AN ORDINANCE relating to the legal representation of Mayor Jenny Durkan in judicial proceedings concerning a recall charge; paying expenses necessary to defend Mayor Jenny Durkan in those proceedings; and ratifying and confirming certain prior acts.
Agenda Item one. Constable 119966. Relating to the legal. Representation of Mayor Jenny Durkan and proceedings concerning a recall charged paying expenses necessary to defend Mayor Jenny Durkan and those proceedings and ratifying and confirming certain prior acts. HQ. Madam Clerk, I will move to pass Council Bill 119966. Is there a second? Second? It's been moved and seconded to pass the bill. Colleagues, as I mentioned this morning during council briefing, this is an ordinance that relates to the legal representation of Mayor Jenny Durkan in the judicial proceedings concerning the recall charge, which has now come to a conclusion, as you'll note from the fiscal notes, the the summary of the fiscal note notes that the total cost of the legal defense is $240,000. And so that is what the fiscal impact is of this particular bill. Should it should it pass? So this bill is being proposed consistent with the same statutory framework that was in play and up for consideration by the full council on September 15th, when we considered and passed the same piece of legislation related to the legal defense of Councilmember Ocelot related to that recall petition. The only difference being, of course, just timing. In this instance, we know what the results of that petition are and what the total fees are for the judicial proceedings. So happy to open up the floor to hear any other comments from any one else. Any comments? Customer. Arsalan, please. Thank you, President Gonzales. I will be voting yes on this item because I support the right to a legal defense for all. Members of the public will know that. I have completely opposed Mayor Durkin's political actions, her systematic but all too unsurprising opposition to the Amazon tax to fund affordable housing and the Green New Deal Administration, doing the bidding of telecom corporations and blocking any progress on municipal broadband which is so urgently needed. And especially the actions against the Black Lives Matter movement, which, while carried out by the police, lie at the doorstep of our administration because the police department reports to the mayor and the political establishment under Mayor Durkin's watch, Seattle Police targeted ordinary people with tear gas, rubber bullets and other weapons in brutal repression of the movement. However, this vote is not taking a position on Mayor Dawkins actions. It is about the right to legal representation. And we have to be very careful about the precedent that being that is being said for working class elected representatives who simply could not afford large legal expenses while corporate politicians could easily afford it. If we do not set a crystal clear precedent that legal representation is a right, regardless of your ability to afford it, then it would end up creating a dynamic where only big business representatives like Durkan would effectively have access to legal defense. The future. For that democratic reason, I will be voting yes on this bill for legal representation. But I want to be very clear that I continue to be opposed to what Mayor Durkan has done in relation to the Black Lives Matter protests and working people in our city. Thank you. Thank you, Councilmember Salant. And of course, colleagues voting for this bill or against this bill is simply taking a position on whether or not legal representation is appropriate under the that the state statute that allows for an elected official to request the representation and to have their legal costs covered. It certainly is not a vote on any anything other than that, that issue. Okay. Are there any other comments on the bill? Hearing no additional comments. Will the clerk please call the roll on the passage of the bill? What? Yes. Strauss. Yes. HERBOLD. Yes. Whereas I. RUIZ Yes. Morales Yes. SKINNER. Yes. Peterson Yes. Council President Gonzalez. Yes. Nine in favor. Men oppose the bill passes and the chair will sign it. Will the clerk please affix my signature to the legislation on my behalf? Okay, Donna, item two Will the clerk please read item two into the record? Agenda item two Capital 119969 relating to the citywide and Seattle Public Utilities departments temporarily removing the charge of interest on delinquent