SPEAKER_06

Good afternoon, everyone.

The September 24th, 2024 meeting of the Seattle City Council will come to order.

It is 201. I'm Sarah Nelson, Council President.

Will the clerk please call the roll?

SPEAKER_09

Council Member Morales.

SPEAKER_99

Here.

SPEAKER_09

Council Member Rivera.

Present.

Council Member Saka.

Here.

Council Member Strauss.

SPEAKER_28

Present.

SPEAKER_09

Council Member Wu.

Present.

Council Member Hollingsworth?

Here.

Council Member Kettle?

SPEAKER_33

Here.

SPEAKER_09

Council Member Moore?

Present.

Council President Nelson?

SPEAKER_06

Present.

SPEAKER_09

Nine present.

SPEAKER_06

Thank you very much.

First of all, I would like to issue a very, very warm welcome to the mayor's cabinet, key staff, and members of the public and media into council chambers today in the spirit of One Seattle.

It's wonderful to have you here, and I appreciate your presence for coming down.

All right.

At this time, the council will be at ease while council members Strauss and Rivera, as chair and vice chair of the Select Budget Committee, escort Mayor Harrell to council chambers.

SPEAKER_08

Time to scoot if you need to scoot at all.

SPEAKER_06

This is kind of old school, right?

This reminds me of way back times.

SPEAKER_99

Bruce Harrell.

SPEAKER_32

Thank you very much.

Let's get this love fest started.

For all of you, good afternoon and thank you for joining us here today as I introduce my proposal for the 2025-2026 budget.

I want to offer my sincere thanks to Council President Sarah Nelson and other members of the City Council here for hosting us here today.

Feels good to be back, I should say.

We're in council chambers because this will be budget central for the next couple of months.

I know it's the right place to have the conversations about what the future of our city should be, what it should look like, what our investment strategy should be.

Now, there will be no doubt some long nights here for all of us, and indeed, You'll hear voices passionate about making, from the public, passionate about making sure their needs are met.

And I want to thank you, Advance, for putting in this hard work, balancing a budget rate right up there with a dentist appointment or doing your taxes.

It just has to be done.

And so we're going to do this together.

So thank you again.

Earlier this year, at the annual State of the City Address, we discussed the significant general fund budget deficit.

It faces all of us at $250 million.

You may recall that I committed to the people of Seattle to take a deep analytical look at our entire budget portfolio.

And I'm very proud of the fact that our team, our collective team, embraced the process of truly scrubbing the budget.

We set out to consider not just what we are funding, but how we are funding it.

sort of looked at our why.

We took immediate actions like implementing a hiring freeze, and I know that caused some concern.

And then we looked under the hood of the programs we fund and, again, scrutinized streams of revenue.

And this is tough work.

my guiding principle as mayor is that my obligation to you the people of seattle to do our best to spend every dollar we have toward the needs of the city and its people in a responsible and efficient and effective way see we don't have the luxury of a pie in the sky reimagining of our budget based on a hope that our state's regressive tax system will magically change or that olympia would listen to the appeals of cities and counties large and small across Washington and lift the restrictive cap on local revenue.

We were not dealt that hand.

We made a conscious decision not to make broad cuts to essential general fund programs like police and fire and homelessness response.

Instead we thoughtfully and strategically and methodically reconstructed and reconfigured our budget built on the strong foundation and trajectory that we've established with your help.

And as a result, I'm proud to say that we are sending the city council a balanced budget that reflects our commitment to the people of Seattle.

Now, unless you folks really wanna make history, you could pass the mayor's budget with no edits.

But I'm assuming that there will be intense conversations to follow and that has never been done like that, but there's always a chance to make history.

In all seriousness, this reconfiguration of our budget allows us to propose a budget that closes the $250 million gap without raising taxes and without noticeable impacts to the public-facing city services that residents count on, like keeping our libraries open.

keeping our senior centers open, community centers, providing youth programming and core parks services, maintaining critical infrastructure, striving to deliver effective public safety for every resident in every neighborhood.

We know these are priorities.

The approach we've taken also means that we don't have to slow down our hand at hard-charging, progressive investments like affordable housing.

We're expanding our innovative care department, supporting the working families of the city and infusing funds to energize arts and culture citywide.

Most importantly, it represents the first step, a huge step, putting our fiscal our city on a better fiscal trajectory stability and sustainability are the key this year we are continuing to use some of the payroll expense tax revenues to support the general fund just as the city has done every year since it was introduced over the last four years the annual revenues brought in by the payroll expense tax have exceptionally doubled significantly surpassing initial forecasts.

So this increase allows us to both maintain the spending amount forecast when the tax was originally proposed and use it to fund the priority buckets of housing and equitable development and climate action and the economic development for our city and youth mental health and safety.

This reconfiguration also allows us to close the deficit and invest in general fund essential services without tapping the rain-a-day fund or our fiscal reserves or putting our AAA bonding rating at risk.

And this becomes critical for our long-term needs.

The proposals you hear about in this budget and the deep, unacceptable cuts that we didn't have to propose are only possible because of the approach we used.

So I want to thank Interim Director Dan Eder, who also knows, where are you, Dan?

We want to thank you.

worked on this great floor the second floor here together and thank you and your predecessor Julie Dingley and the entire team at the city budget office many of whom are represented here this afternoon for identifying this reasonable path forward and I want to thank budget chair and councilmember Dan Strauss since day one of this budget cycle he's been a thought leader and a thought partner willing to go outside of the box and seek real solutions with a steady hand and so I want to thank you Dan I strong advocate for his neighborhood, but he promised me early on in the process that at least some of his changes will not involve Ballard.

That's a commitment.

This reconfiguration does not mean that we're able to avoid tough decisions or ignore structural budget challenges that put us in the position here in the first place.

We had to take these issues head on.

Our department directors who are here today, thank you for being here, they took a fresh eye at their own departments to make efficiency gains and find ways to do more with less and carefully consider all lines of business.

They are embracing my expectation that the city is a learning, growing, sort of breathing organization to deliver excellent service to our communities.

Now that means we also had to make some very difficult decisions.

we had to propose some layoffs.

These layoffs were informed by strategic thinking and our long-term approach to effective services, but for those city employees who are potentially impacted, I recognize that this is a very challenging and uncertain time for you.

You have my commitment and my administration's commitment that we will put forward every effort to support you in this time of change.

And I want to thank all of the city workers who tirelessly serve their neighbors and the residents of Seattle every single day in so many different ways.

Our budget includes the contract we signed earlier this year that centered wage equity, responded to record inflation, and will help us recruit and retain highly qualified employees here at the City of Seattle to provide the essential services we need.

These valued workers are a key part to this mission.

for us to be a learning and growing organization.

Now, one group that I think truly embodies our resilience and the spirit of our city's workforce are our supported employees, members of our team with developmental disabilities or other similar challenges.

Many of them are here with us today.

They serve across the city in different departments.

And I can tell you they are some of the hardest working and most enthusiastic teammates one can possibly have.

Last week, I popped into the monthly meeting with our supported employees and I responded to their questions.

They beat the mayor up a little bit.

But in all seriousness, they represent the best in all of us.

embraced the concept of public service and decided to do the best they could to overcome the challenges that are put before them.

And I am proud to be on their team.

And you could just sort of wave your hand here and say hi to us.

Those are our superstars right there, our supported employees.

We take pride.

in the work that you do and thank you.

So taking a top to bottom approach to rebuilding the budget allows us to continue prioritizing programs that support city workers and allows us to prioritize programs that mean so much to us in describing our Seattle's fundamental needs, such as protecting the gains we're making to build and maintain affordable housing.

Our approach to housing is ambitious and multi-pronged and a high priority in this budget.

We know bringing down the cost of housing is central to our efforts to make Seattle an affordable city for all residents and making additional progress on the homelessness crisis.

Again, this is tough work.

In this budget, we are proposing $342 million toward affordable housing in 2025, the largest single investment in Seattle's history.

I need that to resonate with folks.

That is our largest investment up until 2026 when we have proposed an even higher investment at $343 million, recognizing the need for our residents.

Altogether, that's nearly $700 million toward affordable housing over two years, on top of the $800 million we've invested in my first three years of office.

This is critical policy work and investment strategies.

This means that thousands of more units of affordable and permanent supportive housing for those most in need.

Pairing our historic investments with other partners is critical.

We need partners.

I seek partners.

You read about partnerships every day.

the state of Washington, philanthropy, private companies like Amazon, including their recent commitment to $1.4 billion toward affordable housing.

See, working together, we're addressing the significant challenges facing affordable housing providers and taking advantage of the opportunity to create needed new places for people to live in our city.

That said, we know that these investments in housing and stability alone will not make Seattle more affordable for families and workers and our neighbors.

Simply put, we need more housing and more kinds of housing across the city.

So over the last year, we've advanced a number of common sense solutions to increase and diversify our housing stock, making it easier to build, reducing permitting hurdles, and promoting houses like ADUs.

So next month, we'll take another major step by sharing more details about our revised One Seattle Comprehensive Plan update, reflecting a massive opportunity to build new kinds of housing in new places.

This is a comp plan.

We also will have a massive opportunity to make everyone mad.

If you know comp plans, you know if you know.

That's the difficult work we have elected to do.

Some of the changes we'll be making include improving the size and types of family-sized housing that can be built in our neighborhood residential zones, more incentives to build affordable housing citywide and additional neighborhood centers, areas where we can build stronger communities, encourage walkability, and encourage housing options and affordability in all parts of Seattle.

Our plan, yes.

our camp plan puts access opportunity opportunity and community first and foremost allows allowing corner stores everywhere in the city and focusing on connecting people to transit and with increased density along major arterials and transit routes as part of our budget will go even further to invention the The next piece of our One Seattle plan, funding a supplemental environmental review that will explore how we can further add housing in places that already have increased density.

Indeed, a second supplemental environmental review is also planned to continue efforts to bring 500 new units of housing to the Fort Lawton site in Magnolia.

500, combining home ownership and rental properties and transitional housing.

Now, this is transformational for our city.

This kind of investment opportunity is...

Currently using underutilized U.S.

Army property, it's the single largest investment we can make in new, affordable, mixed-use housing in our city, while also adding 20 acres of green space to Discovery Park.

I recently took a tour there with HUD officials and they too agreed on what a beautiful opportunity we have and we've been working really hard to make sure they are cooperating and indeed investing with us and this is a great piece of work and a great opportunity for Seattle.

Finally, thank you.

include strategies to fight displacement and support the communities who have long called Seattle home but are at risk of being pushed out by rising costs and a changing landscape.

One important tool in this effort is the Equitable Development Initiative, a program I can say my budget will increase to $28 million total for 2025. And I look forward to continuing our ongoing work with council members and land use chair Tammy Morales as the council considers the One Seattle Plan and all of the housing programs we are proposing like our revised ADU code that are going to make our city a place where everyone could call home.

And I want to thank you in advance, Council Member Morales.

This gives us the opportunity to demonstrate words like equity and opportunity and fairness and justice.

These are not just mere buzzwords.

These are real values that will convert to budget policy.

As that little boy whose mom worked at the local YMCA and his father worked at City Light, being able to live in the core city of Seattle was literally life-changing for me.

My goal as your mayor is to make sure other little children have that same possibility in the core of Seattle, and that is driving our plans.

Housing is a critical component of our efforts to address the homelessness crisis.

And we also recognize we need intermediate places for people living unsheltered to go.

They must begin their journey to recovery.

Places like shelter and tiny home villages with culturally competent care and services on site.

Our city and region entered this year staring down at a funding cliff for shelters and tiny home villages, facing the risk of losing about 300 beds as federal and one-time grants are set to expire at the end of the year.

Now, that's 300 spaces where people can safely sleep at night.

That's 300 respites from the cold of the winter and the extreme heat of the summer.

That's 300 footholds of people looking for a chance to recover.

So we appreciate places like the Cairo Building in the Central District, operated by Africatown.

It serves up to 150 people every day and night with a specific focus on the black community who are disproportionately represented in our homelessness population.

I know Councilmember Joy Hollingsworth understands the important impact that this shelter is making in her district and across the city.

And I know that the community holds us accountable for fighting against these kinds of injustices that have historically been part of our city.

We can't lose these places.

Not here.

Not under our watch.

Not in Seattle.

So in this budget, we worked with King County to ensure that these beds stay open.

Taking on these investments ourselves and changing that from one time to ongoing.

This becomes key.

3.2 million to keep these beds open.

This was a must include for our administration.

I also want to express my gratitude to the workers who serve these communities and indeed change lives and save lives.

Our human service providers.

This budget invests in their well-being and the retention of this critical workforce, keeping us on track with our commitment to provide inflationary adjustments and needed equity pay.

We need these amazing workers, these dedicated employees to continue doing these essential jobs.

Further, we are maintaining funding for homelessness services, including contracts administered by the King County Regional Homelessness Authority.

I'm pleased with the earlier conversations I've had with KCRHA's new CEO, Dr. Kelly Kennison.

As she brings diligence and competence and experience and compassion and urgency to this organization, she adds to the work that they're doing.

We're very proud of the energy that she's bringing.

And together with Dr. Kinison and the reforms in front of the city and the county councils, we can take this organization to its next phase from startup to upstart, disrupting the status quo and reducing unsheltered homelessness.

My budget...

proposal will also expand the service capacity of our unified care team, allowing us to immediately respond to areas frequently repopulated with encampments.

Our unified care team has made significant difference for the people of Seattle, housed and unhoused.

We've decreased tent encampments by 72% since I took office and increased shelter referrals incredibly they've climbed in terms of the amount of people we are referring to shelter we're committed to this issue we know that mental and behavioral health is often intersectional with homelessness and while any person in our city can be lost to the devastation of fentanyl and synthetic opioids we recognize those living unsheltered are at a significantly disproportionate risk That's why last week I announced a new public health strategy centered on increasing our investment in the greatest public health challenge that we face right now, the fentanyl crisis.

Next year, we will nearly triple our spending to take on substance use disorder, funding the new programs and proven strategies that are already making a difference.

Over the last year, we've seen an 18%, one eight, 18% decrease in fatal overdoses across King County.

And that reduction is even higher in our downtown core.

Programs called for in my April 2023 executive order like Seattle Fire Department's Health 99 post overdose team, expanding mobile medication delivery in a new way and a pilot to distribute life-saving drugs that reduce cravings and withdrawal symptoms.

These are making a difference as is our collaboration with public health.

Seattle and King County and our service provider partners.

So next year with this funding, we can forge ahead on our next set of initiatives in this area.

In partnership with DESC, we will open the Orca Center.

This will provide care to those in the immediate aftermath of an overdose, as well as the tools and support to seek recovery and treatment.

And next month, we'll begin a pilot with Valley Cities to provide a dedicated detox and inpatient treatment beds for up to 150 people per year.

Helping people access care to get well is an essential part of our plan to create a vibrant and welcoming city for everybody.

It's also just one part of our investment strategy to support our downtown activation plan and build the downtown of the future.

So if you look at our budget, it contains millions of dollars toward art activation, beautification, renovation, long-term planning in downtown this is a priority of mine and i know it's a priority of council president sarah nelson has been a staunch advocate for this neighborhood since taking office in our our discussions during this budget and i want to thank council president for her leadership one of the areas i'm most excited about is our proposal to invest in westlake center and to ensure it is once again the heart of downtown now the world cup opportunity is swiftly approaching as i'm reminded on a weekly basis is coming in 2026. this can ignite lasting changes at westlake over the last year we've had a preview of what this could look like with great uh events and or turnouts at westlake for to watch parties watch parties for the u.s men's and women's soccer teams i've sat through a few of those and it is truly fun and exciting yesterday i I attended the memorial of former Mayor Charlie Royer, a champion for Seattle and who made Westlake's revitalization a centerpiece of his administration.

I want to publicly thank his family and for...

Mayor Royer, for the vision that we're fighting to keep alive today.

We can continue advancing this vision and make Westlake the world-class plaza it deserves to be, a gathering place, a community commons, a nexus between linking downtown and the waterfront and Seattle Center, pulling it all together.

This comes as we prepare to complete our revolutionary waterfront project, which is grand opening right around the corner next year.

I think many of you know that on October 4th, 10-4, six days before my birthday by the way, I'll hope you join me as we build on the momentum of the Seattle Aquarium's Ocean Pavilion and officially introduce Overlook Walk as Seattle's latest iconic urban element.

And you've seen pictures of it.

You've sort of seen this is really cool stuff.

It will create a first of its kind pedestrian connection between the downtown and the waterfront and bridging Pike Place Market and the new park promenade.

Good things are happening downtown.

Another area of investment in my proposed to maintain are enhanced cleaning efforts.

through our $1.5 million investment in the MID, is sort of described in these efforts.

And last week, I had the pleasure of speaking directly to the MID ambassadors, the folks you see out there cleaning and putting in the work, helping downtown.

I know you see them.

You can't miss the bright yellow vests.

And I spent some time with them during the lunch hour.

Now, many of these mid-ambassadors you may not know, they come from some challenging backgrounds, and they're certainly willing to share that with you.

They have experienced challenges with homelessness and substance abuse or incarceration.

And when we met, I told them a few things.

The first thing I tried to impress upon them was thank you.

Thank you every day for your hard work in making our city a more welcoming place.

From one human being to another, thank you.

The second thing I shared with them that they are an example what our administration is trying to achieve in Seattle, a city where people have opportunities and second chances to restore not just their own lives, but to help others in need get on the same path, using that lived experience to help others.

And third, that they too are part of our One Seattle team, a critical part of our efforts to pump life and vibrancy and heart and soul into our streets.

I share their passion, and they share our passion to create a safe, friendly downtown, and that we will match their passion, they will match ours, and that's how we're gonna get this done.

So I'll soon be issuing an executive order to better improve this coordination, to better improve the vibrancy and safety across the city.

We've seen incredible improvement driven by tactical surges to clean up the streets.

You've seen that.

We help people access services and referrals that they need.

We make arrests for unlawful or criminal activity.

This executive order will establish a new downtown activation team, DAT ADAPT, to make these changes sustainable.

building on the proven model and coordination of the Unified Care Team.

So the Downtown Activation Team will bring together nearly 15 city departments with our partners and service providers like the Downtown Seattle Association, the Mid-Ambassadors I spoke of, We Deliver Care, among others.

It will allow us to better coordinate place-based activations, cleanings, and safety operations in downtown, the Chinatown International District, and Little Saigon.

I know how important this is to the entire city, and I know how important it is to Councilmember and Public Safety Chair Bob Kettle, that if this proves successful, and we are confident that this is best practices, that this approach will be brought citywide.

I gotta figure out where you guys are sitting.

I keep going like this over here.

Thank you, Councilmember Kettle.

So based on practices in resetting community norms, resetting community norms and established principles in criminology, the new team will implement what we are calling scheduled restoration actions, SRAs, intending to clean areas, enhance public safety, and facilitate artistic and cultural expression.

Teams will be visible and consistent.

This is the kind of strategic coordination we need to further restore the vibrancy and livability in these cherished neighborhoods.

Now, elements of this plan and the work of the downtown activation plan have actually already begun and we're seeing positive early results downtown and we've gotten a lot of positive feedback from our efforts.

But for Seattle to thrive, the vibrancy of our economic and cultural centers must continue to be restored.

This is ongoing work and this is a priority for our administration.

What we know is that Public safety touches on virtually every city department and every function of our government.

We recently held a retreat and this is exactly what we talked about.

To keep people safe by administration takes a holistic approach that recognizes the importance of mental health, food access, treatment availability, housing stability, as it does law enforcement and diversified responses to 911 calls.

While our first responders are a crucial part of our system and do incredibly important and valuable work daily, all city departments have a responsibility to improve public safety in Seattle.

This is the One Seattle approach.

This approach for sustainable and measurable safety is what guides my administration when it informs the proposed investments in this budget.

This includes efforts like resolving 911 calls by rebuilding and optimizing officer staffing and expanding response options to best match the situation.

That's why our budget continues to invest in an expanded Seattle Fire Department recruiting class and SBD recruiting, where this year, We are on pace to have nearly 4,000 officer applicants, which is the highest number of applicants since 2013, over a decade ago.

We are working feverishly to make sure the application work that we're doing and the pipeline into actual officers is improved greatly.

Now, we're not talking in the abstract here.

I mean, we are really hiring.

I mean, right now, seattlepolicejobs.com, if you want to pull up the website and join the effort of our public safety department, it's seattle.jobs...

What did I say?

SPEAKER_28

LAUGHTER

SPEAKER_32

Our budget also reflects our new agreement with King County, which will expand flexibility and capacity in our use of the King County Jail.

Our approach to addressing people engaged in unlawful activities requires a diverse array of strategies and approaches, including the option to book someone into jail.

It's for that reason the need for the right response at the right time that we're also including funding the citywide expansion of care responders, our new paradigm in public safety, adding ongoing funding for an additional 18 responders and three supervisors.

These responders will allow care to answer calls citywide seven days a week, reducing strain, unlimited police resources and helping meet people where they are by providing direct behavioral interventions and crisis de-escalation and resource and service navigation, transportation and more.

This is indeed a holistic approach that we should all embrace.

We're also, yes.

in Seattle Police Department to better leverage civilian roles to support sworn officers like hiring civilian employees to help ongoing investigations or crime technicians to provide swift analysis and informative data.

We're expanding the role of parking enforcement officers to review drafty safety cameras as well.

A new way of thinking, like I said earlier, not just what we invest but how we invest.

Transportation safety is a public safety too.

It's part of our ecosystem of trying to keep all communities safe.

And this budget includes an expansion of 38 traffic safety cameras in 19 school zones, more than doubling the current account.

And you'll note, thus far I'm not talking a lot about transportation this year's budget announcement.

But building the transportation infrastructure, I should make this clear, we need to meet housing and economic and safety and mobility goals because they are critical to our future as a city in creating that safe environment I'm talking about.

Let me just say, I suggest you, there's always ethics rules in what I can say in these situations here, so let me be very careful here.

I suggest you thoroughly review your voter guide statement this year and make an informed decision when you vote in November.

Now...

Not just in our proposed, our collective proposed transportation levy, but on everything.

Forget my drift.

In all seriousness, I'd like to recognize Councilmember Rob Sacca, also known as the King of Potholes.

And the rest of the City Council for partnering with us to refine and propose the levy that is on this year's ballot.

Thank you very much.

Budget also includes environmental changes like new overhead pedestrian lighting that makes the city look more beautiful and helps people feel safe.

You've probably read about this recently.

It's no surprise that I strongly believe in using the latest technology as a tool to strengthen our public safety efforts.

We try to figure out what's working in other cities and I'm not afraid to replicate if it is indeed working.

And we also are always willing to listen to feedback if something is ineffective.

This budget, we will fund a real-time crime center at SPD to improve our ability to respond to and solve crimes.

It also invests in our CCTV pilot in neighborhoods downtown the Chinatown International District and along Aurora Avenue.

My budget proposes investing in supporting those who need our help, including a $2 million investment in services like people being trafficked and exploited on Aurora Avenue.

And I want to thank the council for having some very intense discussions, empathetic discussions on this issue.

We have an obligation to support those being victimized and connect them with the organizations and service providers who can make a difference in their lives.

I know Councilmember Kathy Moore agrees with this approach and will be a champion for these needed support services.

Thank you, Councilmember Moore.

in the next stage of our plan for youth mental health and safety, bringing our total to nearly $20 million to expand mental health counselors, telehealth services, and violence prevention and intervention and interruption services, in addition to $12.5 million in base investments supporting youth safety.

We will only be safe when our children are safe.

Our overall investment in community safety through our human services department is $38.3 million, with continued investments in the community-based organizations that are using lived experience and credible messengers to disrupt gun violence near schools and across the city.

I know for a fact that Councilmember Maritza Rivera has been an important partner in thinking through these investments, driving outcomes with a focus on improving outcomes for our youth.

And I want to publicly thank Councilmember Maritza Rivera for that leadership.

These investments are all part of a broader approach to create thriving communities.

The projected general fund deficit required us to be strategic in these areas that I've discussed, squeezing the most out of every dollar, investing in programs that truly make the biggest difference.

I once saw a poster that said, budgeting is the art of spreading dissatisfaction uniformly.

I believe it's also spreading satisfaction uniformly, too.

For example, we all love trees here in the great Northwest, and particularly in Seattle.

Our proposal to establish the One Seattle Tree Nursery is a new program critical for meeting tree canopy restoration our goals, and ultimately a money saver because we will be able to grow our own local trees instead of purchasing them from other states.

The city's remarkable Trees for Neighborhood program delivers hundreds of trees to residents across the city.

But this year, just this year, We had to offer fewer trees than expected because production issues outside of our control, outside of the state, were caused by the providers.

We cannot improve this.

I should say positively, we can improve this by growing the best trees for Seattle, in Seattle, to address climate change.

We've been...

relentless in our climate efforts, especially seeking grants from the state and federal government at the historic time where the issue of climate change is in front of us.

In the last year, we've brought in $61.5 million in state and federal climate grants focusing on things like green buildings and affordable heat pumps and clean electricity rebates.

These resources have allowed us flexibility to restructure the funding for our Office of Sustainability and Environment.

I want to thank Director Farrell for her strong leadership and her department.

She gets all the credit, but they do all the work.

That's the way it works sometimes.

Finally, I want to reiterate that I am proud of the kinds of programs that we've been able to preserve in this budget restructuring, like maintaining all grants in the Office of Arts and Culture, including the Centering Arts and Racial Equity Program.

I know this is a priority for Councilmember Chanyu Wu.

I've heard her speak on this very eloquently for some time, as well as her work to foster art in our city and supporting a strong, creative economy.

And I look forward to your continued discussions, Councilmember Wu.

Seattle must continue to not only be known as a city of innovation and resiliency, but also a city known for our arts, our ability to express ourselves, our culture.

That's in our special DNA as a city.

We're unlike many cities.

We have our own culture, and it's pretty cool, actually.

We need to invest in these efforts.

In all, I believe we've achieved a lot in this budget.

We've closed a $250 million general fund deficit in 2025 and 2026. We've protected the payroll expense tax to meet its original commitments, while also funding important priorities and preventing more devastating cuts.

We've made some tough decisions, but necessary decisions about our programs and our return on investments, our future spending, And our goal always is to provide a new, clear trajectory for sustainability.

And most importantly, I believe we've met our commitment to you all, the residents of Seattle.

The strategy allows us to put every dollar, every dollar allowed us, I'm sorry.

I was doing perfectly until then, right?

This strategy allowed us to put every dollar we have toward the needs of our city.

Strong public services, historical investments in affordable housing and homelessness investments, needed public health and public safety programs, and resources for thriving communities, and so much more.

Again, I want to thank my teammates for doing this work.

I hope this budget offers a strong starting point for the City Council as we continue to have a conversation with you and with the community about how to use our resources.

Part of our job are receiving feedback.

My administration welcomes your feedback in a conversation.

Together, we are building a great city, clawing our our way back to a city that we love so much.

So all of you, I thank you for being here.

I know it was a long speech, but this is what we have to do.

This is our work together.

And I want to thank again the city council for the weeks and months ahead for helping me build One Seattle.

Thank you very much.

SPEAKER_06

The council will be at ease for a while.

You're welcome to stay, though, for the rest of the meeting.

SPEAKER_07

you want to just go into the mic there real quick

SPEAKER_06

Five or 10, how many are there?

SPEAKER_08

I would say 10, let's do 10 just in case.

And if there's no objection, the city council meeting will be in recess for 10 minutes.

Okay.

SPEAKER_06

If there is no objection, the city council meeting will be in recess for 10 minutes while this room clears and we bring in people who are downstairs waiting to provide public comment.

Seeing no objection, we are in recess for 10 minutes.

SPEAKER_07

Thank you.

SPEAKER_99

Thank you.

Thank you.

SPEAKER_06

public, we took a recess to allow time for the mayor and his department heads and members of the public and the media to leave chambers and bring in folks that are here to give public comment.

And so with that, we will now come back to order.

And will the clerk please call the roll?

SPEAKER_09

Council Member Morales.

Here.

Council Member Rivera.

Present.

Council Member Saka.

Council Member Strauss.

Council Member Wu.

Council Member Hollingsworth.

Council Member Kettle.

Council Member Moore.

Council President Nelson.

Present.

SPEAKER_06

Seven present.

Thank you very much.

At this time, colleagues, we will open the hybrid public comment period.

Public comment is limited to items on today's agenda, the introduction and referral calendar, and the council work program.

Madam Clerk, how many speakers are signed up today?

SPEAKER_08

We have ten remote and nine in person.

SPEAKER_06

All right.

We will provide one minute for everyone to speak and we will begin with the in person speakers.

SPEAKER_08

OK, we'll begin with Jody.

Please proceed with the rules.

SPEAKER_09

Yes, our public comment period is up to 20 minutes.

Speakers will be called in the order in which they are registered.

We will alternate between sets of in-person speakers and remote speakers until the public comment period has ended.

Speakers will hear a chime when 10 seconds are left of their time and speakers mics will be muted if they do not in their comments within their allotted time.

Go ahead.

SPEAKER_08

We'll begin with in-person speakers.

Speakers numbers one through nine.

If you can please line up.

We have two sets of microphones.

We have the center ones and the ones here for West.

Speaker one.

Hello, Council and Council.

Hello, City Council.

SPEAKER_01

I'm Rachel Snell.

Seattle faces a $260 million budget cut starting in 2025. This cut will affect a lot of people's access to critical mental health programs that could solve one of the root causes of homelessness, crime, and drug addiction.

As I said two weeks ago, there's discussion of school closures as a result of this budget cut that will tragically impact the education of countless students here in Seattle.

It is crucial now more than ever to track our tax dollars.

It is your job as city council members to ensure the public that our money is being wisely used and investing in our communities in order to create a robust city for everyone.

This means increasing revenue for affordable housing projects, mental health programs, drug rehabilitation centers, and other support groups.

This will require having an open mind and to question previous taxing strategies used in the past and ask, are they going to be effective today?

Lastly, can we all agree that wealthy corporations need to be held accountable and paying their fair share?

Thank you.

SPEAKER_23

Good afternoon.

I'm Shannon Woodman of Washington Alarm.

My family has been securing lives and property in the Seattle area for over 80 years.

I own a home and live in Seattle, and my family owns a commercial building in Seattle.

Both my home and my commercial building have security systems.

We were notified one week ago that Seattle Police Department was changing their alarm response policy.

Effective this Tuesday, October 1st, Seattle Police Department will require audio or video verification with every alarm we receive in our alarm monitoring centers.

The City of Seattle's mission statement states that you will work with the citizens of Seattle, yet in 2024, our alarm industry, including our alarm associations, Association, our alarm experts were given two weeks notice on this alarm response change.

Two weeks is not enough time for us to notify 60,000 customers, provide the upgrades that are required, install new

SPEAKER_12

Bethany Burden with CILSA Northwest, which represents the life safety and integration industry in Washington State.

Last week, the Seattle Police Department changed its dispatching protocol effective October 1st to now require supporting evidence such as audio, video, panic alarms, or eyewitness evidence.

that a person is illegally entering or attempting to enter a property.

This short two weeks notice provided by the SPD is inadequate for planning and implementing the updates required for the 65,000 security system owners in Seattle.

We're requesting additional time to coordinate with our local businesses and residences who would like to upgrade to meet these new requirements.

Thank you.

SPEAKER_00

Good afternoon, council members.

My name is Ashley Barber.

Just last week, I was informed that the Seattle Police Department will no longer be responding to non-verified false alarms.

This information was shared in a letter sent by Interim Chief Sue Rahr on September 12th.

This change has been in process for eight months with no collaboration with the city of Seattle residents or the local security industry or expert input.

I'm the daughter of a retired police chief.

I understand firsthand the strain on resources that our police department is experiencing.

I've also worked in the security industry for over 13 years.

False alarms are a problem, but law enforcement and security industry can work together to come up with a solution that benefits our customers in a way that does not leave them stranded and vulnerable at the most dangerous moments.

All I ask is for the additional time to come together to work on solving this issue once and for all.

Thank you.

SPEAKER_24

Hello.

Good afternoon.

I thought I had two minutes.

I've taken four hours out of my day to come here.

My topic is noise violence in Seattle.

I'm going to proceed very quickly to give you an example of what this noise violence is that we live with every day in West Seattle.

There are ordinances against modified mufflers 46.37.390.

And there are also fines, $500 for here at Guilfoyle.

That is a muffler.

It sounds like an AR-15.

This is passing by elementary schools and by high schools.

This terrorizes us in the Altai neighborhood and around West Seattle.

It is awful, and I know you have a lot of important activities you need to attend to, but please just assist us.

As local police officers, they feel they cannot pursue.

There are $500 fines stated in the Seattle Police website that can be issued.

All I'm asking is that you consider this, and I don't know if budget is a matter, but please help us deal with this because it's awful and traumatizing.

Thank you.

SPEAKER_05

Speaker number six.

Yeah, hi, thank you.

I'm Sandy Shetler with Tree Action Seattle, and I'm here to speak on the omnibus bill.

There's a sentence added to the tree code in this omnibus bill that says in all zones except for five named, all trees may be removed when development is proposed.

One of the zones excluded is residential small lot.

Residential small lot is not part of neighborhood residential and in the omnibus bill itself on page 17, there's a separate set of rules for RSL.

I just want to show you where RSL is because RSL has higher lot coverage and smaller replacement trees when lots are stripped.

So it is different.

And these are the zones of RSL.

I'll step back.

It's Othello, South Park, Beacon Hill, Lake City.

It's all of our formerly redlined communities.

So thank you so much for taking care of this.

SPEAKER_30

Good afternoon, Steve Zemke speaking for Friends of Seattle's Urban Forest on some of the problems in the ominous bill we've already raised.

Want to note appreciation for the several council members in the Land Use Committee that said they would be looking at this early next year.

The problem is the tree protection area definition and the tree protection area basic definition are basically one and the same.

And I will send you this in a separate email so you have a chance to digest it because time is short.

I want to note that in 25.11.060, which is in the Ominous Rule, it says requirements for trees when development is proposed.

The tree protection area may be modified from the basic tree protection area based on species tolerance and a number of other items.

And it goes down, when you go down into 25-11-070, it says those areas, all zones, it cannot be, the basic tree protection area cannot be modified.

That's a contradiction in the ordinance.

I'll send you an email with more details on it.

Just again, to remind you, please take it up next year.

Thank you.

SPEAKER_04

Hello, my name is Arianna Riley and lately I've been watching old episodes of almost live if you haven't seen it It's a very funny show.

I recommend everybody would watch it I was just watching this in my free time and I came across this from this episode that aired in 1990 and

SPEAKER_14

So this is from 1990 when the soda zones were first introduced.

I'll just remind everybody that they were repealed because they didn't actually work.

This was tried before

SPEAKER_04

more than 30 years ago, and it didn't work before, and it's still not gonna work.

Yeah, we should maybe learn from history.

That'd be a start.

Thank you.

SPEAKER_08

Our last in-person speaker, speaker nine.

SPEAKER_29

Hi.

like to ask once again, if at least one of you could just make a to-do note to email the city attorney and ask them, what is the fake handgun case?

What's the DUI case?

They'll know what you're talking about.

This is the memo that they issued that disqualified Judge Vedati from hearing any criminal cases.

They said that she wasn't qualified because of the way that she handled a particular DUI case and a particular fake handgun case.

And they gave details about these cases saying that this sort of disqualified her.

Judge Fidati has responded publicly saying, based on the details, I don't know what cases they're talking about.

But there's no confidentiality issue.

They described the cases using details that would be publicly available.

It's not a secret.

I disagree with a lot of your politics, but this is not a political question.

This is a good governance question.

If the city attorney has referred to this case, they should be able to specify what it is.

So just somebody make a to-do note, email the city attorney.

What's the fake handgun case?

What's the DUI case?

SPEAKER_09

We'll move on to our remote speakers.

And as a reminder, remote speakers, please press star six after you have heard the message that you have been unmuted.

Our first three remote speakers are Steve Horvath, Lucas Tejera, and Alberto Alvarez.

Go ahead, Steve.

SPEAKER_27

Steve Horvath, Good afternoon, council members.

This is Steve Horvath.

I'm a resident of Belltown.

I'm a constituent of council member Bob Kettle and our two undistricted council members.

I'm giving you testimony today with regard to CB 120824, the omnibus legislation that would essentially abdicate the council's responsibility for zoning in downtown and our other urban cores.

And I would urge those of you who are on the council who do not have constituents in these areas simply not to vote on this measure and pass it up today because I don't think you exactly understand the impact of what you're doing.

And what you're doing amounts to saying that the public folks who live in these urban centers don't deserve a voice.

The state legislature passed two different bills this year and to quote the outcome of the law and those bills, each local government is encouraged to adopt further project review provisions and provide prompt, coordinated, and objective review and ensure accountability to applicants and the public.

Thank you very much.

SPEAKER_09

Our next speaker is Lucas De Herrera.

SPEAKER_25

Go ahead, Lucas.

Hello.

My name is Lucas De Herrera.

I manage entitlements for Blueprint, the project owner, and a local homebuilder.

I'm here to give public comment on the Mount Bakersville plat located at 25, 21, 29th Avenue South.

It's been a long road for this project.

The project has been a challenge due to the complexity of the site, codes, numerous permits, processes required, and the delays from the pandemic.

We started the entitlement process in March of 2019. We closed on this property five years ago, purchasing the property from Mount Baker Housing.

Mount Baker Housing used the proceeds from the sale to further their mission.

To build and maintain affordable housing in Seattle.

The subject project is a market rate 21 unit townhouse development.

The project has been reviewed under administrative design review with a master use permit and s dot street improvement plan for stormwater main extension.

Numerous building grits messy CI and now before the Council is the acceptance and ordinance for the final plot.

That's where your plot was approved by CCI approval diameter and by s dot.

Thank you for doing your part in helping this project at the finish line and helping the MP units become homes.

Thanks.

SPEAKER_09

Go ahead, Alberto Alvarez.

SPEAKER_20

Long before this current anti-worker council, Oxford Economics placed Seattle in the top five economic powerhouses, not only in the US, but all global cities, top five.

The council and the mayor have gone to the extreme of cutting services for the poor and struggling, attacking our efforts to build affordable housing, negating the fights we have made for living wages and upheld the racist idea that broken windows policy can build a better city.

Council has a sick dream of Seattle that is only for rich and white.

Meanwhile, telling us the working class that we need to bus in or commute into town because we are not welcome here.

The work of the budget is now in your hands.

It will not be surprising when you target the sectors that workers need to exist in this unaffordable city.

You have done nothing to help us.

SPEAKER_15

shame on you and shame on you for patting yourselves on the back we demand better have a good day our next three speakers are megan cruz david haynes and margaret spinsness go ahead megan hello i'm speaking on the bill to eliminate public design review for three years and encourage zoning departures across the center city even the staff memo says it's unclear what problem the bill will solve it says the area is not short of housing capacity SDCI's report concluded the biggest permit delays were from understaffing, project complexity, and requests for departures.

Design review public comment is not the issue.

Design review is already exempt for projects that include affordable housing, but developers have not answered this call.

Eliminating design review is against the recommendation of a city equity stakeholder group.

It denies 100,000 residents from engaging in a state-mandated review process the rest of the city and state will continue to enjoy it.

Is this the one Seattle way?

Negotiating zoning building by building is ripe for abuse and lasting damage, especially to critical transportation infrastructure.

This bill should, but failing that, please adopt the proposed common sense amendment.

Thank you.

Go ahead, David.

SPEAKER_21

All right, thank you, David Haynes.

The Kim County Regional Homeless Authority needs an independent investigative oversight individual to keep it honest about its lack of oversight on service providers.

Some of the service providers are embellishing the statistics on how many people they help in a day and subhumanists treating innocent homeless while lying, misleading about service hours.

Allhome.org, who changed their name from Coalition to End Homelessness, ruined the chances of KCRHA getting it right on the first try.

In fact, certain people from allhome.org are the notorious Christmas party freak-off that included transgender lap dances for employees in charge of solving the homeless crisis.

They were the ones who got to choose Mark Jones as first CEO, who we know took psychotic mental pills and drank tequila in a Capitol Hill ballroom while creating the authority.

If you take a look at the resume requirements of the jobs at KCHRA, they don't solve the crisis.

They only exacerbate it while priority hiring scorn-ridden- Go ahead, Margaret.

SPEAKER_16

Hi, I'm Margaret Spitznaus, the executive director of Social Northwest.

We represent the alarm dealers and their customers in the city of Seattle.

We know that statistics show that 85% of the alarm sites do not produce any calls for service in a given year and that the entire, all of the alarm users in Seattle are being penalized by these alarm owners for the bad conduct.

of the few.

We are asking to postpone the new policy to respond to verified alarms only in the City of Seattle and have us be able to work with the City of Seattle Police Department in formulating a new alarm ordinance.

We appreciate the fact that you gave us some time to have that happen.

Thank you.

SPEAKER_09

Our next three speakers are Shane Clary, Jessica Toon, and Sanders Latour.

Go ahead, Shane.

SPEAKER_13

Good afternoon, Madam President, members of the Council.

My name is Dr. Shane M. Clary, Vice President of Codes and Standards Compliance for Bay Alarm Company.

I've been in the intrusion detection and fire alarm industry for 50 years, and just to uh, speaking on the same topic, you've now heard several speakers come before you on is that we, the industry received word from the Seattle police department just last week of a policy that there will be an acting on October 1st.

And it just does not give the industry enough time, uh, to basically, uh, add the, uh, requirements in both businesses and in residential occupancies to meet the requirements of the policy.

This can be very restrictive, especially for residences that are on a fixed income.

And we just ask for a little delay in this policy so we can meet and work with the Seattle Police Department.

And I thank you for your time.

Thank you.

SPEAKER_09

Go ahead, Jessica.

Hello.

SPEAKER_03

Hello, Council.

Jessica Toon, Vice Chair of the Seattle Music Commission, commenting about CB120827.

The venue music loading ordinance is of great benefit to the health of our music ecosystem and creative economy and provides much-needed relief to musicians, which are a vital creative force in our city and help to ensure our city remains a vibrant cultural hub.

A local musician who is playing a venue on a given weeknight might make around $150, which is often split four to five ways amongst fanmates.

Between expensive gas to drive from outlying areas into the core of a city they can't even afford to live in, to risking a ticket while loading in gear and then paying to park, the math of playing shows in Seattle is not penciling anymore.

I want to reiterate that there are many nights when a musician ends up spending money to play a show in Seattle.

They are losing money to play in our city.

Our local musicians deserve better, they deserve to be supported, and they deserve city infrastructure that is reliable, safe, and secure.

Thank you, Councilmember Nelson, for your leadership and for all of your votes in support of CB120827.

SPEAKER_09

Go ahead, Sanders.

SPEAKER_18

Hi, my name is Sanders Latour, and I rent an apartment in Southside Union.

I asked the council to pass Council Bill 120824 while rejecting Amendment A to the bill.

Full design review delays projects and adds extraordinary costs to them.

Those costs get passed on to people living and working in the finished building.

New construction under this bill would still have to conform to code and will still have to be approved by the SDCI director.

On Amendment A, I believe this amendment adds an essay barrier to the new processes proposed in the main bill.

Seattle Municipal Code 2354035 details the standards for Loading birds and provides a framework for the STC director in consultation with the director of transportation to make reasonable the partners.

I would imagine this is also the case for parking utility spaces as well.

We should trust our city directors to allow for reasonable the partners that allow buildings.

SPEAKER_09

Our last two remote speakers will be Dave s followed by BJ last.

Go ahead, Dave.

Dave, you may need to press star six.

SPEAKER_22

Hello.

This past weekend in Seward Park in District 2, the place where Seattle's largest Jewish community has had a long history, has also been a hotbed of anti-Semitism.

It is no accident that Seward Park was chosen as the site of the recent pro-Palestinian festival.

The festival involved more than Palestinian culture, but included harsh incentives against Israel and Jews.

I'm a Ballard area resident.

I have never given public comments, but I feel the threat to the Jewish community is just too great right now.

Anyone who's been to a park knows it's hard to access via public transportation.

It is not a central place of gathering in Seattle, but it seemed to be the perfect place to hold a music festival for Palestine.

Why?

It is the largest Jewish neighborhood in Seattle.

To add insult to injury, they decided to have it on the Jewish Sabbath.

Probably this is not new for the Jews of Seattle.

In every single district, which I will call in on a separate time to speak about, there have been anti-Semitic incidents.

Notably, in District 3, there was a Jewish community house that was defaced nearby with pro-Palestinian graffiti as well as...

Our last speaker will be BJ.

SPEAKER_09

Go ahead, BJ.

Okay.

SPEAKER_26

Hello, my name is BJ Last.

I'm in Ballard.

So the mayor just said that his proposed 2025 budget includes funding for RTC.

But as of this morning, central staff pointed out that the proposed 2024 adopted budget included $1.1 million for RTCC.

And the CER for RTCC was actually just amended to put the price at $0.4 million.

So which is it?

How is it that the cost for this massive surveillance program changes every single time someone asks for a breakdown?

The same thing has happened with CCTV.

It went from apparently being $0 in last year's budget, even though it was specifically included, to about $1.3 million in the CERF, to now it's an additional $425K in this year's budget.

So these massive, constantly changing prices show this isn't actually a real proposal.

It's a cash and power grab by SPDs.

Also proposed budget has permanent positions for RTCC.

You do not add permanent positions for something that's supposedly.

SPEAKER_08

That concludes our remote speakers.

SPEAKER_06

Thank you very much.

We've reached the end of the list and we are now closing the public comment period.

All right, moving on.

If there is no objection, the introduction and referral calendar will be adopted.

Hearing none, the introduction and referral calendar is adopted.

And if there's no objection, the agenda will be adopted.

Hearing none, the agenda is adopted.

Moving on to the proposed consent calendar.

The items on the consent calendar today include Council Bill 120865, payment of bills, appointments from the Governance, Accountability, and Economic Development Committee, and 16 appointments from the Transportation Committee.

Are there any items that my colleagues would like removed from the consent calendar?

Hearing none, I move to adopt the consent calendar.

Is there a second?

SPEAKER_28

Second.

SPEAKER_06

Thank you.

It's been moved and seconded to adopt the consent calendar.

Will the clerk please call the roll on the adoption of the consent calendar?

SPEAKER_09

Council Member Morales?

SPEAKER_99

Yes.

SPEAKER_09

Council Member Rivera?

Aye.

Council Member Saka?

SPEAKER_21

Aye.

SPEAKER_09

Thank you.

Council Member Strauss?

Yes.

SPEAKER_17

Yes.

SPEAKER_09

Council Member Wu.

Yes.

Council Member Hollingsworth.

Yes.

Council Member Kettle.

Aye.

Council Member Moore.

SPEAKER_35

Aye.

SPEAKER_09

Council President Nelson.

Aye.

Nine in favor, none opposed.

SPEAKER_06

The consent calendar items are adopted.

Will the clerk please affix my signature to the legislation and the minutes of the consent calendar on my behalf.

All right, moving on to item one.

Will the clerk please read items one and two into the record.

SPEAKER_08

It's in items 1 and 2, clerk file 314473, full unit lot subdivision of Blueprint Capital Services, LLC, to subdivide one development into 21 unit lots at 2521 29th Avenue South, Council Bill 120859, approving and confirming the plat of Mount Bakersville in the portion of northeast quarter of southeast quarter of section 9.

SPEAKER_06

Thank you very much.

The clerk has read items one and two into the record.

Council Member Morales will address both items, then council members may ask questions on the items, and finally we'll move each item separately.

Council Member Morales, as chair of the Land Use Committee, you're recognized to address items one and two.

SPEAKER_31

Thank you.

Yes, so this is a standard application for a subdivision of a lot in Mount Baker for the development of five three-story townhomes that will create a total of 21 units.

It includes pedestrian, parking cycle, waste and storage space, common amenity area, address sign management and emergency access easements.

The hearing examiner has already approved the subdivision, and this is the final step for the developer to receive their approval and entitlements.

All right.

SPEAKER_06

Colleagues, are there any questions or comments?

All right.

Hearing no further questions or comments, we'll consider each item separately, starting with item one.

I move clerk file 314473. Is there a second?

Second.

Second.

Thank you very much.

It's been moved and seconded to file the clerk file.

Are there any final comments?

Going once, twice.

All right.

Hearing none, will the clerk please call the roll on filing the clerk file?

SPEAKER_09

Council Member Morales?

Yes.

Council Member Rivera?

Aye.

Council Member Saka?

SPEAKER_30

Aye.

SPEAKER_09

Council Member Strauss?

Yes.

Council Member Wu?

Yes.

Council Member Hollingsworth?

Yes.

Council Member Kettle?

Council Member Moore?

Aye.

Council President Nelson?

SPEAKER_06

Aye.

Nine in favor, none opposed.

The motion carries and the clerk file is placed on the record.

We'll now consider item two.

I move to pass Council Bill 120859. Is there a second?

SPEAKER_31

Second.

SPEAKER_06

It's been moved and seconded to pass the bill.

Council Member Morales, do you have any final comments?

SPEAKER_31

I do not.

SPEAKER_06

All right.

Hearing none, will the clerk please call the roll on the passage of the bill?

SPEAKER_09

Council Member Morales.

Yes.

Council Member Rivera.

Aye.

Council Member Saka.

SPEAKER_22

Aye.

SPEAKER_09

Council Member Strauss.

Yes.

Council Member Wu.

Yes.

Council Member Hollingsworth.

Yes.

Council Member Kettle.

Aye.

Council Member Moore.

Aye.

Council President Nelson.

Aye.

SPEAKER_06

Nine in favor, none opposed.

Aye.

The bill passes and the chair will sign it.

Will the clerk please affix my signature to the legislation on my behalf?

All right, will the clerk please read item three into the record?

SPEAKER_08

The report of the Governance Accountability and Economic Development Committee, agenda item three, appointment 2930, appointment of Mina Hashemi as director of the Office of Intergovernmental Relations.

The committee recommends the appointment be confirmed.

SPEAKER_06

Thank you very much.

As the chair of the committee, I'll provide the committee report.

So just a reminder, colleagues of my committee, we voted out the appointment of Mina Hashemi as director of OIR last Monday.

But first, at the September 16th special governance, accountability, and economic development meeting, Deputy Mayor Wong presented Mina Hashemi as Mayor Harrell's pick for OIR director, and we had the opportunity to ask her questions, hear directly from her, and engage in a conversation about the work ahead, not just in the upcoming session, but also across the many bodies of work that OIR does.

Remember, tribal, regional, state, federal, international levels.

So with that, and this appointment was voted out unanimously at our last meeting, and I just want to say that I look forward to engaging with her if this nomination is confirmed.

On the first, on the legislative agenda that we'll be approving at the end of this year, and then in the next year in the session in Olympia.

Does anybody have any questions or comments?

SPEAKER_17

Here.

Go ahead, please.

I'm very excited about this appointment, getting to serve with Association of Washington Cities, being down in Olympia for City Action Days, lobbying on behalf of the 281 cities and towns that make up Washington.

Strong cities make a great state.

I have had the opportunity to work with Mina down in Olympia and run into her in the halls, and we are lucky to have her as an asset for our city.

I know that we're in good hands, and I am excited to vote yes.

Thank you, Council President.

SPEAKER_06

Thank you very much.

And I'll remind folks that she also has a long experience working in regional government at King County as well.

So she's got what it takes.

All right.

Are there any further comments?

Okay.

Will the clerk please call the roll?

SPEAKER_09

Council Member Morales.

Yes.

Council Member Rivera.

Aye.

Council Member Saka.

SPEAKER_19

Aye.

SPEAKER_09

Council Member Strauss.

SPEAKER_19

Yes.

SPEAKER_09

Council Member Wu.

Yes.

Aye.

Council Member Hollingsworth?

Yes.

Council Member Kettle?

Aye.

Council Member Moore?

Aye.

Council President Nelson?

Aye.

Nine in favor, none opposed.

SPEAKER_06

All right, the motion carries and the appointment is confirmed.

Congratulations, Director Hashemi, wherever you may be.

Oh, there you are.

I am sorry.

I am so sorry.

I did not see you there.

Okay, I should have been making eye contact this whole time.

In any case, welcome to the team officially.

You are recognized to provide some words and address the council if you would like.

SPEAKER_34

Thank you, can you hear me?

Yes.

Okay, thank you, I'll keep it brief.

Good afternoon, Council President Nelson and council members.

Thank you for the thoughtful consideration of my appointment and your kind words mean so much to me.

It's been nice getting to know you and your staff over the past few months and I appreciate your trust and your support for my vision at OIR.

I'm super excited for the opportunity.

It's been a wonderful experience and a privilege to serve as interim director and to use my passion and expertise to lead an incredible team of talented staff, to build relationships with the council members, the departments, and the mayor, and together to work to produce results for the city that we call home.

We all know that the city is most effective when we're regular and collaborative participants in conversations with other governments through all kinds of avenues, but including on the ground lobbying, effective communication about the city's priorities and needs, and organized and compelling funding asks.

OIR plays such an important role stewarding positive relationships on behalf of the city and our work spans every department and every level of government.

We are passionate about building bridges and solving problems, and we're here to be your partner.

I don't take this responsibility lightly, and I'm grateful for Council's collaboration.

As your director, you can count on OIR for fierce advocacy, for open communication, transparency, and respect.

And I want to thank you again for confirmation of my appointment, and I look forward to our continued work together.

Thank you.

SPEAKER_06

Thank you very much.

And congratulations.

All right.

Will the clerk please read item four into the record?

SPEAKER_08

Agenda item four, council bill 120827 related to music venue zones and their use establishing rules for parking and loading at music venue zones.

The committee recommends the bill pass as amended.

SPEAKER_06

Thank you very much.

I'll address this.

So the proposed legislation would authorize SDOT to designate curbspace as a music venue zone and to issue permits to music venues defined as premises that host live music and charge a fee for admission on at least two days a week.

That's what a venue needs to be to qualify for this program.

And by making it easier to make music in this city, the music venue zone permit will not only support our local musicians and boost our music and nightlife scene, it'll help draw performers from other cities that might otherwise skip our city because it is inconvenient, difficult, and sometimes unsafe to perform.

to park in front of the music venues.

And so that's the whole reason for this program.

The Music Commission has been leading advocacy for a solution to this problem for many, many, many years.

And I am proud to sponsor this legislation.

And I will entertain your questions and ask for your support.

All right, I'm not seeing any questions or comments.

Will the clerk please call the roll on the passage of the bill?

SPEAKER_09

Council Member Morales?

Yes.

Council Member Rivera?

Aye.

Council Member Saka?

SPEAKER_19

Aye.

SPEAKER_09

Council Member Strauss?

Yes.

Council Member Wu?

Yes.

Council Member Hollingsworth?

SPEAKER_14

Yes.

SPEAKER_09

Council Member Kettle?

SPEAKER_14

Aye.

SPEAKER_09

Council Member Moore?

Aye.

Council President Nelson?

SPEAKER_06

Aye.

SPEAKER_09

Nine in favor, none opposed.

SPEAKER_06

Yay, the bill passes and the chair will sign it.

Will the clerk please affix my signature to the legislation on my behalf?

All right, will the clerk please read item five into the record?

SPEAKER_08

Agenda item five, council bill 120831 relating to the West Seattle Junction parking and business improvement area, modifying the boundaries.

The committee recommends the bill pass.

SPEAKER_06

All right, this legislation would modify the boundaries of the West Seattle Junction Business Improvement Area, adding 32 rate payers to the BIA and OED anticipates that the BIA assessments would increase by 8.2% to $490,000 about a year.

There would not be any change to the rates charged to already existing rate payers.

The legislation was passed out of committee unanimously and I ask for your support.

Are there any comments?

All right.

Seeing none, will the clerk please call the roll on the passage of the bill?

SPEAKER_09

Council Member Morales?

SPEAKER_06

Yes.

SPEAKER_09

Council Member Rivera?

Aye.

Council Member Saka?

SPEAKER_31

Aye.

SPEAKER_09

Council Member Strauss?

SPEAKER_14

Yes.

SPEAKER_09

Council Member Wu?

Yes.

Council Member Hollingsworth?

SPEAKER_14

Yes.

SPEAKER_09

Council Member Kettle?

SPEAKER_14

Aye.

SPEAKER_09

Council Member Moore?

Aye.

Council President Nelson?

Aye.

Nine in favor, none opposed.

SPEAKER_06

The bill passes and the chair will sign it.

Will the clerk please affix my signature to the legislation on my behalf?

All right, moving on, will the clerk please read item six into the record?

SPEAKER_08

The report of the Finance, Native Communities, and Tribal Governments Committee, agenda item six, council bill 120815, relating to city public works and the priority hire program, modifying the methodology for determining which zip codes are economically distressed areas and authorizing the creation of a regional priority hire implementation and advisory committee.

The committee recommends the bill pass.

SPEAKER_06

Council Member Strauss, as chair of the committee, you're recognized to provide the committee report.

SPEAKER_17

Thank you, Council President.

Council Bill 120815 updates the Priority Hire Program, which was set up intending to hire people from Seattle and the King County area for projects being built in Seattle.

And so what this means is that we are hiring people that live in our community and not from afar.

And so as this...

program was put in about a decade ago.

Some updates have been made.

Today's update is simply changing some zip codes.

No zip codes within the City of Seattle are removed.

Within the City of Seattle, we are also adding Aurora and Fremont, the University District, and the Soto Industrial Zone.

I urge a ye vote.

Thank you, Council President.

SPEAKER_06

Okay, are there any questions or comments?

Go ahead, Council Member Moore.

SPEAKER_35

Thank you, Council President.

I just wanted to express my appreciation for this legislation to Council Member Strauss.

And note that this includes 98103 as a zip code as an economically distressed area, which is in District 5, and so I appreciate that expansion.

Thank you for bringing this.

SPEAKER_06

I also want to thank you very much for championing this legislation, and I am in strong support.

Seeing no other comments, will the clerk please call the roll.

SPEAKER_09

Council Member Morales.

Yes.

Council Member Rivera.

Aye.

Council Member Saka.

SPEAKER_21

Aye.

SPEAKER_09

Council Member Strauss.

Yes.

Council Member Wu.

Yes.

Council Member Hollingsworth.

Yes.

Council Member Kettle.

SPEAKER_26

Aye.

SPEAKER_09

Council Member Moore.

Aye.

Council President Nelson.

SPEAKER_06

Aye.

Nine in favor, none opposed.

Excellent.

The bill passes and the chair will sign it.

Will the clerk please affix my signature to the legislation on my behalf.

All right, will the clerk please read item seven into the record?

SPEAKER_08

The report of the House of Human Services Committee, agenda item seven, council bill 120858 relating to homelessness authorizing the mayor or the mayor's designee to execute an amendment of the interlocal agreement between the city of Seattle and King County establishing the King County Regional Homelessness Authority.

The committee recommends the bill pass.

SPEAKER_06

Thank you very much.

Council member Moore is chair of the committee.

You're recognized to provide the committee report.

SPEAKER_35

Thank you very much.

Colleagues, Council Bill 12858 amends the existing interlocal agreement between the City of Seattle and King County establishing the King County Regional Homelessness Authority.

This is a sorely needed opportunity for reset of KCRHA to create accountability and achieve measurable results for our unsheltered neighbors.

I look forward to working with the regional partners to lay a more effective framework for KCRHA to succeed.

Note that this did pass unanimously out of committee, and I would ask for your support today.

Thank you.

SPEAKER_06

I would like to take the privilege of adding a comment now, which is thank you very much for your diligence throughout this whole long process.

You and I both serve on the KCRHA governing, now governing board.

And for my part, we've been going over this with a fine-tooth comb, and I do appreciate all the work of our central staff analysts and partners upstairs in the mayor's office to ensure that there's more accountability built into the governing structure.

And for me, it all comes down to this.

The people who decide how to spend public dollars must be accountable to the public.

That's pretty much it.

And this, previously the budget was really formulated by the implementation board and then the governing committee passed it without a lot of involvement.

It's important that the people who are our constituents have a way of weighing in on our performance as we are spending the money that funds these programs.

And so that is the most significant change that I see in this revised interlocal agreement.

And that is why I too ask for your support.

Go ahead, Council Member Kettle.

SPEAKER_33

Thank you, Council President.

Thank you to you and to Council Member Moore.

I'm the alternative for the KCRHA, so well familiar with the challenges that we've been facing.

And I just want to say, in addition to you two, thank you to all those that were involved with the review and the change of the ILA, because without this ILA, we would not have a KCRHA, I believe, at the end of the year.

So it was key, it was fundamental to have this ILA come through.

Good governance requires clear lines of governance, particularly with its board structure.

And also important is clear guidance on the mission, the scope of work, and also the guidance for the CEO, the expectations of the CEO.

And we also must have good business operations.

In any event, any organization, we need to make sure that it's operating and accomplishing what it's intended to do.

And finally, I do believe in the regional approach.

but we need an organization that appeals to the region so we can gain more of a regional aspect to the KCRHA as opposed to King County and Seattle, and I recognize the Sound City Association piece, but we need to have broader participation in the KCRHA, and this is a major step in order to get that.

So thank you to all those that were involved, and I support it.

SPEAKER_10

Thank you.

Council President.

SPEAKER_33

Council Member Rivera.

SPEAKER_11

Yes, thank you.

I really want to thank my colleagues, Council Member Moore and Council President Nelson for your efforts in working with the mayor's office, the King County folks and our external partners in making the really necessary changes to the structure of the King County Regional Housing Authority.

to best set up both the organization and this regional approach up for success.

I believe that with these changes and a new executive director, I'm hopeful we're going to see positive outcomes and results, which is the reason why we took this regional approach to begin with.

And I know that we will all be tracking very closely how this is all is working to make sure we do get the positive outcomes that we all want because I do believe we are all aligned and wanting the positive outcomes and we just need to figure out an approach that's going to get us there.

So I really thank you again for your thoughtfulness and all the work that you put into this.

Thank you.

Thank you for those comments.

SPEAKER_06

Council Member Saka.

SPEAKER_19

All right.

Thank you, Madam Council President.

And I just simply wanted to time in and offer my sincere gesture of appreciation to you, Madam Council President, and also chair more of this committee for really bringing to life and doing the work to enable this great achievement in terms of unlocking the next step for KCRJ.

This was something, this revised agreement was something that I, at the principal level, had called for in terms of helping to simplify the governance structure and clarifying the roles and responsibilities.

But it's very easy, as we know, colleagues, to be an ideas guy or an ideas person, which is why I really do want to thank you again, Madam Council President and Chair Moore, for actually doing the work.

And, you know, like validating these ideas, working closely with central staff and negotiating these provisions as well with the mayor's office.

So thank you again.

Really appreciate it.

I think our city is better off now and our region is better off as a direct result of your leadership and helping to champion this important strategic effort.

So thank you.

SPEAKER_06

Thank you very much.

Council Member Wu.

SPEAKER_02

I, too, want to echo everyone's statements.

Thank you so much for all your hard work in getting us to this point.

I believe this is a good start and hope to look forward in the future to its future successes.

SPEAKER_06

All right.

Are there any further comments?

SPEAKER_35

May I just make my final comment?

SPEAKER_06

Yeah, I'll just say that this is a big moment in the history of this endeavor, of this effort.

It's been five years, and we've heard from two former leaders that this change needed to happen.

So I'm proud and excited to move to the next phase.

Council Member Moore.

SPEAKER_35

Thank you.

I too wanted to express my deep gratitude to all of your collaboration, Council President.

It's been really a good collaboration and I've appreciated the discussions that we've had about trying to strengthen this.

and giving it a deep dive.

And I would be remiss if I did not call out the phenomenal work of our central staff, Jen Lebrecht, and also executive staff, Krista Devai, who've both just done phenomenal work on this and made this possible.

But thank you so much to you and to them.

SPEAKER_06

Thank you.

All right, seeing no further comments, will the clerk please call the roll?

SPEAKER_09

Councilmember Morales?

Yes.

Council Member Rivera?

Aye.

Council Member Saka?

SPEAKER_17

Aye.

SPEAKER_09

Council Member Strauss?

SPEAKER_17

Yes.

SPEAKER_09

Council Member Wu?

Yes.

Council Member Hollingsworth?

Yes.

Council Member Kettle?

SPEAKER_35

Aye.

SPEAKER_09

Council Member Moore?

SPEAKER_35

Aye.

SPEAKER_09

Council President Nelson?

SPEAKER_06

Aye.

Nine in favor, none opposed.

Thank you very much.

The bill passes and the chair will sign it.

Will the clerk please affix my signature to the legislation on my behalf.

Will the clerk please read item eight into the record.

SPEAKER_08

The report of the land use committee agenda item eight, council 120822 relating to the land use regulations removing restrictions on congregated residents.

Can we recommend civil pass?

SPEAKER_06

Thank you very much.

Council member Morales, you're welcome to provide the committee report.

SPEAKER_31

Thank you.

This is legislation, colleagues, that actually implements House Bill 1998, which allows for co-living housing, also known as congregate housing, in all zones that allow multifamily housing.

This is required for us to be in compliance with House Bill 1998. So it did pass out of the Land Use Committee with a unanimous vote to adopt the bill.

SPEAKER_06

And I recommend a yes vote.

Thank you very much.

Are there any questions or comments from colleagues?

Go ahead, Council Member Moore.

SPEAKER_35

Thank you.

And my apologies, I was not able to attend the Land Use Committee when this came forth.

It was out of town.

So I did have a quick question.

I note that this is a codification of what the state has asked us to do.

Is the state law required, did they require the removal of the minimum development standards for communal areas and common food preparation areas?

SPEAKER_31

Yeah, that's a great question.

So that is actually what the state law is.

And I think it is in response to some parameters that the city of Seattle tried to put in place.

I think it was maybe 10 years ago.

The state law actually strips that and says that we can't impose additional standards in that way.

We have to just allow what is there right now.

SPEAKER_35

Oh, okay.

Thank you for that clarification.

SPEAKER_06

Any questions or concerns?

Okay.

All right.

I'm not hearing any other questions or comments.

Will the clerk please call the roll on the passage of the bill?

SPEAKER_09

Council Member Morales?

Yes.

Council Member Rivera?

Aye.

Council Member Saka?

Aye.

Council Member Strauss?

SPEAKER_19

Aye.

Sorry.

SPEAKER_09

Council Member Strauss?

SPEAKER_19

Yes.

SPEAKER_09

Council Member Wu?

Yes.

Council Member Hollingsworth.

SPEAKER_14

Yes.

SPEAKER_09

Council Member Kettle.

SPEAKER_14

Aye.

SPEAKER_09

Council Member Moore.

SPEAKER_14

Aye.

SPEAKER_09

Council President Nelson.

Aye.

Nine in favor, none opposed.

SPEAKER_06

Thank you very much.

The bill is passed and the chair will sign it.

Will the clerk please affix my signature to the legislation on my behalf.

And will the clerk please read the next item into the record.

SPEAKER_08

Agenda item nine, council bill 120823 relating to land use and zoning, correcting topographical errors, correcting section references, clarifying regulations, and making minor amendments.

Recommend civil passes amended with council members Morales, Strauss, and Rivera in favor, none opposed with an abstention from council member Wu.

SPEAKER_06

Thank you very much.

Council member Morales is chair of the committee.

You're recognized to provide the committee report.

Thank you.

SPEAKER_31

Sorry, let me get back to my notes.

Okay, this is an omnibus bill.

As Amelia read, it really clarifies development regulations, corrects errors and omissions that happen when legislation is transmitted incorrectly.

in the city and ensures that the city's policy intent is clear and achievable.

Colleagues, I know we have all heard from our constituents about trees, so I do want to reiterate some of the things that I said in the Land Use Committee about trees.

There are no changes regarding tree protection that are being proposed to residential small lot zones here.

The existing tree regulations already apply.

to them as neighborhood residential zone.

So the intent here and the reason that it was mentioned at all was really to provide clarity of use and implementation of the requirements.

There is a proposed footnote that is intended to clarify that tree protection requirements don't apply in zones that aren't specifically listed, which are neighborhood residential, low-rise, mid-rise, commercial, and Seattle mixed.

So I will say that last year, as we were talking about the tree code in general, several folks asked us to continue looking at the tree ordinance.

I know we have all heard from people.

This particular code has been in effect for less than a year.

And so it's important that we at least give it a chance to be in place so that we can evaluate it.

That said, I will also say that during the comp plan discussion that we're going to start as early as December, that will be another opportunity for us to increase tree protections as we continue to assess the effectiveness of the tree code that we have already.

So that said, this bill did pass out of the Land Use Committee with a recommendation that we adopt the bill, and I would recommend a yes vote.

SPEAKER_06

Are there any questions or comments?

Council Member Kettle?

SPEAKER_33

Yes, thank you, Council President.

Council Member Morales, Chair Morales, thank you for that summary.

As you know, as you stated, the tree issue is a very serious one, and I agree we have to have a period of time for the review.

IN ORDER TO DO A PROPER REVIEW AND AS YOU NOTED THE COMM PLAN WOULD BE ANOTHER OPPORTUNITY TO LOOK AND ADDRESS THOSE ISSUES AS IT RELATES TO TREES BECAUSE WE DO NEED TO ACHIEVE OUR CANOPY GOALS BUT WE ALSO HAVE TO FIND THAT BALANCE AND I THINK THESE OPPORTUNITIES WILL HELP US FINE TUNE OUR ABILITY TO DO SO.

SO THANK YOU.

SPEAKER_06

COUNCIL MEMBER WU.

SPEAKER_02

Thank you.

So I want to thank central staff for going through every single section of all these amendments with me.

I understand these amendments are designed to address topographical errors, correct section references, clarify existing provisions in our code.

There was minor policy adjustment that didn't need standalone legislation, and we also adopted some state law into city law.

In regard to the tree ordinance, I know this legislation clarified some aspects of it.

It was not...

It doesn't change anything.

But I also fully agree that we need to do more to preserve our trees and plant even more to achieve our goal of a 30% tree canopy.

And I'm committed to reevaluating and taking a closer look at that and how we can further our goal after the budget process.

SPEAKER_06

Thank you for that.

Council Member Rivera.

SPEAKER_10

Council Member Moore was before me.

SPEAKER_11

You can go first.

No, you first.

Thank you, Council President.

I will say that having heard from folks about the concerns about the residential small lots, I did talk to SDCI who has assured me that this legislation in no way changes the currently existing tree protection ordinance.

And I know that because they even sent me the code, because I had a lot of concerns about this, The code says quote zone neighborhood residential means a zone with a classification that includes any of the following Neighborhood residential one two three and residential small lot so that is considered as neighborhood residential I you know folks in in the district and district for very much care about trees and and so I want to make sure that that we can put people's mind at ease, at least as regards this particular omnibus bill.

I will say that I agree with Councilmember Kettle.

Tree canopy is important in the city, particularly as regards heat zones and making sure that we're addressing climate change as we move forward here.

And so I will be looking at the tree ordinance and opportunities to look at how we can further support the preservation of trees across the city as we move forward with the comp plan and in general.

SPEAKER_35

Thank you.

Council Member Moore.

Thank you very much, Council President.

I just want to echo the comments of my colleague, Council Member Rivera.

I, too, had communications with people who were very concerned that this was excluding our residential small lots.

I did ask central staff to independently review that, and we were able to independently confirm that they are not being exempted.

And I think there were some concerns about confusion or different CONFLICTING LANGUAGE ABOUT TREE PROTECTION AREAS.

BUT WITH THE PUBLIC REPRESENTATIONS THAT HAVE BEEN MADE BY SDCI AND COMMITTEE CHAIR MORALES, THAT THIS IS TRULY A TECHNICAL CLEANUP.

IT IS NOT.

THERE IS NO SUBSTANTIVE CHANGE OR EFFECT.

I AM PREPARED TO VOTE FOR IT.

BUT I SHARE THE COMMENTS OF MY COLLEAGUES THAT I THINK IT'S MORE The evidence on the ground is absolutely compelling that we need to revisit the tree ordinance, which at the time of its passage, I understand there was a commitment made to come back and look at how well it's working.

I think we sort of have two different ordinances within one.

And so it's going to be important next year to come back and see how it has worked in terms of cutting down trees, getting exemptions through SDCI to do so, particularly in light of the comp plan and looking at really the increased density and building that's going to be happening.

So I too am committed to revisiting this issue through the comp plan and also independently if need be.

Thank you.

SPEAKER_06

Council Member Strauss.

SPEAKER_17

Thank you, Council President.

Thank you, colleagues.

SPEAKER_06

I'm sorry, I didn't mean to interrupt you.

Okay, go ahead.

All right, I wanted to make sure that I didn't skip.

Go ahead, I'm sorry, I didn't interrupt.

SPEAKER_17

No, go for it.

You were in line before.

SPEAKER_06

No, no, no, no, no, she, no, no.

SPEAKER_17

I'm a Seattle nice.

SPEAKER_10

But I went already.

SPEAKER_17

You already went?

All right, all right.

SPEAKER_06

But I'll go after you.

SPEAKER_17

Please, sorry.

The Seattle nice, right?

It is.

Colleagues, thank you for your interest in the tree ordinance.

I welcome any inquiries to me after I've worked since 2019 on this tree ordinance with Steve Zemke here in the audience.

I think that it is really important for us to ground down into fact.

I appreciate that there has been third-party verification that what you have been told is in fact true because there is unfortunately at times a misunderstanding of what legislation does and does not do.

I will ground us in what I committed to at the end of the tree ordinance last year, which is that we will wait for the reports that I believe have been filed at this time, evaluating the first year of implementation.

The first year of implementation ended on July 30th, 2024. This was an extended, we voted in May, but we had a 60 day implementation time.

The first and most important step in doing another tree ordinance update is a resolution outlining what we want to and what we don't want to study.

This was how we started the process in 2019. We authored a resolution directing departments to begin the work.

so that we were able to do so in a collaborative manner and a transparent manner.

And so I welcome any feedback, any thoughts, any inquiries.

I just want to ground us in the first step to making updates to the tree ordinance is a resolution that outlines the work that we will endeavor to complete.

Thank you, colleagues.

SPEAKER_11

Council President, thank you for giving me a minute or a second to follow up.

I did want to acknowledge that there has been an enforcement piece to this that we really need to look at and both Councilmember Moore and myself have engaged with SDCI on how do we do a better job at enforcement.

There have been two trees I know in my district, Ostra and Luma, who've really, you know, there were enforcement issues with one tree was saved the other one has been harmed and so we really need to look at the enforcement piece to this and how we can address and better support ensuring that what is there is being being followed and you know I know that there are some not there's some bad actors and other not bad actors.

So it's just really making sure that we are holding folks accountable and making sure that those that are being bad actors, there are consequences to that.

And I think that that is something that, like I said, Council Member Moore and I are already engaged in conversation with SDCI and we will continue to be engaged to make sure that we're doing what we're supposed to doing, our due diligence, to make sure that the enforcement is there.

SPEAKER_06

Thank you.

I am scanning my colleagues to see if there are any further comments.

All right.

Would you like to close us out on this discussion Councilmember Morales.

I think we've said a lot.

All right.

With that will the clerk please call the roll.

SPEAKER_09

Councilmember Morales.

Yes.

Councilmember Rivera.

Aye.

Councilmember Saka.

SPEAKER_17

Aye.

SPEAKER_09

Councilmember Strauss.

SPEAKER_17

Yes.

SPEAKER_09

Council Member Wu.

Yes.

Council Member Hollingsworth.

SPEAKER_14

Yes.

SPEAKER_09

Council Member Kettle.

Aye.

Council Member Moore.

Aye.

Council President Nelson.

Aye.

Nine in favor, none opposed.

SPEAKER_06

The bill is passed and the chair will sign it.

Will the clerk please affix my signature to the legislation on my behalf.

And will the clerk please read item 10 into the record.

SPEAKER_08

Agenda item 10, council bill 120824 relating to design review for the downtown Uptown South Lake Union and First Hill Urban Centers, a sub area adjacent to the Uptown Urban Center and a portion of the Greater Duwamish Manufacturing and Industrial Center adopting temporary regulations to exempt single use and mixed use development projects with lodging, residential or research and development laboratory uses from design review and allowing the director of the Department of Construction and Inspections to grant waivers and modifications from certain development standards.

The committee recommends the bill pass as amended.

SPEAKER_06

Thank you.

Council Member Morales, as chair of the committee, you're welcome to provide the committee report.

SPEAKER_31

Thank you.

Amelia had a mouthful, and that is basically what this bill does.

This is a three-year exemption from design review in the downtown area.

This is part of the mayor's downtown activation plan.

It would exempt projects that include proposals for housing, hotels, or research and development facilities, laboratory uses downtown.

And we did have two amendments to To Amendment A, which is being sponsored by Councilmember Kettle.

Amendment B is a walk-on amendment being sponsored by Councilmember Rivera and co-sponsored by myself.

So I will leave it to Councilmember Kettle to move his amendment first.

SPEAKER_33

Yes, I move Amendment A to the Design Review Council Bill 120824. Is there a second?

Second.

Second.

SPEAKER_06

It's been moved and seconded to adopt Amendment A. Councilmember Kettle, you're recognized in order to address the amendment.

SPEAKER_33

Thank you, Council President.

I wanted to start off by stating that I do believe in design review, but I do recognize its flaws and its need for reform, reform that's going to be driven by changes in state law.

And we need a system that encourages a dialogue between communities and developers.

We need guardrails so that a project isn't slowed down, especially when a project is within code and under financial timelines, you know, the lock-ins that you hear about.

And the dialogue is very important when requests for departures from code are made.

And this is an area where if a benefit is given, a public good should be under consideration.

And we've seen this many times when I served on the Queen Anne Community Council and, for example, the courtyard on top of Queen Anne with the Trader Joe's.

That came about from coordination and dialogue between the communities and the developers, and it made for a better project.

And so I'd like to encourage that.

I also understand the challenges that we face with development, particularly with public safety concerns.

Overall, the industry, our strategic framework plan and the public safety committee is addressing those concerns, but also with financing in today's interest rate environment.

to the REIT, the real estate excise tax importance to our budget.

So I will support today's design review bill, Council Bill 120824, condition on approving Amendment A, and also your amendment, Council Member Morales and Rivera.

Amendment A really applies to the vehicle access to parking, loading, and utility spaces, which is under the waiver request for the director of SDCI as part of the downtown activation plan.

Public outreach that I've done to condo and apartment communities throughout D7, particularly in the greater downtown, is not just for public safety challenges, but also the challenges of densification as it relates to logistics, the supply of goods and services to our buildings.

I've seen this firsthand.

I've walked many streets and many alleys with neighbors throughout the downtown, the greater downtown area.

And bottom line is we cannot allow anymore the push of even more logistics to supply onto our streets.

SDOT's freight program briefing to include the final 50 briefing, the final 50 feet briefing, shows the impact on our streets that need to be available to first responders, to public transit, but also other key functions like SPU's garbage recycling and compost services.

We need our streets to function.

And if we want a 15-minute city, we need to ensure that our streets allow for that movement.

And this Amendment A, I believe, will help us do so because once these buildings are built, they're built for decades.

It's not just for three years.

So, colleagues, I just ask for your support on Amendment A to Council Bill 120824. Thank you.

SPEAKER_06

Thank you very much.

Are there any comments on the amendment?

SPEAKER_31

Well, I'll just say thank you, Council Member Kettle.

I did ask Ketel just to assure myself that there is still a standard zoning review of this because I agree with you that we need to make sure that our buildings have loading docks so that we can not have all kinds of unloading happening out on the streets.

So I am in support of this amendment and thank you for bringing this to us.

SPEAKER_33

Thank you.

SPEAKER_06

Do you want to say something?

SPEAKER_11

Yes, I just want to thank you, Council President.

Council Member Kettle, I appreciate you bringing this forward.

I understand that you're in support of the exemption to promote development in the downtown activation plan corridor, and you're taking a thoughtful approach to ensure as we're issuing those exemptions that we don't waive the pieces that are related to the loading zones so that we can have a more thoughtful approach to our street and how we are moving people about downtown.

So thank you.

SPEAKER_06

Okay, seeing no further questions or comments, will the clerk please call the roll on the amendment?

SPEAKER_09

Council Member Morales?

Yes.

Council Member Rivera?

Aye.

Council Member Saka?

SPEAKER_14

Aye.

SPEAKER_09

Council Member Strauss?

SPEAKER_14

Yes.

SPEAKER_09

Council Member Wu?

SPEAKER_02

Yes.

SPEAKER_09

Council Member Hollingsworth?

SPEAKER_02

Yes.

SPEAKER_09

Council Member Kettle?

SPEAKER_99

Aye.

SPEAKER_09

Council Member Moore?

Aye.

Council President Nelson?

SPEAKER_06

Aye.

SPEAKER_09

Nine in favor, none opposed.

SPEAKER_06

The motion carries and Amendment A is adopted.

Are there any further comments on the amended bill that's before us right now?

SPEAKER_11

I have an amendment, Council President.

Okay, go ahead.

I move to amend 120824 as presented on the recently distributed Amendment B, Version 2. Second.

SPEAKER_06

You are welcome to present the amendment.

SPEAKER_11

thank you, council president.

Colleagues, this is an amendment to an amendment originally brought by council member morales which requests sdci to collect and share data about the number of projects, etc., that are being brought forward as a consequence of this exemption to design review allowed by the overall legislation that we passed out of committee and is before you today.

This particular amendment that I have proposed and that I appreciate Councilmember Morales cosponsoring gives us the opportunity to consider the data gathered between passage of the exemption now and next May when we need to ratify state law in June.

we have a lot of time between now and may but given this limited time frame between now and may the amendment gives us the ability not to bind us to anything that comes out of that data reporting as we are considering that state legislation.

I wanted to give us more flexibility and not tie us to whatever comes out of the report since we will have very much we will get that data from sdci.

Secondly this legislation also requests that sdci include the data related to these exemptions to design review along with the broader report that sdci will be bringing related to all the exemptions that we currently have.

We currently have permanent exemptions to design review because we're trying to incentivize building both low-income housing, for instance, and low-income housing under MHA.

They will be bringing a report, and I'm asking to take a holistic approach to this reporting of all these exemptions so that SDCI should bring this reporting on the bill that we're passing today along with the exemptions that we already allow under the law.

So it's really basically, like I said, to take a holistic approach to this reporting mechanism so we're seeing what all the exemptions are doing on the ground, and I hope to get your support on this.

SPEAKER_10

Happy to answer any questions.

Okay, are there any questions or comments?

Council Member Kettle.

SPEAKER_33

Thank you, Council President.

Council Member Rivera and Council Member Morales, I thank you for this amendment.

I THINK IT'S REALLY IMPORTANT, YOUR POINTS, COUNCILMEMBER RIVERA, REGARDING THE REPORTING.

I WAS SPEAKING EARLIER ABOUT DIALOGUE BETWEEN COMMUNITIES AND DEVELOPERS.

WE ALSO HAVE TO HAVE DIALOGUE BETWEEN SDCI AND THE COUNCIL.

AND GIVEN THAT THE DESIGN REVIEW BILL IS PROBABLY A 90% D7 BILL, I DEFINITELY WANT TO INCREASE MY ENGAGEMENT WITH SDCI.

I DON'T SERVE ON LAND USE.

but definitely want to increase my engagement.

And because we do know, as we talked recently more and more, how us district representatives know our district and know the people in our districts.

I have my own District 7 Neighborhood Council, and it's a way to foster that communication as it relates to land use and SDCI.

So I appreciate the amendment.

And I will be looking to meet with Director Torgelson as much as I meet with Chief Rohr or Chief Scoggins or Chief Barden and all the rest within the public safety realm.

So thank you.

SPEAKER_06

Scanning to see if there are any other questions or comments on the amendment.

Okay.

Will the clerk please call the roll?

SPEAKER_09

Council Member Morales?

Yes.

Council Member Rivera?

Aye.

Council Member Saka?

SPEAKER_17

Aye.

SPEAKER_09

Council Member Strauss?

SPEAKER_17

I'm excited, yes.

SPEAKER_09

I know how you feel.

Council Member Wu?

Yes.

Council Member Hollingsworth?

SPEAKER_99

Yes.

SPEAKER_09

Council Member Kettle?

SPEAKER_33

Aye.

SPEAKER_09

Council Member Moore?

Aye.

Council President Nelson?

SPEAKER_06

Aye.

Nine in favor, none opposed.

The motion carries and Amendment B, Version 2 is adopted.

Are there any further comments on the bill as amended?

SPEAKER_31

I'll just say the question of design review sort of writ large is still out there.

That's not what this particular bill is about.

But as I'm sure my colleagues know, we do have a state requirement that we review and modify our own design review process to allow for one public comment period.

and that we really create some objective, clear and objective standards for what will happen in that process.

So, STCI is beginning that work and they certainly understand the importance of engaging particularly communities of color to ensure that there is still some space some public process for those communities to talk about the potential displacement impacts of proposed projects but again that work is outside the scope of this bill and it is beginning and that will be an important conversation that we have next year thank you

SPEAKER_06

Thank you for that.

I did have a comment, and then I'll ask if there are any others.

I always say that if we want to build more housing, we have to better align our regulatory environment around that policy goal.

I say that all the time.

And sometimes that means removing barriers.

And I want to acknowledge the concern that we've heard from people that design review protects the ability and the right of people to weigh in on their physical environment by by weighing in on buildings that are going to be in their neighborhood.

And I also recognize that we definitely need more housing, especially downtown, and we have waived design review or eliminated design review for affordable housing citywide.

We've made different decisions and we've also, I believe, we've made exceptions in other neighborhoods for different reasons and I'm lost on my notes on this one.

But the point is that the report that accompanied the slide that this is in part responsive to does note that Design review tends to add time, which adds cost.

And I am mostly motivated by the need to lower housing costs for our low income renters and also for our builders of affordable housing everywhere, recognizing that they already have that ability.

But we do have private developers of housing that is below market rate.

And so that is what is motivating my support primarily for this legislation.

Okay, go ahead.

SPEAKER_35

Yeah, thank you.

Thank you, Council President.

So I am going to be voting against this amendment, and it's just to be clear, not because I don't support additional housing, clearly recognize the need for additional housing throughout the city and the whole spectrum of housing.

But I have a number of problems with this particular bill.

For one, I feel that we're taking a hodgepodge approach.

We're basically getting rid of design review, you know, one little piece at a time, and we don't have any replacement.

We've gotten rid of it for affordable housing, which I think is appropriate, although, and this goes to the need for Council Member Rivera's bill, we have no idea how well...

That's actually work in terms of removing the barriers and generating affordable housing.

We just got rid of it for conversions downtown, commercial conversions downtown.

So I would rather us take a uniform approach, actually have a discussion about what design review looks like.

We've got the state law coming next June.

To me, there's no particular rush to implement this particular major, this significant portion of Seattle that's going to be losing the design review.

What is the compelling need?

As the central staff memo noted, this proposal is intended to help promote more housing and jobs to be produced at lower permit costs and shorter time and permit review.

But greater downtown, the general planning geography subject to the proposal is not capacity constrained.

This is not going to result in additional affordable housing.

And I think for that reason, it's highly problematic.

And I think that we would be better off waiting until June and having a thoughtful discussion about how we implement what I think is the appropriate response set forth in the state legislation, rather than basically making these special carve outs for high-end development.

So for those reasons I am, and also the other concern, serious concern I have is that this gives a, a disproportionate level of discretion to SDCI.

And I am not comfortable with giving up our role about setting zoning regulations and boundaries and rules to an unelected, unaccountable, Executive Department, which, although it has very good people in it, has shown itself through the auditor's report to be facing some serious internal challenges, ethical challenges.

And it's also shown itself to have struggles in terms of the tree ordinance implementation.

So I think granting that level of discretion when there's no compelling need for it is worrisome.

And that's another major reason that I will not be voting for this.

Thank you very much.

SPEAKER_06

If I may.

I remembered one thing, and I remember this conversation that I had with you, and the providing of full discretion to a non-elected director of SDCI does give me pause, so I do recognize that that point is valid.

I wanted to respond a little bit about the issue of development capacity, because it's mentioned in the central staff memo.

It does say that there is capacity for an additional 41,000 units downtown.

But if you look at another source, which is the Housing Growth Report dashboard for apartments downtown, that shows a 9% decrease in units permitted year-to-date compared to last year.

And units under construction has fallen from 2023. and is way down from 2019 year to date.

And so it really depends on what you're looking at, and if those are some of the, I'm looking at what's happening right now, and if, and I, you know, this dashboard doesn't go into all the reasons why, and it also no longer shows applications or permit applications than it used to, but the point is that I don't like that trend line, and so that is also why I would be supporting this.

SPEAKER_11

Council President, I would say that Council Member Moore, I really very much appreciate many of the comments that you brought up.

So thank you for that.

I will say that I'm compelled to vote for this because I know, and I have seen, and I've been at the city for a while, just the impacts that we're seeing downtown post COVID.

And I very much am interested in all efforts that revitalize downtown.

And given that this is just a pilot, if you will, a three-year program, I'm compelled to vote for it and see where things go, which is why, as you said earlier, I also brought forward the tweaks that I made to the reporting requirements.

so that we're taking a holistic approach to all of these exemptions that we're now granting in the various arenas.

So I will say both.

I appreciate your comments.

I share some of your concerns.

And I also want to make sure that we are promoting development downtown and trying to revitalize where we can in this very short window of three years.

And, you know, I very much am looking forward to the reporting on all of this as we are taking more, as we're making more changes, which I suspect we will in the future as regards design review.

So thank you for your thoughtful comments.

SPEAKER_06

Okay, seeing no further comments, will the clerk please call the roll on the bill?

On the bill as amended.

SPEAKER_09

Jody.

Okay.

Council Member Morales.

Yes.

Council Member Rivera.

Aye.

Council Member Saka.

SPEAKER_24

Aye.

SPEAKER_09

Council Member Strauss.

SPEAKER_24

Yes.

SPEAKER_09

Council Member Wu.

SPEAKER_14

Yes.

SPEAKER_09

Council Member Hollingsworth.

SPEAKER_14

Yes.

SPEAKER_09

Council Member Kettle.

Aye.

Council Member Moore.

SPEAKER_35

No.

SPEAKER_09

Council President Nelson.

SPEAKER_99

Aye.

SPEAKER_09

Eight in favor, one opposed.

SPEAKER_06

The bill passes as amended and the chair will sign it.

Will the clerk please affix my signature to the legislation on my behalf.

And will the clerk also please read item 11 into the record?

SPEAKER_08

Agenda item, the report of the Transportation Committee, agenda item number 11, Council Bill 120857, related to city streets, changing the name of a designated portion of 2nd Avenue North generally located between Lenny Wilkins Way and Denny Way to Sue Bird Court North, superseding the relevant portions of ordinance 4044. The committee recommends the bill pass.

SPEAKER_06

Thank you.

Council Member Saka is chair of the committee.

You're recognized to provide the committee report.

SPEAKER_19

Thank you, Madam Council President.

Colleagues, today I'm asking for a yes vote on this legislation.

Sue Bird, as we know, is the crucial part of our community and the greatest women's basketball player of all time on the court, but her achievements on and off the court are notable as well and impactful to our community as well.

So earlier this summer, we also know that Sue Bird was awarded with the temporary honorary street naming.

this legislation does is it would take a part of the second avenue in your climate pledge arena and make that name a permanent change to be called Sue Bird Court North.

So given This is a legal street name ordinance as opposed to a resolution and an honorary street name.

I'm also pleased with SDOT's outreach for those impacted, the small number of people impacted in the area by any change of address.

So for those reasons and so, so many more to honor the goat of goats, colleagues, I ask and encourage a yes vote.

Thank you.

SPEAKER_06

Are there any comments or questions?

Go ahead, Council Member Kettle.

SPEAKER_33

Thank you, Council President.

Thank you, Chair Saka, for bringing this forward.

First, I want to say good luck to the Storm tonight, playing 6-30 game two against the Aces, first and foremost.

But, you know, congratulations to Sue Bird on this recognition.

Represents, you know, a fantastic career, as Chair Saka said, a goat.

And so, really support this, and it's a great, you know, and brings extra to our neighborhood and around the arena.

And so thank you for bringing us forward.

SPEAKER_06

Council Member Saka, thank you for presenting it so poignantly because this is a very significant street renaming and I appreciate your leadership in this and congratulations, Sue Bird.

You'll be a part of our cityscape forevermore.

Anything else, anybody?

Okay.

Will the clerk please call the roll?

SPEAKER_09

Council Member Morales?

Yes.

Council Member Rivera?

Aye.

Council Member Saka?

SPEAKER_17

Aye.

SPEAKER_09

Council Member Strauss?

SPEAKER_14

Yes.

SPEAKER_09

Council Member Wu?

Yes.

Council Member Hollingsworth?

SPEAKER_14

Yes.

SPEAKER_09

Council Member Kettle?

SPEAKER_14

Aye.

SPEAKER_09

Council Member Moore?

Aye.

Council President Nelson?

Aye.

Nine in favor, none opposed.

SPEAKER_06

The bill passes and the chair will sign it.

Will the clerk please affix my signature to the legislation on my behalf.

Will the clerk please read item 12 into the record.

SPEAKER_08

Agenda item 12, clerk file 314497, petition of BRE, BMR, LLC for the vacation of the alley in the lot seven through 12, inclusive block 67, the DT Denny's Park addition to North Seattle.

The committee recommends that the clerk file be granted as conditioned.

SPEAKER_06

Thank you very much.

Council Member Saka is chair of the committee.

Please provide the committee report.

SPEAKER_19

Thank you, Madam Council President and colleagues.

I really, really wish this was equally as riveting and exciting as our last transportation-related item honoring Sue Bird, but it's very important as well.

So colleagues, I'm encouraging a yes vote on this alley vacation today.

Biomed Realty petitioned the council for a vacation of the alley on the block between John Street, Thomas Street, Taylor Avenue North, and 6th Avenue North.

The vacation will facilitate the development of two biomedical research buildings with shared underground parking and loading.

The petitioners will provide $2.4 million to SDOT for street improvements along Thomas Street.

and will provide enhanced streetscapes around their project.

So in the form of extra trees, benches for the public, wider sidewalks.

So I think on balance, the package of public benefit improvements that were agreed to are really good and strong in this package here.

SDOT, the Seattle Design Commission and the Seattle or in our Transportation Committee recommend Conditional approval as a result so conditions are again standard requirements of street vacations and would require the development of the project as proposed implementation of the public benefits some of which I described earlier and Long-term maintenance of public spaces on the block Really really really exciting stuff colleagues.

I welcome any questions or comments, but I in the absence of such that I do also Welcome your vote.

Thank you.

Yes.

SPEAKER_06

Thank you very much.

Questions or comments?

SPEAKER_33

Council President, thank you.

This is exciting for three reasons.

Number one, and I don't think this is really understood throughout the city, how we are growing in the life sciences world.

And Eastlake and Southlake are really the center for us here in Seattle for this life sciences.

And this is bringing a different type of tech to our city.

It's diversifying our tech world.

And we're really catching up to Boston and San Diego.

And I really love the fact that we have this coming out here and also what's being built in our city, and particularly, again, in Eastlake and Southlake.

Second, this is an alley vacation, which ties in what we just talked about, design review.

When I saw this, the first thing I saw was, okay, how are they going to do logistics, loading docks?

And they had a good plan, and they mitigated impacts on Thomas Street, bringing all the logistical support, the movement of goods and services forward.

on the other side of the building.

So that's number two.

Number three, it helps in this connection between Seattle Center and Denny Park and that South Lake Union neighborhoods that was once kind of cut with State Route 99. And so this project, you know, bringing the greenery, bringing that kind of park-like sense along Thomas Street, connecting Seattle Center to Denny Park and Points East is another exciting point about this that I just wanted to highlight because it can get kind of lost and it kind of, BORING TECHNICAL KIND OF AGENDA ITEM, BUT IT DOES HAVE THOSE THREE GREAT FEATURES TO IT, AND I JUST WANTED TO HIGHLIGHT THOSE THREE.

THANK YOU.

SPEAKER_06

THANK YOU FOR THAT SUMMARY.

THANK YOU VERY MUCH.

OKAY.

SEEING NO QUESTIONS OR COMMENTS, WILL THE CLERK PLEASE CALL THE ROLL ON GRANTING AS CONDITIONED THE CLERK FILE?

SPEAKER_09

COUNCILMEMBER MORALES?

SPEAKER_99

YES.

SPEAKER_09

COUNCILMEMBER RIVERA?

AYE.

COUNCILMEMBER SACA?

SPEAKER_35

AYE.

SPEAKER_09

COUNCILMEMBER STRAUS?

SPEAKER_35

YES.

SPEAKER_09

Council Member Wu.

SPEAKER_28

Yes.

SPEAKER_09

Council Member Hollingsworth.

SPEAKER_28

Yes.

SPEAKER_09

Council Member Kettle.

Aye.

Council Member Moore.

Aye.

Council President Nelson.

SPEAKER_06

Aye.

SPEAKER_09

Nine in favor, none opposed.

SPEAKER_06

Clerk file is granted as conditioned and the chair will sign the council conditions.

Will the clerk please affix my signature to the council conditions on my behalf.

All right, this is our last item on the agenda.

Will the clerk please read item 13 into the record?

SPEAKER_08

Agenda 13, resolution 32145 relating to transportation infrastructure improvements and maintenance.

Responding to resolution 32137 regarding the establishment and recommendations of a transportation funding task force to develop policy and funding recommendations for long-term transportation infrastructure needs with specific focus on building out Seattle sidewalk network, improving existing sidewalks, improving pavement conditions, and replacing or rehabilitating aging bridges.

The committee recommends the resolution be adopted as amended.

SPEAKER_06

Thank you very much.

As committee chair, Council Member Katsaka, please explain what this is before us right now.

SPEAKER_19

Thank you, Madam Council President.

So today, first off, I am encouraging a vote on adoption of this resolution, similar to the other items sailed through and receive unanimous support at the committee level.

So what this does is essentially this.

Should voters approve the transportation levy in November, The proposed transportation funding task force, which will be implemented pursuant to the proposed levy, will allow our fellow citizens an opportunity to develop recommendations to the mayor and the city council on transportation funding related to key infrastructure investments that we all care about, more specifically involving three key asset classes.

So sidewalks, roads, and bridges.

And the council and mayor will work collaboratively together to build out this task force with the council ultimately voting on the final and approving the final list.

The transportation investments, as we know, colleagues, are very crucial to ensure we have a connected and equitable Seattle, as we all very well know, and allowing our fellow citizens and, in many cases, subject matter experts and also other impacted communities a voice going forward, I believe is critical for the long-term transportation health of our city.

And for those reasons and so many more, I'm encouraging a guest vote.

Thank you.

SPEAKER_06

Thank you very much.

Seeing no comments, will the clerk please call the roll on the adoption of the resolution.

Excuse me.

Sorry.

Go ahead, Council Member Moore.

SPEAKER_35

Thank you.

So thank you Council Member Saka for bringing forth this resolution and I appreciate the focus on new funding strategies for new sidewalks and alternative pathways.

I did want to just call out the durable infrastructure solution work that is separately included in the levy ordinance and note that it's charged with proposing a comprehensive long-range strategy for bridges, pavement, and completing the missing sidewalk network and investigating and making recommendations for a transportation impact fee proposal for those purposes by January 1st, 2029. And I'm just assuming that this resolution does not effect that requirement for the impact fee proposal examination.

SPEAKER_19

Yeah, great question.

Thank you, Council Member Moore.

So, no, it does not impact that.

That is baked in the companion resolution for the levy, as we know, and the underlying base legislation that's going to go before voters.

So what this resolution does, so this legislation for this task force, it implements legislation.

So yes, to your point, transportation impact fees will be one of the potential fundraising strategies that they will be tasked with looking into and exploring and making recommendations around.

SPEAKER_35

Great.

Thank you for that clarification.

SPEAKER_06

Thank you.

Anyone else?

Okay.

Will the clerk please call the roll on the adoption of the resolution?

SPEAKER_09

Council Member Morales?

Yes.

Council Member Rivera.

Aye.

Council Member Saka.

SPEAKER_29

Aye.

SPEAKER_09

Council Member Strauss.

SPEAKER_29

Yes.

SPEAKER_09

Council Member Wu.

Yes.

Council Member Hollingsworth.

SPEAKER_35

Yes.

SPEAKER_09

Council Member Kettle.

SPEAKER_99

Aye.

SPEAKER_09

Council Member Moore.

SPEAKER_35

Aye.

SPEAKER_09

Council President Nelson.

SPEAKER_06

Aye.

SPEAKER_09

Nine in favor, none opposed.

SPEAKER_06

The resolution is adopted and the chair will sign it.

Will the clerk please affix my signature to the legislation on my behalf.

All right, there were no items removed from the consent calendar.

There is not a resolution for introduction and adoption today.

Is there any further business to come before the council?

All right, I'm not seeing any.

We've reached the end of today's agenda.

I will reiterate what I said yesterday in council briefings, that now that we're in the budget season officially, committee meetings will not be occurring until after we're done with budget.

And I note that our October 1st city council meeting will be cancelled due to the budget deliberations.

Our next regularly scheduled city council meeting will be held on October 8th at 2 p.m.

All right, hearing no further business, we are adjourned.

Thank you.