Speaker 0: Every part of.
Speaker 2: The Finance and Housing Committee Agenda Item three Council Bill 119977.
Speaker 0: Amending Ordinance 20 6000, which adopted the 2020 budget, making preparations from the General Fund for Public Assistance during the COVID 19 Civil Emergency and redefining confirming certain prior acts by three fourths vote of the City Council. The committee recommends the bill passes amended. Thank you. I will recognize councilmembers as chair of the committee in order to provide the committee report from State. Thank you very much. Madam President, this ordinance will expand our relief to local businesses and particularly workers in the Gulf. As the governor's extension of the business, restrictions continue until January 4th. Appreciate that. This is a piece of ordinance that was introduced by Council member Council President Gonzales, co-sponsored by myself and Council Member Morales, and in partnership with the with the mayor's office. We know that half of the allocated funds in this proposed ordinance here will go to supporting our smallest businesses, and half of the amount will go directly to workers within the hospitality industry at large. From the data we've received so far, we know that 85% of the businesses that have received assistance from the city of Seattle have been able to go to employers with ten or fewer employees, and over 60% of those applicants are from Bipoc communities. About 29% represent the restaurant and bar industry, and there is still such a huge need. So we're really excited about this piece of legislation in front of us. I really appreciate the committee's support as the rest of the amendment that we brought forward in consultation with Seattle Restaurants United and Unite Here, we knew that there needed to be additional flexibility for small restaurants and bars to have the ability to have non-monetary relief, such as permits for outdoor dining and clarification that the $2.5 million in flexible direct cash assistance can go to workers in the hospitality industry impacted by this crisis to meet ongoing basic needs and that there's much more need. And so looking forward to working with all of you and and making sure that there is additional relief at the city level as we continue to urge our congressional partners and work in partnership with our state partners to make sure that there is additional assistance in hardest hit industries. Thank you very much, Madam President. Thank you, Councilmember Mosquito, for those comments. I, if I can, would like to make a few comments as well. And I know that Councilmember Morales is also a co-sponsor of this really important additional relief. So I just wanted to say, you know, I've talked a lot about this bill already in council briefing and in committee. I just want to say that this legislation really does represent the fact that the city of Seattle is taking swift action to address the ongoing needs of small businesses and workers impacted by COVID 19, by the COVID 19 economy and the related restrictions. And an additional $2.5 million will be given to small restaurants and bars that will support the ability of our Main Street businesses to keep their doors open and workers employed. Another $2.5 million in direct cash assistance will go to hospitality industry workers. And that means that thousands of families can remain housed and fed through the winter months. The hospitality, restaurant and bar industry has been hardest hit by the COVID economy, and these year end investments will provide much needed relief ahead of a very tough winter. Many of you know that I'm lucky enough to consider myself a family member of the restaurant and bar industry. My husband has been in the service industry for almost 20 years, most of that time here in the city of Seattle. And our home has also not been spared by the impacts of COVID 19 and the related economic impacts and restrictions. So to me, it's really important for us to have these strategic, strategic, targeted investments. So to the service industry and the hospitality industry, which has been hardest hit by by many of the restrictions and and by this pandemic. And so I really want to thank Councilmember Mosqueda for her willingness to create space at the last minute in her committee to allow a hearing on this bill. I want to thank Councilmember Morales for her ongoing and steadfast support and championing of the needs of our diverse small businesses and entrepreneurs across the city. And I want to thank Mayor Durkan for her willingness to to allow us to collaborate between the branches, to identify $5 million to to meet and to create the bridge between now and the new year, when we might be able to take some more significant action and provide additional relief. So thank you to everyone and also thank you to Nguyen and my office for working really hard on this legislation. And to Brianna Thomas, my chief of staff, for also lending her talents to development of this legislation and creating lots of agreement here. So thank you, colleagues, and looking forward to having your support here. Any additional comments on the bill? Keep hearing no additional comments on the bill. Will the court please call the roll on the passage of the bill? Sergeant.
Speaker 1: Yes. Strauss. Yes. HERBOLD.
Speaker 0: Yes.
Speaker 1: Worse, I. RUIZ. Yes. Morales Yes. ROSQUETA. I. Oh. Peterson. Yes. Council President Gonzalez.
Speaker 0: Yes.
Speaker 1: 89 in favor and unopposed.
Speaker 0: The bill passes and the chair will sign it. Will the court please affix my signature to the legislation on my behalf? Okay. Moving along to agenda item four, will the Court please read the short title of item four into the record.
Speaker 2: Agenda item for Council Bill 119971 authorizing and 2020 acceptance of funding.
AN ORDINANCE amending Ordinance 126000, which adopted the 2020 Budget; making appropriations from the General Fund for public assistance during the COVID-19 civil emergency; and ratifying and confirming certain prior acts; all by a 3/4 vote of the City Council.