>>> WE ARE RECORDING. >> THANK YOU.
GOOD MORNING, EVERYONE.
THE DECEMBER 9, 2022 REGULARLY SCHEDULED MEETING OF THE NEIGHBORHOODS,
EDUCATION, CIVIL RIGHTS, AND CULTURE COMMITTEE WILL COME
TO ORDER.
WILL THE CLERK PLEASE CALL THE ROLL.
>> COUNCILMEMBER STRAUSS.
>> PRESENT. >> COUNCILMEMBER LEWIS.
>> PRESENT.
>> COUNCILMEMBER NELSON.
>> PRESENT.
>> VICE CHAIR SAWANT.
CHAIR MORALES.
>> PRESENT. >> FOR PRESENT.
>> IF THERE IS NO OBJECTION, TODAY'S
AGENDA WILL BE ADOPTED.
HEARING NO OBJECTION, TODAY'S AGENDA IS ADOPTED.
GOOD MORNING, EVERYBODY. WE HAVE SEVERAL
THINGS ON THE AGENDA FOR TODAY.
WE WILL BE HEARING TWO APPOINTMENTS FOR THE LGBTQ COMMISSION.
WE HAVE TWO APPOINTMENTS FOR THE LANDMARK DISTRICT BOARD
BALLARD AVENUE, LANDMARK DISTRICT BOARD.
WE WILL BE HEARING COUNCIL BILL 130312 REGARDING THE
FIRST NATIONAL BANK BUILDING AND WE WILL HAVE A HEARING
AND BRIEFING ON COUNCIL BILL 120456, WHICH IS
AMENDING CERTAIN PROCEDURES FOR HISTORIC PRESERVATION REVIEW.
WE WILL NOT BE VOTING ON THAT TODAY, BUT WE DO HAVE
A PUBLIC HEARING. SO WITH THAT I AM GOING TO GO AHEAD AND OPEN
PUBLIC COMMENT. WE WILL OPEN THE GENERAL PUBLIC COMMENT
PERIOD. THIS WILL BE VIRTUAL AND HYBRID. JUST BECAUSE
WE DO HAVE A PUBLIC HEARING TODAY, THIS PUBLIC COMMENT
PERIOD IS FOR AGENDA ITEMS ONE THROUGH FIVE.
THE PUBLIC COMMENT PERIOD FOR THE PUBLIC HEARING,
COUNCIL BILL 120456, WILL BE HELD PRIOR TO THAT DISCUSSION
FOR AGENDA ITEM SIX.
IF YOU ARE HERE TO COMMENT ON AGENDA ITEM SIX, PLEASE WAIT UNTIL
WE GET TO THAT POINT IN THE AGENDA.
SO I AM ASKING EVERYONE TO PLEASE BE PATIENT AS WE OPERATE THIS HYBRID
SYSTEM. IT DOES REMAIN OUR STRONG INTENT TO HAVE
PUBLIC COMMENT DURING MEETINGS. HOWEVER,
WE RESERVE THE RIGHT TO MODIFY THE PUBLIC
COMMENT PERIODS AT ANY POINT IF WE DEEM THE SYSTEM IS BEING
ABUSED OR IS UNSUITABLE TO ALLOW MEETINGS TO CONTINUE. SO,
WE HAVE, LET ME SEE. I'M SORRY. I HAVE MY
SHEET SOMEWHERE.
A FEW PEOPLE WHO ARE SIGNED UP ELECTRONICALLY. VIRTUALLY.
SO WE WILL BEGIN WITH THEM AND THEN WE WILL HAVE FOLKS
WHO ARE HERE IN THE CHAMBERS. I'M GOING TO GIVE EVERYBODY TWO
MINUTES AND I THOUGHT WE HAD A GROUP SIGNED UP,
IS THAT NO LONGER THE CASE? EVERYBODY IS SIGNED UP INDIVIDUALLY. OKAY.
SO WE ARE GOING TO START WITH THE PEOPLE SIGNED UP ONLINE.
I WILL CALL EACH SPEAKER.
YOU WILL HAVE TO MINUTES. WHEN I CALL YOUR NAME IF
YOU ARE ONLINE, PLEASE UNMUTE AND HIT STAR 6, SO WE CAN
HEAR YOU.
YOU WILL HEAR A TIME AT 10 SECONDS, WHICH MEANS YOU HAVE 10
SECONDS LEFT TO WRAP UP YOUR COMMENTS AND THEN WE
WILL MOVE TO THE NEXT SPEAKER. OKAY, SO
WE ARE GOING TO BEGIN WITH THE FOLKS WHO ARE ONLINE, BECAUSE WE ONLY HAVE
A FEW OF THEM.
WE WILL START WITH HOWARD GAIL. HOWARD, PLEASE GO AHEAD
AND START BY PRESSING STAR SIX.
>> GOOD MORNING, HOWARD GAIL --THIS
MORNING YOU WILL BE MAKING APPOINTMENTS TO THE COMMISSION
YOU OVERSEE. WHEN YOU DO THIS, IT IS
IMPORTANT THAT YOU MAKE CLEAR TO THESE VOLUNTEERS WHETHER THEIR EXPECTED ROLE IS TO
MAKE INDEPENDENT DECISIONS OR, INSTEAD, TO BEND TO THE WILL
OF THE COUNCIL AND THE MAYOR. ON APRIL 7, THE SEATTLE HUMAN RIGHTS
COMMISSION VOTED OVERWHELMINGLY TO TAKE AN ACTIVE ROLE
IN INFORMING THE FEDERAL COURT OF THE CONTINUING POLICE ABUSES AND FAILURES
OF POLICE ACCOUNTABILITY IN SEATTLE. LESS THAN 24 HOURS AFTER
THIS VOTE, THE CITY ATTORNEY'S OFFICE SUCCESSFULLY
THREATENED AND BULLIED THE HUMAN RIGHTS COMMISSION INTO INACTION AND
SILENCE AS DOCUMENTED BY CAROLYN VICK ON APRIL 29 AND MAY 12. THE ARTICLES
DETAIL BE INAPPROPRIATE AND ILLEGAL NATURE OF
THE CITY'S ACTIONS AND COMPLETE SILENCE FROM THE COUNCIL
AND THE MAYOR. THEN ON SEPTEMBER 29, COUNCILMEMBERS
MORALES AND HERBOLD HELD A NONPUBLIC MEETING WITH HUMAN RIGHTS COMMISSIONERS
ALONG WITH
THE EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR AND THEIR COCHAIR, REVEREND WALDEN. THE HUMAN
RIGHTS COMMISSION REPORTED THAT
COUNCILMEMBERS AND REVEREND WALDEN, WHO MET THE NIGHT BEFORE TO DISCUSS
THE HUMAN RIGHTS COMMISSION, PROCEEDED TO CHASTISE, INSULT, AND
BULLY THE HUMAN RIGHTS COMMISSIONERS.
ON OCTOBER 14, FOR HIGHLY ACTIVE
COMMISSIONERS AND COCHAIRS RESIGNED AS A DIRECT RESULT OF THE
CITY'S HOSTILITY AND THREATS DIRECTED AT THEIR ATTEMPT
TO TAKE ACTION ON A FUNDAMENTAL HUMAN RIGHTS ISSUE.
ALONG WITH THREE OTHER COMMISSIONERS WHO RESIGNED EARLIER, THIS MARKS AROUND
HALF OF THE COMMISSION RESIGNING OVER THE
LAST EIGHT MONTHS. THE FAILURE OF COUNCILMEMBERS EARLY IN THE YEAR TO SUPPORT
THE HUMAN RIGHTS COMMISSION IS SHAMEFUL, BUT THE
LATTER PARTICIPATION OF COUNCILMEMBERS MORALES AND HERBOLD TO SUPPRESS THE
COMMISSION TRULY SHOCK THE CONSCIENCE. THE HUMAN
RIGHTS COMMISSION IS A CHARADE IF THEY'RE WELL CONSIDERED
AND DEBATED DECISIONS MADE IN A PUBLIC AND
DEMOCRATIC MATTER ARE SIMPLY OVERRULED BY POLITICIANS AND BUREAUCRATS
IN THE MOST NONTRANSPARENT, NONPUBLIC AND UNDEMOCRATIC MATTER. THANK YOU.
>> THANK YOU.
I HAVE EUGENE YES SIGNED
UP NEXT. YOU ARE SIGNED UP TO SPEAK TO TWO BILLS.
FOR COUNCIL BILL
--PLEASE GO AHEAD BY PUSHING STAR SIX.
>> THANK YOU. THANK YOU, CHAIR MORALES.
GOOD MORNING.
THIS IS THE DIRECTOR OF PRESERVATION SERVICES AT HISTORIC SEATTLE.
I WOULD LIKE TO COMMENT ON COUNCIL BILL
120312 RELATING TO HISTORIC PRESERVATION OF THE
SEATTLE-FIRST NATIONAL BANK BUILDING.
I SUBMITTED A LETTER ON BEHALF OF THE
HISTORICAL SOCIETY ASKING YOU TO RECOMMEND ADOPTING CONTROLS AND
INCENTIVES FOR THE NATIONAL BANK BUILDING IN UPTOWN
AND MOVE IT TO THE FULL COUNCIL. WE GREATLY APPRECIATE CENTRAL
STAFF'S THOROUGH MEMO ON THIS ISSUE. THE
BANK BUILDING, NOW OWNED BY WALGREENS, WAS DESIGNATED BY THE LANDMARK BOARD
IN 2006.
A STRONG STATEMENT ON ITS SIGNIFICANCE AND
LANDMARK WORTHINESS.
THE BOARD APPROVED IT IN 2021. THERE IS ACTUALLY NO CONTROVERSY
HERE, WHICH IS GREAT.
AS A LANDMARK IN THE UPTOWN NEIGHBORHOOD IT IS
ALSO ELIGIBLE TO TRANSFER DEVELOPMENT RIGHTS.
THIS MEANS THE OWNER WILL BE ABLE TO SELL THE
RIGHTS AND USE THE MONEY TO MAINTAIN THE LANDMARK BUILDING AND THE DEVELOPER
WHO OWNS THE PROPERTY IN UPTOWN THE QUALIFIES
CAN PURCHASE TDR'S TO BENEFIT THE HOUSING PROJECT
BY INCREASING ADDITIONAL UNITS. THIS IS A WIN-WIN
FOR PRESERVATION AND HOUSING. IT IS BOTH AND, NOT EITHER/OR.
THAT IS A SOUND DECISION THAT RESPECTS THE LANDMARK DESIGNATION
PROCESS AND WOULD BE CONSISTENT WITH OTHER
RECENTLY APPROVED CONTROLS. AMENDING OR REJECTING
CONTROLS COULD BE VIEWED AS ARBITRARY AND
CAPRICIOUS, SINCE THE REASONING FOR SUCH A
DECISION IS NOT DOCUMENTED AND JUSTIFIED.
THANK YOU FOR YOUR SUPPORT OF THIS LANDMARK AND
OTHERS IN SEATTLE. HISTORIC PRESERVATION IS A PUBLIC
BENEFIT, IN AND OF ITSELF. THANK YOU VERY MUCH.
>> THANK YOU. WE HAVE A FEW OTHER FOLKS SIGNED UP, BUT IT LOOKS LIKE
EVERYBODY IS HERE FOR THE PUBLIC HEARING.
EXCEPT FOR SUSAN WILLIAMS.
SUSAN WILLIAMS, ARE YOU WITH US? I SHOW YOU
AS NOT PRESENT. SUSAN WILLIAMS. OKAY.
EVERYBODY THAT I HAVE SIGNED UP HERE --
THERE ARE ONLY FOUR PEOPLE SIGNED UP FOR IN PERSON?
OKAY, AND EVERYBODY HERE IS SIGNED UP FOR THE PUBLIC HEARING AS WELL,
SO IN THAT CASE, IS THAT CORRECT? YES,
OKAY, SO WE ARE GOING TO MOVE ON THEN.
I WILL CLOSE THE PUBLIC COMMENT PERIOD AND WE WILL
MOVE ON TO OUR NEXT ITEM. SO, WILL YOU PLEASE READ ITEM ONE AND
TWO INTO THE RECORD.
I DON'T HAVE YOU SIGNED UP.
JUST A MOMENT, PLEASE. WE ARE TRYING TO CLARIFY
WHAT IS HAPPENING.
>> I SIGNED IN, TOO.
>> OKAY, PLEASE GO AHEAD AND PUT TWO MINUTES ON THE CLOCK.
THANK YOU.
>> CRIMINAL, IT'S EXACTLY WHO YOU ARE
AND I TALK ABOUT PEOPLE WHO YOU ARE POINT
FOUR --WHO YOU APPOINT FOR CIVIL RIGHTS.
I COME TO THIS MEETING EVERY DAY AND EVERY DAY I
ASK A SIMPLE QUESTION.
WHY DON'T YOU SHOW PEOPLE'S FACES LIKE YOU DID BEFORE,
FOR 25 YEARS? THIS EXACTLY IS A UNIQUE SITUATION. YOU
ARE ONLY ONE IN AMERICA WHO DON'T DO THIS.
HUNDRED PEOPLE COME AND EVERYBODY QUIET.
WHY ARE YOU SO QUIET, YOU
IDIOT? YOU DON'T UNDERSTAND THEY ARE CRIMINAL. THEY HAVE BROKEN LAW.
THEY DO THIS FOR SEVEN MONTHS, WHY?
SO WHEN THEY DON'T SEE PEOPLE HERE --
YOU KNOW WHAT THIS MEANS? SO YOU CAN ELECT THEM AGAIN, BECAUSE
THEY DON'T KNOW. THEY ARE CRIMINAL.
BUT THAT IS NOT THE POINT.
IDIOT AND THEY ARE VERY QUIET.
WHAT ARE THEY DOING?
SO, I SPEAK RIGHT NOW WITH THESE PEOPLE IN THIS ROOM.
30, 40. YOU HAVE ONE HERE WHO WILL EXPLAIN TO THEM.
NOBODY, EVERYBODY QUIET, WHY? BECAUSE YOU ARE BORN LIKE
A SLAVE AND YOU WILL DIE LIKE A SLAVE.
SORRY. SO STAND UP, AMERICA.
STAND UP, FREAKING IDIOTS OF 100,000 PEOPLE. BRING THIS
COUNTRY OUT.
>> OKAY, DEVON, WILL YOU READ ITEMS ONE AND TWO TO THE
RECORD, PLEASE?
>> AGENDA ITEMS ONE AND TWO, APPOINTMENT 02425 AND
APPOINTMENT 02426 --REAPPOINTMENT OF
NATHANIEL HIGBY AND APPOINTMENT OF BRETT PEPOWSKI AS MEMBERS OF SEATTLE'S
LGBTQ COMMISSION FOR TERMS
TO APRIL 30, 2024, FOR BRIEFING, DISCUSSION, AND POSSIBLE VOTE.
>> THANK YOU, WE HAVE JANET STAFFORD HERE FROM THE OFFICE FOR CIVIL RIGHTS.
JANET, IF YOU WILL COME ON AND JOIN US TO
TELL US ABOUT THESE APPOINTMENTS.
>> ABSOLUTELY.
GOOD MORNING TO YOU ALL, COUNCILMEMBERS.
TODAY I WOULD LIKE TO SHARE A BIT ON OUR REAPPOINTMENTS
FOR THE LGBTQ COMMISSION. I WOULD LIKE TO START OUT
BY SHARING SOME OF THE WORK THAT THEY HAVE DONE THIS YEAR.
SOME OF THEIR EVENT COLLABORATIONS WITH CITY COUNCIL AND THE MAYOR'S
OFFICE HAS INCLUDED THE ANNUAL PRIDE FLAG
RAISING EVENT AT CITY HALL AND OTHER INVOLVEMENTS
IN PRIDE EVENTS THIS YEAR.
THEY HAVE CONNECTED AND HAVE GOTTEN TO KNOW THE NEW
MAYOR HARRELL STAFF ADMINISTRATION AS WELL AS MEETING MEMBERS OF OUR
COUNCIL AND SHARING THEIR WORK PLAN AND PRIORITIES FOR
THIS YEAR. TODAY I WOULD LIKE TO RECOMMEND AND
SHARE BACKGROUND ON NATE HIGBEE AND BRETT PEPOWSKI.
I WILL SHARE A LITTLE BACKGROUND ON NATE.
SINCE 2019, NATE HAS BEEN SERVING AS A COMMISSIONER FOR
THE SEATTLE LGBTQ COMMISSION.
NATE STARTED WITH THE COMMISSION AS AN ENGAGED COMMISSIONER AND AFTER
THAT, CONTINUED TO SERVE TWO-YEAR TERMS
AS A REGULAR COMMISSIONER. HE GRADUATED
WITH A BACHELORS DEGREE IN SOCIOLOGY
AND WORKS AT VIRGINIA MASON, WHERE HE CONTINUES
TO SUPPORT AND BE AN ACTIVE MEMBER OF
THE LGBTQ STAFF COMMITTEE. HE HAS SPENT TIME ADVOCATING
FOR BOTH LGBTQ RIGHTS AND DISABILITY RIGHTS.
HE IS CURRENTLY THE COCHAIR OF THE SOCIAL
MEDIA AND ENGAGEMENT COMMITTEE, AS WELL
AS THE COCHAIR OF THE LGBTQ COMMISSION.
THE COMMISSION DOES SUPPORT HIS REAPPOINTMENT AND
LOOKS FORWARD TO HAVING HIS CONTINUED LEADERSHIP
THIS NEXT YEAR.
SHALL I CONTINUE WITH BRETT
PEPOWSKI?
>> YES, PLEASE. >> GREAT.
JUST A LITTLE BACKGROUND ON BRETT PEPOWSKI.
HE WORKS AS A DATA ANALYST FOR HOUSING AND CLINICAL SERVICES NONPROFIT.
VOLUNTEERS FOR OVERNIGHT CAMPS FOR YOUTH
OF NONTRADITIONAL FAMILIES AND VOLUNTEERS BACKSTAGE FOR THE LOCAL
GAY SYMPHONIC BAND. HE JOINED THE COMMISSION IN 2021 AND
COCHAIRS THE SOCIAL MEDIA AND ENGAGEMENT COMMITTEE
WITH NATE.
BRETT HAS DONE MUCH OF THE WORK THIS YEAR IN THE PRESENCE THE
COMMISSION HAS HAD.
BRETT HAS ALSO LED MUCH OF THE EFFORTS IN PROVIDING RECENT BUDGET
RECOMMENDATIONS TO CITY COUNCIL. AS A COMMISSIONER,
BRETT DOES HOPE TO CONTINUE TO RAISE PUBLIC AWARENESS OF ISSUES
AND GOVERNMENT ACTION AFFECTING THE QUEER COMMUNITY AND TO INCREASE LOCAL
ACCESS TO QUALITY, AFFORDABLE HOUSING, AND HEALTHCARE.
THE COMMISSION WELCOMES THIS REAPPOINTMENT
AND BRETT'S CONTINUED WORK. THANK YOU.
>> THANK YOU. AND BRETT IS NOT HERE, RIGHT? OKAY, I
JUST WANT TO CLARIFY.
I THINK IT IS LISTED ON THE AGENDA AND IN THE PAPERWORK
THAT THIS IS AN APPOINTMENT AND NOT A
REAPPOINTMENT FOR BRETT, CAN YOU CLARIFY, PLEASE?
>> BRETT IS A REAPPOINTMENT. THEY ARE
BOTH REAPPOINTMENTS.
>> TERRIFIC.
OKAY, WELL, THANK YOU VERY MUCH. GLAD TO KNOW THEY ARE BOTH INTERESTED
IN CONTINUING TO PROVIDE THE SERVICE.
I DID MEET WITH SOME OF THE LGBTQ COMMISSIONERS,
I THINK IT WAS RIGHT AFTER BUDGET.
IT IS ALL SORT OF A BLUR, BUT I KNOW THEY
WILL BE COMING BEFORE THIS COMMITTEE AND THE
NEW YEAR TO PROVIDE AN UPDATE ON THE WORK PLAN
AND TALK TO US ABOUT THINGS THEY WOULD LIKE TO SEE. COLLEAGUES, ANY
QUESTIONS FOR JANET ABOUT THE REAPPOINTMENTS? GREAT. OKAY, IN
THAT CASE I AM GOING TO MOVE THAT THE COMMITTEE APPROVE APPOINTMENTS
--RECOMMEND APPROVAL OF APPOINTMENTS -- 2425 AND 2426. IS THERE
A SECOND?
>> SECOND.
>> THANK YOU. IT HAS BEEN MOVED AND SECONDED. WILL
THE CLERK PLEASE CALL THE ROLL.
>> COUNCILMEMBER LEWIS.
>> YES. >> COUNCILMEMBER STRAUSS.
>> YES. >> COUNCILMEMBER NELSON.
>> AYE. >> CHAIR MORALES. >> YES.
>> FOUR IN FAVOR. >> THE MOTION CARRIES AND THE APPOINTMENTS WILL BE SENT
TO THE JANUARY 3, 2023 CITY COUNCIL MEETING. THANK YOU
VERY MUCH, JANET. GOOD TO SEE YOU AGAIN.
>> THANK YOU. >> WILL YOU PLEASE READ ITEMS THREE AND FOUR INTO THE RECORD.
>> AGENDA ITEMS THREE AND FOUR, APPOINTMENT 2420 AND APPOINTMENT 2421, APPOINTMENT OF
MIRIAM HINDEN AS MEMBER, BALLARD AVENUE DISTRICT BOARD FOR
A TERM TO JUNE 30, 2024, AND APPOINTMENT OF ANTHONY R. SALAZAR
AS MEMBER,
BALLARD AVENUE LANDMARK DISTRICT BOARD, FOR A TERM
TO JUNE 30, 2023, FOR DISCUSSION AND A POSSIBLE VOTE.
>> THANK YOU AND I'M GOING TO WELCOME MINH CHAU LE FROM THE DEPARTMENT
OF NEIGHBORHOODS TO JOIN US TO TALK ABOUT THESE
APPOINTMENTS. PLEASE GO AHEAD.
>> THANK YOU VERY MUCH, CHAIRPERSON MORALES
AND ALL COUNCIL
COMMITTEE MEMBERS FOR THIS OPPORTUNITY. DEPARTMENT OF NEIGHBORHOODS
IS GRATEFUL FOR THIS OPPORTUNITY TO BRING BEFORE YOU
TWO CURRENT APPOINTEES TO THE BALLARD AVENUE LANDMARK BOARD
FOR YOUR CONSIDERATION. IF IT IS OKAY
WITH YOU, CHAIR, MAY I PROVIDE A BRIEF OVERVIEW OF THE
BALLARD AVENUE LANDMARK DISTRICT AND ITS WORK AND THEN INDIVIDUALLY DESCRIBE
THE TWO APPOINTEES IN THE ORDER PRESENTED?
>> THAT SOUNDS GREAT, THANK YOU.
>> THANK YOU. THE BALLARD AVENUE LANDMARK DISTRICT BOARD WAS ESTABLISHED
IN 1976. ITS WORK IS TO PROVIDE HISTORIC PRESERVATION IN THE BALLARD
AVENUE LANDMARK DISTRICT, WHICH IS PROTECTED BY LOCAL
CITY ORDINANCE AND ALSO HAS RECOGNITION AT THE NATIONAL LEVEL.
THE NATIONAL HISTORIC -- EXCUSE ME,
THE NATIONAL REGISTER FOR HISTORIC PLACES. THE PRIMARY FUNCTION OF
THE BOARD IS TO REVIEW AND APPROVE PROPOSALS
FOR PHYSICAL ALTERATIONS VISIBLE TO THE PUBLIC
WITHIN THE DISTRICT, WITHIN THE DISTRICT THAT AMOUNTS TO WORK
IN THE RIGHT-OF-WAY. THE ONE PARK SPACE AND BUILDING EXTERIORS.
THE BOARD AS A WHOLE IS SEVEN MEMBERS, FIVE OF WHOM ARE ELECTED
VIA AN ANNUAL COMMUNITY ELECTION PROCESS AND TWO
OF WHOM ARE APPOINTED BY
THE MAYOR AND CONFIRMED BY COUNCIL, AS WE ARE DOING TODAY. EACH MEMBER
SERVES TWO-YEAR TERMS AND COLLECTIVELY THE MAKEUP OF
THE BOARD IS QUITE DYNAMIC.
IT IS TO PROPERTY OWNERS. TO PROPERTY OWNERS
OR BUSINESS PERSONS. ONE RESIDENT AND FINALLY,
THOSE WE ARE PRESENTING TODAY. ONE HISTORIAN AND ONE
ARCHITECT. THE LAST THING I WILL SAY ABOUT THE BOARD, THE SECOND TO LAST
THING, IS IT IS ADVISORY TO
THE DIRECTOR. MAKES RECOMMENDATIONS SUBJECT TO THE DEPARTMENT OF NEIGHBORHOODS DIRECTORATE
OF APPROVAL AND THE LAST THING IS THIS
YEAR THE BOARD ENTHUSIASTICALLY EMBRACES SOME CURRENT, VERY INTERESTING WORK
RELATED TO PROVIDING ASSESSMENT AND FEEDBACK
AND GUIDANCE, AS THE
CITY MOVES FORWARD OUT OF THE PANDEMIC INTO A POST PANDEMIC PHASE, WITH
THE VARIOUS SUCCESSFUL CAFE PROGRAMMING THAT HAS
APPEARED OVER THE LAST COUPLE OF YEARS ON HISTORIC
BALLARD AVENUE.
AND THAT CONCLUDES MY BRIEF SUMMARY OF THE BOARD AND
NOW I WILL PROCEED WITH A BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF EACH OF THE CANDIDATES IN THE ORDER
THEY WERE PROVIDED. SO FIRST WE HAVE MIRIAM HINDEN FOR POSITION
NUMBER FIVE, WHICH IS THE ARCHITECT.
MIRIAM BRINGS TWO DECADES, A BACKGROUND AS A PRACTICING LICENSED ARCHITECT.
HAS SERVED IN A DESIGN CAPACITY IN MAJOR PROJECTS
IN ALL OF SEATTLE'S HISTORIC DISTRICTS, FOR WHICH THERE IS SIGNIFICANT BUILDING
AND DENSITY, SUCH AS COLUMBIA CITY, INTERNATIONAL SPECIAL REVIEW DISTRICT,
PIONEER SQUARE PRESERVATION DISTRICT, AND THE BALLARD AVENUE
LANDMARK DISTRICT. MIRIAM HAS ALSO SERVED
AS A BOARD MEMBER IN THE PAST ON THE PRESERVATION BOARD,
WHICH LIKE THE BALLARD AVENUE BOARD IS
A DEPARTMENT OF NEIGHBORHOODS ADMINISTERED PRESERVATION
BOARD, WHICH IS ADVISORY TO THE DEPARTMENT DIRECTOR. MIRIAM HAS EXPERIENCE
IN ADAPTIVE REUSE,
AS WELL AS REHABILITATION AND THESE ARE THE PARTICULAR PRESERVATION PRACTICES
THAT ARE FAVORED WITHIN SEATTLE, UNDER THE
ORDINANCE.
FINALLY, MIRIAM IS A RESIDENT
OF THE GREATER BALLARD COMMUNITY.
WITH THAT I WILL PROCEED TO THE SECOND CANDIDATE, ANTHONY SALAZAR,
FOR POSITION NUMBER ONE, THE COMMUNITY HISTORIAN POSITION.
ANTHONY COMES FROM AN EXTENSIVE CAREER AT
THE UNIVERSITY OF WASHINGTON IN ACADEMIA, WHERE HE FOCUSED ON HISTORY, PARTICULARLY
SOCIAL AND URBAN HISTORY. HE IS A LONG TERM
MEMBER AND OFFICER OF THE COMMUNITY COUNCIL AND IS A BALLARD
RESIDENT, AS WELL.
AND THAT CONCLUDES MY PRESENTATION REGARDING THE
TWO CANDIDATES TO THE LANDMARK DISTRICT BOARD.
>> TERRIFIC, THANK YOU
VERY MUCH. I DO SEE MIRIAM AND ANTHONY HERE. IF EITHER
OF YOU WOULD LIKE TO COMMENT, I AM HAPPY TO GIVE
YOU THE OPPORTUNITY TO SHARE A LITTLE BIT.
I DON'T SEE --OH, MIRIAM, THERE YOU ARE.
>> GOOD MORNING, I AM MIRIAM HINDEN.
>> PLEASE GO AHEAD.
>> SO I AM AN ARCHITECT.
AND PRINCIPAL. WE ARE LOCATED IN GREEN ARE SQUARE AND I
HAVE A BROAD RANGE OF EXPERIENCE IN HISTORIC PRESERVATION, REHABILITATION AND CONSTRUCTION
PROJECTS INCLUDING IN THE BALLARD PRESERVATION DISTRICT
AND ALSO IN PIONEER SQUARE.
I AM EXCITED TO BE ON THIS BOARD AND HAVE THIS OPPORTUNITY. I THINK
IT WILL BE A REALLY GOOD EXPERIENCE AND A GREAT
WAY TO WORK WITH THE RESIDENTS AND BUSINESS OWNERS.
THANK YOU.
>> THANK YOU. THANK YOU FOR BEING HERE. ANTHONY,
DID YOU WANT TO SAY ANYTHING? HI, GOOD MORNING.
I DID NOTICE THAT YOU HAVE HISTORY
OF BASEBALL KNOWLEDGE, SO I AM VERY EXCITED TO HAVE YOU HERE WITH US,
THANK YOU.
>> I AM A MEMBER OF THE SID FIRM
DAY >>
ANTHONY, I'M SORRY, IT IS REALLY HARD TO HEAR YOU.
>> I'M SORRY, CAN YOU HEAR ME OKAY? THERE WE GO. YES MA'AM,
I AM A MEMBER OF THE SOCIETY FOR AMERICAN BASEBALL RESEARCH
AND I CHAIR ITS LATINO BASEBALL COMMITTEE AS WELL AND I HAVE DONE EXTENSIVE RESEARCH
IN BASEBALL AS WELL AND I AM ALSO A BEER HISTORIAN. SO I
HAVE BEEN DOING WORK WITH THE BALLARD BREWERY DISTRICT AND
COALITION AS WELL.
IT IS JUST AN INCREDIBLE OPPORTUNITY TO BE ABLE TO PROVIDE THIS SERVICE
WITH THE BALLARD LANDMARK DISTRICT. I'VE GOT
A BACKGROUND IN URBAN HISTORY FROM THE UNIVERSITY OF
CALIFORNIA SANTA BARBARA AND THE UNIVERSITY OF OREGON, WHERE
I WAS ABLE TO STUDY THE EVOLUTION OF
OUR GREAT AMERICAN CITIES.
GROWING UP IN SAN FRANCISCO PROVIDED ME THAT
CURIOSITY AND WONDER OF HOW CITIES WORK AND HOW SAN FRANCISCANS CONTRIBUTED
TO THE SUCCESS OF THE CITY. I SEE A LOT OF THESE SIMILARITIES
WITH SEATTLE AND BALLARD IN PARTICULAR.
BALLARD AVENUE, AS YOU KNOW, IS A VERY CHARMING AREA. I WOULD LIKE
TO BE ABLE TO WORK WITH HER DISTRICT AND WORK
WITH OTHERS IN MAINTAINING THAT CHARM AND
TO BE ABLE TO PROVIDE THE EDUCATIONAL AND ADVOCATING FOR
HISTORY IN THAT AREA.
THERE IS A LOT TO BE OFFERED HERE.
AS A CHICANO, STUDYING
IN DDI SPACES, THERE IS A LOT OF WORK TO BE DONE THERE AS WELL
AND I APPRECIATE THIS OPPORTUNITY TO PROVIDE THIS
PLATFORM AND WORKING WITH THE DISTRICT AND THE CITY, AS WELL AS,
LATER ON, IF WE CAN FIND WAYS TO COLLABORATE WITH
THE BALLARD HISTORICAL SOCIETY, THE BALLARD ALLIANCE.
I THINK IT IS A WIN-WIN FOR ALL OF US IN BALLARD. THANK YOU VERY MUCH.
>> THANK YOU. THANK YOU BOTH FOR BEING HERE. COLLEAGUES, ARE THERE
ANY QUESTIONS OR COMMENTS FOR THE APPOINTEES? YES, COUNCILMEMBER
STRAUSS.
>> THANK YOU, CHAIR. AND THANK YOU, MINH CHAU LE, IT
IS ALWAYS WONDERFUL TO SEE COLLEAGUES.
YOU MAY OR MAY NOT KNOW I HAVE BEEN WORKING WITH THE BALLARD DISTRICT,
BALLARD LANDMARK DISTRICT, REGARDING STREET
CAFES AND OUTDOOR DINING TO BRING THIS UP TO BE ABLE
TO MEET HISTORIC DISTRICT GUIDELINES. SO, MIRIAM, READING WHAT YOU WORKED ON,
I THINK THIS WILL BE AN AMAZING CONNECTION. AND ANTHONY, I
HAVE ALWAYS BEEN SO IMPRESSED WITH YOUR LEVEL OF HISTORY OF AIRSPACE,
OF OUR CITY, OF OUR NEIGHBORHOOD.
AND YOUR WORK
IN THE DISTRICT ALREADY. I GUESS I DON'T HAVE ANY QUESTIONS FOR
YOU, SINCE YOUR RESUMES ARE ALWAYS BLOWING ME AWAY. JUST TO
SAY, YOU KNOW, WE HAVE REALLY IMPORTANT WORK COMING
UP IN THE NEXT COUPLE OF MONTHS, TO REALLY FIGURE OUT HOW
WE MAKE OUR OUTDOOR DINING SPACES MEET HISTORIC
DISTRICT GUIDELINES AND
THAT WE ARE, YOU KNOW, AT THE LAST HISTORIC DISTRICT MEETING, IT BECAME
VERY CLEAR. WE HAVE THREE BUILDINGS UNDER CONSTRUCTION IN HALF A
BLOCK OF THE HISTORIC DISTRICT THAT WILL BE ABOUT 200 NEW UNITS. ON TOP
OF THE DENSITY WE ALREADY HAVE. THIS
IS CHANGING HOW THE HISTORIC DISTRICT OPERATES AND WHAT OUR NEEDS ARE AND
IT IS VERY DIFFERENT FROM 1976, NEARLY 50
YEARS AGO WHEN THE BOEING 747 WAS FIRST ROLLED OUT
ON THE PRODUCTION LINES. SO HERE WE ARE IN THIS NEW WORLD AND I AM JUST SO
VERY EXCITED FOR YOU.
>> THANK YOU.
>> THANK YOU. >> THANK YOU, COUNCILMEMBER
STRAUSS. COUNCILMEMBER NELSON, PLEASE GO AHEAD.
>> THESE ARE EXCELLENT CANDIDATES. THE
ONE THING, NOT THE ONE THING, BUT I NOTICED THAT IN MANY OF
YOUR JOBS YOU WERE PROJECT MANAGER AND THAT IS REALLY IMPORTANT,
BECAUSE YOU UNDERSTAND
EVERY STEP OF A PROJECT FROM, YOU KNOW, PERMITTING THROUGH CONSTRUCTION,
ET CETERA.
AND DESIGN, OF COURSE. SO I THINK THAT IS REALLY IMPORTANT TO HAVE AN
UNDERSTANDING OF ON THE GROUND COMPLEXITIES AND CHALLENGES
OF BUILDING IN SEATTLE, AS WELL AS PRESERVING IN SEATTLE,
SO I REALLY APPRECIATE THAT. AND FOR EVERYBODY'S INFORMATION, ONE OF
THE PROJECTS THAT SHE LEAD ON DID GET
AN AWARD.
GOT THE AWARD FOR OUTSTANDING HISTORIC BUILDING REHABILITATION,
WHICH WAS THE WAREHOUSE. CONGRATULATIONS ON THAT.
I THINK YOU ARE A FABULOUS PICK AND THANK
YOU FOR YOUR SERVICE. ANTHONY, YOU AND I GRADUATED FROM UCSB THE
SAME YEAR. ANYWAY, I REALLY APPRECIATE THE
NEXUS BETWEEN INDUSTRY AND HISTORY.
THE FACT THAT YOU ARE FOCUSED ON THE BALLARD
BEER DISTRICT IS, OF COURSE, SOMETHING THAT I AM
ESPECIALLY ATTRACTED TO. IT REALLY IS IMPORTANT. THAT WE KEEP
IN MIND WHAT THE
INDUSTRIES ARE IN HISTORIC DISTRICTS AND HOW THOSE
INDUSTRIES MIGHT CHANGE AND EVOLVE. AND I LIKE
THAT NEXUS THAT YOU BRING, SO THANK YOU VERY
MUCH FOR BEING WILLING TO SERVE.
>> ABSOLUTELY
AND I HOPE YOU PICKED UP ON THE WORD NEXUS. IF YOU RECALL IT IS
THE DAILY NEXUS. ALWAYS A FAVORITE WORD OF MINE.
>> WELL, THANK YOU VERY MUCH. COLLEAGUES, IF THERE ARE NO --OH, COUNCILMEMBER
STRAUSS, DID YOU HAVE A FOLLOW-UP?
>> YEAH, THE 747 FIRST TOOK FLIGHT IN 1969.
THE HISTORIC LANDMARK DISTRICT STARTED IN 1976. I WAS JUST MAKING THE COMPARISON
EARLIER THIS WEEK OR LAST WEEK, SO THINGS HAVE CHANGED
IN OUR WORLD. JUST CLARIFYING --
>> THANKS VERY MUCH.
HISTORICAL ACCURACY IS APPRECIATED. OKAY, COLLEAGUES, IF THERE ARE NO FURTHER
COMMENTS THAN I AM GOING TO MOVE THAT THE COMMITTEE RECOMMENDS APPROVAL
OF APPOINTMENTS 2420 AND 2421.
IS THERE A SECOND?
>> SECOND. >> THANK YOU.
IT HAS BEEN MOVED AND SECONDED TO RECOMMEND APPROVAL OF THE APPOINTMENTS.
WILL THE CLERK PLEASE CALL THE ROLL.
>> COUNCILMEMBER LEWIS.
>> YES. >> COUNCILMEMBER STRAUSS.
>> YES.
>> COUNCILMEMBER NELSON.
>> AYE. >> CHAIR MORALES.
>> YES. >> FOUR IN FAVOR.
>> THE MOTION CARRIES AND THE RECOMMENDATION THAT THE COUNCIL APPROVED THE APPOINTMENTS
WILL BE SENT TO THE CITY COUNCIL MEETING.
THANK YOU FOR BEING HERE, EVERYBODY.
THANK YOU SO MUCH, AND WE WILL SEE YOU ALL SOON. LET'S GO AHEAD TO
AGENDA ITEM FIVE. PLEASE READ THAT INTO THE RECORD.
>> AGENDA ITEM FIVE, COUNCIL BILL 120312, AND
ORDINANCE RELATING TO HISTORIC PRESERVATION, IMPOSING CONTROLS UPON
THE SEATTLE-FIRST NATIONAL BANK BUILDING,
A LANDMARK DESIGNATED BY THE BOARD UNDER CHAPTER 25.12
OF THE SEATTLE MUNICIPAL CODE AND ADDING IT TO THE TABLE OF
HISTORICAL LANDMARKS CONTAINED IN CHAPTER 25.32
OF THE SEATTLE MUNICIPAL CODE. FOR BRIEFING,
DISCUSSION, AND POSSIBLE VOTE.
>> THANK YOU VERY MUCH. SO,
WE HAVE LISH WHITSON FROM COUNCIL CENTRAL
STAFF HERE. AND, I'M SORRY, CAN YOU INTRODUCE YOURSELF?
>> GOOD MORNING.
JESSICA ROWE HERE ON BEHALF OF THE OWNER.
>> PERFECT, THANK YOU.
SO, COLLEAGUES, THIS IS AS YOU WILL RECALL A BILL THAT WE
BEGAN DISCUSSING LAST SPRING. I DELAYED A VOTE AT THAT TIME BECAUSE
I WAS STRUGGLING TO UNDERSTAND CANDIDLY THE BENEFIT THAT OCCURS
TO THE CITY FOR PROTECTING THIS BUILDING.
SO I AM GOING TO START BY ASKING LISH TO PROVIDE AN OVERVIEW
AND THEN I WILL OPEN IT UP FOR DISCUSSION.
SORRY, I AM ALSO LOOKING FOR MY SCRIPT.
DO I NEED TO MOVE THIS FIRST FOR DISCUSSION?
IT IS ALREADY OPEN. OKAY. THANK YOU. OKAY, LISH, I WILL HAND IT OFF TO YOU. PLEASE
GO AHEAD.
>> GOOD MORNING, LISH WHITSON, COUNCIL CENTRAL
STAFF AND I WILL SHARE THE PRESENTATION THAT
YOU SAW LAST APRIL.
THERE WE GO.
SO THIS IS THE DESIGNATION --SORRY.
THIS BILL WOULD APPROVE
THE SEATTLE-FIRST NATIONAL BANK BUILDING
IN THE UPTOWN NEIGHBORHOOD. IT IS A MODERNIST
BUILDING BUILT IN 1950. IT IS LOCATED AT THE NORTHWEST CORNER
OF DENNY WAY AND SIXTH AVENUE NORTH. THE LANDMARK
PRESERVATION BOARD DESIGNATED THE BUILDING IN
2006 AND APPROVED THE AGREEMENT NEGOTIATED
WITH THE PROPERTY OWNER LAST YEAR.
THE LANDMARKS BOARD DESIGNATION WAS BASED ON FOUR DIFFERENT CRITERIA. THEY ARE
INCLUDED IN THE SEATTLE MUNICIPAL CODE.
THE FIRST IS THE DESIGNATION CRITERIA C, WHICH IS THAT
THE BUILDING EMBODIES
IMPORTANT ASPECTS OF THE CITY, REGIONAL, NATIONAL HISTORY. IN THIS
CASE, THERE ARE THREE INTERWEAVING HISTORIES
WHICH THE BOARD IDENTIFIED AS IMPORTANT.
AS PART OF THIS BUILDING.
FIRST IS THE HISTORY OF THE SEATTLE-FIRST NATIONAL BANK, WHICH
HAD ITS ROOTS IN SEATTLE'S
FIRST BANK.
AND AT ONE POINT WAS THE LARGEST BANK IN WASHINGTON STATE.
THE SECOND IS THE HISTORY OF BANKING PRACTICES. THIS WAS
REPRESENTATIVE OF LOCAL BRANCH BANKS, WHERE BANKING
WAS MOVING AWAY FROM LARGE, IMPOSING EDIFICES IN THE
HEARTS OF DOWNTOWNS AND MOVING TOWARDS BRANCHES
THAT WERE BETTER DESIGNED TO SERVE THE PUBLIC IN THEIR NEIGHBORHOODS
AND, IN PARTICULAR, MORE WELCOMING
TO WOMEN. FINALLY THE HISTORY OF THE NEIGHBORHOOD.
THIS IS ONE OF THE FIRST BUILDINGS BUILT IN THE AREA
AFTER THE REGRADE. SO, IT IS
INVOLVED IN THE HISTORY OF THE SOUTH LAKE
UNION UPTOWN NEIGHBORHOOD.
THE SECOND CRITERIA THAT THE LANDMARKS BOARD IDENTIFIED
WAS THAT THIS BUILDING EMBODIES
MODERNIST ARCHITECTURE.
CRITERIUM E THAT THE LANDMARKS BOARD IDENTIFIED
WERE THE IMPORTANCE OF THE ARCHITECTS OF THE BUILDING.
HOLMES AND MALONEY WERE IMPORTANT MODERNIST ARCHITECTS IN SEATTLE.
FINALLY THEY LOOKED
AT THE LOCATION, VISIBILITY, AND SURROUNDING DEVELOPMENT IN ORDER TO DESIGNATE
BASED ON CRITERIA F.
AS YOU KNOW, DENNY WAY HAS A NUMBER OF DIAGONAL STREETS
THAT INTERSECT IT AND THIS BANK IS SORT OF AT THE CORNER
WHERE TWO OF THOSE DIAGONAL STREETS MEET
DENNY WAY.
IT IS A PROMINENT LOCATION. ONCE THE LANDMARKS BOARD DECIDES TO DESIGNATE
A BUILDING, THE STAFF AT THE DEPARTMENT OF
NEIGHBORHOODS NEGOTIATE AGREEMENTS WITH THE BUILDING'S OWNER. IN THIS
CASE, CONTROLS ARE PLACED ON THE BUILDING
AND THE SITE AND STANDARD INCENTIVES
ARE PROVIDED.
FLEXIBILITY UNDER THE LAND-USE BUILDING AND ENERGY CODES, SPECIAL
PROPERTY TAX IF THE BUILDING IS REHABILITATED,
AND THE ABILITY TO TRANSFER DEVELOPMENT RIGHTS AND
DEVELOPMENT POTENTIAL ARE
ALL INCENTIVES THE LEGISLATION WOULD PROVIDE TO THE PROPERTY OWNER.
THE ABILITY TO TRANSFER DEVELOPMENT POTENTIAL WILL
ALLOW PLANNED GROWTH IN THE NEIGHBORHOOD, EVEN AS THE
BUILDING REMAINS.
AND THE SEATTLE NEXT UPTOWN ZONING, ADOPTED IN 2017, CONSIDERED
PRESERVATION OF THIS BUILDING
IN THE TRANSFER OF DEVELOPMENT POTENTIAL PROGRAM THAT
APPLIES IN THAT NEIGHBORHOOD.
THE COUNCIL HAS AUTHORITY UNDER THE CODE
TO ADOPT, AMEND, OR REJECT CONTROL INCENTIVE AGREEMENTS, BUT
HAS NEVER REJECTED A CONTROL INCENTIVES AGREEMENT AND HAS ONLY
ONCE AMENDED AN AGREEMENT. AND I AM
HAPPY TO ANSWER QUESTIONS AND DEPARTMENT OF NEIGHBORHOOD
STAFF IS ALSO ON THE LINE
FOR MORE TECHNICAL QUESTIONS. THANK YOU.
>> GREAT. THANK YOU VERY MUCH, LISH. COLLEAGUES, ARE THERE QUESTIONS
FOR LISH OR STAFF? I'M SORRY, CAN YOU RESTATE
YOUR NAME FOR ME PLEASE.
>> OF COURSE, THANK YOU. I AM JESSICA ROWE, HERE ON BEHALF OF
THE OWNER AND I AM ALSO JOINED BY HEIDI MARTINEZ FROM WALGREENS.
SHE IS ON THE SAME -- >>
THANK YOU. COLLEAGUES, ARE THERE QUESTIONS OR COMMENTS ABOUT
THIS PARTICULAR BILL?
I WILL SAY THAT, AS I HAVE SAID BEFORE,
YOU KNOW, I WAS STRUGGLING TO UNDERSTAND WHAT
BENEFIT IN PARTICULAR ACCRUES TO THE CITY
FOR PROTECTING WHAT IS A ONE-STORY BUILDING IN THE MIDDLE OF A VERY DENSE
NEIGHBORHOOD. AND YOU KNOW, I REALIZE
AS LISH SAID THAT OUR OPTIONS ARE LIMITED HERE.
WE CAN MODIFY THE CONTROLS IN THE AGREEMENT, BUT WE CAN'T CHANGE
THE DESIGNATION THAT HAS ALREADY BEEN GRANTED BY THE LANDMARKS BOARD.
THIS PROJECT RECEIVED ITS LANDMARK STATUS
IN 2006. THE AGREEMENT IS VERY DIFFERENT FROM RECENT AGREEMENTS.
THAT, IN THE CHAIR'S OPINION, ALIGNED MORE CLOSELY TO OUR
CITY'S PRIORITIES RIGHT NOW AROUND HOUSING AND TRUE
COMMUNITY BENEFITS.
I WILL ALSO SAY IT IS THE OPINION OF THE CHAIR THAT THE
STATEMENT OF SIGNIFICANCE STRAINS TO EXPLAIN WHY THIS BUILDING
WARRANTS PROTECTION.
I UNDERSTAND WHAT BENEFITS WOULD ACCRUE IN THE TRANSACTION OF
SELLING DEVELOPMENT RIGHTS. WHAT I DON'T UNDERSTAND IS WHAT
BENEFIT ACCRUES TO THE CITY FOR PROTECTING A BUILDING THAT IS
NOT UNIQUE.
THERE ARE FOUR OTHER BUILDINGS THAT ARE SIMILAR. THAT DOES
NOT RETAIN ITS ORIGINAL PURPOSE. IT IS NO LONGER
A BANK. NOR HAS IT RETAINED THE ORIGINAL INTERIOR.
AND AS I SAID IN OUR DISCUSSIONS LAST SPRING, PRESERVING
THIS PARTICULAR ONE-STORY BUILDING DOES NOT MAKE SENSE, GIVEN
THE HOUSING CRISIS WE ARE IN AND THAT THE NEIGHBORHOOD HAS CHANGED DRAMATICALLY
SINCE 2006. YOU KNOW, SOUTH LAKE UNION AND THE
AREAS AROUND THEIR -- SO, YOU KNOW, I HAVE BEEN GIVING THIS
A LOT OF CONSIDERATION. IT IS MY BELIEF THAT THIS BUILDING WOULD BE BETTER
SERVED AS A CITY IF WE WERE ABLE TO USE THIS SITE,
SO I CAN'T SUPPORT THIS PROJECT AND WILL BE VOTING NO. I AM GOING
TO ASK MY COLLEAGUES TO COMMENT
AND THEN WE WILL MOVE FORWARD. COUNCILMEMBER LEWIS.
>> THANK YOU, CHAIR MORALES. SIMILARLY
AS THE COUNCILMEMBER WHO REPRESENTS DISTRICT
7, WHERE THIS PROJECT WERE WHERE THIS BUILDING IS LOCATED,
I DON'T BELIEVE, BASED ON SIMILAR CRITERIA,
THAT THE CHAIR JUST ADDRESSED, THAT THIS IS
AN APPROPRIATE DESIGNATION AND APPROPRIATE CONTROLS FOR THE GIVEN PROPERTY.
YOU KNOW, SOUTH LAKE UNION IS ONE OF THE FASTEST-GROWING,
DENSEST NEIGHBORHOODS IN THE CITY.
WE ARE GOING TO HAVE
SOUND TRANSIT GOING THROUGH THIS NEIGHBORHOOD WITH LIGHT RAIL
SOMETIME IN THE NEAR FUTURE AND WE ARE GOING TO WANT TO REALIZE
THE HIGHEST USE OF PARCELS FOR TRANSIT ORIENTED DEVELOPMENT AND, FRANKLY,
THOSE KINDS OF CONSIDERATIONS WEIGH ON ME MAKING
DECISIONS AROUND HISTORIC PROTECTIONS AND DESIGNATIONS.
THE ONE SIDE OF THE SCALE, VERSUS THE
OTHER SIDE OF THE SCALE TO PROTECT THE BUILDING. I DON'T KNOW THAT THE
CHARACTERISTICS -- I DO NOT BELIEVE THAT THE CHARACTERISTICS
OF THIS BUILDING OUTWEIGH THE ALTERNATIVE POTENTIALS OF THIS SITE
IN THE FUTURE OF HOW WE GROW
AND EXPAND AS A CITY, SO FOR THOSE REASONS I SIMILARLY WILL NOT BE SUPPORTING
THIS LEGISLATION THIS MORNING.
>> THANK YOU, COUNCILMEMBER LEWIS.
COUNCILMEMBER NELSON.
>> THANK YOU VERY
MUCH.
I THINK IT WAS APRIL 22 WHEN WE DISCUSSED THIS LAST TIME AND I
DID MENTION THAT MY CONCERN WAS THIS IS
IN A GROWING NEIGHBORHOOD, ECHOING WHAT HAS BEEN SAID TODAY, BUT THAT
HOUSING IS A CORE PRIORITY RIGHT NOW AND
I WAS CONCERNED ABOUT THE USE OF THIS SPACE AND ALSO
THE TRANSFER OF DEVELOPMENT RIGHTS AND HOW THAT WOULD
ALL WORK. BUT IT IS BETTER TO BUILD HOUSING
ON SITE THEN EVEN TRANSFER
THOSE DEVELOPMENT RIGHTS, SO I WILL BE VOTING NO, AS WELL. BUT I DO HAVE
A QUESTION FIRST, WHICH IS, ARE THERE ANY HOUSING SPECIALISTS --
I DID READ THE REQUIREMENTS FOR THE LANDMARKS BOARD
AND I THINK APPROVED A COUPLE OF THEM,
BUT IS THERE ANY HOUSING SPECIALIST OR HOUSING POLICY PERSON
ON THE LANDMARKS BOARD?
I GUESS THAT WOULD BE FOR SARA BELZ OR SOMEBODY --
>> THIS IS SARAH SODT. WE DON'T
CURRENTLY HAVE SOMEONE WHO IS SPECIFIC TO HOUSING
ON THE LANDMARKS BOARD, BUT WE DO HAVE A DEVELOPER POSITION.
>> OH, SORRY.
>> NO, THAT IS ALL.
>> THESE DECISIONS HAVE TO BE MADE WITHIN THE CONTEXT OF OVERARCHING POLICY
LEADS.
THAT IS ALL I AM TRYING TO GET AT, SO THANK YOU
VERY MUCH FOR BRINGING THIS
TO THE BOARD. I APPRECIATE IT.
>> OKAY, SO
I DO WANT TO, YOU KNOW, GIVE LISH AND THE DEPARTMENT OF NEIGHBORHOOD
OPPORTUNITY TO COMMENT
IF THERE ARE ISSUES OR REMARKS THAT YOU HAVE. ABOUT THIS
PARTICULAR PROJECT OR THE PROCESS HERE.
>> I WOULD JUST REMIND THE COUNCIL THAT
YOUR DECISION IS ON THE INCENTIVES AND
NOT THE DESIGNATION OF THE STRUCTURE, WHICH IS THE PURVIEW OF THE LANDMARKS
PRESERVATION BOARD.
>> THANK YOU, LISH. COUNCILMEMBER STRAUSS, I'M SORRY,
I DIDN'T SEE HER HAND BEFORE.
>> THIS MIGHT BE FOR STAFF.
THERE ARE A NUMBER OF THESE BUILDINGS THROUGHOUT THE CITY
THAT LOOK LIKE THIS. I FIND THEM TO ACTUALLY BE QUITE BEAUTIFUL. I
LIKE THEM A LOT. WE HAVE ONE IN BALLARD, I BELIEVE THERE IS
ONE ON 1st AVENUE.
I BELIEVE THE ONE ON 1st AVENUE IS ALREADY A
LANDMARK AND HAS CONTROLS. CAN YOU CONFIRM THAT?
>> I DON'T BELIEVE THAT IT DOES, BUT I WOULD HAVE TO GET BACK TO YOU ON
THAT. I THINK THIS MIGHT BE THE ONLY ONE. I WILL HAVE TO LOOK
INTO IT.
>> I DID LOOK INTO THAT AND IT IS NOT LANDMARKED.
>> OKAY. I AM JUST TORN, BECAUSE I LOVE
THESE BUILDINGS, BUT THIS IS JUST A PLACE OF INCREDIBLE
OPPORTUNITY FOR DENSITY AND HOUSING AND ECONOMIC VITALITY
AND I DON'T WANT OUR DECISIONS TO BE HAMPERING THAT.
SO A LITTLE TORN THIS MORNING. I APPRECIATE EVERYONE'S WORK.
>> OKAY, ARE THERE ANY OTHER COMMENTS ON
THIS BILL?
OKAY, COLLEAGUES.
I AM GOING TO ASK IF SOMEBODY WOULD LIKE
TO MOVE THAT WE RECOMMEND THIS BILL.
>> MADAM CHAIR, A POINT OF ORDER
FOR THIS.
MY UNDERSTANDING IS --WELL, MAYBE THIS IS A QUESTION FOR
THE CLERK. DOES THE COUNCIL HAVE TO TAKE ACTION ON THIS AND DO A RECOMMENDATION
OR IF IT IS CLEAR FROM OUR STATEMENTS THAT THE COMMITTEE
IS NOT INCLINED TO RECOMMEND THIS, CAN WE JUST DECLINE
TO TAKE ACTION ON IT? I GUESS, WHAT WOULD BE THE CHAIR'S PREFERENCE?
I AM HAPPY TO MOVE THE LEGISLATION SO IT SOUNDS LIKE WE CAN ALL
VOTE NO ON IT, IF THAT IS THE PREFERENCE.
>> EXCUSE ME. I DO SUGGEST YOU MOVE IT AND VOTE ON IT, EVEN IF
IT IS TO VOTE IT DOWN, THAT WAY WE CAN BRING
IT FORWARD FOR CONSIDERATION UNDER FULL
COUNCIL AT A LATER DATE.
>> THANK YOU, MADAM CLERK. SO I MOVE
THE UNDERLYING ORDINANCE LISTED UNDER AGENDA
ITEM FIVE.
>> OKAY, I WILL SECOND IT. SO IT HAS BEEN MOVED
AND SECONDED.
WILL THE CLERK PLEASE CALL THE ROLL?
>> COUNCILMEMBER LEWIS.
>> NO. >> COUNCILMEMBER STRAUSS. >> NO.
>> COUNCILMEMBER NELSON. >> NO. >> CHAIR MORALES.
>> NO. >> FOUR OPPOSED.
>> OKAY, SO WE WILL NOT BE MOVING THIS FORWARD TO FULL COUNCIL.
YES?
WE WILL BE MOVING --I'M SORRY, THIS IS A NEW SITUATION FOR ME.
WE WILL MOVE THAT THE COMMITTEE NOT RECOMMEND PASSAGE OF THIS BILL
TO FULL COUNCIL AND THAT WILL BE AT
THE JANUARY 3, 2023 CITY COUNCIL MEETING.
CAN YOU CONFIRM THAT IS THE CORRECT COURSE OF ACTION?
>> THAT IS
CORRECT, THANK YOU.
>> OKAY, THANK YOU VERY
MUCH, COLLEAGUES. WE WILL TAKE THIS UP AGAIN AT THE
JANUARY 3 FULL COUNCIL MEETING.
>> DO YOU MIND?
I THOUGHT YOU MAY CALL ON ME AND I SHOULD HAVE INTERVENED.
I WANT TO SAY ON BEHALF OF THE OWNER, WE PREFER THIS ALSO NOT
BE LANDMARKED. I WANT TO CLARIFY THAT, SO WE SUPPORT THE COMMENTS
THAT YOU MADE.
THE BUILDING WAS DESIGNATED BEFORE THE OWNER ACQUIRED
THIS BUILDING AND WE WERE GOING THROUGH THE PROCESS TO DO TDR,
BUT AT THIS POINT WE ARE ALSO SUPPORTIVE OF THE
VOTE YOU JUST MADE. WE APPRECIATE IT.
WE ARE HERE FOR OTHER QUESTIONS BEFORE THE NEXT MEETING.
THANK YOU.
>> THANK YOU. COUNCILMEMBER NELSON.
>> I JUST HAVE A POINT OF CLARIFICATION.
SO, YOU JUST SAID THAT YOU PREFER
IT NOT TO BE LANDMARKED.
LISH MADE A POINT OF SAYING WE ARE DECIDING UPON THE CONTROLS, NOT THE
LANDMARK STATUS.
SO, I KNOW THAT TACOMA, THE CITY COUNCIL IN TACOMA CAN UNDO A LANDMARK DECISION
OR THE LAND MARKING OF A BUILDING, SO WHAT
IS IT EXACTLY?
>> COUNCILMEMBER, I AM SO SORRY.
DEVON CAME TO TALK TO ME AT THE BEGINNING OF YOUR QUESTION. DO YOU MIND
RESTATING IT?
>> WELL I THINK IT IS --
WE ARE SIMPLY NOT APPROVING THE CONTROLS, IS THAT CORRECT?
>> YES. >> I THINK THAT CAN BE A QUESTION FOR
YOUR CITY ATTORNEY.
IN OUR OPINION YOU HAVE THE AUTHORITY TO
REPEAL THE DESIGNATION.
SO THIS IS SOMETHING YOU CAN DISCUSS WITH YOUR CITY ATTORNEY.
WE ARE HAPPY TO FOLLOW UP ON IT.
>> THANK YOU VERY MUCH.
OKAY.
LISH, DID YOU WANT TO MAKE A COMMENT?
>> NO, WE CAN DIVE INTO THAT A LITTLE BIT MORE BETWEEN NOW AND
-- >>
TERRIFIC. OKAY, THANK YOU, EVERYONE.
WE WILL MOVE ON TO THE NEXT AGENDA ITEM, WHICH IS COUNCIL BILL 120456.
OUR FINAL ITEM IS THE PUBLIC HEARING ON THIS BILL.
THIS IS DEPARTMENT GENERATED LEGISLATION THAT
WOULD EXTEND HISTORIC PRESERVATION REVIEW PROCESSES
FOR SOME OF OUR BOARDS.
WE PLEASE READ THE ITEM INTO THE RECORD?
>> AGENDA ITEM SIX, COUNCIL BILL 120456,
AND ORDINANCE RELATING TO HISTORIC PRESERVATION REVIEW PROCEDURES,
AMENDING AND MAKING PERMANENT CERTAIN TEMPORARY PROCEDURES, AMENDING SECTIONS
23.6 6.030, 25.12.320,
25.12.720, 25.1 6.100,
25.2 0.090, 25.2 1.110,
25.2 2.110, 25.2 4.070,
AND 2.5 --
25.3 0.090 OF THE SEATTLE MUNICIPAL CODE FOR PUBLIC HEARING,
BRIEFING, AND DISCUSSION.
>> OKAY, SO PRIOR TO DISCUSSION I WILL OPEN
THE PUBLIC HEARING AND WE DO HAVE LOTS
OF FOLKS SIGNED UP TO SPEAK TO THIS, SO EACH
SPEAKER WILL BE GIVEN, I AM GOING TO SAY
A MINUTE AND A HALF. WE HAVE SEVERAL PAGES OF FOLKS HERE. THERE WILL
BE -- WE DO HAVE A FEW FOLKS SIGNED UP VIRTUALLY,
SO I AM GOING TO START WITH THEM.
THERE ARE ONLY TWO FOLKS PRESENT AT THIS POINT ANYWAY, SO WE WILL START
WITH THEM AND THEN MOVE ON TO THE FOLKS HERE IN PERSON. I WILL
CALL ON EACH SPEAKER BY NAME AND IN THE ORDER YOU SIGNED UP. YOU
WILL HAVE TWO MINUTES TO SPEAK.
IF YOU ARE CALLING IN, PLEASE DIAL STAR SIX TO BEGIN SPEAKING. AS A
REMINDER, PUBLIC TESTIMONY SHOULD RELATE ONLY TO
COUNCIL BILL 120456. YOU WILL HEAR A
TIME WHEN YOU HAVE 10 SECONDS LAST LEFT.
IF YOU ARE LISTENING ONLINE AND WANT TO CONTINUE LISTENING,
PLEASE DO SO ON SEATTLE CHANNEL AND HANG UP YOUR
LINE. OKAY, THE PUBLIC HEARING ON COUNCIL BILL 120456
IS NOW OPEN.
YEAH, THANK YOU.
SO, THE FIRST SPEAKER IS ROBERT MESSINA. IF YOU WILL PLEASE PUSH
STAR SIX, YOU HAVE ONE MINUTE AND 30 SECONDS.
>> THANK YOU.
MY NAME IS BOB MESSINA. FOR THE LAST 11 YEARS I HAVE BEEN ATTENDING
MEETINGS OF THE PARK PLACE MARKET TDA AND ITS COMMITTEES, INCLUDING
THOSE OF THE MARKET HISTORICAL COMMISSION.
I AM SPEAKING TODAY IN SUPPORT OF THE PARK PLACE
MARKET HISTORICAL COMMISSION AND THE EFFORTS TO KEEP
THEIR ROLE AND AUTHORITY OVER CERTIFICATES OF APPROVAL IN
THE MARKET. TO BE SPECIFIC I URGE YOU TO AMEND
COUNCIL BILL 120456 BY REMOVING SECTION 8 FROM THE TEXT OF THIS
BILL. SECTION 8 REMOVES POWERS FROM THE COMMISSION AND
TRANSFERS THEM TO THE DEPARTMENT OF NEIGHBORHOODS, WHERE THEY WILL BE DECIDED BY A CITY
STAFF MEMBER WITHOUT THE DELIBERATION OF
THE 12 PIKE PLACE MARKET HISTORICAL DISTRICT COMMISSIONERS
AND WITHOUT PUBLIC COMMENT AND THIS MEANS WITHOUT AN OPEN
PUBLIC MEETING. THE PIKE PLACE MARKET YOU SEE TODAY IS NOT A RANDOM
FREE-FOR-ALL COLLECTION OF SHOPS.
THE HISTORICAL COMMISSION RECOGNIZES THE SMALLER SCALE OF
AVAILABLE SPACE IN THE MARKET AS WELL AS THE OPPORTUNITIES
FOR SMALL START UP BUSINESSES TO THRIVE.
THESE DECISIONS OVER DESIGN AND USE IN THE MARKET
HAVE BEEN SUCCESSFUL IN PRESERVING HISTORICAL CHARACTER, AS WELL AS ENSURING
A SUCCESSFUL AND SUSTAINABLE MARKET.
THESE 12 COMMISSIONERS HAVE BEEN DOING THEIR
JOBS WELL AND THERE MUST BE NO ENCROACHMENT
BY THE DEPARTMENT OF NEIGHBORHOODS INTO THEIR LONG-ESTABLISHED
ROLES. THANK YOU.
>> THANK YOU. THE NEXT SPEAKER IS IRENE WALL. PLEASE PRESS
STAR SIX.
IRENE WALL.
I SHOW YOU PRESENT. YOU MIGHT BE MUTED.
PRESS STAR SIX TO BEGIN.
>> HELLO, THIS
IS IRENE WALL. THE ROLE OF CITIZEN VOLUNTEER MARKET HISTORICAL COMMISSION SHOULD
NOT BE DILUTED AS THIS BILL WOULD DO. REGARDLESS OF ANY POSSIBLE GOOD
INTENTIONS BEHIND THIS PROPOSED CHANGE, THE RESULTS WOULD BE
WRONG. THE PANDEMIC OF URGENCY IS OVER AND TEMPORARY
ADJUSTMENTS MADE IN THAT EXTRAORDINARY TIME SHOULD ALSO BE OVER AND NOT BE
MADE PERMANENT.
THE MATTERS IDENTIFIED FOR ADMINISTRATIVE APPROVALS ARE NOT TRIVIAL
OR WITHOUT POTENTIAL NEGATIVE IMPACTS ON THE MARKET.
THE FULL COMMISSION HAS THE BACKGROUND AND EXPERTISE TO ENSURE THESE PHYSICAL
CHANGES ARE MADE SENSITIVELY AND THIS REQUIRES
A DEEP UNDERSTANDING OF THE GUIDELINES AND
PHYSICAL CONTACTS IN THE DIVERSE AREAS THAT MAKE UP THE MARKET.
STAFF DOES PLAY AN IMPORTANT ROLE IN SUPPORTING THE
MARKET BY HELPING BUSINESSES PREPARE COMPLETE APPLICATIONS,
SO THE COMMISSION CAN MAKE TIMELY DECISIONS, BUT THE APPROVAL SHOULD
BE MADE BY THE DELIBERATIVE BODY,
NOT THE STAFF. THE CITY'S OFFICIAL MESSAGING, PARTICULARLY FOR THE DEPARTMENT
OF NEIGHBORHOODS, IS TO ENCOURAGE CITIZEN INVOLVEMENT
IN ALL ASPECTS OF OUR SHARED CITY LIFE.
THIS IS EVIDENCED BY YOUR APPOINTMENT OF TWO HIGHLY QUALIFIED PERSONS TO
SERVE ON THE BOARD. DON'T DISCOURAGE THE
CITIZEN RESPONSIBILITY FOR HISTORIC PRESERVATION. NO HISTORIC
DISTRICT --
>> THANK YOU.
WE HAVE ONE LAST SPEAKER SIGNED UP VIRTUALLY. PLEASE GO AHEAD.
>> THANK YOU. HELLO AGAIN, THIS IS EUGENIA
WU.
THANK YOU FOR THE OPPORTUNITY TO COMMENT ON THIS ISSUE.
AS SOMEONE WHO WORKS FOR AN ORGANIZATION THAT
OWNS MULTIPLE LANDMARK PROPERTIES AND WHEN I WORKED AT THE CITY I
SEE THE POTENTIAL BENEFITS FROM BOTH PERSPECTIVES.
STREAMLINING THE PROCESS IS HELPFUL TO PROPERTY OWNERS AND BUSINESS OWNERS.
AS A PRESERVATION ADVOCATE I AM ALSO
AWARE OF CONCERNS ABOUT THE LEGISLATION EXPRESSED BY
COMMUNITY MEMBERS.
TRANSPARENCY AND AN OPEN PUBLIC PROCESS ARE IMPORTANT TO EVERYONE,
PARTICULARLY COMMUNITY MEMBERS IN HISTORIC NEIGHBORHOODS AND
THOSE INTERESTED IN THE STEWARDSHIP OF LANDMARKS.
PROPOSED CHANGES TO LANDMARKS AND BUILDINGS IN
HISTORIC DISTRICTS. HAVING THE OPPORTUNITY TO REVIEW
AND COMMENT IN PUBLIC MEETING IS IMPORTANT. IF THIS
LEGISLATION PASSES, I HOPE THE CITY CONTINUES TO ENGAGE
WITH COMMUNITY MEMBERS AND WITH APPLICANTS TO ESTABLISH PROCEDURES
THAT ARE MORE TRANSPARENT AND PROVIDE CLARITY
ON THE ADMINISTRATIVE REVIEW PROCESS.
IT IS MY UNDERSTANDING THAT THE LEGISLATION DOES NOT DO AWAY WITH COMMISSIONER
REVIEW --THE ADMINISTRATIVE REAPPROVAL IS NOT THE SAME FOR EVERY DISTRICT
AND LANDMARKS. THANK YOU FOR THE OPPORTUNITY TO COMMENT.
I KNOW THIS IS NOT EASY LEGISLATION TO REVIEW, BUT
THANK YOU.
>> THANK YOU VERY MUCH, EUGENIA. OKAY, WE WILL MOVE TO IN-PERSON
SPEAKERS.
THE FIRST PERSON I HAVE IS DESTINY SON.
IS NOT HERE.
I DON'T HAVE YOU FIRST ON MY LIST, BUT I
WILL GET TO YOU. THE NEXT PERSON I HAVE IS GINA, FOLLOWED
BY MIRANDA.
>> I THINK WE GOT THE LIST MIXED UP, BECAUSE
I WAS VERY FAR BEHIND OTHER PEOPLE.
>> EXACTLY.
>> ANYWAY, I DIDN'T REALLY
HAVE ANYTHING TO SAY, BUT MY COMMENTS BASICALLY, I HAVE
BEEN INVOLVED WITH THE HISTORIC COMMISSION DURING THE WATERFRONT RESERVATION
OF THE MARKET AND WE DID
WORK WITH CITY COUNCIL QUITE A BIT AND
WE REALLY NEED TO MAKE SURE WITH THE COMMISSION THAT WE KEPT THE FLAVOR
OF THE MARKET.
KEPT THE ARCHITECTURAL DESIGN CONSISTENT AND ALSO
MADE SURE THAT WE REACHED OUT TO THE CONSTITUENCY
AND THE PEOPLE WHO MAKE THEIR LIVING AT THE MARKET TO
MAKE SURE THAT IT WORKED FOR EVERYBODY AND I THINK THAT IF
CITY COUNCIL HAD AN UNDUE INFLUENCE, WE WOULD NOT HAVE THE AMAZING STRUCTURE
THAT WE HAVE NOW. A BUNCH OF CONDOS AND THINGS LIKE THAT. I JUST THINK
IT IS REALLY IMPORTANT THAT THE HISTORIC COMMISSION STILL
HAS OVERSIGHT ON ANY KIND OF
NEW CONSTRUCTION OR REMEDIATION'S AT THE MARKET.
THANK YOU.
>> THANK YOU. IT IS ENTIRELY POSSIBLE
THAT ALL OF THESE SHEETS GET MIXED UP.
I WILL GO WITH MIRANDA, SINCE I DID CALL YOU AND THEN
WE WILL START WITH ALEX TSIMERMAN NEXT.
>> THANK YOU FOR YOUR TIME AND ATTENTION TODAY.
I AM A COMMUNITY MEMBER AND ADVOCATE FOR THE MARKET FOR OVER
20 YEARS. I STRONGLY RECOMMEND THAT YOU AMEND
COUNCIL BILL TO REMOVE SECTION 8 CONCERNING THE PIKE PLACE MARKET COMMISSION. DECISIONS
MUST CONTINUE TO BE MADE BY THE MARKET HISTORICAL COMMISSION WITH PUBLIC
OVERSIGHT IN ORDER FOR THE MARKET TO CONTINUE TO
MAINTAIN ITS UNIQUE FLAVOR.
EVERY SEEMINGLY SMALL DECISION ABOUT THE MARKET CAN AFFECT
SO MANY PEOPLE WHO LIVE, WORK, AND STOP THERE. WHICH IS WHY FOR OVER
50 YEARS THE MARKET HAS TRUSTED THE STEWARDSHIP
OF THE COMMISSION TO CAREFULLY MAKE THESE DECISIONS,
WHILE INVITING INPUT FROM COMMUNITY MEMBERS ABOUT THE DECISIONS THAT AFFECT
THEM DIRECTLY.
THERE IS ABSOLUTELY NO GOOD REASON TO TURN ANY OF THESE DECISIONS
OVER TO THE DEPARTMENT OF NEIGHBORHOODS, SIMPLY BECAUSE IT HAS BEEN THAT WAY
FOR THE LAST TWO YEARS. WE ARE NO LONGER IN COVID
EMERGENCY AND WOULD LIKE THE DECISION-MAKING PROCESS TO RETURN
FULLY TO THE COMMISSION. PLEASE REMOVE SECTION
8 FROM COUNCIL BILL 12456 AND ALLOW THE HISTORICAL COMMISSION TO
FULLY ENGAGE WITH ANY PROPOSED CHANGES AT PIKE PLACE MARKET,
SO IT CAN REMAIN THE PIKE PLACE MARKET WE ALL KNOW AND LOVE FOR YEARS TO
COME. THANK YOU.
>> THANK YOU. ALEX TSIMERMAN, FOLLOWED
BY HALEY LIND.
>> THANK YOU.
>> AND A REMINDER, THIS IS ABOUT A
PARTICULAR BILL.
>> --USE STOP DEMOCRACY
FASCISTS, MAFIA CARTEL. MY NAME IS ALEX TSIMERMAN. I LOVE
THE 750,000 CRETAN, DEGENERATE --IT IS VERY NICE. I LOVE YOU, FOR
35 YEARS. YEAH, YOU ARE DOING GOOD SERVICE. I LIVED
BEFORE IN MANY CITIES AND I NEVER SEE
ONE SMALL CITY, CIVILIZED CITY, WHO WILL DESTROY
DOWNTOWN. YOU DID THIS. YOU FREAKING
DEGENERATE IDIOTS.
DOWNTOWN, NOT TOUCHABLE. THIS HISTORY. YOU DON'T HAVE HISTORY.
YOU HAVE IDIOT, 750,000 IDIOTS WHO ELECT YOU.
YOU KNOW WHAT THIS MEANS? FOR THE LAST 10 YEARS, NEVER
ONE VOTE STOPPING AMAZON. NOT ONE VOTE.
TAXES, TAXES, TAXES.
WHO FREAKING CARES? WHEN THEY HAVE BILLIONS.
YOU IDIOT.
DOWNTOWN IS NOT SUPPOSED TO BE TOUCHABLE.
THAT'S IT. YOU DESTROY HISTORY.
NOT ONLY CRIMINAL, YOUR PSYCHOPATH. STAND UP AMERICA.
CLEAR THIS IDIOTIC CHAMBER.
>> THE NEXT SPEAKER IS HALEY LIND, FOLLOWED BY
LESLIE BUCHER.
>> HELLO.
I HAVE WORKED AT THE MARKET FOR 37 YEARS AND I HAVE BEEN ACTIVE
IN MARKET POLITICS. MOREOVER, IT IS NOT UNKNOWN FOR ME TO
SPEAK UP CRITICAL OF MARKET DECISIONS, BUT HAVING SAID THAT I WANT TO EXPLAIN
WHY 120456 IS A BAD IDEA FOR THE MARKET. ONE OF
THE REASONS THE MARKET IS BEAUTIFULLY GOVERNED IS BECAUSE WHEN MISTAKES
ARE MADE, WHEN
PASSION SPILLS, WE KNOW HOW AND WHERE TO DIRECT OUR ENERGY BECAUSE THE PEOPLE
WHO MAKE GOOD AND BAD DECISIONS ARE RIGHT THERE AND WE KNOW WHERE TO
FIND EACH OTHER AND THE ELECTED AND APPOINTED OFFICERS
ARE NOT SITTING ON A THRONE EATING HOMBURG BIRD WINGS OR BEHIND
A LOCKED DOOR. WE CAN ATTEND MEETINGS AND SEE
THEM ON THE STREET AND THEY RECOGNIZE US AND WE STOPPED TO
TALK ABOUT WHAT IS ON OUR MINDS. SOMETIMES SPEAKING
TO OUR OFFICERS CREATES SHIFTS OF UNDERSTANDING.
YOU KNOW WHAT THIS IS? SMALL D DEMOCRACY AND SMALL G GOVERNMENT.
IT CAN ONLY HAPPEN WHEN GOVERNANCE IS ON THE SCALE AND
IT SHOULD BE THE ENVY OF SEATTLE AND PRIDE OF CITY HALL FOR PLACING THEIR
FAITH IN THE PUBLIC. AS I UNDERSTAND THAT THAT
IS WHY THE TDA'S WERE FORMED. TAKING THIS UNNECESSARY ACTION WILL LEAVE
A SOUR AND CYNICAL TASTE IN
OUR MOUTHS. FRANKLY I DON'T BELIEVE THIS BILL WAS THE COUNCIL'S IDEA.
I THINK IT WAS BROUGHT BY THE DEPARTMENT OF NEIGHBORHOODS.
SO RIGHT NOW THE COUNCIL CAN BE OUR HEROES AND STRIP THE MARKET HISTORICAL
COMMISSION FOR THE REASONS I HAVE STATED FROM
THIS BILL. IT IS NOT JUST A POPULAR ACTION, IT
IS THE RESPONSIBLE ACTION. THANK YOU.
>> THANK YOU. WE HAVE LESLIE BUCHER FOLLOWED
BY JOAN PAULSON.
>> HELLO, MY NAME IS LESLIE BUCHER AND I AM A MEMBER
OF THE PIKE PLACE MARKET HISTORICAL COMMISSION. I ENCOURAGE
YOU TO EXCLUDE THE MARKET FROM CB 120456 IN ORDER TO PROTECT FULL PUBLIC OVERSIGHT.
PRESERVATION OF THE MARKETS AUTHENTIC CHARACTER.
A ROLE DELEGATED TO THE VOLUNTEER PIKE PLACE
MARKET HISTORICAL COMMISSION. THE COMMISSION IS MADE UP
OF MEMBERS OF THE COMMUNITY AND IT IS IN
COMMISSION MEETINGS WHERE DECISIONS ARE MADE ON DESIGN CHANGES.
THESE MEETINGS ARE OPEN TO THE PUBLIC AND ALWAYS PROVIDE THE OPPORTUNITY
FOR ANYONE TO SHARE A PUBLIC COMMENT WITH
THE GROUP OF UP TO 12 COMMISSIONERS. THEY PUBLICLY DISCUSS
AS A GROUP TO DETERMINE IF CHANGES ALIGN
WITH ESTABLISHED GUIDELINES.
IT IS A PROCESS NOT UNLIKE THAT OF THE SEATTLE
CITY COUNCIL. HOWEVER, CB 120456 TRANSFERS JURISDICTION OVER
SOME DESIGN CHANGES TO SEATTLE STAFF, WHICH WOULD NOT REQUIRE
PUBLIC MEETINGS OR INVOLVE THE HISTORICAL COMMISSION
IN ANY WAY. THIS EXCLUDES PUBLIC INVOLVEMENT AND LOSES THE BENEFIT OF DEBATE
AND DISCUSSION AMONG COMMISSIONS AND INDIVIDUALS.
AS THE CITY COUNCIL, IMAGINE IF SUDDENLY SOME COUNCIL BILL'S WERE HANDLED BY
A SINGLE PERSON FROM AN OFFICE IN OLYMPIA WITHOUT
YOUR KNOWLEDGE OR INPUT WHATSOEVER FROM THE PUBLIC. THAT IS ALARMING
AND TERRIFYING. IT IS CONFUSING. IT DOES NOT MAKE SENSE, WHY WOULD THAT
HAPPEN? WHY WOULD THIS HAPPEN? I DON'T KNOW. FOR THESE REASONS I ENCOURAGE
YOU TO EXCLUDE THE PIKE PLACE MARKET HISTORIC
DISTRICT FROM CB 120456.
>> WE DO HAVE SEVERAL FOLKS SIGNED UP.
WE HAVE TWO MICROPHONES, SO I WILL CALL THE NEXT PERSON AND THEN
TWO MORE. THESE BE READY AND FEEL FREE TO COME AND WAIT AT THE
MIC. WE HAVE JOAN PAULSON AND YOU WILL BE FOLLOWED BY --
PLEASE GO AHEAD.
>> MY NAME IS JOAN PAULSON AND I HAVE BEEN INVOLVED
WITH THE PIKE PLACE MARKET SINCE 1970.
I WISH TO EXPRESS MY CONCERN ABOUT THE PROPOSED
COUNCIL BILL 120456 WHICH WILL HAVE AN
ADVERSE IMPACT ON THE PUBLIC MARKET AND ALL
OTHER HISTORICAL SEATTLE NEIGHBORHOODS.
I ALSO BELIEVE THAT THE POWERS THAT ARE BEING REQUESTED
BY THE DEPARTMENT OF NEIGHBORHOODS WILL UNDERMINE
THE STATE OPEN PUBLIC MEETING ACT,
GIVING THE OVERSIGHT TO THE DEPARTMENT OF NEIGHBORHOODS.
SINCE THE PIKE PLACE MARKET 1971 INITIATIVE, THIS PUBLIC MARKET HAS REMAINED STRONG
IN CONTINUING THE MARKET CHARACTER FOR ALL VISITORS
IN THE MARKET COMMUNITY AND ORGANIZATIONS.
THE PROPOSED CHANGES AS BEING CONSIDERED BY COUNCIL BILL 120456
OUR STEPS BACKWARD FOR PRESERVATION AND OPEN PUBLIC MEETING ACT, BOTTOM-UP DECISION-MAKING,
DECISION MAKING PROGRESS.
AND THE EFFORTS TO KEEP THE MARKET PUBLIC. THIS
PROPOSED POWER TO BE GRANTED TO THE DEPARTMENT OF NEIGHBORHOODS
SHOULD NOT OCCUR FOR THE PUBLIC MARKET IN OTHER SEATTLE NEIGHBORHOODS.
THANK YOU FOR THIS TIME.
>> NEXT WE HAVE -- I APOLOGIZE IF I AM
MISPRONOUNCING THAT. OH, OKAY.
YOU WILL BE FOLLOWED BY LAUREN --AND CHRISTINE.
>> A MORNING, AND WITH THE ALLIED ARTS REPRESENTATIVE
ON THE PIKE PLACE MARKET HISTORICAL COMMISSION.
THE CITIZENS OF SEATTLE SAVED THE MARKET FROM
CITY DECISION-MAKING 50 YEARS AGO AND HAS STEWARDED THE
MARKET SUCCESSFULLY EVER SINCE. NOW THE CITY IS TRYING TO TAKE
DECISION-MAKING BACK BEHIND CLOSED DOORS, OUT OF PUBLIC MEETINGS
AND PUBLIC PROCESS WITHOUT BEING ASKED AND WITHOUT LISTENING.
THE PIKE PLACE MARKET HISTORICAL COMMISSION IS REQUIRED
BY THE FOUNDING ORDINANCE TO ADOPT RULES AND REGULATIONS FOR ITS OWN
GOVERNMENT AND IS REQUIRED
TO PROVIDE STAFF ASSISTANCE AND OTHER SERVICES AS REQUESTED. TO
BE ABSOLUTELY CLEAR, THE PIKE PLACE MARKET
HISTORICAL COMMISSION HAS NEVER SUGGESTED TO PURSUE ANY OF THESE AMENDMENTS
TO ALLOW ADMINISTRATIVE REVIEW.
NOT DURING THE STATE OF EMERGENCY AND STILL NOT
NOW THAT IT IS ENDING. IN FACT THE COMMISSION HAS
REPEATEDLY ASKED NOT TO PURSUE THESE AMENDMENTS UNLESS
AND UNTIL COMPREHENSIVE COMMUNITY ENGAGEMENT CAN BE ACHIEVED. WE RECEIVED MANY
PUBLIC COMMENTS. NONE OF THEM HAVE BEEN
IN SUPPORT OF ADMINISTRATIVE REVIEW. ALL OF THEM
HAVE BEEN PROPOSED CHANGES. SINCE THE DEPARTMENT OF NEIGHBORHOODS IS
NOT DEMONSTRATING THEIR LISTENING AND THE LETTER TO
THE MAYOR AND COUNCIL MEMBERS HAS GONE UNANSWERED, I AM HERE NOW TO
ASK YOU DIRECTLY NOT TO ACCEPT THESE AMENDMENTS
TO THE ORDINANCE AND HONOR THE AUTONOMY AND AUTHORITY CREATED BY THE CITIZENS.
WE, AS A CITY, CAN AND SHOULD DO BETTER. THANK YOU.
>> THANK YOU. LAUREN FOLLOWED BY CHRISTINE
--AND GRACE.
>> I AM AN ARCHITECT AND OWNER OF
ROBOT VERSUS LOVE IN THE PIKE PLACE MARKET AND ALSO
VICE CHAIR OF THE HISTORIC COMMISSION.
I HAVE BEEN A COMMISSIONER FOR OVER SIX YEARS. I AM
STANDING BEFORE YOU TO ASK YOU TO REMOVE THE PIKE PLACE MARKET FROM
THIS LEGISLATION.
THE MARKET HISTORIC COMMISSION, WHEN FULLY STAFFED, IS MADE OF 12
DIVERSE PEOPLE FROM DIFFERENT BACKGROUNDS, DIFFERENT EDUCATIONS, DIFFERENT CAREERS
AND EXPERTISE THAT SERVE WITH TERM LIMITS. WHEN APPLICATIONS COME
THE PROCESS IS TRANSPARENT, OPEN TO THE PUBLIC AND OFTEN CONSISTS OF
HELPFUL CONVERSATIONS TO BETTER OUR PROJECT.
UNDER ADMINISTRATIVE APPROVAL DECISIONS GO BEHIND DOORS WITH NO PUBLIC INVOLVEMENT
AND INCREASED CHANCES OF BIAS AND ARE MADE BY ONE
PERSON WITH NO TERM LIMITS. DURING THE PAST FEW YEARS, DECISIONS WERE
MADE THE VIOLATE THE GUIDELINES. THERE
WERE NO PUBLIC NOTICES FOR DECISIONS.
THE PUBLIC COULD NOT
APPEAL THEM. THE DEPARTMENT OF NEIGHBORHOODS
HAS SAID THAT ADMINISTRATIVE APPROVAL WOULD HELP
THE TIME BEFORE THE COMMISSION, BUT SINCE ADMINISTRATIVE
APPROVAL HAS BEEN IN USE, THEY HAVE REPEATEDLY TOLD THAT SHE IS TOO
BUSY TO ENFORCE ANY OF THE HISTORIC GUIDELINE VIOLATIONS. ADDING
ADMINISTRATIVE APPROVAL MEANS THEY HAVE NEGLECTED ENFORCEMENT OF THE
GUIDELINES. YOU CAN SEE THIS WITH THE
A-FRAMES AND REMODELS IN THE MARKET WITHOUT REVIEW. I WOULD LIKE
TO ASK YOU TO REMOVE
PIKE PLACE MARKET FROM THIS LEGISLATION. THANK YOU.
>> THANK YOU.
>> CHRISTINE VAUGHN, GRACE LONG AND GILLIAN GERMAN.
>> THIS IS CHRISTINE VAUGHN.
I AM A 32 YEARS CRAFTSPERSON AT THE MARKET.
I SERVED FOR EIGHT YEARS AND MOST RECENTLY I
WAS 7 1/2 YEARS ON THE COMMISSION.
THE DEPARTMENT OF NEIGHBORHOODS PLAYS AN IMPORTANT ROLE IN THE COMMISSION.
THE DEPARTMENT OF NEIGHBORHOODS KEEPS
MINUTES OF THE COMMISSION. THEY ARE NOT ALWAYS PRESENTED IN A
TIMELY FASHION. THE DEPARTMENT OF NEIGHBORHOODS THAT'S
NOMINEES AND FORWARDS THEIR NAMES TO THE MAYOR. ALTHOUGH IN THE
TIMES I SERVED ON THE COMMISSION, THE COMMISSION WAS RARELY AT FULL STRENGTH.
THERE ARE NOW SEVEN MEMBERS ON WHAT SHOULD BE
A 12 MEMBER BOARD. ONE SEAT IN PARTICULAR HAS BEEN VACANT FOR
SIX YEARS. THE DEPARTMENT OF NEIGHBORHOODS
FACILITATES FORMALIZING CHANGES TO THE GUIDELINES WHEN THE COMMISSION
WANTS TO MAKE THOSE CHANGES.
HOWEVER, THE CURRENT --THE CHANGES MOST CURRENTLY RECOMMENDED
BY THE COMMISSION HAVE BEEN STUCK IN THE DEPARTMENT
OF NEIGHBORHOODS FOR FOUR YEARS AND THE RECENT CHANGES,
WHICH HAVE BEEN WRITTEN AND APPROVED BY THE COMMISSION, INCLUDE A STATEMENT
OF COMMITMENT TO RACIAL EQUITY THE CITY COUNCIL REQUIRED
THE COMMISSION ADD TO ITS GUIDELINES IN 2015. THERE IS NO DOUBT
THAT COVID EXACERBATED THESE PROBLEMS, BUT THEY PREDATED COVID. MAY I
RESPECTFULLY SUGGEST THAT A BETTER USE OF TIME IS THE
IMPROVEMENT WITH THE RESPONSIBILITY THAT IT ALREADY HAS, RATHER THAN INSERTING
DECISION-MAKING AUTHORITY THE VOTERS OF SEATTLE GRANTED TO
THE COMMISSION WHEN THEY VOTED TO SAVE THE MARKET
IN 1971. PLEASE AMEND THIS BILL TO REMOVE
SECTION 8. THANK YOU VERY MUCH.
>> THANK YOU. GRACE LONG, FOLLOWED BY GILLIAN SHERMAN AND CYNTHIA MOUNCE.
>> THANK YOU, COUNCIL MEMBERS. I AM A COMMUNITY MEMBER,
A MEMBER OF THE MARKET HISTORIC COMMISSION
AND AN ARCHITECT. I DO NOT HAVE PREPARED COMMENTS, BUT I WANT TO NOTE
THAT THERE ARE MANY PEOPLE FROM THE COMMUNITY AT THIS MEETING WHO HAVE
TAKEN TIME OUT OF THEIR DAYS WHO ARE NOT WORKING
RIGHT NOW AND REALLY FEEL THAT THIS IS AN IMPORTANT
ISSUE. I URGE YOU TO CONSIDER THIS AMENDMENT AS DESCRIBED
BY MY FELLOW COMMISSIONERS THANK YOU.
>> GILLIAN SHERMAN FOLLOWED BY
CINDY MOUNCE AND THEN
ELAINE, THEN JOHN CHANEY.
>> GOOD MORNING,
MY NAME IS LILLIAN SHERMAN, THE EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR OF THE PIKE PLACE MARKET FOUNDATION.
40 YEARS AGO THE FOUNDATION WAS ESTABLISHED TO FULFILL THE MARKETS HISTORIC CHARTER
TO PRESERVE AND ENHANCE THE TRADITIONS AND DIVERSITY
OF THE PIKE PLACE MARKET COMMUNITY.
WE TAKE OUR PURPOSE OF NURTURING THIS VIBRANT, ONE-OF-A-KIND COMMUNITY
VERY SERIOUSLY. SUPPORTING NEIGHBORS WHO PARTICIPATE IN
SOCIAL SERVICE PROGRAMS, THE FARMERS, THE MERCHANTS, ARTISTS,
RESIDENTS, AND FAMILIES WHO MAKE UP THE MARKET, THE SOUL OF SEATTLE.
WORKING IN THIS COMMUNITY TAKES DILIGENT COMMITMENT
TO COLLABORATION AND COMMUNICATION.
A SILENT COMMUNITY IS NOT EVER WHAT THIS MARKET
HAS BEEN.
AND AS THE COMMUNITIES FOUNDATION, IT
IS OUR JOB TO ELEVATE AND AMPLIFY THIS VERY ACTIVE COMMUNITY VOICE.
THIS COUNCIL BILL DISCARDS THE DEEPLY HELD
VALUE OF ACTIVE COMMUNITY PARTICIPATION AND I STRONGLY
URGE YOU, THE COUNCIL, TO LISTEN TO WHAT
THE COMMUNITY IS TELLING YOU LOUD AND CLEAR AND ALLOW THEIR VOICE TO
CONTINUE TO BE HEARD.
THANK YOU.
>> CINDY MOUNCE, FOLLOWED BY JOHN CHANEY
AND THEN ELAINE SPENCER.
>> HI, I AM CINDY MOUNCE AND I JUST
WANT TO BACKUP ALL OF MY COLLEAGUES AND PEERS
HERE AND LET YOU KNOW THAT
WE HAVE THIS COVERED. AND I KNOW THAT YOU GUYS HAVE YOUR HANDS
FULL, TOO. I AM FRIENDS WITH THE MARKET AND BEYOND THAT I AM FAMILY WITH THE MARKET.
WE REALLY WOULD LIKE TO KEEP THIS
IN OUR HANDS AND WE APPRECIATE YOUR SUPPORT. THANK YOU.
>> JOHN CHANEY, FOLLOWED BY ELAINE SPENCER AND
MAGGIE HAYNES.
>> 50 YEARS AGO THE PEOPLE OF SEATTLE GOT ORGANIZED UNDER THE LEADERSHIP
TO SAVE THE PIKE PLACE MARKET FROM GENTRIFICATION.
THE PIKE PLACE MARKET IS A SEATTLE TREASURE.
IT IS FOR EVERYONE, THE SENIOR CITIZEN LIVING ON
A PENSION, TO A THRIFT SHOP STORE. A MATRON LIVING
IN THE HIGHLANDS MIGHT GO THERE
TO BUY 20 ARTICHOKES FOR HER DINNER PARTY.
THE GOOD THING ABOUT THE PIKE PLACE MARKET IS THAT IT IS FOR EVERYONE
AND WE NEED TO KEEP IT THAT WAY.
THE MARKET IS THE SOUL OF SEATTLE TO ENSURE THAT THE MARKET
STAYS THAT WAY. WE NEED CAREFUL PLANNING AND LONG-TERM PLANNING.
THE PIKE PLACE MARKET HISTORICAL COMMISSION MUST BE PART
OF THIS AND MUST APPROVE A DECISION BEING CONSIDERED. WITHOUT THIS,
I FEAR THE MARKET WILL BE LOST.
WE NEED OUR CITY COUNCIL TO BE FAIR AND INCLUSIVE OF SEATTLE RESIDENTS.
NO SECRET MEETINGS. THIS NEEDS TO BE
OPEN TO ALL OF US.
IT IS NOT A SECRET THAT A LOT OF PEOPLE FEEL THAT THREE QUARTERS
OF THE CITY COUNCIL ARE NOT DOING A GOOD JOB. PROVE TO THEM
THEY ARE WRONG.
MAY HAVE THIS MARKET HISTORICAL COMMISSION APPROVAL? THANK YOU.
>> MY NAME IS JOHN CHANEY AND I WILL PROBABLY
SKIP DEFERENCE TO AGE, EVEN THOUGH I AM GETTING THERE. I WAS, FOR 10
YEARS, ADMINISTRATOR OF THE HISTORIC DISTRICTS IN THE SEATTLE OF SEATTLE
AND ANOTHER 15 YEARS --I BELIEVE THAT LOOKING AT
THIS LEGISLATION THAT IT HAS NOT ACHIEVED
THE REQUIRED TRANSPARENCY THAT IS NEEDED FOR THE DECISION-MAKING
THAT WOULD BE GIVEN TO THE DEPARTMENT OF NEIGHBORHOODS.
THE EASIEST THING THAT YOU COULD DO IS TO DO NOTHING,
BECAUSE THE CURRENT PROCESS WOULD JUST
EXPIRE, BECAUSE IT WAS UNDER COVID, WHICH HOPEFULLY WE ARE MOVING OUT
OF. HOWEVER, IF YOU CHOOSE TO MOVE FORWARD, I THINK
THAT THE ISSUE OF TRANSPARENCY NEEDS TO BE
THOROUGHLY ADDRESSED AND IS NOT IN THIS BILL. TWO AREAS ARE
REALLY IMPORTANT. ONE IS THE CHANGES TO RIGHT AWAY.
THE BIGGEST PROPERTY OWNER IN THE HISTORIC DISTRICT IS
THE SEA OF --THE CITY
OF SEATTLE. LAND, STREETS, PARKS.
ALL OF A SUDDEN WE HAVE MOVED DECISION-MAKING AWAY
FROM THE VOLUNTEER BOARD FOLKS WITHIN THE CITY FAMILY. I THINK THAT IS
A MISTAKE. THE SECOND ONE IS THE ISSUE OF SEISMIC,
WHICH IS NOT PART OF THE CURRENT COVID REGULATIONS.
SEISMIC CAN MAKE HUGE IMPACTS ON HISTORIC BUILDINGS AND THEREFORE NEEDS TO BE CAREFULLY CONSIDERED
AND HOW IT IS INCLUDED IN THE ORDINANCE TODAY
MAKES NO ALLOWANCE FOR HISTORIC FABRIC. THANK YOU.
>> THANK YOU. ELAINE SPENCER, MAGGIE HAYNES AND THEN JOHNNY --
>> MY NAME IS ELAINE SPENCER AND I AM
HERE ON BEHALF OF THE FRIENDS OF THE MARKET. WE ASK YOU TO
REMOVE PIKE PLACE MARKET FROM CB 120456 AND LEAVE THE HISTORICAL COMMISSION
WITH THE AUTHORITY IT HAS HAD SINCE 1971.
ASK YOURSELVES, WHY ARE WE EVEN THINKING ABOUT MESSING WITH
SUCCESS? FOR 50 YEARS THE PIKE PLACE MARKET HISTORICAL COMMISSION HAS GUIDED
THE MARKET THROUGH TWO MAJOR STRUCTURAL RENOVATIONS.
THROUGH THE CREATION OF 336 UNITS
OF MOSTLY SUBSIDIZED AND SENIOR HOUSING.
THROUGH THE MARKET FRONT PROJECT AND THROUGH THE
EVOLUTION OF DOZENS OF VENDORS IN THE MARKET, ALL WHILE MAINTAINING
THE ORIGINAL CHARACTER
OF THE MARKET AND ITS STATUS AS THE MOST VISITED ATTRACTION
IN SEATTLE. ALONE IN DOWNTOWN IT EMERGED FROM THE PANDEMIC
ESSENTIALLY UNSCATHED.
IT IS TODAY THE MOST VIBRANT PART OF SEATTLE. YOU MAY ASK,
OUR DECISION --ISSUES SPECIFICALLY SUITED TO STAFF.
IN THE MARKET, THE ANSWER IS NO.
THE MARKET HAS UNDERGONE A SIGNIFICANT SEISMIC RETROFIT AND WHAT WE HAVE
LEARNED, THAT CAN BE EITHER ENORMOUSLY DISRUPTIVE
OR SEAMLESS.
RELEGATING THE COMMISSION TO SIGNAGE, WALL COLORS, APPROVAL OF
NEW VENDORS, WOULD HAVE GUTTED THE HEART
OF THE COMMISSION'S WORK AND PAST PROJECTS AND RISKS
DOING SO AGAIN.
>> MAGGIE HAYNES, FOLLOWED BY
JOHNNY --AND THEN CHRISTOPHER MARTIN.
>> I AM ON THE BOARD OF THE FRIENDS OF
THE MARKET. I REQUEST THAT YOU REMOVE THE
MARKET FROM THE PROPOSED LEGISLATION AS WELL AND I
SUPPORT WHAT MY COLLEAGUES HAVE SAID.
THE MARKET WAS SAVED IN 1971 AND THE HISTORICAL COMMISSION WAS CREATED
AT THAT TIME BY INITIATIVE, BY A VOTE AND BY THE WILL OF THE
PEOPLE OF SEATTLE. IT SEEMS IT WOULD BE EGREGIOUS
TO REMOVE THIS FROM WHAT THE PEOPLE HAVE SAID
AND WHAT THEY WISH TO CONTINUE. THANK YOU.
>> THANK YOU.
JOHNNY --
>> MY NAME IS JOHNNY HAWN AND I HAVE BEEN
A MARKET STREET PERFORMER FOR 36 YEARS.
CONCERNING COUNCIL BILL 120456, I HAVE TO ASK,
WHY ARE WE EVEN HERE TODAY?
WHAT IS THE CONSTITUENCY THAT WILL BENEFIT FROM
THIS LEGISLATION THAT WILL STRIP THE COMMISSION OF ITS ROLE
IN PRESERVING THE MARKETS CHARACTER?
IT WOULD NOT INCLUDE ANY OF US WHO LIVE OR
WORK IN THE MARKET OR HAVE GROWN TO LOVE THE MARKET OVER THE YEARS.
WHAT COULD HAVE POSSIBLY PROMPTED SEATTLE CITY OFFICIALS TO EVEN CONSIDER SUCH
A POWER PLAY? IS THERE AN EMERGENCY IN THE FUNCTION OF THE HISTORIC COMMISSION
THAT NONE OF US KNOW ABOUT? I DON'T THINK SO. MORE TO
THE POINT THERE HAVE ALWAYS BEEN AND WILL ALWAYS BE INDIVIDUALS, MAYORS
OR GOVERNMENT OFFICIALS DRIVEN BY THE NEED TO CARVE OUT FIEFDOMS
FOR NO REASON OTHER THAN SATISFYING THE NEED TO CONTROL.
I HAVE NO DOUBT, WERE HE STILL ALIVE, WHERE
VICTOR STEINBERG WOULD STAND ON THIS ISSUE.
IT IS ALL ABOUT PRESERVING THE MARKET FOR THE COMMON GOOD OF
THE REGION, FOR THE LIVING AND FUTURE SITUATIONS
AND IT IS CITIZEN PARTICIPATION AND OVERSIGHT. HE WAS AN EXEMPLAR
OF SMALL D DEMOCRACY AND WE CAN DO NO LESS THAN TO FOLLOW IN
HIS FOOTSTEPS AND CONTINUE TO STAND UP FOR PRESERVING THE MARKET
CHARACTER AND WE DO SO IN BROAD DAYLIGHT. I CALL ON THE CITY
COUNCIL TO REJECT THIS ATTEMPT AT CODIFYING
THE DECISION-MAKING PROCESS FOR THE MARKETS FUTURE. LET THE HISTORIC COMMISSION
WITH NO FANFARE CONTINUED TO EFFECTIVELY,
COHERENTLY, AND SENSIBLY CARRY ON ITS MISSION.
>> CHRISTOPHER MARTIN. >> MY NAME IS CHRISTOPHER MARTIN
AND I LIVE AT THE LA SALLE APARTMENTS IN THE
PIKE PLACE MARKET. I AM HERE TO ADD MY VOICE IN FAVOR OF ALLOWING DISABLED
RESIDENTS AND THE VISITORS OF THE MARKET TO
PROVIDE INPUT TO THE 88 UPGRADES AT THE
PUBLIC MEETING FOR THE MARKET HISTORICAL COMMISSION TO HELP MAKE THE AREA MORE INCLUSIVE
AND EQUITABLE FOR EVERYONE. THANK YOU FOR YOUR TIME.
>> OKAY, SORRY, I AM LOSING TRACK OF WHERE
WE ARE. DUNCAN, FOLLOWED BY SARAH PATTON.
AND EV --
>> THANK YOU FOR THE TIME TO SPEAK TODAY.
I SERVE ON THE BOARD OF THE FRIENDS
OF THE MARKET. WITH MY FIRM, SRT PARTNERSHIP, I WAS HONORED
TO BE THE ARCHITECT IN CHARGE OF THE RENOVATIONS OF THE MARKET THAT WERE
APPROVED BY THE VOTERS IN 2008. WITH THAT BILL,
THAT PROPOSITION, THE CITY OF SEATTLE ENTRUSTED HER TEAM
AT $73 MILLION TO IMPROVE AND MODERNIZE THE INFRASTRUCTURE
OF THE MARKET, DO SEISMIC UPGRADES TO THE CORE BUILDINGS, AND
IMPROVE ACCESSIBILITY. ALL OF THESE MATTERS ARE NOW OPPOSED ONLY
FOR ADMINISTRATIVE REVIEW. I THINK EVERYONE WOULD AGREE THAT OUR PROJECT
DESERVES TO BE IN THE FULL LIGHT OF DAY AND I BELIEVE THE HISTORICAL COMMISSION
NEEDS TO RETAIN THAT POWER. THROUGH ALMOST FIVE YEARS
-- AND THEIR INPUT LED TO THE SUCCESS
OF OUR PROGRAM.
THE BRIEFING FOR THE BILL SUGGESTS THAT ADMINISTRATIVE APPROVAL WILL
ONLY BE FOR MINOR MANNERS.
I HAVE NO IDEA WHAT A MINOR SEISMIC IMPROVEMENT WHAT BUILDING
WOULD BE. THAT SORT OF WORK ALWAYS INVOLVES TEARING UP THE STRUCTURE, DIGGING
UP THE FOUNDATIONS. HEAVILY INVASIVE WORK. THE HISTORICAL COMMISSION HAS
DONE A BRILLIANT JOB FOR 51 YEARS, ALMOST
AS LONG AS I HAVE BEEN ALIVE. LET THEM KEEP DOING THE
JOB.
THANK YOU VERY MUCH.
>> SARAH PATTON FOLLOWED BY --
>> THANK YOU VERY MUCH. MY NAME IS SARAH
PATTON. I STARTED AS A VOLUNTEER FOR FRIENDS
OF THE MARKET WHEN I WAS 15 YEARS OLD, IN 1964.
MANY YEARS LATER I SERVED ON THE HISTORICAL COMMISSION FOR MOST OF
A DECADE AND CHAIRED THE COMMISSION DURING THE SEISMIC RETROFITS
IN 2013.
I AM HERE TODAY TO URGE YOU TO TAKE THE MARKET
OUT OF COUNCIL BILL 12456. THE COUNCIL BILL WOULD
ALLOW CITY STAFF TO MAKE DECISIONS ON APPLICATIONS IN NUMEROUS CATEGORIES
BEHIND CLOSED DOORS. THESE CATEGORIES
MAY APPEAR ON THE SURFACE TO BE MINOR, BUT YOU HAVE HEARD HOW SUCH APPARENTLY
MINOR CHANGES CAN BE CRUCIAL TO THE PRESERVATION OF
THE MARKET.
IF THESE DECISIONS ARE MADE BEHIND CLOSED DOORS,
NO ONE WILL BE ABLE TO CHALLENGE THEM.
THE MARKET HISTORICAL COMMISSION GUIDELINES PROHIBIT
FRANCHISES AND CHAINS IN THE MARKET, UNLESS OF COURSE THE CHAIN ORIGINATED
WITH THE MARKET, HENCE STARBUCKS.
BUT THE COMMISSION IS RESPONSIBLE FOR KEEPING OUT CHAINS, SO NO BURGER
KING IN THE MARKET. SAYING NO TO A BIG BUSINESS
IS A SERIOUS RESPONSIBILITY. THE MARKET HISTORICAL COMMISSION HAS HANDLED
THAT RESPONSIBILITY EFFICIENTLY, EFFECTIVELY,
AND PUBLICLY FOR MORE THAN 50 YEARS.
PLEASE TAKE THE MARKET OUT OF THIS COUNCIL BILL. THANK YOU VERY MUCH.
>> PLEASE GO AHEAD.
>> HI, I AM PRESIDENT OF FRANCE OF THE
MARKET. I WOULD LIKE TO GIVE AN OVERVIEW OF THE FRIENDS VIEW ON COUNCIL BILL
120456. THIS BILL AFFECTS THE AUTHORITY OF
PIKE PLACE MARKET HISTORICAL COMMISSION
AND TRANSFERS THE AUTHORITY ON CERTAIN MATTERS TO THE DEPARTMENT
OF NEIGHBORHOODS. I WANT TO TALK ABOUT THE COMMISSION,
WHERE IT CAME FROM, WHY IT WORKS WELL AND WHY
IT SHOULD CONTINUE TO HAVE REGULATORY AUTHORITY IN THE MARKET. THE MARKET
HISTORICAL COMMISSION WAS ESTABLISHED BY THE CITIZENS INITIATIVE
THAT ESTABLISHED THE DISTRICT IN 1971.
IT WAS DESIGNED AS A WAY TO ESTABLISH DEMOCRATIC COMMUNITY
CONTROL AT THE MARKET.
THE MARKET REGULATES, MAKES BINDING REGULATIONS
ON CHANGES IN DESIGN AND USE IN THE MARKET. IT DOES ITS WORK IN PUBLIC.
MEMBERS ARE APPOINTED BY THE MAYOR FROM PEOPLE WHO HAVE
A DEMONSTRATED SYMPATHY WITH THE PURPOSES
OF THE HISTORIC DISTRICT. THE VARIOUS INTERESTS AND EXPERIENCE OF
COMMISSION VOLUNTEERS HAVE ENABLED THE COMMISSION TO BE SUCCESSFUL IN
REGULATING CHANGES DURING TWO LARGE-SCALE INNOVATIONS
IN THE MARKET. FIRST IN THE 1970S AND
80s AND LATER IN 2008 TO 2010. THE COMMISSION'S
WORK HAS KEPT THE MARKET MAINTAINING
ITS CHARACTER AS A PLACE WHERE YOU CAN STILL MEET THE PRODUCER.
WITH THE NECESSARY ROBUST STAFF SUPPORT FROM THE DEPARTMENT OF NEIGHBORHOODS
HISTORIC PRESERVATION PROGRAM, THE COMMISSION CAN CONTINUE
TO BE A SUCCESS AT DOING ITS JOB. PLEASE AMEND
COUNCIL BILL 120456 TO REMOVE SECTION 8
WHICH REDUCES THE AUTHORITY OF THE PIKE PLACE MARKET HISTORICAL
COMMISSION. THANK YOU.
>> SAM VERRAZZANO. YOU ARE DONE? OKAY.
SO, THAT IS ONE SHEET DOWN. OKAY, THE NEXT THREE SPEAKERS ARE
LARRY EATON --IT MIGHT BE CARLTON.
ARE ANY OF THOSE PEOPLE HERE? OKAY.
>> THAT WOULD BE LARRY BARTON.
>> ORTON, I APOLOGIZE.
>> THE MISSION OF THE COMMUNITY DEVELOPMENT
IS ADVISING THE MAYOR, THE CITY COUNCIL, THE
DEPARTMENT OF NEIGHBORHOODS ON EQUITABLE AND PUBLIC ENGAGEMENT WITH STRATEGIES
FOCUSED ON UNDERREPRESENTED COMMUNITIES.
THE VISION OF THE COMMUNITY INVOLVEMENT COMMISSION
IS TO GIVE SEATTLE COMMUNITIES, ESPECIALLY HISTORICALLY UNDERREPRESENTED COMMUNITIES,
A TRUSTED VOICE IN THE CITY OF SEATTLE.
CLEARLY THE MARKET DOES NOT FIT THESE PARAMETERS.
THE PROPOSAL TO INCLUDE THE MARKET HISTORICAL DISTRICT
IN COUNCIL BILL 120456 ADDS ANOTHER LEVEL OF REVIEW INVOLVING CITY STAFF
INJECTED IN THE PROCESS. CURRENTLY THE HISTORICAL
COMMISSION WORKS IN TANDEM TO REVIEW PROPOSALS AND REQUEST ADDITIONS AND CHANGES
AND PROVIDE FEEDBACK ON CITY DEVELOPMENTS.
CREATING A REDUNDANT SAN INFRASTRUCTURE WITH
ADDED CITY INVOLVEMENT WOULD DILUTE THE
STREAMLINED PROCESS FOR THE CURRENT MANAGEMENT OF THE
STRUCTURE WITH ADDITIONAL COST AND DELAYS WITHOUT
BENEFIT. BASICALLY IF IT AIN'T BROKE, DON'T FIX IT, APPLIES.
IMPORTANTLY IT HAS STEERED CLEAR OF POTENTIAL POLITICAL INTERFERENCE.
AS IT IS CURRENTLY ORGANIZED.
SAVE THE MARKET INITIATIVES. THANK YOU.
>> THANK YOU.
--
>> HI, MY NAME IS NICK SATIN, I AM AN ADVOCATE, STORYTELLER
AND RESIDENT IN THE PIKE PLACE MARKET. I WORK FOR THE PIKE PLACE
MARKET FOUNDATION AND I SERVE ON THE COUNCIL. THESE
OPINIONS ARE MY OWN. FOR OVER 50 YEARS CITIZEN VOLUNTEERS HAVE
MITIGATED CHANGES IN THE PIKE PLACE MARKET HISTORICAL
DISTRICT. THE COUNCIL BILL FLIES IN THE FACE OF THIS
TRADITION OF PUBLIC ACCOUNTABILITY WITH THE MARKET
HISTORIC COMMISSION AND WOULD REMOVE A KEY LAYER OF CITIZEN OVERSIGHT AND
GOVERNANCE FROM A NEIGHBORHOOD CHARACTERIZED, BY AMONG OTHER THINGS, AS YOU HAVE
SEEN TODAY, A UNIQUE ENVIRONMENT AND SELF-DETERMINATION ON
CITIZEN GOVERNMENTS AND SMALL D DEMOCRACY.
DO NOT REMOVE THIS UNDER THE AUSPICES OF
SAVING TIME. I'VE GOT MORE. AND MULTIPLE MARKET HISTORICAL COMMISSION
MEETINGS THIS YEAR, MANY MEMBERS OF
THE COMMISSION PAST AND PRESENT HAVE EXPRESSED A DESIRE TO CONTINUE TO
PROVIDE CLEAR PUBLIC OVERSIGHT AND PRESERVING
THE CHARACTER OF THE MARKET INCLUDING INFRASTRUCTURE
AND ACCESSIBILITY IMPROVEMENTS AND HAVE MADE IT VERY CLEAR THEY
DO NOT WANT THEIR AUTHORITY ERODED BY
A RUBBER STAMP BEHIND A CLOSED DOOR.
MY MESSAGE IS SIMPLE.
LISTEN TO THE PEOPLE OF THE MARKET. LISTEN TO THE COMMUNITY
AND MAKE THE RIGHT DECISION FOR THIS VIBRANT
AND ENGAGED GROUP OF PEOPLE AND REMOVE SECTION
8 INVOLVING THE PIKE PLACE MARKET HISTORICAL COMMISSION FROM COUNCIL
BILL 120456. THANK YOU.
>> BROOKS -- FOLLOWED BY SKIP KNOX.
>> MY NAME IS BROOKS GOLD, I AM A MEMBER OF THE EXECUTIVE
COMMITTEE OF THE ALLIED ARTS COALITION. I ALSO SIT ON THE DESIGN
REVIEW COMMUNITY. OUR PARENT ORGANIZATION,
ALLIED ARTS, WAS RIGHT THERE AT THE BEGINNING OF THE FIGHT TO SAVE
THE MARKET, SO I SUPPORT ALL OF THE COMMENTS I HAVE
HEARD THIS MORNING AND WE VERY MUCH BELIEVE IN THOSE.
I THINK THEY HAVE BEEN STATED VERY WELL.
I WILL ALSO SAY THAT I REPRESENT THE OPINION OF
FORMER CITY COUNCILMEMBER --I WANT TO FINISH BY SAYING THAT THE
OTHER NAME FOR PIKE PLACE MARKET IS THE PUBLIC MARKET. I THINK THAT REALLY
SAYS IT ALL. IT IS ALL ABOUT PUBLIC INVOLVEMENT
TO ENJOY THE FRUITS OF THE MARKET. TO WORK THERE, TO BE
A CITIZEN WHO IS INVOLVED IN THE MARKET ON A
DAILY BASIS. AS SO MANY OF US ARE.
I KNOW FROM PERSONAL EXPERIENCE HOW IMPORTANT SEISMIC UPGRADES CAN BE
AS A DESIGN FEATURE.
THEY CAN MAKE OR BREAK A HISTORIC BUILDING, AS I ONCE HAD
AN OFFICE IN A HISTORIC BUILDING THAT HAD A SEISMIC UPGRADE. SO THANK
YOU VERY MUCH. I APPRECIATE THE OPPORTUNITY.
>> SKIP KNOX FOLLOWED BY JOHN BRINK AND CARLA BECKER. SKIP.
>> GOOD MORNING, COUNCILMEMBERS AND I HOPE
THE MAYOR IS LISTENING TO OUR COMMENTARY THIS MORNING. I AM GOING TO CLAIM
SENIORITY WITH THE SPIRITUAL CONNECTION TO THE
MARKET. MY MOTHER TOLD ME STORIES --
I SHOULD NOT HAVE SAID THAT WORD.
PARDON ME.
I WAS RAISED AT THE END OF A DIRT ROAD IN OLYMPIA AND MY MOTHER TOLD
ME STORIES ABOUT GOING TO THE MARKET WITH
HER GRANDMOTHER TO BUY GROCERIES EVERY SATURDAY MORNING. SO WHEN I CAME TO
SEATTLE HAD TO GO TO THE MARKET AND IT HAS BEEN
ASSOCIATED EVER SINCE. OTHER SPEAKERS, ELOQUENT AS THEY HAVE BEEN, DON'T
NEED ME TO AUGMENT WHAT THEY HAVE SAID ABOUT THIS PIECE OF LEGISLATION.
IT STINKS. I AM NOT SO CHARITABLE AS THEY HAVE BEEN
IN REGARD TO THE DEPARTMENT OF NEIGHBORHOODS AND THIS PIECE OF LEGISLATION.
THEY HAVE OBSTRUCTED THE HISTORIC COMMISSION.
THEY STALLED APPOINTMENTS TO THE MAYOR'S OFFICE
AND HAVE RUN AT HALF STAFF FOR TOO LONG. SO SIX MEMBERS ARE
DOING THE WORK OF 12.
THEY HAVE BEEN DISRESPECTFUL AND THAT IS THE BEST I CAN SAY ABOUT THE DEPARTMENT
OF NEIGHBORHOODS. THEY HAVE ALSO BEEN DECEITFUL. WHEN ASKED
IF THEY HAD LEGISLATION DRAFTED, THE ANSWER WAS NO.
HAD IT GONE TO THE LAW DEPARTMENT?
NO. HAD IT COME BACK FROM THE LAW DEPARTMENT. NO.
HAD IT GONE TO THE MAYOR'S OFFICE?
NO. YET YOU ALL KNOW WHAT A PIPELINE MEMO IS AND IT SHOWS CLEARLY THAT
THE LEGISLATION WAS EXISTING AND WAS NOT GIVEN
TO ME AS A PUBLIC DISCLOSURE REQUEST.
THIS DEPARTMENT SHOULD BE CUT OFF, GET A HAIRCUT, FRANKLY, FROM
PIKE PLACE MARKET HISTORICAL COMMISSION.
THANK YOU.
>> JOHN BRINK'S FOLLOWED BY CARLA BECKER.
>> HELLO, MY NAME IS JOHN BRINK. I OPERATE A
TOUR OF BUSINESS IN THE MARKET. I HAVE BEEN IN THE MARKET
SINCE 1989.
I HAVE DONE A LOT OF THINGS IN THE MARKET, AS YOU
CAN SEE. OUR WHOLE COMMUNITY IS HERE.
I HOPE THE COUNCIL AND MAYOR CAN SEE THAT. EVERY CORNER OF THE MARKET IS
HERE BECAUSE WE ARE VERY CONCERNED ABOUT CHANGES
TO THIS DELICATE ECOSYSTEM. CERTAIN CHANGES CAN RUIN IT. IT IS LIKE A
CORAL REEF.
WE ARE REALLY CONCERNED AND WE DON'T
NEED PEOPLE OUTSIDE THE MARKET TO COME IN AND MAKE
CLOSED-DOOR DECISIONS ON OUR BEHALF.
WE ARE GOOD GARDENERS OF THE MARKET.
I THINK WE ARE DOING A GOOD JOB FOR THE PAST 50 YEARS AND THIS IS
A TOTALLY UNNECESSARY STEP. A BIG OVERREACH. THE PANDEMIC IS OVER
AND I THINK THE MARKET HAS BEEN HERE BEFORE US AND WILL HOPEFULLY EXIST
AFTER US.
IT IS ONE OF THE MAGNIFICENT SEVEN MARKETS ON THE PLANET. WE WANT
TO KEEP IT THIS WAY. THE PUBLIC MARKET IS UNIQUE TO SEATTLE
AND WE WANT TO MAINTAIN ITS CHARACTER.
I AGREE WITH EVERYONE ELSE. ONE AFTER THE OTHER SAID THE
SAME THINGS, SO I AGREE. MAKE SURE THE
HISTORIC COMMISSION MAINTAINS ITS OVERSIGHT, PLEASE.
THANK YOU VERY MUCH.
>> CARLA BECKER FOLLOWED BY --SORRY. CARLA BECKER, CATHERINE HENNE
AND KURT -- IS CARLA BECKER HERE? NO? OKAY,
CATHERINE -- PLEASE GO
AHEAD, CATHERINE.
>> HI THERE, LET ME TALK AS FAST AS I CAN.
MY NAME IS KATHY.
I AM AN ARTIST AND AND COMMUNITY ADVOCATE AND A PIKE PLACE MARKET GROUPIE. ACCORDING
TO A LOT OF THE FOUNDATION,
PIKE PLACE MARKET HAS BEEN A DEFINING SEATTLE ICON FOR MORE THAN A CENTURY.
IT IS THE SOUL OF SEATTLE AND SPANS MORE THAN NINE
BEAUTIFUL ACRES. IT IS A VIBRANT, STRONG,
THRIVING NEIGHBORHOOD. COMPRISED OF SHOPS
AND NEIGHBORHOODS. 70 FARMERS.
450 RESIDENTS.
PRESCHOOL, MEDICAL CLINIC, FOOD BANK. AND SO MUCH MORE.
INTERNATIONALLY RECOGNIZED AS A TOP EXAMPLE OF HOW TO CONTRIBUTE.
FREE HEALTHY COMMUNITY THROUGH SUPPORT, ACCESS TO HEALTHCARE, NUTRITIOUS FOOD,
EDUCATION AND CONNECTION.
IT IS CRITICAL TO OUR ABILITY AND WE RESPONDED VERY WELL.
THRIVING BETTER THAN EVER NOW.
OUR COUNTRY HAS SEEN POLITICIANS POWER GRABBING AND USING DISHONESTY.
MANY, MANY DECENTLY HARD-WORKING
PEOPLES. WITH ALL DUE RESPECT TO THIS COUNCIL IN THE CITY OF SEATTLE, I
ASK YOU TO REJECT THIS.
WE WILL HELP YOU
IN ANY WAY WE CAN. THANK YOU VERY MUCH.
>> THANK YOU. OKAY, TWO MORE SPEAKERS. WE HAVE KURT FOLLOWED
BY SHARON AND THAT WILL BE IT. PLEASE GO AHEAD.
>> HELLO, MY NAME IS KURT -- AND AS YOU CAN PROBABLY TELL BY MY
NAME, I AM THE OWNER AND FOUNDER AND ALSO THE OWNER OF
THE BUILDING THAT FEATURES OPERATES IN.
I AM REALLY PROUD TO STAND HERE AND TELL
YOU THAT BEECHER'S IS GOING TO BE CELEBRATING
ITS 20th ANNIVERSARY THIS YEAR AS A CENTERPIECE
OF THE MARKET.
AS A BUSINESS PERSON AND PROPERTY OWNER IN THE MARKET, I
CAN TELL YOU THAT IN THE BEGINNING I FOUND THE MARKET
COMMISSION STRUCTURE SOMEWHAT FRUSTRATING, BECAUSE IT KEPT
ME FROM DOING WHAT I WANTED TO DO.
HOWEVER, OVER THE 20 YEARS WE HAVE BEEN OPERATING,
I HAVE COME TO SEE THE MARKET COMMISSION AND HISTORICAL
COMMISSION AS REALLY GENIUS FOR KEEPING THIS ASSET UNIQUE
ON A WORLDWIDE BASIS. SO I AM IN COMPLETE SUPPORT
OF MAINTAINING THE EXISTING STRUCTURE FOR MANAGING
THE COMMISSION. THE MARKET.
AND I WANT TO SAY, PLEASE DON'T FIX WHAT IS WORKING VERY, VERY WELL.
>> GOOD MORNING.
I AM SHARON SHAW.
I HAVE THE TITLE OF THE MOTHER OF THE MARKET.
MOST OF WHAT YOU SEE HERE TODAY WAS ORGANIZED
IN LESS THAN THREE DAYS, SO IT IS A VERY SMALL EXAMPLE OF WHAT THIS
COMMUNITY CAN DO AND WILL
DO SHOULD THIS RIGHT BE TAKEN AWAY FROM THE HISTORICAL COMMITTEE. NOT
A THREAT, JUST SAYING THAT YOU WILL HEAR FROM US
IF THIS DOES NOT WORK PROPERLY.
THE MARKET HAS AN INCREDIBLE COMMUNITY THAT SUPPORTS
EACH OTHER, THAT TAKES CARE OF EACH OTHER, AND HAS
DONE AN AMAZING JOB OF TAKING CARE OF THIS ENTIRE COMMUNITY DURING
THE PANDEMIC.
IN THAT TIME YOU GAVE THE RIGHT TO MAKE THE DECISIONS FOR THE PIKE PLACE
MARKET TO SOMEBODY WHO KNEW NOTHING ABOUT THE
MARKET. KNEW NOTHING ABOUT THE COMMUNITY.
KNEW NOTHING ABOUT WHAT WE DO.
WE NEED TO BE ABLE TO MAINTAIN THE ABILITY TO HAVE PUBLIC
COMMENT. THAT IS HOW THE MARKET WORKS. THAT IS HOW WE TAKE
CARE OF EACH OTHER AND WE WILL CONTINUE TO TAKE CARE OF EACH
OTHER IN THAT SAME MANNER, SO PLEASE CONSIDER THIS
AS A VERY BAD IDEA, BASICALLY. WE NEED
OUR HISTORICAL COMMISSION TO HAVE --
THAT IS NECESSARY.
THANK YOU.
>> OKAY, SO THIS CONCLUDES THE PUBLIC HEARING PERIOD. WE WILL MOVE INTO DISCUSSION.
I AM GOING TO ASK SARA BELZ AND SARAH SODT FROM
THE DEPARTMENT OF NEIGHBORHOODS. I WANT TO THANK BOTH OF YOU FOR WALKING
US THROUGH THIS
AND I AM GOING TO ALLOW COUNCILMEMBER LEWIS
AS THE COUNCIL MEMBER REPRESENTING THE MARKET TO MAKE A FEW COMMENTS,
BUT I DO WANT TO FIRST ACKNOWLEDGE THAT
WE CLEARLY HAVE PASSIONATE ADVOCATES FOR THE MARKET HERE. WE HAVE A LOT
OF CONCERNS EXPRESSED. I DO WANT TO ASK YOU NOT TO IMPUGN THE MOTIVES
OF OUR CITY STAFF. WE HAVE A LOT OF DEDICATED PUBLIC SERVANTS WHO ARE
HERE TO DO THEIR BEST
FOR COMMUNITY MEMBERS, FOR COMMISSIONS, FOR
ORGANIZATIONS IN THE CITY AND CALLING THEM DECEITFUL
IS REALLY INAPPROPRIATE AND NOT WELCOME IN THIS CHAMBER. SO
I AM GOING TO HAND IT TO COUNCILMEMBER
LEWIS AND THEN I WILL HAND IT TO THE DEPARTMENT OF NEIGHBORHOODS.
>> THANK YOU SO MUCH, COUNCILMEMBER MORALES.
I ACTUALLY HAD A COUPLE OF CLARIFYING QUESTIONS AND IT IS GOOD
WE HAVE THE DEPARTMENT OF NEIGHBORHOODS HERE TO PARTICIPATE IN THAT. AS THE COUNCILMEMBER
WHO REPRESENTS THE MARKET, ANY POLICY THAT HAS A POTENTIAL IMPACT
ON THE MARKET IS SOMETHING THAT MY OFFICE TAKES A GREAT INTEREST
IN. SO THIS MIGHT BE FOR THE DEPARTMENT OF NEIGHBORHOODS OR FOR LISH, BUT
I WANT TO START TALKING ABOUT THE SCOPE OF THE LEGISLATION IN FRONT
OF US, BECAUSE THERE HAS BEEN
SOME CONFLICTING THINGS AND WHAT HAS BEEN REPORTED AND DISCUSSED. THERE
WAS A NOVEMBER 22 EDITORIAL ALLUDING TO THE ROLE
OF THE HISTORIC COMMISSION, PARTICULARLY IN KEEPING
THE CHARACTER AND KEEPING OUT CHAINS.
I THINK THE EXAMPLE GIVEN
AND THAT WAS THAT BURGER KING CAN'T GO IN THE MARKET. THE HISTORIC COMMISSION
HAS BEEN AN EFFECTIVE BARRIER ON THAT. THAT WAS
ALLUDED TO A LITTLE BIT IN PUBLIC COMMENT. I
WANT TO ESTABLISH BEFORE WE GET DEEPER INTO THE DISCUSSION WHAT THE
SCOPE IS OF THE CURRENTLY PROPOSED CHANGES, SO THAT WE LIMIT THE
DISCUSSION TO WHAT THE CHANGES ACTUALLY ARE.
SO WHY DON'T WE START WITH THAT AND THEN I HAVE SOME ADDITIONAL FOLLOW-UP QUESTIONS.
>> SO, THANK YOU, COUNCIL MEMBERS. YES, THAT
WILL BE ADDRESSED IN OUR PRESENTATION.
BUT USE IS NOT A PROPOSED REVIEW,
PROPOSED IN OUR ADMINISTRATIVE REVIEW LEGISLATION
LATER TODAY. SO IF THERE WAS AN APPLICATION FOR A CHAIN IN
THE MARKET, THAT WOULD GO TO THE COMMISSION.
THAT WOULD NOT BE REVIEWED BY STAFF.
DOES THAT CLARIFY?
>> GIVEN THAT ME HAVING THE FLOOR
RIGHT NOW SEEMS TO BE HOLDING US BACK FROM THE DEPARTMENT OF
NEIGHBORHOODS PRESENTATION, WHAT I MIGHT RECOMMEND, MADAM CHAIR, IF THIS
MEETS YOUR APPROVAL, THAT WE HAVE
THE PRESENTATION AND I WOULD LIKE TO
ASK THE CHAIR IF I COULD MAYBE BE RECOGNIZED FIRST AFTER THE PRESENTATION,
BECAUSE IT SEEMS LIKE MY QUESTIONS MIGHT GET
ANSWERED IN THE PRESENTATION.
>> YEAH, LET'S GO AHEAD AND HAVE THE DEPARTMENT PRESENT. I
THINK WE PROBABLY HAVE SIMILAR QUESTIONS, ESPECIALLY GIVEN
SOME OF THE COMMENTS MADE TODAY, SO LET'S
HEAR FROM THE DEPARTMENT OF NEIGHBORHOODS AND THEN WE WILL MOVE TO DISCUSSION.
THANK YOU.
>> AND JUST AS BACKGROUND, WE ARE DEALING WITH
SOME I.T. CHALLENGES THIS MORNING, SO WE ARE GOING TO BE
SHARING HER SCREEN WITH THE PRESENTATION AND THEN
USING THE CAMERA ON MY
COMPUTER TO DISCUSS THE PRESENTATION WITH YOU.
SO, MY NAME IS SARA BELZ AND I AM THE DIRECTOR OF THE
DEPARTMENT OF NEIGHBORHOODS COMMUNITY ASSETS COMMISSION.
>> AND I AM SARAH SODT, THE CITY HISTORIC PRESERVATION OFFICER.
IN THE DEPARTMENT OF NEIGHBORHOODS.
>> AND I THINK WE WILL MOVE
RIGHT INTO THE PRESENTATION, SO HERE TODAY TO DISCUSS COUNCIL
BILL 120456. WHICH WOULD IMPLEMENT SOME ADMINISTRATIVE REVIEW PROCEDURES
FOR THE HISTORIC PRESERVATION PROGRAM.
AS SOME QUICK CONTEXT, BASELINE STUDYING
FOR COUNCILMEMBERS, IN 2022 PIECES OF LEGISLATION PASSED AS PART
OF THE CITY'S RESPONSE TO THE COVID-19 PANDEMIC
THAT PROVIDED THE DEPARTMENT OF NEIGHBORHOODS WITH TEMPORARY AUTHORITY
TO PROCESS CERTAIN TYPES OF MINOR CERTIFICATE OF APPROVAL APPLICATIONS,
ADMINISTRATIVELY. THESE TEMPORARY PROVISIONS
WILL EXPIRE ON DECEMBER 30 OF THIS MONTH, SO WE ARE ADVANCING
THIS LEGISLATION TO ALLOW SOME OF THOSE TEMPORARY PROCEDURES
TO BECOME MORE PERMANENTLY ENSHRINED IN
MUNICIPAL CODE GOING FORWARD. ALSO AS A BIT OF
CONTEXT EVEN PRIOR TO 2020 AND THE PANDEMIC,
THE MUNICIPAL CODE PROVIDED SOME ADMINISTRATIVE REVIEW AUTHORITY
FOR CERTAIN MINOR APPLICATION TYPES THAT WOULD
HAVE OTHERWISE GONE THROUGH THE LANDMARK PRESERVATION BOARD. APPLICATIONS
APPLIED TO LANDMARK SITES, AS WELL AS PROPERTIES WITHIN THE FORT LAWTON
AND SAND POINT DISTRICTS, SO THE CITY DOES HAVE SOME HISTORICAL BACKGROUND
AND EXPERIENCE MANAGING CERTIFICATE OF APPROVAL APPLICATIONS, ADMINISTRATIVELY,
PRIOR TO 2020.
>> SO I AM GOING TO QUICKLY GO OVER SOME EXAMPLES. SO, EXAMPLES OF MINOR
ALTERATIONS THAT ARE CURRENTLY ELIGIBLE UNDER
THE COVID LEGISLATION ARE SIGNAGE, AWNINGS, STOREFRONT
RENOVATIONS AND BUILDING SYSTEMS UPGRADES.
CURRENTLY THE ADMINISTRATIVE REVIEW DOES NOT COVER NEW
CONSTRUCTION, DEMOLITION, AND MAJOR REDEVELOPMENT PROPOSALS.
AND I LIKE TO POINT OUT THAT REGARDLESS
OF WHETHER A COA IS HANDLED ADMINISTRATIVELY OR
REVIEWED BY A BOARD OR COMMISSION, ALL OF THE REQUIREMENTS AND
ADOPTED GUIDELINES ARE ADHERED TO.
COA OR CERTIFICATE OF APPROVAL SUBMITTAL REQUIREMENTS AND
REVIEW TIMELINES ARE THE SAME REGARDLESS OF WHETHER AN APPLICATION IS SUBJECT
TO ADMINISTRATIVE REVIEW OR BOARD/COMMISSION REVIEW. SO I JUST
ALSO WANTED TO POINT OUT
THAT THIS ADMINISTRATIVE REVIEW IS SOMETHING
THAT IS PRETTY STANDARD ACROSS THE UNITED STATES IN
MUNICIPALITIES THAT ARE SIMILARLY SIZED AND URBAN TO US IN THE CITY OF SEATTLE.
SO, THE CITY OF LOS ANGELES, SAN ANTONIO, SAN FRANCISCO,
DENVER, AND NEW YORK CITY ALL HAVE ADMINISTRATIVE REVIEW PROCESSES THAT
ARE CONDUCTED BY STAFF.
SO SOME OF THE BENEFITS THAT WE SEE OF ADMINISTRATIVE REVIEW IS
THAT MINOR CERTIFICATE OF APPROVAL DECISIONS CAN BE MADE
MORE QUICKLY BY STAFF, WITHOUT THE NEED TO SCHEDULE
A PUBLIC MEETING.
AND THEN IT REALLY SIMPLIFIES AND MAKES LESS
EXPENSIVE THE PROCESS FOR APPLICANTS, BECAUSE OF TIME SAVINGS.
THEN THE BOARDS AND COMMISSIONS CAN FOCUS ON THOSE MORE
COMPLEX APPLICATIONS, LIKE THE DEMOLITION APPLICATIONS OR LARGE,
NEW CONSTRUCTION PROJECTS WITHIN HISTORIC DISTRICTS.
>> SO, IN LATE 2021 AFTER THE TEMPORARY COVID PROCEDURES HAD
BEEN IN PLACE FOR ABOUT A YEAR AND A HALF,
ENGAGED A CONSULTANT, BROADVIEW PLANNING, TO COLLECT FEEDBACK ON THE TEMPORARY
ADMINISTRATIVE REVIEW PROCEDURES AND ASKED THEM TO CONNECT WITH BOARD
MEMBERS, APPLICANTS, YOU KNOW, COMMUNITY ORGANIZATIONS, TO GET A REAL SENSE OF WHAT WAS HAPPENING
ON THE GROUND AND HOW PEOPLE WERE RESPONDING TO IT.
SO, BROADVIEW DID A SERIES OF STAKEHOLDER INTERVIEWS, SOME CASE STUDY ANALYSIS AND ALSO CREATED
AN ONLINE COMMUNITY SURVEY AS PART OF THE ENGAGEMENT EFFORTS TO
COLLECT INPUT. WHEN THEY WRAPPED UP THEIR WORK, THERE WERE
SORT OF TWO GENERAL TAKEAWAYS FROM THEIR EFFORTS. THE FIRST WAS THAT
SUPPORT FOR MAKING THE TEMPORARY REVIEW PROCEDURES PERMANENT
WAS GENERALLY STRONG ACROSS THE HISTORIC DISTRICTS AND BOARDS, WITH
THE EXCEPTION OF THE PIKE PLACE MARKET, WHERE THERE
WAS MORE OF A MUTED RESPONSE.
THE OTHER TAKE AWAY WAS THAT MORE CLARITY AND TRANSPARENCY ARE NEEDED
IN TERMS OF BUSINESS PRACTICES FOR ADMINISTRATIVE REVIEW.
THE NEXT SLIDE IS A GRAPHIC CREATED BY
OUR CONSULTANT, SO YOU CAN SORT OF SEE THE OVERALL LEVEL OF SATISFACTION
EXPRESSED BY FOLKS WITH AFFILIATIONS WITH THE VARIOUS HISTORIC BOARDS.
I WILL NOTE THAT AFFILIATION DOES NOT JUST MEAN A BOARD
MEMBER. IT COULD BE AN INDIVIDUAL THAT HAD AN APPLICATION
THAT CAME BEFORE THE BOARD OR A REPRESENTATIVE OF A COMMUNITY ORGANIZATION
WITHIN A HISTORIC DISTRICT. RESPONDENTS WERE ASKED
TO SELECT A BOARD THEY WERE SORT OF MOST CLOSELY ASSOCIATED WITH. YOU WILL
SEE IN THE GRAPHIC THAT THE AVERAGE
RANGE IS FROM 1 TO 5. THOSE WERE THE WEIGHTED CATEGORIES
THAT RESPONDENTS COULD SELECT IN TERMS OF
OVERALL SATISFACTION WITH ONE BEING THE LOWEST AND FIVE BEING THE HIGHEST.
WITH THE EXCEPTION OF PIKE PLACE MARKET,
THE AVERAGE RESPONSES ACROSS THE VARIOUS BOARDS AND DISTRICTS IS GENERALLY
AROUND THE FOUR RANGE AND IT WAS PIKE PLACE THAT
HAD THE LOWER AVERAGE RESPONSE AT 2.6.
SO, TAKING ALL OF THIS INFORMATION INTO ACCOUNT,
WE DRAFTED COUNCIL BILL 120456, WHICH IS BEFORE
YOU TODAY.
THE PROPOSED LEGISLATION WOULD PERMANENTLY CODIFY MANY, THOUGH
NOT ALL OF THE TEMPORARY ADMINISTRATIVE REVIEW
PROVISIONS CURRENTLY IN PLACE FOR HISTORIC PRESERVATION.
WE REALLY TRIED TO TAKE A TAILORED APPROACH
TO ADMINISTRATIVE REVIEW ACROSS THE CITY'S HISTORIC DISTRICTS TO BETTER
REFLECT THEIR UNIQUE CIRCUMSTANCES AND CHARACTER.
ATTACHED TO THE CENTRAL STAFF MEMO,
LISH CREATED A REALLY HELPFUL AND DETAILED GRAPHIC
--IT IS A MATRIX -- THAT SHOWS HOW ADMINISTRATIVE
REVIEW IS APPLIED ACROSS EACH OF THE HISTORIC BOARDS AND DISTRICTS. YOU
WILL SEE, FOR EXAMPLE, WITH THE LANDMARK PRESERVATION BOARD,
INTERNATIONAL SPECIAL REVIEW DISTRICT, THE BOARDS THAT HAVE
MUCH HIGHER LEVEL OF COMFORT WITH ADMINISTRATIVE REVIEW
AND ALSO TEND TO SEE MORE APPLICATIONS AND LARGER SCALE
APPLICATIONS FOR THINGS LIKE RE-DEVELOPMENT AND NEW CONSTRUCTION.
WE ARE PROPOSING A BROADER RANGE OF ADMINISTRATIVE
REVIEW THAT WOULD BE PERMITTED IN THOSE DISTRICTS, IN ORDER TO ALLOW
THE BOARDS TO FOCUS ON THE LARGER AND MORE TIME-CONSUMING APPLICATIONS
THAT COME TO THEIR PLATES.
WHEREAS FOR THE SMALLER BOARDS, LIKE PIKE PLACE MARKET AND BALLARD,
WHERE THEY ARE NOT
SEEING AS MANY OF THOSE LARGER SCALE APPLICATIONS, WE
ARE PROPOSING THAT ONLY A SMALL NUMBER OF APPLICATION TYPES
STILL BE ELIGIBLE FOR ADMINISTRATIVE REVIEW AND WE WANTED TO DIG IN A LITTLE BIT
ON PIKE PLACE, SINCE WE ANTICIPATED THAT IS WHERE THE MAJORITY
OF THE PUBLIC COMMENT WAS GOING TO COME FROM TODAY. SO THE
SLIDE THAT IS UP NOW REALLY JUST PULLS OUT THE SPECIFIC
CODE LANGUAGE THAT WOULD APPLY TO PIKE PLACE
MARKET, WITH REGARD TO ADMINISTRATIVE REVIEW.
SO THERE ARE ONLY FOUR APPLICATION TYPES THAT WE ARE PROPOSING BE SUBJECT
TO ADMINISTRATIVE REVIEW FOR THE PIKE PLACE MARKET HISTORIC DISTRICT GOING
FORWARD. THE FIRST IS APPLICATIONS RELATING TO BASICALLY
BUILDING SYSTEMS. YOU KNOW, CHANGES AND ALTERATIONS OR INSTALLATIONS. SO,
THINGS LIKE MECHANICAL AND ELECTRICAL ELEMENTS, HVAC SYSTEMS, THINGS
LIKE THAT.
SECOND IS IMPROVEMENTS FOR ACCESSIBILITY COMPLIANCE.
SO THESE ARE INCLUDING, BUT I GUESS NOT LIMITED, TO ADA
TYPE ENHANCEMENTS.
INSTALLATION AND ALTERATION OF FIRE AND LIFE
SAFETY EQUIPMENT AND THE FOURTH IS ALTERATIONS OR CHANGES TO SEISMIC IMPROVEMENTS.
OUR INTEREST IS TO TRY TO HAVE
THIS CORE SET OF TECHNICAL APPLICATION TYPES HANDLED CONSISTENTLY
ACROSS THE CITY, BY CITY EMPLOYEES.
OUR THOUGHT BEING THAT THAT CAN PROVIDE
A GREATER SENSE OF PREDICTABILITY AND CONSISTENCY FOR APPLICANTS,
TO HAVE ALL OF THOSE APPLICATIONS HANDLED BY CITY STAFF.
THAT INCLUDES THE HISTORIC PRESERVATION SPECIALISTS AND ALSO STAFF WITHIN SDOT, UTILITIES,
THE FIRE DEPARTMENT, SDCI, THAT THEY WORK WITH
WHEN PROCESSING THESE TECHNICAL TYPES OF
APPLICATIONS. ALL OTHER APPLICATION TYPES, SIGNAGE,
AWNING INSTALLATIONS, USE REVIEW, NEW CONSTRUCTION,
ALL OF THAT STUFF WOULD STILL BE REFERRED TO THE
PIKE PLACE MARKET HISTORICAL COMMISSION FOR FULL BOARD REVIEW.
>> SO I JUST WANTED TO GIVE A COUPLE OF EXAMPLES
OF ADMINISTRATIVE OR ITEMS THAT WOULD BE REVIEWED ADMINISTRATIVELY
AND THEN WOULD NOT. SO THIS FIRST IS A
SIGN APPLICATION THAT WAS REVIEWED ADMINISTRATIVELY AT THE STANDARD BUILDING ON FIRST
AVENUE AND IT WAS FOR NEW BUSINESS SIGNAGE AND IT WAS
A NEW BUSINESS TENANT COMING IN AND THEY APPLIED
FOR SIGNAGE, BASICALLY IN THE SAME LOCATION WHERE THE PREVIOUS TENANT HAD
HAD SIGNAGE. SO IT WAS SWITCHING OUT THE SIGNAGE FOR THE OLD, EXITING
TENANT, WITH THE NEW TENANT. SO YOU WILL SEE
SOME APPLIED VINYL SIGNAGE ON THE TRANSOM WINDOW AND THEN
A BLADE SIGN THAT WAS INSTALLED IN THE SAME LOCATION AS
THE PREVIOUS LINE. SO THEY WERE BASICALLY JUST
SWITCHING OUT SIGN FACES.
THAT WAS REVIEWED ADMINISTRATIVELY AND IS
A PRETTY TYPICAL EXAMPLE.
AND THEN HERE IS AN EXAMPLE OF A
PROJECT THAT WENT TO THE LANDMARK PRESERVATION BOARD FOR REVIEW
AND THIS IS THE PACIFIC TELEPHONE AND TELEGRAPH
GARFIELD EXCHANGE.
AND IT IS
A BUILDING THAT WAS A TELEGRAPH EXCHANGE, BUT HAS
BEEN CONVERTED TO HOUSING AND PART OF
THAT CONVERSION WAS ADDING A PENTHOUSE, SO, SOME ADDITIONAL UNITS
ON THE UPPER LEVEL OF THE BUILDING. AS
WELL AS REPLACING SOME WINDOWS
AND THE ENTRY. SO, THIS WAS REVIEWED AND
APPROVED BY THE LANDMARKS PRESERVATION BOARD AT A PUBLIC MEETING.
SO, ANOTHER THING THAT WE HAVE BEEN THINKING
A LOT ABOUT HIS TRANSPARENCY AND SOME BUSINESS
PRACTICE IMPROVEMENTS THAT WE CAN MAKE, THOUGHTFULLY, AND
NOT IN A RESPONSE TO AN EMERGENCY, LIKE
DURING COVID.
SO, BECAUSE TRANSPARENCY IS DEFINITELY A CONCERN OF OURS AND
WE WANT TO BE ABLE TO EXPAND THAT AND MAKE
THE PROCESSES AS ACCESSIBLE TO FOLKS AS POSSIBLE.
SO, ONE THOUGHT THAT WE HAD WAS PUBLISHING NOTICES OF DECISION
BY EMAIL ON OUR
WEBSITE AND I HAVE ALREADY STARTED TALKING TO I.T. ABOUT HOW WE MIGHT
GO ABOUT DOING THAT. AND
ALSO UPDATING OUR INSTRUCTIONAL MATERIALS FOR APPLICANTS,
WITH MORE CLARITY AROUND WHAT IT MEANS
TO BE ADMINISTRATIVELY REVIEWED
AND WHAT IT MEANS TO HAVE FULL BOARD REVIEW.
AND SOMETHING WE HAVE ALREADY STARTED IS HAVING A STANDING ITEM
ON THE BOARD AND COMMISSION AGENDAS.
ESPECIALLY FOR THOSE BOARDS AND COMMISSIONS THAT HAVE NOT HAD
A HISTORY OF ADMINISTRATIVE REVIEW.
SO THERE IS A STANDING ITEM WHERE THERE ARE REGULAR STAFF REPORTS,
WHERE STAFF REPORTS BACK AS TO WHAT THEY HAVE REVIEWED ADMINISTRATIVELY.
AND THAT IS IT.
ANY QUESTIONS?
>> THANK YOU --I APPRECIATE
THAT LAST SLIDE, BECAUSE THAT WAS ONE OF MY QUESTIONS, WHAT KIND OF
CHANGES ARE BEING CONTEMPLATED TO INCREASE
TRANSPARENCY FOR THE PROCESS, SO PEOPLE ARE MORE AWARE OF
WHAT IS HAPPENING? COUNCILMEMBER LEWIS, I WILL HAND IT BACK TO
YOU. WE PROBABLY HAVE THE SAME QUESTIONS.
PLEASE GO AHEAD.
>> LET'S SEE. WE CAN COMPARE NOTES LATER IF MY
QUESTIONS ARE THE SAME. SO, THANK YOU FOR THAT PRESENTATION. SO,
I DO HAVE MY QUESTIONS SATISFIED AS TO THE SCOPE AND THAT
WAS VERY CLEAR AND I APPRECIATE DEPARTMENT OF NEIGHBORHOODS MAKING THAT
CLEAR. DO YOU KNOW ABOUT WHAT PERCENTAGE OF THE CURRENT
CASELOAD OF THE PIKE PLACE MARKET HISTORIC COMMISSION
THESE CHANGES REPRESENT? IT WOULD BE MAYBE MY FIRST QUESTION.
HOW MUCH OF THEIR WORK IS TAKEN UP WITH THINGS THAT WOULD
FALL WITHIN THESE AREAS FOR ADMINISTRATIVE REVIEW?
>> SO, I DON'T HAVE
THE STATISTICS FOR WHAT THE PROPOSED LEGISLATION,
HOW THAT WOULD IMPACT WHAT GOES TO THE BOARD
OR WHAT IS REVIEWED BY STAFF, BUT I CAN GIVE YOU 2022. SO,
THIS YEAR, UNDER THE COVID LEGISLATION, WENT
TO THE COMMISSION, VERSUS WHAT WAS REVIEWED BY THE STAFF.
FOR THE PIKE PLACE MARKET COMMISSION, I BELIEVE THERE WERE 31 APPLICATIONS
REVIEWED BY THE COMMISSION AT A PUBLIC MEETING
AND THEN FOR APPLICATIONS THAT WERE ADMINISTRATIVELY
REVIEWED BY STAFF FOR THIS YEAR, UNDER THE
COVID RULES.
>> SO IT SOUNDS LIKE IT IS
A FAIRLY --AMOUNT OF ADMINISTRATIVE REVIEWS RELATIVE TO THE TOTAL CASELOAD
OF THE COMMISSION.
>> YES. >> PARTICULARLY GIVEN THAT THE PROPOSED PROVISIONS ARE MORE
LIMITED IN SCOPE THAN THE TEMPORARY PROVISIONS.
>> ONE THING I FEEL LIKE
I SHOULD POINT OUT, TOO, IS THAT IF THERE IS AN APPLICATION
THAT STAFF FEELS DOES NOT MEET THE GUIDELINES OR THE RULES,
THEY WILL FORWARD THAT TO THE COMMISSION.
SO THERE IS THAT FLEXIBILITY, TOO.
>> HAS THERE BEEN, MOVING TO AN ADDITIONAL QUESTION, HAS THERE
BEEN A REQUEST FROM THE HISTORIC COMMISSION AS
AN INSTITUTION TO
HAVE THESE PARTICULAR AREAS CONTINUE TO BE REVIEWED ADMINISTRATIVELY? IS
THIS SOMETHING THEY HAVE ASKED FOR? LIKE, DOES
THIS POSE A BURDEN ON THEIR CURRENT OPERATIONS? IF IT IS FOR APPLICATIONS
--IT DOESN'T REALLY SOUND LIKE AN ESSENTIAL REALLOCATION OF LABOR
FOR THE VIABILITY OF THEIR CASELOAD. SO I JUST WANTED CLARIFICATION
ON IF THEY HAVE WEIGHED IN.
>> THEY HAVE WEIGHED IN AND
I THINK IT IS SAFE TO SAY THEY DID NOT WANT ANY ADMINISTRATIVE REVIEW.
>> RIGHT, SO I GUESS WHERE IT SORT OF COMES DOWN THEN FOR
ME IS IF IT IS A FAIRLY MINIMAL LEVEL OF THINGS THAT WOULD GO TO ADMINISTRATIVE REVIEW
AND THE INSTITUTION IS NOT REQUESTING IT AND THE COMMUNITY IS
CLEARLY NOT REQUESTING IT, THEN THIS WOULD BE AN APPROPRIATE
AREA TO BE CARVED OUT OF THE UNDERLYING LEGISLATION. I THINK DURING
THE PRESENTATION, THE PANEL INDICATED THAT
THERE WAS A MORE MUTED RESPONSE FROM THE PIKE
PLACE MARKET COMMUNITY AND CANVASSING THE HISTORIC DISTRICTS.
I THINK THAT IS A COLOSSAL UNDERSTATEMENT
OF THE CONCERN THAT FOLKS IN THE NEIGHBORHOOD ARE FEELING
AND I AM NOT IMPUGNING ILL INTENT TO THE DEPARTMENT OF NEIGHBORHOODS
ON THIS.
I DO THINK THAT SEEKING AREAS FOR STREAMLINING
ADMINISTRATIVE REVIEW IS A GOOD POLICY AND IT SEEMS LIKE
IN MOST OF THE HISTORIC DISTRICTS WHERE THIS IS BEEN CRAFTED, IT IS
A VIABLE POLICY. BUT THE MARKET IS A VERY
UNIQUE COMMUNITY, AS WE ALL HEARD TODAY AND IT
IS A GREAT PRIVILEGE TO REPRESENT THAT COMMUNITY. WHILE I HAVE A LOT
OF RESPECT FOR THE WORK
THAT WENT INTO CRAFTING THIS, AS A COUNCILMEMBER I AM GUIDED BY WHAT
IS BEING REQUESTED BY CONSTITUENTS
AND NOT NECESSARILY WHAT IS BEING PROMULGATED FROM DEPARTMENTS AS WHERE
I WEIGH IN ON MY PREFERENCES. GIVEN THE CONFIRMATION
THAT THIS IS A SMALL PART OF THE OVERALL CASELOAD
AND THE COMMISSION ITSELF IS NOT REQUESTING THIS CHANGE IN DOESN'T THINK THEY
NEED IT TO OPERATE EFFECTIVELY,
I AM JUST ANNOUNCING RIGHT NOW, TODAY, AND I WANT TO GIVE INSTRUCTION TO
LISH THAT I WILL BE SEEKING AN AMENDMENT
TO CARVE THE MARKET OUT AND I DO THINK THAT
IS THE APPROPRIATE COURSE OF ACTION TO TAKE. IT IS NOT A COMMENT ON THE
DEPARTMENT OF NEIGHBORHOODS, BUT I THINK IT IS SOMETHING AS WE SEE HOW
THIS WORKS IN OTHER HISTORIC DISTRICTS WHERE THE PROPOSAL WILL GO THROUGH
AND WHERE IT IS BEING GRATEFULLY ACCEPTED, THAT THE MARKET COMMUNITY
CAN PERHAPS LOOK AT THE EXAMPLE OF HOW
IT IS APPLIED IN OTHER PLACES AND AT A FUTURE DATE, CONSIDER
EXTENDING THIS PRACTICE TO THEIR WORK. BUT IT DOES NOT SOUND
LIKE THERE WILL BE AN UNDUE BURDEN IN CARVING
THEM OUT AND IT IS NOTABLE THAT IN PUBLIC COMMENT TODAY, WE DID NOT
HEAR FROM ANY OTHER DISTRICT CONCERNED ABOUT THE IMPACT.
WE DID OVERWHELMINGLY HEAR FROM THE PIKE PLACE MARKET COMMUNITY THAT THIS
IS SOMETHING OF GREAT CONCERN AND SOMETHING
THAT THEY WOULD RATHER, AT THIS TIME, NOT HAVE APPLIED TO THE PIKE PLACE
MARKET HISTORIC COMMISSION. SO I DO WANT
TO FLAG THAT FOR THE VIEWING PUBLIC AND
FOR CENTRAL STAFF THAT WHEN THIS COMES UP AGAIN IN THE NEW YEAR, I AM, BASED
ON ANSWERS TO THESE QUESTIONS TODAY, GOING TO SEEK AN AMENDMENT
TO REMOVE THE MARKET FROM THIS LEGISLATION.
SO I DO THINK THE PANEL FOR THEIR ANSWERS
AND ON THE WHOLE, THANK THEM FOR LEGISLATION
THAT DOES SEEM WELL TAILORED TO THE NEEDS OF
OTHER DISTRICTS WHERE IT IS ANTICIPATED TO APPLY.
>> THANK YOU, COUNCILMEMBER LEWIS.
MY QUESTIONS WERE ALONG A SIMILAR VEIN, BUT MAYBE THE FLIPSIDE
OF THE COIN AND I CAN FOLLOW UP LATER, BUT I WOULD BE INTERESTED
TO HAVE A LITTLE BIT MORE INFORMATION ABOUT THE FOUR
ITEMS. STAFF REFERENCED A TABLE THAT LISH CREATED WHICH I WOULD ENCOURAGE
EVERYBODY TO LOOK AT.
IT LISTS THE 28 DIFFERENT CATEGORIES OF POTENTIAL CHANGE, ALONG WITH THE
EIGHT DIFFERENT BOARDS AND COMMISSIONS.
DISTRICTS THAT ARE SUBJECT TO THIS LEGISLATION. SO, OF THE 28,
FOUR WOULD APPLY TO THE MARKET. MECHANICAL, ELECTRICAL,
TELECOM ELEMENTS, FIRE AND SAFETY, AS MENTIONED, ACCESSIBILITY, AND SEISMIC.
WHICH, NOT BEING AN ENGINEER, I WILL SAY
SEEM FAIRLY, YOU KNOW, SEEM LIKE THESE ARE TYPICAL THINGS THAT BUILDINGS
MUST HAVE IN ORDER TO ADDRESS SAFETY IN A BUILDING
AND SAFETY FOR PEOPLE INSIDE THE BUILDING. SO I WOULD JUST LIKE
A LITTLE BIT MORE INFORMATION ABOUT HOW THOSE
RELATE TO THE HISTORIC NATURE OF THE MARKET,
RATHER THAN SIMPLY GETTING THE SAFETY IMPROVEMENTS
NECESSARY FOR THE BUILDING AND MORE QUICKLY, PRESUMABLY, THROUGH
AN ADMINISTRATIVE PROCESS.
SO, MORE DISCUSSION. WE WILL NOT BE VOTING ON THIS BILL TODAY,
SO THERE IS TIME, ESPECIALLY IF COUNCILMEMBER LEWIS WILL BE BRINGING AN AMENDMENT,
FOR US TO CONTINUE DISCUSSING THIS.
COUNCILMEMBER NELSON, THESE GO AHEAD.
>> THANK YOU VERY MUCH. FIRST I WANT TO THANK DEPARTMENT OF NEIGHBORHOODS
FOR STEPPING UP DURING THE PANDEMIC TO
MOVE FORWARD THESE APPLICATIONS AT A TIME WHEN
PUBLIC MEETINGS COULD NOT TAKE PLACE.
SO I REALLY APPRECIATE THAT YOU STEPPED UP DURING THE EMERGENCY. THAT WAS
REALLY IMPORTANT FOR ALL OF THESE DISTRICTS. I REALLY
APPRECIATE, CHAIR, THAT WE ARE NOT MAKING A DECISION
RIGHT NOW, BECAUSE THERE ARE A LOT OF OTHER QUESTIONS I MIGHT HAVE.
JUST BECAUSE SO MANY PEOPLE CAME OUT TODAY,
I DO FEEL COMPELLED TO TELL YOU WHERE MY MIND IS AT AND WHAT WOULD
BE INFLUENCING MY DECISION.
BASICALLY, FIRST OF ALL, THE MAYOR ENDED THE STATE OF EMERGENCY.
I AM, I THINK THAT IT IS GOOD GOVERNANCE TO GO BACK TO
PRE-PANDEMIC POLICY MAKING BECAUSE OF THE END OF THE EMERGENCY.
THAT IS SORT OF MY PERSPECTIVE ACROSS THE BOARD ON ALL OF
THE PANDEMIC ERA
LEGISLATION THAT CHANGED PROCESSES. SO, SECOND OF ALL, THIS IS ALWAYS MY FALLBACK.
IF IT AIN'T BROKE, DON'T FIX IT. OTHER PEOPLE HAVE SAID THIS
AND IT IS CLEAR THAT THE CAPABILITIES REPRESENTED
IN THIS ROOM FOR MAKING SURE THE
MARKET IS SEISMICALLY SOUND AND THE OTHER
TECHNICAL CHANGES THAT THIS WOULD INFLUENCE HAVE BEEN HANDLED VERY
ABLY BY THE PEOPLE IN THIS ROOM AND IN THE COMMUNITY. FINALLY, MOST
IMPORTANT TO MY DECISION IS BASICALLY WHAT CONSTITUENTS WANT
AND SOMETIMES THAT IS HARD TO GET AT. BECAUSE
WHO CAN COME TO A MEETING AND WHO IS REALLY
PAYING ATTENTION? IN THIS CASE IT IS CLEAR THAT THERE IS UNANIMOUS SUPPORT
FOR MOVING THIS
--SO THAT IS WHAT IS INFLUENCING MY DECISION AND I APPRECIATE THE
COUNCILMEMBER LEWIS HAS SIGNALED HE IS PUTTING FORWARD AN AMENDMENT AND
I AM LIKELY TO SUPPORT THAT. SO, THAT IS
WHERE I AM COMING FROM AND I APPRECIATE THE SLIDE OF THE
GRAPH SHOWING SATISFACTION WITH THE DEPARTMENT OF
NEIGHBORHOODS WORK DURING THE PANDEMIC
OR THE ADMINISTRATIVE SERVICES THAT THE DEPARTMENT
HAS PROVIDED.
I AM WONDERING, AND WE CAN TALK ABOUT THIS OFF-LINE,
BUT IT IS STRIKING TO ME THAT ONLY ONE DISTRICT HAS REALLY VOICED OPPOSITION
TO THIS AND I AM WONDERING IF THE QUESTION
WAS PUT TO THE OTHERS.
DO YOU WANT TO ADMINISTRATIVE REVIEW --DO YOU
WANT THE EMERGENCY LEGISLATION TO CARRY FORWARD WHEN IT COMES TO ADMINISTRATIVE
REVIEW? BECAUSE THAT IS DIFFERENT
THAN SAYING YOU ARE SATISFIED WITH HOW WELL THE DEPARTMENT OF
NEIGHBORHOODS HAS SERVED THESE DISTRICTS.
SO, THANK YOU VERY MUCH.
>> THANK YOU.
I DON'T SEE ANY OTHER QUESTIONS.
DEPARTMENT OF NEIGHBORHOODS, ANY FINAL COMMENTS?
LISH, IS THERE ANYTHING YOU WANTED TO COMMENT ON? OKAY,
AS I SAID WE WON'T BE VOTING ON THIS TODAY. THE NEXT MEETING OF THIS
COMMITTEE WILL BE JANUARY 27.
WE HAVE HAD TO CANCEL OUR JANUARY 13 MEETING,
SO THAT WILL BE THE NEXT OPPORTUNITY FOR DISCUSSION
AND AT THAT POINT I DO ANTICIPATE MOVING ON THIS. OKAY, IF THERE IS
NO OTHER BUSINESS BEFORE THE COMMITTEE, THIS CONCLUDES
THE NOVEMBER 9 MEETING AND AS I SAID
THE NEXT SCHEDULED MEETING IS JANUARY 27 AND WE ARE ADJOURNED.
THANK YOU, EVERYONE.