>>> THERE WE GO.
NOW I'M A REALLY LOUD.
IT'S TURN IT DOWN A LITTLE BIT.
THANK YOU.
WE WILL HAVE APPOINTENT OF THE
NEW DIRECTOR OF THE OFFICE OF
ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT.
WE WILL HAVE A PRESENTATION AND
BRIEFING FROM THE ARTS AND
CULTURE ON THEIR 2019 RACE AND
SOCIAL JUSTICE REPORT.
AND WE WILL HEAR FROM THE
SEATTLE PUBLIC UTILITIES ON THE
STATE OF RECYCLING.
AND WE WILL END THE MEETING
FOCUSED ON SEATTLE PUBLIC
UTILITIES AUDIT EXIT REPORT.
WITH THAT I WANT TO KICK IT OFF
WITH OUR MONTHLY EDITION OF THE
CULTURAL SPOTLIGHT.
>> GOOD MORNING AND THANK YOU
FOR HAVING US.
WE ARE JOINED BY JOY AND
ROSALIE.
>> HELLO AND THANK YOU FOR
HAVING US HERE TODAY WITH
PERSONHOOD.
WE'VE HEARD A LOT IN THE LAST
FEW WEEKS ABOUT THE ATTACK ON
ABORTION RIGHTS.
THIS FILM WE HOPE TO SHOW THAT
THESE LAWS REACH FAR BEYOND THE
RIGHT TO CHOOSE.
AND CAN AFFECT WOMEN WHO HAVE
NO INTENTION OF ENDING THEIR
PREGNANCIES.
WERE GOING TO SHOW A CLIP
TODAY.
WERE VERY EXCITED TO BE AT THIS
POINT WITH THE FILM.
PERSONHOOD IS A STORY OF THE
RISE OF THE FETAL RIGHTS
MOVEMENT, AND THE GROWING
CRIMINALIZATION OF THE RIGHTS
OF WOMEN.
THEIR 38 STATES IN THE COUNTRY
TO HAVE LAWS THAT GIVE SEPARATE
RIGHTS TO FERTILIZING EGGS,
EMBRYOS, AND FETUSES.
AND THE PROSECUTION OF WOMEN
FOR THINGS LIKE MISCARRIAGE,
STILLBIRTH, AND DRUG USE DURING
PREGNANCY HAVE BECOME VERY
WIDESPREAD.
THIS FILM LOOKS AT THIS ISSUE
THROUGH THE STORY OF A
WISCONSIN WOMAN WHO WAS JAILED
UNDER THAT STATES FETAL
PROTECTION LAW.
WE LOOK AT WHAT HAPPENS TO A
WOMEN WHEN YOU TRY TO STUFF TWO
SETS OF RIGHTS INTO ONE BODY.
WERE VERY EXCITED TO SHOW THIS
CLIP.
THIS IS THE OPENING OF OUR
FILM.
IT'S A WORK IN PROGRESS.
BUT IT'S THE FIRST TIME WE'VE
LAID ARE CREDITS ON IT.
IT'S EXCITING BECAUSE THERE'S A
LOT OF SEATTLE ARTISTS THAT
WILL SHOW UP.
HERE WE GO.
>>> THERE IS A METAL CAUGHT.
HAIR, FINGER NAILS, FECES ON
THE TOILET. AND I THOUGHT TO
MYSELF DID I DO SOMETHING?
AM I REALLY AND HOW?
>> TELL YOU THERE'S A WAR ON
WOMEN, THERE IS NO WAR ON WOMEN.
SORRY ABOUT THAT.
>> THAT IS QUITE ALL RIGHT.
>> WE WILL FILL THE EMPTY AIR
WITH PUBLIC COMMENT.
>> MARGARET DO YOU WANT TO JOIN
US AT THE MICROPHONE WILL KEEP
THE TIME FOR TWO MINUTES.
>> HELLO, I AM HERE TO MAKE A
COMMENT IN REGARDS TO ARTS,
CULTURE, AND RACE.
I AM A CULTURE.
I'M BLACH.
JUDGE JOE BROWN GRACED US AND
HE TOOK FREEDOM OF SPEECH TO
ANOTHER LEVEL.
THE JUDGE IS OKAY WITH SAYING
WHATEVER HE WANTS TO SAY WHEN HE
CAME HERE THE OTHER NIGHT.
I'M OKAY SAYING WHATEVER I WANT
TO SAY.
HE CLEARED IT UP FOR EVERYBODY
IN THE AUDIENCE, AND THAT IS
STANDING UP FOR THE RULE OF
LAW.
MY QUESTION TO YOU IS WHEN ARE
YOU GOING TO STAND UP FOR THE
RULE OF LAW.
YOU CAN HAVE GONZALES OF
VIOLATE HER OATH FIVE TIMES,
AND THEY MAKE UP RULES AND
REGULATIONS TO SUPPORT US AND
CUT US OFF AT THE PASS WHEN
WERE NOT DOING ANY MORE THAN
JUDGE BROWN DID THE OTHER DAY
WHEN HE CAME AND SPOKE TO HIS
AUDIENCE.
AT ANY TIME, YOU CAN CUT
SOMETHING OFF BECAUSE YOU THINK
IT IS UNFAIR.
IF OUR HUMAN RIGHTS ARE BEING
VIOLATED AND YOU FIND SOMETHING
UNFAIR YOU HAVE ENOUGH
ENFORCEMENT LAW IN YOUR JOB TO
CUT IT OFF AND SAY IT IS WRONG.
DISCRIMINATION IS ILLEGAL.
WE DO NOT WANTED IN THIS
COUNTRY, WE DON'T IN THE FABRIC
OF SEATTLE, AND WE ARE GOING TO
CUT IT OFF, AND SHUT IT DOWN.
I HAVEN'T SEEN ANY OF THAT IN
THE 10 YEARS I'VE BEEN COMING
DOWN HERE REPEATEDLY TELLING
PEOPLE ABOUT THE LEVEL OF
DEGRADATION AND HOW THAT WE ARE
SUFFERING THROUGH AS BLACK
PEOPLE.
I WANTED TO STOP, AND I'M GOING
TO KEEP TELLING YOU OVER AND
OVER AGAIN TO END IT.
>> THANK YOU.
>> WE WILL RETURN TO THE
CULTURAL SPOTLIGHT.
>> WHEN I FOUND OUT I WAS
PREGNANT I HAD SO MANY
EMOTIONS.
I WAS HAPPY, AND I THOUGHT I
NEED TO GET MY THYROID TAKEN
CARE OF.
I HAD THIS URGENCY, I NEED TO
FIX MY DEPRESSION, I NEED TO GO
IN AND GET BACK ON MEDICINE, I
NEED TO FIX MYSELF FOR THE BABY.
WE DIDN'T REALIZE THAT
WISCONSIN HAD THE LAWS THAT
PROTECTED FETUSES TO THAT
EXTENT.
ME TRYING TO GO IN AND GETTING
CARE AND ADMITTING THINGS FROM
MY PAST.
WOULD CAUSE THEM TO INTERVENE.
I THOUGHT IF YOU WENT IN FOR
HELP, THAT IS WHAT YOU GOD.
THEY WOULD BE CARRYING, THEY
WOULD LISTEN TO YOU, THEY WOULD
NOT JUDGE YOU, AND GET YOU
BETTER.
>> HI COURTNEY THIS IS ATTORNEY
GROFF CALLING.
>> WE ARE IN CIRCUIT COURT AT
THIS TIME.
>> THE DOCTORS TOLD ME YOU CAN
BE HONEST WITH ME.
NOTHING YOU SAY TO ME WILL HAVE
LEGAL REPERCUSSIONS.
THAT WAS A LIE.
I HAD NO IDEA THAT THEY WERE
RALLYING ALL THESE PEOPLE
TOGETHER FOR MY FETUS.
>> WE ARE REQUESTING THE
CUSTODY OF THE UNBORN CHILD.
>> THANK YOU.
THAT COURT ORDER, THE WORDS ON
THE PAPER WERE POWERFUL AND NOT
MIND BLOWING.
SEEKING TEMPORARY PHYSICAL
CUSTODY OF THE FETUS, IT SAYS A
LOT ABOUT WHERE WE ARE IN THIS
COUNTRY ON THIS ISSUE.
THANK YOU.
THANK YOU FOR BRINGING US
TIMELY ISSUES, MANIFESTED AND
REPRESENTED IN ART.
THANK YOU FOR THE WORK THAT YOU
ARE DOING.
AND WE WOULD LOVE TO KNOW MORE
ABOUT THE FILM AS IT
PROGRESSES.
>> THANK YOU SO MUCH, WE
APPRECIATE BEING HERE.
>>> LET'S MOVE ON TO THE FIRST
ITEM.
>> AGENDA ITEM 1 IS THE
APPOINTMENT OF ROBERT WONSUNG
LEE AS DIRECTOR, OFFICE OF
ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT.
>> GREETINGS DIRECTOR LEE.
THIS IS THE SECOND BRIEFING
RELATED TO YOUR CONFIRMATION.
THE LAST TIME THAT YOU WERE
HERE WITH US IN COMMITTEE WE
TALKED ABOUT THE PRESERVATION
OF SMALL BUSINESSES. WE HAD A
FOCUS ON THE NEEDS OF SMALL
BUSINESSES ASSOCIATED WITH
CONSTRUCTION AND DEVELOPMENT
PRESSURES, AS WELL AS
COMMERCIAL RENT COSTS.
I WOULD LIKE TO TAKE A MINUTE
TO DO A FEW FOLLOW-UP
QUESTIONS.
BEFORE WE MOVE INTO THAT, DID
YOU HAVE THOUGHTS THAT YOU
WANTED TO ADD FROM YOUR
EXPERIENCES IN YOUR FIRST FEW
WEEKS HERE IN SEATTLE?
>> THANK YOU.
WHAT I WILL DO IS PASS THIS
OUT.
INSTEAD OF WRITING LONG REPORTS.
I THOUGHT IT WAS GOOD TO HAVE A
VISUAL AID, THIS IS SOMETHING
THAT MY DIRECTORS AND I
DEVELOPED IN CONCERT WITH THE
MAYOR'S OFFICE.
OUR MISSION THAT WE WOULD LIKE
TO PROPOSE, THIS IS JUST A
DRAFT.
AFTER THE CONFIRMATION I'D LIKE
TO ENGAGE IN MORE DISCUSSION
FROM THIS COMMITTEE.
AS A STARTING POINT.
WELDING AND INCLUSIVE ECONOMY
IS OUR PROPOSED MISSION.
THE SECOND LAYER IS THE CORE
COMPETENCY.
AS A DEPARTMENT THIS IS WHERE
OUR EXPERTISE IS.
AND THE OUTER LAYER OF THE
RAINBOW IS THE SERVICE DELIVERY
PLATFORMS.
TO FULFILL THE MISSION.
EVENTUALLY WITH THIS GRAPHIC
WHAT I HOPE TO DO, EVENTUALLY
IS PUT OUR PERFORMANCE
MEASUREMENTS INCLUDED, AND THE
BUDGET ASSOCIATED WITH IT.
AND THEN OUR ACTION PLANS UNDER
EACH OF THESE. THOSE ARE THE
ORGANIZING TOOLS THAT WE WILL
USE TO HELP MOVE THE DEPARTMENT
FORWARD.
>> IT IS HELPFUL TO HAVE THE
VISUAL NOT JUST TO DEMONSTRATE.
TO SHOW THE NEXT LAYER THAT
WILL HELP US UNDERSTAND THE
PROPORTION OF TIME AND
RESOURCES THAT YOU DEVOTE TO
EACH AREAS.
PARTICULARLY AS WE MOVE INTO
THE BUDGET PROCESS.
>> EXACTLY.
>> THANK YOU.
>> JUST AS A FOLLOW-UP FROM THE
LAST CONVERSATION THAT I HAD.
A LITTLE BIT OF A OPPORTUNITY
TO REVIEW THE MATERIALS THAT
YOU PROVIDED TO US.
I WANT TO THANK YOU AGAIN FOR
DOING THAT WORK.
I KNOW THAT WAS A LOT OF
QUESTIONS AND THERE IS A LOT OF
INTEREST ON THE PART OF COUNSEL
IN THIS POSITION. IN PARTICULAR
, I FOUND IT INTERESTING THE
CONVERSATION ABOUT COST RECOVERY
REGARDING SPECIAL EVENTS.
THE CITY AUDITOR ISSUED A
REPORT THAT I HIGHLIGHTED.
THAT SAYS THAT WE CAN BE DOING
MORE AS IT RELATES TO COST
RECOVERY.
AND THE REASON FOR THE VIEWING
AUDIENCE THAT HAS RELEVANCE IS
BECAUSE THE SPECIAL EVENTS
PERMITTING GOES THROUGH THE
OFFICE OF ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT.
YOUR OFFICE ISSUES THE PERMITS
AND ALONG WITH THE PERMITS IT
IDENTIFIES WHAT THE OBLIGATIONS
ARE OF THE PERMIT HOLDER, THE
OBLIGATIONS INCLUDE FUNDING
SERVICES ASSOCIATED WITH THE
EVENT. THE AUDITOR FOUND
PARTICULARLY AS IT RELATES TO
LAW ENFORCEMENT THAT WE ARE NOT
RECOVERING COSTS ASSOCIATED
WITH LAW ENFORCEMENT NECESSARY
TO MANAGE THESE PUBLIC EVENTS
THE FOLKS IN THE OFFICE FOR
SPECIAL EVENTS POINTED OUT THAT
THEY ARE FREE SPEECH EVENTS.
WE HAVE TO MAKE SURE THAT WE
ARE CREATING A BALANCE AND
THOSE ARE EVENTS THAT BRING
VITALITY TO NEIGHBORHOODS AND
ACTUALLY HAVE AN ECONOMIC DRAW.
HOW DO YOU SEE THE MOVING OF
THE CITY AUDITOR WALL
PRESERVING THE BALANCE
NECESSARY IN ORDER TO ENCOURAGE
THESE TYPES OF EVENTS?
>> THAT'S A GOOD QUESTION.
THANK YOU.
I HAVEN'T HAD A CHANCE TO READ
THROUGH CAREFULLY THE AUTHORS
REPORT YET.
THIS IS A STRUGGLE FOR MOST
CITIES HOW DO YOU RECOVER THE
COST? IT IS A STRUGGLE BECAUSE
YOU DO WANT TO ALLOW LOCAL
EVENTS AND FREE SPEECH EVENTS
TO OCCUR ALL OF THOSE EVENTS
COST, AND THEY HAVE A PRESSURE
ON OUR BUDGET.
I THINK ULTIMATELY IT WOULD BE
A COMBINATION OF CIVIC, PUBLIC,
AND PRIVATE SECTOR COMING OUT
WITH THE RIGHT FORMULA.
ONE OF THE THINGS I WILL DO IS
WORK WITH SPECIAL EVENTS TO
PROVIDE DIFFERENT SCENARIOS ON
HOW THAT FORMULA SHOULD BE
STRUCTURED THIS PERTAINS TO
PERMITTING PROCESSES, THE
NATURE OF THE EVENT HAS
DIFFERENT PERMITTING REQUIRED.
WHAT I'LL DO IS COME OUT WITH
SCENARIOS ON DIFFERENT TRADE-
OFFS THAT WILL BE INVOLVED AND
HOW TO PAY FOR THESE EVENTS FOR
THE LONG HAUL.
THIS IS SOMETHING THAT I DID
MEET WITH THE POLICE DEPARTMENT
ON THIS ISSUE.
THEY ARE VERY CLEAR TO ME.
THEY SAID THIS IS AN ISSUE THAT
NEEDS TO BE SOLVED AND WHEN WE
SOLVE IT ONE OF THE CONCERNS
THAT THEY HAVE RAISED IS THE
BUREAUCRACY, WE NEED TO MAKE
SURE THAT IT DOESN'T CAUSE MORE
PAPERWORK TO RECOVER THESE
FUNDS.
SOMETIMES THE RECOVERY PROCESS
COSTS MORE THAN THE REVENUE
THAT IS GENERATED.
WE JUST NEED TO TAKE THAT INTO
ACCOUNT.
>> GREAT THANK YOU.
>> ONE OF THE OTHER TOPICS OF
INTEREST RELATES SPECIFICALLY
TO THE USE OF OPPORTUNITY ZONES
? THERE ARE CHALLENGES
ASSOCIATED WITH OPPORTUNITY
ZONES AS THE NAME SUGGESTS.
CAN YOU TALK A LITTLE BIT ABOUT
YOUR PHILOSOPHY ADDRESSING
THOSE CHALLENGES AND TAKING
ADVANTAGE OF THOSE
OPPORTUNITIES?
>> THE ROLE OF GOVERNMENT IN
THE OPPORTUNITY ZONE IS TO BE A
BROKER OF INVESTORS AND FOR US
ON THE PUBLIC SIDE TO CREATE A
PORTFOLIO OF PROJECTS THAT
ALIGN WITH OUR VALUES. FOR
EXAMPLE IN PORTLAND THERE WAS A
SUPERMARKET THAT WAS CLOSE.
THE COMMUNITY WANTED TO OWN
THAT PROPERTY AND TURNED IT
INTO A COMMUNITY CENTER.
SO WE PUT THAT IS ONE OF THE
PORTFOLIOS FOR THE
OPPORTUNITIES OF THE PROJECT.
FROM THE PUBLIC SIDE OUR GOAL
IS TO ORGANIZE ALL THE
DIFFERENT COMMUNITY DEVELOPMENT
PROJECTS INTO A PORTFOLIO AND
HAVE A THIRD PARTY BROKER THOSE
OPPORTUNITIES FOR INVESTMENT.
THE CHALLENGING PART FOR THE
INVESTORS WHAT THEY WANT IS A
LOT OF DIFFERENT PORTFOLIOS.
AS MANY DIFFERENT OPPORTUNITIES
TO DRAW FROM IF YOU ONLY HAVE
SEATTLE PORTFOLIO YOU'RE NOT
GOING TO ATTRACT AS MUCH
ATTENTION IF YOU HAVE THE WHOLE
REGION OR THE WHOLE WEST COAST.
THE QUESTION IS HOW DO YOU
STRATEGICALLY ORGANIZE THOSE
PORTFOLIOS IN A WAY THAT
ATTRACTS THE TYPE OF INVESTORS
THAT YOU NEED.
AND THE MAYOR TALKED ABOUT THE
WORKFORCE HOUSING AS AN EXAMPLE
IS THAT IS THE VALUES AND THE
PRIORITIES OF THE COUNCIL AND
THE MAYOR THEN MY DEPARTMENT'S
ROLE IS TO ORGANIZE THOSE FOR
MIDDLEWEIGHTS OR WORKFORCE
HOUSING.
TO MAKE SURE THAT WE HAVE
ENOUGH PORTFOLIOS ON THAT
FRONT.
AND TO HELP INVESTORS FOR THOSE
. THERE IS A WEBSITE BEING
DEVELOPED RIGHT NOW, IN
PORTLAND WE DEVELOPED A WEBSITE
WITH ALL THOSE PORTFOLIOS IN
ONE AREA.
AND THAT'S SOMETHING WE WILL DO
HERE IN SEATTLE AS WELL
>> ANOTHER TOPIC THAT I FOUND
INTERESTING IN YOUR RESPONSE
WAS RELATED TO EXPANDING
FOREIGN INVESTMENT IN THE
SEATTLE ECONOMY.
IN YOUR RESPONSE YOU INDICATED
THAT THERE ARE PARTICULAR TYPES
OF FOREIGN INVESTMENT THAT OUR
INVESTORS WHO ARE MORE
PREDISPOSED TO HIRING LOCALLY?
AND HIRING FROM A HIGH PRIORITY
DEMOGRAPHICS. POPULATIONS THAT
WE WANT TO MAKE SURE HAVE
ACCESS TO CAREER WAGE JOBS?
>> CAN YOU TALK MORE ABOUT THAT
?
>> I WORKED FOR FOREIGN DIRECT
COMPANY IN OREGON THAT WAS A
LARGE COMPANY.
THEY WERE A SEMI CONDUCTOR
COMPANY.
A LARGE PLANT THAT WAS MAKING
MEMORY CHIPS. AT THAT TIME THE
ECONOMY WAS DIFFERENT.
THE WORKERS IN THE LOGGING
INDUSTRY WERE LOSING THEIR JOBS
SO THE QUESTION WAS HOW DO YOU
RETRAIN THEM?
AND BECOME A HIGH-TECH WORKERS
IN A FABRICATION PLANT?
THAT WAS A WIN -- WIN.
WE KNEW THOSE JOBS WERE GOING
AWAY SO THIS COMPANY PLAYED A
CRUCIAL ROLE IN TAKING THESE
WORKERS AND RETRAINING THEM
INTO HIGH-TECH WORKERS.
THE WAGE WAS HIGHER AS WELL ON
TOP OF THAT
>> SO THEY MADE A COMMITMENT TO
HIRE WORKERS THAT WERE LOSING
THEIR JOB BUT THEY PLAYED A
ROLE IN THE TRAINING?
>> YOU HAVE TO IT'S A
SPECIALIZED FIELD.
>> I DIDN'T REALIZE THAT THE
INVESTORS THEMSELVES WERE
TAKING ON THAT RESPONSIBILITY?
>> IT'S A COMBINATION WHAT WE
DID WAS MAKE AN ARRANGEMENT
WHERE THE WORKFORCE DEVELOPMENT
AGENCY OF THAT REGION DID ALL
THE RECRUITING AND THE BASIC
TRAINING FIRST AND THEN ONCE WE
HIRE FROM THAT PIPELINE THEN WE
TRAIN THEM EVEN MORE SO THAT
THEY UNDERSTAND HOW TO USE THE
MACHINES, TOOLS AND SO FORTH.
THEN WE CONTRIBUTE, WE MAKE AN
AGREEMENT CALLED FIRST A SOURCE,
SAYING THAT WE WILL HIRE LOCALLY
THE ORIGINAL AGREEMENT WAS 50%
WOULD BE LOCAL HIRES WE ENDED
UP ABOUT 80%, AND THE WORK
ETHIC OF THAT WORKFORCE WAS
GREAT AND THEY WERE HAPPY TO
HAVE A JOB AND A FUTURE, A HIGH-
PAYING JOB, THE AVERAGE WAGE
WAS 70,000 A YEAR.
THAT WAS A GOOD PAINT JOB.
IT WAS A WIN FOR THEM.
SO IF WE CAN FIND A WAY TO
SOLVE PROBLEMS IN OUR ECONOMY
WHERE THERE IS DISPLACEMENT AND
USE THAT PROPERTY FOR INCUMBENT
TRAINING AND HIRING.
IT CAN BE A VERY POWERFUL.
>> I'M EXCITEDTO LEARN MORE
ABOUT THAT.
CAN YOU TALK A LITTLE BIT ABOUT
THE ROLE THAT YOU WOULD LIKE TO
PLAY, WORKING WITH THE ARTS
OFFICE AS WELL AS THE EVOLVING
OFFICE OF FILM AND MUSIC TO
ENSURE THAT WE CONTINUE TO
SUPPORT OUR CREATIVE ECONOMY
YOU MAY RECALL THE OFFICE OF
ARTS AND CULTURE RELEASED A
REPORT THAT WAS DONE RECENTLY
ABOUT THE CREATIVE ECONOMY THAT
REPORT SHOWED THAT WE HAVE A
LOT OF GAMES TO DO AND SOME OF
THE JOBS THAT ARE AVAILABLE
WITHIN THE CREATIVE ECONOMY
THERE ARE SOME JOBS THAT ARE
VERY HIGH PAIN.
AND THERE ARE OTHERS THAT ARE
NOT.
THE DISPARITY AMONG THOSE IN THE
THE PROPORTION IT REINFORCES
WHAT WE ALREADY KNOW ABOUT
RACIAL DISPARITY PATTERNS AND
INCOME.
>> RANDY I MET YESTERDAY TO
TALK ABOUT THIS EXTENSIVELY.
IN PORTLAND THERE WAS A TV SHOW
THAT WAS FILMED CALLED GRANDMA.
I DON'T KNOW IF YOU HAD A
CHANCE TO SEE THAT.
IT WAS A VERY INTERESTING SHOW.
A VERY SMALL COMPANY IN
PORTLAND GOT THE CONTRACT TO
PROVIDE CGI SERVICES FOR THAT
SHOW.
OF VISUAL MANIPULATION WITH THE
MONSTERS ON THE SHOW AS A
RESULT THAT CONTRACT THEY WERE
ABLE TO SCALE THEIR BUSINESSES
IN WAYS THAT THEY DIDN'T KNOW
THAT THEY COULD.
IT WAS A SUCCESS STORY FOR A
VERY SMALL COMPANY IN PORTLAND
AS THE FILM INDUSTRY CONTINUES
TO MERGE AND EVOLVE.
THE TECHNOLOGY SECTOR IS
PROVIDING ADDITIONAL POOLS.
THE CHALLENGING PART IS AS THE
TECHNOLOGY IS ADVANCING AT A
RAPID RATE BECAUSE THE
TECHNOLOGY PLATFORM THERE'S A
LOT OF INPUT AND MONEY GOING
INTO THAT FIELD.
WE NEED PEOPLE WITH A CREATIVE
MIND TO TAKE ADVANTAGE OF THOSE
TOOLS THAT IS LACKING
CURRENTLY.
YOU HAVE THE HARDWARE BUT NOT
THE SOFTWARE RANDY'S ROLE WE
TALKED ABOUT THIS YESTERDAY IS
WE NEED TO MAKE ENOUGH
INVESTMENTS SO THAT THE PEOPLE
CAN HAVE ACCESS TO ADVANCING
THEIR CREATIVE LEARNING AS WE
LOOK AT THE TECHNOLOGY
PLATFORMS THAT ARE INVOLVED AND
INTEGRATE THOSE SO THAT THEY
WILL ALL BENEFIT AND OBTAIN THE
KIND OF JOBS THAT THEY NEED.
RIGHT NOW THE TECHNOLOGY SIDE
IS ADVANCING AT A RAPID RATE
WITHOUT THE CREATIVE COMMUNITY
BEING ENGAGED.
THAT DISCONNECT IS WHAT WE NEED
TO SOLVE.
FROM RANDY'S SIDE, OUR ROLE IS
TO CONNECT THE TWO SO THAT THE
ARTIST CAN TAKE ADVANTAGE OF
THOSE TECHNOLOGIES IN ORDER TO
GAIN THE KIND OF JOBS THAT THEY
NEED.
THE TECHNOLOGY FOLKS ARE SAYING
WE DON'T HAVE THE CREATIVE
MINDS TO TAKE ADVANTAGE OF IT.
THAT WOULD BE THE INTEGRATION.
>> I HAVE NO FURTHER QUESTIONS.
I FIND YOUR VISION FOR THE
DEPARTMENT TO BE EXCITING.
AND I'M EXCITED TO WORK WITH
YOU.
YOUR EXPERIENCE AS A FORMER
DIRECTOR IN PORTLAND.
AND THE REGIONAL SOLUTIONS
DEPARTMENT WITH GOVERNOR BROWN.
AND I THINK YOUR EXPERIENCE
WORKING IN THE PRIVATE SECTOR
MAKES YOU A GOOD FIT FOR OUR
CITY.
I THINK WE HAVE IDENTIFIED A
NUMBER OF SHARED PRIORITIES
WITH THAT I'M GOING GO AHEAD
AND MOVE THE APPOINTMENT AND A
VOTE YES IN FAVOR OF YOUR
APPOINTMENT.
THIS WILL MOVE ON TO FULL
WE WILL SEE YOU AT FULL COUNCIL
ON MONDAY AFTER NEXT.
CONGRATULATIONS.
>> THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR YOUR
SUPPORT.
>>> AGENDA ITEM 2 OFFICE OF
ARTS AND CULTURE RACE AND
SOCIAL JUSTICE 2018 REPORT.
GREETINGS.
>> HOW ARE YOU?
>> DOING ALL RIGHT.
HAPPY FRIDAY.
>> LET'S START WITH
INTRODUCTIONS.
>> HELLO MY NAME IS JASON HUFF,
I'M A PROJECT MANAGER, RANDY
ENGSTROM, LAURA DAVIS, AND
TRAN 24, AND WHO IS GOING TO
KICK US OFF?
>> THANK YOU FOR HAVING US.
I THINK OUR OFFICE OF RACIAL
EQUITY WORK IS THE MOST
SIGNIFICANT FORCE THAT HOLDS
OUR WORK TOGETHER THAT GUIDES
OUR WORK IN THE OFFICE.
OUR OFFICE PUT FORWARD A
COMMITMENT TO RACIAL EQUITY AND
WE USE THIS AS A GUIDE FOR ALL
THE WORK THAT WE DO, INCLUDING
THE PROGRAM WORK THAT WE DO.
WE ENVISION A WORLD WHERE WE
DON'T HAVE RACIAL EQUITY PLAN,
AND THAT IT DRIVES ALL THE WORK
WE DO AND IT'S NOT SEPARATE
FROM THE WORK OF THE OFFICE.
THAT COMMITMENT IS COSIGNED,
AND WE WILL TALK ABOUT TWO
TOOLKITS THAT WE DID.
ONE IN THE CULTURAL SPACE WORLD
AND ONE THAT WE WILL ELABORATE
ON REGARDING THE KING STREET
STATION.
FOR VARIETY OF REASONS THE
APPROACH IS LESS ABOUT CHECKING
THE BOX AND HOW WE ACTUALLY
INTEGRATE THIS WORK INTO
EVERYTHING WE DO.
THERE ARE CHALLENGES ASSOCIATED
WITH THAT THE URGENCY THAT THE
INSTITUTION REQUIRES OF OUR
WORK DAY TODAY.
REALIZING THAT REALLY MEANINGFUL
EQUITY WORK MOVES AT THE SPEED
OF TRUST AND TAKES TIME TO
BUILD AND PUTTING A DEADLINE OF
FOUR THINGS IN THE BE DONE BY
THE END OF THE YEAR DOESN'T
TRANSLATE INTO MEANINGFUL
CHANGE.
WE'VE BEEN LUCKY TO BUILD THOSE
RELATIONSHIPS OVER TIME.
BUT THE TENSION BETWEEN THE
BRAY ROCKER C FUNCTIONS AND THE
WAY THAT SOCIAL MOVEMENTS
FUNCTION IS INTERESTING TO BAN.
I THINK WHILE WE ARE EAGER TO
DEMONSTRATE OUR COMMITMENT TO
THESE VALUES WE HAVE FOUND THAT
AS WE STACK NEW PROGRAMS ON TOP
OF NEW PROGRAMS WITHOUT THE
RESOURCE OR THE CAPACITY TO
IMPLEMENT THEM FULLY WE FIND
OURSELVES BEING OVERWHELMED AND
UNDER RESOURCED.
PART OF WHAT WE'VE TRIED TO DO
IS CARRY THROUGH SOME OF THE
PREVIOUS WORK THAT WE'VE DONE
SPECIFICALLY AT KING STREET.
LIKE RACIAL INEQUITY
INITIATIVES FROM THEIR ORIGIN.
THAT DOESN'T NECESSARILY FIX
THE WAY IT IS DESIGNED TO
CURRENTLY
>> I HAVE A QUESTION.
I LOVE THAT YOU MOVE AT THE
SPEED OF TRUST SINCE THE SPEED
OF DEADLINES.
AND THAT YOUR CRITIQUE AROUND
THE CITYWIDE DEPARTMENTAL
STANDARD IS INTERESTING.
NOT EVERY DEPARTMENT HAS GONE
AS FAR IS YOUR DEPARTMENT HAS
TO INTEGRATE THIS WORK
THROUGHOUT YOUR PROGRAMS.
I GET THE CONCEPT A OF ONE-OFF
PROJECTS MAY NOT TRANSLATE TO
AN ORGANIZATION LIKE YOURS THAT
HAS INTEGRATED RACIAL EQUITY
WORK JUST BECAUSE I'M
INTERESTED IN YOUR PERSPECTIVE.
DOES THAT CRITIQUE EXTEND.
SEEMS LIKE IT'S A GOOD PLACE
FOR ORGANIZATIONS TO START
>> I THINK IT'S ABOUT
COMPLIANCE AND ASPIRATION.
AS I UNDERSTAND TOOLKITS ARE
DESIGNED TO TRAIN YOU TO DO
WORK IN A PARTICULAR WAY. AND
I THINK THAT'S REALLY IMPORTANT.
PARTICULARLY IF THAT'S NOT THE
PRACTICE YOU HAVE.
I THINK THERE ARE DEPARTMENTS
WITH 1000 EMPLOYEES AND
DEPARTMENTS WITH 20.
AND IT'S A CHALLENGE TO FIGURE
OUT A SYSTEM THAT WILL WORK
WITH EVERYONE.
THERE HAS TO BE A BALANCE OF
WHAT IS REQUIRED AND WHAT IS
OFFERED. WE MOVED OUR OFFICE,
WE HAD A LOT OF CHANGES ON STAFF
AND WE'VE BEEN WITHOUT A
FUNCTIONING GRANT SYSTEM, AND
THAT CREATES AN ADMINISTRATIVE
COMPRESSION THAT MAKES TIME A
CHALLENGE.
IT MAKES CAPACITY A CHALLENGE.
IT'S NOT SKUS IS JUST A REALITY.
WE WILL ALWAYS HAVE CHALLENGES
AS WE GO ON.
I DO WANT TO NAME THAT I THINK
WE'RE IN A BETTER PLACE WITH
THE GRANT SYSTEM AND WE COULD
TALK MORE ABOUT THAT.
BUT I'M HUGE FAN OF THE WORK
THAT'S BEING DONE AT SEATTLE
IT.
AND WERE GETTING TO A REALLY
GOOD PLACE.
FIGURING OUT HOW TO EVOLVE YOUR
ORGANIZATION AS YOU DEAL WITH
THE CONSTRAINTS OF CAPACITY
OVER TIME THAT NEED GROWS AND
THE CAPACITY IS CONSTRAINED.
WE ARE WORKING ON IT AND
WORKING TO GET UP TO FULL
SPEED.
WE WANT TO BE HONEST ABOUT THE
CHALLENGES.
IT'S LOVELY TO GET UP HERE AND
TALK ABOUT THE WORK THAT WE ARE
PROUD OF BUT WE ALSO KNOW IT'S
A JOURNEY THAT WE ARE ON AND
THERE IS MORE WE NEED TO DO AND
MORE THAT WE WILL CONTINUE TO
PUSH OURSELVES.
WITH THAT I'M GOING TO TURN IT
OVER TO MATTHEW TO TALK ABOUT
SOME SPECIFIC WORK.
>> BOTH OF THE PROGRAMS WORKING
ON.
ARE PEOPLE WHO SPEND THE YEAR
EXPLORING THE YEAR RESEARCHING.
REAL ESTATE AND CULTURAL AND
COMMUNITY DEVELOPMENT.
AND IT IS A ENTIRE COLOR BASED
COHORT.
WE JUST GRADUATED THE FIRST
COHORT A MONTH AGO AND ARE
LAUNCHING THE NEXT ONE IN JUNE
IT BUILDS CAPACITY IN BOTH
COMMUNITIES TO ENGAGE WITH ONE
ANOTHER.
AND IT SEEKS TO CONNECT THE
COMMUNITIES TO ONE ANOTHER.
THERE CURIOUS AND THEY
UNDERSTAND THAT THEY RELY ON
ONE ANOTHER FOR SURVIVAL AND
DON'T HAVE THE TOOLS TO ENGAGE
DIRECTLY WITH ONE ANOTHER.
THE SECOND PROJECT IS A PUBLIC
DEVELOPMENT AUTHORITY THAT IS
DEDICATED TO THE RETENTION OF
CULTURAL SPACE.
IT AROSE FROM THE REPORT.
IT'S ANOTHER PROGRAM THAT IS
KNITTING THESE COMMUNITIES BACK
TOGETHER AGAIN.
IT CENTERS CULTURAL SPACES AND
AS THE CITY GROWS HOW DO WE
RETAIN CULTURAL IDENTITY IN
THESE NEIGHBORHOODS AND IT
SEEKS TO HOLD SPACE FOR THAT
RETENTION
>> ON THE BASE COHORT PROJECT
HOW ARE PEOPLE SELECTED?
>> WE'VE MADE THE DEEP
INVESTMENTS IN THE CENTRAL AREA
THROUGH THE ARTS AND CULTURAL
DISTRICT WE ENGAGED FOLKS FROM
THOSE TWO ORGANIZATIONS TO
NOMINATE AND THAT THE PROPOSALS
THAT CAME FROM THE COMMUNITY.
IN THE SECOND YEAR WE RELIED ON
THOSE COMMUNITIES AGAIN AND THE
PEOPLE WHO'D BEEN THROUGH THE
COHORT TO BE PART OF A PANEL OF
VETTING TEAM.
THE ENTIRE FIRST BASE AND STAFF
WERE ABLE TO NOMINATE PEOPLE TO
APPLY.
AND THE SMALLER GROUP DID THE
VETTING OF THAT.
>> ARE YOU ABLE TO KEEP TRACK
HOW PEOPLE WERE ABLE TO APPLY
THE EXPERTISE THAT THIS EFFORT
GAVE TO THESE COMMUNITIES?
>> IT'S EXCITING THAT
CONNECTIONS GET MADE AND
DEVELOPMENT PROJECTS MOVE
FORWARD AND ARCHITECTS ARE
ENGAGED AND PROJECTS ARE
DEVELOPED.
PEOPLE GAIN THE SKILLS TO GO
OUT AND NOT NEED AS MUCH
TRANSLATION SERVICE TO ENGAGE
IN THE COMMUNITIES THAT THEY
ARE SEEKING TO WORK WITH AND
THEY HAVE A LITTLE MORE ABILITY
TO ENGAGE IN THAT CONVERSATION
DIRECTLY. ONE MORE THING.
WE HAVE BEEN EXPLORING WHAT YOU
DO WITH THE CERTIFICATION WHAT
HE DO WITH THIS GROUP OF 30
PEOPLE THAT WE HAVE CREATED.
ONE OF THE REALLY INTERESTING
IDEAS WE'VE STARTED TO ENGAGE
SOME ORGANIZATIONS IS THE
CREATION OF AD HOC TEAMS TO
JUMP IN AND CONSULT AN
ORGANIZATION LOOKING TO DEEPEN
THEIR CONNECTION INTO VARIOUS
CULTURE IDENTITIES
>> IT'S A WORK THAT MAY NOT
LEAD EASILY TO DATA AND
REPORTED OUTCOME, BUT TO THE
EXTENT THAT YOU CAN COLLECT
ANECDOTES AND STORIES OF WHAT
HAS RESULTED IS VERY
INTERESTING.
AND POTENTIALLY USEFUL.
CAN YOU TALK A LITTLE BIT ABOUT
THE TIMELINE FOR THE PROGRAM
AND THE DESIGN, THE POLICY
DESIGN PHASE AND WHAT
ALTERNATIVES IF THE PDA IS NOT
FINANCIALLY OPERATIONAL
>> AT THE MOST RECENT SQUARE
FEET SEATTLE EVENT WE RELEASE
THEM 100 PAGE REPORT
RECOMMENDING THE CREATION OF
THE PDA.
WE ARE SPENDING THE REMAINDER OF
2019 CREATING A MORE DETAILED
ROADMAP TO THE CREATION OF THE
ACTUAL ORGANIZATION WE ARE IN
ONGOING CONVERSATIONS WITH
OTHER CITY DEPARTMENTS TO
CREATE THE PARTNERSHIP AND THE
RELATIONSHIP TO BRING IT
FORWARD IN THE FIRST COURT.
>> IT SOUNDS LIKE WE ARE
FIGURING OUT THAT IT IS
FINANCIALLY VIABLE.
WERE TRYING TO MOVE FORWARD
WITH THE IDEA.
THIS YEAR HAS BEEN DIVING DOWN
INTO THE MINUTIA OF BUDGETING
LEGAL CONSTRAINTS AROUND THE
ORGANIZATION IN TERMS OF A
FALLBACK PLAN AND ADDRESSING
THESE ISSUES.
THE REPORT LOOKED AT MULTIPLE
MODELS.
ONE THIS IS SIMPLE IS
CONTINUING TO MOVE FORWARD WITH
FOLKS FROM DIFFERENT
DEPARTMENTS.
FOCUSING ON CULTURAL
AFFORDABILITY.
THAT IS ONE OPTION TO CONTINUE
TO ADDRESS IT.
>> REMIND ME THE NAME OF THE
REPORT THAT WAS RELEASED?
>> STRUCTURE TO ECHOED ABILITY.
IT'S AVAILABLE ONLINE.
I CAN SEND THAT TO US.
>> PLEASE DO.
>> GREAT THANK YOU.
>> I'M IN A TALK ABOUT THE
CREATIVE ADVANTAGE.
IT IS OUR CITYWIDE INITIATIVE,
THE PLAN TO ESTABLISH EQUITABLE
ACCESS TO ARTS FOR ALL THE
STUDENTS IN THE DISTRICT.
SINCE ITS LAUNCH IN THE 2013 WE
HAVE REACHED 61 OUT OF 102
SCHOOLS IN THE DISTRICT THIS
LAST YEAR ALONE WE LAUNCHED IN
THE SOUTHEAST REGION.
ADDING 21 SCHOOLS.
WE LAUNCHED THE MEDIA ARTS
SKILLS CENTER, THIS IS PART OF
OUR GOAL TO CONNECT ARTS TO
CAREER. SOMETHING THAT YOUNG
PEOPLE ASKED FOR IN THE
RESEARCH PHASE.
IN THE NEXT SCHOOL YEAR WE WILL
BE EXPANDING INTO NORTH AND
PATHWAYS WITH THE GOAL OF
REACHING ALL SCHOOLS IN THE
DISTRICT BY 2022.
THE RACIAL EQUITY OUTCOMES ARE
FOCUSED ON INCREASING ACCESS TO
ARTS EDUCATION WITH A CLEAR
FOCUS FOR UNDERREPRESENTED
STUDENTS, AND THE RESEARCH WE
DID LOCALLY SHOWS THAT THAT'S
THE COLOR, ENGLISH LANGUAGE
LEARNERS, AND WE DO THIS BY
INCREASING ART INSTRUCTION
THROUGH COMMUNITY ART
PARTNERSHIPS.
WE ARE WORKING TO CREATE ACCESS
TO ARTISTS OF COLOR WHO SERVE
IN PARTNERSHIP WITH THE SCHOOL
TO PROVIDE MEANINGFUL QUALITY
ENGAGEMENT TO STUDENTS THROUGH
ARTS INTEGRATION AND PROVIDING
PROFESSIONAL DEVELOPMENT TO
TEACHERS.
THAT'S A DIRECT RESOURCE THAT
COMES THROUGH ARTS AND CULTURE.
AND WE ARE WORKING TO ARM
PRACTITIONERS ACROSS THE BOARD
WITH TEACHING STRATEGIES THAT
CENTER ON COGNITIVE DEVELOPMENT,
AND EXPLAIN TO STUDENTS OF
COLOR.
AND FOR STUDENTS WITH LARGE
NEEDS IN THE DISTRICT.
WE DO AN ANNUAL EVALUATION OF
THE PROGRAM WITH AN EXTERNAL
PARTNER.
LOOKING AT THE GAMES THAT WE
ARE MAKING.
ARE WE INCREASING ACCESS ARE WE
MOVING THE NEEDLE ON EQUITY.
SOME OF THE FINDINGS FROM OUR
MOST RECENT REPORTS ARE
ENCOURAGING AS THEY REFLECT
THINGS REGARDING A CULTURE
SHIFT IN SCHOOLS.
WE CONTINUE TO MAKE SIGNIFICANT
GAINS I WILL SAY THAT RACIAL
DISPARITY CONTINUES TO PERSIST
WHEN WE LOOK AT HIGH SCHOOL AND
MIDDLE AND HIGH SCHOOL WE SEE
THAT WHILE STUDENTS OF COLOR
ARE REPRESENTED AND SOMETIMES
OVERREPRESENTED IN VISUAL ART
PROGRAMS.
PARTICULARLY BLACK AND LATINO
ARE UNDERREPRESENTED WE ARE
LOOKING AT THE DATA AND TALKING
WITH PRACTITIONERS TO DIG INTO
THAT A LITTLE BIT MORE AND
UNDERSTAND WHAT IS GOING ON
THERE.
IT MAY HAVE A LOT TO DO WITH
WHAT SCHOOLS ARE OFFERING WHICH
SCHOOLS ARE PROVIDING ADVANCED
PROGRAMS THAT PROVIDE MUSIC
PROGRAMS THAT CONNECT TO A
PATHWAY OF OPPORTUNITY THAT
BEGINS IN ELEMENTARY SCHOOL AND
STUDENTS THAT HAVE NOT BEEN
ABLE TO ACCESS THAT
OPPORTUNITY.
I'M HAPPY TO SAY WHEN WE LOOK
AT SCHOOLS THAT HAVE BEEN
INVOLVED IN THE CREATIVE
ADVANTAGE SO FAR THERE
DEVELOPMENT OF HABITS ARE WAY
HIGHER.
30% HIGHER THAN SCHOOLS ARE NOT
ENGAGED IN THE CREATIVE
ADVANTAGE.
THOSE ARE SOME OF THE
HIGHLIGHTS AND WE WOULD BE
HAPPY TO ANSWER ANY QUESTIONS
THAT YOU HAVE?
>> I'M NOT GOING GO TO TO DEEP
BECAUSE I BELIEVE YOUR COMING
BACK ON JUNE 11 ONE THING I AM
INTERESTED IN LEARNING MORE
ABOUT NOT TO SUGGEST THAT ARTS
EDUCATION IS ABOUT EMPLOYMENT
IT'S ABOUT GETTING PEOPLE
CAREER READY.
THE VALUE OF IT IS SO MUCH MORE
SIGNIFICANT THAN CAREER
READINESS.
BUT THE ADVANTAGE DID IDENTIFY
DISPARITIES, RACIAL DISPARITIES
RELATED TO THE TYPES OF ARTS.
THAT PEOPLE AREN'T EMPLOYED IN.
AND IT SEEMS THAT THE CREATIVE
ADVANTAGE PROGRAM BY
INTRODUCING THE TECHNOLOGIES
THAT ARE USED BY FOLKS THAT ARE
IN THE ARTS AND THE HIGHER
INCOME, MORE WHITE LOCATIONS
YOU MAY FIND A WAY TO EASE INTO
THAT THROUGH CREATIVE
ADVANTAGE.
AND MAYBE YOU ARE ALREADY DOING
THAT?
>> WE WILL DEFINITELY TALK MORE
ABOUT THE CREATIVE WORKFORCE
DEVELOPMENT WHEN WE COME BACK
IN JUNE.
SOME OF THE SPECIFIC THINGS
THAT YOU'RE TALKING ABOUT.
.
>> IN A 2018 WE LAUNCHED A
CREATIVE STRATEGIES INITIATIVE
WHICH IS PART OF THE LONGTIME
PARTNERSHIP BETWEEN THE OFFICE
OF RIGHTS AN OFFICE OF CULTURE.
IT'S PART OF A STRATEGY THAT WE
ARE WORKING ON. IN THIS
APPROACH WE ARE USING ARTS AND
CULTURE BASED ALLERGIES.
EVERYTHING FROM ARTIST IN
RESIDENCE PROJECTS TO USING
ARTISTS THROUGH A MINDFUL
LEARNING ENVIRONMENT LIKE THE
PHOTOGRAPH YOU SEE UP THERE TO
MAKE A SHIFT IN POLICY AND
PRACTICE LOOKING AT AREAS LIKE
THE ENVIRONMENT AND WORKFORCE
EQUITY. THE PROJECT THAT WE
SPENT A LOT OF CAPACITY ON IN
2018 WHICH WAS ONE OF FIVE
INITIAL PROJECTS THAT WE ARE
WORKING ON WAS CALLED TURNING
COMMITMENT INTO ACTION IT WAS A
PARTNERSHIP BETWEEN THE OFFICE
OF ARTS AND CULTURE,
SUSTAINABILITY AND ENVIRONMENT
AND PUBLIC UTILITIES.
THERE WAS A DIRECT REQUEST THAT
CAME FROM THE ENVIRONMENTAL
JUSTICE COMMITTEE THAT SAYS WE
HAVE THIS AGENDA BUT WE REALLY
NEED POLICY INFLUENCERS TO GET
BEHIND IT AND WORK ON WHAT IT
IS TO SHOW UP TO MOVE FORWARD
AN AGENDA THAT CENTERS ON
PEOPLE AND COMMUNITIES OF
COLOR.
WE DEVELOPED THIS MODEL THAT MET
OVER 4.5 MONTHS, WORKING WITH
TEACHING ARTIST THE OTHER FOLKS
WERE FROM AROUND THE AREA OF
THE NORTHWEST REGION.
ALL PEOPLE OF COLOR WORKING ON
ARTS AND MINDFUL LEARNING ABOUT
WHAT IT IS TO DO CULTURE SHIFT
WORK AND HOW DO WE MAKE POLICY
CHANGES IN THREE KEY AREAS,
AROUND GREEN STORM AND URBAN
FORESTRY THAT CONTINUES TO WORK
IN THOSE THREE AREAS, AND THEY
CONTINUE TO CONNECT AND MAKE
CHANGES THROUGH THEIR
ORGANIZATIONS, AND CITY PEOPLE
AND COUNTY PEOPLE ARE PART OF
THE AS WELL.
THAT'S A LITTLE TASTE OF THAT.
>> THE IDEA IS TO REPLICATE
THIS PARTNERSHIP WITH OTHER
DEPARTMENTS, USING THIS CONCEPT.
HAVING A GO TO MOVING ON TO
OTHER DEPARTMENTS.
TO USE THAT ARTS STRATEGY?
>> THAT WAS THE ONE PRODUCT WE
WANTED TO HIGHLIGHT FOR 2018.
THE IS WHEN YOU'VE PROBABLY
HEARD UP WAS CALLED THE SHAPE
OF TRUST THAT KICKS OFF NEXT
WEEK AND IT BEGINS WITH AN
ORIGINAL PIECE OF CEDAR.
WE ARE USING THAT AS A SERIES
OF A TEACHING TOOL.
FOR MANAGERS, SUPERVISORS AND
THOSE WHO ADVISE ON HR MATTERS.
WE ALSO HAVE THE TOOLKIT
PROCESS THAT PILOTED TWO WAYS TO
CREATE COMMUNITY ENGAGEMENT AND
WE WILL CONTINUE THAT THIS YEAR
AS WELL.
>> THANK YOU.
>> I'M HERE TO TALK ABOUT THE
PUBLIC ART PROGRAM.
AND HOW RACIAL EQUITY HAS BEEN
INCORPORATED IT DRIES A LOT OF
OUR DECISIONS.
THE WORK THAT THE PUBLIC ART
STAFF HAS TAKEN ON IN THE LAST
FEW YEARS.
WE ARE WORKING TO ENGAGE AND
COMMISSION ARTISTS OF COLOR,
COMMUNITIES OF COLOR WE'VE HAD
MAJOR ACHIEVEMENTS COMMISSIONING
YOUNGER ARTISTS OF COLOR WHO
HAVE JOINED THE PUBLIC ART
FIELD AND IT'S BEEN EXCITING.
ONE OF THE PRODUCTS THAT WE
WANT TO TALK ABOUT IS THE SHIP
CANAL THAT WE ARE PARTNERING
WITH.
WE HAVE FOUR LOCATIONS THAT ARE
ALONG THE SHIP CANAL.
AND WE'VE COMMISSIONED THREE
ARTISTS FOR THE SITES.
WE HAVE A ARTIST JESSE WHO WAS
A TRIBAL MEMBER, WE'VE HAD THAT
PROJECT WHERE WE WANTED TO HONOR
THE SOCIAL VILLAGE.
WE WANTED TO MAKE SURE THAT THE
CITY HAD AN OPPORTUNITY TO
HONOR THAT HISTORY AND CULTURE.
WE WANTED A NATIVE ARTIST FOR
THAT.
WE ALSO HAD TWO OTHER ARTISTS IN
WALLINGFORD AND FREMONT.
THE GREAT THING THE OTHER
ARTISTS THAT WERE COMMISSIONED.
PRESTON WAS SELECTED FOR
FREMONT AND RYAN FOR THE
WALLINGFORD IT'S REALLY
EXCITING TO HAVE THREE
INDIGENOUS ARTISTS FOR THOSE
PROJECTS THAT GO ALONG WITH
MARVIN . WE WILL HAVE FOR
SIGNIFICANT PUBLIC ART PROJECTS
COMING ONLINE IN THE FUTURE.
>> THAT'S GREAT.
THANK YOU
>> AS IT RELATES SPECIFICALLY
TO PUBLIC ART.
WE HAVE DISCUSSED OUR INTEREST
IN THE % FOR ART PROJECT MOVING
INTO USING FUNDING TO SUPPORT
LIVE PERFORMANCE ART.
WE HAD ANY SUCCESS IN DOING
THAT?
>> WE TALKED ABOUT MAKING SOME
CHANGES TO THE PROGRAM TO ALLOW
FOR THAT POSSIBILITY?
>> WE HAVE AN ARTIST IN
RESIDENCE.
AND YOU REMIND ME WHICH BRIDGE?
>> THE FREMONT BRIDGE.
WE HAVE A MUSICIAN IN
RESIDENCE.
STARTING TO PUSH THE BOUNDARIES
AND WE ARE THINKING ABOUT THE
PUBLIC ART PROJECTS IS BEING
EXPERIMENTAL.
SOMETIMES THAT LOOKS LIKE
PERFORMANCE, AND SOMETIMES IT
DOES END UP BEING IN THE VISUAL
REALM.
AND WE ARE PUSHING THOSE
BOUNDARIES.
WE CAN GIVE YOU MORE SPECIFICS
ON THE PUBLIC ART PROBLEM
PROJECT AS A WHOLE.
>> LIVE ART,
>> LET'S TALK ABOUT KING STREET.
>> I AM SO EXCITED TO TALK TO
ABOUT KING STREET.
THIS IS BEEN SEVERAL YEARS IN
THE MAKING.
WHERE WE ENGAGED 500 PEOPLE TO
GET DEEP FEEDBACK ABOUT HOW WE
CAN USE THIS INCREDIBLE
RESOURCE.
AND HOW TO MAKE IT THE BEST USE
FOR PEOPLE WHO HAVEN'T BEEN
TRADITIONALLY REPRESENTED
WITHIN THE ARTS FIELD ITSELF.
WE ARE COMING UP TOMORROW ON THE
10 WEEK ANNIVERSARY OF BEING
OPEN TO THE PUBLIC.
I AM REALLY PLEASED TO SAY THAT
WE'VE HAD 5000 PEOPLE COME
THROUGH THE SPACE IN 10 WEEKS.
WE'VE BEEN AVERAGING 50 PEOPLE
A DAY THAT ARE WALKING INTO THE
SPACE TO EXPERIENCE THE
EXHIBITION THAT FEATURES 200
INDIGENOUS ARTISTS.
ON THE SAME PLAZA WHERE YOU SEE
HERE FOR THE OPENING DAY WE
WILL BE INSTALLING AN UNVEILING
OUR FIRST PLAZA YARD.
THAT'S GOING TO HELP IDENTIFY
THE SPACE AS A CULTURAL HUB AND
LET PEOPLE KNOW THAT THERE IS
SOMETHING ON THE INSIDE THAT
THEY SHOULD COME AND SEE.
THAT IS CALLED BRING THE
MEDICINE SUNDIAL.
THIS IS BEING UNVEILED ON
FRIDAY, JUNE 21 IT AS A
REPRESENTATIVE OF THAT TIME.
THAT'S VERY EXCITING WE WANTED
TO TALK A LITTLE BIT ABOUT THE
OUTCOMES OF THE RACIAL EQUITY
TOOLKIT AND HOW WE CREATED THE
PROGRAMMING AND THE SPACE.
WANTED TO TALK ABOUT THE TOP
LEVEL THEMES THAT CAME THROUGH
WITH ALL THE OUTREACH THAT WE
DID THE FIRST WAS AROUND RACIAL
EQUITY AND INCLUSION.
WE APPROACH THE OUTREACH THAT
WE DID THROUGH A TOOLKIT
PROCESS WHERE WE PRIORITIZE THE
VOICES AND WHAT CAME THROUGH
LOUD AND CLEAR IS NOT JUST THE
APPROACH AND HOW WE GOT THE
FEEDBACK BUT NEEDED TO BE THE
DRIVING THEME AND HOW THE
PROGRAMMING HAPPENS.
IT'S REALLY EXPLICITLY ABOUT
SHOWCASING THE VOICES OF
COMMUNITIES OF COLOR AND ARTIST
WHO HAVEN'T HAD THAT
REPRESENTATION.
THAT IS HOW DECISIONS ARE
GETTING MADE.
DECISION-MAKING IS HAPPENING
THROUGH THE KING STREET STATION
ADVISORS WHICH IS 20 PEOPLE
THAT IS HIGHLY REPRESENTATIONAL
ON AGE, RACE, DISABILITY
STATUS.
WE HAVE PEOPLE IN THEIR LATE
TEENS ALL THE WAY UP INTO THEIR
70s.
A GREAT GROUP OF PEOPLE THAT ARE
REVIEWING THE COMMUNITY IDEAS
AND FIGURING OUT WHAT MAKES
SENSE TO GO IN THE SPACE AND
WHAT WE WANT TO PRIORITIZE AND
PUT IN OUR RESOURCES.
I THINK THE WAY WE'VE LOOKED AT
THAT PROGRAMMING MODEL IS
DIFFERENT THAN THE TRADITIONAL
CURATOR THAT MAKES THE DECISION
FROM ON HIGH.
THE IDEA COMES FROM THE
COMMUNITY AND THEY ARE DECIDED
ON BY THE COMMUNITY.
THAT IS A FIRST BIG THING.
THE SECOND IS THAT WE HAVE TO
SUPPORT ARTIST.
WE CAN'T HAVE ART WITHOUT
SUPPORTING ARTIST.
ONE OF THE PIECES THAT CAME OUT
OF THIS THAT I THOUGHT WAS NEAT
IS THAT WE DON'T WANT THIS TO
BE A PRESENTATION SPACE.
WE WANTED TO BE A SPACE WHERE
ARTISTS CAN COME IN AND WORK ON
THEIR CRAFT AND CREATE THINGS
AND EXPAND ON THEIR IDEAS.
THROUGH THE FEEDBACK THAT WE GOT
WE MOVED THE ARTIST IN
RESIDENCE SPACE THAT WAS
ORIGINALLY IN A BACK CORNER AREA
WE PUT IT RIGHT IN THE CENTER.
WHEN YOU COME UP THE STAIRWAY
THE FIRST THING YOU SEE IS THE
ARTIST IN RESIDENCE SPACE PICK
YOU CAN SEE ARTIST AT WORK IN
THERE RIGHT NOW.
WE HAVE A REALLY AMAZING CARVER
THAT IS IN THERE RIGHT NOW.
THE LAST THING I WANTED TO
TOUCH ON WAS CONNECTING THE
SPACE.
I THINK THAT'S THE PIECE THAT
WE ARE REALLY LOOKING AT RIGHT
NOW.
WE ARE UP AND RUNNING IN
GETTING OUR FEET UNDERNEATH US
WE'VE BEEN REACHED OUT BY
PARTNERS ON HOW THEY CAN HOST
THINGS AND HAVE THEIR EVENTS
AND THAT IS THE PIECE THAT WE
ARE FIGURING OUT HOW TO GET
THOSE RESOURCES IN PLACE SO
THAT WE CAN DO THAT TO SUPPORT
EVERYONE.
I THINK THAT IS THE EXCITING
PIECE.
WE'VE HAD THOUSANDS OF PEOPLE
COMING THROUGH HERE.
AND HOW WE CAN CONNECT THAT
BACK TO THE CITY.
>> THE VISITS THAT YOU ARE
RECEIVING YOU DON'T WANT TO
LOSE THAT MOMENTUM ONCE IT'S
NOT SO NEW.
HAVING AN INTENTIONAL PROGRAM,
SPECIFICALLY CONNECTING THAT TO
CIVIC LIFE IS REALLY IMPORTANT.
AND I'M GLAD YOU'RE WORKING ON
THAT.
IT'S A GREAT SPACE AND
EVERYBODY SHOULD HAVE THE
OPPORTUNITY TO USE AND 11.
>> THANK YOU.
>> I THINK WE'VE TALKED ABOUT
THAT SHOW, YOU SHOULD COME AND
SEE.
IT'S AN INCREDIBLE
ACCOMPLISHMENT.
THE COLLABORATORS AT PUT IT
TOGETHER.
IT'S A YEAR-LONG ENDEAVOR THAT
INVOLVES DOZENS OF SITES.
IT'S REALLY INCREDIBLE AND WE
ARE PRIVILEGED TO POSTED.
I SHOULD'VE SAID THIS AT THE
BEGINNING THAT THERE ARE 40
STAFF AND ARE OFFICE AND ANYONE
COULD BE SITTING AT OUR TABLE.
IT'S WORK THAT EVERYBODY VALUES
AND CONTRIBUTES TO.
WERE VERY EXCITED.
I WANT TO GIVE A QUICK SHOUT
OUT TO OUR RACIAL EQUITY
COORDINATOR, WHO DID THE LION
SHARE OF THE WORK ON THIS
PRESENTATION.
WE ARE LUCKY TO HAVE HIM.
WE ARE EXCITED ABOUT THE
REALIZATION THAT WE CAN LEARN
AND BUILD ON AND WE ARE EXCITED
TO DIVE INTO THE PDA AS AN
INSTRUMENT OF EQUITY IN WORKING
TO HEAR ABOUT THE CREATIVE
CAREER COHORT, AND THE
CONTRIBUTIONS TO THE WORKFORCE
DEVELOPMENT.
I MENTIONED RICKY IS OUR FULL-
TIME GRENADA.
AND THE SHAPE OF TRUST WHICH IS
THE MOST AMBITIOUS EQUITY
PARTNERSHIP WE'VE HAD WHICH IS
A SEVEN-YEAR PARTNERSHIP
LAUNCHING WITH THREE SOLD-OUT
SHOWS THAT ARE GOING TO BRING
THIS TO FRUITION.
YOU HEAR ABOUT THIS NEXT YEAR
AND MAYBE SOME OTHER STUFF.
WHO KNOWS WHERE IT'S GOING TO
GO.
THIS IS SOMETHING THAT WE ARE
PROUD OF AND WE ENJOY TALKING
ABOUT IT.
>> I DID WANT TO GO BACK TO
SOMETHING ON THE CHALLENGE PAGE.
I WAS SO IMMERSED IN WHAT
YOU'RE SAYING THAT I GLOSSED
OVER IT.
AND YOU TALK A LITTLE BIT MORE
ABOUT WHAT IT MEANS TO BE A
GRANTING ORGANIZATION THAT
FUNCTIONS WITHOUT A GRANTING
PLATFORM?
>> OUR OFFICE WAS CHARTERED IN
1971, AND OUR PRIMARY ACTIVITY
HAS BEEN INVESTING IN CULTURAL
ORGANIZATIONS IN 1970 WHEN WE
FUNDED SEVEN ORGANIZATIONS, FOR
MANY YEARS WE DID THAT WITH A
WEB-BASED PLATFORM THAT ALLOWED
PEOPLE TO APPLY AND THAT
SOFTWARE AGGRAVATED INFORMATION
AND WORKED VERY WELL.
AND THEN A COUPLE YEARS AGO
THAT WENT AWAY.
AND WE HAVE BEEN WAITING FOR A
NEW SOLUTION THE TIME IT TAKES
TO DO IT BY HAND WHEN YOU HAVE
HUNDREDS OF APPLICATIONS IS
SIGNIFICANT.
>> THANK YOU WE WILL SEE WHAT
WE CAN DO TO HELP.
>> IT'S GETTING BETTER.
WE ARE WORKING ON IT.
>> THANK YOU FOR JOINING US AND
WE WILL SEE YOU LATER ON IN
JUNE.
WE LOOK FORWARD TO HEARING MORE
ABOUT CREATIVE EVENTS.
>> THANK YOU
>> ITEM 3 IS A SEATTLE PUBLIC
UTILITIES ON THE STATE OF
RECYCLING.
>>>
>> GREETINGS.
WELCOME.
THANK YOU FOR JOINING US WOULD
START WITH SOME QUICK
INTRODUCTIONS AND WILL KICK IT
OFF.
>> GOOD MORNING KEN SNIPES,
HANS VANDUSEN .HEATHER TRIM ,
ZERO WASTE WASHINGTON.
>> WHO WOULD LIKE TO GET US
STARTED.
>> I DON'T KNOW IF YOU WANTED
TO SAY SOMETHING HEATHER?
>> WE ARE HERE TO PROVIDE YOU
WITH AN UPDATE ON THE STATE OF
THE CURRENT RECYCLING MARKET.
AS YOU KNOW THERE ARE NUMBER OF
ISSUES IMPACTING THE GLOBAL
RECYCLING MARKET.
WE ARE GOING TO HIGHLIGHT TO
THOSE ELEMENTS TODAY.
THE FIRST OF WHICH THAT ARE
BEING IMPOSED BY CHINA AND
OTHERS.
>> HEATHER IS GOING TO COVER
THE BROADER CONTEXT AND WE CAN
COME BACK.
>> I'M GOING TO DO A QUICK
PRESENTATION THAT TALKS ABOUT
THE DRIVERS FOR WHY WE ARE IN A
RECYCLING CRISIS.
AND SPEND SOME TIME ON THE
SOLUTIONS.
ZERO WASTE WASHINGTON IS A
STATEWIDE NONPROFIT MAKING TRASH
OBSOLETE.
BEEN DOING PILOT PROJECTS AND
COMMUNITY-BASED PROJECTS.
I'M GOING TALK ABOUT PLASTICS
AND SOME OF THE DRIVERS LIKE
THE CONSUMER CONFUSION THAT
CHALLENGES THAT ARE RECYCLING
OPERATIONS HAVE AN FINISH UP
WITH SOLUTIONS AND LEGISLATIVE
BILLS THAT JUST HAPPENED.
WE LIVE IN A PLASTIC E.R.A.
WE HAVE HAD AN EXPLOSION IN THE
AMOUNT OF PLASTIC AROUND THE
WORLD THAT IS BEING PRODUCED.
THIS IS FROM 1950 TO 2015 BY
SECTOR THE DIFFERENT TIMES OF
PLASTIC.
THE BLUE IS PACKAGING BETWEEN
30 AND 40% OF OUR PLASTIC IS
BEING USED FOR PACKAGING AND
THIS IS WHAT IS CAUSING SOME OF
THE BIGGEST PROBLEMS IN
RECYCLING. ONE OF THE
CHALLENGES IS THAT THEY KEEP
INTRODUCING NEW TYPES OF
PACKAGING THAT END UP NOT BEING
RECYCLED.
METAL WITH PLASTIC AND WHAT YOU
SEE IN THAT CAMERA RIGHT THERE.
WE THE CONSUMERS ARE VERY
CONSUMED ABOUT WHAT TO PUT IN
WHICH BEEN.
THERE'S A THREE SECOND SHRUG
THAT MEANS THAT IF YOU LOOK AT
YOUR BEEN AND IF YOU CAN FIGURE
OUT WHAT TO DO WITH THAT YOU
PUT IT IN WHATEVER BIN IS
CLOSEST I HAVE PROBLEMS WITH
THIS AND I WORK ON THE STUFF.
I'M EVEN CONFUSE.
WE NEED TO MAKE IT EASIER FOR
THE NUMEROUS
>> YOU MIGHT LEARN IT AND THEN
THEY CHANGE IT UP AGAIN BY
INTRODUCING COMPLETELY NEW
PRODUCTS.
>> THE OTHER QUESTION IS IS
SOMETHING COMPOSTABLE OR NOT?
IF YOU HAVE A FORK YOU'RE NOT
SURE IF IT IS COMPOSTABLE.
SO CONSUMERS ARE CONFUSED ON
THAT.
WE ARE GOING TO TALK ABOUT THE
DETAILS, WE HAVE A CRISIS THAT
HAS BEEN PRECIPITATED IN MARCH
2017 THEY ANNOUNCED THAT BY THE
END OF THAT YEAR THEY WILL NOT
ACCEPT WASTE FROM AROUND THE
WORLD THEY WERE ACCEPTING 60%
OF OUR WASTE FROM THE PACIFIC
NORTHWEST.
BECAUSE WE ARE IN A DEADHEAD
SITUATION WE HAVE ALL THIS
MATERIAL COMING FROM CHINA AND
SOUTHEAST ASIA IN CONTAINERS
BUT WE DIDN'T HAVE MUCH TO SEND
BACK.
IT WAS VERY INEXPENSIVE FOR US
TO SEND OUR WAYS WASTE TO
CHINA.
IT WAS SIMPLER THEN TO SEND IT
BY TRUCK TO PORTLAND.
THESE ARE TEXTILES THAT THEY
WOULD HAVE A STANDARD OF .05
CONTAMINATION.
THAT IS ESSENTIALLY ZERO.
THE REASON WHY THAT IS IMPORTANT
. PEOPLE DON'T LIKE TO TALK
ABOUT IT.
BUT ARE CONTAMINATION RATES IS
11-20%.
WHEN YOU TALK ABOUT
CONTAMINATION WERE NOT TALKING
ABOUT TOXIC CHEMICALS WERE
TALKING ABOUT THINGS THAT ARE
THE WRONG THINGS IN EACH BAIL.
PAPER METAL GLASS FOOD WASTE
THEY ALL HAVE A VALUE IF
THEY'RE IN THEIR OWN BAIL.
THE WE HAVE THEM IN THE WRONG
BAIL.
>> WHAT WAS THE 0%.
>> THAT IS THE STANDARD THAT
CHINA HAS A SET.
THEY DON'T WANT ANY MATERIAL
COMING IN IF IT HAS ANYTHING.
THESE ARE TWO INSPECTORS ON THE
CHINESE SUPPORT, THEY STILL
LOOK AT THE BALES.
THE COCAINE AND SENTIMENT OF
THE COUNTRY.
NOW THEY CUT THEM OPEN IF THEY
FIND ANYTHING IN THERE THEY SAY
THE ENTIRE LOAD IS REJECTED.
DOWN IN SAN FRANCISCO THEY BEEN
ABLE TO GET TO IT 2% BY
INVESTING IN NEW EQUIPMENT
INCLUDING SEVEN OPTICAL
SOURCES.
IT IS DOABLE BUT IT DOES TAKE A
BIG INVESTMENT.
>> SO THE IDEA OF HAVING BETTER
SORTERS IS TO CORRECT THE HUMAN
ERROR?
>> ONE IS TO MAKE THE RECYCLING
FACILITY OPERATE A BETTER.
SO WHY DO WE HAVE SUCH A HIGH
CONTAMINATION RATE?
ONE REASON, WHEN TRUCKS GO
AROUND THE NEIGHBORHOODS THEY
CRUSH EVERYTHING DOWN TO PUT 30%
CAPACITY INTO THE TRUCK BED
WHICH IS GREAT FROM A
GREENHOUSE GAS PERSPECTIVE AND
FROM TRUCKS IN YOUR NEIGHBORHOOD
POLLUTION.
THAT MEANS THAT THE RECYCLING
FACILITY THE PLASTICS ARE
REALLY FLAT.
THIS WAS A COUPLE WEEKS AGO I
GOT TO BE A PICKER AT THE
RECYCLING FACILITY WE WERE
TRYING TO PICK OUT THE PLASTIC
FILM FROM THE LINE AND I KEPT
GRABBING THE BOTTLES THEY WERE
SO FLAT THEY LOOK LIKE A FILM.
THE RECYCLING FACILITY IS SET
UP TO SORT AROUND THINGS FROM
FLAT THINGS AND THE PLASTICS
BECOME FLAT AND THEY GET INTO
THE BALES, THIS IS A MIXED
PAPER BAIL THAT I ENCOUNTERED
AT A PAPER FACILITY IN SPOKANE.
IT LOOKS GREAT.
IT LOOKS LIKE IT'S ALL PAPER.
WHEN YOU LOOK UP CLOSE YOU CAN
SEE THAT IT IS NOT.
IT'S FULL OF PLASTIC.
THIS IS A SOUR CREAM.
AND THIS IS A PLASTIC BAG.
THE BAGS BECOME FLAT LIKE PAPER.
THEY LOOK LIKE PAPER BUT THEY
ARE FULL OF PLASTIC AND OTHER
THINGS.
THE OTHER BIG ISSUE THAT'S
CAUSING CONTAMINATION IS OF THE
RECYCLING FACILITIES HAVE THESE
BIG ROLLERS.
IT'S A SYSTEM CALLED A
WATERFALL.
THE PAPER WILL FLOAT ACROSS THE
TOP AND EVERYTHING ELSE WILL
FALL THROUGH, AND THEN THEY
SORT THAT SEPARATELY.
THE PLASTIC BAGS AND FILM CATCH
ON THE ROLLERS AND THEY CLOG
THEM UP OVER THE COURSE OF THE
EIGHT HOUR WORK CYCLE.
THEY ARE DOWN TO 75%
INEFFICIENCY.
IT IS SO CLOG THE VERY LITTLE
CAN GO DOWN THAT CAUSES
CONTAMINATION AND THEN THE
WORKERS HAVE TO GO IN AND USE
KNIVES AND DRILLS AND CUT THE
FILM AND PLASTIC OFF THE
ROLLERS.
IT TAKES AN HOUR AND IT'S VERY
DANGEROUS THE PLASTIC IS LIKE
CONCRETE IT IS SO HARD.
AND THEN WE HAVE TO PAY FOR
THIS ACTION THAT THEY ARE DOING
SO WHAT ARE SOME SOLUTIONS
THERE ARE TWO AREAS.
REDUCING THE USE OF UNNECESSARY
PLASTIC AND WE WILL TALK A
LITTLE BIT ABOUT THAT.
THE SEATTLE TEAM THAT WE HAVE
IS EXCELLENT.
ALWAYS PEOPLE THAT ARE WORKING
VERY HARD AND I BELIEVE WE ARE
A LEADER ON THIS.
>> I AM STRUGGLING WITH THE
FOCUS ON PLASTICS MAYBE I'VE
HEARD INCORRECTLY THAT THE
CONTAMINATION ISSUE THAT CHINA
HAS IDENTIFIED AS THE PROBLEM
IS WITH PAPER
>> I'VE JUST BEEN ASSUMING THAT
IT'S DIRTY PAPER BUT IT'S
PLASTICS WITH THE PAPER?
>>
>> PLASTIC IS HUGE AND THERE
ARE OTHER POUNDS.
IF WE COULD ADDRESS THE PLASTIC
WE COULD ADDRESS THE OTHER
POUNDS.
WE HAVE 28 BAG ORDINANCES IN
WASHINGTON STATE.
AND BREMERTON'S IS ON DECK.
THEY'RE GETTING READY TO VOTE
ON JUNE 5. THIS IS GREAT.
WE GOT TO THE TIPPING POINT OF
DOING A STATEWIDE BILL ON THE
LAST DAY THE LEADERSHIP DIDN'T
LET IT COME TO THE FLOOR BUT WE
WILLBE BACK NEXT YEAR WITH
ANOTHER ONE.
IN THE MEANTIME IT WOULD BE
GREAT TO UPDATE THE SEATTLE BAG
ORDINANCE AND HAVE THE FEATURES
THAT WERE PUT INTO THE
STATEWIDE BILL.
THINGS COULD HAPPEN.
IT WOULD BE GREAT TO HAVE
SEATTLE GET ON THAT.
>> WHAT WOULD IT MEAN TO UPDATE
THE ORDINANCE WHAT ELEMENTS?
>> RIGHT NOW THE CHARGE IF YOU
HAVE A PAPER BAG OR A PLASTIC
BAG IS FIVE CENTS.
WE LIKE TO SEE THAT GO UP TO
EIGHT $-.10.
THE COST OF PAPER BAGS HAS GONE
UP TO OVER $.10 TO 10.5 TO 12.5
IT'S VERY EXPENSIVE FOR SOME OF
SMALL STORES TO PROVIDE THOSE
PAPERBACKS.
IT WOULD MOTIVATE PEOPLE TO
BRING THEIR OWN BAGS IF THE
CHARGE WAS HIGHER
>> ARE YOU CONFIDENT THAT
STORES ARE PASSING THOSE COSTS
ONTO CONSUMERS?
>> THEY MIGHT BE IN SEATTLE BUT
FUNDAMENTALLY WE WANTED TO BE
MORE OF AN EVEN PLAYING FIELD
FOR THE BIG STORES AND THE
SMALL STORES IT'S THE
INDEPENDENT STORES WHO ARE
CHALLENGED BECAUSE THEY HAVE
MORE EXPENSIVE BAGS AND IT'S A
LESSER ADVANTAGE IN TERMS OF
THE ECONOMY.
ANOTHER ISSUE IS A FAST FOOD.
RIGHT NOW THEY ARE EXEMPT IN
THE STATE BILL WOOD NOT.
>> WHAT IS OUR SENSE OF HOW
WELL WE ARE DOING REGARDING
ENFORCEMENT, I STILL SEE A LOT
OF PLASTIC BAGS IN SMALL STORES
?
>> ALL THOSE TOPICS WE WILL
COME BACK TO IN A FEW WEEKS
WITH THE ANNUAL REPORT THAT WE
PROVIDE ON THAT TOPIC.
AND WE ARE PULLING THAT
TOGETHER THOSE ARE REALLY GOOD
QUESTIONS.
>> I WILL HOLD IT FOR THAT
TIME.
>> I WOULD LIKE TO POINT OUT
THAT WE HAVE NOT ADVOCATED TO
DO A LOT OF ENFORCEMENT WE SEE
THIS IS SOMETHING THAT EVOLVES
OVER TIME.
ALL THESE THINGS ARE LIKE
RECYCLING.
SOMETHING ORGANICALLY THE
PEOPLE ARE DOING MORE AND MORE
OF OVERTIME.
THE SECOND ISSUE ARE THE TO GO
CONTAINERS.
THERE EIGHT ORDINANCES IN
PLACE.
THE NEWEST ORDINANCES BAND
STYROFOAM AND SEATTLE DOES NOT
HAVE COMPOSTABLE.
ONE OF THE CHALLENGES IF YOU
HAVE A PLASTIC BOX THAT'S FOOD
CONTAMINATION AND IT'S HARD TO
RECYCLE A PLASTIC BOX IF IT HAS
FOOD CONTAMINATION THAT'S AN
AREA THAT WE COULD CONSIDER FOR
AN UPGRADE ON THAT ORDINANCE AS
WELL AS ENCOURAGING DURABLES.
REAL SILVER INSTEAD OF PLASTIC
DISPOSABLE.
A BIG ISSUE IS WATER BOTTLES WE
DON'T FEEL THAT WE CAN ASK
SEATTLE TO BAN THE WATER BOTTLES
BUT BECAUSE OF FLINT MICHIGAN.
BASICALLY PEOPLE ARE NOT SURE
THAT THEIR WATER IS SAFE.
IT'S TOUGH TO GO WITH THAT FROM
A POLICY PERSPECTIVE.
WHAT WE DO WANT TO DO IS
ENCOURAGE A REFILL STATIONS.
WE HAVE A WASTE FREE GRANT TO
DO AN APT TO ENCOURAGE
BUSINESSES TO SIGN UP, BE ON A
MAP AND THEY WOULD REFILL
PEOPLE'S WATER BOTTLES FOR
FREE.
AND WE WANT TO GO STATEWIDE
WITH US.
THIS IS AN EXCITING OPPORTUNITY
TO GET PEOPLE TO BRING THEIR
OWN BOTTLE WITHOUT GOING
THROUGH A REGULATORY APPROACH.
IN ADDITION TO REDUCING PLASTIC
THE OTHER BIG THING WE CAN DO
IS BUILD MARKETS AND RESTORE
WHO IS PAYING FOR THE
RECYCLING.
THE BILL THAT SUCCEEDED IN THE
LEGISLATURE.
IT WOULD BE TO DO PLASTIC
PACKAGING STEWARDSHIP.
THAT WOULD SAY THAT THE
MANUFACTURERS AND BRAND OWNERS
WOULD PAY FOR THE END OF LIFE
PLASTIC PACKAGING IN WASHINGTON.
SHIFTING THE BURDEN FROM THE
RATEPAYERS TO THE MANUFACTURE
>> LIKE THEY DID IN BRITISH
COLUMBIA AND IN EUROPE.
THIS WOULD BE A COMPLETE REVAMP
OF THE SYSTEM AND IT WOULD BE
AMAZING.
WE HAVE A STUDY BILL THAT SETS
US UP FOR LEGISLATION AT THE
STATE LEVEL.
ANOTHER BILL THAT DID PASS THAT
IS SUPER EXCITING AND WOULD
MAKE A BIG DIFFERENCE IS
COMPOST LABELING.
IT'S AS IF YOU HAVE SOMETHING
THAT IS COMPOSTABLE.
IT MUST MEET THE STANDARD AND
SAY COMPOSTABLE.
HERE'S A GREAT EXAMPLE.
THESE ARE TWO SPLASH STICKS
FROM A MAJOR COMPANY.
PASSES DOWN SO YOU CAN TAKE A
LOOK.
IT'S VERY DIFFICULT TO TELL.
THIS LAW THAT GOES INTO EFFECT
IF SOMETHING IS COMPOSTABLE AS
A UTENSIL OR BAG IT MUST BE
GREEN OR BROWN TO DO.
SOME OF THE CHALLENGES WE HAVE
WITH PEOPLE NOT KNOWING WHERE
AND CONTAMINATION IN THE
RECYCLING.
>> GREEN OR BROWN IF IT IS
COMPOSTABLE.
>> YOU CAN'T TELL THAT IF YOUR
CONSUMER.
ANOTHER BILL THAT WILL REALLY
HELP IS THE FOOD WASTE.
THAT WILL HELP PLAN FOR THE
REDUCTION OF THE FOOD WASTE AND
WASHINGTON STATE BY HALF BY
2030.
RIGHT NOW 17% OF WASTE THAT
GOES TO THE LANDFILL IS FOOD
WASTE.
IT'S A SHOCKING.
I WANT TO MENTION THAT THERE IS
A LOT OF PRESSURE TO GO TOWARDS
WASTE ENERGY OR INCINERATION
FOR PLASTICS.
WE STRONGLY OPPOSE THIS WE
DON'T WANT TO SEE SEATTLE DO
THAT WE DON'T WANT TO SEND A
MOUNTAIN OF PLASTICS TO THE
LANDFILL OR INCINERATION.
WE WANT SOLUTIONS.
AND WE CAN TALK A LITTLE BIT
ABOUT THAT.
IT IS A PLANNING BILL.
IT SAYS AT THE STATE AND LOCAL
LEVEL.
THE COUNTY LEVEL THAT PLANNING
FOR HOW TO DO THE FOOD
REDUCTION AND THE BARRIERS
THINGS WE NEED TO DO IN TERMS
OF FINANCES THE CHALLENGE IS
THAT ALL OF THE FOOD RESCUE
GROUPS DON'T HAVE COLD STORAGE.
THEY DON'T HAVE COLD TRUCKS AND
STORAGE.
IF THEY GET THE FOOD THEY CAN
KEEP IT SAFE.
THAT COST MONEY AND WE DON'T
KNOW HOW MUCH IT IS AND WHAT
THE OTHER BARRIERS ARE.
THIS IS THE FIRST STEP TOWARDS
THAT PATH.
>> THAT IS GREAT.
CAN YOU GO BACK TO THE LAST
SLIDE OF WASTE ENERGY.
WHAT ARE THE OPTIONS TO
LANDFILL AND INCINERATION GIVEN
ALL THE CHALLENGES THAT WE HAVE.
I THINK THE STRATEGIES THAT YOU
IDENTIFIED ARE HELPFUL BUT IT
SEEMS LIKE THEY WILL BE SLOW
FOR MY PERSPECTIVE IT SOUNDS
LIKE WE HAVE SOME CIRCUMSTANCES
THAT NEED AN IMMEDIATE RESPONSE
SO THAT WE DON'T HAVE TO USE
THOSE OTHER UNATTRACTIVE
ALTERNATIVES.
WHEN I WAS 20 YEARS OLD I
THOUGHT AN INCINERATOR IN MY
COMMUNITY.
I REALLY DON'T WANT TO GO BACK
THERE, BUT I DON'T KNOW HOW WE
ARE GOING TO HANDLE THIS ISSUE
WITH CHINA NOT WANTING TO TAKE
OUR PRODUCTS ANYMORE
>> THERE ARE 3-4 ANSWERS.
THINGS ARE MOVING QUICKLY.
BECAUSE OF CHINA'S
RESTRICTIONS.
THERE IS A WHOLE LOT OF
ENTREPRENEUR ACTIVITY TO
ADDRESS THAT.
COMPANIES THAT ARE COMING
ONLINE THAT ARE ADDRESSING THE
DIFFICULT PLASTICS.
THERE ARE THINGS THAT ARE
HAPPENING QUICKLY.
THERE IS A CHEMICAL RECYCLING
PROCESS WHERE YOU TAKE THE
PLASTICS BACK TO THE MOLECULAR
LEVEL AND MAKE NEW PLASTICS.
SO CHEMICAL RECYCLING MIGHT BE
A GOOD OPTION.
AND THERE IS A FACILITY IN
PLACE IN OREGON AND BRITISH
COLUMBIA.
WE COULD BRING ONE TO
WASHINGTON.
CALIFORNIA PASSED A LAW THAT IS
REALLY GOING TO CHANGE THE
DYNAMIC IN TERMS OF WHAT IS
ALLOWED FOR PACKAGING GETTING
US ALLOWED TO THE RECYCLING
PACKAGING.
I THINK THINGS THERE'S A LOT OF
REACTION IN THE HAPPENING
QUICKLY.
AND I THINK SEATTLE CAN BE
AHEAD OF THE CURVE I'M
OPTIMISTIC THAT WE DON'T NEED
TO GO TO WASTE ENERGY.
>> WE CANNOT UNDERESTIMATE THE
POWER OF THE MARKET TO CHANGING
CONDITIONS.
BEFORE WE HAD RECYCLING IN NEW
YORK STATE I WAS WORKING FOR
THE PASSAGE OF THE BOTTLE BILL.
IN THE LATE 80s PEOPLE WERE VERY
SKEPTICAL THAT THERE WOULD BE A
MARKET FOR RECYCLED PRODUCTS.
AND WE PROVE THEM WRONG THERE TO
>> THANK YOU THAT WAS GREAT
CONTEXT AND INFORMATION I THINK
YOUR QUESTIONS ARE VERY PRESENT
AND WE APPRECIATE THE
OPPORTUNITY.
THEY ARE QUESTIONS THAT ARE ON
EVERYONE'S MIND.
WITH THE BIG CHANGES IN THE
MARKET AND WHAT IS HAPPENING
WITH OUR RECYCLING AND HOW
QUICKLY THE MARKET ADJUSTS IT
IS A DYNAMIC FORCE THAT
SOMETIMES DOES AND DOES NOT
CHANGE THOSE ARE GREAT
QUESTIONS.
CAN KICK THIS OFF PRETTY WELL.
CLARIFYING THAT THERE ARE TWO
MAJOR THINGS THAT ARE
HAPPENING.
ONE IS A RESTRICTIONS IN CHINA
REGARDING MIXED PAPER AND
PLASTIC.
THERE IS A LOT OF MIXED PAPER
IN THAT AND YOU SEE THAT EVERY
DAY.
ENFORCES THE QUESTIONS THAT ARE
YOU ASKING.
WHAT IS HAPPENING OUT.
AND THEN AT THE SAME TIME THERE
IS A MAJOR CONCERN ABOUT
PLASTIC POLLUTION.
THAT IS ANOTHER FORCE THAT ISN'T
NECESSARILY RELATED TO THE
CHINA LIMITATIONS BUT IT
CERTAINLY IS INDIRECTLY RELATED
AND IS A MAJOR FACTOR IN HOW WE
ARE REACTING AND UNDERSTANDING
YOU SEE THAT IN THE NEWS EVERY
DAY.
>> IS THAT A SCARE HEADLINE?
>> OUR CITIES IS SCALING BACK
>> IT DEPENDS ON WHAT YOU HAVE
ACCESS TO.
WE WILL COVER WHAT WILL HAPPEN
WITH THE RECYCLING WE ARE
FORTUNATE IN OUR LOCATION THAT
WE ARE ON A PORT.
AND WE HAVE THAT OPPORTUNITY TO
TAKE ADVANTAGE OF A LOT OF
MARKETS.
NOT EVERYONE HAS THAT
OPPORTUNITY YOU DON'T SEE IT SO
MUCH ALONG THE WEST COAST OTHER
PARTS YOU SEE WHERE THEY MAY BE
CUTTING BACK DEPENDING ON WHAT
THEY NEED.
ESPECIALLY FOR DROP OFF
LOCATIONS.
>> TYPICALLY CITIES TOWARDS THE
MIDDLE OF THE COUNTRY ARE AT A
DISADVANTAGE
> IT'S HELPFUL TO KNOW WHAT IS
IN OUR RECYCLING AND WHAT WE
ARE DEALING WITH.
AS NOTED.
IT'S 50% PAPER PRODUCTS.
AND THEN A SMALL AMOUNT OF
PLASTICS.
IT'S MOSTLY RESIDENTIAL
CUSTOMERS HERE WHEN WE TALK
ABOUT THE MARKET RESTRICTIONS
WERE TALK ABOUT PAPER AND
PLASTIC WHICH IS ABOUT 5%.
THAT GIVES CONTEXT ON HOW THEY
IMPACT US.
IT'S HELPFUL TO UNDERSTAND WHAT
HAPPENS TO THE MATERIAL WHEN WE
COLLECTED.
MANY OF YOU ARE FAMILIAR WITH
THIS.
WE HAVE A CONTRACT WITH THE
FACILITY IN SEATTLE.
THERE UNDER A COMPETITIVE BID.
AND WE PAY THEM TO PROCESS IT.
THEY HAVE A VARIETY OF
MECHANISMS FOR SORTING MANY
MANUAL SORTERS STAFF A VARIETY
OF MECHANISMS TO BREAK THOSE
COMMODITIES SUPPLIER AND THEY
ARE RESPONSIBLE FOR FINDING
THOSE MARKETS AS THEY CHANGE.
AND ADJUSTING TO THOSE MARKETS.
THAT IS PART OF THEIR SERVICE
CONTRACT.
ONE ELEMENT IS THAT WE RETAIN
THE MARKET VALUE.
THAT HAS SOME OPPORTUNITY.
>> THE CITY OF SEATTLE.
>> WHAT IS THE MARKET VALUE.
>> WE TRACK THE VARIOUS
COMMODITIES AND RETAIN REVENUE
THAT IS EQUAL TO THOSE OF
VALUES.
WE RETAIN THAT EACH MONTH.
WHICH IS SEPARATE FROM THE
PROCESSING PAYMENT.
>> SO REPUBLIC ISN'T RECEIVING
THE REVENUE?
>> WE ASK FOR THE AVERAGE VALUE
OF THAT BASED ON THE MARKET
INDEX WHEN THE MARKET IS WORTH
MORE WE RECEIVE MORE.
WE CAN COME BACK TO THAT.
IT PLAYS INTO HOW WE ARE
POSITIONED AND THE IMPACTS ON
THE CITY.
IT'S ALSO HELPFUL TO UNDERSTAND
THAT CHALLENGES.
CHINA AS YOU MENTIONED STOPPED
IMPORTING MIXED PAPER AND
PLASTIC IT ESCALATED LAST YEAR
IN 2018.
THE MARKET VALUES HAVE DROPPED
SIGNIFICANTLY.
THERE OTHER PLACES IT IS GOING
BUT THAT HUGE INFLUENCE ON THE
MARKET THAT CHINA PLAYS HAS
SIGNIFICANTLY DROPPED THE VALUE
WHERE THE OTHER DESTINATIONS ARE
. IN RESPONSE NORTH AMERICA
MARKETS HAVE RESPONDED IN CHINA
IS NO LONGER TAKING MIXED PAPER
AND PLASTIC THEY ARE TAKING
SOME PAPER DIRECTLY AND THEY
CONTINUE TO BE THE LARGEST FIRE
DOWNSTREAM.
IT'S INTERESTING TO NOTE THAT
IT IS BEING SORTED AND PROCESSED
BUT THAT THE COMMODITY IS STILL
GOING TO CHINA.
THEY ARE THE ONES THAT NEEDED
FOR MANUFACTURING NEW
PACKAGING.
THEY ARE STILL PURCHASING IT
BUT JUST FURTHER DOWNSTREAM.
THEY STILL HAVE A MAJOR ROLE IN
THE VALUE IN THE COMMODITY AND
THEY ARE EXERCISING THAT.
>> HAVE THEY STOPPED IMPORTING
PAPER AND MIXED PLASTICS?
OR DO THEY JUST HAVE STRICT
CONTAMINATION RULES THAT WE
CANNOT MEET THE?
>> FOR THE MOST PART THEY HAVE
STOPPED IMPORTING MIXED PAPER
AND PLASTIC THERE'S VERY FEW
PROCESSES THAT ARE SHIPPING
THEM DIRECTLY TO CHINA ANYMORE?
>> IS THAT BECAUSE THEY CANNOT
MEET THE CONTAMINATION RULES OR
IS CHINA SAYING WE DON'T CARE
WHETHER OR NOT YOU MEET ARE 0%
GOAL?
>> IT APPEARS TO BE THE LATTER.
IT'S HARD TO TELL AND IT
CHANGES WHAT IS SAID BY THE
GOVERNMENT FROM MONTH-TO-MONTH
THE FACT REMAINS THAT THEY ARE
NOT ACCEPTING ANY RIGHT NOW.
THAT'S WHERE THEIR STANCES.
WHAT THEY SAY THEIR
ATTENTIVENESS VARIES FROM MONTH-
TO-MONTH AND WHO IS A SAYING IT.
THAT MEANT THAT THE PRICES
STAYED LOW.
AND ALL THE OTHER PLACES HAVE
ADOPTED SIMILAR HIGH STANDARDS.
EVERYBODY HAS ADOPTED THESE
HIGH STANDARDS AND THAT IS
HAPPENING.
EVERYONE IS RESPONDING TO THAT.
PART OF THE LANDSCAPE IS THE
RESPONSE TO THE PLASTIC
POLLUTION.
WE SEE THAT IS A SMALL SLIVER,
BUT IT FINDS ITS WAY INTO
IMPACTING THE OTHER MATERIALS
AND THE RESPONSE GLOBALLY TO
THAT HAS PLAYED INTO HOW IT
IMPACTS. THAT'S JUST SOME OF
THE CONTEXT.
IN TERMS OF THE MARKET VALUE
WHAT IT MEANS TO SEATTLE THE
TABLE SHOWS YOU THAT THE
REVENUE RECEIVED DROPPED FROM 8
MILLION TO 4.5 MILLION LAST YEAR
YOU SEE THAT THAT IS PRIMARILY
RELATED TO PAPER.
PLASTICS DID NOT DROP THAT MUCH.
THEY CONTINUE TO REMAIN STABLE
BUT THE PAPER DROPPED
SIGNIFICANTLY. THAT IS KIND OF
WHAT YOU SEE.
AND THAT'S WHAT IT MEANS FOR US
AND FOR EVERYBODY IN THE WORLD
BASICALLY IN SOME FORM.
SO WHAT HAPPENED AT THE
FACILITY, HEATHER TOUCHED ON
THIS, IT WAS A SIMILAR IN
SEATTLE, INCLUDING REPUBLICS
FACILITY THEY HAD TO IMPROVE
THE BAIL QUALITY WHICH THEY
HAVE DONE.
THEY'VE DIVERSIFY THE TYPES OF
PAPER THAT THEY SELL AND THE
CONTAMINATION AND THEY'VE
REDUCED HOW FAST IT GOES
THROUGH THE PLAN.
AND THEY'VE ADDED ADDITIONAL
SORTING TECHNOLOGY.
THEY'VE HAD LASER SORTERS
PRODUCING THE HIGHER-QUALITY.
THAT WAS A 1.5 MILLION UPGRADE
FOR REPUBLIC IN ADDITION TO THE
PLANT IN 2016 UPGRADE.
THEY'VE ALSO FOUND OTHER
MARKETS TO SHIP THE MATERIALS.
THAT WAS AN AREA THAT YOU ARE
INTERESTED IN.
I WILL COME BACK TO THAT ON
WHAT MARKETS WE MANAGE THE
CONTRACT.
AND IT'S OUR JOB TO MONITOR AND
ENFORCE THE CONTRACT TERMS.
THAT'S NO DISPOSABLE OF SEATTLE
RECYCLING.
WHICH IS SOMETHING THAT
EVERYONE'S CURIOUS ABOUT.
MAKING SURE THAT THEY'RE MOVING
OUR MATERIALS TO MARKET.
THAT'S SOMETHING THAT WE WANT
TO REASSURE OUR CUSTOMERS.
THAT WE CONTINUE TO HAVE
STANDARDS FOR HIGHER VALUE.
TO MAKE SURE THAT IT PROCESSED
IN A HIGHER METHOD.
WE MONITOR AND GET REPORTS AND
TRACK THAT AND THEN WE WORK
WITH THEM ON PARTNERSHIPS . WE
WILL TALK A LITTLE BIT ABOUT
PLASTICS THAT ARE BEING
PROCESSED IN NORTH AMERICA AND
WERE WORKING ON SUPPORTING
THOSE CONNECTIONS AND
INTRODUCING THEM TO OTHER
PEOPLE.
AND THEN THE MARKET RISK, LIKE
WE JUST TALKED ABOUT HIS GIVEN
US THE OPTION TO SELF-INSURE.
WE WOULD BE PAYING A PREMIUM.
AND WE WOULD BE PAYING A
PREMIUM IN WHICH IS NOT TOO.
OVER 30 YEARS WE'VE GAINED A
LOT OF VALUE OVER THE MARKET
RISK.
AND TODAY WE HAVE A LOWER VALUE
AND THAT IS A CHALLENGE FOR US
FINANCIALLY.
IT DOES ALLOW US TO NOT PAY
THAT PREMIUM AND TO NOT ENTER
INTO A CONTENTIOUS AREA OF
CONTRACT TERMS WITH THE VENDOR.
ALMOST EVERY CITY LOCALLY HAS
HAD TO PAY ADDITIONAL FEES OVER
THE LAST YEAR AND BECAUSE OF
THE LOSS OF VALUE IN THE
MARKET.
WE'VE BEEN INSULATED BECAUSE WE
OWN THAT RISK.
IT AVOIDS ANY CONVERSATION
ABOUT US ENTERING THAT BECAUSE
WE ARE TO HAVE THAT.
SO WHERE DOES IT GO?
I MENTIONED THAT CHINA IS OUR
BIGGEST FIRE DOWNSTREAM.
IF YOU LOOK AT THE DIFFERENT
MATERIALS THERE'S A PICTURE
THERE OF GLASS THAT GOES
LOCALLY DOWN THE STREET TO BE
FURTHER SORTED.
AND THE METAL STAYS LOCALLY AND
CONTINUES TO.
THAT IS TOO LARGE COMMODITIES.
PLASTICS WHICH WE'VE TALKED A
LOT ABOUT.
THE HIGHER VALUE PLASTICS HAVE
STAYED DOMESTIC.
THAT'S BOTTLES AND JUGS.
THE LOWER VALUE PLASTICS AND
IT'S BASICALLY 040.
I PUT LESS THAN 20% BECAUSE IS
CHANGING EVERY DAY.
WE WORKED WITH THE PLANT TO
MAKE SURE THAT THEY COULD FIND
A LOCAL MARKET WHICH THEY ARE
DOING.
THEY ARE SENDING A PORTION TO A
PLANT IN CANADA AND THAT IS
GREATER THAN WHAT WE SEND THEM.
ALTHOUGH THEY ARE STILL SENDING
SOME, WE ARE NOT THE ENTIRE
FEEDSTOCK OF THAT FACILITY.
THERE OTHER PLASTICS THAT ARE
GOING OFFSHORE.
AND I WILL BE SURPRISED TO SEE
THAT CHANGE.
FOR VARIETY OF REASONS THAT CAN
TIN USED TO BE A CHALLENGE I
WOULDN'T BE SURPRISED TO SEE
MOST OF IT COME ON SURE.
THE CARDBOARD HAS 60%.
AND IT IS DROPPING EVERY DAY
UNDER 20%.
AND IT IS 90% SENT TO ASIA,
CHINA IN 2017.
AND NOW LESS THAN 60%.
PROBABLY ABOUT 50% THIS MONTH
IS BEING SENT THERE'S PLENTY
STILL BEING SENT BUT AS WE
IMPROVE THE BAIL QUALITY WE ARE
FINDING MORE MARKETS EVERY
MONTH TO SHIP THAT TOO.
>> WHAT DO WE KNOW ABOUT THE
ENVIRONMENTAL PROTECTION?
>> WE HAVE BEEN EXPOSED TO THAT
MORE AND MORE.
THAT IS AN OUTCOME THAT WE ARE
FOCUSED ON.
WE DON'T ALWAYS KNOW ENOUGH
ABOUT WHERE THAT GOES.
AND WE WILL TALK ABOUT THAT
MORE IN THE PRESENTATION.
THAT'S AN EXCELLENT QUESTION.
THIS IS SOME OF THE OTHER
THINGS THAT WE HAVE DONE.
AND HEATHER HAS TOUCHED ON
THIS, WITH THE PARTNERSHIP WITH
THE RECYCLING PLAN.
WE HAVE FOCUSED ON THE
CHALLENGES AND THE FOLLOW-UP
ACTIONS COMING OUT OF THAT IS
MOVING LOW VALUE PLASTICS TO
CAN SAY THE ACTION TAKEN FOR
THAT.
SITTING DOWN WITH OUR PARTNERS
AND NONPROFITS UNDERSTANDING
WHAT THE SOLUTIONS ARE THIS IS
A BIG EFFORT IT'S MOVING ON TO
ACTION AND I WANT TO HIGHLIGHT
THOSE AS HEATHER MENTIONED WE
ARE CONTINUALLY INVOLVED WITH A
VARIETY OF NATIONAL PLAYERS.
YOU SEE SOME OF THE NONPROFITS.
WORKING TO FIND SOLUTIONS.
THEY ARE FOCUSED
COMPREHENSIVELY ON WHAT THE
SOLUTIONS WOULD BE.
AND THEY CAME UP WITH THESE
GOALS TO COVER THE SPECTRUM OF
RECYCLING IN TERMS OF THE
CUSTOMER AND THE MARKET AND THE
SYSTEM THE DEMAND FOR THE
COMMODITIES, WHAT THE
COMMODITIES LOOK LIKE, THE
MANUFACTURES.
TO MAKE SURE THAT WE WERE
COMPREHENSIVE IN OUR APPROACH.
THAT WAS A TEAM EFFORT, AND
I'LL JUST HIGHLIGHT SOME OF
THEM.
HEATHER COVERED SOME OF THESE.
STATE LEGISLATION WAS A BIG
FOCUS ON THE HEELS OF THE TASK
WORK FOCUS WAS THE LEGISLATION.
IT WAS A KEY WIN.
AND THE PLASTIC STEWARDSHIP,
THAT'S VERY STRONG LEGISLATION
THAT WAS PUT FOR THE TURNED
INTO A STUDY BILL.
IT'S AN OPPORTUNITY THAT'S
GREATER THAN PLASTICS.
THIS IS A GOOD FOCUS AREA FOR
US TO START WITH AND IT HAS
RECYCLED CONTENT LEGISLATION IN
THERE THAT HELPS.
WE ARE PLEASED WITH THAT.
FURTHER ITEMS FROM THE TASK
FORCE, PILATE PROJECTS ON
DOMESTIC INFRASTRUCTURE.
AND MOVING MIXED PLASTICS, AND
WE WILL LOOK AT ADDITIONAL
EXPANSION WE HEAR FROM MILK AND
JUICE CARTONS ABOUT WHAT
OPPORTUNITIES ARE THERE.
WE PROHIBIT A LOT OF FILM FROM
THE WAIST TREATMENT.
COLOR CODING AND THAT HEALTH.
WE ARE LOOKING AT WHAT IT MIGHT
LOOK LIKE TO MAKE IT MORE OF A
DROP OFF COMMODITY IF THAT
MAKES SENSE.
THAT COULD BE COMING BACK FOR
CONVERSATIONS LATER IN THE YEAR.
WE CONTINUE TO PARTNER WITH
KING COUNTY SEATTLE TO MAKE
THOSE CONNECTIONS.
AND WE ARE AWARE OF THE
CHALLENGES AROUND SINGLE USE
PACKAGING.
AND WHAT WE CAN DO THROUGH
REQUIREMENTS WITH STRAWS, AND
BAGS AND WHAT WE CAN DO MOVING
FORWARD.
WHAT WE CAN DO TO REDUCE THE
AMOUNT OF THAT LOW VALUE
MATERIAL.
AND THEN WRAPPING UP SOME OF
THE OTHER ITEMS THAT YOU MAY BE
INTERESTED IN FROM THE
RECYCLING TASK FORCE.
WE REALIZED THE NEED TO BE
REALLY CLEAR TO THE CUSTOMER,
AND CONSISTENT AND SO WE ARE
WORKING ACROSS THE JURISDICTIONS
TO DO THAT.
AND SOME OF THAT IS BEYOND OUR
ACTION THE MOST INTERESTING
THING WAS A RECENT CONVENTION
THAT AMENDED THEIR REQUIREMENTS
FOR COUNTRIES THAT ARE
IMPORTING MATERIALS THAT NEED
TO PROVIDE PERMISSION FOR THAT,
THAT GETS TO THE QUESTION OF
KNOWING WHAT HAPPENS.
WE ARE GOING TO TAKE ADVANTAGE
OF THESE EFFORTS, WORKING WITH
KING COUNTY TO FIGURE OUT WHAT
WE CAN LEARN, WHAT IS A DOABLE
IN TERMS OF SOME OF THAT
TRACKING OF MATERIAL AND THE
STEWARDSHIP AS A GHOST
DOWNSTREAM.
THAT SOMETHING THAT WE ARE ALL
CURIOUS ABOUT AND CONCERNED
ABOUT.
>> SO ARE YOU SAYING THAT IT
WILL CREATE SOME OVERSIGHT AND
REPORTING?
IF A COUNTRY IS ACCEPTING
IMPORTED MATERIALS?
>> THAT ALLOWS COUNTRIES TO
REJECT MATERIAL WITHOUT THEIR
PERMISSION YOU ARE SEEING THAT
MORE AND MORE.
CHINA IS A MAJOR PLAYER.
THEY CAN WRITE THEIR OWN BOOK
TO SOME DEGREE.
SOME OTHER SMALLER COUNTRIES
NEED THAT SUPPORT.
IT ALLOWS THEM TO SET THE TERMS
OF WHAT THEY WILL ACCEPT FOR
MATERIALS AND EPOCHS MONITORING
IN PLACE.
SOME OF THIS YOU'VE SEEN WITH
THE ELECTRONIC WASTE AND THE
CHALLENGES WITH THAT.
AND THE BASIL CONVENTION
PROVIDED FRAMEWORK FOR THAT
MONITORING.
THAT'S JUST ONE MECHANISM. THE
MANUFACTURES ARE TUNED INTO
THIS.
THEY ARE DOING THE SAME THING.
YOU CAN SEE THAT WITH THE
ELECTRONIC MANUFACTURING.
THE AWARENESS AND THE
INFORMATION.
THERE IS A LOT OF MOVING PARTS
AND WERE JUST A SMALL PLAYER.
BUT WE CERTAINLY WANT TO SEE
MORE THAT.
WE CAN WRAP UP WITH THE
SUSTAINABLE PACKAGING, WE ARE
LOOKING TO PARTNER WITH
MANUFACTURERS TO ADOPT
SUSTAINABLE PACKAGING PRACTICES
. WE WORK WITH THE NATIONAL
COALITION WE HELD A CONFERENCE
IN APRIL THAT WAS FANTASTIC.
A LOT OF PLAYERS WERE HERE.
AND A LOT OF INTERESTED
PARTIES.
WE CONTINUE TO WORK WITH THEM
LOCALLY AND NATIONALLY TO HELP
MANUFACTURERS STEP UP AND MAKE
THEIR COMMODITIES AND MATERIALS
MORE ACCEPTABLE TO OUR SYSTEM.
WE ARE WORKING ON THAT
VOLUNTARY MEASURE AS WELL AS WE
LOOK FOR REGIONAL LEGISLATION.
AND THEN IN TERMS OF REACHING
OUT TO OUR CUSTOMERS, THEN USE
ARE GREAT.
AND WE APPRECIATE THAT IT IS ON
EVERYONE'S MIND.
WE HAVE A REGIONAL CAMPAIGN TO
REACH CUSTOMERS AND REMIND THEM
TO ONLY PUT WHAT IS ON YOUR
INSTRUCTIONS.
TO TAKE THAT SECOND TO THINK
ABOUT IT.
AND TO TAKE A MOMENT TO MAKE
SURE THAT IT'S EMPTY, CLEAN,
AND DRY.
THAT HELPS A LOT, WE'VE SEEN A
LOT OF OPPORTUNITY THERE.
AND WE ARE WHERE THAT IT'S AN
OPPORTUNITY TO TALK TO OUR
CUSTOMERS ABOUT A VARIETY OF
THINGS IN TERMS OF WASTE
PREVENTION.
INCLUDING WASTE PACKAGING.
THIS BRINGS THE AWARENESS THAT
MATERIALS ARE HANDLED MANY
TIMES ON A SINGLE USE. IF WE
CAN TAKE ADDITIONAL MEASURES TO
REDUCE THAT PACKAGING IT'S A
GREAT OPPORTUNITY.
WE SEE THAT AS WELL.
WE ARE AWARE THAT THIS IS AN
OPPORTUNITY FOR US TO SHARE
THAT AS WELL THAT IS SOMETHING
THAT WE SEE THAT IS GOING ON.
IT'S A VERY DYNAMIC POLICY AREA
FOR US AS WELL.
THERE IS SOME SUCCESS.
SOME OF IT IS DOMESTIC AND THAT
HELPS.
>> I UNDERSTAND A LOT OF THE
COMPANIES ARE PRODUCING SINGLE
USE PACKAGING AND THEY ARE NOT
LOCAL COMPANIES.
THEY ARE NATIONAL COMPANIES.
IS THERE SOMETHING THAT WE CAN
DO TO INCENTIVIZE LOCALLY, FOR
LOCAL PRODUCERS THE REDUCTION
OF SINGLE USE PACKAGING.
>> I BELIEVE THERE ARE SOME
POSSIBILITIES.
AND WE WILL CONTINUE THAT A
DIALOGUE AS WE COME BACK.
>> LIKE AN INVENTORY OF
PRODUCERS OF PRODUCTS HERE
LOCALLY THAT ARE PRODUCING THIS
KIND OF PACKAGING. I THINK
THAT WOULD BE HELPFUL FOR US TO
GET OUR ARMS AROUND THE LOCAL
BUSINESSES THAT ARE ENGAGED IN
THESE PRACTICES THAT WE WANT TO
DISCOURAGE.
>> EXACTLY.
LOOKING FOR OPPORTUNITIES
AROUND WHAT CAN BE DONE.
AND AS WE MOVE FORWARD WITH YOU
IN THE EXECUTIVE ON THE FOOD
SERVICE PACKAGING.
THERE ARE A LOT MORE STEPS THAT
WE CAN LOOK AT AND HOW TO
ELEVATE THE RIGHT PRACTICES AND
REQUIRE MORE SPECIFIC
PRACTICES.
I THINK THAT'S EXACTLY RIGHT.
>> THANK YOU
>> TO CLARIFY.
ON THE DOWNSTREAM OF THE PAPER.
CHINA STILL NEEDS THE PULP.
AND THIS IS WHAT THE POPE LOOKS
LIKE.
IN CASE YOU'VE NEVER SEEN WHAT
THE POPE LOOKS LIKE.
IT'S NOT FLURRY.
IT'S ACTUALLY DRIED OUT A
STUFF.
OUR MILLS ARE TAKING MORE
RECYCLED PAPER AND EXPORTING
THAT IN BIG BALES TO CHINA.
PROCESSED PULP.
THEY ARE TAKING UP BUT ONCE IT
IS DONE CORRECTLY.
>> YES ONCE IT'S BEEN REMOVED.
SUPER HELPFUL.
THANK YOU.
THAT'S FANTASTIC.
WE APPRECIATE YOU COMING AND
JOINING US.
WE WANT TO LEARN MORE ABOUT
SOME OF THE SPECIFIC ACTIONS
COMING OUT OF THE TASK FORCE
AND THE SUMMIT.
WE WOULD LOVE TO GET SOME
MATERIALS THAT IDENTIFY, I SEE
THAT THERE IS A MENTION OF A
FOLLOW-UP ACTIONS FOR
PARTNERSHIPS, TRACKING
LEGISLATION AND REGULATION ON
THE SUMMIT PIECE.
AND WE WOULD LOVE TO LEARN
MORE, DIG IN AND SEE WHERE I
CAN HELP OUT.
>> THAT'S ARE EXCITED THANK YOU
>> WE WILL SEE YOU SOON ON THE
RECYCLING REPORT.
THANK YOU.
>>> A JET HIM
>>> AGENDA ITEM 4 SEATTLE
PUBLIC UTILITIES AUDIT EXIT
REPORT.
>>> GOOD MORNING, HELLO.
>> HELLO I AM LAURIE TISH WITH
MOSS ADAMS
>> AND I AM TYLER REPARUK WITH
THE
WWW.SEATTLECHANNEL.ORG/WATCH-
LIVE FOUR.
>> THIS IS THE EXIT REPORT.
>> WE WILL DIG INTO THE
PRESENTATION.
THE FIRST PAGE OF THE
PRESENTATION IS THE BIG
PICTURE.
THE PURPOSE OF THE AUDIT IS TO
AUDIT THE FINANCIAL STATEMENTS
OF THE THREE UTILITIES WITHIN
SEATTLE PUBLIC UTILITIES.
WE WORK IN CONJUNCTION WITH THE
WASHINGTON STATE AUDITORS
OFFICE.
THERE ARE NO DUPLICATION OF
EFFORTS.
YOU WILL SEE THAT WE WORK HAND-
IN-HAND, THEY AUDIT THE CASH
INVESTMENTS OF THE TREASURY,
AND WE RELY ON THEIR WORK IN
CONJUNCTION WITH OURS.
PART OF THAT IS THE FINANCIAL
STATEMENTS THAT ROLL INTO THE
CITIES FINANCIAL REPORT.
ANOTHER PURPOSE OF THE AUDIT IS
THE OPINIONS THAT GO ALONG WITH
THOSE FINANCIAL STATEMENTS THAT
ARE RELIED UPON FOR THE BOND
ISSUES FOR THE CURRENT YEAR.
THE SCOPE AS A REMINDER.
WE DO AUDIT THE FINANCIAL
STATEMENTS.
WE DO NOT GET INTO EFFICIENCY,
OR ECONOMY OF SCALE OR OTHER
AREAS THAT WOULD BE COVERED BY
DIFFERENT TYPES OF AUDITS.
MAN IF IT MANAGEMENT PROVIDES
THE SCHEDULES AND THEN WE TAKE
OVER, WE DID ISSUE AN
UNMODIFIED OPINION FOR THE
THREE SETS OF UTILITIES,
DRAINAGE, AND SOLID WASTE.
WE HAD NO MATERIAL WEAKNESSES
NOTED, NO DEFICIENCIES, AND WE
DID NOT PROVIDE A LETTER
RECOGNITION.
VERY CLEAN AUDIT THE SHIP.
TYLER'S GOING TO COVER SOME OF
THE KEY POINTS OF THE AUDIT.
AND I WILL WRAP UP THE
COMMUNICATIONS.
>> OVER THE NEXT COUPLE OF
SLIDES AND A WALK-THROUGH THE
OTHER SIGNIFICANT AREAS RELATED
TO THE AUDIT, WORKING THROUGH A
BIG PORTION, ONE OF THE THINGS
WE DO AS PART OF OUR AUDIT IS
MAKING SURE THAT YOUR
CAPITALIZING THEM APPROPRIATELY.
WE WILL REACH OUT AND SELECT
CERTAIN PROJECTS, TO GET A
SENSE AND UNDERSTANDING TO SEE
IF THE COSTS ASSOCIATED ARE
APPROPRIATE CAPITALIZED.
THAT IS A HOLISTIC APPROACH TO
GETTING A GOOD UNDERSTANDING.
SOMETIMES YOU CAN GET INTO THE
WEEDS BUT YOU HAVE TO HAVE AN
UNDERSTANDING OF WHAT YOU'RE
LOOKING AT TO ENSURE THAT IT IS
SOMETHING THAT IS CORRECT.
MOVING DOWN, ONE THING I WILL
SAY IT WAS A QUIET YEAR RELATED
TO BONDS. THERE WERE NO BONDS
ISSUED BY ANY OF THE FUNDS.
BUT WE STILL LOOK AT COVENANT
COMPLIANCE, AND WE HAVE
OUTSTANDING BOND DEBT, AND
WE'RE LOOKING TO SEE IF
INTEREST EXPENSES ARE
APPROPRIATE FOR THE YEAR AS
WELL.
AS PART OF OUR AUDIT, AND WE
MENTIONED THIS ON THE OPENING
PRESENTATION.
WE LOOK AT INTERNAL CONTROLS
THROUGH THE FIRST HALF OF THE
AUDIT TO GET AN ASSESSMENT OF
THE CONTROL ENVIRONMENT AROUND
THE FUNDS, PROCESSES, AND
CONTROLS.
KIND OF LIKE A CHECKS AND
BALANCES. WE ARE LOOKING AT
DIFFERENT BUSINESS CYCLES THAT
THEY HAVE WITH EXPENDITURES,
PAYROLL HOW THEY CLOSE THEIR
MONTHLY FINANCIAL STATEMENTS.
THERE CAPITAL PROJECT, THE
WORKFLOW THAT SOMETHING THAT IS
BUILT IN AS PART OF OUR AUDIT
TO GET COMFORTABLE WITH WHAT
THEY ARE DOING ON THE DAY TODAY
, AS IT FLOWS INTO THE
FINANCIAL STATEMENTS AND IT IS
ACCURATE.
WE ALSO LOOK AT SOME OF THE
LARGER ENVIRONMENTAL
REMEDIATION LIABILITIES THAT
ARE OUT THERE.
LOOKING AT ANY SORT OF UPDATE
DURING THE YEAR RELATED TO
PROJECTS THAT ARE OUT THERE.
WE MEET WITH PROJECT MANAGERS
THAT ARE OVERSEEN THOSE LARGER
ENVIRONMENTAL PROJECTS. IF
THERE ARE CHANGES IN ESTIMATES
IT WOULD INCREASE THE LIABILITY
THAT'S SOMETHING THAT IS PART
OF OUR ASSESSMENT.
WE FOUND THAT SEATTLE PUBLIC
UTILITIES ARE APPROPRIATELY
REFLECTING THOSE LIABILITIES ON
THEIR STATEMENTS IN A 2018.
FROM A LITIGATION STANDPOINT WE
SEND A ATTORNEY CONFIRMATION TO
GET AN OVERVIEW OF
CONTINGENCIES THAT MIGHT BE OUT
THERE.,
WE WERE COMFORTABLE WITH HOW
THEY REPORT THEIR RESULTS.
WE ARE LOOKING AT THE REVENUES
THAT ARE BEING RECORDED AS WELL
AS EXPENSES WE SET INDEPENDENT
EXPECTATIONS.
HISTORICAL INFORMATION AND
TRENDS THAT COME UP WITH OUR
OWN ASSESSMENT OF WHERE WE
THINK REVENUE AND EXPENSES ARE
AT.
THAT IS SOMETHING THAT WE FELT
WAS A REASONABLE TO WHAT WAS
RECORDED.
>> WHAT IS THE REFERENCE TO
LANDFILL CLOSURE AND POST
CLOSURE ON THE SLIDE?
>> THE LANDFILL CLOSURE IS
REFERENCING THE SOLID WASTE
FUND.
IT RELATES TO A UNIQUE THING.
IT IS RELATED TO THE ACCRUED
LIABILITY RELATED TO THE
LANDFILL.
>> THE FUTURE ESTIMATED COST
THAT WILL BE OCCURRED NEED TO
BE PUT IN THE BALANCE SHEET
TODAY.
IT'S AN ESTIMATE OF ALL FUTURE
COSTS RELATED TO THE PERMANENT
CARE OF THAT LANDFILL THAT IS
RECORDED INTO THE FINANCIAL
STATEMENTS.
>> I BELIEVE IT WAS LAST YEAR
THAT THEY CAME BACK TO THE CITY
COUNCIL, AND THIS IS THE
CLOSURE OF THE SOUTH PARK
LANDFILL AND THERE WAS A
SETTLEMENT WITH THE STATE AND A
PRIVATE PROPERTY OWNER AS WELL.
AND THEY TOOK ON A LIABILITY
FOR THE REMEDIATION OF THAT
PROPERTY.
>> AS IT RELATES TO THE WORK
THAT YOU'RE DOING.
YOU ARE NOT MONITORING THAT
THAT WE ARE FULFILLING THE
OBLIGATIONS OF THE AGREEMENT.
YOU ARE MONITORING THE FINANCES
ASSOCIATED?
>> IT'S ALL PART AND PARCEL.
WHEN YOU'RE COMMITTED TO ANY
REMEDIATION LIABILITY WHICH A
LANDFILL DOES FALL INTO THAT
CATEGORY, WE LOOK AT THE
AGREEMENT AND ALL OF THE
REQUIREMENTS THAT ARE UNIQUE TO
LANDFILLS THERE IS A STATEMENT
DEVOTED TO LANDFILLS AND THE
CAPPING OF THOSE LANDFILLS AND
THE POST CLOSURE CARE.
WE DO ENSURE THAT ALL ASPECTS
ARE ACCOUNTED FOR.
>> AND THEY ARE NECESSARY TO
FULFILL THE OBLIGATIONS.
>> MOVING DOWN A LITTLE BIT.
A KEY CHANGE FOR 2018 WAS THE
CHANGE IN THE ACCOUNTING
SYSTEMS WHICH AFFECTED ALL
THREE FUNDS.
AS PART OF OUR MOSS ADAMS TEAM
WE HAVE TEAM MEMBERS THAT ARE
SPECIFICALLY SPECIALISTS WITHIN
INFORMATION TECHNOLOGY AND
AUDITING WE BRING THEM IN EVERY
YEAR, AND FOR 2018 WE HAD THEM
LOOK AT THAT TRANSITION FROM
THE OLD SYSTEM TO THE NEW
SYSTEM AND WE DIDN'T IDENTIFY
ANY AREAS OF RISK.
IT WAS CLEAN.
AND FINALLY THE MANAGEMENT
DISCUSSION AND ANALYSIS, THAT'S
THE FIRST PART OF THE
DISCUSSION, AS PART OF OUR
RESPONSIBILITY WE ARE LOOKING
AT AND MAKING SURE THAT THOSE
MANAGEMENT STATEMENTS ARE
REPRESENTED IN ACCORDANCE WITH
THE ACCOUNTING STANDARDS WHICH
WAS ONE OF THE THINGS THAT WE
HAD DONE AS FAR AS OUR REVIEW
OF THE STATEMENTS.
>> WE ARE REQUIRED TO MAKE A
NUMBER OF COMMUNICATIONS TO THE
GOVERNING BODY WHICH WE WILL DO
RIGHT NOW THE FIRST IS A
SIGNIFICANT ACCOUNTING POLICY
THAT CONTINUES TO BE EXPLAINED.
IF YOU DON'T HAVE A LOT OF TIME
THIS IS A GOOD PLACE TO START
BECAUSE YOU WILL GET A GOOD
IDEA OF THE VARIOUS POLICIES
THERE WERE TWO NEW ADOPTIONS
THIS YEAR.
STATEMENT NUMBER 75 RELATED TO
POSTEMPLOYMENT BENEFITS,
HEALTHCARE SUBSIDIES.
VERY SIMILAR TO THE PENSION
STANDARD FROM A COUPLE OF YEARS
AGO.
THAT LIABILITY IS NOW REQUIRED
TO BE RECORDED ON THE TIER
BALANCE SHEETS.
YOU HAVE TO ESTIMATE WHAT THE
FUTURE PAYMENTS ARE GOING TO BE
FOR THE FUTURE RETIREES.
THAT WAS IMPLEMENTED AND ADOPTED
IT BASICALLY WENT BACK IN TIME
AND TOOK INTO ACCOUNT THE PAST
IMPACT AND PUT IT INTO THIS
YEAR'S BALANCE SHEET.
IT'S WELL EXPLAINED IN THE
NOTES.
IT WASN'T A SIGNIFICANT DOLLAR
AMOUNT, BUT THE UTILITIES DID
COMPLY WITH THE REQUIREMENTS TO
DO THAT.
THE SECOND THAT WAS ADOPTED IS
REGARDING CAPITALIZED INTEREST.
IT DETERMINED THAT GOVERNMENTAL
ENTITIES ARE NO LONGER ABLE TO
CAPITALIZE INTEREST INTO THEIR
SELF CONSTRUCTED ASSETS.
BUT BECAUSE SEATTLE PUBLIC
UTILITIES CAN USE A REGULATORY
ACCOUNTING MEANING THAT YOU ARE
ABLE TO MATCH THE EXPENDITURES
TO THE RATE THAT UTILITIES HAS
DECIDED THAT THEY WILL CONTINUE
TO CAPITALIZE ON THE INTEREST.
YOU WILL HAVE TO MAKE SURE THAT
THE RATE BUDGETS INCORPORATE THE
COST GOING INTO THE SELF
CONSTRUCTED ASSETS.
THAT WAS ADOPTED THIS YEAR.
NOTHING HAS CHANGED BECAUSE YOU
ALWAYS HAVE CAPITALIZE INTEREST
AND FROM AN OPERATIONAL
STANDPOINT THERE WILL HAVE TO
BE SOME CHECKING DONE TO MAKE
SURE THAT THAT ESTIMATE GETS
PUT INTO THE RIGHT CASES FOR
THE YEAR.
EVERY SET OF FINANCIAL
STATEMENTS CONTAINS ESTIMATES.
AND WE'VE LISTED THE PRIMARY
ESTIMATES THAT RELATE TO THE
CUTOFF.
AS OF DECEMBER 31 THERE'S A
CERTAIN AMOUNT OF SERVICES THAT
HAVE BEEN PERFORMED THAT HAVE
NOT BEEN BILLED YET BECAUSE
THEY WILL BE BILLED IN JANUARY.
THERE IS AN ESTIMATE ON THAT.
AN ESTIMATE FOR ANY ALLOWANCE
FOR ACCOUNTS.
ALL THE ENVIRONMENTAL
LIABILITIES INCLUDING THE
LOWNDES PHIL CLOSURE THERE
ESTIMATES AND THE VERY
SOPHISTICATED HELPED ALONG WITH
ATTORNEYS AND ENGINEERS WE DO
COME BEHIND THAT AND UNDERSTAND
AND WE ARE COMFORTABLE FROM AN
ACCOUNTING STANDPOINT AND THEN
TO COVER ADJUSTMENTS.
WE HAD NO ADJUSTMENTS.
THERE WERE TWO RECLASSIFYING
ENTRIES.
WE FOUND AN ITEM INSTEAD OF
BEING AT TRADE RECEIVABLES
SHOULD'VE BEEN RECORDED AS DUE
FROM OTHER GOVERNMENTS.
IT WAS JUST WITHIN THAT
RECEIVABLE CATEGORY THAT WE
PROPOSED AND THEY DID RECORD
THAT RECLASSIFICATION ENTRY.
WE DID RECEIVE A REPRESENT
TATIAN LETTER FROM MANAGEMENT
BUT THERE IS NO DISAGREEMENT
AND WE ARE NOT AWARE OF ANY
CONSULTATION THAT THEY
PERFORMED.
WE HAD NO DIFFICULTIES IN
PERFORMING THE AUDIT.
THERE WAS A DELAY IN THE ISSUE
OF OUR OPINION.
THEY WERE ONE MONTH LATER THAN
NORMAL BECAUSE WE WORK HAND-IN-
HAND WITH THE STATE AUDITOR ON
CERTAIN ACCOUNTS AND WE HAD TO
WAIT ON THAT CASH BALANCE OF
THE CITY, FOR THE STATE AUDITOR
TO FULLY RECONCILE A FINAL
BALANCE OF CASH.
WE HAD TO SIT AND WAIT FOR THIS
TO BE DONE BEFORE WE COULD
FINISH OUR WORK.
THE STATEMENTS WERE ISSUED AT
THE END OF MAY AS OPPOSED TO
THE END OF APRIL WHICH IS OUR
NORMAL TIMEFRAME.
WE ARE INDEPENDENT WITH RESPECT
TO THE UTILITIES AND THE SEATTLE
CITY AS A WHOLE.
>> AS IT RELATES TO LAST YEAR'S
AUDIT. THERE WERE SOME
BUSINESS PRACTICES AND
RECOMMENDATIONS ACCOUNT
INFORMATION TECHNOLOGY.
D GO BACK AND CHECK TO SEE IF
THOSE RECOMMENDATIONS WERE
ACTED ON?
>> YES, WE KEEP A RUNNING TALLY
ON THAT.
THERE WERE SOME TECHNOLOGY
POINTS WE DID PROVIDE THOSE TO
THE UTILITIES AND THE IT STAFF
WE'VE HAD SEVERAL MEETINGS
REGARDING THE DISPOSITION OF
THOSE ITEMS.
MOST OF THE ONES FROM LAST YEAR
HAVE BEEN CLEARED.
WE HAD A FEW MORE THAT CAME UP
THAT REALLY FIT THE DESCRIPTION
OF BUSINESS PROCESS IMPROVEMENT
RATHER THAN CONTROL
DEFICIENCIES.
WE FEEL THAT THEY HAVE A GOOD
PLAN TO ADDRESS THEM.
IN FACT MANY OF THEM HAVE BEEN
ADDRESSED AS OF TODAY. KEEP IN
MIND THAT WE DID OUR WORK AT
THE END OF 2018.
SEVERAL MONTHS HAVE GONE BY.
>> I AM GLAD TO HEAR THAT THE
COOPERATION IS STRONG AS WELL
AS A FINANCIAL CONTROL. THANK
YOU FOR CONFIRMING THAT FOR US.
>> YOU CAN SEE FROM THE
ACKNOWLEDGMENTS THAT WE
CONTINUE TO BE VERY IMPRESSED
BY THE TONE, THE OPENNESS TO
AUDITORS COMING IN WE ARE
EVASIVE AND TIME-CONSUMING IN
REQUEST.
AND WE REALLY DO FILL THAT
THERE IS A GOOD ATTITUDE IN
PLACE REGARDING BEING VERY OPEN
TO RECOMMENDATIONS TO BEST
PRACTICES AND IMPROVEMENTS TO
INTERNAL CONTROL STRUCTURES.
ANOTHER AUDIT UNDER THE BELT.
AND IT WENT VERY WELL.
THANK YOU.
>> THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR
JOINING US.
WE APPRECIATE THE GOOD NEWS.
WITH THAT IT IS 1142 A.M.
AND THE MEETING IS ADJOURNED.
[ EVENT CONCLUDED ]