>> GOOD MORNING. THE SELECT
BUDGET COMMITTEE WILL COME TO
ORDER.
>> COUNCILMEMBER HOLLINGSWORTH
>> PRESENT
>> COUNCIL MEMBER KETTLE
>> HERE
>> COUNCIL MEMBER MOORE COUNCIL
MEMBER MORALES
>> HERE
>> COUNCIL PRESIDENT NELSON
>> PRESENT
>> COUNCIL MEMBER SAKA
>> HERE
>> COUNCIL MEMBER WOO
>> PRESENT
>> COUNCILMEMBER RIVERA . SIX
PRESENT.
>> CHAIR STRAUSS IS ALSO
PRESENT. THANK YOU, COLLEAGUES
AND THANK YOU TO COUNCIL
PRESIDENT NELSON, COUNCIL
MEMBER WOO , COUNCIL MEMBER
KETTLE FOR BEING EARLY. THE
AGENDA TODAY ARE FOUR. OR
DEPARTMENTS TO PRESENT WE'VE
GOT THE OFFICE OF ARTS AND
CULTURE, OFFICE OF ECONOMIC
DEVELOPMENT IN THE MORNING THEN
OFFICE OF PLANNING AND
COMMUNITY DEVELOPMENT THAN THE
OFFICE OF CONSTRUCTION AND
INSPECTIONS IN THE AFTERNOON.
IF THERE IS NO OBJECTION, THE
AGENDA WILL BE ADOPTED. HEARING
NO OBJECTION, THE AGENDA IS
ADOPTED. WE WILL NOW OPEN THE
HYBRID PUBLIC,
>> REPORTER:. PUBLIC COMMENTS
SHOULD RELATE TO THE ITEMS ON
TODAY'S AGENDA OR WITHIN THE
PURVIEW OF THE SELECT
COMMITTEE. CLERK, I UNDERSTAND
WE HAVE ONE IN PERSON AND EIGHT
ONLINE. DO YOU NEED A MINUTE TO
GET UP THERE? WE WILL DO THE
ONLINE FIRST AND I WILL GIVE
YOU A TWO TO FOUR MINUTE HEADS
UP. TYPICALLY WE DO IN PERSON
FIRST . WE'RE GOING TO DO
ONLINE PUBLIC COMMENTS FIRST
TODAY. EACH SPEAKER WILL HAVE
TWO MINUTES TO SPEAK . FOR
FOLKS JOINING TODAY, I SHARED
SOME PARAMETERS FOR PUBLIC
COMMENT IN THE FUTURE. IF WE
HAVE MORE THAN 30 PUBLIC
COMMENTERS, WE WILL REVERT TO
ONE MINUTE. IF WE HAVE MORE
THAN 120 PUBLIC COMMENTERS, WE
WILL DO ONE MINUTE FOR THE
FIRST 120 AND 30 SECONDS FOR
ANY THEREAFTER SO SINCE WE HAVE
FEWER THAN 30, WE WILL HAVE TWO
MINUTES PER PERSON. SPEAKERS
WILL BE CALLED IN THE ORDER IN
WHICH THEY REGISTERED AND WILL
HEAR A CHIME WHEN THERE ARE 10
SECONDS LEFT. MICS WILL BE
MUTED IF YOU DO NOT AND YOUR
COMMENTS WITHIN THE ALLOTTED
TIME. PUBLIC COMMENT PERIOD IS
NOW OPEN. TURNING TO THE ONLINE
PUBLIC COMMENTERS , ALBERTO
ALVAREZ'S FIRST. JERRY IS NOT
PRESENT SO NOW IS THE TIME TO
COME IN. FOLLOWED BY JOHN
GARLAND, ARIANNA RILEY, AARON
SEAMER, EMILY MENTZER , VENETIA
ZHANG AND PJ LAST. WITH THAT,
ALBERTA ALVAREZ, WELCOME. STAR
SIX TO UNMUTE. WHEN YOU HEAR
THE CHIME YOU HAVE 10 SECONDS
LEFT. I DON'T SEE HIM.
>> I DON'T, EITHER.
>> ALBERTO, WE ARE GOING TO
COME BACK TO YOU. WE ARE HAVING
TROUBLE FINDING YOU ON THE
ZOOM. OH, I SEE YOU NOW. STAR
SIX TO UNMUTE. WELCOME.
>> THANK YOU. COUNCIL PRESIDENT
NELSON, I AGREE WITH YOU IN
KEEPING AN EYE ON THE BUSINESS
AND OCCUPATION TAX AND THE
SALES TAX. LET US REMEMBER THAT
BUSINESS NEEDS WORKING PEOPLE
TO STAFF IT AND WORKING PEOPLE
ARE THE ONES TO SPEND MONEY
BACK INTO THE COMMUNITY TO HAVE
THAT SALES TAX COLLECTED. BY
ATTACKING OUR EFFORTS TO FUND
OUR AFFORDABLE HOUSING
PROGRAMS, THE MAYOR WOULD LIKE
WORKING PEOPLE TO BEAR THE
BRUNT OF A COUPLE OF OTHER
TAXES , THE TAX OF COMMUTING ,
TIME, BUS FARE, GAS, TURNING AN
EIGHT HOUR SHIFT INTO A NINE TO
10 HOUR DAY PERIOD TIME AND
MONEY WE WILL GET BACK. THE
TEXT OF EVER-INCREASING RENTS,
EVEN WHEN PROPERTY OWNERS ARE
GRANTED TAX CUTS AND THESE ARE
METHODS TO [ INAUDIBLE ]
PEOPLE. WITH THE $200 MILLION
THAT HAROLD PLANS TO STEAL FROM
US THE RICH LET THE WORKING
CLASS LIVE IN THIS TOWN SO
IT'S TIME TO BRING THE WEALTHY
DOWN TO OUR LEVEL. CORPORATIONS
AND THE ULTRA-WEALTHY DESERVE
TO BE TAXED. THEY MUST SHARE IN
THE COST OF KEEPING THE CITY
GOING, CREATE NEW PROGRESSIVE
REVENUE ON THE BACKS OF YACHT
OWNERS. TAX THOSE
MILLION-DOLLAR PROPERTY OWNERS
WHO SIPHON OUR MONEY OUT OF
STATE. COUNSEL, MAKE THE RIGHT
CHOICE. YOUR TIME HERE IS
TAKING. THANK YOU AND HAVE A
GOOD DAY.
>> THANK YOU. UP NEXT IS JERRY.
WE ARE NOT SEEING YOU PRESENT.
NOW IS THE TIME TO COME CALL
IN. WE WILL COME BACK TO YOU.
THERE WE GO, JOHN. STAR SIX TO
UNMUTE. THERE YOU ARE. TAKE IT
AWAY.
>> THANK YOU VERY MUCH. I AM
JOHN GALT, THE FOUNDER OF
CULTURE AND CODE WHICH IS A
CREATIVE CONSULTING AGENCY IN
THE IN FIVE CREATIVE BUILDING
ON 401 MERCER AVENUE AND AMOS
KING AS A MEMBER OF THE CREATOR
ECONOMY BECAUSE I AM AN AUTHOR,
PUBLISHER AND INVESTOR. I
CURRENTLY SUPPORT MYSELF +1
FULL-TIME EMPLOYEE AND A
NETWORK OF FREELANCERS. I WOULD
LIKE TO SPEAK OF THE BUILDING
IS A MICRO CHASM, [ INAUDIBLE ]
BECAUSE OF BEHAVIOR CHANGING
BECAUSE OF CUP TECHNOLOGIES
LIKE AI. I WANT TO CONVINCE THE
COUNCIL THAT SIGNIFICANT
SUPPORT OF THE M5 CREATIVE
BUILDING IS NOT JUST THE RIGHT
THING TO DO . I'M STATING THE
M5 CREATIVE BUILDING AS AN
EXAMPLE, NOT A SIMPLY SINGULAR
THING. IT'S THE RIGHT THING TO
DO IN THE SMART THING TO DO. WE
MOVED INTO AND FIVE EARLIER
THIS SUMMER AFTER FOUR YEARS
OPERATING REMOTE AND OF COURSE
FOR THE L.E.D. TO SUBSIDIZE
RENTS FOR RELOCATING TO THE
CITY THAT WAS AN IMPORTANT
DECISION BUT IT DID NOT MAKE
THE DECISION. THE MUCH BIGGER
REASON WAS THE CHANCE FOR
FINDING NEW COLLABORATORS
ACROSS CREATIVE AND TECHNICAL
DISCIPLINES. CIRCUIT 2024, I AM
A PODCASTER WORKING WITH
FASHION PHOTOGRAPHERS TO MAKE
SHORT FILMS WITH AI, WHICH IS
AN UTTERLY RIDICULOUS IDEA
EXCEPT FOR THE MATTER THAT
TECHNOLOGY MEANS THE MEDIUM IS
NO LONGER THE MESSAGE. IF YOU
CAN IMAGINE SOMETHING, YOU CAN
MAKE IT REAL. MUSIC IMAGES,
ANIMATIONS, WHATEVER. THE
BARRIERS TO ENTRY INTO THE
CREATIVE PROFESSION HAVE NEVER
BEEN LOWER BUT ALSO THE
BARRIERS TO SUCCESS ARE NOW
EVEN HIGHER AND THAT IS EXACTLY
WHY THE OFFICE OF ECONOMIC
DEVELOPMENT PROJECTS LIKE THE
M5 CREATIVE BUILDING IS SO
VITAL FOR SEATTLE'S DOWNTOWN.
THE KEY ECONOMIC BENEFIT IS IT
IS NOT JUST A BETTER PLACE TO
WORK. IT IS A BETTER PLACE TO
CONNECT AND WE CREATORS ARE THE
CANARY IN THE COAL MINE FOR HOW
THE ENTIRE SERVICE ECONOMY IS
ABOUT TO BE.
>> THANK YOU, JOHN, AND WE DO
EXCEPT WRITTEN PUBLIC COMMENTS
EVERY DAY IF YOU HAVE SOMETHING
ELSE TO SHARE, PLEASE SEND IT
IN. UP NEXT, JERRY. I SEE YOU
ARE HERE. STAR SIX TO UNMUTE
THEN FOLLOWED BY ARIANNA AND
AARON. JERRY, AT YOUR
CONVENIENCE, STAR SIX TO
UNMUTE. NOT POUNDS SIX, BUT
STAR SIX. WE ARE GOING TO MOVE
AHEAD. ARIANNA, IF YOU ARE
READY, STAR SIX TO UNMUTE.
THERE YOU ARE, ARIANNA. TAKE IT
AWAY.
>> GOOD MORNING TO OUR
WONDERFUL BUDGET CHAIR STRAUSS
AND EVERYBODY ELSE AND THANK
YOU FOR YOUR WELCOME THIS
MORNING. I WOULD LIKE TO
COMMENT ON THE BUDGET AND SAY I
AM ENCOURAGING YOU ALL TO
PRACTICE WHAT YOU ALL HAVE BEEN
PREACHING FOR THE LAST FEW
MONTHS WHICH IS FISCAL
RESPONSIBILITY AND GOOD
GOVERNANCE. FISCAL
RESPONSIBILITY IS NOT DEFUNDING
EVERY OTHER CITY DEPARTMENT IN
ORDER TO FUND YOUR CRUELTY
AGENDA . THE GOVERNMENT IS NOT
PASSING MORE SURVEILLANCE
MEASURES THAT INCREASE THE
BUDGET AND HAVE WIDESPREAD
PUBLIC OPPOSITION. WE HAVE SEEN
ZERO REGARD FOR FISCAL
RESPONSIBILITY WITH THE
LEGISLATION THAT IS THEN
PASSED. ALSO, WE DO NOT NEED
MORE PROGRESSIVE REVENUE. THE
CITY OF SEATTLE HE -- NEEDS
LESS MONEY OVERALL AND YOU ALL
WILL HAVE LESS MONEY TO FUND
THE AGENDA CREATING JUMPSTART
WHICH ARE FUNDS EARMARKED FOR
AFFORDABLE HOUSING AND SMALL
BUSINESSES. IT'S NOT AN
ACCEPTABLE SOLUTION TO OUR
BUDGET CRISIS. IF YOU TRULY
CARE ABOUT SMALL BUSINESSES AS
MANY OF YOU CLAIM GIVEN THE
REPEATED ATTEMPTS TO SCROLL FOR
WORKING SATELLITES IN THE NAME
OF SMALL BUSINESS OVER THE PAST
YEAR SINCE JANUARY, YOU ALL
SHOULD BE OUTRAGED ABOUT THIS
PROPOSED PIECE OF JUMPSTART
FUNDS. DEFUNDING THE POLICE
DEPARTMENT, NOT APPROVING
EXPENSIVE JAIL AND SURVEILLANCE
CONTRACTS ALL WOULD BE AN
ACCEPTABLE SOLUTION TO THE
BUDGET CRISIS. THANK YOU. HAVE
A NICE DAY.
>> THANK YOU. UP NEXT WE'RE
GOING TO COME BACK TO JERRY.
STAR SIX TO UNMUTE. THERE YOU
ARE, JERRY. YOU HAVE TWO
MINUTES.
>> HELLO . MY NAME IS JERRY AND
I AM ACTUALLY A SURVIVOR OF
AURORA AVENUE [ INAUDIBLE ] AM
ALSO THE DIRECT OF THE HUMAN
TRAFFICKING COLLABORATIVE, A
DIRECT CLIENT SERVICE
ORGANIZATION AND WAYS FORWARD,
A SURVIVOR-LED POLICY
ORGANIZATION. I WANT TO LET YOU
KNOW THAT I DO 100% SUPPORT
THIS BUDGET. THIS IS NEEDED
SERVICES. I HAVE NOT ONLY LIVED
THIS AND KNOW WHAT IT TAKES TO
EXIT AND HAVE THOSE WRAPAROUND
SERVICES BUT I ALSO KNOW WHAT
IT IS GOING TO TAKE TO HELP THE
INDIVIDUALS THAT ARE BEING
TRAFFICKED ON AURORA, AND TO
HOLD BUYERS AND TRAFFICKERS
ACCOUNTABLE. I URGE YOU TO PASS
THIS BUDGET BECAUSE EVERY LIFE
IS WORTHY OF BEING SAVED,
HELPED, AND SUPPORTED . THANK
YOU VERY MUCH.
>> THANK YOU, JERRY. UP NEXT IS
AARON SEYMOUR FOLLOWED BY EMILY
METS ARE . AARON, I SEE YOU ARE
WITH US HERE. STAR SIX TO
UNMUTE. JERRY, I SEE YOU ARE
STILL UNMUTED SO YOU MIGHT WANT
TO HANG UP SO WE DON'T HEAR
WHAT ELSE IS GOING ON. TAKE IT
AWAY.
>> HELLO. THANK YOU AND GOOD
MORNING TO YOU ALL. MY NAME IS
AARON SEYMOUR AND I AM THE
DEVELOPMENT DIRECTOR OF THIRD
STONE, A NONPROFIT THAT
PRODUCES THE CITY-OWNED LUMBER
SHOULD ARTS AND MUSIC FESTIVAL,
AND OUR WORKFORCE DEVELOPMENT
PROGRAM. WITH THE RELIANCE OF
BUMBERSHOOT AFTER THE PANDEMIC
WE COMMITTED TO USING THE
FESTIVAL TO BUILD A MORE
INCLUSIVE ARTS AND MUSIC SCENE
I SUPPORTING YOUNG PEOPLE TO
LEARN, GROW, AND CONNECT TO
CAREERS IN THE ART . WITH YOUR
HELP WE HAVE JUST DONE THAT.
THE WORKFORCE DEVELOPMENT
PROGRAM REACHES PEOPLE FROM LOW
IMPACT -- INCOME, BIPOC AND
TEACHES THEM CRITICAL SKILLS .
IN 2023 WE GRADUATED 15 YOUNG
PEOPLE FROM THE PROGRAM, 80% OF
WHOM FOUND WORK WITHIN THE
INDUSTRY WITHIN A FEW MONTHS.
WE ARE CURRENTLY TRAINING OUR
SECOND COHORT OF 19 AND ARE
PROUD MORE THAN 60% OF THEM IN
OUR SEVEN MONTH PROGRAM
IDENTIFIED AS WOMEN ARE
NON-BUYER CANARY. TWO THIRDS OF
PEOPLE OF COLOR AND TWO THIRDS
OR LOW INCOME. UNFORTUNATELY
THE PROPOSED BUDGET ZEROS OUT
THE $250,000 THE COUNCIL
INCLUDED LAST YEAR TO SUPPORT
THIS PROGRAM. WE LOOK FORWARD
TO WORKING WITH YOU TO RESTORE
THIS FUNDING TO SUPPORT YOUNG
PEOPLE WORKING IN ONE OF
SEATTLE'S MOST SIGNIFICANT
ECONOMIC SECTORS. THANK YOU.
>> THANK YOU. UP NEXT IS EMILY
METS ARE FOLLOWED BY FELICIA.
WE ARE ABOUT SIX MINUTES OUT
FROM DANIEL'S TURN. STAR SIX
TO UNMUTE.
>> GOOD MORNING, COUNCIL
MEMBERS. MY NAME IS EMILY
MELTZER AND I WORK FOR LEGAL
COUNSEL FOR [ INAUDIBLE ] THE
ONLY LEGAL AID PROVIDER IN
SEATTLE FOCUSED ON SUPPORTING
YOUTH AND YOUNG ADULTS
EXPERIENCING HOMELESSNESS. WE
RECENTLY LEARNED ABOUT A
PROPOSED BUDGET CUT WHICH WOULD
SUPPORT FUNDING FROM THE CITY
OF SEATTLE FOR L CYC HOMELESS
PROGRAM. WE PROVIDE HOLISTIC
LEGAL REPRESENTATION INCLUDING
IN MANY AREAS OF LAW WHICH
FUNCTION AS BARRIERS TO STABLE
HOUSING SUCH AS DEBT RELIEF AND
PUBLIC IN A FIT. WE HAVE STRONG
PARTNERSHIPS WITH MULTISERVICE
ORGANIZATIONS AND SMALLER
POPULATION SPECIFIC
ORGANIZATIONS TO MAKE SURE WE
ARE REACHING YOUNG PEOPLE WHO
ARE DISPROPORTIONATELY
EXPERIENCING HOMELESSNESS. WE
OPERATE REMOTELY, MEETING YOUNG
PEOPLE IN SCHOOLS, SHELTERS AND
OTHER LOCATIONS TO REDUCE
BARRIERS TO ACCESS. SINCE 2019
WHEN WE FIRST CONTRACTED WITH
THE CITY OF SEATTLE FOR
SERVICES, WE HAVE DEMOTED OVER
750 YOUNG PEOPLE TO REDUCE OR
PREVENT THEIR EXPERIENCE WITH
HOMELESSNESS THROUGH LEGAL AID.
WE HAVE A WAITLIST
DEMONSTRATING THE DIRE NEED FOR
SERVICES. A REDUCTION IN
SERVICES DUE TO FUNDING WOULD
BE DEVASTATING FOR YOUNG ADULTS
EXPERIENCING HOMELESSNESS IN
SEATTLE. L CYC OF SOME PEOPLE
PURSUE LEGAL PATHWAYS TO
HOUSING. THAT MIGHT BE
EXPERIENCING ABUSE AT HOME,
THAT MIGHT BE HELPING TO
RESOLVE MEDICAL DEBT SO THEY
CAN AFFORD THE RENT. A MODEST
INVESTMENT IN ADDRESSING
HOUSING INSTABILITY FOR YOUTH
IN CRISIS CAN PREVENT YEARS OF
LONG-TERM HOMELESSNESS INTO
ADULTHOOD. OUR MOTTO ALONG WITH
PARTNERS OF HAD A SIGNIFICANT
IMPACT IN REDUCING HOMELESSNESS
IN SEATTLE AND WASHINGTON
STATE. THIS IS A REDUCTION OF
40% FROM THE STATE THROUGH 2016
TO 2023. WE APPRECIATE YOUR
CONSIDERATION AROUND THIS ISSUE
. THANK YOU FOR YOUR TIME.
>> THANK YOU, EMILY. UP NEXT IS
FINACEA. TAKE IT AWAY.
>> THANK YOU. GOOD MORNING,
COUNCIL MEMBERS . I'M CALLING
TODAY IS THE CO-CHAIR FOR THE
BUDGET TASK FORCE FOR THE
SEATTLE HUMAN SERVICES
COALITION. THE COALITION IS ONE
THAT REPRESENTS OVER 200
ORGANIZATIONS THAT PROVIDE
ESSENTIAL SERVICES ACROSS THE
CITY. THAT IS EVERYTHING FROM
SENIOR CARE, BRINGING FOOD TO
FAMILIES, PROVIDING HOMELESS
SERVICES AS WELL AS CHILDCARE
AND GENDER-BASED VIOLENCE
SERVICES AND EVERY YEAR, WE
LISTEN TO THE ORGANIZATIONS IN
OUR COALITION AND COLLATE THE
NEEDS WE ARE HEARING AND
HIGHLIGHT WHAT INVESTMENTS ARE
NEEDED TO SUPPORT SEATTLE'S
MOST VULNERABLE COMMUNITY. WE
UNDERSTAND THE BUDGET SITUATION
THE CITY IS IN AND HOW HARD
YOUR CHOICES ARE THIS YEAR BUT
WANTED TO CALL IN TODAY TO
HIGHLIGHT FOR YOU ALL THAT
TAKING OUR WORD WITH
ORGANIZATIONS THAT ARE ON THE
GROUND EVERY DAY, WE CANNOT
BALANCE THE BUDGET ON THE BACKS
OF ALREADY STRUGGLING COMMUNITY
MEMBERS AND ALREADY
OVERSTRETCHED ORGANIZATIONS.
NOW IS REALLY THE TIME TO
SUPPORT FUNDING LEVELS FOR
HUMAN SERVICES. IS THE MINIMUM
WE NEED TO AT -- SAVE LOSING
GROUND FOR CITIES CRITICAL
ISSUES. KEEPING UP WITH
INFLATION IS ESSENTIAL TO
CONTINUING TO PROVIDE SERVICES.
THIS BUDGET PROPOSES SERVICE
CUTS LIKE ONE OF THE CALLERS
JUST MENTIONED AND IT TAKES
JUMPSTART INVESTMENTS AWAY FROM
VITAL CITY PROGRAMS LIKE
AFFORDABLE HOUSING [ INAUDIBLE
] THE STRUCTURAL DEFICITS OUR
CITY IS FACING REQUIRES
STRUCTURAL SOLUTIONS, NOT
BAND-AID MEASURES OF KICKING
THE PROBLEM DOWN THE ROAD. OUR
COMMUNITY DESERVES NEW
PROGRESSIVE REVENUE SOURCE THAT
HE CAN SUSTAINABLY RESPONSIBLY
MEET THE TRUE LEVEL OF METER
COMMUNITIES ARE SEEING SO LOOKS
LIKE YOU ALL ARE STILL LEARNING
MORE ABOUT THE BUDGET AND WE
WILL BE REACHING OUT TO YOUR
OFFICES.
>> THANK YOU. UP NEXT WE ARE
GOING TO DO OUR LAST REGISTERED
VIRTUAL SPEAKER WHO WAS SIGNED
UP BEFORE OUR IN PERSON. THAT
IS BJ LAST. AND WE'RE GOING TO
GO TO OUR IN PERSON THEN BACK
TO RECENTLY SIGNED UP PUBLIC
COMMENTOR, RED, FOR THE VIEWING
PUBLIC, YOU CAN SIGN UP FOR
PUBLIC COMMENT AS LONG AS
PUBLIC COMMENT IS STILL OPEN.
BJ, YOU ARE OFF MUTE THEN WE
WILL GO TO DANIEL.
>> GOOD MORNING. MY NAME IS DJ
LAST. I AM A BALLARD HOMEOWNER.
IN 2023 THE METROPOLITAN
CHAMBER OF COMMERCE TO THE POLL
AND FOUND THAT TWO THIRDS OF
SEATTLE VOTERS DO NOT TRUST THE
CITY OF SEATTLE TO SPEND MY TAX
DOLLARS RESPONSIBLY. THIS SEEMS
LIKE A RELEVANT FACTOR BRING UP
GIVEN HOW THE MAYOR WANTS TO
CHANGE THE LAW IN ORDER TO
DEFUND JUMPSTART . DOING THIS
DEFUND AS AFFORDABLE HOUSING,
RENEW DEAL INITIATIVES AND
ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT. THESE ARE
ALL ITEMS THE PEOPLE OF SEATTLE
WANT. THIS IS WHY VOTERS PASSED
THE HOUSING LEVY. THE MAYOR IS
DEFUNDING JUMPSTART, WHICH
DEFENDS THIS. JUMPSTART
INVESTMENTS IN AFFORDABLE
HOUSING ARE ACTUALLY GETTING
CUT 5% VERSUS LAST YEAR. STAFF
ARE NOT TESTING THE CITY IN
TERMS OF HOW IT SPENDS MONEY
AND IS ALSO RELEVANT AS THE
CITY CONTINUES TO GIVE HALF THE
GENERAL FUND TO SPD, THE CITY
ATTORNEY, THE JAILS AND
EVERYTHING ELSE IN THE CRIMINAL
PUNISHMENT SYSTEM AND IT HAS
ONLY BEEN EXPANDING NOW WITH
GIVING SPD 30 NEW POSITIONS
WHILE CUTTING FUNDING FOR FOOD
ACCESS. THIS IS AUSTERITY
BUDGETING WITH CUTS TO SERVICES
AND LAYOFFS WHILE GIVING MORE
MONEY TO SPD. THIS ALSO
INCREASES FUNDING FOR SWEEPS
WITHOUT INCREASING FUNDING FOR
SHELTER AND ALSO CUTTING
FUNDING FOR RENTER SERVICES.
THIS IS MORE SWEEPS WITHOUT
PLACES FOR PEOPLE TO GO AND
CUTTING PROGRAMS THAT KEEP
PEOPLE HOUSED IN THE FIRST
LACE, SO THIS IS GOING TO
INCREASE THE NUMBER OF PEOPLE
THAT ARE UNHOUSED. INCREASING [
INAUDIBLE ] IS GOING TO KEEP
PUSHING PEOPLE AROUND WITHOUT
INCREASING SHELTER FOR ANYWHERE
FOR PEOPLE TO GO. STOP
AUSTERITY BUDGETING AND LOOK
INTO CUTTING THE POLICE BUDGET
TO FUND SERVICES PEOPLE NEED TO
KEEP PEOPLE HEALTHY AND SAFE.
>> THANK YOU, BJ. FEEL FREE TO
WRITE IN YOUR COMMENTS IF YOU
HAVE ADDITIONAL COMMENTS TO
SHARE. WE WILL TRANSITION TO IN
PERSON PUBLIC COMMENT. WE HAVE
DANIEL SCHAPIRO SIGNED UP HERE
AND YOU HAVE TWO MINUTES.
>> THANK YOU. IN THE BOOK, THE
FANDOM TOLLBOOTH, BY NORTON
JUSTER, THE MAIN CHARACTER MILO
AND HIS COMPANION TALK , THE
WATCHDOG, HAVE TO TRAVEL OVER
THE MOUNTAIN OF IGNORANCE. AT
THE MOUNTAIN THEY ARE
CONFRONTED BY A BEING WITH NO
FACE. HE ASKED THEM TO DO HIM A
FEW SMALL FAVORS, ONE OF WHICH
INVOLVES MOVING A PILE OF SAND
FROM ONE LOCATION TO ANOTHER
USING TWEEZERS. THE BEING TURNS
OUT TO BE THE TERRIBLE TRIVIUM,
THE DEMON OF PETTY TASKS AND
WORTHLESS JOBS, OGRE OF WASTED
EFFORT AND MONSTROUS HABIT .
WHEN THIS COUNCIL APPROVES SODA
AND SOAP ZONES AND THE SWEEPING
OF ENCAMPMENTS IT PROPOSES
MOVING A PILE OF SAND FROM ONE
LOCATION TO ANOTHER EXCEPT WE
ARE NOT TALKING ABOUT GRAINS OF
SAND, WE ARE TALKING ABOUT
HUMAN BEINGS, HUMAN BEINGS WHO
HAVE BEEN MARGINALIZED AND
DEMONIZED EITHER COLONIAL,
CAPITALISTIC AND HEARTLESS
POLITICS THAT SHAPE WHAT WE NOW
CALL SEATTLE. NOT ONLY ARE
THESE EFFORTS TRIVIAL, THEY ARE
HARMFUL AND POTENTIALLY
UNCONSTITUTIONAL ACCORDING TO
THE ACLU. THESE EFFORTS GIVE
POLICE MORE FREEDOM TO SEARCH
AND ARREST THE MOST VULNERABLE
POPULATIONS IN OUR CITY.
POLICIES LIKE THIS ONLY FUEL
THE CYCLE OF CATCH AND RELEASE
THAT SOME OF THE MORE
CONSERVATIVE MEMBERS OF THIS
COMMUNITY DECRY AS POINTLESS.
THEY ARE RIGHT. IT IS
POINTLESS. IT BECOMES SIMPLY
MOVING HUMAN BEINGS AROUND AND
DEHUMANIZING THEM , SWEEPING
THEM ARRAY LIKE THEY ARE GRAINS
OF SAND, OUT OF SIGHT AND OUT
OF MIND. I URGE THIS COUNCIL TO
STOP DOING THE EASY, USELESS
AND TRIVIAL THING, AND TO DO
SOMETHING HARD. DO SOMETHING
THAT WILL TAKE TIME AND EFFORT
AND BRAVERY. FUND AND
PRIORITIZE ALL THE PLACE-BASED
STRATEGIES IN THE JULY
AUDITOR'S REPORT. FROM
SCHOOLS. FUND ADDICTION
RECOVERY PROGRAMS. FUND
REPARATIONS. FUND RESTORATIVE
JUSTICE, MENTAL HEALTH, ARTS,
HUMANITY AND HAPPY SUICIDE
AWARENESS AND PREVENTION MONTH.
THANKS.
>> THANK YOU, DANIEL. UP NEXT
WILL BE RED, WHO I SEE IS
ONLINE . STAR SIX TO UNMUTE.
RED, ARE YOU THERE? READY, YOU
ARE OFF MUTE. NOW YOU WENT BACK
ON MUTE. WE HEARD YOU CLICKING
THERE. STAR SIX, NOT POUNDS
SIX.
>> HELLO. CAN YOU HEAR ME OKAY?
>> WE GOT YOU LOUD AND CLEAR.
TAKE IT AWAY.
>> GOOD MORNING, COUNSEL
MEMBERS AND THANK YOU, CHAIR
STRAUSS, FOR RESPECTING PUBLIC
COMMENT. HOW DO YOU ALL RIGHT
AND SUPPORT THIS PROPOSED
BUDGET [ INAUDIBLE ] YOU ALL
VOTED IN AN SPD INCREASED
BUDGET OF $93 MILLION WITH BACK
PAIN WHILE KNOWING WE HAVE A
BUDGET SHORTFALL. DO YOU ALL
HATE OUR CITY OF SEATTLE? DO
YOU HATE PROJECT 2025 IS A
GREAT ECONOMIC MODEL TO
REPLICATE. PROJECT 2025 IS WHAT
YOU ALL ARE MAKING POLICIES OFF
OF HERE. IT IS A SYSTEMIC
ATTEMPT TO [ INAUDIBLE ] VITAL
RESOURCES TO THE NATION. YOU
ALL ARE DOING THE SAME WITH
ATTACKS ON VITAL FUNDING FOR
VITAL HUMAN RESOURCES AND
DEPARTMENTS THAT ACTUALLY AID
IN THE QUALITY OF LIFE OF
SEATTLEITES. YOU VOTED TO
ENCOURAGE AND CELEBRATED
DOCUMENTED RACIST CULTURE, THE
LARGEST CONTENTION OF
INSURRECTIONIST ON JANUARY 6
CAME FROM OUR POLICE FORCE. WHY
ARE YOU LIMITING CITY ROLES IN
READING JUMPSTART FUNDING WHEN
YOU DON'T NEED TO DO THIS TO
ENABLE RACIST AND VIOLENT
POLICE FORCE? HISTORY WILL
REMEMBER YOU AND YOUR DECISIONS
FOREVER. I ENCOURAGE YOU TO DO
BETTER AND THANK YOU FOR THE
TIME.
>> THANK YOU, RED. THAT DOES
CONCLUDE OUR PUBLIC COMMENT .
THERE ARE NO ADDITIONAL
SPEAKERS VIRTUALLY WERE
PHYSICALLY PRESENT SO WE WILL
NOW CLOSE PUBLIC COMMENT. WE
WILL MOVE ON TO OUR NEXT ITEM
OF BUSINESS. CLERK, WILL YOU
PLEASE READ THE SHORT TITLE
INTO THE RECORD. FOLKS, COME ON
UP. I WILL GIVE SOME
INTRODUCTORY REMARKS.
COLLEAGUES, WELCOME TO DAY
THREE OF THE 2024 BUDGET
COMMITTEE . WE ARE GETTING
READY. I'VE GOT MY BIG CUP OF
COFFEE. ROB, I HAVE A PROP FOR
YOU HERE TODAY.
>> AGENDA ITEM ONE, OFFICE OF
ARTS AND CULTURE.
>> THANK YOU, JODI. IF ANYONE
NEEDS ANY COFFEE JUST LET ME
KNOW. THANK YOU, COLLEAGUES TO
MEETING WITH ME ABOUT PROCESS.
I WILL JUST REITERATE IT IS
VERY IMPORTANT THAT WE USE
SHAREPOINT SO ALL NINE OF US
ARE NOT ASKING DEPARTMENTS THE
SAME NINE QUESTIONS, SO PLEASE
VIEW CENTRAL STAFF IN
SHAREPOINT. FOR THE NEXT --
GENERAL PUBLIC, OUR NEXT PUBLIC
COMMENT IS GOING TO BE AT A
PUBLIC HEARING BECAUSE WE TAKE
GENERAL COMMENT AT THE
BEGINNING OF THE BUDGET FOR
NEXT PUBLIC COMMENT PERIOD IS
ON OCTOBER 16th AT 5:00 P.M. IT
IS A PUBLIC HEARINGS AND SO
EVERYONE WILL HAVE TWO MINUTES
NO MATTER HOW MANY PEOPLE SIGN
UP. WE WILL BE PROVIDING
CHILDCARE HERE AT CITY HALL FOR
THIS PUBLIC HEARING. THIS WAS
ANOTHER THING THAT WE DID
PRE-PANDEMIC. HOWEVER, PRETEND
>> WE DID NOT HAVE THE CALL AN
OPTION SO THIS YEAR WE WILL BE
EVALUATING THE CHILDCARE ASPECT
BECAUSE WE HAVE MORE
ACCESSIBILITY OPTIONS THAN WE
DID IN 2019. WITH THAT I'M
GOING TO TURN IT OVER TO THE
PRESENTERS. WE HAVE DIRECTOR
GULGUN KAYIM JOINING US
REMOTELY AS WELL AS STAFF HERE
AT THE PANEL.
>> THAT MORNING. MY NAME IS
GULGUN KAYIM AND I AM THE
DIRECTOR OF THE OFFICE OF ARTS
AND CULTURE. WITH ME ARE MY
COLLEAGUES, DEPUTY DIRECTOR
KELLY DAVIDSON AND FINANCE
MANAGER ALLIE McGEHEE. TODAY,
WE WILL WALK YOU THROUGH THE
MAJOR CHANGES IN THE
EXECUTIVE'S PROPOSED BUDGET.
>> DIRECTOR, CAN WE HAVE
INTRODUCTIONS FROM EVERYONE AT
THE TABLE?
>> THANK YOU. I'M JUST GOING
TO RUN DOWN THE TABLE THIS WAY.
>> ALLIE McGEHEE, FINANCE
MANAGER.
>> GREEN LIGHT MEANS THE
MIKE'S ARE ON AND YOU REALLY
GOT TO GET THEM CLOSE. WE DID
HEAR YOU, ALLIE, BUT I'M GOING
TO PASS IT DOWN.
>> THANK YOU. KELLY DAVIDSON,
DEPUTY DIRECTOR.
>> DAN EITHER, DIRECTOR OF THE
CITY BUDGET OFFICE.
>> BEN NOBLE, CENTRAL STAFF
DIRECTOR.
>> WONDERFUL. TODAY WE WILL
WALK YOU THROUGH THE MAJOR
CHANGES IN THE EXECUTIVES
OPPOSED BUDGET FOR THE OFFICE
OF ARTS AND CULTURE AND WE ARE
HAPPY TO ANSWER ANY QUESTIONS
AT THE END. I WANT TO MAKE SURE
THAT ONE OF MY COLLEAGUES IS
OPERATING THE SLIDE DECK AND WE
ARE ON SLIDE ONE. IF YOU COULD
MOVE OVER TO SLIDE TWO, PLEASE.
>> WE ARE GOING TO TAKE A
MINUTE TO SHARE SCREEN. JUST A
MINUTE, DIRECTOR.
>> YES, THAT'S GOOD. I AM ABLE
TO SEE IT. GREAT. WE'RE GOING
TO HAVE TO GO BACK UP TO THE
SECOND SLIDE, PLEASE.
WONDERFUL, GREAT. SO, THIS
SLIDE REMINDS US OF THE WIDE
RANGE OF THE BREAKOUT PUTS THE
ARTS AND CULTURE SECTOR IS
CAPABLE OF DELIVERING. THE ARTS
ARE AN IMPORTANT TOOL AND
RESOURCE TO ADDRESSING A NUMBER
OF CITY POLICY GOALS. THE
MISSION OF THE OFFICE OF ARTS
AND CULTURE IS TO ACTIVATE AND
SUSTAIN SEATTLE THROUGH ARTS
AND CULTURE. WE ENVISION A CITY
DRIVEN BY CREATIVITY THAT
PROVIDES AN OPPORTUNITY FOR
EVERYONE TO ENGAGE IN DIVERSE
ARTS AND CULTURAL EXPERIENCES.
IT IS IMPORTANT TO NOTE THAT
THE ROLE OF OUR OFFICE IN THE
LOCAL ARTS AND CULTURE
ECOSYSTEM IS TO DIRECTLY
SUPPORT ITS HEALTH AND
VITALITY. THIS SLIDE REMINDS US
OF THE WIDE RANGE OF CIVIC OUT
PUTS THE ARTS AND CULTURE
SECTOR IS CAPABLE OF
DELIVERING. THE ARTS ARE AN
IMPORTANT TOOL AND RESOURCE TO
ADDRESSING A NUMBER OF POLICY
GOALS AND PRIORITIES. THE
MAYOR'S OFFICE AND THE OFFICE
OF ARTS AND CULTURE ARE ALIGNED
IN OUR SHARED COMMITMENT AND
BELIEVE ARTS ARE KEY TO A
THRIVING AND VIBRANT SEATTLE.
WE INVEST OUR RESOURCES NOT
ONLY IN DOWNTOWN BUT THROUGHOUT
ALL OF SEATTLE'S NEIGHBORHOOD.
OUR WORK DELIVERS VIBRANCY TO
CITY STREETS. FOR EXAMPLE, OUR
OFFICE RECENTLY FUNDED PIONEER
SQUARE'S NEWEST AND MOST
UNIQUE ASSETS , 10 NEW ART
FRAMES WITH ROTATING ARTWORKS
THAT REPRESENT THE DIVERSE
SPIRIT OF PIONEER SQUARE. THIS
WORK WAS SUPPORTED THROUGH OUR
INNOVATIVE HOPE CORE PROGRAM
WHICH BEARS FUNDING FOR
UNDEREMPLOYED ARTISTS IN THE
CREATIVE WORKFORCE WITH CIVIC
PRIORITIES. OUR SUPPORT ALSO
BROUGHT PEOPLE TOGETHER AND
CONTRIBUTED TO THE CULTURAL
VIBRANCY OF THIS HISTORIC
DISTRICT. THE ARTS ALSO PLAY A
ROLE IS THE CATALYST OF
ECONOMIC REVITALIZATION AND
PUBLIC SAFETY. ARTS DRAW PEOPLE
TO A LOCATION, ACTIVATE SPACES
AND PROVIDE OPPORTUNITIES FOR
RESIDUAL BENEFITS SUCH AS EYES
ON THE STREETS, FEELINGS OF
SAFETY, ACTIVITIES FOR YOUTH
AND COMMUNITY COHESION.
FINALLY, WE ARE ALL AWARE OF
THE SECTOR STRUGGLES TO FULLY
RETURN TO ECONOMIC HEALTH AFTER
THE ECONOMIC CHALLENGES OF THE
PANDEMIC. THIS THIRD BULLET
POINTS OUT HOW IT IS IMPORTANT
FOR THE CITY TO INVEST IN THE
SECTORS ECONOMIC RECOVERY WHILE
ALSO LEVERAGING ITS ASSETS.
REVENUE STREAMS. ARTS HAS TWO
FUNDING SOURCES, AND THEY ARE
THE ADMISSIONS TAX AND THE 1%
FOR ART . THE ADMISSIONS TAX IS
A 5% TICKET TAX CHARGED AT
CERTAIN VENUES AND EVENTS LIKE
THE SPACE NEEDLE OR THE GREAT
WHEEL OR BUYING A MOVIE TICKET,
AND REVENUES FROM THAT TAX GO
TO THE CITIES ARTS AND CULTURES
FUND WHICH PROVIDES RESOURCES
FOR EDUCATION AND GRANT
PROGRAMS , FACILITIES AND
GENERAL OPERATING. THE SECOND
REVENUE STREAM IS 1% FOR ART,
WHICH IS AN ORDINANCE
REQUIREMENT THAT CONSTRUCTION
REQUIREMENTS LIKE CITY LIGHTS
AND SEATTLE PUBLIC UTILITIES
SET ASIDE 1% OF THEIR
CONSTRUCTION PROJECT COST FOR
ART . REVENUES GO INTO THE
MUNICIPAL ART FUND, WHICH
PROVIDES RESOURCES FOR
COMMISSIONING PUBLIC ART, FUNDS
OUR CIVIC COLLECTION AND
PROVIDE STAFFING AND OPERATIONS
FOR OUR PUBLIC ART DIVISION.
NEXT SLIDE, PLEASE. THIS TABLE
OUTLINES AT A HIGH LEVEL, OUR
OFFICE IS BUDGET IN 2024-2025,
AND 2026. YOU WILL SEE AN
INCREASE IN THE BUDGET IN 2025
AND THIS INCREASE STEMS FROM
ONE-TIME FUNDING RELATED TO
DOWNTOWN ACTIVATION PROPOSALS
WHICH I WILL GO INTO DETAIL IN
THE NEXT FEW SLIDES. ARTS , OUR
2025 AND 2026 PROPOSED BUDGET
INCLUDES A $2.5 MILLION
ONE-TIME INCREASE IN 2025 TO
SUPPORT DOWNTOWN ACTIVATIONS
AND THE WORLD CUP HERE AT OUR
OFFICE WORKED WITH THE DOWNTOWN
ACTIVATION SUBCABINET TO
COORDINATE BUDGET REQUESTS.
THESE PROJECTS ARE INTENDED TO
SUPPORT THE GOALS OF
PROGRAMMING THAT CAN BE BUILT
UPON AS WE MOVE FORWARD WITH
IMPLEMENTATION OF DOWNTOWN
STRATEGIES. OUR STRATEGY IS TO
ENGAGE LOCAL ARTISTS AND
COMMUNITIES, UPLIFT AND
CELEBRATE LOCAL IDENTITY AND
BUILD ON CREATIVE ECONOMY
EFFORTS. I'M GOING TO GO
THROUGH THESE BULLET POINTS SO
THAT YOU CAN UNDERSTAND WHAT
THEY ARE. THE FIRST BULLET
POINT IS THE FIFA WORLD CUP
COMMUNITY ACTIVATIONS. THIS
PROGRAM WILL CREATE FOUR
NEIGHBORHOOD-SPECIFIC VIEWING
SITES FOR PEOPLE THROUGHOUT
SEATTLE TO ENJOY AND
PARTICIPATE IN WORLD CUP
FESTIVITIES AND THIS WILL BE IN
DIFFERENT AREAS OF THE CITY SO
WE HAVE NOT IDENTIFIED THEM YET
BUT WE EXPECT THEM TO BE ALL
OVER THE CITY. ARTS WILL
PROVIDE FUNDING TO VISUAL AND
PERFORMING ARTISTS TO HIGHLIGHT
THE REST CULTURES RELATIVE TO
EACH NEIGHBORHOOD AND
NEIGHBORHOOD CELEBRATIONS. THE
NEXT BULLET POINT REFERS TO
VISUAL ARTS INSTALLATIONS AT [
INAUDIBLE ] HALL. THIS WILL
FUND ARTS INSTALLATIONS INSIDE
AND OUTSIDE PUBLIC AREAS OF THE
HALL. THIS IS PART OF A
COORDINATED EFFORT TO IMPROVE
THE STREET LEVEL USABILITY AND
OVERALL EXPERIENCE ALONG THIRD
AVENUE AND TO ESTABLISH A
CREATIVE CORRIDOR LEVERAGE IN
OUR WORK AND WITH OUR CITY AND
COMMUNITY PARTNERS IN THE THIRD
BULLET POINT REFERS TO ALLEYWAY
ACTIVATIONS AND ART
INSTALLATIONS ON THIS GRAHAM
CENTERS ART-BASED INTERVENTIONS
AND UNDERUTILIZED AND
OVERLOOKED ALLEYWAYS IN THE CID
IN PIONEER SQUARE
NEIGHBORHOODS. OUR OFFICES
PARTNERING WITH SDOT FOR
ACTIVATIONS IN CHINATOWN AND
ALSO IT WILL BE DONE IN THE
CLOSE PARTNERSHIP WITH THE WAY
LOOK MUSEUM WHO RECENTLY
RECEIVED FEDERAL FUNDING FOR
THIS PURPOSE, SO THIS
PARTICULAR POINT LEVERAGES
FEDERAL FUNDING. NEXT SLIDE,
PLEASE. THESE TWO PIECES HERE
REFER TO UNION AND KING STREET
STATION PLAZA ART INSTALLATIONS
AND ACTIVATIONS. THIS PROGRAM
TAKES ADVANTAGE OF OUR OFFICES
PRIME LOCATION CLOSE TO THE
STADIUM TO FUND I-CATCHING
DESTINATION ART INSTALLATIONS
DESIGNED TO DRAW VISITORS INTO
THE PLAZAS THAT UNION AND KING
STREET STATIONS. THESE
LOCATIONS ARE GOING TO BE
HIGH-TRAFFIC AREAS FOR THE
WORLD CUP, SO THIS NEXT STADIUM
-- THIS WILL ALSO BE NOT JUST
FOR WORLD CUP ATTENDEES BUT
ALSO FOR SEATTLEITES. WE WILL
UTILIZE THESE FUNDS TO SHOWCASE
TO THE WORLD, THE DIVERSITY AND
CREATIVITY OF OUR CITY WITH
LARGE-SCALE SPECTACULAR
INSTALLATIONS AND EVENTS IN
PUBLIC SPACES. THIS WORK BUILDS
ON A PARTNERSHIP WITH THE
OFFICE OF LANDING AND COMMUNITY
DEVELOPMENT TO DEVELOP A
LONG-TERM VISION AND STRATEGY
TO ACTIVATE UNION STATION AND
IN A WAY IT EXPERIMENTS WITH
HOW WE WILL WORK TOWARD THAT
AND IT BUILDS ON OUR ONGOING
COLLABORATION ALSO WITH
PARTNERS AT STATIONS BASE TO
ACTIVATE AND CELEBRATE KING
STREET STATION AS A YOUTH ARTS
HUB. THE NEXT BULLET POINT
REFERS TO COMMUNITY ENGAGEMENT
AND CULTURAL INCLUSION. THIS
PARTICULAR PROGRAM ENGAGES AND
SUPPORTS OUR COMMUNITY PARTNERS
IN THE CID IN PIONEER SQUARE
NEIGHBORHOODS AND PROVIDES THEM
WITH FUNDING TO ALLOW THEM TO
WORK WITH LOCAL ARTISTS AND
ACTIVATE THEIR COMMUNITY AND
PUBLIC SPACES. THE GOAL IN THIS
EFFORT IS TO INVITE COMMUNITIES
TO PARTICIPATE IN THEIR OWN
EVENTS DURING THE WORLD CUP
CELEBRATIONS. AS YOU KNOW, OUR
OFFICE IS A STAKEHOLDER IN
THESE COMMUNITIES AND IT IS
IMPORTANT TO US TO HELP
ALTAFIBER AND THRIVING
ECOSYSTEM WITH OUR PARTNERS AND
NEIGHBORS. THESE TEMPORARY
PROGRAMS WILL FOCUS ON
SOLICITING APPLICATIONS AND
AWARDING FUNDS FOR PROJECT
APPLICATIONS THAT WILL TAKE
PLACE IN 2026, SO OUR
INVESTMENTS WILL HAPPEN IN 2025
AND THE DELIVERABLES WILL BE IN
2026. OUR OFFICE WILL STAFF
THESE ONE-TIME PROGRAMS WITH
PERMANENT AND TEMPORARY PROJECT
MANAGEMENT STAFF . NEXT SLIDE,
PLEASE. ADDITIONALLY, WE WERE
GIVEN FUNDING FOR A ONE-YEAR
CONTINUATION OF OUR HOPE CORE
PROGRAM WHICH CONNECTS UNDER
AND UNEMPLOYED ARTISTS WITH
CREATIVE OPPORTUNITIES THAT
BENEFIT SEATTLE. SINCE 2021,
THE HOPE CORE HAS EMPLOYED MORE
THAN 200 CREATIVE WORKERS
FUNDING MORE THAN 60 PROJECTS
AND SUPPORTED GRANTEES TO GROW
THEIR SKILLS AND WORKS THROUGH
ITS COMMUNITY OF ACTORS. NEARLY
ALL HOPE CORE GRANTEES HAVE
REPORTED HIGH LEVELS OF
SATISFACTION WITH HOW THE
PROGRAM HAS SUPPORTED THEIR
CAREERS AND I WILL GIVE YOU
JUST ONE EXAMPLE. THE SOUND
THEATER COMPANY WAS ABLE TO
DEVELOP A NEW PLAY EXPLORING
THE HISTORIC ROOTS OF LACK
AMERICAN SIGN LANGUAGE IN THE
BLACK DEAF COMMUNITY. IT WAS
PRESENTED AS A STAGE READING AT
SEATTLE CENTER ARMORY. THEY LET
US KNOW THAT NOT ONLY DID HOPE
CORE HELP THEM SUPPORT A
SEVERELY UNDERREPRESENTED THE
COMMUNITY BUT TO BE ABLE TO PAY
THEIR ARTIST A FAIR WAGE HAS
SHIFTED THEIR PROGRAM TO
PROVIDING EQUITABLE PAY INTO
THE FUTURE. OUR OFFICE IS
CURRENTLY WORKING ON THE 2024
ITERATION OF THE HOPE CORE
PROGRAM. THE APPLICATION PERIOD
CLOSED A FEW WEEKS AGO AND WE
HAVE ALREADY RECEIVED 170
APPLICATIONS FOR PROPOSALS TO
ACTIVATE DOWNTOWN USING ARTS
AND CULTURE STRATEGIES. THESE
APPLICATIONS WILL BE VIEWED
THROUGH A COMMUNITY-CENTERED
PANEL PROCESS TYPICAL OF ALL OF
OUR WORK IN THE OFFICE AND
THESE PROJECTS WILL BE
DELIVERED IN 2025. ON THIS
PARTICULAR SIDE WE TALK ABOUT
ANOTHER SIGNIFICANT ADDITION.
OUR OFFICE HAS BEEN CONCERNED
ABOUT THE ECONOMIC RECOVERY OF
THE ARTS AND CULTURE
ORGANIZATIONS IN SEATTLE
POST-PANDEMIC . IN 2024, WE
WERE APPROVED $650,000 IN
ONE-TIME FUNDS TO DISTRIBUTE TO
ARTS AND CULTURE ORGANIZATIONS
WHO ARE FACING A FISCAL CLIFF
AS FEDERAL SUPPORT ENDED AND
THIS IS COVID-RELATED FEDERAL
SUPPORT. IN ORDER TO IMPLEMENT
THE FUNDING, WE DECIDED TO
CONDUCT A SURVEY OF GRANTEES IN
FEBRUARY OF THIS YEAR AND WE
SURVEYED 241 ARTS AND CULTURE
ORGANIZATIONS THAT RECEIVED OUR
GENERAL OPERATING SUPPORT FROM
OUR OFFICE. 98 PERCENT OF THE
SURVEY RESPONDENTS REPORTED
THAT THEY HAD A FUNDING GAP IN
THE CURRENT FISCAL YEAR AND
WERE UNCERTAIN HOW THEY WOULD
FILL IT. IN TOTAL, 173 SEATTLE
ORGANIZATIONS WERE ORDERED
EATING A TOTAL OF $44.2 MILLION
IN ADDITIONAL CONTRIBUTED
INCOME IN ORDER TO BALANCE
THEIR BUDGETS. THE IMPACT OF
THESE BUDGET SHORTFALLS ARE
WIDE-RANGING AND WE ARE ALREADY
EXPERIENCING THE EFFECTS. 137
ORGANIZATIONS REPORTED THEY
WOULD HAVE TO REDUCE
PROGRAMMING AND WE ARE SEEING
FEWER PERFORMANCES AND
SHORTENED RUNS. 117
ORGANIZATIONS THAT THEY WOULD
OFFER FEWER PAID POSITIONS FOR
ARTISTS. 94 SAID THEY WOULD
HAVE TO REDUCE STAFF HOURS AND
81 SAID THEY WOULD HAVE TO CUT
ADMINISTRATIVE POSITIONS
FURTHER AGGREGATING HARM TO
SEATTLE'S CREATIVE SECTOR AND
NUMEROUS ORGANIZATIONS NOTED
THEY WOULD NEED TO REDUCE THEIR
OUTREACH AND COMMUNITY PRESENCE
WHICH WOULD FURTHER IMPACT
ALREADY UNDERSERVED
COMMUNITIES. WE HAVE ALREADY
DISTRIBUTED THE $650,000 TO
THESE ORGANIZATIONS, AND THAT
REPRESENTS ONE.5% OF THE TOTAL
DEMONSTRATED NEED . IN THIS
PARTICULAR BUDGET ITEM, OUR
OFFICE HAS PROPOSED A TWO-YEAR
PROGRAM TO FUND ORGANIZATIONAL
TRANSFORMATION . FOR THESE
ORGANIZATIONS TO PLAY CATALYTIC
ROLES IN THE ARTS AND CULTURE
ECOSYSTEM IS SEATTLE, THE IDEA
BEHIND THE PROGRAM IS TO
DEVELOP A MODEL OF LIKE SIZED
ORGANIZATIONS WHO WOULD COME
TOGETHER TO WORK SHOP AND
STRATEGIZE IDEAS TO TRANSFORM
THEIR BUSINESS MODELS. ONCE
IDEAS ARE EMBEDDED THROUGH
THEIR BOARDS OUR OFFICE WOULD
PROVIDE ADDITIONAL FUNDING TO
SUPPORT NEXT STEPS. THE GOAL OF
THIS WORK IS TO INVEST IN NEW
FUTURES AND PROVIDE TIME AND
TECHNICAL ASSISTANCE FOR
ORGANIZATIONS TO RETHINK THEIR
BUSINESS MODELS AND REINVENT
THEMSELVES TO BETTER ADAPT TO
THE NEW ECONOMIC REALITIES THEY
ARE FACING. ONE THING I DO WANT
TO NOTE IS THAT MANY OF THE
ISSUES ORGANIZATIONS ARE
FACING, WHAT HAPPENED DURING
THE PANDEMIC WAS TO ACCELERATE
THE STRESSES THAT THESE
ORGANIZATIONS WERE DEALING
WITH. SO, WE WILL ALSO SEEK
FUNDING PARTNERS TO SUPPORT
THIS INTERVENTION AND
COLLABORATE ON THE DESIGN AND
IMPLEMENTATION. NEXT SLIDE,
PLEASE. WHILE THIS IS NOT AN
ADDITION TO OUR BUDGET PER SE,
WE ARE THRILLED TO HAVE
RETAINED CARE GRANT PROGRAM ,
WHICH PROVIDES THREE YEARS OF
GENERAL OPERATING SUPPORT TO
ORGANIZATIONS THROUGHOUT
SEATTLE . RETAINING THIS
PROGRAM IS CRITICAL TO
DEMONSTRATING THE CITIES
SUPPORT TO ARTS AND CULTURAL
ORGANIZATIONS WHILE KING
COUNTY'S DOORS OPEN PROGRAM IS
A GREAT BENEFIT TO THE ARTS AND
CULTURE IT IS STILL UNDER
DEVELOPMENT. IT HAS DIFFERENT
CRITERIA FOR AWARDS AND THERE
ARE NO METRICS AVAILABLE YET TO
US TO ASSESS THE IMPACT ON
OPERATIONS. PROVIDING THESE
FUNDS TO ARTS AND CULTURE
ORGANIZATIONS AFFIRMS THE
CITY'S COMMITMENT TO THEM AND
THE VALUE THEY PROVIDE TO THE
CITY. OUR OFFICE WILL BE
WORKING CLOSELY WITH KING
COUNTY ON OUR RENT DESIGN AS
MORE INFORMATION COMES OUT
ABOUT DOORS OPEN TO ENSURE WE
ARE SERVING SEATTLE'S ARTS AND
CULTURE ORGANIZATIONS IN THE
MOST EQUITABLE, SUSTAINABLE AND
MEANINGFUL WAY POSSIBLE. OVER
THE LAST YEAR WE HAVE IN
WORKING ON OUR INTERNAL
STRATEGIC PLAN AND WE ARE
LOOKING INTO THE BROADER POLICY
QUESTION OF HOW TO DIRECT
RESOURCES IN A WAY THAT BEST
SUPPORTS THE ARTS AND CULTURE
LANDSCAPE. WE ARE WORKING ON A
PROPOSAL TO LEAD AN ARTS AND
PLANNING PROCESS WHICH PROVIDES
A FRAMEWORK FOR EQUITABLE AND
INCLUSIVE DECISION-MAKING ON
POLICY MOVING FORWARD. NOW ON
TO REDUCTIONS. OUR OFFICE DID
ANALYZE ITS BASELINE BUDGET FOR
THE 2025 AND 2026 EXECUTIVE
PHASE AND FOUND SOME REDUCTIONS
WE COULD TAKE WITHOUT IMPACT TO
OUR CORE SERVICES. WE WILL BE
ABROGATING A PART-TIME POSITION
WHICH WAS DEDICATED TO THE
CREATIVE ECONOMY AS INCLUDED IN
COUNCIL BUDGET QUESTIONS, OUR
OFFICE DOES EXTENSIVE WORK IN
CLOSE COLLABORATION WITH THE
OFFICE OF ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT,
PROGRAMS LIKE THE CREATIVE
ADVANTAGE. I'VE ALREADY TALKED
ABOUT HER CORE, THE ECONOMY
CAREER DAY. THESE ARE ALL
EXAMPLES OF OUR COLLABORATION.
ALL OF THESE ARE GRAMS FUEL THE
HEALTH OF THE CREATIVE ECONOMY
IN SEATTLE. WHILE THIS POSITION
WOULD HELP US TO DO MORE WORK
IN THAT AREA, IT HAS BEEN
VACANT FOR A WHILE, AND OUR
OFFICE CAN CONTINUE ITS
CREATIVE ECONOMY WORK AT THE
CURRENT LEVEL WITHOUT THIS
POSITION. WE ALSO IDENTIFIED
60,000 IN BUDGET REDUCTIONS AND
PERSONAL DEVELOPMENT AS WELL AS
FUNDING HISTORICALLY USED TO
PUT ON EVENTS. DURING THE
PANDEMIC , OUR OFFICE SHIFTED
AWAY FROM PUTTING ON EVENTS
OURSELVES. INSTEAD, WE HAVE
FOCUSED ON FUNDING ACTIVATIONS
AND AMPLIFYING THEM THROUGH OUR
USE OF SOCIAL MEDIA,
STORYTELLING AND OTHER
COMMUNICATIONS. WE DO NOT
ANTICIPATE ANY WORKLOAD IMPACTS
. THAT'S IT. THANK YOU SO MUCH
FOR YOUR TIME DURING THIS
PRESENTATION. I AM HAPPY TO
ANSWER ANY QUESTIONS.
>> THANK YOU . ANYTHING TO ADD?
I WILL THEN BE PASSING IT TO
OUR COMMITTEE MEMBER FOR ARTS
AND CULTURE, COUNCIL MEMBER WOO
.
>> I ACTUALLY HAVE A COMMENT.
THANK YOU TO DEPARTMENT OF ARTS
AND CULTURE. YOU GUYS PLAY A
CRUCIAL ROLE IN CREATIVITY,
PRESERVING HERITAGE AND
PROMOTING INCLUSIVITY WITHIN
OUR COMMUNITY. THIS DEPARTMENT
HAS THEIR HANDS AND SO MANY
THINGS IN OUR CITY THAT WE
DON'T REALIZE LOOKING AT THE
PICTURES, MURALS, AND ALL THE
THINGS WE WANT TO DO IN THE
FUTURE WITH AVIVA SOCCER,
DOWNTOWN ACTIVATION, HOW TO GET
OUR YOUTH INVOLVED SO IT IS
GREAT TO HEAR THAT WE ARE
LOOKING AT TRANSFORMING
BUSINESS MODELS FOR
ORGANIZATIONAL TRANSFORMATION
AND KEEPING THESE ORGANIZATIONS
OPEN AND HAVE BEEN PART OF THE
COMMUNITY SINCE PRE-PANDEMIC,
MAKING SURE THEY ARE SUCCESSFUL
FOR THE FUTURE. I'M EXCITED TO
HEAR ALL THERE IS A GOOD
PARTNERSHIP WITH KING COUNTY
AND HOW WE ARE GOING TO SEE
DOORS OPEN AND LOOKING AT
DEVELOPING AN INTERNAL
STRATEGIC PLAN GOING FORWARD. I
HAVE A QUESTION REGARDING
IMPACTS. ON REDUCTIONS, WHEN IT
COMES TO EVENTS. ARE THERE ANY
EVENTS NOT ONGOING WHEN IT
COMES TO REDUCTIONS AND YOU
MENTIONED PROFESSIONAL
DEVELOPMENT. WAS THAT IT
INTERNAL OR EXTERNAL PERSONAL
DEVELOPMENT? WHAT ARE THE
IMPACTS TO THE PUBLIC?
>> THIS IS THE PROFESSIONAL
DEVELOPMENT IS INTERNAL
PROFESSIONAL DEVELOPMENT. WE DO
NOT PROVIDE EXTERNAL
PROFESSIONAL DEVELOPMENT
RESOURCES SO THERE IS NO PUBLIC
IMPACT THERE. REGARDING MY
ARRIVAL IN THE OFFICE WE DO NOT
PRODUCE EVENTS DIRECTLY
OURSELVES. WE'VE CHOSEN TO
WORK THROUGH OUR PARTNERS SO WE
LOOK AT THESE REDUCTIONS WITH
AN EYE TO LESSENING EXTERNAL
IMPACTS SO THESE TWO ONES WILL
NOT IMPACT OUR CORE PROGRAMS.
>> I ALSO HAVE A QUICK
STATEMENT. AS THE CHAIR OF THE
COMMITTEE WE WOULD LOVE TO BE
ABLE TO RETAIN THE ENTIRETY OF
THE EMISSIONS TAX, ESPECIALLY
WHEN THINKING OF THIS LONG-TERM
FINANCIAL STABILITY. I AM
WONDERING WHAT THE ARTS
GRANTING ALLOCATION CAPACITY IS
ESPECIALLY FOR INTERNAL
ALLOCATING AND SPENDING.
>> MAYBE I CAN ASK DR. EDER TO
ANSWER THAT QUESTION.
>> MY UNDERSTANDING IS WHETHER
THE OFFICE OF ARTS AND CULTURES
HAS WRITTEN -- RETAIN THE
ABILITY TO GIVE OUT GRANTS AT
THE SAME LEVEL THEY DID LAST
YEAR?
>> REGARDING THE EMISSIONS TAX,
HAVE WE RETAINED THE ENTIRETY
OF THE FUNDING WITHIN THE
DEPARTMENT VERSUS SENDING THE
ALLOCATIONS ELSEWHERE.
>> THANK YOU FOR THE QUESTION,
COUNCILMEMBER. I THINK PERHAPS
YOU AND OTHERS ON THE COUNCIL
SHARE A COMMON INTEREST OF THE
POLICY OBJECTIVE OF HAVING A
FULLY FUNDED ARTS GRANTS
CONTINUE IN A FULLY FUNDED WAY
THROUGH THE OFFICE OF ARTS AND
CULTURE. THE MAYOR HAS PROPOSED
A POLICY CHANGE THAT WOULD
ALLOW FOR THE ADMISSIONS TAX TO
FULLY FUND ALL OF THE ARTS AND
CULTURE GRANTS THAT -- AT THE
SAME LEVEL, AND MORE THAN 2025
COMPARED TO LAST YEAR. THE
POLICY PROPOSAL WOULD RELIEVE
THE GENERAL FUND, AS WE HAVE
BEEN ADDRESSING, AS YOU HAVE
HEARD, A SIGNIFICANT PROJECTED
DEFICIT. TO ALLOW SOME OF THE
EMISSIONS TAX -- ADMISSIONS TAX
THAT IS A -- IN ADDITION TO
ARTS GRANTS IN THE PARKS
DEPARTMENT IN SEATTLE CENTER,
BUT NOT ON GRANDSON CONTINUING
PROGRAMS THAT WERE FUNDED ,
ARTS AND CULTURE PROGRAMS THAT
WERE FUNDED WITH GENERAL FUND .
INSTEAD, USE THE EXTRA MONEY
THAT WAS AVAILABLE THIS YEAR
FROM ADD TAX IN THE FUND
RESERVED FOR THAT PURPOSE
EFFECTIVELY AVOIDING CUTS THAT
WOULD'VE NEEDED TO BE MADE
ELSEWHERE IN THE GENERAL FUND.
>> WOULD IT BE POSSIBLE TO
ALLOW THE OFFICE OF ARTS AND
CULTURE THE CAPACITY TO FUND
THESE PROGRAMS THAT WOULD
OTHERWISE BE CUT WITHIN THEIR
DEPARTMENTS, SO THEY WOULD NOT
LOSE THAT PREROGATIVE TO
DISTRIBUTE THE ENTIRE
ADMISSIONS TAX?
>> I THINK IT WOULD BE POSSIBLE
AND WE WOULD BE HAPPY TO WORK
WITH YOUR OFFICE AND MAKING
SURE WE ARE UNDERSTANDING AND
CAN HELP ACHIEVE THE POLICY
OBJECTIVE THAT I THINK BOTH THE
MAYOR AND YOU HAVE ARTICULATED.
>> THANK YOU.
>> THANK YOU, COUNCIL MEMBER
WOO. UP NEXT, COUNCIL MEMBER
KETTLE, COUNCIL MEMBER SAKA,
COUNCIL MEMBER MORALES.
>> THANK YOU, CHAIR STRAWS.
THANK YOU EVERYONE FOR COMING.
CLEARLY ARTS AND CULTURE IS KEY
TO OUR CITY. THE TO TO US AS A
PEOPLE. IT IS KEY TO OUR
ECONOMY. IT IS KEY TO A WHOLE
HOST OF PERSPECTIVES AND PIECES
OF WHO WE ARE AS A CITY.
OBVIOUSLY I HAVE BEEN TO MANY
OF THE ARTS AND CULTURE VENUES
LOCATIONS IN MY ROLE AS
DISTRICT 7 TO INCLUDE IN ROYAL
HALL, THE ROUGH THEATER AND ONE
OF THE THINGS I HAVE LEARNED
THROUGH THIS PROCESS IS , THERE
IS THE OPERATIONAL BUDGET PART
BUT THEN THERE IS THE
MAINTENANCE ASPECT OF THIS
WHICH IS REALLY IMPORTANT. CAN
YOU SPEAK TO THE BALANCE
BETWEEN ARTS AND CULTURE AND
MAYBE FAS IN TERMS OF
FACILITIES AND HOW THOSE PIECES
WORK TOGETHER TO ENSURE OUR
ARTS AND CULTURE ARE IN GOOD
STANDING AND LITERALLY
STANDING?
>> YES. I THINK WHAT I'M GOING
TO DO IS ASK MY DEPUTY, WHO
USED TO ACTUALLY WORK AT FAS,
TO SPEAK TO A LITTLE BIT OF HOW
WE WORK WITH FACILITIES. WE DO
NOT DIRECTLY MANAGE ANY OF THE
FACILITIES OURSELVES. WE DO
PROVIDE, HOWEVER, GENERAL
OPERATING SUPPORT TO
ORGANIZATIONS THAT APPLY FOR
OUR GENERAL PROGRAM. FOR US IT
IS REALLY CRITICAL WE ARE
PROVIDING THE FULL LENGTH OF
THE TABLE, WE ARE PROVIDING
STABILITY FOR ORGANIZATIONS.
THE SUPPORT ALLOWS THEM THE
FLEXIBILITY TO HIRE AND OPERATE
THEIR PROGRAMS TO KEEP THE
LIGHTS ON AND DO THOSE OTHER
THINGS BUT WE DO NOT ADDRESS
THE FACILITIES DIRECTLY. SO YOU
ARE REFERRING TO FAS. A FRIEND
ASKED KELLY IF HE WOULD SPEAK A
LITTLE BIT TO THE FAS PIECE, AS
KELLY CAME FROM FAS TO OUR
OFFICE.
>> I WANT TO MAKE SURE I HAVE
CLARITY AROUND THE QUESTION. IS
YOUR QUESTION AROUND THE
MAINTENANCE AND CONSERVATION OF
OUR PUBLIC ARTS COLLECTION?
>> IN THE FACILITIES
THEMSELVES. EVEN IF IT IS FAS,
THEY STILL LIVE WITH IT. THEY
DEAL WITH THESE THINGS ON A
DAILY BASIS.
>> CURRENTLY WE ARE NOT ENGAGED
IN THE RELATIONSHIP BETWEEN FAS
AND THE ORGANIZATION. WE ARE
COMMUNICATING WITH THEM AS WE
ARE COMMUNICATING WITH OTHER
ORGANIZATIONS ABOUT THE OVERALL
NEEDS AND WE DO KNOW ONE OF THE
REASONS HE SAW THE DOWNTOWN
ACTIVATION PLAN FUNDING THAT WE
DID SPECIFICALLY FOR THE [
INAUDIBLE ] LOCATION WAS TO
BRING ATTENTION TO THAT SITE
AND HELP WITH ADDRESSING THAT
LOCATION. I WANT TO MAKE SURE
THERE'S NOT ANOTHER COMPONENT
YOU'RE GETTING TWO.
>> A I LIKE TO PROVIDE CLARITY
IN A DIFFERENT DIRECTION FOR
THE QUESTION. FAS REALLY OWNS
THE RELATIONSHIP OF ADDRESSING
BENAROYA HALL WHICH IS A
CITY-OWNED FACILITY IN THE
MANAGEMENT OF THE BUILDING AND
ITS MAINTENANCE. BOTTOM-LINE
QUESTIONS AROUND BENAROYA HALL
ARE THAT ARE DIRECTED TO FAS.
>> THE RENOVATION WHICH WILL
IMPACT THE SYMPHONY AND ALL
THOSE OTHER PIECES OF BENAROYA
HALL AND JUST TO PIGGYBACK OFF
OF THAT AND TO PUT IT OUT
THERE, NOT A QUESTION HERE BUT
THE GARDEN OF REMEMBRANCE,
WHICH IS HEART OF ESSENTIALLY
BENAROYA HALL , IT HAS MAJOR
ISSUES WITH TREES BUT MORE
IMPORTANTLY WITH THE MEMBRANE
THAT SEPARATES THE TREES FROM
THE GARAGE, SO AGAIN FAS
HAPPILY HEAVY BUT IT IMPACTS
THE ARTS AND CULTURE COMMUNITY
AND I THINK IT IS IMPORTANT TO
HIGHLIGHT THE PRESSURES ON YOUR
ARTS AND CULTURE COMMUNITY. AS
A TRANSITION I JUST WANTED TO
START SAYING THANK YOU TO THE
PAUL ALLEN FOUNDATION BECAUSE
WHEN MEETING WITH THE SAM, WHEN
MEETING WITH THESE
ORGANIZATIONS LISTED IN THEIR
RECENT ANNOUNCEMENT OF SUPPORT,
THEY NEED THE SUPPORT AND SO I
AM REALLY THANKFUL AND WANTED
TO SAY PUBLICLY TO THE PAUL
ALLEN FOUNDATION THAT WE
APPRECIATE YOUR SUPPORT. WE
APPRECIATE YOU STEPPING AND
PARTICULARLY IN A TIME OF
BUDGET CONSTRAINTS. I ALSO
APPRECIATE THE DOWNTOWN SEATTLE
ASSOCIATION. I KNOW THEY'RE
LOOKING TO SUPPORT THE ARTS AND
CULTURE COMMUNITY PARTICULARLY
IN TERMS OF SUPPORTING IT FROM
THE PUBLIC SAFETY SIDE WHICH IS
ANOTHER PRESSURE ON OUR ALTS
AND CULTURE COMMUNITY. THERE IS
A THEME HERE NOW . THEY'RE
PUTTING PRESSURE ON THE ARTS
AND CULTURE COMMUNITY SO THAT
DSA PROJECT IS VERY IMPORTANT.
ALSO AND HIGHLIGHTED WITH
SEATTLE CENTER BUT ALSO
FINANCIAL PRESSURES LIKE WE'VE
ALREADY TAKEN ACTION. THAT IS
IMPORTANT. I REMEMBER BEING AT
THE REP . IT IS IMPORTANT FOR
SEATTLE CENTER LIKE FAS TO BE
SUPPORTING AND THEY HAVE DONE
SO, I THINK. I THINK DIRECTOR
FOSTER FOR THAT WORK AND TO
INCLUDE ORGANIZATIONS THAT I'M
SURE CAPTURED IN THE BRIEFING
LIKE THEATER PUGET SOUND, AN
ORGANIZATION THAT IN ITSELF
HELPS MANY OTHER ARTS AND
CULTURE ORGANIZATIONS SO IT IS
KIND OF LIKE A LINCHPIN, IF YOU
WILL. WE NEED TO CONTINUE TO
SUPPORT GROUPS LIKE THEATER
PUGET SOUND BECAUSE OF THAT
RELATIONSHIP WITH MANY OTHERS
IN TERMS OF PROVIDING REHEARSAL
SPACE, FOR EXAMPLE. THESE ARE
THE THINGS I THINK WE NEED TO
LOOK AT TO ENSURE THAT THE ARTS
AND CULTURE COMMUNITY IS
HEALTHY AND STRONG AND ABLE TO
SUPPORT US OVERALL BY LOOKING
AT FAS, BY LOOKING AT SEATTLE
CENTER IN THESE DIFFERENT
PIECES THAT PUT PRESSURE ON THE
ARTS AND CULTURAL COMMUNITY IN
TERMS OF THEIR ABILITY TO DO
THEIR JOB AND IS CHAIRS -- AS
CHAIR OF PUBLIC SAFETY , I WILL
DISCLOSE THAT GRAFFITI
ABASEMENT , I UNDERSTAND THERE
MAY BE PIECES WITHIN THE ARTS
TO HELP IN TERMS OF BEAUTIFYING
OUR CITY BUT ALSO ABATING THE
PROBLEMATIC ISSUE OF GRAFFITI ,
WHICH HELPS CREATE THIS
PERMISSIVE ENVIRONMENT THAT WE
ARE TACKLING RIGHT NOW.
ANYTHING ON THAT?
>> YES, THANK YOU . WE HAVE, AS
I ALREADY MENTIONED, A
SUBSTANTIAL INVESTMENT THROUGH
THE HOPE CORE PROGRAM WORKING
WITH PARTNERS LIKE BELLTOWN
UNITED AND THE DSA FOR WE ARE
WORKING ON PUTTING MURALS UP.
PART OF OUR GRAFFITI ABATEMENT
EFFORT IS TO COVER THOSE WALLS
THAT NEED TO BE ADDRESSED. WE
ALSO COLLABORATE WITH THE
MAYOR'S OFFICE. WE HAVE A
GRAFFITI SPECIALIST THAT WORKS
FOR MY OFFICE AND WE
COLLABORATE WITH HIM, AS WELL,
AND HE WORKS AT THE HIGHER END
WORKING WITH SCHOOLS AS WELL AS
EDUCATION SETTINGS, SO WE ARE
TRYING TO TACKLE THIS ISSUE
FROM ALL ANGLES, SO THAT IS
JUST A QUICK SUMMARY. I HOPE I
HAVE ANSWERED YOUR QUESTION OF
WHAT WE DO IN THAT ARENA.
>> YES, EXACTLY AS I AM LOOKING
AT MY QUESTION ON MY PAPER IN
THE GRAFFITI SO THANK YOU FOR
THAT ANSWER AREA .
>> COUNCIL MEMBER SAKA, YOU'RE
UP NEXT.
>> THANK YOU FOR THIS
PRESENTATION. REALLY EXCITED TO
LEARN ABOUT SOME OF THE
PROPOSALS FOR OUR ARTS
DEPARTMENT. I HAVE TWO
QUESTIONS. THE FIRST ONE
PERTAINS TO WORLD CUP. WORLD
CUP. I KNOW THERE ARE A LOT OF
MY COLLEAGUES HERE AT THIS DAIS
INCLUDING THE COUNCIL
PRESIDENT, WHO ARE VERY KEENLY
INTERESTED IN MAKING SURE THAT
WE HAVE A SAFE, SUCCESSFUL
WELCOMING WORLD CUP , THRIVING
WORLD CUP. OUR CITY IS GOING TO
BE ON FULL DISPLAY AND ON
PARADE. WE WANT TO SHOWCASE THE
MANY GREAT REASONS WHY OUR
BEAUTIFUL CITY IS SUCH A
TERRIFIC PLACE TO LIVE, WORK ,
DO BUSINESS AND ENJOY OUR
WONDERFUL ARTS AND CULTURAL
SCENE BUT THERE ARE A COUPLE
INSTANCES WHERE YOU MENTIONED
WORLD CUP, WHICH IS GREAT. I
WOULD BE CURIOUS TO BETTER
UNDERSTAND WHAT IS THE SPECIFIC
BREAKDOWN , SPENDING BREAKDOWN
IN THE PROPOSED BUDGET FOR ARTS
THAT CAN BE DIRECTLY TIED OR
ATTRIBUTED TO WORLD CUP
PLANNING AND I WOULD ACTUALLY
BE CURIOUS TO UNDERSTAND THAT ,
LIKE GET MORE CLARITY AROUND
THAT QUESTION ACROSS THE BOARD,
ACROSS ALL EXECUTIVE
DEPARTMENTS. AND, RATHER THAN
HAVE WORLD CUP PLANNING EFFORTS
FOR 2025 OR 2026 BE NESTED OR
BURIED IN A BUDGET SUMMARY
LEVEL SOMEWHERE, I THINK IT IS
IMPORTANT TO UP LEVEL THAT FOR
FULL TRANSPARENCY PURPOSES AND
SO WE CAN BETTER TRACK AND
MONITOR WHAT WE ARE DOING AND
WHAT WE ARE NOT POTENTIALLY
DOING AND TRACK THE PROGRESS OF
THESE INVESTMENTS. THIS IS VERY
IMPORTANT WORK. LIKE I SAID,
OUR CITY HAS A KEEN OPPORTUNITY
NOW MORE THAN EVER TO MAKE SURE
WE LAND THIS PLANNING , DO IT
RIGHT, AND HAVE A SUCCESSFUL
LAUNCH OF THE WORLD CUP IN TWO
YEARS TIME OR WHATEVER SO
ANYWAYS, YEAH. JUST CURIOUS TO
UNDERSTAND WHAT ALLOCATION OF
THE PROPOSED BUDGET FOR ARTS IS
DIRECTLY ATTRIBUTED TO WORLD
CUP?
>> THANK YOU, COUNCIL MEMBER
SAKA. IF WE CAN MOVE TO SLIDE
FIVE I THINK THAT WOULD BE
HELPFUL IN HELPING TO ANSWER
YOUR QUESTION. THE $2.5 MILLION
OF INVESTMENT . AS YOU CAN SEE,
THE FIRST LINE ITEM CALLS OUT
SPECIFICALLY WORLD CUP. I WOULD
ARGUE ALL OF THESE INVESTMENTS
HAVE A WORLD CUP NEXUS AT SOME
LEVEL. THE WAY WE HAVE TRIED TO
UTILIZE OUR RESOURCES AS WE
HAVE LOOKED AT BOTH THE NEXUS
OF DOWNTOWN ACTIVATION NEEDS
AND WORLD CUP NEEDS . WE ARE
TRYING TO BE AS EFFICIENT AS WE
POSSIBLY CAN IN DELIVERING
PROGRAMS THAT WILL THEN
TRANSFORM INTO WORLD
CUP-RELATED ACTIVITIES. FOR
EXAMPLE, AS WE INVEST IN -- THE
USUAL PROCESS FOR US AS WE
INVEST IN ONE YEAR. IN 2025 THE
INVESTMENTS WILL COME THROUGH
AND THEN THE DELIVERABLES WILL
BE THE FOLLOWING YEAR IN 2026,
SO THAT IS WHY I AM PROPOSING
HERE THAT ALMOST EVERY SINGLE
EDITION HOUSE A WORLD CUP
NEXUS. HOWEVER, WE HAVE CALLED
OUT SOME SPECIFIC WORLD CUP
ITEMS SO AS YOU CAN SEE AND
BULLET POINT ONE, THE COMMUNITY
CELEBRATION SITES ARE INTENDED
TO BE THERE SO THAT WE ARE NOT
JUST FOCUSED ON DOWNTOWN, BUT
OTHER PARTS OF THE CITY, SO WE
CAN CELEBRATE THE WORLD CUP.
THE VISUAL ARTS INSTALLATIONS
AT BENAROYA HALL , THE BENAROYA
HALL IS GOING TO BE A TRANSIT
HUB AND IT WILL BE BUSY DURING
THE WORLD CUP AND WE ARE QUITE
CONCERNED ABOUT THAT AREA
REMAINING SAFE AND ACTIVE, SO
OUR CONTRIBUTION TO THE THIRD
AVENUE INVESTMENTS AS YOU CAN
SEE, THE AMOUNTS ARE LISTED AND
THEN THE ACTIVATIONS AND
INSTALLATIONS -- THIS
PARTICULAR PROJECT IS UNDERWAY
NOW. WE ARE EXPERIMENTING WITH
IT SO THAT WHEN THE WORLD CUP
IS HERE WE CAN ACTUALLY BE MORE
TARGETED AND HOW WE INVEST IN
THOSE FUNDS AND THIS WILL ALSO
HELP BUSINESSES , NOT JUST
PROVIDE ARTS ACTIVITIES. IF WE
CAN GO TO THE NEXT SLIDE,
PLEASE, AND THEN FINALLY THE
UNION AND KING STREET STATION
PLAZA INSTALLATIONS BECAUSE OF
OUR PROXIMITY TO THE STADIUMS,
THESE ARE ALL WORLD CUP RELATED
. AGAIN, THIS IS WHAT WE'VE
ALREADY STARTED TO DO. IT TAKES
US A WHILE TO CREATE NEW
PROGRAMS AND IMPLEMENT THEM BUT
THE KING STREET STATION PLAZA
ACTIVATIONS IN THIS IMAGE
YOU'LL SEE ONE OF THOSE
ACTIVATIONS WITH OUR STATIONS
BASED PARTNERS. WE ARE
BEGINNING TO PUT OUR EFFORTS IN
THAT DIRECTION RIGHT NOW AND WE
WILL CONTINUE THAT IN 2025.
AGAIN THE INVESTMENTS WILL
HAPPEN IN 2025 SO THAT THE
DELIVERABLES YOU WILL SEE THE
FOLLOWING YEAR AND THE
COMMUNITY ENGAGEMENT AND
CULTURAL INCLUSION THAT IS
REALLY A PROGRAM INVITING
ORGANIZATIONS TO BRING THEIR
PROPOSALS TO US WITH THE
INTENTION OF THE ACTUAL
IMPLEMENTATION IN 2026. I COULD
GO ON BUT I WANT TO MAKE SURE I
AM ANSWERING YOUR QUESTION AND
I AM HAPPY TO ALSO MAKE SURE
THAT WE FOLLOW UP WITH THE
SPECIFICS IF I'M NOT BEING
SPECIFIC ENOUGH .
>> THANK YOU. I APPRECIATE YOUR
INITIAL RESPONSE. I WOULD LOVE
TO SEE THE FURTHER BREAKDOWN OF
ANYTHING THAT CAN BE DIRECTLY
ATTRIBUTED, AND AGAIN I SEE
DIRECTOR EITHER HERE. I WOULD
ACTUALLY LIKE TO SEE THAT
ACROSS THE BOARD FOR ALL
DEPARTMENT-PROPOSED BUDGETS. IN
MY MIND, TO YOUR POINT,
DIRECTOR, IT IS, YOU KNOW,
THERE IS A STRONG NEXUS BETWEEN
IN THE SPENDING EXAMPLE BETWEEN
SOME OF THE PIONEER SQUARE
INVESTMENTS IN THE BROADER
DOWNTOWN ACTIVATION PLANNING
IMPLEMENTATION EFFORTS.
ANYTHING WITH A DIRECT TIE THAT
COULD BE REASONABLY ATTRIBUTED
TO WORLD CUP PLANNING, IN MY
MIND THAT IS A SIMPLE BUT FOR
TEST. IN MY MIND, BUT FOR THE
WORLD CUP IT WOULD EITHER NOT
BE SPENT OR WOULD BE SPENT
ELSEWHERE SO I WANT TO
UNDERSTAND AFTER THIS ACROSS
THE BOARD FOR ALL DEPARTMENTS
WHAT IS THE PROPOSED ALLOCATION
FOR WORLD CUP . IT IS REALLY
IMPORTANT AGAIN I WILL KEEP
SCREAMING OUT LOUD FROM THE
ROOFTOPS IF NEEDED BUT THAT IS
A SUCCESSFUL, SAFE, THRIVING,
WELCOMING EVENT FOR ALL AND WE
ARE DOING SOME OF THE BLOCKING
AND TACKLING FOR THAT TO ENSURE
AS MUCH TO SEE THAT GOAL
SPECIFICALLY RIGHT NOW,
PARTICULARLY ON THE PUBLIC
SAFETY FRONT BUT YEAH, THANK
YOU. MY NEXT QUESTION IS , CAN
YOU TALK A LITTLE BIT MORE
ABOUT THE IMPACT OF DOORS OPEN
ON THEIR SECTOR PROGRAM AND THE
IMPACT OF ARTS FUNDING AND
OVERALL FUNDING FOR THE CITY OF
SEATTLE. CURIOUS TO LEARN MORE.
THANK YOU.
>> YES. I BELIEVE IT IS SLIDE
NINE, THAT WAS THE SLIDE WHERE
I TALKED ABOUT DOORS OPEN. WE
HAVE NOT SEEN DIRECT IMPACT ON
OUR FUNDING, SO THE GOOD NEWS
IS, WE ARE WAITING AND WE ARE
GOING TO ASSESS WHAT THE ACTUAL
-- THE WAY THE PROGRAM IS BEING
IMPLEMENTED. AT THE MOMENT THE
COUNTY IS CONSIDERING A PROGRAM
TO IMPLEMENTATION AND THEY WILL
BE COMING OUT WITH A VOTE IN
NOVEMBER. WE ARE KEEPING AN EYE
ON THAT AND WILL BE, AS I
MENTIONED, WORKING WITH FULL
CULTURE, WHICH IS THE COUNTY
ORGANIZATION THAT WILL BE
DISPERSING THESE RESOURCES. WE
WANT TO MAKE SURE MOST OF ALL
WE DON'T DUPLICATE THE EFFORT
HAPPENING WITH DOORS OPEN. WE
WANT TO BE COMPLEMENTARY, SO AS
YET, WE DO NOT HAVE ENOUGH DATA
TO KNOW HOW THAT PROGRAM WILL
BE IMPLEMENTED, AND THERE IS NO
IMPACT TO OUR BUDGET, AS YET.
>> THANK YOU. UP NEXT IS
COUNCIL MEMBER MORALES FOLLOWED
BY COUNCIL PRESIDENT NELSON.
>> THANK YOU VERY MUCH. GOOD
MORNING, EVERYBODY. I HAVE
THREE OR FOUR QUESTIONS. THE
FIRST IS, THERE IS A LOT OF DAP
FUNDING HERE IN PROGRAMMING
WHICH IS GREAT AND I REALLY
SUPPORT THE ACTIVATION OF
INSTALLATIONS AT KING STREET
UNION STREET STATIONS. IT'S A
GREAT LOCATION FOR ACTIVATING
RIGHT IN THE MIDDLE OF THE
SOUTH END OF DOWNTOWN. SO, THAT
IS ALL GREAT. MY QUESTION IS,
HOW DO WE BRING MORE ARTS
RECOVERY PROGRAMMING AND
SUPPORT TO OUR NEIGHBORHOOD
BUSINESS DISTRICTS BECAUSE
THERE ARE OTHER PARTS OF THE
CITY THAT COULD ALSO BENEFIT
FROM THIS KIND OF PROGRAMMING
AND ACTIVATION.
>> YES. THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR
THAT QUESTION, AND COUNCIL
MEMBER MORALES. AS I'VE
ALREADY MENTIONED, THE
INVESTMENTS THAT WE WILL BE
MAKING IN THE ORGANIZATIONAL
BUSINESS TRANSFORMATION, THAT
IS A CITYWIDE PROGRAM AND THAT
IS GOING TO BE $2 MILLION PER
YEAR, SO THAT PARTICULAR
PROGRAM WILL LOOK AT CATALYST
ORGANIZATIONS, ORGANIZATIONS
THAT PLAY A PIVOTAL ROLE IN
THEIR COMMUNITIES EITHER AS A
BUSINESS CATALYST OR AS A
COMMUNITY CATALYST AND THAT
COME TO US WITH A NEED AND AN
INTEREST IN REVIEWING THEIR
BUSINESS PLANS, SO THAT
PARTICULAR PROGRAM IS, JUST TO
POINT OUT, IS INCLUDED IN THIS
BUDGET AND WILL BE CITYWIDE.
FOR THE WORLD CUP AS I'VE
ALREADY MENTIONED, WE DO HAVE
THE INVESTMENTS IN COMMUNITY
CELEBRATION SITES, AND THAT IS
ABOUT 495,000, AND THAT IS NOT
INTENDED TO BE DOWNTOWN, SO
SURROUNDING COMMUNITIES . WE
HAVE NOT PROVIDED THE LOCATIONS
YET BUT WE ARE EXPECTING LOCAL
SEATTLEITES TO ALSO WANT TO
CELEBRATE IN NEIGHBORHOOD SO
THOSE TWO I WANT TO POINT OUT,
ARE IN OUR BUDGET. HAVE I
ANSWERED YOUR QUESTION OR WOULD
YOU LIKE MORE?
>> THAT'S GREAT, THANK YOU.
GETTING BACK TO THE WORLD CUP
QUESTION IT SEEMS TO ME THAT AT
LEAST ONE NEXUS BETWEEN THE
WORLD CUP AND ARTS IS HOW WE
WORK WITH THE LOCAL ORGANIZING
COMMITTEE TO MAKE SURE IT IS
LOCAL ARTIST, LOCAL PERFORMERS
WHO ARE BEING TAPPED, IF YOU
WILL, TO PARTICIPATE IN THESE
COMMUNITY CELEBRATIONS. I'VE
ONLY HAD ONE OR TWO
CONVERSATIONS WITH THEM BUT
FEELS TO ME LIKE THERE'S A LOT
OF FOCUS ON THE TRACK THING
LIKE BIG NATIONAL MUSICIANS OR
SOMETHING TO COME , AND I THINK
THAT IS A REAL MISSED
OPPORTUNITY FOR US TO HIRE
LOCALLY TO HIGHLIGHT OUR OWN
SEATTLE AND WASHINGTON AREA
PERFORMERS ON THIS WORLD STAGE,
SO JUST MY PLUG FOR THAT . IF
THE ORGANIZING COMMITTEE IS
LISTENING. MY SECOND QUESTION
IS, GETTING BACK TO THE HOPE
FOR GRANTS, MY HOPE AND I GUESS
THIS IS REALLY MORE OF A
STATEMENT, BUT IT IS MY HOPE
THAT WE ARE ABLE TO FULLY FUND
THIS BEYOND A ONE-TIME
EXTENSION AND THAT WE REALLY
THINK ABOUT HOW WE CAN BRING
THIS PROGRAMMING AGAIN INTO
OTHER PARTS OF THE CITY AND
MAKE SURE WE ARE SUPPORTING
ARTISTS AND PERFORMERS FROM
ACROSS TOWN. MY LAST QUESTION
IS ABOUT WELL, SLIDE EIGHT AND
-- I DON'T SEE IT ON THE SLIDE
BUT ON SLIDE EIGHT, YOU TALK
ABOUT FUNDING ORGANIZATIONAL
BUSINESS TRANSFORMATION. I HAVE
LOTS OF FRIENDS WHO ARE
ARTISTS. THEY ARE GREAT ARTIST,
BUT THEY ARE NOT GREAT BUSINESS
PEOPLE NECESSARILY, AND SO I
UNDERSTAND WHY THIS IS
IMPORTANT. I'VE ALSO HEARD
COUNCIL MEMBER KETTLE TALK
ABOUT HOW IMPORTANT IT IS TO
PRESERVE OUR ARTS ORGANIZATIONS
AND YOU KNOW, REALLY ENSURE
THAT WE ARE BOLSTERING THE
VIABILITY AND SUSTAINABILITY OF
THESE ORGANIZATIONS THAT
SUPPORT CREATIVE ARTIST, AND
ALSO ARE A KEY PART OF HOW WE
ATTRACT PEOPLE TO COME VISIT
US. SO, YOU ALSO SAID THAT YOU
HAD JUST COMPLETED A STRATEGIC
PLAN . MY ASSUMPTION IS THAT
WAS REALLY KIND OF AN
INTERNALLY-FOCUSED THING , BUT
THEN YOU TALKED ABOUT CULTURAL
PLANNING, SO CAN YOU TALK A
LITTLE BIT ABOUT WHAT THAT IS?
IT SOUNDS TO ME LIKE IT IS
MAYBE AN EXTERNALLY FOCUSED
PLAN AND COULD REALLY TIE INTO
WHAT IS NEEDED FOR THESE
BUSINESS TRANSFORMATIONS. I
JUST WANT TO MAKE SURE I
UNDERSTAND WHAT THAT IS AND
WHAT IT WOULD ACCOMPLISH.
>> YES. THANK YOU FOR THE
QUESTION. I TOUCHED ON IT. I
DID NOT GO INTO MUCH DEPTH
ABOUT IT. CULTURAL PLANNING
WILL BE IN COLLABORATION WITH
COMMUNITY, AND THESE
ORGANIZATIONS ARE VERY MUCH
PART OF THE ARTS AND CULTURE
COMMUNITY AND ECOSYSTEM. ONE OF
THE ISSUES WE WILL BE DEALING
WITH IS THIS ISSUE OF HEALTH ,
HOW OUR ORGANIZATION IS DOING,
BECAUSE AS YOU HAVE POINTED
OUT, COUNCILMEMBER, WE HAVE AN
INTERRELATED ECOSYSTEM
ORGANIZATION SUPPORT
INDIVIDUALS. INDIVIDUALS ALSO
CREATE THEIR OWN AND
BUSINESSES. MULTIPLE INCOME
STREAMS. AT THE VERY FLUID AND
INTERSECTIONAL SECTOR SO WE
WANT TO MAKE SURE THAT WE BRING
EVERYONE TO THE TABLE BOTH
INDIVIDUALS AND ORGANIZATIONS
TO UNDERSTAND THE CHALLENGES
THEY ARE FACED WITH BECAUSE THE
PANDEMIC HAS REALLY TRANSFORMED
THE BUSINESS ENVIRONMENT FOR
ALL ARTS AND CULTURE. IT HAS
MADE IT MORE COMPLICATED. IT IS
MADE THINGS MORE EXPENSIVE AND
IT HAS CHANGE THE NATURE OF HOW
OUR AUDIENCES INTERACT WITH THE
SECTOR, SO THIS ADDITIONAL
INVESTMENT IN ORGANIZATIONS IS
TO BE A STOPGAP RIGHT NOW, TO
HELP ORGANIZATIONS ACTUALLY
INVEST IN THEIR FUTURE SO AS
HAS BEEN POINTED OUT, WE HAVE
NOTED THE NUMBER OF
ORGANIZATIONS THAT HAVE BEEN
STRUGGLING, AND MANY OF THEM
COMING TO THE PUBLIC SECTOR TO
ASK FOR INVESTMENT BUT WE
REALLY ALSO SHOULD BE WORKING
ON THEIR OVERALL HEALTH AND
WELL-BEING. HOW ARE THEY SEEING
THE FUTURE, WHAT IS THE FUTURE
FOR THAT PARTICULAR DISCIPLINE
, WHAT MIGHT BE SOME NEW MODELS
THEY COULD CONSIDER MOVING
FORWARD, SO THIS PARTICULAR
ADDITION DOES THIS, BUT THE
CULTURAL PLAN IS GOING TO BE
WHERE WE WILL FULLY ENGAGE THEM
AND LEARN WITH THEM AND
UNDERSTAND HOW WE CAN ADAPT OUR
WORK TO MEET THE REALITIES THEY
ARE FACING RIGHT NOW, SO WE
WILL BE BRINGING THAT TO
COUNSEL AND RECOMMENDING
POLICIES.
>> THANK YOU. UP NEXT IS
COUNCIL PRESIDENT NELSON.
>> HI THERE. THANK YOU VERY
MUCH AND I APOLOGIZE, MY VOICE
IS GOING TODAY BUT I FEEL FINE,
SO . I -- JUST A NOTE, COUNCIL
MEMBER MORALES, THANK YOU FOR
PLUGGING LOCAL ARTIST. I'M
DOING THE SAME THING WITH
PHYSICIANS FOR THE WORLD CUP
AND THE ORGANIZING COMMITTEE
HAS HEARD THAT MESSAGE SO
HOPEFULLY WE WILL SEE A LOT OF
LOCAL ART OF ALL KINDS. THE
QUESTION I HAD PERTAINED TO
THIS LINE ON PAGE NINE .
ORGANIZATIONS ARE FACING HIGHER
COSTS NOT BACK REDUCING
ACTIVATIONS, EMPLOYMENT,
CREATIVE OPPORTUNITIES IN
SEATTLE SO I WAS WONDERING
PARTLY WHAT YOU ASK , COUNCIL
MEMBER SAKA, HOW IS THE NEW
RESOURCE OF OPENING THE DOOR
CHANGED YOUR THINKING ABOUT HOW
YOU WILL ALLOCATE GRANTS TO
SOME OF THE CARE PARTNERS , AND
YOU ANSWERED THAT AND I WILL BE
INTERESTED IN DETAIL LATER ON
THAT ONE, SO UNLESS YOU HAVE AN
IDEA RIGHT NOW, I ASSUME YOU
DON'T.
>> THANK YOU FOR THAT COMMENT.
I DON'T WANT TO VENTURE OUT
AND MAKE ANY COMMENTS AT THE
MOMENT BECAUSE WE JUST DON'T
KNOW ENOUGH ABOUT DOORS OPEN.
AS I SAID, OUR EXPECTATION IS
THAT WE WILL WORK IN A
COMPLEMENTARY MANNER AND
ADDRESS THE AREAS THAT THE
DOORS OPEN FUNDING DOES NOT
COVER. WE KNOW ENOUGH ABOUT IT
AT THE MOMENT TO KNOW THAT
INDIVIDUALS WILL NOT BE
ELIGIBLE FOR DOES OPEN FUNDING
BUT THERE ARE OTHER THINGS WE
NEED TO PAY ATTENTION TO SO ,
AS THAT BECOMES MORE APPARENT
WE WILL BE HAPPY TO REPORT BACK
TO COUNSEL.
>> THANK YOU VERY MUCH AND JUST
A PROCESS QUESTION. ARE WE
SUPPOSED TO BE PREPARED TO GIVE
AN INTRODUCTION OF THE
DEPARTMENT IN WHICH WE --
SHOULD I BE PREPARED TO TALK IN
ADVANCE OF THE PRESENTATION OR
AFTERWARDS? I THOUGHT WE WERE
SUPPOSED TO PRESENT OR
INTRODUCE THEM, JUST SO I CAN
PREPARE FOR THE NEXT ONE.
>> YES. I WILL BE CALLING ON --
LIKE WE TALKED ABOUT IN OUR
PROCESS MEETING. WHEN OED COMES
UP I WILL TURN IT OVER TO YOU
BUT IF YOUR VOICE IS HURTING SO
MUCH AND HAPPY TO DO A BIT OF
AN INTRO.
>> I WILL CUT DOWN MY INTRO BUT
COUNCIL MEMBER WOO SPOKE AFTER
THE PRESENTATION SO I'M JUST
TRYING TO FIGURE OUT WHERE I AM
GOING TO PROVIDE A QUICK INTRO
TO OED'S PRESENTATION.
>> WHEN WE GET TO OED I WILL
PASS IT RIGHT OVER TO YOU.
COLLEAGUES, ANY OTHER
QUESTIONS? ONE OF THE CHANGES
YOU MIGHT SEE IN MEETINGS,
SUBSCRIBING TO ROBERTS RULES OF
ORDER, THE FACILITATOR GOES
LESS SO AS YOU ARE A
FACILITATOR, I WILL BE HOLDING
MY COMMENTS TO THE END. A
COUPLE OF NOTES FOR CENTRAL
STAFF AND CBO, I WILL START
HIGH LEVEL BEFORE I COME BACK
TO YOU, DIRECTOR. REFERENCING
THE DOCUMENT THAT WAS PUT
TOGETHER, THE 2019 TO 2024
BUDGET REVIEW AS WELL AS THE
CURRENT BUDGET, I HAVE SOME
QUESTIONS. IT IS GOOD AND
IMPORTANT THAT WE HAVE SEEN
THAT BETWEEN THE 2019 AND 2024
BUDGET FOR ARTS AND CULTURE,
THERE HAS BEEN AN INCREASE BY
ABOUT 54%, AND THIS IS MOSTLY
IN RESPONSE TO THE PANDEMIC AND
THE FACT THAT ARTS
ORGANIZATIONS WHO RELY ON
IN-PERSON EVENTS COULD NOT
LEGALLY , OR FOR GOOD PUBLIC
HEALTH REASONS, HAVE THEIR
EVENTS HELD IN THE ONE PLACE I
SEE IN THIS 2019 TO 2024
REDUCTION HERE WAS TO THE
CULTURAL SPACE BUT THAT IS
BECAUSE THAT WORK WAS SHIFTED
TO THE AGENCY DEVELOPMENT SO I
KNOW THAT WHENEVER WE MAKE
REDUCTIONS IN DEPARTMENTS, IT
IS CHALLENGING BUT I'M REALLY
GLAD TO SEE WE ARE STILL ABLE
TO SUPPORT OUR ALTS -- ARTS AND
CULTURE. DIRECTOR LEADER AND
DIRECTOR NOBLE, THE QUESTION I
WILL BE ASKING IS REGARDING
KINGS PATIENT RENT INCREASES. I
CAN FOLLOW UP WITH YOU LATER
ABOUT THAT. I'M GOING TO JUST
MAKE SOME HIGH LEVEL, AND CF.
THE CHAIR OF THE COMMITTEE HAS
ANYTHING TO SHARE WHICH IS
SEATTLE HAS AN INCREDIBLY DENSE
ARTS AND CULTURE SPACE FROM 5th
AVENUE THEATRE TO THE MOORE
THEATRE TO THE SEATTLE ART
MUSEUM, BENAROYA HALL TO
SEATTLE CENTER. THIS IS THE
MOST DENSITY IN OUR REGION AND
IT'S IMPORTANT WE SUPPORT OUR
ARTS COMMUNITY FROM THE PEOPLE
WHO MAKE THE ART TO THE
ORGANIZATIONS. I KNOW TAPROOT
THEATER IN MY DISTRICT
CONTINUES TO SEE REDUCED
ATTENDANCE AND COST. THEY HAVE
HAD TO SCALE BACK THEIR PROGRAM
TO BE ABLE TO KEEP THEIR DOORS
OPEN AND THIS IS NOT
SUSTAINABLE SO WE HAVE TO DO AS
MUCH AS WE CAN. AS COUNCIL
MEMBER KETTLE MENTIONED WE HAVE
THE OPPORTUNITY FOR PRIVATE
FUNDRAISING AND I APPRECIATE [
INAUDIBLE ] FOUNDATION FOR
STEPPING IN TO HELP OUR ARTS
AND CULTURE COMMUNITY.
REGARDING FIFA AND THE WORLD
CUP COMING, HIRING LOCAL ARTIST
IS INCREDIBLY IMPORTANT AND I
KNOW THEY WILL AND HAVE ALREADY
STARTED MAKING SURE THEY DID
NOT MAKE THE SAME MISTAKE AS
THE MLB ALL-STAR GAME WHICH
OVERLOOKED THE CHINATOWN AND
INTERNATIONAL DISTRICT
RESTAURANTS, HOTELS AND
ACTIVITIES IN THAT AREA AND SO
I KNOW BECAUSE IT IS SO CENTRAL
AND EVERYTHING THAT WE DO, IT
WAS REALLY UNFORTUNATE WHAT MLB
ENDED UP DOING IN CHINATOWN
INTERNATIONAL DISTRICT AND I'M
HAPPY TO HEAR OF FIFA IS
ALREADY THINKING ABOUT THE
LOCAL FIFA CHAPTER . THE LOCAL
FIFA CHAPTER IS ALREADY WORKING
TO ADDRESS WHAT HAD OCCURRED. I
DON'T HAVE ANY QUESTIONS FOR
THE COMMITTEE TABLE HERE. I
JUST APPRECIATE YOU ALL COMING
IN. I'M GOING TO TURN IT OVER
TO COUNCIL MEMBER WOO FOR FINAL
COMMENTS.
>> THANK YOU FOR THE
PRESENTATION. THANK YOU FOR ALL
THAT YOU DO. YOU ARE THE -- I
WOULD LIKE TO THANK THE
FOUNDATION IN ARTS AND CULTURE
. REALLY INFORMS A LOT OF OUR
OTHER DEPARTMENTS IN TERMS OF
MENTAL HEALTH, PUBLIC SAFETY .
YOU HAVE YOUR HAND IN A LOT OF
THINGS INADVERTENTLY IF NOT
DIRECTLY AND HOW THE CITY MOVES
FORWARD SO THANK YOU FOR ALL
THE WORK THAT YOU DO AND
LOOKING FORWARD TO WORKING
THROUGH THIS BUDGET PROCESS TO
IMPLEMENT ALL THESE ACTION
ITEMS AND HOPEFULLY CALLOUT
ANYTHING THAT MAY NEED TO BE
ADDRESSED WERE ANY CONCERNS.
>> THANK YOU, COUNCILMEMBER.
>> DO YOU HAVE ANYTHING ELSE TO
SHARE WITH US?
>> THANK YOU FOR HAVING US.
I'M HOPING TO INVITE EVERYONE
TO NEXT THURSDAY FOR WE WILL
HAVE PARTNERSHIP WITH STATIONS
BLOCK PARTY. IT'S GOING TO BE
GREAT.
>> FANTASTIC. THANKS FOR COMING
DOWN. CLERK, WILL YOU READ THE
SHORT TITLE OF THE NEXT ITEM
INTO THE RECORD.
>> AGENDA ITEM TWO, OFFICE OF
ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT .
>> THANK YOU AND AS OUR NEXT
PRESENTATION COMES ON UP TO THE
COMMITTEE TABLE NOW I WILL
SHARE SOME INTRODUCTORY REMARKS
SINCE YOU'VE ALREADY READ THE
ITEM INTO THE RECORD. THANKS
FOR YOUR PATIENCE LAST TIME.
JUST WANT TO SHARE, COLLEAGUES,
I HAVE MADE THE REQUEST OF OUR
CITY BUDGET OFFICE AND
DEPARTMENT DIRECTORS TO BE IN
PERSON MOVING FORWARD. I
APPRECIATE YOUR PATIENCE WITH
THIS AS WE ALLOW DIRECTOR KAYIM
TO PARTICIPATE REMOTELY. WITH
THAT, WE HAVE DIRECTOR MARKHAM
McINTYRE WITH US TODAY.
>> GOOD MORNING.
>> I WILL LET YOU TAKE IT AWAY
FROM HERE AND INTRODUCE THE
TABLE.
>> DO WE HAVE THE PRESENTATION?
OKAY. WHILE WE ARE WORKING ON
THAT , I GUESS I WILL TAKE A
MOMENT . IT'S GREAT TO SEE ALL
OF YOU, AND JUST SAY THIS IS
ALWAYS AN EXCITING TIME. THIS
IS ALWAYS AN EXCITING TIME. I
KNOW WE HAVE SOME TOUGH
DECISIONS AHEAD OF US , BUT
THIS IS A GREAT CHANCE TO SHINE
A LIGHT ON ALL OF THE WORK WE
DO, THE IMPACT WE ARE HAVING,
HOW WE ARE STEWARDING PUBLIC
DOLLARS AND WHAT WE WOULD LIKE
TO DO NEXT, ESPECIALLY WITH ALL
THE ACRIMONY AT THE NATIONAL
LEVEL, TO BE ABLE TO THINK
ABOUT LOCAL IMPACTS, WORK
TOGETHER, AND EVEN WHEN WE
DON'T AGREE THAT IS OKAY BUT
IT IS A VERY HEALTHY DISCOURSE
SO I WANT TO EXPRESS MY THANKS
FOR THE WORK YOU GUYS ARE DOING
AND BUDGET SEASON. THE PURPOSE
OF OED IS TO SHAPE THE FUTURE
OF SEATTLE'S ECONOMY TO MAKE
IT MORE PROFITABLE AND
COMPETITIVE. PART OF HOW WE DO
THAT WORK IS THROUGH THE
DEVELOPMENT OF THE FUTURE, ME
AGENDA. IT IS OUR STRATEGIC
FRAMEWORK FOR RECOVERY FOR THE
CITY AND AGAIN EXPRESSING
THANKS FOR YOU GUYS, CODIFYING
IT WITH LEGISLATION. WE HAVE
REORGANIZED OUR DEPARTMENT IN
ALIGNMENT WITH THE AGENDA
INCLUDING KEY FUNCTIONING AND
ADDING NEW ONES LIKE OUR CITY
NAVIGATION TEAM. OVER THE PAST
COUPLE OF YEARS WE HAVE ADDED
LOTS OF TALENTED AND
EXPERIENCED STAFF. PART OF THAT
IS A RECOGNITION OF HOW
UNDERSTAFFED WE HAVE BEEN IN
THE PAST . TO DO OUR WORK WE
WANT TO STRIKE A BALANCE
BETWEEN SUPPORTING OUR LOCAL
ECONOMY AND THINKING ABOUT HOW
WE ARE COMPETITIVE AS A CITY IN
THE REGION IN THE GLOBAL
ECONOMY. LOCALLY WE SERVE -- WE
INVEST IN ALL THE NEIGHBORHOODS
IN SEATTLE. WE SERVE 85
BUSINESSES IN EACH DISTRICT.
INVESTMENTS ARE GREATER IN SOME
DISTRICTS BUT THAT IS IN LARGE
PART BECAUSE WE TAKE AN EQUITY
LENS WHEN WE THINK ABOUT WHERE
WE ARE INVESTING IN CREATING
ACCESS TO OUR PROGRAMS AND A
LOT OF THOSE UNDERSERVED
COMMUNITIES FALL ALONG
GEOGRAPHIC LINES. TO GIVE YOU A
TASTE OF SOME OF OUR WORK WE
HAVE TALKED ABOUT SOME OF THESE
PROGRAMS IN THE PAST I THINK IT
IS GOOD TO GIVE YOU A REMINDER
OF THE IMPACT THAT THE FRONT
END SO OUR BUSINESS COMMUNITY
OWNERSHIP FUND, IN PARTNERSHIP
WITH GROWTH AMERICA AND IS THE
FIRST SMALL BUSINESS FUNDING
MODEL THAT PUTS SMALL BUSINESS
OWNERS ON THE PATHWAY TO
LONG-TERM CONTROL AND OWNERSHIP
OF THEIR COMMERCIAL SPACES,
WHICH IS IMPORTANT, ESPECIALLY
AS SEATTLE CONTINUES TO BECOME
MORE EXPENSIVE. WE ARE EXCITED
DISTRICT THREE WILL SOON BE
OPENING RESTAURANT, MARJORIE,
COMING UP SOON, SO WE ARE
EXCITED ABOUT THAT. WE HAVE OUR
ACCOUNTING AND BUSINESS
CONSULTING PROGRAM WHICH IS
HELPING BUSINESSES LIKE OUTER
SPACE IN D6. THIS IS WHEN
COUNCILMEMBER STRAUSS IS NO
LONGER HERE TO HEAR ME TALK
ABOUT THE SIX BUT THIS IS
IMPORTANT BECAUSE WE KNOW SMALL
BUSINESSES NEED WRAPAROUND
SUPPORT SERVICES FOR THEIR
NEEDS. OUR TENTATIVE
IMPROVEMENT FUNDS WHICH
PROVIDED MONEY TO EDU TOGETHER
IS HELPING A FACILITY RELOCATE
TO DELL REGION IS COVERING THE
RENOVATION OF THAT SPACE TO
MEET CHILDCARE BUILDING
REQUIREMENTS WHICH ARE
DIFFICULT AND CHALLENGING. WE
HEAR A LOT ABOUT ACCESS TO
CAPITAL BEEN A CONCERN FOR
SMALL BUSINESSES. OUR CAPITAL
ACCESS PROGRAM AND COOPERATION
WITH MANY OF OUR COMMUNITY
LENDERS LOWERS THE COST OF
BORROWING BY PAYING DOWN 20% OF
THE PRINCIPAL ON QUALIFYING
LOANS ESSENTIALLY MAKING THAT
CAPITAL CHEAPER. ONE OF THE
RECIPIENTS OF THESE AWARDS IS
MARKED THAI FOOD BOX IN THE
UNIVERSITY DISTRICT . WE ARE
ALSO WORKING WITH OUR PARTNERS
, PRIORITIZING THE PATHWAY TO
BECOME BUSINESS IMPROVEMENT
AREAS. WE MET WITH YOU EARLIER
THIS YOU'RE TALKING ABOUT THE
VALUE OF THOSE. WE WILL TALK
ABOUT THAT LATER IN OUR
PRESENTATION BUT SOME OF THIS
WORK INCLUDES EXPLORING
STARTING NEW BIAS IN THE RAIN
YOUR BEACH, OTHELLO, ATLANTIC
NEIGHBORHOODS AND THEN LAKE
CITY IN DISTRICT FIVE. AND
FINALLY YOU WILL HEAR A LOT
ABOUT HER WORK REVITALIZING
DOWNTOWN , IN PARTICULAR, WITH
PROGRAMS LIKE SEATTLE RESTORE,
WE ARE HELPING FILL VACANT
STOREFRONTS. HOPEFULLY YOU WILL
NOTICE THE NEW TENANT IN THE
OLD BERGMAN LUGGAGE BUILDING ON
THIRD, THE BASE CAMP STUDIOS
WHICH HAS GALLERY SPACE ON THE
LOWER FRONT, I SEE COUNCIL
MEMBER KETTLE GIVING A THUMBS
UP SO IT IS PROVIDING 15
ARTISTS A STUDIO SPACE ON THE
SECOND FLOOR AND GALLERY SPACE
ON THE FIRST FLOOR. IN ADDITION
TO THE WORK WE ARE DOING
THROUGH OUR PROGRAMS, WE ARE
LEADING SOME MAJOR CITY
INITIATIVES LIKE THE MAYOR'S
DOWNTOWN ACTIVATION PLAN. TO DO
ALL THIS, YOU KNOW I AM A TRUE
BELIEVER IN PARTNERSHIPS,
ESPECIALLY PUBLIC DRIVER
PARTNERSHIPS. A LOT OF WHAT
WE'VE BEEN DOING IS TRYING TO
RE-ESTABLISH RELATIONSHIPS WITH
EXTERNAL AND INTERNAL PARTNERS
IS A HIGH PERFORMING
ORGANIZATION THAT GETS
MEANINGFUL WORK DONE. AS SUCH,
WE RECOGNIZE THAT WE CAN'T DO
IT JUST AS A CITY ALONSO
THINKING ABOUT HOW DO WE
LEVERAGE CITY DOLLARS WITH
OTHER PUBLIC, PRIVATE AND
PHILANTHROPIC FUNDS TO REALLY
MAXIMIZE AND DEEPEN THE
IMPACTS. THAT IS JUST A QUICK
SNAPSHOT OF WHO OED IS AND HOW
SOME OF THE PROGRAMS ARE HAVING
AN IMPACT OUT IN THE COMMUNITY.
I MENTIONED THE DOWNTOWN
ACTIVATION PLAN. THIS IS ONE OF
THE BIGGEST PRIORITIES FOR THE
MAYOR. IT IS ALSO THE BIGGEST
ECONOMIC PLAY WE CAN MAKE. PART
OF THAT IS BECAUSE DOWNTOWN HAS
APPROXIMATELY HALF OF ALL THE
ECONOMIC ACTIVITY IN THE CITY
INCLUDING 55% OF THE JOBS. IT
NOW HAS OVER HUNDRED AND 10,000
RESIDENTS WITH MORE PEOPLE
MOVING IN. IT IS A HUGE DRIVER
FOR VISITORS AND TOURISM INTO
THE DOWNTOWN ACTIVATION PLAN,
WE'VE REALLY SEEN PROGRESS
OVER THE LAST FEW YEARS. YOU'LL
NOTICE HERE ON THE THIRD BULLET
THE PEOPLE ARE COMING FROM
DOWNTOWN WHICH WILL RECALL THAT
AS OUR MAIN MEASUREMENT.
DOWNTOWN RUNS ON PEOPLE SO
FORGETTING PEOPLE TO COME
DOWNTOWN THAT IS HOW WE ARE
MEASURING PROGRESS IN ALL THE
MANY DIFFERENT WAYS. HERE ARE
THE SEVEN GOALS FOR THE
DOWNTOWN ACTIVATION PLAN. I'M
NOT GOING TO GO THROUGH THEM.
YOU HAVE SEEN THEM BEFORE BUT
JUST RECOGNIZING THAT IT IS A
MULTIFACETED CHALLENGE
REVITALIZING DOWNTOWN, WHICH IS
WHY WE HAVE CREATED A
MULTIFACETED PLAN. ALL THESE
ARE INTERCONNECTED AND DESIGNED
TO BRING PEOPLE DOWNTOWN IN
INTERESTING WAYS. AS SUCH, WE
HAVE WORKED WITH TAKING A NOVEL
APPROACH, A CROSS DEPARTMENTAL
APPROACH TO HOW WE WILL ADVANCE
FUNDING FOR DOWNTOWN ACTIVATION
ACTIVITIES. IT IS NOT JUST OED.
THERE ARE SEVEN DEPARTMENTS
INVOLVED IN THE DOWNTOWN
ACTIVATION PLAN SUBCABINET SO
WE HAVE PROPOSED A BUDGET OF $8
MILLION IN 2025, AND 5 1/2
MILLION DOLLARS IN 2026. THIS
IS NOT ALL OF THE FUNDING THAT
IS GOING TO DOWNTOWN
ACTIVATIONS, THERE ARE SOME
BASELINE BUDGET ITEMS AND SOME
OF THE DIFFERENT DEPARTMENT
BUDGETS THAT HAPPEN DOWNTOWN
AND THEN ALSO NOTE THAT THERE
ARE SOME FUNDS RELATED TO
DOWNTOWN ACTIVITY PROPOSED
TRANSPORTATION LEVY, BUT FOR
THE BUDGET , A LOT OF IT IS
FOCUSED ON ACTIVATING PUBLIC
SPACES INCLUDING OUR FABULOUS
WATERFRONTS, WHICH IS OVER --
OPENING THE OVERLOOK WALKED
NEXT WEEK AS WELL AS THINKING
ABOUT TRANSFORMING WESTLAKE
PLAZA WHICH WE REALLY WANT TO
MAKE OUR PUBLIC SQUARE. WE HAVE
CALLED IT THE HEART OF THE CITY
IN OUR DOWNTOWN ACTIVATION PLAN
AND ESPECIALLY THINKING ABOUT
WORLD CUP COMING, THAT IS A
PHENOMENAL ACTIVITY --
OPPORTUNITY TO TRANSFORM THAT
SPACE. THE MURAL FEST THAT
HAPPENED IN THE BELLTOWN
DISTRICT WAS EXCELLENT. WE WANT
TO SEE MORE OF THAT TYPE OF
ACTIVITY HAPPENING, MORE
ENHANCED CLEANING EFFORTS. AS I
MENTIONED, ACTIVATING VACANT
STOREFRONTS IS NEAR AND DEAR TO
OUR HEART AND ALL OF THIS
THINKING ABOUT HOW WE ARE
GETTING DOWNTOWN READY FOR THE
2026 BE FOR MEN'S WORLD CUP TO
ALL THAT IS REFLECTED IN THE
BUDGET. MOVING ON TO L.E.D.S
BUDGET, YOU WILL SEE HERE A
SUMMARY TABLE OF OUR PROPOSED
2025 AND 2026 AGAINST THE 2024
ADOPTED. WE MAINTAIN AND GROW A
LITTLE BIT OUR FTE COUNT FOR
THE GENERAL FUND AND PAYROLL
EXPENSE TAX DOLLARS DROP A
LITTLE BIT SO WE OUR -- ARE
ENDING UP WITH ABOUT $8 MILLION
IN 2025 AND $5 MILLION IN 2026.
SINCE THE PAYROLL EXPENSE TAX
STARTED COMING AS PART OF
ECONOMIC REVITALIZATION, OED'S
BUDGET HAS GROWN SO THE
PROPOSED BUDGET IS QUITE A BIT
HIGHER THAN WE PRIORITIZED
STAFF. THEY ARE OUR MOST
VALUABLE ASSET. YOU'VE HEARD ME
SAY IT TIME AND TIME AGAIN BUT
OED HAS HISTORICALLY BEEN
UNDERSTAFFED, SO PART OF THE
GROWTH WE HAVE HAD OVER THE
PAST FEW YEARS HAS BEEN TRYING
TO GET TO A STABLE LEVEL , SO
AS WE'RE WORKING HARD TO GROW
OUR TEAM TO EFFECTIVELY SHAPE
SEATTLE'S ECONOMY WE HAVE
NEEDED THOSE -- THAT IS WHY YOU
DON'T SEE ANY STAFF REDUCTIONS
ON OUR PROPOSAL, BECAUSE WE
NEED EVERY SINGLE PERSON. THAT
STAFF HAS ALLOWED US TO BE
SMARTER WITH HOW WE'VE HANDLED
THE GROWTH IN FUNDS OVER THE
PAST 10 YEARS. IT HAS ALSO
INCREASED OUR EFFICIENCY SO WE
CAN FOCUS ON HOW WE MAKE OUR
PROGRAMS MORE RESPONSIVE AND
ACCESSIBLE. WE HAVE PRIORITIZED
STAFF THROUGH OUR BUDGET. THE
SECOND IS WE EVALUATE IMPACT SO
LOOKING AT WHICH OF OUR POGROMS
AND STRATEGIES HAVE THE MOST
DIRECT IMPACT ON SHAPING THE
FUTURE OF A FUTURE AND GLOBALLY
COMPETITIVE ECONOMY. WHICH
STRATEGIES AND PROGRAMS ARE
DELIVERING THAT IMPACTS. WHICH
ONES ARE ADDITIVE, I.E. OTHER
ORGANIZATIONS FOR OTHER
JURISDICTIONS PROVIDE SOMETHING
SIMILAR SO WE REALLY TRIED TO
LOOK AT THE OUTCOMES OF OUR
FUNDS, NOT JUST WHAT IS
HAPPENED BEFORE BUT WHAT ARE WE
DRIVING TOWARDS AND FINALLY WE
PRIORITIZED MATCHING FUNDS. IN
THIS CURRENT BUDGET ENVIRONMENT
THOSE FUNDS ARE MORE VALUABLE
TO US THAN OTHER FUNDS BECAUSE
THAT ALLOWS US TO DIRECTLY
LEVERAGE MORE DOLLARS, WHICH
CREATES LASTING AND MORE DEEPER
IMPACT. ON THE SIDE YOU'LL SEE
THAT IN 2024 WE HAD A NUMBER OF
ONE-TIME FUNDS AROUND $18
MILLION . WE HAVE WORKED WITH
THE MAYOR'S OFFICE TO ADD BACK
ABOUT $11 MILLION OF THAT. THAT
INCLUDES TECHNICAL ASSISTANCE
WITH ACCOUNTING, LEGAL AND
OTHER TYPES OF TECHNICAL
ASSISTANCE THAT WE OFFER . OUR
BUSINESS COMMUNITY OWNERSHIP
FUN CREATING THE PATHWAY TO
OWNING COMMERCIAL SPACE. OUR
CAPITAL ACCESS PROGRAM
INCREASING ACCESS AND MAKING IT
CHEAPER TO GET CAPITAL FOR
BUSINESSES. OUR COMMERCIAL
AFFORDABILITY WORK , OUR
NEIGHBORHOOD CAPACITY, WHICH IN
THIS BUDGET, WE ARE LARGELY
FOCUSING ON PATHWAY TO BIA
FORMATION. LANGUAGE ACCESS TO
MAKE SURE WE ARE DOING A GOOD
JOB OF MAKING SURE PEOPLE CAN
ACCESS OUR PROGRAMS AND
UNDERSTAND WHAT WE ARE DOING
AND AS I MENTIONED, THE
DOWNTOWN ACTIVATION PLAN. THOSE
ARE ALL THE AB BACKS INTO OUR
BUDGET. WE DID HAVE TO MAKE
SOME TOUGH CHOICES BUT WE
REALLY WANTED TO USE THESE
CHOICES AS AN OPPORTUNITY TO
PAUSE AND REFLECT AND MAKE SURE
WE ARE HAVING AGAIN THE DEEPEST
IMPACT WE CAN HAVE. FOR
WORKFORCE, THERE IS A FAIRLY
DRAMATIC SCALE DOWN , 86%
CHANGE FROM A 2024 BUDGET OF
WORKFORCE INVESTMENTS. WE WOULD
CONTINUE INVESTING IN THE
WORKFORCE DEVELOPMENT COUNCIL,
WHICH IS OUR REGIONAL BACKBONE
FOR OUR WORKFORCE SYSTEM AS
WELL AS THROUGH THE MLK LABOR
VIRTUAL HIRING HALL. WE PAUSE
ALL OTHER INVESTMENTS AND ARE
CURRENTLY WORKING WITH THE
MAYOR'S OFFICE TO DO A
CITYWIDE ASSESSMENT OF ALL OF
OUR CITY INVESTMENTS IN THE
WORKFORCE PROGRAMS . THROUGH
OUR ANALYSIS THERE ARE ABOUT 15
DIFFERENT DEPARTMENTS THAT HAVE
SOME SORT OF WORKFORCE
INVESTMENT TOTALING UP TO ABOUT
$17 MILLION BUT WHAT WE REALLY
WANT TO DO IS TAKE A LOOK AT
ALL OF THAT AND TRY TO THINK
ABOUT THE IMPACT AND OUTCOMES
WERE GETTING FROM THOSE
INVESTMENTS. TIMING IS CRITICAL
BECAUSE AT THIS MOMENT THE
WORKFORCE DEVELOPMENT COUNCIL
IS UNDERGOING ORIGINAL
STRATEGIC PLAN REFRESHES THEY
THINK ABOUT THE SYSTEM IN WHICH
THE CITY OWES A BIG PART. WE
CAN SYNC UP OUR WORK FOR
STRATEGIC PLAN WITH THE
WORKFORCE STRATEGIC PLAN. THIS
IS ALL COMING AT A TIME AND
THERE IS A GENERATIONAL AMOUNT
OF FEDERAL DOLLARS ON THE TABLE
GOING TOWARD WORKFORCE
DEVELOPMENT AND SOME OF THE NEW
OPPORTUNITIES IN THE CLEAN
ENERGY ECONOMY SO THE TIMING IS
PERFECT FOR US TO TAKE THIS
PAUSE, SYNC UP WITH THE REGION
AND GO BIG AFTER SOME OF THOSE
FEDERAL GRANT OPPORTUNITIES .
WE THINK THAT WHILE THIS IS A
PRETTY SIGNIFICANT CHANGE , WE
THINK THIS IS THE SMART MOVE TO
MAKE IN TURNING A PROBLEM INTO
AN OPPORTUNITY. THE SECOND
NOTABLE REDUCTION IS AROUND OUR
PLACE BASED CAPACITY BUILDING.
AS I MENTIONED EARLIER, WE ARE
TAKING THE FUNDING WE ARE
PROPOSING IN OUR 2025 AND 2026
AND REALLY FOCUSING DATA
PATHWAYS TO BECOME BIAS. YOU
CAN SEE HERE ON THE MAP SOME OF
THE COMMUNITIES WHERE WE HAVE
ESTABLISHED BIAS , THE ONES
THAT HAVE THE PERIMETER
OUTLINE. THE YELLOW DOTS ARE
THE SIX AREAS THAT ARE
EXPLORING BECOMING BIAS. YOU
HAVE LAKE CITY, THE CENTRAL
AREA, RAINIER BEACH, PIKE PINE
DISTRICT ON CAPITOL HILL, A
FELLOW AND ATLANTIC ARE THE SIX
NEIGHBORHOODS WE ARE CURRENTLY
WORKING WITH ONYX AND THAT AS
WELL AS FINNEY GREENWOOD IS
CURRENTLY IN PROCESS OF FORMING
A BIA. OUR WHOLE GOAL WITH
NEIGHBORHOOD CAPACITY BUILDING
IS TRYING TO HELP NEIGHBORHOODS
REACH ECONOMIC SELF-DETERMINATI
ON. WE WANT TO EMPOWER THEM TO
CONTROL THE RESOURCES OF THEIR
NEIGHBORHOOD TO CREATE
SUSTAINABLE PROSPERITY AND WE
FOUND THE BIA IS THE BEST TOOL
TO DO THAT. WE BRIEF YOU ON
THIS EARLIER BUT THERE IS A
STARK CONTRAST BETWEEN
NEIGHBORHOODS THAT HAVE SUPPORT
DURING THE PANDEMIC AND THOSE
THAT DID NOT. WE WOULD LIKE TO
GROW THE NUMBER OF BIAS ACROSS
THE CITY. THE FINAL NOTABLE
REDUCTION IS SCALING DOWN THE
AMOUNT OF FUNDING IN OUR
COMMUNITY WEALTH BUILDING
PROGRAM, SO THIS INCLUDES A LOT
OF OUR COMMERCIAL AFFORDABILITY
WORK AS WELL AS X'S WORK. WHAT
THIS WOULD RESULT -- THIS IS
ALSO WHERE WE HAVE A LOT OF
MATCHING FUND DOLLARS LOCATED
SO WE REALLY TRIED TO PROTECT
THOSE MATCHING DOLLARS, AS I
MENTIONED EARLIER, IN OUR
OVERARCHING THINKING . WHAT
THIS REALLY RESULT IN IS JUST
REDUCTION IN THE NUMBER OF
PROJECTS WE CAN DO FOR YOUR
BUSINESS COMMUNITY OWNERSHIP
FUN. WE WOULD SUSTAIN FUNDING
FOR SEATTLE RESTORE BUT JUST
SCALED DOWN THE NUMBER OF
PROJECTS IN 2025-2026. I WANT
TO CALL OUT HERE OUR STOREFRONT
REPAIR FUND. THIS IS BEEN A
SUCCESSFUL PROGRAM. YOU WILL
RECALL FIRST IT WAS IN RESPONSE
TO A HUGE NEED. WE HEAR FROM
BUSINESSES ALL THE TIME. YOU
HEAR FROM BUSINESSES ALL THE
TIME DEALING WITH STOREFRONT
PROPERTY DAMAGE. WE WANT TO
HAVE AS DIRECT A RESPONSE AS
POSSIBLE. THE TIMING WAS RIGHT
BECAUSE WE HAD SOME FEDERAL
RELIEF DOLLARS WE WERE ABLE TO
MOVE INTO THIS NEW PROGRAM,
ABOUT $1.8 MILLION , AND --
HOLD ON. THIS IS HUGELY
IMPORTANT TO US. IT IS USUALLY
IMPORTANT TO THE MAYOR. THE
TRUTH OF THE MATTER IS THE
FEDERAL DOLLARS HOT -- EXPIRE
AT THE END OF THIS YEAR SO WE
HAVE PAUSED ACCEPTING
APPLICATIONS TO THE PROGRAM AND
ALSO DISPERSED ANY REMAINING
FUNDS TO LOCAL ORGANIZATIONS TO
SUPPORT THEIR HYPER LOCAL
STOREFRONT REPAIR FRONT
PROGRAMS THAT COMPLEMENTED THE
WORK WE WERE DOING. IN THE END,
WE WERE ABLE TO ISSUE 800 G TO
INDIVIDUAL BUSINESSES AND WE
ARE CURRENTLY RIGHT NOW WITH A
LOT OF URGENCY EXPLORING
OPTIONS TO FUND THE PROGRAM. WE
DID LOOK AT ANOTHER FEDERAL
FUNDING SOURCE THAT THE CITY
WORKS WITH, THE COMMUNITY
DEVELOPMENT BLOCK GRANT
DOLLARS, AND WHAT WE FOUND IN
THAT EXPIRATION IS FEDERAL
REPORTING REQUIREMENTS WOULD
MAKE IT SO CUMBERSOME FOR A
BUSINESS TO APPLY THAT IT
LIKELY WAS NOT GOING TO BE
WORTH IT TO THE BUSINESS AND IT
WOULD REALLY SHRINK ACCESS FOR
WHO IS ABLE TO ACCESS THOSE
FUNDS JUST BECAUSE OF THE
BARRIERS FOR ENTRY TO DOING IT.
WHAT I WOULD LIKE TO DO IS
PROPOSE THAT WE COME BACK TO
YOU BY THE END OF THE YEAR WITH
AN UPDATE ON WHERE WE ARE AND
HOPEFULLY A PROPOSED SOLUTION
FOR HOW WE ARE GOING TO FUND
THE STOREFRONT REPAIR FUND THE
PROGRAM. WE KNOW THIS IS A
PRIORITY BUT WE WOULD LIKE A
LITTLE BIT MORE TIME TO
INVESTIGATE SOME OPTIONS THEN
COME BACK TO YOU WITH A
PROPOSAL. HERE IS A FUN ONE. WE
GOT A SIGNIFICANT ADDITION.
SPECIAL EVENTS SIMILAR TO THE
OED AWFUL -- OFFICE AS A WHOLE,
OUR SPECIAL EVENTS OFFICE IS
CURRENTLY BEEN UNDERSTAFFED. WE
CURRENTLY PROCESS 400 PERMITS
ANNUALLY SEEING A 20% GROWTH
AND PERMITS PROCESSED
YEAR-OVER-YEAR SINCE 2021, SO
THE GOOD NEWS IS, COMMUNITIES
WANT TO HAVE A SPECIAL EVENTS.
WE ARE PUTTING IN MORE
ACTIVITIES ACTIVATING THE
ENTIRE CITY. THE HARD PART IS
WE ARE FACING A LOT OF CAPACITY
PRESSURE ON OUR AND TO PROCESS
THOSE PERMITS. IN OUR PROPOSAL
WE ARE ADDING TWO NEW STAFF
DEDICATED TO OUR SPECIAL EVENTS
OFFICE AND AGAIN, THE TIMING IS
REALLY GOOD BECAUSE WHILE WE
ARE SEEING THE GROWTH IN OUR
SPECIAL EVENTS PERMITTING HERE
LOCALLY, WE ARE ALSO
ANTICIPATING ALL OF THE SPECIAL
EVENTS HAPPENING FOR THE WORLD
CUP SO THIS CAPACITY INCREASE
COMES AT A OPPORTUNE TIME TO
ADDRESS OUR LOCAL NEEDS AS WELL
AS SETTING US UP FOR SUCCESS
WITH FIFA MEN'S CUP COMING.
THAT IS THE OVERVIEW OF OUR
OFFICE OF ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT
2025-2026 BUDGET. WE ARE STILL
VERY COMMITTED TO SEEING THE
FUTURE OF SEATTLE'S ECONOMY.
WE HAVE A GREAT TEAM WORKING ON
THIS. WE HAVE REORGANIZED
OURSELVES TO BE MORE EFFECTIVE
AND MORE EFFICIENT. WE ARE
WORKING WITH OTHER PARTNERS IN
THE CITY AS WELL AS EXTERNALLY
IN NEW AND EXCITING WAYS SO WE
ARE EXCITED ABOUT THIS BUDGET
PROPOSAL AND I WELCOME YOUR
QUESTIONS.
>> THANK YOU , DIRECTOR
McINTYRE.
>> I AM JOE REGIS, FINANCE
DIRECTOR FOR OED.
>> YOU HAVE ANYTHING TO ADD?
>> NOTHING ELSE TO COVER.
>> COUNCIL PRESIDENT.
>> THANK YOU VERY MUCH FOR YOUR
PRESENTATION. I WILL SPEAK
CLOSELY INTO THIS MIKE.
HOPEFULLY YOU CAN HEAR ME.
THERE ARE BASICALLY TWO WAYS TO
SOLVE FOR A DEFICIT. TO REDUCE
SPENDING OR INCREASE REVENUE
AND FOR THE LETTER WE MOST
OFTEN THINK ABOUT RAISING
TAXES, BUT ANOTHER WAY TO
INCREASE REVENUE IS TO IMPROVE
THE TAX BASE AND YOU DO THAT BY
ATTRACTING NEW BUSINESSES AND
SUPPORTING EXISTING ONES, AND
THAT IS FUNDAMENTALLY WHAT I
THINK OF WHEN I THINK ABOUT
ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT AND THE
ROLE OF THE OFFICE OF ECONOMIC
DEVELOPMENT AND SO I THINK THE
LAST THING WE SHOULD DO IN A
DEFICIT IS TO HOBBLE THE
DEPARTMENT THAT IS RESPONSIBLE
FOR ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT.
ANYWAY, WHILE THE PAYROLL TAX
REVENUES KEEP EXCEEDING
EXPECTATIONS, SALES TAX AND [
INAUDIBLE ] TAX REVENUE
ACTIVITY ACROSS SECTORS AND
ACCORDING TO THE OFFICE OF
ECONOMIC AND REVENUE FORECAST
PROJECTED SALES TAX REVENUES
FOR 2025 AND 2026 WENT DOWN 4.4
MILLION AND 8.5 MILLION
RESPECTIVELY AND THAT IS
BETWEEN THE APRIL AND AUGUST
FORECAST. SO, THAT'S A BAD
SIGN. YOU SEE THE SAME TREND IN
BUSINESS AND OCCUPATION TAX, SO
MORE THAN JUST HELPING
BUSINESSES THRIVE AND GENERATE
TAXABLE INCOME , OED DOES A LOT
MORE THAN THAT , AND JUST
RIFFING OFF OF YOUR WEBSITE,
THE PURPOSE OF THE OFFICE OF
ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT IS TO
SHAPE AN ECONOMICALLY
PROSPEROUS DIVERSE, JUST AN
RESILIENT CITY WITH A GUIDING
PRINCIPLE THAT AN INCLUSIVE
ECONOMY IS MOST COMPETITIVE, SO
THAT JUST BRINGS ME TO THE
SECOND OBSERVATION THAT IT
LOOKS LIKE YOU ARE TAKING A 19%
CUT OVERALL, RIGHT? I WAS
LISTENING TO THIS PRESENTATION.
I'M GETTING TO MY QUESTIONS. I
WAS LISTENING TO THIS
PRESENTATION TO HEAR WHERE THIS
CUT WILL HIT HARDEST AND HOW
THAT MAY IMPACT OUR VALUES AND
OUR EFFORTS AROUND
ANTI-DISPLACEMENT COMMUNITY
WEALTH BUILDING JOB CREATION
WHERE IT IS NEEDED MOST . CAN
YOU PLEASE TELL ME BALLPARK .
WHEN YOU SPOKE OF -- HE TRIED
TO MATCH STATE AND FEDERAL
FUNDS. CAN YOU QUANTIFY HOW
MUCH YOU ARE NOT GOING TO BE
ABLE TO DO BECAUSE YOU MIGHT
NOT HAVE THAT MONEY TO MATCH
EXTERNAL RESOURCES ?
>> YOU ARE ASKING HOW MUCH OF
THE MATCHING FUNDS GOT IMPACTED
WITH THE PROPOSED REDUCTIONS?
>> AND HOW MANY PROJECTS , OR
WHAT WOULD BE A CONCRETE
EXAMPLE OF WHAT THAT WOULD
REDUCE.
>> A CONCRETE EXAMPLE WOULD BE
THE BUSINESS COMMUNITY
OWNERSHIP FUND. WE OPENED UNION
STUDIOS OF RON McCLELLAN AND AS
I MENTIONED, MARJORIE IS THE
SECOND PROJECT OPENING IN THE
MIDTOWN CENTER IN DISTRICT 3 ,
AND SO IT WOULD JUST BE A FEWER
NUMBER OF THOSE PROJECTS.
>> HOW MANY PROJECTS HAVE YOU
DONE ALREADY?
>> WE'VE ONLY DONE TWO
PROJECTS SO AGAIN, THIS IS KIND
OF A NEWER PROGRAM, SOMETHING
WE'RE TRYING TO BUILD A
PIPELINE FOR BECAUSE THESE
PROJECTS ARE HIGHLY COMPLEX.
THEY TAKE A LOT OF TIME. THEY
HAVE MULTIPLE PARTNERS INVOLVED
SO WE NEED TO BE ABLE TO
FORECAST OUR RESOURCE BASE TO
START THOSE PROJECTS AND BE
CONFIDENT WE CAN FOLLOW THROUGH
ON THEM. THE LAST THING WE WANT
TO DO IS START PROJECTS WE
CANNOT FUND. WITH THE REDUCTION
IN FUNDS IT CAUSES US TO GO
BACK , REVIEW AND REDUCE THE
NUMBER OF PROJECTS WE THINK WE
CAN PUT IN THE PIPELINE. I
DON'T HAVE AN EXACT NUMBER FOR
YOU BECAUSE EACH OF THE
PROJECTS HAS A DIFFERENT AMOUNT
OF FUNDING GOING TO THEM BUT IT
CHANGES OUR CALCULATION FOR
PROJECTS GOING IN THE PIPELINE.
>> MY SECOND QUESTION WAS
AROUND THE TENTATIVE
IMPROVEMENT PROGRAM, BECAUSE
THAT IS REALLY HARD. THOSE ARE
HARD LOANS TO GET FOR A SMALL
BUSINESS, ESPECIALLY SMALL
BUSINESSES THAT LACK THE EQUITY
MANY OTHER BUSINESSES HAVE, AND
I KNOW THAT YOU TARGETED THOSE
TO SUPPORT PRIMARILY BLACK AND
BROWN ENTREPRENEURS, SO CAN YOU
TELL ME ABOUT YOUR ANTICIPATED
IMPACTS THERE?
>> YES. EACH OF THOSE GRANT
AWARDS IS AROUND HUNDRED
THOUSAND DOLLARS, SO FOR
HOWEVER MUCH THE REDUCTION IS
DIVIDED BY 100,000, THAT IS HOW
MANY FEWER PROJECTS WE WOULD BE
DOING IN 20 2526 FOR THAT
PROGRAM. SO, 10 PROJECTS.
>> OKAY, THAT'S ALL MY
QUESTIONS FOR NOW.
>> I THINK COUNCIL MEMBER SAKA
GET YOU A COUGH DROP. DO YOU
NEED ANOTHER ONE? ALL RIGHT.
COUNCIL MEMBER MOORE, YOU'RE
UP NEXT FOLLOWED BY COUNCIL
MEMBER KETTLE.
>> THANK YOU, CHAIR. I JUST
WANTED TO THANK YOU FOR THE
PRESENTATION. I WANTED TO ECHO
REALLY THE COMMENTS OF COUNCIL
PRESIDENT THAT THERE ARE, YOU
KNOW, TWO WAYS TO SOLVE FOR
DEFICIT, INCREASE REVENUE, GROW
TAX BASE OR DO BOTH. I SUPPOSE
THERE ARE THREE WAYS, BUT IT
DOES TROUBLE ME THAT THERE IS A
PRESENTATION, THREE SLIDES
DEDICATED TO IMPROVEMENTS FOR
DOWNTOWN WHICH IS CLEARLY
IMPORTANT. IT IS A HUGE
ECONOMIC ENGINE, BUT I THINK
ALL OF US WOULD AGREE UP HERE
THAT ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT IS
HAPPENING ALL OVER THE CITY ,
AND WE REALLY HAVE TO ENCOURAGE
THAT ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT ,
PARTICULARLY FOR THE LOCAL
BUSINESSES LIKE IN DISTRICT 5
IN DISTRICT 2 WHERE WE HAVE A
LOT OF BUSINESSES BEING STARTED
BY BLACK AND BROWN COMMUNITIES,
IMMIGRANT REFUGEE COMMUNITIES ,
YOU KNOW, THAT IS PART OF WHY
WE HAVE OUR EQUITABLE
DEVELOPMENT INITIATIVE AND I AM
WONDERING , SO, A NUMBER OF
THOUGHTS HERE. IT IS MORE THAN
-- SEATTLE IS MORE THAN JUST
DOWNTOWN, AND SPEAKING DIRECTLY
ABOUT DISTRICT FIVE, YOU KNOW,
THE CUTS TO THE BIA ARE GOING
TO SIGNIFICANTLY IMPACT -- WE
ARE TRYING TO GET , AS YOU
NOTED, WE ARE IN AN EXPLORATORY
PHASE FOR BIA IN LAKE CITY BUT
WHEN YOU LOOK AT THE MAP THERE
ARE LOTS OF BIA'S AND OTHER
PARTS OF THE CITY UNDER
EXPLORATION. DISTRICT FIVE IS
HUGE GEOGRAPHICALLY, SO MY
THOUGHT HAD BEEN, WE REALLY
NEED ONE SORT OF UMBRELLA BIA
FOR WE COULD THEN HAVE SORT OF
SAT BIAS IN THE SPECIFIC
NEIGHBORHOODS, SO RIGHT NOW IF
WE TAKE THAT BIA AWAY, THAT IS
GOING TO SIGNIFICANTLY IMPACT
LAKE CITY AND ALL OF DISTRICT
FIVE SO I AM VERY MUCH
CONCERNED ABOUT THAT. I'M ALSO
REALLY CONCERNED ABOUT
REDUCTIONS TO THE TENANT
IMPROVEMENT FUNDS. THOSE OF
BEEN INCREDIBLY HELPFUL IN
DISTRICT FIVE AND GETTING SOME
OF THE SMALLER BUSINESSES
BASICALLY UP AND RUNNING AND
BEING ABLE TO SUSTAIN THEM, SO
THAT IS SOMETHING ELSE WE
REALLY NEED TO LOOK AT. I AM
CONCERNED, TOO, ABOUT THE
BUSINESS COMMUNITY OWNERSHIP
FUND. THAT IS A SIGNIFICANT
FUND FOR BEING ABLE TO DEAL
WITH WHAT WE ARE SEEING AN
INCREASING BOTH WE ARE IN THIS
ODD SITUATION WHERE WE HAVE
INCREASING COMMERCIAL SPACE
VACANCY BUT ALSO HAVE
INCREASING COMMERCIAL RENT, AND
HOW DO WE DEAL WITH FILLING THE
VACANCIES IN DEALING WITH
UNAFFORDABLE RENTS,
PARTICULARLY FOR SMALL
BUSINESSES IN THE COMMUNITY
BUSINESS OWNERSHIP FUND I THINK
IS A CREATIVE AND BRILLIANT WAY
TO DO THAT, SO I WOULD LIKE TO
SEE THAT FUND GROW, ACTUALLY,
NOT REDUCE. AND THEN AGAIN, IS
THERE SOME WAY -- WE HAVE OUR
EQUITABLE DEVELOPMENT
INITIATIVE AND I WAS LOOKING AT
HOUSING AND LAND DEVELOPMENT
AND THEN WE HAVE OED, BUT THEY
ARE NOT SEPARATE. SO, MAYBE WE
NEED TO EXPAND THE DEFINITION
OF EQUITABLE DEVELOPMENT
INITIATIVE TO INCLUDE ECONOMIC
DEVELOPMENT BECAUSE ECONOMIC
DEVELOPMENT IS FUNDAMENTAL TO
RAISING THESE COMMUNITIES AND
ADDRESSING HISTORIC WRONGS AND
MANY OF OUR COMMUNITIES SO JUST
LIKE TO SEE A MORE CREATIVE AND
THOUGHTFUL APPROACH. THANKFUL.
-- THANK YOU.
>> I DO WANT TO CLARIFY THAT IN
OUR PROPOSED BUDGET THERE WOULD
BE NO REDUCTION FOR THE BIA
WORK. SO THE WORK WITH LAKE
CITY WOULD NOT DIMINISH IN ANY
WAY IN THIS CURRENT PROPOSAL.
TOTALLY APPRECIATE THAT WE HAVE
GOT TO HAVE A BALANCE BETWEEN
DOWNTOWN AND AREA SUPPORT AND
TO THAT END I'M REALLY EXCITED
BECAUSE SEATTLE RESTORED HAS
BEEN FOCUSED ON DOWNTOWN BUT
WE'VE HEARD A LOT OF INTEREST
FROM OTHER NEIGHBORHOODS AND
IT'S PERFECT YOU ASK THIS
QUESTION BECAUSE WERE GOING TO
BE EXPANDING SEATTLE RESTORED
COMING THIS FALL INTO D5 IN THE
LAKE CITY NEIGHBORHOOD. SO,
MORE OF THAT TO COME LIKE WHERE
WE CAN KIND OF LEARN ABOUT
PROGRAM EFFECTIVENESS IN ONE
NEIGHBORHOOD THAN GROW IT AND
SCALE IT FOR OTHER
NEIGHBORHOODS SEEMS TO BE A
REALLY GOOD MODEL THAT WE'VE
DEPLOYED. FINALLY, ON YOUR
POINT ABOUT KIND OF THE WEIRD
SILOING THAT HAPPENS VIA THE
NATURE OF HOW WE ARE ORGANIZED
AS A CITY GOVERNMENT I
COULDN'T AGREE MORE AND I
THINK THERE'S A REAL
OPPORTUNITY TO MAKE SOME POLICY
CHOICES ABOUT HOW WE INVEST IN
PLACE MAKING IN A COORDINATED
FASHION. WE TALKED ABOUT
COMMERCIAL RENTS. WE TALKED A
LOT WITH THE OFFICE OF HOUSING
BECAUSE THEY'RE HELPING FUND
AND BUILD THESE AFFORDABLE
HOUSING DEVELOPMENTS THAT OFTEN
HAVE COMMERCIAL SPACE ON THAT
FIRST FLOOR. HOW CAN WE DO A
BETTER JOB OF GETTING UPSTREAM
OF THOSE PROJECTS AND DEPLOYING
SOME OF OUR KNOW-HOW TO HELP
FILL THE SPACES OR BUILD THEM
OUT IN WAYS THAT ARE GOING TO
WORK FOR BUSINESSES ESPECIALLY
WITH SOUND TRANSIT THREE COMING
ON WE ARE GOING TO HAVE THESE
INCREDIBLE OPPORTUNITIES FOR
TRANSIT ORIENTED DEVELOPMENT
FOR THE CITY TO RETHINK HOW WE
ARE DOING PLACE MAKING
>> ORDINATE IN AND THOUGHTFUL
FASHION SO I COULDN'T AGREE
MORE AND WOULD BE HAPPY TO TALK
TO YOU ABOUT THAT BECAUSE I
THINK WE HAVE SOME THOUGHTS ON
THAT MATTER.
>> THANK YOU BOTH. UP NEXT IS
COUNCIL MEMBER KETTLE.
>> THANK YOU . REALLY
APPRECIATE YOUR PRESENTATION .
I WANTED TO NOTE A FEW THINGS.
FIRSTLY, THANK YOU FOR THE
DOWNTOWN ACTIVATION PROGRAM
EFFORTS THUS FAR. IT IS REALLY
IMPORTANT . I LIKE THE SHOUT
OUT FOR BASE CAMP, YOU KNOW .
WE HAVE THIS THROUGHOUT THE
CITY BUT WE NEED PEOPLE LIKE
NICK WHO HAVE THIS KIND OF
ENERGY AND VISION AND
RELENTLESS PURSUIT OF IT AND
THAT IS WHAT BASE CAMP IS AND
PARTICULARLY WHEN IT IS
COMBINED WITH OTHER EFFORTS
LIKE THE LIGHTING PROJECT AND
SO FORTH, WE BRING THESE THINGS
TOGETHER AND TALK ABOUT SILAS.
IT IS THE OPPOSITE. BRINGING
THESE PIECES TOGETHER MAKES AN
IMPACT AND GETS RESULTS OF
THANK YOU FOR THAT. I ALSO WANT
TO SAY THANK YOU FOR YOUR
COMMENTS ON THE STOREFRONT
PROGRAM. I THINK IT IS
IMPORTANT TO LOOK AT WHAT WE
CAN DO ON THAT FRONT BECAUSE
YOU KNOW, IT SHOWS THAT WE
CARE. YOU DON'T KNOW IN MY
PREVIOUS LIFE AS A COMMUNITY
PUBLIC SAFETY PERSON I WOULD
TALK TO BUSINESS OWNERS WHO
HAVE BEEN HIT AGAIN , AGAIN,
AND AGAIN. IT IS INCREDIBLY
EMOTIONAL. I TALKED TO ONE AND
YES, IT IS HARD ON THE BUSINESS
OWNERS TALK ABOUT TRYING TO GO
THROUGH THE INSURANCE. THAT
VERY NIGHT AT 4:00 A.M., I GOT
IT A SECOND TIME THEN I GO IN A
DAY LATER AND YOU KNOW, IT'S
LIKE WOW. BECAUSE THEY ARE JUST
-- THEY FEEL IT AND I FELT IT .
AND YOU KNOW, HERE'S THE
THING. I TALKED TO THE WEST
FACING CAPTAIN AND GAVE THIS
BUSINESS OWNER A CALL. MASSIVE
IMPACT. POSITIVE IMPACT, AND
THE STOREFRONT PROGRAM IS
SIMILAR IN THE SENSE THAT IT
SHOWS THAT WE CARE. IT SHOWS WE
ARE TRYING TO HELP AND I THINK
IT IS IMPORTANT TO FIND SOME
WAY TO , YOU KNOW, TO EXPRESS
THAT SUPPORT IN A MEANINGFUL
WAY FOR A BUSINESS WE ARE
TRYING TO KEEP FOR ALL THE
REASONS THAT COUNCIL PRESIDENT
TALKED ABOUT , YOU KNOW, NOT
JUST FOR THE BUSINESS BUT FOR
THE COMMUNITY, AS WELL. SO VERY
IMPORTANT TO LOOK AT THAT. I
ALSO APPRECIATE THE SPECIAL
EVENTS PIECE PARTICULARLY WITH
THE LEAD UP TO THE WORLD CUP.
IT'S GOING TO BE SO IMPORTANT
AND FOR THOSE WHO MAY NOT
REALIZE , THE FIFA WORLD CUP IS
COMING IN AS WE SIT HERE ALL OF
A SUDDEN IT FEELS LIKE WE ONLY
HAVE A YEAR AND A HALF LEFT .
BEFORE IT WAS LIKE OH, WE GOT A
COUPLE YEARS. NOW IT'S LIKE A
YEAR AND A HALF ALMOST AND
IT'S GOING TO COME QUICK AND A
SOMEBODY WHO WENT TO GAMES AND
94, WORKED TO GERMANY IN '06,
I RECOGNIZE THE LEVEL OF EFFORT
IT TAKES LIKE WHEN I WAS IN
GERMANY FOR THE OPENING ROUND,
THE TWO WEEKS, INCREDIBLE AND
GOING TO MATCHES IN BERLIN AND
STUTTGART, WE NEED TO BE
PREPARED, BUT HERE'S ANOTHER
THING, TOO. I WOULD REALLY LIKE
TO HAVE -- ENGLAND HAVE A BASE
CAMP HERE IN SEATTLE AND I
RAISE THIS BECAUSE PEOPLE
DON'T UNDERSTAND THE BASE CAMP
CONCEPT WHERE TEAMS WILL COME
TWO OR THREE WEEKS EARLY TO
ACCLIMATIZE AND SO FORTH. IF WE
GET A MAJOR COUNTRY LIKE
ENGLAND OR GERMANY OR BRAZIL,
ARGENTINA WE ARE GOING TO HAVE
WEEKS. I MEAN, THE PRESS CORPS
OUT ENGLAND ITSELF IS GOING TO
BE LIKE 30 TAYLOR SWIFT
CONCERTS, SO WE NEED TO BE
MINDFUL OF THESE OTHER PIECES
OF THE WORLD CUP AND REALLY
PREPARE AND ENCOURAGE THEIR
PARTICIPATION . I'M GETTING A
CHECKUP FROM MY COLLEAGUE TO MY
RIGHT ON THAT POINT, BUT
ANYWAYS, I WANTED TO HIGHLIGHT
THAT FOR MY COLLEAGUES THAT
THIS IS GOING TO BE NOT JUST
SIX SPORTING EVENTS. IT'S GOING
TO BE MONTHS BECAUSE WE WILL
DEFINITELY GET A BASE CAMP. WE
HAVE SEATTLE SOUNDERS, OUR OWN
SEATTLE SOUNDERS, FANTASTIC
FACILITY THAT'S GOING TO BE
ATTRACTIVE TO A MAJOR
PARTICIPANT, SO FINGERS CROSSED
ON THAT IN TERMS OF WHO GETS
SELECTED. COMING BACK , WE
DEFINITELY NEED TO SUPPORT --
THERE ARE SUCH GREAT EXAMPLES
TO COUNCIL MEMBER MOORE'S
COMMENT, MY DISTRICT IS WELL
COVERED AND I TALKED WITH MS.
GOODMAN AND YOU SEE WHAT THEY
CAN DO. WE JUST HAD TO VOTE FOR
WEST SEATTLE. THIS IS
ACTIVATION. THIS IS ENGAGEMENT
ON A DIFFERENT KIND OF ANGLE TO
WHAT I WAS TALKING ABOUT WITH
BASE CAMP AND AT THE BOTTOM
LINE, ALL THE WORK WE'RE DOING
ON PUBLIC SAFETY , IF WE DON'T
HAVE THE ACTIVATION BRINGING
THE PEOPLE IN, WHETHER IT IS
THROUGH THE DATA OR A BIA EVENT
EFFORTS OR ARTS AND CULTURE
FROM OUR LAST MEETING TALKING
ABOUT THE WORLD CUP, IF WE
DON'T HAVE THAT ACTIVATION TO
FILL IN THE BLANKS, THE SPACES
IN BETWEEN IN TERMS OF EFFORTS
ON PUBLIC SAFETY, IT IS
BASICALLY ONE STEP FORWARD AND
TWO STEPS BACK AND WE HAVE TO
GET THE ACTIVATION AND SO I SEE
OED IS WORKING ALONG THOSE
LINES, SO THANK YOU.
>> THANK YOU.
>> JUST TO BUILD ON WHAT
COUNCIL MEMBER MOORE WAS SAYING
ABOUT CREATIVE PLACE MAKING I
THINK THE STRETCH ALONG THIRD
IS A GREAT MICROCOSM OF THAT
FOR WE ARE ACTIVATING THOSE
STOREFRONTS. PAIRING THAT WITH
THE LIGHTING AND SOME OF THE
BUILT ENVIRONMENT CHANGES
AROUND THERE, THAT IS THE KIND
OF HOLISTIC EFFORT THAT WE WANT
TO SEE, AND THAT REQUIRES US
WORKING WITH SDOT AND OTHER
PARTNERS IN THE CITY WITH A NEW
AND DIFFERENT WAY SO THAT IS
EMBLEMATIC OF WHAT WE CAN
ACHIEVE. LET'S JUST SCALE THAT
UP AND DO IT MORE BROADLY
ACROSS THE CITY.
>> COUNCIL PRESIDENT, I SEE YOU
HAVE YOUR HAND UP. COLLEAGUES,
I OFFER COMMUNITY CHAIRS THE
ABILITY TO RESPOND TO ANYTHING
THEY'VE HEARD IN THE
DISCUSSION. IS THAT IN RESPONSE
OR SEPARATE TOPIC? GREAT. WE
WILL COME BACK TO YOU. THANK
YOU, COUNCIL MEMBER KETTLE. UP
NEXT IS COUNCIL MEMBER MORALES
FOLLOWED BY COUNCIL MEMBER
SAKA.
>> THANK YOU. GOOD MORNING,
EVERYONE. I HAVE MAYBE FOUR
QUESTIONS I WANTED TO DIVE
INTO. I DO WANT TO THANK
COUNCIL MEMBER MOORE. YOU'RE
SPEAKING MY LANGUAGE WHEN WE'RE
TALKING ABOUT THE NEED FOR
ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT NOT TO BE
MISSING FROM THE CONVERSATION
AROUND HOUSING AND COMMERCIAL
DEVELOPMENT IN ALL THE THINGS
YOU AND I HAVE TALKED ABOUT
OVER AND OVER AGAIN. I WANT TO
START WITH THE QUESTION ABOUT
BIA FORMATION , WHICH IS FINE.
I KNOW THEY PLAY AN IMPORTANT
ROLE IN SOME OF OUR
NEIGHBORHOOD BUSINESS
DISTRICTS. BUT, I WOULD LIKE TO
HEAR YOUR PLANS FOR SUPPORTING
OTHER BUSINESS TYPE ENTITIES
AND I ASKED BECAUSE I WAS
MEETING WITH THE CHAMBER
RECENTLY AND SOME OF THE
BUSINESS ORGANIZATIONS FROM MY
DISTRICT , THE BEACON BUSINESS
ALLIANCE, THE [ INAUDIBLE ],
THE CHAMBER HAD NO IDEA THESE
BUSINESSES EXISTED AND THEY DO
IMPORTANT WORK CONNECTING REAL
ESTATE PROJECTS WITH SMALL
BUSINESS OWNERS WHO ARE LOOKING
FOR RENT AND HELPING NAVIGATE
PUBLIC HEALTH PERMITTING, LIKE
WE WENT TO LIKE UNION AND HEARD
ABOUT ALL THE THINGS HAPPENING
WHEN BAJA BISTRO WAS TRYING TO
COME IN SO BEACON BUSINESS
ALLIANCE REALLY SUPPORTED THAT
VERY EXTENDED DEVELOPMENT
PROCESS . THEY ARE NOT A BIA.
THEY'RE NOT INTERESTED IN
BEING IN A BIA AND THEY STILL
NEED THE CITY TO THINK OF THEM
NOT AS RECIPIENTS OF GRANTS,
BUT AS PARTNERS IN ALL OF THE
WORK WE'RE TRYING TO DO IN THE
CITY, AND SO I JUST SAY THAT
BECAUSE I THINK IT'S IMPORTANT
TO UNDERSTAND THAT NOT
EVERYBODY WANTS TO BE A BIA AND
THEY ARE STILL DOING VERY
IMPORTANT WORK THAT WE NEED TO
HONOR AND PARTNER WITH THEM TO
GET THAT JOB DONE. I WILL LEAVE
IT AT THAT. I WANT TO GO TO
SLIDE EIGHT WHERE YOU'RE
TALKING ABOUT WORKFORCE
DEVELOPMENT. I WILL SAY I NEED
TO UNDERSTAND THIS MUCH BETTER.
IN 2022 , I ADDED A SLIDE IN
THE BUDGET TO REVIEW THE
CITY'S INVESTMENTS IN
WORKFORCE DEVELOPMENT KNOWING
THAT ACROSS DEPARTMENTS WE HAVE
POCKETS OF WORKFORCE
DEVELOPMENT INVESTMENTS HERE
AND THERE BUT NO OVERARCHING
STRATEGY FOR WHAT WE ARE TRYING
TO ACCOMPLISH WITH THAT WORK,
SO THAT WAS 2022. YOU AND I
SPOKE EARLY LAST YEAR ABOUT THE
STRATEGIC PLAN OED WAS
CREATING. I NEED TO UNDERSTAND
HOW THE WORK YOU DID IN 23 AND
24 , WHAT THAT ACCOMPLISHED AND
WHY YOU NEED A THIRD YEAR OF
ASSESSMENT FOR WHAT IS
HAPPENING HERE AND THEN I
FURTHER NEED TO UNDERSTAND WHY
THERE IS A PROPOSAL TO
ELIMINATE OR REDUCE WORKFORCE
INVESTMENTS AND I KNOW YOU
SPOKE TO THIS A LITTLE BIT
EARLIER, BUT THAT WASN'T GOOD
ENOUGH.
>> IT IS HARD TO WORK ACROSS
DEPARTMENTS , SO PART OF THE
TIME THAT IT IS TAKING IS JUST
REFLECTING THE CHALLENGE OF
WORKING WITH DEPARTMENTS WHO
ARE ACTIVELY DEPLOYING
RESOURCES AND TAKING THE TIME
OUT TO ASSESS AND LOOK AT THOSE
IN A HOLISTIC MANNER, WHICH IS
WHY WE HAD TO CHANGE STRATEGIES
AND WORK DIRECTLY WITH THE
MAYORS OFFICE TO HAVE THAT
LEADERSHIP PUT ONTO THE
ASSESSMENT AND MAKE SURE THAT
WE ARE ACTUALLY WORKING TOWARDS
A CITYWIDE STRATEGIC PLAN AND
NOT JUST IN OED PLAN FOR
WORKFORCE DEVELOPMENT BECAUSE
THAT WON'T ACTUALLY ADDRESS
SOME OF THE SYSTEMIC ISSUES
THAT WE HAVE IDENTIFIED IN OUR
CURRENT WORKFORCE EFFORTS. SO
PART OF THIS IS JUST
RECALIBRATING THE SCALE OF
CHANGE THAT NEEDED TO HAPPEN
FOR CITYWIDE WORKFORCE AND THEN
AS I MENTIONED, WE ARE -- WE
STARTED INVESTING AND I BELIEVE
IT WAS 2022, STARTED
REINVESTING IN THE WDC IS THE
REGIONAL BACKBONE SO WE HAVE
BEEN SPENDING A LOT OF TIME AND
EFFORT MAKING SURE THAT
ORGANIZATION IS HEALTHY AND
GROWING AND WHY WE NEED IT TO ,
TO BE THE UMBRELLA ORGANIZATION
FOR THE REGION. THAT IS PARTLY
A REFLECTION OF HOW THE FEDERAL
GOVERNMENT LIKES TO ALLOCATE
FUNDS FOR WORKFORCE. THEY LIKE
TO DO IT AT THE REGIONAL LEVEL,
NOT AT THE CITY BY CITY LEVEL
SO PART OF OUR PLAY HERE AGAIN
IS TO UNLOCK MORE ADDITIONAL
RESOURCES FOR WORKFORCE
DEVELOPMENT PARTICULARLY FOR
SOME OF THESE NEW TYPES OF
JOBS, FUTURE INDUSTRY GROWTH
TYPE JOBS AND SO SETTING UP
THIS PARALLEL EFFORT OF TRYING
TO SET UP THE REGIONAL
WORKFORCE COUNSEL TO BE THE
BACK BONE AND DO THE ASSESSMENT
AND REORGANIZATION AT THE CITY
LEVEL AND THINK THOSE TWO
THINGS UP. IT HAS TAKEN A LONG
TIME BUT WE ARE NOW AT THAT
MOMENT WHERE WE CAN ACTUALLY DO
THAT AND HAVE THE MAYORS OFFICE
WORKING WITH US AS WELL AS THE
WORKFORCE DEVELOPMENT COUNCIL
AND THEY REPORT WORKING WITH US
IN A SYNCOPATED AND COORDINATED
MANNER SO I AGREE WITH YOU, IT
HAS TAKEN A LONG TIME, BUT PART
OF THAT IS JUST A REFLECTION OF
THE SYSTEMIC NATURE OF THESE
CHALLENGES AND REALLY TRYING TO
ORGANIZE THINGS SO THAT THEY
WORK TOGETHER AND WE ARE NOT
KIND OF FURTHER FRAGMENTING THE
SYSTEM BY DOING ONE PIECE OUT
OF SYNC WITH ANOTHER PIECE AND
HOPING THEY LINK UP LATER. WE
NEED TO BE MORE INTENTIONAL
ABOUT MAKING SURE THEY ARE
COORDINATED FROM THE GET-GO AT
THE PLANNING STAGE.
>> WELL, I APPRECIATE THAT.
PART OF THE REASON I STARTED
THIS CONVERSATION IS BECAUSE I
WAS HEARING FROM THE WORKFORCE
DEVELOPMENT COUNCIL THAT THERE
WAS NOT ALIGNMENT, AND THAT THE
CITY WAS ACTUALLY MOVING IN THE
DIRECTION OF THINGS THAT ARE I
DON'T KNOW, COUNTER, BUT NOT
THE SAME DIRECTION AS ORIGINAL
PARTNERS SO IF THAT IS THE
CASE, ARE YOU WORKING WITH THEM
NOW? IT SOUNDS LIKE IT TOOK TWO
YEARS TO GET THERE BUT IS THERE
--
>> VERY MUCH SO. I SERVE AS THE
MAYORS REPRESENTATIVE ON THE
BOARD FOR THE WORKFORCE
DEVELOPMENT COUNCIL SO I AM
DEEPLY INVOLVED . WE'VE BEEN
WORKING ON REBUILDING THE BOARD
FROM WHERE IT WAS TO A MORE
EFFECTIVE AND ENGAGED BOARD AND
THEN GETTING COMMITMENTS TO
THIS REGIONAL STRATEGIC PLAN
REFRESH WHICH AGAIN IS NOT JUST
FOR THE WDC. IDEALLY IT IS FOR
ALL THE REGIONAL PLAYERS
INCLUDING US, THE PORTS, THE
COUNTY . THE NEED FOR FOLKS IN
OUR EDUCATION AND INDUSTRY
SECTORS SO PART OF IT WAS JUST
RELATIONSHIP AND TRUST HOLDING
TO GET THE BUY-IN ON THIS TYPE
OF SYSTEM REVISION APPROACH .
WE ARE JUST NOW AT A POINT
WHERE WE CAN ACTUALLY START
FITTING THE PIECES TOGETHER BUT
IT HAS TAKEN A LOT OF TIME TO
GET THE PIECES EVEN ON THE SAME
BOARD.
>> SO SORT OF RELATED TO THAT ,
I AM VERY NERVOUS ABOUT A
REDUCTION IN THE JOBS
INITIATIVE, THE IMPACT ON [
INAUDIBLE ] SO CAN YOU TALK A
LITTLE ABOUT WHAT THE IMPACTS
MIGHT BE AND HOW WE MIGHT WORK
WITH THE WDC TO MAKE SURE FOLKS
ARE PROTECTED.
>> YEAH. THERE IS NO WAY TO
SUGARCOAT IT. THERE'S GOING TO
BE A DRAMATIC IMPACT ,
PARTICULARLY TO THE JOBS
INITIATIVE, WITH THIS PROPOSAL.
WE HAVE TALKED WITH THEIR TEAM
AND SOME OF THEIR BOARD MEMBERS
TO LET THEM KNOW ABOUT THIS
PROPOSED IMPACT IN THAT WE WANT
TO MAKE SURE WE ARE WORKING
WITH THEM TO TRY TO MITIGATE IT
AS MUCH AS POSSIBLE. I THINK
YOU'RE RIGHT THAT THERE ARE
SOME FUNCTIONS THAT SJI HAS
DONE IN THE PAST THAT THE STC
COULD ABSORB AND THAT IS PART
OF THE SYSTEM REORGANIZATION
COME TO THINK ABOUT WHO IS
TAKING ON WHAT RESPONSIBILITY
AND ARE THEY IN THE BEST
POSITION TO HELP THOSE
COMMUNITIES SO THIS IS PART OF
THE WORK WE NEEDED TO DO BUT
THERE IS NO WAY TO SUGARCOAT
THAT THERE WILL BE AN IMPACT IN
THE SERVICES WE ARE FUNDING FOR
SGI TO PROVIDE.
>> I JUST WANTED TO UNDERSCORE
WHAT DIRECTOR McINTYRE WAS
SAYING, AND PUT IT IN A LARGER
CONTEXT WHERE WE WERE FACING A
VERY LARGE GENERAL FUND DEFICIT
IN PARTICULAR , AND WE HAD TO
MAKE DIFFICULT CHOICES. THIS
WAS AN AREA THAT HAS BEEN A
PRIORITY OF THE MAYORS , AND
WAS A REALLY HARD CHOICE. IT
WAS ONE THAT WE WERE WILLING TO
DO IN THE CONTEXT OF THE
REALIGNMENT IN THE
RESTRUCTURING AND SYNCHRONIZING
WORK THAT MARKHAM WAS
DESCRIBING, BUT AGAIN I WANT TO
EMPHASIZE HOW RELUCTANTLY WE
HAD TO MAKE THIS AND OTHER HARD
CHOICES IN THE MAYOR'S PROPOSED
BUDGET.
>> ONE MORE QUESTION, CHAIR.
GOING TO SLIDE 10 , COMMUNITY
WEALTH BUILDING REDUCTIONS, I
WILL SAY THIS IS REALLY
DISAPPOINTING TO SEE, AND QUITE
FRANKLY IT IS EXACTLY WHAT
SMALL BUSINESSES AND THE
GENERATIONAL WEALTH BUILDING
COMMUNITY ROUNDTABLE FEARED
WHEN THIS MOVED FROM THE
DEPARTMENT OF NEIGHBORHOODS TO
OBD, WHEN WE STARTED TALKING
ABOUT THIS IN 2022 AND THE FEAR
IS THAT THIS DEMONSTRATES THERE
IS NO REAL COMMITMENT TO
INVESTING IN GENERATIONAL
WEALTH BUILDING INFRASTRUCTURE.
YOU KNOW, THERE IS A LOT OF
FOCUS ON DOWNTOWN. THERE IS A
LOT OF FOCUS ON KEY INDUSTRIES
BUT ARE SMALL BUSINESSES IN THE
CITY'S ATTENTION, TOO, AND
PROGRAMS LIKE THE TENANT
IMPROVEMENT PROGRAM, THE
BUSINESS COMMUNITY OWNERSHIP
FUND, THESE WERE MEANT TO
TARGET SMALL BUSINESSES OWNED
BY PEOPLE OF COLOR, AND THEY
ARE THE FIRST ONES THAT ARE
CUT, SO THIS IS REALLY
PROBLEMATIC . IT IS
UNACCEPTABLE, TO BE HONEST, AND
I THINK THE FACT THAT THIS
PROGRAM THAT WAS REALLY
INTENDED TO TRY TO ENGAGE OED
TO MOVE AWAY FROM FOCUSING SO
MUCH ONLY ON KEY INDUSTRIES AND
SUPPORT ARE SMALL BUSINESSES
BETTER SUPPORT BUSINESSES OWNED
BY COMMUNITIES OF COLOR,
SUPPORT IMMIGRANT-OWNED
BUSINESSES, HELP THEM
UNDERSTAND HOW TO BUILD THEIR
INFRASTRUCTURE, BUILD THE BACK
OF HOUSE FUNCTIONS, BUILD
GROWTH PLANNING AND STRATEGIES
FOR CONNECTING, BECOMING YOU
KNOW, PLACES WHERE THE CITY
COULD GO TO SOURCE FOOD,
MATERIALS, PRODUCT, THAT IS
WHAT THEY WERE ASKING FOR AND
SO TO SEE THIS JUST CUT
ENTIRELY FROM THE BUDGET IS A
REAL SLAP IN THE FACE TO OUR
SMALL BUSINESSES AND I WOULD
REALLY ENCOURAGE ALL OF US TO
RETHINK THE STRATEGY.
>> I WANT TO CLARIFY THAT THIS
IS STILL THE LARGEST AREA OF
EXPENDITURE FOR OED. OF THE
FIVE PILLARS OF OUR FUTURE SALE
ECONOMY, THIS IS STILL FAR AND
AWAY THE LARGEST AMOUNT OF
MONEY THAT WE ARE SPENDING, SO
IT IS A REDUCTION AND I AGREE
WITH YOU THAT DOES NOT COME
EASILY. I DO NOT THINK THAT IS
A REFLECTION OF OUR STRONG
COMMITMENT TO SUPPORTING BIPOC
BUSINESS OWNERS. THAT IS
ESSENTIALLY OUR THESIS IS THAT
WE CAN -- THE CITY IN OUR ROLE
CAN HAVE AN IMPACT ON GENERAL
RELATIONAL WEALTH AND COMMUNITY
WEALTH BY BUSINESS GROWTH. THAT
IS WHY WE HAVE THESE PROGRAMS,
SO NONE OF THIS HAS TO DO WITH
THE GENERATIONAL WEALTH
INITIATIVE TRANSFER FROM
NEIGHBORHOODS WHICH IS A
SEPARATE PROGRAM THAN WHAT WE
ARE TALKING ABOUT SCALING HERE,
AND I GUESS I WILL JUST PUSH
BACK THAT THIS IS STILL OUR
COMMITMENT, IF YOU LOOK AT A
PIE CHART OF OUR EXPENDITURES,
IS STILL HEAVILY WEIGHTED
TOWARD COMMUNITY WEALTH
BUILDING.
>> WELL, WE WILL KEEP TALKING.
>> GREAT.
>> THANK YOU, COUNCIL MEMBER
MORALES. UP NEXT IS
COUNCILMEMBER RIVERA. OVER TO
YOU, VICE CHAIR.
>> SORRY, IT WAS COUNCIL MEMBER
SAKA FIRST . IT'S ONLY BEEN
FOUR YEARS OF ZOOM. MY
APOLOGIES, COUNCIL MEMBER SAKA.
>> THANK YOU, CHAIR AND
DIRECTOR MARKHAM. McINTYRE,
EXCUSE ME. A COUPLE OF
QUESTIONS. I GUESS FIRST, YOU
KNOW, WHENEVER I SEE YOUR HERE
WORLD CUP MY EARS PERK UP AND
SO THANK YOU FOR I GUESS THE
BULLET THERE ON SLIDE FOUR, BUT
I STILL DO HAVE THAT PENDING
REQUEST AND I KNOW WE ARE KIND
OF TRACKING MONITORING. CAN I
GET A NOD THAT THAT WILL BE
FOLLOWED UP ON? PERFECT.
>> I'VE BEEN RECEIVING
INFORMATION WHILE WE ARE
SITTING HERE IN REAL TIME.
>> PERFECT. THANK YOU.
STOREFRONT REPAIR FUND. THANK
YOU FOR KIND OF WALKING THROUGH
A PLANNING PROCESS THAT YOU
ENVISION . YOU ARE CORRECT
THERE ARE A LOT OF US
INTERESTED IN FURTHER EXPLORING
WHAT IS POSSIBLE. IN LIGHT OF
SOME NOTABLE CHALLENGES, BUT
FOR THE STOREFRONT REPAIR FUND
, CAN YOU TALK MORE ABOUT SOME
OF THE OUTCOMES THAT WE HAVE
SEEN IN TERMS OF DATA, SO HOW
MANY APPLIED FOR THE FUND AND
EACH YEAR , AND HOW MANY WERE
ULTIMATELY SUPPORTED ? HIGH
LEVEL, WHAT ARE THE MOST COMMON
TYPES OF REQUEST FOR USE OF
THESE FUND DOLLARS, AND THEN
ANY PROGRAM OR PROJECT
IMPLEMENTING IT YIELDS DATA ,
AND SO JUST BE CURIOUS TO
BETTER UNDERSTAND ON A MAP ,
WHERE SOME OF THE HOT ZONES
FROM EITHER REQUEST STANDPOINT,
APPLICATION STANDPOINT OR
SUPPORTED STANDPOINT . I THINK
THE BEST DELIVERABLE , WOULD
LOVE TO SEE A KIND OF HEAT MAP.
THAT CAN BE A TIME-INTENSIVE
PROCESS. IN THE ABSENCE OF
THAT, WOULD LOVE TO BETTER
UNDERSTAND HIGH LEVEL WHERE
SOME OF THOSE HOT ZONE REGIONS
ARE AND THEN IT IS NOT JUST AN
OED CHALLENGE, YOU KNOW, THAT
YIELDS DATA INCLUDING
ACTIONABLE DATA THAT COULD AND
SHOULD BE SHARED WITH OTHER
DEPARTMENTS. HOW ARE YOU
LEVERAGING THAT DATA TO MAKE
BETTER DECISIONS AND ULTIMATELY
ACHIEVE BETTER OUTCOMES FOR
PEOPLE AND SMALL BUSINESS
OWNERS IN THIS CASE?
>> WITH THE CHAIR'S PERMISSION,
I WOULD LIKE TO JUMP THE QUEUE
HERE TO NOTE THAT WE ARE HAPPY
TO PROVIDE AS MUCH OF THAT
INFORMATION AS WE CAN PULL
TOGETHER . I SUSPECT WE DO NOT
HAVE IT ALL READILY AVAILABLE.
WE ARE TRYING TO BE RESPECTFUL
OF YOUR TIME. WE HAVE LIMITED
THE NUMBER OF SLIDES AND
INFORMATION WE CAME PREPARED TO
IMMEDIATELY ANSWER, BUT WE WILL
ABSOLUTELY FOLLOW UP WITH
WHATEVER DATA THAT WE HAVE THAT
IS RESPONSIVE TO THOSE
QUESTIONS . THIS IS A PROGRAM
THAT WE KNOW IS VERY POPULAR,
VERY WELL-RECEIVED, VERY
SUCCESSFUL. THE FUNDING, AS I
THINK DIRECTOR McINTYRE CAN
TALK TO MORE ARTICULATELY THAN
I CAN, THE FUNDING ESSENTIALLY
RAN OUT. IT WAS NOT A CHOICE
THAT WE DID NOT KEEP THE
PROGRAM GOING. IT WAS FEDERAL
DOLLARS THAT ALLOWED US TO
IMPLEMENT AND CARRY FORWARD
THIS PROGRAM OVER A NUMBER OF
YEARS SINCE THE PANDEMIC . WE
WOULD LOVE TO HAVE A WAY TO
CONTINUE THIS PROGRAM AND WOULD
LIKE TO WORK IN PARTNERSHIP TO
SEE IF WE CAN FIND SOME
INNOVATIVE IDEAS. THIS IS NOT
FUNDED PRINCIPALLY BECAUSE THE
GRANT DOLLARS THAT WERE
AVAILABLE FOR THE PROGRAM RAN
OUT.
>> GOT IT. THAT MAKES SENSE.
THANK YOU FOR TRACKING AND
MONITORING THESE FOLLOW-UPS IN
ADDITION TO THE KIND OF HARD
DATA ON APPLICANTS VERSUS
GRANTS AND SUPPORTED
APPLICANTS. JUST HIGH-LEVEL
INSIGHTS ON A MAP AND WHERE AND
HOW THAT INFORMATION IS BEING
UTILIZED BELONG -- BEYOND THAT
WE DO SO WE CAN GET OUT OF
THESE SILOS AND TRULY IMPLEMENT
THAT ONE SEATTLE APPROACHED THE
MAYOR IS CHAMPIONING. A COUPLE
OF OTHER COMMENTS. IT HAS BEEN
SAID MULTIPLE TIMES BY MY
ESTEEMED COLLEAGUES HERE , THE
NOTION OF EQUITY AND HOW
ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT AND
VITALITY IS CENTRAL TO
UPLIFTING PEOPLE THAT HAVE BEEN
HISTORICALLY MARGINALIZED AND
FORGOTTEN ABOUT AND SO YES, IN
ADDITION TO HOUSING,
HEALTHCARE, EDUCATION, ECONOMIC
VITALITY IS REALLY IMPORTANT
AND ONE CAN MAKE THE CASE IT IS
THE SINGULAR MOST IMPORTANT
FACTOR IN HELPING TO ACHIEVE
EQUITY AND PERSONALLY, IN A
PRIOR LIFE, AS A LAWYER I SPENT
A LOT OF TIME PROVIDING
VOLUNTEER PRO BONO SERVICES FOR
ENTREPRENEURS FROM
DISADVANTAGED BACKGROUNDS AND
COMMUNITIES AND HELPING THEM TO
START AND ULTIMATELY GROW THEIR
BUSINESS, AND YOU KNOW, FROM
SMALL JANITORIAL SERVICES,
BUSINESSES TO TECH AND
EVERYTHING IN BETWEEN BUT
REALLY IMPORTANT THERE, AND YOU
KNOW, I WOULD LOVE US AS A CITY
TO BETTER THINK ABOUT HOW WE
CAN HAVE A MORE HOLISTIC
APPROACH IN OUR PROGRAMMING AND
SERVICES THAT WE DELIVERED TO
ADDRESS ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT
AND EQUITY AND THE LIKE , SO
AND THEN FINALLY , I, TOO , AM
A BIT CONCERNED ABOUT THE BIA
SUPPORTS IN THE PROPOSED BUDGET
, AND JUST WANT TO MAKE SURE IT
IS GOING TO BE ADEQUATE TO MEET
THE NEED NOT ONLY IN TERMS OF
WHAT IS ON THAT MAP THAT YOU
PRESENTED ON THAT SLIDE,
WHATEVER SLIGHT IT WAS, BUT I
DO KNOW FOR EXAMPLE, IN MY
DISTRICT , THERE ARE A NUMBER
OF COMMUNITIES AT THEIR EARLIER
STAGES THAT WOULD STRONGLY LOVE
TO EXPLORE IMPLEMENTING BIA .
DISTRICT ONE. GEORGETOWN AND
SOUTHPARK THERE ARE SOME FOLKS
IN COMMUNITY LEADERS AND SMALL
BUSINESS OWNERS I AM AWARE OF
IN HIGHLAND PARK THAT SEEM A
LITTLE EARLIER ON IN THAT
JOURNEY AND THAT THINKING AND
SOME FOLKS AT SOUTH PARK IN
GEORGETOWN BUT REGARDLESS, JUST
WANT TO MAKE SURE THE THREE
COMMUNITIES I MENTIONED AND
OTHERS ACROSS THE CITY ARE
ADEQUATELY SUPPORTED, SO. IN
ANY EVENT, THANK YOU. NO
FURTHER QUESTIONS OR COMMENTS.
>> THANK YOU. COUNCIL MEMBER
SAKA.
>> I WANT TO RESPOND ABOUT THE
STOREFRONT REPAIR FUND. WE DO
HAVE A MAP SO WE CAN PROVIDE
THAT IN FAIRLY SHORT ORDER. I
WILL SAY WE WORK CLOSELY WITH
SPD ON FIRE, TO YOUR POINT,
ABOUT WHERE THE INTENSITY OF
BREAK-INS WERE HAPPENING . I
THINK IT WAS -- WE WILL HAVE TO
GET THE EXACT NUMBERS FOR YOU
BUT I THINK IT WAS ABOUT A
THIRD WERE HAPPENING IN ADAPT
ZONE WHICH INCLUDES THE
INTERNATIONAL DISTRICT IN
LITTLE SAIGON BUT WE ARE
CLOSELY COORDINATED WITH THEM
TO PROVIDE INFORMATION BACK TO
THEM AS WELL AS USING
INFORMATION TO HELP US SHAPE
THE PROGRAM PART WAS GOING TO
BE DEPLOYED SO WE CAN ADDRESS
THOSE HOT SPOTS AND TRY TO GET
AHEAD OF THEM AS MUCH IS
POSSIBLE BUT WE WILL PROVIDE
MORE INFORMATION IN THE
BRIEFING FOR YOU.
>> ARE STOREFRONT TEAM IS DONE
A GREAT JOB RETAINING THAT DATA
SO WE HAVE TO YOUR POINT, A
NUMBER OF APPLICATIONS WE HAVE
RECEIVED , VERSUS APPLICATIONS
GRANTED SO WE WILL BE ABLE TO
PROVIDE THAT.
NOW, VICE CHAIR.
>> NO WORRIES. ALL GOOD. THANK
YOU ALL FOR BEING HERE AND
ANSWERING OUR QUESTIONS. I WANT
TO LEND MY VOICE OF SUPPORT FOR
THE STOREFRONT PROGRAM AND I
VERY MUCH APPRECIATE MY CALLING
, COUNCIL MEMBER SAKA, ASKING
FOR DATA AND MAPS BECAUSE I
VERY MUCH AS YOU ALL KNOW
SUPPORT DATA AND METRICS THAT
SHOW OUR WORK TO COMMUNITY AND
OUR TAXPAYERS. I UNDERSTAND
THAT THE FEDERAL FUNDS GAVE THE
ABILITY TO DO MORE THAN
NORMALLY WE WOULD HAVE. THERE
WERE LESS RESTRICTIONS ON THE
USE OF THOSE DOLLARS THEN THERE
ARE CITY FUNDING BECAUSE OF THE
LEGAL GIFT OF PUBLIC FUNDS
REQUIREMENTS, SO WANTED TO
ACKNOWLEDGE THAT AND THIS IS
WHAT MAKES THIS SO CHALLENGING
DESPITE THE FACT THAT WE ARE
ALL VERY OR MOST OF US ARE VERY
SUPPORTIVE OF THIS PARTICULAR
PROGRAM. I ALSO WANT TO
ACKNOWLEDGE THAT WE NEED
INVESTMENTS DOWNTOWN. I VERY
MUCH HAVE SUPPORTED THEIR
REVITALIZATION OF DOWNTOWN. IT
IS A HUGE ECONOMIC ENGINE FOR
ANY CITY. HOW WELL IT'S
DOWNTOWN IS DOING. THAT IS TRUE
ALSO OF OUR SMALL BUSINESSES IN
OUR NEIGHBORHOOD SO IT IS IN
AND APPROACH, NOT WORK, AND I
VERY MUCH SUPPORT THAT AND
APPROACH AND OED'S EFFORTS TO
SUPPORT OUR SMALL BUSINESSES
ACROSS THE CITY. AND THEN , MY
QUESTION -- I WANTED TO -- I
HAVE ONE MORE COMMENT ABOUT THE
BIA'S. ALSO VERY SUPPORTIVE OF
THE BIA'S . THERE IS A BIA IN
THE UNIVERSITY DISTRICT, AS YOU
KNOW, AND I WILL SAY THAT THE
BIAS SUPPORT MORE THAN JUST
SMALL BUSINESSES AND THEIR
LOCATIONS, IN THE
NEIGHBORHOODS. THEY WIND UP
BEING SUPPORTS TO THE OTHER
NONPROFITS AND ORGANIZATIONS
THAT ARE IN THE DISTRICT . SOME
OF THEM ARE FORTUNATE ENOUGH TO
HAVE RECEIVED SOME CITY FUNDING
AND OTHER FUNDING FOR
AMBASSADORS, WHICH VERY MUCH
HELP THE CORE DOORS IN OUR
NEIGHBORHOODS AND I'M VERY
APPRECIATIVE TO THE BIA AND THE
U DISTRICT FOR BEING A GREAT
PARTNER WITH ALL THE BUSINESSES
THERE BUT ALSO LIKE I SAID,
NONPROFITS AND OTHER
ORGANIZATIONS AND TO PEOPLE IN
GENERAL. MOST PEOPLE KNOW YOU
CAN JUST LIKE DOWN AN
AMBASSADOR IF YOU NEED
ASSISTANCE, WHICH IS REALLY
ANOTHER KEY COMPONENT OF OUR
PUBLIC SAFETY EVEN THOUGH THAT
IS NOT THE PRIMARY FUNCTION .
MORE AND MORE, THEY ARE JUST A
GOOD RESOURCE FOR FOLKS ON THE
GROUND BOTH DOWNTOWN AND IN OUR
NEIGHBORHOODS THAT HAVE BIA
THAT HAVE AMBASSADORS SO VERY
MUCH SUPPORT THE BIAS . VERY
MUCH WANT TO SEE WHAT I HEARD
YOU SAY , WAS THAT OUR BIA
INVESTMENT WILL REMAIN THE
SAME. IT IS NOT DECREASING IN
AND OF ITSELF.
>> CORRECT. WE ARE FOCUSING ON
NEIGHBORHOOD EFFORTS AROUND
THIS PATHWAY TO THE BIAS AND I
WANT TO CLARIFY THAT DOES NOT
JUST MEAN ORGANIZATIONS ON THE
PATHWAY. IT IS ALSO JUST
WORKING WITH ORGANIZATIONS EVEN
JUST THINKING ABOUT IT OR
CURIOUS ABOUT IT, THAT IS FOR A
LOT OF OUR STAFF WORK GOES . IT
IS THAT EARLY STAGE THINKING
THROUGH WHAT DOES THIS MEAN.
THEY ARE NOT JUST BUSINESS
ORGANIZATIONS, THEIR PLACE
MAKING ORGANIZATIONS OF
THINKING ABOUT WHAT THESE
DIFFERENT COMMUNITIES NEED AND
WHAT ROLE WE CAN PLAY TO
SUPPORT WHAT THEY WANT TO HAVE
HAPPEN IS REALLY WHAT WE ARE
TRYING TO FACILITATE.
>> TERRIFIC. DIRECTOR McINTYRE,
ARE BIAS FORMED WHEN A BUSINESS
OR BUSINESS ORGANIZATION
REACHES OUT TO YOU TO BECOME A
BIA?
>> YES. USUALLY THEY RELAX --
REACH OUT TO US BUT WE ALSO
TALK ABOUT THIS AS AN
OPPORTUNITY AGAIN TO TRY TO
PIQUE INTEREST AND START THE
CONVERSATION ABOUT WHAT THIS
MEANS. IT CAN MEAN MANY
DIFFERENT THINGS. IF YOU LOOK
AT THE CURRENT 11 BIAS WE HAVE,
THEY HAVE VASTLY DIFFERENT
GEOGRAPHIC AREAS AND SCOPES.
THERE ARE SOME COMMON
CHARACTERISTICS BUT THE WHOLE
IDEA HERE IS ECONOMIC
DETERMINATION FOR THESE
NEIGHBORHOODS AND HOW CAN WE AS
A CITY BEST SUPPORT THAT.
>> AND HOW THEY CAN SUPPORT
EACH OTHER BECAUSE I THINK THAT
IS PART OF THE BIA, TOO, IS
BEING A HUB FOR ALL THE
BUSINESSES THERE TO STAY IN
CONTACT AND SUPPORT EACH OTHER
AND I THINK THAT IS WHAT MAKES
THIS BIA PROGRAM SO GREAT AND I
WOULD LOVE TO SEE EXPANSION
ACROSS THE CITY INCLUDING IN
THE D4 SO THEN MY LAST
QUESTION IS, ON THE PERMITTING,
ADDING THOSE TWO POSITIONS. I
NOTICED THAT YOU ARE ADDING A
STRATEGIC ADVISER AND ADMIN
ASSISTANT POSITION AND YOU
KNOW, STRATEGIC ADVISER
POSITIONS ARE HIGH LEVEL
POSITIONS. THEY ARE NOT
NECESSARILY DOING THE WORK.
THEY ARE MORE OF OVERSEERS ARE
MOST OF THE WORK AND SO CAN YOU
TELL ME A LITTLE BIT ABOUT THE
THINKING BEHIND THIS JUST
BECAUSE I WANT TO MAKE SURE I
SUPPORT BEING ABLE TO PROVIDE
CAPACITY TO FULFILL MORE
PERMITS, AND THEN IF OUR
POSITIONS ARE TOO HIGH LEVEL,
THEY'RE NOT ACTUALLY THE ONES
WHO ARE GOING TO DO THAT THEN
IT BECOMES LIKE WE ARE NOT
MAKING A DENT INTO THE REASON
WHY WE ARE EXPANDING THE
POSITION IN THE PROGRAM SO CAN
YOU TELL ME A LITTLE BIT ABOUT
THIS PARTICULAR INVESTMENT
HERE?
>> YES. FIRST LET ME SEE THAT
EVERYBODY HAD OED IS A DOER.
EVERYBODY IS WORKING. THERE IS
NO ONE WHO IS JUST OVERSEEING
OR DELEGATING. EVERYONE IS IN
IT TO WIN IT. SECOND IS THIS IS
A GOOD OPPORTUNITY TO REFRAME.
WE DO SPECIAL EVENTS PERMITS OR
FILM PERMITTING. IT IS ACTUALLY
COMPLEX PERMIT COORDINATION
WITH A BUNCH OF OTHER
DEPARTMENTS, NOT JUST AS
PROCESSING A PERMIT. THIS IS
WHERE THE STRATEGIC ADVISER IS
REALLY IMPORTANT BECAUSE
ESPECIALLY POST-PANDEMIC WHILE
MANY COMMUNITIES WANT TO DO
SPECIAL EVENTS WE NEED TO THINK
ABOUT POLICY CHANGES TO HOW WE
DO PERMITTING SPARINGLY TO WORK
WITH OTHER DEPARTMENTS, AND
INTERFACE WITH STRATEGIC
STAKEHOLDERS. WE CURRENTLY HAVE
A STRATEGIC ADVICE . WE WILL BE
ADDING ANOTHER ONE BUT THEY ARE
VERY MUCH IN THE MIX ON
MANAGING THE SPECIAL EVENTS
COMMITTEE WHICH IS ALL THOSE
CONSTITUENT DEPARTMENTS THAT
ISSUE PERMITS TO BUILD THE
SPECIAL EVENTS PERMIT AND THEN
THERE ALSO DEEPLY INVOLVED IN
THE ACTUAL PERMITTING PROCESS
SO YOU ARE CORRECT THAT IT IS A
DIFFERENT LEVEL BUT ESPECIALLY
WITH THE COMPLEXITY OF THE
PERMITTING NOW AND WITH THE
WORLD CUP STUFF COMING ON, WE
WANTED TO HAVE THAT
HIGHER-LEVEL OF ABILITY IN
ADDITION TO JUST SOME EXTRA
PERMITTING POWER .
>> THANK YOU FOR THAT, DIRECTOR
McINTYRE, AND I WILL SAY THAT
HAVING WORKED IN THE CITY FOR
MANY YEARS, OFTEN WHEN YOU HEAR
FROM STAFF WE DON'T HAVE
CAPACITY WE NEED OTHER THE
PERSON SO THIS IS WHY I'M
ASKING THE QUESTION AND WOULD
LOVE TO SEE ON THE SPECIAL
PERMITTING SIDE, HOW IT IS
CURRENTLY SET UP BECAUSE THAT
WILL REALLY HELP US AS WE ARE
LOOKING AT ALL THESE PROPOSALS.
>> WE WOULD LOVE TO PROVIDE
THAT.
>> THANK YOU SO MUCH. THANK
YOU, CHAIR.
>> UP NEXT IS COUNCIL MEMBER
WOO FOLLOWED BY COUNCIL MEMBER
HOLLINGSWORTH.
>> THANK YOU. I WANT TO PREFACE
THIS WITH I AM A SMALL
RESTAURANT OWNER SO I RECOGNIZE
THINGS LIKE THE WINDOW REPAIR
FUND. WHILE IT IS HELPFUL TO
HAVE, I WOULD ALSO LOVE TO HAVE
A MORE PROACTIVE APPROACH.
THERE WAS A WINDOW FILM FUND
THAT ONE AROUND. I'M NOT SURE
WHICH BUDGET THAT CAME OUT OF.
ALSO HAVING GRAFFITI COATING IN
PLACE WAS QUITE HELPFUL AND
SOMETHING I WOULD BE INTERESTED
IN SEEING. I KNOW THAT ALSO
BIAS DO TAKE A WHILE TO DEVELOP
. IT IS QUITE A COMPLICATED
PROCESS, ESPECIALLY IN
NEIGHBORHOODS WHERE EVERYONE
MAY NOT SPEAK THE SAME LANGUAGE
OR HAS A DIFFERENT IDEA ON HOW
THE BIA SHOULD GO FORTH SO I
KNOW THIS IS SEVERAL YEARS IN
THE PROCESS WHEN IT COMES TO
CREATING MORE BIAS AND EVEN
WHEN THE BIA IS CREATED, I KNOW
IT DOES NOT FULFILL MANY OF THE
FUNCTIONS AS WE WOULD LIKE IT
TO AND THERE IS AN UPGRADE IN
PLACE WERE TRYING TO COME INTO
PLACE WHERE THESE SERVICES
COULD BE FILLED IN THE ENTIRE
COMMUNITY AND ARE PAID FOR BY
HIS -- THE BUSINESSES. I AM
INTERESTED IN THE REDUCTIONS,
SPECIFICALLY IN WORKFORCE. I
KNOW STUDIES TAKE TIME AND
WHILE THERE IS A PAUSE IN
FUNDING WHILE WE WAIT FOR THE
STUDIES TO BE DONE, THERE ARE
OTHER PROGRAMS WITHIN THE CITY
LIKE FOR INSTANCE, THE
CITY-OWNED ARTS AND MUSIC
FESTIVAL THIRD STONE HAS A
WORKFORCE DEVELOPMENT PROGRAM
THAT HELPS A LOT OF PEOPLE OF
COLOR, PEOPLE WHO ARE LOW
INCOME AND TO IDENTIFY AS WOMEN
OR NON-BINARY, WHICH IS NOT
FUNDED THIS TIME SO I'M
CURIOUS WHAT OTHER REDUCTIONS
ARE WE LOOKING AT WHEN IT COMES
TO THE THREE AREAS WHERE WE ARE
SEEING REDUCTIONS IN WORKFORCE
, BUILDING AND PLACE-BASED
CAPACITY BUILDING.
>> YOU MEAN BEYOND OUR BUDGET
IN OTHER DEPARTMENTS ARE THERE
SIMILAR REDUCTIONS?
>> OR REDUCTIONS WITHIN THE
NOTABLE REDUCTIONS SLIDE. SUCH
AS 2025 PROPOSED, 2026
PROPOSED. THE 1,252,000 .
>> THAT IS JUST THE OED BUDGET.
THERE ARE 15 DEPARTMENTS OF THE
CITY THAT MAKE SOME SORT OF
WORKFORCE INVESTMENT. YOU
MENTIONED ONE OF THEM IN
PARTNERSHIP WITH BUMBERSHOOT
AND CANYON WALL. THAT REDUCTION
REFLECT? WHAT IS THE IMPACTS
BASICALLY OF THE SPECIFIC
REDUCTION?
>> THE MAIN IMPACT OF OUR
REDUCTIONIST AND WOULD DISCUSS
WITH COUNCILMEMBER MOREL'S,
WHICH IS THE REDUCTION IN
L.E.D.S CONTRAST WITH THE
SEATTLE JOBS INITIATIVE SO AND
THAT COMPLEX THERE ARE A NUMBER
OF IMPORTANT INITIATIVES AND
PROPONENTS AND WE ARE NOT
MAKING THIS LIGHTLY. IT IS A
REAL REFLECTION THOUGH THAT THE
CITY ITSELF HAS A VERY
FRAGMENTED WORKFORCE
ENVIRONMENT AND WE ARE NOT HERE
TO JUDGE ANY OF THE OTHER
DEPARTMENTS PROGRAMS. WHAT WE
WANT TO DO IS COME TOGETHER AS
A CITY AND FIGURE OUT WHAT ARE
THE OUTCOMES WE WANT TO SEE
FROM WORKFORCE INVESTMENTS
ESPECIALLY AS THE NATURE OF
WORK IS CHANGING, ESPECIALLY AS
THE CITY ITSELF HAS WORKFORCE
NEEDS AND JUST THINKING ABOUT
HOW WE CAN ACTUALLY LEVERAGE
OUR COLLECTIVE RESOURCES TOWARD
BROADER IMPACT IF WE MAKE
INTENTIONAL CHOICES RATHER THAN
ALLOW A BUNCH OF FATIGUE
PROGRAMS TO CONTINUE TO OPERATE
WITH NO COORDINATION SO THIS IS
NOT SAYING THAT ALL THE
PROGRAMS THE CITY IS DOING IS
GOING TO GO AWAY AND NO ISSUE
PERFORMED. WE NEED TO TAKE A
LOOK AT WHAT WE ARE TRYING TO
DO AND I SURE AS IS OVER THERE
VALUES AND OUTCOMES WE WANT TO
SEE AND I MENTIONED THE
OPPORTUNITY TO DESIGNATE A
REGIONALLY TO UNLOCK MORE
RESOURCES WE CAN BRING TO
WORKFORCE BECAUSE IT IS A
CRITICAL INVESTMENT THAT WE
WANT TO MAKE BUT WE CAN'T DO
IT ALONE AND WE WOULD LIKE TO
MAKE OURSELVES AS COMPETITIVE
AS POSSIBLE FOR SOME OF THOSE
FEDERAL AND STATE DOLLARS.
>> IS THERE A LIST SOMEWHERE
THAT NAMES ALL THE PROGRAMS
THAT MAY BE IN RISK OF LOSING
FUNDING?
>> COUNSEL CENTRAL HAS ACTUALLY
ASKED US A VERY RELATED
QUESTION SO THAT SHOULD BE
COMING BACK TO YOU AS PART OF
ALL COUNSEL QUESTION RESPONSES.
>> GREAT, THANK YOU.
>> THANK YOU, COUNCIL MEMBER
WOO, AND THANK YOU FOR USING
THE SHAREPOINT ANSWER SHEETS.
UP NEXT IS COUNCIL MEMBER
HOLLINGSWORTH.
>> THANK YOU, MR. CHAIR. I WILL
BE SUPER BRIEF . THANK YOU,
DIRECTOR McINTYRE. I JUST
WANTED TO JUMP ON AND I KNOW
COUNCIL MEMBER MORALES HAD SAID
IT AND SO HAD COUNCIL MEMBER
MOORE , BECAUSE WE JUST HAD A
PRESENTATION FROM OUR ARTS
DEPARTMENT WHO TALKED ABOUT THE
WORLD CUP AND THAT BEING GREAT
BUT I JUST WANT TO CAUTION OUR
CITY , WHEN WE DID THE MLB
ALL-STAR GAME AND HOW THAT WAS
REALLY CONCENTRATED TO SOTO AND
DOWNTOWN AND IT JUST REALLY DID
NOT SPREAD WHERE IT SHOULD
HAVE. THAT WAS A WEEKEND. THIS
IS MORE OF -- I THINK FIFA CUP
IS TWO WEEKS, MAYBE A LITTLE
BIT LONGER? THREE. THANK YOU.
THREE WEEKS AND WE REALLY HAVE
AN OPPORTUNITY TO TALK TO SO
MANY SMALL BUSINESSES TO FILL
THE ECONOMIC INVESTMENT WE HAVE
AND SO I WANTED TO HIGHLIGHT
THAT BECAUSE I KNOW A LOT OF
MONEY HAS BEEN PUT INTO
DOWNTOWN. SOMETIMES IT FEELS
LIKE FOR DISTRICT THREE WE ARE
LUCKY WE ARE CONNECTED TO
DISTRICT SEVEN BUT IT FEELS
LIKE THE INVESTMENT STOP AT THE
CONVENTION CENTER AND EVERYONE
LOOKS AT THE OTHER UGLY OF HER
PASSING IS WHAT'S OVER THERE
AND IT'S LIKE CAPITOL HILL.
IT'S GREAT. I AM SO GRATEFUL
PCC IS RETURNING DOWNTOWN. THEY
WILL BE IN A SMALLER FOOTPRINT
BUT I THINK IT IS GREAT BUT IS
THERE SOMETHING WITHIN THE
DEPARTMENT THAT CONCENTRATES ON
ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT FROM THE
LENS OF GROCERY STORES ? I
THINK IT IS INCREDIBLY
IMPORTANT AND I DON'T THINK A
LOT OF PEOPLE UNDERSTAND 90% OF
ALL AMERICANS LIVE WITHIN A
10-MILE RADIUS OF WALMART AND A
LOT OF THE SMALLER GROCERS ARE
STARTING TO BECOME IMPACTED BY
THAT BECAUSE OF THEIR MASSIVE
EXPANSION AND SO THAT IS WHY WE
KIND OF SEE KROGER AND SAFEWAY
WANTING TO MERGE BECAUSE THEY
ARE TRYING TO COMPETE AS THEY
GROW BUT A LOT OF SMALL GROCERS
LIKE PCC. WE HAVE MET MARKET .
THERE WAS ANOTHER ONE THAT
OPENED UP IN DISTRICT TWO. WE
HAVE ALL THE SMALL GROCERS AND
THINKING ABOUT THAT FOR
ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT BECAUSE
THOSE ARE FOOD ACCESS AND THOSE
DRAW SO MANY PEOPLE. THERE
REALLY A HUB FOR FOLKS, SO JUST
WANTED TO KNOW IF THERE WAS --
JUST WANTED TO HIGHLIGHT THAT
PIECE AS WELL AND THAT WAS IT,
SO THANK YOU.
>> I SHARE YOUR CONCERNS ABOUT
WHAT HAPPENED WITH ALL-STAR
GAME AND NOT HAVING THE
DISTRIBUTED ECONOMIC VALUE WE
HAD HOPED FOR. I THINK THAT IS
A DEEP CONCERN FOR US AND FOR A
LOT OF OUR PARTNER DEPARTMENTS
AS A THINK ABOUT WORLD CUP AND
SO I KNOW THAT WE ARE WORKING
ON OUR EFFORTS TO TRY TO
COMMUNICATE AS EARLY AS
POSSIBLE AND WHAT KIND OF
TOOLKITS COULD BE CREATED FOR
SMALL BUSINESSES TO PUT THEM IN
THE BEST POSITION TO TAKE
ADVANTAGE OF THIS AND WHAT ARE
WAYS WE AS THE CITY CAN HELP
DISTRIBUTE THE IMPACT? I THINK
DIRECTOR KAYIM MENTIONED AS
PART OF THEIR FUNDING THEY HAVE
OPPORTUNITIES FOR THESE FOUR
COMMUNITY CELEBRATIONS OUTSIDE
OF THE DOWNTOWN. I THINK WE
COULD DO MORE OF THAT, HOW
THOSE ON THAT WORK TOGETHER SO
I THINK THERE'S A LOT THERE
BUT IT IS A HUGE CONCERN OF
OURS, AS WELL. ON GROCERY
STORES I COULD NOT AGREE MORE
ESPECIALLY AS DOWNTOWN BECOMES
MORE OF A NEIGHBORHOOD .
GROCERY STORES, CHILDCARE AND
PHARMACIES ARE PIECES EVERYBODY
NEEDS AND DOWNTOWN DOES NOT
HAVE ENOUGH OF THEM SO AGAIN I
THINK THIS GOES BACK TO COUNCIL
MEMBER MOORE'S EARLIER POINT
ABOUT MORE INTENTIONAL PLACE
MAKING AND THINKING ABOUT WHAT
THE AMENITY NEEDS IN A
PARTICULAR AREA ARE, AND HOW
CAN WE AS A CITY HELP
FACILITATE THAT. THIS IS PART
OF OUR EVOLUTION OF SEATTLE
RESTORES TO BECOME MORE OF A
MATCHMAKER SO GROCERY STORES
AND OTHER AMENITIES ARE HIGH ON
OUR LIST OF NOT JUST DOWNTOWN
BUT ACROSS THE CITY. ARE WE
MAKING SURE WE ARE TRYING TO
FACILITATE THOSE OPPORTUNITIES
KNOWING THAT THEY ARE HUGELY
IMPORTANT FOR RESIDENTS BUT
OBVIOUSLY THEY SIGNAL THE
HEALTH OF THE COMMUNITY IN A
DIFFERENT WAY SO WE WOULD LOVE
TO TALK TO YOU MORE ABOUT THAT.
>> THANK YOU , COUNCIL MEMBER
HOLLINGSWORTH. EVERYONE HAS HAD
THEIR OPPORTUNITY TO SAY
SOMETHING. THIS IS GREAT. I'M
GOING TO MAKE A COUPLE
OBSERVATIONS NOT ONLY ABOUT
YOUR DEPARTMENT BUT ALSO THE
OFFICE OF ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT.
ACROSS THE BOARD IN ALL THE
DEPARTMENTS, WE ARE DOING OKAY
FOR 2025. WE ARE MAKING A LOT
OF HARD CHOICES AND STILL USING
A FAIR AMOUNT OF ONE-TIME
FUNDING TO PATCH SOME OF THE
GAPS. IF YOU LOOK AT THE BUDGET
BOOK BEFORE US, WE ALSO SEE
THAT 2026 IS NOT OKAY. WE HAVE
A LOT OF -- WE ARE ABLE TO
PATCH A LOT OF THESE GAPS BUT
THEY ARE WORSE IN 2026. THE
PROCESS WE'RE GOING TO GO
THROUGH OVER THE NEXT YEAR IS
TO REVIEW THE REVENUE FORECAST
AS THEY CONTINUE TO COME OUT.
WE ARE HOPING THAT WITH A HALF
PERCENT DROP IN THE INTEREST
RATE JUST THIS MONTH THAT WE
WILL CONTINUE THAT SLOW GROWTH
AND WE ARE GOING TO NEED TO BE
LOOKING AT THESE BECAUSE AS WE
SEE IN MANY OF THE DEPARTMENTS
WE ARE DOING OKAY FOR 2025-26.
ONE OF THE THINGS I HAD SEEN
REDUCED IN THE OFFICE OF ARTS
AND CULTURE WAS THE
COMMUNICATIONS AND THE ABILITY
TO GET INFORMATION OUT AND I
WANT TO REMIND ALL OF US THAT
WE GET TO BE THESE DEPARTMENTS
' BIGGEST CHAMPION WHEN WE ARE
SENDING OUT NEWSLETTERS AND
INFORMATION TO THE DISTRICT
THAT WE CAN BE INCLUDING A LOT
OF INFORMATION FROM THESE
DEPARTMENTS TO BE ABLE TO
ASSIST THEM IN GETTING THE WORD
OUT. WHEN I'M LOOKING AT YOUR
WORK HERE IN THE OFFICE OF
ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT I JUST
WANT TO THANK YOU FOR REALLY
BEING A THOUGHT LEADER IN A LOT
OF WAYS, ESPECIALLY AROUND
PERMITTING. WHEN I AM LOOKING
AT PAGE 122 OF THE 2019 TO 2024
SUMMARY WHAT WE SEE IS, AND
WHILE WE ARE SEEING THE
DECREASE IN FUNDING FOR OFFICE
OF ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT THIS
YEAR WE HAVE SEEN OVER THE PAST
FIVE YEARS AT 249% INCREASE
INTO THIS DEPARTMENT AND THE
REASON THERE HAVE BEEN SUCH AN
INCREASE IS BECAUSE IT IS ONE
OF THE DEPARTMENTS THAT HAS
BENEFITED BY THE JUMPSTART
PAYROLL EXPENSE TAX. WHEN I
COSPONSORED THAT BILL , IT WAS
IMPORTANT FOR ME THAT WE HAD
SMALL BUSINESS SUPPORT BECAUSE
IN 2020 WE WERE SEEING THE
SMALL BUSINESSES THAT RELY ON
THE ACTIVITY OF THE LARGEST
BUSINESSES REALLY HURTING THE
MOST BECAUSE PEOPLE WERE NOT
LEAVING THE HOUSE. PEOPLE WERE
NOT COMING OUT OF TOWN AND AT
THE SAME TIME WE WERE SEEING A
REAL JUMP IN ONLINE SALES AND
SERVICE RELATIONSHIP WAS REALLY
IMPORTANT TO ME WHICH IS WHY I
WAS SUCH A SUPPORTER OF THE
OFFICE OF ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT
BEING PART OF THE JUMPSTART
FUND. I DON'T KNOW IF FOLKS
KNEW THAT PART OF THE HISTORY
SO I WANTED TO SHARE IT. WITH
EVENTS IN THE PERMITTING,
DIRECTOR McINTYRE, I WILL GIVE
YOU THE OPPORTUNITY TO SPEAK TO
IT BUT CAN YOU SHARE WITH ME
THE PROCESS YOU'VE HAD TO GO
THROUGH? I KNOW THAT I THINK
MAYBE A YEAR OR TWO AGO I PUT A
BUDGET ITEM INTO I.T. TO HELP
MOVE THIS ALONG . SPECIAL
EVENTS PERMITS HAVE BEEN
INCREDIBLY CUMBERSOME , LIKE
VERY CUMBERSOME. THAT'S A NICE
WAY OF PUTTING IT, IN THE PAST,
DESPITE EVERY CITY WORKER
TRYING THE BEST AND CAN YOU
TALK TO ME ABOUT SOME OF THESE
CHANGES YOU'VE BEEN ABLE TO
MAKE OVER THE LAST FEW YEARS?
>> SURE. AS MENTIONED , IT IS A
COMPLEX COORDINATING PROCESS,
NOT JUST IN INPUT-OUTPUT THING.
THERE IS AN INPUT AND THEN WE
HAVE TO WORK WITH THESE OTHER
DEPARTMENTS TO ORGANIZE SPECIAL
EVENTS PERMITTING THEN RETURNED
THAT TO THE APPLICANTS OFTEN ON
A VERY SHORT TIMETABLE BECAUSE
THEY HAVE AN EVENT TO PRODUCE
AND THEY WANT CERTAINTY ABOUT [
INAUDIBLE ] SO WE HAVE
ESSENTIALLY KIND OF USED
TEMPORARY LABOR TO GET US
THROUGH SOME OF THE PEAK SEASON
MOMENTS FOR SPECIAL EVENTS AND
THAT IS PART OF THE REASON WE
ARE ASKING FOR PERMANENT
SUPPORT. WE HAVE PROVEN THE
CONCEPT THAT WE NEED MORE
PHYSICAL CAPACITY TO MOVE THESE
AND THEN YOU ARE RIGHT THAT IT
IS NOT JUST THE PEOPLE IN
POWER. IT IS ALSO THE
TECHNOLOGY CHANGES WE NEED TO
MAKE . CURRENTLY THINGS ARE
DONE LARGELY BY HAND WHICH IS
VERY TIME-CONSUMING AND
CUMBERSOME FOR ALL INVOLVED AND
WE HAVE BEEN WORKING WITH I.T.
IN A DIFFERENT SOLUTION THAT
WOULD STREAMLINE IT, MAKE IT
EASIER TO ACCESS A BETTER USER
EXPERIENCE AND MAKE IT EASIER
ON OUR END TO PROCESS THESE AS
WELL AS TRACK TRENDS AND START
GETTING AHEAD OF SOME OF THE
TREND SO WE CAN START WORKING
ON DIFFERENT POLICY SOLUTIONS,
SOME OF THE PAIN POINTS OR
PINCH POINTS THAT WE ENCOUNTER
SO IT HAS BEEN A JOURNEY. I DID
NOT FULLY EXPECT HOW MUCH TIME
I WOULD BE SPENDING ON SPECIAL
EVENTS PERMITTING WHEN I TOOK
THIS ROLE BUT IT IS FASCINATING
BECAUSE IT IS A UNIQUE ROLE
THAT THE CITY PROVIDES AND IT
IS WHAT BRINGS SO MUCH VIBRANCY
AND VITALITY TO ALL OF OUR
NEIGHBORHOODS FROM THE SMALL
NEIGHBORHOOD THING ALL THE WAY
UP TO THESE WORLD CUP EVENTS SO
IT RUNS THE GAMUT AND WE ARE
VERY EXCITED TO HAVE IT BE
EVOLVING IN A POSITIVE WAY,
THEN SEEING IT IS ALWAYS A
LITTLE BIT SEEING THE FRUITS OF
YOUR LABOR YOU ARE OUT IN THE
NEIGHBORHOOD SEEN A BLOCK PARTY
OR HUT HAVE YOU.
>> THANK YOU AND I WILL ALSO
CORRECT MYSELF. I WAS READING
THE WRONG BUDGET SUMMARY.
OFFICE OF ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT
DOES HAVE AN INCREASE IN 2026.
APOLOGIES. JUST A SMALL ONE BUT
JUST WANTED TO HIGHLIGHT THAT.
I WAS ON THE WRONG PAGE. I AM
NOW ON PAGE 226 OF OUR BUDGET
BOOK. DIRECTOR McINTYRE, THANK
YOU FOR THAT UPDATE ABOUT
SPECIAL PERMITS. WHEN COUNCIL
MEMBER MORALES WAS TALKING A
BIT ABOUT THE WORKFORCE
DEVELOPMENT ASPECT IS SOUNDED
VERY SIMILAR TO THE PATH THAT
YOU AND I HAVE WALKED IN SO I
KNOW THAT WORKING WITH MULTIPLE
DIFFERENT DEPARTMENTS CAN BE
CHALLENGING AT TIMES AND CAN
CREATE OPPORTUNITIES AT TIMES
AND SO I JUST WANT TO THANK YOU
FOR THAT WORK. AS YOU ARE
SPEAKING ABOUT THE BUSINESS
IMPROVEMENT AREAS, YOU
MENTIONED FINNEY LAST . I WAS
AFRAID THEY WERE GOING TO BE
MENTIONED BUT IT IS BECAUSE
THEY ARE FURTHER ALONG THAN
EVERYONE ELSE. A LOT OF WORK
THAT I DO IN DISTRICT 6, A LOT
OF POLICY GROUNDBREAKING WORK
THAT WE ARE ABLE TO DO HAS BEEN
SUPPORTED BY THE BALLARD
ALLIANCE. WE HAVE ALSO BEEN
ABLE TO CLEAN GOOD INFORMATION
FROM PILOT PROJECTS THAT THE U
DISTRICT PILOT PARTNERSHIP
RUNS. OF COURSE I WORKED PRETTY
CLOSELY WITH THE SOTO BIA AS
WELL AND SO I JUST APPRECIATE
YOUR WORK IN SUPPORTING THEM.
ANYTHING ELSE YOU WOULD LIKE TO
ADD TO YOUR PRESENTATION?
>> NO. JUST AGAIN WANT TO GIVE
A SHOUT OUT TO OUR STAFF OR
WORKING REALLY HARD ON SOME OF
THESE DIFFICULT ISSUES AS WE
CONTINUE TO RECOVER OUT OF THE
PANIC -- PANDEMIC AND TRY TO
SHAPE THE FUTURE OF SEATTLE'S
ECONOMY. I KNOW THESE ARE
DIFFICULT DECISIONS AND LOOK
FORWARD TO FURTHER
CONVERSATIONS ABOUT THEM.
>> WONDERFUL. COUNCIL
PRESIDENT, LAST WORD.
>> THANK YOU, MR. CHAIR. I'VE
BEEN ASKED TO DELIVER THE LAST
WORDS ON BEHALF OF COUNCIL
PRESIDENT NELSON AND CHAIR OF
THE COMMITTEE. MY VOICE IS
EPICALLY HEALTHY AND VIBRANT
TODAY. I ONLY HOPE I CAN DO
YOUR TALKING POINTS JUSTICE
MADAME COUNCIL PRESIDENT. I
REALIZE IT IS A BIT AWKWARD TO
PRESENT AND DEFEND CUTS THAT
YOU MAY NOT WANT TO HAVE TO
MAKE , AND I ENCOURAGE MY
COLLEAGUES TO RECOGNIZE THAT
THIS LEVEL OF CUTS WAS DIRECTED
FROM OUTSIDE OF OED. I AM
CONCERNED ABOUT THE SMALL
BUSINESSES IN THE CENTRAL
DISTRICT IN SOUTH SEATTLE WHERE
OED HAS DIRECTED TENANT
IMPROVEMENT LENS AND THE
POTENTIAL LOST OPPORTUNITY FOR
ENTREPRENEURS IN AREAS FACING
HIGH RATES OF DISPLACEMENT TO
HAVE AN OWNERSHIP STAKE IN
THEIR COMMERCIAL PROPERTY. AND
I HAVE SAID MANY TIMES ON THE
RECORD HOW IMPORTANT THE
STOREFRONT REPAIR GRANTS ARE TO
BUSINESSES ACROSS OUR CITY. AND
BECAUSE IT WAS A RECOMMENDATION
FROM MY COMMITTEE , COUNCIL
PRESIDENT'S COMMITTEE IN 2022
, I AM VERY INVESTED IN ITS
CONTINUED SUCCESS. I LOOK
FORWARD TO REVISITING OVER THE
NEXT TWO MONTHS , IF THERE IS
ANY WAY TO SALVAGE THE PROGRAM
. ONE FINAL POINT. IN 2019, OED
RECEIVED $8.5 MILLION IN
GENERAL FUND DOLLARS , AND ONLY
$7.3 MILLION IN 2024. I THINK
IT MERITS A LARGER PROPORTION
OF GENERAL FUND DOLLARS GOING
FORWARD . THANK YOU FOR YOUR
PRESENTATION . IT IS CLEAR MY
COLLEAGUES VALUE OED'S WORK.
COUNCIL MEMBER SAKA DOES, TOO,
AND HE IS WEARING SOME COOL
GLASSES. THANK YOU.
>> THANK YOU , COUNCIL
PRESIDENT SOCCER. REALLY
APPRECIATE THAT. THIS DOES
CONCLUDE THE OFFICE OF ECONOMIC
DEVELOPMENT SECTION OF THE
PRESENTATION. JUST ONE LAST
AGAIN THANK YOU FOR ALL OF THE
WORK YOU'VE DONE IN THE
DOWNTOWN ACTIVATION PLAN. THE
LIGHTS OVER THIRD, THE
DEPARTMENT LUGGAGE. I READ
TRANSIT FOR THAT QUARTER EVERY
DAY. SO THANKFUL. SORRY, I'M
ADDING ON TO THE LAST WORDS.
>> LET ME JUST SAY DOWNTOWN IS
THE ENGINE OF OUR ECONOMY AND
THE WORK THAT YOU DO DOWNTOWN
IS ALSO EXTREMELY IMPORTANT.
THANK YOU VERY MUCH. YOU HAVE
HAD TO ORGANIZE AND COORDINATE
THE WORK OTHER DEPARTMENTS ARE
INVOLVED IN SO THAT HAS BEEN A
HUGE LIFT, SO THANK YOU.
>> THANKS, EVERYBODY.
>> THINK, YOU, I WON'T TAKE
ANY MORE WORDS ON THE OFFICE OF
ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT ENCLOSING
OUR MORNING SESSION OUT, I WANT
TO THANK EVERYONE FOR THEIR
TEAMWORK TODAY. AS I SAID
YESTERDAY, IT IS ALL OF OUR
JOBS TO REPRESENT OUR ENTIRE
CITY AND TO HAVE SPECIFIC
KNOWLEDGE ABOUT OUR DISTRICTS,
TO HAVE SPECIFIC KNOWLEDGE
ABOUT THE COMMITTEES THAT WE
CHAIR AND IN TODAY'S CASE ,
EVEN BEING ABLE TO SPEAK FOR
EACH OTHER WITH EACH OTHER'S
NOTES. IT IS GOOD TEAMWORK. I
APPRECIATE THAT. I WILL BE
CLOSING US OUT FOR RECESS UNTIL
OUR AFTERNOON SESSION, WHICH
WILL BEGIN AT 2:00 P.M.
COLLEAGUES, JUST A REMINDER TO
PLEASE YOU SHARE POINT WHEN
ASKING DEPARTMENTS QUESTIONS SO
THAT WE ARE NOT SPINNING FOLKS
OUT WITH NINE SEPARATELY
ELECTED OFFICIALS ASKING
SOMEBODY THE SAME QUESTION AND
APPRECIATE DIRECTOR McINTYRE
YOU RAISING UP THAT YOUR TEAM
IS DOING THAT WITH US RIGHT
NOW. COUNCIL MEMBER MOORE.
>> CHAIR, BECAUSE I WAS LATE I
WANT TO MAKE SURE THE RECORD
NOTES I AM HERE.
>>, GOODNESS, I AM SO SORRY.
COUNCILMEMBER MOORE ARRIVED
DURING PUBLIC COMMENT , HOURS
AGO. MY APOLOGIES. AND WITH
THAT, IF THERE ARE NO
OBJECTIONS, BUDGET COMMITTEE
WILL BE IN RECESS UNTIL 2:00
P.M. WE WILL BE JOINED BY
OTHERS OF PLANNING AND
COMMUNITY DEVELOPMENT AND S
DCI. WE ARE IN RECESS.