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Daniel Strauss: Good
afternoon. This September 24,

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select Budget Committee
will come back to order.

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It is 2:38 PM.

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My apologies for tardiness.

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If the clerk can call
the role, please.

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Speaker 1: Council member Rinck.

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Alexis Mercedes Rinck: Present.

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Speaker 1: Council member Saka.

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Council member Foster?

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Dionne Foster: Here.

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Speaker 1: Council
President Hollingsworth?

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Council member Juarez.

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Debora Juarez: Here.

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Speaker 1: Council
member Kettle.

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Robert Kettle: Here.

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Speaker 1: Council member
Lin and Chair Strauss.

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Daniel Strauss: Thank you.

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Speaker 1: Five present.

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Daniel Strauss: We will
come right back into

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order and jump right on in.

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Will the clerk please read
Item 4 into the record.

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Speaker 1: Agenda Item
4, Seattle Center

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for briefing and discussion.

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Daniel Strauss: Thank you.

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We have Seattle Center
here. Director Engstrom.

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Council President is
now here as well.

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Turn it over to the table
for your presentation,

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and we'll save questions

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for easy stopping
points or the end.

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Randy Engstrom: My colleague

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Diamatris here and
I will tag team

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the presentation, but
thank you for being here.

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Thanks for the opportunity
to present our budget.

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I just want to say that this

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was a tough budget
year for the city.

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I think that's known,

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but I just want to
appreciate Ally Pennucci

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and Alan Lee and Alex Rouse
and the whole team at CBO,

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because in spite of
it being a challenge,

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I'm really happy with
the budget that we have,

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and I'm really confident
that we can deliver

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with the resources
that it contains.

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We'll start with
just an overview.

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I'm sure you're all familiar
with the Seattle Center.

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I know some of you
got to come and

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visit yesterday and take a tour.

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We are home to

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a 74-acre campus and also have

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stewardship over the
20-acre Waterfront Park,

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happy first birthday to

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Waterfront Park just
a few weeks ago.

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We saw over 11 million visitors
to the campus in 2025,

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about nine million
to the Waterfront.

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We anticipate seeing
probably 15 million visitors

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to Waterfront Park this year.

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Just a really successful

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and vibrant cultural
and civic space.

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We're home to 35
independent organizations

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on the campus that call
Seattle Center home,

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have a very close
partnership also with

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Friends of Waterfront Park
and operating the Waterfront.

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The center is also a

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pretty big economic
engine for the city.

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$3.3 billion of direct
economic impact,

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$37 million of
direct tax revenue

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generated by the
activities of the campus,

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and we support over 19,000 jobs,

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which is something that
we're really proud of.

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We're largely self-funded.

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It's different than a
lot of departments,

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wherein we earn about 70%

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of our annual budget
year over year.

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We have about 230
full-time staff and

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about 550 seasonal
intermittent staff

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that fluctuate with
the festival seasons.

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Our priorities for the year

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are really to build on

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the recent success
and the momentum.

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We approved a strategic plan
last year that outlines

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a pretty aggressive
fundraising campaign

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by our partners at the
Seattle Center Foundation,

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the goal of a significant
public investment to

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address the big infrastructure
needs that we'll,

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I'm sure talk more about today,

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and also to figure

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out how we can rightsize
our economic model

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and ensure a long-term
sustainable future

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for the Seattle Center
for years to come.

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We're really excited about

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the progress at
Memorial Stadium.

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We're going to host a
topping-out ceremony tomorrow,

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which is really
exciting, reaching

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the maximum height
of the project.

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I know Council Merkel,

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you've been super
involved in the Memorial

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Stadium for the last many years.

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It's going to be
a great resource.

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I think my friend Todd Lewicki

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described Memorial Stadium as

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a living classroom when
it's done and redeveloped,

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and I'm really hopeful that's

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actually a way we can think
about the entire campus.

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I'd love to see the entirety
of Seattle Center and

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the Waterfront be a
living classroom and find

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ways to connect young people in

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this city with
meaningful careers and

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jobs like the 19,000

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that we support with
our 10 union partners.

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That's something that
we see in the future.

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Obviously, the most

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important thing that
will happen as a part of

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our future is the
potential bond measure

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that we hope to see
pursued next year.

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The budget does include,

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and we'll get into
the detail of it,

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but a pretty
significant investment

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in advancing that planning
work so that we can

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stay on schedule and be
construction ready in 2028.

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I also want to acknowledge

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the public safety investments

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that the city is making
in the Seattle Center.

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What happened at the Bite
of Seattle was a tragedy.

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It was also an opportunity for

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us to come together as a team

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and learn both what happened

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and what could be done
better or differently.

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I've shared with a few
of you our after-action

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review and the implementation
of the recommendations.

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The timing of that resource
was also really good for us.

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Finally, I think you'll
again, hear more about this,

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but we're excited to
extend our stewardship of

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the Waterfront and help take on

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the ongoing implementation
of Elliott Bay Connection.

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Distinct from Waterfront Park,

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it'll have a different function,

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but we're really
honored that the trust

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of the stewardship of that space

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is going to live with
the Seattle Center.

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Looking forward to working in

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collaboration with all
of you on council with

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my colleagues across
the cabinet to

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help this next year be as
successful as it can be.

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Diamatris Winston: Thank
you, council member Strauss.

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Chair Strauss and
council members.

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I'm going to give a quick
summary of our budget.

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Then Dr. Engstrom and I
will go into more detail.

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First, there's two major changes

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to our budget this year.

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The first is the creation of

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the Seattle Center Campus
Revitalization Fund,

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which will result in
substantial reinvestment

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to campus infrastructure
via bond,

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which is proposed
to occur in 2027.

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The second major change is
Elliott Bay Connections,

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which will expand
Seattle Center's

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Waterfront Park operations
along the waterfront.

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We have three other
important changes,

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one being interfund
loan support.

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Included in the budget,
another one being

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Waterfront Park staffing to

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assist with repairs
and maintenance.

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There's also two general fund
reductions in the budget,

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including an impact on

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our intermittent
staffing levels and

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temporary staffing and
McCaw Hall programming.

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Before I go to the next slide,

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to give you a little
bit more detail,

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just overview of our budget

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as Director Engstrom
pointed out,

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we are a social enterprise,

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and so we generate revenue
through commercial revenues,

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including parking revenues,
long-term leases,

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sponsorships, concession
sales, and the Monorail.

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We also generate a
significant amount

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of tax revenue for the city,

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including emissions tax,
sweet and beverage tax,

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and commercial parking tax.

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This is the first of the two
general fund reductions.

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This one impacts our temporary
and intermittent staffing.

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Essentially, it'll
have an impact on

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our operations in support

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of campus events
and programming.

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The way we intend to
mitigate that is through

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attrition and vacancy savings
and revenue enhancements.

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Otherwise, we'd have to do less.

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Our plan is to mitigate
that reduction.

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The second of the two reductions

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involves McCaw Hall's prelude.

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Prelude is a dinner service
that's provided before shows,

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and we will reduce the number of

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prelude dates in order
to generate savings.

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Our McCaw Hall manager
discovered over

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the last couple of
years we've really

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haven't had the volume
at the dining services,

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and so we're going
to cut back on that

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in order to make these
savings possible.

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Randy Engstrom: A couple of
admissions tax resources

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are being continued that
started in the previous budget.

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One in support of
Northwest Folklife,

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which is really one
of the incredible

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anchor festivals on the campus.

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It brings about 300,000

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people over the course
of four days and

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really kicks off
our festival season

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at Seattle Center,
Memorial Day weekend.

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The second is for WinterFest,

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which is the holiday.

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It's the train in the armory.

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It's the lights around campus.

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It's a great place to be
able to bring families

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to celebrate the holidays in

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whatever way folks
want to celebrate.

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I also just want to acknowledge
that I have deep love and

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respect for the Office
of Arts and Culture and

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its need for its
own admissions tax.

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I spent a lot of
time in that office.

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I also really appreciate
Director Noel.

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I think she's a brilliant
and visionary leader.

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I think the city's very lucky
to have her in that role,

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and I look forward to
collaborating with

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her on how we can grow and

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sustain investments for all of

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our cultural communities
and all of their needs.

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I get to do the additions part.

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Diamatris had to do
the reductions part,

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so my part's more fun.

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But this is the single biggest
item on our entire budget,

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and this is the
external resource.

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This is to hire
planning consultants to

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advance the Century 21 Master

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Plan update to do

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more architectural
and design work on

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the armory to better
understand its capital needs,

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to move forward with

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the decarbonization
and revitalization

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of Fisher Pavilion,

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and also to extend
the Monorail bridge.

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We just started construction of

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the monorail platform at the
north end of the terminus.

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We need to do some work
on the bridge that

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connects the platform
to the armory itself.

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That's the capital side.

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Then the next slide is the
staffing needs associated.

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It's a modest amount of

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positions because
we're borrowing

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this money from future proceeds,

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but it does allow us to have
a policy lead on the bond,

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which is Michelle Caulfield,

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who joined our team from the
Office of Sustainability.

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We're lucky to have Michelle.

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It also includes a
finance analyst,

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management systems analyst,

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and a safety coordinator

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for the campus because
we're going to

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go into theoretically a
level of construction

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that hasn't happened since
the 1962 World's Fair.

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Shout out to Tiffani Melake,

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who is the lead division
director for Waterfront Park.

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She's built a really
impressive team down there,

260
00:11:00,800 --> 00:11:02,160
and it continues to expand.

261
00:11:02,160 --> 00:11:04,740
I think if the World
Cup taught me anything,

262
00:11:04,740 --> 00:11:06,240
it's that Waterfront
Park might have been

263
00:11:06,240 --> 00:11:07,760
more successful than
we had even hoped.

264
00:11:07,760 --> 00:11:09,260
I can't believe that we're

265
00:11:09,260 --> 00:11:10,980
expecting 15 million
visitors to go to

266
00:11:10,980 --> 00:11:12,590
that park and only it's

267
00:11:12,590 --> 00:11:14,865
going into its second
year of operation.

268
00:11:14,865 --> 00:11:16,820
But we also found that there's

269
00:11:16,820 --> 00:11:18,280
pretty significant
maintenance needs

270
00:11:18,280 --> 00:11:19,820
for a park that
gets that much use.

271
00:11:19,820 --> 00:11:21,740
This is really about
positions that can

272
00:11:21,740 --> 00:11:24,000
up particularly
our skilled labor,

273
00:11:24,000 --> 00:11:27,760
electricians,
carpenters and help

274
00:11:27,760 --> 00:11:29,920
with the maintenance
needs of the park.

275
00:11:33,020 --> 00:11:36,300
Diamatris Winston: The next
significant add for us is

276
00:11:36,300 --> 00:11:39,030
Elliott Bay Connections,
some staffing additions.

277
00:11:39,030 --> 00:11:41,000
This item adds donated

278
00:11:41,000 --> 00:11:42,280
back positions to support

279
00:11:42,280 --> 00:11:44,865
operations and maintenance
of Elliott Bay Connections.

280
00:11:44,865 --> 00:11:47,360
Including that staff would
be a maintenance crew chief,

281
00:11:47,360 --> 00:11:49,880
a senior gardener, installation
maintenance worker,

282
00:11:49,880 --> 00:11:53,740
and half FTE for human
resource specialists to

283
00:11:53,740 --> 00:11:58,795
help us with the hiring and
the labor management issues.

284
00:11:58,795 --> 00:12:01,460
The Seattle Center and
the principal donors

285
00:12:01,460 --> 00:12:03,430
right now are working
on an agreements,

286
00:12:03,430 --> 00:12:05,220
so that we can take
over that space,

287
00:12:05,220 --> 00:12:09,245
and the takeover would
happen in 2027 Quarter 2,

288
00:12:09,245 --> 00:12:12,420
and that area includes
Myrtle Park and a new

289
00:12:12,420 --> 00:12:17,000
greenway along Alaskan Way
between Pier 62 and Pier 70.

290
00:12:21,190 --> 00:12:25,695
The next edition is support
for our Interfund loan.

291
00:12:25,695 --> 00:12:28,490
The Interfund loan
is comprised of

292
00:12:28,490 --> 00:12:32,590
some debt related to
the COVID-19 pandemic.

293
00:12:32,590 --> 00:12:36,510
This is the city providing
the center $2 million in

294
00:12:36,510 --> 00:12:41,205
2027 and $1 million in 2028
to make those payments.

295
00:12:41,205 --> 00:12:45,970
We had worked pretty
diligently with

296
00:12:45,970 --> 00:12:48,810
CVO staff to help

297
00:12:48,810 --> 00:12:51,465
them understand what the
loan did to our finances.

298
00:12:51,465 --> 00:12:53,390
This very much
supports our strategic

299
00:12:53,390 --> 00:12:55,290
plan and tenure vision plan

300
00:12:55,290 --> 00:12:57,910
of being more
financially sustainable.

301
00:12:59,510 --> 00:13:02,670
Randy Engstrom: This addition,
as I mentioned earlier,

302
00:13:02,670 --> 00:13:03,810
is around supporting

303
00:13:03,810 --> 00:13:06,555
our public safety and
community safety needs.

304
00:13:06,555 --> 00:13:10,430
I want to reinforce
how proud I am of

305
00:13:10,430 --> 00:13:14,230
how folks responded in the
moment on that tragic day.

306
00:13:14,230 --> 00:13:17,150
Our team did their job, and
they did it with courage.

307
00:13:17,150 --> 00:13:19,430
I appreciate both our staff,

308
00:13:19,430 --> 00:13:20,910
our partners at SPD,

309
00:13:20,910 --> 00:13:23,990
our partners at the fire
department, and the care team.

310
00:13:23,990 --> 00:13:27,330
It was an all-hands effort
to meet that moment.

311
00:13:27,330 --> 00:13:28,770
Like the rest of the city,

312
00:13:28,770 --> 00:13:30,900
we learned a lot about what

313
00:13:30,900 --> 00:13:33,560
we need to get right
going forward.

314
00:13:33,560 --> 00:13:36,120
We're still figuring out

315
00:13:36,120 --> 00:13:38,860
exactly what we will
use this money for.

316
00:13:38,860 --> 00:13:41,220
There's a list of equipment
that we've proposed.

317
00:13:41,220 --> 00:13:43,660
There's some staffing needs
that we've identified,

318
00:13:43,660 --> 00:13:45,660
particularly on the com side, as

319
00:13:45,660 --> 00:13:47,245
well as on the training side.

320
00:13:47,245 --> 00:13:49,020
We're figuring out what of

321
00:13:49,020 --> 00:13:51,540
those items we can resource
through the budget and what

322
00:13:51,540 --> 00:13:53,400
items we might be able
to resource through

323
00:13:53,400 --> 00:13:57,020
external support through the
state, county, or others.

324
00:13:59,480 --> 00:14:02,830
These are the actual positions

325
00:14:02,830 --> 00:14:05,030
that were enumerated
in previous slides,

326
00:14:05,030 --> 00:14:07,890
but that looks like
five positions

327
00:14:07,890 --> 00:14:10,090
related to the critical
pre-bond work.

328
00:14:10,090 --> 00:14:12,130
That looks like four skilled

329
00:14:12,130 --> 00:14:15,630
labor positions for
Waterfront Park.

330
00:14:15,630 --> 00:14:17,530
It looks like 3.5 FTEs

331
00:14:17,530 --> 00:14:20,195
for the Elliott Bay
Connections expansion.

332
00:14:20,195 --> 00:14:23,470
We are looking forward
to growing the team and

333
00:14:23,470 --> 00:14:24,730
getting those folks on board as

334
00:14:24,730 --> 00:14:27,190
quickly as we can to
hit the ground running.

335
00:14:27,340 --> 00:14:29,780
That is our presentation.

336
00:14:29,780 --> 00:14:31,310
Happy to answer any questions.

337
00:14:31,310 --> 00:14:32,600
Oh, go ahead. Aly, please.

338
00:14:32,600 --> 00:14:34,460
Aly Pennucci: I just
wanted to acknowledge for

339
00:14:34,460 --> 00:14:36,520
the Elliott Bay
Connections work,

340
00:14:36,520 --> 00:14:40,240
this is just the initial
positions that will be

341
00:14:40,240 --> 00:14:44,060
needed to really take over
that work at Seattle Center.

342
00:14:44,060 --> 00:14:46,860
I just wanted to flag

343
00:14:46,860 --> 00:14:48,500
for the budget
chairs' awareness and

344
00:14:48,500 --> 00:14:50,155
the entire committee that

345
00:14:50,155 --> 00:14:53,040
we are needing to get
that agreement settled,

346
00:14:53,040 --> 00:14:55,560
and there will
likely be an ask for

347
00:14:55,560 --> 00:15:00,720
a first-quarter legislative
package to fully

348
00:15:00,720 --> 00:15:04,680
implement what it will
take to fully take

349
00:15:04,680 --> 00:15:09,480
over the management of that.

350
00:15:09,480 --> 00:15:10,600
But right now because we don't

351
00:15:10,600 --> 00:15:11,740
yet have an agreement signed,

352
00:15:11,740 --> 00:15:13,100
we want to make
sure we understand

353
00:15:13,100 --> 00:15:14,580
what the full
reimbursement will be.

354
00:15:14,580 --> 00:15:17,780
I just wanted to acknowledge
that for the record.

355
00:15:17,780 --> 00:15:20,260
Daniel Strauss: Thank
you. Director Pannucci,

356
00:15:20,260 --> 00:15:24,780
Director Engstrom,
Councilman Rob Saka

357
00:15:24,780 --> 00:15:26,060
has been here with us since

358
00:15:26,060 --> 00:15:27,680
the beginning of
the presentation.

359
00:15:27,680 --> 00:15:30,120
His camera came on right
as you started speaking,

360
00:15:30,120 --> 00:15:32,060
so I wasn't going to
interrupt anyone with that.

361
00:15:32,060 --> 00:15:33,280
Councilman Rob Saka
is the chair of

362
00:15:33,280 --> 00:15:34,780
the committee overseeing
this department.

363
00:15:34,780 --> 00:15:36,680
You've got first and last word.

364
00:15:36,680 --> 00:15:38,760
Rob Saka: Excellent.
Thank you, Chair.

365
00:15:38,760 --> 00:15:41,835
Thank you, Interim
Director Engstrom.

366
00:15:41,835 --> 00:15:45,460
Diamatris really
appreciate your leadership

367
00:15:45,460 --> 00:15:48,585
here in the presentation.

368
00:15:48,585 --> 00:15:51,280
Thank you as well, Chair,

369
00:15:51,880 --> 00:15:56,380
for getting the Seattle
Center in front of

370
00:15:56,380 --> 00:16:00,600
the council to provide a
specific departmental briefing.

371
00:16:00,600 --> 00:16:02,540
As we know, they're
not typically one of

372
00:16:02,540 --> 00:16:05,860
the selected
departments to brief,

373
00:16:05,860 --> 00:16:10,340
but given the substance and

374
00:16:10,340 --> 00:16:12,920
impact of what is likely to be

375
00:16:12,920 --> 00:16:16,480
proposed in terms of a
substantial bond package,

376
00:16:16,480 --> 00:16:18,440
next year, it makes
a ton of sense.

377
00:16:18,440 --> 00:16:20,600
Thank you, Chair, for
your leadership on this.

378
00:16:20,600 --> 00:16:23,480
Also, want to acknowledge

379
00:16:23,480 --> 00:16:26,100
some people within the
department as well.

380
00:16:26,100 --> 00:16:32,435
The Seattle Center tragedy
in July was awful.

381
00:16:32,435 --> 00:16:34,570
We learned a lot as a city,

382
00:16:34,570 --> 00:16:36,730
and we had some public
conversations and

383
00:16:36,730 --> 00:16:39,170
Chair Kettles Public Safety
Committee about that,

384
00:16:39,170 --> 00:16:41,610
as recently as two days ago,

385
00:16:41,610 --> 00:16:43,530
and some things worked well,

386
00:16:43,530 --> 00:16:44,830
and some things
didn't, we weren't

387
00:16:44,830 --> 00:16:46,290
at our best in certain regards.

388
00:16:46,290 --> 00:16:47,990
But I want to thank

389
00:16:47,990 --> 00:16:51,450
the hardworking people
of Seattle Center,

390
00:16:51,450 --> 00:16:54,650
the staff who did
their job, showed up,

391
00:16:54,650 --> 00:16:57,870
provided thoughtful
contributions to

392
00:16:57,870 --> 00:16:59,970
the Center's
after-action report.

393
00:16:59,970 --> 00:17:02,970
Lets just focus on effectively

394
00:17:02,970 --> 00:17:07,685
implementing those findings
and those mitigations.

395
00:17:07,685 --> 00:17:11,080
Special shout out
to Diamatris again.

396
00:17:11,080 --> 00:17:15,220
Really appreciate
you. Roseanne Lopez,

397
00:17:15,220 --> 00:17:18,240
thank you. Bruce Linton.

398
00:17:18,240 --> 00:17:22,195
I think Kerro Tiono,

399
00:17:22,195 --> 00:17:24,850
V. Wynn who's the
chief of staff,

400
00:17:24,850 --> 00:17:26,260
David Kunzelman and so many

401
00:17:26,260 --> 00:17:28,420
more within the department that

402
00:17:28,420 --> 00:17:33,140
are showing up and doing
this work and made our city,

403
00:17:33,180 --> 00:17:35,650
well, to the extent,
we did great things,

404
00:17:35,650 --> 00:17:39,070
and we did do some effective
things that tragic day.

405
00:17:39,070 --> 00:17:41,410
I just want to thank you again,

406
00:17:41,410 --> 00:17:43,390
personally and publicly for

407
00:17:43,390 --> 00:17:46,190
your contributions and
service to our city.

408
00:17:47,580 --> 00:17:51,490
I was really excited,
in fact thrilled,

409
00:17:51,490 --> 00:17:54,430
tickle even when I saw

410
00:17:54,430 --> 00:17:58,420
the mayor's proposed budget for

411
00:17:58,420 --> 00:18:02,410
Seattle Center because
recall earlier this year,

412
00:18:02,410 --> 00:18:03,640
I think in May or June,

413
00:18:03,640 --> 00:18:05,755
we passed that
council resolution

414
00:18:05,755 --> 00:18:07,600
affirming our commitment to put

415
00:18:07,600 --> 00:18:09,730
a bond measure package

416
00:18:09,730 --> 00:18:12,920
before the voters
next year in 2027.

417
00:18:12,990 --> 00:18:17,050
It was a joint mayoral
and council resolution,

418
00:18:17,050 --> 00:18:19,795
but that was words on paper.

419
00:18:19,795 --> 00:18:22,330
Right now, during
the budget season,

420
00:18:22,330 --> 00:18:24,670
it's our first
major opportunity.

421
00:18:24,670 --> 00:18:27,595
She backed those
value statements

422
00:18:27,595 --> 00:18:29,515
and words and commitments,

423
00:18:29,515 --> 00:18:33,475
back it with dollars and
tangible investment.

424
00:18:33,475 --> 00:18:38,695
That's why I was excited to
see the proposed budget here,

425
00:18:38,695 --> 00:18:39,940
at least until the next round.

426
00:18:39,940 --> 00:18:41,260
Next year, we'll go through

427
00:18:41,260 --> 00:18:45,385
the major substantive package
and I'II review that.

428
00:18:45,385 --> 00:18:47,515
But really excited to see that.

429
00:18:47,515 --> 00:18:50,590
One or two learn a little bit

430
00:18:50,590 --> 00:18:54,370
more about the armory
design and allocation.

431
00:18:54,370 --> 00:18:58,060
The proposal provides 3.14

432
00:18:58,060 --> 00:19:01,720
million for the campus
revitalization program,

433
00:19:01,720 --> 00:19:04,330
including approximately
2.35 million

434
00:19:04,330 --> 00:19:07,330
for project work
across the armory,

435
00:19:07,330 --> 00:19:12,710
Fisher Pavilion, Monorail, and
comprehensive campus plan.

436
00:19:12,870 --> 00:19:17,815
As you'll recall, that
resolution 32205,

437
00:19:17,815 --> 00:19:21,145
the Seattle Center
Renovation Resolution

438
00:19:21,145 --> 00:19:24,430
required a specific
design milestone,

439
00:19:24,430 --> 00:19:26,605
30%, in fact, for the armory,

440
00:19:26,605 --> 00:19:31,670
the flagship facility
there, arguably.

441
00:19:31,740 --> 00:19:35,875
Of the money that
I just mentioned,

442
00:19:35,875 --> 00:19:37,450
how much is
specifically allocated

443
00:19:37,450 --> 00:19:39,295
to each of those
four workstreams,

444
00:19:39,295 --> 00:19:42,340
and does the armory allocation
actually help achieve

445
00:19:42,340 --> 00:19:44,500
the 30% design
milestone standard

446
00:19:44,500 --> 00:19:46,585
as required by the resolution?

447
00:19:46,585 --> 00:19:50,500
If not, what additional
appropriation would be required?

448
00:19:50,500 --> 00:19:52,675
Randy Engstrom: Thank
you for that question.

449
00:19:52,675 --> 00:19:53,980
I should have said earlier,

450
00:19:53,980 --> 00:19:55,120
thank you Councilmember Saka,

451
00:19:55,120 --> 00:19:55,840
for your leadership,

452
00:19:55,840 --> 00:19:57,190
particularly on the
joint resolution.

453
00:19:57,190 --> 00:19:58,810
You've been a huge champion of

454
00:19:58,810 --> 00:20:00,775
the campus renovation project,

455
00:20:00,775 --> 00:20:02,185
and we really appreciate it.

456
00:20:02,185 --> 00:20:05,605
I also am grateful for your
acknowledgment of our staff.

457
00:20:05,605 --> 00:20:07,090
I'm incredibly lucky to have

458
00:20:07,090 --> 00:20:09,775
a super talented team
across every division.

459
00:20:09,775 --> 00:20:12,160
It's some of the hardest
working public servants

460
00:20:12,160 --> 00:20:13,255
I've ever met,

461
00:20:13,255 --> 00:20:16,165
and I feel privileged
to work with them.

462
00:20:16,165 --> 00:20:18,640
The answer to Question 1 is that

463
00:20:18,640 --> 00:20:21,100
500,000 of that appropriation is

464
00:20:21,100 --> 00:20:23,530
for a consultant that
we have under contract

465
00:20:23,530 --> 00:20:26,695
who had started early design
work related to the armory.

466
00:20:26,695 --> 00:20:30,070
I don't know that in
the time that we have,

467
00:20:30,070 --> 00:20:31,720
that we could get much
farther than that

468
00:20:31,720 --> 00:20:33,565
$500,000 worth of work.

469
00:20:33,565 --> 00:20:36,730
I don't think it's going
to get us to 30% design.

470
00:20:36,730 --> 00:20:38,410
I can fairly
confidently say I don't

471
00:20:38,410 --> 00:20:40,000
think it'll get
us to 30% design.

472
00:20:40,000 --> 00:20:43,580
But that's more a feature
of time versus money.

473
00:20:44,820 --> 00:20:49,690
We go before DIMPAC I
think on October 14th.

474
00:20:49,690 --> 00:20:52,450
My hope is that we can
start spending against

475
00:20:52,450 --> 00:20:55,375
that appropriation that day and

476
00:20:55,375 --> 00:20:58,210
get that work moving
pencil to paper to

477
00:20:58,210 --> 00:21:01,150
get as much design information
as we can for the armory.

478
00:21:01,150 --> 00:21:03,685
It is a vast and
complex building.

479
00:21:03,685 --> 00:21:05,380
I appreciate a couple of

480
00:21:05,380 --> 00:21:08,050
council members coming down
yesterday to take a tour.

481
00:21:08,050 --> 00:21:09,910
We know we need to know more

482
00:21:09,910 --> 00:21:11,365
so that we can have
more certainty

483
00:21:11,365 --> 00:21:13,525
ahead of legislating
a ballot measure.

484
00:21:13,525 --> 00:21:15,355
That's certainly our goal.

485
00:21:15,355 --> 00:21:18,565
Rob Saka: No, thank you
for that initial clarity.

486
00:21:18,565 --> 00:21:21,850
We'll talk about
timing and sequencing

487
00:21:21,850 --> 00:21:25,075
in just a moment.
Now, here it is.

488
00:21:25,075 --> 00:21:27,865
Bond readiness
milestones for '27.

489
00:21:27,865 --> 00:21:31,300
By what specific dates will

490
00:21:31,300 --> 00:21:33,100
the executive
provide counsel with

491
00:21:33,100 --> 00:21:35,530
a prioritized project list,

492
00:21:35,530 --> 00:21:39,130
reliable cost estimates,
public engagement results?

493
00:21:39,130 --> 00:21:41,575
I know there's efforts ongoing
right now with respect to

494
00:21:41,575 --> 00:21:46,465
community engagement and
affordability analysis,

495
00:21:46,465 --> 00:21:51,040
a private, philanthropic
and other non

496
00:21:51,040 --> 00:21:53,965
city matching
strategy sufficient

497
00:21:53,965 --> 00:21:56,605
for a 2027 ballot decision.

498
00:21:56,605 --> 00:21:57,820
All those things, of course, we

499
00:21:57,820 --> 00:21:59,930
called out in the resolution.

500
00:22:01,110 --> 00:22:03,820
Aly Pennucci: Thanks, Councilmember
Saka, for the question.

501
00:22:03,820 --> 00:22:05,605
We will follow up with you with

502
00:22:05,605 --> 00:22:07,915
more details and
potential timelines.

503
00:22:07,915 --> 00:22:10,180
We are working really hard to

504
00:22:10,180 --> 00:22:12,865
make sure we are prepared
to transmit a package.

505
00:22:12,865 --> 00:22:16,405
To the council, we are still

506
00:22:16,405 --> 00:22:20,010
not finalized on whether

507
00:22:20,010 --> 00:22:23,235
we'll go to the August ballot
or the November ballot.

508
00:22:23,235 --> 00:22:24,810
Currently, we are working on

509
00:22:24,810 --> 00:22:26,040
a timeline that would deliver

510
00:22:26,040 --> 00:22:30,010
a package to the council
early in the year,

511
00:22:30,010 --> 00:22:31,285
assuming an August ballot,

512
00:22:31,285 --> 00:22:34,630
which is the feature of
the timeline that Randy

513
00:22:34,630 --> 00:22:38,155
was getting, Interim
Director Engstrom.

514
00:22:38,155 --> 00:22:39,025
Randy Engstrom: That's fine.

515
00:22:39,025 --> 00:22:40,990
Aly Pennucci: But anyways,
I will follow up with

516
00:22:40,990 --> 00:22:43,940
you offline with more details.

517
00:22:44,490 --> 00:22:47,940
Rob Saka: Yes. Thank
you, Director Pennucci.

518
00:22:47,940 --> 00:22:50,790
Really curious to learn
specific timing and

519
00:22:50,790 --> 00:22:54,900
sequencing for an executive
proposed package,

520
00:22:54,900 --> 00:22:56,850
and look forward to
partnering with you

521
00:22:56,850 --> 00:22:58,775
all to get that done.

522
00:22:58,775 --> 00:23:01,765
The next question
I have pertains to

523
00:23:01,765 --> 00:23:03,040
some of the safety and security

524
00:23:03,040 --> 00:23:04,990
investments in the proposal,

525
00:23:04,990 --> 00:23:09,400
noting that it includes
$500,000 that is to

526
00:23:09,400 --> 00:23:11,500
be apparently
appropriated and spent

527
00:23:11,500 --> 00:23:14,980
on very specific
safety investments,

528
00:23:14,980 --> 00:23:19,015
including weapons detection
equipment, area fencing,

529
00:23:19,015 --> 00:23:21,070
support vehicles
for campus security

530
00:23:21,070 --> 00:23:22,210
and various training and

531
00:23:22,210 --> 00:23:26,630
emergency training and
crisis situations.

532
00:23:27,030 --> 00:23:32,065
With respect to weapons
detection equipment,

533
00:23:32,065 --> 00:23:34,900
what's the specific
rollout plan,

534
00:23:34,900 --> 00:23:39,205
implementation approach, and
anticipated milestones for

535
00:23:39,205 --> 00:23:44,750
deploying that weapons
detection equipment?

536
00:23:45,390 --> 00:23:47,785
Randy Engstrom: I can
speak to some of that.

537
00:23:47,785 --> 00:23:50,455
I wanted to go back to
your previous question.

538
00:23:50,455 --> 00:23:54,235
I can say that we are under
contract currently with

539
00:23:54,235 --> 00:23:57,610
the armory consultants and

540
00:23:57,610 --> 00:23:59,305
with the Monorail
Bridge consultants.

541
00:23:59,305 --> 00:24:01,150
We interviewed
three finalists for

542
00:24:01,150 --> 00:24:03,850
the Fisher Pavilion
contract on Monday,

543
00:24:03,850 --> 00:24:05,410
and we hope to be
out with an RFP for

544
00:24:05,410 --> 00:24:09,490
the Century 21 master
plan within a week.

545
00:24:09,490 --> 00:24:13,270
We will just go as hard on
those things as we can,

546
00:24:13,270 --> 00:24:16,465
starting the day that
we can spend the money.

547
00:24:16,465 --> 00:24:19,120
In terms of the timing for
the safety investments,

548
00:24:19,120 --> 00:24:20,590
I believe this is
going to be part of

549
00:24:20,590 --> 00:24:22,900
a 2026 fourth quarter
supplemental,

550
00:24:22,900 --> 00:24:25,165
so we can utilize the
resources more quickly.

551
00:24:25,165 --> 00:24:27,685
We put together a combination

552
00:24:27,685 --> 00:24:29,050
of open gate metal detectors,

553
00:24:29,050 --> 00:24:30,100
which is what we use at McCaw

554
00:24:30,100 --> 00:24:31,390
Hall and what's been used for

555
00:24:31,390 --> 00:24:33,985
festivals like Bumbershoot
and KEXP barbecue.

556
00:24:33,985 --> 00:24:36,280
We also included
fencing that can limit

557
00:24:36,280 --> 00:24:38,770
the number of access points.

558
00:24:38,770 --> 00:24:40,480
If we owned that fencing,
it could bring down

559
00:24:40,480 --> 00:24:42,760
the cost for producers
to have that option.

560
00:24:42,760 --> 00:24:45,910
We did include,
for consideration,

561
00:24:45,910 --> 00:24:48,085
a pilot related to cameras,

562
00:24:48,085 --> 00:24:50,770
not installing a
full camera system

563
00:24:50,770 --> 00:24:52,450
because it wouldn't be
enough resources to do that,

564
00:24:52,450 --> 00:24:54,970
but being able to
bring out one of

565
00:24:54,970 --> 00:24:57,640
those portable solar
powered camera kiosks

566
00:24:57,640 --> 00:24:59,140
like they have at
Memorial Stadium.

567
00:24:59,140 --> 00:25:01,045
The camera conversation is

568
00:25:01,045 --> 00:25:02,830
a bigger policy
conversation that we

569
00:25:02,830 --> 00:25:06,910
will be at the table
for. Those were all.

570
00:25:06,910 --> 00:25:09,040
Then various equipments that

571
00:25:09,040 --> 00:25:11,530
our emergency services
unit has requested

572
00:25:11,530 --> 00:25:12,790
an additional trike
so they can move

573
00:25:12,790 --> 00:25:14,275
across the campus more quickly,

574
00:25:14,275 --> 00:25:16,855
updated radios, things
of that nature.

575
00:25:16,855 --> 00:25:18,850
Then on the staffing side,

576
00:25:18,850 --> 00:25:21,460
there were two ESU positions
that we'd like to fill.

577
00:25:21,460 --> 00:25:22,960
We may be able to
find a way to fill

578
00:25:22,960 --> 00:25:25,045
them outside of this.

579
00:25:25,045 --> 00:25:27,220
We know we need more
communications capacity.

580
00:25:27,220 --> 00:25:29,185
That's been clear for some time.

581
00:25:29,185 --> 00:25:31,720
We need dedicated communication
support to be able

582
00:25:31,720 --> 00:25:33,070
to better communicate with

583
00:25:33,070 --> 00:25:35,230
our campus community
and our staff.

584
00:25:35,230 --> 00:25:38,110
Rob Saka: No, I appreciate that.

585
00:25:38,110 --> 00:25:40,750
Thank you for clarity there.

586
00:25:40,750 --> 00:25:42,010
On the one hand, when I saw

587
00:25:42,010 --> 00:25:45,505
the safety and
security investments,

588
00:25:45,505 --> 00:25:47,170
I was really excited to see

589
00:25:47,170 --> 00:25:48,700
that and I want to
thank the mayor for

590
00:25:48,700 --> 00:25:52,690
including those specifically
in the proposal here.

591
00:25:52,690 --> 00:25:59,470
On the other hand, our review
is ongoing, of course,

592
00:25:59,470 --> 00:26:01,840
but it took initial pass
at diving deeper into

593
00:26:01,840 --> 00:26:05,860
the specific terms of

594
00:26:05,860 --> 00:26:10,000
the Seattle Center related
proposal that defined list

595
00:26:10,000 --> 00:26:14,155
that I mentioned of specific
safety investments,

596
00:26:14,155 --> 00:26:16,300
weapons detection equipment,
area fencing, support,

597
00:26:16,300 --> 00:26:20,410
vehicles for security,
training, etc.

598
00:26:20,410 --> 00:26:24,145
That's a great list.
It's an excellent start,

599
00:26:24,145 --> 00:26:26,710
but also a little

600
00:26:26,710 --> 00:26:28,300
intrigued and little
disappointed not to

601
00:26:28,300 --> 00:26:32,025
see security cameras,
not on that list.

602
00:26:32,025 --> 00:26:33,195
But I'm hearing now,

603
00:26:33,195 --> 00:26:35,400
not in the actual texts of
the proposal that there's

604
00:26:35,400 --> 00:26:39,050
a pilot for some temporary.

605
00:26:39,050 --> 00:26:42,740
I'm fine with a
temporary deploy.

606
00:26:43,020 --> 00:26:45,280
What's the executives plan

607
00:26:45,280 --> 00:26:48,310
to install permanent
infrastructure?

608
00:26:48,310 --> 00:26:52,720
We can keep those
cameras on at all times,

609
00:26:52,720 --> 00:26:56,335
given the main event
threat at Seattle Center.

610
00:26:56,335 --> 00:26:58,810
What's the plan to

611
00:26:58,810 --> 00:27:03,290
get some cameras deployed
there that are not pilots?

612
00:27:05,580 --> 00:27:08,380
Aly Pennucci: Councilmember
Saka, the current plan

613
00:27:08,380 --> 00:27:09,460
is as represented

614
00:27:09,460 --> 00:27:11,245
in the budget book for

615
00:27:11,245 --> 00:27:14,410
the immediate
security investments.

616
00:27:14,410 --> 00:27:17,560
Rob Saka: That's the immediate
security investments.

617
00:27:17,560 --> 00:27:20,035
I'm asking longer term.

618
00:27:20,035 --> 00:27:23,365
Actually, I would
prefer the short term,

619
00:27:23,365 --> 00:27:27,040
but what is the plan

620
00:27:27,040 --> 00:27:31,730
or approach to deploying
cameras at the Seattle Center?

621
00:27:35,000 --> 00:27:38,100
Aly Pennucci: There
isn't currently a plan.

622
00:27:38,100 --> 00:27:40,650
Again, we were making an
immediate investment,

623
00:27:40,650 --> 00:27:42,390
and as I think well,

624
00:27:42,390 --> 00:27:43,890
maybe it wasn't
with you, but there

625
00:27:43,890 --> 00:27:45,255
are more discussions to have,

626
00:27:45,255 --> 00:27:48,315
but this is the immediate plan.

627
00:27:48,315 --> 00:27:52,380
Randy Engstrom: My
assumption is that the cost

628
00:27:52,380 --> 00:27:55,890
related to trying to stand
up a program like that,

629
00:27:55,890 --> 00:27:58,240
if that's a decision that's made

630
00:27:59,460 --> 00:28:01,750
at whatever point in time,

631
00:28:01,750 --> 00:28:02,980
would probably
need to be part of

632
00:28:02,980 --> 00:28:04,435
a larger renovation package

633
00:28:04,435 --> 00:28:05,845
just because of the scale of it.

634
00:28:05,845 --> 00:28:08,200
But I'm happy to

635
00:28:08,200 --> 00:28:10,850
share what we know as
soon as we know it.

636
00:28:11,810 --> 00:28:14,475
Rob Saka: Well, just to

637
00:28:14,475 --> 00:28:18,020
underscore the urgency
and importance of

638
00:28:18,020 --> 00:28:20,680
installing vital
security cameras

639
00:28:20,680 --> 00:28:25,435
there, and it's important.

640
00:28:25,435 --> 00:28:29,965
Again, that list is
a good initial list.

641
00:28:29,965 --> 00:28:33,745
It's not necessarily an
exhaustive or sufficient list,

642
00:28:33,745 --> 00:28:35,140
and cameras should
be included in

643
00:28:35,140 --> 00:28:36,670
those safety and
security investments

644
00:28:36,670 --> 00:28:38,635
for the Seattle Center as well.

645
00:28:38,635 --> 00:28:43,105
But thank you again for
your presentation here.

646
00:28:43,105 --> 00:28:45,910
Look forward to continuing
the conversation,

647
00:28:45,910 --> 00:28:47,275
kicking the tires a little bit

648
00:28:47,275 --> 00:28:51,310
more during our budget
deliberations here.

649
00:28:51,310 --> 00:28:55,615
But after taking an
initial pass at reviewing

650
00:28:55,615 --> 00:28:57,970
the proposal and mapping it

651
00:28:57,970 --> 00:29:00,595
against the commitments
made in that resolution,

652
00:29:00,595 --> 00:29:02,890
we passed earlier this year.

653
00:29:02,890 --> 00:29:07,375
Really excited overall to
see the level of investment.

654
00:29:07,375 --> 00:29:10,930
Our job now is to ensure
that Seattle Center

655
00:29:10,930 --> 00:29:14,965
will truly be ready in 2027.

656
00:29:14,965 --> 00:29:17,320
I want to thank the
mayor for taking

657
00:29:17,320 --> 00:29:20,350
a great initial strides and
responding to our resolution

658
00:29:20,350 --> 00:29:23,470
effectively and establishing
the machinery to

659
00:29:23,470 --> 00:29:25,075
make sure we're
set up for success

660
00:29:25,075 --> 00:29:26,815
next year during
the bond proposal.

661
00:29:26,815 --> 00:29:28,495
Thank you, chair.

662
00:29:28,495 --> 00:29:30,025
Daniel Strauss: Thank
you, Councilmember Saka.

663
00:29:30,025 --> 00:29:34,480
Councilmember Kettle,
District 7 in the center.

664
00:29:34,480 --> 00:29:35,440
Robert Kettle: Yes.

665
00:29:35,440 --> 00:29:37,090
I'm going to take the
privilege of going second

666
00:29:37,090 --> 00:29:39,445
because for the first
two years here,

667
00:29:39,445 --> 00:29:40,870
I was looking out for

668
00:29:40,870 --> 00:29:42,460
Seattle Center and
Waterfront issues

669
00:29:42,460 --> 00:29:44,080
as part of my district.

670
00:29:44,080 --> 00:29:46,060
Because of that, I have met

671
00:29:46,060 --> 00:29:49,900
many over those two
years of your team.

672
00:29:49,900 --> 00:29:52,660
I thank them for their work and

673
00:29:52,660 --> 00:29:54,580
what they've done
across the board and

674
00:29:54,580 --> 00:29:59,155
all the various elements and
their work with partnership.

675
00:29:59,155 --> 00:30:02,275
I noted partnerships
with me because the work

676
00:30:02,275 --> 00:30:03,730
like with Pacific Science Center

677
00:30:03,730 --> 00:30:05,440
and the Space Needle chahuri,

678
00:30:05,440 --> 00:30:08,680
the arena. You mentioned KXP.

679
00:30:08,680 --> 00:30:11,800
There's a lot of
partners, the rep.

680
00:30:11,800 --> 00:30:15,590
There's a whole
lot massive list.

681
00:30:16,800 --> 00:30:20,020
That work collaborating with

682
00:30:20,020 --> 00:30:21,610
those has been really important.

683
00:30:21,610 --> 00:30:25,520
Welcome Interim Director
Engstrom and Mr. Winston.

684
00:30:26,130 --> 00:30:28,390
For me, again,

685
00:30:28,390 --> 00:30:30,730
Seattle Center is super
important because it's

686
00:30:30,730 --> 00:30:35,080
part of the neighborhood
and with Uptown,

687
00:30:35,080 --> 00:30:37,480
primarily, but also
Queen Anne on one side,

688
00:30:37,480 --> 00:30:40,255
South Lake Union,
Belltown on another.

689
00:30:40,255 --> 00:30:43,390
Is super important to
the neighborhood to do

690
00:30:43,390 --> 00:30:47,185
these things right.
You're right.

691
00:30:47,185 --> 00:30:49,480
I have been involved with
Memorial Stadium since

692
00:30:49,480 --> 00:30:54,475
just before the school levy
vote in various capacities.

693
00:30:54,475 --> 00:30:58,670
I am so upset that I can't
be there at the topping.

694
00:30:58,890 --> 00:31:00,940
Randy Engstrom: We'll get
you to whenever you want.

695
00:31:00,940 --> 00:31:03,550
Robert Kettle: Well,
the challenge of

696
00:31:03,550 --> 00:31:04,810
being the council member versus

697
00:31:04,810 --> 00:31:06,400
the mayor is that our schedules

698
00:31:06,400 --> 00:31:08,890
are driven by council meetings
and committee meetings

699
00:31:08,890 --> 00:31:12,550
and I can't flex too much.

700
00:31:12,550 --> 00:31:14,410
A little here and there,
but not too much.

701
00:31:14,410 --> 00:31:15,940
But I do look forward to it,

702
00:31:15,940 --> 00:31:17,425
and I'll butt a plug in

703
00:31:17,425 --> 00:31:19,780
anything down the road,
like six months ahead.

704
00:31:19,780 --> 00:31:22,600
Please give me advance notice
as soon as possible in

705
00:31:22,600 --> 00:31:24,040
terms as we hit

706
00:31:24,040 --> 00:31:27,130
these milestones for
completion of the stadium.

707
00:31:27,130 --> 00:31:29,200
I do thank, by the way,

708
00:31:29,200 --> 00:31:31,690
one roof, you
mentioned Mr. Lewicki,

709
00:31:31,690 --> 00:31:34,060
but also the school district,

710
00:31:34,060 --> 00:31:36,460
Mr. McCarthy, who I used to be

711
00:31:36,460 --> 00:31:39,950
working with primarily for that.

712
00:31:40,440 --> 00:31:42,685
Then there's the bond work.

713
00:31:42,685 --> 00:31:44,725
I think it's important
as seen here.

714
00:31:44,725 --> 00:31:46,630
We got to do it right.

715
00:31:46,630 --> 00:31:48,880
It's the same thing
with the vision

716
00:31:48,880 --> 00:31:52,370
setting up the future.

717
00:31:52,650 --> 00:31:55,585
You get what you pay for.

718
00:31:55,585 --> 00:31:58,630
Seattle Center is
center to the city,

719
00:31:58,630 --> 00:31:59,830
and we have to do it right,

720
00:31:59,830 --> 00:32:02,065
so we have to make
those investments.

721
00:32:02,065 --> 00:32:05,140
Similarly with Waterfront and

722
00:32:05,140 --> 00:32:07,370
the Elliott Bay Connections,

723
00:32:07,380 --> 00:32:13,570
this goes to the parks discussion
about receiving parks,

724
00:32:13,570 --> 00:32:16,900
like onboarding new parks
or park land sometimes,

725
00:32:16,900 --> 00:32:19,300
not necessarily a full
traditional park.

726
00:32:19,300 --> 00:32:22,910
There's cost to that.
It's great. Yes, great.

727
00:32:23,070 --> 00:32:26,095
Now the challenge that

728
00:32:26,095 --> 00:32:28,705
Miss Linda French Gates and

729
00:32:28,705 --> 00:32:30,160
Miss McKenzie Scott have

730
00:32:30,160 --> 00:32:32,875
created is that they've
created something beautiful.

731
00:32:32,875 --> 00:32:33,640
There's going to be

732
00:32:33,640 --> 00:32:36,190
this transition period
where things will be

733
00:32:36,190 --> 00:32:38,680
beautiful and there's
going to be an expectation

734
00:32:38,680 --> 00:32:41,590
for the city to make sure
that it remains beautiful.

735
00:32:41,590 --> 00:32:44,170
This is where the
partnership comes in,

736
00:32:44,170 --> 00:32:46,600
and we should plan for

737
00:32:46,600 --> 00:32:51,050
that because it is
such a gem for us.

738
00:32:52,230 --> 00:32:54,610
That's a long way of
saying, I appreciate

739
00:32:54,610 --> 00:32:57,650
the various pieces in the
briefing that speak to that.

740
00:32:58,050 --> 00:33:01,690
I am on the book about
keeping everything

741
00:33:01,690 --> 00:33:03,220
related to arts and
culture with arts and

742
00:33:03,220 --> 00:33:04,765
culture, and I remain so.

743
00:33:04,765 --> 00:33:07,195
But obviously, you're in
a very unique position

744
00:33:07,195 --> 00:33:10,315
right now as your former role.

745
00:33:10,315 --> 00:33:13,450
We need to be smart on
that to ensure that

746
00:33:13,450 --> 00:33:16,900
we are good as it relates
to arts and culture.

747
00:33:16,900 --> 00:33:18,430
This is massive for the city;

748
00:33:18,430 --> 00:33:20,050
it's also massive for District 7

749
00:33:20,050 --> 00:33:21,805
because the vast
majority of them,

750
00:33:21,805 --> 00:33:24,685
particularly the
more major or even,

751
00:33:24,685 --> 00:33:27,070
that are located
within the district.

752
00:33:27,070 --> 00:33:28,780
We need to ensure

753
00:33:28,780 --> 00:33:31,180
that that's because that's
part of the linking.

754
00:33:31,180 --> 00:33:35,050
As I said previously,
too, unfortunately,

755
00:33:35,050 --> 00:33:37,020
by Seattle and et cetera,

756
00:33:37,020 --> 00:33:38,355
is taken away,

757
00:33:38,355 --> 00:33:40,575
but nothing builds
momentum like momentum.

758
00:33:40,575 --> 00:33:41,760
We have a huge
amount of momentum

759
00:33:41,760 --> 00:33:43,050
coming out of FIFA World Cup.

760
00:33:43,050 --> 00:33:45,585
It's sports, but it's
like anything else;

761
00:33:45,585 --> 00:33:47,310
ESPN, it's entertainment
and sports,

762
00:33:47,310 --> 00:33:50,575
and how can we then
translate that to

763
00:33:50,575 --> 00:33:52,600
arts and culture as it relates

764
00:33:52,600 --> 00:33:54,430
to Seattle Center here,
which I'm speaking about.

765
00:33:54,430 --> 00:33:57,340
How can we build on
that experience,

766
00:33:57,340 --> 00:34:00,080
in terms of the
programming you're doing?

767
00:34:01,080 --> 00:34:04,210
Any idea like what can we do?

768
00:34:04,210 --> 00:34:05,440
Then how you can partner?

769
00:34:05,440 --> 00:34:06,940
Never mind outside partnerships,

770
00:34:06,940 --> 00:34:10,200
but partnerships within
the executive departments

771
00:34:10,200 --> 00:34:12,840
to further that is
really important to me.

772
00:34:12,840 --> 00:34:15,135
100%. I mentioned

773
00:34:15,135 --> 00:34:17,520
my admiration for
Director Newin's work;

774
00:34:17,520 --> 00:34:19,545
we talk about this a lot.

775
00:34:19,545 --> 00:34:22,045
Thank you for pointing

776
00:34:22,045 --> 00:34:24,505
out the important role
that partnership plays.

777
00:34:24,505 --> 00:34:26,785
Next year will be 65
years of the campus,

778
00:34:26,785 --> 00:34:28,570
50 years of the foundation,

779
00:34:28,570 --> 00:34:30,175
probably our closest partner,

780
00:34:30,175 --> 00:34:31,870
30 years of Festal,

781
00:34:31,870 --> 00:34:33,640
which is the 25
cultural festivals

782
00:34:33,640 --> 00:34:35,740
that represent the
best of this city.

783
00:34:35,740 --> 00:34:38,155
Five years right now of
Climate Pledge Arena;

784
00:34:38,155 --> 00:34:39,595
I'll be at the game tonight.

785
00:34:39,595 --> 00:34:42,500
If I can stay awake long enough.

786
00:34:42,840 --> 00:34:45,085
One year of Waterfront Park.

787
00:34:45,085 --> 00:34:46,915
Waterfront Park
and Climate Pledge

788
00:34:46,915 --> 00:34:48,700
and KESP, which you
also mentioned,

789
00:34:48,700 --> 00:34:50,620
are some of the most
successful examples of

790
00:34:50,620 --> 00:34:52,630
public-private partnership
that I've ever seen.

791
00:34:52,630 --> 00:34:53,770
I think they offer us a bit of

792
00:34:53,770 --> 00:34:55,720
a roadmap for what we're
going to need to do over

793
00:34:55,720 --> 00:34:57,640
the next years to come in

794
00:34:57,640 --> 00:35:01,460
our redevelopment plans,
our capital plans.

795
00:35:02,100 --> 00:35:06,205
I also want to highlight the
partnership with One Roof.

796
00:35:06,205 --> 00:35:08,320
The answer to your
question about how do we

797
00:35:08,320 --> 00:35:10,885
expand and build off that
momentum is twofold.

798
00:35:10,885 --> 00:35:12,280
One is what I mentioned about

799
00:35:12,280 --> 00:35:14,065
that notion of a
living classroom.

800
00:35:14,065 --> 00:35:16,660
We're meeting next week with
the executive director of

801
00:35:16,660 --> 00:35:18,250
Comprehensive Schools
and Athletics and

802
00:35:18,250 --> 00:35:20,215
the executive director
of Alternative Schools

803
00:35:20,215 --> 00:35:22,810
to explore how we might build
off of our partnership with

804
00:35:22,810 --> 00:35:25,420
the Center School and
Memorial Stadium and really

805
00:35:25,420 --> 00:35:28,855
create a dedicated
career-connected learning campus,

806
00:35:28,855 --> 00:35:30,250
work with the skill centers,

807
00:35:30,250 --> 00:35:31,975
work with other CTE providers,

808
00:35:31,975 --> 00:35:33,805
and create an
environment whereby

809
00:35:33,805 --> 00:35:36,250
any student in Seattle Public
Schools on one bus can

810
00:35:36,250 --> 00:35:37,930
get to the campus and can start

811
00:35:37,930 --> 00:35:40,750
building a pathway towards
a meaningful career.

812
00:35:40,750 --> 00:35:42,430
I want every parent.

813
00:35:42,430 --> 00:35:45,730
I have a 10-year-old
daughter, as you do.

814
00:35:45,730 --> 00:35:48,970
I want her to see that
as a possible future for

815
00:35:48,970 --> 00:35:51,805
her as she comes up through
the Seattle Public Schools.

816
00:35:51,805 --> 00:35:53,275
The other is,

817
00:35:53,275 --> 00:35:55,960
we've already expanded our
work through Waterfront Park;

818
00:35:55,960 --> 00:35:57,715
now, the addition
of Elliott Bay.

819
00:35:57,715 --> 00:35:59,020
What are the other ways we

820
00:35:59,020 --> 00:36:00,490
could bring the unique capacity

821
00:36:00,490 --> 00:36:03,400
that Seattle Center offers to
broader parts of the city?

822
00:36:03,400 --> 00:36:05,455
We're one of the only
producing departments

823
00:36:05,455 --> 00:36:07,495
that can bring event
infrastructure.

824
00:36:07,495 --> 00:36:09,565
Does that look like bringing
festival programming

825
00:36:09,565 --> 00:36:11,320
to all of the middle
schools in Seattle?

826
00:36:11,320 --> 00:36:13,000
Does that look like working

827
00:36:13,000 --> 00:36:14,290
with parks or neighborhoods or

828
00:36:14,290 --> 00:36:15,700
the Office of Arts
and Culture to

829
00:36:15,700 --> 00:36:17,185
support neighborhood
block party,

830
00:36:17,185 --> 00:36:20,245
neighborhood park
festival infrastructure?

831
00:36:20,245 --> 00:36:23,080
I would like to see
the capabilities

832
00:36:23,080 --> 00:36:24,190
of Seattle Center extend

833
00:36:24,190 --> 00:36:25,840
beyond the borders of
the campus and into

834
00:36:25,840 --> 00:36:28,285
more neighborhoods,
especially downtown.

835
00:36:28,285 --> 00:36:30,670
I think there's a
huge opportunity:

836
00:36:30,670 --> 00:36:32,980
every downtown in the world

837
00:36:32,980 --> 00:36:35,485
has a combination of the
challenges that Seattle has,

838
00:36:35,485 --> 00:36:36,790
but no downtown in the world

839
00:36:36,790 --> 00:36:38,095
has a Seattle Center
to the north,

840
00:36:38,095 --> 00:36:39,460
a stadium district to the south,

841
00:36:39,460 --> 00:36:41,770
a Waterfront Park and a Pike
Place Market to the west,

842
00:36:41,770 --> 00:36:43,450
and a convention
center to the east.

843
00:36:43,450 --> 00:36:45,250
We are surrounded by all of

844
00:36:45,250 --> 00:36:47,500
the human participation
we could ever hope for.

845
00:36:47,500 --> 00:36:48,850
We have to figure
out how to draw that

846
00:36:48,850 --> 00:36:50,785
into the center of the city.

847
00:36:50,785 --> 00:36:53,335
Those are two ways that I'm
hopeful that we can do that.

848
00:36:53,335 --> 00:36:55,390
I'll shout out another
cabinet member,

849
00:36:55,390 --> 00:36:56,860
Rico Kiran Dongo,

850
00:36:56,860 --> 00:36:58,480
working with him
through the planning

851
00:36:58,480 --> 00:36:59,530
for our future subcabinet

852
00:36:59,530 --> 00:37:01,900
along with a number
of other departments,

853
00:37:01,900 --> 00:37:05,125
including OED, arts,
and sustainability.

854
00:37:05,125 --> 00:37:09,490
What could our role in
downtown activation look like?

855
00:37:09,490 --> 00:37:13,765
What greater role could
Seattle Center play?

856
00:37:13,765 --> 00:37:15,640
That's a good point with

857
00:37:15,640 --> 00:37:17,530
OPCD, Mr. [inaudible],

858
00:37:17,530 --> 00:37:21,700
and I would encourage you
to engage with community,

859
00:37:21,700 --> 00:37:24,400
like for the South Lake
Union Regional Center plan

860
00:37:24,400 --> 00:37:26,830
and also the Uptown
Regional Center plan.

861
00:37:26,830 --> 00:37:29,545
To your point about
reaching out downtown,

862
00:37:29,545 --> 00:37:31,180
really greater Downtown AK,

863
00:37:31,180 --> 00:37:33,520
Uptown, because last night

864
00:37:33,520 --> 00:37:35,185
I was at the Seattle Storm Game.

865
00:37:35,185 --> 00:37:37,225
I came out of there, and
for whatever reason,

866
00:37:37,225 --> 00:37:39,670
it was a hot mess, traffic-wise.

867
00:37:39,670 --> 00:37:41,455
Who pays the price for that?

868
00:37:41,455 --> 00:37:43,885
The neighbors, the
residents that live there.

869
00:37:43,885 --> 00:37:46,960
They need a little
extra love because they

870
00:37:46,960 --> 00:37:50,230
burden some of the
effort, if you will,

871
00:37:50,230 --> 00:37:53,410
in terms of how all
these major events that

872
00:37:53,410 --> 00:37:56,950
happen in the entire campus.

873
00:37:56,950 --> 00:37:59,125
That's important.
One last thing,

874
00:37:59,125 --> 00:38:01,735
Chair: public safety.

875
00:38:01,735 --> 00:38:04,600
We spoke about this Tuesday;

876
00:38:04,600 --> 00:38:05,980
we spoke about this.

877
00:38:05,980 --> 00:38:07,870
Thank you for your
after-action report.

878
00:38:07,870 --> 00:38:09,205
I've already spoken to it.

879
00:38:09,205 --> 00:38:12,460
I gave copies to all my
colleagues on committee.

880
00:38:12,460 --> 00:38:13,720
I gave one to

881
00:38:13,720 --> 00:38:18,040
my honor member on Tuesday,
Council member Strauss.

882
00:38:18,040 --> 00:38:20,680
I also gave him hard
copies to the OIG

883
00:38:20,680 --> 00:38:23,155
and investigators that
were here that day,

884
00:38:23,155 --> 00:38:25,165
along with fires as well,

885
00:38:25,165 --> 00:38:26,395
because it's really important.

886
00:38:26,395 --> 00:38:30,490
I'm positively surprised not
surprised, not the word,

887
00:38:30,490 --> 00:38:33,895
but I used the term
pleasantly surprised

888
00:38:33,895 --> 00:38:36,220
because it was really well done

889
00:38:36,220 --> 00:38:38,320
with the 10 findings
and recommendations,

890
00:38:38,320 --> 00:38:39,520
and your response in

891
00:38:39,520 --> 00:38:41,305
terms of it's all
about implementation.

892
00:38:41,305 --> 00:38:45,865
I go, yes. I can see
that being part of

893
00:38:45,865 --> 00:38:48,085
a foundational document because

894
00:38:48,085 --> 00:38:49,390
I've written a letter
to the mayor on

895
00:38:49,390 --> 00:38:52,810
this regarding a review
of major venues,

896
00:38:52,810 --> 00:38:55,570
major events, safety plans,

897
00:38:55,570 --> 00:38:57,760
and public safety approach.

898
00:38:57,760 --> 00:39:00,730
I want to do this in
collaboration and partnership.

899
00:39:00,730 --> 00:39:03,805
With the mayor, along with
gun violence for the record,

900
00:39:03,805 --> 00:39:06,175
also part of the engagement,

901
00:39:06,175 --> 00:39:07,690
because it's really important.

902
00:39:07,690 --> 00:39:11,110
I think that document and
Seattle Center are going to be

903
00:39:11,110 --> 00:39:13,210
important in terms
of our work because

904
00:39:13,210 --> 00:39:14,380
we're already setting
up next year's

905
00:39:14,380 --> 00:39:15,460
work plan for the committee,

906
00:39:15,460 --> 00:39:17,050
Public Safety
Committee, and that

907
00:39:17,050 --> 00:39:19,075
will be central to it as well.

908
00:39:19,075 --> 00:39:21,325
Thank you, Chair.

909
00:39:21,325 --> 00:39:23,380
Hopefully, that wasn't
too long. Thank you.

910
00:39:23,380 --> 00:39:24,310
Daniel Strauss:
Council member Kettle,

911
00:39:24,310 --> 00:39:25,180
not a problem at all.

912
00:39:25,180 --> 00:39:27,710
That's why we're here.
Council member Lin.

913
00:39:28,530 --> 00:39:31,450
Eddie Lin: Thank you, Chair, and

914
00:39:31,450 --> 00:39:33,620
thank you to the presenters.

915
00:39:33,750 --> 00:39:35,860
A comment and question,

916
00:39:35,860 --> 00:39:38,260
a little bit a little

917
00:39:38,260 --> 00:39:41,230
bit of a different aspect
around public safety.

918
00:39:41,230 --> 00:39:43,900
But one piece of public safety,

919
00:39:43,900 --> 00:39:47,125
at least for our youth,
is getting them jobs.

920
00:39:47,125 --> 00:39:50,275
Earlier, we talked about Cherry;

921
00:39:50,275 --> 00:39:53,935
you talked about the
Seattle Conservation Corps

922
00:39:53,935 --> 00:39:57,520
and what a great program
that is that Parks has.

923
00:39:57,520 --> 00:40:00,730
That's a transitional
employment program

924
00:40:00,730 --> 00:40:02,755
for adults experiencing
homelessness,

925
00:40:02,755 --> 00:40:06,190
where folks do generalist
landscaper and

926
00:40:06,190 --> 00:40:09,850
generalist construction
labor-type jobs.

927
00:40:09,850 --> 00:40:12,160
A couple of questions.

928
00:40:12,160 --> 00:40:13,720
I know that there's
a fair amount of

929
00:40:13,720 --> 00:40:15,040
landscaping and

930
00:40:15,040 --> 00:40:17,695
other grounds-type stuff
at Seattle Center,

931
00:40:17,695 --> 00:40:20,305
wondering if you have
anything currently,

932
00:40:20,305 --> 00:40:22,360
or could we do something like

933
00:40:22,360 --> 00:40:26,020
Seattle Conservation
Corps at Seattle Center.

934
00:40:26,020 --> 00:40:31,975
But the other point would
be with this bond work,

935
00:40:31,975 --> 00:40:34,300
I really appreciate you
talking about the CTE

936
00:40:34,300 --> 00:40:37,450
and the partnership with
Seattle Public Schools.

937
00:40:37,450 --> 00:40:41,020
But we have a real opportunity

938
00:40:41,020 --> 00:40:45,955
to dedicate or be very
intentional about,

939
00:40:45,955 --> 00:40:48,010
who's going to be
working on this site.

940
00:40:48,010 --> 00:40:50,020
I think a big part one of

941
00:40:50,020 --> 00:40:52,120
the big selling points
for me is if we can

942
00:40:52,120 --> 00:40:55,660
employ our youth folks

943
00:40:55,660 --> 00:40:57,190
going through pre-apprenticeship

944
00:40:57,190 --> 00:40:59,080
and apprenticeship programs.

945
00:40:59,080 --> 00:41:00,670
Seattle Public Schools has

946
00:41:00,670 --> 00:41:03,250
a new community
workforce agreement

947
00:41:03,250 --> 00:41:04,510
where there is a priority for

948
00:41:04,510 --> 00:41:06,670
Seattle Public Schools families.

949
00:41:06,670 --> 00:41:09,490
A lot of times, it can
take a while to lay

950
00:41:09,490 --> 00:41:12,580
the groundwork to do that type

951
00:41:12,580 --> 00:41:16,870
of priority hire or

952
00:41:16,870 --> 00:41:19,000
to do that intentional
outreach and

953
00:41:19,000 --> 00:41:21,985
to start that planning
on the apprenticeship.

954
00:41:21,985 --> 00:41:26,140
To the extent possible, as
you do the bond prep work,

955
00:41:26,140 --> 00:41:27,970
if somebody could also be

956
00:41:27,970 --> 00:41:30,355
thinking about the
apprenticeship,

957
00:41:30,355 --> 00:41:32,290
the plan is to make
sure that these

958
00:41:32,290 --> 00:41:35,830
jobs we're laying the groundwork

959
00:41:35,830 --> 00:41:38,305
for Seattle Public Schools,
students, and families.

960
00:41:38,305 --> 00:41:39,715
Robert Kettle: Thank
you, Councilmember.

961
00:41:39,715 --> 00:41:42,580
That's 100% the plan.

962
00:41:42,580 --> 00:41:45,550
We've been talking with our
labor partners about how

963
00:41:45,550 --> 00:41:49,670
to really build a meaningful
pipeline for their members.

964
00:41:50,160 --> 00:41:53,860
Many of the unions are part
of the Skill Center program.

965
00:41:53,860 --> 00:41:56,440
The electrical program down at

966
00:41:56,440 --> 00:41:58,270
Rainier Beach-
could that come to

967
00:41:58,270 --> 00:41:59,620
Seattle Center for
the summer when

968
00:41:59,620 --> 00:42:01,940
the skill centers
happen in the summer?

969
00:42:01,940 --> 00:42:07,120
If we are successful with
this public ballot measure,

970
00:42:07,120 --> 00:42:09,985
we're going to be
facilitating thousands

971
00:42:09,985 --> 00:42:12,610
of living wage
building trades jobs,

972
00:42:12,610 --> 00:42:14,050
and I would love nothing more

973
00:42:14,050 --> 00:42:15,820
than to see meaningful
internships

974
00:42:15,820 --> 00:42:17,890
and apprenticeships
made available

975
00:42:17,890 --> 00:42:20,050
to young people who are
interested in those pathways.

976
00:42:20,050 --> 00:42:22,000
I said in my first
confirmation hearing

977
00:42:22,000 --> 00:42:24,100
last week that not every kid in

978
00:42:24,100 --> 00:42:25,900
Seattle Public
Schools- the 50,000

979
00:42:25,900 --> 00:42:29,500
students is going to be
in a position to pay 40,

980
00:42:29,500 --> 00:42:32,110
50, $60,000 a year for
a four-year degree.

981
00:42:32,110 --> 00:42:33,700
But if we give them a pathway to

982
00:42:33,700 --> 00:42:35,020
a meaningful job that can

983
00:42:35,020 --> 00:42:36,835
help them live and
work in this city,

984
00:42:36,835 --> 00:42:39,530
I think that's part of
our responsibility.

985
00:42:40,520 --> 00:42:42,940
Eddie Lin: Thank you.

986
00:42:44,040 --> 00:42:45,475
Daniel Strauss: Thank you,

987
00:42:45,475 --> 00:42:47,830
Council member Lin,
Council member Foster.

988
00:42:47,830 --> 00:42:49,600
Dionne Foster: Thank
you so much, Chair.

989
00:42:49,600 --> 00:42:51,745
I really appreciate
this presentation,

990
00:42:51,745 --> 00:42:53,935
and thank you for
your leadership.

991
00:42:53,935 --> 00:42:57,190
I want to turn us to Slide 7,

992
00:42:57,190 --> 00:42:59,320
and Interim Director Engstrom,

993
00:42:59,320 --> 00:43:01,120
I know you spent many years as

994
00:43:01,120 --> 00:43:03,310
the leader of the Office
of Arts and Culture,

995
00:43:03,310 --> 00:43:05,620
and I know you have a
lot of experience here.

996
00:43:05,620 --> 00:43:07,300
I want to make sure I understand

997
00:43:07,300 --> 00:43:08,650
: for these two items that

998
00:43:08,650 --> 00:43:10,870
are funded through
the admissions tax

999
00:43:10,870 --> 00:43:12,040
that are made permanent,

1000
00:43:12,040 --> 00:43:13,990
are these the only two items in

1001
00:43:13,990 --> 00:43:16,000
the Seattle Center budget that

1002
00:43:16,000 --> 00:43:18,970
are now funded through
the admissions tax?

1003
00:43:18,970 --> 00:43:19,615
Robert Kettle: Yes.

1004
00:43:19,615 --> 00:43:22,225
Dionne Foster: Fantastic.
Do we have any information?

1005
00:43:22,225 --> 00:43:24,045
I love Folklife,

1006
00:43:24,045 --> 00:43:26,340
and I haven't been to
Winterfest in a little while,

1007
00:43:26,340 --> 00:43:28,635
but I did take my kid there to

1008
00:43:28,635 --> 00:43:31,500
see all the fun when he
was a little bit younger.

1009
00:43:31,500 --> 00:43:35,160
But do we have any information
in terms of the number of

1010
00:43:35,160 --> 00:43:36,960
artists in the city that are

1011
00:43:36,960 --> 00:43:39,215
directly supported
through these programs?

1012
00:43:39,215 --> 00:43:41,440
Robert Kettle: I could
definitely get that,

1013
00:43:41,440 --> 00:43:44,950
and credit to Reese
Tanamura and Ben Hunter,

1014
00:43:44,950 --> 00:43:46,570
who are the managing

1015
00:43:46,570 --> 00:43:48,490
director artistic
director of Folklife.

1016
00:43:48,490 --> 00:43:49,690
About five years ago,

1017
00:43:49,690 --> 00:43:51,535
they started paying
all of the artists for

1018
00:43:51,535 --> 00:43:53,560
many years in
Folklife's history.

1019
00:43:53,560 --> 00:43:56,305
It was all volunteer.

1020
00:43:56,305 --> 00:43:58,600
Speaking of folks who
do apprenticeship

1021
00:43:58,600 --> 00:43:59,725
and workforce development,

1022
00:43:59,725 --> 00:44:01,240
Folklife does a
great job of that,

1023
00:44:01,240 --> 00:44:04,105
and they really believe
in paying artists.

1024
00:44:04,105 --> 00:44:06,640
Folklife represents a
pretty big investment.

1025
00:44:06,640 --> 00:44:09,115
I can also get you that number
for Winterfest because we

1026
00:44:09,115 --> 00:44:11,680
do contract with a
ton of local artists,

1027
00:44:11,680 --> 00:44:13,330
visual and performing arts,

1028
00:44:13,330 --> 00:44:15,100
as a part of that series.

1029
00:44:15,100 --> 00:44:17,780
I'm happy to get
you those numbers.

1030
00:44:19,470 --> 00:44:22,855
Dionne Foster: I think,
correct me if I'm wrong,

1031
00:44:22,855 --> 00:44:25,870
I believe Festal
is also funded by

1032
00:44:25,870 --> 00:44:29,395
the AdTax at Seattle
Center at about 460,000.

1033
00:44:29,395 --> 00:44:30,070
Robert Kettle: It's correct.

1034
00:44:30,070 --> 00:44:30,850
Dionne Foster: Is that correct?

1035
00:44:30,850 --> 00:44:34,360
Robert Kettle: Yeah, I stand
corrected. I'm still new.

1036
00:44:34,360 --> 00:44:35,290
Dionne Foster:
That's why we've got

1037
00:44:35,290 --> 00:44:37,885
a full table, full complement.

1038
00:44:37,885 --> 00:44:39,820
Robert Kettle: I do want to say,

1039
00:44:39,820 --> 00:44:43,540
my hope is that in partnership
and collaboration,

1040
00:44:43,540 --> 00:44:44,710
we can work with our friends at

1041
00:44:44,710 --> 00:44:46,480
the Arts Office, Economic
Development Office,

1042
00:44:46,480 --> 00:44:48,490
and Planning Office
to grow the pie

1043
00:44:48,490 --> 00:44:50,980
and to not be further
and further subdividing.

1044
00:44:50,980 --> 00:44:52,990
We have this
incredible opportunity

1045
00:44:52,990 --> 00:44:54,865
ahead of us with
this bond measure,

1046
00:44:54,865 --> 00:44:57,250
and I want to see how it can
have the maximum benefit for

1047
00:44:57,250 --> 00:44:59,800
the maximum number
of communities,

1048
00:44:59,800 --> 00:45:01,750
particularly the working
artists in the city.

1049
00:45:01,750 --> 00:45:03,520
I gave the best years of

1050
00:45:03,520 --> 00:45:05,620
my life to that
office in many ways,

1051
00:45:05,620 --> 00:45:07,690
and I love it very much and care

1052
00:45:07,690 --> 00:45:10,285
very much about how its
resources are governed.

1053
00:45:10,285 --> 00:45:11,860
Dionne Foster: Thank you
so much, interim director,

1054
00:45:11,860 --> 00:45:13,480
and I hope you've still
got some good years

1055
00:45:13,480 --> 00:45:15,505
left to give to Seattle Center.

1056
00:45:15,505 --> 00:45:17,410
Director Panuci, can
I get you to give me

1057
00:45:17,410 --> 00:45:19,720
that number one more
time on fiscal, please?

1058
00:45:19,720 --> 00:45:21,160
It's important to me to

1059
00:45:21,160 --> 00:45:22,630
make sure that we have
an accurate accounting.

1060
00:45:22,630 --> 00:45:24,640
I know there was very
difficult decisions made here,

1061
00:45:24,640 --> 00:45:27,115
and I appreciate the care
taken by the mayor's office.

1062
00:45:27,115 --> 00:45:29,170
I want to have an
accurate accounting of

1063
00:45:29,170 --> 00:45:31,030
the ad tax resources
that are not

1064
00:45:31,030 --> 00:45:33,160
going directly into the
Office of Arts and Culture.

1065
00:45:33,160 --> 00:45:37,525
Aly Pennucci: Absolutely.
It is $460,000.

1066
00:45:37,525 --> 00:45:40,630
We can post a full list

1067
00:45:40,630 --> 00:45:44,890
to whichever department.
It makes sense.

1068
00:45:44,890 --> 00:45:47,230
I'll consult with
Director Ritson,

1069
00:45:47,230 --> 00:45:49,345
but we can give you a list of

1070
00:45:49,345 --> 00:45:52,690
all of the swaps
related to the AdTax.

1071
00:45:52,690 --> 00:45:53,920
Robert Kettle: I will
own up to the fact

1072
00:45:53,920 --> 00:45:56,350
that when I was director
at the Arts office,

1073
00:45:56,350 --> 00:45:57,880
we initiated that investment in

1074
00:45:57,880 --> 00:45:58,990
the Seattle Center because they

1075
00:45:58,990 --> 00:46:00,160
were having a down budget year,

1076
00:46:00,160 --> 00:46:01,825
and the AdTax was growing.

1077
00:46:01,825 --> 00:46:06,130
Now here on the other side
of it, we find ourselves.

1078
00:46:06,130 --> 00:46:09,100
There's so much overlap.

1079
00:46:09,100 --> 00:46:11,365
There's so much shared purpose

1080
00:46:11,365 --> 00:46:11,680
between

1081
00:46:11,680 --> 00:46:13,510
the Office of Arts and Culture
and the Seattle Center.

1082
00:46:13,510 --> 00:46:15,430
I really want us to
be able to swim in

1083
00:46:15,430 --> 00:46:18,670
one direction and
be collaborative,

1084
00:46:18,670 --> 00:46:20,440
solution-oriented
partners and not

1085
00:46:20,440 --> 00:46:23,860
be reaching for resources
across the table.

1086
00:46:23,860 --> 00:46:25,420
Dionne Foster: I
appreciate that. I'll say

1087
00:46:25,420 --> 00:46:27,160
I do appreciate that

1088
00:46:27,160 --> 00:46:29,680
the projects that
the Seattle Center

1089
00:46:29,680 --> 00:46:31,720
has that are being
funded through AdTax,

1090
00:46:31,720 --> 00:46:33,250
I appreciate that they
are ones that do have

1091
00:46:33,250 --> 00:46:35,965
direct impact to local artists.

1092
00:46:35,965 --> 00:46:38,380
When I say the care and
the difficult decisions,

1093
00:46:38,380 --> 00:46:39,970
that's specifically
related to that,

1094
00:46:39,970 --> 00:46:41,170
because that is
something that's really

1095
00:46:41,170 --> 00:46:42,640
important to me as

1096
00:46:42,640 --> 00:46:44,230
arts chair and as
somebody who has

1097
00:46:44,230 --> 00:46:46,345
a lot of working
artists in my life.

1098
00:46:46,345 --> 00:46:47,800
I appreciate the attempt at

1099
00:46:47,800 --> 00:46:49,000
the through line and

1100
00:46:49,000 --> 00:46:51,775
the connection there with
what AdTax is funding.

1101
00:46:51,775 --> 00:46:53,560
I'll have more comments
about this when

1102
00:46:53,560 --> 00:46:54,970
we get to the Office
of Arts and Culture.

1103
00:46:54,970 --> 00:46:56,260
But thank you for
that, and I look

1104
00:46:56,260 --> 00:46:58,390
forward to the follow-up.

1105
00:46:58,390 --> 00:47:00,610
Not a question, but a statement.

1106
00:47:00,610 --> 00:47:03,910
I know there was discussion
earlier, Council man Saka,

1107
00:47:03,910 --> 00:47:06,760
in terms of the design

1108
00:47:06,760 --> 00:47:07,915
and the work that's
happening there.

1109
00:47:07,915 --> 00:47:09,550
I will say I share an interest

1110
00:47:09,550 --> 00:47:11,320
in that to make
sure that we have

1111
00:47:11,320 --> 00:47:13,780
the fullest accounting and
the deepest understanding of

1112
00:47:13,780 --> 00:47:14,950
the needs for this really

1113
00:47:14,950 --> 00:47:16,600
important cultural institution,

1114
00:47:16,600 --> 00:47:19,060
as we look ahead to the
work that we'll need

1115
00:47:19,060 --> 00:47:21,430
to undertake in the
next year or so,

1116
00:47:21,430 --> 00:47:23,860
getting to Seattle voters.

1117
00:47:23,860 --> 00:47:25,645
I look forward to more
engagement there.

1118
00:47:25,645 --> 00:47:27,640
Thank you so much.
Thank you, Chair

1119
00:47:27,640 --> 00:47:29,830
Robert Kettle: I'm glad that

1120
00:47:29,830 --> 00:47:32,470
you're the chair of
the Arts committee;

1121
00:47:32,470 --> 00:47:35,155
that makes me really happy.

1122
00:47:35,155 --> 00:47:38,245
Secondly, anytime you want
to come down to the center,

1123
00:47:38,245 --> 00:47:40,540
we'd love to give you
a tour and connect you

1124
00:47:40,540 --> 00:47:43,435
with our planning and
capital development team.

1125
00:47:43,435 --> 00:47:45,940
It's something that I think
we should do more of,

1126
00:47:45,940 --> 00:47:47,320
and happy to have you anytime.

1127
00:47:47,320 --> 00:47:49,450
Dionne Foster: Thank
you. Thank you, Chair.

1128
00:47:49,450 --> 00:47:50,965
Daniel Strauss: Thank you,
Council member Foster.

1129
00:47:50,965 --> 00:47:53,455
Colleagues, any other questions?

1130
00:47:53,455 --> 00:47:55,480
I'm going to jump in,

1131
00:47:55,480 --> 00:47:56,710
and then I'll pass
it back to Council

1132
00:47:56,710 --> 00:47:58,135
member Saka at the end.

1133
00:47:58,135 --> 00:48:01,480
I will say, as Council member
Foster came on and we had

1134
00:48:01,480 --> 00:48:02,815
a brief discussion about

1135
00:48:02,815 --> 00:48:05,095
the push-and-pull
conversation around

1136
00:48:05,095 --> 00:48:06,520
arts funding this year,

1137
00:48:06,520 --> 00:48:08,950
the thing that she said
to me most importantly is

1138
00:48:08,950 --> 00:48:11,350
that we are using the
money to pay artists.

1139
00:48:11,350 --> 00:48:12,970
Maybe not most importantly.

1140
00:48:12,970 --> 00:48:14,350
I'll let you use your own words,

1141
00:48:14,350 --> 00:48:16,480
but that was something
that really stuck with

1142
00:48:16,480 --> 00:48:19,750
me because it's
really so critical.

1143
00:48:19,750 --> 00:48:23,155
When I was looking
through your budget book,

1144
00:48:23,155 --> 00:48:27,340
the Folklife aspect-
using admission tax for

1145
00:48:27,340 --> 00:48:31,450
Folklife in particularly
sits it felt

1146
00:48:31,450 --> 00:48:36,925
poignant to me because

1147
00:48:36,925 --> 00:48:39,685
it's a donation-requested event

1148
00:48:39,685 --> 00:48:41,575
that is open to
the whole public,

1149
00:48:41,575 --> 00:48:45,100
and we're using admission
tax to give people access,

1150
00:48:45,100 --> 00:48:46,690
no matter how much
money they can

1151
00:48:46,690 --> 00:48:49,420
pay to the arts and
culture of our city.

1152
00:48:49,420 --> 00:48:50,440
I mean, Folklife was one of

1153
00:48:50,440 --> 00:48:52,000
those first events as

1154
00:48:52,000 --> 00:48:54,100
a young child that my
parents took me to.

1155
00:48:54,100 --> 00:48:55,870
I wanted to thank you there.

1156
00:48:55,870 --> 00:48:57,730
Also want to second
what you said about

1157
00:48:57,730 --> 00:49:01,165
Tiffany Malaki down at
the Office of Waterfront.

1158
00:49:01,165 --> 00:49:02,440
Dang, she's punching above

1159
00:49:02,440 --> 00:49:04,760
her weight. Keep it up, Tiffany.

1160
00:49:05,820 --> 00:49:09,235
Focusing back on your 70%

1161
00:49:09,235 --> 00:49:11,275
of the budget is self-generated,

1162
00:49:11,275 --> 00:49:13,540
I think the hardest part

1163
00:49:13,540 --> 00:49:15,940
about Seattle Center is that we,

1164
00:49:15,940 --> 00:49:17,575
as the city, when we budget,

1165
00:49:17,575 --> 00:49:21,190
we view Seattle Center still
in that realm of when you

1166
00:49:21,190 --> 00:49:25,120
were 100% revenue-generated
and operating.

1167
00:49:25,120 --> 00:49:26,950
That might have
been in the 1980s;

1168
00:49:26,950 --> 00:49:28,360
that might have
been in the '70s,

1169
00:49:28,360 --> 00:49:32,080
but there was a time
when we weren't adding

1170
00:49:32,080 --> 00:49:34,450
general fund to
your funding stream

1171
00:49:34,450 --> 00:49:37,105
because you were able to
generate that money yourself.

1172
00:49:37,105 --> 00:49:39,685
We are so far past that.

1173
00:49:39,685 --> 00:49:42,580
It's this cognitive
dissonance moment

1174
00:49:42,580 --> 00:49:45,565
where, even under FIFA,

1175
00:49:45,565 --> 00:49:50,755
we asked you to do off-campus
events- the Seattle Center,

1176
00:49:50,755 --> 00:49:54,460
like off of the
Seattle Center campus.

1177
00:49:54,460 --> 00:49:57,595
We gave you some general
fund money to do it,

1178
00:49:57,595 --> 00:50:00,595
but we're asking you to upkeep

1179
00:50:00,595 --> 00:50:05,310
nearly 100-year-old
buildings without

1180
00:50:05,310 --> 00:50:08,460
doing the deep maintenance
and renovation;

1181
00:50:08,460 --> 00:50:11,250
I believe I heard the last
major maintenance was

1182
00:50:11,250 --> 00:50:15,840
McCall Hall in 1995.
Was that about right?

1183
00:50:15,840 --> 00:50:17,495
Robert Kettle: McCall
Hall and Fisher.

1184
00:50:17,495 --> 00:50:19,825
Daniel Strauss: That
was 30 years ago

1185
00:50:19,825 --> 00:50:21,190
was the last time that we did

1186
00:50:21,190 --> 00:50:27,080
any infrastructure
upgrades to your campus.

1187
00:50:27,280 --> 00:50:29,810
Just getting in I

1188
00:50:29,810 --> 00:50:31,040
was one of the council
members that took

1189
00:50:31,040 --> 00:50:34,505
the tour yesterday really
appreciated your time.

1190
00:50:34,505 --> 00:50:38,060
Getting into the
guts of the armory,

1191
00:50:38,060 --> 00:50:41,015
I thought it was bad
before I went on the tour,

1192
00:50:41,015 --> 00:50:43,620
it's worse than I expected.

1193
00:50:43,810 --> 00:50:47,090
One of the pieces that really
stood out to me is that

1194
00:50:47,090 --> 00:50:50,090
your campus utility
plant that provides

1195
00:50:50,090 --> 00:50:51,440
the heating and cooling for

1196
00:50:51,440 --> 00:50:53,585
17 of your buildings,
is that correct?

1197
00:50:53,585 --> 00:50:54,890
This is all off the
top of my head,

1198
00:50:54,890 --> 00:50:56,730
so tell me if I'm wrong.

1199
00:50:56,830 --> 00:51:01,685
By the time when the plant
the heat and cooling itself,

1200
00:51:01,685 --> 00:51:04,010
that plant is highly efficient,

1201
00:51:04,010 --> 00:51:05,450
but by the time

1202
00:51:05,450 --> 00:51:08,030
the heat or cold air
gets to the building,

1203
00:51:08,030 --> 00:51:14,645
it's lost 50% of its hot
or cold, is that correct?

1204
00:51:14,645 --> 00:51:16,580
Randy Engstrom: I believe
that's right, that's

1205
00:51:16,580 --> 00:51:18,050
why decarbonizing the campus.

1206
00:51:18,050 --> 00:51:20,060
It's critical one,
because I think we

1207
00:51:20,060 --> 00:51:21,950
generate something like 10% of

1208
00:51:21,950 --> 00:51:23,300
the greenhouse gas for

1209
00:51:23,300 --> 00:51:27,095
the City of Seattle with
our gas power plant.

1210
00:51:27,095 --> 00:51:28,970
We need to decarbonize
the campus

1211
00:51:28,970 --> 00:51:31,160
for climate values reasons,

1212
00:51:31,160 --> 00:51:34,550
it's also what we have now
is terribly inefficient.

1213
00:51:34,550 --> 00:51:38,630
A lot of our campus was built
for the 1962 World's Fair,

1214
00:51:38,630 --> 00:51:40,190
and it was never
intended to last

1215
00:51:40,190 --> 00:51:42,425
beyond two or three years.

1216
00:51:42,425 --> 00:51:46,730
There are literal duct tape
and zip ties holding parts of

1217
00:51:46,730 --> 00:51:50,990
the campus together
and our TFM team,

1218
00:51:50,990 --> 00:51:52,880
our technical facilities
maintenance team

1219
00:51:52,880 --> 00:51:54,815
does an incredible job.

1220
00:51:54,815 --> 00:51:58,130
I told this story at my
first committee meeting

1221
00:51:58,130 --> 00:51:59,450
when three hours before

1222
00:51:59,450 --> 00:52:00,830
the Rainier Beach High
School graduation

1223
00:52:00,830 --> 00:52:01,580
of Memorial Stadium,

1224
00:52:01,580 --> 00:52:03,470
we lost power, the
power plant went

1225
00:52:03,470 --> 00:52:05,420
down and we had to
scramble to find

1226
00:52:05,420 --> 00:52:06,680
every generator available in

1227
00:52:06,680 --> 00:52:09,815
King County so those kids could
walk in their graduation.

1228
00:52:09,815 --> 00:52:11,930
That's the risk of

1229
00:52:11,930 --> 00:52:14,015
critical failure that
we're up against,

1230
00:52:14,015 --> 00:52:16,295
so it's inefficient
on its good days.

1231
00:52:16,295 --> 00:52:19,670
Some days things just
break and all of it is in

1232
00:52:19,670 --> 00:52:23,525
desperate need of
a reinvestment.

1233
00:52:23,525 --> 00:52:27,200
Diamatris Winston: It's 16% of the
city owned building emissions.

1234
00:52:27,200 --> 00:52:28,235
Daniel Strauss: Sixteen percent.

1235
00:52:28,235 --> 00:52:29,615
Diamatris Winston:
It's very efficient.

1236
00:52:29,615 --> 00:52:31,610
Come work there for
a day and you'll be

1237
00:52:31,610 --> 00:52:33,890
cold or hot or come to event,

1238
00:52:33,890 --> 00:52:36,230
and you will get a
lot of calls about,

1239
00:52:36,230 --> 00:52:37,910
hey, it's too hot,
it's too cool.

1240
00:52:37,910 --> 00:52:39,605
It's too something, but
it's hard to regulate

1241
00:52:39,605 --> 00:52:41,780
very inefficient and costly.

1242
00:52:41,780 --> 00:52:43,385
Daniel Strauss: Yes, so
just using that, though,

1243
00:52:43,385 --> 00:52:45,755
if we were able to just have

1244
00:52:45,755 --> 00:52:48,710
pipes that didn't
have holes in them,

1245
00:52:48,710 --> 00:52:53,360
we could reduce our city
owned carbon emission

1246
00:52:53,360 --> 00:52:56,210
by 8% of our total emission.

1247
00:52:56,210 --> 00:52:58,070
I'm just doing back
the envelope math.

1248
00:52:58,070 --> 00:52:58,985
Diamatris Winston:
Significant improvement.

1249
00:52:58,985 --> 00:53:00,530
Daniel Strauss:
If we lose 50% of

1250
00:53:00,530 --> 00:53:01,610
that heating or cooling by

1251
00:53:01,610 --> 00:53:03,140
the time it hits that building,

1252
00:53:03,140 --> 00:53:06,650
and you're making up 16%
of our carbon emissions,

1253
00:53:06,650 --> 00:53:08,615
if we just had new pipes,

1254
00:53:08,615 --> 00:53:10,265
we would be 50% better?

1255
00:53:10,265 --> 00:53:11,630
Diamatris Winston: Or if we
could decarb it would be

1256
00:53:11,630 --> 00:53:14,660
better than 50%
efficiency improvement.

1257
00:53:14,660 --> 00:53:17,285
Daniel Strauss: Hundred percent,
I'm just at status quo.

1258
00:53:17,285 --> 00:53:19,970
I am here to help you
get decarbonized,

1259
00:53:19,970 --> 00:53:22,700
I'm just saying if we took
the current situation,

1260
00:53:22,700 --> 00:53:25,790
and at the beginning
of my remarks today,

1261
00:53:25,790 --> 00:53:28,340
I talked about additional
efficiencies within the city.

1262
00:53:28,340 --> 00:53:29,495
This wasn't even it,

1263
00:53:29,495 --> 00:53:32,870
but this is an example of why

1264
00:53:32,870 --> 00:53:38,490
this Seattle Center upgrade
is so needed right now.

1265
00:53:38,740 --> 00:53:41,450
I already mentioned that you and

1266
00:53:41,450 --> 00:53:43,385
your team are punching
above your weight.

1267
00:53:43,385 --> 00:53:45,110
Something that
struck me yesterday

1268
00:53:45,110 --> 00:53:47,120
about this heating cooling
is that in the armory,

1269
00:53:47,120 --> 00:53:49,895
if you're holding an
event in the main hall,

1270
00:53:49,895 --> 00:53:51,050
you then have to take

1271
00:53:51,050 --> 00:53:53,945
that hot or cold air
away from the offices

1272
00:53:53,945 --> 00:53:55,850
or from the school or from

1273
00:53:55,850 --> 00:53:58,445
the children's museum
or from the theater,

1274
00:53:58,445 --> 00:54:00,905
or from the police
station or from

1275
00:54:00,905 --> 00:54:04,580
your offices or from
the Folklife offices.

1276
00:54:04,580 --> 00:54:07,430
I'm going on this long
list because there are

1277
00:54:07,430 --> 00:54:10,115
so many different
organizations tucked

1278
00:54:10,115 --> 00:54:12,860
in this really massive building,

1279
00:54:12,860 --> 00:54:16,220
I just wanted to highlight that.

1280
00:54:16,220 --> 00:54:18,095
When we were talking yesterday,

1281
00:54:18,095 --> 00:54:20,555
you have about a
million visitors

1282
00:54:20,555 --> 00:54:23,525
at the Seattle Center
itself a month?

1283
00:54:23,525 --> 00:54:26,615
I took that from 12.5

1284
00:54:26,615 --> 00:54:28,700
million or 11.5 million

1285
00:54:28,700 --> 00:54:30,905
per year just at
the Seattle Center.

1286
00:54:30,905 --> 00:54:33,770
It really stands
out to me that this

1287
00:54:33,770 --> 00:54:37,610
is a civic campus and

1288
00:54:37,610 --> 00:54:40,430
so I'm glad to hear that the
Monorail projects are going

1289
00:54:40,430 --> 00:54:44,375
better because we need to
provide better access there.

1290
00:54:44,375 --> 00:54:45,620
I know that when we've had

1291
00:54:45,620 --> 00:54:48,245
the light rail placement
conversations,

1292
00:54:48,245 --> 00:54:50,720
a lot of folks at the
Seattle Center have

1293
00:54:50,720 --> 00:54:53,330
had displeasure about
the proximity of

1294
00:54:53,330 --> 00:54:55,805
that station entrance to

1295
00:54:55,805 --> 00:54:59,480
the campus because of
construction related impacts.

1296
00:54:59,480 --> 00:55:01,310
But my challenge right back to

1297
00:55:01,310 --> 00:55:03,230
the entire Seattle
Center campus and

1298
00:55:03,230 --> 00:55:06,170
everyone there is that if

1299
00:55:06,170 --> 00:55:08,690
we are negotiating against

1300
00:55:08,690 --> 00:55:13,325
ourselves about impacts versus
100 year infrastructure,

1301
00:55:13,325 --> 00:55:16,580
the farther away that
entrances from the center,

1302
00:55:16,580 --> 00:55:20,240
the less well it will
serve my grandchildren,

1303
00:55:20,240 --> 00:55:24,740
their children and everyone
they're after because, again,

1304
00:55:24,740 --> 00:55:26,180
Pacific Science
Center was built as

1305
00:55:26,180 --> 00:55:29,820
a temporary building that's
now historically landmarked.

1306
00:55:32,290 --> 00:55:35,180
If we are negotiating
against ourselves

1307
00:55:35,180 --> 00:55:38,450
about 100 year infrastructure,

1308
00:55:38,450 --> 00:55:40,235
I think that we could lose out,

1309
00:55:40,235 --> 00:55:43,680
that's more of a plug
than anything else.

1310
00:55:46,660 --> 00:55:49,460
That was my last
statement. First question.

1311
00:55:49,460 --> 00:55:51,890
What are your maintenance costs?

1312
00:55:51,890 --> 00:55:54,965
Oh, the time's running,
this is on me.

1313
00:55:54,965 --> 00:55:57,560
What are your maintenance costs

1314
00:55:57,560 --> 00:56:00,950
for all of those lines

1315
00:56:00,950 --> 00:56:02,690
getting into all
of your buildings,

1316
00:56:02,690 --> 00:56:04,640
both the hot air
and the cool air?

1317
00:56:04,640 --> 00:56:06,320
Diamatris Winston: I don't have
that number in front of me,

1318
00:56:06,320 --> 00:56:07,670
we could get that for you.

1319
00:56:07,670 --> 00:56:10,655
I do know our capital
improvement budget has

1320
00:56:10,655 --> 00:56:12,140
always been about 50% of what

1321
00:56:12,140 --> 00:56:14,090
our actual needs are to
maintain the buildings,

1322
00:56:14,090 --> 00:56:16,100
and that doesn't include
any enhancements,

1323
00:56:16,100 --> 00:56:17,930
like we're talking
about in the bond.

1324
00:56:17,930 --> 00:56:19,895
Daniel Strauss: Actually,
this is my final statement,

1325
00:56:19,895 --> 00:56:21,845
which is that if we are

1326
00:56:21,845 --> 00:56:24,995
able to upgrade your
infrastructure,

1327
00:56:24,995 --> 00:56:27,710
we are going to save money,

1328
00:56:27,710 --> 00:56:30,200
and that money is general fund,

1329
00:56:30,200 --> 00:56:32,210
and that is how we can address

1330
00:56:32,210 --> 00:56:33,965
this structural budget deficit

1331
00:56:33,965 --> 00:56:36,830
continually and it's just

1332
00:56:36,830 --> 00:56:40,640
that is the point that I was
leading us to and making.

1333
00:56:40,640 --> 00:56:42,890
Diamatris Winston: I
appreciate that. Thank you.

1334
00:56:42,890 --> 00:56:44,000
Daniel Strauss: That's
what I got. I see, I got

1335
00:56:44,000 --> 00:56:46,340
Councilmember Kettle
and Foster's hands up.

1336
00:56:46,340 --> 00:56:48,035
Those are old hands great.

1337
00:56:48,035 --> 00:56:50,510
Councilmember Saka, I'm going
to pass it over to you.

1338
00:56:50,510 --> 00:56:52,250
Actually, I'm going to let

1339
00:56:52,250 --> 00:56:55,055
the committee table
respond to me,

1340
00:56:55,055 --> 00:56:56,420
if any last words,

1341
00:56:56,420 --> 00:56:57,980
and then I'm going to pass it
over to Councilmember Saka

1342
00:56:57,980 --> 00:56:59,105
for last last words.

1343
00:56:59,105 --> 00:57:00,530
Randy Engstrom:
No, I just really

1344
00:57:00,530 --> 00:57:02,780
appreciate your time yesterday.

1345
00:57:02,780 --> 00:57:05,195
You and Council
President, I appreciate.

1346
00:57:05,195 --> 00:57:08,045
We want to get into the details

1347
00:57:08,045 --> 00:57:10,670
of really what are the hard
costs, the soft costs?

1348
00:57:10,670 --> 00:57:13,250
Where can we be more
efficient? What would it mean?

1349
00:57:13,250 --> 00:57:15,590
We are going to put so many

1350
00:57:15,590 --> 00:57:18,110
heat pumps online with
the renovation of

1351
00:57:18,110 --> 00:57:21,470
two dozen buildings that we
could train a generation of

1352
00:57:21,470 --> 00:57:22,820
HVAC technicians that don't

1353
00:57:22,820 --> 00:57:25,730
currently exist to take
care of the heat pumps.

1354
00:57:25,730 --> 00:57:30,830
The opportunities are really
big and really exciting,

1355
00:57:30,830 --> 00:57:32,660
and it's going to be
in the details and

1356
00:57:32,660 --> 00:57:35,030
figuring out how we sequence

1357
00:57:35,030 --> 00:57:37,820
these projects and how
we're able to realize

1358
00:57:37,820 --> 00:57:41,660
true efficiencies as
a city as a result.

1359
00:57:41,660 --> 00:57:42,500
Daniel Strauss: Thank you.

1360
00:57:42,500 --> 00:57:43,130
Randy Engstrom: I
love that you said

1361
00:57:43,130 --> 00:57:44,300
the structural budget deficit

1362
00:57:44,300 --> 00:57:47,585
because, we want
to fix that too.

1363
00:57:47,585 --> 00:57:48,935
Daniel Strauss: Thank you.

1364
00:57:48,935 --> 00:57:50,750
Councilmember Saka over to you.

1365
00:57:50,750 --> 00:57:53,060
Rob Saka: Thank you,
Chair. I want to thank

1366
00:57:53,060 --> 00:57:55,820
the department for their
presentation today.

1367
00:57:55,820 --> 00:57:57,365
More importantly,

1368
00:57:57,365 --> 00:57:58,970
all the hard work that goes

1369
00:57:58,970 --> 00:58:02,070
on behind the scenes and toil,

1370
00:58:02,620 --> 00:58:08,030
that's reflected in the multi
dozens and dozens of pages

1371
00:58:08,030 --> 00:58:11,390
of documentation in
the proposed budget

1372
00:58:11,390 --> 00:58:13,265
so really appreciate that.

1373
00:58:13,265 --> 00:58:15,830
I want to my colleagues,

1374
00:58:15,830 --> 00:58:18,770
all of you that have asked
such terrific questions,

1375
00:58:18,770 --> 00:58:21,260
couldn't agree more with the

1376
00:58:21,260 --> 00:58:23,120
essence of everything you heard.

1377
00:58:23,120 --> 00:58:27,335
Thank you, Chair, for your
thoughtful questions,

1378
00:58:27,335 --> 00:58:29,030
and I really appreciate,
in particular,

1379
00:58:29,030 --> 00:58:34,055
how you teased out and very
thoughtfully articulated

1380
00:58:34,055 --> 00:58:39,830
the vision here
and making clear,

1381
00:58:39,830 --> 00:58:42,650
making more transparent,
the specific need,

1382
00:58:42,650 --> 00:58:45,485
and the problem that
we'd be solving for

1383
00:58:45,485 --> 00:58:48,365
if we put a bond measure package

1384
00:58:48,365 --> 00:58:49,820
before voters to do this.

1385
00:58:49,820 --> 00:58:51,440
It's all those things that you

1386
00:58:51,440 --> 00:58:53,660
mentioned and
discussed at length in

1387
00:58:53,660 --> 00:58:56,885
terms of the decarbonization and

1388
00:58:56,885 --> 00:58:58,580
addressing the infrastructure

1389
00:58:58,580 --> 00:59:00,830
and preventative maintenance.

1390
00:59:00,830 --> 00:59:01,970
Yes, it will have

1391
00:59:01,970 --> 00:59:07,655
a long term positive impact

1392
00:59:07,655 --> 00:59:10,280
in terms of addressing our
structural budget issues,

1393
00:59:10,280 --> 00:59:12,350
at least in part, absolutely.

1394
00:59:12,350 --> 00:59:14,900
Crystal clear, so thank you
for teasing out that point.

1395
00:59:14,900 --> 00:59:17,630
It's all those things
and more because we're

1396
00:59:17,630 --> 00:59:20,405
going to do all those things
and build back better,

1397
00:59:20,405 --> 00:59:27,695
restore the center to its
original glory and vibrance,

1398
00:59:27,695 --> 00:59:29,630
if you will, but make
it better, as well.

1399
00:59:29,630 --> 00:59:31,880
There'll be some cool
new features and

1400
00:59:31,880 --> 00:59:35,735
opportunities to reimagine
specific spaces.

1401
00:59:35,735 --> 00:59:37,580
I'm really excited for that,

1402
00:59:37,580 --> 00:59:40,070
I want to thank everyone for

1403
00:59:40,070 --> 00:59:43,580
your great conversation and
comments and questions.

1404
00:59:43,580 --> 00:59:46,040
Thank you, Council
President, Mr.

1405
00:59:46,040 --> 00:59:48,305
Chair, for joining
that tour yesterday,

1406
00:59:48,305 --> 00:59:50,225
so that is all.

1407
00:59:50,225 --> 00:59:51,770
Daniel Strauss: Thank
you, Councilmember Saka.

1408
00:59:51,770 --> 00:59:55,100
Thank you to the Seattle
Center employees and

1409
00:59:55,100 --> 00:59:57,200
administration and to
everyone down there at

1410
00:59:57,200 --> 01:00:00,515
the Office of Waterfront,
keep up the great work.

1411
01:00:00,515 --> 01:00:02,900
We're going to transition
into the next presentation if

1412
01:00:02,900 --> 01:00:05,705
the clerk can read item
Number 5 into the record.

1413
01:00:05,705 --> 01:00:07,880
Speaker 1: Agenda item 5,
Office of Arts and Culture

1414
01:00:07,880 --> 01:00:10,140
for briefing and discussion.

1415
01:00:16,290 --> 01:00:18,160
Daniel Strauss:
Seventeen minutes,

1416
01:00:18,160 --> 01:00:20,830
51 seconds, that's where I'm at.

1417
01:00:20,830 --> 01:00:23,470
FEMALE_1: Are you
timing us, too, or?

1418
01:00:23,470 --> 01:00:25,670
Daniel Strauss: I don't
care about you guys.

1419
01:00:55,870 --> 01:00:57,140
Well,

1420
01:00:57,140 --> 01:00:58,610
welcome, we're going to have

1421
01:00:58,610 --> 01:01:01,080
the clerk read this item
in in just a second.

1422
01:01:01,080 --> 01:01:03,175
You read it in while we
were doing other things.

1423
01:01:03,175 --> 01:01:04,840
Welcome, Director Nguyen.

1424
01:01:04,840 --> 01:01:06,760
Welcome, Alex.

1425
01:01:06,760 --> 01:01:08,800
Great to see you again,
Director Pennucci.

1426
01:01:08,800 --> 01:01:11,170
Director Whitson, you haven't
moved, great to see you.

1427
01:01:11,170 --> 01:01:12,490
I'm going to turn it over to

1428
01:01:12,490 --> 01:01:14,080
you to run this presentation,

1429
01:01:14,080 --> 01:01:16,455
and then we'll turn it over
to Councilmember Foster.

1430
01:01:16,455 --> 01:01:18,650
Amy Nguyen: Thank you so
much. Good afternoon.

1431
01:01:18,650 --> 01:01:19,745
My name is Amy Nguyen,

1432
01:01:19,745 --> 01:01:22,370
I'm the director for the
Office of Arts and Culture,

1433
01:01:22,370 --> 01:01:24,605
and I am joined by my
wonderful colleague,

1434
01:01:24,605 --> 01:01:26,195
Alexandra McGehee.

1435
01:01:26,195 --> 01:01:29,330
I want to thank you so
much, Chair Strauss,

1436
01:01:29,330 --> 01:01:30,830
all of the councilmembers,

1437
01:01:30,830 --> 01:01:33,920
let's have a good close
out here for your day.

1438
01:01:33,920 --> 01:01:35,030
I know you have a lot in

1439
01:01:35,030 --> 01:01:36,980
front of you for
the days to come.

1440
01:01:36,980 --> 01:01:38,990
Really, thank you so much for

1441
01:01:38,990 --> 01:01:41,930
the opportunity to be
here to present on

1442
01:01:41,930 --> 01:01:46,670
the Office of Arts and Culture
2027-2028 proposed budget.

1443
01:01:46,670 --> 01:01:48,770
In this presentation,
we will provide

1444
01:01:48,770 --> 01:01:51,530
a high level overview
of the department and

1445
01:01:51,530 --> 01:01:53,330
its current work and
walk you through

1446
01:01:53,330 --> 01:01:54,920
the proposed budget and

1447
01:01:54,920 --> 01:01:58,100
its investments in Seattle's
arts and culture sector.

1448
01:01:58,100 --> 01:02:00,320
Following this presentation,
we are happy to

1449
01:02:00,320 --> 01:02:03,360
answer any questions
you may have.

1450
01:02:05,050 --> 01:02:08,330
In grounding us, the Office
of Arts and Culture was

1451
01:02:08,330 --> 01:02:11,780
established in 1971
and started out with

1452
01:02:11,780 --> 01:02:14,360
two core mandates to steward

1453
01:02:14,360 --> 01:02:17,600
the 1% for public
art program and

1454
01:02:17,600 --> 01:02:20,390
to make investments in
the city that foster and

1455
01:02:20,390 --> 01:02:24,050
support a thriving art
and culture ecosystem.

1456
01:02:24,050 --> 01:02:26,210
Our mission is to activate and

1457
01:02:26,210 --> 01:02:28,625
sustain Seattle through
arts and culture.

1458
01:02:28,625 --> 01:02:30,530
We envision a city driven by

1459
01:02:30,530 --> 01:02:33,965
creativity where everyone
can engage in diverse,

1460
01:02:33,965 --> 01:02:36,560
meaningful cultural experiences,

1461
01:02:36,560 --> 01:02:38,330
we work to make that vision

1462
01:02:38,330 --> 01:02:40,760
real through grants, programs,

1463
01:02:40,760 --> 01:02:43,460
partnerships and cultural
planning that help make

1464
01:02:43,460 --> 01:02:46,880
Seattle a vibrant
and inclusive city.

1465
01:02:46,880 --> 01:02:50,390
The backbone of this work
is our racial equity lens.

1466
01:02:50,390 --> 01:02:53,465
We believe that art can
be used to drive change

1467
01:02:53,465 --> 01:02:56,795
and to reflect not only
the world as it is,

1468
01:02:56,795 --> 01:02:59,255
but the world we want
to build together.

1469
01:02:59,255 --> 01:03:01,910
We seek solutions that use

1470
01:03:01,910 --> 01:03:04,970
arts as a strategy to
drive not only our office,

1471
01:03:04,970 --> 01:03:06,785
but the city as a whole

1472
01:03:06,785 --> 01:03:10,500
toward that racial equity
and social change.

1473
01:03:11,560 --> 01:03:14,180
Our office is structured around

1474
01:03:14,180 --> 01:03:17,045
four programmatic
areas, public art,

1475
01:03:17,045 --> 01:03:20,330
which stewards the 1% for
art program and manages

1476
01:03:20,330 --> 01:03:24,230
our exceptional world famous
civic art collection,

1477
01:03:24,230 --> 01:03:26,465
our partnerships
education and grants,

1478
01:03:26,465 --> 01:03:29,150
which focuses on community
centered investments

1479
01:03:29,150 --> 01:03:32,435
designed to support
diverse arts experiences,

1480
01:03:32,435 --> 01:03:34,670
cultural organizations
and manage

1481
01:03:34,670 --> 01:03:36,410
the creative
advantage partnership

1482
01:03:36,410 --> 01:03:38,495
with Seattle public schools.

1483
01:03:38,495 --> 01:03:41,540
Our finance operations
and facilities,

1484
01:03:41,540 --> 01:03:43,955
which is the backbone
of our organization,

1485
01:03:43,955 --> 01:03:45,320
operating the arts at

1486
01:03:45,320 --> 01:03:47,270
King Street Station Gallery and

1487
01:03:47,270 --> 01:03:49,565
the Langston Hughes
Performing Arts Institute,

1488
01:03:49,565 --> 01:03:51,590
and providing the
technical resources and

1489
01:03:51,590 --> 01:03:54,455
support to administer all
grants and programming.

1490
01:03:54,455 --> 01:03:55,955
Last but not least,

1491
01:03:55,955 --> 01:03:57,020
creative placemaking,

1492
01:03:57,020 --> 01:03:59,180
which supports our
cultural districts,

1493
01:03:59,180 --> 01:04:02,210
job programs and other
initiatives which are designed

1494
01:04:02,210 --> 01:04:05,555
to embed arts and culture
in community development.

1495
01:04:05,555 --> 01:04:07,220
We are supported by

1496
01:04:07,220 --> 01:04:10,115
a fantastic 16 member
Seattle Arts Commission,

1497
01:04:10,115 --> 01:04:13,790
citizen volunteers appointed
by the mayor and yourself,

1498
01:04:13,790 --> 01:04:17,270
2026 has been a big
year for our office,

1499
01:04:17,270 --> 01:04:19,730
the creative placemaking
divisions scaled up to

1500
01:04:19,730 --> 01:04:22,190
deliver an outstanding
experience for

1501
01:04:22,190 --> 01:04:24,200
the hundreds of thousands
of visitors and

1502
01:04:24,200 --> 01:04:28,085
residents who celebrated
FIFA World Cup in Seattle.

1503
01:04:28,085 --> 01:04:30,695
With over two million
in community grants,

1504
01:04:30,695 --> 01:04:33,140
we supported
community events far

1505
01:04:33,140 --> 01:04:36,050
beyond the Chinatown International
District in Downtown,

1506
01:04:36,050 --> 01:04:39,005
extending to every
council district.

1507
01:04:39,005 --> 01:04:41,810
In pure numbers,
our office invested

1508
01:04:41,810 --> 01:04:44,660
2.3 million in community
grants throughout the city,

1509
01:04:44,660 --> 01:04:47,270
funding 29 organizations,
supporting

1510
01:04:47,270 --> 01:04:51,140
over 100 community events
across 16 neighborhoods.

1511
01:04:51,140 --> 01:04:54,065
We also celebrated the
successful passage of

1512
01:04:54,065 --> 01:04:56,390
legislation establishing
Georgetown as

1513
01:04:56,390 --> 01:04:58,340
Seattle's newest
cultural district.

1514
01:04:58,340 --> 01:05:01,175
Georgetown joins
Capitol Hill, Uptown,

1515
01:05:01,175 --> 01:05:04,160
the central area, Columbia
City and Hillman City.

1516
01:05:04,160 --> 01:05:06,545
We are so grateful to
the mayor's office

1517
01:05:06,545 --> 01:05:08,900
and counsel for your support of

1518
01:05:08,900 --> 01:05:10,550
this legislation which continues

1519
01:05:10,550 --> 01:05:13,655
our commitment to
protecting and investing

1520
01:05:13,655 --> 01:05:15,755
in these key cultural
neighborhoods

1521
01:05:15,755 --> 01:05:18,845
and their districts
verb and character.

1522
01:05:18,845 --> 01:05:20,900
We also want to call out

1523
01:05:20,900 --> 01:05:23,750
some interdepartmental
partnerships we have been

1524
01:05:23,750 --> 01:05:27,425
working on this year,
including community hubs,

1525
01:05:27,425 --> 01:05:29,960
and innovative wellness
program focused

1526
01:05:29,960 --> 01:05:32,495
on youth mental health
from our office,

1527
01:05:32,495 --> 01:05:34,460
our Parks and Recreation

1528
01:05:34,460 --> 01:05:36,410
and the Department
of Early Learning,

1529
01:05:36,410 --> 01:05:39,995
and new public art on
the symphony block,

1530
01:05:39,995 --> 01:05:42,710
a key corridor with
cultural anchors

1531
01:05:42,710 --> 01:05:45,470
to enliven public
space and really spark

1532
01:05:45,470 --> 01:05:47,870
new art experiences
in partnership with

1533
01:05:47,870 --> 01:05:49,790
our Department of
Transportation and other

1534
01:05:49,790 --> 01:05:52,860
county and downtown agencies.

1535
01:05:53,770 --> 01:05:57,410
The 2027/2028 proposed budget

1536
01:05:57,410 --> 01:06:00,740
makes key investments in
grants and frontline services,

1537
01:06:00,740 --> 01:06:04,280
the creative advantage, civic
art collection maintenance,

1538
01:06:04,280 --> 01:06:07,355
cultural districts, and King
Street Station activations.

1539
01:06:07,355 --> 01:06:08,870
It also makes ongoing

1540
01:06:08,870 --> 01:06:10,430
the formerly one
time redirection

1541
01:06:10,430 --> 01:06:11,450
of admission tax through

1542
01:06:11,450 --> 01:06:12,830
the Office of Arts
and Culture to

1543
01:06:12,830 --> 01:06:16,380
Seattle Parks and Recreation
and Seattle Center.

1544
01:06:25,000 --> 01:06:28,400
The Office of Arts and Culture
budget is reduced from the

1545
01:06:28,400 --> 01:06:32,430
2026 adopted as one
time funding lapses.

1546
01:06:41,680 --> 01:06:44,390
Aly Pennucci: There's an
overall drop as we move

1547
01:06:44,390 --> 01:06:46,145
into the biennium reflecting

1548
01:06:46,145 --> 01:06:47,540
natural reduction as

1549
01:06:47,540 --> 01:06:50,375
one year appropriation
authority lapses.

1550
01:06:50,375 --> 01:06:53,780
That said, the mayor's
2027/2028 budget includes

1551
01:06:53,780 --> 01:06:54,800
some exciting one time and

1552
01:06:54,800 --> 01:06:57,470
ongoing investments for the
office of arts and culture,

1553
01:06:57,470 --> 01:06:59,730
which we will talk about next.

1554
01:07:00,010 --> 01:07:03,965
I'm going to kick off these
significant additions

1555
01:07:03,965 --> 01:07:07,115
and really calling
out arts education.

1556
01:07:07,115 --> 01:07:09,170
This investment
increases the budget of

1557
01:07:09,170 --> 01:07:13,775
the creative advantage
by 557,000 ongoing,

1558
01:07:13,775 --> 01:07:16,445
raising the total annual
program investment

1559
01:07:16,445 --> 01:07:18,755
into Seattle public schools from

1560
01:07:18,755 --> 01:07:24,560
541,500 to over one
million annually.

1561
01:07:24,560 --> 01:07:27,665
The program is a
collective impact model

1562
01:07:27,665 --> 01:07:29,540
and includes
collaborations between

1563
01:07:29,540 --> 01:07:30,935
the Seattle public schools,

1564
01:07:30,935 --> 01:07:34,430
Visual and Performing
Arts program, our office,

1565
01:07:34,430 --> 01:07:36,110
the Seattle Foundation, and

1566
01:07:36,110 --> 01:07:39,095
over 100 community
arts partners.

1567
01:07:39,095 --> 01:07:43,820
The program's core goals are
to expand equitable access,

1568
01:07:43,820 --> 01:07:46,070
ensuring all Seattle
public school students,

1569
01:07:46,070 --> 01:07:47,330
regardless of race,

1570
01:07:47,330 --> 01:07:49,430
income, language, or ability,

1571
01:07:49,430 --> 01:07:51,635
have access to arts education.

1572
01:07:51,635 --> 01:07:56,060
Creates consistent sequential
arts education experiences

1573
01:07:56,060 --> 01:07:57,980
from kindergarten
through high school,

1574
01:07:57,980 --> 01:08:01,490
within students' neighborhood
school pathways.

1575
01:08:01,490 --> 01:08:03,230
It's about connecting
schools with

1576
01:08:03,230 --> 01:08:05,330
a vetted roster of
teaching artists and

1577
01:08:05,330 --> 01:08:07,340
cultural organizations
to provide in

1578
01:08:07,340 --> 01:08:10,220
school multi session
artist residencies.

1579
01:08:10,220 --> 01:08:12,980
Offer training for educators in

1580
01:08:12,980 --> 01:08:14,690
our arts integration and

1581
01:08:14,690 --> 01:08:17,195
culturally responsive
teaching practices.

1582
01:08:17,195 --> 01:08:19,760
Research shows
that arts learning

1583
01:08:19,760 --> 01:08:22,685
gives students far more
than artistic skills.

1584
01:08:22,685 --> 01:08:26,810
It's critical thinking,
communication and collaboration.

1585
01:08:26,810 --> 01:08:29,060
There are 21st century skills

1586
01:08:29,060 --> 01:08:30,935
that life and careers demand,

1587
01:08:30,935 --> 01:08:33,860
and they matter even
more in the age of AI.

1588
01:08:33,860 --> 01:08:36,815
Arts learning also boosts
student motivation,

1589
01:08:36,815 --> 01:08:39,275
academic success,
graduation rates,

1590
01:08:39,275 --> 01:08:42,150
well being, and
civic engagement.

1591
01:08:42,550 --> 01:08:44,840
This investment expands

1592
01:08:44,840 --> 01:08:46,940
our community arts
partnership grants,

1593
01:08:46,940 --> 01:08:50,870
so every Seattle public school
can use these resources.

1594
01:08:50,870 --> 01:08:54,590
These grants pay for school
day student residencies with

1595
01:08:54,590 --> 01:08:56,090
approved partners through

1596
01:08:56,090 --> 01:08:59,345
our office community
arts partner roster,

1597
01:08:59,345 --> 01:09:02,870
exhibitions of student work
and youth performances.

1598
01:09:02,870 --> 01:09:06,860
It also raises the
average award to 8K per

1599
01:09:06,860 --> 01:09:11,450
school with exact award
amount scaled based on need.

1600
01:09:11,450 --> 01:09:13,870
We set the old budget

1601
01:09:13,870 --> 01:09:16,180
based on assumptions
from a partial rollout.

1602
01:09:16,180 --> 01:09:19,795
Now we fund the program as
a full district operation,

1603
01:09:19,795 --> 01:09:23,900
and we make our grants
available to all schools.

1604
01:09:24,850 --> 01:09:27,920
The next area of investment is

1605
01:09:27,920 --> 01:09:30,710
a broad 3% adjustment
to all office of

1606
01:09:30,710 --> 01:09:34,145
arts and culture grants and
front facing service budgets.

1607
01:09:34,145 --> 01:09:37,040
This impacts areas,
including but not limited

1608
01:09:37,040 --> 01:09:40,355
to our centering arts and
racial equity grants,

1609
01:09:40,355 --> 01:09:42,080
which provide multi
year funding to

1610
01:09:42,080 --> 01:09:44,120
arts and cultural organizations,

1611
01:09:44,120 --> 01:09:46,250
ARTS at King Street
Station Gallery and

1612
01:09:46,250 --> 01:09:48,665
the Langston Hughes
Performing Arts Institute.

1613
01:09:48,665 --> 01:09:51,500
Smart Ventures are flexible
introductory grant

1614
01:09:51,500 --> 01:09:53,165
for first time applicants.

1615
01:09:53,165 --> 01:09:55,370
Arts and parks are
partnerships with

1616
01:09:55,370 --> 01:09:57,800
parks and recreation to
bring arts and cultured,

1617
01:09:57,800 --> 01:09:59,150
underserved and economically

1618
01:09:59,150 --> 01:10:01,010
constrained areas of the city.

1619
01:10:01,010 --> 01:10:02,660
The cultural facilities fund,

1620
01:10:02,660 --> 01:10:04,520
which creates better
access for people who

1621
01:10:04,520 --> 01:10:06,440
have been unfairly
excluded from owning,

1622
01:10:06,440 --> 01:10:08,930
managing, or leasing
property and youth arts,

1623
01:10:08,930 --> 01:10:10,880
which funds out of
school arts programs

1624
01:10:10,880 --> 01:10:13,370
for middle and high schoolers.

1625
01:10:13,370 --> 01:10:15,530
This reflects the importance of

1626
01:10:15,530 --> 01:10:16,955
the cultural sector in Seattle

1627
01:10:16,955 --> 01:10:19,805
and recognizes the higher
costs to live and work here,

1628
01:10:19,805 --> 01:10:21,635
especially for creative workers.

1629
01:10:21,635 --> 01:10:24,740
This investment modifies
our base programming budget

1630
01:10:24,740 --> 01:10:26,420
in these areas from $6.5

1631
01:10:26,420 --> 01:10:32,105
million to 6.7 in 2027 and
nearly seven million in 2028.

1632
01:10:32,105 --> 01:10:33,815
This investment will allow us to

1633
01:10:33,815 --> 01:10:35,630
adjust grant sizes
and continue to

1634
01:10:35,630 --> 01:10:37,565
deliver the high
quality programming

1635
01:10:37,565 --> 01:10:40,560
and arts experiences
in our spaces.

1636
01:10:41,110 --> 01:10:43,760
The next investment included in

1637
01:10:43,760 --> 01:10:45,890
the mayor's proposed budget is a

1638
01:10:45,890 --> 01:10:48,680
98,000 increase

1639
01:10:48,680 --> 01:10:52,190
to our civic art collection
maintenance budget.

1640
01:10:52,190 --> 01:10:54,650
This is that beautiful
artwork in your office.

1641
01:10:54,650 --> 01:10:56,570
The Seattle Civic Art
Collection is one of

1642
01:10:56,570 --> 01:10:59,000
the largest civic
collections in the country.

1643
01:10:59,000 --> 01:11:00,530
It plays a vital role in

1644
01:11:00,530 --> 01:11:02,780
preserving the city's
cultural identity and brings

1645
01:11:02,780 --> 01:11:04,820
diverse artistic expression into

1646
01:11:04,820 --> 01:11:07,700
the daily lives of its
residents and visitors.

1647
01:11:07,700 --> 01:11:10,610
Comprised of thousands
of portable works and

1648
01:11:10,610 --> 01:11:12,890
integrated public
installations embedded

1649
01:11:12,890 --> 01:11:15,080
in cities, parks, libraries,

1650
01:11:15,080 --> 01:11:17,720
and municipal buildings,
the collection acts as

1651
01:11:17,720 --> 01:11:20,180
an accessible open
air museum that

1652
01:11:20,180 --> 01:11:24,245
democratizes art outside of
traditional gallery spaces.

1653
01:11:24,245 --> 01:11:26,420
Law requires us to maintain

1654
01:11:26,420 --> 01:11:28,580
the art in our
collection for 20 years

1655
01:11:28,580 --> 01:11:29,840
or for the life of

1656
01:11:29,840 --> 01:11:31,535
the capital construction bonds

1657
01:11:31,535 --> 01:11:33,140
from our partner departments.

1658
01:11:33,140 --> 01:11:34,760
That job gets harder.

1659
01:11:34,760 --> 01:11:36,995
Material and labor
costs are rising

1660
01:11:36,995 --> 01:11:40,025
and our collection
continues to grow and age.

1661
01:11:40,025 --> 01:11:42,080
As urgent repairs pile up,

1662
01:11:42,080 --> 01:11:45,995
we struggle to keep up
with routine maintenance.

1663
01:11:45,995 --> 01:11:50,135
This investment helps us meet
our legal obligation and

1664
01:11:50,135 --> 01:11:52,430
honors the promises we made to

1665
01:11:52,430 --> 01:11:55,475
the communities we partner
with to create these artworks.

1666
01:11:55,475 --> 01:11:58,430
It also reflects our steady
commitment to keeping

1667
01:11:58,430 --> 01:12:01,535
the arts cared for and open
to everyone in Seattle,

1668
01:12:01,535 --> 01:12:05,460
no matter your neighborhood,
income or background.

1669
01:12:06,460 --> 01:12:09,680
The King Street Station
Activations Program has

1670
01:12:09,680 --> 01:12:12,395
truly put ARTS at King
Street Station on the map.

1671
01:12:12,395 --> 01:12:13,790
It has helped establish

1672
01:12:13,790 --> 01:12:15,290
the Office of Arts
and Culture King

1673
01:12:15,290 --> 01:12:16,820
Street Station Gallery as

1674
01:12:16,820 --> 01:12:18,980
a cultural anchor
and bridge between

1675
01:12:18,980 --> 01:12:20,570
the Chinatown
International District

1676
01:12:20,570 --> 01:12:22,385
and Pioneer Square
neighborhoods.

1677
01:12:22,385 --> 01:12:24,860
These activations
increase the visibility

1678
01:12:24,860 --> 01:12:26,075
of our office and our work,

1679
01:12:26,075 --> 01:12:28,280
drawing thousands of
visitors to our events.

1680
01:12:28,280 --> 01:12:29,915
They highlight local artists,

1681
01:12:29,915 --> 01:12:32,000
cultural workers,
and creative talent

1682
01:12:32,000 --> 01:12:33,635
in a highly visible way.

1683
01:12:33,635 --> 01:12:35,480
While we are fortunate to manage

1684
01:12:35,480 --> 01:12:37,130
the ARTS at King Street
Station Gallery,

1685
01:12:37,130 --> 01:12:39,455
the space itself is
Tucton's data station

1686
01:12:39,455 --> 01:12:42,050
and can be difficult
for the public to find.

1687
01:12:42,050 --> 01:12:45,170
The activations program
brings energy and activity

1688
01:12:45,170 --> 01:12:47,795
to both King Street Station
Plaza and the gallery,

1689
01:12:47,795 --> 01:12:50,465
reflecting the vibrancy of
the neighborhoods we serve.

1690
01:12:50,465 --> 01:12:52,610
Our solstice events,
longest day,

1691
01:12:52,610 --> 01:12:55,565
and longest night, continue
to grow in scale and impact.

1692
01:12:55,565 --> 01:12:58,250
This year, programming
expanded significantly with

1693
01:12:58,250 --> 01:13:00,230
multiple activations
each week and

1694
01:13:00,230 --> 01:13:02,660
a full slate of World
Cup related events.

1695
01:13:02,660 --> 01:13:04,730
The activations
work that began in

1696
01:13:04,730 --> 01:13:08,480
2024 has no base
funding in our budget.

1697
01:13:08,480 --> 01:13:10,070
This investment allows us to

1698
01:13:10,070 --> 01:13:11,780
build on the strong
momentum created in

1699
01:13:11,780 --> 01:13:15,860
2025 and 2026 and continue
the work in 2027.

1700
01:13:15,860 --> 01:13:18,680
It supports local creative
talent and generates

1701
01:13:18,680 --> 01:13:20,720
positive spillover
effects into surrounding

1702
01:13:20,720 --> 01:13:22,940
neighborhoods through
economic activity,

1703
01:13:22,940 --> 01:13:25,295
cultural vibrancy,
community connection,

1704
01:13:25,295 --> 01:13:27,245
and improved feelings of safety.

1705
01:13:27,245 --> 01:13:29,705
Much of our work happens
behind the scenes.

1706
01:13:29,705 --> 01:13:31,010
This program is our prominent

1707
01:13:31,010 --> 01:13:32,690
public facing
investment and creates

1708
01:13:32,690 --> 01:13:36,170
cascading benefits when we
operate not only as funders,

1709
01:13:36,170 --> 01:13:37,820
but as producers, conveners,

1710
01:13:37,820 --> 01:13:40,070
collaborators, and
change agents.

1711
01:13:40,070 --> 01:13:43,280
It expands our ability to
lead and engage directly

1712
01:13:43,280 --> 01:13:44,360
with community beyond

1713
01:13:44,360 --> 01:13:47,240
administrative and
financial support alone.

1714
01:13:47,240 --> 01:13:49,535
We want to end on, again,

1715
01:13:49,535 --> 01:13:53,375
thanking you all so much for
your time and consideration,

1716
01:13:53,375 --> 01:13:55,460
and let's dive into
some questions.

1717
01:13:55,460 --> 01:13:57,350
Dan Strauss: Thank you Director.

1718
01:13:57,350 --> 01:13:59,390
Director Pennucci,
anything to add?

1719
01:13:59,390 --> 01:14:02,195
Aly, anything?

1720
01:14:02,195 --> 01:14:04,235
Council member
Foster, over to you.

1721
01:14:04,235 --> 01:14:06,860
Dionne Foster: Thank you so
much, Chair and thank you for

1722
01:14:06,860 --> 01:14:09,395
that fantastic presentation,
Director Wynn,

1723
01:14:09,395 --> 01:14:11,210
it's just such a pleasure
getting to chair

1724
01:14:11,210 --> 01:14:15,440
the housing Arts and
Civil Rights Committee.

1725
01:14:15,440 --> 01:14:17,135
I will say,

1726
01:14:17,135 --> 01:14:20,390
I'll be brief here and say
one thing that's really on

1727
01:14:20,390 --> 01:14:23,330
my mind often is the
important role that arts

1728
01:14:23,330 --> 01:14:26,765
plays in our city in many ways.

1729
01:14:26,765 --> 01:14:29,270
You talked about the
impact for young people in

1730
01:14:29,270 --> 01:14:30,560
our education system and

1731
01:14:30,560 --> 01:14:32,915
the expansion of
programming there.

1732
01:14:32,915 --> 01:14:34,640
Just in our offices,

1733
01:14:34,640 --> 01:14:35,930
the ability to have

1734
01:14:35,930 --> 01:14:37,430
an incredible art collection

1735
01:14:37,430 --> 01:14:38,810
here at the city that supports

1736
01:14:38,810 --> 01:14:40,820
local artists and helps create

1737
01:14:40,820 --> 01:14:44,060
vibrant places both
inside City Hall,

1738
01:14:44,060 --> 01:14:46,520
out on the streets with
our public art and so much

1739
01:14:46,520 --> 01:14:50,240
more and it's also not lost
on me the significant role

1740
01:14:50,240 --> 01:14:53,390
that the emissions tax has in

1741
01:14:53,390 --> 01:14:55,505
supporting the Office
of Arts and Culture

1742
01:14:55,505 --> 01:14:56,990
and colleagues,

1743
01:14:56,990 --> 01:14:58,730
I know you've heard
me ask earlier today

1744
01:14:58,730 --> 01:15:00,740
in previous presentations about

1745
01:15:00,740 --> 01:15:03,710
the information
regarding the ad tax

1746
01:15:03,710 --> 01:15:05,510
going to other departments.

1747
01:15:05,510 --> 01:15:07,820
Again, will echo what
I said, which is,

1748
01:15:07,820 --> 01:15:09,440
I think that the
approach taken in

1749
01:15:09,440 --> 01:15:13,040
this budget has been
balanced in terms of

1750
01:15:13,040 --> 01:15:15,530
dealing with a really
challenging situation

1751
01:15:15,530 --> 01:15:16,550
and trying to refocus

1752
01:15:16,550 --> 01:15:18,650
those ad tax dollars
in places where they

1753
01:15:18,650 --> 01:15:20,930
still support artists directly.

1754
01:15:20,930 --> 01:15:22,610
I am going to just
take a second to

1755
01:15:22,610 --> 01:15:25,070
recount some of those uses.

1756
01:15:25,070 --> 01:15:26,705
I don't take issue with uses.

1757
01:15:26,705 --> 01:15:27,980
I really want to
make sure that I'm

1758
01:15:27,980 --> 01:15:29,840
highlighting them
for my colleagues

1759
01:15:29,840 --> 01:15:31,340
here so that we understand

1760
01:15:31,340 --> 01:15:33,410
the impact to the
arts department,

1761
01:15:33,410 --> 01:15:35,210
particularly as we're
looking ahead at

1762
01:15:35,210 --> 01:15:37,400
any possible additional changes

1763
01:15:37,400 --> 01:15:39,305
the council may
want to undertake.

1764
01:15:39,305 --> 01:15:43,130
I think I heard
$460,000 for festal,

1765
01:15:43,130 --> 01:15:44,930
400,000 for folk life,

1766
01:15:44,930 --> 01:15:47,540
222,000 for winter fest,

1767
01:15:47,540 --> 01:15:50,675
280,000 for arts and parks,

1768
01:15:50,675 --> 01:15:53,345
210 I keep saying thousand.

1769
01:15:53,345 --> 01:15:55,400
That's right. I think we're
getting in the millions,

1770
01:15:55,400 --> 01:15:58,365
so 210,000 for the
teen summer musical.

1771
01:15:58,365 --> 01:16:00,575
Fantastic. By the way,

1772
01:16:00,575 --> 01:16:04,220
and 224,000 to support
buskers and I know

1773
01:16:04,220 --> 01:16:05,960
that Director Pennucci
is going to send

1774
01:16:05,960 --> 01:16:08,105
some follow up so we have
the full accounting.

1775
01:16:08,105 --> 01:16:10,130
Again, I don't take
issue with this use,

1776
01:16:10,130 --> 01:16:12,665
but I think it's important
to highlight it.

1777
01:16:12,665 --> 01:16:15,600
My question, because I know
that was not a question,

1778
01:16:15,600 --> 01:16:18,325
and I know that the budget
chair has got the timer on me.

1779
01:16:18,325 --> 01:16:19,885
My question,

1780
01:16:19,885 --> 01:16:22,690
Director Wynn when we look
at some of the things,

1781
01:16:22,690 --> 01:16:25,300
the programs that the
arts department runs,

1782
01:16:25,300 --> 01:16:26,380
programs that I think are again,

1783
01:16:26,380 --> 01:16:28,180
really important say,

1784
01:16:28,180 --> 01:16:31,425
for example, the cultural
facilities fund.

1785
01:16:31,425 --> 01:16:33,290
Can you talk about the way

1786
01:16:33,290 --> 01:16:36,290
that the asks that come
into the department for

1787
01:16:36,290 --> 01:16:38,255
that fund and how much of that

1788
01:16:38,255 --> 01:16:41,450
ask you're able to fulfill,
generally speaking?

1789
01:16:41,450 --> 01:16:43,790
Aly Pennucci: Thank you so
much, Council member Foster,

1790
01:16:43,790 --> 01:16:46,460
and you said it so well.

1791
01:16:46,460 --> 01:16:48,860
I will say most of my time,

1792
01:16:48,860 --> 01:16:51,800
my day is spent
talking to small,

1793
01:16:51,800 --> 01:16:54,410
medium, large arts and
culture organizations,

1794
01:16:54,410 --> 01:16:57,635
individual artists,
and they're expressing

1795
01:16:57,635 --> 01:17:00,130
that they're impacted just

1796
01:17:00,130 --> 01:17:02,260
by several of the items
that we heard today,

1797
01:17:02,260 --> 01:17:04,270
just as what we
struggle as a city.

1798
01:17:04,270 --> 01:17:07,150
You can't say enough
on that rising cost,

1799
01:17:07,150 --> 01:17:10,570
whether they are themselves
employers on healthcare,

1800
01:17:10,570 --> 01:17:13,000
how they struggle to
keep their doors open

1801
01:17:13,000 --> 01:17:15,625
and the very limited
levers they have to pool.

1802
01:17:15,625 --> 01:17:17,535
I love that you leaned in

1803
01:17:17,535 --> 01:17:20,620
specifically to the
cultural facilities fund.

1804
01:17:20,620 --> 01:17:27,410
We run a program that
administers shy of $400,000 and

1805
01:17:27,410 --> 01:17:30,620
we have tens of
millions of dollars in

1806
01:17:30,620 --> 01:17:34,940
requests for those
cultural capital needs.

1807
01:17:34,940 --> 01:17:37,610
These are places where I
can't emphasize enough

1808
01:17:37,610 --> 01:17:40,640
that we saw as we are

1809
01:17:40,640 --> 01:17:43,370
still now years out of

1810
01:17:43,370 --> 01:17:46,970
COVID recovery that
arts and culture is

1811
01:17:46,970 --> 01:17:48,440
alive when it's in

1812
01:17:48,440 --> 01:17:50,900
your backyard in your
neighborhood and that

1813
01:17:50,900 --> 01:17:52,940
we have places in which we

1814
01:17:52,940 --> 01:17:55,235
can access arts and
culture together.

1815
01:17:55,235 --> 01:17:57,470
Those cultural facilities
in neighborhoods

1816
01:17:57,470 --> 01:17:59,915
from our D5 in Lake City,

1817
01:17:59,915 --> 01:18:03,770
all the way down through South
Seattle and Rainier Beach,

1818
01:18:03,770 --> 01:18:07,865
they need a hand to keep
I liked what you said,

1819
01:18:07,865 --> 01:18:12,335
Director Engstrom about
zip ties and duct tape.

1820
01:18:12,335 --> 01:18:13,670
I hear a lot about

1821
01:18:13,670 --> 01:18:17,540
creative uses of how to keep
our aging infrastructure

1822
01:18:17,540 --> 01:18:19,910
going and the burden
that that falls on

1823
01:18:19,910 --> 01:18:21,140
small theaters to have to

1824
01:18:21,140 --> 01:18:23,760
operate to keep up
with that as well.

1825
01:18:23,950 --> 01:18:27,020
I really appreciate so
much of the framing

1826
01:18:27,020 --> 01:18:29,210
today because it really is about

1827
01:18:29,210 --> 01:18:32,990
the future and rather
than continuing

1828
01:18:32,990 --> 01:18:39,470
to think in the short term
of where our needs are,

1829
01:18:39,470 --> 01:18:42,560
how can we partner and really
think effectively about how

1830
01:18:42,560 --> 01:18:44,330
investment for arts
and culture can be

1831
01:18:44,330 --> 01:18:46,745
truly sustainable
as we move forward?

1832
01:18:46,745 --> 01:18:48,965
If the question comes into

1833
01:18:48,965 --> 01:18:52,070
what I don't even
know where to begin,

1834
01:18:52,070 --> 01:18:54,815
how to even describe the
needs that come out.

1835
01:18:54,815 --> 01:18:58,625
I do open community
office hours for sign up.

1836
01:18:58,625 --> 01:19:01,370
I have one tomorrow.

1837
01:19:01,370 --> 01:19:05,915
If I could just even tell you
scratching the surface on

1838
01:19:05,915 --> 01:19:08,780
the totality of the
complexities of

1839
01:19:08,780 --> 01:19:12,245
problems that I hear come
up, we're excited again,

1840
01:19:12,245 --> 01:19:14,390
for all of these fantastic
investments and I

1841
01:19:14,390 --> 01:19:17,060
think folks saw
really the power of

1842
01:19:17,060 --> 01:19:20,570
arts and culture investments
that are very much guided by

1843
01:19:20,570 --> 01:19:25,025
our Seattle Arts Commission
and our open panel processes.

1844
01:19:25,025 --> 01:19:27,200
In play and action
when that happened

1845
01:19:27,200 --> 01:19:30,125
this summer with our We
Still Dream of Future.

1846
01:19:30,125 --> 01:19:32,240
Dionne Foster: Thank you
so much, Director Wynn.

1847
01:19:32,240 --> 01:19:33,950
I appreciate that and
I know we still have

1848
01:19:33,950 --> 01:19:36,515
the directors from
Seattle Center

1849
01:19:36,515 --> 01:19:37,910
here in Parks Department here,

1850
01:19:37,910 --> 01:19:39,650
and I just want to
underscore, again,

1851
01:19:39,650 --> 01:19:42,230
I think that the programming
that is being run across

1852
01:19:42,230 --> 01:19:43,640
the city to support arts is

1853
01:19:43,640 --> 01:19:45,485
critical and is
really important.

1854
01:19:45,485 --> 01:19:48,305
It's just important to me
as arts chair to uplift,

1855
01:19:48,305 --> 01:19:49,730
to make sure that we have I hope

1856
01:19:49,730 --> 01:19:52,220
Council Barwis wasn't on
here to hear me say uplift,

1857
01:19:52,220 --> 01:19:54,005
but to make sure that we have

1858
01:19:54,005 --> 01:19:56,540
a full view of the diversity of

1859
01:19:56,540 --> 01:19:58,730
needs across our arts
sector so that we

1860
01:19:58,730 --> 01:20:01,190
can make the smartest and
the most informed decisions.

1861
01:20:01,190 --> 01:20:05,810
Just knowing, you know, $400,000
in resources, obviously,

1862
01:20:05,810 --> 01:20:08,510
it doesn't go that far when
it comes to the diversity

1863
01:20:08,510 --> 01:20:11,255
of arts based and cultural
organizations around the city.

1864
01:20:11,255 --> 01:20:13,775
I appreciate that. Thank
you so much, Chair.

1865
01:20:13,775 --> 01:20:14,315
Dan Strauss: Thank you,

1866
01:20:14,315 --> 01:20:16,730
Council Member Foster,
Council Mayor Kettle.

1867
01:20:16,730 --> 01:20:20,075
Robert Kettle: Thank you,
Chair. I just wanted to thank

1868
01:20:20,075 --> 01:20:21,740
Director Guinn and Miss McCay

1869
01:20:21,740 --> 01:20:23,855
for being here in presentation.

1870
01:20:23,855 --> 01:20:26,510
You heard me before
during Seattle Center,

1871
01:20:26,510 --> 01:20:30,590
my points about arts
and culture and again,

1872
01:20:30,590 --> 01:20:32,135
to be consistent,
I'll say it again,

1873
01:20:32,135 --> 01:20:34,490
we do need to keep
that budget whole,

1874
01:20:34,490 --> 01:20:35,900
keep that package together,

1875
01:20:35,900 --> 01:20:38,160
not have it bifurcated.

1876
01:20:38,290 --> 01:20:40,520
I don't think we're there now,

1877
01:20:40,520 --> 01:20:42,230
but there has been a
question in the past,

1878
01:20:42,230 --> 01:20:43,790
so it's probably good
to keep saying it,

1879
01:20:43,790 --> 01:20:46,920
so then we don't have any
backsliding on that front.

1880
01:20:51,160 --> 01:20:53,555
There's a lot of key points.

1881
01:20:53,555 --> 01:20:56,705
I do like the point
about partnerships.

1882
01:20:56,705 --> 01:20:59,240
As I said earlier, too, again,

1883
01:20:59,240 --> 01:21:00,935
in Seattle Center section,

1884
01:21:00,935 --> 01:21:04,610
after FIFA World Cup,

1885
01:21:04,610 --> 01:21:08,855
I had a conversation
with Inspire Washington,

1886
01:21:08,855 --> 01:21:12,920
what they're doing and also
bringing it to the DSA,

1887
01:21:12,920 --> 01:21:14,540
too, about having
an after action,

1888
01:21:14,540 --> 01:21:15,605
speaking of after action,

1889
01:21:15,605 --> 01:21:19,310
like a lesson to learn
review of the World Cup

1890
01:21:19,310 --> 01:21:21,200
and then really how to transfer

1891
01:21:21,200 --> 01:21:23,270
it from sports entertainment,

1892
01:21:23,270 --> 01:21:25,220
and in this case,
entertainment means arts and

1893
01:21:25,220 --> 01:21:27,650
culture because I think
there's opportunities there.

1894
01:21:27,650 --> 01:21:30,815
I think about all the pieces.

1895
01:21:30,815 --> 01:21:33,845
On one hand, I go to

1896
01:21:33,845 --> 01:21:35,270
a nonprofit group called

1897
01:21:35,270 --> 01:21:38,765
Jazzd the music education
to all these young people,

1898
01:21:38,765 --> 01:21:41,360
and they serve a wide range

1899
01:21:41,360 --> 01:21:44,540
across the city and
beyond, actually.

1900
01:21:44,540 --> 01:21:48,650
Then on the other side
Seattle Chamber Music Society

1901
01:21:48,650 --> 01:21:50,360
and the work that
they're going into

1902
01:21:50,360 --> 01:21:52,295
their new location
when that's done,

1903
01:21:52,295 --> 01:21:54,275
that's going to be beautiful.

1904
01:21:54,275 --> 01:21:56,315
We have this cluster,
and it's like,

1905
01:21:56,315 --> 01:21:58,730
how do we create, in
terms of partnership,

1906
01:21:58,730 --> 01:22:00,365
like a unity loop for

1907
01:22:00,365 --> 01:22:05,300
again the music venues or
the theater venues or to

1908
01:22:05,300 --> 01:22:08,255
get to keep the
momentum and keep

1909
01:22:08,255 --> 01:22:13,370
the activity and to keep
the activation going.

1910
01:22:13,370 --> 01:22:15,500
The partnership piece as it

1911
01:22:15,500 --> 01:22:18,480
relates to arts and
culture is so important.

1912
01:22:20,830 --> 01:22:24,320
How do you see that and

1913
01:22:24,320 --> 01:22:25,610
how does that play
out in terms of

1914
01:22:25,610 --> 01:22:27,820
what you're looking
to do with a budget?

1915
01:22:27,820 --> 01:22:30,675
Amy Nguyen: I have to first
compliment whoever paired

1916
01:22:30,675 --> 01:22:32,940
these three
departments together,

1917
01:22:32,940 --> 01:22:34,080
because I think that's where

1918
01:22:34,080 --> 01:22:36,195
the partnership really starts.

1919
01:22:36,195 --> 01:22:38,670
It was Director Engstrom,

1920
01:22:38,670 --> 01:22:41,190
as the break came on that said,

1921
01:22:41,190 --> 01:22:42,765
it's really about belonging.

1922
01:22:42,765 --> 01:22:45,015
That's where parks
and recreation,

1923
01:22:45,015 --> 01:22:48,360
Seattle Center and
Arts and Culture meet.

1924
01:22:48,360 --> 01:22:53,820
But I also want to add into
the levels of complexity.

1925
01:22:53,820 --> 01:22:55,230
What I'm interested in too,

1926
01:22:55,230 --> 01:23:00,600
is how arts and culture
can really reflect

1927
01:23:00,600 --> 01:23:03,315
that we need to also evolve

1928
01:23:03,315 --> 01:23:04,920
and be more rigorous

1929
01:23:04,920 --> 01:23:06,720
in how we think about
our partnership.

1930
01:23:06,720 --> 01:23:09,720
Councilman Kettle, I'm really
glad you brought sports up.

1931
01:23:09,720 --> 01:23:12,480
Often there's this idea
that sports in arts and

1932
01:23:12,480 --> 01:23:16,050
culture are opposition when
they really aren't at all.

1933
01:23:16,050 --> 01:23:19,830
I think we also saw that with
this fantastic summertime.

1934
01:23:19,830 --> 01:23:21,345
What we're thinking about is

1935
01:23:21,345 --> 01:23:23,070
things that bring us together,

1936
01:23:23,070 --> 01:23:25,155
things that connect us.

1937
01:23:25,155 --> 01:23:30,090
I've said this during my
confirmation processes,

1938
01:23:30,090 --> 01:23:33,630
I so often taken by

1939
01:23:33,630 --> 01:23:36,675
how much artists in
order to survive

1940
01:23:36,675 --> 01:23:38,310
must function as
small businesses

1941
01:23:38,310 --> 01:23:40,840
and entrepreneurs themselves.

1942
01:23:41,510 --> 01:23:45,825
You cannot be a working artist

1943
01:23:45,825 --> 01:23:48,120
and depend entirely
on public subsidy.

1944
01:23:48,120 --> 01:23:51,390
There's a need to ensure that

1945
01:23:51,390 --> 01:23:54,990
there's a creative
competition in that.

1946
01:23:54,990 --> 01:23:56,535
Those are skills that we hear

1947
01:23:56,535 --> 01:23:58,575
all the time about
businesses themselves

1948
01:23:58,575 --> 01:24:00,390
needing to evolve from

1949
01:24:00,390 --> 01:24:02,700
marketing budgets to
technical assistance.

1950
01:24:02,700 --> 01:24:05,710
That's very much
arts and culture.

1951
01:24:07,070 --> 01:24:09,675
I'm very excited about

1952
01:24:09,675 --> 01:24:12,090
several different
partnership opportunities

1953
01:24:12,090 --> 01:24:13,200
that we're looking at,

1954
01:24:13,200 --> 01:24:15,690
and I think what
you see also within

1955
01:24:15,690 --> 01:24:18,360
the mayor's proposed
budget here is really

1956
01:24:18,360 --> 01:24:20,010
a signaling on how

1957
01:24:20,010 --> 01:24:22,980
we're thinking through
those partnerships.

1958
01:24:22,980 --> 01:24:28,380
This expansion to the budget
and creative advantage,

1959
01:24:28,380 --> 01:24:31,260
you heard me say it a
bit in my remarks there,

1960
01:24:31,260 --> 01:24:36,615
but we know that some of
the biggest tech firms,

1961
01:24:36,615 --> 01:24:38,790
what they're actually
recruiting for and looking for

1962
01:24:38,790 --> 01:24:40,950
is creative critical
thinking skills,

1963
01:24:40,950 --> 01:24:42,780
and that is what is
being diminished

1964
01:24:42,780 --> 01:24:44,790
and lost within so
much of our education.

1965
01:24:44,790 --> 01:24:50,190
When we look at the studies
on student success,

1966
01:24:50,190 --> 01:24:55,140
so much of that comes to an
arts and culture education.

1967
01:24:55,140 --> 01:24:58,290
I can rant about
this for some time.

1968
01:24:58,290 --> 01:24:59,655
I'm going to go ahead and stop

1969
01:24:59,655 --> 01:25:02,565
because I just love that
you brought up partnership.

1970
01:25:02,565 --> 01:25:03,780
I'll just pause there and

1971
01:25:03,780 --> 01:25:05,295
hope that I answered
your question then.

1972
01:25:05,295 --> 01:25:07,335
Robert Kettle: You did and
I'll give full credit to

1973
01:25:07,335 --> 01:25:11,295
Chair Strauss for the
pairing of parks,

1974
01:25:11,295 --> 01:25:14,380
Seattle Center and
Arts and Culture.

1975
01:25:15,230 --> 01:25:17,820
I am not an artist,

1976
01:25:17,820 --> 01:25:19,890
but I did have an
artistic opportunity

1977
01:25:19,890 --> 01:25:21,735
earlier this year with

1978
01:25:21,735 --> 01:25:28,740
our famous now FIFA World
Cup artist for our poster,

1979
01:25:28,740 --> 01:25:31,500
Mr. Shoguota because he did

1980
01:25:31,500 --> 01:25:34,770
a mural in Belltown near
Pier 66 when you come off,

1981
01:25:34,770 --> 01:25:36,450
and I was able to spray

1982
01:25:36,450 --> 01:25:40,590
paint a little star
into this mural.

1983
01:25:40,590 --> 01:25:42,900
The captain from the cruise ship

1984
01:25:42,900 --> 01:25:44,700
he also did a
little piece but he

1985
01:25:44,700 --> 01:25:46,350
stenciled the name of
the cruise ship on

1986
01:25:46,350 --> 01:25:49,560
that little cruise ship
that's part of the mural.

1987
01:25:49,560 --> 01:25:54,030
I say that as this really
makes a big difference.

1988
01:25:54,030 --> 01:25:57,300
The mural program in Belltown,

1989
01:25:57,300 --> 01:25:59,310
for example, is massive,

1990
01:25:59,310 --> 01:26:00,720
and it makes a
difference because

1991
01:26:00,720 --> 01:26:01,740
there's a lot of challenges,

1992
01:26:01,740 --> 01:26:05,715
as we know, in public
safety for that.

1993
01:26:05,715 --> 01:26:09,060
Again, bring things to
public safety, usually.

1994
01:26:09,060 --> 01:26:13,185
I bring that up
because as a Navy guy,

1995
01:26:13,185 --> 01:26:14,715
it's all about maintenance.

1996
01:26:14,715 --> 01:26:16,485
Then in your briefing,

1997
01:26:16,485 --> 01:26:17,565
you showed that one piece of

1998
01:26:17,565 --> 01:26:20,670
art and it's the same
thing with murals.

1999
01:26:20,670 --> 01:26:23,145
If something's not maintained,

2000
01:26:23,145 --> 01:26:24,915
one of the pillars in

2001
01:26:24,915 --> 01:26:28,005
our strategic framework plan
is urban blight remediation.

2002
01:26:28,005 --> 01:26:30,780
We have these issues
that we have out there,

2003
01:26:30,780 --> 01:26:34,560
we don't want to contribute
it because the converse of is

2004
01:26:34,560 --> 01:26:36,015
if we do the maintenance and

2005
01:26:36,015 --> 01:26:37,950
that piece of art
is looking vibrant,

2006
01:26:37,950 --> 01:26:39,030
then that adds to

2007
01:26:39,030 --> 01:26:42,885
the thriving vibrant city
goal that we all have.

2008
01:26:42,885 --> 01:26:45,570
I just wanted to thank you

2009
01:26:45,570 --> 01:26:48,480
for highlighting the
maintenance piece

2010
01:26:48,480 --> 01:26:52,490
because it's like what

2011
01:26:52,490 --> 01:26:55,010
Director Pennucci's doing
related to this budget process.

2012
01:26:55,010 --> 01:26:57,095
It's addressing the
nuts and bolts pieces.

2013
01:26:57,095 --> 01:26:59,240
Now, there's going to be
disagreements on where and

2014
01:26:59,240 --> 01:27:02,185
what. There already is.

2015
01:27:02,185 --> 01:27:04,410
But not on approaching

2016
01:27:04,410 --> 01:27:06,195
the budget, approaching
these things.

2017
01:27:06,195 --> 01:27:08,505
Another from a good
governance point of view is,

2018
01:27:08,505 --> 01:27:11,265
you got to do the maintenance
as painful as it is.

2019
01:27:11,265 --> 01:27:13,245
This applies to arts
and culture too.

2020
01:27:13,245 --> 01:27:15,850
I just wanted to say
thank you for that.

2021
01:27:16,280 --> 01:27:18,390
I have no questionnaire, but if

2022
01:27:18,390 --> 01:27:19,845
you want to speak
to maintenance,

2023
01:27:19,845 --> 01:27:21,305
I'm more than happy to hear.

2024
01:27:21,305 --> 01:27:23,570
Amy Nguyen: Now I need to

2025
01:27:23,570 --> 01:27:25,910
check out your star
edition on that mural.

2026
01:27:25,910 --> 01:27:28,130
That's quite cool.

2027
01:27:28,130 --> 01:27:29,420
No, thank you for recognizing

2028
01:27:29,420 --> 01:27:31,445
the maintenance component of it.

2029
01:27:31,445 --> 01:27:35,865
I will say that we
have dealt with,

2030
01:27:35,865 --> 01:27:37,590
I think, so much of it.

2031
01:27:37,590 --> 01:27:40,395
Even in the Seattle
Times, back in 2020,

2032
01:27:40,395 --> 01:27:46,455
with our public art
collection, vandalism is up.

2033
01:27:46,455 --> 01:27:50,400
There's the general aging
of one's collection,

2034
01:27:50,400 --> 01:27:53,010
but it's everything from

2035
01:27:53,010 --> 01:27:56,880
weather to ensuring that those
costs are staying up and

2036
01:27:56,880 --> 01:27:58,860
prime and we also
put a lot of time

2037
01:27:58,860 --> 01:28:01,080
into and lead up to
World Cup to ensure

2038
01:28:01,080 --> 01:28:03,870
that those beautiful art
pieces were shining and

2039
01:28:03,870 --> 01:28:07,095
looked fantastic for the
world to welcome in it.

2040
01:28:07,095 --> 01:28:09,435
It's a place where there's a lot

2041
01:28:09,435 --> 01:28:11,910
of ongoing maintenance needs,

2042
01:28:11,910 --> 01:28:15,000
and it's also a place
where we draw a line too,

2043
01:28:15,000 --> 01:28:16,500
as we consult on

2044
01:28:16,500 --> 01:28:19,050
public art projects not only
with our sister agencies,

2045
01:28:19,050 --> 01:28:21,450
but also community partners

2046
01:28:21,450 --> 01:28:23,175
that are interested in
public art to really

2047
01:28:23,175 --> 01:28:25,215
underscore the need to

2048
01:28:25,215 --> 01:28:28,500
make maintenance sexy
and prioritize it.

2049
01:28:28,500 --> 01:28:30,975
Robert Kettle: Excellent.
Thank you. Thank you, Chair.

2050
01:28:30,975 --> 01:28:32,430
Daniel Strauss: Thank you,
Council member Kettle,

2051
01:28:32,430 --> 01:28:35,265
colleagues, additional
questions, comments.

2052
01:28:35,265 --> 01:28:37,500
I'm going to jump
in and then give it

2053
01:28:37,500 --> 01:28:41,140
to council member
Foster at the very end.

2054
01:28:42,800 --> 01:28:45,420
Multiple notebooks. Thank you.

2055
01:28:45,420 --> 01:28:48,255
A couple statements.

2056
01:28:48,255 --> 01:28:50,430
I think I only have
statements for you today.

2057
01:28:50,430 --> 01:28:53,790
The murals and the
artists and the funding

2058
01:28:53,790 --> 01:28:57,615
of murals and artists
is so impactful.

2059
01:28:57,615 --> 01:29:00,690
Like yesterday when I was
visiting the Seattle Center,

2060
01:29:00,690 --> 01:29:04,080
I had a pinch me moment as
I was looking at Belltown.

2061
01:29:04,080 --> 01:29:07,335
Belltown's mural projects
over this last year

2062
01:29:07,335 --> 01:29:10,080
have put dinosaurs and all sorts

2063
01:29:10,080 --> 01:29:12,735
of other vibrant pictures

2064
01:29:12,735 --> 01:29:16,185
on what are otherwise
dull gray walls.

2065
01:29:16,185 --> 01:29:22,065
It just is amazing to see our
city liven up in that way.

2066
01:29:22,065 --> 01:29:24,450
For me, with the
Ballard mural project

2067
01:29:24,450 --> 01:29:26,700
that we've had a
couple of years going,

2068
01:29:26,700 --> 01:29:29,715
the momentum is
building incredibly.

2069
01:29:29,715 --> 01:29:31,410
Stevie Shaw, I think we've got

2070
01:29:31,410 --> 01:29:34,140
her best mural in
the city in Ballard.

2071
01:29:34,140 --> 01:29:36,165
I'm just so grateful.

2072
01:29:36,165 --> 01:29:38,520
What was most impactful
and this goes back to what

2073
01:29:38,520 --> 01:29:39,945
council member Foster had

2074
01:29:39,945 --> 01:29:42,330
schooled me on when
she came in was like,

2075
01:29:42,330 --> 01:29:44,340
what about the artists?

2076
01:29:44,340 --> 01:29:47,445
Are we making sure to pay them?

2077
01:29:47,445 --> 01:29:50,970
The best part of the mural
project for me is not

2078
01:29:50,970 --> 01:29:53,760
the fact that it is a
brighter, more vibrant space.

2079
01:29:53,760 --> 01:29:57,000
It was getting to meet these
artists, hear their story,

2080
01:29:57,000 --> 01:29:58,590
and get to support them along

2081
01:29:58,590 --> 01:30:01,605
their way of living
a creative life.

2082
01:30:01,605 --> 01:30:04,395
Because those
interactions stick,

2083
01:30:04,395 --> 01:30:06,090
they stick with me, at least,

2084
01:30:06,090 --> 01:30:11,200
well beyond the few days it
takes to paint the mural.

2085
01:30:11,690 --> 01:30:14,670
I appreciate what council
member Foster is doing about

2086
01:30:14,670 --> 01:30:17,130
highlighting the
pass through dollars

2087
01:30:17,130 --> 01:30:18,870
that you are providing
that is still

2088
01:30:18,870 --> 01:30:21,615
the Office of Arts and
Culture doing that work,

2089
01:30:21,615 --> 01:30:24,345
even if it's in
other departments.

2090
01:30:24,345 --> 01:30:27,630
Thank you for
highlighting that because

2091
01:30:27,630 --> 01:30:29,490
the breadth of your impact

2092
01:30:29,490 --> 01:30:32,230
is just throughout
the entire city.

2093
01:30:36,620 --> 01:30:40,185
What I really see is that

2094
01:30:40,185 --> 01:30:46,020
your department adds vibrancy
and adds life to people,

2095
01:30:46,020 --> 01:30:49,290
whether your department
is actuating it or not.

2096
01:30:49,290 --> 01:30:51,840
Going back to the
festal conversation of

2097
01:30:51,840 --> 01:30:55,815
Director Engstrom on now both
sides of festal funding.

2098
01:30:55,815 --> 01:30:57,450
But at the end of the
day, it doesn't really

2099
01:30:57,450 --> 01:30:59,550
matter because the people

2100
01:30:59,550 --> 01:31:01,335
of the city and the
people of the region

2101
01:31:01,335 --> 01:31:03,390
are having an artful experience,

2102
01:31:03,390 --> 01:31:04,980
and they don't need
to know what kind of

2103
01:31:04,980 --> 01:31:07,365
back end disagreements or
agreements we're having.

2104
01:31:07,365 --> 01:31:10,780
They just need to have a nice
day that they can't forget.

2105
01:31:11,320 --> 01:31:13,910
Already talked
about folk life and

2106
01:31:13,910 --> 01:31:15,620
just admissions tax being used

2107
01:31:15,620 --> 01:31:17,390
for an admission free festival.

2108
01:31:17,390 --> 01:31:21,575
Just really that was a pinch
me moment again today.

2109
01:31:21,575 --> 01:31:24,730
You asked who my favorite
artist is in our collection.

2110
01:31:24,730 --> 01:31:26,325
No, you didn't, but
I'm going to tell you.

2111
01:31:26,325 --> 01:31:28,320
Blake Hagood. Blake Hagood

2112
01:31:28,320 --> 01:31:30,795
is my favorite artist
in our collection.

2113
01:31:30,795 --> 01:31:34,185
Now to my only question
about public art,

2114
01:31:34,185 --> 01:31:37,890
again, your department punched

2115
01:31:37,890 --> 01:31:40,770
above your weight
during FIFA World Cup.

2116
01:31:40,770 --> 01:31:44,970
It really made us look good
to be an international city.

2117
01:31:44,970 --> 01:31:47,910
An international city
is live and vibrant.

2118
01:31:47,910 --> 01:31:50,610
You did this in partnership
with many others,

2119
01:31:50,610 --> 01:31:54,280
but this is your core
focus so thank you.

2120
01:31:54,650 --> 01:31:58,020
I think when we almost
worked together,

2121
01:31:58,020 --> 01:32:01,365
that was when King Street
Station was just opening.

2122
01:32:01,365 --> 01:32:03,780
It was still under SDT control,

2123
01:32:03,780 --> 01:32:05,130
and then it switched over.

2124
01:32:05,130 --> 01:32:06,390
It's been amazing to watch

2125
01:32:06,390 --> 01:32:07,785
that transformation
at King Street.

2126
01:32:07,785 --> 01:32:10,785
One of the things that I
loved during FIFA was,

2127
01:32:10,785 --> 01:32:13,960
I think it's on your
second to last slide.

2128
01:32:14,090 --> 01:32:19,860
That art piece, if you want
to switch slides real quick,

2129
01:32:19,860 --> 01:32:21,195
just so we can bring it back up

2130
01:32:21,195 --> 01:32:23,775
behind the dancer,
that art piece.

2131
01:32:23,775 --> 01:32:26,505
Was that temporary?
Is it permanent?

2132
01:32:26,505 --> 01:32:28,155
How do we do more of that?

2133
01:32:28,155 --> 01:32:30,570
I also see just you
own that building,

2134
01:32:30,570 --> 01:32:33,390
and there's no fault here,

2135
01:32:33,390 --> 01:32:35,955
but the windows
are kind of blank.

2136
01:32:35,955 --> 01:32:38,580
Is there a way to
put artful vinyl?

2137
01:32:38,580 --> 01:32:41,235
How can we liven up this space?

2138
01:32:41,235 --> 01:32:44,620
Amy Nguyen: Thank you so much,
Chair, for that question.

2139
01:32:45,920 --> 01:32:48,440
I think if we more

2140
01:32:48,440 --> 01:32:51,335
sophisticated social media
investigators could,

2141
01:32:51,335 --> 01:32:53,150
I saw that photo tagged in

2142
01:32:53,150 --> 01:32:55,910
so much around internationally,

2143
01:32:55,910 --> 01:32:58,410
that artwork with the
train station behind,

2144
01:32:58,410 --> 01:32:59,865
and that artist, Alex Proba.

2145
01:32:59,865 --> 01:33:01,695
That's a temporary
public art piece.

2146
01:33:01,695 --> 01:33:04,515
We're quite honored to
be able to showcase

2147
01:33:04,515 --> 01:33:06,570
based out of Oregon but

2148
01:33:06,570 --> 01:33:09,570
internationally
renowned public artist.

2149
01:33:09,570 --> 01:33:11,175
That piece is no longer there.

2150
01:33:11,175 --> 01:33:12,975
We actually just
de installed it.

2151
01:33:12,975 --> 01:33:15,120
It's headed to its next home.

2152
01:33:15,120 --> 01:33:19,410
But it was one of those
really powerful stories

2153
01:33:19,410 --> 01:33:24,120
of just how art can change
and make a space alive.

2154
01:33:24,120 --> 01:33:26,760
As soon as it was
installed, we had, like,

2155
01:33:26,760 --> 01:33:29,610
20 children running around it.

2156
01:33:29,610 --> 01:33:30,780
I remember we stood
in our office.

2157
01:33:30,780 --> 01:33:33,180
We were like we
probably should put

2158
01:33:33,180 --> 01:33:36,075
some signage about
that out there.

2159
01:33:36,075 --> 01:33:37,200
Just to give you kind of

2160
01:33:37,200 --> 01:33:42,465
a people just being
alive in that plaza.

2161
01:33:42,465 --> 01:33:44,820
Also, it is a story of it was

2162
01:33:44,820 --> 01:33:48,600
an upward battle for us to
get that artwork there,

2163
01:33:48,600 --> 01:33:51,105
and by battle, I
shouldn't put it in such,

2164
01:33:51,105 --> 01:33:55,725
we are so excited to be
in an historic district.

2165
01:33:55,725 --> 01:34:01,110
It is just the hotbed
of Pioneer Square,

2166
01:34:01,110 --> 01:34:02,370
China hood and
international district

2167
01:34:02,370 --> 01:34:04,200
, where this gateway.

2168
01:34:04,200 --> 01:34:06,720
That process, just as many of

2169
01:34:06,720 --> 01:34:08,925
the processes of when we are

2170
01:34:08,925 --> 01:34:11,400
considering or would
like to do things on

2171
01:34:11,400 --> 01:34:14,685
the facade or within
the public realm,

2172
01:34:14,685 --> 01:34:16,200
is really about respecting

2173
01:34:16,200 --> 01:34:18,435
the historic character
of the neighborhood,

2174
01:34:18,435 --> 01:34:21,660
which requires
respecting the levels

2175
01:34:21,660 --> 01:34:23,835
of review that go to it.

2176
01:34:23,835 --> 01:34:27,675
That project, specifically
that artwork,

2177
01:34:27,675 --> 01:34:31,965
opened up a lot of really
great conversations

2178
01:34:31,965 --> 01:34:35,490
on what should be allowed
in Pioneer Square.

2179
01:34:35,490 --> 01:34:38,715
I'm using very intentional
language here to say that.

2180
01:34:38,715 --> 01:34:44,145
I think we saw a
lot of the power of

2181
01:34:44,145 --> 01:34:47,280
embracing change and what that

2182
01:34:47,280 --> 01:34:51,150
can do to the life of
that neighborhood.

2183
01:34:51,150 --> 01:34:52,980
That artwork is no longer there,

2184
01:34:52,980 --> 01:34:54,810
but we fully intend
a part of one of

2185
01:34:54,810 --> 01:34:57,120
the exciting ads that the mayor

2186
01:34:57,120 --> 01:34:59,520
included is that
one time funding to

2187
01:34:59,520 --> 01:35:02,085
really extend that King
Street Station activation,

2188
01:35:02,085 --> 01:35:03,420
we can build on that momentum

2189
01:35:03,420 --> 01:35:04,800
with the full intent of having

2190
01:35:04,800 --> 01:35:08,250
another temporary public
artwork in that plaza.

2191
01:35:08,250 --> 01:35:10,035
Daniel Strauss: Thank
you. Very helpful.

2192
01:35:10,035 --> 01:35:14,685
I understand the need to
protect our historic districts,

2193
01:35:14,685 --> 01:35:19,440
and if that means

2194
01:35:19,440 --> 01:35:22,545
that we have to have
a black vinyl window,

2195
01:35:22,545 --> 01:35:25,665
compared to a colorful
vinyl window,

2196
01:35:25,665 --> 01:35:28,350
I am challenged by how that is

2197
01:35:28,350 --> 01:35:31,215
protecting a historic
preservation area.

2198
01:35:31,215 --> 01:35:32,910
I'm not a preservationist,

2199
01:35:32,910 --> 01:35:36,645
but we've seen in Belltown
with their mural projects,

2200
01:35:36,645 --> 01:35:39,210
those murals were
able to go onto

2201
01:35:39,210 --> 01:35:40,830
historic buildings
because they were able

2202
01:35:40,830 --> 01:35:42,765
to meet those requirements.

2203
01:35:42,765 --> 01:35:45,870
I know it's not out
of the question.

2204
01:35:45,870 --> 01:35:50,985
My request is that the
historic preservation groups

2205
01:35:50,985 --> 01:35:53,910
ensure that we are
able to add vibrancy

2206
01:35:53,910 --> 01:35:57,060
rather than leaving dark
places in our community.

2207
01:35:57,060 --> 01:36:00,930
With that, Director,
any last comments,

2208
01:36:00,930 --> 01:36:02,610
either directors, I'm
going to pass it over

2209
01:36:02,610 --> 01:36:05,055
to council member
Foster to take home.

2210
01:36:05,055 --> 01:36:07,800
Dionne Foster: Thank you
so much, Tara Strauss.

2211
01:36:07,800 --> 01:36:10,320
I appreciate that we all get to

2212
01:36:10,320 --> 01:36:12,570
share our love for the
arts and artists here in

2213
01:36:12,570 --> 01:36:14,820
Seattle and how important they

2214
01:36:14,820 --> 01:36:18,000
are to making the city that
we all want to live in.

2215
01:36:18,000 --> 01:36:20,145
I will just close out
with this and say,

2216
01:36:20,145 --> 01:36:21,900
there's really
difficult decisions

2217
01:36:21,900 --> 01:36:23,325
that had to be made this year,

2218
01:36:23,325 --> 01:36:25,575
and it's not lost on me
that we're looking at

2219
01:36:25,575 --> 01:36:28,230
an actual reduction in
the overall budget for

2220
01:36:28,230 --> 01:36:29,595
Office of Arts and Culture

2221
01:36:29,595 --> 01:36:33,450
and that you all will continue
to sustain incredible,

2222
01:36:33,450 --> 01:36:36,240
incredible work with the
resources that you do have.

2223
01:36:36,240 --> 01:36:38,775
I just deeply appreciate that.

2224
01:36:38,775 --> 01:36:41,100
I look forward to
working in partnership.

2225
01:36:41,100 --> 01:36:42,750
I know we heard other
folks speak earlier

2226
01:36:42,750 --> 01:36:45,060
about the need to grow
the pie to make sure

2227
01:36:45,060 --> 01:36:47,295
that we are able to
invest adequately

2228
01:36:47,295 --> 01:36:50,220
because artists are doing so
many things for our city,

2229
01:36:50,220 --> 01:36:52,410
whether that's the murals

2230
01:36:52,410 --> 01:36:54,255
that council member
Strauss spoke about,

2231
01:36:54,255 --> 01:36:56,745
and I've got a family member
who painted one of those,

2232
01:36:56,745 --> 01:36:59,445
and Dan and I have
talked about that.

2233
01:36:59,445 --> 01:37:02,610
That plays an important
role for employing artists,

2234
01:37:02,610 --> 01:37:04,455
for supporting our
small businesses,

2235
01:37:04,455 --> 01:37:06,315
making neighborhoods
more beautiful,

2236
01:37:06,315 --> 01:37:07,950
reducing the amount
of money that we're

2237
01:37:07,950 --> 01:37:10,080
spending on scrubbing
graffiti off the walls.

2238
01:37:10,080 --> 01:37:12,045
I could go on and on.

2239
01:37:12,045 --> 01:37:14,850
But those investments, we
just get so much from them.

2240
01:37:14,850 --> 01:37:16,290
I look forward to continuing to

2241
01:37:16,290 --> 01:37:18,660
partner alongside
the mayor's office,

2242
01:37:18,660 --> 01:37:20,190
office of arts and
culture to grow

2243
01:37:20,190 --> 01:37:22,590
the pie so that we can make
these investments that I

2244
01:37:22,590 --> 01:37:28,380
think we get more bank for
our buck from them, I think.

2245
01:37:28,380 --> 01:37:29,820
I think that's
important to note.

2246
01:37:29,820 --> 01:37:32,130
Thank you so much.
Thank you, Chair.

2247
01:37:32,130 --> 01:37:33,705
Daniel Strauss: Thank you,
council member Foster

2248
01:37:33,705 --> 01:37:35,670
as chair of the committee
overseeing the department.

2249
01:37:35,670 --> 01:37:38,580
With that, Director Whitson gets

2250
01:37:38,580 --> 01:37:42,435
full credit of putting together
presentations together.

2251
01:37:42,435 --> 01:37:44,025
I just work here.

2252
01:37:44,025 --> 01:37:46,020
Mr. Whitson makes
sure everything

2253
01:37:46,020 --> 01:37:49,185
happens on time and with
grace so thank you, sir.

2254
01:37:49,185 --> 01:37:51,120
MALE_1: It's been a
great partnership with

2255
01:37:51,120 --> 01:37:53,325
the City Budget Office.

2256
01:37:53,325 --> 01:37:55,845
Daniel Strauss: There
we go. Love this.

2257
01:37:55,845 --> 01:37:57,990
Colleagues, any other
final comments?

2258
01:37:57,990 --> 01:37:59,670
Questions for the day?

2259
01:37:59,670 --> 01:38:01,275
Seeing none.

2260
01:38:01,275 --> 01:38:03,180
Tomorrow's presentation will be

2261
01:38:03,180 --> 01:38:04,320
the Seattle Police Department,

2262
01:38:04,320 --> 01:38:06,810
Community Assisted Response
and Engagement Department

2263
01:38:06,810 --> 01:38:08,655
and Seattle Fire Department.

2264
01:38:08,655 --> 01:38:10,455
We will try to move things up,

2265
01:38:10,455 --> 01:38:12,270
although there may be
some timing issues

2266
01:38:12,270 --> 01:38:13,380
with Seattle Fire Department,

2267
01:38:13,380 --> 01:38:14,910
so we'll keep you
updated in the morning.

2268
01:38:14,910 --> 01:38:17,070
There is no verbal
public comment.

2269
01:38:17,070 --> 01:38:19,125
Literally, at 9:31

2270
01:38:19,125 --> 01:38:21,270
A.M. the police department

2271
01:38:21,270 --> 01:38:23,475
is starting their presentations.

2272
01:38:23,475 --> 01:38:26,580
I believe council
member Rink and

2273
01:38:26,580 --> 01:38:27,870
Kettle were the only ones on

2274
01:38:27,870 --> 01:38:29,475
time for this afternoon session.

2275
01:38:29,475 --> 01:38:32,205
I was on time, which is late.

2276
01:38:32,205 --> 01:38:35,595
I am timing myself
and no one else.

2277
01:38:35,595 --> 01:38:37,620
I forgot to turn on
the timer again.

2278
01:38:37,620 --> 01:38:38,880
With no further ado,

2279
01:38:38,880 --> 01:38:40,680
this does conclude
the September 24,

2280
01:38:40,680 --> 01:38:42,930
2026 select budget
committee meeting.

2281
01:38:42,930 --> 01:38:45,670
We'll see you tomorrow
morning at 9:30 A.M.