22nd 2025 MEETING OF THE SEATTLE CITY COUNCIL WILL COME TO ORDER. IT IS 2:04. I AM SARA NELSON , WOULD YOU PLEASE CALL THE ROLE? >> COUNCILMEMBER RIVERA? >> COUNCILMEMBER SOLOMON? COUNCILMEMBER STRAUSS , COUNCILMEMBER HOLLINGSWORTH? COUNCILMEMBER MOORE ? >> PRESENT. >> THANK YOU, COUNCIL MEMBER RINCK? >> PRESENT. >> SEVEN PRESENT. >> THANK YOU VERY MUCH. THERE ARE NO PRESENTATIONS TODAY, SO COLLEAGUES, AT THIS TIME WE WILL OPEN THE HYBRID PUBLIC COMMENT PERIOD. PUBLIC COMMENT IS LIMITED TO ITEMS ON THE AGENDA. THE DIRECTION OF THE REFERRAL CALENDAR AND THE COUNCIL WORK PROGRAM. HOW MANY SPEAKERS ARE SIGNED UP TODAY? >> WE HAVE TWO REMOTE AND 19 IN PERSON SO FAR. >> 19? EXCELLENT. WE WILL GIVE EVERYBODY ONE MINUTE EACH AND WE WILL DO 10 IN PERSON AND THEN GO TO THE REMOTE AND THEN BACK TO THE IN PERSON. >> SPEAKERS WILL BE CALLED IN THE ORDER IN WHICH THEY ARE REGISTERED. SPEAKERS WILL HEAR A CHIME WIN AT 10 SECONDS LEFT OF THEIR TIME AND SPEAKERS MICROPHONES WILL BE MUTED IF THEY DO NOT AND THEIR COMMENTS WITHIN THE ALLOTTED TIME TO ALLOW US TO CALL IN THE NEXT SPEAKER. ALL RIGHT, WE WILL START WITH IN PERSON THE SPEAKERS. FOLLOWING PHIL WILL BE TIMOTHY. >> HELLO. I LIVE IN WEST SEATTLE AND I'M HERE BECAUSE THERE WERE BULLETS FIRED INTO MY CAR PARKED OUTSIDE OF OUR HOME THURSDAY NIGHT. ONE OF THOSE BULLETS WENT THROUGH MY CHILD'S CAR SEAT WHICH I INVITE ALL OF YOU TO COME DOWN AND LOOK AT WHEN I'M DONE TALKING. THE RABBINIC SHOOTINGS IN THE LAST 34 DAYS AND THERE HAVE BEEN TWO IN THE LAST FIVE. IN HIGH POINT ALONE. WHAT HAS BEEN DONE? NOTHING. I CALLED MY PRECINCT 25 TIMES ON THE SUNDAY AND MONDAY WITH NO RESPONSE. I MET WITH CAPTAIN BEAR, SOMEHOW VIA EMAIL THIS MORNING AND SHE GAVE ME BOILERPLATE RESPONSES. AND SAID THEY ARE INCREASING PATROLS. THAT IS JUST A GENERAL JOB DESCRIPTION OF THE SEATTLE PD. CHIEF BARNES, I DON'T KNOW WHAT YOU ARE ACTUALLY DOING. ANYTHING HERE. I HAVE A LOT, I HAVE ANOTHER MATTER. THIS -- IT HAPPENS IN AREAS WHERE THERE ARE LIGHTS OUT, SEATTLE CITY LIGHT. >> THANK YOU. >> YOU WANT TO COME LOOK AT IT? WHAT ARE WE DOING ABOUT THIS? THIS IS A TWO-YEAR-OLD'S CAR SEAT. >> COULD YOU PLEASE SAVE THE REST OF YOUR COMMENTS TO -- SO THAT WE CAN READ THEM? IF YOU HAD ADDITIONAL COMMENTS, PLEASE -- >> TIMOTHY IS NEXT AND THEN HANNAH . >> HELLO, I AM THE EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR OF COMMON AREA MAINTENANCE. IT IS AN ARTS AND CULTURAL ORGANIZATION DOWNTOWN SEATTLE. I WANTED TO BRING UP A PROJECT THAT WE ARE DOING TO THE COUNCIL'S ATTENTION. IT WILL BE IN THE PROCESS OF TRYING TO SAVE A 30,000 SQUARE-FOOT BUILDING FROM DEMOLITION AND TURN IT INTO AFFORDABLE HOUSING. WE HAVE A COALITION OF OVER 100 LOCAL ORGANIZATIONS THAT ARE FOCUSED AND OVER 1000 SIGNATURES AND PUBLIC LETTER IN SUPPORT. AND I DEEPLY BELIEVE THAT THIS ALIGNS WITH THE DOWNTOWN ACTIVATION PLAN. THE GOAL OF BRINGING MORE VITALITY AND ENERGY TO THE DOWNTOWN CORE, AND WE HAVE ALL THE MONEY RAISED OF OUR FIRST PHASE OF CONSTRUCTION AND WE JUST NEED THE CITY TO SAY YES. PERFECT. WAS THAT MY WHOLE TIME? FIVE SECONDS, I APPRECIATE YOU GUYS. >> HANNAH, FOLLOWING HANNAH WILL BE HENRY. >> HELLO. HELLO, PRESIDENT AND COUNCIL MEMBERS. I AM COALITION COORDINATOR OF PEOPLE POWERED ELECTIONS WASHINGTON. SPEAKING IN STRONG SUPPORT OF THIS MEASURE. TO ME, DEMOCRACY VOUCHERS ARE ABOUT AN ELECTION OR CANDIDATE, THEY ARE A TOOL FOR BUILDING THE MORE JUST AND BEAUTIFUL FEATURE -- FUTURE THAT I ORGANIZE FOR FROM CLIMATE JUSTICE TO AFFORDABLE HOUSING. FROM COMMUNITY RESILIENCE TO WORKERS RIGHTS. AND IT IS SO EASY TO LOSE FAITH IN DEMOCRACY, ESPECIALLY NOW. BUT THE DEMOCRACY VOUCHER PROGRAM IS AN ESSENTIAL PART OF ENSURING THAT OUR VOICES ARE HEARD, OUR NEEDS ARE PRIORITIZED AND OUR CIVIC ANTICIPATION IS VALUED. PLEASE ABOUT TWO AT A FUNDING RENEWAL MEASURE TO THE AUGUST PRIMARY BALLOT AND LET'S MAKE SURE THIS PROGRAM CAN CONTINUE, THANK YOU. >> WE HAVE HENRY . >> HI, MY NAME IS HENRY AND I'M A RESIDENT OF DOWNTOWN SEATTLE AS WELL AS A MEMBER OF THE KING COUNTY CHAPTER OF ONE AMERICA VOTES. I WOULD LIKE TO EXPRESS MY SUPPORT FOR RENEWING THE DEMOCRACY VOUCHER PROGRAM. SINCE THE CITIZENS UNITED POSITION REVERSED CENTURY-OLD CAMPAIGN FINANCE LAWS IN 2010, NATIONAL, STATE AND LOCAL ELECTIONS HAVE BEEN UNDULY INFLUENCED BY LARGE CORPORATIONS AND EXTREMELY WEALTHY INDIVIDUALS. THE DEMOCRACY PROGRAM, THE DEMOCRACY VOUCHER PROGRAM APPROVED BY THE SEATTLE VOTERS IN 2013 IS ONE OF THE WAYS THAT EVERYDAY AMERICANS CAN RECLAIM THEIR VOICE IN SEATTLE'S MUNICIPAL ELECTIONS. STUDIES BY THE UNIVERSITY OF WASHINGTON, GEORGETOWN AND STONY BROOK HAVE SHOWN THAT DEMOCRACY VOUCHERS CORRELATE WITH A SUBSTANTIAL INCREASE IN THE NUMBER OF PEOPLE MAKING SMALL DOLLAR DONATIONS IN SEATTLE'S ELECTIONS. WORKING-CLASS VOTERS, PEOPLE OF COLOR AND YOUNG VOTERS ARE BETTER REPRESENTED -- BOUCHER CONTRIBUTIONS THEN TRADITIONAL CASH DONATIONS. SO PLEASE, SUPPORT THE DEMOCRACY VOUCHER PROGRAM, THANK YOU. >> IT AFTERNOON, COUNCIL MEMBERS. LIKE MANY FOLKS HERE I AM A PROUD MEMBER OF THE PEOPLE POWERED ELECTIONS COALITION AND I'M STRONGLY IN SUPPORT OF RENEWING THE DEMOCRACY VOUCHER PROGRAM TODAY. I WOULD LIKE TO START BY WISHING EVERYONE HERE HAPPY EARTH DAY IS A STRONGLY BELIEVE IN THE CONNECTION BETWEEN VOTING JUSTICE AND ENVIRONMENTAL JUSTICE. AS A YOUNG PERSON GROWING UP IN WASHINGTON THE INCREASING PREVALENCE IMPACTS OF THE CLIMATE CRISIS WERE UN-IGNORABLE. WILDFIRES MOW CLOUDED THE VISION OF WHAT MY FUTURE WOULD LOOK LIKE, BUT YET MY STORY IS NOT UNIQUE. YOUNG PEOPLE ARE FACING A SIMILAR CRISIS OF CYNICISM WHEN IT COMES TO SEEING OURSELVES REPRESENTATIVE AND OUR VALUES BEING FOUGHT FOR BY OUR ELECTED'S. HOWEVER, AS A NEW SEATTLE RESIDENT I CAN SAY THAT WHEN I RECEIVED MY DEMOCRACY VOUCHERS THIS YEAR I WAS ECSTATIC TO HAVE A TANGIBLE WAY TO FINANCIALLY SUPPORT ENVIRONMENTAL CHAMPIONS RUNNING FOR OFFICE. THIS PROGRAM HAS MADE SEATTLE A DEMOCRACY CHAMPION WITH IN WASHINGTON, AND THEREFORE MADE OUR STATE AND NATIONAL LEADER. GIVEN THE CONTEXT OF THE CLIMATE CRISIS AND THE FEDERAL THREATS TO OUR VERY DEMOCRACY WE CANNOT BACK DOWN. I IMPLORE YOU TO VOTE IN FAVOR OF THE RENEWAL. LET'S CONTINUE TO -- >> FOLLOWING RACHEL WILL BE NATALIE MORGAN. >> HELLO, MY NAME IS RACHEL SNOW. I WAS GOING TO SAY I STRONGLY SUPPORT DEMOCRACY VOUCHERS. THEY MAKE IT POSSIBLE TO SUPPORT AND DONATE TO A CANDIDATE I SUPPORT REGARDLESS OF MY INCOME STATUS. IT IS NOT JUST ABOUT SUPPORTING CANDIDATES RUNNING FOR OFFICE, IT IS ABOUT SHINING A LIGHT AND PROVIDING A PLATFORM TO THOSE MAKING AN AMAZING IMPACT ON OUR COMMUNITY. THIS IS WHAT DEMOCRACY REALLY LOOKS LIKE. PLEASE VOTE TO PUT THE DEMOCRACY VOUCHER RENEWAL ON THE AUGUST PRIMARY BALLOT . THANK YOU SO MUCH AND THANK YOU FOR YOUR TIME. >> FOLLOWING NATALIE WILL BE KERRY. >> HI, MY NAME IS NATALIE. I'M A PROUD SEATTLEITE , LIFELONG WASHINGTONIAN. AN ORGANIZER FOR THE DEMOCRACY CHAMPION NONPROFIT WASHINGTON IN HERE WITH PEOPLE POWERED ELECTIONS. I HAVE ALWAYS BEEN PROUD OF OUR PROGRESSIVE DEMOCRACY REFORM MEASURES AND I HAVE ONLY VOTED BY MAIL AND IT IS REALLY AWESOME, FRANKLY. I'M SO GRATEFUL THAT SEATTLE HAS ALWAYS BEEN A LEADER FOR OUR STATE, FIGHTING FOR REFORMS THAT ENCOURAGE MORE ENGAGED, INFORMED AND REPRESENTATIVE VOTING POPULATION. DEMOCRACY VOUCHER PROGRAM IS A GREAT EXAMPLE OF SEATTLE'S LEADERSHIP IN WASHINGTON'S FIGHT FOR A STRONGER DEMOCRACY. WE HAVE PROBABLY PILOTED A PROGRAM THAT IS A UNIQUE AND AFFORDABLE SOLUTION TO THE PROBLEM OF BIG MONEY IN POLITICS, WHICH OFTEN WORKS TO EXCLUDE ALREADY UNDERSERVED COMMUNITIES. THE SUCCESS AND POPULARITY SPEAKS FOR ITSELF. SEATTLE VOTERS INCLUDING MYSELF SUPPORT THIS PROGRAM BECAUSE IT HELPS TO DIVERSIFY THE CANDIDATE POOL AND INCREASE VOTER TURNOUT. I KNOW WE ALL WANT EVERY VOICE TO BE HEARD, SO PLEASE PRIORITIZE DEMOCRACY AND ENCOURAGE CIVIC ENGAGEMENT BY PUTTING THE RENEWAL ON THE AUGUST PRIMARY BALLOT, THANK YOU. >> FOLLOWING KERRY WILL BE CYNTHIA. >> IT AFTERNOON, COUNCIL. I AM ALSO AN ORGANIZER WITH FAIR VOTE WASHINGTON AND A SEATTLE VOTER. I HAVE BEEN WORKING IN ELECTORAL AND LEGISLATIVE CAMPAIGNS FOR THE BETTER PART OF A DECADE AND I HAVE NEVER BEEN PRIVILEGED TO SEE THE PROMISE OF DEMOCRACY ON DISPLAY LIKE I HAVE HERE IN SEATTLE. THE SUCCESS IN ENGAGING VOTERS AND WELCOMING CANDIDATES IS SOMETHING WORTH PROTECTING. PLEASE VOTE TO PLACE THE LEVY ON OUR BALLOT SO VOTERS CAN DO WHAT WE DO BEST AND VOTE FOR OUR INTERESTS. THANK YOU. >> WE HAVE CYNTHIA AND FOLLOWING IS CINDY BLACK. >> THE CINDY'S UNITE. HELLO, GOOD AFTERNOON. MY NAME IS CYNTHIA AND I SERVE AS THE EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR OF THE WASHINGTON -- AND PROUD MEMBER OF PEOPLE POWERED ELECTIONS WASHINGTON. AS YOU HAVE HEARD, ONE OF THE PRIMARY BENEFITS OF THE PROGRAM HAS BEEN ITS ABILITY TO EMPOWER MORE INDIVIDUALS TO PARTICIPATE IN ELECTIONS BY RENEWING THE PROGRAMS FUNDING WE CAN CONTINUE TO INCREASE VOTER ENGAGEMENT, ENCOURAGE SMALL DONORS TO SUPPORT THEIR PREFERRED CANDIDATES, AND FOSTER MORE INCLUSIVE AND DIVERSE DEMOCRACY. THIS YEAR, SOME OF YOU KNOW, THE PROGRAM TAKES ON A DEEPER MEANING FOR ME PERSONALLY. AS A RECENT LEGAL PERMANENT RESIDENT I'M FINALLY ABLE TO USE THE DEMOCRACY VOUCHER PROGRAM MYSELF. AFTER YEARS OF TELLING OTHERS ABOUT THIS PROGRAM, I CAN NOW EXPERIENCE FIRST-HAND WHAT IT MEANS TO HAVE A VOICE COUNT AND LOCAL ELECTIONS. EVEN THOUGH I STILL CANNOT VOTE. FOR ME AND MANY OTHERS THIS IS NOT JUST POLICY, IT IS PERSONAL. IT OPENS DOORS TO CIVIC PARTICIPATION THAT WAS ONCE CLOSE TO US. THANK YOU. >> WE NOW HAVE CINDY, CINDY WILL BE THE LAST IN-PERSON SPEAKER AND WE WILL MOVE INTO REMOTE PUBLIC COMMENT. >> IT AFTERNOON, COUNCIL MEMBERS, MY NAME IS CINDY BLACK I'M THE EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR OF FIXED DEMOCRACY FIRST AND A MEMBER OF THE PEOPLE POWERED ELECTIONS WASHINGTON COALITION. AND WE ARE HERE TODAY TO EXPRESS STRONG SUPPORT IN RENEWING THE DEMOCRACY VOUCHER LEVEL WHEN REFERRING IT TO THE BALLOT TO LET VOTERS DECIDE. OUR ORGANIZATION HAS BEEN WORKING ON PUBLIC FUNDING OF ELECTIONS FOR OVER 20 YEARS AND WE BELIEVE IT IS ONE OF THE STRONGEST OPTIONS WE HAVE THAT CAN HELP ADDRESS THE ISSUE OF INFLUENCE OF MONEY IN ELECTIONS. BEFORE THE PROGRAM MOST SEATTLE VOTERS NEVER DONATED TO AN ELECTION BEFORE. THE SEATTLE PROGRAM EMPOWERS RESIDENTS AND ALLOWS THEM TO DIRECTLY PARTICIPATE IN DEMOCRACY, GIVING THEM A BIGGER VOICE AND WHO GETS ELECTED. AND FOR CANDIDATES, RATHER THAN FOCUS ON WEALTHY DONORS AND SPECIAL INTERESTS, THE PROGRAM ENCOURAGES THEM TO DIRECTLY ENGAGE WITH CONSTITUENTS WHO NOW ARE POTENTIAL DONORS THAT CAN HELP FUND THEIR CAMPAIGNS. WE ASK THAT YOU VOTE YES AND REFERRED THIS TO THE BALLOT TO LET THE PEOPLE DECIDE, THANK YOU. >> A REMINDER TO OUR REMOTE SPEAKERS TO PLEASE PRESS STAR SIX AFTER YOU HAVE HEARD THE MESSAGE THAT YOU HAVE BEEN UN-MUTED. WE WILL BEGIN WITH DAN FRENCH . HE WILL BE FOLLOWED BY DAVID HAYNES. GO AHEAD, DAN. >> MY NAME IS DAN FRENCH, I AM ATTEMPTING TO BRING TO LIGHT SOME BAD DECISIONS ON THE SO-CALLED 130th STREET SAFETY PROJECT. IT'S PROJECT IS UNSAFE. I HAVE DOCUMENTED PROOF OF ITS DANGERS AND I HAVE PROVIDED MUCH OF MY CONCERNS TO ALMOST EVERYONE INCLUDING COUNCILMEMBERS. NO ONE SEEMS TO BE INTERESTED IN SAFETY. THE PLAN SHOWS A COMPLETE IGNORANCE OR WILLFUL NEGLECT OF TRAFFIC PATTERNS IN THIS AREA. TALK TO ME. YOU HAVE MY CONTACT INFORMATION. I CAN PROVIDE EVIDENCE OF THIS BAD INFORMATION. I YIELD MY TIME. >> THANK YOU. OUR NEXT REMOTE SPEAKER IS DAVID HAYNES. GO AHEAD, DAVID. >> THE MAYOR TRICKED THE BUSINESS COMMUNITY INTO BELIEVING THAT HE WOULD SOLVE THE ECONOMIC REVENUE DOWNTURN DUE TO THE PUBLIC SAFETY CRISIS AND HOMELESS CRISIS BY PROMISING A WAR ON THE INNOCENT HOMELESS. IT IS NOT WORK AND THE BUDGET PROVES HE NEVER MEANT TO SOLVE THE CRISIS YET THERE IS EVIDENCE HE IS THE ORIGINAL VOTE ON COUNCIL TO RELEASE DRUG PUSHERS FROM JAIL AND THEN PRIORITY HIGHER AND TRUSTWORTHY POLICE CHIEFS WILLING TO IMPLEMENT UNCONSTITUTIONAL POLICE REFORM, RUNNING INTERFERENCE FOR REPEAT OFFENDING LOW-LEVEL DRUG PUSHERS CONDUCTING UNCIVIL WAR ON COMMUNITY WITH IMPUNITY AND ALLOWING RIVAL DRUG GANGS TO ESCALATE MOST GUN VIOLENCE DUE TO THE POLICE REFORMS. AS COUNCIL DEFERS TO THE MAYOR, WHY IS COUNCIL DEFERRING TO THE MAYOR'S LEADERSHIP AS THE TOP COP INSTEAD OF MAINTAINING A MORE AGGRESSIVE INDEPENDENCE OF LAW? AND I'M WONDERING WHY THE PUBLIC SAFETY COMMITTEE HAS DECIDED TO CANCEL THEIR MEETING THIS MORNING BECAUSE EVIDENTLY, THEY HAVE DONE ENOUGH SIGNALING AND MANIPULATING OF THE MEDIA AND THE PUBLIC PERCEPTIONS -- >> THANK YOU, THAT WAS OUR LAST REMOTE SPEAKER. WE WILL NOW MOVE BACK INTO IN PERSON. OUR FIRST SPEAKER IS ALICE. >> GOOD AFTERNOON. AS THE FORMER EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR OF FIXED DEMOCRACY FIRST, AND OF ITS PREDECESSOR ORGANIZATION , WASHINGTON I AM HERE TODAY TO HOPE THAT YOU WILL PROVIDE A UNANIMOUS VOTE FOR EXTENDING THE VOUCHER PROGRAM. IT HAS BEEN SUCCESSFUL AND THIS CITY HAS A HISTORY OF SUPPORTING CAMPAIGN FINANCING GOING BACK TO 1978. THE MATCHING FUNDS WERE AND IN A WASHINGTON STATE INITIATIVE, BUT WE WENT FORWARD AND IN 2008 IT WAS LIFTED AND IN 2015 THE VOUCHER PROGRAM WAS PASSED. IT HAS MADE SEATTLE A NATIONAL LEADER IN CAMPAIGN REFORM AND I HOPE YOU WILL -- >> FOLLOWING KEN WILL BE JOHN. >> I AM THE PRESIDENT OF FIXED DEMOCRACY FIRST, AND I'M HERE ALSO TO SUPPORT MY COLLEAGUES IN THEIR EFFORT TO ENCOURAGE YOU TO PUT THIS ISSUE ON THE BALLOT. THE INFLUENCE OF MONEY IN OUR POLITICAL SYSTEM COUNTRYWIDE IS THE REASON THIS WHOLE COUNTRY IS IN THE MESS IT IS AND THIS IS A STEP IN THE RIGHT DIRECTION. >> FOLLOWING JOHN WILL BE LILLIAN. >> HI, DISTRICT 3 IN FAVOR OF RENEWING DEMOCRACY VOUCHERS, AND OUR REPRESENTATIVE SYSTEM OF DEMOCRACY, EACH CITIZEN HAS CORE POLITICAL RIGHTS AND EACH CITIZEN HAS AN EQUAL RIGHT TO DETERMINE WHO IS ON THE BALLOT. EACH CITIZEN HAS AN EQUAL RIGHT TO THE DEBATE IN THE ELECTION AND EACH CITIZEN HAS AN EQUAL VOTE IN THE ELECTION. MUCH OF TODAY'S POLITICAL DYSFUNCTION IS CAUSED BY SOCIETY FAILING TO DEFEND THESE ESSENTIAL POLITICAL RIGHTS. PARTICULARLY EQUALITY, THE DEMOCRACY VOUCHER SYSTEM DEFENDS THESE RIGHTS. THE LAST 10 YEARS HAS SHOWN MORE AND MORE DIVERSE PEOPLE HAVE BEEN RUNNING, MAKING THE CITIZENS RIGHT TO DETERMINE WHO IS ON THE BALLOT MORE EQUAL. MORE CITIZENS HAVE BEEN ENGAGED IN THE FINANCE PART OF THE ELECTION DEBATE, IMPROVING THE QUALITY THERE. THE DEMOCRACY VOUCHER PROGRAM IS A VERY SMALL PRICE TO PAY FOR DEFENDING EACH CITIZEN'S POLITICAL RIGHTS. THANK YOU. >> WE WILL HAVE LILLIAN AND THEN KIM. >> IT AFTERNOON, COUNCIL. I AM THE EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR OF LATINO COMMUNITY FUND, A SEATTLE VOTER AND DEMOCRACY VOUCHER PARTICIPANT. I'M HERE TO URGE YOU TO PASS THE LEGISLATION THAT WILL ALLOW THE RENEWAL OF THE FUNDING AND IN MY WORK I GET TO TALK TO SO MANY VOTERS ACROSS THE ENTIRE CITY AND THIS IS REALLY A WAY TO NOT JUST INCREASE VOTER PARTICIPATION BUT TO INCREASE THAT PARTICIPATION AMONG OUR FIRST TIME VOTERS AND TO ACTUALLY SEND A SIGNAL FROM THE CITY, TO SEND A SIGNAL THAT ELECTIONS THAT ARE DEMOCRACY IS FOR ALL OF US AND IT IS NOT JUST FOR THOSE WHO CAN AFFORD TO PROVIDE FUNDING TO PUT THEIR MONEY, THEIR PERSONAL MONEY IN. THIS IS REALLY WHERE WE SEE THE POWER OF PEOPLE WANTING TO PARTICIPATE IN DEMOCRACY, BECAUSE THEY SEE THAT IT IS FOR THEM. CANDIDATE POOL, IT INCREASES VOTER TURNOUT AND SINCE THAT SIGNAL TO OUR VOTERS AND TO THE SEATTLE RESIDENTS THAT THIS IS FOR THEM. THIS DEMOCRACY IS FOR US. THANK YOU. >> FOLLOWING KIM AND BARB WILL BE MARTINA. >> HELLO, AND THANK YOU TO OUR SEATTLE CITY COUNCIL MEMBERS FOR ALL OF YOUR WORK AND OPENING YOURSELVES TO LISTEN AND CONSIDER OUR COMMENTS RELATIVE TO YOUR VOTE ON DEMOCRACY VOUCHERS TODAY. WE ARE COPRESIDENTS OF THE LEAGUE OF WOMEN VOTERS SEATTLE KING COUNTY AND WE ARE A NONPARTISAN ORGANIZATION. OUR MISSION IS TO EMPOWER VOTERS AND DEFEND DEMOCRACY . WE WORK FOR ALL THE KING COUNTY DID COMMUNITY TO LIFT UP DEMOCRACY BY ENGAGING COMMUNITY MEMBERS IN CIVIC ACTIONS. >> THE SEATTLE DEMOCRACY VOUCHER PROGRAM IS AN ALREADY PROVEN PROGRAM THAT WE WHOLEHEARTEDLY SUPPORT. IT EMPOWERS VOTERS. IT HAS PROMOTED AN INCREASE IN CIVIC ENGAGEMENT AND MORE DIVERSE CANDIDATES RUNNING FOR OFFICE AND REDUCED THE ROOTS OF BIG MONEY IN POLITICS. IT IS THE EXACT TYPE OF PROGRAM THAT ARE DEMOCRACY AND COMMUNITY NEEDS. LET'S ALL PROTECT AND EXPAND LOCAL CIVIC ENGAGEMENT PROGRAMS TO DEFEND OUR DEMOCRACY. THESE DO YOUR PART AND VOTE TODAY TO PUT -- >> MARTINA, AND FOLLOWING MARTINA WILL BE BENJAMIN. >> THANK YOU, COUNCIL MEMBERS. MY NAME IS MARTINA REPRESENTING THE REGIONAL THINK TANK SITE LINE INSTITUTE WHO SUPPORTS CONTINUED DEMOCRACY VOUCHER FUNDING. ONE OF THE PRIMARY GOALS IS TO BRING MORE SEATTLEITES INTO THE CAMPAIGN-FINANCE CONVERSATION. THAT GOAL HAS BEEN HUGELY SUCCESSFUL. IN 2013 JUST 8800 INDIVIDUALS CONTRIBUTED TO A LOCAL CANDIDATE AND IN 2021 IT WAS 59,000. WE NOW HAVE ONE OF THE HIGHEST CONTRIBUTOR RATES IN ANY CITY WITH AROUND 10% OF REGISTERED VOTERS, MORE THAN DOUBLE THE PARTICIPATION OF MOST COMPARABLE CITIES. THE PROGRAM HAS DIVERSIFIED WHO GIVES TO THE CAMPAIGN. PEOPLE OF COLOR, YOUNG PEOPLE AND PEOPLE WITH LOWER INCOMES ARE MUCH BETTER REPRESENTED AMONG VOUCHER USERS AND CASH DONORS. IN SOME ELECTIONS VOUCHER USERS BETTER REPRESENT DEMOGRAPHICS THAN VOTERS DO. WE ARE MODELING INNOVATION HERE IN SEATTLE AND IT IS WORKING. PLEASE ALLOW VOTERS TO KEEP FUNDING THIS PROGRAM, THANK YOU. >> WE HAVE BENJAMIN. FOLLOWING BENJAMIN WILL BE ALEX AND THEN RACHEL. >> I AM A SEATTLE VOTER AND I AM HERE TO SAY THAT I SUPPORT DEMOCRACY VOUCHERS BECAUSE THEY ARE SEATTLE'S PART ALONG WITH RANKED CHOICE VOTING AND THE MOVEMENT TO DO NOTHING LESS THAN REBOOT THE ENTIRE AMERICAN EXPERIMENT. TRUMP IS EFFECTIVELY CROWNING HIMSELF KING AND NEITHER CONGRESS NOR THE COURTS WILL STOP HIM SO WE NEED TWO THINGS, A NONVIOLENT COUNTERREVOLUTION AND WE NEED STATE AND COUNTY LOCAL GOVERNMENTS BUILDING A MODEL OF A BETTER DEMOCRACY THAT WON'T FALL VICTIM TO THE SAME FORCES THAT BROUGHT US TO THIS IMPASSE. AND SO WITH DEMOCRACY VOUCHERS, THEY ARE A WAY TO MOVE POWER IN ELECTIONS TO PEOPLE FROM THE WEALTHY CAMPAIGN DONORS WHO HAVE YOU KNOW, BROUGHT US THESE, THIS BILLIONAIRE CONTROLLED FEDERAL GOVERNMENT AND THOSE MODELS -- NEED TO BE BUILT BECAUSE AND WE NEED TO SCALE THEM UP TO THE FEDERAL GOVERNMENT IF DEMOCRACY IS TO SURVIVE LONG-TERM. >> I BELIEVE THE FIRST NAME BEGINS WITH THE LETTER R? OKAY, WE WILL MOVE ON TO THE NEXT SPEAKER WHICH WOULD BE ANDREA. >> AFTERNOON, COUNCIL MEMBERS HOLLINGSWORTH KETTLE RINCK SOLOMON AND STRAUSS. OUR MEMBERS HAVE BEEN ABLE TO USE THESE VOUCHERS AND HAVE BEEN ELATED TO BE ABLE TO PARTICIPATE IN THE PROGRAM IN THE PROCESS. AND I THINK IT WOULD BE GREAT IF WE CONTINUE TO THIS , AND SUPPORTED AND HAD IT ON THE BALLOT IN AUGUST, THANK YOU. >> ALEX TSIMERMAN AND THEN IF SOMEONE SIGNED UP THAT I WAS NOT ABLE TO ANNOUNCE YOUR NAME, PLEASE LET ME KNOW. THANK YOU. >> FASCISTS. I AM PRESIDENT OF STANDUP AMERICA AND HAVE 6000 DAY OF TRESPASS FIVE TIME. I WANT TO SPEAK ABOUT THE SIMKIN MINING COME FROM -- $300 BILLION BUT [ INAUDIBLE ] YOUR POCKETS. YOU DON'T UNDERSTAND THIS? YOU ARE PRIMITIVE, YOU KNOW WHAT THIS MEANS? MAYBE YOU HAVE NO MORE THAN FIFTH GRADE, THAT IS WHAT HAS HAPPENED. IT IS NOT FOR FREE, IT IS YOUR, MY, EVERYBODY MONEY. SO IS DOING FOR SPECIAL REASON CONTROLLING DEMOCRATIC MAFIA? IS THIS HAPPEN FROM BEGINNING ONLY FOR ONE REASON, UNION CONTROLLING DEMOCRATIC MAFIA SEATTLE 700,000 IDIOT WORK FOR DEMOCRAT . VIVA TRUMP. >> NOW WE HAVE RICH AND FOLLOWING RICH WILL BE MARIE SEO. >> WHEN I WAS 15 AND KNOCKED ON DOORS TO GET THE CITIZEN WITH INITIATIVE PASSED, WHICH ESTABLISHED THE DEMOCRACY VOUCHER PROGRAM. ACCORDING TO THE US DEPARTMENT OF LABOR STATISTICS, PRAISES IN SEATTLE ARE 43% HIGHER IN 2025 THEN 2015. INCREASING THE LEVY BY 15% TO MATCH INFLATIONARY INCREASES, COST OF PROGRAM ADMINISTRATION, CENTRALIZED SERVICE AND VOUCHER DISTRIBUTION AS NECESSARY. I JUST WANT ASSURANCES OF THE CAP AMOUNT DISTRIBUTED TO CANDIDATES MATCHES PREVIOUS YEARS INFLATION SO WHEN THE COST OF FLYERS AND DIRECT MAILING INCREASES, SO DOES THE MAXIMUM AMOUNT THE CANDIDATE COULD RECEIVE. MAYOR HARRELL HAS SAID HE WANTS TO EMPOWER LOCAL CAMPAIGNS BY ENFORCING THE MISCIBLE ELECTIONS AND I HAVE NO IDEA HOW HE CAN ACCOMPLISH THIS. >> AND MARIE SEO, YOU ARE OUR LAST SPEAKER. >> GOOD AFTERNOON COUNCILMEMBERS. I AM A LOBBYIST WITH WASHINGTON COMMUNITY ACTION NETWORK AND ON BEHALF OF OUR ORGANIZATION AND OUR MEMBERS WHO RESIDE HERE IN SEATTLE WANT TO THANK YOU FOR GIVING AN OPPORTUNITY TO HAVE A VOTE ON THIS VERY IMPORTANT INITIATIVE. I KNOW THAT SOME OF YOU HAVE TAKEN ADVANTAGE OF DEMOCRACY VOUCHERS AND WE KNOW THAT WHEN WE GIVE FOLKS ACCESS TO DEMOCRACY AT THIS LEVEL WE INCREASE PARTICIPATION, SO I'M NOT GOING TO REPEAT A LOT OF THE STUFF, I JUST WANT TO SAY THAT WE ARE FULLY IN SUPPORT. THANK YOU FOR YOUR TIME. >> THAT WAS OUR LAST REGISTERED SPEAKER. >> THANK YOU VERY MUCH. WE HAVE REACHED THE END OF OUR LIST OF PUBLIC SPEAKERS SO THE PUBLIC COMMENT PERIOD IS NOW CLOSED. WILL THE CLERK PLEASE READ -- EXCUSE ME, BACKING UP. IF THERE IS NO OBJECTION, THE INTRODUCTION AND REFERRAL CALENDAR WILL BE ADOPTED. HEARING NO OBJECTION, THE INTRODUCTION AND REFERRAL CALENDAR IS ADOPTED. IF THERE IS NO OBJECTION , THE AGENDA WILL BE ADOPTED. HEARING ON, THE AGENDA IS ADOPTED. WE WILL NOW CONSIDER THE PROPOSED CONSENT CALENDAR AND THE ITEMS ON THE CONSENT CALENDAR ARE THE MINUTES OF APRIL 15th 2025 , COUNCIL 120973, PAYMENT OF BILLS AND FIVE APPOINTMENTS FROM THE LAND USE COMMITTEE. ARE THERE ANY ITEMS COUNCILMEMBERS WOULD LIKE TO REMOVE FROM TODAY'S CONSENT CALENDAR? OKAY, HEARING NONE, MOVED TO ADOPT THE CONSENT CALENDAR. IS THERE A SECOND? >> IT HAS BEEN MOVED AND SECONDED TO ADOPT THE CONSENT CALENDAR. WILL THE CLERK PLEASE CALL THE ROLL ON THE ADOPTION OF THE CONSENT CALENDAR? >> COUNCILMEMBER RIVERA? COUNCILMEMBER SOLOMON , COUNCILMEMBER STRAUSS, COUNCILMEMBER HOLLINGSWORTH, COUNCILMEMBER MOORE ? COUNCILMEMBER RINCK? COUNCIL PRESIDENT NELSON? >> SEVEN IN FAVOR, AND UNOPPOSED. >> THANK YOU VERY MUCH. THE CONSENT CALENDAR ITEMS ARE ADOPTED. WILL THE CLERK PLEASE AFFIX MY SIGNATURE TO THE MINUTES IN LEGISLATION ON MY BEHALF? ALL RIGHT. MOVING ON, WILL THE CLERK PLEASE READ THE TITLE OF ITEM 1? >> RETIRING INTRODUCE AND COUNCIL BILLS CLERK FILES AND APPOINTMENTS THAT HAVE RECEIVED NO FURTHER ACTION. >> THANK YOU VERY MUCH. COLLEAGUES, THIS RESOLUTION EFFECTUATES RULE 1.8 .6 OF THE GENERAL RULES AND PROCEDURES OF THE SEATTLE CITY COUNCIL WHICH ALLOWS THE CITY COUNCIL TO CONSIDER THE RETIREMENT OF ANY COUNCIL BILL, RESOLUTION CITY CLERK FILE OR APPOINTMENT WHICH HAS BEEN IN A STANDING COMMITTEE OR BEFORE THE CITY COUNCIL FOR AT LEAST ONE YEAR PRIOR TO MARCH FIRST. ATTACHMENT ONE OF THE RESOLUTION LISTS THE COUNCIL BILLS RESOLUTIONS AND CLERK FILES AND APPOINTMENTS THAT WERE INTRODUCED AND REFERRED TO CITY COUNCIL AND COMMITTEES THROUGHOUT THE YEAR FOR SPONSORSHIP AND ACTION BETWEEN JANUARY 2018 AND FEBRUARY 2024 AND WERE NEVER ACTED UPON BY THE CITY COUNCIL. THE LIST IS BEEN APPROVED BY EVERY COUNCIL OFFICE IN THE CITY CLERK AND COUNCIL CENTRAL STAFF. TO VERIFY THAT THERE IS NO FURTHER ACTION EXPECT TO BEFORE THE CITY COUNCIL ON THESE PIECES OF LEGISLATION. ARE THERE ANY QUESTIONS OR COMMENTS? WITH THAT, I WILL MOVE LET'S SEE, RESOLUTION -- I MOVE RESOLUTION 32169. IS THERE A SECOND? >> SECOND. >> IT HAS BEEN MOVED AND SECONDED TO ADOPT THE RESOLUTION. ALL RIGHT. DO YOU HAVE ANY QUESTIONS? SCENE NONE, OKAY. WILL THE CLERK PLEASE CALL THE ROLE IN THE ADOPTION OF THE RESOLUTION? >> COUNCIL MEMBER RIVERA? COUNCILMEMBER SOLOMON? COUNCILMEMBER STRAUSS? COUNCILMEMBER HOLLINGSWORTH? COUNCILMEMBER MOORE? COUNCILMEMBER RINCK? COUNCIL PRESIDENT NELSON? SEVEN IN FAVOR, AND UNOPPOSED. >> THE MOTION CARRIES AND THE RESOLUTION IS ADOPTED AND THE CHAIR WILL SIGN IT. WILL THE CLERK PLEASE AFFIX MY SIGNATURE TO THE LEGISLATION ON MY BEHALF? AND WILL THE CLERK PLEASE READ ITEM 2 INTO THE RECORD? >> GOVERNOR ACCOUNTABILITY AND THE NEXT -- AGENDA ITEM 212-0957 RELATED TO PUBLICLY FINANCED ELECTION CAMPAIGNS PROVIDING FOR THE SUBMISSION TO THE QUALIFIED ELECTORS OF THE CITY AND ELECTION TO BE HELD ON AUGUST FIFTH 2025 ALL ARISE IN THE CITY TO PROPERTY TAXES UP TO 10 YEARS IN EXCESS OF LIMITATION OF LEVIES IN 8455 RCW IN THE PURPOSE OF FUNDING THE COSTS OF THE DEMOCRACY VOUCHER PROGRAM AND OTHER CITY PURPOSES, THE COMMITTEE RECOMMENDS THE BILL PASS. >> THIS PIECE OF LEGISLATION WENT THROUGH THE GOVERNANCE ACCOUNTABILITY AND ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT COMMITTEE, SO I WILL PROVIDE THE COMMITTEE REPORT AND OPEN THE FLOOR TO COMMENTS. SO THIS IS THE, THIS IS LEGISLATION THAT WILL ALLOW FOR THE RENEWAL OF THE DEMOCRACY VOUCHER PROGRAM TO APPEAR ON THE AUGUST PRIMARY ELECTION BALLOT, AND SO THIS WAS HEARD IN MY COMMITTEE OVER THE COURSE OF TWO MEETINGS AND RECEIVED UNANIMOUS APPROVAL FOR RECOMMENDATION . IT RECEIVED A UNANIMOUS RECOMMENDATION FOR APPROVAL, EXCUSE ME. SO HERE IS OUR TIMELINE HERE IS DETERMINED BY THE TIMELINE AND THE DATES THAT NEED TO BE HIT SO THAT -- TO ENABLE IT TO BE ON THE BALLOT IN AUGUST. SO I JUST WANT TO SAY -- I WANT TO EXTEND MY GRATITUDE TO THE FOLKS HERE IN THE ROOM AND WHO HAVE BEEN COMING TO EVERY COMMITTEE WHEN THIS HAS BEEN BEFORE US. THANK YOU FOR YOUR HARD WORK, NOT JUST AT PUBLIC COMMENT BUT ALL THE WORK THAT LED UP TO THIS AND ALL THE WORK THAT WENT INTO ACTUALLY DESIGNING THE FIRST DEMOCRACY VOUCHER PROGRAM IN THE COUNTRY. SO THANK YOU VERY MUCH FOR YOUR ENGAGEMENT AND JUST A COUPLE DETAILS, THE PROPOSED LEVY WOULD GENERATE $4.5 MILLION PER YEAR FOR THE PROGRAM AND IS INTENDED TO REFLECT INFLATIONARY INCREASES FROM THE CURRENT LEVY OF ABOUT 4.1% ANNUALLY. SO WITH THAT, ARE THERE ANY COMMENTS OR QUESTIONS? I WILL LOOK TO SEE IF THERE IS ANYBODY ON MY SCREEN, NO. OKAY. COUNCILMEMBER MOORE? >> I JUST WANTED TO SAY THANK YOU TO EVERYONE WHO BROUGHT THIS FORTH AND I'M A HUGE SUPPORTER OF THE DEMOCRACY VOUCHER PROGRAM. IT WORKED VERY WELL FOR ME AND I THINK IT DOES TRULY ACHIEVE THE GOALS THAT IT SETS OUT TO ACHIEVE. DEFINITELY NEED TO SEE MORE EDUCATION, PARTICULARLY IN THE DISTRICT 5. WITHIN COMMUNITIES WHERE ENGLISH IS A SECOND LANGUAGE . I THINK IT WOULD BE GREAT TO SEE ADDITIONAL INTERPRETATION AND OUTREACH. SO WE WILL BE WORKING ON THAT, BUT I AM VERY SUPPORTIVE OF THIS. THANK YOU. >> COUNCILMEMBER RINCK? >> I AM SO EXCITED TO VOTE ON THIS TODAY. IN ANOTHER LIFE I WORK FOR A NATIONWIDE ORGANIZATION CALLED DEMOCRACY MATTERS WHERE WE TALKED ABOUT THE INFLUENCE OF MONEY IN POLITICS, THE IMPACTS OF THE CITIZENS UNITED DECISION, AND ABOUT CAMPAIGN FINANCE REFORM, AND PUBLICLY FINANCED ELECTIONS. AND WHEN SEATTLE FIRST PAST THE VOUCHER PROGRAM IN 2015 I WILL TELL YOU, THE NEWS HIT NATIONWIDE. IT WAS ALL THE BUZZ ON THE EAST COAST. IT IS JUST ANOTHER EXAMPLE OF SEATTLE BEING A CHEERLEADER IN DEFENDING DEMOCRACY, AND THE DEMOCRACY VOUCHER PROGRAM AS WE ARE TODAY THROUGH PUBLIC COMMENT IS A KEY TOOL IN BALANCING THE PLAYING FIELD BETWEEN BIG MONEY INTERESTS AND WORKING PEOPLE. THE PROGRAM ENCOURAGES SMALL DONORS TO PARTICIPATE IN LOCAL RACES BY PUSHING CANDIDATES TO REACH OUT TO WORKING PEOPLE DO NOT TYPICALLY RECEIVE OUTREACH AND THE STORE OPENS THE PROGRAMS WERE LESS INDEPENDENTLY WEALTHY PEOPLE TO RUN FOR OFFICE IN THE FIRST PLACE. THIS PROGRAM SHOULD CONTINUE AND I SINCERELY HOPE MORE VOTERS IN OUR CITY TAKE ADVANTAGE OF IT MOVING FORWARD. BUT MAKE NO MISTAKE, OUR DEMOCRACY IS AT RISK. WE MUST TAKE EVERY STEP HERE IN THE SEATTLE TO PROTECT IT BECAUSE IN A HEALTHY DEMOCRACY BILLIONAIRES CANNOT BUY ELECTIONS. AND TODAY IS JUST A SMALL STEP THAT WE CAN TAKE TO DEFEND OUR LOCAL ELECTIONS FROM FUTURE INFLUENCE OF MONEY IN POLITICS. FOR THESE REASONS AND MORE I URGE YOU TO VOTE YES TODAY AS WE STAND TO PROTECT OUR DEMOCRACY. THANK YOU, COUNCIL PRESIDENT. >> COUNCILMEMBER HOLLINGSWORTH? >> WELL SAID, COUNCILMEMBER RINCK. I HAVE A STATEMENT OR SOME COMMENTS FROM COUNCILMEMBER KETTLE. AND DON'T WORRY, IT IS ONLY TWO PARAGRAPHS. SORRY. I TRIED NOT TO LAUGH WHEN I SAID THAT, BUT HE WILL WATCH THIS, SAY SO HIS COMMENTS, WHEN I WAS RUNNING FOR -- THESE ARE FROM COUNCILMEMBER KETTLE. WHEN I WAS RUNNING IN 2023 I HAD A FRONT ROW VIEW OF HOMINY PEOPLE COULD PARTICIPATE WITHOUT THE DEMOCRACY VOUCHER PROGRAM. AND HOW MANY COULD NOT. I REMEMBER A WOMAN IN THE QUEEN AND WHO LIVED IN SEATTLE HOUSING AUTHORITY HOME. SHE DID NOT HAVE MUCH, BUT THROUGH THE DEMOCRACY VOUCHER PROGRAM SHE WAS ABLE TO PARTICIPATE IN OUR ELECTIONS AND HER SIGNATURE FOR QUALIFICATION AND LATER $100 IN VOUCHERS. I COULD SEE THE SMILE IN HER EYES. SHE WAS DEMOCRACY IN ACTION. DEMOCRACY VOUCHER PROGRAM ENCOURAGES MORE DIVERSE CANDIDATES AND MORE DIVERSE VOTERS. ANTICIPATION IN ELECTIONS SHOULD BE ACCESSIBLE TO THE WHOLE COMMUNITY, NOT JUST THOSE WHO CAN AFFORD IT . THE PROGRAM HELPS OVERCOME BARRIERS TO RUN FOR OFFICE AND EXPANDS THE PLAYING FIELD FOR THOSE WHO WANT TO EXPRESS THEIR VOICE IN THE DEMOCRATIC PROCESS. AS OUR AMERICAN EXPERIMENT IN DEMOCRACY FACES A NUMBER OF HURDLES AT THE MOMENT, WE CANNOT STOP IN THE PURSUIT OF A MORE PERFECT UNION. AND THAT IS FROM THE DISTINGUISHED GENTLEMAN OF DISTRICT 7, COUNCILMEMBER KETTLE. AND JUST -- I HAVE SUPPORTED THIS IN COMMITTEE AND SUPPORT IT NOW, THE DEMOCRACY VOUCHER PROGRAM, ESPECIALLY IN SEATTLE, IT IS SUCH A GAME CHANGER FOR FOLKS AND IT IS AN INCREDIBLE OPPORTUNITY FOR PEOPLE TO BE ABLE TO PARTICIPATE AND GET INVOLVED. I CANNOT BEGIN TO TELL FOLKS HOW MANY PEOPLE -- IT WAS THEIR FIRST TIME DONATING TO A CAMPAIGN, PARTICIPATING AND GETTING ENGAGED AND CONNECTING WITH FOLKS AND UNDERSTANDING LIKE HEY, THEIR VOICE MATTERS. PARTICULARLY LOCAL ELECTIONS WHICH PEOPLE DON'T UNDERSTAND OR LIKE SOME OF THE MOST IMPORTANT ELECTIONS IN OUR TIME AS LOCAL GOVERNMENT. NOTHING WILL IMPACT YOU MORE THAN LOCAL GOVERNMENT AND FOR SOMEONE TO HAVE, TO FEEL LIKE THEY CAN PARTICIPATE AND HAVE THAT IMPACT FOR DIFFERENT CANDIDATES AND ALSO OFFER A MORE DIVERSE OPTION OF NOT JUST PEOPLE WHO ARE SUPER POLITICALLY MINDED THAT ACTUAL LIKE CITY RESIDENTS. I LOVE TO SEE PEOPLE THAT ARE EVERYDAY FOLKS PARTICIPATING IN LOCAL GOVERNMENT. SO I WILL BE VOTING YES AS I DID IN COMMITTEE AND YES FOR COUNCIL AS WELL. THANK YOU. >> ARE THERE ANY FURTHER COMMENTS? COUNCILMEMBER STRAUSS? >> THANK YOU TO EVERYONE WHO HAS BROUGHT THIS FORWARD TO SUCCESS TODAY. I SEE A LOT OF FRIENDLY FACES AND PEOPLE THAT I COUNT ON TO DETECT DEMOCRACY IN OUR CITY, STATE AND NATION. I WILL NEVER FORGET COMING TO HER HOUSE TO LEARN MORE ABOUT THIS IDEA OF DEMOCRACY VOUCHERS OVER A DECADE AGO. IT IS GREAT TO SEE YOU HERE TODAY AS WELL. DEMOCRACY VOUCHERS BRING DEMOCRACY TO EVERYBODY'S HOME. IT ALLOWS PEOPLE WITHOUT A NETWORK, A WEALTHY NETWORK, TO BE VIABLE IN THEIR CANDIDACY FOR PUBLIC OFFICE. THIS MEANS CANDIDATES DO NOT NEED TO BE TIED TO SPECIAL INTERESTS TO WIN. THEY CAN JUST TALK TO EVERYDAY PEOPLE. FOR ME, THIS IS SPECIFICALLY MEANT THAT I DID NOT NEED TO TAKE CAMPAIGN DONATIONS THAT I FELT MIGHT HAVE IMPLICIT STRINGS ATTACHED. IT IS NOT USUALLY EXPLICIT, IT IS USUALLY IMPLICIT. THIS ALLOWED ME TO BE INDEPENDENT, MORE INDEPENDENT, AND IT MEANT THAT I ACTIVELY CHOSE TO KNOCK ON EVERY DAY SEATTLEITES DOORS RATHER THAN SPENDING TIME ON THE PHONE CALLING POLITICAL DONORS FOR WHAT IS COMMONLY KNOWN AS CALL TIME. THIS SIMPLE IMPACT THAT THIS PROGRAM HAS TO INFLUENCE CANDIDATES TO PRIORITIZE BEING AT PEOPLE'S DOORSTEPS RATHER THAN ON THE PHONE IS A BIG DEAL AND THIS IS HOW IT INCREASES CIVIC ANTICIPATION AND EMPOWERS VOTERS TO BE ABLE TO HAVE THE CONVERSATION WITH THE CANDIDATES RATHER THAN NOT. I HAVE SEEN FIRSTHAND THE PROGRAM EMPOWERING VOTERS AND INCREASING CIVIC PARTICIPATION IN REDUCING RELIANCE ON MONEY FROM SPECIAL INTERESTS. I HAVE SEEN THE BENEFICIAL IMPACTS OF THIS PROGRAM ON DEMOCRACY IN SEATTLE, AND I'M EXCITED TO VOTE IN FAVOR OF THIS LEGISLATION TODAY. THANK YOU FOR ALL YOUR WORK. >> I JUST WANT TO CLOSE TODAY BY SAYING THAT WE ARE, IN TAKING THIS VOTE TODAY, ENACTING DEMOCRACY HERE BEFORE US AT A TIME WHEN OUR CONSTITUENTS AS WE KNOW ARE WORRIED ABOUT THE -- ABOUT THE VIABILITY OF THE CONTINUATION OF OUR DEMOCRATIC PROCESSES ACROSS THE COUNTRY AND SO, IT IS VITALLY IMPORTANT THAT WE SEND THIS TO THE BALLOT TO BE APPROVED BY OUR VOTERS AND THIS IS THE LAST TIME WE WILL BE ABLE TO SPEAK IN FAVOR OF THIS AS IT TURNS INTO A BALLOT ISSUE, BUT I FULLY SUPPORT THIS PROGRAM AND WHAT IT REPRESENTS. IT REPRESENTS PEOPLE PUTTING THEIR VALUES, THE PEOPLE WHO CREATED AND DESIGNED THIS PROGRAM HAVE PUT THEIR VALUES BEFORE MONEY AND YOU ARE ENABLING THE PEOPLE OF SEATTLE TO DO THE SAME THING. AND SO I JUST WANT TO SAY THANK YOU SO MUCH. I'M HEARING A LOT OF SUPPORT FOR THIS. I DID NOT EXPECT OTHERWISE BUT AT A TIME WHEN DEMOCRACY FEELS PERHAPS FRAIL TO PEOPLE ACROSS THE COUNTRY BECAUSE OF WHAT IS GOING ON IN THE OTHER WASHINGTON, DO WANT TO SAY THAT IT IS ALIVE AND WELL HERE WITH OUR VOTE TODAY. SO THANK YOU VERY MUCH FOR YOUR SUPPORT. OKAY, ANY OTHER COMMENTS? GO AHEAD. NO? OKAY. WILL THE CLERK PLEASE CALL THE ROLE? >> COUNCILMEMBER RIVERA? COUNCILMEMBER SOLOMON? COUNCILMEMBER STRAUSS? COUNCILMEMBER HOLLINGSWORTH? COUNCILMEMBER MOORE? COUNCILMEMBER RINCK? COUNCIL PRESIDENT NELSON? SEVEN IN FAVOR, NONE OPPOSED. >> THE BILL PASSES AND THE CHAIR WILL SIGN IT. CONGRATULATIONS. THANK YOU. WILL THE CLERK PLEASE AFFIX MY SIGNATURE TO THE LEGISLATION ON MY BEHALF? ALL RIGHT, MOVING ON, WILL THE CLERK PLEASE READ ITEM 3? >> THE LAND-USE COMMITTEE 1209 48, LINK TO THE SEATTLE CONSTRUCTION CODES ALLOWING FOR THE CONSTRUCTION OF CERTAIN PRODUCTS AND THEY RECOMMENDED PASSES AS AMENDED. >> THANK YOU, COUNCILMEMBER SOLOMON WILL PROVIDE THE COMMITTEE REPORT. >> THANK YOU VERY MUCH. REGARDING 120948, THIS LEGISLATION ALLOWS BUILDING, PERMIT APPLICANTS AN ADDITIONAL 24 MONTH EXTENSION ON EXTENDING THE PERMIT APPLICATIONS AND ISSUED PERMITS FOR PROJECTS VESTED TO THE 2015 AND 2018 SEATTLE BUILDING CODE REQUIREMENTS. AT ITS CORE CB 120948 SUPPORTS CONTINUED INVESTMENTS IN OUR CITY AS WE WORK TO REVITALIZE COMMUNITIES IN THE WAKE OF COVID . WITHOUT THIS IMPORTANT LEGISLATION , PROJECTS WITH PERMIT APPLICATIONS VESTED TO THE 2015 AND 2018 CODES WOULD NEED SIGNIFICANT REDESIGN. SHARED THEIR APPLICATIONS OR PERMITS EXPIRE AND MORE RECENT SEATTLE BUILDING CODE PROVISIONS BE APPLIED TO THE PROJECT . THIS WOULD ADD SIGNIFICANT REDESIGN AND PERMITTING COSTS TO THE PROJECTS AND THREATEN VIABILITY. AS WE CONTINUE WORKING TO LIVE IN OUR CITY , CB 120948 WILL BETTER SECURE THE CRITICAL INVESTMENTS WHICH PROVIDE HOUSING AND JOBS THROUGHOUT OUR COMMUNITIES. I WANT TO THANK THE DEPARTMENT OF INSPECTIONS AND CENTRAL STAFF FOR THEIR HARD WORK AND CONTINUED DEDICATION TO IMPROVING OUR CITY. AND I ASK FOR SUPPORT OF THIS BILL. THANK YOU. >> THANK YOU. TO MY COLLEAGUES, DO YOU HAVE ANY QUESTIONS OR COMMENTS? COUNCILMEMBER RINCK? >> WITH SO MUCH ECONOMIC UNCERTAINTY BEARING DOWN ON US FROM THE LITTLE GOVERNMENT BE IT TARIFFS, INFLATION OR AN UNCERTAINTY OF HOW OUR COUNTRY WILL LOOK JUST MONTHS FROM NOW FOR THESE PROJECTS WHICH INCLUDE AFFORDABLE HOUSING PROJECTS, THESE MUST NOT FALL THROUGH. ACROSS OUR CITY WE ARE SEEING PROJECTS IN A HOLDING PATTERN, NOT SURE IF THEY SHOULD MOVE FORWARD IN UNCERTAIN TIMES, LETTING THE PERMITS EXPIRE IS NOT AN OPTION WE SHOULD PURSUE. THESE PROJECTS REPRESENT THOUSANDS OF HOUSING UNITS THAT SEATTLE DESPERATELY NEEDS AND WHEN THE PROJECTS MOVE FORWARD THEY WILL SPUR REVENUE AND ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT TO THE CITY. AS NOTED IN THE URBANIST, DOWNTOWN THERE ARE 15 PROJECTS THAT WOULD HAVE BEEN POISED TO BRING IN AROUND $75 MILLION IN FUNDING FOR AFFORDABLE HOUSING VIA THE CITY'S MHA PROGRAM. THOSE FEES ARE AUTOMATICALLY UPDATED EVERY YEAR TO ACCOUNT FOR INFLATION, MEANING PAYMENTS ARE THE SAME AS AN EQUIVALENT PROJECT IN THE PIPELINE TODAY. SO TO LET THOSE PERMITS EXPIRE, THAT WOULD BE A DEVASTATING LOSS ON SO MANY FRONTS, SO THEREFORE I WILL BE VOTING YES ON EXTENDING THE DEADLINE TO AN ADDITIONAL TWO YEARS TO GIVE THE PROJECTS THE TIME AND FLEXIBILITY THEY NEED TO MOVE FORWARD. THANK YOU. >> OKAY. I'M LOOKING FOR OTHER COMMENTS. NOT SEEING ANYTHING, I WOULD SAY THAT THIS IS THE LEAST THAT WE CAN DO, BECAUSE THESE PROJECTS HAVE BEEN UP AGAINST STRONG HEADWINDS AND I HAVE TO SAY IT GOES WITHOUT SAYING THAT WE ARE IN A HOUSING CRISIS AND NEED TO DO EVERYTHING WE CAN TO ASSIST IN BUILDING NEW HOMES IN THE CITY AND THAT IS WHY I WAS SO MOTIVATED ON THE MAKERS DISTRICT PUZZLE PASSED LAST MONTH. THIS ORDINANCE IS ANOTHER KEY CONTRIBUTION TO MAKING IT EASIER TO BUILD HOUSING IN SEATTLE. THE PANDEMIC CAUSED SO MANY GOOD PROJECTS TO BE DELAYED AND BY PASSING THIS ORDINANCE TODAY WE WILL ALLOW MANY OF THESE PROJECTS TO MOVE FORWARD WITHOUT MAKING THEM GO BACK TO THE DRAWING BOARD. PASSING THIS COUNCIL BILL COULD LEAD TO THOUSANDS OF NEW UNITS OF HOUSING BEING BUILT INCLUDING AFFORDABLE HOUSING WHICH WOULD OTHERWISE NEVER GET OFF THE GROUND SO I WANT TO THANK COUNCILMEMBER SOLOMON FOR LEADING ON THIS LEGISLATION AND EVERYONE IN THE LAND-USE COMMITTEE FOR ADVANCING IT TO FULL COUNCIL AND I HOPE THAT WE CAN PASS IT TODAY. ALL RIGHT. I'M NOT SEEING ANY OTHER HANDS, SO WILL THE CLERK PLEASE CALL THE ROLE IN THE PASSAGE OF THE BILL? >> COUNCILMEMBER RIVERA? COUNCILMEMBER SOLOMON? COUNCILMEMBER STRAUSS? COUNCILMEMBER HOLLINGSWORTH? COUNCILMEMBER MOORE? COUNCILMEMBER RINCK? COUNCIL PRESIDENT NELSON? SEVEN IN FAVOR, NONE OPPOSED. >> THE BILL PASSES AND THE CHAIR WILL SIGN IT. WILL THE CLERK AFFIX MY SIGNATURE TO THE LEGISLATION ON MY BEHALF? ALL RIGHT. THERE WERE NO ITEMS REMOVED FROM THE CONSENT CALENDAR, AND THERE IS NOT A RESOLUTION FOR INTRODUCTION AND ADOPTION TODAY. IS THERE ANY FURTHER BUSINESS TO COME BEFORE COUNCIL? ALL RIGHT. I'M NOT SEEING ANY. WE HAVE REACHED THE END OF TODAY'S AGENDA. THE NEXT REGULARLY SCHEDULED CITY COUNCIL MEETING IS ON APRIL 29th AT 2:00 P.M. HEARING NO FURTHER BUSINESS, IT IS NOW 2:52 P.M. AND THIS MEETING IS ADJOURNED.