>>> GOOD MORNING EVERYONE. THE
MAY 9, 2024 MEETING OF THE
LIBRARIES EDUCATION AND
NEIGHBORHOODS COMMITTEE WILL
COME TO ORDER. IT'S 9:32 A.M.
I'M MARITZA RIVERA, CHAIR OF
THE COMMITTEE. WILL THE CLERK
PLEASE CALL THE ROLL? PLEASE
NOTE COUNCILMEMBER MORALES HAS
BEEN EXCUSED FROM TODAY'S
MEETING. NOW PLEASE, CLERK. OH,
SORRY, GO AHEAD.
>> COUNCILMEMBER WOO?
>> PRESENT.
>> COUNCILMEMBER HOLLINGSWORTH?
>> PRESENT.
>> COUNCILMEMBER MOORE?
COUNCILMEMBER RIVERA?
>> PRESENT.
>> THERE ARE THREE
COUNCILMEMBERS PRESENT.
>> THANK YOU. THERE ARE JUST A
FEW ITEMS ON TODAY'S AGENDA.
SPECIFICALLY WE'LL LEARN ABOUT
THREE PENDING APPOINTMENTS TO
THE PIKE PLACE MARKET
PRESERVATION AND DEVELOPMENT
AUTHORITY GOVERNING COUNCIL.
HEAR A PRESENTATION FROM THE
DEPARTMENT IN NEIGHBORHOODS
ABOUT ITS STRATEGIC PARTNERSHIP
PROGRAM. IF THERE'S NO
OBJECTION, THE AGENDA WILL BE
ADOPTED. GREAT. HEARING NO
OBJECTION, THE AGENDA IS
ADOPTED. WE WILL NOW OPEN THE
PUBLIC COMMENT PERIOD. PLEASE
NOTE PUBLIC COMMENTS SHOULD
RELATE TO ITEMS WITHIN THE PER
VIEW OF THIS COMMITTEE. CLERK,
HOW MANY SPEAKERS ARE SIGNED UP
TODAY?
>> CURRENTLY WE HAVE NO
SPEAKERS SIGNED UP, AND THERE
ARE NO REMOTE SPEAKERS EITHER.
>> OKAY. WELL THEN WE'LL MOVE
ON TO AGENDA ITEM NUMBER 1.
WILL THE CLERK PLEASE READ
AGENDA ITEMS 1-3 INTO THE
RECORD.
>> AGENDA ITEMS 1 THROUGH 3 ARE
APPOINTEES TO THE PIKE PLACE
MARKET PRESERVATION AND
DEVELOPMENT AUTHORITY,
GOVERNING COUNCIL. APPOINTMENTS
02756, 02825, AND 02826 ARE FOR
THE FOLLOWING INDIVIDUALS. JAN
HENDRICKSON AS A MEMBER FOR A
TERM ENDING ON JUNE 6, 2027.
ROY ISHII FOR A TERM ENDING ON
JUNE 30, 2027, GINA KARABA, AS
A MEMBER FOR A TERM ENDING ON
JUNE 30, 2027.
>> THANK YOU. AGENDA ITEMS ONE
THROUGH THREE HAVE BEEN READ
INTO THE RECORD. FOR THE FIRST
THREE ITEMS ON THE AGENDA, WE
ARE JOINED BY SIERRA HOWLETT
BROWNE, DEPUTY DIRECTOR WITH
THE OFFICE OF INTERGOVERNMENTAL
RELATIONS. THANK YOU FOR BEING
HERE.
>> THANK YOU.
>> PLEASE INTRODUCE YOURSELF
FOR THE RECORD, AND THEN WE CAN
LEARN MORE ABOUT THE NOMINEES
FOR THE PIKE PLACE MARKET
PRESERVATION AND DEVELOPMENT
AUTHORITY.
>> ABSOLUTELY. GOOD MORNING,
I'M SIERRA HOWLETT BROWNE.
I'M THE DEPUTY DIRECTOR OF OUR
OFFICE OF INTERGOVERNMENTAL
RELATIONS. OUR OFFICE HAS THE
PRIVILEGE RIGHT NOW OF HANDLING
THE ADMINISTRATIVE FUNCTIONS
FOR THE PDAs FOR THE CITY. SO
OUR TEAM HANDLES NOMINATION
PROCESSES, SUBMISSIONS, AND
UPDATES OF THEIR YEARLY AND
QUARTERLY REPORTS. SO I HAVE
THE PRIVILEGE OF INTRODUCING
ALL THE NOMINATIONS TO YOU AND
GIVING YOU A LITTLE BIT OF
THEIR BACKGROUND.
>> GREAT. GO AHEAD.
>> SO THE FIRST ONE WE HAVE IS
GINA KARABA. THIS WILL BE A NEW
APPOINTMENT. GINA HAS BEEN AN
ARTIST AT PIKE PLACE MARKET
SINCE 2006. SHE HAS A DIVERSE
PROFESSIONAL BACKGROUND AND HAS
BEEN VERY ACTIVE IN
NEIGHBORHOOD COUNCIL AND CITY
PROJECTS. SHE HAS AN MFA IN
GLASS SCULPTURE AND TECHNOLOGY
CERAMICS FROM SCHOOL OF
AMERICAN CRAFT, AND FROM CAL
STATE FULLERTON. GINA BRINGS A
UNIQUE PERSPECTIVE AS A VENDOR
AT THE MARKET, AND HAS BEEN AN
ACTIVE MEMBER OF THE MASTER
PLAN. SHE HAS WORKED WITH THE
CONSTITUENCY FOR A NUMBER OF
TIMES IN VARIOUS ORGANIZATIONS.
THE OTHER TWO CANDIDATES WILL
BE REAPPOINTMENTS. RAY ISHII
HAS BEEN A CPA FOR OVER 30
YEARS IN FINANCE, ACCOUNTING,
AND HAS MANAGEMENT EXPERIENCE.
ISHII ASSOCIATES PROVIDE TAX
AND BUSINESS CONSULTING
SERVICES TO INDIVIDUALS, SMALL
BUSINESSES, NON-PROFIT
ORGANIZATIONS. THEY HAVE
EXTENSIVE EXPERIENCE WITH TAX
PLANNING AND TAX COMPLIANCE
ISSUES, BUSINESS PLANNING,
STRENGTHENING ACCOUNTING AND
INTERNAL CONTROL SYSTEMS. AS
CFO OF SEVERAL NON-PROFIT
ORGANIZATIONS, RAY HAS
EXTENSIVE SENIOR MANAGEMENT
EXPERIENCE INCLUDING STRATEGIC
PLANNING, SYSTEMS DEVELOPMENT,
AND COMPLEX PROJECT FINANCING.
RAY HAS BEEN AN ADJUNCT
PROFESSOR FOR OVER 15 YEARS,
TEACHING BOTH UNDERGRADUATE AND
ACCOUNTING COURSES. IN ADDITION
HE'S VOLUNTEERED ON THE BOARDS
OF SEVERAL NON-PROFIT
ORGANIZATIONS, INCLUDING THE
PIKE PLACE MARKET PDA, FAIR
START, URBAN LEAGUE OF
METROPOLITAN, SEATTLE, AND THE
MUSEUM. THIS REAPPOINTMENT
REPRESENTS MR. ISHII'S THIRD
TERM. FINALLY JAN HENDRICKSON,
RECOGNIZED THROUGHOUT HER
CAREER FOR GUIDING
ORGANIZATIONS THROUGH PERIODS
OF EXTENSE ITIVE CHANGE AND
GROWTH IN AREAS OF STRATEGY,
OPERATIONAL PERFORMANCES,
FISCAL RIGOR, RESILIENCY,
PEOPLE CULTURE AND DEVELOPMENT.
JAN HAS A CONSISTENT HISTORY OF
DELIVERY AND INVESTOR VALUE
CREATION. SHE'S A KEY
CONTRIBUTOR AT RAPIDLY
ASSESSING CURRENT STATES OF
ORGANIZATIONAL MATURITY,
TALENT, INFRASTRUCTURE, AND
CREATING SOLUTIONS TO ADDRESS
CRITICAL GAPS TO SUPPORT
INTELLIGENT SCALING AND
SUSTAINABLE GROWTH. SHE HAS
BROAD BASED MANAGEMENT
BACKGROUND THAT INCLUDES CFO
LEVEL OF FINANCIAL AND DIVERSE
BEST PRACTICES ACQUIRED FROM
BOTH PUBLIC AND PRIVATE SECTOR
EXECUTIVE ROLES. SHE WAS NAMED
PUGET SOUND BUSINESSWOMEN OF
INFLUENCE. COMES WITH EXTENSIVE
GOVERNMENT EXPERIENCE INCLUDING
MULTIPLE CHAIR POSITIONS,
SERVING THROUGH HIGH GROWTH
PHASES, TURNAROUND,
RECAPITALIZATIONS, AND
SUCCESSFUL BANKRUPTCY. SHE'S
ALSO AN AUDIT COMMITTEE
FINANCIAL EXPERT AND EXCELS AT
VISION AND STRATEGY
DEVELOPMENT, ATTRACTING SEA
LEVEL TALENT, AND BUILDING A
BOARD LEVEL BOARD EXECUTIVE
LEVEL DECISION. SO ALL THREE
VERY ACCOMPLISHED AND THE CITY
SHOULD BE VERY HONORED THAT
THEY'RE WILLING TO SERVE ON
OUR PDA.
>> I AGREE, DEPUTY DIRECTOR.
THANK YOU FOR THE OVERVIEW. I
WILL SAY COLLEAGUES, WE HAVE
WHAT I NOTED WAS EXPERIENCE IN
THE ARTS, THE CULTURE, ARTS AND
CULTURE, I MEAN, FINANCE,
BUSINESS, MANAGEMENT WITH
PUBLIC AND PRIVATE SECTOR.
ORGANIZATIONS, IT IS SUCH A
WELL-ROUNDED, JUST THE THREE OF
THEM ALONE. WE ARE SO LUCKY
THAT WE HAVE FOLKS WHO WANT TO
VOLUNTEER THEIR TIME TO SIT ON
THESE IMPORTANT PDAs THAT
PROVIDE AN IMPORTANT ROLE IN
THIS CITY. AND THEY ARE NOT A
PART OF GOVERNMENT, BUT THEY
ARE ANOTHER PARTNER AS WE DO
THE WORK. AS YOU KNOW, THE PIKE
PLACE MARKET IS SUCH A BELOVED
PART OF SEATTLE'S DOWNTOWN AND
OF SEATTLE IN GENERAL. YOU CAN
DO EVERYTHING FROM SHOPPING FOR
FLOWERS, WATCHING FISH BLOW BY
OR FLY BY, VISITING THE
WONDERFUL RESTAURANTS AND
SHOPS. AND OF COURSE, THE
MARKET IS THE FIRST PLACE WE'LL
TAKE FRIENDS AND FAMILY TO WHEN
THEY COME VISIT US FROM OUT OF
STATE. IT IS SUCH A SCENIC
PLACE AND SUCH A CULTURAL PLACE
WHERE WE ARE SO LUCKY TO HAVE
PIKE PLACE MARKET. LIKE I SAID,
WE'RE SO LUCKY TO HAVE FOLKS
WANTING TO VOLUNTEER TO KEEP
THE MARKETS STRONG AND
THRIVING. SO I WANT TO THANK
THEM FOR THEIR SUPPORT AND
WILLINGNESS TO VOLUNTEER.
COLLEAGUES, DO YOU HAVE ANY
QUESTIONS OR COMMENTS? NO?
AWESOME. SINCE THERE ARE NO
QUESTIONS OR COMMENTS, I MOVE
THAT THE COMMITTEE RECOMMEND
CONFIRMATION OF THESE
APPOINTMENTS. IS THERE A
SECOND?
>> SECOND.
>> IT IS MOVED AND SECONDED TO
CONFIRM THESE APPOINTMENTS. ARE
THERE ANY COMMENTS? ALL RIGHT,
WILL THE CLERK PLEASE CALL THE
ROLL ON THE CONFIRMATION OF
APPOINTMENT 02756, 02825, AND
02826.
>> COUNCILMEMBER WOO?
>> YES.
>> COUNCILMEMBER HOLLINGSWORTH?
>> YES.
>> COUNCILMEMBER RIVERA?
>> AYE.
>> WE HAVE THREE IN FAVOR, NONE
OPPOSED.
>> THE MOTION CARRIES, AND THE
RECOMMENDATION THAT THE
APPOINTMENTS BE CONFIRMED WILL
BE SENT TO THE FULL CITY
COUNCIL. THANK YOU FOR JOINING
US, DEPUTY DIRECTOR BROWNE. WE
WILL NOW MOVE ON TO AGENDA ITEM
NUMBER 4. WILL THE CLERK PLEASE
CALL THE FOURTH AGENDA INTO THE
RECORD.
>> AGENDA ITEM NUMBER 4 IS A
PRESENTATION FROM THE
DEPARTMENT OF NEIGHBORHOODS ON
ITS STRATEGIC PARTNERSHIP
PROGRAMS.
>> AS STATED, THE DEPARTMENT
AND NEIGHBORHOODS LED BY
DIRECTOR JENIFER CHAO WILL BE
PRESENTING ON THE DEPARTMENT'S
STRATEGIC PARTNERSHIP PROGRAMS,
WHICH INCLUDE EQUITY AND
ENGAGEMENT ADVISERS, COMMUNITY
LIAISONS, THE NEIGHBORHOOD
MATCHING FUND, AND THE FOOD
EQUITY FUND. COLLEAGUES, I'VE
PLACED AN UPDATED SLIDE DECK ON
YOUR CHAIRS, AND THEN FOR THE
PUBLIC, IT WILL BE UPDATED TO
THE WEBSITE AND READILY
AVAILABLE FOR YOUR REVIEW
TOMORROW. DIRECTOR CHAO WILL BE
JOINING. PLEASE INTRODUCE
YOURSELF FOR THE RECORD.
>> THANK YOU, COUNCILMEMBER
RIVERA. MY NAME IS JENIFER
CHAO, I'M THE DIRECTOR OF THE
DEPARTMENT OF NEIGHBORHOODS.
>> GOOD MORNING, CHRISTIAN,
STRATEGIC PARTNERSHIP MANAGER.
>> STEFON WINKLER WITH SDOT.
>> GOOD MORNING, MY NAME IS
DANIEL SIMMS, I'M THE
COMMUNITY PARTNERSHIP DIVISION
DIRECTOR AT DEPARTMENT OF
NEIGHBORHOODS.
>> GOOD MORNING, MY NAME IS
LISA CHEN, AND I MANAGE THE
FOOD EQUITY FUND.
>> THANK YOU. AND I WILL FLAG
FOR THE PUBLIC AND FOR THE
COLLEAGUES THAT THIS IS A
LITTLE BIT OF A LONGER
PRESENTATION THAN WE NORMALLY
HAVE, BUT WE HAVE SOME ROBUST
PROGRAMS THAT THE DEPARTMENTS
REALLY WANT TO DIG DEEP INTO,
SO THANK YOU FOR ALLOWING US
THAT TIME AND THAT GRACE.
DIRECTOR?
>> THANK YOU SO MUCH,
COUNCILMEMBER RIVERA FOR THE
INVITE TO RETURN TO YOUR
COMMITTEE TO SHARE MORE IN
DETAIL ABOUT SOME OF OUR
PROGRAMS. WE ARE EXCITED TO
SHARE WITH YOU AND THE REST OF
THE COUNCILMEMBERS ABOUT THE
IMPACT AND MEANINGFUL
ENGAGEMENT IN OUR COMMUNITY. IN
TODAY'S COMMITTEE MEETING,
WE'RE GOING TO HIGHLIGHT OUR
STRATEGIC PARTNERSHIP PROGRAM,
NEIGHBORHOOD MATCHING FUND, AND
FOOD EQUITY FUND.
>> THANK YOU EVERYONE FOR YOUR
PATIENCE AS WE WORK OUT THE
TECHNOLOGY ISSUES.
>> MADAM CHAIR. WHILE WE WAIT,
MAY I OFFER A DAD JOKE THAT MY
DAD TOLD ME THIS MORNING?
>> PLEASE DO.
>> IT'S MOTHER'S DAY THIS
WEEKEND, BUT YOU'RE GOING TO
TELL A DAD JOKE?
>> I AM.
>> WHAT DO YOU CALL A BEAR
WITHOUT TEETH? A GUMMY BEAR.
>> DO YOU HAVE A MOM JOKE?
>> I THINK THOSE ARE
INAPPROPRIATE FOR THE SEATTLE
CHANNEL. THANK YOU.
>> OH GOSH. [ LAUGHTER ]
>> THANK YOU, COUNCILMEMBER FOR
BRINGING THE LEVITY. THANK YOU
SO MUCH FOR FILLING IN THE GAP
WHILE WE'RE FIGURING OUT
TECHNOLOGY. ALL RIGHT. SO THE
ONE SEATTLE VISION REQUIRES
MEANINGFUL ENGAGEMENT WITH
COMMUNITY TO SERVE AS A
COHESIVE BRIDGE BETWEEN CITY
DEPARTMENTS AND THE DIFFERENT
NEIGHBORHOODS ACROSS THE CITY.
I SEE THE DEPARTMENT OF
NEIGHBORHOODS AS THE HEART AND
ENGAGEMENT ARM OF THE CITY. WE
CREATE COHESION ACROSS CITY
DEPARTMENTS TO PROVIDE
STRATEGIC PLANNING,
COORDINATION, AND SUPPORT ON
COMMUNITY RELATIONSHIPS, WITH A
FOCUS ON INCREASING ENGAGEMENT
AND COMMUNITIES MOST IMPACTED
BY THE CITY'S GROWTH AND
INFRASTRUCTURE NEEDS. THIS
FOCUS ALLOWS US TO BROADEN AND
ACCESS -- THIS FOCUS ALLOWS US
TO BROADEN AND ACCESS FOR
EVERYONE TO THRIVE IN A GROWING
CITY. THE MISSION OF STRATEGIC
PARTNERSHIPS IS TO ENSURE THE
CITY ENGAGES IN A MEANINGFUL
AND INCLUSIVE WAY THAT'S
RESPONSIVE TO THE DIVERSE NEED
OF EACH OF THEIR NEIGHBORHOODS.
THE TEAM INCLUDES TWO VITAL
PROGRAMS. THE EQUITY ENGAGEMENT
ADVISERS AND THE COMMUNITY
LIAISONS. THEY ARE MORE FOCUSED
AND SUPPORT CITY DEPARTMENTS
SUCH AS THE SEATTLE DEPARTMENT
OF TRANSPORTATION AND SEATTLE
PUBLIC UTILITIES WHO FUND THOSE
ADVISERS. THE COMMUNITY
LIAISONS ARE MORE EXTERNALLY
FOCUSED SINCE THEY ARE
INDEPENDENT CONTRACTORS THAT
COME FROM COMMUNITY, AND THEY
ARE MANAGED BY THE DEPARTMENT
OF NEIGHBORHOOD PROJECT
MANAGERS. THEY ENSURE INCLUSIVE
ENGAGEMENT WITH COMMUNITY. WE
ARE WORKING TO IMPROVE HOW WE
GATHER DATA AND TRACK OUR
IMPACT. AS THE DIRECTOR OF
DEPARTMENT OF NEIGHBORHOODS,
THIS IS VERY IMPORTANT TO ME. I
AM COMMITTED TO HIRING A DATA
IMPACT ADVISER. I'M GOING TO
HAND IT OVER TO CHRISTIAN TO
SPEAK MORE IN DETAIL ABOUT THE
EQUITY AND ENGAGEMENT ADVISER
AND SHARE MORE CASE STUDIES
THAT WILL HIGHLIGHT THE
IMPACTFUL WORK OF OUR
PARTNERSHIPS.
>> THANK YOU, DIRECTOR CHAO. AS
MENTIONED IN THE PREVIOUS
SLIDE, STRATEGIC PARTNERSHIPS
CONSISTENT OF TWO PROGRAMS.
EQUITY ENGAGEMENT ADVISERS AND
THE LIAISON PROGRAM. I WILL NOW
DISCUSS THE EQUITY AND
ENGAGEMENT ADVISERS. THE
PRIMARY ROLE OF EQUITY AND
ENGAGEMENT ADVISER IS INTERNAL.
FOCUSING ON SUPPORTING PROJECT
MANAGERS BY PROVIDING
ASSISTANCE, GUIDANCE, AND
SERVING AS THE ALLY.
AND ENSURING THAT EVERY VOICE
IS HEARD IN ENGAGEMENT PROCESS.
AND SECOND, EQUITY AND
ENGAGEMENT ADVISERS ALSO ACT AS
CHAMPIONS OF RELATIONSHIP
BUILDING ON PROJECTS. THEY
ENCOURAGE AND WORK ALONGSIDE
THE DEPARTMENTS TO ENGAGE WITH
THE COMMUNITY. COLLABORATING ON
SOLUTIONS THAT WILL REFLECT THE
DIVERSE NEEDS AND OF OUR CITY.
AT THE SAME TIME, THEY MAY
FACILITATE PARTNERSHIPS WITH
THE COMMUNITY LIAISON PROGRAM,
TO ENHANCE OUTREACH KNOWLEDGE
AND TO INTRODUCE THE NEED TO
START FROM SCRATCH.
THIRD,ENGAGING IN SHIPPING
POLICIES, PROCEDURES,
ADDRESSING THE BARRIERS AND
PROMOTING EQUITY. AND IN
COLLABORATION WITH OUR PARTNER
DEPARTMENTS. AS YOU CAN SEE THE
BUDGET OF THE EQUITY ADVISER
PROGRAM HAS REMAINED FAIRLY
CONSISTENT OVER THE YEARS, AND
IT IS REFLECTIVE OF THE STRONG
PARTNERSHIP IN UTILITIES, WHO
WILL FUND THE WORK OF THESE
POSITIONS THROUGH AGREEMENTS.
POSITIONS IN THE BUDGET WILL
INCLUDE THE MANAGER FOR EQUITY
AND ADVISERS TO SUPPORT SEATTLE
DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION,
AND TO WHICH THEY SUPPORT
SEATTLE UTILITIES. SOME OF THE
IMPACTFUL WORK IN COLLABORATION
WITH OUR DEPARTMENT PARTNERS.
>> WE'RE GOING TO ASK
QUESTIONS AS WE GO BECAUSE IT
IS A BIG SLIDE DECK AND I HATE
TO WAIT UNTIL THE END TO COME
BACK. COLLEAGUES, IF YOU HAVE
QUESTIONS, PLEASE DO LET ME
KNOW. CAN YOU RUN THROUGH ALL
THE DEPARTMENTS, AND TO PROVIDE
THIS OUTREACH ON THEIR BEHALF.
CAN YOU LIST WHICH DEPARTMENTS
AT THE CITY BECAUSE I KNOW
IT'S NOT JUST SDOT AND SBU?
>> IT IS ONLY SPECIFICALLY
SEATTLE DEPARTMENT OF
TRANSPORTATION AND SEATTLE
PUBLIC UTILITIES. AND FOR THE
DEPARTMENT OF NEIGHBORHOODS
LIAISON PROGRAM, WE WILL
SUPPORT ABOUT SEVEN
DEPARTMENTS. THE SEATTLE PUBLIC
UTILITIES AND THE
TRANSPORTATION AND THE HUMAN
SERVICES, THE CITY LIGHT, AND
AS WELL AS SEATTLE PUBLIC
LIBRARIES.
>> SEATTLE PARKS, THANK YOU.
>> GREAT, THANK YOU.
>> GREAT QUESTION. THE FIRST
CASE STUDY INVOLVES THE STUDIES
WITH THE BUSINESS PLAN. THIS
PLAN IS UPDATED FREQUENTLY,
PROVIDING THEM THE PATH TO
BETTER MEET THE NEEDS OF
CUSTOMERS AND COMMUNITIES. HOW
DO WE MEANINGFULLY ENGAGE IN
THE REPRESENTED COMMUNITIES ON
THE TOPIC OF THE BUSINESS PLAN
UPDATE? GIVEN THAT THIS IS A
HURDLE FOR THE PROGRAM. AND TO
ADDRESS THIS, THE EQUITY AND
ENGAGEMENT ADVISER WAS ENLISTED
TO COLLABORATE WITH THE PROJECT
OWNER IN EVALUATING THE PROGRAM
AND RECOMMENDED THE FOLLOWING
SOLUTIONS. ONE, WORK WITH
COMMUNITY LIAISONS TO MEET
COMMUNITY AT THEIR
UNDERSTANDING OF SEATTLE PUBLIC
UTILITIES THAT WILL MAKE IT
LESS TECHNICAL AND ACCESSIBLE.
TWO, ATTEND EVENTS ON
IMMIGRANTS AND REFUGEES AND LOW
INCOME COMMUNITIES.
>> SORRY, BEFORE WE MOVE, CAN
WE GO BACK TO THAT SLIDE?
>> IT SAYS 85% OF EVENTS AND
THE JUSTICE NEIGHBORHOODS. HOW
MANY EVENTS TOTAL?
>> THERE WERE ROUGHLY 13 EVENTS
>> GREAT. ON THE SURVEYS, 23%
WERE RESPONSES FROM THE
NON-ENGLISH SPEAKER SURVEYS OR
RESPONSES. WHAT WERE THE NUMBER
OF RESPONSES SPENT?
>> THERE IS A COMBINATION OF
RESPONSES RECEIVED THROUGH THE
SURVEY. AND THEN OUR EQUITY AND
ENGAGEMENT ADVISER ALSO
RECOMMENDED THAT WE CREATE A
POSTER, SO FOLKS COULD PUT
THEIR DATA POINTS ON IT AND HOW
THEY FELT ABOUT THE PLAN, THE
SPECIFIC QUESTIONS WERE LIKE
WHAT IS IT THAT YOU LIKE
CLARITY ON? WHAT IS THE
PRIORITY? IS IT SEATTLE PUBLIC
UTILITY SHOULD BE FOCUSED ON
AND THAT WE'RE NOT FOCUSED ON
YOUR SPECIFIC NEIGHBORHOOD, AND
THAT THEY WOULD RESPOND THROUGH
THOSE EMOJIS.
>> WERE YOU ABLE TO SHARE HOW
OUT OF 23%, HOW MANY SURVEYS
WERE DISTRIBUTED?
>> SO I'LL HAVE TO GET BACK TO
YOU ON THAT, BUT IT'S A
COMBINATION. THE TOTAL AMOUNT
OF RESPONSES WERE 1,155,
COLLECTED THROUGH THE SURVEY OR
DATA POINTS.
>> THANK YOU FOR EXPLAINING THE
DATA POINT. IT'S THE EMOJI
CHART.
>> YES, ABSOLUTELY.
>> THANK YOU.
>> AND ACTUALLY IF YOU WOULD
LOOK TO THE RIGHT, THERE YOU
WILL SEE THE EXAMPLE OF THE
OUTREACH MATERIALS THAT WERE
CO-CREATED WITH THE COMMUNITY
LIAISONS WITH THE ADVISER. THEY
ADMINISTERED THESE MATERIALS
AND LANGUAGE AND IT WAS EITHER
A BIG POSTER SIZE THAT WAS USED
AT COMMUNITY EVENTS. AND THE
USE OF EMOJIS, ALLOWING THEM TO
CAPTURE AS MUCH DATA POINTS AS
POSSIBLE WITHOUT HAVING TO USE
VERY TECHNICAL TERMS. IT WAS A
FUN EXERCISE AND IT DID NOT
REQUIRE YOU TO READ, WRITE, OR
SPEAK ENGLISH.
SO THE PARTNERSHIP AS MENTIONED
EARLIER, WE WERE ABLE TO ENGAGE
TO OVER A THOUSAND CUSTOMERS
ACROSS ALL COUNCIL DISTRICTS,
VIA SURVEYS AND DATA POINTS.
AND THIS WAS IMPLEMENTED
THROUGH BEST PRACTICES, ADVICE
BY THE EQUITY ENGAGEMENT
ADVISER. AT THE SAME TIME, THE
EQUITY ENGAGEMENT ADVISER WOULD
HAVE SEATTLE UNIVERSITY ATTEND
EXISTING EVENTS IN THE
ENVIRONMENTAL JUSTICE
NEIGHBORHOODS, BUT AS WELL AS
ALL COUNCIL DISTRICTS. THE
QUOTE OF OUR DEPARTMENT PARTNER
REGARDING THE PARTNERSHIPS,
WORKING WITH OUR EQUITY AND
ADVISER. THE EXPERTISE AND
INNOVATIVE SOLUTIONS PROVIDED
ARE ASSISTING SEATTLE PUBLIC
UTILITIES IN STRENGTHENING
THEIR DEDICATION TO THE
COMMUNITY CENTERED IN EQUITY
ENGAGEMENT STRATEGIES. THE
PUBLIC UTILITIES DIRECTOR. THE
SECOND CASE STUDY AIMS TO
REDUCE RELIANCE ON SINGLE
OCCUPANCY VEHICLES WITHIN ONE
CITY. ALIGNING WITH THE CITY'S
EQUITY AND SAFETY MOBILITY AND
SUSTAINABILITY GOALS. THE
CHALLENGE FACED BY SEATTLE
DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION
WAS HOW TO ENGAGE BLACK,
INDIGENOUS PEOPLE OF COLORED
COMMUNITIES, WHO ARE EXCLUDED
FROM SUCH INITIATIVES. AT THE
SAME TIME, RAISE AWARENESS
ABOUT FLIP YOUR TRIP PROGRAM TO
ALL COMMUNITIES. THE EQUITY AND
ENGAGEMENT ADVISER RECOMMENDED
THE FOLLOWING. ENSURE THE
OUTREACH MATERIALS ARE
INCLUSIVE. AND INCORPORATE THE
FEEDBACK THAT THE EQUITY AND
ENGAGEMENT ADVISER WAS
PROVIDING. TWO, ADDRESS
BARRIERS TO PARTICIPATION BY
COLLABORATING WITH COMMUNITY
BASED ORGANIZATIONS, SUCH AS
BLACK GIRLS DO BIKE AND THE
VALLEY SUSTAINABILITY
ASSOCIATION AMONG OTHERS.
THREE, INVOLVE A RESPECTED
MEMBER FROM THE BLACK COMMUNITY
WITH EXPERTISE IN BIKING SPACES
TO SERVE AS A MESSENGER.
FOSTERING TRUST AND CONNECTION
WITHIN THE COMMUNITY. THE
IMPACT WAS SIGNIFICANT ACROSS
THE SURVEY CONDUCTED AMONG
RESIDENTS OF WEST SEATTLE AND
SOUTHEAST SEATTLE. 65% OF
RESPONDENTS STATED THEIR
SUPPORT IN TOOLS PROVIDED
IMPROVING THE FUNCTIONALITY OF
THEIR TRAVEL OPTIONS. AND 66%
UTILIZE VARIOUS TRAVEL OPTIONS
BECAUSE OF THE INITIATIVE. NOW
I'LL PASS IT OVER TO STEFON
WINKLER TO DISCUSS THE
COLLABORATION WITH DON'S
EQUITY AND ENGAGEMENT ADVISER,
AND HOW IT CONTRIBUTED TO
EQUITY IN HIS PROGRAM.
>> THANK YOU. GOOD MORNING,
CHAIR RIVERA, VICE CHAIR WOO,
AND COUNCILMEMBER
HOLLINGSWORTH. I APPRECIATE
THIS OPPORTUNITY TO SHARE HOW
IT'S IMPACTED MY FORMER
PROGRAM. DURING THE CLOSURE OF
THE WEST SEATTLE BRIDGE, I LED
THE WEST SEATTLE FLIP YOUR TRIP
PROGRAM, WHICH WAS ONE OF
SEVERAL INITIATIVES THAT THE
DEPARTMENT OF NEIGHBORHOODS
WERE INVOLVED WITH DURING THAT
HISTORIC MOMENT AND THIS
CITY'S HISTORY. THEIR SUPPORT
ENABLED US TO SHIFT FROM THE
TRANSACTIONAL APPROACH, WHICH
IS OFTEN BRIEF AND GOAL
ORIENTED TO CREATE MORE HARM TO
A RELATIONAL APPROACH, WHICH
WILL FOSTER TRUST AND DEEPENS
COMMUNITY INVOLVEMENT. I HAD
THE PLEASURE OF COORDINATING
WITH PHYLLIS PORTER, EQUITY
ENGAGEMENT ADVISER AT THE
DEPARTMENT OF NEIGHBORHOODS.
PHYLLIS EXTENSIVE COMMUNITY
RELATIONSHIPS PLAYED IN AN
EXTENSIVE ROLE IN BUILDING
TRUST AND AVOIDING MISSTEPS
THAT COULD HAVE HINDERED THE
SUCCESS OF THE WEST SEATTLE NIP
YOUR TRIP PROGRAM. THANKS TO
HER LONG STANDING PARTNERSHIPS
WITH VARIOUS COMMUNITY BASED
ORGANIZATIONS AND WITHIN THE
COMMUNITY, WE FORMED NEW
COLLABORATIONS THAT WOULD HAVE
OTHERWISE TAKEN MUCH LONGER TO
SET UP OR MIGHT NOT HAVE
HAPPENED AT ALL. SHE ALSO
HELPED US ORGANIZE FUN EVENTS
LIKE THE WEST SEATTLE
EXPERIENCE RIDE. THE RIDE WAS A
NOVEL AND ENGAGING WAY TO SHOW
HOW COMBINING BIKES AND WATER
TAXI CAN BE A FUN AND PRACTICAL
WAY TO MOVE BETWEEN THE
PENINSULA AND THE MAIN PART OF
THE CITY. FINALLY I'D LIKE TO
HIGHLIGHT WHERE SHE PLAYED A
CRUCIAL ROLE IN HELPING MY TEAM
AVOID A MAJOR MISTAKE. WE WERE
ABOUT TO LAUNCH A CAMPAIGN THAT
WOULD HAVE UNINTENTIONALLY
FAVORED ONE NEIGHBORHOOD OVER
ANOTHER IN HOW WE DISTRIBUTED
OUR INCENTIVES. I REALLY
HADN'T FULLY GRASPED AT THAT
TIME HOW THE TWO SIDES OF THE
RIVER WERE. SO THE CAMPAIGN
LOOKED GREAT ON PAPER. BUT IT
COULD HAVE DAMAGED THE TRUST,
THE WAY WE WOULD ROLL IT OUT,
CAUSING THE COMMUNITY
DIVISIONS. LUCKILY PHYLLIS
SPOTTED THIS OVERSIGHT AND TO
RECONSIDER OUR APPROACH. WE
DID. WE ADJUSTED OUR STRATEGY
TO PRESERVE TRUST AND AVOIDED
DIVISIONS. THE SUCCESS OF THE
WEST SEATTLE BRIDGE WAS ONLY
POSSIBLE WITH THE DEPARTMENT OF
NEIGHBORHOODS INTEGRATED
SUPPORT. THE SUPPORT THEN AND
NOW PLAYS A VITAL ROLE IN
BUILDING STRONG COMMUNITY
CONNECTIONS. ALIGNING WITH THE
ONE SEATTLE INITIATIVES,
INVOLVING THE COMMUNITY AND
MORE THOUGHTFUL, INCLUSIVE
ENGAGEMENT. THANK YOU.
>> THANK YOU, STEFON.
SO HERE IS A LIST OF PROJECTS
IN 2024 FOR THE EQUITY
ENGAGEMENT ADVISERS. IT
REPRESENTS PROJECTS CONTINUING
FROM 2023. PROJECTS UNDER
SEATTLE DEPARTMENT OF
TRANSPORTATION SPAN ACROSS THE
VARIOUS COUNCIL DISTRICTS. THEY
FOCUS ON ADVISING SEATTLE
DEPARTMENT OF PROJECT OWNERS TO
FOSTER EQUITABLE AND INCLUSIVE
OUTREACH AND ENGAGEMENT
STRATEGIES. THEY AIM TO ENSURE
COMMUNITIES ARE INFORMED ABOUT
PROJECTS IN THEIR
NEIGHBORHOODS. PARTICULARLY
RELATED TO SAFETY IMPROVEMENTS,
THAT COMMUNITY HAS
OPPORTUNITIES TO PROVIDE INPUT.
SOME OF THOSE PROJECTS INCLUDE
RAPID LINE AND CENTRAL DISTRICT
HEALTHY STREETS. WITHIN SEATTLE
PUBLIC UTILITY PROJECTS,
ENSURING THAT PROGRAMS AND
SERVICES, OFFERED BY SEATTLE
PUBLIC UTILITIES ARE EQUITABLE
AND INCLUSIVE. ONE SUCH
INITIATIVE IS THE EQUITY TOURS.
THE EQUITY AND ENGAGEMENT
ADVISER IS COLLABORATING WITH
THE PROJECT OWNER TO STREAMLINE
THE APPLICATION PROCESS FOR
THEIR TOUR. THEY ARE ALSO
WORKING ON EXPANDING COMMUNITY
BASED ORGANIZATION PARTNERSHIPS
TO REACH MORE COMMUNITIES
ACROSS ALL DISTRICTS. FURTHER
MORE, THEY ARE ENSURING
TRANSPORTATION AND CULTURAL
LIRELLA VISITED FOOD ARE
PROVIDED DURING THE TOURS. THEY
HELP NAVIGATE AND ADDRESS
BARRIERS TO THE PROGRAM
PARTICIPATION WHILE FOSTERING
THE EQUITABLE ENGAGEMENT. THE
ULTIMATE RESULT WILL GO BEYOND
INCREASING PARTICIPATION
NUMBERS. IT WILL ENTAIL A
FUNDAMENTAL SHIFT IN HOW WE
APPROACH OUR WORK. I'M
SHIFTING GEARS NOW TO DISCUSS
THE COMMUNITY LIAISON PROGRAM.
AS MENTIONED EARLIER BY
DIRECTOR CHAO, COMMUNITY
LIAISONS ARE FOCUSED SINCE THEY
ARE INDEPENDENT CONTRACTORS
THAT COME FROM COMMUNITY AND
THEY ARE MANAGED BY DON PROJECT
MANAGERS. THEY HAVE ACCESS TO
CITY INFORMATION, RESOURCES,
AND DECISION MAKING POWER. TO
ACHIEVE THIS GOAL, COMMUNITY
LIAISONS WILL COLLABORATE
CLOSELY WITH THE PROJECT
MANAGERS WHO MAY HAVE AN
EXISTING STRATEGIES, BUT LACK
DIRECT COMMUNITY CONNECTIONS
WITH THE COMMUNITY. BY
PROVIDING ON THE GROUND
SUPPORT, THE LIAISONS ENHANCE
IMPACT ON THE OUTREACH
ENGAGEMENT EFFORTS. THE CURRENT
PROGRAM HAS 46 COMMUNITY
LIAISONS, WORKING ALONGSIDE
SEVEN DEPARTMENTS. THE
PERSONNEL BUDGET WILL INCLUDE
TWO ON PROJECT MANAGERS IN THE
PROGRAM ASSISTANT. THE LOSS OF
ONE FTE IN 2024 IS ONLY
REFLECTIVE OF THE
REORGANIZATION EMERGING IN THE
COMMUNITY LIAISON PROGRAM IN
THE EQUITY ENGAGEMENT ADVISER
PROGRAM. INTO THE STRATEGIC
PARTNERSHIP TEAM. THIS CREATED
BETTER COORDINATION ON OUTREACH
ACROSS THE TEAM AND ALLOWED THE
DEPARTMENT TO REPURPOSE THE
POSITION TO SERVE AS DON'S
FUTURE DATA IMPACT ADVISER. SO
WHO ARE THE COMMUNITY LIAISONS?
THEY REPRESENT MANY LANGUAGES
SUCH AS SPANISH, CHINESE,
VIETNAMESE TO NAME A FEW. AS
WELL AS OUR BLACK, INDIGENOUS
SENIORS UNHOUSED. THEY LIVE ALL
OVER SEATTLE AND BEYOND. MOST
OF THEM HAVE OTHER JOBS. THEY
WORK AT NON-PROFITS, THEY WORK
AT SOCIAL SERVICE AGENCIES,
SCHOOL DISTRICTS, OR COMMUNITY
CENTERS. THEY ENGAGE THE
COMMUNITY MEMBERS IN THE
FOLLOWING WAYS. 101 INTERVIEWS,
PRESENT PROJECT MATERIALS IN
FRONT OF AN AUDIENCE. CONDUCT
COMMUNITY ORGANIZATIONS,
MODERATE FOCUS GROUPS, DOING
INTERVIEWS WITH MEDIA, PROVIDE
SERVICE ASSISTANCE, TAKE ON
CASE WORK, AND, OF COURSE,
THROUGH TRANSLATION AND
INTERPRETATION AS WELL. I WILL
NOW PRESENT SOME OF THE THE
IMPACTFUL WORK ACCOMPLISHED BY
THE COMMUNITY LIAISON PROGRAM
IN COLLABORATION WITH OUR
DEPARTMENT PARTNERS. WE STARTED
THE PILOT PROJECT WITH SEATTLE
CITY LIGHT AND THEIR PARTNER.
THE PROJECT AIMS TO EDUCATE IN
THE SKYWAY IN PARTS OF
SOUTHEAST SEATTLE IN THE ENERGY
SAVINGS HOME IMPROVEMENT PLAN.
WE HAVE COMMUNITY LIAISONS THAT
SPEAK CANTONESE, SOMALI,
SPANISH, VIETNAMESE, WHO HELP
RECRUIT CUSTOMERS, PROVIDE 101
ASSISTANCE, AND PROVIDE A $50
INCENTIVE BY DOING THE HOME
ASSESSMENTS. HELP COMMUNITY
MEMBERS APPLY FOR FREE WEATHER
PROJECTS, ALSO HELP CUSTOMERS
SWITCH FROM PUGET SOUND ENERGY
TO SEATTLE CITY LIGHT WITH THE
INSTALLATION. SO FAR COMMUNITY
LIAISONS HAVE HELPED CONDUCT 40
HOME ASSESSMENTS, PROVIDE 12
FREE HEAT PUMP FOR HOUSEHOLDS.
OUR SECOND EXAMPLE IS WITH
SEATTLE PUBLIC UTILITIES AND
ADOPT THE STREET PROJECTS.
SEATTLE ADOPTS THE STREET IS A
GRASSROOTS PROGRAM IN SEATTLE
THAT WILL HELP KEEP OUR STREETS
CLEAN. WE STARTED THE PROJECT
DURING THE PANDEMIC IN 2021
WITH CANTONESE, MANDARIN,
SOMALI, SPANISH, AND VIETNAMESE
SPEAKING LIAISONS. COMMUNITY
LIAISONS WILL HELP COLLECT THE
FEEDBACK, WHICH LATER MADE THE
PROGRAM MORE ACCESSIBLE
ESPECIALLY WITH HARD-TO-REACH
COMMUNITIES. COMMUNITY LIAISONS
WORKED ON PROJECTS INCLUDING
PROGRAM MATERIALS, VOLUNTEER
SIGN-UP FORMS, CLEAN UP
REPORTS, AND LIABILITY WAIVERS.
COMMUNITY LIAISONS HAVE
CONDUCTED MANY OUTREACH EVENTS
ACROSS SEATTLE INCLUDING
FARMERS MARKET IN NEW YORK
CITY. COLUMBIA, AND DELRIDGE.
THE PARTNERSHIP HAS RESULTED IN
INCREASING SIGNUPS BY A
THOUSAND AND MADE THE PROGRAM
MORE ACCESSFUL. COMMUNITY
LIAISONS WILL CONTINUE TO
SUPPORT NEIGHBORHOODS THROUGH
PARTNERSHIPS WITH LOCAL
COMMUNITY BASED ORGANIZATIONS.
>> I WANTED TO MAKE A NOTE
HERE, COLLEAGUES, THAT THERE
ARE ALMOST 34,000 VOLUNTEERS
THAT ARE DEDICATED TO CLEANING
UP TRASH AND THEY CLEANED UP A
TOTAL OF 404,000 POUNDS OF
TRASH. SO JUST UNDERSCORING THE
IMPORTANCE OF VOLUNTEERS IN THE
CITY WHERE WE ARE JUST TALKING
ABOUT THE VOLUNTEERS ON THE
PDA, BUT THESE ARE VOLUNTEERS
FOR THE ADOPT A STREET PROGRAM,
WHICH IS A LITTLE BIT OF A PLUG
FOR SPU. AND THEN THEIR ROLE IS
TO TRY TO ENGAGE THE COMMUNITY
IN SPECIFICALLY UNDERSERVED
COMMUNITIES TO ENGAGE THEM AS
WELL AND TO PARTICIPATE IN THIS
PROGRAM. THANK YOU.
>> YEAH.
>> THANK YOU, COUNCIL CHAIR
RIVERA FOR ADDING THAT AND
ADDING THOSE DATA POINTS. LIKE
YOU SAID, IT'S ONE SEATTLE. SO
NO SHAMELESS PLUG FOR OUR
SISTER DEPARTMENTS. THANK YOU.
>> GREAT. HERE IS THE CURRENT
SEATTLE PROJECT LIST WITH THE
DIFFERENT DEPARTMENTS. THE
COMMUNITY LIAISON PARTNERS WITH
SEVEN DEPARTMENTS. THEY ARE
SEATTLE PUBLIC UTILITIES,
SEATTLE DEPARTMENT OF
TRANSPORTATION, SEATTLE CITY
LIGHT, SEATTLE PUBLIC
LIBRARIES, AND HUMAN SERVICES
DEPARTMENT. AND SOME OF THE
PROJECTS MAY WORK IN ONE AREA
OF THE CITY. AN EXAMPLE IS THE
COMMUNITY LIAISON FOR THE
HISTORIC PRESERVATION, SUCH AS
PROVIDING LIVE INTERPRETATION
DURING INTERNATIONAL SPECIAL
REVIEW BOARD MEETINGS OR
PROVIDING INFORMATION ABOUT A
NEW BUS LANE ALONG THE SOUTH.
MANY OTHER PROJECTS COULD HAVE
THE CITY WIDE IMPACTS,
REQUIRING ONGOING ENGAGEMENTS
FOR SEATTLE TRANSPORTATION PLAN
AND SOUND TRANSIT THREE. FOR
THESE BIGGER PROJECTS, WE OFTEN
RECRUIT UP TO A DOZEN COMMUNITY
LIAISONS AND WORK ON DIFFERENT
ENGAGEMENT TASKS, BUT STILL
FOCUS ON STAYING COORDINATED.
ONE OF THE PRIMARY OBJECTIVES
OF THE COMMUNITY LIAISON
PROGRAM IS TO ENHANCE
ORGANIZATIONS, REPRESENTING THE
GROUPS, CULTIVATING LASTING
CREATIONS AND RELATIONSHIPS.
NOW CONSIDER A SCENARIO FROM
THE VARIOUS CITY DEPARTMENTS AS
YOU CAN SEE FROM THE LIST.
ENGAGE WITH THE SAME
COMMUNITIES AT THE SAME TIME.
OFTEN POSING SIMILAR QUESTIONS.
THE SITUATION EMPHASIZES THE
CRITICAL NEED FOR COORDINATION
AND COLLABORATION TO AVOID
DUPLICATION AND MAXIMIZE IMPACT
OVER THE OUTREACH EFFORTS. THE
COMMUNITY LIAISON PROGRAM IT IN
COLLABORATION WITH THE EQUITY
ENGAGEMENTED A VISIERS, WILL
ADDRESS THE CHALLENGE BY
FOSTERING COORDINATION AND
SYNERGY. SHOWCASING THE SEATTLE
APPROACH. THANK YOU FOR YOUR
ATTENTION. THIS CONCLUDES THE
PRESENTATION. I WILL NOW HAND
IT OVER TO DIRECTOR CHAO, SO WE
CAN ADDRESS ANY QUESTIONS FROM
COUNCIL MEMBERS.
>> MUCHO GRACIAS. I WANTED TO
KEEP SPEAKING IN SPANISH.
BEFORE WE CONTINUE, I DID WANT
TO JUST -- THE KEY TAKEAWAY
POINTS FROM THIS THOUGHTFUL
PRESENTATION THAT YOU GAVE WAS
JUST TO SHOW HOW COMMUNITY
ENGAGEMENT IS SO IMPORTANT TO
TAKE ACTION AND TO ADDRESS
NEEDS IN THE NEIGHBORHOOD.
IT'S IMPORTANT TO HEAR FROM
THEM AND IMPORTANTLY THE
COMMUNITIES THAT HAVE BEEN
UNDERSERVED HISTORICALLY,
MAKING SURE THING HOW THEY'RE
DOING IT, WHY WE'RE DOING IT,
TAKING THEIR NEEDS INTO ACCOUNT
AS WE'RE DOING SO. THESE
ADVISERS THAT YOU KNOW CONTRACT
WITH DON OR THAT SDOT AND --
>> SEATTLE PUBLIC UTILITIES.
>> THANK YOU.
>> REACH OUT TO DON TO CONTRACT
WITH THESE ADVISERS SERVE AN
IMPORTANT FUNCTION AS DO THE
COMMUNITY LIAISONS FROM THE
NEIGHBORHOODS AND COMMUNITIES
THAT THEY ARE HELPING TO SERVE.
I JUST HAVE ONE QUESTION ABOUT
THE 46 COMMUNITY LIAISONS. HOW
DO YOU SELECT THE COMMUNITY
LIAISONS? WHAT'S THE PROCESS
FOR THAT? IF SOMEONE IS
INTERESTED IN BEING AN
INDEPENDENT CONTRACTOR, HOW DO
THEY GO ABOUT DOING SO?
>> THAT'S A GREAT QUESTION. IT
COULD BE EQUITY, ENGAGEMENT,
ADVISER'S WORK WITH
COMMUNITIES. SO THEY MIGHT HAVE
CONVERSATIONS WITH COMMUNITY
LEADERS AND THEY MIGHT REFER
WHO WE SHOULD BRING ALONG TO
OUR ROSTER. IT ALSO MIGHT BE WE
ATTEND MEETINGS. THE TEAM, AND
THEY SEE THAT THERE IS SOMEONE
THAT REALLY WOULD BE AN AWESOME
ADDITION TO OUR PROGRAMS. WE
TEND NOT TO DO THE POSTER IN
MAKING SURE THAT WE REALLY HAVE
THOSE STRONG CONNECTIONS WITH
THE HARD TO REACH COMMUNITIES
THAT WE'RE NOT ABLE TO DO, SO
YEAH. IT'S WORD OF MOUTH.
>> FROM THE COMMUNITY THAT ARE
INTERESTED, I IMAGINE THEY
COULD REACH OUT TO DON?
>> YES, THEY CAN.
>> AND THEY WILL LET THEIR
INTEREST BE KNOWN?
>> YES, THEY CAN ALSO REACH US
ONLINE.
>> JUST TO ADD TO THAT, AS
CHRISTIAN MENTIONED, IT IS VERY
DELIBERATE. CHAIR RIVERA, IT IS
REALLY BASED ON COMMUNITY NEED.
SO THAT'S WHY LIKE THERE'S
NOT A POSTING. IT IS REALLY
SEEN AS WHEN WE LOOK AT THE
DATA AND SEE THERE ARE SOME
COMMUNITIES WHO ARE NOT AT
TABLE, WE FIGURE OUT WHY AND
THEN WE DO THE CONNECTIONS WITH
OUR NEIGHBORHOODS OR IN THE
COMMUNITIES THAT WILL NEED IT
MOST AND SEE IF THERE IS A
COMMUNITY LIAISON THAT COULD BE
BROUGHT INTO AND BE A PART OF
THE CITY, DOING THE CITY'S
WORK.
>> A PART OF THE DEPARTMENT
THEMSELVES THAT YOU CONTRACT
WITH. IN PARTICULAR FUNDS
SERVED COMMUNITIES BUT THEY
HAVE CHALLENGES IN REACHING
THOSE COMMUNITIES. I WILL SAY
THAT -- YOU KNOW, I WILL LOOK
TO YOU TO CONTINUE TO DO WHAT I
CALL BROAD OUTREACH WITHIN THE
UNDERSERVED COMMUNITIES THERE
IS ALWAYS SOME FOLKS WHO COULD
PARTICIPATE, BUT THEY DON'T
KNOW ABOUT IT. ANYONE WHO WANTS
TO PARTICIPATE AND WANTS TO
SERVE AS THE COMMUNITY LIAISON
WILL HAVE THAT OPPORTUNITY. SO
THANK YOU. COLLEAGUES, ANY
QUESTIONS ABOUT THIS?
>> COUNCILMEMBER HOLLINGSWORTH?
>> THANK YOU, CHAIR RIVERA. AND
I WAS GOING TO ECHO WHAT YOU
HAD SAID. I WAS LOOKING AT SOME
OF THE PROJECTS, THE PROJECT
LIST. ONE OF THE BIGGEST THINGS
WE HEAR FROM PEOPLE IN THE
COMMUNITY IS SOMETIMES THEY
FEEL AN IMPORTANT CHECKED ABOX
OR THEY ARE NOT LISTENING TO
US. SO I CAN'T BEGIN TO
EXPRESS, YOU KNOW, EXTREME
GRATITUDE FOR YOU ALL TO BE
ABLE TO GO OUT INTO THE
COMMUNITIES THAT MIGHT NOT SEE
SOMETHING ON TWITTER OR SOCIAL
MEDIA, OR BE ACTIVE IN A
CERTAIN TYPE OF A NEIGHBORHOOD
GROUP. IT MIGHT BE WORD OF
MOUTH OR THROUGH A FOOD BANK.
JUST HOW INCREDIBLY IMPORTANT
THAT IS, ESPECIALLY ALL OF THE
PROJECTS THAT WERE GOING ON.
PARTICULARLY NOW SINCE WE'RE
DOING THE MOVE LEVY AND WE HAVE
SDOT, AND THERE WILL BE A TON
OF CONSTRUCTION PROJECTS ALL
AROUND THE CITY. AND FOR
SCHOOLS, FAMILIES, SIDEWALKS,
ANYTHING IS IMPORTANT. IF I
COULD HAVE A SHAMELESS PLUG, I
WOULD LOVE YOUR HELP BE THE
COMMUNICATION WITH THE J LINE
FOR EAST LAKE, WHICH IS GOING
TO BE INCREDIBLY IMPORTANT
DURING THAT PROJESS OF THE
MEDICATION AND EVERYTHING THAT
WILL BE HAPPENING IN THAT
NEIGHBORHOOD, SO THAT IS
MEISHISLESS PLUG. SO THANK YOU.
>> AND WE ACTUALLY HAVE THAT
PROJECT ON OUR ROSTER.
>> AWESOME. I'LL BE IN TOUCH.
>> THANK YOU, COUNCILMEMBER.
DID YOU HAVE A QUESTION?
COUNCILMEMBER WOO?
>> I SEE LIAISONS EVERYWHERE,
SO THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR YOUR
WORK.
>> COUNCILMEMBER HOLLINGSWORTH,
SINCE YOU CHAIR THE PARKS AND
UTILITIES, MAYBE WE COULD HAVE
SPU TELL US ABOUT HOW THEY DO
THE BROAD ENGAGEMENT SINCE DON
DOES A MORE FOCUSED ENGAGEMENT.
BUT I WOULD BE VERY INTERESTED
IN THE MITIGATION FOR SMALL
BUSINESSES IS REALLY KEY. AND
IN COMMUNITY. THANK YOU. SO
THANK YOU FOR RAISING THAT.
OKAY, ONTO NEIGHBORHOOD
MATCHING FUND.
>> ALL RIGHT, THE NEXT PROGRAM
IS THE NEIGHBORHOOD MATCHING
FUND KNOWN AS SMF. THIS IS THE
DEPARTMENT OF NEIGHBORHOODS
GRANTS PROGRAM. IT'S OPEN TO
EVERYONE CITY WIDE AND THE
GRANTS PROVIDE PUBLIC BENEFITS
FOR CITY FUNDS. THE
NEIGHBORHOOD MATCHING FUNDS
PROGRAMS IS 36 YEARS OLD AND
CREATED IN 1988 TO CREATE
MATCHING DOLLARS FOR COMMUNITY
LED PROJECTS RELATED TO
COMMUNITY ENGAGEMENTS. CRITICAL
TO MATCHING FUND IS THE
COMMUNITY MATCH, WHICH AWARDEES
CAN MATCH THEIR DONATED
PROFESSIONAL SERVICES OR CASH.
I'LL HAND IT OVER TO DANIEL TO
SPEAK TO THE DETAILS OF THE
PROGRAM.
>> THANK YOU, DIRECTOR CHAO AND
GOOD MORNING COUNCIL MEMBERS.
>> GOOD MORNING.
>> I APPRECIATE THAT.
>> THE NEIGHBORHOOD MATCHING
FUND, THANK YOU FOR ALLOWING ME
TO PRESENT THE NEIGHBORHOOD
MATCHING FUND. IT'S SERVED AS
A CATALYST FOR COMMUNITY
GENERATED PROJECTS AND PROGRAMS
FOR OVER 30 YEARS. AS DIRECTOR
CHAO NOTED, 36 YEARS TO BE
SPECIFIC. THIS PRESENTATION
WILL PROVIDE AN OVERVIEW OF THE
NEIGHBORHOOD MATCHING FUND
PROGRAM, WHY IT WORKS, WHO WE
FUND, WHAT WE FUND, TIMELINES,
STAFFING, AND A FEW EXAMPLES OF
IMPACT FUNDS WHERE PROJECTS
HAVE BEEN MADE IN THEIR
COMMUNITIES. IN 1988, THE
NEIGHBORHOOD MATCHING FUND WAS
CREATED TO PROVIDE MATCHING
DOLLARS FOR NEIGHBORHOOD
IMPROVEMENTS, OR CENTRAL TO THE
NEIGHBORHOOD MATCHING FUND,
ACQUIRING THEM TO MATCH THE
VOLUNTEER TIME, DONATED
OPPORTUNITIES OR PROFESSIONAL
SERVICES OR CASH. SINCE THEIR
CREATE. MORE THAN 5,000 HAVE
RECEIVED OVER $62 MILLION AND
GENERATED $72 MILLION IN
COMMUNITY MATCH. THE FUNDS ARE
LIMITED BY THE COMMUNITY'S
IMAGINATION AND THE CAPACITY TO
MAKE A PROJECT HAPPEN. THE
NEIGHBORHOOD MATCHING FUND WILL
THRIVE BECAUSE IT IS ROOTED IN
CULTIVATING AND AMPLIFYING THE
COMMUNITY. BUILT ON THE IDEALS
OF NEIGHBORHOODS THAT ARE
COMING TOGETHER TO TACKLE LOCAL
ISSUES. CREATING SOLUTIONS THAT
WILL MAKE THEIR NEIGHBORHOODS
BETTER. WE SUPPORT IDEAS
INITIATED AND SUSTAINED BY THE
COMMUNITY AND EMPOWERING LOCAL
VOICES AND BUILDING
INCLUSIVITY. BY ACTIVELY
ENGAGING RESIDENTS AND
STAKEHOLDERS, WE STRENGTHEN
RELATIONSHIPS AND DEEPEN
COMMUNITY RELATIONS. INSPIRING
INDIVIDUALS TO CONTRIBUTE THEIR
TIME AND TALENTS FOR A GREATER
IMPACT. ARISTARCH OUR GROUP
WILL HAVE PROJECTS AND
PROVIDING TECHNICAL ASSISTANCE
FOR POTENTIAL AWARDEES. WE FUND
NEIGHBORHOOD GROUPS, COMMUNITY
ORGANIZATIONS, AND FORMAL
GROUPS, AND BUSINESS GROUPS WHO
WANT TO BUILD STRONGER GROUPS.
THEY MUST BE OPEN AND
INCLUSIVE, ACTIVELY ENGAGED
DIVERSE COMMUNITY MEMBERS, AND
BE COMPOSED OF PEOPLE WHO LIVE
AND WORK IN SEATTLE. THE
MATCHING FUND WILL CONTINUE TO
ENGAGE IN OUR INTERNAL TEAMS
AND THE OTHER DEPARTMENTS, THE
COORDINATION TO A VARIETY OF
LOCAL ISSUES AND PROJECTS. THE
FUND WILL PROVIDE SUPPORT FOR
COMMUNITY BENEFIT, FREE AND
OPEN TO THE PUBLIC, AND
ACTIVELY INVOLVE THE COMMUNITY
IN THE CREATION AND THE
COMPLETION OF THE PROJECT. AND
WE BELIEVE THAT WITH COMMUNITY
SUPPORT, WE CAN MAXIMIZE
COMMUNITY INVOLVEMENT AND
ENGAGEMENT. MATCH IS BOTH
FUNDING AND/OR VOLUNTEER TIME
FOR THE BENEFIT OF THE PROJECT.
THE NEIGHBORHOOD MATCHING FUND
WILL REQUIRE DOCUMENTED MATCH
OF AT LEAST ONE HALF OF THE
REQUESTED GRANT TO MOUTH AND
FOR EXAMPLE, AN ORGANIZATION
THAT WILL APPLY FOR $5,000 OR
$50,000, EXCUSE ME, THEY MUST
DEMONSTRATE A COMMUNITY MATCH
OF $25,000, COMBINING BOTH THE
GRANT OR THE AMOUNT THEY'RE
APPLYING FOR AND THE MATCH, THE
TOTAL PROJECT COST WOULD BE
$75,000 WHEN COMBINING BOTH.
THE $50,000 THAT THEY WOULD
APPLY FOR AND THE $25,000 THAT
THEY ARE MATCHING.
THE NEIGHBORHOOD MATCHING FUND
HAS TWO SEPARATE FUNDING
OPPORTUNITIES AVAILABLE. THE
FIRST IS A SMALL FUND THAT WILL
GRANT UP TO $5,000. FOR 2024 IT
OPENED IN JANUARY AND RUNS
THROUGH OCTOBER 31.
APPLICATIONS ARE RECEIVED ON
THE ROLLING BASIS AND PROJECTS
ARE UP TO SIX MONTHS IN LENGTH
AND THERE IS A TOTAL OF
$270,000 AVAILABLE FOR AWARDS.
THE COMMUNITY PARTNERSHIP FUND
THAT GRANTS UP TO $50,000 PER
PROJECT AND OPEN TWICE A YEAR
FOR TWO MONTHS AT A TIME.
DEADLINES FOR 2024 ARE MARCH
11, WHICH HAS PASSED IN
SEPTEMBER 9, WHICH IS COMING
UP. THE COMMUNITY PARTNERSHIP
FUND IS A COMPETITIVE GRANT
WHERE THEY ARE REVIEWED AGAINST
EACH OTHER. MANY OF THESE
PROJECTS REQUIRE INCREASED
SUPPORT TO PAY FOR EXPERTISE,
HIGHER COST ITEMS, EXTENDED
COMMUNITY INVOLVEMENT, EVENT
SPACE, MUCH MORE. UP TO ONE
YEAR IN LENGTH AND $1 MILLION
AVAILABLE TOTALING $2 MILLION
FOR THE YEAR. THEY WILL SUPPORT
THE DEVELOPMENT AND REVIEW AND
WHEN PROJECTS ARE AWARDED, THEY
WORK WITH OTHER CITY
DEPARTMENTS AND THE COMMUNITY
TO ENSURE THE PROJECTS ARE
MEETING THE NEEDS OF BOTH THE
COMMUNITY AND THE CITY. THE
TEAM CONSISTS OF THREE PROJECT
MANAGERS WHO WORK DIRECTLY WITH
APPLICANTS AND THE OTHER CITY
DEPARTMENTS. THEY WILL ADVISE
PEOPLE ON THE PARAMETERS OF THE
PROGRAM, LEAD WORKSHOPS,
PARTICIPATE IN OUTREACH AND
ENGAGEMENT, COORDINATE SITE
VISITS, MUCH MORE. THE TEAM'S
ADMINISTRATIVE AND CONTRACT
SPECIALIST ARE SUPPORTING
COMMUNITIES IN THE CONTRACTING,
COORDINATING PROJECT MANAGER
ASSIGNMENT, AND RESPONDING TO
THE INITIAL INQUIRIES, AND MANY
OTHER TASKS. THE ADMINISTRATIVE
SPECIALIST IS SPLIT BETWEEN
BOTH THE NEIGHBORHOOD MATCHING
FUND AND THE FOOD EQUITY FUND.
SO HALF THEIR TIME IS WITH THE
NEIGHBORHOOD MATCHING FUND. THE
OTHER HALF IS WITH THE FOOD
EQUITY FUND. THE COMMUNITY
GRANTS MANAGER IS THE MANAGER
OF THE NEIGHBORHOOD FOOD OR THE
NEIGHBORHOOD MATCHING FUND AND
THE FOOD EQUITY FUND
SUPERVISOR. AND WITH THIS
ARRANGEMENT, I KNOW THAT THE
VALUES ARE NOT ON HERE, BUT
AGAIN, THE AWARDS THAT WE WOULD
HAVE OR THE TOTAL AWARD DOLLARS
THAT WE WOULD HAVE FOR THOSE
MATCHING FUNDS ARE $2,270,000,
AND THEN THE PERSONNEL COST FOR
OUR STAFF IS $278,000. WE HAVE
A PROGRAM EXPENSE BUDGET OF
ROUGHLY $29,000. SO NOW I WANT
TO SHIFT A FEW PROJECTS OVER
THE LAST FEW YEARS. THE
OPPORTUNITIES ARE AVAILABLE
THROUGH OUR PROGRAM. STAFF
WORKED TO DEVELOP A PLAYGROUND
FOR ALL. AMERICANS WITH
DISABILITY ACTS FOCUSED ON THE
PLAYGROUND, DEVELOPED IN
COLLABORATION WITH SEATTLE
SCHOOL DISTRICT'S STAFF TO MEET
THE NEEDS OF THE STUDENTS AND
THE BROADER NEEDS OF LOCAL
YOUTH AND THE COMMUNITY. ALL IN
MATCH AND SUPPORT. THE
NEIGHBORHOOD MATCHING FUND
STAFF WORKED WITH MANY
COMMUNITY LEADERS TO SUPPORT
THROUGH THE EYES OF THE TIGER,
THE COMMUNITY PROJECT. THIS
PROJECT WAS A RESULT OF DEEP
COMMUNITY WORK AND CULMINATED
IN THE CREATION OF THE
AUTHENTIC DOCUMENTARY OF THE
PHOTO DOCUMENTARY OF THE
HISTORIC WORK IN THE CHINATOWN
INTERNATIONAL DISTRICT. THIS
COMMUNITY PARTNERSHIP FUND
PROJECT WAS FUNDED WITH OVER
$48,000 AND OVER $50,000 IN
COMMUNITY MATCH AND WAS
ACTUALLY SHOWCASED IN THE ROOM
LAST YEAR.
>> '22? OKAY, SORRY. AND THE
COMMUNITY CELEBRATION. IT IS
ALSO IMPORTANT TO HIGHLIGHT
SMALLER PROJECTS. THIS IS A
SMALL SPARKS PROJECT WITH THE
POTENTIAL FOR GROWTH. AND IN
ANY NEIGHBORHOOD, THE
NEIGHBORHOOD MATCHING FUND,
FUNDED THE COMMUNITY
CELEBRATION, A SMALL GROUP OF
COMMUNITY MEMBERS CAME TOGETHER
WITH THE CREATIVE IDEA, AND
WE'RE EXCITED TO CONTINUE TO
WORK WITH THEM TO HELP THEM
GROW THEIR PROGRAM. OFTENTIMES
MANY APPLICANTS OR MANY
ORGANIZATIONS COME TO THE
NEIGHBORHOOD MATCHING FUND
THROUGH THE FIRST TIME IN SMALL
SPARKS AND GET USED TO THE FUND
AND BUILD UP THE CAPACITY TO
APPLY FOR THE SMALLER EVENTS.
IT'S AN ENTRY FOLKS FOR THOSE
TO APPLY FOR LARGER GRANTS. THE
HOLIDAY BOWL. SO BROTHERS
UNITED IN LEADERSHIP
DEVELOPMENT HAS SERVED AS A
CATALYST FOR COMMUNITY CHANGE
AND FOR ALMOST TEN YEARS. THEY
WILL WORK WITH THE COMMUNITY
LEADERS ON THE GROUND TO BRING
FAMILIES TOGETHER, ENGAGE WITH
YOUTH AND BUILD COMMUNITY.
BUILD HAS SUPPORTED SOUTH END
AND CENTRAL AREA COMMUNITIES
FOR YEARS AND THEY HAVE
EXPANDED THEIR WORK TO SUPPORT
THE COMMUNITIES CITY WIDE.
VOLUNTEER AMPHITHEATER. IT'S AN
AMAZING CLEAR EXAMPLE OF HOW
GREAT THEY COULD GROW WHILE
FUNDING THE NEIGHBORHOOD
MATCHING FUND. THIS PROJECT WAS
FUNDED FOR OVER FIVE YEARS. WE
HAVE MULTIPLE PHASE GRANTS,
PHASED PROJECTS. OFTENTIMES
THEY WILL START AND APPLY FOR
THE DESIGN AND THEN APPLY FOR
THE CONSTRUCTION, SO THEY JUST
FAZE THE PROJECT OUT TO GET
MULTIPLE AWARDS. THE ONE PIECE
WE'LL NOTE IS IT'S SOMETHING
THAT WE ALWAYS MAKE SURE THEY
CONSIDER AND THE FACT THAT IT
IS STILL A COMPETITIVE GRANT.
ALTHOUGH THAT WE FUND PHASE
ONE, IT'S NOT GUARANTEED THAT
PHASE TWO WILL BE FUNDED. SO
THE NEIGHBORHOOD MATCHING FUND
HAS TWO DIFFERENT GRANTS. BUT
WE WILL USE THE SAME
APPLICATION, THE SAME
GUIDELINES, THE SAME VALUES OF
COMMUNITY BUILDING AND
VOLUNTEER PARTICIPATION. THEY
SIMPLY DIFFER IN THE FUNDING
AMOUNT. THE REVIEW TIME AND THE
PROJECT OF $50,000 AND THE
PROJECT LENGTH OF ONE YEAR FOR
THE COMMUNITY PARTNERSHIP FUND.
THIS SHOWS THE BREAK DOWN OF
PROJECT TYPES FROM 2019 THROUGH
2013 AND THIS IS HOW WE
CLASSIFY THE PROJECTS PLANNING,
DESIGN, AND RACE AND SOCIAL
JUSTICE.
>> THE RACE AND SOCIAL
JUSTICES, THEY ARE PROGRAMS
WHERE WE HAVE IN COMMUNITY, BUT
ALSO REALLY ARTS AND CULTURE?
>> RIGHT.
>> AND THAT WOULD FALL UNDER
THAT.
>> BUILT? THANK YOU.
>> SO SMALL SPARKS THROUGH 2019
AND THROUGH 2023. SO SINCE
2019, SMALL SPARKS AWARDED 244
PROJECTS, TOTALING $1 MILLION
IN AWARDS THROUGH THE CITY AND
INCLUDING $1.4 MILLION IN
COMMUNITY MATCH. THE SAME
PERIOD OF TIME, 2019 FOR THE
COMMUNITY PARTNERSHIP FUND. THE
FUND HAS FUNDED OVER $7.7
MILLION IN PROJECTS THROUGHOUT
THE CITY WITH OVER $8 MILLION
IN MATCH. THIS CONCLUDES MY
NEIGHBORHOOD MATCHING FUND.
THANK YOU FOR YOUR TIME AND
ATTENTION.
>> THANK YOU. AND THE KEY
TAKEAWAY OBVIOUSLY WITH THIS IS
THE NEIGHBORHOOD MATCHING FUND
AND SERVICING ALL THE DISTRICTS
ACROSS THE CITY AND SUPPORTING
THE COMMUNITY WITH SOME OF
THOSE THINGS THAT THEY WOULD
LIKE TO SEE THE CITY DO THAT WE
CAN'T DO AND PARTNERING
TOGETHER WITH THOSE MATCHING
FUNDS TO ACCOMPLISH SOME OF
THESE GREAT PROJECTS, INCLUDING
THE PLAYGROUNDS, SPECIFIC
THINGS IN COMMUNITY. FOR THE
BENEFIT OF ALL. ANY QUESTIONS,
COLLEAGUES? COUNCILMEMBER WOO?
>> COMMENTS, I WANT TO SHARE MY
EXPERIENCE WITH THE MATCHING
FUND. I APPLIED TWICE. ONE FOR
THE TIME DURING HATE TO PROVIDE
AWARENESS TRAINING TO THE
SENIORS AND SELF-DEFENSE DURING
THAT TIME. I WOULD LIKE TO TALK
ABOUT THE EXPERIENCE THAT I
WOULD HAVE. THE FIRST TIME THAT
I APPLIED FOR THESE GRANTS, I
DIDN'T GET IT. BUT THE AMAZING
TEAM, THEY WERE ABLE TO WORK
WITH ME AND HELP ME GET MY
PROPOSAL TO AN AMAZING PLACE
AND TO BE ABLE TO GET THE GRANT
AS WELL AS TO HAVE THE EVENT. I
KNOW THAT THERE ARE SO MANY
AMAZING PROPOSALS AND IDEAS
THAT I HAVE SEEN ALONG THE WAY
I GUESS THE PROPOSALS. BUT VERY
QUICKLY, YOU KNOW, STAFF WAS
JUDGING US BY MERIT, NOT BY
DISTRICTS. LIKE A CERTAIN
NUMBER THAT YOU COULD SEE. IT
IS NOT -- IT IS ALL OVER ALL
THE DISTRICTS, EVENLY DIVIDED.
AND SO I LEARNED SO MUCH ABOUT
THE CITY PROCESS AS WELL AS
WORKING WITH THE TEAM AND THE
SUPPORT THAT I GOT THROUGHOUT
THE PROJECT LENGTH. AND AS WELL
AS THERE WERE A COUPLE OF
HICCUPS ALONG THE WAY WITH A
GREAT EXPERIENCE THAT I WANT TO
THANK YOU FOR EVERYTHING THAT
YOU DO.
>> THANK YOU. THANK YOU. ONTO
FOOD EQUITY FUND?
ALL RIGHT, THANK YOU. SO LAST,
BUT NOT LEAST, THE NEXT PROGRAM
IS FOOD EQUITY FUND. THE FUND
IS A NEWER GRANT PROGRAM IN THE
DEPARTMENT OF NEIGHBORHOODS AND
FUNDED BY THE FOOD AND BEVERAGE
TAX. CREATED IN 2021 AND
SUPPORTS WORK LED BY THOSE WHO
EXPERIENCE THE MOST FOOD AND
HEALTH INEQUITIES. INVESTING IN
COMMUNITY LED WORK THAT
CONTRIBUTES TO THE EQUITABLE
AND SUSTAINABLE LOCAL FOOD
SYSTEM. I'M GOING TO HAND IT
OVER TO LISA TO SPEAK ABOUT THE
MEANINGFUL IMPACT IN THE
INTERDEPARTMENTAL COLLABORATION
WITH OTHER CITY DEPARTMENTS.
>> THANK YOU, DIRECTOR CHAO.
GOOD MORNING COUNCILMEMBER
RIVERA, COUNCILMEMBER WOO, AND
COUNCILMEMBER HOLLINGSWORTH. I
JUST APPRECIATED THE THOUGHTFUL
DISCUSSION THAT WE'VE HAD AND
LOOK FORWARD TO A FRUITFUL
CONVERSATION THROUGHOUT MY
PRESENTATION. DON'T WORRY, I
WON'T BE MAKING FOOD PUNS
THROUGHOUT THE WHOLE TIME. I
WILL BE THOUGH STARTING AND
ENDING MY PRESENTATION WITH THE
HEART OF OUR PROGRAM, WHICH IS
OUR GRANTEES. HERE YOU'LL SEE
YOUTH AND THEIR FAMILIES FROM
CLEAN GREENS FARM, HARVESTING
PUMPKINS FROM THEIR NEW GARDEN
BEHIND THE TENNIS CENTER. AND A
VOLUNTEER FROM CITY FRUIT,
HARVESTING APPLES FOR FREE
DISTRIBUTION. TODAY I'LL FOCUS
ON WHAT THE FOOD EQUITY FUND
IS. , GIVE SOME TEXT WHEN WE DO
OUR FUNDING, SHARING SOME DATA
DIRECTLY FROM OUR GRANTEES. THE
FOOD EQUITY FUND WILL INVEST IN
FOOD WORK LED BY THOSE WHO
EXPERIENCE THE MOST FOOD AND
HEALTH INEQUITIES. IMMIGRANTS,
REFUGEES, YOUTH, AND/OR ELDERS.
CREATED BASED ON GUIDANCE FROM
THE BEVERAGE TAX ADVISORY BOARD
AND SEATTLE MUNICIPAL CODE WHEN
THE TAX WAS PASSED. THE TAX IS
A TAX PAID BY DISTRIBUTERS OF
SUGAR DRINKS. THAT WILL MAKE
RECOMMENDATIONS ON THE TAX
REVENUE AND ITS PROGRAMS. THE
ADVISORY BOARD WILL CONSISTENT
OF 11 MEMBERS WHO ARE POINTED
BY THE MAYOR OR CITY COUNCIL
INTO ONE OF FOUR POSITION
TYPES. FOOD ACCESS, COMMUNITY,
PUBLIC HEALTH, EARLY LEARNING.
FOOD EQUITY FUND IS ONE OF THE
COMMUNITY ADVISORY BOARD
SIGNATURE PROGRAMS. SBT FUNDS
OFC'S FRESH PROGRAM, WHICH AS
YOU KNOW ENROLLS CUSTOMERS,
RECEIVING $40 A MONTH ON
FRUITS, VEGETABLES, THE
PARTICIPATING INDEPENDENT
GROCERS AND THE SUPERMARKETS.
IT WILL ALSO FUND THE DEALS,
PRENATAL TO THE GRANT PROGRAM
AND A COMMUNITY GRANT SIMILAR
TO OURS, EXCEPT FOR EARLY
LEARNING. AND THE TRADITIONAL
FOOD BANKS AND MANY MORE. THERE
ARE TWO WAYS TO RECEIVE FUNDING
FROM US. THE FIRST IS THROUGH
THE SIGNATURE PROGRAM AND THE
FOOD EQUITY FUND. GRANT AWARDS
ARE UP TO $100,000 AND MADE BY
THE DIVERSE COMMUNITY PANEL,
WHO WILL WORK WITH THEIR STAFF
TO SEND THEIR SUGGESTIONS TO
FINALIZE. WORKING IN THE LOCAL
FOOD SYSTEMS, WITH LESS THAN
$500,000 IN THEIR ANNUAL
BUDGET. LAST YEAR WE AWARDED
$318,000 TO 16 ORGANIZATIONS.
FOR HALF OF THE SELECTED
ORGANIZATIONS, THIS WAS
ACTUALLY THEIR FIRST EVER CITY
GRANT. IT'S IMPORTANT TO
DISCUSS THAT FROM 2019 TO 2023
THAT THE CONSUMER PRICE INDEX
FOR FOOD ROSE BY 25%. THAT'S A
HIGHER INCREASE THAN ALL ITEMS,
WHICH GREW 19.2% OVER THE SAME
TIME PERIOD. FOOD PRICES
INCREASED FASTER THAN ANY YEAR
SINCE 1979. THIS HIGH-RISE AND
FOOD COST SUPPORTS WHAT WE SAW
IN OUR APPLICATION POOL. WE SAW
THE INCREASE OF GROUPS THAT DID
NOT CONSIDER THEMSELVES FOOD
ORGANIZATIONS, REALLY TAKE ON
FOOD GIVEN THE HIGH NEED. AT
THE SAME TIME, WE SAW DEMAND
INCREASE FOR EXISTING FOOD
BASED ORGANIZATIONS. HERE IN
SEATTLE KING COUNTY PUBLIC
HEALTH WILL REPORT THAT AT
LEAST 10% OF ADULTS WILL
EXPERIENCE FOOD INSECURITY,
WHICH MEANS THEY HAVE
INSUFFICIENT NUTRITIOUS FOOD TO
MEET THEIR BASIC NEEDS.
SPECIFICALLY BLACK, LATINO,
NATIVE AMERICANS EXPERIENCE
FOOD INSECURITIES AT
SIGNIFICANTLY HIGHER RATES. UP
TO 25% TO 35%. I DO THINK IT'S
IMPORTANT TO NOTE THAT NATIVE,
HAWAIIANS, AND PACIFIC
ISLANDERS ARE NOT ACCOUNTED FOR
IN THIS PARTICULAR DATA SET.
HOWEVER, THIS GENERALLY SHOWS
RATES OF FOOD INSECURITY AS
HIGHER FOR A MAJORITY OF PEOPLE
OF COLOR IN SEATTLE. THIS IS A
SCREEN SHOT THAT WAS LED BY
KING COUNTY PUBLIC HEALTH. IT
IS ALSO REFERENCED IN THE FOOD
ACTION PLAN. IT ILLUSTRATES
FOOD ACCESS DISPARITIES IN
SEATTLE. THE PURPOSE OF THIS
STUDY WAS TO IDENTIFY HEALTHY
FOOD PRIORITY AREAS IN OUR CITY
IN ORDER TO IMPROVE ACCESS TO
HEALTHY AFFORDABLE FOOD. AS YOU
KNOW, ACCESS IS VERY
MULTI-FACETTED, SO THE STUDY
USED SEVERAL FACTORS IN
DETERMINING THE ANALYSIS. BUT
FIRST, POVERTY. SECOND, TRAVEL
TIME TO NEAREST HEALTHY FOOD
RETAILER. LASTLY, A PERCENTAGE
OF FOOD RETAILERS IN THE AREA
THAT DO NOT SELL NUTRITIOUS
FOOD. AS YOU CAN SEE FROM THIS
MAP, ACCESS TO NUTRITIOUS AND
AFFORDABLE FOOD IS NOT
DISTRIBUTED EQUALLY OR
EQUITABLE BLUE ACROSS THE CITY.
THE HEALTHY FOOD PRIORITY AREAS
IN ORANGE NEAR THE WATER WAY
OVERLAPPED ON ALL THREE
FACTORS. LOWER INCOME, LONGER
TRAVEL TIMES TO HEALTHY FOOD
RETAILERS, AND HIGHER
PERCENTAGES TO UNHEALTHY FOOD
RETAILERS. ADDITIONALLY
COMPREHENSIVE NATIONAL STUDIES
ALSO SHOW THAT SODA AND FAST
FOOD COMPANIES SPECIFICALLY
TARGET CHILDREN, TEENS, BLACK
AMERICANS, AND LATINX
COMMUNITIES WITH MARKETING OF
THEIR UNHEALTHY PRODUCTS. FOR
THESE REASONS AND MORE, THE
COMMUNITY ADVISORY BOARD WILL
HELP CREATE THE FOOD EQUITY
FUND WITH LOW INCOME
COMMUNITIES, THE COMMUNITIES
AND YOUTH IN MIND. THE
LANDSCAPE WE'RE OPERATING IN
IS UNFORTUNATELY REFLECTED IN
THE HIGH DEMAND FOR OUR
PROGRAM. WE AVERAGE UP TO THREE
TO FOUR TIMES MORE IN REQUESTS
THAN WE HAVE IN AVAILABLE
FUNDING. HERE YOU'LL SEE JUST
LAST YEAR, WE HAD OVER $8.4
MILLION IN REQUESTS AND ONLY
$2.3 MILLION IN AVAILABLE
FUNDING. THIS TREND WILL
CONTINUE YEAR AFTER YEAR. HERE
IS A MAP FROM 2022 UNTIL LAST
JUNE. SO IT DOES NOT HAVE THE
MOST UPDATED, BUT PRETTY
COMPREHENSIVE. I WANT TO
HIGHLIGHT THAT THIS IS NOT A
SERVICE MAP. IT'S SIMPLY A MAP
THAT GRANTEES, WHERE THE
GRANTEES WILL HAVE THEIR OFFICE
OR THEIR PRIMARY SITE
ORPHANINGTIVETIES. AS YOU KNOW,
FOR EXAMPLE, FOOD PANTRY IN
CAPITOL HILL CAN SERVE MANY
RESIDENTS AND THE SURROUNDING
NEIGHBORHOODS BECAUSE PEOPLE
OFTEN NEED TO TRAVEL ACROSS THE
CITY TO GET THEIR SERVICES. AND
AS OF APRIL, 2024, WE'VE FUNDED
75 UNIQUE ORGANIZATIONS. WE'RE
ON TRACK TO GRANT $8.6 MILLION
IN FUNDING TO THE DIVERSE
COHORT OF GRANTEES. AND THEY
SUPPORT THE WIDE RANGE OF
PROJECTS, INCLUDING THE
COMMUNITY GARDENS, THE YOUTH
DEVELOPMENT, FOOD, NEW AND
INNOVATIVE FOOD DISTRIBUTION
SITES AND MORE. IT IS ALSO NOT
UNCOMMON FOR ONE ORGANIZATION
TO HAVE MULTIPLE STRATEGIES
WITHIN THE FOOD SYSTEM. FOR
EXAMPLE A GROUP WILL ORGANIZE A
GROCERY DISTRIBUTION IN
ADDITION TO HAVING THE FOOD
EDUCATION WORKSHOP.
>> MADAM CHAIR, I HAVE A
QUESTION.
>> I'M SO SORRY.
>> IS THAT OKAY?
>> YES, OF COURSE.
>> AWESOME. REAL QUICK ON SLIDE
46, THE FUNDING AVAILABLE IS
THROUGH TAX DOLLARS, THAT
SIGNIFICANTLY DROPPED. AND IS
THE TAX DOLLARS THAT ARE
GENERATED FROM THIS FROM THE
POINT OF SALE AT GROCERY STORES
OR ARE WE TAXING LIKE ALSO
SUGAR DRINKS AT STARBUCKS?
>> GREAT QUESTION. IT IS NOT A
SALES TAX AND THAT IS BY
INTENTION. THE TAX ITSELF IS A
DISTRIBUTER TAX. SO WE TAX
DISTRIBUTERS INCLUDING, SO LIKE
THE BIG SODA. I'LL GET BACK TO
YOU ABOUT STARBUCKS, BUT
ANYTHING THAT WE WOULD TAX THE
DISTRIBUTER.
>> SO THE DISTRIBUTERS THAT ARE
DISTRIBUTING TO LIKE THE
GROCERY STORES?
>> EXACTLY.
>> OR 7-ELEVEN?
>> EXACTLY.
>> THE CONVENIENCE STORE?
>> RIGHT.
>> AND IT IS NOT A SALES TAX,
SO IT IS NOT SOMETHING THAT
YOU'LL SEE AT THE REGISTER,
LIKE THE TAX.
>> GOT IT.
>> AND IT IS VERY COMMON.
COUNCILMEMBER RIVERA, MAYBE
THIS IS WHERE YOU'RE GETTING
AT AND THAT THE DISTRIBUTERS
WILL NEED TO PASS ON THE TAX TO
CONSUMERS, AND THAT WAS AN
INTENTIONAL DESIGN, SO THERE IS
A STICKER SHOCK OF THE, YOU
KNOW, THE RISE IN SUGAR
BEVERAGES AS A DETERRENT FOR
CONSUMERS TO NOT DRINK THAT
DRINK. AND THAT IS THE THEORY.
>> UNDERSTOOD. IT MAKES SENSE.
WHEN YOU WOULD GO TO THE STORE,
YOU WOULD SEE THE SUGAR TAX OR
WHATEVER, AND WHY IT WAS WHAT
IT WAS.
>> EXACTLY.
>> YEAH, THAT MAKES SENSE.
>> IT WOULD COST MORE.
>> UNDERSTOOD. AND IS THAT
WHERE IT WAS?
>> EXACTLY. I WAS GOING TO
DAYLIGHT THAT AND THEN
OBVIOUSLY YOU CAN SEE FROM THE
FOOD EQUITY FUND IN NUMBERS,
THE CHART BEFORE YOU THAT THE
TAXES, THEY ARE LOWER THIS YEAR
THAN THEY WERE THE PRIOR TWO
YEARS.
>> ABSOLUTELY.
>> AND ALSO I HAD ANOTHER
COMMENT. I KNOW WE'RE GOING
THROUGH THE SLIDES AND I
APOLOGIZE.
>> NO WORRIES.
>> DON'T APOLOGIZE.
>> I KNOW IT'S A LOT OF
INFORMATION, WHICH IS GREAT.
BUT ONE OF THE THINGS THAT I
WANTED TO HIGHLIGHT AND I
DON'T KNOW IF MY COLLEAGUES
KNOW. BUT THE OPHELLO SAFEWAY
IS THE NUMBER ONE REDEMPTION
FOR SNAP IN OUR CITY. AND THE
SOUTH END AND THE SOUTH END,
THEY ACTUALLY HAVE ONE
TECHNICALLY ONE FOOD BANK BY
DEFINITION FOR THAT IS ABLE TO
RECEIVE A DEPARTMENT OF
AGRICULTURE RESOURCES. IT IS
ANYTHING SOUTH OF I-90, OKAY?
AND WE HAVE ONE FOOD BANK WHERE
THEY WILL NEED TO SERVICE SKY
WAY WITH NO FOOD BANK AND THEY
WOULD HAVE ONE GROCERY STORE
WHERE A LOT OF PEOPLE WILL COME
FROM SKYWAY TO THE FOOD BANK
THAT IS NOW, YOU KNOW, RIGHT
NEXT TO THE RAINIER BEACH
SAFEWAY. SO I WANTED TO POINT
THAT OUT BECAUSE I SEE A LOT OF
FOOD, WHICH IS SOUTH SEATTLE.
AND THEN I SAW A LOT OF THE
GRANTS THAT WENT TO SOUTH
SEATTLE IN DISTRICT TWO,
ASSUMING THAT IS ONE OF THE
REASONS WHY AS WELL AND I
WANTED TO POINT THAT OUT.
>> THIS WILL SHOW YOU THE
HEALTHY FOOD PRIORITY AREAS.
THE ONE THING THAT I POINTED
OUT TO THE DEPARTMENT AND OUR
CONVERSATIONS, AND I SAID THAT
BEFORE IS THAT THESE INDEXES,
THEY ARE A BIT SKEWED. THERE
ARE POCKETS WITHIN THE INDEXES
THAT DON'T REALLY SHOW HERE.
FOR INSTANCE AT SAND POINT,
THERE ARE SOME FAMILIES AND
THEY ARE VERY MUCH ENOUGH OF A
FOOD DESERT WHERE THEY WILL
MEET THE POVERTY DEFINITION,
AND THE TRAVEL TIME AND IN THE
FOOD DESERT AND THE CLOSEST
GROCERY STORE THAT IS IN A
SAFEWAY THAT HAS NOW CLOSED AND
I BELIEVE THAT THEY SENSED THAT
ONCE A WEEK AND A LOT OF
FAMILIES AND THAT THEY NEED
FOOD AND HEALTHY FOOD. AND SO,
YOU KNOW, THE ONLY RETAILER
NEARBY IS THE 7-ELEVEN, WHICH
DOES NOT HAVE VERY MUCH HEALTHY
FOOD. AND IT DOES NOT SHOW ON
THIS MAP. SO I DO THINK THAT,
YOU KNOW, THESE MAPS, THEY ARE
HELPFUL. THEN ALSO IT DOESN'T
SHOW YOU THE FULL PICTURE
ALWAYS, SO I APPRECIATE YOU
BRINGING THAT UP,
COUNCILMEMBER. I ALSO WANTED TO
POINT THAT OUT AS WELL. DID YOU
HAVE A QUESTION, COUNCILMEMBER
WOO? OKAY, THANK YOU.
>> THANK YOU.
>> SOMETHING UNIQUE TO US IS
THAT WE DON'T OUTSOURCE OUR
TECHNICAL ASSISTANCE. THE FOOD
EQUITY FUND IS HONESTLY JUST
ONE OF THE MOST CARING GROUPS
OF TEAM MEMBERS THAT I'VE HAD
THE PRIVILEGE OF WORKING WITH
AND THEY ARE INTERESTED IN
APPLYING TO THE FUND TO WORK
WITH THE DIVERSE GROUP OF MEDIA
OUTLETS TO GET THE WORD OUT.
AND NOW ONTO THE GOOD STUFF.
I'M GOING TO HIGHLIGHT THE
HANDFUL OF OUR COMMUNITY
GRANTEES. FIRST WE HAVE FAMILY
WORKS. THEY MANAGE TWO FOOD
BANKS IN GREENWOOD. A MOBILE
FOOD PANTRY PICTURED HERE. HOME
DELIVERY PROGRAM AND A PICK UP
SERVICE. THEIR IMPACT DURING
THEIR FOOD EQUITY FUND CONTRACT
PERIOD INCLUDED PROVIDING
CULTURALLY RESPONSIVE FOOD TO
OVER 10,000 PEOPLE VIA THE
OTHER TWO FOOD BANKS. AND 3,700
PEOPLE VIA THEIR MOBILE FOOD
PANTRY. FAMILY WORKS ALSO GOT
TO ESTABLISH AND STRENGTHEN
RELATIONSHIPS WITH TEN LOCAL
FARMERS INCLUDING THE TRIBE,
ALVAREZ FARMS, FRIENDLY FARMS,
AND MORE. AND NEXT WE HAVE
FRIENDLY ISLANDS OF THE SENIORS
OR THE FITS FOR SHORT. AND TO
PROVIDE A SENSE OF BELONGING
FOR NEWLY IMMIGRATED ONES AND
HISTORICALLY THEY HAD A VERY
SUCCESSFUL WEEKLY FOOD
DISTRIBUTION AND ORGANIZED HOT
MEALS TWICE A MONTH, BUT HAD TO
STOP DUE TO COVID. THEY WERE
ABLE TO RESTART THE PROGRAM
AFTER RECEIVING OUR GRANT. THEY
STILL HAVE AN ACTIVE CONTRACT,
BUT THE IMPACT SO FAR HAS
INCLUDED DISTRIBUTING
CULTURALLY RELEVANT GROCERY
BOXES TO OVER 183 PACIFIC
ISLANDER SENIORS AND THEIR
FAMILIES. THIS IS ALSO THEIR
FIRST EVER GRANT WHERE THEY
WOULD RELY ON DONATIONS
ENTIRELY WHERE THEY HAVE DEEP
CONNECTIONS IN WEST SEATTLE
NEIGHBORHOODS. NEXT IS CITY
FRUIT. CITY FRUIT STEWARDS AND
HARVEST URBAN FRUIT TREES TO
SUPPORT SUSTAINABLE AND
EQUITABLE ACCESS TO FRUIT FOR
EVERYONE. THIS SOOT GREAT
EXAMPLE OF THE ORGANIZATION
THAT'S BASED IN ONE
NEIGHBORHOOD, IN THIS CASE,
FREMONT, BUT WILL TRULY SERVE
CITY WIDE. THEY WILL PROVIDE
FRESH FRUIT TO FOOD BANKS, MEAL
PROGRAMS, TITLE I ELEMENTARY
SCHOOLS, AND SHELTERS, ALL OVER
THE CITY. IMPACT SO FAR
INCLUDES IN 2022, THEY
DISTRIBUTED ALMOST 1,700 POUNDS
IN FRUIT. REGISTERED OVER 2,600
TREE OWNERS TO BE A PART OF
THEIR PROGRAM. NEXT IS LAKE
CITY COLLECTIVE. THEY ALSO HAVE
AN ACTIVE CONTRACT WITH US. BUT
SO FAR THEY HAVE ORGANIZED WORK
PARTIES TO COMPLETELY
REVITALIZE THEIR COMMUNITY
SPACE AND BUILT GARDEN BEDS,
PLANTING VEGETABLES. THEY
HOSTED TWO COMMUNITY DINNERS,
WHICH IS A PART OF AN ONGOING
SERIES TO COLLECT RECIPES FROM
ELDERS AND THEIR COMMUNITY AND
YOUTH LEADERS WILL CREATE A
SCENE TO SHARE. THEY ALSO
STARTED ORGANIZING THEIR FOOD
ENTREPRENEURSHIP COHORT AND A
SERIES OF WORKSHOPS FOR
COMMUNITY MEMBERS TO LEARN HOW
TO START A FOOD BUSINESS. SO
AGAIN, JUST ANOTHER GREAT
EXAMPLE OF HOW ONE GRANTEE CAN
HAVE MULTIPLE STRATEGIES IN ONE
GRANT. AND LAST AND CERTAINLY
NOT LEAST, CLEAN GREENS FARM,
THE TASK FORCE. SOME HIGHLIGHTS
OF THEIR IMPACT SO FAR INCLUDE
IN 2022 AND 2023, 25 YOUTH
LEADERS PARTICIPATED IN THEIR
FARM PROGRAM. THEY PROVIDE
WEEKLY FOOD BOXES FOR 25 LOW
INCOME FAMILIES FOR OVER FOUR
MONTHS. IN 2022, THEY HARVESTED
SEVEN TONS OF VEGETABLES. THIS
IS A GREAT EXAMPLE OF HOW AN
ORGANIZATION WAS ABLE TO
SUCCESSFULLY, BE SUCCESSFUL IN
A HIGHLY COMPETITIVE POOL AND
RECEIVE THE GRANT MULTIPLE
YEARS. THE IMPACT OF THAT MADE
A MEANINGFUL DIFFERENCE IN
THEIR CAPACITY BUILDING AND
GROWTH. FOR EXAMPLE, THEY WERE
ABLE TO START A NEW GARDENING
PROGRAM BEHIND THE TENNIS
CENTER AND ARE ON TRACK TO
DISTRIBUTE NOW NINE INSTEAD OF
SEVEN TONS OF FOOD FOR THEIR
UPCOMING VEGGIE BOX
DISTRIBUTION. WE ALSO HAVE BEEN
FORTUNATE TO RECEIVE SOME GREAT
MEDIA COVERAGE IN OUR SHORT
TIME OF EXISTENCE. HIGHLIGHTING
EITHER THE FOOD EQUITY FUND
ITSELF OR OUR GRANTEES. BROOK
BRADFORD FROM THE COMMUNITY
ROOTS HOUSING TOLD THE SOUTH
SEATTLE EMERALD THAT BEFORE
THEY RECEIVED A GRANT IN 2022,
ASIDE FROM THE OCCASIONAL
CANNED FOOD DRIVES, THE
ORGANIZATIONS WORK SURROUNDING
FOOD EQUITY WAS LIMITED TO THE
EFFORTS OF ONE EMPLOYEE. BUT
THE FOOD EQUITY FUND REALLY
ALLOWED THEM TO START BUILDING
THEIR IDEA INTO A REAL CONCEPT.
AND NOW THEY HAVE OPENED THEIR
FOOD PANTRY AT THE ELEMENTARY.
AS YOU KNOW, A THIRD OF
STUDENTS AT THE ELEMENTARY
IDENTIFY AS UNHOUSED. SO THIS
FOOD PANTRY IS A MAJOR BENEFIT
TO THE STUDENTS AND THE
FAMILIES IN THAT NEIGHBORHOOD.
AND AGAIN WE DON'T DO OUR WORK
IN SILOS. WE HAVE BEEN WORKING
CLOSELY WITH OUR COLLEAGUES
ACROSS THE CITY. WE ARE A PART
OF DESIGNING THE FOOD ACTION
PLAN, WHICH IS THE CITY OF
SEATTLE'S VISION AND ROAD MAP
FOR THE EQUITABLE, SUSTAINABLE,
AND RESILIENT LOCAL FOOD
SYSTEM. THE FOOD ACTION PLAN
SUPPORTS MAYOR HARRELL'S ONE
SEATTLE VISION FOR HEALTHY
RESILIENT, AND WELL CONNECTED
COMMUNITIES. FOOD, AS YOU KNOW,
IS IMPORTANT TO INDIVIDUAL AND
COMMUNITY WELL BEING. WE ALSO
WORK WITH OSC TO SUPPORT THE
COMMUNITY ADVISORY BOARD AS
NEEDED, AND WE WORK VERY
CLOSELY WITH HSD TO ENSURE OUR
FUNDING IS STRATEGICALLY
COORDINATED.
>> AND OSE IS OFFICE OF
SUSTAINABILITY AND ENVIRONMENT
FOR ANYONE WHO IS WATCHING, AND
IT'S THE HUMAN SERVICES
DEPARTMENT.
>> THANK YOU COUNCILMEMBER
RIVERA. HERE IS A BREAK DOWN OF
OUR CURRENT STAFFING, FOOD
JUSTICE, EVEN A WORKING FARMER
ON OUR TEAM, IT IS JUST A GREAT
DEAL OF EXPERTISE ON THE TEAM.
FOR 2024, OUR COSTS ARE
$733,500. I'M ENDING WITH
ANOTHER GRANTEE. THIS IS AN
EARLY LEARNING TV SHOW WHERE
THIS EPISODE, TEACHING ALEX HOW
TO MAKE PASTA SALAD WHILE ALSO
TALKING ABOUT DISABILITIES.
THEY'RE AT RAINIER BEACH URBAN
FARMS AND WETLAND MANAGED BY
THE ALLIANCE WHO IS ALSO ONE OF
OUR FORMER GRANTEES. SO THANK
YOU, AND HAPPY TO ANSWER ANY
QUESTIONS.
>> THANK YOU, THANK YOU SO MUCH
FOR THIS THOUGHTFUL
PRESENTATION. I KNOW IT WAS
LONG, BUT I APPRECIATE YOU
TALKING ABOUT ALL THE DIFFERENT
PROGRAMS THAT YOU RUN OUT OF
THE DEPARTMENT IN OUR
NEIGHBORHOODS. COLLEAGUES, DO
YOU HAVE ANY QUESTIONS?
>> I'M SORRY, CHAIR
HOLLINGSWORTH?
>> I JUST HAVE A COUPLE IF THAT
IS OKAY.
>> THAT'S GREAT. I LOVE THE
QUESTIONS, COUNCILMEMBER
HOLLINGSWORTH.
>> OKAY, SO I WAS IN
COUNCILMEMBER RIVERA'S
DISTRICT THE OTHER DAY. I SAW
FREE VEGGIE FOOD IS UP ON 50th,
OFF 50th. IT WAS A PANTRY. I
DIDN'T KNOW IF YOU ALL KNOW
THAT WAS A PART OF WHAT YOU ALL
DO? I KNOW YOU GRANTED A LOT OF
PEOPLE. BUT IF THAT IS, IT'S
GREAT. THERE WAS A LINE AROUND
THE DOOR. FREE VEGGIE FOOD. THE
OTHER THING I WANTED TO
HIGHLIGHT IS I THINK IT IS
INCREDIBLY IMPORTANT. I'VE
SAID THIS BEFORE, AND I'VE BEEN
SCREAMING THIS FOR YEARS THAT
BY 2050, WE HAVE TO GROW 50%
MORE FOOD.
>> ABSOLUTELY.
>> AS A WORLD, AS A GROWING
POPULATION. AND THE NUMBER ONE
WASTE IN OUR GARBAGE IS FOOD
WASTE. AND SO ANYTHING THAT IS
PROVIDING, YOU KNOW, EXTENDING
THE LIFE OF FOOD, YOU KNOW,
JUST FUNDING THOSE IS AMAZING.
AND THEN LOCALIZING OUR FOOD,
LIKE THE URBAN RAINIER BEACH
URBAN FARMS, I THINK THAT IT IS
SUPER AMAZING. AND THEN ALSO I
WANTED TO HIGHLIGHT WHAT IS
INCREDIBLY IMPORTANT IS OUR
SUMMER PROGRAMS, ESPECIALLY FOR
KIDS BECAUSE THEY GET ALL THEIR
FOOD DURING THE SCHOOL. A LOT
OF PEOPLE DON'T REALIZE THAT
WEEKENDS, THE THREE SQUARE
MEALS A DAY ON THE WEEKENDS
BECAUSE A LOT OF KIDS WILL MISS
OUT ON THOSE. I KNOW THOSE HAVE
BEEN POPPING UP AS WELL, AND WE
HAVE SEEN A LOT MORE IN FOOD
PANTRIES IN DIFFERENT SCHOOLS.
BUT PRIMARILY IT'S THAT FRIDAY
WHEN THE CHILDREN ARE RECEIVING
THE FOOD TO HAVE OVER THE
WEEKEND BECAUSE THEY DON'T GET
THREE SQUARE MEALS AT HOME. AND
LAST, BUT NOT LEAST. I HIGHLIGH
FOOD RESOURCES. I WOULD LOVE TO
FIGURE OUT WITH OUR CITY, THE
RED BARN FARMS. AND A LOT OF
PEOPLE DON'T KNOW, YAKIMA
NATION BOUGHT NAVA FARMS, THE
JAPANESE FARMS IN THE YAKIMA
VALLEY AND THAT TRIBE
SPECIFICALLY, THEY WANTED TO DO
FOOD DISTRIBUTION BECAUSE THEY
SAW WHAT WAS GOING ON IN
CALIFORNIA AND THE DROUGHT. AND
THEY DO, THEY HAVE THEIR
CASINO, BUT THERE WERE ELDERS,
TALKING ABOUT HEY, WE HAVE TO
DO FOOD NEXT. THAT IS THE NEXT
PIECE TO SECURING OUR TRIBE.
AND SO THINKING ABOUT OUR CITY
LOCALIZING OUR FOOD RESOURCES,
WE COULD HAVE AS MANY ACCESS
POINTS AS WE WOULD WANT, BUT
ALSO LIKE, YOU KNOW, WHEN WE
LOOK AT SEATTLE PUBLIC
UTILITIES, THEY HAVE THEIR
WATER SHEDS, TWO WATER SHEDS
THAT ARE OUTSIDE THE CITY. SO
UNDERSTANDING HOW IMPORTANT
LOCALIZING OUR FOOD RESOURCES
ARE FOR THE EQUITY FUND AND
HOPEFULLY JUST GETTING SOME
COMMUNITY PARTNERS TO BE ABLE
TO TELL THAT LAND, PARTNERING
WITH THE TRIBE, YOU KNOW, AND
THEN THEIR ENDEAVORS, BUILDING
THAT UP TO BE A GREAT RESOURCE
FOR OUR CITY AND FOR FOOD. I
THINK THAT IT IS KEY. THIS IS A
SHAMELESS PLUG. EVERY TIME YOU
EAT A HAMBURGER, IT'S 60 MILES
OF THE CARBON EMISSIONS THAT
YOU PUT OUT. MORE VEGGIES FOR
FOLKS. THAT'S WHY I WOULD LOVE
A FARM AT RED BARN RANCH. THANK
YOU.
>> THANK YOU COUNCILMEMBER
HOLLINGSWORTH.
>> THANK YOU.
>> YOU'RE SPEAKING MY
LANGUAGE, COUNCILMEMBER
HOLLINGSWORTH. I WOULD JUST
ADD, YOU KNOW, THAT WE ALSO SAW
AN INCREASE IN APPLICANTS AND
APPLICATIONS FOR URBAN
AGRICULTURE AND URBAN FARMING
BECAUSE WE ARE JUST SEEING A
REVIVAL IN URBAN GARDENING IN
GENERAL. AS YOU KNOW, THE MAYOR
PROCLAIMED 2023 AS A YEAR OF
COMMUNITY GARDENING, SO IT IS
REALLY IN LINE WITH BOTH
WHAT'S HAPPENING IN THE CITY.
>> VERTICAL FARMING?
>> ABSOLUTELY.
>> ALL THOSE GREENS,
VEGETABLES. MICRO GREENS. ALL
THE DIFFERENT HERBS. PEOPLE CAN
GROW THEM IN THEIR BACKYARD,
STARTING THE PROGRAM. I CAN'T
WAIT TO WORK IN PARTNERSHIP
WITH COUNCILMEMBER RIVERA ON
THAT. I'M PASSIONATE ABOUT
FOOD. MY FAMILY IS A FARMER. SO
COMPASSIONATE WITH PEOPLE
RECONNECTING WITH THE SOIL AND
EARTH.
>> THANK YOU.
>> FOOD IS SO IMPORTANT AND THE
SCARCITY OF FOOD, ESPECIALLY IN
OUR UNDERSERVED COMMUNITIES IS
REALLY REAL AND SO IT IS
ANYTHING THAT WE COULD DO TO
HELP THAT WE SHOULD BE WORKING
IN THAT SPACE AND THEY RUN A
NUMBER OF FOOD RELATED PROGRAMS
AND THE WORK THAT THEY WILL DO
WITH THE FOOD EQUITY FUND AND
SOME OTHER PROGRAMS THAT I KNOW
WE WILL HEAR ABOUT AS WE
CONTINUE OUR WORK TOGETHER TO
ADDRESS THE FOOD AND SECURITY.
>> AND THAT PATCH THAT IS SO
GREAT.
>> THAT'S WHY WE'RE GREAT IN
THE SAME DEPARTMENT.
>> CORRECT. THANK YOU FOR
HIGHLIGHTING THAT PATCH AS WE
HAVE TALKED ABOUT IT IN A PRIOR
COMMITTEE MEETING WHERE THEY
CAME TO TALK ABOUT THAT PROGRAM
AND VERY BELOVED IN THE CITY
THROUGHOUT THE CITY. SO THANK
YOU FOR HIGHLIGHTING THAT AS
WELL. I KNOW THESE WERE A LOT
OF PROGRAMS TO COVER TODAY. AND
THAT WE ARE TAKING THE TIME TO
REALLY GET BRIEFED, ABOUT AS
MANY PROGRAMS AS POSSIBLE. AND
THAT THEY WILL TAKE THE HIATUS
TO GET THAT WORK AND LIKE I
SAID TO GET BRIEFED ON ALL THE
DEPARTMENTS THAT WILL SIT ON
THE COMMITTEE IS ABLE TO BRING
FORWARD. SO THAT WE ARE
KNOWLEDGEABLE ABOUT WHAT THE
DEPARTMENTS ARE DOING AND THE
PUBLIC, THAT IT IS WHAT I
ALWAYS CALL SHOWING OUR WORK
WHERE WE ARE SHOWING OUR WORK
TO THE PUBLIC AND WE ARE ALL
GETTING BRIEFED AS WE ARE ALL
NEW TO COUNCIL. SO THANK YOU
FOR BARING WITH ME AND THANK
YOU TO THE DEPARTMENT FOR THE
GREAT PRESENTATION. I KNOW
THERE ARE OTHER FOLKS FROM DOWN
HERE IN THE BACK OF THE
AUDIENCE. AND THANK YOU FOR THE
WORK THAT YOU DO.
>> CAN I JUST ADD OR SAY THANK
YOU TO YOU CHAIR RIVERA AND TO
THE COUNCIL MEMBERS FOR THE
INVITE THAT WE REALLY DO VALUE
AND APPRECIATE THE CONVERSATION
TO BE ABLE TO HIGHLIGHT SOME OF
OUR PROGRAMS AND THE PACTS TO
MAKE SURE THAT EVERYONE HAS
ACCESS TO RESOURCES AND
OPPORTUNITIES TO THRIVE. SO
THANK YOU.
>> THANK YOU, DIRECTOR CHAO AND
THANK YOU FOR YOUR LEADERSHIP.
DO ANY OF MY COLLEAGUES HAVE
ANY OTHER COMMENTS OR
QUESTIONS? NO? GREAT, THEN I
WANT THE RECORD TO PLEASE
REFLECT THAT COUNCILMEMBER
MOORE HAS AN EXCUSED ABSENCE
FROM THIS MEETING TODAY. SEEING
THERE ARE NO FURTHER QUESTIONS,
THIS CONCLUDES THE MAY 9, 2024
MEETING OF THE LIBRARIES,
EDUCATION, AND NEIGHBORHOODS
COMMITTEE. OUR NEXT COMMITTEE
MEETING IS SCHEDULED FOR
THURSDAY, MAY 23, 2024 AT 9:30
A.M. IF THERE IS NO FURTHER
BUSINESS, THIS MEETING WILL
ADJOURN. HEARING NO FURTHER
BUSINESS, IT'S 11:00 A.M., AND
THIS MEETING IS ADJOURNED.
THANK YOU ALL.
>> THANK YOU.