>> [ MUSIC ]
>> GOOD MORNING, EVERYONE. THE
APRIL 8, 22026 MEETING OF THE
SELECT COMMITTEE ON THE LIBRARY
LEVY WILL COME TO ORDER. IT IS
9:44 AM. I AM CHAIR OF THE
COMMITTEE. WITH THE CLERK PLEASE
CALL THE ROLL.
>> COUNCILMEMBER STRAUSS.
>> HERE.
>> COUNCILMEMBER FOSTER.
>> HERE.
>> COUNCILMEMBER LIN.
>> HERE.
>> COUNCILMEMBER JUAREZ.
>> HERE.
>> COUNCILMEMBER RINCK.
>> HERE.
>> VICE CHAIR HOLLINGSWORTH.
>> HERE.
>> CHAIR RIVERA.
>> HERE. SEVEN THE COUNCIL
MEMBERS ARE PRESENT.
>> PLEASE NOTE COUNCILMEMBER
SAKA AND COUNCILMEMBER KETTLE
ARE EXCUSED FROM THE MEETING. IF
THERE IS NO OBJECTION THE AGENDA
WILL BE ADOPTED. WE WILL NOW
HAVE OUR HYBRID PUBLIC COMMENT.
PUBLIC COMMENT SHOULD TIE WITH
THINGS ON THE AGENDA OR IN THE
PURVIEW OF THIS COMMITTEE. HOW
MANY SPEAKERS ARE SIGNED UP
TODAY?
>> WE CURRENTLY HAVE 10 IN
PERSON SPEAKERS AND SEVEN REMOTE
SPEAKERS ASSIGNED UP.
>> THAT IS 17 PEOPLE. SO, GIVEN
THAT, EACH SPEAKER WILL HAVE TWO
MINUTES. CLERK, PLEASE PLEASE
READ THE INSTRUCTIONS.
>> IT WILL BE MODERATED IN THE
FOLLOWING MANNER. UP TO 60
MINUTES, EACH SPEAKER WILL HAVE
TWO MINUTES. SPEAKERS WILL BE
CALLED IN THE ORDER IN WHICH
THEY REGISTERED. WE WILL START
WITH IN PERSON SPEAKERS FIRST
AND THEN REMOTE SPEAKERS UNTIL
THE PERIOD HAS ENDED. SPEAKERS
WILL HEAR A TIME WHEN THERE'S
10 SECONDS LEFT. PUBLIC COMMENT
IS NOW OPEN AND WE WILL BEGIN
WITH THE FIRST SPEAKER ON THE
LIST. JESSICA LUCAS.
>> WELCOME, JESSICA.
>> THANK YOU FOR HAVING ME. I AM
JESSICA LUCAS, THE PRESIDENT OF
LOCAL 2083, SEATTLE PUBLIC
LIBRARY'S. LIBRARY EMPLOYEES
UNION. I'M HERE TO REPRESENT
OUR MEMBERS. WE WOULD LIKE TO
THANK THE MAYOR AND THE CITY
COUNCIL FOR WORKING SO
DILIGENTLY TO PUT FORTH AND
IMPROVE THE PROPOSED 2027 TO
2033 LEVY. WE KNOW THAT 30% OF
OUR SALARIES ARE FUNDED THROUGH
THE CURRENT LEVY. AND THAT THIS
LEVY DOES NOT , AND IF THIS LEVY
DOES NOT PASS, IT WILL MEAN
LAYOFFS AND DEEP CUTS FOR THE
SERVICES WE PROVIDE. WE ARE
HAPPY TO SEE SO MUCH POTENTIAL
FOR ADDITIONAL STAFF TO SUPPORT
FUTURE PROGRAMS THAT ARE PART OF
THIS PACKAGE. WHICH WE HOPE WILL
INCLUDE SUPPORT STAFF AS WELL AS
LIBRARIANS. AS 18 SERVICES
LIBRARIAN MYSELF I CAN TELL YOU
THAT WE NEED ADDITIONAL LIBRARY
ASSOCIATE STAFF WHO PROVIDE
PROCESSING, SHELVING, CUSTOMER
SERVICE AND INFORMATION
REFERRALS SO THAT LIBRARIANS
HAVE TIME TO LISTEN TO OUR
COMMUNITIES AND CREATE AND
PROVIDE EQUITABLE PROGRAMS THAT
SERVE THEIR NEEDS. WE NEED MORE
SECURITY OFFICERS WHO ARE
TRAINED IN DE-ESCALATION,
HONESTLY MORE THAN THE THREE
PROPOSED. TO KEEP US IN OUR
PATRONS SAFE. WE NEED WORKING
DOOR LOCKS THAT ACTUALLY RESPOND
TO THE BUTTONS WE PUSH TO LOCK
THEM IN AN EMERGENCY. WE NEED
BUILDINGS THAT WILL NOT FALL ON
OUR HEADS IN AN EARTHQUAKE AND
THAT CAN PROVIDE REFUGE IN BOTH
THE HOTTEST AND COLDEST DAYS OF
THE YEAR. WE NEED ADDITIONAL
SUPPORT FOR OUR SOCIAL SERVICES
TEAM WHO PROVIDE RESOURCES TO
OUR MOST VULNERABLE PATRONS.
THANK YOU FOR INCLUDING THESE
THINGS IN THE ORIGINAL LEVY
PROPOSAL AND IN THESE
AMENDMENTS. I LOOK FORWARD TO
THE LIBRARY FOR FILLING ALL OF
THESE PROMISES TO STAFF AND
PATRONS AND TO ALL OF THE FOLKS
LIVING IN SEATTLE. WHETHER THEY
ENTER OUR BUILDINGS OR NOT, THEY
BENEFIT -- WE PROVIDE TO THOSE
WHO DO. THE LIBRARY CONTRIBUTE
STILL WELL-INFORMED, EDUCATED
AND CONNECTED SOCIETY. THANK
YOU.
>> THANK YOU, JESSICA. I SHOULD
SAY, CAN YOU PLEASE USE JAZZ
HANDS SO WE ARE ABLE TO MOVE
QUICKLY AND HEAR EVERYONE. ALL
MICROPHONES ARE ON SO WHEN I
CALL YOU UP YOU CAN FEEL FREE TO
WALK UP TO ONE OF THE
MICROPHONES IF YOU WOULD LIKE.
RYAN, LAUREN, PETER, BETSY AND
THEN PIPPIN.
>> GOOD MORNING, COUNCIL
MEMBERS. I AM THE CEO OF THE
SEATTLE PUBLIC LIBRARY
FOUNDATION. I APPRECIATE THE
CONVERSATIONS THAT WE HAVE HAD
LEADING THROUGH THIS PROCESS. IT
IS WORTH STATING THAT THE
FOUNDATION IS A NONPROFIT
PARTNER OF THE LIBRARY. WE ARE
FUNDRAISERS AND ADVOCATES ON
BEHALF OF THE LIBRARY WE LOVE.
WHILE WE ARE PROUD OF THE
FUNDING WE PROVIDE TO THE
LIBRARY, TANKS WERE THOUSANDS OF
DONORS, WE ALSO KNOW PRIVATE
PHILANTHROPY IS ALWAYS CHANGING
AND CAN NEVER MATCH THE IMPACT
OF PUBLIC FUNDING FOR A
CHARTERED CITY INSTITUTION. NOR
SHOULD IT. THE AMENDMENT'S
BEFORE YOU ARE SMALL IN RELATION
TO THE CITY'S TOTAL BUDGET FOR
THE OVERALL SHARE OF THE
PROPERTY TAXES DEDICATED TO THE
CITY'S VARIOUS LEVIES. BUT THE
OFFER SIGNIFICANT BENEFITS AND
THEY WILL POSITION THE
FOUNDATION TO MAKE EVEN FURTHER
ENHANCEMENTS FOR PRIVATE
SUPPORT. INC. ABOUT IT THIS WAY,
THESE AMENDMENTS REPRESENT ABOUT
10 YEARS OF FUNDRAISING EFFORTS
. YOU HAVE THE OPPORTUNITY AT
THIS MOMENT TO MAKE A DECADES
WORTH OF DIFFERENCE FOR THE
COUNTLESS LIBRARY PATRONS WHO
RELY ON IT. THE TIME TO INVEST
IN THE LIBRARY IS NOW. THE
LIBRARY IS READY TO IMPLEMENT
IMPORTANT EXPANSIONS TO VITAL
SERVICES TO ACHIEVE ITS
STRATEGIC VISION. AND THE
FOUNDATION IS READY TO BOOST OUR
FUNDRAISING TO LEVERAGE LOOK
SUPPORT. AND THE RESIDENTS OF
SEATTLE I FEEL ARE READY TO SHOW
THEIR SUPPORT FOR THE DECISIONS
YOU MAKE. I URGE YOU TO SEIZE
THIS MOMENT AND BE VISIONARY.
LEASE DON'T SHORTCHANGE A
PUBLIC INSTITUTION THE TOUCHES
EVERY NEIGHBORHOOD, SERVES
PEOPLE OF EVERY AGE, AND ALL
BACKGROUNDS. THANK YOU FOR
TAKING BOTH ACTION TO MAKE OUR
BELOVED LIBRARY EVEN STRONGER.
PLEASE PASS THE AMENDMENTS TODAY
AND LET'S GET TO WORK. THANK
YOU.
>> THANK YOU, BRIAN. PETER,
BETSY, AND PIPPIN.
>> GOOD MORNING, COUNCIL
MEMBERS.
>> GO AHEAD.
>> I AM HERE TODAY ON BEHALF OF
AND A 6000 ELECTRICAL WORKER
MEMBERS. IN 2021 OVER 400 PEOPLE
DIED IN THE HEAT DOME IN OUR
STATE. THAT REVEALED THE WE ARE
NOT READY FOR CLIMATE CHANGE. I
AM PROUD THAT OVER THE LAST
SEVERAL YEARS OUR UNION HAS
WORKED IN COALITION WITH GROUPS
LIKE 350 SEATTLE, AND THE GREEN
NEW DEAL OVERSIGHT BOARD TO
ADVOCATE FOR ADEQUATE COOLING IN
PUBLIC BUILDINGS AND TO HELP GET
OUR BUILDINGS HERE IN SEATTLE TO
STOP EMITTING CLIMATE POLLUTION.
WE ARE REALLY ENTHUSIASTIC ABOUT
AMENDMENTS THAT HAVE BEEN
PROPOSED FROM COUNCIL MEMBERS
FOSTER, COUNCILMEMBER LIN AND
COUNCILMEMBER RINCK WHICH WE
BELIEVE WOULD HELP ACHIEVE THE
GOALS AND WE ASKED FOR THE
COUNCIL SUPPORT FOR THESE
AMENDMENTS.
>> THANK YOU. BETSY, PIPPIN,
ANN.
>> THANK YOU, COUNCIL MEMBERS.
MY NAME IS BETSY, I AM LIVING IN
DISTRICT 6. I AM ALSO A FORMER
CHILDREN'S STAFF FOR THE
SEATTLE PUBLIC LIBRARY. UNTIL
RECENTLY I DID WORK IN THE
CHILDREN'S AREA ON LEVEL I, THE
TEEN AREA ON LEVEL III. THIS IS
A VERY WELL USED AND WELL LOVED
SPACE. SPECIFICALLY IN THE
CHILDREN'S AREA. PARENTS IN
GIVERS STOP ALL DAY LONG, CHECK
OUT BOOKS TO ENTERTAIN KIDS AND
JUST HANG OUT. I WAS WORKING AT
THE CENTRAL LIBRARY WHEN IT WAS
BUILT 22 YEARS AGO. AND I
WITNESSED THE ENTIRE PROCESS .
AT THAT POINT IT WAS THE
ARCHITECT'S VISION OF HOW THE
SPACE SHOULD WORK. AND THAT WE
HAVE THE OPPORTUNITY FOR
FRONTLINE STAFF AND BUILDING
MANAGERS TO BE ABLE TO CREATE
THE SPACE THAT WILL ACTUALLY
HELP OUR STAFF FUNCTION FOR THE
PEOPLE WE SERVE. I AM HERE TODAY
BECAUSE I SO APPRECIATE THE
PROPOSED AMENDMENT FOR THE
COUNCILMEMBER FOSTER TO DEDICATE
$10 MILLION TO THE RENOVATION OF
CENTRAL LIBRARY. THE AMENDMENT
COULD MAKE THIS HUGE DIFFERENCE
FOR THE CHILDREN IN THE AREA.
THE CENTRAL LIBRARY IS SHOWING
ITS AGE. IS 22 YEARS OLD, IT IS
STATE-OF-THE-ART IN 2004 IT'S
NOT THE SAME AS 2026. THINK
ABOUT HOW IT WOULD REVITALIZE
THIS AREA AND BENEFIT THE
SEATTLE FAMILIES AS A WHOLE. MY
FORMER COLLEAGUES COULD HOST
MORE PROGRAMS, OFFER MORE BOOKS,
HELP MORE PEOPLE THROUGHOUT THE
BUILDING. THINK ABOUT WHAT WOULD
NEED TO HER DOWNTOWN CORE. WHEN
WE INVITE MORE KIDS AND MORE
TEENS INTO OUR DOWNTOWN
DESTINATIONS LIKE THE LIBRARY,
IT SHOWS PEOPLE THE CITY WE ARE
VIBRANT, SAFE AND A POSITIVE
AREA. THINK ABOUT THE GLOBAL
READING CHALLENGE THE JUST
HAPPENED. IT WAS IN THE SEATTLE
TIMES ARTICLE ON APRIL 1. WE HAD
THOUSANDS, HUNDREDS OF FAMILIES
THAT CAME. I ALSO JUST WANT TO
SAY THAT WE ARE THE LAST TRULY
DEMOCRATIC INSTITUTION . WHERE
FAMILIES CAN COME, PEOPLE CAN
COME, NO MATTER WHO THEY ARE,
WHERE THEY ARE, AND WE ARE THE
ONLY FREE PLACE TO HANG IN THE
DOWNTOWN CORE.
>> THANK YOU, BETSY. THANK YOU
VERY MUCH.
>> I HAVE A VISUAL AID.
>> ALL RIGHT. YES. TRUE. THANK
YOU, BETSY. THANK YOU FOR YOUR
SERVICE IN THE LIBRARY'S.
PIPPIN. AND THEN SHARA.
>> GOOD MORNING. MY NAME IS
PIPPIN. I AM THE EXECUTIVE
DIRECTOR OF A NONPROFIT LITERARY
ARTS ORGANIZATION BASED IN
DISTRICT 3. OVER THE YEARS I
HAVE ALSO MAGAZINE EXPRESSING
AND SUPPORT OF CITY LITERATURE.
WHICH MANAGES OUR CITIES
DESIGNATION IS A CITY OF
LITERATURE. I SHARE ALL THIS TO
SAY THAT I BELIEVE I'M
QUALIFIED TO SPEAK TO HOW DEEPLY
THE LIBRARY IMPACTS SEATTLE'S
LITERARY COMMUNITY. SEATTLE IS A
CITY OF READERS AND WRITERS. THE
REGION HAS LITERARY TRADITION
THAT GOES BACK TO ITS ORIGINAL
INHABITANTS. REGARDLESS OF
BACKGROUND OR BELIEF WE
SEATTLEITES SHARE A COMMON BOND
FOR STORYTELLING. OUR LIBRARY IS
ABSOLUTELY ESSENTIAL TO THIS
IDENTITY. TO THE BOOKS IT
CIRCULATES, THE WRITERS IT
BRINGS IN FOR PROGRAMS AND THE
COMMUNITIES IT BUILDS AROUND
READING AND WRITING. IT IS NO
EXAGGERATION TO SAY THAT IT
WOULD NOT BE A UNESCO CITY OF
LITERATURE, ONE OF ONLY TWO IN
THE U.S., AND 53 WORLDWIDE,
WITHOUT A STRONG SEATTLE PUBLIC
LIBRARY. OUR TIME WITH DEMOCRACY
FEELS FRAGILE AND THIS
INFORMATION SPREADS FASTER,
LITERATURE MATTERS. READING
SLOWS US DOWN IN AN ECONOMY .
READING CREATES SPACE FOR
REFLECTION. COMBATS ISOLATION
AND BUILDS APATHY BY ALLOWING
NOT OTHERWISE UNDERSTAND. IT IS
A WAY , IN A WAY IT'S NOT JUST
A PRIVATE ACT, IT IS A CIVIC
ONE. SUPPORTING A LITERATE
CULTURE IS AN ACT OF DEMOCRACY.
THAT IS WHY AM GRATEFUL TO THE
COUNCIL MEMBERS FOR PRIORITIZING
LIBRARY COLLECTIONS IN THE LEVY.
WE MUST COST AND DEMANDS FOR
LIBRARY BOOKS. AN INVESTMENT AND
CURIOSITY, IMAGINATION AND
INFORMED AND ENGAGED PUBLIC. FOR
ALL THESE REASONS I URGE YOU TO
PLEASE VOTE IT IN. THANK YOU FOR
YOUR ATTENTION. AND ALL THE WORK
YOU DO.
>> THANK YOU. ALL RIGHT, SHARA
AND THEN LILY.
>> I AM ANN AND I AM A LIFELONG
LOVER OF LIBRARIES. I HAVE
SERVED ON A VARIETY OF
FOUNDATION BOARDS AND AM
CURRENTLY THE EMERITUS CHAIR FOR
THE FOUNDATION BOARD SUPPORTING
THE LIBRARY. I HAVE GIVEN TOURS
OF HER CENTRAL LIBRARY. I'VE
TALKED TO PEOPLE AND PROMOTED
THE LIBRARY ALL OF MY TIME HERE
IN SEATTLE WHICH IS MY ADULT
LIFE. AND I JUST WANT TO THANK
YOU FOR YOUR SUPPORT AND
ENCOURAGE YOU TO GIVE AS MUCH AS
POSSIBLE TO FUND OF THE LIBRARY.
PARTICULARLY AROUND THE
COLLECTIONS . WHEN I GO TO MY
LIBRARY I SEE PEOPLE WALKING OUT
WITH ARMLOADS OF BOOKS. SO I
KNOW THEY ARE REALLY UTILIZING
ALL OF THE RESOURCES. IT MAKES A
BIG DIFFERENCE. IT MAKES US A
BETTER EDUCATED, MORE AWARE AND
SMARTER COMMUNITY. SO KEEP IT
GOING. GIVE US THE BEST MONEY
YOU CAN TO KEEP THE LIBRARY
STRONG. THANK YOU VERY MUCH.
>> THANK YOU, ANN. SHARA,
SHEILA, EXCUSE ME, LILY AND
CHRISTIANA .
>> HI, I APPRECIATE THE SHORT
MICROPHONE. THANK YOU, CHAIR AND
COUNCIL MEMBERS. MY NAME IS
SHARA, AND THE COEXECUTIVE
DIRECTOR AT LITERACY SOURCE.
BASED IN DISTRICT 5. WE ARE AN
ADULT EDUCATION ORGANIZATION AND
LITERACY. I AM HERE TO THANK
CANCEL MEMBERS FOR THEIR
AMENDMENT TO EXPAND A LINGUAL
PROGRAMMING AT THE LIBRARY.
LITERACY SOURCE IS A LONGTIME
PARTNER OF A LIBRARY. ON
PROGRAMS THAT SERVE IMMIGRANTS
AND REFUGEES. FOR EXAMPLE, WE
RUN THE ENGLISH-LANGUAGE
CONVERSATION CLASSES AND HAVE
LOTS OF PEOPLE COMING IN
REGULARLY WHO ARE ADULTS WORKING
ON THEIR ENGLISH. THEY CURRENTLY
TAKE PLACE AT THE CENTRAL
LIBRARY , BEACON HILL, LAKE
CITY, HIGH POINT, NEWHOLLY,
NORTHGATE AND SOUTHPARK RANCHES
AND ALSO VIRTUALLY. WE ARE ABLE
TO OFFER SO MANY OPTIONS THIS
YEAR BECAUSE OF THE TWO YEAR
GRANT FROM THE CARNEGIE
CORPORATION OF NEW YORK SECURED
BY THE SEATTLE PUBLIC LIBRARY
FOUNDATION LAST YEAR. THE
FUNDING NEARLY DOUBLE THE NUMBER
OF FREE LIBRARY PROGRAMS THAT
ARE SERVING LOOSELY WHICH
LEARNERS AND WE KNOW THERE IS A
HUGE NEED OUT THERE. WE EXPANDED
ONE ON ONE ADULT EDUCATION
TUTORING, DIGITAL SKILLS
CLASSES, AND INTRODUCED LEVEL
ENGLISH CLASSES FOR THE FIRST
TIME AT THE LIBRARY. THE GRANT
CAME AT A TIME WHEN DEMAND FOR
FREE AND LOW-COST ENGLISH
CLASSES IS VERY HIGH, AS WE KNOW
AS A LITERACY SOURCE BECAUSE WE
ARE REGULARLY TURNING AWAY
STUDENTS BECAUSE WE DON'T HAVE
SPACE. SO WE KNOW AT THIS TIME
MANY IMMIGRANTS AND REFUGEES
ALSO FEEL THAT THEY ARE AT GREAT
RISK. AND LEARNING ENGLISH IS A
WONDERFUL BENEFITS AND WE WANT
TO HELP THEM. THE FUNDING FOR
THAT GRANT EXPIRES IN JULY 2027
AND THERE IS NO GUARANTEE THAT
IT'S ACTUALLY GOING TO BE
RENEWED. SO THE AMENDMENT THAT
COUNCIL MEMBERS PROVIDED TO
CONTINUE RESOURCES TO SERVE
ENGLISH-LANGUAGE LEARNERS -- AND
EXPANDING THE PLAN LEARN
PROGRAMS IS REALLY IMPORTANT.
THANK YOU, COUNCIL MEMBERS, FOR
RECOGNIZING THE VITAL ROLE OF
THE LIBRARY AND SERVING OUR
IMMIGRANT NEIGHBORS AND I URGE
YOU ALL TO SUPPORT THE
AMENDMENT. THANK YOU.
>> THANK YOU. NEXT, LILY,
CHRISTIANA, AND MONIQUE.
WELCOME, LILY.
>> THANK YOU, COUNCIL MEMBERS.
MY NAME IS LILY, I'M A RESIDENT
OF DISTRICT 1. I WANT TO THANK
MY COUNCIL MEMBERS, ESPECIALLY
FOR THE AMENDMENT TO PROVIDE FOR
ADDITIONAL RETROFIT FOR THE
LIBRARY PRIORITIZING OUR
BEAUTIFUL WEST SEATTLE BRANCH.
THIS BRANCH IS EVEN MORE
HISTORIC THAN MANY REALIZE. IT
OPENED IN JULY 1910 IS THE FIRST
PERMANENT LIBRARY BRANCH IN
SEATTLE. AND IS STILL THE OLDEST
OPERATING LIBRARY BUILDING IN
THE CITY. IT IS ON THE NATIONAL
REGISTER OF HISTORIC PLACES AND
IS A LANDMARKED BUILDING. WHEN I
FIRST MOVED TO WEST SEATTLE, NO
JOKE, IT WAS THE FIRST PLACE
ABOUT MY MOM. SHE IS A RETIRED
LIBRARIAN AND OUR LIBRARY BRANCH
MANAGER FROM NEW JERSEY AND I
WANT TO SHOW HER WHAT KIND OF
NEIGHBORHOOD AND COMMITTEE I
JUST MOVED INTO. THERE IS NO
BETTER PLACE TO SHOW THAT FROM
THE WONDERFUL WELCOMING READING
AREA AND THE CHILDREN'S AREA TO
THE INCREDIBLE STAFF THAT HOSTS
PROGRAMS FROM STORYTIME TO LOCAL
CLUBS CLASS CALLED MUSIC
CONCERTS. IT IS TRULY A HUB OF
THE NEIGHBORHOOD AND BEYOND.
HOWEVER, IT WILL BE 124 YEARS
OLD BY THE END OF THIS LEVY
CYCLE. IT DOES NOT HAVE THE
REINFORCED MASONRY TO PROTECT
THE BUILDING DURING AN
EARTHQUAKE OR THE CLIMATE AND
ACCESSIBILITY FEATURES OF MOST
MODERN LIBRARIES. MY
GRANDMOTHER, WAS ONLY 24 YEARS
YOUNGER THAN THAT BUILDING, SHE
TURNS 101 THIS YEAR, WOULD
CERTAINLY BENEFIT FROM THOSE
ADDITIONS. AS WE ALL KNOW,
SEATTLE IS OVERDUE FOR THE BIG
ONE. TO PARAPHRASE COUNCILMEMBER
RINCK LAST WEEK, THE BEST TIME
FOR A SEISMIC SAFETY UPGRADE IS
BEFORE THE BIG ONE HITS. FUNDING
THE WEST SEATTLE RETROFIT NOW
ALSO HELP MAKE SURE OUR
NEIGHBORS IN QUEEN ANNE AND
FREMONT BENEFIT FROM SIMILAR
PROJECTS IN THE NEXT LEVY CYCLE.
WE CAN'T AFFORD TO WAIT TOO
LONG TO PRESERVE THESE HISTORIC
BUILDINGS. PLEASE VOTE YES FOR
THIS AMENDMENT AND IT BENEFITS
EVERYONE WHO COMES THROUGH THE
DOORS OF OUR BRANCHES.
>> THANK YOU, LILY. NEXT,
CHRISTIANA AND THEN MONIQUE AND
THEN WE GO TO OUR ONLINE.
WELCOME.
>> MY NAME IS CHRISTIANA. I LIVE
IN DISTRICT 6. WHEN MY KIDS WERE
LITTLE WE WOULD GO TO THE
GREENWOOD LIBRARY IN OUR
NEIGHBORHOOD OFTEN. WHEN WE
WOULD RIDE THE ELEVATOR AS IT
CREAKED AND CRAWLED THERE WOULD
BE THAT MOMENT BETWEEN MYSELF,
MY KIDS AND OTHER PATRONS LOOK
THAT SAYS, ARE WE GOING TO GET
STUCK? THOSE KIDS ARE YOUNG
ADULTS NOW. ONE OF THEM IS HERE
WITH ME TODAY. AND THE ELEVATOR
AT THE GREENWOOD LIBRARY AND
OTHERS IN OUR DISTRICT CONTINUE
TO CREAK AND CRAWL EVER SO
SLOWLY UP AND DOWN BETWEEN
FLOORS. THE SAME HERE TO THANK
MY COUNCILMEMBER, FOR HIS
PROPOSED AMENDMENT TO FUND ADA
ACCESSIBILITY AND MAINTENANCE
NEEDS AT OUR LIBRARIES. THESE
FUNDS ARE CRITICALLY NEEDED,
ESPECIALLY FOR ELEVATOR AND
ESCALATOR REPLACEMENTS. IF YOU
HAD BEEN ON THE STREET TO THE
CENTRAL LIBRARY, THIS WEEK,
YOU'D HAVE SEEN AN ELEVATOR AND
ESCALATOR ARE CURRENTLY DOWN. AS
IS, UNFORTUNATELY, OFTEN THE
CASE IN THAT AMAZING AND AGING
BUILDING. AS OUR LIBRARIES AGE,
ELEVATORS AND ESCALATORS ARE
OFTEN THE FIRST THINGS TO BREAK.
LEADING TO SAFETY RISKS AND
INACCESSIBILITY. AND AS ANYONE
WHO HAS LIVED OR WORKED IN A
HIGH-RISE BUILDING THOSE,
ELEVATORS AREN'T CHEAP OR QUICK
TO REPLACE. THAT IS WHY THE TIME
TO FUND THESE REPLACEMENTS IS
RIGHT NOW WITH THE ONCE EVERY
SEVEN YEARS OPPORTUNITY IN FRONT
OF YOU BEFORE COSTS GET EVEN
HIGHER OR A SERIOUS ISSUE
OCCURS. THANK YOU, COUNCILMEMBER
STRAUSS, FOR PROPOSING FUNDS TO
ADEQUATELY ADDRESS ADA
ACCESSIBILITY AND MAINTENANCE
ACROSS THE LIBRARY SYSTEM.
WITHOUT THIS FUNDING WE WILL
FALL DANGEROUSLY BEHIND ON
MAKING SURE OUR LIBRARIES ARE
SAFE AND ACCESSIBLE FOR
EVERYONE. I ASKED THE COUNCIL TO
VOTE YES ON THIS AMENDMENT.
THANK YOU SO MUCH.
>> THANK YOU, CHRISTIANA. NEXT,
MONIQUE, AND THEN WE WILL GO TO
OUR ONLINE SPEAKERS. WELCOME.
>> MY NAME IS MONIQUE AND I LIVE
IN DISTRICT 4. I FEGLI VISIT THE
FREMONT LIBRARY. I SERVE ON THE
BOARD OF THE FRIENDS OF THE
SEATTLE PUBLIC LIBRARY.
THROUGHOUT THIS PROCESS YOU
ENGAGED WITH MANY OF MY FELLOW
BOARD MEMBERS AS WE SEEK TO
FULFILL OUR MISSION LIBRARY AND
INSPIRE A LOVE OF READING IN OUR
COMMUNITY. AND THANKS FOR
LISTENING AND I WANT TO
ESPECIALLY THANK COUNCILMEMBER
RINCK, NOT JUST FOR YOUR
FANTASTIC REAL WITH MY BOARD
COLLEAGUE JENNIFER, BUT ALSO FOR
SPONSORING THE AMENDMENT TO
EXPAND INTO DIGITAL BOOKS. AS
YOU REPEATEDLY HEARD, BOTH
DIGITAL BOOKS AND PEAK PICS ARE
EXTREMELY POPULAR AMONG SEATTLE
READERS. IT MAKES PERFECT SENSE
TO TAKE ONE OF THE MOST POPULAR
THINGS LIBRARY DOES AND COMBINE
IT WITH THE MOST POPULAR CURRENT
FORMAT REQUESTED BY THE PUBLIC.
THAT THE LIBRARY OFFERS. PEAK
PICS OFFERS NO WAY ACCESS TO
MOST IN DEMAND NEW RELEASES FROM
WELL-KNOWN AUTHORS AND RIGHT NOW
FOR EXAMPLE IT FEATURES THE
LATEST WORKS FROM. IT ALSO
HIGHLIGHTS WRITERS AND NEW
VOICES AND CURRENT PICS INCLUDE
NORTHWEST TRAVEL GUIDE, A MANUAL
ON GROWING VEGETABLES IN
WASHINGTON AND A MYSTERY SET ON
WHIDBEY ISLAND. IT PROVIDES A
BELOVED SERVICE FOR PATRONS AND
VALUABLE PLATFORM FOR EMERGING
AND DIVERSE WRITERS AT THE FRONT
OF EVERY LIBRARY AND HOPEFULLY
SOON ON THE FRONT PAGE OF THE
AB. PLEASE VOTE YES TO EXPAND
ACCESS TO PEAK PICS AND DIGITAL
BOOKS.
>> THANK YOU. WE WILL GO TO OUR
ONLINE SPEAKERS. WE HAVE BRIAN,
ROBERTA, AND KATHLEEN. BRIAN,
PRESS STAR SIX AND YOU MAY
BEGIN.
>> THIS IS BRIAN. I'M A HOST ON
THE SEATTLE CHANNEL. THANK YOU
FOR THE OPPORTUNITY. I'VE
TALKED WITH ALL OF YOU AT THE
SEATTLE CHANNEL STUDIOS BEFORE
BUT THIS IS A LITTLE DIFFERENT.
I'M SPEAKING TO YOU IN SUPPORT
OF COUNCILMEMBER STRAUSS'S
AMENDMENT TO THE LIBRARY LEVY.
AMENDMENT NUMBER EIGHT ON PAGE
16 OF YOUR AMENDMENT'S PACKET.
THIS MEASURE WOULD EXPAND
LIBRARY PROGRAMMING ON THE
SEATTLE CHANNEL. A RELATIVELY
LOW COST OF $300,000 PER YEAR,
$2.1 MILLION OVER THE LIFE OF
THE LEVY. THE SEATTLE CHANNEL IS
BROADCAST MONTHLY LIBRARY BOARD
MEETINGS, FOR THE PAST 15 YEARS,
AND THERE'S AN OPPORTUNITY NOW
TO BUILD ON THIS PARTNERSHIP AND
LEVERAGE THE CHANNEL'S GROWING
ONLINE PRESENCE WITH 5.5 MILLION
ANNUAL VIDEO ABUSE TO PROMOTE
LIBRARY CONTENT. BOOK TALKS,
LECTURES AND OTHER LIBRARY
PRESENTATIONS COULD BE FEATURED
ON SEATTLE CHANNELS MULTIPLE
VIDEO PLATFORMS. CONNECTING WITH
THE CHANNELS 156,000 FOLLOWERS
ON SOCIAL MEDIA INCLUDING 82,000
SUBSCRIBERS ON YOUTUBE ALONE.
THIS AMENDMENT IS NOT A LARGE
INCREASE TO THE LEVY. BUT IT
WOULD CREATE A SIGNIFICANT
FUNDING SOURCE FOR THE SEATTLE
CHANNEL. AS MANY CANCEL MEMBERS
KNOW, THE CHANNEL FACE MAJOR
FUNDING CUTS IN 2024 THAT
WOULD'VE RESULTED IN THE LOSS
OF SHOWS LIKE THE ONES I HOST
WITH YOU AND OTHER GUESTS, PLUS
OTHER POPULAR PROGRAMS. LIKE ART
ZONE. AND BOOK LOVE. I AM
THANKFUL TO THE COUNCIL THAT
FUNDING FOR THE CHANNEL WAS
RESTORED THEN, BUT DECREASING
REVENUE FROM CABLE FEES REMAINS
A CONCERN. THAT IS WHY THIS IDEA
OF ADDING A LITTLE BIT OF LEVY
MONEY TO THE CHANNEL, CREATING A
BRAIDED APPROACH WITH MULTIPLE
FUNDING SOURCES FOR THE CHANNEL
PRESENTS ITSELF AS A PRACTICAL
AND SUSTAINABLE PATH FORWARD. AS
A JOURNALIST COVERING CITY HALL
IT IS NOT COMFORTABLE FOR ME TO
SPEAK OUT ABOUT THE CITY DOLLARS
THAT AFFECT MY JOB, AS I WAS NOT
COMFORTABLE TWO YEARS AGO. BUT
I'M GOING TO SAY WITH ALL THE
HUMIDITY I CAN, I SEE THE WORK
OF THE SEATTLE CHANNEL IS A
CRITICAL PART OF THE FABRIC OF
THE CITY AND IT NEEDS TO SURVIVE
AND FLOURISH. THIS IS A VERY
SMALL INCREASE TO THE LEVY, BUT
I SEE IT AS A FISCALLY
RESPONSIBLE MOVE TO PROMOTE
SEATTLE LIBRARIES AND HELP THE
SEATTLE CHANNEL 5 INTO THE
FUTURE. THANK YOU.
>> THANK YOU, BRIAN. NEXT,
ROBERTA. PRESS STAR SIX. YOU MAY
BEGIN.
>>
>> THANK YOU, CHAIR AND COUNCIL
MEMBERS. MY NAME IS ROBERTA AND
I LIVE IN DISTRICT 5. MY FIRST
TIME EVER CALLING IN TO MAKE
PUBLIC COMMENT ON AN ISSUE. I
HAVE BEEN A LIFELONG SUPPORTER
OF THE PUBLIC LIBRARY,
FREQUENTED THE NORTHEAST
LIBRARY, AND AND AN AVID
AUDIOBOOK USER. THE LIBRARY IS A
PLACE THAT I AND SO MANY OTHERS
HAVE ALWAYS CALLED HOME. I'M
ALSO AN ACTIVE YOU ARE OF THE
EMMY AWARD-WINNING SEATTLE
CHANNEL. SUCH A GREAT EXISTING
FREE RESOURCE THAT THE CITY
SHOULD BE PROUD OF. THIS IS WHY
AM SO PLEASED TO SEE THE
AMENDMENT FROM COUNCILMEMBER
STRAUSS TO GROW THE SEATTLE
CHANNEL COVERAGE OF THE LIBRARY
PROGRAMS. WHAT A GREAT
COLLABORATION THAT WILL BE.
LIBRARY PROGRAMS ARE SUCH A HUGE
WIN FOR THE CITY. EDUCATIONAL
AND FREE OF CHARGE. A BROAD
RANGE OF PROGRAMS OFFER
SOMETHING FOR EVERYONE. TRULY A
COMMON GROUND. THESE MUST BE
ACCESSIBLE TO EVERYONE INCLUDING
PEOPLE FACE BARRIERS, PRESENTED
BY THE TRANSPORTATION, CHILDCARE
AND MORE. AND WHO MAY NOT BE
ABLE TO ATTEND LIBRARY PROGRAMS
IN PERSON. THE SEATTLE CHANNEL
IS ANOTHER ESSENTIAL FREE
EDUCATIONAL PUBLIC SERVICE. THEY
DO SUCH AN AMAZING JOB OF
COVERING CITY POLITICS AND SO
MUCH MORE. THEY ALREADY OFFER
AWARD-WINNING ORIGINAL CONTENT,
CREATIVE AND CULTURAL PROGRAMS,
VITAL ELECTION INFORMATION AND
SEATTLE HISTORY JUST TO NAME A
FEW. I'M EXCITED THAT
COUNCILMEMBER STRAUSS'S
AMENDMENT WOULD PROVIDE MORE
OPPORTUNITIES FOR PEOPLE
EXPERIENCE LIBRARY PROGRAMS
REMOTELY VIA THE SEATTLE
CHANNEL. I URGE YOU TO VOTE YES
ON THIS AMENDMENT AND SUPPORT
MORE ACCESS TO TWO OF OUR
CENTRAL PUBLIC SERVICES. THE
LIBRARY AND THE SEATTLE CHANNEL.
THANK YOU.
>> THANK YOU, ROBERTA. KATHLEEN.
PLEASE PRESS STAR SIX AND YOU
MAY BEGIN.
>> THANK YOU, COUNCIL MEMBERS.
MY NAME IS KATHLEEN, AND I LIVE
IN DISTRICT 7. I AM SPEAKING IN
SUPPORT OF THE LIBRARY LEVY WITH
AN EMPHASIS ON ADDITIONAL
FUNDING FOR THE COMMUNITY
RESOURCE SPECIALIST POSITION.
FOR 19 YEARS I WAS THE EXECUTIVE
DIRECTOR OF CRISIS CLINIC, NOW
CRISIS CONNECTION. WHICH
PROVIDES TELEPHONE-BASED
INFORMATION REFERRALS TO HELP
HEALTH AND HUMAN SERVICES AND A
BROAD ARRAY OF BEHAVIORAL HEALTH
CRISIS DIVERSION SERVICES
INCLUDING 988 , THE SUICIDE AND
CRISIS LINE. I WAS A COFOUNDER
OF WASHINGTON STATE 211 SERVICE,
A THREE DIGIT DIALING CODE THAT
MADE IT EASIER FOR PEOPLE -- THE
LIBRARY'S COMMUNITY RESOURCE
SPECIALISTS ARE A DEDICATED
STAFF WHO HAVE THE CAPACITY ,
EXPERTISE AND EMPATHY TO WORK
WITH VULNERABLE LIBRARY
PATIENTS. EXPANDING THESE
POSITIONS AND WORKING WITH THE
CARE TEAM TO BETTER INTEGRATE
SERVICE CONNECTION FROM LIBRARY
LOCATION WILL STRENGTHEN OUR
CITY SAFETY NET. THIS WILL
BENEFIT PATRONS AT THE CENTRAL
LIBRARY, BALLARD, AND CAPITOL
HILL. I WOULD LIKE TO THANK
COUNCIL MEMBERS FOSTER, STRAUSS
AND HOLLINGSWORTH. THERE
IMPORTANT AMENDMENT WOULD
ADDRESS THE CRISIS NEEDS OF
LIBRARY PATRONS. I ENCOURAGE ALL
COUNCILMEMBERS TO SUPPORT THIS
AMENDMENT AND EXPAND THE
LIBRARY'S ROLE IN ADDRESSING
THE NEEDS OF OUR LITTLE MEMBERS
OF OUR CITY. THANK YOU.
>> THANK YOU. COLLEEN, PLEASE
PRESS STAR SIX AND YOU MAY
BEGIN.
>> GOOD MORNING, CITY COUNCIL.
ARE NEIGHBORHOOD OF 3200
RESIDENTS, 100% SUPPORTS THE $10
MILLION VIBRATE LEVY. AS YOU
KNOW, IT IS WHOPPING 50%
INCREASE INFLATION ADJUSTMENT
REPLACEMENT LEVY WHICH COVERS
EVERYTHING FROM OPERATIONS
MAINTENANCE, BOOKS AND
MATERIALS, INFRASTRUCTURE,
E-BOOKS AND THE WONDERFUL
OUTREACH SERVICES. THERE ARE
SOME REAL CONCERNS AMONG
CONSTITUENTS THAT THE LEVY
REQUIRES THE CITY TO RECEIVE
LEVY LIMITS FROM THE STATE AND
THE NEIGHBORS ESPECIALLY SENIORS
AND SEVERAL VETERANS ON FIXED
INCOMES DO NOT SUPPORT
ADDITIONAL AMENDMENTS SEATTLE
EVEN AT A DANGEROUSLY HIGH
---THE STATE. ADDING MORE
MILLIONS AMENDMENTS FOR THE CITY
FOR REAL EMERGENCIES. YESTERDAY
AS WE STOOD AT THE MARKET
NEIGHBORS WERE CONTEMPLATING IN
THE CARTS WHETHER THEY SHOULD
STUFF THE CART FULL OF
EVERYTHING OR SHOULD SOMETHING
BE LEFT ON THE SHELF BROTHERS
FOR EMERGENCIES. THIS IS THE
SAME AS SAVING A SMALL OF AMOUNT
OF TAXING CAPACITY. OR
CONTINGENCY FOR THE CITY'S
FUTURE. ALL OF SEATTLE RESIDENTS
HAVE WONDERFUL AFFILIATIONS WITH
SEATTLE LIBRARIES AND GREAT
MEMORIES. BUT WE CAN'T AFFORD
MORE THAN THE $410 MILLION WHICH
IS A 50% INCREASE. LANDOWNERS
HAVE ALREADY BEEN TAXED HEAVILY
TO FUND PARKS AND REC LEVY,
CHILDREN, FAMILIES AND FREE
PRESCHOOL WHICH ALSO PROVIDES
MANY OF THESE RESOURCES IN SAFE
PLACES FOR CHILDREN TO BE AFTER
SCHOOL. PLEASE PASS THE $400
MILLION -- $410 MILLION CB 12181
WITH NO AMENDMENTS. LET'S KEEP
SEATTLE MORE AFFORDABLE FOR
LANDOWNERS, RENTERS, HOMEOWNERS,
AND SAVE SOMETHING FOR A RAINY
DAY. THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR YOUR
WORK ON THIS.
>> THANK YOU, COLLEEN. MARGARET
BUTLER. PLEASE PRESS STAR SIX
AND YOU MAY BEGIN.
>> HI, THANK YOU, COUNCIL
MEMBERS, FOR YOUR TIME. I AM
MARGARET BUTLER. I AM AN ARTIST,
GRAPHIC DESIGNER AND SMALL
BUSINESS OWNER IN SEATTLE AND I
LIVE IN VERMONT IN DISTRICT 6. I
ALSO RENT AN ART STUDIO IN
BALLARD. I'M HERE TO TELL YOU
THAT I SUPPORT THE LIBRARY LEVY
IN FULL AND SPECIFICALLY THE
AMENDMENT TO ADD TO OUR
COLLECTION AND COUNCILMEMBER
RINCK'S AMENDMENT FOR PEAK
PICS. MY FIRST TO SETTLE ONE OF
THE THINGS I DID WAS GET A
LIBRARY CARD. I WILL NEVER
FORGET THE FIRST TIME I WENT TO
CENTRAL LIBRARY, I WALKED IN, I
LOOKED UP AND WAS TAKING IN THE
BEAUTY WELL A CELLIST WAS
PLAYING AND IT BROUGHT TEARS TO
MY EYES BECAUSE I WAS SO EXCITED
AND HAPPY IT WAS MY NEW HOME. I
LOVE IT SEATTLE IS INVESTING IN
ITS LIBRARY INCREASE SPACES FOR
CITIZENS. I USE THE LIBRARY
EVERY DAY READING DIGITAL BOOKS
AND AUDIOBOOKS , RENTING
PHYSICAL BOOKS AND I AM OLD
SCHOOL SO I LIKE TO RENT DVDS
FROM TIME TO TIME. THE LIBRARY
SUPPORTS MY SMALL BUSINESS NEEDS
WITH PRINTING, COMPUTER AND
WI-FI ACCESS, REFERENCE MATERIAL
FOR MY ART, PERSONAL HOTSPOTS
FOR MY ART STUDIO, AND EVEN GOT
AN AFFIDAVIT NOTARIZED AT THE
LIBRARY SO I COULD USE MY
PARTNER'S WORKPLACE HEALTH
INSURANCE WHICH IS HUGE FOR A
SMALL BUSINESS OWNER LIKE ME.
ONE THING I'VE NOTICED IS THE
TIME AT THE LIBRARY ARE TOO
LONG. SINCE WE ARE TOP 10 IN THE
NATION IN SEATTLE WITH DIGITAL
BOOK RENTALS, I FIND MYSELF
WAITING SEVERAL WEEKS FOR THE
MATERIALS I WANT AND NEED. FOR
EXAMPLE I PLACED A HOLD ON A
PERSONAL HOTSPOTS AT THE END OF
LAST YEAR AND FINALLY GOT IT
LAST WEEK SO I COULD USE IT IN
MY ART STUDIO. I END UP ACTUALLY
PURCHASING A BOOK FOR A BOOK
CLUB I AM IN BECAUSE THE
PHYSICAL, DIGITAL AND AUDIOBOOK
COPIES OF PROJECT HAIL MARY WERE
ON HOLD UNTIL LONG AFTER OUR
BOOK CLUB WAS AGILE TO DISCUSS
THE BOOK. IN CONCLUSION I
SUPPORT THE LIBRARY LEVY BECAUSE
IT IS AN IMPORTANT COMMUNITY
RESOURCE FOR SMALL BUSINESS
OWNERS AND READING ENTHUSIASTS
LIKE ME. WE NEED ACCESS TO
EDUCATIONAL MATERIALS -- SO
PLEASE SUPPORT THIS LIBRARY LEVY
IN FULL. THANK YOU.
>> THANK YOU, MARGARET. DAVID
HAYNES, PRESS START SIX AND YOU
MAY BEGIN.
>> IS THERE ANYWAY WE CAN
INCREASE THE DOLLAR AMOUNT AND
BUILD SOME NEW LIBRARIES? EVERY
TIME WE HAVE TO DO A SEISMIC
RETROFIT IT IS A SIGN WE HAVE A
BUILDING CODE VIOLATION AND
UNSTABLE WALLS. THE THING IS, WE
NEED TO IMPROVE THE SERVICES
THAT HAVE TO RESPOND TO THE
SOCIETAL EXPLOSION WE KEEP IT
DEALING WITH WHEN PEOPLE THINK
THAT THE LIBRARY IS A FREE PLACE
TO HANG OUT AND BOTHER OTHER
PEOPLE. AND A PERFECT EFFORT
WOULD BE, COUNCILMEMBER FOSTERS
AMENDMENT THAT IS GOING TO SPEND
$10 MILLION TO REMODEL THE
CENTRAL LIBRARY. IF YOU ALL
WOULD ALLOW FOR A PARTICIPATORY
EFFORT TO REMODEL, IT WOULD BE
GREAT. BECAUSE YOU HAVE TO
CREATE PERSONAL SPACE FOR
SOMEONE LIKE ME TO GO IN THERE,
RIGHT MY SPEECH AND NOT BE
BOTHERED BY OTHER PEOPLE'S
PROBLEMS , THE PASSIVE
AGGRESSIVELY BOTHER OTHER PEOPLE
, AT THE SAME COMPUTER TABLE, AT
THE SAME READING AREA. AND IT'S
FRUSTRATING BECAUSE TO THE POINT
WHERE I HAVE PRETTY MUCH GIVEN
UP ON GOING THERE , KNOWING FULL
WELL WITHIN FIVE MINUTES I'M
GOING TO BE STRESSED OUT. IT'S
NOT FAIR. AND PART OF THE
PROBLEM IS , I HATE TO SAY THIS,
BUT THE SERVICE PROVIDERS WERE
SUPPOSED TO PROVIDE SHOWER AND
LAUNDRY, THEY DON'T SHOW UP AND
PICK SOMEBODY UP WHO GETS A
TICKET, THE GIVES THEM A
GUARANTEE THAT THEY GET A SHOWER
AND LAUNDRY RIGHT AWAY. A LOT OF
TIMES I'VE ASKED SOME OF THE
LIBRARIANS, WHAT YOU CALL THE
SERVICE PROVIDER ? THEY SAY WE
HAVE DONE THAT, WE KNOW THIS
PERSON, THEY'VE GOT PROBLEMS
AND THEY WILL BE BACK. IT'S
LIKE, SOMETIMES YOU JUST HAVE TO
CALL SO THEY CAN GO TAKE A
SHOWER AND LAUNDRY. THEY SAY, WE
ARE NOT GOING TO JUDGE, WE ARE
ALL INCLUSIVE. IT'S MOST LIKE A
PASSIVE-AGGRESSIVE ALLOWANCE FOR
A DISGRUNTLED ATTITUDE TO TAKE
IT OUT ON SOMEBODY ELSE. A
PATRON WHO CANNOT ENJOY THE
LIBRARY BECAUSE IT IS TOO NOISY
AND THERE TOO MANY BOTHERSOME
PEOPLE. YOU GOT TO HAVE THE
REMODEL --
>> THANK YOU, DAVID.
>> THIS IS OUR LAST SPEAKER.
>> THERE ARE NO ADDITIONAL
REGISTERED SPEAKERS. THE PUBLIC
COMMENT PERIOD IS CLOSED. WILL
PROCEED TO HER ITEM OF BUSINESS.
I JUST WANT TO THANK EVERYONE
FOR COMING DOWN HERE AND GIVING
YOUR TESTIMONY, THANK YOU FOR
DOING JAZZ HANDS AND SNAPS.
LECLERC PLEASE READ ITEM ONE
INTO THE RECORD?
>> AN ORDINANCE RELATING TO
REGULAR PROPERTY TAXES.
PROVIDING FOR THE SUBMISSION TO
THE QUALIFIED ELECTORS OF THE
CITY AT AN ELECTION TO BE HELD
ON AUGUST 4, 2026, OF A
PROPOSITION AUTHORIZING THE CITY
TO LEVY REGULAR PROPERTY TAXES
FOR UP TO SEVEN YEARS IN EXCESS
OF THE LIMITATION ON LEVIES IN
CHAPTER 84.55 RCW FOR THE
PURPOSE OF SUSTAINING
INVESTMENTS IN LIBRARY OPERATING
HOURS, COLLECTIONS, TECHNOLOGY,
PROGRAMMING, AND MAINTENANCE
WHILE EXPANDING ACCESS TO
OPPORTUNITY THROUGH LIBRARY
MATERIALS, TECHNOLOGY, AND
UNDERTAKING A SEISMIC RETROFIT
OF ONE LIBRARY FACILITY. AND
RATIFYING AND CONFIRMING CERTAIN
PRIOR ACTS. FOR BRIEFING,
DISCUSSION AND POSSIBLE VOTE.
>> THIS ITEM HAS BEEN READ INTO
THE RECORD. COLLEAGUES, WE ARE
HERE. MEMBERS OF THE PUBLIC WHO
ARE HERE IN PERSON OR WATCHING
ON THE SEATTLE CHANNEL, THANK
YOU FOR BEING PRESENT FOR THESE
REALLY IMPORTANT VOTES. AS PART
OF THIS LEVY RENEWAL PROCESS, WE
HAVE ALL SPOKEN ABOUT OUR LOVE
FOR THE SEATTLE LIBRARIES. WE
HAVE STRONG AFFECTION FOR LOCAL
BRANCHES AND WE ARE ALIGNED IN A
SHARED CONVICTION THAT WE HAVE
ONE OF THE BEST LIBRARY SYSTEMS
IN THE WORLD. ONE BUILT TO SERVE
A CITY OF AVID READERS AND
LEARNERS. THE MAYOR SENT DOWN A
GOOD PACKAGE BECAUSE SHE LOVES
LIBRARIES, AND I LOVE LIBRARIES
AS MUCH AS WE'LL DO. THAT IS
WHY I SUPPORTED IT . IT IS 50%
MORE THAN THE LAST LEVY, EVEN
AFTER ACCOUNTING FOR INFLATION.
IT INCREASES INVESTMENTS IN
COLLECTIONS, ACCESS AND
PROGRAMMING, AND CAPITAL
PROJECTS. AS WE DISCUSSED AT THE
LAST MEETING, WE ARE FACING A
VERY REAL LEVY CAP WITH THE
PROPOSED PACKAGE WE WOULD HAVE
$310 MILLION LEFT FOR FUTURE
LEVIES. INCLUDING THE HOUSING ,
THEFT AND TRANSPORTATION LEVIES.
IF ALL THE AMENDMENTS PASSED
TODAY, THEN WE WILL ONLY HAVE
$230 MILLION LEFT. THE ADDITIONS
FROM THE AMENDMENT TODAY, WELL
WORTHY, OR INCREASING ITEMS THAT
ARE ALREADY IN THE MAYOR'S
PACKAGE AT A TIME WHEN WE CAN'T
AFFORD MORE. WE KNOW THERE ARE
OTHER NEEDS THAT ARE COMING.
LET'S FACE IT, WE ARE ONLY IN
YEAR TWO OF THIS MADMAN IN THE
PRESIDENCY, IN THE PRESIDENTS
SEAT, WHO KNOWS WHAT ELSE WE
WILL HAVE TO DEAL WITH. AND OF
COURSE EVERYONE KEEPS TALKING
ABOUT AFFORDABILITY IN SEATTLE.
THESE DAYS THAT SEEMS MORE REAL
THAN EVER. IF I FELT WE COULD
ADD THIS LEVY WITHOUT
JEOPARDIZING FUTURE LEVIES OR
ADDING TO OUR AFFORDABILITY
CRISIS, I TOO WOULD ADD MORE. WE
DON'T HAVE A CRYSTAL BALL TO
PREDICT WHAT WILL HAPPEN IN THE
FUTURE. WE ARE OPERATING WITH
OUR KNOWLEDGE WE HAVE TODAY.
THERE IS NO JUDGMENT HERE, THIS
IS NOT ABOUT WHO LOVES LIBRARIES
MORE. THIS IS ABOUT FISCAL
RESPONSIBILITY AND OUR ABILITY
TO PAY FOR ALL OF OUR NEEDS. NO
MATTER WHAT IS DECIDED TODAY, WE
WILL HAVE A LEVY TO SEND TO THE
VOTERS IN THE VOTERS CAN DECIDE
. WITH THAT, COLLEAGUES, WE ARE
GOING TO MOVE FORWARD WITH HER
MEETING. I MOVE THAT THE
COMMITTEE COMMENCE PASSAGE OF
COUNCIL BILL 121181. IS VERY
SECOND?
>> SECOND.
>> THANK YOU. IT IS MOVED AND
SECONDED TO RECOMMEND PASSAGE OF
THE BILL. I WOULD LIKE TO INVITE
ERIC McCONAGHY, OUR CENTRAL
STAFFER, COMING TO THE TABLE.
THANK YOU FOR BEING HERE. LET ME
SHARE THE PROCESS FOR VOTING FOR
THE AMENDMENT. WE HAVE A NUMBER
OF THEM. WHAT WE WILL DO IS
THIS. I WILL RECOGNIZE THE
SPONSOR OF EACH AMENDMENT IN
NUMERICAL ORDER. THE SPONSOR
WILL MAKE THE MOTION TO MOVE
THERE AMENDMENT. WE WILL WAIT
FOR IT TO BE SECONDED. AND THEN
I WILL RECOGNIZE ERIC TO BRIEFLY
PRESENT IT AND THEN I WILL
RECOGNIZE THAT SPONSOR TO
ADDRESS THE AMENDMENT. I WILL
TURN TO THE REST OF US FOR
QUESTIONS OR COMMENTS AND THEN
WE WILL MOVE ON THAT AMENDMENT
AND REPEAT THE PROCESS FOR
SUBSEQUENT AMENDMENT'S. ALL
RIGHT, WITH THAT, COUNCILMEMBER
FOSTER, YOUR RECOGNIZED MOVIE
FIRST AMENDMENT.
>> FANTASTIC, I WOULD LIKE TO
MOVE AMENDMENT NUMBER ONE. DO I
HAVE A SECOND?
>> SECOND.
>> IT IS MOVED AND SECONDED TO
AMEND COUNCIL BILL 121181 ON
AMENDMENT ONE. CENTRAL STAFF,
ERIC, WOULD YOU PLEASE PROVIDE A
BRIEF OVERVIEW OF THE AMENDMENT?
>> YES, GOOD MORNING, ERIC
McCONAGHY, COUNCIL CENTRAL
STAFF. IT IS SPONSORED BY
COUNCIL FOSTER, IT WOULD INTEND
A PORTION OF THE LIBRARY LEVY
FUNDING AMOUNT IS TRANSMITTED BY
THE MAYOR AND INCREASED BY THIS
AMENDMENT TO THE AMOUNT OF 10
NINE DOLLARS WOULD BE AUTHORIZED
TO SUPPORT COMPLETING MAJOR
RENOVATION AT THE CENTRAL
LIBRARY.
>> THANK YOU, ERIC.
COUNCILMEMBER FOSTER, AS SPONSOR
YOUR RECOGNIZED. IN ORDER TO
ADDRESS IT.
>> THANK YOU SO MUCH, CHAIR AND
THANK YOU, ERIC FROM CENTRAL
STAFF AND TO THE TEAM FROM
LIBRARIES. I WANT TO ALSO EXTEND
MY APPRECIATION TO HER PUBLIC
COMMENTERS TODAY. AND THANK YOU
FOR SPEAKING ON BEHALF OF THIS
AMENDMENT. I DO WANT TO SAY I
WAS NOT IN CAHOOTS WITH THE
ESCALATOR AND ELEVATOR AT THE
CENTRAL LIBRARY TO HAVE THE
BREAKDOWN THIS WEEK. HOWEVER, I
DO THINK IT IS EXEMPLARY OF PART
OF THE REASON I AM BRINGING THIS
AMENDMENT FORD. OUR CENTRAL
LIBRARY IS AN INCREDIBLY SPECIAL
PLACE. IS A SPECIAL PLACE FOR
FAMILIES AND CHILDREN. I KNOW I
SPENT A LOT OF TIME IN THE
CHILDREN'S LIBRARY THERE MYSELF
TAKING A BREAK FROM BUSY
DOWNTOWN WHEN I WAS YOUNGER.
IT'S REALLY IMPORTANT THAT WE
MAINTAIN THAT BUILDING AND THAT
WE INVEST IN AND NOW. AS WE KNOW
AT THE END OF HIS LEVY THE
BUILDING IS GOING TO BE ALMOST
30 YEARS OLD. AND, WE ARE
ALREADY SEEING THE WEAR AND TEAR
AND THE CENTRAL LIBRARY
BUILDING. IN ADDITION TO THAT,
AS THE FORMER LIBRARY AND SPOKE
TO TODAY, WE ARE NOW , WITH 22
YEARS UNDER OUR BELT, WE
UNDERSTAND MORE ABOUT THE NEEDS
OF THE BUILDING AND WHAT
RENOVATIONS COULD DO FOR THE
USERS. WITH THAT, THIS IS AN
AMENDMENT INTENDED TO ENSURE THE
CENTRAL LIBRARY REMAINS SAFE,
WELCOMING AND BUILT FOR HOW
TODAY'S FAMILIES USE IT.
COLLEAGUES, ASK FOR YOUR
SUPPORT.
>> THANK YOU, COUNCIL MEMBER
FOSTER. ANY COMMENTS OR
QUESTIONS? SEEING NONE, CLERK,
WE YOU PLEASE CALL THE ROLL ON
THE ADOPTION OF AMENDMENT ONE.
>> COUNCILMEMBER STRAUSS.
>> YES.
>> COUNCILMEMBER JUAREZ.
>> HERE. [ ROLL CALL ]
>> SIX IN FAVOR, ONE OPPOSED.
>> THE MOTION CARRIES .
AMENDMENT ONE IS ADOPTED.
COUNCILMEMBER FOSTER, YOUR
RECOGNIZED FIGURE NEXT
AMENDMENT.
>> THANK YOU, I WOULD LIKE TO
MOVE AMENDMENT NUMBER TWO.
>> SECOND.
>> THANK YOU, COUNCILMEMBER
JUAREZ. IT IS MOVED AND SECONDED
TO AMEND 121181 IS PRESENTED ON
AMENDMENT TWO. COUNCILMEMBER
FOSTER, AS SPONSOR YOUR
RECOGNIZED IN ORDER TO ADDRESS
IT.
>> THANK YOU SO MUCH, CHAIR. I
WILL BE BRIEF AND, COUNCILMEMBER
JUAREZ, I KNOW I SPOKE TO THIS
AMENDMENT LAST WEEK. IF YOU
WOULD LIKE TO SHARE ANY WORDS I
WILL BE BRIEF IN CASE YOU WOULD
LIKE TO SHARE ANY. THESE
ORNAMENTS TO ENSURE WE HAVE
TARGETED INVESTMENTS TO
MULTILINGUAL PROGRAMS SO
FAMILIES CAN ACCESS SERVICES IN
THE LANGUAGES THAT THEY SPEAK IT
HOME. IT IS INCREDIBLY IMPORTANT
FOR OUR PLAY AND LEARN PROGRAMS
THAT FAMILIES CAN ACCESS THEM
AND THIS AMENDMENT WOULD ALLOW
US TO EXPAND THOSE CRITICAL
PROGRAMS ACROSS THE CITY AND TO
ENSURE WE HAVE MORE MULTILINGUAL
SERVICES IN A TIME WHERE WE SO
NEED THEM. CHAIR, IF IT'S OKAY
FOR GO TO COUNCILMEMBER JUAREZ
TO SEE IF SHE WOULD LIKE TO AT
ANY COMMENTS AS COSPONSOR?
>> YES, YOUR RECOGNIZED TO
SPEAK.
>> THANK YOU, AND THANK YOU
CANCEL MEMBER FOSTER FOR
INVITING ME TO LOOK AT THIS AND
COSPONSORED WITH YOU. I THINK
THIS IS THE FIRST TIME YOU AND I
GOT TO WORK ON AMENDMENT
TOGETHER. SO THANK YOU.
COLLEAGUES, I'M ASKING YOU TO
SUPPORT COUNCIL MEMBER FOSTERS
AMENDMENT OF WHICH I MAY
COSPONSOR, TO SUPPORT THE
EXPANSION OF THE KALEIDOSCOPE
PLAN LEARN PROGRAM. FIVE HAS
THREE LIBRARIES. LAKE CITY,
NORTHGATE, BROADVIEW, HOWEVER,
THE KALEIDOSCOPE PROGRAM IS ONLY
OFFERED AT THE LAKE CITY BRANCH
AND ONLY OFFERED IN ENGLISH. LET
ME JUST SHARE THIS BEFORE I KIND
OF PLAY OUT THE THREE LIBRARIES.
CONNECTIVE TISSUE FOR ALL OF
THIS AND WHY I WAS SO INTRIGUED
WITH COUNCILMEMBER FOSTERS
AMENDMENT IS THAT WHEN WE LOOK
AT LIBRARIES, FOR US ANYWAY, AND
I THINK ACROSS THE DISTRICT, I
LIKE TO LOOK AT THE PUBLIC ASSET
OF THE LIBRARY IN CONJUNCTION
WITH HOUSING DENSITY AND OF
COURSE ALL THE MONEY WE HAVE
DONE , THANK YOU MADAM CHAIR AS
WELL, ON THE PRICKLY ISSUE. AND
WORK THE MONEY WENT. AND HOW ,
MY POINT IS TO DEDICATE PUBLIC
ACCESS TO PUBLIC ACCESS. THIS IS
A PRIME EXAMPLE OF THAT. AT THE
LAKE CITY LIBRARY, NEXT DOOR,
THE SOON TO BE BUILT COMMUNITY
CENTER WILL HAVE 113 UNITS OF
FAMILY HOUSING WITH PRESCHOOL
AND PROGRAM ON-SITE. WE ALSO
HAVE THE APARTMENTS WHICH IS ONE
BLOCK AWAY WITH 69 UNITS OF
HOUSING AND IS YOU ARE TODAY
FROM THE LITERARY SOURCE PEOPLE.
PRESCHOOL THE FIRST FLOOR. THERE
ARE SEVEN OTHER PRESCHOOLS IN
THE AREA INCLUDING EIGHT
BILINGUAL ENGLISH MENTORED
PRESCHOOL DOWN THE STREET FROM
MY HOUSE. AT THE NORTHGATE
LIBRARY, JUST TWO BLOCKS AWAY
FROM THE LIBRARY WE NOW HAVE THE
NEW LOOK. AT NORTH HAVEN. IT HAS
89 UNITS OF INTERGENERATIONAL
LIVING WITH A PRESCHOOL THE
FIRST FLOOR WHICH THE CITY,
VOTERS THANK YOU, AND CITY
COUNCIL, FOR SUPPORTING IT. AND
THE PRICKLY SCHOOLS. NEXT DOOR
TO THE LIBRARY WE HAVE THE EAST
AFRICAN ELDERS UNITY LODGE AT
THE NORTHGATE COMMUNITY CENTER
AND THAT IS WHERE IT IS HELD AND
I HAVE ATTENDED THAT. THE
BROADVIEW LIBRARY IS ONE BLOCK
FROM BROADVIEW, K-8 WITH THERE
ARE 140 STUDENTS ENROLLED IN THE
ENGLISH, E LL PROGRAM AT THE
SCHOOL AND OUR STUDENTS SPEAK 30
DIFFERENT LANGUAGES. WE WELCOME
THE OPPORTUNITY TO WORK WITH
CITY DEPARTMENTS SUCH AS DEAL
AND THE SEATTLE PRESCHOOL
PROGRAM AND AS YOU HEARD,
LITERACY SOURCE WHICH IS IN
DISTRICT 5, AND NORTH HELPLINE,
AND I THINK WHAT ENTERING TO
SHARE WITH YOU TODAY IS, HAVING
THREE LIBRARIES , HAVING HOUSING
DENSITY, AFFORDABLE HOUSING, AND
MORE IMPORTANTLY, HAVING THE
PRE-K ASSETS THAT WE HAVE IN ALL
OF HER DISTRICTS, THAT WE ALL
CONTRIBUTED TO MAKE SURE THEY
GET BUILT. SO KIDS HAVE A HEAD
START BEFORE THEY GO TO PUBLIC
SCHOOL, PRE-K ON-SITE CONNECTED
TO CONNECTED TO PUBLIC LIBRARIES
IS SO INCREDIBLE INVESTMENT IN
OUR CITY. THANK YOU.
>> THANK YOU, COUNCILMEMBER
JUAREZ. ERIC, APOLOGIES, I
DIDN'T GET TO YOU, BUT I THINK
WE ARE GOOD ON THIS ONE. OKAY. I
WILL MAKE SURE TO GO TO YOU IN
THE FUTURE ONES. COLLEAGUES, ANY
QUESTIONS OR COMMENTS FOR MANY
OF OUR COLLEAGUES? I, I WILL
SAY, COLLEAGUES, I SUPPORT -- I
SUPPORT THE INTENT BEHIND THIS
AMENDMENT. THESE PROGRAMS ARE
REALLY IMPORTANT. WE DO HAVE
THEM AT THE LIBRARIES. THEY
SHOULD BE PRIORITIZED FOR THE
NORTH END, AND I KNOW THERE ARE
DOLLARS IN HERE THAT COULD GO
TOWARD THAT PURPOSE ALREADY. AND
SO, I WOULD HAVE LOVED TO HAVE
SEEN THIS EXPANSION INTO THE
NORTH END , BUT NEVERTHELESS,
HERE WE ARE. LET'S TAKE A VOTE
ON AMENDMENT NUMBER TWO.
>> COUNCILMEMBER FOSTER.
>> AYE.
>> COUNCILMEMBER JUAREZ.
>> YES.
>> COUNCILMEMBER LIN.
>> AYE.
>> COUNCILMEMBER RINCK.
>> YES. VICE CHAIR
HOLLINGSWORTH.
>> YES.
>> CHAIR RIVERA.
>> NO.
>> AMENDMENT NUMBER TWO IS
ADOPTED. CONSUMER FOSTER YOUR
RECOGNIZED MOVE AMENDMENT NUMBER
THREE.
>> I ASKED TO MOVE AMENDMENT
NUMBER THREE. TO HAVE A SECOND?
>> IT IS MOVED AND SECONDED TO
AMEND COUNCIL BUILT 121181 AS
PRESENTED ON AMENDMENT NUMBER
THREE. ERIC, WOULD YOU GIVE A
BRIEF DESCRIPTION AND THEN I
WILL GO TO YOU, COUNCILMEMBER
FOSTER AS SPONSOR.
>> THIS AMENDMENT WOULD, WOULD
COMMUNICATE COUNCIL'S INTENTION
-- CAN WE START ALL OVER AGAIN.
>> OKAY. NO PROBLEM. THINGS ON
MY MIND THAT ARE NOT ABOUT THIS.
TAKE A DEEP BREATH. THROUGH THIS
AMENDMENT COUNCIL WHICH
INDICATED THEIR INTENTION TO
SUPPORT THE LIBRARY -- TO
INCREASE THE LIBRARY LIBBY
FUNDING AMOUNT BY $4.06 MILLION.
THIS WOULD BE TO SUPPORT
OPERATING HOURS AND ACCESS BY
EXPANDING RESOURCE NAVIGATION
BEFORE ADDITIONAL FULL-TIME
EQUIVALENT TO DEGREASER
SPECIALISTS AND UPGRADING
SECURITY BADGE ACCESS OF THE
CENTRAL BRANCH. GIVE YOUR
INDULGENCE FOR THAT.
>> NO PROBLEM AIR, THANK YOU.
COUNCILMEMBER FOSTER, AS
SPONSOR, YOU ARE RECOGNIZED TO
SPEAK TO THIS AMENDMENT. I KNOW
THERE ARE TWO OTHER COSPONSORS
AND WE CAN GO TO THEM AFTER.
>> THANK YOU SO MUCH. THANK YOU,
ERIC, YOU GOT THIS, YOU'RE
DOING GREAT. COLLEAGUES, AM
EXCITED TO BRING THIS AMENDMENT
FORWARD AND I WANT TO THANK
COUNCIL PRESIDENT HOLLINGSWORTH
AND COUNCILMEMBER STRAUSS FOR
THE COSPONSORSHIP. THE INTENT IS
TO ENSURE OUR LIBRARIES REMAIN
OPEN AND ACCESSIBLE AND
AVAILABLE TO ALL RESIDENTS. AS I
WAS ENGAGING WITH THE LIBRARY
STAFF, WE HEARD FROM FOLKS , WE
HAVE FOLKS WHO SPENT EIGHT OR 10
HOURS IN THE LIBRARIES. IT'S AN
EXCELLENT POINT TO MAKE SURE WE
ARE ABLE TO CONNECT THEM WITH
RESOURCES. WE ALSO HEARD
FANTASTIC INFORMATION ABOUT HOW
THESE NAVIGATORS HAVE HELPED THE
LIBRARIES TO REDUCE THE NUMBER
OF BANDS HAPPENING AT OUR
LIBRARIES SO THEY TRULY ARE A
THIRD PLACES AND THEY ARE PLACES
WHERE WE CAN HAVE SAFETY AND
ACCESS FOR ALL OF OUR RESIDENTS.
AM EXCITED TO BRING THIS
FORWARD. WE KNOW THE LIBRARY
WILL BE PRIORITIZING DOWNTOWN,
CAPITOL HILL AND BALLARD FOR
THESE NAVIGATORS. I THINK THAT
IS AN IMPORTANT AND WELL DONE
WAY TO SPEND THESE RESOURCES.
COLLEAGUES, I ASK FOR YOUR
SUPPORT.
>> THANK YOU, COUNCILMEMBER
FOSTER. COUNCIL PRESIDENT,
HOLLINGSWORTH, DID YOU WANT TO
SPEAK TO THIS AMENDMENT?
>> THANK YOU, CHAIR.
APPRECIATION FOR COUNCIL MEMBER
FOSTER AND HER LEADERSHIP ON
THIS COLLABORATION. REGARDING
THE AMENDMENT, SHE SAID
EVERYTHING I WOULD SAY SO I
WON'T REPEAT. I KNOW WE HAVE
THE GET THROUGH A BUNCH OF
AMENDMENTS. VERY GRATEFUL FOR
THAT. THANK YOU
>> COUNCIL PRESIDENT
HOLLINGSWORTH. COUNCILMEMBER
STRAUSS, IS THE OTHER COSPONSORS
WOULD YOU LIKE TO ADDRESS THIS
AMENDMENT?
>> YES, THANK YOU TO COUNCIL
MEMBER FOSTER FOR YOUR
LEADERSHIP AND THANK YOU TO THE
LIBRARIES FOR YOUR AGREEMENT TO
PARTNER WITH OUR EXISTING
SERVICE PROVIDERS IN THESE
AREAS. WHAT I HAVE NOTICED IS
THAT THE CURRENT SERVICE
PROVISION THAT IS OCCURRING AT
LIBRARIES IS NOT INTEGRATED WITH
THE FABRIC WE HAVE CREATED IN
THE LAST SIX YEARS. I'M EXCITED
TO BE ABLE TO SUPPORT THIS
AMENDMENT, TO SUPPORT YOUR WORK
AND DOING A LITTLE BETTER AND
MAKING SURE THAT COLLABORATION
OCCURS. THANK YOU.
>> THANK YOU, COUNCILMEMBER
STRAUSS. ANY QUESTIONS OR
COMMENTS? FROM OUR OTHER
COLLEAGUES? ALL RIGHT, THEN
LET'S GO TORBERT VOTE.
>>>> COUNCILMEMBER STRAUSS.
>> YES.
>> COUNCILMEMBER FOSTER.
>> YES.
>> COUNCILMEMBER JUAREZ.
>> YES.
>> COUNCILMEMBER LIN.
>> YES.
>> COUNCILMEMBER RINCK.
>> YES.
>> VICE CHAIR HOLLINGSWORTH.
>> YES.
>> CHAIR RIVERA.
>> NO.
>> MOTION CARRIES. COUNCILMEMBER
LIN YOUR RECOGNIZED MOVE
AMENDMENT NUMBER FOUR.
>> THANK YOU, CHAIR. I MOVED TO
ADOPT AMENDMENT NUMBER FOUR. IS
THERE A SECOND?
>> IT IS MOVED AND SECONDED TO
AMEND CANCEL BILL 121181 AS
PRESENTED ON AMENDMENT FOUR.
COUNCILMEMBER , AS SPONSOR OF
THIS AMENDMENT I WILL GO TO YOU
AFTER I GO TO ERIC.
>> FANTASTIC.
>> ERIC, WOULD YOU LIKE TO GIVE
US A BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF
AMENDMENT NUMBER FOUR?
>> SURE THING. THIS AMENDMENT
WOULD CAN INDICATE COUNCIL'S
INTENTION THAT A PORTION OF THE
LIBRARY LIBBY FUNDING AMOUNT IS
TRANSMITTED TO THE MAYOR AND
INCREASED BY $15 MILLION BY THE
COUNCIL SHOULD BE AUTHORIZED FOR
INVESTMENTS TO SUPPORT
MAINTENANCE, COMPLETING THE
REPAIR, REPLACEMENT OR UPGRADES
OF COOLING SYSTEMS FOR ALL
LIBRARY BRANCHES AND TWO,
ADDRESSING DEFERRED MAINTENANCE
AND BRANCH ELECT VACATION.
>> THANK YOU. AS SPONSOR OF THIS
AMENDMENT YOU ARE RECOGNIZED IN
ORDER TO ADDRESS IT.
>> THANK YOU, CHAIR. THIS
AMENDMENT, AS DESCRIBED, WOULD
COVER A NUMBER OF DIFFERENT
MATTERS. IT WOULD INCLUDE THE
HVAC SYSTEMS AT FIVE BRANCHES.
THAT MOSTLY HAS BEEN FUNDED
THROUGH THE FEMA GRANT, WHICH IS
WONDERFUL. WHICH COVERS MOST OF
THAT COST. THERE ARE SOME OF THE
COSTS THAT ARE ALREADY BUDGETED
FOR. BUT THIS WOULD HELP TO
ENSURE THAT THOSE PROJECTS CAN
BE COMPLETED IN CASE THERE ANY
COST OVERRUNS. OR, ALSO FOR
ONGOING MAINTENANCE AND REPAIRS.
IT WOULD ALSO HELP TO ADDRESS
DEFERRED MAINTENANCE. WE KNOW
THAT THE PROPOSAL DOES NOT FULLY
FUND ALL THE DIFFERENT
MAINTENANCE. AS WE HEARD,
DEFERRED MAINTENANCE PUMPS UP
UNEXPECTEDLY QUITE OFTEN IN OUR
BRANCHES. AS WELL AS BRANCH
ELECTRIFICATION. WE HAVE A
NUMBER OF BRANCHES THAT ARE NOT
ELECTRIFIED YET. AND, CURRENT
EVENTS , IT IS CRYSTAL CLEAR
THAT WE NEED TO MOVE RAPIDLY TO
TRANSITION AWAY FROM FOSSIL
FUELS , BOTH IN TERMS OF COST
AND GREENHOUSE GAS EMISSIONS ,
AS WELL AS WHAT WE SEE WITH
THINGS LIKE HER CURRENT
SNOWPACK. WHICH ARE GREATLY
BELOW AVERAGE. AND, WE ARE,
UNFORTUNATELY, NOWHERE NEAR, WE
ARE MAKING PROGRESS, BUT NOWHERE
NEAR OUR 2030 CLIMATE ACTION
PLAN GOALS. TRANSPORTATION IS A
NUMBER ONE EMISSION AROUND 50%.
BUILDINGS IS OUR SECOND LARGEST
EMISSION OF GREENHOUSE GAS AND
THAT IS AROUND 40%. AND SO, WE
NEED TO BE MOVING MUCH MORE
RAPIDLY , MANY OF THOSE
BUILDINGS ARE PRIVATELY OWNED.
BUT WE NEED TO DO WHAT WE CAN
AND SHOW HER LEADERSHIP OF
TRANSITIONING PUBLICLY ON
BUILDINGS THROUGH
ELECTRIFICATION. $50 MILLION IS
NOT NEARLY ENOUGH TO COVER THE
ENTIRE NEEDS OF DEFERRED
MAINTENANCE AND ELECTRIFICATION.
BUT, HOPEFULLY, IT WILL GET AS
PART OF THE WAY THERE . AND
CHAIR, THIS IS TO YOUR POINT OF,
YOU KNOW, WE HAVE THIS DIFFICULT
BALANCE. WE DO HAVE THE LEVY
CAP. WE HAVE A AFFORDABILITY
CONCERN AND VOTERS , THIS IS NOT
ABOUT , AGAIN, WHO LOVES
LIBRARIES MORE. I THINK WE ALL
OF OUR LIBRARIES. AND, YOU KNOW,
WE HAVE THIS DELICATE BALANCE OF
PUTTING SOMETHING BEFORE THE
VOTERS. VOTERS ONLY GET TO SAY
YES OR NO TO WHAT WE PUT BEFORE
THEM. THEY DON'T GET TO SAY GO
BIGGER, THEY DON'T GET TO SAY
NO, THIS IS TOO BIG. THEY JUST
GET TO VOTE YES UP OR DOWN ON
WHAT WE PUT BEFORE THEM. SO THAT
IS WHERE WE ARE, WE HAVE THIS
BALANCE. SO THAT IS WHERE, EVEN
THOUGH $15 MILLION IS NOT ENOUGH
TO COVER ALL THE DEFERRED
MAINTENANCE AND ELECTRIFICATION
NEEDS, HOPEFULLY HE GETS AS PART
OF THE WAY THERE. WITH THAT, I
WOULD APPRECIATE YOUR SUPPORT,
COLLEAGUES.
>> THANK YOU, COUNCILMEMBER LIN.
COUNCILMEMBER RINCK, YOUR
RECOGNIZED.
>> THANK YOU, CHAIR. COLLEAGUES,
I WANT TO TAKE A MOMENT TO SPEAK
IN SUPPORT OF THIS AMENDMENT
TODAY. I UNDERSTAND THAT THERE
ARE THOSE WHO HAVE SUGGESTED WE
DON'T NEED TO ADD FUNDING TO
COMPLETE COOLING PROJECTS IN ALL
OF OUR BRANCHES BECAUSE WE WERE
AWARDED FEMA GRANTS. BUT I WOULD
NOTE THAT INTERESTING OUR
LIBRARY'S FUTURE TO DONALD
TRUMP'S FEMA IS IRRESPONSIBLE.
JUST ASK SEATTLE CITY LIGHT,
REIMBURSEMENTS FOR THE 2024
CYCLE. THIS AMENDMENT ADDRESSES
ARE LONG OVERDUE ELECTRIFICATION
EFFORTS. AND TO REDIRECT THE
POINTS JUST MADE BY
COUNCILMEMBER LIN, OUR LAST
GREENHOUSE GAS EMISSIONS
INVENTORY FOUND THAT BUILDINGS
ARE THE SECOND LARGEST
CONTRIBUTOR TO GREENHOUSE GAS
EMISSIONS. ACCOUNTING FOR 40% OF
SEATTLE'S EMISSIONS. REALLY
CONTRIBUTING TO CLIMATE
POLLUTION. AND THIS BODY
COMMITTED YEARS AGO TO
DECARBONIZATION AND GETTING ALL
OF OUR BUILDINGS ALIGNED WITH
THE BUILDING EMISSIONS
PERFORMANCE STANDARDS, NORTHEAST
BRANCHES STILL IN THE QUEUE FOR
ELECTRIFICATION. HOW LONG TO
THOSE FAMILIES WEIGHT AND AT
WHAT COST TO THE CITY IF WE
DELAY FURTHER? WHETHER WE ARE
TALKING ABOUT COOLING,
ELECTRIFICATION OR DEFERRED
MAINTENANCE, EVERY DOLLAR WE
SPEND IN THIS LEVY WILL GO MUCH
FARTHER THAN ANY HYPOTHETICAL
DOLLAR WE CAN ALLOCATE TO THE
NEXT LEVY PERIOD IN 2034 BEYOND.
ANY PENNIES WE PINCH NOW WILL
COST US DOLLARS SEVEN YEARS FROM
NOW. AND PUTTING OUR HOPES ONTO
THE TRUMP ADMINISTRATION AND
FOLLOWING THROUGH ON FEMA
COMMITMENTS TO SEATTLE IS NOT
SOMETHING I WOULD ADVISE. FOR
THESE REASONS I WILL BE PROBABLY
VOTING YES TO THIS AMENDMENT TO
ASSURE WE CAN RESPONSIBLY CARE
FOR OUR COMMITTEE. THANK YOU AND
THANK YOU, COUNCILMEMBER LIN,
FOR BRINGING THIS FORWARD.
>> THANK YOU, COUNCILMEMBER
RINCK. ANYONE ELSE? I DON'T SEE
ANY HANSA. I WILL ADDRESS
SOMETHING HERE, AND THAT IS, AS
I SAID EARLIER, THIS ISN'T
ABOUT THE FACT THAT THE
LIBRARIES DON'T HAVE MORE
NEEDS. THE BUILDINGS ARE OLD AND
THEY ARE GOING TO HAVE NEEDS
INTO THE FUTURE. IS LIBRARY LEVY
IS NOT GOING TO COVER ALL THE
NEEDS. AND WE WILL BE BACK HERE
AGAIN . BUT WE ALSO HAVE OTHER
NEEDS. AND IF WE PUT ALL OF THE
MONEY INTO THIS NEED, WE WILL
HAVE LESS TO COVER FUTURE NEEDS
INCLUDING THE NEXT LEVY WHICH IS
THE HOUSING LEVY IN 2030. SO I
WILL SAY, THAT NO ONE IS SAYING
THAT LIBRARIES DON'T HAVE MORE
NEEDS. THE NEEDS ARE ACTUALLY
ENDLESS BECAUSE THE BUILDINGS
WILL ALWAYS NEED MORE WORK. THEY
ARE OLD BUILDINGS. AND, WE ARE
GRAPPLING WITH HOW TO PAY FOR
ALL OF THESE. SO, I THINK IN
TERMS OF THE VOTERS AND PUTTING
THIS ON THE LEVY, YES,
ABSOLUTELY, THEY GET TO DECIDE
WHETHER THEY ARE GOING TO VOTE
FOR IT OR NOT. I WILL SAY VOTERS
DON'T ALWAYS HAVE THE BENEFIT
OF OUR FINANCE ADVISORS WHO TELL
US WHERE WE ARE WITH LEVY CAPS,
WHAT EVEN A LEVY CAP IS AND HOW
MUCH WE WOULD HAVE FOR FUTURE
LEVIES. THAT IS A LEVEL OF IN
THE WEEDS I DON'T EXPECT VOTERS
TO KNOW. BUT WE KNOW THAT. AND
ALL OF THAT GOES INTO OUR
CALCULATION AND SHOULD GO INTO
OUR CALCULATION. AND THAT IS
IMPORTANT. BECAUSE AGAIN, WE ALL
LOVE OUR LIBRARY AND WE UP HERE
ARE STRUGGLING WITH MORE THAN
JUST THE LIBRARY. AND THAT IS A
STRUGGLE. SO I REALLY , IT'S
IMPORTANT TO RECOGNIZE THAT.
COUNCILMEMBER JUAREZ, I SEE YOUR
HAND. GO AHEAD.
>> THANK YOU. I APOLOGIZE I
COULD'VE GOT THE HAND UP
QUICKER. I WILL NOT BE
SUPPORTING THIS AND I WILL SHARE
WHY. AND I DO AGREE WITH THE
CHAIR, THOUGH I DO APPRECIATE
PASSION THAT COUNCILMEMBER LIN
AND COUNCILMEMBER RINCK BRING TO
THIS AMENDMENT. NOTWITHSTANDING
TRUMP. THAT IS ANOTHER THING.
ANYWAY, I WENT BACK AND PULLED
UP , AGAIN, AM TAKING IT FROM
THE PERSPECTIVE OF , THIS IS 15%
MORE THAN THE LAST LEVY WHICH I
WAS AROUND FOUR. CONCERNED ABOUT
JEOPARDIZING FUTURE LEVIES, OUR
FISCAL RESPONSIBILITY BUT ALSO
THE LEVY CAP. I WILL TELL YOU
WHY I'M SAYING THIS. I'M NOT
ANTI--- I MEAN, IF WE COULD
AFFORD ALL OF THIS, THEN I SAY
WHAT THE MAYOR SENT DOWN AND
WHAT WOULD BE PASSED , ALL THE
AMENDMENTS, WITH THAT TOTAL
WOULD BE, AND I THINK THE DELTA
IS LIKE $70 MILLION IF WE ADDED
EVERY AMENDMENT IN HERE.
>> $79 MILLION.
>> SO WHEN WE LOOK AT CITY OF
SEATTLE TAX LEVY AND YOU
MENTIONED THIS, MADAM CHAIR, WE
HAVE THE LIBRARY LEVY THAT IS
NOW. WE HAVE THE TRANSPORTATION
LEVY COMING. WE HAVE THE RECENT
-- WE HAVE THIS HOUSING LEVY
COMING IN 2030. WE JUST PASSED
THE LEVY IN 2025. TO THE TUNE OF
$1.3 BILLION. AND IF WE LOOK AT
THE ANNUAL TAXES OF SEATTLE,
ALSO THE ONES THAT KEEP ROLLING
OVER, THE SWEETENED BEVERAGE --
BECAUSE RIGHT NOW, AS YOU
POINTED OUT, MADAM CHAIR, WE ALL
OF THE LIBRARIES BUT WE ALSO
HAVE A FISCAL RESPONSIBILITY.
WHAT I THINK, AND WHAT I AM
SEEING IN AMENDMENT FOUR AND
FIVE, THOSE ARE OPERATION AND
MAINTENANCE AND BRICK AND MORTAR
REPAIRS THAT HAVE TO BE DONE.
AND THAT DOESN'T MEAN THAT IF
IT DOESN'T GET FUNDED HERE
IT'S NOT GOING TO GET FUNDED
EVER ANYWHERE ELSE. I BELIEVE IT
WILL AND IT SHOULD. AND FOR THAT
REASON, AND AGAIN, I UNDERSTAND
THE PASSION AND THE CONCERN, I
DON'T LIKE TO MAKE DECISIONS
OUT OF FEAR OR BEING REACTIVE TO
WHAT I THINK IS HAPPENING
POLITICALLY , GLOBALLY, ON A
NATIONAL LEVEL, AT LEAST FOR
THIS SPECIFIC MATTER. THAT IS
NOT THROWING SHADED ANYONE,
IT'S HOW I LOOK AT ANALYSIS AND
MAKING DECISIONS. SO, WE KNOW
THAT THE ORIGINAL PACKET FROM
THE MAYOR WAS $410 MILLION. AND
IF WE ADDED ALL THE AMENDMENTS
TOGETHER IT WOULD COME OUT TO
LIKE $480 MILLION, CORRECT ME IF
I AM WRONG , A $70 MILLION DELTA
DIFFERENCE THERE. SO, I'M
LOOKING AT IT THAT WAY. I'M IN
SUPPORT OF MANY OF THE OTHER
AMENDMENTS, SOME JUST LAYING IT
OUT NOW THAT I WILL NOT BE
SUPPORTING THIS AMENDMENT.
AMENDMENT FOUR, AND I WILL NOT
BE SUPPORTING AMENDMENT FIVE.
FOR THE VERY SAME REASON SO I
DON'T HAVE TO SPEAK AGAIN.
THANK YOU.
>> THANK YOU, COUNCILMEMBER. ANY
OTHER COMMENTS? LET'S TAKE A
VOTE ON AMENDMENT NUMBER FOUR.
>> COUNCILMEMBER STRAUSS.
>> YES.
>> COUNCILMEMBER FOSTER.
>> YES.
>> COUNCILMEMBER JUAREZ.
>> NO.
>> YES.
>> COUNCILMEMBER RINCK.
>> YES.
>> CHAIR RIVERA.
>> NO. FIVE IN FAVOR, TWO
OPPOSED.
>> THE MOTION CARRIES IN
AMENDMENT FOUR IS ADOPTED.
COUNCILMEMBER RINCK YOUR
RECOGNIZE TO MOVE AMENDMENT OF
FIVE.
>> THANK YOU. I MOVED TO AMEND
COUNCIL BILL 12118 IS PRESENTED
ON AMENDMENT FIVE.
>> SECOND.
>> THANK YOU. IT IS MOVED AND
SECONDED TO AMEND COUNCIL BILL
CB 12181 IS PRESENTED ON
AMENDMENT FIVE. TO PLEASE
BRIEFLY TALK ABOUT AMENDMENT
FIVE AND THEN I WILL GO TO YOU,
SPONSOR , GO AHEAD, ERIC.
>> AMENDMENT FIVE WOULD
COMMUNICATE COUNCIL'S INTENTION
THAT A PORTION OF THE LIBRARY
LEVY FUNDING AMOUNT IS
TRANSMITTED BY THE MAYOR
INCREASE BY $50 MILLION BY THE
COUNCIL SHOULD BE AUTHORIZED FOR
INVESTMENTS TO SUPPORT
MAINTENANCE FOR RENOVATING A
HISTORIC LIBRARY BRANCH TO
IMPROVE SEISMIC SAFETY, REDUCE
THE USE OF FOSSIL FUELS, AND
UPGRADE PUBLICLY AVAILABLE
SPACE.
>> THANK YOU, ERIC.
COUNCILMEMBER RINCK YOUR
RECOGNIZE TO SPEAK YOUR
AMENDMENT AND ALSO I WILL
RECOGNIZE YOU, COUNCILMEMBER
STRAUSS, AS COSPONSOR IF YOU
WOULD LIKE.
>> THANK YOU, CHAIR. COLLEAGUES,
I WILL SPEAK HERE TO AMENDMENT
FIVE --
>> SORRY, SPONSORS, IT IS
COUNCILMEMBER SAKA WHO IS
SPONSORING THIS.
>> COLLEAGUES, I WILL SPEAK HERE
TO AMENDMENT FIVE AND THEN MORE
BROADLY TO AMENDMENTS ONE AND
FOUR AND NINE AS WELL. SINCE
THESE ARE THE FOUR AMENDMENTS
THAT REPRESENT PORTLAND
INVESTMENTS IN SEATTLE PUBLIC
LIBRARY INFRASTRUCTURE AND THE
PEOPLE WE SERVE. WE KNOW THAT
LIBRARIES ARE A CRITICAL PART OF
OUR COMMUNITY'S SAFETY AND
INFRASTRUCTURE. IN THE NEXT YEAR
WE FACE A VERY REAL THREAT OF
GLOBAL ECONOMIC CRISIS, CAUSED
BY THE PRESIDENT'S FOOLISH
TRADE POLICIES AND NOW MASSIVELY
ACCELERATED BY THE NATION'S
RECKLESS WAR WITH IRAN. I EXPECT
HARD TIMES AHEAD. WE ARE
CERTAINLY ALREADY FEELING IT.
HARD TIMES AHEAD FOR SEATTLE'S
ECONOMY. AND SO THIS LEVY
PRESENTS US WITH AN OPPORTUNITY
. AND TO MY MIND, A
RESPONSIBILITY, TO INCREASE OUR
INVESTMENTS, TO ENSURE SAFE
COMMUNITIES SPACES ARE IN EVERY
NEIGHBORHOOD IN OUR CITY. AND
OUR DECISIONS TODAY WILL
DETERMINE HOW MANY OF OUR PUBLIC
FACILITIES WILL BE STRENGTHENED
AGAINST EARTHQUAKES, HAVING HVAC
SYSTEMS READY FOR THE EXTREME
COLD AND HEAT BROUGHT TO US BY
CLIMATE CHANGE, AND BE READY TO
PROVIDE REFUGE FROM THE
DANGEROUS AIR OUT THAT MAY COME
WITH OUR NEXT FIRE SEASON.
SEISMIC RETROFITS, HVAC UPGRADES
TO ALLOW EVERY WORD BRANCH TO OF
AC, AND GETTING ALL OF OUR
BRANCHES TO BE ADA COMPLIANT AND
THE CAPACITY TO DO JUST REGULAR
ROUTINE MAINTENANCE IS A TIMELY
AND COST-EFFECTIVE WAY TO ENSURE
THAT WE HAVE SAFER SPACES IN
EVERY NEIGHBORHOOD. INVESTING IN
CAPITAL PROJECTS MEANS WE CAN
PAY FOR EXPENSIVE REPAIRS AND
RETROFITS BEFORE PRICES GO
HIGHER. INVESTING IN THE LOCAL
UNION LABOR TO BUILD OUR CIVIC
INFRASTRUCTURE MEANS
RECIRCULATING OUR DOLLARS
LOCALLY, MOST DOLLARS INVESTED
IN OUR LOCAL TRADES WOMEN AND
MEN WILL BE SPENT AND RE-SPENT
LOCALLY ADDING A BENEFIT NOT
JUST TO A SEATTLE PUBLIC LIBRARY
BRANCH BUT TO THE LOCAL ECONOMY
AS A WHOLE. AND SO COLLEAGUES,
FOR ALL OF THESE REASONS, I
CONSIDER THIS AMENDMENT AND THE
OTHER CAPITAL MAINTENANCE
AMENDMENT'S BEFORE US TODAY AS
ESSENTIAL ONES. IF YOU FEEL THE
SAME, I ASK FOR YOUR SUPPORT.
THANK YOU.
>> THANK YOU, COUNCILMEMBER
RINCK. COLLEAGUES, ANY OTHER
QUESTIONS OR COMMENTS? THEN,
LET'S GO TO A VOTE.
>>
>> COUNCILMEMBER STRAUSS.
>> YES.
>> COUNCILMEMBER FOSTER.
>> YES.
>> COUNCILMEMBER JUAREZ.
>> NO.
>> COUNCILMEMBER LIN.
>> YES.
>> COUNCILMEMBER RINCK.
>> YES.
>>>> CHAIR RIVERA.
>> NO.
>> FOUR IN FAVOR, TWO OPPOSED,
ONE ABSTENTION.
>> IT IS ADOPTED. LET'S GO TO
AMENDMENT NUMBER SIX.
COUNCILMEMBER RINCK, YOUR
RECOGNIZE TO MOVE AMENDMENT
NUMBER SIX.
>> THANK YOU, I MOVED TO AMEND
COUNCIL BILL 121181 IS PRESENTED
ON AMENDMENT SIX.
>> SECOND.
>> THANK YOU. IT IS MOVED AND
SECONDED TO MOVE COUNCIL BILL
121181 IS PRESENTED ON AMENDMENT
SIX. WOULD YOU PLEASE GIVE A
BRIEF DESCRIPTION?
>> THIS IS SPONSORED BY
COUNCILMEMBER RINCK AND
COSPONSORED BY COUNCILMEMBER
STRAUSS. THIS AMENDMENT WOULD
COMMUNICATE COUNCIL'S INTENTION
THE PORTION OF THE LIBRARY LEVY
FUNDING AMOUNT IS TRANSMITTED BY
THE MAYOR INCREASE BY $8.4
MILLION BY THE COUNCIL SHOULD BE
AUTHORIZED FOR INVESTMENTS TO
SUPPORT COLLECTIONS BY EXPANDING
THE ELECTRONIC AND PHYSICAL
MATERIALS COLLECTIONS AND
INCREASING COLLECTIONS TO
STAFFING.
>> THANK YOU, COUNCILMEMBER
RINCK YOUR RECOGNIZE TO SPEAK
AND THEN I WILL GO TO
COUNCILMEMBER STRAUSS AS
COSPONSOR.
>> THANK YOU, CHAIR. COLLEAGUES,
WE HAVE HEARD THE PUBLIC COMMENT
IN THE PUBLIC HEARINGS FROM
SEATTLE PUBLIC LIBRARY'S
FOUNDATION AND FRIENDS OF
SEATTLE PUBLIC LIBRARY THAT WE
ARE A CITY OF READERS. THIS CITY
LOVES BOOKS OF EVERY FLAVOR AND
FORMAT. DEMAND ON OUR PHYSICAL
AND DIGITAL COLLECTIONS IS HIGH.
IS FOR OUTPACING OUR BELOVED
LIBRARY ABILITY TO KEEP UP. THIS
AMENDMENT WOULD GIVE THE LIBRARY
THE FINANCIAL AND HUMAN
RESOURCES NEEDED TO KEEP OUR
COLLECTIONS UP TO MEET THIS
MOMENT AND BETTER SERVE OUR
READERS ACROSS THE CITY. I ASK
FOR YOUR SUPPORT. THANK YOU ALSO
TO COUNCILMEMBER STRAUSS FOR
SIGNING ON AS COSPONSOR FOR
THIS.
>> THANK YOU.
>> THANK YOU, COUNCILMEMBER
STRAUSS, YOUR RECOGNIZE.
>> THANK YOU, CHAIR. THIS
RECOGNIZE , I BROUGHT FOUR
AMENDMENT STORE COMMITTEE
MEETING LAST TIME AND I HAVE
REDUCE THE TO TWO IN PART BY
PARTNERING WITH COLLEAGUES. THIS
HELPS US BE FISCALLY RESPONSIBLE
AND CONTINUE TO PUSH THE
ENVELOPE OF THIS LIBRARY LEVY AS
FAR AS IS RESPONSIBLY POSSIBLE.
THIS IS ANOTHER MOMENT OF ,
WITHOUT BOOKS, WITHOUT E-BOOKS,
IT IS JUST A BUILDING. THANK
YOU.
>> THANK YOU, COUNCILMEMBER
STRAUSS. ANY COMMENTS ,
COUNCILMEMBER LIN, YOUR
RECOGNIZE.
>> I WANT TO SPEAK IN FAVOR, AND
WERE GENERALLY TALK AGAIN ABOUT
THE CRITICAL IMPORTANCE OF OUR
LIBRARIES AND THIS TIME IS WE
SEE DEMOCRACY CRUMBLING. OUR
LIBRARIES ARE ESSENTIAL AGAINST
THAT. DEFENDING OUR DEMOCRACY ,
WHETHER IT IS OUR BUILDINGS, OUR
STAFFING, OR OUR COLLECTIONS,
THEY ARE ALL CRITICALLY
ESSENTIAL SOCIAL INFRASTRUCTURE
THAT ARE NEEDED MORE NOW THAN
EVER. AND SO, I AM EXCITED TO
SUPPORT THIS. THANK YOU,
COUNCILMEMBER RINCK AND
COUNCILMEMBER STRAUSS.
>> THANK YOU. ANY OTHER COMMENTS
OR QUESTIONS? LET'S A VOTE ON
AMENDMENT NUMBER SIX.
>>
>> COUNCILMEMBER STRAUSS.
>> YES.
>> COUNCILMEMBER FOSTER.
>> YES.
>> COUNCILMEMBER JUAREZ.
>> YES.
>> COUNCILMEMBER LIN.
>> YES.
>> COUNCILMEMBER RINCK.
>> YES.
>> VICE CHAIR HOLLINGSWORTH.
>> YES.
>> CHAIR RIVERA.
>> YES. SIX IN FAVOR AND ONE
OPPOSED.
>> THE MOTION CARRIES.
COUNCILMEMBER RINCK YOUR
RECOGNIZE TO MOVE AMENDMENT
NUMBER SEVEN.
>> THANK YOU, I MOVED TO AMEND
COUNCIL BILL 121181 IS PRESENTED
ON AMENDMENT SEVEN.
>> IT IS MOVED AND SECONDED TO
AMEND COUNCIL BILL 121181 -- I
THOUGHT I HEARD A SECOND. IT IS
MOVED AND SECONDED TO AMEND
COUNCIL BILL 121181 IS PRESENTED
ON AMENDMENT SEVEN. ERIC?
>> THIS AMENDMENT WOULD INDICATE
COUNCIL'S INTENTION THAT A
PORTION OF THE LIBRARY LEVY
FUNDING AMOUNT IS TRANSMITTED BY
THE MAYOR AND INCREASED BY $2.5
MILLION BY THE COUNCIL SHOULD BE
AUTHORIZED FOR INVESTMENTS TO
SUPPORT COLLECTIONS BY EXPANDING
THE TITLES IN THE LIBRARY'S
E-BOOK COLLECTION.
>> THANK YOU, ERIC.
COUNCILMEMBER RINCK YOUR
RECOGNIZE TO SPEAK YOUR
AMENDMENT.
>> THANK YOU, CHAIR. COLLEAGUES,
THIS AMENDMENT IS A SMALLER,
MORE TARGETED COLLECTIONS
INVESTMENT. THE TABLE IS THE
FIRST THING YOU SEE WHEN YOU
WALK INTO JUST ABOUT ANY LIBRARY
BRANCH. CURRENTLY PEAK PICKS IS
LIMITED TO PHYSICAL BOOKS.
DESPITE THE FACT THAT SEATTLE
PUBLIC LIBRARY IS IN THE TOP 10
WORLDWIDE IN DIGITAL BOOK
CHECKOUTS. THIS AMENDMENT WOULD
EXPAND THE INCREDIBLE AND
RESPONSIVE PROGRAM TO E-BOOKS. I
WILL NOTE I WAS AT THE LABOR
BRANCH THIS WEEKEND WHEN I WAS
THERE I PICKED UP A BOOK FROM
THE PEAK PICKS SHELF. FOR THOSE
WHO DON'T KNOW, VIRGINIA IS A
SURVIVOR OF JEFFREY EPSTEIN AND
PASSED AWAY LAST YEAR. BUT HER
BOOK DOCUMENT THING HER STORY OF
SURVIVORSHIP AND DAYLIGHTING THE
ABUSES OF THE ULTRA RICH AND
POWERFUL WAS RECENTLY PUBLISHED
AND IS NOW FEATURED AS A PEAK
PICKS. SUPPORTING THIS AMENDMENT
MEANS THAT MORE PEOPLE WILL NOT
FACE A FINANCIAL BARRIER TO
PARTICIPATING IN A NATIONAL
DIALOGUE. AND THAT MORE OF US
CAN CONNECT ON IDEAS AT A TIME
WHERE WE NEEDED NOW MORE THAN
EVER. COLLEAGUES, I ASK FOR YOUR
SUPPORT. THANK YOU.
>> THANK YOU, COUNCILMEMBER
RINCK. ANY COMMENTS OR
QUESTIONS? ALL RIGHT,
COLLEAGUES, LET'S VOTE ON
AMENDMENT NUMBER SEVEN.
>> COUNCILMEMBER STRAUSS.
>> YES.
>> COUNCILMEMBER FOSTER.
>> YES.
>> COUNCILMEMBER JUAREZ.
>> YES.
>> COUNCILMEMBER LIN.
>> YES.
>> VICE CHAIR HOLLINGSWORTH.
>> YES.
>> CHAIR RIVERA.
>> YES.
>> SIX IN FAVOR AND ONE OPPOSED.
>> AMENDMENT SEVEN IS ADOPTED.
WE ARE ALMOST THERE. FOUR MORE.
COUNCILMEMBER YOUR RECOGNIZE TO
MOVE AMENDMENT A BREAK.
>> I MOVE AMENDMENT NUMBER EIGHT
TO COUNCIL BILL 121181.
>> IS HER SECOND?
>> IT IS MOVED AND SECONDED TO
AMEND COUNCIL BILL 121181 IS
PRESENTED ON AMENDMENT EIGHT.
>> ERIC?
>> THIS AMENDMENT WOULD
COMMUNICATE THE INTENTION THAT A
PORTION OF THE LIBRARY LEVY
FUNDING AMOUNT IS TRANSMITTED BY
THE MAYOR AND INCREASED BY $2.1
MILLION BY THE COUNCIL SHOULD BE
AUTHORIZED FOR INVESTMENTS TO
SUPPORT OPERATING HOURS AND
ACCESS BY EXPANDING LIBRARY
PROGRAMMING MADE AVAILABLE BY
AND RECORDED VIA THE SEATTLE
CHANNEL.
>> THANK YOU, ERIC.
COUNCILMEMBER STRAUSS, YOUR
RECOGNIZE TO SPEAK YOUR
AMENDMENT.
>> YOU, CHAIR. THIS ENTIRE
PACKAGE OF AMENDMENTS REALLY
DOES BALANCE OUR NEEDS TO REMAIN
FISCALLY RESPONSIBLE AND ENSURE
OUR FEAR DOES NOT DRIVE US TO
FUND OUR LIBRARIES AT A LEVEL
BELOW WHAT WE CAN ACTUALLY
AFFORD. WHILE WE ARE IN FACT
HERE ARE LEVY LID, AND WE MUST
KEEP A BUFFER FOR ECONOMIC
CHANGES, AS WELL AS FUTURE
LEVIES, AS YOUR BUDGET CHAIR I
SAY THAT IN FACT WE CAN ADOPT
THESE AMENDMENTS AND REMAINED
FISCALLY RESPONSIBLE. I SAY THIS
BECAUSE CHOOSING OUR FUNDING
LEVELS CAN EITHER BE A ONE-WAY
DOOR OR A TWO-WAY DOOR. IF YOU
BET AGAINST OURSELVES AND ADOPT
THE LEVY IS TRANSMITTED, THIS IS
A ONE-WAY DOOR. BECAUSE WE
CANNOT, IN THE FUTURE, INCREASE
LIBRARY LEVEL. IF WE ADOPT THESE
AMENDMENTS AND OUR WORST FEARS
BECOME REALITY, THAT THE
ECONOMIC FACTORS LOWER THE LEVY
CAP, AGAIN, THE LEVY CAP RIGHT
NOW IS BASED -- 3% GROWTH
ASSUMPTION. SOME OF THE ANALYSIS
HAS BEEN FOR 5% GROWTH
ASSUMPTION. BUT, WHAT THEY
DIDN'T SHOW YOU IS THE 2%
GROWTH ASSUMPTION. WHICH IS
STILL US GROWING, JUST US
GROWING MUCH MORE SLOWLY. IF IN
FACT WE HAVE ONLY 2% OF THE AREA
LAND VALUE GROWTH, WE ARE
ALREADY IN A PLACE WHERE WE ARE
GOING TO HAVE TO START REFUNDING
THESE LEVIES. RIGHT? AND THAT IS
ACROSS ALL. NOT JUST THIS.
AGAIN, IF WE ADOPT THESE
AMENDMENTS AND OUR WORST FEARS
BECOME REALITY THAT THERE'S ONLY
2% GROWTH, THOSE ECONOMIC
FACTORS WOULD LOWER THE LEVY
CAP. WE WILL HAVE TO LOOK
HOLISTICALLY AT ALL OVER LEVIES
AND WHERE WE MUST REDUCE FUNDING
ACROSS OUR ENTIRE CITY. SO, BY
ADOPTING THESE AMENDMENTS THIS
IS A TWO-WAY, WE CAN INCREASE
THE LIBRARY'S FUNDING TODAY AND
IF OUR WORST-CASE SCENARIO
OCCURS, WE WILL HAVE TO MAKE
THOSE REDUCTIONS BASED ON KNOWN
INFORMATION, RATHER THAN
SPECULATION. EVEN WITH A TWO-WAY
DOOR WE KNOW THAT THIS LEVY WAS
PLANNED TO BE LARGER TO SERVE
SEATTLEITES EVEN MORE THAN WHAT
IS BEFORE US TODAY. THE REALITY
OF THE LEVY CAP CAME INTO THE
CONVERSATION AND THAT MEANT THAT
WE HAD TO RIGHT SIZE REDUCE OR
MODIFY THIS LIBRARY LEVY, TO
WORK. I SAY THAT BECAUSE LIKE,
EVEN WITH THE ADA AMENDMENT THAT
WILL COME UP , WITH THE
COLLECTIONS OR CIRCULATION, I
CAN'T EVER GET THAT STRAIGHT,
OR THE UNREINFORCED MASONRY, WE
KNOW THAT THESE NEEDS ARE
GREATER THAN WHAT IS IN THE
LIBRARY AND WHAT'S GREATER THAN
HE AMENDMENT. IF WE WERE TO
TRULY RIGHT SIZE FOR
SEATTLEITES, THIS WOULD BE A
HUGE LEVY. BUT, WE DIDN'T DO
THAT. AND THAT IS WHERE WE ARE
BEING FISCALLY RESPONSIBLE. THAT
IS WHY I SEE THESE AMENDMENTS
BEFORE US ARE FISCALLY
RESPONSIBLE BECAUSE THEY BALANCE
THE FUTURE UNKNOWNS, CHOOSES THE
TWO-WAY DOOR RATHER THAN THE
ONE-WAY DOOR. AND CHOOSES
SEATTLEITES OVER THE FEAR OF THE
UNKNOWN AND UNKNOWN SPECULATION.
WITH THAT, WE COME TO THE
SEATTLE CHANNEL , THE AMENDMENT
I HAVE BEFORE US, THE INTENT OF
THIS AMENDMENT IS TO EXTEND THE
IMPACT AN AUDIENCE FOR SEATTLE
PUBLIC LIBRARY PROGRAMS. SUCH AS
READING, SPEAKERS, SPECIAL
EVENTS, AND WE DO THIS BY
PROVIDING THE LIBRARIES LIVE AND
AVAILABLE TO STREAM ON THE
SEATTLE CHANNEL. WHEN I WORKED
AT A LIBRARY FRONT DESK, I WAS
AMAZED AT HOW MUCH ONE BOOK OR
ONE COMPUTER OR ONE NEWSPAPER
WAS USED. THE LIBRARIES ABLE TO
PROVIDE US TRUE PURE PUBLIC
GOODS. THESE GOODS ARE NOT
RIVALROUS. AND THEY ARE NOT
EXCLUDABLE. A LIBRARY IS A VERY
SPECIAL PLACE. CARNEGIE
UNDERSTOOD THIS. HE SAID, I WILL
BUILD YOU THE BUILDING, YOU FILL
WITH BOOKS. RIGHT? AND SO, THE
AMENDMENT BEFORE US TURNS THE
PROGRAMMING THAT THE LIBRARY
CREATES, THAT THEY ALREADY
CREATE, IT'S ALREADY IN ITS
BUDGET, FROM EIGHT RIVALROUS
GOOD, I WILL ARGUE RIVALRY IS
ROOM CAPACITY, IF WE REACH
CAPACITY THE NO MORE PEOPLE CAN
GET INTO THE PROGRAM. SO IT
TURNS THE CAPACITY INTO EIGHT
NINE RIVALROUS ONE BECAUSE YOU
CAN WATCH IT FROM HOME. OR MAYBE
OUT IN THE LOBBY. IT TURNS IT
FROM AN EXCLUDABLE GOOD, AND I
WILL SAY THIS BY TIMER ACCESS,
YOU AREN'T AVAILABLE AT THE
TIME OF DAY YOU CAN ACCESS IT
BECAUSE THE ELEVATOR IS BROKEN,
I MEAN, BECAUSE IT IS NOT YOUR
YOUR HOME. IT TURNS IT INTO A
NON-EXCLUDABLE GOOD BY ALLOWING
YOU TO VIEW AT YOUR LEISURE AND
EVEN SHARING IT WITH OTHER
PEOPLE IN OTHER STATES, IN OTHER
PLACES, WHO MIGHT NOT HAVE
ACCESS TO OUR BEAUTIFUL AND
WONDERFUL SEATTLE , LOOKING OUT
THE WINDOWS TODAY IS A BEAUTIFUL
SEATTLE DAY. EVEN ON ITS DARKEST
DAYS, THAT IS WHERE THE LIGHT
SHINES BRIGHT INSIDE THE LIBRARY
IN YOUR PROGRAMMING. THIS
AMENDMENT ALSO BEGINS TO ADDRESS
THE UNDERLYING FUNDING ISSUES AT
THE SEATTLE CHANNEL. RIGHT NOW
EVERY DEPARTMENT WHO BENEFITS
FROM THE SEATTLE AWARD-WINNING
SEATTLE CHANNEL DOES SO WITHOUT
A FEE. THIS IS UNLIKE ANY OTHER
CENTRAL SERVICE INNER-CITY. FOR
EXECUTIVE DEPARTMENTS, I.T., HR,
FAS, THESE ARE ALL BACKBONE
ASPECTS OF OUR CITY CENTRAL
SERVICES. AND EVERY DEPARTMENT
IS CHARGED A FEE BY THE INTERNAL
DEPARTMENT. SEATTLE CHANNEL IS
NOT IN THAT SITUATION BECAUSE IN
THE PAST , WHEN THE DISTURBING
MOVIE THE CABLE GUY CAME OUT IN
THEATERS, PEOPLE HAD CABLE AND
WERE USING OUR CABLE FRAME AND
WE WERE BENEFITING FROM THE
CABLE FRANCHISE FEE. BEING FULLY
IT HAS BEEN A LONG TIME SINCE
THAT DISTURBING MOVIE CAME OUT
IN THEATERS. BUT FOLKS HAVE CUT
THEIR CABLE IN THE MEANTIME. AND
SO IT IS INCUMBENT UPON
DEPARTMENTS, NOT JUST THE
LIBRARY, BUT ALL CITY
DEPARTMENTS WHO BENEFIT FROM THE
AWARD-WINNING SEATTLE CHANNEL TO
START PAYING FOR THE SERVICES
THAT THEY RECEIVE. COLLEAGUES, I
HOPE TO EARN YOUR SUPPORT IN
TURNING AN EXCLUDABLE RIVALROUS
GOOD INTO EIGHT NON-EXCLUDABLE
NON-RIVALROUS GOOD AND HELP
START PAYING SEATTLE CHANNEL'S
, HELP PAY THEIR FAIR SHARE FOR
THESE AT SEATTLE CHANNEL. THANK
YOU.
>> THANK YOU, COUNCILMEMBER
STRAUSS. ANY QUESTIONS OR
COMMENTS? ALL RIGHT, THEN I HAVE
A COUPLE OF COMMENTS. SO,
COUNCILMEMBER STRAUSS, I THINK
WE ARE GOING TO HAVE TO AGREE TO
DISAGREE HERE. BUT WE GET AN
ECONOMIC FORECAST THREE TIMES
PER YEAR. APRIL, AUGUST AND
NOVEMBER. THEY ARE PROJECTIONS.
FROM OUR FINANCE OFFICE. ON HOW
THE ECONOMY IS DOING AND HOW ALL
OF OUR FISCAL DECISIONS ARE
DOING. AND THAT IS WHERE WE GET
ALL OF THIS INFORMATION ABOUT
THE LEVY CAPS. SO WHEN YOU CALL
IT SPECULATION, GOVERNMENTS RELY
ON THESE ECONOMIC FORECASTS
WHICH TO MAKE BUDGET DECISIONS
INCLUDING LEVY DECISIONS. SO,
THESE ARE NOT DONE WILLY-NILLY.
THEY ARE EXPERTS WHO COME UP
WITH THIS ECONOMIC FORECAST THAT
WE RELY ON EVERY YEAR WHEN WE DO
THE BUDGET AND ALSO WHEN WE ARE
DOING CONSIDERING PUTTING LEVIES
ON THE BALLOT. SO I JUST WANT TO
MAKE IT VERY CLEAR TO THE
PUBLIC, WHO MIGHT BE HEARING
THAT THESE ARE NOT JUST
SPECULATIONS OF NOWHERE, THIS IS
ACTUALLY AN ECONOMIC FORECAST IT
WE GET THREE TIMES PER YEAR FROM
OUR FINANCE OFFICE. GIVE THE
THING I WILL SAY IS THAT, WHAT
WE KNOW TODAY IS THAT WE HAVE AT
LEAST 150 WILLIAM MILLER BUDGET
DEFICIT THAT WE ARE GOING TO
HAVE TO MANAGE LATER THIS YEAR.
AND I WILL SAY THAT THE 3% IS A
PRUDENT FACTOR, IT IS BASED ON
PAST PERFORMANCE ON HOW PROPERTY
VALUES , ASSESSMENT OF PROPERTY
VALUES . WE ARE IN THE MIDDLE OF
A WAR, SO IT IS VERY POSSIBLE
THAT NEXT YEAR THE ASSESSMENT
WILL GO DOWN. SO WHILE I
APPRECIATE YOUR PASSION FOR THE
LIBRARY AND I HAVE EQUAL
PASSION, I ALSO HAVE TO RELY ON
THE EXPERT ADVICE WE ARE GETTING
FROM OUR FINANCE ADVISORS AND
THESE ECONOMIC FORECASTS WHICH
ARE AVAILABLE ONLINE FOR I
BELIEVE THEY ARE AVAILABLE
ONLINE FOR THE PUBLIC TO SEE. ON
WHAT OUR FINANCIAL PICTURE TRULY
IS. AND SO, THIS LEVY CAP ISSUE
IS VERY REAL. AND YOU ARE
CORRECT, WE MIGHT BE IN A
SITUATION WHERE WHATEVER WE PASS
TODAY IN TERMS OF A LIBRARY
LEVY, WE MIGHT BE BUTTING UP
AGAINST THE CAP FASTER IF
ASSESSED VALUES GO DOWN. WHICH
VERY WELL COULD BE, AGAIN, GIVEN
WE ARE IN THE MIDDLE OF A WAR. I
SAY THAT ALL TO SAY THAT AS MUCH
AS WE LOVE OUR LIBRARIES , SURE,
WE CAN MAKE DECISIONS TODAY AND
THAT IS PERFECTLY FINE, AND
WITHIN OUR RIGHT. BUT I DO WANT
TO MAKE SURE THAT WE ARE BEING
VERY CLEAR AND TRANSPARENT WITH
THE PUBLIC. AND I DON'T WANT TO
MINIMIZE THE ADVICE THAT WE GET
FROM THESE ECONOMIC FORECASTS.
BECAUSE WE RELY ON THEM NOT JUST
FOR THIS TODAY, BEFORE OUR
BUDGET IN GENERAL. I THINK THOSE
OF US, NOT JUST US HERE ON THE D
IS, THERE ARE MANY FOLKS WHO
ALSO RELY ON ECONOMIC FORECASTS
WHEN THEY ARE DOING FORECASTS.
ALL CITIES THIS. IT'S NOT
SOMETHING WE ARE JUST DOING.
THINGS ARE NOT LOOKING GOOD AND
THEY HAVEN'T BEEN LOOKING GOOD
FOR THE CITY OF SEATTLE FOR
QUITE SOME TIME. WE ARE IN A
CONSTANT BUDGET DEFICIT. AND
THERE WILL BE NEEDS LATER ON. WE
DO HAVE -- WE ARE IN THE MIDDLE
OF A HOUSING CRISIS. WE WILL, IN
2030, HAVE A HOUSING LEVY. WHAT
WILL BE LEFT FROM THE LEVY CAP
TO GIVE TOWARDS THAT? I AM
LOOKING FORWARD TO HEARING HOW
WE'RE GOING TO DEAL WITH THE
BUDGET DEFICIT IN THE FALL.
BECAUSE THERE IS A DEFICIT. SO
ARE WE GOING TO TURN TO MORE
TAXING, PROPERTY TAXES? SEATTLE
IS ONE OF THE MOST EXPENSIVE
CITIES IN THE COUNTRY. AND OUR
FOLKS ARE FEELING THE HEAT OF
THAT. SO, THIS IS ALL REALLY
IMPORTANT, AND AGAIN, THIS IS
NOT WHO LOVES THE LIBRARIES
MORE. AND WILL HAVE TO MAKE HER
OWN DECISIONS. BUT WE DO NEED TO
BE TRANSPARENT. AND WE CANNOT
PAINT A FISCAL PICTURE THAT IS
BETTER THAN WHAT IT REALLY IS.
WE HAVE TO MAKE THESE DECISIONS
WITH EYES WIDE OPEN. IF WE
DECIDE THIS IS WHERE WE WANT TO
PUT OUR MONEY, THAT IS OUR
DECISION. AND ULTIMATELY IT IS
THE VOTERS WHO WILL VOTE . BUT
WE NEED TO BE TRANSPARENT AND
HONEST ABOUT THAT FINANCIAL
SITUATION THAT WE ARE IN. SO,
THANK YOU, AND UNLESS THERE ANY
COMMENTS OR QUESTIONS WE WILL GO
TO ABOUT. VOTE.
>> COUNCILMEMBER STRAUSS.
>> YES.
>> COUNCILMEMBER FOSTER.
>> YES.
>> COUNCILMEMBER JUAREZ.
>> YES.
>> COUNCILMEMBER LIN.
>> YES.
>> COUNCILMEMBER RINCK.
>> YES.
>> VICE CHAIR HOLLINGSWORTH.
>> YES.
>> CHAIR RIVERA.
>> NO.
>> SIX IN FAVOR AND ONE OPPOSED.
>> MOTION CARRIES. AMENDMENT
EIGHT IS ADOPTED. WE GO TO
AMENDMENT NINE. COUNCILMEMBER
STRAUSS, YOUR RECOGNIZED .
>> THANK YOU. I MOVE AMENDMENT
92 CANCEL BILL 121181.
>> SECOND.
>> IT HAS BEEN MOVED AND
SECONDED TO AMEND COUNCIL BILL
121181 IS PRESENTED ON AMENDMENT
NINE. COUNCILMEMBER STRAUSS, THE
SPONSOR OF THIS AMENDMENT, YOUR
RECOGNIZED IN ORDER TO ADDRESS
IT. ACTUALLY, COUNCILMEMBER
STRAUSS, ERIC, CAN YOU PLEASE
BRIEF US FIRST.
>> AMENDMENT I WOULD COMMUNICATE
COUNCIL'S INTENTION A PORTION
OF THE LEVY FUNDING AMOUNT AS
TRANSMITTED BY THE MAYOR AND
INCREASE BY $8.2 MILLION THAT
COUNCIL SHOULD BE AUTHORIZED FOR
INVESTMENTS TO SUPPORT
MAINTENANCE, BY IMPROVING
PHYSICAL ACCESSIBILITY UNDER THE
AMERICANS WITH DISABILITIES ACT
AND BY REPAIRING OR REPLACING
ELEVATORS AND ESCALATORS.
>> THANK YOU, ERIC. NOW,
COUNCILMEMBER STRAUSS, SPONSOR
YOUR RECOGNIZED ADDRESS YOUR
AMENDMENT.
>> THANK YOU. JUST TO CONTINUE
THE CONVERSATION, WE ARE IN THIS
MOMENT WHERE WE ARE HAVING TO
REDUCE THIS LIBRARY LEVY IS OF
WASHINGTON STATE TAX CODE.
UNDERSTANDING THAT WE DO HAVE A
STRUCTURAL BUDGET DEFICIT THAT
TOOK 10 YEARS TO CREATE, AND WE
ARE TAKING A MULTIYEAR APPROACH,
GRANTED THEY'RE GOING TO BE HER
DECISIONS IS HERE. THAT WE
CAN'T INCREASE PROPERTY TAX
AGAIN BECAUSE OF THE UPSIDE ON
TAX CODE OF THE STATE WHICH IS
BOXING US INTO THIS ENTIRE
SITUATION. AND SO, ECONOMIC
FORECASTS DO INFORM OUR ANNUAL
AND BIANNUAL BUDGETING
PROCESSES. BUT, WE ARE WORKING
ON A MULTIYEAR LEVY AND THAT IS
WHERE I THINK WE HAVE A
DIFFERENCE OF OPINION, CHAIR,
FOR ME, THAT WE ARE SPECULATING.
WE ARE RECEIVING FORECASTS FOR
THIS YEAR AND NEXT YEAR BUT IT
IS HARD, OUR OFFICE IS NOT
PROVIDING A DECADE-LONG
FORECAST. THAT IS WHERE I AM
SAYING WE ARE SPECULATION. BACK
TO THIS AMENDMENT RIGHT HERE,
CHRISTIANA, YOU TOOK MY TALKING
POINTS. I DON'T KNOW IF YOU
WERE READING OFF OF MY SHEET,
BUT THE NUMBER OF TIMES I HAD
GONE TO THE GREENWOOD PUBLIC
LIBRARY AND THE ELEVATOR HAS
BEEN BROKEN, I THOUGHT IT WAS
BROKEN THE ENTIRE TIME IN
BETWEEN MY VISITS BUT APPARENTLY
IT HAS BEEN FIXED. I USE THIS
EXAMPLE REALLY IMPORTANTLY
BECAUSE THE GREENWOOD PUBLIC
LIBRARY, THE GREENWOOD RANCH
PUBLIC LIBRARY IS ON GREENWOOD
AVENUE WHICH IS QUITE BUSY. AND
PARKING IS NOT REALLY EASY AT
THE FRONT DOOR. AND SO, IF YOU
HAVE A DIFFERENT ABILITY AND YOU
NEED TO USE ASSISTANCE TO GET IN
THE DOOR, WHETHER IT IS YOU HAVE
A SPRAINED ANKLE OR YOU HAVE A
LIFELONG ABILITY , YOU HAVE TO
USE THE ELEVATOR. THERE IS NO
OTHER WAY INTO THE BUILDING. AND
IF THE ELEVATOR IS NOT WORKING,
THEN YOU CAN'T GET INSIDE. YOU
CAN'T ACCESS ALL OF THE BOOKS
WE ARE TALKING ABOUT. I MADE THE
JOKE LAST TIME, AND IT IS
SERIOUS, THAT THE ONLY WAY INTO
THE LIBRARY IS OVER THE
INTERNET, AND IF YOU DON'T HAVE
THE INTERNET YOU HAVE TO GO TO
THE LIBRARY TO GET YOUR HOTSPOT.
RIGHT? AND SO WITHOUT THE
ABILITY TO GET IN OUR DOORS, WE
ARE NOT PROVIDING THE SERVICE
THAT SEATTLEITES DESERVE. THIS
IS ANOTHER BUDGET AMENDMENT THAT
IF WE WERE TRULY RIGHTSIZING
WHAT THE NEEDS ARE FOR A PUBLIC
LIBRARY SYSTEM, IT WOULD BE
TENFOLD WHAT WE HAVE BEFORE US
TODAY. I HOPE TO EARN YOUR
SUPPORT, COLLEAGUES. THANK YOU.
>> THANK YOU, COUNCILMEMBER
STRAUSS. COLLEAGUES, ANY
QUESTIONS OR COMMENTS? LET'S
THINK ABOUT. AMENDMENT NINE. [
ROLL CALL ]
>> SIX IN FAVOR AND ONE OPPOSED.
>> MOTION CARRIES AN AMENDMENT
NINE IS ADOPTED. COUNCILMEMBER
FOSTER, ON BEHALF OF
COUNCILMEMBER SAKA, YOU WILL
MOVE -- SORRY, IT'S OUT OF
SEQUENCE BECAUSE SOME WERE
REMOVED. WE'RE GOING TO 12.
COUNCILMEMBER FOSTER, YOU ARE --
EXCUSE ME, COUNCILMEMBER FOSTER,
YOUR RECOGNIZED TO SPEAK ON
BEHALF OF AMENDMENT 12 WHICH IS
BEING BROUGHT BY COUNCILMEMBER
SAKA.
>> THANK YOU. I BELIEVE I NEED
TO MOVE IT IN. THANK YOU. I
WOULD LIKE TO MOVE THAT
AMENDMENT 12 INTO THE RECORD.
>> SECOND.
>> IT HAS BEEN MOVED AND
SECONDED TO AMEND COUNCIL BILL
121181 IS PRESENTED ON AMENDMENT
12. ERIC?
>> AMENDMENT 12 WOULD
COMMUNICATE COUNCIL'S INTENTION
THAT A PORTION OF THE LIBRARY
LEVY FUNDING AMOUNT AS
TRANSMITTED BY THE MAYOR SHOULD
BE AUTHORIZED FOR INVESTMENTS TO
SUPPORT TECHNOLOGY SERVICES BY
PROVIDING DIGITAL SCALING
PROGRAMS FOR TEENS. OFFERED AT
THE SOUTHPARK AND HIGH POINT
BRANCH LIBRARIES.
>> THANK YOU, ERIC.
COUNCILMEMBER FOSTER.
>> THANK YOU, AS THE CHAIR
MENTIONED I AM SPEAKING ON
BEHALF OF COUNCILMEMBER SAKA.
FOR THESE TWO AMENDMENT'S. THIS
FIRST AMENDMENT EXTENDS AN
EXISTING SEATTLE PUBLIC LIBRARY
PROGRAM INTO TWO NEIGHBORHOODS
WITH LOWER HOME INTERNET ACCESS.
AND FEWER DEVICES COMPARED TO
MORE AFFLUENT SEATTLE AREAS.
THESE GAPS LIMIT ACCESS TO
ESSENTIAL DIGITAL RESOURCES SUCH
AS ONLINE LEARNING, JOB
APPLICATIONS, GOVERNMENT
SERVICES AND TELEHEALTH.
THEREFORE DIGITAL SKILLS
TRAINING IS NEEDED IN THESE
COMMITTEES. THE LEVY ORDINANCE
SETS NO LIMITS BY OFFERING OUR
CAPITAL OR SPENDING CATEGORY AND
THIS AMENDMENT SIGNALS THE
COUNCIL INTEND THAT PART OF THE
$410 MILLION SUPPORT DIGITAL
SCALING INITIATIVES.
>> THANK YOU, COUNCILMEMBER
FOSTER. COLLEAGUES, ANY
QUESTIONS OR COMMENTS? JUST TO
CONFIRM, -- COUNCILMEMBER
JUAREZ, DO YOU HAVE A QUESTION?
>> I APOLOGIZE, MY ZOOM JUST CUT
OUT I WANT TO MAKE SURE IT WAS
BACK ONLINE.
>> WE SEE YOU. AND WE HEAR YOU.
>> OKAY, GREAT, THANK YOU, MADAM
CHAIR.
>> THANK YOU, COUNCILMEMBER
JUAREZ. ERIC, IN THIS PARTICULAR
AMENDMENT AND THE SECOND ONE
DON'T HAVE ACTUAL MONEY ADDS.
THEY ARE JUST AN INTENT FOR HOW
TO USE THE CURRENT MONEY. EXPECT
THAT IS CORRECT.
>> GREAT. AT THE END OF THE DAY
I WANT TO CONFIRM THAT NO MATTER
WHAT WE INTEND, IS THE LIBRARY
BOARD WHO GETS TO DECIDE WHAT TO
DO WITH ALL OF THIS MONEY THAT
NOW HAVE ADDED VIA THESE
AMENDMENTS, CORRECT?
>> THAT IS ALSO CORRECT.
>> OKAY, THANK YOU. THANK YOU
FOR CONFIRMING. UNLESS THERE ANY
QUESTIONS, AND I DON'T SEE ANY
HANDS RAISED. LET'S GO TO
ABOUT. VOTE.
>> COUNCILMEMBER STRAUSS.
>> YES.
>> COUNCILMEMBER FOSTER.
>> YES.
>> COUNCILMEMBER JUAREZ.
>> YES.
>> COUNCILMEMBER LIN.
>> YES.
>> COUNCILMEMBER RINCK.
>> YES.
>> VICE CHAIR HOLLINGSWORTH.
>> YES.
>> CHAIR RIVERA.
>> YES.
>> THE MOTION CARRIES AN
AMENDMENT 12 IS ADOPTED. NOW
AMENDMENT 13. ALSO A
COUNCILMEMBER SAKA ADD.
COUNCILMEMBER FOSTER, YOUR
RECOGNIZED TO MOVE COUNCILMEMBER
SAKA'S AMENDMENT NUMBER 13.
>> I LIKE TO MOVE AMENDMENT
NUMBER 13. DO I HAVE A SECOND?
>> SECOND.
>> IT IS MOVED AND SECONDED TO
AMEND COUNCIL BILL 121181 IS
PRESENTED ON AMENDMENT 13. ERIC?
>> AMENDMENT 13 WOULD
COMMUNICATE COUNCIL'S INTENTION
THAT A PORTION OF THE LIBRARY
FUNDING AMOUNT AS TRANSMITTED BY
THE MAYOR SHOULD BE AUTHORIZED
FOR INVESTMENTS TO SUPPORT HOURS
AND ACCESS AND COLLECTIONS BY
CONTRACTING WITH THE WASHINGTON
STATE BLACK LEGACY INSTITUTE FOR
PROGRAMMING AND LOCAL HISTORY --
EXCUSE ME, LOCAL HISTORY
CURATION THAT CELEBRATES AND
PRESERVES THE RICH HISTORY OF
WASHINGTON'S BLACK COMMUNITY
AND OFFERS A POWERFUL TRIBUTE TO
BLACK RESILIENCE, LEADERSHIP AND
CULTURAL CONTRIBUTIONS.
>> THANK YOU, ERIC.
COUNCILMEMBER FOSTER, YOUR
RECOGNIZED TO SPEAK ON BEHALF OF
COUNCILMEMBER SAKA.
>> THANK YOU. ONCE AGAIN, I AM
SHARING WORDS ON BEHALF OF
COUNCILMEMBER SAKA. THIS
AMENDMENT FORMALIZES COUNCIL
INTEND TO USE LEVY FUNDS TO
CONTRACT WITH THE WASHINGTON
STATE BLACK LEGACY INSTITUTE FOR
PROGRAMMING. IT WORKS TO CURATE
AND DISSEMINATE LEGACY OF BLACK
WASHINGTONIANS GROUNDED IN THE
BELIEF THAT HONORING THE PAST
STRENGTHENS THE FUTURE. LIKE
AMENDMENT 12 IT EXPRESSES THE
COUNCIL INTENT THAT A PORTION OF
THE $410 MILLION BE USED FOR
THIS PURPOSE.
>> THANK YOU, COUNCILMEMBER
FOSTER. COLLEAGUES, ANY
QUESTIONS , COUNCIL PRESIDENT
HOLLINGSWORTH, YOU ARE
RECOGNIZED TO SPEAK.
>> NO, NO WORRIES. YOU ARE ALL
GOOD. THANK YOU, I KNOW
COUNCILMEMBER SAKA IS NOT HERE.
SO THANKING HIM FOR THIS
AMENDMENT. LOOK, I AM BLACK, I
SUPPORT EVERYTHING. YOU KNOW
I'M COMING FROM. BUT THE ONE
THING THAT CONCERNS ME ABOUT
THIS IS CALLING OUT SPECIFICALLY
THE PROVIDER WITH OUR
INTENTIONS. , AND YOU KNOW, THAT
WAS MY ONLY DISCOMFORT. I WILL
BE ABSTAINING FROM THIS. JUST
BECAUSE ON THAT PRINCIPLE OF
CALLING OUT A SPECIFIC PROVIDER
OUTSIDE OF THE LIBRARY LEVY, IF
IT WAS A SPECIFIC LIBRARY AND
THAT IS WHO WE WERE TARGETING,
OR THAT PIECE, BUT IT'S
SOMETHING OUTSIDE OF THE SYSTEM.
SO THAT WAS ONE OF MY ONLY
CONCERNS. WITH THIS. THANK YOU,
COLLEAGUES.
>> THANK YOU. ANY OTHER
QUESTIONS OR COMMENTS? I TOO
WILL BE ABSTAINING FROM THIS
JUST BECAUSE WE DON'T NORMALLY
SELECT A PROVIDER. WE HAVEN'T
USUALLY , WE HAVE AN RFP PROCESS
AND I AM NOT FAMILIAR WHY IT'S
BEING DONE THIS WAY. BUT, I DO
SUPPORT , OBVIOUSLY, THE
CURATION ASPECT OF THIS.
ESPECIALLY FOR BLACK LEGACY.
BUT, I WILL ABSTAIN JUST BASED
ON SIMILAR , SIMILAR POSITION AS
COUNCIL PRESIDENT. ALL RIGHT,
LET'S TAKE A VOTE ON AMENDMENT
13.
>> COUNCILMEMBER STRAUSS.
>> COUNCILMEMBER FOSTER.
>> YES.
>>
>> COUNCILMEMBER JUAREZ.
ABSTAIN.
>> YES.
>> COUNCILMEMBER LIN.
>> YES.
>> COUNCILMEMBER RINCK.
>> ABSTAIN.
>> VICE CHAIR HOLLINGSWORTH.
>> ABSTAIN.
>> CHAIR RIVERA.
>> ABSTAIN.
>> THREE IN FAVOR, FOUR
ABSTENTIONS.
>> THE AMENDMENT FAILS.
AMENDMENT 13 IS NOT ADOPTED.
SORRY.
>> POINT OF INFORMATION, I
BELIEVE THE TWO IN FAVOR AND THE
REST ABSTENTION DOES PASS.
>> DOES PASS. APOLOGIES. I WAS
MISSING MY PLACE ON MY SCRIPT.
OKAY, THE MOTION CARRIES ON
AMENDMENT 13. IT IS ADOPTED. ALL
RIGHT. ONE SECOND. ALL RIGHT.
SORRY, COLLEAGUES. MY SCRIPT IS
INCOMPLETE. BUT THE AMENDMENT
PASSES AND THAT WAS THE LAST
AMENDMENT.
>> MADAM CHAIR, I'M A BIT
CONFUSED FROM THE CLERK. MY
COUNT WAS DIFFERENT. WE HAD FOUR
ABSTENTIONS AND THREE YESES,
WHAT WAS THE COUNT?
>> THREE IN FAVOR AND FOUR
ABSTENTIONS.
>> THREE IN FAVOR AND FOUR
ABSTENTIONS.
>> SO, OKAY. I THOUGHT THAT WHEN
YOU HAD -- OKAY, WELL.
>> YOU KNOW WHAT, COUNCILMEMBER
JUAREZ, WE'RE GOING TO DO IS
CONFIRM WITH OUR CLERK TO MAKE
SURE THAT WE HAVE THAT RIGHT. SO
HANG TIGHT, EVERYBODY, FOR A
MINUTE.
>> THIS IS AMELIA SANCHEZ. JUST
PROVIDING CLARIFICATION. THE
VOTE WAS FOUR IN FAVOR NONE
OPPOSED, SORRY, THREE IN FAVOR,
NONE OPPOSED AND FOUR
ABSTENTIONS. THEREFORE THE
MOTION DOES CARRY. THE AMENDMENT
IS ADOPTED. ABSTENTIONS DO NOT
COUNT TOWARDS THE TALLY.
>> GOT IT.
>> THANK YOU, MADAM CHAIR. I
MEAN, MADAME CLERK.
>> THANK YOU AMELIA AND
COUNCILMEMBER JUAREZ. I HAVE
ALREADY SAID, THE AMENDMENT IS
ADOPTED. ALL RIGHT. SO THAT WAS
OUR LAST AMENDMENT . THANK YOU,
ERIC, THANK YOU, COLLEAGUES. ALL
RIGHT, GIVE ME ONE SECOND TO
FIND THE NEXT ONE HERE.
>> MADAM CHAIR, ARE YOU GOING TO
GIVE US AN OPPORTUNITY AFTER YOU
SPEAK --
>> YES.
>> OKAY, JUST CHECKING.
>> ONE SECOND.
>> THANK YOU, I WANT TO GET MY
PAPERS STRAIGHT HERE.
>> ALL RIGHT, COLLEAGUES, WE ARE
ABOUT TO TAKE THE VOTE ON THE
FULL BILL AS AMENDED BY THESE
AMENDMENTS WE PASSED TODAY. SO,
AT THIS POINT, IF ANYONE WOULD
LIKE TO MAKE COMMENTS BEFORE WE
TAKE THE FINAL VOTE, I WILL GIVE
YOU AN OPPORTUNITY TO DO THAT
AND THEN WE WILL TAKE OUR FINAL
VOTE ON THE FULL BILL.
COUNCILMEMBER JUAREZ, YOUR
RECOGNIZED.
>> I WILL BE VERY BRIEF. I WANT
TO THANK YOU, MADAM CHAIR, OR
WALKING US THROUGH THIS LEVY.
AND I KNOW THE YOU ALSO WALKED
US THROUGH THE LEVY AS WELL. I
REALLY APPRECIATE YOUR COMMENT
THAT, YES, WE ALL OF THE
LIBRARY. COUNCILMEMBER LIN, I DO
APPRECIATE YOUR COMMENTS AND I
DIDN'T NEED TO LAUGH, BUT I DO
APPRECIATE YOUR COMMENTS ABOUT
DEMOCRACY AND LIBRARIES. AND
THEY DO APPRECIATE YOU AND --
ACTUALLY, EVERYONE'S PASSION
FOR WHAT WE WANT TO DO. AND
THANK YOU, COUNCILMEMBER
STRAUSS, FOR RECOGNIZING THE
ADA, PEOPLE WHO NEED IT. SOMEONE
LIKE ME, AS YOU KNOW I HAVE MS.
AS YOU KNOW I'M A SUPPORTER OF
THAT. AND GOING BACK TO THE ONES
I VOTED NO ON, IT DOESN'T MEAN
I DON'T SUPPORT PUTTING MONEY
ASIDE FOR THE COOLING AND
DEFERRED AND SEISMIC RETROFIT.
AGAIN, I WAS JUST GOING BACK TO
WHAT THE CHAIR, MADAM CHAIR WAS
CAUTIONING US ABOUT ABOUT, THE
CAP, OUR FISCAL RESPONSIBILITY.
AND I GUESS MY CONCERN ABOUT THE
SIX TAXES WE ALREADY HAVE IN
FRONT OF US AS A SAVE SEATTLE,
THE POTENTIAL FOR TWO MORE, AND
THE ANNUAL TAXES WE HAVE, WHICH
ARE SIX, THE COUNTY TAXES WE
HAVE WHICH ARE SEVEN, AND
ANOTHER ONE POSSIBLY COMING DOWN
THE PIKE. SO I SAY THAT ONLY
BECAUSE , YOU KNOW, I'M NOT
AGAINST THESE THINGS. IT'S MORE
THAT I WANT TO MAKE SURE THAT WE
FUND WHAT WE CAN BEING FISCALLY
RESPONSIBLE AND BEING MINDFUL
THAT WHEN WE DO THESE , THESE
ARE PROPERTY TAXES. THESE ARE
EXCISE TAXES. THESE ARE TAXES
THAT HAPPEN WHEN SALES TAXES.
AND AT SOME POINT WE HAVE TO BE
RESPONSIBLE FOR , YOU KNOW, WHAT
WE PUT OUT TO THE VOTERS AND
WHAT WE CAN PAY FOR. AND THAT IS
IT. I DON'T THINK ANYONE IS
AGAINST -- I MEAN IF WE COULD ,
MADAM CHAIR, WE WOULD FUND
EVERYTHING. BUT THE WORLD
DOESN'T WORK THAT WE. I THINK,
AND AGAIN, COUNCILMEMBER RINCK,
I DIDN'T MEAN TO BELITTLE YOUR
COMMENTS WHEN YOU TALK ABOUT THE
TRUMP REGIME. AND I DIDN'T MEAN
TO BELITTLE COUNCILMEMBER LIN'S
COMMENTS WHEN HE TALKED ABOUT
DEMOCRACY AND LIBRARIES. I
UNDERSTAND WHAT YOU'RE SAYING.
, ON THE GROUND IN THE REAL
WORLD AND THE EVERYDAY STUFF,
THAT IS WHAT CONCERNS ME AS A
LEGISLATOR, AS A LEADER ON THIS
BRANCH OF GOVERNMENT. AND THEY
DO APPRECIATE THE MAYOR SENDING
DOWN THE PACKAGE THAT SHE DID.
AND SO, THAT IS WHY YOU SAW OF
THE 13 AMENDMENTS OR 12 OR
WHATEVER THEY WERE, I ONLY VOTED
NO ON TWO. I DON'T THINK I'VE
EVER ABSTAINED IN MY HISTORY OF
BEING ON COUNCIL BECAUSE I HAVE
A POSITION YOU SHOULD VOTE YES
OR NO. THAT IS ME. NO SHADE TO
ANYONE ELSE. THAT IS JUST ME.
WITH THAT I WANT TO THANK YOU,
MADAM CHAIR, FOR YOUR
LEADERSHIP. IT IS NOT EASY
HAVING TO SAY NO, ESPECIALLY TO
THE PUBLIC WHEN PEOPLE GET ANGRY
OR THINK YOU'RE NOT SUPPORTING
THEM AND THEY SOMETIMES PEOPLE
TAKE IT PERSONALLY AND I DON'T
THINK THEY SHOULD. WE ARE JUST
RING TO DO OUR JOB AND DO THE
BEST WE CAN WITH WHAT WE HAVE.
SO THANK YOU, AND THANK YOU,
COLLEAGUES, FOR LISTENING TO ME.
>> THANK YOU, COUNCILMEMBER
JUAREZ. COUNCILMEMBER LIN AND
THEN COUNCIL PRESIDENT
HOLLINGSWORTH.
>> THANK YOU, CHAIR, THANK YOU,
COUNCILMEMBER JUAREZ. JUST WANT
TO GIVE A SHOUT OUT TO SEATTLE
PUBLIC LIBRARIES , STAFF, BOARD,
FRIENDS OF SEATTLE PUBLIC
LIBRARIES, TO EVERYBODY WHO CAME
AND SPOKE AND TESTIFIED, TO ALL
THE ADVOCACY THE DID LEAD
SUPPORT MANY OF THE AMENDMENTS.
DEFINITELY, COUNCILMEMBER
JUAREZ, I APPRECIATE YOUR
PERSPECTIVES, CHAIR, I
APPRECIATE YOUR PERSPECTIVES. I
THINK IT IS GOOD FOR US TO HAVE
SOME HARD DISCUSSIONS AND
DEBATE. I THINK THAT IS GOOD FOR
US. I THINK IT IS GOOD FOR THE
PUBLIC. AND VARSITY. SO I
APPRECIATE YOU SHEPHERDING THIS,
IT'S A LOT OF WORK. I AM
EXCITED ABOUT THE PACKAGE THAT
WE HAVE. AND ULTIMATELY NOW IT
WILL BE UP FOR THE VOTERS TO
DECIDE . WE DO HAVE SOME REAL
HARD DECISIONS AROUND OUR
BUDGET, AROUND TAXES, AROUND
OTHER NEEDS. SO THIS IS NOT
EASY. SO AGAIN, I APPRECIATE THE
DEBATE. THANK YOU.
>> THANK YOU, COUNCILMEMBER LIN.
COUNCIL PRESIDENT HOLLINGSWORTH.
>> SORRY, I. I THINK
COUNCILMEMBER FOSTER HAD HER
HAND RAISED BEFORE ME. I'M
SORRY, CHAIR.
>> I DIDN'T SEE COUNCILMEMBER
FOSTER'S HAND. COUNCILMEMBER
FOSTER, YOUR RECOGNIZED.
>> THANK YOU SO MUCH, CHAIR. I
WILL BE BRIEF. I WANTED TO
EXPRESS MY APPRECIATION TO YOU,
CHAIR, MANAGING A LEVY PROCESS
IS NOT AN EASY THING. ESPECIALLY
WITH NINE MEMBERS WHO HAVE NINE
DIFFERENT OPINIONS ON A GOOD
DAY. WE MIGHT HAVE 18 DIFFERENT
OPINIONS ON A BAD DAY. AMONGST
THE NINE OF US. I WANT TO
EXPRESS MY APPRECIATION TO YOU
FOR MANAGING THIS PROCESS. I
ALSO WANT TO EXPRESS MY
APPRECIATION, I THINK IT WAS IN
ONE OF HER EARLY MEETINGS WHERE
YOUR INCREDIBLE HE TRANSPARENT
ABOUT WHAT YOUR POSITION WAS
GOING TO BE AMENDMENTS. SO I
APPRECIATE THAT EARLY
TRANSPARENCY FROM YOU AS WELL,
CHAIR. LASTLY I WANT TO THANK
ERIC AND CENTRAL STAFF, WE
REALLY APPRECIATE YOU AND THE
WORK YOU DO TO MAKE SURE OUR
AMENDMENT'S COME THROUGH AND
ARE WILL PUT TOGETHER AND WELL
THOUGHT OUT. AND SO OUR WORK IS
NOT POSSIBLE WITHOUT YOU. AND
EXPRESS MY APPRECIATION TO
MEMBERS OF THE PUBLIC AND THE
LIBRARIES WHO HAVE BEEN HERE AND
SHOWN UP AND TESTIFIED. SO THANK
YOU.
>> THANK YOU, COUNCILMEMBER
FOSTER. COUNCIL PRESIDENT?
>> THANK YOU, CHAIR. I AM
JUMPING ON THE APPRECIATION
TRAIN. ONE-WAY TICKET. THANK
YOU, CHAIR, FOR YOUR LEADERSHIP
ON THIS. AND STEWARDSHIP. I KNOW
IT IS NOT EASY TO LEAD TWO YEARS
IN A ROW OF LEVIES FROM THE
FAMILY AND EDUCATIONS LEVY TO
THIS LEVY AS WELL. NO MATTER
WHAT POSITIONS, HOW PEOPLE VOTE.
THE REALITY IS SOMEONE STILL HAS
TO DO THE WORK TO SHEPHERD THAT
WORK. AND SO JUST REALLY
GRATEFUL FOR YOUR LEADERSHIP ON
THIS. AND, COLLABORATION. AND
ALSO, TOO, I WANT TO HIGHLIGHT,
AND I THINK COUNCILMEMBER JUAREZ
SAID IT, BETTER THAN I AM
PROBABLY GOING TO ARTICULATE IT,
IS -- AND COUNCILMEMBER LIN
MENTIONED IT, THE HARD
CONVERSATIONS. THESE ARE THINGS
THAT WE ACTUALLY HAVE TO DISCUSS
OPENLY. AND IT'S OKAY. AND NOT
BE DEMONIZED FOR OUR CONCERN
ABOUT TAXES. AND OUR CONCERN
ABOUT THE COST OF LIVING FOR
PEOPLE. THERE IS NOT ONE PERSON
ON THIS COUNCIL THE DOES NOT
SUPPORT THE LIBRARIES. DOES NOT
LOVE READING BOOKS. DOES NOT
WANT TO FUND THE SERVICES AND
THOSE THINGS. AND SO, JUST
WANTED TO HIGHLIGHT THAT AS
WELL. BECAUSE I THINK THAT IS
REALLY IMPORTANT FOR US TO SAY
OUT LOUD. AND ALSO TOO, WANTING
TO HAVE , YOU KNOW, THESE GOOD
OUTCOMES AS WELL. AND GOOD
SERVICES FOR PEOPLE, WORLD-CLASS
CITY, WORLD-CLASS CITIZENS
SERVICES. JUST WANT TO HIGHLIGHT
THAT. THINK YOU FOR THE COMMENTS
I THOUGHT WERE REALLY GREAT FOR
IN ADDITION TO THE LEVY AS WELL.
AND VERY THOUGHTFUL AS WELL.
JUST WANTED TO SAY THAT. THANK
YOU, CHAIR, AGAIN, FOR YOUR
LEADERSHIP.
>> THANK YOU, ANYONE ELSE? THEN,
REALLY, I WILL JUST SAY -- YOU
DIDN'T HAVE YOUR HAND IT. BUT
YOU CAN GO.
>> SORRY.
>> COUNCILMEMBER STRAUSS, YOUR
RECOGNIZED.
>> I'M NOT GOOD TECHNOLOGY
WHICH IS WHAT I WANT TO BE ONE
FOR THE PHYSICAL BOOKS. I JUST
WANT TO THANK YOU FOR LEADING US
THROUGH THIS PROCESS. ALSO WANT
TO JUST RECOGNIZE THAT
WASHINGTON STATE'S UPSIDE DOWN
TEXT CODE IS WHAT IS LIMITING US
TODAY FROM ACTUALLY FUNDING THE
REAL NEEDS OF THE SEATTLE
LIBRARY SYSTEM. BECAUSE OF ALL
OF THE COST OF LIVING CHALLENGES
THAT HAVE BEEN ADDRESSED, THAT
IS COMING FROM WASHINGTON
STATE'S UPSIDE DOWN TEXT CODE.
BECAUSE OF THEIR LIMIT ON OUR
ABILITY TO RAISE LEVIES, OR HAVE
OUR PROPERTY TAX, A GENERAL
PROPERTY TAX LEVY UP TO 3%, THIS
IS HOW WASHINGTON STATE IS
LIMITING US IN THE CITY OF
SEATTLE AND WE HAVE HAD
WORKAROUNDS FOR THE LAST DECADE
PLUS. WE HAVE HAD WORKAROUNDS
BYPASSING VOTER APPROVED LEVIES.
THIS IS THE FIRST LEVY THAT IS
FACING THE CHALLENGE, THE
OVERALL CHALLENGE THAT THE STATE
IS PUTTING DOWN ON US. AND SO IT
IS REALLY UNFORTUNATE , BECAUSE
OF OUR STATE'S POLICIES,
LIBRARIES AND SEATTLE FAMILIES
OF THE FIRST TO LOSE OUT. IN A
POSITIVE NEWS, I AM GLAD THAT WE
HAVE BEEN ABLE TO BALANCE OUR
FISCAL RESPONSIBILITY WITH
PUSHING AS FAR AS WE CAN TO MEET
THE NEEDS OF OUR SEATTLE LIBRARY
SYSTEM AND SEATTLE FAMILIES. AND
I THANK YOU CHAIR AND COLLEAGUES
FOR THIS PROCESS.
>> THANK YOU, COUNCILMEMBER
STRAUSS. ANYONE ELSE? GOING
ONCE. GOING TWICE. AND I WILL
SAY , THIS WAS MY SECOND LEVY IN
TWO YEARS. AND BY FAR THE
HARDEST ONE BECAUSE IT IS NOT
EASY FOR ME TO SAY NO TO
SOMETHING I CARE SO DEEPLY
ABOUT. AND I WOULDN'T BE HERE
TODAY WITHOUT LIBRARIES. AND,
EVERYBODY KNOWS I AM VERY -- WE
DIDN'T HAVE A LOT GOING UP. SO
MY DAD REALLY TAUGHT US WE HAD
TO BE FISCALLY RESPONSIBLE. AND
THERE WERE A LOT OF TIMES MY DAD
SAID NO WHEN I KNOW HE REALLY
WANTED TO SAY YES. SO, IN THE
SPIRIT OF THAT, I WANT YOU TO
KNOW, AND I WANT EVERYONE
WATCHING, THAT I DON'T TAKE IT
LIGHTLY WHEN I GO TO THE VOTERS
FIRST OF ALL TO INCREASE THE
PROPERTY TAXES , INCLUDING
RENTERS, BECAUSE NO ONE EVER
THINKS RENTERS PAY FOR THESE
THINGS TOO. THEY DO. THESE COSTS
TO GET PASSED ON TO RENTERS. AND
WE ARE LIVING IN A REALLY
EXPENSIVE CITY. AND I FEEL FOR
THAT BECAUSE MY FAMILY , I GREW
UP, MY FAMILY WERE RENTING. THEY
WERE RENTERS. SO, THAT IS
MEANINGFUL TO ME. I AM NOT A
RENTER TODAY. INC. FULLY. BUT I
USED TO BE. FOR MANY YEARS. EVEN
ON MY OWN WHEN I WAS A YOUNG
PERSON. FRESHLY OUT OF COLLEGE.
AS A FIRST GENERATION COLLEGE
STUDENT. AND, THESE ARE REALLY
TOUGH CHOICES. SO THAT IS WHY I
LEAD WITH, LOOK, -- AND THE
OTHER THING IS, WE DO NEED TO BE
REALISTIC AND ALSO HONEST AND
TRANSPARENT WITH THE PUBLIC. YOU
MAY NOT HAVE LIKE THE VOTES I
TOOK TODAY, BUT I AM
TRANSPARENT. WHAT I AM TELLING
YOU IS TRUE. BECAUSE MY DAD
TAUGHT ME, WE DON'T HAVE
ANYTHING, BUT WE HAVE OUR WORD.
SO IT'S IMPORTANT TO ME THAT WE
ARE PAINTING THE PROPER
FINANCIAL FISCAL PICTURE. I HAD
SOMEONE QUESTION ME ABOUT THAT.
AS IF SOMEHOW I WASN'T TELLING
THE TRUTH BECAUSE I DIDN'T WANT
TO GIVE THE LIBRARIES MORE. I
HAVE NO MOTIVATION FOR NOT
GIVING THE LIBRARIES MORE WHEN I
LOVE THE LIBRARIES SO DEEPLY, AS
WE ALL DO IN SEATTLE. I HAVE NOT
MET ONE PERSON IN SEATTLE THE
TRULY DOES NOT CARE OR HAS NOT
UTILIZED THE LIBRARY IN SOME WAY
OR ANOTHER. AND MY FAMILY
CONTINUES TO UTILIZE LIBRARIES.
SO THIS IS REALLY IMPORTANT TO
ME. AND, IT IS HARD FOR ME. THIS
ONE WAS REALLY HARD. SO, I AM,
HOWEVER, HAPPY THAT WE ARE TO BE
PUTTING A LEVY ON THE BALLOT
BEFORE THE VOTERS AND THEN THE
VOTERS GET TO DECIDE. BUT AS I
SAID EARLIER, VOTERS DON'T HAVE
THE BENEFITS THAT WE HAVE OF THE
FISCAL PICTURE. AND SO THAT IS
WHY -- IT IS INCUMBENT UPON US
TO BE THE STEWARDS OF THE FUNDS.
THAT IS WHY WE SIGNED UP TO DO
THESE JOBS. AND I'M DOING THE
JOB TO THE BEST OF MY ABILITY,
AS TRANSPARENTLY AND HONESTLY AS
I CAN. AND THEN AT THE END OF
THE DAY, WE PASS HERE TODAY WILL
GO ON TO THE VOTERS. AND WITHOUT
THE FUNDS IN THIS LEVY, WE
CANNOT CONTINUE OUR LIBRARIES,
PERIOD. SO I WANT YOU ALL TO
KNOW THAT. YOU HERE IN THE
CHAMBERS AND MEMBERS OF THE
PUBLIC. BECAUSE I DON'T WANT TO
MALIGN EACH OTHER, THAT IS NOT
WHERE WE ARE. IT IS NOT, YOU
KNOW, WHO LOVES THE LIBRARIES
MORE BECAUSE WHO VOTED FOR WHAT.
WE ALL OF THE LIBRARIES AND WANT
THE LEVY TO GO BEFORE THE VOTERS
AND WE ARE GRAPPLING WITH HOW TO
PAY FOR OTHER THINGS TOO.
BECAUSE THERE ARE A LOT OF
NEEDS. LIKE HOUSING AND
TRANSPORTATION, EDUCATION. THESE
LEVIES CYCLE AND IN SEVEN YEARS
WE'RE GOING TO BE BACK HERE
AGAIN TALKING ABOUT THE NEXT
LIBRARY HEAVY. TO PLEASE KNOW
THAT. NO ONE LOVES THE LIBRARIES
MORE THAN I DO AND SOMETIMES I
HAVE TO BE THAT PARENT, LIKE MY
DAD THAT HAD TO SAY NO. BECAUSE
WE JUST DON'T HAVE IT.
COUNCILMEMBER JUAREZ, I SEE YOUR
HAND A.
>> I NORMALLY DON'T DO THIS,
BUT I WANT TO DO THIS REALLY
QUICKLY. MADAM CHAIR, I JUST
WANT TO VOUCH AND WHAT YOU SAY
IS FORMER CHAIR OF THE
LIBRARIES, I UNDERSTAND. I JUST
WANT TO SAY, FOR THE PUBLIC,
BECAUSE SOMETIMES IN THE FOG OF
POLITICS AND VIRTUAL SIGNALING
I'M GOING TO SAY THIS, I HAVE
ALWAYS APPRECIATED YOUR
INTEGRITY, YOUR HONESTY, YOUR
STREET SHOOTING. YOU HAVE ALWAYS
BEEN CLEAR. THERE ARE TIMES WE
HAVE AGREED TO DISAGREE, BUT YOU
HAVE BEEN KIND AND
STRAIGHTFORWARD. WHAT WE DON'T
WAS AGREE ON EVERYTHING, I
ALWAYS APPRECIATE THAT WE ALWAYS
HAVE SOMETHING , ON THINGS WE DO
AGREE WITH. I THINK WE'RE GOING
TO HAVE THE SAME CONVERSATIONS
WHEN THE TRANSPORTATION LEVY
COMES AROUND. AND I AM HOPING,
AS SOMEONE WHO WENT TO A COUPLE
OTHER COUNCILS, THAT WE CAN
CONTINUE THIS FEELING THAT WE
ARE A TEAM AND AGREE AND STILL
BE A TEAM. I THINK -- I'M GOING
TO DO KIND OF WHAT COUNCILMEMBER
RINCK WAS DOING. WHAT WE ARE NOT
SEEING NATIONALLY, AND PART OF
THE CITY COUNCIL WE ARE TRYING
TO DO LOCALLY. AND THAT IS WHERE
TOGETHER. WE DON'T HAVE DENIAL
OF REACHING ACROSS THE AISLE,
BUT JUST BEING ABLE TO TALK AND
BE HONEST AND BE STRAIGHTFORWARD
WITHOUT WORRYING ABOUT BEING
DEMONIZED OR WHATEVER BECAUSE
PEOPLE THINK THE POSTURING
SOMETIMES GETS RIDICULOUS. THAT
IS JUST ME SAYING THAT. WITH
THAT, I JUST WANTED TO END ON, I
THANK YOU FOR YOUR LEADERSHIP
BECAUSE I KNOW YOU REALLY
STRUGGLE TO DO THE RIGHT THING
WITH THIS LEVY CAME DOWN FROM
THE MAYOR'S OFFICE. BEHIND THE
SCENES FOLKS DON'T KNOW THAT. I
THINK THEY NEED TO KNOW WE DO
TALK TO EACH OTHER AND WE DO TRY
TO REPRESENT THE NEEDS OF OUR
DISTRICT, HONOR THE NEEDS OF OUR
DISTRICT, BUT REPRESENT THE CITY
AS A WHOLE AND REPRESENTING THE
CITY AS A WHOLE IS HAVING THAT
RESPONSIBLE, FISCAL
RESPONSIBILITY AND TAKING IT
SERIOUSLY. EVEN IF PEOPLE
DISAGREE WITH US OR GET ANGRY
WITH US. FOR YOUR LEADERSHIP ON
THIS LEVY, WELL OVER $400
MILLION, THANK YOU VERY MUCH.
>> THANK YOU, COUNCILMEMBER
JUAREZ. I APPRECIATE THAT. AND I
DO APPRECIATE HAVING -- AS
COUNCILMEMBER SAID EARLIER, AS
YOU ALSO SAID, COUNCILMEMBER
JUAREZ, WE HAVE TO HAVE THE
TOUGH CONVERSATIONS. THAT IS
PART OF THE JOB . I MEAN, ANYONE
WHO WANTS TO DO THIS JOB, JUST
KNOW THAT. YOU HAVE TO HAVE THE
TOUGH CONVERSATIONS. BUT I SAID
IT DURING THIS LEVY PROCESS, I
SAID IT DURING THE THEFT, THINGS
WORK BETTER WHEN WE WORK
TOGETHER. WE HAVE BETTER
OUTCOMES WHEN WE WORK TOGETHER.
AND THAT IS ABSOLUTELY MISSING
IN THIS COUNTRY . AND IN SOME
PARTS OF OUR CITY EVEN. I WILL
SAY IT. BUT WE WORK REALLY HARD
ON THIS COUNCIL TO WORK TOGETHER
, ESPECIALLY WHEN WE DISAGREE. I
THINK THAT IS EVEN MORE
IMPORTANT TO WORK TOGETHER WHEN
WE DISAGREE. BECAUSE WE DO NEED
TO GET SOMEWHERE. AND THAT IS
NOT GOING TO HAPPEN IF WE DON'T
TALK AND TALK OUR DIFFERENCES
OUT. WE ALL REPRESENT DIFFERENT
CONSTITUENCIES, DIFFERENT PARTS
OF THE CITY, AND IF YOU ARE AT
LARGE, YOU'RE REPRESENTING ALL
OF THOSE DIFFERENT
CONSTITUENCIES ACROSS THE CITY.
SO, ANYWAY, THANK YOU. LET'S
GET TO OUR VOTE AND GET THIS TO
THE VOTERS. ALL RIGHT, WILL THE
CLERK PLEASE CALL THE ROLL ON
THE RECOMMENDATION --
>> COUNCILMEMBER STRAUSS.
>> YES.
>> COUNCILMEMBER FOSTER.
>> YES.
>> COUNCILMEMBER JUAREZ.
>> YES.
>> COUNCILMEMBER LIN.
>> YES.
>> COUNCILMEMBER RINCK.
>> YES.
>> VICE CHAIR HOLLINGSWORTH.
>> YES.
>> CHAIR RIVERA.
>> YES.
>> SEVEN IN FAVOR AND NONE
OPPOSED.
>>
>> THE BILL PASSES. NOW YOU CAN
CLAP.
>> [ APPLAUSE ]
>> IT IS HARD DURING PUBLIC
COMMENT BECAUSE YOU'RE TRYING
TO SHEPHERD PEOPLE THROUGH. ALL
RIGHT, RECOMMENDATION THAT THE
BILL PASS AS AMENDED WILL BE
SENT TO THE APRIL 14, 2026 CITY
COUNCIL MEETING FOR FINAL
CONSIDERATION. COLLEAGUES, ANY
FURTHER QUESTIONS OR COMMENTS?
THEN, IF YOU'LL INDULGE ME IN
TWO MORE MINUTES, I KNOW IT'S
11:31 AM I WILL SAY, SINGLE
FURTHER QUESTIONS THIS CONCLUDES
THE APRIL 8, 2026 SELECT
COMMITTEE ON THE LIBRARY LEVY.
THIS IS OUR FINAL SELECT
COMMITTEE ON THE LIBRARY LEVY.
BEFORE WE ADJOURN I WANT TO
THANK THE FOLKS WHO'VE BEEN SO
HELPFUL AND INSTRUMENTAL DURING
THIS PROCESS. I WANT TO THANK
ERIC, ARE CENTRAL SAFFER STAFFER
WHO HELPED WITH THE EVIDENCE AND
SHEPHERD THIS YEAR. I WANT TO
THANK OUR AMAZING DEPUTY CLERKS
BUT IN PARTICULAR AMELIA AND
JODY WHO WORKED ON THIS LEVY
PROCESS. I WANT TO THANK THE
VOLUNTEERS WHO SHOWED UP FOR
PUBLIC HEARING EARLIER IN THE
WEEK. CAMERON, PATTY, AND KIMMY.
THANK YOU, SUPER APPRECIATE YOU.
AND OF COURSE, MY OWN STAFF,
WENDY, NICK AND JACOB FOR ALL OF
THEIR HARD WORK. COUNCILMEMBER
JUAREZ, YOU SAID NOBODY KNOWS
WHAT GOES ON BEHIND THE SCENES ,
SO MUCH WORK. AND WE RELY ON ALL
OF THE PEOPLE THAT WE THANKED. I
WANT TO THANK THE LIBRARIES ,
THE LIBRARY TEAM, UNDER THE
LEADERSHIP FOR OTHER WORK IN THE
BACK-AND-FORTH, I NEED THIS
INFORMATION AND THAT INFORMATION
AND THESE FIGURES -- ET CETERA.
I WANT TO THANK THE FOUNDATION
FOR THEIR ADVOCACY. I WANT TO
THANK, MORE PORTLY, THE MEMBERS
OF THE PUBLIC THE K MULTIPLE
TIMES TWO CHAMBERS TO ADVOCATE
ON BEHALF OF THE LIBRARIES. AND
ANYONE WHO HAD A HAND IN THE
PASSAGE OF THIS BILL -- YOU
KNOW, I WANT TO THANK THE
MAYOR'S OFFICE AGAIN. AND
DEPUTY MAYOR AND OUR CBO
DIRECTOR, EVERYONE WORKED
TOGETHER TO PUT THIS PACKAGE
TOGETHER. AND AGAIN, WHEN WE
WORK TOGETHER, WE HAVE BETTER
OUTCOMES. AND I KNOW THAT THE
MAYOR VERY MUCH LOVES LIBRARIES.
SHE IS A HIGH UTILIZER OF THE
LIBRARY. I WANT TO ACKNOWLEDGE
THAT TOO. WE ALL HAVE TO
ACKNOWLEDGE EACH OTHER HERE.
THIS ISN'T POSTURING FOR ONE
PERSON OR ANOTHER TO GET THE
CREDIT. THIS IS A TEAM EFFORT
AND A PARTNERSHIP. AND I SUPER
APPRECIATE EVERYBODY WHO WAS
INVOLVED. AND LET'S GET THIS
THING TO THE LEVY. WE HAVE ONE
FINAL VOTE IN ORDER TO MAKE THAT
HAPPEN. AND THAT IS ON TUESDAY.
AND I LOOK FORWARD TO THAT VOTE.