>>> GOOD MORNING, EVERYBODY.
THIS IS THE APRIL 12, 2023
MEETING OF THE ECONOMIC
DEVELOPMENT, TECHNOLOGY, AND
CITY LIGHT COMMITTEE. MY NAME
IS SARA NELSON, CHAIR OF THE
COMMITTEE. IT IS 9:32 AND THIS
MEETING WILL COME TO ORDER. I
WILL NOTE THAT COUNCILMEMBER
STRAUSS IS EXCUSED FROM TODAY'S
MEETING AND WILL THE CLERK
PLEASE CALL THE ROLL.
>> COUNCIL PRESIDENT JUAREZ.
>> HERE.
>> COUNCILMEMBER SAWANT.
>> PRESENT.
>> COUNCILMEMBER HERBOLD. I SE
HERBOLD IS THEY ARE. OKAY. AND
CHAIR NELSON.
>> PRESENT.
>> THAT IS FOR PRESENT, WHEN
EXCUSED.
>> THANK YOU VERY MUCH AND I
NOTE THAT COUNCILMEMBER LEWIS,
WHO IS NOT A MEMBER OF THE
COMMITTEE, HAS JOINED US OR WIL
BE JOINING US AND I AM HAPPY TO
HAVE HIM AS WELL. SO THERE ARE
11 ITEMS ON TODAY'S AGENDA AND
THE FIRST 10 WILL BE
APPOINTMENTS TO THE NEW SEATTLE
FILM COMMISSION ON WHICH WE WIL
HOLD A BRIEFING, DISCUSSION,
AND POSSIBLE VOTE. THE LAST ITE
IS A BRIEFING AND DISCUSSION ON
COUNCIL BILL 120537,
ESTABLISHING A NEW, 10 YEAR
BUSINESS IMPROVEMENT. TO BE
KNOWN AS THE METROPOLITAN
IMPROVEMENT DISTRICT. ALL RIGHT
ABSENT ANY OBJECTION, THE ITEM
WILL BE HEARD IN THAT ORDER ON
THE AGENDA. AND HEARING NO
OBJECTION, THE AGENDA IS
APPROVED. WITH THAT, WE WILL
MOVE INTO OUR PUBLIC COMMENT O
ITEMS LISTED ON THE AGENDA.
SPEAKERS WILL BE CALLED IN THE
ORDER REGISTERED AND IF YOU
HAVE NOT YET REGISTERED TO
SPEAK, YOU CAN SIGN UP FOR
PUBLIC COMMENT, UNTIL THE
PUBLIC COMMENT PERIOD HAS
CONCLUDED AND YOU CAN DO THAT
BY REGISTERING ONLINE FOR REMOT
PUBLIC COMMENT OR FOR IN-PERSON
PUBLIC COMMENT AND THERE ARE
SHEETS UP HERE. AND PLEASE NOTE
THAT WE DO HAVE A PUBLIC
COMMENT PERIOD IN A PUBLIC
HEARING LATER ON. WE WILL ALLO
PUBLIC COMMENT IF YOU CAN'T
WAIT THAT LONG, BUT PLEASE NOTE
IF YOU DO WANT TO SPEAK TO THE
M.I.D., YOU WILL NOT BE ON THE
OFFICIAL RECORD UNLESS YOU SPEA
DURING THE PUBLIC HEARING
SECTION. ALL RIGHT, THERE IS
THE SIGN-UP SHEET. OKAY. WITH
THAT WE WILL START THE PUBLIC
COMMENT PERIOD WITH IN-PERSON
COMMENTERS. THERE ARE 11 PEOPL
ON THE LIST TO SPEAK FOR PUBLIC
COMMENT AND EVERYONE WILL HAVE
TWO MINUTES AND THEN WE WILL
PROCEED TO THE ONLINE COMMENTER
AS WELL. SO, THE FIRST SPEAKER
ON OUR LIST IS KATE BECKER AND
THAT WILL BE FOLLOWED BY --
COME ON UP. WELCOME, KATE.
>> THANK YOU, GOOD MORNING,
COUNCIL MEMBERS. GOOD MORNING
ALL. I'M EXCITED TO BE HERE WIT
YOU TED THANK YOU FOR YOUR GREA
LEADERSHIP AND WORK FOR
SEATTLE'S FIRST FILM COMMISSION
I ONCE HAD THE HONOR OF SERVING
ON THE CITY'S INAUGURAL FILM
MUSIC COMMISSION AND LATER
SERVED AS THE DIRECTOR FOR MORE
THAN FIVE YEARS. CURRENTLY I AM
THE CREATIVE ECONOMY DIRECTOR I
DOW CONSTANTINE'S OFFICE AND I
LEAD THE CREATIVE ECONOMY
INITIATIVE, INCLUDING THE COUNT
FILM INITIATIVE. I HAVE LONG
BELIEVED THE CITY CAN BENEFIT
IMMENSELY FROM ESTABLISHING A
FILM COMMISSION. HAVING A
KNOWLEDGE OF THE FILM INDUSTRY
DIRECTLY INFORMING POLICY AND
DEVELOPMENT WILL CONTRIBUTE TO
GROWING EQUITABLE OPPORTUNITIES
BOTH FOR BUSINESSES AND FOR
WORKERS. I HAVE REVIEWED THE
BIOS OF THE FILM COMMISSION
NOMINEES AND THIS LOOKS TO BE A
KNOWLEDGEABLE GROUP OF PEOPLE.
CONGRATULATIONS, EVERYONE. IN
ADDITION TO EVERYTHING, THE CIT
ASPIRES TO ACHIEVE WITH ITS
COMMISSION, IT IS A NOTABLE
MOMENT IN TIME UNLIKE ANY WE
HAVE EXPERIENED IN SEATTLE AND
I HAVE BEEN HERE A LONG TIME.
WITH THE CITY LAUNCHING THE NEW
FILM COMMISSION AND THE STATE
LAUNCHING THE MOST SIGNIFICANT
-- AND THE COUNTY DEVELOPING
HARBOUR ISLAND STUDIOS, THE
FIRST LARGE-SCALE SOUNDSTAGES
WE HAVE HAD IN THIS REGION SINC
NORTHERN EXPOSURE LEFT IN 1995
THIS IS AN EXCITING MOMENT TO
COLLECTIVELY DRIVE FORWARD THIS
INDUSTRY THAT CAN THRIVE WHEN
AS PUBLIC-SECTOR SUPPORT. THERE
IS NO DOUBT THAT THE CAST AND
CREW ARE UP FOR THE JOB. MANY
PROFESSIONALS HAD TO LEARN HOW
TO WEATHER THE SEASONS OF FILM
WORK HERE. WORKING TOGETHER WE
CAN GIVE THIS INDUSTRY THE FOCU
IT NEEDS TO BE MORE COMPETITIVE
NOW THAT WE HAVE THIS MOMENT T
COLLECTIVELY MOVE FORWARD WITH
TELLING OUR STORIES, GENERATING
JOBS, LOCAL ECONOMIC
OPPORTUNITY -- IS THAT MY TIME?
OH, AS WELL AS TALENT PIPELINE
DEVELOPMENT. LET'S NOT WASTE IT
LICKING COUNTY WE HAVE A
DEDICATED GROUP OF 15 FILM
PROFESSIONALS WHO COMPRISE THE
EXECUTIVE FILM ADVISORY BOARD
AND HAVE WORKED CLOSELY OVER
THE PAST THREE YEARS. THESE
ADVISORS ARE COMMITTED TO
GROWING OUR LOCAL INDUSTRY, AS
IS EXECUTIVE CONSTANTINE AND
MANY COLLEAGUES AT KING COUNTY.
TOGETHER WE WILL DRIVE FORWARD
TO CREATE OPPORTUNITIES WHERE
OPPORTUNITIES HAVE NOT EXISTED
BEFORE. WE STAND AT THE READY I
PURSUIT OF A NEW DAY FOR THE
LOCAL FILM INDUSTRY.
CONGRATULATIONS, EVERYONE.
>> THANK YOU, KATE. I NEGLECTED
TO READ THE LINE THAT YOU WILL
HEAR A TIME AND THAT TELLS YOU
THAT YOU HAVE 10 SECONDS LEFT.
ALL RIGHT, OUR NEXT SPEAKER --
>> HELLO, COUNCIL MEMBERS. MY
COMMENTS ARE IN SUPPORT OF
RENEWING THE METROPOLITAN
IMPROVEMENT DISTRICT, WHICH IS
AGENDA ITEM 11. AS PART OF MY
TESTIMONY, I AM HONORED TO
SUBMIT A LETTER OF SUPPORT FRO
94 ORGANIZATIONS AND 116
INDIVIDUALS, ALL URGING THE
COUNCIL TO RENEW THE M.I.D..
THIS WAS SIGNED BY A BROAD
CROSS-SECTION OF FOLKS THAT CAR
ABOUT OUR CITY AND INCLUDES
SOUS CHEFS, CEOS, SMALL BUSINES
OWNERS, RESTAURATEURS,
ASSOCIATE DEANS, DIRECTORS AND
MANAGERS. LEADERS FROM THE LOW
INCOME HOUSING INSTITUTE.
DOWNTOWN EMERGENCY CENTER. SEI
775 AND A DIVERSE BASE OF
ORGANIZATIONS REPRESENTING
NONPROFITS, PUBLIC HEALTH,
HOTELS, HIGHER EDUCATION, THE
ARTS, DEVELOPERS, AND
NEIGHBORHOOD GROUPS BOTH WITHI
AND OUTSIDE THE BOUNDARY. THIS
LETTER ARTICULATES A UNIFYING
MESSAGE, SUCCESS OF OUR
DOWNTOWN DEPENDS ON THE RENEWAL
OF THIS ORDINANCE UNDER
CONSIDERATION TODAY. IF FOR
SOME REASON YOU'RE HESITANT TO
REAUTHORIZE THE M.I.D., ASK
YOURSELF A SIMPLE QUESTION.
WHAT WOULD DOWNTOWN BE LIKE
WITHOUT THE M.I.D.? YOU DON'T
HAVE TO THINK BACK VERY FAR TO
ANSWER THAT QUESTION. AFTER TH
PANDEMIC HIT AND THE CITY WAS
ESSENTIALLY SHUT DOWN,
ENCAMPMENTS PROLIFERATED AND A
BIG SAFETY DETERIORATED.
EVERYONE HERE REMEMBERS WHAT
THAT LOOKED LIKE. SERVICES
PROVIDED BY THE M.I.D., SEVEN
DAYS A WEEK, HAVE BEEN ESENTIAL
TO THE REVITALIZATION EFFORTS B
REMOVING TRASH AND GRAFFITI,
CLEARING SIDEWALKS, COORDINATIN
WITH AGENCIES AND SERVICE
PROVIDERS TO HELP OUR CITY'S
MOST VULNERABLE AND PROVIDING
SECURITY FOR RESIDENTS, WORKERS
AND VISITORS DURING A TIME WHEN
THE POLICE DEPARTMENT FACED A
CRITICAL STAFFING SHORTAGE.
SIMPLY PUT, PROGRESS WOULD NOT
BE AT THE LEVEL IT IS AT TODAY
WITHOUT THE M.I.D.. PLEASE
REAUTHORIZE THE M.I.D. FOR
ANOTHER 10 YEARS. DOING SO WILL
ENSURE A HEALTHY AND VIBRANT
DOWNTOWN FOR ALL. THANK YOU FOR
YOUR CONSIDERATION.
>> THANK YOU VERY MUCH AND JUST
A REMINDER THAT WE DO HAVE
PUBLIC HEARING ON THE M.I.D.,
SO I WOULD INVITE YOU IF YOU
WOULD LIKE TO HAVE YOUR COMMENT
REGISTERED ON THE PUBLIC
HEARING RECORD, WE CAN
BASICALLY JUST SAY YOUR NAME AN
THEN REFER TO YOUR EARLIER
COMMENTS, IF YOU CAN STAY.
ANYONE ELSE WHO WISHES TO SPEAK
TO THE M.I.D., I ENCOURAGE YOU
TO WAIT UNTIL THE ACTUAL PUBLIC
HEARING, BUT YOU DON'T HAVE TO.
SO GO AHEAD. LET'S SEE, SEAN.
>> HELLO, COUNCIL MEMBERS. MY
NAME IS SEAN BLACKWELL. I WORK
FOR PUBLIC DEFENDERS
ASSOCIATION, NOW KNOWN AS
PURPOSE, DIGNITY, ACTION, AS A
LEAD PROJECT MANAGER. I ALSO
WORK ON THE THIRD AVENUE PROJEC
AS A PROJECT MANAGER. MY
COMMENTS ARE IN SUPPORT OF
RENEWING THE METROPOLITAN
IMPROVEMENT DISTRICT AGENDA ITE
NUMBER 11. AS I SAID, I LIVE IN
BELLTOWN. YOU KNOW, THE M.I.D.
IS, YOU KNOW, A GROUP OF FOLKS
THAT I SEE ON A REGULAR BASIS
EVERY DAY AND IT IMPROVES MY
IMMEDIATE NEIGHBORHOOD AND
IMPACTS MY DAY-TO-DAY
EXPERIENCES AND PERCEPTION OF
THE CITY AND MY HEALTH. WE ALL
HAVE A SENSE OF WHAT DOWNTOWN
WOULD LOOK LIKE IF THE M.I.D.
WERE NOT HERE. IT WOULD BE A
COMPLETELY DIFFERENT PLACE AND
IT WOULD BE DIFFERENT IN TERMS
OF OUR EXPERIENCE, OUR
PERCEPTION, AND THE WELL-BEING
OF THE CITY AND OUR HEALTH. WHE
YOU GO OUT, THE FIRST THING YOU
SEE OFTEN TIMES ARE M.I.D.
AMBASSADORS. AS FOLKS WERE
SAYING EARLIER TODAY, YOU ALWAY
SEE THEM BUSY. THEY ARE ACTIVE.
THEY ARE ENGAGING IN THEIR
WORK, BUT IF YOU WALK UP AND TR
TO HAVE A CONVERSATION, THEY AR
REALLY FRIENDLY AND ENGAGING.
THAT POSITIVELY IMPACTS YOUR
PERCEPTION OF THE CITY, NOTABLY
IN TERMS OF THE FACT THAT THEY
ARE DOING REALLY GOOD WORK, BUT
ALSO THEY ARE JUST FRIENDLY
AMBASSADORS FOR THE CITY. THEY
ARE A CONSTANT, WELCOMING,
POSITIVE PRESENCE IN THE CITY
THAT NOT ONLY HELPS KEEP IT
CLEAN AND INCREASINGLY VIBRANT
BUT THEY ALSO COMMUNICATE A
POWERFUL MESSAGE BY DOING SO
AND THAT MESSAGES, WE ARE
INVESTED IN THE CITY AND KEEPIN
IT SAFE AND IN MAINTAINING THE
WELL-BEING OF THE CITY. PLEASE
REAUTHORIZE THE M.I.D. FOR
ANOTHER 10 YEARS AND I WOULD
ALSO LIKE TO SAY AS A PROJECT
MANAGER WHO WORKS ALONGSIDE
STAFF WITH THE M.I.D., THESE
FOLKS ARE LIKE A DE FACTO
SOCIAL SERVICE AGENCY AND ONE O
THE BEST SOCIAL SERVICE
AGENCIES IN SEATTLE.
>> THANK YOU VERY MUCH. SO, I
REMIND PEOPLE. THE PUBLIC
HEARING IS A LEGAL REQUIREMENT
FOR THE REAUTHORIZATION OF
M.I.D., SO IT IS IMPORTANT THA
PEOPLE WHO WANT TO BE ON RECOR
SPEAKING FOR THE M.I.D. SIGN U
ON THE PUBLIC HEARING AND SPEAK
DURING THAT PART OF THE MEETING
AS I SAID, WE WILL ALLOW COMMEN
NOW, BUT YOUR VOICE WILL NOT BE
PART OF THAT PUBLIC HEARING OF
RECORD. SO THERE ARE SIGN-UP
SHEETS UP AT THE FRONT THERE.
THE NEXT SPEAKERS ARE TOM, SAM,
AND JOY. TOM, GO AHEAD, PLEASE.
>> THANK YOU AND GOOD MORNING
ALL COUNCILMEMBERS. I
APPRECIATE THE OPPORTUNITY TO
START THIS MEETING TALKING ABOU
THE M.I.D. RENEWAL, BECAUSE IT
IS VERY, VERY IMPORTANT TO THOS
OF US THAT LIVE AND WORK AND
CARE ABOUT DOWNTOWN. I AM THE
CHAIR OF BELLTOWN UNITED, A
COMMUNITY GROUP WORKING IN
BELLTOWN TO MAKE IT HEALTHY AND
AUTHENTIC AND VIBRANT. AND I
PROMISE YOU, WHATEVER WE ARE
DOING IN BELLTOWN, I COULD NOT
DO WITHOUT THE PARTNER OF M.I.D
POOR, OLD, JACOB -- GET AN
EMAIL EVERY DAY FOR ME SAYING I
WANT THIS FIXED OR THAT FIXED
AND THERE IS NO COMPLAINING.
THERE IS NO, I DON'T HAVE TIME.
THEY COME AND REMOVE THE
GRAFFITI, REMOVE THE FILTH. THE
REMOVE THE TRASH THAT SOMEHOW
KEEPS BUILDING UP IN OUR CENTER
CITY. I LOVE SEATTLE AND I WAN
ALL OF THE NEIGHBORHOODS IN
SEATTLE TO BE VIBRANT AND
AUTHENTIC AND REAL AND A PLACE
THAT WE ALL CAN LIVE. THE
CENTER CITY OF SEATTLE HAS A LO
MORE PROBLEMS IN IT THEN
MAGNOLIA AND MAPLE LEAF, BECAUS
OF THE CONCENTRATION OF SOCIAL
SERVICES AND THE INTENSE
PRESSURE ON THE CENTER CITY FO
OFFICE AND HOTEL, ENTERTAINMENT
SPORTS, AND THE SOCIAL SERVICES
OF COURSE. AND WE NEED THE
M.I.D. TO BE PART OF THIS
PARTNERSHIP. I NEED THE CITY O
SEATTLE, FRANKLY, TO BE PART OF
THIS PARTNERSHIP, BUT THE M.I.D
IS CRITICAL BECAUSE THEY ARE S
RESPONSIVE AND I JUST WANT TO
THANK THE M.I.D. FOR WHAT THEY
HAVE DONE FOR THE LAST TWO YEAR
OF LIVING DOWNTOWN AND MY
CONSTANT HARANGUING OF THEM AND
NEVER COMPLAINING AND SAY, WE
WILL TAKE CARE OF IT. THANK YOU
>> THANK YOU VERY MUCH. I WILL
CALL UP SAM AND JOEY --
>> GOOD MORNING, COUNCILMEMBERS
I AM A TRANSFER ADVISOR FOR TH
METROPOLITAN IMPROVEMENT
DISTRICT. MY REMARKS ARE IN
SUPPORT OF AGENDA ITEM 11.
RENEWING THE M.I.D. I HAVE BEE
WITH THE M.I.D. SINCE 2017. IN
THAT TIME I HAVE SEEN MANY
POSITIVE CHANGES THAT MAKE ME
PROUD TO BE PART OF AN
ORGANIZATION COMMITTED TO MAKIN
DOWNTOWN A SAFE, CLEAN, INVITIN
DESTINATION FOR ALL. ONE OF MY
DUTIES IS CONDUCTING
DE-ESCALATION TRAINING. IN THIS
ROLE I PICK UP TRAININGS FOR
LARGE, SMALL, PRIVATE AND
PUBLIC ORGANIZATIONS AND I ALSO
PAIR WITH A CRIME PREVENTION
COORDINATOR TO PRESENT PERSONA
SAFETY TRAININGS. IN MY 40 YEAR
OF DOING THESE TRAININGS, ALL
OF THESE ORGANIZATIONS EXPRESSE
THE SAME SENTIMENT. WITHOUT THE
M.I.D. SERVICES, THE
ENVIRONMENT IN DOWNTOWN SEATTLE
WOULD BE FAR DIFFERENT. FOR THE
PAST YEAR, MY SELF AND THE
CHIEF OPERATING OFFICER OF THE
SEATTLE MISSION HAVE BEEN DOING
WALKABOUTS IN THE DOWNTOWN
SEATTLE AREA, VISITING SMALLER,
PRIMARILY PUBLIC AND PRIVATE
BUSINESSES IN DOWNTOWN FROM TH
STREET LEVEL. MOST OF THESE
BUSINESSES TELL US THE SERVICES
ARE EXCELLENT AND RESOLVE A
MULTITUDE OF ISSUES. I HAVE ALS
DEVELOPED PERSONAL RELATIONSHIP
WITH INDIVIDUALS EXPERIENCING
DIFFICULT LIFE SITUATIONS. ON
MY WAY TO A MEETING THE OTHER
DAY I RAN INTO A WOMAN I WORKED
WITH FOR SEVERAL YEARS. SHE SAI
BECAUSE OF YOU AND THE M.I.D.,
MY LIFE IS NOW IN A POSITIVE
DIRECTION. IN CLOSING, I WOULD
LIKE TO SAY I AM PROUD OF MY
TEAM THAT MAKES DOWNTOWN A
WELCOME EXPERIENCE FOR ALL AND
POSITIVELY IMPACTS THE LIVES OF
OTHERS. PLEASE AUTHORIZE THE
M.I.D. FOR ANOTHER 10 YEARS.
THANK YOU FOR YOUR
CONSIDERATION.
>> THANK YOU VERY MUCH. JOY AND
THEN MICHAEL, PLEASE.
>> HI, GOOD MORNING,
COUNCILMEMBERS. I'M THE
PRESIDENT AND CEO OF PROJECT
WATERFRONT SEATTLE. IT'S GOOD T
BE WITH ALL OF YOU AND I AM
SPEAKING IN SUPPORT OF THE
RENEWAL OF THE METROPOLITAN
IMPROVEMENT DISTRICT. THE M.I.D
PROVIDE SERVICES ESSENTIAL TO
THE LIVABILITY AND WELL-BEING O
THE CITY AND IT PLAYS A MAJOR
ROLE IN DOWNTOWN'S RECOVERY. AS
A PARTNER WITH THE -- AS THE
NONPROFIT WORKING TO FUND OUR
NEW, 20 ACRE PARK THAT WILL BE
OPENING IN 2025, WE HAVE A
VESTED INTEREST IN CONTINUING
TO SEE DOWNTOWN CARED FOR,
ACTIVATED, AND REENERGIZED AND
WE ARE ALIGNED IN OUR EFFORTS T
DO THAT TOGETHER. WE KNOW THAT
MILLION VISITORS PROJECTED TO
COME TO THE WATERFRONT PARK WIL
POUR INTO THE DOWNTOWN CORRIDOR
FROM THE PARK. EXPERIENCE THE
POSITIVE BENEFITS OF THE M.I.D.
AND WE ARE ALREADY SEEING THE
MEANINGFUL IMPACT OF ALL THE
VISITORS COMING BACK TO THE
WATERFRONT, TOURISTS AND
RESIDENTS ALIKE AND THAT IS PAR
OF OUR LONG-TERM VISION IN THE
INVESTMENT OF DOWNTOWN. SO I
ASK YOU TO REAUTHORIZE THE
M.I.D. FOR ANOTHER 10 YEARS.
DOING SO WILL ENSURE A VIBRANT
DOWNTOWN.
>> THANK YOU VERY MUCH. OKAY,
MICHAEL FOLLOWED BY AVON
PLEASE --
>> GOOD MORNING. I LIVE IN
DISTRICT SEVEN AND I AM HERE
TODAY BOTH AS A DOWNTOWN
RESIDENT AND REPRESENTING MY
PLACE OF EMPLOYMENT. MY
COMMENTS ARE IN SUPPORT OF
AGENDA ITEM 11, RENEWING THE
METROPOLITAN IMPROVEMENT
DISTRICT, OR THE M.I.D. AS A
DOWNTOWN RESIDENT I AM REMINDED
DAILY OF THE SERVICES THE M.I.D
PROVIDES AND THEY ARE ESSENTIAL
TO THE LIVABILITY AND HEALTH OF
OUR CITY. NOT ONLY ARE THE
SERVICES IMPORTANT TO THOSE WH
LIVE IN THE DOWNTOWN AREA AND T
RESIDENTS OF SEATTLE. THEY ARE
IMPORTANT TO WELCOMING VISITOR
FROM AROUND THE GLOBE AND
SETTING THE STAGE FOR SEATTLE
AND SHARING THIS PLACE THAT WE
ARE SO FORTUNATE TO CALL HOME.
THE NEARLY 100 AMBASSADOR
POSITIONS FUNDED BY THE M.I.D.
ARE HELPING TO CHANGE LIVES AND
OFFERING MEANINGFUL EMPLOYMENT
TO THOSE WHO NEED IT MOST. OFTE
IMPLYING THOSE EXPERIENCING
HOMELESSNESS OR THOSE WHO HAVE
BEEN JUSTICE INVOLVED AND THEI
HARD WORK AND DEDICATION IS
PAYING OFF EVERY DAY. WE ARE
SEEING IT IN SO MANY CRUCIAL
AREAS. THE M.I.D. TEAM
CONTINUES TO IMPROVE
CLEANLINESS, INCLUDING TRASH,
GRAFFITI, BIOHAZARD REMOVAL,
SAFETY AND HOSPITALITY.
CRITICAL TO A THRIVING TOURISM
ECONOMY AND PUBLIC ART
INSTALLATIONS, FAMILY EVENTS AN
SO MUCH MORE. EVERY DAY WE HAV
A LOT TO BE THANKFUL FOR AND
THE WORK OF THE M.I.D. IS OFTEN
AT THE TOP OF THAT LIST. SO MY
ASK IS SIMPLE. PLEASE
REAUTHORIZE THE M.I.D. FOR
ANOTHER 10 YEARS. DOING SO WILL
ENSURE A HEALTHY AND VIBRANT
DOWNTOWN FOR ALL.
>> THANK YOU VERY MUCH. NEXT U
WE HAVE HAYDEN, PLEASE. AND
THEN --
>> GOOD MORNING. I AM HAYDEN
HARLEY. I WORK AT LIME,
MANAGING COMMUNITY AND
GOVERNMENT AFFAIRS ACROSS THE
PACIFIC NORTHWEST AND WESTERN
CANADA. MORE IMPORTANTLY I LIVE
IN DISTRICT 3 AND WORK DOWNTOWN
I'M HERE TO SPEAK IN SUPPORT OF
THE METROPOLITAN IMPROVEMENT
DISTRICT, ITEM NUMBER 11 ON
TODAY'S AGENDA. MY APOLOGIES FO
NOT BEING ABLE TO STAY FOR THE
PUBLIC HEARING. A VIBRANT AND
THRIVING DOWNTOWN IS ESSENTIAL
FOR SEATTLE. THE M.I.D. HAS
INVESTED HEAVILY IN THE DOWNTOW
RECOVERY IN MANY WAYS. REMOVING
GRAFFITI, PERFORMING THOUSANDS
OF WELFARE CHECKS FOR OUR
UNHOUSED NEIGHBORS AND HELPING
THOSE WHO VISIT SEATTLE MAKE TH
MOST OUT OF THEIR TRIPS TO THE
CITY. COMMUTE SEATTLE IS
PARTIALLY FUNDED BY M.I.D. AND
HAS WORKED TO MAKE SEATTLE
MORE LIVABLE FOR THOSE OF US WH
LIVE HERE. THE M.I.D., THE WOR
THE M.I.D. FUNDS, IS VITAL TO
SEATTLE'S CONTINUED UPWARD CLIM
AND I ASK THAT YOU VOTE TO
REAUTHORIZE THE METROPOLITAN
IMPROVEMENT DISTRICT FOR
ANOTHER 10 YEARS. THANK YOU.
>> THANK YOU VERY MUCH. NEXT U
WE HAVE AVON OR AARON, PLEASE
EXCUSE MY MISPRONUNCIATION, I
CANNOT READ THE HANDWRITING.
>> GOOD MORNING, I AM AARON --
I REPRESENT UNION SQUARE, ONE O
THE LARGEST M.I.D. RATEPAYERS
AND I AM HERE TO SPEAK ABOUT
ITEM NUMBER 11, RENEWAL OF THE
M.I.D. I'VE LIVED IN THE
DISTRICT FOR 15 YEARS. I LIVED
IN BELLTOWN AND GOT TO SEE THE
LAST RENEWAL AND EXPANSION IN M
NEIGHBORHOOD, WHICH WAS A
WELCOME THING TO SEE 10 YEARS
AGO. IT CHANGED THE NEIGHBORHOO
OVERNIGHT, WITH THE AMBASSADOR'
NOW BEING ON THE STREETS,
CLEANING, MAKING IT SAFER FOR
ALL OF US. THE M.I.D. HAS BEEN
A CONSTANT CHAMPION FOR DOWNTOW
AND WILL CONTINUE TO BE THROUG
PREVIOUS ADMINISTRATIONS AND
CHANGES THROUGHOUT THE CITY. W
HAVE ADAPTED, THROUGH THE YEARS
TO MAKE DOWNTOWN BETTER THROUGH
GOOD TIMES, BAD TIMES, GROWTH,
AND EVEN SOME CHANGING NUMBERS
IN RECENT TIMES. PLEASE RENEW
THE M.I.D. FOR ANOTHER 10 YEAR
AND ALLOW US TO CONTINUE THE
GOOD WORK IN DOWNTOWN THAT WE
HAVE BEEN DOING.
>> THANK YOU.
>> DANNY AND THEN OUR LAST
SPEAKER --
>> HI, GOOD MORNING. MY NAME I
DANNY COHEN AND I AM HERE TO
SPEAK IN SUPPORT OF THE M.I.D.
RENEWAL. THE LONG LIST OF
SERVICES THAT THE M.I.D.
PERFORMS IS OFTEN MORE VISIBLE
AND WELL-KNOWN -- I'M SORRY.
IT IS OFTEN MORE VISIBLE THAN
WELL-KNOWN AS WE SEE THE
TANGIBLE EFFECTS OF CLEANER
STREETS, ACTIVATED PARKS,
HELPING HANDS, RESOURCES AND
MORE. EVEN MORE IMPACTFUL IS
SOMETIMES LESS VISIBLE AND THA
IS THE EXAMPLE THEY SET OF WHA
POSITIVE CHANGE CAN LOOK LIKE.
WE HAVE TWO STORES WITHIN THE
M.I.D. BOUNDARIES. THE DOWNTOW
STORE UNFORTUNATELY HAD TO CLOS
PERMANENTLY IN 2020. FOR THE
PAST 8 1/2 YEARS, THERE ARE
COUNTLESS TIMES [ INAUDIBLE ]
PERHAPS THE MOST GALVANIZING WA
DURING THE PANDEMIC WHEN THE
CITY CLEARED OUT OUR
NEIGHBORHOODS. WE ALL KNOW IT
WAS A GHOST TOWN AND ISSUES
THAT EXISTED BEFORE BECAME
MAGNIFIED WHEN SERVICES WERE
HARDER TO COME BY. LONG BEFORE
PEOPLE BEGAN TO VENTURE BACK TO
THE NEIGHBORHOODS, THE M.I.D.
WAS THERE. THE FIRST TIME SINCE
EVERYTHING SHUT DOWN, THE
JACKETS WERE NOTHING SHORT OF
LIGHT IN DARK DAYS. THEY WERE
ASSIGNED THAT WE, DOWNTOWN, WER
NOT FORGOTTEN. THEY RETURNED T
WORK AS HARD AND AS HELPFUL AS
EVER AND THIS IS SO IMPORTANT,
SO NECESSARY. EVEN MORE SO,
SHOWING UP AND BEING THERE EVER
DAY ALSO CARRIES FAR BEYOND TO
SAY, YES, WE ARE STILL HERE. W
DO CARE AND WE WILL BE BACK EVE
BETTER THAN BEFORE. THANK YOU.
>> AND OUR LAST SPEAKER IS AMY
--
>> GOOD MORNING, MY NAME IS AMY
WILLARD. I AM THE EXECUTIVE
DIRECTOR OF WASHINGTON FILM
WORKS. WE RUN THE PRODUCTION
INCENTIVE PROGRAM IN WASHINGTON
STATE AS WELL AS THE OFFICIAL
STATE FILM OFFICE. I AM HERE
TODAY TO TALK ABOUT HOW IT IS A
GREAT TIME FOR FILM IN
WASHINGTON STATE AND I AM HERE
TO SUPPORT THE SEATTLE FILM
COMMISSION. AS MANY KNOW,
WASHINGTON FILM WORKS INCREASED
ITS FUNDING TO $15 MILLION A
YEAR. WE ALSO ARE NOW, IN OUR
PREVIOUS ITERATION OF THE
PROGRAM, WE ARE ABLE TO SUPPORT
3 TO 4 PROJECTS FINANCIALLY PER
YEAR AND NOW WE WILL BE UP TO 1
TO 12. WE ALSO NOW HAVE THE
LEGISLATIVE AUTHORITY TO DO
CAREER, CONNECTED LEARNING,
WORKFORCE DEVELOPMENT AND
EMERGING WASHINGTON FILM MAKERS
DOING SMALLER BUDGET
PRODUCTIONS. I AM ALSO PLEASED
TO SHARE THAT WASHINGTON FILM
WORKS IS LEADING THE WAY IN A
LOT OF DIVERSITY, EQUITY, AND
INCLUSION PRACTICES WITHIN
STATE FILM OFFICES. THE CITY OF
SEATTLE IS THE LARGEST
PRODUCTION CENTER IN THE STATE
OF WASHINGTON AND AS WASHINGTO
FILM WORKS CONTINUES TO RECRUIT
BIGGER BUDGET PROJECTS AND
DEVELOP A TRULY, TRULY
SUSTAINABLE ECOSYSTEM FOR FILM,
WE NEED THE SUPPORT OF THE
CITY. I HAVE HAD THE GREAT
PLEASURE OF WORKING WITH MANY O
THE PEOPLE WHO WILL BE SEATED O
THIS FILM COMMISSION TODAY. IT
IS, THEY ARE, GREAT THOUGHT
LEADERS. THEY ARE PASSIONATE
ABOUT FILM AND THEY KNOW THEIR
BUSINESS. SO, WITH THAT, I JUS
WANT TO THANK YOU, COUNCILMEMBE
NELSON, FOR LEADING THIS CHARG
IN SO MANY WAYS. BUILDING THE
FUTURE OF FILM WITH THIS
COMMISSION.
>> THANK YOU VERY MUCH. THAT IS
THE END OF OUR PUBLIC COMMENT
PERIOD FOR JUST REGULAR PUBLIC
COMMENT AND I DO ASK THAT IF
YOU ARE HERE TO SPEAK, IF
ANYONE IS COMING IN SUBSEQUENT
TO NOW TO SPEAK ON THE M.I.D.,
PLEASE WAIT UNTL THE PUBLIC
HEARING SECTION SO THAT YOUR
VOICES ON THE RECORD AND I DO
RECOGNIZE THAT YOU ALL CAME IN
PERSON, WHICH I REALLY
APPRECIATE. I UNDERSTAND THAT
SEEING A BIG, LONG AGENDA BEFOR
THE PUBLIC HEARING THAT YOU
WANT TO SPEAK TO, YOU KNOW,
MIGHT HAVE BEEN DAUNTING. SO I
DO APPRECIATE, MOST OF ALL,
PEOPLE BEING PRESENT IN CHAMBER
TO MAKE COMMENTS. WITH THAT WE
WILL MOVE TO REMOTE PUBLIC
COMMENTERS AND LET'S SEE, WE DI
HAVE TWO PEOPLE ON THE LIST.
BUT I BELIEVE THAT THEY WILL
PROBABLY SIGN UP FOR THE
M.I.D. RENEWAL. SO, WE DO HAVE
LISA ON OUR LIST, LISTED AS NOT
PRESENT, AS WELL AS RISA
CONKLIN, NOT PRESENT. THERE IS
ALSO STEVE HORVATH, WHO IS
PRESENT AND YOU MAY SPEAK NOW.
IF YOU ARE PLANNING ON SPEAKING
TO THE M.I.D., BUT HOWEVER, YO
CAN ALSO WAIT UNTIL THE PUBLIC
HEARING. SO, NOT SEEING YOU
DISAPPEAR FROM OUR LIST, GO
AHEAD, STEVE. YOU'VE GOT TWO
MINUTES. PRESS STAR SIX.
STEVE, YOU HAVE TO PRESS STAR
SIX TO UNMUTE YOURSELF. OKAY,
WELL LET'S MOVE ON. YOU ARE
WELCOME TO SPEAK TO THE M.I.D.
LATER ON IN THE AGENDA, IN THE
PUBLIC HEARING. AND WE WILL NO
PROCEED WITH OUR AGENDA. PLEAS
NOTE THAT ABOUT THE FIRST 10
ITEMS, WE WILL BE TAKING THEM
IN A GROUP OF PEOPLE.
>> WOULD IT BE BEST TO RESERVE
TIME TO SPEAK LATER?
>> WHAT IS YOUR PREFERENCE?
>> I WOULD BE HAPPY TO SPEAK AT
THE HEARING LATER, SO LONG AS
THERE IS AN OPPORTUNITY FOR
REMOTE COMMENTERS TO DO SO.
>> ABSOLUTELY, YES. THANK YOU
VERY MUCH. NO ADDITIONAL
SPEAKERS, CLERK, PLEASE READ
ITEMS ONE THROUGH 10 INTO THE
AGENDA.
>> AGENDA ITEM NUMBER ONE,
APPOINTMENT 02510, APPOINTMENT
OF LOWELL DEO AS MEMBER OF THE
SEATTLE FILM COMMISSION FOR A
TERM TO APRIL 23, 2024. AGENDA
ITEM NUMBER TWO, APPOINTMENT
02511, APPOINTMENT OF TOM
FLORINO AS A MEMBER OF THE
SEATTLE FILM COMMISSION FOR A
TERM TO APRIL 23, 2024.
APPOINTMENT 02512, APPOINTMENT
OF KAT OGDEN TO THE SEATTLE FIL
COMMISSION FOR A TERM TO APRIL
23, 2024. AGENDA ITEM FOUR,
APPOINTMENT OF ANTHONY TACKETT
TO THE SEATTLE FILM COMMISSION
FOR A TERM TO APRIL 23, 2024.
AGENDA ITEM NUMBER FIVE,
APPOINTMENT OF BETH BARRETT TO
THE SEATTLE FILM COMMISSION FOR
A TERM TO APRIL 23, 2025. AGEND
ITEM SIX, APPOINTMENT OF LAURA
JEAN CRONIN TO THE SEATTLE FILM
COMMISSION FOR A TERM TO APRIL
23, 2025. ITEM SEVEN,
APPOINTMENT OF MELISSA MATTHIES
PURCELL AS A MEMBER OF THE
SEATTLE FILM COMMISSION FOR A
TERM TO APRIL 23, 2025. AGENDA
ITEM NUMBER EIGHT, APPOINTMENT
OF CHAMP ENSMINGER AS MEMBER OF
THE SEATTLE FILM COMMISSION FOR
A TERM TO APRIL 23, 2026.
AGENDA ITEM NUMBER NINE,
APPOINTMENT OF MARK A. FREID TO
THE SEATTLE FILM COMMISSION FO
A TERM TO APRIL 23, 2026 AND
AGENDA ITEM NUMBER 10,
APPOINTMENT OF MICHAEL HUANG A
A MEMBER TO THE SEATTLE FILM
COMMISSION FOR A TERM TO APRIL
23, 2026. ALL ITEMS FOR
BRIEFING, DISCUSSION, AND
POSSIBLE VOTE.
>> THANK YOU VERY MUCH. SO YOU
HAVE HAD A CHANCE TO GRAB SOME
POPCORN. THE SHOW IS ABOUT TO
BEGIN. TODAY IS THE FINAL
EPISODE IN THE LONG-RUNNING
SERIES OF, A FILM COMMISSION IS
BORN. I PROMISED AS A CANDIDATE
THAT IF ELECTED THE FIRST THIN
I WOULD DO IS START A FILM
COMMISSION AND THAT WAS
IMPORTANT TO ME BECAUSE
STRENGTHENING THE FILM INDUSTRY
IN SEATTLE WOULD ALLOW MORE OF
OUR CREATIVE'S TO KEEP LIVING
IN SEATTLE AND MAKE A LIVING
DOING THEIR ART AND IT WAS NOT
THE FIRST THING I DID, BUT AFTE
NINE MONTHS OF WORKING WITH KEY
STAKEHOLDERS AND OED, HERE WE
ARE. COUNCIL PASSED MY
LEGISLATION TO ESTABLISH
WASHINGTON STATES FIRST CODIFIE
FILM COMMISSION IN LAST
SEPTEMBER AND WE ARE ON THE
BRINK OF CONFIRMING OUR FOUNDIN
MEMBERS. SO, WE HAVE TO SAY
THAT WE INTENTIONALLY RECRUITED
APPLICANTS AND NOMINEES WITH
DIVERSE BACKGROUNDS, LIVED
EXPERIENCE, AND INDUSTRY
EXPERTISE, TO PUT THEIR HEADS
TOGETHER AND HELP US
REINVIGORATE THE INDUSTRY, SO
THAT WE CAN PUT THE DAYS OF
PRODUCTIONS, SUPPOSEDLY ABOUT
SEATTLE, BUT FILMED ELSEWHERE,
BEHIND US. SO THAT IS WHAT WE
ARE TRYING TO DO AND IT IS MY
PLEASURE AND HONOR TO INTRODUCE
AND PRESENT. I BELIEVE WE HAVE
NINE OF THE 10 COMMISSIONERS
HERE IN PERSON TODAY. TO PRESEN
THIS TALENTED GROUP AND TO GET
TO WORK. WITH THAT I WANT TO
NOTE THAT THE COMMITTEE
ASSIGNMENTS WERE RED -- THE
ITEMS ON THE AGENDA WERE RED I
NUMERICAL ORDER, BUT I BELIEVE
OUR PRESENTERS WILL ADDRESS THE
COMMISSIONERS IN THE ORDER THE
ARE LISTED ON THE POSITION PAGE
WITH THAT, I WILL ASK OUR
PRESENTERS TO PLEASE INTRODUCE
THEMSELVES.
>> THANK YOU VERY MUCH. GOOD
MORNING, COMMITTEE CHAIR NELSON
COMMITTEE MEMBERS. MY NAME IS
PREETI SHRIDHAR. I AM THE
INTERIM DEPUTY DIRECTOR WITH TH
SEATTLE OFFICE OF ECONOMIC
DEVELOPMENT AND IT IS A REAL
PLEASURE FOR ME TO BE HERE THIS
MORNING TO PRESENT TO YOU VERY
HIGHLY TALENTED AND DIVERSE
GROUP OF MEMBERS WHO ARE
SEEKING APPOINTMENT TO THE
SEATTLE FILM COMMISSION. THIS
IS REALLY A VERY INCREDIBLY
MOMENTOUS TIME FOR US IN
SEATTLE. WE RECEIVED A HUGE
RESPONSE WHEN WE ANNOUNCE THE
FILM COMMISSION AND OUR CALLS
FOR NOMINATION. REALLY, AS THI
IS THE WORK OF MANY YEARS AND
OF HUGE LEADERSHIP FROM COUNCIL
THAT WE ARE ABLE TO, YOU KNOW,
DO THIS TODAY. BEFORE I GO
FURTHER, WE ARE WAITING
ANXIOUSLY TO GET THE
INTRODUCTIONS OF OUR MEMBERS AN
I WILL TURN IT OVER TO CHRIS
SWENSON FROM OUR OFFICE, WHO
WILL PRESENT THE DETAILS, THE
SHARE A SHORT PRESENTATION AS
WE MOVE ON TO THE NEXT STEP IN
OUR AGENDA.
>> THANK YOU. I AM CHRIS
SWENSON, FILM PROGRAM MANAGER
WITH THE OFFICE OF ECONOMIC
DEVELOPMENT. WE HAVE A DECK
THAT WE WILL GO THROUGH BEFORE
WE GET TO THE INTRODUCTIONS FOR
THE COMMISSIONER NOMINEES,
ELECT THESE. I WANT TO START B
ECHOING COMMENTS WE HAVE HEARD
ABOUT THE GREAT WORK THAT IS
BROUGHT US TO THIS MOMENT. SO I
DO WANT TO THANK YOU,
COUNCILMEMBER NELSON, FOR
DRIVING THE LEGISLATION FORWARD
IN 2022. THANK YOU VERY MUCH. I
ALSO WANT TO THANK MAYOR HARREL
AND THE ADMINISTRATION FOR
WORKING ALONGSIDE WITH THE
COMMISSION LEGISLATION AND I
ALSO WANT TO THANK OFFICE OF
ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT LEADERSHIP
DIRECTOR McINTYRE, WHO IS NOT
HERE TODAY. FOR THEIR
LEADERSHIP AND SUPPORT IN THIS
WORK AS WELL. BEFORE ALL OF THI
HAPPENED, WE HAD A WONDERFUL,
REALLY SPECIAL OPPORTUNITY IN
2022 TO WORK WITH THE FILM TASK
FORCE, ASSEMBLED WITH THE
PRIORITY OF DEVELOPING THE
FRAMEWORK FOR THE FILM
COMMISSION. THANK YOU,
EVERYBODY. THERE ARE MEMBERS WE
WILL INTRODUCE. THERE ARE MANY
OTHERS WHO ARE NOT HERE WHO
REALLY DROVE THAT WORK AND AMON
OTHER REALLY IMPORTANT
PRIORITIES THEY RECOMMENDED TO
THE CITY OF SEATTLE. SO WITH
THAT I WILL WALK INTO JUST A
LITTLE BIT ABOUT THE HISTORY AN
WHERE WE ARE WITH THE SEATTLE
FILM COMMISSION. I AM GOING TO
CHANGE MY GLASSES.
>> I THINK YOU MEANT TO SAY
2020, THE FILM TASK FORCE. JUS
CORRECTING THE RECORD.
>> THE ORDINANCE WAS ESTABLISHE
TO ADVISE THE CITY AND MAKE
RECOMMENDATIONS ON THE
DEVELOPMENT OF POLICIES AND
PROGRAMS TO ENHANCE THE ECONOMI
DEVELOPMENT OF THE FILM
INDUSTRY, LOCALLY IN SEATTLE. I
IS ALSO, THE OTHER PRIORITY IS
TO PROMOTE THE SUSTAINABLE
GROWTH OF FAMILY WAGE JOBS FOR
WORKERS WHO HAVE BEEN
HISTORICALLY UNDERREPRESENTED I
THE INDUSTRY. PRIMARY GOALS AN
DUTIES WILL BE TO INFORM AND
INFLUENCE THE SEATTLE GOVERNMEN
ON BEST WAYS TO SUPPORT THE
FILM INDUSTRY AND TO
COLLABORATE WITH STATE AND
COUNTY ORGANIZATIONS AND
GOVERNMENT ENTITIES, WHO WE
HEARD FROM EARLIER. KING COUNT
CREATIVE AND ALSO WASHINGTON
FILM WORKS. THE GOAL IS TO
ADDRESS INDUSTRY DISPARITIES
CAUSED BY SYSTEMIC RACISM AND I
WILL SERVE, THE COMMISSIONERS
WILL SERVE, AS A CONDUIT
BETWEEN THE CITY AND INDUSTRY T
DEVELOP AND SUPPORT THE
ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT PRIORITIES
FOR THE FILM INDUSTRY. THIS
MEANS ATTRACTING NEW
PRODUCTIONS, RETAINING
PRODUCTIONS IN SEATTLE, AND
BUILDING INCLUSIVE CAREER
PATHWAYS INTO THE FILM INDUSTRY
FOR THOSE WHO ARE INTERESTED O
DON'T KNOW YET THAT THEY ARE
INTERESTED. NEXT SLIDE. MEMBER
REPRESENT 11 DISCIPLINES ACROSS
THE FILM INDUSTRY AND WE WILL
INTRODUCE EACH OF THOSE AS WE
GO THROUGH INTRODUCTIONS TO EAC
COMMISSIONER. FIVE POSITIONS
HAVE BEEN APPOINTED BY THE CITY
COUNCIL AND FIVE ARE APPOINTED
BY THE MAYOR. THE 11th POSITION
IS NOT HERE, BECAUSE THE
COMMISSION WILL VOTE TO SEAT
THAT 11th POSITION. THE
COMMISSION WILL MEET MONTHLY,
WILL MEET ANNUALLY WITH THE
SEATTLE MUSIC COMMISSION. IT
WILL ELECT A CHAIR AND VICE
CHAIR AND ADOPT BYLAWS AND
PRIORITIES, WHICH WILL CREATE
PRIORITIES, AND IT IS
ESTABLISHED FOR TERMS OF ONE,
TWO, AND THREE YEARS ACROSS THE
COMMISSION DISCIPLINES. IT IS
SUPPORTED BY THE OFFICE OF
ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT, WHICH ALS
SUPPORTS THE SEATTLE MUSIC
COMMISSION. THE OFFICE OF
ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT AND CITY O
SEATTLE OPENED A PUBLIC
NOMINATION TO THE APPLICATION
PROCESS IN EARLY MARCH. IT WAS
OPEN FOR 10 DAYS AND THE CITY
RECEIVED 131 NOMINATIONS. SOME
OF THEM WERE DUPLICATED, BECAUS
THERE WERE SOME PEOPLE NOMINATE
SEVERAL TIMES, AND 179
INDIVIDUAL APPLICATIONS FOR THE
11 POSITIONS.
>> JUST LET THAT SINK IN FOR A
MOMENT. IN 10 DAYS. THAT SHOWS
THE DEPTH AND THE BREADTH OF
TALENT IN THIS TOWN.
>> IT DOES. THERE IS A LOT OF
EXCITEMENT FOR THIS IN THE
INDUSTRY AND THE COMMUNITY AND
I THINK THAT IS REFLECTED IN TH
NUMBER OF APPLICATIONS THAT WER
RECEIVED. WE WILL GO THROUGH I
THE NEXT SLIDE SOME DEMOGRAPHIC
INFORMATION ABOUT WHO, HOW MAN
OF THESE APPLICANTS WERE IN EAC
OF THE DISCIPLINES. VERY
EXCITING. THE APPLICATION
NOMINATION PROCESS WAS, THERE
WAS A SIGNIFICANT MEDIA AND
ADVERTISING PURCHASE OR BUYING
PROCESS, FOCUSED ON BY POCK
AND -- FOCUSED ON BIPOC AND
BLACK COMMUNITIES. THIS IS A
QUICK SNAPSHOT OF RACE AND
ETHNICITY BY THE APPLICANTS. YO
WILL SEE THE COLORS ON THE FAR
RIGHT, A MAJORITY OF WHITE AND
CAUCASIAN APPLICANTS. A
SIGNIFICANT NUMBER OF BLACK OR
AFRICAN AMERICAN AND ASIAN
APPLICANTS AS WELL. NEXT SLIDE.
GENDER IS SHOWN HERE. ALMOST A
TWO TO ONE MALE TO FEMALE
APPLICANT RATIO, WHICH WE WILL
TALK A LITTLE BIT ABOUT. NEXT
SLIDE, PLEASE. ACROSS THE 11
DISCIPLINES, THIS SHOWS HOW
MANY APPLIED WITHIN EACH SECTOR
AND THE TOP TWO ARE COMMERCIAL
PRODUCTION COMPANIES, PRODUCERS
WE ARE A VERY STRONG COMMERCIA
TOWN, SO THAT IS SHOWN HERE, I
THINK. FILM PRODUCTION CREW IS
THE OTHER HIGHEST APPLICANT
POOL. A LOT OF CREW INTERESTED
IN HELPING AND SUPPORTING THE
INDUSTRY. WE ALSO SAW PRETTY
SIGNIFICANT NUMBERS IN
ON-SCREEN TALENT AND FILM
ORGANIZATION SUPPORTING
UNDERSERVED COMMUNITIES. NEXT
SLIDE. ANOTHER INTERESTING
PART OF THE APPLICANT POOL IS
THAT THERE IS A LOT OF
EXPERIENCE IN SEATTLE AND THERE
IS A LOT OF EXPERIENCE AROUND
THE TABLE. AS YOU MENTIONED,
COUNCILMEMBER NELSON, THE
SELECTION PROCESS INCLUDED
MAKING SURE THERE IS DIVERSITY,
WHICH INCLUDED EXPERIENCE, AS
WELL. SO I THINK IT IS A GOOD
INDICATOR OF INTEREST FROM FOLK
WHO HAVE BEEN IN THE INDUSTRY
FOR A WHILE. NEXT SLIDE. THESE
SHOW THE COMMISSIONER NOMINEE
DEMOGRAPHICS. AGAIN, OUT OF TH
10 WHO ARE HERE TODAY, WHICH WE
WILL THEN NOMINATE THE 11th, SI
SELF IDENTIFY AS MALE AND FOR
SELF IDENTIFY AS FEMALE. FIVE
SELF IDENTIFY AS CAUCASIAN.
THREE IDENTIFY AS BLACK OR
AFRICAN AMERICAN AND TO SELF
IDENTIFY AS ASIAN. AND
ACTUALLY WE CAN STAY ON THE
SLIDE, BUT I WANTED TO PAUSE,
COUNCILMEMBER, IF YOU HAVE ANY
QUESTIONS BEFORE WE DO OUR
INTRODUCTIONS --
>> WE WOULD JUST NOTE THAT THE
LAST SLIDE THERE IS THE FULL
MATRIX, SO PEOPLE CAN REFER TO
THAT PAGE AND SEE THE POSITIONS
AND THE NAMES THERE. I WILL
NOTE THAT MANY OF THE
APPLICANTS AND NOMINEES HAVE
FILM EXPERIENCE FROM OUTSIDE OF
SEATTLE. LOS ANGELES,
INTERNATIONAL, ET CETERA. THERE
WAS DISCUSSION ABOUT WHETHER O
NOT WE SHOULD, ON PURPOSE,
BRING IN PEOPLE FROM OTHER
CITIES THAT MIGHT BE ABLE TO
TALK ABOUT SOMETHING NEW OR IF
WE SHOULD REALLY HELP PEOPLE
THAT HAVE BEEN WORKING IN THIS
INDUSTRY IN SEATTLE FOR A LONG
TIME, SO THAT WAS ONE OF THE
FACTORS THAT WE BROUGHT TO THE
TABLE. I SEE THAT COUNCILMEMBER
HERBOLD HAS HER HAND UP. GO
AHEAD.
>> THANK YOU. REALLY, SO EXCITE
FOR THIS DAY. IT HAS BEEN A LON
TIME COMING AND I REALLY
APPRECIATE THE INTEREST OF THE
NOMINEES IN SERVING, THEIR DEPT
OF EXPERIENCE, AND LOOK FORWARD
TO LEARNING, FINDING OUT MORE
OF WHAT WE WILL LEARN FROM THEM
AND HOW TO SUPPORT THE INDUSTR
IN OUR REGION. I DID HAVE A
QUESTION ABOUT THE 11th
POSITION THAT IS A COMMISSION
NOMINATED POSITION. I BELIEVE
IT IS AN INDIVIDUAL INTENDED TO
REPRESENT IMMERSIVE TECHNOLOGY
AND I AM JUST CURIOUS WHETHER
OR NOT THE COMMISSION IS GOING
TO BE LOOKING FOR THAT PERSON
FROM THE EXISTING APPLICANTS OR
WHETHER OR NOT THERE IS GOING T
BE SOME DIFFERENT APPROACH,
JUST WANTING TO PUT IN A PLUG
WHILE I WAIT FOR THE ANSWER TO
THE QUESTION ABOUT THE PROCESS
FOR THE 11th POSITION, HOPING
THAT THAT 11th PERSON IS A
REPRESENTATIVE OF DISTRICT 1.
DON'T SEE ANY ON THE
COMMISSION. THANK YOU.
>> I DON'T THINK SO,
COUNCILMEMBER HERBOLD.
>> GREAT QUESTION, THANK YOU,
COUNCILMEMBER HERBOLD. THE 11t
POSITION FOR EMERGING
TECHNOLOGY BUSINESSES, WE HAVE
RECEIVED APPLICATIONS TO THE
OPEN APPLICATION PROCESS. THOSE
WILL BE SHARED WITH THE
COMMISSIONERS SO THEY CAN LOOK
THROUGH THOSE AND CHOOSE FROM
THOSE. THE COMMISSION IS ALSO
NOT BOUND TO JUST CHOOSING THE
APPLICANTS. IF THERE IS SOMEONE
THEY WOULD LIKE TO REACH OUT TO
AND VOLUNTEERED TO COME TO THE
COMMISSION, THEY CAN DO THAT AS
WELL. AS A DISTRICT 1 RESIDENT,
I AGREE.
>> OH, OKAY. A LITTLE PROBLEM
HERE.
>> ALL RIGHT, THANK YOU VERY
MUCH. IF THERE ARE NO OTHER
QUESTIONS ABOUT THE COMMISSION
ITSELF, LET'S PROCEED TO MEETIN
FOLKS. GO AHEAD.
>> I HAVE A LITTLE INTRODUCTION
FOR EACH OF THE POSITIONS.
COMMISSIONER POSITIONS. I WILL
BE AS BRIEF AS POSSIBLE, BUT I
WANT TO READ IT ALL AND THEN I
WILL HANDED OFF TO YOU FOR
INTRODUCTIONS FOR YOURSELF AND
THEN ANY QUESTIONS FOR THE
COUNCILMEMBERS, WILL THOSE BE
INDIVIDUAL OR SHOULD WE WAIT FO
AFTER?
>> I THINK IT WILL BE BEST TO
WAIT FOR THE END.
>> FOR ON-SCREEN TALENT, I AM
PROUD TO INTRODUCE LOWELL DEO.
DECADES OF ON-SCREEN WORK IN
FILM, TELEVISION, COMMERCIAL,
AND VOICEOVER PRODUCTIONS.
CREDITS INCLUDE -- AND MANY
OTHERS. HE IS LIVING PROOF THA
ACTORS CAN MAKE A LIVING IN
SEATTLE AND WE ARE EXCITED TO
HAVE HIS CONSIDERABLE ON-SCREE
EXPERIENCE ON THE COMMISSION.
WELCOME.
>> THANK YOU. IT IS AN HONOR T
BE HERE. I AM VERY EXCITED AND
THANK YOU, COUNCILMEMBER NELSON
FOR THIS OPPORTUNITY. AS CHRIS
JUST SAID, I AM AN ACTOR WHO HA
WORKED MANY YEARS IN SEATTLE
AND I'M EXCITED BY THE PROSPECT
OF REPRESENTING ON-SCREEN TALEN
IN POSITION ONE. THIS SEEMS TO
BE THE DAWN OF A VERY IMPORTANT
DAY FOR ON CAMERA TALENT
ESPECIALLY. WHOSE BURNING
QUESTIONS ARE TYPICALLY, DO I
MOVE TO L.A. OR FIND A WAY TO
SOMEHOW GET INTO CANADA?
BECAUSE, AS ACTORS ARE TRAINED
TO GO WHERE THE OPPORTUNITIES
ARE AND IT IS HEARTBREAKING
BECAUSE SEATTLE IS A MAGNIFICEN
PLACE. IT IS A MARVELOUS PLACE
BUT ACTORS WANT TO PLY THEIR
TRADE WHERE THEY CAN AND THE
FACT THAT SEATTLE IS NOW MAKIN
A PUSH TO MAKE THIS POSSIBLE, T
REINVIGORATE AN INDUSTRY THAT
WE LOVE SO DEARLY, MEANS THAT W
CAN EMBRACE THIS PLACE EVEN
HARDER. SO I AM EXCITED TO BE
PART OF THIS JOURNEY AND THANK
YOU ALL AGAIN.
>> THANK YOU.
>> BEFORE YOU GO ON, I CHANGED
MY MIND. IF COUNCILMEMBERS DO
HAVE QUESTIONS FOR INDIVIDUAL
COMMISSIONERS, PLEASE, YOU ARE
WELCOME TO ASK THEM NOW.
>> THANK YOU. POSITION TWO, IT
REPRESENTS THE FILM INDUSTRY
AND LABOR UNIONS. I WOULD LIKE
TO INTRODUCE MELISSA PURCELL,
THE NORTHERN BUSINESS AGENT OF
THE EXECUTIVE BOARD AND WAS A
MEMBER OF THE FILM TASK FORCE.
THE FILM LEADERSHIP COUNCIL AND
WASHINGTON STATE LABOR COUNCIL'
TRANSPORTATION ECONOMIC
DEVELOPMENT COMMITTEE. MELISSA
IS A PROP MASTER BY TRADE, WITH
CREDITS INCLUDING "RUSHMORE,"
"FORCES OF NATURE," --
>> THANK YOU. MY NAME IS MELISS
PURCELL. I AM A BUSINESS AGENT
OF LOCAL 488. I HAVE BEEN FOR
THE LAST FOUR YEARS. VERY
EXCITED FOR THIS MOMENT. I
REALIZED THIS MORNING ON THE
WAY AND THAT I HAVE BEEN WORKIN
TO COME TO THIS MOMENT OF
CREATING A FILM COMMISSION FOR
THE CITY OF SEATTLE FOR FIVE
YEARS NOW AND THERE ARE MANY,
MANY CREWMEMBERS IN OUR
INDUSTRY IN SEATTLE WHO HAVE
BEEN WORKING ON THIS FOR 20
YEARS, SO THIS IS INDEED AN
EXCITING MOMENT AND I AM HAPPY
TO LOOK THROUGH EVERYBODY'S
BIOGRAPHY AND RECOGNIZE THE
TALENT AT THIS TABLE. I AM
EXCITED TO BE WORKING WITH YOU
ALL AND I DO COME FROM WITHIN
THE INDUSTRY. IN THE LAST FOUR
YEARS, WORKING AS A BUSINESS
AGENT. I REALLY SEE THE ABILIT
AND POSSIBILITIES OF BRINGING
EMPLOYERS AND LABOR TOGETHER, S
THAT EVERYONE BENEFITS. THANK
YOU SO MUCH FOR NOMINATING ME
AND TAKING ME ON. THANK YOU,
COUNCILMEMBERS.
>> THANK YOU.
>> POSITION THREE REPRESENTS
ADVERTISING AND CREATIVE
INDUSTRIES. I WOULD LIKE TO
INTRODUCE MICHAEL HUANG, WITH
15 YEARS OF EXPERIENCE IN
CREATIVE ARTS AND ADVERTISING
INDUSTRIES, AS WELL AS EIGHT
PLUS YEARS OF OWNING AND
OPERATING HIS AGENCY IN SEATTLE
IN ADDITION TO PROFESSIONAL
EXPERIENCE, MICHAEL BRINGS LIVE
EXPERIENCE AS A SEATTLE NATIVE
MICHAEL, WELCOME.
>> THANK YOU, CHRIS, AND THANK
YOU EVERYONE, INCLUDING
COUNCILMEMBER NELSON AND
EVERYONE WHO HAS WORKED TO
BRING US TO THIS POINT TO HAVE
THIS COUNCIL. I KNOW THERE HAS
BEEN A LOT BEHIND THE SCENES.
EVEN IN THE PRODUCTION WORLD IT
IS ALWAYS GOOD TO SHOUT OUT
BEHIND-THE-SCENES. I AM
PASSIONATE AS A SEATTLE NATIVE
AND SOMEONE WHO GREW UP HERE
KNOWING SEATTLE AS THE CREATIVE
HUB IT HAS ALWAYS BEEN, TO BE
ABLE TO CONTRIBUTE MY
EXPERIENCE AND PERSPECTIVE AND
MY SKILLS TO PROVIDING
OPPORTUNITIES TO THE CREATIVE
INDUSTRY FROM A COMMERCIAL
STANDPOINT, FROM AN ADVERTISING
AND BROADCASTING STANDPOINT, BU
MOST IMPORTANTLY TO ME TO
PROVIDE YOUNG FOLKS. YOUNG FOLK
THAT ARE UNDERSERVED. DIVERSE
YOUNG FOLKS THE PATHWAY AND THE
ASPIRATION TO ENTER THE
CREATIVE INDUSTRY AND, YES, STA
IN SEATTLE IF THEY MAY PLEASE.
AS SOMEONE WHO MOVED TO NEW YOR
AND WORKED ON IT ON MADISON
AVENUE AND DID THAT THING AND
CAME BACK, IT IS IMPORTANT TO
ME. I LOOK FORWARD TO BEING
ABLE TO SERVE AND WORK WITH ALL
OF YOU. THANKS, MICHAEL.
>> POSITION NUMBER FOUR
REPRESENTS COMMERCIAL PRODUCERS
AND PRODUCTION COMPANIES. I
WOULD LIKE TO INTRODUCE TOM
FLORINO. TOM IS THE HEAD OF
ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT AND POLICY
FOR AMAZON'S GLOBAL MEDIA AND
ENTERTAINMENT DIVISION, WHICH
INCLUDES AMAZON STUDIOS, PRIME
VIDEO, AMAZON MUSIC, AUDIBLE,
AMAZON GAMES, AND TWITCH. TOM
IS RESPONSIBLE FOR
INFRASTRUCTURE AND TALENT
DEVELOPMENT PARTNERSHIPS WITH
GOVERNMENTS AND LOCAL
STAKEHOLDERS TO ESTABLISH
PRODUCTION HUBS AND ELEVATE
UNDERSERVED AND UNDERREPRESENTE
COMMUNITIES. EXPERIENCE INCLUDE
MANAGING GOVERNMENT RELATIONS
IN NEW ZEALAND FOR THE LORD OF
THE RINGS AND SUPPORTING
RELOCATING THAT SERIES TO THE
UK. TOM, WELCOME.
>> THANK YOU. I WANT TO THANK
COUNCILMEMBER NELSON AND FELLOW
COMMITTEE MEMBERS AND ALL OF
THE WORK OF CHRIS AND PREETI AT
OED AND ALL OF THE WORK THAT
HAS COME FROM EVERYONE BEFORE,
SITTING AROUND THIS TABLE
TOGETHER. I AM REALLY IMPRESSED
WITH THE FOLKS SITTING AROUND
THIS TABLE AND I'M EXCITED TO
GET TO WORK TO ATTRACT MORE
PRODUCTION INVESTMENT. AMAZON
STUDIOS IS KNOWN FOR GLOBAL
PRODUCTIONS AND TENTPOLE
PRODUCTIONS, BUT LOCAL
ORIGINALS ARE EXTREMELY
IMPORTANT TO OUR BUSINESS AND W
ARE SUPER EXCITED ABOUT THE
LAUNCH OF OUR FIRST AFRICAN
ORIGINAL IN NIGERIA LAST WEEK.
THAT IS A REALLY IMPORTANT PART
OF OUR BUSINESS. SO EXCITED TO
GET TO WORK IN SEATTLE, CREATIN
CAREER PATHWAYS THAT REACH OUT
TO UNDERSERVED AND
UNDERREPRESENTED COMMUNITIES AN
FOCUS ON TALENT, INFRASTRUCTURE
DEVELOPMENT IN THE CITY, SO
THAT WE CAN BUILD THE CAPACITY
NECESSARY TO ATTRACT PRODUCTION
HERE. THANK YOU.
>> THANK YOU, TOM. POSITION
FIVE REPRESENTS FILM SCHOOLS,
PROGRAMS, OR FILM EDUCATORS. I
WOULD LIKE TO INTRODUCE LAURA
JEAN CRONIN. A PRODUCER AND
DIRECTOR KNOWN FO THE EMMY
AWARD-WINNING PBS SHOW, BIZ
KIDS. SHE HAS AN AWARD WINNER
FOR MULTIPLE SHORT AND
FEATURE-LENGTH FILMS AS WELL.
SHE IS VICE PRESIDENT OF WOMEN
IN FILM SEATTLE AND LEAD
PRODUCER -- LAURA TAUGHT FILM
STUDIES AT THE CENTER ON
LINGUISTIC AND CULTURAL
DEMOCRACY FOR SEVEN YEARS AND
MENTORS GIRLS AGES 9 TO 19 IN
PRODUCTION AND MEDIA SERVICES.
AS A LEAD PRODUCER FOR MOVE TH
GAP PRODUCTIONS, LAURA IS
HELPING USHER IN A NEW
GENERATION OF MEDIA MAKERS WHO
HAVE TRADITIONALLY FALLEN
THROUGH THE GAP. WELCOME.
>> THANK YOU VERY MUCH AND I
WANT TO SAY I AM HONORED TO BE
PART OF THIS COMMISSION AND I
LOOK FORWARD TO WORKING WITH
EVERYONE AND THE AMAZING TALENT
THAT IS HERE. THANK YOU,
COUNCILMEMBER NELSON. MY FIRST
SHORT FILM DEBUTED IN 1999 AND
I HAD THE BUG TO KEEP GOING, BU
IT WAS A STRUGGLE. SELF
FASHIONED. I HAD TO REALLY CLA
MY WAY TO GET INTO MAKING THOSE
SHORT FILMS AND GETTING INTO
THE INDUSTRY TO SUPPORT MYSELF
TO MAKE THOSE FILMS. SO IT IS
REALLY EXCITING TO NOW BE PART
OF AN ORGANIZATION CALLED REMOV
THE GAP PRODUCTIONS, TO BRING
THAT TO YOUTH, ESPECIALLY
UNDERSERVED YOUTH. THAT IS
REALLY WHERE A LOT OF MY TIME
AND FOCUS IS NOW, THAT
EDUCATION. AND WE DO A PATH TO
CAREERS. NOT ONLY DO WE TRAIN
THEM, BUT WE THEN TAKE THEM OUT
AND PRODUCE CLIENT VIDEOS. THE
HAVE ON-THE-JOB TRAINING. SO W
ARE LOOKING FORWARD TO THAT PAR
OF THIS COMMISSION.
>> THANK YOU, LAURA JEAN.
POSITION SIX IS REPRESENTATIVE
OF POSTPRODUCTION COMPANIES AND
PERSONNEL. I WOULD LIKE TO
INTRODUCE CHAMP ENSMINGER. FOR
10 YEARS, CHAMP HAD A WIDE
PERSPECTIVE ON THE INDUSTRY
RANGING FROM DIRECTING SHORT
FILMS IN HIS NATIVE THAILAND TO
SING THE PROCESS OF COMMUNITY
MANAGEMENT -- CHAMP HAS
PARTICIPATED IN THE NORTHWEST
FILM FORUM AND THE ASIAN
AMERICAN FILM FESTIVAL. CHAMP I
WORKED ON CREATING CONTENT FOR
MAJOR BRANDS LIKE T-MOBILE,
MICROSOFT AND AMAZON. TO
TRANSITION FROM A POSTPRODUCTIO
HOUSE TO A CREATIVE AGENCY.
CHAMP, WELCOME.
>> THANK YOU, CHRIS.
COUNCILMEMBER NELSON. I GUESS
AS FAR AS OUR COLLECTIVE
MESSAGE, WANTING TO SUPPORT
SEATTLE AS A PLACE TO CREATE
FILMS, I AM VERY HONORED TO BE
IN OPPOSITION TO SUPPORT THE
MESSAGE THAT SEATTLE IS A GREAT
PLACE TO FINISH YOUR FILMS.
HAVING A LOT OF INTERFACE TIME
WITH THE WORK FORCE THAT WORKS
IN FINISHING AND PRESENTING
PROJECTS THAT ARE MADE IN THE
AREA. I HAVE GROWN TO REALLY
CARE ABOUT COMPOSERS,
COLORISTS, AUDIO POST SHOPS AN
POST SUPERVISORS. IN THE EFFOR
TO GET ALL OF THE CREATIVE WORK
THAT COMES OUT OF THE REGION TO
LOOK AMAZING. AND AS A FILMMAKE
MYSELF, WORKING ON A SHORT FIL
PRODUCED IN THAILAND, I KNEW I
WAS MY GOAL TO HAVE IT FINISHED
HERE, BECAUSE I REALLY TRUST
AND CARE ABOUT THE FOLKS THAT
WORK FROM THIS AREA. JUST KIND
OF COMING UP IN SEATTLE AND ALS
WORKING FAR AFIELD, NEW YORK,
THAILAND, ET CETERA. REALLY
ROOTING FOR SEATTLE AS A PLACE
TO HAVE THINGS GET MADE AS WELL
AS GET FINISHED. I AM PROUD AND
EXCITED TO BE WORKING WITH
EVERYONE HERE ON THAT.
>> THANK YOU. POSITION SEVEN
REPRESENTS FILM PRODUCTION CREW
AND I WOULD LIKE TO INTRODUCE
KAT OGDEN. KAT HAS WORKED SINC
2007 AS A FIRST, SECOND, AND
SECOND SECOND DIRECTOR. YOU CAN
EXPLAIN. FOR FILM, TELEVISION,
REALITY SHOWS AND MUSIC VIDEOS.
MAINTAINING CONSIDERATION OF
CAST AND CREW. KAT HAS WORKED
IN OTHER MARKETS INCLUDING
LONDON, NEW YORK, AND LOS
ANGELES AND UNDERSTAND SEATTLE'
FILM INDUSTRY AND COMMUNITY ARE
UNIQUE. KAT BELIEVES THE NEEDS
OF THE INDIVIDUAL MUST BE MET I
A WAY THAT BENEFITS THE
COMMUNITY. WELCOME.
>> THANK YOU SO MUCH. SO MUCH
HAS GONE INTO US SITTING AT THI
TABLE AND I AM INCREDIBLY
GRATEFUL AND WONDERFULLY EXCITE
ABOUT THE WORK WE ARE ABOUT TO
DO. THANK YOU, COUNCILMEMBER AN
ALL OF THE FOUNDATION THAT
BROUGHT US HERE. I AM WELL AWAR
THAT THE EVENT WAS BROUGHT
ABOUT BY THE HARD WORK OF MANY,
MANY PEOPLE AND I AM EXCITED TO
ACCEPT THIS POSITION FOR THE
WONDERFUL ARTISANS AND GUILD
ARTISTS THAT ARE SUCH A STRONG
COMMUNITY IN SEATTLE. SEATTLE I
EXTREMELY UNIQUE. WE ARE AN
INDUSTRY AND A COMMUNITY. THIS
IS VERY DIFFERENT. I HAVE
WORKED IN OTHER MARKETS. I COME
FROM A BACKGROUND OF SCRIPT TO
SCREEN AND FEATURE FILM AND
TELEVISION DEVELOPMENT BASED OF
OF BOOK PROPERTIES AND WHEN I
MOVED TO SEATTLE I WAS OLDER
FOR WORKING ON SET AND I LANDE
IN A VERY SOFT BED. I WAS
ABSOLUTELY TRAINED AND BROUGHT
UP BY THE PEOPLE THAT WORK IN
SEATTLE AND TO THIS ROLE. AS AN
ASSISTANT DIRECTOR, I AM NOT
THE ASSISTANT TO THE DIRECTOR.
SUPPORT THE DIRECTOR'S VISION.
SO THE ASSISTANT DIRECTOR
DEPARTMENT GETS DIVIDED INTO
DIFFERENT ROLES, THE LARGER TH
PRODUCTION BECOMES. IF IT IS
SMALLER, THEN YOU GET A SECOND
ASSISTANT IF IT IS SMALLER AND
THEN YOU GET A SECOND SECOND AN
WE RUN ALL OF THE AREAS. WE
INTERFACE WITH THE CLIENT. WITH
THE DIRECTOR, WITH PRODUCTION
AND SAFETY AND ALL PARTS OF THE
CREW. SO I AM VERY, VERY
EXCITED TO SHARE WHAT WE DO
ONSET TO SUPPORT THE ARTISANS
AND BEAUTIFUL PEOPLE THAT MAKE
THE PROJECTS AND SUPPORT THE
DREAM THAT BECOMES REALITY IN
SEATTLE. THIS IS A UNIQUE
LANDSCAPE AND A UNIQUE
COMMUNITY.
>> DOES THE ASSISTANT DIRECTOR
DO GOVERNMENT RELATIONS?
>> WE HAVE TO BE VERY
DIPLOMATIC. WE HAVE TO NOT HAVE
OUR OPINION IN THE MIDDLE OF
THINGS. OUR OPINION IS OUR
OPINION, BUT WE ARE THERE TO
REPRESENT THE CREW AND FIND A
WONDERFUL PROGRAM.
>> THANK YOU, KAT. MOVING TO
POSITION NUMBER EIGHT, WHICH
REPRESENTS FILM FESTIVALS OR
CONTENT DISTRIBUTION COMPANIES.
I WOULD LIKE TO INTRODUCE BETH
BARRETT. SEATTLE INTERNATIONAL
FILM FESTIVAL, COMMONLY KNOWN A
SIFF. AS ARTISTIC DIRECTOR,
BETH MANAGES ALL ASPECTS OF
PROGRAMMING FOR THE FESTIVAL.
FIVE-YEAR SCREENS AND THE
EDUCATION TEAM. BETH SECURED
STATUS AS AN ACADEMY AWARD
QUALIFYING FESTIVAL FOR SHORT
FILMS IN 2008. BETH CURRENTLY
SERVES ON THE BOARD OF THE FILM
FESTIVAL ALLIANCE. AND WAS ALS
A MEMBER OF THE CITY OF SEATTLE
FILM TASK FORCE AND SERVES ON
JURIES AND PANELS AROUND THE
WORLD IN PALM SPRINGS, PARK
CITY, CLEVELAND, CALGARY,
VANCOUVER, AND BERLIN, GERMANY.
WELCOME BACK.
>> THANK YOU, CHRIS AND THANK
YOU, COUNCILMEMBER NELSON. AS
THE REPRESENTATIVE FOR FILM
FESTIVALS AND DISTRIBUTION, WE
ARE THE ONES THAT ARE THE
CONNECTION TO THE AUDIENCE. WE
REPRESENT EVERYTHING THAT
HAPPENS AFTER THE FILM GETS MAD
AND IT IS INCREDIBLY HONORING
AND EXCITING TO BE ABLE TO WORK
WITH ALL OF YOU ON THE CREATION
SIDE TO COMPLETE THAT LOOP. TO
FIND THOSE AUDIENCES, BECAUSE
FILMS DON'T GET MADE IN A
VACUUM. THEY GET MADE SO PEOPL
CAN SEE THEM AND CONNECT WITH
THEM AND IN THAT WAY, FILM
MAKES OUR LIVES BETTER AND I AM
REALLY EXCITED TO WORK WITH THI
COMMISSION TO HELP GROW THE
INFRASTRUCTURE IN SEATTLE.
BECAUSE THE MORE FILMS THEY GET
MADE IN SEATTLE, THE MORE FILM
THAT GET SEEN, THE MORE PEOPLE
INTERACT WITH FILM AND FILM
MAKES OUR LIVES BETTER IN SO
MANY WAYS. CONNECTING OURSELVE
TO THE REST OF THE WORLD.
CREATING EMPATHY, LEARNING
SOMETHING, ENTERTAINING US. AL
OF THE REASONS YOU MAKE FILMS
ARE THE REASONS WE WANT TO SHOW
FILMS. THE REASONS WE WANT THAT
LOOP, THAT FILMMAKER TO
AUDIENCE CONNECTION LOOP, TO BE
COMPLETE. IT IS REALLY EXCITIN
TO BE HERE AND WORK WITH YOU AL
TO CREATE THAT HERE IN SEATTLE
>> THANK YOU, BETH. POSITION
NUMBER NINE REPRESENTS FILM
LOCATION MANAGERS. THE NOMINEE
IS NOT HERE. HE IS ACTUALLY
FLYING BETWEEN JOBS, BACK TO
SEATTLE, SO HE IS NOT HERE TO
BE IN PERSON, BUT I WILL
INTRODUCE HIM AND SPEAK A LITTL
BIT FOR HIM. IT IS MARK A.
FREID. MARK HAS A 34 YEAR
MOTION PICTURE CAREER BEGINNING
AT THE ENTRY-LEVEL NLA. WORKIN
HIS WAY THROUGH SEVERAL
DISCIPLINES INCLUDING FULL-TIME
EMPLOYMENT AT A MOTION PICTURE
STUDIO. MARK BEGAN HIS WORK FO
THE LOCATIONS DEPARTMENT IN 200
INLET LOS ANGELES. HE HAS
COMMERCIAL, TELEVISION AND WOR
INCLUDING RAMPART, 50 SHADES OF
GRAY, ARE SO FILMED PARTIALLY I
SEATTLE AND LATE AUTUMN,
COMPLETELY FILMED IN SEATTLE.
MANY, NUMEROUS, TOO MANY TO
COUNT CAMPAIGNS. MARCUS LIVED
AND WORKED IN THE SEATTLE AREA
FOR THE LAST 15 YEARS, MANAGING
LOCATIONS FOR PRODUCTIONS IN TH
REGION AND SPEAKING FOR MARK ,
AS HE IS NOT HERE, THE FILM
OFFICE, ONE OF OUR PRIMARY
CLIENTS ARE FILM LOCATION
MANAGERS. THEY ARE RESPONSIBLE
FOR UNDERSTANDING THE NEEDS OF
THE FILM PRODUCTION. WORKING
VERY CLOSELY TO MAKE SURE THAT
EVERYBODY CAN LAND IN THE RIGHT
PLACE, DO THE THINGS THEY NEED
TO DO, GET OUT SAFELY AND THEN
HAVE WHATEVER LOCATION WANT THE
BACK AGAIN FOR THE NEXT TIME. I
IS A VERY COMPLEX JOB. WE KNOW
MARK. MARK IS ONE OF OUR
OFFICES MORE FREQUENT CLIENTS.
HE DOES A LOT OF THE MAJOR
PRODUCTIONS THAT COME THROUGH
SEATTLE BECAUSE OF HIS EXPERTIS
AND HE HAS A REALLY GOOD
UNDERSTANDING OF SEATTLE NEEDS
AND INDUSTRY NEEDS OUTSIDE
SEATTLE, SO HE CAN ACCOMMODATE
THAT CONFLUENCE. WE ARE EXCITE
TO HAVE MARK WITH US.
>> I WILL SPEAK FOR HIM A LITTL
BIT. I MET WITH HIM ON THE SET
OF LIVES OF COLLEGE GIRLS,
FILMING ONE OF THE EPISODES AT
UW. I GOT INTO A CONVERSATION
WITH HIM AND HE IS AMAZING
BECAUSE HE KNOWS ALL OF THE
DIFFERENT PARTS THAT HAVE TO
COME TOGETHER. HE KNOWS HOW MAN
TRUCKS THERE ARE THAT CAN CARRY
ALL OF THE EQUIPMENT. HE KNOWS
WHO TO CALL IF THEY NEED ANOTHE
ONE, ET CETERA, AND HOW LONG
THAT DRIVEWAY IS. THAT IS JUST
ONE ASPECT. THOSE KINDS OF
LOGISTICAL CONCERNS THAT POP
UP, HE IS ABLE TO FIX AND
BEYOND THAT. SO I JUST WANTED
TO ALSO SPEAK IN HIS ABSENCE. G
ON, PLEASE.
>> THANK YOU, COUNCILMEMBER.
ALL RIGHT, MOVING ON TO POSITIO
10, REPRESENTING FILM
ORGANIZATIONS BELONGING TO AND
ADVOCATING FOR COMMUNITIES
UNDERREPRESENTED IN THE FILM
INDUSTRY. I WOULD LIKE TO
INTRODUCE ANTHONY TACKETT.
ANTHONY IS A FILMMAKER OF 25
YEARS WORKING ON COMMERCIALS AN
NARRATIVE PRODUCTIONS. ANTHONY
HAS LED EFFORTS FOR COMMUNITY
SUPPORT AND OUTREACH, INCLUDIN
AS AN INSTRUCTOR TEACHING PEOPL
FROM EIGHT YEARS OLD TO 70 YEAR
OLD. ANTHONY IS CURRENTLY THE
OPERATIONS MANAGER FOR THE
SEATTLE FILM INSTITUTE. HE IS
THE FOUNDER OF THE AFRICAN
DIASPORA GROUP BRINGING TOGETHE
BLACK AND PERSON OF COLOR
FILMMAKERS TO CREATE SAFE SPAC
FOR UNDERREPRESENTED FILMMAKERS
ANTHONY WAS COCHAIR OF THE
SEATTLE FILM TASK FORCE, LEADIN
PRIORITIES AND CREATING
OPPORTUNITIES FOR RACIAL,
FINANCIAL, EQUITY AND EDUCATION
FOR UNDERSERVED AND
UNDERPRIVILEGED. ANTHONY
DIRECTED AND FILMED HIS FIRST
FEATURE DOCUMENTARY, A FILM
FOLLOWING BLACK LIVES MATTER
PROTESTS THAT STARTED ON JUNE 1
2020, AFTER THE PUBLIC LYNCHING
OF GEORGE FLOYD. ANTHONY,
WELCOME.
>> THANK YOU. I AM HONORED TO
BE HERE. IT HAS BEEN A LONG
JOURNEY. BACK FIVE YEARS AGO,
WHEN WE TALKED ABOUT WHAT WE
CAN DO, WHAT THE CITY CAN DO
WITH THE FILMMAKERS HERE. SINCE
THEN I BECAME COCHAIR, AS
MENTIONED OF THE FILM TASK FORC
AND THIS IS OUR VISION TO BE A
THE ROUNDTABLE WITH LIKE-MINDED
INDIVIDUALS. I AM HAPPY TO
THAT AS WE BUILD THIS
INFRASTRUCTURE OF FILMMAKING,
THAT WE ARE INCLUSIVE OF PEOPLE
WHO LOOK LIKE ME AND REPRESENT
SEATTLE AS IT SHOULD BE. SO I
AM IN EDUCATION MOSTLY,
CURRENTLY. SERVED AS
CINEMATOGRAPHER FOR A LONG
TIME, BUT I WANT TO BRING OTHER
FOLKS IN. SO I STARTED WORKING
WITH ORGANIZATIONS THAT ARE
BIPOC FOCUSED AND GENDER AND
LGBTQ FOCUSED, JUST SO I CAN B
PART OF MORE DIVERSE FILM. MY
FIRST 20 YEARS WERE PRETTY
TOUGH. IT WAS JUST ME ALONG ON
THE JOURNEY AND I WANT TO MAKE
SURE PEOPLE WHO GET INTO THE
FILM INDUSTRY FEEL COMFORTABLE
AND FEEL LIKE THEY HAVE
LIKE-MINDED FOLKS, NOT JUST FRO
THE FILMMAKING ASPECT, BUT
CULTURALLY. SO I AM HOPING TO
DO THAT WITH THE WORK WITH
WOMEN GROWTH CENTER, THROUGHOUT
THE TOWN. WITH THE EDUCATIONAL
COMPONENT, WITH SFI. SEATTLE
FILM INSTITUTE. ALSO THE HIGH
SCHOOLS THAT I PARTNER WITH IN
THE PAST. A NUMBER OF HIGH
SCHOOLS HAVE A DIVERSE STUDENT
BODY AND I LOVE TO SHOW THEM
THROUGH THE PATHWAY. WITH
AMAZON. SO I AM VERY HONORED TO
BE HERE. ALSO ACROSS THE NATIO
AND ACROSS THE WORLD IN ATLANT
AND GEORGIA AND L.A. I LOVE
BEING EXCITED ABOUT WHAT IS
GOING ON IN SEATTLE, BECAUSE
THEY HAVE LARGE PRODUCTIONS
THAT NEED A HOME, SO I AM GLAD
TO BE HERE. THANK YOU FOR
VOLUNTEERING ME.
>> THANK YOU, ANTHONY.
COUNCILMEMBER NELSON, BACK TO
YOU.
>> I WANT TO NOTE THAT ANTHONY,
ON SEPTEMBER 20, YOU STAYED
UNTIL THE END OF THE FULL
COUNCIL MEETING. YOU GAVE
COMMENT AND STAYED UNTIL THE EN
BECAUSE THIS WAS THE LAST ITEM.
SO TRULY COMMITTED AND YOU ARE
THERE ON STAGE WHEN WE HAD OUR
PRESS CONFERENCE TO RALLY
SUPPORT THAT AFTERNOON. ALL
RIGHT, I WILL NOT SAY ANYTHING
MORE AND I WILL FIRST OPEN THE
FLOOR. I DID NOT SAY ANYTHING A
ALL. I WOULD LIKE TO GIVE MY
COLLEAGUES A CHANCE TO ASK
QUESTIONS OR MAKE COMMENTS. SO
AM LOOKING AT THE SCREEN. NOT
SEEING ANY. I WANT TO REITERAT
SOMETHING THAT WAS SAID BEFORE.
THE TIME IS NOW HERE. BECAUSE
FORMING A FILM COMMISSION, WE
ALREADY KNOW WHAT THAT WILL DO,
BUT THAT IS BUILDING ON THE
FOUNDATION SET BY THE INCREASED
INCENTIVES. AND ALL OF THE
INVESTMENTS THAT KING COUNTY
HAS BEEN MAKING IN FILM, IN THE
CREATIVE INDUSTRY IN HARBOUR
ISLAND STUDIOS. THIS IS KIND OF
A THIRD STEP IN REALLY PUTTING
SEATTLE BACK ON THE MAP AND I
WANT TO NOTE THAT ONE THING
THAT IS NOT ON THE LIST OF
THINGS THE FILM COMMISSION IS
GOING TO DO AND THE DUTIES ON
PAPER IS THAT YOU ALL HAVE
NETWORKS AND YOU GO TO
CONFERENCES AND YOU HANG OUT
WITH PEOPLE AND YOU TRAVEL, ET
CETERA. SO YOUR VERY PRESENCE,
INFORMAL NETWORKS AND
CONNECTIONS, WILL HELP ELEVATE
SEATTLE FILM. LET THE REST OF
THE COUNTRY KNOW WHAT IS
HAPPENING IN SEATTLE AND YOU
WILL BE ABLE TO BRING BEST
PRACTICES BACK. SO I THINK
THERE IS NO UNDERSTATING THE
IMPORTANCE OF THOSE INFORMAL
CONNECTIONS AS WELL AS YOUR
TRAINING AND KNOWLEDGE AND YEAR
OF EXPERIENCE, SO THANK YOU
VERY MUCH. COUNCILMEMBER
HERBOLD, WOULD YOU LIKE TO SAY
ANYTHING?
>> I WOULD, THANK YOU SO MUCH.
WANT TO THANK YOU, MADAM CHAIR.
I ALREADY THANKED THE
COMMISSIONERS FOR THEIR
WILLINGNESS TO SERVE, BUT I
REALLY APPRECIATE YOUR WORK. I
SEEING THIS FILM COMMISSION --
BACK IN 2019, I REQUESTED
RECOMMENDATIONS FROM OED AND I
HAS QUICKLY INCREASED SINCE
THEN. EXCUSE ME. WITH CREATIVE
INDUSTRIES BEING THE HARDEST HI
BY THE PANDEMIC. EVERYBODY'S
WORK MOVED FORWARD, THIS
LEGISLATION. CONFIRMING OUR
FIRST COHORT OF FILM
COMMISSIONERS. I JUST WANT TO
SAY, IT WAS GREAT TO HEAR ALL
OF THE FANTASTIC WORK BEING DON
IN SEATTLE AFTER ALL OF THE
HULLABALOO ABOUT "THE LAST OF
US" TAKING PLACE IN SEATTLE BU
BEING FILMED IN VANCOUVER. IT
IS REALLY WONDERFUL TO HEAR THE
FLIPSIDE OF THAT PICTURE, WHIC
IS A LOT OF REALLY FANTASTIC
WORK THAT IS HAPPENING RIGHT
HERE IN SEATTLE, SO THANKS
AGAIN.
>> THANK YOU FOR THAT AND THANK
YOU ALSO FOR YOUR EARLY WORK.
YOUR WORK PRECEDED MINE WITH TH
FILM TASK FORCE AND EVEN BEFORE
THAT, SO THANK YOU VERY MUCH
FOR YOUR ADVOCACY AND LEADERSHI
AS WELL. ALL RIGHT, I DON'T SE
ANY OTHER QUESTIONS OR COMMENTS
NO MORE HANDS RAISED. I WILL
SIMPLY ASK, NOW THAT WE HAVE
COME THIS FAR, CHRIS, WHAT IS
THE NEXT STEP? DO WE HAVE ANY
MEETINGS SCHEDULED? WHAT
HAPPENS NEXT? AND THEN WE GO ON
TO A VOTE.
>> THE NEXT STEP WILL BE THE
VOTE HERE TO MOVE THE
COMMISSIONERS FORWARD AND A FUL
CITY COUNCIL VOTE TO APPROVE
THE NOMINATIONS, WHICH IS
EXPECTED NEXT WEEK. THE WEEK
AFTER THAT, WE ARE GOING TO BE
STARTING WORK. HOPEFULLY WE AR
SLATED FOR THE FIRST
COMMISSIONER MEETING, THE LAST
WEEK OF APRIL. SO EVERYONE WILL
SEE EACH OTHER AGAIN SOON AND
THEN THERE IS ONE PUBLIC,
ACTUALLY NOT PUBLIC, BUT THE
VERY FIRST EVENT THAT THE
SEATTLE FILM COMMISSION WILL BE
PART OF HIS HOSTING THE LOCAL
FILMMAKERS MEET AND GREET. WHIC
SIFF HOSTS EVERY YEAR, SO THAT
WILL BE THE FIRST PUBLIC
OPPORTUNITY. FROM THERE THE
COMMISSION WILL BUILD ITS PLAN
AND CONTINUE MOVING FORWARD.
>> EXCELLENT, MAKING MY POINT
THAT WE ARE NOT WASTING ANY TIM
AS LONG AS APPOINTMENTS GO WELL
OKAY, I WILL NOW MOVE THESE
PIECES OF LEGISLATION. I MOVE
THAT THE COMMITTEE RECOMMENDS
CONFIRMATION OF APPOINTMENT
02510, 02511, 02512, 02513,
02514, 02515, 02516, 02517,
02518, AND 02519. IS THERE A
SECOND?
>> SECOND.
>> THANK YOU VERY MUCH. IT HAS
BEEN MOVED AND SECONDED TO
RECOMMEND CONFIRMATION -- ARE
THERE ANY COMMENTS? SEEING NONE
WILL THE CLERK PLEASE CALL THE
ROLE ON THE COMMITTEE
RECOMMENDATION TO CONFIRM
APPOINTMENTS 02510 THROUGH 19.
GO AHEAD.
>> COUNCIL PRESIDENT JUAREZ.
>> AYE.
>> COUNCILMEMBER SAWANT.
>> YES.
>> COUNCILMEMBER HERBOLD.
>> YES.
>> CHAIR NELSON.
>> AYE.
>> THE MOTION CARRIES AND
COMMITTEE RECOMMENDING THAT
APPOINTMENTS BE CONFIRMED AND
FORWARDED TO THE CITY COUNCIL
FOR FINAL CONSIDERATION ON APRI
18 AND YOU DON'T HAVE TO BE
PRESENT. IT WILL BE PART OF TH
CONSENT AGENDA, SO THIS WILL NO
BE CALLED OUT INDIVIDUALLY
DURING THAT MEETING. SO WITH
THAT, THANK YOU VERY MUCH FOR
COMING TODAY. CONGRATULATIONS
AND HERE WE GO. I APPRECIATE
YOUR DEDICATION AND PASSION.
>> A FULL HOUSE FOR THAT
AUDIENCE VOTE. ALL RIGHT, WILL
THE CLERK PLEASE READ ITEM 11
INTO THE RECORD.
>> AGENDA ITEM 11, COUNCIL BILL
120537, AND ORDINANCE RELATING
TO DOWNTOWN BUSINESS IMPROVEMEN
AREAS, ESTABLISHING A NEW 10
YEAR BUSINESS IMPROVEMENT AREA
TO BE KNOWN AS THE METROPOLITAN
IMPROVEMENT DISTRICT, LEVYING
SPECIAL ASSESSMENTS ON OWNERS
OF COMMERCIAL PROPERTY,
MULTIFAMILY RESIDENTIAL
PROPERTY, AND MIXED-USE PROPERT
WITHIN THE AREA, PROVIDING FOR
THE DEPOSIT OF REVENUES AND A
SPECIAL ACCOUNT AND
EXPENDITURES, PROVIDING FOR
COLLECTION OF PENALTIES,
PROVIDING FOR THE ESTABLISHMENT
OF AN ADVISORY BOARD, PROVIDIN
AN IMPLEMENTATION AGREEMENT WIT
THE PROGRAM MANAGER,
DIS-ESTABLISHING THE EXISTING
METROPOLITAN IMPROVEMENT
DISTRICT THAT WAS ESTABLISHED
BY ORDINANCE 124175, SUSPENDING
THE ISSUANCE OF ASSESSMENTS AND
PROVIDING FOR THE CONTINUITY OF
SERVICES UNDER THE 2013 M.I.D.,
PROVIDING THE TRANSFER OF
REMAINING FUNDS AND RATIFYING
AND CONFIRMING CERTAIN PRIOR
ACTS. PUBLIC HEARING, BRIEFING,
AND DISCUSSION.
>> THANK YOU VERY MUCH. BECAUSE
I AM CHAIR I GET TO DO THIS,
WHICH IS TO SAY I REALLY
APPRECIATE THE WORK OF CHRIS
SWENSON, WHO IS ALL THINGS FOR
THE OFFICE OF ECONOMIC
DEVELOPMENT AND ALSO MY CHIEF O
STAFF. BOTH OF THEM TOGETHER,
WITH CHASE FROM THE MAYOR'S
OFFICE, REALLY RAN A
DISCIPLINED, RIGOROUS SELECTION
PROCESS. I REGRET NOT SAYING
THAT WHEN I SHOULD HAVE. ALL
RIGHT, SO IMAGINE DOWNTOWN WIT
NO LIGHTS DURING THE HOLIDAY
SEASON. IMAGINE THE PARK WITH
NONE OF THOSE HUMAN SIZED GAMES
IMAGINE NO ACQUISITION OF THE
PUBLIC SPACES ANYWHERE IN OUR
DOWNTOWN CORE AND ALSO THINK
ABOUT -- LET'S SEE, I HAVE THE
NUMBERS. THINK ABOUT THE 2400
POUNDS OF ILLEGALLY DUMPED
MATERIAL FOR THE 500 GRAFFITI
TAGS OR THE 105 GALLONS OF TRAS
THAT WERE REMOVED LAST MONTH.
IMAGINE THAT WAS NOT REMOVED
LAST MONTH OR THAT YOUR UNCLE
VISITING FROM OUT OF TOWN COUL
NOT FIND HIS HOTEL AND NOBODY
WAS THERE TO HELP HIM FIGURE OU
WHERE TO GO. WELL THAT, TO ME,
IS DOWNTOWN WITHOUT THE M.I.D.
AND SO WHAT WE ARE GOING TO BE
DOING TODAY IS BRIEFLY DISCUSSE
-- WE WILL BE DISCUSSING THE
LEGISLATION THAT WILL
REAUTHORIZE, FOR ANOTHER 10
YEARS, THE M.I.D. AND ALL OF
THE SERVICES THAT I JUST
MENTIONED. AND I JUST HAVE TO
SAY THAT WE HAVE PROPERTY OWNER
WHO ARE WILLINGLY CHARGING
THEMSELVES TO CONTRIBUTE TO TH
STEWARDSHIP OF DOWNTOWN, FOR
THE BENEFIT NOT JUST OF THE
NEIGHBORS THAT LIVE THERE, BUT
FOR THE WORKERS AND VISITORS AN
EVERYBODY ELSE WHO PASSES
THROUGH DOWNTOWN. SO I THINK
THE CITY SHOULD BE GRATEFUL.
BUSINESS IMPROVEMENT AREAS ARE
DESIGNED TO PROVIDE SUPPLEMENTA
SERVICES, BUT IN FACT, OFTEN
TIMES THEY END UP PROVIDING TH
LION SHARE OF CITY SERVICES THA
REALLY MAKE THE NEIGHBORHOODS
LIVABLE AND IMPROVE THE QUALIT
OF LIFE FOR EVERYBODY ELSE. SO
I WANTED TO MAKE THAT NOTE THAT
I AM PERSONALLY VERY GRATEFUL
BECAUSE YOU DO SO MUCH, FOR SO
MANY PEOPLE. OUR REGIONAL
ECONOMY AND THE RESIDENTS THAT
LIVE THERE. I DON'T KNOW, IT IS
NOT EASY FOR PEOPLE IN TVLAND
TO SEE THE AUDIENCE, BUT WE HAV
A FULL HOUSE. LOTS OF
AMBASSADORS IN BRIGHT YELLOW
AND SO I REALLY WANT TO THANK
YOU ALL FOR COMING AND SHOWING
YOUR COMMITMENT TO THE
REAUTHORIZATION IN PERSON. I
APPRECIATE THAT. OKAY, THOSE
ARE ALL OF MY INTRODUCTORY
REMARKS. THANK YOU VERY MUCH
AND WE WILL BEGIN WITH THE
PRESENTATION, SO OUR PRESENTERS
CAN COME TO THE TABLE IF THEY
ARE HERE. COME ON UP AND WE'VE
GOT CENTRAL STAFF AND
LEADERSHIP FROM THE DOWNTOWN
SEATTLE ASSOCIATION AND AFTER
THE PRESENTATION WE WILL PROCEE
TO THE PUBLIC HEARING. AND THI
IS ON PURPOSE, IN CASE THERE
ARE THINGS YOU FEEL WERE NOT
MENTIONED IN THE PRESENTATIONS.
YOU ARE WELCOME TO ADD. AND I
WANT TO NOTE THAT WE ARE JOINED
BY COUNCILMEMBER LEWIS, WHO
REPRESENTS DOWNTOWN. ALL RIGHT
YOU ARE WELCOME TO BEGIN.
>> OKAY. THANK YOU, COMMITTEE
CHAIR NELSON AND OTHER MEMBERS
OF THE COMMITTEE FOR INVITING U
TO MEET WITH YOU THIS MORNING.
AM LISA NITZE AND I CHAIR THE
METROPOLITAN IMPROVEMENT
DISTRICT. WE COME BEFORE YOU
TODAY TO SEEK YOUR SUPPORT FOR
REAUTHORIZATION OF THE
METROPOLITAN IMPROVEMENT
DISTRICT FOR ANOTHER 10 YEARS.
IT HAS BEEN AN HONOR TO LEAD TH
M.I.D. OVER THE PAST COUPLE OF
YEARS AND TO EXPERIENCE,
IN-DEPTH, THE EXTENT OF THE
IMPACT IT HAS EVERY DAY AS YOU
WERE REFERRING TO EARLIER, IN
SUPPORTING THE RETURN OF
DOWNTOWN POST COVID AND
ADDRESSING THE NEEDS OF SAFETY,
CLEANLINESS, ECONOMIC AND
SOCIAL VITALITY. THE DOWNTOWN
COMMUNITY HAS BEEN WORKING ON
THE 10 YEAR RENEWAL FOR THE LAS
YEAR. IT HAS BEEN GRATIFYING TO
SEE THE TREMENDOUS SUPPORT FRO
ALL PAYER TYPES. CONDO OWNERS,
APARTMENTS, HOTELS, OFFICES,
RETAIL, AND VOLUNTARY PAYERS
SUCH AS THE SEATTLE ART MUSEUM.
WHILE WE NEEDED WRITTEN SUPPORT
FROM 60% OF THE BASE, WE'VE
ALREADY RECEIVED OVER 67% AND
CLIMBING. WHEN MEETING WITH
RATEPAYERS, WHAT I HAVE MOST
COMMONLY HEARD IS A LONG THE
LINES OF HEAVEN HELP DOWNTOWN I
THE M.I.D. DISAPPEARS. THERE I
STRONG INTEREST IN NOT ONLY
SUSTAINING THE WORK, BUT
REQUESTS TO CONSIDER FURTHER
EXPANDING THE SERVICE BOUNDARIE
AND THE NUMBER OF PUBLIC PARKS
IT IS MANAGING. IT WOULD BE
DIFFICULT TO GO ANYWHERE
DOWNTOWN WITHOUT SEEING THE
YELLOW VESTS OF THE M.I.D.
AMBASSADORS, MANY OF WHOM ARE
HERE TODAY, WHICH IS SO GREAT.
THEY'RE CLEANING THE STREETS,
DIRECTING TOURISTS, ASSISTING
WITH DISTURBANCES AND THE
AMBASSADOR OUTREACH WITH THOSE
ON THE STREETS NOW HAS THE
M.I.D. PARTNERING WITH THE CITY
HOPING, THE THIRD AVENUE PRODUC
AND LEVERAGING PRIVATE SECTOR
RESOURCES TO FURTHER ACHIEVE
LONG-TERM, PUBLIC SECTOR GOALS
AROUND HOMELESSNESS, SAFETY, AN
SECURITY. SO TODAY WE ARE GOING
TO BE COVERING WITH YOU THE
M.I.D. SERVICES, ADJUSTMENTS TO
SERVICES OVER TIME DUE TO THE
EVOLUTION OF NEEDS DOWNTOWN,
THE BUSINESS PLAN, THE
REAUTHORIZATION PROCESS AND
TIMELINE, PROPOSED BUDGET AND
RATEPAYER ASSESSMENT FORMULA AN
WE WILL SHOW YOU A QUICK VIDEO
THAT WILL START NOW OR PERHAP
AFTER YOU TELL US WHETHER WE CA
START IT.
>> ONE MOMENT. I WILL LEAVE IT
UP TO PHILLIP SIT OF THE OFFIC
OF ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT. YOU AR
GOING TO PRESENT SOMETHING THAT
KIND OF CONTEXTUALIZES WHAT YO
DO IN THE CITY, ET CETERA. WOUL
YOU PREFER TO PRESENT THAT NOW
OR WOULD YOU LIKE TO WAIT
AFTERWARDS?
>> I THINK FOR THIS
PRESENTATION, OED WAS GOING TO
TAKE THE FIRST EIGHT MINUTES AN
THEN GIVE THE FLOOR OVER TO THE
M.I.D. SO I THINK, STEVEN, YOU
WILL BE DRIVING THE SLIDES
PRESENTATION, CORRECT? OED WILL
PROVIDE A HIGH-LEVEL OVERVIEW O
THE PROGRAM AND OUR REVIEW
PROCESS IN REGARDS TO THIS
M.I.D. RENEWAL.
>> AND I AM SORRY, I SHOULD HAV
INTERJECTED SOONER.
>> STEVEN, I THINK THIS IS THE
M.I.D. PORTION OF THE
PRESENTATION. CAN WE PULL UP TH
OED ONE? THANK YOU. IN THE
INTERIM I WILL LET OUR DEPUTY
DIRECTOR REINTRODUCE ARE
SEVERAL QUICK BECAUSE WE DO HAV
A NEW AUDIENCE BEHIND US.
>> THANK YOU. GOOD MORNING,
COMMITTEE CHAIR NELSON AND
COMMITTEE MEMBERS AND
COUNCILMEMBERS. I AM PREETI
SHRIDHAR, INTERIM DEPUTY
DIRECTOR OF OED AND THIS MORNIN
WE WILL BE DISCUSSING THE
METROPOLITAN IMPROVEMENT
DISTRICT. M.I.D. RENEWAL. THE
M.I.D., LIKE MANY OF OUR
BUSINESS DISTRICT ORGANIZATIONS
PLAYS A CRITICAL ROLE IN
SUPPORTING COMMUNITIES,
ESPECIALLY DURING THE PANDEMIC.
DOWNTOWN HAS BEEN ESPECIALLY HI
HARD AND OED WORKS WITH
COMMUNITIES TO SUPPORT DOWNTOWN
THE REVITALIZATION AND THE
RENEWAL OF M.I.D. WILL SUPPORT
EFFORTS TO CREATE OPPORTUNITIES
FOR NEW AND EXISTING BUSINESSE
AND TO FUND ACTIVITIES FOR
VISITORS, FAMILIES, RESIDENTS,
WORKERS, AND HAVE A CLEAN AND
WELCOMING DOWNTOWN CORE. I WIL
TURN IT OVER TO PHILLIP SIT, OU
BUSINESS IMPROVEMENT ADVOCATE,
AND HE WILL GET US THROUGH OUR
PRESENTATION. WE ALREADY HAVE
THAT ON-SCREEN OF THE OVERALL
RENEWAL PROCESS AND THEN WE
WILL TURN IT OVER TO OUR
REPRESENTATIVES FROM THE M.I.D.
AND THE DOWNTOWN SEATTLE
ASSOCIATION, WHO DIG DEEPER
INTO PROVIDING SPECIFICS. THANK
YOU.
>> ALL RIGHT, WITH THAT, GOOD
MORNING COMMITTEE CHAIR AND
COUNCILMEMBERS. MY NAME IS
PHILLIP SIT. I AM THE ADVISOR
FOR THE OFFICE OF ECONOMIC
DEVELOPMENT. NEXT SLIDE, THANK
YOU. JUST AN OVERVIEW OF THE
CURRENT PROGRAM. WE CURRENTLY
HAVE 11 BUSINESS DISTRICTS THA
ARE UNDER THIS MODEL AND AS
MENTIONED THEY PROVIDE A NUMBER
OF ENHANCED SERVICES AND
PROGRAMS TO OUR NEIGHBORHOOD
BUSINESS DISTRICTS. AS OF THIS
LAST FISCAL YEAR, OVER $30
MILLION ANNUALLY. I THINK ONE O
THE VALUE PROPOSITIONS FOR THE
COMMUNITY IS THAT THE FUNDS ARE
LOCALLY MANAGED AND CONTROLLED.
SO A LEVEL OF SELF-DETERMINATIO
THAT A LOT OF BUSINESS
DISTRICTS HAVE TAKEN NOTE OF
DURING THE HEIGHT OF THE
PANDEMIC. A COUPLE OF QUICK
EXAMPLES. I THINK WE SEE AND
WORK LIKE THE BALLARD ALLIANCE,
WORKING WITH THE DEPARTMENT OF
TRANSPORTATION, CREATING THE
PERMITS AND WHAT MAKES SENSE FO
SMALL BUSINESSES AND RESIDENTS
AND ALSO DISTRIBUTING PPE, WHE
THERE WAS A LIMITED SUPPLY CHAI
ISSUE DURING 2020 AND 2021.
WITH THAT AS WE EMERGE OUT OF
THE PANDEMIC, OED IS WORKING
WITH A LOT OF NEIGHBORHOODS THA
ARE INTERESTED IN TRYING TO
REVISIT THE CONCEPT. NEXT SLIDE
JUST A HIGH-LEVEL OVERVIEW IN
TERMS OF THE DEVELOPMENT
PROCESS. IN TERMS OF THE CITY
AND PUBLIC-PRIVATE PARTNERSHIP
IS THAT PROPONENTS DO NEED TO
DEMONSTRATE 60% OF SUPPORT. IF
THERE IS A RATEPAYER THAT
REPRESENTS OVER 25% OF
ASSESSMENT, CITY POLICY DOES
REQUIRE A HIGHER LEVEL SUPPORT.
IN THIS SITUATION WE DID NOT
HAVE ONE RATEPAYER THAT WAS OVE
25%. THE REVIEW PROCESS
INCLUDES OED, TREASURY, THE CIT
ATTORNEY'S OFFICE AND THE
CLERK'S OFFICE AND WE HAVE BEE
WORKING INTERNALLY OVER THE LAS
6 TO 8 MONTHS REVIEWING THIS
PROPOSAL. LASTLY THE CITY
AUTHORIZATION LIVES WITH THE
CITY COUNCIL IN REVIEWING THESE
PROPOSALS FROM COMMUNITIES. NEX
SLIDE. IN TERMS OF THE M.I.D.,
THEY WERE ALLEGEDLY ESTABLISHED
IN 2013, AS MENTIONED BY LISA.
THEY RECEIVED 67% OF SUPPORT AN
ASSESSMENT POSITIONS.
PETITIONS. NEXT SLIDE. THERE I
A MODEST EXPANSION TO THE
M.I.D. BOUNDARIES, WHICH THE
PROPONENTS WILL EXPAND ON
SHORTLY, BUT IT DOES ADD AN
ADDITIONAL 20 PARCELS TO THE
RATEPAYER BASE AND IT DOES ALIG
WITH HISTORICAL PIONEER SQUARE
BOUNDARIES. NEXT SLIDE. IN
TERMS OF THE ASSESSMENT FORMULA
I WILL NOTE THAT THEY ARE
ESTABLISHED ON DATA FROM KING
COUNTY. BASED ON TWO FACTORS,
ONE, AVAILABLE TO THE GENERAL
PUBLIC AND ANNUALLY UPDATED. W
HAVE CREATED AN MOU WITH THE
KING COUNTY DEPARTMENT OF
ASSESSMENTS IN ORDER TO BETTER
CAPTURE THIS DATA ON AN ANNUAL
BASIS TO SUPPORT NOT ONLY
TRANSPARENCY, BUT KEEPING TRACK
OF THE EVER-CHANGING LANDSCAPE
OF DOWNTOWN PROPERTY OWNERSHIP.
AS MENTIONED AGAIN, THE
PROPONENTS WILL GET MORE INTO
THE DETAILS, BUT THESE ARE THE
HIGH-LEVEL DETAILS IN TERMS OF
HOW ASSESSMENTS WILL BE
GENERATED AND HOW THAT WILL
IMPACT DIFFERENT RATEPAYERS.
THE LAST BULLET I WANT TO NOTE
IS THAT FOR RECENT RENEWALS IN
THE DISTRICT AND OTHER PROPERT
DATA, WE HAVE UPDATED A NUMBER
OF THINGS TO ENSURE EQUITABLE
ASSESSMENTS ARE BEING
DEVELOPED, BOTH BY THE
PROPONENTS AND UNDER CITY
REVIEW. FOR EXAMPLE, BUILDINGS
ARE ASSESSED AT MARKET VALUE.
THEY DON'T GET A NONPROFIT
DISCOUNT. BUILDINGS THAT ARE
LAND LEASING FROM STATE AND
LOCAL GOVERNMENTS ARE ASSESSED
AS FULL RATEPAYERS AND NOT PART
OF THE EXCEPTION CLASS. BUT I
WILL DEFER TO THE PROPONENTS
ONCE THEY GET TO THEIR SLIDES O
THE GRANULAR DETAILS. NEXT
SLIDE. IN TERMS OF PROGRAMMING,
I THINK WE MENTIONED A LOT OF
THE THINGS THAT FOLKS IN THIS
ROOM DO FROM THE AMBASSADOR
PROGRAM TO MANAGING PUBLIC
PARKS, IN PARTNERSHIP WITH THE
CITY. AS MENTIONED AS WE GO
THROUGH KIND OF DOWNTOWN
REVITALIZATION, THE M.I.D. WIL
PLAY A CRITICAL ROLE IN THAT
WORK. NEXT SLIDE. THIS IS KIND
OF A CONTRAST IN TERMS OF THE
BUDGET FROM THIS CURRENT FISCAL
YEAR TO THE NEXT FISCAL YEAR,
IF THE M.I.D. IS SUCCESSFULLY
RENEWED IN LARGE BUCKETS. FOR
THE PURPOSE OF TIME I THINK WE
WERE GOING TO KICK OFF --
STEVEN, NEXT SLIDE, PLEASE --
WE WERE HOPING TO HOLD QUESTION
UNTIL THE M.I.D. HAS A CHANCE T
PRESENT THEIR PRESENTATION,
JUST IN ORDER TO HAVE SOME OF
THE QUESTIONS THAT MIGHT COME U
BE ANSWERED BY THEIR
PRESENTATION.
>> THANK YOU AND THANK YOU FOR
ALLOWING THIS TO GO FORWARD,
BECAUSE A LOT OF PEOPLE OUT
THERE WHO DON'T UNDERSTAND OR
ARE NOT FAMILIAR WITH WHAT IS A
BIA NOW HAVE THAT INFORMATION.
COUNCILMEMBER HERBOLD.
>> THANK YOU. I UNDERSTAND WE
WILL GET INTO MORE DETAILS WITH
THE FOLLOWING PRESENTATION, BUT
I DID HAVE A COUPLE OF
QUESTIONS I WAS HOPING YOU COUL
HELP WITH, AS FAR AS LEGISLATIV
REQUIREMENTS FOR THE PROPOSED
BOUNDARY EXPANSION. I
UNDERSTAND IT WOULD ADD AN
ADDITIONAL 20 PROPERTIES AND I
UNDERSTAND THAT THERE ARE
THRESHOLD REQUIREMENTS THAT
REQUIE 65 DAYS I'M SORRY,
REQUIRE A THRESHOLD OF 60% OF
POTENTIAL RATEPAYERS SUPPORTIN
IT. IS THERE A THRESHOLD
REQUIREMENT FOR THE ADDITIONAL
EXPANSION, SEPARATE FROM THE
ENTIRE AREA OR IS THE THRESHOL
REQUIREMENT FOR THE ENTIRE
AREA? JUST WANTING TO
UNDERSTAND A LITTLE BIT MORE OF
WHAT WE ARE HEARING FROM THOSE
20 NEW PROPERTIES. WHETHER OR
NOT IT IS 60% OF THEM THAT ARE
SUPPORTIVE OR SOME OTHER
RESPONSE AND OUTCOME FROM THE
IDEA OF EXPANDING THAT BOUNDARY
>> THANK YOU, COUNCILMEMBER
HERBOLD FOR YOUR QUESTION. IN
SHORT THERE IS NOT A SEPARATE
PROCESS IN TERMS OF PETITIONS
FOR THE EXPANSION AREA. BUT
EXPANSION OF BOUNDARIES OR
REDUCTION OF BOUNDARIES ARE
TYPICALLY BASED ON COMMUNITY
INQUIRY AND WANTS AND NEEDS. I
WILL TURN IT OVER TO LISA AND
JOHN TO ANSWER THAT QUESTION
BECAUSE I KNOW THEY HAVE BEEN I
LONG-TERM DISCUSSION ABOUT
SUBSETS.
>> I WOULD ALSO LIKE TO ADD
THAT WE HAVE OTHER PRESENTERS
HERE, SO LET'S INTRODUCE
EVERYONE AND THEN WHOEVER CAN
FIELD THAT QUESTION THE BEST IS
FREE TO GO AHEAD. SCOTT OR
BRIAN, WOULD YOU LIKE TO
INTRODUCE YOURSELF?
>> WHILE I HAVE INTRODUCED
MYSELF. I AM LISA NITZE AND YOU
CAN INTRODUCE YOURSELF.
>> -- WHICH ACTED AS THE
PROGRAM MANAGER SINCE 1999. GOO
MORNING, COUNCILMEMBERS.
>> AND I AM BRIAN SCOTT WITH
PLANNING. I AM A CONSULTANT WHO
SPECIALIZES IN BUSINESS
IMPROVEMENT AREAS IN SEATTLE
AND ACROSS THE COUNTRY AND I
HAVE BEEN INVOLVED WITH BIA IN
SEATTLE SINCE 2007 AND WORKED O
MOST OF THEM. COUNCILMEMBER,
YOU ARE ACTUALLY CREATING A NEW
DISTRICT. THAT BEGINS AT THE
END OF THE CURRENT DISTRICT.
SO, IN FACT, YOU ARE NOT
EXPANDING THE DISTRICT. YOU AR
BASICALLY ENDING ONE DISTRICT
AND CREATING A NEW ONE, THE SAM
DAY. SO THE THRESHOLD WOULD
APPLY TO ALL OF THE RATEPAYERS.
BUT WE WOULD NOT HAVE DONE THI
IF THE RATEPAYERS IN THAT AREA
HAD NOT ASKED FOR THAT. I AM
SURE JOHN WILL HAVE THAT IN HI
PRESENTATION.
>> SO AT THIS POINT, WE HAD A
VIDEO THAT WE WOULD LOVE TO
SHOW THAT WILL ALSO HELP GET
EVERYBODY GROUNDED IN THE M.I.D
>> THANK YOU.
>> THANK YOU AGAIN,
COUNCILMEMBERS, FOR THE
OPPORTUNITY TO BE BEFORE YOU
TODAY. THANK YOU FOR YOUR STRON
SUPPORT OF THE PROGRAM AND
GETTING TO KNOW ITS ASPECTS AND
SERVICES OVER THE PAST SEVERAL
YEARS AND FOR THE STRONG SUPPOR
YOU PROVIDE TO OUR AMBASSADOR
TEAMS. WHEN YOU'RE OUT ON THE
STREETS YOU ARE EXPRESSING YOU
APPRECIATION AND I KNOW THEY
APPRECIATE THAT. IT IS MY
PRIVILEGE ON BEHALF OF OUR TEAM
AND THE BOARD TO SHARE WITH YOU
TODAY A LITTLE BIT OF THE BASIC
OF HOW THE M.I.D. HAS OPERATED
AND EXISTED AND WHAT IS BEING
PROPOSED IN THE NEW, 10 YEAR
PLAN. YOU FIRST FORMED THIS IN
1999. YOU LAST RENEWED IN 2013
FOR 10 YEARS AND AT THAT POINT
WE EXPANDED INTO THE BELLTOWN
NEIGHBORHOOD. THE CURRENT
FISCAL YEAR WILL GENERATE $15.
MILLION IN ASSESSMENTS TO
SUPPORT A VARIETY OF PROGRAMS.
COMMERCIAL PROPERTIES DOWNTOWN
INCLUDING RESIDENTIAL HOTELS,
RETAIL, SURFACE PARKING LOTS,
ARE ASSESSED. WE HAVE SOME
VOLUNTARY RATEPAYERS AS WELL.
THEY DO NOT ALLOW US TO ASSESS
GOVERNMENT-OWNED PROPERTIES, BU
WE HAVE THE PIKE PLACE MARKET,
THE CONVENTION CENTER, THE
SEATTLE ART MUSEUM AND PORT OF
SEATTLE THAT PAY ANNUAL
ASSESSMENTS ON A VOLUNTARY BASI
AND THE DOWNTOWN SEATTLE
ASSOCIATION HAS SERVED AS
PROGRAM MANAGER, EMPLOYER,
DELIVERER OF THESE SERVICES
SINCE THE FOUNDING IN 1999.
PHILLIP COVERED THE RANGE OF
SERVICES AND PROGRAMS BEING
DEPLOYED AND INVESTED IN AND I
WILL SPEAK A LITTLE BIT MORE ON
THE NEXT SLIDE TO THE EMPLOYMEN
OPPORTUNITY PROGRAM THAT WAS
REALLY AN INTENTIONAL ACT IN
1999 BY THE PROPERTY OWNERS AT
THE TIME AND HOW THIS WAS
STRUCTURED. SERVICES ARE
PROVIDED ACROSS 285 SQUARE
BLOCKS, SEVEN DAYS A WEEK. 362
DAYS A YEAR. WE ARE NOT ON THE
STREETS ON CHRISTMAS,
THANKSGIVING, OR JUNETEENTH, BU
THE OTHER DAYS OF THE YEAR WE
ARE OUT THERE FROM ABOUT 7:00
TO 9:00 AND THIS WORK IS
OVERSEEN BY A 35 MEMBER BOARD
OF PROPERTY OWNERS REPRESENTING
THE DIVERSITY OF PROPERTY TYPES
AND NEIGHBORHOODS WITHIN THE
DISTRICT. IF YOU LOOK ACROSS
DOWNTOWN AND OTHER URBAN
NEIGHBORHOODS THROUGHOUT NORTH
AMERICA AND THE U.S., YOU WILL
FIND DISTRICTS LIKE THIS THAT
ARE ASSEMBLING AND ASSESSING
BUSINESS OWNERS OR PROPERTY
OWNERS TO PROVIDE, AS YOU KNOW
COUNCILMEMBER NELSON,
SUPPLEMENTAL SERVICES TO WHAT
CITY GOVERNMENTS ARE PROVIDING
IN THESE URBAN AREAS. THERE ARE
ABOUT 2000 OR SO IN EXISTENCE
TODAY ACROSS NORTH AMERICA. YO
CAN GO TO THE NEXT SLIDE, STEVE
THANK YOU. IN 1999 IT WAS AN
INTENTIONAL ACT BY THE FOUNDIN
PROPERTY OWNERS TO SET THIS
PROGRAM UP IN A WAY THAT
PROVIDED EMPLOYMENT
OPPORTUNITIES TO THOSE WHO WER
STRUGGLING, LIVING ON THE
STREETS, OR JUSTICE INVOLVED.
WE HAVE OPERATED THE PROGRAM
THAT WAY FOR MORE THAN 20 YEARS
OUR STARTING WAGE AS OF JULY O
LAST YEAR IS $20 PER YEAR HOUR,
UP FROM $17 PER HOUR AND ALL OF
OUR TEAM MEMBERS RECEIVE THE
SAME ROBUST BENEFITS PACKAGE. I
DOESN'T MATTER WHAT YOU DO WITH
THE ORGANIZATION. IF YOU ARE A
FIRST WEEK AMBASSADOR OR SOMEON
ON THE EXECUTIVE TEAM, YOU GET
THE SAME BENEFIT PACKAGE. WE
ALSO PROVIDE HOUSING SUPPORT TO
TEAM MEMBERS THAT DON'T HAVE
STABLE HOUSING WHEN THEY COME T
WORK WITH US. SO THAT COULD
INCLUDE FIRST, LAST MONTH, AND
DEPOSIT AND AS FOLKS MAY
EXPERIENCE HOUSING INSTABILITY
DURING THEIR EMPLOYMENT WITH US
WE ARE ALSO PROVIDING THAT
SUPPORT. WE HAVE HAD A GREAT
RANGE OF EMPLOYMENT PARTNERSHIP
AND PIPELINES WITH OTHER
NONPROFITS IN OUR CITY,
INCLUDING THE SEATTLE MUNICIPAL
COURT. SO WE ARE VERY
INTENTIONAL ABOUT FORMING
DELIBERATE PARTNERSHIPS WITH
NONPROFIT ORGANIZATIONS THAT
MIGHT BE PROVIDING EMERGENCY
SHELTER OR HOUSING FOR
INDIVIDUALS THAT DON'T HAVE
EMPLOYMENT OPPORTUNITIES, BUT
ARE LOOKING FOR WORK, AND WE
HAVE JOBS TO OFFER. THE CREDIT
GOES TO THE PROPERTY OWNERS WH
ARE SUPER INTENTIONAL ABOUT HOW
THEY BUILT THIS. MORE THAN 20
YEARS AGO. THERE WERE A LOT OF
PROGRAMS ACROSS THE COUNTRY
THAT WE WILL CONTRACT WITH A
VENDOR TO PROVIDE ON STREET
SERVICES. WE BUILT AN IN-HOUSE
PROGRAM TO DELIVER BROAD BENEFI
FOR COMMUNITY MEMBERS. THE NEXT
SLIDE GIVES A SKETCH OF THE
TEN-YEAR IMPACT OF THE
INVESTMENTS AND WHAT SOME OF TH
SERVICES AND ACTIVITIES OF ADDE
UP TO. I WON'T GO THROUGH THESE
AND A LOT OF DETAIL, BUT YOU CA
SEE THAT IT IS A LOT. THESE ARE
THINGS THAT WOULD NOT BE
HAPPENING OVER THAT DECADE, WER
IT NOT FOR THESE INVESTMENTS.
THEN JUST TAKING A SNAPSHOT
MARCH, 2023. JUST LAST MONTH,
THIS IS WHAT WAS ACCOMPLISHED
BY OUR CLEANING TEAM. OUR SAFET
AND HOSPITALITY TEAM AND OUR
SECURITY TEAM AS WELL. YOU CAN
GO TO THE NEXT SLIDE, STEVEN,
SORRY. YOU CAN SEE AGAIN, THIS
IS JUST OVER A 30 DAY PERIOD I
THE MONTH OF MARCH AND WHAT HA
BEEN ACHIEVED. IN JUNE WE BEGA
CARRYING NARCAN AND YOU CAN SE
IN THE MONTH OF MARCH IT WAS
ADMINISTERED 17 TIMES. OUR
AMBASSADORS AND CONTRACTED
SECURITY TEAM CARRY THAT ON A
VOLUNTARY BASIS AND SINCE JUNE
WHEN THEY BEGAN CARRYING IT,
THROUGH MARCH, WE HAVE
ADMINISTERED NARCAN 111 TIMES
WITHIN THE DISTRICT. YOU CAN G
THROUGH THESE NEXT SLIDES,
STEVE. THIS IS JUST SOME OF TH
VISUAL EVIDENCE AND INDICATION
OF THE PROGRAMS AND SERVICES
THAT ARE BEING CARRIED OUT ON A
DAILY BASIS. FROM GRAFFITI
REMOVAL AND REMOVING ILLEGAL
DUMPS AND CLEANING UP ALLEYS.
OTHER SIDEWALK CLEANING AND ALS
THE PRODUCTION AND MANAGEMENT
OF A NUMBER OF EVENTS AND OTHER
PROGRAMMING ACTIVITIES, LIKE TH
ANNUAL TREE LIGHTING CELEBRATIO
IN DOWNTOWN. AND WE HAD, AS
NOTED EARLIER, A REALLY
SUCCESSFUL PARTNERSHIP WITH
SEATTLE PARKS DEPARTMENT OVER
THE LAST SEVEN OR SO YEARS TO
PROGRAM STAFF AND PROVIDE
ACTIVATION AND EVENTS IN
WESTLAKE PARK AND OCCIDENTAL
PARK. ALL OF THESE ACTIVITIES
AND INVESTMENTS OF TRANSLATED
INTO A SIGNIFICANT AMOUNT OF
GROWTH AND INVESTMENT IN
ECONOMIC OPPORTUNITY IN DOWNTOW
OVER THE LAST DECADE. WE HAVE
THE LARGEST RESIDENTIAL
POPULATION WE HAVE EVER HAD AT
ABOUT 104,000 PEOPLE LIVING
DOWNTOWN. 50% GROWTH OVER THE
LAST DECADE. EMPLOYMENT, JOBS
ASSIGNED TO DOWNTOWN OVER THE
LAST 10 YEARS HAS INCREASED BY
31%. WE HAVE A LOT OF NEW
INVESTMENT IN NEW BUILDINGS.
OFFICES, RETAIL, ET CETERA. A
42% INCREASE IN THE TOTAL
BUILDING SQUARE FOOTAGE
DOWNTOWN. DOWNTOWN ACCOUNTS FOR
ABOUT 50% OF THE CITY'S ECONOMI
ACTIVITY AND ABOUT HALF OF THE
PROPERTY VALUE WITHIN THE CITY
IS LOCATED IN THE THREE SQUARE
MILES THAT COMPRISE DOWNTOWN
SEATTLE. NOW WE CERTAINLY HAVE
OUR SHARE OF CHALLENGES AS WE
EMERGE FROM THE PANDEMIC. ABOUT
47% OF FOLKS ARE BACK IN THEIR
OFFICES, COMPARED TO THE SAME
MONTH IN 2019. WE HAD 500
CLOSURES OF GROUND-FLOOR
BUSINESSES. HOTEL OCCUPANCY IS
STILL 15 TO 20% SHORT OF WHERE
IT WAS, WHERE WE EXPECT IT TO B
IN THE SAME MONTH IN 2019. SO
WE STILL FACE SIGNIFICANT
CHALLENGES AND I KNOW THIS
COUNCIL IS VERY FAMILIAR WITH.
LAST YEAR, YOU CAN GO TO THE
NEXT SLIDE, STEVEN. AS WE
EMBARKED ON THE RENEWAL PROCESS
WITH THE BOARD, WE TOOK AN
OPPORTUNITY TO LOOK AT HOW
DOWNTOWN HAD CHANGED AND BEEN
IMPACTED BY THE PANDEMIC AND
WHAT ARE THE ADJUSTMENTS AND
SHIFTS IN OPERATIONS AND
INVESTMENTS IN PROGRAMS WE
NEEDED TO MAKE TO RESPOND AND
THE BOARD DIRECTED A NUMBER OF
CHANGES TO OUR OPERATIONS, WHIC
WE IMPLEMENTED OVER THE LAST
YEAR OR SO. A SIGNIFICANT ONE
WAS INVESTMENT IN UNARMED
SECURITY, PROVIDED BY A PRIVAT
CONTRACTOR THROUGH US. WE ARE
INVESTING ABOUT $2 MILLION PER
YEAR ANNUALLY IN THOSE SERVICES
AND WE MADE THE DECISION
LARGELY BASED ON THE INPUT AND
FEEDBACK OF OUR OWN AMBASSADOR
TEAMS, WHO WERE DEALING WITH A
SIGNIFICANT NUMBER OF VERBAL AN
PHYSICAL ASSAULTS ON THE STREET
OVER THE LAST 2 1/2 YEARS OR SO
IN FISCAL YEAR 2021, WE HAD 48
ASSAULTS ON OUR AMBASSADOR TEAM
AND SINCE WE HAVE INVESTED IN
SECURITY, WE HAVE SEEN THOSE
NUMBERS CUT IN HALF. OUR VERBA
AND PHYSICAL ASSAULTS ARE WAY
DOWN OVER THE LAST YEAR OR SO,
SINCE WE HAVE BEEN MAKING THIS
INVESTMENT. THE SECURITY TEAM
PROVIDES GENERAL PRESENCE AND
RESPONSE TO RATEPAYER CONCERNS
AND INTERFACES WITH THE SEATTLE
POLICE DEPARTMENT. THAT WAS A
SIGNIFICANT NEW INVESTMENT AND
CHANGE TO SERVICES IN RESPONSE
TO CONDITIONS ON THE STREET.
RESPONSE TO THE INPUT OF OUR
TEAM AND TO THE REALITIES OF A
SIGNIFICANT REDUCTION IN SEATTL
POLICE DEPARTMENT STAFFING IN
DOWNTOWN AND OTHER PARTS OF THE
CITY. WE ALSO INCREASED OUR US
OF ELECTRIC TRIKES. WE HAVE
ABOUT 40 OF THESE NOW, SO THEY
CAN MOVE ABOUT FASTER AND THEY
ALSO INCREASED THE JOB
SATISFACTION OF OUR TEAM MEMBER
WHO DON'T HAVE TWO DRAGON UP
THE HILL ANYMORE, BUT CAN MOVE
FASTER WITH ELECTRIC ASSISTANCE
WE EMBARKED ON A NEW RECRUITIN
AND RETENTION INITIATIVE. WE
HAVE 38 VACANCIES ON OUR
AMBASSADOR TEAM IN AUGUST OF
LAST YEAR. WE HAVE ABOUT FIVE
TODAY THANKS TO THE CHANGES WE
HAVE MADE TO HOW WE RECRUIT AND
RETAIN AND THE INCREASE WITH
OUR ENTRY LEVEL WAGE. WE HAVE
TAKEN OTHER STEPS WITH HOW WE
USE TECHNOLOGY AND INCREASE
ENGAGEMENT AND VISIBILITY WITH
CUSTOMERS, MAKING IT EASY FOR
FOLKS TO REPORT ISSUES AND
CONNECT WITH US AND BETTER
UNDERSTAND OUR SERVICES. AND I
NOTED EARLIER, THE DEPLOYMENT O
NARCAN IN RESPONSE TO THE
FENTANYL CRISIS IN DOWNTOWN.
OUR FOLKS CAN CARRY THAT ON A
VOLUNTARY BASIS IF THEY CHOOSE
AND MOST HAVE MADE THAT CHOICE
TO CARRY THAT, TO PROVIDE THAT
SERVICE TO FOLKS IN NEED ON TH
STREETS. THAT IS WHERE WE HAVE
BEEN. THE BASICS OF THE PROGRAM
AND SOME OF THE ADJUSTMENTS WE
HAVE MADE TO OUR SERVICES AS W
HAVE HEADED INTO RENEWAL AND I
WILL TURN IT OVER TO BRIAN
SCOTT, WHO SUPPORTED THE PROCES
TO DEVELOP THE NEXT 10 YEAR
BUSINESS PLAN, WORKING WITH OU
RATEPAYER BOARD AND HELPING US
CONNECT AND REACH OUT TO OTHER
INTERESTED STAKEHOLDERS WITHIN
THE COMMUNITY TO SHAPE THE
BUSINESS PLAN THAT IS BEING
PROPOSED AND IS BEFORE YOU
TODAY.
>> THANK YOU, JOHN. BRIAN SCOTT
AGAIN, I AM A CONSULTANT
SPECIALIZING IN BUSINESS
IMPROVEMENT AREAS AND I HELPED
WITH THE RENEWAL 10 YEARS AGO
AND WORKED WITH MOST OF THE
OTHER BUSINESS IMPROVEMENT AREA
IN SEATTLE. I AM SORRY I CAN'T
BE WITH YOU IN PERSON TODAY. I
AM IN ROCHESTER, NEW YORK,
HELPING THEM CREATE A BUSINESS
IMPROVEMENT AREA AS WE SPEAK.
THE PROCESS OVER THE LAST 18
MONTHS WAS GUIDED BY A RENEWAL
COMMITTEE OF PROPERTY OWNERS
AND MEMBERS OF THE M.I.D. BOARD
THIS INFORMED THE OUTREACH TO
RATEPAYERS, STAFF, STAKEHOLDERS
AND CITY STAFF, WHICH WE DID
EXTENSIVE OUTREACH TO INFORM
WHAT WE ARE DOING AND JOHN
TALKED ABOUT THE PROGRAM
ADJUSTMENTS MADE IMMEDIATELY IN
RESPONSE TO THAT INPUT. THE
BUSINESS PLAN THAT IS BEFORE YO
AND IS THE BASIS FOR THIS
RENEWAL WAS APPROVED BY THE
BOARD AND THE DOWNTOWN SEATTLE
ASSOCIATION BOARD IN OCTOBER.
WE BRIEFED THE BOARD THROUGHOUT
THE PROCESS AT MEETINGS THAT
WERE OPEN TO ALL RATEPAYERS.
PETITIONS WERE DISTRIBUTED TO
PROPERTY OWNERS. ALL OF THE
RATEPAYERS IN NOVEMBER AND AS
LISA SAID AT THE TOP OF THE
PRESENTATION, RATEPAYERS
REPRESENTING 67% OF THE
ASSESSMENT WERE RECEIVED, HAVE
BEEN RECEIVED. I HAVE BEEN DOIN
THIS FOR DECADES. I HAVE NEVER
SEEN A STRONG AND POSITIVE OF
RESPONSE AND RAPID RETURN OF
PETITIONS AS WE SAW THIS TIME.
AS JOHN MENTIONED ABOUT THE
FEEDBACK AND WHERE WOULD WE BE
WITHOUT THE M.I.D. WAS
PREVALENT. NEXT SLIDE. WE
FORMED A RENEWAL COMMITTEE WHIC
MET MONTHLY SINCE THE BEGINNIN
OF LAST YEAR. EMPLOYEE
ENGAGEMENT INCLUDED FACILITATED
MEETINGS AND FOCUS GROUPS AND
ONE-ON-ONE INTERVIEWS. A FOCUS
GROUP WITH PEER ORGANIZATIONS.
SEVERAL OF WHOM YOU HEARD FROM
AT THE TOP OF THIS MEETING.
MAILERS TO RATEPAYERS, PRINTED
AND ONLINE MATERIALS. ONLINE
SURVEYS AND NEWSLETTERS. AND
OUTREACH TO EACH OF THE PROPERT
OWNERS IN THE EXPANSION AREA I
PIONEER SQUARE. NEXT SLIDE. AS
SAID, SUPERSTRONG SUPPORT AND
APPRECIATION FOR M.I.D.
SERVICES, ESPECIALLY DURING THE
PANDEMIC. DOWNTOWN IS IN TOUGH
SHAPE, BUT WHERE WOULD WE BE
WITHOUT THE M.I.D.? A LOT OF
CONCERNS ABOUT SAFETY AND
SECURITY IN DOWNTOWN SEATTLE.
SURPRISING NO ONE. THE
HOMELESSNESS CRISIS. ITS IMPACT
ON DOWNTOWN. DESIRE FOR MORE
CLEANING SERVICES AND STRONG
DESIRE FOR THE CITY TO COMMIT T
PROVIDING A HIGHER LEVEL OF
CORE SERVICES DOWNTOWN. NEXT
SLIDE. JOHN.
>> THE M.I.D. CONTINUES TO
REVIEW ALL OF ITS PROGRAM,
SERVICES, AND BUDGET IN ORDER T
ASSURE IT IS ACHIEVING MAXIMUM
IMPACT. THAT IS ONE OF THE
THINGS I HAVE FOUND MOST
IMPRESSIVE ABOUT THIS
ORGANIZATION AND A NUMBER OF
NEW APPROACHES ARE BEING PILOTE
AND ADOPTED. PRIORITIES ARE
SHIFTING AND EVOLVING AS NEEDE
AND THESE ARE REFLECTED IN THE
BUSINESS PLAN THAT JOHN IS NOW
GOING TO ADDRESS.
>> THIS BUSINESS PLAN, COUNCIL
MEMBERS, IS WHAT WAS DISTRIBUTE
TO ABOUT 1250 PROPERTY OWNERS
WITH A PETITION PACKET AND
ADDITIONAL INFORMATION BACK IN
NOVEMBER AND SERVES AS THE BASI
FOR THE PLAN GOING FORWARD OVE
THE NEXT 10 YEARS. SO WE ARE
PROPOSING ANOTHER 10 YEAR TERM.
SO WE WILL BE BACK BEFORE YOU
IN 2033, SHOULD YOU ENACT THIS
LEGISLATION. AS WAS NOTED
EARLIER AND WE WILL TALK MORE
IN DETAIL ABOUT THIS. MINOR
MODIFICATIONS TO THE SOUTHERN
BOUNDARY TO ALIGN WITH THE
PIONEER SQUARE HISTORIC DISTRIC
AND THE ALLIANCE FOR PIONEER
SQUARE BOUNDARY AS WELL, BUT
MAINTAINING THE BOUNDARY TO THE
NORTH AND EAST AT INTERSTATE 5.
MOST OF THE NEW INVESTMENT IS
FOCUSED ON CLEANING SERVICES. A
10% INCREASE IN TOTAL CLEANING
HOURS GOING FORWARD. THAT
REFLECTS THE OUTREACH AND INPUT
THAT WE RECEIVED. THE PEOPLE
ARE GRATEFUL FOR THE CLEANING
WE'VE GOT AND THEY WANT MORE OF
IT. LATER HOURS AND ADDITIONAL
CLEANING SERVICES DURING THOSE
TIMES OF DAY AND LOCATIONS
WHERE WE DON'T HAVE THE LEVEL O
SERVICE THAT WE NEED TO MEET TH
NEEDS. WE ARE PROPOSING AN
ADDITIONAL INCREASE IN
AMBASSADOR WAGES OF ANOTHER 5%
INCREASE THAT WOULD TAKE EFFEC
IN JULY AT THE START OF OUR
FISCAL YEAR. INVESTMENTS TO
SUSTAIN UNARMED SECURITY WITH
OUR CONTRACT. I CAN SAY THAT I
THINK PROPERTY OWNERS LOOK
FORWARD TO THE DAY THEY DON'T
HAVE TO BE IN THAT BUSINESS,
MAKING THAT LEVEL AND
INVESTMENT. BUT GIVEN THE
SHORTFALLS WE SEE WITH THE
POLICE DEPARTMENT AND THE
CHALLENGES THAT PRESENTS TO
SMALL BUSINESS OWNERS, PROPERTY
OWNERS, PROPERTY MANAGERS AND
OUR OWN TEAM MEMBERS, WE ARE
COMMITTED TO CONTINUING TO MAKE
THAT INVESTMENT, AT LEAST IN
THE NEAR TERM. WE ARE CREATING
NEW CUSTOMER SERVICE AND
ADVOCACY POSITION THAT WOULD
SERVE AS AN INTERFACE BETWEEN
SMALL BUSINESS OWNERS,
RATEPAYERS, RESIDENTS, THAT WAN
TO HAVE A ONE-STOP SHOP TO
REACH US AND WE ALSO WANT THAT
PERSON TO BE HELPFUL IN HELPIN
PROPERTY OWNERS AND OTHER
STAKEHOLDERS REACH THE CITY AS
WELL. SOMETIMES IT MIGHT BE OUR
SERVICES OR WE NEED MORE
CLEANING OR ACTION TO TAKE ON
THAT BLOCK FACE IN FRONT OF A
CONDO BUILDING. IN SOME CASES I
MIGHT BE AN ACTION THAT CITY
LIGHT OR SDOT OR SOMEONE ELSE
NEEDS TO TAKE. WE WANT TO CREAT
A POSITION THAT ANYONE CAN GO T
AND THEY CAN HELP NAVIGATE TO
GET AN ANSWER AND GET A
RESPONSE. WE WOULD SUSTAIN THE
INVESTMENT IN PARK ACTIVATION,
STAFFING, AND MANAGEMENT AND
LOOK TO EXPAND THAT TO BELL
STREET PARK AND PIONEER PARK.
PIONEER SQUARE. WE ARE HAVING
CONVERSATIONS WITH THE PARKS
DEPARTMENT AROUND A SEPARATE
MANAGEMENT AGREEMENT THAT WOULD
LIKELY COME BEFORE THE COUNCIL
LATER THIS SPRING THAT WOULD
EFFECTUATE THAT, BUT THERE IS A
COMMITMENT FROM THE PROPERTY
OWNERS IN THIS BUSINESS PLAN T
MAKE INVESTMENTS SHOULD THE CIT
DESIRE TO CONTINUE THEIR
ARRANGEMENT. AND THEN THERE ARE
SOME TECHNICAL CONSIDERATIONS A
WELL. SO YOU CAN GO TO NEXT
SLIDE, THANK YOU. THE BOUNDARY
AREA, AGAIN, A SLIGHT EXPANSION
TO THE SOUTH, AT THE NORTH END
OF T-MOBILE, TAKING IN THE
SILVER CLOUD HOTEL. AS BRIAN
NOTED, THIS IS IN RESPONSE TO
INTEREST FROM COMMUNITIES
INCLUDING THE GRIDIRON CONDOS,
OFFICE OWNERS AND RETAIL OWNERS
AS WELL. I DON'T HAVE THE NUMBE
ON THE SPECIFIC NUMBER OF
PETITIONS TURNED IN FOR THIS
AREA, BUT WE CAN FOLLOW UP AND
GET THAT INFORMATION TO YOU. YO
CAN GO TO THE NEXT SLIDE. THE
TOTAL BUDGET FOR THE FIRST YEAR
OF THE 10 YEAR TERM WHICH BEGIN
IN JULY WOULD BE $18.3 MILLION,
THREE $3 MILLION INCREASE FROM
THE CURRENT FISCAL YEAR. THE
PROPERTY OWNERS ARE STEPPING UP
TO PROVIDE INVESTMENT AND
SUSTAIN AND INCREASE THE
CLEANING SERVICES IN THE
CURRENT PLAN AND ALSO RESPOND T
THE HIGH INFLATIONARY
ENVIRONMENT THAT IS STILL
CHALLENGING FOR EVERYBODY'S
OPERATION, INCLUDING OURS AND
ANYBODY TRYING TO BUY ANYTHING
AND PROVIDE SUPPLIES AND OTHER
THINGS AND ALSO AN INCREASINGLY
COMPETITIVE LABOR MARKET. THE
MAJORITY OF THE BUDGET IS
REALLY DISTRIBUTED -- THE
MAJORITY OF THAT $18 MILLION I
DUE ON STREET SERVICES.
INDIVIDUALS PROVIDING SERVICES.
362 DAYS A YEAR. CLEANING
SERVICES ARE THE LARGEST
EXPENDITURE AREA. COMMUNITY,
SAFETY AND HOSPITALITY TEAM OF
ABOUT 30 INDIVIDUALS. REALLY
SERVING AS THE POINT OF CONTACT
WITH OTHER SOCIAL SERVICE
ORGANIZATIONS IN DOWNTOWN
INCLUDING PARTNERSHIP FOR ZERO,
LEAD, THE THIRD AVENUE PROJECT.
SERVING AS THAT TEAM THAT
REALLY UNDERSTANDS THE FOLKS WH
ARE UNSHELTERED DOWNTOWN AND
CAN HELP THEM CONNECT WITH OTHE
SERVICE PROVIDERS TO HAVE
HOUSING AND EMERGENCY SHELTER
AND OTHER SERVICES TO OFFER. AN
AGAIN, CONTINUED INVESTMENT IN
PARKS ACTIVATION AND PROGRAMMIN
AS WELL AS OTHER PUBLIC REALM
EVENTS AND ACTIVATIONS,
INCLUDING OUR CONCERT SERIES IN
THE SUMMER. SO THAT IS WHAT IS
PROPOSED TO BE PAID FOR AND
INVESTED IN OVER THE NEXT 10
YEARS AND I WILL TURN IT BACK T
BRIAN TO DISCUSS THE ASSESSMEN
FORMULA AND HOW THAT WILL BE
PAID FOR AND HOW ASSESSMENTS
WILL BE STRUCTURED ACROSS
PROPERTY TYPES.
>> THANK YOU, JOHN. MY JOB IS T
TAKE YOU INTO THE WEEDS. BUT I
WILL BE BRIEF, I PROMISE. THE
BASIC ASSESSMENT FORMULA THAT
PAYS FOR THAT $18 MILLION THAT
JOHN MENTIONED IS A COMBINATION
OF THE VALUE, THE TOTAL
APPRAISED VALUE OF THE PROPERTY
AND THE SIZE OF THE LOT. THE
LAND SQUARE FOOTAGE. VALUE
RELATES TO HOW MUCH BENEFIT THE
PROPERTY IS RECEIVING AND HOW
MUCH LOAD IT IS PUTTING ON THE
DISTRICT. IT IS A PRETTY GOOD
PROXY FOR HOW MUCH SIDEWALK
THERE IS. THERE ARE CAPS IN
PLACE FOR ALL PROPERTIES TO
LIMIT THE TOTAL AMOUNT THAT
RESIDENTIAL PROPERTIES PAY OR
HOTEL PROPERTIES OR EVEN THE
BUILDING SQUARE FOOTAGE. THE
BASIC PRINCIPLES OF THIS NEW,
TEN-YEAR ASSESSMENT PLAN IS TO
SUPPORT THE $18.3 MILLION BUDGE
FOR THE FIRST YEAR THAT JOHN
MENTIONED, TO MAKE SOME MINOR
ADJUSTMENTS TO REBALANCE EQUITY
AMONG DIFFERENT PROPERTY TYPES
THAT HAVE EMERGED OVER THE LAST
10 YEARS AS PROPERTY VALUES HAV
CHANGED. TO ACHIEVE PREDICTABL
COST ESCALATION OVER TIME IN A
STRONG INFLATIONARY ENVIRONMENT
AND MOST IMPORTANTLY TO SUSTAI
SERVICES OVER A 10 YEAR TERM.
NEXT SLIDE. SO, SPECIFICALLY
THE TOTAL ASSESSMENT ON
APPRAISED VALUE IS $0.37 PER
$1000 OF TOTAL APPRAISED VALUE
PLUS AN ASSESSMENT ON LAND
SQUARE FOOTAGE. THE LAND SQUAR
FOOTAGE FACTOR WAS INCREASED B
15% TO $0.45 PER SQUARE FOOT.
SO $.37 PER $1000 OF TOTAL
VALUE, PLUS $0.45 PER LAND
SQUARE FOOT. NOBODY IS ASSESSE
BY MORE THAN $0.24 BUILDING
SQUARE FOOT. THAT IS ALSO A 15%
INCREASE. BASICALLY THOSE
INCREASES ARE RELATED TO RAISIN
THE BUDGET. WE ARE ELIMINATING
A CEILING ON TOTAL APPRAISED
VALUE, BECAUSE IT WAS HAVING
BASICALLY NO IMPACT. WE
INCREASED THE CEILINGS ON HOTEL
AND RESIDENTIAL UNITS. HOTELS,
THE CEILING IS INCREASING FRO
$97 PER HOTEL ROOM PER YEAR,
TO $125 PER ROOM, PER YEAR,
PHASED IN OVER TWO YEARS.
RESIDENTIAL PROPERTIES ARE
INCREASING FROM $152 PER UNIT
PER YEAR, TO $195 PER UNIT PER
YEAR. THOSE INCREASES ARE
SOMEWHAT MORE THAN THE SQUARE
FOOTAGE INCREASE, BECAUSE
INFLATION HAS BEEN GROWING
FASTER THAN THE NUMBER OF UNITS
SO THOSE PROPERTIES WERE
PAYING LESS, PROPORTIONALLY, I
THE OFFICE AND OTHER COMMERCIAL
PROPERTIES. DURING THE INPUT T
THIS PROCESS, THERE WERE
SUGGESTIONS THAT THERE OUGHT T
BE A PROFOUND CHANGE TO THE WAY
THAT CEILINGS WORK ON
RESIDENTIAL AND HOTEL PROPERTIE
AND THE RENEWAL COMMITTEE AND
THE M.I.D. BOARD GAVE CAREFUL
CONSIDERATION TO THAT AND
DECIDED THAT THE BASIC FORMULA
THAT HAD BEEN WORKING TO
EVERYBODY'S SATISFACTION OVER
THE LAST 20 YEARS MADE SENSE AN
SO WE ADJUST THE RATE AND DID
NOT ADJUST THE WAY THE FORMULA
WORKS. THIS DESCRIBES THE
FIRST YEAR ASSESSMENT. EACH
YEAR OVER THE TEN-YEAR LIFE OF
THE DISTRICT, THE ASSESSMENTS
WILL INCREASE BY THE SEATTLE
AREA. BY A MINIMUM OF 2.5% OR
MAXIMUM OF 5%. IF INFLATION IS
MORE THAN 5% IS AS BEEN IN THE
LAST COUPLE OF YEARS, THE
ASSESSMENTS WILL ONLY INCREASE
BY 5%. IF IT HOPEFULLY DROPS
BELOW 2.5%, COST WOULD STILL
ESCALATE. WE WOULD DO ONE
RECALCULATION OF THE ASSESSMENT
DURING YOUR FIVE. BASED ON
PROPERTY VALUES FROM THE KING
COUNTY ASSESSOR AND THOSE WOULD
IMPACT THE ASSESSMENTS. IN THE
LAST 10 YEARS, WE DID TWO OF
THOSE. BASICALLY ALL OF THIS I
MAKING MINOR TWEAKS TO THE WAY
THE ASSESSMENT WORKS, TO
REBALANCE EQUITY AND SLIGHTLY
SIMPLIFY THE OVERALL PROCESS.
NEXT SLIDE. THANK YOU.
>> SO TO WRAP THINGS UP, THE
METROPOLITAN IMPROVEMENT
DISTRICT PROGRAM , SERVICES AND
AMBASSADORS, CLEARLY REPRESENT
POWERFUL AND IMPACTFUL WAY THAT
THE PRIVATE SECTOR CAN PARTNER
WITH THE PUBLIC SECTOR AND THE
PEOPLE OF SEATTLE TO KEEP
DOWNTOWN SEATTLE THRIVING. WE
ASK FOR YOUR SUPPORT IN
REAUTHORIZING THIS TERRIFIC
ORGANIZATION, SO IT CAN CONTINU
TO MAKE THE DIFFERENCE EVERY
DAY DOWNTOWN.
>> I WOULD CONCLUDE, TO THANK
THE EXECUTIVE STAFF AND THE
CITY ATTORNEY'S OFFICE AND OUR
PARTNERS AT OED FOR THEIR
SUPPORT OF BRINGING THIS
PROPOSAL BEFORE THE COUNCIL.
>> THANK YOU VERY MUCH FOR THAT
EXPLANATION OF ALL OF THE THING
YOU DO AND I WILL NOTE THE FULL
ROOM HERE -- OUR OFFICE
RECEIVED 92 EMAILS AND THEY WER
NOT ALL FORM LETTERS. YOU WILL
HEAR PUBLIC COMMENT, BUT I ALSO
WANTED TO NOTE FOR THE RECORD
THE COUNCIL MEMBERS HAVE BEEN
RECEIVING WRITTEN COMMENT AS
WELL. COUNCILMEMBER LOUIS, WOUL
YOU LIKE TO SAY ANYTHING?
>> THANK YOU SO MUCH, CHAIR
NELSON AND THANK YOU FOR THE
CHANCE TO COME AND PARTICIPATE
IN THE PRESENTATION. I DON'T
TYPICALLY SERVE ON THE
COMMITTEE, BUT GIVEN THAT THIS
HAS MASSIVE IMPLICATIONS FOR
DISTRICT 7, WHICH INCLUDES MOS
OF THE M.I.D. CATCHMENT AREA, I
WAS A PARTICULAR PRIORITY TO
COME HERE TODAY TO PARTICIPATE
IN THIS. I WANT TO ACKNOWLEDGE
THE PRESENCE OF THE AMBASSADORS
IN THIS ROOM AS WELL AS I RAN
INTO JOHN BLACKWELL EARLIER
WITH THE PDA WHO CONTRACTS
THROUGH THE MID-. AND I HAVE
SEEN KIRK, WHO DOES THE
TRANSPORTATION WORK FOR THE
MED. SEEING ALL OF THE FOLKS IN
THE ROOM AND COMMITTEE THAT HAS
REALLY GELLED OVER THE LAST
SEVERAL DECADES AS THE SERVICE
HAS EVOLVED AND MADE A MASSIVE
DIFFERENCE DOWNTOWN. THE
BIGGEST CHANGE WE HAVE MADE
SENSE PRE-COVID. YOU KNOW, WE
WOULD BE NOWHERE IN THE CITY
WITHOUT THE CONTRIBUTION THAT
THE M.I.D. PROVIDES. BEFORE
THIS COMMITTEE STARTED I WALKE
TO CITY HALL FROM BELL STREET
PARK, WHERE I HAD MEETINGS WITH
CONSTITUENTS IN THE MORNING AND
SAW NO LESS THAN 12 M.I.D.
AMBASSADORS ON MY WALK FROM CIT
HALL. ALL IN THE MIDST OF DOIN
WORK. ALL IN THE MIDST OF
HELPING PEOPLE IN CRISIS. OF
REMEDIATING GRAFFITI. OF
CLEANING UP AND WASHING DOWN
THE STREET. WORK THAT IS
FUNDAMENTAL TO BUILDING A CITY
THAT IS FUN TO LIVE IN, FUN TO
SPEND TIME IN AND PRODUCTIVE TO
WORK IN. WITHOUT THAT
CONTRIBUTION I THINK YOU SEE
WHEN YOU GO TO PARTS OF THE CIT
THAT ARE NOT FORTUNATE ENOUGH T
HAVE A COMMUNITY LIKE THIS TO
FORM A BIA, IT MAKES A HUGE
DIFFERENCE IN THE PERCEPTION
OF THE COMMUNITY IN THE VIBRANC
OF THE BUSINESS DISTRICT AND
THE POTENTIAL FOR PARTNERSHIPS
TO SOLVE LONG-STANDING AND
CALCIFIED CIVIC PROBLEMS. AND
WHAT WE ARE REALLY GETTING HERE
BY RENEWING THIS AGREEMENT TO
HAVE THE M.I.D. IS MAINTAINING
BUILDING, PROTECTING AND
EXPANDING THAT COMMUNITY THAT I
MAKING A POSITIVE DIFFERENCE I
THE CORE OF OUR CITY AND THERE
IS NO DOWNTOWN RECOVERY WITHOUT
THE M.I.D. AND SO WE ARE AT TH
BEGINNING OF A BROADER
DISCUSSION AND PROCESS TO GET
INTO SOME OF THE DETAILS ALLUDE
TO IN THE PRESENTATION AND I
REALLY APPRECIATE THE
THOROUGHNESS OF THE OFFICE OF
ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT AND
PHILLIP BEING HERE TO WALK US
THROUGH THAT PROCESS AND I LOOK
FORWARD TO CONTINUE TO GO
THROUGH THIS AS A COUNCIL AND
ON THE END TO CONTINUE THIS
PARTNERSHIP THAT HAS MADE A
STRONGER DOWNTOWN AND A
STRONGER CITY AS A RESULT, SO
THANK YOU SO MUCH.
>> THANK YOU VERY MUCH.
COUNCILMEMBER HERBOLD.
>> THANK YOU. I WOULD JUST LIKE
TO START MY REMARKS AND
QUESTIONS WITH RECOGNIZING TH
MARCH REPORT ON IMPACT AND THE
LIFE-SAVING USE OF NARCAN 17
TIMES IN ONE MONTH ALONE, IT
APPEARS, LIKELY SAVING 17
LIVES. I REALLY WANT TO THANK
YOU FOR EQUIPPING YOUR
REPRESENTATIVES WITH NARCAN. I
DIDN'T HEAR A SPECIFIC NUMBER,
AS IT RELATES TO THE EMPLOYMENT
OPPORTUNITY PROGRAM. YOU MAY
HAVE GIVEN IT. I MAY HAVE MISSE
IT. CAN YOU GIVE US A NUMBER O
HOW MANY PEOPLE ARE ACTUALLY
EMPLOYED THROUGH THE EMPLOYMENT
OPPORTUNITY PROGRAM AND THEN
ANOTHER QUESTION I HAVE IS THE
ACTIVITIES DESCRIBED ON THE
MARCH 20, 2023 IMPACT SLIDE AR
DESCRIBED AS OUTREACH
ENGAGEMENTS AND CONDITIONS OF
ENTRY -- VIOLATIONS. JUST
WONDERING WHAT THAT ENGAGEMENT
LOOKS LIKE AND WHAT THE
OUTCOMES ARE LIKELY TO BE, IN
INSTANCES WHERE YOU ARE COMING
ACROSS FOLKS WHO ARE IN
VIOLATION OF THE ENTRY
ORDINANCE IN SEATTLE. WHAT IS
THE OUTCOME OF ENGAGEMENTS ON
THAT AND LASTLY, I AM
INTERESTED IN HOW UNARMED
SECURITY WORKS, GENERALLY. WHA
SITUATIONS OR THINGS THEY
INTERVENE IN AND HOW THEY
PARTNER WITH LAW ENFORCEMENT.
THANK YOU.
>> THANKS FOR THE QUESTIONS,
COUNCILMEMBER. IN REGARDS TO TH
TOTAL NUMBER OF AMBASSADOR
POSITIONS, WE HAVE ABOUT 130 O
SO FULL-TIME POSITIONS AND WE
WILL INCREASE THOSE BY 10%, SO
ANOTHER 13 IN THE FIRST YEAR OF
THE RENEWAL. OVER THE LAST
DECADE I THINK SAFELY WE CAN SA
WE HAVE PROVIDED EMPLOYMENT
OPPORTUNITIES TO WELL OVER 500
PEOPLE THAT HAVE COME WITH A
BACKGROUND OF EXPERIENCING
HOMELESSNESS AND/OR BEING
JUSTICE INVOLVED. SO OUR
GREATEST SOURCE OF REFERRALS
AND NEW POSITIONS IS THROUGH OU
COMMUNITY PARTNERSHIPS WITH
ORGANIZATIONS LIKE THE SEATTLE
MUNICIPAL COURT AND OTHER
NONPROFITS IN THE COMMUNITY AND
THAT IS WHERE WE ARE REALLY
LEANING IN FOR THE POSITIONS.
WE'VE GOT FIVE I THINK STILL
TODAY AND ANY ADDITIONAL HIRES
THROUGH THE RENEWED M.I.D. IN
REGARDS TO YOUR SECOND QUESTION
OUR OUTREACH IS LARGELY FOCUSE
ON CONNECTING PEOPLE WITH THE
RESOURCES AND HOUSING THAT IS
NECESSARY TO HELP THEM FIND A
BETTER PLACE THAN A DOORWAY,
PARK, SIDEWALK OR PLAZA TO STAY
THE NIGHT. WE FOCUS ON FOLKS
WHO ARE IN DOORWAYS OR MAYBE
BLOCKING THE DOORWAY TO A SMALL
BUSINESS OR OFFICE BUILDING TO
AVOID CONFLICT WITH THE FOLKS
SHOWING UP TO WORK THERE OR
PATRONIZE THE BUSINESS AND OUR
INTENT, THROUGH THAT ENGAGEMENT
IS TO HELP THEM MOVE OUT FROM
THAT SITUATION, SO THAT BUSINES
CAN OPEN ITS DOORS. SOMETIMES
THAT AREA NEEDS TO BE CLEANED O
SOMEONE SPENT THE NIGHT THERE
AND ULTIMATELY TO CONNECT WITH
THOSE INDIVIDUALS TO SERVICES,
SHELTER, AND HOUSING, SO THEY
HAVE A BETTER PLACE TO BE THAN
DOORWAY OR A SIDEWALK AND AS I
NOTED EARLIER, THAT TEAM IS
WORKING VERY CLOSELY WITH THE
OTHER SERVICE PROVIDERS OUT ON
THE STREET AND WE ARE REALLY
TRYING TO BE AN EXTENSION OF
THEIR EFFORTS. SO PARTNERSHIP 4
CERTAINLY, BUT ALSO THE THIRD
AVENUE PROJECT AND THE PUBLIC
DEFENDER ASSOCIATION AND OTHER
WHO HAVE A SIGNIFICANT PRESENCE
ON THE STREET AND HAVE OTHER
RESOURCES THAT WE MAY NOT HAVE
TO OFFER. IN REGARDS TO THE
SECURITY, THE UNARMED SECURITY
THEY ARE PROVIDING ADDITIONAL
PRESENCE, GENERALLY IN PUBLIC
AREAS WHERE WE BELIEVE IT IS
NECESSARY BASED ON INCIDENT
REPORTS AND CALLS FOR SERVICE.
THEY ARE SHADOWING OUR CLEAN
TEAM MEMBERS PRIMARILY IN AREAS
WHERE WE KNOW WE HAVE
SIGNIFICANT CHALLENGES. ALLEYS
THAT ARE DARK EARLY IN THE
MORNING. OTHER PARTS OF TOWN
WHERE WE HAVE HAD RECENT
INCIDENTS. DIRECTED TO OUR TEAM
OR GENERAL INCIDENTS INVOLVING
THE PUBLIC. THEY ARE ALSO
PROVIDING MEDICAL ASSISTANCE,
OFTEN. OFTEN THEY ARE THE FIRS
ONES ON SCENE, SO THEY HAVE
ASSISTED FOLKS WHO HAVE BEEN
SHOT IN CERTAIN AREAS OF
DOWNTOWN. THANKFULLY NO ONE
RECENTLY, BUT ABOUT A YEAR AGO
OR SO THEY WERE PROVIDING
ON-SITE AID BEFORE EMT OFFICIAL
ARRIVED. THEY ARE INTERFACING
AND REPORTING CRIME, INTERFACIN
WITH SPD AND HAVE BEEN
RESPONSIBLE FOR FACILITATING
THE NUMBER OF ARRESTS THAT I
DON'T THINK WOULD'VE HAPPENED
OTHERWISE. THEY WILL BREAK UP
ASSAULTS AND DISTURBANCES
BETWEEN INDIVIDUALS, BUT AGAIN,
THEY ARE UNARMED. IT IS ABOUT
800 HOURS PER WEEK, WHICH
TRANSLATES TO ABOUT A DOZEN
FOLKS A DAY THAT ARE OUT A POIN
WITH OUR TEAM. WE GOT INTO THIS
THE PROPERTY OWNERS DIRECTED US
TO GET INTO THIS BECAUSE OUR
TEAM MEMBERS DID NOT FEEL SAFE
PROVIDING OTHER SERVICES WITHI
THE PROGRAM AND WE HAD THE
HIGHEST LEVEL OF ASSAULTS, BOT
VERBAL AND PHYSICAL, THAT WE
EVER HAD IN 20 YEARS OF
OPERATING THIS PROGRAM.
>> ANYTHING ELSE? OKAY. SO WE
WILL NOW, NOW THAT THE
PRESENTATION IS OVER, WE WILL
NOW BEGIN THE PUBLIC HEARING
SECTION OF THIS MEETING ON
COUNCIL BILL 120537 AND
REMEMBER, WE ARE ACTUALLY
HOLDING TO PUBLIC HEARINGS
COMBINED. ONE SET BY RESOLUTION
320 91, THIS ESTABLISHING THE
CURRENT M.I.D. AND A SECOND BY
RESOLUTION 32090 ESTABLISHING A
NEW M.I.D. THE ONLINE
REGISTRATION SIGN-UP OPEN TWO
HOURS AGO BEFORE THIS MEETING
AND FOR REMOTE SPEAKERS, THAT
WAS FOR REMOTE SPEAKERS. I
BELIEVE WE STILL HAVE TWO. WE
WILL BEGIN WITH OUR REMOTE
SPEAKERS. FOR SIGN-UP FOR
IN-PERSON SPEAKERS, THAT WAS
OPENED 15 MINUTES PRIOR TO THIS
MEETING AND I WILL CALL ON
SPEAKERS IN THE ORDER OF
REGISTRATION AND BECAUSE WE HAV
SO MANY PEOPLE, I APOLOGIZE,
BUT I WILL BE GIVING ONE MINUTE
TO SPEAK. LET'S SEE, THE RULES
APPLY TO THIS PUBLIC HEARING TH
SAME AS THOSE MENTIONED IN THE
PAST. SO WITH THAT, PLEASE ONL
SPEAK ON COUNCIL BILL 120537.
YOU MISSED YOUR CHANCE TO SPEAK
ABOUT THE FILM COMMISSION
APPOINTMENTS AND AS PRESIDING
OFFICER, I AM NOW OPENING THE
PUBLIC HEARING ON THAT COUNCIL
BILL, 120537 AND WE WILL BEGIN
WITH REMOTE SPEAKERS STEVE --
WHENEVER YOU ARE READY.
>> CAN YOU HEAR ME?
>> YES.
>> GREAT, THANKS SO MUCH. I LIV
IN BELLTOWN, WHICH IS ONE OF TH
NEIGHBORHOODS -- OF THE FIVE
NEIGHBORHOODS THAT MAKE UP
DOWNTOWN SEATTLE. YOU HAVE HEAR
A LOT OF TESTIMONY TODAY,
ESPECIALLY EARLIER, ABOUT
RENEWING THE M.I.D. AND SUPPOR
FOR IT AND THERE IS LITTLE DOUB
IN MY MIND THAT THE CITY COUNCI
IS GOING TO RENEW THE M.I.D.
FOR ANOTHER DECADE. WHAT IS NOT
CLEAR AND WHAT IS REALLY THE
CONCERN IS WHETHER THE COUNCIL
AND THIS COMMITTEE WILL ACT TO
ADDRESS CONCERNS THAT HAVE BEEN
RAISED ABOUT THE EQUITY OF THE
ASSESSMENTS, DISCREPANCIES, AND
HOW THOSE ASSESSMENTS ARE
LEVIED. THE QUALITY OF THE DATA
THAT IS BEING PROVIDED TO THE
PROGRAM TO MAKE EVERYTHING WORK
AND THERE HAS BEEN A LOT OF
DATA COLLECTED BY MYSELF AND
SOME OTHER FOLKS WHO LIVE IN
AND AROUND DOWNTOWN. IT IS WORK
THAT HAS NOT BEEN PROVIDED TO
ANYONE ELSE AND I APOLOGIZE, I
DID NOT GET TO SPEAK EARLIER.
DO I HAVE MY TIME FROM EARLIER?
I JUST HEARD DAY
>> WE ARE ALLOCATING ONE MINUTE
OF PUBLIC COMMENT. WE DO HAVE
35 SPEAKERS SIGNED UP, SO IF YO
PREFER TO SEND IN THE REST OF
YOUR COMMENTS OR ALL OF THEM
ENTIRELY, YOU ARE WELCOME TO D
SO. OKAY. MOVING ON TO OUR NEX
SPEAKER, DALE CHRISTIE, FOLLOWE
BY JULIE HOLLAND, PLEASE. WAIT
HOLD ON. THERE IS ONE MORE
COMMENT, EXCUSE ME.
>> YES, HELLO, CAN YOU HEAR ME?
>> YES.
>> GOOD MORNING, COUNCILMEMBERS
MY NAME IS RISA CONKLIN. I AM
EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR OF THE
FREEWAY PARK ASSOCIATION AND MY
COMMENTS TODAY ARE IN SUPPORT O
AGENDA ITEM 11, RENEWING THE
METROPOLITAN IMPROVEMENT
DISTRICT. THE SERVICES THE
M.I.D. PROVIDES ARE CRITICAL T
THE FUTURE OF DOWNTOWN AND THE
LIVABILITY OF SEATTLE. THE PAR
SPANS I-5 FROM SIXTH AVENUE TO
NINTH AVENUE AND WHILE WE ARE
NOT TECHNICALLY WITHIN THE
BOUNDARIES, WE ARE STILL VERY
MUCH IMPACTED BY ALL OF THE GOO
WORK THE M.I.D. PROVIDES TO OUR
NEIGHBORHOOD. THE OUTREACH,
SUPPORT, CARE FOR THE URBAN
ENVIRONMENT AND SIMPLE GOODWILL
TO THE CITY AND VISITORS IS
FELT ACROSS ALL BOUNDARIES.
THEY ARE REGULAR CONTRIBUTORS T
THE WORK WE DO. AMBASSADORS AND
LEADERSHIP ATTENDED OUR SAFETY
AND SERVICES COMMITTEE, WHERE W
MEET WITH SPD AND SURROUNDING
SECURITY AS WELL AS SPECIAL
SERVICE PROVIDERS TO SHARE BEST
PRACTICES, TROUBLESHOOT
SITUATIONS WE ENCOUNTER AND
DISCUSS OVERLAPPING OUTREACH
EFFORTS.
>> THANK YOU VERY MUCH. OUR
THIRD SPEAKER IS NOT PRESENT, S
WE WILL PROCEED TO OUR
IN-PERSON SPEAKERS. FIRST ON
THE LIST IS STEVEN BULLOCK,
FOLLOWED BY DALE CHRISTIE AND
JULIE HOLLAND. I DO NEED TO
EXTEND A REQUEST TO MY
COLLEAGUES. ARE YOU ABLE TO
STAY PAST -- WE ARE ALREADY 15
MINUTES PAST -- ARE YOU ABLE T
STAY UNTIL 12:15? THAT MAY MEAN
WE WILL HAVE TO SHORTEN OUR
PUBLIC COMMENT. I AM SEEING
NODS. OKAY. LET'S GO AHEAD AND
SHORTEN OUR PUBLIC COMMENT TO 4
SECONDS, PLEASE.
>> GOOD MORNING CHAIR NELSON AN
CITY COUNCIL. I'M HERE TO
SUPPORT M.I.D. I AM THE DEPUTY
DIRECTOR FOR THE DOWNTOWN
EMERGENCY SERVICE CENTER. WE
OCCPY TWO BLOCKS ON THIRD --
AND THE WORK THAT M.I.D. HAS
DONE IS INCREDIBLE. EARLIER
THIS YEAR WE HAD AN OUTBREAK AN
HEPATITIS B AND WHEN THE TEAM
CAME IN AND CLEAN THE ALLIES AN
REMOVE THE TRASH, OUR EMPLOYEE
WERE ABLE TO COME INTO THE
OFFICE. NOT FEELING LIKE THEY
WERE GOING TO HAVE HEPATITIS B
BECAUSE OF THE CLEANLINESS THEY
PROVIDED. THE WAY THEY ENGAGED
THE CLASS, THEY DO IT WITH
DIGNITY AND RESPECT. I
APPRECIATE THAT, SO THANK YOU
FOR PROVIDING AND CONTINUING TO
SUPPORT THE TEAM.
>> THANK YOU. ALL RIGHT. DALE,
JULIE, THEN PAUL.
>> GOOD MORNING, MY NAME IS DAL
CHRISTIE AND I AM HERE
REPRESENTING -- AND MY COMMENT
ARE IN SUPPORT OF RENEWING THE
M.I.D., COUNCIL BILL 120537. I
HAVE WORKED DIRECTLY FOR OVER
EIGHT YEARS. THEY DO A
WONDERFUL JOB REPLYING TO HER
NEEDS TO CLEAN UP THE DOWNTOWN
CORE AND PROVIDE SAME-DAY
SERVICE WITH GRAFFITI RENEWAL.
M.I.D. PROVIDES AN ESSENTIAL
SERVICE TO THE DOWNTOWN CORE.
CLEANUP. LITTER PICKUP AND
GRAFFITI REMOVAL. THE
INVALUABLE SERVICES SHOWS OUR
GREAT CITY OF SEATTLE AT ITS
BEST. PLEASE REAUTHORIZE ANOTHE
10 YEARS. DOING SO WILL ENSURE
A HEALTHY, VIBRANT DOWNTOWN COR
FOR EVERYONE. THANK YOU.
>> AND IF YOU COULD BE SORT OF
NEAR THE MICROPHONE WHEN YOU
ARE NEXT UP. SO, JULIE, PAUL,
AND EZEKIEL. GO AHEAD.
>> DEAR COUNCILMEMBERS, I AM
JULIE HOLLAND, SPEAKING IN
SUPPORT OF RENEWING THE
METROPOLITAN IMPROVEMENT
DISTRICT EXPANSION. YOU MAY BE
ASKING, WHY IS -- ALL YOU HEA
IS A LENGTHY BORDER WITH
DOWNTOWN, A PORTION OF WHICH
OVERLAPS. THE NEIGHBORHOOD CAN
TESTIFY THAT M.I.D. SUCCESS IS
NOT EXCLUSIVELY A BENEFIT TO
DOWNTOWN. IT IS NOT CONTAINED B
BORDERS. ITS INFLUENCE IS
AMPLIFIED TO THE SURROUNDING
NEIGHBORHOODS AND WE ARE
GRATEFUL. PLEASE REAUTHORIZE TH
M.I.D..
>> THANK YOU VERY MUCH. AND WE
WILL JUST MAYBE SAVE YOUR
APPLAUSE UNTIL THE END, BECAUSE
WE ARE TRYING TO MAKE SURE THAT
EVERYBODY CAN BE HEARD. GO
AHEAD. PAUL, IS EZEKIEL, AND
THEN KIMBERLY. IS PAUL --
OKAY. YOU ARE UP NEXT.
>> HI, GOOD MORNING, GOOD
AFTERNOON, THANK YOU. I AM HERE
IN SUPPORT OF THE M.I.D.
RENEWAL. I AM THE GEM OF THE
WEST IN SEATTLE AND RESIDENT IN
THE DOWNTOWN DISTRICT. WHAT
THIS TEAM OF INVESTORS DOES IN
THE YEAR AND A HALF I HAVE LIVE
DOWNTOWN. THEY ARE ESSENTIAL AN
VIABLE. EVERYBODY IS SAYING TH
SAME THING. PLEASE RENEW THIS
AND I THANK THEM FOR ALL THEY
HAVE DONE FOR MY CUSTOMERS AND
ME PERSONALLY. THANK YOU.
>> THANK YOU. EZEKIEL, KIMBERLY
AND THEN --
>> HELLO, I AM EZEKIEL AND I
LOVE MY JOB. I'M VERY PROUD OF
THE WORK WE DO. I LOVE THAT WE
HELP CREATE A POSITIVE
ENVIRONMENT FOR OUR COMMUNITY
AND I FIND THE WORK MEANINGFUL.
AS AN EXAMPLE, A GUY CAME UP AN
THANKED ME FOR SAVING HIS LIFE.
THAT IS A MEMORY THAT I AM
GOING TO HOLD FOR THE REST OF
MY LIFE. WHEN I REFLECT ON MY
LIFE I'M GOING TO BE VERY PROUD
AND I AM GRATEFUL FOR THIS
OPPORTUNITY. THANK YOU.
>> KIMBERLY, SHERRY, AND O'NEIL
AND PLEASE SPEAK CLOSE TO THE
MIC.
>> HELLO. MY NAME IS KIMBERLY,
KIMBERLY BLAKE. I MOVED HERE TO
SEATTLE IN NOVEMBER, 2021. A
NEW RESIDENT OF THE CITY AND I
LIVE IN BELLTOWN. ANDROID
MOVING HERE. MY DAUGHTER NEEDED
HELP SO I CAME UP HERE TO GET
THINGS IN ORDER FOR HER. I
OPENED MY WINDOW AND I NOTICED
THERE WAS A LOT OF TRASH AROUND
AND THEN I SAW AMBASSADORS
CLEANING THE STREETS AND I
REALLY APPRECIATE THAT BECAUSE
IN THE MORNING MY STREETS ARE
CLEAN, WHEN I COULD GO OUTSIDE.
I TALKED TO THEM ABOUT HOW I
COULD HELP OUT AND IT TURNED OU
TO BE EMPLOYMENT FOR ME. I HAVE
BEEN THERE FOR A YEAR AND I
REALLY LOVE WORKING FOR THIS
COMPANY BECAUSE PEOPLE NOT ONL
CLEAN THE STREETS, WE CAN GIVE
THEM DIRECTIONS. WE KEEP THE
AREA REALLY NEAT FOR EVERYONE,
INCLUDING OFFERING THAT NARCAN
SERVICES, WHICH I HAVE
PERSONALLY BEEN ABLE TO HELP
PEOPLE IN THE STREET THAT MAKES
ME FEEL LIKE I AM SERVING THE
COMMUNITY AS WELL AS WORKING IN
IT AND I BELIEVE WE SHOULD KEEP
THE M.I.D. HERE BECAUSE I NEED
IT AND I FEEL LIKE WE ALL NEED
IT, SO THANK YOU.
>> THANK YOU VERY MUCH. SO,
WE'VE GOT SHERRY O'NEILL AND
THEN CHRIS --
>> HELLO, I WORK FOR THE M.I.D
ON THE CLEAN TEAM. BEFORE I
STARTED WORKING FOR THE M.I.D.,
MY DAY-TO-DAY STRUGGLE WAS REAL
FEELING THE EFFECTS OF THE
POST-PANDEMIC CRISIS. WHAT I
WITNESSED JOINING OUR COMPANY
WAS INTRIGUING. AS I WAS
ACCEPTED INTO THIS NEW POSITION
AS A CLEAN TEAM AMBASSADOR, I
FOUND MYSELF HELPING SHAPE THE
FUTURE OF SEATTLE AND ITS
DEVELOPMENT. WE ALL HAVE
NOTICED THAT WITHOUT OUR
SERVICES THE BELLTOWN AND
PIONEER SQUARE AREAS COULD VERY
WELL COLLAPSE INTO CRISIS IF
LEFT UNATTENDED. JUST KNOWING
THAT OUR STRONG TEAMS ARE OUT
EVERY DAY PROVIDING A CLEAN AND
VIBRANT CORE -- THANK YOU.
>> THANK YOU. O'NEILL, CHRIS,
AND THEN JEFF.
>> HELLO, MY NAME IS O'NEILL AN
I AM GOING TO TELL YOU A LITTLE
STORY -- WHEN WE GOT THE
CONTRACT OUT IN BELLTOWN, THER
WAS A BOUTIQUE THERE AND I RAN
ACROSS A RATEPAYER AND NOTHING
I COULD DO OR SAY OR PROVIDE
WOULD PLEASE THIS RATEPAYER.
BEING FRANK AND EVERYTHING. A
COUPLE OF MONTHS LATER A
PLEASANT VOICE CAME UP BEHIND M
AND SAID, I KNOW YOU GUYS WILL
BE HARD AT IT. I WAS REALLY
THINKING, WOW. AND WE USE THAT
ATTITUDE OF CAN-DO AND LEAVE N
RATEPAYER BEHIND AND WE UTILIZE
THAT DURING THE PANDEMIC AS
WELL. AND THANK YOU.
>> THANK YOU VERY MUCH.
>> CHRIS, JEFF, AND TAMMY,
PLEASE.
>> GOOD MORNING. CHRIS -- WE
ARE A BRAND-NEW MARKETING
AGENCY. WE ARE HAPPY TO BE DOW
IN THE JOSHUA GREEN BUILDING,
KIND OF IN THE MIDDLE OF
EVERYTHING. I PARK ON SECOND
AND PIKE EVERY DAY AND I MAKE
THAT WALK TO FOURTH AND PIKE
AND EVERY MORNING I SEE THIS
GREAT TEAM OUT HERE MAKING THE
DOWNTOWN STREETS HOSPITABLE,
SAFE, AND BRINGING VIBRANCY TO
THE DOWNTOWN URBAN CORE. I
WOULD ASK RHETORICALLY, IF NOT
FOR THE M.I.D., THEN WHAT?
BECAUSE I WOULD HATE TO SEE WHA
THAT ALTERNATIVE LOOKS LIKE.
THIS GROUP DOES TREMENDOUS WOR
AS A DOWNTOWN LEASEHOLDER WHO
SIGNED A LONG-TERM LEASE IN 201
FAITHFULLY. WE LOVE THE WORK
THEY DO AND WE COULD NOT IMAGIN
A DIFFERENT SITUATION, SO I
SUPPORT THE COUNCIL TO RENEW TH
M.I.D.
>> GO AHEAD, TAMMY. AFTER TAMM
IT WILL BE DAN AND THEN LORI. G
AHEAD.
>> THANK YOU. GOOD AFTERNOON AN
THANK YOU FOR HAVING ME. I AM
THE PRESIDENT AND CEO OF VISIT
SEATTLE. I AM HERE TO TELL YOU
THAT WE, NOT JUST OUR TEAM, BUT
THE HOSPITALITY COMMUNITY
OVERALL, IS GRATEFUL FOR THE
M.I.D. TEAM, AS RESIDENTS AND
PROFESSIONALS. THE PERCEPTIONS
AND REALITY OF DOWNTOWN GO FAR
BEYOND WHAT WE SEE ON THE
SURFACE. I STOP AND THINK EVER
TEAM MEMBER I COME ACROSS FOR
MAKING MY NEIGHBORHOOD CLEANER
AND SAFER AND GIVING ME A SENSE
OF COMFORT AND PRIDE. BEING
RESPONSIBLE FOR ATTRACTING
VISITORS TO SEATTLE I AM EVEN
MORE GRATEFUL. THE WORK OF THE
M.I.D. IS VISIBLE AND CRITICAL
AND AS WE WORK WITH PLANNERS
THE PARTNERSHIP CAN MAKE OR
BREAK A DECISION TO HOLD A
MEETING AND THOSE DECISIONS ARE
CRITICAL. CONDITIONS AT ECONOMI
IMPACT TO OUR CITY AND SUPPORT
SMALL BUSINESSES -- WE
APPRECIATE THE M.I.D. AND
ENCOURAGE THE REAUTHORIZATION.
THANK YOU.
>> THANK YOU.
>> MY NAME IS JEFF, I THINK I
WAS MISSED THERE. THANK YOU FOR
THE OPPORTUNITY TO ADDRESS THE
COMMITTEE. I'M CHIEF OPERATING
OFFICER AT THE SEATTLE ART
MUSEUM. HERE ON BEHALF OF SAM,
MY TESTIMONY IS ALSO INFORMED O
THE EXPERIENCE OF REGULAR
STREET-LEVEL ENGAGEMENT IN THE
COMMUNITY. WE HAVE TAKEN TIME
TO TOUR EVERY NEIGHBORHOOD. WE
HAVE CHECKED IN WITH NUMEROUS
BUSINESSES AND AMBASSADORS.
THEY EXPRESS SUPPORT AND VIEWS
ON THE PROGRESS BEING MADE. TH
TANGIBLE IMPACT AND INTANGIBLE
VALUE COULD NOT BE MORE CLEAR.
SUPPORT OVERALL DOWNTOWN
RECOVERY. IT DOES THIS THROUGH
MULTIPLE LINES OF EFFORT TO
ENSURE A SAFE AND WELCOMING
EXPERIENCE. AS A CULTURAL
INSTITUTION IN THE HEART OF
DOWNTOWN -- WHILE SERVING THE
COMMUNITY THROUGH ART. IT MEANS
FEWER BARRIERS TO ACCESS OR
OFFERINGS AND OTHER
INSTITUTIONS. DOWNTOWN SEATTLE
HAS MADE CONSIDERABLE PROGRES
AND M.I.D. RENEWAL IS ESSENTIAL
THANK YOU.
>> THANK YOU VERY MUCH. NEXT U
WE'VE GOT -- I JUST WANT TO MAK
SURE EVERYONE IS LINED UP. LORI
FOLLOWED BY --
>> GOOD MORNING. I AM LORI HILL
WITH A COMPANY THAT HAS BEEN
INVESTING IN DOWNTOWN SEATTLE
FOR 70 YEARS. WITH THE CURRENT
FOOTPRINT OF OVER 4.5 MILLION
SQUARE FEET OF COMMERCIAL SPACE
JUST WITHIN THE M.I.D.
BOUNDARY. AS PROMINENT
SUPPORTERS WE HAVE SEEN AND FEL
THE IMPACT OF THE EFFORTS AND
FELT THAT IT IS CRITICAL TO THE
FUTURE VIBRANCY OF THE CITY. A
A SUPPORT --
>> THANK YOU.
>> I STRONGLY SUPPORT THE
RENEWAL OF THE METROPOLITAN
IMPROVEMENT DISTRICT. IT MAKES
IT EASY TO WALK, BIKE, AND ROL
EVERY SINGLE DAY AND WHILE WE
WORK ACROSS THE CITY 320,000
PEOPLE WE WORK WITH HER IN THE
BOUNDARIES AND FUNDING MAKES TH
WORK POSSIBLE. WE ARE EFFECTIVE
BECAUSE WE ARE A PARTNERSHIP OF
THE M.I.D., SDOT, METRO, AND
SOUND TRANSIT. WE HELP MAKE IT
EASY TO REACH THE OPPORTUNITIES
FROM ACROSS THE REGION. THE
BENEFIT WE PROVIDE TO PEOPLE WH
LIVE AND WORK IN SEATTLE WOULD
NOT BE ABLE TO CONTINUE. PLEAS
REAUTHORIZE THE M.I.D. SO STAFF
CAN CONTINUE TO MAKE SEATTLE A
MORE AFFORDABLE, SUSTAINABLE,
AND CONNECTED PLACE. THANK YOU.
>> THANK YOU.
>> GOOD AFTERNOON,
COUNCILMEMBERS. I HAVE BEEN IN
THE SEATTLE AREA FOR THE PAST 2
YEARS. I WORK IN THE
HOSPITALITY INDUSTRY AND THE
WORD HOSPITALITY HAS BEEN THROW
AROUND SEVERAL TIMES TODAY.
HOSPITALITY INVOKES A DIFFERENT
FEELING FROM DIFFERENT PEOPLE.
THE PEOPLE ON THE RECEIVING SID
OF THE HOSPITALITY, WE CALL THE
GUESTS AND THE PEOPLE PROVIDIN
IT ARE THE HOST. TWO PEOPLE THA
PEOPLE IN THE GUEST COMMUNITY
CAN COUNT ON AND EXPECT FROM
EVERY HOST IS THE SAFETY -- SO
M.I.D. HAS BEEN PROVEN TO
PROVIDE THE SAME SERVICE FOR
MANY YEARS THAT I HAVE BEEN PAR
OF IT. WE HAVE MUCH MORE WORK
TO DO AND I THINK WITH THE
APPROVAL OF THE NEXT 10 YEARS O
M.I.D. WE WILL GET THERE. WE
WILL GET NICE AND SHINY AND SAF
AND CLEAN FOR EVERYBODY. I CAN'
IMAGINE DOWNTOWN SEATTLE
WITHOUT THE M.I.D., SO PLEASE
REAUTHORIZE IT, THANK YOU.
>> THANK YOU. NEXT UP ARE JOHN
AND THEN ROSIE AND EVELYN.
>> GREETINGS. MY NAME IS JOHN.
HAVE BEEN CONNECTED IN SEVERAL
WAYS HERE. I AM RESPONSIBLE FO
PIKE'S PLACE MARKET AND I CHAIR
THE OLDEST CHURCH IN SEATTLE,
JUST ACROSS THE BOUNDARY LINE.
WE ALL BENEFIT FROM THIS. THIS
IS A GREAT SERVICE. AN
IMPROVEMENT DISTRICT FORMED AN
I WAS SKEPTICAL AS A SMALL
PROPERTY OWNER AS WELL. THIS HA
BEEN GREAT AND I AM HERE TO
ALSO THANK YOU. YOU REPRESENT
THE BEST OF SEATTLE. I AM NOT
DETACHED FROM THE STREETS.
>> HELLO, I AM ROSIE COURTNEY.
ON BEHALF OF THE PORT OF
SEATTLE, WE ARE HERE TO SUPPORT
THE M.I.D. FOR US, THE CRUISE
INDUSTRY IS VALUABLE. IT'S
VALUABLE TO THE COMMUNITY AND
IT BEGINS THIS SATURDAY. WE
EXPECT 1.4 MILLION GUESTS
BEGINNING SATURDAY AND WE
APPRECIATE THE AMBASSADORS AND
WELCOMING THEIR FACES. THE
WILLINGNESS TO MAKE THIS A SAF
AND HEALTHY COMMUNITY FOR ALL O
THESE GUESTS. WE ENCOURAGE THE
COUNCIL TO RENEW THE M.I.D. AND
APPRECIATE THE TIME.
>> THANK YOU VERY MUCH. NEXT UP
IS EVELYN, THEN FOLLOWED BY
JESSICA, LOU, AND ALEXIS.
>> I AM EVELYN ROSNER. I HAVE
LIVED IN DOWNTOWN SEATTLE ON TH
CORNER OF FOURTH AND PIKE FOR
OVER 20 YEARS AND I COULD NOT
HAVE BEEN MORE PLEASED AS
PRESIDENT OF OUR HOA TO SIGN TH
PETITION TO RENEW THE M.I.D.
THE M.I.D. ACTED ALMOST ALONE.
IT WENT FROM JUST AUGMENTING
CITY SERVICES AND MAKING THE
PLACE LIVABLE TO MAKING IT
ACCEPTABLE TO LIVE DOWNTOWN.
WITHOUT THE M.I.D., IT WOULD
HAVE BEEN GRIM INDEED. I WILL
JUST LEAVE IT THERE. BETWEEN
THE DRUG MARKETS AND EVERYTHING
ELSE GOING ON, THEY CLEANUP
EVERY DAY. THANK YOU. THANK YOU
>> THANK YOU, CHAIR AND MEMBERS
OF THE COUNCIL. I AM FROM HUDSO
PACIFIC PROPERTIES IN SUPPORT O
THE M.I.D. RENEWAL. ONE OF THE
LARGEST COMMERCIAL PROPERTY
OWNERS IN DOWNTOWN SEATTLE. TH
M.I.D. IS A VITAL RESOURCE TO
THE SUCCESS OF DOWNTOWN FOR
OFFICE WORKERS, VISITORS, AND
RESIDENTS. IN ORDER TO BE
SUCCESSFUL, DOWNTOWN AND PIONEE
SQUARE NEED TO BE WELCOMING,
CLEAN, AND SAFE FOR EVERYONE.
THE M.I.D. AMBASSADORS PLAY A
VITAL ROLE IN ENSURING DOWNTOWN
VIBRANCY. FOR THESE REASONS WE
ENCOURAGE THE COUNCIL TO RENEW
THE M.I.D. THANK YOU FOR YOUR
WORK TO REVITALIZE DOWNTOWN.
THANK YOU.
>> HI. THANK YOU SO MUCH COUNCI
FOR HAVING US HERE. I AM IN
SUPPORT. AND WITH THE MELBOURN
TOWER, A BEAUTIFUL 10 STORY
OFFICE BUILDING AND IT HAS BEE
A CHALLENGING LAST THREE OR FOU
YEARS, TO SAY THE LEAST. BUT
WITHOUT THE M.I.D., WITHOUT
DSA, WE WOULD BE IN A WORLD OF
HURT. WE REPRESENT 35
BUSINESSES, SMALL BUSINESSES
THAT ARE TENANTS OF OURS AND WE
WOULD NOT BE THERE IF M.I.D.
WERE NOT THERE, SO THANK YOU SO
MUCH. PLEASE RENEW THIS BOUNDAR
AREA FOR ANOTHER 10 YEARS.
>> THANK YOU. ALEXIS AND THEN
SCOTT AND THEN AVERY.
>> GOOD AFTERNOON, MY NAME IS
ALEXIS THORNTON. I AM SPEAKING
IN SUPPORT OF RENEWAL OF THE
M.I.D. I AM A SMALL COTTAGE
BUSINESS OWNER AS WELL AS A
SEATTLEITE WHO DOES NOT HAVE A
CAR. SO TO BE ABLE TO BACK --
LIVE ON FIRST HILL AND OFTEN
WALK DOWNTOW AND IT IS ONE OF
THE HIGHLIGHTS OF MY WEEK AND I
CAN'T IMAGINE AN EXPERIENCE
WITHOUT THE M.I.D., WITHOUT OU
AMBASSADORS MAKING SUCH A HUGE
AND IMPORTANT IMPACT ON OUR
DAY-TO-DAY LIFE IN SEATTLE.
PLEASE RENEW THIS FUNDING, THAN
YOU.
>> THANK YOU.
>> COUNCIL, MY NAME IS SCOTT. I
HAVE BEEN WORKING DOWNTOWN FOR
EIGHT YEARS, SUPPORTING RENEWAL
OF THE M.I.D. IN THE AGE OF
REMOTE WORK I STILL COME DOWN T
THE OFFICE EVERY DAY AND IT IS
REALLY POSSIBLE THANKS TO THE
M.I.D. AMBASSADOR TEAM AND
EVERYONE ELSE WHO WORKS AT THE
ORGANIZATION. THEY ENSURE THE
DAY-TO-DAY LIVABILITY AND HEALT
AND SAFETY OF DOWNTOWN AND DO
EXCELLENT WORK ON STREET
CLEANING, ENGAGING WITH THE
HOMELESS AND ACTIVATING PARKS.
THE CITY IS REALLY LUCKY TO
HAVE THE SYSTEM IN PLACE. PLEAS
REAUTHORIZE THE M.I.D. FOR
ANOTHER DECADE. DOING SHOW WILL
ENSURE A HEALTHY AND VIBRANT
DOWNTOWN.
>> THANK YOU VERY MUCH. OKAY, W
HAVE AVERY AND LLOYD.
>> HELLO, MY NAME IS AVERY
BARNES. I AM A RESIDENT AND
NEWLY ESTABLISHED BUSINESS
OWNER. I HAVE AN AFRICAN ART AN
DESIGN GALLERY IN PIONEER
SQUARE AND I AM IN FULL SUPPORT
OF THE M.I.D. I OPENED MY
GALLERY IN THE MIDST OF THE
RECOVERY IN PIONEER SQUARE, BU
ONE THING I DID WANT TO TOUCH O
IS THE IMPORTANCE OF THE
HUMILITY AND COMPASSION AND
HUMANITY OF THE M.I.D.'S
APPROACH AND DOWNTOWN
AMBASSADORS APPROACH ESPECIALLY
WITH OUR UNHOUSED COMMUNITIES.
I AM INSPIRED BY THE WORK THAT
THEY DO AND WAS IMMEDIATELY
EDUCATED ON THAT. SO PLEASE
CONTINUE THIS WORK. THANK YOU.
>> THANK YOU.
>> COUNCILMEMBERS, MY NAME IS
LLOYD GREGORY. I RUN A
CO-WORKING SPACE IN PIONEER
SQUARE AND I AM CURRENTLY
ORGANIZING THE SUMMER MARKET.
JUNE 10. I WANT TO URGE YOU AN
ENCOURAGE YOU TO RENEW THE
M.I.D. FUNDING. THEY ARE REALLY
A SPECIAL GROUP. THEY HAVE BEEN
THERE THROUGHOUT THE ENTIRE
PANDEMIC. SMILING EVERY DAY TO
VISITORS. I CAN'T IMAGINE
DOWNTOWN WITHOUT THEM OR HOW TH
SUMMER MARKET WOULD EVEN BE A
POSSIBILITY WITHOUT THEM. SO
THANK YOU SO MUCH AND I URGE
YOU, COUNCIL, TO SUPPORT THEM.
IT IS FOR THE BUSINESSES.
THANKS.
>> THANK YOU. KIRK, SAM, AND
THEN ROBERT, PLEASE. IS THAT
YOU?
>> I AM SAM -- I HAVE LIVED IN
SEATTLE SINCE 2016 AND I FIRST
BECAME AWARE OF THE M.I.D.
DURING THE PANDEMIC WHEN THEY
DID A GREAT JOB JUST KEEPING TH
CITY CLEAN WHEN NOT A LOT OF
PEOPLE WERE DOWNTOWN AND I JUS
WANTED TO COME HERE TODAY AND
SAY THAT I SUPPORT THE M.I.D.
AND I THINK YOU SHOULD RENEW TH
FUNDING. I THINK IT IS AN
IMPORTANT PROGRAM AND IT ADDS A
LOT TO THE CITY, SO PLEASE RENE
THE FUNDING.
>> THANK YOU VERY MUCH. ALL
RIGHT, ROBERT AND THEN JESSICA
AND SIDNEY.
>> GOOD AFTERNOON. MY NAME IS
ROBERT RODRIGUEZ. I AM HERE TO
TALK ON BEHALF OF THE M.I.D.
THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR SUPPORTIN
OUR COFFEE SHOP. WE JUST GOT
THIS AWARD AS THE BEST COFFEE
SHOP. THREE KIDS. I STARTED IN
THE PANDEMIC. IT WAS VERY
DIFFICULT. WITHOUT YOU GUYS I
WOULD NOT BE HERE. THANK YOU SO
MUCH. THANK YOU SO MUCH.
>> I'M SORRY, YOU ARE NOT CLOS
TO THE MICROPHONE. WHAT IS THE
COFFEE SHOP, PLEASE?
>> [ INAUDIBLE ]
>> THANK YOU VERY MUCH. OKAY,
NEXT SPEAKER IS JESSICA AND
THEN -- OKAY, ALL RIGHT. SIDNE
OR ALLISON.
>> I AM SIDNEY. I HAVE LIVED I
PIONEER SQUARE FOR THE PAST NIN
YEARS. I JUST WANT TO SAY THE
STREET AMBASSADORS ARE DOING A
GREAT JOB, BUT TODAY I AM HERE
TO TALK ABOUT ART. AS AN ARTIST
LIVING AND WORKING THERE, THE
OPPORTUNITIES THAT THE M.I.D.
HAS PROVIDED HAVE BEEN A
LIFELINE FOR ME AND MY FELLOW
ARTISTS. I AM SURE YOU SAW THE
MURALS DOWNTOWN. THOSE ARE
THANKS TO THE M.I.D. DURING
COVID THE GALLERY SHUT DOWN AND
NO ONE WAS SPENDING MONEY ON
BUYING ARTWORK IN THE FACE OF
SUCH UNCERTAINTY AND THE M.I.D
STEPPED UP AND GAVE ARTISTS
OPPORTUNITY TO SHOW THEIR ART
AND ULTIMATELY BE ABLE TO PAY
THEIR RENT AND I WOULD LIKE TO
YES, PLEASE SUPPORT THE M.I.D.
>> HELLO.
>> ALLISON AND THEN FOLLOWED
BY, LET'S SEE. I WILL GET TO
THAT LATER. GO AHEAD.
>> HI, I AM ALLISON -- I MANAG
THE BUILDING AT 6th AND PIKE.
HAVE BEEN A LONGTIME SUPPORTER
OF THE M.I.D. I HAVE WORKED IN
PROPERTY MANAGEMENT DOWNTOWN FO
ALMOST 30 YEARS. I HAVE SEEN TH
CITY BEFORE AND AFTER THE M.I.D
BEFORE AND AFTER COVID. IT
MAKES A MASSIVE DIFFERENCE. WE
ARE SO THANKFUL TO THE
AMBASSADORS WHO HELP US PROVID
SERVICES TO OUR BUILDINGS. WHO
HELP OUR BUILDING STAFF FEEL
SAFE WHEN THE CITY 911 CAN'T O
WON'T RESPOND TO CERTAIN TYPES
OF ISSUES AND I, MYSELF, -- FO
WELFARE CHECKS OF PEOPLE WHO AR
IN DISTRESS AND I KNOW WE WILL
BE TREATED RESPECTFULLY AND
THOUGHTFULLY AND SO I LOOK
FORWARD TO THE M.I.D. BEING
REAUTHORIZED. THANK YOU.
>> THANK YOU. LET'S SEE, NUMBE
31 IS BROCK AND DAN AND JOHN,
PLEASE.
>> GOOD AFTERNOON. MY NAME IS
BROCK BRADLEY AND I AM HERE IN
SUPPORT OF RENEWING THE M.I.D.
I HAVE WORKED DOWNTOWN FOR MORE
THAN 11 YEARS WITH MEETINGS AND
CONVENTION RELATED BUSINESS AN
IN MY CURRENT ROLE I ESCORT
MEETING PLANNERS AND
DECISION-MAKERS FROM
ORGANIZATIONS FROM ALL OVER THE
WORLD DOWN PIKE AND PINE TO THE
MARKET AND ALL AROUND THE
DOWNTOWN CORRIDOR. THANKS TO TH
M.I.D. CLEAN TEAM -- SORRY.
DURING THESE VISITS, OUR GUESTS
ARE DECIDING IF SEATTLE IS
SAFE, CLEAN, AND WELCOMING
ENOUGH FOR THEIR MEETINGS AND
CONFERENCES. THANKS TO THE
M.I.D. CLEAN TEAM, COMMUNITY
SAFETY AND HOSPITALITY TEAMS,
CAN WELCOME THESE
DECISION-MAKERS WHOSE DECISIONS
TO PLACE THEIR EVENTS IN SEATTL
ARE CRUCIAL TO THE VIABILITY
AND VIBRANCY, KNOWING THEY WILL
SEE THE SMILING FACES OF M.I.D.
AMBASSADORS ALL ALONG THE ROUTE
THANK YOU. PLEASE RENEW THE
M.I.D.
>> THANK YOU. DAN, JOHN DAY
>> I REPRESENT HINES PROPERTY
MANAGEMENT AND WE SUPPORT
RENEWING THE M.I.D. OUR FIRM
MANAGES SEVERAL LARGE OFFICE
BUILDINGS IN DOWNTOWN SERVED B
THE M.I.D., INCLUDING IN THE
CENTRAL BUSINESS DISTRICT, ALON
THIRD AVENUE AND NEAR THE
WATERFRONT. SERVICES ARE
ESSENTIAL TO MAINTAIN AND GROW
OFFICE WORKER OCCUPANCY. M.I.D
AMBASSADORS WORK EXTREMELY HARD
TO CLEAN THE CITY WALKWAYS AND
PUBLIC AREAS AND THEY ARE A
WELCOMING PRESENCE TO THOSE WHO
WORK, LIVE, AND PLAY IN DOWNTOW
SEATTLE. THEY REPRESENT EXACTL
WHAT WE NEED IN THE CITY. THE
APPRECIATION OF AND CARE OF, OR
CARE FOR, THE CITY, ITS
RESIDENTS AND GUESTS, SEVEN DAY
A WEEK. PLEASE REAUTHORIZE THE
M.I.D., THANK YOU.
>> GOOD MORNING, COUNCILMEMBER
NELSON AND OTHER COUNCILMEMBERS
ATTENDING VIRTUALLY. I AM THE
OWNER OF LOT 41, A PRIVATE EVEN
VENUE LOCATED AT 2nd AND BELL
AND I AM ALSO A MEMBER OF THE
M.I.D. RATEPAYER ADVISORY BOARD
SADLY, BELL STREET PARK,
ESPECIALLY BETWEEN 1st AND 3rd
AVENUE HAS DEFAULTED TO A SCAR
PLACE WITH A GREAT DEAL OF
LOITERING, OPEN DRUG DEALING AN
CONSUMPTION, ASSAULTS AND OTHER
ILLICIT ACTIVITIES, OCCURRING
RIGHT AT OUR FRONT DOOR. ALONG
WITH THAT, AND ENDLESS STREAM O
LITTER AND GRAFFITI. IT IS HAR
TO IMAGINE WHAT THE NEIGHBORHOO
WOULD LOOK LIKE WITHOUT THE
INVALUABLE CLEANUP EFFORTS AND
THE COMFORTING PRESENCE OF
M.I.D. AMBASSADORS IN OUR
NEIGHBORHOOD. NOT ONLY DO WE
APPRECIATE THE WORK THAT THEY
DO, BUT THE SITE OF THE YELLOW
VESTS IN OUR NEIGHBORHOOD MAKE
CLIENTS AND EMPLOYEES FEEL
SAFER. I STRONGLY ENCOURAGE TH
COUNCIL TO REAUTHORIZE THE
M.I.D. FOR THE NEXT 10 YEARS.
THANK YOU VERY MUCH.
>> THANK YOU. OKAY, LET'S SEE.
JOHN -- I AM NOT SEEING SOME O
THOSE SPEAKERS. OKAY. AND
PLEASE TRY, PLEASE DO KEEP
YOUR COMMENTS UNDER 45 SECONDS
OF YOU CAN.
>> I REPRESENT THE OWNERSHIP OF
THE DOWNTOWN REAL ESTATE. YOU
ALL KNOW THE HISTORIC OLYMPIC
HOTEL, THE TOWER. 5th AVENUE
THEATRE BUILDING. SO WE HAVE
EVERY TYPE OF CONSTITUENT YOU
CAN THINK OF COMING TO DOWNTOWN
OFFICE USERS, RETAIL. THE
M.I.D. IS SUPER IMPORTANT TO US
YOU GUYS ARE GREAT. WE ARE ALL
IN THIS TOGETHER AND HAVE TO
SUPPORT EACH OTHER. STRESSFUL
SITUATIONS DOWNTOWN. WE KNOW
THAT EVERY PERSON COUNTS FOR
HOW THEY EXPERIENCE OUR DOWNTOW
FOR THE WHOLE DOWNTOWN. YOU GUY
ARE AN ESSENTIALPARTNER. WE
ENTHUSIASTICALLY SUPPORT THE
M.I.D. RENEWAL, SO THANK YOU.
THANK YOU FOR YOUR TIME.
>> OKAY, SARAH AND THEN KEN AND
DAN. THAT IS THE END OF OUR
LIST.
>> HELLO, MY NAME IS SARA
HARVEY. I AM THE OWNER OF A
FINE ART GALLERY NEAR THE PIKE
PLACE MARKET. I AM HERE TODAY T
VOICE MY SUPPORT FOR THE RENEWA
OF THE M.I.D. OVER THE YEARS W
HAVE RELIED ON THIS ORGANIZATIO
OFTEN. THEY HAVE CLEAN TRASH AN
HUMAN WASTE COUNTLESS TIMES FOR
MY STOREFRONT. THEY HAVE BEEN
AN IMPORTANT MEDIATOR WHEN
PEOPLE PITCHED A TENT, BLOCKING
OUR FRONT DOOR. THEY HAVE BEEN
THERE TO HELP MYSELF OR
EMPLOYEES SAFELY EXIT OR ENTER
OUR PLACE OF WORK. THEY HAVE
MADE A POSITIVE INTERVENTION
WITH FOLKS IN CRISIS NEARBY.
HAVING A CLEAN, WELCOMING
DOWNTOWN IS IMPORTANT TO THE
SUCCESS OF MY BUSINESS AND ALSO
THE LOCAL ARTISTS THAT MY
GALLERY SUPPORTS. GALLERIES LIK
MINE IN TOWN AND ALSO THE
RESILIENCE -- SO I ASK, PLEASE
REAUTHORIZE M.I.D. FOR 10 MORE
YEARS. THANK YOU.
>> THANK YOU. OKAY, KEN AND
THEN DAN. NOT SEEING HIM
PRESENT. AND FINALLY, DAN IS
THE LAST PERSON ON THE LIST.
WHAT, WHAT DID YOU SAY? DID I
MISS ANYBODY? DID I SKIP OVER
ANYBODY BY MISTAKE? I AM SEEIN
SOME SHAKES OF THE HEAD. I JUS
WANT TO SAY THAT I HOPE YOU ARE
FEELING LOVED AND APPRECIATED
RIGHT NOW. SO, THANK YOU.
THOSE ARE MY SENTIMENTS. YOU
HEARD FROM THE BROADEST POSSIBL
CROSS-SECTION OF BUSINESSES,
EMPLOYERS, NONPROFITS, SMALL
BUSINESSES, BUILDING OWNERS,
AND IT IS ALSO REMARKABLE THAT
WE HAVE MANAGEMENT AND WORKERS
IN THE SAME ROOM, WORKING TOWAR
THE SAME GOAL, WHICH IS THE
REAUTHORIZATION OF THE M.I.D.
SO I AM NOT GOING TO SAY
ANYTHING ELSE. EXCEPT FOR, DO M
COLLEAGUES HAVE ANYTHING THEY
WOULD LIKE TO ADD? OKAY. YES.
THIS CLOSES THE PUBLIC HEARING
AND SEEING NO BUSINESS LEFT IN
OUR MEETING AS A WHOLE, I WIL
THEN -- IF THERE ARE NO MORE
FURTHER BUSINESS ITEMS, THIS
BUILDING MEETING WILL ADJOURN.
IT IS 12:18 AND THIS MEETING IS
ADJOURNED. NEXT MEETING WE WILL
CONTINUE THIS, ON APRIL 26.
THANK YOU ALL FOR STICKING
AROUND. I APPRECIATE IT.