I'M TAMMY MORALES, CHAIR OF THE
COMMITTEE.
WILL THE CLERK CALL THE ROLL.
>> COUNCIL MEMBER LEWIS.
COUNCIL MEMBER JUAREZ.
>> HERE.
>> COUNCIL MEMBER PETERSON.
>> HERE.
COUNCIL MEMBER SEWANT.
CHAIR MORALES.
>> HERE.
.
>> THREE PRESENT.
>> I DO SEE COUNCIL MEMBER
LEWIS IS HERE.
>> COUNCIL MEMBER LEWIS.
>> PRESENT.
I HADN'T BEEN PROMOTED TO
PANELIST WHEN YOU CALLED THE
FIRST.
>> APOLOGIES.
OKAY.
GREAT.
THANKS, EVERYONE.
WE HAVE FOUR ITEMS ON THE
AGENDA TODAY.
ALL RELATED TO THE U DISTRICT
BIA REAUTHORIZATION.
BEFORE WE BEGIN, WE WILL NOW
APPROVE OUR AGENDA FOR OUR
COMMITTEE MEETING.
SO IF THERE'S NO OBJECTION,
TODAY'S AGENDA WILL BE ADOPTED.
HEARING NO OBJECTION TODAY'S
AGENDA IS ADOPTED.
AT THIS TIME, WE'LL OPEN THE
REMOTE PUBLIC COMMENT PERIOD
FOR ITEMS ON THE DAY'S AGENDA
OR WITHIN THE COMMITTEE'S PER
VIEW.
BEFORE WE BEGIN, I WANT TO ASK
EVERYONE BE PATIENT.
WE'RE LEARNING TO OPERATE A NEW
SYSTEM IN REALTIME.
AND WE ARE NAVIGATING THROUGH
SOME INEVITABLE GROWING PAYS.
IT REMAINS OUR STRONG INTENT TO
HAVE PUBLIC COMMENT REGULARLY
INCLUDED ON MEETING AGENDAS.
THE COUNCIL RESERVES THE RIGHT
TO ELIMINATE COMMENT PERIODS AT
ANY POINT IF THIS SYSTEM IS
BEING ABUSED OR IS UNSUITABLE
FOR ALLOWING MEETINGS TO BE
CONDUCTED EFFICIENTLY AND IN A
MANNER IN WHICH WE'RE ABLE TO
CONDUCT NECESSARY BUSINESS.
I WILL MODERATE THE PUBLIC
COMMENT PERIOD IN THE FOLLOWING
MANNER.
THE PUBLIC COMMENT PERIOD FOR
THIS MEETING IS UP TO 20
MINUTES.
AND EACH SPEAKER WILL BE GIVEN
ONE MINUTE TO SPEAK.
I WILL CALL ON EACH SPEAKER BY
NAME.
AND IN THE ORDER IN WHICH THEY
REGISTERED ON THE COUNCIL'S
WEBSITE.
IF YOU HAVE NOT REGISTERED TO
SPEAK BUT WOULD LIKE TO, YOU
CAN SIGN UP BEFORE THE END OF
THE PUBLIC COMMENT PERIOD BY
GOING TO THE COUNCIL'S WEBSITE.
THE PUBLIC COMMENT LINK IS
LISTED ON THE DAY'S AGENDA.
ONCE I CALL A SPEAKER'S NAME,
STAFF WILL UNMUTE THE
APPROPRIATE MIC AND AN
AUTOMATIC PROMPT OF YOU HAVE
BEEN UNMUTED, THAT WILL BE THE
SPEAKER'S CUE THAT IT'S THEIR
TURN TO SPEAK.
PLEASE BEGIN BY STATING YOUR
NAME AND THE ITEM ON WHICH YOU
ARE ADDRESSING.
SPEAKERS WILL HEAR A CHIME WHEN
TEN SECONDS ARE LEFT ON THE
ALLOTTED TIME.
ONCE THE SPEAKER HEARS THE
CHIME, WE ASK YOU BEGIN TO WRAP
UP YOUR PUBLIC COMMENT.
IF YOU DO NOT END YOUR PUBLIC
COMMENT AT THE END OF THE
ALLOTTED TIME PERIOD, YOUR MIC
WILL BE MUTED TO ALLOW US TO
CALL ON THE NEXT SPEAKER.
ONCE YOU HAVE COMPLETED YOUR
PUBLIC COMMENT, WE ASK YOU
PLEASE DISCONNECT FROM THE
LINE.
IF YOU PLAN TO CONTINUE
FOLLOWING THIS MEETING.
PLEASE DO SO BY A SEATTLE
CHANNEL OR THE LISTENING
OPTIONS LISTED ON THE AGENDA.
SO THE PUBLIC COMMENT PERIOD IS
NOW OPEN.
AND WE'LL BEGIN WITH THE FIRST
SPEAKER ON THE LIST.
LET'S SEE, THE FIRST SPEAKER IS
STEVEN ANTIPIT.
STEVEN, I APOLOGIZE IF I SAID
THAT WRONG.
STEVEN, ARE YOU THERE?
>> I AM HERE.
GOOD AFTERNOON, COUNCIL MEMBER
MORALES AND COMMUNITY MEMBERS.
I'M STEVEN ANTIPIT I'M SPEAKING
IN SUPPORT OF THE BILL RENEWING
THE U DISTRICT DIA.
I'M A HOMEOWNER IN THE U
DISTRICT FOR 25 YEARS.
I CURRENTLY SERVE AS THE BOARD
CHAIR OF THE NONPROFIT
NEIGHBORHOOD FARMERS MARKET.
SUPPORT THE ORDINANCE TO RENEW
THE BIA TO HELP THE BUSINESS
COMMUNITY DURING THE COVID
CRISIS AND ECONOMIC RECOVERY.
ENSURING THEY HAVE THE REVENUE
NEEDED.
OUR CASEWORKER LITERALLY IS ON
THE STREET EVERYDAY AND EVERY
NIGHT.
EVEN BEFORE THE CRISIS HIT US
SO HARD.
YOUR SUPPORT WILL HELP US
ADVOCATE FOR SMALL BUSINESSES.
MANY OF WHOM ARE IMMIGRANT AND
PEOPLE OF COLOR.
AND YOUR SUPPORT WILL HELP US
INCREASE PROMOTIONAL MARKETING.
ASTHMAS ASSISTIVE CHANGES BOTH
UNANTICIPATED AND PLANNED WITH
UP ZONES AFFECT US ALL, WE NEED
TO MAINTAIN SERVICES AND
EXPERTISE THROUGH ITS NONPROFIT
MANAGER, THE U DISTRICT
PARTNERSHIP.
THE PARTNERSHIP NEEDS TO
CONTINUE LEADERSHIP TO
IMPLEMENT THE BIA PROGRAMS.
THEY BUILT EFFECTIVE
RELATIONSHIPS.
I'M PROUD TO CHAIR ONE OF THEIR
ADVISORY COMMITTEES AS A
COMMUNITY VOLUNTEER.
>> THANK YOU, STEVEN.
THE NEXT SPEAKER IS CORY
CROCKER.
.
>> HELLO.
>> YES, IS THIS CORY?
GO AHEAD.
>> GOOD AFTERNOON, GOOD
AFTERNOON, MY NAME IS CORY
CROCKER.
I'M THE SECRETARY OF THE U
DISTRICT SMALL BUSINESSES AND
THE TREASURER OF THE U DISTRICT
COMMUNITY COUNCIL.
A 30 YEAR RESIDENT AND A LOCAL
SMALL BUSINESS OWNER.
I WOULD LIKE TO SPEAK ABOUT THE
I ARE NEWEL OF THE U DISTRICT
BIA.
I ADVOCATED FOR THE INITIAL
PASSAGE AND SERVED ON THE BOARD
OF THE DISTRICT PARTNERSHIP FOR
FOUR YEARS.
AFTER FIVE YEARS AND 5 MILLION
ALMOST SPENT, MY ORIGINAL
ENTHUSIASM FOR THE EXPERIMENT
DIMINISHED GREATLY.
WE KNOW THESE ARE VERY
TROUBLING TIMES.
THE INSTABILITY OF THE PANDEMIC
MEANS WE SHOULD PROCEED
CAREFULLY WITH ANY INCREASE IN
THE COST OF DOING BUSINESS IN
THE U DISTRICT.
EVEN BEFORE THE CRISIS, SMALL
BUSINESSES AND RESIDENTS WERE
IMPACTED BY THE HIGH-RISE UP
SLOAN AND REDEVELOPMENT.
THE ALL READY HIGH-RISK OF
DISPLACEMENT IS FURTHER
EXACERBATED BY THE CLOSURE OF
SMALL BUSINESSES DURING SHELTER
IN PLACE.
UNIQUE HI FELT IN U DISTRICT IS
THE LOSS OF ALMOST 70,000
STUDENTS, FACULTY AND STAFF AT
UW THIS QUARTER, SUMMER, AND
PERHAPS THIS FALL.
AT TUESDAY'S MEETING, WE'LL
CONSIDER CONTINGENCIES FOR UP
TO 20% LOSS FOR BUSINESSES WHO
CANNOT PAY.
.
>> THANK YOU, CORY.
THE NEXT SPEAKER WILL BE
MICHAEL SAVECH.
.
>> MY NAME IS MICHAEL, OWNERS
OF BB'S TERIYAKI GRILL ON THE
AVE.
I'M HERE TO STATE MY SUPPORT
FOR THE U DISTRICT BIA.
WE NEED CITY COUNCIL TO SUPPORT
THE ORDINANCE FOR RENEWED BIA.
THE BIA'S SUPPORT HELPS OUR
COMMUNITY IN COUNTLESS WAYS.
THEY ADVOCATE FOR US AS SMALL
BUSINESSES, KEEP OUR STREETS
SAFE AND CLEAN, AND THEIR
PROGRAM MANAGER IS CONSTANTLY
PATROLLING THE STREETS AND HAS
REALLY DONE A GREAT JOB
BUILDING RELATIONSHIPS WITH
BUSINESSES.
THEY'RE THERE TO ANSWER
QUESTIONS, KEEP OUR BEST
INTERESTS IN MIND.
AND THEY'RE AN AMAZING RESOURCE
WE CAN GO TO WHEN WE HAVE
QUESTIONS OR NEEDS.
MY FAVORITE PART OF THE U
DISTRICT PARTNERSHIP AND WHAT
THEY DO IS THEY HELP KEEP THE
AVE CLEAN AND SAFE.
THE AVE'S SUCCESS DEPENDS ON A
SAFE DISTRICT TO SHOP IN STORES
AND RESTAURANTS.
THE PARTNERSHIP CONTRACTS
AGENCIES TO CLEAN UP GRAFFITI,
BIO HAZARDS, NEEDLES.
THEY PREVENT SHOPLIFTING, CAR
PROWLING.
THEY HIGHER SECURITY.
AND THEY DO THE WORK OUR
COMMUNITY NEEDS WHILE BUSINESS
OWNERS ARE BUSY OFFERING OUR
BUSINESSES.
.
>>> THANK YOU, MICHAEL, THE
NEXT SPEAKER IS SUSAN SHULTZ.
>> GOOD AFTERNOON, MY NAME IS
SUSAN SHULTZ, I'M HERE TODAY TO
SPEAK IN SUPPORT OF RENEWING
THE UNIVERSITY DISTRICT BIA.
I AM THE OWNER OF SCHULTY'S BAR
AND GRILL AND A RATE PAY TORE
THE BIA.
IT HELPS US AS INDIVIDUAL
BUSINESS OWNERS BY TAKING CARE
OF BIG PICTURE ENDEAVORS,
SECURITY, CLEANLINESS, AND
BEAUTIFICATION, ESSENTIAL
BASICS FOR ATTRACTING PATRONS
TO THE NEIGHBORHOOD.
THEY'VE FOSTERED RELATIONSHIPS
BETWEEN THE CITY, NONPROFITS,
AND THE MYRIAD OF INDIVIDUAL
BUSINESSES IN A WAY NO SINGLE
ENTITY COULD DREAM OF
ACHIEVING.
THE BIA HAS BEEN IN THE U
DISTRICT EVERYDAY DURING THE
COVID CRISIS PROVIDING SECURITY
AND CLEANING SERVICES TO HELP
THE NEIGHBORHOOD AS WE NAVIGATE
THROUGH THESE DIFFICULT TIMES.
I'M SO GRATEFUL WE'VE HAD IT TO
SUPPORT US.
THE ESTABLISHMENT IS ONE OF THE
BEST IDEAS THE CITY EVER
DEVISED.
THE BANG WE GET FOR THE MINIMUM
AMOUNT WE PAY IS AMAZING.
I WISH THERE WAS A WAY TO SHOW
THIS IN TIME LAPSE VIDEO HOW
WELL THE BIA HELPED OUR
NEIGHBORHOOD.
THANK YOU FOR YOUR TIME.
AND THE OPPORTUNITY TO SHARE MY
VIEWS.
>> THANK YOU, SUSAN.
THE NEXT SPEAKER IS MIKE SHIN.
MIKE SHIN?
ARE YOU ON?
OKAY.
IF MIKE COMES BACK, WE CAN GET
HIM ON THE LINE THERE.
SO LET'S MOVE ON TO MICHAEL
POLZEN.
>> I'M MICHAEL POLZIN.
GOOD AFTERNOON.
I'M A BUSINESS OWNER
REPRESENTING AMERICAN CAMPUS
COMMUNITIES.
SUPPORT OF THE RENEWAL DISTRICT
BIA.
WE CURRENTLY HAVE THREE
PROPERTY [K:INS]
THE U DISTRICT AS WELL AS ONE
UNDER DEVELOPMENT.
I DO WANT TO REITERATE FULL
SUPPORT OF THE ORDINANCE TO
RENEW U DISTRICT BIA.
NOT ONLY FOR OUR BUSINESSES BUT
FOR OUR SMALL RETAIL BUSINESSES
IN OUR COMMUNITY LOCATIONS.
WE HAVE HAD OPPORTUNITIES TO
CONTRIBUTE IN OTHER AREAS OF
THE COUNTRY WITH SIMILAR
PROGRAMS AND INITIATIVES.
AND HAVE SEEN HOW FIRSTHAND IN
THE U DISTRICT THIS MADE A
POSITIVE IMPACT.
NOT ONLY ON THE BUSINESSES BUT
THE INDIVIDUALS THAT INHABIT
AND ALSO VISIT THE U DISTRICT
AREA.
MOST IMPORTANTLY, WE ARE
FOCUSED ON GIVING BACK.
AND I THINK THE U DISTRICT BIA
DOES AN AMAZING JOB OF THAT.
WE WANT TO BE PART OF A LARGER
COMMUNITY.
NOT JUST OUR RENTAL PROPERTIES.
AND THIS HAS BEEN AN AMAZING
WAY TO CONTINUE TO DO THAT
MOVING FORWARD.
THANKS FOR YOUR TIME.
>> GREAT, THANK YOU, MICHAEL.
THE NEXT SPEAKER WILL BE MARY
COLEGAL.
.
>> HELLO, GOOD AFTERNOON, MY
NAME IS MARY COLIGO.
AND I'M HERE TO SPEAK IN
SUPPORT OF RENEWING THE U
DISTRICTED BIA.
I REPRESENT BUFFALO EXCHANGE.
WE'VE BEEN IN THE U DISTRICT
FOR 24 YEARS IN OUR CURRENT
LOCATION AND LONGER BEFORE
THAT.
THERE'S BEEN A LOT OF CHANGES
IN THE NEIGHBORHOOD OVER TIME.
AND THE PRESENCE OF THE BIA --
OF THE U DISTRICT BIA HAS BEEN
VERY BENEFICIAL TO ALL OF US.
THE MAIN THING I REALLY
APPRECIATE THEM FOR IS THE
CLEAN AND SAFE PROGRAM WHICH
HAS REALLY HELPED RESPOND TO
PROBLEMS IN THE NEIGHBORHOOD
BOTH IN REGARDS TO CLEANLINESS
AND SAFETY.
THEY ADVOCATE FOR SMALL
BUSINESSES.
PARTICULARLY RIGHT NOW DURING
THE TIME OF THE COVID CRISIS.
WE'VE HAD BREAK-INS THEY'VE
RESPONDED BEFORE ANYONE ELSE.
AT TIMES WE FEEL LIKE WE'RE
ALONE OUT THERE THAT NO ONE
CARES ABOUT THE U DISTRICT AND
THEY'VE BEEN THERE FOR US.
THEY'VE BEEN PARTICULARLY
SUPPORTIVE DURING THIS, AS I
SAID, DURING THE COVID CRISIS.
WE REALLY APPRECIATE THEM.
AND I THANK YOU FOR YOUR TIME
AND THE OPPORTUNITY TO SHARE MY
VIEWS.
PLEASE SUPPORT THE U DISTRICT
BIA.
AND THANK YOU FOR YOUR WORK ON
THE COVID-19 RESPONSE.
.
>> THANK YOU, MARY, BEFORE WE
MOVE TO THE NEXT SPEAKER, I
WANT TO ACKNOWLEDGE COUNCIL
MEMBER SEWANT HAS JOINED US,
THANK YOU COUNCIL MEMBER.
THE NEXT SPEAKER WILL BE
PATRICIA SIMPSON.
>> COUNCIL MEMBERS, I'M PASTOR
OF UNIVERSITY TEMPLE UNITED
METHODIST CHURCH SPEAKING IN
FAVOR OF THE BIA RENEWAL.
OUR CHURCH HAS A SEVEN-HUMAN
SERVICE PROGRAM THAT SERVES OUR
CITY'S MOST VULNERABLE CITIZENS
IN THE FIVE YEARS I'VE WORKED
HERE, I'VE SEEN THEM SUBJECT TO
HARASSMENT AND DANGER, SO THE
CLEAN AND SAFE SERVICES
PROVIDED THROUGH THE BIA
FUNDING ARE IMPORTANT TO US.
FREE CONSULTATIONS ABOUT HOW TO
IMPROVE OUR LIGHTING AND MAKE
ENTRANCES SAFER, STREET AND
ALLEY CLEANING AND PICK UP AND
MUCH MORE.
INCREASING CRIME LED OUR ALLEY
CONSORTION TO HIRE SECURITY.
THESE ARE BASIC SERVICES VITAL
TO THE WELL BEING OF OUR
NEIGHBORHOOD, PLEASE SUPPORT
THE RENEWAL OF THE UNIVERSITY
DISTRICT BIA.
AND THANKS TO YOU FOR BEING ON
THE JOB FOR US IN THIS HARD
TIME.
.
>> THANK YOU, REVEREND.
THE NEXT SPEAKER WILL BE ANDREW
MCMASTERS.
>> HI MY NAME IS ANDREW
MCMASTER.
COFOUNDER OF JET CITY IMPROV.
I'VE BEEN INVOLVED IN THE
UNIVERSITY DISTRICT SINCE I
MOVED THERE IN 1997.
I'M IN SUPPORT OF RENEWING THE
DISTRICT BIA.
THIS MATTERS TO ME FOR A LOT OF
REASONS.
I'VE WORKED WITH A NUMBER OF
GROUPS TO HELP THE U DISTRICT
BETTER FOR MY COMPANY AND
EMPLOYEES AND AUDIENCES.
THIS COLLABORATION OF
NONPROFITS, RESIDENTS, SMALL
BUSINESSES, AND THE UNIVERSITY,
WORKED BETTER THAN ANYTHING
ELSE WE'VE TRIED OVER THE
YEARS.
WE HAVE A TRIPLE NET LEASE, JET
CITY ELIS ON THE SERVICES
PROVIDED BY THE UDP.
YOU CAN SEE THE DIFFERENCE
CLEAN AND SAFE MAKES DIRECTLY
OUTSIDE OF EVERY BUSINESS'
DOOR.
THE MONTHLY CLEAN UPS, THE
WEEKLY CLEAN UPS.
I CAN SEE FIRSTHAND WHAT THE
BIA CREATED FOR THE U DISTRICT.
TO LOSE THAT NOW WOULD BE AN
IMMEASURABLE LOSS FOR SMALL
BUSINESSES.
THANK YOU FOR YOUR TIME AND
YOUR LEADERSHIP DURING THIS
DIFF DIFFICULT TIME FOR OUR
CITY.
>> THANK YOU, ANDREW, THE NEXT
SPEAKER WILL BE MAX BLOOM.
.
>> HI, MY NAME IS MAX BLOOM.
I'M HERE TO SPEAK IN SUPPORT OF
RENEWING THE U DISTRICT BIA.
C 119979.
I REPRESENT BLOOM COMPANY
REALESTATE.
A PROPERTY OWNER IN THE
DISTRICT.
WE NEED CITY COUNCIL'S SUPPORT
FOR THE ORDINANCE TO RENEW U
DISTRICT BIA.
AN ADVOCATE FOR SMALL
BUSINESSES AND PROVIDING THE
CLEAN AND SAFE PROGRAMS.
SOMEONE WHO OFFERED SEVERAL
REALESTATE PROPERTY [K:INS]
THE NEIGHBORHOOD.
I CAN ATTEST TO THE POSITIVES
THEY'VE HAD ON THE SAFETY.
THE EXTRA CLEANING, THE HELP
WITH TRASH PICK UPS IN PUBLIC
AREAS AND THE ASSISTANCE OF
KEEPING OUR PROPERTY SAFE IS
INVALUABLE.
THE DISTRICT NEEDS THE
CONTINUED LEADERSHIP OF U
DISTRICT PARTNERSHIP.
THANK YOU FOR YOUR TIME THIS
AFTERNOON.
.
>> THANK YOU, MAX.
THE NEXT SPEAKER IS MARIA
VARENTOS.
>> THANK YOU, THIS IS MARIA
VARIENTOS.
I'M HERE TO SPEAK IN SUPPORT
OVERNEWING THE U DISTRICT
PROGRAM.
I'M A PROPERTY OWNER AND
BUSINESS OWNER IN THE U
DISTRICT.
MY FARM IS A MINORITY OWNED
BUSINESS AND ALL OF OUR
EMPLOYEES ARE WOMEN.
WE DO NEED CITY COUNCIL SUPPORT
OF THE RENEWAL ORDINANCE.
YOUR SUPPORT IS GOING TO HELP
ENSURE THERE'S REVENUE TO
CONTINUE AND EXPAND THE CLEAN
AND SAFE PROGRAMS.
THE BIA THROUGH ITS PARTNERSHIP
WITH THE U DISTRICT PARTNERSHIP
ADVOCATES FOR SMALL BUSINESSES,
WE'RE WORKING TO INCREASE
MARKETING EFFORTS TO ATTRACT
PEOPLE AND BUSINESSES TO THE
DISTRICT.
AND WE WANT TO CONTINUE ALL THE
GREAT WORK THE UDP IS ABLE TO
PERFORM IN THIS NEIGHBORHOOD.
AND IT'S MADE SUCH A POSITIVE
IMPACT IN THE DISTRICT.
WE NEED TO CONTINUE THE
LEADERSHIP THAT UDP PROVIDES IN
IMPLEMENTING ALL THE BIA
PROGRAMS.
THEY BUILT SUCH EFFECTIVE
RELATIONSHIPS WITH THE
NEIGHBORHOOD.
.
>> THANK YOU, MARIA.
THE NEXT SPEAKER IS MIKE SHIN,
DO WE HAVE MIKE ON THE LINE?
>> YES, I AM.
HI, GOOD AFTERNOON, MY NAME IS
MIKE SHIN.
I'M HERE TODAY TO SPEAK IN
SUPPORT OF RENEWING THE U
DISTRICT BIA.
I AM THE MANAGER OF THE
RESTAURANT.
AND I'VE BEEN HERE FOR MORE
THAN A YEAR.
AND WE NEED CITY COUNCIL'S
SUPPORT OF THE ORDINANCE OF THE
RENEW THE U DISTRICT BIA.
WE NEED TO ENSURE THAT U
DISTRICT HAS REVENUE TO
CONTINUE THE CLEAN AND SAFE
PROGRAM.
AND CONTINUE EXCELLENT WORK OF
THE UDP IN HELPING OUR BUSINESS
COMMUNITY DURING COVID-19 WITH
OUR ECONOMIC RECOVERY.
AND IT MIGHT BE HELPING US
INCREASE THE PROMOTIONAL
MARKETING THAT ATTRACTS PEOPLE
TO THE U DISTRICT AND THANKS
FOR ALL THE HELPING AND BYE.
>> THANK YOU, MIKE.
THE NEXT SPEAKER IS KATE BARR.
.
>> GOOD AFTERNOON, MY NAME IS
KATE BARR FROM SCARE CROW
VIDEO.
I REPRESENT ARTS ORGANIZATIONS
IN THE U DISTRICT AND THE
ROOSEVELT CORRIDOR, FIVE YEARS
AGO I WAS SPEAKING BEFORE CITY
COUNCIL ON THE OTHER SIDE OF
THE FENCE.
ONCE THE ORDINANCE PASSED I
DECIDED TO GET INVOLVED BY
JOINING THE ADVISORY BOARD TO
ENSURE BOTH ARTS ORGANIZATIONS
AND BUSINESSES ON ROOSEVELT
WOULD HAVE A VOICE THE LAST
FIVE YEARS HAVE BEEN A LOT OF
TRIAL AND ERROR.
BUT I ANY WE FOUND A GOOD
STRIDE FOR USING PUBLIC MONEYS
TO TRULY SERVE THE ENTIRE U
DISTRICT.
THERE'S MORE POTENTIAL FOR US
TO DO -- THERE'S POTENTIAL FOR
US TO DO MORE.
THAT'S WHY I'M SPEAKING TO YOU
TODAY TO ASK THE CITY COUNCIL
TO SUPPORT THE ORDINANCE TO
RENEW THE U DISTRICT BIA.
DID YOU KNOW SCARE CROW VIDEO
IS ONE OF THE LARGEST VIDEO
LIBRARY [K:INS]
THE WORLD.
YOUR SUPPORT WOULD ALLOW US TO
SHARE THIS AS WELL AS OTHER
WAYS OUR NEIGHBORHOOD IS
SPECIAL BY PROVIDING MEANS FOR
ROBUST MARKETING STRATEGY.
SPREADING THE WORD ABOUT HOW
AMAZING THE U DISTRICT IS AND
WORKING TO ATTRACT FOLKS TO OUR
NEIGHBORHOODS BENEFITS ALL
BUSINESSES AND ORGANIZATIONS IN
úTHE U DISTRICT.
WITH YOUR SUPPORT AND THE
CONTINUED LEADERSHIP OF THE U
DISTRICT PARTNERSHIP TO
IMPLEMENT THE BIA PROGRAMS WE
CAN MAKE THE GREAT WORK THAT IS
OUR --
>> THANK YOU, KATE.
THE NEXT SPEAKER IS DAVID.
>> GOOD AFTERNOON, MY NAME IS
DAVID COHANIN.
I'M HERE TO SPEAK IN SUPPORT OF
RENEWING THE U DISTRICT BIA.
I REPRESENT MYSELF AND MY
FAMILY.
WE'RE LONG-TERM STAKEHOLDERS.
WE'RE DEEPLY IMBEDDED IN THE
FABRIC OF THE U DISTRICT AND WE
TREASURE IT.
WE WATCHED IT DECAY AROUND US
WITH INCREASE IN CRIME, DIRTY
STREETS, SIDEWALKS, NO SUPPORT
OF THE HOMELESS POPULATION.
TEN YEARS AGO.
OR ALMOST A DIVERSE GROUP OF
COMMUNITY MEMBERS FORMED THE U
DISTRICT PARTNERSHIP TO WORK TO
BETTER THE COMMUNITY, AND OUT
OF THAT WAS BORN THE U DISTRICT
BIA AND THEY'VE DONE EXACTLY
WHAT ITS NAME IMPLIES.
IMPROVE BUSINESS IN THE AREA.
STREETS ARE CLEANER.
BUSINESSES ARE GROWING.
PEOPLE FEEL SAFER.
RETAIL IS RETURNING TO THE
AREA.
I THINK MY TIME IS UP.
THANK YOU VERY MUCH.
PLEASE RENEW THE BIA.
.
>> THANK YOU, DAVID.
RIGHT NOW THE LAST SPEAKER IS
AARON HORDE.
>> MY NAME IS AARON HORDE.
VICE CHAIR.
I WORK FOR THE UNIVERSITY OF
WASHINGTON AS WELL.
I'M HERE TODAY TO SPEAK ON
BEHALF, IN FAVOR OF PASSING THE
U DISTRICT BIA.
I'VE SEEN OVER THE YEARS A
NUMBER OF WAYS IT'S MADE A
POSITIVE IMPACT IN THE
NEIGHBORHOOD.
IT KEEPS THE NEIGHBORHOOD CLEAN
AND SAFE.
THROUGH DAILY CLEANING.
IT HELPS SMALL BUSINESSES TO --
BY HELPING BUSINESS OWNERS
SOLVE PROBLEMS AROUND THEIR
BUILDING AND PROMOTING THEM IN
DIFFERENT WAYS TO DIFFERENT
AUDIENCES.
IT HELPS THE MOST VULNERABLE IN
OUR NEIGHBORHOOD.
I'M PROUD OF THE REACH
AMBASSADOR PROGRAM WE FUNDED.
FINALLY, IT BRINGS PEOPLE
TOGETHER.
WHETHER THROUGH BROAD
REPRESENTATION ON THE BIA
BOARDS OR COMMUNITY MEETINGS OR
VOLUNTEER COMMUNITY CLEAN UPS.
IT'S HELPED PEOPLE WORK
COLLABORATIVE HI FOR THE U
DISTRICT.
I HOPE YOU WILL PASS THE
LEGISLATION AS PROPOSED SO WE
CAN CONTINUE TO SUPPORT THE
WORK TOGETHER, THANK YOU.
>>> THANK YOU, AARON.
THAT LOOKS LIKE THE LAST
SPEAKER THAT WE HAVE SIGNED UP.
SO THANK YOU, EVERYONE WHO
REGISTERED TO SPEAK.
WE WILL NOW MOVE ON TO THE NEXT
AGENDA ITEM.
SO WE'LL BEGIN WITH THE CHAIR'S
REPORT.
TODAY WE BEGIN THE PROCESS FOR
THE U DISTRICT BIA
REAUTHORIZATION FOR BIAS GO
THROUGH THIS COMMITTEE.
WITH THAT SAID MY INTENTION IS
TO WORK WITH DISTRICT
REPRESENTATIVES ON BIA RENEWALS
OR AUTHORIZATIONS AND INVIOLATE
THEM TO PARTICIPATE IN THIS
COMMITTEE FOR THE DURATION OF
THIS PROCESS.
IN ALL THESE PROCESSES IT'S MY
GOAL TO LISTEN TO RATE FAIR
GOAL ORES CONCERNS TO REB
RESPECTFUL AND HOLD ALL
COMPLEXITIES THAT MAY COME OUT
OF THESE CONVERSATIONS WHEN WE
FIRST MET WITH STAKEHOLDERS WE
WERE IN A VERY DIFFERENT
ECONOMIC ENVIRONMENT.
DESPITE THE EXTRAORDINARY
CIRCUMSTANCES FROM THE
CORONAVIRUS BY PLAN THE TO HAVE
AS MUCHO OF A TRANSPARENT AND
EQUITABLE PROCESS AS WE CAN.
I LOOK FORWARD TO WORKING WITH
EVERYONE HERE.
INCLUDING COUNCIL MEMBER
PETERSON WHO IS A COSPONSOR OF
THIS LEGISLATION.
COUNCIL MEMBER PETERSON,
ANYTHING YOU'D LIKE TO ADD
BEFORE WE JUMP INTO ITEMS OF
BUSINESS?
>> YES, PLEASING THANK YOU,
CHAIR MORALES, I WANT TO THANK
THE COMMITTEE CHAIR, COUNCIL
MEMBER MORALES FOR HER
LEADERSHIP.
I'M GRATEFUL FOR THE WORK
COMPLETED BY STAFF, YOLANDA AND
BOB LEE FROM THE CITY
ATTORNEY'S OFFICE.
I APPRECIATE EVERYBODY TAKING
TIME TO SPEAK TODAY.
WE HEARD COMMENTS FROM PEOPLE
AT A PREVIOUS MEETING AND WE'RE
GOING TO HAVE MORE MEETINGS AT
A PUBLIC HEARING COMING UP.
WE ALSO DO HAVE A SPECIAL EMAIL
ADDRESS IF YOU WANT TO SEND IN
YOUR COMMENTS FOR US ALL TO
READ TO U DISTRICT BIA @
SEATTLE.GOV
UDISTRICTBIA@SEATTLE.GOV.
THE U DISTRICT IS ONE OF 20
NEIGHBORHOODS IN DISTRICT FOUR.
THE ONLY ONE CONSIDERED AN
URBAN CENTER.
IT INCLUDES THE WORLD CLASS
UNIVERSITY AND A NEW LIGHT RAIL
STATION OPENING NEXT YEAR.
IT HAS SOME THE MOST DIVERSE
AND BEST INTERNATIONAL
SELECTION OF FOOD IN SEATTLE.
THERE'S A LOT OF NATURAL
OCCURRING LOW INCOME HOUSING,
AS WELL AS RENT RESTRICTED LOW
INCOME HOUSING.
MANY YOUTH THERE ARE
EXPERIENCING HOMELESSNESS.
AND THE NEIGHBORHOOD BUSINESSES
EVEN BEFORE THE COVID CRISIS
HAVE BEEN STRUGGLING AS
PROPERTY TAXES RISE AFTER THE
PREVIOUS CITY COUNCIL APPROVED
A DRAMATIC UP ZONE THERE.
I WANT TO THANK THE SMALL
BUSINESSES WHO MAKE THE U
DISTRICT FUN AND FUNKY AND A
SPECIAL PLACE.
A STUDY COMPLETED BY ST.
PETERSBURGER STEIN BROOK
CONFIRMED BUSINESSES ARE OWNED
BY WOMEN AND PEOPLE OF COLOR.
MANY ARE ARE TRIPLE NET LEASE
BUSINESSES.
THAT MEANS THEY PAY THE TAXES,
THE INSURANCE, THE COMMON AREA
MAINTENANCE.
THE BIA FEE CAN BE PASSED ON TO
NEIGHBORHOOD BUSINESSES, EVEN
THOUGH THEY'RE NOT THE
LANDOWNER.
SO THAT'S WHY WE WANT TO SEE
MORE OF A VOICE FOR THEM AT THE
TABLE.
A BIAs I BELIEVE BUSINESS
IMPROVEMENT AREAS ARE ARE
POSITIVE ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT
TOOLS THAT HELP KEEP DISTRICTS
CLEAN AND SAFE THINK OUT OUR
CIT.
THE U DISTRICT BIA CLEAN AND
SAFE PROGRAM INCLUDES THE REACH
PROGRAM.
ASSISTS UNSHELTERED AND OTHER
HIGH BARRIER INDIVIDUALS AND
DURING THE COVID-19 CRISIS, THE
BIA IS LINKING MANY SMALL
BUSINESSES TO RELIEF PROGRAMS.
SO I'M HOPING THIS
REAUTHORIZATION OF THE BIA
HONORS THE REASONABLE CONCERNS
RAISED BY THE COMMUNITY BY
HEARING THE THREE PRINCIPLES,
GOOD GOVERNANCE, BETTER
REPRESENTATION, AND PREVENTING
DISPLACEMENT.
SO I WAS PLEASED TO SEE WHEN
THE LEGISLATION WAS SENT DOWN
THAT THERE ARE IMPROVEMENTS
FROM THE 2015 ORDINANCE.
THERE IS THE EXECUTIVE ADDED
PREVENTION OF DISPLACEMENT TO
THE ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT
MISSION OF THE BIA.
THEY REINSTITUTED TERM LIMITS
FOR MEMBERS OF THE BIA ADVISORY
BOARD.
THEY ADDED REPRESENTATION FOR
THOSE TRIPLE NET SMALL
BUSINESSES.
AND THEY'RE ALSO GOING TO
REQUIRE A COMPETITIVE I QUEST
PROPOSAL PROCESS FOR THE
PROGRAM MANAGER.
SO I'VE GOT SOME QUESTIONS
LATER.
BUT I LOOK FORWARD TO THE
PRESENTATIONS, AND THANK YOU,
CHAIR MORALES FOR YOUR TIME.
.
>> THANK YOU, COUNCIL MEMBER
PETERSON.
SO WE DO HAVE FOUR ITEMS ON OUR
BUSINESS AGENDA TODAY.
LAKIASH CAN YOU READ THE FIRST
ITEM OF BUSINESS INTO THE
RECORD.
>> COUNCIL BILL 119779, AN
ORDINANCE ESTABLISHING A NEW
UNIVERSITY DISTRICT PARKING AND
BUSINESS IMPROVEMENT AREA, BIA.
BRIEFING AND DISCUSSION.
.
>> THANK YOU, LAKISHA.
SO OUR FIRST PRESENTER IS
YOLANDA COUNCIL CENTRAL STAFF.
SO MY INTENTION IS TO PROVIDE
JUST A BRIEF OVERVIEW OF THE
PROCESS TO ESTABLISH A BUSINESS
IMPROVEMENT AREA, ALSO KNOWN AS
A BIA.
THE PROCEDURES ARE ESTABLISHED
BY STATE LAW CHAPTER 35.87A
RCW.
AS WELL AS CITY POLICIES WHICH
THE COUNCIL MOST RECENTLY
UPDATED IN 2016 WITH RESOLUTION
OLYMPIA 31567.
A NEW BI ,WHEN PRESENTED WITH A
PETITION -- THE ESTABLISHING A
BIA IS FAIRLY PROCESS
INTENSIVE.
MULTIPLE PIECES OF LEGISLATION
ARE REQUIRED AS WELL AS A
PUBLIC HEARING.
SO THIS IS A RESOLUTION THAT
INITIATES CONSIDERATION OF THE
BIA.
THEN THIS IS ALSO A RESOLUTION
THAT ESTABLISHES THE CITY'S
INTENT TO ESTABLISH THE BIA AND
SET AS DATE AND LOCATION FOR A
PUBLIC HEARING ON THE PROPOSAL.
AND THEN THERE'S THE ORDINANCE
THAT CREATES THE BIA AND LEVIES
A SPECIAL ASSESSMENT TO FUND
BIA ACTIVITIES.
ON APRIL 27th, THE COUNCIL
INTRODUCED ALL THREE PIECES OF
LEGISLATION RELATED TO THE NEW
U DISTRICT BIA.
AND ADOPTED RESOLUTION 31943.
INITIATING CONSIDERATION AND
RESOLUTION FOR ESTABLISHING THE
CITY'S INTENT TO ESTABLISH THE
BIA AND SET THE PUBLIC HEARING
DATE.
IT ALSO REFERRED COUNCIL BILL
119779 CREATING THE BIA TO THIS
COMMITTEE.
THE PUBLIC HEARING IS SET FOR
NEXT WEDNESDAY, MAY 27th AT
9:30:00 A.M.
THIS WILL BE HELD REMOTE HI DUE
TO THE COVID-19 CIVIL
EMERGENCY.
AND THE GOVERNOR'S STAY-AT-HOME
ORDER.
AND WE WILL ALSO BE DISCUSSING
POTENTIAL AMENDMENTS AT THAT --
AFTER THE PUBLIC HEARING.
AS REQUIRED BY STATE LAW, THE
NOTICE OF THE PUBLIC HEARING
WAS PUBLISHED IN THE SEATTLE
TIMES AND THE DAILY JOURNAL
COMMERCE.
ALL POTENTIAL RATE PAYERS TEN
DAYS IN ADVANCE OF THE PUBLIC
HEARING.
ON JUNE 3rd THE COMMITTEE WILL
HOLD ANOTHER MEETING AND
POSSIBLY VOTE ON AMENDMENT AND
BILL AS AMENDED FOR FINAL
COUNCIL ACTION ON JUNE 8th.
AND WITH THAT I WILL TURN THIS
OVER TO OFFICE OF ECONOMIC
DEVELOPMENT AND PHILLIP SIT TO
PROVIDE MORE INFO, INFORMATION
ABOUT THE BIA GENERALLY AND
DESCRIBE THE U DISTRICT BIA
PROPOSAL.
.
>> GOOD AFTERNOON, EVERYBODY,
THIS IS PHILLIP ZILLIONTHH I
THINK WE HAVE BOBBY LEE ON THE
LINE HERE FIRST.
BOBBY, IF YOU CAN TAKE IT AWAY.
.
>> ALL RIGHT, THANK YOU,
PHILLIP.
AND THANK YOU COUNCIL MEMBER
MORALES, AND COUNCIL MEMBER
PETERSON FOR SHEPARDING THIS
ISSUE THROUGH OUT THE THIS
PROCESS.
THE BIA PROGRAM IS A PUBLIC
PRIVATE PARTNERSHIP WITH THE
CITY OF SEATTLE.
IT'S UNDER WHAT WE CALL HERE AT
OED AT OFFICE OF ECK SNOW STORM
I CAN DEVELOPMENT.
IT'S PART OF AN ONLY IN SEATTLE
BUSINESS DISTRICT PROGRAM.
AND MANY CITIES HAVE THESE TYPE
OF NEIGHBORHOOD BASED ECONOMIC
DEVELOPMENT PROGRAMS HERE IN
SEATTLE IT'S CALLED ONLY IN
SEATTLE.
BIAs ARE ARE COMMUNITY DRIVEN.
IT'S A BOTTOM UP ECONOMIC
DEVELOPMENT STRATEGY.
IT PROVIDES CRITICAL PROGRAMS
AND SERVICES FOR NEIGHBORHOODS.
ESPECIALLY RIGHT NOW AS
BEGRAPPL WITH COVID RELATED
IMPACTS, WHICH IS SIGNIFICANT
AS WE TALK ABOUT ECONOMIC
RECOVERY.
AND AT THIS POINT, I KNOW WE
HAVE A LONG AGENDA.
I'LL TURN IT OVER BACK OVER TO
PHILLIP.
AND PHILLIP WILL PROVIDE AN
OVERVIEW OF THE PROGRAM.
>> THANK YOU, VERY MUCH, BOBBY.
FROM A TECHNICAL STANDPOINT,
CAN EVERYONE SEE MY SCREEN AT
THE MOMENT?
>> GREAT, THANK YOU.
>> SO AGAIN, MY NAME IS
PHILLIP.
I'M THE BIA ADVOCATE AT THE
OFFICE OF ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT.
I'M PART OF THE ONLY IN SEATTLE
BUSINESS DISTRICT TEAM.
I'LL PROVIDE A HIGH LEVEL
OVERVIEW OF OUR CURRENT BIA
PROGRAM ALONG WITH A TECHNICAL
OVERVIEW OF THE UD BIA
PROPOSAL.
CURRENTLY WE HAVE TEN BIAs IN
SEATTLE GENERATING $26 MILLION
ANNUAL HI, ENHANCED SERVICES
AND PROGRAMS.
THE REVENUE IS COLLECTED 100%
FOR THE DISTRICT IN PARTNERSHIP
WITH FAS AND OED.
THEY SUBMIT MONTHLY
REIMBURSEMENTS REVIEWED BY CITY
DEPARTMENTS IN ORDER TO
REIMBURSE FOR SERVICES.
WE CURRENTLY HAVE AS I
MENTIONED TEN ORGANIZATIONS IN
SEATTLE THAT ARE IDENTIFIED AS
BIA DISTRICTS.
YOU MIGHT NOTE THAT THE FIRST
IT ITERATION OF THE U DISTRICT
BIA WAS ACCOMPLISHED IN 96.
PRIOR TO THE 2015 FORMATION OF
A NEW BIA.
SOME OF THE PROGRAMS AND
SERVICES THAT BIAs ARE
CURRENTLY TASKED WITH, YOU GUYS
HAVE HEARD, CLEAN AND SAFE,
MARKETING/PROMOTION, SPECIAL
EVENTS AND ECONOMIC
DEVELOPMENT.
SOMETHING TO NOTE IS THAT
CURRENTLY OF OUR NINE DISTRICT
BASED ORGANIZATIONS, EIGHT OF
THEM ARE CURRENTLY CONTRACTED
WITH A CERTIFIED HOMELESS
OUTREACH SPECIALIST NONPROFIT.
YOLANDA COVERED THIS
PREVIOUSLY.
THE BIA FORMATION IS COMMUNITY
DRIVEN.
THE COMMUNITY MUST DEMONSTRATE
60% OF SUPPORT FROM RATE
PAYERS.
AND THE PROPONENTS MAY UTILIZE
PROPERTY VALUES.
SQUARE FOOTAGE.
ANY REASONABLE FACTORS RELATED
TO BENEFITS THAT MIGHT BE
RECEIVED.
OED PROVIDES SUPPORT AND
EVALUATES THE PROPOSAL IN
ALIGNMENT WITH CITY POLICIES.
AND WE ALSO PROVIDE A BENEFIT
ANALYSIS ALONG WITH A RACIAL
EQUITY TOOL KIT.
AND WE COMPLETE A FIVE YEAR
PROGRAM EVALUATION PRIOR TO THE
RENEWAL OF A BIA.
FOR THE TECHNICAL OVERVIEW OF
THE UDBIA REAUTHORIZATION, AS
OF APRIL 10th, THE U DISTRICT
PARTNERSHIP SECURED 65.39% OF
SUPPORT.
THE UNIVERSITY OF WASHINGTON
BEING A SINGLE RATE PAYER
REPRESENTING 38.8% OF THAT
SUPPORT.
OF THE 527 PETITIONS THAT WERE
REPRESENTATIVE OF THE PROPERTY
OWNERS IN THE DEMOCRATIC, 223
WERE SIGNED.
AND BELOW THAT, JUST FOR A
COMPARISON SAKE, IF WE WERE TO
EXCLUDE THE UNIVERSITY'S
CONTRIBUTION, THE AVERAGE
PETITIONS THAT WENT OUT TO THE
PROPERTY OWNERS AVERAGED AROUND
$1,500 FOR ANNUAL SERVICES.
AND THE AVERAGE SIGNED
PETITIONS OF THE 222 THAT WE
GOT BACK WAS ABOUT $1,600.
THAT'S BASICALLY IN ALIGNMENT
IN TERMS OF THE AVERAGE SUPPORT
PETITIONS ALONG WITH AVERAGE
PETITIONS THAT WENT OUT TO THE
GENERALPOPULATION.
THE REARE NEWEL SLATED FOR 12
YEARS AND THE ACCESSIBLE RATE
PAYERS ARE PROPERTY OWNERS WITH
REPRESENTATION ON THE BOARD
FROM RESIDENTS, BUSINESS
TENANTS, PROPERTY OWNERS AND
THE UNIVERSITY OF WASHINGTON.
BIAs HAVE DIFFERENT ASSESSMENT
MODELS DEPENDENT UPON THE
DISTRICT AND ALSO WHAT TYPES OF
SERVICES THAT THE COMMUNITY HAS
SELECTED TO SUPPORT.
THE U DISTRICT IS A PROPERTY
BASED ASSESSMENT MODEL SO THE
RATES ARE -- HAVE BEEN
PRIMARILY 25 CENTS PER THOUSAND
OF PROPERTY VALUES TRACKED BY
THE KING COUNTY ASSESSOR'S
OFFICE.
THIS SHOW YOUS A QUICK SNAPSHOT
OF THE DIFFERENT ASSESSMENT
MODELS.
BOTH FOR THE PROPERTY BASED
BIAs ALONG WITH THE BUSINESS
BASED BIAs THAT WE HAVE IN WEST
SEATTLE.
A COUPLE OF CHANGES TO THE
PROPOSAL FOR THE
REAUTHORIZATION OF THE U
DISTRICT BIA IS A NEW GENERAL
CLEANING FEE ACROSS THE ENTIRE
DISTRICT OF 3 CENTS.
IN ADDITION TO THE TWO
ADDITIONAL CLEANING ZONES.
ALONG WITH THE APP.
THERE'S A MINOR U DISTRICT
BOUNDARY ADJUSTMENT, WHICH
WE'LL GET INTO SHORTLY.
AND THEN THE FORMULA HAS -- WE
ARE GRANDFATHERING IN
ASSESSMENTS WITH A MODERATE
INCREASE.
PREVIOUSLY MFT BUILDINGS ARE
RECEIVING A NONPROFIT DISCOUNT
ON THE ASSESSMENT.
THAT'S NO LONGER THE CASE.
HOWEVER NONPROFITS IN OTHER
INSTITUTIONS WILL STILL RECEIVE
A NONPROFIT DISCOUNT.
BUT MFT BUILDINGS WILL NO
LONGER RECEIVE THAT DISCOUNT IN
PRODUCTION.
PROPERTIES ARE NOW DEEMED
ACCESSIBLE.
HERE IS THE BOUNDARY ADJUSTMENT
ALONG BOTH THE NORTHEAST
BOUNDARIES ALONG WITH THE
SOUTHERN END OF THE CAMPUS.
I SHOULD NOTE THAT THE PRIMARY
SOUTH END OF THE CAMPUS IS
PRIMARILY UNIVERSITY OF
WASHINGTON BUILDINGS AS WELL IN
LIGHT OF DEVELOPMENT IN MANY OF
OUR COMMERCIAL DISTRICTS, WE
HAVE NOTICED A TREND OF
INCREASING PROPERTY VALUES
BASED ON THE METHODOLOGY
REQUIRED BY STATE LAW FOR OUR
LOCAL COUNTY ASSESSORS.
DESPITE WHAT CURRENT USE MIGHT
DICTATE, IT'S BASED ON BEST
USE.
THEY'VE SEEN A TREMENDOUS
INCREASE IN LAND VALUES AND
LAND SALES.
IN ORDER TO MINIMIZE THE
INCREASE IN BIA ASSESSMENTS,
THE PROPOSAL DICTATE NAAS THE
ASSESSMENT MOVING FORWARD WILL
GRANDFATHER IN CURRENT
ASSESSMENTS.
PLUS A MINOR INCREASE.
FORMULAS FOR ANY NEW
DEVELOPMENT THAT COMES INTO THE
DISTRICT AFTER RENEWAL IS
ESSENTIALLY 27.5 CENTS PER
THOUSAND OF TOTAL TAXABLE
VALUE.
THAT'S AN INCREASE FROM THE
CURRENT ESTABLISHED ORDINANCE
OF 25 CENTS PER THOUSAND.
THERE'S A SELF CLEANING FEE.
ON THE SOUTH END.
INDICATED IN THE MAP HERE.
ALONG WITH A NORTH CLEANING
AREA OF 9 CENTS FOR EACH TOTAL
SQUARE FEET.
THERE'S A GENERAL THREE CENTS
PER LOT SQUARE FOOTAGE ADDED TO
ALL REMAINING PROPERTIES.
NEW DEVELOPMENT WILL BE ADDED
TO THE ASSESSMENT ROLES AS THEY
COME IN DURING THE BIA AND
WE'LL UTILIZE THE LATEST KING
COUNTY PROPERTY VALUES AS NEW
DEVELOPMENTS COME ONLINE.
HERE'S AN EXAMPLE OF A MIXED
USAGE BUILDING WITH COMMERCIAL
RETAIL.
THE CURRENT ASSESSMENT THIS
PROPERTY OWNER IS PAYING TODAY
IS A LITTLE OVER $950.
THE PROPOSAL RENEWAL FOR THE
BASE ASSESSMENT IS A MODEST
INCREASE TO 1,000 DOLLARS.
77 AND 65 CENTS.
THAT'S TAKING INTO
CONSIDERATION.
WE'RE TAKING THE CURRENT
ASSESSMENT AS OF TODAY IN 2020
AND APPLYING A 10% INCREASE
ALONG WITH A CPI COST OF
INFLATION.
IN ORDER TO UPDATE THE PROPERTY
VALUES FROM 2015 TO 2019 T
ASSESSMENT WOULD HAVE GONE ON
TO 1800 PER YEAR.
AN EXAMPLE OF AN MAFT BUILDING
RECEIVING A NONPROFIT DISCOUNT
PREVIOUSLY BECAUSE OF THE WAY
THAT IT WORK AT THE KING COUNTY
LEVEL, THE TOTAL TEST YOU SEE
IS REDUCED OVER THE LIFE SPAN
OF THE INTERVENTION.
THE ASSESSMENT WAS SLIGHTLY
OVER 24100 THEREFORE.
BECAUSE THESE ARE ESSENTIALLY
MARKETPLACE HOUSING A SMALL
SUBSET RESERVED FOR MARKET MACE
HOUSING.
BOTH THE BIA PROPONENTS DEEMED
IT WAS PROBABLY NOT COMPETITIVE
HI FAIR TAKING A LOOK AT THE
APPRAISED VALUE OF THE
BUILDING, THE NEW ASSESSMENT,
WHICH IS COMPARABLE TO OTHER
SIMILAR BUILDINGS IN THE
DISTRICT WILL BE ABOUT 9,000
DOLLARS ANNUAL HI.
HERE'S ANOTHER BUILDING THAT IS
ON UW OWNED HAND THAT'S BEEN
LEASED TO A DEVELOPER.
PREVIOUSLY THIS BUILDING WAS
EXEMPT FROM BIA ASSESSMENTS.
THAT'S NO LONGER THE CASE DUE
TO THE 99 YEAR LEASE AGREEMENT.
AND THEY'LL BE CONTRIBUTING
ABOUT 16,000 PLUS IN ANNUAL
ASSESSMENTS FOR THEIR COMPLEX.
AND THAT'S THE END OF MY
PRESENTATION IN TERMS OF SOME
OF THE TECHNICAL OVERVIEWS OF
THE BIA PROPOSAL IN THE U
DISTRICT.
.
>> GREAT, THANK YOU, PHILLIP
AND YOLANDA.
AND DIRECTOR LEE.
LET'S SEE.
I DO WANT TO JUST STATE THAT WE
DID A LITTLE BIT OF SMASHING
TOGETHER OF ITEMS ONE AND TWO.
SO WE COVERED BOTH THE
ORDINANCE AND LEGISLATIVE
PROCESS AND THE OVERVIEW FROM
OED.
SO COLLEAGUES, DO YOU HAVE ANY
QUESTIONS FOR OUR PRESENTERS
ABOUT WHAT WE'VE HEARD SO FAR?
YES?
COUNCIL MEMBER PETERSON?
PLEASE GO AHEAD.
>> THANK YOU, THANK YOU FOR
THOSE PRESENTATIONS.
THAT WAS VERY HELPFUL.
I HAD A QUESTION ABOUT THE
LENGTH OF TERM OF THE NEW -- OR
THIS REAUTHORIZED BIA.
IT WOULD BE GOING FROM THE
CURRENT FIVE YEARS TO A TWELVE-
YEAR TERM.
AND I WANTED TO KNOW WHAT'S THE
MAGIC BEHIND THAT NUMBER?
WHY TWELVE YEARS ? BECAUSE THAT
DOES SEEM LIKE A BIG JUMP FROM
THE CURRENT TERM.
>> THANK YOU, COUNCIL MEMBER,
SO THE TWELVE YEARS WAS
PROPOSED BY BIA PROPONENTS IN
THE U DISTRICT.
THE MOST RECENT RENEWAL WAS
SOTO.
THAT TIME SPAN WAS 10 YEARS
FROM 2018.
ACROSS THE U.S., BIAs ARE ARE
PRETTY PREVALENT.
THE GENERAL BEST PRACTICE IS
ANY WHERE FROM 10 TO 25 YEARS.
IN THE U DISTRICT.
THE PAST ALLITERATION WAS SET
FOR FIVE YEARS.
BASED ON THE ORIGINAL PROPOSAL
IN 2015, SO AGAIN THE DURATION
IS PREDICATED BASED ON THE BIA
PROPONENTS FROM THE COMMUNITY.
>> OKAY.
AND CHAIR, MAY I ASK TWO MORE
QUESTIONS?
>> YES.
PLEASE.
.
>> THE 10% INCREASE THAT'S
PROPOSED.
COULD YOU TALK A LITTLE BIT
ABOUT THAT.
IS THAT GOING INTO THE ECONOMIC
DEVELOPMENT CATEGORY.
IS THAT INCLUDING THE
PREVENTION OF THIS PLACEMENT?
>> THANK YOU, COUNCIL MEMBER.
I THINK THE PROPONENTS MIGHT BE
BETTER EQUIPPED TO ANSWER THAT.
BUT I DO NOTE IN YOUR BENEFIT
ANALYSIS.
THE ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT WORK
ITEM IN THE BUDGET INCREASED
SUBSTANTIALLY.
SOMETHING ALSO TO NOTE IS
PRIMARILY MOST BIAs PROPERTY
BASED.
UPDATES ALL RECENT PROPERTY
VALUES.
GIVEN THE BEST USE -- THAT
WE'RE SEEING IN THE U DISTRICT.
MOST HAVE STAYED CONSTANT OVER
THE PAST FOUR YEARS THE 10%
FROM MY UNDERSTANDING WAS A WAY
TO BRIDGE SOME OF THE NEW
SERVICES OUTLINED IN THE
PROPOSED BUDGET.
>> OKAY, SO WE'LL HEAR FROM THE
PROPONENTS THEN TO ANSWER THAT
QUESTION I THINK.
SO I'LL HOLD MY QUESTIONS UNTIL
THEN.
THANK YOU.
.
>> OKAY.
COLLEAGUES, ANY OTHER QUESTIONS
FOR THE PRESENTERS ? THAT HAVE
GONE SO FAR?
VERY GOOD.
OKAY.
SEEING NONE, WE WILL MOVE ON TO
THE NEXT AGENDA ITEM, LAKISHA
WILL YOU PLEASE READ THE THIRD
ITEM OF BUSINESS INTO THE
RECORD.
>> UNIVERSITY DISTRICT BUSINESS
IMPROVEMENT AREA
REAUTHORIZATION PROPOSAL,
BRIEFING AND DISCUSSION.
.
>> SO WE ARE GOING TO HEAR FROM
THE BIA PROPONENTS AT THIS
POINT.
SO THE PRESENTEDDERS, IF YOU
CAN PLEASE INTRODUCE YOURSELVES
-- PRESENTERS, IF YOU CAN
INTRODUCE YOURSELVES AND BEGIN
YOUR PRESENTATION.
>> GOOD AFTERNOON, I'M MADAME
CHAIR MORALES, AND COUNCIL
MEMBERS, I'M MARIE EWING THE
CHAIR OF THE RATE FAIR BOARD.
I'M ALSO THE EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR
OF U HEIGHTS AND A PROUD RATE
PAYER.
WE ALSO HAVE MARK CRAWFORD.
OUR INTERIM EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR.
AND LOUISE THE OWNER OF SWEET
ALCHEMY ON THE AVE AND SHE'S
ALSO AN ACTIVE UDP BOARD
MEMBER.
I FIRST WANT TO START BY
THANKING YOU ALL FOR TAKING THE
TIME TO MEET WITH US TODAY.
WE KNOW THAT YOUR WORKLOAD IS
PARTICULARLY CRUSHING RIGHT
NOW.
AND WE ARE VERY GRATEFUL FOR
YOUR TIME.
AND MAKING SURE THAT WE CAN
CONTINUE THE IMPORTANT WORK OF
THE BIA.
AS MOST OF YOU KNOW, THE U
DISTRICT IS A VIBRANT
NEIGHBORHOOD.
MADE OF ECLECTIC SMALL
BUSINESSES, RESTAURANTS
OFFERING AMAZING INTERNATIONAL
CUISINE, WE HAVE OUR WORLD
CLASS EDUCATIONAL INSTITUTION,
RESIDENTS BOTH OWNERS AND
TENANTS AND A SONG KNIT GROUP
OF NONPROFITS -- STRONG KNIT
GROUP OF NONPROFITS AND FAITH
BASED COMMUNITIES.
WE HAVE VERY REAL CHALLENGES,
THE REASON I'M SO INVOLVED WITH
THE BIA IS THEY'RE ON THE FRONT
LINES OF THESE CHALLENGES,
BEING ON THE AVE MONDAY THROUGH
FRIDAY, SOMETIMES MORE, I KNOW
THE FIRSTHAND POSITIVE IMPACT
THAT THE BIA HAS HAD OVER THE
LAST FIVE YEARS.
U HEIGHTS HAS OVER 3,000
CHILDREN GOING TO SCHOOL AND
OTHER PROGRAMS.
AND SAFETY IS OUR NUMBER ONE
CONCERN.
SO I WANT TO PAINT A PICTURE
FOR YOU OF WHAT LIFE WAS LIKE
BEFORE THE BIA.
AT LEAST THIS EXPANDED VERSION.
BACK IN 2014, I WAS AFRAID TO
WALK DIRECTLY ACROSS THE STREET
TO WHAT IS NOW JOEY MAR OWN BY
ONE OF OUR NEIGHBORS AND HIS
FAMILY, IT'S ON THE CORNER OF
50th AND THE AVE.
SOUTH OF THAT.
I WOULD HAVE TO CROSS THE
STREET.
AND CROSS BACK TO MY FAVORITE
RESTAURANTS.
WHICH WERE THAI TOM AND JEWEL
OF INDIA THAT ARE STILL OPEN
AND DOING TAKE OUT.
AND I HAD NEVER SEEN THAT LEVEL
OF BLATANT DRUG DEALING IN
BROAD DAYLIGHT BEFORE.
THAT SAME CORNER WENT OFF ONE
NIGHT A DRUG RELATED SHOOTING
CAUSED US TO GO INTO OUR FIRST
HOCK DOWN AT U HEIGHTS.
IT HAPPENED RIGHT WHEN PARENTS
WERE DROPPING KIDS OFF OUTSIDE.
IT WAS EXCRUCIATING TO HAVE TO
LOCK THE DOORS KNOWING THERE
WERE STILL KIDS AND PARENTS OUT
IN THE PLAYGROUND AT THAT TIME.
THANK GOODNESS WE WERE ALL SAFE
AND THE VICTIM SURVIVED BUT
BECAUSE OF THE BIA AND THE WORK
THAT WE'VE DONE, WE DON'T HAVE
TO WORRY SO MUCH ABOUT OUR
SAFETY.
THE BIA WAS INSTRUMENTAL IN
COORDINATING WITH THE SHERIFF'S
DEPARTMENT AND SPD TO BREAK UP
THAT CORNER.
AND THIS IS A HUGE RELIEF TO
OUR COMMUNITY.
2014 WAS ALSO THE FIRST TIME I
HAD STAFF BRING ME PHOTOS OF
HUMAN EXCREMENT THAT HAD BECOME
A REOCCURRING PROBLEM NOT ONLY
ON OUR BLOCK BUT THROUGHOUT THE
NEIGHBORHOOD.
AND ACTUALLY THIS MORNING, I
WAS JUST TEXTED A PHOTO OF A
MILK JUG FILLED WITH URINE.
THE BIA AGAIN IS ON THE FRONT
LINES, THIS PAST APRIL THE BIA
REMOVED 1,000 BIO HAZARDS.
THIS IS A 5.5 TIMES INCREASE
OVER LAST APRIL.
OVER THE LAST FIVE YEARS, THE
BIA HAS MADE A HUGE IMPACT IN
THE DAILY CLEANING AND
BEAUTIFICATION OF THE DISTRICT
AND THERE'S A NOTICEABLE
DIFFERENCE.
AND AS YOU KNOW, THE PUBLIC
HEALTH CRISIS HAS ONLY BEEN
EXACERBATED BY THESE COVID
CLOSURES.
THE BIA ALSO SUPPORTS OUR MOST
VULNERABLE NEIGHBORS.
AS MENTIONED DURING OUR PUBLIC
COMMENT, DAVID DELGADO
DEMONSTRATES OUR COMPASSIONATE
RESPONSE TO ALL OUR
CONSTITUENTS.
DAVID IS A FULL-TIME SOCIAL
WORKER WHO IS THE EYES, EARS,
AND VOICE FOR PEOPLE LIVING ON
THE STREETS.
HE WORKS WITH FOLKS
EXPERIENCING ADDICTION AND
SEVERE MENTAL AND PHYSICAL
DISTRESS.
HE'S EXTREMELY SUCCESSFUL AT
KICKING PEOPLE WITH FOOD,
HOUSING, EMPLOYMENT, AND MED
RALL RESOURCES THAT ARE OF UP
MOST IMPORTANCE RIGHT NOW.
RECENTLY I HEARD A STORY WHERE
HE WAS ABLE TO HELP REUNITE A
MISSING YOUNG PERSON WITH HIS
MOHER ACROSS STATE LINES.
SO HE'S OUT THERE CHANGING
LIVES EVERYDAY DOING REALLY
DIFFICULT WORK.
AND BECAUSE OF THE BIA,
HUNDREDS ARE GETTING THE
INDIVIDUAL ATTENTION THEY NEED
TO SURVIVE.
AND ANOTHER STORY I'D LIKE TO
SHARE THAT JUST HAPPENED LAST
WEEK, WAS WE HAD EXPANDED OUR
-- AND EXTENDED OUR SECURITY
SERVICES AND ONE OF OUR WORKERS
SAVED A LIFE BY LITERALLY
GETTING IN THE MIDDLE OF A
FIGHT.
AND AT THIS POINT, ONE OF THE
MEN WAS LAYING UNCONSCIOUS AND
WAS CONTINUING TO BE BEATEN AND
OUR SECURITY GOT IN THE MIDDLE
UNTIL SPD COULD ARRIVE.
SO WE'RE OUT THERE LITERALLY
SAVING LIVES EVERYDAY.
THE BIA MANAGES THESE TYPES OF
CRISIS ON A DAILY BASIS SO THE
REST OF US RUNNING BUSINESSES
AND NONPROFITS CAN CONTINUE TO
SURVIVE DURING THIS PANDEMIC.
THAT'S A HIGHLIGHT OF CHEAP AND
SAFE EFFORTS.
AND ULTIMATELY ALL ARE GOOD FOR
SMALL BUSINESSES.
SMALL BUSINESSES ARE ARE ALL
READY OPERATING IN A HARSH
ECONOMIC CLIMATE BEFORE COVID.
AND AS COUNCIL MEMBER PETERSON
JUST MENTIONED FROM THIS
REPORT, WE KNOW THAT 65% OF OUR
SMALL BUSINESSES ARE POC OWNED
AND NOW MORE THAN EVER, IT'S
CRITICAL THAT THE BIA CONTINUE
TO GIVE SMALL BUSINESSES THE
TOOLS THEY NEED TO WARD OFF
ECONOMIC DISPLACEMENT.
AT THE ONSET OF THE PANDEMIC,
UDP STAFF SUITED UP IN THEIR
PPE GEAR AND WENT DOOR TO DOOR
TO PROVIDE INFORMATION ABOUT
AVAILABLE RESOURCES NOT ONLY
AVAILABLE THOUGH THE BIA BUT
THROUGH GOVERNMENT RESOURCES.
AND PERSONALLY, AFTER WE HAD
EXPERIENCED MANY LAYOFFS AT U
HEIGHTS, ONE OF THE FIRST CALLS
I MADE WAS TO MARK WHO YOU'LL
HEAR FROM IN A MINUTE.
HE AND HIS STAFF SET UP TWO
HOTLINES, ONE FOR FOLKS WHO
WERE RECENTLY UNEMPLOYED.
AND ONE FOR A SMALL BUSINESS
SUPPORTER.
THE BIA WAS A LIFELINE WHEN WE
NEEDED IT MOST.
AND THEIR ONE ON ONE SUPPORT
MADE ALL THE DIFFERENCE AT A
VERY SCARY TIME.
SO NOW I WOULD LIKE TO
INTRODUCE LOUISE.
SHE'S GOING TO GIVE YOU MORE
INSIGHT INTO HER EXPERIENCE
WITH THESE PROGRAMS THAT HELP
PREVENT ECONOMIC DISPLACEMENT
FOR SMALL BUSINESSES.
.
>> HELLO COUNCIL, CHAIR
MORALES, AND ALL THE COUNCIL
MEMBERS, MY NAME IS LOUISE CO.
I OWN AND OPERATE AN ICE CREAM
SHOP CALLED SWEET ALCHEMY.
THE CONTINUATION OF THE WORK
THE BIA DOES IS IMPORTANT TO
ME.
THE WORK THEY DO TO BRING
TOGETHER SUCH A DIVERSE
COMMUNITY IS NOT EASY.
WE HAVE COLLEGE STUDENT
POPULATION.
NOT JUST FROM IN AND AROUND
WASHINGTON BUT FROM AROUND THE
WORLD LIVING IN OUR DISTRICT.
WE ARE A DESTINATION FOR HIGH
SCHOOL STUDENTS ALONG WITH MORE
PERMANENT FAMILIES AND WORKERS.
NOT TO MENTION POCKETS OF
RETIREMENT COMMUNITIES.
FIRST GENERATION IMMIGRANTS
HAVE OPENED UP SHOP HERE IN
GREATER NUMBERS OF DIVERSITY
THAN ANY WHERE IN THE CITY.
WE HAVE A ROBUST MEDICAL
COMMUNITY AND HOMELESS
COMMUNITY.
WE'RE ALL NEIGHBORS AND WE ALL
SHOW UP FOR CLEANING.
AS A BUSINESS OWNER WITH A
STORE FRONT ON THE MAIN STRIP,
CLEANLINESS OF THE STREET HAS
BEEN AN ONGOING ISSUE.
WITH THE UDP CONTRACTS,
SWEEPING CONSTANTLY, WE'VE SEEN
UNPLEASANT STREET ACTIVITIES
DECREASE.
DURING THE LOCK DOWNS, THE
CLEANING HAS BEEN CRUCIAL.
BUT THE UDP SECURITY TEAM
AMBASSADORS HAVE STEPPED UP IN
MAJOR WAYS AND PLAY A CRITICAL
ROLE IN KEEPING OUR STREETS
SAFE, AS WELL AS BEING EYES AND
EARS FOR BUSINESSES.
A FEW DAYS AGO.
MY NEIGHBOR, A CHINESE DUMPLING
RESTAURANT HAS A BREAK-IN
AROUND MIDNIGHT AND AMBASSADORS
CABBINGED MY BUILDING MANAGER
AND WORKED TO BOARD UP THE SHOP
AND NOT LEAVE IT OPEN AND
VULNERABLE.
ALL EMPLOYEE HAVES THE
AMBASSADOR HOTLINE ON THEIR
PHONE AND IT GIVES THEM ADDED
SECURITY TO WORK DIFFERENT
UNCERTAIN TIMES.
THE BLOCK WATCH PROGRAM MANAGER
HAS BEEN AN IMPORTANT SAFETY
RELATED COMMUNICATION TOOL FOR
BUSINESSES AND PROPERTY
MANAGERS OF THE APP.
WE ARE EACH OTHER'S BEST
INFORMANTS.
DANIEL WHO HEAD THE ECONOMIC
DEVELOPMENT POSITION AND MARK
HAVE BEEN GOING BUSINESS TO
BUSINESS TO MAKE SURE EACH
BUSINESS HAVE INFORMATION ON
THE RESOURCES FOR GRANTS AND
LOAN APPLICATIONS.
THEY ALSO WORK WITH OED TO
PROVIDE LANGUAGE SERVICES TO
HELP DISTRIBUTE VITAL
INFORMATION.
DANIEL STARTED A GOFUNDME PAGE
TO PROVIDE MEAL FOR FRONT LINE
WORKERS IN THE COMMUNITY BY
PAYING DISTRICT RESTAURANTS.
WHICH COLLECTED ALMOST $3,000.
KATIE, WHO IS THE ENVIRONMENT
RELATIONS MANAGER, SHE'S HELPED
CONNECT ARTISTS WITH BUSINESSES
THAT WERE BOARDING UP THEIR
STORE FRONTS.
AND AS WE ENTER MORE UNCERTAIN
FUTURE IN THE PHASED REOPENING
OF OUR COMMUNITY, THIS TYPE OF
RESOURCE AND SUPPORT WILL BE
MORE VITAL.
A LOT OF BUSINESS OWNERS DON'T
SPEAK ENGLISH AS THEIR FIRST
LANGUAGE AND WITH LACKING
SOCIAL MEDIA PRESENCE FROM
THESE INDIVIDUAL BUSINESSES,
THE ADVOCACY THAT THE SMALL
BUSINESS -- THE ADVOCACY THE
UDP PROVIDES WILL BECOME MUCH
MORE IMPORTANT IN THE SUCCESS
AND SURVIVABILITY OF OUR
VIBRANT AND DIVERSE COMMUNITY.
THERE'S A LOT TO LEARN AND
EXPAND UPON.
THE PANDEMIC PUT A PIVOT ON
MARKING AND COMMUNITY ORIENTED
NEIGHBORHOOD PROJECTS THAT I'M
PERSONALLY EXCITED TO SEE
CONTINUE.
SUCH AS MAKING UW CHERRY WHO'S
SOME INTO A FESTIVAL FOR THE
WHOLE DISTRICT.
THE WORK THE BIA RENEWAL CAN
BRING TO US IS ESSENTIAL TO THE
ECONOMIC WELL BEING OF THE
UNIVERSITY DISTRICT BUSINESS
COMMUNITY.
THANK YOU FOR LISTENING, I'LL
PASS ON MY MIC TO MARK CRAWFORD
TO TALK ABOUT BIA RENEWAL
FUNDAMENTALS.
.
>> THANK YOU, LOUISE, AM I
BEING HEARD?
GOOD, THANK YOU.
THANKS, I WANT TO BEGIN BY
TALKING FOR A MOMENT ABOUT
COMMUNITY INPUT.
IN EACH OF THESE AREAS, THE
BOUNDARIES, THE TERMS, THE
RATES, AND THE CHEAPING ZONE,
WE TESTED A RANGE OF OPTIONS
WITH ALL OF OUR COMMUNITY.
WE DID THIS BY HOLDING OPEN
PUBLIC MEETINGS AND EVENTS.
WE DID THIS BY REACHING OUT TO
STORMMODE SILVERADO GROUPS AND
ININVITING THEM TO MEET WITH US.
JUNE 9th 2019 MEETING AT THE
ANNUAL MEETING.
LET'S TALK QUICKLY ABOUT THE
AREAS THEMSELVES.
FIRST THE BOUNDARIES.
WE'RE REDUCING THE SIZE OF THE
GEOGRAPHIC FOOTPRINT N. THE
NORTH AREAS BEING REMOVED ARE
OVERWHELMINGLY SINGLE FAMILY
RESIDENTIAL BLOCKS THE SINGLE
FAMILY RESIDENTIAL AREAS ARE
NOT RATE PAYERS AND THEY WERE
DRIVEN BY COMMUNITY INPUT AND
REQUESTS FROM THE RESIDENTS IN
THE SOUTHERN SECTOR, THE
BOUNDARY WAS MOVED NORTHWARD TO
MAKE IT CLEAR NO BIA RESOURCES
EXPEND RICHMOND THE UNIVERSITY
OF WASHINGTON CAMPUS ITSELF.
THIS HAS BEEN TRUE SINCE WE
BEGAN.
BUT THE CURRENT BIA BOUNDARY
CREATED CONFUSION ABOUT THAT.
AND WE THINK THIS RECTIFIES
THAT CONFUSION TWO IMPORTANT
NOTES ABOUT THE RATES.
THE BASE ASSESSMENT METHODOLOGY
AND THE PROPOSED INCREASE IN
THE RATE ITSELF.
THE PROPOSED BIA ASSESSMENT IS
BASED ON OUR EXEMPT TO PROTECT
RATE PAYERS AND TENANTS FROM
THE INCREASES CREATED BY VALUES
SIMPLY PUT, GIVEN THE KING
COUNTY ASSESSOR'S
RESPONSIBILITY TO VALUE
PROPERTIES AT THEIR BEST AND
HIGHEST USE FOR THOSE OWNERS
WHO ARE NOT CHOOSING TO
REDEVELOP THEIR PROPERTIES,
THEY ARE DEED RICH BUT CASH
POOR.
BY MAINTAINING THE EXISTING
BASE YEAR FOR EACH PROPERTY,
WE'RE PROTECTING THEM.
IF THEY DEVELOP THEIR PROPERTY
INTHE FUTURE, THEIR BASE YEAR
IS UPDATED TO MORE ACCURATELY
REFLECT THE ACTUAL BEST USE AT
THAT TIME.
SECOND, AS WAS NOTED BY THE OED
PRESENTATION, THE U DISTRICT
BIA HAD AND STILL HAS THE
SECOND LOWEST RATE OF ALL
PROPERTY BASED BIAs.
10% MAY SOUND LIKE A BIG JUMP.
BUT BECAUSE OUR CURRENT RATE IS
SO LOW, IT'S ACTUALLY ONLY AN
INCREASE OF 2 CENTS .5 CENTS
PER $1,000 OF ACCESSIBLE VALUE.
THIS INCREASE IS BEING ASKED IN
DIRECT RESPONSE TO COMMUNITY
INPUT THAT WE EXPAND SUPPORT OF
BUSINESSES AND THE OVER ALL
ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT.
ON THE CLEANING ZONES, OVER THE
PAST FIVE YEARS, THE CURRENT
BIA HAS TAUGHT US AND
REINFORCED OVER AND OVER AND
OVER AGAIN THAT MAINTAINING A
CLEAN AND SAFE NEIGHBORHOOD IS
THE FOUNDATION FOR ALL SUCCESS.
SOMEONE NEEDS TO PICK UP THE
BIO HAZARDS.
THE BIO-WASTE, REMOVE THE
GRAFFITI, PICK UP THE TRASH AND
REMOVE THE GARBAGE.
WE'LL CONTINUE TO PROVIDE
EXTENSIVE PROFESSIONAL CHEAPING
SERVICES IN THE EXISTING
CLEANING AREAS, AND NOW WE
PROPOSE TO EXTEND SERVICES
THROUGH THE ENTIRE DISTRICT ONE
TIME A MONTH.
FINALLY, TO TALK ABOUT THE
TERM.
THE CURRENT BIA WAS DELIBERATE
LISETTE UP FOR AN EXCEPTIONALLY
SHORT-TERM OF FIVE YEARS.
TO PROVIDE INITIAL SERVICES AND
TO LET THE COMMUNITY UNDERSTAND
THE BENEFITS AND THE OUTCOMES
OF THE BIA.
AFTER FIVE YEARS, OVER 65% OF
RSF BASE IS ASKING FOR THIS
RENEWAL.
THEY BELIEVE IN THE BIA.
THE PROPOSED TERM IS MORE
CHOUGHSLY HEY HEADLINED WITH
ALL OTHER SEATTLE BIAs.
RANGING FROM SEVEN YEARS TO
PERPETUITY.
RENEWALS ARE DIFFICULT
CONSUMING PROCESSES AND THEY
USE UP PRECIOUS RESOURCES
SHORTER TERMS HIM THE ABILITY
OF THE BIA TO THINK AND PLAN
AND OPERATE STRATEGICALLY, THEY
CREATE INEFFICIENCIES IN
PROGRAM DELIVERY GIVEN THE
LOCAL U DISTRICT CONDITIONS THE
CHANGES AND GIVEN THE
COMMUNITY'S INPUT, TWELVE YEARS
WAS IDENTIFIED AS THE OPTIMUM
TIME FOR NEXT BIA.
I'LL BE GLAD TO RESPOND MORE TO
COUNCIL MEMBER PETERSON IF
THERE'S FOLLOW UP QUESTION FOR
THAT.
SO THANK YOU VERY MUCH.
MAUREEN?
>> THANKS, MARK, WE'LL WRAP IT
UP SOON HERE AND OPEN IT UP FOR
QUESTIONS BUT I DID WANT TO
TOUCH ON THE GOVERNANCE MODEL
THAT WE ALREADY HAVE IN PLACE.
I IT'S PRETTY ELABORATE.
WE HAVE SEVERAL LAYERS OF OVER
SIGHT OVER BIA OPERATIONS.
THE RATE PAYER ADVISORY BOARD
IS AT THE VERY TOP.
AND IT'S MADE UP OF 80% RATE
PAYERS WITH A MIX OF
NEIGHBORHOOD REPRESENTATIVES.
EVERY YEAR WE VOTE ON THREE
THINGS.
THE UPCOMING YEAR'S WORKMAN,
THE BUDGET, AS WELL AS WHO'S
GOING TO BE DESIGNATED AS THE
PROGRAM MANAGER.
SO WE ARE REALLY AT THE 30,000-
FOOT LEVEL INSURING THAT
MEASURABLE GOALS ARE MET IN ALL
OF OUR FOCUS AREAS.
IN ADDITION TO THAT, WE HAVE
311 RATE PAYERS THAT ARE ARE
INVITED TO ASSIST A VOTE
ANNUALLY TO IMPROVE THE SAME
ITEMS.
INCLUDING THE PROGRAM MANAGER.
THEN RECOMMENDATIONS ARE
DIRECTED TO THE CITY FOR FINAL
APPROVAL.
OUR BOARD MEMBERS SERVE THREE-
YEAR TERMS AND THEY MUST BE
VOTED BACK ON AT THE END OF
THEIR TERMS.
WE'VE HAD A HEALTHY TURN
OVERRATE.
NEARLY 45% OF BRINGING ON NEW
BOARD MEMBERS OVER THE LAST
FIVE YEARS.
THEN GOING DOWN THE CHART, WE
HAVE THE UDP BOARD, ALSO MADE
UP OF A DIVERSE MIX OF
NEIGHBORHOOD REPRESENTATIVES.
AND THEY PROVIDE OVER SIGHT OF
THE DAILY OPERATIONS.
SO THEY ARE REALLY BOOTS ON THE
GROUND.
ALONG WITH THAT BOARD, WE HAVE
SEVERAL COMMITTEES AND OUR
NEIGHBORHOOD HAS MANY
OPPORTUNITIES TO PARTICIPATE
AND GIVE FEEDBACK ON OUR WORK.
THAT'S BEEN FUNNELED UP THROUGH
THE TWO PORTS.
WE ALSO DO EXTENSIVE COMMUNITY
OUTREACH THROUGH MULTIPLE
CHANNELS.
WE USE SOCIAL MEDIA, MAILINGS,
COMMUNITY FORUMS, SO WE REALLY
DO OUR BEST TO TRY TO REACH
EVERYONE THAT LIVES AND WORKS
IN THE U DISTRICT.
AND I CAN ATTEST THAT IT'S A
TREMENDOUS AMOUNT OF WORK AND A
LABOR OF LOVE FOR OUR EXECUTIVE
DIRECTOR MARK, THE LYNCH PEN
BETWEEN ALL THESE PARK GROUPS
OF FOLKS.
THE BIA I THINK WHAT'S MOST
POWERFUL FOR ME IS THAT IT'S
REALLY THE GREAT COMMUTER IN
OUR NEIGHBORHOOD.
WE ALL CAN CONTRIBUTE SMALL
AMOUNTS TO THE PIE BUT HAVE
SUCH A BIGGER IMPACT TOGETHER.
AND FOR THE FIRST TIME WE'RE
CONVENING ACROSS ALL SECTORS.
AND WE WHOLE HEARTEDLY SUPPORT
THE OPPOSED AMENDMENT TO
INCLUDE LANGUAGE IN THE
ORDINANCE TO SPECIFICALLY
PREVENT SMALL BUSINESS
DISPLACEMENT WITH A PARTICULAR
FOCUS ON POC AND WOMEN OWNED
BUSINESSES.
AS WELL AS THE NEW PROPOSED
REQUIREMENT TO FORMALLY
INCREASE THE REQUIRED
REPRESENTATION OF TRIPLE NET
RATE PAYERS ON OUR BOARD.
WE KNOW THAT OUR SMALL
BUSINESSES SMART AND THEY'RE
INNOVATIVE.
WE SEE THEM REINVENTING
THEMSELVES THROUGH THIS CRISIS.
AND WE RELY ON THEIR INSIGHTS
TO DRIVE OUR MISSION FORWARD.
SO WE SCRATCHED ON THE SURFACE
OF THE FULL BREADTH OF BIA
SERVICES BUT I HOPE WE WERE
ABLE TO GIVE YOU A SNAPSHOT OF
WHAT OUR DAILY WORK LOOKS LIKE.
WORK THAT IS SO CRITICAL NOW
MORE THAN EVER THE PROPOISE
INCREASE THAT COUNCIL MEMBER
PETERSON TALKED ABOUT WILL GO
TO DRIVING PATRONS TO
BUSINESSES.
SO WE CAN GO INTO GREATER
DETAILS WHEN WE OPEN IT UP FOR
Q&A.
BUT I WANT TO IMPRESS UPON THE
COMMITTEE THAT AN INTERRUPTION
IN BIA SERVICE WOULD BE
DETRIMENTAL TO THE NEIGHBORHOOD
AND EXACERBATE THE PUBLIC
HEALTH CRISIS WE FIND OURSELVES
IN TODAY.
OUR GOAL IS TO ENSURE EXISTING
SMALL BUSINESSES ARE GETTING
SUPPORT THEY NEED TO SURVIVE
NOW AND THEN THRIVE WHEN WE'RE
ABLE TO REOPEN AGAIN.
THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR TAKING
THE TIME DURING THIS DIFFICULT
TIME FOR OUR CITY.
AND WE'RE VERY APPRECIATIVE
THAT THE COUNCIL UNDERSTANDS
THE URGENCY OF REAUTHORIZING
THE U DISTRICT BIA.
THANK YOU AGAIN.
THANK YOU, MAUREEN, AND THANK
YOU LOUISE AND MARK AS WELL FOR
SHARING THIS INFORMATION WITH
US.
COUNCIL, COLLEAGUES ARE ARE
THERE ANY QUESTIONS FOR
PRESENTERS RIGHT NOW?
I SHOULD SAY THE NEXT SECTION,
WE WILL HAVE SORT OF AN ISSUES
IDENTIFICATION DISCUSSION.
BUT IF YOU HAVE QUESTIONS FOR
OUR PRESENTERS, PLEASE LET ME
KNOW.
I'M NOT SEEING ANYTHING.
OKAY.
IN THAT CASE.
WE'LL CLOSE THAT.
WILL YOU READ THE LAST ITEM OF
BUSINESS INTO THE RECORD.
>> UNIVERSITY DISTRICT BUSINESS
IMPROVEMENT AREA ISSUE
IDENTIFICATION BRIEFING AND
DISCUSSION.
>> OKAY.
I BELIEVE IS THAT YOLANDA AND
PHILLIP?
>> THAT WILL BE MOSTLY ME AND
MAYBE PHILLIP CAN CHIME IN AS
NEEDED.
>> PLEASE GO AHEAD, YOLANDA.
>> I WANT TO WALK THROUGH THE
ISSUE IDENTIFICATION THAT I
DESCRIBED IN MY MEMO.
AND SPEAK TO SOME OF THOSE
POINTS.
REGARDING RATE PAYER SUPPORT.
THIS WAS JUST MORE OF A KIND OF
THINKING ABOUT HOW THE BIA
PROPONENTS COLLECTED THE
PETITIONS.
OVER 65%.
LAST YEAR AND EARLIER THIS
YEAR.
PRIOR TO THE ONSET OF THE COVID-
19 PANDEMIC AND THE CURRENT
FINANCIAL CRISIS.
SO WE HAVE NOT, YOU KNOW, DONE
ANY FORMAL CHECK BACK IN
NECESSARILY AS A CITY TO THE --
THOSE WHO SIGNED THE PETITIONS.
AND SO I JUST -- I'M FLAGGING
THIS FOR THE COUNCIL MEMBERS
PRIOR TO THE PUBLIC HEARING.
BECAUSE STATE LAW STATES
PROCEEDINGS SHALL TERMINATE IF
POTENTIAL RATE PAYERS
REPRESENTING THE MAJORITY OF
THE TOTAL ASSESSMENT OPPOSE THE
BIA.
SO THAT'S SOMETHING TO BE AWARE
OF.
AND THE NEXT ITEM WAS IN
REGARDS TO THE BIA ADVISORY
BOARD.
AND AS NOTED BY THE
PRESENTATION BEFORE, THERE ARE
A FEW DIFFERENCES FROM THE
CURRENT COMPOSITION OF THE
BOARD.
THERE WILL BE TWO ADDITIONAL
COMMERCIAL TENANTS.
SPECIFICALLY THOSE SUBJECT TO
BE A TRIPLE NET LEASE FOR A
TOTAL OF THREE COMMERCIAL
TENANT REPRESENTATIVES.
AND AN ADDITIONAL RESIDENTIAL
REPRESENTATIVE.
SO THERE WILL BE ONE
RESIDENTIAL TENANT AND ONE
RESIDENTIAL OWNER INSTEAD OF
ONE OR THE OTHER.
SO THAT WILL RESULT IN TWO
RESIDENTIAL REPRESENTATIVES.
AND THE OTHER REQUIREMENTS ARE
ARE UNCHANGED FROM THE PREVIOUS
ADVISORY BOARD.
SPECIFICALLY THE 35% CAP ON
REPRESENTATIVES FROM THE
UNIVERSITY OF WASHINGTON.
AND THE 80% RATE PAYERS WITH
SEATS DEDICATED TO RATE PAYERS
WITH AT LEAST ONE RATE PAYER
REPRESENTING LESS THAN .5% OF
THE TOTAL ASSESSMENT.
DUE TO THE REQUIREMENT THE
BOARD HAVE THE FORM NONRATE
PAYER POSITIONS THE BUSINESS
AND RESIDENTIAL TENANTS AND
RATE PAYERS MOST HOLD 80% OF
THE SEATS THE BOARD WILL HAVE
NO FEWER THAN 20 MEMBERS.
THAT MAKE THIS IS A RELATIVELY
LARGE ADVISORY BOARD FOR
REFERENCE THE CURRENT BIA BOARD
I BELIEVE HAS 15 NUMBERS.
AND LOOKING AT OTHER CITY
ADVISORY BOARDS AND OTHER BIA
BOARDS THAT I'VE BEEN ABLE TO
SEE, THESE BODIES TYPICALLY ARE
MORE IN THE 12 TO 16 MEMBER
RANGE.
IN TERMS OF I THINK
FUNCTIONING.
SO SOME OPTIONS HERE ARE THAT
THE COMMITTEE COULD ELECT TO
AMEND THE LEGISLATION TO REDUCE
THE SHARE OF SEATS RESERVED FOR
RATE PAYERS TO SOMETHING LIKE
75% FOR EXAMPLE WHICH WOULD
HOER THE MINIMUM NUMBER TO 16
SEATS .OR MAKE OTHER CHANGES
AS REQUESTED DURING THE PUBLIC
HEARING OR RECEIVED OTHER
FEEDBACK.
AND SEEING NO QUESTIONS, I WILL
MOVE ON TO THE ASSESSMENT
RATES.
I THINK THESE HAVE BEEN
DESCRIBED IN GREAT DETAIL BY
OED AND THE PROPONENTS.
SO AGAIN, IT'S A RELATIVELY
SMALL INCREASE?
THE RATES.
THOUGH WE KNOW THAT BUSINESSES
AND RESIDENTS WHETHER OWNERS OR
TENANTS ARE STRUGGLING
FINANCIALLY RIGHT NOW AND THIS
INCREASE IN ASSESSMENTS IS, YOU
KNOW, LIKELY TO BE PASSED ON
AND THAT'S POTENTIALLY AN
ADDITIONAL BURDEN.
IN PLACE FOR TENANTS IN TERMS
OF INCREASES IN RENT FOR
BUSINESSES IMPACTED BY COVID-19
AS WELL AS SMALL BUSINESSES AND
NONPROFITS.
I JUST WANT TO NOTE BASED ON
KIND OF SOME ADDITIONAL
RESEARCH I DID THAT BIA
ASSESSMENTS MAY -- COULD BE
BUNDLED INTO RENT.
IN WHICH CASE, A RENT INCREASE
WOULD -- SO THE INCREASE IN THE
BIA ASSESSMENTS WOULD NOT
NECESSARILY BE PASSED ON TO THE
TENANT AS A RESULT BUT IF THE
ASSESSMENTS ARE A SEPARATE
CHARGE OF JUST BASED ON, YOU
KNOW, HOW THE LEASE AGREEMENT
IS, THEN THAT INCREASE MAY BE
PASSED ON TO THE TENANT EVEN
WHILE PROTECTIONS ARE IN PLACE.
BECAUSE IT'S NOT CONSIDERED
RENT.
SO I ALSO WANT TO NOTE THAT --
SO THE DEPARTMENT OF FINANCE
AND ADMINISTRATIVE SERVICES IS
THE DEPARTMENT THAT IS IN
CHARGE OF BILLING RATE PAYERS
AND COLLECTING THE
ASSESSMENTS.
AND ENGAGING WITH THE RATE
PAYERS ON THAT FRONT.
AND THEIR PRACTICE IS TO
TYPICALLY SEND OUT THE FIRST
BILL 30 DAYS AFTER THE
EFFECTIVE DATE OF THE
ORDINANCE.
IN THIS CASE, I HAD NOT
MENTIONED THIS BEFORE, BUT THE
CURRENT LEGISLATION INCLUDES A
CONFIRM CLAUSE WHICH ALLOWS
SOME ASPECTS OF IT TO TAKE
EFFECT PRIOR TO -- AFTER
COUNCIL ADOPTION PRIOR TO THE
EFFECTIVE DATE.
SO IN THAT CASE, FAS MAY
ACTUALLY -- COULD ACTUALLY SEND
OUT THEIR -- THE BILLS EARLIER
THAN 30 DAYS AFTER THE TYPICAL
EFFECTIVE DATE OF THE
ORDINANCE.
THAT'S JUST SOMETHING TO BE
AWARE OF.
AND SO SOME OPTIONS HERE, IF
THEY SEEM APPROPRIATE, WOULD BE
TO AMEND THE COUNCIL BILL TO
REQUIRE FAS TO OFFER RATE PAY
URS EXCHEWEDDING UNIVERSITY OF
WASHINGTON, A VOLUNTARY RATE
PAYER, THE OPTION TO DIFFER
PAYMENT OF ASSESSMENTS OR TO
DELAY SENDING OUT INITIAL
ASSESSMENTS UNTIL LATER IN THE
YEAR AND YOU KNOW WE WANT TO
WORK WITH FAS ON THIS OPTION IF
THAT WAS DESIRED.
THERE'S THE POTENTIAL THAT THE
COUNCIL COULD AMEND PROPOSED
RATES FOR THE FIRST COUPLE
YEARS.
SO THAT -- TO DECREASE THE
RATES POTENTIALLY.
SO THEY'RE KIND OF MORE IN LINE
WITH THE CURRENT RATES.
SO DO NOT REFLECT THAT 10%
INCREASE.
BOTH OF THESE OPTIONS COULD
LIMIT THE OPERATIONS.
BECAUSE THEN DUE TO THE CASH
FLOW ISSUE THERE.
IF THE COUNCIL MEMBERS ELECT TO
REDUCE THE RATES OR CHANGE
RATES IN SOME WAY WE WOULD WANT
TO SEND OUT A NOTICE TO
POTENTIAL RATE PAYERS TEN DAYS
IN ADVANCE OF FINAL COUNCIL
ACTION TO INFORM THEM OF
PROPOSED CHANGES SO THEY HAVE
AN OPPORTUNITY TO WEIGH IN AND
ARE FULLY AWARE OF THOSE.
AND FINALLY, AS DRAFTED, THE
LEGISLATION WOULD ALLOW THE
INITIAL PROGRAM MANAGER TO
SERVE IN THAT CAPACITY FOR FIVE
YEARS PRIOR TO OFFICE OF
ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT CONDUCTING
THE COMPETITIVE RFP PROCESS TO
SHE CAN A PROGRAM MANAGER.
-- TO SELECT A PROGRAM MANAGER
WHO WILL THEN HAVE THAT ROLE
FOR FIVE YEARS BEFORE THE
PROCESS HAPPENS AGAIN.
SO THAT WOULD THEN LEAVE THE
FINAL TERM OF THE PROGRAM
MANAGER TO TWO YEARS.
SO WHAT SOME OPTIONS HERE ARE
TO AMEND THE LEGISLATION TO
ALLOW THE PROGRAM MANAGER THE
INITIAL PROGRAM MANAGER TO
SERVE FOR UP TO TWO YEARS.
SO THIS ASSUMES THAT THE
TWELVE-YEAR TERM FOR THE BIA IS
UNCHANGED AND THAT WOULD ALLOW
FOR THERE TO BE TWO FULL FIVE-
YEAR TERMS FOR THE PROGRAM
MANAGER AND FOR THE REST OF THE
TERM.
THAT IS IT.
ANY QUESTIONS?
>> I HAVE A QUESTION.
ONE SECOND.
SO THANK YOU, YOLANDA.
SO I'M GLAD TO SEE THAT THERE'S
AN ADDITIONAL REPRESENTATIVE, A
TEN NANO REPRESENTATIVE ADDED
TO THE ADVISORY BOARD.
I THINK THAT'S IMPORTANT.
AND I DO WANT TO ASK ABOUT THE
POINT YOU MADE WITH OED WORKING
WITH SOME RATE PAYERS ACROSS
THE CITY TO CREATE PAYMENT
PLANS IN RESPONSE TO THE COVID-
19 CRISIS.
YOU MENTIONED THE CITY HASN'T
GONE BACK TO HAVE CONVERSATIONS
WITH FOLKS IN THE U DISTRICT.
BUT I WOULD LIKE TO HEAR FROM
THE U DISTRICT FOLKS ABOUT
WHETHER THERE HAVE BEEN ANY
CONVERSATIONS WITH RATE PAYERS
ABOUT CHANGES IN THEIR CURRENT
FINANCIAL SITUATION OR THEIR
ABILITY SO PAY A 10% INCREASE
AND ALSO JUST ARE THERE OPTIONS
? OR HAVE YOU CONSIDERED
OPTIONS FOR PAYMENT PLANS IF
THAT'S SOMETHING THAT PEOPLE
HAVE EXPRESSED INTEREST IN?
MAUREEN?
OR MARK?
>> I JUST WANTED TO SEE IF
PHILLIP WANTED TO RESPOND FROM
THE OED PERSPECTIVE FIRST.
I WAS DIFFERING TO HIM FIRST.
>> SURE, THANKS, MARK, AND
COUNCIL MEMBER MORALES FOR THE
QUESTION.
THE MAJORITY OF THE FISCAL YEAR
STARTED JANUARY 1st AND THEY
BILL BY ANNUALLY FOR SIX
MONTHS.
SO I GUESS IN SHORT MOST OF THE
PROPERTY BASED BIAs HAVE ALL
READY RECEIVED THEIR FIRST HALF
OF THEIR BUDGET.
WE'RE CONTINUING TO MONITOR TO
SEE WHAT THE SECOND HALF
ASSESSMENTS RESPONSE WILL LOOK
LIKE BUT WE HAVE PROTOCOLS IN
PLACE TO WORK WITH RATE PAYERS,
PROPERTY OWNERS AND BUSINESS
OWNERS TO MAKE MONTHLY PAYMENT
PLANS OR MAKE DIFFER.
S AS NEEDED -- DIFFERMENTS AS
NEEDED.
FROM THERE, WE'LL SEE WHERE THE
QUESTION RATE COMES IN.
FROM A STANDPOINT OF FAS, THE
BILL GOES OUT AND PAYMENTS ARE
DUE WITHIN 30 DAYS.
WE HAVE INCLUDED LANGUAGE TO
INCLUDE FOR THE NEXT SET OF
ASSESSMENTS TO CONTACT FAS TO
WORK WITH US IF THERE'S ANY
FINANCIAL BURDENS THAT A
PROPERTY AND BUSINESS OWNER
MIGHT BE FACING.
AND WE'RE GOING TO AT THIS
STAGE EXTEND PAYMENT UP TO SIX
MONTHS AND WE'RE WILLING TO
EXPAND ON THAT AS NEED BUD IT'S
OBVIOUSLY A BALANCING ACT
BETWEEN MAKING POSSIBLE OPTIONS
FOR THE RATE PAYERS AND
ENSURING FUNDING EXISTS FOR
CRITICAL SERVICES AND PROGRAMS.
MARK, I'LL TURN IT OVER TO YOU
FOR THE SECOND HALF OF THE
QUESTION.
MAUREEN OR LOUISE?
WOULD YOU LIKE TO SPEAK?
>> GO AHEAD, MARK.
>> WE TALKED ABOUT THIS A LOT
AS WE PLAN FOR THE COMING YEAR,
I THINK WHAT WE'VE COME TO IS
WE NEED TO FOLLOW THE LEAD THE
CITY IS SETTING.
THIS ISN'T A U DISTRICT
SPECIFIC ISSUE.
IT'S AFFECTING ALL BIAs SO
WE'RE INTERESTED.
INVOLVED IN CONVERSATIONS WITH
OED IN A WAY IN A COINCIDES AND
COOPERATES WITH HOW IT'S BEING
DONE CITY WIDE.
THAT'S MY VERY SINCERE ANSWER
OPPOSED TO TRYING TO FIGURE OUT
A SOLUTION FOR THIS DISTRICT
SPECIFICALLY.
THAT DOESN'T SEEM LIKE THE WISE
OR APPROPRIATE WAY TO GO ABOUT
IT.
IN TERMS OF CONVERSATIONS WE'RE
HAVING WITH OUR RATE PAYERS
ABOUT HOW ARE THEY FEELING
RIGHT NOW?
YOU KNOW, I THINK IT VARIES TO
BE FRANK, I THINK THERE ARE
SOME PEOPLE WHO ARE JUST, YOU
KNOW, IN A VERY DIFFICULT SPOT.
BUT OVER ALL WHAT WE'RE HEARING
DAY IN AND DAY OUT, I THINK YOU
HEARD IT FROM PUBLIC TESTIMONY
TODAY, SO MANY PEOPLE ARE
SAYING THANK GOODNESS YOU'RE
HERE AND HELPING US THROUGH
COVID.
YOU HAVE TO KEEP DOING WHAT
YOU'RE DOING.
WE BUILT CRITICAL
RELATIONSHIPS.
THE FINAL THING I'LL SAY IS IF
YOU WANT THE MOST CONTEMPORARY
REFLECTION OF WHAT OUR
BUSINESSES ARE SAYING
KNOWLEDGEABLY, IT'S FOUND IN
THE LETTER THAT WE SENT TO YOU
COUNCIL MEMBERS SIGNED BY 30
BUSINESSES 1 AND MORE LETTERS
WE'LL ACCEPTED FROM ALL OVER
THE DISTRICT SAYING PLEASE
SUPPORT THE BIA, WE NEED IT.
THEIR VOICE IS ON THE TABLE.
THEY'RE SAYING PLEASE CONTINUE.
THANK YOU.
>> THANK YOU, MARK, I
APPRECIATE THAT.
COUNCIL MEMBER PETERSON, YOU
HAD A QUESTION.
.
>> THANK YOU, CHAIR MORALES,
GETTING BACK TO THE -- THANK
YOU YOLANDA FOR YOUR MEMO WHERE
YOU IDENTIFY A LOT OF ISSUES.
AS I UNDERSTAND IT, YOU'RE
INTERESTED, TODAY WE'RE GOING
TO IDENTIFY ISSUES WE AS
COUNCIL MEMBERS CARE ABOUT.
THESE MIGHT TURN INTO MAYOR PRO
TEMPORES FOR OUR NEXT MEETING.
SOIL JUST SORT OF START GOING
DOWN THAT ROAD HERE.
BANG TO THE QUESTION ABOUT THE
LENGTH OF TERM I KNOW THERE'S
BEEN CONCERN EXPRESSED BY THE
COMMUNITY THAT MORE THAN
DOUBLING THE EXISTING TERM IS
TOO LONG.
AND DIDN'T KNOW IF CENTRAL
STAFF HAD ANY VIEWS ON THAT.
AND THEN I HAVE A COUPLE MORE
QUESTIONS AFTER THAT.
BUT GOING FROM FIVE TO TWELVE
YEARS SEEMS LIKE A BIG JUMP TO
ME.
.
>> YEAH, I GUESS I WOULD DIFFER
TO THE PROPOE NEWS10S IN THIS
REGARD.
AND OED'S ANALYSIS OF THAT'S
WHAT THEIR PROPOSAL IS.
I THINK THAT, YOU KNOW, I'D
LEAVE IT TO THEM FOR THE
RATIONAL THERE.
AS A GENERAL, YOU KNOW, IN
TERMS OF JUST KIND OF
OBJECTIVELY, YEAH, IT IS A
LONGER TERM BUT, YOU KNOW,
THERE'S PROS AND CONS THERE
WITH THAT.
AS HAS BEEN DISCUSSED.
>> OKAY.
THANK YOU.
AND I JUST WANTED TO SEE IF YOU
HAD ANY STRONG FEELINGS ABOUT
THAT.
I DID -- I HEARD THE PROPONENTS
TALKING ABOUT THIS IN THEIR
COMMENTS.
SO I DON'T THINK -- I DON'T
NEED TO GO BACK TO THEM IN FOR
THAT ISSUE ON THE TERM.
BUT MY NEXT QUESTION MIGHT DUCK
TAIL INTO THAT.
BECAUSE IT'S ABOUT THE -- SO
THIS CONCEPT OF HAVING A
COMPETITIVE PROCESS TO SELECT
THE PROGRAM MANAGER FOR A BIA
-- SO HERE WE HAVE THE PROGRAM
MANAGER IS THE UNIVERSITY
DISTRICT PARTNERSHIP THERE ON
THE GROUND DOING THE WORK,
DOING THE CLEAN AND SAFE WORK
AND THE OUTREACH WORK.
THEY ARE, YOU KNOW, THEY'VE GOT
THAT WORK AUTOMATICALLY WHEN
THIS BIA WAS SET UP FIVE YEARS
AGO.
SO THIS LEGISLATION SAYS, YOU
KNOW WHAT, WE NEED TO HAVE A
COMPETITIVE PROCESS FOR THIS.
SO SECTION SEVEN OF THE COUNCIL
BILL TALKS ABOUT THIS.
SETTING UP AN RFP PROCESS,
WHICH I SUPPORT HAVING THAT
COMPETITIVE PROCESS.
THE LEGISLATION'S A LITTLE BIT
-- THE WAY IT'S WRITTEN,
YOLANDA INTERPRETED IT AS THIS
CURRENT PROGRAM MANAGER WOULD
BE GRANDFATHERED IN FOR FIVE
YEARS.
THAT SEEMS LIKE A REALLY LONG
TIME TO BE GRANDFATHERED IN.
SO ONE THOUGHT IS, WHICH
YOLANDA POINTED OUT.
AND I GUESS I'M SIGNALING MY
SUPPORT FOR THIS.
TO GRANDFATHER IN THAT PROGRAM
MANAGER FOR JUST A YEAR OR TWO
SO THAT -- SO THAT OFFICE OF
ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT AND FAS
CAN SET UP THEIR RFP PROCESS,
GET PROPOSALS IN.
CHOOSE THE WINNER, THAT GROUP
WHICH COULD STILL BE THE
UNIVERSITY DISTRICT
PARTNERSHIP.
BUT WHOEVER WINS AN RFP WOULD
THEN START UP IN ONE TO TWO
YEARS FROM NOW.
AND THEN THAT WOULD THEN
DETERMINE OKAY, WELL, HOW LONG
WOULD THAT CRACK BE FOR?
WOULD IT BE FOR FIVE YEARS ?
WOULD IT BE FOR FOUR YEARS?
WOULD IT BE GRANDFATHER THEM IN
FOR A YEAR, HAVE A FOUR-YEAR
TERM, AND ANOTHER RFP, AND THEN
A FOUR-YEAR TERM, AND ONE YEAR
CUSHION AT THE END.
SO YOLANDA.
I'LL WANT TO WORK WITH YOU TO
PERHAPS CRAFT AN AMENDMENT TO
SPECIFY THAT GRANDFATHERING IN
PERIOD AND WHAT THE SUBSEQUENT
RFP PERIODS WOULD BE.
>> SOUNDS GOOD.
.
>> OKAY.
THOSE ARE ALL THE QUESTIONS I
HAVE RIGHT NOW, CHAIR MORALES.
>> OKAY.
ARE THERE ANY OTHER QUESTIONS
COLLEAGUES ? ABOUT WHAT WE'RE
HEARING FROM EITHER FROM THE
PROPONENTS OR FROM CENTRAL
STAFF, THINGS THAT YOU WANT
CLARIFIED?
I DON'T SEE ANYTHING.
COUNCIL MEMBER JUAREZ?
I DON'T SEE YOU AT ALL.
>> HALF LAUGH.
THANK YOU.
THANK YOU CHAIRWOMAN FOR
CHECKING IN ON ME.
I'M GOOD, THANK YOU.
.
>> OKAY.
VERY GOOD.
WELL, IN THAT CASE, IF WE HAVE
NO OTHER QUESTIONS, I WOULD SAY
THAT WE CAN WRAP THIS UP.
SO THIS CONCLUDES THE MAY 20th
2020 MEETING OF THE COMMUNITY
ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT COMMITTEE.
AS YOLANDA SAID EARLIER, OUR
NEXT COMMITTEE MEETING ON THIS
TOPIC WILL BE MAY 27th AT
9:30.
AND THAT WILL BE THE PUBLIC
HEARING ON THE U DISTRICT BIA
PROPOSAL.
SO FOR THE PUBLIC, YOU CAN SIGN
UP TO PROVIDE PUBLIC COMMENT ON
OUR COUNCIL WEBSITE, TWO
HOURINGS BEFOREHAND.
YOU CAN ALSO SUBMIT COMMENTS TO
THE EMAIL ADDRESS, WHICH IS U
DISTRICT BIA @ SEATTLE.GOV.
UDISTRICTBIBIA@SEATTLE.GOV.
I THINK WE ARE DONE HERE.
THANKS EVERYONE FOR ATTENDING.
WE ARE ADJOURNED.
>> THANK YOU, THANK YOU, THANKS
EVERYONE.