Everybody thank you for being here in City Hall the November 12th 2019 City Council meeting Of the meeting of the full council come to orders 2 o'clock p.m..
I'm Bruce Harrell president of the council will the clerk please call the roll Juarez O'Brien here take oh, yeah, so what yeah like Shaw Gonzales here her bold here president Harrell here seven present.
Thank you very much There's no objection.
I'd like to allow Councilmember Bagshaw to be excused from today's meeting and do that administratively.
Hearing no objection, Councilmember Bagshaw is excused.
Similarly, if there's no objection, the introduction and referral calendar will be adopted.
Hearing no objection, today's introduction and referral calendar is adopted.
If there's no objection, today's agenda will be adopted.
Hearing no objection, today's agenda is adopted.
The minutes of the October 28th, 2019 City Council meeting and the November 7th, 2019 Special City Council meeting have been reviewed and if there's no objection, the minutes will be signed.
Hearing no objection, the minutes are being signed.
Thank you, Madam Clerk.
Presentations, I'm not aware of any presentations this afternoon, so at this time we'll take public comment on items that appear on our agenda for this afternoon or our introduction referral calendar or our 2019 work program.
We have a few people who have signed up, so I'll call you out in the order with which you've signed up here.
We'll start off with Gene Burrus, and then we'll go second with David Haynes, and then third with Karen Gillen.
Gene, David, and Karen.
All right, hi, and thank you very much.
My name's Gene Burrus.
Thanks for the opportunity to address you.
I'm here to talk about a few items on the waterfront lid that was discussed this morning.
A few items I wanted to bring to the Council's attention, maybe before they take a vote on what was discussed this morning.
The first one being, I'm unaware, at least at this point, whether there have been any reviews of the waterfront lid projects under the State Environmental Protection Act, and the designs are far enough along where I think maybe that should have happened.
So I think the Council ought to understand whether some of these environmental reviews have begun or are under review, or whether they haven't begun and why they haven't begun, or whether it's the position of the waterfront group that they aren't required.
The second piece of it is a little more practical.
It's that a number of the waterfront lid projects are yet to be completed.
I'm sorry, let's stop the time for one moment.
I'm just having an issue of research, and that is we have certain obligations in what we call a quasi-judicial manner.
And it's my assumption that in our capacity officially we can actually hear public comment, but I'm not 100% certain of that.
So if I would ask you to do this, we'll restart your time so you get a full two minutes if it's appropriate to hear.
I'm going to go through the speakers.
And then come back to you.
But I also believe that Karen wants to speak on the lid as well.
So I want to see if we can receive testimony on that first.
We'll restart your clock.
I want to make sure this is appropriate.
Thank you very much for your patience.
So Karen, I'm going to hold off from you as well just for a moment.
And we'll hear from David Haynes.
And Mr. Haynes, are you speaking about the lid as well?
Yes.
OK.
So please proceed, and we'll do a little research here.
Please proceed, David.
All right, thank you.
David Ains.
If City Council wants to make it easier to get re-elected, perhaps you should reconsider your capitulation to a policy that's unconstitutional, treasonous, and immoral that has caused our present societal implosion.
I'm talking about your foolish exemptions for drug pushers and nefarious repeat offenders who have been listed non-criminal as City Council uses more misleading data to make it seem they are dialing down recidivism for those that make innocent people's lives a living hell.
It's ironic City Council wants to ban foreign money in local elections.
I think a majority of citizens would embrace banning foreign money, yet that's not what City Council wants to do.
City Council wants to list local job-creating businesses foreign while exempting union political money.
This won't improve our democracy as much as benefit Democrats, leaving the citizens suffering the same policies that caused a revolt against the present council that was forced not to seek re-election.
We need laws written to improve our democracy.
Maybe like ranked choice because one opposition candidate who got lucky in first round sometimes ain't the best choice.
Seattle copycats big city failed liberal policies that enrich their political organizers and re-election apparatus.
How about copying ranked choice?
It will give us better options that we as a democracy are entitled to.
Don't let your blind ambition continue to oppress locals' rights.
This election did not quell the revolution.
Also, we still need an investigation of the government and non-government officials denying veterans showers, laundry every Veterans Day and Thanksgiving and Christmas and New Year's and Easter.
And the people of color are denied shower and laundry every Martin Luther King Jr.
Day.
Social welfare can't take three-day vacations that oppress and tread on poor needs while Sharon Lee greeds oppress.
Thank you.
Madam clerk, can you look at the sign-up sheet if we have another matter?
Okay, mr. Shard, please come forward and you have two minutes and I'm gonna ask that you not talk about the lid Issue And if you are will delay and you come back to that issue So any other topic on our work program, for example, this is fair testimony
Marguerite Richard and no, I don't know anything about no lid.
So no, I didn't come to talk about the lid.
I talked about the conditions that face black people, black children, black mothers, black fathers, black men, black women, black.
And it seems to be offensive here in this town in which I was born in.
but the Bible's clear, offenses may come, but woe unto them that bring them.
You brought many offenses to my home.
You brought many offenses to my people.
Go out to attend you.
Some of you are still there, but the clock is still ticking, see?
Because I know a man, he's regulating time.
And he said, your time is not up, you go tell him.
You tell him about all the stuff that's going on.
And that kibbles and bits that you're giving out to our community has never been enough.
I said, why not?
Bill Gates got a lot of money.
Paul Allen's dead, and he's still got money coming from the grave.
And we sitting out there, we get killed.
That woman got shot in the face, and now her dad, her father is dead.
right after she died, because our heart has been so oppressed, depressed, suppressed, and repressed.
It's the scourge of the nation to see a group of people, a culture of people that have given so much, they have to go through this raggedy-jankety mess around here.
But you know what?
I thank God I believe in God, because he have never let me down.
Never.
He said, I'll never leave you nor forsake you.
And he haven't forsaken me yet.
And I'm going to see the handwriting on the wall because of what you've done.
Thank you, Mr. Richard, for your testimony.
Okay, going back to the two speakers who would like to speak on the lid, so we have some clarification that it would be inappropriate because of the quasi-judicial nature of the legislation for us to receive testimony on this at this particular hearing.
That's the ruling that has been made to me, at least, and there's no current action to cure the actions that were taken because we did allow about 60 seconds worth before we made the correction.
So at this point we're not taking testimony on the lid or providing clarification and so we won't receive comment.
If you'd like to speak to something else, please do.
Yes, my comments are more general than that.
My name is Karen Gellin and I'm a retired downtown resident.
Thank you for this opportunity to speak.
I wish to congratulate council members, Lisa Herbold and Katrala Sawant on their reelection to the council.
As you start your new terms, I hope you will recognize that you represent not only those who voted for you, but every citizen in your respective districts.
I hope that going forward, you will be willing to respond to issues raised by people outside of your core supporters.
I would also like to request that you and your fellow council members recognize that your decisions have an impact on those outside of your district.
I would ask that you to examine your consciences when you enact legislation to ensure that you are not inflicting harm on citizens and districts other than your own to the advantage of your constituents.
Between 2013 and 2019, the population in District 7 has grown 37%, significantly more than any other district.
The lion's share of this growth was within downtown.
These new taxpayers are flooding the City Council coffers with tax money, and yet somehow, we don't deserve to have city-provided park space like the rest of the city.
If you want to keep Seattle's appeal as a great place to live and raise a family, you cannot unequitably tax downtown residents, forcing them to flee the city.
Thank you.
Thank you.
Mr. Burris, would you like to speak to a non-led matter?
Okay.
Thank you, sir.
We'll conclude public comment at this part of the agenda, and we will move to the, I'm sorry.
Well, yes, is the short answer and the sheet is right there.
And I... I didn't want to interrupt them while they were...
Oh, I understand.
Oh, that's cool.
And I think you heard if it's pertaining to the lid, then we can't take...
Okay, very good.
And is there anyone else that'd like to speak?
Please come forward and then we'll delay and please sign on the list.
I'm so sorry for that.
No, no, it's quite okay.
I appreciated your courtesy.
Okay, go ahead and let's sign up here.
We'll take our time here.
It's not like we have 100 items on our agenda today, so we're okay.
We have 100, less than 100.
Thank you all so much.
I'm glad to be here.
I'm Jessica McCoy, Samaritan COO, and I wanted to take a moment to go into more detail on how Samaritan operates for those who may not be familiar.
Samaritan is a public benefit corporation with a 501c3 fiscal sponsor.
This means we have committed to using our resources to create a sustainable public benefit and to do so in a transparent way.
Just as service providers contract with for-profit HMIS technology vendors like BitFocus, these providers can provide Bluetooth smart wallets from us to help people address critical financial and social barriers to getting into housing.
We started by equipping a few nonprofits with 500 smart wallets to accelerate their outcomes.
274 of the 500 participants started addressing financial and social needs, and nearly 20% of those entered housing or another life-changing outcome.
Providers like Lehigh and DESC and others have now asked for beacons, leading to this $175K proposal to give 750 more people access to beacons next year.
This includes funding for additional case management, 2,000 more hours every year.
We're not sure where the idea came.
That was to the contrary.
I have the budget Excel sheet here for your review.
But more importantly, this proposal is designed to help participants move into a better life more quickly.
Six months instead of eight.
Eight instead of 10. We're talking about giving organizations additional capacity to help that next person in need.
To be clear, no location data is ever stored, and there is no technical capability to track where a beacon holder is at any moment in time.
We have never charged beacon holders to participate, nor ever taken a cut of their money.
Some of you may have heard that Samaritan charges for career counseling.
We have never done so.
I have signed statements here from providers at Harborview, St. Vincent de Paul, Valley Cities, and others that couldn't give comment today.
As you make final budget decisions, I'd welcome you to reach out to these providers so that they can help 750 more clients address their critical social and financial needs.
Thank you.
Thank you, Jessica.
Let me call the next three speakers in the order that they should speak.
Christopher Sun, Grayson Sinclair, and then Nicole Semper.
Christopher, Grace, and Nicole.
Thank you, Councilmember.
My name is Chris.
I'm a member of the Samaritan team, and I'm just here to share two comments from friends who couldn't make it in person today.
So the first is from Jessica Williams, a clinic supervisor at Valley City's Behavioral Health Pike Place.
She says, it has been just under a year since we started working closely with Samaritan to help our clients get connected with this great resource.
This additional source of funds can be a small boost for clients or large enough for some real positive change.
Everyone deserves the dignity to decide for themselves what they need or want, and Samaritan provides just that.
As a nonprofit helping to serve people on Medicaid experiencing mental health struggles, homelessness, substance abuse, and behavioral issues, it has been a welcomed partnership to provide this additional support.
Samaritan is in no way a replacement for nonprofits like Valley Cities, but a wonderful supplement that can enhance a person's ability to create positive change.
And the next is from Bella, a smart wallet holder.
She says, I'm a current client of Real Escape from the sex trade and a graduate of their yearlong program aimed towards helping commercial sexually exploited women have a space to heal and learn better life skills.
I escaped my trafficker in 2018, but he still pervades in my life.
even with a federal case pending.
He still stalks me and his continued abuse makes it difficult for me to have the mental fortitude to work a job.
Being constantly bombarded by anxiety and PTSD can make even the smallest chores seem unachievable.
The Beacon has assisted in lifting some financial burdens by giving my son and I the ability to purchase groceries and even his birthday present, which he probably otherwise wouldn't be getting without the Beacon's support.
I've also received several encouraging messages as I progress from new people and people who've watched my story unfold.
Those are so nice in dark times when everything feels so overwhelming.
If you're looking for a reason to fund Beacons, I can tell you that this would be an invaluable asset.
So many women leave their traffickers with nothing but the clothes on their back or a few suitcases like I did.
They have to start from scratch and the Beacon provides the motivation to go out and pursue the resources to find stability because you don't know who you're going to come across who can inspire you or how the funds can really make a difference in your life.
Thank you, Chris.
Thank you.
Grayson and then Nicole.
I'm also sharing a few stories from beacon holders who were unable to make it.
This is from Stuart.
Samaritan helped me gain trust that there are people who would like to help others in need.
Without this program, I would not have the proper shoes and clothing for the winter weather.
or the furniture that I needed when my Section 8 voucher for housing was approved.
I would love to see more homeless persons qualify to join.
This has a chance to change lives.
This is from Terry.
The Beacon has helped me so much to be able to buy things that I normally couldn't afford, like food, clothing, and the ability to feed my two rescue animals.
With the beacons, people don't have to get out and beg for money by flying signs or walking up and bothering people.
Please find it in your heart to allow for the funding of more beacons so that more people can be helped.
Thank you.
And this is from Jasmine.
I apologize that I couldn't attend.
I had work.
First of all, I would like to thank everyone who has helped me throughout the months with my beacon.
I came to Seattle in April.
I had nothing but my clothes.
I stayed in a shelter until I was housed.
Throughout my stay at the shelter, I learned about the beacon program.
It helped me refill my Orca card and to get to and from my appointments and my work.
When I don't have enough money to get food, the funds from the Beacon help me to do so.
If it wasn't for the Beacon, I would struggle between pay periods.
I think that it's an awesome program.
Please consider funding it so that it may continue to help those in the process of trying to get their lives in order.
Thank you again to those who have helped me out.
I really appreciate you all.
Thank you.
Thank you, Grayson.
Our last speaker I've signed up is Nicole.
First off, I'd like to thank you all for giving us an opportunity to hear our voices and our opinions.
I'm coming to you as a beacon holder, as a very humble beacon holder.
Samaritan has changed my life.
It has turned me around, and I have seen it turn everybody's life that I have touched around.
I've seen people who wouldn't give people the time of day on the street just walk up to you and say, hey, good job.
I look up to you.
Keep up the good work.
I've seen people who used to rob, cheat, steal, prostitute, get housing, and turn their lives around.
I am one of them.
I'm seven years clean and sober because of Samaritan.
They have brought hope, faith, and trust to me again.
They have given me new life.
They have given me new hope.
And I want to see others get the same hope that I have.
I have talked to many beacon holders, and they agree with me, and I wish they could be here today to tell you.
Samaritan could be one of the keys to helping the homeless.
If it could help somebody who was like me, Think of what they could do for everybody else.
Think what they could do to the impact of the community so they can start helping the homeless in their situations.
Samaritan says, walk with, not by, and they stand by that.
Samaritan is there for you and they walk with you.
They are there helping you.
I've seen people that are high up in courts just come up to me and say, here's $5 because I read your book.
I've seen the trust put back in lives.
Thank you.
Thank you for your testimony.
Thank all of you for your testimony.
So we're going to conclude public comment and we're going to move to the payment of bill section.
So please read the titles, plural.
Council Bill 119, 694, a property of mine to paste out in claims for the week of October 21st, 2019 through October 25th, 2019 and ordering the payment thereof.
Council Bill 119, 698, a property of mine to paste out in claims for the week of October 28th, 2019 through November 1st, 2019 and ordering the payment thereof.
Okay, we're gonna take these individually.
The first one I'll move to pass Council Bill 119, 694. Second.
It's been moved and seconded.
Any comments or questions?
All those in favor of the motion, please vote aye.
Aye.
Opposed?
Let's do it a different way.
I was just testing your ability to be nimble on a Tuesday.
Why don't you call the roll on the passage of the bill?
Juarez.
Aye.
O'Brien.
Aye.
Pacheco.
Aye.
Sawant.
Aye.
Gonzales.
Aye.
Herpel.
Aye.
President Harrell.
Aye.
Seven in favor, none opposed.
Bill passes and the Chair will sign it.
I'll move to pass Council Bill 119698. Second.
It's been moved and seconded, the bill passed.
Any questions or comments?
Please call the roll on the passage of the bill.
Juarez?
Aye.
O'Brien?
Aye.
Pacheco?
Aye.
Sawant?
Aye.
Gonzalez?
Aye.
Herbold?
Aye.
President Harrell?
Aye.
Seven in favor, none opposed.
The bill passes and the chair will sign it.
Is there any further business coming for the council?
If not, we stand adjourned and everyone have a great rest of the day.
Yeah.