>>> WE ARE RECORDING.
>> THANK YOU. THE SEATTLE CITY
COUNCIL PUBLIC ASSETS AND
HOMELESSNESS COMMITTEE WILL COM
TO ORDER. IT IS MAY 17, 2023 AN
2:00 P.M. I'M ANDREW LEWIS,
CHAIR OF THE COMMITTEE. WILL TH
CLERK PLEASE CALL THE ROLE?
>> COUNCIL MEMBER HERBOLD?
COUNCIL MEMBER JUAREZ? COUNCIL
MEMBER MORALES?
>> HERE.
>> COUNCIL MEMBER MOSQUEDA?
>> PRESENT.
>> CHAIR LEWIS?
>> PRESENT.
>> CHAIR, THERE ARE THREE
MEMBERS PRESENT.
>> I'M PRESENT AS WELL. THANK
YOU.
>> YES, THANK YOU. AND COUNCIL
PRESIDENT JUAREZ IS EXCUSED FRO
THE MEETING FOR THE RECORD.
APPROVAL OF THE AGENDA. THE
AGENDA WILL BE ADOPTED. HEARING
NONE, THE AGENDA IS ADOPTED. TH
CLERK WILL MODERATE THE PUBLIC
COMMENT PERIOD. WE'LL ASSIGN TW
MINUTES PER SPEAKER. IF THE
CLERK WILL START WITH ONLINE.
>> THERE IS ONE PRESENT.
>> AND YES, BETSY DUMAN. IF YOU
WILL PLEASE UNMUTE YOURSELF.
>> HI, YES, I'M READY. SO MY
NAME IS BETSY, I'M HERE FOR ITE
NUMBER 13. AND SO MY COMMENT IS
TWOFOLD. ONE, I'M CURIOUS AS TO
WHY THERE WAS A $29 MILLION --
INAUDIBLE ] AS TO WHERE THAT
MONEY -- [ INAUDIBLE ] SECONDLY
AS THIS COMMITTEE IS DEALING
WITH HOMELESSNESS, THERE DOESN'
SEEM TO BE ANY AGENDA ITEMS
COVERING THE EGREGIOUS PROBLEMS
THAT WE HAVE IN THIS CITY.
OUTSIDE MY APARTMENT, THERE ARE
FIVE RVs AND ABOUT 20 PEOPLE. I
SPENT TIME TALKING TO THEM,
THEY'RE WONDERFUL PEOPLE, BUT
THEY TELL ME THERE ARE NO
SERVICES OR SUPPORT FOR THEM OR
HAVE A DEDICATED PLACE TO PARK,
WHICH IS WHY THEY'RE FORCED TO
PARK ON THE STREETS. THERE'S NO
WASTE MANAGEMENT AT THEIR
DISPOSAL, AND THEY DUMP
EVERYTHING ON THE SIDEWALKS AND
STREETS, MAKING THEM IMPASSABLE
FOR PEDESTRIANS. THERE ARE NO
CROSSWALKS AND YOU CAN'T SEE
AROUND THE RVs, MAKING THE
WALKING PATH INCREDIBLY
DIFFICULT AND DANGEROUS. I DON'
THINK IT'S THE FAULT OF THESE
INDIVIDUALS -- [ INAUDIBLE ] IN
REALITY, WE'RE ALL SORT OF BEIN
HOMELESS. I I SEE THIS PROBLEM
ON A DAILY BASIS WHEN I RISK MY
LIFE WALKING MY DOG. THIS IS NO
A UNIQUE PROBLEM IN MY AREA. I
DON'T THINK THEY EMPHASIZE ON
POLICING OR SIGNS OR FINES THAT
PEOPLE CAN PAY. IN A REAL
SYSTEMIC REFORM BY THE COUNCIL,
I WOULD LIKE TO SEE A REAL
LEGISLATOR TO ADDRESS THESE
SYSTEMIC ISSUES THAT WE ARE
HAVING. THAT IS ALL.
>> WE WILL NOW PROCEED TO THE
IN-CHAMBER SPEAKERS.
>> ALL RIGHT, COUNCIL MEMBERS,
THERE ARE FOUR PEOPLE HERE TO
SPEAK FOR IN CHAMBERS. FIRST IS
-- IT LOOKS LIKE THEIR NAME IS
SMOOTH? IF YOU WILL WALK UP TO
THE PODIUM. SIR, I BELIEVE
YOU'RE THE FIRST. THANK YOU.
>> OKAY. THE FIRST THING I WANT
TO SAY IS PRAISE GOD. THE FIRST
THING I WANT TO SAY.
>> JUST BRING IT CLOSER TO YOUR
MOUTH. OKAY, THE FIRST THING I
WANT TO SAY IS PRAY TO GOD. THE
SECOND THING I WANT TO KNOW IS,
I WANT TO SAY THAT LOOK, I KNOW
NOT EVERYBODY IN POLITICS IS
CORRUPT, BUT THERE IS A LOT OF
CORRUPTION GOING ON. THAT'S THE
SECOND THING I WANT TO SAY. SO
WANT YOU TO KNOW, WE, THE
PEOPLE, ARE NOT IGNORANT OR
STUPID ABOUT THE CORRUPTION IN
THIS COUNTRY BECAUSE YOU CAN
LOOK AT OUR CONDITIONS. LOOK, W
CAN BE LEAGUER. WE DON'T HAVE T
FOLLOW EVERYBODY IN THIS
COUNTRY. WE'VE GOT ALL THIS
TECHNOLOGY AROUND HERE, IT'S SO
MUCH KNOWLEDGE THAT WE CAN LEAR
WITH THIS TECHNOLOGY AROUND. I
DON'T KNOW WHY WE HAVE TO FOLLO
EVERY STATE OR EVERY CITY IN
THIS COUNTRY. WE CAN BE LEADERS
AND DO BETTER. WE CAN PUT OUR
MONEY TOGETHER. THERE'S A LOT O
RICH PEOPLE AROUND HERE WHO HAV
A LOT OF MONEY. I DON'T KNOW WH
THEY DON'T PUT THEIR MONEY
TOGETHER AND FINISH THE WALL AN
COMPLAINING ABOUT THE IMMIGRANT
COMING IN ACROSS THE BORDER.
WELL PUT YOUR MONEY TOGETHER.
I'M TRYING TO PUT A GOFUNDME
TOGETHER AND PUT WE THE PEOPLE.
WE DON'T NEED THE PRESIDENT ALL
THE TIME TO LEAD US TO DO THE
RIGHT THING. THAT'S ALL I WANTE
TO SAY. THE OTHER THING TOO,
LOOK, THERE'S SOME TECHNOLOGY.
AND LISTEN TO ME. THERE IS SOME
REAL TECHNOLOGY OUT HERE. LISTE
TO ME. THIS IS SOMETHING BRAND
NEW. THEY'VE GOT SOME TECHNOLOG
OUT HERE THAT -- OUTRAGED
HANDGUNS, IT MAKES A HANDGUN
FROM AN AUTOMATIC -- I MEAN FRO
A SINGLE SHOT TO AN AUTOMATIC.
DON'T KNOW IF YOU'VE SEEN IT ON
THE INTERNET, BUT IT'S ON THE
INTERNET. THAT'S THE OTHER
THING. I DIDN'T COME UP HERE TO
JUST COMPLAIN. I CAME UP HERE T
GIVE YOU SOME IDEAS, SOME
POSITIVE IDEAS. AND THAT'S ONE
THING THAT I WANT YOU AND THE
MAYOR AND EVERYBODY TO --
>> THANK YOU, YOUR TIME HAS
EXPIRED.
>> THINK ABOUT THE TECHNOLOGY O
THE HANDGUNS. THAT'S SOMETHING
THAT'S SERIOUS. ALL RIGHT, THAN
YOU, GUYS. ENJOY LIFE. ENJOY
LIFE.
>> OUR NEXT IS ALEX ZIMMERMAN.
>> YEAH, OPEN TIME, YEAH. [
INAUDIBLE ] FASCIST PIG. MY NAM
IS ALEXANDER. I WANT TO SPEAK
ABOUT SOMETHING THAT IS REALLY
UNIQUE. ONLY IN THE CITY FOR
750,000 DEGENERATE IDIOT AND
HAPPY COW. IT'S AGENDA NUMBER
THREE, THE WATERFRONT. THE
WATERFRONT MAFIA. IT IS VERY
INTERESTING. SEVEN YEARS AGO --
$6 BILLION, RIGHT NOW $250
MILLION IN DEBT. BUT SEATTLE IS
VERY HAPPY. YEAH, ABSOLUTELY. S
WHAT'S HAPPENING NOW? THE
COUNCIL CAN MAKE THE DECISION.
SO PEOPLE FROM KING COUNTY
FORCED TO FILL THIS $250
MILLION. SEATTLE COUNCIL IS VER
QUIET. THEY CANNOT GO AGAINST
THE WATERFRONT MAFIA. AND
SURPRISE MISCONDUCT, JUMPS THRE
TIMES, $250 MILLION NOW.
EVERYBODY HAPPY WHO LIVES IN TH
FRONT. AND THIS MAFIA, THIS
GROUP, IT'S CORRUPT TO ITS
BONES, CANNOT GO AGAINST THE
WATERFRONT MAFIA BECAUSE THE
PEOPLE HAVE MONEY. THEY CAN
CONTROL EVERYTHING. SO RIGHT NO
I SPEAK TO EVERYBODY WHO IS NOT
A FREAKING IDIOT. MAYBE YOU HAV
THIS IN SEATTLE. STOP SUPPORTIN
THE DEMOCRAT MAFIA BECAUSE THEY
TAKE BLOOD AND MONEY FROM US.
THE WATERFRONT MAFIA IS A VERY
CRITICAL AND VERY CLASSIC
EXAMPLE WHAT HAS HAPPENED WHEN
750,000 IDIOTS ACTS LIKE A HAPP
COW. STAND UP AMERICA. THANK YO
VERY MUCH.
>> OUR NEXT SPEAKER IS DAKOTA
DONNELLY.
>> HELLO COUNCIL. MY NAME IS
DAKOTA JOSEPH DONNELLY. I'M ONE
OF THREE FOUNDERS OF AN
ORGANIZATION KNOWN AS SECOND
CHANCE OUTREACH SOLUTIONS. THE
LAST 12 YEARS I HAVE STUDIED TH
HOMELESS CRISIS IN SEATTLE AND
IN SPOKANE, WASHINGTON. I CAN
SAY WITH CERTAINTY THAT MY
WEBSITE SAYS I CAN SOLVE IT WIT
90% ACCURACY. I'M PLEASED TO
ANNOUNCE TODAY I CAN SOLVE IT
WITH 100% ACCURACY. THAT IS A
BIG CLAIM, WHICH IS WHY I'M
STATING TODAY THAT I HAVE MADE
THE DECISION WITHIN THE LAST FE
WEEKS THAT IF YOU ARE SICK AND
TIRED OF WATCHING PEOPLE
HOMELESS STRUGGLE, LET ME SHOW
YOU WHAT I CAN DO. I'M PLEASED
TO ANNOUNCE TODAY THAT I WILL B
FILING FOR CANDIDACY AT A SEAT
AT CITY COUNCIL. IF YOU'RE
INTERESTED IN MY WEBSITE, I HAV
A FEW BUSINESS CARDS HERE TODAY
IF YOU'RE INTERESTED IN WHAT I
CAN DO, PLEASE CHECK OUT MY
WEBSITE.
>> CHAIR, OUR FINAL SPEAKER IS
GUILLERMO MAGOYAN.
>> GOOD AFTERNOON, COUNCIL
MEMBERS. MY NAME IS GUILLERMO,
AND I'M WITH TEAMSTER LOCAL 117
TODAY I'M TESTIFYING IN FRONT O
THE LABOR WATERFRONT AGREEMENT.
FUNDING FOR THIS PROJECT
CURRENTLY SITS AT $295 MILLION
OF PUBLIC FUNDING, MORE THAN AN
OTHER SOURCE OF FUNDING FOR THI
PROJECT. THESE ARE PUBLIC
DOLLARS AND IT'S RIGHTEOUS FOR
THE DOLLARS WHO WILL BE MAKING
THE PARK WORK TO HAVE ACCESS TO
LABOR HARMONY. NO WORKER SHOULD
HAVE TO DEAL WITH UNION BUSTING
IN THEIR WORKPLACE. WE NEED A
COMMITMENT FROM THEIR EMPLOYER
TO STAY NEUTRAL AND ALLOW THE
WORKERS TO REALLY DECIDE TO
ORGANIZATION THEIR UNION WITHOU
HAVING TO DEAL WITH HARASSMENT
AND RETALIATION FROM THEIR
EMPLOYER. THEREFORE TODAY, THE
SEATTLE CITY COUNCIL PAUSES ON
MOVING FORWARD WITH MANAGEMENT
AGREEMENT UNTIL FRIENDS OF THE
WATERFRONT ENTERS A LABOR
AGREEMENT. THANK YOU.
>> COUNCIL MEMBERS, THERE ARE N
MORE PEOPLE SIGNED UP FOR PUBLI
COMMENT.
>> THANK YOU SO MUCH, PARKER.
THANK YOU TO EVERYBODY.
>> THERE IS ONE MORE ONLINE
PUBLIC COMMENTER.
>> MY APOLOGIES. THE PERSON IS
RECOGNIZED FOR TWO MINUTES. CAN
THEY INTRODUCE THEMSELVES?
>> IT WILL BE LINDSAY GRAD,
WHENEVER YOU'RE READY.
>> OKAY, GREAT.
>> HI, GOOD AFTERNOON COUNCIL
MEMBERS, LINDSAY GRAD. THANK YO
FOR CIRCLING BACK. APOLOGIES FO
MISSING WHEN MY NAME WAS FIRST
CALLED. HAPPY TO GO RIGHT AFTER
MEMO FROM TEAMSTER 117 WITH VER
SIMILAR COMMENTS. OUR UNION
REPRESENTS WORKERS WHO DO REALL
CRITICAL OUTREACH AND PROVIDES
DIRECT SERVICES TO THE PEOPLE I
OUR CITY WHO ARE EXPERIENCING
CHRONIC UNSHELTERED
HOMELESSNESS. WE WANT TO JUST
MAKE SURE AS THE CITY INVESTS I
SUCH AN IMPORTANT PROJECT ON OU
WATERFRONT THAT ANY CONTRACTORS
THERE ARE HELD TO THE SAME
STANDARDS AS OTHER PUBLIC
FACILITIES, WHICH INCLUDES
IMPORTANT CRITICAL LABOR HARMON
AGREEMENTS AND THE SUPPORT FROM
THE CITY GOVERNMENT FOR PRO
UNION COLLABORATIVE
RELATIONSHIPS BETWEEN EMPLOYERS
AND THEIR WORKERS. REALLY HAPPY
TO HEAR THERE HAVE BEEN ONGOING
COLLABORATIVE DIALOGUES BETWEEN
OUR MLK CLC, CENTRAL LABOR
COUNCIL, AND FRIENDS OF THE
WATERFRONT, AND JUST ASKING
COUNCIL MEMBERS AND THE CITY
GOVERNMENT TO JUST HOLD THE
WATERFRONT ACCOUNTABLE TO
SIGNING THAT LABOR HARMONY
AGREEMENT AND PROTECTING THE
WORKERS WHO ARE GOING TO BE
WORKING AT THE WATERFRONT. THAN
YOU FOR YOUR TIME.
>> COUNCIL MEMBER, WE'RE NOW
DONE WITH THE COMMENTS.
>> THANK YOU SO MUCH. PARKER?.
OKAY, FOLKS, LET'S MOVE ON TO
THE AGENDA. MR. CLERK, WILL YOU
PLEASE READ ITEM ONE INTO THE
AGENDA?
>> APPOINTMET 02 IT 562, THE
REAPPOINTMENT OF WILFORD
HAIRSTON AS MEMBER, SEATTLE
PUBLIC LIBRARY BOARD OF TRUSTEE
FOR A TERM OF APRIL 1, 2028.
>> THANK YOU SO MUCH. OUR
PRESENTERS ARE IN PERSON TODAY,
SO I WILL INVITE THEM TO PLEASE
MAKE THEIR WAY UP TO THE
COMMITTEE TABLE, THEN INTRODUCE
THEMSELVES FOR THE RECORD. OKAY
GO AHEAD AND INTRODUCE
YOURSELVES, PLEASE. ACTUALLY
TOM, WHY DON'T WE START WITH YO
AS THE AGENCY LEAD.
>> YES. THANK YOU, CHAIR LEWIS.
TODAY I HAVE WITH ME, I'M TOM,
THE CHIEF LIBRARIAN FOR SEATTLE
CITY LIBRARY. WITH ME I HAVE
CARMEN WHO IS THE CHAIR OF THE
BOARD, EXCUSE ME, PRESIDENT OF
THE BOARD OF THE SEATTLE PUBLIC
LIBRARY. AND ALSO WITH ME IS
TALLY HAIRSTON, THE VICE
PRESIDENT OF THE BOARD OF
TRUSTEES.
>> AND SO AS TOM SAID, I'M
CARMEN, I'M THE CURRENT
PRESIDENT OF THE BOARD OF
TRUSTEES.
>> AND I AM WILFORD HAIRSTON.
>> EXCELLENT.
>> WELL THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR
JOINING US THIS AFTERNOON. AND
REALLY LOOK FORWARD TO DIGGING
IN TO YOUR APPLICATION HERE FOR
REAPPOINTMENT. AND SO WHY DON'T
WE START BY HAVING THE
LEADERSHIP OF THE LIBRARY
INTRODUCE THE NOMINEE AND THEN
I'M SURE MYSELF AND COMMITTEE
MEMBERS WILL HAVE QUESTIONS.
>> YES, I WILL GLADLY DO SO.
TALLY WAS APPOINTED TO THE
LIBRARY BOARD BY MAYOR JENNY
DURKAN IN MARCH OF 2020 AND
REAPPOINTED BY MAYOR HARRELL,
EXCUSE ME. HOPEFULLY WILL BE
REAPPOINTED TODAY. HE CURRENTLY
SERVES AS DIRECTOR OF ORGANIZIN
ADVOCACY AND DEVELOPMENT FOR TH
SEATTLE PRESBYTERIAN AND IS A
PRINCIPLE LEAD OF ECONOMIC
DEVELOPMENT LLC. HE HAS AN
EDUCATION IN COMMUNITY RESEARCH
AND DEVELOPMENT FIRM HAS BEEN
VERY ACTIVE. HAIRSTON HAS 17
YEARS IN HIGHER EDUCATION AND
DIVERSITY, EQUITY, INCLUSION
ADMINISTRATION, AS THE
SPECIALIST ASSISTANT TO THE
PRESIDENT AND DIRECTOR OF
SEATTLE PACIFIC UNIVERSITY'S
COMMUNITY AND INTERNATIONAL
LEARNING PROGRAM. HE
PARTICIPATES IN EDUCATION
RESEARCH ON PHYSICS AND EQUITY
LEARNING AS A NATIONAL SCIENCE
FOUNDATION AWARDEE. AND PUBLIC
POLICY RESEARCH. AS YOU CAN SEE
FROM JUST A FEW OF THESE THINGS
AND I HAVE MORE AND MORE HERE O
THE BIO. TALLEY BRINGS A LOT OF
THE STRATEGIC THINKING THAT WE
NEED AT THIS TIME. HIS WORK AND
FORESIGHT FUTURES IN A VARIETY
OF THESE REALMS AND HAS WORKED
IN EQUITY AND COMMUNITY. HE'S A
GREAT VALUE TO THE LIBRARY AS W
MOVE FORWARD IN DOUBLING DOWN O
THAT WORK AS WE LOOK AT OUR
STRATEGIC PLANNING PROCESS OVER
THE NEXT FEW MONTHS TOWARDS THE
END OF THE YEAR.
>> THANK YOU VERY MUCH. AND DO
YOU HAVE ANYTHING TO ADD TO
TOM'S REMARKS?
>> I JUST WANTED TO ADD THAT WE
ACTUALLY JOINED THE LIBRARY
BOARD AROUND THE SAME TIME,
MARCH 2020. WE WERE APPOINTED
AROUND THE SAME TIME. AND WE
DIDN'T ACTUALLY MEET IN PERSON
UNTIL MAYBE A YEAR AGO. SO I
JUST WANTED TO EXPRESS MY
APPRECIATION FOR TALLEY'S
LEADERSHIP ON THE BOARD AND
COLLABORATION, WHETHER THAT IS
ACTUALLY IN PERSON OR VIRTUALLY
AND AS TOM SAID, HIS STRATEGIC
THINKING AND ABILITY TO ASK
QUESTIONS WHEN MAYBE THE OTHER,
YOU KNOW, MAYBE THE REST OF THE
BOARD IS MAYBE NOT THINKING IN
THE SAME WAY OR MAYBE DOESN'T
HAVE THE EXPERIENCE TO RAISE TH
QUESTIONS HAS BEEN REALLY
VALUABLE.
>> GREAT, EXCELLENT. WE TOTALLY
UNDERSTAND THE SEATTLE CITY
COUNCIL, THE AWKWARDNESS OF
BEING IN A COLLECTIVE BODY
DURING COVID. AND THEN THERE'S
SOME REMINDERS THAT PERIOD ALL
AROUND US. EVEN THOUGH WE NOW
KNOW THESE DIDN'T REALLY DO
ANYTHING. BUT IN ANY EVENT,
ACTUALLY MAYBE JUST ANOTHER
EDITORIAL FOR FACILITIES. CAN W
GET RID OF THESE THINGS AT THIS
POINT? YOU KNOW, YEAH, ANY WAY.
I DON'T LIKE FEELING CUBICLED
AWAY FROM MY COLLEAGUES. BUT AN
WAY THANK YOU SO MUCH. DO YOU
HAVE ANYTHING TO SAY TO
INTRODUCE YOURSELF? YOUR PLANS
IF YOU ARE RE-APPOINTED AND YOU
COMING PRIORITIES FOR THE BOARD
>> SURE, I'M LONG WINDED, SO I
WROTE SOME STUFF DOWN. AS A
NATIVE SEATTLE WHO RODE HIS
BIKES PLAYING FREELY UNTIL THE
STREET LIGHTS CAME ON, ALWAYS
CARRIED A BOOK IN HIS BACKPACK,
AND WHO THOUGHT LIBRARIANS WERE
THE SMARTEST PEOPLE EVER. I'M
EXCITED FOR THE OPPORTUNITY TO
CONTINUE TO SERVE AT THE SEATTL
PUBLIC LIBRARY IN THIS WAY. IN
THE LAST FEW YEARS I'VE HAD A
CHANCE TO LEARN THE ISSUES
FACING THE SEATTLE PUBLIC
LIBRARY AND LIBRARIES ACROSS TH
COUNTRY. WHAT A UNIQUE TIME WE
LIVED IN, SPECIFIC TO THE ROLE
LIBRARIES PLAY IN OUR DEMOCRACY
FROM BOOK BANNING TO THE USE OF
THE FACILITIES, TO THE TYPE OF
LEADERSHIP NEEDED TO GUIDE US
INTO THE FUTURE, TO THE FUTURE
REALITIES WHO MUST BEGIN
PLANNING FOR TODAY. THESE ARE
JUST A FEW OF THE MACRO LEVEL
ISSUES SITUATING THE WORK OF TH
LEADERSHIP. AND I HAVE SOME
EXPERIENCE TO CONTRIBUTE TO IT,
I BELIEVE. BUT I THINK MY
PERSONAL WISE, NOT SIMPLY
BECAUSE OF THE CHALLENGES AND
THE OPPORTUNITIES FACING THE
LIBRARY IN A DEMOCRATIC SOCIETY
OFTEN DIVIDED ALONG POLITICAL
AND CULTURAL LINES. MY PERSONAL
WISE TO SERVE THE CITY AND ITS
CITIZENS IN THIS WAY CONTINUES
TO BE THAT I DEEPLY BELIEVE IN
AN ACCESS FOR ALL, LITERACY,
EDUCATION, AND COMMUNITY, AND
LIBRARIES HISTORICALLY HAVE
SERVED FREE SOCIETIES THIS WAY.
THE IMPACT OF WHICH CONTRIBUTES
TO A MORE INFORMED CITIZENRY IN
WAYS FORMAL EDUCATION STRUCTURE
HAVE STRUGGLED TO DO EQUITABLY
AND FREE OF SOCIAL DISPARITIES.
MY DESIRES TO CONTINUE TO SHAPE
THESE FUNDAMENTAL NOTIONS. THAN
YOU.
>> THANK YOU SO MUCH. AND WE'LL
START OFF WITH THE QUESTIONS AN
THEN HAND IT OVER TO COLLEAGUES
BUT I REALLY APPRECIATE IN YOUR
REMARKS ELUDING TO THE WORK
THERE'S BEEN COVERAGE RECENTLY
IN THE LIBRARY OF BEING ONE OF
THE EARLY PARTNERS TO INTRODUCE
BOOKS BANNED IN OTHER
JURISDICTIONS INTO THOSE JURY
DICTIONS THERE ARE DIGITAL
COLLECTIONS AND ACCESS TO OUR
SERVICES. IT IS ALWAYS GOOD TO
SEE A CITY PROGRAM AND AN
INITIATIVE PRAISED BY DANNY, SO
THANK YOU FOR THAT ACHIEVEMENT
FROM THE TEAM HERE AT THE TABLE
AND WHAT DO YOU THINK IN YOUR
CONTINUED SERVICE ON THE BOARD,
WHAT'S NEXT TO ADVANCE THOSE
KINDS OF PRINCIPLES AROUND
ACCESSED INFORMATION, DEMOCRACY
AND HUMAN RIGHTS THAT THAT
INITIATIVE EPITOMIZES, AND THAT
THE LIBRARY'S CULTURE WANTS TO
PERPETUATE? WHAT'S NEXT?
>> WELL, I THINK THE FIRST STEP
WAS WHEN WE HIRED TOM. I THINK
HE'S A KEY LEADER FOR THAT WORK
THAT YOU JUST NAMED. THE INSIGH
RELATED TO FORESIGHT WORK AND
WHAT THAT MEANS TO DO THAT KIND
OF WORK WHERE WE ARE PLANNING
FOR THE FUTURE IS SOMETHING THE
BOARD OF TRUSTEES IS SERIOUS
ABOUT. AND I THINK WE HAVE TO
CONTINUE TO BE SERIOUS. LARGELY
BECAUSE THE MACRO LEVEL ISSUES
THAT WE'RE FACING IN OUR SOCIET
ARE NOT EASILY RESOLVED BY BLAC
AND WHITE ANSWERS. WE NEED SOME
NUANCE, INNOVATE, BE ADAPTIVE
AND CREATIVE. AND I HOPE TO
CONTRIBUTE TO THAT KIND OF TONE
WITHIN THE BOARD OF TRUSTEES.
>> THAT'S GREAT. YOU KNOW, I
WOULD JUST MENTION ON THE
RECORD. ONE OF OUR MORE
IMPORTANT BOARDS AND
COMMISSIONS, ALTHOUGH ALL BOARD
AND COMMISSIONS ARE IMPORTANT,
AND I SAY THAT AS A FORMER
SEATTLE HUMAN RIGHTS COMMISSION
BOARD MEMBER. BUT AS YOU ELUDED
TO IN YOUR RESPONSE, BEING THE
LIBRARY BOARD HAS THE SOLE
APPOINTMENT POWER OVER THE CHIE
LIBRARIAN, UNIQUE AMONG OUR
BOARDS AND COMMISSION. AND
UNIQUELY IMPORTANT AND POWERFUL
BOARD. IT'S REALLY GREAT TO HAV
A NOMINEE OF YOUR CALIBER IN
FRONT OF US FOR REAPPOINTMENT.
SO THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR YOUR
WILLINGNESS TO CONTINUE TO SERV
AND FOR COMING HERE TODAY TO
CHAT WITH US. I'M GOING TO OPEN
IT UP TO COMMITTEE MEMBERS IF
THERE IS ANY ADDITIONAL
QUESTIONS FOR THE NOMINEE.
SEEING NO ADDITIONAL QUESTIONS,
I'M GOING TO GO AHEAD AND MOVE
THE REAPPOINTMENT OF WILLIAM
HAIRSTON AS MEMBERS OF THE
SEATTLE PUBLIC LIBRARY BOARD OF
TRUSTEES FOR A TERM TO APRIL 1,
2028. IS THERE A SECOND?
>> SECOND.
>> OKAY MOVED AND SECONDED. WIL
THE CLERK PLEASE CALL THE ROLL
ON THE RECOMMENDATION OF THE
CONFIRMATION?
>> COUNCIL MEMBER HERBOLD?
>> YES.
>> COUNCIL PRESIDENT JUAREZ?
COUNCIL MEMBER MORALES?
>> YES.
>> COUNCIL MEMBER MOSQUEDA?
>> AYE.
>> CHAIR LEWIS?
>> YES.
>> CHAIR, THERE ARE FOUR IN
FAVOR, NONE OPPOSED.
>> THANK YOU SO MUCH, PARKER.
THE CONFIRMATION OR THE
RECOMMENDATION FOR CONFIRMATION
WILL GO TO THE FULL COUNCIL AT
THE NEXT MEETING. YOU DO NOT
NEED TO PERSONALLY ATTEND THAT
MEETING, BUT YOU'RE MORE THAN
WELCOME TO IF YOU WANT TO. I
WOULD ANTICIPATE BASED ON THE
UNANIMOUS DECISION AND
CONVERSATION TODAY THAT THAT
WILL BE A SUCCESSFUL
APPOINTMENT. WE LOOK FORWARD TO
CONSIDERING YOU AGAIN THEN. SO
TALLEY, THANK YOU FOR YOUR
SERVICE. AND STAY IN TOUCH.
>> THANK YOU.
>> OKAY. CLERK, WILL YOU PLEASE
READ ITEMS 2-11 INTO THE RECORD
>> ITEMS 2-11, APPOINTMENTS 256
THROUGH 26568. APPOINTMENTS OF
ERIC BERLINBERG AND STACEY E.
HUTCHISON AS MEMBERS OF SEATTLE
CENTER ADVISORY COMMISSION FOR
SCAC FOR TERMS SEPTEMBER 28,
223, THE APPOINTMENTS FOR LARA
MAE D. CHOLLETTE, MATTHEW MEAD,
AND KAMALA SAXTON AS MEMBERS OF
SCAC FOR TERMS TO SEPTEMBER 28,
2024. AND APPOINTMENTS AND
REAPPOINTMENTS FOR JOY R.
SHIGAKI, MARK F. DEDERER,
MICHAEL GEORGE, KOICHI
KOBAYASHI, AND JANA LAMON AS
MEMBERS OF SCAC FOR TERMS TO
SEPTEMBER 28, 2028.
>> THANK YOU SO MUCH. ALL RIGHT
WELL HERE WE GO. QUITE A FULL
TABLE. THIS MIGHT BE AS FULL AS
THIS TABLE HAS BEEN SINCE
PRE-COVID. WE MIGHT BE MAKING
HISTORY HERE WITH THIS AGENDA
ITEM. MARSHALL, WHY DON'T WE
START WITH AN INTRODUCTION FROM
YOU AND WORK AROUND THE TABLE?
>> THAT SOUNDS GREAT. THANK YOU
CHAIR LEWIS AND COMMITTEE
MEMBERS. GLAD WE CAN MAKE A
LITTLE HISTORY TOGETHER IN
FILLING THE COMMITTEE TABLE
AGAIN. AND THANK YOU FOR HAVING
US. IT'S A REALLY EXCITING DAY
FOR SEATTLE CENTER TO BE ABLE T
BRING FORWARD TO YOU SIX NEW
COMMISSIONERS TO HELP US FILL
OUT WHAT IS A REALLY ESSENTIAL
ROLE FOR OUR ORGANIZATION AND
FOR OUR STAFF, WHICH IS THE
LEADERSHIP THE SEATTLE CENTER
ADVISORY COMMISSION PROVIDES TO
OUR COMMUNITY. FUNDAMENTALLY
JUST TO START WITH THE ROLE OF
THE COMMISSION. IT IS THERE TO
ADVISE THE DIRECTOR AND THE
STAFF ON ALL MATTERS ASSOCIATED
WITH THE MANAGEMENT, OPERATIONS
PERFORMANCE OF SEATTLE CENTER,
AS WELL AS TO REPRESENT THE
PEOPLE OF SEATTLE AND ENSURING
THE SEATTLE CENTER IS DOING ITS
JOB WELL. IT PLAYS A FUNDAMENTA
ROLE IN MEETING WITH US
REGULARLY TO REVIEW THE
OPERATIONS, MANAGEMENT, KEY
PROJECTS, AND STRATEGIC VISIONS
FOR THE ORGANIZATION. SO FOR TH
LAST FEW YEARS, WE'VE BEEN
WITHOUT A FULL COMMISSION. I
CAN'T TELL YOU HOW IMPORTANT AN
EXCITING IT IS TO US TO BE ABLE
TO FILL THE COMMISSION TODAY.
OUR NEW COMMISSION MEMBERS, I'L
JUST START WITH ERIC BERLINBERG
AND WE WILL GO AROUND
ALPHABETICALLY IF THAT IS ALL
RIGHT. ERIC BERLINBERG IS A
NINE-YEAR SEATTLE RESIDENT WHO
HAS EXTENSIVE EXPERIENCE SERVIN
ON BOARDS. ERIC SERVES AS THE
HEAD OF PROGRAM MANAGEMENT AND
THE CHIEF OF STAFF TO THE VICE
PRESIDENT OF AMAZON PRIME AIR
DIVISION, WHICH IS DEVELOPING
DRONES FOR PACKAGE DELIVERY TO
CUSTOMERS. OUTSIDE OF HIS ROLE
AT AMAZON, ERIC IS FOUNDER OF
THE LARGEST INTERNAL EMPLOYER
GROUP CALLED CONNECT AMAZON,
WHICH BUILDS SOCIAL AND
PROFESSIONAL NETWORKS ACROSS 74
AMAZON OFFICES GLOBALLY, AND IS
COMPRISED OF ABOUT 130,000
AMAZON EMPLOYEE MEMBERS. AS
LEADERS OF THE ORGANIZATION,
ERIC BUILT EXPERIENCE LEADING A
LARGE EVENT PLANNING,
MANAGEMENT, AND ADVOCACY
ORGANIZATION BY DEVELOPING,
GUIDING, INFLUENCING LEADERS
ACROSS THE COMPANY. PRIOR TO
THIS, ERIC SERVED AS THE CHIEF
OPERATING OFFICER OF MANHATTAN
CREATIVE GROUP, AN EMMY AWARD
WINNING ENTERTAINMENT MANAGEMEN
FIRM FOCUSED ON LIVE
ENTERTAINMENT AND REGIONAL THEM
PARKS ACROSS THE U.S., A LIVE
CONCERT SERIES, AND SMALL BUDGE
COMMERCIALS. OUTSIDE OF WORK,
ERIC HAS SERVED ON SEVERAL
BOARDS AND COMMITTEES TO
CONTINUE BUILDING SEATTLE AS AN
EQUITABLE AND INCLUSIVE
COMMUNITY. ERIC HAS SERVED ON
THE CHAMBER, THE SEATTLE
CHAMBERS OF COMMERCE BOARD OF
DIRECTORS, THE SEATTLE CLUB
BOARD OF DIRECTOR, SEATTLE
SYMPHONY, THE SOUTH LAKE UNION
CHAMBERS OF COMMERCE, AND THE
SEATTLE CHAMBERS OF COMMERCE
YOUNG PROFESSIONALS NETWORK
BOARD OF DIRECTORS.
>> GREAT, THANK YOU SO MUCH.
>> SO YEAH, WHY DON'T WE
ORGANIZE THIS THIS WAY. WE
TYPICALLY DON'T CONFIRM THIS
MANY COMMISSIONERS AGAIN AT
ONCE. I THINK WE SHOULD GO,
COMMISSIONER BY COMMISSIONER,
ALLOW OPPORTUNITIES FOR
QUESTIONS FROM COMMITTEE
MEMBERS, AND THEN CONFIRM THE
ENTIRE SLATE AT THE END. SO NOW
THAT WE HAVE CUED UP ERIC. ERIC
IF YOU WANT TO SHARE A FEW WORD
WITH THE COMMITTEE, I'M TRYING
TO SEE WHO IS ERIC. IF YOU WANT
TO SHARE A FEW WORDS WITH THE
COMMITTEE AT THIS TIME, THAT
WOULD BE GREAT, THEN WE'LL HAVE
SOME QUESTIONS.
>> SURE, SOUNDS GOOD. THANKS FO
HAVING ME. VERY EXCITED TO BE
HERE AND HOPEFULLY SERVE THE
SEATTLE AREA. I MOVED TO SEATTL
A LITTLE OVER NINE YEARS AGO. I
WAS ACTUALLY A RESIDENT RIGHT
NEXT TO THE SEATTLE CENTER FOR
THE FIRST TWO YEARS THAT I LIVE
HERE, SO I THINK I INTIMATELY A
AWARE OF THE COMPLEX OPERATIONS
AT LEAST FROM A NUMBER OF THE
NEIGHBORHOOD AND ACTIVE
PARTICIPANTS IN EVENTS AND
PROGRAMS THAT OCCUR AT THE
SEATTLE CENTER. SUPER EXCITED T
SEE HOW THIS CAN BE AN AMAZING
PUBLIC SPACE FOR THE ENTIRE
COMMUNITY AND MAKE SURE WE
CONTINUE TO PROVIDE AN EQUITABL
PROGRAMMING FOR SEATTLE
RESIDENTS. I'M HAPPY TO BE HERE
>> EXCELLENT. AND SO JUST SORT
OF A STANDING QUESTION TO
PREPARE THE REST OF THE
NOMINEES. I CAN'T THINK OF A
MORE EXCITING TIME TO BE A PART
OF THE SEATTLE CENTER ADVISORY
COMMISSION IN RECENT MEMORY
EXCEPT FOR MAYBE THE -- ITS
INCEPTION AS THE CAMPUS FOR THE
WORLD'S FAIR WITH THE LOOMING,
YOU KNOW, THE WORLD CUP, AND TH
MEMORIAL STADIUM PROJECT THAT W
HAVE GOING FORWARD. AND A LOT O
OTHER OPPORTUNITIES FOR
PARTNERSHIP. IN TERMS OF THE
PLACE MAKING THAT WE CONTINUE T
DO AT THE SEATTLE CENTER. WHAT
IS YOUR PRIORITY HERE FOR THE
NEXT TERM IN MAXIMIZING PUBLIC
IMPACT? MAXIMIZING THE EQUITY
AND ACCESS TO THOSE KINDS OF
FACILITIES, AND HOW DO YOU
INTEND TO ADVANCE THOSE
PRIORITIES?
>> THAT'S A GREAT QUESTION AND
REALLY RELEVANT FOR WHERE WE AR
AT AND CALL IT WHATEVER PHASE O
COVID OR POST COVID THAT WE'RE
IN, IN A TOPIC THAT I TALK
REGULARLY BOTH IN MY WORK AT
AMAZON AND TRYING TO ACTIVATE
THE AMAZON EMPLOYEE POPULATION
AS WELL AS IN MY WORK AS BOARD
MEMBER OF THE CHAMBERS OF
COMMERCE AND HOW WE ACTIVATE AN
ENGAGE THE NEIGHBORHOOD. I THIN
MY PHILOSOPHY ON IT, COUNCIL
MEMBER, IN TRYING TO BE
INTENTIONAL ABOUT GETTING PEOPL
INTO SPACES. IF WE GET PEOPLE I
SPACES OR PROVIDE SPACE FOR THE
TO BE THERE, I THINK THERE IS A
INFLUX POINT THAT OCCURS AT SOM
POINT WHERE PEOPLE FEEL LIKE
THAT'S A THING THEY WANT TO KEE
DOING AND KEEP COMING BACK AND
KEEP PARTICIPATING IN, WHICH
THEN I THINK IT BECOMES HABITUA
AND SORT OF BECOMES A WELCOMING
ENVIRONMENT FOR EVERYONE. I
THINK THIS TRICKY SPOT AND EVEN
SEEING TODAY, WE HAVE A BUNCH O
FOLKS ON THE PHONE. SOME FOLKS
IN PERSON. THERE WILL NEVER BE
PERFECT ANSWER FOR IT, BUT I DO
THINK THAT LENIENT TO PROVIDING
AS MANY OPPORTUNITIES TO BRING
PEOPLE TOGETHER WILL HELP CREAT
THAT CULTURE OF FOLKS FEELING
LIKE THEY CAN BE IN PUBLIC
SPACES MORE REGULARLY AGAIN.
>> THANK YOU. ARE THERE ANY
ADDITIONAL QUESTIONS FOR ERIC
BEFORE WE MOVE ON TO THE OTHER
NOMINEES? I DON'T SEE ANY
ADDITIONAL QUESTIONS. SO AT THE
CONCLUSION OF TALKING TO THE
OTHER NOMINEES, I WILL HAPPY
MOVE YOUR CONFIRMATION. SO THAN
YOU FOR BEING HERE WITH US. AND
SO MARSHALL, I'LL HAND IT BACK
TO YOU IF YOU WANT TO CUE UP
STACEY E. HUTCHISON'S
INTRODUCTION.
>> GREAT. OKAY, AND STACEY IS
WITH US VIRTUALLY TODAY. THERE
SHE IS. STACEY, THANK YOU FOR
BEING HERE. STACEY JOINED
AUDIBLE.COM IN 2022 AS DIRECTOR
OF CONTENT POLICY, WHERE SHE
CURRENTLY DRIVES GROUND BREAKIN
MODERATION AND POLICY STRATEGY
AND ENGAGEMENT FOR THE WORLD'S
LARGEST CATALOG OF AUDIO
ENTERTAINMENT. PREVIOUSLY SHE
DEVELOPED NEW POLICIES FOR THE
METAVERSE AT META, LEAD POLICY
CREATION FOR MISINFORMATION
ELECTIONS, KIDS AND OTHER ISSUE
FOR AMAZON'S ALEXA DEVICES, AND
SPENT YEARS LEADING GOVERNMENT
INTERAGENCY COOPERATION AND
FOREIGN POLICY AT DEPARTMENT OF
STATE. A SEATTLE RESIDENT SINCE
2018, STACEY IS PASSIONATE ABOU
BUILDING EQUITABLE AND INCLUSIV
POLICIES AND COALITIONS THAT
AMPLIFY DIVERSE VOICES AND
SUPPORT THRIVING EMPOWERED
COMMUNITIES. SHE AIMS TO BRING
PIECE AND ENERGY TO COUNCIL ON
POLICY MATTERS THAT MIGHT IMPAC
SEATTLE CENTER. STACEY?
>> YES, SORRY. IT'S A LITTLE
SLOW ON THE SCREEN. THANK YOU S
MUCH FOR THAT INTRODUCTION AND
THANK YOU FOR HAVING ME HERE.
LIKE IT'S BEEN SAID, I'VE BEEN
RESIDENT OF SEATTLE SINCE 2018
ALTHOUGH IT DOESN'T FEEL THAT
LONG, BUT OF COURSE WITH THE
PANDEMIC, THAT TIME TO MAKE IT
FEEL LIKE IT WAS STRETCHING OUT
FOR A WHILE. I'M REALLY EXCITED
TO FIND NEW WAYS TO GET BACK TO
THE COMMUNITY. I'VE DONE SOME
COMMUNITY WORK IN SEATTLE. I WA
VOLUNTEERING FOR AN ORGANIZATIO
CALLED HUGO HOUSE UP UNTIL THE
PANDEMIC. AND REALLY PASSIONATE
ABOUT FINDING WAYS TO ENGAGE
WITH THE SEATTLE CENTER
ORGANIZATION TO JUST MAKE IT A
RESOURCE FOR EVERYONE IN THE
CITY. THANK YOU.
>> THANK YOU SO MUCH. SO STACEY
WE CAN CLEARLY SEE AND HEAR YOU
SO THAT'S GREAT. YOU'RE COMING
IN LOUD AND CLEAR, NOT ALWAYS
THE CASE WITH OUR FOLKS VISITIN
FROM ZOOM. SIMILAR TO THE
QUESTION I ASKED ERIC. WHAT DO
YOU THINK SOME OF THE
OPPORTUNITIES ARE TO EXPAND
EQUITY OF ACCESS TO THE
PROGRAMMING AND FACILITIES THAT
MAKE UP THE SEATTLE CENTER, AND
WHAT CAN WE DO TO CONTINUE TO
STRIVE TO MAKE IT AN INCLUSIVE
PLACE?
>> YEAH. I SEE THIS A LOT IN MY
CURRENT WORK RIGHT NOW AT
AUDIBLE, WHICH IS AN
ORGANIZATION THAT'S REALLY
FOCUSED ON ELEVATING AND LIFTIN
UP DIVERSE VOICES. ONE AREA I
WOULD LOVE TO EXPLORE AS I GOT
MORE IN THIS ORGANIZATION ARE
CAN WE FIND MORE DIVERSE TOUCH
POINTS TO ENGAGE DIRECTLY WITH
COMMUNITY MEMBERS. I THINK ONE
GREAT WAY TO LEVERAGE THE
COMMUNITY AS A RESOURCE TO THIN
ABOUT ACCESS, THINK ABOUT
EQUITY, THINK ABOUT INCLUSION
AND SOME OF THE ORGANIZATIONS O
EVENTS THE SEATTLE CENTER IS
USED FOR IS TO HEAR DIRECTLY
FROM THE COMMUNITY. IT'S ONE
AREA THAT I WOULD BE REALLY
INTERESTED IN EXPLORING TO SEE
IF WE CAN, LIKE I SAID, LEVERAG
THAT TO MAKE SURE VOICES ARE
BEING HEARD FROM RESIDENTS OF
SEATTLE.
>> YEAH, I APPRECIATE THAT
ANSWER. ONE OF MY HIGH SCHOOL
TEACHERS WOULD ALWAYS TALK ABOU
HOW THE CENTER IS A UNIQUE PLAC
BECAUSE THERE ARE NO WALLS
AROUND THE SEATTLE CENTER. IT'S
AN OPEN CAMPUS. AND NOW TO A
CERTAIN RESPECT, SOME OF THOSE
BUILDINGS DO KIND OF ACT TO
BLOCK IN THE SPACE, SO I'M VERY
EXCITED WITH MEMORIAL STADIUM
THAT IN SHORT ORDER THAT
OBSTACLE IS GOING TO FURTHER
INTEGRATE THE CAMPUS. BUT
APPRECIATE YOUR RESPONSE ON
THOSE QUESTIONS. AND LOOK
FORWARD TO MOVING YOU WITH THE
SLATE OF APPOINTMENTS IN A FEW
MINUTES HERE, SO THANK YOU SO
MUCH. MARSHALL, WILL YOU
INTRODUCE THE NEXT NOMINEE.
>> I WILL MOVE ALPHABETICALLY
THROUGH THE LIST.
>> NEXT IS LARA MAE D.
CHOLLETTE, WE'RE GLAD TO HAVE
YOU HERE. A LIFELONG RESIDENT O
SEATTLE. LARA MAE GREW UP IN
CAPITOL HILL ATTEDING
NEIGHBORHOOD SCHOOLS. STEVENS
ELEMENTARY, AND HOLY NAMES
ACADEMY. CHOLLETTE WAS ACTIVE I
THE COMMUNITY AS A SCHOLAR
ATHLETE, A VOLUNTEER, AND TEAM
LEADER WITH THE FILIPINO YOUTH
ACTIVITY DRILLS TEAM. SHE
ATTENDED LOUISIANA STATE
UNIVERSITY IN BATON ROUGE FOR
HER UNDERGRADUATE DEGREE AND
RECEIVED HER MBA FROM SEATTLE
UNIVERSITY. LARA MAE'S CAREER
HAS BEEN FILLED WITH AMAZING
OPPORTUNITIES WITH NOTABLE
ORGANIZATIONS SUCH AS SEAFAIR
AND THE NBA'S DEVELOPMENT
LEAGUE. DURING HER TENURE WITH
THE NBA, SHE WAS ON THE TEAM
THAT LAUNCHED ITS MINOR LEAGUE,
THE NBA DEVELOPMENT LEAGUE NOW
KNOWN AS THE G-LEAGUE, AND
SERVED AS DIRECTOR OF SALES AND
MARKETING BEFORE BEING NAMED TH
TEAM PRESIDENT AND GM OF THE NB
G-LEAGUE'S BAKERFIELD JAM. WITH
SEAFAIR, LARA MAE SERVED AS THE
DIRECTOR OF SPONSORSHIP AND
PROMOTIONS, SECURING TITLE
SPONSORSHIPS, MULTI-YEAR DEALS
TO FUND SEATTLE'S BELOVED
SUMMERTIME FESTIVAL. IN ADDITIO
TO SEAFAIR AND THE NBA, LARA MA
HAS SERVED IN SENIOR HR
LEADERSHIP POSITIONS WITH BLUE
TIGER COFFEE. CURRENTLY SHE IS
THE HEAD OF PEOPLE AND CULTURE
ON THE EXECUTIVE TEAM AT A
SEATTLE BASED START-UP. WELCOME
LARA MAE.
>> THANK YOU. DO I GET TO SAY
HI?
>> YES, PLEASE.
>> OKAY, WELL, I AM EXCITED TO
SERVE ON THIS COMMISSION. I SEE
MYSELF AS A SEATTLE CENTER OG,
REMEMBERING THE FUN FOREST AS A
KID. PLAYING SOCCER AT MEMORIAL
STADIUM, AND TENDING SOME KIND
OF SEATTLE HIGH SCHOOL
LEADERSHIP THING ON SEATTLE
CENTER GROUNDS SERVING AS AN
INTERN FOR THE ABL SEATTLE REIG
MERCER ARENA. AGAIN, COUNTLESS
OF SUMMERS BEING ON DRILL TEAM
WITH THE FILIPINO YOUTH
ACTIVITIES DRILL TEAM. LEFT FOR
A WHILE, BUT CAME BACK. WORKED
FOR SEAFAIR. FOR ME THIS IS
SOMEWHAT OF A HOMECOMING. TO
SERVE ON THIS COMMISSION IS
HOPEFULLY I'LL BE ABLE TO MAKE
THAT CONNECTION FOR OTHER KIDS
AS WELL.
>> THANK YOU SO MUCH. THANKS FO
THE FUN FOREST SHOUT OUT. AND
MARSHALL, IF YOU CAN BRING
FLIGHT TO MARS BACK, WE WILL
MAKE YOU THE PERMANENT WITHOUT
REAPPOINTMENT DIRECTOR OF
SEATTLE CENTER. SO GIVEN YOUR
BACKGROUND, IS IT LAURA OR LARA
>> LARA MAE.
>> GIVEN YOUR BACKGROUND, LARA,
WHAT ARE SOME OF THE
OPPORTUNITIES FOR PUBLIC PRIVAT
PARTNERSHIP AND HOW WE DEVELOP
THE SEATTLE CENTER? THERE HAS
ALWAYS BEEN AN ONGOING PUSH AND
PULL ABOUT THE LEVEL AND AMOUNT
OF PRIVATIZATION THAT WE WANT T
SEE INTEGRATED IN THE CAMPUS,
BUT WE'VE HAD SOME GREAT
PARTNERSHIPS ENHANCING THE
CAMPUS DUE TO PUBLIC-PRIVATE
PARTNERSHIP. HOW DO YOU ASSESS
AND WEIGH THOSE TRADE-OFFS?
>> FOR ME, IT'S ALWAYS A
WIN-WIN. WHAT ARE THE
TRADE-OFFS, AND ALSO HOW WILL I
SERVE ALL THE PARTIES INVOLVED.
YOU KNOW, IF A PRIVATE
PARTNERSHIP CAN SERVE THE PUBLI
ENTITIES AS WELL, I LOOK AT THA
AS A WIN-WIN. ADDITIONALLY, YOU
KNOW, WITH THE SEATTLE CENTER
BEING A PUBLIC SPACE, HOW DO WE
GET INVOLVED, THE COMMUNITIES
THAT THEY SERVE, NOT JUST THE
PRIVATE ENTITIES. BUT ALSO ALL
THE OTHER NEIGHBORHOODS AND NOT
JUST LIKE THE QUEEN ANNE, BUT
HOW DO WE GET ALL OF THE CITY
BACK INVOLVED, BACK TO THE
SEATTLE CENTER BECAUSE THERE AR
SO MANY OPTIONS. I THINK A PART
OF THAT PUBLIC-PRIVATE
PARTNERSHIP, YOU KNOW, IF IT CA
CONNECT HOW IT CAN SERVE THE
COMMUNITY IF THERE IS AN
AUTHENTIC RELATIONSHIP OF WHY
THAT PRIVATE ENTITY IS EVEN ON
CAMPUS, YOU KNOW, I THINK THAT
MESSAGING CAN BE FULLY VETTED
OUT AND FULLY, YOU KNOW, BE
COMPREHENSIVE AS TO WHY IT'S
THERE. THERE IS THAT
AUTHENTICITY THAT PEOPLE OR THE
PUBLIC CAN BUY INTO. KIND OF
LIKE SPONSORSHIP. IF IT DOESN'T
MAKE SENSE, THEN IT DOESN'T MAK
SENSE. IT HAS TO MAKE SENSE FOR
THE PUBLIC FOR IT.
>> YEAH. EXCELLENT. THANK YOU S
MUCH. I'M GLAD WE'RE GOING TO
HAVE YOU ON THE TEAM TO HELP
WITH THOSE KINDS OF PROPOSALS.
SO WE'RE GOING TO GO THROUGH TH
LAST COUPLE OF NOMINEES AND THE
I'M HAPPY TO MOVE THROUGH YOUR
APPOINTMENT. THANK YOU FOR BEIN
HERE. ALL RIGHT, THANK YOU,
BOTH. WE'LL MOVE ON TO MATTHEW
MEAD.
>> MATTHEW HAS BEEN IN
WASHINGTON SINCE GOVERNOR LOCK
BROUGHT HIS FATHER HERE IN THE
90s. GROWING UP IN SAMMAMISH,
HIS FAMILY SPENT EVERY WEEK WEE
IN SEATTLE FOR CHURCH, HAIRCUTS
COUNTLESS HOURS PLAYING
BASKETBALL AT GREEN LAKE. A UW
ALUM, MATT MOVED TO SEATTLE IN
THE EARLY 2000s, AND HAS STAYED
SINCE RESIDING IN EAST LAKE FOR
THE LAST DECADE. PROFESSIONALLY
MATT IS A DIRECTOR OF SOCIAL
MEDIA STRATEGY AT KNOWN MARKET
MARKETING. JOINING THE COMPANY
THREE YEARS AGO AFTER YEARS AT
MICROSOFT, STARBUCKS, AND WITHI
THE NIGHT LIFE MARKETING SPACE.
AT KNOWN, HE WORKED FOR YEARS
WITH THE ICONIC ROCKEFELLER
CENTER TO EXECUTE THE REBRANDIN
CAMPAIGN, BRIDGING THE SOCIAL
MEDIA STRATEGY AND THE PAID
MEDIA AND DATA TO ENGAGE THE NE
GENERATION OF NEW YORKERS. HIS
WORK GREW FROM THEIR SOCIAL
MEDIA PRESENCE, GREW THEIR
SOCIAL MEDIA PRESENCE BY OVER
250,000 FOLLOWERS. ADDITIONALLY
MATT IS CONSIDERED A KEY FOUGHT
PARTNER TO WORK ON HIGH-PROFILE
CLIENTS SUCH AS NETFLIX, TIKTOK
AND MANY OTHERS. AND HIS GROWIN
PORTFOLIO LED HIM TO BE NAMED
BUSINESS INSIDERS RISING STAR O
MADISON AVENUE IN 2021. MATT
BRINGS A LOCAL POINT OF VIEW 20
YEARS TO PACIFIC HOSPITALITY
EXPERIENCE AND THE LOVE OF
SEATTLE TO THE TABLE. THANK YOU
MATTHEW. FEEL FREE.
>> YEAH, MATTHEW, GO AHEAD.
>> I JUST WANT TO SAY HI TO
EVERYONE. I'M EXCITED TO BE
HERE. I'M EXCITED ABOUT THIS
OPPORTUNITY. IT CAME TO ME IN A
VERY ROUNDABOUT WAY. ONCE I
FOUND OUT WHAT THE COMMISSION
WAS DOING, THE PURPOSE THAT IT
SERVED, I KNEW IT WAS SOMETHING
I WANTED TO BE A PART OF.
>> GREAT. WELL IT'S GREAT TO
HAVE YOU HERE. AND DO YOU PREFE
MATT OR MATTHEW?
>> EITHER IS FINE. GREAT, I'LL
KEEP IT FORMAL. MATTHEW FOR THE
PURPOSES OF TODAY. AND SO WHAT
ARE SOME OF THE BIG THINGS IN
THIS NEXT COMING TERM THAT
YOU'RE MOST EXCITED ABOUT GIVEN
ALL THE DIFFERENT OPPORTUNITIES
OF WHAT'S HAPPENING ON THE
CAMPUS? WHAT IS THE NEXT BIG
THING FOR SEATTLE CENTER GOING
TO BE?
>> YEAH, THAT'S A FUN QUESTION.
I THINK ONE OF MY FAVORITE
THINGS IS JUST THE ENERGY THAT
IS RETURNING TO THE CITY IN A
POST COVID WORLD. I THINK THAT
THE OPPORTUNITY FRANKLY TO JUST
GET OUTSIDE AND BE A PART OF TH
DIFFERENT ASPECTS OF SEATTLE
THAT MAKES IT GREAT IS SUPER
IMPORTANT AND EXCITING THING TO
LOOK FORWARD TO. I LOVE THE IDE
OF BEING ABLE TO TARGET THE
DIFFERENT GROUPS AND OPENING UP
THE SPACE FOR WHATEVER IT MAY
BE, A MUSIC FESTIVAL, ALL THESE
VARIOUS THINGS THAT ARE KIND OF
YOU KNOW, LOCAL IN A WAY, RIGHT
IT'S SOMETHING THAT WE HAVE ALL
EXPERIENCED, I PERSONALLY
EXPERIENCED GROWING UP IN THAT
SPACE, OR YOU KNOW, ROLLING WIT
20, 30 FRIENDS FROM THE UDUB
CAMPUS AND HANG OUT BY THE
FOUNTAIN, AND DOING UNOFFICIAL
THINGS AS WELL. JUST KNOWING
THAT SPACE IS OPEN TO THE
COMMUNITY, I THINK THERE IS A
TREMENDOUS OPPORTUNITY
ESPECIALLY COMING OUT OF COVID
TO REINTRODUCE SEATTLE TO
SEATTLE, RIGHT? AND BRINGING
PEOPLE BACK ONTO THAT CAMPUS,
AND SHOWING THEM THRE'S A NEW
SPIRIT AND ENERGY THAT CAN JUST
AMPLIFY SEATTLE FARTHER.
>> YEAH, I ABSOLUTELY AGREE THA
THERE IS SORT OF A RENEWED, YOU
KNOW, REENVYING RATION OF THE
REINVIGORATION, DOING A GREAT
POST COVID EXAMPLE OF OUR
REVITALIZATION. I'M GLAD YOU'RE
GOING TO CONTINUE TO BE A PART
OF THAT AND STEPPING UP TO SERV
IN THIS CAPACITY. LOOKING
FORWARD TO MOVING YOUR
APPOINTMENT AT THE END OF THIS
AGENDA ITEM. MARSHALL?
>> ALL RIGHT, THANK YOU, BOTH.
NEXT WE HAVE KAMALA SAXTON. HI,
KAMALA. KAMALA IS AN
ACCOMPLISHED ENTREPRENEUR WITH
OVER 20 YEARS OF EXPERIENCE IN
THE HOSPITALITY, EDUCATION, AND
NON-PROFIT MANAGEMENT SECTORS.
SHE'S THE CO-FOUNDER OF
SEATTLE'S FOOD TRUCK TURNED
RESTAURANT, A FAST CASUAL
RESTAURANT GROUP WITH BRICK AND
MORTAL LOCATIONS IN COLUMBIA
CITY, WEST SEATTLE, T-MOBILE
PARK, AS WELL AS A CATERING
UNIT. KAMALA HAS BEEN THE
INVESTOR OF SEVERAL HOSPITALITY
BUSINESSES AND A START-UP BABY
FOOD BUSINESS. SHE'S ALSO REALL
EXCITED ABOUT SEEING BEYONCE IN
CONCERT THIS SEPTEMBER AND IS A
HUGE PRINCE FAN. I'M ALSO VERY
EXCITED OF SEEING BEYONCE IN
SEPTEMBER. KAMALA CURRENTLY
SERVES ON THE BOARD OF DIRECTOR
FOR YOU POWER AND THE SEATTLE
METRO CHAMBERS OF COMMERCE AND
LIVES IN STEWARD SEWARD PARK.
>> I'M EXCITED TO JOIN THIS
GROUP. WHILE I DON'T LIVE IN TH
NEIGHBORHOOD OF THE SEATTLE
CENTER, I LOOK FORWARD TO
SEATTLE CENTER ACTING AS A
NEIGHBORLY HUB FOR ALL
COMMUNITIES OF SEATTLE. I THINK
IT'S A TIME WHERE IT'S A PERFEC
TIME TO REINTRODUCE SEATTLE
CENTER TO SEATTLE. I LOOK
FORWARD TO BEING A PART OF THIS
COMMITTEE THAT DOES SO.
>> GREAT. SO YOU'VE GOT A LOT
OF, FROM YOUR DAY JOB,
ENTREPRENEURIAL WORK ALL OVER
THE CITY FOR SOME OF THE
COMPANIES YOU'VE BEEN INVOLVED
IN. TRANSPORTATION CONNECTEDNES
BETWEEN SEATTLE CENTER AND THE
REST OF THE CITY HAS BEEN AN
ISSUE WE'VE BEEN DEALING WITH
ESPECIALLY WITH CLIMATE PLEDGE,
GETTING A WHOLE BUNCH OF NEW
CAMPUS ON -- NEW PEOPLE ON
CAMPUS. MOVING A QUARTER OF THE
PEOPLE THAT WILL GO TO KRAKEN
GAMES.
>> YES, WE HAVE ABOUT TWO
MILLION RIGHT NOW OR CLOSE TO.
>> WHICH IS REALLY SIGNIFICANT.
WE'VE GOT A LOT OF ACTIVITY
COMING TO THE NEIGHBORHOOD WITH
SOUND TRANSIT, WITH OTHER
ACTIVATIONS AROUND MEMORIAL
STADIUM AND WHAT HAVE YOU. SO
MOBILITY TO GET PEOPLE TO
SEATTLE CENTER IS GOING TO
CONTINUE TO BE A PRIORITY. WHAT
ARE SOME THINGS THAT WE CAN WOR
ON HERE AS A COUNCIL COMMISSION
AND LEADERSHIP OF SEATTLE CENTE
TO CONTINUE TO MOVE PEOPLE IN
AND OFF THE CAMPUS ESPECIALLY
DURING THE CONSTRUCTION
MITIGATION?
>> THAT'S A $10 MILLION
QUESTION.
>> WELL, I THINK SOUND TRANSIT
SAYS IT'S THE BILLION DOLLAR
QUESTION FROM MY MEMORY. GO
AHEAD.
>> I THINK IT IS REALLY TWOFOLD
I THINK IT'S TRANSPORTATION AND
SAFETY. I'M NOT GOING TO TAKE
PUBLIC TRANSPORTATION RIGHT NOW
BECAUSE I DON'T FEEL SAFE.
THAT'S JUST SO YOU CAN'T -- I
DON'T THINK YOU CAN TALK ABOUT
ONE WITHOUT THE OTHER. AS FAR A
PUBLIC TRANSPORTATION. IT IS AN
ONGOING, IT'S NOT AN EASY ISSUE
IF IT WAS, THIS WOULDN'T BE AT
THE FOREFRONT OF EVERYONE'S
CONVERSATION IN THE CITY AS
TRANSPORTATION AND PUBLIC
SAFETY. I FEEL CONFIDENCE THE
GROUP OF LEADERSHIP THAT'S
ADDRESSING THIS ISSUE, BUT IT
WON'T BE SOLVED WITHOUT TALKING
ABOUT PUBLIC SAFETY INTO THE
CONVERSATIONS SURROUNDING PUBLI
TRANSPORTATION.
>> YEAH, ABSOLUTELY. AND SAFETY
AND PUBLIC TRANSIT IS ONE OF TH
BIGGEST THINGS WE NEED TO FOCUS
ON RIGHT NOW.
>> SURROUNDING. NOT JUST ON IT,
BUT THE SURROUNDING AREAS.
>> YEAH, ABSOLUTELY. AND I
APPRECIATE THAT AND APPRECIATE
THAT YOU WILL BE HERE TO WORK U
WORK ON THAT, AND LOOK FORWARD
TO MOVING YOUR NOMINATION.
>> THANK YOU.
>>> NEXT, WE HAVE JOY R.
SHIGAKI. JOY IS A FOURTH
GENERATION SEATTLE LITE WHO
RECENTLY RETURNED TO SEATTLE TO
SERVE AS PRESIDENT AND CEO OF
FRIENDS OF WATERFRONT SEATTLE,
AND TO HELP DELIVER ON THE
PROMISE OF THE HISTORIC MOMENT
FOR THE CITY WITH A NEW WORLD
CLASS CIVIC WATERFRONT.
PREVIOUSLY SHE WORKED FOR THE
GOLDEN GATE NATIONAL PARKS
CONSERVANCY, LEAVING THE $9
MILLION FOR THE CITY OF TUNNEL
TOPS, A NEW NATIONAL PARKLAND I
SAN FRANCISCO. JOY HELD SEVERAL
LOCATIONS ENCOLLUDING THE
ADDENSMENT OF NEW YORK CITY AND
THE CORE OF NEW YORK LEADERSHIP
CENTER. EARLIER SHE MANAGEDDER
CAMPAIGN IN SEATTLE'S
INTERNATIONAL DISTRICT. AND AS
YOU KNOW SOMEONE WHO HAS HAD AN
OPPORTUNITY TO WORK WITH JOY ON
THE WATERFRONT, SHE'S BEEN A
GREAT ADDITION TO OUR PARTNERS
ON THE WATERFRONT. TURNING OVER
TO YOU.
>> I'M VERY EXCITED ABOUT THE
WORK WITH SEATTLE CENTER AND
THIS EXPANSION OF THE STRENGTH
THAT THE ORGANIZATION WILL BRIN
TO THE NEW 20 ACRE PARK. REALLY
BRINGING FORWARD THE ASSETS THA
THIS ORGANIZATION HAS HAD FOR
MANY YEARS IS AN INCREDIBLE
PLACE OF GROWING UP. I
APPRECIATE THE NOD TO THE FUN
FOREST AND, OF COURSE, YOU CAN'
MENTION THE BUBBLE LATER. THAT
WAS BIG PART OF THAT. BUT A
PLACE WHERE WE CENTERED
COMMUNITY. THE NOTION HOW IT'S
BIG PART OF OUR RENEWAL OF
DOWNTOWN AND HOW WE REALLY
CENTER AND THINK A LITTLE BIT
MORE ABOUT HOW TO BRING A FRESH
VIEW. I REALLY APPRECIATE THAT
NOTION OF THE REINTRODUCTION AS
AN AMAZING ASSET IN OUR CITY.
I'M THRILLED TO BE A PART OF TH
GROUP AND WOULD BE HONORED TO B
A PART OF THE COMMISSION.
>> YEAH, THANK YOU SO MUCH. I'M
TRYING TO THINK OF HOW TO
STRUCTURE MY QUESTION, SO I'M
ASKING YOU AS A COMMISSIONER AN
NOT AS FRIENDS OF THE WATERFRON
PERSON. BUT YOU KNOW, WE ARE
INCREASINGLY GOING TO BE
INTEGRATING THE WATERFRONT INTO
THE SEATTLE CENTER, AND THAT IS
A FUTURE AGENDA ITEM WE'RE GOIN
TO BE GETTING TO LATER TODAY.
AND TO TALK ABOUT THAT A LITTLE
BIT MORE. BUT FROM YOUR SORT OF
DUAL PERSPECTIVE HERE OF LIKE
THE WATERFRONT AND THE SEATTLE
CENTER CAMPUS GENERALLY. HOW DO
YOU SEE THAT INTEGRATION GOING?
AND I WILL JUST SAY THIS. I'VE
TALKED TO COMMUNITY MEMBERS WHO
ARE SKEPTICAL OF THIS
REORGANIZATION THAT PUTS THE
WATERFRONT UNDER THE SEATTLE
CENTER INSTEAD OF PARKS. THE
PARKS DEPARTMENT. I THINK IT
MAKES SENSE FOR A REASON TO
DISCUSS IT UNDER THE SEATTLE
CENTER, BUT WHAT DO YOU SAY TO
CRITICS WHO THINK THIS IS AN OD
PAIRING OF ASSETS?
>> YEAH, THERE IS A VERY
THOUGHTFUL DECISION AND A
FINANCIAL COMMITMENT TO MAKE
SURE THAT WE COULD DELIVER ON
THAT. AND FRIENDS WAS A PART OF
THAT PRIVATE INVESTMENT TO BE
MET WITH THE DISTRICTS TO MAKE
SURE WE HAVE THE RESOURCES TO
MAKE SURE THE SEATTLE CENTER
WILL BE SUCCESSFUL. I THINK
AGAIN, IT'S A REMINDER ABOUT TH
STRENGTH OF THE TEAM ON THE
CENTER CAMPUS FOR THIS TO WORK.
AND THAT IS A PART OF STANDING
BEHIND THE ASSETS OF WHAT IS
REALLY EFFECTIVE WITHIN THE CIT
GOVERNMENT. AND BEING ABLE TO
REALLY HIGHLIGHT THAT THERE IS
STRENGTH IN MAINTENANCE,
OPERATIONS, PUBLIC SAFETY THAT
EXISTS IN THE CITY OF SEATTLE
THAT A LOT OF PEOPLE WILL TAKE
FOR GRANTED THAT YOU GO TO THE
EVENT OF THE CENTER AND TO SAY
GOOD-BYE TO SEATTLE SOON OR A
BIG EVENT AND NOT TAKE FOR
GRANTED THAT YOU DON'T HAVE ANY
PROBLEMS ON THAT CAMPUS. AND
THAT IS SOMETHING TO TAKE THAT
FOR GRANTED THAT WILL SAY A LOT
ABOUT WHAT'S BEEN BUILT OVER TH
YEARS THROUGH TALENT, THROUGH
LEADERSHIP AND JUST INCREDIBLE
HIRING AND TALENT ON THAT
AMONGST THE STAFF TO MAKE THAT
THE CASE. I WOULD SAY THAT'S A
FIRST PLACE TO START TO REVISIT
AND REELEVATE. AND THE CITY
GOVERNMENT AND THAT IT IS THEIR
ABILITY TO BE ABLE TO DELIVER O
THE WATERFRONT PARK.
>> YES, ABSOLUTELY. WE LOOK
FORWARD TO CONTINUING THAT WORK
AND ALL YOUR CAPACITIES AND IN
PARTNERSHIP, SO THANK YOU FOR
BEING HERE AND LOOKING FORWARD
TO PUTTING YOUR NOMINATION
FORWARD. OKAY. IN ADDITION TO
THE SIX NEW APPOINTMENTS, WE
ALSO HAVE FOUR REAPPOINTMENTS O
EXISTING COMMISSIONERS. SO I'M
GOING TO SHIFT OVER TO THAT NOW
I'M GOING TO START WITH TWO
COMMISSIONERS WHO ARE NOT ABLE
TO BE PRESENT TODAY AND THEN I'
GOING TO SHIFT TO OUR
COMMISSIONERS WHO ARE HERE IF
THAT IS ALL RIGHT. FIRST OFF IS
MARK DEDERER WHO IS OUR CURRENT
CHAIR OF THE COMMISSION. MARK
DEDERER IS THE DIRECTOR OF
PHILANTHROPY SERVICES AT WEALTH
MANAGEMENT. AND THE SEATTLE
NATIVE, MARK DEDERER IS
CONTINUING A FAMILY LEGACY OF
CIVIC DUTY, ESTABLISHED BY HIS
GRANDFATHER, AND EARLY SEATTLE
BUSINESS LEADERS WHO IS ONE OF
THE CHAIRS ON THE COMMITTEE THA
BROUGHT THE 1962 WORLD'S FAIR T
THE CITY. DECISION TO HIS ROLE,
HE SERVES ON THE BOARD OF
NORTHWEST AND VIRGINIA MASON
HOSPITAL BOARD OF GOVERNORS, AN
A COMMISSIONER FOR THE SEATTLE
CENTER. A MEMBER OF THE CENTRAL
WASHINGTON UNIVERSITY BUSINESS
SCHOOL ADVISORY BOARD. AND IS
THE PAST BOARD CHAIR OF SEAFAIR
SEATTLE'S PREMIER FESTIVAL.
SECOND, I'LL INTRODUCE KOICHI
KOBAYASHI. MR. KOBAYASHI IS AN
URBAN DESIGNER AND LANDSCAPE
ARCHITECT WITH OVER 40 YEARS OF
EXPERIENCE, CURRENTLY BASED IN
SEATTLE. IN HIS PRIOR PRACTICE,
HE SPENT OVER FIVE YEARS IN
CHINA WORKING WITH A RANGE OF
FIRMS THAT I WON'T LIST ALL OF
THEM, ON A RANGE OF URBAN DESIG
AND LANDSCAPE DESIGN PROJECTS.
HE'S ALSO COMPLETED SIMILAR
POSITIONS IN OTHER PARTS OF THE
MIDEAST AND ASIA. AND THROUGHOU
HIS CAREER, MR. KOBAYASHI HAS
BEEN INVOLVED IN PROJECT
MANAGEMENT, PARTICIPATION, AND
STAFF MANAGEMENT COORDINATION O
KEY PROJECTS AND DEADLINES,
PROPOSAL WRITING, CONTRACT
MANAGEMENT, ETC., FOR A RANGE O
NATIONAL AND INTERNATIONAL
CLIENTS. HE HAS MANAGED DESIGN
ON THE NUMBER OF NOTABLE
PROJECTS ACROSS THE WORLD
INCLUDING UNITED STATES, CANADA
HONG KONG, AND JAPAN. AND THE
PAST EMPLOYMENT HAS COVERED A
DIVERSE FIELD OF PLANNING AND
LANDSCAPE ARCHITECTURE, NEW TOW
MIXED DEVELOPMENT, EDUCATION
PUBLIC SERVICE, AND OTHER
COMMISSIONS. THAT'S MR.
KOBAYASHI. AND NEXT I'M GOING T
TURN TO MICHAEL GEORGE. MR.
GEORGE LEADS A WIDE RANGE OF
COMPLEX COMMERCIAL REAL ESTATE
PROJECTS CONSULTING AT KITTER
MATTHEWS. HE HAS SPECIALIZED
EXPERTISE IN TRANSIT ORIENTED
DEVELOPMENT, TRANSPORTATION
PROJECTS, PUBLIC AND PRIVATE
SECTOR LAND ACQUISITION AND
DISPOSITION, AND AFFORDABLE
HOUSING. MR. GEORGE LIVES
DOWNTOWN WITH HIS WIFE AND TWO
YOUNG CHILDREN. OUTSIDE OF WORK
HE'S ACTIVELY DEDICATING HIMSEL
TO MAKING SEATTLE A PLACE WHERE
PEOPLE OF ALL AGES AND INCOMES
CAN LIVE FULL LIVES. HIS MOST
RECENT CIVIC INVOLVEMENT
INCLUDES SERVING ON THE SEATTLE
PUBLIC SCHOOL'S CAPACITY TASK
FORCE, THE FACILITY'S MASTERS
PLAN TASK FORCE, DOWNTOWN
GREENWAYS, CHAIRING THE DOWNTOW
SEATTLE ASSOCIATION'S DOWNTOWN
SCHOOLS COMMITTEE, AND SERVING
ON THE URBAN LAND INSTITUTES,
EXCUSE ME, TACOMA DOME TECHNICA
ADVISORY PANEL. MICHAEL ALSO
CO-FOUNDED PARENTS FOR A BETTER
DOWNTOWN SEATTLE, A NON-PROFIT
DEDICATED TO MAKING DOWNTOWN A
BETTER NEIGHBORHOOD FOR
CHILDREN. AND ON A PERSONAL
NOTE, THAT'S HOW WE GOT TO KNOW
EACH OTHER THROUGH HIS ADVOCACY
TO NOT ONLY WORK ON DOWNTOWN
SCHOOLS, BUT ALSO TO CREATE A
GREAT WATERFRONT PARK THAT
INCLUDED A PLAYGROUND FOR
CHILDREN. MICHAEL?
>> THANK YOU. I AM VERY EXCITED
TO HOPEFULLY BE SERVING ON THE
SEATTLE CENTER COMMISSION AGAIN
I AM VERY DEDICATED TO MAKING
DOWNTOWN IN GENERAL A PLACE FOR
PEOPLE TO LIVE THEIR ENTIRE
LIVES, ALL STAGES OF THEIR
LIVES, ALL INCOMES. FOR A LOT O
PEOPLE WHO LIVE DOWNTOWN, WE
DON'T HAVE BACKYARDS. THE
SEATTLE CENTER REALLY FUNCTIONS
AS OUR BACKYARD. IT'S THE
BIGGEST PIECE OF GRASS THERE
REALLY IS DOWNTOWN. IT'S GOT TH
BEST PLAYGROUND FOR NOW. AND IT
REALLY IS ONE OF THE BIGGEST
OPEN SPACES YOU CAN GO AND NOT
HAVE TO PAY FOR A TICKET TO GET
INTO. I'M PASSIONATE ABOUT
KEEPING SEATTLE CENTER DEDICATE
TO THAT MISSION, AND VERY
EXCITED TO BE A PART OF THIS
AMAZING GROUP HERE.
>> YEAH, THANK YOU SO MUCH.
THANK YOU FOR YOUR WILLINGNESS
TO CONTINUE TO SERVE. I THINK M
QUESTION FOR YOU. IT RELATES TO
THE INTEGRATION OF THE SCHOOL
DISTRICT ON THIS CAMPUS. AND TH
POTENTIAL FOR PARTNERSHIPS AS W
CONTINUE TO LOOK AT WAYS, YOU
KNOW, I MEAN THE SCHOOL DISTRIC
IS GOING THROUGH A LOT RIGHT
NOW. BUT WAYS THAT I KNOW YOU
AND I BOTH PASSIONATELY AGREE O
TO ENHANCE THE OFFERINGS FOR TH
SCHOOL FACILITIES AT ALL LEVELS
OF PUBLIC EDUCATION. AND THAT
WILL INHERENTLY REQUIRE LOOKING
AT PARTNERSHIPS BETWEEN THE CIT
AND THE SCHOOL DISTRICT GIVEN
THE DIFFICULTY OF THE URBAN
ENVIRONMENT. AND I WONDER WHAT
OPPORTUNITIES YOU SEE GIVEN THE
LARGE FOOTPRINT THAT THE SCHOOL
DISTRICT HAS ON THE SEATTLE
CENTER CAMPUS, THE MEMORIAL
STADIUM, AND ALSO THE CENTER
SCHOOL THROUGH THE SIGNIFICANT
PARKING LOT. WHAT KIND OF
PARTNERSHIPS THAT MIGHT BE THER
FOR THOSE SHARED AMBITIONS AS W
CONTINUE TO SORT OF CHASE THE
WHITE WHALE OF EDUCATION
FACILITIES DOWNTOWN.
>> FIRST OF ALL THANK YOU FOR
THAT QUESTION. I THINK IT'S A
CRITICAL ONE. AND WITHOUT GOING
TOO DEEP AS A LOT OF PEOPLE HER
UNDERSTAND THERE WAS A
MEMORANDUM OF UNDERSTANDING AND
THERE ARE TWO SITES. ONE IS THE
PORTAL TOWN OF BELLTOWN, WHICH
IS SEPARATE, BUT ACTUALLY KIND
OF RELATED TO THIS PROJECT. AS
THE SEATTLE CENTER AND THE
WATERFRONT BECOME A SINGLE
ORGANIZATION OR AT LEAST WORK
TOGETHER MORE FORMALLY, THAT
WILL BE A SITE THAT WILL BE
IMPACTED BY BOTH THOSE
ORGANIZATIONS. AND MEMORIAL
STADIUM, WHICH I THINK IT'S
GOING TO BE A GREAT PROJECT
HOWEVER IT UNFOLDS. WHAT'S THE
OTHER SITE? AND AS FAR AS I
UNDERSTAND A SCHOOL IS NO LONGE
IN THOSE PLANS, HAVING SAID
THAT, I DO THINK THAT SEATTLE
CENTER REALLY OFFERS ONE OF THE
BEST PLACES IN THE ENTIRE
DOWNTOWN AREA FOR OUR SCHOOL.
BECAUSE OF THE FACT THAT IT WIL
HAVE A LOT OF OPEN SPACE AND
JUST A LOT OF AMAZING CULTURAL
ACTIVITIES THAT COULD BE
INTEGRATED INTO A CURRICULUM. O
COURSE, THERE IS THE CENTER
SCHOOL. SO I THINK ULTIMATELY
WHETHER IT WILL GO INTO MEMORIA
STADIUM OR NOT, CONTINUING TO
MAKE SURE THAT WE'RE FOCUSED ON
LOOKING FOR ANOTHER LOCATION ON
CAMPUS FOR A PUBLIC SCHOOL IN
ADDITION TO THE CENTER SCHOOL
WOULD BE A PRIORITY OF MINE. AN
THE ONLY OTHER THING THAT I WIL
SAY ABOUT THAT IS YES,
ENROLLMENT, EBBS AND FLOWS, BUT
THAT'S ONE OF THE BIGGEST
CHALLENGES THAT PEOPLE FACE WHE
THEY HAVE KIDS DOWNTOWN IS
WANTING TO STAY HERE, BUT HAVIN
TO LEAVE BECAUSE IT DOESN'T HAV
SOME OF THE OBVIOUS AMENITIES
THAT YOU NEED FOR ANY
NEIGHBORHOOD AND THAT INCLUDES
SCHOOL. SO THANK YOU FOR THE
QUESTION. I REALLY APPRECIATE
IT. IT'LL BE A FOCUS OF MINE AS
I CONTINUE TO SERVE IF I'M SO
LUCKY TO BE REAPPOINTED. THANK
YOU.
>> YEAH, THANK YOU SO MUCHFOR
THOSE REMARKS. JUST TO DIGRESS
LITTLE BIT ON IT TOO. I MEAN
HAVING GONE THROUGH, GOING TO A
SCHOOL ON THE SEATTLE CENTER
CAMPUS. YOU -- THE PARTNERSHIPS
YOU ELUDED TO REALLY ARE AN
IMPORTANT CONSIDERATION. YOU
DON'T NEED NECESSARILY YOUR OWN
ASSEMBLY SPACE, INTEGRATED INTO
THE FACILITY. YOU CAN HAVE A
PARTNERSHIP WITH THE HAUL OR
WHATEVER, RIGHT? LIKE YOU DON'T
NECESSARILY NEED TO HAVE YOUR
OWN KIND OF ARTS AND CULTURAL
SPACES. YOU CAN JUST BORROW THE
PROGRAM WITH ONES THAT WILL
EXIST ALREADY ON THE CAMPUS. AN
THEN OF COURSE, WHEN MEMORIAL
STADIUM IS COMPLETED, THERE IS
AN OPPORTUNITY FOR GREATER
INTEGRATION OF THAT SPACE FOR
LIKE COMPETITIVE OUTDOOR STUFF.
AND SO YOU KNOW, I GUESS I WOUL
ALSO JUST ENCOURAGE, I MEAN THI
IS JUST IMPROMPTU, YOU KNOW, BU
AS WE CONTINUE TO WORK WITH
MARSHALL. TO THE EXTENT THAT
THERE IS SPACE THAT CAN BE
CONVERTED FOR CLASS INSTRUCTION
EVEN IF IT IS LATE, I MEAN THE
CENTER SCHOOL OF MY GRADUATING
CLASS WAS 50 MAYBE. IT'S NOT
BIG. BUT YOU KNOW, THEY CAN MAK
A DIFFERENCE TO HAVE A K-8 OR A
ELEMENTARY THING THAT MIGHT BE
ABLE TO BE INTEGRATED INTO SOME
SPACE ON OR AROUND THE CAMPUS,
SORT OF THE SIMILAR PARTNERSHIP
BUT I'M HAPPY TO CONTINUE TO
HAVE THOSE DISCUSSIONS BECAUSE,
YOU KNOW -- I MEAN FIRST OFF I
HAVE A SIX-MONTH-OLD DAUGHTER.
WOULD LIKE TO BE ABLE TO STAY I
THE CENTER OF THE CITY SELFISHL
FOR THAT PURPOSE. BUT I REALLY
TAKE TO HEART EVERYTHING MICHAE
WAS SAYING ABOUT WANTING TO
BUILD A DOWNTOWN WHERE PEOPLE
CAN RAISE A FAMILY, RETIRE IN
PLACE, LIKE ALL THE OTHER THING
WE ASSOCIATE WITH OTHER
NEIGHBORHOODS THAT THE DOWNTOWN
NEIGHBORHOOD CURRENTLY IS NOT
BUILT FOR. SO THANK YOU FOR
THAT, AND LOOK FORWARD TO MOVIN
YOUR APPOINTMENT.
>> I WILL JUST SAY QUICKLY ON
THAT, I'M GLAD YOU FLAGGED THAT
AND I'M GLAD YOU ALL HAD THAT
CONVERSATION. THIS IS KIND OF A
HIGH WATER MARK RIGHT NOW IN
TERMS OF OUR RELATIONSHIP WITH
SPS AND SEATTLE CENTER BECAUSE
OF THE PARTNERSHIP WE'VE BEEN
ABLE TO FORGE WITH MEMORIAL
STADIUM. WE'RE REALLY EXPLORING
THESE IDEAS RIGHT NOW OF HOW CA
WE BE PUTTING MORE IDEAS AND
OFFERINGS ON THE TABLE TO THEM
IN TERMS OF HOW THEY SUPPORT
STUDENTS AS WELL AS STUDENT
ATHLETICS AT THE STADIUM. SO
THOSE ARE RELEVANT IDEAS FOR US
WE LOVE THE CENTER. IT'S A
HUGELY POSITIVE PART OF THE LIF
OF THE ARMORY BUILDING, AND IF
THERE IS CREATIVE WAYS TO GROW
IT, THAT IS ACTUALLY SOMETHING
WE'VE BEEN APPROACHING A LITTLE
BIT WITH THEM.
>> GREAT. I'M HAPPY TO MOVE ON.
AND OUR FINAL NOMINEE?
>> LAST, BUT NOT LEAST, YES.
>> THANKS FOR HANGING IN THERE.
JANA LAMON. THANK YOU SO MUCH
FOR YOUR SERVICE TO DATE. MS.
LAMON IS THE ASSISTANT DIRECTOR
OF THE ROBINSON CENTER FOR YOUN
SCHOLARS AT THE UNIVERSITY OF
WASHINGTON. SHE IS PASSIONATE
ABOUT EQUITY IN EDUCATION, AND
WORKS TO MAKE SURE STUDENTS WHO
WERE UNDERREPRESENTED IN THE
PAST. AS A LIFELONG SEATTLE
RESIDENT, SHE'S EXCITED ABOUT
THE CITY'S GROWTH AND EXPANSION
MS. LAMON LIVES IN BALLARD WITH
HER HUSBAND AND TWO BOYS. SHE
AS FIRST APPOINTED TO THE
ADVISORY COMMISSION IN AUGUST O
2018 TO FINISH OUT A THREE-YEAR
TERM. HER KNOWLEDGE OF SEATTLE
AND HER LEADERSHIP SKILLS HAVE
ADDED A LOT DURING HER TENURE
SERVING ON THE COMMISSION. THAN
YOU, JANA.
>> YEAH, THANK YOU. AND JUST TO
SAY TOO, I WAS SORT OF, YOU
KNOW, BROUGHT ONTO THE
COMMISSION IN 2018 BECAUSE I WA
A PUBLIC SCHOOLTEACHER,
ELEMENTARY IN SEATTLE PUBLIC
SCHOOLS. AND THEN MOVED ON TO
THE UNIVERSITY OF WASHINGTON
NOW, ASSOCIATE DIRECTOR. AND TH
CENTER SCHOOL IS A PASSION OF
MINE. I LOVE THIS IDEA AND THAT
WE WERE DISCUSSING BACK IN 2018
AND 2019 AND THE PANDEMIC WILL
HAPPEN. AND THE EDUCATION OF
ONLINE LEARNING AND I'M HAPPY T
MOVE AWAY FROM THAT, BUT I LOOK
FORWARD TO MEETING AGAIN IN
PERSON IN THE COMMISSION AND
HAVING THESE CONVERSATIONS. AND
PRIOR TO THE PANDEMIC WORKED ON
MEMORIAL STADIUM IN GETTING
SEATTLE TO REALLY BE EXCITED
ABOUT THAT AND DO SOMETHING
ABOUT IT. SO LOOKING FORWARD TO
CONTINUING.
>> YEAH. AND SO IT SOUNDS LIKE
LOT OF THE STUFF THAT YOU
PREVIOUSLY WORKED ON IS COMING
TO FRUITION NOW. SO WHAT'S THE
NEXT BIG PROJECT? WHAT SHOULD W
BE DOING ON THE CENTER CAMPUS?
>> IN GENERAL? BECAUSE THE
CENTER SCHOOL WOULD BE, I THINK
THAT'S THE WORK THAT I FEEL SOR
OF STUCK BECAUSE OF THE
PANDEMIC.
>> LIKE EXPANDING THE PROGRAMS?
>> AND NOW HAVING MOVED TO UDUB
SO THE ROBINSON CENTER IS AN
EARLY PROGRAM FOR GIFTED
STUDENTS, LIKE DOOGIE HOUSER,
14-YEAR-OLDS GOING TO COLLEGE.
BUT THAT HAS INSPIRED IN ME WHA
ARE WE DOING FOR THE STUDENTS
THAT AREN'T THE 15 THAT ARE ABL
TO GO TO THAT? ARE WE BRINGING
HIGHLY CAPABLE LEARNING? TO
EVERYBODY. AND SO THINKING ABOU
THAT AT THE CENTER SCHOOL IN
ACCESS TO THAT.
>> YEAH, EXCELLENT. GREAT. WELL
I LOOK FORWARD TO CONTINUING
THAT WORK WITH EVERYBODY HERE
WHO IS BEING PUT FORWARD. I'M
GOING TO OPEN IT UP TO MY
COLLEAGUES BRIEFLY HERE TO SEE
IF THERE ARE ANY QUESTIONS FOR
ANY OF THE PRESENT NOMINEES. AN
I DON'T SEE ANYONE WANTING TO
ADD -- OH, NO, NO, JUST SAYING
NO, OKAY, GREAT. OKAY, GOOD.
WELL THAT PROBABLY BODES WELL
FOR A COMMITTEE VOTE HERE. I'M
GOING TO GO AHEAD AND MOVE TO
RECOMMEND THE CONFIRMATION OF
THE APPOINTMENTS THAT WERE
PREVIOUSLY READ INTO THE RECORD
BY THE CLERK, REPRESENTATIVE
ITEMS 2-11 ON OUR AGENDA. IS
THERE A SECOND? IT'S BEEN MOVED
AND SECONDED. WILL THE CLERK
PLEASE CALL THE ROLL ON THE
RECOMMENDATION OF THE
CONFIRMATION?
>> COUNCIL MEMBER HERBOLD?
>> YES.
>> COUNCIL PRESIDENT JUAREZ?
COUNCIL MEMBER MORALES?
>> YES. COUNCIL MEMBER MOSQUEDA
>> YES.
>> CHAIR LEWIS?
>> YES.
>> CHAIR, THERE ARE FOUR IN
FAVOR, NONE OPPOSED.
>> EXCELLENT. SO THESE
APPOINTMENTS WILL NOW PROCEED T
OUR NEXT FULL COUNCIL MEETING.
YOU DO NOT NEED TO ATTEND IF YO
DO NOT WANT TO. YOU ARE, OF
COURSE, MORE THAN WELCOME TO IF
YOU WOULD LIKE TO. AND I LOOK
FORWARD TO AGAIN VOTING TO
APPROVE THESE APPOINTMENTS AT
THE FULL COUNCIL. THANK YOU ALL
FOR BEING HERE AND THANK YOU FO
YOUR SERVICE AND APPRECIATE THE
OPPORTUNITY TO WORK IN
PARTNERSHIP WITH ALL OF YOU.
OKAY. I GUESS MARSHALL STAY
RIGHT WHERE HE IS FOR THE NEXT
AGENDA ITEM. WILL THE CLERK
PLEASE READ AGENDA ITEM 12 INTO
THE RECORD.
>> ITEM 12, PRESENTATION
WATERFRONT OPERATIONS MANAGEMEN
AGREEMENT.
>> WE'LL PAUSE A MOMENT TO ALLO
THE PANELS TO SWITCH. OKAY,
MARSHALL, DO YOU WANT TO KICK
THIS OFF AS WELL? WE ALSO HAVE
COUNCIL CENTRAL STAFF HERE,
COUNCIL CENTRAL STAFF CAN
INTRODUCE THEMSELVES. BUT WHY
DON'T WE START WITH MARSHALL,
YEAH, GO AHEAD.
>> SURE, I THINK I FORGOT TO
INTRODUCE MYSELF LAST TIME,
MARSHALL FOSTER, INTERIM
DIRECTOR AT SEATTLE CENTER. AND
IF IT IS ALL RIGHT, I'M GOING T
HAVE US WALK DOWN THE ROW HERE.
>> CHIEF OPERATING OFFICER FOR
FRIENDS OF WATERFRONT SEATTLE. O
I'M GLAD TO BE HERE TODAY.
>> JOY SHIGAKI, PRESIDENT AND
CEO OF WATERFRONT SEATTLE.
>> INTERIM OPERATIONS MANAGER A
SEATTLE CENTER.
>> GREAT. ALL RIGHT.
>> AND I'M STILL HERE. YEP.
>> GREAT.
>> OKAY. WELL WHY DON'T WE GO
AHEAD AND JUMP INTO IT. I
UNDERSTAND YOU GUYS HAVE A
PRESENTATION, AND I THINK I HAV
-- IS THIS WHAT WE'RE LOOKING
AT? OKAY, GREAT. GO AHEAD, TAKE
IT AWAY, PLEASE.
>> CHAIR LEWIS, I NEEDED TO NOT
BEFORE WE STARTED THAT WE HAVE
COUPLE OF CHANGES TO WHAT WAS
POSTED ON THE AGENDA IN TERMS O
OUR PRESENTATION. SO WE HAVE
SLIDES 3-7 WE ADDED AS SLIDES 4
TO TALK ABOUT PROGRAMMING, AND
WE ADDED A BULLET TO HIGHLIGHT
WHERE WE ARE AT WITH LABOR
HARMONY ON SLIDE 16.
>> OKAY. I THINK WE HAVE SOME
PEOPLE IN THE GALLERY WHO ARE
KEEN FOR SLIDE 16. BUT GO AHEAD
PLEASE.
>> AND I'LL GIVE TIFFANY A
SECOND TO PULL UP THE SLIDES.
PARKER IS GOING TO DO THAT.
GREAT. AND JUST WHILE THAT'S
HAPPENING, VERY QUICK
INTRODUCTION. COUNCIL MEMBERS,
TODAY'S DISCUSSION IS BASICALLY
AN INFORMATIONAL BRIEFING ON TH
LONG-TERM MANAGEMENT AGREEMENT.
WE ARE PROPOSING FOR THE CITY T
ENTER INTO WITH FRIENDS OF
WATERFRONT SEATTLE. AS YOU MAY
REMEMBER BACK IN 2019, THE
BEFORE DAYS, WE LAID OUT VIA
ORDINANCE A REAL CRITICAL SET O
POLICY IN TERMS OF HOW WE WOULD
OPERATE THE NEW WATERFRONT. AND
AS PART OF THAT ORDINANCE, WE
ESTABLISHED THE CONCEPT OF
HAVING A PARTNERSHIP BETWEEN TH
CITY AND FRIENDS OF WATERFRONT
SEATTLE UNDER WHICH FRIENDS
WOULD DO THE PROGRAMMING OF THE
WATERFRONT AND THE CITY WOULD
PROVIDE OPERATIONS SUPPORT,
MAINTENANCE IN THE LIKE. SINCE
THAT ORDINANCE IN 2019, THEY
HAVE BEEN OPERATING PIER 62
THROUGH A LICENSE AGREEMENT WIT
US. JOY IS GOING TO DESCRIBE A
LITTLE BIT OF THEIR EXPERIENCE
AT PIER 62. WE'VE BEEN VERY
HAPPY WITH THEIR ABILITY TO
BRING THE ENTIRE COMMUNITY
TOGETHER IN THAT SPACE. AND NOW
WHAT WE'RE BRINGING FORWARD IS
FIVE-YEAR MANAGEMENT AGREEMENT
TO EXPAND THAT PARTNERSHIP AS W
FINISH THE PARK TO ITS ENTIRETY
WHICH AGAIN IS THE ORIGINAL
VISION THAT WE HAD OF HOW THIS
WOULD PLAY OUT. AND AGAIN, I
WILL JUST SAY THERE IS NO
LEGISLATION IN FRONT OF YOU
TODAY, BUT IT'S AN INFORMATIONA
BRIEFING THAT WE INTEND TO HAVE
A FORMAL CONSIDERATION OF IT ON
JUNE 7, I BELIEVE. WITH THAT, I
WILL TURN IT OVER FIRST TO JOY,
RIGHT?
>> RIGHT. THANK YOU, MARSHALL.
THANKS CHAIRMAN LEWIS AND
MEMBERS OF THE COMMITTEE. AND
OUR PARTNERSHIP WITH THE CITY.
WE ARE VERY PLEASED TO BE MOVIN
FORWARD OUR MANAGEMENT AGREEMEN
FOR THE NEXT SIX YEARS, WHICH
INCLUDES LEANING TOWARDS OPENIN
THE WATERFRONT PARK IN 2025 AND
BEYOND. SO TODAY I'M GOING TO
SHARE A LITTLE BIT ABOUT OUR
PROBLEMATIC APPROACH AND IMPACT
WHAT IS IN LINE AND IN STORED
FOR 2023 PROGRAMMING, AND WHAT
LAYS AHEAD ONCE THE PARK OPENS.
I'LL BE SHARING MORE ON OUR
COMMUNITY ENGAGEMENT EFFORTS. S
THE CURRENT SLIDE THAT'S HERE I
REALLY JUST THE REMINDER ABOUT
OUR PARTNERSHIP AND THE WORK OF
FRIENDS OF WATERFRONT SEATTLE.
WE ARE THE NON-PROFIT PARTNER,
RESPONSIBLE FOR FUNDING,
STEWARDING, ACTIVATING, AND
PROGRAMMING WATERFRONT PARK AND
PERPETUITY. WE ACCOMPLISHED THI
MISSION BY COLLABORATING AND
REALLY AT THE CENTER OF
PARTNERSHIP WITH INDIVIDUALS AN
COMMUNITIES, BUSINESSES,
CONSTITUTIONAL PARTNERS. ALL
WORKING TOGETHERTOWARDS A
RENEWED CONNECTION ON THE
SEATTLE CENTER SHORELINE. NEXT
SLIDE. SO ONE OF OUR CORE
PROMISES IS TO ACTIVATE AND
PROGRAM THIS NEW SPACE AS
MARSHALL MENTIONED, MAKING IT
MEANFULLY RELEVANT TO ALL THE
COMMUNITIES WHO LIVE HERE. THE
CITY OPENED PIER 62 IN THE FALL
OF 2020, REALLY NOT THE BEST
TIME IN TERMS OF BEING IN THE
MIDST OF THE PANDEMIC. BUT SINC
THEN, WE'VE BEEN PILOTING FREE
PROGRAMS EVER SINCE BRINGING
ARTS, CULTURE, EDUCATION, AND
RECREATION TO THE WATERFRONT AN
REALLY TO COMMUNITIES IN A
MEANINGFUL WAY. NEXT SLIDE. WE
ARE PLACE MAKING. WE'RE BUILDIN
A NEW URBAN DOWNTOWN SPACE, AND
THOUGH THE MANTRA OF A BILL THA
THEY WILL COME TO ME IS NOT A
RELEVANT MANTRA BECAUSE IT'S
ABOUT HOW DO YOU CREATE THE
CENTER VALUES THAT ARE REALLY
ABOUT CREATING THE BELONGING,
EQUITY, AND INCLUSION IN A NEW
PUBLIC SPACE. AND ENSURING THAT
ALL COMMUNITIES FEEL THAT SENSE
OF WELCOME, JOY, SAFETY. AND SO
WE, AS AN ORGANIZATION, WE ARE
VERY ANCHORED TO LISTENING TO
CENTERING, WORKING IN
PARTNERSHIP WITH THE COMMUNITY
TO CO-CREATE JOYFUL RELEVANT
DYNAMIC SITES ON THE SPECIFIC
EXPERIENCES AND EVENTS AT THE
WATERFRONT THAT WILL CREATE THI
REAL SENSE OF CONNECTION TO
PLACE AND TO SPACE ON THE LAND.
NEXT SLIDE, PLEASE. SO OUR STAF
SEEKS THIS OUT BY FOSTERING
AUTHENTIC RELATIONSHIPS WITH
COMMUNITY PARTNERS. AND THIS IS
REALLY OUR COMMUNITY CENTER
APPROACH. IT'S ABOUT REALLY
ROOTING AND LISTENING AND
RESPECTING AND BEING ACCOUNTABL
TO THE HISTORIES AND THE STORIE
OF THE PLACE. WE REALLY
PRIORITIZE THE COMMUNITIES AS
OUR LOCAL PARTNERS IN THIS WORK
NEXT SLIDE, PLEASE. THE
COLLABORATION TAKES TIME. AND W
REALLY BELIEVE THAT IT IS REALL
WORTH TAKING THE TIME BEING
INTENTIONAL AND PUTTING IN THE
RESOURCES WITH OUR COMMUNITY
PARTNERS IN THIS WORK. WE
BELIEVE THAT IN OUR SUPPORT AS
AN ORGANIZATION FOR THE PARTNER
SHOULD BE TRANSPARENT AND
EQUITABLE, INCLUDING IN BUDGETS
PRODUCTION PARAMETERS. ACTUALLY
I DON'T KNOW. NEXT SLIDE. LET'S
SEE. AND BY THE NUMBERS, THIS I
ACTUALLY A HIGH LEVEL. SO SINCE
THE OPENING OF THE PIER, WE'VE
HAD OVER 775,000 VISITORS SINCE
OPENING. OVER 355,000 IN PERSON
SORRY, 355 PROGRAMS IN PERSON
AND OVER 125 ATTENDEES TO DATE.
JANUARY, AS AN EXAMPLE, FOR
LUNAR NEW YEAR, WE HAD OVER
2,500 PEOPLE WHO CAME IN THE
MIDDLE OF A WINTER JANUARY DAY.
ON THE RAINY DAY IN FEBRUARY, A
FIRE PIT AND SOME SMORES HAD
OVER 900 PEOPLE. THAT PLACE
MAKING IS WORKING AND PEOPLE AR
FEELING REALLY CONNECTED. AND W
KNOW THIS WILL BE A BUSY SUMMER
IF THE WINTER WAS ANY
INDICATION. SO WHAT YOU'LL SEE
ON THE SLIDE IS JUST A
REFLECTION OF OUR LAST SUMMER
PROGRAMMING. WE SAW NEARLY
82,000 PEOPLE. AND OVER 125,000
PEOPLE WHO CAME TO EXPERIENCE
THE PIER. THERE ARE OVER 163
TOTAL EVENTS AND ACTIVATIONS. O
AVERAGE, 1,500 AVERAGE
ATTENDEES. 177 ARTISTS AND
PERFORMERS. 55 ORGANIZATIONAL
PROGRAM PARTNERS WITH FRIENDS.
AND 80% OF OUR ARTISTS,
PERFORMERS, PROGRAM PARTNERS
WERE BLACK AND INDIGENOUS AND
PEOPLE OF COLOR, WHICH IS A
REALLY IMPORTANT POINT FOR US T
BE ABLE TO CONTINUE TO CREATE
THAT SENSE OF BELONGING OF THE
NEW SPACE. GIVEN THE NUMBER SO
FAR, WE EXPECT THEM TO TRIPLE I
2023, WHICH IS QUITE AN
ASTOUNDING THING. NEXT SLIDE. S
WHAT YOU WILL SEE HERE ON THE
SLIDE IS JUST AN EXAMPLE OF THE
EXTRAORDINARY SUMMER PROGRAMMIN
THAT HAS BEEN DEALT BY OUR STAF
AND PARTNER PROGRAMS. WE'LL
BEGIN TO SPOTLIGHT ON THE PIER
THIS THURSDAY, SO PLEASE COME
DOWN IF YOU CAN. REALLY
BEGINNING WITH THE MUSIC AND
DANCE. ONE OF OUR NEW PROGRAMS
OVER THE MEMORIAL DAY WEEKEND
WILL BE A MASSIVE MONKEY DAY FO
BREAK DANCING, I BELIEVE THIS
WILL BE A PART OF THE BREAK
DANCING QUALIFIERS FOR THE
OLYMPICS IF I'M NOT MISTAKEN,
WHICH IS VERY EXCITING. I DIDN'
EVEN REALIZE THAT THERE WAS AN
OLYMPICS, SO SOME NEW
INFORMATION FOR ME. AND IN JUNE
YOU'LL SEE WE HAVE A JUNETEENTH
PROGRAM ON THE PIER, THE EVENT
FOR PRIDE. JULY, WE'LL BE
KICKING OFF OUR SOUNDS AND
CONCERTS. IN AUGUST, YOU'LL SEE
WE HAVE A SPECIAL 50th
ANNIVERSARY OF HIP HOP, THE
KOREAN FESTIVAL IS COMING BACK.
BEETS AND EATS WITH THE ROLLER
SKATING WILL ALSO BE A PART OF
THE LINEUP. AND IN SEPTEMBER,
WE'LL BE HAVING OUR BLOCK PARTY
EVENTS. WE'LL CLOSE THE SEASON
WITH SALMON HOMECOMING IN LATE
SEPTEMBER, BUT THIS IS JUST A
SLICE OF THE PROGRAMMING, SO WE
ENCOURAGE YOU TO PLEASE COME
ONTO THE WEBSITE. PLEASE COME
DOWN. THERE ARE MANY THINGS.
NEXT SLIDE. THE PARK WILL BECOM
THE EXPERIENCE AS KIND OF THE
REMINDER. WE'RE DOING THE
EXTRAORDINARY THINGS FOR THOSE
CREATING THE SENSE OF BELONGING
AND THE JOY AND SAFETY CURRENTL
IN WATERFRONT PARK. AND BEYOND
OPENING, WE'LL BE LOOKING AT
WAYS TO HAVE AN OPEN CALL
PROCESS FOR THE COMMUNITY TO BE
GIVING INPUT INTO THE DECISIONS
THAT WE'RE MAKING AROUND OUR
EVENTS. WE WILL BE SEEING A LOT
MORE SPOTLIGHT ON THE WATERFRON
SERIES, REALLY HAVING A LOT OF
DIFFERENT WAYS TO ENGAGE THE
DIFFERENT AUDIENCES OF ALL
BACKGROUNDS. AND THE AGES WHO
ARE EXPERIENCING THE MUSIC AND
THE VISUAL PERFORMNCES, AND
REALLY POP-UP PLATFORMS TO
INTRODUCE DANCE, ART, CULTURE T
NEW GROUPS THAT ARE COMING
THROUGH THE WATERFRONT. IN THAT
WAY, IT WILL ENCOURAGE A LOT OF
SPOTS. YOU'LL SEE MORE ALONG TH
WATERFRONT. OF COURSE, WE WILL
BE HOSTING ANNUAL AND ONE-TIME
REGIONAL AND GLOBAL MOMENTS AND
THE PRIDE PARADE AS AN EXAMPLE
AND WORLD CUP IN 2026. WE'LL BE
HAVING THE ONGOING PROGRAMMING
INCLUDING THE FESTIVAL AND
SALMON HOMECOMING AS I'VE
MENTIONED BEFORE. NEXT SLIDE.
THE LAST PIECE I WANT TO
MENTION, COMMUNITY ENGAGEMENT I
AT THE CENTER OF OUR WORK AS
WELL. THE GOAL IS TO SPREAD
AWARENESS ABOUT PARTICIPATION I
OUR CITY'S FUTURE OF WATERFRONT
PARK. AND OUR TEAM HAS BEEN
WORKING VERY HARD TO MAKE THOSE
CONNECTIONS BETWEEN COMMUNITIES
AND THIS NEW URBAN CIVIC SPACE.
OUR WORK IS REALLY ABOUT HOW DO
WE COLLECT FEEDBACK FOR MEMBERS
OF THE COMMUNITY WITH OUR TEAM.
AND THERE ARE A NUMBER OF
OPPORTUNITIES FOR INTERVIEWS
WITH PROGRAM AND VENDOR FEEDBAC
SEE YES SURVEYS AND
CONVERSATIONS AGAIN WITH OUR
STAFF. AND OUR TEAM ALSO WORKS
TO HAVE FOCUSED GROUPS VIA
COMMITTEES, TOURS, THE GROUP
PRESENTATIONS. AND THAT HAS BEE
A REALLY, REALLY IMPORTANT PART
FOR KIND OF CRITICAL FEEDBACK
LOOPS. ONE OF THE -- WELL TWO O
THE COMMITTEES THAT WE HAVE BEE
MOVING FORWARD ON IS OUR
COMMUNITY CONNECTIONS COMMITTEE
IT IS LED BY LEADERS FROM ACROS
THE REGION. AND REALLY ALLOW TH
FEEDBACK AND BACK TO THE
ORGANIZATION IN A REAL IMPORTAN
WAY TO BE ABLE TO PROVIDE
CONNECTIONS AND INPUT AND
FEEDBACK TO THAT GROUP. AND WE
ALSO HAVE A PULLING TOGETHER
COMMITTEE, WHICH IS AN
ALL-INDIGENOUS LEADER COMMITTEE
TO PROVIDE FEEDBACK ON WHAT IT
MEANS TO HAVE A LIVED EXPERIENC
FOR THE INDIGENOUS PEOPLE ON TH
SACRED LAND OF THE PEOPLE. AND
THE LAST AREA THAT HAS BEEN AN
IMPORTANT PART OF INPUT FOR US
IN TERMS OF HOW TO INCREASE AND
APPROVE THE EXPERIENCE OF PEOPL
COMING TO THE WATERFRONT PARK,
OUR TEAM HOSTS A WELCOME TABLE
AND ENGAGES WITH THE COMMUNITY
TO COLLECT DATA ON VISITORS, IN
FACT PROGRAMMING, THE OUTREACH
EFFORTS. WE DO TARGET OUTREACH
ALSO AT EVENTS AND COMMUNITY
EVENTS THROUGHOUT THE CITY. A
PART OF IT IS HOW DO WE GO TO
THE COMMUNITY TO BE ABLE TO
SHARE MORE ABOUT THE EXCITING
THINGS THAT ARE HAPPENING ON TH
WATERFRONT WHERE PEOPLE MAY NOT
BE AS CONNECTED. THEN GATHERING
THOSE SURVEYS THAT HAVE BEEN AN
IMPORTANT PART OF GETTING THE
GUESTS EXPERIENCES AROUND
SAFETY, COMFORT, AND PROGRAMS.
AND LAST YEAR, 80% OF THOSE
GUESTS REALLY REPORTED ABOUT
THEIR REAL HIGH LEVEL OF
SATISFACTION ON THE WATERFRONT,
WHICH IS REALLY IMPORTANT TO US
AND REALLY UNDERSTANDING THE
EXPERIENCES. AND SO THAT IS A
SNAPSHOT OF OUR WORK TO DATE.
AND WE ARE EXCITED TO BE THE
PARTNER AND REALLY BRINGING
FORWARD THE EQUITY AND INCLUSIO
OF THIS NEW EXTRAORDINARY PUBLI
SPACE FOR OUR CITY. AND IT IS
VERY MUCH APPRECIATEDth SUPPORT
>> I'LL TURN IT OVER TO TIFFANY
TO WALK YOU THROUGH THE
MANAGEMENT AGREEMENT.
>> ALL RIGHT, THANKS, MARSHAL.
>> THANK YOU, JOY. I'M GOING TO
QUICKLY WALK YOU THROUGH SOME O
OUR LEGISLATIVE HISTORY FOR OUR
OPERATIONS AND OUR MANAGEMENT
THAT HAS GOTTEN US TO THIS
POINT. AND SO MANY OF YOU OVER
THE YEARS HAVE BEEN INVOLVED,
AND WE THANK YOU FOR ALL YOUR
CONTINUED SUPPORT AND AS WE
CONTINUE TO COMPLETE PORTIONS O
THE WATERFRONT AND MOVE FORWARD
TO THE NEXT EXCITING PHASE OF
WHAT WATERFRONT PARK MEANS FOR
THE CITY OF SEATTLE. AND SO
THERE IS OVER A DECADE OF
LEGISLATIVE HISTORY THAT HAS
BUILT US UP TO THIS PLACE 2017
WAS REALLY THE MOMENT WHERE WE
DECIDED THAT FRIENDS WOULD BE
OUR LONG-TERM PARTNER IN THIS
PRIVATE-PUBLIC PARTNERSHIP. AND
IT WOULD HELP US DELIVER ON THI
KIND OF HIGH-QUALITY PARK
EXPERIENCE. NEXT SLIDE. WE HAD
OUR BIGGEST LEGISLATIVE PIECE
WAS IN 2019. WE HAD A PRETTY BI
PACKAGE THAT CAME TOGETHER IN
COMBINATION WITH THE LID
FORMATION. THAT PACKAGE DID SOM
CRITICAL THINGS THAT HAVE SET
THE STAGE FOR WHAT OPERATIONS
LOOKS LIKE IN THE FUTURE. IT
CREATES THE CENTRAL WATERFRONT
OVERSIGHT COMMITTEE, WHICH WAS
MAYOR COUNCIL, APPOINTING THE
COMMITTEE MEMBERS THAT HAVE BEE
WORKING ON WHAT DEVELOPING THE
PERFORMANCE STANDARD THAT CITY
COUNCIL HAD REALLY MADE AS A
FOUNDATIONAL PIECE OF THEIR
WORK. AND IT AUTHORIZED THE
PILOT AGREEMENT THAT YOU JUST
HEARD JOY TALK ABOUT FOR OUR
OPERATIONS ON PIER 62. IT REALL
SET THE STAGE AND THE FRAMEWORK
FOR WHAT WE WANTED THE LONG-TER
AGREEMENT TO LOOK LIKE, GIVING
US THE OPPORTUNITY TO USE THE
PILOT AGREEMENT, TO REALLY SEE
WHERE WE NEEDED TO MAKE
ADJUSTMENTS FOR THE FUTURE. THI
OEM ORDINANCE SET US UP FOR
BEING COMMITTED TO THE CITY IN
HIGH QUALITY PARK USER
EXPERIENCE WITH MAINTENANCE
PROGRAMMING AND PUBLIC SAFETY.
WE ALSO AGREED TO MAKE A PARK
BOULEVARD FOR THE WATERFRONT. W
CAME BACK IN 2021 AND WE DID DO
THAT, DESIGNATING PORTIONS OF
THE RIGHT OF WAY, AND SO THAT W
COULD HAVE ONE DEPARTMENT THAT
IS ACTUALLY OPERATING THE PARK.
AND THEN IN 2023 IN JANUARY,
AFTER VERY THOUGHTFUL
CONSIDERATIONS AND DISCUSSIONS,
WE HAVE DELEGATED THE AUTHORITY
FROM THE SEATTLE PARKS AND
WATERFRONT DEPARTMENT TO
OPERATIONS AND MANAGEMENT OF TH
WATERFRONT PARK. NEXT SLIDE. SO
THIS JUST SHOWS THE OUTLINE OF
ACTUAL WATERFRONT PARK IN PUBLI
SPACES. EVERYTHING IN PINK UP
HERE, IT'S GOING TO BE UNDER TH
MANAGEMENT OF SEATTLE CENTER AN
THE FRIENDS OF WATERFRONT. THIS
WILL CONTINUE TO OPEN IN PHASES
BETWEEN NOW AND BETWEEN THE
BEGINNING OF 2025. AND AS WE
CONTINUE TO OPEN UP THE PORTION
OF THE WATERFRONT FROM
CONSTRUCTION AND COMPLETION. WE
HAVE PHASED IN OPERATION MODELS
WITH THE FRIENDS IN THIS NEXT
AGREEMENT.
>> WHEN WE HAD PRESENTERS HERE
FEW MONTHS AGO IN THE
TRANSPORTATION COMMITTEE, WE
DISCUSSED WHERE THE
JURISDICTIONS BEGAN AND ENDED
FOR WHAT IS WSDOT AND WHAT IS
SEATTLE. IN MY RECOLLECTION IS
THAT IT IS EVERYTHING NORTH OF
YESLER TURNS INTO SEATTLE'S
RIGHT OF WAY. WE DON'T NEED TO
GET INTO IT, BUT WHEN WE HAVE A
LITTLE DISCUSSION OF THIS. YOU
KNOW, NO DECISIONS WERE MADE
THROUGH THE LEGISLATIVE HISTORY
WE JUST WENT THROUGH THE
CONFIGURATION OF THIS, AND WE'R
NOT HERE TO RELITIGATE THAT
RIGHT NOW. BUT THE POTENTIAL
OPPORTUNITIES FOR ACTIVATION AN
IMPROVEMENTS TO THE ALASKA WAY
PORTION THAT'S IN THE CITY'S
PORTION THAT CAN FURTHER
EMPHASIZE THE TRAFFIC CALMING
PEDESTRIANIZATION AND MAKING IT
A PEOPLE-FRIENDLY PUBLIC SPACE.
I THINK IT IS SOMETHING THAT'S
GOING TO BE THE AREA OF INTERES
GOING FORWARD. I WOULD BE
CURIOUS AT THIS POINT, SINCE WE
ARE TALKING ABOUT ACTIVATION AN
THE WAY PEOPLE USE THIS SPACE.
ANY INITIAL CONCEPTS OR IDEAS
ABOUT HOW WE MIGHT BETTER
UTILIZE THAT SEATTLE PORTION
THAT WILL CUT OFF IN THE MIDDLE
OF THIS MAP NEAR COLMAN DOCK TO
BETTER INTEGRATE IT TO THE
SPACES THAT WE'RE BUILDING, IF
THERE ARE ANY THOUGHTS FROM THE
PANEL. MARSHALL?
>> YEAH, THANK YOU, COUNCIL
MEMBER. IT'S A GREAT QUESTION,
AND IT HAS BEEN A TOPIC RECENTL
UNDERSTANDABLY WITH THE OPENING
OF THE NEW SURFACE STREET. I
THINK THE FIRST THING I WOULD
SAY FUNDAMENTALLY IS WHAT YOU
HAVE FOR THE MAJORITY OF THE
PROJECT. I BELIEVE WE HAVE ABOU
17 BLOCKS TOTAL. AND EVERYTHING
EXCEPT FOR THE SOUTHERN PORTION
IS A FOUR-LANE STREET. TWO LANE
IN EACH DIRECTION. IF YOU LOOK
AT JUST ABOUT EVERY URBAN STREE
IN SEATTLE, YOU KNOW, ESPECIALL
SOME THAT ARE CONSIDERED VERY
APPEALING AND PEDESTRIAN
FRIENDLY LIKE FIRST AVENUE.
THAT'S NOT AN EXCESSIVE WIDTH.
THE DESIGN OF THE PROJECT
INCLUDES A CONTINUOUS CYCLE
TRACK, THE ENTIRE LENGTH. IT
WILL INCLUDE THE RAISED
CROSSWALKS, WHICH YOU WILL NOT
FIND CONSISTENTLY APPLIED AT A
LEVEL ANYWHERE ELSE IN THE CITY
OF WHAT WE'RE DOING ON THE
WATERFRONT. AND A LEVEL OF
LANDSCAPING AND ENHANCEMENT TO
MAKE THAT PEDESTRIAN ENVIRONMEN
SAFE AND ACCESSIBLE. JUST A
CERTAIN LEVEL OF WHAT ARE THE
FACTS OF THE MATTER HERE THAT I
IMPORTANT TO PUT ON THE TABLE
FIRST AND FOREMOST. WE'RE PROUD
OF THE WAY THE OVERALL STREET
WAS ABLE TO BE DESIGNED TO
INTEGRATE THAT. IN TERMS OF
WSDOT AND THE HISTORY THERE,
YES. EVERYTHING ESSENTIALLY
SOUTH OF THE MAJOR COLMAN DOCK
EGRESS IS STATE ROUTE 519, WHIC
WILL GIVE WSDOT AUTHORITY OVER
THE STREET GEOMETRY AND THE
CHANNELIZATION. AND SO YES, IT
WAS VERY IMPORTANT TO WSDOT THA
THERE BE DEDICATED LANES FOR
TRAFFIC TO STACK ALONG THE WAY
NORTHBOUND TO SERVE THE DOCK.
THAT'S INCORPORATED ON THE
SOUTHERN PORTION, WHICH WILL
WIDEN THE STREET BY TWO LANES.
AND THEN ALSO, THIS IS IMPORTAN
FOR THE CITY. WE CHOSE IN
PARTNERSHIP WITH KING COUNTY TO
PROVIDE DEDICATED FULL-TIME
TRANSIT LANES IN AND OUT FROM
COLUMBIA SOUTH TO SR99 TO MAKE
SURE WE COULD CONTINUE TO RUN
WHAT IS I BELIEVE STILL THE
HIGHEST VOLUME RAPID RIDE, THE
RAPID TRANSIT SYSTEM IN THE
SYSTEM RIGHT NOW IN TERMS OF TH
FOLKS COMING FROM WEST SEATTLE
IN AND OUT OF THE CITY. IN TERM
OF OPPORTUNITIES TO, YOU KNOW,
IMPROVE IN THE FUTURE. THE
NUMBER ONE THING IS THAT AS PAR
OF OUR ENVIRONMENTAL PROCESS ON
WATERFRONT, WE AGREE WITH THE
PIONEER SQUARE COMMUNITY, WHEN
LIGHT RAIL OPENS TO WEST
SEATTLE, WE WILL NARROW THAT
ROAD BY TWO LANES ON THE
SOUTHERN SECTION. AT THAT POINT
KING COUNTY WILL NO LONGER BE
OPERATING THE RAPID RIDE, AND W
WILL ESSENTIALLY RECLAIM THOSE
LANES, AND REDUCE THE WIDTH OF
THE STREET AND CHANGE IT TO
LANDSCAPING. AND TO SERVE THE
COMMUNITY. AND WE ARE COMMITTED
TO THAT AND AN IDEA THAT WE
BROUGHT FORWARD TO HELP IMPROVE
THEIR COMFORT WITH THAT DESIGN.
WE ARE EXCITED WHEN WE GET TO
THAT POINT TO ACTUALLY DO THAT.
>> AND MOSTLY I JUST WANTED TO
RAISE THIS TODAY AS A REMINDER
TO THE PUBLIC THAT IT'S NOT LIK
SOME OF THESE DESIGN CHOICES
CAN'T CONTINUE TO BE WORKED ON
IN WAYS THAT YOU'RE ENVISIONING
TO PUT ON THE RECORD. I THINK
THAT IT IS IMPORTANT TO REMIND
OURSELVES OF THAT, THAT IT IS
NOT WRITTEN IN CONCRETE OR
STONE. ANY WAY, I INTERRUPTED
YOUR PRESENTATION. PLEASE, GO
AHEAD.
>> OKAY, NEXT SLIDE. SO OUR MAI
FOUNDATIONS, WHICH YOU HEARD
THEM TALK ABOUT HERE AND WHAT I
OUR PARTNERSHIP WITH THE FRIEND
OF THE WATERFRONT SEATTLE FOR
THE JOINT DELIVERY OF OPERATION
IN MAINTENANCE. AND THE GOAL IS
TO HAVE FREE PUBLIC PROGRAMMING
AND EVENTS, ACTIVATIONS, YEAR
ROUND, WHICH THE FRIENDS IS
DOING AN AMAZING JOB WITH. WHER
SHE A DEDICATED CITY MAINTENANC
TEAM. AND WHICH IS COMING TO
FRUITION NOW. AND THAT IT WILL
BE SOLELY DEDICATED TO THE
WATERFRONT. AND THE OUTREACH
SERVICES THAT WE HAVE THIS
AMAZING FOUR-TIER SYSTEM THAT
HAS BOTH FRIENDS AND THE CITY
WITH THE RESPONSIBILITIES. AND
FOR OUR PUBLIC SAFETY AND
OUTREACH. AND OUR OVERSIGHT
COMMITTEE, WHICH HAS BEEN
WORKING REALLY HARD ON THAT
PERFORMANCE STANDARD AND THEY
WILL DO ONGOING EVALUATIONS OF
THE PARK PERFORMANCE WITH THEIR
ANNUAL REPORTING TO THE MAYOR
AND COUNCIL. AND NEXT SLIDE.
OKAY, THE FUN STUFF IS THE NEXT
AGREEMENT AND NOW THAT WE'RE
DONE, WE'RE CONTINUING TO OPEN
UP THE PARK. WE'RE LOOKING AT
THE NEXT AGREEMENT TO BE ABOUT
FIVE AND A HALF YEARS THAT WILL
EXPIRE YEAR END OF 2028. AND TH
SEATTLE DISTRICT FUNDING CYCLE
AS WELL AS OUR DEPARTMENT
AGREEMENT BETWEEN THE PARKS
DEPARTMENT AND SEATTLE CENTER O
OPERATIONS. ORIGINALLY WE HAD
LOOKED AT THE AGREEMENT AND WE
LOOKED AT HOW THIS MADE SENSE
WITH THE FINANCIAL PROGRAMMING.
ALL TO MAKE SURE IT'S THE RIGHT
MODEL AND THAT IT WILL WORK
WELL. AND IT WILL ALSO GIVE US
TWO YEARS OF THE PARKS
OPERATIONS ONCE THAT PARK IS
COMPLETE TO MAKE ANY CHANGES AN
ADJUSTMENTS THAT WE FEEL LIKE
THEY NEED TO MAKE FOR THE NEXT
AGREEMENT. WE CHECKED OUR
STANDARD PERFORMANCE AND THEY
WERE ALL OUTLINED IN THAT 2019
ORDINANCE THAT COUNCIL WAS VERY
INTERESTED IN SEEING INCLUDED I
OUR PARK OPERATIONS. AND WE DID
A STUDY NATIONWIDE OF THE
NATIONAL PARKS AND HOW THEY
OPERATED. AND INTO THE
SUBCOMMITTEES OVER THE LAST TWO
YEARS AND DEVELOPED A STANDARD
THAT WE THEN TOOK AN INTEGRATED
LOOK INTO OUR COMMITMENTS WITH
OUR JOINT COMMITMENTS BETWEEN
FRIENDS AND SEATTLE CENTER,
WHICH WE PUT INTO THE TERMS OF
THE AGREEMENT. AND WITH THAT
COMMITMENT FOR THE PUBLIC SAFET
CAME THE FUNDING FOR THE PUBLIC
SAFETY TEAM FROM SEATTLE CENTER
AND THE FRIENDS FUNDING
COMMITMENT TO THAT AS WELL.
ESSENTIALLY WE'RE GIVING FRIEND
A PARK USE PERMIT FOR THE
WATERFRONT PARK AND PUBLIC
SPACES. THEY WILL BE RESPONSIBL
FOR ALL THE PARTNERSHIPS AND TH
PROGRAMMING ACTIVATION IN THE
PARK. AND ANY PERMITTING FOR AN
REGULATORY PERMITTING THAT NEED
TO HAPPEN WILL HAPPEN THROUGH
FRIENDS THAT WILL NEED
CITY TO COME THROUGH THE SEATTL
CITY TEAM. THROUGHOUT THE YEARS
THE CITY HAS MADE SEVERAL
AGREEMENTS. TRIBAL COMMITMENTS,
WSDOT COMMITMENTS, SOME KEY
PARTNERS, THE MARKET AQUARIUM,
AND THE PIONEER SQUARE. AND
WITHIN THIS AGREEMENT, WE ALSO
HAVE FRIENDS THAT ARE COMMITTIN
TO THE OPERATIONS AND MANAGEMEN
COMMITMENTS THAT WE HAVE MADE
THERE ONE THING THAT'S A LITTLE
BIT NEW IN THIS AGREEMENT,
LESSONS LEARNED FROM THE LAST
COUPLE OF YEARS AND IN TALKING
WITH THE PARKS DEPARTMENT, THE
SEATTLE CENTER, FRIENDS, AND WE
LOOKED AT HOW WE COULD DO
RENTALS AND COMMERCIAL RENTALS
IN THE PARK AS THEY DID NOT
SPECIFY THAT CLEARLY IN THE
LICENSE AGREEMENT, AND IT WAS
REALLY ISOLATED TO ONE LOCATION
AND SO WE BROKE THE PARK INTO A
COUPLE OF RENTAL ZONES. VERY
FOCUSED ON VERY LIMITED RENTAL
ABILITIES THAT FRIENDS WOULD BE
MANAGING, AS WELL AS A FEE
SCHEDULE FOR ANY KIND OF
COMMERCIAL ORGANIZATION THAT
WANTS TO COME IN TO DO PRIVATE
RENTALS AS WE WANT TO GIVE THEM
THE ABILITY TO DO THAT AND WHEN
WE THINK ABOUT THAT, WE ARE
DOING THAT WITH A LITTLE MORE T
KNOW THAT THEY GO BACK TO PARK
OPERATIONS. AND OUR PARTNER AND
THE STAKE HOLDER IS REALLY
IMPORTANT TO COUNCIL AND SO WE
HAVE EMBEDDED THAT IN ALL THE
STANDARD METRICS. AND THEY HAVE
A BIG COMMITMENT TO OUR PARTNER
AND THE STAKEHOLDERS THROUGH TH
DIFFERENT MECHANISMS THAT ARE
OUTLINED WITHIN THE AGREEMENT O
HOW THEY WILL CONTINUE TO WORK
WITH THEM TO BE GOOD NEIGHBORS
AND GOOD PARTNERS. YOU HEARD JO
TALK A LOT ABOUT THE PUBLIC
BENEFITS AS THEY ARE DOING A
GREAT JOB TO BRINGING
COMMUNITIES ACROSS THE CITY INT
THE PARK AND WE'VE SEEN THAT IN
A WAY THAT WE COULDN'T HAVE
IMAGINED, LIKE WE WENT DOWN TO
THE EVENT AS WE WERE LIKE YOU
COULDN'T EVEN IMAGINE IT. IT WA
THE MOST AMAZING GOOD THING TO
SEE JUST EVERYBODY THERE, AND
THERE WERE THOUSANDS OF PEOPLE
AT OUR FIRST OPENING EVENT. AND
IT WAS BETTER THAN WE COULD HAV
PICTURED IT BEING AND THAT IS A
REAL TESTAMENT TO THE WORK THAT
THEY'RE DOING WITH THEIR
OUTREACH AND ENGAGEMENT. AND
THEN I'M GOING TO GO REPORTING
AND ACCOUNTABILITY FIRST. AND
THEN WE'LL COME BACK TO THE
LABOR AS THERE WERE A FEW
COMMENTS, I WANT TO MAKE SURE
THAT WE FULLY TOUCHED BASE ON
THAT. BUT THE REPORTING AND THE
ACCOUNTABILITY. IT'S WITH THE
OVERSIGHT COMMITTEE. WE WILL
HAVE OUR ANNUAL REPORTS. AND
THAT THEY WILL BE TAKING THE
PERFORMANCE STANDARD DATA AS
WELL AS JUST THE ACTUALLY BIG
REPORTING COMMITMENT REQUIREMEN
THROUGHOUT THE DEPARTMENT AND
FRIENDS TO GIVE TO THE OVERSIGH
COMMITTEE. AND THE COUNCIL OF
HOW OPERATIONS IS GOING. AND TH
LABOR HARMONY, AS WE E WILL HAV
A COMMITMENT TO LABOR HARMONY I
THIS AGREEMENT AND WE COUNCIL
VERY CLEARLY IN THE 2019
ORDINANCE OUTLINED LABOR
HARMONY, BEING A PART OF THE
AGREEMENT, WHICH WE ACTUALLY HA
A PART OF OUR FRIENDS AND
LICENSE AGREEMENT. AND THEY ARE
APPLIED TO THAT AND IN THIS
CURRENT AGREEMENT, WE DO NOT
HAVE ANY CITY FUNDS THAT IS
BEING GIVEN TO FRIENDS TO DO AN
OF THE PROGRAMMING AND THE
ACTIVATION. WE DID HAVE A SWITC
FROM HOW OUR PUBLIC SAFETY MODE
WAS GOING TO BE IMPLEMENTED,
WHERE THAT WAS THE BIGGER POINT
THE BIGGER PART, WHERE WE HAD
SOME MONEY GOING BETWEEN THE TW
THAT WE WERE MAKING SURE LABOR
HARMONY AGREEMENTS AND THE
PROTOCOLS WERE IN PLACE. FRIEND
IS NOW GIVING US OVER $5 MILLIO
IN THIS AGREEMENT TO THE CITY T
HIRE CITY REPRESENTED STAFF FOR
THOSE POSITIONS. AND SO THERE I
NO ACTUAL MONEY FOR THE CITY
GOING TO FRIENDS IN THIS
AGREEMENT. AND I'M GOING TO LET
THEM TALK A LITTLE BIT ABOUT TH
CONVERSATIONS THAT WE'VE BEEN
HAVING IN PARTNERSHIP WITH
MAKING SURE THAT WE'VE HEARD
WHAT THEIR CONCERNS ARE AND THA
WE WANT TO MAKE SURE WE'RE BEIN
GOOD PARTNERS IN HOW WE'RE
DEVELOPING THIS.
>> YES, SO THANK YOU, TIFFANY.
I'LL SAY CONTINUING DISCUSSIONS
STARTING WITH MLK HAS BEEN
DEVELOPING AS THIS MANAGEMENT
AGREEMENT HAS MADE THE CIRCLES
THROUGH THE FEW CONVERSATIONS
THAT BEGAN WITH THE LABOR AS WE
RECEIVED A FORMAL DRAFT FROM TH
LABOR ON MAY 5, AND THAT WE
SPENT SOME TIME REVIEWING THAT
AS WE HAD A CHANCE WITH THE
LABOR AND THE MEMBERS OF THE
MEMBERSHIP TEAM, AND THA I
BELIEVE AND AS YOU COULD SEE
FROM FRIENDS, THAT WE THOUGHT I
WAS A PRODUCTIVE POSITIVE
MEETING AND THAT THEY FELT THAT
AS WELL AND WE BEGIN TO AGREE T
MEET THEM NEXT WEEK AND TO
CONSULT WITH THAT LEGAL COUNCIL
AND I KNOW THEY HAD TO MEET WIT
THEIR CONSTITUENT UNIONS TO
DISCUSS WHAT WE HAVE SPOKEN TO
THERE. I THINK THE CONVERSATION
ARE GOING WELL AND IT IS A VERY
POSITIVE RELATIONSHIP IN THIS
MOMENT AND THAT WE WILL REACH A
AGREEMENT PRIOR TO THE NEXT
COUNCIL ON THIS.
>> I'LL JUST ADD ONE NOTE TO
THAT AND THANK YOU. I REALLY
APPRECIATE THE PARTNERSHIP THAT
THEY HAVE BROUGHT TO THE TABLE
AND THE OTHER PARTNERS. JUST TO
EMPHASIZE WHAT TIFFANY SAID. TH
ORDINANCE AND THE AGREEMENT IN
THERE THAT'S BEEN TRANSMITTED T
COUNCIL WILL REFLECT WHAT THE
2019 DIRECTION WAS IN TERMS OF
HOW TO TREAT THE LABOR HARMONY.
AND AS THEY ADVANCE AND THERE I
SOME RESOLUTION, THAT THERE
COULD BE AN AMENDMENT AND THAT
IS REALLY WHAT WE'RE LOOKING AT
WITH THE FRIENDS IN THEIR
LEADERSHIP AND THE PARTNERSHIP
WITH THEM ON THAT.
>> GREAT, I'M HAPPY TO BE A
RESOURCE IN THAT AND TO FIND TH
ACCOMMODATIONS AND THAT IT IS A
BIG AGREEMENT TO ME. THAT I
SPEAK TO THEM ON THAT, AND THIS
SOUNDS ENCOURAGING. AND THAT WE
WILL DEFINITELY STAY IN TOUCH O
THIS AND APPRECIATE YOUR
ATTENTION TO IT BECAUSE AGAIN,
IT'S DEFINITELY A PRIORITY OF
THE COUNCIL TO MAKE SURE WE HAV
LABOR HARMONY IN THESE
AGREEMENTS. AND I THINK WE CAN
CONTINUE WITH THE PRESENTATION.
>> YEAH.
>> OKAY. SO REAL QUICKLY, I
WANTED TO HIGHLIGHT THE PUBLIC
BENEFIT AS IT IS SUCH A PIVOTAL
PART OF OUR PARTNERSHIP WITH
FRIENDS AND REALLY LOOKING AT
THE FREE PROGRAMMING AND THAT
ACTIVATION THAT THEY HAVE BEEN
DOING AND HOW THAT IS GOING TO
BE ABLE TO SPREAD ACROSS THE
ENTIRE 20-ACRE PARK IN THE
FUTURE AND WHAT THAT COULD LOOK
LIKE. I MEAN HATS OFF TO FRIEND
AND BECAUSE PROGRAMMING AND THE
ACTIVATION EVENTS, ATTENDANCE,
THE DIVERSITY OF IT AND THE
ENGAGEMENT HAS JUST BEEN JUST
MORE THAN WE EVER COULD HAVE
THOUGHT WHEN WE WOULD DREAM OF
THIS AND THEY REALLY JUST KIND
OF TAKEN THOSE VERY INTENTIONAL
STEPS IN MAKING SURE THAT THEY
ARE BRINGING IN THE COMMUNITY T
ALL OF THESE CONVERSATIONS AND
BRINGING THAT TO THE WATERFRONT
WHICH IS VERY IMPORTANT AND HAT
OFF TO THEM BECAUSE THEY ARE
DOING A PHENOMENAL JOB WITH THA
WORK. AND I'M EXCITED TO SEE
WHAT THAT SUMMER BRINGS AS YOU
TALK ABOUT OVER 900 PEOPLE FOR
JUST A FIRE PIT IN SMORES IS
JUST INCREDIBLE, LIKE I CAN'T
EVEN IMAGINE WHAT IT WILL BE
LIKE. AND I DO, YOU KNOW, ANY
MONEY THAT'S RAISED IN THIS PAR
THROUGH THE TICKET EVENTS,
RENTALS, CONCESSIONS, ALL OF
THAT MONEY WILL GO STRAIGHT BAC
TO THE PARK AND SO FRIENDS, THE
DO NOT E RETAIN ANY OF THE MONE
FOR THEIR OWN OPERATIONS AND
THAT IT WILL ALL GO TO FUND THE
PUBLIC BENEFITS IN THE PARK. AN
WE TALKED ABOUT THE ENGAGEMENT
AND THAT OUTREACH, SO LET'S GO
TO THE NEXT SLIDE. AND SO OUR
NEXT STEPS WITH THIS AGREEMENT
IS WE WILL HAVE THAT LEGISLATIO
TO BE CONSIDERED IN JUNE ON JUN
7. AND WE HAVE A JULY 1
TRANSITION FROM SEATTLE PARKS T
THE CENTER FORMALLY FOR
OPERATIONS AND MANAGEMENT AND
WHAT WE'RE HIRING THAT DEDICATE
TEAM RIGHT NOW TO STEP OVER AND
TAKE OVER FOR JULY 1 AND THEY
WILL TAKE OVER THE ROLE IN THE
SEATTLE CENTER WITH THE KEY
PARTNER FOR FRIENDS.
>> GREAT, THANK YOU SO MUCH. AN
ARE THERE ANY OTHER QUESTIONS
FROM THE COMITTEE MEMBERS? I
ASKED THAT QUESTION AS WE WENT
ALONG. COUNCIL MEMBER HERBOLD?
>> THANKS SO MUCH. A COUPLE OF
QUESTIONS HERE. AND THE GRANT
EXCEPTIONS, THAT THE COUNCIL
ADOPTED BACK IN JANUARY INCLUDE
ALMOST 12 POSITIONS FOR THE
SECURITY OFFICERS. JUST
WONDERING WHETHER OR NOT THOSE
POSITIONS HAVE BEEN HIRED AND
ALSO WHETHER OR NOT PUBLIC
SAFETY AND THE OUTREACH
PERFORMANCE METRICS ARE INCLUDE
IN THAT ACCOUNTABILITY
REPORTING.
>> I'M SO EXCITED TO SAY THAT W
HAVE HIRED 12 OF OUR 15
POSITIONS AT THIS POINT. THEY
STARTED LAST WEEK. AND THEY ARE
TRAINING UP ON ALL THE THINGS
THAT THEY WILL NEED TO DO TO BE
ABLE TO HIT THE GROUND ON JULY
AND SO JUST A COUPLE MORE OF
THOSE POSITIONS. BUT WE'VE GOT
EVERYTHING IN PLACE AND REALLY
EXCITED TO SEE THAT TEAM
TRAINING WITH THE SEATTLE CENTE
RIGHT NOW. AND THEN YES, THE
PUBLIC SAFETY STANDARD IS VERY
COMPREHENSIVE. THE COMMITTEE
WILL BE REVIEWING THE DIFFERENT
DATA POINTS FROM FRIENDS OF THE
CITY. AND IT WAS BUILT OFF OF
WHAT CITY COUNCIL ASKED US TO
SEE IN 2019 AND SO THOSE ARE
INCLUDED AS WELL AS PUTTING
ANNUAL REPORTING ON TOP OF THAT
>> GREAT, THANK YOU. AND THAT I
GOOD TO HEAR REALLY. I
APPRECIATE YOUR PREVIOUS SORT O
COMPREHENSIVE EXPLANATION FOR
WHAT THAT ENFORCEMENT APPROACH
IS AND USING THIS FOUR-TIERED
SYSTEM THAT IMPLEMENTS A
GRADUATED RESPONSE TO INCIDENTS
AND BEING THE SOCIAL SERVICES
AND TIER 1 AND TIER 2, PARK
AMBASSADORS, TIER 3, BASIC RULE
ENFORCEMENTS AND TIER 4 HAD, I'
JUST HOPING THAT THE REPORTING
INCLUDES SOME DETAIL ON THE
NUMBERS FOR EACH OF THOSE TIERS
AND HOW WE'RE MEASURING THE
SUCCESS HERE, I APPRECIATE IT.
>> AND I CAN'T RESIST IF THERE
IS ONE THING THAT THEY LOVE IS
MEASURING HOW WE'RE DOING AND
YOU GOT TO SEE A LITTLE BIT OF
THE DATA THAT WE COLLECT. AND
THAT IT IS REALLY STRONG AND WE
HOPE THAT IT WILL BE A
TRANSPARENT PERFORMANCE SYSTEM,
SO WE CAN MEASURE AND SHOW YOU
HOW WE'RE DOING AND TO SHOW YOU
WHAT TYPE OF INCIDENT WE'RE
DEALING WITH TO EMBRACE THE NEW
ROLE AND TO HAVE THEIR
LEADERSHIP IN HOW TO PUT THAT
ALL TOGETHER AND QUANTIFY IT AN
MEASURE IT AS WE GO.
>> GREAT. I DON'T SEE ANY OTHER
ADDITION QUESTIONS. BUT THE
TIMELINE CUED UP IS TO BE
LOOKING AT THIS AGAIN IN JUNE I
LOOKS LIKE, SO WE APPRECIATE TH
CHECK IN. AND WE APPRECIATE THE
UPDATE ON THE THEN NEGOTIATIONS
AND THE LABOR AGREEMENT. I GUES
WE'LL SEE THIS PANEL BACK IN
JUNE TO CONSIDER LEGISLATION TO
ADD ONE MORE ACHIEVEMENT TO THE
LIST THAT WE BROKE DOWN ON ONE
OF THE EARLIER SLIDES TO MOVE
THIS PROJECT FORWARD. AND SO
THANK YOU SO MUCH TO THE PANEL
AND WE LOOK FORWARD TO SEEING
YOU AGAIN SOON.
>> SORRY ABOUT THAT, AND TO ASK
SOME QUESTIONS. AND I APPRECIAT
THE VISUALS THAT WERE PRESENTED
THAT IF FOLKS HAVE NOT BEEN DOW
FOR THAT OPPORTUNITY, ESPECIALL
FOR CONCERTS THAT IT WILL BE
AGREEMENT REMINDER OF WHAT THAT
IS LIKE AND THAT OPPORTUNITY TO
BRING PEOPLE TOGETHER AND IN
THESE TIMES AS WE ARE ALL
SEEKING GREATER SOCIAL
INTERACTION AND THE COMMUNITY
COHESION AFTER MANY YEARS OF
ISOLATION AND REMOTE GATHERINGS
I THINK IT IS A REALLY GOOD SHO
OF HOW WE CAN GROW OUR ECONOMY
AND THAT HELP OF OUR COMMUNITY
BY CREATING THE GATHERING
OPPORTUNITIES. SO JUST THINK
THAT VISUAL IS VERY EXCITING.
I'M ALSO HAPPY THAT WE HAVE
TALKED ABOUT HOW WE CAN CONTINU
TO INTEGRATE IMPROVEMENTS AS
NECESSARY AND BASED ON THE USER
EXPERIENCE, ONCE THE BIKE LANE
IS FINALIZED. THAT THEY HAVE TH
RIGHT OF WAY AND THEY ARE
PROTECTED USING THAT WATERFRONT
THAT WILL BE REALLY IMPORTANT,
AND THERE IS A LOT OF THINGS
RIGHT NOW WITH THE EXISTING
CONSTRUCTION AND TRUST ME,
THAT'S MY COMMUTE ROUTE AS WELL
AND I GET IT. IT'S A LITTLE
TERRIFYING AND BECAUSE YOU DON'
WANT TO MERGE IN AND OUT OF THE
PEDESTRIANS AND ESPECIALLY IF
YOU'RE USING THAT JUMP THAT
YOU'RE NOT ALLOWED TO AND DON'T
GO ON THE SIDEWALKS BECAUSE WE
WILL WANT OUR RESIDENTS AND
TOURISTS TO BE SAFE AS WELL. BU
WE WANT THE CYCLISTS AND THE
PEDESTRIANS TO BE SAFE
ULTIMATELY WITH THAT AS WELL,
AND PROTECTED BIKE LANES AND TH
WAYS THAT WE CAN CONTINUE TO
IMPROVE THE EXPERIENCE OUT THER
AS WE FINALIZE THE CONSTRUCTION
AS SOMETHING I'M INTERESTED IN
CHATTING MORE ABOUT. AND I DID
WANT TO TALK ABOUT ONE MORE
THING THAT'S RELATED TO HEALTH
AS A WAY TO MAKE SURE THE
COMMUNITY HEALTH IS IMPROVED.
THAT'S WHY WE FIGHT FOR LABOR
PROTECTIONS AND A GOOD PAY. CAN
YOU TALK MORE ABOUT THE TYPE OF
WORK, THE JOBS, THE PROGRAMMING
THAT WE ANTICIPATE WILL TAKE
FRONT ON THE WATERFRONT? AND I'
ASKING ABOUT THIS BECAUSE IT'S
WAY FOR US TO SHOW THE CITY'S
ECONOMIC STIMULUS INTO THE GOOD
JOBS AND PARTNERSHIPS WITH THE
FRIENDS OF THE WATERFRONT AS
WELL AS OUR CITY FAMILY. CAN YO
REMIND US OF HOW MUCH CITY
FUNDING THAT WE HAVE PUT INTO
THE PROJECT BOTH FROM THAT LIFT
AND THE CITY DIRECTLY,
RECOGNIZING THE OFFICE, THE
WATERFRONT IS ADMINISTERING
THESE FUNDS. IT IS IMPORTANT FO
THEM TO KNOW THAT THE CITY OF
SEATTLE IS ALSO INVESTING IN TH
HEALTH AND WELL BEING OF THE
PROJECT COMING TO FRUITION. BUT
IN THE JOBS THAT ARE BEING
CREATED TOO?
>> AND MAYBE I'LL TOUCH BRIEFLY
AND IF YOU WANT TO TALK ABOUT
THE PROGRAMMING PIECE. $756
MILLION IS THE TOTAL BUDGET FOR
THE PROGRAM THAT INCLUDES CITY,
STATE, LOCAL IMPROVEMENT
DISTRICT, FUNDS, AS THEY ARE
HERE TALKING ABOUT OPERATIONS,
BUT THEY ARE ALSO RAISING
DIRECTLY FOR THE PARK
CONSTRUCTION AND TO HELP WITH
THOSE OPERATIONS. AND EVERYTHIN
WITHIN THAT HAS FOLLOWED, YOU
KNOW, ALL OF OUR CITY PUBLIC
WORK STANDARDS IN TERMS OF THE
HIGH LABOR AND THE HIGH ROAD
LABOR AGREEMENTS, THE WINDY
PARTICIPATION AND ALL THOSE GOO
THINGS ARE KIND OF HOW WE DO
BUSINESS ON THAT WATERFRONT. SO
THAT IS JUST A HIGH LEVEL ON TH
CONSTRUCTION SIDE. I'LL TURN IT
OVER TO YOU GUYS AT FRIENDS.
>> THANKS, MARSHALL. IN TERMS O
THE FRIENDS AND OUR WORK FORCE,
WE HAVE APPROXIMATELY 35 FTEs
THAT HELP US DELIVER ALL THE
GREAT COMMUNITY ENGAGEMENT AND
THE THERAPY WORK THAT WE DO AND
TO SUPPORT THE CITY EFFORTS. AN
THAT IS HOW WE APPROACH ENSURIN
OUR WORK FORCE CAN LIVE IN THE
CITY AND CAN BE A PART OF THE
COMMUNITY, YOU KNOW, WE DO
BENCHMARKS, WE ARE TRANSPARENT
TO ALL OF OUR SALARIES THAT ARE
POSTED ON THE JOB POSTINGS, AND
WE BENCHMARK OURSELVES TO BE UP
ABOVE THE MEDIAN FOR THE
CLASSIFICATIONS, AND SO WE
BENCHMARK THAT BACK INTO THE
OTHER AREAS, TO ENSURE THAT WE
CAN ATTRACT THE QUALITY OF
CANDIDATES AND THAT OUR WORK
FORCE CAN LIVE IN THE AREA WHER
THEY WORK.
>> AND EXCELLENT. THANK YOU SO
MUCH FOR THAT AS I APPRECIATE
IT. I MEAN I THINK THAT
COMBINATION THAT WE'RE HERING
HERE IS MORE THAN A BILLION
DOLLARS. AND IN THIS PROJECT
THAT WE ARE INVESTING $700
MILLION FROM THE LID AND $300
MILLION FROM THE CITY DIRECTLY
TO MAKE SURE THAT WE ARE
INVESTING IN THAT HEALTH AND
WELL BEING OF THE PROJECT THAT'
COMING TO FRUITION AND ALSO IN
THE WORK. AND SO WHETHER IT IS
NON-PROFIT OR AN EXTENSION OF
OUR CITY AND WORK AND THIS IS A
COLLECTIVE EFFORT TO MAKE SURE
WE HAVE GOOD LIVING WAGE JOBS A
WE ALSO BUILD OUT GOOD AND SAFE
OPPORTUNITIES TO ENJOY NO MATTE
WHERE YOU LIVE IN THE CITY AND
BECAUSE IT IS A BIG ASSET FOR
ALL. AND I ALSO JUST WANTED TO
EMPHASIZE THE CHAIR'S POINTS AS
WELL AND I'M THANKFUL THAT THER
SONGOING CONVERSATIONS ABOUT
LABOR HARMONY AND IN THAT
LANGUAGE REGARDING THEM AS WE
SEEK TO FIND AN AGREEMENT WITH
THE LABOR COMMUNITY PARTNERS,
THAT THIS ALSO ABOUT HOW WE
ENSURE THAT THERE IS GOOD
STANDARDS FOR HOW THE PUBLIC
DOLLARS ARE USED AS WE WOULD TR
TO MAKE SURE THAT THEY KEEP
THEIR JOBS THROUGH IN TRANSITIO
AND THAT WILL ALLOW US TO HAVE
GOOD DELIVER ROIST SERVICES TO
OUR COMMUNITY AND AGAIN, THE
RESIDENTS AND THE TOURISTS,
ALIKE. AND SO VERY THANKFUL THA
THE CONVERSATION IS CONTINUING,
AND I LOOK FORWARD TO WORKING
WITH ALL OF YOU AS WE RECEIVE
THE NEXT REITERATION OF THAT
AGREEMENT TO ENSURE THE CONCEPT
IS FORMALIZED AND THAT INTENT O
LABOR ARMNY AND ANY AGREEMENT T
SHOW OTHERS THAT WE ARE AND WE
CONTINUE TO STRIVE TO BE THOSE
EMPLOYERS AND SET A STANDARD FO
HOW WE INVEST IN THAT COMMUNITY
AND OUR WORK FORCE AND TO ENSUR
THE CONTINUITY AS WELL. AND
ULTIMATELY THAT WILL IMPROVE TH
DELIVERY OF SERVICES, AND SO WE
APPRECIATE THAT ONGOING WORK
AROUND THE LABOR HARMONY, AND W
WILL, OF COURSE, BE INTERESTED
IN THE OUTCOME OF THOSE
DISCUSSIONS.
>> GREAT. I DON'T SEE ANY
ADDITIONAL QUESTIONS. AND SO WH
DON'T WE GO AHEAD AND CLOSE OUT
THIS AGENDA ITEM. I WANT TO
THANK OUR PANEL, REALLY LOOKING
FORWARD TO JUNE ON THE NEXT
STEPS, SO THANK YOU SO MUCH.
>> THANK YOU.
>>> ALL RIGHT, WILL THE CLERK
PLEASE READ ITEM 13 INTO THE
RECORD?
>> ITEM 13 IS A PRESENTATION OF
SEATTLE PUBLIC LIBRARIES LEVY
REPORT.
>> EXCELLENT. WE ARE JOINED HER
AGAIN BY OUR LIBRARY FOLKS.
GREAT. SO TOM, ONCE YOU GET
SETTLED THERE, INTRODUCE YOUR
PANEL.
>> THANK YOU, CHAIR LEWIS. WITH
ME TODAY, I HAVE ONCE AGAIN,
BOARD PRESIDENT CARMEN DIXON,
AND WE HAVE OUR LEVY
ADMINISTRATOR JAN. I'LL ASK MY
COLLEAGUES TO INTRODUCE
THEMSELVES AS WELL FOR THE
RECORD.
>> I'M JAN, THE LIBRARIAN LEVY
ADMINISTRATOR.
>> AND I'M CARMEN, THE PRESIDEN
OF THE BOARD OF TRUSTEES FOR TH
SEATTLE PUBLIC LIBRARY.
>> AND THE CHAIR'S PERMISSION,
CARMEN HAS A STATEMENT FROM THE
BOARD, AND THEN I'LL MOVE INTO
THE PRESENTATION.
>> PERFECT, PLEASE.
>> THANK YOU, CHAIR LEWIS. THAN
YOU MEMBERS OF THE COMMITTEE.
THANKS FOR THE OPPORTUNITY TO
TALK ABOUT THE LIBRARIES LEVY
PROGRESS FOR 2022. AND THANKS
FOR THE ONGOING SUPPORT OF THE
LIBRARY LEVY AND FOR RECOGNIZIN
THAT THE LIBRARY IS IRRELEVANT
AND A VITAL SERVICE. AS YOU KNO
THEY OFFER LIFE-LONG EDUCATIONA
AND RECREATIONAL RESOURCES. OUR
COMMUNITY USES LIBRARY BUILDING
TO GATHER, LEARN, LISTEN, TEACH
AND CELEBRATE. AS 98% OF OUR
PATRONS TOLD US IN A RECENT SUR
VARIATION THE LIBRARY IS
ESSENTIAL TO THAT HEALTH AND
VITALITY OF OUR COMMUNITY, SO I
IS WELL WORTH THE MONEY THAT
THEY INVEST IN IT. AS YOU MAY
REMEMBER, THE 2019 LIBRARY LEVY
WAS PASSED BY 76% OF THE SEATTL
VOTERS, RESULTING IN MORE OPEN
HOURS, STRONGER COLLECTIONS,
IMPROVED TECHNOLOGY, AND
MAINTENANCE OF OUR 27
FACILITIES. THE BOARD OF
TRUSTEES IS GRATEFUL FOR STRONG
SUPPORT FROM THE PUBLIC AND FRO
ELECTED OFFICIALS. AS YOU KNOW,
THE BOARD IS MADE UP OF FIVE
CITIZEN TRUSTEES APPOINTED BY
THE MAYOR AND CONFIRMED BY CITY
COUNCIL AND BY LAW, WE HAVE
RESPONSIBILITIES FOR THE
LIBRARY. SO I WANT TO STRESS OU
STRONG COMMITMENT TO THE CAREFU
STEWARDSHIP OF TAXPAYERS
DOLLARS. THE BOARD IS COMMITTED
TO ENSURING THE RESPONSIBLE USE
OF LEVY FUNDS TO SUPPORT
SERVICES THE PUBLIC USES AND
VALUES. WHILE COVID-19 PRESENTE
MANY CHALLENGES, THE LIBRARY HA
GONE ABOVE AND BEYOND TO MEET
THE PROMISES OF THE LEVY WHILE
ALSO RESPONDING TO THE CHANGING
COMMUNITY NEEDS. AND THE LIBRAR
HAS CONTINUED TRANSPARENT
ACCOUNTABLE REPORTING OF LEVY
FUNDED ACTIVITIES. THE BOARD
ALO RECEIVES REGULAR UPDATES ON
THE LEVY INITIATIVES AND THE
IN-DEPTH QUARTERLY REPORTS,
DOCUMENTING SPENDING, AND THE
IMPLEMENTATION OF PRIORITIES
THANKS TO JAN AND THE REST E OF
THE STAFF. THE LIBRARY ALSO
PRODUCES AN ANNUAL LEVY REPORT
TO THE CITY COUNCIL, THE MAYOR,
AND THE PUBLIC, WHICH IS
APPROVED BY THE BOARD AND WHY
WE'RE HERE TODAY. SO MEMBERS OF
THE PUBLIC CAN VIEW THESE
REPORTS ON THE WEBSITE. I'LL NO
TURN IT OVER TO TOM AND JANUARY
TO PRESENT THE LIBRARY'S FORMAL
REPORT AND THANKS FOR ALL YOU D
IN SUPPORT OF THE LIBRARY.
>> GREAT. I BELIEVE WE HAVE THI
CUED UP. JAN IS GOING TO BRING
THIS UP NOW. SO ONE MOMENT
PLEASE. THERE WE GO. THANK YOU
ALL AGAIN FOR THE TIME TODAY. A
YOU MAY KNOW AND AS CARMEN
INDICATED, WE HAVE A LARGE
SUPPORT FROM THE COMMUNITY IN
THIS EFFORT IN 2019 AND SO IT'S
A $219 MILLION LEVY AND APPROVE
WITH THE 76 APPROVAL PERCENTAGE
THIS LEVY RENEWED OUR 2012 LEVY
AND ALSO ADDED A FEW ADDITIONAL
PROMISES AND EXPANDED SERVICES.
THE LEVY REVENUES COLLECTED
THROUGH THE PROPERTY TAX AS YOU
ALL KNOW CAN ONLY GROW OUT 1% A
YEAR. AND THE LEVY STRUCTURED T
HAVE MORE MONEY IN THE EARLY
YEARS TO COVER THE ASSUMED 4%
ANNUAL INFLATION ISSUES. AND IN
THIS EFFORT THAT WAS KIND OF
UNIQUE WAS OUR FUTURE OF THE
LIBRARY PLANNING. THAT WE ALSO
INCLUDED IN THIS LEVY. AS WE
LOOK AT THE KEY LEVY INVESTMENT
AREAS, THOSE CENTERED AROUND
ACCESS AND TO ANY OF OUR LIBRAR
SERVICES AND PROGRAMS WHEN
PEOPLE NEED THEM, THAT'LL MAKE
UP ABOUT 40% OF THE LEVY. THE
COLLECTIONS AS WE HAVE TALKED
ABOUT BEFORE HERE IN OUR MOST
RECENT BOOKS ON THE INITIATIVE.
THE COLLECTIONS AND THE
MATERIALS, BOTH PHYSICAL AND
DIGITAL. AND THEN DIGITAL
EQUITY, WHICH IS REALLY
UPGRADING OUR TECHNOLOGY AND
ONLINE SERVICES. AND EXPANDED
CHILDREN'S PROGRAMMING FOR AGES
0 TO 5. AND THEN, OF COURSE, WE
HAVE 27 FACILITIES AS CARMEN
MENTIONED AND SOME OF THE FUNDS
THAT ALSO GO TO THE LONG-TERM
AND DAILY MAINTENANCE NEEDS TO
PRESERVE THESE FACILITIES. AS W
LOOK AT HOURS OF ACCESS, REALLY
WE WANT TO REDUCE THE BARRIERS
TO THE LIBRARY SERVICES, AND TO
EXPAND THE OPEN HOURS. AND AS
YOU ALL KNOW, 2022 WOULD NOT
SEEK COVID LEADERS. WE
MAINTAINED OUR OPEN HOURS AT AL
27 LOCATIONS AND AT NEARLY 2019
SERVICE LEVELS AND RESTARTED
IN-PERSON PROGRAMMING. AND THEN
ONE OF THE FORTUNATE PIECES OF
ALL THE EXTRA TIMING AS WE WERE
ABLE TO DO SOME SURVEYING OF OU
PUBLIC OF WHAT THEY WOULD WANT
TO SEE IN THOSE EXPANDED HOURS.
WE HAD DONE THIS PRE-PANDEMIC,
BUT FEELING AFTER COMING OUT OF
THE PANDEMIC, IT WAS CRITICAL T
ASK THAT PUBLIC AGAIN WHERE THE
SAW THE NEED IN THEIR
COMMUNITIES AND THEIR
NEIGHBORHOOD LIBRARIES. SO IN
2023, WHERE SHE BEEN ABLE TO
EXPAND THOSE HOURS, AND I'LL
TOUCH ON THAT IN A BIT. AS WE
LOOK AT THE HOURS AS I
MENTIONED, WE WERE ABLE TO KEEP
ABOUT 97% OF OUR 2019 BASELINE.
HOWEVER, WE HAD TO REDUCE THOSE
HOURS. AND DUE TO THE VARIOUS
CASES AND THE SURGES OF COVID.
WE ALSO HAD SOME STAFFING
SHORTAGES AS WE WERE STILL
TRYING TO STAFF BACK UP FROM
PREVIOUS BUDGET REDUCTIONS THAT
WOULD EXPERIENCE DURING COVID.
BUT AT THE END OF THE DAY, WE
WERE ABLE TO MEET OUR 2019
AVERAGE HOURS. OF COURSE, AS
EVERYONE KNOWS HERE, WE ALSO HA
TO A FUN YEAR THAT WE WOULD HAV
EXTREME HEAT AND WE ALSO, OF
COURSE, HAD OUR ANNUAL SNOWSTOR
OR SEEMINGLY THE ANNUAL
SNOWSTORM THAT WOULD PLAGUE US
FROM TIME TO TIME. AND WHEN WE
WOULD LOOK AT ADDITIONAL HOURS
ON ACCESS, WE HAVE BEEN ABLE TO
ADD 90 HOURS PER WEEK, AND WE
STARTED THAT IF MARCH AND APRIL
OF THIS YEAR, WHICH IS A 7%
INCREASE OVER 2019 LEVELS. AND
MOST BRANCHES NOW ARE OPEN SEVE
DAYS A WEEK. WHAT WE HEARD FROM
OUR SURVEYS WAS THAT EVERYONE
WANTED MORE HOURS ON THE
WEEKEND. [ CAPTIONERS
TRANSITIONING ]
FOR THE BRANCHES THAT ARE STILL
SIX DAYS A WEEK. WE ALSO HAD
SEVERAL THINGS THAT WE WERE
ABLE TO START BEFORE THE
PANDEMIC . THE KEY COMPONENT O
THE LEVY WAS THE REMOVAL OF
LATE FEES THAT DID START IN
JANUARY, 2020. JUST SO EVERYON
KNOWS WHEN WE LOOK AT EQUITY ,
THIS WAS A HUGE LIFT, WE KNOW
AND A LOT OF EXPLANATION, FOR
FOLKS. IT RESTORED 18,000
ACCOUNTS FOR PEOPLE THAT MIGHT
HAVE BEEN KIDS OR TEENAGERS OR
EVEN ADULTS WHO HAD ISSUES OVER
TIME AND IT BROUGHT THEM BACK
INTO THE LIBRARY AND BACK INT
OUR READING AND INFORMATION
SERVICES. THE GOOD NEWS IS THA
EVERYONE WAS CONCERNED ABOUT
RETURN RATES GETTING WORSE.
ACTUALLY, RETURN RATES ARE FINE
PEOPLE ARE BRINGING THE
MATERIAL BACK AND EVERYONE IS
ABLE TO NOW PARTICIPATE WITHOUT
THAT BARRIER. WE ARE ALSO ABLE
TO BRING IN OUR SOCIAL SERVICES
TEAM. WE RESTRUCTURED A BIT AN
HAD TO USE CONTRACTED SERVICES
DID WE BROUGHT THAT IN-HOUSE,
NOT OUR SOCIAL WORKERS ON BOARD
AND RESTRUCTURED THE LIBRARIES
ENTIRE SOCIAL SERVICE APPROACH
, WHICH HAS THE SOCIAL SERVICE
LIBRARIAN AND CAN WORK WITH
ALL OF OUR LIBRARIANS AND ALL
THE NEIGHBORHOOD BRANCHES
ESSENTIAL TO ENSURE THEY HAVE
THE BEST REFERRALS NECESSARY
FOR FOLKS IN NEED. WE ALSO
BROUGHT ON TWO ADDITIONAL
SECURITY OFFICERS WHICH WE ALS
NEEDED AS WE HAVE EXPERIENCED
SOME OF THE OTHER FALLOUTS OF
THE PANDEMIC AROUND SAFETY AND
SECURITY AND WE ARE HAPPY TO
HAVE THESE ADDITIONAL OFFICERS.
OF COURSE, WE CONTINUED , AS MY
STAFF KNOWS , TO TURN OVER EVER
ROCK AS WE LOOK FOR FUNDING. W
HAVE GEARED UP OUR EFFORTS ,
WITH THE WORK OF OUR GREAT
FOUNDATION THAT CONTRIBUTES A
GREAT AMOUNT OF FUNDING EVERY
SINGLE YEAR. BOOKS AND
MATERIALS , OF COURSE , EMILY
ADDED 110,000 COPIES TO THE
DIGITAL COLLECTION AND THIS IS
A 12.5% INCREASE OVER 2021.
WE HAD 151,000 PAGES DOWNLOADED
AND 7 MILLION DIGITAL BOOKS,
E-BOOKS AND AUDIOBOOKS , AND 8%
INCREASE OF 2020. THE ONE THIN
I WOULD LIKE TO POINT OUT THAT
IS CHALLENGING IS THAT THEY ARE
GREAT, BUT THEY DO COST MORE,
WHICH INCLUDES AUDIO, AS WELL.
AS YOU LOOK AT THIS, LET'S SHIF
TO THE E-BOOKS . THIS
CONTINUES TO ERODE OUR BUYING
POWER ON COLLECTIONS. AS
COLLECTION BUDGETS HAVE NOT
MOVED THAT MUCH OVER THE YEARS
THOUGH WE HAVE BEEN ABLE TO
AUGMENT WITH THE LEVY, AND THE
GENEROSITY OF OUR DONORS, THE
ADDITIONAL IMPACT IS ERODING
OUR BUYING POWER, WHICH MEANS
THAT IT ALSO POTENTIALLY
COMPROMISES THE DEPTH AND
BREADTH OF THE COLLECTION. WE
ADDED 203,000 PHYSICAL ITEMS
FROM ALL SOURCES AND CELEBRATED
THE FIFTH AN ARRAY ANNIVERSARY
IF YOU HAVEN'T HAD A CHANCE TO
USE THAT PARTICULAR SERVICE ,
YOU WILL SEE SOME OF THE BEST
SELLERS OUT THERE. YOU CAN JUST
GO PICK IT UP, IT'S ONE OF
THOSE FUN DISCOVERIES THAT WE
BROUGHT INTO THE LIBRARY. WE
ADDED 867 TITLES TO OUR
COLLECTION AS A RESULT OF
DIVERSITY AUDITS AND THIS IS
REALLY IMPORTANT. YOU MAY HAVE
SEEN AT THE TIMES AND A COUPLE
OF ARTICLES, I HAVE SAID I
WANT TO HAVE THE MOST DIVERSE,
AND LIFT UP AS MANY VOICES AND
PERSPECTIVES AS WE CAN. WE
SHOULD NOT BE LIMITING THOSE AN
THIS IS ONE OF OUR EFFORTS TO
HAVE AN ONGOING AUDIT OF OUR
COLLECTION TO FIND OUT, WHAT
ARE WE MISSING, WHO IS NOT AT
THE TABLE? WE ARE VERY PROUD OF
THAT WORK AND IT WILL CONTINUE
OF COURSE, TECHNOLOGY AND
ONLINE SERVICES HAS BEEN ANOTHE
BIG PART OF THE LEVY. WE HAVE
UPGRADED A NUMBER OF COMPUTERS
WE HAVE HAD 35,000 PEOPLE USE
THOSE IN 2022 , 300,000 TIMES.
ONE OF THE MOST INTERESTING AND
BEST FEATURES THAT WE ADDED WAS
THESE STATIONS CALLED SCAN
EASY. IT ALLOWS EVERYONE TO MAK
FREE SCANS AND COPIES. THE
REALLY INTERESTING PIECE IS THA
IT ALLOWS THEM TO TRANSLATE ANY
SCANNED TEXT TO 100 DIFFERENT
LANGUAGES. AS A LOOK AT OUR
LANGUAGE PLAN , BASED OFF OF
THAT AS WELL AS SPECIFIC NEEDS
THIS IS ONE OF THE TOOLS WE AR
ABLE TO PROVIDE TO PATRONS AND
CITIZENS IN SEATTLE THAT ALLOW
ACCESS TO OUR MATERIAL , BUT
ALSO MATERIAL THEY MAY BE
RECEIVING FROM THE CITY THAT
THEY DO NOT UNDERSTAND FULLY.
THIS MACHINE WILL ALLOW THEM TO
TRANSLATE THAT AND PROVIDES AT
LEAST SOME CONTEXT TO WHAT THEY
ARE RECEIVING. WE HAVE ALSO
LOANED OUT ONE OF THE FAVORITE
PROGRAMS, 1270 HOTSPOTS IN THE
COMMUNITY INCLUDING 465 FOR
LONG-TERM ACCESS AS WE LOOK AT
PARTNERS WHO NEED THESE
HOTSPOTS FOR SOME OF THEIR
CLIENTS. IN SOME CASES, WE
WORKED WITH WIRING UP THE PAG
TO MAKE SURE THAT EVERYBODY HA
ACCESS AND WE USE THE HOTSPOTS
TO DO THAT . THERE'S A LOT OF
WAYS WE HAVE BEEN ABLE TO DO
THAT. THEN, CHILDREN'S
PROGRAMMING BID COMING OUT OF
THE PANDEMIC, THAT WAS ONE OF
THE TOUGHEST ONES AS WE STILL
HAD CONCERNS, ESPECIALLY THROUG
LAST YEAR, ABOUT YOUTH WHO WER
UNABLE TO BE VACCINATED EVEN A
EARLY AS THE FIRST QUARTER OF
LAST YEAR. WE ARE HAPPY TO SAY
THAT WE ARE MOVING BACK INTO
THAT, ADULT AND CHILDREN, AND
THEN THE SESSIONS , THE KEY
PORTION HERE, ADDED TO THE LEVY
, THOSE HAVE BEEN ABLE TO COME
BACK, AS WELL. WE HAVE NOT BEEN
ABLE TO EXPAND AS FULLY AS WE
HAVE WANTED TO. MANY OF OUR
PARTNERS STRUGGLED DURING THE
PANDEMIC AND SOME DID NOT MAKE
IT AS ORGANIZATIONS, SO THAT I
ALSO AN IMPACT IN OUR
COMMUNITIES THAT HAS MADE IT A
LITTLE MORE CHALLENGING AS HE
TRIED TO GET THIS WORKING AS
WELL AS WE WOULD LIKE. THE OTHE
BIG COMPARTMENT COMPONENT AND
THIS IS MAINTENANCE. WE HAVE
SEVERAL SEISMIC IMPROVEMENTS
THAT WE ARE LOOKING TO MAKE.
THIS BRANCH WAS READY FOR
CLIMATE UPGRADES AND ASSESS
ABILITY IMPROVEMENTS AND DID
BEGIN CONSTRUCTION IN THE FIRS
QUARTER OF 2023. IN 2022, WE
WERE ALSO ABLE TO BEGIN THE
UNIVERSITY'S DESIGN PHASE. THE
BRANCH WILL LIKELY BE STARTING
SOMETIME NEXT YEAR AND WILL,
UNFORTUNATELY, BE CLOSED DURING
CONSTRUCTION AS IT DOES REQUIR
THAT ALMOST EVERYTHING INSIDE
THE BUILDING BE RIPPED OUT AS
WE MAKE SURE THAT THE BUILDING
CAN WITHSTAND A SIGNIFICANT
EARTHQUAKE. WE HAVE MADE A LOT
OF OTHER A.D.A. PROVEMENT , THE
LARGEST IS AT THE DOUGLAS TRUTH
BRANCH. THAT PROVIDED A RAMP O
BOTH ENDS OF THE ENTRANCE TO
ALLOW GREATER ACCESS TO THE
BUILDING, INSTEAD OF HAVING TO
PARK IN ONE END OF THE BUILDIN
AND MOVE ALL THE WAY AROUND TO
THE OTHER END OF THE BUILDING T
FIND A RAMP. NOW FOLKS CAN PARK
FIND A RAMP NEAR PARKING OR
FROM THE BUS AND GET MORE
READILY IN THE LIBRARY. WE WERE
ALSO ABLE TO REINSTALL THIS
HISTORIC SCULPTURE, WHICH HAS
STOOD FOR 50 YEARS. WE JUST
CELEBRATED ITS 50th ANNIVERSARY
IN APRIL AND IT WAS IN DESPERAT
NEED OF REPAIR. IT WAS REALLY A
GREAT PROJECT TO WORK ON WITH
THE ENTIRE COMMUNITY AND WE
REALLY APPRECIATED HOW EVERYONE
CAME OUT IN CELEBRATION. IT WA
ONE OF THE BEST EVENTS I HAVE
BEEN TO SINCE THE PANDEMIC.
REALLY IT WAS GREAT TO SEE THE
PUBLIC ENGAGED FULLY AND ENJOY
NOT ONLY THE SCULPTURE, BUT TH
SPACE AND A SENSE OF COMMUNITY
AND COMING TOGETHER TO DISCUSS
IT. AND THEN OF COURSE, WE LOO
AT OUR SPENDING ACTUALS AS WE
LOOK AT OUR SPENDING . HOURS AN
ACCESS WERE 81% SPENT IN 2022.
BOOKS AND MATERIALS, 96%,
TECHNOLOGY AND ONLINE SERVICES,
91, CHILDREN'S PROGRAMMING 52%
FOR ALL THE REASONS I HAVE
MENTIONED, AND THEN MAINTENANCE
82%, AS WELL , 58% , HOLDING
STRONG ON OUR ADMINISTRATIVE
OVERHEAD. OF COURSE, OUR
OPERATING EXPENSES WERE AT 85%.
MAINTENANCE AND TECHNOLOGY AND
CAPITAL IMPROVEMENT WAS ONLY A
14%. WE DID HAVE TO DELAY A FEW
PROJECTS AND MOVE SOME MONEY
INTO 2023 DUE TO THE COST OF
CONSTRUCTION AND IN SOME CASES
THE ABILITY TO GET EQUIPMENT
THAT WE MIGHT NEED. WITH THAT,
I WILL GIVE YOU A LITTLE BIT OF
THE VIDEO AND GIVE YOU A
PREVIEW OF WHAT WE ARE WORKING
ON.
>>> I WOULD LIKE TO POINT OUT
COUNCILMEMBERS AND STAFF SHOUL
HAVE ACCESS TO A FULL REPORT FO
2022. I ALSO HAVE THAT AVAILABL
AT SPL.ORG FOR THOSE WHO MIGHT
WANT TO TAKE A LOOK AT THE FULL
REPORT. WITH THAT, I WOULD LIK
TO THANK JAN , FOR HER WORK. I
IS A HUGE EFFORT TO PUT THESE
REPORTS TOGETHER, LIKE HERDING
CATS ACROSS THE ENTIRE LIBRARY
SYSTEM TO MAKE THESE REPORTS
AVAILABLE ON AN ANNUAL BASIS, S
WITH THAT , WE ARE HAPPY TO TAK
ANY QUESTIONS.
>> I REALLY APPRECIATED , TOM,
IT THIS IS A GREAT
PRESENTATION. I LOVE HAVING TH
SEATTLE PUBLIC LIBRARY IN MY
COMMITTEE AND I LOVE SPENDING
TIME TALKING ABOUT PROGRAMMING
AND INITIATIVES YOU ARE DOING.
THIS WAS A GREAT OPPORTUNITY.
VICE CHAIR MOSQUEDA HAS A
QUESTION.
>> THANK YOU. I JUST WANTED T
SAY HOW AMAZING YOUR TEAM IS. I
DON'T KNOW IF YOU CAN TAKE THE
SCREEN BACK TO SLIDE FIVE, I
THINK IT IS, BUT FOR THE
PANELISTS, YOUR SOCIAL MEDIA I
SO FUN TO WATCH AND I JUST FEEL
LIKE IT IS SO INCLUSIVE. I
THINK IT PROMOTES DIVERSITY AN
INCLUSION OF ALL GENDERS AND
IDENTITIES SO I JUST WANT TO
SAY, THANK YOU FOR THAT,
ESPECIALLY AS VARIOUS
IDENTITIES ARE UNDER ATTACK.
MAKING SURE THAT PEOPLE KNOW
THAT THEY ARE WELCOME IS VERY
IMPORTANT AND I LOVE THE
LANGUAGE THAT YOU ALSO USED
AROUND PROMOTING THE BOOKS THA
OTHER PLACES ARE BANNING. I'VE
SEEN THAT ON YOUR SOCIAL MEDIA
AND I LOVE THAT YOU HAVE LIFTED
THAT UP AND AM SO PROUD OF THAT
IT MIGHT HAVE BEEN SLIDE FIVE,
APOLOGIES. GREAT, THANK YOU. I
WANTED TO ADD A LITTLE BIT OF
CONTEXT FOR THIS SLIDE , A
SEPARATE DISCUSSION, ABOUT THE
REVENUE AND THE INCREASE IN
COST. THIS ACTUALLY DOVETAILS
NICELY WITH THE DISCUSSION THAT
WE HAD IN THE FINANCE AND
HOUSING COMMITTEE MEETING THIS
MORNING AND AN ONGOING
CONVERSATION WE ARE HAVING AT
THE STABILIZATION TASK FORCE AN
IT'S NO SECRET THAT WE TALKED
ABOUT IT PUBLICLY, AS WE HAVE
BEEN PLANNING FOR THE UPCOMING
2023 , 2024 BY ANNUAL BUDGET
EVALUATION AS WE LOOK AT OUR
SECOND YEAR OF THIS BIANNUAL
APPROACH . OUR COUNCIL HAS BEE
WELL-VERSED IN THE SIX-YEAR
FINANCIAL HEALTH OF THE CITY ,
THANKS TO CENTRAL STAFFS WORK
WITH OUR OFFICE IN LIFTING AT
THAT FISCAL PLAN, TO MAKE SURE
THAT WE HAVE A BETTER
UNDERSTANDING OF THE NEED
VERSUS THE REVENUE. I WANTED TO
JUST FOCUS ON THIS AS A TANGENT
TO THAT CONVERSATION IN
FINANCING AND HOUSING BECAUSE A
LOT OF PEOPLE ARE ASKING, WHY
IS THERE AN INCREASE IN COST? I
THINK THAT RELATIVE TO WHERE WE
WERE IN 2020 AND 2021 , SOMEWHA
IN 2022, WE ARE SEEING AN
INCREASE IN COST BECAUSE WE HEL
PROGRAMMING BACK. THERE WAS A
STAGNANCY IN OUR HIRING. WE DID
NOT GO UP TO FULL SCALE BECAUS
OF THE CRISIS OF THE PANDEMIC .
WE HAD POSITIONS THAT WERE
VACANT AND WE HAD TO CLOSE
PROGRAMS AND SERVICES. IT'S A
GOOD REMINDER TO OUR PUBLIC OF
HOW, UNFORTUNATELY, WE ALL FELT
THAT THROUGH THE LIBRARIES.
LIBRARIES WERE CLOSED, IN LARGE
PART AND YOU CAN REMIND US WHAT
THOSE DATES WERE WITH THE FACT
THAT YOU PRESENTED IN YOUR
STATION. WE ARE STILL NOT AT
FULL SCALE FOR ALL OF OUR
PROGRAMMING AND ARE WORKING
HARD TO GET THERE. AS WE DO SO
WE ARE HIRING MORE PEOPLE. THE
CITY IS INVESTING IN MORE
RESOURCES AND PEOPLE IN
PROGRAMMING AND IT IS A VERY
GOOD REMINDER OF THE HARDSHIP
WE ALL EXPERIENCED BEING
COMPOUNDED NOT BEING ABLE TO D
THINGS WE ALL ENJOY LIKE GOING
TO THE LIBRARY OR COMMUNITY
CENTERS . I JUST WANTED TO GO
BACK TO THIS SLIDE AND PUT THAT
INTO CONTEXT FOR THE
CONVERSATION WE WERE HAVING AT
COUNCIL THIS MORNING ABOUT WHY
WE SEE AN INCREASE IN PROJECTE
COST RELATIVE TO THE FIRST FEW
YEARS OF PANDEMIC. WE HELD
STAGNANT TO SCALE BACK TO
PROTECT THE HEALTH OF WORKERS I
OUR COMMUNITY AND NOW WE ARE
DESPERATELY TRYING TO GET BACK
TO MEET THE COMMUNITIES NEED
AND WE ARE GOING TO CONTINUE TO
WORK WITH YOU TO MAKE THAT
HAPPEN. THIS IS A GOOD EXAMPLE
OF REMEMBERING WHAT IT WAS LIK
TO HAVE THESE FACILITIES CLOSE
AND SO MANY FOLKS ARE SO
THRILLED THAT THE LIBRARIES ARE
NOW OPEN AS THEY USED TO BE.
THIS DOES REQUIRE RESOURCES,
RIGHT? IT REQUIRES INVESTMENTS
AND THIS IS ONE GOOD EXAMPLE O
WHY WE WANT TO BE ABLE TO MAKE
THAT INCREASE IN THE FUTURE AND
TO NOT HOLD OUR CITY AT THE
INVESTMENT LEVEL IT WAS AT IN
2020 AND 2021 AND EVEN 2022.
THANK YOU FOR SHARING AND WE
REALLY LOOK FORWARD TO BEING A
PARTNER WITH YOU AS WE SCALE
BACK.
>> AS I ALWAYS SAY, LIBRARIES
ARE BOOKS, BUILDINGS, AND
BODIES, AND THAT IS OUR STAFF.
THAT'S THE FOLKS DOING THE ONE
ON ONE INTERACTIONS AND FOCUSIN
ON THE HUMAN COMPONENT OF OUR
WORK, WHICH IS THE VAST MAJORIT
OF IT. ALL OF THOSE BOOKS, ALL
OF THOSE TANGIBLES, BUT SO MUCH
MORE OF OUR WORK, AS YOU KNOW,
IS THAT PERSON-TO-PERSON
INTERACTION AND THAT IS ALWAYS
MY WORRY WHEN WE HAVE TO
REDUCE . PEOPLE RELY ON US. I
THINK THE PANDEMIC SHOWED THAT
IN EVERY ASPECT . THAT'S WHY WE
WERE TRYING TO BE SOME OF THE
FIRST ONES BACK WITH CURBSIDE
SERVICE AND THINGS LIKE THAT,
JUST TO GET MATERIAL AVAILABLE,
ESPECIALLY FOR THOSE WHO HAD NO
ACCESS . AS WE HAVE COME OUT OF
THE PANDEMIC, WE ARE ALSO
RECOGNIZING THAT THE CITY HAS
CHANGED IN SOME WAYS. SOME FOR
THE BETTER AND IN SOME CASES,
IT'S A LITTLE MORE CHALLENGING
AND IT HAS ALSO REQUIRED US TO
STAFF DIFFERENTLY FOR PATRON
AND STAFF SAFETY AND SECURITY A
WE INVITE EVERYONE IN AND WE
INVITE EVERYTHING THAT'S
HAPPENING IN THE CITY IN, AS
WELL. WE KNOW THAT CHALLENGE AN
OUR STAFF IS INCREDIBLY GOOD A
NAVIGATING THAT ON A DAILY
BASIS, BUT THANK YOU FOR THE
KIND REMARKS AND SHOUT OUT TO
OUR SOCIAL MEDIA TEAM. THEY DID
SOME GREAT WORK.
>> THANK YOU, SO MUCH. FAR BE
IT FOR ME TO SHUSH A
CONVERSATION ABOUT LIBRARIES ,
BUT WE ARE AT THE END OF THE
TIME I WAS ANTICIPATING TO HAVE
AND I KNOW THE COUNCIL MEMBERS
HAVE OTHER OBLIGATIONS THIS
EVENING. I REALLY APPRECIATE
THIS. THIS IS A GREAT
PRESENTATION AND I LOOK FORWARD
TO CONTINUING TO BE IN TOUCH ON
THE PROGRAMS. THANK YOU SO MUCH
>> SORRY TO DO IT ONE MORE TIME
JUST BEFORE YOU CLOSE OUT.
>> YES ?
>> FOR OUR LIBRARY TEAM, JUST A
FOLLOW-UP AS WE WRAP UP GIVEN
THE TIME, COULD YOU LET US KNOW
HOW IT'S GOING WITH HIRING AND
RETAINING THE COMMUNITY
ENGAGEMENT PERSONNEL, THE PEOPL
THERE TO PROVIDE SOCIAL
SERVICES, ESPECIALLY FOR YOUTH
THAT WE INVESTED IN TWO YEARS
AGO? I WOULD LOVE TO KNOW MORE
ABOUT HOW IT'S GOING WITH
GETTING THE COOLING CENTERS
IMPLEMENTED THAT WE HAD
AUTHORIZED AND THE TRAJECTORY
TO MAKING SURE WE FOLLOW THROUG
ON THAT GIVEN THE HEAT WE ARE
EXPERIENCING NOW. AS YOU NOTED
IF THERE'S ANYTHING ELSE YOU
THINK WE COULD BE DOING IN
PARTNERSHIP WITH KING COUNTY AN
THE BOARD OF HEALTH SPECIFIC TO
BEHAVIORAL HEALTH AND SUBSTANCE
ABUSE ADDICTION ISSUES, I WOULD
LOVE TO HAVE A FOLLOW-UP ON
THAT AT SOME POINT AND WE
APPRECIATE YOU. THANK YOU.
>> THANK YOU. GIVEN THAT IT I
4:20 AND NO FURTHER BUSINESS
HAS COME FORTH, WE ARE
ADJOURNED. THANK YOU. CLAIMANT