>>> THANK YOU.
WELCOME, EVERYBODY.
SO, GOOD AFTERNOON.
THIS IS A MEETING FOR THE
PUBLIC ASSETS AND NATIVE
COMMUNITIES COMMITTEE.
THE DATE IS SEPTEMBER 10th AND
THE TIME IS TO: 01.
I AM COUNCILMEMBER JUAREZ. WILL
THE CLERK PLEASE CALL THE ROLE?
>> COUNCILMEMBER HERBOLD?
>> HERE.
>> COUNCILMEMBER MOSQUEDA IS
EXCUSED.
>> SAWANT?
>> PRESENT.
>> CHAIR JUAREZ?
>> HERE.
>> FOUR IN ATTENDANCE.
>> IF THERE IS NO OBJECTION,
THE AGENDA WILL BE ADOPTED.
HEARING NO OBJECTION, THE
AGENDA WILL BE ADOPT ED.
TODAY'S PUBLIC COMMENT WILL
OCCUR FIRST.
FOLKS WHO WISH TO SPEAK TO
ITEMS ON THE AGENDA EXCEPT FOR
AGENDA ITEM NUMBER FOUR. IF YOU
WISH TO PROVIDE A COMMENT ON
AGENDA ITEM FOUR, THE DRAFT ZOO
AGREEMENT RENEWAL, PLEASE MAKE
SURE YOU HAVE SIGNED UP ONLINE
FOR THE PUBLIC HEARING, WHICH
IS THE RESERVED PORTION AT THE
END OF THIS MEETING FOR THAT
SPECIFIC ITEM.
THERE ARE FOUR ITEMS ON TODAY'S
AGENDA.
ONE AND TWO ARE REAPPOINTMENTS
TO THE SEATTLE INDIAN SERVICES
COMMISSION, IRIS FRIDAY AND
COLLEEN ECHOHAWK-HAYASHI. ITEM
3 IS A PIECE OF LEGISLATION
THAT WOULD DESIGNATE EIGHT
PORTIONS OF ALASKAN WAY, ELLIOT
WAY, RAILROAD WAY, AND UNION
STREET AS PARK BOULEVARD ALONG
THE CENTRAL WATERFRONT. WE WILL
BE JOINED BY THE OFFICE OF
WATERFRONT TO WALK US THROUGH
THE DETAILS. WE BASICALLY HAVE
A TRANSACTION WITH THE
DEPARTMENT OF S.THAT WILL HAND
OUT PORTIONS OF THE WATERFRONT
FOR PARKS AND REC.
AGENDA ITEM 4 IS LEGISLATION
THAT WILL MANAGEMENT AGREEMENT
BETWEEN THE CITY OF SEATTLE AND
THE WOODLAND PARK ZOO SOCIETY.
THE CURRENT 20 YEAR CONTRACT
REMAINS ACTIVE UNTIL FEBRUARY,
2022. FOR THIS YEAR BOTH PARTIES
-- I WILL JUST SAY WOODLAND
PARK ZOO.
THE CITY HAS NEGOTIATED AN
AGREEMENT FOR POLICIES RELATED
TO THE ZOO OPERATIONS. IT IS
ZOO OPERATIONS, SERVICES, AND
AND IF IT INCLUDING EQUITY AND
INCLUSION, LABOR HARMONY,
COMMUNITY WORK FORCE AGREEMENT,
PREVAILING WAGES, AND
OPPORTUNITIES FOR WOMEN OF COLOR
, COMMUNITY AND TRAINING.
ALSO A PARTICULAR SECTION. I
WILL HAVE MORE TO SAY WHEN WE
ACTUALLY GET TO THE AGREEMENT,
BUT I AM HIGHLIGHTING THIS NOW.
PUBLIC BENEFITS IS IN SECTION
11, AND PAGE 30 HAS TO DO WITH
THE ZOO ANIMALS.
WE WILL ADDRESS THE CONSTITUENT
LETTERS AND CONCERNS WE GOT AND
I'M SURE WE WILL HEAR MORE IN
PUBLIC COMMENT . COURT WE HAVE
BEFORE US TODAY IS A DRAFT
AGREEMENT BETWEEN THE WOODLAND
PARK ZOO AND THE SOCIETY, WHICH
IS A NONPROFIT, AND THE CITY OF
SEATTLE.
WE WILL HAVE A PUBLIC HEARING.
WE WILL HEAR FROM THE PUBLIC ON
THEIR VISION, VALUES, AND
CONCERNS ABOUT THE VALUE OF
THIS RENEWAL.
WE WILL HEAR FROM BOTH PARTIES,
THE WOODLAND PARK ZOO SOCIETY
AND THE CITY OF SEATTLE PARKS
REGARDING THEIR VISION VALUES
AND DRAFT TERMS FOR THE NEW
CONTRACT.
DUE TO THE FALL BUDGET
CALENDAR, THE COMMITTEE VOTE
FOR THIS DRAFT LEGISLATION IS
SCHEDULED FOR TUESDAY, DECEMBER
7th, 2021 AT 2:00 FOLLOWED BY A
FULL COUNCIL VOTE ON MONDAY,
DECEMBER 13th AT 2:00.
WE HAVE PLENTY OF TIME TO
REVIEW THE LEGISLATION AND HEAR
FROM OUR CONSTITUENTS. I
ENCOURAGE MY COLLEAGUES WHO
WISH TO PROPOSE AMENDMENTS TO
THE CURRENT DRAFT TO DO SO.
YOU CERTAINLY HAVE A LOT OF
TIME.
AMENDMENTS ARE DUE TO OUR
OFFICE TUESDAY, NOVEMBER 30th.
TO ALLOW THE ZOO AND THE LEGAL
DEPARTMENT TO REVIEW AND AGREE
AND COMMENT ON PROPOSED CHANGES
BEFORE THE COMMITTEE HEARING ON
THE SEVENTH.
I HAVE REVIEWED THE CONTRACT,
THE OPERATION AND MANAGEMENT
CONTRACT ALONG WITH THE
LEGISLATION AND I WILL SPEAK
MORE TO THE SUBSTANCE OF THAT
IN THE LEGISLATION WHEN WE
ARRIVE AT THAT ON THE AGENDA
ITEM.
AT THIS TIME, WE WILL MOVE TO
PUBLIC COMMENT AND OPEN THE
REMOTE PUBLIC COMMENT PERIOD.
THIS IS DIFFERENT FROM THE
SCHEDULED PUBLIC HEARING ON THE
ZOO AGREEMENT RENEWAL WHICH
WILL OCCUR LATER DURING AGENDA
ITEM NUMBER FOUR.
PLEASE HOLD YOUR COMMENTS
REGARDING THE ZOO UNTIL THE
RESERVED PUBLIC HEARING PORTION
OF THE AGENDA.
I WILL READ A QUICK SCRIPT HERE
ABOUT WHAT WE ALWAYS DO TO
REMIND THE PUBLIC WHAT WE HAVE
PUBLIC COMMENT, AND THEN I WILL
HAND IT OVER TO OUR CLERK.
REMAINS A STRONG INTENT OF THE
SEATTLE CITY COUNCIL TO HAVE
PUBLIC COMMENT REGULARLY
INCLUDED ON MEETING AGENDAS,
HOWEVER WE RESERVE THE RIGHT TO
END OR ELIMINATE THE PUBLIC
COMMENT PERIOD AT ANY TIME IF
WE DEEM THIS SYSTEM IS BEING
ABUSED OR IS ON SUITABLE OR
ALLOWING OUR MEETINGS TO BE
CONDUCTED EFFICIENTLY AND IN A
MANNER IN WHICH WE ARE ABLE TO
CONDUCT OUR NECESSARY BUSINESS.
I WILL MODERATE THIS GENERAL
PUBLIC COMMENT PERIOD IN THE
FOLLOWING MANNER.
THE PUBLIC COMMENT PERIOD IS UP
TO EIGHT MINUTES, BUT IT COULD
BE MORE.
COMITY SPEAKERS WE HAVE SIGNED
UP FOR TODAY?
>> WE HAVE TWO PEOPLE SIGNED
UP.
>> WE HAVE TWO PEOPLE SIGNED
UP.
EACH SPEAKER IS GIVEN TWO
MINUTES.
OUR CLERK WILL LEAD THE PUBLIC
COMMENT INSTRUCTIONS AND AFTER
NADINE IS DONE GIVING THE
INSTRUCTIONS, YOU WILL HEAR
FROM ME AGAIN AND WE WILL BEGIN
THE PUBLIC COMMENT PERIOD.
GO AHEAD, NADINE.
>> THANK YOU, CHAIR JUAREZ.
I WILL CALL ON THE SPEAKERS
ONE AT A TIME AND IN THE ORDER
IN WHICH YOU SIGNED UP ON THE
LIST.
IF YOU WOULD LIKE TO SPEAK, YOU
CAN REGISTER BY GOING TO THE
COUNCIL'S WEBSITE AT
SEATTLE.GOV/COUNSEL. ONCE THE
SPEAKERS NAME IS CALLED, I WILL
UNMUTE THE APPROPRIATE
MICROPHONE AND AUTOMATIC PROMPT
OF YOU HAVE BEEN UNMUTED WILL BE
THE SPEAKERS QUEUE THAT IT IS
THEIR TURN TO SPEAK. THE
SPEAKER MUST TURN STAR SIX TO
UNMUTE THEMSELVES AFTER THEIR
NAME IS CALLED.
PLEASE BEGIN SPEAKING BY
STATING YOUR NAME AND THE ITEM
IN WHICH YOU ARE ADDRESSING IN
TODAY'S AGENDA.
ACRES WILL HEAR A TIME WHEN 10
SECONDS ARE LEFT. WANT TO HEAR
THE CHIME, WE ASK YOU BEGIN TO
WRAP UP YOUR PUBLIC COMMENT.
IF YOU DO NOT END BY THE
ALLOTTED TIME, YOUR MICROPHONE
WILL BE MUTED TO ALLOW US TO
CALL ON THE NEXT SPEAKER. ONCE
YOU HAVE COMPLETED YOUR PUBLIC
COMMENT, WE ASK THAT YOU PLEASE
DISCONNECT FROM THE LINE AND IF
YOU CONTINUE FOLLOWING THIS
MEETING, PLEASE DO SO VIA THE
SEATTLE CHANNEL OR VIA THE
LISTENING OPTIONS ON THE AGENDA.
CHAIR JUAREZ , WE ARE READY TO
OPEN WHEN YOU ARE.
>> THANK YOU.
PUBLIC COMMENT IS OPEN. WE WILL
BEGIN WITH THE FIRST TWO
SPEAKERS ON THE LIST.
NADINE, PLEASE CALL OUT OUR
SPEAKERS.
>> OUR FIRST SPEAKER IS ELAINE,
FOLLOWED BY SANDY.
MY APOLOGIES IF I MISPRONOUNCED
YOUR NAMES.
>> I AM REPLYING ABOUT THE ZOO
AGREEMENT.
>> IS THIS ELAINE?
>> YES.
>> HI.
>> SHOULD I SAVE THIS FOR
NUMBER FOUR?
>> YES.
WE WILL HEAR FROM YOU IN A
MINUTE.
>> THANKS.
>> NO PROBLEM.
ALL RIGHT, SO NEXT WE HAVE --
OH, MARLA KATZ?
ARE YOU ON THE LINE?
>> HELLO?
>> HELLO, MARLA?
>> YES.
>> HI THERE.
GO AHEAD.
>> OKAY.
GOOD AFTERNOON, COMMITTEE
MEMBERS.
>> HI, MARLA. I AM SO SORRY TO
INTERRUPT BUT WE ARE IN THE
MIDDLE OF THE GENERAL PUBLIC
COMMENT PERIOD, BUT I WILL BE
SURE YOU TO BE PART OF THE
PUBLIC HEARING SPEAKING LIST.
YOU ARE LISTED UNDER PUBLIC
HEARING.
>> I AM SO CONFUSED.
>> NO PROBLEM.
OKAY.
SO, CHAIR JUAREZ , WE ARE DONE
WITH THE LIST FOR GENERAL
PUBLIC COMMENT PERIOD.
>> EILEEN AND MARLA, WE WILL
GET BACK TO YOU.
THE PUBLIC COMMENT, GENERAL
COMMENT PERIOD IS NOW CLOSED.
WE WILL MOVE TO ITEMS OF
BUSINESS.
>>> NUMBER ONE, THE
REAPPOINTMENT OF IRIS FRIDAY TO
THE SEATTLE INDIAN SERVICE
COMMISSION.
>> AGENDA ITEM 1, APPOINTMENT
02024, REAPPOINTMENT OF IRIS
FRIDAY AS MEMBER, SEATTLE INDIAN
SERVICES COMMISSION, FOR A TERM
TO OCTOBER 31st, 2022.
>> FOR IRIS AND COLLEEN, BOTH
OF MY FRIENDS, BUT TO IRIS,
THIS IS A REAPPOINTMENT AND IRIS
IS A MEMBER. I WILL READ HER
BACKGROUND.
I UNDERSTAND NEITHER COULD
ATTEND IT TODAY BUT WE HAVE
THEIR APPOINTMENT PACKETS.
IRIS IS A MEMBER OF A TRIBE AND
CURRENTLY WORKS FOR THE FEDERAL
DEPARTMENT OF HOUSING AND URBAN
DEVELOPMENT.
THE NORTHWEST OFFICE OF NATIVE
AMERICAN PROGRAMS.
IRIS, WHICH SHE IS JUST A
PHENOMENAL PERSON IN THE
COMMUNITY AND I HAVE KNOWN HER
FOR OVER 20 YEARS, SHE IS A
FOUNDING MEMBER OF THE NATIVE
GRASSROOT ORGANIZATION
DEDICATED TO POLITICAL
EMPOWERMENT THROUGH INCREASED
CIVIC PARTICIPATION.
THIS GROUP HAS BEEN HERE FOR
OVER 20 YEARS AND MY DAUGHTERS
WERE IN ONE OF THEIR FIRST
CLASSES. I DON'T KNOW IF YOU
DON'T KNOW IRIS, BUT SHE IS
INVOLVED IN EVERYTHING IN
INDIAN COUNTRY VOLUNTEER WORK.
SHE HAD A PHENOMENAL CAREER
BACK IN WASHINGTON, D.C.
STARTING BACK IN 1994 AS A
WHITE HOUSE INTERN UNDER THE
OFFICE OF THE FIRST LADY,
HILLARY CLINTON.
SHE WAS A FINALIST FOR
FELLOWSHIP IN NEW ZEALAND. SHE
HAS BEEN IN HUD. SHE WAS AN
AMBASSADOR IN A LEADERSHIP
PROGRAM, A VERY HIGHLY REGARDED
PROGRAM WITHIN INDIAN COUNTRY.
I CAN'T STOP TALKING ABOUT THE
WORK SHE HAS DONE FOR NATIVE
AMERICANS BUT ALL COMMUNITIES
REGARDING HOUSING AND URBAN
DEVELOPMENT.
WITH THAT, IRIS IS -- THAT IS
WHAT I HAVE FOR IRIS. I COULD
GO ON, BUT YOU PROBABLY
WOULDN'T WANT ME TO SAY MUCH
MORE.
IS THERE ANYTHING FROM MY
COLLEAGUES REGARDING IRIS AND
HER REAPPOINTMENT TO THE INDIAN
SERVICES COMMISSION?
OKAY.
HEARING NONE, I WILL GO
FORWARD.
IRIS FRIDAY IS NOT WITH US
TODAY.
I MOVED THE COMMITTEE A FIRM
APPOINTMENT 02024.
>> SECOND.
>> THANK YOU.
MOTION HAS MOVED AND SECONDED.
OKAY, SO WILL THE CLERK PLEASE
CALL THE ROAD TO RECOMMEND
COMMITTEE CONFIRM APPOINTMENT
02024.
>> HERBOLD?
>> YES.
>> PEDERSEN?
>> YES.
>> SAWANT?
>> YES.
>> JUAREZ?
>> YES.
>> FOUR IN FAVOR, AND
UNOPPOSED.
>> THE MOTION PASSES.
WE WILL MOVE APPOINTMENT 02024
FOR MISS IRIS FRIDAY.
>> APPOINTMENT 02025,
REAPPOINTMENT OF COLLEEN
ECHOHAWK-HAYASHI AS MEMBER,
SEATTLE INDIAN SERVICES
COMMISSION, FOR A TERM TO
DECEMBER 31st, 2024 FOR BRIEFING
AND POSSIBLE VOTE.
>> IT IS MY UNDERSTANDING THAT
COLLEEN ECHOHAWK-HAYASHI COULD
NOT MAKE IT TODAY.
THIS IS A REAPPOINTMENT BY THE
SEATTLE CITY COUNCIL.
I WILL READ A LITTLE BIT. I
THINK A LOT OF US KNOW WHO
COLLEEN IS AND WHAT SHE HAS
DONE.
SHE IS A MEMBER OF PAWNEE NATION
AND THE FORMER EXECUTIVE
DIRECTOR OF THE CHIEF SEATTLE
CLUB AND CURRENTLY I UNDERSTAND
SHE IS WORKING FOR HEADWATER
PEOPLES.
I'M SORRY, THE HEADWATERS
CONSULTING GROUP. SHE FOUNDED
THE HEADWATER PEOPLE CONSULTING
IN 2013. IT IS A CONSULTING
FIRM FOCUSING ON LEADERSHIP
DEVELOPMENT AND ORGANIZATIONAL
DESIGN. I HAVE KNOWN COLLEEN
ECHOHAWK-HAYASHI AND HER
WONDERFUL FAMILY AND SISTERS
FOR QUITE A WHILE.
THEY ARE LIKE IRIS. WE HAVE ALL
BEEN AROUND IN THE WORK AND THE
BETTERMENT OF NOT ONLY AMERICAN
AND NATIVE AMERICAN PEOPLE, BUT
PARTICULARLY FOR LOW INCOME
HOUSING.
COLLEEN WORKED ON MANY HOUSING
DEVELOPMENTS AND SHE WAS ONE OF
THE PEOPLE THAT MADE SURE WE
ARE WORKING WITH OUR SEATTLE
COLLEAGUES.
SHE GOT LOW INCOME HOUSING
BUILT ON THE CAMPUS.
WITH THAT, I WANT TO MOVE THAT
THE COMMITTEE RECOMMENDED OR
CONFIRM APPOINTMENT 02025,
COLLEEN ECHOHAWK-HAYASHI.
>> SECOND.
>> ARE THERE ANY COMMENTS OR
ANYTHING MY COLLEAGUES WOULD
LIKE TO ADD FOR THE
REAPPOINTMENT OF COLLEEN
ECHOHAWK-HAYASHI?
>> OKAY, HEARING NONE I WILL
MOVE FORWARD. THERE IS NO
FURTHER DISCUSSION.
WILL THE CLERK PLEASE CALL THE
ROLL TO RECOMMEND CITY COUNCIL
CONFIRM APPOINTMENT 02025,
COLLEEN ECHOHAWK-HAYASHI?
>> HERBOLD?
>> YES.
>> PEDERSEN?
>> YES.
>> SAWANT?
>> YES.
>> JUAREZ?
>> YES.
>> FOUR IN FAVOR, AND UNOPPOSED
.
>> THANK YOU.
THE MOTION PASSES.
THE COUNCIL WILL RECOMMEND
APPOINTMENT 02025, COLLEEN
ECHOHAWK-HAYASHI. FOR BOTH
APPOINTMENTS, COLLEEN AND IRIS,
THEY WILL BE IN FRONT OF THE
CITY COUNCIL ON MONDAY,
SEPTEMBER 20th.
THANK YOU.
>>> MOVING ON TO ITEM NUMBER
THREE, PARK BOULEVARD
DESIGNATION.
>> COUNCIL BILL 120163 , AN
ORDINANCE RELATING TO CITY OF
SEATTLE RIGHT OF WAY ALONG THE
CENTRAL WATERFRONT DESIGNATING
PORTIONS OF ALASKAN WAY, ELLIOT
WAY, RAILROAD WAY, AND UNION
STREET AS PARK BOULEVARD
REPEALING ORDINANCE 102696
AUTHORIZING THE TRANSFER OF
JURISDICTION OVER THE PORTIONS
OF THOSE RIGHT AWAY FROM THE
SEATTLE DEPARTMENT OF
TRANSPORTATION TO THE SEATTLE
DEPARTMENT OF PARKS AND
RECREATION AND AMENDING
APPENDICES ONE AND TWO TO
ORDINANCE 117569 AND TITLE 15
OF THE SEATTLE MUNICIPAL CODE,
AND SECTION 11.
16.
125 OF THE SEATTLE MUNICIPAL
CODE.
>> I WILL LET YOU GET RIGHT TO
THE NINE PAGE POWERPOINT FOR US
. GO AHEAD AND INTRODUCE
YOURSELF, PARK FOLKS.
>> GREAT.
I AM THE DIRECTOR OF THE WATER
FRONT OFFICE.
>> DORI COSTA, THE MANAGER OF
ONE IS OFFICE OF WATERFRONT.
>> HI. I AM ERIC CONNICK HE
FROM THE CENTRAL STAFF.
>> I STUMBLED A LITTLE BIT IN
THE BEGINNING BUT WHAT I WAS
TRYING TO GET OUT AT THE VERY
BEGINNING BEFORE I SAW YOUR
TITLE, WE HAVE DONE THESE
BEFORE.
OUR STANDARD TRANSFER OF LETTER
JURISDICTION FROM SDOT , IT IS
PART OF THE BIGGER PICTURE AND
WHAT YOU GUYS HAVE DONE AND
WHAT WE HAVE DONE AS A CITY TO
CURATE THE ADDITIONAL PARK FRONT
. THE ONLY QUESTION I HAVE
BEFORE WE BEGIN AND I JUST WANT
TO GET IT OUT THERE NOW.
I WILL LET YOU GO THROUGH YOUR
PRESENTATION.
APPROXIMATELY HOW MUCH LAND ARE
WE TALKING ABOUT? IS THERE A
SPECIFIC NUMBER?
>> DO YOU WANT TO ANSWER THAT?
>> SO WE DON'T HAVE THE EXACT
LAND AREA. WE WILL GET THAT AND
GET BACK TO YOU.
IT IS ABOUT ONE MILE THE LENGTH
ALONG THE WATERFRONT AND 17
BLOCKS, YOU KNOW, FROM DOWN BY
THE STADIUMS TO JUST NORTH OF
WHERE THE OVERLOOK WALK AND
AQUARIUM WILL BE. I WILL SHOW
THAT ON THE MAP.
>> THAT IS ALL I NEED TO KNOW.
I WILL LET YOU GUYS TAKE IT
AWAY.
>> THANKS, CHAIR JUAREZ. WE
WILL DO A BRIEF PRESENTATION AND
JUST BY WAY OF INTRODUCTION,
THE WATERFRONT PROGRAM HAS BEEN
BUILDING UP TO THIS FOR A
NUMBER OF YEARS.
WE HAVE LEGISLATION THAT HAS
PREPARED FOR THIS. A
FUNDAMENTAL THING THE PARK
HELPS US DO IS ESTABLISH OUR
CITY MAINTENANCE LEAD WITH THE
PARKS DEPARTMENT OVER NOT ONLY
THE PARKS PROPERTIES TODAY, BUT
SOME OF THE SDOT RIGHTS-OF-WAY
WHICH WILL BE MANAGED AS PUBLIC
PARK SPACES AND AS PART OF THAT
, ENABLE US TO USE METROPOLITAN
PARK DISTRICT FUNDING WHICH HAS
BEEN DEDICATED FOR THE
WATERFRONT. THE OTHER THING
THAT IT SUPPORTS IS OUR ONGOING
PARTNERSHIP WITH OUR FRIENDS IN
SEATTLE FOR PROGRAMMING AN
ACTIVATION WHICH WAS PART OF
BACK IN 2019 WE DID LEGISLATION
WHICH KIND OF FORMALIZED THAT
PARTNERSHIP. THIS WAS
ANTICIPATED AND WE ARE VERY
HAPPY TO BE HERE TODAY TO TALK
TO YOU ABOUT THE ORDINANCE
ITSELF.
WITH THAT, I WILL TURN IT BACK
OVER TO DORI AND TIFFANI .
>> HI, COUNCILMEMBERS.
YOU CAN KIND OF SEE -- YEAH.
HERE IS THE LEGISLATIVE HISTORY.
YOU KNOW, THAT IS THE KEY HERE.
WE HAVE BEEN TALKING ABOUT
OPERATING THE WATERFRONT AS A
PARK SINCE 2010 TO 2011 WHEN WE
DEVELOPED OUR CENTRAL
WATERFRONT COMMITTEE AND WE
DEVELOPED OUR FRAMEWORK PLAN
AND CONCEPT DIVINE. WE TALKED
ABOUT HAVING A STRONG PUBLIC
PRIVATE PARTNERSHIPS AND
ESTABLISHING A ELASTIC CIVIC
PARTNERSHIP. IN 2012, THE CITY
SUPPORTED THE CREATION OF
FRIENDS OF WATERFRONT SEATTLE
AND FOR THEM TO BE A PARTNER TO
HELP OPERATE AND MANAGE OUR NEW
PARKS AND PUBLIC SPACES.
IN 2017, WE STATED OUR INTENT
TO ENTER INTO AN AGREEMENT TO
PROVIDE THE HIGH QUALITY LEVEL
OF OPERATION AND MANAGEMENT THAT
WE WERE SEEKING FOR THE
WATERFRONT.
IN 2019 WHEN WE DID A PACKAGE
OF LEGISLATION TO THE LOCAL
IMPROVEMENT DISTRICT, WE
INCLUDED IN THAT PACKAGE TWO
ORDINANCES.
ONE THAT AUTHORIZED A PILOT
AGREEMENT AND FOR ONCE AT THE
WATERFRONT ANTICIPATING WE
WOULD ENTER INTO A LONG-TERM
MANAGEMENT AGREEMENT, AND THEN
ALSO WE ENTERED INTO WHAT IS
CALLED A PROTEST WAIVER
AGREEMENT.
THAT IS THE LAST ORDINANCE SHOWN
, YOU KNOW, THAT PROVED US
ENTERING AGREEMENTS WITH
PROPERTY OWNERS WITHIN DOWNTOWN
WHO WERE PAYING INTO THE
WATERFRONT. ONE OF THE TERMS IN
THAT AGREEMENT WAS WE DESIGNATE
THE RIGHT OF WAY AS A PARK
BOULEVARD.
THAT WAS ONE OF THE THINGS
PROPERTY OWNERS THOUGHT WAS
VERY IMPORTANT TO ENSURE LONG-
TERM MANAGEMENT OF THE RIGHT-OF-
WAY.
NEXT SLIDE, PLEASE. SO, WHAT
ARE WE PROPOSING?
THIS LEGISLATION, AS MARSHALL
SAID, INTENDED TO MAKE SURE WE
HAVE HIGH QUALITY MANAGEMENT
FOR THE PUBLIC SPACES THAT WE
ARE BUILDING ALONG THE CENTRAL
WATERFRONT.
WE CAN USE PORTIONS OF THE
RIGHT-OF-WAY AS PARK BOULEVARD.
THERE ARE A NUMBER OF PARK
BOULEVARDS IN THE CITY WITH A
LEVEL OF COMMITMENT BETWEEN
PARKS AND SDOT AND LAKE
WASHINGTON BOULEVARD IS A PARK
BOULEVARD A PIECE OF ALASKAN WAY
IN FRONT OF WATERFRONT PARK AT
PIER 58 . THE LEGISLATION
WOULD AUTHORIZE SDOT TO
TRANSFER JURISDICTIONS OF PARK
BOULEVARDS TO SPR. THAT WOULD
ALLOW PARKS TO MANAGE THE
PUBLIC SPACES AND ESTABLISH
PARK HOURS TO OTHER PARKS IN
THE CITY. NEXT SLIDE.
SO THE RIGHT-OF-WAY WE ARE
LOOKING AT DESIGNATING, AS YOU
CAN SEE, EXTENDS FROM THE
STADIUMS AT OCCIDENTAL AND
RAILROAD WAY AND THE LITTLE EAST
-WEST STREET ALL THE WAY TO
KING STREET AND ALASKAN WAY.
AND THEN NORTH ALONG ALASKAN
WAY FROM KING STREET AROUND THE
CURVE AT YES FLEUR AND ALL THE
WAY UP TO WHERE THE NEW
OVERLOOK WALK WILL BE BUILT
AROUND THE EQUIVALENT OF PINE
STREET AND IT EXTENDS A LITTLE
WAY UP THE TWO ENDS OF ELLIOT
WAY AND ALASKAN WAY TO ENCOMPASS
A FEW NEW IMPROVEMENTS. YOU CAN
SEE SLIGHTLY IN THE NORTH END
OF ELLIOT WAY THERE IS THE
BLUFF WALK THAT CONNECTS TO THE
PIKE PLACE MARKET FRONT
DEVELOPMENT THAT EXTENDS A
LITTLE BIT UP THE ELLIOT WAY
RIGHT-OF-WAY, AND SOME
IMPROVEMENTS IN FRONT OF PIER
62 IN FRONT OF ALASKAN WAY.
IT INCLUDES A SMALL PIECE OF
THE UNION STREET RIGHT-OF-WAY
WHERE WE ARE BUILDING THE UNION
STREET PEDESTRIAN BRIDGE.
THAT IS UNDERWAY NOW.
AS I MENTIONED EARLIER, THAT IS
ABOUT 17 BLOCKS OF RIGHT-OF-WAY
DEPENDING ON IF YOU COUNT THE
LITTLE PIECE NORTH OF THE
OVERLOOK WALK TWICE. AND THEN
WE WILL MOVE TO THE NEXT SLIDE.
WITHIN THE PARK BOULEVARD, WE
KIND OF HAVE TWO ZONES. THE
AREAS IN GREEN ARE INTENDED TO
BE WHERE SEATTLE PARKS AND
RECREATION WOULD HAVE
JURISDICTION.
THEY ARE AREAS THAT WOULD BE,
YOU KNOW, GETTING THEIR DAILY
MAINTENANCE, CLEANING, CARE OF
THE TREES, AND LANDSCAPING. YOU
KNOW, GARBAGE PICKUP, WATERING
OF PLANTS. THINGS LIKE THAT
WOULD BE MANAGED BY PARKS WITH
FRIENDS ASSISTING IF THERE IS A
SPECIAL LEVEL OF MAINTENANCE WE
WANT TO ADD ON TOP.
WERE ALSO IN HELPING TO PROGRAM
THOSE AREAS TO MAKE SURE THEY
ARE ACTIVE AND FUN FOR USERS,
THE AREA IN RED WOULD REMAIN IN
THE DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION
'S JURISDICTION.
THIS IS THE AREA THAT HAS THE
BIKE LANE OR CYCLE TRACK.
IT HAS THE SIDEWALK RIGHT NEXT
TO THE STREET.
IT HAS PARKING IN LOADING ZONES
, TRANSIT LANES, AND ROADWAY
LANES AND TRAFFIC CIRCLES AND
THINGS LIKE THAT.
THOSE WOULD REMAIN IN SDOT
JURISDICTION AND THEY WOULD BE
RESPONSIBLE FOR THE DAY TO DAY
MAINTENANCE AND LONG-TERM
MAINTENANCE FOR THOSE
FACILITIES.
IN THE GREEN AREA, SDOT WOULD
STILL BE RESPONSIBLE FOR LONG-
TERM MAJOR MAINTENANCE OF
FACILITIES IF THINGS NEEDED TO
BE REPLACED. WE WOULD HAVE, YOU
KNOW, MAINTENANCE AGREEMENTS
BETWEEN PARKS AND TRANSPORTATION
ABOUT THE DETAILS OF WHO WOULD
TAKE CARE OF CERTAIN THINGS IF
CERTAIN THINGS HAPPENED, LIKE
SAY A CAR RAN INTO A TREE OR
STUFF LIKE THAT.
THE NEXT SLIDE, PLEASE.
SO, WHY ARE WE DOING THIS?
MARSHALL HAS ALREADY COVERED
SOME OF THIS.
ONE IS TO ALLOW US TO ESTABLISH
CLEAR ROLES AND
RESPONSIBILITIES FOR SUCCESSFUL
OPERATION AND MAINTENANCE OF
EXISTING AND NEW PUBLIC SPACES.
YOU CAN SEE THE PUBLIC SPACES
ALONG THE WATERFRONT ARE GOING
TO BE VERY WIDE AND VERY PARK-
LIKE. WE WANT TO MAKE SURE WE
ARE DOING REALLY GOOD
OPERATIONAL MAINTENANCE OF THAT
. WE WANT TO BE ABLE TO ENSURE
THE CITY CAN USE THE
METROPOLITAN PARK DISTRICT
RESOURCES TO SUPPORT PARK
MAINTENANCE. FINALLY WE WANT TO
FULFILL COMMITMENTS WE HAVE
ESTABLISHED IN PREVIOUS
LEGISLATION. NEXT SLIDE, PLEASE.
ONE OF THE QUESTIONS WE HAVE
BEEN ASKED, WHY NOW BEFORE THE
CONSTRUCTION IS COMPLETE?
WE HAVE PORTIONS OF THE
RECONFIGURED WATERFRONT THAT
ARE ALREADY OPEN. FOR INSTANCE,
IF YOU HAVE BEEN DOWN TO THE
WATERFRONT NORTH OF COLUMBIA,
WE HAVE ALREADY OPENED THE EAST
SIDE OF THE STREET ALONG
PIONEER SQUARE. WE ANTICIPATE
LATE THIS YEAR, EARLY NEXT YEAR
TO BE ABLE TO OPEN THE WEST SIDE
OF ALASKAN WAY SOUTH OF YES
FLEUR. THIS WOULD ALLOW US AND
AUTHORIZE US TO BEGIN PHASE
TRANSFER OF JURISDICTION AS
MORE PORTIONS OF THE WATERFRONT
ARE COMPLETED OVER THE NEXT TWO
YEARS.
PARK BOULEVARD IS ESSENTIAL TO
COMPLETE THE LONG-TERM AGREEMENT
. FALL OF 2022 IS WHEN THE CITY
COMMITTED TO ENTER INTO THAT
AGREEMENT.
IT IS ALSO WHEN THE PILOT
AGREEMENT ENDS.
AND FINALLY, TO REALLY ALLOW US
TO BUILD ON THE PARTNERSHIP AT
PIER 62.
NEXT SLIDE. I CAN'T REMEMBER IF
THERE IS A NEXT SLIDE. THERE IT
IS.
SO, THE NEXT STEPS GOING ALONG
WITH THE WHY NOW. AS YOU CAN
SEE WHAT I HAVE ALREADY
MENTIONED ABOUT THE STRETCH IN
BLUE AT THE SOUTH END OF
ALASKAN WAY BETWEEN COLUMBIA
AND KING IS ALREADY OPEN TO
PEDESTRIANS AND TO TRAFFIC. WE
HAVE INSTALLED OUR TREES AND
OUR GROUND PLANTINGS. THE AREAS
IN GREEN ARE THE NEXT PHASE.
SORRY, BLUE IS ALSO PIER 62
AND 63, WHICH IS ALREADY OPEN.
THE AREAS IN GREEN ARE THE
AREAS WE ANTICIPATE NEXT TO
REOPEN. MOVING ON TO THE AREA
THAT IS SORT OF IN A YELLOW
COLOR NORTH OF COLUMBIA ON THE
WEST SIDE OF THE STREET, THAT
IS REALLY WHEN THE MAIN PART OF
THE PROMENADE WILL START
OPENING TO THE PUBLIC AS
CONSTRUCTION IS COMPLETE IN TWO
BLOCK SEGMENTS. WE BELIEVE THE
RED AREA IS SUPPOSED TO OPEN IN
OCTOBER OF 2022, THE UNION
STREET PEDESTRIAN BRIDGE.
IN MID-2023, WE ANTICIPATE THE
RESTROOM WITHIN THE PROMENADE,
THE RAILROAD WAY AREA, AND THE
STRETCH OF ALASKAN WAY NEAR
PIER 62 TO OPEN.
FINALLY WE EXPECT THE LAST
PIECES IN THE DARK TEAL GREEN
TO OPEN BY THE END OF 2024. AND
SO THIS WILL ALLOW US TO DO
THAT PHASED IMPLEMENTATION AND
BE ABLE TO START MAINTAINING
ASSETS AS THEY BEGIN TO BE USED
BY THE PUBLIC.
WITH THAT, THE PRESENTATION IS
DONE. I BELIEVE THERE IS MAYBE
ONE SLIDE. OH, WE DON'T HAVE A
CONTACT SLIDE ON HERE.
IF THERE ARE ANY QUESTIONS, WE
WOULD BE HAPPY TO ANSWER.
COUNCILMEMBER, YOU ARE ON MUTE.
>> THANK YOU.
I'M GLAD YOU'RE HERE.
SO, ARE THERE ANY QUESTIONS
ABOUT THE DISCUSSION? I WILL
ASK IF THERE ARE ANY QUESTIONS
AGAIN BUT IS THERE ANYTHING WE
WANT TO ASK ABOUT THE
POWERPOINT THAT DORI JUST WENT
THROUGH?
OKAY. I WILL GO AHEAD AND MOVE
THIS.
I MOVE THE COMMITTEE RECOMMEND
COUNCIL PASS COUNCIL BILL
120163 , THE PARK BOULEVARD
DESIGNATION. IS THERE A SECOND?
>> SECOND.
>> THANK YOU, COUNCILMEMBER
HERBOLD.
>> THAT WAS THE SECOND TIME I
SAID IT.
>> VICE CHAIR ISN'T PAYING
ATTENTION, SO I MIGHT HAVE TO
POUND ON THE WALL.
OKAY, THE MOTION HAS BEEN MOVED
AND SECONDED.
PLEASE CALL THE ROLE.
>> HERBOLD?
>> YES.
>> PEDERSEN?
>> SAWANT?
>> YES.
>> JUAREZ?
>> YES.
>> PEDERSEN?
COUNCILMEMBER JUAREZ, SHOULD I
CONTINUE?
>> YEAH.
>> THREE IN FAVOR, NONE OPPOSED
.
>> GREAT. THE COMMITTEE WILL
RECOMMEND THE COUNCIL PASS
COUNCIL BILL 120163 . BEFORE WE
GO ON, AND AGAIN THIS WILL BE
IN FRONT OF THE COUNCIL ON
MONDAY, SEPTEMBER 20th.
FOR WE GO TO ITEM NUMBER FOUR,
PUBLIC HEARING, I BRIEFLY WANT
TO RECOGNIZE CLAUDIA KAUFFMAN.
CLAUDIA, WE JUST REAPPOINTED
YOU.
I'M GLAD YOU ARE HERE. IF YOU
WOULD LIKE TO SAY A FEW WORDS,
WE CAN INTERRUPT THE AGENDA.
I WANT TO GO BACK TO OUR DAYS
OF CHILDHOOD. IF YOU WANT TO
SAY A FEW WORDS FOR MY
COLLEAGUES AND THE PUBLIC, THAT
WOULD BE GREAT.
WE DON'T HAVE IRIS HERE EITHER,
BUT I READ FROM BOTH OF YOUR
APPLICATION PACKETS.
GO AHEAD, CLAUDIA.
>> THANK YOU.
THANK YOU SO MUCH.
I AM GLAD TO BE HERE BEFORE
YOUR COMMITTEE.
I DO APPRECIATE THE
OPPORTUNITY.
WE HAVE WONDERFUL VOLUNTEERS.
WE HAVE DEDICATED VOLUNTEERS.
WE HAVE A LONG HISTORY HERE. WE
HAVE A WONDERFUL VISION OF THE
FUTURE. THERE IS A MULTI USE
FACILITY FOR HOUSING AND
BUSINESS DEVELOPMENT.
IT HAS BECOME A FOCAL POINT FOR
FAMILIES IN OUR GENERAL
COMMUNITY AND THE CITY OF
SEATTLE.
THE WORK IS HARD AND I
APPRECIATE YOUR SUPPORT.
>> CHAIR, I APOLOGIZE.
WE ARE REAPPOINTING COLLEEN
ECHOHAWK-HAYASHI AND IRIS FRIDAY
. I APOLOGIZE FOR THAT. I GOT
THAT MESSED UP AND TURNED
AROUND.
I WANT TO THANK YOU.
IT IS ALWAYS A PLEASURE TALKING
TO YOU.
YOU KNOW HOW HARD US NATIVE
WOMEN ALL WORK AND YOU ARE PART
OF THAT GROUP.
AS YOU CAN SEE, I'VE GOT UNCLE
BERNIE BEHIND ME.
I'VE GOT HIS PICTURE.
WE PASSED UNANIMOUSLY BOTH
APPOINTMENTS FOR COLLEEN AND
IRIS.
I MEAN NO DISRESPECT BY
REFERRING TO COLLEEN AND IRIS
BY THEIR FIRST NAME AS I CALLED
YOU THE SENATOR.
YOU ARE ALSO MY SISTER AND MY
FRIEND, CLAUDIA.
THAT IS HOW WE DO IN INDIAN
COUNTRY. THANK YOU FOR BEING
HERE.
DON'T WORRY ABOUT BEING LATE.
LET THAT GO. WE WILL FINISH
WITH OUR AGENDA. YOU ARE
WELCOME TO STAY IF YOU WOULD
LIKE.
THANK YOU, SENATOR.
>> THANK YOU SO MUCH.
>>> WITH THAT, WE WILL MOVE TO
ITEM NUMBER FOUR, THE
OPERATIONS AND MANAGEMENT OF
THE WOODLAND PARK ZOO.
I HAVE A LITTLE BIT MORE TO SAY
TO PREFACE THIS PRESENTATION
BEFORE WE BEGIN, BUT NEGHEEN,
PLEASE READ IT INTO THE
RECORD.
>> COUNCIL BILL 120164
AUTHORIZING THE SUPERINTENDENT
OF PARKS AND RECREATION TO
ENTER INTO AN AGREEMENT WITH
THE WOODLAND PARK ZOOLOGICAL
SOCIETY FOR OPERATION AND
MANAGEMENT OF THE WOODLAND PARK
ZOO. IT IS UP FOR FIRST PUBLIC
HEARING FOLLOWED BY A BRIEFING.
>> SO, NEGHEEN , HOW ARE WE
GOING TO DO THIS?
I KNOW WE SWITCHED IT AROUND.
SHOULD I DO MY COMMENTS NOW, OR
SHOULD WE JUST --
>> I HAVE THEM IN FRONT OF ME.
FEEL FREE.
>> AT HEAR FROM EILEEN AND MARLA
. LET'S GET THIS OUT OF THE WAY
NOW AND WE WILL COME BACK TO
THE TWO INDIVIDUALS THAT WANT
TO SPEAK ON THE PUBLIC COMMENT
PIECE.
>> THERE WILL BE 2 IN ADDITION
TO 13 OTHERS THAT HAVE SIGNED
IN.
>> WE WILL INVITE OUR
PRESENTERS IN AND THEN DO ALL
THAT. WE ORIGINALLY HAD TO
SWITCH IT BACK SO WE COULD HAVE
THE PUBLIC HEARING FIRST.
ANYWAY, THIS IS GOING TO GO TO
MY COMMENTS HERE.
IT IS MY PRIORITY TO PROVIDE
AMPLE TIME FOR THE PUBLIC TO
REVIEW AND PROVIDE FEEDBACK ON
THIS NEW AGREEMENT.
THANK YOU TO THE DOZENS OF
SEATTLE RESIDENTS WROTE TO OUR
OFFICE AND ALL SEATTLE
COUNCILMEMBERS . THIS IS OVER
THE CONTRACT ITSELF, LABOR
ISSUES, AND SUCH. ANYWAY I LOOK
FORWARD TO HEARING THIS
PRESENTATION.
BEFORE WE DO, I WANT TO KIND OF
BRIEF EVERYBODY FOR THOSE OF
YOU FOLLOWING ONLINE, SOME HAVE
HAD THEIR PROPOSED LEGISLATION
WITH THE OPERATION AND
MANAGEMENT AGREEMENT HAS
ALREADY BEEN POSTED ON
AVAILABLE ONLINE.
I WANT TO GIVE THE FOLLOWING
OVERVIEW. I HAVE HIGHLIGHTED
THE FOLLOWING SECTIONS.
WHEN I READ THE LEGISLATION, I
TRY TO TRACK IT WHERE THOSE
PARTICULAR SECTIONS
PARTICULARLY WHEN WE HEAR FROM
OUR CONSTITUENTS, WHERE THOSE
ISSUES SHOW UP IN THE
LEGISLATION AND THE OPERATION
AND MANAGEMENT AGREEMENT FOR
THE ACTUAL CONTRACT. YOU ARE
FLIPPING BACK AND FORTH AND
TRYING TO FOLLOW.
THESE ARE THE HOTSPOTS WE HAVE
LAID OUT. I KNOW THE PEOPLE
FROM PARKS AND THE ZOO WILL GO
THROUGH THEIR PRESENTATION AND
HIGHLIGHT IT MORE, BUT I WANTED
TO GIVE WHAT I BELIEVE ARE SOME
OF THE ISSUES THAT HAVE BEEN
RAISED. THIS LEGISLATION WHICH
INCLUDES THE LEGISLATION AND
MANAGEMENT AGREEMENT IS ABOUT
70 PAGES. IT HAS FOUR EXHIBITS
TO IT.
EXHIBIT NUMBER THREE IS THE
MEMORANDUM OF UNDERSTANDING
WHICH WAS SIGNED BY THE ZOO AND
THE CITY OF SEATTLE IN 2021.
EXHIBIT NUMBER FOUR IS IMPORTANT
BECAUSE IN EXHIBIT NUMBER FOUR,
THERE ARE TWO APPENDICES. A
HAS THE PUBLIC BENEFITS. WE
WILL GO INTO THAT MORE WHEN WE
GO THROUGH THE PRESENTATION.
I WANTED YOU TO ALL BE AWARE
THAT IS WHAT THOSE SECTIONS ARE
. IT IS A 70 PAGE DOCUMENT AND
BROKEN INTO 31 SECTIONS.
PAGE EIGHT IS WHERE THE
AGREEMENT ACTUALLY STARTS.
AGAIN, I AM A LITTLE NERDY
HERE, BUT IT IS THE WAY I THINK
SO I WANT TO MAKE SURE THE
PUBLIC CAN FOLLOW AS YOU ARE
LOOKING AT IT ONLINE.
PAGE 12 OUTLINES THE TERM 2021
THROUGH 2041. TODAY'S PUBLIC
HEARING INFORMATION PAGE 24
SECTION 11 IS THE PUBLIC
BENEFITS SECTION.
KUDOS TO PARKS AND ZOO FOR
DOING THE THINGS WE ASKED THEM
TO DO. PUBLIC BENEFITS IS AS I
SAID EARLIER IN EXHIBIT FOUR,
UNDER EXHIBIT A. IT HAS THE
EQUITY AND INCLUSION, THE
NONDISCRIMINATION, LABOR
HARMONY, SOCIAL EQUITY. IT HAS
THE WOMEN AND MINORITY OWNED
BUSINESS ENTERPRISES INCLUSION.
IT HAS THE COMMUNITY WORKFORCE
AGREEMENT, PREVAILING WAGES,
TRAINING AND OPPORTUNITIES FOR
WOMEN AND OTHER COMMUNITIES.
IT IS ON PAGE 24 SECTION 11
LABELED PUBLIC BENEFITS AND
ALSO IN EXHIBIT 4. ON PAGE 30,
SECTION 12, THAT IS WHERE IT
REGARDS TO ZOO ANIMALS AND CARE
. I ALSO WANTED TO HIGHLIGHT
BECAUSE I AM REALLY GLAD WE GOT
THIS IN THERE.
I THANK YOU AGAIN. PAGE 16,
REPORTING OBLIGATIONS.
THAT IS REALLY GOOD LANGUAGE IN
THERE FOR PUBLIC INVOLVEMENT
FOR MAJOR CAPITAL PROJECTS.
I AM HAPPY ABOUT THAT.
SO PAGE 58, AND AGAIN IT IS
EXHIBIT NUMBER THREE. IT IS
IMPORTANT BECAUSE WE SIGNED
THIS IN JULY OF 2021.
THAT IS EXHIBIT THREE.
THOSE OF THE FOUR COMMITMENTS
WE HAVE MADE IN THE CITY THAT
ALIGNED WITH OUR VALUES THAT
ARE INCORPORATED IN THIS WITH
THE SEVEN SERVICE CATEGORIES
THAT TOTAL AROUND 3 MILLION IN
PUBLIC BENEFITS. THE REASON I
WANTED TO GIVE THE OVERVIEW SO
WHEN WE GO TO THIS DOCUMENT,
PEOPLE CAN FOLLOW ALONG.
IT IS 70 PAGES, BUT IT IS ALL
IN THERE.
THAT BEING SAID, I WANT TO
SHARE SOME INFORMATION I ASKED
CENTRAL STAFF AND THE ZOO AND
PARKS TO GET BACK TO ME
REGARDING WHAT WE KNOW ABOUT
THE ZOO IN THE CURRENT CONTRACT
REGARDING THE ACTUAL ZOO AND
ANIMAL CARE. IS THAT IN THE
WOODLAND PARK ZOO?
IS IT CREDITED BY THE ZOOS AND
AQUARIUMS KNOWN AS THE AZA?
ONLY ZOOS AND AQUARIUMS THAT
MEET THE HIGHEST STANDARDS ARE
ACCREDITED. IT IS A RIGOROUS
PROCESS THAT OCCURS EVERY FIVE
YEARS.
IN ADDITION WOODLAND PARK ZOO
IS ONE OF THE FEW ZOOS AND
AQUARIUMS TO BE CERTIFIED BY
THE HUMANE CONSERVATION PROGRAM
. THEY ARE HUMANE CERTIFIED.
THE HUMANE CERTIFIED SEAL OF
APPROVAL IS AN IMPORTANT
VALIDATION OF THE LONG-STANDING
TRADITION OF MEETING THE
HIGHEST STANDARDS IN ANIMAL
WELFARE.
WOODLAND PARK ZOO HAS TWO FULL-
TIME DOCTORS OF VETERINARY
MEDICINE ON STAFF AND A THIRD
WILL JOIN THE TEAM IN NOVEMBER,
2021. THE ANIMAL HEALTH TEAM
CURRENTLY PROVIDES HEALTHCARE
FOR OVER 900 ANIMALS
REPRESENTING 240 SPECIES. THE
ZOO VETERINARIANS HAVE
PROFESSIONAL LICENSES TO
PRACTICE MEDICINE AND SURGERY
FROM THE STATE OF WASHINGTON.
WOODLAND PARK ZOO HAS FIVE
VETERINARY TECHNICIANS ON STAFF
AND THE WOODLAND PARK ZOO IS
ONE OF THE ONLY ZOOS IN THE
NATION WITH AN ANIMAL WELFARE
SCIENTIST ON STAFF. AS I SHARED
THE OPERATION AND MANAGEMENT
AGREEMENT SECTION 12, PAGE 30,
YOU WILL SEE WHERE THEY ADDRESS
ZOO ANIMALS. THEY WILL COMPLY
WITH ALL FEDERAL, STATE, AND
LOCAL LAWS.
WE, THE CITY, RELY ON WOODLAND
PARK ZOO'S UNIQUE EXPERTISE,
SKILL, AND EXPERIENCE INCLUDING
ALL FORMAL EDUCATIONAL
LICENSING AND CERTIFICATION.
BECAUSE WE GOT LETTERS THAT
WERE IN SUPPORT OF THE ZOO,
THEY ASKED THAT WE QUICKLY READ
THE 12 LETTERS FROM COMMUNITY-
BASED ORGANIZATIONS SUPPORTING
THE WOODLAND PARK ZOO, PUBLIC
BENEFITS, AND THEIR SUPPORT FOR
THEIR PROPOSED OPERATION AND
MANAGEMENT AGREEMENT.
WE HAVE RECEIVED THIS WITHOUT
GOING THROUGH THE SUM OF
ORGANIZATIONS.
SOLID GROUND, FAMILY WORKS, BIG
BROTHERS BIG SISTERS PUGET
SOUND, MARY'S PLACE, CHIEF
SEATTLE CLUB, AMARA, TREEHOUSE,
THE ART OF KING COUNTY, LAUNCH,
AND THE NEIGHBORHOOD
ASSOCIATION.
I DO THAT AS A PRECURSOR SO
WHEN WE GO INTO PUBLIC HEARING,
IF THERE ARE QUESTIONS OR
CONCERNS OUR PEOPLE SIGNED UP
FOR HOPEFULLY THAT ANSWERS SOME
OF THEM. OBVIOUSLY FEEL FREE
DURING THIS PUBLIC COMMENT TIME
TO TELL US WHAT YOUR CONCERNS
ARE AND WE ARE HERE OBVIOUSLY
TO LISTEN TO THAT.
RIGHT NOW WE WILL OPEN UP
AGENDA ITEM 4, COUNCIL BILL
120164 FOR PUBLIC COMMENT.
NEGHEEN , HOW MANY SPEAKERS DO
WE HAVE?
>> WE HAVE 15 INDIVIDUAL SIGNED
UP AND OF THE 15, OR I'M SORRY
16.
14 ARE AVAILABLE.
>> WE HAVE 14?
WE HAVE 14 PEOPLE SIGNED UP?
>> YES.
>> OKAY, SO I WILL LET NEGHEEN
GO FORWARD AND READ THE
INSTRUCTIONS.
NEGHEEN, YOU CAN DO THAT AND
WE WILL TEE UP OUR SPEAKERS.
GO AHEAD.
>> ONCE A SPEAKER'S NAME IS
CALLED, WE WILL UNMUTE THE
APPROPRIATE MICROPHONE AND A
PROMPT OF "YOU HAVE BEEN
UNMUTED" WILL BE YOUR Q. PRESS
STAR SIX ON YOUR PHONE TO UNMUTE
YOURSELF AFTER YOUR NAME IS
CALLED. YOU MAY BEGIN SPEAKING
BY STATING HER NAME.
SPEAKERS WILL HEAR A TIME WHEN
THERE ARE 10 SECONDS LEFT OF
THE ALLOTTED TIME.
ONCE YOU HEAR THE CHIME, WRAP
UP YOUR COMMENT.
IF SPEAKERS DO NOT END THEIR
COMMENTS, THE SPEAKERS
MICROPHONE WILL BE MUTED TO
ALLOW US TO CALL ON THE NEXT
SPEAKER.
ONCE YOU HAVE ENDED YOUR COMMENT
, WE ASK THAT YOU PLEASE
DISCONNECT FROM THE LINE AND IF
YOU CONTINUE FOLLOWING THIS
MEETING, PLEASE DO SO VIA THE
LISTENING OPTIONS LISTED ON THE
AGENDA.
COUNCILMEMBER JUAREZ?
WE ARE READY TO HAVE YOU OPEN
THE PUBLIC HEARING.
>> THANK YOU.
PUBLIC HEARING FOR AGENDA ITEM 4
IS OPEN.
NEGHEEN WILL BE CALLING PEOPLE
ON THE LIST.
GO AHEAD, NEGHEEN .
>> THE FIRST TWO SIGNED UP ARE
ZOE BELL FOLLOWED BY EILEEN
FORT GANG.
ZOE, ARE YOU AVAILABLE?
>> YES, THIS IS ZOE.
>> HI THERE.
GO AHEAD.
>> HI.
MY NAME IS ZOE BELL AND I'M
HERE TO EXPRESS MY SUPPORT FOR
THE CITY OF SEATTLE AND THE
WOODLAND PARK ZOO.
THE WOODLAND PARK ZOO PLAYS A
CRITICAL ROLE IN OUR COMMUNITY.
IT PROVIDES A PLACE FOR OUR
FAMILIES.
THEY ARE THE LEADING PROVIDER
FOR SHELTER SERVICES FOR WOMEN
AND FAMILIES EXPERIENCING
HOMELESSNESS. WE FOCUS ON
ENRICHING THE LIFE OF THE YOUTH
AND PROVIDING FAMILIES TOOLS TO
MITIGATE TRAUMA AND
HOMELESSNESS.
THE WOODLAND PARK ZOO HELPS US
ACHIEVE THESE GOALS BY GETTING
TICKETS FOR FIELD TRIPS OR FOR
FAMILIES TO GO INDEPENDENTLY.
WE BRING GROUPS AND FAMILIES
EACH OF OUR SHELTERS TO SPEND
THE NIGHT.
IT IS THE MOST AMAZING THING.
FAMILIES TALK ABOUT IT FOR
WEEKS AFTER.
IT BRINGS SO MUCH JOY.
THIS SUPPORT HELPS OUR FAMILIES
WITH HOUSING.
WOODLAND PARK ZOO OFFERS
TICKETS TO SEATTLE RELEVANCE.
THIS ACCESS ALLOWS KIDS FROM
BOTH OUR FAMILIES AND OTHERS TO
PURCHASE EDUCATIONAL
PROGRAMMING AND FOR FAMILIES TO
CREATE LASTING MEMORIES.
WE ARE GRATEFUL FOR OUR LASTING
PARTNERSHIP WITH WOODLAND PARK
ZOO FOR THE OPPORTUNITIES THEY
PROVIDE TO OUR FAMILIES.
THANK YOU.
>> THANK YOU VERY MUCH.
NEXT IS EILEEN. ARE YOU ON THE
LINE?
EILEEN, TRY PRESSING STAR SIX.
THERE WE GO.
EILEEN, GO AHEAD AND BEGIN YOUR
COMMENTS.
EILEEN, WE DO NOT HEAR YOU.
I.T.
, DO YOU HAVE ANY SUGGESTIONS
ON HOW WE CAN GET EILEEN
CONNECTED?
>> THE CALLER NEEDS TO PRESS
STAR SIX AGAIN.
>> EILEEN, PLEASE PRESS STAR SIX
. I WILL GIVE YOU A MOMENT.
>> I DID.
>> THERE WE GO.
>> LET'S TRY IT AGAIN.
I AM EILEEN, COFOUNDER OF THE
PARKS ZOO ELEPHANTS BUT.
I LEAD A DECADE-LONG EFFORT TO
GET ELEPHANTS TO SANCTUARY.
THERE IS A PROPOSED CLAUSE IN
THE AGREEMENT THAT GAVE THE
CITY AUTHRITY OVER THE
DISPOSITION OF THE ANIMALS.
IT TOOK AN ORDINANCE TO DIRECT
THE ZOO TO DO THE HUMANE THING
AND MOVE THE ELEPHANTS TO THE
SANCTUARY. THE ZOO IGNORED
SCIENCE, THE PUBLIC, THE
SEATTLE TIMES WHICH POSTED 17
EDITORIALS, THE MAYOR, THE
MAJORITY OF THE CITY COUNCIL
UNTIL IN THE LAST MINUTE THERE
WAS A STUNNING REVERSAL OF TWO
CITY COUNCIL MEMBERS THAT VOTED
NO ON THE ORDINANCE. IT WAS A
TRAGEDY. THE ZOO REMOVED THE
CLAUSE GIVING THE CITY DOES
AUTHORITY, CITING THE CITY IS
NOT AN EXPERT ON ANIMALS. WELL,
THE ZOO MAY NOT HAVE CONFIDENCE
IN CITY COUNCIL MEMBERS TO
CONSULT EXPERTS WHEN NEEDED.
WE DO. YOUR CONSTITUENTS HAVE
BECOME AWARE OF THE INHERENT
CRUELTY OF CAJUN WILDE ANIMALS
BY NOT SUPPORTING THE ZOO AS
THEY ONCE DID.
THIS IS EVIDENT BY PAID GATE
ATTENDANCE DECLINING FOR OVER A
DECADE.
IN FACT, 2019 PAID ATTENDANCE
PRE-COVID WAS AT THE 2004 LEVEL
DESPITE SEATTLE'S ROBUST
POPULATION GROWTH. IN BOTH 15
YEARS, SEATTLE'S POPULATION
INCREASED A WHOPPING 32%. THE
PEOPLE WHO GOT FREE TICKETS,
LIKE MARY'S PLACE, 40% OF THEM
DIDN'T GO. THEY DIDN'T USE
THEIR TICKETS. WHEN THE ZOO
ASKS FOR A QUARTER OF A BILLION
DOLLARS, NO!
DECLINING SUPPORT OF THE ZOO.
THANK YOU.
>> THANK YOU FOR CALLING IN
TODAY.
THE NEXT TWO SPEAKERS ARE
RACHEL, FOLLOWED BY PAGE. IS
RACHEL ON THE LINE?
PLEASE DON'T FORGET TO PRESS
STAR SIX.
WHILE WE WAIT FOR WEIGEL, IS
PAIGE AVAILABLE ?
>> HEY, IT'S PEGGY HERE.
PAIGE PEGGY HERE.
I HAVE LIVED IN THE FREMONT
APARTMENTS FOR 20 YEARS, NO
MORE THAN 8 BLOCKS FROM THE
ZOO.
IT HAS A HOST OF AMENITIES.
THROUGH RENT AND TAXES, I PAY
FOR THE PRIVATE ZOO. IN THOSE
20 YEARS, A LOT OF BAD THINGS
HAVE HAPPENED.
ACCIDENTS HAVE HAPPENED.
THE LAND IN THE FACILITY BOARD
CONTINUES TO GIVE A WATCHFUL
EYE OF THE WOODLAND PARK ZOO
SOCIETY.
BOARD OF DIRECTORS AND THE
NORTH AMERICAN ASSOCIATION OF
ZOOS AND AQUARIUMS. SEATTLE IS
A GENEROUS FUNDER OF THE PARK.
THE FIVE CRITERIA USED BY THE
TRUST FOR PUBLIC LAND, WE HAVE
RANKED 100 OUT OF 100 IN
INVESTMENTS. WE SPENT THE MONEY
ON THE PARKS. 11% OF SEATTLE
CITY LAND IS USED FOR PARKS AND
RACK. THE NATIONAL MEDIAN IS 15%
. WHEN IT COMES TO CITY PARK
ACREAGE AND AMENITIES, WE HOVER
AT A LOWER 50th PERCENTAGE.
ONE EXAMPLE IS IN NORTH SEATTLE.
WOODLAND PARK ZOO IS A FEW
BLOCKS NORTHEAST OF AN AREA
THAT IN 2019 GAINED A VERY HIGH
NEED FOR A PARK.
THAT WAS THE TRUST FOR PUBLIC
LAND. IF WE OPENED THE NEARBY
NORTH MEADOW TO PEOPLE THAT
LIVE IN THAT AREA NORTH OF
SEATTLE THEY WOULD BE ABLE TO
RECREATE IN A GREEN SPACE THAT
THEY NOW LACK. ENCOURAGE
SEATTLEITES TO SOCIALIZE IN THE
OPEN AIR SETTING, NOT THE PARK
THAT WAS DOTTED AROUND THE ZOO.
DON'T LET THE ZOO CONTINUE TO
LOCK OUT APARTMENT DWELLERS AND
OTHERS THAT HAVE NO GREEN SPACE
AND CAN'T AFFORD THE ADMISSION
COST OR MEMBERSHIP. IN ADDITION
TO THE UNFORTUNATE USE OF CITY
LAND, THERE IS THE ISSUE OF
KEEPING ANIMALS IN CAGES. I
HEAR THAT TIME MARKER, SO PARKS
ARE INEVITABLE --
>> IF WE COULD HAVE YOU CLOSE
OUT YOUR COMMENTS, PLEASE.
>> OKAY.
>> YOUR TIME HAS EXPIRED, BUT
THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR CALLING.
YOU CAN SEND IN THE REST OF
YOUR COMMENTS TO CITY COUNCIL.
NEXT, RACHEL BJORK. I WILL TRY
YOU AGAIN.
IF YOU COULD PRESS STAR SIX TO
UNMUTE YOURSELF. I SEE YOU ON
THE LINE, BUT YOU ARE STILL
MUTATED.
ALL RIGHT, SO WE WILL COME
>> DON'T FORGET TO PRESS á6.
>> HELLO, THIS IS HOLLY, CAN
YOU HEAR ME?
>> I CAN, GO AHEAD.
>> HELLO, MY NAME IS HOLLY AND
I AM COMING TO YOU TODAY BOTH
ON BEHALF OF MY EMPLOYER,
BROTHERS BIG SISTERS OF PUGET
SOUND AND AS MYSELF AS A MOTHER
AND A FORMERLY LOW INCOME
RESIDENTS OF THE AREA.
I AM TESTIFYING IN SUPPORT OF
THE RENEWED AGREEMENT WITH THE
ZOO BECAUSE I HAVE SEEN THE
KIND OF DIFFERENCE IT CAN MAKE
IN THE LIVES OF KIDS AND
FAMILIES.
IT'S NOT PERFECT, BUT BEING
ABLE TO HAVE A PLACE TO GO
WHERE YOU CAN SEE THINGS AND
EXPERIENCE THE ANIMALS THAT ARE
OUT OF YOUR EVERYDAY EXPERIENCE,
AND HAVE YOUR VISION OF THE
WORLD BROADENED MEANS A LOT TO
KIDS, PARTICULARLY KIDS WHOSE
CIRCUMSTANCES REALLY RESTRICT
THEIR ABILITY THE SISSY SO MANY
PARTS OF OUR CITY AND OUR WORLD.
WOODLAND PARK ZOO OVER THIS
YEAR HAS GIVEN 500 TICKETS TO
BIG BROTHERS BIG SISTERS SO
THERE ARE FAMILIES THAT ARE
OVER 75 PERCENT QUALIFIED FOR
FREE AND REDUCED LUNCH CAN
ENJOY THE ZOO AND IN A TIME
WHEN THERE ARE SO MANY THINGS
THAT ARE OFF-LIMITS FOR KIDS,
BEING ABLE TO GET OUTSIDE AND
GO TO THE ZOO WAS BASICALLY
LIFE-CHANGING FOR SO MANY KIDS.
I WON'T FORGET IT.
BECAUSE THOSE ARE MY KIDS, TOO.
THANK YOU.
>> THANK YOU FOR CALLING IN.
RACHEL, I'M GOING TO TRY ONE
MORE TIME, IF YOU COULD PRESS
á6 I WILL ASK YOU TO UNMUTE.
SO THE NEXT TWO COLORS WE HAVE
CS AS WELL AS IRENE WALL. IS CS
AVAILABLE?
PLEASE PRESS STAR SIX.
>> HELLO?
>> PLEASE GO AHEAD WHEN YOU ARE
READY.
>> AND DISTRICT 6 RESIDENTS,
THERE ARE MULTIPLE PROBLEMS
WITH THE PROPOSED ZOO
AGREEMENT.
THE MOST PRESSING ISSUES AT A
LOSS OF PUBLIC OVERSIGHT AND
CONTROL AND THE INAPPROPRIATE
FUNDING TO THE ZOO.
AS A CITY-OWNED FACILITY THEY
MUST HAVE THE ABILITY TO SET
POLICY ON ANIMALS AND CITY
PROPERTY.
CITY RESIDENTS AND COUNCIL
SHOULD HAVE OVERSIGHT OF
CONTROL.
THIS IS OVERLY BROAD AND
EXCESSIVELY GRANTS RIGHTS TO
THE WP ZS.
THE WP ZS HAS PREVIOUSLY SHOWN
THE TREATMENT OF L OF CURRENTS
IN THE CARE CAN'T BE TRUSTED.
FUNDING SHOULD BE LOWERED, NOT
INCREASED.
THE PRESENTATION NOTES THAT IN
2019 ZOO FUNDING WAS ROUGHLY 20
PERCENT OF THE BUDGET, IS 20
PERCENT OF THE BUDGET FOR LINE
ITEM ROUGHLY JUST PROTECT
ENTERTAINMENT.
WHY WOULD YOU LET INCREASE
FUNDING WHILE THERE ARE PEOPLE
DYING ON OUR SIDEWALKS.
ZOO ATTENDANCE HAS BEEN
DECREASING YEAR OVER YEAR EVEN
WHILE OUR CITY'S POPULATION HAS
BEEN GROWING AND A GROWING
PERCENTAGE OF THE PUBLIC DON'T
FIND IT REASONABLE OR ELIGIBLE
TO TRAP, BREED, AND CAGE
ANIMALS FOR OUR ENTERTAINMENT.
ANY CLAIMS TO EDUCATIONAL VALUE
ARE BASELESS. THE MAIN THING
ZOOS TEACH CHILDREN IS THAT
IT'S OKAY FOR CHILDREN TO
DOMINATE OTHER ANIMALS AS WE
SEE FIT.
CITY COUNCIL SHOULD BE WORKING
TO GRADUALLY ABOLISH THE ZOO BY
STOPPING EXPANSION, BREEDING,
OR ACQUISITIONS AND REPATRIATE
ANIMALS TO SANCTUARIES IN THEIR
NATIVE RANGE CURRENCIES.
COUNTRIES.
>> THANK YOU FOR CALLING IN.
NEXT IS IRENE WALL.
>> HELLO, CAN YOU HEAR ME?
>> I CAN.
>> MY NAME IS IRENE, I'VE BEEN
A NEARBY NEIGHBOR OF THE ZOO
FOR OVER 30 YEARS.
PLEASE REFER TO MY PREVIOUSLY
SUBMITTED COMMENTS FOR DETAILS
BUT THE FOLLOWING ARE AREAS
THAT NEED AMENDING IN THE
CONTRACT FOR APPROVAL.
THE REPRESENTATIVES SELECTED BY
THE CITY TO SERVE ON THE ZOO
BOARD SHOULD HAVE DURABLE
CONNECTIONS TO THE FOUR
NEIGHBORHOODS MOST AFFECTED BY
THE ZOO AS IDENTIFIED IN THE
AGREEMENT.
THIS IS THE BEST WAY TO
MAINTAIN NEIGHBORHOOD
COMMUNICATIONS AND A PUBLIC
VIEWPOINT ON THE BOARD.
THE ZOO NEIGHBORHOOD LIAISON
COMMITTEE PURPOSE THAT
MEMBERSHIP MEETING FREQUENCY
AND AGENDA SETTING NEED FOR THE
DETAIL IN THE AGREEMENT TO
ENSURE ITS USEFULNESS.
THERE MUST BE A LARGER ROLE FOR
THE PUBLIC AND THE COUNCIL IN
DEVELOPING AND APPROVING THE
LONG-RANGE PHYSICAL DEVELOPMENT
PLAN FOR THE CURRENT LANGUAGE
PLACES ALL THE OVERSIGHT
AUTHORITY ON THE PARK
SUPERINTENDENT, AT THE TIME THE
PLAN WILL BE OFFERED THE PARK
SUPER MAY BE A PERSON WITH NO
HISTORY OF THE ZOO OR THE ZOO
SOCIETY.
RECALL THAT IT TOOK A PUBLIC
CAMPAIGN AND A CITIZEN APPEAL
TO PREVENT THE TRAVESTY OF A
HUGE ABOVE GROUND PARKING GARAGE
BEING UNLAWFULLY CONSTRUCTED
ADJACENT TO THE NORTH MEADOW.
THE SECTION ON CHANGING THE
NAME OF WOODLAND PARK ZOO
SHOULD BE STRUCK OUT OR CHANGED
SO THE AUTHORITY FOR ANY NAME
CHANGE MUST ONLY RESIDE WITH
THE CITY COUNCIL OR THE
AGREEMENT MUST IDENTIFY ANY
ADDITIONAL PROPERTIES THAT
COULD BE ADDED TO THE
DEFINITION OF ZOO PREMISES.
THIS HAS THE POTENTIAL TO BE
HIGHLY CONTROVERSIAL AND
LIMITATIONS MUST BE PLACED ON
ANY SUCH CONDITION IN THE
AGREEMENT.
FINALLY, SOME OVERSIGHT
APPROVAL OF ADMISSION COSTS
SHOULD BE REINSTATED GIVEN THE
CLOSE TO $10 MILLION CITY AND
$6 MILLION A YEAR KING COUNTY
ANNUAL ZOO SUBSIDY, SOME COST
CONTROL FOR THE PUBLIC IS
WARRANTED.
PLEASE TAKE THE TIME TO ENSURE
THIS AGREEMENT IS VALID.
THE ZOO SOCIETY IS COMMITTED TO
MANAGING THE ZOO.
IT'S IN THE MUTUAL INTEREST OF
THE CITY AND THE ZOO SOCIETY TO
ENSURE A CAREFUL AND
PREDICTABLE APPROACH TO HOW THE
SIGNIFICANT HISTORIC RESOURCES
MANAGE --
>> THANK YOU VERY MUCH FOR YOUR
COMMENTS TODAY.
THE NEXT TWO SPEAKERS SIGNED UP
ARE NICOLE STANLEY FOLLOWED BY
MYLA KATZ.
NICOLE, ARE YOU ON THE LINE?
>> YES.
HI.
I'M ASSUMING YOU CAN HEAR ME?
>> WE CAN HEAR YOU, PLEASE GO
AHEAD.
>> MY NAME IS NICOLE AND MY
HUSBAND AND I HAVE LIVED WITH
OUR TWO KIDS IN FREMONT FOR THE
LAST SEVEN YEARS AND WE CHOSE
FREMONT BECAUSE OF ITS LOCATION
PARTLY BECAUSE OF ITS LOCATION
TO THE WOODLAND PARK ZOO.
EVEN THOUGH MY KIDS HAVE LIVED
IN FREMONT THEIR WHOLE LIVES
WHICH IS A VERY WEALTHY NORTH
SEATTLE NEIGHBORHOOD MY FRONT
HUSBAND AND I BOTH WORK FULL
TIME IN THE RESTAURANT INDUSTRY
AND OUR FAMILY IS CONSIDERED
LOW INCOME AND WE RESIDE IN A
TINY TWO BEDROOM APARTMENT.
THE PANDEMIC ALSO HIT US PRETTY
HARD AND WE RELY ON FOOD STAMPS
AND PUBLIC ASSISTANCE.
THE ZOO EXPLORER PASS HAS BEEN
A SAVING GRACE FOR US FOR THE
PAST FEW YEARS AND WE'VE BEEN
ABLE TO QUALIFY SINCE WE ARE ON
FOOD STAMPS AND THAT MEANS WHEN
MY KIDS WANT TO VISIT SOME
ANIMALS AND PLAY OR GO AND MEET
WITH THEIR FRIENDS AT THE ZOO
THEY GET TO GO AND THERE IS A
HUGE WEALTH DISPARITY IN THIS
AREA AND MY KIDS GET TO SEE
THEIR FRIENDS WITH NANNIES AND
TESLAS AND MULTIPLE VACATIONS
EVERY YEAR BUT THEY DON'T EVER
GET TO SEE THE DIFFERENCE WITH
BEING IN THIS AREA.
MY KIDS WOULD MISS OUT ON A TON
OF FUN AND AFTER SCHOOL MEET
UPS HAD WE NOT HAD THAT
EXPLORER CLASS FOR THE LAST FEW
YEARS.
THERE WAS A POINT WHERE THEY
WENT 3 TO 5 TIMES A WEEK
BECAUSE THE PARK WAS THE ONLY
FREE OPTION FOR US AND
ADDITIONALLY THE ZOO ALSO OFFERS
CAMP SCHOLARSHIPS THAT BOTH MY
KIDS HAVE BEEN ABLE TO RECEIVE
AS A BENEFIT AS WELL. THE CAMP
IS INCREDIBLE NOT ONLY BECAUSE
THEY COULD JOIN THEIR FRIENDS,
A LOT OF PEOPLE HAVE NO PROBLEM
PAYING THE COST BUT TO OUR
FAMILY IT WOULD BE IMPOSSIBLE.
THE KIDS LOOK FORWARD TO IT ALL
SUMMER LONG AND LEARNED SO
MUCH.
IT'S GREAT AS PARENTS THAT WE
ARE NOT TECHNICALLY THE AMAZON
GOOGLE AND BOEING WORKERS OF
SEATTLE AND WE CAN AFFORD TO
PAY FOR THESE CAMPS THAT OTHER
PARENTS CAN.
THEY STILL GET TO JOIN THEIR
FRIENDS AT THESE CAMPS BECAUSE
THE ZOO OFFERS THOSE
SCHOLARSHIPS AND I REALLY HOPE
THEY CAN KEEP THESE PROGRAMS UP
FOR THESE KIDS AND
>> THANK YOU.
THANK YOU FOR CALLING IN.
I RECEIVED A NOTICE THAT RACHEL
HAS BEEN UN-MUTED.
ARE YOU ON THE ONLINE ON THE
LINE?
>> HI, CAN YOU HEAR ME?
>> YES WE CAN.
GO AHEAD.
>> FIRST OF ALL AND VERY
DISAPPOINTED THAT THE CITY OF
SEATTLE CONTINUES TO SUBSIDIZE
AN ADEQUATE INSTITUTION SUCH AS
THE WOODLAND PARK ZOO.
WE ARE TO DO BETTER THAN
FUNDING AN ORGANIZATION THAT
TAKES WILD ANIMALS AND LOCK
THEM UP IN CAGES.
THERE'S NOTHING EDUCATIONAL
ABOUT WATCHING ANIMALS IN A
CAPTIVITY.
THERE'S BEEN NUMEROUS STUDIES
THAT HAVE DEMONSTRATED THAT
KIDS ACTUALLY DON'T LEARN
ANYTHING AT ZOOS AND WITTENBERG
ZOO HAS REPEATEDLY DEMONSTRATED
A LACK OF CARE BY GIVING LARGE
ANIMALS LIKE ELEPHANTS ONLY ONE
ACRE ON WHICH TO LIVE.
THEY HAVE WOLVES THERE THAT
NORMALLY WOULD RANGE 50 TO 1000
SQUARE MILES AND THE ZOO CANNOT
PROVIDE THAT MUCH SPACE.
THE ADA ACCREDITATION, IS A BIG
PROPONENT OF CAPTIVE READING
AND FORCIBLY BREEDING ANIMALS
SO ZOOS CAN GET CUTE BABIES TO
MAKE MONEY OFF OF IS CERTAINLY
NOT A SIGN THAT OUR
ORGANIZATION CARES ABOUT ANIMAL
WELFARE.
THIS PROPOSAL BEFORE THE CITY
COUNCIL DOES TAKE AWAY ANY KIND
OF AUTHORITY OVER THE ANIMALS
AT THE ZOO SO NOT ONLY DOES THE
PROPOSAL EVEN ASK FOR MORE
MONEY, THE ZOO WANTS TO TAKE
AWAY EXISTING CITY OVERSIGHT.
LASTLY THE CITY OUGHT TO BE
USING THE MONEY FOR FAR MORE
DESERVING CAUSES.
THINK OF HOW MANY ENTITIES THAT
DO GOOD WORK, WITH WORK THAT
HELPS KIDS AND COMMUNITIES THAT
COULD USE THIS MONEY.
CURRENTLY THE ZOO IS BEING USED
BY SCHOOL GROUPS AND PARENTS AS
A WAY TO GET OUT AND DO
SOMETHING, NOT AS AN
EDUCATIONAL EXPERIENCE.
THERE ARE PLENTY OF OTHER
ACTIVITIES AND PLACES LIKE
MARY'S PLACE AND OTHER GROUPS
CAN DO THAT DO NOT INVOLVE THE
EXPLOITATION OF ANIMALS.
I RECALL MY OWN VISIT TO THE
ZOO AS A CHILD AND MY TAKE AWAY
EXPERIENCE FROM THAT WAS HOW
MISERABLE THE LARGE CATS
LOOKED.
IT WAS NOT A POSITIVE
EXPERIENCE AND IT WAS NOT
EDUCATIONAL.
I CERTAINLY HOPE THE CITY
COUNCIL WILL VOTE NO ON THIS
ISSUE.
THANK YOU FOR YOUR TIME.
>> THANK YOU.
NEXT WE HAVE MARLA KATZ.
ARE YOU ON THE LINE?
DON'T FORGET TO PRESS á6.
CAN YOU PLEASE SPEAK SO WE CAN
HEAR?
I WILL GO AHEAD AND GO TO THE
NEXT PERSON AND I WILL TRY TO
COME BACK TO YOU, MARLA.
>> I'M HERE.
>> THERE YOU ARE.
GREAT, GO AHEAD.
>> I'M SORRY.
YOU SAID PRESS á6 TO UNMUTE
AND I HAD MY MUTE BUTTON ON.
OKAY.
GOOD AFTERNOON COMMITTEE
MEMBERS.
I'VE NEVER HAD A HAPPY
EXPERIENCE IN A ZOO.
IN A CITY WITH SO MANY SERIOUS
ISSUES, WHY GIVE THIS ZOO A
QUARTER BILLION TAXPAYER
DOLLARS?
I HOPE YOU WILL RENEGOTIATE THE
CITY'S NEW AGREEMENT TO ADDRESS
PUBLIC CONCERNS AND HERE ARE
MINE OR AT LEAST A FEW OF THEM.
THE ACA SHOULD BE REMOVED FROM
THE AGREEMENT, THEY DON'T PAY
TAXES HERE OR VOTE HERE.
WHY GIVE THE ZOO MORE FREE REAL
ESTATE FOR AN ANIMAL BREEDING
MILL IN ENUMCLAW? WILL THEY
BREED LOCAL SPECIES TO RELEASE
THEM INTO THE WILD OR BREED
EXOTICS FOR ZOO ENTERTAINMENT
VENUES.
VOTERS NEED MORE DETAILS.
THE ZOO HAS TAKEN 160 MILLION
FROM SEATTLE TAXPAYERS, ABOUT
56 MILLION FROM KING COUNTY
WHILE THEY'RE SITTING ON 28
MILLION INTONATIONS IN THE BANK.
ISN'T IT TIME TO REEVALUATE THE
CRUEL CONFINEMENT OF ANIMALS
FOR THE PURPOSE OF ENTERTAINMENT
? THANK YOU FOR YOUR TIME.
>> THANK YOU, THE NEXT TWO
SPEAKERS SIGNED UP ARE ALL ABOUT
OLIVER ALEXANDER ADAMS FOLLOWED
BY CHRISTINE LUCKILY.
ARE YOU ON THE LINE?
>> CAN YOU HEAR ME NOW?
>> YES WE CAN, PLEASE GO AHEAD.
>> MY NAME IS OLIVER ALEXANDER
ADAMS AND I'M A FAMILY AND
CHILDREN'S PROGRAM MANAGER AT
SOLID GROUND AND I WORK WITH
THE ZOO WITH THEIR COMMUNITY
ACCESS PROGRAM AS WELL AS AN
ONGOING COMMUNITY PARTNERSHIP
WORK AND I'M HERE TO SUPPORT
THE AGREEMENT BETWEEN THE CITY
OF SEATTLE IN THE WOODLAND PARK
ZOO.
OUR HOUSING IS MORE THAN 360
PEOPLE AND 200 CHILDREN AND WE
HAVE HUNDREDS OF TICKETS WE GET
EVERY YEAR FROM THE COMMUNITY
ACCESS PROGRAM THAT ALLOW OUR
FAMILIES TO ATTEND THE ZOO
WHICH THEY WOULDN'T BE ABLE TO
OTHERWISE AND I THINK WHEN A
LOT OF FAMILIES MOVING, ALL OF
OUR FAMILIES ARE FORMERLY
HOMELESS AND IT'S HARD FOR THE
FAMILIES TO FOCUS ON THINGS
LIKE ACTIVITIES FOR THEIR KIDS
BECAUSE THEIR FOCUS SO MUCH ON
HOUSING AND EMPLOYMENT AND
STABILIZATION SO THESE TICKETS
ARE HUGE RESOURCE WE CAN OFFER
TO OUR FAMILIES WHEN THEY ARE
GETTING IN, TO HELP THEM GET
SETTLED.
FRANKLY, WE GET HUNDREDS OF
TICKETS EVERY YEAR, WE ARE
ENGAGED WITH THE COMMUNITY
ACCESS PROGRAMS AND I REALLY
HOPE THESE PARTNERSHIPS CAN
CONTINUE BUT THEY ARE BASED ON
THE FUNDING THAT THE ZOO GETS
FROM THE CITY OF SEATTLE.
IN ADDITION TO THE STANDARD ZOO
TICKETS WE GET TO THE PROGRAM,
WE ALSO GET TICKETS TO THE WILD
LIGHTS PROGRAM IN THE WINTER
EVERY YEAR AND ALL OF THESE
TICKETS TOGETHER ALLOW US TO
OFFER AN ADDITIONAL RESOURCE TO
OUR FAMILIES WHO DON'T HAVE THE
INCOME TO ATTEND THE ZOO
OTHERWISE.
WE'VE DONE FIELD TRIPS WITH OUR
KIDS AND STAFF, WE TRY TO BRING
THE ZOO ON SITE AND ALL OF THIS
IS POSSIBLE BECAUSE OF THIS
PARTNERSHIP SO I WHOLEHEARTEDLY
SUPPORT AND HOPE YOU CONTINUE
TO SUPPORT THIS AGREEMENT AS
WELL.
THANK YOU.
>> THANK YOU SO MUCH.
KRISTI IS SIGNED UP BUT NOT
PRESENT, THE NEXT TWO BEAKERS
SIGNED UP ARE CINDY AND
MICHELLE McBREEN.
SANDY, ARE YOU ON THE LINE?
>> CAN YOU HEAR ME?
>> YES WE CAN, PLEASE GO AHEAD.
>> MY NAME IS SANDY, A RESIDENT
OF SEATTLE AND IT'S IN VERY
IMPORTANT THAT WOODLAND PARK
ZOO IS NOT ALLOWED TO
COMPLETELY GOVERN ITS
OPERATIONS.
IT'S IMPERATIVE THAT THE CITY
OF SEATTLE CONTINUE ITS
OVERSIGHT OF THE ZOO.
I HEAR FROM MANY FRIENDS AND
NEIGHBORS THAT AGREE WITH MY
BELIEFS THAT ZOOS NEED TO
CHANGE AS ATTITUDES ABOUT
WILDLIFE IN CAPTIVITY CHANGE IN
THE ONLY WAY WE CAN BE
REPRESENTATIVE OR
REPRESENTATIVES IS IF THE CITY
MAINTAINS OVERSIGHT OF THE ZOO.
I'M STILL ANGRY ABOUT THE WAY
THE LAST TWO ELEPHANTS AT THE
ZOO, CHAI, AND AND BOO WERE
RUSHED INTO TRUCKS IN THE WEE
HOURS OF THE MORNING RIGHT INTO
A MOUNTAIN BLIZZARD AND THEN
HAD TO BE REROUTED AT THE LAST
MINUTE TO SAN DIEGO.
I HAVE NO DOUBT THEY DID THAT
BECAUSE OF THE POSSIBLE
ORDINANCE UP WOULD'VE REQUIRED
THEM TO SEND THE ELEPHANTS TO A
SANCTUARY, A BEAUTIFUL
SANCTUARY INSTEAD OF ANOTHER
ZOO AND SADLY, CHAI DIED WITHIN
MONTHS OF ARRIVING AT THE
OKLAHOMA ZOO.
IT WOULD BE A MORE APPROPRIATE
CHANGE FOR THE DIRECTION OF THE
ZOO TO GO INTO A RESCUE FOR
WILDLIFE AND NOT AS A BREEDING
STATION AS IT CURRENTLY IS.
THAT WOULD BE SERVING THE GRAND
AND THE EDUCATION OF CHILDREN
AND ADULTS AND THAT HOPEFULLY
WILL HAPPEN SOMEDAY IN THE
FUTURE AND NOT CONVERSATION
TODAY BUT I DID WANT TO PUT
THAT OUT THERE.
MY OTHER CONCERN IS THE AMOUNT
OF MONEY ZOO RECEIVES FROM
TAXPAYER SUBSIDIES WITH A
DECREASE IN AND TENDONS THAT
OTHERS HAVE ALREADY ADDRESSED
AND THE MANY OTHER NEEDS OF OUR
CITY, OUR TAX DOLLARS SHOULD GO
WHERE BENEFITS THE MOST PEOPLE.
THE ZOO DOES NOT COME CLOSE TO
FITTING INTO THAT CATEGORY.
LET'S IMPROVE OUR PUBLIC PARKS
SO THAT MANY MORE PEOPLE CAN
USE THOSE FOR FREE AND LET'S
GET PEOPLE IN THEIR OWN
NEIGHBORHOODS.
THE CITY NEEDS TO BE AN
ULTIMATE CONTROL OR I BELIEVE
THE ZOO WILL TURN INTO A FOR
PROFIT PRIVATE COMPANY THAT
TAXPAYERS FUND, PLEASE VOTE NO
ON THIS AGREEMENT.
THANKS.
>> THANK YOU FOR CALLING IN.
OUR FINAL SPEAKER IS MICHELLE
McBREEN, ARE YOU ON THE LINE?
>> HI, I AM, CAN YOU HEAR ME?
>> YES WE CAN, GO AHEAD.
>> THANK YOU.
MY NAME IS MICHELLE AND I'M THE
COMMUNITY AVERAGE MANAGER AT A
NONPROFIT IN SEATTLE THAT
SERVES OVER 8000 YOUTH AND
FOSTER CARE ACROSS THE STATE
AND I'M HERE TO EXPRESS MY
SUPPORT FOR THE AGREEMENT IN
THE CITY OF SEATTLE AND THE
WOODLAND PARK ZOO.
WE PARTNER WITH THE WOODLAND
PARK ZOO FOR MANY YEARS TO HELP
PROVIDE INVALUABLE RESOURCES
FOR YOUTH AND FAMILIES IMPACTED
BY THE FOSTER CARE SYSTEM AND
THEY HAVE BEEN AN ESSENTIAL
PARTNER IN HELPING TO SUPPORT
THESE YOUTH AND FAMILIES BY
GIVING THEM OPPORTUNITIES AND
EXPERIENCES THAT THE ENTIRE
FAMILY CAN ENJOY TOGETHER,
ESPECIALLY LARGE FAMILIES WHO
HAVE TAKEN AND MULTIPLE
CHILDREN INTO THEIR HOMES.
THEY SUPPLY HUNDREDS OF ZOO
TICKETS, EDUCATIONAL
OPPORTUNITIES ABOUT ANIMALS AND
ACCESS TO SPECIAL EVENTS. THE
ZOO ALSO WORKS CLOSELY TO
DEVELOP THIS DISCOVER TICKET
PROGRAM AND EXPLORE PAST
MEMBERSHIP WHICH ARE AN
AFFORDABLE TO GET MEMBERSHIP
PROGRAM. THROUGH THIS PROGRAM
THEY HAVE HELPED CREATE EQUITY
AND MEMBERSHIP OPPORTUNITIES
FOR OUR UNDERSERVED COMMUNITIES
AND THEY'VE ALSO SUPPORTED OUR
MISSION FOR EDUCATION
FUNDRAISING AND OUTREACH
EFFORTS FOR MULTIPLE EVENTS AND
PROGRAMS AND WITHOUT THESE
PROGRAMS, MANY OF OUR FAMILIES
WOULD NOT HAVE THE FINANCIAL
RESOURCES TO ENJOY THE ZOO AND
WILDLIFE PROGRAMS.
THESE PROGRAMS CONTINUE TO
CONTRIBUTE TO A SENSE OF
NORMALCY AND HAPPINESS FOR OUR
YOUTH IN THE FOSTER CARE SYSTEM
AND ADDED SUPPORT TO OUR
CENTRAL FOSTER CARE COMMUNITY
THAT SUPPORTS CHILDREN.
OVERALL THEY HAVE BEEN AN
AMAZING ESSENTIAL PARTNER IN
HELPING TO SUPPORT THE WELL-
BEING OF OUR COMMUNITY.
THANK YOU FOR YOUR TIME AND
CONSIDERATION.
>> THANK YOU.
THAT COMPLETES THE PUBLIC
HEARING.
>> THANK YOU.
AND THANKED SUE TO ALL OUR
SPEAKERS AND I'M SURE THE PANEL
WILL ADDRESS SOME OF THE ISSUES
THAT WERE RAISED FROM SOME OF
OUR PEOPLE THAT GAVE SOME
PUBLIC COMMENT TODAY.
THAT WAS OUR LAST SPEAKER AND
WE WILL NOW CLOSE THE PUBLIC
HEARING ON COUNSEL BILL 120164.
THANK YOU FOR YOUR COMMENTS
TODAY.
THE PANEL PRESENT THEMSELVES OR
INTRODUCE THEMSELVES AND WE
WILL GO THROUGH YOUR NINE PAGE
POWERPOINT.
I WILL LET YOU INTRODUCE
YOURSELF AND WE WILL GO THROUGH
THE PRESENTATION AND I WILL
MAKE A FEW COMMENTS AND THEN WE
WILL GO TO ADJOURNMENT.
>> I AM CHRISTOPHER WILLIAMS,
DEPUTY SUPERINTENDENT OF SIENA
PARKS SEATTLE PARKS.
>> I AM ALEJANDRO GRAJAL, CEO
OF THE WOODLAND PARK ZOO.
>> BRIAN GOODNIGHT WITH
COUNSEL STAFF.
>> EVERYBODY IS HERE.
YOU ARE IN CHARGE OF THE
POWERPOINT, RIGHT?
>> YES, I AM PULLING IT UP.
>> GREAT.
I'M GLAD YOU GUYS ARE HERE AND
I'M GLAD YOU HAD A CHANCE TO
HEAR PUBLIC COMMENT.
I WANTED TO DO THAT FIRST AND
THE CONSTITUENT LETTERS BOTH
FOR AND AGAINST AND DOCTOR
ALEJANDRO GRAJAL WANT TO THANK
YOU AND YOUR STAFF AND OF
COURSE YOU, TOO, CHRISTOPHER
FOR THE WORK WE'VE BEEN DOING
IN THE LONG CONVERSATIONS WE'VE
BEEN HAVING BETWEEN THE CITY OF
SEATTLE, THE ZOO AND OUR LEGAL
DEPARTMENTS AND GOING THROUGH
THE 70 PAGE AGREEMENT AND I
WILL LET YOU GUYS TAKE IT AWAY
FROM THERE, THANK YOU.
>> THANK YOU.
MAYBE I WILL JUST JUMP IN HERE.
THE WOODLAND PARK ZOO SOCIETY
AND ALLIE HUNTER AND HIS STAFF
HAVE BEEN WONDERFUL PARTNERS.
THE ZOO IS A 126-YEAR-OLD
INSTITUTION ESTABLISHED IN 1895
WHEN THE CITY PURCHASED LAND
OWNED BY THE FORMER STATE OF
GUY FATTY.
THIS WAS DONE ON THE HER TURN-
OF-THE-CENTURY.
LIFE ANY WAS TERMED A VICTORIAN
ERA ANIMAL MENAGERIE THESE
ANIMALS WITH LATER BECOME THE
FIRST COLLECTION OF ANIMALS
THAT WOULD CONSTITUTE THE ZOO.
IN 1895, THE CITY COUNCIL PAID
$110,000 FOR WHAT IS TODAY'S
ZOO FOR THE MOST PART.
WE ARE PLEASED TO PROPOSE A NEW
20 YEAR OPERATIONS MANAGEMENT
AGREEMENT WITH WOODLAND PARK
ZOO SOCIETY AND CONTINUE OUR
LONG-STANDING PARTNERSHIP, THE
PRESENTATION TODAY WILL INCLUDE
INFORMATION ABOUT SPECIFIC WORK
AS A SOCIETY DOES AROUND
CONSERVATION, PUBLIC BENEFITS,
AND PROGRAMMING.
THE CURRENT AGREEMENT EXPIRES
IN FEBRUARY 2022 AND THE
AGREEMENT PROVIDES FOR A NEW 20
YEAR TERM EXPIRING IN 2041 WITH
AN OPTION TO EXTEND FOR AN
ADDITIONAL 10 YEARS.
THE NEW PROPOSED AGREEMENT
PROVIDES FOR SUBSTANTIAL PUBLIC
BENEFITS, YOU WILL HEAR A LOT
MORE ABOUT THAT LATER BUT I
WANT TO TAKE A MINUTE AND
RECOGNIZE THE GREAT PARTNERSHIP
WE HAVE WITH THE WOODLAND PARK
ZOO SOCIETY ESPECIALLY
LEADERSHIP UNDER THE DIRECTION
OF MY FRIEND ALEJANDRO GRAJAL
WHO HAS DONE A GREAT JOB WITH
HIS TEAM STEWARDING THE ZOO AS
A PUBLIC FACILITY AND WE ARE
HERE TO RENEW THE EXISTING
AGREEMENT IN PART BECAUSE THIS
PARTNERSHIP HAS BEEN SUCCESSFUL
FOR THE PAST TWO YEARS AND WE
WOULDN'T BE HERE LIKELY IF THE
PREVIOUS 19 YEARS HAD NOT BEEN
SUCCESSFUL.
WE HAVE EVERY CONFIDENCE THAT
THE ZOO SOCIETY AND STAFF WILL
CONTINUE TO BE SUCCESSFUL IN
THE FUTURE, ASSUMING THIS
AGREEMENT IS ADOPTED. SO AT
THIS TIME I WOULD LIKE TO
INTRODUCE ALEJANDRO GRAJAL ,
THE WOODLAND PARK ZOO PRESIDENT
AND CEO.
>> THANK YOU, CHRISTOPHER.
THANK YOU FOR YOUR PARTNERSHIP,
GOOD AFTERNOON COUNCILMEMBER
PANELISTS AND ATTENDEES.
THANK YOU FOR THE OPPORTUNITY
TO SPEAK DIRECTLY TO THIS
COMMITTEE ABOUT THIS LONG-
STANDING AND SUCCESSFUL PUBLIC
REVIT PARTNERSHIP.
WE BELIEVE OUR WORLD-CLASS CITY
DESERVES A WORLD-CLASS ZOO AND
THE PEOPLE OF SEATTLE SHOULD
HAVE AMAZING ASSETS THAT
REPRESENT THE CITY VALUES.
THE WOODLAND PARK ZOO AND
SEATTLE PARKS HAVE WORKED
TOGETHER VERY HARD TO DELIVER
THIS VISION TO SEATTLE AND I
LOOK FORWARD TO SHARING MORE
OVER THE NEXT FEW MINUTES.
WITH THAT, I THINK WE CAN MOVE
TO THE NEXT SLIDE AND
CHRISTOPHER WILL TAKE A LITTLE
BIT OF A DESCRIPTION OF THE
ZOO, THANK YOU.
>> THANK YOU.
AS YOU CAN SEE ON THE MAP, THE
WOODLAND PARK ZOO WAS LOCATED
ON PHINNEY RIDGE WHICH GETS ITS
NAME FROM DIE PHINNEY ON
APPROXIMATELY 92 ACRES OF LAND
OWNED BY THE CITY OF SEATTLE.
QUICK FACTS ABOUT THE ZOO I
LISTED ON THE RIGHT-HAND SIDE
OF THE SLIDE.
IN 2019, THE ZOO RECEIVED 1.2
MILLION VISITORS INCLUDING 668
THOUSAND GUESTS ATTENDING
PUBLIC EDUCATION PROGRAMS AND
2400 PARTICIPANTS ENROLLED IN
CAMPS AND CLASSES.
IN 2019, THE WOODLAND PARK ZOO
SOCIETY TOTAL EXPENSES WERE $47
MILLION WITH APPROXIMATELY 27
PERCENT FUNDED BY THE CITY'S
ANNUAL OPERATING SUPPORT AND
THE MAJOR MAINTENANCE FUNDING.
IN 2002, THE CITY PROVIDED
SUPPORT WAS ABOUT 40 PERCENT
AND AN INTERESTING FACT, WHEN
WE TRANSFERRED THE ZOO, THE
BUDGET FOR THE ZOO WAS ABOUT
$13 MILLION AND I THINK THIS
GROWTH DOES DEMONSTRATE SOME OF
THE ZOO'S SUCCESS.
NEXT SLIDE.
>> IT WAS PREVIOUSLY MENTIONED,
WE'VE HAD A LONG PARTNERSHIP
WITH THE ZOO, IN 1965, THE
NONPROFIT WOODLAND PARK ZOO
SOCIETY WAS ESTABLISHED AND THE
ZOO WAS MANAGED BY THE CITY
COUNCIL IN 20 02.
IN 2001 THE CITY COUNCIL
APPROVED A 20 YEAR OPERATION
MANAGEMENT AGREEMENT AND THIS
AGREEMENT WAS SUBSEQUENTLY
MENDED IN 2004 TO ADDRESS
VISITOR CONVENIENCE AND LONG-
RANGE PLANS.
THIS IS KNOWN AS THE WOODLAND
PARK ZOO CAPITAL PLAN AND IN
2014, THE SEATTLE PARK DISTRICT
INCLUDED FUNDING FOR ONGOING
MAJOR MAINTENANCE SUPPORT, THE
ORIGINAL AGREEMENT INCLUDED
MAJOR MAINTENANCE FOR LIMITED
NUMBER OF YEARS AND I THINK AT
THE BEGINNING OF 2014 WHEN WE
ADOPTED THE PARK DISTRICT, WE
WERE PROVIDING $1.8 MILLION
PLUS INSTALLATION.
NEXT SLIDE.
THESE NEXT TWO SLIDES HIGHLIGHT
KEY TERMS OF THE PROPOSED NEW
AGREEMENT.
THERE ARE A FEW KEY TERMS.
THE TERM IS THE SAME AS IN THE
PRIOR AGREEMENT WITH 20 YEARS
WITH A ONE 10 YEAR TERM
EXTENSION AND THE AGREEMENT
CONTINUES OPERATIONS AND
MAINTENANCE SUPPORT BUT THE CPI
INSULATOR INCREASES FROM 70
PERCENT TO 100 PERCENT IN THIS
NEW AGREEMENT AND FOR THE
AGREEMENT, THE SUPERINTENDENT
WILL REQUEST ANNUAL CPI
INCREASES TO BE INCLUDED IN
FUTURE ANNUAL BUDGET CYCLES
THAT ARE APPROVED BY THE CITY
COUNCIL.
THE CITY RETAINS THE RIGHT AND
HOW THE ZOO USES A PROPERTY FOR
THE LONG-RANGE PLAN THAT WILL
BE SUBMITTED WITHIN FIVE YEARS
OF THE AGREEMENT'S EXECUTION.
IT WILL GIVE AUTHORITY TO THE
WITH THE PARKS YOU TO SET
ADMISSION CHARGES.
IS THE STRONGLY AGREE THAT THE
ZOO REMAIN AFFORDABLE AND
ACCESSIBLE.
NEXT SLIDE.
THIS SLIDE LISTS OF DIGITAL KEY
TERMS.
ZOO ANIMALS --
>> I'M SORRY.
CHAIR, CAN I ASK A QUESTION
ABOUT THE SLIDE?
>> ABSOLUTELY.
I'M SORRY.
COLLEAGUES, FEEL FREE TO
INTERRUPT AND ASK QUESTIONS AS
WE MOVE THROUGH THE POWERPOINT.
I APOLOGIZE, MY HAND WAS DOWN.
>> THANK YOU SO MUCH.
FOR SLIDE 4, PLEASE?
I WAS WONDERING IF YOU COULD
SUMMARIZE THE TOTAL VALUE OF
THE FINANCIAL SUPPORT EXPECTED
OVER THE 20 YEAR TERM OF THE
AGREEMENT?
AND THEN A COUPLE OTHER RELATED
QUESTIONS, WONDERING WHETHER OR
NOT, BECAUSE THE SLIDE SAYS THE
SUPERINTENDENT WILL REQUEST 100
PERCENT OF CPI INFLATION
ANNUALLY, I'M NOT SURE WHAT
THAT SAYS ABOUT WHAT THE
AGREEMENT GUARANTEES.
DOES THE AGREEMENT GUARANTEE
THAT 100 PERCENT INFLATION WILL
BE GRANTED WHEN THE
SUPERINTENDENT MAKES THAT
REQUEST?
AND FINALLY, ON THE ADMISSIONS
PIECE, IS THERE A CAP OR
RESTRAINT ON THE ADMISSION
PRICE THAT CAN BE CHARGED?
THANK YOU.
>> THANK YOU FOR THAT, MAYBE I
WILL TRY TO BITE OFF, PART OF
WHAT WE ARE DOING IS REQUESTING
100 PERCENT OF CPI EACH YEAR.
I BELIEVE THAT'S WHAT THIS IS
SAYING.
ALSO, WE DON'T HAVE A CAP ON
ADMISSION CHARGES. I WOULD
REFER TO OUR FINANCE DIRECTOR
TO WEIGH IN ON THE TOTAL VALUE
OF THE CONTRACT.
DO YOU WANT TO JUMP IN?
>> BEFORE THAT HAPPENS, I
UNDERSTAND THAT THE AGREEMENT
SAYS PARKS CAN REQUEST.
I'M ASKING, DOES THE AGREEMENT
OBLIGATE THAT REQUEST TO BE
GRANTED IF IT IS MADE?
>> I CAN SPEAK TO THAT.
NO, IT DOES NOT.
THE SUPERINTENDENT WILL BE
REQUESTING ANNUAL INCREASES IN
THE ANNUAL BUDGET CYCLE BUT
IT'S UP TO THE CITY COUNCIL TO
APPROVE THOSE SO THOSE WILL BE
ANNUAL REQUESTS.
THAT THE CITY COUNCIL WOULD BE
APPROVING.
>> OKAY.
>> GO AHEAD.
>> I'M SORRY, I WAS GOING TO
ANSWER THE SECOND QUESTION
WHICH WAS THAT WE DID DO A
PROJECTION FOR GOING FORWARD
AND WE DID PROJECT AND OF
COURSE WE DON'T KNOW THE CPI
INSULATOR SHIPPED BUT WE ARE
PROJECTING ABOUT $215 MILLION
FOR THIS 20 YEAR AGREEMENT.
>> THANK YOU VERY MUCH.
AND REGARDING THE ADMISSIONS, I
THINK THAT WAS ALREADY
ANSWERED.
>> GO AHEAD COUNCILMEMBER
SAWANT.
>> THANK YOU.
I ALSO HAD THAT QUESTION
ACTUALLY ABOUT THE COMMITMENT
ASSOCIATED WITH THIS 20 YEAR
AGREEMENT. JUST TO BE 100
PERCENT CLEAR AND TO CONFIRM
FOR MY OWN UNDERSTANDING, WE
ARE TALKING ABOUT 250 MILLION
OVER A 20 YEAR PERIOD IN CITY
TAXPAYER FUNDS FOR THE ZOO, AM
I RIGHT?
AND NOT FROM ANY OTHER SOURCES?
>> THAT IS CORRECT, YES.
>> OKAY.
AND I HAD ANOTHER QUESTION
ABOUT THE ADMISSIONS AND I HAVE
THAT INDEPENDENTLY OF ONE OF
THE COMMENTS YOU ALL MAY JUST
NOW WHICH IS BECAUSE WE HEARD
FROM MANY CONSTITUENTS ABOUT
THIS SOI KNOW THAT THERE IS A
PUBLIC BENEFIT OF FREE PASSES,
IT IS MY UNDERSTANDING CORRECT
THAT THEY ARE ONLY FREE TO
CHILDREN AND THAT THE ZOO
REQUIRES THE PARENTS LACK OF
PARENTS COME WITH CHILDREN,
THERE'S GOING TO BE 100 PERCENT
OF THE TIME ONE WOULD HOPE THAT
THERE WOULD BE ADULTS WITH THE
LITTLE CHILDREN DO TO BUY FULL
PRICE THAT THE ADULTS WOULD BE
úREQUIRED TO BUY A FULL PRICE
PASS IN ORDER FOR THE CHILDREN
TO GO IN, EVEN IF THEY ARE
GETTING IT TO GO FOR FREE, IS
THAT ACCURATE?
>> ALEJANDRO?
>> I CAN SPEAK TO THAT.
NO, THE TICKETS ARE EQUALLY
AVAILABLE TO CHILDREN AND
ADULTS AS MUCH AND MOST OF THE
FREE TICKETS AND PASSES AND
SUBSIDIZED MEMBERSHIP PASSES
ARE AVAILABLE TO CHILDREN AND
FAMILIES AS A WHOLE, WITH
ADULTS AND CHILDREN IN A
PACKAGE AS A WHOLE.
WE ARE NOT REQUIRING ADULTS TO
PAY FULL MEMBERSHIP OR FULL
PRICE WHEN THEY ARE PART OF
THESE PROGRAMS OF ACCESS TICKETS
AND MEMBERSHIPS.
>> OKAY, THANK YOU.
>> ALL RIGHT, ANYONE ELSE?
GO AHEAD AND FINISH.
>> GREAT, I WILL PICK UP ON
SLIDE 5.
>> ACTUALLY COUNCILMEMBER
PATTERSON.
>> OH, YOUR HAND IS HIDDEN IN
YOUR BOOKCASE, THAT'S WHY I
DIDN'T SEE IT.
>> THANK YOU CHAIR.
AND THANK YOU TO ALL THE
SPEAKERS WHO CALLED IN AND
PEOPLE HAVE WRITTEN TO US.
WE'VE GOTTEN LOTS OF
COMMUNICATIONS ABOUT THIS AND
THANK YOU CHAIR FOR POINTING OUT
SOME OF THE KEY SECTIONS OF
THIS NEW AGREEMENT IS BEING
PROPOSED. I WILL HAVE SOME
ADDITIONAL QUESTIONS BUT JUST
ON THIS SLIDE, THE 2022 FIGURES
AND YOU ALL CAN GET BACK TO US
ON THIS, I'M JUST LOOKING FOR
WHAT ARE THE BASELINE NUMBERS.
LIKE 2019 NUMBERS ARE 2022
NUMBERS, TRYING TO DETERMINE
WHETHER THE 7.6 MILLION FOR
OPERATIONS AND 2.1 MILLION FOR
MAJOR MAINTENANCE IS AN
INCREASE OR DECREASE FROM WHAT
IS CURRENTLY BEING DONE.
>> I CAN SPEAK TO THAT BRIEFLY
HERE.
THE 2021 BUDGET FOR THE ZOO
AGREEMENT IS 9.2 MILLION AND IT
IS BEING INCREASED IN THIS
AGREEMENT TO $9.7 MILLION IN
THE MAIN FACTORS OF THE
INCREASES ARE THAT WE ARE
PROPOSING INCREASING THE CPI
INFLATED FROM 70 PERCENT TO 100
PERCENT AND ALSO, ROUTINE
MAINTENANCE WHICH WAS ONE OF
THE PAYMENTS IN THE EXISTING
AGREEMENT IS NOW INCLUDED IN
THE OPERATIONS PAYMENT SUPPORT
AND THAT IS BEING INFLATED THIS
TIME AND ALSO, MAJOR MAINTENANCE
WHICH WAS INFLATED AT A RATE OF
TWO AND HALF PERCENT IN THE
PARK DISTRICT FOR THE LAST
SEVERAL YEARS IS BEING PROPOSED
TO BE INCREASE BY THE RATE OF
CPI SO THOSE ARE KIND OF THE
MAIN FACTORS THAT WAS BRINGING
THE TOTAL AGREEMENT TO 9.7
MILLION IN 2022.
>> OKAY, SO IT SOUNDS LIKE
THERE IS NOT A SUBSTANTIAL
CHANGE IN THE PUBLIC DOLLARS, I
WILL HAVE SOME ADDITIONAL
QUESTIONS, BUT THANK YOU FOR
ANSWERING THAT NOW.
>> IF I MAY, THANK YOU COUNCIL
MEMBER PETERSON.
I DON'T KNOW IF YOU HAD A
CHANCE TO LOOK AT THE SUMMARY,
COUNCILMEMBER PETERSON, BUT
ATTACHMENT A BREAKS DOWN
SECTION 2 WHICH GOES TO THE
FINANCIAL SUPPORT WHICH IS
SECTION 5 SO I DON'T KNOW IF
YOU HAVE THAT IN FRONT OF YOU.
WHAT DONNIE SHARED IS IN MORE
DETAIL ON THE CONTINUAL AND
OPERATIONS AND SUPPORT IN THE
MAJOR MAINTENANCE SUPPORT AND
THE SUPPORT OF THE COUNTY
FUNDING AND FISCAL EMERGENCY
AND THAT IS ON ATTACHMENT A IN
THE FISCAL AND SUMMARY NOTE IF
YOU WANT TO DIVE A LITTLE
DEEPER AND DEVELOP MORE
QUESTIONS.
>> YEP, THAT'S CORRECT.
>> AND THANK YOU FOR DOING THIS.
>> IS THERE ANYTHING ELSE FOR
MY COLLEAGUE SO I CAN MAKE SURE
I CAN SEE EVERYBODY?
I'M SORRY, COUNCILMEMBER
SAWANT?
>> I HAD A GENERAL POINT
BECAUSE IT'S QUESTION OF THE
PUBLIC OVERSIGHT. I'M NOT SURE
WHERE YOU WOULD LIKE ME TO MAKE
THIS POINT.
>> DO YOU WANT TO DO IT NOW OR
WAIT?
IT'S YOUR CALL.
>> I CAN WAIT UNTIL THE
PRESENTATION IS DONE, NO
PROBLEM.
>> OKAY.
YOU CAN CONTINUE.
>> GREAT, THANK YOU.
I WILL PICK UP ON SLIDE 5, SO
IN THESE SLIDES OR RATHER THE
SLIDE, IN THIS NEW AGREEMENT,
ZOO ANIMALS CONTINUE TO REMAIN
THE ZOO'S RESPONSIBILITY IN
ACCORDANCE WITH ALL APPLICABLE
FEDERAL STATE AND LOCAL LAWS
AND REGULATIONS UNDER THE
ASSOCIATION OF ZOOS AND
AQUARIUMS AND THIS RECOGNIZES
SEATTLE PARKS AND RECREATION
DOESN'T HAVE ANIMAL HUSBANDRY
EXPERTISE, PART OF THE DRIVER
FOR ENTERING INTO THIS
AGREEMENT WITH THE ZOO IS THEY
HAVE STAFF WHO DO HAVE THIS
EXPERTISE AND IN ADDITION, THE
ZOO CONTINUES TO MAINTAIN THE
CITY'S PROPERTIES SO THEY WILL
HAVE A STEWARDSHIP
RESPONSIBILITY THERE EVEN
THOUGH THE CITY WILL CONTINUE
TO OWN THE PROPERTY.
THE AGREEMENT INCLUDES AN
ANNUAL MAINTENANCE AMOUNT THAT
INCREASES BY CPI TO ALLOW THE
ZOO TO PERFORM NEEDED
MAINTENANCE ON THE CITY OWNED
BUILDINGS.
THERE ARE AN AWFUL LOT OF
BUILDINGS AT THE ZOO THAT THEY
HAVE THE RESPONSIBILITY TO
MAINTAIN AND SOME OF THIS
RECOGNIZES SOME OF THE LEVEL OF
DEFERRED MAINTENANCE ON SOME OF
THAT.
WE ARE INCLUDING ANNUAL
MAINTENANCE FOR MAINTAINING THE
BUILDINGS.
>> BEFORE WE GO, LET ME KNOW
WHEN YOU WRAP UP PUBLIC
INVOLVEMENT AS THERE'S A FEW
THINGS I WANT TO POINT OUT
BEFORE YOU GO TO TERMINATION IN
THE CONTRACT.
>> OKAY.
SO I THINK WE WILL GET TO THAT
PART LATER.
I WILL REFER TO ALEJANDRO RIGHT
NOW TO CONTINUE THE PRESENTATION
. I WILL TURN IT OVER TO YOU.
>> BEFORE I GO, CHAIR, I SEE
COUNCILMEMBER HER BOLD HAS HER
HAND UP HIS
>> THANK YOU FOR BEING MY
COCHAIR.
>> I APPRECIATE IT.
I JUST WANT TO CONFIRM WHAT I
THINK I'M HEARING, ONE OF THE
HOT TOPICS OF PUBLIC TEST OF
FIRES AND FOLKS WHO ARE WRITING
TO US, WHAT DOES THE AGREEMENT
SAY ABOUT THE ABILITY TO
REGULATE THE DISPOSITION OF ZOO
ANIMALS?
IS THERE ANY ABILITY FOR THE
COUNCIL TO HAVE A ROLE IN THE
NEW AGREEMENT?
AND HOW DOES THAT DIFFER FROM
THE OLD AGREEMENT?
>> IN THE OLD AGREEMENT, WE DID
DEFER ALL ANIMAL HUSBANDRY
ISSUES TO THE ZOO AND THAT
CONTINUES IN THE NEW AGREEMENT.
WE ARE TREATING THE ZOO LIKE
ABSOLUTE EXPERTS ON ALL ANIMAL
ISSUES.
AND THIS CONTINUES THE TREND
FROM THE FIRST 20 YEAR
AGREEMENT.
>> SO THERE'S BEEN NO CHANGE TO
THE AGREEMENT REGARDING THE
AUTHORITY OR THE ABILITY OF THE
CITY TO USE ITS ABILITY OR TO
HAVE AUTHORITY, NOT TO USE ITS
AUTHORITY BECAUSE IT'S NOT
GRANTED, BUT, THAT HAS BEEN
CONTEMPLATED IN THE PAST, IS
THAT CORRECT?
>> YES.
ALEJANDRO, DO YOU WANT TO JUMP
IN?
>> THE BIGGEST DIFFERENCE IS
NOT ABOUT THE ACQUISITION AND
DISPOSITION WHAT ABOUT THE
OWNERSHIP. WHEN WE DID THE
AGREEMENT IN 2001, THE CITY
OWNED THE ANIMALS, AND AS PART
OF THAT TRANSFER, THE ANIMAL
PROPERTY WAS TRANSFERRED TO THE
SOCIETY AND IN THE 20 YEARS
THAT HAVE ENSUED, THE WOODLAND
PARK ZOO HAS KEPT A VERY
DIVERSE COLLECTION AND AT ANY
GIVEN POINT AS PART OF A
NATIONAL CAMPAIGN FOR BREEDING
ENDANGERED POPULATIONS, WE OWN
SOME OF THE COLLECTIONS, SOME
OF THE ANIMALS AT THE ZOO ARE
ON LOAN FROM OTHER ZOOS AND WE
ACTUALLY OWN ANIMALS FROM OTHER
ZOOS FROM OTHER IN SEATTLE SO
THE OWNERSHIP IS A BIG
DIFFERENCE BETWEEN WHAT
HAPPENED IN 2001 AND WE ARE
RIGHT NOW.
>> I'M GETTING A TEXT FROM MY
VERY HELPFUL STAFF WHO IS
MONITORING TO SAY MAYBE I
SHOULD BE ASKING MY QUESTION
SLIGHTLY DIFFERENTLY BECAUSE
THERE IS A LITTLE BIT OF A
DISCREPANCY WITH WHAT I AM
HEARING AND WHAT I UNDERSTAND
THE OLD AGREEMENT SAID. THE OLD
AGREEMENT, THERE WAS A CLAUSE
THAT GAVE THE CITY THE ABILITY
TO PASS DISPOSITION POLICIES,
IS THAT CORRECT?
>> YES, THAT WAS IN SECTION
15.3 C.
>> AND THAT HAS BEEN DROPPED IN
THIS VERSION?
>> CORRECT.
>> I APPRECIATE IT.
>> BEFORE WE GO FORWARD AND I'M
GLAD YOU BROUGHT THAT UP, AND
THIS IS GOING TO BE AN ISSUE SO
PARDON THE PUN, THE ELEPHANT IN
THE ROOM.
WHY DO WE DROP SECTION 15 .3 C
ABOUT ANIMAL DISPOSITION AND
WHEN YOU LOOK AT THE CONTRACT
AND THE OPERATION AND
MANAGEMENT, SECTION 12, ZOO
ANIMALS, PAGE 30 WHICH DOES SAY
CARE OF THE ANIMALS OR ZOO
ANIMALS SHALL BE AND REMAIN THE
PERSONAL PROPERTY OF THE
WOODLAND PARK ZOO SOCIETY FOR
THE DURATION OF THE TERM.
HAT CHANGED FROM 20 YEARS AGO
TO NOW TO WHY THAT IS
IMPORTANT, BECAUSE I'VE HEARD
SOME OTHER THINGS OFF-LINE.
>> I CAN SPEAK TO THAT.
THE ANIMALS IN A SENSE BECAUSE
OF THESE AGREEMENTS, THE
PROPERTY OF THE ANIMAL WAS
TRANSFERRED TO THE SOCIETY IN
2001 AND THESE ANIMALS ARE NOW
IN OUR PROPERTY AND WE
BASICALLY TAKE CARE OF THEM AND
DISPOSE OR ACQUIRE OR BRING
THEM IN LOAN ACCORDING TO ALL
LAWS, FEDERAL, STATE, LOCAL
REGULATION SO IN A SENSE, THE
BIG DIFFERENCE IS THE ANIMALS
ARE NOT OWNED BY THE CITY RIGHT
NOW AND THE ZOO IS ACTUALLY
MANAGING THE COLLECTION ON
BEHALF OF THE POLICIES TO BREED
THEM AND MAKE SURE WE HAVE
VIABLE POPULATIONS IN THE
FUTURE.
>> I KNOW, BUT WHY NOW DOES THE
ZOO ON THE ANIMALS, AS 20 YEARS
AGO THE CITY OF SEATTLE HAD
SOME OWNERSHIP OR SOME SAY IN
THE DISPOSITION OF THE ANIMALS,
THAT'S WHAT I'M GETTING AT.
>> OF ALL THE ANIMALS THE CITY
OWNED 20 YEARS AGO, THERE IS NO
ANIMAL STILL ALIVE FROM THAT
TIME.
SO WHEN THE ORIGINAL AGREEMENT
WAS SIGNED, ALL THOSE ANIMALS
HAVE EITHER DIED OR BEEN
DISPOSED OF AND THOSE ANIMALS
RIGHT NOW THAT HAVE BEEN BRED
ARE UNDER THE NEW AGREEMENT IN
WHICH THE CITY IS NOT ON THOSE
ANIMALS ANYMORE.
>> IS A COMMONPLACE WITH OTHER
CITIES IN THEIR OPERATION AND
MANAGEMENT AGREEMENTS BETWEEN
THE CITY AND A ZOO?
>> YES.
BASICALLY AS CHRISTOPHER
WILLIAMS WAS SAYING, THE FACT
THAT ANIMALS THAT ANY GIVEN
MODERN ZOO ARE NOT RUN BY A
SINGLE ENTITY.
ANIMALS ARE PART OF VIABLE
POPULATIONS AND WE ARE
EXCHANGING IN BREEDING ANIMALS
EVERY DAY.
THE FACT IS, WE MAKE MORE THAN
400 ANIMAL TRANSFERS IN A YEAR
AND THAT MEANS THERE'S MORE THAN
ONE ANIMAL TRANSFERRED EVERY
DAY AND THAT MEANS WE ARE
BRINGING ANIMALS FROM OTHER
ZOOS AND SENDING ANIMALS TO
OTHER ZOOS TO BREED.
THE OWNERSHIP ESTABLISHED
ACCORDING TO ACCREDITATION
STANDARDS AND EVERY ANIMAL IS
TRACEABLE.
>> I BELIEVE COUNCILMEMBER
SAWANT HAS A QUESTION.
>> THANK YOU.
I DO HAVE A PROCESS QUESTION
FOR YOU, BUT MAINLY I WANT TO
MAKE SOME COMMENTS THAT LEAD TO
THE PROCESS QUESTION OF HOW TO
GO ABOUT IT FROM HERE.
I APPRECIATE THE CLARIFICATION
OF WHAT EXACTLY IS CHANGING. IT
WAS NOT IMMEDIATELY CLEAR WHAT
EXACTLY IS CHANGING.
I DO HAVE REAL CONCERNS, LET'S
REMEMBER WHAT'S THE BACKGROUND
TO ALL OF THIS, IN 2015 THERE
WAS WIDESPREAD CONCERN IN OUR
CITY ABOUT THE HEALTH AND WELL-
BEING OF THE WOODLAND PARK ZOO
OFFENSE AND MANY OF THE
ACTIVISTS WHO PLAYED A CRUCIAL
ROLE AND I THANK THEM FOR IT, I
ALSO SPOKE TODAY WITH PUBLIC
COMMENT.
THESE ARE ORDINARY PEOPLE ALSO
WHOSE CHILDREN, MANY OF WHOM
HAVE GROWN UP IN THE CITY AND
HUNDREDS OF THEM WROTE THE CITY
COUNCIL, THEY ATTEMPTED TO SPEAK
AT THE ZOO BOARD MEETINGS, IT
VERY MUCH WAS BASED IN
SCIENTIFIC UNDERSTANDING WHAT
IS IN THE INTEREST OF THE
ANIMALS, SO FIRST OF ALL, I'M
NOT AN EXPERT ON ELEPHANTS BUT
I DON'T APPRECIATE THAT THE ZOO
MANAGEMENT IS EXPERTS.
NO.
THEY HAVEN'T SHOWN THEMSELVES
TO BE EXPERT.
I'M SURE THEY HAVE EXPERTISE
BUT I DON'T THINK THAT NEGATES
THE QUESTION OF PUBLIC OVERSIGHT
AND I THINK WE HAVE TO EMPHASIZE
FOR THE CITY COUNCIL TO HAVE
OVERSIGHT IS NOT IN MY MIND IN
ANY CASE AND I WAS A LITTLE BIT
MORE ABOUT THIS IN A BIT, IT'S
NOT ABOUT NINE POLITICIANS
HAVING A SAY, IT'S ABOUT THE
PUBLIC, MEMBERS OF THE PUBLIC
WHICH INCLUDES ANIMAL EXPERTS
AND PEOPLE WHO HAVE STUDIED
THIS ISSUE AND THE PUBLIC AT
LARGE. THEM HAVING AN AVENUE TO
HAVE A SAY IN THIS MATTER.
I DON'T THINK ANYBODY IS MAKING
A CLAIM THAT ANY COUNCILMEMBER
IS AN EXPERT ON THIS.
AS A QUESTION OF PUBLIC SAY AND
AT THAT TIME IN 2015, MY OFFICE
PREPARED AN ORDINANCE, CITY BILL
118379, TO REQUIRE THE ZOO TO
TRANSFER THE ELEPHANTS,
UNFORTUNATELY THE MAJORITY OF
THE COUNCIL DID NOT AGREE TO
SUPPORT THAT ORDINANCE AND IT
WAS QUITE TREMENDOUS PUBLIC
ACTION AT THAT TIME.
REALLY COURAGEOUS ALMOST CIVIL
DISOBEDIENCE. UNFORTUNATELY THE
MAJORITY OF THE CITY COUNCIL
DID NOT AGREE TO SUPPORTTHE
ORDINANCE AND REFUSE TO
INTRODUCE IT, BUT BECAUSE WE
THE ORGANIZING BY THE PUBLIC
WAS SO STRONG, IT DID HAVE AN
IMPACT IN THE ZOO DID TRANSFER
THE ELEPHANTS AS THIS WAS
EXPLAINED.
THERE NEEDS TO BE SOME SORT OF
DEMOCRATIC OPTION THAT PROCESS
WAS IMPORTANT SO I'M CONCERNED
ABOUT WHAT I'M HEARING ABOUT A
MODICUM OF DEMOCRATIC CHECK
BEING REMOVED FROM THIS 20 YEAR
AGREEMENT, THIS IS NOT A SMALL
THING WE'RE TALKING ABOUT.
I DON'T WANT TO BE BOGGED DOWN
BY SPECIFIC TECHNICAL ARGUMENTS
AS TO WHY THE CITY SHOULD NOT
HAVE OVERSIGHT.
THAT'S WHY THE OVERSIGHT SHOULD
BE MAINTAINED.
WE WANT THE MEMBERS OF THE
PUBLIC TO HAVE A SAY.
NOBODY IS NECESSARILY RIGHT OR
WRONG, IT'S A QUESTION OF THE
PUBLIC DISCUSSION AND FOR THAT
AVENUE TO BE KEPT OPEN, I THINK
IT'S IMPORTANT THAT WE RETAIN
OVERSIGHT SO JUST IN CLOSING,
GIVEN THIS BILL RATIFIES THE
AGREEMENT WITH THE ZOO AND ANY
CHANGES WOULD PRESUMABLY NEED
TO BE AGREED UPON BY BOTH SIDES,
WHAT IS THE PROCESS YOU WOULD
SUGGEST FOR MY OFFICE?
>> IN THE BEGINNING I SAID WHEN
I WRAP UP TO THE MW NO WE ARE
NOT VOTING TODAY AS YOU KNOW.
THE DEADLINE FOR AMENDMENTS IS
NOVEMBER 30 AND OBVIOUSLY YOU
CAN WORK WITH OUR OFFICE AND
CENTRAL STAFF AND WE'VE BEEN
RUNNING THINGS THROUGH LEGAL
AND MAKING SURE THAT ALL OF THE
ISSUES WE WANTED LIKE I WAS
TALKING ABOUT THE PUBLIC
BENEFITS AND OF THOSE ISSUES,
AND THEN OF COURSE WE WOULD BE
VOTING ON THIS ON TUESDAY,
DECEMBER 7 AND AGAIN I WILL SAY
THIS AGAIN, AMENDMENTS ARE DUE
BY NOVEMBER 30, WE WILL VOTE IN
COMMITTEE ON TUESDAY, DECEMBER 7
AND IT WILL GO TO FULL COUNCIL
ON MONDAY, DECEMBER 13.
GETTING BACK TO THE ISSUE THAT
THE COUNCILMEMBER RAISED AND I
WAS GOING TO LOOP BACK TO THAT
WHEN I WAS SPEAKING TO
CHRISTOPHER, SOME OF THE ISSUES
WE ARE BRINGING UP AND I READ
THE CONTRACT OR THE AGREEMENT,
DOES SECTION 16 WHICH STARTS ON
PAGE 33, I BELIEVE, PUBLIC
INVOLVEMENT, DO SOME OF THAT
ENCOMPASS AND ADDRESS SOME OF
THE CONCERNS RAISED BY
COUNCILMEMBER SAWANT AND HER
BOLD REGARDING OVERSIGHT
COMMUNITY AND THE PUBLIC?
CAN WE HAVE A RESPONSE TO THAT?
>> THIS IS CHRISTOPHER, MAYBE I
WILL JUMP IN.
WITH REGARD TO LAND USE ISSUES,
WE WOULD IMAGINE THE ZOO'S
STRATEGIC PLAN WOULD COME TO THE
BOARD OF PARK COMMISSIONERS FOR
PRESENTATION AND WILL GET THE
BLESSING OF THE PARK BOARD AND
THAT WOULD BE KIND OF OUR
TYPICAL PARK BOARD PUBLIC
HEARING PROCESS SO THERE IS A
STOP ALONG THE WAY ON THE LAND-
USE BUILDING USED LONG-TERM
PLAN THAT WOULD INVOLVE
DROPPING BY THE PARK BOARD.
>> RIGHT, I UNDERSTAND THE LONG-
RANGE PLAN BUT I'M GETTING BACK
TO WHAT THE COUNCILMEMBERS
RAISED, SO I'M ASKING WHETHER
OR NOT PUBLIC INVOLVEMENT
SECTION 16 OF THE DOCUMENT
COVERS SOME OF THOSE ARE
ANSWERS SOME OF THOSE ISSUES OR
IS THAT AN AREA THAT WE NEED TO
FLAG WHEN WE GO BACK TO THE
DRAWING BOARD OR ANY OF OUR
COLLEAGUES OR AMENDMENTS
FORWARD THAT CAN ALSO SHORE UP
THE CONCERNS OF MY COLLEAGUES
REGARDING PUBLIC OVERSIGHT AND
RETAINING OVERSIGHT.
>> YES, IF I CAN ANSWER
PARTICULARLY SECTION 16.
YES, WE WILL BE PRODUCING AN
ANNUAL REPORT TO THE
SUPERINTENDENT WHICH IS OPEN
PUBLIC DOCUMENT AS WE DESCRIBED
AND THE ADVANCEMENT OF OUR
EQUITY AND INCLUSION PROGRAM AS
WELL AS CUSTOMER SERVICES AND
IN ADDITION TO THAT, PRIOR TO
THAT, WE WILL SUBMIT AN ANNUAL
PLAN FOR THE COMING YEAR IN
WHICH WE WILL PROVIDE A ONE
YEAR CAPITAL IMPROVEMENT PLAN
FOR THE ZOO, DESCRIPTION OF
CHANGES, DESCRIPTION OF
ESTIMATED PROJECTS, ADMISSION
CHANGES, PROPOSED PRICES, AND
THINGS SUCH AS FOR EXAMPLE THE
ANNUAL ANIMAL COLLECTION PLAN,
ANY CHANGES THAT WE ARE
PREDICTING AN ACQUISITION,
DISPOSITION OR REPRODUCTION OF
OUR ANIMALS AND IN A ADDITION
TO THAT WE ALSO PROVIDE A
QUARTERLY REPORT TO THE
SUPERINTENDENT EVERY THREE
MONTHS THAT INCLUDES ALL THESE
CHANGES IN PLANS AND A MUCH
MORE DETAILED OPERATION AND
THAT QUARTERLY REPORT USUALLY
IS PRESENTED IN CORRELATION TO
HOW WE SPENT THE MONEY PROVIDED
BY THE CITY BUT ALSO OUR
GENERAL ACHIEVEMENTS AS AN
ORGANIZATION AND ITS REGULAR
OPERATIONS INCLUDING STAFF,
JOBS, CONTRACTORS, ANIMALS, ETC.
SO THOSE REPORTS ARE ALREADY
EMBEDDED INTO THE NEW
AGREEMENT.
THEY ARE NOT RADICALLY
DIFFERENT FROM THE PREVIOUS
AGREEMENTS AND WE ALSO ARE
INCLUDING ANNUAL INDEPENDENT
AUDITS AND OPEN BOOK ZONE
FINANCIAL RECORDS SO THAT IS
OUR COMMITMENT WITH THE NEW
AGREEMENT.
>> I APPRECIATE THAT AND I FIND
BEING DENSE HERE, PLEASE CALL
ME OUT.
I THINK WHAT THEY'RE GETTING AT
IS WHAT PUBLIC OVERSIGHT, WHAT
THE SEATTLE COUNCIL HAVE WHEN
YOU ARE NOW SAYING THAT THE ZOO
WILL OWN ALL THE ANIMALS, I
THINK THEY WANT TO MAKE SURE
WITH THE DEMOCRATIC PROCESS
THAT SEATTLE CITY COUNCIL AND
THE PUBLIC HAS SOME SAY IN HOW
OWNERSHIP IS HANDLED.
THAT IT'S EMBEDDED WITHIN THE
LEGISLATION AND WITHIN
COMMITTEE THAT THE PUBLIC HAS
SOME SAY.
I THINK PEOPLE'S MAIN CONCERN
AND I'M PUTTING IN THE MOST
BASIC TERMS AND I APOLOGIZE FOR
NOT BEING MORE'S FOR
SOPHISTICATED IS THAT IF PEOPLE
HAVE CONCERNS ABOUT THE
TREATMENT OF THE ANIMALS, THE
DISPOSITION OF THE ANIMALS ON
THE OWNERSHIP IN THE CARE, THAT
THEY ARE NOT GOING TO BE BAD
MET WITH WELL, THE CITY DOESN'T
ON THE ANIMALS, THE ZOO DOES,
SO WE HAVE NO CONTROL.
BECAUSE WHAT I WRITE IS THAT WE
DO BUT I NEED YOU TO TELL ME
THAT.
>> YES.
LET ME DIRECT YOU TO SECTION 16
52 OF THE NEW AGREEMENT IN
WHICH WE ARE ACTUALLY TALKING
ABOUT THE ZOO ANIMAL RECORDS
AND OUR ENFORCEMENT OF BOTH
ACCREDITATION STANDARDS AND
THIS AGREEMENT WITH THE CITY TO
DETERMINE AND REQUIRE THESE
RECORDS TO STAY UP TO DATE.
THOSE RECORDS ARE AVAILABLE TO
THE PUBLIC THROUGH PUBLIC
REQUESTAND THE SUPERINTENDENT
IS OBLIGATED BY THIS TO DISCLOSE
THROUGH A ROUTINE PUBLIC RECORD
DISCLOSE ALL PROCEDURES SO
SINCE THESE ANIMAL RECORDS WILL
BE AVAILABLE AND ARE AVAILABLE,
THAT DOESN'T CHANGE RADICALLY
FROM THE EXISTING AGREEMENT AND
ANY OTHER REQUEST THAT THE
PUBLIC PROVIDES IS GIVEN TO THE
CITY THROUGH THESE ANIMAL
RECORDS REQUESTS.
>> I DON'T KNOW IF THAT ANSWERS
YOUR QUESTION.
>> I'M LOOKING RIGHT AT THAT
16.5 AND I WENT THROUGH THIS SO
I UNDERSTAND THAT BUT WHAT I'M
SAYING IS IF SOMEONE FROM THE
PUBLIC WERE TO LOOK AT THIS
AGREEMENT AND WANT TO TRIGGER
16.5 AND SAY I NEED TO SEE THE
ANIMAL RECORDS AND THEN HAVE AN
OPINION ABOUT THE CARE
DISPOSITION OF ANY PARTICULAR
ANIMAL, THAT THEY HAVE A
PLATFORM OR A PATH, OR ACCESS
TO SEATTLE CITY COUNCIL TO MAKE
THOSE CONCERNS KNOWN AND US TO
ACT ON THEM VIA POLICY.
I THINK THAT'S WHAT THEY'RE
GETTING AT HERE.
AND THE ANSWER I'M GUESSING IS
YES BUT I'M NOT HERE TO GIG FOR
THE ZOO, I'M HERE TO HAVE YOU
TELL ME IF THE ANSWER IS YES.
>> YES, THE ANSWER IS YES, THE
SUPERINTENDENT WILL RECEIVE ANY
INFORMATION AND WE ARE OBLIGED
TO PROVIDE THAT INFORMATION TO
THE SUPERINTENDENT.
>> IF I MAY ADD ONE THING, I
THINK WHEN WE WERE PUTTING THIS
AGREEMENT TOGETHER IT WAS THAT
WE WERE TRYING TO CREATE ONE
PRIMARY POINT TO RECEIVE ALL OF
THE DELIVERABLES OF THIS
CONTRACT SO WILL BE COMING TO
THE SUPERINTENDENT SO THAT WAS
GOING TO BE INTENT AND I THINK
THAT'S PART OF THE NEGOTIATIONS
AND THE SUPERINTENDENT WOULD
THEN BE COMMUNICATING WITH THE
EXECUTIVE AND THE CITY COUNCIL
ON THOSE DELIVERABLES SO I JUST
WANTED TO GIVE THAT ADDITIONAL
PIECE.
>> I WANT YOU TO FINISH HER
PRESENTATION BUT CONSUMMATE THE
SAWANT AND I'M GOING TO ASK, I
DON'T KNOW IF BRIAN HAS
ANYTHING HE WANTS TO ADD.
>> THANK YOU CHAIR.
I GUESS MY QUESTION IS SIMILAR
TO WHAT I THINK YOU ARE ASKING
BUT I'M JUST NOT CLEAR AT ALL
WHAT MR. ALEJANDRO GRAJAL IS
SAYING IN TERMS , I MEAN IF
THERE IS A CLEAR DIFFERENCE
BETWEEN THE EXPIRING CONTRACT
AND THE NEW PROPOSED CONTRACT
IN TERMS OF WHAT OPPORTUNITY
FOR OVERSIGHT, THE CITY WOULD
HAVE COME IN THE ANSWER SHOULD
BE NO.
THAT THE CITY WOULD NOT HAVE
OERSIGHT BECAUSE ISN'T THERE A
DIFFERENCE BETWEEN THE WAY THE
TWO CONTRACTS ARE WORDED AND IF
THERE ISN'T A DIFFERENCE THAN
THERE SHOULD BE A CONTROVERSY,
SO IT JUST BOTHERS ME THAT
THERE IS A CLEAR DIFFERENCE BUT
WHAT I'M HEARING IS NOT
EXACTLY, BUT I JUST WANT TO BE
CLEAR.
FOR THE ZOO OFFICIALS TO
PROVIDE INFORMATION TO THE CITY
, THAT IS NOT THE SAME AS THE
CITY HAVING THE OPPORTUNITY TO
WEIGH IN ON SOMETHING.
CAN WE HAVE A STRAIGHT ANSWER
ABOUT WHAT OVERSIGHT THE CITY
WOULD HAVE?
BECAUSE I DON'T BELIEVE WE
WOULD HAVE WHAT WE HAD IN THE
PAST.
>> I DON'T HAVE THE PREVIOUS
AGREEMENT IN FRONT OF ME, BUT
THE REALITY IS THE SECTION
ABOUT ANIMAL RECORDS IS PRETTY
MUCH THE SAME AS WE HAD IN THE
PREVIOUS AGREEMENT.
THE OVERSIGHT IN THE PREVIOUS
AGREEMENT WAS DIRECTED TO THOSE
ANIMALS OWNED BY THE CITY.
THERE ARE NO ANIMALS OWNED BY
THE CITY ANYMORE.
>> JUST TO BE CLEAR, YOU SAID
WE DON'T HAVE THE PREVIOUS
CONTRACT BUT THAT IS THE
AGREEMENT, YOU ARE CURRENTLY
OPERATING UNDER, AM I RIGHT?
>> YES.
I WILL DIG IT UP.
I JUST DON'T HAVE IT IN FRONT
OF ME AT THIS MOMENT.
WHAT I WANT TO SAY IS AS A
PRACTICAL MATTER, WE TRANSFER
ABOUT ONE ANIMAL EVERY DAY,
MORE THAN ONE ANIMAL EVERY DAY
SO WERE NOT TALKING ABOUT A
HANDFUL OF ANIMALS BUT HUNDREDS
OF ANIMALS.
AS A KIND OF DYNAMIC MANAGEMENT
AT A MODERN ZOO REQUIRES AND
THAT IS A KIND OF OVERSIGHT
THAT YOU WOULD BE TALKING ABOUT
HERE, JUST TO PUT IT IN THE
CONTEXT OF THE QUANTITY AND
MAGNITUDE OF THAT OVERSIGHT.
AND THAT IS EVERYTHING FROM
SPIDERS TO RHINOCEROS.
>> ALL RIGHT.
BEFORE I GET YOU I THINK BRIAN
HAD SOMETHING TO SAY.
WAS THERE SOMETHING YOU WANTED
TO ADD?
>> NOT PARTICULARLY.
I'M HAPPY TO JUMP IN AND SAY I
THINK THIS IS SOMETHING WE
SHOULD CONTINUE, IT'S CLEAR
THAT THE PROPOSED AGREEMENT IS
DIFFERENT THAN THE EXISTING
AGREEMENT AND MY UNDERSTANDING
IS THAT THE AGREEMENT STILL
ALLOWS THE CITY COUNCIL TO PASS
GENERAL POLICIES THAT WOULD
APPLY CITYWIDE TO ANIMALS.
SEPARATE FROM JUST THIS, BUT
CITY COUNCILS AUTHORITY DOES
SEEM TO BE LIMITED I THINK WE
WOULD SPEND MORE TIME AND
PARTICULARLY DISCUSS WITH OUR
DEPARTMENT ABOUT THE OWNERSHIP
OF THE ANIMALS AND HOW THEY
COULD SUPPLEMENTED.
>> OKAY THAT'S THE ANSWER, I
THINK THAT'S WHAT COUNCILMEMBER
SAWANT WAS GETTING AT IS THAT
IT'S CITY COUNCIL AUTHORITY IS
DIMINISHED IN THE NEW PROPOSED
CONTRACT.
>> I JUST WANT TO SAY, UNDER
THE CURRENT AGREEMENT, WHEN THE
CITY DID OWN ANIMALS, WE DID
NOT EXERCISE THE TYPE OF DAY
TODAY MANAGEMENT OF ANIMALS AS
BEING SUGGESTED WITH A CHANGE
IN THE AGREEMENT WOULD
NECESSITATE.
I DON'T THINK ANYBODY IS
INTERESTED IN DAY-TO-DAY
MANAGEMENT OF THE ANIMALS, THAT
HASN'T BEEN THE HISTORY IN THE
PAST.
BUT IT'S ABOUT CREATING THE
POTENTIAL FOR OVERSIGHT IF IT'S
NEEDED.
IF THE PUBLIC FEELS LIKE THERE
IS AN ISSUE THAT IS NOT BEING
ADDRESSED AS IT RELATES TO THE
CARE OF THE ANIMALS, THAT THERE
IS A WAY FOR THE GENERAL PUBLIC
TO COME TO THE COUNCIL AND THAT
THERE IS SOME AVENUE FOR
OVERSIGHT IN THAT SITUATION.
>> THANK YOU.
WAS THAT ALL?
OKAY.
CHRISTOPHER, I SEE YOU HAVE
YOUR HAND UP.
>> I THINK IT'S IMPORTANT TO
ACKNOWLEDGE THAT WE HEAR THE
NUANCE OF THE QUESTION YOU ARE
RAISING AND WE PROBABLY NEED TO
GO BACK AND ROLL UP OUR SLEEVES
AND DO MORE WORK ON THAT.
I THINK YOUR OBJECTIVE IS
CLEARLY DIFFERENT THAN A DAY
TODAY MANAGEMENT ROLE OF ANIMALS
AND I THINK THE SKUNK ON THE
TABLE, NO PUN INTENDED,
RESPONSE IS I DON'T THINK THIS
INCLUDES EXACTLY WHAT YOU ARE
ASKING FOR.
>> SO WE KNOW THAT AND WE WILL
HAVE MORE CONVERSATIONS GOING
BACK TO WHAT COUNCILMAN SAWANT
WAS SAYING AND I WILL WRAP IT
UP AND LET YOU FINISH. THIS IS
WHY WE HAVE COMMITTEE SO PEOPLE
CAN RAISE ALL THESE ISSUES AND
WE CAN GET PUBLIC COMMENT AND
THAT'S WHY I WANTED IT DONE
FIRST AND THAT'S WHY READY TO
THE RECORD WITH THE EXPERTISE
AND WHO ALL THE VETERINARIANS
AND WHO THE ZOO IS.
CAN I HAVE YOU CONTINUE YOUR
POWERPOINT?
>> CHRISTOPHER, DO YOU WANT TO
COMMENT ON TERMINATION?
>> WHY DON'T YOU GO AHEAD AND
COMMENT ON TERMINATION. WHY
DON'T WE GO TO THE NEXT SLIDE.
>> TO PICK UP ON THIS THEME,
EXTRAORDINARY AND COMPASSIONATE
ANIMAL CARE YOU HEARD ABOUT OUR
EXCELLENT CARE FOR ANIMAL CARE,
THANK YOU COUNCILMEMBER WAR IS
FOR SHARING SOME OF THESE
DETAILS AND ESPECIALLY
ACKNOWLEDGING OUR ANIMAL CARE.
NUMEROUS PROOF POINTS OF HOW WE
TAKE CARE OF OUR ANIMALS WE
HAVE DECADES OF EXPERTISE TO
PROVIDE UNIQUE AND DEDICATED
CARE TO ALL 900 ANIMALS AND 270
SPECIES TO OUR CARE.
OUR PROFESSIONAL ANIMAL KEEPERS
NOT ONLY PROVIDE CARE BUT
DEVELOP TRULY A RELATIONSHIP
WITH THE INDIVIDUAL AND WORK
EVERY DAY TO ENRICH THE
PHYSICAL AND PSYCHOLOGICAL
NEEDS OF OUR ANIMALS.
IN SHORT, OUR ANIMAL CARE IS
SECOND TO NONE.
WOODLAND PARK ZOO IS NOT ONLY A
WORKING-CLASS ZOO BUT ALSO A
GLOBAL COVERS CONSERVATION THAT
CARES AS MUCH FOR THE ZOO
ANIMALS AS FOR THOSE IN THE
WILD ESPECIALLY ENDANGERED
SPECIES.
WE PROVIDE OVER $4 MILLION
ANNUALLY TO LOCAL AND GLOBAL
CONSERVATION EFFORTS HERE IN
THE PACIFIC NORTHWEST AND
ELSEWHERE TO HELP WILD ANIMALS
SUFFERING FROM THE RAVAGES OF
CLIMATE CHANGE, ILLEGAL
WILDLIFE TRADE AND
DEFORESTATION.
THE MISSION OF THE WOODLAND
PARK ZOO IS TO SAVE WILDLIFE
AND INSPIRE EVERYONE TO MAKE
CONSERVATION A PRIORITY AND THE
KEYWORD OF THAT MACHINE IS
EVERYONE.
NOT ONLY THOSE THAT CAN ENJOY
AN AFRICAN SAFARI, AFFORD A
MEMBERSHIP OR DONATE TO A
CONSERVATION PROGRAM, BUT
EVERYBODY.
NEXT SLIDE, PLEASE.
IN TERMS OF COMMUNITY
ENGAGEMENT, WE ARE A WELCOMING
OASIS FOR PEOPLE OF ALL WALKS
OF LIFE, REGARDLESS OF THEIR
ECONOMIC, CULTURAL, OR RACIAL
BACKGROUND.
IT'S A PLACE WHERE EVERYBODY IS
WELCOME AND DURING THIS
PANDEMIC, NOT ONLY WELCOME, BUT
SAFE AND SECURE.
IT IS A GREEN OASIS FOR RESPITE
AND REFLECTION WHERE PEOPLE CAN
BE WITHIN THEMSELVES AND
CONNECT WITH EACH OTHER AND
WITH ANIMALS.
ONE OF OUR STRONGEST INITIATIVES
IS ABOUT CREATING EMPATHY FOR
OUR ANIMALS BECAUSE WE KNOW OUR
GUESTS FEEL AND EXPRESS A DEEP
REPORT FOR ANIMALS.
OUR GUESTS REFER TO ANIMALS
WITH PERSONAL PRONOUNS. IN
THESE TIMES OF ISOLATION AND
LONELINESS, EMPATHY FOR ANIMALS
WHETHER OUR FAVORITE PETS OR
OUR ZOO CREATURES, REMIND US OF
A DEEP AND PRIMORDIAL NEED,
CARING FOR ANIMALS IS WHAT
MAKES US HUMAN.
BY CREATING EMPATHY FOR OUR
ANIMALS, WE EMPOWER PEOPLE TO
BE ACTIVE PLAYERS IN CONSERVING
WILDLIFE AND HABITATS.
WHETHER YOU ARE NEWLY ARRIVED
IMMIGRANTS, SINGLE MOTHER, A
TEENAGER WITH A MENTAL
DISABILITY OR A SENIOR CITIZEN,
OUR ZOO INSPIRES, CONNECTS, AND
EMPOWERS EVERYONE TO TAKE
ACTION ON BEHALF OF OUR PLANET.
LET ME REMIND YOU THAT OUR
COLLECTIVE CARE AND EMPATHY FOR
OUR PLANET WILL DETERMINE
WHETHER WE CAN STOP WHALES FROM
SWALLOWING PLASTIC BAGS IN THE
OCEAN OR WHETHER WE CAN PREVENT
EAGLES FROM DYING IN WILDFIRES
INDUCED BY CLIMATE CHANGE.
I KNOW AND RESPECT THE FACT
THAT NOT EVERYONE BELIEVES THAT
ZOOS SHOULD EXIST, HOWEVER, ALL
ANIMALS IN THIS PLANET ARE IN
OUR CARE.
OUR EVERYDAY ACTIONS AFFECT AS
MUCH THE BUMBLE BEES AND
BUTTERFLIES IN OUR GARDENS AS
THEY AFFECT THE PENGUINS OF
ANTARCTICA.
AS A HUMAN RACE, WE HAVE THE
MORAL IMPERATIVE TO CARE FOR
ALL ANIMALS IN OUR PLANETS.
NEXT SLIDE, PLEASE.
HERE, I'M PROPOSING A TABLE OF
THE COMMITMENT AND
ACCOUNTABILITY TOWARD PUBLIC
BENEFIT OF THE ZOO COMMITTING
TO PROVIDE.
WE WORKED VERY HARD WITH OUR
SEATTLE PARKS PARTNERS TOWARD A
FORMAL COMMITMENT STARTING AT
$3 MILLION ANNUALLY IN PUBLIC
BENEFITS TO MEET THE NEEDS OF
OUR COMMUNITY AND TO ENSURE
THAT THE ZOO REMAINS ACCESSIBLE
TO EVERYONE.
THIS INCLUDES ZOO ADMISSIONS,
FREE CAMP SCHOLARSHIPS, SCHOOL
FIELD TRIPS, COMMUNITY OUTREACH
SUPPORT, CAPITAL IMPROVEMENTS,
JOBS, AND SERVICES.
THE COMMUNITY ACCESS PROGRAM
PROVIDES THOUSANDS OF FREE
ADMISSIONS A YEAR, TO COMMUNITY
SERVICE ORGANIZATIONS, SOME OF
YOU HEARD THEM TODAY AND SOME
OF THEM WILL BE PRESENTED IN MY
NEXT SLIDE.
WE OFFER A FIVE DOLLAR
ADMISSION TICKET AND A $35
MEMBERSHIP TO FOSTER FAMILIES
AND RECIPIENTS OF AND EBT
ASSISTANCE PROGRAMS WHICH HAVE
BEEN PARTICULARLY IN DEMAND AS
WE BATTLE THE HEALTH AND
EMOTIONAL REPERCUSSIONS OF THE
PANDEMIC.
OUR CONSERVATION AND EDUCATION
PROGRAMS REACHED THOUSANDS OF
BUDDING ANIMAL LOVERS, YOUNG
CONSERVATIONISTS AND SCIENTISTS
AND WE PLAY A KEY ROLE IN
CREATING A WORLD OF
POSSIBILITIES FOR SEATTLE'S
YOUNG PEOPLE, REGARDLESS OF
THEIR BACKGROUND.
REGARDLESS TO OVERSIGHT, THE
NEW AGREEMENT SPECIFIES THE ZOO
WILL PROVIDE A DETAILED ANNUAL
REPORT OF THESE PUBLIC BENEFITS
. THESE WILL ENABLE THE CITY TO
REVIEW OUR COMMITMENT TO
PROVIDE ROBUST PUBLIC BENEFITS
TO ENSURE THAT SEATTLE RESIDENTS
AND PARTICULARLY THOSE WHO ARE
UNDERREPRESENTED OR UNDERSERVED
POPULATIONS ARE ABLE TO ACCESS
THE ZOO, ITS EDUCATION AND
SCIENTIFIC PROGRAMS.
NEXT SLIDE, PLEASE.
I WANTED TO TAKE A MINUTE TO
SHOW YOU THE LIST OF
ORGANIZATIONS THAT HAVE SIGNED
ON TO A LETTER THAT HAS BEEN
SENT TO YOUR OFFICE EXPRESSING
THEIR SUPPORT FOR THE ZOO
COMMUNITY ENGAGEMENT PROGRAM
AND OUR LONG-STANDING
PARTNERSHIPS.
TODAY, SOME OF THESE COMMUNITY
MEMBERS PRESENTED TO THIS
COUNSEL AND THEY INSPIRE ME
PERSONALLY AND EVERYBODY AT THE
ZOO, EVERY DAY.
OUR CITIES LEADERSHIP, EACH ONE
OF YOU SET THE EXAMPLE FOR OUR
ORGANIZATION LIKE OUR ZOO.
WE ARE ENCOURAGED BY THE CITY
IN COMMITMENT TO EQUITY AND
SHARE YEAR TO DEDICATION TO
BREAKING DOWN BARRIERS AND
EMPOWERING EVERYBODY TO REACH
THEIR FULL POTENTIAL.
THANK YOU VERY MUCH
COUNCILMEMBER WAR AS AN MEMBERS
OF THIS COMMITTEE FOR THIS
OPPORTUNITY AND THAT IS THE END
OF MY PRESENTATION.
THANK YOU.
>> COUNCILMEMBER HER BOLD?
>> THE PUBLIC BENEFITS, I'M
INTERESTED IN WHETHER OR NOT WE
HAVE INFORMATION ABOUT THE
PROPORTION OF FREE TICKETS THAT
ARE DISTRIBUTED THAT ARE
ACTUALLY USED AND IF THAT CAN
BE PART OF THE ANNUAL REPORTING
ON PUBLIC BENEFITS?
AND MY SECOND QUESTION RELATES
TO THE NEIGHBORHOODS
SURROUNDING THE ZOO AND WHETHER
OR NOT THEY ARE ACTUALLY
REPRESENTED ON THE ZOO SOCIETY
BOARD OR IF THERE'S SOMETHING
SIMILAR WHAT I KNOW TO EXIST
AND THAT WAS THE ZOO
NEIGHBORHOOD RELATIONS COMMITTEE
THAT ONCE UPON A TIME WAS A
SEPARATE AND IMPORTANT VENUE
FOR NEIGHBORHOOD PARTICIPATION.
>> IF I MAY ANSWER, YES.
THE FIRST QUESTION ABOUT TICKET
REDEMPTION, THOSE ARE PRESENTED
IN THE ANNUAL REPORT, WE
ACCOUNT FOR THE ZOOS THAT ARE
REDEEMED, NOT THE ONES GIVEN SO
IN A SENSE, THAT IS THE TRUE
NUMBER AND IN PUBLIC BENEFITS
FROM NOW ON AS THIS AGREEMENT
SAYS, WE WILL REPORT ON THOSE
THAT ARE REDEEMED.
WE USE THAT REDEMPTION RATE AS
PART OF THE EVALUATION OF OUR
PARTNERSHIP WITH OUR COMMUNITY
SERVING ORGANIZATIONS AND WE
WORK WITH THEM VERY HARD TO
MAKE SURE THEY ARE USED AS
WIDELY AS POSSIBLE.
IN TERMS OF THE NEIGHBORHOOD,
YES, THE NEW AGREEMENT CALLS
FOR A NEIGHBORHOOD LIAISON AND
THAT IS NOT PART OF THE BOARD
BUT IT IS PART OF THE THE
REPORTING THAT THE NEW
AGREEMENT HAS.
IN ADDITION TO THAT, I THINK
YOU SEE ONE OF THE LETTERS OF
SUPPORT COMES FROM THE PHINNEY
RIDGE NEIGHBORS ASSOCIATION
WHICH HAS BEEN OUR STRONG
PARTNER IN THE REGION TO MAKE
SURE WE WORK AS MUCH AS POSSIBLE
WITH ALL THE NEIGHBORHOOD
ASSOCIATIONS SURROUNDING GREEN
LAKE, PHINNEY RIDGE, AND
NEIGHBORHOODS AROUND US.
WE CONTINUE TO HAVE A DEDICATED
PERSON IN OUR STAFF THAT GOES
TO ALL THE NEIGHBORHOOD
MEETINGS AS REQUESTED BY THE
NEIGHBORHOOD ASSOCIATIONS AND
BE AN ACTIVE PLAYER AND
SUPPORTER OF THE NEIGHBORHOOD
ASSOCIATION SO NOT ONLY ARE WE
A GOOD NEIGHBOR BUT WE ALSO
SUPPORT THE CAR SHOW AT PHINNEY
RIDGE AND ART FESTIVAL IN THE
ANNUAL FAIR AS A SPONSOR OF
NEIGHBORHOOD ACTIVITIES.
>> THERE'S NOBODY ON THE BOARD
REPRESENTING THE NEIGHBORHOOD.
I THINK THE NEIGHBORHOOD
LIAISON YOU REFERENCED, I'M
ASSUMING THAT THE STAFF PERSON,
NOT SOMEBODY WHOSE JOB IT IS TO
COMEDIC IT WITH THE
NEIGHBORHOOD BUT NOT SOMEBODY
DIRECTLY THE VOICE OF THE
NEIGHBORHOOD.
AND INDEPENDENT OF THE ZOO.
>> SECTION 16 74.
WE HAVE A STAFF MEMBER, YES.
ALL THE BOARD MEETINGS ARE OPEN
TO THE PUBLIC AND ALL THE BOARD
MEETINGS ARE OPEN TO
PARTICIPATION TO THE NEIGHBORS
AND EVERY BODY ELSE.
AND WE CONTINUE TO BE IN
COMMUNICATION, SEVERAL OF OUR
BOARD MEMBERS ARE ACTUALLY
NEIGHBORS OF THE ZOO BUT THEY
ARE NOT FORMALLY REPRESENTING
THE NEIGHBORHOOD.
THAT'S TO BE VERY SPECIFIC.
>> THAT'S HELPFUL, THANK YOU.
>> THE NEIGHBORHOOD LIAISON IS
THE ZOO STAFF PERSON.
SOME PEOPLE IN THE NEIGHBORHOOD
ARE ON THE BOARD.
DID YOU GET A CHANCE TO GO TO
THE PUBLIC BENEFITS BECAUSE WE
HAD SOME OTHER GOOD STUFF IN
THERE AND I WANT TO THANK YOU
ON THE COMMITTEE TO WORKFORCE
AGREEMENT AND THE LABOR
HARMONY, THE SOCIAL EQUITY,
PREVAILING WAGES AND TRADING
OPPORTUNITIES AND THE EQUITY
INCLUSION AND THERE'S SOME
REALLY GOOD NEW STUFF IN THERE
THAT WE'VE BEEN WORKING ON AND
I WANT TO THANK YOU AND YOUR
STAFF FOR PUTTING THE LABOR
ISSUES THAT WE WANTED IN THERE.
I KNOW WE'VE GOT WORK TO DO ON
THE ZOO AND STUFF AND WHAT WILL
WE TALK ABOUT.
I THINK OF I CAN BE CANDID AND
STRAIGHTFORWARD, WE OWN THE
PROPERTY, WE OWN THE ZOO, WE
ARE CONTRACTING TO A NONPROFIT,
WE UNDERSTAND THAT IF YOU OWN
THE ANIMALS, WHAT WE ARE TRYING
TO GET AT IS THAT MAY BE THAT
AT THE END OF THE DAY IT'S A
SEATTLE CITY COUNCIL AND THE
COMMUNITY AND THE CONSTITUENTS
AND THE PUBLIC AT LARGE THAT
HAVE TO HAVE SOME SAY HOW THE
TREATMENT DISPOSITION OF THOSE
ANIMALS ARE AND I'M NOT SAYING
THE ZOO WOULD COME BACK AND SAY
YOU DON'T HAVE AN OPINION
BECAUSE WE OWN THE ANIMALS.
I THINK THAT'S THE CRUX AND
CORRECT ME IF I'M WRONG.
THAT'S WHAT WE ARE GETTING AT
THAT WAS TO HAVE THAT AVENUE
AND A VOICE AND THE DEMOCRATIC
PLATFORM TO BE ABLE TO SAY AND
BRING UP THOSE ISSUES.
>> I UNDERSTAND THE PROCESS,
YES.
LET ME ALSO REMIND YOU THAT THE
AGREEMENT ALSO FORCES US TO BE
IN CONSIDERATION OF
ACCREDITATION STANDARDS THAT
REQUIRE ALSO FOR US TO MAKE
SURE THAT ANIMAL MANAGEMNT
CORRESPONDS TO POPULATION
DEMOCRATIC AND GENETIC
REQUIREMENTS.
NOT SAYING THERE'S A CONFLICT
THERE, BUT IN THE FUTURE,
THAT'S A SEPARATE CONSIDERATION
AS WE MANAGE THE ANIMAL
COLLECTION.
>> RIGHT. I DON'T THINK CITY
COUNCILS INTERESTED IN THE DAY-
TO-DAY PRACTICAL OPERATIONS.
I DON'T WANT TO COME DOWN AND
FEED THE MONKEYS.
I'M GOOD.
WE DO WANT TO BE ABLE TO
RESPOND, PARTICULARLY OF THE
LETTERS WE GET FROM PEOPLE WHO
HAVE CONCERNS ABOUT THE ANIMALS
AND THAT IS LEGITIMATE AS WELL.
IS THERE ANYTHING ELSE FOR MY
COLLEAGUES BEFORE WE HAVE FINAL
COMMENTS IN ANYTHING FROM MY
PANEL BEFORE I CLOSE THIS OUT?
OKAY, NOT SEEING ANY, THEN LET
ME JUST SHARE THIS BEFORE I
ACTUALLY ADJOURN.
THAT CONCLUDES OUR ITEMS OF
BUSINESS.
ALL THE ITEMS WE VOTED ON TODAY
WILL BE FORWARDED TO FULL CITY
COUNCIL FOR SEPTEMBER 20 FOR
FINAL ACTION AND THE NEXT
PUBLIC ASSETS AND NATIVE
COMMUNITIES MEETING IS
SCHEDULED FOR TUESDAY, DECEMBER
7 AT 2:00.
A REMINDER TO MY COLLEAGUES, IF
YOU WOULD LIKE TO BRING FORWARD
AMENDMENTS TO THE ZOO PROPOSAL,
YOUR DEADLINE IS NOVEMBER 30
2021 BUT WE ALSO HAVE A BUDGET
SEASON THAT WILL BEGIN IN A FEW
WEEKS TIME.
HERE AGAIN ARE THE TIMELINES,
DEADLINE FOR AMENDMENTS IS
NOVEMBER 30 AND AFTER THAT WE
WILL HAVE OUR COMMITTEE ON
TUESDAY, DECEMBER 7 WHERE WE
WILL LOOK AT THE AMENDMENTS,
ADD AMENDMENTS, WHATEVER, AND
VOTE OR NOT VOTE, WE WILL SEE.
WE WILL VOTE.
AND THEN IT WILL GO TO FULL
COUNCIL ON DECEMBER 13 AT 2:00.
SO, WITH THAT, LET'S SEE, I
THINK THAT IS IT.
BRIAN IS THERE ANYTHING YOU
WANT TO SAY?
úOKAY.
WITH THAT, EVERYBODY, THANK
YOU, WE STAND ADJOURNED.
[ MEETING CONCLUDED ]