OF THE COMMITTEE AND I HAVE
SOMEBODY WITH THEIR AUDIO ON.
ZOOM MEETING. IS THAT -- TABLE
LAPTOP? ALL RIGHT. SEEMS LIKE
WE'VE GOT IT FIXED. WITH THAT,
WE HAVE COUNCILMEMBER RIVERA
EXCUSED UNTIL SHE IS ABLE TO
JOIN US. AND WE WILL LIKELY HAVE
--
>> I'M HERE.
>> OH FANTASTIC. WE HAVE
COUNCILMEMBER RIVERA HERE. AND
WE WILL LIKELY HAVE
COUNCILMEMBER FOSTER JOIN US.
WITH THAT WILL THE CLERK PLEASE
CALL THE ROLL?
>> [ ROLL CALL ]
>> ALL PRESENT, NO EXCUSED.
>> THANK YOU. WE HAVE TWO ITEMS
ON THE AGENDA TODAY. AND GO
HAWKS.
>> GO HAWKS.
>> WE'VE GOT THE APPOINTMENT OF
ALY PENNUCCI AS DIRECTOR OF CITY
BUDGET OFFICE FOR BRIEFING AND
DISCUSSION, THIS IS THE
INTRODUCTION PORTION OF HER TWO
STEP PROCESS AND WE WILL HAVE
HER RETURN THE QUESTIONS THAT WE
HAVE SUBMITTED TO HER BY NEXT
WEEK FOR DISTRIBUTION. AND
SECONDLY, WE HAVE AN ORDINANCE
RELATING TO THE SOCIAL HOUSING
TAX APPROVED BY VOTERS LAST
FEBRUARY FOR BREECHING
DISCUSSION -- BRIEFING
DISCUSSION AND VOTE AND IT'S ON
ITS SECOND STEP OF TWO STEP
PROCESS. WE WILL HAVE A VOTE ON
THAT BILL TODAY. IF THERE'S NO
OBJECTION, THE AGENDA WILL BE
ADOPTED. THE AGENDA IS ADOPTED
HEARING NO OBJECTION. WE WILL
NOW OPEN THE HYBRID PUBLIC
COMMENT PERIOD. PUBLIC COMMENTS
SHOULD RELATE TO ITEMS ON
TODAY'S AGENDA WITHIN THE
PURVIEW OF THIS COMMITTEE. I SEE
WE HAVE ONE PERSON SIGNED UP
IN-PERSON AND CAN WE HAVE
CONFIRMATION FROM I. T. THAT
THERE ARE NO VIRTUAL PUBLIC
COMMENT PARTICIPANTS?
>> SEEING NO VIRTUAL COMMENTERS.
>> THANK YOU. WITH THAT, WE'RE
GOING TO OPEN TECHNICALLY HYBRID
PUBLIC COMMENT, WE HAVE ONE
PERSON SIGNED UP. SO SPEAKERS
WILL HAVE TWO MINUTES TO SPEAK.
AND THEY'LL BE CALLED IN THE
ORDER IN WHICH THEY REGISTERED
AND I WILL -- I'M GOING TO
WITHHOLD READING ALL OF THESE
RULES BECAUSE THEY ARE ALL
PERTINENT FOR WHEN WE HAVE MORE
THAN ONE PERSON. SO WITH THAT,
PUBLIC COMMENT PERIOD IS NOW
OPEN. THE FIRST PERSON IS
TIFFANY MCCOY. PLEASE FEEL FREE
TO TAKE ANY MICROPHONE AND ONCE
YOU START TALKING, WE'LL START
THE TIME. GOOD TO SEE YOU.
>> COUNCILMEMBER STRAUSS, GOOD
TO SEE YOU. GOOD MORNING
COMMITTEE MEMBERS. TIFFANY
McCOY, I'M THE INTERIM CHIEF
EXECUTIVE OFFICER OF THE SEATTLE
SOCIAL HOUSING DEVELOPER AND
JUST WANT TO SAY THANK YOU FOR
HOPEFULLY PASSING THIS THROUGH
COMMITTEE TODAY. ALSO JUST
WANTED TO PUBLICLY STATE FOR
COUNCILMEMBERS FOSTER AND
STRAUSS' AMENDMENT A.. I HAVE
JUST BEEN ON THE JOB FOR A
COUPLE OF WEEKS NOW. BUT JUST
KNOW THAT WE'VE ALREADY BROUGHT
ON AN INTERIM CHIEF FINANCIAL
OFFICER. THEY STARTED YESTERDAY.
WE'RE GETTING ALL OF OUR
FINANCIAL CONTROLS IN PLACE
WHILE WE ARE ACCELERATING THE
PROCESS FOR OUR PERMANENT CFO.
WE HAVE TWO STAFF MEMBERS IN THE
AUDIENCE AS WELL. JAMES MEETON
OUR DIRECTOR OF ACQUISITIONS AND
LILIAN FOWLER OUR DIRECTOR OF
COMMUNICATION. SO I'M GOING TO
BE REACHING OUT TO YOUR OFFICES
OR I ALREADY HAVE MEETINGS ON
THE BOOKS BUT PLEASE KNOW THAT
I'M HERE, WE WANT THE SAME
THING AND I WANT TO MAKE SURE
THE PUBLIC DOLLARS ARE USED IN
THE WAY THAT VETTERS INTENDED
AND IF YOU ALL HAVE ANY CONCERNS
I'M HERE TO TALK THROUGH THOSE
OPENLY AND CANDIDLY. SO JUST
WANTED TO INTRODUCE MYSELF AND
SAY GOOD MORNING AND THANK YOU
FOR LETTING ME SPEAK.
>> THANK YOU VERY MUCH AND THANK
YOU FOR COMING DOWN AND EVERYONE
WHO'S HERE IN THE AUDIENCE FROM
THE SEATTLE SOCIAL HOUSING
DEVELOPER. WITH THAT, WE HAVE NO
ADDITIONAL PUBLIC COMMENTERS
PRESENT OR REMOTELY PRESENT. WE
WILL MOVE ON TO THE NEXT AGENDA
ITEM. WILL THE CLERK PLEASE READ
TIME 1 INTO THE RECORD?
>> ITEM NUMBER 1, APPOINTMENT OF
ALY PENNUCCI AS DIRECTOR OF CITY
BUDGET OFFICE FOR TERM TO
DECEMBER 31st , 209 FOR BRIEFING
AND DISCUSSION PRESENTERS OUR
DEPUTY MAYOR AND ALY PENNUCCI
INTERIM DIRECTOR OF CITY BUDGET
OFFICE.
>> THANK YOU. WITH THAT,
WELCOME. AS I SAID PREVIOUSLY,
THIS IS THE FIRST OF TWO STEPS
OF THE CONFIRMATION PROCESS HERE
IN COMMITTEE. LIKE PREVIOUS
APPOINTMENTS, THIS FIRST ONE IS
TO GIVE THE INTERIM DIRECTOR A
CHANCE TO INTRODUCE THEMSELVES
AND HAVE SOME SHORT QUESTIONS
AND COMMENTS FROM THE DAIS. AND
COLLEAGUES, NEXT MEETING ON
FEBRUARY 17th , WILL BE THE
LONGER Q&A STYLE WITH THE VOTE.
AND SO THIS PROCESS HELPS
EVERYONE GET A BETTER
UNDERSTANDING OF WHO THE INTERIM
DIRECTOR IS AND THEN ONCE THEIR
WRITTEN QUESTIONS ARE SUBMITTED
WE CAN DIG INTO THE ANSWERS A
LITTLE BIT MORE. WITH THAT I'M
GOING TO INTRODUCE DEPUTY MAYOR
BRIAN SURRATT AND INTERIM
DIRECTOR ALY PENNUCCI. WE'LL
SEE IF COUNCILMEMBERS HAVE
INTRODUCTORY QUESTIONS.
>> GREAT. GOOD MORNING,
EVERYONE. BRIAN SURRATT. DEPUTY
MAYOR CITY OF SEATTLE. AND I
WILL SAY IT'S BEEN -- FEELS
WEIRD TO BE BACK UP HERE. BEEN A
LONG TIME SINCE I SAT AT THIS
TABLE. MY LAST TOUR OF DUTY AT
THE CITY OF SEATTLE BACK IN
2017. WANT TO THANK YOU, CHAIR
STRAUSS, VICE CHAIR RIVERA,
COUNCIL PRESIDENT HOLLINGSWORTH
AND COUNCILMEMBERS SAKA AND
KETTLE. FOR THE OPPORTUNITY TO
INTRODUCE MY COLLEAGUE, YOUR
FORMER COLLEAGUE, ALY PENNUCCI.
I'M BEYOND THRILLED AND HONORED
TO PUT HER NAME FORWARD AS MAYOR
WILSON'S NOMINEE FOR THE CITY
BUDGET DIRECTOR. THE OLD LINE
ABOUT ALY NEEDING NO
INTRODUCTION REALLY DOES APPLY
HERE. AS YOU ALL KNOW, DURING
HER TIME AS ON YOUR COUNCIL
CENTRAL STAFF, AS BUDGET
MANAGER, ALL THE TREMENDOUS
EFFORTS THAT SHE MADE TO MAKE
BUDGET REFORMS. INCLUDING THE
FISCAL TRANSPARENCY ACT AS WELL
AS ADOPTING ANNUAL BUDGETS THAT
REFLECT COUNCIL PRIORITIES ON
BEHALF OF THE CITY. OVER THE
LAST YEAR AND A HALF, ALY HAS
BEEN A DEPUTY EXECUTIVE FOR
WHATCOM COUNTY WHERE SHE HELPED
STREAMLINE THE COUNTY'S BUDGET
PROCESS AND FISCAL OVERSIGHT
SYSTEMS PROVIDING TRANSPARENCY
FOR THE PUBLIC WHILE LEVERAGING
UNTAPPED FINANCIAL REVENUE
SOURCES IN THE FACE OF
SIGNIFICANT BUDGETARY
SHORTFALLS. I HAD A CHANCE TO
MEET ALY DURING THAT TRANSITION
PERIOD WHEN SHE WAS STILL AT
WHATCOM COUNTY DURING THE
MAYORAL TRANSITION. AND YES, YOU
KNOW, SHE HAS, YOU KNOW, THAT
GRAVITAS ON HELPING THAT COUNTY
GET THROUGH SOME OF ITS REVENUE
AND BUDGETARY ISSUES BUT IF YOU
RECALL DURING THAT TIME OUR
REGION FACED UNPRECEDENTED
FLOODING ESPECIALLY IN THAT PART
OF TOWN. AND ALY WAS DOING
DOUBLE DUTY, YOU KNOW, AND
AGAIN, HELPING MANAGE THE
COUNTY, BUT ALSO ENSURING THAT
PEOPLE HAD THEIR RESOURCES THEY
NEEDED TO ADDRESS -- AGAIN,
UNPRECEDENTED FLOODING. AND THAT
SHOWED ME OBVIOUSLY HER CHOPS ON
THE BUDGET SIDE BUT ALSO HER
HEART AND HOW TO MAKE SURE THAT
RESOURCES AGAIN ARE GOING TO THE
PEOPLE THAT NEED THEM THE MOST.
AND I SAW THAT IMMEDIATELY AND
AGAIN, YOU ALL HAVE KNOWN HER
AND KNOW THAT TO BE TRUE DURING
HER TIME HERE. MAYOR WILSON HAS
ASKED ALY TO SERVE IN THIS ROLE
BECAUSE OF HER PUBLIC BUDGETING
EXPERIENCE. HER PHILOSOPHY ON
CREATING BUDGETS THAT ARE
TRANSPARENT AND THAT ARE
THOUGHTFUL AND AGAIN, REFLECT
THE NEEDS AND PRIORITIES OF THE
PEOPLE OF SEATTLE. AND SHE
UNDERSTANDS THE EXECUTIVE AND
LEGISLATIVE SIDE AND SHE
UNDERSTANDS HOW TO BRING MYRIAD
INTERESTS TOGETHER AND CREATING
A BUDGET THAT AGAIN, REFLECTS
THE VALUES OF OUR COMMUNITY.
THAT'S WHY WE BELIEVE THAT SHE
IS THE IDEAL DIRECTOR FOR THE
CITY'S BUDGET OFFICE. THE OTHER
PART THAT I HAVE GOT TO SEE IN
THE MONTH THAT WE HAVE BEEN IN
OFFICE IS ALY'S DESIRE TO
AGAIN, NOT JUST BRING GOOD
BUDGET SENSE AND THAT MINDSET TO
OUR PROCESS, BUT SHE'S A
LEADER. SHE'S A DEDICATED
MANAGER. AND SHE CARES DEEPLY
ABOUT THE TEAM THAT IS AT THE --
AT CBO. AS WE ALL KNOW, HELPING,
YOU KNOW, MANAGE AND GUIDE AND
PROVIDE THAT LEVEL OF LEADERSHIP
TO CITY EMPLOYEES IS A PRIORITY
FOR ALL OF US. WE WANT OUR
AMAZELY TALENTED WORK FORCE TO
FEEL VALUED, TO FEEL A SENSE OF
PURPOSE. AND SHE HAS MADE THAT
COMMITMENT TO THE MAYOR'S OFFICE
AND I KNOW SHE'LL MAKE THAT
SAME COMMITMENT TO YOU BUT MOST
IMPORTANTLY SHE MADE THAT
COMMITMENT TO HER STAFF AT CBO
TO BE A MANAGER THAT REALLY
VALUES AND SUPPORTS THE WORK
THAT THEY DO. WE ALL HAVE A
SHARED GOAL OF MAKING SEATTLE A
MORE AFFORDABLE, EQUITABLE, MORE
FINANCIALLY STABLE AND SAFER
PLACE AND WE BELIEVE THAT ALY IS
A RIGHT PERSON TO HELP US GUIDE
US IN THAT IMPORTANT PROCESS OF
CREATING BUDGET AND RESOURCES TO
DELIVER ON ALL OF OUR PROMISES
THAT WE HAVE MADE. SO WITH THAT,
THAT IS OUR FORMAL INTRODUCTION
OF OUR NOMINEE FOR THE CITY
BUDGET OFFICE.
>> THANK YOU DEPUTY MAYOR
SURRATT AND GOOD MORNING CHAIR
STRAUSS AND COUNCILMEMBERS.
THANKS FOR THE OPPORTUNITY TO BE
HERE. I'M EXCITED TO BE HERE
AND IT'S WEIRD TO BE IN THIS
SEAT AND A DIFFERENT ROLE. BUT
IT IS KIND OF THRILLING. I WAS
JUST GOING TO SAY A FEW THINGS
AND I'M HAPPY TO TAKE QUESTIONS
AND I'M DILIGENTLY WORKING ON
ALL THE QUESTIONS AND WE'LL
HAVE THOSE TO YOU FOR
DISTRIBUTION NEXT WEEK. BUT -- I
JUST THOUGHT I'D SAY -- WANTED
TO SAY A LITTLE BIT ABOUT HOW
I'M GOING TO APPROACH THIS ROLE
AND WHAT IT MEANS TO ME TO BE IN
IT. TO ME THE BUDGET IS REALLY
WHERE WE PUT VALUES INTO ACTION.
YOU KNOW, CREATING FOR BETTER OR
FOR WORSE SORT OF WHERE OUR
PRIORITIES ARE. IT'S REALLY
WHERE WE IMPLEMENT OUR POLICY
GOALS AND SO IT'S TO ME THE
MOST IMPORTANT POLICY DOCUMENT
OF ANY ADMINISTRATION, ANY CITY
COUNCIL. SO IT'S A REALLY
IMPORTANT TO HAVE GOOD WORKING
RELATIONSHIPS BETWEEN ME AND THE
COUNCIL AND THE MAYOR'S OFFICE
AND THE COMMUNITY AND ALL THE
DEPARTMENTS. I WAS EXCITED TO
TAKE THIS ROLE FOR A NUMBER OF
REASONS. YOU ALL KNOW I LOVE
JUST TO TALK ABOUT BUDGET. I
LIKE PROCESS. I LIKE CONTINUOUS
IMPROVEMENT. I LIKE
TRANSPARENCY. SO YOU WILL SEE A
LOT OF THAT FROM ME. WE WILL TRY
SOME NEW THINGS. SOMETIMES WE'LL
GET IT RIGHT. SOMETIMES WE
WON'T. BUT WHAT YOU CAN DEPEND
ON FROM ME IS BEING OPEN TO
DIALOGUE AND WORKING TOWARDS
IMPROVING IT. TO ME, I REALLY
JUST -- I WANTED TO BE PART OF A
TEAM THAT IS WORKING TOWARDS
ACHIEVING A VISION OF AN
EQUITABLE CITY AND DO THAT IN A
WAY THAT IS LIKE CRITICALLY
LOOKING AT OUR EXISTING
RESOURCES AND HOW WE ARE USING
THOSE RESOURCES AND ARE WE
ACHIEVING THE OUTCOMES WE
EXPECTED AND LOOKING FOR A NEW
RESOURCES TO SORT OF SCALE THE
BUDGET TO THE SIZE OF COMMUNITY
NEEDS. IT'S NOT AN EASY JOB.
BUT I THINK IN COLLABORATION
WITH ALL OF YOU, WE CAN DO THIS.
I REALLY DO THINK THE BUDGET
PROCESS WORKS BEST WHEN THE
LEGISLATIVE AND EXECUTIVE
BRANCHES ARE WORKING
COLLABORATIVELY WITH THE
COMMUNITY TO IDENTIFY WHAT THOSE
PRIORITIES ARE AND DEVELOPING A
BUDGET THAT REFLECTS THOSE
SHARED VALUES. THAT'S NOT
ALWAYS EASY. BY MY OVERALL
APPROACH OR PHILOSOPHY FOR
BUDGETING IS BASED ON CLEARLY
ARTICULATING OUR POLICY GOALS,
CRITICALLY ANALYZING EXISTING
PROCESSES, EXPLORING INNOVATIVE
SOLUTIONS AND HONESTLY ASSESSING
AND DISCLOSING THE RISK OF
POLICY CHOICES IN AN ENVIRONMENT
OF SCARCE FISCAL RESOURCES.
CHAIR STRAUSS AND I HAVE ALREADY
HAD SOME I THINK GOOD
CONVERSATIONS AROUND WE MAY NOT
ALWAYS AGREE ON THE HOW. BUT I
THINK WE MOSTLY AGREE ON THE WHY
IN TERMS OF THE, YOU KNOW,
ADDRESSING THE NEEDS OF THE
COMMUNITY. AND WHILE WE MIGHT
NOT ALWAYS AGREE ON THE
SOLUTIONS, I THINK IF WE CAN
HONESTLY JUST PUT THAT ON THE
TABLE AND BE OPEN ABOUT IT, HAVE
THE DEBATE AND ULTIMATELY YOU
ALL APPROVE THE BUDGET AND WE'LL
RESPECT THAT PROCESS. SO I'M
EXCITED TO BE HERE TODAY. I'M
EXCITED TO WORK WITH ALL OF YOU.
CENTRAL STAFF TEAM. AND I'M
JUST THRILLED TO LEAD THE
INCREDIBLE STAFF IN THE BUDGET
OFFICE. WHO IN MY FIRST 30ish
DAYS, HAVE ALREADY EXCEEDED MY
EXPECTATIONS. SO THANK YOU.
>> WONDERFUL. THANK YOU BOTH FOR
BEING HERE. OUR COLLEAGUES I'LL
ASK ONE QUESTION AS PART OF THE
INTRODUCTORY PROCESS. AND IF
THERE ARE NO OTHER QUESTIONS I
MIGHT ASK A FEW MORE. BUT I WANT
TO PROVIDE SOME SPACE FOR THE --
MY COLLEAGUES TO ASK SOME
QUESTIONS. WHEN WE FIRST MET, I
WAS ON STAFF IN OFFICE HERE FOR
COUNCILMEMBER BAGSHAW. YOU WERE
WORKING ON LANDS USE IT'S BEEN
QUITE A JOURNEY SINCE THEN. JUST
SHARE FOR FOLKS WHO MAY BE
HAVEN'T BEEN AROUND AS LONG AS
BRIAN SURRATT. DEPUTY MAYOR
SURRATT. HOW DID YOU COME TO THE
CITY? WHAT'S YOUR PATH BEEN
LIKE? WHERE HAVE YOU BEEN, WHAT
HAS IT THOUGHT YOU AND HOW HAS
THAT MOMENT LED TO NOW?
>> SURE: SO I'LL START IN LIKE
THE WAY BACK. I GREW UP IN RURAL
VERMONT. SO NORTHERN VERMONT SO
I HAVE COME LIKE ALL THE WAY
ACROSS TO THE OTHER SIDE OF THE
COUNTRY. I -- YOU KNOW, HAD SORT
OF A NORMAL -- YOU KNOW, I GREW
UP IN A RELATIVELY POOR FAMILY
BUT SORT OF DID THE NORMAL THING
AND WENT TO COLLEGE AND DROPPED
OUT OFF A YEAR AND DID A VARIETY
OF THINGS AND WORKED IN TECH AND
LIVED IN NORTH DAKOTA FOR A
STINT. WHEN I WAS -- 26, MY NOW
HUSBAND AND I MOVED ACROSS THE
COUNTRY TO SEATTLE WHERE MY
SISTER WAS LIVING. AND HE WAS
APPLYING TO MASTER'S PROGRAMS
AND I WAS LIKE I SHOULD GO BACK
TO SCHOOL. AND WE WERE KIND OF
BROKE AND STRUGGLING TO PAY RENT
SO I GOT REALLY INTERESTED IN
LIKE HOUSING POLICY AND THE COST
OF LIVING. SO I ENDED UP IN AN
URBAN STUDIES PROGRAM AND WENT
TO SAN FRANCISCO STATE. WHERE I
GOT A DEGREE IN URBAN STUDTIES
AND GOT A MASTER'S DEGREE IN
URBAN AND REGIONAL PLANNING AT
THE UNIVERSITY OF MINNESOTA AND
WORKED AS A PLANNER THERE FOR
FIVE YEARS BEFORE COMING OUT
HERE TO DO LONG-RANGE PLANNING
AND THEN CENTRAL STAFF SCOOPED
ME UP. TO BE A LAND USE ANALYST.
WHEN YOU ARE PART OF CENTRAL
STAFF, YOU HAVE THIS OPPORTUNITY
TO WORK ON SO MANY ISSUES THAT
HAVE MEANINGFUL IMPACTS ON THE
COMMUNITY. AND THAT WAS SO
EXCITING. YOU KNOW, AS A
PLANNER, I WAS FOCUSED ON LAND
USE BUT THAT BACKGROUND REALLY
OPENED YOUR EYES TO THE WHOLE
SYSTEMS. HOW DO CITIES WORK AND
HOW DO THINGS GET DONE? WHAT
DOES THE COMMUNITY NEED TO
REALLY HAVE A MEANING -- A
POSITIVE LIVING EXPERIENCE AND
HAVE THE RESOURCES TO GET ACCESS
TO HEALTH CARE AND FOOD AND ALL
OF THOSE THINGS. SO KIND OF
OPENED MY EYES TO LIKE A BROODER
POLICY PORTFOLIO AND I HAD THE
OPPORTUNITY TO STAFF THE BUDGET.
SO LIKE I SAID EARLIER I LOVE
PROCESS. I FOUND -- I CAN
ACTUALLY REMEMBER THE MOMENT
SITTING IN A BUDGET MEETING WITH
FORMER COUNCILMEMBER BAGSHAW.
AND AND JUST BEING LIKE THERE'S
GOT TO BE A BETTER WAY TO DO
THIS. THERE'S GOT TO BE. AND
THAT'S WHEN I STARTED GETTING
MORE INVOLVED IN THE BUDGET
PROCESS. AND FROM THERE, I JUST
GOT MORE AND MORE LEARNED MORE
ABOUT FISCAL MANAGEMENT AND
BUDGET POLICY AND ALL OF THOSE
THINGS. AND IT WAS REALLY WHERE
I GOT TO WORK ON A LOT OF POLICY
ISSUES AND IF WE WERE PUTTING
MONEY BEHAND IT IT DIDN'T
REALLY GO ANYWHERE. THAT'S WHAT
REALLY BRINGS ME TO THIS WORK
AND LIKE I SAID IN MY OPENINGS
THIS REALLY WHERE WE PUT OUR
VALUES INTO ACTION AND SO --
THAT'S WHAT BRINGS ME TO THIS
WORK AND GETS ME UP EVERY DAY
AND I FEEL REALLY FORTUNATE TO
BE BACK IN A CITY THAT I LOVE
WHERE I HAVE FRIENDS AND FAMILY.
AND GET TO WORK WITH ALL OF YOU
AGAIN.
>> THANK YOU. I MIGHT -- ASK FOR
A LITTLE BIT MORE FOLLOW-UP AND
YOU HAVE SERVED AS A LANDS USE
ANALYST HERE AS THE DEPUTY
DIRECTOR AND THEN THE DIRECTOR
OF CENTRAL STAFF. REMIND ME ALL
THE CHANGES AND YOU WENT TO WORK
AT WHATCOM AS A DEPUTY
EXECUTIVE. AND NOW YOU ARE BACK.
>> THANK YOU. YES, SO I STARTED
AS A LAND USE ANALYST AND WORKED
-- BEEN EXPANDED TO OTHER POLICY
AREAS AND BECAME A SUPERVISOR.
THEN THE BUDGET MANAGER AND
POLICY -- I THINK BUDGET AND
POLICY MANAGER WAS MY TITLE FOR
A TERM. AND THEN DEPUTY
DIRECTOR. I SERVED A FEW TIMES I
THINK AS ACTING OR INTERIM AND
I'M NOT SURE WHAT THE CORRECT
TERM IS BUT I WAS NEVER THE
DIRECTOR. BUT HAD AN OPPORTUNITY
TO WORK WITH SEVERAL DIRECTORS
OF CENTRAL STAFF AND THEN ABOUT
A YEAR AND A HALF AGO, I WENT TO
WHATCOM COUNTY TO BE THE DEPUTY
EXECUTIVE. I HAD A PRETTY BROAD
PORTFOLIO THERE. FINANCE, HR, I.
T., FACILITIES, PUBLIC WORKS,
PARKS AND PLANNING ALL SORT OF
REPORTED TO ME. YOU KNOW, THE
EXECUTIVE'S OFFICE WAS A LITTLE
BIT SMALLER THERE. SEVEN PEOPLE.
BUT I SPENT A LOT OF TIME
WORKING ON THE BUDGET IN
PARTICULAR AND THEY WERE FACING
SIMILAR CHALLENGES WITH THE
STRUCTURAL DEFICIT. BUT AT A
SMALLER, SMALLER SCALE. THEIR
TOTAL BUDGET IS ABOUT $330
MILLION. SO A LITTLE BIT
DIFFERENT IN TERMS OF SIZE. BUT
THE -- YOU KNOW, PROPORTIONATELY
IT WAS ABOUT THE SAME PROBLEM. I
WORKED A LOT ON PROCESS
IMPROVEMENTS THERE, TRANSPARENCY
AND MANAGED TO HELP SHRINK THE
STRUCTURAL DEFICIT BY ABOUT 60%.
THAT'S WHAT I HAVE BEEN UP TO
FOR THE LAST FEW YEARS AND NOW
HERE I AM.
>> THANK YOU. THAT'S WONDERFUL
AND IMPASSE IT OVER TO
COLLEAGUES. IF THE WHATCOM
COUNTY BUDGET IS $330 MILLION,
THAT MEANS THAT THE CITY OF
SEATTLE PUTS IN $350 MILLION
INTO HOUSING JUST LAST YEAR AND
THAT'S NOT INCLUDING THE
SEATTLE SOCIAL HOUSING
DEVELOPER. IT'S BEEN NOTED THAT
THERE HAVE BEEN REFRAINS MADE IN
OLYMPIA ABOUT SEATTLE'S TAXING
BUT I WILL SAY THAT HOUSING IS A
STATE ISSUE AND THE CITY OF
SEATTLE IS DOING THE STATE'S
WORK. WE'D LOVE FOR TO YOU PICK
-- YOU TO PICK UP THE TAB. ANY
QUESTIONS FOR INTERIM DIRECTOR
PENNUCCI, COLLEAGUES? SEE
COUNCILMEMBERS KETTLE AND SAKA.
>> THANK YOU CHAIRMAN STRAUSS.
BACK TO THE SECOND FLOOR AND
ALREADY IN THE DENT. I
APPRECIATE CHAIR, YOUR QUESTION
WHEN WE FIRST MET. BECAUSE I HAD
THE SAME EXPERIENCE GETTING A
BUDGET BRIEFING AND DEPUTY
DIRECTOR WAS LOOKING AT ME
WONDERING MY POSITION ON SPD
SALARIES PROVISO AND I SURPRISED
HER AND I SAID YES AND WE WILL
KEEP THAT. I TALKED ABOUT MY
LAST YEAR IN THE NAVY AND HOW I
WAS BASICALLY AN SPD'S ROLE AT
THAT TIME WITH THE NAVY. AND
THEN WE HAD TO ASK PERMISSION IF
WE DID ANYTHING. I THINK I MAY
HAVE SURPRISED HER AND
SUPPORTING THAT POSITION THAT
THEY HAD. I JUST WANTED TO SAY
THANK YOU FOR BEING HERE. AND
YOU KNOW, I'M SURE COUNCIL
PRESIDENT AT THE OTHER END OF
THE DAIS WAS THINKING ABOUT A
CERTAIN SOMETHING WHEN YOU SAID
YOU LOVED PROCESS. BECAUSE
THAT'S -- THAT'S A CHARGE HE
USUALLY DIRECTS MY WAY AND I DO
THINK WE NEED A BETTER PROCESS.
WE HAVE A BUDGET THAT LET'S
JUST SAY YOU HAVE AN INCREDIBLY
DIFFICULT TASK AND THERE'S --
PREVIOUS ADMINISTRATION HAD
CONTINUED THEY WOULD HAVE HAD
INCREDIBLY DIFFICULT TASK. AND
SO IT'S DAUNTING. AND SO YOU
ARE WALKING INTO A VERY DAUNTING
SITUATION. AND TECHNICALLY WE'RE
GOOD FOR '26 BUT AS THE CENTRAL
STAFF DIRECTOR NOTED, IT IS
INHERENTLY UNSUSTAINABLE. AND I
BELIEVE AND I HAVE SAID THIS IN
DIFFERENT WAYS AND DIFFERENT
LOCATIONS, THAT YOU KNOW, SOME
OF THE IDEAS THAT WE HAVE GOING
ON ARE ALSO INHERENTLY
UNSUSTAINABLE TOO. I BELIEVE IN
PROGRESSIVE TAX REVENUE THE
BLARING PROGRESSIVE TAX REVENUE
ON TOP IN ADDITION TO WHATEVER
OLYMPIA IS DOING. THAT IN AND OF
ITSELF IS INHERENTLY
SUSTAINABLE. I THINK IT'S
IMPORTANT FOR THE PROCESS TO BE
NOT LOOKING FOR A, YOU KNOW, THE
OLD-FASHIONED -- YOU KNOW, SOME
PEOPLE WOULD SAY TAX AND SPEND.
BUT ALSO IN TERMS OF HOW CAN WE
GET A HANDLE ON OUR SPENDING
WHICH IS VERY DIFFICULT.
PARTICULARLY WHEN A LOT OF IT IS
SALARIES GOING BACK TO THAT
TOPIC. BUT YOU KNOW, WHAT CAN WE
DO? AND I HAVE HAD CONVERSATIONS
WITH CENTRAL STAFF AND IN THE
PAST THERE'S BEEN SOME EFFORTS
TO KIND OF WORK IT BECAUSE EACH
OF THE -- AS YOU NOTED, EACH
PERSON IS AN EXPERT IN THEIR
AREA AND THEY KNOW THE LITTLE
AREAS THAT MAY BE WE CAN DO
SOMETHING AND I JUST WANTED TO
RAISE THAT. SOMEWHAT AS A
STATEMENT BUT ALSO AS A QUESTION
IN TERMS OF THE
COMPREHENSIONIVENESS OF THE
PROCESS. BECAUSE YES, WE NEED
PROGRESSIVE TAX. BUT WE ALSO --
THAT CAN'T BE THE ONLY PART OF
THE PROCESS IN MY VIEW. SO IF
YOU HAVE ANY REACTION. I
APPRECIATE IT. THANK YOU, CHAIR.
>> THANK YOU. I AGREE. THE TASK
IS DAUNTING. I ALSO DON'T THINK
IT'S MY TASK ALONE. IT'S
WORKING CLOSELY WITH THE
MAYOR'S OFFICE AND THE
DEPARTMENTS, ENTIRE BUDGET
OFFICE. AND ALL OF YOU, TO
IDENTIFY STRATEGIES SO I REALLY
SEE MY ROLE AS FACILITATING THE
PROCESS AND PROVIDING GOOD,
CLEAR INFORMATION AND REALLY
EVALUATING TRADE-OFFS. THAT
REALLY DOES REQUIRE THAT WE TAKE
A HARD LOOK AT WHAT WE'RE
CURRENTLY SPENDING MONEY ON. I
THINK FOR THE LAST SEVERAL
YEARS, THERE HAVE BEEN WORK TO
FIGURE OUT WAYS TO BALANCE THE
CURRENT YEAR, THE NEXT TWO YEAR
BUDGETS, BUT THEY HAVE NOT BEEN
SUSTAINABLE STRATEGIES AND THE
LOW HANGING FRUIT. RIGHT? THERE
ARE SOME PLACES WHERE SAVINGS
COULD BE ACHIEVED AND COULD BE
INCORPORATED QUICKLY. A LOT OF
THAT WORK, WE -- THE FORMER
EXECUTIVE, ALL OF THE
DEPARTMENTS HAVE ALREADY DONE.
SO IT IS TIME TO REALLY LOOK AT
ALL OF OUR PROGRAMS AND SERVICES
AND LOOK AT WHAT IS WORKING AND
WHAT IS -- HOW IS THE COMMUNITY
BENEFITING AND IS IT ACHIEVING
OUTCOMES? I ALSO WANT TO BE
REALISTIC ABOUT THE RESOURCES
AVAILABLE TO DO THIS WORK. AND
I'M -- IN CONVERSATION ON
DIFFERENT WAYS WHERE WE CAN
START THAT EVALUATION. BUT I DO
THINK IT WILL REQUIRE MAKING
SOME HARD CHOICES ABOUT WHAT WE
ARE ABLE TO DELIVER AT LEAST IN
THE SHORT TERM WHILE WE CONTINUE
TO LOOK FOR WAYS TO INTRODUCE
EFFICIENCIES AND DELIVER
SERVICES IN A WAY THAT MEETS THE
NEEDS OF THE COMMUNITY. BUT IS
ALSO REALISTIC WITHIN OUR
AVAILABLE RESOURCES.
>> THANK YOU. BY THE WAY, THANK
YOU CHAIR TOO, FOR NOTING I
THINK IT WAS PRETTY MUCH AN
ASIDE BUT REALLY IMPORTANT AND
THIS GOES TO PUBLIC SAFETY. YOU
KNOW, PUBLIC HEALTH IS A COUNTY
FUNCTION. ONE CAN ARGUE WE'VE
NOT BEEN, YOU KNOW, THAT'S NOT
BEEN MET. MENTAL HEALTH IS A
STATE FUNCTION. YOU KNOW. YOU
SAID YOU GREW UP IN VERMONT AND
I WENT TO SCHOOL IN BOSTON YOU
KNOW, LIVING HERE IN SEATTLE YOU
WOULD THINK MENTAL HEALTH
SPENDING IN THE STATE WOULD BE
THE SAME AS THOSE NEW ENGLAND
STATES. WHEN I FIRST MOVED HERE
IT WAS LIKE 46 OUT OF 50. WE
HAVE HAD SOME INVESTMENTS OVER
THE YEARS BUT I THINK WE'RE IN
THE LOW 30s NOW. NOT EVEN IN THE
TOP HALF OF THE STATES OF THE
COUNTRY. IF THEY WERE DOING
THEIR DUTIES, IMAGINE WHERE WE
WOULD BE ON OUR STREETS TODAY.
HERE IN SEATTLE. IF WE HAD THAT
CAPACITY AND THE MENTAL HEALTH
SIDE. IF WE HAD THE CAPACITY ON
THE PUBLIC HEALTH SIDE THROUGH
THE COUNTY. AND SO -- CHAIR, YOU
MAKE A VERY GOOD POINT. THE CITY
IS TAKING UP WHAT? REALITY,
REALLY IS COUNTY AND STATE
FUNCTIONS AND SOMETIMES FEDERAL
TOO. THANKS CHAIR.
>> THANK YOU COUNCILMEMBER
SETTLE. COUNCILMEMBER SAKA
FOLLOWED BY COUNCIL PRESIDENT
HOLLINGSWORTH.
>> THANK YOU CHAIR AND THANK YOU
DEPUTY MAYOR SURRATT AND MISS
PENNUCCI. REALLY EXCITED TO
WELCOME YOU HERE TODAY. IN THIS
CAPACITY AS AN ASIDE LOOKING
FORWARD TO CONNECTING OFFLINE AS
WELL. I'M GOING TO DIVE RIGHT
IN. GIVE IT TO YOU STRAIGHT. NO
CHASER. SEATTLE CENTER. SO
SEATTLE CENTER. I WAS ON CHAIR
OF OUR TRANSPORTATION WATERFRONT
AND SEATTLE CENTER COMMITTEE AND
I THINK THAT'S THE OFFICIAL
NAME BUT WE'RE CALLING IT S. T.
E. P. S.. SHORTHAND JUST REFER
TO IN? CONTEXT ARE SPORTS AND
EXPERIENCES COMMITTEE. SO I'M
CHAIR OF THE SPORTS AND
EXPERIENCES COMMITTEE. THAT
OVERSEES SEATTLE CENTER AND THE
WATERFRONT. AND BY THE WAY, I
HAVE MADE MY POSITION CLEAR TO
THE MAYOR'S OFFICE ON THIS
POINT. BEFORE. BUT I'LL SHARE
IT NOW IN A PUBLIC MANNER.
SEATTLE CENTER. SO I'M NOW
CHAIR OF OUR SPORTS AND
EXPERIENCES COMMITTEE. I WAS A
LITTLE SURPRISED COUPLE OF WEEKS
AGO WHEN I READ THAT DAVID
CROWMAN ARTICLE IN THE "SEATTLE
TIMES" THAT INDICATED THAT
THERE'S SIGNIFICANT MAINTENANCE
BACKLOGS TOTALLING HUNDREDS OF
MILLIONS OF DOLLARS TO AGAIN,
FIX LONG DEFERRED REALLY VITALLY
IMPORTANT CAPITAL MAINTENANCE
UPGRADES IN SEATTLE CENTER. AND
IT WAS A LEARNING FOR ME
PERSONALLY BECAUSE YOU KNOW,
WHEN -- BECAUSE I DIDN'T
PREVIOUSLY SIT ON A COMMITTEE
THAT OVERSAW PARKS OR SEATTLE
CENTER AS A LEARNING FOR ME
PERSONALLY, ROB, DO YOUR DUE
DILIGENCE BEFORE YOU GO SIGNING
UP FOR THESE COMMITTEES. THESE
BRAND NEW COMMITTEES. BUT WE DO
HAVE A NEWLY EXPANDED COMMITTEE
PORTFOLIO AND EXCITED FOR THAT.
BUT SO -- BUT I WAS A BIT
SHOCKED AND TAKEN ABACK BY THAT
REPORTING AND A LOT OF IMPORTANT
ISSUES RAISED THERE. AND LAST
ADMINISTRATION WAS IN
CONVERSATIONS WITH STAKEHOLDERS
FOR UP TO A $1 BILLION LEVY TO
ADDRESS THAT. NEW
ADMINISTRATION, NEW PRIORITIES .
AND BUT -- AS CHAIR OF OUR
SPORTS AND EXPERIENCES
COMMITTEE, NOT AT ALL INTERESTED
IN CONTINUING TO KICK THE CAN
DOWN THE ROAD AND CONTINUING TO
DEFER THIS LONG DEFERRED
MAINTENANCE BACKLOG. I THINK
THAT ARTICLE DID A TERRIFIC JOB
OF KIND OF LAYING OUT SOME
SPECIFIC -- LIKE POSSIBLE
OPTIONS AND SOLUTIONS TO ADDRESS
THAT INCLUDING, YOU KNOW, MORE
KIND OF ROBUST PARTNERSHIPS AND
PHILANTHROPIC CONTRIBUTIONS AND
BONDING AUTHORITY AND THE LIKE.
BUT WE NEED TO DO SOMETHING FROM
MY SPECIFIC WE NEED TO DO
SOMETHING AND I ALSO NOTE THAT
THE MLK LABOR COUNCIL ON JANUARY
21st OF THIS YEAR ADOPTED A
RESOLUTION SUPPORTING A 2026
LEVY TO REVITALIZE THE SEATTLE
CENTER CAMPUS. A BILLION DOLLAR
LEVY IS -- I DON'T THINK MAKES
SENSE. BUT SOLELY LEVERAGING OUR
CITY'S BONDING AUTHORITY, IN
OTHER WORDS, ALLOWING OUR 2 --
THE CITY'S 150 YEARS OLD AND
ALLOWING OUR 200-YEAR-OLD SELF
TO PAY FOR THE IMPORTANT
UPGRADES NOW FOR OUR
150-YEAR-OLD SELF. I DON'T KNOW
IF WE'RE RELYING SOLELY ON THAT
FROM A CITY FINANCIAL
CONTRIBUTION PERSPECTIVE MAKE
SENSE EITHER. A CITY WITHOUT A
ROBUST ARTS AND CULTURAL AND
CIVIC ENGAGEMENT HUB AND SPORTS
INCLUDING SPORTS, CITY THAT
LACKS THOSE TERRIFIC THINGS, IS
IN MY VIEW A SOULLESS CITY. AND
WHILE WE WELCOME NEW PEOPLE AND
MAKE IT MORE AFFORDABLE, WE ALSO
NEED TO MAKE SURE IT CONTINUES
TO BE VIBRANT AND THRIVING AND
TO THAT END, AGAIN, I'M NOT
INTERESTED IN CONTINUING TO KICK
THE CAN DOWN THE ROAD ON THE
LONG DEFERRED MAINTENANCE
OBLIGATIONS. OBLIGATIONS. AND SO
WE NEED TO DO MORE AS A CITY. I
AM, HOWEVER, VERY OPEN TO, YOU
KNOW, WHAT THAT COULD LOOK LIKE
AND I LOOK FORWARD TO PARTNERING
WITH THE MAYOR'S OFFICE TO DO
EXACTLY THAT. BILLION DOLLAR
LEVY MIGHT NOT BE IN THE CARDS.
SOME SORT OF LEVY IN PARTNERSHIP
WITH, YOU KNOW, MLK LABOR MIGHT
BE. AND CERTAINLY BONDING
AUTHORITY AND CERTAINLY
PHILANTHROPIC CONTRIBUTIONS AND
CERTAINLY MORE PARTNERSHIPS AND
THE LIKE. WE'RE NOT TELLING A
COMPLETE STORY IF WE'RE ALL --
AMONG OTHER THINGS TRYING TO
BRING THE SONICS BACK. AND WE
HAVE THIS EXCELLENT WORLD CLASS
STADIUM. CLIMATE PLEDGE. AND
WE'RE NOT TELLING THE COMPLETE
STORY IF WE SAY WE HAVE THIS
WORLD CLASS STADIUM. EVERYTHING
AROUND IT IS KIND OF JUNK.
TRASH. WITH THE EXCEPTION OF
MEMORIAL STADIUM. THAT'S COOL.
WE NEED TO MAKE SURE WE HAVE --
WE'RE TELLING A COMPLETE,
COMPELLING STORY ON THE SONICS
AND EVERYTHING ELSE AND MAKE
SURE WE HAVE -- WE CONTINUE TO
HAVE A ROBUST, ROBUST SPORTS,
ARTS, CIVIC, CULTURAL HUB FOR
OUR CITY. SO JUST WANT TO LAY
THAT OUT THERE. LOOKING FORWARD
TO PARTNERING -- THESE ARE MORE
EXTENSIVE CONVERSATIONS IN TERMS
OF HOW THAT WE'LL NEED TO
CONTINUE TO HAVE OFFLINE. WITH
BOTH OF YOU AND OTHER REPS FROM
THE MAYOR'S OFFICE AND THE
MAYOR DIRECTLY. BUT JUST CURIOUS
HOW IF CONFIRMED TO THIS ROLE,
MISS PENNUCCI, HOW TO NAVIGATE
LIVING UP TO THE EXECUTIVE'S
WISHES ON THIS POINT, COUNCIL'S
WISHES, AND THREADING THE NEEDLE
TO ULTIMATELY ACHIEVE OUR SORT
OF SHARED POLICY GOALS AND
OBJECTIVES?
>> DIRECTOR PENNUCCI.
>> THANK YOU. SMALL QUESTION. SO
FIRST I'LL JUST TAKE AN
OPPORTUNITY AND I'LL SAY GO
HAWKS BUT ALSO GO STORM. I THINK
THAT -- THE MAYOR, DEPUTY MAYOR,
SHARE YOUR VALUES IN TERMS OF
THE IMPORTANCE OF WHAT AN
INCREDIBLE COMMUNITY ASSET THAT
THE SEATTLE COMMUNITY CENTER
PROVIDES AND IT'S IMPORTANT
WE'RE INVESTING FOR ALL TYPE OF
ACTIVITY. SPORTS AND SIEVING
ENGAGEMENT AND MUSIC EVENTS AND
ALL THE THINGS AS WELL AS
PROVIDING SIGNIFICANT, YOU KNOW,
SOCIAL SERVICE OPPORTUNITIES AT
SEATTLE CENTER. THEY DO SOME
INCREDIBLE THINGS AT THE ARMORY.
I THINK WE SHARE YOUR VALUES IN
TERMS OF THE IMPORTANCE OF THAT
CITY ASSET. WE ARE LOOKING AT
ALL OF THE OPTIONS AND REQUESTS
AND I THINK HOW I WILL APPROACH
THIS IS IN GENERAL, HOW I JUST
GENERALLY APPROACH THE WORLD. WE
NEED TO LOOK AT ALL OF THE
OPTIONS. IF THE MAYOR SAYS
SOMETHING IS A PRIORITY, I WILL
HELP DEVELOP IDEAS ON HOW THAT
COULD HAPPEN. I WILL ALSO BE
VERY HONEST AND DIRECT ABOUT THE
TRADE-OFFS AND THE CHALLENGES IF
CERTAIN THINGS ARE PRIORITIZED
OVER OTHERS. WE WILL LOOK AT ALL
OF THE TOOLS OF WAYS TO FUND
THAT AND SCALING THE ISSUE AND
ALSO JUST ACKNOWLEDGE THAT
SEATTLE CENTER IS NOT THE ONLY
PART OF THE CITY WHERE WE HAVE A
DEFERRED MAINTENANCE. AND SO I
WANT TO FIRST START WITH
LIKENING SORT OF THE SCOPE OF
THE PROBLEM OF WHERE WE'VE BEEN
KICKING THE CAN DOWN THE ROAD SO
WE CAN HAVE REAL CONFERENCES HON
HOW TO PRIORITIZE THESE
INVESTMENTS BECAUSE AS YOU SAID
A BILLION DOLLAR LEVY MAY BE
TOUGH, BUT WE NEED TO MAKE A
PLAN FOR HOW WE ADDRESS THESE
CRITICAL NEEDS. AND CONTINUE TO
BUILD THE VIBRANT CITY. DON'T
HAVE ALL THE ANSWERS YET BUT
WE'LL -- DO IT CAUTIOUSLY AND
WE WILL WORK TO DEVELOP OPTIONS
AND I WILL DO MY BEST TO HELP
THE MAYOR PUT FORWARD A PROPOSAL
THAT MEETS HER PRIORITIES AND
THEN WORK WITH ALL OF YOU TO
PROVIDE THE FINANCIAL ANALYSIS
YOU NEED TO MAKE INFORMED
DECISIONS.
>> THANK YOU. COUPLE MEMBER
SAKA. FURTHER QUESTIONS AT THIS
TIME?
>> NO. THAT IS -- APPRECIATE
YOUR RESPONSES THERE. AND LOOK
FORWARD TO TALKING MORE
OSTENSIBLY WITH ALL OF YOU
OFFLINE. REALLY IMPORTANT TOPIC
SO THANK YOU. AND GO SEAHAWKS.
GO STORM. AND GO TORRENT.
TORRENTS.
>> YES.
>> THANK YOU. COUNCIL PRESIDENT
HOLLINGSWORTH.
>> THANK YOU, MR. CHAIR. GOOD TO
SEE YOU E DEPUTY MAYOR SURRATT
AND THANK YOU MISS PENNUCCI AND
I ALSO WANTED TO ACKNOWLEDGE
THANK YOU COUNCILMEMBER SAKA FOR
YOUR LEADERSHIP ON THE SEATTLE
CENTER AND THE WATERFRONT. IN
THAT. BUT KNOWING THAT YOUR
LEADERSHIP, YOU ARE GOING TO
HELP US GET THERE AND HOW MUCH
YOU CARE ABOUT ARTS AND CULTURE
AND SPORTS IS KEY. SO THANK YOU
ON THAT. TWO QUESTIONS REALLY
QUICK. AND I THINK WITH THE
PUBLIC DOESN'T KNOW IS HOW
IMPORTANT OUR BUDGET DIRECTOR
FOR THE CITY AND HOW MUCH OUR
BUDGET CHAIR WORK TOGETHER. AND
ALSO HOW OUR BUDGET CHAIR ALSO
BALANCES THE NEEDS OF THEIR
COLLEAGUES AND CHAIR STRAUSS HAS
DONE A PHENOMENAL JOB THE LAST
TWO YEARS OF US WORKING
COLLABORATIVELY AND BEING OPEN
AND TRANSPARENT IN RUNNING THAT
PROCESS. COULD YOU JUST DESCRIBE
WHAT THAT RELATIONSHIP COULD
POTENTIALLY LOOK LIKE WITH
MAYOR'S OFFICE AS THE BUDGET
DIRECTOR AND THEN WITH OUR
BUDGET CHAIR AND YOU KIND OF
SAID IT ABOUT OUR SHARED VALUES.
BUT JUST ALSO LIKE WHAT THAT
TRANSPARENCY AND WORKING
RELATIONSHIP LOOKS LIKE.
>> THANK YOU. WELL, I FEEL VERY
LUCKY THAT I HAVE A PRE-EXISTING
RELATIONSHIP WITH THE BUDGET
CHAIR. CHAIR STRAUSS AND I HAVE
WORKED TOGETHER FOR MANY YEARS.
SO WE'RE STARTING, I BELIEVE,
WITH A SOLID FOUNDATION OF TRUST
AND OPEN COMMUNICATION. SO I
THINK IT REALLY STARTS WITH
THAT. IS THE ABILITY TO HAVE
REALLY HONEST AND DIRECT
CONVERSATIONS AND BE AS
TRANSPARENT AS POSSIBLE. I THINK
WE ALL SHARE A GOAL OF LIKE
TOTAL TRANSPARENCY. BUT YOU ALL
DON'T WANT TO TELL US
EVERYTHING YOU ARE WORKING ON.
AND UNTIL YOU ARE READY TO TALK
ABOUT IT PUBLICLY AND THERE ARE
SOME THINGS WE'LL BE WORKING ON
RIGHT? THAT MIGHT NOT BE RIPE
FOR DISCUSSION. BUT I THINK THE
MAIN THING IS SORT OF BEING IN
REGULAR COMMUNICATION WITH YOU
ALL BOTH ONE-ON-ONE BEHIND THE
-- YOU KNOW, BEHIND THE SCENES,
BUT ALSO BEING AVAILABLE TO
PRESENT INFORMATION PUBLICLY TO
THE COMMITTEE. BOTH ON SORT OF
THE GROUNDING SORT OF WHERE WE
ARE WITH LEVRY CAPACITY AND WHAT
ARE THE RISKS IN TERMS OF
ISSUING BONDS AND AS WELL AS THE
SPECIFIC PROPOSALS. SO HOW I SEE
THIS RELATIONSHIP WORKING IS
JUST STARTING WITH SORT OF OPEN
COMMUNICATION. LET'S PICK UP
THE PHONE AND TALK TO EACH
OTHER. AND BEFORE WE SORT OF
SPECULATION ON WHAT ONE OR THE
OTHER IS DOING. AND JUST TRYING
TO BE SORT OF RESPECTFUL OF THE
DIFFERENT ROLES. THERE'S SOME
INHERENT TENSION THERE. I THINK
THAT LEADS TO GOOD OUTCOMES FOR
THE COMMUNITY. SO I JUST SEE IT
AS, YOU KNOW, BEING HUMAN. BEING
REAL. IN OUR RELATIONSHIPS.
>> AWESOME. AND LAST QUESTION.
THIS IS PROBABLY THE MOST
IMPORTANT ONE. LAST ONE MR.
CHAIR. WHO HAS THE BEST MAPLE
SYRUP? IS A IT VERMONT OR
MINNESOTA?
>> OKAY. LISTEN.
>> THAT'S -- THAT'S NOT A
QUESTION.
>> THAT'S NOT?
>> SORRY.
>> CAN I ANSWER THE QUESTION?
BECAUSE I HAVE A VERY STRONG
OPINION ABOUT THIS.
>> SORRY, GO FOR IT.
>> BECAUSE I HAVE LIVED IN BOTH
-- I WENT TO GRAD SCHOOL IN
MINNESOTA AND I'M FROM VERMONT.
AND I WOULD SAY WITHOUT A
QUESTION, VERMONT HAS THE BEST
MAPLE SYRUP. I LOVE MINNESOTA.
BUT VERMONT, 100%. I HAVE IT
SHIPPED IN. IT'S INCREDIBLE.
>> THANK YOU.
>> I'M SO SORRY COUNCIL
PRESIDENT. THE ANSWER WAS NEW
HAMPSHIRE. [ LAUGHTER ]
COUNCILMEMBER RIVERA, WOULD YOU
LIKE TO ASK ANY QUESTIONS TODAY?
IT'S OKAY.
>> THANK YOU -- THANK YOU,
CHAIR. ALL I WANT TO SAY
ACTUALLY IS THAT I SO VERY MUCH
LOOK FORWARD TO WORKING WITH ALY
PENNUCCI AGAIN DIRECTOR WHAT
WILL BE DIRECTOR PENNUCCI. I
CANNOT UNDERSCORE OR I CANNOT
SAY ENOUGH ABOUT HER WORK. HER
INTEGRITY AS SHE APPROACHED THE
JOB WHEN SHE WAS AT CENTRAL
STAFF. AND SHE IS SOMEONE THAT
DOES DUE DILIGENCE AND YOU ALL
KNOW HOW MUCH I LOVE DOING DUE
DILIGENCE AS WE'RE LOOKING AT
BUDGETING FOR THE CITY TO BE
ABLE TO MEET EVERYBODY'S NEEDS.
WITH THE AMOUNT OF MONEY THAT WE
HAVE. AND I JUST KNOW HOW
COMMITTED SHE IS TO
TRANSPARENCY, TO ENSURING WE'RE
DOING THAT DUE DILIGENCE AND TO
MEETING THE NEEDS OF OUR
RESIDENTS ACROSS THE BOARD HERE
IN SEATTLE. SO -- JUST WANTED TO
SAY THAT AND I PUT QUESTIONS IN
THE QUESTION TRACKER THAT I KNOW
YOU ARE WORKING ON. AND THANK
YOU FOR BEING HERE TODAY. MISS
PENNUCCI AND I LOOK FORWARD TO
GETTING THE ANSWERS TO THOSE
QUESTIONS AND I KNOW YOU WILL BE
BACK AND WE'LL HAVE ANOTHER
OPPORTUNITY BUT I AM VERY HAPPY
TO BE WORKING ON THIS
CONFIRMATION BECAUSE I HAVE
PERSONAL EXPERIENCE WITH YOU.
AND SO I KNOW THAT YOU ARE GOING
TO APPROACH THIS JOB WITH THE
SAME DILIGENCE AND INTEGRITY AND
COMMITMENT THAT YOU DID YOUR
OTHER JOBS INCLUDING THE ONE AT
CENTRAL STAFF WHERE I HAVE THE
MOST EXPERIENCE WORKING WITH
YOU. SO THANK YOU, CHAIR AND
THANK YOU DEPUTY MAYOR FOR BEING
HERE TODAY AND PRESENTING ALY
PENNUCCI. THANK YOU.
>> THANK YOU VICE CHAIR RIVERA.
ALL -- I'LL JUST ELABORATE A
LITTLE BIT ON THE DISCUSSION IN
OUR DIRECTOR PENNUCCI SAID A
NUMBER OF TIMES THAT WE HAVE A
GOOD WORKING RELATIONSHIP. AND
THAT MEANS THAT WE HAVE NOT
ALWAYS AGREED. AND THAT'S I
THINK MY FAVORITE PART ABOUT
GETTING TO WORK WITH ALY IS THAT
I CAN SAY FOR MYSELF, THE
PUSHBACK THAT I HAVE RECEIVED
FROM YOU HAS -- I HAVE NOT JUST
ROLLED OVER AND IN FACT I HAVE
MANY TIMES I HAVE SAID YOU KNOW,
ACTUALLY WE ARE DOING THIS. AND
THE FEEDBACK THAT I RECEIVED
FROM YOU THROUGH THAT PROCESS
MADE THE OUTCOME BETTER. I
BELIEVE THE SAME IS IN REVERSE
FOR ME TO YOU AND, YOU KNOW, WE
LOOK AT THE SIX YEAR LOOKBACK.
THIS WAS SOMETHING THAT YOU
REALLY MADE HAPPEN. AND IT WAS
NOT FROM AN INITIAL PLACE OF
AGREEMENT. JUST -- BOTH FOR THE
WHY AND THE HOW, AND THROUGH A
LONG DISCUSSION, AND REFINEMENT,
WE WERE ABLE TO CREATE A PRODUCT
THAT'S BETTER THAN WHAT I COULD
HAVE INITIALLY ENVISIONED.
THAT'S JUST ONE EXAMPLE OF MANY
WHERE GOOD WORKING RELATIONSHIP
DOES NOT MEAN AGREEMENT. IT DOES
MEAN WORKING WELL TOGETHER. WITH
THAT, THE QUESTIONS THAT I HAVE
SUBMITTED IN THE FORMAL QUESTION
PROCESS AS WELL AS I WILL BE
ASKING AT OUR NEXT COMMITTEE
MEETING, WILL REALLY BE FOCUSED
IN ON THE STRUCTURAL BUDGET
DEFICIT AS WELL AS OUR I BELIEVE
IT'S THE CORE FUND IN SDCI THAT
ALLOWS FOR US TO SAVE MONEY SO
THAT WE'RE ABLE TO PAY FOR THE
PERMIT FEE BASED POSITIONS. THE
BRIEF RECAP BOTH OF YOU HAVE
BEEN HEARING FOR A LONG TIME BUT
IN THE LAST TWO YEARS FIRST WE
LAID OFF PERMIT REVIEWERS FOR
THE FIRST TIME SINCE 2008. TO
TRY TO RIGHT SIZE THAT FUND. AND
THEN THIS LAST YEAR, WE
INCREASED THE FEE. AND SO
THERE'S NOT -- OTHER THAN
GETTING MORE PERMITS -- WE'RE A
LITTLE BIT OVERLEAFERS ON THAT
ONE. RIGHT? THERE'S AN
EXTENSIVE CONVERSATION AT
COUNCIL IN TWO DIFFERENT
MEETINGS, SAME INFORMATION IN
BOTH, IF YOU WANT TO GLOW BACK
AND SEE WHAT MY COLLEAGUES AND
WE ALL HAVE TO THINK ABOUT THIS,
THAT WILL BE A GOOD PRIMARY --
JUST FOR THAT SUBJECT MATTER
AREA. AND THEN SECONDLY, THE
STRUCTURAL BUDGET DEFICIT WHERE,
YOU KNOW, THERE'S FOLKS THAT
HAVE GONE BACK AND FORTH BETWEEN
CENTRAL STAFF AND CBO. I --
REALLY LOVED WORKING WITH BOTH
BEN AND DAN LAST YEAR WATCHING
THEM SWITCH SEATS. BECAUSE
THERE'S SOMETHING ABOUT
REPRESENTING THE SEAT IN WHICH
YOU SIT THAT IT'S REALLY QUITE
A LOT OF FUN. THAT SAID, CBO AND
CENTRAL STAFF HAVE NOT
NECESSARILY BEEN IN AGREEMENT
ABOUT THE VARIABLES AND THE
WEIGHT OF THE VARIABLES THAT
CREATE THE STRUCTURAL BUDGET
DEFICIT. GRANTED, THERE ARE AT
TIMES STRUCTURAL BUDGET DEFICIT
WILL DECREASE BASED ON THE
ECONOMIC ENVIRONMENT OF OUR
CITY. AND PROJECTIONS. AND
THROUGH THE SLIDE THAT WE
SUBMITTED I KNOW THAT YOU ARE
WORKEN AT IT BECAUSE WE ALREADY
DISCUSSED IT BUT ONE OF THE THES
I'LL ASK YOU AT THE FEBRUARY
17th COMMITTEE MEETING IS JUST
HOW ARE WE APPROACHING THIS? AND
THE ANSWER TO THE QUESTION IN MY
OPINION, NOT THAT YOU HAVE TO
SHARE MY OPINION, WHICH IS IF
THERE IS DISAGREEMENT IN
PERSPECTIVE BETWEEN CENTRAL
STAFF AND THE CBO'S OFFICE
ABOUT VARIABLES OR THE WEIGHT OF
THOSE VARIABLES, JUST TO SAY SO.
WE SEE, YOU KNOW, THE SUPREME
COURT PROVIDE ASSENTING AND
DISSENTING OPINION AND I'M FINE
HAVING THAT. THAT GETS BACK TOO
WHERE YOU WERE DESCRIBING
DIRECTOR PENNUCCI ABOUT
TRANSPARENCY. I'M FINE WITH
WHATEVER THE ANSWER IS. I JUST
LIKE IT TO BE OUT ON PAPER SO
THAT WE CAN START TRACKING IT A
LITTLE BIT MORE REFINED LEVEL.
WITH THAT, I HAVE NO FURTHER
QUESTIONS. I'M SEE NOTHING
FURTHER QUESTIONS FROM MY
COLLEAGUES AND IMALLOW EACH OF
YOU TO HAVE CLOSING STATEMENTS
AND THEN WE'LL -- TRANSFER ON
TO THE NEXT AGENDA ITEM.
>> THANK YOU. CHAIR STRAUSS FOR
THAT. EVERYTHING THAT YOU HAVE
ALL LAID OUT YOU AND YOUR
COLLEAGUES ARE ON POINT. WE
HEARD EVERYTHING FROM WHAT'S THE
RELATIONSHIP GOING TO BE LIKE,
ARE WE GOING TO HAVE REAL
CONFERENCES AND HOW DO WE GET TO
A POSITION WHERE WE CAN ADDRESS
THE DAUNTING TASKS THAT WE HAVE
IN FRONT OF US? YOU KNOW, THE
STRUCTURAL ISSUES ARE THE ONES
THAT, YOU KNOW, FRANKLY HAVE
BEEN ANOTHER ISSUE THAT WE HAVE
KICKED DOWN THE ROAD. LIKE HOW
DO WE ADDRESS THAT AND HERE'S AN
OPPORTUNITY. AND WHILE WE'RE
ADDRESSING THE BUDGET, HOW DO WE
CONTINUE TO BE BIG AND BOLD FOR
OUR COMMUNITY. I THINK OUR
COMMUNITY'S DEMANDING TWO
THINGS. ONE, TO BE RESPONSIBLE
FISCALLY. TO BE SMART WITH OUR
BUDGETING. BUT ALSO BE AS
AMBITIOUS AS POSSIBLE TO MAKE
THE LIVES OF EVERY RESIDENT IN
OUR CITY BETTER. AND WE HEAR
THAT LOUD AND CLEAR. OUR
COMMITMENT TO YOU IS TO WORK
DIRECTLY WITH YOU. AND AS YOU
NOTED, CHAIR, WE MAY NOT ALWAYS
AGREE, BUT WE ARE GOING TO WORK
TOGETHER. BECAUSE WE ARE -- WE
ALL SHARE THE SAME GOAL OF A
MORE EQUITABLE AND TRANSPARENT
AND MORE IMPACTFUL GOVERNMENT.
AND LOOK FORWARD TO WORKING WITH
EACH OF YOU AND WE'RE GOING TO
TAKE SOME BIG SWINGS. BUT WE'RE
GOING TO DO IT IN A SMART WAY.
AND LOOKING FORWARD TO IT.
>> I JUST WANT TO SAY THANK YOU.
I'M LOOKING FORWARD TO DEEPER
CONVERSATIONS AS I WORK ON THE
QUESTIONS. THANK YOU FOR THE
QUESTIONS TODAY. I THINK THIS IS
GOING TO BE REALLY HARD AND FUN
LIKE I THINK IT CAN BE FUN AS WE
TACKLE THESE REALLY DIFFICULT
PROBLEMS. BUT LIKE I SAID,
LET'S BE HUMAN SO JUST THANK
YOU FOR THE OPPORTUNITY TO BE
HERE TODAY. I'LL LOOK FORWARD
TO MORE CONVERSATIONS AND THANK
YOU TO MY TEAM FOR HELPING PREP
ME AND I'LL PREP MORE. THANK
YOU FOR THE HEADS-UP ON THE SDCI
FUND. AND YOU KNOW, JUST LOOK
FORWARD TO MORE CONVERSATIONS.
THANKS.
>> WONDERFUL. THANK YOU. WE ARE
ONE SEATTLE AND THIS IS OUR
CITY. IT'S GREAT TO GET TO WORK
WITH YOU ON THIS.
>>> WITH THAT, WE WILL READ THE
SECOND AGENDA ITEM INTO THE
RECORD. CLERK?
>> ITEM 2. COUNCIL BILL 121153
ORDINANCE RELATING TO THE SOCIAL
HOUSING TAX AUTHORIZING THE
MAYOR OR DESIGNEE TO ENTER INTO
THE INTERLOCAL AGREEMENT WITH
SEATTLE SOCIAL HOUSING DEVELOPER
TO ESTABLISH THE TERMS AND
PROCEDURES FOR THE
IMPLEMENTATION AND
ADMINISTRATION AND OVERSIGHT OF
THE SOCIAL HOUSING TAX INCLUDING
PROVISIONS FOR REIMBURSEMENT OF
THE CITY'S COSTS AND
OUTSTANDING LOAN BALANCES.
CREATING THE SOCIAL HOUSING TAX
FUND AND RATIFYING CONFIRMING
CERTAIN PRIOR ACTS. FOR BRIEFING
DISDAINS AND POSSIBLE VOTE.
PRESENTERS WILL BE ANDREW
ROBINSON WITH THE OFFICE OF CITY
FINANCE AND JENNIFER LaBRECQUE
WITH CENTRAL STAFF.
>> I THINK WE HAVE A FEW OTHER
FOLKS. WITH THAT, WE'LL DO A
BRIEF REFRESHER AND I THINK WE
HAD FIVE SLIDES LAST TIME. HELP.
TO PULL THEM RIGHT BACK UP AND
TICK THROUGH THEM IN SHORT ORDER
BECAUSE IT IS STRAIGHTFORWARD
AND WE HAD A REALLY GREAT
PRESENTATION LAST TIME. WITH
THAT, LET'S HOLD QUESTIONS UNTIL
THE END OF THE PRESENTATION. AND
THEN WE'LL DIG INTO THE
UNDERLYING BILL. THE ATTACHED
INTERLOCAL AGREEMENT AND THE ONE
AMENDMENT. WITH THAT, OVER TO
YOU.
>> THANK YOU. CHAIR STRAUSS.
I'M ANDREW ROBINSON OFFICE OF
CITY FINANCE AND THE POLICY AND
PARTNERSHIPS TEAM.
>> THANK YOU COUNCILMEMBER
STRAUSS. I'M LENA GERBER AND
ALSO AN OFFICE OF CITY FINANCE
COMMUNICATIONS LEAD. THANK YOU.
>> HI, JENNIFER LaBRECQUE, CITY
COUNCIL CENTRAL STAFF.
>> LOOKS LIKE WE MIGHT NEED SOME
TECHNICAL SUPPORT TO GET THE
PRESCRIPTION UP IF WE CAN. AND
WITH THAT I'LL GIVE A BRIEF
REMINDER OF IN PRESENTATION WE
HAD BEFORE. AGREEMENTS HAVE MANY
DIFFERENT FLAVORS WHEN IT COMES
TO A FINANCIAL INTERLOCAL
AGREEMENT. SUCH AS THIS THAT WAS
OUTHINDED HOW IT SHOULD HOP RATE
BY A VOTE OF THE PEOPLE.
THERE'S NOT A LOT OF FLAVOR TO
IT. AND SO THE INTERLOCAL
AGREEMENT IS ATTACHED AND IS NOT
IF WE AMEND IT, WE RESTART A
VERY LENGTHY PROCESS AND I SEE
THAT THE POWERPOINT IS UP. I
DON'T NEED TO STEAL THE SHOW.
BACK TO YOU.
>> THANK YOU, YEAH, WE WILL JUST
DO A BRIEF RECAP OF THE
PRESENTATION THAT WE PRESENTED
TWO WEEKS BACK. SO. GO AHEAD AND
KICK IT OFF. SO JUST TO RECAP.
THE SEATTLE VOTERS APPROVED THE
TAX IN FEBRUARY OF 2025. AND THE
TAX IS RETROACTIVE TO JANUARY
1st OF LAST YEAR. THE CITY IS
RESPONSIBLE FOR COLLECTING THE
TAX AND ULTIMATELY TRANSFERRING
THE PROCEEDS TO THE DEVELOPER.
THE CITY IS BOUND BY THE
INITIATIVE AND WHAT THE
INTERLOCAL AGREEMENT DOES IS
IT'S JUST DESCRIBE THE SCHEDULE
IN TERMS WITH WHICH THE PROCEEDS
ARE TRANSFERRED AND THINGS THAT
AREN'T INCLUDED WITHIN THE
INITIATIVE ITSELF. SO AS OF NOW,
THE CITY IS ACTIVELY COLLECTING
THE TAX. THE FIRST FILINGS WERE
DUE JANUARY 31st. SO WE STILL
ARE SEEING RECEIPTS COME IN. AND
THEN BECAUSE OF THE DELAY
BETWEEN, YOU KNOW, WHEN THE TAX
IS EFFECTIVE FROM, UNTIL WHEN WE
ACTUALLY COLLECT, THE CITY
LOANED THE DEVELOPER $2 MILLION
JUST TO KEEP ITS OPERATIONS
GOING. THIS WAS COMPLETED IN
JULY. AND SO THAT WILL BE --
THAT LOAN AND ANY INTEREST
ASSOCIATED WILL BE PAID BACK
WHEN FIRST RECEIPTS COME IN. AND
SO THIS IS JUST A BRIEF TIMELINE
OF THE CONVERSATIONS AND THE
CONVERSATIONS THAT WERE HAD
BETWEEN THE CITY AND THE
DEVELOPER. GOING BACK TO JULY.
SO WE BEGAN THE PROCESS IN EARLY
JULY AND JUST HASHING OUT SOME
TERMS. ULTIMATELY HOLDING
MEETINGS BETWEEN CITY
REPRESENTATIVES AND THE
DEVELOPER REPRESENTATIVES AND
FINALLY HAVING THE DRAFT READY
AND APPROVED BY THE PREVIOUS CEO
ON DECEMBER 3rd. AND THEN THE
DEVELOPER BOARD ON DECEMBER 18th
OF LAST YEAR. AND JUST TO GO
INTO THE PURPOSE QUICKLY, AGAIN,
I MENTIONED THAT THE CITY IS
BOUND BY THE INITIATIVE 137. BUT
WHAT THIS AGREEMENT DOES IS
DESCRIBE, YOU KNOW, JUST HOW
THOSE PROCEEDS ARE PROCESSED,
TRANSFERRED, WHAT THAT SCHEDULE
LOOKS LIKE. TO FIND, YOU KNOW,
MORE SPECIFICALLY THE ROLES AND
RESPONSIBILITIES OF BOTH THE
CITY AND THE DEVELOPER. AND ALSO
JUST -- JUST KIND OF SETS
EXPECTATIONS AND ESTABLISHES ANY
PROCESS FOR AMENDING, YOU KNOW,
AMENDING HOW THIS AGREEMENT OR,
YOU KNOW, HOW THINGS ARE DONE IF
THAT IS NECESSARY. AND THEN
FINALLY, THE KEY ASPECTS OF THE
AGREEMENT, IT WILL BE A FIVE
YEAR TERM WITH AUTOMATIC
RENEWALS. AGAIN, THERE ARE
PROCEDURES FOR EITHER AMENDING
OR TERMINATING THE AGREEMENT IF
NECESSARY. SO THE INITIAL
FILINGS ARE -- WERE DUE LAST
WEEK. AND THOSE WILL BE RECEDED
SOMEWHERE AROUND FEBRUARY 20th
AND ULTIMATELY SENT TO THE
DEVELOPER ON MARCH 2nd. GOING
FORWARD, FILINGS ARE DUE
QUARTERLY AND WE WILL -- FILINGS
WILL BE DUE ONE MONTH AFTER THE
END OF EACH QUARTER WITH
TRANSFERS TO THE DEVELOPER BEING
DONE ONE MONTH AFTER THAT. AND
FOR THE FIRST -- FOR THE FIRST
FILING, THE REIMBURSEMENTS WILL
FIRST GO WITH THE LOAN INTEREST
WILL BE REIMBURSED TO THE CITY
AND THEN THE PRINCIPAL AND THEN
THE ADMINISTRATIVE AND
IMPLEMENTATION COSTS OF THE CITY
WILL BE REIMBURSED AND THEN
FINALLY THE NET PROCEEDS WILL BE
SENT TO THE DEVELOPER. AND
AGAIN, THAT WILL BE ON MARCH
2nd.
>> THANK YOU FOR THE REFRESHER
AND THE PRESENTATION. LaBRECQUE,
WITH CENTRAL STAFF. DO YOU HAVE
ANYTHING TO ADD AT THIS TIME?
>> I DO NOT.
>> THANK YOU. BEFORE WE TURN IT
OVER TO COLLEAGUES FOR QUESTIONS
ON THE UNDERLYING INTERLOCAL
AGREEMENT AND ENABLING
LEGISLATION, COUNCILMEMBER
FOSTER, COSPONSOR OF THIS BILL
HAS JOINED US. COUNCILMEMBER
FOSTER, ANY COMMENTS, THOUGHTS,
QUESTIONS?
>> SURE. THANK YOU SO MUCH,
CHAIR. LOVE TO OFFER A QUICK
COMMENT. SO THANK YOU FOR THE
PRESENTATION AND THANKS FAS FOR
YOUR HARD WORK ON THIS. AND TO
THE DEVELOPER AS WELL FOR THIS.
COLLEAGUES, I'LL JUST SAY THIS
IS AN IMPORTANT STEP FORWARD TO
MAKE SURE THAT WE ARE GETTING
THE RESOURCES TO THE SOCIAL
HOUSING DEVELOPER TO ENSURE THAT
THEY HAVE THE FUNDING IN PLACE
TO DO THE ACTIONS THAT THEY NEED
TO TAKE OVER THE NEXT YEAR TO
BEGIN TAKING THIS FROM A VISION
TO A REALITY IN OUR CITY. SO I
THINK THIS IS IN ONE PART AN
INCREDIBLY PROCEDURAL MOMENT AS
WE KNOW GETTING THE ILA SIGNED.
BUT IN ANOTHER PART IT IS AN
INCREDIBLY EXCITING AND
MOMENTOUS TIME THAT WE HAVE
RIGHT NOW TO MAKE SURE THAT WE
ARE DELIVERING THESE FUNDS. I AS
YOU ALL KNOW AM CHAIRING THE
HOUSING COMMITTEE, THIS WILL BE
THE FINAL ACTION FOR THE SOCIAL
HOUSING DEVELOPER HERE WITH THIS
COMMITTEE. AND WE ARE LOOKING
FORWARD TO HAVING THE DEVELOPER
IN OUR COMMITTEE COMING UP IN
JUST A COUPLE OF WEEKS TO TALK
ABOUT THE UPDATES THERE WITH
LEADERSHIP AND SO YOU CAN EXPECT
TO HEAR MORE AT THAT TIME. THANK
YOU.
>> WONDERFUL. THANK YOU
COUNCILMEMBER FOSTER. FOR THE
RECORD, THIS IS COUNCILMEMBER
FOSTER'S 34th DAY ON THE JOB
AND I CAN TELL YOU THE LEARNING
CURVE I HAVE NOT SEEN IT AT ALL.
YOU HAVE HIT THE GROUND RUNNING
AND BEEN AN ABSOLUTE PLEASURE TO
WORK WITH YOU ON THIS.
COLLEAGUES, ANY ADDITIONAL
QUESTIONS ON THIS UNDERLYING
LEGISLATION AND THEN WE'LL TALK
ABOUT THE ONE AMENDMENT. I'M
SEEING NO FURTHER CONVERSATION
ABOUT THE UNDERLYING BILL AND --
INTERLOCAL AGREEMENT ENABLING
LEGISLATION? AND I BELIEVE JEN,
ARE YOU BRINGING THE --
AMENDMENT UP ON THE SCREEN?
>> I AM. JUST GIVE ME A MINUTE.
>> FANTASTIC. AS -- JENNIFER
LaBRECQUE IS BRINGING THIS UP ON
TO THE SCREEN, I'LL WORK WITH
THE CLERK TO MOVE THIS BILL ON
TO THE -- INTO THE RECORD. SO I
MOVE THAT THE COMMITTEE
RECOMMENDS PASSAGE OF COUNCIL
BILL 121153. IS THERE A SECOND?
>> SECOND.
>> IT HAS BEEN MOVED AND
SECONDED. TO RECOMMEND PASSAGE
OF THE BILL. AND AS WE ARE
WORKING ON THIS, JENNIFER
LaBRECQUE IS PULLING UP THE
AMENDMENT, AS A BRIEF
DESCRIPTION, IF WE RE-- AMENDED
THE INTERLOCAL AGREEMENT, WE
WOULD RESTART THIS PROCESS. THAT
IS NOT WHAT THIS AMENDMENT DOES.
THIS AMENDMENT DOES CHANGE THE
ENABLING LEGISLATION. AND ONLY
IN PROCESS. SO THE AMENDMENT
MAKES A MINOR CHANGE AND IT IS
STANDARD TO TYPICAL LEGISLATION
AS WRITTEN THE UNDERLYING BILL
-- WOULD ALLOW THE SOCIAL
HOUSING DEVELOPER INTERLOCAL
AGREEMENT TO BE CHANGED IN THE
FUTURE WITHOUT APPROVAL FROM
CITY COUNCIL. THIS IS NOT A
TYPICAL PROCESS. AS TYPICALLY IN
NORMALLY CITY COUNCIL APPROVAL
IS NEEDED BOTH TO ADOPT THE ILA
AND MAKE FUTURE CHANGES. THE
IMPORTANT PART HERE, I'LL SAY
THIS LAST SENTENCE AND THEN TURN
IT RIGHT BACK HERE, IS THAT THE
PROCESS OF COMING THROUGH THE
CITY COUNCIL IS THE MOMENT FOR
THE PUBLIC TO WEIGH IN. THE
MAYOR DOES NOT HAVE A PUBLIC
COMMENT PERIOD ONCE A WEEK. NOR
IN COMMITTEE. AND I AM REMINDED
BY COUNCIL PRESIDENT EMERITUS
JUAREZ THAT OUR TIME HERE IS
SHORT. IT IS OFTEN EASY TO NOT
KNOW THE NAMES OF COUNCILMEMBERS
WHO HAVE BEEN HERE 10 OR 20
YEARS AGO. AND IN 10 OR 20 YEARS
MY NAME MAY NOT BE REMEMBERED
AND THAT'S OKAY. IT'S OUR JOB
HERE TO STEWARD A PROCESS SO
THAT THROUGH THE COURSE OF TIME
AND AS THINGS CHANGE, THERE'S A
WAY FOR THE PUBLIC TO ENGAGE IN
THE PROCESS. AND THAT'S FOR MY
OPINION WHAT THIS AMENDMENT
DOES. I'M SORRY TO -- BRIEF IT
BEFORE WE GAVE YOU THE
OPPORTUNITY. JENNIFER, BUT OVER
TO YOU. HI, YOU SAID IT WELL.
>> AS TRANSMITTED, THE
AUTHORIZING ORDINANCE THAT WOULD
ESSENTIALLY AUTHORIZE THE
EXECUTIVE TO ENTER IN THIS
AGREEMENT STATED THAT THE ILA
COULD BE AMENDED IN THE FUTURE
BY THE EXECUTIVE ALONE WITHOUT
HAVING TO COME BACK TO COUNCIL
TO APPROVE THAT REVISED VERSION.
THAT'S JUST AN UNUSUAL PRACTICE
AND THERE REALLY ISN'T A
PRECEDENT FOR THAT. ILAs
GENERALLY HAVE TO COME BACK TO
COUNCIL WHEN THEY ARE AMENDED SO
I WOULD SAY THIS AMENDMENT JUST
ALIGNS THESE SOCIAL HOUSING
DEVELOPER ILA WITH OTHER ILAs
THAT THE CITY HAS BY REQUIRING
COUNCIL TO APPROVE ANY FUTURE
CHANGES TO THE AGREEMENT.
>> THANK YOU. COLLEAGUES,
QUESTIONS? SEEING NO QUESTIONS.
I HOPE THAT'S A GOOD THING. I
DON'T HAVE ANYTHING -- FURTHER
IN MY SCRIPT. SO AT THIS TIME, I
MOVE TO AMEND COUNCIL BILL
121153 AS PRESENTED IN AMENDMENT
1. IS THERE A SECOND?
>> SECOND.
>> AMENDMENT 1 HAS BEEN MOVED
AND SECONDED. ANY ADDITIONAL
COMMENTS ON AMENDMENT 1? SEEING
NO ADDITIONAL COMMENTS. WILL THE
CLERK PLEASE CALL THE ROLL OF
AMOUNT 1 TO COUNCIL BILL
121-1573?
>> COUNCILMEMBER KETTLE?
>> AYE.
>> COUNCIL PRESIDENT
HOLLINGSWORTH?
>> YES.
>> COUNCILMEMBER SAKA?
>> AYE.
>> VICE CHAIR RIVERA? CHAIR
STRAUSS?
>> AYE.
>> THAT'S FOUR IN FAVOR AND
NONE OPPOSED.
>> THANK YOU. JUST DOUBLE
CHECKING AND I DON'T SEE
COUNCILMEMBER RIVERA HERE AT THE
MOMENT. SHE RETURNS WE WILL CALL
ON HER AGAIN. THANK YOU. THE
AMENDMENT PASSES AND COUNCIL
BILL 121153 IS AMENDED AS
DESCRIBED IN AMENDMENT 1. AND
THIS NOW BRINGS US TO THE
UNDERLYING BILL SO COLLEAGUES,
IF YOU HAVE ADDITIONAL COMMENTS
ON THE UNDERLYING BILL, NOW IS
THE TIME TO SHARE THAT. I JUST
SAY I'M EXCITED TO SUPPORT THIS
LEGISLATION. WE WERE ABLE TO
PROVIDE A $2 MILLION BRIDGE LOAN
THIS LAST YEAR SO THAT THE
SEATTLE SOCIAL HOUSING DEVELOPER
DID NOT HAVE TO WAIT FOR THIS
MOMENT TO GET THEIR WORK
STARTED. SO THE CONVERSATION
ABOUT BRINGING ON STAFF,
BRINGING ON THE INTERIM CFO,
THESE -- THAT'S THE PRODUCT OF
PASSING A LOAN. AND WE CANNOT
DELAY AND ON THIS TRACK RIGHT
NOW, WE'RE IN REALLY GOOD SHAPE
TO BE ABLE TO PASS AND HAVE THE
INTERLOCAL AGREEMENT IN EFFECT
AS SOON AS THE TAX DOLLARS ARE
COMING THROUGH BECAUSE OF THE
CONFIRM AND RATIFY CLAUSE. SO WE
ARE MOVING AHEAD AT THE RIGHT
CLIP AND THIS LEGISLATION SETS
OUT HOW WE GET FUNDING COLLECTED
BY THE CITY AND PASSED ON TO THE
SEATTLE SOCIAL HOUSING
DEVELOPER. THIS IS ABOUT THE
CITY BEING A GOOD PARTNER IN
BUILDING SOCIAL HOUSING AS
DEMONSTRATED. THE STATE SAID
BEFORE THE STATE NEEDS TO DO
MORE WORK TO ADDRESS THE HOUSING
CRISIS THAT IS STATEWIDE AND
HERE IN OUR CITY. AND THE
SEATTLE SOCIAL HOUSING DEVELOPER
IS ONE WAY THAT WE ARE DOING
THIS HERE. I DON'T HAVE
ADDITIONAL COMMENTS.
COUNCILMEMBER FOSTER, NO
ADDITIONAL COMMENTS HERE? I'M
JUST VERY EXCITED TO HAVE THIS
BE A SMOOTH TRANSITION BETWEEN
THE LAST MAYORAL ADMINISTRATION
AND THE CURRENT BUN. WE'VE HAD
A CHANGE IN FINANCE DIRECTOR.
WE'VE HAD A LOT OF CHANGES AND
I'M REALLY GLAD THAT THIS ILA
DID NOT SKIP A BEAT. I SEE
COUNCILMEMBER KETTLE HAS A --
COMMENT? AND THEN WE'LL CALL
THE ROLL UNLESS THERE'S FURTHER
DISCUSSION.
>> CHAIR, I WANT TO JUST SAY I
THINK IT'S IMPORTANT FOR US AS
A COMMITTEE AS A COUNCIL, TO
HAVE A, YOU KNOW, HELP SET UP
FOR SUCCESS MINDSET. AND I THINK
IT'S REALLY IMPORTANT FOR US TO
DO THIS WHETHER IT'S INDIVIDUAL
ORGANIZATION, TO ENSURE THAT IT
IS SET UP FOR SUCCESS BECAUSE
YOU KNOW, IN THIS AREA WE CANNOT
HAVE FAILURE. I MEAN, WE'VE HAD
TOO MANY CHALLENGES OVER THE
YEARS. AND SO -- WE NEED TO HAVE
SOCIAL HOUSING BE A SUCCESS AND
ALSO BLEND WELL WITH AFFORDABLE
HOUSING AND PERFORM PERMANENT
SUPPORTIVE HOUSING SO WE HAVE,
YOU KNOW, THE COMPLETE APPROACH,
YOU KNOW, AND ALL AREAS WORKING
WELL. SO I THINK THIS BILL DOES
TO INCLUDE OUR AMENDMENT THANK
YOU FOR THE AMENDMENT. AND SO
THANK YOU, CHAIR.
>> THANK YOU. COUNCILMEMBER
SAKA, I SEE YOU HAVE A HAND.
>> THANK YOU CHAIR. PLUS ONE TO
COUNCILMEMBER KETTLE'S
COMMENTS. FIRST OFF I'M REALLY
EXCITE ABOUT THIS SEEMINGLY
INNOCUOUS CERTAINLY 100%
PROCEDURAL AS COUNCILMEMBER
FOSTER APTLY DESCRIBED IT BUT
THIS ALLOWS OUR CITY TO STAKE
THE NEXT STEP IN TERMS OF
IMPLEMENTING THE DIRECT WILL OF
THE VOTERS AND WE NEED TO -- THE
STAKES ARE VERY HIGH HERE. AND I
THINK OUR PARTNERS AT THE SOCIAL
HOUSING DEVELOPER, YOU KNOW,
UNDERSTAND THAT MORE THAN MOST.
AND SO -- WE -- BUT WE ALSO NEED
TO MAKE SURE WE EMPOWER THEM
WITH THE VOTER APPROVED
RESOURCES AND TOOLS THAT THEY
NEED TO BE SUCCESSFUL AND THIS
IS THE NEXT STEP OF THAT. AND SO
EXCITED TO BE ABLE TO PASS IT
AND MOVE IT OUT OF COMMITTEE
TODAY. AND MORE IMPORTANTLY,
WORK WITH YOU ALL TO MAKE SURE
YOU ARE SUCCESSFUL. SO. THANK
YOU, CHAIR.
>> THANK YOU. ANY FURTHER
COMMENTS? SEEING NO FURTHER
COMMENTS, WILL THE CLERK PLEASE
CALL THE ROLL ON THE COMMITTEE
RECOMMENDATION TO PASS THE
COUNCIL BILL AS AMENDED?
>> COUNCILMEMBER KETTLE.
>> AYE.
>> COUNCIL PRESIDENT
HOLLINGSWORTH?
>> AYE.
>> COUNCILMEMBER SAKA?
>> AYE.
>> VICE CHAIR RIVERA? CHAIR
STRAUSS?
>> AYE.
>> THAT'S FOUR IN FAVOR, NONE
OPPOSED.
>> THANK YOU. THE MOTION -- THE
BILL PASS -- COUNCIL BILL 121153
PASSES UNANIMOUSLY. AND WILL BE
SENT TO THE CITY COUNCIL FOR
INCLUSION ON THE FEBRUARY 10th
FULL CITY COUNCIL AGENDA.
COUNCILMEMBER FOSTER I WILL BE
EXCUSED FROM THAT MEETING AND SO
THIS ACTION RIGHT HERE IS THE
OFFICIAL PASSING OF THE BATON
AND IT IS OVER TO YOU AND I --
WILL HOPE THAT YOU WILL BE ABLE
TO GET THIS AND I KNOW THAT YOU
WILL BE ABLE TO GET THIS THROUGH
ON THE FULL COUNCIL NEXT
TUESDAY. THANK YOU FOR ALL OF
YOUR QUICK WORK ON THIS. AND
COLLEAGUES, THANK YOU FOR THE
UNANIMOUS VOTE. WITH THAT, THAT
DOES CONCLUDE TODAY'S TUESDAY,
FEBRUARY 3rd, FINANCE NATIVE
COMMUNITIES AND TRIBAL
GOVERNMENTS COMMITTEE MEETING.
THIS WILL MEET NEXT ON FEBRUARY
17. . A POTENTIAL Q&A ON THE
CONFIRMATION OF ALY PENNUCCI AND
AS WELL AS WE WILL HAVE AN
UPDATED PRESENTATION FROM
FRANCESCA MERNON. IS THERE ANY
FURTHER BUSINESS TO COME BEFORE
THE COMMITTEE BEFORE WE ADJOURN?
SEEING NO FURTHER BUSINESS, WE
ARE ADJOURNED. [ EVENT CONCLUDED
] AT 10:33.