>> THIS MEETING OF THE SEATTLE
DISTRICT BOARD WILL COME TO
ORDER.
IT IS A 5:34 P.M.
I AM ANDREW LAURA PRESIDENT OF
THE BOARD.
WE PLEASE CALL THE ROLL?
>> BOARD MEMBER MISS GET IT DID
CONTACT ME THEY ARE ON THEIR WAY
I'M EXPECTING HER IN CHAMBERS
MOMENTARILY.
IF THERE IS NO OBJECTION THE
AGENDA WILL BE ADOPTED.
ITEMS OF BUSINESS.
LET'S MOVE ONTO ITEMS OF
BUSINESS AND THE PUBLIC HEARING
BEFORE THE PARK BOARD.
THE PRESENTATION WILL BEGIN BY
JACOB SORT ON COUNCIL STAFF.
AND A PUBLIC HEARING WILL BE
HELD ON THE PROPOSED SEATTLE
PARK DISTRICT CYCLE FUNDING PLAN
FOR 2023 TWO 2028.
JACOB THORPE YOU CAN BEGIN THE
CONVERSATION.
BOARD MEMBER PETERSON IS NOW
PRESENT CAN YOU CAN CONFIRM
THAT?
MISTER CLERK CAN YOU PLEASE
CONTINUE YOUR CONVERSATION?
THE DISTRICT IS GOVERNED BY THE
PARK DISTRICT BOARD WITH
INTERLOCAL AGREEMENT IN 2014
AND THE BOARD'S ROLE.
IT REQUIRES THE CITY TO CARRY
OUT ACTIVITIES OF THE DISTRICT
AND REQUIRES MINIMUM GENERAL
FUND SUPPORT ADJUSTED ANNUALLY
WHICH HAS OCCURRED EVERY YEAR.
RISING ANNUALLY WITH THE FIRST
FUNDING PLAN SUPPORTING MORE
THAN 30 INITIATIVES.
THE ADOPTED DISTRICT BUDGET WAS
56 MILLION.
ON THIS SLIDE YOU CAN SEE THE
AVERAGE IMPACT AND THE TOTAL
PARKS LEVY AMOUNT IN 2016 WHEN
TAX COLLECTION BEGAN IN $154.66
WITH THE LAST YEAR OF CYCLE ONE
INVESTMENTS.
WE ANTICIPATE THEY WILL HAVE
NEW INVESTMENT PROPOSALS
PRECOMMITMENT PROJECTS
CONTENDING FUNDING AND MID 19
ECONOMIC FUNDING.
THE BP RC ROLE IN THE PLAN
DEVELOPMENT PER THE INTERLOCAL
AGREEMENT THE BOARD OF PARKS
AND RECREATION IS RESPONSIBLE
FOR HOLDING PUBLIC MEETINGS
WITH THE MAYOR AND THE PARKS
DISTRICT BOARD HOLDING MULTIPLE
MEETINGS LISTED WITH THE
PUBLIC.
THEY ADOPTED THOSE ON MAY 19th.
THERE ARE 38 NEW INVESTMENTS
WITH 81 POINT EIGHT FULL-TIME
EMPLOYEES.
THEY ALSO INCLUDE PRECOMMITMENT
PROJECTS.
THEIR ESTIMATED COST 25 MILLION
WITH $10 MILLION A YEAR IN DEBT
FINANCING PLUS ADDITIONAL
MAINTENANCE COSTS.
THIS SLIDE SHOWS THE
PRECOMMITMENT PROJECTS WHICH
INCLUDES SIX LAND BANK PARK
PROJECTS THE LOYAL HEIGHTS
COMMUNITY CENTER AND THE
REDEVELOPMENT.
IN THE GREENLAKE COMMUNITY
CENTER AND TENANT IMPROVEMENTS
IN THE EIGHTH EMERSON COMMUNITY
CENTER.
ADDITIONAL ELEMENTS INCLUDE
CONTINUED FUNDING AND CYCLE ONE
INITIATIVES.
THE CYCLE TO PLAN COULD INCLUDE
FUNDING FOR THOSE IN THE CYCLE
ONE PLAN AND 58.2 BILLION FOR
2023.
THE MAYOR'S PROPOSED CYCLE TO
CLAN CAN INCLUDE THE FIRST TWO
YEARS FOR ONGOING ECONOMIC
IMPACTS FROM THE PANDEMIC.
THIS HAS BEEN REFERRED TO AS
SUPPLANTING IN OTHER MEETINGS.
THE ESTIMATED COST IS $10
MILLION.
THAT IS THE END OF THE SLIDE.
I AM NOW HAPPY TO TAKE ANY
QUESTIONS.
>> THANK YOU MISTER CLERK.
I WOULD LIKE TO ADD TO IT IT
WAS MENTIONED THE BOARD OF
RECOMMENDATIONS IN THE SLIDE
DECK AS CLARIFIED HERE THIS CAN
BE CONFUSING TO MEMBERS OF THE
PUBLIC.
THE BOARD OF PARK AND
RECREATION COMMISSION IS THE
COMMISSION THAT THE COUNCIL
APPOINTS TO ADVISE THE CITY
GOVERNMENT ON THE OVERSIGHT AND
MANAGEMENT AND WE ARE CURRENTLY
ASSEMBLED AS THE PARK DISTRICT
BOARD THIS IS THE COUNCIL
SITTING IN OUR DUAL DUAL ROLE
WITH THE METROPOLITAN PARK
DISTRICT.
AS A CLERK INDICATED WE HAVE
HAD A FEW TO BRING US UP-TO-
DATE ON WHERE WE ARE WITH THE
RECOMMENDATIONS THAT WE HAVE
RECEIVED WITH 30+
RECOMMENDATIONS FOR SPENDING
FROM THE BOARD OF PARK
COMMISSIONERS THAT IS STARTING
OUR PROCESS NOW AS WE GET
FEEDBACK FROM THOSE HERE IN THE
OPEN HEARING IN THE OPEN
HEARINGS THAT ARE HERE TO COME
ON WHAT OUR FINAL SPENDING PLAN
WILL BE.
I WOULD LIKE TO CLARIFY THAT
EVEN THOUGH WE HAVE THIS
INITIAL PROPOSAL THAT DOES NOT
LOCK US INTO THE FINAL ACTION
OF WHAT THIS BOARD NEEDS TO BE.
THAT'S WHY WE WANT TO HEAR FROM
THE MEMBERS OF THE PUBLIC SO WE
CAN SHAPE WHAT THAT FINAL
PROPOSAL WILL BE THIS FALL.
WITH THAT I AM HAPPY TO TURN
THIS OVER TO THE CLERK IN ORDER
TO START THE PUBLIC HEARING.
LET'S ACTUALLY TAKE A MOMENT
STEVE THE BOARD MEMBERS HAVE
ANY QUESTIONS FOR JACOB SORT ON
HIS PRESENTATION BEFORE WE
PROCEED TO OPEN PUBLIC COMMENT?
OKAY SEEING NO QUESTIONS FOR
JACOB THORPE LET'S MOVE ON TO
OPENING THE PUBLIC HEARING.
AT THIS TIME WE WILL OPEN THE
HYBRID PUBLIC HEARING.
WE ARE JOINED BY A GOOD NUMBER
OF COMMUNITY MEMBERS IN THE
COUNCIL CHAMBERS.
THERE ARE THOSE WE WILL HEAR
THE FIRST 10 REMOTE SPEAKERS
AND THEN WE WILL HEAR 10 IN
PERSON AN ALTERNATE ACCORDINGLY
UNTIL EVERYONE WHO HAS SIGNED
UP HAS HAD AN OPPORTUNITY TO
SPEAK.
WILL THE CLERK TELL US HOW MANY
SPEAKERS HAVE SIGNED UP AND IF
POSSIBLE HOW MANY ARE VIRTUAL
AND HOW MANY ARE IN PERSON?
>> THERE ARE APPROXIMATELY 45
PEOPLE THAT ARE SIGNED UP TO
SPEAK REMOTELY.
THERE ARE CURRENTLY 15 PEOPLE
SIGNED UP TO SPEAK IN PERSON.
WE CAN GO 10 AND 10 IF YOU WANT
REMOTE OR IN PERSON FIRST?
>> LET'S DO 10 AND 10.
I'LL SWITCH AND DO IN PERSON
FIRST AND WE CAN DO IF IT'S
ONLY 15 IN PERSON SPEAKERS THAN
WHAT WE DO ALL 15 AND THEN
ALTERNATES TO GOING THROUGH ALL
THE VIRTUAL.
>> OKAY THEN THE FIRST IN
PERSON SPEAKER IS ANDREW ECCLES.
>> CAN YOU MAYBE GET CLOSER TO
THE MIKE.
TRY IT AGAIN PLEASE.
IT MIGHT NOT EVEN BE ON.
NOW THERE IS A LIGHT.
THERE WE GO.
GREAT.
LET'S RESTART THE TIMER.
GOOD AFTERNOON.
MY NAME IS ANDREW ECCLES.
I'M A MEMBER OF 350 AND I AM
COMING TO YOU TODAY TO URGE THE
COUNCIL TO SUPPORT THE DEMANDS
PRIORITIZING ACTION WITHIN THE
UPCOMING LEVY.
I FELT THE URGENCY ANXIETYAND
RANGE OF OUR LACK OF MEANINGFUL
CLIMATE ACTION.
I HAVE BEEN SPEAKING ABOUT
THESE EVENTS THAT STARTED IN
2018 FOLLOWED BY THE DEADLY
HEAT DOME GIVING A VISCERAL
TASTE OF WHAT IS IN STORE FOR
OUR REGION AND THE WORLD.
THESE ARE INTIMIDATING.
BUT WHAT WE DO IN THIS DECADE
MATTERS TREMENDOUSLY.
IT'S ABOUT TACKLING THIS
CRISIS.
WE SEE THIS PROCESS MOVING UP
IN THE FOSSIL FUELS ATTACKING
THOSE INEQUALITIES THAT MAKE
SOME OF OUR COMMUNITY MEMBERS
DRAMATIC AND MORE EXPOSED TO
THE IMPACTS OF THE CLIMATE
CRISIS.
WE CAN DO THAT BY MEETING
DEMANDS AS FOLLOWS.
RATHER THAN DOING SOME HERE THE
CURRENT PROPOSAL HAS IT
FOCUSING ON FULL UPGRADES TO
THE ZONE CENTERS WHERE WE GIVE
THE COMMUNITY CENTERS MICRO
GREAT SELLERS TO RUN WHEN THE
POWER GOES OUT THE HEAT PUMPS
THAT WILL MOVE THE BUILDINGS
OFF OF FOSSIL FUEL GASES AND
ALLOW THEM TO BEING COOLING
CENTERS.
ONLY TWO OR THREE HAVE A SCENE
RIGHT NOW.
AND A TRACK UPGRADES.
WE SHOULD ABSOLUTELY BE
PRIORITIZING THE INVESTMENTS
THAT WE DO HERE WITH THE
COMMUNITIES THAT ARE MOST
IMPACTED BY THE HEAT WAVES AND
THESE EVENTS.
WE SHOULD INVEST IN PATHWAYS TO
GOOD CLEAN UNION JOBS BY DOING
THIS WORK UNDER PROJECT
AGREEMENTS AND COMMUNITY
WORKFORCE AGREEMENTS TO HELP
WITH LOCAL HIRES.
AND FINALLY, CITY COUNCIL
SHOULD BE UPHOLDING THE
COMMITMENTS MOVE ALL BUILDINGS
OFF OF FOSSIL FUELS BY 2035.
THANK YOU.
>> OUR NEXT SPEAKER IS LILY
FRENETTE.
>> HELLO.
I AM A SEATTLE RESIDENT AND 350
SEATTLE MEMBER.
I AM HERE TO SUPPORT THE
HEALTHY THROUGH SMOKE CAMPAIGN
AND ASK THE PARKS BOARD TO
CENTER THE CLIMATE CRISIS WHEN
PLANNING FOR SPENDING ON THE
PARKS LEVY.
WE SHOULD BE SUPPORTING OUR
COMMUNITY.
THEY SHOULD BE ABLE TO HELP
THOSE IN NEED REGARDLESS OF
WEATHER CONDITIONS.
IF THERE'S A HEAT WAVE GOING ON
AND SOMEONE IS NOT AIR-
CONDITIONED THEY SHOULD BE ABLE
TO PROVIDE COOL SPACES SO THEY
CAN BEAT THE HEAT.
IF THERE IS A WILDFIRE PEOPLE
SHOULD BE ABLE TO GATHER AT A
COMMUNITY CENTER AND BREATHE
EASY.
RIGHT NOW ONLY THREE COMMUNITY
CENTERS ARE OUTFITTED TO
ACCOMPLISH THIS WITH AN AC AND
IT IS IMPERATIVE THAT THIS
BUDGET ALL SINNERS NOW TO HELP
THOSE WHO ARE IN NEED.
NOT IN FIVE YEARS, NOT IN 10
YEARS, RIGHT NOW.
THE OPPORTUNITY TO STAND FOR
COMMUNITY MEMBERS WHO ARE
LIVING IN SITUATIONS THAT MAKE
THE CLIMATE CRISIS CHANGES OF
THE WILDFIRE SMOKE AND OBSCENE
AMOUNTS OF HEAT MAKE THEIR
LIVES BETTER ON A WHOLE THE
LIVES OF ALL PEOPLE IN SEATTLE
AFFECTED BY PROVIDING THESE
COMMUNITY CENTERS THAT CAN
ACCOMMODATE PEOPLE DURING THESE
TIMES OF NEED.
THANK YOU.
>> MY NAME IS EMMA AND I'M A 17-
YEAR-OLD STUDENT IN SEATTLE.
I'M HERE TO SUPPORT THE FULL
DEMAND.
WHEN GOING OUTSIDE MADE HER
HEAD HURT FROM WILDFIRE SMOKE
CALIFORNIA WAS BURNING.
WE WATCHED THE CLIMATE CRISIS
GET WORSE AND GET IGNORED.
SIDELINED AND PLACED ON THE
BACKBONE OF THE POLICY.
THIS IS A CLIMATE EMERGENCY
IT'S COSTING JOBS AND LIVES.
IT WILL HELP CREATE THRIVING
COMMUNITIES HERE IN SEATTLE.
>> OUR NEXT SPEAKER IS KRISTIN
SMITH.
>> GOOD AFTERNOON.
I'M A MEMBER OF 350 SEATTLE.
LIVING IN THE SOUTHWEST CORNER
WHERE I AM ALSO A TEACHER.
DURING THE HEAT WAVES AND
WILDFIRE SMOKE I'VE CHECKED IN
ON MY STUDENTS AND FAMILIES WHO
MOSTLY LIVE IN THE MARGINALIZED
COMMUNITIES LIKE HIGHPOINT AND
SOUTHPARK.
MOST DO NOT HAVE ACCESS TO AIR
CONDITIONING.
DURING THE SUMMER SCHOOL
SESSION THEY DON'T HAVE ACCESS
MANY HAVE NOT HAD GOOD OPTIONS.
THEY HAD TO SCRAMBLE TO EVEN
OPEN UP THE PRIVATE SPACES.
I MENTOR A GROUP OF STUDENTS
WHO STARTED IN OUR SCHOOL
CURRENTLY FIGHTING THE CLIMATE
CRISIS.
IT IS ALONGSIDE THEM THAT I'M
SUPPORTING THE FULL DEMANDS.
THEY UNDERSTAND THE URGENCY OF
THIS CRISIS.
IN ORDER TO DO RIGHT BY THEM
IT'S SO IMPORTANT.
PLEASE SUPPORT THE FULL DEMANDS
INVESTING IN THESE UPGRADES
USING CLEAN ENERGY WILL MAKE A
HUGE DIFFERENCE IN THE
COMMUNITY WHERE I LIVE AND WORK.
I LIVE IN SOUTHWEST SEATTLE AND
I DID NOT HAVE AIR CONDITIONING.
WE WERE ALL STRUGGLING NOT
HAVING ENOUGH TO GO.
MANY HAD TO SUFFER THROUGH THE
HEAT WAVE.
I SUPPORT THIS CAMPAIGN FOR
SURE.
>> THE NEXT SPEAKER IS NEIL
ANDERSON.
A LOT OF PEOPLE TOOK SHELTER IN
LIBRARIES AND OTHER AREAS.
WHAT IF IT HAD NOT BEEN
AVAILABLE DUE TO WIDESPREAD
POWER OUTAGES?
THE HEAT WAVES PUT ENORMOUS
STRESS WITH SEVERAL NEARBY
COUNTIES YOU HAD TO RESORT TO
BLACKOUTS.
THERE ARE ALSO POWER OUTAGES
THE BUT IT'S DIFFICULT TO
DISSIPATE THE HEAT IN AN
ENCLOSED SPACE.
DURING THIS LEVEL THERE ARE 6000
HERE.
AT THE TIME THAT THE CITY
SPOKESPERSON SAID WE NEED TO
BALANCE THE SPEED WITH THE
SAFETY AND LIMIT THE AMOUNT OF
TIME THAT THEY ARE UNDERGROUND.
AS THEY CONTINUE TO HEAT UP IT
BECOMES MORE COMMON AND EVEN
MORE SEVERE.
THEY HAVE ON-SITE BATTERY PACK
UP FOR COOL AND FILTERED AIR
FOR MOST HONORABLE RESIDENCE.
I ASK THAT YOU SUPPORT THE
DEMANDS OF THIS CAMPAIGN
PARTICULARLY PRIORITIZING THE
CENTERS IN THE MOST
MARGINALIZED COMMUNITIES.
THANK YOU.
>> TAX DOLLARS FROM THE PARKS
DISTRICT SHOULD BE USED TO
SUPPORT PUBLIC AND FREE PARKS
RATHER THAN PRIVATE
ORGANIZATIONS LIKE THE
AQUARIUMS.
THE CITY'S GENERAL FUND
SUPPORTS THESE VENUES QUITE
IDENTICALLY.
IT IS IMPORTANT TO KNOW WHEN
MAKING FUNDING DECISIONS THAT
THOSE CITIZENS DO NOT SUPPORT
THE ZOO AS THEY ONCE DID.
PAID GATE ATTENDANCE HAS
DECLINED FOR WELL OVER A DECADE.
IN FACT IN 2019 BEFORE COVID,
THE PAID GATE ATTENDANCE WAS AT
THE 2004 LEVEL.
IN THOSE 15 YEARS THE
POPULATION HAS BOOMED.
ALSO IN 2019 THEY GIVE AWAY
100,000 FREE TICKETS.
ONLY 37% WERE USED. SO EVEN
WHEN IT IS FREE THE MAJORITY OF
PEOPLE DID NOT GO.
IT IS LIKELY BECAUSE PEOPLE
HAVE LEARNED THAT CAGING WILD
ANIMALS CAUSES SUFFERING.
THEY NO LONGER WANT TO LOOK AT
THOSE SUFFERING ANIMALS IN
CAGES THAT ACT NOTHING LIKE
THEIR COUNTERPARTS IN THE WILD
DO.
LASTLY THERE IS NO SCIENTIFIC
PEER-REVIEWED RESEARCH THAT
SUPPORTS A TIMEWORN CLAIM THAT
EDUCATION OR CONSERVATION GAINS
OCCURS FROM ONE VISITING THE
ZERO.
IN FACT THEIR OWN RESEARCH
FOUND THE ATTITUDE TOWARD
PROTECTING WILD ANIMALS AND
PROTECTING THE WILD HABITAT HAS
ACTUALLY DECREASED AFTER AS YOU
VISIT.
THE ZOO IS PRIMARILY AN
ENTERTAINMENT VENUE.
LET'S REALLOCATE THE DISTRICT
FUNDS AWAY FROM THE ZOO AND THE
AQUARIUMS AND GIVE IT TO THE
FREE PUBLIC PART FOR EVERYONE
TO ENJOY.
LET'S NOT PUT MORE OF A TAX
BURDEN ON THOSE WHO CANNOT
AFFORD IT.
>> OUR NEXT SPEAKER.
DARIC BARTON PHILIA.
>> HELLO.
MY NAME IS DEREK AND I AM A
RENTER IN DISTRICT 6. I AM HERE
COMMENTING IN SUPPORT OF
UPGRADING SEATTLE COMMUNITY
CENTERS FOR CLIMATE RESILIENCY
AND CLEAN ENERGY.
WHEN I HEAR CLIMATE RESILIENCY
I FIRST THINK MOSTLY THAT THE
HEAT WAVE CAME THROUGH LAST
YEAR AND IN PARTICULAR I THINK
ABOUT WAKING UP AT FIVE A.M.
AND OPENING UP MY COOKING
THERMOMETER IN MY LIVING ROOM
AND FINDING THAT THE COOLEST
PART OF THE DAY WAS STILL ABOVE
90 DEGREES ON THE INSIDE.
THEN I THINK ABOUT HOW LATER
WHEN IT WAS 108 DEGREES OUT IN
THE MIDDLE THE DAY THEIR
LIBRARY NOR THE COMMUNITY
CENTER WERE OPEN IN MY
NEIGHBORHOOD ARE ABLE TO BE USED
IN THE SCHOOLING CENTERS.
THEN I SET BACK AND REALIZE I
HAD A GOOD COMPARISON TOOL FOR
THOSE IN MY REGION.
SOME ANALYSIS HAS SHOWN THAT IT
IS LIKELY THAT HUNDREDS HAVE
DIED DURING THIS HEAT WAVE.
AND SOME OF THESE ARE LIVING
OUTSIDE WITH NO PLACE TO GO AND
SOME OF THEM ARE IN SEATTLE.
MANY OTHERS HAD TO BE TREATED
AT LOCAL HOSPITALS FOR
UNPRECEDENTED AMOUNT OF HEAT
RELATED ILLNESSES.
WHEN WE LOOK AT WHAT WE'VE GONE
THROUGH THE CITY OF THE LAST
SUMMER IT FEELS OBVIOUS THAT WE
HAVE NOT BUILT UP THE
INFRASTRUCTURE THAT WE NEED AS
A CITY TO LIVE THROUGH THE TYPE
OF EXTREME WEATHER EVENTS THAT
ARE BECOMING MORE AND MORE
COMMON.
GIVEN ALL THAT I STRONGLY URGE
YOU TO GET STARTED ON BUILDING
THAT INFRASTRUCTURE AND INCREASE
WITH ELECTRIC HEAT PUMPS AND
HVAC SYSTEMS AND SOLAR GRIDS.
USING THEM TIGHT DELPHI WITH
THESE WEATHER EVENTS THAT IS
EQUITY FIRST.
>> OUR NEXT SPEAKER IS BELLA
BALI.
>> I'M A HIGH SCHOOL STUDENT
YOU'D HAVE TO ZOOM IN ON GOOGLE
MAPS TO SEE THIS.
WITH THOSE COLLAPSING
DEMOCRACIES IS IMPORTANT TO
REMEMBER TO CONNECT THE IMPACT
OF CLIMATE CHANGE HAS.
CLIMATE RESILIENCY PROVIDES
SANCTUARY FOR THOSE MOST
IMPACTED.
I AM HOPEFUL THAT THEY ARE
TAKING CLIMATE CHANGE AS
SERIOUSLY AS IT AFFECTS THE
MAJORITY OF PEOPLE.
THEY WILL CONTINUE TO BE A
PLACE FOR PEOPLE CAN BE PROUD
TO CALL HOME.
THANK YOU.
>> OUR NEXT SPEAKER IS SEAN
MORAN.
>> IS IT POSSIBLE TO SWITCH THE
SCREEN TO THE ZOOM MEETING?'S
IS KIND OF AWKWARD TO JUST TALK
2:00 AND NOT THE PEOPLE THAT
YOU SHOULD BE TALKING TO.
MY NAME IS SEAN MORAN.
I LIVE IN DISTRICTS THAT SPOKE
THE CITY IS BLESSED IN THIS
AREA.
THAT'S WHY FELL ON THE FOR THAT.
I BELIEVE IT'S YOUR HIGH
RESPONSIBILITY TO BELIEVE THAT
YOU HELP THOSE ACTION PLANS
THAT ENSURE CLEAN AIR WATER AND
SIMULTANEOUSLY PROTECT THE HELP
OF THE PEOPLE YOU HAVE CHOSEN
TO LEAD.
THOSE IN THE LOW INCOME AREAS
MUST BE WELL ADDRESSED WITH
ACTION PLANS UPGRADING THE
COMMUNITY CENTERS FOR CLIMATE
RESILIENCY WILL DO THAT.
THE UPGRADED COMMUNITY CENTERS
IS A SUBJECT OF EMERGENCY.
THE CITY WILL NOT BE EXEMPT
FROM THE IMPACTS OF CLIMATE
CHANGE.
IT'S BASED ON CITY
INFRASTRUCTURE.
ONLY TO OF 26 HAVE ADEQUATE
HEAT WAVE PROTECTION.
WE CANNOT AFFORD TO BE SOMEONE
WHO FAILS TO ADAPT TO THE
CHANGING ECOSYSTEM.
LET THE ABUNDANT NATURAL BEAUTY
BE A DAILY REMINDER.
PRESERVING THE HEALTH OF THE
PACIFIC NORTHWEST AND THE
RESIDENCE.
ARE WE GOING TO BE PREPARED.
I THINK THERE ARE MORE PEOPLE
THAT DON'T HAVE IT GOOD.
WE SHOULD PROBABLY DO SOMETHING
ABOUT THAT.
>> OUR NEXT SPEAKER IS JESSICA
ROXANNE JONES.
>> HELLO.
THANK YOU FOR MEETING WITH US
TODAY.
AND DISCUSSING THIS IMPORTANT
PARK LEVEE FUNDING I SEE THIS
OPPORTUNITY AS A WAY TO BRING
PEOPLE COLLECTIVELY RATHER THAN
INDIVIDUALIZING.
THEY DON'T KNOW IF THEY CAN EVEN
PUT THIS IN THEIR WINDOWS TO
TRY TO MITIGATE THE SMOKE THAT
COMES THROUGH WHICH IS WHAT I
HAVE TO DO IN MY HOUSE THAT IS
A 100-YEAR-OLD HOUSE IN
DISTRICT 6. WE ARE ABLE TO GET
BY THROUGH THIS AREA AND
HANDLING AIR THROUGH OUR HOUSE.
BUT PROTECTING THE MOST
HONORABLE PEOPLE IN THIS WAY
WILL HELP EVERYONE WITH OTHER
EFFORT'S SUPPORTING PEOPLE ON
THE STREETS AND WHAT THEY NEED
AND THOSE WHO LIVE ON HOUSED.
WITH THAT YOU ALSO GET A GOOD
OPPORTUNITY TO LOOK FOR
VOLUNTEERS COMING TOGETHER AND
SPEAKING WITH EACH OTHER DURING
MOMENTS OF CRISIS WHEN THEY
COME TOGETHER IN COMMUNITY
CENTERS RATHER THAN SCRAMBLING
TO RUN ANYWHERE BUT WERE ABLE
TO SURVIVE.
THANK YOU AND I HOPE THAT SOME
OF THE FUNDING FOR THE PARK
WILL GET USED AND HOPEFULLY
WILL BE A LARGE AMOUNT TO
UPGRADE THE COMMUNITY CENTERS
IN THIS WAY.
>> OUR NEXT SPEAKER IS SUSAN
HILDRETH.
>> THANK YOU.
I AM HAPPY TO BE HERE.
I AM A RETIRED ENGINEER AND A
28 YEAR PROPERTY OWNER FOR
DISTRICT 4. I AM HERE TO
SUPPORT THE HEALTHY THROUGH
HEAT AND SMOKE CAMPAIGN.
WE READ ARTICLES ABOUT FORCE
DESTRUCTION IN THE CONGO SAYING
THE GLOBAL SOUTH IS RESPONSIBLE
FOR CLIMATE CHANGE RATHER THAN
THE WEALTHY OF THE DEVELOPED
úCOUNTRIES SING AS AN OUTSIDE
RESPONSIBILITY.
WE HAVE EMISSION TARGETS ACROSS
THE AREAS WITH NEGLIGIBLE ACTION
REGULATED WITH HER NEED AND
ABILITY.
THE CITY OF SEATTLE PASSES THE
GREEN NEW DEAL BUT STALLED OUT.
THE PLANNING AND DESIGNING IS
HERE TO REPLACE THE CARBON FREE
NATURAL TROLLEY BUSES WITH
HYBRID BUSES.
NOW 350 SEATTLE AND OTHERS ARE
OFFERING YOU A PERFECT
OPPORTUNITY TO DO SOMETHING
THAT WALL TINY GETS THE GEARS
IN MOTION TO DO SOMETHING ELSE
THAT IS LIGHT AND INSIGNIFICANT.
TAKE THAT OPPORTUNITY FOR THE
HEALTHY THROUGH HEAT AND SMOKE
CAMPAIGN.
>> OUR NEXT SPEAKER IS
RENAISSANCE.
RENAISSANCE WEALTH.
>> I AM RENAISSANCE.
I ONE OF TWO CODIRECTORS OF A
CAMPAIGN THROUGH SEATTLE THAT
SOME OF YOU MAY HAVE ALREADY
MET.
I AM HOPING TO STEWART THE
HEALTHY THROUGH EATING CAMPAIGN.
I AM GLAD THAT WE ARE DOING
HYBRID MEETINGS FOR SO MUCH
COMMENT AND I APPRECIATE THE
WAY IN WHICH THE MEETING WAS
OPENED BY SAYING THAT SPOKE THE
DECISION IS NOT COMPLETED YET
AND THERE IS A REASON TO HAVE
THESE HEARINGS SO WE CAN COME
TO NEGOTIATIONS ABOUT WHAT IT
IS THAT WE NEED IN OUR
COMMUNITY.
WE ARE WORKING WITH HOUSE OUR
NEIGHBORS, STOP THE SWEEPS,
WHOSE STREETS OUR STREETS
MARTIN LUTHER KING LABOR
COUNCIL AND ATLAS ACTION
ALLIANCE'S.
THESE ARE VASTLY AND VITALLY
IMPORTANT TO US.
THERE ARE MANY THINGS WE CAN DO
WITH THE MONEY RAISED BY THE
PARKS LEVEE CAMPAIGN AND WHAT
WE ARE IMPLORING AND HOPING
THAT THIS BODY WILL DECIDE IS
TO FOCUS ON THE THINGS THAT
WILL ACTUALLY ADDRESS REAL-TIME
CONCERNS THAT MANY OF OUR
COMMUNITY MEMBERS WILL BE
FACING AS MORE IMPACTFUL
CLIMATE CHANGE OCCURS WITH
SEVERE WEATHER SITUATIONS THE
IMPACT OF PEOPLE.
THAT IS WHAT WE ARE ADVOCATING
FOR AND WHAT WE HOPE WILL BE
DONE FOR WORKFORCE AGREEMENTS
MAKE SURE THAT PEOPLE ARE BEING
EMPLOYED STRENGTHENED AND
TRAINED THROUGH THIS.
THANK YOU VERY MUCH.
>> OUR LAST IN PERSON SPEAKER
IS DAVID WARD.
>> MY NAME IS DAVID WARD.
I'M A 15 YEAR MEMBER OF THE
ADVICE FOR COUNSEL.
I'M THINKING ONLY FOR MYSELF.
I URGE THE SUPPORT THAT WILL
ELIMINATE HALF OF THE LIFELONG
PROGRAMS DESTROYING THEM IN
GENERAL.
IT WILL ALSO ELIMINATE THE DAY
CARE PROGRAMS PLACING IT WITH
PRIVATE HOME SCHOOL PROGRAMS.
THEY'VE BEEN A PART OF PARKS
FOR DECADES REPRESENTING THE
PEOPLE THAT ARE 50+ WHICH IS
29% OF THE POPULATION IN
IT IS A POPULAR PROGRAM WITH
OVER 100,000 IN 1999 PRIOR TO
COVID.
A RAPIDLY GROWING PROGRAM THAT
247 WEEKLY PROGRAMS HAD WITH
MANY DOZENS OF OTHER PROGRAMS
ELIMINATING 117 OF THEM NOW.
IT HAS AWARDS FOR BOTH ITS
LGBTQ PROGRAM AND DEMENTIA
FRIENDLY PROGRAM.
THEY HAVE FOOD AND FITNESS
PROGRAMS FOR IMMIGRANT SENIORS
FOR 15 YEARS.
IT IS SUPPOSED TO BE A PRIORITY
FOR THE CITY.
PROGRAMMING FOR SENIORS IS PART
OF THIS SOCIAL JUSTICE
INITIATIVE.
JUSTIN CUTLER SAID THE
REDUCTION IN THE MORNING HOURS
WAS TO REPUBLIC REQUEST WHICH
IS NOT REALLY TRUE.
BUT NOBODY ASKS FOR FEWER
MORNING HOURS.
THAT WAS A PARKS DECISION.
NOBODY ASKED FOR THEM TO
REPLACE THE CITY SERVICES
EITHER.
PARKS IS ALSO NOT ALLOWING
VOLUNTEER DRIVERS FOR FIELD
TRIPS FROM THE MOST POPULAR AND
INCOME PRODUCING PROGRAMS.
WHEN WE ASKED THEM WHY THEY ARE
REPLACING IT THE CITY PROVIDED
SERVICES WITH THESE GROUPS.
I ASKED THE BOARD TO STOP THIS
REDUCTION.
AND I HAVE THIS LEVEL.
>> THERE'S ONE ADDITIONAL IN
PERSON SPEAKER.
THAT IS PAMELA LEE.
>> HELLO COUNCIL MEMBERS.
THANK YOU FOR TWO MINUTES THIS
TIME.
I APPRECIATE THE COMMITMENT OF
ALL BUILDINGS OFF OF FOSSIL
FUEL BY 2035.
UNDER THE FACE OF CLIMATE CRISIS
I URGE THE COUNCIL TO TAKE THIS
THROUGH AND CONSIDERED
SERIOUSLY WITH THE
INCORPORATION OF THREE ELEMENT
IN THOSE BUILDINGS INCLUDING
THE COMMUNITY CENTERS.
YOU HAVE THE SOLAR PANELS
LINKED TO THE MICRO GRIDS THAT
SUPPLY ELECTRICITY TO THE PUMPS.
AN EXAMPLE OF THE MICRO GRIDS
AND HEAT PUMPS IS THE MILLER
COMMUNITY CENTER.
I WOULD LIKE TO SEE THE
APPROPRIATION FOR OTHER
COMMUNITY CENTERS THAT ARE MORE
AFFECTED.
THE COUNCIL CAN THINK ABOUT
OTHER GREEN STRUCTURES LIKE
GREEN RULES AND THE EXAMPLE
CLOSE TO THE SOUTHPARK LIBRARY.
WHERE I FREQUENT.
HOWEVER IF THESE PROJECTS SHOW
RED FIGURES WHICH MOST PEOPLE
ARE WORRIED ABOUT I MAY REMIND
THE COUNSEL OF THE COST WILL BE
EQUALIZED BY THE REVENUE AND
THE INVESTMENTS.
IT WILL INCLUDE ELECTRICITY
FROM THE SUN AND CLEAN AIR FOR
THE COMMUNITY.
OUR FIRST REMOTE PUBLIC
CONTRACTORS CHRIS WOODWARD.
>> GOOD AFTERNOON.
AM A COMMUNITY DEVELOPMENT
DIRECTOR WITH THE ALLIANCE FOR
PIONEER SQUARE.
I AM PROVIDING COMMENTS TODAY
IN SUPPORT WITH PROTECTED
FUNDING THE LAST TWO YEARS OF
PANDEMIC INSTRUCTION MAKE IT
EQUITABLE AND WELL-MAINTAINED
PARKS SUCH AS PIONEER PARK AND
OCCIPITAL SQUARE.
WE BELIEVE THAT OUR AREA WHERE
IT CAN BE IMPROVED INCLUDES
FUNDING FOR CRITICAL PUBLIC
SAFETY.
THEY ARE UNDERFUNDED IN THE
CURRENT QUASIGOVERNMENTAL
AGENCIES.
WITH SECURITY AND ACTIVATION
WITH NEGATIVE BEHAVIOR IN
PUBLIC SPACES.
THERE IS NO LONG-TERM LEVEL AND
IT'S UNDERSTANDABLE FOR THIS
WORK.
I ENCOURAGE YOU TO MEET AND
EXCEED THE RECOMMENDATIONS OF
THE PARKS COMMISSION AND PURSUE
AN INCREASE FOR $.40 PER $1000
AND COMMIT TO ENSURE WE HAVE A
LONG-TERM INVESTMENT IN OUR
SYSTEM.
WE HAVE THE DIVERSE RESOURCES
FOR YEARS TO COME.
>> THIS IS BEN OSTERMAN.
>> MY NAME IS BEN AUSTIN ALLEN
AND I'M IN A RESIDENT LIVING IN
THE CROWN HILL NEIGHBORHOOD.
I WANTED TO GIVE VOICE TO THE
PROPOSED PLAN FOR THE CITY PARK
LEVEE AND WHAT WE WOULD LIKE TO
SEE.
AT THE SAME TIME I AM KEENLY
AWARE OF THE EFFECT OF THIS
DISASTER.
I WAS LIVING IN THIS HOME WHEN
THE HEAT WAVE HIT.
LIKE MANY OTHERS I WAS
STRUGGLING TO DO MY JOB AND I
KNEW I WAS THE LUCKY ONE.
UNLIKE OTHERS I HAD FRIENDS
THAT I COULD STAY WITH AND BE
ABLE TO FALL ASLEEP.
BUT MANY PEOPLE DID NOT HAVE
THAT OPPORTUNITY.
I'M URGING THE COUNCIL TO
ACCEPT THE RECOMMENDATIONS
WITHOUT THIS LEVEL WAS 100%
RENEWABLE ENERGY AND SPECIAL
NEIGHBORHOODS THAT ARE IMPACTED
WITH THESE RISING TEMPERATURES.
AND ALL THOSE TRANSITIONS TO BE
DONE WITH CLEAN DROPS BETWEEN
LABOR.
THEY WILL BRING SAFETY EQUITY
AND CLIMATESTO OUR CITY.
>> ALEX BLACK HEART.
>> HELLO PARKS BOARD.
CAN YOU HEAR ME?
MY DAUGHTER ELEANOR WENT TO
THIS LEVEL WITH AN IV WE SPENT
THE NEXT THREE DAYS AND OURS
NON-AIR-CONDITIONED BUT
SOMEWHAT COOLER BASEMENT.
I WOULD LIKE TO SEE CLIMATE
RESILIENCE IN CLEAN ENERGY
INCLUDING SOLAR MICHAEL GRIDS
ELECTRIC PUMPS AND HVAC
UPGRADES.
THE PROPOSED DISTRICT BUDGET
HAS THREE-POINT 1 MILLION AND
THAT IS FOR SUSTAINABLE
BUILDING.
THIS IS A DROP IN A VERY HOT
DRY BUCKET.
IMAGINE THE DEATHS ASSOCIATED
WITH THIS LEVEL ACCOMPANIED BY
POWER OUTAGES.
THERE IS A NEW STANDING PLAN
THAT SUMMARIZES NOT JUST ONE
BUT ALL OF OUR COMMUNITY CENTERS
SO THAT THEY MAY BE SHELTERS
AND CAN STABILIZE DURING THE
HEAT EVENT.
WE CANNOT AFFORD TO WAIT WITH
THE NEXT HEATING CYCLE.
>> I WOULD LIKE TO MAKE A
COUPLE OF QUICK POINTS ABOUT
CLIMATE RESILIENCY.
WE ALL KNOW THE THREAT OF THE
CRISIS IS IMPOSSIBLE TO IGNORE
OR DENY AT THIS POINT.
THE RECENT DECISION FOR THE
REGULATION WITH GREENHOUSE
GASES MAKES THIS ISSUE EVEN MORE
URGENT THAN IT WAS PREVIOUSLY.
WE ARE EXPERIENCING INTENSE
SMOKE FROM NEARBY WILDFIRES
WHICH IS WHY I AM HERE TO URGE
YOU TO UPGRADE THE HVAC SYSTEM
BY INSTALLING SOLAR MICHAEL
GRIDS AND PROVIDE CLEAN AND
BREATHABLE AIR.
YOU CAN EXTREME HEAT AND SMOKE
AREAS AND NOT JUST PERPETUATE
THE RELIANCE ON FOSSIL FUELS.
WE HOPE TO TRANSITION ALL-CITY
FUELS OFF OF FOSSIL FUELS BY
2025.
IN THIS WILL BE A GREAT STEP IN
THAT DIRECTION.
THEY ARE NOT DOING ENOUGH TO
DEAL WITH THESE EFFECTS GOING
FORWARD.
I GREW UP IN THE SEATTLE AREA
BUT WHENEVER ANYONE WOULD ASK
WHAT IS SEATTLE LIKE?
I WOULD NEVER HESITATE TO TELL
THEM ABOUT THE WAYS THAT
SEATTLE IS VERY FORWARD
THINKING.
SEATTLE CAN AND NEEDS TO BE A
LEADER MAKING SURE THAT WE ARE
PREPARED FOR SEVERE WEATHER AND
HE AND WILDFIRE SMOKE SPOKE
THANK YOU VERY MUCH FOR
ALLOWING MY COMMENT SPOKE
>> OUR NEXT SPEAKER IS GRACE
HELP.
>> HELLO EVERYONE.
MY NAME IS GRACE HELP.
I AM A SINGLE PARENT AND A
SCIENTIST.
I AM HERE TO SHARE MY HEAT WAVE
EXPERIENCE AND ALSO MY SUPPORT
FOR THE HEALTHY THROUGH HEAT
CAMPAIGN.
IT'S SO IMPORTANT THAT WE SPEND
THIS UNREAL SUPPORT AND SHELTER
FOR COMMUNITIES SO WE CAN TAKE
CARE OF EACH OTHER WITH THIS
REGION AGAIN.
I SPENT THE HEAT WAVE HOLD UP
WITH MY FAMILY AND MY SISTERS
FAMILY.
OUR THREE DOGS WENT WITH MY
TEENAGERS.
WE ARE ALTOGETHER MY TWO
BEDROOM HOUSE BECAUSE I COULD
BORROW AN AIR CONDITIONER FROM
MY NEIGHBOR.
AND THAT IS HOW WE MADE IT
THROUGH THE HEAT ZONE BUT WE
WERE REALLY LUCKY BECAUSE SO
MANY PEOPLE WITH LESS ACCESS TO
RESOURCES DIDN'T HAVE ANYWHERE
TO GO.
AS A SCIENTISTS I WANT TO
REMIND US THAT THE HEAT WAVE
WAS A ONCE IN 1000 YEAR EVENT
AND A CLIMATE CRISIS MADE IT
150,000 TIMES MORE LIKELY FOR
IT TO HAPPEN.
IT WAS ALSO REGIONAL EVENTS
THAT AFFECTED THOSE OUTSIDE OF
SEATTLE.
IT IS ESTIMATED THAT 1408
PEOPLE DIED DURING THE HEAT
ZONE LAST YEAR.
AND DURING THAT TIME SEATTLE
HAD THE LOWEST PERCENTAGE OF
AIR-CONDITIONED HOUSEHOLDS
AMONG ALL MAJOR METROID METRO
AREAS IN THE U.S. THIS IS
CONSIDERED ONE OF THE MOST
EXTREME TEMPERATURE EVENTS IN
RECORDED HISTORY AND WE KNOW
THE CLIMATE CRISIS MAKES THIS
MORE COMMON.
SO MY QUESTION TO THE BOARD FOR
YOU TO CONSIDER IS WHAT DOES IT
LOOK LIKE FOR THE CITY OF
SEATTLE TO BE A LEADER IN SUCH
AN UNPRECEDENTED TIME LIKE
THIS?
I THANK YOU ALL FOR LISTENING.
OUR NEXT SPEAKER IS PETER
LENNON.
IT LOOKS LIKE YOU'RE ON MUTED.
ARE YOU READY TO SPEAK?
>> YES.
MY NAME IS PETER LEMMON OF
SEATTLE.
I WOULD LIKE TO START BY SAYING
I SUPPORT THE DEMANDS THROUGH
THE HEALTHY THROUGH HEAT AND
SMOKE CAMPAIGN.
WE HAVE MADE COMMITMENTS TO
THIS BUILDING OF SOFTWARE
FUELS.
BUT I DON'T SEE ANY URGENT PLAN
TO DO THIS.
THE CITY BUILDINGS AND THIS
INCLUDES THE 20 CORE COMMUNITY
CENTERS NEED TO BE TRANSITIONED
OFF OF FOSSIL FUELS TO REDUCE
CARBON EMISSIONS.
I AM AWARE OF THE EMERGING
STANDARDS IT IS IMPORTANT LONG-
TERM WORK.
CLIMATE CHANGE IS NOW.
WE NEED SEATTLE TO TAKE ACTION.
TO UPGRADE OUR COMMUNITY
CENTERS.
THE SOLAR AND MICRO GRIDS
ELECTRIC HEAT PUMP'S AND MORE.
WHEN IT IS 108 DEGREES OUTSIDE
LIKE WE EXPERIENCED LAST SUMMER
OR WITH THE WILDFIRE SMOKE ARE
MOST VULNERABLE PEOPLE NEED
CENTERS FOR CLIMATE RESILIENCE.
THANK YOU FOR YOUR LEADERSHIP.
>> OUR NEXT SPEAKER IS TORI
WESTMAN.
>> TORI WESTMAN?
I THINK YOU NEED TO PRESS STAR
AND THE NUMBER SIX TO UNMUTE
YOUR PHONE PLEASE.
OKAY.
OUR NEXT SPEAKER IS DON HARPER.
PLEASE PRESS STAR AND THE
NUMBER SIX.
>> THIS IS DON HARPER.
THE 85% INCREASE TO PROPERTY
TAX BEING REQUESTED BY THE
DEPARTMENT OF PARKS AND
RECREATION IS FAR TOO HIGH.
THE INCREASE SHOULD BE BASED ON
THE RATE OF INFLATION.
BEFORE THERE IS AN INCREASE
BEYOND THE RATE OF INFLATION TO
SUPPORT THE MANY NEW PROJECTS
THAT HAVE BEEN SUGGESTED THERE
NEEDS TO BE A PERFORMANCE AUDIT
TO SHOW HOW WELL THE PREVIOUS
$300 MILLION OF ADDITIONAL
FUNDING OVER SIX YEARS WAS USED.
AS AN ADVOCATE AND USER OF THE
PARKS SYSTEM IT IS HARD TO SEE
THAT IT WAS WELL SPENT.
IT TOOK LESS THAN FIVE YEARS
FOR THE MAYOR AND THE CITY
COUNCIL TO BREAK THEIR CAMPAIGN
PROMISES ABOUT HOW THE FUNDS OF
THE PARKS DISTRICT WOULD BE
SPENT AS FILLED OUT WITHIN THE
INTERLOCAL AGREEMENT.
THEY ARE REQUESTING AN
ADDITIONAL 10 MILLION A YEAR
FOR TWO YEARS TO BACKSTOP THE
FUNDS THAT ARE REQUIRED TO COME
FROM THE GENERAL FUND.
AS SEATTLE WAS TOLD IT WOULD
NOT HAPPEN IF THEY VOTED FOR
THE PARKS DISTRICT.
THIS REQUEST SHOULD BE DENIED.
ALSO KEEP IN MIND THERE IS A
KING COUNTY PARKS LEVY ON THE
BALLOT.
THAT IS ALSO REQUESTING
ADDITIONAL FUNDING AND HAS
BENEFITS FOR SEATTLE.
WE NEED TO BE CAREFUL ABOUT THE
TOTAL AMOUNT OF NEW PROPERTY
TAXES THAT FOR MANY PEOPLE
WHETHER RENTERS OR OWNERS WILL
BE IN ADDITIONAL FINANCIAL
BURDENS.
I THINK YOU.
>> OUR NEXT SPEAKER IS JIMMY
TSAI.
>> I AM A SEATTLE RESIDENT IN
CAPITOL HILL.
I AM A SUPPORTER OF THE PARKS
LEVY BEING WITHIN THE
RESILIENCE HUB THROUGH HEAT
SMOKE AND SNOW.
LAST YEAR DURING THE HEAT WAVE
THERE WERE SO MANY PEOPLE WHO
HAD NOWHERE TO GO.
CLIMATE CHANGE IS HERE AND
HAPPENING NOW.
IT IS PROPORTIONATELY AFFECTING
THOSE POOR AND UN-HOUSED.
IT SHOULD BE A PUBLIC RIGHTS TO
ACCESS CLEAN AIR AND NOT JUST
THOSE THAT HAVE THE MEANS TO
GET AN AC UNIT OR WHO CAN
AFFORD TO GET A HOTEL ROOM.
DURING THE HEAT WAVE IT WAS UP
TO 500.
AS A YOUNG PERSON I WAS
UNCOMFORTABLE BUT IT DID NOT
AFFECT MY HEALTH.
FOR MANY PEOPLE THIS IS NOT THE
CASE SO I AM URGING THE COUNCIL
TO PRIORITIZE FUNDING FOR
COMMUNITY RESILIENCY.
>> HELLO.
I AM CALLING TODAY TO URGE THE
CITY TO UPGRADE OUR COMMUNITY
CENTER FOR CLIMATE RESILIENCE.
I HAVE BEEN A LIFELONG SEATTLE
RESIDENCE AND AFTER WHAT WE
EXPERIENCED LAST SUMMER AND ARE
ALREADY EXPERIENCING A HEAT
WAVE THIS SUMMER, IT IS CLEAR
THAT THE SMOKE AND EXTREME HEAT
IS INEVITABLE.
THIS IS THE REALITY WE ARE
LIVING IN.
HEAT WAVES AND WILDFIRE SMOKES
ONLY BECOMING MORE COMMON.
IT IS TIME FOR THE CITY TO WALK
ITS TALK AND PROVIDE THE BARE
MINIMUM RESOURCE FOR EXTREME
EVENTS THAT IMPACT LOW INCOME
COMMUNITIES, THOSE OF COLOR, AND
OTHER COMMUNITIES
DISPROPORTIONATELY.
THEY NEED A PLACE TO GO WHEN
BEING OUTSIDE IS JUST NOT
ENOUGH.
THERE WAS THE CLIENT RESILIENCE
FOR THE NEW DEAL COMING TO
ACTION MEETING CLEAN AIR AND
COOLING CENTER NECESSARY
GETTING IT OFF OF THE FOSSIL
FUELS.
I SUPPORT THE FULL DEMAND OF
THE HEALTHY THROUGH HEAT AND
SMOKE CAMPAIGN.
THANK YOU.
>> OUR NEXT SPEAKER IS PAUL
TANK HILL.
PAUL YOU MAY NEED TO PRESS STAR
AND THE NUMBER SIX.
>> TRY PRESSING STAR AND THE
NUMBER SIX.
OUR NEXT SPEAKER IS JULIET BUCK.
OUR NEXT SPEAKER IS HANNAH
LINDEL SMITH.
>> HELLO COUNCIL MEMBERS.
I AM A CONSTITUENT AND RISING
JUNIOR IN SUPPORT OF THE
CAMPAIGN DEMANDS.
ONE NIGHT IN AUGUST 2020 I WOKE
UP TO SMOKE LIVING IN.
THE WIND CHANGED AND THE SMOKE
FROM EASTERN WASHINGTON
WILDFIRES COVERED THE CITY.
OVER THE NEXT 10 DAYS THOSE
MUTUAL AID GROUPS THAT I WORKED
WITH WERE PROVIDED SAFETY
SUPPLIES AS THE SUN TURNED RED.
IT IS BECOMING MORE AND MORE
COMMON.
I WAS PRIVILEGED ENOUGH TO WAIT
THIS OUT BUT IT IS NOT THE
REALITY FOR MANY PEOPLE.
THE EFFECTS ARE DANGEROUS IN
LOW INCOME COMMUNITIES AFFECTED
BY ENVIRONMENTAL RACISM.
THE CLIMATE CRISIS HAS APPEARED
AND THIS IS HOW WE SURVIVE.
UPGRADING THE COMMUNITY CENTERS
IS IN THE RESILIENCY AREA.
OUR NEXT SPEAKER IS ALANA
COLLEEN.
THANK YOU PAUL.
>> THANK YOU SO MUCH.
SO I LIVE IN WEST SEATTLE.
I OFTEN TAKE MY FOUR-YEAR-OLD
GRANDSON AND HIS NOW 14-WEEK-OLD
BROTHER AND LITTLE SISTER ON
OUTINGS TO ENJOY THE PARKS.
PARTICULARLY WE LIVE CLOSE TO
HIAWATHA PART.
AND IT IS SUCH A NICE PLACE TO
TAKE THEM.
IT IS CERTAINLY ONE OF
SEATTLE'S TREASURES.
I'M BEGINNING A STUDY TO SEE
WHICH ONES HAVE BEEN AROUND FOR
100 YEARS OR MORE.
SO THAT WE CAN BETTER
UNDERSTAND WHAT ISSUES THEY ARE
AND THE SUCCESS THAT THEY ARE
HAVING HOW WE MAY BE ABLE TO
USE THAT IN THE PARKS FOR THE
FUTURE.
WHAT WE ARE WORKING ON IS TO
DEVELOP A PLAN FOR ADDING TREES
TO NEWER PARKS IN THE
COMMUNITIES THAT ARE NOT AS
FORTUNATE AS WHAT WE HAVE HERE
IN WEST SEATTLE WITH HIAWATHA.
WE WANT EVERY NEIGHBORHOOD HERE.
THEY MITIGATE THE THREAT OF THE
HEAT DOMES.
SO AS YOU BUDGET FOR THE PARK
DISTRICT AND THE GENERAL FUND
FIND WAYS TO INCREASE THE NEED
FOR TREES IN DEVELOPED PARKS.
THERE NEEDS TO BE A SUSTAINED
FUNDING TO ADDRESS THE LOSS OF
TREES AND TO ADD NEW TREES.
IT IS IMPORTANT TO ME BUT IT'S
MORE IMPORTANT TO THE FUTURE OF
MY FOUR-YEAR-OLD GRANDSON AND
HIS RECENTLY ARRIVED TWIN
SIBLINGS TO PLANT THESE TREES
NOW.
I THANK YOU FOR YOUR
CONSIDERATION.
>> THE NEXT SPEAKER NOW IS
ALANA COLLEEN.
>> I AM CALLING FROM FREMONT.
LAST YEAR WAS A SCARY
EXPERIENCE FOR MANY REASONS.
ONE OF THOSE WAS BECAUSE OF THE
ISOLATION.
MANY OF THOSE WERE CLOSED AND
BECAUSE WE DON'T HAVE AIR
CONDITIONING IN OUR FRIENDS
DON'T HAVE AIR CONDITIONING IT
WAS HARD BECAUSE WE DIDN'T WANT
TO ADD BODY HEAT TO PLACES THAT
WERE ALREADY HOT.
MY PARTNER AND I ENDED UP GOING
TO THE WATER AND EVEN THOUGH IT
WAS ONLY MARGINALLY BETTER THAN
THEIR IT WAS A FEW DEGREES
COOLER.
IT STILL MADE SUCH A BIG
DIFFERENCE TO BE WITH OTHER
PEOPLE AND FEEL LESS ALONE.
WE NEED COMMUNITY TO FACE THIS
CLIMATE CRISIS SO WE NEED TO
MAKE OUR COMMUNITY STRONG.
THIS IS WHY I SUPPORT THE FULL
DEMANDS OF THE HEALTHY THROUGH
HEAT AND SMOKE A CAMPAIGN.
THANK YOU FOR YOUR TIME.
>> TAYLOR WARNER.
>> MY NAME IS TAYLOR WARNER.
I AM CALLING IN SUPPORT OF THE
HEALTHY THROUGH HEAT AND SMOKE
CAMPAIGN.
I AM ALSO UNION ELECTRICIAN AND
I WAS WORKING CONSTRUCTION
OUTDOORS IN SEPTEMBER 2020 WHEN
ACCORDING TO THE AIR QUALITY
INDEX WE HAD THE WORST AIR
QUALITY IN THE WORLD.
I HAD SOME REPRIEVE.
OBVIOUSLY SOME DID NOT.
I WAS BORN IN THE PACIFIC
NORTHWEST AND I HAVE SEEN THE
DEVELOPMENT OF STUNNING ISSUES
IN THE CLIMATE.
BUT EVEN RECENT TRANSPLANTS CAN
ATTRACT APOCALYPTIC WEATHER
CONDITIONS.
WE ARE WATCHING LEADERSHIP ON
THE WEST WASTE DECADES SEEKING
A SOLUTION THAT DOES NOT COME
THROUGH WITH THEIR BUSINESS
ALLIANCES.
SEATTLE SHOULD BE DIFFERENT.
ESPECIALLY YOUNG SEATTLEITES
LIKE SO MANY INSPIRING US BY
PARTICIPATING IN THIS MEETING
ARE PAYING ATTENTION
DISTINGUISHING BETWEEN EFFORTS
THAT ARE QUALITY AND
SUBSTANTIAL AND LIPSERVICE
POLITICKING.
IF THE CITY COUNCIL REPORTS THE
MOST VULNERABLE POPULATIONS TO
BE COWORKERS AND CO-UNION
WANTING TO ENJOY THE CONFIDENCE
OF THE SEATTLEITES WHICH IS IN
CRISIS RIGHT NOW FOR A NUMBER
OF REASONS THE NATION
ABSOLUTELY LEAD WITH THE
OPPORTUNITY TO SUPPORT A
CAMPAIGN LIKE THIS THAT MOVES
THEM A LITTLE IN THE DIRECTION
OF NEUTRALITY AND CAN SET A
POSITIVE EXAMPLE FOR OTHERS.
I ALSO JUST REALLY WANTS TO
URGE EVERYONE WHO PARTICIPATES
WITHIN THIS MEETING TO PAY
ATTENTION AS THE SITUATION
DEVELOPS AND A LOT OF ATTENTION
TO OUR CITY COUNCIL.
SEE WHAT THEY ARE DOING AND
WHAT THEY ARE DECIDING.
WHAT DIFFERENT ISSUES COME UP
AND TO PARTICIPATE IN THESE
LOCAL POLITICS.
>> DOUGLAS LYNCH AND IS OUR
NEXT SPEAKER.
>> THANK YOU.
MY NAME IS DOUG WHICH IN I
PROVIDE MY COMMENTS TONIGHT AS
THE PRESIDENT OF SEATTLE
HOMESTEAD PARKS.
VICE CHAIRMAN OF THE NATIONAL
ASSOCIATION AND A LONGTIME
RESIDENT OF WEST SEATTLE.
I HAVE SERVED AS A VOLUNTEER
FOR THE E PLACE PARK NEAR
THE ALASKA JUNCTION.
AS PART OF THE BICENTENNIAL
CELEBRATION THEY WORKED WITH
THE FRIENDS OF SEATTLE
HOMESTEAD PARK FORMING A
COLLABORATIVE TEAM OF SEATTLE
PARKS AND RECREATION AND THE
PARKS FOUNDATION TO DETERMINE
THE SOLUTIONS WITHIN THE GLOBAL
GROWING LOSS OF TREES
UNDERTAKING CURRENTLY TAKEN
UNDER AS THE TREES FOR SEATTLE
PROJECT.
WE HAVE LEARNED THAT SEATTLE'S
DEVELOPED PARKS ARE LOSING MORE
TREES THAN PARKS AND RECREATION
HAS THE FUNDS TO REPLACE.
THE RESULT IS THAT IN THAT WE
ARE LOSING HUNDREDS OF TREES
PER YEAR IN THE DEVELOPMENT.
CONSEQUENCES WILL INCLUDE THE
FURTHER DEGRADATION OF THE
ENVIRONMENT AND DAMAGE FROM THE
EFFECTS OF GLOBAL WARMING AND
DISPROPORTIONAL IMPACT ABLE TO
UPSET THESE CHANGES.
WITH THE FUTURE LOSS THERE'S AN
AGGRESSIVE FUNDING PLAN WITH NO
DEBT LOSS WITH THE NEXT TEND TO
18 YEARS.
WITH THAT AGGRESSIVE FUNDING
THEY'LL NEVER BE A POINT OF NO
NET LOSS THE CLIMATE CHANGE
IMPACTS CONTINUING TOWARD THIS
PROGRAM.
THERE IS A MERE 13% OF THE
ANNUAL NEED TO ADDRESS THESE
PARKS WITHOUT SUBSTANTIAL
FUNDING FROM THE SEATTLE PARKS
DISTRICT THEN WE ARE DESTINED
TO EXPERIENCE A NET LOSS WITHIN
THESE PART.
THE LOSS AND RESULTING
CONDITION THAT WE BELIEVE WILL
BE UNACCEPTABLE TO US ALL.
WE ARE THEREFORE ASKING YOU AS
DEISION-MAKERS FROM THIS
BUDGET TO ASK FOR WAYS TO LOOK
FOR AN INCREASE FOR THE PARKS.
THANK YOU.
>> THE NEXT SPEAKER IS LINNEA
MAE.
>> HELLO.
OF THE RENTER IN DISTRICT 3 I'M
HERE TO URGE THE BOARD TO MEET
THE FULL DEMANDS OF THE HEALTHY
THROUGH HEAT AND SMOKE CAMPAIGN.
I AM A TRANSPLANT FROM TEXAS.
THERE WERE 100+ DEGREE
TEMPERATURES AS A COMMON
SITUATION.
IT WAS ONLY HERE WHEN I GOT NET
HUNDRED AND 10 DEGREE WEATHER
LAST SUMMER THAT I TRULY
UNDERSTOOD HOW VITAL ACCESS TO
AN AC IS.
NOT JUST FOR SANITY BUT
SURVIVAL.
OF THE 26 COMMUNITY CENTERS
ONLY TWO OF THEM HAVE AC.
THIS IS UNACCEPTABLE AND WE
NEED TO DIRECT FUNDING TOWARD
FIXING THIS.
THE HEAT WAVES OF LAST SUMMER
WILL BE BACK.
BUT IF WE INVEST IN CLIMATE
RESILIENCY AND MEET THE DEMANDS
OF THE CAMPAIGN WE CAN GUARD
OURSELVES FROM THE WORST.
THANK YOU FOR YOUR TIME.
>> OUR NEXT SPEAKER IS AARON
RANDALL.
>> GOOD EVENING COUNCIL MEMBERS.
I'M A SEATTLE PUBLIC SCHOOLS
TEACHER AND A RENTER.
I CURRENTLY RESIDE IN THE
DISTRICT 7 AREA.
I AM COMMENTING TODAY IN
SUPPORT OF THIS CAMPAIGN.
WE WANT TO MAKE SURE THAT THE
PARK LEVEE FUNDING IS USED TO
UPGRADE SEATTLE COMMUNITY
CENTERS FOR CLIMATE RESILIENCY
AND CLEAN ENERGY.
PRIORITIZING INVESTMENTS IN
THOSE THAT ARE ALREADY MOST
IMPACTED BY THE HEAT WAVES WITH
OTHER ENVIRONMENTAL JUSTICES.
MAKING SURE THAT WE INGEST
INVEST IN CLEAN UNION JOBS AND
MAKE SURE THAT WE MOVE ALL CITY
BUILDINGS OFF OF FOSSIL FUELS
BY 2035.
THE EXTREME HEAT AND SMOKE
EVENTS BECOME MORE COMMON
BECAUSE OF THESE EMERGENCIES.
IT IS IMPERATIVE THAT WE INVEST
KEEPING THOSE MOST HORRIBLE
SAFE WHILE TRANSITIONING AWAY
FROM FOSSIL FUELS AS FAST AS WE
CAN.
WE MUST BE PREPARED FOR WHEN
THIS WILL HAPPEN AGAIN BECAUSE
IT WILL.
I HAVE DEALT WITH ASTHMA MY
ENTIRE LIFE.
AS A KID I WENT TO THE CHILDREN
HOSPITAL BECAUSE OF ASTHMA
ATTACKS.
FOR MANY YEARS IT HAS BEEN
UNDER CONTROL NOW BUT THE
EXTREME SMOKE THAT WE DEALT
WITH HAVE BEEN VERY SCARY AND
IT MADE MY ASTHMA WORSE THAN IT
HAS BEEN IN A LONG TIME.
SO MANY PEOPLE STRUGGLED
THROUGH THAT TIME AND HAD
NOWHERE TO GO.
HUNDREDS OF PEOPLE DIED.
IT IS NOT OKAY TO NOT HAVE
COMMUNITY SPACES.
WE NEED TO ACT WITHIN URGENCY
TO KEEP PEOPLE SAFE AND BE
LEADERS MOVING TOWARD A FOSSIL
FUEL FREE FUTURE.
SUPPORT THE DEMANDS THANK YOU.
OUR NEXT SPEAKER IS JUDY LEE.
>> HELLO.
MY NAME IS JUDY LEE.
I AM A HEALTHCARE WORKER AND
RESIDENT OF WEST SEATTLE AND AN
ORGANIZER WITH 350 SEATTLE.
I AM HERE TO SUPPORT THE
HEALTHY THROUGH HEAT AND SMOKE
CAMPAIGN.
THE HEAT WAVE LAST YEAR ON TOP
OF THE SKY TURNING RED IN THE
AIR BECOMING SICK AND GRAY FROM
THE WILDFIRE SMOKE WAS
ABSOLUTELY UNBEARABLE.
I DID NOT HAVE IT AS BAD AS OUR
NEIGHBORS IN SOUTH SEATTLE
WHERE STUDIES HAVE ALREADY
REVEALED THE WORST
ENVIRONMENTAL HEALTH ISSUES
BECAUSE THE CLOSE PROXIMITY TO
INDUSTRIAL CARBON HEAVY
FACILITIES.
MAINLY IN GEORGETOWN SOUTHPARK
AND BEACON HILL.
MY FAMILY HAD NOWHERE TO GO AND
NOT EVEN OPEN THE WINDOW.
BECAUSE OF THE HAZARDOUS AIR
QUALITY THAT WAS OUTSIDE.
WE COULD NOT AFFORD TO STAY AT
A HOTEL WHICH INHERENTLY MAKES
SURVIVING THE CLIMATE CRISIS A
MATTER OF WEALTH AND CLASS.
THE CITY OF SEATTLE HAS PLANNED
TO MOVE ALL CITY BUILDINGS OFF
OF FOSSIL FUELS BY 2035.
WHAT BETTER OPPORTUNITY THAN TO
USE THE PARK LEVEE TO UPGRADE
THE EXISTING COMMUNITY CENTERS
WITH GREEN ENERGY AND DO THIS
WITH UNION LABOR AND LIVING
WAGE JOBS THAT ARE MOST
IMPACTED COMMUNITIES CAN NEED
FIRST.
I SUPPORT THE DEMANDS OF THE
HEALTHY THROUGH HEAT AND SMOKE
CAMPAIGN AND I URGE YOU TO DO
THE SAME.
THANK YOU.
>> OUR NEXT SPEAKER IS BARRY
WESTBROOK.
BARRY WESTBROOK?
YOU MAY NEED TO HIT STAR AND
THE NUMBER SIX TO UNMUTE YOUR
PHONE.
>> MY NAME IS BARRY.
I AM A SOCIAL WORKER WITH KING
COUNTY.
I'M A DEMOCRATIC SOCIALIST OF
AMERICA MEMBER.
I AM HERE TO SPEAK ON BEHALF OF
MY COMMUNITY, MY NEIGHBORS WHO
ARE HOMELESS AND SUPPORT UNION
JOBS.
THE CITY MUST DO A BETTER JOB
TO ADJUST THE CLIMATE CRISIS
AND MEET THE NEEDS OF THOSE WHO
HAVE BEEN MOST IMPACTED BY IT.
EVAN WORKING WITH THOSE WHO ARE
HOMELESS AND HAVE OFTEN SEEN
HOW THEY MAKE THIS EVEN MORE
UNBEARABLE.
IMPROVING COMMUNITY CENTERS CAN
HELP US TO CARBONIZED AND
INVEST IN THE HEALTH AND WELL-
BEING OF OUR COMMUNITY.
>> OUR NEXT SPEAKER IS PETER.
PETER? HE IS NOT PRESENT.
OUR NEXT SPEAKER WILL BE TAYLOR
MENTOR.
>> HELLO.
MY NAME IS TAYLOR I'M A SEATTLE
RESIDENT OF DISTRICT 7. I AM
HERE TO ADVOCATE FOR AN
INCREASE IN ACCESSIBILITY FOR
THE PARKS BATHROOMS.
FOR OUT THE PANDEMIC IT WAS
ISOLATED FOR MANY FAMILIES.
MYSELF I AM A STAY-AT-HOME
FATHER WITH A TWO-YEAR-OLD.
MANY FELLOW CAREGIVERS KNIFE
STRUGGLE TO SEE FRIENDS FAMILY
AND SOCIALIZE THROUGHOUT THE
PANDEMIC.
THROUGHOUT THE ISOLATION WE
FOUND MANY SEATTLE PARKS TO BE
SAFE PLACES TO TAKE OUR CHILDREN
JOINING PARENTING GROUPS AND
SOCIALIZING WITH OTHER KIDS.
WE FUNDAMENTALLY BELIEVE THAT
THEY ARE PUBLIC BATHROOMS AND
SHOULD BE ACCESSIBLE TO ALL
SPEAKING ON BEHALF OF FELLOW
CAREGIVERS I WOULD LIKE TO
ADVOCATE FOR THE PARKS
DEPARTMENT TO BE MORE FOCUSED
ON ADDITION MAINTENANCE AND
CLEANLINESS OF THE SEATTLE
PARKS.
THE GROUP THAT I AM THE CO-LEAD
OF HAS BEGUN A PARKS AUDITS OF
BATHROOMS IN DISTRICT 7
SPREADING THROUGHOUT THE CITY.
WE HAVE FOUND THAT MANY LACK
CHANGING TABLES FOR CHILDREN OR
ADULTS.
MANY BATHROOMS ARE WELDED SHUT
OR LOCKED INDEFINITELY.
WE HAVE ALSO FOUND THAT MANY
BATHROOMS ARE IN UNSANITARY
STATES.
IT IS NOT WELCOMING AT ALL FOR
FAMILIES.
THESE FACTORS DO NOT MAKE PARKS
OR THEIR BATHROOMS A SAFE PLACE
FOR SEATTLE FAMILIES.
AND IT FURTHER ISOLATES PARENTS
AND CAREGIVERS FOR THE REST OF
THE COMMUNITY.
WHEN PARENTS AND FAMILIES
TRAVEL, WE NEED ACCESS TO
RESTROOMS.
WE BELIEVE THAT THE PARKS
BATHROOMS SHOULD BE A PRIORITY.
OR THE PARKS LEVIES IN THE
BATHROOM SHOULD BE MADE MORE
ACCESSIBLE.
THANK YOU FOR YOUR TIME.
>> OUR NEXT SPEAKER IS BOBBY
RICCI.
>> CAN YOU HEAR ME?
>> YES.
>> THANK YOU.
I AM A RETIRED TEACHER AND A
RESIDENT OF SEATTLE FOR ABOUT
42 YEARS.
I AM SPEAKING IN SUPPORT OF
THIS CAMPAIGN.
IN MY YOUNG 80s AT THE
BEGINNING OF SEPTEMBER I WAS
AWAKENED IN THE WEE HOURS OF
THE MORNING BY SMOKE COMING IN
MY WINDOW.
I GOT UP IN MY SLIPPERS AND
WALKED AROUND THE BLOCK LOOKING
FOR THE HOUSE THAT WAS ON FIRE
SO I COULD SAVE PEOPLE.
BUT IT WASN'T A HOUSE.
IT WAS THE FORESTS THAT WAS ON
FIRE AND WE BREATHED THAT SMOKE.
AND THEN LAST YEAR I WAS
SHOCKED BY HOW MUCH THE HEAT
AFFECTED ME.
THE HEAT WAS DEBILITATING.
I FELT IF I SAT DOWN TOO LONG I
WOULD NEVER WAKE UP.
I WAS WORRIED ABOUT FRIENDS AND
I CALLED TO MAKE SURE THEY WERE
OKAY.
SOMEWHERE AND SOME WERE NOT.
ONE DIED FROM BEING ISOLATED IN
THE HEAT.
I ONLY MADE IT THROUGH THAT
PERIOD BY PUTTING TOWELS IN THE
FREEZER AND WEARING A COLD
CLOCK AROUND MY NECK.
I LIVE ON CITY RIDGE WITH
SEVERAL BIG SHADE TREES ON MY
LOT.
LIKE SO MANY PEOPLE IN SEATTLE
NEIGHBORHOODS THERE ARE FEW
TREES IN THE AIR IS CLOGGED
WITH TRAFFIC AND DUST.
IT WAS MINIMAL IN COMPARISON.
I AM FROM TEXAS AND I DO NOT
WANT AN INDIVIDUAL AIR-
CONDITIONER.
THEY ARE A HUGE WASTE AND THEY
SPEW HEAT ONTO YOUR NEIGHBORS.
A COMMUNITY RESPONSE IS WHAT WE
NEED.
COOLING CENTERS OPEN 24 HOURS
WERE NEIGHBORS CAN CHECK AND
MAKE SURE THAT EVERYONE IS OKAY.
HEAT WAVES ARE RAVAGING THE
POPULATION AROUND THE WORLD.
AND EVEN HERE ON OUR COOL
PACIFIC NORTHWEST.
WE MUST PLAN FOR AND PLAY FOR
CLIMATE RESILIENCE AND DO IT
NOW.
I AM ASKING THE COUNCIL TO
FULLY FUND THE HEALTHY THROUGH
HEAT AND SMOKE CAMPAIGN.
THANK YOU.
>> OUR NEXT SPEAKER IS TIM
WALTZER.
TIM IF YOU HIT STAR AND THE
NUMBER SIX ON YOUR PHONE IT
SHOULD UNMUTE YOU.
OKAY.
WE MAY HAVE TO COME BACK TO
TIM.
THE NEXT SPEAKER WILL BE
SUZANNE GRANT.
>> HELLO.
THIS IS SUZANNE GRANT.
THE PARK DISTRICT NEEDS TO
FOCUS ON BASIC MAINTENANCE OF
THE PARKS.
DO NOT DIVERT THE GENERAL FUNDS
TO OTHER PURPOSES.
THE PARK DISTRICT TO FUND WOULD
NOT BE USED TO FILL WHAT SHOULD
BE COMING FROM THE GENERAL
FUND.
DURING THE PANDEMIC THE COUNCIL
BROKE THAT PACK.
10 MILLION CUT FROM 2020 AND
2021 AND THE MONEY WAS NEVER
PAID BACK.
THERE SHOULD NOW BE A
PERFORMANCE AUDITS.
WHAT DID THE PARK DISTRICT
ACCOMPLISH WITH THE 300 MILLION
THAT THEY RECEIVED IN
ADDITIONAL FUNDING DURING THE
PAST SIX YEARS?
DOUBLING THE PROPERTY TAXES
WITHIN EQUITABLE AND UNSTABLE
LEVEL FOR MANY.
IT WILL ALSO LIKELY HURT THE
PARK LEVEE THAT IS COMING UP
FOR THEM SOON.
THE STRATEGIC PLAN PROMISES THE
RESTORATION AND MAINTENANCE OF
FORESTS AND THE FOREST CANOPY.
75% OF THEIR RESPONDENTS BEFORE
THE ACTUAL OPEN SPACES.
THE PARKS CURRENTLY HAS ONLY
TWO CREWS AND POSSIBLY ONLY
THREE PEOPLE TAKING PART OF
THIS.
THERE NEEDS TO BE MORE
ATTENTION PAID TO PRESERVING
AND MAINTAINING THE HEALTH OF
THE TREES IN THE PARK.
350.ORG KNOWS THAT KEEPING THE
MATURE AND EXCEPTIONAL TREES IN
THE GROUND WILL HELP WITH OUR
CLIMATE CRISIS AS THE TREE
PROVIDES COOLING AND THEY HELP
TO CLEAR THE AIR AS THEY
PROVIDE OXYGEN FOR US TO
BREATHE.
INCREASE AND SUSTAIN THE
FUNDING FOR TREES IN SEATTLE
PARKS.
THANK YOU.
>> OUR NEXT SPEAKER IS REBECCA
BEAR.
>> REBECCA PLEASE PRESS STAR
AND THE NUMBER SIX.
OKAY WE WILL COME BACK TO
REBECCA.
NEXT SPEAKER IS KATIE WEBER.
>> HELLO.
MY NAME IS KATIE.
I HAVE LIVED IN SEATTLE FOR
OVER 10 YEARS. I AM HERE TO
TALK TO THE COUNCIL ABOUT HOW
THE COMMITTEE INITIATIVE. I KNOW
THERE ARE A LOT OF THINGS TO
THE WEALTHY LEVELS THAT YOU
HAVE TO DEAL WITH.
BUT IT AFFECTS ALL OF US AS THE
CITY.
IT DOES MATTER.
IT WILL TAKE THE WORST TO
AFFECT CLIMATE CHANGE.
I KNOW THAT THESE USES IS A BIG
DIFFERENCE.
THEY LIVE IN A SOCIETY WHERE
THEY ARE SUPPOSED TO DO THE
RIGHT THING.
COMMUNITY CENTERS ARE OFTEN USED
BY THE MOST VULNERABLE AMONG US.
IT INCLUDES THOSE WHO ARE
RECENTLY AFFECTED BY CLIMATE
CHANGE.
IT WILL MAKE IT A REFUGE FOR
PEOPLE.
SEATTLE HAS ALWAYS BEEN THE
HOLISTIC CURVE BEING IN THIS
VEHICLE FOR WHAT HAS BEEN IN
THE CITY.
SEATTLE CAN TELL THAT THIS IS
SOMETHING TO TAKE SERIOUSLY.
LET US NOT LET THIS OPPORTUNITY
GO BY US.
HAVE THE ENVIRONMENTAL UPGRADES
IT WILL BE A GOOD TIME.
>> OUR NEXT SPEAKER IS LUCINDA
STROUD.
THE SENDER, IF YOU HAVE NOT YET
PLEASE PRESS STAR AND THE
NUMBER SIX.
>> MY NAME IS LUCINDA STROUD.
I'M SUPPORTING THE HEALTHY
THROUGH HEAT AND SMOKE CAMPAIGN.
I RENT IN AN OLDER BUILDING
BECAUSE THIS IS WHAT I CAN
AFFORD.
DURING THE WORST DAYS HERE IT
GOES TO 100 DEGREES INSIDE MY
APARTMENT.
THE ONLY OPTION FOR FINDING
COOLER PLACES IS TO KNOW THOSE
WHO ALREADY HAVE AN AC WHO ARE
WILLING TO LET ME HANG OUT IN
THEIR HOMES AND PAY ALMOST $20
TO SPEND A FEW HOURS IN THE
MOVIE THEATER.
RENT A HOTEL ROOM OR HANG
AROUND IN A STORE AS LONG AS AN
EMPLOYEE WOULD LET ME WITHOUT
MY MAKING A PURCHASE.
THERE ALMOST NO PUBLIC PLACES
FOR AIR-CONDITIONING IN SEATTLE.
WHERE THERE IS NOT THE PRESSURE
TO PURCHASE SOMETHING.
THAT IS THE PUBLIC HEALTH ISSUE
PARTICULAR FOR THOSE FAMILIES
WITH CHILDREN ELDERS AND OTHERS
WHO ARE MOST VULNERABLE TO
DANGEROUS EFFECTS FROM THE HEAT
EXHAUSTION WHO ARE LEAST LIKELY
TO HAVE THE CAPITAL TO AFFORD
ACCESS TO BEARABLE TEMPERATURES.
WE DESPERATELY NEED AIR
CONDITION COMMUNITY CENTERS TO
ACT AS THE COOLING CENTERS AND
WE NEED CENTERS BOTH USING
GREEN TECHNOLOGY TO BE DESCRIBED
SO THAT THEY DO NOT SPREAD OR
WORSEN THE ROOT CAUSE OF WHY WE
URGENTLY NEED THESE AIR-
CONDITIONER VENUES IN THE FIRST
PLACE.
I SUPPORT THE FULL DEMANDS OF
THE HEALTHY THROUGH HEAT
CAMPAIGN.
THANK YOU FOR YOUR TIME.
>> THE NEXT SPEAKER PLEASE QUIT
THAT IS DONALD HARRIS.
DONALD YOU MAY NEED TO PRESS
STAR AND THE NUMBER SIX.
LET'S MOVE ON THE NEXT SPEAKER
WILL BE KATHLEEN CONNOR.
KATHLEEN?
>> HELLO.
I AM KATHLEEN CONNOR.
A 30 YEAR SEATTLE RESIDENCE.
WE NEED ADEQUATE FUNDING TO
MAINTAIN EQUITABLE RECREATION
SYSTEMS FOR ALL.
AFTER CONSIDERING THE CYCLE TO
FUNDING PACKAGE I SUPPORT THE
OVERALL DIRECTION WITH THE
BOARD OF PARK AND RECREATION'S
WITH THE FUNDING PACKAGE WITH
THE FOLLOWING EXCEPTIONS, I
URGE YOU TO ADD MORE FUNDING
FOR ANNUAL TREEPLANTING AND
DEVELOP PARKS IN ORDER TO STAVE
OFF THE LOSS OF TREES WITH THE
CLIMATE ADAPTATIONS.
I URGE YOU TO ADD MORE FUNDING
FOR LANDSCAPE RESTORATIONS
INCLUDING FOUR HOMESTEAD
LANDSCAPES AND PICNICKING AND
ET CETERA LEADING TO HEALTHY
LANDSCAPES IN ORDER TO BE
ENJOYABLE.
IT WOULD ALSO HAVE CLIMATE
RESILIENCY.
I SUGGEST YOU ADD MORE FUNDING
FOR ALL AREA RENOVATIONS AND
NEW SITES INCLUDING AT URBAN
VILLAGES.
DURING THE PANDEMIC WE WERE ALL
ENCOURAGED TO GO TO LOCAL PARKS
AND DOGS TEND TO USE THE
BALLPARKS AND OTHERS BECAUSE
THEY WERE CONVENIENTLY LOCATED.
AND THEIR WANT MANY HERE IT'S
NOT CONVENIENT FOR SOME THE
LOCATIONS OF THIS AREA.
AS THE CITY INCREASES THE
DENSITY THE DAMAGE CAUSED TO
OTHER PARKLANDS LEADS TO LACK
OF CONVENIENT AREAS WHICH WILL
ONLY BE EXACERBATED UNDER THE
SAFETY ISSUES AS WELL WITH THE
CHILDREN WHO ARE TRYING TO PLAY
ON THE FIELD WITH DOGS RUNNING
LOOSE ON THEM.
WE DO NEED TO ADD MORE OF
THOSE.
I WOULD SUGGEST AS YOU LOOK AT
THE PACKAGE THAT THESE ELEMENTS
COULD COME FROM THE FUNDING OF
RAPID SPORT MAINTENANCE AND
EXPANSION.
THAT IS CURRENTLY ENTERING THE
CONTINUING TO FIX IT FIRST
AREA.
AND THEY HAVE ONE .55 IN THIS
RECOMMENDATION.
SO I WOULD TAKE HALF 1 MILLION
FROM THAT AND CONTINUE
SPREADING IN THIS DIRECTION.
THERE IS AN ALTERNATIVE FUNDING
APPROACH AS WELL TO SAVE MONEY
ON DEBT SERVICE AND INTEREST IN
THE LONG RUN TO ALLOW FOR MORE
PROJECTS TO BE COMPLETED
WITHOUT INCURRING DEBT.
IT WOULD ALSO COVER THE PARK
DISTRICT FOR AND MANY LEVEL OF
YEARS.
>> OUR NEXT SPEAKER IS DAKOTA
RASH.
>> DONALD HARRIS?
>> GO AHEAD DONALD.
WE WILL TAKE DAKOTA AFTER
DONALD.
>> THANK YOU.
SO I'VE BEEN INVOLVED IN
SEATTLE PARKS AS AN EMPLOYEE
AND MORE.
FOR OVER FIVE DECADES.
AND I'M CONCERNED BECAUSE WE
ARE LOSING TREES IN OUR PARKS
IS BECOMING MORE SEVERE IN
RECENT YEARS WITH THE GLOWING
IMPACT OF CLIMATE CHANGE WHICH
YOU HEARD A LOT ABOUT THIS
EVENING.
I'M DEDICATING MY TIME BECAUSE
IT'S SO CRITICAL FOR THE FUTURE
OF CITY PARKS.
I'M CURRENTLY ON THE TEAM
TACKLING THE CHALLENGE OF NO
NET LOSS TREES AND DEVELOP
PARKS BEFORE IT IS TOO LATE.
THESE ARE THE PARKS THAT PEOPLE
USE AND ARE PROVIDING SHADE AS
A CRITICAL ISSUE WITH THOSE
HELPFUL BENEFITS.
THE TREES PROVIDE HELPING CLEAN
AIR AND REDUCING OUR CARBON
FOOTPRINT.
WE LOOK AT THE CITYWIDE BUT
ALSO WITH THE FUNDING
ALLOCATIONS AND EQUITY NEEDS
FOR THE UNDERSERVED COMMUNITY.
THIS IS CRITICAL FOR
CONFRONTING CLIMATE CHANGE AND
ADDRESSING EQUITY.
WE NEED TO BE PLANTING 500 OR
MORE TREES PER YEAR WITHIN THE
DEVELOPED PARKS AND FUNDING FOR
THE GOAL OF NO NET LOSS IN 10
TO 18 YEARS.
TAKE THE TIME TO GROW SEE YOU
CAN PROVIDE A LASTING BENEFIT
FOR THIS SEATTLE PARKS.
WE NEED THAT FUNDING NOW.
IT IS AS IMPORTANT AS ANY
FUNDING ALLOCATION THAT WE'RE
GOING TO MAKE TO PARKS.
IT MEANS MORE BACKLOG AND A NO
NET LOSS FOR THIS GROUP.
WITH ADEQUATE FUNDING WE CAN
ALSO USE THE CITY'S CONTRIBUTION
TO THE SIGNIFICANT PRIVATE
FUNDINGS.
I ALSO WANT TO SUPPORT THE $.33
SOLUTION AS WE HAVE HEARD AS AN
ALTERNATIVE RECOMMENDATION.
IT WILL PROVIDE A SOLUTION AND
AN ALTERNATIVE TO DEBT
FINANCING PROVIDING LONG-TERM
FUNDING FOR PARKS AND
FACILITIES.
THANK YOU.
>> YOUR NEXT SPEAKER IS DAKOTA
RASH.
>> CAN YOU HEAR ME?
>> YES.
>> GREAT.
THANK YOU.
MY NAME IS DAKOTA RASH.
I COME FROM A FAMILY OF
TEACHERS.
BECAUSE OF THAT, SUMMER WAS
ALWAYS A TIME TO COME TOGETHER
AND ENJOY THINGS LIKE OUR CLEAN
WATER AND BEAUTIFUL MOUNTAINS.
BUT OVER THE PAST TWO YEARS
THAT ENJOYMENT OF SUMMER HAS
ERODED.
WITH SMOG AND SMOKE FROM
WILDFIRES CREEPING INTO OUR
LIVES.
MAKING US WONDER IF WE'RE GOING
TO HAVE TO SHUT OUR DOORS AND
WINDOWS.
AND THEN LAST YEAR WITH THE
HEAT ZONE THAT JOY THAT IT
BRINGS WAS COMPLETELY BROKEN.
ONE OF MY PARENTS SUFFERED
GREATLY THROUGH MAJOR ASTHMA
ATTACKS BECAUSE OF A HEAT WAVE.
I SHARE THAT BECAUSE THIS IS
SOMETHING THAT REALLY IMPACT MY
ABILITY TO ENJOY THE SUMMER.
THEY WERE PEOPLE THAT COULD
ACCESS COOLING AND COULD ACCESS
THOSE LEVELS.
SO WHILE WE ARE REMINDED OF
WHERE WE WANT TO SPEND OUR
FUNDS WE WANT TO MAKE SURE THAT
IT GOES TOWARD THINGS THAT WILL
ALLOW US TO HAVE HOPE FOR THE
FUTURE BECAUSE THE FUTURE IS
GOING TO CHANGE.
IT IS GOING TO HAVE MORE HEAT
WAVES.
WE INSPIRE AND PRESERVE HOPE BY
PREPARING FOR THOSE WHO ARE
IMPACTED.
USE THESE FUNDS TO INVEST IN
THE COMMUNITY AND BUILD CLIMATE
RESILIENCY WITH US AND EVERY
ELEMENT HERE.
MAKE SURE THAT YOU HAVE THOSE
COOLING CENTERS THAT CLEAN THE
AIR AND ARE POWERED ON SOLAR
ENERGY.
WE NEED TO MAKE SURE THAT WE
ARE NOT EXACERBATING THE
PROBLEM BY TRYING TO GET SHORT-
TERM SOLUTIONS.
WE MUST LOOK TOWARD THE FUTURE
AND BE RESILIENT.
SO SUPPORT THE HEALTHY THROUGH
HEAT AND SMOKE CAMPAIGN AND
PRESERVE THE FUTURE OF OUR
SUMMER.
THANK YOU.
>> OUR NEXT SPEAKER IS DOCTOR
BAILEY.
THATCHER YOU MAY NEED TO PRESS
STAR AND THE NUMBER SIX ON YOUR
PHONE.
OKAY I WILL MOVE ON NOW.
OUR NEXT SPEAKER IS CASSIDY.
>> GOOD EVENING.
MY NAME IS CASSIDY AND I'M HERE
ON BEHALF OF THE WASHINGTON
TRAILS ASSOCIATION TO TALK
ABOUT THE METROPOLITAN PARK
DISTRICT LEVEE.
THIS IS THE LARGEST ADVOCACY
SALE MAINTENANCE OPERATION
REPRESENTING MORE THAN 27,000
WORKERS AND I WANT TO START BY
THANKING THE CITY COUNCIL FOR
ALLOWING COMMITTEE VOICES
WITHIN THIS PROCESS.
WE ARE ASKING THE METROPOLITAN
PARKS DISTRICT MONEY RAISE THE
MAXIMUM ALLOWABLE OR $.40 PER
THOUSAND DOLLARS OF THE BEST
VALUE PROPERTY.
IN ORDER TO PROVE INVEST IN THE
CITY PARKS.
IT IS SET AT $.20 PER THOUSAND
DOLLARS.
AND THAT MEANS THE SEATTLE
PARKS ARE ILL PREPARED TO CARRY
OUT THIS LEVEL WHEN IT COMES TO
CURRENT AND FUTURE RESIDENCE.
UNDERFUNDED PARKS CAN LEAD TO
POOR EXPERIENCES OUTDOORS AND
WE CANNOT ALLOW THE LACK OF
FUNDING TO BE THE REASON WHY
PEOPLE DO NOT ACCESS PARKS.
FUNDING FOR THE PARKS IS VERY
IMPORTANT.
AS WE PARTNER WITH SEATTLE
PARKS AND REC TO BRING MORE
EQUITY TO THE OUTDOORS.
WE'VE CONTRIBUTED THOUSANDS OF
HOURS OF VOLUNTEER WORK AT 14
DIFFERENT PARKS IN THE PAST FEW
YEARS.
WE WANT TO EXPAND OUR
PARTNERSHIP BUT WE NEED THEM TO
BE FUNDED IN ORDER TO ADDRESS
ACCESS AND EQUITY NEEDS.
WE NEED THE LEVEE RAISED TO $.40
PER THOUSAND DOLLARS OF
ASSESSED VALUE AN INCREASE IN
ANNUAL FUNDING TO EQUITY
INVESTMENTS AS WE CURRENTLY
PLAN 1 MILLION ANNUALLY AND
THAT IS NOT ENOUGH.
WE ALSO ENCOURAGE REVERSE OF
THE APPROACH USED OF THE LAST
SIX YEARS AND ENSURE FUNDING
CAN GRADUALLY INCREASE
ANNUALLY.
THE METROPOLITAN PARKS DISTRICT
NEEDS TO PRIORITIZE PUBLIC
SAFETY AND EXPRESS THIS TIME
AND AGAIN BY THE COMMUNITY TO
PROVIDE SUPPORT TO THE PARKS
FOR THE EQUITY PROJECTS AND
ADJUST MAINTENANCE WITH THE
PROJECT BACKLOG.
WE NEED THIS TO SUPPORT THE
POSITION FOR TRAILS FOR
EVERYONE FOREVER.
WHICH INCLUDES QUALITY PARK
ACCESS FOR THOSE IN EVERY
NEIGHBORHOOD.
THANK YOU.
>> OUR NEXT SPEAKER IS KATIE
COURIC.
>> GOOD EVENING.
THANK YOU FOR THE OPPORTUNITY
TO PROVIDE PUBLIC COMMENT TODAY
AND FOR ALL OF YOUR PUBLIC
SERVICE.
I'M A LIFELONG RESIDENT OF
DISTRICT 1. AS WELL AS A
COMMUNITY CENTER VOLUNTEER AND
A PROPERTY OWNER.
I WORK WITH THE WILDERNESS
SOCIETY WITH MORE THAN 1
MILLION MEMBERS.
WE ARE FOCUSED ON ENSURING
EQUITABLE ACCESS AND I'M HERE
TO ASK THE COMMISSION TO MAKE
AN HISTORIC INVESTMENT IN THE
PARK SYSTEM.
THIS IS CRITICAL FOR PROJECTED
GROWTH ACROSS THE CITY.
WE KNOW THAT THEY ARE ESSENTIAL
KEEPING OUR BODIES AND FAMILIES
HEALTHY CONNECTING WITH OUR
NEIGHBORS AND EXERCISE OUR RIGHT
. WE KEEP COOL ON HOT SUMMER
DAYS.
WE ENCOURAGE YOU TO MEET AND
EXCEED THE RECOMMENDATIONS OF
THE PARKS COMMISSION WITH $.40
PER THOUSAND COMMITTING TO 200
MILLION IN FUNDING WITH LONG-
TERM INVESTMENTS WITHIN THE
PARK SYSTEM.
THIS MUST BE BOLD TO MEET THE
DEMANDS IN THE CITY.
WE ARE ACTIVELY INCREASING
DENSITY ACROSS THE CITY AND WE
ARE NOT KEEPING PACE WITH THE
INVESTMENTS OF PART TO MEET
THIS DEMAND.
IF WE DO NOT GROW AND REINVEST
THE COMMUNITY WILL SUFFER.
PLEASE USE THE POWER THAT YOU
HAVE HERE WITHIN THE COMMISSION
TO MAKE A BOLD INVESTMENT IN
OUR FUTURE.
THANK YOU.
>> OUR NEXT SPEAKER IS THATCHER
BAILEY.
THATCHER ARE YOU THERE?
OKAY.
LET'S MOVE ON TO RUTH WILLIAMS.
RUTH?
>> CAN YOU HEAR ME?
>> YES.
>> THIS IS RUTH WILLIAMS.
THANK YOU FOR THE OPPORTUNITY
TO SPEAK TODAY.
I AM FROM DISTRICT 5 IN THE
NORTHGATE AREA.
GROWING UP MY DAUGHTER SPENT
HOURS EVERY WEEK RUNNING
SWIMMING AND SPLASHING IN THE
PLAYGROUND.
I WAS A STEWARD FOR 20 YEARS
BEGINNING IN 1994.
BEFORE THAT THERE WAS THE POOR
THAT WE KNEW TODAY WITH THE
SEATTLE PARTNERSHIP.
I AM AN ACTIVE MEMBER OF
IMPORTANT PEOPLE LIFE.
I VALUE AND FEEL A STRONG
CONNECTION TO THE SEATTLE PARKS
EXPANDING THE ROLES KEEPING
SEATTLE LIVABLE FOR ALL.
I APPRECIATE THE ATTENTION AND
SUPPORT THE NATURAL AREAS HAVE
RECEIVED OVER THE YEARS.
BUT I WOULD LIKE TO DRAW YOUR
ATTENTION SOUTH OF NORTHGATE
WAY AND EAST OF EIGHTH AVENUE.
THIS IS THE LARGEST PARK IN THE
NORTHGATE HUB IN A NEIGHBORHOOD
SHORT WITH SOCIAL JUSTICE
MEASURES.
THE PARK IS BADLY SQUEEZED AND
HAS BECOME HAZARDOUS TO REACH
ON FOOT.
WITH THIS CONSIDERATION WOULD
BE AN IDEAL FIGHT FOR HANDICAP
ACCESS FOR NATURE AND WILDLIFE
WITHIN THE CITY.
THE NEXT ISSUE IS HAVING RESTED
THE DOCUMENTS FOR THE CITY
BUDGET CYCLE YOU SEE THE IDEAS
PUT FORWARD IN THAT THREE-STEP
SOLUTION.
I LIKE IT BECAUSE IT DOES
APPEAR TO ME TO MEET PRESENT
AND FUTURE NEEDS BY REALLY
APPRECIATING THE WISDOM
AVOIDING THOSE $10 MILLION IN
GET DEBT SERVICES.
LET US DO THIS.
THANK YOU.
>> THE NEXT SPEAKER IF HE IS
AVAILABLE IS TIM WALTZER.
ARE YOU ABLE TO UNMUTE YOUR
PHONE?
>> CAN YOU HEAR ME?
HELLO?
>> YES WE CAN.
>> MY NAME IS TIM MELTZER.
I'M A LONGTIME RESIDENT OF LAKE
CITY AND ADVOCATE FUNDING FOR
PARK DISTRICT.
I WOULD LIKE TO EXPAND THE
REGION BASED ON THE QUESTION
FOR THE JUNE 24th MEETING.
CONCERNED YOU HAVE EXPRESSED
ABOUT INCREASING THE LEVEL OF
TAXATION FOR COMMISSIONERS AND
THE RECOMMENDED SPENDING.
IT REQUIRES A LOWER INCREASE
THAN THE COMMISSIONERS
RECOMMENDATION A 37.9 CENTS.
THE 33 SAINT SOLUTION RATE
CONTINUES PROMISE WITHIN THE
FIRST CYCLE THE BILL FOR THE
PARK DISTRICT RESIDENT VALUED
AT 440,000 NOT BE MORE THAN
$145 PER YEAR.
BASED ON THE CURRENT TAX RATE
OF 20 POINT FOR CENTS THAT WILL
INCREASE THE CURRENT TAX BILL
BY $55 GOING FORWARD ANNUALLY
WHICH WILL ONLY A 60 ONE .6%
INCREASE.
THE OTHER INCREASE THAT WOULD
BE IDENTIFIED IS THAT THE
COMMISSIONERS RECOMMENDATION TO
DO LONG-TERM DEBT COLLECTING
FOR 110 MILLION.
THIS WOULD BE FOR 20 YEARS
COSTING APPROXIMATELY $10
MILLION A YEAR.
THAT INDEBTEDNESS WILL HAVE TO
BE ADDED TO WHATEVER SPENDING
IS APPROVED IN SUBSEQUENT
CYCLES.
THE $.33 SOLUTION PROVIDES A
PAY-AS-YOU-GO PROGRAM WITH
INTEREST COSTS AND LONG-TERM
DEBT FINANCING.
A QUESTION ASKED ABOUT THE
FUTURE OF FUNDING THAT INDICATED
IT WAS ONLY 123,000 FOR EXISTING
OFFICIAL NERIS IN 2023.
THE $.33 SOLUTION PROVIDES
INCREASED AREAS EXISTING AND
NEW WITH AN ALLOCATION OF
$525,000 AND 2023.
I WANT TO THANK THE PARK
DISTRICT BOARD MEMBERS FOR
CONSIDERATION AND COMMENT
SUPPORTING THE $.33 SOLUTION AS
AN ALTERNATIVE AND POSSIBLY
BETTER FUNDING SOLUTION THAN
THE COMMISSIONERS WAS MEANT
RECOMMENDATION.
>> BETH PURCELL.
>> MY NAME IS BETH PURCELL.
AS A SUPPORTER, CITIZEN AND
STAKEHOLDER I RECOGNIZE THE
METROPOLITAN PARK DISTRICT IS
CRITICAL FOR ENSURING SHORT AND
LONG-TERM MAINTENANCE WITH
CAPITAL PROGRESS INVESTMENT
DOLLARS NEEDED FOR IMPROVEMENT
OR PARK SYSTEM.
NEW INVESTMENTS IN EQUITY
CLIMATE CHANGE PARK DEVELOPMENT
IN NATURE MAINTENANCE OF THE
COMMUNITY CENTERS ARE VALUABLE
INCLUSIONS WITHIN THE PARK
DISTRICT.
WHILE I AGREE WITH THE MAJORITY
OF RECOMMENDATIONS I BELIEVE
THERE AREAS WHERE IT CAN BE
IMPROVED.
THIS IS ANOTHER ONE NUMBER ONE
PRIORITY.
WITH STRONG INVESTMENT AND
LIGHTING AND MORE MAINTENANCE.
ALSO IMPORTANT IS TO HAVE
ACTIVE PERSONNEL IN THE PARK.
THIS IS CURRENTLY UNDERFUNDED.
PARK SECURITY AND PARK
AMBASSADORS WERE ALL HERE WITH
$430,000 FROM THE ORIGINAL
PARKS DEPARTMENT REQUEST.
IN ADDITION MANY PRIVATE
NONPROFIT AND GOVERNMENTAL
AGENCIES OBTAINED $4 MILLION
ANNUALLY FOR SECURITY AND
ACTIVATION OF PUBLIC SAFETY.
PARTICULARLY IN DOWNTOWN.
THE SERVICES HAVE PROVEN TO
REDUCE NEGATIVE BEHAVIOR.
THERE IS NO LONG-TERM
COMMITMENT FROM THE CITY TO
ADDRESS THE PUBLIC NEED AND IT
IS SUSTAINABLE TO EXPECT THE
NONPROFITS TO DO THIS WORK.
THE EXAMPLE WE ARE SEEING IS A
POTENTIAL LOSS AS A SEATTLE
PARK.
THE NEXT IS EQUITY FUNDING.
THESE ARE HISTORICALLY UNDER
RESOURCED COMMUNITIES.
IT IS UNDERFUNDED WITH $1
MILLION ANNUALLY WHICH DOES NOT
ADDRESS THE CAPITAL PROJECT NEED
FROM US WERE UNDER ADJUSTED
AREAS IN THE CITY PROVIDING
TRUE EQUITY FUNDING TO BE
INCREASED FOR AT LEAST $5
MILLION ANNUALLY.
THE THIRD CATEGORY IS
MAINTENANCE THAT WILL ONLY
ADDRESS A PORTION OF THE
CAPITAL PROJECT BACKLOG.
THE RESULT IS REDUCED VISION
FOR THE COMMUNITY CENTER IN
TERMS OF QUALITY AND FACILITIES
THAT NEED TO BE BUILT FOR THE
NEXT 20 TO 30 YEARS.
I ENCOURAGE YOU TO MEET AND
EXCEED THE RECOMMENDATIONS
PURSUANT OF $.40 COMMITTING TO
200 MILLION TO ENSURE WE DO
HAVE LONG-TERM INVESTMENT
WITHIN OUR SYSTEM.
THANK YOU.
>> OUR NEXT SPEAKER IS MATT
PENN CAL.
>> MATT YOU MAY NEED TO PRESS
STAR AND THE NUMBER SIX.
GO AHEAD MATT.
>> OKAY.
IF WE DON'T GET ANY VOLUME OUT
OF MATT THAT WILL BE OUR LAST
SPEAKER.
IF WE GO BACK THROUGH THERE IS
A LIST OF ABOUT FOUR THAT WERE
PRESENT BUT DID NOT RESPOND
WHEN WE CALLED HER NAMES AND I
CAN CALL THEM AGAIN IF YOU
WOULD LIKE?
>> YES PLEASE.
>> IS THIS MATT?
>> YES.
HELLO.
>> HELLO MATT.
HELLO CITY COUNCILMEMBERS.
I AM CALLING TO YOU FROM
DISTRICT 6. I'VE BEEN A
PRESIDENT REPRESENTATIVE HERE
FOR THE LAST YEAR AND A HALF.
THERE'VE BEEN UNPRECEDENTED
DISCOMFORT DURING THE HEAT
WAVE.
BUT MYSELF I HAD THE PRIVILEGE
OF A HOME NO RUNNING WATER AND
ELECTRICITY TO CURVE THE
DISCOMFORT THAT WE DO NOT HAVE.
I'M A FULL SUPPORTER OF THE
HEALTHY THROUGH HEAT AND SMOKE
CAMPAIGN THAT HOPEFULLY WILL
UTILIZE THIS FUNDING TO CREATE
MORE RENEWABLE ENERGY TO HELP
THE GROWING HOMELESS GET
RESPONDED AND BELIEF THAT
AFFECTS OUR CITY EVERY YEAR.
I WOULD REALLY LIKE THE BUDGET
TO BE EXPANDED TO INCLUDE THE
HOMELESS OUTREACH PROGRAM AND
VOLUNTEER PROGRAM TO WORK IN
CONJUNCTION WITH THE UNION
OFFICIALS THAT WILL BE
OVERSEEING A LOT OF
CONSTRUCTION PARAMETERS AROUND
THE WHOLE BUILD.
HOPEFULLY TO BRING THIS
COMMUNITY INTO THIS BUILDING
PROJECT BECAUSE UNFORTUNATELY
WHAT I AM SEEING IS A LOT OF
GARBAGE AND A LOT OF HUMAN WASTE
THAT TENDS TO ACCUMULATE AROUND
THE COMMUNITY CENTERS THAT IS
COSTING MILLIONS UPON MILLIONS
OF DOLLARS EVERY YEAR TO CLEAN
UP.
BY ALLOWING THIS COMMUNITY TO
COME ON BOARD WHETHER IT'S JUST
SWEEPING UP ON THE JOBSITE OR
CARING TOOLS THIS COMMUNITY CAN
COME TOGETHER AND TAKE PRIDE IN
THEIR NEIGHBORHOOD AND
BUILD THIS FACILITY THEY WILL
BE UTILIZING THIS AND HOPEFULLY
CURVE THE WASTE THAT HAS
CONTRIBUTED TO A LOT OF HEALTH
HAZARDS IN THE CITY THAT I'M
CURRENTLY SEEING AND BEING
EXPOSED TO.
>> THANK YOU.
OUR NEXT SPEAKER IS TORI
WESTMAN.
TORI?
>> HIT STAR AND THE NUMBER SIX
ON YOUR PHONE PLEASE?
>> HELLO.
MY NAME IS TORI WESTMAN.
I'M A SEATTLE RESIDENT AND A
MEMBER OF THE INTERNATIONAL
BROTHERHOOD OF ELECTRICAL
WORKERS LOCAL 46.
I SUPPORT THE HEALTHY THROUGH
HEAT AND SMOKE CAMPAIGN.
WE NEED TO TAKE ACTION ON
CLIMATE CHANGE AND WE CAN DO
THAT THROUGH UNION LABOR.
THERE IS A LOT OF WORK TO BE
DONE AND THERE ARE PLENTY OF
PEOPLE OUT THERE WHO CAN DO THE
WORK.
BY INVESTING WITHIN THESE
UPGRADES FOR THE COMMUNITY
CENTERS WE ARE ALSO INVESTING
IN PEOPLE HAVING ECONOMIC
SECURITY THROUGH THE UNION JOBS.
MY LIFE HAS CHANGED FOR THE
BETTER BECAUSE OF MY UNION
APPRENTICESHIP.
I WANT TO MAKE SURE THAT MORE
PEOPLE WILL HAVE THE SAME KIND
OF OPPORTUNITIES THAT I HAVE
HAD.
ONE OF THE GREAT THINGS ABOUT
THIS CAMPAIGN IS THAT IT BRINGS
ON APPRENTICES FROM LOCAL
SEATTLE NEIGHBORHOODS.
THE SUPPORT DEMANDS THE HEALTHY
THROUGH HEAT AND SMOKE CAMPAIGN
AND HELPS THOSE WHO WANT TO
WORK.
>> OUR NEXT SPEAKER IS KEVIN
DALEY.
GO AHEAD KEVIN.
>> MY NAME IS KEVIN DALEY.
I AM A SEVEN YEAR MEMBER OF THE
I PW LOCAL 46 AND A STRONG
SUPPORTER OF THE HEALTHY
THROUGH HEAT AND SMOKE CAMPAIGN.
ALONG WITH EVERYONE ELSE LAST
SUMMER, I HAD STRONG ISSUES
WITH DISCOMFORT IN THE HEAT AND
I COULD NOT SLEEP.
NOT SLEEPING IS NOT OKAY.
A LOT OF WORK WAS MISSED.
GOING TO WORK ON MINIMAL SLEEP
IN MY PARTICULAR INDUSTRY IS
VERY DANGEROUS.
OPERATING HEAVY MACHINERY IS
DANGEROUS.
ESPECIALLY ON MINIMAL SLEEP.
THERE IS A DOMINO EFFECT HERE.
WE HEAR ABOUT DEATHS THAT OCCUR
FROM THE HEAT WAVE.
IT GOES DEEPER THAN JUST TO THE
HEAT.
MY LITTLE SISTER'S WEDDING WAS
LAST SUMMER AS WELL.
RIGHT DURING THE HEAT WAVE.
WE HAD ELDERLY PEOPLE THAT
WOULD NOT MISS IT FOR THE WORLD.
THEY WERE NEARLY PASSING OUT.
I WOULD LIKE TO SEE THE AC
INSTALLING BECOMING STANDARD
FOR HVAC SYSTEMS MOVING FORWARD
WITH NEW CONSTRUCTION SOONER
RATHER THAN LATER.
THE TIME IS NOW.
AND WE HAVE AN ARENA NAME
CLIMATE PLEDGE.
THE TIME IS NOW SO THANK YOU
FOR YOUR LEADERSHIP AND THANK
YOU FOR YOUR TIME.
THE NEXT SPEAKER WILL BE REBECCA
A MERE.
ARE YOU THERE?
YOU MAY NEED TO PRESS STAR AND
THE NUMBER SIX.
REBECCA YOU MAY ALSO NEED TO
UNMUTE YOURSELF.
YOU ARE SHOWING AS MUTED RIGHT
NOW.
LET'S TRY THATCHER BAILEY WILL
MORE TIME.
THATCHER IT LOOKS LIKE YOU HAVE
UNMUTE IT BY PRESSING STAR IN
THE NUMBER SIX ARE YOU THERE?
OUR LAST SPEAKER THAT WE WOULD
TRY CALLING IS KYLE AZ.
KYLE ARE YOU THERE?
GIVE US ONE MINUTE AND WE WILL
ALLOW YOU TO TALK.
>> MY NAME IS KYLE.
DISTRICT 3 RESIDENT.
I THINK YOU FOR THE OPPORTUNITY
TODAY FOR COMMUNITY INPUT.
THIS IS CRITICAL TO LIVABILITY
IN SEATTLE.
I LIVE ON CAPITOL HILL AND
VISIT CITY PARKS REGULARLY WITH
MY NINE-YEAR-OLD SON.
AS HE GROWS UP I WANT HIM TO BE
ABLE TO BE SURROUNDED BY PARKS
AND TREES.
I AM CONCERNED THAT WE ARE
LOSING MORE TREES IN THE PARKS
DEPARTMENT IS ABLE TO REPLANT.
FOR EXAMPLE IN KYLE ANDERSON
PARK WE'VE LOST MORE THAN 15
TREES THE LAST 15 YEARS.
THE NEED TO BE SUFFICIENT TREES
FOR PLANTING TO KEEP UP WITH
THIS LEVEL OF LOSS AS WELL AS
ADDING THIS THROUGHOUT THE CITY
THAT IS HERE TO BEGIN WITH.
BOTH FOR THE PARK DISTRICT AND
THE GENERAL FUND INCLUDING
SIGNIFICANTLY MORE MONEY FOR
PLANTING TREES AND DEVELOPING
THIS WITHIN THE PARKS.
WE NEED TO INVEST NOW
RECOGNIZING THE TREES AS
CRITICAL ASSETS IN THE PARK.
THERE NEEDS TO BE A SIGNIFICANT
SUSTAINABLE FUNDING ALLOCATION
WITH SEATTLE PARKS HAVING THE
BENEFIT OF ALL THE IMPORTANT
ASPECTS OF HEALTHY TREES CLEAN
AIR AND HABITATS.
I WILL REITERATE NOW THAT WE
NEED TO BE PLANTING 500 OR MORE
TREES PER YEAR IN THE DEVELOPED
PART IS.
WE NEED TO PROVIDE FUNDING FOR
FIVE YEARS AND HOPEFULLY REACH
THE GOAL OF NO NET LOSS OF
TREES IN 10 TO 18 YEARS.
THANK YOU.
>> AND THAT CONCLUDES THE
SPEAKERS THAT ON LIST.
>> MADAM CLERK THANK YOU FOR
PRESIDING THROUGH AT WHY COUNTS
51 SPEAKERS.
POTENTIALLY?
>> YES.
ACTUALLY I THINK THEY WERE
CLOSER TO 60 WHEN YOU COUNT IN
THOSE THAT WERE NOT PRESENT.
>> ALSO IT LOOKS LIKE AN
UNFORTUNATE PUBLIC COMMENT
SESSION FOR CURRENT AND FORMER
PARK FOUNDATION PRESIDENT.
SOME SORRY WE COULDN'T HEAR
FROM THATCHER BAILEY AND
REBECCA BEAR BUT PLEASE SEND
YOUR COMMENTS IN WRITING.
WE DO ALWAYS LIKE TO HEAR FROM
YOU.
THANK YOU SO MUCH TO EVERYONE
WHO CAME IN PERSON TO COUNCIL
CHAMBERS AND SIGNED UP REMOTELY
TO TESTIFY.
THIS WAS AN IMPORTANT SESSION.
YOUR COMMENTS ARE VERY
APPRECIATED AS WE CONTINUE THE
WORK COMING THROUGH THE RENEWAL
OF THE METROPOLITAN PARK
DISTRICT AND THE CYCLE TO
INVESTMENTS.
I BRIEFLY WOULD LIKE TO SAY
LETTING US ALL GO ABOUT HER
EVENING I WOULD LIKE TO MENTION
THAT WE DO HAVE ANOTHER
METROPOLITAN PARK DISTRICT
BOARD OF COMMISSIONERS MEETING
THIS COMING MONDAY AT 9:30 A.M.
THAT MEETING IS JULY 18th TO BE
MORE SPECIFIC.
IT WILL BE A WALK THROUGH THE
VARIOUS COMPONENTS TO BE
CONSIDERED FOR INCLUSION IN THE
MAYOR'S PROPOSED SIX YEAR
SPENDING PLAN.
INITIAL RECOMMENDATIONS FOR THE
PARK BOARD RECOMMENDATIONS
INCLUDING TO FUND THE INITIALS
WITH THE SPENDING PLAN WITH THE
PROGRAMMING WITHIN THE PARKS
DEPARTMENT FUNDING 38 NEW
INVESTMENTS AND INITIATIVES
TOTALING $30 MILLION A YEAR
WITH A LOT OF OVERLAP FUNDING
PRECOMMITMENT PROJECTS SIMILARLY
WITH A SIGNIFICANT AMOUNT OF
OVERLAP WITH THE BOARD OF PARKS
RECOMMENDATIONS.
FUNDING COVID AND THE ECONOMY
RELIEF THAT INCLUDES A
SETTLEMENT SUPPLANTING PLAN WE
WILL WALK THROUGH THE
COMPONENTS FOR DISCUSSION AND
THE NEXT MEETING FOLLOWING THAT
WILL BE ON JULY 25th
SPECIFICALLY INTENDED TO BE A
DISCUSSION OF POTENTIAL COUNCIL
MEMBER PRIORITIES BEING
IDENTIFIED OR I GUESS BOARD
MEMBER PRIORITIES.
SO JUST OUTLINING THE NEXT FEW
MEETINGS.
I DO WANT TO STATE IT IS MY
INTENTION TO HAVE AT LEAST TWO
MORE PUBLIC COMMENT SESSIONS
LIKE TONIGHT'S AND TO HAVE THEM
AT COMMUNITY LOCATIONS.
ONE IN SOUTH SEATTLE AND ONE IN
NORTH SEATTLE.
THESE ARE THINGS BEING WORKED
OUT BETWEEN MY OFFICE AND THE
CLERK'S OFFICE AND WE STRONGLY
ENCOURAGE YOU TO CONTINUE TO
ENGAGE NOT JUST IN THE PUBLIC
HEARINGS BUT IN THE MEETINGS OF
THE PUBLIC ASSETS AND
HOMELESSNESS COMMITTEE AND THE
MEETINGS OF THE METROPOLITAN
PARK DISTRICT BOARD BOTH OF
WHICH ALWAYS HAVE PUBLIC
COMMENTS.
WITH NO MORE BUSINESS BEFORE
THE PARK DISTRICT BOARD I WOULD
ENTERTAIN A MOTION TO ADJOURN.
>> SO MOVED.
>> THANK YOU.
WE ARE NOW AT 7:28 P.M.
AND ADJOURNED.