SUMMARY MINUTES OF SPECIAL MEETING

Council and Council-Elect Retreat

Tuesday, December 7, 2021

Meeting held at the Lodge at St. Edwards Park

Livestreamed via Zoom

PRESENT: Mayor Hall, Deputy Mayor Scully, Councilmembers Chang, McConnell, McGlashan, Roberts, and Robertson, and Councilmembers-elect Mork, Pobee, and Ramsdell

ABSENT: None

STAFF: Debbie Tarry, City Manager; John Norris, Assistant City Manager; and Pollie McCloskey, City Council Executive Assistant

GUESTS: Allegra Calder, Principal, BERK Consulting, Retreat Facilitator

The Special Meeting was called to order at 12:05 pm by Deputy Mayor Keith Scully who then provided opening remarks. Workshop Facilitator Allegra Calder then provided an overview of the agenda for the retreat and City Manager Debbie Tarry also provided some opening remarks. The Retreat attendees then ate lunch starting at 12:15 pm.

At 1:05 pm, Allegra Calder then led the Retreat participants through an activity where they answered questions to help everyone get to know one another better. Current City Councilmembers then discussed lessons learned as Councilmembers. Discussion topics included communication; how to move ideas forward for policy consideration and potential implementation; public comment; use of social media; and the importance of trust and positive relationships amongst Councilmembers. Councilmembers-elect also provided some thoughts and asked some questions of the current Councilmembers.

Council then discussed Council norms and started with a discussion of how agenda items are placed in front of Council. Also discussed was a continuation of Council communication protocols and practices; Council meeting packet development and delivery; Council meeting protocols; engaging and meeting with the City Manager; and responding to resident correspondence, among other topics.

The City Manager then provided an overview of the upcoming Council Strategic Planning Workshop, scheduled for March 2022, and how potential policy topics could be brought forth by Council. Some topics discussed for the Workshop included a review of the sidewalk prioritization plan; review of the City’s SOAP (Stay out of Areas of Prostitution) and SODA (Stay out of Drug Areas) Ordinances; stipends for Board and Commission members and other volunteers serving on City committees; reauthorization of the City’s Levy Lid Lift; discussion of tree regulations affecting single-family parcels in the City and a review of the tree code amendments currently in front of the Planning Commission, including incentives for tree preservation and penalties for unlawful tree removal; review of the City’s undergrounding policy in the Seattle City Light franchise and in agreements with other utility providers; a clear understanding of the regulations and laws around supporting ballot measures as elected officials; update and more information on criminal justice and court reforms currently included in the City Council goals; update on the City’s efforts to outreach to marginalized communities and communities of color; accessibility and universal design for housing, including aging in place; review of the City of Seattle’s Age Friendly Seattle policies; update on post-pandemic public engagement, including hybrid Council meetings and other meetings; removing barriers to access public transportation along the 145^th Street Corridor; review of the mobile crisis team operations and how the City’s RADAR (Response Awareness, De-escalation And Referral) program could engage with this team; review of the City’s Resolution policies and practices; review of road safety measures, including level of service (LOS) standards and pedestrian LOS; review of LOS for park facilities and services; and business development policies and accomplishments, including a review of the first floor commercial pilot program.

Following this discussion, the Councilmembers-elect discussed having the oath of office ceremony conducted in person and that it be videotaped so that it could be played at the first Council meeting of the year, rather than having it be conducted in Zoom during the meeting.

Allegra Calder then asked Retreat attendees to provide any final reflections on the Retreat. The Retreat adjourned at 4:45 pm.

/s/ Jessica Simulcik Smith, City Clerk