>> GOOD MORNING. THE FEBRUARY
17th, 2026 FINANCE COMMITTEE
WILL COME TO ORDER. IT IS 9:31
A.M. I AM DAN STRAUSS, CHAIRMAN
OF THE COMMITTEE.
>> COUNCIL PRESIDENT
HOLLANDSWORTH?
>> HERE.
>> [ ROLL BEING CALLED ]
>> FOUR PRESENT. ONE EXCUSED.
>> THANK YOU. WE HAVE TWO ITEMS
ON TODAY'S AGENDA. FIRST WILL
BE A VOTING ITEM. SINCE IT IS
THE SECOND TIME IT IS IN OUR
COMMITTEE. THE FIRST ITEM IS THE
APPOINTMENT OF ALY PENNUCCI IS
THE DIRECTOR OF THE CITY BUDGET
OFFICE FOR BRIEFING, DISCUSSION,
AND VOTE. WE WILL THEN HAVE A
PRESENTATION ON INDIGENOUS
PLANNING. THIS IS A PRESENTATION
TO OUR NATIVE COMMUNITIES AND
TRIBAL GOVERNMENTS WORK. I HAD
THE OPPORTUNITY TO MEET SEATTLE
TRIBAL COUNCIL MEMBERS AND
CHAIRMAN LAST WEEK AT THEIR
RESERVATION, AS WELL AS HAD THE
OPPORTUNITY OF MEETING WITH
SOUTH SEATTLE TRIBES LAST WEEK
CONTINUING THIS WORK. SO SECOND
ITEM IS NOT FOR VOTE. JUST FOR
PRESENTATION. IF THERE IS NO
OBJECTION, THE AGENDA WILL BE
ADOPTED. HEARING NO OBJECTION,
THE AGENDA IS ADOPTED. I REALIZE
I WAS STARTING TO GO INTO MY
CHAIR'S REPORT. THERE, I HAD
AMAZING OPPORTUNITIES TO MEET
WITH SOVEREIGN ELECTED
OFFICIALS. ALSO HAD THE
OPPORTUNITY TO GO WITH COUNCIL
PRESIDENT EMERITUS DEBORAH
MORRIS TO THE CONFERENCE OF
AMERICAN INDIANS LAST WEEK. IT
WAS GREAT TO MEET AND LEARN FROM
SO MANY LEADERS AROUND OUR
WORLD, AROUND OUR NATION. EXCUSE
ME. WITH THAT, IF THERE IS NO
ONE SIGNED UP ONLINE -- I'M
JUST GOING TO DOUBLE CHECK YOUR
-- WE DON'T HAVE ANYONE SIGNED
UP FOR PUBLIC COMMENT IN PERSON.
SEEING NONE ONLINE, WE WILL OPEN
AND CLOSE THE HYBRID PUBLIC
COMMENT PERIOD IN ONE MOTION.
WITH THAT, WE WILL MOVE ON TO
OUR FIRST ITEM OF BUSINESS. WITH
THE CLERK PLEASE READ THE ITEM
INTO THE RECORD.
>> ITEM ONE. APPOINTMENT OF ALY
PENNUCCI IS DIRECTOR OF THE CITY
BUDGET OFFICE FOR A TERM FROM --
FOR DECEMBER 31st, 2029.
BRIEFING, DISCUSSION, AND
POSSIBLE VOTE. THE INTERIM
DIRECTOR OF THE CITY BUDGET
OFFICE.
>> THIS IS THE SECOND OF TWO
MEETINGS. THE FIRST WAS TO GIVE
THE INTERIM DIRECTOR A CHANCE TO
INTRODUCE. THIS ONE WILL BE A
LONGER Q&A STYLE WITH VOTE. SO
ANY OF DIRECTOR PENNUCCI'S
RESPONSES WERE CIRCULATED
TUESDAY, FEBRUARY 10th.
RESPONSES ARE ALSO INCLUDED IN
TODAY'S AGENDA PACKET. I HAVE
GOT A NUMBER OF QUESTIONS I
WOULD LIKE TO FOLLOW-UP ON. I DO
WANT TO SEE IF THERE ARE OTHER
COLLEAGUES WHO HAVE QUESTIONS AT
THIS TIME BEFORE WE JUMP IN.
INTERIM DIRECTOR PENNUCCI,
ANYTHING THAT YOU WOULD LIKE TO
INTRODUCE THAT YOU DIDN'T LAST
TIME OR KICK US OFF WITH?
>> GOOD MORNING, CHAIR STRAUSS,
COUNCIL MEMBERS. I WOULD JUST
LIKE TO SAY GOOD MORNING. I AM
LOOKING FORWARD TO THE DOING OF
THE WORK.
>> WONDERFUL. COLLEAGUES, ANY
QUESTIONS AT THIS TIME?
OTHERWISE I CAN START. THE
FASTEST DIRECTOR APPOINTMENT IN
THE CITY'S HISTORY. WITH THAT,
THANK YOU TO RESPONDING TO ALL
OF THESE QUESTIONS. QUESTION
NUMBER THREE IS OF IMPORTANCE TO
ME AS THE CITY OF SEATTLE
CONTINUES TO FACE A BUDGET
DEFICIT IN 2027 AND BEYOND. AS
PART OF THE 23 SIX -- 2026
BUDGET, CENTRAL STAFF AND CBO TO
COLLABORATE TO CREATE TERMS AND
CONCEPTS AROUND SUSTAINABLE
BUDGETING DECISIONS. WHAT DO YOU
VIEW AS THE MAIN CAUSES OF THAT
DEFICIT? AND, IF YOU DON'T NEED
TO REHASH HISTORY TOO MUCH, HOW
ARE WE MOVING FORWARD THROUGH
THIS? WHAT ARE THE TOOLS YOU
WILL BE USING?
>> THANK YOU. SO I WON'T REHASH
WHAT I WROTE OUT IN MY WRITTEN
RESPONSE. IN GENERAL, IT IS THAT
OUR ONGOING COSTS HAVE OUTPACED
OUR ONGOING REVENUES. I THINK
THIS WAS BUILT DURING THE BOOM
YEARS WHERE WE WERE NOT IN SUCH
A CONSTRAINED ENVIRONMENT. AND
REALLY WE EXPANDED CITY SERVICES
IN A WAY THAT KIND OF ASSUMED
THAT GROWTH CONTINUES. WE ARE
NOW AT A POINT WHERE WE ARE NO
LONGER FACING THAT REALITY. SO
IT IS A RELATIVELY SIMPLE
EXERCISE IN TERMS OF THE MATH.
RIGHT? WE EITHER NEED TO REDUCE
EXPENSES OR INCREASE REVENUES OR
SOME OF BOTH. SO I THINK THE
TOOLS THAT WE WILL BE LOOKING AT
ARE THE SAME TOOLS YOU ALL HAVE
BEEN LOOKING AT THAT WE HAVE
REACHED A POINT WHERE YOU REALLY
HAVE TO TAKE A HARD LOOK AT
WHERE THERE ARE ONGOING SERVICES
THAT MAY NOT BE PRODUCING THE
OUTCOMES WE ACHIEVE AND OR ARE
NOT THE HIGHEST PRIORITY. WE
KIND OF MISSED, OR NOT MISSED,
WE HAVE EXHAUSTED A LOT OF THE
LOW HANGING FRUIT IN THE CITY IN
TERMS OF HOW TO ADDRESS THE
STRUCTURAL DEFICIT. I THINK IT
IS A COMBINATION OF BOTH. TAKING
A HARD LOOK AT HOW WE ARE
CURRENTLY SPENDING OUR RESOURCES
AND IDENTIFYING OPPORTUNITIES TO
SCALE BACK IN SOME AREAS IN
ORDER TO FOCUS ON THE HIGHEST
PRIORITIES AND ALSO LOOKING AT
NEW WAYS OF GENERATING REVENUE
BECAUSE I THINK THE NEEDS OF OUR
COMMUNITY ARE GROWING. I THINK
THE EXPECTATIONS THAT ARE -- THE
PUBLIC HAS AND BUSINESSES HAVE
TO PROVIDE GOVERNMENT SERVICES
IS INCREASING, SO IT NEEDS TO BE
BOTH AND ALL TOOLS HAVE TO BE ON
THE TABLE. EVALUATE WORKED ON
BEFORE. RE-EVALUATE A LOT OF THE
LINES AND SERVICES REVIEW THAT
HAS BEEN DISCUSSED AND CONSIDER
BOTH AREAS WHERE SPENDING CAN BE
REDUCED AND OPPORTUNITIES TO
GENERATE NEW REVENUE.
>> THANK YOU. ICY COUNCIL MEMBER
RIVERA HAS HER HAND. I WILL COME
BACK AND FOLLOW UP WITH YOU
ABOUT THE STAFFING FUND. THIS IS
ONE PLACE WHERE TWO ROUNDS OF
LOW HANGING HARD DECISIONS WERE
MADE. NOW, WE ARE FACED WITH
SOME MORE DIFFICULT ONES.
COUNCIL MEMBER RIVERA, I SEE YOU
HAVE YOUR HAND .
>> THANK YOU, CHAIR. AND, THANK
YOU, ALY, FOR BEING AT THE
TABLE. I APPRECIATE WHAT YOU
JUST SAID ABOUT WE REALLY NEED
TO -- I MEAN THE REALITY IS WE
REALLY DO NEED TO LOOK AT ALL
THE CITY'S PROGRAMS AND SEE
WHERE THINGS ARE NOT MEETING
EXPECTATIONS OR OUTCOMES BECAUSE
I DON'T THINK -- I THINK THERE
IS STILL A LOT OF OPPORTUNITY TO
DO THAT ACROSS THE BOARD IN THE
CITY SERVICES THAT WE PROVIDE.
AND, WHEN YOU SAY ESSENTIAL
SERVICES IN YOUR RESPONSE, THERE
ARE THINGS WE ARE CHARTERED TO
DO AND THEN THERE ARE OTHER CITY
SERVICES THAT WE PROVIDE THAT WE
ARE NOT CHARTERED TO DO BUT OUR
COMMUNITY FEELS ARE IMPORTANT.
AND SO WHEN YOU TALK ABOUT
PRIORITIZATION, I SUSPECT THERE
IS SOME OF THAT, TOO. LIKE WHAT
IS ESSENTIAL VERSUS WHAT ARE WE
DOING THAT IS IMPORTANT TO
COMMUNITY. BUT, YOU KNOW, THAT
MAY NOT BE MEETING EXPECTATIONS.
I DON'T KNOW THAT YOU KNOW THE
ANSWER TO THAT TODAY SO I'M NOT
GOING TO ASK THAT BUT I DO
APPRECIATE YOUR RESPONSE. YOU
KNOW? IN FACING THE REALITY.
WHAT I APPRECIATE ABOUT YOU,
ALY, IS YOU TAKE THIS THOUGHTFUL
APPROACH AND YOU DON'T TELL
PEOPLE WHAT THEY WANT TO HEAR.
YOU ARE VERY CLEAR ON, YOU KNOW,
THESE OTHER CONSTRAINTS WE HAVE.
THESE ARE THE REALITIES WE HAVE.
AND WE REALLY DO NEED TO TAKE
NOT JUST THOUGHTFUL APPROACH BUT
JUST A REALISTIC LOOK AT WHAT WE
ARE ABLE TO DO BECAUSE WE KNOW
WE ARE NOT GOING TO BE ABLE TO
RELY ON JUST RAISING REVENUE TO
PLUG THE SHORTFALL. SO, ANYWAY,
THANK YOU, CHAIR. I WANTED TO
APPRECIATE AND ACKNOWLEDGE
ALY'S ANSWER, BOTH IN WRITING
AND WHAT SHE SAID TODAY, AND
REALLY UNDERSCORE THE IMPORTANCE
OF WHAT SHE JUST SAID IN TERMS
OF TAKING A THOUGHTFUL LOOK AT
PROGRAMS BECAUSE WE ARE NOT
GOING TO BE ABLE TO GET OUR WAY
OUT OF THIS BY RAISING MORE
REVENUES SINCE THERE AREN'T A
TON OF OPTIONS THERE. SO THANK
YOU. THANKS, CHAIR. THANK YOU,
ALY.
>> ALY, ANYTHING YOU WOULD LIKE
TO SHARE FROM THAT CONVERSATION?
>> ONLY THING I WOULD ADD THERE
IN TERMS OF ESSENTIAL SERVICES,
AND THERE IS WHAT IS STATUTORILY
REQUIRED AND WHAT IS A CRITICAL
NEED AND EXPECTATION OF THE
PUBLIC. I THINK ONE OF THE
CHALLENGES, AND REALLY IT IS
YOUR JOB AS ELECTED OFFICIALS,
EVERY DOLLAR IN THE BUDGET WAS
ADDED FOR A REASON AT SOME
POINT. SO ANY REDUCTIONS ARE
GOING TO HAVE IMPACTS. I THINK
WHAT WE HAVE BEEN TALKING ABOUT
IS REALLY WE JUST NEED TO BE
REAL ABOUT WHAT THOSE IMPACTS
ARE AND LIKELY MAKE SOME HARD
DECISIONS.
>> REALLY WELL SAID. I WAS
BRIEFED BY DEPARTMENT WHO HAS
BEEN WORKING ON A PROJECT FOR
20+ YEARS, AND THEY SHARED WITH
ME THAT CHANGING COURSE AT THIS
TIME MIGHT BE A LITTLE DIFFICULT
BECAUSE OUTREACH HAD HAPPENED
FOR 20 YEARS. AND I POLITELY
REMINDED THEM THAT 20 YEARS AGO
CITY HAD HALF THE POPULATION
THAT WE DO TODAY. WE HAVE MAYBE
QUITE. THAT WAS 30 YEARS AGO. SO
MUCH HAS CHANGED IN THE LAST 20
YEARS. COLLEAGUES, DO YOU HAVE
ADDITIONAL QUESTIONS?
>> YES. IT IS A FOLLOW-UP FROM
THE SAME POINT, CHAIR .
>> PLEASE. THE FLOOR IS YOURS
UNTIL YOU ARE DONE. HOW ABOUT
THAT?
>> I APPRECIATE THAT, CHAIR. THE
OTHER PIECE, ALY, AND YOU AND I
HAVE TALKED ABOUT THIS IN THE
PAST AS WELL. I JUST WANTED TO
PUT A PIN IN THE FACT THAT
DURING COVID WE GOT SOME DOLLARS
FROM THE FEDERAL GOVERNMENT AND
WITH THOSE DOLLARS WE STARTED
SOME NEW THINGS AT THE CITY
BECAUSE TO YOUR POINT, ALY, WE
SAW A NEED SOMEWHERE. BUT THE
REALITY WAS THOSE DOLLARS WERE
NOT GOING TO BE ONGOING. AND
THAT PRESENTED A CHALLENGE. AND
I DON'T KNOW WHERE WE ARE AT
WITH ALL THOSE PROGRAMS THAT WE
ADDED. SOMEWHERE NEW. SOME WERE
EXPANDED WITH MONEY THAT WAS,
YOU KNOW, MEANT TO BE TEMPORARY.
SO I THINK THAT ALSO BEARS
MENTIONING. AND IS A PIECE OF
THIS PUZZLE IN ADDITION TO THE
FACT THAT OUR POPULATION IN THE
CITY HAS GROWN AS CHAIR STRAUSS
JUST SAID. THAT IS ALSO A
REALITY.
>> COUNCIL MEMBER RIVERA, ANY
FURTHER QUESTIONS AT THIS TIME?
>> NOT AT THIS TIME. MAYBE AS WE
CONTINUE. THANK YOU, CHAIR.
>> ARE NOT. COUNCIL MEMBERS
HOLLINGSWORTH OR SAKA, ANY
QUESTIONS AT THIS TIME?
>> NO.
>> INTERIM DIRECTOR PENNUCCI, WE
DON'T HAVE TO READ OUT LOUD.
THIS TAKES ABOUT SOME OF THE
LEVERS WE HAVE TO DEAL WITH THE
DEFICIT. ONE IS ECONOMICS AND
REVENUE. US BEING SUPER BOWL
CHAMPIONS IS GOING TO GIVE US A
SALES TAX BUMP THAT WE DID NOT
NECESSARILY EXPECT. GO, HAWKS.
HOPEFULLY THAT WILL REPEAT WITH
THE MARINERS. REVENUE. ECONOMIC
GROWTH. ECONOMIC ACTIVITY. BEING
FACED BY USING ONE-TIME FUNDS
VERSUS AN UNSUSTAINABLE WAY. SO
WE HAVE GOT A NUMBER OF TOOLS
REALLY CLEARLY. IT IS EMPLOYEES,
REVENUE, OR CUTS. AND WE HAVE
MADE IT REALLY HARD DECISIONS IN
ALL THREE AREAS OVER THE COURSE
OF THE LAST FEW YEARS. AS YOU
ARE FACING THE STRUCTURAL BUDGET
DEFICIT, HOW WILL YOU APPROACH
USING THESE DIFFERENT LEPERS,
AND, IN PARTICULAR, LOOKING AT
UNDER SPEND. WE KNOW OF ALL
DEPARTMENTS OTHER THAN PUBLIC
SAFETY UNDER SPEND BY 2% THAT
WOULD GIVE US ABOUT $10 MILLION,
WHICH ISN'T A WHOLE LOT OF
MONEY IN THE GRAND SCHEME OF
THINGS. AND HOW, FROM YOUR
PERSPECTIVE, DO WE COACH THROUGH
UNDER SPEND? IS IT SOMETHING THE
MAYOR'S OFFICE WILL DECIDE
WHICH DEPARTMENTS WILL UNDER
SPEND? IS IT SOMETHING WHERE WE
PROVIDE THE PREROGATIVE SO THEY
CAN DECIDE INTERNALLY? HOW DO
YOU APPROACH UNDER SPEND? THE
SECOND IS COMING BACK TO THIS
SDCI CORE STAFFING. WE HAVE
ALREADY RAISED PERMIT FEES AND
THAT CORE STAFFING FUND IS
CONTINUING TO DECREASE. TWO BIG
QUESTIONS. I WILL LET YOU TAKE
EITHER ONE FIRST.
>> I WILL GO WITH, I WAS GOING
TO SAY THE EASY QUESTION.
NEITHER ARE EASY QUESTIONS. ALL
TOOLS ARE ON THE TABLE. IT IS
NOT LIKE A REPEAT BUT THE SAME
OPTIONS IN TERMS OF REVENUES AND
EXPENSES WILL HAVE TO BE
CONSIDERED. I AM HOPING THIS
YEAR TO FOCUS REALLY SQUARELY ON
ONGOING AREAS. AREAS OF ONGOING
PRODUCTIONS. THERE HAS BEEN A
LOT OF ONE-TIME REDUCTIONS THAT
HAS BEEN HELPFUL TO GET TO A
YEAR, BUT IT DOES NOT ADDRESS
THE STRUCTURAL ISSUE. AS YOU
SAID, THERE IS CHALLENGES WITH
REVENUES, AS WELL. IN TERMS OF
UNDER SPEND, I WILL SAY I AM
LESS THAN 60 DAYS IN. THAT
ASSUMPTION HAS BEEN BAKED INTO
THE FINANCIAL PLAN. AND SO
UNDERSTANDING HOW TO UNWIND THAT
WILL TAKE ME A LITTLE BIT OF
TIME. ULTIMATELY, WHAT WE NEED
TO DO IS TAKE A HARD LOOK AT
WHICH DEPARTMENTS HAVE PATTERNS
OF UNDER SPEND AND MAYBE THEIR
BUDGETS NEED TO BE RIGHT SIZED
TO CUT OUT THAT UNDER SPEND
ASSUMPTION WITHOUT REALLY
REDUCING PROGRAMS. HOWEVER, IT
IS NOT ALWAYS THAT NEAT AND
TIDY. RIGHT? SOME DEPARTMENTS
ONE YEAR MIGHT UNDER SPEND
OTHERS FOR THAT REASON. SO I
NEED TO DIG INTO THAT ANALYSIS A
LITTLE BIT. THE OTHER CHALLENGE
WITH DOING THAT, AS WE TIGHTEN
DEPARTMENTS' BUDGETS, THEY HAVE
LESS FLEXIBILITY. SO WHEN
EMERGENT ISSUES THAT COME UP
THAT OFTEN COME FROM COUNSEL AND
ISSUES YOU ARE HEARING FROM YOUR
CONSTITUENTS, IT MAKES IT HARDER
FOR THOSE DEPARTMENTS TO HAVE
ANY FLEXIBILITY TO RESPOND. SO
WE NEED TO BE REAL ABOUT THE
TRADE-OFFS AS WE TIGHTEN DOWN
BUDGETS, WHICH WOULD BE
NECESSARY TO REMOVE THAT UNDER
SPEND ASSUMPTION. IT WOULD BE
EVEN HARDER TO RESPOND TO
EMERGENT ISSUES. THAT'S WHAT WE
WILL BE LOOKING AT. I THINK
THERE HAS BEEN SOME INITIAL
CONVERSATIONS ALREADY BETWEEN MY
TEAM AND COUNSEL CENTRAL STAFF
IN RESPONSE TO THIS I BELIEVE
YOU SPONSORED, CHAIR STRAUSS. I
AM OPTIMISTIC WE WILL COME TO
SOME SHARED UNDERSTANDING. I AM
NOT YET GOING TO COMMIT TO WE
WILL AGREE BUT WE CAN COME TO A
SHARED UNDERSTANDING OF WHAT THE
ASSUMPTIONS ARE AND JUST LAY
THOSE CARDS ON THE TABLE AND
HAVE A SMOOTHER PATH FORWARD IN
LEASED -- LEAST IN TERMS OF
DISCUSSION. THE SDCI FUND AND
CORE STAFFING ISSUES, THAT IS A
REAL CHALLENGE. YOU KNOW? THAT
DEPARTMENT AND THAT FUND IS
PARTICULARLY -- WHAT IS THE WORD
-- SENSITIVE TO FLUCTUATIONS IN
THE MARKET. AS WE SEE CHANGES IN
THE DEVELOPMENT CYCLE, THOSE
REVENUES THAT FUND THAT CORE
STAFFING IS DIFFICULT. SO ONE OF
THE STRATEGIES IS OF COURSE
PERMITS ARE SUPPOSED TO BE FULLY
COST RECOVERY. IN THIS YEAR'S
BUDGET I BELIEVE THE COUNCIL
APPROVED AN 18% INCREASE IN
THOSE FEES. IN ORDER TO BE
STRUCTURALLY BALANCED, WE ARE
LOOKING AT AT LEAST THAT MUCH OF
AN INCREASED -- INCREASE NEXT
YEAR TO CORE STAFFING. WE NEED
TO CONTINUE TO LOOK . OTHER
EFFICIENCIES IN THE PERMITTING
PROCESS AND THAT SORT OF THING?
THE REALITY IS RIGHT NOW THOSE
COSTS ARE OUTPACING WHAT WE ARE
BRINGING IN, IN REVENUE. AND THE
ALTERNATIVE OPTION TO INCREASING
FEES IS SUBSIDIZING THAT WORK
WITH GENERAL FUND, WHICH WE ALSO
KNOW ISN'T AN ISSUE. SO YOU CAN
EXPECT TO SEE ADDITIONAL FEE
INCREASES, AS WELL AS SDCI
CONTINUING TO LOOK AT STRATEGIES
THROUGH ATTRITION AND OTHER
OPPORTUNITIES TO REDUCE
EXPENSES. I WILL ALSO JUST SAY
THAT'S WHY IT IS IMPORTANT,
PARTICULARLY IN MORE OF A
DOWNTURN WHERE WE SEE A SLOWING
IN THE DEVELOPMENT CYCLE. TO BE
REALLY PROTECTIVE OF THOSE FUND
BALANCES. THERE HAVE BEEN SOME
DECISIONS OVER THE LAST FEW
YEARS TO USE SOME OF THAT FUND
BALANCE FOR ONE-TIME TECHNOLOGY
PROGRAMS RATHER THAN GENERAL
FUND. THAT SORT OF THING. THAT
MAKES IT MORE DIFFICULT TO GLIDE
THROUGH THIS CYCLE. YOU WILL
PROBABLY SEE ME BEING EVEN MORE
PRODUCTIVE -- PRODUCTIVE --
PROTECTIVE OF ANY FUND BALANCE
REMAINS UNTIL WE HAVE SOME
ASSURANCE THAT DEVELOPMENT CYCLE
IS PICKING BACK UP. WHAT WE WANT
TO DO IS BE READY TO MOVE
SWIFTLY WHEN IT PICKS BACK UP SO
WE CAN GET THOSE PERMITS OUT THE
DOOR IN -- AND THE DEVELOPMENT
HAPPENING IN OUR COMMUNITY.
>> THANK YOU. I MEAN, VERY IN
DEPTH ANSWER. THERE'S NOT A
CLEAR SOLUTION NECESSARILY.
MOSTLY WHAT I WANTED TO HEAR THE
PHILOSOPHY FOR HOW WE MOVE
THROUGH THIS. TO THAT
CONVERSATION YOU RAISED A
QUESTION FOR ME THAT WE WILL
COME BACK TO BECAUSE I WOULD
LIKE TO CONTINUE ON THE DEFICIT.
IT OCCURS TO ME THE CURRENT
MAYOR WAS NOT PART OF LAST
YEAR'S BUDGET CYCLE. SO IF THE
MAYOR AND THE EXECUTIVE TEAM HAS
DESIRES THAT THEY WANT TO FUND
SOMETHING, I HEARD THIS. IF
COUNCIL MEMBERS MAKE A REQUEST
OF A DEPARTMENT THAT DOES NOT
HAVE UNDER SPEND FLEXIBILITY
THAT MIGHT BE DIFFICULT, SO I
PUT THAT IN REVERSE OF THE MAYOR
WAS NOT PART OF THE BUDGET
DISCUSSION LAST YEAR. IF SHE IS
INTERESTED IN PURSUING POLICIES
THAT COST A LOT OF MONEY, HOW
WILL YOU APPROACH THAT? I WILL
COME BACK TO THAT THOUGH. WHICH
IS BACK TO THIS QUESTION. YOU
MIGHT HAVE ANSWERED TWO OTHER
QUESTIONS BUT I WILL KIND OF
KEEP TEASING IT OUT. WE TALKED
ABOUT THESE TRADE-OFFS.
EMPLOYEES, PROGRAMS, REVENUE,
ALL OF THAT, THESE ARE REALLY
DIFFICULT TRADE-OFFS. SO, YOU
KNOW, FOR YOU AS THIS BUDGET
DIRECTOR AND HELPING TO GUIDE
THE DECISIONS OF THE MAYOR'S
OFFICE, HOW ARE WE GOING TO GO
THROUGH ? WHAT PRINCIPLES WILL
GUIDE THESE DECISIONS ABOUT WHAT
TO PROTECT, WHAT TO REDUCE, WHAT
TO ELIMINATE, WHAT TO ADD, AND,
IF YOU WANT TO ADD THE ANSWER IN
HOW WILL THE MAYOR FUND HER
PRIORITIES THIS YEAR WITHOUT
HAVING BEEN PART OF THAT BUDGET
DISCUSSION LAST YEAR, IT'S
TOTALLY FIND -- FINE TO WRAP
THAT IN.
>> OKAY. I WILL DO MY BEST TO
KEEP TRACK OF ALL OF THAT. I
WILL SAY, SO, I THINK, HAVING
CLEAR UNDERSTANDING OF WHAT THE
PRIORITIES ARE, I AM SORT OF
GETTING CLARITY ON THAT WITH
THIS NEW ADMINISTRATION. RIGHT?
BECAUSE THERE IS A LOT OF WORK
TO JUST OPERATE THE CITY AS WELL
AS WHAT IS THE HIGHEST PRIORITY
FOR NEXT YEAR'S BUDGET. I HOPE
TO HEAR FROM ALL OF YOU. I HAD
THE OPPORTUNITY TO MEET WITH
MANY OF YOU ONE-ON-ONE AND WE
WILL CONTINUE THOSE
CONVERSATIONS TO UNDERSTAND
WHERE YOU AS INDIVIDUALS HAVE
PRIORITIES FOR YOUR DISTRICT OR
FOR THE CITY, FOR THE CITYWIDE
SEATS, AS WELL AS WHAT YOU AS A
BODY ARE SORT OF DOING IN YOUR
COMMITTEES AND THAT SORT OF
SIGNALS TO ME WHAT SOME OF THE
SHARED PRIORITIES. SO WE ARE
TRACKING. WE ARE LISTENING. WE
ARE TRYING TO FIGURE OUT HOW TO
BALANCE ALL OF THAT. IN TERMS OF
WHAT TO PROTECT AND WHAT TO
PRESERVE, I THINK MY APPROACH
DEVIATES A LITTLE BIT FROM PAST
CYCLES IN TERMS OF, I DON'T
THINK ANY SORT OF ENTIRE AREA OF
CITY GOVERNMENT SHOULD BE OFF
THE TABLE FOR EVALUATION AND
CONSIDERATION FOR EFFICIENCIES
OR REDUCTIONS. I THINK THAT WE
ALL COULD VERY EASILY GET BEHIND
PUBLIC SAFETY IS CORE AND A VERY
CRITICAL ISSUE FOR THIS CITY.
DOES THAT MEAN THAT EVERY SINGLE
PROGRAM AND SERVICE WE ARE
FUNDING IN THAT BASES DELIVERING
TANGIBLE RESULTS FOR THE PUBLIC?
I DON'T KNOW THE ANSWER TO THAT
QUESTION. SO I THINK IT IS WORTH
EVALUATING ALL OF OUR PROGRAMS
AND SERVICES AND TAKING A HARD
LOOK AT WHAT IS HAVING THE
BIGGEST IMPACT. WHAT IS THE BEST
USE OF OUR PUBLIC RESOURCES, AND
ARE THERE OPPORTUNITIES TO SCALE
BACK IN SOME AREAS AND
POTENTIALLY SCALE UP, SCALE UP
IN OTHERS? I SAY THAT WITH ALSO
CLEAR EYED, THAT IS A BIG BODY
OF WORK TO REALLY REVIEW ALL OF
OUR PROGRAMS AND SERVICES. SO
THIS IS NOT A -- AND I HAVE A
BIG FIVE MONTHS BASICALLY TO
START MAKING SORT OF SCENARIOS
TO START PRESENTING TO THE MAYOR
AND THEN TO PRESENT TO ALL OF
YOU. SO TRANSPARENTLY , I AM
HOPING TO IDENTIFY SOME PROGRAMS
AND SERVICES WHERE WE CAN TAKE A
HARDER LOOK AND START TO BUILD
THE LIST OF HOW WE ARE GOING TO
DO THOSE EVALUATIONS OVER TIME.
WHERE ARE THEY THE MOST
QUESTIONS OR UNCERTAINTY? WHERE
ARE WE SPENDING BIG DOLLARS? AND
ARE WE CLEAR ON WHAT THOSE
OUTCOMES ARE? SO THAT IS LIKE MY
GENERAL PHILOSOPHY. THERE IS A
LOT OF WORK TO DO BUT I BELIEVE
THAT WE ARE ALREADY TO DO IT. I
KNOW IN MY CONVERSATIONS WITH
ALL OF YOU, YOU ALL ARE EAGER TO
LOOK AT OUTCOMES, AS WELL AS
OPPORTUNITIES TO INVEST IN AREAS
THAT REALLY AREN'T MEETING THE
NEEDS OF THE COMMUNITY. THEN IN
TERMS OF HOW TO FUND THE
MAYOR'S PRIORITIES, I THINK
MANY OF THE MAYOR'S PRIORITIES
THAT HAVE BEEN DISCUSSED TODAY,
LET'S USE INVESTMENTS AND
SHELTER, DO NOT DEVIATE FROM
THIS COUNCIL, FROM THE BUDGET,
FROM WHAT IS EMBEDDED IN THE
BUDGET. AS THE EXECUTIVE, SHE
HAS A METONYMY, RIGHT, TO DIRECT
THOSE RESOURCES IN CERTAIN WAYS.
WE ARE LOOKING AT OPPORTUNITIES
TO HOW THE EXISTING BUDGET CAN
SUPPORT THOSE PRIORITIES. AND
THERE MAY BE ASKS OF THE COUNCIL
TO MAKE MODIFICATIONS BASED ON
WHAT IS IN THE ADOPTED BUDGET
BUT WE ARE STILL AT THOSE
CHOICES. PRIORITIES ARE SHARED.
HOW WE GET THERE, THERE MAY BE
DIFFERENCES, BUT I HAVEN'T SEEN
ANY AREAS WHERE THE MAYOR WANTS
TO PRIORITIZE SPENDING THAT ARE
OUT OF ALIGNMENT WITH WHAT I
HAVE SEEN IN THE ADOPTED BUDGET.
>> THAT'S GOOD NEWS. SOUNDS
LIKE WE BUILT A BUDGET THAT
WORKS FOR EVERYONE LAST YEAR.
I'M GOING TO HOLD YOU TO IT. I
KNOW WE CAN'T IN THE WAY OUR
POWERS ARE STRUCTURED HERE.
INTERIM DIRECTOR PENNUCCI HAS
BEEN VERY HELPFUL. I WANTED TO
LAST CHECK WITH COLLEAGUES. ANY
FURTHER QUESTIONS? COUNCIL
MEMBER RIVERA, I SEE YOU HAVE A
HAND.
>> THANK YOU, CHAIR. I ALSO WANT
TO THANK THE INTERIM DIRECTOR
PENNUCCI FOR THE RESPONSE
RELATED TO THIS UNIQUE
RELATIONSHIP THAT HAS BETWEEN
THE EXECUTIVE AND THE
LEGISLATIVE BRANCH. THEY ARE
OVERSEEN BY THE EXECUTIVE. OF
COURSE, WE RELY ON CBU, AS WELL,
AS WE ARE WORKING TO CREATE THE
BUDGET. I VERY MUCH APPRECIATE,
ALY, YOUR , I JUST WANT TO READ
FROM YOUR RESPONSE HERE. THESE
INHERENT TENSIONS ARE ALSO
OPPORTUNITIES FOR CONSTRUCTIVE
PARTNERSHIP IN THE SERVICE OF
SHARED GOALS AND I REALLY
APPRECIATE HOW YOU ANSWERED THAT
IN TERMS OF OPPORTUNITIES FOR
CONSTRUCTIVE PARTNERSHIP VERSUS,
YOU KNOW, IT CAN SOMETIMES FEEL
ADVERSARIAL IN NATURE, JUST
INHERENTLY. AND I REALLY
APPRECIATE. I AGREE WITH YOU.
THESE ARE OPPORTUNITIES TO WORK
TOGETHER IN A CONSTRUCTIVE WAY.
AND I REALLY WANTED TO HIGHLIGHT
THAT FOR THE PUBLIC THAT MAY BE
WATCHING. BECAUSE I THINK YOUR
RESPONSE IS REALLY GREAT IN THIS
REGARD AND I VERY MUCH
APPRECIATE THAT AND THE WAY THAT
YOU SEE YOUR ROLE AS A DIRECTOR
OF CBO IN TERMS OF WORKING WITH
US AS WE MOVE FORWARD TO ADDRESS
THE BUDGET. SO THANK YOU FOR
THAT. THANK YOU, CHAIR. NOTHING
ELSE FROM ME.
>> THANK YOU, COUNCIL MEMBER
RIVERA. WITH THAT, INTERIM
DIRECTOR PENNUCCI, MY LAST
COMMENTS ARE, AGAIN, ABOUT
CALENDAR. WE HAVE HAD
EXPERIENCES IN THE LAST COUPLE
YEARS WHERE WE HAD -- YOU HAVE A
HAND? ALL RIGHT. COUNCIL
PRESIDENT HOLLINGSWORTH, RIGHT
OVER TO YOU.
>> I DO APOLOGIZE, CHAIR
STRAUSS. I DIDN'T HAVE A
COMMENT BUT NOW I DO. JUST FOR
THE RECORD, TOO. I AM NOT ASKING
QUESTIONS TODAY JUST BECAUSE YOU
ANSWERED OBVIOUSLY ALL THE
QUESTIONS THAT WE HAD SUBMITTED
TO THE CHAIR. AND THEN ALSO WE
HAD A GREAT ONE-ON-ONE WHERE WE
HAD A FRANK CONVERSATION ABOUT
WHAT MY PRIORITIES ARE FOR THE
DISTRICT AND COMMUNITY AND
REALLY APPRECIATE THAT
CONVERSATION AND RELATE TO
HIGHLIGHT WHAT COUNCIL MEMBER
RIVERA SAID. JUST THAT
CONSTRUCTIVE CONVERSATION WHERE,
YEAH, WE ARE NOT GOING TO SEE
EYE TO EYE ON THINGS, BUT WE CAN
FIGURE OUT HOW WE CAN GET AND
WHERE THE COMMON GROUND IS
SHARED. I APPRECIATE THAT OPEN
COMMUNICATION AS WELL. I JUST
WANTED TO SAY THAT FOR THE
RECORD EVEN THOUGH I AM NOT
ASKING QUESTIONS, INTERIM
DIRECTOR PENNUCCI ANSWERED ALL
MY QUESTIONS. AND LOOKING
FORWARD TO CONTINUING THAT WORK
TOGETHER. SO THANK YOU. THANK
YOU, CHAIR.
>> THANK YOU, COUNCIL PRESIDENT.
COUNCIL MEMBER SAKA? ANYTHING?
>> SURE. ABSOLUTELY. WHEN HAVE I
TURNED DOWN THE MIC? WELL, FIRST
OFF, THANK YOU, INTERIM DIRECTOR
PENNUCCI, FOR BEING HERE TODAY.
SECOND TIME. MORE IMPORTANTLY,
ALONG SIMILAR LINES OF WHAT
COUNCIL PRESIDENT JUST MENTIONED
A MOMENT AGO, APPRECIATE YOUR
RESPONSES TO ALL OF MY
QUESTIONS. PARTICULARLY IT IS
EASY TO SPOT THE QUESTIONS THAT
CAME DIRECTLY. ORIGINATED FROM
MY OFFICE. IT HIGHLIGHTED THIS
SORT OF TENSION BETWEEN THE
EXECUTIVE AND LEGISLATIVE
BRANCHES AND THERE IS A FEW
QUESTIONS THAT DID EXACTLY THAT.
BUT SO APPRECIATE THE THOUGHT
YOU PUT INTO THOSE. BUT, MORE
IMPORTANTLY, THE ONE-ON-ONE
CONVERSATION THAT WE HAD AND
WILL CONTINUE TO HAVE AS WE
SHARE OUT THE PRIORITIES FOR ME
AND MY DISTRICT , AND THE
COMMUNITIES THAT I REPRESENT,
WHICH, BY THE WAY, ARE ALSO THE
SAME COMMUNITIES AND
CONSTITUENTS THAT THE MAYOR
REPRESENTS. AND THE MAYOR,
CITYWIDE. I KNOW THE MAYOR,
HAVING HAD CONVERSATIONS
DIRECTLY ABOUT SHARING OUR
VARIOUS PRIORITIES. IT IS VERY
CLEAR THERE IS SOME TIGHT
ALIGNMENT THERE. SOMETIMES THE
DEVIL IS IN THE DETAILS IN TERMS
OF HOW WE GET THERE. BUT, IN ANY
EVENT, LOOKING FORWARD TO
CONTINUING TO HAVE THOSE
CONVERSATIONS. DIRECTLY WITH THE
MAYOR. DIRECTLY WITH YOU IN THIS
CAPACITY. AND THE MAYOR'S
OFFICE. BECAUSE IT IS CLEAR WE
HAVE SO MUCH IN COMMON. AND
RATHER THAN, YOU KNOW, MY
DEFAULT IS NOT TO FIND WAYS THAT
WE DISAGREE. IS IT GOING TO
HAPPEN? PROBABLY. ABSOLUTELY.
YEAH. BUT MY STARTING POINT IS
THOSE AREAS OF OVERLAPPING
INTERESTS IN ATTACKING THOSE
FIRST AND ALIGNING ON THOSE
FIRST. AND THEN DOING OUR BEST
TO HARMONIZE AND RESOLVE TO THE
FULL EXTENT POSSIBLE THOSE AREAS
OF SEEMING NONALIGNMENT BECAUSE
THEY ARE SEEMING AT FIRST. MORE
DISCUSSION. MORE ENGAGEMENT.
EVERYTHING IS POSSIBLE. SO, IN
ANY EVENT, ALL THAT IS TO SAY
THANK YOU. LOOK FORWARD TO
SUPPORTING YOUR NOMINATION
TODAY. AND, MORE IMPORTANTLY,
GETTING A CHANCE TO WORK
ALONGSIDE YOU TO DO THIS WORK.
THANK YOU, CHAIR.
>> THANK YOU, COUNCIL MEMBER
SAKA. DIRECTOR PENNUCCI?
ANYTHING TO SHARE?
>> THANK YOU.
>> I KNOW 60 DAYS INTO THE JOB I
AM GIVING YOU AN EARLIER
DEADLINE THEN MAYBE YOU ARE
PREVIOUSLY USED TO FOR OUR CITY.
IN THE PAST, WE HAVE HAD DELAYS
WITH RECEIVING BILLS, SUCH AS
THE MIDYEAR SUPPLEMENTAL, GRANTS
ACCEPTANCE, ANY OF THE TRUE UPS
USUALLY TRANSMITTED IN JUNE AT
THE EARLIEST. BUT WE HAVE
RECEIVED THEM IN JULY AS THE
LATEST, PUTTING SOME OF THESE
DELIBERATIONS OF MIDYEAR
SUPPLEMENTAL UP INTO AUGUST,
WHICH IS FRANKLY, FOR ME, TOO
LATE BECAUSE HOW DO YOU SPEND
THAT MONEY THAT YOUR -- YEAR,
NUMBER ONE? NUMBER TWO, WE ARE
RUNNING RIGHT INTO THE BUDGET
SESSION. I'M NOT GOING TO PUT
YOU ON THE RECORD OF SAYING WHEN
YOU'RE GOING TO DELIVER THESE
BILLS TO COMMITTEE. I JUST ASK
THAT MAY IS THE RIGHT TIME TO
TRANSMIT THESE BILLS. I KNOW
THAT IS EVEN A SHORTER TIMELINE
BECAUSE YOU HAVE BEEN HERE FOR
60 DAYS. TURNAROUND MAYBE 90
DAYS. I PUT THIS ON THE RECORD
AS WE NEED TO KEEP MOVING. IF WE
DO RECEIVE BILLS AFTER JULY 5th,
WE WILL LIKELY NOT HEAR THEM
THIS YEAR.
>> SO I WILL JUST. I HEAR YOU.
RESOLUTION 32116, WHICH WAS A
RESOLUTION THAT CENTRAL STAFF
AND CBO WORKED ON CLOSELY
TOGETHER IN 2023, AND I BELIEVE
I WAS KEY IN WORKING ON THAT
LEGISLATION. VERY INTENTIONALLY
SET OUT SPECIFIC DEADLINES FOR
THE CADENCE OF THOSE BILLS. IF
THAT IS NOT WORKING, THAT IS
PROBABLY A CONVERSATION TO
REVISIT. BY THE MIDYEAR IN
PARTICULAR IT IS BY JULY 20th.
WE HAVE SET OUT OUR CALENDAR
WITH DEPARTMENTS FOR THE YEAR.
SOME BACKING UP MUCH BEHIND THAT
WOULD BE DIFFICULT. I AM
DEFINITELY OPEN TO CONVERSATIONS
WITH YOU IN TERMS OF FUTURE
YEARS AND EVEN THIS YEAR, BUT
THE INTENT WAS THAT BILL WAS
DELIVERED IN TIME FOR IT TO BE
INTRODUCED AND HAVE TWO
COMMITTEE HEARINGS IN JULY WITH
CENTRAL STAFF WHEN WE DID THAT
LEGISLATION. SO, IF THOSE
DECISIONS NEED TO BE REVISITED,
IT IS WORTH A CONVERSATION BUT
THOSE DEADLINES ARE SET OUT AND
WERE ESTABLISHED PREVIOUSLY.
THAT IS WHAT WE BUILD OUR
CALENDAR ON THIS YEAR WITH
DIRECTION ALREADY OUT TO
DEPARTMENTS. SO LET'S TALK
THROUGH.
>> SOUND LIKE WE FOUND OUR FIRST
WORK PRODUCT BECAUSE FOLLOWING
THAT SCHEDULE TWO COMMITTEE
MEETINGS IN JULY MEANS FULL
COUNCILS VOTING ON IT IN AUGUST
WHICH HAS NOT WORKED,
NECESSARILY, SO LET'S COME BACK
TO THAT. COLLEAGUES, ANY
QUESTIONS BEFORE WE MOVE THIS
BILL? SEEING AS WE HAVE NO FINAL
COMMENTS, I MOVED TO RECOMMEND
CONFIRMATION OF APPOINTMENT
3442. IS THERE A SECOND?
>> SECOND.
>> MOVED AND SECONDED. 3442. ANY
FINAL COMMENTS? HEARING NONE,
WHILE THE CLERK PLEASE CALL THE
ROLL ON APPOINTMENT 3442.
>> [ ROLL BEING CALLED ]
>> THAT IS FOUR IN FAVOR. ZERO
OPPOSED.
>> THANK YOU. THE COMMITTEE
RECOMMENDS THE APPOINTMENT 3442,
INTERIM DIRECTOR ALY PENNUCCI BE
CONFIRMED. CONGRATULATIONS,
DIRECTOR PENNUCCI. WE WILL NOW
MOVE ON TO THE SECOND ITEM OF
BUSINESS. AND I UNDERSTAND WE
HAVE A HARD STOP AT 10:45 AND WE
WILL'S QUORUM AT 10:45. SO,
COLLEAGUES, WE ARE GOING TO BE
HERE POTENTIALLY UNTIL THEN. I
KNOW THE MAYOR HAS SCHEDULED HER
STATE OF THE CITY SPEECH FOR
11:30. VERY THOUGHTFUL. AND SO
WE WILL TRY TO MOVE THROUGH
THIS. AT THE SAME TIME I ASK
THAT WE DON'T RUSH BECAUSE WHAT
WE HAVE BEFORE US HERE IS REALLY
LAST MONTH'S COMMITTEES
MEETINGS GOT OUT OF SYNC BECAUSE
THE FIRST WEEK WE WERE RIGHT
BACK IN HERE. THE SECOND MEETING
WAS, I WAS AT ASSOCIATION
WASHINGTON CITIES. SO WE ARE NOW
MOVING INTO OUR REGULAR CADENCE
WHERE WE WILL HAVE FRANCESCA
MURNAN WALK US THROUGH AND
DIRECT US TO DIFFERENT POINTS
AND PLACES IN OUR CITY THAT WE
ARE WORKING ON BUILDING OUT
INDIGENOUS INFRASTRUCTURE WITHIN
OUR CITY OF SEATTLE. AND SO AS I
WAS PROVIDING IN THE REPORT LAST
WEEK, I HAD THE OPPORTUNITY OF
TRAVELING WITH DEBORAH WAR AS TO
THE NATIONAL CONFERENCE OF
AMERICAN INDIANS, WHERE WE GOT
TO LEARN A WHOLE LOT IN BREAKOUT
SESSIONS AND ATTEND A LUNCH
EMPOWERING NATIVE WOMEN LEADERS,
AS WELL AS I WAS ABLE TO MEET
WITH COUNCIL MEMBERS AND CHAIR
PEOPLE OF TRIBES LAST WEEK AND
WAS ABLE TO VISIT TRIBAL
RESERVATION . HAD A WONDERFUL
LUNCH WITH THEM. IT IS ALWAYS
GREAT TO CONTINUE BUILDING
RELATIONSHIPS. I THINK I HAVE
STALLED LONG ENOUGH FOR THE
PRESENTATION TO BE SET UP.
FRANCESCA, WE WILL BE SEEING YOU
ONCE A MONTH MINIMUM. POSSIBLY
TWICE A MONTH HERE ON OUT FOR
THE REST OF THE YEAR. AND YOU
HAVE BOUGHT OUR FRIEND, TIM,
FROM OCP. WE WILL GET TO YOUR
PRESENTATION AND THEN COME BACK
FOR QUESTIONS AT THE END.
>> CHAIR STRAUSS AND MEMBERS OF
THE COMMITTEE, WE ARE PLEASED TO
BE HERE TO DIVE A LITTLE BIT
DEEPER IN ONE AREA OF WORK WITH
TRIBAL GOVERNMENTS AND NATIVE
COMMUNITIES THAT IS HAPPENING
ACROSS OUR CITY EVERY DAY. I AM
FRANCESCA MURNAN. I AM A CITIZEN
OF THE SHAWNEE TRIBE IN THE
CHEROKEE NATION. I WORK IN THE
OFFICE OF INTERGOVERNMENTAL
RELATIONS OF THE CITY'S TRIBE
RELATIONS DIRECTOR. SO I WORK
WITH MANY DEPARTMENTS ON
SUPPORTING ENGAGEMENT WITH
TRIBAL GOVERNMENTS SPECIFICALLY.
PLEASED TO BE JOINED BY TIM
LEMMON. -- LEHMAN. HE DIVES INTO
HIS PRESENTATION ON INDIGENOUS
PLANNING. THIS IS A RELATIVELY
NEW BODY OF WORK ACROSS THE CITY
OF SEATTLE. THAT BEGAN AROUND
2018 WITH SOME EARLY PANEL
DISCUSSIONS HERE AT CITY HALL
AROUND THE POWER OF INDIGENOUS
PLANNING AND LATER TURNED INTO A
FULL-TIME STAFF POSITION AND
ENGAGES BOTH TRIBAL RELATIONS
WORK AND ENGAGEMENT WITH NATIVE
COMMUNITIES. AND I WILL HAND IT
OVER TO TIM.
>> HI, ALL. THANKS FOR HAVING ME
HERE. MY NAME IS TIM LEHMAN.
LITTLE BACKGROUND. I MOVED OUT
HERE FULL-TIME. GREW UP IN THE
TERRACE AREA. WENT TO U DUBB FOR
FOUR DEGREES. I HAVE BEEN
AROUND. MY BACKGROUND IS IN
LANDSCAPE ARCHITECTURE. I HAVE
DESIGNED AND PLANNED FOR NATIVE
COMMUNITIES ACROSS THE UNITED
STATES. AND MORE THAN A HANDFUL
HERE IN WASHINGTON STATE. AS
FRANCESCA STATED, THIS WORK
BEGAN IN 2018. MY OFFICE STARTED
WITH A INDIGENOUS INTERN, WHICH
I WAS ASKED TO MENTOR AND LATER
KIND OF FORCING THEM TO CREATE
AN ACTUAL POSITION TO HAVE IN
HOUSE TO HELP THAT INTERN OUT.
SO TO START OUT WITH FOR THIS
PRESENTATION, KIND OF A LITTLE
IDEA WHERE I SIT WITHIN THE
ORGANIZATIONAL CHART AS I SIT
UNDER THE DEPUTY DIRECTOR.
CURRENTLY, SARAH BELL'S. --
BELLS AND REPORT TO HER ON WHAT
I HAVE BEEN DOING IT. TO START
OUT, THIS ALL REALLY STARTED
ABOUT ALMOST THREE YEARS AGO. AT
THE END OF MARCH. WHEN I STARTED
IN 2013, WITH WHAT WAS REALLY
GOING ON THEN AND STILL IS NOW
WAS A COMPREHENSIVE PLAN FOR THE
IDEA TO AND DIGITIZE THAT PLAN .
FUN FACT IS THAT OUR PREVIOUS
COMPREHENSIVE PLAN MENTIONED
INDIGENOUS FIVE TIMES. FOUR
TIMES DESCRIBING THE ACRONYM
BIPOC, AND THE FIFTH TIME
DESCRIBING INDIGENOUS PEOPLE AS
PEOPLE OF THE PAST. SO NOT
NECESSARILY SOMETHING HARD TO
SURPASS WHEN IT CAME TO MY WORK,
WHEN WE CAME TO AND DIGITIZE --
INDIGENIZE IT A BIT. SO I DID
NOT NECESSARILY GET ALL THE ONE
ON ONE THAT I WOULD WANT WITH
TRIBES AND COMMUNITY. HOWEVER,
THIS WORK CAN START IN 2018. SO
WE DID HAVE TONS OF MINUTES TO
TAKE FROM OUTREACH FROM ALL THE
INTERNS AND
DEKODA MURRAY WHO IS CURRENTLY
ON STAFF AT THE TIME. SO KIND OF
CULMINATING ALL THOSE NOTES AND
PUTTING IN RECOMMENDATIONS
TOGETHER. SO I DID A BIT OF
OUTREACH IN TERMS OF WHAT THIS
WAS. WHAT WE GOT IN THERE, WE
GOT 43 SOLID POLICIES FOR
INDIGENOUS COMMUNITY AND TRIBES.
AND LOVE ADDITIONAL POLICY GOT
WATERED DOWN TO BE A BIT MORE
INCLUSIVE BECAUSE IT JUST
APPLIED TO ALL COMMUNITY. AND
WITH NUMEROUS NARRATIVE IN EACH
SECTION. AND IT WAS ALSO THE
FIRST TIME THAT WE ACTUALLY
HIRED SOMEONE FROM COMMUNITY TO
WRITE THE INTRODUCTION TO ARTS
AND CULTURE. THAT WAS ON OLIVER.
A BEAUTIFUL PIECE. OUR
COMMUNITY. REPORT BACK. WE
RECEIVED COMMENTS FROM FIVE OF
THE SIX TRIBES. THE SIX TRIBES
ARE OUT REACHED. FIVE OF THOSE.
WE GOT LETTERS BACK. SOME SAYING
THANK YOU FOR THE OUTREACH. AND
IF YOU REALLY GIVING US SOME
REALLY GOOD INPUT TO BE TAKING
INTO CONSIDERATION FOR UPDATES.
>> WITH THIS WORK IS A REGIONAL
CENTER PLANNING WORK. I HOPE WE
ARE CLOSE TO FINISHING THE
DOWNTOWN AND THE NORTHGATE WORK.
WITH THAT, WE FOCUSED ON
DOWNTOWN WITH NATIVE BUSINESSES
AND NATIVE. AND HOW THEY KIND OF
FIT WITHIN THAT REGIONAL CENTERS
PLANNING. IN NORTHGATE, WE MORE
LOOKED TO EVALUATE COMMUNITY IN
THE NORTH END AND ALSO, YOU
KNOW, WHAT IS MISSING FROM THIS
LANDSCAPE THAT WILL HELP OUT
COMMUNITY? THE 2026 WORK PLAN ON
REGIONAL CENTERS PLANNING WILL
BE THE UNIVERSITY DISTRICT. AND
THE BALLARD REGIONAL CENTERS
PLAN FOR THAT UNIVERSITY. WE
WILL BE FOCUSING MORE ON THE
NATIVE STUDENTS AT UDUB AND
SURROUNDING AREA. TRYING TO
INCORPORATE THAT IMPORTANCE IN
NATIVE CULTURE. WITH THE BALLARD
REGIONAL CENTER PLAN, WE ARE
GOING TO FOCUS ON THE STORY OF
SALMON. THE CULTURAL
SIGNIFICANCE IN THE PAST AND
CURRENTLY HAS. THAT APPLIES TO
MULTIPLE CULTURES IN THIS SPACE
AND THAT WILL BE FUN TO LOOK AT.
ALSO, HOW CAN THIS BE REFLECTED
IN THE PUBLIC REALM? AND THE
AVAILABILITY OF ACCESS TO WATER.
NATIVE NEIGHBORHOODS STARTED IN
2018-2019, WITH THE FIRST
ROUNDTABLE DISCUSSION WITH OUR
FIRST INTERN WHO WAS OWEN
OLIVER. IT HAS DEVELOPED INTO A
CONCEPT THAT LOOKS TO
INCORPORATE MULTIPLE NOTICE THE
OUT SEATTLE THAT IS REFLECTIVE
OF OUR NATIVE INDIGENOUS
POPULATIONS. HOUSING, SERVICES,
PROGRAMMING FOR OUR COMMUNITY.
AND ALSO REFLECT AND PROMOTE. WE
WILL HAVE SPACES OF HEALING AND
BELONGING. THAT HAS BEEN AN
ISSUE FOR OUR INDIGENOUS
COMMUNITY IN SEATTLE. JUST
HAVING SPACE THAT REPRESENTS
THAT OVERALL LARGE COMMUNITY OF
FOLK. STATIONARY AND PLANNING,
OF COURSE, IS IN MY OFFICE,
ALONG WITH SDOT. AND WE WILL BE
LOOKING TO INCORPORATE
INDIGENOUS CULTURAL NARRATIVES.
CREATE A DESIGN TOOLKIT THAT CAN
BE USED THROUGHOUT THE PROCESS.
THESE LIGHT RAIL STATIONS WILL
BE THROUGHOUT WEST SEATTLE AND
BEYOND. DEVELOPING A PROCESS FOR
RESEARCHING AND DEVELOPING AND
SHARING THE INPUT WITH NATIVE
INDIGENOUS AND TRIBAL
NARRATIVES. THEY CAN BE USED TO
INFORM PLANNING. SO A LOT OF MY
WORK LOOKS TO REALLY INCORPORATE
NARRATIVE INTO THINGS OF THE
IMPORTANCE OF WHY THIS WORK
NEEDS TO HAPPEN. THAT WAY OTHER
OFFICES AND NOT JUST FOLKS IN
OBC. THE WORK THAT NEEDS TO BE
DONE FOR NATIVE AND INDIGENOUS
COMMUNITY IN SEATTLE. AND THEN
WE WILL HOPEFULLY, AS ALWAYS,
PROVIDE SOME POTENTIAL
RECOMMENDATIONS FOR POLICIES AND
ACTIONS THAT REFLECT THE
PRIORITIES OF NATIVE AND
INDIGENOUS COMMUNITY. OF COURSE
WE HAVE EDI IN OUR OFFICE. AND
WITH THAT WE HAVE THE BUDGETING
WORK. NATIVE YOUTH, PAST,
PRESENT, WHICH ARE THE CAPITAL
PROJECT. THE RFP IS DONE. IT
WILL BE OUT NEXT MONTH. FINALLY.
THERE HAS JUST BEEN A LOT OF
BACK AND FORTH ON ALL OF THAT.
AND NOW I THINK I CAN
CONFIDENTLY SAY THAT IS GOING TO
BE RELEASED. I WAS INITIALLY A
PART OF RFP BUT IT MORE WHEN
UNDER THE UMBRELLA OF EDI. THEY
ARE WAY BETTER AT CONTRACTING
THAN I AM SO LETTING THEM TAKE
CARE OF THAT. IN THE FUTURE I
WILL BE PART OF THE FEASIBILITY
ANALYSIS, ALONG WITH PRELIMINARY
DESIGN. AND IF WE CAN GET TO
THAT POINT, FINAL DESIGN AND
ENGINEERING APPROVALS. ALONG
WITH COLLABORATION, THIS IS WHAT
WE ARE WORKING ON WITH
COLLABORATION WITH OED. AFTER
THE SUBAREA PLAN, THERE WAS NEED
FOR SOMETHING IN NORTHGATE, AND
THIS WAS AN OPPORTUNITY. OED HAD
SOME FUNDS. WANTED TO TAKE A
LOOK AT THIS. WE WANTED TO HAVE
INDIGENOUS EQUITY NONPROFIT TO
LEAD THIS PROCESS AND KIND OF
OPERATE THE CENTER FOR A POINT
IN TIME. AND THIS IS JUST
SOMETHING THAT LOOKS TO, YOU
KNOW, ESTABLISH A BIT MORE
CULTURE IN AN AREA THAT
INITIALLY LACKING IN OUR
COMMUNITY, WHICH IS ECONOMIC
DEVELOPMENT OVERALL. SO THIS
WILL BE SOMETHING IMPORTANT
MOVING FORWARD. I SIT ON WITH
THE HOUSING TEAM. PRIMARY .4 --
POINT FOR OPCD. I HAVE DONE A
LOT OF LARGE DEVELOPING
PROJECTS.
HELP FACILITATE IN INDIGENOUS
ENGAGEMENT. AND HOPEFULLY MORE
OF THAT WILL CONTINUE AS THIS
WORK STARTS TO PROGRESS. AND I
WILL SERVE AS A PROGRAM MANAGER
FOR THE CREATION OF HOUSING IN
PROGRAMMING WHEN THE ACQUISITION
OCCURS. WERE COLLABORATIVE WORK
WITH THE DEPARTMENT OF
NEIGHBORHOODS AND OFFICE OF
SUSTAINABILITY AND ENVIRONMENT.
SORRY. GETTING USED TO ALL THE
ACRONYMS, STILL. WE ARE
COLLABORATING ON A NATIVE FOOD
FORCED TO BE LOCATED IN BERGEN
WOODS AND WAS SEATTLE COLLEGE.
THIS IS A GREAT LOCATION.
SPRINGS HAS LARGE, CULTURAL
IMPORTANCE FOR OUR COMMUNITY. AS
WELL AS LOW INCOME HOUSING IN
THE AREA, AS WELL. WE ALREADY
HAVE NATIVE COMMUNITY PARTNER IN
LINE TO DO THE DESIGN
INSTALLATION WORK, WHICH IS
WORKING NOW WITH NO SEATTLE
COLLEGE. THE SITE IS AN
INTERESTING ONE BECAUSE IT IS
UNDER ARCHAEOLOGICAL PROTECTIONS
FOR THE JAPANESE FAMILY THAT
USED TO LIVE THERE AND IT WAS AN
OLD FARM SO LOOKING TO NAVIGATE
WHAT THAT PROCESS IS, WHICH MORE
IMPORTANTLY DONE THE LINE WILL
BE IMPORTANT WORKING WITH TRIBES
AND NATIVE COMMUNITY ON MORE OF
THESE SPOTS ON THE IMPORTANCE OF
PRESERVING THOSE PROTECTIONS ON,
YOU KNOW, CULTURAL AND
ARCHAEOLOGICAL IMPORTANCE. AND
DOWN THE LINE. ALWAYS ENGAGING
WITH COMMUNITY. RIGHT NOW, THERE
HAS BEEN A FOCUS ON NATIONAL
DISTRICT WAS SEATTLE INDIAN
HEALTH BOARD AND THE SEATTLE
INDIGENOUS SERVICES COALITION.
BOTH OF THEM ARE TRYING TO DO
SOME BIG THINGS THERE. IN THE
PROPERTY ACROSS THE STREET WITH
SEATTLE INDIAN HEALTH BOARD ON
HOUSING AND PROGRAMMING AND JUST
OVERALL ESTABLISHING A NATIVE
HUB IN THAT AREA. A LOT OF WORK
GOING ON WITH THE NORTHERN
LIGHTS. INITIATIVE WITH THE
COMMITTEE ACTION PLAN. WORKING
WITH HER ON JUST AND DIGITIZING
IT A BIT AND BRINGING IN MORE
COMMUNITY TO HAVE SOME VOICE.
AND CONTINUING TO HAVE INTERFACE
WITH NOT ONLY COMMUNITY,
NONPROFITS, AND TRIBES, JUST
CONTINUING ON PUSHING
A NARRATIVE AND WHAT IS
IMPORTANT TO THESE COMMUNITIES
EACH YEAR. AND THAT IS IT.
>> TIM, THANK YOU FOR THAT
IN-DEPTH PRESENTATION. WE WILL
GO BACK TO SLIDE TWO IN JUST A
MINUTE. HOW DO YOU DO ALL OF
THIS? AND A FOLLOW-UP QUESTION
TO THAT IS, HOW DO PEOPLE KNOW
ABOUT YOUR WORK? I SAY THAT
BECAUSE HERE IS A CITY THAT IS
NAMED AFTER A CHIEF WITH A
CARICATURE OF A PLAINS INDIAN
FOR A NORTHWEST NATIVE'S NAME.
AND YOU ARE DOING A LOT OF THE
IMPORTANT WORK TO HEAL SOME OF
THE HARM IN THE PAST. IN
CONVERSATIONS WITH TRIBAL
LEADERS LAST WEEK, IT WAS REALLY
A STATEMENT I MAKE REGULARLY
THAT TIME DOES NOT HEAL WOUNDS.
ACTIONS OF HEALING HEAL WOUNDS.
AND SO IF WE WERE TO JUST SIT IN
A PLACE OF CONSTANT FROM OUR
PAST, THAT HARM THAT HAS BEEN
CREATED HERE WOULD NOT BE
UNDONE. AND I SEE THAT ALSO IN A
GENERATIONAL CHANGE AND FOR OUR
CITY HAVING COUNSEL PRESENT
EMERITUS WAR IS LEADING A LOT OF
THIS WORK. YOU KNOW? IN SHERMAN
MALTOSE. AND HIS DAD, CURRENT
COUNCIL MEMBER MALTOSE. COUNCIL
MEMBER MALTOSE GREW UP IN A
SITUATION AND HAD TO LIVE
THROUGH A SITUATION OF A FAIR
AMOUNT OF TENSION. THAT TENSION
STILL EXIST TODAY. IT IS UP TO
ME AND YOUR SON AND YOUR
DAUGHTER TO FIX THESE HARMS OR
AT LEAST TO OUR WORK TO REPAIR
THEM. BECAUSE, AGAIN, TIME DOES
NOT HEAL THAT PAIN. IT IS
THROUGH ACTION THAT WE CREATE
THAT. EVEN FROM TODAY, WHERE WE
WERE BEFORE COUNSEL PRESENT
EMERITUS STARTED HER WORK, WE
NOW HAVE FRANCESCA HERE. WE NOW
HAVE THE IAC HERE. WE HAVE YOU
HERE. HAD WE GET ALL OF THIS
DONE AND THEN HOW DO PEOPLE
KNOW? AND I SAY THAT BECAUSE, IN
MY CONVERSATIONS WITH FRANCESCA
OVER THE PAST TWO YEARS, WE HAVE
HAD THE CONVERSATION OF IT IS IT
MORE IMPORTANT TO GET WORK DONE
OR PRESENT? THOSE ARE MY TWO
QUESTIONS TO YOU JUST IN MY
IN-DEPTH PRESENTATION.
>> I 100% APPRECIATE YOUR
PERSPECTIVE ON IT. MY THESIS
THAT I USED TO GET TWO MASSIVE
DEGREES WAS BASED ON HISTORICAL
TRAUMA. ALL COMMUNITIES OF
COLOR, HONESTLY. BEING ABLE TO
WORK WITH THAT. BUT PROVIDE
SPACE TO HEAL TO THE PLANNING
AND DESIGN PROCESS. WHAT THAT
MEANS. HAVING A LOT OF THAT
INTERFACE WITH COMMUNITY. THAT
ME AND FRANCESCA DO ON A REGULAR
BASIS. GIVING VOICE TO COMMUNITY
THAT HAS NEVER HAD AN IS
SOMETHING ALWAYS IMPORTANT. AND
YOU BROUGHT THIS UP. THE
UNDERSTANDING THAT THERE ARE A
LOT OF LAWS, A LOT OF POLICY
LEFT IN PLACE TO HURT NATIVE
COMMUNITY. IT JUST STILL EXISTS.
BEING ABLE TO UNPACK THAT AND IN
A SAFE SPACE UNPACK THAT AND
UNDERSTAND WHAT THAT MEANS FOR
COMMUNITY. BUT FOR A CITY IN A
WORLD WHERE TRAVEL POLITICS ARE
A THING AND UNDERSTANDING THAT
PUSH AND PULL WITH COMMUNITY,
SOVEREIGNTY VERSUS IDENTITY, AND
BEING ABLE TO GIVE EVERYBODY
VOICE WITHIN THAT REALM AND WHAT
THAT MEANS. HOW DO I GET IT ALL
DONE? COLLABORATION. A LOT OF
INTERACTING. YOU KNOW? FROM ALL
THIS WORK. RIGHT? HOUSING. OED.
SDOT. ARTS AND CULTURE.
WATERFRONT. YOU KNOW? I PUT
MYSELF OUT THERE. BELIEVE IT OR
NOT, I AM THE FIRST, THAT I KNOW
OF, INDIGENOUS PLANNER FOR A
MAJOR MUNICIPALITY, PERIOD. THAT
IS HUGE. ESPECIALLY FOR BEING
ABLE TO HOLD OURSELVES
ACCOUNTABLE FOR SOME OF THESE
LAWS THAT ARE IN PLACE. RIGHT?
AND STICKING TO WHAT TREATIES
ARE THERE IN PLACE TO BE HELPING
OUT TRIBAL COMMUNITY. SO
COLLABORATION FOR ONE. JUST
TRYING TO GET THIS DONE. I
DON'T HAVE A BUDGET WORKING ON
THAT. SO TRYING TO JUST BORROW
FROM WHAT OFFICES DO
COLLABORATE. IN A MEANINGFUL
WAY. AND DONATE TIME, WHEN I
HAVE IT, TO DO SO. BUT ALSO
BRINGING IN THE RIGHT COMMUNITY
PARTNERS TO EXPRESS THE
IMPORTANCE OF THIS WORK. AND,
YOU KNOW, BEING ABLE TO
ARTICULATE IN A WAY THAT I CAN.
I AM MORE OF A HAMMER. ABLE TO
PUT A LITTLE MORE NUANCE, WHICH
IS ALWAYS NICE. SECOND QUESTION.
WHAT WAS THE SECOND QUESTION
SORRY.
>> HOW DO YOU DO IT AND LET
PEOPLE KNOW? I LOOK AT THAT. YOU
HAVE A DIRECT LINE TO THE
DIRECTOR OF YOUR DEPARTMENT. YOU
ARE ONE OF THOUSANDS OF CITY
EMPLOYEES. YOU ARE THE FIRST
DOING THIS WORK. SO IT'S A
CHART. A TERRITORY UNCHARTED,
NECESSARILY. BUT HOW DO PEOPLE
KNOW?
>> WELL, I RELY ON DIRECTOR WHO
IS -- DOES NOT SHY AWAY FROM A
MICROPHONE. AND ON YOU ALL.
RIGHT? ON THE IMPORTANCE OF
THIS. THE IMPORTANCE OF WORK
WITH COMMUNITY. BEING ABLE TO
EXPRESS THE NEEDS OF ALL YOUR
COMMUNITY MEMBERS. WERE EMBEDDED
EVERYWHERE IN EACH DISTRICT.
JUST GOT TO GO OUT AND FIND
THEM. NORMALLY THEY DON'T
SPEAK. BUT WHEN YOU GIVE THEM
THE OPPORTUNITY THEY WILL ALLOT.
AND THEY HAVE A LOT TO SAY. YOU
KNOW? USING FRANCESCA AND OTHER
COMMUNITY PARTNERS ON WORK THAT
WE CAN HELP OUT WITH, BECAUSE IT
IS STILL VERY FOREIGN TO A
COMMUNITY. THE IDEA OF BUILD
ENVIRONMENT. RIGHT? OCCUPATIONAL
PLANNING AND DESIGN. SO BEING
ABLE TO JUST GET A COPY. SAY TWO
SEATTLE CLUB OR INDIAN HEALTH
BOARD AND HELP THEM THROUGH, YOU
KNOW, MAYBE THERE IS SOME
PERMITTING THAT THEY NEED HELP
WITH. OR RIGHT BUTTON TO PUSH
FOR SOME FOLKS. BEING ABLE TO
OPERATE IN SMALL WAYS LIKE THAT.
INDIGENOUS COLLECTIVE. BEING
ABLE TO HELP THEM PLAN THINGS
OUT WITHOUT LARGE PROPERTY THEY
HAVE OUT THERE. IT IS THE SMALL
THINGS THAT MATTER, ESPECIALLY
IN OUR COMMUNITY. AND IT IS
REALLY ALL ABOUT MOMENTUM. I
THINK THAT SNOWBALL IS STARTING
TO GET BIGGER AND WORD IS
GETTING OUT THERE ON THE WORK
THAT WE HAVE BEEN DOING.
>> WONDERFUL. I MIGHT ADD TO
FRANCESCA'S MONTHLY
PRESENTATION IN THIS COMMITTEE
AN UPDATE TO WHAT HAS TIM DONE
THIS MONTH AND THAT IS A WAY WE
MIGHT BE ABLE TO START PUMP IT
OUT TO OUR NEWSLETTERS. EVERY
COUNCIL MEMBER HAS A NEWSLETTER
WOULD LIKE TO SEND OUT. THAT
THERE ARE SMALL UPDATES. THE
GARDEN AT THE SEATTLE COLLEGE.
THINGS THAT ARE OPENING OR IN
PROGRESS. I DON'T NEED TO
NECESSARILY SEND AN UPDATE THAT
YOU ARE WORKING ON SOMETHING BUT
WHEN YOU DO HAVE THOSE MOMENTS
OF SUCCESS, WE'D LIKE TO SHARE
THEM OUT.
>> I LOVE THAT IDEA. I THINK WE
HAVE DISCUSSED THAT IN THE PAST.
A MONTHLY UPDATE OF JUST THE
HAPPENINGS WITHIN THE CITY.
>> YEAH. COLLEAGUES, I CAN TAKE
TO A COUPLE OTHER QUESTIONS. I
WANT TO MAKE SURE TO PRIORITIZE
YOU SEEING AS WE ARE AT 10:26
WITH A HARD STOP IN ABOUT 14
MINUTES. ICY COUNCIL PRESIDENT
AND COUNCIL MEMBER RIVERA.
>> THANK YOU, CHAIR. I HAD A
QUICK COMMENT. MIGHT TURN INTO A
QUESTION. FIRST OF ALL, THANK
YOU FOR THIS PRESENTATION. IT
WAS VERY INTENTIONAL AND YOU CAN
TELL THE WORK YOU DO IS NOT JUST
TAKING BOXES. RIGHT? IT IS VERY
RELATIONAL. AND I THINK THAT IS
INCREDIBLY IMPORTANT. JUST
BUILDING THAT TRUST AMONGST
FOLKS. ONE OF THE THINGS THAT,
WHEN I HAD A GREAT CONVERSATION,
AND I MIGHT MESS UP. TRIBAL
LEADERS. AND WE WERE TALKING
ABOUT THE WATERWAYS OUT HERE IN
THEIR RELATIONSHIP TO THE PORT.
AND I HAVE SO MUCH TUNNEL VISION
ON WHAT IS OUR RELATIONSHIP WITH
THE PORT. THEIR SPECIFIC COMMENT
TO ME WAS OFTENTIMES THE CITY
LOOKS AT THE WATERWAYS AS
TRANSPORTATION AND WE LOOK AT IT
AS FOOD SOURCE. AND JUST THAT
PIECE RIGHT THERE MADE ME THINK,
OH , THAT IS A FOOD SOURCE FOR
PEOPLE. WE NEED TO START
PROTECTING OUR WATERS WAY
DIFFERENT THAN JUST THINKING
ABOUT TRANSPORTATION. OR WHEN WE
WERE TALKING TO THEM AND THEY
SAID, HEY, WE JUST WANT TO THANK
YOU ALL FOR KEEPING THE PARKS
CLEAN AND KEEPING THEM OPEN. IT
IS JUST GREAT TO SEE THAT
VIBRANCY. AND IT PUT IT IN
PERSPECTIVE FOR ME UNDERSTANDING
LIKE BEING CARETAKERS OF THIS
LAND AND HOW WE JUST HAVE TO DO
BETTER AS A CITY BECAUSE THERE
ARE FOLKS THAT WERE ORIGINAL
CARETAKERS OF THIS LAND AND THEY
SEE AND NOW. HEY, WHAT ARE YOU
ALL DOING TO PROTECT AND
INTEGRATE AS WE ARE GOING AS A
CITY? SO I APPRECIATE THE
INTENTIONALITY BEHIND THE WORK
THAT YOU ALL DO AND US FIGURING
OUT HOW DO WE GO BEYOND LAND
ACKNOWLEDGMENTS LIKE COUNCIL
MEMBER ALWAYS TELLS US. BE ON
THE SIGNAGE. BEYOND SOME OF THE
VISUAL PIECES WE DO THAT ARE
INCREDIBLY IMPORTANT. BUT THAT
INTEGRATION AS WELL INTO OUR
COMMUNITY. LIKE YOU WERE TALKING
ABOUT MEETING WITH CHIEF SEATTLE
CLUB OR DIFFERENT GROUPS TO MAKE
SURE THAT THEY CAN CONTINUE TO
DEVELOP THEIR PROPERTY OR
INTEGRATE IN WHAT WE ARE DOING.
SO I JUST WANTED TO HIGHLIGHT
THAT. BECAUSE THE WORK THAT YOU
WERE DOING I THINK WE REALLY
MISS FOR PLANNERS AND
DEVELOPMENT IN OUR CITY. WE ARE
DRAWING LINES. YOU KNOW? JUST
THINKING ABOUT IT THAT WAY AND
NOT REALLY THINKING ABOUT HOW
DOES IT, I USE THE WORD
INTEGRATE, A LOT. I JUST WANTED
TO HIGHLIGHT THAT AND THANK YOU
ALL FOR BEING HERE.
>> THANK YOU, COUNCIL PRESIDENT.
COUNCIL MEMBER RIVERA?
>> THANK YOU, CHAIR. I REALLY
WANTED TO, WELL, PLUS ONE ON
COUNCIL PRESIDENT'S COMMENTS.
AND FRANCESCA, TO THANK YOU NOT
ONLY FOR BEING HERE TODAY TO
GIVE UPDATES BECAUSE IT IS
IMPORTANT FOR US TO GET UPDATES,
OTHERWISE WE DON'T KNOW ALL THE
WONDERFUL WORK THAT IS HAPPENING
IN THE DEPARTMENTS, AND MORE
IMPORTANTLY IN COMMUNITY. SO
THANK YOU FOR BEING HERE. AND,
ALSO, FOR DOING ALL THE WORK
THAT YOU ARE DOING BECAUSE THIS
IS REALLY, YOU KNOW, THE
RELATIONSHIP THAT WE HOLD WITH
OUR TRIBAL PARTNERS IS SO
IMPORTANT. AND TO SEE ALL THE
GREAT WORK THAT IS BEING DONE
TOWARD THAT. YOU KNOW? THIS --
THIS REALLY MEANINGFUL
RELATIONSHIP IS REALLY
IMPORTANT. JUST TO SAY THANK YOU
NOT ONLY FOR BEING HERE BUT FOR
DOING ALL THE WORK. AND AM JUST
SO PLEASED TO SEE ALL THE
DIFFERENT PIECES THAT ARE
HAPPENING IN THIS SPACE, SO IT
IS REALLY A TRUE -- YOU KNOW, WE
ARE NOT JUST THINK WE ARE DOING
THINGS. WE ARE ACTUALLY DOING
THINGS. SO THANK YOU FOR THAT.
>> THANK YOU, COUNCIL MEMBER
RIVERA. OTHER QUESTIONS? JUST
ONE MORE WHILE I HAVE GOT HIM
HERE. IF WE COULD OWEN OLIVER
BACK TO SLIDE SIX. WE CAN GO
BACK EVEN ONE MORE. SO
COLLEAGUES, AS A REMINDER, THESE
ARE THE REGIONAL CENTERS. THIS
HAS THE HIGHEST LEVEL OF
DENSITY. THE LAND-USE CODE ON
THE BOOKS THAT COULD QUALIFY FOR
REGIONAL CENTER. WE DON'T HAVE
THE DESIGNATION. IF YOU WANT TO
GO ON TO THE NEXT SLIDE, YOU
NOTED FOCUSING ON THE STORY OF
SALMON AND THE CULTURAL
SIGNIFICANCE. IN CONVERSATION
NOTING THAT THIS IS ONE OF A
NUMBER OF PLACES WHERE THERE WAS
TRIBAL VILLAGES RIGHT DOWN THERE
ON SHALL SHOAL AVENUE. OF THE
PEOPLE. HERE YOU ARE. THE FIRST
INDIGENOUS PLANNER. MUNICIPALITY
OF OUR SIZE. YOU'RE TAKING ON
THE REGIONAL CENTER DESIGNATION
IN A PLACE WHERE PEOPLE HAVE
LIVED SINCE TIME IN THE
MEMORIAL. HOW ARE YOU
APPROACHING IT? WHAT ARE THE
THINGS WE NEED TO BE PAYING
ATTENTION TO AS WE MOVE THROUGH
AND FORWARD WITH THIS AND HOW DO
WE HELP HEAL SOME OF THOSE HARMS
TO ACTIONS AND NOT WORDS BEYOND
ACKNOWLEDGMENT?
>> WE HAVE A GREAT COMMUNITY
PARTNER THAT DOES OUR WORK FOR
REGIONAL CENTERS. THEY WILL BE
LOOKING AT IT FROM A -- WE WILL
BE PICKING THROUGH THIS WITH A
FINE TOOTH COMB ON WHAT THAT
HISTORY IS AND WAS. WE HAVE A
BIT MORE TIME ON THIS. SO WE CAN
DO A LOT MORE TRIBAL OUTREACH
ALONG WITH THAT. A LOT MORE
COMMUNITY OUTREACH. AND A LITTLE
MORE LOCALLY ON WHAT THAT
VILLAGE WAS. MORE OF A DEEP
DIVE. AND HOW THAT SPACE CAN BE
REFLECTIVE OF THAT. I THINK THAT
IS THAT SECOND BULLET POINT,
REALLY. HOW DO YOU CREATE, YOU
KNOW, CONNECTION TO WATER IN A
SPACE IT WAS MEANT TO KIND OF
FRAGMENT THAT OUT WITH JUST
PROFESSION IN GENERAL THAT IS
CURRENTLY THERE? AND, YOU KNOW,
IF NOT BEING THE SAFEST STREET
TO CROSS. WE HAVE MULTIPLE
STREET ENDS. WHAT DOES THAT
RELATIONSHIP BEGIN TO LOOK LIKE
WITH REGIONAL CENTER, WHICH IS
JUST A COUPLE BLOCKS UP FROM
THERE. AND BEING ABLE TO MAKE
CONNECTIONS? IT IS ALL ABOUT
CONNECTIONS. IS ALL ABOUT
LOOKING AT THINGS HOLISTICALLY.
TO INCORPORATE NOT ONLY THE
SALMON, THE PEOPLE, THE CULTURE,
THE HISTORY'S. BUT, AGAIN,
LOOKING AT IT IN A LENS OF
HEALING. WHAT IS THAT? BECAUSE
IT IS IN DIRE NEED. JUST TO GIVE
A LITTLE SHOT OUT. THEY DON'T
ALLOW SALMON TO SWIM THROUGH.
>> THIS ONE IS A QUESTION,
REALLY. HAS A NEIGHBORHOODS BEEN
PUT INTO PRACTICE. IF SO, WHERE,
HOW HAS IT WORKED OR IS THIS
SOMETHING WE NEED TO PUT MORE
ROBUST TEETH ON?
>> I DON'T NECESSARILY KNOW.
NOT YET. I THINK WE ARE JUST
WAITING FOR COMMUNITY TO CATCH
UP TO UNDERSTAND WHERE THEY WANT
US TO KIND OF STATE CLAIM.
AGAIN, WE HAD SEATTLE INDIAN
HEALTH BOARD. NOW LOOKING TO PUT
IN HOUSING TO CREATE SOME OF
THESE NODES. WE ARE LOOKING TO
PUT IN THAT ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT
CENTER WITH OED IN NORTHGATE. IT
TAKES TIME FOR TRACTION.
UNDERSTANDING INDIGENOUS
COMMUNITY AND TRIBES, THINGS
TAKE TIME. AND NOW THAT COVID IS
BEHIND US HOPEFULLY FOR A GOOD
WHILE OR SOMETHING ADDITIONALLY
LIKE THAT, COMMUNITIES --
COMMUNITY IS MORE SETTLED NOW.
FOLKS ARE UNDERSTANDING THEIR
CAPACITY TO BE TAKING ON THESE.
YOU KNOW? I CAN TRY TO PLAN AND
CREATE ALL THE SPACES I CAN. IT
JUST CAN'T BE A CITY THING. YOU
KNOW WHAT I MEAN? WE CAN PROVIDE
THE MONEY. WE CAN PROVIDE IDEAS.
BUT, ULTIMATELY, THERE NEEDS TO
BE OWNERSHIP. IN TIME IT WILL BE
COMING FROM COMMUNITY AND IS.
NOT HUGE TEETH. MEDIUM TEETH.
AND JUST SOME TIME.
>> FAIR ENOUGH. WELL, IF YOU
NEED ANY HELP JUST DON'T BE
SHY. LAST QUESTION. REGARDING
ECONOMIC DEVELOP IN CENTER, I
DON'T KNOW IF YOU HEARD, YOU
WERE THERE BECAUSE WE HAD
INTERACTIONS THERE, THE TRIBAL
NATIONS SUMMIT, THERE WAS A CALL
FOR AN ECONOMIC SUMMIT EITHER
THIS YEAR OR NEXT YEAR. THIS
WOULD BE SOMETHING I WOULD LOVE
TO HAVE PRESENTED IN THERE. SO
ANY WORK THAT HAS BEEN DONE. ANY
HELP YOU NEED TO GET THIS
ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT CENTER
GOING? I SAY THIS BECAUSE,
GRANTED, WE ARE IN THE 17th OR
DISMISS A PENALTY IN THE NATION.
WE ARE THE LARGEST CITY IN THE
NORTHWEST IN AMERICA. AND, IN
RURAL AREAS, TRIBES ARE THE
LEADING JOBS AND ECONOMIC
DEVELOPMENT CREATORS IN RURAL
AMERICA ACROSS THE ENTIRE
NATION. RIGHT? SO, ONCE YOU GET
OUT OF MUNICIPAL BOUNDARIES, IT
IS THE TRIBES THAT MOST FOR
HEALTHCARE, EDUCATION, FOR JOBS,
FOR EVERYTHING. TRIBES ARE THE
NUMBER ONE PROVIDER. SO BEING
ABLE TO FUNNEL THAT ENERGY INTO
OUR MUNICIPALITY SO THAT FOLKS
WHO ARE EITHER VISITING HERE
FROM THEIR COMMUNITIES OR ARE
LIVING HERE HAVE THE ACCESS TO
WHAT THEY HAVE ACCESS TO AT
HOME. ANY THOUGHTS ON THE
ECONOMIC CENTER? I KNOW WE ARE
GETTING LATE IN THE MEETING.
>> NO. I THINK WE ARE THERE.
HONESTLY, I WANT THIS TO BE A
SAFE TO FAIL SPACE. THAT JUST
HAS SOME PROGRAMMING THERE, BUT
ALSO, YOU KNOW, OFFICE, LIKE
COMPUTERS, COPIERS, PLOTTERS.
RIGHT? LARGE PLOTTING TYPE
THINGS. BUT ALSO ALONG WITH
THAT, A PLACE WHERE FOLKS CAN
COME AND SELL GOODS. THERE IS A
LOT OF IDEAS AROUND THIS. THE
REPORT. I NEEDED TO COME OUT.
NEED IT TO GET DONE. IT WILL BE
THERE WHENEVER YOU NEED IT. YES.
I WOULD LOVE TO BE A PART OF
THAT AS MUCH AS YOU WANT ME TO.
>> WONDERFUL. WELL, THANK YOU,
FRANCESCA. I KNOW YOU HAVEN'T
SAID A LOT BUT YOUR ROLE IS TO
HELP US FACILITATE IN THESE
SPACES. JUST WANT TO PROVIDE YOU
AN OPPORTUNITY TO SHARE ANYTHING
BEFORE WE CLOSE OUT.
>> THANK YOU, CHAIR STRAUSS.
THIS WORK IS HAPPENING ACROSS
THE INSTITUTION AT MANY LEVELS
AND IT IS HAPPENING ACROSS LARGE
SPANS OF TIME AND IT IS
IMPORTANT TO TAKE THIS
OPPORTUNITY WITH YOU ALL TO SHED
SOME LIGHT THAT ARE ONGOING AND
WE WILL BE SURE TO COME BACK
WHEN WE HAD SOME OTHER MARKERS
OF SUCCESS. WE ARE GETTING
CLOSER TO SEEING THE REPORT FROM
THE 2025 SUMMIT NEXT MONTH IS
WHAT WE ARE AIMING FOR. THAT
WILL BE A GOOD OPPORTUNITY TO
REVISIT AND HOW WE PLAN TO
ACTUALIZE THEM AS DEPARTMENTS.
>> COLLEAGUES, ANY FINAL
COMMENTS FOR THE DAY? TIM,
ANYTHING ELSE TO SHARE?
>> YOU KNOW, JUST COMMEMORATE
FRANCESCA FOR ALL THE WORK.
BEING ABLE TO PROMOTE ALL OF
THIS. AND WE DO A TYPE ROPE WALK
ALONG MULTIPLE BOUNDARIES AND
FEELINGS AND ALL OF THAT AND
BEING ABLE TO NAVIGATE THAT
GIVES VOICE TO EVERYBODY,
INCLUDING US IN THE CITY. DDI,
DOING HER THING. AND TO YOU ALL.
ANY TIME YOU NEED PERSPECTIVE,
VOICE, A LISTENER, ALWAYS HERE.
>> THANK YOU FOR YOUR WORK ON
BEHALF OF OUR CITY. WITH THAT,
COLLEAGUES, THIS DOES CONCLUDE
THE TUESDAY FEBRUARY 17th
FINANCE, NATIVE COMMUNITY, AND
TRIBAL GOVERNMENTS MEETING. THE
NEXT MEETING WILL BE TUESDAY,
MARCH 3rd. WHILE THIS IS THE
NATIVE COMMUNITIES AND TRIBAL
GOVERNMENTS COMMITTEE, IT IS
BLACK HISTORY MONTH AND IT WAS
SAD TO LOSE JESSE JACKSON THIS
MORNING, THE FOUNDER RAINBOW,
AND THE PUSH HE WAS FOCUSED ON
ECONOMICS, HOPE, AND ACTION. AND
THAT IS HOW WE WILL END TODAY.
WITH WORKING ON THE ECONOMICS.
SEEING THE HOPE. AND MAKING
ACTION BECAUSE FEELINGS AND
ACKNOWLEDGMENT DON'T CHANGE OUR
HISTORY. WITH THAT,