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HomeMy WebLinkAboutBaddockP1biHritz;)(/Zfrc2cf4J(t#t1a11fl%7’SKingCountyDowConstantineKingCountyExecutive401FifthAvenue,Suite800Seattle,WA98104206-296-9600Fax206-296-0194TFYRelay:711www.kingcounty.govNovember23,2020TheHonorableArmondoPavoneMayor,CityofRenton1055SouthGradyWayRenton,WA98057RentonCityCouncilRentonCityHall1055SouthGradyWayRenton,WA98057Re:ProposedEmergencyOrdinanceonUseoftheRentonRedLionforCOVID-19ShelterDe-IntensificationDearMayorPavoneandCouncilmembers:OnbehalfofKingCounty,Iamwritingtoaskyounottopassthecity’sproposedemergencyordinanceregardinguseoftheRedLionHotelforCOVIDI9shelterde-intensification.Weappreciatetheunprecedentednatureofthispandemicandthechallengesthatareinherenttothatforourgovernmentsandourcommunities,butwehaveanumberofconcernsrelatedtothisproposal.First,theproposedordinancewillarbitrarilyrequirevulnerablecongregateshelterresidentstoleavetheRedLionbyJune1.ThiswillneedlesslysetbackoureffortstocontrolCOVID19andkeepthepublicsafe.AsLocalHealthOfficerDr.JeffDuchinreported,thebestscientificevidenceindicatesthattheepidemicwillnotendbyJune1,2021.ThisemergencyordinancemightgiveyouanerroneousimpressionoftheCounty’spositionduringunsuccessfuleffortsearlierthisyearnegotiatingapossibleMOUwithcitystaff.Theordinanceincorrectlystatesthat“KingCountywouldnotagreetoanyMOUthatcommittedKingCountyorDESCtoatimeframeforrelocatingtheCOVID-19Shelter’soperationsfromtheRedLionSite....”ThepreamblealsoincorrectlyimpliesthatKingCountydidnotnegotiateingoodfaithandactedunreasonably.IpersonallyparticipatedintwoofthosetalksaboutapossibleMOUwithcityofficials,includingMr.Levy.MayorPavoneandothersfromthecityandCounty.viaZoom.During TheHonorableArmondoPavoneRentonCityCouncilNovember23.2020Paze2thefirsttalkonMay29,2020,citystaffannouncedthattheywantedtheCountytomovetheDESCmainshelterresidentsoutoftheRedLionbyAugust9,2020,oranotherdatecertaininthenearfuture,regardlessofthestateoftheCOVID-19epidemic.Citystaffletusknowthatotherwise,theymightbringacodeenforcementactionagainsttheCounty.Thecityrepresentativespushedustoagreetoremovetheresidents.Afterthatfirsttalk,IspokewithourstaffatPublicHealthaboutwhetheritwaspossibletopromisethecityadatecertaintoendouruseoftheRedLionforshelterde-intensification.PublicHealthtoldmethatpromisingadatecertaintomovetheresidentsoutwasunrealisticbecausenobodyknewwhentheCOV[D-19epidemicwouldbesufficientlyundercontrol.DuringoursecondtalkwithcitystaffonJune4,IrelayedthismessagefromPublicHealthaboutthedurationoftheepidemic.Asarealisticalternative,IofferedonbehalfoftheExecutivetoagreetoatimelinehavingtheresidentsleavewhenthecurrentCOVID-19stateofemergencyends.BothGovernorInsleeandExecutiveConstantinehaveproclaimedstatesofemergencyduetoCOVID-19.Butthecityrepresentativesrejectedthatidea,wereclearlydispleased,andagainthreatenedlegalaction.Laterthatmonth,thecitystarteditscodeenforcementactionagainstKingCounty.WearefurtherconcernedbecausethecityhasnotcompliedwithWashington’sGrowthManagementAct,ortheStateEnvironmentalPolicyAct(SEPA).Duringthispandemic,facilitiessuchasthecurrentuseoftheRedLionarecriticaltopublichealtheffortstoaddressingCOVID-19and,assuch,constituteessentialpublicfacilities.ThefacilityattheRedLionisprovidingsomeofthemostmedicallyvulnerablecongregateshelterresidentswithasafeplacetostayuntilCOVID-19issufficientlyundercontrolsothattheycansafelyleaveandreturntotheDESCmainshelterorasubstitutepermanentlocation.Thismakesfacilitiesservingasemergencyde-intensificationsitesallthemoreimportantatpreventingourhospitalsfrombecomingoverwhelmed,whichisparticularlycriticalwithourlocalcasesandhospitalizationssurging.Weareconcernedaboutthelimitedtimewehavehadtoreviewtheproposedlegislation.TheCountyhasbeeninconversationswithcitystaffsinceMay2020abouttheneedtoestablishfacilitiestoaddressCOVID-19,yetitwasjustlastweekthatwelearnedthatthecitywasconsideringanordinance.ThisshortnoticeperiodleavestheCounty,andotherstakeholders,withoutanadequateopportunitytoparticipateintheprocessofdevelopingthislegislation.Finally,ourunderstandingisthatthecitycontemplatesadoptingthislegislationwithoutcompletingSEPAreview.Thistopichasbeenunderdiscussionformonths,andSEPAreviewcouldhavebeencompletedduringthattime.Atpresent.thereisnoemergencyjiistit’yingavoidingtheSEPAprocess.Inshort,wearetroubledbythecitysattempttohastilypassthisasanemergencyordinancewithoutproperreview. TheHonorableArmondoPavoneRentonCityCouncilNovember23.2020Page3WewillcontinuetoworkingoodfaithwithRenton.Again,weaskthatyoudeclinetopasstheproposedemergencyordinancebysupportingourtemporaryuseoftheRedLion,whichisprovidingparticularlyvulnerablepersonsexperiencinghomelessnesswithasafeplacetostay,untiltheepidemicissufficientlyundercontrolsothattheycansafelyleave.Thankyouforyourconsideration.Sincerely.ShannonBraddockDeputyChiefofStaffKingCountyExecutive’sOffice