>>> IT IS 9:31, AND I'M SHARRA
NELSON.
WILL THE CLERK PLEASE CALL THE
ROLE.
>> COUNCILMEMBER SAWANT.
PRESENT.
>> COUNCILMEMBER HERBOLD.
COUNCIL PRESIDENT JUAREZ.
>> HERE.
>> NELSON.
>> PRESENT.
>> THREE PRESENT.
>> THANK YOU, TEAM.
FOR THE RECORD, COUNCILMEMBER
DAN STRAUSS IS EXCUSED FROM
TODAY'S MEETING.
SO I AM EXCITED TO HAVE OUR
FIRST MEETING IN CHAMBERS
TODAY.
WHILE I RECOGNIZE THAT WE'RE
STILL DEALING WITH THE
PANDEMIC, FRONT LINE WORKERS
HAVE BEEN ON THE JOB, IN
PERSON, KEEPING CITY GOVERNMENT
AND THE CITY AS A WHOLE
RUNNING.
AND WE'RE PUBLIC SERVANTS, AND
I BELIEVE THAT THE PUBLIC IS
BEST SERVED WITH IN-PERSON
MEETINGS, BECAUSE THEY
FACILITATE A CLEAR MEETING AND
THE PUBLIC CAN SEE OUR
INTERACTIONS.
IF I DON'T SEE YOU ON THE
SCREEN, PLEASE JUST SPEAK OUT.
LET'S SEE, PUBLIC MEETINGS ARE
ALSO IMPORTANT IN PERSON,
BECAUSE REPORTERS GET IMMEDIATE
ACCESS.
ALL THAT SAID, WE HAVE A HYBRID
MODEL TO ACCOMMODATE VULNERABLE
PEOPLE, AND TO ACCOMMODATE
PEOPLE WHO ARE TRAVELING.
SO I ASK FOR YOUR GRACE AS WE
DRIVE THIS TECHNOLOGY FOR THE
FIRST TIME THERE ARE THREE
ITEMS ON TODAY'S AGENDA.
THE FIRST IS FOR AN EQUITABLE
ECONOMY.
THE SECOND IS OUR FIRST
DISCUSSION OF SEATTLE CITY
LIGHT'S 2023 TO 2028 STRATEGIC
PLAN AND RATE PATH.
AND THE THIRD IS A DISCUSSION
AND POSSIBLE VOTE ON AN
ORDINANCE AUTHORIZING CITY
LIGHT TO EXECUTE AN AGREEMENT
WITH THE SKAGIT ENVIRONMENTAL
ENDOWMENT COMMISSION HERE FORTH
REFERRED TO AS SEEC.
TO LET'S SEE, CONVEY FUNDS, AND
CITY LIGHT FUNDS TO PROTECT THE
SKAGIT WATERSHED.
FIRST, I HAVE A PUBLIC SERVICE
ANNOUNCEMENT FROM OUR
UTILITIES.
AS CITY LIGHT AND SEATTLE
PUBLIC UTILITIES WORK TO INFORM
AVAILABLE TO HELP WITH UTILITY
BILLS, THERE HAS BEEN AN
INCREASE IN SCAM REPORTS OF
PEOPLE POSING AS
REPRESENTATIVES OF THE CITY.
SEATTLE CITY LIGHT AND
UTILITIES WILL NOT CALL
CUSTOMERS TO DEMAND PERSONAL
INFORMATION.
IF SOMEONE CALLS DEMANDING
PAYMENT, RATHER THAN WORKING
WITH YOU TO ESTABLISH A PAYMENT
PLAN, THAT IS A SCAM.
CUSTOMERS WHO BELIEVE THEY'VE
BEEN CALLED BY A SCAMMER SHOULD
CALL TO VERIFY THEIR ACCOUNT.
ALL RIGHT.
MOVING ONTO THE AGENDA.
IF THERE'S NO OBJECTION, THE
AGENDA WILL BE ADOPTED.
HEARING NO OBJECTION, THE
AGENDA IS ADOPTED.
WE'LL NOW MOVE ONTO PUBLIC
COMMENT ON THE ITEMS LISTED ON
THE AGENDA.
LET'S SEE.
>> COUNCILMEMBER HERBOLD HAS
JOINED THE COMMITTEE.
>> WELCOME COUNCILMEMBER
HERBOLD.
OKAY, WE'RE READY FOR THE NEW
VIDEO.
>> COUNCIL WELCOMES REMOTE
PUBLIC COMMENT.
YOU MAY REGISTER TWO HOURS
PRIOR TO THE MEETING, VIA THE
SEATTLE CITY COUNCIL WEBSITE.
HERE'S SOME INFORMATION ABOUT
THE PUBLIC COMMENT PROCEEDINGS.
SPEAKERS ARE CALLED UPON IN THE
ORDER IN WHICH THEY REGISTERED
ON THE COUNCIL'S WEBSITE.
EACH SPEAKER MUST CALL IN FROM
THE PHONE NUMBER PROVIDED WHEN
THEY REGISTERED ONLINE, AND
USED THE MEETING ID AND PASS
CODE THAT WAS EMAILED UPON
CONFIRMATION.
IF YOU DID NOT RECEIVE AN EMAIL
CONFIRMATION, PLEASE CHECK YOUR
SPAM OR JUNK MAIL FOLDERS.
A REMAINDER, THE SPEAKER
MEETING ID IS DIFFERENT FROM
THE GENERAL LISTEN LINE MEETING
ID PROVIDED ON THE AGENDA.
ONCE A SPEAKER'S NAME IS
CALLED, THE SPEAKER'S
MICROPHONE WILL BE UNMUTED, AND
AN AUTOMATIC PROMPT WILL SAY
THE HOST WOULD LIKE YOU TO
UNMUTE YOUR MICROPHONE.
THAT IS YOUR CUE THAT IT IS
YOUR TURN TO SPEAK.
AT THAT TIME, YOU MUST PRESS
STAR 6. YOU WOULD THEN HEAR A
PROMPT OF YOU ARE UNMUTED.
BE SURE YOUR PHONE IS UNMUTED
ON YOUR END, SO THAT YOU WILL
BE HEARD.
AS A SPEAKER, YOU SHOULD BEGIN
BY STATING YOUR NAME AND THE
ITEM YOU ARE ADDRESSING.
A CHIME WILL SOUND WHEN THERE
ARE 10 SECONDS LEFT IN YOUR
ALLOTTED TIME AS A GENTER
REMINDER TO WRAP UP YOUR PUBLIC
COMMENTS.
AT THE END OF YOUR ALLOTTED
TIME, THE MICROPHONE WILL BE
MUTED.
PLEASE DISCONNECT FROM THE
PUBLIC COMMENT LINE AND JOIN US
BY FOLLOWING THE MEETING VIA
SEATTLE CHANNEL BROADCAST, OR
THROUGH THE LISTENING OPTION ON
THE AGENDA.
THE COUNCIL RESERVES THE RIGHT
TO ELIMINATE PUBLIC COMMENT IF
THE SYSTEM IS BEING ABUSED.
ANY OFFENSIVE LANGUAGE THAT IS
DISRUPTIVE TO THESE
PROCEEDINGS, OR THAT IS NOT
FOCUSED ON AN APPROPRIATE TOPIC
SPECIFIED IN COUNCIL RULES MAY
LEAD TO THE SPEAKER BEING MUTED
BY THE PRESIDING OFFICER.
OUR HOPE IS TO PROVIDE AN
OPPORTUNITY FOR PRODUCTIVE
DISCUSSIONS THAT WILL ASSIST
OTHER ORDERLY ISSUES BEFORE THE
COUNCIL.
THE PUBLIC COMMENT PERIOD IS
NOW OPEN AND WE WILL BEGIN WITH
THE FIRST SPEAKER ON THE LIST.
PLEASE REMEMBER TO PRESS STAR
SIX AFTER YOU HEAR THE PROMPT
OF "YOU HAVE BEEN UNMUTED."
THANK YOU, SEATTLE.
>> ALL RIGHT, WE WILL START
WITH REMOTE COMMENTERS.
PLEASE STATE YOUR NAME AND THE
ITEM TO WHICH YOU ARE SPEAKING.
IF YOU HAVEN'T REGISTERED TO
SPEAK, YOU CAN STILL SIGN UP
USING THE LINK ON THE AGENDA
BEFORE THE PUBLIC COMMENT
PERIOD HAS CONCLUDED.
FOR IN-PERSON COMMENT, PLEASE
SIGN UP ON THE SIGN UP SHEET
LOCATED IN THE SEATTLE CITY
CHAMBERS RIGHT HERE.
ALL RIGHT, LET'S SEE.
OUR FIRST SPEAKER, I BELIEVE,
IS TOM UNIAC.
AND PEOPLE WILL HAVE TWO
MINUTES TO SPEAK.
>> GREAT.
THANKS.
CAN YOU HEAR ME?
>> YES.
>> OKAY.
WELL HELLO MY NAME IS TOM
UNIAC, AND I'M THE DIRECTOR OF
WASHINGTON WILD, A STATEWIDE
NONPROFIT THAT IS PROTECTING
WASHINGTON'S WILDLANDS AND
WATERS SINCE 1979.
FUNDING PART OF AN HISTORIC
AGREEMENT BY THE BRITISH
COLUMBIA GOVERNMENT, THE CITY
OF WASHINGTON, THE STATE OF
SEATTLE, THE NATURE CONSERVANCY
OF CANADA, AND THE SKAGIT
UNDOCUMENT COMMISSION.
WASHINGTON WILD SPENDS NEARLY
ALL ITS EFFORTS WORKING ON
ISSUES IN WASHINGTON STATE.
BUT LOGGING AND THREATS FROM
THE SKAGIT RIVER WOULD IMPACT
SALMON AND ORCA RECOVERY.
TRAVEL TREATY RIGHTS, AND LIFE
WAYS, AND THE HEALTH OF PUGET
SOUND.
THAT'S WHY WE ORGANIZE
INTERNATIONAL COALITION FOUR
YEARS AGO, OPPOSING MINING AND
LOGGING, WHICH STARTED WITH
LESS THAN A DOZEN ORGANIZATIONS
AND GREW TO NEARLY 300 TRIBES,
FIRST NATIONS, OUTDOOR INDUSTRY
LEADERS, LOCAL BUSINESSES,
HUNTING AND FISHING GROUPS AND
CONSERVATION GROUPS ON BOTH
SIDES OF THE BORDER.
THAT LIST INCLUDED A MAJORITY
OF THE SEATTLE CITY COUNCIL
MEMBERS, THANK YOU FOR YOUR
SUPPORT, AS WELL AS THE
CHAIRWOMAN.
THE SKAGIT RIVER STARTS IN
BRITISH COLUMBIA, BUT QUICKLY
FLOATS SOUTH INTO WASHINGTON
STATE THROUGH NORTH CASCADES
NATIONAL PARKS, SKAGIT, WILD,
AND SCENIC RIVER.
AND THROUGH THE RENOUNED SKAGIT
VALLEY.
THE SKAGIT RIVER PROVIDES
1/3rd OF THE FRESHWATER INPUTS
TO THE PUGET SOUND AND SUPPORTS
THE LARGEST THREATENED
STEELHEAD.
SEATTLE CITY LIGHT, NATIONAL
PARKS CONSERVATION ASSOCIATION,
CONSERVATION NORTHWEST AND
SKAGIT AUTOBOHN, WE CHEERED THE
ANNOUNCEMENT.
WE CHEERED EVEN LOUDING WHEN
THE NEWS CAME ENDING THE MINING
CLAIMS.
THE WORKS TO ENSURE TO PROHIBIT
NEW MINING THREATS AND TO
CLEANUP LEFT OVER MINING
THREATS AND DEBRIS.
THANK YOU FOR THE OPPORTUNITY
TO TESTIFY ON THIS IMPORTANT
ISSUE.
>> THANK YOU VERY MUCH.
I SEE NO ONE ELSE SIGNED UP ON
OUR REMOTE LIST.
AND IT DOESN'T APPEAR THERE IS
ANYBODY TO SPEAK IN PERSON.
ALL RIGHT.
SO THAT CONCLUDES OUR PUBLIC
COMMENT PERIOD.
WILL THE CLERK PLEASE CALL READ
ITEM ONE, AND THE PRESENTER CAN
COME TO THE TABLE.
>> AGENDA ITEM 1. PRESENTATION
OF OFFICE OF ECONOMIC
DEVELOPMENTS, DEPARTMENTAL
STRUCTURE AND OVERVIEW FOR
BRIEFING AND DISCUSSION.
>> OKAY, I'M NOT GOING TO LIE,
I'VE BEEN LOOKING FORWARD TO
THIS PRESENTATION FOR A LONG
TIME WHILE INTERIM DIRECTOR
McINTYRE HAS BEEN DOING A DEEP
DIVE ON OED'S EXISTING PLAN,
AND ITS STAFFING CAPACITY, AND
NEW EMPHASES AND PRIORITIES.
SO DIRECTOR McINTYRE.
PLEASE TAKE IT AWAY.
>> THANKS, COUNCILMEMBER
NELSON.
IS MY MIC WORKING?
IT SOUNDS LIKE IT IS, GREAT.
IT IS FUN TO BE BACK HERE IN
COUNCIL CHAMBERS.
THANKS FOR HAVING US.
WELCOME TO THE COUNCILMEMBERS
ONLINE IN A HYBRID FORMAT.
MY NAME IS MARK McINTYRE.
I'M THE INTERNAL DIRECTOR FOR
THE OFFICE OF DEVELOPMENTS.
>> CAN WE PLEASE PAUSE FOR A
MOMENT?
I'M NOT SEEING THE PRESENTATION
ON MY ZOOM WINDOW.
CAN THE PUBLIC SEE IT?
>> IT'S ON HIS SCREEN.
>> OKAY.
THERE WE GO, THANK YOU.
SORRY, PLEASE CONTINUE.
>> NEXT SLIDE.
>> SO TODAY I'M REALLY EXCITED
TO BE BACK TO BE HERE IN FRONT
OF YOU.
LAST TIME I WAS HERE, WE WERE
TALKING ABOUT ERASING SOCIAL
JUSTICE GOALS AND LOOKING
FORWARD TO WHAT WE'RE DOING
THIS YEAR.
NOW TODAY I'M HERE TO GIVE YOU
KIND OF A PEEK BEHIND THE
CURTAIN IN HOW WE'RE THINKING
ABOUT OED'S ROLE IN FUNCTION IN
THE REGIONAL DEVELOPMENT SYSTEM
AND THE LOCAL SYSTEM, AND TALK
A LITTLE ABOUT HOW WE CAN
REVITALIZE OUR LOCAL COMMITTEES
AS WE TURN THE CORNER ON THE
PANDEMIC.
I WANT TO BE CLEAR THIS REALLY
IS AN UPDATE ON WHERE WE'RE
GOING.
MY INTENT HERE IS NOT TO SAY
THAT WE'VE GOT A FULLY BAKED
PLAN.
IT'S MORE TO RESET A
CONVERSATION WITH COUNCIL ABOUT
ECONOMIC AND WORKFORCE
DEVELOPMENT.
AND SHARE WITH YOU WHAT WE'RE
THINKING ABOUT SOME KEY
STRATEGIC QUESTIONS.
SOME OF THOSE ARE WHO ARE WE
SERVING, HOW ARE WE SERVING,
AND WHY?
HAT'S THE RIGHT BAL
BETWEEN OED BEING PROACTIVE AND
REACTIVE TO GROWTH
OPPORTUNITIES.
>> WHAT'S THE BEST ROLE FOR THE
CITY AND SHAPING GROWTH,
ESPECIALLY IN KIND OF A
REGIONAL CONTEXT?
AND WHERE CAN WE MAKE THE MOST
IMPACT FOR RESIDENCES AND
BUSINESSES?
THOSE ARE THE QUESTIONS WE'RE
WRESTLING WITH, AS WE'RE
THINKING ABOUT OED GOING INTO
THE FUTURE.
NEXT SLIDE, PLEASE.
PREVIOUSLY, OED HAS LARGELY
BEEN A COLLECTION OF PROGRAMS
RATHER THAN A STRONG DEPARTMENT
WITH A CLEAR ECONOMIC AGENDA.
SO THAT'S ITEM NUMBER ONE FOR
US AS A TEAM OVER AT OED TO
FIGURE OUT WHAT'S OUR COHERENT
MISSION AND VISION, AND WHAT'S
OUR GOAL?
OUR MISSION IS TO BUILD AN
INCLUSIVE ECONOMY, WHERE
EVERYONE IN SEATTLE CAN FULLY
PARTICIPATE IN AND BENEFIT FROM
OUR PROSPERITY.
THEN OUR ROLE IS TO DRIVE
ECONOMIC GROWTH THROUGH
STRATEGIES AND INVESTMENTS THAT
OPEN DOORS AND REMOVE BARRIERS
TO WEALTH BUILDING
OPPORTUNITIES, ESPECIALLY FOR
COMMUNITIES THAT HAVE BEEN
SYSTEMICALLY EXCLUDED FROM SUCH
OPPORTUNITIES.
SO REALLY, TO KIND OF SHORT
HAND THAT, IT MEANS THAT WE
WANT TO BE A DOT CONNECTOR,
RATHER THAN A PROGRAM MANAGER,
OR DELIVER OF DISCREET
SERVICES, WE WANT TO HAVE A
LARGER WORLD VIEW ABOUT
ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT, AND BE
MORE OF AN ECONOMIC
ORCHESTRATER.
SO I'LL GIVE AN EXAMPLE OF
THAT.
TEAM SPORTS, THEY DON'T HAPPEN
IN SILOS.
ONE OF THE MISSING ELEMENTS
LATELY HAS BEEN SEATTLE BEING A
REGIONAL PARTNER.
SO SHOWING UP AT THE REGIONAL
STAGE, AND REALLY TRYING TO
PUSH SEATTLE'S AGENDA, BUT
SEEING HOW IT FITS IN WITH
OTHER CITIES WITH THE STATE,
AND THE GOVERNMENT,
UNDERSTANDING HOW WE LINK ALL
OF THOSE TOGETHER, BUT E.BOTH
TO HAVE ALIGNMENT IN OUR
STRATEGIES, BUT TO CREATE
MULTIPLYING EFFECT FOR OUR
MONIES.
INSTEAD OF BEING A PROGRAM
MANAGER, WE NEED TO BE A
REGIONAL PLAYER, SHOWING UP AT
PSRC, AT THE WORKFORCE COUNCIL
AND OTHER BODIES.
NEXT SLIDE, PLEASE.
SO ONE OF THE KEY PROBLEMS THAT
WE'RE FOCUSED ON AT OED, BUT
ALSO WHERE WE SEE HUGE
OPPORTUNITY IS THE ISSUE OF HOW
DIFFERENT PEOPLE BENEFIT.
HOW PEOPLE BENEFIT FROM THE
ECONOMY VERY DIFFERENTLY,
LARGELY BASED ON THEIR RACE OR
ETHNICITY.
THIS IS ONE OF MY FAVORITE
QUOTES BY RAFAEL BOSTIC.
THIS HAPPENED RIGHT AFTER THE
MURDER OF GEORGE FLOYD IN 2020.
HE WROTE AN EXCELLENT OPINION
PIECE ABOUT THE INTERSECTION OF
RACE AND ECONOMIC ISSUES, AND
HE SAID SYSTEMIC RACISM IS A
YOLK THAT DRAGS ON THE AMERICAN
ECONOMY.
THIS COUNTRY HAS BOTH A MORAL
AND ECONOMIC IMPERATIVE TO END
THESE UNJUST AND DISSCRIMTIVE
DEDISCRIMINATIVE PRACTICES.
THE KEY THINK WE WANT TO FOCUS
ON IS THE RACIAL WEALTH GAP,
WHICH IS QUITE LARGE, AND
THERE'S BEEN A LOT OF FOCUS ON
THE RACIAL INCOME GAP, WHICH IS
IMPORTANT, AND WE NEED TO FOCUS
ON JOB CREATION, INCLUSIVE
BUSINESS PRACTICES AND TALENT
DEVELOPMENT.
THOSE ARE ALL VERY IMPORTANT,
BUT AT OED, ONE OF THE THINGS
IS THIS BUSINESS OATH AND ASSET
GROWTH MANAGEMENT.
WHICH ARE REALLY KEY TO WHERE
WE GO IN THE FUTURE.
NEXT SLIDE PLEASE.
>> WHAT DOES THAT MEAN?
HOW DO WE ACTUALLY TACKLE THE
RACIAL WEALTH GAP?
WE'RE TALKING ABOUT AN
INCLUSIVE ECONOMY.
WE'RE DEFINING IT IS THE
MEETING OF ALL THESE THREE
TYPES OF WEALTH.
OFTEN THROUGH INCOME
GENERATION.
BUSINESS WEALTH, THROUGH
BUSINESS GROWTH, AND COMMUNITY
GROWTH, OFTEN THROUGH PLACE
MAKING STRATEGIES THAT ALLOW
FOR A HEALTHY BUSINESS
ENVIRONMENT BOTH AT THE LOCAL
NEIGHBORHOOD LEVEL.
BUT ALSO THE CITY AND THE
REGIONAL LEVEL.
NEXT SLIDE, PLEASE.
SO FOR OED'S WORK TO BE ABLE TO
INFLUENCE THOSE, THOSE ARE THE
THREE AREAS WHERE WE'RE REALLY
GOING TO PRIORITIZE.
WORKFORCE DEVELOPMENT.
THIS IS HOW DO WE CREATE
TALENT?
HOW DO WE HELP MATCH PEOPLE TO
JOBS.
BUT AT THE END OF THE DAY, IT'S
REALLY HOW ARE WE GETTING
PEOPLE ABILITY CAREER PATHWAYS
SO THEY CAN EARN HIGHER INCOMES
AND BETTER BENEFITS OVER TIME.
IT'S NOT ENOUGH TO JUST GET
PEOPLE OBJECT THE FIRST WRUNG
OF THE LADDER.
WE NEED TO THINK ABOUT HOW ARE
WE HELPING PEOPLE MOVE FROM
CAREERS AS ECONOMIC CONDITIONS
CHANGE, AND JOB EXPECTATIONS
CHANGE.
THEN HOW ARE WE MAKING SURE
THAT THEY'RE WELL PREPARED TO
BE SUCCESSFUL IN THOSE CAREERS.
BUSINESS AND INDUSTRY GROWTH.
I THINK THIS IS SOMETHING WHERE
WE'VE STRUGGLED AS A CITY, BOTH
IN OUR INDUSTRY RELATIONS.
SO RESETTING SOME OF OUR
RELATIONSHIPS WITH MARITIME, OR
TECHNOLOGY, HEALTHCARE,
CONSTRUCTION.
WE'VE GOT SOME REALLY HEALTHY
INDUSTRIES HERE IN THE PUGET
SOUND AND SEATTLE REGION.
BUT WE HAVEN'T NECESSARILY
FOCUSED ON BUSINESS GROWTH.
THERE'S BEEN A LOT OF FOCUS ON
RELIEF EFFORTS AND RIGHTFULLY
SO, ESPECIALLY THROUGH THE
PANDEMIC, AND HELPING
BUSINESSES THAT ARE STRUGGLING.
BUT WE'VE ALSO GOT TO
PRIORITIZE, HOW ARE WE HELPING
BUSINESSES GROW, WITH A SPECIAL
BUSINESSES, GAIN WEALTH, AND OW
HOPEFULLY OWN THEIR BUSINESSES
AND ASSETS AS THEY GO ON.
THIS IS WHERE WE'VE HAD SOME
SUCCESS OVER THE PANDEMIC IS
REALLY TRYING TO ACTIVATE OUR
NEIGHBORHOODS.
MAKING INVESTMENTS THAT ARE
GOING TO EMPOWER NEIGHBORHOODS
TO BE SELF-DETERMINATIVE ABOUT
THEIR ECONOMIC FUTURE.
I'LL GIVE ONE EXAMPLE.
LAST FRIDAY I WAS WITH THREE
OTHER CITY DEPARTMENT
DIRECTORS.
WE WENT AND VISITED LAKE CITY
COLLECTIVE IN DISTRICT 5, WHICH
STARTED OUT LARGELY AS A
NONPROFIT THAT WAS SUPPORTING
THEIR NEIGHBORHOODS.
AND IS NOW EXPANDED WITH THE
SUPPORT OF OED TO SUPPORT
LANGUAGE ACCESS HELP FOR
BUSINESSES ALL ACROSS THE CITY.
SO WHEN THOSE BUSINESSES ARE
TRYING TO ACCESS FEDERAL RELIEF
FUNDS OR TRYING TO TAP INTO AN
OED PROGRAM OR GET CONNECTED
WITH BUSINESS AND TRAINING AT
SEATTLE PUBLIC LIBRARIES.
THEY CAN GO DO LAKE CITY
COLLECTIVE AND GET THOSE
RESOURCES IN LANGUAGE.
SO SOMETHING THAT STARTED AS
JUST A NEIGHBORHOOD BUSINESS
ECOSYSTEM GROUP HAS NOW GROWN
INTO A REAL CITYWIDE ASSET,
WE'D LIKE TO SEE REPLICATED IN
MORE NEIGHBORHOODS.
NEXT SLIDE, PLEASE.
SO WITH THESE, THIS KIND OF NEW
ROLE AS AN ORCHESTRATER, AND
WITH THESE NEW DEMANDS AND
CHALLENGES, BOTH COMING OUT OF
THE PANDEMIC, BUT ALSO WITH THE
NEW PRIORITIES ON WEALTH
CREATION, WE NEED A NEW OED.
SO A LOT OF THAT IS HAPPENING
RIGHT NOW.
THIS IS MY THIRD IN A BIT MONTH
IN A ROLE.
WE'VE BEEN FEROCIOUSLY REGOING
AT AN ORGANIZATION, SO WE CAN
BE MORE EFFECTIVE AT THE WORK.
WE CAN DELIVER EXCELLENT
CUSTOMER SERVICE, AND WE HAVE
ENOUGH BRAIN POWER AND TALENT
TO HELP WITH THOSE GROWTH
STRATEGIES.
ONE OF THE BIGGEST THINGS WE
NEED TO DO AT OED IS GET OUT OF
REACTIVE MODE, AND GET MORE
INTO PROACTIVE MODE.
WE'VE BEEN RESTRUCK YOU ARING
THE DEPARTMENT.
WE'VE BEEN ADDING CAPACITY AND
TALENT.
I MENTIONED THIS LAST TIME.
I WILL MENTION IT AGAIN, WE'VE
HAD 78% TURNOVER OF STAFF IN
THE LAST 16 MONTHS.
IT'S BOTH AN ISSUE IN THAT
WE'VE LOST A LOT OF
INSTITUTIONAL KNOWLEDGE, BUT
ALSO AN OPPORTUNITY TO REALLY
ADD SOME NEW CAPACITY AND
TALENT TO THE TEAM.
THROUGHOUT IT ALL, WE
STRENGTHEN AND GROW OUR
REGIONAL RELATIONSHIPS, BUT
ALSO OUR PARTNERSHIPS.
AS I MENTIONED AT THE TOP,
THERE'S TREMENDOUS OPPORTUNITY
WITHIN OUR ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT
SYSTEM.
SO YOU SEE ON THE RIGHT SIDE OF
THE SCREEN, TWO KIND OF TWO
SIDES OF THE HOUSE.
NAVIGATION STRATEGIES, SO
THAT'S WHEN A BUSINESS COMES TO
US SEEKING SOME FORM OF HELP,
WHETHER IT'S CONNECTION TO
RELIEF DOLLARS, OR HELP WITH AN
ACCOUNTING ISSUE, OR ANY MYRIAD
OF THINGS THEY MAY NEED HELP,
OED FROM THE CITY ON.
WE NEED TO MAKE SURE WE'RE
ANSWERING THEIR QUESTION
QUICKLY AND SUCCINCTLY, OR WITH
OUR REFERRAL NETWORK OF
PARTNERS.
WE'VE GOT TO DO A BETTER JOB OF
USING TECHNOLOGY TO BOTH
MONITOR AND TRACK WHAT WE'RE
DOING THERE, SO WE CAN BE
REALLY CLEAR ON WHAT TRENDS OF
QUESTIONS WE'RE GETTING, SO
THAT WE CAN FEED THOSE UP TO
YOU GUYS AT COUNCIL, BUT ALSO
TO THE MAYOR'S OFFICE AND OTHER
DEPARTMENTS TO TRY TO SOLVE
PROBLEMS BEFORE THEY BECOME
PROBLEMS IN THE FUTURE.
WE'RE SPLITTING THAT INTO THREE
MAIN BUCKETS.
WE'RE DOING CAPACITY AND
NEIGHBORHOOD BUSINESS
DEVELOPMENTS.
WEALTH BUILDING STRATEGIES,
WHICH INCLUDES REAL ESTATE,
FINANCE, AND MARKET EXPANSION,
AND THEN OUR KEY INDUSTRIES AND
WORKFORCE DEVELOPMENT GROUP.
SO MORE TO COME ON KIND OF HOW
THIS IS ACTUALLY SHAPING OUT.
BUT I WANTED TO GIVE YOU GUYS A
PREVIEW OF WHERE WE ARE GOING
AS A DEPARTMENT.
NEXT SLIDE, PLEASE.
SO SOME OF THIS IS A LITTLE
REPETITIVE.
BUT I DID WANT TO INCLUDE ONE,
THIS LOVELY PICTURE OF PEOPLE
OUT SPENDING TIME IN THEIR DAY
OF SERVICE BUILDING A BETTER
SEATTLE.
SO IT'S THE COLLABORATIVE
RELATIONSHIPS.
IT'S ALIGNING REGIONALLY.
IT'S PRIORITIZING MULTIPLIER
OPPORTUNITIES.
AND REALLY PRIORITIZING
INNOVATIVE WORK TO WEALTH
BUILDING.
IT'S SOMETHING NEW OED FOR THE
CITY TO BE FOCUSING ON, SO
WE'RE GOING TO HAVE TO BE SMART
AND CREATIVE.
WE WANT TO GO OUT AND STEAL
IDEAS FROM OTHER CITIES, BUT
ALSO LOOK TO COMMUNITIES THAT
ARE ALREADY DOING THIS WORK,
AND LIFT UP THOSE IDEAS THAT WE
THINK COULD MAKE A DIFFERENCE
AND SCALE UP QUICKLY.
NEXT SLIDE, PLEASE.
ONE OF THE KEY OPPORTUNITIES
THAT WE'RE FOCUSED ENUSE WE GO
THROUGH OUR RESTRUCTURING WITH
THIS NEW ROLE IS THIS ECONOMIC
REVITALIZATION PLAN, THAT
COUNCIL HAS TASKED OED WITH
DEVELOPING.
SO THIS IS KIND OF AN OUTLINE
OF HOW WE'RE DOING IT.
WE WILL HAVE MORE TO COME,
HOPEFULLY NEXT MONTH, AND IN
THE FOLLOWING MONTHS.
BUT FIRST, THE GOAL IS TO
DEFINE THE FUTURE OF THE
SEATTLE ECONOMY, AND DO THIS IN
PARTNERSHIP WITH A VARIETY OF
OTHER ECONOMIC AND WORKFORCE
DEVELOPMENT PLAYERS.
WE REALLY WANT TO FIND THOSE
SHARED OBJECTIVES, AND FIGURE
OUT WHERE WE AGREE, RATHER THAN
FOCUSING ON WHERE WE DISAGREE.
SO IF WE CAN FIND THOSE FOUR OR
FIVE THINGS WHERE THERE'S
COMMON AGREEMENT WHERE WE
REALLY NEED TO FOCUS ON.
ACCESS TO CAPITAL FOR SMALL
BUSINESSES IS CLEARLY GOING TO
BE A PRIORITY.
IT WAS A PROBLEM BEFORE THE
PANDEMIC, AND HUGELY
EXACERBATED DURING THE
PANDEMIC.
WE DID FIND INNOVATIVE
SOLUTIONS.
IF WE CAN FIND THOSE FOUR OR
FIVE THINGS WHERE WE AGREE AND
REALLY BRING PEOPLE TOGETHER
AROUND THEM, THAT'S A ONE
SEATTLE APPROACH TO BUILDING A
MORE EQUITABLE ECONOMY.
SECOND, AS PART OF THAT STUDY,
WE'VE CARVED OUT THIS PIECE FOR
A CITY WIDEWORK FORCE
DEVELOPMENT PLAN.
WE CAN HAVE, AND WE PROBABLY
WILL, AND ENTIRELY OTHER
PRESENTATION ON WORKFORCE
DEVELOPMENT, BUT IT'S A KEY
MOMENT WHERE OUR CITY HAS HAD A
FRAGMENTED APPROACH TO
WORKFORCE DEVELOPMENT.
WE'VE NOT BEEN A GOOD PARTNER
AT THE REGIONAL LEVEL.
I THINK WE CAN DRIVE SOME NEW
WAYS OF GETTING PEOPLE
CONNECTED TO JOBS AND ON REALLY
SUCCESSFUL CAREER PATHWAYS.
IF YOU COMBINE THE TWO OF
THOSE, WE'LL THEN HAVE CLEAR
RECOMMENDATIONS FOR THE PAYROLL
EXPENSE TAX DOLLARS, AS WELL AS
AGAIN, KIND OF THE OVERALL LOOK
AND FEEL OF THE OFFICE OF
ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT.
THROUGHOUT IT ALL, WITH OUR
OUTREACH AND ENGAGEMENT, THE
PLANNING PROCESS WILL CREATE A
GENERATION OF SUPPORTERS FOR
THESE IDEAS SO THAT AGAIN,
WE'RE NOT KIND OF BAKING A PLAN
AND HOPING THAT, AND DELIVERING
YOU KIND OF A DOOR STOP NOVEL
OF IDEAS.
WE'RE ACTUALLY GENERATING THIS
IN PARTNERSHIP SO AT THE END,
WE'RE ALREADY GOING TO BE
MOVING TOWARDIMPLEMENTATION,
RATHER THAN HAVING A PLAN FIT
ON THE SHELF AND PEOPLE
FIGURING OUT WHETHER IT FITS
THEIR PLANS AND GOALS.
PHASE 1, WHICH IS A META
ANALYSIS OF LOCAL AND REGIONAL
ECONOMIC AND WORKFORCE
DEVELOPMENT STRATEGIC PLANS,
WE'LL HAVE AT THE END OF THIS
MONTH.
SO WE'LL BE SHARING THAT WITH
YOU GUYS IN JULY AS WE KIND OF
GO ON A LITTLE BIT OF A ROAD
SHOW TO GO BACK TO THE PARTNERS
TO TELL THEM WHAT WE FOUND.
NEXT SLIDE.
SO I DO WANT TO BE CLEAR.
AS I TALK ABOUT THE FUTURE, I
DON'T WANT TO NEGLECT THE
PRESENT, WHICH IS THAT A LOT OF
BUSINESSES AND WORKERS STILL
NEED EMERGENCY RELIEF.
WE'RE NOT OUT OF THE PANDEMIC.
SO WE REALLY WANT TO SET UP
THIS NEXT YEAR AS A BRIDGE TO
THE FUTURE.
SO IT'S A BRIDGE YEAR, WHERE
WE'RE BOTH STILL PROVIDING SOME
IMMEDIATE AND EMERGENCY RELIEF.
BUT ALSO STARTING TO BUILD OUT
SOME OF THOSE PROGRAMS THAT ARE
GOING TO SET US UP FOR LONG
TERM PROSPERITY.
IT'S IMPERATIVE, WE ACTIVATE
THOSE NEIGHBORHOODS.
ACTIVATE DOWNTOWN.
GET PEOPLE OUT SPENDING MONEY
ON MAIN STREET BUSINESSES AND
REALLY JUST GENERATING THAT
VIBRANCY.
WE NEED TO FOCUS ON SMALL
BUSINESS GROWTH.
AGAIN, THERE'S AN EMERGENCY
RELIEF ASPECT TO THAT, AS WELL
AS TRYING TO SET UP BUSINESSES
FOR FUTURE SUCCESS AND
EXPANSION.
I MENTIONED WORKFORCE
DEVELOPMENT, AND THE CITYWIDE
INVESTMENT STRATEGY WE'VE GOT
GOING ON THERE.
KEY INDUSTRY SUPPORT.
THERE ARE SOME INDUSTRIES THAT
ARE PRETTY HEALTHY COMING OUT
OF THE PANDEMIC.
THERE ARE OTHERS THAT REALLY
COULD USE SOME SUPPORT FROM THE
CITY.
I CALL IT THE MARITIME INDUSTRY
IS ONE, WHERE THERE'S A LOT OF
CHANGES HAPPENING WITH
INDUSTRIAL MARITIME LANDS.
WE'VE GOT TO REALLY BE A
PARTNER AND THOUGHTFUL ABOUT
HOW WE'RE SUPPORTING THAT
INDUSTRY.
IT'S SUCH A KEY COMPONENT OF
OUR ECONOMIC MAKE UP, BUT ALSO
OUR HISTORY OF OUR CITY.
WE'VE GOT TO DO A BETTER JOB
WITH OUR LANGUAGE ACCESS AND
OUTREACH.
IT IS ALL WELL AND GOOD, IF WE
DEVELOP THE COOLEST PROGRAM
HERE IN THE HISTORY OF THE
ECONOMICS OF THE CITY.
IF WE CAN'T GET THAT OUT TO
FOLKS AND LET THEM KNOW ABOUT
IT, AND ENCOURAGE EVERYONE TO
APPLY AND BENEFIT FROM IT, IT'S
WORTH NOTHING.
WE'VE GOT TO MAKE SURE WE'RE
DOING IT IN AN EQUITABLE WAY
THAT'S INVITING PEOPLE IN, AND
MAKING THEM FEEL THEY CAN
BELONG AND MAKING THEM FEEL
THEY CAN SUCCEED.
NEXT SLIDE.
SO THE GOOD NEWS IS THAT ONE OF
THE SILVER LININGS OF THE
PANDEMIC IS THE CLIFFORD
DOLLARS WERE WE ABLE TO PUT TO
USE FOR ECONOMIC RECOVERY.
SO WE'VE LEARNED A LOT IN THE
PAST YEAR ABOUT WHERE WE'VE
DEPLOYED THOSE DOLLARS ABOUT WE
CAN REALLY MAKE A DIFFERENCE.
SEATTLE RESTORE PROGRAM, THAT
LAUNCHED LAST YEAR, THAT
CONNECTS BIPOC BUSINESSES, TO
AVAILABLE SPACES IN DOWNTOWN
SEATTLE, IS A GREAT EXAMPLE OF
US PROVIDING ACCESS, AND
BREAKING DOWN BARRIERS.
ANOTHER EXAMPLE IS THE TEN
IMPROVEMENT PLAN THAT WE
PILOTED IN THE CENTRAL AREA.
ONE OF THE BUSINESSES WE HELPED
IS THE NOW WORLD FAMOUS
COMMUNION IN THE LIBERTY BAKE
BUILDING.
THE TEN IMPROVEMENT PLAN HELPS
WITH THE LAYOUT OF THE SPACE.
WE MAKE SURE WHEN A BUSINESS
GETS IN THERE, THAT THEY CAN BE
SUCCESSFUL, SO WE WANT TO
EXPAND THAT.
FINALLY, A SMALL BUSINESS
OWNERSHIP PROGRAM.
AGAIN, IT'S NOT JUST ABOUT THE
BUSINESS GROWTH.
IT'S ALSO ABOUT BUSINESS
OWNERSHIP AND ASSET OWNERSHIP.
SO AS WE THINK ABOUT THESE
THINGS, THIS IS SOME STUFF THAT
WE'VE LEARNED OVER THE LAST
YEAR.
SOME WITH THESE ONE TIME
RECOVERY DOLLARS THAT'S REALLY
SETTING US UP FOR SUCCESS IN
THE FUTURE.
AND IF WE CAN GROW AND SCALE
THOSE, WE BELIEVE WE'RE GOING
TO BE REALLY SUCCESSFUL, AGAIN,
IN THOSE GOALS OF TRYING TO
GROW BUSINESSES AND GET PEOPLE
INTO HIGHER PAYING JOBS.
THROUGH IT ALL, I'LL JUST
MENTION THAT LAST BULLET OF
BUSINESS TECHNICAL ASSISTANCE.
WE KNOW THAT BUSINESSES NEED
HELP WITH THE PAPER GAME.
IT'S NOT ALWAYS EASY FIGURING
OUT HOW TO APPLY FOR A LOAN, OR
HOW TO APPLY FOR SOME OF THESE
GRANT PROGRAMS.
SO WE'VE GOT TO MAKE SURE WE'RE
HOLDING THEIR HANDS WITH CBO'S
AND OTHER ORGANIZATIONS TO HELP
HOLD THEIR HANDS AS WELL.
IT REALLY IS, AS I MENTIONED
EARLIER, A TEAM GAME.
A TEAM SPORT, ECONOMIC
DEVELOPMENT, AND WE'VE GOT TO
BUILD A BETTER, MORE
SOPHISTICATED TEAM TO HELP
BUILD THOSE BUSINESSES AND
WORKERS.
NEXT SLIDE.
SO WRAPPING UP, WE'VE GOT NEW
DEMANDS, NEW STRATEGIES, AND A
NEW LOOK OED.
THE CITY HAS GOT TO PRIORITIZE
WEALTH BUILDING AND INCOME
BEASTING EFFORTS.
SO OUR ECONOMIC BOOSTING
DEVELOPMENTS ARE ON THE
BUSINESS PRACTICES FOR INCOME
BOOSTING EFFORTS.
AND THEN BUSINESS OWNERSHIP,
BUSINESS GROWTH, AND ASSET
OWNERSHIP FOR THE WEALTH
BUILDING EFFORTS.
LISTED HERE ARE JUST, AGAIN,
SOME OF THE NEW PIECES THAT
WE'RE REALLY GOING TO FOCUS ON
IN THE NEAR TERM AS WE'RE DOING
OUR REORGANIZATION AND ADDING
TALENT CAPACITY.
WE WANT TO FOCUS ON REAL
ESTATE.
WE WANT TO FOCUS ON FINANCIAL,
PARTICULARLY ACCESS TO CAPITAL,
AND WE WANT TO FOCUS ON MARKET
EXPANSION.
WE THINK THESE THREE AREAS ARE
GOING TO BE KIND OF HALLMARKS
FOR OED GOING FORWARD.
THEY'RE GOING TO TAKE US A
LITTLE TIME TO BUILD OUT, BUT
WE'RE REALLY EXCITED ABOUT WHAT
THEY CAN BRING TO THE MIX.
WE'RE GOING TO CONTINUE TO DO
THE TECHNICAL ASSISTANCE.
SOME OF THESE NEW PIECES WE
THINK ARE GOING TO BE THE REAL
KEY BETWEEN WHERE WE WERE PRE-
PANDEMIC, AND WHERE WE WANT TO
GO TO A MORE EQUITABLE ECONOMY
POST-PPANDEMIC.
WITH THAT, I WILL STAND FOR ANY
QUESTIONS.
>> THANK YOU, MARK.
YOU HAD ME AT THE NEW OED.
SO IT'S CLEAR FROM YOUR
PRESENTATION, HOW VITALLY
IMPORTANT OED'S WORK AND
MISSION ARE, AND IT'S
SOLIDIFYING IDENTITY.
IT HAS BEEN HOBBLED BY STAFFING
SHORTAGES FOR YEARS IN THE 78%
STAFF TURNOVER WAS REALLY
STRIKING.
I ALSO THINK, YOU KNOW, IT HAS
BEEN, I DON'T KNOW, THE
IMPORTANCE OF ITS WORK HAS BEEN
DOWN PLAYED OR WE HAVE FAILED
TO RECOGNIZE, I'LL JUST SAY ITS
IMPORTANCE AS THE PLACE WHERE
EQUITY IN TERMS OF JOB CREATION
AND BIPOC WEALTH GENERATION AND
ANTIWEALTH DISPLACEMENT LIVES
IN CITY GOVERNMENT.
SO THIS WILL BE TOP OF MIND AS
WE GO INTO THE BUDGET
DISCUSSIONS.
AND THAT'S ALL I HAVE.
I'LL OPEN IT FIRST FOR
QUESTIONS FROM MY COLLEAGUES.
WELL I'LL GET THINGS STARTED
HERE.
I REALLY LIKE YOU
DISTINGUISHING BETWEEN
NAVIGATION SERVICES, WHICH I
THINK AS DIRECT TO BUSINESSES
AND GROWTH STRATEGIES.
PROGRAMS.
SO WHEN IT COMES TO IT'S
NAVIGATION SERVICES, YOU SPOKE
TO IT A LITTLE BIT.
I'M WONDERING IF YOU COULD
EXPAND ON THAT AND BECAUSE YOU
AND I HAVE SPOKE OF A HELP DESK
AND THE BACK TEAM, SO I JUST
WANTED TO HEAR A LITTLE BIT
MORE ABOUT THAT.
>> SURE.
RIGHT NOW OUR FRONT DOOR TO OED
IS A LITTLE, IT'S EITHER HARD
TO REACH, OR HARD TO GET IN.
SO WE NEED TO HAVE A BETTER
FRONT DOOR, BOTH
TECHNOLOGICALLY, BUT ALSO OUR
SYSTEM FOR INTAKE.
SO WHEN A BUSINESS CALLS,
MAKING SURE THAT THEY GET
CONNECTED AS QUICKLY AS
POSSIBLE TO THE RESOURCE THAT
THEY NEED.
RIGHT NOW, IT'S A LITTLE BIT AD
HOC, IF YOU REACH THE RIGHT
PERSON ON THE TEAM, LUCKY FOR
YOU.
IF YOU DON'T, IT GETS A LITTLE
HAIRY.
SO WE'VE GOT A SYSTEM THAT TIES
HOW WE'RE DOING THOSE ISSUES
AND CALLS.
SOME OF THAT, AS YOU MENTIONED
IS THE TECHNOLOGY.
SO WHAT IS OUR WEBSITE.
WHAT KIND OF HELP DESK ONLINE
CAN WE OFFER TO QUICKLY ANSWER
QUESTIONS THAT PEOPLE MIGHT
HAVE.
SOME OF THAT IS OUR OWN STAFF.
SO HOW WE'RE ASSIGNING THOSE
TICKETS OUT, AND MAKING SURE
THAT THEY'RE GETTING FOLLOWED
UP ON, AND FINDING TRENDS SO
THEY CAN HELP INFLUENCE
POLICYMAKING DEVELOPMENTS.
SOME OF THAT IS WORKING WITH
OTHER DEPARTMENTS, IDEALLY
THROUGH THE RESUSCITATED CITY
BUSINESS ACTION TEAM, SO THAT
WE CAN BATCH SOME OF THOSE
PROBLEMS TOGETHER.
HAVE A TEAM OF DECISION MAKERS
IN DIFFERENT DEPARTMENTS SO WE
CAN TAKE THOSE PROBLEMS, GET
THEM QUICKLY RESOLVED, AND THEN
GET THE BUSINESSES MOVING ONTO
WHATEVER'S NEXT IN THEIR
BUSINESS CYCLE.
SO THERE'S A VARIETY OF
ELEMENTS THAT WE'RE TRYING TO
TIE TOGETHER.
IT IS BUILDING UP KIND OF A NEW
SYSTEM, SO IT'S A LITTLEROCKYER
THAN I HAD ANTICIPATED.
BUT I THINK THERE'S A LOT OF
ENERGY ON THE TEAM FOR FINDING
A SOLUTION, WORKING WITH
BUSINESSES TO FIGURE OUT HOW TO
SOME THEIR PROBLEMS IN A QUICK
AND EFFICIENT MANNER.
>> GREAT.
AS A SMALL BUSINESS OWNER, I'VE
OFTEN THOUGHT THERE SHOULD BE A
ONE STOP SHOP WHERE YOU CAN GET
ALL OF YOUR INFORMATION ABOUT
LICENSES AND PERMITS, AND YADA,
YADA.
IF SPCI IS TELLING ONE PERSON
TO DO ONE THING, BUT CITY LIGHT
IS SAYING, NO, YOU HAVE TO DO
THIS OTHER THING FIRST, THAT
KIND OF COORDINATED RESPONSE
THAT DEPARTMENTS CAN TALK TO
EACH OTHER.
BUT I REALLY APPRECIATE THE
EMPHASIS ON THAT, AND I'M SURE
OTHER SMALL BUSINESSES DO TOO.
>> WELL AND PART OF IT IS AT
OED WE'VE GOT TO PLAY A LITTLE
BIT OF A TRANSLATOR ROLE
BETWEEN BUSINESSES AND
GOVERNMENT, BECAUSE THEY DO
MOVE AT DIFFERENT SPEEDS, AND
THEY DO TALK ABOUT THINGS
DIFFERENTLY, SO WE'VE GOT TO
FIGURE OUT HOW WE DO A BETTER
JOB OF TRANSLATING SO THAT
WE'RE ON THE SAME PAGE, AND
WORKING ON THE SAME TIMEFRAMES.
BECAUSE OFTENTIMES, I THINK
THAT'S WHERE WE GET OFF KILTER
IS A BUSINESS NEEDS SOMETHING
IN A WEEK, AND THE CITY IS
MAYBE, THAT'S NOT HOW THE
PROCESS IS SET UP TO ANSWER
THAT TYPE OF QUESTION.
SO WE'VE GOT TO DO A BETTER JOB
OF SYNCING THOSE THINGS UP.
>> COUNCILMEMBER SAWANT.
>> THANK YOU FOR THE
PRESENTATION.
I'M JUST WONDERING WHAT ARE THE
CONVERSATIONS HAVING ABOUT THE
RECESSION THAT IS MOVING IN
FRONT OF US?
AND IN REALITY, SO MANY
ECONOMISTS ARE ACTUALLY
WONDERING IF THE RECESSION IS
ALREADY UNDERWAY?
IF YOU LOOK AT THE RUNAWAY
INFLATION, THE HISTORIC 40 YEAR
HIGH INFLATION, PEOPLE ARE
REALLY FEELING THE PINCH AT THE
GAS PUMP AND IN THE GROCERY
STORE.
JUST GIVEN THE WAY THE ECONOMY
UNDER CAPITALISM IS SET UP, WE
KNOW THAT 3/4 OF WHAT HOLDS UP
THE ECONOMY IN TERMS OF GDP IS
CONSUMER SPENDING, AND GIVEN
THIS DIRE SITUATION, I HOPE YOU
ALL HAVE BEEN DISCUSSING WHAT
IMPACT THIS WILL HAVE ON THE
ECONOMY AS A WHOLE, BUT
ESPECIALLY FOR ONLY PEOPLE,
WORKING PEOPLE, STRUGGLING
SMALL BUSINESSES.
THE PROGNOSIS DOES SEEM TO BE
EXTREMELY CONCERNING.
AND I'M ASKING THIS QUESTION IN
GENERAL, BUT ALSO IN THE
CONTEXT OF THE FACT THAT AN
INTERESTING RULING CAME FROM
THE WASHINGTON STATE COURT OF
APPEALS YESTERDAY THAT THIS
RULING UPHELD THE AMAZON FAX
THAT IS RUN BY ORDINARY
PEOPLE'S MOVEMENTS IN 2020.
I MENTION THAT FOR SEVERAL
REASONS.
ONE IS OBVIOUSLY THAT WITHOUT
THAT FAX ACTUALLY IN THE COVID
RECESSION, THE SEATTLE ECONOMY
WOULD HAVE CRATERED IF IT
WASN'T FOR THE REVELATION BY
THAT TAX.
BUT THAT TAX WAS SOMETHING THAT
METROPOLITAN CHAMBER OF
COMMERCE AND BIG BUSINESSES,
AND THE WEALTHY REALLY WERE
EXTREMELY HOSTILE TO, MR. MARK
McINTYRE, YOU WERE, I BELIEVE
THE EXECUTIVE VICE PRESIDENT OF
THE SEATTLE METROPOLITAN
CAMBER OF COMMERCE AT THAT
TIME.
SO ANYWAY MAY POINT IS THAT THE
POSITIONS THAT THE BIG
BUSINESSES HAVE TAKEN
HISTORICALLY HAVE BEEN
EXTREMELY CONTRARY TO WHAT IS
CLAIMED, WHICH IS THE HEALTH OF
THE ECONOMY AND SO ON.
IT WAS PROVEN BEYOND A SHADOW
OF THE DOUBT HOW CRITICAL THE
AMAZON TAX HAS BEEN FOR THE
ECONOMY.
IN FACT, WE NEED MUCH MORE.
WE NEED TO INCREASE THEAMAZON
TAX, BUT I'M ALSO ASKING THAT,
AS I SAID IN THE DIRE
PREDICTIONS FOR THE ECONOMY.
IF YOU CAN JUST WEIGH IN ON
THAT, THANK YOU.
>> SURE, THANKS FOR BRINGING UP
THE POSSIBLE LOOMING RECESSION.
IT IS CONCERNING.
AND IN CONVERSATIONS, I THINK
THERE'S A COUPLE THINGS THAT WE
CAN DO TO PREPARE OURSELVES.
ONE IS WE NEED TO GET SMARTER
AT OED ABOUT WHAT'S GOING ON
WITH MICROAND MACROECONOMICS.
THAT'S GOING TO HELP US GET
AHEAD OF THESE AND BETTER
UNDERSTAND WHAT'S GOING ON
LOCALLY, SO WE CAN TAYLOR OUR
STRATEGIES AND INVESTMENTS TO
HOPEFULLY PREVENT THE WORST,
BUT ALSO SET US UP FOR SUCCESS
COMING OUT OF ISSUES LIKE THE
PANDEMIC.
SECOND, I THINK THIS WAS A HUGE
SILVER LINE WAS THE REGIONAL
ALLIANCE AND PARTNERSHIP.
WE'RE GOING TO BE STRONGER.
WE HAVE ALLIANCE AND SUPPORT
EACH OTHER, THAT'S GOING TO BE
KEY TO WEATHERING ANY STORM,
WHETHER IT'S THE PANDEMIC, A
LOOMING RECESSION, OR ANYTHING
ELSE IS WORKING TOGETHER AS A
REGION.
SO IT IS CONCERNING.
WE ARE TALKING ABOUT IT, AND
TRYING TO PREPARE AS BEST WE
CAN.
BUT I GUESS THE FLIP SIDE OF
THAT IS ANY ANY DOWNTURN
THERE'S ALWAYS OPPORTUNITY, AND
WE NEED TO BE GEARED UP FOR
SETTING OURSELVES UP FOR FUTURE
SUCCESS FOR THE RESIDENTS AND
BUSINESSES.
>> WHAT OPPORTUNITY WOULD YOU
BE TALKING ABOUT?
>> RIGHT NOW THE LIVING
STANDARDS FOR THE MAJORITY OF
PEOPLE ARE UNDER EXTREME
STRESS.
AND SMALL BUSINESSES WERE AMONG
THOSE WHO TOOK THE BRUNT OF THE
PANDEMIC, AND RECESSION.
SO I'M REALLY NOT UNDERSTANDING
WHAT YOU MEAN BY OPPORTUNITY.
ALSO, WHAT IS THE VISION HERE
AND THE BASIS OF A LOT OF WHAT
--
>> COUNCILMEMBER HERBOLD DOES
HAVE A QUESTION.
>> BUT I'M A MEMBER OF THIS
COMMITTEE AND I'M ASKING A
QUESTION.
I'M NOT UNDERSTANDING WHAT IS
THE VISION THE FORCES THAT
YOU'VE BEEN IN CONVERSATIONS
WITH ARE BRINGING?
I MEAN AS I MENTIONED, THE
METROPOLITAN CHAMBER OF
COMMERCE SUED THE CITY TO
OVERTURN THE AMAZON TAX.
THE COURT OF APPEALS HAS JUST
UPHELD THE TAX.
BUT WHAT IS THE VISION YOU'RE
BRINGING IF YOU'RE OPPOSED TO
EVEN COMMON SENSE MEASURES THAT
THE CITY ACTUALLY NEEDS?
SO WHEN YOU SEE OPPORTUNITIES
LIKE AN OXYMORON TO ME. NDS
OPPORTUNITIES FOR WHOM?
THE VAST MAJORITY OF ORDINARY
PEOPLE AND SMALL BUSINESSES ARE
GOING TO TAKE THE BRUNT OF THIS
RECESSION.
WHAT IS THE OPPORTUNITY FOR
THEM?
WHAT IS THE OPPORTUNITY TO SEE
WHEN THE GAS PUMPS AT $6 FOR A
GALLON?
>> I'M NOT SAYING THAT IT WILL
BE EASY.
BUT I THINK FIRST OF ALL, WE'VE
GOT TO STABILIZE AND PROVIDE
RELIEF TO THOSE WHO ARE
SUFFERING.
AND I THINK WE'VE SEEN HOW
WE'VE DONE THAT THROUGH THE
PANDEMIC.
IT HASN'T BEEN SUCCESSFUL
ACROSS THE BOARD.
WE SEE A HISTORIC RISE IN THE
SMALL NUMBER OF BUSINESSES THAT
WERE CREATED.
PEOPLE LEFT THEIR JOBS AND
STARTED CREATING BUSINESSES.
WE'VE GOT TO FIND A WAY TO
SUPPORT THEM.
IT'S NOT EASY RUNNING A SMALL
BUSINESS.
IT'S INCREDIBLY HARD.
WE AT THE CITY, UNFORTUNATELY,
SOMETIMES MAKE IT HARDER.
AGAIN, THAT'S WHY I REALLY WANT
OED'S ROLE TO BE ABOUT BREAKING
DOWN BARRIERS, AND OPENING
DOORS, SO THAT THOSE WHO HAVE
BEEN EXCLUDED FROM ECONOMIC
PROSPERITY IN TIMES PAST,
REGARDLESS OF CURRENT
CONDITIONS THAT WE'RE DOING OUR
BEST.
I'M NOT TRYING TO SUGAR COAT
IT, OR SAY THAT IT'S GOING TO
BE EASY,OR THAT THERE WON'T BE
SUFFERING ALONG THE WAY, BUT
WE'VE GOT TO DO OUR BEST TO TRY
TO ALLEVIATE THAT, AND SET THEM
UP FOR SUCCESS.
>> COUNCILMEMBER HERBOLD.
>> THANK YOU, I JUST WANTED TO
ASK A COUPLE QUESTIONS THAT
I'VE HAD THE OPPORTUNITY TO IN
OUR MEETING TOGETHER.
GOING INTO YOUR ANSWERS, I WANT
TO TALK A LITTLE BIT ABOUT THE
KEY INDUSTRIES FOR THE CITY ON
SLIDE 10 YOU MENTIONED THAT KEY
INDUSTRY TO SUPPORT IS A BRIDGE
TO THE FUTURE.
AND AS I'VE MENTIONED TO YOU IN
OUR MEETINGS, I'D REALLY LIKE
TO SEE CREATIVE INDUSTRIES
RSTORED TO THE SHORT LIST OF
KEY INDUSTRIES THAT DRIVE OUR
CITY'S FUTURE.
THE CITY'S 2019 CREATIVE
ECONOMY STUDY FOUND THAT THE
CREATIVE SECTOR DRIVES A FULL
18% OF OUR GDP HERE IN SEATTLE.
THAT'S FOUR TIMES THE NATIONAL
AVERAGE, AND WE KNOW THAT A SUB
SET OF WORKERS IN THE SECTOR
ARE ARTS, CULTURE, FILM, AND
MUSIC WORKERS HAVE BEEN AMONG
THE HARDEST HIT AND THE SLOWEST
TO RECOVER FROM THE PANDEMIC.
SO FOCUSING EFFORTS ON THIS
SECTOR HAS THE POTENTIAL NOT
ONLY TO HELP US REBOUND FASTER
HERE IN SEATTLE, BUT TO
PRESERVE WHAT WE ALL AGREE IS
SO SPECIAL ABOUT OUR CITY.
SO JUST WANTING TO KNOW A
LITTLE BIT ABOUT HOW YOU'RE
THINKING ABOUT THE CREATIVE
ECONOMY AS YOU CONSIDER LEAVING
THE DEPARTMENT'S WORK AND THE
STRATEGIES THAT WE CAN LOOK
FORWARD TO WORKING TOGETHER TO
LIFT UP THIS REALLY IMPORTANT
CONTRIBUTOR TO OUR CITY'S
ECONOMY.
I'D LOVE TO HEAR YOUR THOUGHTS
ON THAT.
I ALSO HAVE ONE ADDITIONAL
FOLLOW-UP QUESTION, IF THAT'S
OKAY.
MAYBE NOT REALLY A FOLLOW-UP
QUESTION, A SEPARATE QUESTION.
>> BEFORE WE BEGIN, CAN I
MENTION SOMETHING?
I WAS GOING TO SAY THE END OF
MY QUESTIONS, THAT I DIDN'T ASK
ANYTHING ABOUT FILM, OR THE
CREATIVE ECONOMY CLUSTER,
BECAUSE WE'RE GOING TO BE
HAVING ANOTHER DISCUSSION JUST
ABOUT THAT ON JULY 27th.
PROCEED.
>> THIS IS NOT JUST FILM AND
MUSIC.
THIS IS THE CREATIVE INDUSTRIES
MORE BROAD.
THANK YOU.
>> THANKS FOR THE QUESTION.
YOU'RE RIGHT, A LOT OF THOSE
INDUSTRIES WERE THE FIRST TO
SHUT DOWN AND THE LAST TO OPEN,
COMING OUT OF THE PANDEMIC, SO
THEY'RE VERY MUCH FEELING THE
BRUNT OF THE ECONOMIC LEG.
SO IF OUR GOALS AT OED ARE HOW
DO WE BOOST PEOPLE'S INCOME AND
GET THEM INTO JOBS WITH HIGHER
PAY AND BETTER BENEFITS AND
SECONDLY, HOW DO WE GROW
BUSINESSES TO GROW WELL?
I THINK THE CREATIVE INDUSTRIES
FIT NICELY INTO THAT RUBRIC.
IF WE'RE TALKING ABOUT CREATIVE
ECONOMY JOBS, THOSE EXIST IN A
VARIETY OF DIFFERENT INDUSTRIES
BEYOND JUST KIND OF FILM,
MUSIC, NIGHTLIFE, SPECIAL
EVENTS.
SO WE'VE GOT TO FIGURE OUT, AND
AS YOU SAID IN THE STUDY, IT'S
SHOWN THAT THAT'S WHERE THERE'S
GOING TO BE A LOT OF JOB GROWTH
NOW AND INTO THE FUTURE,
PARTICULARLY BECAUSE THOSE TEND
TO BE AUTOMATION PROOF JOBS.
AS WELL AS WE HAVE AN
INCREDIBLY INNOVATIVE SPIRIT
HERE IN SEATTLE, AND PART OF
THAT IS HARVESTING THAT, AND
FIGURING OUT TO PUT THAT IN A
CREATIVE WAY.
SECOND IS HOW ARE WE SUPPORTING
THOSE SPECIFIC INDUSTRIES, TO
MAKE SURE THOSE BUSINESSES ARE
AS SUCCESSFUL AS POSSIBLE.
I WILL CALL OUT FILMS AS AN
EXAMPLE.
WORKING WITH STAKEHOLDERS,
WORKING WITH PRODUCTION
BUSINESSES TO FIGURE OUT WHAT
DO THEY NEED BOTH IN THE SHORT
TERM AND IN THE LONG TERM AND
TRYING TO COME UP WITH A PLAN
OF HOW TO BEST SERVE THEM.
COMING TO THIS COMMITTEE AT THE
END OF JULY TO TALK ABOUT AS AN
EXAMPLE OF HOW WE'RE SUPPORTING
ONE OF THE CREATIVE INDUSTRIES.
SO IT IS IMPORTANT.
THAT'S PART OF THE CAPACITY
THAT WE'RE BUILDING ON THE
TEAM, SO WE HAVE MORE BRAIN
POWER AND DO THE OUTREACH, AND
UNDERSTAND WHAT THE NEEDS ARE,
TO AGAIN, GET LOCALS INTO THOSE
HIGH PAYING CREATIVE JOBS, AS
WELL AS SUPPORT THOSE IN
CREATIVE INDUSTRIES TO BE
SUCCESSFUL COMING OUT OF THE
PANDEMIC.
>> THANK YOU.
MAY I ASK MY SEPARATE QUESTION?
THANKS SO MUCH.
JUST FOLLOWING UP ON OUR
DISCUSSION AROUND HOW OED CAN
WORK WITH THE OFFICE OF HOUSING
AND FACILITATE THEIR INTEREST
IN TAKING A SORT OF DEVELOPMENT
TO HOUSING DEVELOPMENT, SORT OF
HOUSING AND DIFFERENT TYPES OF
SPACES THAT CAN ACTIVATE A
COMMUNITY WHETHER OR NOT IT'S A
RETAIL SPACE.
SOME OTHER KIND OF COMMERCIAL
NONPROFIT USE, A CULTURAL
SPACE.
IN MY GROUP, MY DISTRICT I'VE
BEEN WORKING FOR SEVERAL YEARS
WORKING TOWARD THAT, GETTING A
SURPLUS PIECE OF PROPERTY.
THEY'VE LONG HELD A DIVISION OF
DEVELOPING AFFORDABLE HOUSING,
AND WITH GROUND FLOOR
COMMERCIAL SPACE TO HELP
ACTIVATE THAT SWEET SPACE,
PROVIDE SAFETY, PROVIDE
OPPORTUNITY FOR SMALL
ENTREPRENEURS AND CONTRIBUTE TO
A MORE WALKABLE COMMUNITY IN A
PLACE THAT ISN'T TERRIBLY
WALKABLE RIGHT NOW.
OFFICE OF HOUSING HAS FUNDS
THAT CAN AWARD, POTENTIALLY
SUPPORT AFFORDABLE HOUSING ON
THAT SITE.
AND THE TRICK IS, AS I KNOW YOU
UNDERSTAND, DR. McINTYRE, IS
HOW TO BRAVE THOSE FUNDS WITH
OTHER KINDS OF SUPPORT THAT
WILL ALLOW FOR THAT GROUND
FLOOR RETAIL TO BE BUILT AND
AFFORDABLE AS WELL.
I KNOW THAT YOU'VE BEEN HAVING
CONVERSATIONS WANTING TO HEAR
SINCE I KNOW YOU HAD HAD A
MEETING WITH HER TO TALK ABOUT
THIS TOPIC, TO SEE IF THERE'S
ANYTHING NEW TO BEAR?
>> THANKS FOR BRINGING IT UP.
I THINK THIS IS SO EXCITING,
BECAUSE WE KNOW WE NEED MORE
HOUSING, AND WE KNOW WE NEED
AFFORDABLE COMMERCIAL SPACE, SO
PUTTING THOSE TOGETHER IN THE
SAME PROJECT JUST MAKES A TON
OF SENSE.
THERE'S ALSO A WORKFORCE ANGLE
THERE AS WELL, AS WE'RE
BUILDING THESE HOUSING UNITS
AND MANAGING THEM HOW WE'RE
GETTING THEM HIRED INTO THOSE
GOOD PAYING CONSTRUCTION JOBS.
SO IN MY TALKS WITH SOME OF THE
OTHER DIRECTORS THAT INCLUDE
OPCD AS ANOTHER DEPARTMENT THAT
WE'RE WORKING WITH, TO EXPLORE
THIS.
THERE'S A LOT OF INTEREST.
IT DOES GET A LITTLE TECHNICAL
INTO HOW YOU BRAID THOSE FUNDS
TOGETHER.
I LIKE THAT PHRASE.
I MIGHT STEAL IT FROM YOU.
SOME OF THE PROGRAMS I
MENTIONED, LIKE THE TEN
IMPROVEMENT FUND ARE REALLY SET
UP TO HELP AND AS WELL AS
SEATTLE RESTORE, HELP MAKE SURE
THAT WE'RE DOING THAT MATCH
MAKING.
THAT WE'RE MAKING SPACES WORK
FOR DIFFERENT TYPES OF
BUSINESSES, AND IDEALLY, WE'RE
PUTTING PEOPLE ON THE PATH TO
OWNERSHIP OF THEIR REAL ESTATE.
SO SYMPTOM OF THE STUFF WE'RE
LAUNCHING NOW CAN CONTRIBUTE TO
THE OFFICE OF PLANNING AND
COMMUNITY DEVELOPMENT.
THERE'S A COUPLE OPPORTUNITIES
THAT WE SEE GOING INTO THE
FUTURE.
ONE IS THE 2023 HOUSING LEVEE,
BECAUSE THAT'S GOING TO BE A
RENEWAL OF A LOT OF RESOURCES,
SO MAKING SURE WE'RE CALLING
OUT AFFORDABLE RETAIL SPACE IS
IMPORTANT.
AS WE UNZIPPED A CODE, THINKING
ABOUT ARE THERE ANY CHANGES WE
CAN DO?
SO MORE TO COME ON THAT.
WE'RE ACTUALLY WORKING ON A
SLIDE FOR COUNCIL IN THIS
REGARD THAT WILL BE DELIVERED
LATER THIS YEAR TO KIND OF GIVE
YOU A MORE GROUNDED SENSE OF
WHERE WE'RE GOING WITH THIS.
BUT KNOW THIS IS ONE OF THE
AREAS OF OPPORTUNITY WE SEE.
BUT CERTAINLY, WITH A NEW OED
THAT WANTS TO BE A REAL STRONG
PARTNER, ONE OF THOSE IS GOING
TO BE WITH THE DEPARTMENT OF
HOUSING AND OPCD.
SO LOOKING FORWARD TO IT.
COUNCILMEMBER JUAREZ HAS A
QUESTION.
I JUST WANTED TO NOTE THAT
REGARDING THE CREATIVE CLUSTER,
THERE IS A POSITION THAT WE'RE
GOING TO BE WAITING FROM YOU
FOR MORE INFORMATION ABOUT HOW
TO LIFT THAT.
AS SOON AS WE GET THAT POSITION
FILLED, WE CAN ADD HORSEPOWER
TO THOSE EFFORTS.
OKAY, COUNCIL PRESIDENT WAR
EASY.
>> THANK YOU, MADAM CHAIR.
FIRST OF ALL, MARCUM, THANK YOU
FOR BEING HERE AND YOUR
PRESENTATION, AND MOVING FROM
THE NONPROFIT PRIVATE SECTOR IF
YOU WILL, TO NOW BECOMING A
PUBLIC SERVANT.
I ACTUALLY LIKE TO HAVE IT ON
THE AISLE MORE, BECAUSE NOW I
FEEL LIKE WE'RE PART OF THE
SOLUTION, AND WE CAN HAVE
DISCUSSIONS ABOUT THE JUMP
START AMAZON TAX, AND WHAT THAT
MEANS, AND HOW WE USE THOSE
FUNDS.
BUT GETTING BACK TO YOUR
PRESENTATION, THE CALM THAT I
WAS MOST INTERESTED IN IS THE
FINANCIAL AND ACCESS TO
CAPITAL.
I OBVIOUSLY SUPPORT SMALL
BUSINESSES IN ASSISTING THEM.
MY FOCUS HAS BEEN IN MY
PERSONAL PROFESSIONAL LIFE IS
BUILDING THE ECONOMIES,
ESTABLISHING ECONOMIC ENGINES,
TEACHING PEOPLE HOW TO GO TO A
BANK, WRITE A BUSINESS PLAN,
GET A LOAN, AND ACCESS TO
CAPITAL.
I'M WONDERING WHY, IS OED GOING
TO TAKE AN ACTIVE ROLE IN
WORKING WITH THE SMALL BUSINESS
ASSOCIATION?
BECAUSE WE DO A LOT OF WORK
WITH THEM AND I KNOW THAT
THERE'S SOME WHISPERING NOW
ABOUT SOME TAXING COMING UP ON
A PARTICULAR INDUSTRY, AND A
LOT OF THOSE ISSUES, IF WE TALK
ABOUT WHAT TRAINING IS, IT
REALLY IS ABOUT, AND I USED TO
DO THIS FOR CLIENTS AND TRIBES,
AND INDIVIDUALS, WORKING YOUR
WAY WITH THE SMALL BUSINESS
ASSOCIATION IN TAKING THE
CLASS, AND TEACHING HOW TO
WRITE A BUSINESS PLAN.
WHAT IS YOUR BUSINESS, MOCK
INTERVIEWS, LOW INTEREST LOAN
CAPITAL.
AND THEN, THE SMALL BUSINESS,
THE SPA, AT LEAST UNDER THE
NATIVE AMERICAN AND OTHER
GROUPS AS WELL, WOULD END UP
FORGIVING THE LOAN WHEN YOU
BECAME NOT SO MUCH SUCCESSFUL,
BUT WHEN YOU COULD MAKE THE
PAYMENTS.
SO I DON'T THINK YOU NEED TO
REINVENT THE WHEEL.
ARE YOU WORKING WITH, BECAUSE
YOU'RE TALKING ABOUT LESS
THANKERS, YOU'RE GOING TO NEED
INVESTORS, YOU'RE GOING TO NEED
TO NOW HOW TO GO TO A BANK.
I DON'T THINK IT'S SO MUCH HAND
HOLDING, BECAUSE I THINK PEOPLE
HAVE THE KNOW AND THE DRIVE HOW
TO DO IT.
BUT IT'S MORE WHAT ARE SOME OF
THE EXISTING PROGRAMS THAT ARE
HERE THAT HAVE ALREADY BEEN
SUCCESSFUL, THAT IS OED GOING
TO TAKE ADVANTAGE OF, AND USE?
>> THIS GOES BACK TO MY LOVE OF
ALIGNMENTS THAT I COMPLETELY
AGREE.
WE DON'T LACK FOR RESOURCES
HERE.
A LOT OF IT IS MORE ABOUT HOW
WE'RE NAVIGATING PEOPLE TO THE
RIGHT RESOURCES AND KIND OF
OPENING THOSE DOORS FOR THEM.
SO YES, I FEEL REALLY LUCKY,
THAT MIKE FONG IS NOW THE
DIRECTOR.
HE HAS THE CITY AS WELL AS A
LOVE FOR SEATTLE.
AS I STARTED OUT HERE, I THINK
HE WAS ONE OF THE FIRST PEOPLE
TO CALL ME WHEN THE DEPLOYMENT
WAS ANNOUNCED.
WE'VE GOT SOME STUFF THAT WE'RE
COOKING UP, THAT WE'LL BE
EXCITED TO ANNOUNCE SOON.
AN EARLY EXAMPLE WAS WHEN SPA
ANNOUNCED THEIR BUSINESSPERSON
FOR THE YEAR FOR THE PACIFIC
NORTHWEST, WE WERE THERE, JUST
AS A A KIND OF SHOWING EXAMPLE,
BUT WE'VE GOT SOME MORE MEATY
STUFF COMING IN THE FUTURE.
>> SO JUST ONE OF THE ISSUES,
AND I DON'T THINK IT'S A SECRET
ABOUT THE POTENTIAL TAXING OF
THE CANNABIS INDUSTRY, AND
ACCESS TO CAPITAL, AND
COUNCILMEMBER HERBOLD KNOWS
THIS AS WELL AS I DO.
I'M SURE COUNCILMEMBER NELSON
KNOWS AS WELL.
WE CAN'T DO A LOT UNTIL WE HAVE
THE FEDERAL BANKING LAWS CHANGE
UNTIL WE HAVE PEOPLE WHO WANT
TO OPEN, AND THAT'S WHY WE SEE
THE INHE INEQUITIES.
IT'S RIGHT THERE.
I DON'T KNOW IF TAXING IS THE
RIGHT RESPONSE, QUITE FRANKLY.
I DON'T KNOW WHAT KIND OF
TRAINING THAT MEANS.
IF WE HAD IT WHERE PEOPLE COULD
GO TO A BANK, TO GET CAPITAL,
TO GET A LOAN, TO START A SMALL
BUSINESS FOR A CANNABIS STORE,
I COULD SEE WHERE THERE WOULD
BE TRAINING, AND YOU WOULD
CONNECT WITH A SMALL BUSINESS-
LIKE MODEL, AND TEACH PEOPLE,
THERE'S CLASS YOU HAVE TO TAKE,
HERE'S HOW YOU GET YOUR LOAN.
I DON'T KNOW IF WE'RE THERE
YET.
BUT WHAT DO YOU SEE FOR OED
DOING THAT FOR OTHER BUSINESSE
THAT CAN GO TO A BANK OR A
VENTURE CAPITAL GROUP, OR HOW
ARE YOU GOING TO OPEN UP THOSE
SYSTEMS AND DO MORE?
REALLY, WHAT IS OED GOING TO DO
TO OPEN UP THAT, SO PEOPLE CAN
HAVE ACCESS TO A BANK, TO DO A
LOAN, TO START A BUSINESS?
BECAUSE THAT'S REALLY WHAT A
LOT OF FOLKS NEED.
THEY NEED THAT KIND OF
EDUCATION, AND THEY NEED THAT
KIND MUCH ACCESS, AND
OPPORTUNITY, IF INDEED, WE'RE
GOING TO CLOSE THIS GAP, THIS
WEALTH.
>> I COULDN'T AGREE WITH YOU
MORE.
WE SEE BUSINESSES NEEDING THREE
THINGS, RIGHT?
THEY NEED THE TRAINING TO RUN A
SUCCESSFUL BUSINESS.
BUT THERE'S A LOT OF PROGRAMS
THAT JUST KIND OF STOP THERE.
ALL THEY'RE GIVING IS SOME SORT
OF EDUCATION.
BUT REALLY, WHAT THEY THEN NEED
IS ACCESS TO CAPITAL, AND
ACCESS TO MARKETS.
SO IF YOU COMPARE THOSE THREE
THINGS TOGETHER, THAT'S USUALLY
A SUCCESSFUL RECIPE.
THAT'S THE WORK ON THE ACCESS
TO CAPITAL MARKETS, IS WHY ARE
WE RESHAPING OEDS TO HAVE A
FOCUS ON THOSE, THAT'S WHERE WE
SEE BUSINESS GROWTH REALLY
NEEDING THAT KIND OF ATTENTION.
I'LL GIVE YOU AN EXAMPLE OF THE
PROGRAM WE LAUNCHED WITH THE
FEDERAL DOLLARS.
SO THE STATE HAS A FLEX FUND
WHERE THEY'RE OFFERING LOANS AT
A FAIRLY LOW INTEREST RATE
THROUGH OUR COMMUNITY
DEVELOPMENT, AND FINANCIAL
INSTITUTION CDFI'S, TO SMALL
BUSINESSES IN NEED.
THE CITY, USING THOSE CLIFFER
DOLLARS DEVELOPED A CAPITAL
ACCESS PROGRAM, WHERE WE CAN
ACTUALLY PAY DOWN 25% OF THEIR
PRINCIPLE.
SO IT ESSENTIALLY MADE THE
ACCESS MORE AFFORDABLE FOR
THOSE SMALL BUSINESSES THAT
REALLY NEEDED IT.
WE'RE GOING TO HAVE TO DO
CREATIVE THINGS LIKE THAT,
BECAUSE THE CITY IS NOT LOOKING
TO BECOME A LENDER, AND GET IN
THE LENDING GAME, BUT THERE ARE
WAYS WE CAN MAKE IT MORE
AFFORDABLE, OR OPEN DOORS OR
BREAK DOWN BARRIERS TO THAT
CAPITAL.
THIS IS WHY WE NEED TO GET OUT
OF REACTIVE MODE, AND INTO
PROACTIVE MODE.
IF WE ONLY RESPOND TO CRISES,
WE WILL NEVER COME UP WITH
THOSE CREATIVE SOLUTIONS.
THAT'S WHY WE'VE GOT TO DO OUR
REORGANIZATION.
YOU'VE ESSENTIALLY SOLD WHY
WE'RE DOING WHAT WE'RE DOING IN
A NUT SHELL.
>> SO MY LAST COMMENT, IF I
MAY, MADAM CHAIR --
>> YES.
>> IS THAT WE'RE STILL IN THE
PROCESS OF IT, WE'LL BE DOING
IT SOON, ROLLING OUT MORE THAN
A LAND ACKNOWLEDGEMENT, AND
WE'VE BEEN WORKING WITH TRIBES,
AND AS YOU KNOW, THE
MUCKLESHOOT NATION IS A BIG
PROPERTY OWNER.
THEY JUST BOUGHT A $27 MILLION
HOUSING IN DISTRICT 4. I'M
TRYING TO GET THEM TO ALL COME
NORTH, BY THE WAY.
I'M TRYING TO WORK WITH THE
SIMON, OEG AND FOLKS HERE.
WE DEVELOPED WELL OVER 5,000
JOBS, AND WE'RE VERY PROUD OF
THE WORK THAT WE'VE DONE HERE.
I WANT TO MAKE SURE THAT OED IS
WORKING WITH TIM RAINION, WHO
THE MAYOR HIRED AS A TRIBAL
LIAISON, BECAUSE TIM IS A
PHENOMENAL HIRE FOR THE
EXECUTIVE, BEING A LAWYER, AND
A FORMER TRIBAL COUNCILMEMBER
ON THE PUYALLUP TRIBE AND
UNDERSTANDS ECONOMIC
DEVELOPMENT LIKE THE BACK OF
HIS HAND, LIKE ME.
HOW INDIGENOUS AND TRIBES
INVEST IN THEIR CITY.
THIS IS THEIR CITY, THE CITY OF
SEATTLE.
HENCE MORE THE LAND
ACKNOWLEDGEMENT.
WE ARE WORKING WITH TIM, BUT TO
WORK WITH YOU AS WELL.
AND HOW WE STRUCTURE AND KIND
OF REDO WHAT WE DID IN INDIAN
COUNTRY, AND THE CITY OF
SEATTLE, NOT ONLY FOR
INDIVIDUALS, BUT ALSO TO BRING
IN TRIBES TO INVEST EVERYWHERE.
I THINK PEOPLE NEED TO
UNDERSTAND, TRIBES DO MORE THAN
CASINOS AND HOTELS.
WE ACTUALLY OWN A LOT OF STUFF,
AND A LOT OF PROPERTY.
THE TRIBE JUST LINKED A DEAL
WITH KENMORE AIR, AND AMAZON.
THAT'S THE ATTRACTION, IN MY
DISCUSSIONS WITH TRIBAL LEADERS
IS THEY WANT SOME KIND OF
INROAD BESIDES THE EXECUTIVE
LIKE OFFICE OF ECONOMIC
DEVELOP.MENT, THAT THERE'S A
PLACE FOR THEM, AND I DON'T
THINK THERE'S ANYONE AT OED
DOING THAT KIND OF WORK, AND I
DON'T THINK WE CAN PUT IT ON
THE SHOULDERS OF MR. RANION.
I HOPE WE HAVE A CHANCE TO HAVE
COFFEE OFFLINE, AND TALK ABOUT
THE ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT, AND
VITALITY THAT TRIBES HAVE TO
OFFER, INCLUDING LEVERAGING
THEIR SOVEREIGNTY IN THEIR OWN
LAND, BUT ALSO, OBVIOUSLY TO
LAND IN OED.
I'M REALLY LOOKING FORWARD TO
THAT.
>> I'M LOOKING FORWARD TO IT AS
WELL.
I'M EXCITED ABOUT THE
OPPORTUNITY FOR PRESENTING.
THAT'S EXACTLY THE TYPE OF
STUFF THAT WE WANT TO GET
WORKING ON.
I LOOK FORWARD TO TALKING TO
TIM ABOUT THAT MORE.
>> I'M GOING TO SAY SOMETHING
THAT'S PROBABLY OBVIOUS TO
EVERYBODY.
BUSINESS IS ABOUT
RELATIONSHIPS.
IT'S ABOUT WELCOMING
COMMUNITIES AND NEIGHBORHOODS.
I THINK THE BOTTOM LINE IS YOU
NEED ECONOMIC ENGINES SO PEOPLE
HAVE JOBS.
IF THEY HAVE JOBS, THEN YOU
HAVE TRANSPORTATION, AND
LIBRARIES, AND GOOD SCHOOLS,
AND SIDEWALKS, AND YOU GET THE
GOOD STUFF.
WE'VE BEEN WORKING REALLY HARD,
AND I WANT TO POINT OUT
COUNCILMEMBER THAT COUNSEL
SAWANT COUNCILMEMBER SAWANT AS
WELL.
>> I REALLY APPRECIATE THOSE
COMMENTS.
SMALL BUSINESSES EMPLOYEE ABOUT
70% OF THE PEOPLE THAT WORK IN
THE PRIVATE SECTOR, SO THAT'S
JOBS.
ANYWAY, WE'RE RUNNING OUT OF
TIME.
I WOULD HAVE LIKED TO HAVE
ASKED ABOUT DOWNTOWN
REVITALIZATION.
WE CAN TALK ABOUT THAT OFF
LINE.
TO ME IT MEANS IMPROVING THIRD
AVENUE, PERHAPS, AND BUSINESS
RECRUITMENT.
BUT THAT'S FOR ANOTHER
DISCUSSION.
SO THANK YOU, THANK YOU, THANK
YOU VERY MUCH.
WE WILL SEE YOU ON THE 27th TO
TALK ABOUT THE FILM ECONOMY,
AND I INVITE ANY OF MY
COLLEAGUES TO SET UP
APPOINTMENTS WITH DIRECTOR MARK
McINTYRE.
AND LEARN MORE ABOUT SOME OF
THE THINGS HE'S YOU TOUCHED ON.
SO THANK YOU VERY MUCH.
>> THANKS COUNCILMEMBER NELSON.
THANK YOU TO THE COMMITTEE.
>> OKAY, MOVING ON.
WILL THE CLERK PLEASE READ ITEM
2 IN THE AGENDA?
>> RESOLUTION 32056.
A RESOLUTION RELATED TO THE
CITY LAKE DEPARTMENT, ADOPTING
A 2023 TO 2028 STRATEGIC PLAN
UPDATE FOR THE CITY LIGHT
DEPARTMENT, AND ENDORSING THE
ASSOCIATED SIX YEAR RATE PATH
FOR BRIEFING AND DISCUSSION.
>> CORK, OKAY, SO THIS IS OUR
FIRST DISCUSSION, AND WE'LL
HAVE OUR SECOND DISCUSSION ON
JULY 18th.
JUST A LITTLE BACKGROUND ON
THIS, FROM ERIC McCONAGHY'S
MEMO.
IT'S LINKED ON THE AGENDA.
IN RECOGNITION OF THE ECONOMIC
STRESSES DUE TO THE COVID-19
PANDEMIC, THE EXECUTIVE DID NOT
TRANSMIT AND COUNCIL DID NOT
PICK UP RATE SESSION IN 2020.
THEY WERE EFFECTIVE ON APRIL
1st, 2021.
SO DIFFERING FROM THEIR REGULAR
PRACTICE, CITY LIGHT PROPOSED
THE AND THE COUNCIL ADOPTED A
FIVE YEAR STRATEGIC PLAN
THROUGH 2026.
AFTER COUNCIL APPROVED THAT
RATE PLAN.
SO NOW, IN 2022, CITY LIGHT HAS
PROPOSED A 2023 TO 2028
STRATEGIC PLAN TO COUNCIL,
THEREBY RESTARTING THE NORMAL
TWO YEAR CYCLE OF STRATEGIC
PLANNING RATE PATH
DETERMINATION, AND RATE CHANGE
ADOPTION.
SO WE'RE GETTING BACK ON
SCHEDULE.
THE COMMITTEE WILL TAKE UP THE
PROPOSED RATE CHANGES IN AUGUST
AND NOW WILL THE PRESENTERS
PLEASE INTRODUCE YOURSELVES.
>> GOOD MORNING.
>> I WAS GOING TO START.
MY NAME IS DEBORA SMITH.
I'M REMOTE.
THANK YOU FOR ALLOWING ME TO
CALL IN TODAY.
I'M JUST GOING TO KICK THIS OFF
AND TURN IT OVER TO MY VERY
WELL EQUIPPED TEAM.
I JUST WANT TO THANK YOU, AND
APPRECIATE THE TIME TODAY, AND
I'LL LET YOU KNOW HOW EXCITED
WE ARE TO SHARE THIS STRATEGIC
PLAN UPDATE.
SO WITH THAT, I'M GOING TO TURN
THINGS OVER TO HOW ABOUT LEIGH,
TO INTRODUCE HERSELF, AND YOU
CAN JUST BUCK TO KRISTY.
>> I'M LEIGH BREECCA.
>> GOOD MORNING, MY NAME IS
KRISTY GRAINGER.
>> I'M JENNY LAVEST.
>> I'M SCOTT HASKINS.
I AM THE REPRESENTATIVE FROM
THE SEATTLE CITY LIGHT REVIEW
PANEL.
>> AND IS ERIC PRESENT ONLINE?
>> HELLO.
I'M ERIC McCONAGHY ON THE
CENTRAL STAFF.
GOOD MORNING.
>> GOOD MORNING, AND WELCOME,
EVERYONE.
PLEASE PROCEED.
>> NEXT SLIDE, PLEASE.
>> THANK YOU.
AS COUNCILMEMBER NELSON JUST
MENTIONED, WE ANTICIPATE BEING
BACK HERE ON JULY 13th TO
RESPOND TO ANY QUESTIONS THAT
WE MAY GET BETWEEN NOW AND
THEN, OR TO QUESTIONS THAT YOU
POSED TODAY THAT WILL NEED A
LITTLE BIT OF TIME FOR US TO
GATHER INFORMATION AND THEN
HOPEFULLY GO INTO FULL COUNCIL
ACTION ON THE 19th TO ADOPT
THIS STRATEGIC PLAN UPDATE.
NEXT, PLEASE.
>> SO THIS CITY LIGHT STRATEGIC
PLAN, JUST A QUICK OVERVIEW.
THIS IS OUR ONE, TWO, THREE,
FOUR, SIXTH STRATEGIC PLAN,
AND/OR UPDATE.
THE FIRST WAS DELIVERED IN
2012, AND COVERED THE YEARS '13
THROUGH '18.
THE PROCESS WAS ESTABLISHED BY
COUNCIL ORDINANCE, AND IT HAS A
SIX YEAR RATE PATH IN ADDITION
TO A SET OF PRIORITIES
INITIATIVES WITH THE RATE PATH
TO SUPPORT THAT WORK.
WE DEVELOPED THE STRATEGIC PLAN
IN PARTNERSHIP WITH OUR CITY
LIGHT REVIEW PANEL.
THEY PROVIDE INPUT ON THE PLAN,
AND THE RIGHT DESIGN.
NINE MEMBERS OF THE PANEL ARE
REPRESENTATIVES OF OUR VARIOUS
CUSTOMER GROUPS AND AREAS OF
EXPERTISE.
THANK YOU.
FOUNDATION TO ALL THAT WE DO AT
CITY LIGHT AND TO THE BUILDING,
THAT DEVELOPMENT OF THE
STRATEGIC PLAN IS OUR MISSION
AND VALUES.
THESE WILL BE REFLECTED IN
SEVERAL OTHER PROGRAMS THAT WE
WILL BE DISCUSSING TODAY.
SO AS WE SAID, THE 2022-'26
PLAN WAS CALLED, I MISSPOKE, IT
WAS CALLED RECOVER, REFOCUS AND
RESTART.
THIS PLAN UPDATE PUTS US BACK
ON OUR TWO YEAR SCHEDULE, WHICH
COINCIDES WITH OUR RATE SETTING
PROCESS.
EACH PLAN, WE CONDUCT OUTREACH
EFFORTS FOR THE DEVELOPMENT OF
EACH PLAN.
IN 2021 AND 2022, WE TALKED TO
SEVERAL STAKEHOLDER GROUPS,
INCLUDING GROUPS SUCH AS THE
SEATTLE RENTER'S COMMISSION.
THE NORTHWEST ENERGY COALITION.
SEATTLE 2030 DISTRICT.
SEATTLE BUSINESS OWNERS AND
MANAGERS ASSOCIATION, THE
MULTISERVICE CENTER.
WE ALSO CONDUCTED A VIRTUAL
TOWN HALL.
THROUGHOUT THE TWO YEARS WE'VE
TALKED WITH OVER 180 ATTENDEES.
THIS YEAR ALONE, WE CONDUCTED
TEN STRATEGY PLANNING MEETINGS
WITH OUR CITY LIGHT REVIEW
PANEL.
IN ADDITION TO MEETING WITH
CUSTOMERS, WE EXAMINE THE
SURVEY RESULTS THAT WE'D
RECEIVED FROM A CUSTOMER
SATISFACTION SURVEY, AND A
CLEAN ENERGY FUTURE SURVEY.
TWO HIGHLIGHTS, I GUESS THAT
CAME OUT OF THAT IS THAT A VAST
MAJORITY OF RESPONDENTS WERE
CONCERNED ABOUT CLIMATE CHANGE.
ALL DEMOGRAPHICS LISTED,
REDUCING CLIMATE CHANGE
IMPACTS, REDUCING RELIANCE ON
FOSSIL FUELS, AND REDUCING AN
ENVIRONMENTAL IMPACTS AS THE
THREE MOST IMPORTANT BENEFITS
OF ACHIEVING 100% CLEAN ENERGY
BY 2045.
IN ADDITION, WITH OUR CUSTOMER
SATISFACTION SURVEY, AN
OVERWHELMING MAJORITY, 85% OF
RESIDENTIAL CUSTOMERS ARE
SATISFIED WITH THE OVERALL
SERVICE THEY RECEIVED FROM
SEATTLE CITY LIGHT AND
RELIABILITY IS ONE OF THE MAIN
AREAS THAT CONTRIBUTES TO THAT
SATISFACTION.
THERE'S A DETAILED ANALYSIS OF
ALL THESE FINDINGS IN APPENDIX
B, ACCOMPANYING THE STRATEGIC
PLAN.
AND AT THE END OF THE SESSION,
IF YOU HAVE QUESTIONS SPECIFIC
TO OUR OUTREACH, JENNY IS HERE
TO RESPOND.
NEXT PLEASE.
BEGINNING LAST YEAR, WE MADE A
MUCH MORE -- WE REALLY TRIED TO
FLEX OUR MUSCLE IN COMBINING
OUR BUDGET SETTING PROCESS WITH
OUR STRATEGIC SETTING PROCESS
AND WORKING WITH OUR RACE OF
SOCIAL JUSTICE TEAM AT SEATTLE
CITY LIGHT.
EACH OF THE PROGRAMS,
INITIATIVES, AND THE STRATEGIC
PLAN NEED TO BE SUPPORTED BY
THE ACCOMPANYING BUDGET.
EACH MUCH THOSE PROGRAMS NEEDS
TO ANALYZE THE RATES OF SOCIAL
JUSTICE IMPACTS THAT IT MAY
HAVE ON OUR CUSTOMERS, THE
CONSTITUENTS, THE RESIDENTS OF
THE CITY OF SEATTLE, ANY OF OUR
STAKEHOLDERS.
SO THIS YEAR, WE HELD A NUMBER
OF WHAT WE CALLED EQUITY LABS.
THESE WERE CONDUCTED BY THE
RACE AND SOCIAL JUSTICE TEAM
WHERE PROJECT MANAGERS BROUGHT
THEIR PROJECT PROPOSALS TO THE
CHANGE TEAM, AND DISCUSSED THE
EQUITY OUTCOMES OF THEIR
PROPOSALS.
IDENTIFYING MARGINALIZED
STAKEHOLDER, AND TO CONSIDER
PLANNING FOR THE TRUE COST OF
EQUITY INTERVENTIONS, AND TO
INCLUDING THOSE IN THE
SUBSEQUENT BUDGET THAT
FOLLOWED.
NEXT, PLEASE.
WE DELIVERED THE 2022 STRATEGIC
PLAN TO THE MAYOR'S OFFICE LAST
MAY, AND MET WITH YOU IN JUNE
AND JULY OF 2021.
SO SINCE THAT TIME, WE WERE NOT
ONLY WORKING ON AN UPDATE TO
THAT STRATEGIC PLAN, BUT WE'VE
ALSO BEEN DELIVERING SOME
IMPORTANT SERVICES TO OUR
CUSTOMERS AND TO THE COMMUNITY.
AND I JUST WANTED TO TALK ABOUT
A COUPLE RIGHT HERE.
ONE OF THE THINGS WE'RE VERY
PROUD OF IS DELIVERING POWER IN
EXTREME WEATHER.
FROM THE WIND STORMS, AND TO
THE RECORD SNOW IN THE WINTER,
AND TO THE FALL AND
GROUNDBREAKING TRIPLE DIGIT
TEMPERATURES IN THE SUMMER,
CITY LIGHT RESPONDED QUICKLY
AND SAFELY TO GET POWER BACK
ON, AND TO MANAGE THE POWER
LOADS TO ENSURE THE SYSTEM
COULD ACCOMMODATE THE INCREASED
USE.
CREATING SHELTER FRONT HOUSE
NEIGHBORS.
WORKING WITH OTHER PARTNERS,
SEATTLE CITY LIGHT HAS TURNED
OUR FORMER POWER CONTROL CENTER
ON ROY STREET IN SEATTLE'S
UPTOWN NEIGHBORHOOD, INTO A 24
HOUR SHELTER FOR 40 UNHOUSED
INDIVIDUALS.
IN SEPTEMBER 2021, THE SMART
ELECTRIC POWER ALLIANCE, OR
SEPA, WHICH IS A NONPROFIT THAT
COMMISSIONS A POWER SYSTEM
ANNOUNCED THAT SEATTLE HAD
EARNED A SPOT ON ITS 2021
LEADER BOARD.
SEATTLE CITY LIGHT AND THE
WASHINGTON STATE HOUSING
FINANCE COMMISSIONS SUSTAINABLE
ENERGY TRUST WERE SELECTED AS
THE 2021 GREEN POWER LEADERSHIP
AWARD WINNERS BY THE CENTER FOR
RESOURCE SOLUTIONS.
AND FINALLY, CITY LIGHT
CONTINUES INSTALLING AND
OPERATING PUBLICLY ACCESSIBLE
ELECTRIC VEHICLE FAST CHARGERS
THROUGHOUT ITS SERVICE
TERRITORY.
WE ALSO PARTNERED WITH KING
COUNTY METRO AND THE CITY OF
TUKWILA TO DEVELOP AND OPEN A
CHARGING FACILITY FOR METRO'S
NEW FLEET OF ALL ELECTRIC
BUSES.
NEXT, PLEASE.
GOING INTO THE SPECIFICS ABOUT
THE PLAN.
YOU'LL SEE HERE OUR HIGH LEVEL
BUSINESS STRATEGIES.
THESE REMAIN THE SAME AS WERE
IN THE LAST PLAN, AND THE PLAN
THAT WE DELIVERED LAST YEAR,
THE 2022 PLAN.
SINCE THE ADOPTION OF THAT PLAN
IN JULY, WE'VE BEEN DEVELOPING
THE PROGRAMS OR WHAT WE CALL
THE PIA'S.
THE PROJECTS INITIATIVES AND
ACTIVITIES THAT WE WOULD
UNDERTAKE TO HELP US ACHIEVE
THE OBJECTIVES OF EACH OF OUR
BUSINESS STRATEGIES.
AND THE PROGRAM'S DETAILED IN
THIS STRATEGIC PLAN UPDATE ARE
ALL ABOUT LOOKING AHEAD.
WE KNOW THE FUTURE IS
UNCERTAIN, AND SUCCESS IS
DEPENDENT ON APPROACHING
CHALLENGES AND OPPORTUNITIES
WITH CURIOSITY, KINDNESS, AND A
COMMITMENT TO EQUITY.
ECONOMIC RECOVERY IS HAPPENING
ALL AROUND US.
AND AS WE JUST HEARD FROM THE
PREVIOUS PRESENTER, AND AS A
COMMUNITY OWNED UTILITY, OUR
JOB IS TO HELP OUR CUSTOMERS
THRIVE IN THE FUTURE WE'RE
CREATING TOGETHER.
SO NOW WE'LL TALK ABOUT EACH OF
THE BUSINESS STRATEGIES VERY
QUICKLY.
>> DID YOU KNOW MANAGER SMITH?
DID YOU HAVE A QUESTION?
I THINK I SAW YOUR HAND.
OKAY, SORRY.
>> OKAY, OUR FIRST BUSINESS
STRATEGY, IMPROVE THE CUSTOMER
EXPERIENCE.
>> ONE MOMENT.
SHE IS NOW TALKING.
>> I WAS JUST SAYING, IT LOOKS
LIKE COUNCILMEMBER JUAREZ HAS
HER HAND UP.
>> NO, THAT'S AN OLD HAND.
>> OKAY.
>> THANK YOU, THANK YOU.
WITH THE CUSTOMER EXPERIENCE
WE'RE FOCUSED ON ENGAGING WITH
OUR CUSTOMERS AND HELPING OUR
EMPLOYEES SEE THE IMPACT OF OUR
ACTIONS FROM THE CUSTOMER'S
PERSPECTIVE, AND WE ARE ALSO
MAKING INVESTMENTS TO ENHANCE
ACCESSIBILITY AND OFFER NEW
PROGRAM CHOICES TO BETTER MEET
OUR CUSTOMERS' DIVERSE NEEDS.
OKAY THANK YOU.
SO THIS IS CREATOR ENERGY
FUTURE.
OUR ENERGY FUTURE IS BASED ON
CARBON FREE RENEWABLE
RESOURCES.
A NEW, OR IMPROVED
INFRASTRUCTURE IS NEEDED TO
ENSURE THAT ELECTRICITY CAN BE
ACCESSED WHENEVER AND WHEREVER
PEOPLE NEED IT.
SO MUCH OF THE STRATEGY TO TO
ENHANCE AND UPGRADE OUR SYSTEM
TO ALLOW US TO SUPPORT THE
INCREASED ELECTRIFICATION FROM
BUILDINGS, AND TRANSPORTATION
WHILE ALSO LOOKING AT FEDERAL
FUNDING AVAILABILITY TO HELP US
FUND SOME OF THESE EFFORTS.
NEXT, PLEASE, THANK YOU.
DEVELOP WORKFORCE AND
ORGANIZATIONAL AGILITY.
THIS STRATEGY IS OUR INDUSTRY
IS TRANSFORMING QUICKLY.
AND SO ARE OUR CUSTOMERS'
NEEDS, AND EXPECTATIONS.
SO WE HAVE TO INVEST IN OUR
PEOPLE, PROCESSES, AND
TECHNOLOGIES TO ENABLE THEM TO
THRIVE IN THIS TRANSFORMATIONAL
ENVIRONMENT.
WE'RE CULTIVATING A WORKFORCE
WITH THE SKILLS AND KNOWLEDGE
TO ALIGN WITH EVOLVING BUSINESS
PROCESSES AND BUSINESS NEEDS,
AND TO ADVANCE SOCIAL JUSTICE.
NEXT.
FINANCIAL STABILITY IS
ESSENTIAL TO EVERYTHING WE DO.
RESPONSIBLE FINANCIAL PLANNING
MAKES IT POSSIBLE FOR US TO
DELIVER THE INNOVATED ENERGY
SOLUTIONS, PLAN FOR CRITICAL
INVESTMENTS, AND TO KEEP OUR
RATES AFFORDABLE.
WHAT YOU'LL SEE HERE, THERE ARE
THREE.
EACH OF THESE SLIDES HIGHLIGHTS
THREE IMPORTANT AREAS AND
PROGRAMS THAT WE'RE DEVELOPING
FOR EACH, AND YOU'LL HEAR MORE
ABOUT THIS ONE IN THE FINANCIAL
PART OF THE PRESENTATION.
NEXT PLEASE.
AND FINALLY, BUT NOT AT ALL
FINALLY, WE POWER.
THIS REFERS TO OUR CORE MISSION
OF PROVIDING OUR CUSTOMERS WITH
AFFORDABLE, RELIABLE, AND
ENERGY ENVIRONMENTALLY
RESPONSIBLE ENERGY SERVICES.
IN ORDER TO DO SO, WE NEED TO
MAKE OUR INFRASTRUCTURE
INVESTMENTS.
WE WILL BE PROVIDING
TRANSPARENCY THROUGH OUR
ENHANCED METRICS REPORTING.
ANOTHER IS THE RELICENSING OF
OUR SKAGIT HYDRO PROJECT.
NOW WE'LL MOVE ONTO KRISTY
GRAINGER.
>> THANK YOU.
>> SO AN OUTPUT OF THE
STRATEGIC PLAN IS A SIX YEAR
RATE TRAJECTORY THAT OUTLINES
THE RATES THAT CITY LIGHT WOULD
NEED TO SUPPORT THE PROJECTS
INITIATIVES AND ACTIVITIES THAT
WE JUST DESCRIBED.
THIS CAN BE FOUND IN APPENDIX A
OF OUR STRATEGIC PLAN.
ONE, A PART OF CITY LIGHT'S
COMMITMENT TO AFFORDABILITY IS
THAT WE'RE AIMING TO OUR PLAN
THAT LOOKS LIKE INFLATION.
YOU CAN SEE THAT FOR THE NEXT
SIX YEARS IT CALLS FOR A 4.5%
AVERAGE RATE INCREASE, AND
AGAIN IN 2024, AND 3.5% FOR
2025, 2026, 2027, AND 2028.
THE 4.5% FOR, THAT THE NEXT TWO
YEARS IS HIGHER THAN WHAT CITY
LIGHT HAD PROJECTED, AND THIS
IS DUE TO THE HIGH INFLATION
THAT WE ARE SEEING AND I'M SURE
FOR ANYONE WHO'S TRACKING, THIS
IS PROBABLY NOT A SURPRISE,
THAT INFLATION IS IMPACTING US
ALL RIGHT NOW FOR CITY LIGHT IN
PARTICULAR, THE COST OF RAW
MATERIALS, COPPER POLES ARE
SIGNIFICANT FOR US RIGHT NOW
AND ARE RISING QUICKLY, EVEN IN
THE DOUBLE-DIGIT PERCENTAGES
FOR SOME OF THESE ITEMS.
SO THAT HIGHER RATE INCREASES
FOR 2023, AND 2024 REFLECT THE
INFLATION THAT CITY LIGHT'S
BEEN SEEING FOR THE PAST
SEVERAL YEARS.
YOU CAN SEE THERE IN THE CHART
ON THE RIGHT, WHICH COMPARES
CITY LIGHT'S RATE PATH WITH THE
CONSUMER PRICE INDEX AS
PUBLISHED BY THE CITY'S OWN
OFFICE OF ECONOMIC AND REVENUE
FORECASTS THAT WE COMPARE
FAVORABLY TO INFLATION.
INFLATION IS HIGH RIGHT NOW,
BUT WE'RE GOING TO TRY TO STAY
UNDER THAT.
YOU CAN SEE THAT FOR 2020 AND
2021, WE DIDN'T HAVE A RATE
INCREASE IN 2021 AND 3.9% IN
2022.
SO SOME OF THE RATE INCREASES
THAT WE'RE PROPOSING FOR THE
NEXT TWO YEARS REPRESENT A
LITTLE BIT OF CATCHING UP FOR
THE IMPACTS OF INFLATION.
NEXT SLIDE, PLEASE.
JUST TO PROVIDE A LITTLE
CONTEXT FOR WHAT THESE
PERCENTAGES MEAN FOR A TYPICAL
RESIDENTIAL CUSTOMER AND
AVERAGE RESIDENT, THERE WILL BE
ABOUT $80 A MONTH, AND 4.5%
INCREASE WOULD BE ABOUT $4.
I JUST WANT TO QUICKLY
ACKNOWLEDGE THAT THERE'S A TYPO
ON THIS SLIDE, THAT SOMEHOW GOT
PAST ALL OF OUR REVIEW.
YOU CAN SEE THAT THE RATE PATH
THAT WE PROVIDED ON THE BOT 0
ON HALF OF THIS TABLE FOR
CONTEXT, THE NUMBERS SHOULD BE
3.0, SO SORRY ABOUT THAT,
PLEASE MAKE A NOTE OF THAT.
THE RATE INCREASES THAT WE'RE
TALKING ABOUT TRANSLATE TO 3 TO
$4 A MONTH, AND THEN FOR
CUSTOMERS WHO ARE ENROLLED IN
THE UTILITY DISCOUNT PROGRAM,
THEY RECEIVE A 60% DISCOUNT ON
THEIR BILLS.
SO THESE RATE INCREASES WOULD
BE $1 $1.50, TO $2 RANGE.
THESE PROVIDE SOME CONTEXT FOR
WHAT THAT'S RATE INCREASES LOOK
LIKE FOR THEM.
ANY INCREASE TO UTILITY
ELECTRIC BILLS IMPACTS
RESIDENTIAL AND BUSINESSES IN
OUR COMMUNITY.
THESE IMPACTS ARE FELT FOR
DIFFERENT MEMBERS OF OUR
COMMUNITY AND SO I JUST WANTED
TO TAKE ONE SLIDE TO HIGHLIGHT
SOME AFFORDABILITY PROGRAMS
THAT WE OFFER HERE.
SO WE MENTIONED THE UTILITY
DISCOUNT PROGRAM, AND THAT'S AN
ONGOING 60% DISCOUNT.
WE ALSO HAVE SEVERAL PROGRAMS
FOR INCOME ELIGIBLE CUSTOMERS
TO HELP CUSTOMERS WHO ARE
BEHIND ON THEIR BILLS.
AND WE KNOW THAT THIS IS AN
ISSUE RIGHT NOW FOR
APPROXIMATELY 40,000 OF OUR
CUSTOMERS, AND THANK YOU
COUNCILMEMBER AT THE BEGINNING
FOR YOUR PSA REMINDING FOLKS
THAT WE ARE ACTIVELY OUT DOING
OUTREACH TO CUSTOMERS BELOW ARE
BEHIND ON THEIR BILLS, BUT WE
ARE NOT DEMANDING PAYMENT.
THAT REALLY WHAT WE'RE DOING IS
OFFERING ASSISTANCE, THAT
PROVIDES A CREDIT OF UP TO
$1,000 FOR HOUSEHOLDS, AS WELL
AS FEDERAL PROGRAMS THAT CAN
OFFER CREDITS TO HEATING
EXPENSES, AS WELL AS A NEW
WASHINGTON STATE FUNDING
PROGRAM.
SO WE HAVE A LOT OF HELP FOR
CUSTOMERS WHO ARE BEHIND ON
THEIR BILLS, AND WE REALLY DO
WANT TO HELP FOLKS THAT ARE
BEHIND.
FOR A LOT OF FOLKS BELOW MAY
NOT QUALIFY BASED ON INCOME, WE
HAVE BILL PAYMENT PROGRAMS, AND
PUTTING TOGETHER A PAYMENT PLAN
THAT CAN EXTEND FROM 60 DAYS
OUT TO 2, EVEN 3 YEARS TO HELP
THEM GET CAUGHT UP ON THEIR
BILLS.
AND BOTH CITY LIGHT AND SPU, WE
HAVE OUR LATE FEES ARE WAIVED
UNTIL JUNE OF NEXT YEAR.
SO WE REALLY DO WANT TO HELP
CUSTOMERS GET UP-TO-DATE WITH
THEIR BILLS.
WE HAVE A LOT OF PROGRAMS TO
SUPPORT THEM.
OH, AND IF ANYBODY WHO'S
LISTENING IN GOOGLES
SEATTLE.GOV UTILITY BILL HELP,
AND WE HAVE A NICE WEB PAGE
THAT WILL TELL FOLKS ABOUT
THESE PROGRAMS.
FINALLY, I HAVE JUST ONE SLIDE
THAT'S A BIT OF A SNEAK PEEK ON
WHAT HAPPENS NEXT.
SEATTLE CITY LIGHT IS THE
BUDGET FOR OUR RATES PROPOSAL.
THE WHOLE CITY WILL BE MOVING
INTO BUDGET IN SEPTEMBER.
AND SO WE ARE AIMING TO HAVE
APPROVAL FOR THE STRATEGIC
PLAN.
AND THEN WE'LL BE BRINGING
FORWARD A RATE ORDINANCE THAT
WILL SET RATES FOR 2023 AND
2024 THAT ALIGN WITH THE
STRATEGIC PLAN.
AND THE INCREASES FOR CUSTOMER
CLASSES, AND FOR INDIVIDUAL
CUSTOMERS WILL VARY FROM THAT
4.5% AVERAGE, BECAUSE WE'RE
GOING TO BE TAKING INTO ACCOUNT
COST OF SERVICE AND SOME RATE
DESIGN CHANGES.
THERE WILL BE A BIG ORDINANCE
COMING.
I THINK WE'RE AIMING TO BRING
THIS TO COMMITTEE ON AUGUST
12th.
AND WE ALSO HAVE EXCITING STUFF
COMING UP WITH RATE DESIGN.
A TIME MUCH DAY RATE OPTION,
THAT WE'VE BEEN WORKING ON FOR
SOME TIME.
SO WE'RE EXCITED TO BRING THAT
BACK TO COMMITTEE IN AUGUST.
SO THAT'S ALL OF MY SLIDES.
IS THIS WHERE WE TURN IT OVER
TO SCOTT?
>> I THINK SO.
>> OKAY.
>> THIS IS SCOTT, AGAIN WITH
THE CITY LIGHT REVIEW PANEL.
OUR STRATEGIC PLAN IS REALLY A
TEAM EFFORT BETWEEN CITY LIGHT
STAFF AND OUR GREAT REVIEW
PANEL, WHICH IS OF NINE
COMMUNITY MEMBERS WHICH WORK
HAND IN HAND WITH US ON PUTTING
THIS PLAN TOGETHER, SO THANKS
SCOTT FOR PUTTING THIS TOGETHER
TODAY, AND TALKING WITH US.
>> THANK YOU.
GOOD MORNING, CHAIR NELSON, AND
COMMITTEE MEMBERS.
I'M SCOTT HASKINS.
I'M SITTING IN FOR THE CHAIR OF
THE PANEL, MICHAEL HANSON, WHO
IS NOT ABLE TO BE HERE TODAY,
BUT WE ALL PARTNERSHIP HEAVILY
IN THIS PROCESS, WHICH I THINK
CITY COUNCIL STAFF AND BUDGET
OFFICE WOULD ATTEST, SO IT'S A
PRIVILEGE TO BE HERE.
JUST ONE QUICK NOTE ABOUT THE
PANEL, FOR THE NINE MEMBER
PANEL, FIVE MEMBERS ARE
NOMINATED BY THE MAYOR'S OFFICE
FOR BY THE CITY COUNCIL.
I WAS ONE OF THOSE CITY COUNCIL
NOMINEES A COUPLE YEARS AGO,
AND EACH REPRESENTS A DIFFERENT
CUSTOMER GROUP.
MY PARTICULAR ROLE IS LOOKING
OUT FOR FINANCIAL ANALYST, OR
FINANCIAL STATUS, AND SO, I
BRING SOME EXPERTISE IN THAT
REGARD.
I'D LIKE TO TURN TO THE
STRATEGIC PLAN ITSELF WITH SOME
BRIEF COMMENTS AND I HAVE FIVE
QUICK TAKEAWAYS THAT I'D LIKE
TO MENTION.
AND THESE COME FROM THE PANEL'S
LETTER TO MAYOR HARRELL
REGARDING THE PLAN ITSELF, AND
THE UPDATE.
>> AND THAT IS ATTACHED TO THE
AGENDA.
FOR THE PUBLIC, THAT IS
ATTACHED TO THE AGENDA.
>> YES.
>> FIRST, I'M PLEASED TO
CONFIRM TO YOU THAT THE PANEL
HAS UNANIMOUSLY ENDORSES THE
STRATEGIC PLAN UPDATE AS WELL
AS THE ASSOCIATED RATE PATH.
SECONDLY, IN OUR DUE DILIGENCE
AND OUR INVOLVEMENT WITH THE
UTILITY WE BELIEVE THAT THE
UTILITY IS CHARTED.
A COURSE THAT KEEPS RATE
INCREASES AS MODEST AS
POSSIBLE, WHILE MAINTAINING
BASIC SERVICES, BASIC CORE
SERVICES FOR CUSTOMERS AS WELL
AS MAKING NECESSARY INVESTMENTS
OF CAPITAL TO THE
INFRASTRUCTURE AND THE SYSTEM.
WE THINK THAT THE COMMITMENT TO
KEEP RATES LOW AND THE
PRACTICES WE'VE OBSERVED IN
THAT REGARD IN IMPRESSIVE AND
IMPORTANT TO THE REVIEW PANEL.
WE RECOGNIZE AS YOU DO, THE
THIRD POINT IS THAT THESE ARE
VERY TURBULENT TIMES.
WE'VE HEARD TODAY ABOUT
INFLATION.
WE'VE HEARD ABOUT AND WE'RE
DEALING WITH SEATTLE CITY LIGHT
WITH SUPPLY CHAIN ISSUES.
WE'RE DEALING WITH THE ECONOMY
AND WE'RE FINDING THAT THESE
COSTS ARE VERY DIFFICULT TO
PROJECT WITH CERTAINTY, THAT
THERE ARE RISKS, AND THAT
MANAGING IN THAT UNCERTAINTY
AND TURBULENT TIMES IS GOING
FORWARD.
WE'VE ALSO OBSERVED IN OUR
ANALYSIS THAT THE UTILITY IS
AGGRESSIVELY WORKING ON
WORKFORCE ISSUES.
THEY HAVE A HIGH VACANCY RATE,
BUT THEY'RE WORKING ON
REDRAMATIC, AND EMPLOYEE
DEVELOPMENT, AND ORGANIZATIONAL
CHANGE MANAGEMENT.
THEY'RE QUITE FOCUSED.
WE'VE HEARD SEVERAL
PRESENTATIONS ON RACE AND
SOCIAL JUSTICE PROGRAM, BOTH
WITH THE INTERNAL, AS WELL AS
THE EXTERNAL COMMUNITY THAT
THEY SERVE.
WE THINK THAT OUR ROLE ALSO,
GOING FORWARD IS TO MONITOR
SOME KEY PERFORMANCE INDICATERS
IN TERMS OF HOW THEY'RE DOING
RELATIVE TO LONG TERM HEALTH
AND PROJECTS, HIRING SERVICE
DELIVERY, OVERALL COSTS AND
REVENUES.
THE FOURTH QUICK TAKEAWAY IS
THAT THE ADVISORY PANEL IS
DEEPLY INTERESTED IN FINANCIAL
POLICIES, PRACTICES AND
PERFORMANCE.
THESE HAVE BEEN A FOCUS OF OUR
PANEL FOR SEVERAL YEARS.
AND THERE ARE A COUPLE ACTION
ITEMS THAT ARE IN THEIR PLAN
THAT YOU CAN LOOK FORWARD TO
SEEING.
ONE OF THOSE RELATES TO LONG
TERM DEBT STRATEGY FOR THE
UTILITY.
WE'RE VERY INTERESTED IN THAT,
BECAUSE DEBT SERVICE REMAINS A
LARGE COMPONENT OF THE RATES.
AND HAVING ELECTRICITY RATES
THAT ARE AFFORDABLE ARE VERY
IMPORTANT, GIVEN THE DEBT
POSITION OF THE UTILITY.
SO HAVING A CLEAR DEBT STRATEGY
IS IMPORTANT FOR THE FUTURE.
A SECOND ACTION ITEM THAT YOU
CAN EXPECT IS TO HEAR MORE FROM
THE FACILITY THIS SUMMER ON
RATE DESIGN.
BACK IN 2019, THE REVIEW PANEL
AT THE COUNCIL'S REQUEST
SUBMITTED A REPORT REGARDING
THE DESIRABILITY OF THE
UPDATING CITY LIGHT'S RATE
DESIGN, THIS WAS BEFORE MY
TENURE ON THE PANEL, BUT WE
UNDERSTAND THAT THE UTILITY
WILL BE COMING FORWARD WITH THE
DESIGN PROPOSAL LATER FOR YOU
THIS SUMMER, AND WE'RE GOING TO
BE MONITORING THAT PROPOSAL.
THE LAST TAKEAWAY AND POINT
THAT I'D BE REMISS IF I DIDN'T
MENTION WAS JUST HOW IMPRESSED
WE ARE WITH UTILITY'S CURRENT
MANAGEMENT AND LEADERSHIP.
DEBORA, WITH HER CURRENT STAFF
HAS A GREAT AMOUNT OF ENERGY,
CONFIDENTIAL, LEADERSHIP, AND
ARE VERY COMMITTED TO CHANGE
AND IMPROVEMENT.
THEY WANT TO MAKE THINGS
BETTER, AND THAT'S EVIDENT TO
US IN ALL THE DISCUSSIONS WE'VE
HAD.
FURTHER, I WOULD JUST ADD THAT
WE DON'T JUST GO REVIEW THINGS,
AND GIVE AN OPINION, WE
PARTNERSHIP ACTIVELY IN
DISCUSSIONS WITH THEM.
WE RAISE ISSUES.
WE RAISE QUESTIONS.
WE HAVE COMMENTS, AND WITHOUT
EXCEPTION, ALL OF THOSE ARE
TAKEN SERIOUSLY.
AND ADDRESSED, SO WE FEEL VERY
MUCH IN DEVELOPMENT OF THE PLAN
AND UNDERSTANDING THE ROLE WE
HAVE WITH THE PLAN.
SO WITH THAT, THAT CONCLUDES MY
REMARKS FOR TODAY, AND I'D BE
HAPPY TO SPEAK WITH YOU ABOUT
ANY QUESTIONS THAT YOU MAY
HAVE.
>> WELL THANK YOU, SCOTT.
IT'S IMPORTANT TO NOTE THAT THE
WATCHDOG EXPERTS ARE HAPPY.
AND ALSO THANK YOU CITY LIGHT
PANELISTS FOR YOUR DETAILED
OVERVIEW OF THE STRATEGIC PLAN.
AGAIN, THOSE DOCUMENTS ARE
LINKED ON THE AGENDA.
I SEE THAT COUNCILMEMBER
HERBOLD HAS A QUESTION, AND I
HAVE A COUPLE AS WELL.
COUNCILMEMBER HERBOLD.
>> I DO NOT.
I DON'T HAVE MY HAND RAISED.
I DON'T QUITE SEE WHAT YOU'RE
SEEING.
I MIGHT, BUT NOT RIGHT OUT OF
THE GATE.
>> FOR SOME REASON MY CURSER
MADE A LITTLE HAND THING.
SO ANYWAY, I DO HAVE A
QUESTION.
ON PAGE THREE OF SEATTLE, OF
THE PDF THAT'S ON THE AGENDA,
ONE OF THE DRIVERS OF THE
INCREASED REVENUE REQUIREMENTS
IS AN INCREASE IN
ELECTRIFICATION INCENTIVES, AND
TO AROUND 5 MILLION ON TOP OF
THE CURRENT 2 MILLION.
I'M JUST WONDERING IF THAT
WILL, AND YOU TOUCHED ON
ELECTRIFICATION.
ON ELECTRIC VEHICLE CHARGING
STATION.
I'M ASSUMING, IS IT CORRECT TO
ASSUME THAT A LARGE PART OF
THAT INCREASE WILL BE GOING TO
YOUR ELECTRIC CHARGING
STATIONS?
>> THE ANSWER HAS A NUMBER IN
IT.
I'M GOING TO ASK KRISTY TO
RESPOND.
>> I CAN SPEAK TO IT AND SAY
YES.
AS YOU KNOW, OUR TRANSPORTATION
ELECTRIC STRATEGIC PLAN IS NOW
IN IMPLEMENTATION MODE AND I
THINK WE'VE SHARED AT LEAST
WITH SOME COUNCILMEMBERS, I
THINK WE SHARED WITH ALL OF YOU
THAT WE ARE PILOTING RIGHT NOW
OUR RESIDENTIAL STREET CHARGING
PROGRAM.
WE'RE ALSO ROLLING OUT A
MULTIFAMILY PROGRAM.
I THINK WHAT YOU'LL SEE IS WITH
APPROPRIATE FUNDING FOR 2022,
GOING FORWARD, THE INCREASED
FUNDING, OUR GOAL IS TO REALLY
OUT THERE PROVIDING INCENTIVES
AND ENCOURAGING FOLKS TO ADOPT
ELECTRIFICATION.
WE'RE ALSO LOOKING, WE HAVE
SOME PRELIMINARY PLANS, BUT
THIS IS AN AREA WHERE WE'RE
LASER FOCUSED.
WE CERTAINLY UNDERSTAND THAT.
IT IS OFTEN OUR MOST
ECONOMICALLY AFFLUENT CUSTOMERS
WHO CAN AFFORD ELECTRIC
VEHICLES, SO WE ARE LOOKING AT
A HOST OF OUR OPPORTUNITIES,
INCLUDING ELECTRIC BIKES SO WE
CAN PROVIDE BENEFITS AND ACCESS
TO ALL OF OUR CUSTOMERS.
SO MORE TO COME ON THAT.
I THINK WHAT YOU WILL SEE IS
WE'LL CONTINUE TO SHARE OUT
WITH YOU, AS WE LAUNCH NEW
PROGRAMS, AND EXPECT TO SEE
THOSE THIS YEAR AND NEXT.
DID YOU WANT TO ADD SOMETHING
TO THAT?
>> NO, IT'S A GREAT QUESTION.
THANK YOU.
AND YOU'RE RIGHT TO OBSERVE
THAT THOSE INCENTIVES THAT $5
MILLION IS MONEY THAT WE'RE
LOOKING TO GET OUT OF THE
COMMUNITY.
SO WE ARE BUILDING CHARGING
STATIONS, BUT WE'RE ALSO
LOOKING TO WORK TO BUILD
CHARGING INFRASTRUCTURE ALL
OVER THE COMMUNITY.
SO THOSE DOLLARS WE WILL BE
GETTING OUT INTO THE COMMUNITY.
>> THANK YOU.
THIS IS A TOPIC, THAT I'M VERY
MUCH INTERESTED IN, OUR SEATTLE
CLIMATE ACTION PLAN DOES SAY IT
HAS FOR A GOAL THAT 15% OF
PASSENGER CARS IN SEATTLE
SHOULD BE RUNNING ON CLEAN
ELECTRICITY BY 2030.
THAT'S ABOUT 60,000 VEHICLES,
AND I THINK THEY'RE ABOUT
15,000 VEHICLES RIGHT NOW THAT
ARE ELECTRIC ON OUR ROADS.
ONE WAY TO GET THERE IS TO
EXPAND OUR EV CHARGING NETWORK.
SO THANK YOU VERY MUCH FOR YOUR
WORK ON THAT.
AND WE ALSO HAVE TO RECOGNIZE
THAT THE UTILITY AND THE RATE
PAYERS CAN'T AFFORD TO DO ALL
THIS WORK AND ENSURE THAT THESE
CHARGING STATIONS ARE
ACCESSIBLE EVERYWHERE ON OUR
OWN, AS A CITY.
SO WE'RE GOING TO HAVE TO ALSO
INCENTIVIZE PRIVATE VENDERS AS
WELL, AND I'M WORKING ON SOME
LEGISLATION FOR THAT, SO STAY
TUNED ON THAT.
>> COUNCILMEMBER, JUST IF I
COULD, YOU JUST TOUCHED ON
SOMETHING REALLY IMPORTANT.
THAT IS OUR STRATEGY.
OUR STRATEGY IN GENERAL IS TO
LEAN INTO THE PRIVATE SECTOR,
AND WE HAVE MADE CHANGES IN THE
WY WE APPROACH.
WE HAVE A DESK THAT DEALS FULL
TIME WITH THE REQUESTS AND ASKS
FROM THAT NETWORK OF CHARGING
ENTITIES, BECAUSE WE FEEL LIKE
HAVING THEM COME IN AND THEN
WHAT WE INTEND TO DO IS TO
CONTINUE TO USE PUBLIC FUNDS TO
FILL IN THE BLANKS, SO WHERE
ARE THERE LOCATIONS AND AREAS
IN OUR SERVICE TERRITORY FOR
WHATEVER REASON, THE PRIVATE
SECTOR IS NOT AS INTERESTED.
THAT'S WHERE PUBLIC CHARGING
BECOMES CRITICALLY IMPORTANT.
WE WILL CONTINUE TO FILL THAT
NEED, AND WE WILL ALSO BE
CONTINUING TO LOOK AT WHETHER
THE NOTION OF CHARGING STATIONS
FOR INSTANCE AT COMMUNITY
CENTERS IS THAT FEASIBLE AT
THOSE LOCATIONS WHERE THERE IS
ROOM, ET CETERA, SO WE ARE
FULLY ALIGNED WITH YOUR GOALS
THERE, AND I THINK WE'RE ALL ON
THE SAME PAGE.
>> GREAT.
>> COUNCILMEMBER HERBOLD, YOU
HAVE A REAL HAND UP.
>> I CERTAINLY DO.
THANK YOU SO MUCH.
JUST A COUPLE OF QUESTIONS
ABOUT STARTING COLLECTIONS ON
PAGE 11 OF THE STRATEGIC PLAN,
IT SAYS THAT SEATTLE CITY LIGHT
WILL BE STARTING COLLECTIONS
PRACTICES AS PANDEMIC MEASURES
SUNSET AND THE CENTRAL STAFF ML
SAYS THAT RESTARTING COLLECTION
PRACTICES MEANS SHUTTING OFF
POWER FOR UNPAID BILLS AFTER
ATTEMPTING TO GET CUSTOMERS
WITH UNPAID BILLS TO AVAIL
THEMSELVES OF ASSISTANCE AND
PAYMENT PLANS.
518 OF YOUR PRESENTATION
INCLUDES INFORMATION ABOUT A
VARIETY OF BILL PAYMENT SUPPORT
PROGRAMS.
AND I'M JUST WONDERING, CAN YOU
EXPLAIN IF SOME OF THESE
PROGRAMS ARE GOING TO BE SUN
SETTING, AND WHEN?
AND HOW YOU'RE GOING TO
PRIORITIZE ACCOUNTS FOR
COLLECTIONS AND WHAT MEASURES
YOU WILL BE TAKING UP, NOT ONLY
TO AVOID COLLECTIONS, BUT AS WE
ALL AGREE TO AVOID CUTOFFS OF
ELECTRICITY FOR UNPAID BILLS.
>> LET ME TAKE A STAB, THEN YOU
FILL IN THE BLANK.
IN GENERAL, WHAT IS IMPORTANT
TO KNOW IS WE'RE NOT INTERESTED
IN SHUTTING CUSTOMERS OFF.
WHAT WE'RE INTERESTED IN IS
HAVING CONVERSATIONS WITH
CUSTOMERS.
WE WILL FEEL SUCCESSFUL IF IN
FACT WE DON'T SHUT ANYONE OFF.
BECAUSE WHAT WE WANT IS WE'VE
GOT A PLAN IN PLACE THAT OFFERS
VERY, VERY GENEROUS, CUSTOM
TAILORED PAYMENT SOLUTIONS TO
CUSTOMERS.
ALL WE NEED IS FOR THEM TO
CONTACT US.
WE'RE GOING TO WORK WITH THEM,
WE HAVE, I THINK STAFF HAS DONE
AN AMAZING JOB.
I TAKE NO CREDIT WHATSOEVER.
WE YOU UNDERSTANDED ENDED UP
AT A TOP NOTCH PLAN FOR A
SHARED PAGE FOR INFORMATION.
WE'RE WORKING WITH CUSTOMERS
COLLABORATIVELY.
THEY ALREADY COME INTO THE SAME
CONTEXT CENTER, SO WE HAVE
ALIGNED OUR PROGRAMS AS BEST AS
WE CAN.
WE'RE GOING TO BE DOING ALL
KINDS OF THINGS, CONTINUING TO
PROVIDE EMERGENCY ASSISTANCE
FUNDS, AND I THINK WE HAVE
LEGISLATED THAT.
RIGHT NOW, WE ARE ONLY ACTIVELY
WORKING AND COMMUNICATING WITH
CUSTOMERS WHO OWE US OVER
$1,000.
THAT'S THE PLAN FOR ALL OF
2022.
I EXPECT THAT AS TIME GOES ON,
WE WILL MOVE CLOSER TO OUR OLD
THRESHOLD, WHICH IS $300.
BUT WE HAVE NO TIMELINE
ASSOCIATED WITH THAT.
WHAT WE'VE DONE AT THIS POINT
IS SIMPLY TO SAY THIS IS WHERE
WE'RE STARTING.
WE'RE GOING TO LEARN FROM OUR
EXPERIENCE.
LEARN FROM THE OUTREACH, AND WE
HAVE THOUGHTFUL, WE THINK ABOUT
SUNSET DATES, BUT AGAIN, WE ARE
AT THE VERY, VERY BEGINNING OF
THIS PROCESS, AND WE'RE REALLY
MOST INTERESTED IN SEEING
WHAT'S SUCCESSFUL, AND THEN
MKING TWEAKS TO OUR PROGRAM
OFFERINGS, AS WE NEED TO, IN
ORDER TO ENCOURAGECUSTOMERS TO
CALL US AND MAKE ARRANGEMENTS.
I DON'T KNOW IF THAT ANSWERS
YOUR QUESTIONS, BUT IT'S VERY
CUSTOMER FOCUSED, AND I THINK
IT IS ALWAYS GOOD TO NOTICE AND
MAKE SURE Y'ALL KNOW THAT WE
DID A LOT OF WORK WITH UDP
CUSTOMERS ON THE BACK END OF
THIS YEAR AND LAST YEAR.
WE APPLIED THE MONIES THAT YOU
GRACIOUSLY GAVE US, ALLOCATED
TO US OUT OF THE CORONA RELIEF
FUNDS.
WE APPLIED THOSE ON THE BACK
END TO THE CUSTOMERS THAT
NEEDED THE MOST HELP, WHICH
MEANS THEY DIDN'T HAVE TO TAKE
ANY ACTION.
WE ALSO APPLIED EMERGENCY
ASSISTANCE PROGRAMS.
I BUILT THE SEATTLE AND SPD
LIGHT BILLS.
WE WILL CONTINUE TO PRIORITIZE
OUR LOWEST INCOME CUSTOMERS AND
MAKE SURE THEY ARE NOT
JEOPARDIZED WHILE WE WORK ON
THESE LARGER BALANCES TO BRING
THEM DOWN.
THE OTHER THING THAT'S ALWAYS
WORTH NOTING IS WE DO HAVE A
RESPONSIBILITY AS A PUBLIC
UTILITY WHO SERVES ALL
CUSTOMERS TO MAKE EFFORTS TO
COLLECT PAST DUE RECEIVABLES,
SO WE ARE DOING THAT.
PLEASE KNOW WE HAVE FINANCIALLY
RESERVED MOST OF THAT LARGE
AMOUNT, WHICH MEANS THERE
ISN'T, AND THAT WAS IN LAST
YEARS'S FINANCIAL STATEMENTS.
AS WE RECOVER FUNDS, ASSUMING
THAT WE DO, AND I KNOW WE WILL,
AS WE RECOVER FUNDS, THOSE
ACTUALLY BENEFIT US, BUT WE'VE
ACTUALLY ALREADY RESERVED THE
FUNDS, SO WE'RE NOT AT RISK OF
A BIG WRITE DOWN FOR PAST DUE,
OR UNCOLLECTIVE RECEIVABLES.
THAT'S ALREADY BEEN TAKEN CARE
OF.
>> YEAH.
I GUESS A FOLLOW UP.
I'M JUST AGAIN RETURNING NOT ON
THE SLIDE, ERIC.
BUT [ INAUDIBLE ] THE SOCIAL
STAFF'S MEMO, IT SAYS AGAIN,
THAT RESTARTING COLLECTION
PRACTICES MEANS SHUTTING OFF
POWER FOR UNPAID BILLS, AFTER
GIVING CUSTOMERS THE ABILITY --
I'M JUST TRYING TO GET A LITTLE
MORE CLARITY ON HOW AND WHEN
THE CURRENT PRACTICES,
OBVIOUSLY, THEY'RE COVID
EMERGENCY RELATED PRACTICES,
WHERE YOU HAVE AGREED TO NOT
SHUT OFF PEOPLE'S UTILITIES.
HOW WE CAN EXPECT THOSE TO
CHANGE AND EVOLVE.
>> AS YOU KNOW, THE MORATORIUM
ON SHUTOFFS ENDED, THE MAYOR'S
OFFICE ALLOWED THAT EXECUTIVE
ORDER TO END IN APRIL.
SO RIGHT NOW, WE ARE SIMPLY
COMMUNICATING WITH PEOPLE.
THE SOONEST WE WOULD BE
SHUTTING ANY CUSTOMERS OFF IS
APRIL OR LATER.
OUR HOPE WAS THAT WE COULD
WORK, WE COULD INSENT AS MANY
CUSTOMERS AS POSSIBLE BEFORE WE
GO INTO A WINTER WEATHER
MORATORIUM.
AS SOON AS WE START TO SEE
TEMPERATURES DROP, OF COURSE WE
DON'T DISCONNECT CUSTOMERS, SO
WE WIND UP WITH A FAIRLY BIG
GAP.
SO THE IDEA HERE, AND I KNOW
THAT YOU WANT A MORE DEFINITIVE
ANSWER THAN MAYBE I'M ABLE TO
GIVE YOU COUNCILMEMBER, AND I
APOLOGIZE.
ONE THING WE COULD DO, IS WE
COULD PROVIDE A BRIEFING WITH
SPU, BECAUSE OUR PLANS ARE VERY
WELL ALIGNED, AND I KNOW YOU
CONTINUE TO TRACK ON SPU.
SO THAT WOULD BE SOMETHING WE
COULD DO.
BUT I -- SO WHAT ERIC HAS
PROVIDED IN THE MEMO IS A
DEFINITION.
SO IT'S A DEFINITION.
WHAT DOES CREDIT, WHAT DO
CREDIT DISCONNECTS MEAN?
THAT IS WHERE THEY ULTIMATELY
GO.
BUT AGAIN, IN THIS INSTANCE, WE
THINK WE'LL BE ABLE TO
PROACTIVELY, MOST CUSTOMERS
WILL BE INSENTED, MOST
CUSTOMERS WILL BE ALLOWED UP TO
THREE YEARS.
WE WORK FOR SOMETHING THAT
WORKS FOR THEM WHERE THEY FEEL
ABLE TO PAY OFF THOSE BILLS
OVERTIME.
IN TERMS OF WHEN THAT ENDS,
THERE IS NO DATE.
WE'RE JUST GOING TO BE TRACKING
WHAT WE DO.
AND WE'LL TALK ABOUT IF AND
WHEN WE CHOOSE TO MOVE THAT
NUMBER DOWN.
THAT'S REALLY THE BEST I CAN
GIVE YOU, BECAUSE WE ARE IN
UNCHARTERED TERRITORY, AND
AGAIN, IF WE'RE SUCCESSFUL, AND
OUR CURRENT PLAN RESULTS IN A
LOT OF ACTIVITY, A LOT OF
CUSTOMER CALLINS, THEN THAT'S
WHAT WE'LL STICK WITH.
AGAIN, THAT'S THE GOAL.
I THINK THAT YOU KNOW, AND
FOLKS GENERALLY KNOW, THAT WE
HAVE NOT, AT CITY LIGHT, WE
HAVE NOT DISCONNECTED CUSTOMERS
FOR NONPAYMENT SINCE 2016.
FOR US, IT IS A REALLY HEAVY
LIFT TO GET BACK TO THAT.
WE NOT ONLY NEED TO WORK WITH
CUSTOMERS WHO ACCRUED LARGE
OVERDUE BILLS BECAUSE OF COVID,
OR THE ECONOMIC IMPACTS OF
COVID, BUT WE ALSO NEED TO WORK
WITH CUSTOMERS TO RETRAIN THEM,
AND TO REINSENT THEM.
AND WE'RE VERY MINDFUL OF THAT.
AS SCOTT MENTIONED, IMPROVING
OUR BUSINESS STRATEGIES IS ONE
OF OUR TOP BUSINESS STRATEGIES.
SO WE REALLY WANT TO DO THIS IN
A WAY THAT FEELS RESPECTFUL TO
CUSTOMERS.
WE'RE TRYING TO WORK WITH
PEOPLE -- ALL OF OUR MATERIALS
ARE AVAILABLE IN MANY, MANY
LANGUAGES.
SO WE'RE TRYING TO WORK WITH
PEOPLE TO MOVE THIS ISSUE
FORWARD.
>> I REALLY APPRECIATE THAT,
AND I APPRECIATE THE BRIEFING
ON YOURS AND SPD'S WORK IN THIS
AREA, BUT I JUST WANT TO --
YOU'RE SAYING ON ONE HAND,
THERE HAVE BEEN NO SHUTOFFS
SINCE 2016, AND ON THE OTHER
HAND THERE MAY BE SHUTOFFS, SO
I WANT TO UNDERSTAND WHAT THE
POLICY MAY BE.
>> IN ADDITION TO A BRIEFING,
WE CAN OFFER YOU SOME WRITTEN
MATERIALS THAT SHOW IT MORE
CLEARLY.
>> THANK YOU.
>> THE TIMELINE.
I THINK SPD AND CITY LIGHT ARE
ON THE SAME TIMELINE.
SO WE'LL TAKE THAT AS AN
ASSIGNMENT, AND MAKE SURE YOU
GET THAT.
BUT AGAIN, IT'S AUGUST, WHERE
THERE COULD BE CUSTOMERS WHO
HAVE NOT REACHED OUT TO US AT
ALL, WHO HAVE BEEN
NONRESPONSIVE TO OUR ATTEMPTS
TO COMMUNICATE WITH THEM, WHO
AT THIS POINT, HAVE A PAST DUE
BALANCE OF OVER $1,000.
THOSE ARE THE FOLKS WHO COULD
WIND UP RECEIVING SHUTOFF
NOTICES LATE THIS SUMMER.
>> OKAY, THE OFFER, AND I'LL BE
TAKING YOU UP ON IT.
APPRECIATE IT.
THANK YOU.
>> ERIC, DO YOU HAVE ANYTHING
TO ADD TO THAT, OR ANYTHING
ELSE IN THIS STRATEGIC PLAN?
>> NO.
THE ONLY THING THAT MIGHT HAVE
BEEN MENTIONED IS CITY LIGHT
WITH THE OTHER UTILITIES ARE
WAITING TO HEAR FROM THE
DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE ABOUT
THE AMOUNT OF THE AWARDS.
THERE'S $100 MILLION IN THE
FUND.
A SIGNIFICANT AMOUNT OF MONEY,
MY BEST GUESS IS OUR UTILITIES
WILL RECEIVE A LARGE SHARE OF
THAT.
THAT WILL HELP A LOT IN
CUSTOMERS EXPERIENCING
DIFFICULTIES WITH THEIR BILLS
AS A RESULT OF COVID.
SO THERE WILL BE AN OPPORTUNITY
TO BE BRIEFED ABOUT WHAT DO
UTILITIES GET, HOW IS IT BEING
DELIVERED?
AND I THINK THIS COMMITTEE OR
PERHAPS CUSTOMER MEMBERS CAN
LOOK FORWARD TO THAT.
>> THANK YOU FOR BRINGING IT
UP.
WHAT'S TRUE IS THE CORONA
RELIEF FUNDS HAD TO BE APPLIED,
AND COULD ONLY BE APPLIED TO
CITY OF SEATTLE CUSTOMERS, JUST
DUE TO THE NATURE OF THE
FUNDING.
WHAT WE APPRECIATE AND WHY WHAT
ERIC JUST MENTIONED IS
CRITICALLY IMPORTANT, TWO
REASONS.
ONE IS WE BELIEVE WE WILL
RECEIVE A FAIRLY SIGNIFICANT
AMOUNT OF FUNDING BECAUSE IN
THIS INSTANCE, THOSE FUNDS ARE
RESTRICTED, AND THEY NEED TO BE
USED FOR, THERE IS A
REQUIREMENT THAT THE PAST TWO
BALANCES BE ACCRUED AFTER A SET
DATE.
AND MANY OF OUR SISTER AND
BROTHER UTILITIES ACROSS THE
STATE BEGAN RESUMING COLLECTION
ACTIVITIES PRIOR TO THAT DATE.
SO THAT MEANS THEY WON'T BE
ELIGIBLE FOR FUNDS.
SO WE HAVE LEARNED THAT, AND WE
THINK MORE FUNDING WILL GO TO
US.
THE OTHER THING THAT'S
CRITICALLY IMPORTANT ABOUT
THIS, IT WILL ALLOW US TO DO
THE KINDS OF THINGS ON THE BACK
END FOR CUSTOMERS, ESPECIALLY
LOW INCOME CUSTOMER WHO IS
QUALIFY FOR THESE FUNDINGS WHO
ARE IN OUR SUBURBAN FRANCHISE
CITIES.
SO WE WEREN'T ABLE TO OFFER ANY
HELP TO THOSE CUSTOMERS, AND WE
WILL BE ABLE TO USE THE STATE
FUNDING.
WE BELIEVE THAT THE COMBINATION
OF THOSE TWO THINGS WILL AT
LEAST ALLOW US TO HAVE MOST OF
OUR LOWEST INCOME CUSTOMERS IN
A GOOD PLACE.
THEN, OF COURSE, UDP IS
PERSPECTIVE GOING FORWARD.
SO IF WE'RE ABLE TO CLEAN UP
PAST DUE BALANCES THAT THEY'RE
CONTINUING TO BENEFIT FROM THE
DISCOUNT, WE AT LEAST BELIEVE
WE CAN KEEP THOSE CUSTOMERS OUT
OF A COLLECTION CYCLE.
SO THE STAFF MEMBERS WORKING ON
THIS, LESLIE BENSON AND FROM
SEATTLE CITY LIGHT.
>> THANK YOU VERY MUCH.
WE'RE BEHIND SCHEDULE.
IF THERE AREN'T ANY QUESTIONS,
I WOULD LIKE TO MOVE ON.
LET'S SEE, WILL THE CLERK
PLEASE READ AGENDA ITEM THREE
INTO THE RECORD?
AND THANK YOU, VERY, VERY MUCH
PANELISTS AND DEBORA.
EXCELLENT.
AGAIN, WE'LL TAKE THIS UP AGAIN
ON THE 13th.
IN THE MEANTIME, I ENCOURAGE
EVERYONE TO GET QUESTIONS TO
CITY LIGHT.
>> COUNCILMEMBER, IF I COULD
REALLY QUICK, THE
TRANSPORTATION STRATEGIC
INVESTMENT PLAN, IT'S COMING
JUST WITH AN UPDATE TO
COMMITTEE ON JULY 22nd.
IF YOU HAVE SPECIFIC QUESTIONS
OR AREAS YOU WANT US TO COVER
WITH RESPECT, IF YOU'LL HAVE
YOUR STAFF LET US KNOW, SO
WE'LL HAVE IT COVERED WHEN WE
BRING YOU THE OVERALL UPDATE.
>> THANK YOU.
OKAY, GO AHEAD.
>> AGENDA ITEM NUMBER THREE.
CB120349.
AN ORDINANCE RELATED TO THE
CITY LIGHT DEPARTMENT, OF THE
TREATY BETWEEN THE UNITED
STATES OF AMERICA AND CANADA,
RELATING TO THE SKAGIT RIVER
AND THE SEVEN MILE RESERVOIR ON
THE PONDERAY RIVER, AUTHORIZING
THE CITY LIGHT DEPARTMENT TO
ACCEPT GRANT FUNDS AND EXECUTE
THE RELATED AGREEMENT FOR, AND
ON BEHALF OF THE CITY OF
SEATTLE.
AUTHORIZING THE CITY LIGHT
DEPARTMENT TO EXECUTE AN
AGREEMENT WITH THE SKAGIT
ENVIRONMENTAL ENDOWMENT
COMMISSION FROM THE FUNDS
RECEIVED FROM THE WASHINGTON
STATE DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE IN
CONTRIBUTION TOWARDS THE SKAGIT
ENVIRONMENTAL ENDOWMENT
COMMISSIONS PAYMENT FOR THE
MINING COMPANY'S RIGHTS, AND
RATIFYING ACTS, FOR BRIEFING,
DISCUSSION, AND POSSIBLE VOTE.
>> THANK YOU VERY MUCH.
THIS ITEM NEEDS NO INTRODUCTION
FROM ME, EXCEPT THE TEASER I
GAVE AT THE BEGINNING OF THE
MEETING.
SO I WILL LET YOU TAKE IT AWAY
AFTER YOU INTRODUCE YOURSELVES
AND BECAUSE WE ARE RUNNING
LATE, I WANT TO CONFIRM THAT MY
COLLEAGUES CAN STAY THROUGH THE
END OF THIS ITEM.
BECAUSE WE'RE DOWN TO THREE.
IS THAT OKAY?
SEEING NO OBJECTION.
>> SO I WON'T TAKE ANY TIME
THEN EITHER, COUNCILMEMBER.
I'LL JUST TURN THIS OVER TO
STAFF.
BUT THIS IS SUPER EXCITING, AND
WE ARE APPRECIATIVE OF YOUR
WILLINGNESS TO STAY.
THIS IS SOMETHING THAT THE CITY
OF SEATTLE CAN AND SHOULD FEEL
VERY GOOD ABOUT OUR ABILITY TO
HELP INFLUENCE A LONG TERM
OUTCOME FROM OUR STATE.
SO WITH THAT, I'M GOING TO TURN
IT OVER TO THE TEAM.
>> GOOD MORNING COUNCILMEMBER,
MIKE HAYNES, I'M THE ASSISTANT
GENERAL MANAGER WITH SEATTLE
CITY LIGHT.
>> MAURA GROUPER.
>> KATE ENGEL.
I ALSO SERVE AS THE U.S.
SECRETARY TO THE SKAGIT
ENVIRONMENTAL ENDOWMENT
COMMISSION.
>> GO AHEAD.
>> SO GOOD MORNING.
I'M VERY HAPPY TO PRESENT THIS
PIECE OF LEGISLATION TO YOU ALL
THIS MORNING.
IT'S A VERY EXCITING TIME FOR
CITY LIGHT AND FOR THE SKAGIT
ENVIRONMENTAL ENDOWMENT
COMMISSION AND FOR THE PROVINCE
OF BRITISH COLUMBIA RIGHT NOW,
AS IT SINKS IN WITH THE U.S.
AND THE COUNTRY OF CANADA,
THEY'LL BE LARGE CELEBRATIONS
AT THOSE LEVELS OF GOVERNMENT
AS WELL.
SO A LITTLE BIT OF BACKGROUND
ON WHAT WE'RE TALKING ABOUT
TODAY.
I'LL BE TALKING ABOUT THE HIGH
ROSS TREATY AND AGREEMENT THAT
PROVIDES THE FOUNDATION FOR THE
DECISION TO BE MADE TODAY.
ALSO BE TALKING ABOUT THE
SKAGIT ENVIRONMENTAL ENDOWMENT
COMMISSION WHICH CAME OUT OF
THAT TREATY.
AND THE INFAMOUS DONUT HOLE,
WHICH SOME OF YOU MAY HAVE READ
ABOUT.
THEN I'LL PASS THE PRESENTATION
ONTO MAURA, AND GO OVER THE
HISTORY OF THREATS AND ACTIONS
TO PROTECT THE DONUT HOLE AS
WELL AS THE CURRENT STATUS OF
THOSE ACTIONS, AND THE PURPOSE
OF THIS ORDINANCE.
NEXT PLEASE.
SO A LITTLE BIT ON THE HIGH
ROSS TREATY, AS MOST OF YOU ARE
PROBABLY AWARE, THERE'S THREE
DAMS ON THE SKAGIT RIVER.
THE LAST DAM THAT WAS
CONSTRUCTED, AND THE NORTHERN
MOST DAM IS THE ROSS DAM.
IT'S KIND OF UNIQUELY
CONSTRUCTED DAM THAT WAS
DESIGNED TO BE HEIGHTENED AT
SEVERAL DIFFERENT STAGES TO GET
TO WHAT THEY CALL THE HIGH ROSS
STAGE THAT IS THE POINT OF
CONTROVERSY HERE.
THE DAM WAS STARTED TO BE
CONSTRUCTED ABOUT 1937, AND IT
MADE IT THROUGH THE FIRST
COUPLE OF STAGES TO STAGE THREE
IN ABOUT 1950 OR SO.
THEN IN 1970, SEATTLE CITY
LIGHT PURSUED INCREASING THE
HEIGHT OF THE DAM.
THE LAST STAGE, STAGE FOUR.
THAT'S WHERE EVERYTHING STARTED
TO BLOW UP.
SO WHAT THAT MEANT IF CITY
LIGHT HAD INCREASED THE DAM
HEIGHT AT THAT TIME WOULD BE
THAT THE RESERVOIR, ROSS LAKE,
ROSS RESERVOIR ABOVE THE DAM
WOULD HAVE BEEN EXTENDED UP
INTO CANADA, ABOUT THREE MILES
FLOODING THE SKAGIT RIVER AND
SURROUNDING LANDS.
AND THAT WAS NOT -- THAT WAS A
PROBLEM.
PARTICULARLY BROUGHT FORTH BY
THE CONSERVATION ORGANIZATIONS
ON THE BC SIDE OF THE SKAGIT
WATERSHED DUE TO THE
ENVIRONMENTAL DAMAGE THAT WOULD
OCCUR BECAUSE OF THAT FLOODING.
SO THIS CONTROVERSY ENDED UP
BEING SETTLED IN 1984 WITH
AGREEMENT BETWEEN THE CITY OF
SEATTLE AND THE BC PROVINCE.
AND THEN SUPPORTED BY A TREATY
BETWEEN THE U.S. AND CANADA TO
MAKE SURE THAT THAT AGREEMENT
IS FULFILLED.
SO THIS AGREEMENT IS AN 80 YEAR
AGREEMENT, AND A COUPLE
HIGHLIGHTS OF IT, ON THE BC
SIDE.
FIRST CITY LIGHT WOULD NOT BE
HEIGHTENING THE DAM, AND THAT
THE BC GOVERNMENT WOULD BE
PROVIDING ELECTRICITY TO OFFSET
THE ELECTRICITY GENERATION THAT
WASN'T REALIZED BY HEIGHTENING
THE DAM.
AND ATTEMPT, TO ADDRESS THE
ENVIRONMENTAL CONCERNS THAT
WERE BROUGHT OUT ABOUT THIS.
THEY ESTABLISHED THE SKAGIT
ENDOWMENT FUND WITH SEED MONEY
FROM -- HANG ON.
WITH SEED MONEY FROM THE CITY
OF SEATTLE AND THE BC PROVINCE,
AND THAT MONEY IS BEING USED TO
POUR THE ENVIRONMENTAL
INTEGRITY OF THE WATERSHED, AND
IT'S BEING OVERSEEN BY AND
ESTABLISHED BY THE SKAGIT
ENVIRONMENTAL ENDOWMENT
COMMISSION.
IT'S A COMMISSION OF 16
COMMISSIONERS, EIGHT WHO ARE
APPOINTED BY THE PREMIER OF
BRITISH COLUMBIA AND EIGHT BY
SEATTLE.
IN THE FORM OF TWO SECRETARIES,
AS I MENTIONED EARLIER, I'M ON
THE U.S. SIDE PROVIDING THE
ADMINISTRATIVE SUPPORT TO THE
COMMISSIONER.
I HAVE A PARTNER ON THE BC
SIDE, SUPPORTING THE BC SIDE AS
WELL.
AND WE WORK TO PROVIDE
EVERYTHING THAT THE
COMMISSIONER NEEDS.
THESE COMMISSIONERS ARE
APPOINTED ON FOUR YEAR TERMS
THAT ARE STAGGERED, SO THERE'S
A CONSTANT CYCLING OF NEW
COMMISSIONERS IN AND OUT, AND
THE ADMINISTRATION IS MORE
BETWEEN THE BRICKS AND THE
LIAISON TO MAKE THINGS HAPPEN.
THE COMMISSION IS SUPPOSED TO
MAKE THE FUNDS FROM THE
ENDOWMENT FUND TO PRESERVE AND
PROTECT WILDNESS HABITAT,
ENHANCE RECREATIONAL
OPPORTUNITIES.
I WON'T GO THROUGH THEM ALL,
BUT I'LL POINT OUT THE THIRD
ONE, WHICH IS THE SUBJECT OF
TODAY'S DECISION, WHICH IS
THEIR DIRECTIVE TO ACQUIRE
MINERAL, OR TIMBER RATES.
NEXT SLIDE, PLEASE.
THIS BRINGS ME TO THE DONUT
HOLE.
SO AS YOU CAN SEE ON THE MAP
HERE, WE'VE GOT A PICTURE OF
THE SKAGIT WATERSHED IN DARKER
COLOR ON THE LEFT HAND SIDE
THERE, WITH A SQUARE RED BOX,
KIND OF BLOWN UP ON THE RIGHT
TO SHOW THE EXACT LOCATION OF
THE DONUT HOLE.
THE DONUT HOLE IS THE RED AREA
ON THE BC SIDE THERE.
IT'S SITUATED BETWEEN TWO
PROVINCIAL PARKS, MANNING PARK
ON THE RIGHT HAND SIDE, AND
SKAGIT VALLEY PARK ON THE RIGHT
HAND SIDE.
THE DONUT HOLE IS A 14,000-ACRE
AREA THAT HAS MINERAL TENURES
ASSOCIATED WITH IT.
MOIST RECENTLY OWNED BY
IMPERIAL METALS, AND IT COULD
NOT BE INCORPORATED INTO THE
SKAGIT VALLEY PROVINCIAL PARK
AS INTENDED BECAUSE OF THOSE
OUTSTANDING MINERAL TENURES.
IT BECAME THE CHARGE OF SEEC
FROM ITS INSECTION TO RETIRE
THOSE MINERAL TENURES SO THAT
AREA COULD BE INCORPORATED INTO
THE PARK.
THROUGHOUT THE REST OF THE
WATERSHED DOWN TO ROSS DAM,
IT'S GOT THE PROTECTION OF THIS
ROSS LAKE RECREATIONAL AREA AS
WELL AS THE NORTH CASCADES
NATIONAL PARK COMPLEX.
SO TO KIND OF COMPLETE THE
CIRCLE.
NEXT SLIDE, PLEASE.
SO ELOQUENTLY PUT BY TOM UNIAC
IN HIS COMMENTS TO COMPLETE
THIS SESSION TODAY.
THE WATERSHED, THE ENTIRE
SCHEDULED WATERSHED IS A LOCAL,
REGIONAL, NATIONAL SIGNIFICANCE
ON BOTH SIDES OF THE BORDER.
THAT'S WHAT WAS THE CAUSE OF
ALL THE PUBLIC OUTCRY WHEN ALL
THESE DIFFERENT ACTIVITIES HAVE
BEEN PROPOSED BECAUSE OF THE
POTENTIAL IMPACTS TO IT AND
WHAT IT PROVIDES.
THE WATERSHED HAS THE LARGEST
AND HEALTHIEST POPULATIONS OF
THREATENED ENDANGERED STEELHEAD
AND CHINOOK SALMON IN THE
UNITED STATES.
ALSO OF REGIONAL NATIONAL
IMPORTANCE.
AND IT ALSO HAS THE MOST LARGE
AND DIVERSE POPULATION OF BULL
TROUT.
90% OF WHICH SPAWNED ABOVE ROSS
DAM, AND IT'S CRITICAL FOR
GRIZZLY BEARS AND SPOTTED OWLS
AND SO FORTH.
SO THE THREAT OF MINING WITHIN
THOSE, THE MINING TENURES OF
THE DONUT HOLE PRESENT A
SIGNIFICANT THREAT TO THE RIVER
AS THE TOXINS FROM MINING WOULD
CAUSE SIGNIFICANT DAMAGE,
PARTICULARLY TO THE AQUATIC
RESOURCES IN THE AREA.
WITH THAT, I'LL PASS IT ON TO
TALK ABOUT MORE ABOUT WHAT WE
DID TO ADDRESS IT.
>> I'M NOT GOING TO GO INTO ALL
THE DETAILS, BECAUSE IT'S BEEN
QUITE AN EXCITING PAST FEW
YEARS.
BUT AS KATE HAD MENTIONED, THE
SEEC HAD ALWAYS BEEN INTENDING
TO CLOSE UP THE DONUT HOLE IN
MANNING, AND SKAGIT PARKS.
IT TOOK OFF IN 2014 WITH THE
MOUNT POLY MINE DISASTER WHEN A
DAM FAILED AND 8 MILLION CUBIC
FEET OF MINING WASTE WAS
RELEASED INTO ADJACENT LAKES,
CAUSING HORRIFIC ENVIRONMENTAL
DAMAGE.
SO THAT REALLY WAS A CATALYST
FOR THE SEEC TO START TO TAKE
ACTION TO REACH OUT TO THE
MAYOR OF SEATTLE'S OFFICE AS
WELL AS STARTING TO ENGAGE
DIRECTLY WITH THE BC PREMIER'S
OFFICE ON THEIR INTEREST OF
SECURING A DEAL WITH IMPERIAL
METALS TO SURRENDER THOSE
MINERAL RIGHTS, KNOWING IT WAS
GOING TO COST MONEY AND TRYING
TO FIGURE OUT HOW TO GET A
PRICE OUT OF IMPERIAL METALS.
THEN IN 2018, THINGS HEAT UP
EVEN FURTHER, BECAUSE Bc issued
a logging PERMIT.
IT ALSO ESTABLISHED LOGGING
ROADS, SO AGAIN, THERE WAS
CONCERN THAT THIS WAS GOING TO
MAKE IT THAT MUCH EASIER FOR
IMPERIAL METALS.
THE TREATY WAS INSTRUMENTAL IN
OUR COMMUNICATIONS BETWEEN THE
MAYOR'S OFFICE AND THE BC
PREMIERS OFFICE.
PREMIER HORGAN TOOK A REAL
INTEREST IN WANTING TO ADDRESS
THE CONCERNS AND FIND A WAY
FORWARD TO PROTECT THAT AREA,
AND CLOSE UP THE DONUT HOLE.
ALSO, AS TOM UNIAC, WHO WAS ON
EARLIER WITH PUBLIC COMMENT, HE
LED THE CREATION OF A COALITION
THAT WAS VERY SUCCESSFUL.
STRONG COLLABORATION WITH U.S.
TRIBES AND FIRST NATIONS, AS
WELL AS ENVIRONMENTAL
ORGANIZATIONS.
WE HAVE ENGAGEMENT FROM OUR
CONGRESSIONAL DELEGATION, STATE
LEGISLATURE, AND OF COURSE THE
SEATTLE CITY COUNCIL MEMBERS
WERE QUITE ACTIVE AS WELL IN
COMMUNICATING.
IN 2019, IMPERIAL METALS DID
SUBMIT AN EXPLORETORY PERMIT.
WE REALLY RATCHETED UP OUR
ENGAGEMENT IN RESPONDING TO THE
PERMIT APPLICATION.
WE HAD ENGAGEMENT FROM REGION
10.
WE HAD ENGAGEMENT FROM THE
NATIONAL PARKS SERVICE, AS WELL
AS THE STATE AGENCIES, AND
AGAIN ALL OF THE COALITION
MEMBERS COMMENTING ON WHY THAT
MINING PERMIT SHOULD NOT BE
ISSUED.
COVID SHUT THINGS DOWN FOR A
WHILE.
WE KEPT CHECKING, BUT NOTHING
HAD HAPPENED.
WE DISCUSSED THIS WITH THE BC
PREMIER HORGAN'S OFFICE, AND
GOVERNOR INSLEE GOT ENGAGED AS
WELL, REACHING OUT TO PREMIER
HORGAN.
ULTIMATELY, THEY WERE ABLE TO
COME TO AN AGREEMENT, AND
ENGAGE IMPERIAL METALS, AND IN
2022, SEEC AND BC SIGNED AN
AGREEMENT FOR THEM TO SURRENDER
THEIR IMPERIAL METALS FOR 1.1
MILLION U.S., THAT INVOLVED
BOTH CANADIAN CONTRIBUTIONS AS
WELL AS U.S. CONTRIBUTIONS.
THAT'S WHY WE'RE HERE TODAY.
THERE'S JUST A COUPLE OF
ARTICLES.
WE GOT VERY GOOD PRESS COVE
RAJ, AGAIN, HELPING TO PUT
PRESSURE ON THE GOVERNMENT IN
ORDER TO FIND A SOLUTION.
NEXT SLIDE.
SO WHAT WE'RE HERE TO DO TODAY,
FIRST, SEEC AND CITY LIGHT
SIGNED AN AGREEMENT BACK IN
LATE 2021, BECAUSE THIS DEAL
WAS BEING DISCUSSED, AND WE
AGREED TO $1.25 MILLION FROM
CITY LIGHT.
THE STATE AGREED TO $4.5
MILLION, AND THEY WOULD
CONTRIBUTE THAT VIA CITY LIGHT
THROUGH A STATE GRANT.
THE LEGISLATURE TOOK ACTION ON
THAT STATE GRANT IN MARCH OF
2022 IN THE SUPPLEMENTAL
BUDGET.
WE HAVE A DRAFT THAT WE'RE
PREPARED TO SIGN WHEN WE HAVE
PERMISSION.
WE ALSO SOUGHT AND RECEIVED A
LETTER FROM THE ENVIRONMENT AND
CLIMATE PROVISION, TO MAKING
CLEAR THEIR INTENTIONS ARE TO
BE ABLE TO CLOSE UP THE DONUT
HOLE, AND PERMANENTLY PROTECT
IT AFTER WITH THE SURRENDER OF
THE MINERAL RIGHTS, WHICH HAS
HAPPENED.
SO THIS ORDINANCE FOR YOU
TODAY, THANK YOU FOR STAYING,
IS TO EXECUTE THE GRANT
AGREEMENT, SO IT AUTHORIZES US
TO SIGN THE GRANT AGREEMENT AT
THE STATE, AND CONVEY THAT
PAYMENT TO THE SEEC, AND TO THE
SEEC AND CITY LIGHT THAT
ADDRESSES THE EXPECTATION FROM
THE FUNDING AS WELL.
THAT'S IT.
THANK YOU SO MUCH.
IF YOU HAVE ANY QUESTIONS.
>> THANK YOU VERY MUCH.
THIS IS AN AMAZINGLY HAPPY
ENDING TO YEARS OF HARD WORK IN
COLLABORATION.
SO I THANK YOU VERY, VERY MUCH.
THIS IS AN AMAZING END.
IN FACT, TOM MUNIAC, WHO SPOKE
EARLIER, IS THE ONE WHO
SPEARHEADED OUTREACH TO THE
BREWING COMMUNITY, BECAUSE YOU
KNOW, NO CLEAN WATER, NO BEER.
SO HE REACHED OUT TO MANY,
MANY, MANY BREWERY OWNERS, AND
I WAS ONE OF MANY WHO SIGNED A
LETTER OF SUPPORT FOR THIS.
SO IT'S INTERESTING TO SEE IT
COME FULL CIRCLE.
ALL RIGHT, ARE THERE ANY
QUESTIONS FROM MY COLLEAGUES
AND QUESTIONS FOR ERIC?
>> I HAVE NO ADDITIONAL
COMMENTS, THANK YOU.
>> THANK YOU.
OKAY, WELL THEN I AM THRILLED
TO MOVE THAT THE COMMITTEE
RECOMMENDS PASSAGE OF COUNCIL
BILL 120349.
IS THERE A SECOND?
>> SECOND.
>> EXCELLENT.
IT'S BEEN MOVED AND SECONDED TO
FURTHER PASSAGE OF THE BILL.
WILL THE CLERK PLEASE CALL THE
ROLE ON THE RECOMMENDATION THAT
THE BILL PASS.
>> COUNCILMEMBER SAWANT?
>> SHE HAS LEFT.
>> COUNCILMEMBER HERBOLD.
>> YES.
>> THREE IN FAVOR.
NONE OPPOSED.
>> EXCELLENT.
THE MOTION CARRIES, AND THE
COMMITTEE RECOMMENDATION THAT
THE BILL PASS WILL BE FORWARDED
TO THE CITY COUNCIL ON JUNE
28th, 2022 FOR FINAL
CONSIDERATION.
ALL RIGHT.
THIS CONCLUDES THE JUNE 22nd
MEETING OF THE ECONOMIC
DEVELOPMENT TECHNOLOGY AND CITY
LIGHT COMMITTEE.
THE TIME IS 11:39.
I REALLY APPRECIATE EVERYBODY
STICKING IN HERE.
OUR NEXT COMMITTEE IS SCHEDULED
FOR JULY 13th AT 9:30 A.M.
AND IF THERE IS NO FURTHER
BUSINESS, THIS MEETING WILL NOW
ADJOURN.
>> THANK YOU.