>>> THANK YOU. THE APRIL 5th
MEETING OF THE SEATTLE CITY
COUNCIL PUBLIC ASSETS AND
HOMELESSNESS COMMITTEE WILL COM
TO ORDER. IT IS 2:00 P.M. I
AM COUNSEL LEWIS TO CHAIR OF TH
COMMITTEE. COUNCIL JUAREZ IS
EXCUSED FROM THE MEETING. CAN
CLERK TO ROLL CALL.
>> COUNCILMEMBER HERBOLD.
>> COUNCILMEMBER MORALES.
>> COUNCILMEMBER MOSQUEDA.
>> HERE .
>> CHAIR LEWIS.
>> PRESIDENT .
>> CHAIR, THEY ARE FOUR
MEMBERS PRESENT.
>> MR . CLARK, IF THERE IS NO
OBJECTION, THE AGENDA WILL BE
ADOPTED. CHAIRS TO REPORT,
TODAY WE HAVE ONLY ONE AGENDA
ITEM THAT WE WILL BE MOVING
DIRECTLY INTO AFTER PUBLIC
COMMENT AND THAT IS TO FINALLY
TAKE UP CONSIDERATION OF THE
NOMINATION THAT WAS ANNOUNCED
PUBLICLY LAST FALL OF A-P DIAZ
TO SERVE AS SUPERINTENDENT OF
SEATTLE PARKS AND RECREATION.
SO TO GET TO THAT, LET'S GO
AHEAD AND MOVE INTO THE PUBLIC
COMMENT PERIOD AND I WILL MAKE
FURTHER REMARKS ON THE
NOMINATION WHEN WE GET TO THE
AGENDA ITEM. THE PUBLIC COMMENT
PERIOD WILL BE MODERATED BY THE
COMMUNITY CLERK AND MR. CLARK,
HOW MANY PEOPLE DO WE HAVE
SIGNED UP FOR PUBLIC COMMENT?
>> WE HAVE THREE PEOPLE
SIGNED UP VIRTUALLY ALTHOUGH
NONE ARE CURRENTLY LISTED AS
PRESIDENT AND WE HAVE TWO IN
PERSON COMMENTERS.
>> OKAY. WHY DON'T WE GO
AHEAD AND GIVE THE FOLKS WHO AR
REMOTE SOME TIME TO LOGIN
STARTING WITH OUR AND PERSON
COMMENTERS AND I WILL SET THE
COMMENT TIME AT TWO MINUTES.
>> OUR FIRST PUBLIC COMMENT
OR IS BOB DAVIDSON. BOB, IF YOU
CAN APPROACH THE MICROPHONE, YO
WILL HAVE TWO MINUTES WHEN YOU
ARE READY TO BEGIN SPEAKING.
>> THANK YOU. GOOD AFTERNOON
FOR THE RECORD, MY NAME IS BOB
DAVIDSON, PRESIDENT AND CEO OF
THE SEATTLE AQUARIUM. I AM
JOINING YOU TODAY TO PROVIDE MY
ENTHUSIASTIC SUPPORT FROM THE
CONFIRMATION OF AP DIAZ AS THE
NEXT SUPERINTENDENT OF PARKS.
SEATTLE PARKS AND RECREATION IN
THE SEATTLE AQUARIUM HAVE A LON
HISTORY OF SUCCESSFUL
COLLABORATION AND PARTNERSHIP.
OUR PARKS , OPEN SPACES AND PLA
FIELDS ARE CRITICAL PART OF WHA
CREATES A THRIVING CITY AND
HEALTHY COMMUNITY. THE
PARTNERSHIPS SEATTLE PARKS
CARRIES WITH COMMUNAL
ORGANIZATIONS LIKE THE SEATTLE
AQUARIUM ARE ALSO A CRITICAL
PART OF SHAPING YOUNG MINDS,
ADVANCING EQUITY IN BUILDING A
MORE RESILIENT FUTURE. THE
FIRST TIME I HEARD MR. DIAZ
SPEAK IN SEATTLE, HE SHARED A
VISION FOR SEATTLE PARKS THAT
WAS INSPIRING . AND SPOKE OF TH
IMPORTANCE OF PARTNERS AND
SHARING MUTUAL SUCCESS. THE
AQUARIUM SHARES THAT COMMITMENT
AND STRONGLY BELIEVES THAT WE
CAN ACHIEVE MORE BY WORKING
TOGETHER THEN WE EVER COULD
ALONE. OUR WORLD FACES
EVER-GROWING CHALLENGES AND I
FIRMLY BELIEVE AP DIAZ BRINGS
THE RIGHT TRACK RECORD OF
ACCOUNTABILITY, PUBLIC
ENGAGEMENT AND LEADERSHIP TO
HELP STEWARD THE PARK SYSTEM TO
NEW HEIGHTS. THE PASSION FOR
CREATING A BETTER WORLD IS
CLEAR. AND I RESPECTFULLY
ENCOURAGE YOU TO MOVE FORWARD
WITH THIS APPOINTMENT.
>> THANK YOU MR. DAVIDSON.
THE NEXT PUBLIC COMMENTER IS
MARLON HERRERA.
>> THANK YOU. I MARLON
CAREER AND COCHAIR OF THE BOARD
OF COMMISSIONERS ARE PARKS AND
RECREATION AND I AM HERE TO
EXCITE -- AS I'M EXCITED TO
SUPPORT AP DIAZ. FOR A FEW
MONTHS, I HAVE HAD THE PLEASURE
OF WORKING WITH HIM AT SEATTLE
PARKS AND RECREATION AT THE
INTERIM CAPACITY. I BELIEVE
THAT AP HAS THE RIGHT VISION,
LEADERSHIP AND FORESIGHT TO LEA
SEATTLE PARKS AND RECREATION TO
THE FUTURE. THANKS TO YOUR WOR
IN THE CYCLE DISTRICT FUNDING,
WE ARE STEWARDS OF ONE OF THE
MOST AMBITIOUS PARKS AND
RECREATION INVESTMENTS IN THE
COUNTRY. I THINK THAT AP HAS
THE RIGHT COLLABORATIVE
LEADERSHIP AND EXPERIENCE THAT
LOS ANGELES DELIVERS ON THIS
TASK. AND WE ARE CARETAKERS OF
ANOTHER NATION'S ONLY COMPLETE
OLMSTED PARK SYSTEMS, THE
FOUNDATION OF OUR LEGACY. WE
CANNOT DO THIS ALONE. AS THE
EARLIER SPEAKER SAID, A COFFEE
CUP AP BUT BILL PARTNERSHIPS
ACROSS THE NATION. AND THEY
DON'T JUST DO BENCHES AND
BASKETBALLS. WE PROVIDE
CRITICAL INFRA- STRUCTURE FOR
ENVIRONMENTAL STUDENT AND OUR
WORK TOUCHES EVERY SOUL OF THE
CITY, OUR YOUTH, OUR ELDERS,
BOOKS ABOUT HOUSING AND FOLKS
WITH DISABILITIES AND SO MUCH
MORE. AP IS A RIGHT CHAMPION
FOR THE COMMUNITIES TO LEAD
SEATTLE PARKS AND? AND I'M
ABSOLUTELY CONFIDENT THAT HE
WILL INSPIRE AND LEAD TO MAKE
THIS A MUCH BRIGHTER FUTURE. I
CONTINUE TO WORK WITH YOU, AP
AND MAYOR HAROLD TO SHAPE A
PARKS AND RECREATION SYSTEM THA
REALLY SHINES. THANK YOU FOR
EVERYTHING YOU DO.
>> THANK YOU MR. CHAIR. WE D
HAVE ONE PRESENT VIRTUAL
COMMENTER THAT IS ALEJANDRO --
I WILL TAKE YOU OFF MUTE BUT YO
HAVE TO PRESS STAR SIX FOR US T
HEAR YOU.
>> HELLO. MY NAME IS REALLY
HOT -- ALEJANDRO. AND
PRESIDENT AND CEO OF THE
WOODLAND PARK ZOO COME ONE OF
THE JEWELS OF THE SEATTLE PARKS
SYSTEM. I AM HERE TO ENDORSE A
DIAZ AS SUPERINTENDENT FOR THE
PARKS SYSTEM IN SEATTLE. I MET
AP DIAZ SEVERAL TIMES OVER THE
FIRST FEW MONTHS IN TOWN. AND
BEING A VISIONARY REVELATION FO
ME TO SEE SO MUCH EMPHASIS ON
PASSION FOR THE NATURAL SPACES
AND CONTACT WITH OTHER PEOPLE O
CONTACT WITH NATURE. AND
COLLABORATION WITH OTHER PARTS
OF THE PARK SYSTEM. HE IS --
HE HAS THE KIND OF LEADERSHIP
AND PARTICIPATORY WORK WITH THE
ZOO AND WITH MANY OTHER PARTNER
IN THIS CITY AND IS THE KIND OF
LEADERSHIP THAT WE NEED. AND
RUNNING ONE OF THE MOST COMPLEX
AND ENCOMPASSING PARK SYSTEMS I
THE COUNTRY. THIS IS ESSENTIAL
THESE PARKS ARE PEOPLE. DURING
THE RECENT PANDEMIC , COVID, TH
IMPRESSIVE VALUE THAT OPEN
SPACES AND GREEN SANCTUARIES
CREATE FOR PEOPLE. THIS SYSTEM
IS ESSENTIAL FOR THE HEALTH
HEALTH, MENTAL AND PHYSICAL AND
FOR THE GROWTH OF OUR COMMUNITY
AP DIAZ HAS BEEN A CHAMPION OF
OPEN SPACES, NATURE AND PEOPLE
ENGAGING WITH NATURE IN LOS
ANGELES AND NOW IS BRINGING A
WEALTH OF EXPERIENCE TO OUR OWN
CITY. THANK YOU AND I ENDORSE A
DIAZ AS SUPERINTENDENT FOR
PARKS.
>> THANK YOU. MR. CHAIR, W
HAVE ONE MORE PUBLIC COMMENTER
WHICH IS TERESA HUGHLEY. TERESA
I WILL UNMUTE YOU BUT YOU WILL
STILL HAVE TO PRESS STAR SIX TO
BE HEARD.
>> GOOD AFTERNOON. MY NAME I
TERESA HUGHLEY. I LIVE IN SOUTH
SEATTLE IN DISTRICT 2. I AM HER
TO SPEAK IN FAVOR OF THE
APPOINTMENT OF ANTHONY-PAUL
DIAZ AS SUPERINTENDENT OF THE
DEPARTMENT OF PARKS AND
RECREATION. I WAS INVITED TO
ATTEND A MEETING INTRODUCING U
TO AP DIAZ ALONG WITH SEVERAL
OTHER COMMUNITY MEMBERS. I WAS
IMPRESSED WITH HOW HE INTRODUCE
US TO HIS TEAM MEMBERS AND HOW
HE WELCOMED OUR QUESTIONS AND
ADDRESSED THEM WITH RESPECT AND
COURTESY. HE DIRECTED CERTAIN
TOPICS TO APPROPRIATE TEAM
MEMBERS WHO FOLLOWED UP WITH US
AFTER THE MEETING. HE SHARED
HIS VISION OF SEEKING
PARTICIPATION FROM FUTURE
GENERATIONS, INCLUDING WAYS OF
GETTING SCHOOL-AGED CHILDREN
INVOLVED IN THE PARK EXPERIENCE
AND ENDEAVOR THAT I SUPPORT AS
WELL. I FEEL MAYOR HAROLD'S
APPOINTMENT OF MR. DIAZ WAS --
IF CONFIRMED, WOULD BE GREAT FO
OUR CITY. THANK YOU FOR THIS
OPPORTUNITY. TERESA HUGHLEY.
>> WE WILL NOW MOVE INTO THE
ITEMS OF BUSINESS. WILL THE
CLERK PLEASE READ ITEM ONE INTO
THE RECORD.
>> ITEM ONE, APPOINTMENT OF
ZERO TO 503, ANTHONY PAUL, AP
DIAZ AS SUPERINTENDENT OF THE
DEPARTMENT OF PARKS AND
RECREATION FOR TERM UNTIL MARCH
FIRST, 2027.
>> THANK YOU, MR. CLERK. CAN
WE HAVE THE NOMINEE APPROACH TH
TABLE HERE. MR. DIAZ. AND
PROBABLY THE SECOND END FROM TH
END IS FINE. EXCELLENT. THANK
YOU.
>> MOST PEOPLE ARE STILL
APPEARING ON ZOOM. WE HAVE TO
GET BACK TO THE IN PERSON
APPEARANCE ETIQUETTE. THANK YO
SO MUCH FOR JOINING US TODAY.
WHY DON'T WE GO AHEAD AND START
BY GIVING THE NOMINEE A CHANCE
TO ADDRESS THE COMMITTEE.
FIRST, I WILL FORMALLY MOVE THE
NOMINATION AND GET IT IN FRONT
OF US AND WE WILL TURN IT OVER
TO YOU IF THAT WORKS FOR
COMMUNITY MEMBERS. I WILL MOVE
TO MOVE THE NOMINATION OF
ANTHONY-PAUL DIAZ FOR A TERM TO
MARCH 1st OF 2027. IS THERE A
SECOND?
>> SECOND.
>> SECOND. WITH THE
NOMINATION IN FRONT OF US, I
WILL GO AHEAD AND HANDED OVER T
THE NOMINEE AND THEN WE CAN GO
AHEAD AND GO THROUGH QUESTION
AND ANSWERS AND GIVE COMMITTEE
MEMBERS AN OPPORTUNITY TO MAKE
COMMENTS. SO WHY DON'T WE START
AP, BY HANDING IT OVER TO YOU
FOR SOME INTRODUCTORY REMARKS
AND THEN WE WILL ASK SOME
FOLLOW-UP QUESTIONS.
>> THANK YOU MR. CHAIR. I DO
SEE THE EXECUTIVE GENERAL
MANAGER ON THE LINE. I WANTED
TO ACKNOWLEDGE HER .
>> THANK YOU, AP. I WILL TAK
IT FROM HERE. IF YOU CAN ALLOW
ME TO INTRODUCE. HELLO CHAIR
LEWIS AND COUNCILMEMBERS. IT IS
MY PLEASURE TO BE BEFORE YOU
TODAY TO INTRODUCE MAYOR
HAROLD'S NOMINEE FOR
SUPERINTENDENT OF THE SEATTLE
PARKS AND RECREATION DEPARTMENT
AP DIAZ. WITH NEARLY 500
SEATTLE PARKS, DEFINING THE
FABRIC OF OUR CITY, THE PARKS
DEPARTMENT AFFECTS THE LIVES OF
EVERY SINGLE SEATTLE LIGHT.
WITH AN IMPACT LIKE THIS, IT IS
ESSENTIAL THAT WE HAVE THE RIGH
LEADER MANAGING THE PARKS
DEPARTMENT. COUNCILMEMBERS,
MAYOR HARRELL HAS FOUND THAT
LEADER IN AP. AP LIVES AND
BREATHES PARKS AND WAS MOST
RECENTLY SERVING AS EXECUTIVE
OFFICER FOR THE LOS ANGELES
PARKS DEPARTMENT AND ASSISTANT
GENERAL MANAGER. THERE, HE WA
RESPONSIBLE FOR OVERSEEING ALL
DAY-TO-DAY OPERATIONS OF THE
DEPARTMENT INCLUDING PROVIDING
SUPPORT TO THE CITIES, PARKS
COMMISSION, THEIR CITY COUNCIL
AND THEIR MAYOR'S OFFICE.
PRIOR, HE SERVED AS A GENERAL
COUNSEL FOR LOS ANGELES PARKS S
HE TRULY UNDERSTANDS THE MAJOR
CITY'S PARKS DEPARTMENT
OPERATION, INSIDE AND OUT. WITH
THAT BACKGROUND AND KNOWLEDGE,
HE IS PURSUING AND PUSHING THE
PARKS DEPARTMENT TO NEW HEIGHTS
SINCE SERVING AS AN AND ROOM
SUPERINTENDENT. EARLIER THIS
WEEK, AP AND HIS TEAM ARE BAR
U.S. METROPOLITAN PARK DISTRICT
BOARD TO SHARE THE METRICS THAT
YOU AND THE PUBLIC WILL BE USIN
AND MYSELF TOO TO HOLD THE
DEPARTMENT ACCOUNTABLE FOR
PROJECT DELIVERABLES AND
SERVICES THAT THE PEOPLE OF
SEATTLE DESERVE. BY ALL
ACCOUNTS, AP IS COMMITTED TO
DELIVERING TO THE SEATTLE PUBLI
IN A TRANSPARENT RESULT ORIENTE
WAY. SO BEFORE MAYOR HARRELL
REFERRED THE NOMINATIONS FOR
YOUR CONSIDERATION TODAY, THE
OFFICE CONSULTED WITH
STAKEHOLDERS WHICH YOU HEARD TH
TESTIMONIAL ORALLY ON INCLUDIN
EMPLOYEES AT SEATTLE PARKS AND
RECREATION. THE COCHAIR OF THE
SEATTLE BOARD OF PARKS AND
RECREATION, THE SEATTLE PARKS
FOUNDATION, THE ASSOCIATED
RECREATION COUNCIL , THE
WOODLAND PARK ZOO, THE YMCA, TH
SEATTLE AQUARIUM AND THE
UNIVERSITY OF WASHINGTON
BOTANICAL GARDENS. FURTHER,
MAYOR HARRELL REVIEWED WIND
SIX'S EFFORT WITH COMMUNITY
ENGAGEMENT WITH THE SIX MONTHS
HE SERVED AS AN INTERIM
SUPERINTENDENT. I THINK THAT
MAYOR HARRELL SAID IT BEST IN
THIS COVER LETTER TO YOU
REGARDING AP'S ABILITY. QUOTE
"AP DIAZ IS AN APPROACHABLE AND
AUTHENTIC LEADER WHO EMPOWERS
HIS TEAM TO TACKLE OUR MOST
PRESSING CHALLENGES. HE WILL
HELP US USHER IN A RENEWED FOCU
ON SAFETY, EQUITABLE ACCESS AND
CLIMATE CONSCIOUS FACILITIES
ACROSS OUR PARK SYSTEM. I
TRUSTED THAT YOU WILL AGREE THA
AP IS THE RIGHT CHOICE TO SERVE
AS THE PARK SUPERINTENDENT AFTE
TALKING WITH HIM TODAY. WITH
THAT, LET ME TURN IT OVER TO AP
TO OFFER HIS INTRODUCTION
REMARKS.
>> THANK YOU. I WANT TO TAK
THIS OPPORTUNITY TO THANK YOU
AND MAYOR HARRELL AND THE ENTIR
MAYOR'S OFFICE FOR YOUR
INCREDIBLE WELCOME AND SUPPORT
THAT YOU HAVE GIVEN ME AND
CALLING ME FORWARD TO SERVE THE
CITY OF SEATTLE. IT IS TRULY A
HONOR AND A PRIVILEGE TO BE HER
TODAY. AND I THANK YOU FOR THE
APPOINTMENT. MR. CHAIR, MEMBER
OF THE COMMITTEE, COUNCIL, I'M
EXTREMELY HONORED TO SIT BEFORE
YOU TODAY IN CONSIDERATION OF
APPOINTMENTS TO JOIN YOU IN
SERVICE TO THE CITY OF SEATTLE.
BEFORE I GET STARTED, I WANT TO
ACKNOWLEDGE AND THANK MY AMAZIN
STAFF WHO ARE SITTING BEHIND ME
WITH LOVE AND SUPPORT TO DO
GOOD WORK HERE FOR SEATTLE PARK
AND RECREATION. THEY HAVE
WELCOMED ME TO THEIR TABLE WITH
OPEN ARMS AND AN OUR SHORT TIM
TOGETHER, WE HAVE FORGED STRONG
RELATIONSHIPS, MUTUAL TRUST AND
ENDEAVOR TO DO GOOD THINGS FOR
OUR DEPARTMENT AND FOR THE
PEOPLE OF SEATTLE. I AM JOINED
BY MY DEPUTY SUPERINTENDENT,
CHRISTOPHER WILLIAMS, MICHELLE
FINNIGAN, ANDY SCHAEFER AND MIK
SHOULD WINDOW. I'M ALSO JOINED
BY OUR SUPERINTENDENT EXECUTIVE
TEAM DIRECTOR OF COMMUNICATIONS
RACHEL SCHOLL KEN AND THE
DIRECTOR OF HUMAN RESOURCES,
DESIREE (INDISCERNIBLE) AND I'M
SO THANKFUL AND HONORED THAT OU
PARTNERS ARE HERE FROM THE
AQUARIUM, BOTH ONLINE,
ALEJANDRO (INDISCERNIBLE) FROM
THE ZOO AND BOB DAVIDSON FROM
THE AQUARIUM. AND OUR COMMISSIO
VICE PRESIDENT, MARLON HERRERA.
IT IS TRULY A TEAM. I'M EXCITE
FOR THIS NOMINATION AND TO SPEA
WITH YOU TODAY. I TRULY BELIEV
IN THE POWER OF PARKS IN THE
SOCIETY. I BELIEVE NOW MORE
THAN EVER COMING IN AND OUT
THROUGH THE PANDEMIC, PARKS HAV
PROVED THEMSELVES TO BE
ESSENTIAL INFRASTRUCTURE TO THE
HEALTH AND WELLNESS OF OUR
SOCIETY. WHEN THE ENTIRE WORLD
WAS SHELTERED AND SHUT DOWN, NO
MATTER IF YOU LIVED IN SYDNEY O
ROAM OR SEATTLE OR LOS ANGELES,
THE ONE PLACE THAT PEOPLE FOUND
A RELIABLE SOURCE OF RESPITE AN
WELLNESS WAS IN THE CITY PARKS
SYSTEM. AND FOR THAT REASON, I
PROVED TO US AND ENCOURAGES US
IN THE PARKS DEPARTMENT TO
AMPLIFY THAT NARRATIVE NOW MORE
THAN EVER. IT IS SOMETHING THAT
WE KNOW AS A PARK PROFESSIONAL,
THE VALUE THAT WE PROVIDE TO TH
COMMUNITIES. BUT IT IS MY
OBLIGATION TO CONTINUE TO LEAD
THAT FORWARD HERE IN SEATTLE
UNDER YOUR GUIDANCE AND UNDER
THE DIRECTION OF THE MAYOR'S
OFFICE AND WITH THE SUPPORT OF
THE COMMUNITY, TO FURTHER SEE
HOW WE CAN USE PARKS TO IMPACT
OUR SOCIETY FOR GOOD. WHAT I
LOVE SO MUCH ABOUT WORKING IN
THE PARKS SYSTEM IS THAT THERE
IS LITERALLY ALMOST NOTHING THA
WE CANNOT HANDLE AND THAT WE D
NOT TOUCH, WHETHER IT'S RACIAL,
SOCIAL JUSTICE ISSUES, EQUITY
OPPORTUNITIES FOR YOUTH, TAKING
CARE OF OUR AGING POPULATION,
ENSURING THAT OUR ADULTS HAVE
THE ABILITY TO THRIVE AND DEAL
WITH THE STRESSES OF LIFE, BEIN
PARTNERS IN THE HOUSING CRISIS
IN OUR CITY AND BEING
COMPASSIONATE AND RESPONSIVE TO
THE HOMELESS SITUATION IN
SEATTLE. BEING TRUSTED PARTNERS
IN PUBLIC SAFETY. THAT AND SO
MUCH MORE IS WHAT MAKES PARKS
(INDISCERNIBLE) AND I'M EXCITED
TO BRING MY YEARS OF SERVICE AN
DEDICATION TO MUNICIPAL WORK
INTO JOINING SUCH AN AMAZING
CITY LIKE SEATTLE. SO I WANT T
THANK YOU ALL FOR YOU'RE WELCOM
AS WELL AND I LOOK FORWARD TO
ANSWERING YOUR QUESTIONS TODAY.
>> THANK YOU SO MUCH MR.
DEAS FOR THE INTRODUCTORY
REMARKS AND THANK YOU TO GENERA
MANAGER AND MARIE FOR THE
INTRODUCTION, THE NOMINEE. JUS
TO START OFF, WE NOW HAVE HAD
QUITE A FEW MONTHS TO WORK
TOGETHER SINCE THE NOMINATION
LAST FALL. AND I JUST WANT TO
SAY THAT IN THAT TIME PERIOD,
THERE HAS BEEN A SIGNIFICANT
IMPROVEMENT AS WE HAVE COME OUT
OF COVID AND NOT JUST YOU ONLY
TO YOUR LEADERSHIP AT THE TEAM
IN THE ROOM NOW AND I WOULD BE
REMISS IF I DIDN'T EXTEND MY
GRATITUDE TO EVERYONE HERE FROM
THE PARK'S FRONT OFFICE FOR
THEIR HARD WORK AND HELPING US
COME OUT OF COVID IN A BIG WAY.
BUT I THINK WHAT IS IMPORTANT
AND WHAT IS IN FRONT OF US NOW
IS PLANNING ON HOW TO SUSTAIN
THAT AND SUSTAIN THAT LEVEL OF
SERVICE. SO COULD YOU REFLECT
MAYBE ON SOME OF YOUR PLANS AND
HOW WE CAN REALLY CONFRONT
MAKING OUR PARKS CLEAN, SAFE AN
OPEN FOR ALL THE PEOPLE OF THE
CITY TO ENJOY AND HOW WE WILL
ORGANIZE RESOURCES TO REALIZE A
VISION LIKE THAT .
>> ABSOLUTELY. I AGREE WITH
YOU THAT OUR PARKS FIRST AND
FOREMOST MUST BE SAFE AND
WELCOMING SPACES FOR OUR
RESIDENTS AND MANY VISITORS THA
COME TO SEATTLE. THE GREAT THIN
ABOUT THE PARK SYSTEM IS THAT
THEY REALLY ARE THE FIRST
IMPRESSION OF THE CITY. SOME O
YOU MAY HAVE HEARD THAT I LOVE
TO GIVE THE ANALOGY THAT WHEN
YOU FLY INTO SEATTLE AND YOU AR
STARTING TO APPROACH THE CITY
AND YOU LOOK OUT THE WINDOW, TO
ME, THE FIRST TIME I SAW IT, HE
REMINDED ME OF ONE BIG PARK
SYSTEM AND THERE WERE JUST THES
LITTLE VILLAGES AND
NEIGHBORHOODS AND IN AN AMAZING
PARK SYSTEM. IN THE CITY OF
SEATTLE, WHERE WE BALANCE URBAN
ENVIRONMENTS AND OPEN SPACES, I
IS IMPORTANT TO ENSURE, AS YOU
MENTIONED, THAT THESE PARKS ARE
WELL MAINTAINED AND TAKEN CARE
OF. BECAUSE IT IS IMPORTANT TO
ME AS A LEADER OF THE PARK
SYSTEM TO REALLY ENSURE THAT,
REGARDLESS OF THE ZIP CODE YOU
LIVE IN, THE NEIGHBORHOOD YOU
LIVE IN, WE ARE REALLY ONE
SEATTLE. AND WHEN WE SPEAK
ABOUT OUR PARKS AND THE LEVELS
OF SERVICE AND COMMITMENT TO
EXCELLENCE, IT IS MY OBLIGATION
TO ENSURE THAT WE ARE GIVING
EQUAL SERVICE AND ATTENTION TO
EVERY SINGLE PARK IN THIS
SYSTEM. NO ONE NEIGHBORHOOD IN
SEATTLE DESERVES MORE ATTENTION
OR MORE OF A LEVEL OF INVESTMEN
THAN OTHERS. THEY ARE EQUALLY
IMPORTANT. AND I CAN TELL YOU
THAT OUR STAFF LOVES ALL OF OUR
PARKS AS I'M GETTING TO KNOW
THEM MORE AND MORE. AND SO SOME
OF THE THINGS THAT WE ARE DOING
IS, WE ARE REALLY FOCUSING ON
THE VALUE OF THE INVESTMENT THA
YOU WILL HAVE GIVEN US. THE
COUNCIL AND THE TAXPAYERS, TO
THE PARK DISTRICT FUNDING. AND
BEING INTENTIONAL ABOUT HOW WE
PRIORITIZE PROJECTS AND DELIVER
THEM IN A TIMELY MANNER AND IN
AN EFFICIENT WAY AND ONE THAT
DEMONSTRATES EQUITY. SO WE WILL
BE ROLLING OUT THAT PROGRAM IN
ALL PARTS OF THE CITY TO
FURTHER ALIGN OUR GOALS AND
OBJECTIVES. WE HAVE CREATED A
NEW BRANCH WITHIN PARKS AND
RECREATION AND THAT IS THE
BRANCH FOR CAPITAL PLANNING
DEVELOPMENT. AND I INTRODUCED
EARLIER -- I ALSO APPOINTED A
NEW DEPUTY SUPERINTENDENT TO
OVERSEE THAT FUNCTION WHO IS TH
INTERIM SUPERINTENDENT, MIKE
SHOULD WINDOW, SO HE AND HIS
TEAM CAN BE MORE FOCUSED ON
THOSE DELIVERABLES WHICH ARE
VERY IMPORTANT. THE DEPUTY
SUPERINTENDENT WHO MANY OF YOU
KNOW AND ADMIRE, ANDY SCHAEFER,
IS OVER THE OPERATIONS TEAM.
AND ANDY IS WORKING CLOSELY WIT
ME ON GROWING THE PARK RANGER
PROGRAM AND ALSO GROWING OUR
APPROACH TO COMFORT STATION
MAINTENANCE AND IMPROVEMENTS.
KEEPING THEM OPEN LONGER AND
WORKING WITH THE RECREATION
STAFF FOR MORE OPPORTUNITIES.
SO THESE ARE SOME OF THE THINGS
WE'RE FOCUSING ON RIGHT NOW. T
YOUR POINT, COMING OUT OF THE
PANDEMIC, WE HAVE DONE AN
AMAZING JOB IN SEATTLE OF
RECLAIMING OUR PUBLIC SPACES AN
OUR PARKS FOR GOOD AND WE WANT
TO STAY ON THAT TREND AND
CONTINUE TO IMPROVE THEM EVEN
FURTHER.
>> THANK YOU. REALLY LOOKIN
FORWARD TO CONTINUING TO WORK
WITH THE LEADERSHIP TEAM ON
IMPLEMENTING A LOT OF THE
PROGRAM AREAS OF THE
METROPOLITAN PARK DISTRICT. AR
THERE QUESTIONS FROM COLLEAGUES
BEFORE I CONTINUE WITH MY LINE
OF QUESTIONING? COUNCIL MEMBER
HERBOLD.
>> THANK YOU. MUCH
APPRECIATIVE OF HAVING THE
OPPORTUNITY. I WASN'T HERE AT
THE LAST MEETING. A COUPLE OF
MY QUESTIONS DID NOT MAKE IT
INTO THE BATCH THAT YOU ARE
PRESENTED WITH. I DID GIVE A
HEADS UP OF WHAT MY QUESTIONS
WERE GOING TO BE THIS AFTERNOON
SO NOT INTENDING TO TAKE YOU
ANY UNAWARES. THIS SUMMER, THE
SOUTH PARK COMMUNITY CENTER WIL
UNDERGO SIGNIFICANT RENOVATION
THAT WILL KEEP ITS DOORS CLOSED
FOR A YEAR. THE SOUTH PARK
COMMUNITY REALLY RELIES ON THIS
LOCATION. THIS OF ANY
NEIGHBORHOOD IN THE CITY IS THE
HIGHEST PER CAPITA YOUTH
POPULATION. ONE OUT OF THREE
RESIDENTS OF SOUTH PARK IS A
YOUNG PERSON. IN ADDITION, SOUT
PARK IS A HIGH DISPLACEMENT RIS
COMMUNITY WITH VERY LITTLE
ACCESS TO GREEN SPACE AND
FACILITIES AND JUST WANTING TO
HEAR FROM YOU ON WHAT YOUR HOPE
AND PLANS ARE FOR WORKING TO
ADDRESS THE NEEDS OF YOUNG
PEOPLE IN SOUTH PARK THIS SPRIN
AND SUMMER.
>> THANK YOU. COUNCILMEMBER,
THANK YOU ALSO FOR THE WORK YOU
AND YOUR STAFF HAVE DONE WITH
OUR DEPARTMENT. I REALLY
APPRECIATE THAT. ONE OF THE
VERY FIRST AREAS THAT I VISITED
AND TOURED WERE VISITORS --
VISITING YOUR DISTRICT INCLUDIN
SOUTH PARK. AND I'M EXCITED, AS
I KNOW YOU ARE, THAT WE ARE
FINALLY DOING THOSE INVESTMENTS
AND HAVE A PLAN TO REALLY
RENOVATE AND MAKE THAT SPACE
REALLY FANTASTIC FOR THE
COMMUNITY THAT IS THERE. WHEN
WAS THERE, I WAS COMFORTED TO
SEE A VARIETY OF ACTIVITIES
GOING ON FROM YOUNG PEOPLE TO
ALSO A UNIQUE DANCE GROUP OF
OLDER IMMIGRANTS AND SEEING THE
ENJOY THE CENTER. THAT WAS
REALLY IMPORTANT. TO YOUR
SPECIFIC QUESTION, I'M EXCITED
TO REPORT THAT WE ARE GOING TO
BE ABLE TO EXTEND OUR SUMMER
OPERATIONS AND ALLOW THEM TO
CONTINUE WITHOUT DISRUPTION
BEFORE WE BEGIN THE ACTUAL
CONSTRUCTION. WE ARE ALSO GOING
TO WORK CLOSELY WITH THE
COMMUNITY TO GIVE THEM AS MUCH
NOTICE AS POSSIBLE. BUT ALSO,
ALTERNATIVES. CURRENTLY, OUR
STAFF IS WORKING ON A JOINT USE
AGREEMENT WITH THE SEATTLE
SCHOOL SYSTEM SO THAT WE CAN
ACTUALLY UTILIZE THEIR SPACE FO
OUR PUBLIC RECREATION AND NOT
DISRUPT AS MUCH AS POSSIBLE,
THOSE GREAT ACTIVITIES WHILE W
DO THE RENOVATIONS PROPERLY. SO
THAT IS OUR PLAN. BUT WE AGRE
WITH YOU WHOLEHEARTEDLY. AND I
AGREE WITH YOU. AFTER TOURING
THAT AREA AND SEEING THE TRUE
NEED FOR RECREATION
OPPORTUNITIES FOR PEOPLE OF ALL
AGES, IT IS REALLY IMPORTANT.
SO WE ARE COMMITTED TO THAT.
>> THANK YOU. I'M PLEASED TO
HEAR OF THE JOINT USE AGREEMENT
WITH CONCORD. IT IS SOMETHING
THAT COMMUNITY MEMBERS HAVE BEE
PITCHING TO US FOR QUITE SOME
TIME. WE ARE REALLY GLAD TO
HEAR THAT IT SOUNDS LIKE WE WIL
GET IT OVER THE FINISH LINE
BEFORE SCHOOL IS OUT.
>> THAT IS OUR GOAL, YES.
>> AND I HAVE ONE OTHER
QUESTION.
>> THE PARKS BOARD RESOLUTION
51, AS IT RELATES TO PARKS BOAR
FUNDING, MEMORIALIZES THE FACT
THAT PARK RANGERS WILL CONTINUE
TO ONLY USE THE ENFORCEMENT
AUTHORITY CONSISTENT WITH A
PARTICULAR PARKS POLICY. I WON'
RATTLE OFF THE NUMBER. BUT IT
IS BASICALLY A RESTRICTED USE O
THE AUTHORITY THAT OTHERWISE IS
UNDER THE PARK'S EXCLUSION
ORDINANCE. THE TRESPASS WARNIN
IS REALLY FOCUSED ON WARNINGS
AND EXCLUSIONS ONLY FOR VERY
NARROW CIRCUMSTANCES. AND JUST
INTERESTED TO HEAR WHETHER OR
NOT YOU INTEND TO CONTINUE
OPERATING PARKS RANGERS UNDER
THAT POLICY.
>> THANK YOU. THAT IS A
GREAT QUESTION. UNDERLYING THAT
IS THE GENERAL PREMISE THAT
PARKS ARE OPEN SPACES FOR
EVERYONE AND WE HAVE COURSE ALL
WANT TO ENSURE THAT THEY ARE
SAFE AND WELCOMING. AT THE SAM
TIME, WE DO NOT WANT OUR PARKS
TO BE PLACES WHERE PEOPLE HAVE
FEAR OR AN UNNECESSARY ANXIETY
THAT SOMEHOW, THEY ARE NOT GOIN
TO BE ALLOWED TO USE THE PARK.
SO TO YOUR SPECIFIC QUESTION, W
DO NOT HAVE ANY PLANS TO CHANGE
OUR APPROACH THAT YOU DELINEATE
IN THE VARIOUS ITERATIONS OF TH
PARK CODE AND THE AUTHORITY AND
SOME OF THE PARK COMMISSION
DIRECTION. IT IS REALLY VITAL
RIGHT NOW, AS WE MOVE FROM TWO
TO ALMOST 28 RANGERS, THAT WE
TAKE TIME TO INTENTIONALLY GROW
THE PROGRAM AND TO CULTIVATE AN
ENVIRONMENT THAT IS RESPECTFUL.
IT IS COMMUNITY ORIENTED AND I
ALSO TRAINED IN THE RIGHT MANNE
TO INTERACT WITH THE PUBLIC AND
THEN TO YOUR POINT, IN THE
INSTANCES WHERE THERE MAY BE
SERIOUS CRIME ISSUES, TO RELY O
OUR OTHER PUBLIC SAFETY PARTNER
IN THE CITY TO DEAL WITH THAT.
BUT ON THE DAY-TO-DAY
OPERATIONS, WE PLAN TO FOLLOW
CONSISTENTLY THE PROCEDURES THA
WERE OUTLINED IN THE PARK
DISTRICT FUNDING.
>> THANK YOU SO MUCH. I
REALLY APPRECIATE HEARING THAT
COMMITMENT HERE AND WANT TO TAK
THIS OPPORTUNITY ALSO TO THANK
THE PRIOR ACTING SUPERINTENDENT
WILLIAMS FOR LEADING THE
DISCUSSIONS THAT LED TO THAT
VOLUNTARILY RESTRICTED APPROACH
FOR USE OF THE PARK'S EXCLUSION
ORDINANCE. THANK YOU.
>> I WOULD ALSO JUST ADD THA
EARLIER THIS WEEK, DURING THE
METROPOLITAN PARK BOARD MEETING
THE SAME POLICY COMMITMENT WAS
PUT ON THE RECORD BY THE
DEPARTMENT. SO THANK YOU FOR
THAT. LET'S SWITCH NOW TO --
I BELIEVE IT WAS COUNCILMEMBER
MOSQUEDA FIRST AND THEN
COUNCILMEMBER MORALES.
>> THANK YOU SO MUCH. I'M
HAPPY TO ALSO HOLD -- I WILL
NOT ASK MY QUESTION ABOUT THE
PARK RANGERS BECAUSE
COUNCILMEMBER HERBOLD ASKED
THAT. I DID WANT TO ASK ABOUT
RESTROOM USE AND APPRECIATE YOU
INTEREST AND YOUR DEEP
COMMITMENT TO BEING IN
COMMUNITY. ALREADY, WE HAVE
SEEN THAT FROM YOUR SOCIAL MEDI
PRESENCE AND THE OPPORTUNITIES
WE HAVE HAD TO MEET WITH YOU.
AS YOU HAVE BEEN OUT IN THE
COMMUNITY, I'M SURE YOU HAVE
NOTICED THAT WE DO NOT HAVE
ACCESS TO RESTROOMS AS WE SHOUL
ACROSS OUR CITY. AND THE
BUILT-IN INFRASTRUCTURE FOR THA
RESIDES WITHIN THE PARKS AND SO
MY HOPE IS THAT WE HAVE A BETTE
SENSE OF THOSE COMING OUT OF
THIS MEETING ON HOW YOU PLAN TO
WORK WITH THE ROUGHLY $12
MILLION THAT WE INCLUDED IN THE
METROPOLITAN PARK DISTRICT ON
THE $12 MILLION SPECIFICALLY
FOCUSED ON RESTROOM, SHELTER
HOUSES AND COMFORT STATION
RENOVATIONS WITH THE GOAL OF
RENOVATING AND REOPENING AROUND
29 BATHROOMS. LAST COUNT, I
THINK IT WAS ABOUT HALF OF THE
BATHROOMS THAT ARE AVAILABLE
ACROSS THE CITY CLOSED. AND I
SEE THIS WHEN I GO TO THE
DELRIDGE PARK AND I APPRECIATE
THAT THERE IS A PORTA POTTIES
THERE. BUT FOR MY 3-YEAR-OLD
WHO IS USING THE RESTROOM
CONSISTENTLY AND THE REST OF TH
COMMUNITY, WHETHER THEY ARE
HOUSED OR UN- HOUSED, VISITORS
OR RESIDENTS, WE WANT THEM TO
ACCESS THE BATHROOM TO WHAT IS
THE PLAN? WHAT IS THE TIMELINE
FOR OPENING UP ALL THE BATHROOM
ACROSS OUR CITY ?
>> THANK YOU COUNCILMEMBER.
IMPORTANT QUESTION. SIMILAR
ISSUES EXIST IN LOS ANGELES
WHERE I COME FROM AND IN MY WOR
WITH OTHER PARK AGENCIES
THROUGHOUT THE NATION. THIS IS
COMMON ISSUE AND IT IS SO
IMPORTANT. WHAT YOU ARE
ALLUDING TO IS THAT WHEN PEOPLE
COME TO PARKS FOR RECREATION,
PARTICULARLY WITH THEIR CHILDRE
OR EVEN ADULTS THING AT CAL
ANDERSON AT 10:30 AT NIGHT, WE
CAN'T SET THE BAR AND HAVE
AMAZING AMENITIES AND SAY THAT
OUR PARKS NEED TO BE ACTIVATED
AND HAVE ALL THESE ACTIVITIES
AND NOT PROVIDE FOR THE BASIC
NECESSITIES OF LIFE. SO PARK
RESTROOMS, COMFORT STATIONS AS
THEY ARE REFERRED TO HERE, OR
SOMETHING I'M VERY FAMILIAR
WITH. AND THE CHALLENGING ISSUE
WITH THAT IS, HOW MUCH THEY
ACTUALLY COST TO BUILD FROM
SCRATCH AND EVEN IN RENOVATIONS
BUT THAT SAID, YOU HAVE PROVIDE
US FUNDING TO DO THAT AND I HAV
BEEN MEETING WITH OUR CAPITAL
PLANNING DEVELOPMENT TEAM. WE
HAVE A VERY ROBUST PLAN AS WELL
AS THE FACILITIES AND OPERATION
TEAM. WHAT WE WANT TO DO IS WE
WANT TO TAKE THE EXISTING
BATHROOMS THAT HAVE BEEN CLOSED
BUT ARE STILL FUNCTIONING AND
PERHAPS NEED SOME ADDITIONAL
INFRASTRUCTURE SUPPORT AND ALSO
WHAT WE CALL WINTERIZATION WHER
WE ENSURE THAT THE PIPES DON'T
FREEZE ON THAT WE CAN KEEP
BATHROOMS OPEN AND SORT OF
WINTERIZED ALL YEAR ROUND AND W
ARE AHEAD OF SCHEDULE ON THAT.
WE HAVE A PLAN TO OPEN EVEN
MORE. SO THAT IS THE FIRST
APPROACH. LOOKING AT THE
EXISTING FACILITIES AND WHY ARE
THEY CLOSED AND WHAT WILL IT
TAKE TO REOPEN THEM TO THE
PUBLIC? PORTA POTTIES' ARE A
GREAT REMEDY, AS YOU MENTIONED.
BUT THEY ARE NOT THE SOLUTION.
AND I DO NOT WANT TO SEE PARKS
THAT HAVE PORTA POTTIES' THERE
AS THE SOLUTION. AND WE NEED T
GET AWAY FROM THAT AND WE ARE
INTENTIONALLY GOING TO DO THAT.
AND WE ARE LOOKING AT THE NEW
COMFORT STATIONS WE HAVE COMING
ONLINE THROUGH THE PARK FUNDING
THAT ARE GOING TO BE BUILT. AND
HOW WE CAN DO THOSE IN THE MOST
EFFICIENT MANNER AND ALSO
LOOKING FOR EFFICIENCY SO WE CA
REDUCE SOME OF THE COSTS OR
DELAYS THAT I MENTIONED BEFORE.
AND SOMETIMES CAUSING THE PUBLI
AND THE MEMBERS ANGST ON WHY IT
IS TAKING SO LONG TO GET
FUNCTIONING BATHROOMS. I'M ALSO
LOOKING AT INNOVATIVE APPROACHE
TO -- THERE ARE A COUPLE OF
VERY WELL CONTAIN SELF-CLEANING
RESTROOM OPTIONS.A LITTLE BIT
DIFFERENT FROM THE ONES THAT
WERE TRIED HERE ON CITY STREETS
SPECIFICALLY DESIGNED FOR PARKS
AND ARE LESS COSTLY TO BUILD AN
EASIER TO INSTALL. AND SO I
WOULD LOVE TO EXPLORE THAT MORE
AND WE ARE GOING TO SEE IF WE
CAN GET MORE COMFORT STATIONS.
LASTLY, I WANT TO POINT TO A
PILOT PROJECT THAT WE ARE
EMBARKING ON WITH THE OFFICE O
ARTS AND CULTURE. AND THAT IS T
TAKE THE COMFORT STATIONS AND
ALSO MAKE THEM A LITTLE BIT MOR
ATTRACTIVE AND WELCOMING
THROUGH THE APPLICATION OF
MURALS. AND AM REALLY EXCITED
ABOUT THAT. COUNCILMEMBER MORAL
IS, I'M SURE YOU ARE FAMILIAR
WITH THE LOVELY MURAL AT SOUTH
PARK AND HOW MUCH THE COMMUNITY
RESPECTS THAT. BUT IT JUST ADDS
ANOTHER LAYER OF SAFETY TO
SOMETIMES DARK BUILDINGS. AND
SO WE ALSO WANT TO LOOK AT
AESTHETIC APPROACHES TO
IMPROVING THOSE. THOSE ARE JUS
SOME OF THE APPROACHES. TO YOUR
OVERALL POINT, VERY IMPORTANT.
SOMETHING TO STAY LASER FOCUSED
ON. AND IT IS A MANDATORY
MINIMUM IF WE ARE GOING TO HAVE
A HEALTHY AND THRIVING PARK
SYSTEM.
>> TO FOLLOW UP, MR. CHAIR.
>> YES.
>> APPRECIATE THAT YOUR TEAM
IS DOING THE ANALYSIS ON WHAT I
NEEDED, IF IT IS RENOVATION OR
IF IT IS REOPENING. WE TALKED
ABOUT SOME OF THE WORK THAT YOU
WERE INITIALLY DOING. DO YOU
HAVE A TIMELINE FOR WHEN THE 29
WILL REOPEN WITH THE $12 MILLIO
FROM THE PARK'S LEVY?
>> YES. AND I CAN SORT OF
REVIEW. I WANT TO BE ACCURATE
HERE. I BELIEVE WE SET UP THE
TIMELINE. AND SOME OF THE
ANSWERS. THAT I WANT TO MAKE
SURE THAT I GET YOU THE RIGHT
NUMBER. IT IS CERTAINLY
SOMETHING THAT WE CAN LOOK INTO
AND I CAN GET YOU THE TIMELINE
AFTER THIS MEETING AS WELL.
>> ARE WE GOING TO CLOSE THE
LOOP -- CLOSE THE LOOP ON THA
LAST ITEM? AFTER THE MEETING,
SHOULD WE MOVE TO COUNCILMEMBER
MORALES?
>> COUNCILMEMBER MOSQUEDA, I
WILL FIND YOU THE ANSWER NOW AS
COUNCILMEMBER MORALES ASKS
QUESTIONS TOO. I HAVE IT IN TH
NOTES. I WANT TO BE ACCURATE
FOR YOU TODAY.
>> AND HAPPY TO TAKE THE
QUESTION FROM COUNCILMEMBER
MORALES WHEN I'M FINDING THAT I
MY NOTES.
>> COUNCILMEMBER MORALES, I
WILL HAND THE FLOOR OVER TO YOU
>> I MIGHT GO AHEAD -- I
DON'T WANT TO DISTRACT YOU FROM
LOOKING THROUGH YOUR NOTES . I
WILL MAKE A COMMENT FIRST AND
THEN I WILL GET TO MY QUESTIONS
SO FIRST OF ALL, I WANT TO SAY
WELCOME TO SEATTLE. I THINK WE
HAD A CHANCE TO MEET AT THE
GREEN FACE MOUNTAIN BIKE TRAIL
OPENING LAST FALL. AND I DO WAN
TO SAY THAT I HAVE HAD THE
PLEASURE OF WORKING WITH MANY
PARK STAFF WHO PROVIDE GREAT
SERVICE AND REALLY STICK BY A
COMMUNITY AS THEY ARE TRYING TO
GET THEIR PROJECTS DONE AND
OFTEN IN A VERY TENSE TIME AND
GREEN SPACE MOUNTAIN BIKE TRAIL
IS AN EXAMPLE OF THAT. AND I
HAVE TO SAY THAT FOLKS IN MY
DISTRICT HAVE ALSO EXPERIENCED
SOME LONG-TERM INVESTMENTS, LAC
OF MAINTENANCE. AND CANDIDLY,
SOME STRUGGLES WITH DEPARTMENT
LIAISONS ON SOME PROJECTS. AND
SO FOR EXAMPLE, THE
(INDISCERNIBLE) PARK PROJECT
THAT HAS BEEN GOING ON,
COMMUNITY MEMBERS HAVE BEEN
WORKING ON FOR MANY YEARS.
FOLKS HAVE EXPRESSED FRUSTRATIO
THAT THEY MISSED GRANT
OPPORTUNITIES AFTER BEING
STEERED IN THE WRONG DIRECTION
BY THE PARKS LIAISON IN THE
PROJECT IS NOW DELAYED DUE TO A
LACK OF FUNDING. AND SO THERE
WAS AN EXPECTATION THAT THE
PROJECT GETS TO HAVE THE GRAND
OPENING LATER THIS YEAR AND THA
IS IN QUESTION. AND SO THE
RESULTS OF THIS KIND OF
DISCONNECTION IS THAT THERE ARE
INCREASED COSTS TO PROJECTS.
AND SOME INSTANCES, THERE IS
CONCERN ABOUT SAFETY ISSUES IN
THE PARK, WATER SAFETY ISSUES
FOR EXAMPLE, DUE TO LACK OF
SUPPORT ON THE WATERWAYS AND IN
THESE URBAN SETTINGS LIKE
SEATTLE, AS YOU SAID, PARKS PLA
A VERY IMPORTANT ROLE IN
COMMUNITY GATHERING AND
RECREATION AND CLIMATE JUSTICE.
THE SELF END HAS A LACK OF TREE
CANOPY AS WE WERE DISCUSSING IN
ANOTHER SETTING. AND SO WE
REALLY NEED A SIGNIFICANT SHIFT
IN OUR ENGAGEMENT STRATEGIES AN
AND PRIORITIZATION AND
VISIONING FOR THE SOUTH END. AN
SO I APPRECIATE THE ANSWER TO
SOME OF THE QUESTIONS I HAD
SUBMITTED. I DO WANT TO MAKE
CLEAR THAT FOLKS IN THE SOUTH
END WANT EASE OF ACCESS TO
PROGRAMMING, TO GREEN SPACE, TO
WELL-MAINTAINED GREEN SPACES.
AND BETTER AND MORE EQUITABLE
ACCESS TO PROGRAMS . SO I WANT
TO GIVE YOU A COUPLE OF OTHER
EXAMPLES OF THINGS THAT I HAVE
HEARD DIRECTLY FROM MY
CONSTITUENTS THAT THEY ARE
CONCERNED ABOUT LATE NIGHT
TEENAGE PROGRAMMING. THEY WANT
RETURN OF THE RECREATIONAL
TECHNOLOGY . THERE IS A FEELING
THAT THE WAY THE LATE NIGHT TEE
PROGRAM CAME BACK IS NO LONGER
WELCOMING TO THE YOUNG PEOPLE
USED TO GO THERE AND IT IS KIND
OF A DIFFERENT GROUP OF FOLKS
THERE NOW. AND I HEAR A LOT
ABOUT A RESERVATION SYSTEM THAT
PRIORITIZES -- NOBODY SEEMS TO
UNDERSTAND HOW THE REGISTRATION
SYSTEM IS PRIORITIZED. BUT THER
IS A DEFINITE FRUSTRATION THAT
IT SEEMS TO BE THE CASE THAT,
FOR EXAMPLE, NEIGHBORHOOD PLAY
FIELDS GET RENTED OUT TO GROUPS
WHO CAN'T AFFORD IT OTHER THAN
REGULAR NEIGHBORHOOD LEAGUES. I
A FRUSTRATION THAT A LOT OF
PRIVATE SCHOOLS GET MORE ACCESS
TO AFTERSCHOOL PLAYTIME OR
AFTERSCHOOL FIELD ACCESS. THERE
WAS A LOT OF FRUSTRATION WHEN
THE SWIM LESSON PROGRAM
REGISTRATION OPENED UP RECENTLY
THE REGISTRATION STARTS AT
NOON AND IT IS AN ONLINE
REGISTRATION. IT ASSUMES
FLEXIBLE SCHEDULING FOR FOLKS.
IT ASSUMES ENGLISH-LANGUAGE. I
ASSUMES ACCESS TO THE INTERNET
WHICH I WILL TELL YOU IN THE
SOUTH END IS NOT ALWAYS
RELIABLE. IT ASSUMES THAT
SOMEBODY DOESN'T HAVE
DISABILITIES THAT MAKE COMPUTER
CHALLENGING. AND SO, THERE ARE
LOT OF CHALLENGES WITH THE WAY
THESE PROGRAMS WORK. SO I WANT
TO LEAVE THAT WITH YOU AND ASK,
HOW DO WE CREATE CONCRETE
SOLUTIONS THAT CHANGE THE WAY
THAT THE DEPARTMENT COLLABORATE
WITH COMMUNITY MEMBERS ON
PROJECTS THAT THEY ARE TRYING T
GET FINISHED AND HOW DO WE
REDUCE THAT KIND OF
ADMINISTRATIVE BURDEN PLACED ON
FOLKS TRYING TO ACCESS WHAT IS
SUPPOSED TO BE AN EASILY
ACCESSIBLE CITY SERVICE. AND
THERE IS A PERCEPTION THAT THIS
IS CAUSED BY A LACK OF
RESPONSIVENESS BY SOME LIAISONS
WHO ARE SUPPOSED TO BE HELPING
FACILITATE FACILITATION OF THE
PROJECTS. I'M HAPPY TO HEAR A
RESPONSE NOT HAPPY TO FOLLOW-UP
WITH YOU LATER AND I WANT TO
ACKNOWLEDGE THAT YOU ARE NEW TO
THE CITY AND NEW TO THE
DEPARTMENT. I THINK IT IS
IMPORTANT FOR YOU TO HEAR, AS
THE NEW LEADER COMING INTO THE
DEPARTMENT, THAT THESE ARE
LONG-STANDING ISSUES. THESE ARE
ISSUES I HAVE BEEN HEARING ABOU
SINCE LONG BEFORE I WAS A CITY
COUNCILMEMBER. AND THESE REALL
HAVE TO BE ADDRESSED BECAUSE
THIS IS ABOUT EQUITY CERTAINLY
BUT IT IS ALSO ABOUT GIVING OUR
COMMUNITY MEMBERS ACCESS TO THE
GREEN SPACE AND THE RECREATIONA
PROGRAMMING AND THE MEN TOURIN
AND THE YOUTH SUPPORT THAT WE
ARE ABLE TO PROVIDE SOME OF OUR
YOUNG PEOPLE THROUGH THE
COMMUNITY CENTER PROGRAMS. SO
THIS IS CRUCIAL WORK THAT YOUR
DEPARTMENT IS DOING AND IT NEED
TO BE DONE REALLY WELL AND WITH
AN UNDERSTANDING THAT PEOPLE
REALLY RELY ON THESE FOR THEIR
QUALITY OF LIFE. SO I WILL
LEAVE IT AT THAT. THANK YOU,
MR. CHAIR .
>> THANK YOU COUNCILMEMBER
MORALES. I WILL TURN IT BACK
OVER TO AP.
>> THANK YOU COUNCILMEMBER
MORALES. I REMEMBER THAT YOU
WERE ONE OF THE FIRST
COUNCILMEMBERS I MET WHEN WE
WERE OUT AT THE (INDISCERNIBLE)
TRAIL OPENING WHICH WAS A GREAT
WIN FOR THAT DISTRICT. EVEN IN
THAT PROJECT, AS YOU KNOW, THER
WAS SO MUCH OF A CHALLENGE TO
REALLY FIGHT FOR THE
INSTALLATION OF THOSE TRAILS I
A COMMUNITY DATA PERHAPS WOULD
NOT HAVE BEEN SO CHALLENGING IN
OTHER PARTS OF THE CITY WHICH
REALLY UNDERPINS WHAT YOU ARE
SAYING. AND I WANT TO THANK
YOU. IN THE SIX MONTHS I HAVE
BEEN HERE, I HAVE BEEN ABLE TO
SEE THE COMMITMENT THAT YOU
INVEST EVERY SINGLE DAY FOR
EQUITY AND SOCIAL JUSTICE IN
YOUR COMMUNITY. I KNOW THAT YO
ARE A STRONG ADVOCATE FOR SAFET
ON THE STREETS AND ENSURING THA
THE SELF END IS AFFORDED
APPROPRIATE, DEDICATED
COMMITMENT TO SAFETY. BUT MORE
THAN COMMITMENTS, ACTUAL
IMPROVEMENTS TO REDUCE DEATHS O
THE STREET. AND I HAVE BEEN
ADMIRABLE OF YOUR VOICE THERE.
ADMIRABLE OF YOUR VOICE THAT
YOU ARE GIVING TO ME RIGHT NOW
AND MY STAFF. WHAT YOU ARE
TALKING ABOUT IS VERY
LONG-STANDING ISSUES THAT NEED
TO BE REMEDIED. SOME OF IT IS
REAL DESIRE AND A NEED FOR OUR
STAFF TO DO BETTER AND WE NEED
TO LEAN INTO THAT. WE NEED TO
IMPROVE TECHNOLOGY. THERE USED
TO BE THIS SORT OF URBAN MYTH
THAT , COMMUNITIES OF COLOR
DON'T USE TECHNOLOGY OR DON'T
HAVE ACCESS TO IT. SO THEREFORE
WE SHOULDN'T INVEST IN IT AND
MADE TO AFFORD TRADITIONAL MEAN
OF GETTING TO A RECREATION
CENTER. I DON'T BELIEVE THAT
MODEL IS TRUE TODAY. THERE IS
SOME TRUTH AND SOME OF THOSE
STATEMENTS. BUT PEOPLE NEED TO
BE ABLE TO HAVE AN EASE-OF-USE
OF RESERVATIONS ONLINE. ONE OF
THE THINGS THAT I WILL WORK WIT
THE DEPARTMENT IMMEDIATELY ON I
TRYING TO FIGURE OUT HOW WE HAV
AN ONLINE APP FOR EASY
REGISTRATION. WE CURRENTLY DO
NOT HAVE THIS. AND WE SHOULD
HAVE THIS IN A SYSTEM OF THIS
SIZE TO MAKE IT EASIER FOR
PEOPLE TO FIND INFORMATION AND
TO LOGON WITH EASE AND BE ABLE
TO GET RESERVATIONS. SO I LOOK
FORWARD TO WORKING WITH OUR
STAFF ON THAT. I ALSO WANT TO
LEAN INTO THE FACT OF WHAT YOU
SAID ABOUT, THERE IS A SENSE
THAT IN CERTAIN COMMUNITIES IN
YOUR DISTRICTS, SOME OF THE
PROGRAMMING IS NOT SPECIFIC TO
THEIR NEEDS. SO ONE OF THE
THINGS WE WILL BE EMBARKING ON
IS AN OVERALL STUDY AND AN
EVALUATION WITH THE COMMUNITY.
TELL US WHAT IS WORKING. TELL U
WHAT IS NOT. TELL US WHAT YOU
NEED. TELL US WHAT YOU DESIRE.
AND WE WILL WORK WITH OUR STAF
TO COME UP WITH OUTCOMES AND
OUTPUTS, TO DELIVER ON THOSE AN
TO ENSURE THAT WE ARE MEETING
THE COMMUNITIES WITH THEIR
NEEDS. WHEN AN AGENCY TRIES TO
FIND A ONE SIZE APPROACH, IT
NEVER WORKS. AND THAT WAS THE
TRADITIONAL MODEL FOR THE
MANAGEMENT OF THE DEPARTMENTS I
THE CITY OF SEATTLE. BUT IT IS
REALLY IMPORTANT FOR US TO LEAN
IN AND LISTEN AND I HAVE BEEN
ABLE TO SPEND TIME IN YOUR
DISTRICT AND UNDERSTAND THAT
THERE ARE SPECIFIC NEEDS AND
SPECIFIC FEELINGS THAT WE NEED
TO OVERCOME AND SO YOU HAVE MY
COMMITMENT TO REALLY LEAN INTO
THAT AND TO BEGIN TO SHAPE A NE
CULTURE FOR THAT AREA, FIRST AN
FOREMOST . REALLY TO PROVIDE A
SYSTEM THAT IS EQUAL IN
PROGRAMMING AND I ALSO WANT TO
SAY THAT IT IS IMPORTANT FOR US
IN THE PARK SYSTEM TO RECOGNIZE
WHAT WE ARE GOOD AT AND WHAT WE
ARE STRONG AT. BUT ALSO TO
RECOGNIZE WHERE WE COULD USE
IMPROVEMENTS. SOMETIMES OUTSIDE
SUPPORT AND PUBLIC-PRIVATE
PARTNERSHIPS. I WANT TO MAKE
SURE KIDS IN THE SOUTH END ARE
HAVING ACCESS TO THE SAME KIND
OF RESOURCES THAT KIDS IN OTHER
PARTS OF THE CITY MIGHT HAVE.
AND IF THEY CAN'T LOOK FORWARD
TO FINDING PRIVATE TEAMS OR
PRIVATE CLUB ORGANIZATIONS, IT
IS OUR RESPONSIBILITY IN
GOVERNMENT TO FIGURE OUT THE
FUNDING AND THE PARTNERSHIP
OPPORTUNITIES AND BRING THOSE
SERVICES TO THE COMMUNITY IN A
MANNER THAT IS AFFORDABLE AND
ACCESSIBLE AND MORE INCLUSIVE.
AND SO I'M VERY KEEN ON THAT.
WE ARE ALSO LAUNCHING THE SWIM
SEATTLE PROGRAM THAT WILL KICK
OFF AT RAINIER BEACH COMMUNITY
CENTER WHICH WILL BE A CITYWIDE
EFFORT TO REDUCE DROWNINGS AND
FOCUS ON CLOSING THE GAP OF
DROWNINGS THAT IS
DISPROPORTIONATELY HIGH AMONG
CHILDREN OF COLOR. AND I'M
REALLY PROUD OF THAT AND EAGER
TO GROW THAT. LASTLY, WE WILL B
LAUNCHING THE SEATTLE MENTORS
PROGRAM WHICH WILL SPOKE --
WHICH WILL FOCUS ON PROVIDING
CHILDREN OF ALL AGES AND IN ALL
COMMUNITIES ACCESS AND EXPOSURE
TO SOME OF THE WEALTH AND THE
BENEFITS OF OUR CITY IN
TECHNOLOGY AND BUSINESS AND IN
HEALTH AND REALLY SPARK, INSPIR
AND IGNITE THEIR PASSION TO
BECOME FUTURE LEADERS OF OUR
CITY AND OUR NATION. SO I LOVE
THAT YOU HAD A LOT IN THERE
BECAUSE ALL OF WHAT YOU SAID IS
VERY IMPORTANT AND EMBODIES THE
WORK THAT THE PARKS DEPARTMENT
MUST DO. SO I AM COMMITTED TO
JOINING YOU IN THOSE EFFORTS AN
TO WORKING WITH YOU TO MAKE
THOSE IMPROVEMENTS .
>> THANK YOU, AP. IS THERE A
FOLLOW-UP, COUNCILMEMBER
MORALES?
>> I APPRECIATE IT.
>> THAT IS A GOOD TRANSITION
TO TALK ABOUT AQUATICS BRIEFLY
WHICH YOU TOUCHED ON IN YOUR
RESPONSE TO COUNCILMEMBER
MORALES JUST NOW. LAST SEASON,
WE SAW A SIGNIFICANT AND
SUSTAINED LOSS OF LIFEGUARDS
RELATIVE TO WHAT WE HAVE HAD IN
PREVIOUS SEASONS. AS WE ARE
GEARING UP NOW AND HEADING INTO
WHEN FOLKS ARE GOING TO EXPECT
ALBERT PUJOLS AND SWIMMING TO B
OPEN, HOW ARE WE LOOKING TO MEE
THE DEMAND OF WHAT SEATTLEITES
WILL BE EXPECTING? AND IF WE AR
STILL HAVING ISSUES AND
AQUATICS, WHAT ARE SOME OF THE
STRATEGIES TO ADJUST TO A
TOUGHER LABOR MARKET FOR
LIFEGUARDS?
>> ABSOLUTELY. IT IS
SURPRISING BUT IT IS NOT
ABNORMAL TO THE NATION AS A
WHOLE THAT THERE IS A LIFEGUARD
SHORTAGE TO BE QUITE FRANK.
THERE USED TO BE A TIME WHEN A
LIFEGUARD WAS A JOB THAT WAS
FILLED IN ABUNDANCE AND THERE
WERE ALWAYS AVAILABLE LIFEGUARD
AND NOW WE FIND OURSELVES IN AN
ERA WHERE THERE ARE NOT.
HOWEVER, IT IS A LIFESAVING
NECESSITY OF CITY GOVERNMENT,
ESPECIALLY IN A CITY OF WATER
SUCH AS SEATTLE. AND SO, SOME
OF THE CHALLENGES ARE BEING
OVERCOME RIGHT NOW. WE HAD SOM
ISSUES WITH OUR LABOR PARTNERS
úAND SOME ISSUES WITH FUNDING A
APPROPRIATE SALARIES AND WE ARE
REACHING RESOLUTIONS ON THAT
WHICH WILL ENABLE US TO MOVE
FORWARD IN PARITY WITH DIFFEREN
FACTORS OF OUR AQUATICS TEAM AN
WE BELIEVE THAT IS GOING TO
SIGNIFICANTLY IMPROVE OUR
ABILITY TO HIRE. IT IS
SOMETHING THAT WE WILL ASK THE
COUNCIL AND EVERY SINGLE
DEPARTMENT THAT HAS A TOUCH ON
COMMUNITY AND A VOICE FOR
AMPLIFICATION, TO REALLY LEAN
INTO PEOPLE IN THE COMMUNITY AN
MAKE THEM AWARE OF THIS ISSUE.
WE BELIEVE THAT THERE ARE PEOPL
THAT WILL STEP UP AND BE
RESPONSIBLE AND RESPONSIVE TO
BECOMING A LIFEGUARD. WE HAVE
LOOKED INTO AND WILL PROVIDE
GRANT OPPORTUNITIES AND
ADDITIONAL FUNDING TO SUPPORT
THE EFFORT. WE WILL CALL ON
RETIRED LIFEGUARDS TO COME IN
AND LOOK FOR OFF-DUTY FIRE
PARAMEDICS THAT WANT TO JOIN US
IN THIS EFFORT. BUT WE CANNOT
BE A CITY THAT IS GOING TO MAKE
A COMMITMENT TO END DROWNINGS
AND PROTECT OUR PUBLIC IF WE
DON'T HAVE THE NECESSARY LIFE
SKILL PEOPLE IN PLACE TO DO
THAT. SO IT IS SOMETHING I TAL
ABOUT WITH HR TEAMS A COUPLE OF
TIMES A WEEK. WE ARE LASER
FOCUSED ON THIS AND WE ARE
LOOKING FOR THAT INNOVATIVE
HIRING STRATEGY AS WELL AS FOR
ALL THE EMPLOYEES NEED TO HIRE
IN THE PARKS DEPARTMENT. AND WE
HAVE ALREADY HIRED OVER 100 NEW
PARK EMPLOYEES AND WELCOME THEM
TO OUR TEAM WE NEED TO KEEP
FOCUSED ON THE LIFEGUARDS
SITUATION AND TO ENSURE THAT
OUR BEACHES AND POOLS ARE SAFE
FOR THE PUBLIC. SO WE ARE
MAKING STRIDES AND WE BELIEVE
THAT WE ARE GOING TO HAVE MORE
SUCCESS THEN WE DID LAST YEAR.
BUT IT STILL REMAINS A PROBLEM.
BUT WE ARE WORKING TO TRY TO
CLOSE THE GAP THERE.
>> THANK YOU. LOOKING FORWAR
TO GETTING UPDATES ON THAT AS W
ARE GETTING CLOSER. AND IF
THERE IS INFORMATION THE
DEPARTMENT WANTS US TO AMPLIFY
NOW IN THE BEGINNING OF APRIL,
WE WOULD LOVE FOR THAT TO BE
DISTRIBUTED TO MYSELF AND MY
COLLEAGUES SO WE CAN START
GETTING THAT OUT AND ENCOURAGIN
COMMUNITY MEMBERS WHO ARE
INTERESTED, TO STEP FORWARD AND
WORK WITH US AND MAKING SURE
THAT WE ALL GET TO USE OUR POOL
AND SWIMMING BEACHES THIS
SUMMER. DEFINITELY, PLEASE
SEND THAT ALONG TO US.
>> THANK YOU.
>> ARE THERE ANY OTHER
COMMITTEE QUESTIONS?
COUNCILMEMBER MOSQUEDA.
>> THANK YOU SO MUCH. I DID
HAVE A CHANCE TO FIND YOUR
ANSWER ON THE COMFORT STATIONS
IT SAYS THE COMMITMENT TO 60
COMFORT STATIONS ARE
TRADITIONALLY CLOSING EACH
WINTER. THE GOAL BE TO HAVE
THESE FACILITIES YEAR AROUND BY
2026. AND THE COMFORT STATIONS
THAT YOU HAD BEEN CLEANING MAY
BE PARTIALLY WILL BE CLEANED
SEVEN DAYS A WEEK YEAR-ROUND
RATHER THAN WITH THE PERIODIC
CLEANING, GIVEN THAT YOU HAVE
NEW STAFF COMING ON BOARD. SO
THAT IS ALL GREAT. IF YOU HAVE
ANYTHING ELSE ON THE TIMELINE,
THAT IS GOOD. I WANTED TO MAKE
SURE THAT YOU KNEW THAT I DID
GET A CHANCE TO LOOK AT THAT AN
ALSO HAD A QUESTION ABOUT CITY
HALL PARKS. SO MAYBE I CAN HOL
TO SEE IF YOU HAVE ANYTHING ELS
ON THE TIMELINE.
>> NO. AND THANK YOU FOR
BEING PATIENT WITH ME
COUNCILMEMBER. I FOUND IT NOW
TOO ON MY PAGE 14. THAT
INFORMATION IS CORRECT. AND SOM
OF IT IS AHEAD OF SCHEDULE AS I
MENTIONED. WHAT I WOULD LOVE TO
DO IS I WOULD LOVE TO SEND YOU
SEPARATE REPORT FOCUSING AND
MORE ON THE STRATEGY WITH MORE
ENHANCED TIMELINES TO YOU AND
YOUR STAFF. AND I WILL DO THAT
WITHIN THE NEXT COUPLE OF DAYS
IF THAT IS OKAY WITH YOU AND
WOULD BE HAPPY TO TAKE YOUR
QUESTION ON CITY HALL PARK.
>> GREAT. THANK YOU. AND
THANK YOU MR. CHAIR. A QUESTION
ABOUT CITY HALL PARK. OBVIOUSLY
THIS IS SOMETHING THAT WE ARE
VERY INTERESTED IN MAKING SURE
GETS ACTIVATED, DESPITE SOME
MISUNDERSTANDINGS OUT THERE ,
THE COUNCIL WAS SCRAMBLING TO
MAKE SURE THAT WE WERE
PRIORITIZING INVESTMENTS IN CIT
HALL PARK, ESPECIALLY AFTER
RECEIVING NEWS ABOUT LOSING
MILLIONS OF DOLLARS IN FUNDING
MID-NOVEMBER WHEN WE WERE TRYIN
TO FINALIZE THE BUDGET. SO
THERE WAS NEVER A QUESTION OF
WHETHER OR NOT SEATTLE CITY
COUNCIL WANTED TO OPEN CITY HAL
PARK, ESPECIALLY GIVEN THAT THE
TRANSACTION DID NOT COME TO
FRUITION WITH THE COUNTY. I
THINK WE ARE RESPONSIBLE FOR
ENSURING THAT THERE IS TRUE
ACTIVATION OF THE PARK. OVER A
MILLION DOLLARS. I THINK IT WA
1.3. IT COULD HAVE BEEN 1.5,
THAT WENT INTO THE ACTIVATION O
CITY HALL PARK. AND WE HAVE A
LOT OF COUNTY PARTNERS AS WELL
AS COMMUNITY PARTNERS WHO REALL
WANT TO MAKE SURE THAT THE FENC
IS COMING DOWN AND WE ARE
ACTIVATING THE PARK AND WE ARE
REOPENING IT AND A LOT OF
FRUSTRATION AND WE ARE STILL
HERE NOW INTO APRIL AND IT
HASN'T HAPPENED YET. SO CAN YO
CHAT A LITTLE MORE ABOUT WHAT
YOUR PLANS ARE FOR CITY HALL
PARK SO WE CAN BE THOSE GOOD
PARTNERS WITH OUR COUNTY FRIEND
AND THE COMMUNITY AT LARGE?
>> ABSOLUTELY. THANK YOU
COUNCILMEMBER MOSQUEDA. I KNOW
THAT IS SOMETHING THAT IS OF
INTEREST TO THE ENTIRE COUNCIL
BECAUSE IT IS LITERALLY STEPS
FROM CITY HALL. I CAN TELL YOU
THAT WE HAVE A VERY ROBUST PLAN
FOR CITY HALL PARK AND IN FACT,
WE ARE PLANNING TO REOPEN AND
TAKE DOWN THE FENCE BY EARLY TO
MID-JUNE . AND I'M REALLY
EXCITED ABOUT THAT. THERE WERE
SOME INITIAL THOUGHTS THAT WE
WOULD DO THAT IN THE WINTER.
BUT IT WASN'T THE RIGHT TIME TO
DO IT BECAUSE, TO BE SUCCESSFUL
WE HAVE TO ENSURE THAT IT IS
WELL ACTIVATED AND WE NEEDED TO
DO THE MAINTENANCE ISSUES. IF
YOU WALK BY THE PARK, HOPEFULLY
YOU WILL AGREE THAT WITHIN THE
FENCE, IT IS LOOKING REALLY
NICE. THE LAWN IS COMING IN AND
THE TREES HAVE BEEN PRUNED. WE
HAVE DONE INFRASTRUCTURE SUPPOR
TO SOME OF THE SYSTEMS THERE.
THE NEXT PHASE WILL BEGIN TO
PLAN FOR THE FENCE REMOVAL AND
VERY ROBUST PLAN OF ACTIVATING
THAT PARK. ALTHOUGH, NOT QUITE
ANALOGOUS IN THAT IT IS SITUATE
IN THE DOWNTOWN CORE VERSUS
WHAT I WILL REFER TO WITH THE
REOPENING OF BALLARD COMMONS AN
COUNCILMEMBER STRAUSS' AREA
WHICH ALSO WAS FENCED AND IS NO
MUCH IMPROVED WITH ACTIVITY
BEING THE CORE AND MAKING THAT
FACILITY SO NICE. A COLLEAGUE
OF MINE SENT ME A PICTURE LAST
EVENING AT BALLARD COMMONS PARK
PROBABLY AROUND 8:00 OR 9:00 AT
NIGHT AND IT WAS BEAUTIFUL AND
THE LIGHTS WERE OUT AND IT WAS
CLEAN AND THERE WERE PEOPLE
USING THE PARK. WE WANT THAT FO
CITY HALL PARK AS WELL. AND WE
HAVE BEEN LEADING THE IDT ON
THIS ISSUE. WE HAVE ABOUT 3-4
AND DEDICATED TEAM MEMBERS THAT
MEET ON TWO DIFFERENT COMMITTEE
THAT TOUCH CITY HALL PARK. WE
ARE ALSO LEANING INTO THE COUNT
PARTNERS. I KNOW THERE ARE
CONCERNS FROM THE COUNTY JUDGES
AND THEIR LEADERSHIP ABOUT THEI
PARK AND (INDISCERNIBLE) ACROSS
THE STREET AND THE TRANSIT HUB
AND OTHER BUSINESSES THAT TOUC
THAT AREA. SO THE SOLUTION THER
IS GOING TO BE DEDICATION AND
ACTIVATION . IN THE DEDICATION
PIECE, THE NEW PARK RANGERS THA
ARE COMING ON BOARD WILL BEGIN
THEIR DUTIES WHEN AN EMPHASIS A
CITY HALL PARK AS WELL AS
CALENDARS AND PARK -- IF YOU
ASK WHY THOSE TWO PARKS, FURS,
CALENDARS AND PARK AS YOUR
MEMBERS A PARK WHICH ANOTHER
EXAMPLE OF A BALLARD COMMONS
THAT WENT THROUGH A REGENERATIO
IN A REVIVAL AND IS NOW THRIVIN
AND IT IS REALLY IMPORTANT TO
ENSURE THAT WE CONTINUE THAT
POSITIVE TREND AND WE HAVE OTHE
ACTIVITIES LIKE LIGHTS AND
FENCING AND THINGS THAT WILL
ALLOW FOR THAT. WE WANT TO DO
THAT FOR CITY HALL PARK TOO SO
THAT WHEN IT IS REOPENED, THERE
IS A DEDICATED PRESENCE TO
ENCOURAGE AND SUPPORT SOME OF
THE CONCIERGE SERVICES THAT
MIGHT BE THERE AND SOME OF THE
FOOD TRUCKS THAT WE ARE HOPING
TO GET BACK . AS COUNTY
EMPLOYEES RETURN AS WELL AS CIT
HALL EMPLOYEES. SO AT THE END O
THE DAY, THE FENCE MUST COME
DOWN. IT IS NOT A GOOD SIGN FOR
OUR CITY. IT IS NOT A GOOD SIGN
FOR OUR PARKS, BUT WE HAVE A
STRATEGY IN PLACE AND WE DO ALS
HAVE SOME CLARIFYING QUESTIONS
REGARDING THE TAX ISSUE FUNDING
THAT YOU MENTIONED BUT WE ARE
CONFIDENT THAT WITH THE FUNDING
THEY HAVE IN THE COMMITMENTS IT
WON'T AFFECT OUR PLANS FOR CITY
HALL PARK.
>> [ CAPTIONERS
IN THE COMMITMENTS THAT HAVE
BEEN GIVEN TO US IT WILL NOT
AFFECT YOUR PLANS FOR CITY HALL
PARK.
>> THAT IS ALL VERY EXCITING
NEWS. I WILL BE SURE THAT WE
SHARE THAT AS WELL AT THE KING
COUNTY COUNCIL. I ALSO JUST
WANT TO NOTE THAT INVESTMENTS
THAT WE MADE THROUGH THE LAST
BUDGET , I THINK THEY COMPLEMEN
THE INVESTMENTS FROM JUMPSTART
AS WELL THAT HAD AN ECONOMIC
RESILIENCE A SECTION OF IT.
FOLKS MIGHT NOT KNOW THAT THERE
WAS A LOT OF FOCUS ON
ACTIVATION, COMMUNITY COHESION
BRINGING IN SMALL BUSINESSES
AND ARTS SECTOR ORGANIZATIONS
, AND COMMUNITY GROUPS , TO
REALLY HAVE THEM BE PART OF OUR
ACTIVATION OF PUBLIC PLACES,
THINKING ABOUT HOW WE GET OUT
FROM OUR HOMES, AND GET AWAY
FROM SOME OF THE ANXIETY THAT
ISOLATION MIGHT BE CAUSING.
PARKS REALLY DO PROVIDE THAT
PLACE WHERE THE PUBLIC SQUARE,
THE COMMUNITY GATHERING, THE
PUBLIC PLACES THAT IMPROVE ALL
OF OUR HEALTH AND THUS ALSO THE
HELP OF OUR ECONOMY. I'M EXCITE
TO HEAR MORE ABOUT YOUR PLANS
FOR CITY HALL PARK. WE WILL STA
IN CLOSE TOUCH WITH ALL OF YOU
AND JUST WANTED TO LIFT UP THAT
I THINK THAT THIS MARY'S WELL
WITH SOME OF THE INVESTMENTS
FROM THE JUMPSTART ECONOMIC
RESILIENCE ACTIVATION VISION
THAT WE HAD ORIGINALLY INCLUDED
IN THE SPENDING PLAN AS CODIFIE
BY THE CANCEL.
>> EXCELLENT. THANK YOU,
COUNCILMEMBER MOSQUEDA .
>> I DON'T HAVE ANY ADDITIONAL
QUESTIONS FOR THE NOMINEE . TO
ANY OTHER COUNCIL MEMBERS HAVE
ANY OTHER QUESTIONS BEFORE WE
VOTE? PROCEDURALLY WE DID PUT
THE NOMINATION IN FRONT OF US A
THE BEGINNING OF THE
PRESENTATION, SO I THINK I CAN
JUST ASK THE CLERK TO CALL THE
ROLE , SO I'M GOING TO DO THAT.
WILL THE CLERK PLEASE CALL THE
ROLE IN THE CONFIRMATION OF
ANTHONY-PAUL DIAZ OR THE
RECOMMENDATION OF CONFIRMING
ANTHONY-PAUL DIAZ AS
SUPERINTENDENT OF THE DEPARTMEN
OF PARKS AND RECREATION FOR A
TERM TO MARCH 1, 2027?
>> COUNCILMEMBER HERBOLD?
>> S.
>> COUNCIL MEMBER MORALES ?
>> YES.
>> COUNCILMEMBER MOSQUEDA?
>> YES.
>> CHAIR LEWIS?
>> YES.
>> FOUR IN FAVOR AND THEN
OPPOSED.
>> THANK YOU, MR. CLERK HERE
GIVEN THAT IT WAS A UNANIMOUS
VOTE , THIS NOMINATION WILL BE
BROUGHT FORWARD TO THE APRIL 11
CITY COUNCIL MEETING FOR FINAL
ACTION , MR. DIAZ , YOU DON'T
HAVE TO APPEAR IN PERSON IF YOU
DON'T WANT TO , BUT OBVIOUSLY I
WOULD BE GREAT TO SEE FOR THE
FINAL CONFIRMATION IF YOU ARE
FREE FOR THE APRIL 11 MEETING .
WE LOOK FORWARD TO CONSIDERING
THE NOMINATION FOR FINAL
APPROVAL , AND MAKING YOUR
APPOINTMENT OFFICIAL. THANK YOU
SO MUCH FOR COMING BY THIS
AFTERNOON, AND THANK YOU FOR
ANSWERING OUR QUESTIONS.
>> THANK YOU VERY MUCH,
COUNCILMEMBER.
>> THE GALLERY MAY APPLAUD.
>> THANK YOU .
>> NOW , HEARING NO FURTHER
BUSINESS BEFORE THE COMMITTEE
UNLESS SOMEONE IS GOING TO KEE
US ON THIS AFTERNOON, AND IT
DOESN'T LOOK LIKE ANYONE IS, I'
GOING TO GO AHEAD AND SAY IT IS
3:03 P.M. AND THE COMMITTEE IS
HEREBY ADJOURNED.
>> THANK YOU VERY MUCH.