONLY BE POPULATED ONCE IT IS PASSED OUT OF THAT COMMITTEE. >> SO NOT EVEN FOR SHOW, JUST TO SHOW? >> OVER TO CENTRAL STAFF. >> THE LIST OF ITEMS YOU VOTED ON PREVIOUSLY THIS WEEK, ALL THE ONES THAT WERE APPROVED WOULD BE INSERTED INTO THE CLERK FILE TAKE ON THURSDAY. >> YOU FOR CLARIFYING THAT. >> ABSOLUTELY. >> COLLEAGUES, OTHER DISCUSSION, COUNCIL PRESIDENT? >> JUST TO CLARIFY ATTACHMENT LETTER A THAT ONLY SHOWS ONE COLUMN WITH COSTS, AND THAT IS THE BILL THAT WE RECEIVED FROM THE MAYOR, IS THAT THE POINT? >> CENTRAL STAFF? >> YES, WE RECEIVED WITH THE MAYOR PROPOSED AND THE BUDGET ATTACHMENT A FLEX THE BUDGET THAT THE MAYOR PROPOSED. SO ONCE YOU ALL VOTE ON APPROVING COUNCIL BILL 120 905 AS AMENDED, THEN IT WILL REFLECT THE COUNCIL'S CHANGES. SO AGAIN, ON THURSDAY THAT WILL APPEAR WITH THE CHANGES. >> THANK YOU. FURTHER DISCUSSION? >> FURTHER DISCUSSION. COUNCILMEMBER MORALES. >> THANK YOU, CHAIR. I KNOW THIS IS ALL A LOT. THIS IS ALWAYS A REALLY QUICK PROCESS. WE HAVE SIX-EIGHT WEEKS, 10 WEEKS MAYBE TO DO SOMETHING THAT THE EXECUTIVE HAS ALL YEAR TO DO. THAT SAID, BECAUSE WE HAVE HAD SO MUCH CHANGE IN THE LAST COUPLE OF COMMITTEE MEETINGS, I DO NEED A COUPLE DAYS TO UNDERSTAND THIS, SO I WILL BE ABSTAINING ON THIS PARTICULAR BILL. THANK YOU, CHAIR. >> THANK YOU COUNCILMEMBER MORALES. COLLEAGUES? FURTHER DISCUSSION? FURTHER DISCUSSION FINAL. FINAL DISCUSSION? THIS IS A PROCEDURAL VOTE THIS TIME. COUNCILMEMBER? >> SORRY, JUST ONE QUESTION. SO WHEN WE GET A CHANCE TO LOOK AT THE LOBBY FOR OUR VOTE ON THURSDAY, IF SOMETHING HAPPENS, UNLIKELY TO BE THE SAME MODEL BEADED. >> WE WILL TALK TO CENTRAL STAFF. AND THIS IS AGAIN FROM A PROCESS STANDPOINT WHY THERE ARE PARAMETERS ON WHAT WE CAN BE WORKING ON RIGHT NOW, BECAUSE RIGHT NOW IS ENSURING ACCURACY. SO IF THERE IS SOMETHING THAT IS NOT ACCURATE FOR THURSDAY, WE WILL MAKE THAT CHANGE, AND THAT IS PART OF WHY WE HAVE TO VOTE IT OUT OF COMMITTEE TODAY. THERE IS TIME IN BETWEEN AND THEN WE TAKE FINAL ACTION. SO TODAY'S MEETING WILL FEEL MUCH LIKE THURSDAY'S MEETING. BUT IT'S KIND OF DEJA VU ALL OVER AGAIN. AND I'LL TELL YOU, IF YOU FIND A FORK IN THE ROAD, TAKE IT. WITH THAT, COLLEAGUES, ANY FURTHER DISCUSSION? FURTHER DISCUSSION, FINAL DISCUSSION, LAST CALL AND WILL YOU PLEASE CALL THE ROLL ON COUNCIL BILL 120905 AS ADOPTED? >> COUNCILMEMBER WOO. >> YES. >> COUNCILMEMBER HOLLINGSWORTH. >> AYE. >> COUNCILMEMBER KETTLE. >> AYE. >> COUNCILMEMBER MAC. >> YES. >> COUNCILMEMBER MORALES. >> ABSTAIN. >> COUNCIL MEMBER NELSON. >> ABSTAIN. >> COUNCILMEMBER RIVERA. >> AYE. >> COUNCILMEMBER SAKA. >> AYE. >> CHAIR STRAUSS. >> YES. >> SEVEN IN FAVOR, TWO ABSTENTIONS. >> THANK YOU, THE MOTION PASSES AND COUNCIL BILL 12005 WILL BE SENT TO THE CITY COUNCIL. MOVING ON TO ITEM NUMBER FIVE, WILL THE CLERK PLEASE READ ITEM NUMBER FIVE INTO THE RECORD. >> 314 539, COUNCIL CHANGES TO BE 2025-2026 PROPOSED BUDGET IN THE 2025-2030 PROPOSED CAPITAL IMPROVEMENT PROGRAM FOR BREATHING, DISCUSSION AND POSSIBLE VOTE. >> THANK YOU DIRECTOR AND DEPUTY DIRECTOR. THIS IS WHERE I DIDN'T READ MY SCRIPT WHEN I WAS GOING OVER YOUR POWERPOINT. WE'VE ALREADY BEEN BRIEFED. 31 4549, IS THERE FURTHER DISCUSSION ON THIS CLERK FILE? ALL RIGHT, THEN I AM GOING TO MOVE. I NEED A SECOND END I'M JUST GOING TO ASK US TO GO STRAIGHT INTO THE VOTING. I MOVE CLERK FILE 41 4539. IS THERE A SECOND? >> SECOND. >> IT IS SECONDED. COLLEAGUES, LAST CHANCE ON DISCUSSION. LAST CALL. LAST CALL ON DISCUSSION. FINAL CALL. WILL THE CLERK PLEASE CALL THE ROLL ON CLERK FILE 314539? >> COUNCILMEMBER WILL ? COUNCILMEMBER HOLLINGSWORTH. >> YES. >> COUNCILMEMBER KETTLE. >> AYE. >> COUNCILMEMBER MORE. >> AYE. >> COUNCILMEMBER MORALES. >> YES. >> COUNCILMEMBER NELSON. >> AYE. >> COUNCILMEMBER RIVERA. >> AYE. >> COUNCILMEMBER SAKA. >> AYE. >> CHAIR STRAUSS. >> YES. >> NINE IN FAVOR, AND UNOPPOSED. >> WE GOING TO MOVE ON TO ITEM NUMBER SIX. ITEM NUMBER SIX HAS BEEN BRIEFLY DISCUSSED. WILL THE CLERK PLEASE CALL ROLE, READ ITEM NUMBER SIX INTO THE RECORD? >> FILE WAS APPROVED. >> THE CLERK FILE WAS APPROVED AND WILL BE SENT TO CITY COUNCIL. THANK YOU AMELIA SANCHEZ. MOVING ON TO ITEM NUMBER SIX, WILL THE CLERK PLEASE READ ITEM NUMBER SIX? >> AGENDA ITEM 6, RESOLUTION 32153 ENDORSING A BUDGET AND POSITION MODIFICATIONS FOR THE CITY OF SEATTLE FOR 2026, FOR BREATHING, DISCUSSION AND POSSIBLE VOTE. >> THANK YOU. I WILL MOVE RESOLUTION 32153. IS THERE A SECOND? >> SECOND. >> IT HAS BEEN MOVED AND SECONDED TO ADOPT RESOLUTION 32153. I HAVE TOM MIKE SO COMING UP HERE. JUST BRIEFLY I'LL ASK FOR THE SLIGHTLY DEEPER DISCUSSION THAT WE HAD BEFORE. COLLEAGUES, THIS RESOLUTION IS ESSENTIALLY THE SECOND. IT LAYS OUT THE SECOND YEAR OF THE BIENNIUM. DEPUTY DIRECTOR, ANYTHING ELSE TO ADD AT THIS TIME? SEEN NOTHING FROM YOU COLLEAGUES QUESTIONS COMMENTS, DISCUSSION. COLLEAGUES, DISCUSSION? COLLEAGUES, DISCUSSION. LAST CALL ON DISCUSSION. LAST CALL ON DISCUSSION. LAST CALL ON DISCUSSION. FINAL CALL ON DISCUSSION. WILL THE CLERK PLEASE CALL THE ROLL ON RESOLUTION 32153. >> COUNCILMEMBER WOO. COUNCILMEMBER HOLLINGSWORTH. >> YES. >> COUNCILMEMBER KETTLE. >> HI. >> COUNCILMEMBER MOORE. >> AYE. >> COUNCILMEMBER MORALES. >> YES. >> COUNCIL MEMBER NELSON. >> AYE. >> COUNCILMEMBER RIVERA. >> AYE. >> COUNCILMEMBER SAKA. >> AYE. >> CHAIR STRAUSS. NINE IN FAVOR, AND UNOPPOSED. >> THANK YOU, THE RESOLUTION PASSES AND WILL BE SENT TO THE SEATTLE CITY COUNCIL. MOVING ON TO ITEM NUMBER SEVEN, WE WILL THE CLERK PLEASE READ ITEM NUMBER SEVEN INTO THE RECORD? >> AGENDA ITEM 7, COUNCIL BILL 120908 IMPOSING EXCISE TAX ON THE SALE OR EXCHANGE OF CERTAIN CAPITAL ASSETS IN SEATTLE, ADDING NEW CHAPTER 5 POINT 66 TO THE SEATTLE MUNICIPAL CODE. BREATHING, DISCUSSION IT IS POSSIBLE VOTE. >> THANK YOU, COUNCILMEMBER MOORE. WOULD YOU LIKE TO MOVE YOUR BILL? IF YOU ARE NOT READY TO I'LL GET YOU FOR IT. I MOVE THAT THE COMMITTEE RECOMMENDS PASSAGE FOR COUNCIL BILL 120908. IS THERE A SECOND? >> SECOND. >> MOVED TO BE SECONDED, I'M GOING TO TURN IT OVER TO COUNCIL CENTRAL STAFF FOR A BRIEFING AND THEN TURN IT OVER TO COUNCILMEMBER MOORE AS THE SPONSOR, AND COUNCILMEMBER MOORE, I'M JUST GOING TO ASK FOR A PROCEDURAL QUESTION RIGHT NOW. WOULD YOU LIKE US TO BRIEF BOTH HILLS AT ONCE OR ONE BY ONE? >> BOTH I THINK IS FINE. >> OKAY, THEN I WILL ALSO MOVE COUNCIL BILL 120909. IS THERE A SECOND? >> SECOND. >> BOTH BILLS HAVE BEEN MOVED AND SECONDED. WE WILL VOTE ON THEM EVENTUALLY. OVER TO CENTRAL STAFF AND BACK TO COUNCILMEMBER MOORE. >> THANK YOU CHAIR STRAUSS AND GOOD MORNING MEMBERS OF THE COMMITTEE. TOM MIKE CELL WITH CENTRAL STAFF. WE GOING TO TALK ABOUT TWO BILLS RELATED TO THE SAME, SIMILAR TOPIC GO FIRST IS COUNCIL BILL 120908, WHICH WOULD IMPOSE A LOCAL CAPITAL GAINS EXCISE TAX. SO THE PRESENTATION I HAVE THIS MORNING'S ABBREVIATED VERSION OF WHAT WE DID LAST WEEK. ESSENTIALLY THIS TAX MIRRORS THE STATE'S TAX THAT WAS PASSED IN 2021, THOUGH IT DOES HAVE A DIFFERENT RATE OF 2% VERSUS THE STATE'S RATE OF 7%. THE EXCISE TAX WOULD APPLY TO LONG-TERM CAPITAL GAINS AND THE SALE OF NONEXEMPT CAPITAL ASSETS AFTER A $262 STANDARD DEDUCTION IS APPLIED SO THE STANDARD DEDUCTION WAS ORIGINALLY $250,000 IN THE STATE'S BILL AND IT HAS SINCE BEEN INFLATED. THE CITIES PROPOSED EXCISE TAX WOULD HAVE A SIMILAR INFLATION PROCESS TO KEEP IN PARALLEL STRUCTURE WITH THE STATE'S BILL FOR ADMINISTRATIVE EFFICIENCIES. SOME FORMS OF CAPITAL GAINS WOULD BE EXEMPT FROM THIS TAX. MOST IMPORTANT, REAL ESTATE SALES AND SALES WITHIN RETIREMENT ACCOUNTS WOULD BE EXEMPT. ALSO, EXEMPTIONS WOULD INCLUDE CONDEMNATIONS, LIVESTOCK SALES, FISH AND TIMBER AND AUCTION SALES. THIS TAX WOULD BE EFFECTIVE JANUARY 1st OF 2026. THE FIRST DOLLARS IN THE DOOR WOULD BE APRIL OF 2027. SO IN TERMS OF THE REVENUE THAT WOULD BE GAINED FROM THIS TAX, THE OFFICE OF ECONOMIC AND REVENUE FORECASTS OF THE CITY ESTIMATED A RANGE OF ANYWHERE FROM $16 MILLION-$51 MILLION FROM THIS TAX IN 2027. THE OFFICE DID NOTE THERE IS A HIGH DEGREE OF UNCERTAINTY IN THIS TAX BECAUSE IT IS GENERATED FROM A VERY SMALL BASE OF TAXPAYERS, APPROXIMATELY 163 TAXPAYERS IN THE CITY OF SEATTLE PAID THE TAX, PAID 2023 OBLIGATIONS FOR THE TAX, 85% FROM THAT BASE AND THAT THEY -- BECAUSE OF THAT UNCERTAINTY, THE ANNUAL REVENUE OF THE TAX COULD IN FACT FLUCTUATE BEYOND THE RANGE THAT WAS PROVIDED IN THAT $16 MILLION-$51 MILLION A YEAR. IN TERMS OF IMPLEMENTATION, THIS WOULD BE IMPLEMENTED BY THE DEPARTMENT OF FINANCE AND ADMINISTRATIVE SERVICES, LIKE ALL OTHER CITY TAXES. THE FAS ESTIMATES THE ONE TIME STARTUP COST WOULD BE $1 MILLION AND THAT ONGOING COST OF IMPLEMENTATION WOULD BE $1.2 MILLION PER YEAR. THEY DID INDICATE THAT THERE WOULD BE AN 18 TO 24 MONTH TIMELINE TO IMPLEMENT THE TAX, WHICH IS CONSISTENT WITH OTHER CITY TAXES. AND FINALLY THAT IS JUST A ROUGH ESTIMATE OF THE COST WOULD BE REFINED THROUGH BUDGET REQUESTS AND I WOULD JUST MOVE INTO ITEM NUMBER EIGHT, WHICH IS THE USE OF THE PROCEEDS THAT WOULD BE GENERATED FROM THE TAX US COUNCIL BILL 120909 WOULD EARMARK REVENUE FROM THE CAPITAL GAINS EXCISE TAX TO RENTAL ASSISTANCE, TO RENT BURDENED HOUSEHOLDS, DOWN PAYMENT ASSISTANCE TO HOUSEHOLDS AND FOOD ASSISTANCE TO FOOD INSECURE HOUSEHOLDS. AND IT ALSO STATES COUNCIL'S INTENT TO FURTHER DETAIL THE CELEBRATIONS THROUGH EITHER SEPARATE LEGISLATION OR FUTURE BUDGET PROCESSES. AND THAT IN A NUTSHELL, THOSE TWO BILLS, I'M HAPPY TO ANSWER ANY QUESTIONS. >> THANK YOU, TOM. COUNCILMEMBER MOORE ON THE SPONSOR OF THE BILLS. >> THANK YOU VERY MUCH, CHAIR. THANK YOU, TOM, FOR THE PRESENTATION. SO I GUESS THE FIRST THING THAT I WANT TO SAY IS BECAUSE I HAVE RECEIVED FEEDBACK ABOUT THIS WITH SORT OF BEING BROKEN UP INTO TWO GROUPS, ONE, THE GROUP OF INDIVIDUALS WHO BASICALLY DON'T BELIEVE IN ADDITIONAL TAXING OR REVENUE. I BELIEVE THAT WE SHOULD LIVE WITHIN OUR MEANS AND DO A BETTER JOB WITH THE BUDGET IN FRONT OF US? TO THAT I WOULD SAY I RESPECT THAT POINT OF VIEW BUT I DISAGREE WITH IT. I ALSO WOULD SAY THAT ALL OF US UP HERE MADE A COMMITMENT TO TAKE A VERY HARD LOOK AT THE BUDGET THAT WAS GOING TO BE SUBMITTED TO US, AND REALLY LOOK AT WAYS TO FIND EFFICIENCIES, WAYS TO MAKE CUTS, AND UNDER THE LEADERSHIP OF CHAIR STRAUSS, AND WITH THE INCREDIBLE WORK OF OUR CENTRAL STAFF, AND ALSO WITH EACH OF US IN OUR CAPACITY AS CHAIR FOR THE DIFFERENT CITY DEPARTMENTS, WE, I THINK, HAVE TAKEN AN UNPRECEDENTED DEEP LOOK AND DIE THAT THE CITY'S BUDGET, AND I FEEL VERY COMFORTABLE ABOUT THE PROCESS WE HAVE ENGAGED IN, IN DOING SO. I THINK ONE THING THAT WAS REVEALED THROUGH THAT DEEP ANALYSIS IS TWO THINGS. ONE, THERE IS NOT A WHOLE LOT TO BE CUT. THERE IS DEFINITELY ROOM FOR EFFICIENCY AND IMPROVEMENTS AND I THINK THIS COUNCIL HAS DONE A GOOD JOB OF BRINGING FORWARD SLIDES AND OTHER AMENDMENTS TO MAKE THAT HAPPEN. I THINK WE FOUND THAT THERE'S NOT A LOT TO CUT AND WE ARE ALSO -- THERE'S NOT A LOT THAT WE ARE ACTUALLY PREPARED TO CUT, AND I THINK THAT THAT COMES DOWN TO THE FACT THAT WE ARE -- ALL OF US UP HERE ARE TRYING TO MAINTAIN A HIGH LEVEL OF SERVICE AND AMENITY AND PUBLIC SAFETY IN THE CITY. AND WE ARE NOT SLASH AND BURN, BY ANY MEANS, SO THAT DOES LEAVE US AT THE POINT WHERE WE NEED ADDITIONAL REVENUE. I THINK THAT'S ALSO BECOME VERY CLEAR IN OUR DISCUSSIONS ABOUT UTILIZING PAYROLL EXPENSE TAX TO ADDRESS GENERAL FUND DEFICITS. THERE'S BEEN A LOT OF DISCUSSION ABOUT -- SORRY, AND THEN TO THE OTHER PIECE, THE OTHER PEOPLE WHO HAVE REACHED OUT WITH CONCERNS AND SAY IF YOU PASS THIS TAX, I'M GOING -- THIS EXCISE TAX, I'M GOING TO LOSE MY HOME, OR IN GOING TO LOSE MY BUSINESS, OR I'M GOING TO BE RUN OUT OF THE CITY. AND TO THOSE INDIVIDUALS, I WANT TO BE VERY, VERY CLEAR, THAT THIS IS NOT AN INCOME TAX. WE ARE NOT TAXING WAGES. WE ARE NOT TAXING EARNINGS. THIS IS A FEE. IT'S AN EXCISE FEE THAT WILL BE PAID ONCE SOMEBODY HAD SOLD THEIR STOCKS OR BONDS AND THEY HAVE RECEIVED OVER $262,000 IN PROFIT. THIS TAX, IF PASSED, WOULD POTENTIALLY AFFECT, AT MAXIMUM, 860 SEATTLE RESIDENTS OUT OF OVER ALMOST 800,000 RESIDENTS. SO -- AND THERE'S NO HIDDEN AGENDA TO SUDDENLY MAKE THIS APPLICABLE TO PEOPLE WHO ARE SELLING STOCKS AND BONDS AND EARNING $100,000 ON A PROFIT. THIS IS TO REMAIN MARRIED TO THE STATE AND IF IT PASSES IT WILL ALWAYS BE MARRIED TO THE STATE BECAUSE IT PROVIDES AN EASIER WAY FOR US ADMINISTRATIVELY TO IMPLEMENT THE TAX MONITOR TO COLLECT IT. SO I JUST WANT TO TRY TO PUT TO REST ANY PARTICULAR FEARS REGARDING WE ARE COMING AFTER THE SMALL POCKETBOOK. WE ARE ABSOLUTELY NOT. WE ARE LOOKING AT THE TOP 860 SEATTLE RESIDENTS WHO MANAGED TO EARN OVER $262,000 IN PROFIT ON THE SALE OF A STOCK OR BOND, OR OTHER FINANCIAL INVESTMENT, EXCLUDING RETIREMENT ACCOUNTS EXCLUDING SALES OF HOMES AND BUSINESSES, AND EVEN AUTO DEALERSHIPS. SO THEN THE QUESTION BECOMES, WELL, THIS IS NOT THE RIGHT TIME TO BRING A TAX AND I GUESS I WOULD STRONGLY DISAGREE WITH THAT. I THINK THE FACT THAT WE WERE ENGAGED IN THESE DISCUSSIONS ABOUT HOW ARE WE GOING TO FILL OUR GENERAL FUND DEFICITS, HOW ARE WE GOING TO ADDRESS THE STRUCTURAL CONCERNS OF OUR BUDGET, IS AN APPROPRIATE TIME FOR US TO BEGIN TO DISCUSS LOOKING AT ADDITIONAL REVENUE SOURCES, AND WE'VE HAD A LOT OF PEOPLE COME AND TESTIFY ABOUT THE NEED TO LOOK FOR ADDITIONAL PROGRESSIVE REVENUE. TO THOSE INDIVIDUALS, I WOULD SAY THE INCOME TAX IS NOT COMING. THE STATE LEGISLATURE, LAST YEAR ONE OF THEM ADOPTED INITIATIVE 21 -- LET ME LOOK AT THE NUMBER HERE. ANYWAY, THEY ADOPTED INITIATIVE THAT PROHIBITS THE STATE AND THE CITY AND MUNICIPALITIES FROM IMPLEMENTING AN INCOME TAX. THAT'S GOOD FOR TWO YEARS. THERE IS A POTENTIAL TO COME BACK AND REVIEW THAT. UNLIKELY THAT THAT'S GOING TO GET ADOPTED BY THE STATE LEGISLATURE AND UNLIKELY, THAT IF IT WERE, THAT IT WOULDN'T BE CHALLENGED. SO I THINK WE CAN SAY THAT THAT WISHFUL THINKING FOR THAT PARTICULAR SOURCE OF REVENUE, EVEN IF WE WOULD WANT TO PURSUE IT, IS NOT GOING TO HAPPEN. SO WHERE DO WE LOOK FOR ADDITIONAL SOURCES? NOT NECESSARILY CERTAINLY AS A SUPPLEMENTAL SOURCE, NOT NECESSARILY AS THE FULL SOURCE, AS COUNCILMEMBER MORALES MADE COMMENTS, IT'S NOT WISE TO LOOK AT ONLY ONE SOURCE TO FILL ALL OF OUR VARIOUS BUDGETARY NEEDS. WELL, WE HAD THE REVENUE STABILIZATION WORK GROUP AND THEY CAME UP WITH A LOT OF GOOD IDEAS. BUT THEN IT TURNED OUT THAT UPON CLOSER ANALYSIS, MANY OF THOSE IDEAS HAD SERIOUS LEGAL INSUFFICIENCIES AND PROBLEMS . WE HAVE TWO IDEAS THAT WERE PUT FORTH BY COUNCILMEMBER MORALES, WHICH I WAS HAPPY TO COSPONSOR, LOOKING AT PROFESSIONAL TAXES AND DIGITAL ADVERTISING TAX . IF THOSE HAD BEEN PASSED, THEY ALSO, TOO WOULD'VE BEEN POTENTIALLY SUBJECT TO LEGAL CHALLENGE. SO THAT I THINK EFFECTIVELY LEAVES US AT THE CAPITAL GAINS EXCISE TAX. THIS HAS BEEN -- IT WITHSTOOD LEGAL CHALLENGE. IT'S BEEN UPHELD BY THE WASHINGTON STATE SUPREME COURT, AND AFTER THAT, IT WITHSTOOD AN INITIATIVE CHALLENGE, AND I WOULD NOTE THAT 64% OF THE STATE VOTE REAFFIRMED UPHOLDING THE CAPITAL GAINS TAX. 85% OF THE CITY OF SEATTLE VOTE REAFFIRMED UPHOLDING THE CAPITAL GAINS TAX. THIS IS A TAX THAT'S POPULAR IN THE EXCISE TAX THAT'S POPULAR AND HAS WITHSTOOD LEGAL AND POPULAR CHALLENGE. AND SO I THINK THAT THIS IS THE TIME TO TALK ABOUT THIS DISCUSSION. THIS IS THE EXCISE TAX THAT WE SHOULD BE PURSUING, AND TO THE POINT THAT IT WILL TAKE US UNTIL 2027 TWO ACTUALLY HAVE ANY INCOME TO ALLOCATE. AND I RECOGNIZE THAT IT IS -- THERE'S CONCERN THAT WE ARE GOING TO PUSH PEOPLE OUT OF THE CITY IF WE IMPLEMENT THIS. THAT WE MAY LOSE A FEW PEOPLE. IT'S MORE LIKELY THAT PEOPLE WILL ATTEMPT TO ENGAGE IN TAX PLANNING STRATEGIES THAT MAKE IT SO THAT THEY DON'T NECESSARILY HAVE TO PAY THIS EXCISE TAX ON EXCESSIVE PROFITS, AND THAT'S KIND OF WHAT WE SAW AT THE STATE LEVEL, THAT MAY HAPPEN. I DON'T THINK THAT THAT'S GOING TO HAPPEN SUFFICIENTLY TO DRY UP THE MONEY, AND THAT'S WHY WE HAVE AT A BASE $15 MILLION $.15 MILLION TO $61 MILLION $.15 MILLION CAN GET US A LOT OF RENTAL ASSISTANCE. $50 MILLION CAN GET US A LOT OF DOWN PAYMENT ASSISTANCE. $15 MILLION CAN HELP US KEEP A LOTS OF THE 9.7% HOUSEHOLDS IN KING COUNTY WHO ARE FOOD INSECURE, FED. SO I THINK WE NEED TO LOOK AT WHAT'S THE BASE AMOUNT, AND WHAT WE CAN DO WITH IT, AND WE CAN ACCOMPLISH A LOT AS A SOCIAL SAFETY NET IN THE CITY BUT WE CONTINUE TO SEE GLARING INCOME INEQUALITY, WHICH IS ONLY GOING TO GET WORSE, GIVEN WHAT'S HAPPENING AT THE NATIONAL LEVEL. AND THE OTHER THING I'LL POINT OUT IS WHERE THIS RELATES TO OFTEN RELIES ON THE SALE OF STOCKS AND BONDS. PEOPLE ARE CONCERNED ABOUT THAT. THE ONE THING I CAN SAY FOR SURE, THAT TRUMP IS GOING TO PROTECT THE STOCKS AND BONDS PROFIT. HE'S NOT GOING TO TAKE TANK THE STOCK MARKET, AND SO I THINK WE CAN BE RELIANT UPON NO MATTER WHAT SORT OF CRAZY THINGS HE CHOOSES TO DO, HE'S GOING TO LISTEN TO THE BANKERS. HE'S GOING TO LISTEN TO THE PEOPLE ON WALL STREET AND THE STOCK MARKET IS GOING TO CONTINUE TO REMAIN STRONG, AND SO I'M NOT CONCERNED ABOUT IT BEING SO VOLATILE THAT WE CAN'T RELY UPON IT. SO WE NEED TO GET STARTED. WE ARE GOING TO HAVE A SIGNIFICANT COUNCIL CHAIR, STRAUSS CONTINUES TO POINT OUT WE ARE GOING TO HAVE A SIGNIFICANT DEFICIT TO DEAL WITH IN 2027. LET US AT LEAST BEGIN THE PROCESS OF LOOKING UP AND COLLECTING SOME MONEY SO WE HAVE OTHER ADDITIONAL RESOURCES IN 2027 TO WORK FROM WHEN WE ARE EVALUATING JUMPSTART, WHEN WE ARE LOOKING AT THE GENERAL FUND. I ANTICIPATE WE WILL PROBABLY GET A GOOD SHOT IN THE ARM IN 2026 WITH FIFA. THAT'S ONE TIME. THAT'S A SHOT IN THE ARM. WE REALLY NEED TO BE EXPANDING OUR REVENUE BASE, AND THIS IS ONE THAT HAS BEEN PROVEN TO WORK AND TO BE VIABLE. AND SO FOR THOSE REASONS I WOULD ASK FOR YOUR SUPPORT. >> COUNCILMEMBER MOORE VERY WELL SAID . COLLEAGUES, THIS IS THE PERIOD OF DISCUSSION ON BOTH BILLS BEFORE US AND SO IF YOU HAVE THINGS TO DISCUSS, PLEASE RAISE YOUR HAND. I WILL HAVE THE LAST WORD AMONGST THE GROUP AND THEN I WILL PASS IT OVER TO COUNCILMEMBER MOORE. ONCE I START SPEAKING, THERE IS NOT ANOTHER CHANCE TO SPEAK. SO WITH THAT, I HAVE COUNCILMEMBER MORALES FOLLOWED BY COUNCIL MEMBER SECOND, COUNCIL MEMBER RIVERA AND COUNCILMEMBER MORALES. BEFORE WE GET IT, ALL MEMBERS HAVE THE OPPORTUNITY TO SPEAK BEFORE A MEMBER SPEAKS TWICE SO YOU WANT TO SPEAK TODAY, I'D ASK THAT YOU RAISE YOUR HAND SO WE CAN MOVE THROUGH THIS. COUNCILMEMBER MORALES? >> THANK YOU. I'LL SPEAK TO BOTH. >> PLEASE >> THIS WILL BE QUICK AND I DO WANT TO THANK COUNCILMEMBER MOORE FOR, AS I SAID BEFORE, CALLING THE QUESTION ON THE NEED FOR NEW AND BRINGING THIS FORWARD. I'VE BEEN SAYING ALL YEAR THAT WE DO NEED TO IDENTIFY NEW REVENUE SOURCES, SO I WILL BE SUPPORTING THIS TODAY AS WELL AS THE OTHER PIECE OF LEGISLATION. THAT SAID, I DO REGRET THAT TENANT SERVICES ALONGSIDE RENTAL ASSISTANCE IS NOT INCLUDED AS A PRIORITY FOR THE USE OF THESE NEW FUNDS AND SO MY HOPE IS THAT THIS PASSES, BUT ALSO THAT WE CAN USE OUR POWER TO MAKE ADJUSTMENTS TO HOW THOSE RESOURCES WILL BE ALLOCATED. HEARD FIVE VOTES MAKES POLICY CHANGE SO MY HOPE IS THAT THERE IS AN ACTUAL OPPORTUNITY NEXT YEAR FOR THE LIBERATION. I LOOK FORWARD TO THIS COUNCIL ADVANCING LEGISLATION TO BEGIN THOSE DELIBERATIONS NEXT YEAR SO THAT WE CAN FIND NEW REVENUE SOURCES, AND SO THAT WE CAN GET VERY SPECIFIC ABOUT WHAT WE MEAN WHEN WE SAY THAT THERE ARE CUTS THAT SHOULD BE MADE, AND VERY SPECIFIC WHEN WE SAY WE HAVE A SPENDING PROBLEM, THAT WE IDENTIFY WHAT WE BELIEVE -- WHERE THE EFFICIENCIES ARE AND WHAT WE ARE WILLING TO CUTS, BECAUSE WE HEARD A LOT ABOUT THAT THIS YEAR, BUT VERY LITTLE IN TERMS OF WHAT MY COLLEAGUES ACTUALLY THINK SHOULD BE CUT, SO I APPRECIATE COUNCILMEMBER MOORE ACKNOWLEDGING THAT IF WE WANT TO MAINTAIN HIGH LEVEL OF SERVICE FOR THE PEOPLE OF SEATTLE, THE WAY FOR US TO MOVE FORWARD IS TO LOOK FOR DEFENDANT DIFFERENT REVENUE SOURCES. I WILL BE SUPPORTING THESE BILLS AND I THANK COUNCILMEMBER MOORE FOR RINGING THEM. >> COUNCILMEMBER SOCCER? >> THANK YOU MR. CHAIR AND AS A COSPONSOR OF THESE AMENDMENTS ARE THESE BILLS, I WANT TO THANK COUNCILMEMBER MOORE FOR LEADERSHIP FOR BRINGING THEM FORWARD. I WHOLEHEARTEDLY AGREE WITH THE ESSENCE OF EVERYTHING SHE JUST SO ELOQUENTLY STATED A MOMENT AGO. YOU KNOW, AS I'VE INDICATED BEFORE, I WOULD JUST SAY THAT THIS IS THE RIGHT TAX AT THE WRONG TIME. IRRESPECTIVE OF WHETHER ONE AGREES OR THINKS THAT WE HAVE A REVENUE PROBLEM OR A SPENDING PROBLEM, I HAPPEN TO BELIEVE THAT WE HAVE BOTH. I THINK WHAT THERE IS MORE CONSENSUS AROUND IS NOT EVEN CONSENSUS, POTENTIALLY UNANIMITY AROUND, IS WE HAVE A RESULTS PROBLEM AND WE HAVE AN OUTCOMES PROBLEM. AND UNLESS AND UNTIL WE CAN START MAKING BETTER PROGRESS ON SOME OF OUR AMBITIOUS GOALS, UNLESS AND UNTIL WE CAN START ACHIEVING BETTER RESULTS, WHATEVER IT IS, ACROSS THE BOARD, I JUST CAN'T VOTE TO -- TODAY, TO DO THAT, BECAUSE I DON'T THINK WE'RE THERE YET. GOOD NEWS, GLIMMER OF HOPE IS, AS FAR AS I'M AWARE, BY ALL ACCOUNTS, BY THE DATA THAT I'M AWARE OF, AT LEAST, AND ALL OF THE MAJOR AREAS, I THINK WE ARE, STARTING THIS YEAR, STARTING TO TRENDING THE RIGHT DIRECTION IN TERMS OF CRIME DATA, IN TERMS OF HOMELESSNESS DATA, NUMBER OF ENCAMPMENTS, OVERDOSES, WITH RESPECT TO CRIME, ONE GLARING EXCEPTION, HOMICIDE RATE IS THROUGH THE ROOF. UNACCEPTABLE. BUT DON'T CALL ME YET BUT AS FAR AS I'M AWARE, I THINK THIS YEAR IN PARTICULAR WE ARE STARTING TO SEE BETTER RESULTS. SO IT'S GREAT BODY OF WORK FROM WHICH TO BUILD UPON BUT WE'RE NOT THERE YET SO THAT'S WHY, LET US REVISIT THIS CONVERSATION EVERY YEAR, AND I DO THINK THAT OUT OF ALL OF THE OPTIONS THAT HAVE BEEN PRESENTED IN TERMS OF NEW REVENUE OPTIONS, THIS IS THE LOWEST HANGING FRUIT. AS COUNCILMEMBER MOORE NOTED A MOMENT AGO, SOME OF THE OTHER PROPOSALS PRESENT VARYING DEGREES OF LEGAL RISK. THIS ALSO PRESENTS LEGAL RISK BUT AS POLICYMAKERS, NOT LAWYERS, AND I'M WEARING MY POLICYMAKER HAT HERE, BECAUSE I USED TO BE A LAWYER ADVISING INDIVIDUALS AND ORGANIZATIONS HOW TO MITIGATE THAT LEGAL RISK. BUT AS POLICYMAKERS, I THINK WE NEED TO MAKE INFORMED DECISIONS, BE MINDFUL OF THAT LEGAL RISK OR WHATEVER THE RISK IS, LEGAL, OPERATIONAL ADMINISTRATIVE WHATEVER IT IS, AND JUST MAKING SURE THAT WE -- BECAUSE THERE'S ALWAYS GOING TO BE LEGAL RISKS. THERE'S ALWAYS GOING TO BE RISKS ASSOCIATED WITH WHATEVER IT IS. SO IF WE JUST -- WE ARE SCARED AND AFRAID TO MAKE THE BEST POLICY DECISION, TO DO THE BEST THING FOR THE GREATEST NUMBER OF PEOPLE, THEN WE WOULDN'T GET ANYTHING DONE. SO THERE'S ALWAYS GOING TO BE A CERTAIN AMOUNT OF LEGAL RISK. QUESTION BECOMES WHETHER IT'S JUSTIFIABLE AND WHETHER THE OUTWEIGHING, COUNTERVAILING POLICY OBJECTIVE AND IMPERATIVE OVERRIDES SOME OF THOSE, AND THEN YOU JUST HAND IT, TRUST YOUR SMART LAWYERS. WE HAVE GREAT LAWYERS HERE IN OUR CITY LED BY CITY ATTORNEY DAVIDSON. SO IN ANY EVENT, I THINK THIS IS JUST TO RESTATE, I THINK IT'S THE RIGHT IDEA, WRONG TIME. WOULD LOVE TO CONTINUE THE CONVERSATION, REVISIT THE ISSUE, AND THEN WITH RESPECT TO THE SECOND ORDINANCE ON THE SPENDING ALLOCATIONS, LET ME EMPHASIZE MY POINT EARLIER. I WOULDN'T DISAGREE WITH ANY OF THESE IDEAS BUT I AM AN UNAPOLOGETIC INFRASTRUCTURE CHAMPION AND SOMEONE WHO JUST EKES OUT OVER NITTY-GRITTY INFRASTRUCTURE DETAILS, POTHOLES AND STOP SIGNS AND BRIDGES AND THE LIKE, AND I WANT TO THANK THE GENEROUS VOTERS OF THE CITY OF SEATTLE FOR RECENT APPROVING A $1.55 BILLION TRANSPORTATION LEVY, WHICH IS GOING TO HELP US GO A LONG WAY IN BUILDING A A LOT OF COOL THINGS THAT ARE ULTIMATELY GOING TO SAVE LIVES. BUT THE TRUTH IS EVEN IF IT WAS A THREE BILLION-DOLLAR LEVY OR A $4 BILLION LEVY, STILL NOT GOING TO ADEQUATELY MEET THE NEEDS OF -- WE NEED TO REBUILD A NUMBER OF BRIDGES. WE NEED TO CLOSE THE 27% MISSING SIDEWALK GAP IN THE CITY. OUR STATE OF OUR ROADS AND PAVEMENT CONDITION IS, FROM MY PERSPECTIVE, AT AN UNACCEPTABLE LEVEL, AND WE NEED TO PUT OURSELVES ON A BETTER PATH, WHICH IS WHY A LEVY, WE AUTHORIZE A TRANSPORTATION FUNDING TASK FORCE, BUT JUST TO PREVIEW SOME OF THAT WORK, SOME OF THOSE RECOMMENDATIONS ARE LIKELY TO COME, EVERY NEW REVENUE OPPORTUNITY THAT YOU GET, YOU SHOULD ALLOCATE A CERTAIN AMOUNT TOWARDS INFRASTRUCTURE IMPROVEMENTS. SO I WOULD ADD ANY -- WHETHER IT'S THIS OR ANYTHING ELSE, THAT I WOULD ULTIMATELY SUPPORT, IS A GENERIC CATEGORY FOR INFRASTRUCTURE INVESTMENT. SO FOR THOSE REASONS, LOVE THE IDEA, LET'S REVISIT IT BUT TODAY I WILL NOT BE SUPPORTING THIS. THANK YOU, MR. CHAIR. >> THANK YOU COUNCILMAN PROSECCO. COUNCILMEMBER RIVERA FOLLOWED BY COUNCILMEMBER WE WILL. >> THANK YOU, CHAIR. I AGREE WITH MY COLLEAGUE, COUNCILMEMBER SAKA. WE HAVE AN OUTCOMES PROBLEM. WITH ALL DUE RESPECT TO MY COLLEAGUES, WE HAVE NOT DONE THE DEEP DIVE WITH THE PROGRAMS. WE LOOKED AT A LIST OF PROGRAMS THAT ARE IN THIS BUDGET, THAT THE CITY IS FUNDING, BUT NOT THE OUTCOMES FOR THESE PROGRAMS. I DO THINK THAT MANY OF THESE PROGRAMS ARE PROGRAMS WE FELT UNCOMFORTABLE DECREASING WITHOUT THE PROPER DATA AND INFORMATION BY WHICH TO MAKE THOSE DECISIONS. I DO BELIEVE WE STARTED REQUESTING THIS INFORMATION IN THIS BUDGET PROCESS VIA THE STATEMENT OF LEGISLATIVE INTENT THAT WE INCLUDED IN THE BUDGET. IT'S INCUMBENT UPON THE CHAIRS OF EACH OF THE COMMITTEES THAT WE SHARE TO ENSURE WE RECEIVE THIS INFORMATION FROM THE DEPARTMENTS, AND THAT WE NEED OUR COLLEAGUES IN AN ANALYSIS OF THAT INFORMATION BY WHICH TO MAKE DECISIONS IN THE FUTURE. I WILL SAY, AS I SAID LAST WEEK, I'M NOT MORALLY OPPOSED TO A CAPITAL GAINS TAX TO MEET THE CITY'S NEEDS IN THE FUTURE, SO LONG AS WE DO OUR HOMEWORK, AND I DON'T BELIEVE WE HAVE ENGAGED IN THAT FULL ASSESSMENT OF OUR PROGRAMS. LIKE I SAID, WE ARE BEGINNING TO DO THIS WORK IN THIS BUDGET AND WILL BE IN A BETTER POSITION TO DETERMINE OUR NEEDS, AND WHETHER THERE ARE ANY PROGRAMS WE NEED TO DECREASE OR END IN THE FUTURE. AND I THINK THE FUTURE WILL BE A BETTER TIME, ONCE WE'VE DONE THIS HOMEWORK, TO DETERMINE IF WE NEED TO BRING A CAPITAL GAINS OR OTHER TAX SOURCE, REVENUE SOURCE. FOR THESE REASONS, I APPRECIATE MY COLLEAGUES WORK AND I LOOK FORWARD TO WORKING, ALL OF US TOGETHER, TO DO THIS WORK IN THE FUTURE, AND AS WE MOVE FORWARD HERE, AND YOU KNOW I DO THINK THAT WE NEED TO TAKE THE TIME TO DO THE WORK IF WE ARE GOING TO BRING SOMETHING OF THIS NATURE, AND LOOK FORWARD TO WORKING WITH YOU ALL TO DO THAT. THANK YOU. >> COUNCILMEMBER WOO FOLLOWED BY COUNCILMEMBER HOLLINGSWORTH AND COUNCILMEMBER NELSON. >> THANK YOU. FOR FULL DISCLOSURE, MY HUSBAND IS A STOCK TRADER AND I JUST SPOKE TO LEGAL COUNCIL . I'M GOING TO ABSTAIN BECAUSE I WANT TO HAVE TIME TO TALK TO ETHICS FIRST BEFORE I MAKE MY VOTES. THANK YOU. >> THANK YOU COUNCILMEMBER WOO. COUNCILMEMBER HOLLINGSWORTH? >> THANK YOU MR. CHAIR. THANK YOU COUNCILMEMBER MOORE FOR BRINGING THIS TO TABLE FOR DISCUSSION. I KNOW YOU DO YOUR RESEARCH INFORMATION STAKEHOLDER AND, THINKING ABOUT THE BIG PICTURE. YOU ARE A FORMER JUDGE. YOU WERE PROGRAMMED TO LISTEN TO ALL SIDES, MAKING JUDGMENT CALLS AND DECISIONS, SO I JUST WANT TO THANK YOU FOR BRINGING THIS TO THE TABLE BECAUSE I THINK IT'S INCREDIBLY IMPORTANT. THERE'S ALSO NO DOUBT IN MY MIND THAT WE DO NEED PROGRESSIVE REVENUE AND HAVE THOSE CONVERSATIONS. I ALSO KNOW, LIKE MY COLLEAGUE COUNCILMEMBER RIVERA HAS STATED, WANTING TO SEE MEASURED GOALS AND IMPACT REPORTS REGARDING HOW WE ARE MOVING THE NEEDLE ON HOUSING, HOMELESSNESS. AND PEOPLE ARE REHOUSING? TIMELINE REPORTS. YES THESE EXIST BUT WE NEED MORE DETAILS IN THAT EXTENT TO ACTUALLY FIGURE OUT WHAT'S WORKING AND WHAT'S NOT WORKING. I DO BELIEVE WE ARE GIVING CITY LOVING CITY AND SINCE I'VE BEEN HERE, PEOPLE HAVE GIVEN THE SHIRTS OFF THEIR BACK. ALSO WANT TO MAKE SURE WE'RE DIRECTLY IMPACTING PEOPLE IN COMMUNITIES WITH OUR TAX DOLLARS. NOT JUST THE MIDDLE PEOPLE. SOMETIMES GOVERNMENT DOES GET IN THE WAY AND TALKING TO YOU, COUNCILMEMBER MOORE, WE HAVE TALKED ABOUT HOW YOU WANT TO DIRECTLY IMPACT COMMUNITIES, WITH LESS BEING TAKEN AWAY OFF THE TOP AND THOSE DOLLARS BEING REALLY REDIRECTED INTO THOSE COMMUNITIES. I DO KNOW THAT I WANT TO ALSO CONSIDER, WHEN WE TALK ABOUT HOW WE NEED MORE REVENUE IN OUR CITY, IT'S NOT JUST BY TAXING PEOPLE BUT ALSO EXPANDING OUR TAX BASE, OUR SMALL BUSINESSES, GROWING OUR SMALL BUSINESSES, MAKING IT EASIER TO OPERATE IN SEATTLE, EXPANDING HOUSING SO PEOPLE CAN POUR INTO OUR ECONOMY. THAT IS INCREDIBLY IMPORTANT AND IT'S NOT ONE OR THE OTHER. OFTEN TIMES WE HEAR PEOPLE TALK ABOUT PROGRESSIVE REVENUE AND TAXING FOLKS, AND NOT TALKING ABOUT EXPANDING OUR TAX BASE. IT HAS TO BE BOTH. PEOPLE OWNING HOMES, SPENDING FUNDS, ALL THOSE OPPORTUNITIES. I WANT TO APPRECIATE YOU PUTTING IN YOUR WORKFORCE HOUSING. WE FORGET ABOUT THE BUS DRIVERS, THE FIRST RESPONDERS, THE TEACHERS, THE DAYCARE PROVIDERS, THE CAREGIVERS, THE ARTIST, THE CLEANERS, THE PEOPLE DOING THE EVERYDAY, DAY TO DAY WORK. WE FORGET ABOUT THEIR HOUSING, TOO. MORE OFTEN I TALKED TO FOLKS WHO ARE EVERYDAY PEOPLE, EITHER ON THE BUS OR JUST WALKING AROUND, LIVE IN CANS AND FEDERAL WAY. THEY CANNOT AFFORD TO LIVE IN OUR CITY AND THEY ARE THE WORKFORCE THAT WE NEED FOR OUR CITY TO CONTINUE TO THRIVE. SEATTLE HAS A LONG HISTORY OF SUCCESSFUL SMALL BUSINESSES THAT HAVE BEEN ON THE GLOBAL SCENE FOR DECADES AND THAT'S WHY OUR CITY IS IN A POSITION THAT IT HAS BEEN FOR THE LAST 10-15 YEARS, BECAUSE OF THE MONEY THAT HAS COME INTO OUR CITY, BECAUSE OF THE INCREDIBLE ECONOMY THAT WE BENEFIT FROM DIRECTLY TO OUR COMMUNITY. CONSIDERING ALL OF THIS AND KNOWING THE TIMELINE REGARDING IMPLEMENTATION, AND ALSO THE OPPORTUNITY TO WORK WITH COUNCILMEMBER MOORE, I KNEW YOU THREW FOOD IN THERE, FOOD AND SECURITY IN THERE, WHICH OBVIOUSLY MADE ME REALLY HAPPY. I DO FEEL COMFORTABLE VOTING YES ON THIS TODAY. I KNOW THIS WAS SOMETHING LAST-MINUTE AND I KIND OF CHANGED MY VOTE BUT HEARING YOUR ARGUMENTS TODAY AND YOUR SUPPORT OF IT, I DO FEEL COMFORTABLE VOTING YES SO THANK YOU. >> THANK YOU, COUNCIL PRESIDENT? >> THANK YOU VERY MUCH. LET ME SEE WHERE I'M AT HERE. WE HAD A BRIEFING THAT DREW ON THE FORECAST OFFICE'S ANALYSIS OF CAPITAL GAINS TAX. WE LEARNED SOME IMPORTANT THINGS THAT MADE ME CONCERNED ABOUT THIS AS A POTENTIAL REVENUE SOURCE. THE MEMO THAT WE RECEIVED SAID LOOKING AT THE STATE CAPITAL GAINS TAX COLLECTIONS FROM SEATTLE FORECAST OFFICE, SAID THAT THE CAPITAL GAINS TAX IS EXTREMELY HIGHLY CONCENTRATED AND STRONGLY AFFECTED BY THE DECISIONS OF A LIMITED NUMBER OF INDIVIDUAL TAXPAYERS. THAT ADDS TO VOLATILITY. IT SAID THAT THE CAPITAL GAINS TAX IS EXTREMELY VOLATILE IN THE RANGE OF REVENUE IT'S EXPECTED TO GENERATE IS VERY WIDE, FROM $16 MILLION-$51 MILLION, AND THAT MAKES IT DIFFICULT TO PLAN INVESTMENTS. AND I ALSO THINK IT'S IRRESPONSIBLE. THIS IS SORT OF BUILDING ON COUNCILMEMBER RIVERA'S POINT THAT TO ADOPT A NEW TAX WITHOUT DOING THE ANALYSIS TO BETTER UNDERSTAND WHY RENTAL ARREARS IS SO HIGH RIGHT NOW, AROUND 10%, I MEAN 10 MILLION. WE'VE HEARD THAT THERE HAVE BEEN STORIES IN THE TIMES THAT NOTE THAT EVEN AFFORDABLE HOUSING PROVIDERS DISAGREE OVER WHY THEY ARE HAVING DIFFICULTY COLLECTING RENT, SO THERE IS A LOT MORE ANALYSIS THAT NEEDED TO BE DONE TO GET A BETTER PICTURE OF THE PROBLEMS OF RENT BURDENS AND ALSO FOOD SHORTAGES, BEFORE WE CAN MAKE SURE THAT THIS IS THE RIGHT PATH TO GO. SO THOSE ARE SOME OF THE THINGS I WOULD NOTE ON THE WORK THAT WOULD NEED TO BE DONE TO PUT FORWARD A VIABLE TAX AND THEN WE ALSO HAVE TO KEEP IN MIND THAT THE FORECAST REVENUE ALSO SAID THAT THE LONG-TERM EFFECT OF THE TAX ON ECONOMIC ACTIVITY IN THE CITY WILL LIKELY BE NEGATIVE. BUT HERE IS THE BIGGER PICTURE THAT I FEEL MORE STRONGLY ABOUT. IT HAS TO DO WITH SOME LONG-TERM PATTERNS THAT WE'VE EXHIBITED. SO GOING BACK TO THE PAYROLL EXCISE TAX, THAT IS THE LARGEST COUNCIL APPROVED TAX IN SEATTLE'S HISTORY, AS OPPOSED TO VOTER APPROVED TEXAS, AND IS GENERATING DOUBLE THE REVENUES THAT WERE ANTICIPATED WHEN IT WAS INSTITUTED IN 2020, FOUR YEARS AGO. BUT EVEN BEFORE THE CHECKS BEGAN ROLLING IN, ONCE THE TAX HAD BEEN APPROVED AND IMPLEMENTED, COUNCIL PASSED A SLIDE IN THE FALL OF 2021, STATING ITS INTENT TO FORM A STABILIZATION WORK GROUP TO COME UP WITH YET ANOTHER SOURCE OF REVENUE TO PAY FOR ONGOING EXPENSES THAT WERE ESTABLISHED USING ONE-TIME FEDERAL COVID RELIEF ASSISTANCE AND ALSO FUND NEWER EXPANDED PROGRAMS. AND THE WORK GROUP MET FOR MUCH OF LAST YEAR, AND COMPILED A REPORT. THE REPORT DID NOT RECOMMEND THAT A NEW TAX BE ADOPTED. INSTEAD IT WOULD FORTH A LIST OF POSSIBLE OPTIONS FOR PROGRESSIVE REVENUE TAX AND MANY OF THEM REQUIRE STATE AUTHORITY OR WOULDN'T GENERATE VERY MUCH MONEY ANYWAY. SO WE -- THE BEST, MOST ROBUST TAX WAS THE CAPITAL GAINS TAX. WE GAVE THAT A CURSORY LOOK LAST YEAR AND DECIDED NOT TO PURSUE IT. SO WITH THIS BUDGET WE ARE INVESTING MORE THAN -- MORE IN AFFORDABLE HOUSING THAN WE EVER HAVE BEFORE, AND THAT'S DESPITE USING $233 MILLION OF OUR JUMPSTART REVENUE FOR GENERAL FUND PURPOSES. WE ALSO DOUBLED THE AMOUNT OF ASSISTANCE TO RENTERS IN THE MAYOR'S BUDGET FROM $5 MILLION TO ABOUT $10 MILLION, INCLUDING LOSING THE VERY LAST DREGS OF OUR RESERVES IN ALLOCATING $3.3 MILLION IN DIRECT RENTAL ASSISTANCE AND THAT WILL BE COMING OUT NEXT YEAR. SO I'M MAKING THE POINT THAT WE ARE SHOWING THAT WE ARE TRYING TO MEET THESE NEEDS, AND ALSO IT WILL LIKELY NEVER BE ENOUGH, AS I SAID BEFORE, BECAUSE WE ARE A COMPASSIONATE CITY AND WE WANT TO MEET THE NEEDS OF OUR VULNERABLE CONSTITUENTS. BUT WE CAN'T DO SO WITHOUT MAKING SURE THAT WE ARE ALSO DELIVERING RESULTS AND OUTCOMES THAT ARE HELPING THE PROBLEMS THAT WE ARE ADDRESSING, GET BETTER OVER TIME, AND THAT'S REALLY IMPORTANT FOR THE PUBLIC TO SEE, BECAUSE WHEN YOU READ SOME OF THESE REPORTS, 30% OF VOTERS -- ONLY 30% OF VOTERS TRUST THE CITY TO SPEND THEIR TAX DOLLARS EFFECTIVELY. BASED ON THE LATEST INDEX POLL, 6 IN 10 VOTERS THINK TAXES IN SEATTLE ARE TOO HIGH FOR THE LEVEL OF SERVICES THE CITY PROVIDES. MOST VOTERS CONTINUE TO BELIEVE THE CITY HAS ENOUGH MONEY TO ADDRESS IMPORTANT PRIORITIES AND MUST NOT -- AND DO NOT TRUST THE CITY ON ADDITIONAL SPENDING MORE PLANNING. THE POINT IS THAT -- AND THIS IS ACROSS ALL DEMOGRAPHICS, FOR EXAMPLE. WE NEED TO SHOW OUR CONSTITUENTS THAT WE ARE USING THEIR TAX DOLLARS WISELY TO MAKE IMPROVEMENTS ON OUR GREATEST CHALLENGES YEAR OVER YEAR, AND WHAT THEY ARE SAYING IS THAT WE ARE SPENDING MORE AND THE PROBLEMS DON'T SEEM TO BE IMPROVING FAST ENOUGH, AND SO I AM NOT SAYING THAT WE WILL NOT CONSIDER ADDITIONAL REVENUE SOURCES IN THE FUTURE, BUT I AM FOCUSED ON HOPING THAT WE WILL FOCUS, DRILL DOWN ON BUILDING BACK THE TRUST COME OF THE PUBLIC'S TRUST TO DELIVER THE RESULTS. THIS BUDGET WE DID SET OURSELVES UP FOR SUCCESS NEXT YEAR. ALL OF THE SLIDES THAT WE REQUESTED, THE INFORMATION THAT WE'LL BE GETTING, WE'D BETTER USE IT IN OUR COMMITTEES TO REALLY LOOK AT HOW WE COULD POTENTIALLY GET RID OF PROGRAMS THAT AREN'T PRODUCING AND FREE UP SOME MONEY TO DO THE THINGS WE REALLY WANT TO HELP THE PEOPLE IN OUR COMMUNITY THAT ARE SUFFERING. THAT IS WHY I WILL BE VOTING AGAINST THIS BUT I DO APPRECIATE THE HUMANITARIAN AND THE COMPASSION AND THE CARING THAT BROUGHT THIS PROPOSAL FORWARD, SO THANK YOU. >> THANK YOU, COUNCILMEMBER KELLY. >> THANK YOU CHAIR STRAUSS. FOLLOWING THAT POINT AT THE BEGINNING, YES, I REALLY APPRECIATE COUNCILMEMBER MOORE'S WORK IN THIS AREA, AND THE EFFORT THAT SHE'S PUT IN, NOT JUST IN THIS BUT ALSO IN THE HOUSING AND HUMAN SERVICES WORLD, AS WELL. GENERALLY REGARDING THIS, AND TO BE CONSISTENT WITH WHAT I SAID REGARDING THE PAYROLL EXPENDITURE TAX, I'M BASICALLY NEUTRAL IN THE SENSE THAT AS I SAID EARLIER, WE DO NEED THAT BUDGET REFORM . YOU KNOW, AS I SAID, IN ADDITION TO THE REVENUE STABILIZATION WORK, WHERE WE DO NEED EXPENSES STABILIZATION WORK GROUP, WHICH IS KIND OF BEING FORMED OUT OF THE SLIDES AND THE WORK THAT IS BEING DONE BY EACH OF US IN COMMITTEE AND IN GENERAL, AND AS I STATED, THESE EFFORTS TO BE COMPREHENSIVE. AND I REALLY DO BELIEVE THAT WE WOULD BENEFIT WORKING ISSUES LIKE THIS NOT AS A COUNCIL BUDGET ACTION BUT AS A COUNCIL COMMITTEE ACTION, AS I SAID. THAT OFFERS THE OPPORTUNITY TO SHOW THIS TAX RELATIVE TO THE OTHER TAXES AND THE LIKE AND I THINK THIS IS SOMETHING THAT COULD BE DONE. I HAVE GREAT RESPECT FOR ONE OF OUR PREDECESSORS, COUNCILMEMBER PEDERSEN, WHO HAD A SIMILAR RECOMMENDATION BROUGHT FORWARD IN A SIMILAR BILL THAT HE HAD DONE IN JUNE OF 23, AND THIS IS AGAIN, SOMETHING THAT COULD BE BROUGHT UP THROUGH THE FINANCE COMMITTEE. AND IN THEIR WE COULD FIND OUT HOW CAPITAL GAINS, HOW IT IS IN CONTEXT TO ALL THE OTHER TAXES, NOT COUNTING NECESSARILY COUNCILMEMBER PETERS'S WATER TAX BUT WE SHOULD HAVE THAT ACTUALLY, MAYBE AS PART OF THE REVIEW, AS WELL, IN TERMS OF BEING COMPREHENSIVE. AND I THINK THAT'S IMPORTANT. HERE IS ANOTHER THING THAT SHOULD BE PART OF THAT DISCUSSION, TOO, IS I SEE THIS TREND OF EVERYTHING HAS A SILO, EVERYTHING IS ALREADY MARKED FOR. THERE IS NO FLEXIBILITY AND IT'S LIKE WE ARE PROTECTING OURSELVES FROM OURSELVES, WHICH IS REALLY A REFLECTION OF FAILURE OF BOTH THE EXECUTIVE ABOVE US, ACROSS THE DEPARTMENTS, AND OURSELVES, TO DO OUR JOB . IF WE HAVE TO BUILD IN THESE SILOS ALL THE TIME, THESE BUCKETS, IT'S LIKE WE DON'T TRUST OURSELVES TO DO THE RIGHT THING IN ITSELF. I THINK THAT WE CAN DO SO AND I THINK THAT WE CAN DO SO IN COMMITTEE. SO THIS WOULD GO A LONG WAY BECAUSE IN LOOKING UP COUNCILMEMBER PEDERSEN'S ANNOUNCEMENT, HE NOTED THAT THIS IS AGAIN ALMOST A YEAR AND A HALF AGO, THAT TWO THIRDS DON'T TRUST CITY HALL TO SPEND RESPONSIBLY BUT IF WE DO ALL THESE PIECES LIKE THE SEATTLE HOUSING IMPROVEMENT PLAN, IF WE DO ALL THESE PIECES IN TERMS OF OUR AREA'S RESPONSIBILITY, AND I WILL STAND UP FOR LOOK SAFETY WORK IN THOSE PIECES, IF WE EACH DO OUR JOB AND SHOW THAT WE ARE BEING RESPONSIBLE, AND CAN LOOK FOR THE BIG PICTURE, I THINK THAT TWO THIRDS NUMBERS WILL DROP SIGNIFICANTLY AND IT WOULD ALSO CREATE CONDITIONS TO LOOK AT THESE TAXES AGAIN IN A HOLISTIC WAY, AND TO POTENTIALLY MOVE FORWARD SO AGAIN, I'M NEUTRAL AT THIS POINT ON CAPITAL GAINS BUT WE HAVE TO DO THE DUE DILIGENCE AND DARE I SAY IT, THE GOOD GOVERNANCE IN TERMS OF THE OVERALL PIECE. SO THAT'S MY POSITION. THANK YOU, COUNCILMEMBER MOORE AND CHAIR STRAUSS. THANK YOU. >> THANK YOU COUNCILMEMBER KETTLE. THE WISEST WORDS THAT WE MAY HAVE RECEIVED THIS ENTIRE BUDGET SESSION IS ABOUT TRUST , AND TRUST IN EACH OTHER, THRUSTING OURSELVES. VERY WISE WORDS, THANK YOU, COUNCILMEMBER KETTLE. COUNCIL PRESIDENT, IS THAT A NEW HAND? >> NO. >> YOU HAVE SPOKEN -- I'M GOING TO JUST DOUBLE CHECK. I THINK EVERYONE HAS SPOKEN ONCE. IS THAT CORRECT? EVERYONE IS GOOD, GREAT. COUNCIL PRESIDENT, YOU REQUEST TO SPEAK A SECOND TIME? >> NOPE. >> I'M SORRY, I'M JUST CONFUSED SO DO YOU WANT -- THE FLOOR IS YOURS IF YOU WANT TO SPEAK. >> I DON'T. IT WAS AN OLD HAND. JUST SLOW ON THE -- >> I'M JUST TRYING TO MAKE SURE EVERYONE GETS THEIR TIME. SO WITH THAT, I'M GOING TO SPEAK AND THEN I'M GOING TO MOVE IT ONTO COUNCILMEMBER MOORE AND WE ARE GOING TO TAKE A VOTE. COUNCILMEMBER MOORE, THANK YOU FOR BRINGING THIS FORWARD. THE ORDINANCE, I STILL NEED TO LOOK AT IT MORE. YOU ALREADY QUELLED SOME OF THE INITIAL CONCERNS. JUST FOR THE RECORD, I HAVE SUPPORTED, BEEN ON THE RECORD SUPPORTING CAPITAL GAINS TAX AT THE CITY LEVEL IN THE PAST. EVERY TIME THAT I SUPPORTED IT I WAS VERY WORRIED ABOUT SUBSTITUTION EFFECT. BOTH OF THOSE THINGS ARE STILL TRUE TODAY. THERE WERE MANY OF US WAITING TO START THE CONVERSATION ABOUT CAPITAL GAINS UNTIL WE SAW THE OUTCOME OF THE ELECTION. YOU HAPPENED TO BE THE FASTEST PERSON IN SEATTLE TO BRING THIS FORWARD FOR A DISCUSSION. THANK YOU, COUNCILMEMBER MOORE. I WILL SHARE, REGARDING THE SPENDING PLAN, I AM AT THIS POINT WORRIED ABOUT ADDITIONAL REVENUE WITH SPECIFIED USES WHEN WE HAVE A STRUCTURAL DEFICIT WITH THE GENERAL FUND, BECAUSE -- AND UNLESS WE ARE SUBSTITUTING WITHIN THE GENERAL FUND, THAT FOR INSTANCE RENTAL ASSISTANCE IS A SPECIFIED USE, IF WE ARE SAYING THAT NO MORE GENERAL FUND WILL BE USED FOR RENTAL ASSISTANCE, AND THIS IS NOW THAT FUND, THEN THAT'S SOMETHING I CAN SUPPORT, BUT IF WE ARE NOT HELPING TO PATCH THE STRUCTURAL HOLE, THAT'S WHERE I GET NERVOUS. SO I AM MORE THAN HAPPY TO CONTINUE THIS CONVERSATION IN COMMITTEE THIS YEAR AND THANK YOU FOR BEING THE FASTEST ONE IN SEATTLE TO PUT THE BILL INTO LEDGER START. WITH THAT, COUNCILMEMBER MOORE. >> THANK YOU VERY MUCH, CHAIR. I'M NEVER FAST SO THIS IS SURPRISING BUT THANK YOU TO ALL MY COLLEAGUES FOR YOUR VERY KIND COMMENTS AND YOUR THOUGHTFUL REMARKS. I GUESS I'M RELIEVED TO HEAR CHAIR STRAUSS SAY THAT YOU ARE WILLING TO PURSUE THIS IN COMMITTEE, BECAUSE THIS HAS BEEN BROUGHT FORTH IN '21 AND '23, NO '24, AND THE TIME IS NOW, AND I AGREE THAT WE DON'T WANT THE PERFECT TO BE THE ENEMY OF THE GOOD, WHICH I THINK CAN SOMETIMES HAPPEN IN THESE DISCUSSIONS. SO I WOULD LOVE IT IF THIS PASSED TODAY SO WE COULD UTILIZE THE TIME IN YEAR 2025, WHILE WE ARE TRACKING THIS, TO WORK OUT THE DETAILS, AND THEN IN 2026 WE HAVE ADDITIONAL TIME WHERE WE ARE COLLECTING THE REVENUE, SO THAT WE HAVE THESE QUESTIONS AND CONCERNS ADDRESSED WHEN WE GET READY TO ALLOCATE IN '27. BUT WE MIGHT HAVE TO WAIT A LITTLE BIT OF TIME TO DO THAT. SO I DON'T REALLY HAVE MORE TO SAY. THANK YOU ANYWAY FOR BEING RESET EVENT THOUGHTFUL ABOUT THIS. THANK YOU. >> THANK YOU. >> WE ARE GOING TO VOTE ON THE TAX ORDINANCE FIRST AND THEN THE SPENDING PLAN, SO ITEM 7'S COUNCIL BILL 120908, WHICH IS IMPOSING AN EXCISE TAX. CLERK , WILL YOU PLEASE CALL THE ROLL ON COUNCIL BILL 120908? >> COUNCILMEMBER WOO . >> ABSTAIN. >> COUNCILMEMBER HOLLANDSWORTH. >> YES. >> COUNCILMEMBER KETTLE. >> NO. >> COUNCILMEMBER MOORE. >> AYE. >> COUNCILMEMBER MORALES. >> YES . >> COUNCILMEMBER NELSON. >> NO. >> COUNCILMEMBER RIVERA. >> NO. >> COUNCILMEMBER SAKA. >> NO. >> CHAIR STRAUSS. >> YES. >> FOUR IN FAVOR .4 OPPOSED. ONE ABSTENTION. >> THANK YOU. YOUR MOTION DOES NOT PASS. COUNCIL BILL 120908 WILL NOT CONTINUE ON TO THE FULL CITY COUNCIL. MOVING ON TO ITEM EIGHT, THIS IS THE SPENDING PLAN THAT WE HAVE DISCUSSED , AND IF THE CLERK COULD PLEASE CALL THE ROLL ON COUNCIL BILL 120909. >> COUNCILMEMBER WOO ? >> ABSTAIN. >> COUNCILMEMBER HOLLINGSWORTH ? >> YES. >> COUNCIL MEMBER KETTLE. >> NO. >> COUNCILMEMBER MOORE. >> AYE. >> COUNCILMEMBER MORALES. >> YES. >> COUNCILMEMBER NELSON. >> NO. >> COUNCILMEMBER RIVERA. >> NO. >> COUNCILMEMBER SAKA. >> NO. >> CHAIR STRAUSS. >> [ INAUDIBLE ]. >> THREE IN FAVOR, FIVE OPPOSED, ONE ABSTENTION. >> THANK YOU, THE BILL DOES NOT PASS AND WILL NOT MOVE ON TO CITY COUNCIL. WE ARE GOING TO MOVE ON TO THE LAST ITEM OF BUSINESS IN THE SELECT BUDGET COMMITTEE FOR THE YEAR . WE HAVE ONE MR. BRIAN GOOD NIGHT JOINING US. WILL THE CLERK PLEASE READ ITEM NUMBER NINE INTO THE RECORD? >> 120911 RELATING TO THE SALE OF CHANNEL STATING THE CITY COUNCIL'S INTENT TO DEDICATE AN ONGOING FUNDING SOURCES FOR THE OPERATING COST OF THE SEATTLE CHANNEL AND REQUESTING THE EXECUTIVE SUBMIT A FUNDING PLAN BY SEPTEMBER 3rd, 2025 . FOR BREATHING, DISCUSSION AND POSSIBLE VOTE. >> THANK YOU, COUNCIL PRESIDENT. WOULD YOU LIKE TO MOVE? I KNOW THAT I DIDN'T SET THIS UP FOR YOU SO IF YOU DON'T HAVE IT ALREADY I CAN MOVE IT FOR YOU BUT OFFERING YOU THE OPPORTUNITY TO MOVE THE BILL. >> I MOVED COUNCIL BILL 120911. >> SECOND. IT HAS BEEN MOVED AND SECONDED TO APPROVE COUNCIL BILL 120911. WITH THAT WE HAVE OUR FAMOUS BRIAN GOOD NIGHT. I DON'T KNOW HOW PEOPLE BECOME -- I KNOW HOW TRACY BECAME FAMOUS. YOU'RE FAMOUS TODAY, THOUGH. IT'S PROBABLY BECAUSE YOU SHARE AN OFFICE WITH THE FAMOUS TRACY . WOULD YOU LIKE TO BRIEF US ON THE BILL? >> GOOD AFTERNOON COUNCILMEMBERS. THIS IS THE SAME SLIDE AND INFORMATION THAT YOU SAW LAST WEEK SO I'LL JUST BRIEFLY RUN OVER IT ONE MORE TIME. COUNCIL BILL 120911 STATES THE COUNCIL'S INTENT TO ESTABLISH A DEDICATED AND ONGOING FUNDING PLAN DEFICIENT TO MEET THE OPERATING AND CAPITAL NEEDS OF THE SEATTLE CHANNEL. SUCH THAT THEY CONTINUE TO PROVIDE THE GOVERNMENTAL AND NONGOVERNMENTAL PROGRAMMING THAT THEY CURRENTLY REDUCE. THE BILL SPECIFIES THAT WHEN ESTABLISHED, THE FUNDING PLAN SHOULD INCLUDE BUT NOT BE LIMITED TO THESE THREE ITEMS, WHICH IS AT LEAST 50% BUT NO LESS THAN $1.7 MILLION OF THE CABLE FRANCHISE FEE REVENUES EACH YEAR, SEATTLE I.T.S SHOULD ALSO INCORPORATE A PORTION OF SEATTLE CHANNEL'S EXPENSES INTO ITS COST ALLOCATION MODEL, SO ABOUT EXPENDITURES THAT ARE IN SUPPORT OF THE SERVICES AND PRIORITIES OF OTHER CITY DEPARTMENTS ARE APPROPRIATELY ALLOCATED TO THOSE DEPARTMENTS , AND THEN FINALLY THE GENERAL FUND SHOULD BE USED EXCLUSIVELY FOR THE COVERAGE OF MEETINGS, PRESS CONFERENCES, AND OTHER PUBLIC EVENTS OF THE CITY COUNCIL, AND OF THE CITY OF SEATTLE ELECTED OFFICIALS. THE BILL REQUEST THE EXECUTIVE PRESENT A FUNDING PLAN TO THE COUNCIL WITH THE ELEMENTS DESCRIBED IN THIS BILL AND ANY NECESSARY LEGISLATION TO IMPLEMENT THE PLAN BY SEPTEMBER 3rd OF NEXT YEAR. AND THEN LASTLY THE BILL STATES THE COUNCIL'S EXPECTATION THAT IN CREATING THE FUNDING PLAN, THE EXECUTIVE WILL UTILIZE THE RESEARCH AND RECOMMENDATIONS OF ANY ADVISORY WORK GROUP THAT ARE ESTABLISHED TO STUDY THE SEATTLE CHANNEL'S OPERATIONS AND FINANCE AND, IN THIS REFERENCE IS IN RECOGNITION OF THE STATEMENT OF LEGISLATIVE INTENT THAT COUNCIL DISCUSSED AND APPROVED LAST WEEK TO ESTABLISH AN ADVISORY WORK GROUP IN COLLABORATION WITH THE EXECUTIVE. >> THANK YOU MR. GOOD NIGHT, COUNCIL PRESIDENT, SPONSOR OF THE BILL, THE FLOOR IS YOURS. >> THANK YOU. WHEN I THINK ABOUT HOW I WILL TALK ABOUT THIS BILL, WHAT KEEPS COMING INTO MIND IS THE JONI MITCHELL SONG, YOU DON'T KNOW WHAT YOU GOT UNTIL IT'S GONE. IN THIS CASE, ALMOST GONE, BECAUSE IT TOOK ME AND PROBABLY SOME OF MY COLLEAGUES AND THE MAYOR'S OFFICE SOME SURPRISE TO SEE THE PUBLIC REACTION TO THE PROPOSAL OF REDUCING FUNDING AND FTES AND PROGRAMMING AT SEATTLE CHANNEL. THAT WAS AN EDUCATION FOR ME AND IT REALLY HELPED ME UNDERSTAND THE VALUE OF THIS PUBLIC SERVICE, BEYOND WHAT I'VE ALWAYS USED IT ON, WHICH IS TO WATCH COUNCIL MEETINGS IN CHAMBERS. SO I AM PLEASED TO PRESENT THIS AS A WAY OF OFFERING A PATH TOWARD A LONG-TERM FUNDING PLAN THAT WON'T PUT US IN THIS LIMBO LAND IN THE FUTURE. AND I REALLY APPRECIATE WORKING WITH COUNCILMEMBER STRAUSS ON MELDING SOME OF OUR THINKING ABOUT HOW TO GET TO A SUSTAINABLE FUNDING SOURCE TOGETHER. SO AS WAS SO ADROITLY EXPLAINED ALREADY, THIS DOES DIRECT THE EXECUTIVE TO COME UP WITH THE FUNDING PLAN, HAVE IT READY BY SEPTEMBER 3rd, INCORPORATING THE INPUT FROM THE WORK GROUP THAT IS SET UP BY THE SLIDE THAT IS PUT FORWARD BY CHAIR STRAUSS. AND THEN IT DOES SUGGEST -- THIS LEGISLATION DOES SUGGEST THREE POTENTIAL FUNDING SOURCES BUT IT COULD BE OTHERS. BUT THE POINT IS THAT IT HAS TO STABLE N TO OTHER IDEAS FOR REVENUE. SO THAT'S WHAT THIS DOES AND THE REASON WHY I THINK THIS IS SO IMPORTANT, IT ESTABLISHES A DEADLINE SO WE WILL GO INTO NEXT YEAR'S BUDGET DELIBERATIONS WITH A PLAN, A LONG-TERM PLAN. SO THAT IS IMPORTANT BECAUSE WHAT THE STATION NEEDS, WHAT THE EMPLOYEES NEED TO, WHAT THE TALENT NEEDS IS CERTAINTY. WE DON'T WANT THEM THINKING THAT THEY'LL BE IN CONSTANT UNCERTAINTY AND ENTERTAIN IDEAS OF GOING SOMEWHERE ELSE, AND BAILING ON THE SMALL AND MIGHTY SEATTLE CHANNEL, SO I WANTED TO MAKE SURE ALTHOUGH THE BALANCING PACKAGE DOES ESTABLISH TWO YEARS OF SUPPORT, THAT WE ARE WORKING ON A LONG-TERM PLAN, AND THAT IS WHAT THIS LEGISLATION AIMS TO DO. AND IT HAS THE FULL SUPPORT OF THE MAYOR'S OFFICE AND EXECUTIVE, SO THANK YOU VERY MUCH FOR YOUR CONSIDERATION IN WORKING THROUGH THIS WITH ME. >> THANK YOU. WOULD BE COSPONSORS OF THE BILL LIKE TO BE RECOGNIZED? COLLEAGUES, FURTHER DISCUSSION? COUNCILMEMBER MOORE? >> I JUST WANT TO SAY THANK YOU VERY MUCH, COUNCIL PRESIDENT, FOR BRINGING THIS FORWARD AND DOING IT IN SUCH A THOUGHTFUL WAY. >> THANK YOU. >> FURTHER DISCUSSION? COUNCILMEMBER SAKA? COUNCILMEMBER MORALES? >> THANK YOU MR. CHAIR. WANT TO THANK YOU, COUNCIL PRESIDENT, FOR BRINGING THIS FORWARD AND YEAH, IT'S A VERY HELPFUL PROPOSAL THAT BUILDS UPON EARLIER ITEMS THAT WE CONSIDERED AND VOTED FOR IN THE BUDGET, AND I THINK IT MAKES A LOT OF SENSE, AND YOU ARE ABSOLUTELY RIGHT THAT THE EMPLOYEES AND THE WORKERS AND THE TALENT ULTIMATELY BEHIND THE WONDERFUL PROGRAMMING OF THE SEATTLE CHANNEL, THEY DESERVE CERTAINTY, ABSOLUTELY, AND I THINK THIS HELPS GET US THERE. I WOULD ALSO ADD THAT SO DO THE TAXPAYING PUBLIC AND SO DO MEMBERS OF THE PUBLIC TO RELY ON THE EMMY AWARD-WINNING PROGRAMMING OF THE SEATTLE CHANNEL. THEY DESERVE CERTAINTY, AS WELL, SO THAT'S WHAT I THINK THIS PIECE OF LEGISLATION BRINGS, SO I THANK YOU AGAIN FOR BRINGING IT FORWARD. >> THANK YOU . COUNCILMEMBER HOLLINGSWORTH. >> THANK YOU MR. CHAIR, THANK YOU COUNCIL PRESIDENT FOR BRINGING THIS FORWARD. FULLY SUPPORT IT. I THINK OUR SEATTLE CHANNEL IS AN INCREDIBLE GIFT TO OUR CITY AND WE COULD TOTALLY EXPAND SO MUCH POTENTIAL TO BE RELEASED FROM OUR SEATTLE CHANNEL, AND LOOK FORWARD TO WATCHING THE CHANNEL GROW AND BE SUSTAINABLE, SO JUST WANTED TO THANK YOU. >> THANK YOU. COLLEAGUES, FURTHER DISCUSSION? LAST: DISCUSSION? LAST CALL ON DISCUSSION. I WILL -- COUNCILMEMBER WE WERE, WOULD YOU LIKE TO SAY ANYTHING? OKAY, JUST GETTING READY. I'M JUST SO GRATEFUL FOR THE SEATTLE CHANNEL. I HAVE BEEN A LONG TIME VIEWER. I DO IN MY FREE TIME. LEARN A LOT OF INTERESTING TIDBITS ABOUT SEATTLE. COLLEAGUES, IF YOU WONDERED WHY OR HOW I HAVE SO MANY FUN FACTS, IT IS THE SEATTLE CHANNEL. I DO GET TEASED FOR WATCHING IT IN MY FREE TIME, AND AFTER THAT, COUNCIL PRESIDENT, FINAL WORDS? >> THE LAST THING I'LL MENTION IS THAT MORE AND MORE WE ARE REMINDED HOW IMPORTANT LOCAL PUBLICLY FUNDED MEDIA IS, ESPECIALLY THAT THAT DRILLS INTO THE VERY LOCAL ART SCENE, POLITICAL SCENE, ET CETERA. SO IT'S NOT JUST THAT IT'S AWARD-WINNING , AND GREAT WHEN IT DOES, BUT WHEN YOU LOOK AT THE BROADER CONTEXT OF SOME OF THESE REALLY IMPORTANT ASSETS DISAPPEARING, THAT'S WHY I FEEL SO STRONGLY ABOUT MAKING SURE THAT THIS WILL REMAIN. THANK YOU. >> WILL THE CLERK PLEASE CALL THE ROLL ON COUNCIL WILL -- >> COUNCILMEMBER WE. >> YES. >> COUNCILMEMBER HOLLINGSWORTH. >> IT. >> COUNCILMEMBER KETTLE. COUNCILMEMBER MOORE. >> AYE. >> COUNCILMEMBER MORALES. >> YES. >> COUNCILMEMBER NELSON. >> AYE. >> COUNCILMEMBER RIVERA. >> AYE. >> COUNCILMEMBER SAKA. >> AYE. >> CHAIR STRAUSS. >> YES. >> NINE IN FAVOR COME IN UNOPPOSED. >> THE BILL PASSES AND WILL BE SENT TO THE FULL CITY COUNCIL. WE ARE NOW MOVING INTO THE ORDER FOR SELECT BUDGET COMMITTEE. I SEE DIRECTOR NOBLE WOULD ALSO LIKE TO MAKE MENTION OF SOMETHING HERE. RATHER THAN GO THROUGH THE EXTENSIVE, ALL OF THE THANK YOU'S ON THURSDAY, WHEN WE ARE TRYING TO GET OUT OF HERE, I'M GOING TO DO SOME OF THEM TODAY AND SOME OF THEM ON THURSDAY. SO FIRST OFF, I COULD NOT HAVE GOTTEN THROUGH THIS BUDGET CYCLE WITHOUT MY TEAM, WITHOUT JESSE AND MEGAN, AND WITHOUT ANTHONY AND JOEL. OUR TEAM WOULDN'T HAVE BEEN HERE AND COLLEAGUES, Y'ALL WOULDN'T HAVE BEEN SUPPORTED WITHOUT KATE HOFFMAN RUNNING SUCH A GOOD PROGRAM WITH ANTHONY RODRIGUEZ EARLIER THIS YEAR. ANY, FROM MY TEAM, IS HOW I HAVE CLEAR DISTRICT PRIORITIES AND WHILE NAOMI MOVED OFFICES THIS YEAR, WE STILL USE HER BEST PRACTICES IN OUR WORK AS AN EXAMPLE OF WHAT TO DO IN OUR OFFICE. I'D BE REMISS TO NOT THINK CENTRAL STAFF, DIRECTOR NOBLE, DEPUTY DIRECTOR HALL AND EVERY SINGLE MEMBER OF CENTRAL STAFF, INCLUDING ANN GORMAN, WHO IS NO LONGER WITH US. THAT SAME APPRECIATION GOES OUT TO THE ENTIRE CITY BUDGET OFFICE, DIRECTOR EATER, FORMER DIRECTOR JULIE BINKLEY, ADAM SCHAFFER. WE COULDN'T HAVE DONE THIS WORK WITHOUT COLLABORATION AND PARTNERSHIP. FOR THE GOOD OF THE ORDER, COLLEAGUES, I JUST WANT TO MAKE SURE EVERYONE IS CRYSTAL CLEAR THAT WE HAVE A MEETING ON THURSDAY AT 10:00 A.M. WE HAVE A MEETING ON THURSDAY AT 10:00 A.M. I'M GOING TO SAY IT TWO MORE TIMES TO MAKE SURE EVERYONE IN EVERY OFFICE IS LISTENING. WE HAVE A MEETING THIS COMING THURSDAY AT 10:00 A.M. IT IS THE METROPOLITAN PARKS DISTRICT MEETING. IT WAS, IN PREVIOUS RESOLUTIONS, SCHEDULED FOR THIS COMING MONDAY, WHICH WOULD HAVE BEEN CONSISTENT WITH PASSING THE BUDGET IN THE WEEK OF THANKSGIVING. SO IT SEEMS COUNCIL PRESIDENT, THE COMMUNICATIONS DEPARTMENT HAS NOT OF DATE OF THE WEBSITE. NEW INFORMATION RIGHT NOW SO COLLEAGUES, WE HAVE A MEETING THIS THURSDAY AT 10:00 A.M., IN HERE, METROPOLITAN PARKS DISTRICT BOARD IS NOT THE CITY COUNCIL. WE WILL THEN MOVE INTO CITY COUNCIL MEETING FOR FINAL ACTION AND WE ARE ALSO BRINGING BACK A NEW VERSION OF THE CELEBRATION THAT WE USED TO HAVE, PRE-PANDEMIC. COLLEAGUES, THERE'S BEEN INTENSE CONVERSATION OVER THE LAST TWO MONTHS, MAYBE A LITTLE BIT LESS TENSE THAN IN YEARS PAST. NONETHELESS, IT'S IMPORTANT TO REBUILD ANY BRIDGES THAT MIGHT HAVE FALLEN APART, AND THEREFORE, WITHOUT CREATING A QUORUM, WE WILL BE GETTING TOGETHER TO MAKE SURE THAT WE ARE ALL IN A GOOD PLACE. WITH THAT, OVER TO YOU, DIRECTOR NOBLE. >> THANK YOU, CHAIR STRAUSS. WE WON'T BE BACK FOR YOUR FULL COUNCIL MEETING. I DID WANT TO TAKE THE OPPORTUNITY FIRST TO ACKNOWLEDGE THE THINGS YOU HAVE GIVEN CENTRAL STAFF THAT WE TRULY APPRECIATE IT. I ALSO WANT TO EXTEND MY OWN THANKS TO THE WHOLE TEAM OF TAKING ON THE TREMENDOUS AMOUNT OF WORK, DOWN A COUPLE PEOPLE FOR MUCH OF IT. THEY'VE BEEN TREMENDOUS. GRATIFYING TO SEE THEM PULLED TOGETHER IN THESE KINDS OF TIMES AND THEY HAVE DONE JUST THAT. OCCASIONALLY WE REPRESENT MUCH OF THEIR WORK BUT MANY OF THEM ALSO MADE IT TO THE TABLE. I WANT TO THANK THEM. ALSO MOST SPECIFICALLY THANKED MY COLLEAGUE DEPUTY DIRECTOR OR HOW. A PROMOTION IN AUGUST, THE FIRST AND LARGEST TASK IS GOING TO BE COORDINATING THIS PROCESS, A PROCESS THAT INVOLVES ULTIMATELY 160 DIFFERENT COUNCIL ACTIONS. THEY HAVE BEEN QUALITY CONTROL, ORGANIZATION, HE DID ALL OF THIS AND I PERSONALLY AM IN YOUR DEBT, AND YOU ARE, AS WELL. I ALSO WANT TO EXPRESS JUST TO YOU ALL COLLECTIVELY HOW GRATIFYING IT HAS BEEN FOR ME OVER THE PAST TWO MONTHS TO SEE ALL OF YOU DEVELOP EVER BETTER CONNECTIONS AND I SUSPECT EVERY STAFF MEMBER, THAT'S WORK THAT WAS GOING ON BEFORE THE BUDGET PROCESS BUT THERE IS SOMETHING ABOUT THAT TRIAL BY FIRE AND ABOUT REALLY CONNECTING WITH ALL OF THEM, AND ALSO YOUR STAFF CONNECTING WITH THEM. MY EXPERIENCE OVER TIME HAS BEEN THAT THOSE ULTIMATELY PERSONAL CONNECTIONS ARE REALLY WHAT MAKE OUR WORK ALL THE MORE VALUABLE TO YOU SO I GET RATIFIED TO SEE THAT HAPPEN. IT MAKES ME LOOK FORWARD ALL THE MORE TO THE REMAINDER OF THIS YEAR AND ON TO NEXT AS WELL FOR THE WORK TO COME SO THANK YOU FOR THE OPPORTUNITY TO WORK WITH YOU. THANK YOU TO MY TEAM AND AGAIN, LOOKING FORWARD. >> THANK YOU, AND I WOULD BE REMISS NOT TO MENTION THAT ALLIE CANOOCHEE SET US UP SO DANG WELL, THAT THE BRIEFING THAT SHE GAVE ME BEFORE SHE LEFT, I TOOK NOTES. THAT'S HOW, AT THE BEGINNING OF THIS BUDGET CYCLE, I MET WITH EACH OF YOU JUST TO GET OVER PROCESS. THAT MEETING WAS BASED OFF OF HER NOTES, AND AS I REFLECTED ON HER NOTES IN THE BUDGET CYCLE, EACH DAY SHE WAS CORRECT ABOUT WHAT WE WOULD BE DOING. SO THANK YOU, ALLIE, IF YOU ARE WATCHING, DEPUTY EXECUTIVE. I CANNOT REFRAIN ANY LONGER. AMELIA, THIS IS THE FIFTH REQUEST. HAPPY BELATED BIRTHDAY. AND DANAE WILL BE WITH US AS WELL. AND WITH THAT, IS THERE ANY FURTHER BUSINESS TO COME BEFORE THE COMMITTEE? COLLEAGUES, AT THIS TIME I HAVE A WALK ON AMENDMENT TO SOON? WE HAVE REACHED THE END OF TODAY'S MEETING AGENDA. THIS IS THE LAST REGULARLY SCHEDULED SELECT BUDGET COMMITTEE MEETING FOR 2024 POINT SEE NO FURTHER BUSINESS TO COME BEFORE THE SELECT BUDGET COMMITTEE, WE ARE ADJOURNED.