>>> GOOD AFTERNOON EVERYBODY.
SO, THIS IS A SPECIAL MEETING
OF THE SELECT COMMITTEE ON THE
LIBRARY LEVY.
THE DATE IS APRIL 11 AND THE
TIME IS 5:32.
JOINING ME IS THE VICE CHAIR OF
THE COMMITTEE, VICE CHAIR
BAGSHAW.
SOME OF OUR COLLEAGUES ARE
RUNNING A LITTLE BIT LATE AND
THEY ARE WATCHING, BUT THEY ARE
PAYING ATTENTION.
I WILL START WITH THE CHAIR'S
REPORT.
THIS IS THE THIRD MEETING TO
DELIBERATE THE 2019 PROPOSED
LIBRARY LEVY RENEWAL.
AMENDMENTS TO THE PROPOSAL WERE
DUE LAST WEDNESDAY.
TODAY WE WILL PRESENT THESE
AMENDMENTS AND CONCERNS BROUGHT
UP IN OUR LAST MEETING.
IN PREPARATION, THERE IS AN
UPDATED MEMO FOR COUNCILMEMBERS
IN AND FAQ PACKET THAT EXPLAINS
CONCEPTS AND CLEARS UP COMMON
MISCONCEPTIONS OF THIS
PROPOSAL.
BOTH ARE AVAILABLE TO THE
PUBLIC ONLINE AND IN HARD COPY
OUTSIDE CHAMBERS.
THERE ARE A FEW COMMENTS I
WOULD LIKE TO MAKE, BEFORE I DO
A FEW REMINDERS.
THANK YOU, COUNCILMEMBER
HERBOLD, I'M GLAD YOU ARE HERE.
A FEW COMMENTS I WOULD LIKE TO
READ BEFORE I MOVE ON TO
HOUSEKEEPING MATTERS.
THE LIBRARY LEVY IS A POTENTIAL
SOURCE OF ADDITIONAL FUNDING
FOR PUBLIC LIBRARIES TO
CONTINUE PROVIDING SERVICES FOR
PATRONS.
IN SHORT, IT IS A LEVY FOR THE
LIBRARY AND THE SERVICES IT
PROVIDES.
THE CITY LEVIES A TAX ON THE
PROPERTY.
FIRST THE MAYOR'S OFFICE
PROPOSES A PLAN.
THE COUNCIL MAY AMEND THE
PROPOSAL WITH THE UNDERSTANDING
THE BOARD OF TRUSTEES HAS SOLE
RESPONSIBILITY FOR ALLOCATING
THE FUNDS.
THE COUNCIL MUST APPROVE THE
PROPOSAL BEFORE IT CAN PROCEED
TO THE BALLOT FOR A FINAL
DECISION BY VOTERS.
I ALSO WANT TO ADD WHO SETS
PRIORITIES.
IT IS CONSTRUCTED BASED ON
NEIGHBORHOOD NEEDS.
I WANT TO THANK MARSALIS, OUR
LIBRARIAN.
THANK YOU, AND ALL THE WORK
THAT YOU AND THE BOARD OF
TRUSTEES HAVE DONE. I
UNDERSTAND YOU WENT AND MET
WITH NEIGHBORHOODS FOR COMMUNITY
INPUT.
SETTLE PUBLIC LIBRARIES HOSTED
AT LEAST SIX MAJOR COMMUNITY
CONVERSATIONS IN THE PAST SIX
YEARS AND CONSTRUCTED A SURVEY
WITH MORE THAN 26,000 RESPONSES
THAT AFFIRM THE FOLLOWING
PRIORITIES.
THE SAME PRIORITIES WE HAD IN
THE 2012 LEVY.
THIS LEVY IS CONSTRUCTED AROUND
FOUR CATEGORIES AND THAT IS WHAT
THE LEGISLATION THAT WAS
TRANSMITTED TO COUNSEL.
I HAVE SAID THIS BEFORE AND I
WILL SAY IT AGAIN, SO WE CAN
HAVE CONVERSATIONS BASED ON
COMMUNITY INPUT FOR TWO YEARS
AND 26,000 RESPONSES, THAT IT IS
OURS AND ACCESS, COLLECTIONS,
UPDATED TECHNOLOGY, CLEAN AND
SAFE BUILDINGS AND MAINTENANCE.
WITH THAT, LET ME MOVE FORWARD.
I HAVE AN IMPORTANT REMINDER TO
MY FELLOW COUNCILMEMBERS TO
ADDRESS CONCERNS BROUGHT UP IN
TONIGHT'S MEETING.
THE DEADLINE FOR THOSE IS
TOMORROW AT NOON TO ASHA AND TO
MY OFFICE.
FOLLOWING THE STAFF BRIEFING I
WILL OPEN THE PUBLIC HEARING ON
THIS PROPOSAL.
IT IS A GREAT OPPORTUNITY FOR
THE PUBLIC TO VOICE THEIR
INPUT, IDES AND CONCERNS.
OF COURSE IT IS NOT THE ONLY
OPPORTUNITY.
YOU ARE ENCOURAGED AND WELCOMED
TO DIALOGUE BY CONTACTING YOUR
COUNCILMEMBER DIRECTLY AND
CERTAINLY TO OUR OFFICE. OH,
WELCOME COUNCILMEMBER O'BRIEN
AND COUNCILMEMBER HARRELL.
THANK YOU FOR BEING HERE TODAY.
CAN YOU READ THE FIRST ITEM TO
THE RECORD?
>> ITEM 1, COUNSEL BILL 19491.
AN ORDINANCE RELATING TO
REGULAR PROPERTY TAXES,
PROVIDING FOR THE SUBMISSION TO
THE QUALIFIED ELECTORS OF THE
CITY AT AN ELECTION TO BE HELD
ON AUGUST 6, 2019, A
PROPOSITION TO LIFT THE LIMIT
ON REGULAR PROPERTY TAXES UNDER
CHAPTER 84.55 RCW AND AUTHORIZE
THE CITY TO LEVY ADDITIONAL
TAXES FOR UP TO SEVEN YEARS FOR
THE PURPOSE OF SUSTAINING
INVESTMENTS IN LIBRARY
OPERATING HOURS, COLLECTIONS,
TECHNOLOGY AND MAINTENANCE
WHILE EXPANDING ACCESS TO
OPPORTUNITY THROUGH ADDITIONAL
HOURS, LIBRARY MATERIALS AND
TECHNOLOGY AND UNDERTAKING
SEISMIC RETROFITS OF THREE
LIBRARY FACILITIES.
AUTHORIZING CREATION OF A NEW
FUND AND RATIFYING AND
CONFIRMING CERTAIN PRIOR ACTS.
>> ASHA, FOR THE RECORD, CAN I
HAVE YOU IDENTIFY YOURSELF?
AND THANK YOU FOR THIS GREAT
PUBLIC MEMO THAT YOU DID.
I WILL LET YOU INTRODUCE
YOURSELF.
WE ARE GOING TO GO THROUGH THIS
LEGAL MEMO, NOT LEGAL MEMO,
THIS ISSUE MEMO FIRST AND THEN
PUBLIC COMMENTS.
>> ASHA VENKATARAMAN, COUNCIL
CENTRAL STAFF.
I WILL DO A QUICK SUMMARY OF
WHAT WE HAVE TALKED ABOUT SO
FAR, WHAT WE WILL TALK ABOUT
AND NEXT STEPS.
THE LIBRARY PRESENTED THEIR
PROPOSAL ON MARCH 28.
ON MONDAY, APRIL 8, WE TALKED
ABOUT POTENTIAL ISSUES.
ADDITIONS TO THE LEVY AND
SPECIFIC PROPOSALS TO AMEND THE
LEVY TO ADD SERVICES THAT WERE
NOT CURRENTLY PROPOSED IN THE
LEVY AS TRANSMITTED.
SO TODAY WE WILL DISCUSS THE
SPECIFIC PROPOSALS, BOTH THE
ONES WEDISCUSSED ON APRIL 8,
AS WELL AS ADDITIONAL AMENDMENTS
THAT COUNCILMEMBERS HAVE TO ADD
TO THE LEVY AS AMENDMENTS.
FOR EACH I HAVE PROVIDED AN
ESTIMATE OF COSTS, OR WE ARE
WORKING ON AN ESTIMATE OF COSTS.
THESE ARE ALL ADDITIONAL
SERVICES THAT WOULD BE ADDED TO
THE PROPOSED LEVY TO BE FUNDED
BY LEVY DOLLARS.
IN TERMS OF NEXT STEPS BASED ON
COUNSEL'S DIRECTION, I WILL BE
DRAFTING LANGUAGE FOR A VOTE ON
APRIL 17.
SO, THIS MEMO ESSENTIALLY
SUMMARIZES A VARIETY OF
POTENTIAL AMENDMENTS AND I WILL
DIVE INTO THOSE.
THE FIRST IS TO FUND
EDUCATIONAL PROGRAMMING FOR
CHILDREN AND YOUTH.
THIS IS PROPOSED BY
COUNCILMEMBER GONZALEZ.
AS SHE IS NOT HERE TO SPEAK ON
IT, I WILL DO A QUICK SUMMARY
OF THAT AMENDMENT.
THE LIBRARY CURRENTLY PROVIDES
PROGRAMS FOR CHILDREN FROM
BIRTH TO THREE YEARS OF AGE AND
INCLUDES BABY STORYTIME,
ENGLISH AND BILINGUAL,
PRESCHOOL TORY TIME, TODDLER'S
STORYTIME, LANGUAGE STORYTIME
AND A VARIETY OF OTHER
PROGRAMS.
PATRON ATTENDANCE IS
APPROXIMATELY 107,000 PATRONS
PER YEAR.
CURRENTLY THIS PROGRAM IS
FUNDED IN PART BY THE LIBRARY
FOUNDATION AT A COST OF ALMOST
$340,000 AS BUDGETED IN 2019.
IN ADDITION, THE LIBRARY
PROVIDES EDUCATIONAL PROGRAMMING
IN ITS STUDENT SUCCESS PROGRAM,
WHICH SUPPORTS STUDENTS FROM
PRESCHOOL ALL THE WAY THROUGH
HIGH SCHOOL.
THE LIBRARY EMPLOYS A FORMAL
LEARNING LIBRARIAN TO SUPPORT
THESE PROGRAMS.
CURRENTLY THE PUBLIC LIBRARY
FOUNDATION PROVIDES THE
MAJORITY OF THE SUPPORT FOR
THESE PROGRAMS AT A COST OF
ABOUT $157,000 IN 2019.
THIS INCLUDES THINGS LIKE
LEARNING BUDDIES, WHICH
PROVIDES TIME FOR TEENS AND
CHILDREN TO READ AND PLAY.
HOMEWORK HELP, THE HOMEWORK
HELP SERVICE.
THE MIDDLE SCHOOL PROGRAM TO
DEVELOP CAREER, COLLEGE AND
LIFE SKILLS FOR YOUTH AGES 12
TO 14.
TEAM READ, WHICH SERVES SECOND
AND THIRD GRADERS TO AVOID
SUMMER READING LOSS.
AND WE SERVE YOUTH 14 TO 18 BY
PROVIDING LEADERSHIP
OPPORTUNITIES THROUGH YOUTH LED
SERVICE LEADING.
THE AMENDMENT WOULD REPLACE THE
CURRENT FUNDING WITH LEVY
SUPPORT AT THE COST THAT YOU
SEE ON TABLE 2 AT THE BOTTOM OF
YOUR MEMO.
IT WOULD COST ABOUT $2.8 MILLION
OVER SEVEN YEARS OF THE LEVY,
FOR MAINTAINING THE PROGRAMMING
FOR CHILDREN AGES ZERO THROUGH
THREE.
AN ADDITIONAL $1.4 MILLION TO
MAINTAIN THE STUDENT SUCCESS
PROGRAMMING WITH LEVY FUNDS.
>> I'M SORRY, GO AHEAD.
>> IS IT OKAY TO ASK QUESTIONS?
>> ABSOLUTELY.
GIVEN THAT THESE PROGRAMS ARE
FUNDED BY THE SEATTLE LIBRARY
FOUNDATION AND WE ARE PROPOSING
TO REPLACE THAT FUNDING, ARE
THESE DOLLARS THAT THE LIBRARY
FOUNDATION CURRENTLY MAKES
AVAILABLE FOR THESE PROGRAMS
GOING TO BE INVESTED IN SOME
DIFFERENT WAY?
>> IT IS POSSIBLE.
WE HAVEN'T HAD DISCUSSIONS
ABOUT WHERE THE DISPLACED
FUNDING WILL GO TOWARD, SO IT
COULD GO TOWARD ANY NUMBER OF
THINGS THE FOUNDATION SUPPORTS.
>> AND WHY ARE WE PROPOSING TO
REPLACE FUNDING THAT IS ALREADY
PROVIDED BY THE FOUNDATION WITH
LEVY DOLLARS?
>> I BELIEVE THE IDEA, AND
COUNCILMEMBER GONZALEZ WILL
HAVE TO CONFIRM THIS, BUT I
BELIEVE THE PLAN IS TO SWAP
THEM OUT TO PROVIDE MORE
CONSISTENT FUNDS.
AT SOME POINT IF DONOR FUNDS
WERE TO DROP AND THESE PROGRAMS
WERE AT RISK, THERE WOULD BE
LEVY FUNDING TO SUPPORT THEM.
THE SECOND AMENDMENT, I WILL
DISCUSS, IS ONE WE DISCUSSED ON
MONDAY, APRIL 8, AS WELL.
TO ADD MORE HOURS SYSTEMWIDE.
AS IT CURRENTLY STANDS, THE
LIBRARY IS OPEN FOR 1377 HOURS
AS OF 2016.
THE ITEMS IN THE PROPOSED LEVY
AS TRANSMITTED WOULD ADD FRIDAY
HOURS FOR FOUR BRANCHES AND
MORNING AND EVENING HOURS TO AN
ADDITIONAL THREE BRANCHES.
WITHOUT ANY ADDITIONAL FUNDING.
THE LIBRARY CAN STAFF ONE MORE
OPEN SUNDAY HOUR AT ALL
BRANCHES.
THIS PROPOSAL WOULD ADD
ADDITIONAL EVENING HOURS,
MONDAY THROUGH THURSDAY,
SYSTEMWIDE.
FOR ADDITIONAL HOURS PER WEEK
AT THE CENTRAL LIBRARY AND EACH
OF THE BRANCHES FOR AN
ADDITIONAL 108 HOURS PER WEEK.
THE COST TO ADD THOSE HOURS --
OH, AND JUST NOTE ALL OF THESE
HOURS WOULD START JUNE 1, 2020.
THAT IS WHAT COST IS BASED ON.
TO ADD THAT ADDITIONAL HOUR OF
SERVICE WOULD COST $2.6 MILLION
OVER THE LIFE OF THE LEVY.
IT WOULD BE AN AVERAGE ANNUAL
COST OF $866,000.
THE COST TO THE AVERAGE MEDIAN
HOUSEHOLD WOULD INCREASE BY
$2.47 OR $.21 PER MONTH.
IT BREAKS DOWN INTO 3.84
MILLION NECESSARY TO OPEN THOSE
HOURS AT THE CENTRAL LIBRARY.
$1.9 MILLION TO OPEN THE
ADDITIONAL HOUR AT THE 26
BRANCHES AND THE NEED FOR AN
ADDITIONAL FLOATING CUSTODIAN
TO RESPOND TO CUSTODIAL NEEDS
ACROSS ALL OF THE NEW OPEN
HOURS.
>> SO, WE TALKED A LITTLE BIT
ABOUT THIS ON, WAS IT TUESDAY,
MONDAY?
MONDAY, THANK YOU.
SO JUST A REMINDER, THIS WOULD
SERVE A COUPLE PURPOSES.
ONE IS TO HAVE MORE LIBRARY
HOURS IN THE EVENING, WHICH I
THINK WOULD BE APPRECIATED BY A
LOT OF USERS.
IT WOULD ALSO MEAN THAT OTHER
SPACES IN THE LIBRARIES, SUCH
AS COMMUNITY MEETING ROOMS,
WOULD BE AVAILABLE A LITTLE
LATER IN THE DAY.
THAT HAS BEEN A PROBLEM FOR
EVENING COMMUNITY MEETINGS TO
BE FUNCTIONAL IN THOSE SPACES.
SINCE W ALREADY HAVE THOSE
SPACES, I WOULD LOVE TO BE ABLE
TO MAKE THOSE AVAILABLE.
AS ASHA SAID, THE PRICE TAG
HERE, THE $6.2 MILLION OVER THE
SEVEN YEARS, INCLUDES BOTH THE
CENTRAL LIBRARY AND BRANCH
LIBRARIES.
THE CENTRAL LIBRARY IS A LITTLE
LESS THAN TWO THIRDS OF THE
COST.
THE BRANCHES BEING A MUCH
SMALLER PORTION.
I AM SUPPORTIVE OF THE ENTIRE
THING, BUT AS WE WORK TOWARD
MAKING AMENDMENTS, IF COLLEAGUES
ARE CONCERNED, BUT WOULD WANT
TO CONTEMPLATE JUST DOING THE
BRANCH LIBRARIES, I WOULD BE
OPEN TO THAT, ALSO.
I DON'T KNOW IF YOU WOULD LIKE
ME TO SUBMIT A SECOND AMENDMENT
THAT HAS THIS STAT SIDE-BY-SIDE
OR WE CAN AMEND IT AS WE GET
THERE.
I AM HAPPY TO HAVE TWO SEPARATE
AMENDMENTS IF IT MAKES IT
EASIER FOR YOU OR IF THAT
DOESN'T WORK, WE CAN PROPOSE
MODIFYING IT.
>> WHATEVER IS CONVENIENT.
>> I WILL DEFER TO ASHA THEN.
>> I WOULD BE HAPPY TO PROPOSE
TWO OPTIONS FOR THE AMENDMENT
LANGUAGE AND IT CAN GET VOTED
ON IN TERMS OF WHICHEVER OPTION
HAS MEMBER SUPPORT.
>> THANK YOU ASHA, I APPRECIATE
THAT.
>> THE THIRD AMENDMENT IS ABOUT
A FEASIBILITY STUDY FOR
CHILDCARE SPACE AT LIBRARIES.
COUNCILMEMBERS SPOKE A LITTLE
TO THIS ON MONDAY.
AT THE MOMENT, THERE AREN'T ANY
LIBRARY LOCATIONS CO-LOCATED
WITH CHILDCARE FACILITIES.
IT MAY BE POSSIBLE TO ADD THE
SPACES TO LOCATIONS THROUGH
REDEVELOPMENT OR FURTHER
BUILDOUT, BUT A FEASIBILITY
STUDY COULD LOOK INTO THE
SPECIFIC REQUIREMENTS, WHAT THE
CHALLENGES WOULD BE FOR THE
BRANCH LIBRARIES OR CENTRAL
LIBRARY, WHETHER IT SHOULD
COVER CAPITAL COSTS AND
OPERATIONAL COSTS, AND THEN
WHAT ESTIMATED COSTS FOR BOTH
OF THOSE WOULD BE.
A COST ESTIMATE, WE ARE WORKING
WITH THE LIBRARY AND THE
EXECUTIVE TO GATHER MORE
INFORMATION ABOUT WHAT THE
FEASIBILITY STUDY MIGHT COST,
SO THAT INFORMATION WILL BE
PROVIDED AS SOON AS A COST
ESTIMATE CAN BE AGREED UPON.
>> THANK YOU VERY MUCH, MADAM
CHAIR.
AS YOU HEARD ME DISCUSS A
NUMBER OF TIMES, WE ARE
INTERESTED IN EVERY OPPORTUNITY
THERE IS TO CREATE ADDITIONAL
CHILDCARE FACILITIES THROUGHOUT
SEATTLE, ESPECIALLY FOR INFANT
AND TODDLER CARE.
WASHINGTON STATE IS RANKED
SIXTH IN THE NATION FOR THE
LEAST AFFORDABLE CHILDCARE FOR
INFANTS AND 10th IN THE NATION
FOR THE LEAST AFFORDABLE FOR
PRESCHOOL. AS YOU KNOW,
SEATTLEITES PAY
DISPROPORTIONATELY HIGHER
RATES, 31% HIGHER THAN THE REST
OF THE STATE, ON CHILDCARE,
BECAUSE WE HAVE A LACK OF
SUPPLY.
WHAT I WOULD LIKE TO DO IS
THINK CREATIVELY.
IN WASHINGTON DC THEY PASSED AN
ORDINANCE TO PUT THREE
CHILDCARE FACILITIES ON-SITE IN
CITY-OWNED BUILDINGS.
I THOUGHT THIS WOULD BE A GREAT
OPPORTUNITY TO SEE WHAT WE
COULD DO WITHIN PUBLICLY OWNED
LIBRARIES TO CREATE A SPACE FOR
OUR KIDS TO BECOME THE NEWEST
LEARNERS, THE YOUNGEST LEARNERS
IN OUR SYSTEM.
AFTER HAVING CONVERSATIONS WITH
THE CHAIR IN THE LIBRARY, I
THINK IT WAS AMBITIOUS TO THINK
ABOUT HOW WE WOULD DO CAPITAL
PROJECTS IN THIS LEVY, WHEN WE
NEED TO DO FEASIBILITY
ANALYSIS.
WE HAVE A NUMBER OF SITES READY
TO GO, BUT HAVING CONVERSATIONS
WITH OUR LIBRARY FRIENDS ABOUT
THE NEED, FEASIBILITY OF
CREATING CHILDCARE ON-SITE,
ESPECIALLY FOR INFANT AND
TODDLER CARE, IT IS SOMETHING I
AM INTERESTED IN DOING.
WHAT YOU WILL SEE A FROM US IS
A DOLLAR FIGURE FOR A
FEASIBILITY ANALYSIS IN THE
STUDY.
THE LIBRARY HAS DONE A REALLY
GOOD JOB SO FAR MAKING IT
POSSIBLE FOR OUR YOUNGEST
LEARNERS TO FEEL WELCOME IN THE
LIBRARIES.
PARENTS CAN TAKE BOARD BOOKS
HOME WITHOUT HAVING TO CHECK
THEM OUT.
THERE USED TO BE FEAR ABOUT
TAKING HOME BOOKS LIKE THIS
WITH TEETH MARKS ON IT.
IF YOU SEE A BOOK LIKE THIS
WITH A YELLOW STICKER, YOU CAN
TAKE IT HOME WITHOUT FEAR OF IT
BEING DAMAGED WHEN YOU BRING IT
BACK AND WITHOUT ANY ADDITIONAL
COSTS OR, YOU KNOW, ANY FEAR OF
BEING REPRIMANDED FOR THOSE
TEETH MARKS.
ONE OF THE THINGS WE ARE
EXCITED ABOUT WITH THIS
OPPORTUNITY IS TO CONTINUE THAT
EXTENSION OF THE ONGOING
COMMITMENT TO BRING IN EARLY
LEADERS AND WITH THE CYCLE OF
EDUCATIO -- I THINK THIS GOES
HAND IN HAND.
I HOPE THAT WITH THIS NARROWED
DOWN APPROACH TO JUST LOOKING
AT A FEASIBILITY STUDY AND IN
PARTNERSHIP WITH THE LIBRARY
AND COMMUNITY PARTNERS AND
SUPPORTERS OF THE LIBRARY, THAT
THIS WOULD BE SEEN AS A GOOD
ENTRY FOR FUTURE PATRONS AS WE
GO FORWARD.
WE WOULD BE DOING AN ANALYSIS
FOR THE REQUIREMENTS FOR
LICENSING, SITE-SPECIFIC
CONSIDERATIONS, ESTIMATED
CAPITAL COSTS IN THE FUTURE, AND
WHERE WE WOULD CONTINUE TO BE
ABLE TO FIND OPERATIONAL
FUNDING AND PARTNERS TO RUN THE
OPERATION, SO THANK YOU FOR
YOUR ENCOURAGEMENT TO THINK
ABOUT THE FEASIBILITY FIRST AND
FOREMOST.
AND THIS IS IN SCOPE TO THAT
CONVERSATION.
THANKS AGAIN TO THE LIBRARIES
FOR ENGAGING WITH US.
>> COUNCILMEMBER MOSQUEDA,
THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR ALLOWING
US TO HAVE A NICE CONVERSATION.
JUST TWO OF US IN THE OFFICE,
EVERYBODY.
JUST ASK, JUST TWO.
TALKING ABOUT HOW WE LOOK AT
PRE-K AND CHILDCARE FACILITIES
IN PUBLIC ASSETS THAT THE CITY
OWNS.
BUT I REALLY DO WANT TO CAUTION
MY COLLEAGUES THAT THIS IS A
LEVY WE ARE PUTTING TO THE
TAXPAYERS AND IT IS A LEVY
BASED UPON 26,000 RESPONSES IN
TWO YEARS OF COMMUNITY MEETINGS,
IN WHICH FOUR AREAS, AS I
OUTLINED BEFORE, IS WHAT THE
FOCUS WAS.
75% OF THE LIBRARY IS FUNDED
OUT OF THE GENERAL FUND.
THIS LEVY IS ONLY FOR 25% OF
HOW WE MAINTAIN OPERATIONS FROM
1998 TO NOW.
SO UNLIKE THE BUDGET PROCESS,
THIS IS DIFFERENT IN THAT IT IS
A LEVY AND WE ARE ASKING THE
TAXPAYERS TO PAY FOR THIS.
IN A SENSE OF HERE ARE THE
ISSUES THEY WANTED AND DEEMED
IMPORTANT.
I DO WANT TO POINT OUT,
COUNCILMEMBER MOSQUEDA AND I
DISCUSSED AND WE HAVE HAD
ONGOING DISCUSSIONS WITH THIS
COUNSEL, THAT THERE ARE CAPITAL
FUNDS AVAILABLE IN OTHER AREAS,
NOT JUST IN THE GENERAL FUND,
BUT ALSO IN THE DEPARTMENT OF
EARLY LEARNING AND EDUCATION.
IF ANYONE HERE WANTS TO ADD TO
THAT, PLEASE HELP ME OUT, BUT
THERE IS ROOM FOR THAT THERE,
AS WELL.
I REALLY APPRECIATE
COUNCILMEMBER MOSQUEDA.
I KNOW SHE HAS MORE POTENTIAL
AMENDMENTS COMING.
THE FIRST ONE I AM VERY MUCH
INCLINED TO SUPPORT AND LEARN
MORE ABOUT AND FIND OUT WHERE
AND HOW WE CAN MAKE THIS HAPPEN
IN DIFFERENT NEIGHBORHOODS THAT
WOULD NEED THESE SERVICES.
I KNOW COUNCILMEMBER MOSQUEDA,
YOU WILL WANT TO TALK ABOUT THE
OTHER THREE AMENDMENTS.
I WOULD JUST LIKE YOU AND SOME
OF -- SOME OF THESE ISSUES FOR
ME ARE LABOR RELATED AND
COLLECTIVE BARGAINING AND UNION
RELATED AND SOME OF THEM I
WOULD LIKE TO FIND SPACE FOR
HOW WE CAN HAVE A DISCUSSION
ABOUT FUNDING.
AGAIN, THE FOUR CORNERS OF THIS
DOCUMENT AND THE LEVY FOCUS
AROUND FOR CATEGORIES AND WHAT
WE ARE PUTTING TO THE VOTERS
AND I JUST WANT TO HAVE
EVERYONE MINDFUL OF THAT.
OKAY, SO IF WE COULD CONTINUE.
>> THE NEXT AMENDMENT TO
PROVIDE ADDITIONAL SECURITY
OFFICERS TO THE LIBRARY.
AS IT STANDS THE LIBRARY
EMPLOYS 19 SECURITY OFFICERS.
THERE WAS A STUDY DONE IN 2010
ABOUT LIBRARY SECURITY THE
RECOMMENDED 21 SECURITY
OFFICERS.
THAT WOULD MEAN AN ADDITIONAL
TWO REGULAR SECURITY OFFICERS.
AS IT STANDS, SECURITY OFFICERS
PROVIDE RESPONSES IN THE
CENTRAL LIBRARY AND TO BRANCH
LIBRARIES ABOUT SECURITY-
RELATED CONCERNS AND ALSO
PROVIDE SOME LEVEL OF OUTREACH
THROUGH A PERSON CENTERED
APPROACH.
THE COST OF ONE SECURITY
OFFICER FOR 2019 IS ABOUT
$61,000.
TO ADD TO SECURITY OFFICERS
OVER THE LIFE OF THE LEVY WOULD
BE ABOUT $1.3 MILLION.
AN AVERAGE ANNUAL COST OF ABOUT
$181,000.
THE ANNUAL AVERAGE COST WOULD
BE $.51 ANNUALLY.
>> ALL RIGHT, COUNCILMEMBER
MOSQUEDA.
>> THANK YOU.
JUST TO CLARIFY, WE HAVE THREE
AMENDMENTS TOTAL, SO THIS IS
THE SECOND OF THREE.
AS YOU HEARD, THERE WAS A STUDY
THE LIBRARY CONDUCTED IN 2010
ON THE NEED FOR ADDITIONAL
SECURITY PRECAUTIONS AND THE
STAFF DID THIS OUT OF A DESIRE
TO MAKE SURE EVERYONE FELT
WELCOME.
AS WE KNOW, OUR LIBRARY STAFF
AND MISSION IS TO MAKE SURE THE
LIBRARY IS ACCESSIBLE TO ALL
MEMBERS OF THE PUBLIC AND THAT
WE ENSURE THERE IS A SAFE
WORKPLACE FOR THOSE WORKING IN
THE LIBRARIES AND THAT THOSE
VISITING THE LIBRARIES ALSO
FEEL SAFE.
WE CURRENTLY KNOW THERE HAS
BEEN AN INCREASE IN INCIDENCE
IN CERTAIN LOCATIONS SUCH AS
BALLARD, CAPITAL HILL,
UNIVERSITY AND LAKE CITY
LIBRARIES.
IT HAS MADE RESPONDING TO THESE
CRISES OR INCIDENCES HARDER
WHEN WE HAVE LIMITED STAFF.
YOU CAN IMAGINE A STAFFING
SHORTAGE MAKES IT HARDER FOR
FOLKS TO RESPOND WHEN THERE IS
A CRISIS FOR MENTAL HEALTH
BREAKDOWN AND SOMEONE NEEDS
ATTENTION, WHICH GETS US TO OUR
SECOND ONE IN A MINUTE.
WHAT WE KNOW IS ANYTIME SOMEONE
IS HAVING A MOMENT OF CRISIS,
HAVING SECURITY GUARDS WITH US
TODAY MAKES PEOPLE FEEL SAFE,
BOTH READING BOOKS IN THE
LIBRARY AND WORKING IN THE
LIBRARY.
I REALLY APPLAUD THE FACT THAT
THE LIBRARY ALREADY HAS 19
OFFICERS ON HAND.
WE ARE BASICALLY ASKING FOR TWO
MORE TO MEET THE 2010
RECOMMENDATIONS FOR 21 SECURITY
OFFICERS.
I'VE HEARD DIRECTLY FROM FOLKS
WHO WORK IN THE LIBRARY THAT
THIS CREATES A CHALLENGE WHEN
THEY DON'T HAVE ADEQUATE
STAFFING IN TERMS OF SAFETY
SUPPORT, BOTH HELPING THE
PUBLIC AND MAKING SURE FOLKS
THERE FEEL SAFE.
SO AS YOU HEARD, THIS AMENDMENT
WOULD INCLUDE $1.263 MILLION
OVER THE LIFE OF THE LEVY FOR A
FOUR CENT PER MONTH INVESTMENT
PER HOUSEHOLD.
I THINK THE RETURN ON
INVESTMENT IS HIGH, TAKING SURE
PEOPLE FEEL SAFE GOING TO THE
LIBRARY.
ACCESSING THE LIBRARY FOR THE
FIRST TIME AND BEING LIFETIME
MEMBERS OF LIBRARIES THROUGHOUT
SEATTLE.
I HOPE WE CAN CONTINUE TO WORK
ON THIS.
IT IS SOMETHING THAT I KNOW IS
PARAMOUNT TO MAKE SURE THAT
FOLKS WORKING THERE AND
VISITING THE LIBRARIES FEEL
SAFE.
>> THANK YOU.
>> THE LAST AMENDMENT WOULD BE
TO EXPAND THE CURRENT COMMUNITY
RESOURCE SPECIALIST PROGRAM.
AS IT STANDS, THE LIBRARY HAS A
CONTRACT WITH THE DOWNTOWN
EMERGENCY SERVICE CENTER FOR A
SOCIAL WORKER AND A CASE MANAGER
TO BE AT THE CENTRAL LIBRARY,
AS WELL AS DROP-IN HOURS AT
OTHER BRANCHES, SUCH AS BALLARD
AND CAPITOL HILL.
TO EXPAND THE WORK THAT THIS
PROGRAM DOES, THE LIBRARY WOULD
PRIORITIZE SUPPORTING YOUTH IN
THOSE SERVICES OR POTENTIALLY
ADDING TO CASEWORKERS TO
SUPPLEMENT THE CURRENT ADULT
SERVICES THAT ARE PROVIDED.
THE SERVICES PROVIDED, EXCUSE
ME, BY THE SERVICE PROGRAM IS
TO CONNECT PATRONS TO A VARIETY
OF SERVICES AND THEY ARE
PRIMARILY UN-HOUSED PATRONS, TO
HOUSING, HEALTH OR SOCIAL
SERVICES, AS WELL AS PERFORMING
THE VULNERABILITY ASSESSMENT
INDEX THAT ENTERS PEOPLE INTO
THE COORDINATED ENTRY PROGRAM.
TO EXPAND THE YOUTH SERVICES
PORTION OF THIS WOULD BE ABOUT
$1.1 MILLION OVER THE COST OF
THE LEVY.
ABOUT $161,000 IN AN AVERAGE
ANNUAL COST.
IT WOULD COST THE AVERAGE
MEDIAN HOUSEHOLD $.46 PER YEAR
WITH A MONTHLY COST OF FOUR
CENTS, TO ADD TO CASEWORKERS
FOR ADULT SUPPORT WOULD COST
ABOUT $189,000 -- EXCUSE ME,
$141,000 OF AVERAGE ANNUAL COST.
THE COST TO THE MEDIAN
HOUSEHOLD, $.40 PER YEAR OR
THREE CENTS PER MONTH.
>> COUNCILMEMBER HERBOLD.
>> THANK YOU, MY QUESTION FOR
THIS ONE IS ALSO THE SAME AS MY
QUESTION FOR THE ONE RELATED TO
SECURITY GUARDS.
I WOULD BE INTERESTED TO KNOW
OF THE 19 SECURITY GUARDS THAT
ARE ALREADY FUNDED TO PROVIDE
SECURITY SERVICES FOR THE
LIBRARY, WHERE THOSE DOLLARS
COME FROM?
ARE THOSE DOLLARS CURRENTLY
COMING FROM THE GENERAL FUND OR
ARE THEY COMING FROM THE
CURRENT LEVY AND LIKEWISE, FOR
THE SERVICES THAT ARE PROVIDED
FOR THE COMMUNITY RESOURCE
SPECIALIST THAT CURRENTLY
EXIST, ARE THEY PROVIDED
THROUGH THE GENERAL FUND,
THROUGH OUR BUDGET PROCESS OR
THROUGH THE EXISTING LEVY?
>> GIVE ME JUST A MOMENT, I CAN
FIND THAT INFORMATION.
OKAY, CURRENTLY THE OPERATING
FUND, WHICH I BELIEVE THE
GENERAL FUND PAYS FOR, 14
SECURITY OFFICERS.
THE LEVY CURRENTLY PAYS FOR FOR
PHYSICIANS.
IN 2020, THE PROPOSAL WILL PAY
FOR SIX OFFICERS, WITH THE
OPERATING FUNDS PAYING FOR THE
REMAINING 13.
THAT IS THE SECURITY OFFICER
PIECE --
>> EXCUSE ME, CAN I FOLLOW UP
WITH THAT ASHA?
WILL YOU GIVE ME THOSE NUMBERS
AGAIN.
THAT IS IN THE PROPOSED LEVY
LANGUAGE NOW, WILL YOU GIVE ME
THOSE NUMBERS ONE MORE TIME.
>> YES.
MOVING FORWARD, RATHER,
CURRENTLY -- UNDER THE CURRENT
LEVY, 14 SECURITY OFFICERS AND
THE SUPERVISOR ARE FUNDED BY
THE LIBRARIES OPERATING FUND AND
THE LEVY PAYS FOR FOUR
POSITIONS.
>> SO FOUR OUT OF 14 ARE
CURRENTLY PAID FOR WITH LEVY
DOLLARS.
>> FOUR OUT OF 19.
>> FOUR OUT OF 19?
>> YES.
MOVING FORWARD, THE LEVY WOULD
PAY FOR SIX OFFICERS WITH THE
REMAINING OFFICERS PAID FOR WITH
OPERATING FUND.
>> STILL HAVING 19 UNDER THE
CURRENT PROPOSAL?
>> AND I HAD ONE THING HERE?
COUNCILMEMBER MOSQUEDA, YOU AND
I OFTEN TIMES, MORE OFTEN THAN
NOT, LINE UP WITH HOW WE WANT
TO SPEND OUR MONEY.
I WILL ALERT YOU THAT I AM
REALLY CONCERNED THAT WE DON'T
SUPPLANT THE OPERATING FUND
WITH LEVY DOLLARS OR ASK
TAXPAYERS IN THIS LEVY TO PAY
MORE THAN WHAT WE COULD BE
ASKING FOR COMING UP IN OUR
NEXT BUDGET OR EVEN IN OUR
QUARTERLY SUPPLEMENT, SO I JUST
WANT TO ACKNOWLEDGE THAT WHAT
YOU ARE SUGGESTING I THINK IS
GREAT SUGGESTIONS FOR BOTH
SECURITY AND EDUCATION PURPOSES
AND I WOULD LIKE US TO REVISIT
THAT OUT OF THE GENERAL FUND IS
CONTRASTED WITH NEW LEVY
DOLLARS.
>> THANK YOU, MADAM CHAIR.
JUST TO CLARIFY ON YOUR ANSWER,
IT DOES SOUND LIKE CURRENTLY
FOUR OUT OF THE -- FOR OF THE
POSITIONS ARE CURRENTLY PAID
FOR BY LEVY DOLLARS.
THE PROPOSAL IS TO INCREASE THE
NUMBER 26 BEING PAID FOR BY
LEVY DOLLARS, SO WE ARE ALREADY
SEEING THAT THE PROPOSEDLEVY
THAT CAME DOWN FROM THE
EXECUTIVE'S OFFICE ALREADY MADE
SOME VALUE JUDGMENTS THAT THIS
WAS A REALLY IMPORTANT ISSUE
THAT WE FUND WITH LEVY DOLLARS.
I THINK IN ORDER TO BE
RESPONSIVE TO WHAT THE FRONT-
LINE WORKERS AND THE LIBRARY
HAVE SAID IS A NEED TO.
AGAIN WE HAVE A 2019-2020
BUDGET PAPER WHERE THEY WERE
ALSO ASKING FOR TWO ADDITIONAL
FTES FOR SECURITY, SO THIS IS A
LONG-STANDING NEED.
GIVEN THAT IT IS A CURRENT
PRACTICE OF USING LEVY DOLLARS
TO MAKE SURE PATRONS AND
WORKERS FEEL SAFE, I HOPE FOLKS
WILL TAKE ANOTHER LOOK AT IT
AND POTENTIALLY CONSIDER
SUPPORTING THIS, AS I THINK IT
IS NOT CHANGING THE PROCESS OR
SUPPLANTING CURRENT DOLLARS.
>> THANK YOU.
COUNCILMEMBER HERBOLD.
>> THANK YOU.
JUST A FOLLOW-UP BECAUSE I
CONFUSED MYSELF WITH WHAT WE
THINK OF CURRENTLY.
IS WHAT YOU DESCRIBE THE
MAYOR'S PROPOSED NEW LEVY OR IS
THAT WHAT IS HAPPENING TODAY?
>> SO, CURRENTLY THE SPLIT IS,
SORRY, MY MATH.
IT IS FOR OFFICERS FUNDED BY
THE LEVY THROUGH 2019.
AS OF 2020, AS THE PROPOSAL WAS
TRANSMITTED, TWO ADDITIONAL
OFFICERS WILL BE FUNDED BY THE
LEVY, SO, SIX OFFICERS FUNDED
BY THE LEVY.
THIS DOES NOT INCLUDE ANY OF THE
AMENDMENT ADDITIONS.
>> SO A TOTAL OF SIX AS
PROPOSED BY THE MAYOR FOR THIS
LEVY?
>> CORRECT.
>> AND THIS ADDS TWO MORE?
>> TWO ADDITIONAL OFFICERS, SO
A TOTAL OF 21 OFFICERS, EIGHT
OF WHICH WOULD BE SUPPORTED BY
THE LEVY.
>> WE SPENT A LOT OF TIME
TALKING ABOUT TWO OFFICERS.
THE LARGER ISSUE FOR ME IN THE
CONTEXT OF THESE OFFICERS ARE
THAT IF WE LOOK AT THE
PERCENTAGE, TALKING ABOUT THIS
LEVY IS ABOUT 25% OF THE TOTAL
OPERATING FUND OF THE LIBRARY.
BASED ON THE PROPOSED LEVY, HAS
THAT CHANGED AT ALL?
HAS IT GONE UP OR DOWN SLIGHTLY
IN TERMS OF THE OVERALL?
FOR ME, AS WE LAYER ON
ADDITIONS FROM THE EXECUTIVES
PACKAGE, I DON'T KNOW IF WE ARE
TIPPING THE SCALES IN TERMS OF
SUPPLANTING OR NOT.
ALL OF THESE ARE GREAT IDEAS,
PHENOMENAL IDEAS.
I CAN'T DISAGREE WITH THE NEED
FOR IT.
WHATI WOULD LIKE TO SEE BEFORE
WE ACTUALLY PUT THE LEVY ON THE
BALLOT IS SOME FEEDBACK.
FOR EXAMPLE, ON COUNCILMEMBER
GONZALEZ'S PROPOSALS, HER
AMENDMENTS, IF I AM HEARING IT
CORRECTLY AND THE FOUNDATION
ARE PAYING FOR THOSE THINGS,
WHAT IS THEIR CONFIDENCE LEVEL
IN TERMS OF THE VOLATILITY OF
THEIR STREAM IF THOSE WERE IN
PLACE?
CAN WE GET SOME FEEDBACK?
I AM LOOKING AT YOU TO MAKE
SURE THAT AS WE AMEND THIS --
BECAUSE NOW WE ARE UP AROUND
$227 MILLION.
STARTING TO GET MY ATTENTION A
LITTLE BIT, HERE.
WE NEED TO KNOW IF THERE ARE
SMARTER WAYS TO DO SOME OF
THIS.
I WOULD LIKE THE EXECUTIVES
FEEDBACK, AS WELL, AS WE ARE
GETTING CLOSE TO BUDGET
CONSIDERATIONS.
SO THESE GREAT IDEAS, ARE THERE
ALTERNATIVE WAYS TO DO THIS?
YOU KNOW, ONE POSSIBILITY COULD
BE WE COULD HAVE LOWERED THE
LEVY AMOUNT FROM THE EXECUTIVE.
WE DON'T ALWAYS HAVE TO GO IN
ONE DIRECTION ON THESE THINGS
IN OUR DISCUSSIONS.
I DON'T HEAR ANYONE TALKING.
I HAVEN'T HAD THE WHEREWITHAL
-- I GOT OUTVOTED ON MY FINE
THEORY, BY THE WAY.
SO I AM GETTING CONCERNED ABOUT
THE DOLLAR AMOUNT ESCALATING.
I NEED SOME FEEDBACK FROM THE
EXPERTS IN THE LIBRARY WORLD.
>> I WOULD BE HAPPY TO FOLLOW
UP WITH THE LIBRARY AND THE
EXECUTIVE ON THAT.
>> YES, WE WILL BE DOING THAT.
I SHOULD NOTE FOR THE PUBLIC'S
COMMENT, TOO, THAT I HAD THE
OPPORTUNITY TO TALK TO THE HEAD
LIBRARIAN OVER THESE
AMENDMENTS, SO I HAVE A SENSE
OF WHAT THEY ARE INCLINED, BUT
MY UNDERSTANDING IS MISTER
TURNER HAD TO GO BACK AND MAKE
SURE THAT HE MET WITH HIS BOARD
OF TRUSTEES.
I'M NOT TRYING TO TAKE AWAY
FROM ANYONE'S AMENDMENTS OR
ISSUES, BECAUSE AS THE COUNCIL
PRESIDENT SAID, THEY ALL MAKE
SENSE AND THEY ARE ALL GREAT,
EXCEPT WE STILL HAVE TO BE
MINDFUL THAT WE ARE IN LEVY
MODE.
NOT GENERAL FUND BUDGET MODE.
YOU ARE RIGHT, COUNCIL
PRESIDENT, YOU'RE ABSOLUTELY
RIGHT.
WE COULD GO DOWN OR WE COULD GO
UP, BUT AGAIN WE ARE PUTTING
THIS TO THE TAXPAYERS AND WE
DON'T WANT TO PUT A POISON PILL
WHERE EVERYTHING GOES DOWN,
BECAUSE TAXPAYERS ARE NOT GOING
TO BE COMFORTABLE.
WE ARE NOT VOTING ON A
CHILDCARE LEVY.
WE ARE NOT VOTING ON A PUBLIC
SAFETY LEVY, WE ARE VOTING ON A
LIBRARY LEVY, SO WE HAVE TO
KEEP THAT IN MIND.
WE HAD THIS DISCUSSION IN OUR
LAST HEARING, THAT LIBRARIES
ARE THE MOST PUBLIC OF
INSTITUTIONS THAT THIS CITY
HAS.
THAT ALL CITIES HAVE.
WE HAVE TO BE MINDFUL AS AN
ESSENTIAL GOVERNMENTAL FUNCTION
OR SERVICE, THAT THOSE CORE
SERVICES ARE PROVIDED FOR.
I WOULD LIKE TO SEE THESE TYPES
OF ITEMS THAT COUNCILMEMBER
MOSQUEDA HAS GENEROUSLY PUT
TOGETHER WITHIN OUR LIBRARIES.
I WOULD LIKE TO SEE A LOT OF
THESE ISSUES INTEGRATED INTO
OUR 2007 COMMUNITY CENTERS.
BUT AGAIN I HAVE TO GO BACK TO
THE ACTUAL BRICK AND MORTAR
PURPOSE OF THOSE ASSETS IN
CIVIC DEVELOPMENT AND WHAT OUR
JOB IS AS STEWARDS,
PARTICULARLY WHEN WE PROPOSE
THIS TO THE TAXPAYERS.
THAT IS ALL I AM BEING MINDFUL
OF AT THIS POINT.
OKAY, I WILL MOVE FORWARD.
>> THANK YOU, MADAM CHAIR.
WOULD YOU LIKE ME TO READ
THROUGH THE SUMMARY OF ITEM
NUMBER THREE, SINCE WE HAVE NOT
DONE THAT YET?
>> YES.
>> AND YOU ALREADY PRESENTED ON
THAT?
I'M SORRY, ITEM NUMBER FIVE.
JUST TO CLARIFY, I APPRECIATE
THE CAUTIONARY NOTE FROM THE
CHAIR AND OTHER COUNSEL
COLLEAGUES.
TO REITERATE, THIS CONCEPT OF
HAVING SECURITY GUARDS IS
ALREADY PART OF WHAT WE FUND IN
OUR EXISTING LEVY AND ALREADY
PART OF WHAT THE MAYOR HAS
SUGGESTED IN HER PROPOSED LEVY,
SO THIS IS A CORE COMPONENT TO
MAKING SURE PEOPLE FEEL SAFE
AND LIBRARIES AND THAT THEY
CONTINUE TO ACCESS AND THOSE
WHO WORK THERE FEEL SAFE.
I APPLAUD THE FOLKS AT THE
LIBRARY FOR BRINGING FORWARD
THE BUDGET ISSUE PAPER LAST YEAR
BASED ON THE DATA ANALYZED IN
2010 AND WE WILL CONTINUE TO
HAVE CONVERSATIONS.
I HAVE NO DOUBT.
ONE OTHER AREA THAT I HAVE TO
BRING FORWARD FOR YOUR
CONSIDERATION ON ITEM NUMBER
FIVE, AS DISCUSSED A FEW
MINUTES AGO BY ASHA, RELATES TO
EXPANDING THE COMMUNITY
RESOURCE SPECIALIST PROGRAM AND
I HAVE TO SAY THIS WAS AN
EXCELLENT OPPORTUNITY FOR ME TO
LEARN ABOUT THE INNOVATIVE
PROGRAMMING OUR LIBRARIES ARE
CURRENTLY DOING. I
THINK, MADAM CHAIR, YOU SAID IT
A SECOND AGO THAT WE HAVE
LIBRARIES THAT FUNCTION AS THE
MOST PUBLIC OF OUR SERVICES.
THIS IS THE POINT OF ENTRY FOR
MANY IN THE PUBLIC.
RESIDENCE, TO BE ABLE TO ACCESS
RESIDENCE THAT THE CITY MAY
OFFER BY COMING INTO THE DOORS
OF THE LIBRARY.
WHAT OUR LIBRARY HAS DONE BY
THE INCLUSION OF A COMMUNITY
RESOURCE SPECIALIST HAS BEEN TO
CONNECT PATRONS WHO SELF
IDENTIFY, I WANT TO BE CLEAR,
THEY SELF IDENTIFY AS
EXPERIENCING HOMELESSNESS, TO
RESOURCES SUCH AS HOUSING,
HEALTH AND SERVICES.
SO WHEN AN INDIVIDUAL COMES IN,
FOR EXAMPLE TO THE CENTRAL
LIBRARY RIGHT NOW, FOUR DAYS A
WEEK THERE IS A COMMUNITY
RESOURCE SPECIALIST WHO IS ONE
SOCIAL WORKER AND ONE CASE
MANAGER, WHO PRIMARILY HELPS
INDIVIDUALS THESE FOUR DAYS A
WEEK TO GET CONNECTED TO
SERVICES.
THEY DO, I THINK, ROLLING HOURS
AT THE RANIER BEACH BRANCH AND
WE HAVE HEARD FROM LIBRARY
WORKERS THAT EXPANDING THE
PROGRAM TO OTHER HIGH NEED
LOCATIONS, INCLUDING BALLARD,
LAKE CITY, D5.
OKAY.
BALLARD, LAKE CITY, UNIVERSITY,
IT IS A BIG PRIORITY FOR
CREATING A SAFE AND SUCCESSFUL
ENVIRONMENT AND MEETING THE
NEEDS OF THE PATRON, SO THIS
AMENDMENT WOULD EXPAND THE
PROGRAM TO WAYS.
ONE IS YOU SEE, THROUGH THE
YOUTH SERVICES SUPPORT, AND
ALSO BY CREATING TWO
CASEWORKERS FOR ADULT SUPPORT
SERVICES.
SO I WOULD OFFER THAT THIS
AMENDMENT IS SCALABLE.
IF WE FEEL THIS IS TOO MUCH TO
BITE OFF IN THIS ONE MOMENT,
THERE ARE TWO OPTIONS THERE.
ONE IS LOOKING AT ONE YOUTH
FOCUSED SOCIAL WORKER AND A
HALF-TIME YOUTH FOCUSED
CASEWORKER.
THE OTHER WOULD BE LOOKING AT
ADULT SERVICES, AS YOU CAN SEE
IN THE CHART PROVIDE HERE AND
ON THE SCREEN.
I WOULD ALSO ARGUE THAT FOR
LESS THAN ONE DOLLAR PER YEAR,
WE WOULD BE ABLE TO PURCHASE
ALL OF THESE SERVICES THAT THE
COMMUNITY RESOURCE SPECIALIST
PROGRAM WOULD BE ABLE TO
PROVIDE IF WE WERE TO EXTEND IT
AS THE AMENDMENT SUGGESTS.
AGAIN, I KNOW THAT THIS IS A
CRITICAL LEVY THAT WE GET
PASSED BY THE VOTING PUBLIC TO
ENSURE THAT WE HAVE A VIABLE
AND SUSTAINABLE AND THRIVING
PUBLIC LIBRARY SYSTEM AND I
THINK THIS IS ONE ELEMENT, AS
PEOPLE ACCESS OUR SERVICES,
THAT WE CAN HELP CONNECT PEOPLE
TO OTHER SERVICES AND CREATE
GREATER STABILITY IN OUR
COMMUNITY.
I THINK THERE IS A HIGH RETURN
ON INVESTMENT.
I'M NOT ABLE TO ARTICULATE IT
HERE, BUT I THINK WE WILL SEE
NOT ONLY GREATER SUPPORT FOR
OUR LIBRARY SERVICES, MAKING
SURE PEOPLE GET CONNECTED IN
OUR COMMUNITY, BUT IT IS A
GREAT OPPORTUNITY WHEN THEY
COME IN OUR LIBRARIES TO GIVE
THEM THE SERVICES THEY NEED.
IN ADDITION TO BOOKS.
>> THANK YOU.
COUNCILMEMBER HERBOLD.
>> I STILL HAD THE QUESTION
THAT YOU ANSWERED FOR SECURITY
GUARDS, RELATED TO THIS ONE AS
WELL.
WHAT IS CURRENTLY IN 2019 BEING
FUNDED THROUGH THE LEVY AS IT
RELATES TO THE SERVICES AND
WHAT IS FROM THE GENERAL FUND?
>> AT THE MOMENT, IT IS A
$110,000 CONTRACT, I'M SORRY,
$111,000 CONTRACT FUNDED BY THE
GENERAL FUND.
>> MAYBE ASHA, YOU CAN PROVIDE
FOR US FOR FURTHER CONSULTATION
WITH OUR COUNSEL, WITH
MARCELLUS AND HIS STAFF AND
YOU.
YOU KNOW HOW I LOVE CHARTS AND
TEMPLATES AND ALL THAT STUFF.
COUNCILMEMBER HERBOLD AND
COUNCILMEMBER MOSQUEDA HAVE
RAISED IMPORTANT ISSUES.
ONE OF THE THINGS I WOULD LIKE
TO VISUALIZE AND YOU IN PUBLIC
AS THE QUESTIONS COUNCILMEMBER
HERBOLD HAS RAISED.
A COMPARISON OF WHAT WE ARE
ACTUALLY PAYING FOR NOW IN THE
LEVY AND WHAT THE EXPANSION OF
THAT WOULD BE IN THE PROPOSALS
THAT ARE NOW IN FRONT OF US.
IF WE COULD HAVE THOSE TWO
COLUMNS AND WHAT THE DIFFERENCE
úIS.
THE CONFUSION FOR ME, I WAS
TRYING TO FIGURE OUT, I KNOW WE
HAVE FOR IN THE LEVY FOR THE
SECURITY OFFICERS.
I KNEW THERE WERE TWO MORE THAT
CAME UP TO SIX.
IF WE COULD HAVE A SIDE-BY-SIDE
COMPARISON BEFORE WE START
TEEING UP AMENDMENTS AND HAVE
FURTHER DISCUSSION, WOULD THAT
BE HELPFUL?
>> TWO COLUMNS, WHAT IS
HAPPENING NOW?
WHAT ARE WE PAYING FOR NOW?
WHAT HAS THE MAYOR PROPOSED?
AND OF COURSE, THAT IS WITH OUR
LIBRARY STAFF, AS WELL.
WHAT IF THEY PROPOSED?
AND THIRDLY, WHAT WOULD HAPPEN
IF WE ADOPTED THESE AMENDMENTS?
>> ABSOLUTELY --
>> AND TO TIE IT WITH A BOW, I
THINK, ANSWERING THE QUESTION
THAT COUNCIL PRESIDENT HERBOLD
ASKED ABOUT HOW THOSE THINGS
ALSO IMPACT, I THINK IS A GOAL
AND A MERIT OF WHAT WE WANT TO
STICK TO, THAT 25% OF THE
FUNDING IS LEVY DOLLARS.
>> AND LET ME JUST ADD THIS.
WE HAVE POTENTIALLY SEVEN
AMENDMENTS IN FRONT OF US THAT
WILL APPROXIMATELY BE ANYWHERE
FROM $13.8 MILLION OVER THE
213.
I KNOW THAT'S NOT FINAL, BUT
THOSE ARE THE DISCUSSIONS WE
ARE HAVING.
AND I KNOW THAT WE STILL HAVE
TO DETERMINE ON THE NORTH GATE,
THE FEASIBILITY STUDY TO CO-
LOCATE THE CHILDCARE SPACES.
THAT IS A NUMBER THAT IS STILL
OUTSTANDING.
ONE REASON IT IS GOOD THAT WE
NAILED THESE ISSUES DOWN NOW
AND HAVE A CHART THAT EXPLAINS
THAT, BECAUSE THESE ARE REALLY
GOOD IDEAS SEND A LOT OF THIS
INFORMATION WE WILL NEED EITHER
IN THE SUPPLEMENTAL BUDGET
DISCUSSION WERE IN THE REGULAR
BUDGET DISCUSSION.
I SEE COUNCILMEMBER MOSQUEDA'S
TEEING THAT UP NOW, SO WE WANT
TO BE READY TO GO.
TO HAVE TWO OR THREE BITES OF
THE APPLE.
I WANT HER TO KNOW I WOULD BE
SUPPORTIVE OF THAT.
>> WITH THAT, IS THERE ANYTHING
MORE?
>> NO, THAT IS ALL OF THE
PROPOSED AMENDMENTS.
>> DOES ANYONE WANT TO FOLLOW
UP WITH ANYTHING ELSE?
>> I WILL JUST SAY WE ARE
LOOKING AT ABOUT $13 MILLION IN
ADDITION AT THE TIME WE ARE
WAIVING $8 MILLION IN FINES.
JUST LOOKING AT THE MATH.
NO COMMENT ON POLICY.
>> I DID, TOO.
I WAS HOPING HE WASN'T PAYING
ATTENTION, BUT HE CERTAINLY
WAS.
THANK YOU, COUNCIL PRESIDENT.
WITH THAT, ASHA, THANK YOU VERY
MUCH.
YOU GAVE GREAT INFORMATION.
THANK YOU FOR THE GREAT MEMO
THAT YOU WROTE.
THANK YOU FOR THE GREAT WORK
THAT YOU HAVE DONE WITH YOUR
PHENOMENAL FAQ SHEET, COLOR-
CODED WITH CHARTS.
GOOD JOB.
WITH THAT, LET'S MOVE TO PUBLIC
COMMENT.
WE WILL NOW OPEN UP FOR PUBLIC
HEARING. PUBLIC COMMENT ON THE
2019 LIBRARY FOR ALL RENEWAL
PROPOSAL, WHICH IS IN COUNSEL
BILL 119491.
WHY DON'T YOU TELL US HOW MANY
PEOPLE WE HAVE SIGNED UP?
>> 33.
>> ALL RIGHT, SO WE HAVE 33
PEOPLE SIGNED UP FOR PUBLIC
COMMENTS.
TO ENSURE A SMOOTH TRANSITION,
OUR CLERK WILL CALL FOR PEOPLE
AT A TIME.
WHEN YOUR NAME IS CALLED,
PLEASE SIGN UP BEFORE EITHER OF
THE TWO PODIUMS AND COME TO THE
MICROPHONE.
THE CENTER PODIUM WILL BE
PODIUM NUMBER ONE.
AND THIS IS PODIUM NUMBER TWO.
ALL RIGHT.
SO, WITH THAT, AS YOU ALL KNOW,
FOR THE RECORD, YOU HAVE TWO
MINUTES TO ADDRESS THIS ITEM.
IF YOU'RE A GROUP OF THREE OR
MORE, YOU HAVE FIVE MINUTES.
BEFORE BEGINNING PLEASE STATE
YOUR NAME AND ADDRESS YOUR
COMMENTS TO OUR CALENDAR THAT
IS IN FRONT OF US TODAY.
GO AHEAD.
>> THE FIRST GROUP, DANIEL
ORTNER, DAVE ORTNER, CAMILLE
JAZZ KNEE, AND MARLENE SCHWARTZ.
AND I BELIEVE THEY WILL BE
DOING INDIVIDUAL.
COMMENTS.
>> WE HAVE OUR INTERPRETER.
>> HI, GOOD EVENING.
THANK YOU.
I AM HERE TO REPRESENT THE BOOK
GROUP THAT WE HAVE AT THE
DOWNTOWN LIBRARY.
WE STARTED IN 2006.
IT IS FOR PEOPLE WHO ARE BLIND
AND LOW VISION AND HEARING
IMPAIRED.
WE MEET ONCE A MONTH AND WE ARE
THE LARGEST BOOK GROUP IN THE
DOWNTOWN LIBRARY.
SINCE IT STARTED IN 2006, IT
HAS BEEN A REALLY WONDERFUL
EXPERIENCE, BEING ABLE TO GO IN
THE LIBRARY AND USE SOME OF THE
SERVICES FOR ALL OF US.
I WAS HERE BEFORE TO TALK ABOUT
NOT CLOSING THE DOORS.
I AM GLAD YOU ARE THINKING
ABOUT EXTENDING THE HOURS FOR
PEOPLE.
I ALSO WANT TO MENTION I RUN A
LOW VISION SUPPORT GROUP AT THE
CAPITOL HILL LIBRARY AND I ALSO
TOOK MY CHILDREN TO THE
PROGRAMS WHEN THEY WERE YOUNG.
I THINK THE BENEFIT OF THE
LIBRARY, IT IS SO NICE, BECAUSE
IT IS OPEN TO THE PUBLIC.
NO ONE HAS TO PAY ANYTHING.
IT IS FREE.
IT IS FANTASTIC AND THERE ARE
SO MANY GOOD PROGRAMS THERE.
THANK YOU.
>> WHO IS NEXT?
>> I AM DAVE ORTNER.
I AM THE COLEADER OF THE LOW
VISION BOOK GROUP AND I AM JUST
HERE TO ADDRESS MY RELATION
WITH THE LIBRARY.
WHEN I WAS CITED, I USED TO
COME ALL THE TIME AND BROWSE
AND GET BOOKS.
THEN ABOUT 10 YEARS AGO I LOST
MY SIGHT.
I THOUGHT I WOULD NEVER READ
BOOKS AGAIN.
I THOUGHT I WOULD STOP.
THEN MY SISTER STARTED GETTING
AUDIO DISCS AND I STARTED
COMING BACK.
SO I HAVE ENJOYED THE LIBRARY
AND I COMPLETELY AGREE WITH
MORE ACCESSIBILITY AND FUNDING.
SECURITY, I'VE ALWAYS FELT SAFE.
I THINK IT IS IMPORTANT TO
ALWAYS FUND SECURITY AS WELL AS
MORE ACCESSIBILITY FOR ALL THE
PEOPLE TO COME TO THE LIBRARY.
>> HELLO, I AM DAN ORTNER.
MY BROTHER DAVE AND I, AS HE
SAID, WE CO-LEAD THE LOW VISION
BOOK CLUB AT THE CENTRAL LIBRARY
AND WE ALSO USE THE WASHINGTON
TALKING BOOK LIBRARY, WHICH IS
VERY HELPFUL.
VERY GLAD ABOUT THAT.
THEY RECORD ALL THE BOOKS FOR
US, ON CASSETTES FOR US.
AS MY BROTHER SAID, I HAVE USED
THE LIBRARY AS LONG AS I HAVE
BEEN IN SEATTLE.
I USED TO COME REGULARLY, AS HE
MENTIONED.
I HAVE BEEN COMING A LOT LESS.
WITH THE BOOK GROUP, WE HAVE
BEEN COMING MORE REGULAR AND
VOLUNTEERING AT THE LIBRARY AS
WELL.
I THINK IT IS VERY IMPORTANT
THAT THE LIBRARY BE OPEN AND
ACCESSIBLE, ESPECIALLY FOR
CHILDREN.
TO USE IT.
AND TO BE A SAFE PLACE FOR
EVERYBODY.
ESPECIALLY FOR DISABLED PATRONS
TO USE THE LIBRARY EQUAL ACCESS
PROGRAM.
I THINK THAT IS VERY IMPORTANT
AND HELPFUL.
I THINK ALL OF THESE THINGS,
AND THE LIBRARY SYSTEM ITSELF,
OR ONE OF THE THINGS THAT MAKE
SEATTLE ONE OF THE TOP 10
LIVABLE CITIES IN THE COUNTRY.
>> THANK YOU, SIR.
>> SHOULD I WAIT?
>> HI, MY NAME IS MARLENE
SCHWARTZ. SO, ANYTHING YOU KNOW
ABOUT ME -- ANYBODY WHO KNOWS
ME KNOWS I AM ALWAYS INTO BOOKS.
YOU CAN ALWAYS ASK ME WHAT I AM
READING AND YOU WILL HEAR AN
EAR FULL FROM ME.
LONG STORY SHORT, THE REASON I
LOVE READING SO MUCH AS I
GRADUATED HIGH SCHOOL WITHOUT
BEING ABLE TO READ.
I DIDN'T REALLY LEARN UNTIL MY
20s TO BE ABLE TO START
READING, SO I VALUE THE LIBRARY.
WHEN I GOT MY SON, FIRST A
FOSTER SON AND THEN TO ADOPT,
THAT WAS ONE OF THE FIRST
THINGS I DID WAS TO TAKE HIM TO
THE LIBRARY, TOO.
THE LIBRARY HELPED HIM TO READ
BECAUSE YOU HAVE THOSE BOOKS
FOR KIDS WHERE YOU HAVE AUDIO
TAPES AND BOOKS.
HE WAS REALLY STRUGGLING BEING
ABLE TO READ.
I WAS ABLE TO HELP HIM.
SEEING ME READ ALL THE TIME.
HE IS 19 NOW, HE IS READING ALL
THE TIME, TOO.
NOT ONLY THAT, MY SON HAS
DISABILITIES AND IN ORDER TO
GRADUATE FROM HIGH SCHOOL YOU
NEED TO HAVE VOLUNTEER HOURS.
SO, MY CONNECTION TO THE
SEATTLE PUBLIC LIBRARY THROUGH
THE BOOK CLUB AND NOW THE LOW
VISION BOOK CLUB THAT I ATTEND,
WITH MY HEARING LOSS I WAS
NEVER ABLE TO JOIN THE BOOK
CLUBS.
WHEN THEY HAD AN ASL WHEN I WAS
ECSTATIC.
WHEN THAT PHASE DOWN, I WAS
DISAPPOINTED AND I WAS INVITED
TO JOIN THE LOW VISION BOOK
CLUB.
THEY LET ME COME.
I APPROACHED CLEO AND ASKED IF
SHE WOULD LET JARED VOLUNTEER
AT THE LIBRARY AND SHE MENTORED
HIM AND HE GOT THROUGH HIS
VOLUNTEER WORK.
NOW WE ARE LOOKING AT HIM
JOINING THE EMPLOYMENT AT THE
SEATTLE PUBLIC LIBRARY FOR
STUDENTS.
AGAIN, HE HAS BEEN UNABLE TO
GET EMPLOYMENT.
WITH THE AMOUNT OF SUPPORT THE
LIBRARY GIVES, I THINK HE WILL
BE SUCCESSFUL WITH THAT.
I KNOW I AM OUT OF TIME, JUST A
QUICK I WOULD LIKE TO SAY THAT
MAYBE PART OF THIS LEVY IS HOW
WE EDUCATE THE TAXPAYERS ABOUT
WHAT ALL THE SEATTLE PUBLIC
LIBRARY DOES, IT IS NOT JUST
BOOKS.
I KNOW I CAN GO TO THE LIBRARY
AND HAVE ACCOMMODATIONS AND BE
PART OF THE LIBRARY AND THAT IS
ONE OF THE FEW PLACES I CAN DO
THAT, SO THANK YOU.
>> THE NEXT GROUP, IF YOU COULD
PLEASE LINE UP.
WE HAVE ALEX ZIMMERMAN, STEVE
KRUG'S, I APOLOGIZE IF I
MISPRONOUNCE YOUR NAMES, --
>> AND WAS THE LAST ONE?
>> RYAN PACKER OR DECKER, I'M
NOT SURE.
>> THERE HE IS.
IS THE LAST SPEAKER AT PODIUM
ONE?
>> PODIUM TWO.
>> ALL RIGHT, MISTER ZIMMERMAN.
>> MY NAME IS ALEX ZIMMERMAN
AND I GO TO THE LIBRARY FOR
MANY YEARS.
EVERY WEEK.
THE SITUATION RIGHT NOW IS
SIMPLE.
WHY DO WE NEED MONEY FROM TAXES
FROM PEOPLE?
I DON'T HAVE SENSE ABOUT THIS.
TAXES, TAXES, TAXES.
WE PAY $100 MILLION IN TAXES.
THE CITY HAS $6 MILLION AND PAY
SALARY FOR MANAGEMENT $300,000.
IT IS ALMOST U.S. PRESIDENT
SALARY.
WHY DO WE PAY THIS?
MORE TAXES?
úTHAT IS NUMBER ONE.
NUMBER TWO, WHAT IS VERY
INTERESTING.
WHY IS SHE DOING THIS?
HOW INTERESTING.
AND WHY DOESN'T SHE HAVE A Q
AND A SO WE CAN TALK ABOUT WHY
THIS HAPPENS?
SO WE COULD MAKE THIS VERY
SIMPLE.
A VERY SIMPLE POINT.
NEGOTIATE WITH COMCAST ABOUT
$10 FOR INTERNET PER MONTH.
ALL EQUAL PAYING PEOPLE PAY $10
PER MONTH.
WHY PAY $70 PER MONTH?
SO PEOPLE GO TO LIBRARY RIGHT
NOW MOSTLY FOR INTERNET.
WHEN WE GIVE EVERYBODY WHO
MAKES LESS THAN $40,000, $10
FOR INTERNET.
THIS IS EXACTLY WHAT IS
PROGRESSING RIGHT NOW.
$8000.
AND THEY SEE IN THE LIBRARY,
MEN WHO MAKE $80,000 PER YEAR.
SO, GIVE SOMETHING -- $10 PER
INTERNET.
YOU DON'T NEED A LIBRARY LEVY.
STAND UP AMERICA.
>> NEXT.
>> GOOD EVENING.
>> GOOD EVENING, HI COMMUNITY
MEMBERS.
THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR YOUR
SERVICE.
I AM A SEATTLE RESIDENT SINCE
1993 AND I HAVE BEEN SERVING ON
THE FRIENDS OF THE SEATTLE
PUBLIC LIBRARY BOARD FOR SEVEN
YEARS AND I AM CURRENTLY THE
PRESIDENT OF THE FRIENDS OF THE
SEATTLE PUBLIC LIBRARY.
ON BEHALF OF THE ORGANIZATION I
WANT TO SPEAK IN SUPPORT OF THE
MAYOR'S PROPOSAL FOR THE
LIBRARY LEVY RENEWAL.
ONE OF THE THINGS I WANT TO
TALK ABOUT IS THAT THE STRONG
PUBLIC LIBRARY FORMS THE ROOTS
OF AND ECOLOGY OF LITERACY IN
OUR COMMUNITY.
THE THING I WANT TO SPEAK ABOUT
TODAY IS THE INDIRECT BENEFITS
FROM THE DIRECT SUPPORT THAT
COMES FROM SUPPORTING THE
LIBRARY.
SO, I WILL JUST LET YOU KNOW,
THE FRIENDS WERE ESTABLISHED IN
1941.
WE ARE ALL VOLUNTEER RUN AND WE
CURRENTLY HAVE ABOUT 1000
MEMBERS.
WE HAVE THREE MAJOR PROGRAMS.
WE ADVOCATE ON BEHALF OF THE
LIBRARY.
WE RUN THE FRIENDS SHOP IN THE
CENTRAL LIBRARY AND WE HAVE
ALSO BEEN SINCE 1971 SELLING
BOOKS TO RAISE MONEY FOR THE
LIBRARY.
THOSE BOOKS COME FROM THE
LIBRARY COLLECTION THAT ARE
WELL USED, BUT NO LONGER
CIRCULATING.
THEN WE ALSO TAKE DONATIONS
FROM THE PUBLIC.
OUR LAST BOOK SALE AT THE
SEATTLE CENTER WAS RECORD-
BREAKING.
ABOUT 12,000 PEOPLE THROUGH THE
DOORS.
WE RAISED ALMOST $200,000.
ONE OF THE THINGS I WANT TO
TALK ABOUT IS THE INDIRECT
BENEFIT THROUGH OUR BOOKS FOR
TEACHERS PROGRAM.
THROUGH VOLUNTEERS WE HAVE BEEN
ABLE TO RAISE MONEY FROM THE
RENE FISHER FOUNDATION. THEY
GIVE US A GRANT OF $15,000 SO
WE CAN BUY THE BOOKS FROM OUR
COLLECTION AND GIVE THEM TO
TITLE I TEACHERS.
AT THE BOOK SALE IN MARCH, WE
ACTUALLY GOT 131 TEACHERS 1100
BOOKS.
I JUST WANT TO READ THREE
QUOTES FROM THE TEACHERS.
THIS IS A TEACHER FROM GRAND
HILL ELEMENTARY AND SHE SAYS,
FOR THOSE OF US WITH NO LIBRARY
BUDGETS, THIS PROGRAM IS A
LIFESAVER.
THIS PROGRAM PROVIDES BOOKS OUR
SCHOOL NEEDS, BUT HAS NO
RESOURCES TO ACQUIRE.
ANOTHER FROM CONCORD ELEMENTARY
SAYS THESE BOOKS APPLY MY
ENTIRE SUMMER READING PROGRAM
FOR AT-RISK YOUTH.
AND ANOTHER SAYS, I CANNOT
THANK YOU ENOUGH FOR YOUR
GENEROUS BOOK DONATIONS TO
TEACHERS LIKE ME AND TITLE I
SCHOOLS.
IT IS LIKE STUMBLING ON AN
OASIS IN THE MIDDLE OF A LONG
DESERT JOURNEY.
IT IS JOY AND WATER AND
FEASTING AND SPIRIT FOR THE
SOUL.
THANK YOU.
>> THANK YOU.
I JUST WANT TO SAY THANK YOU TO
THE FRIENDS, I APPRECIATE THE
WORK YOU DO.
I KNOW IT IS A LABOR OF LOVE,
THANK YOU.
>> I JUST GOT A NOTE FROM
NEGHEEN SAYING IF YOU, PEER,
PLEASE STATE YOUR NAME.
WE KNOW BARB.
>> THANK YOU COUNCILMEMBERS.
I AM BARB WILSON, HERE TO
SUPPORT THE RENEWAL.
WE HAVE BEEN A LONGTIME
SUPPORTER OF LIBRARIES AND WE
SUPPORTED PREVIOUS LEVIES.
OUR FOUNDER, PAUL ALLEN,
INHERITED A LOVE OF LEARNING
FOR READING THROUGH HIS MOTHER
FAYE, WHO WAS KNOWN FOR OFTEN
ASKING, WHAT IS BETTER THAN A
GOOD BOOK?
AND HIS FATHER KEN, WHO YOU MAY
NOT KNOW, WAS A LONGTIME
LIBRARIAN WITH THE UNIVERSITY
OF WASHINGTON.
PAUL USED TO FONDLY RECALL HIS
WEEKEND JOHN'S TO THE SEATTLE
PUBLIC LIBRARIES AND WHAT IT
MEANT FOR HIM IN HIS
DEVELOPMENT AS A CRITICAL
THINKER.
THE ALLEN FAMILIES COMMITMENT
TO PUBLIC LIBRARIES AND
EDUCATION MOST NOTABLY LED TO A
$22.5 MILLION GIFT AND THE
CENTRAL LIBRARY LATER DEDICATED
ITS CHILDREN'S CENTER TO FAYE
ALLEN, PAUL'S MOTHER.
VULCAN IS PROUD TO CARRY ON THE
LEGACY FORWARD TO SUPPORT THE
RENEWAL, SO THE LOVE OF
LIBRARIES CAN BE WIDELY SHARED
IN SEATTLE.
WE APPRECIATE THE EFFORTS OF
COUNCIL, THE MAYOR, THE LIBRARY
FOUNDATION, TO PUT FORWARD THE
LEVY THAT WILL EQUITABLY
DISTRIBUTE THE BENEFITS OF
PUBLIC LIBRARY SYSTEMS, HELPING
TO DEVELOP THE NEXT GENERATION
OF CRITICAL THINKERS AND
CONTINUE A STRONG LEGACY IN
SEATTLE.
LIBRARIES PROVIDE CRUCIAL
ACCESS TO THE WORLD AND IT IS
IMPORTANT THAT ALL OF OUR
NEIGHBOR SHARE IN THIS ACCESS.
THANKS SO MUCH FOR YOUR HARD
WORK.
>> THANK YOU.
SIR.
>> HI THERE, MY NAME IS RYAN
PACKER.
I AM SPEAKING AS A LIBRARY USER
AND THE LIBRARY LEVER, IN FAVOR
OF THE LIBRARY RENEWAL AND IN
FAVOR OF THE MODIFICATIONS IN
THE CENTRAL STAFF MEMO,
PARTICULARLY THE PROPOSAL TO
EXPAND WEEKNIGHT HOURS.
TO BRING WEEKNIGHT HOURS TO THE
SAME LEVEL AS WHAT COOK COUNTY
CURRENTLY OFFERS, 9:00 P.M.
I HAVE BEEN AT LIBRARIES AT
7:30 P.M.
WHEN PEOPLE ARE SCRAMBLING TO
USE COMPUTERS WHEN THEY CLOSE.
I'VE BEEN AT LIBRARIES BEFORE
1:00 P.M.
ON SUNDAYS TO SEE THE LINE
ALMOST DOWN THE BLOCK TO GET IN
THE LIBRARY.
THE DEMAND IS THERE RIGHT NOW.
THE FACT THAT THIS WAS NOT IN
THE ORIGINAL LEVY PROPOSAL, I
THINK, SPEAKS TO THE LACK OF
VISION BY THE EXECUTIVE ACROSS
ALL DIVISIONS.
WE SHOULD BE BOLDER WHEN
THINKING ABOUT SOMETHING IS
ESSENTIAL TO OUR CIVIC LIFE AS
THE SEATTLE PUBLIC LIBRARY.
A FINAL NOTE ABOUT THE PROPOSAL
TO BRING THAT TEMPORARY SORT OF
POP-UP LIBRARY TO THE CITY
LIGHT BUILDING.
AN INTERESTING PROPOSAL.
THE QUESTION IS, HOW MANY
RESIDENTS DOES SEATTLE NEED TO
ADD BEFORE WE ADD A BRANCH?
OBVIOUSLY THEY JUST SPOKE IN
FAVOR OF LIBRARIES, BUT THERE
IS NO SOUTHLAKE BRANCH.
HOW MANY PEOPLE WILL BE ADDED
TO OUR CITY BEFORE WE BRING
THAT IN?
I THINK THAT IS A GOOD IDEA,
BUT I WOULD HAVE LIKED TO HAVE
SEEN SOME VISION FROM THE
EXECUTIVE AND THE LEADERSHIP
BRANCH IN TERMS OF PUTTING
ANOTHER BRANCH IN THAT
NEIGHBORHOOD.
I KNOW WE JUST SOLD THAT
PROPERTY BASICALLY FOR RENTAL
VOUCHERS.
I THINK A VISION THAT COULD
HAVE BROUGHT A LIBRARY BRANCH
WITH AFFORDABLE HOUSING WOULD
BE MUCH PREFERABLE TO A POP-UP
ADDED TO THE WHITE STATION
AFTER THE FACT.
THANK YOU.
>> THE NEXT GROUP, PAULA
BECKER, J RICH, NAOMI -- KNOW,
WE ALREADY DID THAT.
>> HI, THANK YOU SO MUCH.
I AM PAULA BECKER, A HISTORIAN
FOR HISTORY LINK AND A SEATTLE
HOME OPENER. I WANT TO TELL YOU
HAVE A PUBLIC LIBRARY SUPPORTED
MY SON, HUNTER BROWN, WHO DIED
IN JUNE, 2017.
THE LIBRARY WAS THE SOLE
INSTITUTION WITH THE BREATH OF
MISSION TO SERVE HUNTER, WHO
LOVE TO READ OVER THE ENTIRE
COURSE OF HIS 25 YEAR LIFE.
WE BECAME REGULARS AT THE
NORTHEAST BRANCH WHEN HUNTER
WAS 18 MONTHS OLD, BORROWING AN
INCREASING NUMBER OF PICTURE
BOOKS AND FINALLY ATTACHING
WHEELS TO A GIANT CANVAS BAG SO
WE COULD DRAG THEM ALL HOME.
HUNTER'S FIRST ACT OF CIVIC
ENGAGEMENT WAS GETTING HIS OWN
LIBRARY CARD, AND ACTE PROUDLY
UNDERTOOK AFTER LEARNING TO
WRITE HIS NAME.
IN HIGH SCHOOL HE STUDIED AT
THE NORTHGATE RANCH.
BUT THERE IS MORE.
AS A TEAM, HUNTER BEGAN USING
DRUGS.
BY 18, HE HAD BEEN THROUGH A
THREE MONTH REHAB PROGRAM, BUT
WITHIN THE NEXT YEAR HE WAS IN
ACTIVE HEROIN ADDICTION, WHICH
LED EVENTUALLY TO MY BELOVED,
BOOK LOVING SON, EXPERIENCING
HOMELESSNESS.
THE BRANCHES PROVIDED HUNTER
RESPITE IN THOSE YEARS.
HE SPENT RAINY DAYS TUCKED INTO
THEIR CORNERS, CHARGING HIS
CELL PHONE, FINDING FAMILIAR
COMFORT IN ALL THOSE BOOKS.
DURING SOME BETTER YEARS,
HUNTER GAINED HOUSING THROUGH
THE YMCAS YOUTH IN TRANSITION
PROGRAM AND LIVED IN A STUDIO
APARTMENT DOWNTOWN.
HE SPENT HOURS ACROSS THE
STREET AT THE CENTRAL LIBRARY,
CREATING A RESUME, COMPLETING
CENTRAL COLLEGE ASSIGNMENTS
ONLINE, AND WRITING POETRY.
HUNTER RELAPSED.
LIVING BY THEN INDIVIDUALLY BUT
FACING EVICTION, HE USED THE
CENTRAL LIBRARY'S COMPUTERS TO
RESEARCH REHAB OPTIONS AND DAYS
LATER HE WAS HEADED HOPEFULLY
TOWARD THE POSSIBILITY OF
STARTING ANEW WHEN HIS LIFE
ENDED ABRUPTLY.
THE SEATTLE PUBLIC LIBRARY, THE
BOOKS, THE SERVICES AND THE
PROFESSIONAL, NONJUDGMENTAL
STAFF, CUSHIONED HUNTER IN WHAT
TURNED OUT TO BE A PRETTY HARD
LIFE.
I NEVER IMAGINED WHEN I STARTED
TAKING HIM TO STORY HOUR THAT
HE WOULD BE A YOUNG ADULT
EXPERIENCING HOMELESSNESS AND
USING THE LIBRARY THE WAY HE
WAS ABLE TO USE IT, BUT I AM SO
GRATEFUL THE LIBRARY WAS THERE
FOR ALL THOSE YEARS.
SO I ASK YOU NOW FOR ALL
SEATTLEITES WHO ACCESS THE
LIBRARY FOR SOMETIMES VERY
COMPLICATED REASONS, TO PLEASE
SUPPORT THIS LIBRARY.
THANK YOU.
>> THANK YOU.
>> THANK YOU, MY NAME IS J RICH
AND I AM THE CURRENT PRESIDENT
OF THE BOARD OF TRUSTEES.
I WOULD LIKE TO ADDRESS THE
ISSUE OF LIBRARY FUNDS.
FIRST, TO BE CLEAR, UNDER THE
PROPOSAL TAXPAYERS WOULD NOT
PAY THE EXISTING FINES OF
LIBRARY PATRONS.
THE PROPOSAL WOULD CREATE A
FUTURE, STARTING IN 2020, FIND
FREE ENVIRONMENT.
SO PATRONS WHO DAMAGE OR REFUSE
TO RETURN BOOKS WOULD HAVE
THEIR ACCOUNTS BLOCKED AND HAVE
TO PAY.
SECOND, WE ALREADY HAVE A
PARTIALLY FINE FREE
ENVIRONMENT.
MANY RESIDENTS HAVE FINE FREE
BORROWING BECAUSE WE ARE ABLE
TO ACCESS ELECTRONIC OR E
MATERIALS.
THE VERY FAST-GROWING PORTION
OF ALL BORROWED MATERIALS.
THE MATERIALS ARE FINE FREE
ALREADY.
THIRD, THERE IS SIGNIFICANT
RESEARCH ABOUT THE PERFORMANCE
OF OVER 50 FIND FREE LIBRARIES
ACROSS THE COUNTRY.
TOO NEARBY.
SNOW OWL HAS BEEN FINE FREE FOR
35 YEARS, SINCE ITS INCEPTION.
IT SERVES A POPULATION
SIGNIFICANTLY LARGER THAN
SEATTLE.
THOSE LIBRARIES THAT ELIMINATED
FINES HAVE FOUND THAT LATE
RETURNS HAVE NOT INCREASED.
MORE MATERIALS ARE RETURNED AND
PERHAPS MOST IMPORTANTLY THERE
IS A SIGNIFICANT INCREASE IN
PARTICIPATION AMONG USERS OF
ALL AGES.
FOURTH, WHEN WE USE LATE FEES
TO RAISE FUNDS TO PAY FOR
LIBRARY OPERATIONS, WE
DISPROPORTIONATELY IMPACT THOSE
WHO CAN LEAST AFFORD THOSE
FINES.
OTHER LIBRARY SYSTEMS REPORT
WHAT I THINK WE KNOW
INTUITIVELY.
THAT EVEN THE FEAR OF A
FINENESS ENOUGH TO KEEP MANY
PEOPLE FROM USING THE LIBRARY.
THE GUILT AND SHAME PEOPLE FEEL
OVER LIBRARY FINES CREATES A
NEGATIVE ASSOCIATION WITH
LIBRARIES AND DRIVES THEM AWAY.
FINALLY, GIVEN THE DRAMATICALLY
INCREASED USE OF FINE FREE E
MATERIALS, FINES ARE AN
UNSUSTAINABLE REVENUE SOUGHT
SOURCE. WE HAVE TO SOLVE THAT
FUNDING PROGRAM AND WE CAN DO
IT WHILE ACHIEVING GREATER
ACCESS AND EQUITY.
THANK YOU.
>> HI, THANK YOU FOR HAVING ME.
I AM HERE TO TALK IN FAVOR OF
THE LIBRARY LEVY.
I WAS RECONNECTED WITH THE
LIBRARY IN KIND OF AN UNUSUAL
WAY AFTER QUITE A LONG HIATUS,
SINCE I WAS A CHILD IN SEATTLE.
I BECAME INVOLVED WITH THE
CHILDREN'S PROGRAM FIVE YEARS
AGO, WHICH IS A LIBRARY
PROJECT.
IF YOU'RE NOT FAMILIAR WITH IT,
IT IS A PERFORMANCE.
IT IS ALSO A SHOWCASE THAT
FOCUSES ON THE LIVES OF PEOPLE
IN SEATTLE USING MUSIC, A DRUG
PERFORMANCE, A PUBLIC RUNWAY.
IT WAS THE FIRST AND ONLY TIME
I HAVE SEEN THAT MANY PEOPLE IN
ONE SPACE AT ONE TIME AND THAT
CONTINUES TO BE A SPACE THAT A
LOT OF US FEEL AT HOME.
IT WAS REALLY CREATED THROUGH
THE LIBRARY AND THE
PERFORMANCES AND EVENTS AT THE
SEATTLE ART MUSEUM.
IT IS A PLACE WE KNOW WE CAN
LOOK FORWARD TO ANOTHER IS A
SPACE WE CAN GO THAT SPEAKS TO
US AND IS REPRESENTATIVE OF US.
IT IS A GLORIOUS FEELING AND
WHEN YOU DON'T GET TO HAVE VERY
OFTEN.
THROUGH THE LEGENDARY
CHILDREN'S PROGRAM, YOU SEE THE
MARGINS IN THE COMMUNITY
CENTERED IN A WAY THEY AREN'T
ANY OTHER PLACE.
YOU CAN LEARN ABOUT NOT JUST
THE PEOPLE IN THE ROOM, BUT
ALSO LEARN THROUGH READING
LISTS AND OTHER WAYS.
THERE IS A POP-UP BOOKSTORE.
OTHER WAYS THAT PEOPLE CAN FIND
OUT ABOUT PEOPLE OF COLOR
THROUGH THIS EVENT.
IT IS A REALLY WONDERFUL
OPPORTUNITY.
IT IS REALLY UNUSUAL.
THERE IS ONE COMING UP ON MAY
10.
YOU SHOULD GO.
IT IS EXTRAORDINARY.
I AM A PHOTOGRAPHER AND THAT IS
HOW I BECAME CONNECTED TO IT.
I WOULD LIKE TO SHOW YOU
PICTURES, BECAUSE IT SPEAKS
BETTER THAN I AM SPEAKING NOW,
BUT IT IS EXTRAORDINARY AND
SPEAKS TO THE WAY YOU CAN
CREATE COMMUNITY IN DIFFERENT
WAYS THROUGH THE LIBRARY.
THANK YOU.
>> THE NEXT GROUP, WE HAVE
CARMEN BENA DIXON, SON MY
KITCHEN, GRACE SNORED OFF, AND
KAREN --
>> HI, I AM A BOARD MEMBER FOR
THE FRIENDS OF THE PUBLIC
LIBRARY.
I HAVE BEEN VOLUNTEERING FOR
THE SEATTLE PUBLIC LIBRARY AND
THE FRIENDS, BOTH, SINCE 2007.
I BROUGHT A LITTLE PROP.
THIS IS MY BAG FROM THE
LIBRARY.
IT SAYS MY LIBRARY KNOWLEDGE
AND HUMANITY AND DIGNITY AND
ACCESS.
I THINK THESE ARE ALL OF THE
THINGS THAT GO INTO WHY I
CONTINUE TO SPEND MY FREE TIME,
TIME I DON'T GET PAID FOR, TIME
I COULD BE SPENDING DOING
SOMETHING ELSE.
BUT I PREFER TO SPEND IT WITH
THE LIBRARY, BECAUSE IT IS PART
OF MY COMMUNITY AND I WANT TO
SAY REALLY QUICKLY HOW I CAME
TO THIS POINT.
LIKE SO MANY STORIES, THERE IS
THE INTANGIBILITY OF WHY THE
LIBRARY MEANS SO MUCH TO SO
MANY.
FOR ME, IT CAME DOWN TO AFTER I
STARTED VOLUNTEERING IN 2007.
THE RECESSION HIT.
I LOST MY JOB.
2012 WE HAD A LIBRARY LEVY AND
WHERE WAS I SPENDING MOST OF MY
TIME?
AT THE LIBRARY.
I HAD ALL THIS FREE TIME TO
WORK ON THE CAMPAIGN.
IT BECAME THIS NATURAL SYNERGY
OF YES I COULD HELP THE LIBRARY,
BECAUSE IT HAD ALREADY GIVEN SO
MUCH TO ME.
OBVIOUSLY I AM HERE AND MY
CAREER IS BACK ON TRACK, BUT
THERE IS SO MUCH MORE THAT THE
LIBRARY GIVES THAT IS IN THESE
WORDS AND IS IN THE FEELING YOU
GET WHEN YOU COME TO A LIBRARY
PROGRAM.
OR WHEN YOU FEEL THAT THE STAFF
SEES YOU FOR WHAT YOU REALLY
WANT.
FOR WHAT YOU REALLY NEED.
IT IS NOT NECESSARILY AVAILABLE
IN OTHER PLACES, WHERE YOU
MIGHT HAVE TO PAY TO SIT THERE
FOR HOURS ON END.
HAVING SAT AT MY COMPUTER
WORKING ON RESUMES, I'VE HAD
THAT FEELING.
SO IN THE END IT IS ABOUT
COMMUNITY.
IT IS ABOUT THE INTANGIBILITY.
SO, PLEASE SUPPORT THE LIBRARY
LEVY.
THAT'S ALL.
>> SIR.
>> THANK YOU.
I THINK THE LEVY IS A GOOD IDEA.
OTHER THAN THAT, I HAD A BUNCH
OF STUFF I WAS GOING TO SAY,
BUT I THINK MY STUFF IS MORE OF
A BUDGETARY MATTER.
I SENSE THERE IS A LOT OF
WISDOM IN THE WALLS TONIGHT AND
I LIKE THAT.
THANK YOU.
>> THANK YOU SEAN, FOR BEING
NICE TO US.
THANK YOU.
>> HELLO, MY NAME IS GRACE AND
I SERVE AS THE PRESIDENT OF THE
BOARD OF THE SEATTLE PUBLIC
LIBRARY FOUNDATION.
THE FOUNDATION RAISES
CONTRIBUTIONS TO FUND PROGRAMS
AT THE LIBRARY THAT MEET THE
NEEDS OF OUR COMMUNITY.
THE FOUNDATION SUPPORTS THIS
LEVY RENEWAL PACKAGE THAT
ALLOWS THE LIBRARY TO CONTINUE
ITS IMPORTANT WORK IN BRINGING
US TOGETHER, PROVIDING
OPPORTUNITY AND PROVIDING
EQUITY IN OUR CITY.
I WANT TO MENTION THAT JUST AS
ROADS AND UTILITIES ARE
CRITICAL TO THE PHYSICAL
INFRASTRUCTURE THAT WE DEPEND
ON IN OUR CITY, THE LIBRARIES
ARE PART OF THE VITAL SOCIAL
INFRASTRUCTURE.
LIBRARIES BRING PEOPLE
TOGETHER, HELP US LEARN AND
GROW, AND GIVE US A PLACE TO
CELEBRATE OUR DIVERSE CULTURES.
THE RAW LIBRARY CREATES A SENSE
OF BELONGING THAT IS VITAL. SO
THIS PACKAGE WHICH MOST
SIGNIFICANTLY REPRESENTS 25% OF
THE LIBRARY BUDGET WOULD
CONTINUE SEATTLE PUBLIC
LIBRARY'S EFFORTS TO RESPOND TO
THE NEEDS OF ITS CITIZENS BY
PROVIDING ACCESS TO BOOKS AND
MATERIALS.
INFORMATION.
TECHNOLOGY.
COMMUNITY RESOURCES.
AND GATHERING SPACES FOR ALL.
SO THANK YOU FOR YOUR SUPPORT.
>> GRACE, IF I COULD JUST SAY
-- GRACE?
GRACE?
THANK YOU.
JUST AS WE WERE SAYING THANKS
TO THE FRIENDS OF THE LIBRARY,
I REALLY RESPECT AND I'M
GRATEFUL TO THE FOUNDATION, SO
FOR ALL YOUR EFFORTS, MANY
THANKS.
>> THANK YOU, I APPRECIATE THAT.
>> MADAM CHAIR, WE HAVE TWO
MORE WHO HAVE SIGNED IN.
I WAS GIVEN COPIES EARLIER.
WE DON'T HAVE 30 PEOPLE SIGNED
UP.
THE LAST TWO --
>> OH, OKAY.
BETSY, CAN I HAVE YOUR TIME?
I DON'T REALLY HAVE A LOT TO
SAY.
THANK YOU VERY MUCH.
I AM HERE TO SPEAK IN FAVOR OF
THE LEVY.
JUST THIS AFTERNOON MY DAUGHTER
CALLED AND IT WAS ONE OF THOSE
FACETIME CALLS.
YOU KNOW, IT IS GRANDMA TIME
AND I HAVE A 4-YEAR-OLD
GRANDSON AND A 1-YEAR-OLD
GRANDDAUGHTER.
WHEN I ASKED MY 4-YEAR-OLD
GRANDSON WHAT HE DID TODAY, HE
SAID WE WENT TO THE LIBRARY.
SEE YOU CAN SEE WHY I REALLY
WANT TO HAVE A WORLD WHERE
LIBRARIES EXIST AND LITTLE
BLACK BOYS CAN GROW UP AND KNOW
THAT IS A FUN PLACE AND A PLACE
HE WANTS TO SHARE WITH HIS
FAMILY.
THEREFORE I SUPPORT LONGER
HOURS, THE AMENDMENTS THAT CAME
UP.
CHILDCARE, SO FAMILIES CAN MORE
FULLY ANTICIPATE IN LIBRARIES
AND I REALLY DO SUPPORT THE
ELIMINATION OF FINES.
I HAVE COME INTO A CLOSER
RELATIONSHIP WITH THE LIBRARY
BECAUSE I HAVE HAD THE PRIVILEGE
OF WORKING WITH THE LIBRARY.
AND LEGENDARY CHILDREN, I WOULD
LIKE TO SECOND THAT.
PLEASE COME.
ONE OF THE THINGS, I THINK WE
NEED A 21st CENTURY LIBRARY.
RIGHT?
A LIBRARY THAT IS EVEN MORE
INCLUSIVE AND AVAILABLE AND
MORE CENTERED TO BASIC EXISTENCE
FOR MOST MARGINALIZED PEOPLE.
WHEN YOU CAN HAVE JOY IN THE
LIBRARY, WHEN YOU CAN NO THAT
THE LIBRARY IS ALSO A PLACE
THAT BRINGS JOY, LIKE LEGENDARY
CHILDREN, FOR QUEER AND TRANS
AND PEOPLE OF COLOR.
I THINK THAT IS WORTH
SUPPORTING AND TAX DOLLARS ARE
WORTH SUPPORTING AS WELL.
I ALSO WORK WITH A PROGRAM
CALLED COPE, THAT HARNESSES THE
POWER OF THE SEATTLE PUBLIC
LIBRARY FOR MARGINALIZED
ORGANIZATIONS.
CAN YOU IMAGINE AN ORGANIZATION
THAT IS VOLUNTEER RUN THAT HAS
THE POWER OF RESEARCH AND
CAPACITY THAT THE LIBRARY
BRINGS?
AND I WOULD LIKE TO SEE THAT
SUPPORTED.
FINALLY, I WOULD LIKE TO SPEAK
ONE MORE TIME TO THE ISSUE OF
FINES.
I WAS VERY TRIGGERED THAT THERE
WAS A VERY CASUAL COMMENT BY
THIS COUNCIL ABOUT USING FINES
TO OFFSET THE COST OF BUILDING
THE 21st CENTURY LIBRARY THAT I
DREAM OF.
IT HURT MY FEELINGS.
BECAUSE THESE FINES USUALLY
LAND ON THE BACKS OF THE MOST
VULNERABLE PEOPLE AND TO ASK
THE MOST VULNERABLE PEOPLE TO
PAY FOR SOMETHING THAT WE ALL
USE AND BENEFIT FROM IS REALLY
VERY TRIGGERING FOR ME, SO I
WOULD ASK THE COUNCIL TO WATCH
THEIR LANGUAGE WHEN THEY
CASUALLY TALK ABOUT THESE FINES.
BECAUSE THEY ALSO SERVE TO RUIN
PEOPLE'S CREDIT, BECAUSE THEY
GO INTO COLLECTIONS.
AND CRIMINALIZE PEOPLE FOR
TRYING TO ACCESS A RESOURCE
THAT WE SAY IS AVAILABLE TO
ALL.
THANK YOU.
>> THANK YOU.
>> AND I ADDRESS THAT QUESTION?
>> YES.
>> I APPRECIATE THE COMMENT.
LET ME PUT MY COMMENT ON FINES
INTO CONTEXT.
I DON'T WANT TO BE TAKEN OUT OF
CONTEXT.
WHAT I SAID IN MY EARLIER
DISCUSSION, NOT THIS DISCUSSION,
OUR EARLIER DISCUSSION ABOUT
FINES, I SUPPORT WAIVING FEES.
IF PEOPLE LOSE A BOOK.
WITH FINES, WHAT I SAID IS IF
PEOPLE CAN'T AFFORD TO PAY,
THEY SHOULD NOT HAVE TO PAY.
THAT IS EQUITY.
BUT THERE ARE MANY PEOPLE THAT
COULD PAY AND WAS THERE A
MECHANISM BY WHICH WE COULD
CONSIDER THOSE THAT ARE WILLING
TO PAY AND COULD PAY?
COULD WE STILL CAPTURE SOME OF
THAT REVENUE?
BECAUSE WHEN YOU LOOK AT WHAT
WE ARE TRYING TO ADD, WE WILL
LIKELY PRODUCE $1 MILLION IN
REVENUE BY WAIVING ALL FINES.
HAVING GROWN UP IN THE LIBRARY
SYSTEM, FROM A MOTHER WITH A
FINANCE MANAGER, I WAS SORT OF
TAUGHT THAT THE FINE POLICIES,
YOU MAY NOT ENFORCE IT AND
CERTAINLY DO NOT ENFORCE IT FOR
PEOPLE WHO CANNOT PAY.
SO THE DIFFERENCE BETWEEN
EQUALITY AND EQUITY TO ME IF WE
WERE TO EMBRACE THAT IS YOU
REALLY LOOK AT THOSE THAT
CANNOT AFFORD AND YOU DON'T
PENALIZE THEM.
YOU TRY TO ENCOURAGE LIBRARIES
BEING, AS YOU SAID, A VIBRANT
PART OF OUR COMMUNITY THAT CAN
REALLY ADDRESS ALL THE UNFAIR
INSTITUTIONAL PRACTICES THAT IS
ALMOST INGRAINED IN OUR SOCIETY.
BUT WIPING THEM ALL OUT, EVEN
FOR PEOPLE THAT ARE WILLING AND
OF HIGHER INCOME OR HIGHER
AFFLUENCE, TO ME I QUESTION IF
THAT WAS THE RIGHT METHOD.
WHAT I ASKED IS IF THERE IS ANY
KIND OF CREATIVE WAY TO LOOK AT
STILL TRYING TO CAPTURE THOSE
WHO WERE WILLING TO PAY.
SO THAT WAS THE POOR JOKE I
SAID WHEN WE WERE LOOKING AT
THE FINES.
IF I OFFENDED ANYONE, I
CERTAINLY APOLOGIZE.
BUT I STILL BELIEVE IN WHAT I
SAY.
WHAT I SAY IS THAT WHILE THERE
ARE 50, 50 SUCCESSFUL LIBRARIES
THAT HAVE GONE TO A FINE FREE
ENVIRONMENT, AND WE ARE ALSO
TOLD THAT IN CERTAIN SITUATIONS
WE STILL FIND PEOPLE, I DON'T
UNDERSTAND WHY YOU STILL HAVE A
PUNITIVE FEE SYSTEM IN PLACE
AND THEN WAVE FINES.
IN OTHER WORDS, A POOR PERSON
LOSES THEIR BOOK, CAN'T AFFORD
THE FEE, WE IMPOSE THE FEE AND
THEY STILL CAN'T ENJOY THE
ACCESS TO THE LIBRARY.
I ALSO SAID CERTAIN PEOPLE ARE
MORE SUBJECTED.
I GREW UP IN AN AREA WITH A LOT
OF THEFT BACK IN THE 60s.
THERE ARE CERTAIN CHILDREN
AROUND A HIGHER THEFT AREA THAT
MAY BE PENALIZED.
I RECEIVED YOUR POINT, BUT I
WANTED TO BE IN CONTEXT.
YOU KNOW ME.
IT IS NOT TO MAKE LIGHT OF THIS
NOTION OF FINES.
I ALSO HAVE TO SAY, MY PRIMARY
GOAL IS TO MAKE SURE THIS LEVY
PASSES.
MAKE NO MISTAKE ABOUT THAT.
A DOLLAR HERE AND A DOLLAR
THERE CAN START TO AFFECT
WHETHER THIS PASSES.
WE ARE IN AN ENVIRONMENT WHERE
PEOPLE ARE SCREAMING AT THE TOP
OF THEIR LUNGS ABOUT THEIR
PROPERTY TAXES.
WE HAVE TO BE MINDFUL OF THAT.
THIS IS GOING TO BE, ONCE AGAIN,
A PROPERTY TAX.
WHEN YOU START LOOKING AT USING
THIS PROPERTY TAX FOR SERVICES
AND PRODUCTS THAT CAN BE
SUPPLEMENTED BY OUR GENERAL
FUND, WE HAVE DISCRETION WITH
WHAT WE CAN DO WITH OUR GENERAL
FUND.
I THINK WE ARE SMARTLY LOOKING
AT WHETHER THIS AMOUNT OF THE
LEVY WILL BE A GOOD INVESTMENT.
BUT I THINK I SHARE THE GOAL
THAT WE WANT THIS LEVY TO PASS,
FIRST AND FOREMOST.
BUT I APPRECIATE YOUR COMMENTS.
>> THANK YOU, AND IF I COULD DO
SOME WRAP-UP COMMENTS.
COUNCIL PRESIDENT, THANK YOU
VERY MUCH FOR YOUR COMMENTS.
YOU HAVE SERVED ON THIS COUNCIL
FOR WHAT, EIGHT YEARS NOW?
>> GOING ON 12.
>> AND COUNCIL PRESIDENT
HARRELL HAS BEEN A LEADER IN
RACE AND SOCIAL JUSTICE.
HIS LEADERSHIP IS MORE THAN
VALUABLE.
HE HAS EMBODIED THE WHOLE
CONCEPT.
AT ONE TIME HE WAS THE ONLY
PERSON OF COLOR ON THE CITY
COUNCIL.
HE HAS LED AND BEEN A VOICE AND
IS ONE OF THE REASONS WHY I
BELIEVE I AM HERE TODAY AND MADE
A DECISION TO RUN FOR OFFICE.
WITH THAT KIND OF LEADERSHIP I
UNDERSTAND WHAT YOU ARE SAYING.
THE OTHER POINT, WITH MY
COLLEAGUES SITTING HERE, THIS
IS A LEVY WE ARE PUTTING TO THE
TAXPAYERS AND THIS IS GOING TO
GO ON PROPERTY TAXPAYERS.
WE CAN SAY THIS IS ONLY EIGHT
CENTS A DAY OR $14 A MONTH OR
HOWEVER WE BREAK IT DOWN, BUT
AGAIN, WE ARE ASKING THE
TAXPAYERS TO PICK UP THE TAB
FOR 25% OF THE LIBRARIES
OPERATING AND CAPITAL FUNCTIONS.
IS THAT A FAIR CHARACTERIZATION?
SO I THINK I SPEAK FOR ALL OF US
WHEN I SAY THIS.
OUR GOAL HERE IS, SINCE OUR
LIBRARY WAS FIRST CREATED IN
1890.
NOW WHAT HAS BEEN CALLED THE
PEOPLE'S UNIVERSITY.
AND LOOKING FORWARD, IS THAT
THIS LEVY PASSES.
AND IT PASSES WITH WHAT YOU
HEARD COUNCILMEMBER MOSQUEDA
SHARE, AS WELL AS
COUNCILMEMBER HERBOLD, THAT WE
ARE A LIBRARY OF THE 21st
CENTURY AND LIBRARIES ARE DOING
THINGS THEY NEVER IMAGINED
THEY WOULD BE DOING 20 YEARS
AGO.
HAVING SOCIAL WORKERS.
PROVIDING SERVICES.
PROGRAMS FOR OUR ELDERS.
WE ARE SEEING PUBLIC ASSETS IN
PUBLIC BUILDINGS, LIKE I SHARED
EARLIER WITH COMMUNITY CENTERS
AND FOOD BANKS, THEY ARE
ENHANCED SERVICE CENTERS.
THE FIRST LINE OF THE PUBLIC
PLACES THAT PEOPLE GO.
NOT JUST CHECKING OUT A BOOK,
BUT TO LOOK FOR A JOB.
TO HAVE A PLACE TO GO BEFORE
AND AFTER SCHOOL.
IT IS THE ONLY PLACE PEOPLE CAN
GO TO GET ONLINE.
MARCELLUS MADE AVAILABLE WHERE
WE HAVE HOTSPOTS AND PEOPLE IN
LOW INCOME NEIGHBORHOODS HAVE
ACCESS TO WI-FI.
IN THE PROGRAMS THE LIBRARY HAS
SET UP.
I ALWAYS FORGET THE NAME, THE
ORGANIZATION MISTER LOFTON RUNS.
YEAH, SEATTLE HOUSING
AUTHORITY.
CORRECT ME IF I AM WRONG, WE
HAVE FREE WI-FI.
A LOT OF PEOPLE DON'T SEE WHAT
LIBRARIES DO.
WE WANT TO REMAIN TRUE TO THE
MAIN AND CORE PRINCIPLE OF WHAT
A LIBRARY IS AND TO ME THE
NUMBER ONE ISSUE IS IT REMAINS
THE MOST PUBLIC OF PUBLIC
INSTITUTIONS THAT THE CITY
SHOULD ENJOY AND PAY FOR AND I
HOPE TAXPAYERS FEEL THE SAME.
WITH THAT, IF MY COLLEAGUES
HAVE ANYTHING ELSE TO SAY --
OH, THANK YOU, I HAVE THAT
WRITTEN UP HERE, AS WELL.
OKAY, SO BEFORE WE ADJOURN, THE
NEXT MEETING OF THE SELECT
COMMITTEE ON THE LIBRARY LEVY
WILL BE APRIL 17 AT 2:00 P.M.
AT THIS MEETING THE COMMITTEE
WILL VOTE ON FINAL AMENDMENTS
FOR A FINAL VOTE FOR THE LEVY
PROPOSAL FOR THE AUGUST 6
BALLOT.
WHEN IS THE DATE WE HAVE TO GET
THIS DONE?
MAY 2? MAY 3?
>> MAY 6, MORE OR LESS.
>> OKAY.
BY THE FIRST WEEK IN MAY WE
HAVE TO GET THIS DONE, SO WE
CAN END UP ON THE AUGUST 6
BALLOT.
I DON'T THINK I CAN SAY
ANYTHING ELSE.
IS THERE ANYTHING ELSE YOU WANT
ME TO DO, NEGHEEN?
>> MADAM CHAIR, WE JUST NEED TO
STATE INTO THE RECORD TO CLOSE
THE HEARING.
I FAILED TO WRITE THAT DOWN.
>> I WAS GETTING READY TO SAY
THAT.
OKAY, WITH THAT WE WILL CLOSE
THE MEETING AND WE STAND
ADJOURNED.
THANK YOU, NEGHEEN.
>> [ APPLAUSE ]