Sir.
SPR Boardroom: but also I'm like an expert.
SPR Boardroom: Alright. Everyone welcome to today's meeting of the board commissioners.
SPR Boardroom: Thanks for being here on this beautiful afternoon Seattle salish as original caretakers of our waters. Landscape they nurture and shape today's parkland, and we honor their legacy in search of as enduring treasures to promote community welfare, cultivate inclusive expressions of nature and recreation, and commit to landing knowledge ensuing generation.
SPR Boardroom: I'm gonna go ahead and move into introductions starting over here with Joshua secret Commissioner and
SPR Boardroom: Amy broadcast, missionary Commissioner and co-chair desktop armor Commissioner at large.
SPR Boardroom: and I'm a Pts superintendent
SPR Boardroom: Ben Berzo staff scale, park and recreation. Wonderful with. The next item on our agenda would be public comments. So hands you all.
SPR Boardroom: hey? We have.
SPR Boardroom: 6 people signed up for public comment today. We will allot 2 min per person to speak.
SPR Boardroom: Go ahead.
SPR Boardroom: I'll try and give you a
SPR Boardroom: 2 s work, 5 s work. So alright. So first up is Kathy.
SPR Boardroom: Don't see Kathy. Moxie.
SPR Boardroom: Okay, Moxie, I'm going to allow you to unmute
SPR Boardroom: should get a prompt
SPR Boardroom: okay, whenever you're ready, go ahead.
Moxie-S.: Oh, no, let me take my
Moxie-S.: okay. I wanted to tell you all this is this is such a cool thing. My family and I my twins, and are originally from Indiana and Ohio.
Moxie-S.: and when Mr. Geary at the you yes, they're Community Center. When we walked in and he introduced himself.
Moxie-S.: and gave me the the brochure or the magazine, whichever way I'll see, cause I don't know. I'm still learning up over here. So we signed up like, I'm starting up for everything we are, though we learn how to play the piano. Drums right now, we rolling ha! Learning how to roller skate swimming for the first time. I'm 44 now.
Moxie-S.: I never learned how to swim. I love learning about all the different recreation centers. And I'm also learning to like, take the transportation that we don't have in those States. So I wanted to. Y'all, thank you.
SPR Boardroom: Awesome. Okay, thank you so much a a
SPR Boardroom: sorry. That was the wrong. But
SPR Boardroom: okay.
SPR Boardroom: I also see that we now have Kathy in the room. So, Kathy, I'm going to give you permission to talk and ask you to unmute.
Kathy Colombo: Thank you. I'm not sure if you can see me or not, which is probably fine, but I wanted to thank you. I'm Cathy Columbo. I am a member of the Beacon Hill Council, as well as a resident of Beacon Hill and Rainier Valley, and I am here to invite you all to attend
Kathy Colombo: the William Bill Wright
Kathy Colombo: Information Celebration and Recognition Day, which is going to be at the Jefferson Club House on October tenth, from 6 to 7.
Kathy Colombo: As you know, we are
Kathy Colombo: a community group of about 25 different organizations, agencies and institutions that are working to rename
Kathy Colombo: Jefferson golf course to the William Bill Wright golf complex. We came in July and presented, and we are kicking off
Kathy Colombo: this information and celebration on
Kathy Colombo: October the tenth, and we would love to have you all as our guests from 6 to 7, so we hope that we will see you there, so you can learn more about William Bill Wright. His accomplishments as well as meet all of the community organizations who are in support of this project.
SPR Boardroom: Great? Thank you. Kevin.
Peter. Okay.
SPR Boardroom: okay, Peter, I'm going to give you permission to talk
SPR Boardroom: there.
Peter Breyfogle: Okay, I think I'm unmuted.
Peter Breyfogle: Yes, okay, thank you. Let me get my notes. Okay.
Peter Breyfogle: Hello! My name is Peter. Bravo! And I am calling in to provide public comments about the 2024 budget we're going to review this evening.
Peter Breyfogle: I would like to know where, in this budget, Seattle parks and recreation maintenance is funded, and specifically how those funds are earmarked for Brook Gilman trail maintenance. You may recall from my July comments that there was only $300,000 in the budget for Burke. Gilman work this year.
Peter Breyfogle: These funds are being used to make 3 repairs.
Peter Breyfogle: but the amount of money that was needed to do done to address the 13 final fix of problems reported by regroup in October 2022 was over 1 million dollars.
Peter Breyfogle: My request is enough. Funds are provided in 2024 to fix the 13 problems. Report in October 2022. I cannot even say how much was completed this year. Is there still a project schedule for completion? October.
Peter Breyfogle: My group is scheduled. A follow-up ride in reporting for a Thursday, October nineteenth. That time we will enter new finite fix reports, remind everyone of how much what is left to be done.
Peter Breyfogle: I am going to ride with any member of this Board or Seattle Parks recreation management. They would like to see what has been done and what still needs to be done in person.
Peter Breyfogle: My contact information is available via Paula, who has my email address.
Peter Breyfogle: I've supplied the full text of these comments to Paul by email, feel free to request them for from her. Thank you.
SPR Boardroom: Peter. Thank you. Okay. Next up we have David Koon. A.
David Koon (he/him): Hello.
David Koon (he/him): My name is David Koon. I'm the president of the car. Keep Park Advisory Council on the treasure for the car keep watershed. Community action program is also, and also the director of salmon programs
David Koon (he/him): in Car Key Park. And I'm calling with an environmental and safety concern public health concern that we've had going on for about 2 years here in the park.
David Koon (he/him): and that is, we have every fall a salmon run. The last 2 years we've had over 1,000 salmon. They turn up Piper's Creek.
David Koon (he/him): and we have split rail fences along the creek that are to keep the public back.
David Koon (he/him): In 2,021. In the fall I went on a walk with our crew chief and the carpenter, a number of carpenters, to show them the issues where the fence had been failing.
David Koon (he/him): and how this was allowing people to go down to the creek more easily.
David Koon (he/him): Since then it's been another 2 years. Not only has the fence fall apart more.
David Koon (he/him): but we now are getting a lot of the vegetation along the creek
David Koon (he/him): is getting trampled, and the even more erosion along the creek edge.
David Koon (he/him): And this really needs to be addressed as Ap. As we have in about 3 weeks the beginning of our next salmon run we will be having again in the late October, and throughout November.
David Koon (he/him): up to a thousand or so, salmon returning. We also generally have 2 plus 1,000 visitors that come
David Koon (he/him): down during the park, and that's just that in interact with Sam and stewards
David Koon (he/him): or 6 h each week weekend, I should say that doesn't even include the rest of the week.
David Koon (he/him): And so we really need to get these
David Koon (he/him): fences repaired. I've been getting calls and emails from citizens asking why they have not been repaired, including members from Spu, asking why these have not been repaired.
David Koon (he/him): You mentioned at the beginning about your work. Your acknowledgement of the native Americans who took care of this lamb
David Koon (he/him): will be. I think you should be aware that we work with the Sugamish tribe to help restore this run.
David Koon (he/him): so if we are not taking care of the run by maintaining these
David Koon (he/him): fences. I kind of question how dedicated you are to that land acknowledgement and the stewardship that we should be taking to help protect.
David Koon (he/him): Thank you. Thank you, David. That's that's our time here. Also, David, we've gotten a lot of emails just today about this. So we'll
SPR Boardroom: I don't think it was on our radar. So we'll look into that
SPR Boardroom: next. Up we have
SPR Boardroom: hat at. Okay. You should have permission to talk.
patmork: But yes, Pat Mork. I live walking distance to Carkeek Park. I actually participate in feeding. and
patmork: the salmon fry every spring, and I have some skin in the game to see these fish return at Carkeek Park. It's an amazing thing to watch. Last year I was very disturbed
patmork: to see some young kids
patmork: just running in and out of the stream, destroying the the the beds where the salmon lay their eggs.
patmork: Parents did not
patmork: correct their kids. There's no signage where the fences are down to stay out.
patmork: I went home, and I
patmork: got some plastic tape and put it up to try to give some kind of indication that you shouldn't go past here additionally.
patmork: there are now beavers at our park in a wetland area toward the Sound, and I have some
patmork: concerns I have no way of knowing if this is happening. But you know in the wilderness, when you go hiking, you don't drink from stream water or go into it because of geodia.
patmork: So now that we have beavers there, I just wonder if
patmork: children or parents are aware, or anybody else that's mucking around in the stream that you know. Possibly, you know, they may pick this up. So I think, as Dave said, there is a public health concern.
patmork: but mostly it's not a million dollar project here to fix a split rail fence. There are volunteers, plenty of volunteers, a car keep that would love to assist and get this done as soon as possible before the salmon rang. So we hope you take this
patmork: requests seriously. Thank you.
SPR Boardroom: Thank you very much. And, Ellen, you are excellent.
SPR Boardroom: Good morning.
SPR Boardroom: Well, I'm Ellen Taft.
SPR Boardroom: I finally
SPR Boardroom: stopped growing at well, Baker rowing and sailing center.
SPR Boardroom: After 18 years
SPR Boardroom: I would select to propose some solutions.
SPR Boardroom: solutions to problems not procrastination.
SPR Boardroom: These are solutions which I proposed last winter to Daisy, and earlier this fall to Andy Shepherd. But I feel I'm getting the Ken bounds treatment.
SPR Boardroom: This is the solution to stop employees of the parks and our
SPR Boardroom: from bringing their dogs to work and breaking Seattle municipal code rules.
SPR Boardroom: I propose that all employees of Seattle parks and recreation and art sign a contract stating that they will obey the dog ordinances and not bring their dogs to work.
SPR Boardroom: Also, I think that all participants in Seattle parks and rec activities.
SPR Boardroom: for example, at Mount Baker Rowing and sailing club, or especially at the Magnuson field, should sign contracts, saying that they will also obey the rules about the dogs, and that the organizers of these activities
SPR Boardroom: will take responsibility for organizing these rules.
SPR Boardroom: And also, I think you should make a rule that Seattle parks and recreation employees will stop harassing and berating me, and stop yelling at me when I try and enforce the rules.
SPR Boardroom: We have a solution to stop conflict.
SPR Boardroom: And I would ask that you, rather than be like ken bounds and just procrastinate, that you actually make. A decision.
SPR Boardroom: Okay, Alan.
SPR Boardroom: thank you. Thank you.
SPR Boardroom: Don't forget that I'm the one who saved you a lot of political flag. But closing down the awfully sherry and volunteer park. Bye, thanks.
SPR Boardroom: That's it for other comments.
Yeah.
SPR Boardroom: so can I get an answer from that at some point? Yeah, I don't care what the answer is just an answer. All right, we have one more Commissioner joined us virtually, Andrea, yourself real fast.
Andrea Stuart-Lehalle (she/her): hey? Good evening, Audrey Stuart Lahall, she her and I'm our Commissioner for District 3, and also an employee at sound transit. Thanks for the opportunity
SPR Boardroom: you. And now that we have a quorum we do have one action we need to take which is approval of the minutes from the last meeting and today's agenda. Is there any discussion?
SPR Boardroom: Do we have a motion to approve salute.
SPR Boardroom: Second, I'll second it.
SPR Boardroom: All those in favor
SPR Boardroom: any opposed.
SPR Boardroom: any of say name.
SPR Boardroom: and the motion passes
SPR Boardroom: and with that I like the Ap. Of super dense report. Thank you so much.
SPR Boardroom: Pull up the report. Good evening, Commissioners with you all
SPR Boardroom: West.
SPR Boardroom: Great. Well, tonight we're starting out our presentation. We have 2 special people that are here in our audience that are near deer or hearts, and that's
SPR Boardroom: are from Arc, our family and commissioners, if you don't know we love to. There's a acronym. But I think Arc originally came up with, and it's called Spark, and it's a combination of Sdr and Arc. Together. We really are in partnership, and arc is such a tremendous asset to the city
SPR Boardroom: and the department, and it really like the department, because so many of the things that we all brag about you all as commissioners and us as employees is the amazing service that we get to our public.
SPR Boardroom: and that comes through. The staff and the employees of the Associated Recreation Council, who do this great work with us in the community, and at the end of the day you know, we may have different organizations, but we're serving the same people and they are there with us day and day night, through night, week by week. Doing this work, and we recently
SPR Boardroom: in addition to the tremendous work that they do, and also the overseers and providers of child care in the city of Seattle through our park system, which is so important for hardworking parents we wanted to publicly thank and acknowledge
SPR Boardroom: than tonight for an amazing investment that arc has decided to make in Sdr. Above and beyond
SPR Boardroom: their normal duties, and I have the Art Executive director Jackie, who, you all know, has it. This with us as well as the art financial officer, John Gray.
SPR Boardroom: and I just wanted to tell you that
SPR Boardroom: they came to us a couple of months ago. Amazing opportunity. With some funding that have been realized and materialized through their efforts
SPR Boardroom: and a surplus of funding. And with their board they talk about how they would love to really invest and make a significant donation to the Parks Department, and what was great about the skip is, they asked us to look and see what are the main priorities? Where did we not have budget money allocated for programs that we want to do and asked us to help lead, and
SPR Boardroom: creates a direction and vision
SPR Boardroom: for the gift. And we worked. First of all, it's an amazing opportunity. How often does that happen? And the ability to really look at what we are doing, and the gift is not small. It's a generous donations. 500,000
SPR Boardroom: directly for the people of Seattle and for our children, and all the people use the park. And so, we want to do a couple of things. One I just wanna acknowledge in this space and in front of the Commissioners and the public that is listening. Our tremendous gratitude first of all for your partnership, and for being there with us day by day. And really, you know, having a harder community.
SPR Boardroom: and next, for really
SPR Boardroom: being generous stewards of this gift that you all have and deciding to use it in this way is really amendable. Because, you know, art, although we talk about a partnership, we don't direct their budget, and and we don't control. How they use their money. It's them and their board and their amazing network advisors that just love community so much that I think they just really wanted
SPR Boardroom: to give and share in this. So the money is going to be spent on supporting department. Mayoral superintendent visions
SPR Boardroom: we are finally gonna be able to finish the renovation of the play area at Doctor Launcho Park. And so that's been really a long time coming project. And we couldn't do it without this. A tremendous effort. One of the things that we have wanted to do for our pickleball community they grow stronger every single day.
SPR Boardroom: and once more and more opportunities and places to play. And we've been limited and constrained by just budgets and our ability to get that one done quickly. This gift has enabled us to move forward. A lot of projects, and few specific projects. And we're going to be able to do that thankfully to this gift, which will be great. And the public is going to enjoy that so much.
SPR Boardroom: Also really important the swim Seattle program. And you know, here we heard our first public comment tonight, I think, by the way, probably like one of the best public comments just talking about how much they enjoy that services that we provide and how the woman talked about as an adult. She's learning to swim for the first time. So
SPR Boardroom: so amazing. And so one of the things right away is, you know, we wanted to use and put forth more money first one Seattle, so we can eventually get to that goal and eradicating the barrier of cost to participate. So we're gonna be teaching more kids to become swim proficient.
SPR Boardroom: We're also gonna be launching an upcoming program around mentorship which I may have mentioned to you all that will be sharing with you more as we're beginning to build it out. But it's a really broad mentorship program for youth in the city of Seattle, using public and private partners and nonprofits.
SPR Boardroom: It's gonna be amazing. And this is, gonna allow us to continue that work forward. And then also a continuous help art has been a tremendous partner. In helping us organize the greater greener
SPR Boardroom: conference that's coming up and just gonna enable us
SPR Boardroom: to really do some amazing programming at that event. And then just some other things that we can for the department. So we can't thank you enough. We have a very small recognition for you. All that looks like to invite you if you wanted to say anything, don't feel if you need to. But we would love. Yeah.
SPR Boardroom: I really wanna thank my board of directors for supporting our vision of really strengthening our partnership, and especially coming out of Covid, where we lost a lot of
SPR Boardroom: recreation opportunities for the community. We found ourselves better place where we were able to dedicate some surplus, and the best way for us to support Seattle Park, and recreation is to support the new vision of expanding more services to community.
SPR Boardroom: We're super passionate about youth efforts. And so soon Seattle and Seattle mentors. We were hoping those for 2 areas that the department would choose. And of course we are excited to support. You know, the pickle ball and the park that is, gonna be renovated is right behind Odessa Brown across the Washington Middle School, right in the central district. I think there's always an additional need to support that community.
SPR Boardroom: So we just really honored to be able to do this, and I wanna publicly thank my board board. President Justin Co. Chair here, was very much an advocate with me to explain what this would be to the Board, and the anonymously voted to move forward. And I also want to extend just a personal thank you to John Gray, who's with me tonight? Our Cfo.
SPR Boardroom: We spent many hours during Covid, just trying to, you know. Do what we could to keep things moving forward. So we're just honored to be able to do this and thank you for the recognition. Tonight means a lot to our
SPR Boardroom: slowly.
SPR Boardroom: all in 70 fonts.
SPR Boardroom: This is a huge thank you and great appreciation for your partnership. And and for this, get this really meaningful. Yeah, I'd like to echo that. You know I've taken a few classes in the Rec center, of course, and really appreciate all your work from selfish perspective, but also nothing we do will be possible without you.
SPR Boardroom: Thank you for everything, especially in the sniffs. Yeah.
SPR Boardroom: so
SPR Boardroom: and so we. Anyway, we have a this again. It's a memorialization of what I just said, and also record keeping of what this money specifically will go to. So for you all, it's so hard. Yeah, actually.
SPR Boardroom: So yeah.
SPR Boardroom: here's her advice.
SPR Boardroom: Excellent. Thank you. Guys, thank you.
Thanks.
SPR Boardroom: Optimism. Yeah.
SPR Boardroom: So getting it an update on our water conservation efforts. So I think we've started our official rain season in Seattle and look at me talking like I know about our rain. Oh, by the way, also start up. It'll be like really strong in like November, December, and then afterwards. And it's kind of spring close.
SPR Boardroom: you know. So anyway, it's not a
SPR Boardroom: But we are in partnership, of course, with the entire city to be. Really, you know, we obviously need during and our state and city has had a lot of dryness. So we wanna continue to be good stewards and you may, if you are a Seattle resident.
SPR Boardroom: receive notices to asking you to monitor. When we get into sort of 3 different zones about voluntary compliance or mandatory or emergency and because of the unusually dry summer, we're facing potential water for just this fall. So everyone's being asked to help reduce their water. But important for you all to those commissioners that that's one of the largest and
SPR Boardroom: zoomers of water in the city. We are really be mindful of our water conservation efforts, and we are also enacting and looking at enacting more sort of smart water strategies. Especially in the areas where we do have sprinklers. What we do need. Obviously, now, we're coming to a period where we can draw back on that.
SPR Boardroom: But we really want to be mindful and are continuously looking for ways to improve. These
SPR Boardroom: these efforts. So we're excited about that. And we are again employing technology like remotely
SPR Boardroom: ways to access our irrigation system so that we know if we're having a particularly strong season before you would have to get crews out into the field and try to figure out. You know, if there was an errand sprinkler system or an area or hillside that to get turned off. Now you can do that remotely. The more that you upgrade the technology to do that. So we're looking at doing that, and just wanted to keep you abreast of that.
SPR Boardroom: We had a big day at city council this past week. We had a lot of items, and I want to thank all of our staff who work
SPR Boardroom: so hard on those, and thank Paula for coordinating as our counsel lay as on all the efforts. Our legislation came before the city council was really important. And we had to put forth a number of efforts so. On that committee agenda, the official appointment of Philip, your colleague to the
SPR Boardroom: congratulations, fill up operation and management agreement was signed between Spr and Dsa, the downtown Seattle Association. So you all may know, or just as a reminder we have
SPR Boardroom: we've had existing partnerships with Dsa to help activate our downtown spaces, particular areas like West Lake.
SPR Boardroom: And this new agreement will expand into more to Bell Town as well as parts of Pioneer Square.
SPR Boardroom: And we really feel fortunate to have this partnership. We've been able to grow and establish it for a long time. We have you know, we still are very involved in those spaces, including through maintenance and also through vast coordination. So just wanna sure we're not.
SPR Boardroom: We sign these agreements with entities like Dsa, we're not giving up our control. We're really seeing them as a way to enhance and to shore up. The attention that's needed, especially as we're trying to bring back downtown and ensure that we're not taking away from other services and other parts of the city. So we really do need a partnership, and Dsa has been
SPR Boardroom: really great. So we successfully pass that we also were able to acquire a piece of property in the Westwood Highland Park area of West Seattle. So that was a property acquisition that will allow us to sort of land that site and continue to
SPR Boardroom: evaluate potential uses for it. But it met all of our criteria, and it was something that we wanted to take in as an asset, so that we can have those pieces of property when need them.
SPR Boardroom: We also asked similarly, for authority to acquire property in Southeast Seattle, in the Taylor Creek watershed adjacent to Taylor Creek, which is an important salmon bearing stream. So really wanted to be helpful as we continue to help in the conservation of land and our resources. This is an area much like people were talking about. These are valuable
SPR Boardroom: areas that need to be protected. And so an opportunity for us to come in and do that was given. We also got an authorization to accept funding from the King County Conservation futures tax levy that will be used for open space property acquisitions throughout the city. So this is the second time, and I think just 2 months that we have received benefit from King County
SPR Boardroom: specific levies, one for conservation and then one for recreational purposes. So we're excited about that. And then, lastly, we got authorization to enter into an agreement with Washington State Department of Ecology for cleanup work at the Duwamish Waterway Park site. So
SPR Boardroom: it's a busy day. Well, we all got it through and got a pass. And so just wanna thank
SPR Boardroom: everybody. And Michelle was listening. But the entire team as well as our partners at Dsa and ecology and sections as well. Just probably want to say, Thank you. So that was great work.
SPR Boardroom: And right now we are in a period we are open, for we're bringing back the Denny awards. I know we had talked to you all about that, but I think at the last meeting was mentioned. Denny awards. Which honors stellar
SPR Boardroom: Park and recreation volunteers. The official nomination period is open, and the deadline is Friday, October twentieth. So anyone listening, or any of the Commissioners please visit parkways.seattle.com for guidance on how to nominate someone for an award.
SPR Boardroom: and this year the awards will be presented at a recognition ceremony on Wednesday, December 8, at the Seal, Seattle Asian Art Museum. Of course you are all invited, and I'm sure that our staff here hopefully, I know they keep you across. But would definitely love any of them to be there with us on our part volunteers.
SPR Boardroom: So here's our
SPR Boardroom: continuous I know.
SPR Boardroom: Commissioners like to see some of our pictures and see different things when we talk about this as a reminder. We have 3 branches. So in our operations branch you can see some of the work that we've been doing throughout the city. First of all in City Hall Park. If you have not seen and don't know if we have a picture of
SPR Boardroom: this particular with an art installation
SPR Boardroom: called monuments. And it's another way that we're activating City Hall Park in the downtown area. I believe it's still going on, perhaps for another week, and it comes on in the evening time from around 8 to 10, and the trees become
SPR Boardroom: living art. And it's really cool. If anyone hasn't seen it. So and then wanna thank Monica Hagen on our staff. She's been really keen on activating that space. You can also see the work that we've been done doing areas clean like in Westlake Park, and also our natural urban sort of
SPR Boardroom: areas. Where our always out and even in northeast Seattle. We didn't place we did a lot of clean up, and it was really
SPR Boardroom: fantastic. So
SPR Boardroom: our teams are working really hard, and I was just having a conversation actually, today with a council member who was
SPR Boardroom: really giving our staff and the department for how clean the park system. I always say that always impressed at our parts when we go around. So it was really exciting to see that. Oh, I think we do have a slide of minding, maybe on the next one.
SPR Boardroom: It's one. Oh, okay. So this was
SPR Boardroom: the monuments. That's an actual like arch that comes from a laser.
SPR Boardroom: Well, low, I think. And it's hard to see from here, but everything you see is the branches and the leaves, and it all comes together, and it even moves and it's just really cool. And you can see here. One
SPR Boardroom: night we were there in the park turned off the festival lights that we have there normally, and it just came alive. And it's really just a very cool thing. The great thing about it is the artists who did it. We have rights to use it again. And so we're looking at ways to take it. Other parts of the city, like in the South and West Seattle. You know. Maybe a discovery or someplace that would be really cool. So
SPR Boardroom: Oh, good! It's through October fifth. So there's still time. So anyone wants to see it. And then,
SPR Boardroom: October sixth, we're having all artists festival at Meadowbrook Community Center, and then, October eighth, we're doing Volunteer Park, Halloween Tech Parade. So anyone wants to bring their pets hopefully on. We should say we have been our superintendent but can come participate in the parade. So now we'll go back because I think they jumped forward.
SPR Boardroom: Okay.
SPR Boardroom: hello
SPR Boardroom: in our planning capital development branch. We have the plans for the urban Triangle Park Place structure which will be installed in November, and then making another
SPR Boardroom: timelike check-off in West Seattle Junction. I mean, there will be a community meeting on October tenth
SPR Boardroom: to discuss the upcoming project. So it's really good about the work that we do in our planning capital development branch is that? We work really hard to give community opportunity. On
SPR Boardroom: more than one occasion come out and to give input for the plans and things that are going on. So that we're really curating these spaces with the community input and will best meet that need. And one thing we've all learned is that
SPR Boardroom: even a playground? There's no one size at all. So you need to be mindful. And, you know, design with community and what? And so this is just an example of some of the things that we're doing.
SPR Boardroom: And that's our report. So yeah. And again, thank you so much art for being here?
SPR Boardroom: Oh, cool, thank you. Ap any questions or comments from my colleagues.
SPR Boardroom: I was wondering about the.
SPR Boardroom: So we did here. I did hear your comments and commissioners. I put a note here. I definitely want to learn more about the split group fencing there and see what is what I have been focusing on most recently. Reference is the beavers which have come in and also trying to work with our colleges to see
SPR Boardroom: to ensure that
SPR Boardroom: we're taking the right steps there to protect the trees and the trails. And now that it's raining we've had some trees that have
SPR Boardroom: fallen down, and so we have gone out to repair those to try to mitigate others, and looking at ways working with the local tribe, and the I always get the acronym wrong. But I think it's the
SPR Boardroom: Federal, or that
SPR Boardroom: this State would be a State body that helps us over the State. If we're gonna look at relocation of beavers or just doing things with a wildlife, wildlife department, official wildlife. We're already talking with them about that. But the fence. I'm glad that it was mentioned today, and then definitely going to find out more about that and do an assessment, because there's a lot of things that go on at a park with the beach.
SPR Boardroom: and then the beavers. Now the salmon run the rains that come in and it's so well used and loved. And it's great, and get into the inner parts of the forested area. But we have to make sure that the bridges and the fences are safe. Yeah, yeah, I mean, I was there. I was there last fall, and it's just incredible. And I think it was. Pat said she went and got her own
SPR Boardroom: tape and put it up where the fence was down, and I think I saw your tape, your passion tape there, pat, so yes, just so incredible to be able to see the samen up close, and Sam, just like
SPR Boardroom: like, maybe have a personal connection with such an important cultural and equal resource. And so I think it is really important to protect that and not let people. I don't want to add a note to the look at signage occurs. It's a unique thing. So and we know it's coming so to if we can put some signage there
SPR Boardroom: also, just to say what's going on. And then also just a reminder for the public to you know. Be extra careful and not travel into the stream so well. And I think, as they mentioned people about, it's just a really incredible event. Yes.
SPR Boardroom: so awesome. Thank you.
SPR Boardroom: Anyone else.
SPR Boardroom: I will like to follow up real quickly on something from last week. I did notice that Stan Sayers.
SPR Boardroom: is that correct? Well, let me change.
SPR Boardroom: It's it's closest in the evening time. Yeah, there may have been some
SPR Boardroom: sort of like construction related things that were going on that required it to be closed in the daytime and may not be
SPR Boardroom: going on now. But the program, the pilot program that we were doing
SPR Boardroom: to help some of the nighttime activity was the closure that night, and that's still going on. So yeah, thank you.
SPR Boardroom: Before we move on to the next item, I see Staff joined us staff, or if you'd like to give a quick introduction.
Stafford Mays: Yes, I apologize for being a little late Stafford. May District 7 board. Commissioner.
Stafford Mays: Thank you. Welcome. No need to apologize. You're busy doing some recreation, I understand, with that. I'd like to hand it over to Rachel to talk about our new agreement with the downtown Sales Association.
Rachel Schulkin: Wonderful. Thank you. Thanks for having me everyone.
Rachel Schulkin: You'll have to tell me if Ben has my presentation up. I'm ready to go.
SPR Boardroom: I'm getting there.
Rachel Schulkin: Alrighty. Look at the mouse there.
Rachel Schulkin: Okay. hmm.
Rachel Schulkin: Now that
Rachel Schulkin: okay, perfect. So recently, we presented this, or Christopher actually presented this presentation to city council, and I'm here with you today. I will
Rachel Schulkin: give a little spoiler here. They did pass this proposed legislation. and it just passed this earlier this week out of full counsel as well. So
Rachel Schulkin: all good news there. But I wanted to inform you about this contract renewal with the downtown Seattle Association.
Rachel Schulkin: So the
Rachel Schulkin: So today, I'm gonna present to you on the Center City activation downtown Seattle Association contract renewal. We're bringing this forward. As a contract renewal, which is an important distinction here. It's a purchase of services contract in which Spr. Is contracting with Dsa in order to purchase activation services for downtown
Rachel Schulkin: at the previous direction, at the direction of the previous administration. We did not elect to do an Rfp for this work. This is specialized work. That an Rfp did not seem appropriate, for
Rachel Schulkin: dsa also has been an incredible partner. Over the last. I guess it's been about 8 years now. In activating the downtown parks that they're in, which is Occidental and Westlake to date. So they've been in. Not only have they revitalized these parks, but they've always exceeded or by double their fundraising goal. And put all those funds into programming safety and the vitality of these 2 downtown parks.
Rachel Schulkin: So next slide.
Rachel Schulkin: So as we worked to with Dsa to negotiate this contract. Our goals included that
Rachel Schulkin: that parks downtown would be safe and active, that they would have a welcoming environment with activities that reflect community that they would demonstrate success through people counts and surveys, and that all funds collected would go back to programming and activation. Next slide.
Rachel Schulkin: The contract outlines, the services that Dsa will provide, which is daily service in now moving from 2 parks to 4 parks, weekly, larger scale events, staffing and security managing the permitting of outside event organizers in these parks, working with concessionaires and vendors, advertising events, online, providing services to marginalized populations.
Rachel Schulkin: ensuring that their contract utilizes wimpy women minority
Rachel Schulkin: businesses, vendors fundraises to supplement the public investment that the city is putting in and reports both revenue and programming twice each year.
Rachel Schulkin: and Sprs. Role in these parks is to manage the free speech event requests to provide park maintenance and provide Ranger and Ranger support, and all 4 sites along with concierge. Continued
Rachel Schulkin: concier support at Pioneer Square.
Rachel Schulkin: Next slide.
Rachel Schulkin: The agreement so specific to Dsa's role in activating these public spaces, the agreement recognizes regular daily programming leads to people to perceive these parks as increasingly safe welcoming and vibrant spaces.
Rachel Schulkin: Activations that are free and open to the general public lead to increased positive public use of these urban parks, and the majority of activations and programs will fall within these the following 4 categories. So park amenities. So those are things that support and increase park use, such as plantings, outdoor furnitures and food truck services.
Rachel Schulkin: health and wellness, which includes health and fitness, programming and drop-in table games. youth and family programs which support increased use of the park by women and children, such as children's programs, games, hands on learning, play structures and holiday events
Rachel Schulkin: and arts and culture which includes activities and events often offered in partnership with community organizations and artists, such as providing music concerts, films, performance, art, and rotating installations.
Rachel Schulkin: Next slide.
Rachel Schulkin: Here you can see a comparison chart of our current contract against the proposed contract. The new contract raises funding from the city to cover the cost of 2 additional parks, as well as the increased operating costs.
Rachel Schulkin: The new contract supplements. Dsa staffing with spr concier service and Park Ranger presence in the added parts to recognize the added challenges of our current downtown climate.
Rachel Schulkin: The Dsa funding fundraising requirement remains at 3 to one, and the contract defines a whimby contracting requirement as well, was in the previous contract just not defined at the specific level.
Rachel Schulkin: S. Pr. And Dsa. Will take on a maintenance assessment of downtown parks. So to better improve Spr's maintenance practices downtown and in turn support park activation efforts.
Rachel Schulkin: Additionally, we will be developing a sponsorship process and moving to a programming model that takes in all that adapts to the changes in downtown worker schedules.
Rachel Schulkin: Next slide.
Rachel Schulkin: as many of you know. We started working with Dsa back in 2015 under a pilot agreement, and then we moved that agreement into a 5 year agreement which was highly successful in changing the look and feel of both Occidental and Westlake
Rachel Schulkin: due to covid our contract negotiations were delayed, and so we were about, I think.
Rachel Schulkin: a year and a half behind, when we would have been presenting
Rachel Schulkin: the contract renewal to
Rachel Schulkin: city council. But we finally got there.
Rachel Schulkin: So the next few slides are just some good before and afters next slide if you can.
Rachel Schulkin: So this is one to show that prior to these activation efforts, these parks were pretty much empty. And this really goes to that first kind of bucket of types of programming that we talked about. That programming is not always concerts and movies and
Rachel Schulkin: but also is some of the things like Bistro tables and
Rachel Schulkin: planters. And dsa was able to bring a lot of that into the park. With our funding along with their funding as well.
Rachel Schulkin: Next slide you can kind of see?
Rachel Schulkin: You know. On the left is Westlake, and you can see the table tennis, the play area that's installed the foosball table.
Rachel Schulkin: There's obviously some resources for people to gather. And there's, of course, staff they can talk to. And then, of course, on the right, you can see what? What active recreation activation looks like.
Rachel Schulkin: Next slide
Rachel Schulkin: again. You know, they're just
Rachel Schulkin: Couldn't even spend time talking about all the different and exciting ways that both of these parks have seen programming some really incredible things, obviously, from things like boot camp and fitness activities to installing.
Rachel Schulkin: you know, roller skate rink. You know we all know about the carousel that's down there frequently, and there's just been a huge breadth and depth of things that they have been able to do to really attract all sorts of different communities throughout the region
Rachel Schulkin: next slide.
Rachel Schulkin: And of course, you know, holiday programming is a big portion of that they do. A really great job of bringing people downtown in our kind of darkest and coldest days, with a lot of really exciting programming from
Rachel Schulkin: ice skating rinks, carousels, light installations, etc., next slide.
Rachel Schulkin: So some of the data that they've collected to kind of show the impact people counter show over 2.5 1 million visits to both Westlake and Occidental Square since 2017 9,500 h of activation and programming
Rachel Schulkin: just in a one year span
Rachel Schulkin: and obviously improved perceptions of just these parks feeling safe and welcoming to the public
next slide.
Rachel Schulkin: And just to put a finer point on what we kind of talked about. Dsa also has a requirement to provide outreach and you can see there are some stats around the outreach that they've provided and touch points with
Rachel Schulkin: unhoused individuals downtown.
Rachel Schulkin: And again. So let's talk again about the contract requires Dsa to raise $3 fundraise $3 for every $1 that's invested from this contract. Dsa has exceeded that by double across the 8 or so years we've been working with them. On average, it's been about 6.6 $7 for every $1 of spr funding, and all of that money goes back into the park programming and activation.
Rachel Schulkin: And so obviously with this contract mid and partner investments will continue to increase and in support of keeping downtown parks clean, safe and welcoming
Rachel Schulkin: next slide.
Rachel Schulkin: And so this is just a
Rachel Schulkin: slide to show you that you know Dsa does not do this alone they they sub contract, they work with a lot of partners. This is just, honestly, just a snapshot of some of the partners they work with, but they work with a ton of a ton of folks to do this together. And then again, as we talked about, one change in the contract will be to
Rachel Schulkin: set a goal. And they were very eager to have the inclusion of this whimby goal to show that their contracting includes women and minority owned businesses.
Rachel Schulkin: And that concludes next slide that concludes, the presentation. Any questions that I might be able to answer.
SPR Boardroom: Please. First of all. Thank you, Rachel, and the difference in awesome and was like parks. It's really wonderful and excellent to see, and I'm super glad to hear about Bell Street and Square, too. Is Bell Street. How much of Bell Street does this cover? Is that
SPR Boardroom: the dog Park? The community garden? Is there?
Rachel Schulkin: No, just the part, just the kind of that street part. That they'll be programming there. Sometimes Dsa's activations do go beyond
Rachel Schulkin: a park boundary and could include other other portions nearby. Of course they would work with us to to.
Rachel Schulkin: you know, contract and permit those or whatever, but by and large. It'll be within the the street park there.
SPR Boardroom: maybe. Second, third. Yeah, Andrea. Thanks.
Andrea Stuart-Lehalle (she/her): Thank you so much, Rachel, for the presentation. I was curious how what are the methods for measuring perception. I appreciate the report back that, you know there's an increased perception of of safety or just, you know, pleasantness in the park. How are we measuring that?
Rachel Schulkin: Yeah. So prior to again, during that pilot portion? There was active surveying in the park.
Rachel Schulkin: And then Dsa has repeated that since. To talk about one metric that was really critical in the beginning, and I don't believe we measure it as rigorously now was the number of women and children present at any given event
Rachel Schulkin: as a proxy measure for perceived safety. And so that was reported out very regularly kind of in those beginning years and used as a measurement of their success.
Rachel Schulkin: I appreciate the proxy measurement. Is it a mix of digital like, I'm just thinking of, of access, of of digital access. Is it like QR codes, or also paper methods like, how are we making this most accessible back at the beginning there were people with like
Rachel Schulkin: tablets talking to people in the park, and then like surveying them. yeah, great thanks.
SPR Boardroom: That's right. It's
SPR Boardroom: yeah. I know, Rachel, it's all really saying here the Dsa. Is expanding their reach. I'll be really curious, I think, Amy.
SPR Boardroom: how it evolves on Bell Street. It's just such a different dynamic. And
SPR Boardroom: the community that's around there. It's a very, you know, I think interesting thing about doubling is you're now reaching out into different types of places.
SPR Boardroom: Not just, you know, it's not just a park. It's a different configuration. It's sort of an active street with a different user group around there, and I think it'd be a great opportunity to find a way to
SPR Boardroom: you know, how do you engage those people that are there? And it's you know. Maybe it's not just carousel and things like that. But there's could be unique and new engagement
SPR Boardroom: for that neighborhood, that zone.
Rachel Schulkin: Yeah.
Rachel Schulkin: I would just say that you know Dsa,
Rachel Schulkin: provides a lot of services outside of what we do with them through the mid right? So they they have all these businesses that they are accountable to or the Metropolitan Improvement district. So they have a lot of good relationships that they have built on behalf of that. And a lot of that does look like both
Rachel Schulkin: large small employers. In the area. But it also looks like social service providers,
Rachel Schulkin: restaurants and businesses there. So they talked a lot about the relationships that they do already have in Bell Street, and kind of what people have been looking for in the area.
Rachel Schulkin: and I do know that they have been talking about that as a little bit of a different space that needs a different touch. So I think it will be an exciting project. II know that they're really committed to
Rachel Schulkin: like, I said, where that fundraising dollars come from are these surrounding more usually the larger businesses that are going to be putting the fundraising dollars? So they they have a best interest in being very close to community. Who's going to utilize that park and making sure that they feel like they're getting represented, and that their employees or their the services that they provide to others are are
Rachel Schulkin: are getting utilized, or whatever that they're feeling like. This is a park. They're not gonna want to participate in fundraising efforts if they're not feeling like this is a park that's surveying them.
SPR Boardroom: Thank you. Yeah. Great. Yeah. Thank you, Rachel. This is all very exciting. I live in First Hill. I work in Chinatown, Id. And I have not never given up a nightlife in Biden Square, in Belltown, and so this is all very exciting. And you mentioned the Mid? Just so. People don't know metropolitan Improvement district and greater downtown is a self funded proven district price and cleaning.
SPR Boardroom: Make sure downtown is safe and healthy, vibrant. And this is just another step. I mean, we've all seen what's like an accidental that I day that it has. I also really appreciate the 25 threshold. I think it's important that the dollar to put forth the dollars we raise are invested equitably throughout our local economy. And
SPR Boardroom: I also want to say to this has a lot of support in the community. I think if you've been to city council and discuss any of this, a lot of folks really do show up. So yeah, very exciting stuff. Thank you, Rachel.
SPR Boardroom: and if nothing else on this topic.
SPR Boardroom: I'd like to take a quick pause to introduce Phillip. Give a quick apologies for to to to be late. Yes, Philip Mang, and is my introduction different. Now.
SPR Boardroom: I think it's this council district. Right?
SPR Boardroom: Yeah, yeah. There you go. Nice. And oh, I forgot to ask the sole source contract thing right with the Dsa. Ii think that's totally the right move. But do you know, did we get any pushback for knocked over the open market. I don't believe that. Now, that's why. Yeah, yeah, I think because we have the established relationship before and was an extension of that. But yeah, that's great.
SPR Boardroom: So next up on our agenda will be the proposed budget.
Amy Williams: Good evening, everyone. So
Amy Williams: can you all hear me? Okay. great. I am Amy Williams, and I'm S. Pr. Budget manager. I work really closely with Michelle and all things budget, and
Amy Williams: I am very happy to be here tonight standing in for her. To walk you through the highlights of our 2024 proposed Budget and Ben, if you want to go to the next slide.
Amy Williams: so what I'm going to cover tonight is giving you a little bit of context on the 2024 budget just on the development side.
Amy Williams: Highlights of what's in next year's budget, and then want to go through the upcoming council schedule with you.
Amy Williams: and before we get into it, generally, there's not a lot of changes in the budget. It's mostly budget neutral changes to support the things that we're doing.
Amy Williams: And then, before we get into the changes. One area to know is that the budget does include a one time technical change related to the general fund and the park district funding
Amy Williams: which we'll get into here in a little bit.
Amy Williams: Ben, if you want to go to the next slide.
Amy Williams: So
Amy Williams: just a little bit of context. And this is a quick reminder that I think you all know very well. But the city budgets incrementally above
Amy Williams: a static baseline, and we do a 2 year budget, and so the the for the budget for the biennial budget. Year one
Amy Williams: the year one adopted it is always in the odd year, and then year 2 with the endorses in the even year, and then we do the cip in a 6 year cycle. And I say this only as a segway to the city is kind of moving in a direction of transitioning us to really doing a biennial budget where the second year is focused on minor updates rather than a full scale budget process, which is kind of what we have been doing
Amy Williams: and so relatedly as you. May have heard or read with the Mayor's Budget speech on Tuesday the city is anticipating a pretty big deficit
Amy Williams: in 2025, estimated at about 250 million between forecasted revenues and spending basically need
Amy Williams: needed to continue what we currently do across the city and so sticking with the idea of doing a biennial budget. They they wanted to limit the changes to the 2024 endorse budget to focus on what I was saying. Technical changes and budget neutral changes to the
Amy Williams: to the greatest extent possible. And so you're gonna see those types of funding realignments on operating and capital here coming up next slide.
Amy Williams: So
Amy Williams: this is just a little more context. To give you an idea of the size of our 2024 budget. And so
Amy Williams: you can see here on the left, the big pi is the total combined operating and capital budgets. It's about about 320 million across all funds and the general fund and the park district are providing almost equal amounts, and it makes up
Amy Williams: about 75% of the total budget. And then, if we move up to the blue table on the top right there, it's showing our 2024 proposed operating budget, which is at about 228 million, and that one is supported must have had the general fund of the Park district.
Amy Williams: With the park fund coming in third, and that's where our earned revenues go to support the like amount of expenses, as I think you'll know. And then the green table at the bottom is our proposed capital budget, which is at about 93 million, and that is supported mostly by part district. And we
Amy Williams: and I just wanna quickly point out that that dark green chunk of the pie next year
Amy Williams: which is a pretty large percentage, is related to the waterfront. So there's going to be a lot of construction next year, and there's money in our budget next year, and it will go away when the project
Amy Williams: is planned to open in 2025
Amy Williams: next slide ben
Amy Williams: so, as I mentioned, the proposed budget includes a one year technical change in how the general fund is set and measured against the park district.
Amy Williams: And so the inner local agreement between the city and the park district includes a section that that makes sure the city continues strong general fund support to the parcel rec system.
Amy Williams: and so specifically, it maintains a minimum required level of general funds that is known as the general fund floor that was established. When the particip started in 2,015, and it's escalated every year by the annual growth in the cip
Amy Williams: and just a quick note before I talk about the technical change, there is a section in the Ila that allows the city to city council to lift the minimum general fund requirement
Amy Williams: in the event of a natural disaster, exigent economic circumstance. And so they did use that exception, if you remember, to suspend the floor. In 2020 and 2021 during the pandemic. So changes aren't unprecedented.
Amy Williams: And so in the proposed budget we have about 120 million of general fund support next year, which is
Amy Williams: an increase of a little over 2 million from the 2024 endorse budget. And so it includes this one time change to the way that the General Floor Fund floor is calculated for 2024 only.
Amy Williams: so, as I mentioned it in most years. It inflates by the same rate as the Cpi
Amy Williams: but for 2024 only there it's inflating by 3% rather than a Cpi. And so in 2025, it'll go back to increasing by the annual Cpi using our 2024 budget as the base.
Amy Williams: And so the change really brings us in line with the inflation rate of the general fund and other levies across the city.
Amy Williams: And then it's it's helping to ensure that the floor is sustainable as as as the city's planning for this difficult financial situation. Ahead of us.
Amy Williams: Next slide.
Amy Williams: So.
Amy Williams: as I mentioned, we have several budget neutral changes, and these are some position highlights that are all funded with existing resources.
Amy Williams: First, we have we are adding, an equity and engagement strategic advisor. That's gonna be focused specifically on our capital planning division and facility maintenance divisions.
Amy Williams: And we had we had this role starting as a temp assignment in in March of 2022. And so this position is going to be joining to our 2 other equity advisor roles that we currently have supporting the Recreation division and the Parks environment division.
Amy Williams: we also are adding 11 new positions. And we're removing a sunset date for 3 existing positions. So there's a total 14. But 11 are new
Amy Williams: in the capital planning division. And so, as you know, Cycle 2, the Park district added a lot more capital dollars to our budget and several new large projects.
Amy Williams: and because Council was also making changes to the capital side of the Park district. Last year, when they were reviewing Cycle 2,
Amy Williams: we highlighted the future need, but wanted to wait to add these positions until Cycle 2 was finally passed last November. And so these positions are a mix of really specific functions, ranging from management functions to
Amy Williams: engineering support and compliance and reporting needs and they're all funded through the CIP.
Amy Williams: The next position is a position that's gonna be dedicated to integrated pest management and wildlife management. Ipm.
Amy Williams: and so this is repurposing a, a, an existing vacant position. To to do the work. It's a really technical body of work, and we've had
Amy Williams: some different staff sort of taking on pieces of it. And this is really to sustain to create a sustainable position to be able to to take on the work. And so
Amy Williams: they work in tandem with our ecological team. And so if you think about protections on hair and nesting and noxious, we regulations. It's that type of technical work that this this position is going to be helping to support.
Amy Williams: And then, lastly, we're adding another counselor position to the Conservation Corps to support.
Amy Williams: the case management workload, if you remember, in Cycle 2
Amy Williams: we added funding for the Scc. To expand the number of people that they serve every year. And so this is really adding another. It's a third counselor position to help
Amy Williams: just to help Ban to balance the the workload, and that on that team.
Amy Williams: And then, Ben, if you want to go to the next slide, please.
Amy Williams: So, moving on to the cap, I guess, before we get into the changes, a little bit of context is that the re forecast. The city does came in worse in August as compared to April.
Amy Williams: So we got a pretty heavy reduction target for 2023 and 2024, which was about 20 million combined, which you can see at the bottom of the blue highlighted columns.
Amy Williams: And then there's a gradual add back of that, plus a little more over the latter half of the cip, which is totaling that 25 1 million under the 2029 column.
Amy Williams: So the proposed cip includes changes to re, from 2023 to 2029, most of which were achievable by aligning our rate expenses and projected spending and timelines over the life of Cip to try to limit impacts on projects.
Amy Williams: And so most of the changes were workable. But we do have a couple of impacts in in the categories which I'll walk you through
Amy Williams: And before I do just wanna point out that the last category there that's titled ongoing minor minor maintenance. There's not a lot of significant changes in there. So we're not anticipating a lot of of impact. So I'm not gonna spend a lot much time on that one.
Amy Williams: So if we scoop back up to the top in the major maintenance category,
Amy Williams: reduction in the first half of the cip mostly include alignments, like, I said, with spending plans. But there is one project, delay to the Mount Baker, Bathhouse and Ada project, and it'll delay it by one year.
Amy Williams: And so
Amy Williams: the rest of the realignments in this category are not significantly impacting any projects.
Amy Williams: Other projects. Moving on to the community center category.
Amy Williams: you'll see that funding reductions taken in 2023 and 2025 are basically replenished in 2026 and 2028. And so there's 2 things happening here. There's a realignment of about 3 million from just our like general pot, a community center rehab money.
Amy Williams: Which isn't really affecting projects. It would, you know, impact things like contingency for current projects. But not directly impacting any project.
Amy Williams: And then, there is a shift of 5 million that is currently budgeted for Lake City to 2025 to align with when we're gonna be doing that project.
Amy Williams: And so this leaves enough money on the table to continue planning and site remediation. So it's not a slowdown in the project. This is really just a shift to
Amy Williams: a meet the Reg goal, and then also to align the funding to with when we're gonna when we're planning to do the construction project.
Amy Williams: in the athletic field category. There's this is this is funding for turf replacement and field conversions. And so for field replacements, there's a there's a small realignment that is not. We're not thinking it's gonna have significant impacts.
Amy Williams: And then the conversions include Magnuson and Queen Anne. And they're they're not currently planned until the latter half the cip. So the changes that we're making at this point aren't
Amy Williams: impacting the timing of those projects.
Amy Williams: the more significant change in this category is that soundview is going to be delayed for one year, and.
Amy Williams: as I said at the beginning
Amy Williams: we we didn't have a lot of base read in 2024 discretionary read to to cobble together a
Amy Williams: a reduction target. And so this was a large discretionary project, and so we just didn't have a lot of viable options on this one and it is
Amy Williams: This one, as I said, will delay it for one year. and then finally,
Amy Williams: the changes to the funding and the discrete project category includes the car, Keith car Key bridge replacement and gas works remediation.
Amy Williams: And so the changes to the car keep bridge are based on the actual project schedule. Because there's really long timelines for permitting with Burling, Burlington, northern and shoreline permitting. And
Amy Williams: and so this is this is really aligning it to when that project is is estimated to start.
Amy Williams: and then
Amy Williams: gas works remediation which has been around forever. We recently learned that they think the in water. Remediation work is is likely to start in 2027, and so we had to do some shuffling to add funding to that project in the out years.
Amy Williams: to meet that obligation.
Amy Williams: And then, if you want to go to the next slide.
Amy Williams: This is this is the Council review timeline. And so
Amy Williams: moving through it. The Major, the mayor's proposed budget went to them, as you all know, on Tuesday, and so they'll be reviewing it basically through november.
Amy Williams: So October sixteenth,
Amy Williams: will be presenting the Mpd budget to council, and that also includes the annual public hearing. On that same day
Amy Williams: Council Central Staff will be making their budget presentations to council. The week of October tenth. followed by the first public hearing on the budget on the eighteenth of October.
Amy Williams: and then
Amy Williams: Council budget Committee discussions begin on the twenty-seventh of October, and then all of their draft amendments will become public. Then.
Amy Williams: and then they'll continue to deliberate the week of November thirteenth, and they'll they'll have their second public hearing planned on that day. They're scheduled to vote budget amendments out of committee by the fifteenth of that week. So the fifteenth of November
Amy Williams: And then
Amy Williams: same timing as last year final Budget Committee vote is scheduled for the Twentieth and of November, with the full Council adoption but 20 first and time for everybody to go home for Thanksgiving.
Amy Williams: So this is my last slide. I know I probably have
Amy Williams: throwing a lot at you. I do. Wanna thank you for your time, and of course I'm happy to answer any questions that you have or
Amy Williams: follow up, and anything before we wrap up this evening, and I can stop there.
SPR Boardroom: Thank you, Amy. Before I let everyone loose. I'd like to remind you all of today's proposal myself some time ago. Just reiterate that. But this is set. So, yes, that the City Council has some work to do before this becomes a law
SPR Boardroom: with that. Is there any questions or comments from the conference.
SPR Boardroom: Yeah, just a couple of things.
SPR Boardroom: definitely excited to see that sales conservation for counselor position being added, we definitely as a board, been really supportive of the growth of that program.
SPR Boardroom: And obviously, it's, you know, the the human services support is a really big, important part of that being successful. So
SPR Boardroom: it's there's a great case to be made for all those positions to be added. But II was especially happy to see that.
SPR Boardroom: And then a question on the refunding. And it's you know I'm
SPR Boardroom: I'm a little out of my neck and just in following everything that's happening with that, because it's just not my area specialty. But
SPR Boardroom: how like, how firm are those out your commitments like? Are we back here in 2 or 3 years, and be seen a reduction in all of those funds that we're now planning to to recoup down the road.
Amy Williams: Yeah, it's a good question. I mean, it's a plan. And you know. I think, that we have seen changes in in re every year. So
Amy Williams: right now it's it's it's what we have planned for the out year. And of course it's subject to, you know, I mean, as we're hearing 2025 is not going to be a good year. And you know, that's probably gonna include reach, too. So we don't know what that means yet. But
Amy Williams: you know, we we know what 2024 looks like for sure. And you know, the rest of the cip is
Amy Williams: is based on what their reproductions are now, which are always, you know. subject to change.
SPR Boardroom: Yeah, okay, I mean, I just it seems like the the ships right now
SPR Boardroom: feel feel fairly palatable because it's based on what part of the timelines are actually looking like on the ground and and that type of thing. But when you look at community center redevelopment and you see, you know, funds getting pushed out a couple of years that feels fine. But then in a couple of years it gets pushed out again. That's that doesn't feel fine anymore. So yeah.
SPR Boardroom: yeah, it's really important. I mean
SPR Boardroom: to your initial question. It's it's possible. But for now
SPR Boardroom: this alignment, I think, is
SPR Boardroom: it's conservative and powerful. But we want to be mindful. Should we be in that situation? Then we really have to make the decisions where we
SPR Boardroom: realign our commitments, but keeping
SPR Boardroom: trying to keep a really
SPR Boardroom: careful mind on the projects that have been the longest and that are most needed.
SPR Boardroom: And not just automatically cutting them. So you know, there's lots of work that goes into determining which ones would be on there, but definitely want to be mindful of that, even as we, as Amy, was proposing the 2 slight delays of you know. The sound view
SPR Boardroom: I feel, and something else. If we find ourselves in, you know, at the end of next year, and we have to make another consideration. I would really want to say, well, perhaps we have need to find. Now, we need to complete that Cuz, we're just gonna do it for one year. Let's not just automatically keep delaying something that's on the list for like 5 years. So we chose that because we felt like
SPR Boardroom: it could wait one year, and to some of the construction things that are going on
SPR Boardroom: And again, don't wanna ever say anything final, because it's all dependent on things, but we are committed, for example, the delay for, like city
SPR Boardroom: that actually aligns nicely with construction money. But we've been made it very clear, and we'll continue.
SPR Boardroom: We will not
SPR Boardroom: taking away from that project that we are committed. And so, even if we have to make difficult decisions. In 2,025 and 2026, we will make sure to keep that as a priority and other projects, and then just how to, you know, work at other areas, but not just continue. So I think that's a very long way of saying that this plan, now that Amy was just talking about is the plan for now? But we we don't
SPR Boardroom: doesn't mean it will continue like that. So
SPR Boardroom: I do remember a few years ago to say it's the same table, and when the real estate market was real good, we actually move some free dollar to supplement our cipher fund to always out, so that some of that journal, one dollars for the rest of the city use cause only be using capital and various free things which is great. But now the real estate market is a real good, and I understand that's the last one. Which is why we talk about 3% inflation right
SPR Boardroom: this year for the General Fund floor, and I understand we're in a tough corner. But I am keeping my eyes out on that because it's been a few years we have to do that and stuff times, and that was a promise we made to the voters that Mom and Dad, the general fund, was giving us a monthly allowance, and they have to keep us in that allowance, even if Auntie Park district gives us more some more money. So that's most keep a sharp eye when I'm gone
SPR Boardroom: to make sure that mom and dad keep giving us our allowance. But yeah, thank you, Amy, really appreciate it. And
Amy Williams: questions as you think through it. We are always here to to answer, so feel free to reach out
SPR Boardroom: awesome, Amy.
SPR Boardroom: Any final thoughts questions on the budget
SPR Boardroom: alright, hearing none, I'm gonna go ahead and move it to old and new business.
SPR Boardroom: Other people's email
SPR Boardroom: call that to attention. And if you have anybody who you might be able to share that with, or lists that you might be able to share that with.
SPR Boardroom: please do. And then I was also wondering. I think it was a couple of meetings ago. We got our subcommittees kind of set.
SPR Boardroom: and with that's all I commented out there
SPR Boardroom: call. Of course I was reminded of the part game. Maybe I just wondered if that
SPR Boardroom: yes, there is the naming policy. Changes were adopted. So with the clerk. But you.
SPR Boardroom: we will be getting together. Yeah, we've got it. We've got a list, and we have a meeting tomorrow. Just go through and make sure we have. There were a number of parts that came online during Covid, and it was really hard to get
SPR Boardroom: good thanks.
SPR Boardroom: So such as the Danny awards. So I know this calendar by some kind of falling falling off, and I'd also love to have some more books at the Denny awards from the table. Be nice to connect with you all in more celebratory and informal.
SPR Boardroom: Oh, my goodness, yeah, venue anything else for the good of the water folks.
SPR Boardroom: and they have the information on 15 for the fifth
SPR Boardroom: that are the October fifth event.
SPR Boardroom: and represent from Equity
SPR Boardroom: Fund, as well as some other people that are working in the space with us, and kind of discuss where we want to go next steps and play it with. So we can follow that invitation
SPR Boardroom: great second
SPR Boardroom: anyone else have anything further close.
SPR Boardroom: Alright, the subcommittees kicking up. I know folks here will be very busy, and with the budget kicking up. I know you polls. You're very busy. So thanks everyone for your time, and I'll see you at the next one meeting.