>>> GOOD MORNING.
THE SEPTEMBER 14, 2022 MEETING
OF THE ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT,
TECHNOLOGY, AND CITY LIGHT
COMMITTEE WILL COME TO ORDER.
IT IS 9:33.
I AM SARA NELSON, CHAIR OF THE
COMMITTEE.
WILL THE CLERK PLEASE CALL THE
ROLL?
>> COUNCIL PRESIDENT JUAREZ.
>> HERE.
>> COUNCILMEMBER STRAUSS.
>> PRESENT.
>> COUNCILMEMBER HERBOLD.
>> HERE.
>> COUNCILMEMBER NELSON.
>> PRESENT.
>> FIVE PRESENT.
>> OKAY, THERE ARE NINE ITEMS
ON TODAY'S AGENDA.
A DISCUSSION AND POSSIBLE VOTE
ON AN ORDINANCE ESTABLISHING
SEATTLE FILM COMMISSION.
A BRIEFING BY THE OFFICE OF
ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT ON
RECOVERY INVESTMENTS AND
DISCUSSION AND POSSIBLE VOTE ON
REAPPOINTMENTS TO THE SEATTLE
MUSIC COMMISSION.
A POSSIBLE VOTE ON THE CITY
LIGHTS 2023 2024 RATE ORDINANCE.
INDEPENDENT AUDIT.
AND A DISCUSSION OF POSSIBLE
VOTE ON THREE REAPPOINTMENTS TO
SEATTLE CITY LIGHTS REVIEW
PANEL.
IF THERE IS NO OBJECTION, THE
ORDER OF THE AGENDA WILL BE
CHANGED TO MOVE COUNCIL BILL
120411 FROM ITEM FIVE TO ITEM
NINE.
I AM NOT SEEING ANY OBJECTION.
THE ITEMS WILL BE HEARD IN THIS
ORDER ON THE AGENDA.
OKAY, HEARING NO OBJECTION, THE
AGENDA IS ADOPTED.
WITH THAT WE WILL MOVE INTO
PUBLIC COMMENT ON ITEMS LISTED
ON THE AGENDA.
AND WE WILL ROLL THE VIDEO,
PLEASE.
>> BUILT ON INDIGENOUS LAND.
THE SEATTLE CITY COUNCIL
WELCOMES REMOTE PUBLIC COMMENT
AND IS EAGER TO HEAR FROM
RESIDENTS OF OUR CITY.
IF YOU WOULD LIKE TO BE A
SPEAKER AND PROVIDE A VERBAL
PUBLIC COMMENT, YOU MAY
REGISTER TWO HOURS PRIOR TO THE
MEETING THE OTHER SEATTLE CITY
COUNCIL WEBSITE.
HERE IS SOME INFORMATION ABOUT
THE PUBLIC COMMENT PROCEEDINGS.
SPEAKERS ARE CALLED UPON 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 USE
THE MEETING I.D.
AND PASSCODE THAT WAS EMAILED
UPON CONFIRMATION.
IF YOU DID NOT RECEIVE AN EMAIL
CONFIRMATION, PLEASE CHECK YOUR
SPAM OR JUNK MAIL FOLDERS.
A REMINDER, A SPEAKER MEETING
I.D.
IS DIFFERENT FROM THE GENERAL
LISTEN LINE MEETING I.D.
PROVIDED ON THE AGENDA.
ONCE A SPEAKER'S NAME IS
CALLED, THE SPEAKERS MICROPHONE
WILL BE UNMUTED AND AN
AUTOMATIC PROMPT WILL SAY THE
HOST WOULD LIKE YOU TO UNMUTE
YOUR MICROPHONE.
THAT IS YOUR QUEUE THAT IT IS
YOUR TURN TO SPEAK.
AT THAT TIME YOU MUST PRESS á6.
YOU WILL THEN HEAR A PROMPT OF,
YOU HAVE BEEN UNMUTED.
MAKE SURE YOU ARE UNMUTED ON
YOUR END.
BEGIN BY STATING YOUR NAME AND
THE ITEM YOU ARE ADDRESSING.
A CHIME WILL SOUND WHEN 10
SECONDS ARE LEFT ON YOUR
ALLOTTED TIME.
AS A GENTLE REMINDER TO WRAP UP
YOUR PUBLIC COMMENTS.
AT THE END OF THE ALLOTTED
TIME, YOUR MICROPHONE WILL BE
MUTED AND THE NEXT SPEAKER
REGISTERED WILL BE CALLED.
ONCE SPEAKERS HAVE COMPLETED
PROVIDING PUBLIC COMMENT,
PLEASE DISCONNECT FROM THE
PUBLIC COMMENT LINE AND JOIN US
BY FOLLOWING THE MEETING VIA
THE SEATTLE CHANNEL BROADCAST
OR THE LISTENING LINE OPTION
LISTED ON THE AGENDA.
THE COUNCIL RESERVES THE RIGHT
TO ELIMINATE PUBLIC COMMENT IF
THE SYSTEM IS BEING ABUSED OR IF
THE PROCESS IMPEDES THE COUNCIL
ABILITY TO CONDUCT ITS BUSINESS
ON BEHALF OF RESIDENTS OF THE
CITY.
ANY OFFENSIVE LANGUAGE THAT IS
DISRUPTIVE TO THESE PROCEEDINGS
OR THAT IS NOT FOCUSED ON AN
APPROPRIATE TOPIC AS 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
ORDERLY CONSIDERATION OF 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 á6
AFTER YOU HEAR THE PROMPT OF,
YOU HAVE BEEN UNMUTED.
THANK YOU, SEATTLE.
>> OKAY, TODAY WE WILL START
WITH PEOPLE IN PERSON TO GIVE
COMMENT AND EVERYONE WILL HAVE
TWO MINUTES.
COULD YOU PLEASE GIVE ME THE
LIST?
AND PLEASE STATE YOUR NAME.
BEFORE YOU SPEAK.
OKAY, -- BOYD, PLEASE.
OH, THIS MICROPHONE IS NOT ON.
>> GOOD MORNING.
GOOD MORNING, CITY
COUNCILMEMBERS AND
COUNCILMEMBER NELSON.
I AM HERE TO COMMENT ON THE
FILM COMMISSION PROPOSAL,
BECAUSE AS AN ACTRESS AND
SCREENWRITER AND SCREEN ACTORS
GUILD MEMBER I AM CONCERNED THE
PROPOSAL DOES NOT HAVE ANY
VERBIAGE ABOUT HOUSING AND I
FEEL HOUSING IS A HUGE ISSUE
FOR THE ARTIST EXODUS IN
SEATTLE.
WE HAVE LOST, WELL, NOT LOST,
BUT A LOT OF FRIENDS HAD TO
MOVE AWAY BECAUSE HOUSING HERE
IS THE BIGGEST OBSTACLE TO THE
ART COMMUNITY.
I WANTED TO ADD THAT
CONSIDERATION.
THANK YOU.
>> INC.
YOU.
OUR NEXT PERSON IS KATE BECKER.
>> GOOD MORNING, COUNCILMEMBERS.
I WAS NOT PLANNING TO TESTIFY
THIS MORNING, BUT I CHANGED MY
MIND, BECAUSE HOW COULD I MISS
THE OPPORTUNITY TO TALK WITH
YOU ALL ABOUT THE FILM
COMMISSION.
MY NAME IS KATE BECKER, I AM
THE CREATIVE ECONOMY AND
RECOVERY DIRECTOR.
PRIOR TO SERVING IN THE
EXECUTIVE OFFICE I WAS THE
DIRECTOR FOR THE OFFICE OF
MUSIC FOR THE CITY OF SEATTLE
FOR FIVE YEARS AND HAVE WORKED
WITH THE FILM INDUSTRY
THROUGHOUT THESE LAST NINE
YEARS.
I AM SO EXCITED ABOUT THE
OPPORTUNITY TO HAVE A FILM
COMMISSION AND HAVE INDUSTRY
AND COMMUNITY VOICES FROM THE
INDUSTRY AT THE TABLE WITH CITY
LEADERS TO HELP ADVANCE THIS
INDUSTRY WHICH WILL PROVIDE
CLEAN JOBS AND HELP TELL OUR
STORIES AND GET THEM OUT TO THE
WORLD.
NOT JUST STORIES, BUT ALSO
COMMERCIAL CAPITAL.
THE FILM INDUSTRY WORKS WITH
COMPANIES TO MARKET MATERIALS
AND EXPORT PRODUCTS TO THE
WORLD, SO ALL VERY IMPORTANT.
I WANT YOU TO KNOW IT IS A
CRITICAL MOMENT IN TIME.
THE STATE HAS JUST GOT A $15
MILLION TAX INCENTIVE FOR THE
FILM INDUSTRY.
AT KING COUNTY WE HAVE A NEW
FILM INITIATIVE AND WE HAVE
HARBOUR ISLAND STUDIOS, THE
FIRST MAJOR SCALE SOUNDSTAGE IN
THE REGION SINCE 1996.
THE CITY COMING ON WITH THE
FILM COMMISSION, IT IS A NICE
TRIFECTA FOR ALL OF US TO MOVE
FORWARD TOGETHER TO GROW THIS
INDUSTRY.
I LOOK FORWARD TO YOUR SUPPORT
AND WANT YOU TO KNOW THAT KING
COUNTY STANDS READY TO PARTNER
WITH THE CITY OF SEATTLE AND
WHATEVER WE NEED TO DO TO GROW
THE FILM INDUSTRY HERE.
THANK YOU VERY MUCH.
>> THANK YOU.
I BELIEVE WE HAVE ONE SPEAKER
ON THE PHONE, SO I WILL CALL ON
TOM MARA.
>> HELLO, THANK YOU
COUNCILMEMBER.
RECENTLY RETIRED AFTER 34 YEARS
-- TWO THINGS I WOULD LIKE TO
SAY BRIEFLY.
ONE IS TO ECHO WHAT KATE HAD
BEEN MENTIONING.
I AM EXCITED ABOUT BEING ABLE TO
ACCELERATE ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT
FOR THE FILM INDUSTRY.
THERE ARE SO MANY DIFFERENT
KINDS OF JOBS THAT WILL BE
UPHELD BY ANY STRATEGY MOVING
FORWARD AND THE SECOND THING I
WOULD LOVE TO SAY IS COUNT ON
THE SEATTLE FILM FESTIVAL AS A
PARTNER, AS A CHAMPION FOR THE
COUNCIL MOVING FORWARD.
LASTLY, APPRECIATION TO THE
COMMITTEE FOR BRINGING THIS
LEGISLATION TO THIS POINT AND I
WHOLEHEARTEDLY SUPPORT IT.
MANY, MANY THANKS.
>> THANK YOU VERY MUCH, TOM.
ARE THERE ANY OTHER SPEAKERS
READY TO SPEAK?
I AM NOT PULLING UP ANY.
OKAY, THAT IS ALL ABOUT REMOTE
SPEAKERS.
IF THERE IS NOBODY ELSE IN THE
AUDIENCE THAT WISHES TO SPEAK,
I WILL CLOSE PUBLIC COMMENT.
ALL RIGHT.
WILL THE CLERK PLEASE READ ITEM
NUMBER ONE INTO THE RECORD.
>> AGENDA ITEM NUMBER ONE.
CB 120412, AND ORDINANCE
RELATING TO THE ESTABLISHMENT
OF THE SEATTLE FILM COMMISSION
AND ADDING NEW CHAPTERS TO THE
SEATTLE MUNICIPAL CODE AND
AMENDING SECTIONS OF THE
MUNICIPAL CODE, UP FOR
DISCUSSION AND POSSIBLE VOTE.
>> THANK YOU VERY MUCH.
AT OUR AUGUST 10 MEETING WE HAD
AN IN DEPTH MEETING AND
DISCUSSION WITH COUNCIL CENTRAL
STAFF AND ALSO THE OFFICE OF
ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT ON THE
BILL IN THE DRAFT FORM.
I SPOKE WITH A MAJOR DRIVER OF
ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT IN THE
CREATIVE ECONOMY, AS WELL AS IN
SEATTLE'S ECONOMY AS A WHOLE,
BECAUSE SO MANY OF THE SKILLS
REQUIRED IN FILM ARE USED IN
OTHER SECTORS.
THOSE ARE LIVING WAGE JOBS.
I ALSO LAID OUT THE LONG
HISTORY OF ADVOCACY FOR A FILM
COMMISSION.
AND MOST RECENTLY THAT WAS WITH
THE CREATION OF, DRIVEN BY
LARGELY -- I HAVE TO EXTEND
APPRECIATION TO MY COLLEAGUES --
COUNCILMEMBER HERBOLD AND
MORALES AND SAWANT.
THERE WAS A FILM TASK FORCE
FORMED IN 2019 AND THEY
REPRESENTED A BROAD CROSS-
SECTION.
IN FACT, EVERY SEGMENT OF THE
FILM INDUSTRY.
THESE DIVERSE MEMBERS HAD THEIR
PRIMARY CONCERN AS A DIVERSITY
OF RACE, AGE, AND GENDER IN THE
FILM INDUSTRY AND HOW TO
ADVANCE THAT THREE FILM
COMMISSION.
THEY PRODUCED A REPORT IN 2020
AND THIS LEGISLATION IS BASED
ON THOSE RECOMMENDATIONS.
SO, LAST WEEKEND WAS THE NINTH
ANNUAL SEATTLE FILM SUMMIT.
IN CASE YOU HAVE NEVER BEEN,
THAT IS A GATHERING OF
CREATIVE'S AND NONPROFITS,
LABOR, POLICYMAKERS,
EDUCATIONAL INSTITUTION.
LIKE SHORELINE COMMUNITY
COLLEGE, CORNISH, AND EVEN THE
INTERNATIONAL STUNT SCHOOL,
WHICH IS BASED IN EVERETT AND
IS WORLD-FAMOUS.
WHO KNEW?
I DIDN'T.
BUT NOW I DO.
I WAS INVITED TO BE A KEYNOTE
SPEAKER TO TALK ABOUT
ESTABLISHING A FILM COMMISSION
IN SEATTLE AND AFTER MY TALK,
THE COMMISSIONER OF THE FILM
OFFICE, THE FILM OFFICE
COMMISSIONER, CAME UP TO ME AND
SHE LOOKED STRAIGHT IN MY EYES
AND SHE SAID, SEATTLE HAS TO
HAVE A FILM COMMISSION.
TO BE TAKEN SERIOUSLY BY
PRODUCERS WHO ARE LOOKING FOR A
LOCATION.
BECAUSE THEY WANT TO SEE THAT
GOVERNMENT HAS SKIN IN THE GAME
AND THEY WILL BE A POSITIVE
PARTNER, IF THEY CHOOSE TO
LOCATE THERE AND DO A
PRODUCTION.
SO, MIND YOU, MONTANA KNOWS HOW
TO PROMOTE ITSELF.
THEY HAVE HAD A FILM OFFICE
SINCE 1974 AND FROM JULY, LET'S
SEE, JULY, 2020 TWO JUNE, 2022,
119 PRODUCTIONS HAVE BEEN
FILMED THERE.
YOU MAY HAVE HEARD OF BIG SKY
OR YELLOWSTONE.
THAT KEEPS COMING UP ON MY
FEED.
THAT TRANSLATES TO 840 LOCAL
JOBS AND AN ECONOMIC IMPACT OF
$154 MILLION.
SO THAT WAS A NEW ANGLE FOR ME,
COMING FROM SORT OF ANOTHER
PLACE, OUTSIDE OF WHAT I HAVE
BEEN TALKING ABOUT SO FAR.
SO IF THE QUESTION IS, WHY DO
WE NEED ANOTHER COMMISSION?
OR WHY IS A FILM COMMISSION
IMPORTANT?
I WOULD SAY, WHY WOULD WE NOT
HAVE A FILM COMMISSION?
IT IS WHAT OUR CREATIVE'S WANT
AND NEED TO THRIVE IN SEATTLE
AND IT IS ALSO WHAT OUR CITY
NEEDS TO FULFILL OUR PROMISES
FOR ADVANCING EQUITY AND
OPPORTUNITY.
AND AS WE HEARD IN PUBLIC
COMMENT, IT IS WHAT OUR REGION
AND STATE NEEDS TO TAKE
ADVANTAGE OF THIS HISTORIC
MOMENT OF $15 MILLION OF NEW
INCENTIVES AND EVERYTHING GOING
ON AT THE COUNTY AND THE
OPENING OF HARBOR ISLAND
STUDIOS.
IT'S WHAT WE NEED TO ALIGN
POLICIES TO PUT SEATTLE BACK ON
THE MAP AS THE BEST CITY TO
MAKE FILM IN THE NATION.
SO, WITH THAT, I AM GOING TO
TURN IT OVER TO YOLANDA FROM
CENTRAL STAFF.
WE ARE IN THE LAST EPISODE OF A
VERY LONG JOURNEY.
SHE WILL GO OVER THE
LEGISLATION AND THEN WE WILL
OPEN IT UP FOR QUESTIONS.
GO AHEAD, YOLANDA.
>> I'VE GOT TO FIND MY UNMUTE
BUTTON.
ALL RIGHT, YOLANDA COUNCIL
CENTRAL STAFF.
I WILL BE GOING OVER COUNCIL
BILL 120412, WHICH WOULD
ESTABLISH A NEW FILM COMMISSION
AS DESCRIBED BY COUNCILMEMBER
NELSON.
SO, PRESENTATION, WE WILL JUST
BE PROVIDING A RECAP OF THE
PROPOSAL.
IT WAS DISCUSSED AT COMMITTEE
AT LENGTH LAST MONTH BY
COUNCILMEMBER NELSON.
I WILL ALSO NOTE SOME MINOR
CHANGES THAT WERE MADE BETWEEN
THE INTRODUCTION DRAFT AND THAT
DRAFT THAT IS IN THE
LEGISLATION BEFORE YOU TODAY
AND THEN DISCUSS SOME OF THE
POTENTIAL IMPACTS OF THE
CREATION OF THIS NEW COMMISSION.
SO, AS A QUICK SUMMARY,
LEGISLATION WAS DEVELOPED IN
COLLABORATION WITH THE OFFICE
OF ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT AND
FILM INDUSTRY REPRESENTATIVES.
SO, THIS COUNCIL BILL 120412
WOULD ESTABLISH A NEW SEATTLE
FILM COMMISSION STAFFED BY THE
OFFICE OF ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT,
OTHERWISE KNOWN AS OED, TO
ADVISE AND MAKE RECOMMENDATIONS
TO THE CITY ON THE DEVELOPMENT
OF POLICIES AND PROGRAMS THAT
ENHANCE THE ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT
OF SEATTLE'S FILM INDUSTRY,
INCLUDING PROMOTING THE
SUSTAINABLE GROWTH OF FAMILY
WAGE JOBS FOR WORKERS WHO HAVE
BEEN HISTORICALLY
UNDERREPRESENTED IN THE
INDUSTRY.
THE GOALS OF THE COMMISSION ARE
TO INFORM AND INFLUENCE THE
REGIONAL FILM INDUSTRY AND
COMMUNITY, IN PARTNERSHIP WITH
THE CITY, TO ADDRESS
DISPARITIES CAUSED BY SYSTEMIC
RACISM, SO THAT SEATTLE IS AT
THE FOREFRONT OF DRIVING
EQUITY, INCLUSION, AND ECONOMIC
PROSPERITY.
AND TO ADVANCE THE CITY'S
ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT PRIORITIES
IN THE CREATIVE ECONOMY, BY
SERVING AS A CONDUIT BETWEEN
THE CITY, THE FILM INDUSTRY,
AND THE COMMUNITY TO ATTRACT
AND RETAIN LOCAL, REGIONAL,
NATIONAL, AND GLOBAL BUSINESS.
BUILD INCLUSIVE CAREER PATHWAYS
INTO THE FILM INDUSTRY AND
ADVISE ON THE DEVELOPMENT OF
EFFORTS THAT REINFORCE AND GROW
THE ROLE OF FILM IN THE REGIONS
CONTENT AND CREATIVE
INDUSTRIES.
IN TERMS OF MEMBERSHIP, THE
COMMISSION WOULD HAVE 11
MEMBERS.
FIVE APPOINTED BY THE MAYOR,
FIVE APPOINTED BY THE COUNCIL,
AND ONE BY THE COMMISSION
MEMBERS ONCE THE OTHER 10 HAVE
BEEN APPOINTED.
ALL OF THESE APPOINTMENTS WOULD
BE CONFIRMED BY THE COUNCIL AND
YOU CAN SEE INDUSTRY GROUPS AS
LISTED ON THE SLIDE.
SAME AS LAST TIME YOU SAW.
SO IN TERMS OF DUTIES, IT WOULD
BE ENGAGING WITH INDUSTRY
PROFESSIONALS TO INFORM
DEVELOPMENT OF CITY EFFORTS.
ADVOCATING FOR THE INTERESTS OF
THE LOCAL FILM INDUSTRY TO THE
CITY AND WIDER COMMUNITY.
COLLABORATING WITH THE CITY TO
ENSURE THAT SEATTLE'S FILM
PRIORITIES ARE IN ALIGNMENT
WITH THOSE OF KING COUNTY AND
WASHINGTON STATE AND ADVISING
THE CITY IN THE DEVELOPMENT OF
EFFORTS TO SUPPORT THE FILM
INDUSTRY.
SUCH AS EQUITY AND INCLUSION
STRATEGIES, EDUCATION, TRAINING
AND WORKFORCE DEVELOPMENT
PROGRAMS AND IMPROVING
PERMITTING PROCESSES.
ADDITIONALLY, THE COMMISSION
WOULD BE REQUIRED TO MEET
MONTHLY AND ANNUALLY WITH THE
SEATTLE MUSIC COMMISSION.
ELECT A CHAIR AND VICE CHAIR
EVERY YEAR.
TERMS WOULD BE THREE YEARS,
WITH A LIMIT OF SERVING A
MAXIMUM OF TWO CONSECUTIVE
TERMS.
INITIAL TERMS WILL BE STAGGERED
TO MAINTAIN STABILITY OVER
TIME.
AS THE COMMISSION GETS
ESTABLISHED.
IT ALSO AUTHORIZES OED TO
PROVIDE COMPENSATION, IF
SERVING ON THE COMMISSION
PRESENTS A FINANCIAL HARDSHIP.
SO, JUST TO HIGHLIGHT THE
DIFFERENCES BETWEEN THE PRE-
INTRODUCTION DRAFT THAT WAS
PRESENTED TO THE COMMITTEE LAST
MONTH AND THE INTRODUCED
VERSION TODAY.
ATTACHMENT ONE TO THE MEMO ON
THE AGENDA SHOWS A REDLINE
VERSION.
MINOR CHANGES TO CLARIFY INTENT
AND ALIGN GOALS TO THAT INTENT,
SPECIFICALLY AROUND THE GOAL OF
INCREASING DIVERSITY, EQUITY,
AND INCLUSION.
OED REQUESTED THE REMOVAL OF A
REFERENCE TO THE CITY OF
SEATTLE INDUSTRIAL CORPORATION,
WHICH IS NO LONGER ACTIVE TO
ANYONE'S KNOWLEDGE.
ANY QUESTIONS SO FAR?
NO?
SO, POTENTIAL IMPACTS.
JUST NOTING THAT THE CITY DOES
HAVE OVER 70 BOARDS AND
COMMISSIONS THAT PROVIDE ADVICE
AND RECOMMENDATIONS ON A
VARIETY OF TOPICS TO THE
COUNCIL, MAYOR, AND CITY
DEPARTMENTS.
THERE IS NO ADVISORY BOARD FOR
THE FILM INDUSTRY IN THIS NEW
COMMISSION WOULD PROVIDE
INDUSTRY SPECIFIC EXPERTISE TO
ADVISE ON THE DEVELOPMENT OF
FILM RELATED EFFORTS TO ADVANCE
THE CITY'S ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT
PRIORITIES IN THE CREATIVE
ECONOMY.
SO YOU ARE AWARE, THERE IS
ALREADY A SEATTLE MUSIC
COMMISSION THAT WAS ESTABLISHED
INITIALLY BY RESOLUTION IN
2010.
LATER CODIFIED IN 2014.
THE NEW FILM COMMISSION WOULD
BE REQUIRED TO MEET ANNUALLY
WITH THE EXISTING MUSIC
COMMISSION TO ENCOURAGE
COLLABORATION BETWEEN THE TWO
COMPLEMENTARY INDUSTRY GROUPS.
IN TERMS OF FISCAL AND
ADMINISTRATIVE, THE ADVISORY
BODY, AS ALL ADVISORY BODIES,
WILL REQUIRE DEDICATED STAFFING
TO SUPPORT ITS WORK AND
POTENTIALLY ADDITIONAL FUNDING
TO PROVIDE HARDSHIP
COMPENSATION.
NOTING THAT OED HAS A FILM
PROGRAM MANAGER POSITION WHO IS
EXPECTED TO BE ASSIGNED
RESPONSIBILITY FOR STAFFING
THIS NEW COMMISSION.
SO NO ADDITIONAL STAFF ARE
ANTICIPATED TO BE REQUIRED FOR
THIS PURPOSE.
THE AMOUNT OF HARDSHIP
COMPENSATION CANNOT BE KNOWN AT
THIS TIME.
MEMBERS WOULD NEED TO REQUEST
COMPENSATION FROM OED AND OED
WOULD THEN NEED TO DETERMINE
WHAT AN APPROPRIATE
COMPENSATION RATE WOULD BE AND
I AM NOTING HERE THAT THE CITY
IS CURRENTLY IN THE PROCESS OF
EVALUATING COMPENSATION
PRACTICES FOR ADVISORY BODIES
ACROSS DEPARTMENTS TO HELP
ESTABLISH STANDARDS MOVING
FORWARD.
SO THAT WILL INFORM THAT
COMPENSATION RATE.
ONCE THE NUMBERS HAVE BEEN
APPOINTED, THEY MAY REQUEST
ADDITIONAL ONGOING FUNDING TO
SUPPORT THEIR EFFORTS, WHICH
HAS BEEN THE CASE FOR A NUMBER
OF THE ADVISORY BODIES.
FOR EXAMPLE THE MUSIC
COMMISSION ALLOCATED $50,000
ANNUALLY FOR THE CITY MUSIC
CAREER DAYS AND INDUSTRY
ROADSHOWS.
IT IS ALSO POSSIBLE THE WORK OF
THE COMMISSION COULD PROVIDE
FINANCIAL BENEFITS TO THE CITY
INDIRECTLY, VIA INCREASED TAX
REVENUES.
AS THE COMMITTEE LEARNED ABOUT
LAST MONTH AND ALSO DURING
PUBLIC COMMENT BY KATE BECKER,
THERE ARE A COUPLE OF RELATED
EFFORTS AT THE STATE AND COUNTY
LEVEL.
THERE WAS THE INCREASED
BUSINESS AND OCCUPATION TAX
CREDIT CAP FOR THE MOTION
PICTURE COMPETITIVENESS PROGRAM
AND ALSO THE RECENT OPENING OF
KING COUNTY'S HARBOR ISLAND
STUDIOS, IN SEATTLE LAST YEAR.
IN CONJUNCTION WITH THE
ESTABLISHMENT OF THE COMMISSION,
THESE EFFORTS COMBINED COULD
RESULT IN INCREASED REVENUE FOR
BUSINESSES IN SEATTLE THAT ARE
DIRECTLY AND INDIRECTLY RELATED
TO FILM PRODUCTION.
FINALLY ON THE TOPIC OF RACIAL
EQUITY, ONE OF THE COMMISSION'S
GOALS IS TO ADDRESS DISPARITIES
IN THE FILM INDUSTRY THAT HAVE
RESULTED FROM SYSTEMIC RACISM.
A REPORT LAST YEAR BY A
CONSULTING FIRM FOUND THAT
BLACK TALENT IS
UNDERREPRESENTED THROUGHOUT THE
INDUSTRY AT THE NATIONAL LEVEL
AND THIS DISPARITY IS
PARTICULARLY PRONOUNCED IN
POSITIONS AT THE EXECUTIVE
LEVEL.
WHICH HAS BEEN AND CONTINUES TO
BE PREDOMINANTLY WHITE AND
MALE.
THIS LEGISLATION RECOGNIZES
THIS REALITY AND THE
COMMISSION, IN PARTNERSHIP WITH
THE CITY, WOULD ENDEAVOR TO
SHIFT THE INDUSTRY AND
COMMUNITY SO IT IS MORE
WELCOMING AND INCLUSIVE TO
BLACK, INDIGENOUS, AND OTHER
PEOPLE OF COLOR.
WITH THAT, THAT IS THE END OF
MY OVERVIEW OF THE LEGISLATION.
I WILL ANSWER ANY QUESTIONS.
>> DO MY COLLEAGUES HAVE ANY
QUESTIONS?
YES, COUNCILMEMBER HERBOLD.
>> THANK YOU SO MUCH AND THANK
YOU, MADAM CHAIR, FORGETTING
THIS WORK OVER THE FINISH LINE,
AS YOU MENTIONED.
A NUMBER OF US HAD BEEN
ENDEAVORING.
YEARS PRIOR, UNDER THE PREVIOUS
ADMINISTRATION.
I PARTICULARLY REQUESTED
RECOMMENDATIONS FROM OED BACK
IN 2019.
WITH OVERSIGHT WITH THE OFFICE
OF ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT.
I ALSO SPONSORED IN 2020,
REQUESTING THAT OED PROVIDE
RECOMMENDATIONS.
OED, TO THEIR CREDIT, DID
PROVIDE A RESPONSE IN NOVEMBER,
2020, THAT DID OFFER SOME HIGH-
LEVEL GUIDANCE.
BUT THE LEGISLATION
ESTABLISHING THE NEW COMMISSION
DID NOT MOVE FORWARD UNTIL NOW.
AGAIN, THANK YOU SO MUCH.
ONE THING THAT YOU MAY HAVE
COVERED, YOLANDA, BUT I DID NOT
CATCH, YOU TALKED ABOUT THE
CREATIVE INDUSTRY POSITIONS
WITHIN THE OFFICE OF ECONOMIC
DEVELOPMENT THAT ARE INTENDED
TO SUPPORT THE FILM COMMISSION?
>> SURE.
SO THERE IS THE FILM PROGRAM
MANAGER POSITION, WHICH I
BELIEVE YOU, COUNCILMEMBER,
HELPED CREATE AND BUDGET A
COUPLE OF YEARS AGO.
THERE IS CURRENTLY A PROVISO ON
ONE OF THE POSITIONS THAT
COUNCILMEMBER MORALES, I
BELIEVE, SPONSORED DURING THE
BUDGET LAST YEAR.
THAT WAS THE POLICY ADVISOR
POSITION.
SO WHAT WAS THE CREATIVE
INDUSTRY DIRECTOR POSITION,
DURING LAST YEAR'S BUDGET THAT
GOT REPURPOSED INTO A NEW
POSITION.
SO THAT IS MORE OF A GENERAL,
LEADERSHIP ROLE.
AND THEN THERE WAS A PROPOSAL
IN THE BUDGET AROUND CREATING
THIS CREATIVE INDUSTRY MANAGER
POSITION.
SO I BELIEVE OED IS IN THE
PROCESS OF KIND OF EVALUATING
ITS WORKFORCE NEEDS.
THERE ARE ALSO THE FOLKS DOING
THE PERMITTING FOR EVENTS, SO
THOSE PEOPLE CONTINUE TO DO
WHAT THEY ARE DOING IN THOSE
POSITIONS.
I THINK THERE IS THE CREATIVE
INDUSTRY POLICY ADVISOR THAT
HAD BEEN ADDED IN THE 2020
ADOPTED BUDGET THAT IS KIND OF
INFLUX RIGHT NOW.
OED IS IN THE PROCESS OF
DEVELOPING THEIR PROPOSAL FOR
THAT ROLE, KIND OF WITHIN THE
LARGER PICTURE OF THEIR
PRIORITIES.
>> IT SOUNDS LIKE THERE MAY BE
SOME CHANGES AS A RESULT OF
THAT EVALUATION.
BUT IT ALSO SOUNDS LIKE THERE
ARE NOT CURRENTLY ANY POSITIONS
TO HELP SUPPORT THE FILM
COMMISSION AT TIMES?
>> THERE IS.
THERE IS.
>> ALL RIGHT.
CHRIS IS SO INVOLVED IN THE ON
THE GROUND PERMITTING WORK,
RIGHT?
>> SO, WE HAPPEN TO HAVE THE
DIRECTOR OF THE OFFICE OF
ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT --
>> I JUST MEAN, LIKE, THE
SUPPORT TO THE FILM COMMISSION,
I THINK MIGHT BE A LITTLE BIT
OF A DIFFERENT ROLE THAN WHAT
WE ARE TALKING ABOUT, BUT I MAY
BE COMPLETELY WRONG.
CHRIS WEARS A LOT OF DIFFERENT
HATS.
>> THERE ARE A LOT OF DIFFERENT
HATS, BUT HE IS OUR SUBJECT
MATTER EXPERT ON FILM.
HE HAS BEEN THE ONE LEAVING
THAT OF ELEMENT OF THIS
COMMISSION BOTH WITH OED AND
WITH OUR PARTNERS IN THE
REGION.
SO CHRIS IS BEST SUITED TO
SUPPORT THIS COMMISSION AS IT
GETS STARTED.
NOW AS I HAVE SAID BEFORE AND
AS I TALKED WITH YOU,
COUNCILMEMBER HERBOLD, OED IS
GOING THROUGH A LOT OF CHANGES
ON STAFFING AND FOCUS.
THAT MIGHT CHANGE OVER TIME,
BUT AS WE GET SET UP, CHRIS IS
BY FAR THE BEST POSITION TO GET
OFF THE GROUND AND MAKE SURE IT
IS SET UP FOR SUCCESS.
>> THANK YOU.
>> OKAY, ARE THERE ANY OTHER
QUESTIONS?
I HAVE TO SAY SPEAKING OF THE
CREATIVE ECONOMY, AND YOU
MIGHT'VE BEEN THE DRIVING FORCE
OF THIS, COUNCILMEMBER HERBOLD,
BUT THIS IS A REPORT FROM
2019, CREATIVE ECONOMY REPORT.
CITY OF SEATTLE PUT IT TOGETHER
IN CONJUNCTION WITH -- LET'S
SEE.
WELL, IT WAS KATE BECKER AND A
DIRECTOR OF OFFICE AND ARTS AND
CULTURE.
AND THE INTERIM DIRECTOR OF
OED.
SO, WE DO HAVE 67 PAGES OF
INFORMATION ABOUT THE CREATIVE
ECONOMY AND THE PROP I WAS
LOOKING FOR EARLIER WAS HERE IS
THE FINAL 2020 REPORT FROM THE
SEATTLE FILM TASK FORCE.
SO WE'VE GOT A LOT OF MOMENTUM
GOING HERE.
WE JUST NEED, AS YOU ARE RIGHT
TO SAY, SOME FOCUSED ATTENTION.
AND I BELIEVE I ECHO DIRECTOR
MARKHAM McINTYRE WHEN HE SAYS
CHRIS IS REALLY THE RIGHT
PERSON FOR THAT.
ANYWAY.
>> I WANT TO SAY I WAS
ABSOLUTELY NOT THE DRIVING
FORCE FOR THAT 2019 REPORT, BUT
I RETURNED TO THEM OFTEN.
CITING THE STATS FROM THOSE
REPORTS.
BECAUSE THEY ARE SOME OF THE
BEST REPORTS THAT IDENTIFY BOTH
THE NEED FOR THE WORKFORCE, TO
REALLY PAY ATTENTION TO GROWING,
PARTICULARLY PARTS OF THE
WORKFORCE.
I RETURNED TO THAT REPORT OVER
AND OVER AGAIN, BUT IT WAS NOT
MY BRAINCHILD.
I FIRMLY BELIEVE IT WAS RANDY
AND KATE'S BRAINCHILD.
>> GREAT, NOW THAT WE'VE GOT
THAT STRAIGHT, IT WAS YOUR
STAFF THAT SENT IT TO ME.
SO, THANK YOU EVERYBODY.
I DON'T SEE ANYBODY WITH THEIR
HANDS RAISED, SO NOW, YOLANDA,
IT WOULD NOW BE TIME TO MOVE
THE BILL AND THE AMENDMENT.
WOULD YOU LIKE TO SPEAK TO THAT
OR JUST GO AHEAD AND MOVE?
>> YOU WANT TO MOVE THE BILL
AND THEN WE CAN TALK ABOUT THE
AMENDMENT?
>> SURE THING.
I MOVE COMMITTEE RECOMMEND
PASSAGE OF COUNCIL BILL 120412.
IS THERE A SECOND?
>> SECOND.
>> IT HAS BEEN MOVED AND
SECONDED.
AS YOLANDA MENTIONED, THERE IS
AN AMENDMENT.
I MOVED TO AMEND COUNCIL BILL
120412, AS PRESENTED IN
AMENDMENT ONE.
IS THERE A SECOND?
>> SECOND.
>> THANK YOU.
GO AHEAD, YOLANDA.
>> ALL RIGHT, AMENDMENT ONE IS
ATTACHMENT TO TO THE AGENDA.
IT WOULD MAKE CLARIFICATIONS,
SPECIFICALLY THAT THE FILM
INDUSTRY SPECIFIC EFFORTS ARE
INTENDED TO ADVANCE THE CITY
ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT PRIORITIES
AND ECONOMY.
SECOND, THE COUNCIL WILL
CONFIRM ALL APPOINTMENTS TO THE
COMMISSION.
THIRD, THE REQUIRED ANNUAL
MEETING BETWEEN THE FILM
COMMISSION AND SEATTLE MUSIC
COMMISSION WHICH SHOULD FOCUS
ON IDENTIFYING ECONOMIC
OPPORTUNITIES AND OPPORTUNITIES
FOR COLLABORATION.
>> ANY QUESTIONS ABOUT THAT?
OKAY, WILL THE CLERK PLEASE
CALL THE ROLL ON THE AMENDMENT.
>> COUNCIL PRESIDENT TREND 28.
>> AYE.
>> COUNCILMEMBER SAWANT.
>> YES.
>> COUNCILMEMBER STRAUSS.
>> YES, ABSOLUTELY.
>> COUNCILMEMBER HERBOLD.
>> YES.
>> AND CHAIR NELSON.
>> AYE.
>> FIVE IN FAVOR, NONE OPPOSED.
>> THE MOTION CARRIES AND THE
AMENDMENT IS ADOPTED.
THE BILL IS AMENDED BEFORE THE
COMMITTEE.
ARE THERE ANY MORE COMMENTS OR
QUESTIONS ON THE BILL AS
AMENDED.
OKAY, SEEING NINE, WILL THE
CLERK PLEASE CALL THE ROLL ON
THE BILL.
>> COUNCIL PRESIDENT TREND 28.
>> AYE.
>> COUNCILMEMBER STRAUSS.
>> YES.
>> COUNCILMEMBER HERBOLD.
>> YES.
>> CHAIR NELSON.
>> AYE.
>> FIVE VOTES IN FAVOR, ZERO
OPPOSED.
>> THE MOTION CARRIES AND THE
COMMITTEE RECOMMENDS COUNCIL
BILL 120412 PASSES AS AMENDED
AND THIS WILL BE FORWARDED TO
CITY COUNCIL FOR FINAL
CONSIDERATION ON SEPTEMBER 20
AND I AM BASICALLY OUT OF
LINES, SO I WILL LEAVE IT
THERE.
IF YOU ARE INTERESTED IN
FOLLOWING THIS TO THE END, THAT
WILL BE SEPTEMBER 20.
OKAY, THANK YOU EVERYONE.
THANK YOU FOR STEPPING UP TO
THE PLATE.
DIRECTOR McINTYRE, AND HELPING
OUT THERE.
ALL RIGHT, WE WILL NOW MOVE
ON.
WILL THE CLERK PLEASE READ ITEM
TWO INTO THE RECORD.
>> AGENDA ITEM NUMBER TWO,
BRIEFING ON OFFICE OF ECONOMIC
DEVELOPMENT NEIGHBORHOOD
RECOVERY INVESTMENTS.
THIS WILL BE A BRIEFING AND
DISCUSSION.
>> OKAY, I WILL GIVE FOLKS TIME
TO GET HERE.
NOW WHILE THEY ARE SETTLING, IT
IS IMPORTANT TO KNOW THAT THE
OFFICE OF ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT
HAS BEEN DOING TO SUPPORT
NEIGHBORHOOD RECOVERY.
IF YOU WATCH THE FINANCE AND
HOUSING COMMITTEE MEETINGS, YOU
MIGHT HEAR A LINE ITEM ABOUT
WHAT IS GOING ON WITH THE
FEDERAL RELIEF DOLLARS.
HERE WE HAVE PEOPLE FROM THE
OFFICE OF ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT
TO TALK ABOUT THEIR WORK OVER
THE PAST COUPLE OF YEARS.
SO WILL THE PRESENTERS PLEASE
INTRODUCE YOURSELVES.
>> I AM MARKHAM McINTYRE, THE
OFFICE OF ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT
DIRECTOR.
>> IM THERESA BARRERAS, THE
DIRECTOR OF OUR NEIGHBORHOOD
BUSINESS DISTRICT PROGRAMS AT
THE OFFICE OF ECONOMIC
DEVELOPMENT.
>> I AM COMMUNITY BUSINESS
DEVELOPMENT COORDINATOR AT
HOMESITE.
>> HI, BENNET VINING, COMMUNITY
DEVELOPMENT SPECIALIST FOR
OED.
>> HI EVERYBODY, I WORK AS
LIAISON WITH THE DEPARTMENT OF
NEIGHBORHOODS.
>> HI, I AM THE COMMUNITY
DEVELOPMENT MANAGER AT THE
DEVELOPMENT AUTHORITY.
>> WELCOME.
>> FIRST OF ALL, THANKS FOR
HAVING US AND THANKS EVERYONE
FOR JOINING US AT THE TABLE
THIS MORNING.
I AM REALLY EXCITED ABOUT THIS
PRESENTATION.
WE HAVE SOME OF THE BEST
NEIGHBORHOODS AROUND AND AT THE
OFFICE OF ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT,
WE WANT TO MAKE SURE WE ARE
CELEBRATING THEM, HELPING BUILD
CAPACITY AND MAKING SURE THEY
CAN HAVE VIBRANT BUSINESS
DISTRICTS.
SO, WHAT WE ARE HERE TO TALK
ABOUT TODAY IS HOW WE HAVE BEEN
RESPONSIBLE STEWARDS FOR
FEDERAL RECOVERY DOLLARS AND
HELPING MAKE NEIGHBORHOODS
VIBRANT AND GET TO THE PANDEMIC
AND HOPEFULLY RECOVER WELL, BUT
ALSO BEING CREATIVE AND
APPLYING THOSE DOLLARS.
THINKING ABOUT GEOGRAPHIC
EQUITY AND RACIAL EQUITY IN
PARTICULAR FOR HOW WE DISTRIBUTE
THE DOLLARS AND PROJECTS WE
WERE FUNDING AND MAKING SURE WE
PRIORITIZE SOME OF THE
NEIGHBORHOODS THAT HAVE BEEN
UNDER INVESTED IN AND THINK
ABOUT HOW WE CAN USE SOME OF
WHAT WE LEARNED GOING FORWARD
WITH OUR PROGRAMMING AT THE
OFFICE OF ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT.
THROUGH THIS PROGRAM WE
SUPPORTED A TON OF MEANINGFUL
PROJECTS ACROSS THE CITY.
WE WERE VERY LUCKY TO WORK WITH
THE BALLARD ALLIANCE TO HOST
SENATOR PATTY MURRAY.
SHE SEEMED IMPRESSED TALKING
ABOUT SMALL BUSINESSES AND
HEARING ABOUT THE NETWORK WE
DEVELOP THERE WITH THE ALLIANCE
AND THE PROJECTS WE DEVELOPED
THERE.
NEXT SLIDE.
SO, WHAT WE WILL TALK ABOUT IS
WE WILL GIVE A QUICK OVERVIEW
OF THE FUNDS.
SHARE SOME OF THOSE INCREDIBLE
PROJECTS AND STORIES AND FOCUS
ON THIS BIPOC COHORT, WHICH IS
AN EXCITING DEVELOPMENT THAT
CAME UP THROUGH THIS PROJECT,
ALSO KNOWN AS NERF.
NEXT SLIDE, PLEASE.
A QUICK OVERVIEW OF
PRIORITIES.
I HAVE A HOT OFF THE PRESSES
AMENDMENT TO THE SLIDE, BECAUSE
WE NOW HAVE FIVE BUCKETS.
OED HAS BEEN WORKING ON A
FUTURE OF SEATTLE'S ECONOMY
PROJECT AS PART OF OUR
RECOMMENDATIONS FOR HOW TO
SPEND THE PAYROLL EXPENSE TAX
DOLLARS AND WE HAVE ACTUALLY
COME UP WITH FIVE PILLARS.
WE HAVE TALENT AND WORKFORCE
DEVELOPMENT.
KEY BUSINESS AND INDUSTRY
GROWTH.
ASSET OWNERSHIP.
NEIGHBORHOOD INVESTMENT.
AND SMALL, MINORITY, AND WOMEN
OWNED BUSINESS SUPPORTS.
WE WILL AMEND THE SLIDE.
WE DID NOT HAVE IT READY FOR
THIS PRESENTATION, BUT THOSE
WILL BE THE FIVE PILLARS GOING
FORWARD.
VERY EXCITED ABOUT THIS.
THIS FITS NICELY IN THE BUCKET,
BUT AS WE KNOW WHEN WE ARE
SUPPORTING THESE HEALTHY
ECONOMIC ECOSYSTEMS IN THE
BUSINESS DISTRICT, AND HAS A TON
OF KNOCK ON BENEFITS FOR SMALL
BUSINESSES, ASSET OWNERSHIP,
AND A VARIETY OF OTHER IMPACTS.
FOR THAT I WILL TURN IT OVER TO
THERESA TO WALK THROUGH THE
PRESENTATION.
>> GREAT, THANK YOU.
NEXT SLIDE, PLEASE.
JUST TO SET THE STAGE HERE,
DURING THE CORONAVIRUS PANDEMIC
CLOSURES, OUR NEIGHBORHOOD
BUSINESS DISTRICT SAW A LOT OF
DIRECT AND INDIRECT IMPACT ON
THE LOCAL ORGANIZATIONS REALLY
WORKED QUICKLY AND EFFICIENTLY
AND WORKED VERY HARD TO SUPPORT
THEIR LOCAL BUSINESSES AND
LOCAL COMMUNITIES.
A HELPED BOARD UP WINDOWS TO
TRY TO PREVENT BREAKAGES AND
HELPED GET MURALS ON THOSE
WINDOWS, SO THE STREETSCAPE
WOULD STAY VIBRANT.
THEY ORGANIZED, EXCUSE ME, THE
DISTRIBUTION OF SUPPLIES TO
BUSINESSES.
THE PPE SUPPLIES TO HELP
BUSINESSES CONTINUE OPERATING.
AND THEY HELPED BUSINESSES
ACCESS ALL OF THE RESOURCES
THAT WERE COMING OUT AND
HELPING SPREAD THE WORD AND
HELP THEM APPLY, SO THEY CAN
CONTINUE OPERATING THEIR
BUSINESS.
SO OUR LOCAL NEIGHBORHOOD
BUSINESS DISTRICTS WORKED VERY
HARD DURING THE PANDEMIC TO TRY
TO SUPPORT THE BUSINESSES AND
THE COMMUNITIES.
NEXT SLIDE, PLEASE.
SO ABOUT A YEAR AGO, LAST
SUMMER, 2021, USING THE
CORONAVIRUS LOCAL FISCAL
RECOVERY FUNDS FROM THE
AMERICAN RESCUE PLAN ACT, WHICH
WERE FEDERAL FUNDS COMING INTO
THE CITY, OED DESIGNED AND
LAUNCHED THE NEIGHBORHOOD
ECONOMIC RECOVERY FUND.
THE GOAL OF THE FUND WAS TO
HELP NEIGHBORHOODS AND
BUSINESSES REBOUND FROM THE
IMPACT OF COVID-19 AND THRIVE.
WE DESIGNED THE PROGRAM TO
SUPPORT COMMUNITY DRIVEN
SOLUTIONS AND TO REALLY FOCUS
ON RACIAL EQUITY.
THE PROGRAM WAS MODELED AND
LAUNCHED FROM OUR LONG-STANDING
ONLY IN SEATTLE PROGRAM AT THE
OFFICE OF ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT
THAT IS BEEN WORKING FOR MORE
THAN A DECADE TO INVEST IN
BUILDING AND SUSTAINING
CAPACITY WITHIN NEIGHBORHOOD
BUSINESS DISTRICT ORGANIZATIONS.
IT ALLOWED US, THE FEDERAL
FUNDING, ALLOWED US TO INVEST
QUICKLY AND DEEPLY IN THE
NEIGHBORHOOD BUSINESS DISTRICTS
AND TO SUPPORT NEW COMMUNITY
DRIVEN SOLUTIONS.
NEXT SLIDE, PLEASE.
AS WE MENTIONED, IN ORDER TO
PRIORITIZE PROJECTS, WE REALLY
FOCUSED ON THOSE NEIGHBORHOODS
AND BUSINESS DISTRICTS AND
COMMUNITIES THAT WERE IMPACTED
THE MOST FROM COVID.
BASED ON AN ANALYSIS THE CITY
DID LOOKING AT COVID IMPACTED
BUSINESSES, RESIDENTS, AND
ACROSS GEOGRAPHICALLY, IT WAS
VERY CLEAR THAT THERE WERE
DISPROPORTIONATE IMPACTS FROM
COVID ON OUR COMMUNITIES OF
COLOR.
SO WE REALLY FOCUSED AND TRIED
TO PRIORITIZE OUR INVESTMENTS
ON THOSE HIGHLY IMPACTED
COMMUNITIES.
NEXT SLIDE.
AS A RESULT, WE PROVIDED DIRECT
GRANTS TO ORGANIZATIONS,
EXISTING NEIGHBORHOOD BUSINESS
DISTRICT ORGANIZATIONS SUCH AS
BUSINESS IMPROVEMENT AREAS,
LOCAL CHAMBER OF COMMERCE AND
SIMILAR ORGANIZATIONS.
31 IN TOTAL ACROSS THE CITY.
WE PROVIDED $4 MILLION TO THEM
AND PROVIDED LARGER GRANTS TO
ORGANIZATIONS WORKING IN THOSE
HIGHEST IMPACTED COMMUNITIES.
SO WE WERE ABLE TO PROVIDE $2.3
MILLION WITHIN THOSE HIGH-
IMPACT COMMUNITIES.
AND THE REST AROUND THE CITY.
WE ALSO OPENED A PUBLIC REQUEST
FOR PROPOSAL OF $1.35 MILLION
AND ALL OF THAT FUNDING WAS
DIRECTED AT THE HIGHEST
IMPACTED COMMUNITIES IN 25
ORGANIZATIONS.
SO OVERALL WE WERE ABLE TO
PROVIDE A MAJORITY OF OUR FUNDS
TO SUPPORT THE COVID IMPACTED
COMMUNITIES.
AND YOU CAN SEE A LIST OF ALL OF
THE GRANTS THAT WE PROVIDED AND
A LITTLE DESCRIPTION OF THOSE
PROJECTS ON OUR WEBSITE, WHICH
I HAVE THE LINK HERE IN THE
POWERPOINT.
NEXT SLIDE, PLEASE.
JUST TO GIVE AN EXAMPLE OF THE
TYPES OF ACTIVITIES THAT THE
NEIGHBORHOODS WERE ENGAGED IN,
HERE ARE A FEW EXAMPLES.
ACTIVATING SPACES.
WHICH IS BASICALLY THE PUBLIC
SPACE WITHIN NEIGHBORHOOD
BUSINESS DISTRICTS, TRYING TO
BRING NEW ENERGY AND ACTIVITY
TO THOSE SPACES.
SUCH AS EVENTS OUT IN THE
PUBLIC SPACE.
DOING VENDOR MARKETS OUTSIDE.
IT ALSO INCLUDES COMMERCIAL
SPACE.
TRYING TO BRING BUSINESSES INTO
VACANT COMMERCIAL SPACES, LIKE
COMMERCIAL POP-UPS AND THOSE
TYPES OF ACTIVITIES.
ALSO, CLEANING WAS VERY
IMPORTANT.
TRYING TO COME BACK FROM
PANDEMIC MAINTENANCE.
YOU KNOW, DOING GRAFFITI PAINT
OUT AND GARBAGE PICKUP.
DOING DIGITAL EQUITY PROJECTS
TO SUPPORT SMALL BUSINESSES TO
GET ONLINE SO THEY CAN CONTINUE
OPERATING DURING CLOSURES.
AS WE KIND OF GRADUALLY RECOVER
FROM FOLKS NOT GOING TO
BUSINESSES AS MUCH, PHYSICAL
IMPROVEMENTS.
MORE SAFETY PROJECTS AND DIRECT
SUPPORT TO BUSINESSES.
THIS IS AN EXAMPLE OF THE TYPES
OF ACTIVITIES AND PROJECTS THAT
WE FUNDED.
NEXT SLIDE.
SO, THE PROJECTS HAVE JUST
GOTTEN STARTED LATE LAST YEAR
OR EARLY THIS YEAR AND SO FAR,
FROM WHAT WE HAVE HEARD AND
RECEIVED REPORTS ON, WE SERVED
ABOUT 750 BUSINESSES DIRECTLY.
HELD 54 ACTIVATIONS.
AND 82 PLUS PHYSICAL
IMPROVEMENTS.
SO A LOT OF ACTIVITY IS
HAPPENING AND A LOT OF THE
NEIGHBORHOODS ARE, I THINK,
FEELING THE EFFECT OF THESE
FUNDS.
NOW WE WILL GIVE A FEW EXAMPLES
OF PROJECTS.
BENNET AND I WILL GO BACK AND
FORTH ON THIS.
ONE EXAMPLE IN LAKE CITY, THE
ORGANIZATION BUILD LAKE CITY
TOGETHER, IT IS ACTUALLY A
PROGRAM OF THE HOME SOCIETY.
THIS IS AN EXAMPLE OF A VACANT
COMMERCIAL SPACE ACTIVATION.
SO THERE WAS A SPACE THAT THEY
WERE ABLE TO GET ACCESS TO AND
OFFER UP AS AFFORDABLE
COMMERCIAL SPACE FOR SOME
STARTUP BUSINESSES, AS WELL AS
PROVIDING SOME SPACE FOR ARTS
AND CULTURE EVENTS AND
ACTIVITIES IN THE COMMUNITY.
NEXT SLIDE.
>> HOMESITE AND WEST SEATTLE
CHAMBER OF COMMERCE HAVE GREAT
EXAMPLES OF DIGITAL EQUITY
PROJECTS.
WEST SEATTLE CHAMBER OF
COMMERCE IS EXPANDING THEIR
DIGITAL EQUITY PROJECT.
THEY ARE PROVIDING DIRECT
BUSINESS TECHNICAL ASSISTANCE
TO LOCAL BIPOC BUSINESSES.
THEY ARE HELPING UPDATE THEIR
WEBSITES AND DIGITAL PROFILE
WITH KEY INFORMATION.
AND HOMESIGHT IS TAKING A
UNIQUE APPROACH.
DURING THE START OF THE
PANDEMIC, MANY BUSINESSES
RELIED ON SERVICES OR WERE HIT
HARD BY THE FEES OF THIRD-PARTY
PPS.
HOMESIGHT IS LEADING THE DESIGN
OF A NONPROFIT OR CO-OP APP
THAT WILL ENGAGE BUSINESSES
WITHIN SOUTHEAST SEATTLE AND
WILL USE THE HIGH FEES THAT
OFTEN HURT LOCAL BIPOC
BUSINESSES.
>> AN EXAMPLE FROM THE SOUTH
PARK BUSINESS DISTRICT, THEY
ARE SUPPORTING A LOT OF LOCAL
BUSINESSES WITH DIGITAL EQUITY
PROJECTS, TRYING TO GET
BUSINESSES ONLINE WITH
WEBSITES.
PROVIDING AN ONLINE DIRECTORY,
AS WELL AS IN LANGUAGE BUSINESS
ASSISTANCE ON MARKETING AND HOW
TO CREATE VIDEOS AND HAVING IN
LANGUAGE TECHNICAL ASSISTANCE.
EVENTS.
NEXT SLIDE.
>> SIMPLY SOULFUL CAFE, IN
ADDITION TO HAVING GREAT FOOD,
IS A GREAT EXAMPLE OF HOW THE
MOVEMENT CAN HELP SUSTAIN AND
GROW OTHER LOCAL BUSINESSES.
THEY ARE CONVERTING THEIR OLD
LOCATION TO A COMMISSARY AND
COMMUNITY SPACE THAT WILL HAVE
LOW COST BARRIERS FOR OTHER
LOCAL BUSINESSES REENTERING
AFTER THE PANDEMIC AND TRYING
TO GROW THEIR BUSINESS.
>> A COUPLE EXAMPLES OF PUBLIC
SPACE ACTIVATIONS.
THERE ARE A LOT OF VENDOR
MARKETS POPPING UP.
THERE IS ONE RUN BY COMMUNITY
ROOTS HOUSING FOUNDATION.
AND THEN EXAMPLES OF SOME
LEGACY EVENTS, LIKE THE BALLARD
SEAFOOD FEST.
WE ARE ABLE TO JUMP BACK AND
OPEN BACK UP WITH NERF FUNDING.
>> BLACK ARTS LOVE IS A
COMMERCIAL SPACE ACTIVATION
PROJECT AND THEY SECURED A
LEASE IN CAPITOL HILL AND ARE
TRANSFORMING THE SPACE INTO A
MORE RELIABLE AND PERMANENT
VENDOR MARKET FOR ARTISTS AND
VENDORS.
MANY ARTISTS AND VENDORS RELY
ON POP-UP EVENTS.
THEY ARE STRIVING TO REGULARLY
SERVE 25 TO 50 BIPOC VENDORS
AND ARTISTS.
>> AND FINALLY, CHINATOWN I.D.
AND LITTLE SAIGON NEIGHBORHOOD
BUSINESS DISTRICTS, A LOT OF
PROJECTS HAVE BEEN FUNDED AND
THEY ARE DOING A VARIETY OF
THINGS FROM PUTTING SECURITY
FILM ON STOREFRONT WINDOWS TO
HELP PREVENT BREAKAGE, TO DOING
EXTRA PRESSURE WASHING OF THE
SIDEWALKS AND GRAFFITI PAINT
OUT.
A LOT OF EVENTS, LEGACY EVENTS
AND NEW, POP-UP EVENTS IN THE
PUBLIC SPACES.
AS YOU CAN SEE, A VARIETY OF
PROJECTS.
THIS IS JUST A HANDFUL OF SOME
OF THE WORK THAT WE FUNDED AND
WILL CONTINUE TO BE SUPPORTING
THROUGH NEXT YEAR.
AND NOW WE WILL TURN IT OVER TO
CHERA AMLAG FROM OUR OFFICE,
AND BENNET, TO TALK ABOUT OUR
BIPOC COHORT.
>> GOOD MORNING, EVERYONE.
SO, THE ONLY IN SEATTLE
PROGRAM, WHICH LAUNCHED AND
MANAGES THE ACTIVITIES AND
GRANTEES, HAS BEEN PROVIDING
RACIAL EQUITY TRAININGS FOR FIVE
PLUS YEARS WITHIN ITS PROGRAM.
IN 2021, WHEN WE RECEIVED SOME
FEEDBACK AS WE DID ASSESSMENTS
ONCE THE TRAININGS WERE DONE,
ONE OF THE FEEDBACK FROM THE
COHORT MEMBERS, SPECIFICALLY
BIPOC MEMBERS, WERE WANTING
DEEPER WORK IN RACIAL EQUITY
TRAININGS, SPECIFICALLY FOR
THE BIPOC COMMUNITIES.
SO WE TOOK THAT FEEDBACK FROM
THE PARTICIPANTS OF RACIAL
EQUITY TRAININGS IN 2021 AND
BEGAN TO DESIGN A PILOT PROGRAM
WHICH WE CALLED THE BIPOC
COHORT.
WITH PARTNERS WHO HAVE BEEN
HELPING US FACILITATE THESE
TRAININGS, EQUITY MATTERS, THEY
HAD BROUGHT TO US A PILOT
PROGRAM THAT THEY ALREADY
COMPLETED WITH LOCAL
PHILANTHROPIC ORGANIZATIONS,
DOING SIMILAR WORK FOR THEIR
BIPOC STAFF AND COMMUNITIES AS
WELL.
WITH THAT WE LAUNCHED THE 2022
BIPOC COHORT WHICH INCLUDED
BOTH OUR ONLY IN SEATTLE DIRECT
GRANTEES, AS WELL AS THE
ORGANIZATIONS WITH THE RFP.
SO WITH THAT, NEXT SLIDE.
WE DESIGNED A THREE-MONTH
COHORT WITH EQUITY MATTERS
FACILITATING IT, THAT REALLY
LOOTED -- REALLY ROOTED IN
STORIES AND DEMANDS AND WHAT
THEY WOULD LIKE TO SEE IN A
MORE RACIALLY JUST DEVELOPMENT
SYSTEM IN SEATTLE.
WITH THAT WE BROUGHT TOGETHER
SOME OF THE COHORT MEMBERS AND
SOME OF THE LEARNING AND
FINDINGS THROUGH THAT COHORT.
NEXT SLIDE, PLEASE.
THESE ARE ALL OF OUR
PARTICIPANTS FOR THE SPRING
COHORT.
WE HAVE A GREAT MIX OF DIRECT
GRANTEES AND RFP GRANTEES.
FOR OUR SPEAKERS TODAY, THIS IS
THE FIRST TIME PRESENTING IN
FRONT OF COUNCILMEMBERS, SO I'M
HAPPY THIS SPACE WAS ABLE TO
PROVIDE THE OPPORTUNITY FOR
THIS GROUP TO NAVIGATE THE CITY
SYSTEMS.
NEXT SLIDE, PLEASE.
DURING EACH SESSION, OUR
COHORTS WENT INTO TWO CAUCUSES.
A PEOPLE OF COLOR CAUCUS AND A
BLACK AND INDIGENOUS CAUCUS TO
DIG DEEPER ON CONCERNS AND
EXPERIENCES OF EACH COMMUNITY.
BECAUSE EACH COMMUNITY HAS
VARIED NEEDS, THERE ARE A LOT
OF ANSWERS TO THE QUESTION OF
HOW TO MAKE A MORE RACIALLY
JUST ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT
SYSTEM.
OUR FACILITATORS FROM EQUITY
MATTERS EMPHASIZED ANSWERS AND
REALLY BOILED IT DOWN TO THESE
FIVE KEY THEMES FOR PRIORITY.
NEXT SLIDE, PLEASE.
I WANTED THIS OPPORTUNITY TO
HIGHLIGHT SOME OF THE WORK IN
OUR OFFICE IS DOING THAT IS IN
ALIGNMENT WITH SOME OF THESE
THEMES.
THERE IS ACTUALLY A SPECIFIC
ASKED TO KEEP THIS COHORT
CONTINUING AND ONLY IN SEATTLE
IS DEDICATED TO KEEP THIS
CONTINUING AND ENGAGE THE
GROUP.
SHARING KNOWLEDGE WITH EACH
OTHER, AND BUILD CAPACITY FOR
THIS GROUP TO ORGANIZE.
IN ADDITION, OUR OFFICE WAS
TASKED TO CONDUCT A SURVEY ON
THE FUTURE OF SEATTLE'S ECONOMY.
AFTER RECEIVING THE FIRST LIST
OF PARTICIPANTS, WE NOTICED
BIPOC COHORT MEMBERS WERE NOT
INCLUDED IN THE STUDY AND WE
WERE ABLE TO GET ADDITIONAL
PARTICIPATION FROM SEATTLE
CLUB, GREATER SEATTLE BUSINESS
ASSOCIATION AND SIMPLY SOULFUL.
LASTLY, I WANT TO UPLIFT OUR
WEALTH BUILDING TEAM.
THEY ARE DOING WORK IN
BUILDING, RESTORING, AND
INVESTING IN BIPOC BUSINESSES.
SOME PROGRAMS THEY LAUNCH TO
THE CAPITAL ACCESS PROGRAM.
AND SEATTLE RESTORED.
NEXT SLIDE, PLEASE.
NOW I HAVE THE PLEASURE TO HAND
IT OVER TO OUR COHORT MEMBERS.
JUST A QUICK NOTE, BOB LUCIANO
WAS UNFORTUNATELY UNABLE TO
MAKE IT TODAY, BUT I WILL HAND
IT OVER TO AN HUYNH TO ANSWER
THIS QUESTION.
>> GOOD MORNING,
COUNCILMEMBERS.
MY NAME IS AN HUYNH.
THE CID HAS GONE THROUGH A LOT
IN THE LAST 2 1/2 YEARS WITH
COVID, HATE CRIMES, AND AN EVER
CHANGING STATE OF COMMUNITY
SAFETY.
SMALL BUSINESSES HAVE
EXPERIENCED MUCH OF THE DIRECT
IMPACT OF THESE ISSUES.
FOR SMALL BUSINESSES AND STAFF,
THE LAST 2 1/2 YEARS HAVE BEEN
A SERIES OF REACTIONARY
RESPONSES TO EMERGENCIES AND
REGULATORY CHANGES.
WE HAVE BARELY HAD THE CHANCE
TO START THINKING LONG-TERM
BECAUSE OF SO MANY IMMEDIATE
NEEDS.
I WAS GLAD TO BE PART OF THE
COHORT, WHERE WE HAD A CHANCE
TO STEP BACK AND REFLECT ON
THEIR EXPERIENCES AS BIPOC
COMMUNITY WORKERS IN BIPOC
NEIGHBORHOODS.
WE DISCUSSED HOW TO IMPLEMENT
EQUITABLE PROGRAMS, HOW TO
ALLOW EXPERIMENTATION WITH
DIFFERENT ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT
MODELS, AND UPLIFT THE ISSUES
WE HAVE BEEN HEARING ON THE
GROUND TO DRIVE POLICY AND
PROGRAMS.
WE KNOW THAT ECONOMIC
DEVELOPMENT IS NOT ONE-SIZE-
FITS-ALL.
THE COHORT DIVIDED A SPACE WHERE
OPPORTUNITIES WERE HEARD, SO WE
COULD BEGIN TO CREATE ECONOMIC
POLICY DEMANDS THAT ADDRESS OUR
UNIQUE ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT
NEEDS.
THANK YOU.
>> HI EVERYBODY, HELLO AGAIN.
MY NAME IS IRIS VIVEROS.
I AM A PHD CANDIDATE AT THE
UNIVERSITY OF WASHINGTON.
I WANT TO SHARE WITH YOU THAT
AS A COMMUNITY LIAISON I HAVE
BEEN WORKING WITH LATINX SMALL
BUSINESS OWNERS BEFORE THE
PANDEMIC HIT, PRECISELY WITH
THE DEPARTMENT OF
NEIGHBORHOODS.
MOST OF THE BUSINESS OWNERS I
WORK WITH ARE IMMIGRANTS, NON-
ENGLISH SPEAKERS.
FOR MANY OF THEM THERE BUSINESS
IS ALL THEY HAVE.
AS WE KNOW, THE COVID-19
PANDEMIC MADE THE
VULNERABILITIES OF BIPOC SMALL
BUSINESSES MORE VISIBLE AND IN
WORKING WITH BUSINESSES DURING
THE PANDEMIC, I WITNESSED THE
MOST EFFECTIVE STRATEGIES TO
BUILD EQUITABLE ECONOMIC
PRACTICES HAVE DEVELOPED OUT OF
COLLABORATIONS, ALLIANCES, AND,
MOST IMPORTANTLY, THE STRENGTH
OF COMMUNITY-BASED PRACTICES.
FOR EXAMPLE, THE COLLECTIVE
THAT WAS BUILT DURING THE
PANDEMIC.
THAT ALLIANCE AND MANY OTHERS,
JUST PICKING THE ONES THAT I
KNOW.
AND THE BIPOC SPRING COHORT
THAT I WAS PART OF.
THIS PAST SPRING.
IN THESE COLLABORATIONS,
COMMUNITY MEMBERS IDENTIFY
SPECIFIC AND COLLECTIVE
CHALLENGES AND WORK TOGETHER TO
BUILD FOCUSED STRATEGIES.
THE COHORT PROVIDED SPACE TO
LEARN FROM ONE ANOTHER.
TO HONOR THE ROLE THAT EACH
COMMUNITY HAS PLAYED AND
CONTINUES TO PLAY IN BUILDING
OUR CITY AND TO BUILD A VISION
IN WHICH WE ARE EMPOWERED
PARTICIPANTS IN THE PRESENT AND
FUTURE OF A RAPIDLY CHANGING
CITY.
I JUST WANT TO END BY SHARING
WITH YOU THAT IN MY SCHOLARLY
WORK I LOOK AT THE ROLE OF
COMMUNITY-BASED PRACTICES IN
RESPONSE TO DISPLACEMENT AND IT
HAS BEEN HUMBLING TO WITNESS
THE RESILIENCE AND DIGNITY OF
OUR PEOPLE IN SEATTLE, KEEPING
UP WITH THE CHALLENGES OF NOT
ONLY A GLOBAL HEALTH CRISIS,
BUT ALSO A RAPIDLY CHANGING
CITY.
THANK YOU.
>> HI EVERYONE.
MY NAME IS MARIA VARGAS.
I AM A COMMUNITY DEVELOPMENT
MANAGER AT HOMESIGHT.
I FIRST WANT TO TAKE A MOMENT
TO SHOW GRATITUDE FOR THE BIPOC
COHORT AND THE SPACE IT
PROVIDED.
I THINK A MAJOR TAKE AWAY WE
ALL EXPERIENCED WAS
COLLABORATION, BUT IN ADDITION
IT WAS A SENSE OF RELIEF AND A
SENSE OF HAVING AN OPEN AND
WELCOMING SPACE FOR ALL OF US.
I THINK IT CAN BE CHALLENGING
TO CONTINUE TO SUPPORT AND HEAR
THE GRIEVANCES OF BUSINESSES
AND DO ALL WE CAN, BUT IT WAS
REFRESHING TO COLLABORATE AND
SHARE IDEAS AND THAT THE END OF
THE DAY WE ALL LEFT THE ROOM
MORE ENERGIZED AND READY TO
TACKLE MORE CHALLENGES AND HELP
MORE PEOPLE.
BUT, YES, IN MY SPECIFIC
DISTRICT, ONE OF THE MOST
DIVERSE COMMUNITIES.
OVER 30 LANGUAGES ARE SPOKEN
AND I DEFINITELY AGREE, THE
PANDEMIC HAS WREAKED HAVOC ON
SMALL BUSINESSES.
BUT YOU KNOW THEY CONTINUE TO
OPEN EVERY DAY, DESPITE BREAK-
INS, DESPITE EVERYTHING.
THEY SHOW THEIR GRIT AND
DETERMINATION AND I THINK WE
ALL HAVE SUCH APPRECIATION AND
ADMIRATION FOR THE SMALL
BUSINESSES AND WHAT THEY GO
THROUGH.
WHATEVER THEY NEED, WE WOULD
LOVE TO SUPPORT IN ANY WAY WE
CAN.
THANK YOU.
>> AND I WILL CLOSE WITH A
COUPLE OF WRITTEN RESPONSES
FROM A COUPLE OF THE MEMBERS.
THE FIRST ONE IS FROM HAYWARD
WATSON FROM THE CENTRAL AREA
COLLABORATIVE.
HE SAYS THE BIPOC COHORT
PROCESS IS IMPORTANT TO ME
BECAUSE IT HAS ALLOWED ME TO
PUT WORDS TO MY EXPERIENCES OF
WORKING IN A HISTORICALLY
EXCLUDED COMMUNITY AND VOCALIZE
THOSE EXPERIENCES IN A WAY THAT
IS UNDERSTOOD BY THE PEOPLE IN
OED.
I WILL CLOSE WITH THIS RESPONSE
FROM ANTHONY JOHNSON, FROM
CHIEF SEATTLE CLUB.
FROM AN INDIGENOUS AND NATIVE
PERSPECTIVE, WHAT WE KNOW TO BE
TRUE IS THAT THE NATIVE PEOPLES
IN THE PUGET SOUND HAVE NEVER
HAD AGENCY OVER THE FUTURE OF
THEIR LAND, PEOPLE, OR ECONOMY.
SPACES LIKE THIS SEEK TO REPAIR
THAT GAP OR MISALIGNMENT WITHIN
NOT ONLY THE NATIVE COMMUNITY
BUT THE BROADER PEOPLE OF COLOR
COMMUNITY IN SEATTLE.
IT IS THE FIRST STEP IN A LONG
LIST OF WAYS IN WHICH THE CITY
MUST CHANGE TO MEET THE NEEDS
OF ITS MARGINALIZED CITIZENS.
THE TIDES ARE SHIFTING, BUT I
APPLAUD THE CITY AND OED FOR
CREATING THE SPACE AND THE
FUNDING OPPORTUNITIES PROVIDED
TO CHIEF SEATTLE CLUB AND
OTHERS.
NATIVES TODAY STAND ON THE
SHOULDERS OF GIANTS AND THE
FIGHT FOR EQUITY CONTINUES.
IN THE WORDS OF THE LATE
ACTIVIST, CLYDE BELCOURT, WE
ARE THE LANDLORDS OF THE
COUNTRY.
IT IS THE END OF THE MONTH.
THE RENT IS DUE.
WITH THAT WE WILL CONCLUDE OUR
PRESENTATION AND TAKE ANY
QUESTIONS.
>> WELL, I AM MOVED, FIRST OF
ALL BY ALL OF THE WORK THAT OED
DID TO GET THE MONEY IN THE
HANDS OF PEOPLE WHO REALLY
NEEDED IT.
AS A SMALL BUSINESS OWNER I
THINK I SPEAK ON BEHALF OF -- I
WILL TAKE THE LIBERTY OF
SPEAKING ON BEHALF OF THE 700
SMALL BUSINESSES THAT DID
RECEIVE RELIEF AND HELP FROM
YOU.
SO, THANK YOU.
I KNOW THAT WAS A HUGE PUSH TO
GET THAT MONEY OUT THE DOOR, SO
THANK YOU VERY MUCH.
A SPECIAL THANKS TO YOU,
THERESA, FOR LEADING THIS
ENDEAVOR.
BECAUSE YOU KNOW I CAME INTO
OFFICE WANTING TO BE ECONOMIC
DEVELOPMENT CHAIR AND MY
PRIORITIES WERE DOWNTOWN AND
NEIGHBORHOOD BUSINESS DISTRICT
REVITALIZATION AND REDUCING THE
DISPLACEMENT OF BIPOC OWNED
SMALL BUSINESSES.
THIS WORK THAT YOU JUST
DESCRIBED TODAY, BASICALLY IS
THE NEXUS OF BOTH OF THOSE
GOALS.
SO I REALLY APPRECIATE YOU
COMING AND PRESENTING THIS WORK.
AND TO ALL OF YOU WHO CAME,
ESPECIALLY FOLKS WHO HAVE NEVER
BEEN TO CHAMBERS, I APPRECIATE
YOUR ELOQUENCE AND SHARING WHAT
WAS GOING ON IN YOUR
COMMUNITIES.
I WOULD LIKE TO SEE THE
DOCUMENTS, THE OTHER DOCUMENTS
THAT YOU REFERENCED.
ALL OF THE OTHER DEMANDS AND
ISSUES THAT DID NOT MAKE IT
ONTO SLIDES, BUT COUNT ME AS AN
ALLY AND A PARTNER GOING
FORWARD, BECAUSE WE HAVE A LOT
OF WORK TO DO FROM HERE ON OUT.
IT IS NOT OVER.
COLLEAGUES, DO YOU HAVE ANY
QUESTIONS OR COMMENTS?
OKAY, I AM NOT SEEING ANY HANDS
UP.
EVERYBODY OUT THERE IN TV LAND,
THIS PRESENTATION IS LINKED ON
THE AGENDA, SO IF YOU GO TO
SEATTLE CHANNEL YOU CAN FIND A
LINK TO THAT.
I JUST WANT TO SAY, THANK YOU,
VERY, VERY MUCH.
ONE QUESTION BEFORE YOU GO.
YOU MENTIONED THE CAPITAL
ACCESS PROGRAM AND OED HAS DONE
A GREAT JOB SINCE THE BEGINNING
OF THE YEAR, SINCE I HAVE BEEN
IN OFFICE, EXPANDING SOME OF
THESE PROGRAMS.
WAS SEATTLE RESTORED PART OF
THIS ENDEAVOR?
IF I MISSED A REFERENCE TO THAT
PROGRAM, EXCUSE ME.
BUT IS THAT PART OF THIS WHOLE
THING?
>> I THINK BENNET MENTIONED THE
CAPITAL ACCESS PROGRAM AS PART
OF THE AFFORDABILITY SUITE.
THE IMPROVEMENT FUND AND
SEATTLE RESTORED.
WE ARE WORKING ON HOW TO SCALE
THOSE, BECAUSE THEY HAVE ALL
BEEN INCREDIBLY SUCCESSFUL IN
THE NEED IS OUT THERE.
>> OKAY, AND WE ARE NOT DONE.
THERE ARE STILL INITIATIVES TO
BE REVEALED, SO THANK YOU VERY
MUCH EVERYBODY.
I APPRECIATE IT.
>> THANK YOU.
>> GREAT WORK.
>> OKAY, AS FOLKS ARE LEAVING
THE TABLE AND OTHER PEOPLE ARE
COMING UP, WE WILL TAKE ITEMS
THREE AND FOUR TOGETHER.
WILL THE CLERK PLEASE READ THEM
INTO THE RECORD.
>> AGENDA ITEM NUMBER THREE,
APPOINTMENT 02369,
REAPPOINTMENT OF DENISE
BURNSIDE AS A MEMBER OF THE
SEATTLE MUSIC COMMISSION, FOR A
TERM TO AUGUST 31, 2025.
APPOINTMENT 02370,
REAPPOINTMENT OF CASEYANN McKAY
TO THE SEATTLE MUSIC COMMISSION
FOR A TERM TO AUGUST 31, 2025.
BRIEFING, DISCUSSION, AND
POSSIBLE VOTE.
>> WILL YOU PLEASE INTRODUCE
YOURSELVES AND SPEAK ABOUT THE
MUSIC COMMISSION AND THESE
APPOINTMENTS.
>> SURE, THANK YOU VERY MUCH
AND GOOD MORNING.
MY NAME IS SCOTT PLUSQUELLEC.
I AM STAFF SUPPORT FOR THE
MUSIC COMMISSION.
EXCUSE ME.
QUICKLY FOR A BRIEF OVERVIEW,
AS YOU HEARD IN THE FILM
COMMISSION PRESENTATION, THE
MUSIC COMMISSION WAS CREATED IN
2010 AND RATIFIED BY COUNCIL
ORDINANCE IN 2014.
IT IS A 21 MEMBER COMMISSION.
11 MEMBERS APPOINTED BY THE
MAYOR'S OFFICE AND 10 BY
COUNCIL.
THE COMMISSION IS A GROUP OF
INDUSTRY AND COMMUNITY
VOLUNTEER STAKEHOLDERS
ASSEMBLED TO ADVISE THE OFFICE
OF ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT IN ITS
ADVOCACY FOR AND POLICY RELATED
TO THE CITY OF SEATTLE SUPPORT
AND GROWTH OF THE MUSIC
INDUSTRY AND COMMUNITY AND THE
COMMISSION STRIVES TO ENHANCE
THE GROWTH AND DEVELOPMENT OF
SEATTLE'S MUSIC SECTOR AND
CONVEY THE CITY COMMITMENT TO
THE INDUSTRY, MUSICIANS, AND
LIVE MUSIC AUDIENCE THAT DRIVES
THE CITY'S LOCAL MUSIC ECONOMY.
BEFORE EACH DAY, THE
REAPPOINTMENTS OF TWO CURRENT
COUNCILMEMBERS.
DENISE BURNSIDE, ORIGINALLY
APPOINTED IN AUGUST, 2021, TO
FILL THE REMAINDER OF AN
EXISTING TERM.
THIS REAPPOINTMENT WILL BE FOR
A FULL, THREE-YEAR TERM.
DENISE IS THE CO-OWNER OF THE
CLOCK OUT LOUNGE ON BEACON HILL
AND IS THE EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR
OF SMASH, THE SEATTLE MUSICIANS
ACCESS TO SUSTAINABLE
HEALTHCARE, WHICH IS A LOCAL
NONPROFIT DEDICATED TO PROVIDING
LOCAL MUSICIANS WITH ACCESS TO
FREE AND LOW-COST DENTAL,
MEDICAL, AND MENTAL HEALTHCARE.
ALSO BEFORE -- CASEYANN McKAY,
ALSO KNOWN AS CASEY CARTER.
SHE WAS ALSO ORIGINALLY
APPOINTED LAST YEAR TO FILL OUT
THE REMAINDER OF THAT TERM AND
WILL BE REAPPOINTED TO A THREE-
YEAR TERM.
EVENT PRODUCER, CREATIVE
DIRECTOR, BLOGGER, MARKETER,
AND PROMOTER.
CASEY IS DEDICATED TO PROVIDING
GUIDANCE AND HELP TO UP-AND-
COMING TALENT IN THE SEATTLE
MUSIC SCENE AND IS CURRENTLY
WORKING ON HELPING ARTISTS WITH
BRANDING AND COMMUNICATIONS.
THOSE ARE MY PRESENTATIONS AND
I WOULD BE HAPPY TO TAKE ANY
QUESTIONS.
>> TO ANY OF MY COLLEAGUES HAVE
ANY QUESTIONS?
ALL RIGHT.
SEEING NONE, I WANT TO THANK THE
MUSIC COMMISSION AND RECOGNIZE
THE HARD WORK THE MEMBERS OF
THE SEATTLE MUSIC COMMISSION
ENGAGED IN DURING THE PANDEMIC
TO KEEP THE INDUSTRY AFLOAT AND
THESE INDIVIDUAL BUSINESSES,
FROM GOING OUT OF BUSINESS.
THEY WERE A BIG PART.
I HAVE BEEN TO A COUPLE OF
THOSE MUSIC COMMISSION MEETINGS
AND I'VE HEARD STORIES.
THEY WERE A LIFELINE.
THROUGH THEIR CREATIVEAND
RESOURCEFUL THINKING, THE MUSIC
COMMISSION RALLIED THE
COMMUNITY TOGETHER, USING
DIGITAL AND OTHER PLATFORMS TO
KEEP MUSIC ALIVE.
WHEN ALL OF OUR VENUES WERE
SHUTTERED.
AND BECAUSE OF THEIR WORK
DURING THIS DIFFICULT TIME,
SEATTLE REMAINS A PLACE WHERE
MUSICIANS THRIVE, COMMUNITIES
ARE STRENGTHENED, AND MUSIC
BUSINESSES FLORISTS.
SO I JUST WANT TO SAY THANK YOU
TO DENISE BURNSIDE AND ALSO
CASEYANN McKAY, FOR YOUR
SERVICE AND FOR YOUR
WILLINGNESS TO CONTINUE SERVING.
IF THERE ARE NO OTHER QUESTIONS
OR COMMENTS, WE CAN MOVE ON TO
THE VOTE.
WILL THE CLERK PLEASE CALL --
OH, I MOVE THAT THE COMMITTEE
RECOMMENDED CONFIRMATION OF
APPOINTMENT 02369 AND
APPOINTMENT 02370.
IS THERE A SECOND?
>> SECOND.
>> THANK YOU.
IT HAS BEEN MOVED AND SECONDED
TO RECOMMEND CONFIRMATION OF
THE APPOINTMENTS AND I DID NOT
SEE FURTHER COMMENTS OR
QUESTIONS.
WILL THE CLERK PLEASE CALL THE
ROLL ON THE RECOMMENDATIONS FOR
APPOINTMENT 02369 AND
APPOINTMENT 02370 TO BE
CONFIRMED?
>> COUNCILMEMBER SAWANT.
>> YES.
>> COUNCILMEMBER STRAUSS.
>> YES.
>> COUNCILMEMBER HERBOLD.
>> YES.
>> CHAIR NELSON.
>> AYE.
>> FIVE IN FAVOR, ZERO OPPOSED.
>> THINK YOU VERY MUCH,
EVERYBODY.
SCOTT, PLEASE CONVEY MY
GRATITUDE.
AND WE WILL MOVE ALONG.
WILL THE CLERK PLEASE READ ITEM
FIVE INTO THE RECORD.
>> AGENDA ITEM NUMBER FIVE,
BRIEFING ON SEATTLE CITY LIGHT
ANNUAL AUDIT.
BRIEFING AND DISCUSSION.
>> WHILE WE ARE WAITING FOR
THEM TO COME TO THE TABLE,
THOSE APPOINTMENTS WILL BE
BEFORE FULL COUNCIL ON
SEPTEMBER 20.
OKAY, IF THE ITEM TITLE ISN'T
OBVIOUS, THIS IS A PRESENTATION
OF THE RESULTS OF THE REGULAR
ANNUAL AUDIT OF CITY LIGHT'S
FINANCIAL STATEMENTS.
WE UNDERSTAND THERE IS GOOD
NEWS.
CITY LIGHT RECEIVED AN
UNMODIFIED OPINION OF THE
STATEMENTS.
WE PLEASE INTRODUCE YOURSELVES
AND BEGIN THE PRESENTATION.
>> I AM THE CONTROLLER OF
SEATTLE CITY LIGHT.
>> GOOD MORNING,
COUNCILMEMBERS.
I AM GENERAL ACCOUNTING
MANAGER, SEATTLE CITY LIGHT.
>> I WOULD LIKE TO INTRODUCE
AARON WERTH MIN.
HIS PARTNER IN CHARGE OF THE
SEATTLE CITY LIGHT AUDIT.
HE HAS BEEN THE PARTNER IN
CHARGE OF THE AUDIT FOR THE
PAST 10 YEARS.
HE HAS BEEN ON PART OF THE
AUDIT TEAM FOR THE PAST 12
YEARS.
HE SPECIALIZES IN SERVING
ENERGY AND UTILITY CLIENTS.
HE IS AN EXPERT IN THIS AREA.
HE IS AN INSTRUCTOR AND TEACHES
UTILITY EDUCATION COURSES FOR
THE AMERICAN PUBLIC POWER
ASSOCIATION.
HE HAS ALSO AUTHORED REGIONAL
AND NATIONALLY PUBLISHED
ARTICLES ON UTILITY REGULATION
AND ACCOUNTING ISSUES.
AND HE WILL BE PROVIDING THE
RESULTS OF THE AUDIT.
>> HELLO.
>> THANK YOU, NATALIE.
GOOD MORNING, EVERYONE.
AGAIN MY NAME IS 1039, PARTNER
WITH BAKER TILLY, AND I AM
PLEASED TO PRESENT THE
FINANCIAL AUDIT.
NEXT SLIDE, PLEASE.
SO IF WE WERE TO TAKE A STEP
BACK AND LOOK AT THE AUDIT IN
GENERAL, I WOULD SAY THIS
YEAR'S AUDIT WENT VERY WELL.
THE AUDIT WAS CONDUCTED
REMOTELY AND THAT HAS BEEN THE
CASE NOW FOR THE PAST COUPLE OF
YEARS.
IF WE LEARNED ANYTHING THROUGH
COVID, ONE OF THE THINGS WE
LEARNED AS WE CAN CONDUCT AN
EFFICIENT AUDIT, 100% REMOTELY,
AND THAT IS WHAT WE DID THIS
YEAR AS WELL.
I WILL SAY THAT MANAGEMENT AND
STAFF WERE PREPARED,
COOPERATIVE, AND READILY
AVAILABLE.
THAT IS ALWAYS GOOD TO HEAR.
THE ANSWER OUR QUESTIONS ON A
TIMELY BASIS.
OUR AUDIT EFFORT, TO GIVE YOU
PERSPECTIVE, WE SPENT ABOUT
1400 HOURS CONDUCTING THE
ANNUAL AUDIT.
IN ADDITION TO THAT, THE
MANAGEMENT TEAM, THOUGH THEY
MAY NOT SPEND 1400 HOURS, THEY
SPEND A SIGNIFICANT AMOUNT OF
TIME PREPARING FOR THE AUDIT,
ANSWERING QUESTIONS, PUTTING
FINANCIAL STATEMENTS TOGETHER,
THINGS LIKE THAT.
THIS YEAR'S AUDIT WENT VERY
WELL.
WE CONDUCTED FOUR WEEKS OF
FIELDWORK.
ONE IN THE FALLEN THREE WEEKS
IN MARCH AND APRIL.
OUR LAST DATE OF FIELDWORK WAS
APRIL 8 AND ONE GOOD THING TO
NOTICE AS PART OF THIS YEAR'S
AUDIT, WE DID NOT IDENTIFY ANY
ADJUSTING JOURNAL ENTRIES.
NEXT SLIDE, PLEASE.
OUR AUDIT WAS PERFORMEDY
ACCEPTED AUDITING STANDARDS.
IN ADDITION TO THAT WE ALSO
AUDIT YOU IN COMPLIANCE WITH
GOVERNMENT AUDITING STANDARDS.
THOSE ARE ADDITIONAL STANDARDS
RELATIVE TO OUR PROFESSIONAL
EDUCATION.
THE SUPERVISION OF THE TEAM.
THE INDEPENDENCE OF OUR TEAM.
CARE AND QUALITY CONTROL.
THE AUDIT OBJECTIVE IS TO
OBTAIN A REASONABLE ASSURANCE
THAT YOUR FINANCIAL STATEMENTS
ARE FREE FROM MATERIAL
MISSTATEMENT.
AT THE END OF THIS YEAR'S AUDIT
YOUR FINANCIAL STATEMENTS
RECEIVED AN UNMODIFIED OPINION,
WHICH IS ALSO KNOWN AS A CLEAN
OPINION, WHICH IS THE HIGHEST
LEVEL OF ASSURANCE WE CAN
PROVIDE IS YOUR AUDIT FIRM.
NEXT SLIDE.
TO GIVE YOU SOME PERSPECTIVE ON
THE AUDIT, 30% OF WHAT WE DO IS
SPECIFIC TO INTERNAL CONTROLS.
MUCH OF WHICH ARE INFORMATION
TECHNOLOGY-BASED.
SO MUCH SO THAT WE HAVE A
SYSTEMS AUDITOR CONDUCT THAT
I.T.
TESTING.
WHAT WE DO IS WE GO AND OUTLINE
MAJOR PROCESSES, WHETHER IT BE
FIXED ASSETS, PAYROLL, ACCOUNTS
RECEIVABLE, BILLING.
WE OUTLINE THOSE PROCESSES AND
THEN WE IDENTIFY WHAT KEY
CONTROLS NEED TO BE IN PLACE.
WE THEN TEST THOSE CONTROLS FOR
EFFECTIVENESS.
IT IS PART OF OUR INTERNAL
CONTROL TESTING.
AGAIN, IT IS 30% OF WHAT WE DO.
THE REMAINING 40% IS THE NUTS
AND BOLTS OF THE AUDIT.
THAT WOULD BE CONFIRMING CASH
INVESTMENTS WITH OUTSIDE
PARTIES.
CONFIRMING FAIR VALUES OF THOSE
INVESTMENTS.
VERIFYING AND LOOKING AT FIXED
ASSETS.
TRACING MOST OUTSIDE DOCUMENTS.
TAKING A LOOK AT YOUR
RETIREMENT, THE DISBURSEMENTS,
ACCOUNTS PAYABLE.
THINGS LIKE THAT.
THAT IS ABOUT 40% OF WHAT WE DO
IN THE REMAINING 30% HAS TO DO
WITH PLANNING FOR THE AUDIT AND
REVIEWING FINANCIAL STATEMENTS.
WHAT I HAVE DONE ON THIS SLIDE
IS OUTLINE THE MAIN AREAS OF
FOCUS, WHICH I THINK IF YOU
WERE TO LOOK AT FINANCIAL
STATEMENTS IT WOULD MAKE
PERFECT SENSE.
AGAIN, INFORMATION TECHNOLOGY,
MAIN FOCUS AREA.
CAPITAL ASSETS.
IF YOU WERE TO LOOK AT YOUR
BALANCE SHEET YOU NOTICE MOST
CONSISTS OF REVENUES,
EXPENDITURES AND PAYABLES AND
LASTLY, FINANCIAL REPORTING.
ONE ITEM WE ALSO PAY PARTICULAR
ATTENTION TO ARE THE
SIGNIFICANT ESTIMATES WITHIN
YOUR FINANCIAL STATEMENTS.
I WILL OFTEN GET ASKED BY
GOVERNING BODIES, YOU KNOW,
WHEN YOU ARE LOOKING AT THESE
FINANCIAL STATEMENTS, WHAT
AREAS OF CONCERN SHOULD YOU
HAVE OR WHAT AREAS DO YOU
DEFINITELY WANT TO BE AWARE OF?
MY ANSWER WILL ALWAYS BE
ANYTHING THAT HAS TO DO WITH A
SIGNIFICANT ESTIMATE, BECAUSE
IT IS EXACTLY THAT.
SOME OF THE ESTIMATES WITHIN
YOUR FINANCIAL STATEMENTS WOULD
BE PENSION LIABILITIES.
ENVIRONMENTAL REMEDIATION
LIABILITIES.
ALLOWANCE FOR ACCOUNT SPECIFIC
TO CUSTOMER ACCOUNT RECEIVABLES.
YOUR REVENUES AND SELF-ASSURANCE
LIABILITIES.
NEXT SLIDE, PLEASE.
I MENTIONED EARLIER THAT WE ARE
PROVIDING AN OPINION ON YOUR
FINANCIAL STATEMENT.
I DID WANT TO POINT OUT THAT WE
DO NOT PROVIDE AN OPINION ON
INTERNAL CONTROLS.
HOWEVER, WE ARE REQUIRED TO
COMMUNICATE ANY BREAKDOWN IN
INTERNAL CONTROLS THAT ARE
DEEMED TO BE MATERIAL
WEAKNESSES OR SIGNIFICANT
DEFICIENCIES.
SO, THE PROFESSION REQUIRES US
TO CATEGORIZE ANY CONTROL
DEFICIENCIES WE IDENTIFY IN
ORDER OF SEVERITY.
THE MOST SEVERE WOULD BE A
MATERIAL WEAKNESS.
THAT IS ANY BREAKDOWN OF
CONTROLS OR COMBINATION OF
CONTROLS THAT COULD LEAD TO A
MORE THAN REASONABLE
POSSIBILITY THAT THE BREAKDOWN
WOULD RESULT IN A MATERIAL
MISSTATEMENT YOUR FINANCIAL
STATEMENT.
AGAIN, THAT IS THE MOST SEVERE
AND WE DID NOT IDENTIFY
MATERIAL WEAKNESSES.
THE NEXT IS WHAT WE CALL
SIGNIFICANT DEFICIENCY.
LESS SEVERE, BUT LARGE ENOUGH
DEFICIENCY THAT IT WOULD
WARRANT ATTENTION WITH
GOVERNANCE.
I AM PLEASED TO REPORT WE DID
NOT IDENTIFY ANY SIGNIFICANT
DEFICIENCIES.
NOW AS PART OF ANY AUDIT, WE
WILL ALWAYS HAVE MINOR CONTROL
DEFICIENCIES, INDUSTRY BEST
PRACTICE RECOMMENDATIONS,
THINGS TO THAT EXTENT.
THOSE ARE THINGS WE COMMUNICATE
WITH MANAGEMENT AT THE END OF
THE AUDIT, BUT NONE OF THOSE
ROWS TO YOUR ATTENTION BEING A
MATERIAL WEAKNESS OR
SIGNIFICANT DEFICIENCY.
NEXT SLIDE, PLEASE.
ONE OF THE DOCUMENTS YOU
RECEIVED WAS THE AUDIT RESULTS
LETTER.
A COUPLE THINGS I WANT TO CALL
ATTENTION TO.
IT DOES INCLUDE A SECTION FOR
REQUIRED COMMUNICATION.
I WILL GO THROUGH THESE ITEMS
IN DETAIL, BUT A COUPLE OF
THINGS I WANTED TO HIGHLIGHT
QUICKLY.
ONE OF THE ITEMS AS ALL OF THE
SIGNIFICANT ACCOUNTING POLICIES
CAN BE FOUND IN THE NOTES TO
YOUR FINANCIAL STATEMENTS.
AN EXAMPLE OF WHICH WOULD BE
THE CAPITALIZATION POLICY.
WHAT WE DO IS REVIEW THAT
POLICY, MAKE SURE IT COMPLIES
WITH GENERALLY ACCEPTED
ACCOUNTING PRINCIPAL AND ALSO
THAT YOU ARE FOLLOWING THOSE
POLICIES.
IF WE HAD ANY DIFFICULTIES
ENCOUNTERED DURING OUR AUDIT OR
ANY SIGNIFICANT ISSUES OR
FINDINGS, WE WOULD BE REQUIRED
TO COMMUNICATE THOSE.
WE DID NOT IDENTIFY ANYTHING
LIKE THAT.
JUST KNOW THAT IF WE DID THIS
WOULD NOT BE THE FIRST TIME YOU
WOULD BE HEARING ABOUT THAT.
I WOULD REACH OUT TO THE CHAIR
TO HAVE THOSE DISCUSSIONS ON A
TIMELY BASIS.
THE LAST THING YOU WANT ARE ANY
SURPRISES WHEN YOU GET TO THE
PRESENTATION.
IF WE HAD ANY MISSTATEMENTS WE
WOULD BE REQUIRED TO DISCLOSE
THOSE TO YOU AND IF YOU LOOK AT
THE AUDIT RESULTS LETTER, YOU
WILL SEE THAT WE HAVE THOSE
SUMMARIZED AGAIN.
THOSE ARE IMMATERIAL AND
INSIGNIFICANT, BUT WHAT WE ARE
REQUIRED TO DO IS KEEP TRACK OF
THEM.
WE FIND THESE WITH MANY
CLIENTS, JUST IN ORDER TO CLOSE
THE BOOKS.
OFTENTIMES MANAGEMENT MAY FIND
AN ENTRY THAT COULD POTENTIALLY
BE POSTED.
BECAUSE IT IS IMMATERIAL AND
INSIGNIFICANT, THEY ARE
CHOOSING NOT TO, JUST TO
CONTINUE TO BE ABLE TO CLOSE
THE BOOKS AND MOVE FORWARD TO
THE NEXT YEAR.
WE JUST NEED TO KEEP TRACK OF
THAT AND YOU CAN FIND THAT IN
THIS DOCUMENT AS WELL.
THE OTHER ITEM I MENTIONED, WE
DID NOT HAVE ANY MATERIAL
CORRECTED STATEMENTS.
ONE ITEM WE INCLUDE IN THIS
LETTER IS WHAT WE CALL HER
MANAGEMENT REPRESENTATION
LETTER.
IT INCLUDES ALL OF THE
REPRESENTATIONS MANAGEMENT
MAKES AS PART OF THE AUDIT
PROCESS.
YOU CAN FIND THINGS RELATIVE TO
THEIR THOUGHTS ON THE
ACCOUNTING POLICIES, INTERNAL
CONTROLS, FRAUD, THINGS TO THAT
EXTENT.
SO IF YOU HAVE NOT, I WOULD
URGE YOU TO TAKE A LOOK AT THAT
LETTER TO SEE WHAT TYPES OF
REPRESENTATION THE MANAGEMENT
TEAM MAKES AS PART OF THE AUDIT
PROCESS.
AND I JUST WANTED TO TOUCH ON
INDEPENDENCE.
INDEPENDENCE IS A SIGNIFICANT
ISSUE RELATIVE TO THE AUDIT AND
I AM HERE TO SAY THAT NOT ONLY
OUR FIRM, BUT EVERY INDIVIDUAL
ON YOUR AUDIT ENGAGEMENT IS
INDEPENDENT WITH YOUR
ORGANIZATION IN FACT AND
APPEARANCE.
TO WRAP UP AGAIN, I WOULD LIKE
TO THANK THE ENTIRE MANAGEMENT
TEAM.
CHRISTIE, NATALIE, JULIA, AND
ALSO JEFF AND THEIR ENTIRE TEAM.
A LOT OF PEOPLE PUT A LOT OF
WORK AND EFFORT INTO THIS.
NOT ONLY ACCOUNTING TRANSACTIONS
THROUGHOUT THE YEAR, BUT ALSO
ASSISTING WITH THIS AUDIT
PROCESS.
WITH THAT WE ARE EXTREMELY
THANKFUL AND I WILL OPEN IT UP
TO ANY QUESTIONS ANYONE MIGHT
HAVE.
>> THANK YOU.
I HAVE TO SAY, AND ITEM THAT
WAS NOT ON THE LONG LIST THAT
WAS REFERRED TO, HOWEVER, WAS
THAT A HALF-HOUR OF THOSE 1400
HOURS WAS SPENT IN A MEETING
WITH ME TO SURFACE ANY CONCERNS
I MIGHT HAVE AND I HAD NONE.
YOU WILL READ THAT IN THE
LETTER, MAYBE.
SO I JUST WANT TO SAY THANK YOU
FOR THIS EXHAUSTIVE BODY OF
WORK.
YOUR BACKGROUND AND YOUR
EXPERIENCE, YOUR COMPANY'S
EXPERIENCE, IN AUDITING PUBLIC
UTILITIES.
TRUST IN THE FINDINGS THAT YOU
PRESENTED TODAY.
OF COURSE I WANT TO
CONGRATULATE CITY LIGHT FOR A
STELLAR AUDIT AND I WOULD NOT
EXPECT ANYTHING LESS.
I HAVE TO SAY THAT IT IS
TESTIMONY TO YOUR INTEGRITY
THAT WE HAVE SUCH A BASICALLY
-- I'M NOT GOING TO SAY PASS
WITH FLYING COLORS -- HOWEVER,
NO PROBLEMS SURFACED WHATSOEVER
THIS YEAR.
COLLEAGUES, DO YOU HAVE ANY
QUESTIONS?
ALL RIGHT.
SEEING NONE, THANK YOU VERY
MUCH.
FOR THIS PRESENTATION.
I DO HAVE ONE QUESTION, IS IT
REQUIRED TO PRESENT PUBLICLY
THE RESULTS OF THE AUDIT?
I AM SEEING NODS.
SO THIS PRESENTATION IS ALSO
FULFILLING A REQUIREMENT OF THE
UTILITY, SO THANK YOU VERY
MUCH.
YOU ARE FREE TO GO UNLESS
ANYONE HAS ANYTHING ELSE TO
SAY.
>> THANK YOU.
>> MOVING ON, WE WILL SIMILARLY
TAKE ITEMS SIX, SEVEN, AND ATE
TOGETHER.
WILL THE CLERK PLEASE READ ITEMS
SIX, SEVEN, AND EIGHT INTO THE
RECORD.
>> AGENDA ITEM NUMBER SIX,
APPOINTMENT 03 71,
REAPPOINTMENT OF ANNE AYRE.
AGENDA ITEMS SEVEN, APPOINTMENT
03 -- 02372.
REAPPOINTMENT OF LEO L. LAM TO
THE PANEL FOR A TERM TO
SEPTEMBER 30, 2025 AND NUMBER
EIGHT, APPOINTMENT 02372,
REAPPOINTMENT OF JOHN PUTZ TO
THE REVIEW PANEL FOR A TERM TO
SEPTEMBER 30, 2025.
ALL ARE UP FOR BRIEFING,
DISCUSSION, AND POSSIBLE VOTE.
>> THANK YOU.
WE HAVE LEIGH BARRECA TO SPEAK
ON THESE APPOINTMENTS, SO
PLEASE GO AHEAD.
>> WE BRING THREE APPOINTMENTS
OF CURRENT OR -- CITY LIGHT
REVIEW PANEL MEMBERS.
TWO OF THESE APPOINTMENTS ARE
MIDTERM, MIDYEAR.
THEIR FIRST YEAR, THEIR FIRST
TERM, THEY JOINED MIDTERM.
SO TWO OF THESE HAVE ONLY BEEN
ON THE PANEL PROBABLY A YEAR.
THE FIRST IS LEO LAM.
HE LIVES IN DISTRICT 6 AND IS
OUR RESIDENTIAL CUSTOMER
REPRESENTATIVE.
ANNE AYRE, WHO LIVES IN
DISTRICT 5, IS OUR INDUSTRIAL
CUSTOMER REPRESENTATIVE.
SHE WORKS FOR CAL PORTLAND.
FINALLY WE HAVE JOHN PUTZ WHO
LIVES IN DISTRICT 4 AND HE IS
OUR MEMBER AT LARGE.
>> THANK YOU VERY MUCH.
>> WOULD YOU LIKE ANY OVERVIEW
OF THESE PEOPLE?
>> YES PLEASE.
>> SO ANNE AYRE IS AN
ENVIRONMENTAL MANAGER.
SHE MANAGES ENVIRONMENTAL
COMPLIANCE AND PERMITTING FOR
THE NORTHWEST REGION.
THIS SPANS 26 ACTIVE FACILITIES,
INCLUDING READY MIX PLANS,
CONCRETE TERMINALS, AND MINES.
>> THANK YOU.
>> LEO LAM HAS BEEN A
SEATTLEITE FOR OVER 20 YEARS
AND AS A FORMER ELECTRICAL
ENGINEERING FACULTY AT
UNIVERSITY OF WASHINGTON AND A
KEY RESEARCHER IN
SUSTAINABILITY, HE CARES DEEPLY
ABOUT SEATTLE'S ENERGY SUPPLY
CHAIN.
HE STRONGLY BELIEVES THAT CITY
LIGHT AND THE ENERGY CULTURE OF
THE COUNTRY MUST BE PART OF
SOLUTIONS TO BOTH CLIMATE CHANGE
AND EQUITY ISSUES FACING THE
CITY IN THE NATION.
>> THANK YOU VERY MUCH.
I WILL OPEN IT UP DAY
>> ONE MORE.
ONE MORE.
JOHN PUTZ IS A 15 YEAR VETERAN
OF THE ENERGY, ENERGY SOFTWARE
AND TRADING INDUSTRIES.
HE HAS EXPERIENCE IN A WIDE
VARIETY OF AREAS INCLUDING
STRATEGIC CONSULTING, RISK
MANAGEMENT, TRAINING, ENERGY
SOFTWARE, ASSET, AND PORTFOLIO
OPTIMIZATION.
HE RECEIVED HIS PHD IN
ENVIRONMENTAL PARTICLE PHYSICS
FROM THE UNIVERSITY OF
WASHINGTON AND LEO LAM IS ALSO
A PHD.
THESE ARE INCREDIBLY QUALIFIED
MEMBERS OF OUR PANEL.
>> THANK YOU VERY MUCH FOR THAT
PRESENTATION.
NOW I WILL TURN TO MY
COLLEAGUES TO SEE IF THERE ARE
ANY QUESTIONS, CONCERNS?
WELL, I WILL MOVE AND THEN SAY
A FEW COMMENTS.
I MOVE THAT THE COMMITTEE
RECOMMENDED CONFIRMATION OF
APPOINTMENT 02371, 02372, AND
02373.
IS THERE A SECOND?
>> SECOND.
>> IT HAS BEEN MOVED AND
SECONDED.
TO APPROVE CONFIRMATION OF THE
APPOINTMENTS.
SORRY, COUNCILMEMBER HERBOLD,
GO AHEAD.
>> I'M SORRY.
I WILL WITHDRAW.
I WAS GOING TO SAY SOME THINGS,
BUT I HAVE A FEELING YOU AND I
ARE GOING TO END UP BEING
REPETITIVE, SO I WILL HOLD MY
COMMENTS AND LET YOU, MADAM
CHAIR, GO FORTH.
>> WELL, YOU ARE WELCOME TO ADD
TO OUR FIX MY COMMENTS.
>> COMMENTS ON APPRECIATION.
THANK YOU.
>> SO I WANT TO THINK THESE
THREE MEMBERS FOR BEING WILLING
TO CONTINUE SERVING, AND THE
WHOLE PANEL, FOR THEIR SERVICE.
THE SCOPE OF THEIR WORK IS
TECHNICAL IN NATURE AND TIME
CONSUMING AND SERVING ON THE
PANEL IS A VERY WEIGHTY
RESPONSIBILITY.
THAT IS WHAT I REALLY WANT TO
CONVEY.
THESE FOLKS, AS YOU MENTIONED
AND LAID OUT, ARE EXTREMELY
WELL-QUALIFIED.
WE ARE LUCKY TO HAVE THEM.
AS THE WATCHDOGS OF THE
UTILITY, THEIR ULTIMATE DUTY IS
TO PROTECT THE INTEREST OF
RATEPAYERS.
THAT IS A BIG JOB AND A BIG
RESPONSIBILITY.
I WANT YOU TO KNOW, REVIEW
PANEL MEMBERS THAT I APPRECIATE
YOUR OVERSIGHT AND RELY ON
RECOMMENDATIONS.
WHEN I MAKE MY DECISION LIKE
TODAY ON THE RATE ORDINANCE
COMING UP.
I ALSO RELY ON THE INTEGRITY OF
YOUR WORK, WHICH HELPS MAINTAIN
THE PUBLIC TRUST IN OUR
UTILITY, SO THANK YOU VERY MUCH
TO ALL OF OUR PANELS AND TO
THESE REAPPOINTMENTS.
NYTHING TO ADD, ANYONE?
OKAY, WILL THE CLERK PLEASE
CALL THE ROLE ON THE COMMITTEE
RECOMMENDATION THAT APPOINTMENT
02371, 02372, AND 0237 THREE BE
CONFIRMED.
>> COUNCIL PRESIDENT JUAREZ.
>> AYE.
>> COUNCILMEMBER SAWANT.
>> YES.
>> COUNCIL MEMBER STRAUSS.
>> YES.
>> COUNCILMEMBER HERBOLD.
>> YES.
>> SHARON NELSON.
>> AYE.
>> FIVE IN FAVOR AND ZERO
OPPOSED.
THE APPOINTMENTS WILL BE
FORWARDED TO THE CITY COUNCIL
FOR FINAL CONSIDERATION ON
SEPTEMBER 20.
THANK YOU.
>> THANK YOU VERY MUCH.
>> ALL RIGHT, WE ARE AT OUR
LAST ITEM.
WILL THE CLERK PLEASE READ ITEM
NINE INTO THE RECORD.
>> AGENDA ITEM NUMBER NINE,
COUNCIL BILL 120411, AND
ORDINANCE RELATING TO THE CITY
LIGHT DEPARTMENT, AMENDING
RATES, TERMS, AND CONDITIONS
FOR THE USE AND SALE OF
ELECTRICITY SUPPLIED BY THE
CITY LIGHT DEPARTMENT FOR 2022,
2023, AND 2024, AND AMENDING
SECTIONS OF THE SEATTLE
MUNICIPAL CODE.
DISCUSSION AND POSSIBLE VOTE.
>> THINK YOU VERY MUCH.
THIS LEGISLATION CODIFIES THE
RATE PATHS THAT FOR IN THE
RESOLUTION.
AT OUR AUGUST 10 MEETING WE HAD
A COMPREHENSIVE PRESENTATION
FROM CITY LIGHT AND COMMITTEE
MEMBERS WERE ABLE TO ASK CITY
LIGHT LEADERSHIP A LOT OF
QUESTIONS ABOUT COST DRIVERS
AND ANY NEW POLICIES REFLECTED
IN THESE RATES.
THE LEGISLATION WAS INTRODUCED
THE VERY NEXT DAY, AFTER OUR
COMMITTEE MEETING.
THIS IS THE FIRST TIME IT IS
BEFORE US, BUT GIVEN THE DETAIL
OF THE DISCUSSION LAST TIME, I
HOPE WE CAN VOTE THIS OUT OF
COMMITTEE TODAY.
ERIC McCONAGHY WILL GO OVER KEY
TAKEAWAYS AND THEN MIKEL
HANSEN, T OF SEATTLE CITY
LIGHT REVIEW PANEL, WE'LL TALK
ABOUT THE SUPPORT FOR THIS.
CARSTEN CROFF FROM CITY LIGHT
IS ALSO HERE TO ANSWER
QUESTIONS IF NEED BE.
GO AHEAD, TAKE IT AWAY.
PLEASE INTRODUCE YOURSELVES.
>> GOOD MORNING, COUNCILMEMBERS.
SHARON NELSON.
MY NAME IS MIKEL HANSEN.
I HAVE BEEN A MEMBER OF THE
PANEL SINCE 2019.
I SERVE IN THE CONSUMER
CUSTOMER POSITION ON THE PANEL.
THE REVIEW PANEL DAY
>> PARDON.
WEIGHT.
EXCUSE ME SIR.
>> AUGUST THAT I BELIEVE YOU
HAVE IN FRONT OF YOU AND IT
ENDORSES THE UTILITY RATE
DESIGN PROPOSAL.
I WANT TO MAKE SURE THAT YOU
ALL ARE AWARE THAT THERE WAS
UNANIMOUS SUPPORT FROM THE
PANEL AND AFTER A LOT OF
QUESTIONS AND ANSWERS WE HAD
SOME NEW MEMBERS, BUT I THINK
EVERYBODY GOT VERY COMFORTABLE
WITH THE DIRECTION AND WHAT IT
MEANT.
BECAUSE THE PANEL IS NOT MADE
UP OF GREAT DESIGN EXPERTS, BUT
YOU KNOW WE DO HAVE VERY
TALENTED PEOPLE.
WE APPROACHED A REVIEW OF THIS
PROPOSAL FROM A POLICY
PERSPECTIVE.
WE REVIEWED WHAT POLICY GOALS
ARE BEING PROMOTED AND WHAT THE
EXPECTED IMPACT OF THE CHANGES
ARE.
AND AS I KNOW YOU REALIZE, RATE
DESIGNS ARE VERY COMPLICATED
AND OFTEN ABOUT TRADE-OFFS.
IT IS ABOUT MAKING CHOICES
ABOUT HOW TO COLLECT NEEDED
REVENUE FROM A WIDE ARRAY OF
CUSTOMERS WITH DIFFERENT NEEDS
AND FINANCIAL CAPABILITIES.
THE NEW RATE PROPOSAL REALLY
PROVIDES THREE KEY THINGS.
THE FIRST IS A GRADUAL INCREASE
IN FIXED BASIC SERVICE CHARGES
FOR RESIDENTIAL CUSTOMERS,
WHICH IS SIMILAR TO OTHER MAJOR
UTILITIES ACROSS THE COUNTRY.
THE SECOND IS THE INTRODUCTION
OF A FIXED BASIC SERVICE CHARGE
FOR NONRESIDENTIAL CUSTOMERS.
THE INTENT ON THE BASIC SERVICE
CHARGE IS REALLY DESIGNED TO
COVER THE COST THAT IT TAKES TO
HAVE A CUSTOMER.
THINGS LIKE BILLING COST AND
METER READING AND CUSTOMER
SERVICE.
THESE ARE ALL OVERHEAD CHARGES
PREVIOUSLY EMBEDDED IN THE RATE.
THIS IS A GREAT MOVE TOWARD A
MORE TRANSPARENT APPROACH.
I WOULD ALSO LIKE TO POINT OUT
THAT THE TOOLS CITY LIGHT HAS
FOR THE DISCOUNT PROGRAMS ARE
SOME OF THE MOST ROBUST IN THE
COUNTRY AND THOSE REMAIN IN
PLACE FOR ANYBODY THAT NEEDS
FINANCIAL ASSISTANCE.
THE THIRD POINT IS THE
INTRODUCTION OF A VOLUNTARY
TIME OF DAY OR TOD RATES FOR
RESIDENTIAL AND COMMERCIAL
CUSTOMERS.
THIS GIVES CUSTOMERS GREATER
CONTROL OVER THE BILLING RATE
BY TIME OF DAY.
AND IF ENOUGH CUSTOMERS EMBRACE
IT THAT WILL REDUCE THE OVERALL
PEAK DEMAND AND ALLOW CITY
LIGHT TO SAVE ON THE COST OF
PURCHASING ADDITIONAL PEAK
POWER.
AS IS NOTED IN OUR LETTER, THIS
PROPOSAL IS NOT INTENDED TO
INCREASE THE OVERALL AMOUNT OF
REVENUE COLLECTED.
IT IS ABOUT A POLICY CHOICE ON
HOW THE REVENUE IS COLLECTED.
IN 2019 THE REVIEW PANEL SENT A
VERY INTENSIVE SIX-MONTH STUDY
AND RATE DESIGN AT THE CITY
COUNCIL'S REQUEST.
WE ENGAGED DOZENS OF
STAKEHOLDERS IN THAT EFFORT AND
ULTIMATELY SUBMITTED A REPORT
TO THE CITY COUNCIL, WHICH HAD
EIGHT OVERALL POLICY GOALS.
THIS PROPOSAL IN FRONT OF YOU
TACKLE SEVERAL OF THOSE POLICY
GOALS THAT WE IDENTIFY IN THIS
REPORT AND I WILL JUST QUICKLY
MENTION A FEW OF THOSE.
THE FIRST WAS TRANSPARENCY OF
RATES.
THIS ALLOWS CUSTOMERS TO SEE
WHAT THE BASIC SERVICE RATE IS.
SO IT ANSWERS THAT QUESTION.
I THINK IT IS A GREAT FIRST
STEP.
REVENUE SUFFICIENCY WAS ANOTHER
ONE OF THE KEYSTONES AND WE
HAVE A GOOD FIX ON THE AMOUNT
OF REVENUE REQUIRED AND THE
ABILITY TO COLLECT THAT IS NOT
IMPACTED BY THIS PROPOSAL.
EFFICIENCY.
THE PROPOSAL CREATES FINANCIAL
INCENTIVES FOR CUSTOMERS TO
SAVE MONEY ON ELECTRIC POWER
AND TO USE IT AT A TIME WHEN
THERE IS LESS DEMAND AND,
THEREFORE, AS I SAID BEFORE,
REDUCES UTILITIES COST ON THE
OPEN MARKET.
THE CARBONIZATION WAS ANOTHER
ELEMENT.
THE ELECTRIFICATION OF
TRANSPORTATION WILL ADVANCE THE
CLIMATE AGENDA AND ONE OF THE
OUTCOMES WE HOPE THAT PEOPLE
ADOPT, THE TIME OF DAY OPTION,
WILL HELP OFFSET THAT GROWING
ELECTRIC NEED FROM
TRANSPORTATION.
THE LAST I WOULD LIKE TO
MENTION IS CUSTOMER CHOICE.
WE HEARD LOUD AND CLEAR THAT
CUSTOMERS WANTED CHOICE IN HOW
THEY PURCHASE ELECTRICITY AND
THIS TIME OF DAY OPTION WILL
PROVIDE THAT.
SO ADDITIONALLY WE HAVE
ENDORSED A RIGOROUS OUTREACH
AND EDUCATION EFFORT TO EXPLAIN
THE NEW OPPORTUNITIES AND THOSE
ADVANTAGES TO THE CUSTOMERS
ACROSS ALL CLASSES.
THE PANEL WILL MONITOR THE
IMPACTS OF THESE CHANGES TO
ENSURE THE DESIRED OUTCOMES ARE
ACHIEVED.
FROM THIS POLICY PERSPECTIVE,
THE PANEL SUPPORTS THE RATE
DESIGN PROPOSAL.
I AM GLAD TO SEE THIS PROPOSAL
BEFORE YOU AFTER THE MAJOR
EFFORT WE UNDERTOOK IN 2019 AND
THE REVIEW PANEL IS UNANIMOUSLY
RECOMMENDING THAT THE CITY
COUNCIL GIVE A FAVORABLE
CONSIDERATION TO CITY LIGHT'S
REQUEST ON THIS PROPOSAL.
FINALLY I WOULD LIKE YOU TO
KNOW, HOW PROFESSIONAL AND
PATIENT DEBRA SMITH AND HER
ENTIRE STAFF HAVE BEEN
THROUGHOUT OUR WORK AND MY TIME
OVER THE LAST THREE YEARS.
YOU HAVE AN ABSOLUTELY TERRIFIC
TEAM IN PLACE AT SEATTLE CITY
LIGHT AND YOU SHOULD BE VERY
PROUD OF WHAT THEY'VE DONE.
THANK YOU AND I WOULD BE HAPPY
TO ANSWER ANY QUESTIONS ANYBODY
MIGHT HAVE.
>> THANK YOU FOR THAT.
COLLEAGUES?
ARE THERE ANY QUESTIONS BEFORE
GOING ON TO ERIC McCONAGHY?
NO?
OKAY, I WILL TURN IT OVER TO
ERIC TO TOUCH ON SOME BRIEF
POINTS.
ALTHOUGH THAT WAS A GREAT SET
UP, RIGHT?
SO GO AHEAD, WE DO HAVE A
CENTRAL STAFF MEMO, SO THE
FLOOR IS YOURS.
>> THANK YOU VERY MUCH.
THAT WAS A GREAT INTRODUCTION
AND I APPRECIATE THAT.
I APPRECIATE HIS WORK AND ALL
THE WORK OF THE FOLKS ON THE
PANEL.
I HAVE THE GOOD FORTUNE OF
SITTING IN ON THOSE MEETINGS AND
THE SUPPORT FROM STAFF AND THE
GENERAL MANAGER IS GREAT.
IT IS A GOOD WORKING SYSTEM.
THAT BEING SAID, MUCH OF THE
ORDINANCE WE COVERED IN THE
PREVIOUS MEETING AND TODAY WE
COVERED IN THE PRESENTATION
BEFORE ME.
I WILL QUICKLY SKETCH THE KEY
TAKEAWAYS, THINGS TO NOTE FOR
THE PUBLIC.
ABOUT THE BILL.
AND LEAVE A LITTLE BIT OF SPACE
FOR QUESTIONS.
AS YOU HAVE HEARD, THIS BILL
WOULD CODIFY THE NEW RATES.
IT WOULD ESTABLISH A NEW BASE
CHARGE FOR RESIDENTIAL
CUSTOMERS BEGINNING IN 2023.
IT SETS UP OPTIONAL TIME OF DAY
RATES BEGINNING IN 2024 FOR
RESIDENTIAL, SMALL CUSTOMERS --
THAT WOULD INCLUDE CHARGING
ELECTRIC VEHICLES FOR MEDIUM
AND LARGE GENERAL SERVICE
CUSTOMERS.
IT UPDATES THE LARGE CUSTOMER
SOLAR EXPORT RATE AS WELL AND
THERE ARE TACTICAL CHANGES AS
WELL.
IT REORGANIZES RATE SCHEDULES
FOR NON-CITY CUSTOMERS FOR
ELIGIBILITY.
IT UPDATES THE 2022 RATES TO
REFLECT THE ACTUAL EFFECTIVE
RATES, BASED ON REDUCTION OF
THE RATE THAT COMES FROM A
VIABLE POWER PASS THROUGH.
AND THEN IT MAKES TECHNICAL
CHANGES TO DEFINITIONS THAT
CORRESPOND TO THE UPDATES I
JUST MENTIONED.
SO IT IS A QUICK RUNDOWN FOR
THE RECORD.
OVERALL THE BILL DOES STICK TO
WHAT WAS APPROVED FOR THE
ADOPTION OF THE STRATEGIC PLAN
AND THE RATE PATH AND AN
INCREASE ON AVERAGE OF 4.5% IN
2023 AND 2024.
THAT IS MY RUNDOWN.
I AM HAPPY TO ANSWER ANY
QUESTIONS AND ALSO HAPPY TO
YIELD SPACE FOR CARSTEN CROFF
TO ANSWER QUESTIONS OR OFFER
ANY PIECES THAT I MISSED.
>> THANK YOU, ERIC.
I DO WANT TO TOUCH ON SOMETHING
THAT MISTER HANSON REFERRED TO
AS CUSTOMER CHOICE.
YOU KNOW, WE HEARD NEWS REPORTS
THIS PAST WEEK, MAYBE THE WEEK
BEFORE.
THE EXTREME HEAT IN CALIFORNIA
LED UTILITIES TO URGE ELECTRIC
VEHICLE OWNERS TO CHARGE THEIR
CARS AT NIGHT TO REDUCE DEMAND
DURING PEAK HOURS.
WHEN THESE RATES ARE
IMPLEMENTED, NOT ONLY WILL THE
TIME OF DAY OPTION PROVIDE
RELIEF TO OUR GRID, CUSTOMERS
WILL ALSO PAY LESS.
SO THAT IS A GREAT INNOVATION
THAT CAME OUT OF THAT WORK.
I KNOW THAT THAT HAS BEEN A
PRIORITY FOR A LONG TIME WITH
MY COLLEAGUES, AND I THINK IT
IS DOING RIGHT BY OUR
RATEPAYERS AND CONSTITUENTS, SO
THANK YOU.
BY THE WAY, WHAT POSITION DO
YOU HOLD ON THE REVIEW PANEL?
>> I AM CURRENTLY THE CHAIR.
>> OH, NO.
>> MY JOB?
I AM COMMERCIAL CUSTOMER
REPRESENTATIVE.
SORRY I DID NOT SAY THAT, IT
MUST HAVE SLIPPED MY MIND.
>> I PROBABLY MISSED IT.
>> OKAY COLLEAGUES, I SEE THAT
COUNCILMEMBER HERBOLD HAS HER
HAND UP.
GO AHEAD AND THEN I WILL GET TO
YOU, COUNCILMEMBER STRAUSS.
>> I REALLY APPRECIATE THE
CUSTOMER REVIEW PANEL GUIDANCE
AND COMPREHENSIVE REVIEW OF
THIS PROPOSAL.
I DON'T HAVE AS MUCH EXPERIENCE
WORKING WITH THE CITY LIGHT
CUSTOMER REVIEW PANEL.
I DID HAVE A LOT OF EXPERIENCE
WORKING WITH THE UTILITY'S
REVIEW PANEL AND I REALLY
RELIED ON THEM.
NOT JUST FOR GUIDANCE ON
SEATTLE PUBLIC UTILITIES RATE
PROPOSAL, BUT ALSO LOOKING AT
WAYS TO INNOVATE AND PUSH THE
UTILITY, MUCH LIKE I SEE THE
REVIEW PANEL IS DOING IN THIS
INSTANCE.
I AM VERY INTERESTED IN THE
VOLUNTARY PROGRAM.
THAT ALLOWS THE OPTIONAL END OF
DAY RATES AND APPRECIATE THERE
ARE SOME CRITERIA THAT
CUSTOMERS MUST ADHERE TO IN
ORDER TO OPT INTO THAT PROGRAM.
IT SEEMS LIKE A FAIRLY LOW BAR.
THIS ABILITY TO OPT INTO THESE
RATES, I THINK ARE POTENTIALLY
OF GREAT BENEFIT.
I AM WONDERING, OUR
REPRESENTATIVE FROM THE
CUSTOMER REVIEW PANEL CAN TELL
US, BECAUSE I KNOW ONE OF THE
RECOMMENDATIONS RELATES TO
PUBLIC INFORMATION AND
COMMUNICATION ABOUT RATES AND I
AM JUST WONDERING, WHAT CAN WE
DO TO LET THE PUBLIC KNOW ABOUT
THE OPTION AND THE CRITERIA TO
OPT IN AND HOW IT MIGHT BENEFIT
THEM?
>> CERTAINLY, I CAN ADDRESS
THAT.
AGAIN MY NAME IS CARSTEN CROFF,
I AM THE MANAGER OF THE
FINANCIAL PLANNING AND RATES
TEAM.
CUSTOMER COMMUNICATION IS GOING
TO BE A HUGE PART OF THESE TIME
OF DAY RATES.
I'M EXCITED TO HAVE THEM AND
DESIGN THEM, BUT A LOT OF
PEOPLE -- WORK IN TERMS OF
IMPLEMENTATION.
BEING ABLE TO REACH OUT TO
CUSTOMERS AND LET CUSTOMERS
KOW IF THEY WILL BE A GOOD
CANDIDATE FOR POTENTIAL SAVINGS.
AND TO SHIFT CONSUMPTION TO BE
ABLE TO SAVE ON THEIR
ELECTRICITY BILLS.
SO THAT CUSTOMER OUTREACH IS
WORK THAT WILL BE ONGOING NEXT
YEAR AND CERTAINLY A VERY HIGH
PROFILE WITH UTILITY.
>> ANY FOLLOW-UPS THERE?
>> IT WAS NOT CLEAR TO ME ON
THE OPT IN TO THE TIME OF DAY
RATES FOR VEHICLE CHARGING.
I MAY HAVE MISREAD.
I LOOKED AT THE MEMO QUICKLY.
IS THAT ONLY COMMERCIAL
VEHICLES OR IS THERE AN ABILITY
FOR PERSONAL VEHICLE CHARGING
TO TAKE ADVANTAGE OF THE TIME
OF DAY RATES AS WELL?
>> YOU KNOW, RESIDENTIAL
CUSTOMERS WILL BE ABLE TO TIME
INTO THE RATES AND --
>> INCLUDING THE CAR.
>> IF THEY HAVE AN ELECTRIC
VEHICLE, THEY WILL BE ABLE TO
TAKE ADVANTAGE OF THAT AS WELL.
>> THANK YOU.
>> FOR MY INFORMATION,
CUSTOMERS CAN OPT IN AT ANY
POINT.
THEY DON'T HAVE TO COMMIT RIGHT
AWAY.
THEY ARE NOT GOING TO MISS THE
BOAT IF THEY DON'T GET THE
MEMO, AS WE TRY TO DO THIS
OUTREACH.
THEY CAN SWITCH OVER.
>> IT WILL BE ONGOING.
THIS IS THE FIRST PHASE OF
INTRODUCING TIME OF DAY RATES.
WE EXPECT TO CONTINUE TO EVOLVE
AS TIME GOES OUT AND BE ABLE TO
POTENTIALLY PROVIDE MORE
OPTIONS.
BUT THE ENROLLMENT WILL BE
ONGOING WITH CUSTOMERS.
>> SO, JUST TO WEIGH-IN, THANK
YOU, CARSTEN, AND THANK YOU,
CHAIR.
THE RATE WILL BE AVAILABLE
BEGINNING 2024 AND THE CODE
DOES PROVIDE FOR OPTING IN FOR
A CERTAIN AMOUNT OF TIME, BUT
THERE IS NOT A NARROW WINDOW
WHERE EVERYONE HAS TO GET IN
OTHERWISE YOU CAN'T GET IN.
MY UNDERSTANDING, MAYBE THIS IS
A QUESTION FOR YOU, ONCE FOLKS
OPT IN, THEY STAY WITHIN THAT
RATE STRUCTURE FOR A WHILE.
THEY DON'T BOUNCE IN AND OUT.
MAYBE YOU CAN SAY A COUPLE
WORDS ABOUT THAT IF YOU DON'T
MIND.
>> THERE WILL BE A PROVISION
WHERE THE CUSTOMER OPTS INTO
TIME OF DAY RATES.
THEY CAN OPT OUT AT ANY TIME IF
THEY ARE NOT SEEING THE SAVINGS
THEY WANT OR THEY WANT TO OPT
OUT FOR ANY OTHER REASON.
ONE THING IS THEY WILL NOT BE
ABLE TO RE-OPT IN FOR ONE YEAR.
THIS IS TO PROTECT AGAINST
PEOPLE CHANGING FOR SEASONAL
VARIATIONS AND SEASONAL
CONSUMPTION CHANGES.
>> THANK YOU.
>> OKAY, COUNCILMEMBER STRAUSS.
YOU HAVE A HAND UP.
>> THANK YOU, CHAIR NELSON.
CARSTEN, GREAT TO SEE YOU.
GREAT TO SEE YOU, SIR.
MY QUESTIONS WILL BE RHETORICAL
IN NATURE.
NEVER MIND WHAT THE RATE
INCREASES WERE DURING 2020 AND
2021.
>> 2020, WE DID NOT HAVE AN
EFFECTIVE RATE CHANGE.
2021, WE HAD COME I BELIEVE,
3.9% ADOPTED GREAT CHANGE, BUT
THAT WAS OFFSET BY A BPA PASS-
THROUGH, SO THE EFFECTIVE RATE
CHANGE WAS OVER 2%.
>> OKAY, SO NO RATE CHANGE IN
2020 AND A 2.1% RATE INCREASE
IN 2021, WHICH WAS LESS THAN
THE ADOPTED INCREASE THAT CITY
LIGHT COULD HAVE TAKEN.
>> CORRECT.
>> THEN IN 2022, I NOTICED LIED
TO FROM YOUR PRESENTATION, YOU
STATE THAT THE 2022 INCREASE
WAS 2.1%, WHICH WAS LESS THAN
THE 3.9% INCREASE APPROVED BY
THE FORMER STRATEGIC PLAN.
IS THAT AN ACCURATE
UNDERSTANDING?
>> THAT IS CORRECT.
>> CAN YOU REMIND ME OF THE
RATE INCREASE WE ARE TALKING
ABOUT TODAY?
>> WE HAVE AN AVERAGE INCREASE
OF 4.5% FOR 2023 AND 2024.
AGAIN, THROUGH THE STRATEGIC
PLAN.
I WILL ADD, THIS IS SOMETHING
DEBRA MENTIONED LAST MONTH,
THAT PRELIMINARY INFORMATION IN
TERMS OF RATES FOR 2024, LOOKED
VERY OPTIMISTIC.
FOR CITY LIGHT.
OUR BILLS WILL BE LOWER THAN
PLANNED.
THOSE SAVINGS WOULD BE ABLE TO
BE PASSED THROUGH TO THE
CUSTOMERS.
SO, THINGS ARE VERY UNCERTAIN,
BUT AT THIS POINT IT LOOKS LIKE
THE RATES WILL BE LOWER.
THE EFFECTIVE RATE INCREASE
WILL BE LOWER THAN 4.5% IN
2024.
>> THANK YOU.
SO THE EFFECTIVE INCREASES AT
MOST 4.5% AND I SEE FROM SLIDE
10 ON YOUR PRESENTATION THAT
THE CURRENT 2022 OUTLOOK FOR
INFLATION IS 4.8%, 5.1%, AND
3.1% IN 2023.
SO I GUESS WHAT I AM GETTING AT
IS YOU ARE ASKING TO RAISE THE
RATES LOWER THAN THE
INFLATIONARY COSTS THAT YOU ARE
TAKING ON.
IS THAT A CORRECT ASSESSMENT?
>> THAT IS CORRECT AND I WILL
NOTE THAT THOSE WERE INFLATION
NUMBERS FROM THE END OF 2021.
AS YOU KNOW SINCE THEN,
INFLATION FOR 2022 HAS
CONTINUED TO GROW.
SO THAT WOULD BE AN
UNDERESTIMATE OF THE
INSTALLATION.
>> I HAVE TO SAY I AM SOMEONE
WHO DOES NOT LIKE TO INCREASE
THE RATES TO OUR CUSTOMERS.
I ASK THESE QUESTIONS BECAUSE I
THINK YOUR DEPARTMENT IS DONE A
GOOD JOB IN KEEPING RATES AS
LOW AS POSSIBLE.
RIGHT NOW YOU ARE NOT EVEN
ASKING TO RAISE THE RATES AS
MUCH AS THE INFLATION YOU ARE
EXPERIENCING.
I WANTED TO KNOW THAT WHILE I
VOTE YES TODAY.
THANK YOU.
>> THANK YOU, SIR.
>> I AM NOT SEEING ANY OTHER
QUESTIONS, SO I AM GOING TO
MOVE THIS LEGISLATION AND I
HAVE SOME CLOSING REMARKS.
I MOVE THAT THE COMMITTEE
RECOMMENDS PASSAGE OF COUNCIL
BILL 120411.
IS THERE A SECOND?
>> SECOND.
>> IT HAS BEEN MOVED AND
SECONDED TO RECOMMEND PASSAGE
OF COUNCIL BILL 120411.
I HAVE A FURTHER COMMENT AND
LET ME SEE IF ANYONE ELSE HAS
RAISED THEIR HAND.
NO.
SO YOU HELPED, THANK YOU VERY
MUCH, FOR THOSE QUESTIONS AND
YOUR STATEMENTS, BECAUSE I
THINK IT IS REALLY IMPORTANT
FOR OUR RATEPAYERS TO HEAR WHAT
IS BEHIND MANY OF THE
CHALLENGES THE UTILITY IS
FACING.
CITY LIGHT HAS HELD CUSTOMER
BILLS STUDY BY ELIMINATING AN
APPROVED RATE INCREASE IN 2021
AND REDUCING IT IN 2022, AS
NOTED.
AT THE SAME TIME COSTS FOR
GENERATING AND DISTRIBUTING
ELECTRICITY WENT UP
SIGNIFICANTLY IN THE LAST THREE
YEARS.
INFLATION KEEPS DRIVING IT UP.
THE PRICE OF STEEL, ALUMINUM,
AND COPPER ROSE BY 70 TO 80%.
THE PROPOSED RESIDENTIAL RATE
INCREASE WILL COST THE AVERAGE
HOUSEHOLD ABOUT FOUR DOLLARS
PER MONTH, IF I AM NOT
MISTAKEN.
THAT INCREASE IS LESS -- LESS
THAN INFLATION.
CITY LIGHT IS CUTTING SPENDING
IN OTHER AREAS TO KEEP HOLDING
RATES DOWN.
I GUESS WHAT I AM SAYING AND
WHAT YOU WERE GETTING AT IS
THAT NO ONE LIKES IT WHEN
ELECTRICITY BILLS GO UP, BUT IT
WOULD BE WORSE WITHOUT CITY
LIGHT'S HARD WORK.
I AM GRATEFUL FOR THE OVERSIGHT
PROVIDED BY THE REVIEW PANEL
FOR THEIR INDEPENDENT
ENDORSEMENT OF THIS
LEGISLATION.
WITH THAT, WILL THE CLERK PLEASE
CALL THE ROLE ON THE COMMITTEE
RECOMMENDATION THE COUNCIL BILL
120411 PASS?
>> COUNCIL PRESIDENT JUAREZ.
>> AYE.
>> COUNCILMEMBER SAWANT.
>> YES.
>> COUNCILMEMBER STRAUSS.
>> YES.
>> COUNCILMEMBER HERBOLD.
>> YES.
>> CHAIR NELSON.
>> AYE.
>> FIVE VOTES IN FAVOR, ZERO
OPPOSED.
>> THE MOTION CARRIES AND THE
COMMITTEE RECOMMENDATION THAT
COUNCIL BILL 120411 PASS WILL
BE FORWARDED TO THE COUNCIL FOR
FINAL CONSIDERATION ON
SEPTEMBER 20.
ALL RIGHT, THIS HAS BEEN A BIG
COMMITTEE.
SO, THIS CONCLUDES THE ITEMS ON
OUR AGENDA FOR THE SEPTEMBER 14
MEETING OF THE ECONOMIC
DEVELOPMENT, TECHNOLOGY, AND
CITY LIGHT COMMITTEE.
OUR NEXT MEETING IS SCHEDULED
SEPTEMBER 14 AT 9:30 AND IN
CASE ANYONE OUT THERE IS
WONDERING WHY SO LONG, WE ARE
ABOUT TO GO INTO THE BUDGET
SEASON.
COMMITTEE MEETINGS ARE CANCELED
FOR THE MOST PART.
IF THERE IS NO FURTHER BUSINESS
-- I AM LOOKING TO SEE IF THERE
IS.
NOT SEEING ANY, THIS MEETING
WILL ADJOURN.
BEFORE WE DO, I HAVE TO SAY
THANK YOU, COMMITTEE MEMBERS,
FOR YOUR HARD WORK AND APPROVAL
ON THE FILM COMMISSION
LEGISLATION.
THAT WAS A BIG MILESTONE FOR
ME.
THANK YOU.
>> IT IS GREAT TO SEE IT
ROLLING.
>> BELIEVE ME, THERE IS NO END
TO MY FILM PUNS, ET CETERA AND
I AM NOT OVER YET.
ALL RIGHT, HEARING NO OTHER
BUSINESS, IT IS 11:23 AND THIS
MEETING IS ADJOURNED.