Public Safety Committee - June 9, 2024

This Public Safety Committee meeting featured three major items: **EMS levy renewal**, **surveillance technology expansion**, and **Chief Shon Barnes' confirmation hearing**. Key participants included Chair Kettle, Councilmembers Hollingsworth, Moore, Nelson, Rivera, and Rinck, along with Chief Barnes and Mayor's Office representatives. **Major outcomes:** - **EMS levy renewal** (CB 120996) passed unanimously - authorizes $479M county-wide levy for 2026-2031 - **Surveillance tracking devices** (CB 120994) approved unanimously - adds StarChase pursuit mitigation technology - **Chief Barnes confirmation** hearing completed with strong community support and detailed policy presentation **Timeline:** Both bills advance to June 17th full Council meeting. Chief Barnes' confirmation vote will follow this briefing session. ---

### EMS Levy Renewal (CB 120996) **Background context:** This is a routine renewal of the King County-wide Emergency Medical Services levy, first established in 1979 and renewed every six years. The current levy expires in 2025. **Current status:** - **Levy amount:** Up to 25 cents per $1,000 assessed property value - **Revenue projection:** $479 million over six years (2026-2031) - **Seattle's share:** Approximately $64 million annually - **Usage:** 73% of Seattle Fire Department operations are EMS-related **Technical details:** This interlocal agreement simply authorizes King County to collect taxes on Seattle property and remit Seattle's portion to the city's general fund. No policy changes or new programs involved. ### Surveillance Technology Expansion (CB 120994) **Background context:** This "material update" to existing surveillance ordinance adds StarChase pursuit mitigation technology to SPD's authorized tracking devices, funded by $250,000 state grant. **Current status:** - **Technology:** 25 GPS tracking launchers mounted on patrol vehicles - **Success rates:** 92% nationwide tag adhesion, 86% apprehension rate; 52% local success rate in Washington - **Ongoing costs:** $37,500 annually after two-year grant period **Technical details:** Officers can deploy GPS darts onto fleeing vehicles, allowing tracking without high-speed pursuit. Integration with Real Time Crime Center for monitoring. Requires probable cause or reasonable suspicion of criminal involvement. ---

**Key alliances:** Unanimous committee support for all three items demonstrates rare bipartisan consensus on public safety infrastructure and leadership. **Strategic motivations:** - Chair Kettle's extended timeline for Barnes confirmation (130+ days vs. 30 days for previous chief) reflects deliberate community engagement strategy - **EMS levy timing** coordinated with King County Council July vote to ensure November ballot placement - **Surveillance technology** framed as public safety reform compliance rather than expansion **Power dynamics:** - **Community coalition building** evident in Barnes confirmation with diverse religious, civic, and professional endorsements - **Federal-local tensions** highlighted in Rinck's questioning about potential federal overreach - **Accountability partner presence** signals ongoing oversight relationship complexity ---

**Immediate opportunities:** - **June 17th Council meeting** - final votes on EMS levy and surveillance technology - **Chief Barnes confirmation** - likely vote following this hearing - **Community concern portal** - new mechanism for reporting public safety issues directly to SPD **Key decision points:** - **November 2025 ballot** - EMS levy voter approval required - **Surveillance technology implementation** - 18-month evaluation period - **Police accountability reforms** - ongoing policy development **Contact strategies:** - **EMS levy concerns:** Contact King County Council before July vote - **Surveillance oversight:** Engage with Seattle IT Privacy Office - **Police policy input:** Use new community concern portal when launched **Action items:** - Monitor King County Council EMS levy deliberations - Track surveillance technology effectiveness metrics - Participate in expanded community precinct meetings ---

**Related policies:** - **State pursuit reform laws** (RCW 10.116.060) - driving surveillance technology adoption - **Seattle surveillance ordinance** framework - governing technology oversight - **One Seattle restoration goals** - broader mayoral public safety strategy **Upcoming milestones:** - **June 17, 2025:** Full Council votes on EMS levy and surveillance technology - **July 2025:** King County Council vote on EMS levy ballot placement - **November 2025:** Voter decision on EMS levy renewal - **18-month review:** Surveillance technology effectiveness evaluation **Cross-cutting themes:** - **Federal-local tensions** emerging as major governance challenge - **Community engagement** as prerequisite for police legitimacy - **Technology adoption** balanced against privacy concerns - **Regional coordination** essential for public safety effectiveness ---

**Budget implications:** - **EMS levy:** No new city funding required - property tax collection mechanism - **StarChase technology:** $250,000 initial grant funding, $37,500 annual ongoing costs - **General fund impact:** Surveillance technology costs after grant period **Procedural insights:** - **Material update process** allows surveillance expansion without full ordinance revision - **Interlocal agreement** structure enables regional tax coordination - **Confirmation timeline** demonstrates deliberate community vetting approach **Implementation challenges:** - **Surveillance technology training** for all SPD personnel required - **Community concern portal** development and staffing needs - **Federal coordination protocols** unclear for ICE notification procedures - **Accountability partner integration** with new leadership approach **Technical details:** - **StarChase deployment** requires probable cause or reasonable suspicion - **Real Time Crime Center integration** provides centralized monitoring - **Before the Badge program** continuation confirmed despite budget pressures - **Seattle-centric policing plan** represents first comprehensive crime reduction strategy in 15 years