>>> GOOD MORNING EVERYONE. THE
MARCH 14TH , 2024 MEETING OF
THE LIBRARIES EDUCATION AND
NEIGHBORHOODS COMMITTEE WILL
COME TO ORDER. IT IS 9:31 A.M.
I AM MORITZ A RIVERA, CHAIR OF
THE COMMITTEE. WILL CLERK
PLEASE CALL ROLL.
>> COUNCILMEMBER WOO.
>> PRESENT.
>> COUNCILMEMBER HOLLINGSWORTH
.
>> COUNCILMEMBER MOORE.
>> PRESENT.
>> COUNCILMEMBER MORALES.
>> HERE.
>> COUNCILMEMBER RIVERA.
>> PRESENT.
>> FOUR MEMBERS ARE PRESENT.
>> THANK YOU. AND I WANT TO
NOTE THAT COUNCILMEMBER
HOLLINGSWORTH HAS ALSO JOINED
US. THERE ARE A FEW ITEMS ON
TODAY'S AGENDA. FIRST, WE WILL
RECEIVE A BRIEFING FROM THE
SEATTLE PUBLIC LIBRARIES.
FOLLOWING THAT, WE WILL LEARN
ABOUT PENDING APPOINTMENTS TO
SOME HISTORICAL BOARDS AND
COMMISSIONS. I ALSO DO WANT TO
TAKE A SECOND TO WELCOME A
DELEGATION OF INTERNATIONAL
FOLKS THAT TEACH ENGLISH ACROSS
THE COUNTRY . THE DELEGATION
IS FROM THE WORLD AFFAIRS
COUNCIL HERE IN SEATTLE AND
THEY ARE HERE UNDER A PROGRAM
WITH THE U.S. DEPARTMENT OF
STATE, SO WELCOME. THANK YOU
FOR BEING HERE .
>> IF THERE IS NO OBJECTION,
THE AGENDA WILL BE APPROVED.
>> SEEING NO OBJECTIONS, THE
AGENDA IS APPROVED .
>> WE WILL NOW OPEN THE HYBRID
PUBLIC COMMENT PERIOD. PUBLIC
COMMENTS SHOULD RELATE TO ITEMS
ON TODAY'S AGENDA AND WITHIN
THE PURVIEW OF THE COMMITTEE.
CORK, HOW MANY SPEAKERS ARE
SIGNED UP TODAY?
>> CURRENTLY WE HAVE TWO AND
PERSON SPEAKERS AND ONE REMOTE.
>> THANK YOU, CLERK. THE
PUBLIC COMMENT PERIOD WILL BE
MODERATED IN THE FOLLOWING
MANNER. THE PUBLIC COMMENT
PERIOD IS UP TO 20 MINUTES.
EACH SPEAKER WILL HAVE TWO
MINUTES. SPEAKERS WILL BE
CALLED IN THE ORDER IN WHICH
THEY REGISTERED. WE WILL START
WITH IN PERSON SPEAKERS FIRST.
WE WILL ALTERNATE BETWEEN SETS
OF IN PERSON AND REMOTE
SPEAKERS UNTIL PUBLIC COMMENT
PERIOD HAS ENDED. SPEAKERS WILL
HEAR A TIME WHEN 10 SECONDS ARE
LEFT OF THEIR TIME. THE
MICROPHONE WILL BE MUTED IF THE
SPEAKER DOES NOT END THEIR
COMMENTS WITHIN THE ALLOTTED
TIME. THE PUBLIC COMMENT PERIOD
IS NOW OPEN. WE WILL BEGIN
WITH THE FIRST SPEAKER ON THE
LIST.
>> THE FIRST SPEAKER IS MAGGIE
HAYNES .
>> THANK YOU TO THE COUNCIL
AND MINH CHAU LE FOR THE WORK
YOU HAVE DONE BEHIND THE SCENES
TO GET CANDIDATES FOR THE
MARKET HISTORICAL COMMISSION TO
THIS POINT. IT IS REALLY,
REALLY AN IMPORTANT POSITION
AND WE APPRECIATE YOUR WORK.
THANK YOU.
>> THANK YOU .
>> THE NEXT IN PERSON SPEAKER
IS MARGARET FIELDS.
>> HELLO. I AM HERE TODAY AND
SUPPORT OF THE APPOINTMENTS OF
SARA BAKER, LANCE WAGNER AND
MARK CHILDS TO THE HISTORICAL
COMMISSION AND I'M HERE ON
BEHALF OF FRIENDS OF THE
MARKET, AS WAS MAGGIE HAYNES.
IT IS A GRASSROOTS ORGANIZATION
THAT STARTED IN 1964.
SOMETHING YOU MAY NOT KNOW
ABOUT FRIENDS OF THE MARKET IS
THAT IT WAS STARTED AT THE
SUGGESTION OF WIND LUKE ON THE
OP-ED OF THE NECESSITY TO START
CITIZENS ACTION TO SAVE THE
MARKET. THIS ULTIMATELY, WITH
VICTOR STEINBERG, LED TO THE
VOTERS INITIATIVE THAT SAVED
THE MARKET IN 1971 FROM THE
WRECKING BALL FROM THE CITY AND
THE SAME ORDINANCE THAT SEATTLE
VOTERS VOTED ON FOR THE 1971
INITIATIVE CREATED THE MARKET
HISTORICAL DISTRICT. THE
ORDINANCE FOR IT AND THE MARKET
HISTORICAL COMMISSION AND ITS
ROLE. AND TODAY, FRIENDS
CONTINUES TO PROTECT PIKE PLACE
MARKET BUT ALSO TEACH ABOUT ITS
HISTORY AND WE ARE SO GRATEFUL
FOR THE WORK OF LANCE AND SARA
JUST COMING ON AND ALSO MARK.
AND WE CAN TO HOW IMPORTANT
THAT IS IN HELPING TO PRESERVE
THE MARKET. THANK YOU.
>> THANK YOU.
>> THE FIRST REMOTE SPEAKER IS
MELANIE ALLRED. PLEASE PRESS
STAR SIX WHEN YOU HEAR THE
PROMPT OF THAT YOU HAVE BEEN ON
MUTED.
>> GOOD MORNING. CITY COUNCIL
MEMBERS, THANK YOU FOR THE
OPPORTUNITY TO MAKE A PUBLIC
COMMENT ABOUT THE POTENTIAL
CLOSING OF ONE OF SEATTLE'S
PUBLIC SCHOOLS, THE INNER
AGENCY AT QUEEN ANNE, IF I MAY.
MAY I CONTINUE?
>> PLEASE.
>> MY NAME IS MELANIE ALLRED. I
AM A PARENT OF A STUDENT AT
INNER AGENCY AT QUEEN ANNE, THE
SEATTLE RECOVERY SCHOOL AND IT
IS THE ONLY ONE OF ITS KIND IN
WASHINGTON STATE. IT IS A
SEATTLE PUBLIC SCHOOL. FAMILIES
LEARNED THIS WEEK ON TUESDAY,
MARCH 12, THAT SHARONDA
WILLINGHAM, THE PRINCIPAL AT AN
REGENCY ACADEMY, ADVOCATED TO
CLOSE THE RECOVERY SCHOOL AND
THEY ALL VOTED IN FAVOR OF IT.
WE BELIEVE THAT THIS ISSUE MAY
GO TO THE SCHOOL BOARD. MY GOAL
THIS MORNING IS TO BRING THIS
ISSUE TO YOU, THE SEATTLE
COUNCIL'S ATTENTION, IN ORDER
TO RAISE AWARENESS FOR THE
SEATTLE RECOVERY CAMPUS AND TO
BRIEFLY SHARE MY OWN FAMILY'S
EXPERIENCE WITH THE SCHOOL, IF
I MAY.
>> THE LAST YEAR, MY DAUGHTER
STRUGGLED WITH THE
PERVASIVENESS OF DRUGS AND
ALCOHOL INSIDE HER FORMER HIGH
SCHOOL, NATHAN HILL. SHE
RARELY SPENT TIME IN THE LAST
HIM AND WAS FEELING ALL OF HER
CLASSES AND DEVELOPED AN
ADDICTION TO DRUGS AND ALCOHOL.
OUR FAMILY DECIDED TO REMOVE
HER FROM NATHAN HAIL AND
ENROLLED HER AT INNER AGENCY AT
QUEEN ANNE, THE RECOVERY
SCHOOL. HOWEVER, BEFORE
RETURNING HER TO SCHOOL, SHE
REQUIRED A MONTHS WORTH OF
TREATMENT ACROSS THE COUNTRY.
SHE ARRIVED BACK HOME ON
JANUARY 4th AND RETURNED TO HER
NEW SCHOOL THE VERY NEXT DAY.
SINCE THEN, SHE HAS NOT MISSED
A SINGLE DAY OF SCHOOL, HAS
BEGUN CREDIT RETRIEVAL AND MOST
IMPORTANTLY, IS ON THE ROAD TO
RECOVERY WITH THE SUPPORT OF A
NEW GROUP OF PEERS, EACH
COMMITTED WITH THEIR OWN
SOBRIETY. SO NOT HAVING THIS
AMAZING RESOURCE WILL BE
DETRIMENTAL TO OUR DAUGHTER
PATIENTS LIFE AND OUR FAMILY
AND WE WANT TO RAISE AWARENESS
FOR THE POSSIBLE CLOSURE OF
INNER AGENCY AT QUEEN ANNE, A
VERY SMALL BUT LIFE-CHANGING
SCHOOL. THANK YOU FOR YOUR TIME
AND ATTENTION.
>> THANK YOU. THANK YOU FOR
SHARING YOUR STORY. ARE THERE
NO ADDITIONAL SPEAKERS BOX WE
WILL NOW PROCEED TO THE ITEMS
OF BUSINESS. WILL THE CLERK
PLEASE READ TODAY'S FIRST
AGENDA ITEM INTO THE RECORD.
>> AGENDA ITEM NUMBER ONE, A
BRIEFING PROVIDED BY THE
SEATTLE PUBLIC LIBRARIES.
>> THANK YOU. TODAY WE HAVE
WITH US TOM FAY, THE CHIEF
LIBRARIAN FOR SEATTLE PUBLIC
LIBRARIES. WE ALSO HAVE RICK
SHERIDAN WHO IS THE DIRECTOR OF
INSTITUTIONAL AND STRATEGIC
ADVANCEMENTS FOR SEATTLE PUBLIC
LIBRARIES. THANK YOU TO BOTH OF
YOU FOR BEING HERE. PLEASE
INTRODUCE YOURSELVES FOR THE
RECORD AFTER YOU GET SETTLED
AND YOU CAN BEGIN YOUR
PRESENTATION .
>> THANK YOU, CHAIR RIVERA. MY
NAME IS TOM FAY AND THE CHIEF
LIBRARIAN FOR THE SEATTLE
PUBLIC LIBRARY. RICK SHERIDAN,
DIRECTOR OF INSTITUTION OF THE
LIBRARY SYSTEM, THAT IS A PART
OF THE LABOR THAT DEALS WITH
COMMUNICATION, MARKETING AND
GOVERNMENT RELATIONS.
>> THANK YOU .
>> ALL RIGHT. SHARE THE SCREEN
HERE. THANK YOU AGAIN FOR
HAVING US HERE TO BRIEF THE
COMMITTEE. WE ARE PROUD
STEWARDS OF THE SEATTLE
LIBRARIES. THOSE INCLUDE 26
BRANCHES AND THE CENTRAL
LIBRARY WHICH IS ACTUALLY 20
YEARS OLD THIS YEAR, BELIEVE IT
OR NOT. SEVEN OF OUR BRANCHES
ARE CARNEGIE'S, HISTORIC
LANDMARK BUILDINGS. THESE
BEAUTIFUL BRANCHES ARE DOUGLAS
STREET, COLUMBIA, FREMONT,
GREENMOUNT, QUEEN ANNE, AND
WAS SEATTLE. ONE THING TO NOTE
IS THAT THEY ARE UNREINFORCED
MASONRY BUILDINGS OF THAT TIME,
FROM THAT TIME. WHICH MEANS
THAT THESE BUILDINGS ARE AT
INCREASED RISK FOR DAMAGE
DURING A SEISMIC EVENT. THE
CURRENT SEVEN YEAR LEVEE
INCLUDES PARTIAL FUNDING FOR
SEISMIC RETROFITS AT THREE OF
THE MOST VULNERABLE BRANCHES.
GREEN LAKE UNIVERSITY AND
COLUMBIA. AND WE ARE HAPPY TO
SAY THAT GREEN LAKE WILL BE
OPENING UP THIS YEAR AFTER ITS
SEISMIC RETROFIT. SO WE ARE
EXCITED ABOUT THAT. THEIR LEVEE
THAT PASSED WITH 70% VOTER
APPROVAL IN 2019 ALSO PROVIDES
FUNDING FOR LIBRARY OPEN HOURS,
COLLECTIONS, TECHNOLOGY,
MAINTENANCE, AND CHILDREN'S
PROGRAMMING. THE LIBRARY ALSO
HAS A MAINTENANCE AND
OPERATIONS CENTER IN
GEORGETOWN. THIS IS WHERE THE
FACILITIES AND MAINTENANCE
CREWS WORK OUT OF AND IT ALSO
HELPS WHAT WE CALL THE
AUTOMATED MATERIAL HANDLING
SYSTEM FOR THOSE WHO MAY HAVE
GONE THROUGH CENTRAL OVER THE
YEARS. WE USED TO HAVE THAT
BIG MACHINE ON THE SECOND FLOOR
OF CENTRAL. AND THEY HAVE ITS
OWN SPACE ON THE MAINTENANCE
AND OPERATIONS CENTER. AND
ANYTIME ANYBODY WOULD LIKE TO
SEE THAT MACHINE, LET US KNOW
AND WE WILL BE HAPPY TO TAKE
YOU WANT TO TOUR.
>> THE LIBRARY STAFF ARE THE
HEART AND SOUL OF THE
ORGANIZATION. WE HAVE 667 FOLKS
WORKING FOR US TODAY AND THE
WORK THAT YOU WILL SEE IN THE
PRESENTATION IS THE WORK, THE
PASSION, COMMITMENT AND
DEDICATION TO THE PEOPLE OF
SEATTLE. THE LIBRARY WORK IS
INHERENTLY PEOPLE ORIENTED
MEANING THAT THE MAJORITY OF
OUR RESOURCES ARE DEDICATED TO
PERSONNEL, PEOPLE SERVING
PEOPLE. THE 2024 BUDGET FOR
CAPITAL AND OPERATIONS IS 102.2
MILLION FROM ALL SOURCES
INCLUDING THE PRIVATE FUNDING.
NEXT PLEASE.
>> A LITTLE BIT ABOUT
GOVERNANCE. THE LIBRARY IS
CREATED IN STATE LAW AND IN THE
CITY CHARTER. THE LIBRARY IS A
NONEXECUTIVE DEPARTMENT AND AS
SUCH, THE LIBRARY IS GOVERNED
BY A FIVE-MEMBER BOARD OF
TRUSTEES WHICH PROVIDES BOTH
FISCAL AND POLICY DIRECTION AND
OVERSIGHT FOR THE LIBRARY
SYSTEM. THE DUTIES ARE OUTLINED
IN STATE LAW AND INCLUDE
GUIDING THE FISCAL AND POLICY
DIRECTION AS MENTIONED. MEMBERS
SERVE FIVE-YEAR TERMS AND ARE
APPOINTED BY THE MAYOR AND
CONFIRMED BY THE SEATTLE CITY
COUNCIL. THE CURRENT MEMBERS
ARE LISTED HERE ON THIS SLIDE
AND OF NOTE, WE DO HAVE ONE
BOARD POSITION EXPIRING THIS
YEAR. NEXT PLEASE.
>> SO THIS SLIDE PROVIDES A
SNAPSHOT OF 2023. THESE ARE ALL
ANNUAL NUMBERS. WE HAD 353,000
ACTIVE PATRONS, A RECORD HIGH.
75,000 NEW PATRONS LAST YEAR
REGISTERED, WHICH IS A VERY
LARGE NUMBER TO REGISTER. WE
HAVE 2.8 MILLION ITEMS IN THE
COLLECTION, 3500 CLASSES AND
EVENTS WITH OVER 100,000
ATTENDEES. 431,000 QUESTIONS
ANSWERED BY OUR INFORMATION
SERVICES TEAM. FOLKS ASK WHAT
ASSISTED MEANS AND IT MEANS
AGAIN THAT PEOPLE ARE SERVING
PEOPLE. ALL PEOPLE INTERACTIONS
AND NOT MACHINE BASED
INTERACTIONS. WE ALSO HAD A
RECORD 13.4 MILLION ITEMS
CIRCULATED BOTH IN PRINT AND IN
DIGITAL LAST YEAR. WE HAD 1.6
MILLION PUBLIC COMPUTER AND
WI-FI SESSIONS. AGAIN, TRYING
TO BRIDGE THE DIGITAL DIVIDE.
NEXT PLEASE.
>> THIS PARTICULAR SLIDE
REPRESENTS THE LIBRARY PATIENTS
BUDGET. WE HAVE THE CITY'S
GENERAL FUND BUDGET WHICH IS
ABOUT 61% AND REPRESENTS ABOUT
$62 MILLION. WE HAVE THE
LIBRARY LEVY WHICH REPRESENTS
30% OF THE BUDGET AND IS ABOUT
32 MILLION. AND THEN WE HAVE
OTHER, WHICH IS ABOUT 8
MILLION. WE HAVE BROKEN DOWN
THE OTHER, TO THE RIGHT. WE
HAVE THE LIBRARY FUND BALANCE,
WHICH, IF WE ARE SAVING FUNDS
OR SAVING MONEY OVER THE COURSE
OF THE YEAR, IT IS ABOUT 2%.
REIT UNFORTUNATELY HAS BEEN
DOWN SO THAT IS A VERY LOW OR
NO NUMBER AT THE MOMENT. WE
ALSO HAVE THE FOUNDATION
RESOURCES, WHICH IS ALL PRIVATE
FUNDING THAT COMES IN. THAT IS
ABOUT A 5 MILLION-DOLLAR GIFT
EACH YEAR AND VERY MUCH
APPRECIATED. AND WE HAVE OTHER
LIBRARY GIFT FUNDS THAT ARE
HISTORIC FUNDS THAT HAVE BEEN
WITH THE LIBRARY FOR A NUMBER
OF YEARS. NEXT PLEASE.
>> THIS PARTICULAR SLIDE
ACTUALLY TAKES THE BUDGET AND
REPRESENTS IT IN THE DOLLAR. AS
YOU CAN SEE, AS I SAID EARLIER,
71% OF OUR COST GOES TO
PERSONNEL. AGAIN, PEOPLE
SERVING PEOPLE. 11% GOES TO
BOOKS AND MATERIALS. 5% TO THE
CAPITAL IMPROVEMENT AND MAJOR
MAINTENANCE PROGRAMS AND 6%,
FOR THE FACILITIES, RENT,
UTILITIES, AND EQUIPMENT AND 7%
ARE ALL THE OTHER THINGS THAT
YOU MIGHT THINK YOU NEED TO RUN
A LIBRARY SYSTEM. PROGRAMMING
FUNDS AND ALL OF THAT. THERE
IS, AS I MENTIONED, 667 STAFF
REPRESENTED IN THE PERSONNEL
BUDGET. NEXT PLEASE.
>> LIBRARY SERVICES. AS
EVERYONE KNOWS, THE BRAND IS
BOOKS. OBVIOUSLY, THAT IS ONE
OF THE BIGGEST THINGS THAT WE
ARE KNOWN FOR. AS I SAID, 2.8
MILLION IN THE COLLECTION AND
13.4 MILLION AND CIRCULATION IN
2023. WHEN WE TALK ABOUT
DIGITAL MATERIALS, THE SEATTLE
PUBLIC LIBRARY LINK RANKS
EIGHTH IN THE WORLD FOR DIGITAL
CHECKOUTS AND SIX IN THE UNITED
STATES. WE ARE POUND FOR POUND
COMPARED TO OTHER CITIES AND WE
DO VERY WELL. WE HAVE A VERY
LITERATE CITY. REFERENCE, THAT
IS SOME OF THOSE QUESTIONS.
THE LIBRARY IS HERE TO LOOK UP
INFORMATION AND HELP YOU WITH
YOUR ACCOUNT AND MORE.
>> THE LIBRARY OFFERS
THOUSANDS OF EVENTS A YEAR
INCLUDING STORY TIMES AND OTHER
PERRONE -- LEARNING PROGRAM
SOME AUTHOR EVENTS,
PERFORMANCES, DISCUSSIONS,
BUSINESS NETWORKING, FREE TAX
HELP, CITIZENSHIP SUPPORT AND
WORKSHOPS AND MORE.
RESEARCHERS, HISTORIANS AND
ANYONE ELSE IN THE COMMUNITY
HAVE ACCESS TO LOCAL HISTORY
ITEMS AND HISTORICAL RESEARCH
EXPERTISE. THEY ALSO COLLECT A
NUMBER OF ITEMS THROUGHOUT THE
COMMUNITY. THOSE COULD BE
MANUSCRIPTS AND THEY MIGHT BE
MAPS OR OTHER IMPORTANT
DOCUMENTS. AND IT IS COLLECTED
PRIMARILY FOR THE CITY OF
SEATTLE BUT ALSO THE PACIFIC
NORTHWEST. IF YOU HAD A CHANCE
TO SEE THE SPECIAL COLLECTIONS,
LET US KNOW AND WE WILL BE
HAPPY TO GIVE YOU A TOUR OF THE
AREA. NEXT PLEASE.
>> AND ANOTHER FAVORITE OF
MOST LIBRARY PATRONS IS THE
MOBILE SERVICES. THEY DELIVER
SERVICES AND MATERIALS TO ABOUT
1400 CHILDREN EACH MONTH AND
HOME SERVICES FOR THOSE WITH
LONG-TERM ILLNESSES OR THAT ARE
HOMEBOUND. OUR MOBILE SERVICES
ACTUALLY HAVE FOUR VEHICLES.
AND WE ARE ABLE TO HAVE MOBILE
SERVICE STOPS THROUGHOUT THE
ENTIRE CITY. WE HAVE ABOUT 140
STOPS A MONTH WITH THE MOBILE
SERVICES TEAM. WE ALSO HAVE
FREE MEETING AND STUDY SPACES
AND/OR LOW COST IF YOU HAPPEN
TO BE AT THE CENTRAL LIBRARY.
WE HAD OVER 6100 ROOM BOOKINGS
IN 2023 . NEXT.
>> OF COURSE, THE OTHER NOTED
AREAS ARE PROGRAMS FOR ALL
AGES. WE OFFER THOUSANDS OF
THOSE A YEAR AND INCLUDING
STORY TIMES AND OTHER EARLY
LEARNING PROGRAMS, AUTHOR
EVENTS, PERFORMANCES,
COMMUNITIES, DISCUSSIONS AND
MUCH MORE LIKE THE ONE TONIGHT
WE WILL HAVE ON PUBLIC SAFETY
AT THE CENTRAL LIBRARY. THE
OTHER ITEM I WANTED TO MENTION
IS THE LIBRARY EQUAL ACCESS
PROGRAM. IT IS A
WELL-ESTABLISHED PROGRAM THAT
INCLUDES ACCESSIBLE LIBRARY
PROGRAM SERVICES AND ASSISTIVE
RESOURCES FOR PEOPLE THAT MAY
NEED EXTRA ASSISTANCE OR HAVE
ISSUES WITH SIGHT OR HEARING.
WE ALSO OFFER ADDITIONAL
ACCOMMODATIONS UNDER THE
AMERICANS WITH DISABILITIES
ACT. OUR SOCIAL SERVICES TEAM
IS NEW. AND NEWLY
RECONSTITUTED POST- PANDEMIC.
THAT INCLUDES THE SOCIAL
SERVICES LIBRARY AND TWO SOCIAL
WORKERS. ONE IS YOUTH-ORIENTED
AND THE OTHER, ADULT ORIENTED.
THIS TEAM PROVIDES IMPORTANT
COMMUNITY SUPPORT AND RESOURCE
REFERRALS IN PARTICULAR FOR THE
SEATTLE ON HOUSE POPULATIONS.
IT IS ALSO IMPORTANT TO NOTE
THAT THIS TEAM, AND WITH THE
SOCIAL SERVICES LIBRARIAN ALSO
PROVIDES THE REFERENCE
LIBRARIANS THROUGHOUT THE
ENTIRE SYSTEM. ALL OF THOSE
REFERRALS, BY REGION. SO IF
SOMEONE STOPS INTO A BRANCH,
THEY ALSO WOULD GET THE SAME
INFORMATION THAT ONE OF THE
SOCIAL WORKERS WOULD HAVE AND
IT IS BASED ON REGION. SO IT
IS THE CLOSEST SUPPORT FOR
THOSE PEOPLE SEEKING THE
ASSISTANCE. NEXT PLEASE .
>> TECHNOLOGY ACCESS. THE
LIBRARY HELPS CLOSE THE DIGITAL
DIVIDE, AS I MENTIONED IN THE
CITY, BY PROVIDING FREE ACCESS
TO COMPUTERS, HIGH-SPEED WI-FI,
LAPTOPS, TABLETS, PRINTERS,
SCANNERS IN FACT MACHINES. WE
SEEK TO MAKE THE EXPERIENCE
EASIER BY PROVIDING THE ABILITY
TO USE SELF CHECKOUTS AT ALL
LOCATIONS AND 24/7 PICKUP
LOCKERS WHICH PROVIDE ACCESS
AT FIVE BRANCHES CURRENTLY. WE
ALSO PROVIDE FREE ACCESS TO
MOBILE WI-FI HOTSPOTS WITHIN
OUR COLLECTION AND OUT IN THE
COMMUNITY. AND OF COURSE, THERE
IS THE LIBRARY ONLINE AT
SPL.ORG AND IT ACCESSES THE
24/7 LIBRARY RESOURCE WITH
ACCESS TO COLLECTIONS, FREE
NEWSPAPER ACCESS, DATABASES
WITH MILLIONS UPON MILLIONS OF
ARTICLES FOR RESEARCH AND MUCH
MORE. THE LIBRARY IS COMMITTED
TO EQUITY AND INCLUSIVITY. WE
ARE FOCUSED ON LISTENING AND
LEARNING, BUILDING
RELATIONSHIPS AND CO- DESIGNING
THE APPROACH TO SERVICES AND
PROGRAMS. OUR GOAL IS TO STAY
RESPONSIVE TO COMMUNITY
INTEREST AND NEEDS. AND JUST
TWO EXAMPLES OF THE HUNDREDS
INCLUDE OUR SUPPORT TO
ENCAMPMENTS AND OUR COMMITMENT
TO ONGOING COMMUNITY LISTENING.
THE LIBRARY CONDUCTS OUTREACH
TO SANCTION TO ENCAMPMENTS AND
TINY HOUSE VILLAGES WHERE WE
PROVIDE ON-SITE LIBRARY
SERVICES AND LONG-TERM USE OF
WI-FI HOTSPOTS TO KEEP THE
COMMUNITIES DIGITALLY
CONNECTED. IN A COMMUNITY
LISTENING IS DONE BOTH OF THE
SYSTEMWIDE AND NEIGHBORHOOD
LEVEL. THE WORK IS ONGOING TO
HELP SHAPE WHAT SERVICES WE
PROVIDE AND HOW WE PROVIDE
THEM. RECENTLY, WE HAVE
ENGAGED IN THE COMMUNITY WITH
STRATEGIC PLANNING WORK THAT WE
ARE EXCITED TO LAUNCH IN THE
NEXT FEW MONTHS. AND FINALLY,
OPPORTUNITIES OVER THE NEXT 10
YEARS. AS I MENTIONED, OUR
STRATEGIC PLAN IS WRAPPING UP.
THAT IS REALLY TAKING A 10 YEAR
VIEW. WE ACTUALLY STARTED THE
PROCESS BY HAVING A FUTURE
STUDY OR FORESIGHT WORK DONE
AND THEN MOVED INTO THE
STRATEGIC PLANNING. WE KNOW
COMING OUT OF THE PANDEMIC, WE
WANTED TO ACTUALLY LIFT PEOPLE
UP AND THINK ABOUT WHAT COULD
BE AND NOT WHAT WE HAD JUST
GONE THROUGH. WE ALSO WANTED TO
TAKE THAT OPPORTUNITY THROUGH
THE STRATEGIC PLANNING PROCESS
TO REENGAGE OUR COMMUNITY, FIND
OUT WHAT THE NEEDS ARE POST
PANDEMIC AND NOT WHAT THE
ASSUMPTIONS WERE GOING IN. SOME
OTHER NEW AND EXCITING PIECES
AS I MENTIONED EARLIER IS
REOPENING GREENLAKE BRANCH. FOR
THOSE THAT REMEMBER GREEN LAKE
BRANCH, IT WILL LOOK A LOT
DIFFERENT. IN THE MIDDLE OF THE
CONSTRUCTION, IT WAS A VERY
LARGE HOLE AND WE DID EXTENSIVE
WORK. THE BUILDING WILL BE MUCH
SAFER AND IT WILL HAVE
STRUCTURAL STEEL AND WILL HOLD
UP THE ROOF IN A SEISMIC EVENT
AND WE WILL BE MOVING ON TO
UNIVERSITY LATER THIS YEAR. WE
ALSO WILL HAVE A NEW LIBRARY
APP. THIS HAS GONE THROUGH A
VERY EXTENSIVE PUBLIC PROCESS.
WE DID A RACIAL EQUITY TOOLKIT
AS WELL ON THIS. REALLY WORKING
WITH THE COMMUNITY IS TO
DISCOVER WHAT THEY NEED FROM
THE LIBRARY APPLICATION THAT
WOULD MAKE THE LIBRARY SYSTEM
MORE ACCESSIBLE FROM A PHONE OR
ANY OTHER TYPE OF DEVICE THAT
WE HOPE TO HAVE LATER THIS
YEAR.
>> AND RECEIVED FUNDING FOR
ELECTRIC VEHICLE CHARGES FOR
SIX LOCATIONS SO WE ARE EXCITED
TO MOVE THROUGH THAT PROCESS
THIS YEAR AND HOPEFULLY BRING
THIS ON. THOSE ARE FOR THOSE
WHO HAVE PARKING LOTS WARRANT
-- LARGE ENOUGH TO ACCOMMODATE
EV CHARGING STATIONS. AND WE
HAVE SOME OTHER POTENTIAL STATE
AND FEDERAL FUNDS AND HAVE BEEN
AWARDED A FEMA GRANT FOR
CLIMATE RESILIENCE WHICH WILL
ALLOW US TO ELECTRIFY FIVE
ADDITIONAL BUILDINGS AND
PUTTING AIR CONDITIONING. AS
ALL MAY KNOW, WE HAVE STRUGGLED
IN SEATTLE THE PAST FEW SUMMERS
WITH HEAT AND WE HAVE SEEN THEM
CLOSE WHEN TEMPERATURES WERE
UNBEARABLE INSIDE. AND THEN WE
HAVE THE 2019 V. AND THE NEXT
LEVY IS COMING UP IN 2026. SO
THE PLANNING FOR THAT BEGINS AS
WE LOOK AT THE STRATEGIC PLAN
AND SOME OF THE NEW WORK WE
NEED TO DO IN THE COMMUNITY.
>> WITH THAT, I WILL TURN IT
OVER TO ANY QUESTIONS YOU MIGHT
HAVE.
>> THANK YOU CHIEF LIBRARIAN,
TOM FAY. COLLEAGUES, DO YOU
HAVE QUESTIONS OR COMMENTS?
COUNCILMEMBER WOO.
>> I HAVE A COMMON. I WANT TO
SAY THANK YOU FOR ALL YOUR
WORK. I GREW UP IN THE
LIBRARY'S GOING TO LIBRARIES
AFTER SCHOOL. AND READING THE
HARDY BOYS AND NANCY DREW BOOKS
THAT WERE MADE AVAILABLE
THROUGH THE LIBRARY'S AND
ENGAGING IN AFTERSCHOOL
PROGRAMS AND APPRECIATIVE OF
DOING WORK DURING THE PANDEMIC
AND ALLOWING FOR THE GENERAL
COLLECTION TO BE MADE
AVAILABLE. I ALSO HEARD THAT
YOU HAVE LARGE COLLECTIONS OF
BANNED BOOKS TOO AVAILABLE FOR
PEOPLE HERE.
>> AND HELPING ON HOUSE
NEIGHBORS HAVE A SAFE PLACE TO
GO AND THE SERVICES OFFERED. I
KNOW IT IS A TOUGH SITUATION
SOMETIMES BUT I AM APPRECIATIVE
OF THE WORK THAT YOU CONTINUE
TO DO. SO THANK YOU.
>> THANK YOU FOR THE NOTE ON
THE BOOKS.
>> AND WE STARTED THIS ABOUT A
YEAR AGO AND IT PROVIDES ALL
THE DIGITAL COLLECTIONS TO
ANYONE IN THE UNITED STATES AND
ITS TERRITORIES, AGES 13 TO 26
AND IT PROVIDES ALL THE BOOKS.
NOT JUST THE BOOKS ON THE BAN.
THIS PAST YEAR, WE SAW 85,000
CHECKOUTS AND 6500 FOLKS SIGN
UP FOR THE PROGRAM NATIONWIDE
AND ACROSS THE TERRITORY.
>> ONE OF THE THINGS THEY HAVE
TO DO IS TELL US THE REASON WHY
THEY NEEDED. IF YOU EVER WANT
TO SEE SOME OF THOSE STORIES,
THEY TRULY ARE HEARTBREAKING AS
TO WHY FOLKS NEED THE SERVICES.
IT COULD BE RANGING FROM, I
LIVE 75 MILES FROM A LIBRARY,
TO ALL THE THINGS THAT YOU
MIGHT THINK ABOUT WHEN WE TALK
ABOUT BAN BOOKS OR ISSUES.
PEOPLE HAVE CONCERNS WITH
PEOPLE KNOWING WHAT THEY READ.
WE ARE PROUD TO DO THIS. WE
JOINED OUR COLLEAGUES IN
BROOKLYN WHO STARTED THE
PROGRAM AND THERE ARE OTHER
LARGE LIBRARY SYSTEMS AND THE
COUNTRY DOING THE SAME AND
SHARING THE BURDEN AND MAKING
SURE MATERIAL IS AVAILABLE.
>> THANK YOU COUNCILMEMBER WOO.
ANYONE ELSE?
>> COUNCILMEMBER MORALES .
>> YOU MENTIONED THAT YOU HAD
75,000 NEW DIGITAL SUBSCRIBERS.
IS IT CONNECTED TO THE FACT
THAT YOU OFFER THIS PROGRAM
LAST YEAR?
>> I THINK IT IS PART OF THAT.
ABSOLUTELY. WE ALSO HAD
MULTIPLE WAYS OF THAT
INFORMATION GETTING OUT
NATIONALLY. OUR FOUNDATION IS
OUR PRIVATE INVESTOR AND NOT.
THERE ARE NO PUBLIC FUNDS THAT
GO TO BOOKS ON BAND. SO THEY
FULLY FUND THAT. AND WITH ALL
THE MARKETING OUT THERE, I
BELIEVE THAT HELPED BRING IN
EVEN MORE PEOPLE WHO SAID, WHAT
IS GOING ON AT THE SEATTLE
PUBLIC LIBRARY? IT WAS A GREAT
YEAR FROM A SIGN OF
PERSPECTIVE.
>> I WOULD BE REALLY INTERESTED
IN READING SOME OF THE STORIES
YOU MENTIONED. AND I WANTED TO
COMMENT. THE COMMENT -- THE
PHOTOGRAPH YOU HAVE OF THE
MOBILE BOOKS TO GO BACK TO WAY
BACK TO BEING SEVEN OR EIGHT
MYSELF, MY GRANDMOTHER'S
NEIGHBORHOOD DID NOT HAVE A
LIBRARY BRANCH SO WE RELIED ON
THE MOBILE BOOK TRUCK TO COME
AND THANK YOU FOR THE MEMORY
AND I'M GLAD TO KNOW THAT THE
SERVICE IS AVAILABLE.
>> I HAVE ALWAYS LOVED IT. I
GREW UP IN A RURAL AREA AND
THAT WAS ONE OF MY FIRST
EXPERIENCES WITH LIBRARIES
MYSELF. WHEN I STARTED IN
LIBRARIES, I ACTUALLY DROVE ONE
FOR A LITTLE BIT OF TIME TOO. I
HAVE ALWAYS ENJOYED THEM AND I
THINK MANY PEOPLE HAVE FOND
MEMORIES OF THE BOOKMOBILES.
>> THANK YOU COUNCILMEMBER
MORALES. COUNCILMEMBER MOORE.
>> THANK YOU MADAM CHAIR. I TOO
I'M A HUGE FAN OF LIBRARIES. I
TOOK MY THREE SONS THERE FROM
WHEN THEY WERE LITTLE TO THE
TIME THEY GREW UP AND IT WAS A
WONDERFUL RESOURCE TO US.
THANK YOU FOR PROVIDING THAT
SPACE AND WE HAVE FABULOUS
LIBRARIES IN DISTRICT 5. LAKE
CITY IS A HUGE RESOURCE TO THE
COMMUNITY, PARTICULARLY NOW
THAT WE DON'T HAVE A COMMUNITY
CENTER. NORTHGATE LIBRARY IN
BROADVIEW. SO ALONG THOSE
LINES, I NOTED IN YOUR SLIDE,
TALKING ABOUT CHALLENGES, YOU
TALK ABOUT BUDGET AND AM
WONDERING IF YOU COULD MAYBE
JUST ELABORATE A LITTLE BIT ON
THE IMPACTS OF THE COLLECTIONS,
PROGRAMMING AND MAINTENANCE.
>> I WILL START WITH KIND OF
THE MAINTENANCE PIECE OF IT AND
THE BUILDINGS. AS YOU KNOW,
HERE IN SEATTLE, OUR
CONSTRUCTION HAS BEEN THROUGH
THE ROOF AND CONTINUING TO
ESCALATE. AND THAT CREATES
CONSIDERABLE CHALLENGES,
ESPECIALLY WHEN THINGS LIKE
REIT HAVE FALLEN EXTENSIVELY ON
THE FUNDS ARE NOT AS AVAILABLE.
IT ALSO MEANS THAT EVEN IN THE
LEVY THAT WAS BUILT IN 2018,
AND 2019, WHEN WE PUT THE
PACKAGE TOGETHER, CONSTRUCTION
COSTS WERE CONSIDERABLY LESS.
WHEN WE LOOK AT THE LEVY AND
TRYING TO GET THESE PROJECTS TO
COMPLETION, IT BECOMES MORE AND
MORE CHALLENGING. HOWEVER, THE
ONE THING, WHEN I CAME IN AS
THE CHIEF LIBRARIAN, I FELT WE
WERE NOT TURNING OVER EVERY
ROCK, MEANING WE WEREN'T
LOOKING AT, WHERE THERE ARE
OTHER RESOURCES IN THE CITY OR
WERE WE LOOKING AT STATE
RESOURCES OR LOOKING AT FEDERAL
RESOURCES? WE HAVE CHANGED
THAT. WE RECEIVED STATE FUNDING
FROM STATE COMMERCE. WE
RECEIVED ALMOST $2 MILLION ON A
PROJECT FOR THAT. AS I SAID,
THE FEMA MONEY AND LOOKING AT
OTHER FUNDING MONEY FROM
COMMERCE LIKE EV CHARGING.
GETTING THEM IS AN IMPORTANT
PIECE. WE CAN'T JUST RELY ON
OUR FOUNDATION AND THE FRIENDS
GROUPS AND CANNOT JUST RELY
NECESSARILY ON THE GENERAL
FUND. WE HAVE TO EXPAND AND
CAST TO THE NET WIDE TO GET
THOSE FUNDS. ALL OF THOSE
THINGS ARE VERY SIMILAR WHEN WE
TALK ABOUT STAFFING AND
EXPANDED HOURS AND THE LEVY.
THAT WAS PREDICATED ON 2019
STAFFING LEVELS. SO 2019
STAFFING LEVELS ARE NOT
AVAILABLE, IT MEANS WE CANNOT
MAINTAIN THOSE HOURS AT ALL
DEPENDING ON WHAT THE SITUATION
IS. THAT IS ALWAYS A CHALLENGE.
WE SAW THAT CHALLENGE DURING
THE PANDEMIC. THAT IS WHY WE
COULDN'T BRING ON THE EXPANDED
HOURS DURING THE PANDEMIC,
BECAUSE WE DIDN'T HAVE THE
STAFF AT THE 2019 LEVELS. THOSE
ARE ALWAYS CHALLENGES THAT WE
FACE. WE MOST CERTAINLY ARE
ALWAYS LOOKING AT WAYS TO
RESOLVE THAT AND ALWAYS
APPRECIATE THE COLLABORATION
WITH COUNCIL AND THE MAYOR'S
OFFICE IN DOING THAT WORK.
>> I THINK I HAD HEARD IN THE
PREVIOUS CONVERSATIONS THAT A
MAJOR EXPENSE TOO IS THE
DIGITAL COLLECTION AND HAVING
THOSE FEES TO PAY.
>> THAT IS MOST CERTAINLY A
CHALLENGE. DIGITAL MATERIALS,
WE TALK ABOUT E-BOOKS, OR 2-3
TIMES THE NORMAL COST OF A
PRINT BOOK. E-AUDIOBOOKS CAN
BE 3-5 TIMES THE PRICE OF A
PHYSICAL BOOK. YOU AS A
CONSUMER, INDIVIDUAL CONSUMER,
WILL PAY LESS. PUBLISHERS FOUND
WAYS AROUND AND LOOPHOLES FROM
THE FAIR USE ACT TO SAY,
LIBRARIES ARE COMPETITORS AND
SHOULD PAY MORE FOR THE RIGHT
TO BE ABLE TO SHARE THOSE
BOOKS. NOW WE KNOW THAT IS NOT
REALLY THE CASE. AND WE
ACTUALLY ARE THE BEST GATEWAY
FOR AUTHORS AND TITLES THAT ANY
PUBLISHER COULD EVER WANT. THEY
COULD NEVER PROMOTE AS MUCH AS
LIBRARIES CAN PROVIDE ACCESS TO
MATERIAL. BUT THAT IS WHERE WE
SIT. WE ARE LOOKING AT WAYS, AS
AN ACTUAL COMMITTEE STATEWIDE
FORMING, TO LOOK AT HOW THIS
MIGHT BE DEALT WITH
LEGISLATIVELY. OF COURSE WE
WORK WITH THE CITY'S,
GOVERNMENT AFFAIRS AS WELL AS
WE LOOK AT THAT MOVING INTO THE
BIENNIAL BUDGET PROCESS WITH
THE LEGISLATURE IN 2025. SEVERE
LOOKING AT THAT KIND OF LEGAL
PIECE THAT MIGHT MAKE
ADJUSTMENTS THERE AND HOPEFULLY
GET THOSE COSTS MORE
REASONABLE. THE OTHER PIECE IS
THAT WE ALSO HAVE TO -- WE
HAVE DONE A LOT MORE DATA
ANALYSIS IN THE LAST YEAR AND A
HALF TO SAY, HOW CAN WE CHANGE
HOW WE BUY? WHAT WE BUY AND
WHEN WE BUY. WHICH IS KEY. AND
MY TEAM HAS BEEN DOING GREAT
WORK AND DATA ANALYSIS ON THAT.
THERE ARE CHANGES WE ARE MAKING
THAT WILL CREATE GREATER
PROJECT CAPACITY. WHAT WE WANT
IS A DIGITAL COLLECTION. NOT
THIS DEEP BUT MUCH DEEPER. AND
THE ONLY WAY TO DO THAT IS NOT
TO OVER BUY BECAUSE IT IS THE
HOTTEST THING THAT SOMEBODY
WANTS. SO YES, WE WANT TO BE IN
FULFILLMENT TRYING TO MAKE SURE
PATRONS ARE HAPPY BUT I'M ALSO
NOT AMAZON AND I DON'T HAVE A
BUDGET LIKE THAT. SO WE HAVE
TO REALIZE WHAT WE CAN DO AND
CREATE DEPTH IN THE COLLECTION.
>> THANK YOU.
>> THANK YOU COUNCILMEMBER
MOORE. COUNCILMEMBER
HOLLINGSWORTH.
>> THANK YOU, CHAIR. A COMMENT
AND A QUICK QUESTION. MY
FAVORITE LIBRARY WHICH IS THE
DOUGLAS SHOES LIBRARY IN ARE
DISTRICT. AND THE NEW ADD-ON
WHICH IS ABSOLUTELY GORGEOUS.
A QUICK QUESTION I HAD. WHEN I
WAS LEARNING ABOUT SOME OF OUR
SYSTEMS WAS ALL THE MAINTENANCE
PIECE WITH THE AIR
CONDITIONING. AND I DON'T
KNOW HOW MANY LIBRARIES HAVE
TO. I KNOW SOME OF THEM, YOU
HAD TO SHUT DOWN BECAUSE OF THE
INCREASED HEAT WAVES GOING ON
IN OUR CITY. CAN YOU TALK A
LITTLE BIT ABOUT THAT?
>> ABSOLUTELY. I WOULD SAY THE
LAST FOUR YEARS HAVE BEEN
PRETTY TOUGH. WHEN I LOOK BACK
AROUND THE PANDEMIC TIME AND
THE HEAT WAS STARTING TO COME
IN, IT WAS SHUTTING US DOWN
CONSIDERABLY. WE WOULD HAVE
BETWEEN 5-7 BRANCHES CLOSING
QUITE A BIT THROUGHOUT THE
SUMMER. AS WE WERE ABLE TO
START SAYING, LET'S GET THE
ELECTRIFICATION IN, BECAUSE
THAT GETS RID OF THE FOSSIL
FUELS, AND LET'S GO AHEAD AND
START FIGURING OUT HOW WE GET
AC, WE ARE NOW DOWN TO FIVE OR
WILL BE, FIVE LOCATIONS THAT
DON'T HAVE AC. AND WITH THE
FEMA FUNDING WE RECEIVED, WE
SHOULD BE ABLE TO GET, IF NOT
ALL OF THEM, CLOSE TO ALL OF
THEM BACK AND WITH AC WHICH
MEANS WE ARE OPEN DURING THE
SUMMERS, SHORT OF SMOKE EVENTS
OR SOMETHING THAT WE SOMETIMES
GET HERE AS WELL. WE ARE VERY
EXCITED ABOUT BEING ABLE TO
STAY OPEN IN THE SUMMER. IT IS
A CRITICAL RESOURCE. FOLKS
THING MOSTLY FOR THE INSECURELY
HOUSED. BUT THERE ARE SO MANY
PEOPLE IN THE CITY WITHOUT AIR
CONDITIONING AND SENIORS REALLY
STRUGGLE WHEN THE TEMPERATURES
HEAT UP. SO WE ARE EXCITED TO
PROVIDE THAT RESPITE DURING THE
SUMMER.
>> THANK YOU COUNCILMEMBER
HOLLINGSWORTH. ANY OTHER
QUESTIONS?
>> COUNCILMEMBER MORALES.
>> I HAVE TWO QUESTIONS.
>> RELATED TO THE LACK OF AIR
CONDITIONING, CAN YOU TELL US
WHICH LIBRARIES YOU STILL NEED
TO GET TO?
>> PROBABLY. LET ME SEE IF WE
HAVE THAT HANDY HERE. I KNOW
ONE OF THEM IS QUEEN ANNE,
FREMONT, UNIVERSITY . AND FOR
SOME REASON, I'M DRAWING A
BLANK ON THE OTHER ONES.
COLUMBIA IS PARTIAL BUT NEEDS
TO BE FINALIZED WITH NEWER
CONDITIONING AND ONE MORE THAT
IS ESCAPING ME AT THE MOMENT.
>> THANK YOU. WE CAN FOLLOW UP
ON THAT. I ALSO WANTED TO GET
BACK TO THE STAFFING QUESTION
COUNCILMEMBER MOORE TALKED
ABOUT. WE HAD FOLKS COMMENT
ABOUT THE HIRING FREEZE. CAN
YOU TALK ABOUT THE IMPACT OF
THAT ON CURRENT SERVICES AND
POTENTIAL FUTURE SERVICES,
ESPECIALLY GIVEN THE FACT THAT
YOU ARE REOPENING A LIBRARY,
LOOKING AT THE NEXT LIBRARY
DOWN THE LINE. WHAT IS THE
POTENTIAL IMPACT OF THAT?
>> THE IMPACT ON ANY KIND OF
FREEZE, OBVIOUSLY , IS THAT WE
STRUGGLE FOR STABILITY AND
OPERATION. LOOKING AT THE OPEN
HOURS. WHAT WE HAVE BEEN
WORKING TO DO HERE IN THE LAST,
I WOULD SAY THREE WEEKS OR SO,
IS TO FIGURE OUT, HOW CAN WE
STABILIZE THAT WITH SOME OF OUR
INTERMITTENT OPTIONS THAT WE
HAVE MEANING TEMPORARY
EMPLOYEES, TO BE ABLE TO MANAGE
SOME OF THEM AND WE ARE WORKING
THROUGH THE PROCESS NOW. WE
STAY IN COLLABORATION WITH THE
MAYOR'S OFFICE ON THIS TOO,
LETTING THEM KNOW WHEN THEY ARE
GOING TO HAVE ISSUES. WE KNOW
THAT AS WE GO DEEPER INTO THIS,
IT WILL HAVE POTENTIAL IMPACT
WHERE WE MIGHT HAVE TO CLOSE A
BRANCH. IF WE HAVE SICK CALLS.
THOSE ARE THINGS THAT CAN
HAPPEN ALREADY TODAY OR WOULD
HAVE HAPPENED AND DID HAPPEN
LAST YEAR, IF WE GET CLOSE.
THE ONE THING WE ALWAYS WANT TO
DO AND WE KNOW THE SECURITY OF
THE BRANCHES IS IMPORTANT TO
THE PUBLIC INTO THE THE STAFF,
THAT HAS BEEN A CHALLENGE FOR
POST- PANDEMIC WE WILL NOT
OPERATE A BUILDING THAT IS NOT
SAFE TO OPERATE. WE MOST
CERTAINLY WILL CLOSE IF WE
DON'T HAVE THE STAFFING
CLASSIFICATIONS THAT WE NEED IN
THE BRANCH TO OPERATE
SUCCESSFULLY. AND SO YES, THAT
CAN HAPPEN. WILL IT HAPPEN?
LIKELY THE LONGER WE GO DEEPER
INTO THIS, BUT WE ARE TRYING TO
WORK ON METHODS TO STABILIZE
THAT IS MUCH AS POSSIBLE.
>> THANK YOU.
>> THANK YOU. TOM, SO YOU HAVE
667 EMPLOYEES NOW. HOW MANY
VACANCIES DO YOU HAVE?
>> CURRENTLY, WE HAVE ABOUT 55
.
>> FULL TIME?
>> THAT IS ACROSS ALL TYPES OF
POSITIONS. THAT COULD BE
JANITOR, FACILITIES WORKER OR
FRONTLINE PUBLIC SERVICE
WORKERS.
>> THANK YOU.
>> THAT IS PART-TIME AND
FULL-TIME.
>> WHAT NUMBERS YOU NORMALLY
OPERATE? MEANING ANY GIVEN
YEAR. EVERY DEPARTMENT HAS A
CERTAIN NUMBER OF VACANCIES IN
ANY GIVEN YEAR.
>> CORRECT. THE FULLY
AUTHORIZED WORKFORCE WOULD BE
705 BODIES, WHICH WE GENERALLY
CARRY AND ANTICIPATE A 4%
VACANCY. OBVIOUSLY, A MEALY
POST- PANDEMIC AND EVERYTHING
ELSE, THAT DIFFERED WIDELY BUT
WE ARE BACK TO THE NORMAL
VACANCY LEVEL.
>> WHICH SHOULD BE ABOUT 30
SOMETHING.
>> 25-30 AT ANY GIVEN TIME.
>> OKAY.
>> SO NOT TOO FAR FROM YOUR
USUAL.
>> IT IS A LITTLE MORE THAN
THE USUAL AT THIS POINT, YES.
>> THANK YOU.
>> ANY OTHER QUESTIONS,
COLLEAGUES ? I KNOW WE HAVE
TALKED SO I DON'T HAVE A TON
OF QUESTIONS BECAUSE YOU HAVE
ANSWERED MY QUESTIONS IN THE
PAST. THANK YOU BOTH FOR BEING
HERE. I WANT TO SAY THAT
LIBRARIES ARE VERY SPECIAL TO
ME AS WELL, GROWING UP IN THE
INNER-CITY -- FIRST OF ALL, I
WAS LEARNING ENGLISH SO IT WAS
A GREAT RESOURCE WHEN I WAS
LEARNING ENGLISH. AND IT WAS
THE ONLY PLACE MY MAMA LET ME
GO BY MYSELF. IN THE INNER
CITY. SO IT WAS A REFUGE FOR
ME AS WELL. SO I LOVE
LIBRARIES.
>> THANK YOU SO MUCH.
>> THANK YOU BOTH.
>> AND THANK YOU FOR THE
PARTNERSHIP.
>> THANK YOU.
>> ALL RIGHT. WE WILL MOVE ON
TO THE NEXT ITEMS OF BUSINESS.
WILL THE CLERK READ ITEMS TWO
THROUGH FIVE IN THE RECORD.
>> ITEMS TWO THROUGH FIVE.
APPOINTMENT 2752, 32755. THE
REAPPOINTMENT OF ANTHONY R
SALAZAR AS A MEMBER OF THE
BALLARD AVENUE LANDMARK
DISTRICT BOARD FOR A TERM TO
JUNE 30, 2025. THE APPOINTMENT
AND REAPPOINTMENTS OF MARK C
CHILDS, LANCE WAGNER AND SIRI
CAP BAKER AS MEMBERS OF THE
PIKE PLACE MARKET HISTORICAL
COMMISSION FOR A TERM TO
DECEMBER 1st, 2026.
>> THANK YOU ALL. THE FOUR
APPOINTMENTS HAVE BEEN READ
INTO THE RECORD. WE WILL FIRST
CONSIDER A VOTE ON THE
APPOINTMENT OF THE BALLARD
AVENUE LANDMARK DISTRICT BOARD
AND WE WILL FOLLOW WITH THE
PIKE PLACE MARKET HISTORICAL
COMMISSION. WE ARE JOINED BY
MINH CHAU LE WHO IS FROM THE
SEATTLE DEPARTMENT OF
NEIGHBORHOODS. MINH CHAU LE IS
THE COORDINATOR FOR BOTH OF
THESE HISTORICAL BOARDS AND
COMMISSIONS. THANK YOU FOR
BEING HERE. PLEASE INTRODUCE
YOURSELF FOR THE RECORD AND
THEN WE CAN LEARN MORE ABOUT
THESE FOUR NOMINEES STARTING
WITH THE BALLARD AVENUE
LANDMARK DISTRICT BOARD
NOMINEE.
>> THANK YOU CHAIRPERSON RIVERA
AND ALL COMMUNITY MEMBERS.
THANK YOU FOR YOUR TIME AND
CONSIDERATION. MY NAME IS MINH
CHAU LE FROM THE DEPARTMENT OF
NEIGHBORHOODS AND MY ROLE THERE
IS THE STAFF COORDINATOR AS THE
COUNCIL CHAIRPERSON MENTIONED,
FOR THE TWO HISTORIC
DISTRICTS. BALLARD AVENUE IN
DISTRICT SIX AND PIKE PLACE
MARKET HISTORICAL DISTRICT IN
DISTRICT 7.
>> BEGINNING WITH THE
APPOINTMENT OF ANTHONY SALAZAR
TO THE BALLARD AVENUE LANDMARK
DISTRICT BOARD, I WOULD START
BY SAYING THAT THIS IS A
SEVEN-MEMBER BOARD THAT IS
RESPONSIBLE FOR REVIEWING AND
APPROVING OR NOT APPROVING
PROPOSED PHYSICAL CHANGES
LOCATED WITHIN THE BALLARD
AVENUE LANDMARK DISTRICT. SOME
DISTINCTIONS ABOUT THIS BOARD
IS THAT IT IS THE ADVISORY OF
THE DEPARTMENT OF NEIGHBORHOODS
DIRECTOR AND IT IS ONE OF VERY
FEW BOARDS IN THE CITY FOR
WHICH SOME OF THE POSITIONS,
NOT THIS ONE BUT OTHER ONES ARE
ACTUALLY ELECTED BY A COMMUNITY
MEMBER. SO WITH THAT OUT OF
THE WAY, I WILL BRIEFLY
DESCRIBE THE QUALIFICATIONS OF
MR. SALAZAR. THIS IS THE
REAPPOINTMENT AND HE HAS
SUCCESSFULLY ALREADY COMPLETED
1-2 YEAR TERM AND THAT WAS AN
EXTRAORDINARY TERM THAT SPANNED
2023, WHICH WAS A HISTORIC YEAR
FOR THE DISTRICT BOARD. WE HAD
UNPRECEDENTED RECORD SHATTERING
LEVELS OF PUBLIC PARTICIPATION
IN THIS BOARD AND A LEVEL OF
INTEREST IN THE BOARD'S
ACTIVITIES AND DISCUSSIONS BY A
NUMBER OF MEASURES INCLUDING
PUBLIC PARTICIPATION AT
MEETINGS . THE NUMBER OF
MEETINGS REQUESTED AND HELD TO
DISCUSS LANDMARK DISTRICT
BUSINESS AND THE AMOUNT OF
PARTICIPATION IN TERMS OF BOTH
VOTERS AND CANDIDATES IN THE
DISTRICT ELECTION AND THE
NUMBER OF PUBLIC COMMENTATORS
AS WELL AS THOSE COMING TO
PARTICIPATE FROM OUTSIDE THE
DISTRICT BOUNDARY. SO IT WAS
WONDERFUL TO HAVE HIS VERY
STEADY, THOUGHTFUL AND
CONSISTENT DECISION-MAKING
PRESENT THROUGHOUT THIS VERY
EXCITING YEAR THAT WE JUST HAD.
THE SECOND THING I WANT TO
HIGHLIGHT ABOUT MR. SALAZAR IS
THAT HE IS INTERESTED IN
HISTORY OF ALL TYPES. YOU WILL
SEE FROM HIS RESUME THAT HE HAS
BEEN INVOLVED WITH HISTORICAL
ORGANIZATIONS RELATED TO
BASEBALL IN AMERICA AS WELL AS
HOME BEER BREWING IN AMERICA.
SO THIS IS REALLY COMPLEMENTARY
TO THE CITY OF SEATTLE'S
CURRENT APPROACH TO
PRESERVATION, WHICH IS THAT IT
IS ABOUT PEOPLE, COMMUNITY AND
SOCIAL HISTORIES AS MUCH AS IT
IS ABOUT THE HISTORY AND
PRESERVATION OF PHYSICAL
STRUCTURES IN THE
BRICK-AND-MORTAR ENVIRONMENT.
AND LASTLY, I WOULD LIKE TO
HIGHLIGHT THAT MR. SALAZAR
COMES FROM A LONG AND
SUCCESSFUL CAREER AT THE
UNIVERSITY OF WASHINGTON
WORKING IN ADVISEMENT. AS YOU
CAN SEE FROM THE MATERIALS, HE
BROUGHT A VERY STRONG LENS OF
RACIAL AND CULTURAL EQUITY TO
THE ROLE AND STRESSING THE
IMPORTANCE OF USING THAT LENS
WHEN UNDERGOING ACTIVITIES OF
RECRUITMENT, MEN TOURING AND
RETENTION. AND SO THAT IS A
GOOD MATCH FOR THE DEPARTMENT
OF NEIGHBORHOODS APPROACH AND
PHILOSOPHIES ABOUT COMMUNITY
BOARDS. AND SO, HE IS HIGHLY
RECOMMENDED. THANK YOU FOR
YOUR CONSIDERATION.
>> THANK YOU FOR PRESENTING
THE REAPPOINTMENT OF ANTHONY
SALAZAR AS MEMBER OF THE
BALLARD AVENUE LANDMARK
DISTRICT BOARD FOR A TERM UNTIL
JUNE 30TH, 2025. COLLEAGUES,
DO YOU HAVE ANY COMMENTS? NO.
TERRIFIC. THEN I MOVE THAT THE
COMMITTEE RECOMMEND
CONFIRMATION OF APPOINTMENT
2752. IS THERE A SECOND?
>> SECOND.
>> IT IS MOVED AND SECONDED TO
CONFIRM THE APPOINTMENT. ARE
THERE ANY FURTHER COMMENTS?
>> WILL THE CLERK CALL ROLL ON
THE APPOINTMENT.
>> COUNCILMEMBER WOO.
>> YES, IT.
>> COUNCILMEMBER HOLLINGSWORTH.
>> YES.
>> COUNCILMEMBER MOORE.
>> YES.
>> COUNCILMEMBER MORALES.
>> YES.
>> CHAIR RIVERA.
>> AYE.
>> FIVE IN FAVOR AND NONE
OPPOSED TO.
>> THE MOTION CARRIES. THE
RECOMMENDATION THAT THE
CONFIRMATION WILL BE SENT TO
THE CITY COUNCIL. NOW WE WILL
DISCUSS THE THREE APPOINTMENTS
TO THE PIKE PLACE MARKET
HISTORIC COMMISSION
APPOINTMENTS. SO WE WILL
RETURN TO YOU, MINH CHAU LE.
CAN YOU PLEASE PUT THE
MICROPHONE CLOSER TO YOU? I'M
HAVING TROUBLE HEARING.
>> ABSOLUTELY. IS THIS
BETTER?
>> YES. THANK YOU SO MUCH .
>> WE HAVE THREE FOR
CONSIDERATION TODAY AND IF YOU
DON'T MIND CHAIRPERSON, I
PROPOSE THAT WE START WITH THE
TWO REAPPOINTMENTS AND WE
FINISH WITH THE NEW
APPOINTMENT.
>> GREAT. THANK YOU.
>> THE REAPPOINTMENT OF MARK
C CHILDS. HE SUCCESSFULLY
COMPLETED ONE TERM AND SEEKS
REAPPOINTMENT TO A SECOND
THREE-YEAR TERM ON THE
COMMISSION. SO BRIEFLY, THE
PIKE PLACE MARKET HISTORICAL
COMMISSION IS A REGULATORY
DECISION-MAKING BODY. IT HAS 12
MEMBERS AND IT MAKES DECISIONS
ABOUT PROPOSED CHANGES TO BOTH
USE AND DESIGN AND THE PIKE
PLACE MARKET . MOVING ON TO MR.
CHILDS, HE COMES FROM A VERY
ACCOMPLISHED AND ESTEEMED
BACKGROUND IN ARCHITECTURE. AS
YOU CAN SEE, HIS MOST RECENT
ROLE BEFORE RETIRING WAS AS THE
DEAN OF THE SCHOOL OF
ARCHITECTURE FOR THE UNIVERSITY
OF NEW MEXICO. SO QUITE A BIT
OF DEPTH OF KNOWLEDGE THERE .
AND IDEAL FOR THIS ROLE OF
ARCHITECT. ONE OF TWO
ARCHITECTS ON THE BOARD. SO HE
HAS, IN ADDITION TO A DEPTH OF
KNOWLEDGE, QUITE A BREAST AS
WELL. HE HAS WRITTEN MANY
BOOKS. ONE IS THE
AWARD-WINNING IMAGINING CITIES
THAT REMEMBER. ANOTHER TITLE IS
PARKING AND AND LIMITATION AND
DESIGN MANUAL. SO YOU CAN JUST
SEE THE INTEREST IN THE
KNOWLEDGE JUST SPANS THE RANGE
FROM HIGHLY ASPIRATIONAL AND
PROFOUND, TO THE PRACTICAL AND
EVERYTHING IN BETWEEN. AND THAT
IS INCREDIBLY VALUABLE FOR
HISTORIC PRESERVATION WITHIN A
CENTRAL DOWNTOWN CONTEXT.
>> ANOTHER THING I WOULD LIKE
TO HIGHLIGHT IN THE FINAL THING
ABOUT MR. CHILDS IS THAT HE HAS
HAD A LONG HISTORY INVOLVING
ALL SORTS OF RULES AND
PARTICIPATION IN LAND USE
INCLUDING THAT OF STAFFING,
CITIZEN DESIGN AND REVIEW
BOARDS WHICH THIS COULD BE SEEN
AS ONE OF. SO IT IS REALLY
VALUABLE TO HAVE THE
PROFESSIONAL LINES AND TO
UNDERSTAND THE CITY PATIENTS
ROLE AND HOW ALL OF THE
DIFFERENT ROLES FIT AND WORK
TOGETHER TO ACHIEVE THESE AIMS.
>> THAT CONCLUDES MY COMMENTS
RELATED TO MR. CHILDS. SHOULD
I CONTINUE?
>> PLEASE.
>> MOVING ON TO THE SECOND OF
THREE, WE HAVE LANCE WAGNER FOR
THE MERCHANT POSITION. HE IS A
MERCHANT WITHIN THE PIKE PLACE
MARKET AND SPECIFICALLY
OPERATES A PHOTOGRAPHY STUDIO.
SO HE IS AN ARTIST WHO HAS BEEN
ACTIVE IN PRACTICING FOR
DECADES. HE HAS THE LENS OF AN
ARTIST AND SOMEONE WHO
UNDERSTANDS THE IMPORTANCE OF
ART IN THE SOCIETY AND HAS A
CRITICAL LENS ON THE
COMMISSION. AND VERY CENTRAL
IN MANY WAYS. SO MANY OF THE
CONVERSATIONS GOING ON AT THIS
CRITICAL TIME. BOTH FOR THE
MARKET AND FOR DOWNTOWN
SEATTLE. THE SECOND THING TO
HIGHLIGHT ABOUT MR. LANCE
WAGNER IS THAT HE IS THE
INAUGURAL RESIDENT. SO HE
GIVES HIS ROLE AS MERCHANT
DOESN'T FULLY SPEAK TO HIS
PROSPECTIVE. HE IS THE
INAUGURAL RESIDENT OF THE
MARKET FRONT COTTAGES SO WHEN
THE MARKET FRONT REDEVELOPMENT
WAS COMPLETED IN 2017, IT WAS
INTENTIONALLY DESIGNED TO
INCLUDE ARTIST WORK HOUSING.
SO HE IS THE INAUGURAL RESIDENT
AND THAT HOUSING. SO REALLY
DIFFERENT LENS THERE. IF YOU
ARE AT ALL FAMILIAR WITH THE
MARKET, YOU WILL NOTICE THAT
THE ARTIST COLLEGES ARE ON THE
WESTERN EDGE OF THE MARKET RATE
WHERE THE OVERLOOK WALK WILL
MEET THE PIKE PLACE MARKET
RIGHT AT THIS EXCITING,
BRAND-NEW JUNCTURE BEING
CREATED AND ALL THE NEW
COMMUNITY RELATIONSHIPS AND
CONNECTIONS THAT WILL ALSO BE
CREATED BY THAT JOINING OF THE
SEATTLE WATERFRONT TO THE PIKE
PLACE MARKET. THAT IS HIS
LIVING ROOM. SO THAT IS AN
INCREDIBLY VALUABLE LENS. I
WILL MOVE ON TO THE FINAL
CANDIDATE, SARA E BAKER. THIS
WOULD BE A BRAND-NEW INCOMING
MEMBER REPRESENTING THE FRIENDS
OF MARKET ORGANIZATION. AND SO
THE FIRST ANIMAL TO HIGHLIGHT
ABOUT SARA E BAKER IS THAT SHE
IS A POWERFUL LEADER. STUDENT
BODY PRESIDENT AT NORTH SEATTLE
COLLEGE, MANAGED TO PRODUCE
STAND, A WORKING HISTORICAL
PRODUCE STAND IN THE PIKE PLACE
MARKET AND A BIT MORE RECENTLY,
CHAIRED THE 20 MEMBER BOARD OF
THE DESIGNEES AMERICAN CITIZENS
LEAGUE. SO THIS IS A PERSON
CAPABLE OF LEADING OTHERS IN A
WIDE VARIETY OF CONTEXT. SHE
WOULD BRING SOME GENERATIONAL
DIVERSITY TO THE COMMISSION SO
WE REALLY EMBRACE AND RECOGNIZE
THE IMPORTANCE OF ALL SORTS OF
DIVERSITY. GENERATIONAL BEING
ONE OF THEM AND THAT WOULD BE A
VERY WELCOME ADDITION. AND
FINALLY, I WILL SAY, AND AS YOU
SEE FROM THE APPLICATION, HER
BOARD CHAIR AND PAST
PARTICIPATION HAS BEEN AMONG
OTHER ORGANIZATIONS WITH THE
JAPANESE-AMERICAN CITIZENS
LEAGUE. SO THAT HAS BEEN A
FOCAL POINT. AND OBVIOUSLY THAT
COMMUNITY HAS BEEN CENTRAL IN
MANY WAYS TO THE FORMATION OF
THE PIKE PLACE MARKET AND ITS
EVOLUTION FROM THAT FORMATION
IN THE EARLY 1900S INCLUDING
THE EVENTS OF WORLD WAR II AND
THE AFTERMATH. AND SO THAT
WILL BE A VERY COMPLEMENTARY
AND IMPORTANT, AND CURRENTLY
NOT FULLY REPRESENTED LENS
AMONG THE COMMISSION.
>> THANK YOU, MINH CHAU. TO
ANY OF MY COLLEAGUES HAVE
COMMENTS OR QUESTIONS?
>> THEN I MOVE THAT THE
COMMITTEE RECOMMEND
CONFIRMATION OF APPOINTMENTS
2753, THROUGH 2755. IS THERE A
SECOND?
>> SECOND.
>> IT IS MOVED AND SECONDED TO
CONFIRM THE APPOINTMENTS. ARE
THERE ANY FURTHER COMMENTS ?
WILL THE CLERK CALL ROLL ON THE
CONFIRMATION OF THE
APPOINTMENTS.
>> COUNCILMEMBER WOO.
>> YES.
>> COUNCILMEMBER HOLLINGSWORTH.
>> YES IT. COUNCILMEMBER
MOORE.
>> YES.
>> COUNCILMEMBER MORALES.
>> YES.
>> CHAIR RIVERA.
>> FIVE IN FAVOR AND UNOPPOSED.
>> THE MOTION CARRIES AND THE
RECOGNITION THAT THE MOTIONS
ARE CONFIRMED WILL BE SENT TO
THE CITY COUNCIL. I REALLY WANT
TO TAKE THE OPPORTUNITY TO SAY
THAT IT IS REALLY GREAT TO SEE
OUR FOLLOW SEATTLEITES WHO ARE
WILLING TO STEP UP AND
VOLUNTEER THEIR TIME TO HELP
PRESERVE THE HISTORY AND
CULTURE OF OUR CITY,
PARTICULARLY AT THESE VERY
WELL-KNOWN HISTORIC SITES, THE
PIKE PLACE AND BALLARD AVENUE.
AND SO WE VERY MUCH APPRECIATE
THIS AND MINH CHAU, WE
APPRECIATE YOU COMING HERE
TODAY TO PRESENT THEM TO US.
THANK YOU FOR ALL THE WORK THAT
YOU DO.
>> THANK YOU AGAIN TO THE
SEATTLE PUBLIC LIBRARIES FOR
THEIR PRESENTATION. THIS
CONCLUDES THE MARCH 14TH, 2024
MEETING OF THE LIBRARY
EDUCATION AND NEIGHBORHOOD
COMMITTEE. THE NEXT COMMITTEE
MEETING IS SCHEDULED FOR
THURSDAY, THE 28th, 2024 AT
9:30 A.M. IF THERE IS NO
FURTHER BUSINESS, THE MEETING
WILL ADJOURN.
>> HEARING NO FURTHER BUSINESS,
IT IS 10:33 A.M. AND THIS
MEETING IS ADJOURNED. THANK
YOU.