>>> Thank you.
I'm going to do the call to
order.
Today is November 22, 2021,
middle of the Seattle Park
district board it'll come to
order It is five: 01.
Quickly call the role.
>> Gonzalez.
[ Roll being called Ñ.
seven present.
>> We have a quorum let's go
forward.
I moved to the approval of the
agenda.
No up section the agenda will
be adopted.
Hearing no adoption the no
agenda is adopted.
I will go to approval of
minutes, October 18, 2021
Seattle Park district meeting
have been reviewed if there is
no objection the minutes will
be sign.
Hearing no objection the
minutes will be signed.
Will perk please affix
signature to the legislation on
my behalf.
Go to the chair report now.
This is the third Metropolitan
Park district board meeting of
the year.
First meeting occurred June 21
will be considered and voted on
resolution 42 and 43.
The first was to delay the next
six your spending plan by one
additional year.
The letter piece of legislation
allowed the park oversight
committee be combined with word
of Park commission to
streamline the effort so that
has paid off well.
The next meeting occurred
Monday, October 18 where we
held a public hearing.
Today is the last meeting of
the year were will consider
resolutions 44, 45, 46 and 47.
We will open with the
presentation from our parks
department followed by
consideration of the following
pieces of legislation.
This is a brief overview before
we move into public comment.
Resolution 44 establishments
2022 Park district budget.
Attachment letter a and B
summary and reference plan.
We also review this when we
were meeting in October 18.
Resolution 45, authorizes the
levy on regular property taxes
by M PD 2022 revenue, 22
proposal represents an increase
of 2.5% over 2021.
Resolution 46 fixes the rate of
taxes to be levied upon taxable
property.
This resolution authorizes the
collection of property taxes to
meet the revenue requirements
of the proposed 2022 budget was
that the tax rate at .207 per
1000 assessed value.
The tax rate for 2021 is .201.
Resolution 47 technical in
nature and establishes the next
regular meeting date for the
Metropolitan Park District
which will be in 2022.
At this time we moved to public
comment.
We will open the remote public
comment.
Have public comment regularly
included on meeting agendas.
However the Seattle Park
district board reserves the
right to end or eliminate this
public comment.
At any point if we deem the
system as being abuse or is
unsuitable for allowing our
meetings to be conducted
efficiently and in a manner
which we are able to conduct
necessary business.
The city clerk will moderate
the general public comment
period and continue the
instructions.
Go ahead Jodi.
>> Madam clerk, are you there?
>> Sorry about that.
The public comment period for
this meeting is up to 20 minutes
on each speaker will be given
two minutes to speak.
I will call and two speakers at
a time and in the order which
registered on the online sign-
up list.
If you have not registered to
speak but would like to you can
sign up before the end of this
public comment period by going
to the councils website, the
comment link is also listed on
today's agenda.
Once the speakers name is
called staff will unmute the
appropriate microphone and a
automatic prompt, you have been
unmute it will be your queue,
speakers cue their turn to
speak.
You at that time must touch
star six on your phone to
unmute yourself after your name
is called.
Then please begin speaking by
stating your name in light of
your addressing is a reminder
public comment should relate to
any item on today's agenda.
Speakers will hear a chime went
10 seconds are left of the
allotted time.
Once you hear the chime would
ask you begin to wrap up your
public comments.
The speakers do not and the
public comments at the end of
the allotted time provided the
speakers microphone will be
muted to allow us to call him
the next speaker.
Once you've completed your
public comment would ask you
please disconnect from the line
and if you plan to continue
following the meeting please do
so via Seattle channel or
listening options listed on the
agenda.
There are four speakers signed
up only three currently present.
And we can begin calling on
them.
>> Thank you Jodi.
Public comment period is now
open we will begin with the
first two speakers on the list,
go ahead and call the people
for public comment.
>> The first two speakers are
Tim and and.
>> Can you hear me?
>> Yes I can.
>> My name is Tim.
>> We lost Tim, let's let him
back in.
>> Can you hear me?
>> Let's start again Tim, you
cut out.
We will start the clock again.
>> My name is Tim.
Okay we have a technical problem
.
>> We can't when you start
speaking you cut out.
>> Let's try one more time.
>> We will try one more time.
>> My name is Tim, I'm here to
meeting tonight is a resident
raising concerns about funding
for aging park facilities which
includes the community center.
I want to reinforce testimony
hurt at your October hearing,
there's been a steady pattern
of decreasing property tax
rates for annual Park district
funding and conjecture with
increasing part property tax
for the city.
I've included a chart
documenting this pattern as
well as a copy of the most
recent projected property tax
increases through 2029 from the
budget office as part of my
email to you earlier.
My calculations are correct,
the proposed assessment rate
using projected billion-dollar
property tax base will result
in almost $57 million in
revenue.
This will exceed revenue needs
for 2022 by Thomas $876,000.
The situation raises the
question what property tax
projection was used?
If these numbers are correct,
choice needs to be made to
either keeping the proposed tax
rate at 20.7 or lowering the
tax rate to slightly under 20.4
cents.
Based on these numbers I am
recommending you use the 20.7
cent rate and allocate
projected surplus to pay down
part of a $5 million allocation
for the Lake City community
center that was shown
originally 22 Park district
budget.
Another suggestion, keeping
with the comments made at the
October hearing is to change
the funding pattern going into
the next part restricts cycle.
This can be achieved by
stabilizing the tax rate and
keeping the current rate at
21.3 cents going into 2022.
This could replace $5 million
allocation for the community
center.
On another note why are you
scheduling only one meeting in
2022 as part of your resolution
number 47?
I want to thank the Park
commissioners for hearing my
comments and hopefully we will
be making changes.
Thank you.
>> We did receive your email
and your material so thank you.
>> The next speaker is and
Tyson who will be followed by
Colleen McAleer.
Go ahead Anne.
>> Can you hear me?
>> Yes we can.
But good evening.
I'm a resident of District 4
volunteers Seattle Parks and
actor.
I'm asking you to fully retain
funding for the North 41st
Street community center.
I know this center well, one of
my earliest memories is going
to preschool at the center
learning my ABCs.
As a teenager the center was a
hub for sports, dances and
pottery classes.
My own for children up to class
of the center.
Pre-COVID-19, both my husband,
a disabled veteran and my
elderly father, who I care for
attended many events there.
The center and its activities
are attended by thousands of
people.
The 200 attendance number the
Council was given November 18
budget many was just flat
wrong.
I know because I attend public
events there and I've seen the
packed room many times pre-
COVID-19.
Wrong information makes this
because the community was not
given the chance to comment on
closing the centers of the
public.
Funds are available hundred
$90,000 to save the Northeast
41st Street community center.
Parks and Recreation budget
overall is up 24% and contains
substantial, previous year's
money is not the problem here.
Community centers are vital for
the cohesion of the city and
the neighborhoods.
Recognize this and
strengthening the centers not
closing them.
This is what the park department
states community centers are
places where people recreate,
celebrate and lead their
neighbors and help make our
city a great place to live,
work and raise a family.
That is been my experience.
Please vote to retain the
Northeast 41st Street center.
Thank you very much.
>> Thank you.
Who is next Jodi?
>> Our next speaker is Colleen
Michael Lear and she will be
followed by David Haynes.
Go ahead Colleen.
>> Good evening I am
representing 4100 households
within a walkable mile of
Seattle's community center
Northeast 41st Street.
I have spoken before.
We just asked today that the
city Council advocate to
Seattle Parks and Recreation to
structure budget the retain
programming in all of its
community centers, concern
Seattle Park and rec budget
increase by 25% which means it
has the close one of his 26
centers to balance the budget
which is only .0067% of their
entire budget.
The 94-year-old center is
offered classes for that long,
for isolated seniors, tots,
afterschool classes adjacent
elementary school students are
45% a caller 40% are low
income.
Provides a good place to play
for kids, senior exercises an
organization that trains
everybody to turn off gas and
water utility structures for
their neighborhood.
Trapped kids need a place to
participate in a stimulating
environment.
Some schools have to go remote
because children are back in
the classroom but they are not
socially adjusted.
Programming can help foster
cooperation by bringing kids
together from different
backgrounds.
Seniors especially on fixed
incomes benfit as well
stretching their minds and
bodies.
The lifelong part city center
represent 215,000 residens
over 50 love this community
center and have used it for
years.
It's the number one spot easy
to navigate and has handicap
facilities.
Northeast 41st Street center
serves 15 adjacent neighborhoods
and the Council voted heavily
to support retaining his
program so we ask U.S. to
Seattle Parks and Recreation to
continue to keep his
programming and balance its
Badgett and other means the
same amount for the sheer would
be net zero.
>> Choline, thank you.
>> Our last speaker registered
to speak is David Haynes.
David?
>> Thank you city Council.
Good evening.
When he 21st-century first
world quality community centers
and times open just like at the
library.
We do need austere budgets when
it comes to cheating people out
of services of community
gathering places and exercise
celebration.
Maybe I shouldn't bring this
part of it up but I was having
lunch inside a park in Ballard
next to the Fred Meyer,
something like 11th Avenue
Northwest on the canal.
My personal smart phone
commemorative sweatshirt, rain
jacket a couple other items of
money were stolen out of my
bike basket.
I went into local business
across the street and looked at
the company security camera.
The video shows a parks
department employee with a
handle trash picker upper
quietly sneaks up behind me and
a woman having lunch and talking
with her bike about 10 feet
behind us where horn honking
from the drop bridge a parks
department guy lists my bag in
drops my stuff on the pavement
then shoving it into his
personal pocket.
The owner of the business
across the street with the
security camera claim the guy
was an employee hired.pick up
trash at the park.
The employee of arcs department
never went into the perimeter
of the park to pick up the
trash.
How much money in the Seattle
Parks budget goes toward
propping up commercial real
estate and leasing inflated
corporate square footage
helping a big bank Democratic
donor well Council is expecting
inflated payoff dilapidated
property tax into the year
using tax dollars twice while
we need services and times open
now maybe will solve the
homeless crisis in the parks we
need better oversight of
government abuse of unions not
doing the job properly and
sometimes employees need to be
fired for dishonest worth after
maybe we need to radically have
one authorized Park create
encampment where it's safe with
the National Guard deployed
Army Corps of Engineers protect
them from the jail.
>> Thank you Mr. Haynes.
>> Is there anyone else signed
up, Jodi?
>> Know other people registered
to speak.
Okay.
>> Thank you those of you who
called in for public comment.
>> Yes is public comment.
Escort item number four, items
of business.
Clark can you read item number
one to the record.
>> Agenda item 1, Seattle Park
district proposed budget
changes proposed 22 budget
briefing and discussion.
>> Can our presenters please
introduce themselves and I will
say a few words and then we can
launch right into your
presentation.
>> Good evening.
Seattle Park and recreation.
>> Is that everybody?
>> Okay superintendent thank
you.
I know you have a PowerPoint
for us it looks like it has
been updated from October 18
meeting want to thank you for
that.
I see it includes the overview
of the Seattle Parks district
cycle and report 2015 to 2020.
>> Thank you so much.
I was very happy to see a
report on pages 50 to 17 that
we broke down the Seattle Park
district assessment map by
district so now people, can
actually look and see what's
being planned and what's being
done all those issues that you
broke down so thank you so much
for that.
I'm going to let you go ahead
and start your presentation.
>> Thank you President and
Council members.
We do have a presentation as
you stated.
Also realize stand between you
and the last several actions
you have before you wrap up a
budget so I'll be very brief
and we will go very quickly.
>> As we said councilmember,
quick overview of the park
district budget for 2022, give
you some highlights on end of
cycle report which ended in
2020 and then also give you
information what's next for the
second cycle of the park
District.
So we will go through that
process.
This first slide simply gives
you an overview of the overall
Parks and Recreation budget. It
shows that the park district
has a pretty significant
component of our overall budget
representing almost 20% of our
budget, $5 million per year.
One of the things we've done in
the past, interim year we asked
to change the amount of money
that was being funded by the
general fund and in this case
we are backup to what is
required in the interlocal
which is been backfilled there.
Next slide.
>> This gives you quick overview
both on the operating side and
capital side the park district
represents our component of
operation capital roughly 20%
each of those budgets a little
more on the capital side.
>> You seen the slide before
this gives you the overview of
2022.
Interim year marked district
cycle ending 2020.
Lester 2021 this year 2021 and
extra 2022 proposing, will
begin 2023 go into a little bit
how are going up plan for that,
couple things I've known on
this slide, total revenues,
interim year 54,000, $54.5
million.
2 1/2% increase prior years
each year the first cycle we
increase by 2 1/2% to address
inflation, the president and
one of the speakers also noted
property tax rate 21.3 cent per
thousand dollars assessed value
to 20.7 assessed value goes up
because we're pegging it to a
certain financial amount the
actual rate goes down and
compare that to the first full
year of implementation 2016
which is 29 per seven cents
thousand dollars to 2022
spending plan below that.
As we increase the revenue also
increasing expenditures.
You will know expenditures were
also up to a half percent.
The difference here you'll see
the planning which we talked
about in the past, basically a
hold ending labor negotiations
for the budget.
>> This you seen before.
More details than the previous
slide even more detail in your
attachment feature resolution
but this gives you initiative
by initiative write-downs of
the budget for 22 two. Again
inflationary rate 2 1/2%
overall.
You will note some of these
initiatives inflated higher or
lower levels overall revenue
and expenditures.
>> Next slide.
>> Can I have your hold up for
one minute.
Some people weren't here on
October 18 but we did go
through the slides.
Are there any questions for any
my colleagues up to this point,
particularly on the last slide,
the park district spending plan.
Seeing on, go ahead
superintendent.
>> Thank you.
>> Our June meeting we
presented a draft on report the
report is not complete and
publish.
There is a link here on the
slide that is accessible to
anyone who wants to take a look
at it.
This report broad overview,
gives you some very detailed
financial and other information
there.
First or second cycle it's
really important to highlight
the fact that the park district
related what I was set up to do
in terms of supporting Parks
and Recreation services. As you
all know it allowed us to
sustain operations during an
incredibly challenging last
couple years.
Park district funded several
studies that allowed us to
improve the work we are doing.
Some performance systems again
to continue to improve the
system.
Really allowed us as you
mentioned, if you look at the
next slide that you pointed to
president, next slide shows you
all of the various projects
completed as part of the park
district funded by the park
district, this confetti map
shows you the distribution and
breath of activities and
investments that are made
throughout the city first years
cycle shows activation in both
capital projects were completed
during the first six year cycle
as well as initiated
operational enhancements things
like come conservation
improvements and creating a
third shift to support or
maintenance facilities.
For side of the voters voters.
Want to thank the staff at the
Department of Parks and
Recreation to be able to
implement.
>> If I can have your hold up
one minute I want to make a
point.
I think councilmember Strauss
has a question.
>> Thank you, the confetti map
is very helpful and more
helpful as this list by district
with what we have going on.
I'm not going to read off all
the projects you've done in
district 6 because that will be
poor use of art time but I want
to thank you for putting it in
this format is really digestible
and really great to see all the
great work you seen over these
last few years.
Thank you.
>> Thank you.
>> You're welcome.
No something there.
First of all thank you for
incorporating everything we've
been working on the last three
or four years.
We were trying to add up the
projects and we wanted to
highlight what I think I'm
going to do is condemn some of
the numbers here and share with
my colleagues district 2 and
three projects have been
activated in the capital
projects which ones are
underway, which ones have been
studied.
I want to thank you that.
This is really been helpful for
us to focus particularly for
race and social justice equity
piece.
Again, thank you so much.
>> Anything else for many of my
colleagues?
Seeing on, go ahead
superintendent.
>> Next slide.
As we look into the next
district cycle 20 [ Event
concluded ] current year
interim year, 2022 closing and
interim year so we going to
2023 beginning the next six
years cycle that will go into
2028.
Recall way back in 2019.
Really conversation about
what's next.
They created the park district.
Really building on all the work
updating and really engaging
with community.
Pretty robust and 10,000 people
participated, what they wanted
Department of Parks and
Recreation have to cart regards
so they can meet their needs.
At the pivot to pandemic
response in mission essential
functions beginning of 2020.
That was put on pause from
implementation.
During this current calendar
year before the we go to the
planning of the next cycle that
begins in 2023 we wanted to
reconnect with the community
and focus on conversations we
had with them way back in 2019
we want to make sure we updated
those conversations at her
directly from them in light of
these multiple crisis ongoing
impacts of climate change.
Went through that process, near
the end of that right now.
There were going through
putting together a short-term
action plan that will get us
through next year in the next
several years and begin the
process of developing the next
cycle of the park district.
Next slide.
>> The engagement we've done in
addition to way back in 2019.
Really targeted community
members that may not have
dissipated in the last round
but also community members that
we know just barely impacted by
the crisis.
We did things like had our
community engagement ambassadors
in parks and doing surveys,
when our community engagement
ambassadors going out and
talking different languages and
asking a lot of questions.
I did a series of listening
questions targeting groups and
serving community members
pretty good robust online open
house that had over 3500
responses and many more people
engage with that.
Internally we have really been
relying on our staff members to
really look on how their work
and line of engagement, the
need for the communities.
>> Type of engagement we had,
the share alone and in in
addition to 5000 people connect
with us.
27 community based
organizations that gave us
input.
With online open house that had
over 3600 people submit
responses to the survey.
Really as we were doing all
these conversations are really
focus on these for pieces our
work in public health while
supporting racial equity
supporting community members and
as they recover from this
economic collapse and again on
the climate change impacts are
really focuses conversations on
those four areas.
>> As you can imagine we heard
a lot great engagement a
sampling of what we heard all
the various touch points,
everything from as you can
imagine how do we address the
effects of homelessness and
parks reducing barriers and
participation and programs but
also volunteers small
businesses have a lot of
feedback how we provide permits
and make it easier for
organizations to participate on
and on.
You can see all of these and we
have many more of these and
this gives you pretty good
overview.
By and large, we want more
pickleball, more hours,
swimming pool, we are taking
all this information and this
is what we are going to bring
to the conversation as we begin
a discussion throughout the
next cycle of the park
district.
>> Superintendent, before you
slide into slide number 12, we
have a couple constituents
called inner sent information.
What is the status on the pools
and the programming to open
this winter?
>> Several pools have been open
and have been programming much
like our community centers.
There back up and running.
>> Okay.
Go ahead.
Slide 12.
>> The next slide, just to give
you a little bit of a preview
in terms of what's next begin
the next six years cycle at the
park district.
Gone through this process of
the engagement for strategic
plan, re-engagement prioritize
how these crises have impacted
their needs.
Then I will begin 2022 early
next year both on our own
internal side of things, kind
of what we left off back in
2019 when we are ready to
finalize the next planning
cycle will pick up on the
internal work we did for the
park and recreation
commissioners to get input from
the public in continue
prioritization throughout the
engagement.
And then the should culminate
in June where we will present
our recommendations from the
department to the mayor who
will then represent part of his
budget for your review.
Then we began the 2023 cycle.
>> How are you going to do it
with COVID-19?
Are you requiring people to
show they are vaccinated at
communities or continue to do
it through Zoom?
>> In terms of the engagement?
>> Park and recreation
commissioners to see the
comfort level there.
Zoom has some advantages and
also disadvantages.
They are very interested in
going out to communities to
have engagement in community so
were going to work with them to
support that.
Park and recreation facility,
have to show proof of
vaccination.
We continue to apply whatever
the County and city and state
mandates are with regards to
that.
We have been able to do some in
person engagement.
I did one with the park
community up here, few weeks
ago we did it out doors we will
work through that and see
what's going to be the best way
to get as much engagement as
possible.
>> Great, thank you.
This is the end of your
PowerPoint so let me check with
my colleagues, again this is
the second time going through
this and my colleagues all
received the memo and a copy of
the report in ordinances and
summary you're giving us a lot
of great information.
With that are there any more
questions before we move into
some of the items to vote on?
>> I see none.
The vice president does have
his hand up.
Go ahead councilmember
Peterson.
>> I just wanted to address
some folks from District 4
called in and I wanted to let
them know that the ability to
amend this budget is very
limited, that action takes
place as part of the regular
budget committee and the full
city Council that already met
to approve the budget.
This is just 20% of the overall
funding for parks and it is
really a very high level
approval. So I did make
attempts to restore funding for
the lower arts community center
twice actually and so even
though that meant narrowly did
not pass I will be working with
the administration to see what
we can do to restore that in
some fashion next year I just
wanted to address the folks
that had called in.
Thank you.
>> Thank you councilmember
Peterson.
Anybody else?
>> Hearing none.
Okay.
Item number two, clerk can you
read item number two into the
record.
>> Agenda item number two
number two, resolution 44 a
resolution adopting the 2022
Seattle Park district budget.
>> I move the board adopt
resolution 44 is there a
second?
>> Second.
Let's begin our discussion, is
there any discussion regarding
resolution 44?
Tracy, anything you want to add
for us?
>> No, we have been through it
now two times.
Good.
Seeing no discussion and no one
has their hands up.
I will move forward.
The motion to adopt resolution
44 has been moved and seconded.
If there's no further
discussion will the clerk
please call the role?
>> Gonzalez?
[ Roll being called Ñ
>> Seven in favor none opposed.
Thank you.
>> Thank you councilmember, in
favor none opposed.
>> The motion passes, will the
clerk please affix my signature
to the resolution on my behalf.
>> Lets move to agenda item
number three and can the clerk
please read that into the
record.
>> Agenda item 3, resolution 45.
A resolution authorizing the
level the levy of regular
property taxes by the Seattle
Park district for collection in
2022, representing an increase
above the regular property
taxes levied for collection in
2021.
>> I move the board adopt
resolution 45, is there a
second?
>> Second.
>> Any discussion or any more
questions from what we've heard
from the superintendent?
>> See none.
The motion to adopt resolution
45 has been moved and seconded,
will the clerk please call the
role?
>> [ Roll being called Ñ
>> Eight in favor none opposed.
>> Lets move on to agenda item
number four and can you please
read item 4 to the record.
>> Agenda item number four,
resolution 46.
A resolution relating to the
levy of property taxes, fixing
the rate and or amounts of
taxes to be levied and levying
the same upon all taxable
property both real and personal
in the Seattle Park district to
finance the act to Betty's at
the district for the year
beginning January 1, 2022.
>> Thank you Jody.
I move that the board adopt
resolution 46.
Are there any comments?
Any comments or discussions on
this matter?
>> See none, motion to adopt
has been moved and seconded no
further discussion will the
Kurt clerk please call the
role?
>> [ Roll being called Ñ
>> Eight in favor, none opposed.
>> Thank you, motion passes and
resolution a drop it will the
clerk please affix my
resolution on the behalf.
>> Here's the last one, will
the clerk please read item
number five on the record.
>> Agenda number five,
resolution 47.
A resolution setting a Seattle
Park district board meeting
date for June 2022 and stating
the intent to establish the
remainder of the meeting dates
in June 2022.
>> I move the board adopt
resolution 47.
>> Second.
>> Councilmember PRESIDENT
JUAREZ, why we're only
establishing one date?
As the superintendent indicated
we are expecting that the
executive transmit to the
Council in August we don't know
exactly what those dates will
be right now it seemed prudent
to get to the June meeting in
the park district and see if we
know more about dates certain
that we would expect and
receive and want to set toward
meetings to approximate when we
think we actually receive the
document again likely in August
is what we are hoping for so
that's why we chose not to
establish any more dates for
the board.
Additionally possibility of
changing Council briefing
meetings and that would impact
when we would set our October
and November meeting dates with
didn't seem prudent to schedule
those states giving your still
trying to decide which are
meeting date might be is
relating to Council meetings.
>> Thank you Tracy is going to
try to address that than I
thought it be more complicated
so thank you.
and then I have a note here so
thank you for catching that
because I didn't even see my
own note.
Thank you.
>> Of course.
>> I forgot where I was that?
Was I getting ready to move or
do we already have a second?
>> We are getting ready to
vote.
>> The motion to adopt
resolution 47 has been moved
and seconded, will the clerk
please call the role.
>> [ Roll being called Ñ
>> Eight in favor none opposed.
>> Motion passes and the
resolution is that opted, will
the clerk please affix my
signature to the resolution on
Monday behalf.
>> So this concludes our
business but before we adjourn
our next meeting as Tracy
pointed out will be held on
June 24, 2022 and not seen any
more information, no one
raising their hand there being
no further business we stand
adjourned and thank you for
sticking around, I know it is
been a long day and I
appreciate all of you.