Input: Then we get to the February 16th meeting that's being held remote of the committee of the whole, I'm sure on Sunday, June 4 hours. Before we begin, I'd like to take a moment to acknowledge the team at the King County Courthouse, where we usually would be meeting pre-pandemic, is on the unceded ancestral lands of the Jewish people . Past and present. We honor with gratitude the land itself and the Jew on this tribe. We will begin today's meeting with possible action on extending the appointment of Denis Worsham as the Acting Director of the King County Department of Public Health and the appointment of a few created to the board culture board. I hope I'm not touching your name. And after that, we will have a briefing on the Arts Fund, COVID report from Michael Greer, President and CEO of Arts Fund, and Sarah Silverman, vice president of Strategic Initiatives and Communications for Art Fund. We will conclude our meeting today with the second briefing and discussion on a motion requesting the Executive to establish an equitable development initiative and implementation plan. We will be briefed by Jenny No on council staff on the motion as well as on additional amendments that have been received. With that, Madam Kerns, would you please. Thank you, Madam Chair. Councilmember Baluchi. Councilmember Member. Thank you, Madam Councilmember. The masking. Error. And some of them are done here and some of them like Thurmond here. Council member. Perry here. Council member. Here. Council member Andre Bauer here. Councilmember. So, hello. Madam Chair. Here. If you have a quarter. Thank you. Thank you all. I'd like to ask Councilmember Dunn and Vice Chair to approve the minutes from the February 2nd 2022 meeting. Move approval of the minutes of February 2nd, 2022. All in favor. Indicate the same time any person who carried the minutes have been approved. We will now turn to the public comment period of our agenda. Madam, do we have any one on the line wishing to provide public comment? And so can you provide an estimated number of individuals wanting to give comment? And then it looks like we have about nine people so far. How many? Nine. Nine? Yes. No. Okay. Thank you, Madam Clerk. And as I'm sure most of you know by now, that public comment must be related to items on today's meeting agenda and not be used for the purpose of assisting any campaign and must not include obscene speech for this portion of public comment. Please do not use the hand raised function. Everybody will be called on. Our committee clerk will call the names and numbers and when your name or last three digits of your phone number is called, you will be asked to unmute your line and please do so. Or presto six if you are dialed in by cell phone. And please start by saying and spelling your name so that we can capture that for the public record. You will have 2 minutes to speak and will hear a timer go off when you reach 2 minutes. Actually, I'm going to change that to one and a half minutes, Madam Clerk, because we do have quite a lot to discuss on our agenda today. So one and a half minutes for public comment, Madam Curt. With that, please go ahead and begin calling names and numbers for public comment. Thank you, Madam Chair. The first person is Brady Nordstrom. Please go ahead and meet yourself. Hi there. My name is Brady Nordstrom. That's pretty high note NORAD from. And I'm calling in today on behalf of future Ys comprises a nonprofit organization focusing on land use policies and practices across the state that encourage healthy, equitable and opportunity rich communities. We strongly support the King County Equitable Development Initiative motion. Equitable land use is about so much more than zoning, infrastructure, conservation, etc. It's also about providing the foundation for resilient communities. And the success of the EDC model in Seattle shows the communities impacted by displacement and disparities can be trusted to identify and steward solutions to the issues that they're facing. And this includes the authentic ownership of solutions and the control of resources to use in culturally appropriate ways. So we add as an additional comment here, we also support a selection process that results in a truly community led advisory board with diverse representation from King County geographies. So thank you again for the time to speak. It's time to expand a successful, community driven, Equitable Development Initiative model across King County. Thanks. Thank you. The next person is Eleanor Perez. Good morning, councilmembers. I am Melanie Perez. She her pronouns with Puget Sound sage asking for your support for establishing a King County EBI sage has been fighting displacement and bipoc communities in King County for ten years with our South Core Coalition, which stands for South Communities Organizing for Racial and Regional Equity. We've called on cities big and small to intervene in the chronic cycle of displacement that pushes low income bipoc people from one place to another when land becomes valuable to people outside our communities. Displacement is a crisis crisis to bipoc communities both in Seattle and in the suburban cities that households moved to after Seattle became unwelcome. We need EDA investments across the county in both incorporated and unincorporated areas, and we stand in support, especially of communities in South King County. Sage was there to support the fight by dozens of East African businesses in SeaTac and to Cuéllar when those cities took the land that they had been on for many years, trying all of these places and communities together is a vision for communities to lead in the design and implementation of solutions to displacement, including and idea. We ask that you support the original language in the motion that ensures a wide diversity of members in the interim planning workgroup appointed by the executive and oppose any changes to the motion that would that would change that appointment process. We hope that you can arrive at a solution that gives you confidence there will be good traffic diversity without tying the hands of the executive to ensure representation by communities. Must. Think much. Thank you. The next person is Eliana Thorn. Hello. I'm running. I. I am here to try to come in in support of this motion. 2020 10467 to establish a King County Rural Development Initiative and resident of District two as displacement pressures increase. Excuse me, Alana. Would you just say your name for the record, please? Yes, it's Alana Horn. As displacement pressures increase in South King County in the recovery period of the COVID 19 pandemic, it's more important than ever to have a range of tactics to increase bipoc ownership and control of land, housing, cultural and commercial spaces. In King County. The King County, I will create a long lasting program to increase the capacity of Bipoc organizations to do this work until late. This work and the EDA will help communities develop projects that are permanently affordable and meet a range of needs. This motion is a first step to create a long lasting and sustainable program that is led by Bipoc communities in King County. And I know that this coalition will work with the Council to find new sources of revenue to fund this program. But we can take that first step now. And I just want to urge the adoption of the original language without any of the amendments previously discussed. Thank you. The next person essays are Garcia. Go ahead. Thank you. Can you hear me? Yes, we can. Thank you. Good morning. My name is Sam Garcia, co-founder of Lake City Collective, one of the organizations who received capacity building funds through the Seattle EPA. I'm also currently a member of the I Base Report. I'm here to support the creation of the King County Advocate for two reasons respect and representation. Yes, e R-E-S-P-E-C-T. I know. I want to spell representation. You see, before getting the funds, our efforts were not valued by the city. And even larger mainstream mainstream organizations would try to take advantage of our hard work when one of them, for example, pretended to have organized a successful cultural event that we organized only to try to get funds from our culture. Fortunately, fortunately, we caught him and before culture did not fund them. It still to this day, the same organization is very successful in getting public funds and has easy access to government officials. Meanwhile, we sometimes don't even get a reply to emails we send to them. Fortunately, getting access to the EPA has made city departments real. They have been empowering their own people all along and they add that they can get things done with us. They can. And not only because we actually live in the underserved communities they went to war with, but also because they know that that we want to be good stewards of our own community. Here, I mean, I'm going to go to a Google and look for Lake City Collective Street mural. You will see one of those examples. And finally, as for representation in the working group of the only member of North Seattle in the EPA board, I can tell you that he has been and I will complete. I will finish. I can tell you that it has been a priority for the board to have equity minded people from all areas of the city, and they can see the same intentionality extended to the King County effort, King County idea and opportunity for equity for getting things done in every corner of our county . Thank you. And so the next person is Emmanuel Bello. Hi, my name is Emmanuel GP Tulloch. I am here to represent the African Chamber of Commerce. We support the project and we are very, very happy to be here. Thank you. Thank you. Thank you. The next person is Gregory Davis. All right. Thank you. Good morning, everyone. My name is Gregory Davis, and I'm a District two resident. I serve an organization, Rainier Beach Action Coalition, that serves on behalf of the Rainbow Beach neighborhood. And we are interested in the King County Equitable Development Initiative 2020 10467 being supported. We are recipients of a Equitable Development Initiative grant from the City of Seattle, and we used it to acquire land in Rainier Beach right across from the light rail station. And we're looking to use it for a food innovation center that's complementing the idea of a food innovation district. We determined that Food Innovation Center was important when we learned that less than 2% of the nearly $6 billion spent annually on food and drink is actually grown in King County. And we want to support farmers growth in King County in this regard. Naturally, this effort is going to secure health, jobs, community connectedness for the Rainier Beach District two residents. In fact, we are leveraging the communities of opportunity, original place based group resource to ensure our success. So as proud members of MLK County, Reverend Dr. Martin Luther King Jr County, we want this for our other reverend, Dr. Martin Luther King Jr resident. But again, give my regards to your legislative aide. I know they've done something between now. The last time I saw you and now that we supported you, I know what has happened in terms of my district. Councilmember Goodman, because I have, in fact, had a chance to talk to one of them. So have a great day and great with your meeting. The next person is Housing Development Consortium. If you could provide us with your full name before you speak, that be great. Thank you. Thank you. Chair calls by the chair and council members. For the record, I am Patience Malama with the Housing Development. Consortium. Of Seattle King County. I'm testifying in strong support of the King County EDA motion and urge your support in this. While the EDA I framework embraces two important goals that I want to emphasize and that I know many of you embrace. The first one is preventing displacement, and the second one is increasing equitable access to opportunity. We need a King County wide E.D. Eye that can really invest in our communities as currently low income and black, indigenous and people of color. Communities across. The region. Face an ongoing public health threat from displacement in the face of rising rents and home prices. We believe as an organization that the City of Seattle is a model with the proven success that it has, can really serve as a model here for creating a new community driven EDC that serves the whole region. We urge your support in establishing a King County wide Eddie I with as much flexibility as you can provide to enable communities to drive this work and have the full reflection of representation of the different parts of the region. Thank you. Thank you. The next person is hoda abdullahi. Please go ahead, unmute yourself and then you can begin. Hello? Yes. Go. Oh, please. Yes, hi. My name is Abdullahi. I'm from living well, Kent. I also want to also show support with the King County E.D. I've seen the effects with the Seattle Eddy, and it's been tremendous . And growing up in Kent, Washington, where I see the effects of gentrification firsthand and working with this coalition through this time, I see the benefits of this, and I know that there's some councilmembers that have been supporting this, and I appreciate everybody that's working with here, but I'd urge the council to approve on this. Thank you. The next person is Howard Greenwich. I'm not getting public. Comment this morning. Thank you. The next person is Abby Brockman. Hi. Good morning. I'm here to give public comment on the Equitable Development Initiative. Is this the correct timing? Yes, it is. Go ahead, please. Hi. Well, my name is Abby Brockman. Thank you so much for this opportunity. My understanding of this initiative is that it will focus on combating displacement and keeping communities intact. And while others can certainly speak to the policy details better than me, I wanted to spend my time addressing the spiritual angle and the spiritual imperative to support this as a chaplain. So to me, in my work at Seattle Children's Hospital, I've learned that spirituality isn't about religion or faith. It's about connection, what connects us to ourselves, each other, the world around us, and something greater than ourselves. It's also the antidote to trauma, which is about disconnection. Disconnection with ourselves, each other, the world around us, and something greater than ourselves. In my work, I therefore assess and map where and why people have experienced disconnection and apply targeted clinical interventions to nurture connection in these tender places of brokenness. I think applying the same analysis on a systemic level reveals how things like housing restrictions, redlining, intentional construction of highways, zoning laws and gentrification have long caused trauma and disconnection to low income communities, bipoc communities and especially the black community by causing mass displacement, tearing apart neighborhoods, and preventing or destroying families from being able to grow deep , safe and nurturing roots to places in home. I therefore think the spiritual work of atonement and reconciliation that our city needs to do and healing is to therefore apply targeted, systemic economic interventions, to nurture connections in these same places where and how we've caused brokenness. We've used public funds and policies to tear down neighborhoods and destroyed communities. Now we must use public the to build up support these neighborhoods and communities. I think the EDA is a fantastic opportunity to do just this and I hope you all vote to support it. Thank you so much. Thank you. The next person is Clifford Coffin. Yes. Hello, council members. My name is Clifford Carson. I am the coalition strategy manager for the Sightline Institute. I'm just calling. Or rather, I'm just speaking today on behalf of Sightline in support of the Equitable Development Initiative, in solidarity with the EDA Coalition. We believe that this initiative is critical when it comes to preventing displacement and slowing down the current trend of displacement that we see in communities of color and in working class communities in our region, that these investments will bolster investments in housing and economic infrastructure and allow for communities that have historically been discriminated against disenfranchized and are increasingly vulnerable to economic shocks and and trauma to be able to be resilient, but also add to the overall investment in the well-being and health of our region. So I would urge the Council to support the Equitable Development Initiative, as well as to support a measures to that would allow for the Equitable Development Initiative to be represented by people from the community and for the community to be able to direct the composition of the any advisory or supervisory body that oversees the commission. Thank you. Okay. Next, we have Kayla Jackson. Hi. My name is Kayla Jackson. A program at. Oh, forgive me, Kayla. Forgive me. I muted you. Oh, no worries. I can turn over and thank you. Council members. My name is Kayla Jackson, a program manager at Puget Sound Stage. And I'm asking you today to approve the King County API motion and partner with Community Bipoc communities to design a sustainable countywide program over the next year. Last summer, Sage helped bring together a coalition with a vision for a community driven development and ownership of land, or what we call community stewardship of land. Many of us have been part of communities of opportunity learning community facilitated by Sage, Multicultural Community Coalition and not know Heathland, where we learn together how bipoc communities can prosper in place for generations by owning their land on buildings and land. And so our vision is to create broad and deep infrastructure for Bipoc led organizations to acquire, run, develop and preserve land on behalf of community. We know that a King County EDA won't do this alone, but we think it's a critical place to start building this capacity. We also appreciate the support of both the Executive and Council for our Ask that an E.D. program would be eligible for capital funds in the Boston through implementation plan. However, we only expected those capital funds to go to Edina if there was alignment between the two programs. And it's not our intention to constrain capital grants if there is not alignment. So we do fully support changes to the motion that decouple the basic funds from the prioritization language that you that you agree on on. We want to let you know that in a coalition meeting last night. As. Many of our members also agreed on this, but. For. The entire coalition as well. Thank you. And I just want to note that our at the heart of our vision are is to let impacted communities define equity and bring their wisdom to governance. And we think you will be inspired by the results of this leadership. Thank you. Thank you. The next person is Laura Lowe. Hello, everybody. Good morning. My name is Laura Lowe and you are a live in County Council District four. I'm speaking on behalf we share the city's action fund, which advocates advocates for and agitates for tenant rights, housing, justice, digital equity and public broadband in Seattle and throughout King County. We're here again today to show strong support for the King County EDA motion proposed in motion 20210467. Proposed by councilmembers Dombrowski, Zavala and Wells. As I'm sure you've experienced, we've watched our neighbors in our communities get pushed out of neighborhoods they've lived in for decades due to the increasing price of land, especially now with COVID, there is even more overlapping struggles. We know that the east side is about to have a tremendous amount of gentrification pressure with the very big jobs, housing and balance, as we've had for some time in Seattle. We are very worried about how the lack of affordability forces, lower income workers to have long car commutes, which has big impacts on our climate and steals time from our neighbors from being with their families. It is long past time for King County to center those closest to housing, injustice and generational wealth gaps. They're the ones that know the solutions to help address past historical harms to build thriving, healthy communities. We cannot emphasize enough that this EDA program must be co-designed with and led by Black Indigenous API, Latinxs and other marginalized communities who have been affected by displacement and have the highest risk of being displaced. Thank you for your support today. Thank you. The next person is Maria Guadalupe Ramirez. Good morning, council members. My name is Maria Guadalupe Ramirez and I live in District eight and I'm calling on behalf of Duwamish Valley Affordable Housing Coalition, which serves the communities of Georgetown and South Park and neighboring communities and Boulevard Park. And that sliver by the river. To the Amish River. I strongly support. The King. County E.D. motion, and I think our council members, Zack Hillside and Cole Wells. We believe that those closest to the problems are the. Ones who know the solutions. That's why a key aspect of our advocacy is for the 88 program to be co-designed with and led by black indigenous people of color and marginalized communities who have been affected by displacement or have the highest risk of being displaced. As an added grantee from the city of Seattle. Our organization, The Damage Valley Affordable Housing Coalition, has been pushing forward strategies for an area that is at high risk of displacement and low rate of. Opportunities. As we work on the Seattle side of our area. We can see the discrepancies in how we can serve Boulevard Park. As you know, Boulevard Park has a lot of old apartment buildings and the area is very ripe for gentrification. And many when we conducted a survey in the summer, many residents were concerned and fearful about. What will happen to them. Their housing that they've lived here. Thank you very much for supporting. The community as it grows and capacity to be a partner with government. Thank you. The next person is Peter Gichuru. Peter, if you'd like to speak, please, and yourself. Good morning and good morning. Good morning. My name is Peter Gichuru. I'm the President, CEO of African Chamber of Commerce. I am talking on behalf of my community, the public and community, which is one of the fastest growing community in King County. We support MDI. We think this is the right thing. We want to make sure that the. Opportunity. Is provided to those who have not been provided opportunities in the past. By the way, I've been in Seattle since 1963. I've seen changes. I believe this is the right time for you to support and approve FDI and increase the opportunities for those who have been left out. I thank you. Thank you. The next person is you're gonna use two. Very. Thank you. Good morning, councilmembers. My name is Jordana Ferry and I live in District five. I'm with the Multicultural Community Coalition and I serve on Seattle's ADA Advisory Board. We've been helping to lead the effort in the establishment of a King County EDC, having directly benefited in our efforts to anchor immigrant, refugee and people of color communities. As one of the five demonstration projects of the Seattle HDI, displacement risk exists for marginalized populations in various districts of the county and will worsen without government action to create community stability and economic mobility. With the proposed motion, the county has an opportunity and an obligation to reverse some of the inequities and make community driven investment decisions, specifically to close racial and economic disparities. This must be done in a manner that supports the communities most at risk of displacement so that they can fully participate in the economy and thrive. This intentionally designed approach stands to support marginalized communities and will improve opportunity, as well as decrease the displacement risk and considering the the framework design process, that will be impactful. It is very important to help communities most impacted by displacement at the table to co-design the program. We believe that those closest to the problem are the ones that know the solutions. That is why a key aspect of our advocacy is for the ADA program to be co-designed with and led by bipoc and marginalized communities who have been affected by displacement or have the highest risk of being displaced. This is similar to the way in which the Seattle Area Advisory Board was established. Once a framework was developed, developed, an ordinance was passed for the establishment of an advisory board that allows council and the executive to elect representatives. We hope that you will look to this model as just an end for the co-design process. We thank you. Thank you. Manager I believe I've called everyone on the line. Thank you very much to Madam Kirk. And John Daly is the one who's been working on this. And I have introduced another good call the earlier I is if there's anyone on the line who wishes to provide public comment and has not had the opportunity to do so, please raise your raise hand function or press star nine if you are joined by phone. I don't see anybody mention the team. Well, thank you. And I appreciate everybody who has spoken to us today. I found your testimony very helpful, and I'm certain that my colleagues on the council have as well. But see, no further request. We will close public comment. The first item, substantive item on our agenda is the extension of the executive's appointment of Dennis Worsham as the acting director of Public Health. And it's a date issue on which we will have some important briefings on. She is from my central staff and she will provide this item a briefing along with Susan. Any bonus available from Jim, who is a human resources manager with the Department of Human Services. So go right ahead, Sam. Thank you, Madam Chair. Can you hear me okay? Yes, I'm Sam Porter, counsel, central staff. And the documents for this item begin on page eight of your packet. Opposed motion 2020 20047 when approved an extension of the executive's appointment of FINIS portion as Acting Director of Public Health Seattle in King County through April 24th, 2022. This would be the third extension since Mr. Abortion's appointment to the position after the retirement of the previous director, Patty Hays, in May 2021. If Mr. Walsham's current appointment is set to expire February 23rd to avoid a lapse in appointment, proposed motion 2020 200 for seven would be would need final adoption at the full council meeting on the 22nd King County Code 216 110 defines the process for appointment and confirmation of exempt public officials and requires that a motion be approved by the Council for the Acting Director to serve more than 150 days and for successive 60 day periods with an approval by motion thereafter. Executive Staff Statement. The position was not posted in January as previously planned due to a delay in contracting with the recruitment consultant. The anticipated posting date for the position is now February 21st. Executive staff expects the recruitment to remain open until April 4th, with the final round of interviews anticipated for the week of May 1st. They anticipate that a new director will be in place by the end of June, and that means that executive staff will likely submit at least one more extension of this appointment. That concludes my remarks. And we have Susan Eddy here from Human Resources to answer any questions. Okay. Thank you very much, Sam. Are there any questions of either Sam or Susan Eddy? And I don't believe that Dennis is with us today. Okay. All right. Well, it seems very straightforward. And we've been briefed by Dennis Worsham, the acting interim director, for a number of times already. And it seems to me that it would be very helpful to have this extension take place. Are there any comments? Okay. Mr. Vice Chair, would you like to move the motion? So move, Madam Chair. Okay. So we are going to vote on proposed motion 2020 200472 extension of the appointment of Dennis Ford from as acting director of Public Health. Any other comment? K all in, or would you please call the room? Thank you, Madam Chair. Councilmember Duchin. Councilmember DEMBOSKY. Councilmember Dunn. I. McDermott. Hi. Councilmember Berry. I am up there. I am Councilmember Bond Vandiver. The. He said. I. As a member, sir. Hello. Hi. Madam Chair. The vote is. Nine eyes, no nose and no skews. Thank you very much. And with the vote, we have approved this proposed motion 2020 20047. And unless I hear any objection, we will send this motion with the due panel's recommendation for the consent agenda and expedited to the February 22nd Council meeting next week. Our next agenda item is the appointment of. I'm going to say this correctly and the q yoti to the Ford Culture Board for a 3 to 3 year term representing Council District two and for culture as our King County's Cultural Public Development Authority and administers our arts and heritage programs, we have MIA critical support from a central staff to provide this briefing, and we do have the counter gate with us today so we can ask questions over here from in just a moment. We also have Claire Michelle from Fort Culture to answer your question. So go right ahead. We're. Good morning councilmembers. I'm Lee, a critical Bobby Council staff. The materials for this item begin on page 15 of your packet. This item before you is a motion to confirm the appointment of a black coyote to the board culture board of Directors for a three year term expiring on December 31st, 2024. And I'll provide some brief background and an introduction as necessary. Okay. And then turn it over to the chair for any questions that councilmembers wish to ask the appointee. And our culture is governed by 15 Board of Directors, a 15 member board of directors who have to have a demonstrated commitment to and knowledge of cultural resources, be active and experienced in community and civic issues and concerns, and have the ability to evaluate the cultural construct, the needs of cultural constituencies in the region as a whole. Board position to which you are considering today is to be appointed by the County Council member representing County County Council District two, which is, of course, council members. A HOLLEY Ms. Keelty's experience includes 40 years of cultural arts leadership in King County, the Pacific Northwest and beyond. She currently serves as Executive Director for the ADF, UK Cultural Education Workshop and has served as a cultural arts instructor teaching West African music, song and dance. She has also served as a therapeutic foster parent and is a registered therapeutic counselor. The appointment of Mr. Yachty to the Fort Culture Board appears to be consistent with the process and policies governing board culture board appointments. And that concludes my staff report. Q Harry Met Sally. Are there any questions of the. Key role. I'd like to welcome this committee to our meeting today. And I'd like to congratulate you on your appointment by our county executive. And I ask you to just give us a little bit of your thoughts about the appointment and what you bring to the board. We'd like to hear from you. Great. Thank you. Good morning, everyone. Yes, I am off for a quiet day and my pronouns are she and her. I'm a native of Seattle and I do live in district to a rainier Valley resident of South Seattle. And I'm just really honored to be able to have this this transformation happen within myself, because my. Whole love life is around. People. Africa and. Transitions. I'm really. Excited about the work that my organization has done. In South Seattle for over 40 years. Our newest program is the Rainier Valley Creative District, which was city endorsed February 22nd of 2021. And we received our state certification. August 16th of 2021. We're having this I'm. Sorry to interject, and we're having technical difficulties. I apologize. We're going to just need to pause the meeting. I'm going to ask the chair to do that. I apologize if we could just have a second. I'll talk with the chair and then she'll restage your. I'm so sorry, if you don't mind. No worries. Thank you so much. I am so sorry. Thank you. You are in the meeting now. Madam Chair, we are ready to start the meeting. Should I continue? I would give it 1/2 of full tilt. The chair comes back on there. I was just talking with them. Are able to begin to resume the meeting. And we're sorry about that, but we believe that everything has been taken care of. So this tell if you'd like to resume your remarks. Thank you. Well, I'll just continue by saying. That. My work has been about empowering youth and. Families. Into becoming their authentic selves through the. Study of African music, song and dance. And I really love. Being the voice. Of the people. So I really look forward to sharing, you know, my my lifelong journey, how it can derive. In many ways. As serving in this capacity. And we're doing a lot of a lot of work that is supported through the state of Washington. And I'm just really excited about being a council appointee, and I'm ready to move forward. Thank you. Thank you. And again, congratulations. Have you. Have you been able to attend a meeting of the culture board yet? I have. Yes. And do you have any thoughts about what you would be bringing to this board other than what you just said, anything really poignant that you perceive about the board? Well, I've always been a consumer of our culture and before that the King. County Arts Commission. Being an artist. And so just I'm really excited about being on the other side while actually being teeter. Totter, right? Because I'm still, you. Know, consuming and just really, honestly, authentically being the voice of the people. You know, I live in this district and we see a lot of challenges and we. See a lot of strengths. That need to be balanced out. So I'm excited about the process. Terrific. You obviously have a very strong background and I'm very excited about your being on the board. I'm wondering if any of councilmembers Hawaii has anything you'd like to comment on? I was so honored to be able to recommend Afua to this position. She has really deep roots in King County district, two decades of experience and history in celebrating our culture and infusing that culture into our youth, and you really using it as a vehicle for improving our neighborhoods. I've seen her around performing and teaching, and it's always a privilege to be able to run into you. And now you get to bring your gifts and your talents to all of King County for a culture board. So I highly encourage all of my colleagues to support. Thank you so. Much. Thank you. And Claire, Michelle, do you have any comments for culture? We're very lucky to have a four star. That's a very, very important comment to make and I am happy as well to I am serving on the board as well and an ex-officio capacity. So it's a wonderful board and of course, the wonderful organization that we have for the county. Are there any questions from any of my colleagues on the council? Any remarks. Councilmember Karen. I just want to welcome you aboard. And I'm excited to have your participation and and excited with your background, both in your outreach to both in your art and in your outreach to to our youth through your foster care program. Thank you. Are there any other comments or questions? Vicki. Well, Miss Katie, we are going to take a vote on this. And assuming that we recommend a do pass with the do pass recommendation to the full council, you will not be required to attend that council meeting, and we will be voting, I believe, on consent. And again, congratulations on this and look forward to seeing you at the next meeting with that. Mr. Vice Chair, would you please move? Proposed motion 2020 20010 for recommending a confirmation of this group of 32 Board. Culture Board. Councilmember Satelite. Would you like to do that? So move, Madam Chair. Okay. Thank you. And, Lester, any other comments or questions matter? The clerk. Would you please call the roll? Thank you, Madam Chair. Council member. Dolce. I got some member DEMBOSKY. I got as a member done, I can submit an adjournment. I. Council member. Berry, I. Council member up the growth. Council Member Van de Boer. I got some members say hello. Hi. Madam Chair. What is my eyes? No nose in nice case. Thank you very much for the vote. We have approved motion 2020 20010. And unless they hear anything contrary, we will send this motion with the pass recommendation on the consent calendar and expedited to the February 22nd Council meeting. Congratulations must be obtained and I don't believe there be any problem with your being confirmed with one election at the Council meeting next Tuesday. With that. Yes. We will now move on to item number five. Number six, center agenda. And so my number is changed to the next item. On the agenda is a briefing number 2022 BS 0029, which will be on the Arts Fund Covered Report. And we have with us Michael Greer, president and CEO of Arts Fund, and Sarah Steadman, vice president of Strategic Initiatives and Communications with us. And they're going to provide a very interesting and illuminating, illuminating report on the impact of the code on the arts and culture sector in our community. So with that, please go right ahead. And are we going to have my day? Okay. Hello, Michael. Fantastic. Good morning, everyone. For the record. My name is Michael Greer, and I'm the president and CEO of ARDS Fund. Madam Chair, council members, thank you very much for your service and for giving us the time to speak today at Art Fund. Our mission is to support the arts through leadership, advocacy and grantmaking in order to build a healthy, equitable and creative Washington. We are speaking today about our latest research and advocacy work. Our Colored Cultural Impact Study. This is a research research study that analyzes over 1500 responses from arts organizations and individuals from across the state. We created this piece in order to better understand the effects of COVID 19 on the sector and give the community some baseline data from which to plan and advocate with. Along with the data itself, we have also drafted five key recommendations that we would like to see acted on by different stakeholder groups in our community. Sarah Silverman been our VP of Strategic Initiatives and Communications, is going to walk us through the study, after which I will take us through the recommendations and we should have time for some Q&A at the end, feedback at the end. So with that, I will turn it over to Sara. Thank you, Michael, and good morning, council members. My name is Sarah Stegman. I am Arts Fund's vice president of Strategic Initiatives and Communications. Thank you for the opportunity to share our findings, which come from three data sources and included very strong participation from within King County. As we say in the report, we are not nearing the tail end of a pandemic. We are at the beginning of a structural transformation. As you will likely all recall for early 2020. The pandemic had immediate, significant and devastating impact upon the cultural sector, its workforce and the communities it serves. And as we near the start of year three, since the shutdowns, these impacts continue. But we have had enough time and we have enough data to identify key trends to inform decisions moving forward. So let's start with what the data tell us. It will come as no surprise the financial losses were significant among just 121 cultural nonprofits who shared their financial data. There was a total revenue loss of almost $100 million in the first year alone. This is a 21% decline, and in fact, the earned income losses are much higher. But through support from individuals and other supporters, along with public and private relief funds, the increases and contributed revenue offset total losses in year one. Keeping them at that 21% level. However, those increases and contributed income are not expected to continue. Also, we're seeing that even when in-person programing picks back up, 47% of statewide poll respondents want to maintain online participation. And it's important to note they anticipate spending half of what they spent prior to the pandemic on cultural participation. I repeat, people plan to spend half as much. So earned income remains very much in flux, while contributed is expected to wane. Organizations who identify as black, indigenous and other people of color. This distinction is even more pronounced. While these organizations saw 29% increase in contributed income in year one, they projected a 50% decrease in year two. And as we head into year three, contributed income to Bipoc organizations may be starting at levels below pre-pandemic numbers. Diving deeper into the revenue trends, it is clear that pandemic relief was a lifeline and also clear that public sector support was critical. Nearly all of the surveyed organizations received some type of relief funding, and the top three relief programs accessed were funded by public sources. However, access to funds varied by organization size, with smaller organizations typically being the least likely to access relief funds. This was most pronounced with federal relief programs such as the PPE, the shuttered venues operators grant and the employee retention credit, which also offered the highest dollar amounts of relief. Smaller organizations that did access relief funds on average accessed fewer sources. Access to relief funding has also vary by location. The highest rates of access to public, local and regional emergency relief funds were in counties with more robust public funding infrastructure such as King County. Thank you to the King County Council and to Fort Culture for your invaluable support of the sector these COVID years. King County organizations on average accessed more pandemic relief funds than organizations across the state, and it is in no small part due to that support that our diverse cultural scene is still here. However, the impacts to the cultural workforce have also been detrimental of the. Responding organizations, 41% furloughed full time staff or reduced pay across the organization. And it's important to note that these losses do not include contract hires for whom payments decreased by 35% or volunteers. There was a loss of over 8000 volunteers, and smaller organizations rely on volunteers to keep their organizations running. But many were unable to take advantage of federal relief, such as the. This prolonged and ongoing period of economic uncertainty placed many cultural workers in difficult situations to the degree that some have exited their occupation and the sector prompting concerns of a cultural brain drain. At the time of our data collection, hiring and rehiring staff was already emerging as a significant concern, particularly among organizations who had resumed in-person programing and those with budgets over $5 million. And as more organizations returned to in-person programing, we're hearing the risk of a cultural brain drain is ever more a concern. Now let's shift to what we're learning from cultural participants about their changes in behavior, in perception and expectation and more. Pre-pandemic, cultural participants were highly engaged with the events, programs and activities of cultural nonprofits. With 76% reporting a frequency of attending monthly or even more often from March 2020 to the time our survey was conducted, a year and a half later, only 28% note that they were involved at the same rate. That is a huge drop in the frequency of participation. And at the same time, the pandemic has ushered in an era of new and different ways to engage with cultural programing. 70% of organizations are offering significantly more digital programing. And in King County, this number is even higher, with 85% of cultural nonprofits offering more digital programing. This programing has really mattered to people's lives. As one King County resident said, being able to attend cultural programing virtually was crucial for my sense of well-being and mental health. It enabled me to feel connected to the world, even to broaden my world. Correlating. We're seeing that even when in-person programing picks back up 18% of cultural participation, cultural participants want to maintain their position participation only online. This shift to virtual programing has both expanded geographic reach and the inclusivity of cultural programing, increasing accessibility for participants, including those with physical disabilities or impairments. Across the surveyed organizations, nearly one third had made accessibility improvements, and another 22% said they plan to, and the vast majority of those making the shifts planned for them to be permanent. So why have people been turning to arts and culture in isolation? And what role do they see arts and culture playing as we emerge from the pandemic? The reasons people cite that they participated in cultural programing during the pandemic are a blend of both very personal benefits as well as social ones, including to experience art, to bring joy and happiness, to support a community organization, to escape and relax . Strikingly, over half said they participated in cultural programs during the pandemic to feel connected to the community. Our data also shows a marked increase in the value people are placing on arts and culture in their lives. Notably, nearly half of cultural participants and one third of the statewide general public are placing more value on arts now than they did pre-pandemic. As one King County resident said about why culture has increased in value to them, I've had to live largely without it for two years, and I've missed it profoundly. My mind, my heart and my community all feel smaller. Not only that, almost 93% of cultural participants believe in the important role arts and culture will play in their communities. Post-Pandemic Recovery. The key roles that are cited are economic recovery, encouraging community unity and vitality, entertainment and escape, and notably creating employment. Stemming from this data arts fund was making recommendations focused on five key areas. And I'll now turn back to Michael to share those and launch a discussion. Thank you, sir. So our five key recommendations start with the idea that we must reimagine the role of arts and culture in our community. As Sara mentioned, 50% of Washingtonians saw that culture, said that cultural institutions are going to play a key part in their community recovery 50%. The arts are essential to community health, and they play an economic and social role in the quality of lives of our citizens. Second, we need to protect the cultural workforce. And of course, this includes artists and administrators, but it also includes stagehands, builders and the multitude of adjacent industries that provide cleaning and janitorial, building, maintenance and other services. We must invest in wages and training programs to retain and grow this critical labor source and prevent prevent the brain drain that Sarah had mentioned previously. Third, we need to know we know that these initiatives will not work without centering equity in everything that we do. And arts and culture should be accessible to all people in all places. That is a given. But there is no way for our industry to grow without incorporating these new audiences in these new geographies and these new participants by reducing barriers to entry through things like funding, digital access, youth disability services and more. Fourth, we need to support the long term adaptation of this industry, as Sara mentioned, without with COVID 19. Our future was delivered to us overnight, but it did not mean that we could adapt and change overnight. The process of adapting to and investing in and normalizing these changes is going to take time. And with that, we must have the final recommendation. And it is that this is really the most important one, is that we must sustain and expand the public support for the arts that we saw throughout this pandemic, that all relief efforts provided the dollars to the sector, that really the private and corporate philanthropy could not begin to match, and they prevented a wholesale collapse of the industry. And if we are going to see the long term growth and recovery of this sector, we are going to need to continue that support into the future. And so with that, I'd like to open it up for any questions or comments. Okay. Thank you so very much. As I mentioned when I introduced you, this is going to be a very illuminating briefing to us. And indeed it is. It's depressing. But on the other hand, really inspiring to see that there's been so much that our cultural sectors have done to survive. And I'm very glad and I think all of our council very glad, as well as our executives, that we've been able to be of assistance over the last two years and providing very needed funds. But there obviously is a lot more that needs to be done. And I appreciate your providing the five recommendations to us. Are there any questions for my colleagues? You can't remember about it? I. I don't I don't want to spend a lot of time on this because I found that copy of this report on your website. So that's super helpful that we can go see the whole thing and and the executive summary. But I wonder if you could just say a few words about what what was the survey? Who did you talk to? Like just a little bit about the methodology. So we understand where these numbers I mean, you gave us a lot of information very quickly, but if we could sort of understand what's underlying it all, that I think would be that would be very helpful. Thank you. Absolutely. And my apologies for not including that. In our presentation, there were three key methods of data collection. One was a nonprofit organizational survey that collected data from 212 cultural nonprofits statewide. One was what we called a cultural participation survey, and that was well over 700 individuals who had participated in at least one cultural program offered by a Washington state nonprofit during the pandemic. And one was a general omnibus poll conducted statewide of, again, 700 to 800 Washington residents. So we were able to scan the state in terms of both the service providers, those most frequently defined as cultural participants and the broad public as a whole. Thank you so much. That's super helpful. And as I said, there's a lot there's a lot to chew on. If people are interested, I want to recommend the website because it's got everything right there and it's and you can dip into different levels of detail depending on how much time you have. I do want to just say one thing, Madam Chair, if I may, and that is, well, two things that will be together. So we've known since early on in the pandemic that the cultural and performing arts sector have just taken a really tremendous hit through this time and yet rallied in many ways to provide opportunities for people to connect when we needed it the most and to uplift ourselves and to engage with many of the all of the challenges that have come out during these two years, not just the pandemic, but, you know, outpouring of concerns for racial justice, the you know, everything that we've been through. So, I mean, it's just never it's never been more apparent how important arts and culture are to our our mental health, our cultural health, our social health. And also they're really, really struggling. So I want to acknowledge that reality. And I just want to say I recently have had a chance to go to a show at one of the local theaters that was just and I didn't realize when we walked in that it was the first show they had had in two years. And just the feeling of being in a space with a lot of other people enjoying a presentation. The show was about Fannie Lou Hamer, so it was really relevant and it was really inspiring. And but just that moment of this is what arts and culture bring to our community that we really, truly lack when we don't have . It was so meaningful and moving and I just wanted to share that little anecdote to thank you for what you do, because I know everybody's experiencing this in their own way. That was how I experienced it recently. So thank you so much for for advocating for this important sector. Appreciate your time. Thank you. Yeah. Yeah. And I look back to us and say, I really appreciate Councilman rebounding his remarks. They really resonated with me. But I think it's also important to acknowledge that our arts culture sector has been critical for our recovery, our efforts at recovery, and are bringing turns to our region to bring conventions back to the region. And for people who reside in King County and all around Puget Sound and frankly, much of the state to come to Seattle to see a show, to go to a museum, to a live venue event and spend money in a hotel and a restaurant and a cafe, get their haircut, you know, whatever it may be. This is a really critical sector for so many things. And that was a very important reason when Councilmember Dombroski and I and our whole council really led the efforts to get funding to our cultural and arts sector. So it really you transcends many important issues and factors in terms of what we are about as a society here in King County and elsewhere and how we can recover. In addition, of course, to the jobs, the volunteers and so much as you brought out, I would like to be able to get this PowerPoint if you can get it to our staff and we can distribute to all of our members as well as the website information. Thank you. Any other comments or questions? Councilmember Perry. Hello. I just want to thank you very much for this terrific presentation. And we are an arts family. Our kids are graduates of CORNISH. We love Village Theater on the East Side. All these years, I have been so grateful for Councilmember Balducci and Dombrowski support of the arts in my district. And I am here to support the arts. I love the information that you have provided. And, you know, we have a critical element in our brains, well documented that we need to be nurturing and feeding. That creates that brings out the creative and gets us out of the boxes that we and challenges that we put ourselves in through that creative thinking. We need this for our youth, and especially in these times. It saves the lives of many who who who would not otherwise find inspiration without it. And so I just want to thank you for your work in our communities, in the world, and for our youth and for adults and appreciate this very much. Q Councilmember Kerry, is there anybody else who would like to give any comment or ask a question? Council Member DEMBOSKY I'm going to ask you to do so. I don't know if you planned that, but you've been such a stellar leader. Well, here I was sitting in the back of the class, hoping not to get called out. Well, thank you, Chair, and thank you both, Sarah Michael, for your presentation. It's really helpful to see that the data from the field is an impact that the arts and culture community has. I think Councilmember Coles, our chair, articulated it well. I'm not sure about the haircut, Councilmember Coles, but I'm going to help him get I don't think get one today. Maybe we could get a report on the status of the 10th of, of the authority to to council manically impose a dollar the additional sales tax revenue to support for culture. I know we continue to work strongly in Olympia to secure that authority over several sessions, and I'm sensing that maybe this isn't our session either the last I heard. But if you could if you could help us articulate or help us understand how that could be helpful not only here in King County, but around the state. Thank you, Councilmember. And I believe you're referring to House Bill 1058, which is currently in committee. And we do not know if it will leave committee during this session, but at a higher level, I will say that the idea of cultural access in King County is imperative to the long term support of this sector. The the the dollars and the scale. But that 1/10 of a percent will bring to this sector dwarf anything that we've seen over the past two years. And it will provide a foundation for this sector to grow. So we know that we have a champion in this council. We know we have a champion in the executive. And any additional influence that you can help us with to make sure that that is, you know, an eventuality within the county is is much appreciated. I do understand that there's a possibility and some work being done to include in the budget, whether it be both the House and the Senate or one of their budgets to have this proposal go forward. But just for King County. So I don't know if there's any change in the last couple of days, but I understand that that's a possibility. Oh, that's great. I just concluded my three year term of service on our For Culture Board, and I have to say it was incredibly enlightening and really a great reminder about the terrific landscape of arts and culture and history that we have here in King County. And I think we do a fine job. I think that that organization is really our organization, our cultural authority. And King County is primed and ready for an additional significant injection of funding. Their strategic plan is is on point. It's centering equity. It's lifting up communities that have been left out all over the county. And now I just think they they need the resources to be able to bring it more fully to life. So hopefully we can help them do that. Thank you for being here. And Madam Chair, thanks for scheduling this item. Thank you. Are there any other comments or questions for Councilmember McDermott? I believe he's just finishing just finished his term on the board for Fort Culture as well. And I know that councilmember about do served on the board and it's kind of a prime assignment that many of us really like to engage with him. Clay Well, thank you very much, Michael and Sara. And we look forward to seeing what else we can do to be of help and perhaps cross our fingers that something will come out of the legislative session one way or another. Keith. Thank you. Thank you. Councilman Reyes, thank you very much. Okay. Our last agenda item is the motion that was introduced by Councilmember Dombroski, co-sponsored by Councilmember Bizarrely, and my father and my son, all of them we heard. I think all of the people engaged in giving public comment today speak about and that is to establish Japan wide equitable development initiative r e d i i. And is the language included right now is with the priority on unincorporated area communities? This has been a bit of an issue. We had our first discussion on our committee, the whole agenda last at our last meeting on February 2nd, and I found the discussion to be very productive. And I believe it also revealed that we still have some work ahead of us to ensure that we get this proposal right. It's an important one and I would like to see it happen. But I have had a request that we hold the I've taken the taking action on this proposal today. We are going to be having more work going on. And I think we can be optimistic that by the time by next meeting we can reach consensus on a really strong in the eye program for the county. So we'll not be taking action on this today. But we do have some new amendments that have been offered. They are included in the green folder that was sent to you by Jennie Know last night. I hope you've had an opportunity to go over that, those amendments. And what I'd like to do is have Jenni just give us a very brief overview of the motion to remind us all and for those listening in and then go over the amendments, some of which we've already seen last at our last meeting. But there are some new ones. We also have executive staff Karen Gil and Kelly Rider with this, I believe they were supposed to be. And we will have a discussion today and just. Keep working on this and take it up hopefully two weeks from now. Go right ahead, Jen. Thank you for your calls, Dana. Council central staff. The materials for this item again on page 22 of the pack in their view the staff report. In the motion proposed motion 2020 1-0467 would request the executive to establish a countywide Equitable Development Initiative, or ECI with a priority on unincorporated area communities. And the motion also requests that the Executive prepare an implementation plan in two phases that is developed in conjunction with the planning workgroup. The motion identifies that phase one of the implementation plan should include a developed EDI framework information about how the initiative would guide the Best Streets Capital Grants Program, recommendations for County and Community Structure, Capacity and resources for implementing the program in this first phase would be due June 30th, 2022. These two of the plan would include objectives and strategies to reduce disparities, utilize data of displacement risk and other metrics to determine programs and policies. Include metrics for monitoring and evaluating outcomes. Describing partnerships with outside agencies such as community based organization or regional partners. Identify funding sources that could be leveraged. Propose strategies to coordinate across county agencies and programs. Identify community outreach and collaboration process. Utilize the community direct action level of engagement, and propose next steps in a timeline. The second phase would be due June 30th, 2023. As the Chair mentioned, there are a number of amendments that were sent to you last night. I am happy to go through those amendments. I now call Walter. Do you want me to pause? It's. Let's see if there are any questions on your briefing thus far. Can you go right ahead. So the additional packet I was sent out to you, I will just go through the amendments and likely pause if there's any questions . So the First Amendment would be the striking amendment, S-1, and this would revise the two phase implementation plan into a single feasibility analysis. With the following changes. It would revise the scope to reduce disparities in communities that are at the highest risk of displacement based on risk indicators and where other EDR programs are not in place and removes a plan requirement related to the best arts capital grant. The Capital Grant Program Procurement Process. Aaron moves a plan requirement related to recommendations and next steps for the county and community structure and revises a plan requirement for providing objectives and strategies to reduce disparities to recommendations on policy implementation is to reduce disparities. It revises the plan requirement related to data and analysis of the displacement risk indicators. It removes a plan requirement related to outdoor outside partnerships and inter-governmental coordination error. Most plan requirements related to using a specific ESG level of engagement. It revises the composition of the Advisory Committee Group to be comprised of three representatives selected by the executive and more represented selected by each Councilmember office and requires a report deadline of December 31st, 2022. There is in your packet on starting. On Page eight that shows the original motion and then the changes that the striker would make, you know, a concert there. Hmm. Thank you very much. What I'd like to do is have, after each briefing, at the briefing on individual amendments, have the sponsor just be able to speak briefly on it. Again, we're not taking action on any of these to the concerned about the group. Do you have anything to say about your striking the members? Thank you, Madam Chair. I think I spoke to this at a previous meeting and the coalition that brought the original proposal hates this, but I recognize that. But I when I sat down and met and listened to the some of the representatives, the coalition early on, what I heard was a desire to create a funding source. At the end of the day, really what we're doing is this is about funding. And I thought there was a much more direct and clear way to get that outcome, to simply create a fund, because that's what we're talking about. We're going to come up with some new money. We're going to decide where it goes and who decides where it goes. And I thought that the underlying motion complicated a lot of that. And but no one seems to like this one. But I wanted to keep it there as an option for consideration and show something that I could feel comfortable supporting. Thank you. And let's go on now and have Jenny breathe this amendment line amendment point five a also buy up the grove. And I think Councilmember Grove, you have some line amendments that are would pertain to the striking amendment. But there are individual elements that were in the striking amendment in recognition that the strike amendment may not have support. I tried to zoom in on what were a couple of my areas of most interest and most concern have been to bring those ideas forward and light amendments instead. Okay. So this is a pretty straightforward. Jenny, go ahead. Oh, sure. Amendment 0.5 A is on page 12 of your packet. In this letter, the scope of the idea is to focus on displacement risk. How about going ahead and describing all four that pertain, I believe, pertain to the striking and that the next causes are not affecting the striker? This is for the underlying motion. Okay. Yes, you're right. They pretend to know what this is all about. And I'd like you to go through these next four. Oh, sure. Okay. So Amendment 0.68, which is on page 13 of your packet, this is related to the BSE case. Go in this specifies that if the initiative does not impose will not impose additional prioritization to the best or it's implementation plan. Amendment 0.7 and Page 14 revises the group composition. So the Planning Workgroup and permit advisory board composition would be comprised of 13 representatives. Four would be selected by the executive and one selected by each council member in the executive. And Council members will strive to appoint individuals with experience and knowledge on equitable development and issues relating to displacement. Go ahead. The next Amendment 0.7 B is from Council Member Perry, and this letter revised the current composition of the Planning Workgroup and Permanent Advisory Board to have equal geographic representation and adds considerations for individuals with live experience or expertize relative relevant to the initiative. Okay, thank you very much. Cut some about the globe. Would you like to comment on your three amendments? Thank you. Those weren't all mine, but my interest is twofold. Historically, our charter gives the legislative branch of government the policymaking and and budgetary authority. And if we're going to delegate that authority, I think it's most appropriate for us that to be done by council members, not have the county executive choose who will represent us. We have many other models where we do this. And in fact, this body has fought the executive tooth and nail for months on some of our other levies to ensure that our voice is heard. I trust us just as much as I trust DOE to select a good, diverse group of people that represent the values we want . My concern is when we give that appointment authority to one individual in the executive branch, to the executive, that some voices are shut out. I think this should reflect the diversity of the county, not just geographically, but in the true sense of the word. You know, we're all have different interests in focus. We all were selected by our communities to be their voice. And I think it makes sense. If we're going to delegate our authority to have the council members play a more direct role like we do with our other. Fiscal oversight committees in nominating and selecting someone from our community to represent represent those interests. So that's my thinking and bring it forward. I think it also. We're at risk of groupthink when you have one person selecting everyone and when there's a small group that's very, very interested in something behind it, I think there's a risk of sort of a group of insiders and people who are all all have the exact same vision. And I think that's dangerous. And I think we want a diversity of ideas and thoughts of people who are excited about the overall vision but but willing to bring diverse views. So that's my my interest and bring it forward. Thank you. And that's Amendment 0.7. Do you alignment anything? So those. Were. I think it went over. Others were not mine. Was that correct? Jenny We went over a 0.7 B and that's sponsored by Councilmember Perry. And I will get to her. Thank you. Okay. And you had two others there. 0.58 and 0.6 say. I mean, we have we've been briefed on those. Yes. But. Remind me very quickly which those were. Let me pull up my sheet here. 0.5. I don't think he spoke on the edas scope to focus. Yes. Gotcha. Thank you. I am. I'm just thinking the most fair methodology is to target where the need is greatest. You know, there are other grant programs. We have that kind of universal approach and target it based on need. And if we did that, unincorporated areas rise exceptionally well. They're one of the areas our urban unincorporated areas are one where all the is about every indicator and everyone recognizes. And and but there also are some extremely high need areas outside unincorporated areas, some of the areas with the largest black population, with the highest levels of displacement and risk of displacement. And to make those lower priority than the unincorporated areas just strikes me as arbitrary and not particularly fair. Okay. Thank you. End .0.6, say on best case scope? Yes, that's one we've talked quite a bit about. As you may remember, the best starts for kids tax measure. For the first time ever in King County, we have capital funds for youth programing and community centers and something there's a great deal of enthusiasm and interest all over the county. There happens also to be language in the best start for kids implementation plan that says that the grant program will be informed by and made in collaboration with any future. Ed I And my concern was that if we're going to put new parameters on this idea like prioritizing unincorporated areas that I don't think that's what was originally intended when the best start for kids implementation plan was passed, when the, you know, Sound Cities all sat at the table there and it went through the Regional Policy Committee, no one ever suggested that those funds would now be prioritized in unincorporated areas. So this would say. Yes, collaborate, share input on it, but don't apply any new criteria to those best starts. For kids capital grants, they're already targeted very much the same way. I don't have the language in front of me, but they're bipoc communities, community led projects, you know, dealing with many of these same values and those dollars are fairly limited. So prioritizing one community over another could mean certain projects get funded and others don't. So that was my attempt to try to get at that issue. And over that, I've heard some support on the council and even today from some people testifying. I think you and I may not be going through this the most logical way. No, it's great for me. I'm sorry I didn't have my amendments in front of me. And Councilmember DEMBOSKY has an amendment proposed to on that same topic. But we'll complete the first four. We've got Council Member Perry's 60.7 B, which also has to do with group composition. I probably should have had you take that up already. Councilmember Perry, would you like to make comment on that? Thank you, Chair Carl Wells. You know, I very I'm reading a lot and talking a lot with members involved in this. And and I appreciate what this is trying to do. You know, as someone who has 30% of my district in unincorporated King County, I am very appreciative of an emphasis on the voice of folks from unincorporated King County, because simply there is nobody else. If we don't speak to that, there is nobody else speaking for these voices and making sure that the focus is there. And I'm so so I'm interested in in in looking at that. And I'm glad that spring being brought forward. I do. I'm confused about some of the language, so I need to get some more clarity around the best starts for kids and whether the language specifically prioritized cities, which is also a problem. So, you know, I'd like to make sure that what we ask for and best chance for kids is actually what we use the funding for. So there's a an ethic in deciding to uphold the trust of the people. When we ask for funds to be used in a certain way, that that is in fact how we use those funds. That's very, very important. And if we need to create a different mechanism that we do. But that part is very important to me, and it's also important that we are emphasizing the voices of the community with lived experience, bipoc community and those with lived experience. That is the entire intention of EDA and I support that. I, I'm a little confused about I don't know if it's semantics, but I'm a little confused about the distinction that's being made between when Executive Constantine chooses and when the council members choose the makeup of that community group . That's confusing to me. It's a little unclear to me. I thought that the community group is formed with E.D., but it sounds like is sort of a hand-picking by the executive of those advisory members 1 to 1. I'm confused about that. So I need some more information around that, that I'll do that work on my own. But I would like to see representation from all of the districts, with those with lived experience and some bipoc community and expertize, making an equal portion, making up the the folks that decide what their recommendation is to the to the executive. So to me, having everybody in that I think is really important. And we have people who have been displaced or at great risk of being displaced in the community in each of our districts. That would be appropriate. I feel, if we're using the voice, the dollars of the city with that emphasis, that we're actually bringing in voices from each of the districts to help that that discussion happen, but that they're formed together just with the objective, that within their forming of their community group, they're working with people from each area. Thank you very much, Councilmember Perry. I would like to do now is go over the remaining four amendments and have the sponsors have actually, I don't think we actually need to have Jim go brief us on them. They're pretty specific. I'll just ask each sponsor to let us know what they're about and then just open this up for questions, comments, discussion. I perhaps could have done it topic by topic, but I started this way, so we'll continue. Councilmember Dombroski for amendment number one on the best stokes grant steps. Okay. Thank round chair. This was another variation. I think we brought it forward last time to address this little bit of a conundrum around the BSC funding. But I want to say that in general, I think Councilmember Grove has identified an issue that was triggered because of the language elsewhere in the motion that prioritized investment in unincorporated communities. And when you when that lines up with the best capital grants, it created a new a new focus, if you will, that I that I concur was not in the original proposal. And so I think we need to address that one way or another, because I wrote the wrong house language, which I think I'm pretty comfortable with. But I think we went through a very robust process there and the voters approved, you know, the plan. And I know there's a lot of excited around that. So my main message I want to convey on the BSC is I don't think we should was we would saying they don't retread that that we got to a consensus and that was there. So I think, Madam Chair, that with a little more time, we'll be able to address that issue because I sense there's consensus around it on the 1.3 existing funding sources, that's a similar issue, but just broader and I think we need some more dialog around that. The the goal in my mind here is it was to and is to go find. Sustainable funding on an ongoing basis for this initiative. But a little bit or chiseling away from other funds or a one time deal but something that makes it a real robust strong program that can meet the need that is here. And I think that there are some opportunities to do that. Perhaps most near and coming down the pike in the DSH, a cell renewal that could really, if we had this plan in place, served as a as an opportunity to inject real, real money into this. So I think that can have some additional work. And then I'll just jump to my last one. I know I'm jumping out, but it's just the deadline change. Okay. Thank you. And the last one, 1.5 Councilmember of the Grove on the advisory board will. Thank you, Madam Chair. We spoke to I spoke to this at the previous meeting. I don't know. Underlying it says it gives this group of executive appointees the authority to make policy and budget decisions. I don't know how we legally do that, how someone can make a policy decision. The main policy issues are land use and we have very specific state laws around plan updates and and timelines and the rules of the legislative bodies of county governments can do that. I. You know, we we appropriate the dollars. And so I'm worried we're setting up a little bit of a false expectation here. And I was just going to say, you know, I'm not aware of other areas in the county where we do this. We have them. We have often advisory boards, make decisions and then bring those to the elected officials. I think of Conservation Futures Board, great example. We empower them. It's led by those members. They develop a list and then at the end of the day, the county council approves that. And so we might want to either change the name from advisory board or. I think be more honest about what the practical impact is, which is that they're there to inform the executive and legislative branch on these items. I'm not wedded to this because I think it just will be. I mean, our procedures, our procedures and an emotion saying what a committee will do doesn't change those. But I think it's I just thought it was odd to create an advisory committee, but advisory committee, we delegate our policymaking and budgetary authority to them. You add to it that it's a group of executive appointees, and it makes it even more awkward for me. So that was my thinking on that one. I agree and empowering and having the, you know, people who are not elected and who bring some different experience, being at the heart of the discussion and even driving that discussion . And that's not what my concern is. The concern is that we're stating this board can do something for which under state law in our charter and things. I don't know how we really do that. So that was my thinking. Thank you very much. So these are the amendments that we can discuss right now. There may be other ones that are brought up. Hopefully we will have resolution by the time of our next meeting. But it seems to me that some of the major issues here have to do with, as we discussed last time, what? But his priority can be. I mean, we have here an amendment to 0.5 they referring to the scope of the DEA to focus. Is that the same thing as a priority or criteria? Is a term mentioned as well? And is that the same as a priority or would that be a more preferable term? This that's an issue that I think we need to come to grips with. Also, the composition of the working group and then later the advisory board and what their roles would be very important. And there are other ones too, but those are just a couple that we've dealt with. I guess another important one, though, is what's in the motion as it stands now to give a priority to the unincorporated King County areas, urban areas. And some of us have concerns about that. We'd rather have this be open to communities and organizations throughout the county, including the unincorporated King County urban areas. So with that, first of all, are there any questions of any of the sponsors of the amendments or just comments that you might want to make? The whole councilmembers are here. I thought you might want to. I have a I'll start off with a few. A couple quick ones. Can maybe central staff or maybe the sponsors share with us the difference between amendment point seven A and amendment point seven B? Are those, you know, can both of those stand or are they is it one or the other? They're both. That one is from councilmember of the Grove, one from Councilmember Perry. They both relate to group composition. Just talking through what the difference between those two is and are they either or both? They would be either or. Amendment 0.7 A would change the planning workgroup composition to four representative selected by the executive and then one selected by each County Council member. And that amendment would state that the executive and council members would strive to appoint individuals with experience and knowledge about equitable development and issues relating to displaced. That Amendment 0.7 d would maintain the language that's in the underlying motion related to emphasizing black, indigenous and people of color in the leadership. And it changes. There needs to be. There is a reference in the underlying motion about geographic representation, including unincorporated King County. This would be changed and geographic representation for each council district. And then there's also consideration for individuals with experience or expertize relative to the initiative. So there's some overlap. And I would say, Madam Chair, that I actually like Rick Perry's description of what we're looking for on their mind. I think that's an improvement from my amendment. The where we I think we disagree is whether it's the we let down the people from our districts or whether we nominate those people, select them from our districts. But I like her criteria. Thank you. That is the Madam Access Chair Coles. Is it? Okay. Thank you, ma'am. That is the distinction. And I. I want to do what's in that amendment. I'm hoping to encourage the community development as much as possible, and that together the the community would would move forward, bring forward representatives from each of the different districts for consideration by the council and that it not rest with each of the councilmembers. That's correct. Thank you. Council members than anyone else. Yes. Just I'll have a few other thoughts. But just on this point, I want to understand how having a one for one representation on an advisory board fits in with the idea of we are going to prioritize areas of highest displacement. These reports come back and they show that some areas, some districts are have way more higher risk of displacement. How does that fit in with each of us having representation on a board? Those two things for me feel like they are at odds with one another. It's putting geographic quote unquote, geographic equity ahead of displacement equity. So that's that's why I would not support these, but I would welcome thoughts on how. But if anyone has thoughts on that. I'm some member of the Globe and parents. I think it's a fair question. I think and I can wax philosophical on this. I've discussed similar issues with Fort Culture and the Homelessness Authority about the role of appointed versus elected. We have a one person, one vote. Democracy in this county and in our country where the community. The cool thing is the community gets to decide who they want to represent them and everyone has the same say regardless of income background. Everyone gets one vote and they and then the community selects someone and they've selected nine of us. All of those individuals, all of those voters have a stake in the outcome, not in the same direct degree, but they all are funding this. This is all taxpayer dollars from all over the county. How we grow obviously affects how we grow in certain areas, affects people in those areas. But I think when we're setting county wide policies using county wide dollars, everyone deserves a voice, I think using appointees and generally not speaking to this. But I've seen it be used as a way to get around the democratic process, to get around ensuring everyone in the community has a voice and narrowing it to just some in the community have a voice. And I like to define community in an inclusive way. And I sometimes hear people use the term community to define community in an exclusive way that says somebody testified today, spoke about we want people from the community. I'm trying to think of who's not from the community, who isn't from the community. I know nine of us aren't, you know, because we're now elected. But other than that, are there people that aren't from the community? And so I, I think that. All nine council members should have their views and voices and priorities reflected in the decisions made that affect the whole county. I think we should appoint people, and I certainly would from my district, people who bring unique experience, particularly maybe people have been impacted by this. I like prioritizing black indigenous people of color. But I also think that everyone, the diverse, the ideological diversity and geographic diversity, all of that needs to be reflected or else the voters, certain voters are getting cut out of the of the mix. And it's sort of my this weird populist in me isn't just on this issue I just think that we can use appointed bodies in ways that exclude members of the community in order to narrow the perspectives that are brought to bear on a problem. And I think we are better served when we have a larger diversity of views and when everybody in the county gets an equal voice. So I don't know. That was kind of a rambling answer, but it's it's why I'm often very careful about how and when and who we delegate decision making to to ensure that we don't lose that broader definition of community and the pursuit of of goals. So that's at least my thinking. And to Councilmember to Councilmember Perry. Thank you, chair corrals. I think that we are in this situation because we haven't centered people in the community who are most impacted. That's the entire reason for this conversation. And so I think it's important to call out who those community members are and to emphasize the strength and the voice of the community members most affected by the disparity. I don't think we should be emphasizing all community members because that's what got us into this. And we have some work to do to get out of it. And we do that by centering folks who are most impacted and making the decisions that will impact them. So I'm a big supporter of that. I immediately Councilmember Zoabi, maybe I am still not understanding exactly what the intention is in this space, but from for me. If it is much and like it, I would see the city of Seattle, E.D., with King County. You know, you would want to have that. I will speak to that for within King County. I do think we need to be focusing on and not prioritizing the city because the city does have opportunities that unincorporated simply, categorically does not have. So we have an obligation as King County to support those most disaffected in unincorporated King County if we're going to speak to the heart or the intention of that. So in my in my thinking about making sure that we have representation from people who are most impacted from each of the districts. It is because it is community wide in focus. And right now, we're emphasizing and ideally all along in the future, we are emphasizing those who have the greatest need. And everybody would speak to that. So I don't have an expectation that those within each of the different districts would lobby for their own space if it didn't rise to the occasion of the greatest need, but that they would be a voice for all of those most affected, and they would be a voice from throughout the districts. I think it it it doesn't help the strength of it to focus in a very narrow area for funding that affects an entire group of people that's affected throughout the entire area of King County in displacement. I think it's important to have that broad based, some lived experience with the directive that that the intention is to impact those who have the highest level of displacement and negative impact in their communities throughout King County, that everybody would be speaking to that collectively. I don't see it as bifurcating it or separating it then into nine different funding spaces. I don't know if that's coming through clearly, but that's that's my intention in that is that there is a voice for the full community in King County and that the and that the guidance is to vote to impact those that are most affected by potential displacement. Thank you, Councilmember Perry. We're running short on time. This has been a really fruitful discussion. I would first like to find out if Councilmember Sarlo was there because he is a sponsor. I'd like to hear from Councilmember Jim DEMBOSKY, the lead sponsor. And I also would invite Kelly Rider and Karen Gill to give comment. And we want to wrap this up in the next several minutes. So, first of all, Councilman Starlight, anything quick? Yes, quickly. Thank you, Councilmember Coles. I'll have a lot of thoughts later, but I want to quickly point out a place of agreement among all of us. I'm supportive of the amendments that try to decouple the BSA, how BSA is funneled through from the unincorporated priority that I've been advocating for. So with with respect to that, I think we're all on the same page, and I will support that those amendments. Thank you very much. Okay. And Councilmember Dombroski. Well, thank you, Madam Chair. And I know that there was originally some hope that we would be able to move this forward today out of this committee. But it seems to me it's the right call to have some additional work off line, because in particular, some of the amendments that are here are trying to tackle the same issue. And it looks to me like some of them overlap or get darn close to agreement. This is, well, virtual works pretty good. I think this legislation is one where we would be better off if we were all sitting here on the 12th floor so we could have those in-person conversations and work through them. But I think we're going to be able to do that quickly in the coming days. You know, just one thought on on kind of power sharing here, if you will. And this is a bit of a sea change for me. And that is there are times when having an equal voice from every part of the county is good and works. And I want to make sure that we have a wide variety of views. But one of the aims of this legislation is to not only lift up, but to actually empower, to give power to those who are on the ground and suffering the effects of this bill that we're trying to address this this overrunning of communities with big money and to help them stand up and let them make decisions and let them make investments that. The those in the communities most impacted that are experiencing this challenge are seeing and living. And that, to me, where I got to address it means giving up some of the power that I have in this office and and letting folks decide their own destiny. And it's a bit of a sea change. We just had a good discussion here today. And so I hope that I will there are as concerned rep the girl points out legal constraints from the law and the charter and whose responsibilities are. I hope that we will support a philosophy in this legislation that truly does empower to the greatest extent possible. Maybe policy choice is the wrong word, but you know that that empowers this group with real ability and real authority to tackle this challenge. There's a balance on that in that is you want to bring those who have power, like we do, to secure funding and make investments and and and have trust and kind of the voters to make this thing go. You want to bring bring us along and respect that. But I'm I'm I think that's a very important element to this philosophically. And the discussion we're having here today is good to kind of clear out the concerns and hash that out. I represent, by and large, a very wealthy district. These challenges are in my district in Pinehurst and Lake City and that part of it. But they don't predominate like other parts of our county with respect. And I do think, Councilmember Perry, we do have an extra duty as a local government in our unincorporated areas to pay special attention there and maybe even give an edge on occasion. But I think we should remember, depending on how this is funded, that it comes from. Taxpayers countywide, including in the city of Seattle, including in all of our 39 incorporated cities. And sometimes I would like to remind us that the needs in those incorporated communities can be great, and maybe even a local initiative that might be funded by a city is inadequate to address the need. And I think it's okay if King County comes in as a regional government government working across jurisdictional boundaries to buttress those efforts . I would like us to think about that as we think about where these these funds could go and the priority language. So there's a few thoughts. I'm very, very optimistic and hopeful. I hear that there is great interest across the diocese here in the virtual diocese in doing this, which is pretty cool because the debate could have been, what is this? This isn't a county government role. We don't need to be doing this. I'm not hearing that. I'm hearing people of goodwill and different perspectives and with different ideas saying, Yeah, let's do it, let's get it right and let's make it robust. And so I'm optimistic and I'll leave it out. And on that note. Thank you, Michael. A well served councilmember Dombroski really well serve. I think my scheduler is trying to make arrangements for a meeting of those partners who are involved on the council with staff. And I'm optimistic, too, that we're going to come up with a good outcome at our next meeting. I would like to see if Current Girl or Kelly Rider would like to give any comment before we sign off. Karen. Thank you. Thanks, Madam Chair. Karen Gill with the Executive Office, as we said, in support of the vision in the work. Additional clarity is always appreciated in interpreting Council's intent. So appreciate the discussion. Nothing else to add at this point. Okay. Thank you, Kelly. Thank you, Madam Chair. Nothing further that. Do I have a question, though? And we had a discussion at our last meeting about the term priority and what that means. We've also talked today about the term criteria or focus. Is there more of a prevalent term that you tend to use some decent chess? Thank you, Madam Chair. Kelly Writer, government relations manager for Community Human Services. I can't say that there is. I think prioritization is pretty clear, and there are always multiple types of prioritization that we are trying to intersect and understand in our work. So we will do our best to interpret the intent of the council and will absolutely seek more guidance if we get to that point. Okay. Thank you very much. Is anybody else on the council wishing to ask a question or give any any comment? Okay with that, we will close discussion on this proposal and we are now at the end of our agenda. And Madam Clerk, I do not believe that any member missed a vote to my correct. No is correct, Madam Chair. Okay. So with that, our next regularly scheduled, regularly scheduled town meeting is on March 2nd. Appreciate everybody who participated today. I think last discussion was really helpful. And we are now adjourned.

Output: A MOTION approving the extension of the executive's appointment of Dennis Worsham as acting director of the King County department of public health.