Speaker 1: The Report of the Gender Equity Safe Communities and New Americans Committee Agenda Item two Council Bill 119018 An ordinance related to the Bias Free Policing Adding a new Chapter 14.11 consisting of sections 14.11 .0101020.030.040.050.060. To the Seattle Municipal Code to codify Seattle's commitment to bias free policing, require the Seattle Police Department to have bias free policing policies and training. Create an enforcement mechanism against bias policing and collected and collect data to ensure help ensure that bias policing does not occur. The committee recommends the bill pass.
Speaker 0: Thank you very much. Concerned Gonzalez.
Speaker 1: Thank you. Before we begin substantive conversation, there is an amendment that I circulated consistent with the comments I made during council briefing this morning, circulated that before noon. So I'd like to move to amend Council Bill 119018 with Amendment 1/2. I listed in my email earlier today that the changes are largely technical. On page four, lane ten, there's a correction to reference Chapter 14.8 to 14.11. On page six, line one, there's a technical correction to grammar. Page six, lane three strikes including but not limited to a social contact. And Terry stop or a traffic stop so that the whole paragraph reads as follows, quote, Not later than three years when the occurrence of alleged bias policing persons who believe they are a victim of by bias policing based on any interaction with a Seattle police officer may file a civil complaint against the city of Seattle in a court of competent jurisdiction under Section 1411 050. And then the last edit that is made in this proposed amendment one is on page eight. Lane one striking the words in car. Out of out of that section. So. That's that's the amendment. Very technical, so very good.
Speaker 0: It's been moved in second. And we're going to see a vote just on the proposed amendment stated by Councilman Gosar. Any further questions on the amendment? All those in favor of the proposed amendment, number one to the legislation. Please vote i. I opposed. The ayes have it. So Councilman examines you shall the chair and we are now having a minute piece of legislation.
Speaker 1: Great. So I would move for the passage of Council Bill 11901 8 seconds.
Speaker 0: It's been moved in second it Catherine's unless she'd like to make some comment.
Speaker 1: Just really briefly this this particular bill codifies Seattle's commitment to bias free policing by requiring that the Seattle Police Department have an ongoing duty to have a bias free policing policy and related trainings. It creates an enforcement mechanism against bias policing, and it requires the ongoing collection of data related to terror and traffic stops to help the city assess and determine whether or not bias policing is occurring. And and I think that I'll just sort of end by saying that that this was in my committee, I think about three or four times. We had a lot of interesting conversations about this particular policy. But I think in in in some it is a clear reaction to what we hear from our members in the community about ongoing concerns of simply feeling like they continue to tell us and remind us that this is an issue within their communities, but that they are not seeing clear, concrete actions from their council as it relates to taking the issues of bias policing head on. And to me, this is a direct response to those community concerns and frustrations, and it's my hope that we will be able to more effectively track biased policing concerns and that we will be able to effectively provide people who have been subjected to bias policing a clear avenue by which they can access some justice in a civil court if for some reason our accountability system fails that person during the internal investigation. So I'm really excited about the passage of this bill. I think it's a good step forward as we continue to ensure that the public has clear mechanisms by which to hold us and the system accountable. And I'm very excited about having the support of the full council as we move to pass this bill.
Speaker 0: Very much. Any further comments from any of our colleagues? Councilmember Burgess.
Speaker 4: Thank you. I abstained in committee because of a couple of issues that were not yet resolved, and they have been in this version of the legislation. So I will be supporting the legislation.
Speaker 0: Thank very much. Any further comments? I have a few closing comments that I'd like to make. Again, Councilwoman Gonzalez, thank you for your leadership and for chairing this through the legislative process and for all of the improvements you've made to the legislation. We started began this conversation back in March 2015. Actually, Mark Barrett had prepared a memorandum for for us describing what was happening throughout this country in terms of racial profiling or biased policing and what we could sort of do about it. And I sort of asked then for sort of a best practices memo on how we can combat against the issue of unlawful bias policing. In July of 2016, at the Education, Equity and Governance Committee, the committee that I share, we had a discussion and then we followed that, of course, in August of 2016 on the Gender Equity Safe Communities New Americans Committee, chaired by Councilmember Gonzales. We presented the legislation at Councilmember Gonzalez Committee on February 8th, and of course, during this time there was a lot of moving parts, you know, that the police accountability and reform legislation that many council members and the executive and others have put a lot of, and the police department and community have put a lot of time. And I was I enacted on in May 22nd, 2017. And of course, this gets right to the heart of what, holding our police department accountable. And of course, we were ecstatic to have this voted out of committee on July 12th. And I mentioned that history to say this just didn't start just yesterday, that what we try to do is work with all communities on first recognizing that. Changing culture doesn't happen overnight, and to some extent you build building blocks. I think in order to change culture and that what this actually does, again, is after the monitor or the federal judge is no longer involved in the scrutiny of our police department, that this kind of commitment to bias free policing becomes part of our fabric here, part of our culture, and that we can monitor it and we can measure it and we can see what's happening out there in the field. It also does create a private cause of action for persons alleging that they are victims of bias policing because as an attorney, that did this kind of work. These are tough cases sometimes. And to simplify the process and even have a fee shifting or fee provision in there could possibly help many victims who have suffered nominal damage but still want some process by which to address the issue. Last the training piece. We can't say enough more about that. You know, I publicly said, I think all human beings are subject to some form of bias. And it's important, particularly for first responders and police officers, to understand their their bias. And together, we all learn as a city and learn as a department. And we make sure that we put practices in place to eliminate the kind of bias and the kind of bias a result, quite candidly, in not only unlawful steps, but unnecessary deaths. So I'm very pleased that we're passing this legislation, one of the few jurisdictions in the country to try to address this like this head on. And I'm very proud, again, that we have a city that has this kind of value. And I think that community advocates. I'd like to thank Asha, thank to Marion for her work on center staff and all of the people, Columbia Legal Services, ACLU, all the people that were involved in helping with this with this legislation. Your efforts are greatly appreciated. That any further comments from any of my colleagues before I call for the vote? If not, please call the role on the passage of the bill.
Speaker 2: Gonzales i. Herbold. I. JOHNSON Whereas I. O'Brien I. Bagshaw. Hi, Burgess. President Herrell. All right. Eight in favor, nine opposed.
Speaker 0: Thank you. The bill passed and chair of the Senate. Excellent. Please call the next agenda item. And I think we can go with three, four, three. I'm sorry. Just goal number three.
Speaker 1: Sure. The report of the Civil Rights, Utilities, Economic Development and Arts Committee Agenda Item three Appointment 0075 for the appointment of Carina Barragan as Member as Member Labor Standards Advisory Commission for a term to April 30th, 2019. The committee recommends the appointment be confirmed.
AN ORDINANCE relating to bias-free policing; adding a new Chapter 14.11, consisting of Sections 14.11.010, 14.11.020, 14.11.030, 14.11.040, 14.11.050, and 14.11.060, to the Seattle Municipal Code to codify Seattle’s commitment to bias-free policing, require the Seattle Police Department to have bias-free policing policies and training, create an enforcement mechanism against biased policing, and collect data to help ensure that biased policing does not occur.