C1
SEATTLE CITY COUNCIL COMES TO
ORDER. WILL THE CLERK PLEASE
CALL THE ROLL.
>> COUNCILMEMBER HERBOLD?
COUNCIL PRESIDENT JUAREZ.
>> HERE.
>> COUNCILMEMBER MORALES.
>> HERE.
>> COUNCILMEMBER MOSQUEDA.
>> PRESENT.
>> CHAIR LEWIS?
>> PRESENT.
>> CHARACTERS THERE ARE FOUR
MEMBERS PRESENT.
>> THANK YOU, THEIR CLERK.
MOVING ON THE APPROVAL THE
AGENDA, IF THERE IS NO
OBJECTION, THE AGENDA WILL BE
ADOPTED. HEARING NO OBJECTION,
THE AGENDA IS ADOPTED.
>> I BELIEVE THAT COUNCILMEMBER
HERBOLD HAS ENTERED THE
MEETING.
>> LET THE RECORD REFLECT THAT
COUNCILMEMBER HERBOLD IS NOW
PRESENT. AND THE CHAIR'S
REPORT, WE'LL HEAR A COUPLE OF
AGENDA ITEMS THAT WERE PASSED
OVER FROM DECEMBER. AND I WANT
TO THANK VICE CHAIR MOSQUEDA
FILLING IN IN DECEMBER TO THE
CHAIR MEETINGS IN MY ABSENCE
AND GRACIOUSLY ALLOWED SOME OF
THE ITEMS TO BE HEARD IN
JANUARY RATHER THAN AT THAT
MEETING. WE'LL HAVE A
PRESENTATION FROM THE SEATTLE
CENTER AND THE WATERFRONT AND
GO THROUGH A LITTLE BUSINESS
THAT WAS POSTPONED TO THIS
JANUARY MEETING FOR A COUPLE OF
COUNCIL BILLS THAT WE WILL HEAR
PRESENTATIONS. I HOPE AND TAKE
ACTION ON TO FLAG THAT FOR
COMMITEE MEMBERS. BEFORE WE GET
TO THAT POINT, WE WILL HAVE
PUBLIC COMMENT. I WILL GIVE
FOLKS TWO MINUTE FOR PUBLIC
COMMENT. I BELIEVE WE HAVE FOUR
PEOPLE SIGNED UP TO COMMENT,
MR. CLERK, SO I WILL HAND
MODERATING THE PUBLIC COMMENT
PERIOD TO THE CITY CLERK. YOU
MAY PROCEED WHEN READY.
>> THANK YOU, MR. CHAIR. ALEX
IS THE FIRST PUBLIC COMMENTER.
ALEX, BEGIN WHEN YOU'RE READY.
>> MY NAME IS ALEX. AND I NEVER
SHOW MY FACE FOR EIGHT MONTHS.
I SPEAK EVERY DAY. SO RIGHT
NOW, I WANT TO SPEAK ABOUT
SOMETHING. WHAT IS YOU TALKING
ABOUT? TAXES, YEAH. NUMBER
FOUR. TAXES, TAXES, TAXES. IT'S
VERY GOOD. YOU ARE DOING A VERY
GOOD JOB, 300 PEOPLE COME EVERY
YEAR, NO TAXES, NO SMAXES. NO
SURPRISE. YOU KNOW, YOU GO
HOME. I TELL EVERYBODY GO HOME
BECAUSE EVERYONE IS CRIMINAL.
WHEN YOU DON'T SHOW MY FACE,
IT'S A PURE CONSPIRACY. YOU ARE
CRIMINAL. WHY ARE DOING THIS?
FOR RE-ELECTION? I DON'T THINK
SO YOU WILL BE RE-ELECTED RIGHT
NOW. PEOPLE HATE YOU BECAUSE
MOST OF YOU ARE CROOK AND NAZI
GESTAPO FASCIST. THAT'S WHO YOU
ARE. TAXES, TAXES, TAXES WHEN
YOU START TALKING ABOUT FOR
EVERYBODY. FOR 35 YEARS, AND
VERY NICE FOR PEOPLE, LOW
INCOME AND SOMETHING LIKE THIS,
YOU KNOW, WHAT IS GOING FOR THE
LAST 10 YEARS? $120,000.
$100,000. YOU KEEP IT VERY LOW.
WHY YOU CANNOT GET IT IN
$3,000. SO RIGHT NOW, FOR
EVERYBODY, $150,000 LEFT. SO
ELECT DEMOCRAT PSYCHOPATH. YOU
KNOW WHAT I MEAN? IT IS TIME
RIGHT NOW TO BRING AMERICA
BACK. STAND UP, AMERICA, FOR
EVERYBODY. THANK YOU VERY MUCH.
>> OUR NEXT PUBLIC COMMENTER IS
NATHAN ROSENBAUM. NATHAN,
PLEASE APPROACH THE MICROPHONE
AND WE'LL START THE TIMER WHEN
YOU ARE READY.
>> I'M NATHAN ROSENBAUM. I AM
HERE BECAUSE I OWN A PROPERTY
AT 711 NORTHEAST 43rd STREET,
AND THAT PROPERTY HAS BEEN
CONSIDERED FOR THE PUBLIC
BENEFIT RATING SYSTEM INCENTIVE
TODAY. I WANT TO MENTION THAT I
BOUGHT THIS PROPERTY SEVERAL
YEARS AGO AND RENOVATED ALL
UNITS. IT'S A HISTORIC DESIGN.
IT WAS A LABOR OF LOVE. IT'S
NOT PARTICULARLY PROFITABLE
PARTICULARLY WITH THE
PANDEMIC'S IMPACT ON U-DUB OVER
THE LAST COUPLE YEARS. SO THE
TAX INCENTIVE WILL HELP. I AM
AVAILABLE FOR ANY QUESTIONS.
>> THANK YOU, NATHAN. WE'LL NOW
MOVE TO PUBLIC COMMENTERS WHO
CALLED IN TODAY. OUR FIRST
PUBLIC COMMENTER IS JOANNA.
JOANNA, PLEASE PRESS STAR SIX
TO UNMUTE THE TELEPHONE, AND
WE'LL START THE TIMER WHEN
YOU'RE READY TO SPEAK.
>> HELLO. GOOD AFTERNOON. MY
NAME IS JOANNE A I'M HERE TO
SPEAK IN SUPPORT THE PROPOSED
PRAIFTING ARBORETUM FOR THE
JAPANESE GARDEN. I'M A
COMMUNITY VOLUNTEER AND SIT ON
THE JAPANESE GARDEN COMMITTEE.
I WAS HONORED TO BE ASKED TO
SERVE ON THE COMMITTEE BECAUSE
I HAVE FAMILY WHO CAME TO
SEATTLE FROM JAPAN AND THIS IS
PERSONALLY VERY MEANINGFUL TO
ME OVER THE PAST SEVEN YEARS
THE ARBORETUM FOUNDATION HAS
SIGNIFICANTLY INCREASED THE
NUMBER OF CULTURAL PROGRAMS IN
THE JAPANESE GARDEN AS PART OF
THE FREE FIRST THURSDAY AND
SATURDAY FAMILY TRADITIONAL
SERVICES MEANING THAT SERVICES
ARE OFFERED TO THE PUBLIC AT NO
CHARGE WITH THE CHANCE TO
EXPERIENCE ONE THE MOST
BEAUTIFUL PLACES IN ALL OF
SEATTLE. SHARING THESE CULTURAL
EXPERIENCES IS MADE POSSIBLE
THROUGH THE SUCCESS.
PARTNERSHIP THE ARBORETUM
FOUNDATION AND THE CITY. IN
2020 EVEN AT THE HEIGHT THE
PANDEMIC, THE ARBORETUM
FOUNDATION PLANNED AND EXECUTED
THE 60th ANNIVERSARY
CELEBRATION FOR THE GARDEN. ONE
THE MOST MEANINGFUL EVENTS WAS
THE PLANTING OF A SMALL GINGKO
TREE THAT SURVIVED THE BOMBING
OF HIROSHIMA. TO PROMOTE
CULTURAL UNDERSTANDING, JAPAN'S
FOREIGN MINISTER AWARDED A
COMMENDATION IN 2020, ONLY ONE
OF A LIMITED OF INSTITUTIONS TO
BE RECOGNIZED. AS WE LOOK TO
THE FUTURE, I BELIEVE THAT
PUBLIC ACCESS LIKE THE SEATTLE
JAPANESE GARDENS ARE IMPORTANT
TO OUR COMMUNITY AND THAT
PUBLIC-PRIVATE PARTNERSHIPS CAN
ADD TO THE VALUE. ASK FOR YOUR
SUCCESS IN THE SUPPORT THE
GARDEN TO PAVE THE WAY FOR
SUCCESS IN THE NEXT DECADE.
>> THANK YOU, JOANNE A OUR
FINAL PUBLIC COMMENTER IS
TYLER. TYLER, PLEASE PRESS STAR
SIX TO UNMUTE YOUR PHONE.
>> GREAT. THANK YOU. HELLO. MY
NAME IS TYLER, AND I AM ALSO
SERVING ON THE JAPANESE GARDEN
COMMITTEE AND BESIDES THAT, I
ALSO SERVE ON THE BOARD THE
BUDDHIST TEMP ELF AND A TEMPLE
AND ON THE COMMUNICATION
BOARD. I AM IN FAVOR THE
PROPOSED AGREEMENT BETWEEN THE
GARDEN AND THE CITY. OVER THE
LAST SEVEN YEARS THE MARKETING
HAS LEAD TO MORE THAN 44%
INCREASE IN ATTENDANCE ALLOWING
MORE FREE PROGRAMMING AND
ACCESS. THERE ARE 19,000
FOLLOWERS ACROSS THE STATE. AND
AS NON-PROFIT PARTNER THE
FOUNDATION RAISES PRIVATE FUNDS
FOR RENOVATION THE GARDEN'S
CENTRAL POND AS WELL AS OTHER
GARDEN PROGRAMS N 2022, THE
FOUNDATION RAISED MORE THAN
$750,000 TO BE DEPLOYED IN THE
2023-2024 TIMELINE TO HELP
COMPLETE ELEMENTS THE ORIGINAL
1960 DESIGN WHICH WE WERE NEVER
REALIZED. I AM ASKING FOR YOUR
SUPPORT TO KEEP UP THE MOMENTUM
THAT WAS ESTABLISHED BETWEEN
THE FOUNDATION AND THE PARKS
DEPARTMENT. IT'S A UNIQUE AND
SPECIAL PLACE AND THIS
RELATIONSHIP WILL STERVE WELL.
SERVE IT WELL. I THANK YOU FOR
YOUR TIME.
>> THANK YOU, TYLER. MR. CHAIR,
WE HAVE NO MORE PUBLIC
COMMENTERS.
>> THANK YOU, MR. CLERK. I WILL
KHROETZ CLOSE THE PUBLIC
SESSION. CLERK, PLEASE READ
ITEM NUMBER ONE INTO THE
RECORD.
>> ITEM NUMBER ONE,
AUTHORIZING THE WATERFRONT.
>> OUR GUESTS ARE COMING INTO
CAMERA TO INTRODUCE THEM.
MARSHALL FOSTER AND I THINK
OFFICIAL STAFF INCLUDING THE
COUNCIL CENTRAL STAFF. SO HOW
SHOULD WE DO THIS? WHO SHOULD I
THAT OFF TO FIRST TO START THE
PRESENTATION?
>> I AM HAPPY TO KICK US OFF.
>> TAKE IT AWAY, MARSHALL.
>> THANK YOU VERY MUCH. GLAD TO
BE HERE. AGAIN, MARSHALL
FOSTER, THE DIRECTOR OF THE
OFFICE OF THE WATERFRONT AND I
AM HAPPY TO SHARE WITH YOU THAT
I AM TRANSITIONING TO TAKE ON A
NEW REEL OF INTERIM DIRECTOR OF
SEATTLE CENTER PREPARING FOR
ROBERT'S RETIREMENT. IT'S
COMING RIGHT UP WHETHER WE LIKE
IT OR NOT. IT'S GREAT TO BE
HERE WITH YOU AS PART OF OUR
OVERALL STRATEGY FOR THE NEW
WATERFRONT FOR WATERFRONT
SEATTLE. I THINK YOU ALL RECALL
THE AMOUNT OF WORK AND TIME WE
HAVE PUT INTO PLANNING NOT ONLY
TO HAVE A GREAT WATERFRONT BUT
TO HAVE A WELL-MANAGED AND
MAINTAINED WATERFRONT AND ONE
THAT WILL REALLY DO AN
INCREDIBLE JOB OF WELCOMING THE
PUBLIC TO AN INCREDIBLE PLACE
FOR MANY YEARS TO COME BEYOND
OPENING DAY. AND AS WE HAVE
DONE THAT WORK, THE COUNCIL
ESTABLISHED REALLY A NORTHSTAR
FOR US ON HOW TO DO THAT WELL
AND THE ORDINANCE THAT WAS
PASSED IN 2019 WHICH DID A FEW
THINGS. WE WILL TALK ABOUT IT
IN MORE DETAIL BUT IT SETS THE
FRAMEWORK FOR HOW NOT ONLY TO
PARTNER WITH OUR FRIENDS AT THE
FRIENDS OF WATERFRONT SEATTLE
BUT STAND UP A HIGH QUALITY
OPERATIONS MANAGEMENT AND
PUBLIC SAFETY APPROACH. AT THIS
JUNCTURE, WHAT WE ARE
RECOMMENDING IS THAT WE
DELEGATE THE MAINTENANCE AND
PUBLIC SAFETY ROLE FOR THE NEW
WATERFRONT TO THE SEATTLE
CENTER DEPARTMENT AND CREATE AN
OPPORTUNITY BUILDED ON THEIR
EXPERIENCE OPERATING INCREDIBLE
CAMPUS TO SUPPORT THE WORK THAT
THE PARKS DEPARTMENT HAS DONE,
AND WITH THE PARKS DEPARTMENT
AND ROBERT AND HIS TEAM, WE ARE
EXCITED TO WALK YOU THROUGH HOW
IT WOULD WORK AND WHY IT WOULD
BE POTENTIALLY A GOOD THING TO
DO AND ALSO, LEGISLATION COMING
LATER THIS MONTH TO THE
COMMITTEE THAT WOULD
POTENTIALLY FORMALLY DELEGATE
AND ALSO CREATE SOME -- SO WE
HAVE THE MANAGEMENT ADVISER
WILL BE LEADING THAT, AND I
WOULD LIKE TO TURN OVER TO
ROBERT TO GIVE US PERSPECTIVE
FROM THE CENTER.
>> THANK YOU, MARSHALL, AND
THANK YOU COMMITTEE MEMBERS.
THIS IS A WONDERFUL OPPORTUNITY
FOR A COLLABORATION PARTNERSHIP
AND CREATIVITY TO BRING A NEW
GRAND PUBLIC SPACE TO OUR CITY.
SEATTLE CENTER IS HONOREDTO BE
PART OF THIS HISTORIC ENDEAVOR
AND LOOKING FORWARD TO BUILDING
GREAT PARTNERSHIPS WITH FRIENDS
AND THE WATERFRONT OVER SIGHT
COMMITTEE AND KNOWS AND PEOPLE
WHO LIVE IN THE AREA AND OTHER
CITY DEPARTMENTS AND THE PUBLIC
AT LARGE. WE ARE GRATEFUL THE
PARK WILL EVOLVE OVERTIME
ALLOWING US AN OPPORTUNITY TO
GROW INTO THE PUBLIC SPACE AND
LOOK FORWARD TO HELPING THE
FRIENDS CREATE A WONDERFUL NEW
SPACE FOR OUR CITIZENS TO
ENGAGE IN. WE SEE THIS AS A
GREAT THING FOR OUR CITY AND WE
ARE HONORED TO BE PART OF THIS,
AND WE LOOK FORWARD TO ENGAGE
IN WITH ALL OF YOU IN THIS NEW
ENDEAVOR. THANK YOU.
>> THANK YOU, ROBERT, AND I
APOLOGIZE COUNCILMEMBERS. I GOT
A TEXT FROM CHRISTOPHER
WILLIAMS WHO WOULD BE WITH US
TO REPRESENTATIVE THE PARKS
DEPARTMENT. HE HAS HAD A WIND
STORM AND LOST HIS INTERNET
CONNECTION. HE WILL NOT BE ABLE
TO BE WITH US, AND HAVING
WORKED WITH CHRISTOPHER FOR A
LONG TIME, HE IS PART OF
EVERYTHING WITH THE PARKS
DEPARTMENT AND PART OF WHAT
THIS DECISION IS ALL ABOUT IS
ENABLING THE PARKS DEPARTMENT
AS FOLKS WHO ARE IN THE SYSTEM
OF PARKS, MANY HUNDRED PARKS
ACROSS THE CITY OF SEATTLE,
ENABLES THEM TO FOCUS ON
ADDRESSING THE COMMUNITY NEEDS
ACROSS THE WHOLE CITY AS THEY
MAINTAIN AND OPERATE THOSE
PARKS, ADDRESSING SOME OF THE
NEW PRIORITIES THAT WERE
ESTABLISHED WITH THE HELP THIS
COMMITTEE THAT WERE PART OF THE
NEW SPENDING PLAN ON THE NCD.
WE CAME TO THE DECISION
COLLECTIVELY THAT WE THOUGHT
WOULD BE A SMART APPROACH TO
TAKE THE LEADERSHIP ROAD AND
AGAIN I'M SORRY CHRISTOPHER
CAN'T BE HERE BUT HE IS
SUPPORTIVE OF THIS DIRECTION
AND WITHOUT FURTHER ADO, I WILL
TRANSFER IT TO TIFFANI TO THE
BEST OF MY ABILITY.
LET ME SEE IF I CAN GET THIS
SCREEN SHARE TO WORK. OKAY. IS
THAT COMING ACROSS?
>> YEAH.
>> LOOKS GOOD? STIFF 18, JUST
GIVE ME A NUDGE.
>>> I AM TIFFANI MELAKE, THE
OFFICE OF WATERFRONT AND I WILL
GO QUICKLY THROUGH A FEW THINGS
HERE. SEE WHAT OUR PROGRAM HAS
IS OVER A DECADE LONG HISTORY,
AND I WILL QUICKLY HIGHLIGHT
THE ONES WITH THE REALLY
IMPORTANT AND INSTRUMENTAL IN
THE OPERATIONS MANAGEMENT AND
HOW WE HAVE BEEN BUILDING THAT
INTO THE FUTURE THE WATERFRONT.
2017 WAS REALLY SETTING THE
STAGE WITH OUR RESOLUTION TO
ENTER AN AGREEMENT WITH FRIENDS
OF WATERFRONT SEATTLE FOR
LONG-TERM HIGH-QUALITY
OPERATIONS MANAGEMENT AT THE
WATERFRONT AND REALLY
IDENTIFYING OUR KEY TO THE
PUBLIC-PRIVATE PARTNER IN THIS
WORK TOGETHER. AND THEN 2019 IS
WHERE WE HAD A PACKAGE OF
LEGISLATION THAT SOLIDIFIED THE
FOUNDATION AND BUILDING BLOCKS
FOR WHERE WE ARE RIGHT NOW.
THIS LEGISLATIVE PACKAGE HAD
THREE ORDINANCES TO IT. AND WE
ESTABLISHED THE LOCAL
IMPROVEMENT DISTRICT WHICH WAS
$160 MILLION OF PROPERTY OWNER
DOLLARS THAT HELPS TO FUND THE
IMPROVEMENTS ON THE WATERFRONT.
IT WAS A CONTRACTUAL AGREEMENT
WITH THE PROPERTY OWNER WITH
THE CITY COMMITTING TO A SET
STANDARD OF MAINTENANCE
PROGRAMMING AND PUBLIC SAFETY.
WE COMMITTED AT THIS TIME TO
COME BACK IN THE FUTURE AND
CREATE A PARK FOR THE
WATERFRONT. AND APPROVED OUR O
AND M ORDINANCE, 16571, A
VERY-WELL PUT TOGETHER AND WELL
THOUGHT-OUT ORDINANCE WITH OUR
CENTRAL WATERFRONT OVERSIGHT
COMMITTEE WITH 19 APPOINTED
POSITIONS AND AUTHORIZED A
TWO-YEAR AGREEMENT AND
ESTABLISHED THE AGREEMENT WITH
FRIENDS FOR THE ENTIRETY AND IN
2021, WE CAME BACK AND
DELEGATED PUBLIC SPACE ON THE
WATERFRONT AS PARK BOULEVARDS.
>> OH, SORRY. I SHOULD HAVE
MUTED MYSELF. I AM GETTING
PTSD. ALL THIS IS LIKE GOING
DOWN MEMORY LANE HERE. IT'S A
LITTLE EMOTIONAL. SORRY, CHAIR.
I PARDON MYSELF ON THAT ONE.
>> NO, NO. NOT A PROBLEM.
>> WE HAVE COME A LONG WAY.
>> YEAH.
>> FOLLOWING THE 2019
ORDINANCE, WE ESTABLISHED THE
LICENSED AGREEMENT WITH
FRIENDS, AND OUTLINED THAT
FRIENDS WOULD BE RESPONSIBLE
FOR SOCIAL SERVICES AND
PROGRAMMING AND ACTIVATING
SPECIAL EVENTS. THE CITY WOULD
BE RESPONSIBLE FOR MAINTENANCE
PREVENTATIVE AND DAILY, AND
THAT WE WOULD HAVE A SHARED
RESPONSIBILITY FOR PUBLIC
SAFETY. NEXT SLIDE. WE OPENED
UP PIER 62 IN 2020, NOT THE
EASIEST TIME TO OPEN UP A YOU
>> PUBLIC SPACE. SO MAJOR KUDOS
TO FRIENDS AND ALL THE HARD
WORK THAT THEY DID YOU SAW MANY
SUCCESSES OVER THE LAST TWO
YEARS WITH THE AGREEMENT WITH
FRIENDS AND TENS OF THOUSANDS
OF VISITORS JUST PARTICIPATING
IN VARIOUS PROGRAMMING AND
ACTIVATION AND SPECIAL EVENTS
AND FRIENDS DID AN OUTSTANDING
JOB WITHOUT REACH AND
ENGAGEMENT BRINGS DIVERSITY TO
THE WATERFRONT, AND WE LEARNED
A LOT FROM THE LAST TWO YEARS
FROM THE LICENSED AGREEMENT
WITH FRIENDS. AND THE CENTRAL
WATERFRONT OVERSIGHT COMMITTEE
THAT WAS ESTABLISHED IN 2019,
ALSO IN THE LAST TWO YEARS,
SPENT A GOOD AMOUNT OF TIME AS
COUNCIL ASKED ABOUT THE PIER
PARK WHICH INCLUDED SEATTLE
CENTER AND HOW THEY OPERATE AND
WHAT MADE THEM SUCCESSFUL TO
BUILD THE PERFORMANCE STANDARD
WHICH THEY DID AND COMPLETED IN
2022. AND AT THIS TIME, THEY
ALSO HAD THE RECOMMENDATION
FROM PARKS AND RECREATION TO
KIND OF HELP BUILD THE SATEDLE
CENTER TO ACTIVATE LARGE SCALE
EVENTS AND THAT WAS A LOT OF
WORK BETWEEN OUR LEADERSHIP,
MARSHALL, ROBERT, AND
CHRISTOPHER AS WELL THAT REALLY
CAME TOGETHER WITH THIS VISION
AND REALLY THINKING ABOUT WHAT
THE FUTURE FOR THE OVER SIGHT
LOOKS LIKE TOGETHER. SO WE HAVE
TWO ORDINANCES THAT WILL COME
TO YOU LATER IN THE MONTH FOR
CONSIDERATION. THE FIRST ONE
ESSENTIALLY DOES THREE THINGS.
IT DELEGATES THE WATERFRONT
OPERATIONS AND MANAGEMENT TO
SEATTLE CENTER, AND IT
DELEGATES AUTHORITY TO SEATTLE
CENTER DIRECTOR TO ENFORCE
WATERFRONT PARK RULE AND
EXTENDS THE LICENSE WITH
FRIENDS. WE ARE LOOKING TO
EXTEND THAT FOR SIX MONTHS. THE
NEXT SLIDE. THIS MAP IS WHEN WE
CAME BACK IN 2021 AND WE --
THIS OUTLINES THE WATERFRONT
PARK BOULEVARD IN PINK. THAT
THIS -- SO PINK IS WATERFRONT
PARK BOULEVARD AND BLUE, ONE
AND TWO IS PIER 62 AND 58 WHICH
IS CURRENT PARK PROPERTY SO
IT'S NOT PART THE DELEGATION
BUT IT'S PART THE DELEGATION OF
OPERATIONS. THE SEATTLE CENTER
WILL BE OPERATING AND
MAINTAINING AND PROVIDING
PUBLIC SAFETY FOR THE PIERS ONE
AND TWO, PIER 52 AND 58 AS WELL
AS EVERYTHING SHADED IN PINK.
PORTIONS THE WATERFRONT WILL
CONTINUE TO OPEN BETWEEN NOW
AND 25 AND I AM SURE IF YOU
HAVE BEEN DOWN THERE, I AM SURE
YOU HAVE SEEN THE TREMENDOUS
ACTIVITY IN PROGRESS EVERY TIME
YOU GET DOWN THERE. WE HAVE A
PHASED OPENING SCHEDULE WHEN
THINGS WILL BE COMING ONLINE
AND OUR AGREEMENT -- OUR
AGREEMENT, INTERDEPARTMENTALLY
AS WELL AS FRIENDS WILL ALLOW
THE PHASED OPERATIONS. THE
BIGGEST EVENTS WILL BE COMING
ONLINE IN 2025 AND ARE KEY TO
OUR WORK WITH FRIENDS. SO THE
SECOND ORDINANCE YOU WILL SEE
LATER THIS MONTH IS AROUND
AUTHORIZING 11.5 SPD SAFETY
POSITIONS AND FUNDING FROM
FRIENDS TO HIRE PUBLIC SAFETY
FOR THE WATERFRONT. CURRENTLY
FRIENDS HAS THEM PROVIDING 24/7
PUBLIC CONTACT SAFETY SERVICE
AT PIER 62 IN THE LAST FEW
YEARS AND THIS GAVE US A GREAT
OPPORTUNITY TO LEARN A FEW
THINGS, ONE IS HAVING THE
DEDICATED PRESENCE 24/ 7 WHICH
IS IMPORTANT TO THE SUCCESS THE
PARK, AND TWO, HAVING THE
CONTRACT WAS REALLY EFFECTIVE
BUT WE DIDN'T HAVE THE ENFORCED
PARK RULES. IT WAS A CITY
RESPONSIBLE. SO LEARNING THAT,
WE HAVE PUT TOGETHER A PIER
PUBLIC SAFETY PLAN AND
STRATEGY, INTERDEPARTMENTALLY
BETWEEN PARKS AND SEATTLE
CENTER, OUR OFFICE, AS WELL AS
WITH FRIENDS ON HOW WE ARE
APPROACHING PUBLIC SAFETY ON
THE WATERFRONT. TIER 1, THIS IS
VERY HUMAN-CENTERED AND
HUMAN-FOLKED, WITH THE CORE
MISSION TO CREATE A SAFE AND
WELCOMING PLACE FOR EVERYONE.
SO OUR TIER 1 IS FOR SOCIAL
SERVICES. FRIENDS CURRENTLY,
THEY CONTRACT WITH REACH AND
WILL PROVIDE ASSISTANCE TO
THOSE IN NEED IN THE WATERFRONT
AND WE WILL CONTINUE TO HAVE
THAT FOR ANYONE THAT NEEDS THAT
ON THE WATERFRONT. TIER 2, PARK
AMBASSADORS WHICH INCLUDE
FRIENDS' STAFF AND CUSTOMER
ORIENTED, FRIENDLY STAFF ON THE
WATERFRONT PROVIDING
INFORMATION AND SETTING UP
PROGRAMMING, EVENTS, AND ABLE
TO LET SOMEONE KNOW IF THEY ARE
VIOLATING A PARK RULE. THEY ARE
NOT ABLE TO ENFORCE. IF WE HAVE
SOMEBODY WHO IS MAY BE SNAKING
OR DOING GRAFFITI OR SOMETHING
THAT VIOLATES THE PARK RULE,
THEY SAY THAT TO THEM AND WE
STILL MAINTAIN OUR PERFORMANCE
STANDARDS WITH TWO WARNING
BETWEEN THE PARKAMBASSADORS TO
SAY, HEY, THIS IS A PARK RULE
AND IT WOULD BE ELEVATED AFTER
TWO WARNINGS TO TIER 3 WHICH IS
THE EMERGENCY SERVICE TEAM THAT
IS CITY-STAFFED THAT WE HIRE
THROUGH SEATTLE CENTER FOR THE
WATERFRONT AND THEY CAN
ACTUALLY ENFORCE PARK RULES.
THE TEAM FOR THE CITY WOULD
HAVE THE ABILITY BUT IT ALREADY
EXISTS WITHIN THE CITY AT THE
SEATTLE CENTER. SO WE ARE NOT
CREATING A NEW SYSTEM OF
ENFORCEMENT HERE. IT'S JUST
GOING TO ALSO BE AROUND THE
WATERFRONT, AND THAT'S TIER 3,
AND TIER 4, IFING AND CRIMINAL
OR LIFE-THREATENING, WE HAVE
THE SEATTLE CITY POLICE
DEPARTMENT. IF ANYTHING IS
CRIMINAL OR LIFE-THREATENING,
WE CALL SPD. NEXT SLIDE. AND
THIS IS JUST OUTLINING THE
THREE TIERS, THE LEVELS OF
SERVICE THAT REALLY ARE FOCUSED
ON PROVIDING THE CITY A
WELCOMING EXPERIENCE FOR
VISITORS AS WELL AS OUR
RESIDENTS. AGAIN, THE HUMAN
FOCUS, HUMAN SERVICES, AND
SOCIAL SERVICES, PARK
AMBASSADORS AND ENFORCEMENT
FROM THE PUBLIC SAFETY TEAM
FROM THE SEATTLE CENTER. AND I
WANT TO PAUSE REALLY QUICK AND
GIVE A SHOUT OUT TO FRIENDS OF
WATERFRONT SEATTLE, JULIE AND
ELDON IN THE AUDIENCE WHO WERE
INSTRUMENTAL IN SUPPORT AND
HELPING WITH TIER 1 AND TIER 2.
IT'S NOT POSSIBLE WITHOUT THEM
AND THE PUBLIC SAFETY RULES
ENFORCEMENT AS WELL. AND I SEE
COUNCILMEMBER HERBOLD'S'S
HAND.
>> I WILL OPEN IT UP TO
QUESTIONS AT THIS POINT ON THE
PRESENTATION. THANK YOU FOR
CALLING OUT COUNCILMEMBER
HERBOLD. WHY DON'T WE START
WITH HER?
>> THANK YOU SO MUCH. JUST
WANTING TO FOLLOW UP ON THE
ENFORCEMENT. I UNDERSTAND THE
ORIENTATION MIGHT BE A BIT
DIFFERENT THAN ORIENTATION THE
PARKS DEPARTMENT. BUT THE PARKS
DEPARTMENT HAS AGREED TO
CONSTRAIN THE WAY THAT THEY ARE
PERMITTED UNDER THE MUNCIPAL
CODE TO ENFORCE THE PARKS
ORDINANCE AND DONE SO THROUGH
THE FILING THE CITY CLERK
RELATED TO THE PARKS' CODE OF
CONDUCT. IT SOUNDS TO ME FROM
THE DESCRIPTION THAT SEATTLE
CENTER WILL NOT BE FOLLOWING
THAT PARTICULAR APPROACH THE
WAY THAT THE PARKS DEPARTMENT
HAS CONSISTED ITSELF THAT A
WARNING CAN BE ISSUED. AND
THERE ARE WARNINGS AND THERE
ARE -- THERE IS THE ABILITY TO
ESCALATE THOSE WARNINGS TO
EXCLUSION BUT IT'S VERY NARROW
THAT IT COMES WITH A RISK OF
PERSONAL INJURY OR PROPERTY
DAMAGE THEY CAN EXCLUDE IT BUT
ONLY FOR THE REMAINDER THE DAY.
I AM INTERESTED TO KNOW IF
SEATTLE CENTER IS AGREEING TO
RESTRAIN ITSELF SIMILARLY AND
IF NOT, SORT OF WHAT THE
APPROACH WILL BE.
>> SO THERE IS A SLIGHT
DIFFERENCE HOW THE CENTER DOES
THE EXCLUSIONS VERSUS THE PARKS
DEPARTMENT. I HAVE ROBERT HERE
WHO WILL TALK ABOUT THAT AND
PARKS HAS THE ONE EXCLUSION AND
PARKS HAS BETWEEN ONE AND 365
DAYS DEPENDING ON THE BEHAVIOR
OR RECURRENCE THE BEHAVIOR.
WE'LL BE ALIGNING WITH SEATTLE
CENTER. WE HAVE THE WATERFRONT
RULES FOR THAT.
>> THANK YOU. I WANT TO BE
CLEAR. MY QUESTION, HAPPY TO
HEAR -- THANK YOU. THE PARKS
CAN FOR 365 BUT. THEY HAVE
VOLUNTARILY AGREED TO RESTRAIN
THEIR ENFORCEMENT. HAPPY TO
HEAR MORE ABOUT THAT BUT AGAIN,
THE CODE PERMITS PARK STAFF FOR
THE EXCLUSION UNDER THE
LEADERSHIP OF, SAY, WORK WITH
HOMELESS ADVOCATES, A WHOLE
VARIETY OF FOLKS WHO HAVE BEEN
VOLUNTARILY CONSTRAINED
ENFORCEMENT AUTHORITY FOR
PROBABLY A DECADE NOW.
>> WELL, THANK YOU. YOU KNOW, I
DON'T KNOW -- I DON'T WANT TO
GET INTO A LOT OF WHAT IS
HAPPENING HERE BUT I WILL SAY
AT SEATTLE CENTER, OUR STAFF IS
COGNIZANT THE STAFF THAT WE
WANT PEOPLE TO BE THERE AND
ENJOY THEMSELVES AND BE PART
THE THINGS THAT THEY ARE COMING
TO SEATTLE CENTER FOR. SO YOU
WOULD HAVE TO DO SOME AGREGIOUS
ACTIVITIES TO BE -- TO HAVE
TRESPASSED FOR AN EXTENDED
PERIOD OF TIME OF TIME. MOST
ARE BETWEEN ONE AND SEVEN DAYS
TO GIVE PEOPLE AN OPPORTUNITY
TO CALM DOWN AND MAKE SURE THEY
UNDERSTAND THAT THIS IS SERIOUS
AND THEY ARE WELCOME TO COME
BACK WHEN THAT PERIOD IS OVER.
IF THERE IS SOMETHING THAT WILL
TRIGGER SOME EXTENSIVE
TRESPASS, IT WOULD HAVE TO BE
SOMETHING THAT WOULD INDICATE
SOME EITHER PHYSICAL HARM,
VIOLENCE, AND/OR PROPERTY
DAMAGE. SO SIMILAR TO PARKS
DOING THIS FOR THE LAST 10
YEARS AND THE WAY THAT THEY DO
THAT, WE AT SEATTLE CENTER HAVE
DONE IT THIS WAY FOR THE LAST
20 PLUS YEARS. SO I JUST WANT
TO SAY THAT WE HAVE DONE THIS.
WE DON'T HAVE A LOT OF PEOPLE
COMPLAINING OR SUGGESTING THAT
WE ARE DOING IT WRONG AND WE
HAVE A LOT OF GRACE THAT WE
GIVE PEOPLE WHEN WE APPROACH
THEM.
>> DIRECTOR NELLAMS, THANK YOU
FOR THAT, AND I CAN SAY AS
SOMEONE WHO WENT TO SEATTLE
CENTER AND EXPERIENCED THAT AS
A STUDENT, I DO JUST WANT TO
LIFT THAT UP THAT WHILE IT'S A
DIFFERENT MODEL FROM HOW
SEATTLE ON PARKS AND RECREATION
HAVE MANAGED THEIR PROPERTY,
THIS IS AN IMPOSITION OF A
MATURE AND WELL RESPECTED
SYSTEM OF PUBLIC SAFETY ON THE
WATERFRONT AND I DO APPRECIATE
THE COMPREHENSIVE PRESENTATION
EARLIER ON SLIDE 10 THAT WE
WERE JUST ON INDICATING THE MIX
OF THE DIFFERENT PRESENCE AND
DIFFERENT A SSETS THERE TO
PROVIDE CARE-DRIVEN OUTREACH IN
ADDITION TO OTHER TYPES OF
PRESENCE FROM AMBASSADORS AND
SECURITY PERSONNEL AND WHATEVER
ELSE TO HAVE A BALANCED
APPROACH THAT HAS WORKED WELL
ON THE SEATTLE CENTER CAMPUS
WITHOUT CONTROVERSY OR ISSUES,
SO THESE ARE GOOD QUESTIONS FOR
US TO GRAPPLE WITH IN TERMS OF
HOW THE REGIME DIFFERS FROM
WHAT WOULD BE EXPECTED IF THE
PARCEL ON THE WATERFRONT WERE
OPERATED ACCORDING TO THE
PROCEDURES, POLICIES AND
PERSONNEL AND PARKS INSTEAD THE
SEATTLE CENTER. SO
COUNCILMEMBER HERBOLD DOES
RAISE A RELEVANT QUESTION IN US
ASSESSING THIS AGREE. BUT I DO
THINK IT'S IMPORTANT TO STATE
THAT IT'S NOT LIKE WE'RE
COMPLETELY BUILDING A NEW MODEL
FROM THE GROUND UP BUT RATHER
WORKING WITH ANOTHER MODEL THAT
WAS SUCCESSFUL AND WELL
REGARDED ON THE SEATTLE CENTER
CAMPUS AND FIGURE OUT HOW TO
TRANSITION THAT TO THE
WATERFRONT WITH SHARED GOALS. I
THINK DIRECTOR NELLAMS'S
COMMENTS ARE PRESCIENT AND --
COUNCILMEMBER HERBOLD, DID YOU
HAVE A FOLLOW UP?
>> I DID.
>> PLEASE GO AHEAD.
>> I WANTED TO SAY THAT THE
PARKS DEPARTMENT VOLUNTARILY
RESTRAINING ITSELF IS FROM
OVERTIME. THEY, TOO, WERE
OPERATING UNDER THE FULL
AUTHORITY THE PARKS AND THEN
DECIDED IN THE EARLY 2000s TO
CONSTRAIN THAT AUTHORITY
BECAUSE OF -- BECAUSE OF THE
RESEARCH THAT WAS DONE ON THOSE
-- THE USE OF PARKS EXCLUSION.
SO SIMILARLY, IT WOULD BE
HELPFUL FOR ME TO UNDERSTAND
HOW MORE PARKS EXCLUSION HAS
BEEN AT THE SEATTLE CENTER, THE
NUMBER OF EXCLUSIONS GIVEN IN A
TYPICAL YEAR AND THE MAJORITY
OF THEM ARE FOR SEVEN AND UNDER
DAYS AND FOR WHAT PURPOSE? I
WOULD VERY MUCH LIKE TO CONFIRM
WHAT WE'RE HEARING.
>> THANK YOU. AND I MIGHT JUST
PUT ON THE RECORD, TOO, AS
DIRECTOR NELLAMS COMPILES THE
INFORMATION, THE ENTIRE
COMMUNITY COULD BENEFIT AND BE
DISTRIBUTED TO ALL OF US. THANK
YOU. COUNCILMEMBER MOSQUEDA.
>> THANK YOU VERY MUCH, MR.
CHAIR. AND I WANT TO
CONGRATULATE DIRECTOR NELLAMS
AS WELL AND I WANTED TO THANK
YOU FOR THE OPPORTUNITY TO MEET
WITH YOU AT SEATTLE CENTER. WE
HAVE THE CHILDREN'S MUSEUM
THERE AND I ALSO WANT TO THANK
YOU FOR THE PARTNERSHIP WITH
THE COUNCIL PRESIDENT WORKING
ON THE BUDGET, THE COMMITMENT
AND THAN WE REMAIN COMMITTED TO
40 MILLION. SO LOOK FORWARD TO
BEING ABLE TO ADD IS THAT TO
THE LIST OF ACCOMPLISHMENTS
THAT YOU HAVE ALSO BEEN ABLE TO
ACHIEVE EVEN THOUGH WE KNOW
THAT THE PROCESS IS STILL VERY
MUCH BEGINNING AND GETTING
UNDERWAY. SO I HAD A COUPLE OF
QUESTIONS, AND I THOUGHT IT WAS
APPROPRIATE TO CHIME IN WITH
THE CHAIR, ABOUT THE
PARKAMBASSADORS AND AGAIN,
THANK YOU FOR MEETING WITH MY
TEAM, AND THE NOON CRIMINAL
INSTANCES, I WOULD LOVE TO HAVE
MORE INFORMATION AND PERHAPS
THIS IS WHAT COUNCILMEMBER
HERBOLD IS ASKING FOR BUT IF
YOU HAVE ANY INFORMATION FOR
US, THEY WOULD BE HELPFUL AS TO
WHAT APPROACH YOU ARE USING SO
THE PUBLIC CAN BETTER
UNDERSTAND THE POLICY. AND I
HEARD AN EXPLANATION BUT IS
THERE SOMEWHERE WHERE PEOPLE
HAVE IT IN WRITING, OR WOULD
YOU LIKE TO FLESH THAT OUT A
LITTLE MORE AND TELL US MORE
ABOUT THE WARNINGS SYSTEM ABOUT
THE SPECIFIC POLICIES ARE
OFFERED BEFORE ESCALATING TO
THE NEXT TIER.
>> ONE THING THAT MIGHT BE
HELPFUL TO TALK ABOUT A BIT IS
THE PARK RULES THAT WE WENT
THROUGH AND THEY INVOLVE THE
OVERSIGHT COMMITTEE AND THE
COMMISSIONERS. YOU WANT TO TALK
ABOUT THAT?
>> YEAH. I WOULD BE HAPPY TO DO
THAT, AND ONE THING ABOUT THE
ORDINANCE FOR THE PARK
OPERATIONS WOULD LOOK LIKE IS
THAT WE HAVE THE ABILITY TO
MAKE PARK RULE THAT WERE
SPECIFIC TO THE WATERFRONT. WE
HAVE SPENT THE LAST NINE OR 10
MONTHS WITH SEATTLE CENTER AND
THE PARKS DEPARTMENT LOOKING AT
HOW OPERATIONS FOR THIS KIND OF
WORK AT PIER 62 AND LESSONS
LEARNED FROM THAT EXPERIENCE
AND WE HAVE DEVELOPED THE SET
OF PARK RULES FOR THE
WATERFRONT AND 90% OF THEM, I
WOULD SAY ARE ALREADY RULES IN
EXISTENCE WITH THE SEATTLE
CENTER AND PARKS AND RECREATION
AND WHAT WAS APPLICABLE FROM
SEATTLE CENTER AND WHAT WAS
APPLICABLE TO PARKS AND PUT
THEM TOGETHER. AND THEN THERE
WERE FIVE RULES THAT WERE
SPECIFIC TO THE WATERFRONT IN
TERMS OF FISHING AND TYING UP
BOATS AND THE CYCLE TRACKS FOR
VEHICLES, AND WE HAVE THOSE
THAT WILL BE GOING TO THE PARKS
BOARD OF COMMISSIONERS WITH
CHRISTOPHER WILLIAMS THAT HAVE
BEEN KIND OF RECOMMENDED AND
BROUGHT TO THE WATERFRONT
OVERSIGHT COMMITTEE DESCRIBED
TO HAVE RECOMMENDATIONS AND
REVIEW THEM PRIOR TO ANY
RULE-MAKE PROCESS. SO WE HAVE
THOSE RULES AS OUR FOUNDATION
FOR HOW THAT WILL GUIDE AND
GOVERN THE PUBLIC USE. AND THE
PERFORMANCE STANDARD OUTLINES
THIS WARNING SYSTEM OF HAVING
THE TOUCH POINT OF SOCIAL
SERVICES AS NEEDED OR IF
SOMEONE VIOLATING A PARK RULE,
THEY ARE GIVEN A WARNING AND
MADE AWARE THERE IS A PARK RULE
IN PLACE AND IF THEY ARE STILL
CONTINUING TO VIOLATE THE RULE,
IF IT HAS NOT ESCALATED, THEY
WOULD RECEIVE ANOTHER WARNING
AND ENGAGE WITH THE EMERGENCY
SERVICE UNIT TEAM AND THEY
WOULD THEN COME AND ENGAGE WITH
THE PATRON. SO, REALLY, THERE
IS A SERIES OF WARNINGS AND
SYSTEMS IN PLACE TO REALLY LET
PEOPLE KNOW THAT THEY ARE IN A
PARK AND THAT THERE IS A PARK
RULE IN PLACE AND IT'S REALLY
ESCALATED UP TO ANY TYPE OF
ENFORCEMENT.
>> ONE OTHER THING -- SORRY. GO
AHEAD.
>> NO. THAT'S OKAY. I HAVE A
QUICK FOLLOW UP.
>> PLEASE. COUNCILMEMBER
MOSQUEDA, DO YOU HAVE A FOLLOW
UP?
>> OH, SURE. AND PERHAPS THAT
IS PART OF WHAT MR. FOSTER
OCCUR COMMENT ON. THANK YOU FOR
THAT. I APPRECIATE THAT YOU ARE
TAKING STEPS BEFORE GETTING THE
POLICE INVOLVED. I DO HEAR
THAT, AND IT SOUNDS LIKE THERE
ARE POLICIES IN WRITING VERSUS
THE NARRATIVE DESCRIPTION THAT
WE ARE HEARING. SO LOOK FORWARD
TO READING THROUGH MORE OF
THOSE AS WELL AND IF YOU COULD
ALSO REITERATE AT WHAT POINT
WILL THERE BE DEDICATED REACH
TEAMS AVAILABLE ON THE
WATERFRONT AS WELL?
>> I'LL TAKE A COUPLE OF THOSE.
FIRST, THE COMMENT MADE
EARLIER, THE QUESTION ABOUT
WHEN DOES IT ESCALATE QUICKLY?
TO BE REALLY CLEAR, OUR PLAN IS
TO USE THE SYSTEM FOR THE VAST
MAJORITY OF ANY TIME WE NEED TO
ENGAGE WITH SOMEONE'S BEHAVIOR.
IF THERE IS A DIRECT THREAT TO
PUBLIC SAFETY OR A POTENTIAL
FOR HARM INVOLVED, AND
UNFORTUNATELY, WE SEE THOSE
INCIDENTS, AND WE HAD A NUMBER
OF THEM ON THE WATERFRONT THE
LAST SUMMER, THOSE GO DIRECTLY
TO SPD. TIFFANI, JUMP IN AT ANY
POINT IF I DON'T SAY ANYTHING
THE CORRECT WAY BUT IF IT'S
ANYONE POSES A THREAT TO OTHERS
IN THE PARK. IN TERMS OF, YOU
KNOW, THE PROCESS WE WILL GO
THROUGH IN TERMS OF CONTINUING
TO REFINE THE RULES AND, OF
COURSE, SHARE THE MATERIAL THAT
TIFFANI WAS DESCRIBING THAT IS
ALL WRITTEN OUT AND ALL
ESTABLISHED, AND THEN
ULTIMATELY THAT WILL BE THE
BASES FOR THE TRAINING THE
STAFF THAT WOULD BE HIRED
THROUGH THIS ONCE WE HAVE THE
AUTHORITY. WE ARE REALLY
EMPHASIZING THE IMPORTANCE OF
TRAINING ON A WHOLE HOST OF
DIFFERENT FRONTS. IT'S ACTUALLY
ONE THE BEST PRACTICES THAT
ROBERT AND HIS TEAM HAVE
EMPHASIZED, THAT WE WANT TO
MAKE SURE WE ARE SETTING A
STRONG BASELINE FOR ALL OF
STAFF, WHETHER AMBASSADORS OR
THE PUBLIC SAFETY TEAM AND THE
LAST POINT. WE DO HAVE A
DEDICATED CONTRACT THAT IS DUE
TO THE LEADERSHIP OF FRIENDS,
PROVIDING THAT AND CONTINUING
TO PROVIDE THE SERVICES.
REALLY, THOSE ARE KIND OF THE
CENTRAL OR FIRST TOUCH FOR
EVERYTHING THAT WE'RE TALKING
ABOUT, THE SOCIAL SERVICE
ELEMENT, SO THAT IS PART THE
SOCIAL COMMITMENT WE ARE MAKING
TO THE CITY AND FRIENDS ON THE
WATERFRONT.
>> OH, SORRY. TIFFANI, WERE YOU
ABOUT TO SAY SOMETHING? GO
AHEAD, PLEASE.
>> IT SEEMS LIKE RIGHT NOW WE
HAVE FRIENDS MONDAY THROUGH
FRIDAY, 9:00 TO 5:00. AND WE
DEFINITELY HAVE FRIENDS ABOUT
THIS AS WE ARE TALKING ABOUT A
PHASED IN ONLINE AND WHAT IS
COMING IN 2025, AND WE HAVE
TAKEN INTO ACCOUNT MORE HOURS
AND PEAK SEASON, AND WE DID DO
THE PILOT OVER THE SUMMER OF
PROVIDING WEEKEND SUPPORT IN
THE DOWNTOWN CORRIDOR RIGHT NOW
AND WE ARE STILL LEARNING AND
TRYING TO BE FLEXIBLE HOW TO
APPROACH THIS FOR THE FUTURE.
>> CAN I TAKE A SUCCESSION TO
ASK FOR CLARIFICATION FROM
EITHER THE PANEL OR CENTRAL
STAFF? IT'S MY REACTION THAT
THE METROPOLITAN PARK DISTRICT
THAT WE APPROVED IN SEPTEMBER
INCLUDED RESOURCES TO STAND UP
THE REACH COMPONENT OF THIS
WORK. I JUST WANTED TO CLARIFY
IF THAT'S THE CASE FOR I'M NOT
REMEMBERING CORRECTLY. ONE THE
QUESTIONS THAT COUNCILMEMBER
MOSQUEDA ASKED WAS A GOOD
QUESTION AND IT WAS SORT OF
PHASING THE TIMING OF THE REACH
RESOURCE BEING A PART OF THIS
WORK WHEN THE WATERFRONT IS
COMPLETED AND WE PUT THIS INTO
EFFECT. AND MY UNDERSTANDING IS
THAT IS A FULLY FUNDED
COMMITMENT AND IS GONNA BE
CENTRAL TO THIS EFFORT BUT I
WANT TO TAKE A SECOND TO
CLARIFY THAT MY UNDERSTANDING
IS CORRECT ON THAT.
>> DO YOU WANT ME TO GO AHEAD
AND ANSWER?
>> OH, TRACY'S HERE NOW.
>> I'M HERE.
>> MY ESTEEMED COLLEAGUE.
>> NO WORRIES. YOU REMEMBER ON
THE SPENDING PLAN YOU ADDED AN
ADDITIONAL $1.2 MILLION,
MARSHALL, I THINK IS THE
AMOUNT, BEGINNING IN 2025 TO
SPECIFICALLY PAY FOR PUBLIC
SAFETY SERVICES. THERE IS A
BASE AMOUNT THAT IS GOING TO
SUPPORT THE WATERFRONT PARK,
AROUND $3.6 MILLION. I DON'T
KNOW TO WHAT EXTENT THE BASE
FUNDING IN EXISTENCE IN 2023
AND GOING FORWARD WOULD BE USED
IN PUBLIC SAFETY BUT I WAS
HOPING THAT WOULD BE CLARIFIED
FOR ALL OF YOU WHEN THIS
REQUEST HAS BEEN PUT IN FRONT
OF YOU. I WILL LEAVE THAT,
MARSHALL, AND TIFFANI, TO
PROVIDE CLARIFICATION ABOUT
THE FUNDS FOR THE PARTNERSHIP
TO BE USED FOR THE PUBLIC
SAFETY ASPECT, PARTNERS AND
REACH, ET CETERA.
>> MARSHALL, WANT TO WEIGH IN?
>> HAPPY TO, AND TIFFANI AS
WELL. AND FUNDAMENTALLY, THE
CITY FUNDING REQUEST IS
SUPPORTING THE PUBLIC SAFETY
ASPECT, THE PUBLIC SAFETY TEAM
AT SEATTLE CENTER. FRIENDS WILL
BE PROVIDING THE FUNDING FOR
THE REACH STAFF AND PARK
AMBASSADORS AND SUPPLEMENTING
THE FUNDING. SO IT'S JUST A
REMARKABLE LEVEL OF COMMITMENT
THAT THEY ARE OFFERING HERE BUT
THE REACH AND AMBASSADORS ARE
FUNDED THROUGH FRIENDS. THEY
ARE COMMITTED TO THE FUNDING
THROUGH THE SAME PERIOD OF TIME
WE ARE SUSTAINING THE STAFF.
>> AND JUST TO BUILD ON THAT,
MARSHALL, THIS IS REFRESHING MY
REACTION FOR THE FALL. A BIG
REASON OF USING THE URGENCY AS
A VEHICLE FOR THE SUPPORT WAS
TO MATCH A COMMITMENT FROM
FRIENDS TO MAKE SURE THEY WOULD
BE ABLE TO RAISE THEIR
COMENSURATE INVESTMENT KNOWING
THERE WOULD BE A CITY MATCH AS
AN EFFORT TO BRING THIS
ALTOGETHER. I WOULD ADD IF WE
WENT DOWN TO THE WATERFRONT, MY
UNDERSTANDING IS THAT THERE ARE
REACH FOLKS WHO ARE CONTRACTED
WITH FRIENDS THE WATERFRONT WHO
ARE CURRENTLY DOING THIS WORK.
I WOULD LIKE TO HIGHLIGHT MY
APPRECIATION FOR THE PANEL HERE
THAT, YOU KNOW, THERE ARE
CERTAINLY LOTS OF THINGS THAT
WE HAVE TO PROVIDE OVERSIGHT OF
WHERE THE CITY'S WORK COULD BE
INTERPRETED AS CONTROVERSIAL
AND I AM VERY GRATEFUL TO
FRIENDS THE WATERFRONT AND THE
PANEL FOR THEIR WORK. THIS WORK
IS FAIRLY UNIVERSALLY PRAISED
FOR THE RESPONSES AND WELL
COORDINATED AND FINE-TUNED TO
THE PLACE MAKING WE WANT TO SEE
ON THE WATERFRONT AND HAVING A
BALANCE OF MAKING SURE WE ARE
MEETING PEOPLE WHERE THEY ARE
AND HAVING SERVICES THAT ARE
BASED IN HARM REDUCTION
OUTREACH AND NOT AN APPROACH
THAT IS OVERLY COERCIVE OR
EXCLUSIVE IN THE INSTITUTION.
SO PART THE REASON WE HAVEN'T
TALKED ABOUT IT UNTIL NOW AND
MANIFESTING THESE ARRANGEMENTS
IS WHEN THINGS ARE HAPPENING
AND ARE NOT CONTROVERSIAL WE
DON'T FIX WHAT IS BROKEN. I
WANT TO OFFER THE GRATITUDE TO
THE FRIENDS THE WATERFRONT AND
THE WATERFRONT AND THE SEATTLE
CENTER, AND HOPEFULLY ANSWER
THE QUESTIONS THAT WERE RAISED
TODAY AND PUT SOMETHING
TOGETHER TO BUILD A GOOD
FOUNDATION TO CONTINUE TO
EMPHASIZE THE VISION THE
WATERFRONT WE HAVE POST PUT
TOGETHER FOR A DECADE AND I
WANT THE OPPORTUNITY IF
COUNCILMEMBER HERBOLD AND
MOSQUEDA HAVE FOLLOW UPS THAT
WE CONTINUE THE PRESENTATION. I
DON'T WANT TO CUT THE
CONVERSATION SHORT IF THERE ARE
OTHER ITEMS. ANY CLOSING
QUESTIONS HERE? OKAY. SEEING
NONE, SO THERE IS INFORMATION
THAT WE ARE REQUESTING FROM THE
OFFICE OF -- THE DEPARTMENT OF
SEATTLE CENTER AND THE
WATERFRONT. IN TERMS OF THE
WATERFRONT AND HOW THIS ALL
COMES TOGETHER, AND I THINK
THE REQUESTS HAVE BEEN MADE
CLEAR FROM THE MEMBERS AND I
WOULD LIKE THAT INFORMATION FOR
CENTRAL STAFF AND EVERYONE TO
DISTRIBUTE THAT TO ALL
COMMITTEE MEMBERS SO WE HAVE
THAT HANDY AS WE GO INTO FINAL
CONSIDERATIONS WITH SOME OF
THESE PROPOSALS. SO WITH THAT,
WHY DON'T WE GO AHEAD AND
CONTINUE THE PRESENTATION?
>> ALL RIGHT. SO, GIVEN THE
CHANGE IN THE DEPARTMENT FOR
THE CITY ON PARK OPERATIONS,
WE'RE LOOKING AT COMING BACK TO
COUNCIL IN SPRING FOR
CONSIDERATION THE LONG-TERM
MANAGEMENT AGREEMENT WITH
FRIENDS FOR THE PERFORMANCE
STANDARDS AND LICENSED
AGREEMENTS AND PHASED OPENING
APPROACH. WE HAVE ANTICIPATED
HAVING THIS DONE AT THE END OF
2022. BUT WE ARE -- GIVEN ALL
THE CHANGE AND THE PUBLIC
SAFETY AND TRANSFER OF
OPERATIONS OF SEATTLE CENTER
ARE WORKING OUT MORE DETAILS
AND THOUGHT BEHIND HOW WE ARE
GOING TO INCORPORATE THAT
CHANGE WITH OUR PARTNERSHIP
WITH FRIENDS WITH THE PHASED
OPENING. SO WE WILL BE COMING
BACK TO COUNCIL FOR YOU TO LOOK
AT THAT AND TO APPROVE THE
LONG-TERM AGREEMENT WITH
FRIENDS AND ALIGNING IT WITH
SEATTLE CENTER AND SEATTLE
PARKS AND RECREATION ON A SIX
YEAR TERM TO COME BACK AND LOOK
AT THE -- AROUND THE SAME TIME
YOU WILL BE LOOKING AT THE MPD
CYCLE AND MAKE SURE THINGS ARE
ALIGNED AND ARE WORKING OUT. SO
OUR NEXT STEPS ARE LATER THIS
MONTH, WE WILL HAVE LEGISLATION
FOR THE DELEGATION AUTHORITY
FOR SEATTLE CENTER. THE 11.5
POSITIONS FOR THE PUBLIC SAFETY
AND THE FUNDING FROM FRIENDS
FOR THOSE POSITIONS, THAT THEY
ARE HELPING SUPPORT. AND WE
WILL COME BACK IN LATER SPRING
WITH THE MANAGEMENT AGREEMENT
AND WE WILL START HIRING OUR
DEDICATED TEAM, OPERATIONS AND
PUBLIC SAFETY BETWEEN FEBRUARY
AND JUNE AND HAVE A TRANSITION
DATE. AND I WILL HAND IT OVER
TO MARSHALL TO MAYBE ADD
ANYTHING I LEFT OFF OR ANYTHING
TO ADD.
>> NO. I APPRECIATE THAT AGAIN
AND APPRECIATE YOUR TIME, AND
WE WILL HAVE THE MATERIAL FOR
THE COMMITTEE AHEAD THE
LEGISLATION LATER THIS MONTH
AND HAVE THE FUNDS CATION.
ALLOCATION AND THANK YOU FOR
THAT, AND WE LOOK FORWARD TO
TALKING WITH YOU MORE.
>> I AM GOING TO TALK ABOUT THE
QUESTION ABOUT JULY AND THE KEY
NEXT STEPS. IT WOULD BE GOOD TO
CLARIFY AND IF THIS IS A GOOD
OPPORTUNITY, FINE BUT IF NOT WE
CAN MAYBE TAKE THIS OFFLINE.
THE WATERFRONT TRANSMITTING THE
MANAGEMENT AGREEMENT
LEGISLATION AND RELATIONSHIP
WITH THE POSITION AUTHORITY
BECAUSE IT WOULD BE GOOD IN MY
ESTIMATION TO CANDIDLY LINE UP
THE POSITION AUTHORITY WITH THE
MANAGEMENT AGREEMENT
LEGISLATION TO KNOW IN ESSENCE
WHAT THE BUSINESS PLAN IS THAT
WE'RE STAFFING AND WHAT
POSITIONS WILL BESPOKE TO IN
TERMS OF THE POSITIONS THEY
WILL FILL, AND I SEE THEM AS
INTERRELATED ITEMS, AND THEY
ARE NOT NECESSARILY LINKED IN
HOW THIS TIMELINE HAS BEEN LAID
OUT. SO I WONDER IF ANYONE
WANTS TO ADDRESS THAT. IT DOES
LOOK LIKE TO A CERTAIN EXTENT
THE TIMELINE'S OVERLAP, JANUARY
TO MARCH 2323 FOR THE
MANAGEMENT AGREEMENT. IT
APPEARS THAT IT'S POSSIBLE THAT
COULD BE DONE IN JANUARY BASED
ON THIS TIMELINE. DOES ANYONE
ON THE PANEL ACKNOWLEDGE THE
ISSUE I AM GETTING AT IS IT
SEEMS ODD TO APPROVE -- WHEN WE
DON'T KNOW WHAT THE APPROVED
FINAL PLAN WILL BE YET?
>> .
>> COUNCILMEMBER, THAT'S A VERY
FAIR QUESTION TO ASK. THE
FUNDAMENTAL THING I WOULD SAY
IS WE DO HAVE SPENT THE BETTER
PART OF THIS YEAR DEVELOPING A
SPECIFIC PLAN FOR WHAT -- HOW
MANY POSITIONS ARE NEEDED AND
WHAT ACTIVITIES AND SERVICES
WILL BE PROVIDED IN THE PARK,
AND THAT'S BEEN DEVELOPED
THROUGH THE SAME PARTNERSHIP IS
THAT WE TALKED ABOUT. THE
REASON WE'RE ASKING FOR THAT
AUTHORITY AND APPROVAL FIRST IS
IT WE NEED THOSE POSITIONS
ADVANCED IN THE HIRING RECRUIT
AM PROCESS SO THEY CAN BE
FILLED AND ON THE GROUND FOR
THE WATERFRONT THIS SUMMER.
THAT IS OUR GOAL. THE
MANAGEMENT AGREEMENT IS
DIFFERENT. THE MANAGEMENT
AGREEMENT IS FUNDAMENTALLY --
GOING BACK TO THE ORDINANCE OF
2019, IT'S ABOUT THE CITY'S
RELATIONSHIP WITH FRIENDS. IT
ISN'T SPECIFICALLY ABOUT THE
PUBLIC SAFETY POSITION. THEY
REALLY TALK ABOUT -- IT'S A LOT
ABOUT WHAT AUTHORITY THE CITY
IS GIVING FRIENDS WITH
PROGRAMMING, WHAT TYPE OF
ACTIVITIES DO WE PARTICIPATE?
THE CITY'S RESPONSIBILITY TO
HELP FRIENDS BE SUCCESSFUL AND
SOME OF THE OVERSIGHT
ACCOUNTABILITY REQUIREMENTS
FINISHED INCLUSIVITY AND WE ARE
HAPPY TO BRING THAT FORTH FOR
CONSIDERATION. I WOULD HEAR THE
QUESTION THAT IT WOULD IMPACT
OUR ABILITY TO DELIVER SERVICE
THIS SUMMER IN TERMS OF PUBLIC
FIRST IF WE ARE NOT ABLE TO
ADVANCE. WE COULD COME TO THE
NEXT MEETING AND GO THROUGH THE
SPECIFIC POSITIONS, WHAT
ACTIVITIES WILL BE PROVIDED,
WHY YOU NEED THEM AND HOW THEY
FIT IN. THAT WOULD HELP.
>> MARSHALL, CAN I ADD THAT
WITH THE POSITION AUTHORITY
ORDINANCE WE DO HAVE A
COMMITMENT LETTER FROM FRIENDS
FOR THE FUNDING FOR THEIR
CONTRIBUTION TOWARDS THE PUBLIC
SAFETY POSITION, AND WE DO HAVE
THE CITY FUNDING ALREADY IN THE
2023 SPENDING PLAN. SO ALL THE
FUNDS ARE ALLOCATED AND
COMMITTED TO WITH THAT
ORDINANCE COMING FORWARD.
>> GREAT. I'M HAPPY TO TALK
ABOUT THAT IN ANTICIPATION THE
NEXT HEARING. IT SOUNDS LIKE IT
WOULD BE POSSIBLE FOR THE
PRESENTATION THAT RECONCILES
HOW THIS COMES TOGETHER BASED
ON THE INFORMATION YOU JUST
REPRESENTED HERE. SO I THINK
THAT WILL PROBABLY SQUARE THE
CIRCLES I'M TALKING ABOUT. ARE
THERE ANY OTHER ADDITIONAL
QUESTIONS NOW THAT WE HAVE GONE
TWO MORE SLIDES FROM THE
PREVIOUS BREAK THAT THE
COMMITTEE MEMBERS HAVE BEFORE
WE WRAP THIS UP? KNOWING THERE
WILL BE SOME -- PLENTY OF
OPPORTUNITIES IN THE NEAR
FUTURE TO CONTINUE TO TALK
ABOUT THESE ISSUES? ANY
QUESTIONS? OKAY. WELL, THANK
YOU SO MUCH FOR GETTING US
READY. I THINK IT WAS GOOD TO
HAVE THIS INTRODUCTORY BRIEFING
AND PRESENTATION BEFORE WE GET
INTO A LOT OF THESE
INTER-RELATED ORDINANCES WE'LL
BE CONSIDERING THE FIRST
QUARTER THIS YEAR AND MANY OF
THEM BEFORE THE END OF THIS
MONTH AND REALLY LOOK FORWARD
TO SOME BIG MILESTONES IN 2023
AS WE GET CLOSER AND CLOSER AND
CLOSER TO FULLY REALIZING THIS
IMPACTFUL, TRANSFORMATIVE
WATERFRONT SPACE.
THANK YOU SO MUCH AND WANT TO
OFFER MY CONGRATULATIONS HERE
TO DIRECTOR NELLAMS ON HIS
SERVICE. I AM SURE THE COUNCIL
WILL TAKE AN OPPORTUNITY TO
MORE FORMALLY RECOGNIZE THAT
SOON AND WE WILL DEARLY MISS
YOU, AND I WANT TO TAKE THE
OPPORTUNITY TO CONGRATULATE
INTERIM DIRECTOR FOSTER. WE MAY
HAVE PRONE SOME NEWS IN TODAY'S
HEARING BY MARSHALL GIVING US
THAT UPDATE. BUT DO WANT TO
OFFER MY CONGRATULATIONS TO
INTERIM DIRECTOR FOSTER ON HIS
NEW POSITION AND LOOK FORWARD
TO WORKING WITH HIM ON THIS AND
OTHER PROJECTS, SO THANK YOU SO
MUCH. IS THERE ANY LAST
CONSIDERATIONS HERE FROM
CENTRAL STAFF BEFORE WE MOVE TO
THE NEXT AGENDA ITEM?
>> NOTHING PRESSING. COVERED
ALL THE DETAILS. I APPRECIATE
AS ALWAYS MARSHALL AND TIFFANI
AND ALL THE FOLKS FROM THE
WATERFRONT AND SEATTLE CENTER.
WE'LL KEEP WORKING ON IT.
WORKING ON CENTRAL STAFF, I GO
BACK A LITTLE WAYS. REMEMBER
BERTHA? BERTHA. SO ANYWAY,
THERE IS A LOT TO DO, AND I
APPRECIATE THE COLLABORATION.
THANKS.
>> THANKS, ERIC. I AM NOSTALGIC
FOR THE DAYS WHEN THE BIGGEST
PROBLEM WE WERE FACING WERE
DEBATES AROUND THE WATERFRONT
TUNNEL, CANDIDLY. BUT IN ANY
EVENT, IT'S GOOD TO SEE THE
PROGRESS COMING ALONG AND THE
SPACE REALLY GETTING CLOSER AND
CLOSER. ITEM TWO, MR. CLERK,
WOULD YOU PLEASE READ ITEM
NUMBER TWO IN THE RECORD?
>> YES, AND MR. FOSTER, WOULD
YOU MIND STOP SHARING YOUR
SCREEN? THANK YOU. COUNCIL BILL
120489.
AN ORDINANCE AUTHORIZING THE
CITY OF SEATTLE, THROUGH ATTLE
PARKS AND RECREATION, TO ENTER
INTO AN AGREEMENT WITH THE
ARBORETUM FOUNDATION FOR
SUPPORT OF THE SEATTLE JAPANESE
GARDEN CONSISTENT WITH THE
NON-GOVERNMENT AGREEMENT IN
ATTACHMENT 1 TO THIS ORDINANCE.
F0
>> TRACY, ARE YOU HERE TO BE
HERE AS CENTRAL STAFF ON THIS
ITEM?
>> I SURELY AM.
>> OKAY. IT LOOKS LIKE WE HAVE
JANE AND DONNIE FROM PARKS. WHO
WANTS TO TAKE THIS ON FIRST?
DONNIE?
>> I AM DONNIE GRABOWSKI, FROM
SEATTLE PARKS AND RECREATION.
AND I HAVE JANE STONECIPHER
HERE. DO YOU WANT TO INTRODUCE
YOURSELF?
>> I AM THE EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR
THE ARBORETUM FOUNDATION.
HELLO, EVEN.
>> OKAY. I AM GOING TO SHARE MY
SCREEN -- PLEASE BEAR WITH ME.
OKAY. IS THE POWERPOINT ON THE
SCREEN?
>> WE CAN SEE IT.
>> OKAY. PERFECT. INTERESTED TO
SAY THAT WE ARE EXCITED TO
BRING TO YOU FOR CONSIDERATION
THE SEATTLE JAPANESE GARDEN
SUPPORT AND ARBORETUM
AGREEMENT, AND WE HAVE THE
UNIQUE SITE WITH THE CITY THAT
OWNS THE LAND AND OPERATES AND
MAINTAINS AND MANAGES THE
JAPANESE GARDEN AND THE GATE
HOUSE AND FOR THE PAST SIX
YEARS, THERE WERE PROGRAMMING
EVENT, FUNDRAISING, VOLUNTEERS
MARKETING, AND OUTREACH SUPPORT
FOR THE GARDEN AND RESULTED IN
THE BEAUTIFUL SPACE THAT CAN BE
BEST ENJOYED BY THE PUBLIC.
WE'LL BE GOING THROUGH THE
ELIMINATES THE AGREEMENT THAT
IS EXPECTED TO YIELD $2.65
MILLION IN INCREMENTAL VALUE TO
THE GARDEN AND THE COMMUNITY. I
WILL MENTION THIS IS A
BEAUTIFUL PICTURE THE JAPANESE
GARDEN IN THE SUMMERTIME FACING
SOUTH. SO THE NEXT SLIDE IS
GIVING A RECAP OR AN AT A
GLANCE MENTION THE GARDEN, 3.5
ACRES OF CITY-OWNED PROPERTY
LOCATED AT THE SOUTHERN END THE
WASHINGTON PARK ARBORETUM,
ESTABLISHED IN 1960 AND HAS
BEEN OPEN TO THE PUBLIC SINCE
THEN AND OPEN TO THE PUBLIC
EACH YEAR FROM MARCH THROUGH
NOVEMBER. THIS IS THE BUSIEST
DROP IN ADMISSIONS LOCATION. WE
HAVE ABOUT 100,000 ANNUAL
VISITORS NOT COUNTING RECENT
COVID YEARS WHEN THE GARDEN WAS
CLOSED FOR A PORTION OF TIME IN
2020 AND OUR GATE HOUSE REVENUE
FOR 2021 WAS 626,000 OF WHICH
WE -- PARKS ISSUED 411,000 AND
THE ARBORETUM FOUNDATION
RECEIVED ABOUT 216,000. WE
RECEIVED ABOUT 66% AND WE'LL
TALK MORE IN THE PRESENTATION
ABOUT THE REVENUE SPLIT. OKAY.
SO THE NEXT SLIDE HERE, THIS
GIVES A SNAPSHOT OF THE
PARTNERSHIP HISTORY AND UNTIL
20, THE RECREATION COUNCIL WAS
OUR PRIMARY SUPPORT PARTNER. IN
2014, THE PARKS DEPARTMENT AND
JAPANESE GARDEN SOCIETY
CONDUCTED AN OPERATIONAL STUDY
AT THE LONG-TERM INTEREST OF
THE GARDEN AND THE CONCERNS OF
NON-PROFIT SUPPORT PARTNER
MODEL. FOLLOWING THIS STUDY,
THE ARBORETUM FOUNDATION
ELECTED TO PROVIDE CAPITAL
FUNDRAISING AND PROGRAMMING AND
OUTREACH AND VOLUNTEER
MANAGEMENT. OUR CURRENT
SIX-YEAR AGREEMENT EXPIRED IN
DECEMBER, AND WE PUT IN PLACE
SHORT TIME EXTENSIONS FOR THE
CITY COUNCIL AND THE SUCCESS
THE ARBORETUM FOUNDATION HAVE
INCLUDED, AS MENTIONED IN THE
PUBLIC COMMENT, INCREASED
PRESENTATION. WE HAVE RECEIVED
40% INCREASE IN VISITORS.
THAT'S IN 2016. IT WAS ABOUT
84,000 AND IN 2019, 119,000,
AND WE HAVE A FIRST FREE
THURSDAY AND FAMILY SATURDAY
PROGRAMMING AND CAPITOL FUNDING
FOR THE RECENT POND RENOVATION,
AND GREAT THINGS HAVE COME OUT
OF THE INITIAL YEARS THE
PARTNERSHIP. OKAY AND TO
DISCUSS THE SELECTION PROCESS,
WE ISSUED IN MARCH OF 2022, A
LETTER TO SELECT THE NEXT
SEATTLE JAPANESE GARDEN SUPPORT
PARTNER. THIS WAS SUGGESTED BY
THE CITY LAW DEPARTMENT AND
SUPPORTED BY THE INTERIM
SUPERINTENDENT. AS YOU CAN SEE
ON THE SLIDES. THE REQUIREMENTS
ARE NON-PROFIT ENTITY AND HAD
DEMONSTRATED CAPITAL
PROGRAMMING EXPERIENCE OR
CAPITAL FUNDRAISING AND
PROGRAMMING EXPERIENCE,
VOLUNTEER MANAGEMENT AND
ADVOCACY SUPPORT AND THE
ARBORETUM FOUNDATION WAS THE
SOLE RESPONDENT FROM THE
PROCESS. OKAY. THE NEXT -- I
THINK I -- ONE MOMENT HERE. I
THINK I WENT TOO FAR. YEAH.
OKAY. SORRY ABOUT THAT. SO THE
NEXT TWO SLIDES HIGHLIGHT THE
TERMS IN THE PROPOSED AGREEMENT
FROM THE EXISTING AGREEMENT. AS
YOU CAN SEE ON THE LEFT-HAND
SIDE, THE COLUMN ARE THE
ELEMENTS THE CURRENT EXPIRING
AGREEMENT AND ON THE RIGHT-HAND
SIDE, THE PROPOSED AGREEMENT TO
GO THROUGH THIS QUICKLY. AS
PREVIOUSLY MENTIONED, THE TERMS
THE EXPIRING AGREEMENT WAS SIX
YEARS. THE PROPOSED AGREEMENT
WOULD BE 10-YEAR AGREEMENT WITH
THE FIVE-YEAR OPTION SO THE
FIRST 10 YEARS WOULD EXPIRE IN
DECEMBER 2032. JUST TO CLARIFY
ROLES. I MENTIONED AT THE VERY
BEGINNING, THE CITY OF SEATTLE
OWNS AND OPERATES 100% HANDLING
PER ENTRY. WE PROVIDE ALSO THE
GARDENING AND OTHER MAINTENANCE
SUPPORT TO THE GARDEN. THE
ARBORETUM FOUNDATION PROVIDES
CAPITAL FUNDRAISING AND
PROGRAMMING AND EVENTS AND
VOLUNTEER BRANCHED AND
MARKETING, AND THAT'S REALLY NO
CHANGE IN THE NEW AGREEMENT.
THIS WAS THE ARRANGEMENT AND
WILL CONTINUE. PUBLIC BENEFITS,
THE CURRENT AGREEMENT DID NOT
SPELL OUT PUBLIC BENEFIT
METRICS BUT IN THE NEW
AGREEMENT WE HAVE PUBLIC
BENEFIT METRICS. WE HAVE THAT
IN SUBSEQUENT SLIDES. THE
ORIGINAL OR CURRENT AGREEMENT
THAT JUST EXPIRED DID NOT
MENTION ADMISSIONS. HOWEVER, IN
THE NEW AGREEMENT, WE HAVE THE
-- THE CITY WILL STILL ACCEPT
THE ADMISSIONS PRICING BUT
CONTROL WITH THE ARBORETUM,
AND MERCHANDISE SALES, 100%
WENT TO THE ARBORETUM
FOUNDATION. AND IN THE NEW
AGREEMENT, 10% THE SALES WILL
COME TO THE CITY AND 90% TO THE
ARBORETUM FOUNDATION AND THERE
WILL INCLUDE A NEW PUBLIC
BENEFIT SECTION. OKAY. AND THEN
THIS NEXT SLIDE DISCUSSES MORE
ON THE REVENUE SHARING
AGREEMENT. REVENUE SHARING A
CARRY OVER FROM THE EXISTING
AGREEMENT WITH BASELINE BUDGETS
AND PERCENTAGES. YOU CAN SEE WE
ARE RECEIVING A HIGHER AMOUNT
OF REVENUE IN THE NEW
AGREEMENT. AND THEN WE ALSO
HAVE A BASE -- BEYOND BASE
REVENUE SHARING WHICH CONTINUES
TO BE 50% CITY AND 50%
ARBORETUM FOUNDATION, AND
THAT'S IN THE NEW AGREEMENT UP
TO THE FIRST $500,000 AND YOU
CAN SEE 50% THE ARBORETUM FROM
$500,000 AND THEN 50 AND BEYOND
50, 40% ALLOCATED AND 50% TO
THE ARBORETUM FOUNDATION. AND
ANNUAL EARNED REVENUE IN THE
CURRENT AGREEMENT, IT'S ABOUT
600,000. IN THE NEXT AGREEMENT,
WE EXPECT TO EARN ABOUT
700,000. IN PART, A LARGE PART
DUE TO THE FACT THAT THIS IS
APPROVED AS PART THE 2023
BUDGET. IN TERMS OF ARBORETUM
FOUNDATION EARNED REVENUE, THEY
RECEIVED A TOTAL OF $904, 000
BETWEEN 2018 AND 2022. WE
EXPECT TO BE EARNING $2 MILLION
BASED ON AN ANNUAL AVERAGE OF
$175,000. AND JANE WILL EXPLAIN
MORE ON THE PUBLIC BENEFITS IN
JUST A MOMENT HERE BUT WE
EXPECT $165,000 IN PROGRAM
BENEFITS AND 300,000 PER YEAR
IN CAPITOL FUNDRAISING, AND
THAT WOULD BE $4.65 MILLION.
AND IF YOU SUBTRACT OUT WHEN WE
EXPECT TO PAY THEM, TWO
MILLION, IT WOULD BE $2.65
MILLION, AND I WILL PASS THE
BATON TO JANE STONECIPHER WHO
WILL DISCUSS THE BENEFITS IN
GREATER DETAIL.
>>> THANK YOU, DONNIE. THE
FOUNDATION WAS STARTED IN 1935
IN SUPPORT OF THE WASHINGTON
PARK ARBORETUM AND WAS INVOLVED
IN THE PLANNING THE SEATTLE
JAPANESE GARDEN RIGHT FROM THE
BEGINNING, FIRST IN THE 1930s
AND LATER WORKING WITH THE
TOKYO PARTS DEPARTMENT FOR THE
OPENING IN 1960. SO IT FELT
SPECIAL AND NATURAL TO TAKE ON
THE GREATER OPERATING ROLE THE
GARDEN SINCE 2016. WE REALLY
APPRECIATE OUR PARTNER WITH THE
SEATTLE PARKS AND RECREATION,
AND I'M SORRY THAT CHRISTOPHER
WILLIAMS IS NOT HERE TODAY
BECAUSE HE WAS VERY INVOLVED IN
THE INITIAL AGREEMENT. AND I
THINK ALSO HE SHOULD TAKE A LOT
OF CREDIT FOR WHAT WAS
ACCOMPLISHED IN THE TIME
PERIOD. THE SEATTLE JAPANESE
GARDEN, WE WANTED TO TAKE JUST
A MINUTE TO SHOW A LITTLE OF
THE SEASONAL BEAUTY THE GARDEN.
IT IS A PLACE BOTH OF
BREATHTAKING BEAUTY AND
CULTURAL INSPIRATION. SO,
DONNIE, IF YOU COULD GO TO THE
NEXT SLIDE. SO THE FOUNDATION
IS COMMITTED TO PROVIDING
SUBSTANTIAL PUBLIC BENEFITS AND
ACCESS DURING THIS NEXT
CONTRACT PERIOD. I WOULD LIKE
TO WALK YOU THROUGH JUST A FEW
THE PARTICULARS. SO AS I
MENTIONED, THE FUNCTION OFFERS
TWO SIGNATURE PROGRAMS EACH
MONTH. FREE FIRST THURSDAY
WHICH FEATURES VISUAL AND
PERFORMING ARTS LIKE ON A
MUSEUM MODEL SUCH AS
CALLIGRAPHY AND DANCE AND
FAMILY SATURDAY, A
FAMILY-FRIENDLY PROGRAMMING
INCLUDING LIKE KOI DAY AND THE
WISH FESTIVAL AND STORY TELLING
WORKSHOP AND MAPLE VIEWING
EACH OCTOBER AND PHOTOGRAPHY
WORKSHOPS WHICH ARE PROVIDED ON
A PAY-WHAT-YOU-CAN MODEL. WE
HAVE TWO DEDICATED STAFF
MEMBERS TO MANAGE THE PROGRAMS
WHICH HAVE AN ESTIMATED VALUE
OF APPROXIMATELY $110,000
ANNUALLY. AN IMPORTANT PART OF
INCREASING AWARENESS FOR THE
PROGRAMS BROADLY ACROSS THE
COMMUNITY FITS INTO OUR
EMPHASIZES ON GREATER EQUITY
AND INCLUSION. WE MAINTAIN AN
ACTIVE SOCIAL MEDIA PRESENCE
ACROSS FACEBOOK AND INSTAGRAM.
WE CURRENTLY HAVE MORE THAN
19,000 FOLLOWERS AS WELL AS PR
ACROSS TV AND PRINT MEDIA WHICH
EXTENDS IN BOTH ENGLISH AND
JAPANESE. WE ALSO CREATE
POSTERS FOR COMMUNITY CENTERS
AND LIBRAIRIES ACROSS THE CITY
AND ARE LOOKING AT MAPS AND
COLLATERAL BEING PUBLISHED IN
MULTIPLE LANGUAGES. THE VALUE
OF THIS OUTREACH IS
CONSERVATIVELY ESTIMATED AT
$10,000 ANNUALLY. NEXT SLIDE,
PLEASE. VOLUNTEERS ARE ALSO A
VERY IMPORTANT PART THE
EQUATION. THERE IS A DEDICATED
GROUP OF LONG TIME VOLUNTEERS
WHO LEAD DAILY TOURS THE
GARDEN, CATALOG THE PLANTS,
AND MERCHANDISE AND ASSIST WITH
EVENTS. WE PLAN TO RECRUIT AND
TRAIN A NEW SET THIS APRIL WITH
THE PARKS AND SOCIAL JUSTICE
TEAM INVOLVED IN THEIR
ORIENTATION USING A COMMONLY
ACCEPTED RATE OF $30 PER HOUR
WE ANTICIPATE $45,000 IN VALUE
AS WE RESUME PRE-COVID LEVELS
IN THE VOLUNTEER PROGRAM. ONE
THE KEY ROLES LIKE NON-PROFIT
CAN PROVIDE IN THE
PUBLIC-PRIVATE PARTNERSHIPS IS
FUNDRAISING. WE HAVE TEAM
STRAIFTED THE ABILITY TO RAISE
FUNDS ON BEHALF THE PROGRAM,
BETWEEN 15 THERE,000 AND
$100,000 PER YEAR BUT ALSO,
IMPORTANTLY FOR LARGER CAPITAL
PROJECTS. DURING THE COURSE THE
AGREEMENT, THE TEAM WILL
FINALLY COMPLETE ELEMENTS THE
ORIGINAL 1960 DESIGNS THAT WERE
NEVER FINISHED. IN 2022, WE
ACTUALLY RAISED MORE THAN
$750,000 FOR THIS EFFORT WHICH
WILL BE DEPLOYED DURING THE
NEXT TWO YEARS. AND THEN WE
ANTICIPATE RAISING AT AT LEAST
THREE MILLION FOR CAPITAL
IMPROVEMENTS DURING THE COURSE
THE CONTRACT. IN ADDITION TO
SOME OF THE SPECIFIC PROGRAMS
OUT OF LINED HERE, THE
ARBORETUM FOUNDATION HELPS
PROMOTE THE SEATTLE JAPANESE
GARDEN ON BEHALF THE PARKS
DEPARTMENT AND THE CITY IN A
NUMBER OF WAYS THAT STRENGTHEN
THE OVERALL FABRIC THE
COMMUNITY INCLUDING BUILDING
RELATIONSHIPS WITH THE LOCAL
JAPANESE CONSULATE, THE
JAPANESE-AMERICA SOCIETY AND
MAINTAINING THE CHERRY BLOSSOM
FESTIVAL AND JAPAN FAIR.
OVERALL, THE ESTIMATION OF THE
BENEFIT OF $2.65 MILLION AS
DONNIE MENTIONED, BEYOND THE
REVENUE SHARE WILL BE RETURNED
TO THE COMMUNITY OVER THE TERM
THE AGREEMENT. I WOULD LIKE TO
CLOSE BY THANKING THE
COUNCILMEMBERS FOR YOUR SUPPORT
OF PARKS AND FOR YOUR SERVICE
TO THE CITY. IT'S A PRIVILEGE
TO BE YOUR PARTNER AND THE
WASHINGTON PARK ASCHE RETE UP
AND SEATTLE JAPANESE GARDEN.
THANK YOU.
>> THANK YOU, JANE. SO THAT
CONCLUDES OUR PRESENTATION. ANY
QUESTIONS?
>> THANK YOU VERY MUCH. I WILL
OPEN IT UP TO THE COMMITTEE. I
DON'T SEE ANY QUESTIONS FROM
COLLEAGUES. IF WE COULD GO BACK
TO THE SLIDE EARLIER COMPARING
THE PREVIOUS AND THE PROPOSED
AGREEMENT, I THINK THAT WAS
SORT OF A HELPFUL GROUNDING
SLIDE FOR OUR OVERSIGHT
OBLIGATIONS AS A COMMITTEE,
AND MY REVIEW IN ADVANCE OF
CONSIDERING THIS BILL, MY
INITIAL PERUSAL OF THIS -- AND
I GUESS THIS IS MORE OF A
COMMENT THAN A QUESTION --
SEEMED TO HAVE BEEN NEGOTIATED
WELL BETWEEN THE FOUNDATION AND
THE PARKS DEPARTMENT AND ALL OF
THE DIFFERENT PARTIES. I GUESS
I HAD A QUESTION IN THE CHANGE
OF THE TERM GOING FROM SIX
YEARS AND TRANSITIONING TO 10
YEARS WITH A FIVE-YEAR
EXTENSION OPTION. WHAT WAS OUR
THINKING BEHIND CHANGING THAT
STRUCTURE? AND HAVE WE
HISTORICALLY DONE THIS IN SIX
YEAR STINTS? IS THERE A REASON
THAT WE WANT TO SWITCH TO THIS
NEW MODEL WITH 10 YEARS AND AN
OPTION FOR A FIVE-YEAR
EXTENSION?
>> I CAN ANSWER THAT. I THINK
IT WAS SUGGESTED BY THE PARKS
DEPARTMENT IN MOST PART BECAUSE
THERE IS A LOT OF CAPITAL
FUNDRAISING, AND I THINK IF WE
HAVE IT IN A SMALLER, YOU KNOW,
A FEWER YEAR INCREMENT, WE
COULD BE BUILDING FOR A FEW
YEARS AND HAVE TO START THE
WHOLE PROCESS OF RENEGOTIATING
THE AGREEMENT, AND SO WE
THOUGHT THAT TENURE WAS A GOOD
AMOUNT OF TIME ALLOW THE
FOUNDATION TO DO THE CAPITAL
FUNDRAISING, AND WE HAVE A GOOD
MOMENTUM WITH THE SIX YEARS
WHICH WENT BY PRETTY QUICKLY.
SO THAT WAS REALITY RATIONALE.
AND WE HAVE AGREEMENTS AT PARKS
THAT ARE WAY LONGER THAN 10
YEARS. THE ZOO IS A 20-YEAR
AGREEMENT. SO YOU DON'T REALLY
HAVE -- THE DIFFERENT
AGREEMENTS ARE AT DIFFERENT
LENGTHS AND WE FELT THAT WAS A
GOOD TERM FOR THIS PARTICULAR
AGREEMENT.
>> THANK YOU. I DON'T HAVE ANY
QUESTIONS BUT THE COMMENT. AND
IT'S GOOD ACCOUNTABILITY AND
WHAT THE COMMITTEE APPRECIATES.
ARE THERE ANY QUESTIONS OR
COMMENTS FROM COLLEAGUES BEFORE
WE MOVE FORWARD AND VOTE ON THE
ORDINANCE? I DON'T SEE ANY. SO
I WILL MOVE COUNCIL BILL
120489. IS THERE A SECOND?
>> SECOND. HAVING --
>> HAVING BEEN MOVED AND
SECONDED WILL THE CLERK PLEASE
CALL THE ROLL ON RECOMMENDING
THE BILL?
>> COUNCILMEMBER HERBOLD.
>> YES.
>> COUNCILMEMBER JUAREZ.
>> AYE.
>> COUNCILMEMBER MORALES?
COUNCILMEMBER MOSQUEDA.
>> AYE.
>> CHAIR LEWIS?
>> YES. CHAIR, FIVE IN FAVOR
AND NON OPPOSED.
>> THANK YOU. THE LEGISLATION
WOULD BE RECOMMENDED AT THE
NEXT COUNCIL MEETING FOR FINAL
PASSAGE ANTICIPATED FOR TUESDAY
JANUARY 10 AND THANK YOU SO
MUCH FOR THE PANELISTS AND
APPRECIATE THE CONSIDERATION
AND THE DILIGENCE OF ALL THE
PARTIES IN MOVING THIS FORWARD,
AND WE WILL NOW MOVE ON TO ITEM
THREE, THE FINAL AGENDA ITEM
FOR THIS AFTERNOON. WILL THE
CLERK PLEASE READ ITEM THREE
INTO THE RECORD?
>> COUNCIL BILL 120483, AND
ORDINANCE RELATING TO CURRENT
USE TAXATION APPROVING
APPLICATIONS FOR CURRENT USE
TAXATION OF PROPERTIES LOCATED
AT 8240 43rd AVENUE NORTHEAST
AND 711 NORTHEAST 43rd UNDER
THE KING COUNTY PUBLIC BENEFIT
RATING SYSTEM AND RATIFYING AND
CONFIRMING CERTAIN PRIOR ACTS
FOR BRIEFING AND DISCUSSION AND
POSSIBLE VOTE.
>> THANK YOU VERY MUCH, MR.
CLERK. AND WE HAVE PRESENTERS.
LISH, ARE YOU CENTRAL STAFF FOR
THE ITEM?
>> YES, LISH WHITSON, COUNCIL
CENTRAL STAFF.
>> THANK YOU SO MUCH. WHO IS
KICKING US OFF? BILL, ARE YOU
THE PRIMARY PRESENTER?
>> I THINK I WILL LET LISH LEAD
THE CHARGE, AND I WILL BE HERE
IN ANY QUESTIONS THAT MIGHT BE
NEEDED.
>> GREAT. LISH, I'LL HAND IT
OVER TO YOU.
>> GREAT. THANK YOU. ARE YOU
SEEING THE PRESENTATION?
>> YES. THANK YOU.
>> SO THIS IS AN APPLICATION
FOR THE CURRENT USE TAXATION
PROGRAM UNDER WASHINGTON STATE
LAW AND KING COUNTY'S ASSEMBLE
ASSET RATING SYSTEM. THIS IS A
PROGRAM THAT HAS BEEN IN PLACE
IN WASHINGTON STATE FOR ABOUT
50 YEARS, OVER 50 YEARS. BUT
THE CITY COUNCIL HASN'T SEEN
ANY OF THESE APPLICATIONS FOR
THE LAST 10 YEARS, SO THIS IS
NEW TO ALL OF US HERE BUT IT'S
AN OLD AND LONG-RUNNING
PROGRAM. THE PURPOSE IS TO HAVE
PRESERVE PERMANENTLY OPEN SPACE
ON PRIVATE PROPERTY IN
WASHINGTON STATE. THE PROGRAM
IS INTENDED TO PRESERVE OPEN
SPACE, FOREST LAND, FARMLAND,
LANDMARKS, PRIVATE PROPERTY AND
SHORELINE. UNDERSTATE LAW IT
REQUIRES A PUBLIC HEARING AND A
PROVAL FROM THE KING COUNTY
COUNCIL AND SEATTLE COUNCIL AND
KING COUNTY COUNCIL
TRANSPORTATION AND ECONOMY AND
ENVIRONMENT COMMITTEE HAS
APPLICATIONS OVER THE LAST
COUPLE YEARS THAT WOULD BE
APPROVED UNDER COUNCIL BILL
120483. THE FIRST APPLICATION
IS IN THE WEDGEWOOD
NEIGHBORHOOD SOUTH OF INVERNESS
AND PARK. THE WESTERN PORTION
OF -- SORRY. THE EASTERN
PORTION OF THIS PROPERTY IS
SURROUNDED BY YELLOW AND LIES
WITHIN AN EXTENSION OF
INVERNESS, SOUTH THE PARK. THIS
PROPOSAL IS TO PRESERVE THAT
PORTION THE PARK, OF PROPERTY
AND OPEN SPACE. THE -- UNDER
THE PUBLIC ASSET RATING SYSTEM,
THE PROPERTY IS GRANTED SIX
POINTS. ONE IS A BUFFER FOR
CLASSIFIED LAND. AND THERE ARE
OTHER ADJACENT PROPERTIES THAT
INCLUDE PORTIONS OF THE RAVINE
THAT ALREADY INTO THE SYSTEM.
SO MULTIPLE PROPERTIES TOGETHER
PROVIDE GREATER EXPERIENCE AND
IT'S A SPECIAL ANIMAL SITE. IF
APPROVED, THE PROGRAM WOULD
ALLOW FOR A REDUCTION THE
MARKET VALUE AND TAXABLE VALUE.
THE PROPERTY OWNERS WOULD AGREE
TO MAINTAIN THAT SPACE AND OPEN
SPACE IN PERPETUITY. IF THEY
REMOVE IT FROM THE PROGRAM,
THEY WOULD NEED TO PAY BACK
TACKS. THE OTHER PROPERTY IS A
LANDMARK BUILDING, ANHALT HALL
DESIGNATED IN 2018. IT'S A
SIX-UNIT, MULTIFAMILY BUILDING
IN THE UNIVERSITY DISTRICT. AND
WOULD IT WOULD RECEIVE FIVE
POINTS UNDER THE PUBLIC ASSET
RATING SYSTEM BECAUSE THE
LANDMARK. THE OPEN SPACE
SURROUNDING THE PROPERTY WOULD
BE MAINTAINED IN OPEN SPACE USE
IN PERPETUITY, AND, AGAIN, THEY
WOULD RECEIVE A REDUCTION IN
MARKET VALUE AND TAXABLE VALUE
THE PROPERTY UNDER THE PROGRAM.
THERE IS ONE AMENDMENT ATTACHED
TO THE AGENDA. THE FIRST
PROPERTY, THE APPLICATION AND
KING COUNTY'S REPORT ON THAT
APPLICATION WERE COMPILED IN
2021. SINCE THEN, THE PILEATED
WOODPECKER WAS REMOVED FROM A
SPECIES OF CONCERN WHICH MEANS
WE ARE NO LONGER PRESERVING THE
PILEATED WOODPECKER HABITAT
UNDER THE PROGRAM. THAT REDUCES
THE RATING, AND THERE IS A NEW
REPORT TO REPLACE TO THE BILL
THAT WE RECOMMEND THAT YOU
REPLACE. THAT'S ALL I HAVE FOR
THIS PRESENTATION, AND I'M
HAPPY TO ANSWER ANY QUESTIONS.
>> ARE THERE ANY QUESTIONS FOR
LISH BEFORE WE MOVE ON TO THE
BILL? OKAY. SHOWING NONE --
>> COUNCILMEMBER HERBOLD?
>> OH, SORRY. COUNCILMEMBER
HERBOLD, PLEASE GO AHEAD.
>> THANK YOU. I MAY BE
PREMATURE ABOUT THE AMENDMENT
BUT IF THE PILEATED WOODPECKER
NO LONGER ELIGIBLE FOR HABITAT
FOR PRESERVATION BECAUSE OF
IMPROVEMENTS IN THE POPULATION,
OR IS THERE ANY OTHER REASON
FOR THAT?
>> THERE ARE SUFFICIENT -- THE
PILEATED WOODPECKER POPULATION
IS OF A SUFFICIENT SIZE WE ARE
NO LONGER WORRIED ABOUT IT.
>> OKAY. THANK YOU.
>> COUNCILMEMBER MORALES.
>> THANK YOU. LISH, I WILL ASK
FOR MORE EXPLANATION ABOUT THE
INTENT HERE FOR PRESERVING OPEN
SPACE, AND I WILL SAY I'M
CONFUSE BODY THE LANDMARK. IT
MAKES SENSE THAT WE ARE TRYING
TO PRESERVE THE SPACE THAT IS
FARMLAND OR FOREST LAND OR
SHORELINE. THAT MAKES SENSE IF
IT'S FOR PUBLIC USE AND IT
MAKES SENSE FOR THE PHOTOGRAPH
THAT SOME LONG AROUND THE
BUILDING OR -- IT'S NOT CLEAR
TO ME HOW THAT PARTICULAR SPACE
AROUND -- I DON'T EQUATE THAT
WITH WHAT I THINK IS OUR GOAL
OF PRESERVING OPEN SPACE. CAN
YOU TALK ABOUT THAT?
>> YEAH. SINCE THE PROGRAM
STARTED IN 1970, ONE THE GOALS
HAS BEEN TO PRESERVE LANDMARKS
AND HISTORICSITES. THERE ARE
FINANCIAL CHALLENGES THAT YOU
HEARD IN THE PUBLIC COMMENT
WITH MAINTAINING LANDMARKS AND
HIST OR YOU CAN RESOURCES AND
SO ONE OF THE BENEFITS FOR
PRESERVING LAND MARKS
UNDERSTATE LAW IS THE ABILITY
TO USE THE PROGRAM FOR OPEN
SPACE. AND IN THIS CASE, THERE
IS THE LAWN AREA AND RECOVERY.
BUT IT'S PART THE PACKAGE OF
INCENTIVES USED TO HELP TO
MAINTAIN AND PRESERVE SITES
THAT THE CITY AND STATE HAVE
DESIGNATED AS LANDMARKS AND AS
IMPORTANT STRUCTURES IN THE
CITY.
>> ANOTHER -- COUNCILMEMBER
MOSQUEDA, PLEASE.
>> THANK YOU VERY MUCH AND I
HAVE TWO QUESTIONS HERE. IT
WOULD BE HELPFUL IF YOU COULD
REPEAT. CAN YOU TALK ABOUT THE
OVERALL GOALS THE CURRENT
PROGRAM AND HOW HISTORIC
BUILDINGS FIGHT INTO THIS
PROGRAM? THE OTHER QUESTION IS
ABOUT RATINGS. THE BUILDING
RECEIVED FIVE POINTS UNDER THIS
RATING SYSTEM. CAN YOU TELL ME
WHAT THE TOTAL NUMBER OF POINTS
A PROPERTY COULD RECEIVE AND IS
THERE A MINIMUM NUMBER OF
POINTS THE PROPERTY NEEDS TO
RECEIVE FOR CONSIDERATION FOR
PARTICIPATING IN THE PROGRAM?
>> YEAH. I WILL TAKE THE LAST
FIRST. THE MINIMUM IS FIVE
POINTS. ANYTHING BELOW FIVE
POINTS WOULD NOT QUALIFY. BILL,
DO YOU KNOW WHAT THE MAXIMUM
IS?
>> YEAH. SO THE MAXIMUM CAN
REALLY BE DEPENDENT UPON THE
POINT SYSTEM ITSELF. SO THE WAY
THAT THE TIERED REDUCTION
LEVELS ARE SET UP IS BASED ON
HOW MANY POINTS YOU ARE
ELIGIBLE FOR, DETERMINES WHERE
YOU FALL IN THAT 50 TO 90%
LEVEL OF SAVINGS. SO ANY POINTS
UP TO 35 OR MORE GETS YOU AT
THAT TOP LEVEL 90% REDUCTION
IN LAND VALUE FOR THAT PORTION
THE PROPERTY.
>> AND YOUR FIRST QUESTION WAS
MORE ABOUT THE GOALS THE
PROGRAM. THE -- YOU KNOW, THE
READING FROM THE STATE LAW,
IT'S INTENDED TO PRESERVE OPEN
SPACE. ANY LAND DESIGNATED BY A
LAND USE OR LAND AREA, THE
PRESERVATION USED TO CONSERVE
AND ENHANCE THE NATURAL
RESOURCES, WATER SUPPLY AND
PROMOTE CONSERVATION AND SOIL
AND FLAT LAND AND ENHANCE THE
VALUE OF THE PUBLIC OF ABUTTING
OR NEIGHBORING SANCTUARIES OR
OPEN SPACE AND VISUAL QUALITY
ALONG HIGHWAY ROADS AND RETAIN
THE NATURAL STATE NOT LESS THAN
ONE ACRE IN AN URBAN AREA AND
OPEN TO THE PUBLIC AS REQUIRED
UNDER THE LAW.
>> SO THIS PROPERTY, THE BACK
AS WE TALKED ABOUT IS PART OF
THE HABITAT AREA AND I THINK
IT'S LESS CLEAR TO SEE HOW
ANHALT HALL WOULD BE -- I CAN
SEE THAT IT ENCOURAGES
PRESERVATION WITH THE USE THE
EXISTING PROGRAM. SO ARE THE
FIVE POINTS MERELY AWARDED JUST
BY THE FACT THAT THIS IS
ALREADY QUALIFYING WITH
LANDMARK STATUS?
>> YES. IT'S RECOGNIZING THAT
ONE THE GOALS UNDER THE STATE
PROGRAM IS THE PRESERVATION OF
HISTORIC SITES, AND ABOUT HALF
OF THE LOT AREA THE PROPERTY IS
OPEN SPACE USE AND HELPED TO
ENCOURAGE THE LONG-TERM
PRESERVATION.
>> IT THERE ANY ADDITIONAL --
OH, COUNCILMEMBER MORALES.
>> THANKS. WELL, AGAIN, IT
SEEMS AS THOUGH THE WHOLE YEAR
IS PRESERVATION OF THE
LANDMARK, NOT PRESERVATION OF
THE SPACE NECESSARILY. I GUESS
I AM JUST WONDERING IF THERE IS
A DIFFERENT TOOL THAT THE
PROPERTY OWNER MIGHT TAKE
ADVANTAGE OF. IT JUST FEELS
LIKE A SLIPPERY SLOPE, YOU
KNOW, TO BE OFFERING REJECTION
FOR SOMETHING THAT ISN'T
CONTRIBUTING PUBLIC SPACE AND
MAYBE WE'RE NOT UNDERSTANDING
THE GOAL HERE WELL ENOUGH.
>> BILL, DO YOU WANT TO REACH
IN AND I'LL ADD?
>> I THINK THIS CERTAINLY IS
ONE THE PROGRAM CATEGORIES WITH
THE LEAST OPEN SPACE TO IT.
YOU'RE RIGHT. MOST THE
CATEGORIES DEAL WITH PROTECTING
FORESTS AND FARMS AND STREAMS
AND WETLANDS AND WILDLIFE. BUT
THAT BEING SAID, ONE THE
BENEFITS OF ADOPTING THE PUBLIC
BENEFIT RATING SYSTEM WHICH THE
COUNTY DID IN 1992 ALLOWS US TO
BETTER DEFINE WHAT RESOURCES
ARE WE ARE PROTECTING WITH WHAT
IS ALLOWED IN THE RCW-84-34,
AND IT'S CLEAR THAT PROTECTING
THE HISTORIC LANDMARKS IS AN
IMPORTANT COMPONENT OF WHAT
THIS PROGRAM CAN DO, AND IN
THIS CASE, AS YOU MENTION, IT'S
ODD BECAUSE IT'S NOT OPEN SPACE
PER SE BUT WHAT WE'RE DOING FOR
THIS LANDOWNER IS AWARDING A
TAX REDUCTION BY THEM
VOLUNTARILY PLACING A HISTORIC
LAND MARK MARK DESIGNATION ON
THE ENTIRE PROPERTY AND WE ARE
PLACING THE FIVE POINTS TO THE
LAND AND PROPERTY AS A WHOLE
MINUS THE STRUCTURE ITSELF AND
THAT IS A LITTLE COUNTER
INTUITIVE. SO WE ARE ALLOWING
EVERYTHING UNDER THE FOOTPRINT
THE STRUCTURE BASED UPON THE
FACT THAT THE ENTIRE PROPERTY
IS DESIGNATED AS A LANDMARK. SO
IN THAT CASE THAT, IS HOW IT'S
APPLIED HERE STRICTLY UNDER THE
IDEA THAT IT'S A DESIGNATED
LANDMARK. WE ARE APPLYING THE
FIVE-POINT REDUCTION
ACCORDINGLY.
>> THERE ARE OTHER OPTIONS
AVAILABLE TO THE PROPERTY
OWNER, MAINLY TO RENOVATING THE
UNITS OR THE BUILDING WHEN
RENOVATION OCCURS FOR THE
STRUCTURE ITSELF. THIS
PROPERTY WILL BE SURROUNDED BY
DEVELOPMENT, PRIMARILY LOT LINE
TO LOT LINE. SO THE OPEN SPACE
ON THIS SITE WILL PROVIDE SOME
RELIEF NEIGHBORS AND NEARBY
PEDESTRIANS AS WELL.
>> COUNCILMEMBER MOSQUEDA,
PLEASE.
>> THANK YOU.
>> YOU MEAN, IT WILL PROVIDE
RELIEF IN WHAT REGARD? PEOPLE
WILL HAVE A PICNIC ON THIS LAWN
OR --
>> VISUAL.
>> VISUAL RELIEF.
>> MAYBE WE SHOULD DEFINE OUR
TERMS IN THE COMMITTEE. I THINK
THAT'S MAYBE WHAT COUNCILMEMBER
MOSQUEDA IS GETTING AT. CAN WE
GET A WORKING DEFINITION FOR
WHAT VISUAL RELIEF MEANS FROM
ONE OF OUR PRESENTERS?
>> YEAH. SO PLANT MATTER -- AS
MANY DISCUSSIONS HAVE DISCUSSED
OVER THE LAST COUPLE YEARS, YOU
KNOW, PLANT MATTER DOES PROVIDE
A VISUAL RELIEF AND BENEFIT TO
THE RESIDENTS THE CITY.
>> LOOKING AT THE GRASS IS
PART OF WHAT WOULD ENHANCE OUR
URBAN EXPERIENCE. IS THAT
ESSENTIALLY THE ARGUMENT?
>> YEAH.
>> AND I JUST WANT TO MAKE SURE
--
>> COUNCILMEMBER MOSQUEDA.
>> THANK YOU VERY MUCH. I
APPRECIATE THAT. WE TALK ABOUT
THE DENSITY THAT WE HOPE WILL
COME TO THIS AREA AND OTHER
AREAS THE CITY, AND WE ALSO
RECOGNIZE THERE IS VISUAL TO
THE STRUCTURE AND ARCHITECTURE
AS WELL. SO THE ADDITIONAL
DENSITY WOULDN'T COME AS GRASS
AND TREES AND BUSHES. I WANT TO
MAKE SURE THAT IS NOT, YOU
KNOW, A BLACK OR WHITE
DEFINITION, THAT IF DENSITY
COMES IN THERE WILL NOT BE THE
GREENERY THAT WE ARE TALKING
ABOUT HERE. I AM INCLINED TO
VOTE FOR THIS BECAUSE I THINK
IT CONFIRMS WITH THE RCW BUT I
WANT TO MAKE SURE WHAT WE ARE
THINKING ABOUT, PROMOTING
ASSEMBLE SPACE IS THAT WE ARE
USING ACCEPTABLE PUBLIC SPACE
TO BE USED AND ENJOYED BY
MEMBERS THE PUBLIC ESPECIALLY
WITH THE TAX BENEFIT. I WILL BE
SUPPORTING THIS TODAY BUT I DO
THINK THAT WE -- WE HAVE TO
FLESH OUT THE DEFINITIONS AND
MOVE TO THE DENSER VISION OF
WHAT LIVING WITHIN THE CITY
SHOULD LOOK LIKE. IT SHOULD
INCLUDE DENSER LIVING
OPPORTUNITIES MIXED IN WITH THE
PROTECTION OF TREES AND GREEN
SPACE, LAWNS, AND PUBLIC
PLACES FOR PEOPLE TO ENJOY. AND
WE CAN STEP BACK PUBLIC
PROJECTS AND PUBLIC PARKS AND
AREAS FOR PLAY BUT I DON'T WANT
TO BE IN COMPETITION WHEN I
THINK DENSITY COULD BE THE
SAME, YOU KNOW, THE SAME AMOUNT
OF SPACE WE ARE SEEING ON THIS
CORNER. THAT SAID, I THINK THAT
IS PROBABLY FOR ANOTHER
DEFINITION FOR DENSITY VISION
WE WILL HAVE IN THE COURSE THE
UPCOMING YEAR.
>> THANK YOU, COUNCILMEMBER
MOSQUEDA. AND YOUR LINE OF
QUESTIONING WAS APPRECIATED TO
DRILL IN ON THOSE POINTS. THANK
YOU SO MUCH FOR ENGAGING WITH
THE PANEL ON THAT. ARE THERE
ANY OTHER -- OH, YEAH. BILL,
I'M SORRY IF I CUT YOUR
PRESENTATION SHORT. PLEASE, IF
THERE ARE ANY FINAL THOUGHTS
YOU HAVE, AND THEN WE CAN MAYBE
CALL THE QUESTION ON THIS. BUT,
BILL, GO AHEAD.
>> YEAH. UGHS JUST TRYING TO,
YOU KNOW, IF I WAS ABLE TO
PROVIDE A LITTLE MORE
CLARIFICATION ON THE LANDMARK
AND THIS IDEA OF OPEN SPACE AND
PUBLIC USE. ONE THING THAT JUST
POPPED IN MY MIND WAS TO REMIND
YOU ALL THAT PUBLIC ACCESS
ISN'T A REQUIREMENT ON THE
PROPERTY TO GET ENROLLED ON THE
PROGRAM. THERE ARE CATEGORIES
IN THE PROGRAM THAT AWARD
PROPERTY OWNERS POINTS FOR
ALLOWING PUBLIC ACCESS IN OPEN
SPACES BUT IT'S NOT A
REQUIREMENT, CERTAINLY, AND IN
THIS CASE, IN THIS LANDMARK,
THAT'S NOT WHAT WE HAVE HERE
AND THIS DESIGNATION WON'T
ALLOW FOLKS TO USE THE PROPERTY
OR GROUND FOR THEIR OWN
PERSONAL RECREATION. AND AGAIN,
WHAT WE'RE DOING IN THIS CASE
IS REWARDING THE PROPERTY OWNER
FOR VOLUNTARILY PLACING A
HISTORIC LANDMARK ON THIS, YOU
KNOW, VERY HISTORIC PIECE OF
PROPERTY BECAUSE BOTH KING
COUNTY AND STATE LAW VALUES THE
IMPORTANCE OF PROTECTING
HISTORIC STRUCTURES. AGAIN,
THAT'S COULD YOU -- THAT'S WHY
WE HAVE THAT IN PLACE THE WAY
THAT IT IS. AGAIN, IT'S NOT
THINKING OF THIS SO MUCH AS AN
OPEN SPACE PIECE OF PROPERTY
WITH FOREST AND, YOU KNOW,
TREES AND PUBLIC TRAILS AND
THAT SORT OF THING BUT FOCUSING
AND DRILLING DOWN ON THE IDEA
THAT THAT IS A CRITICAL
HISTORIC LANDMARK. THE PROPERTY
OWNER HAS GONE TO THE EFFORT OF
DESIGNATING THIS AS SUCH. KING
COUNTY HAS A SPECIFIC CATEGORY
THAT ADDRESSES THE IMPORTANCE
OF THOSE DESIGNATES, WE ARE
THEREFORE ENCOURAGING FOLKS TO
IMPLEMENT THE TYPES OF
DESIGNATIONS AND THEREFORE, THE
TAX DEDUCTION FOR THOSE
EFFORTS.
>> GREAT. THANK YOU. AND WHY
DON'T WE HAVE THOSE COMMENTS
CLOSE US OUT? IT DOESN'T LOOK
LIKE THERE ARE ANY OTHER
COMMENTS FROM COMMITTEE
MEMBERS. SO I WILL GO AHEAD AND
MOVE THE BILL TO GET IT AHEAD
OF US AND TO FLAG IT, I WILL
MOVE THE AMENDMENT TO THE BILL.
I MOVE THAT THE COMMITTEE --
SORRY. ACTUALLY, JUST TO
CLARIFY WITH THE CLERK DO, I
MOVE THE AMENDMENT AND THEN
MOVE THE BILL OR DO I MOVE THE
BILL AND THEN MOVE THE
AMENDMENT AND CALL THE QUESTION
ON THE BILL AFTER IT'S AMENDED?
>> CHAIR LEWIS?
>> YOU WANT TO MOVE THE BILL
FIRST.
>> YES. THANK YOU. THAT IS MY
RECOLLECTION. SO I MOVE COUNCIL
BILL 120483. I SECOND?
>> SECOND.
>> OKAY. THE BILL HAS BEEN
MOVED AND SECONDED. ARE THERE
ANY COMMENTS ON THE BILL?
SEEING NO COMMENTS, I MOVE
AMENDMENT TO COUNCIL BILL
120483. SECOND?
>> SECOND.
>> SO MOVED AND SECONDED. WILL
THE CLERK PLEASE CALL THE ROLL
ON AMENDMENT 1 TO COUNCIL BILL
120483.
>> COUNCILMEMBER HERBOLD.
>> YES.
>> COUNCILMEMBER JUAREZ.
>> AYE.
>> COUNCILMEMBER MORALES.
>> YES.
>> COUNCILMEMBER MOSQUEDA?
>> AYE.
>> CHAIR LEWIS?
>> CHAIR, FIVE IN FAVOR.
>> THANK YOU, AND I MOVE
PASSAGE OF COUNCIL BILL 120483
AS AMEND THE. PLEASE CALL THE
ROLL.
>> COUNCILMEMBER HERBOLD.
>> YES.
>> COUNCILMEMBER JUAREZ.
>> AYE.
>> COUNCILMEMBER MORALES.
>> YES.
>> COUNCILMEMBER MOSQUEDA.
>> AYE.
>> CHAIR LEWIS?
>> YES.
>> CHAIR, FIVE IN FAVOR AND
NONE OPPOSED. I MOVE THIS WILL
BE MOVED TO THE JANUARY TENTH
MEETING, AND WITH THAT, I AM
GOING TO GO AHEAD AND CUE US UP
FOR ADJOURNMENT, AND UNLESS
THERE IS ANYTHING FOR THE GOOD
THE ORDER AND WITH NO FURTHER
BUSINESS TO COME BEFORE THE
COMMITTEE, IT'S 3:49 P.M. AND
WE ARE ADJOURNED.