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I'm here, I apologize, emergency came up. Let's get into this meeting!
We're still in public commentary and essentially every comment is in support and solidarity with defunding SPD.
We're at about a 9:1 ratio of those in support versus those again. Those against are citing the Seattle process aka "let's think this through"
In addition, we have a number of residents calling from District 4 and 5 asking CMs Pedersen and Juarez to join their colleagues in defunding police by at least 50%.
And now we are getting into Item 1, which is the Budget Rebalancing with allllll the amendments.
The morning meeting will be all non-SPD amendments (23 in total) and all SPD-related ones will be this afternoon at 2pm.
The morning meeting will be all non-SPD amendments (23 in total) and all SPD-related ones will be this afternoon at 2pm.
Detailed PDF agenda can be found here. https://legistar2.granicus.com/seattle/meetings/2020/7/4502_A_Select_Budget_Committee_20-07-31_Committee_Agenda.pdf
Amendment A is a technical amendment that would clarify the detailed budget cuts, including SDOT and Parks and Recs. CM Sawant is stating that she does not support this austerity amendment and believes increasing the Jump Start Tax (which can be done).
CM Mosqueda is pushing back and saying that this is not a support of austerity and is clarity to gain more transparency on what the Mayor's budget is.
8-1 on Amendment A.
Now to consideration of the consent package. These are all amendments that have at least 4 sponsors. After discussing these, CMs have options to propose removing amendments for a separate discussion.
Now to consideration of the consent package. These are all amendments that have at least 4 sponsors. After discussing these, CMs have options to propose removing amendments for a separate discussion.
These are the amendments in the consent package.
CM Pedersen is asking that he'd like to pull Amendment 7 for further discussion, which is related to the Tiny Home Villages.
SM Morales is fully pulling Amendment 3, the Jail Services Proviso, because the conditions have been met by the county already.
SM Morales is fully pulling Amendment 3, the Jail Services Proviso, because the conditions have been met by the county already.
Council President Gonzalez is explaining further from the email she got from the County Executive and says it's good, but we will need to find a way to ensure accountability. It doesn't need this amendment to be done, however.
So the consent package includes 1,5,8,12, and 15.
Consent package passes! So now we're going into individual amendments for discussion. Amendment 7 will come after Amendment 14.
First Amendment is to cap executive pay at 150,000, brought by CM Sawant.
First Amendment is to cap executive pay at 150,000, brought by CM Sawant.
CM Mosqueda is stating she will vote no on this because there are a lot of questions about how this impacts things like retention and collective bargaining. CM Morales is also stating similar currently, saying she supports it in principle.
For the record, according to Robert's Rules if you don't believe you understand something that is when you can abstain.
1-8 against the amendment.
Amendment 6 is the Stay Connected Pilot brought by CM Herbold. This is a pilot done by UW Nursing (if I heard correctly). It is used to connect elders in the community to monitor their overall physical and mental health in this time of isolation.
Passes unanimously!
Now to Amenment 9, brought by CM Sawant. This would prevent funds be used to prosecute protesters related to the George Floyd Movement.
CM Lewis asking for clarity on whether or not the proviso would cover the assault that occurred in Queen Anne during a protest earlier this week.
(can someone explain what happened with that?)
(can someone explain what happened with that?)
CM Juarez making a both sides argument that I would guess is related to people going by her house.
Had to use the restroom. TLDR there are concerns around the broadness and the scope of time this proviso would cover. CM Lewis noted that of the 90 referrals, only one was acted upon by the City Attorney and that was on a person brandishing weapons against protesters.
Also CM Juarez essentially implied that the protest outside her home is potentially a hate crime.
More general discussion around concerns of the proviso and now we are voting on it.
1-8 fails.
1-8 fails.
There definitely some scope concerns and this is also what happens when you have a bunch of lawyers as councilmembers. It's a give and take. Still, a thank you to the City Attorney for seeing through SPD and not charging peaceful protesters.
Amd. 10 is brought by CM Morales and ensures the Office of Civil Rights Resolution Mediator Position to be fully funded. CM Herbold clarifying that this allows for a mediation track to happen, currently only fully investigations can happen and the investigators cover all cases.
This creates a problem where the standard of investigation is high, and so providing a mediator would lower the standard that would allow more incidents of a violation of civil rights to be reviewed.
Amd. 10 passes unanimously!
