>>> GOD AFTERNOON. IT IS
FEBRUARY 14th, HAPPY
VALENTINE'S DAY. IT IS 2:02,
AND THIS IS THE MEETING OF THE
PARKS, PUBLIC UTILITIES, AND
TECHNOLOGY COMMITTEE. AGAIN,
IT'S 2:02. FOR COUNCILMEMBER
KETTLE, THAT'S 14:00 HOURS FOR
YOUCHL I'M JOY HOLLINGSWORTH,
CHAIR OF THE COMMITTEE. WILL
THE CLERK PLEASE CALL THE ROLL.
>> COUNCILMEMBER KETTLE?
>> HERE, MA'AM.
>> COUNCILMEMBER RIVERA?
>> PRESENT.
>> COUNCILMEMBER STRAUSS?
>> HERE.
>> COUNCIL PRESIDENT NELSON?
>> PRESENT.
>> FIVE COUNCILMEMBERS ARE
PRESENT.
>> THANK YOU. THERE ARE TWO
ITEMS ON THE AGENDA TODAY, BUT
BEFORE WE JUMP INTO THE AGENDA,
I WANTED TO START BY SAYING
I'M SUPER EXCITED TO CHAIR THE
PARK, PUBLIC UTILITIES, AND
TECHNOLOGY COMMITTEE. PARKS
HAVE BEEN HUGELY IMPORTANT TO
ME THROUGHOUT MY LIFE. MY
FATHER WORKED FOR SEATTLE PARKS
FOR 30 YEARS, AND GROWING UP
AND PLAYING BASKETBALL AT
MILLER AND GARFIELD, GOLF AT
JEFFERSON AND JACKSON, I
GENUINELY BELIEVE THAT SEATTLE
PARKS HAS ONE OF THE BEST
SYSTEMS IN THE COUNTRY. I ALSO
HAVE THE PRIVILEGE OF WORKING
WITH THE SEATTLE CENTER AND
SOON TO BE COMPLETED
WATERFRONT, TWO INCREDIBLY
CIVIC INSTITUTIONS THAT DRAW
MILLIONS OF VISITORS EVERY YEAR
WITH CULTURAL PROGRAMMING,
ARTS, MUSIC PERFORMANCES,
ACCESS TO SOME OF OUR REGION'S
MOST RECOGNIZABLE LANDMARKS.
SEATTLE PARKS AND COMMUNITY
CENTERS GIVE OUR YOUTH A SAFE
SPACE, WELCOMING SPACE -- PLACE
TO COME TOGETHER OUTSIDE OF
SCHOOL TO HANG OUT WITH THEIR
FRIENDS AND TO LEARN NEW
ACTIVITIES IN SCHOOLS -- SKILL
SITS, EXCUSE ME. I ALSO BELIEVE
THAT PARKS GIVE US AN
OPPORTUNITY TO BUILD A HOME,
AND THEY CREATE A SENSE OF
COMMUNITY. I HAVE SPOKEN A LOT
ABOUT PARKS, ALSO AM EQUALLY
PASSIONATE ABOUT OUR UTILITIES
AND TECHNOLOGY AS WELL. THE
SEATTLE PUBLIC UTILITIES PLAYS
A CRITICAL ROLE IN MAINTAINING
THE FUNCTION NALTY AND
LIVEABILITY OF SEATTLE, SERVING
AS ONE OF THE MAIN BACKBONES OF
OUR CITY INFRASTRUCTURE. THEY
PROVIDE ESSENTIAL SERVICES SUCH
AS WATER, SEWER, AND SOLID
WASTE MANAGEMENT TO ENSURE THAT
RESIDENTS HAVE ACCESS TO CLEAN
DRINKING WATER, EFFECTIVE WASTE
DISPOSAL, AND SEWER TREATMENT.
THEY ARE CRUCIAL TO OUR OVERALL
HEALTH, ENVIRONMENT PROTECTION,
AND QUALITY OF LIFE IN SEATTLE.
BEYOND THE BASIC UTILITIES, SPU
ALSO ENGAGES WITH WATERSHED
MANAGEMENT, CONSERVATION
EFFORTS, AND INFRASTRUCTURE
PROJECTS DESIGNED TO ENHANCE
SUSTAINABILITY AND RESILIENCE
AGAINST CLIMATE CHANGE. OUR
INFORMATION TECHNOLOGY PLAYS A
PIVOTAL ROLE IN ENHANCING OUR
CITY'S OPERATIONS AND
SERVICES, EMBRACING INNOVATION
AND TECHNOLOGY WILL BE KEY TO
CONTINUE TO PUSH OURSELVES TO
BE AT THE CUTTING EDGE OF I.T.
SOLUTIONS TO STREAMLINE CITY
SERVICES AND FOSTER TRANSPARENT
GOVERNMENT. TWO ITEMS ON THE
AGENDA TODAY. INTRODUCTION AND
PRESENTATION OF ORDINANCE
REQUESTED BY SPU AUTHORIZING
ECOLOGICAL THINNING, WHICH IS
FOREST MANAGEMENT PRACTICES IN
THE CEDAR RIVER WATERSHED. AND
WE ALSO HAVE AN INTRODUCTORY
PRESENTATION FROM OUR SEATTLE
CENTER AND WATERFRONT
OPERATIONS BY DIRECTOR MARSHALL
FOSTER. IF THERE ARE NO
OBJECTIONS TO THE AGENDA, THE
AGENDA WILL BE ADOPTED. HEARING
NO OBJECTIONS, THE AGENDA WILL
BE ADOPTED. WITH THAT, WE'LL
NOW OPEN THE HYBRID PUBLIC
COMMENT PERIOD. PUBLIC COMMENTS
SHOULD BE RELATED TO THE ITEMS
ONLY ON TODAY'S AGENDA OR
WITHIN THE PURVIEW OF THE
COMMITTEE. CLERK, HOW MANY
SPEAKERS ARE SIGNED UP FOR
TODAY?
>> WE HAVE ONE IN-PERSON
SPEAKER AND ONE REMOTE SPEAKER.
>> OKAY, EACH SPEAKER WILL HAVE
TWO MINUTES OR LESS. CLERK, CAN
YOU READ THE INSTRUCTIONS?
>> PUBLIC COMMENT PERIOD WILL
BE MOD RATED IN THE FOLLOWING
MANNER. I WILL CALL ON SPEAKERS
BY NAME IN ORDER OF WHEN THEY
REGISTERED. WE WILL START WITH
IN-PERSON SPEAKERS FIRST. IF
YOU HAVE NOT REGISTERED TO
SPEAK BUT WOULD LIKE TO, YOU
CAN SIGN UP BEFORE THE END OF
THE PUBLIC COMMENT PERIOD. JUST
TWO TO THE COUNCIL'S WEBSITE
OR BY SIGNING UP ON THE SIGN-UP
SHEET NEAR THE PUBLIC COMMENT
MICROPHONE. THE ONLINE LINK IS
LISTED ON TODAY'S AGENDA. WHEN
SPEAKING, PLEASE BEGIN BY
STATING YOUR NAME AND THE ITEM
YOU ARE ADDRESSING. SPEAKERS
WILL HEAR A CHIME WHEN TEN
SECONDS ARE LEFT OF THE
ALLOTTED TIME. IF SPEAKERS DO
NOT END COMMENTS, THE
SPEAKER'S MICROPHONE WILL BE
MUTED. THE PUBLIC COMMENT
PERIOD IS NOW OPEN AND WE WILL
BEGIN WITH THE FIRST SPEAKER ON
THE LIST. FIRST SPEAKER IS
CHARLES.
>> COUNCILMEMBERS, MY NAME IS
CHARLIE, AND I AM A RESIDENT OF
THE CITY OF SEATTLE. AND I
REPRESENTED THE SIERRA CLUB ON
ISSUES REGARDING THE WATERSHED.
I WAS CLOSELY INVOLVED IN THE
DEVELOPMENT OF THE CONSERVATION
PLAN IN 2000 AND HAVE REMAINED
ENGAGED EVER SINCE. AS THE
SIERRA CLUB'S REPRESENTATIVE
ON THE OVERSIGHT COMMITTEE, I
WAS ACTIVELY INVOLVED IN THE
PREPARATION OF THE FOREST
MANAGEMENT PLAN. THE HCP WAS A
REMARKABLE 50-YEAR COMMITMENT
AND SET THE COURSE TO ENSURE
THE WATERSHED'S INTRINSIC
ECOLOGICAL VALUES WERE
PRESERVED WHILE PROVIDING
DRINKING WATER. THE WATERSHED
IS LARGE AND HAS A SUBSTANTIAL
AMOUNT OF LOW ELEVATION FOREST
HABITATS WHICH HAVE BECOME
SCARCE IN OUR REGION DUE TO
LOGGING AND DEVELOPMENT. WE
HAVE NOW SPENT TWO DECADES ON
IMPLEMENTATION, WORKING WITH
SPU STAFF ON PROJECTS THAT MEET
THE GOALS AND DON'T BECOME
JUST A LOGGING PROGRAM. SPU HAS
ESSENTIALLY COMPLETED A KEY
ELEMENT OF THE PROGRAM
DECOMMISSIONING THE -- A LOT OF
THE EXTENSIVE ROAD SYSTEM WHICH
REDUCES IMPACTS TO WATER
QUALITY, WILD LIVE HABITAT, AND
REDUCES MAINTENANCE COST. THE
PLAN PROVIDES CLEAR DIRECTION
OF ACHIEVING THE GOALS OF THE
PLAN, PRESERVING FORESTS,
RESTORING LATE SUCCESSION
FOREST OVER THE WATERSHED,
MEETING OBLIGATIONS TO THE
MUCKLESHOOT TRIBE, ALLOWING
ADJUSTMENTS TO DEAL WITH
CLIMATE CHANGE. THIS WILL
INVOLVE LIMITED THINNING
PROJECTS. WE WILL WORK WITH SP
TOUSHGS ENSURE THOSE PROJECTS
ARE ECOLOGICALLY EFFECTIVE AND
NOT DRIVEN BY ANTICIPATED
REVENUES. IT IS IMPORTANT THE
SPU WORK WITH AGENCIES TO
PROMOTE RECOVERY OF ENDANGERED
SPECIES DEPENDENT ON THESE
HABITATS. WE ARE FORTUNATE TO
HAVE A PROFESSIONAL STAFF THAT
ARE COMMITTED TO THE HCP, AND
LET ME MENTION SPECIFICALLY
WATERSHED DIRECTOR AMY LaBARGE
AND FOREST ECOLOGIST ROLF
GERSONDE. IT'S A PLEASURE TO
WORK WITH THEM. I URGE THE
COUNCIL TO EXPRESS SUPPORT
THROUGH FUNDING OF THE SPU
STAFF AND FOR SCIENTIFIC
MONITORING AND COLLABORATION
WITH THE TRIBES, AGENCY,
STAKEHOLDERS TO ENSURE WE ARE
FULLY ACHIEVING THE GOALS OF
THE HABITAT CONSERVATION PLAN.
>> THANK YOU.
>> WE WILL NOW MOVE ON TO ARE
MOTE PUBLIC COMMENT. ONCE I
CALL A REMOTE SPEAKER'S NAME,
STAFF WILL UNMUTE THE
APPROPRIATE MICROPHONE AND AN
AUTOMATIC PROMPT OF YOU HAVE
BEEN UNMUTED WILL BE THE
SPEAKER'S CUE THAT IT IS THEIR
TURN TO SPEAK. THEN THE SPEAKER
MUST PRESS STAR SIX TO BEGIN
SPEAKING. OUR FIRST REMOTE
PUBLIC COMMENT IS BY DAVID
HANES.
>> HI, MY NAME'S DAVID HANES.
IT'S SUSPECT THAT THE KRAKEN
CAME TO SEATTLE CENTER YET YOU
ALL ARE TALKING ABOUT BUDGET
SHORTFALLS AND DESPERATE NEEDS
TO RAISE REVENUES AT SEATTLE
CENTER. MAYBE A PREVIOUS
COUNCIL AND MAYOR SHOULD NOT
HAVE GIVEN A $100 MILLION TAX
INCENTIVE PACKAGE TO
BILLIONAIRES TO REBUILD CLIMATE
PLEDGE ARENA WITH THE SAME
UNSAFE CRACKED ROOFTOP FROM THE
1960s AS IF THERE WAS SOMETHING
ICONIC ABOUT COLD WAR ERA
CONCRETE. THAT ALONE ARGUABLY
VIOLATED THE ORIGINAL
MEMORANDUM OF UNDERSTANDING OF
WHAT CONSTITUTES A 21st CENTURY
FIRST WORLD QUALITY ARENA.
MAYBE THE NEW COUNCIL SHOULD
TRY AND RENEGOTIATE WITH OBG,
THE OWNERS OF THE KRAKEN, ABOUT
THE $100 MILLION FAVOR THAT
COULD COVER THE SHORTFALL SINCE
THE KRAKEN ARE TAKING IN SO
MUCH MONEY PRACTICALLY TAX
FREE. SECONDLY, HOW MUCH MONEY
IS SPENT ON CORPORATE OFFICE
SUITES FOR EXECUTIVES AT THE
PARKS DEPARTMENT? REMEMBER A
FEW YEARS AGO WHEN THE
EXECUTIVES AT THE PARKS
DEPARTMENT SIMPLY WANTED TO
MOVE TO AN OFFICE SPACE AT THE
WATERFRONT THAT WAS
ARTIFICIALLY INFLATED WHEN THE
BUDGET HAD A SURPLUS? IT'S
OBVIOUS GOVERNMENT EMPLOYEES
ARE TREATED MORE LIKE A VOTING
BLOCK OF ELECTION SUPPORTERS
INSTEAD OF EMPLOYEES NEEDING TO
BE KEPT HONEST, FORTHRIGHT,
DILIGENT IN THEIR WORK EFFORT
AND PROVIDING GOOD GOVERNMENT
SERVICES. THE FRIENDS OF THE
WATERFRONT ARE RUINING THE
WATERFRONT BY PRIORITIZING
ANOTHER HIGHWAY ROAD THAT
CHOKES OFF FRESH AIR AGAIN ONLY
NOT AS BAD AS THE VIADUCT. YET
WITH SAME TOXIC CITY EXHAUST
AND SAME POISONOUS INDUSTRIAL
TRAIN CREATING A LOCATION
INHALATION OF WHAT CAUSES
LEUKEMIA CANCER. THAT'S NOT
REALLY RESIDENT AND PEDESTRIAN
FRIENDLY. IT'S ONLY FRIENDLY
FOR ANOTHER TOURIST ATTRACTION
FOR A CERTAIN AMOUNT OF HOURS
WHILE THE ONLY PIER AVAILABLE
IS RUN BY PRIVATE, FASCIST
SECURITY, TREATING YOU LIKE A
CRIMINAL AFTER 10:00 P.M.,
HARASSING YOU IF YOU WALK ON TO
THE PIER 62 TO 64. IT'S ALMOST
AS IF LOCALS ARE TREATED LIKE
SECOND CLASS CITIZENS AT THE
WATERFRONT WHILE TOURISTS DUMP
MILLIONS INTO --
>> AWESOME, THANK YOU. OKAY.
DID I SEE SOMEONE ELSE SIGN UP
FOR PUBLIC COMMENT IN PERSON?
NO, OKAY. IF THERE ARE NO
ADDITIONAL PEOPLE SIGNED UP
ONLINE OR IN PERSON, WE WILL
PROCEED TO OUR ITEMS OF
BUSINESS. WILL THE CLERK PLEASE
READ ITEM ONE INTO THE RECORD.
>> AGENDA ITEM NUMBER ONE,
COUNCIL BILL 120725, AN
ORDINANCE RELATING TO THE CEDAR
RIVER WATERSHED AUTHORIZING
FIVE YEARS OF ECOLOGICAL
THINNING, IN ACCORDANCE WITH
THE CEDAR RIVER WATERSHED
HABITAT CONSERVATION PLAN AND
FOREST MANAGEMENT PLAN AND
DECLARING THE LOGS RESULTING
FROM ECOLOGICAL THINNING TO BE
SURPLUS TO THE CITY'S NEEDS,
AUTHORIZING THE SALE OF SUCH
LOGS PURSUANT TO APPLICABLE
CITY CONTRACTING AND SURPLUS
PROPERTY SALE PURCHASES AND
DIRECTING DEPOSIT OF THE
PROCEEDS THEREFROM TO THE WATER
FUND FOR PURPOSES OF THE
HABITAT CONSERVATION PLAN AND
FOREST MANAGEMENT PLAN
IMPLEMENTATION.
>> AWESOME. THANK YOU. AND I
ALSO WANTED TO GIVE MY
COLLEAGUES A SHOUT-OUT. THANK
YOU ALL FOR BEING ON THIS
COMMITTEE. I KNOW I JUST JUMPED
RIGHT INTO EVERYTHING, HAPPY TO
BE SERVING WITH YOU. KNOW THAT
YOU ALL ARE REALLY PASSIONATE
ABOUT PARKS, UTILITIES, AND
TECHNOLOGY.
>> CHAIR, I AM EQUALLY EXCITED.
I THINK WE'RE ABOUT TO JUMP
INTO A PRESENTATION I WILL SINK
MY TEETH INTO. AND I'M EXCITED
TO GET TO TALK ABOUT THE
WATERFRONT TODAY. I'LL SAVE
THOSE REMARKS FOR LATER, BUT
RIGHT BACK AT YOU.
>> AWESOME. THANK YOU. THANK
YOU, COUNCILMEMBER STRAUSS.
THANK YOU, RALPH -- ROLF, I'M
SO -- I APOLOGIZE, MY DAD'S
NAME IS RAFT, AND IT'S
SIMILARLY SPELLED. ROLF AND AMY
FOR BEING HERE. ALSO WANT TO
THANK BRIAN GOODKNIGHT FROM OUR
CENTRAL STAFF. TO NOTE FOR OUR
COLLEAGUES, WE WILL NOT BE
VOTING ON THIS ORDINANCE TODAY.
BRIAN GOODKNIGHT WILL BE GIVING
US -- FROM CENTRAL STAFF --
WILL BE GIVING AS UNOVERVIEW OF
THE PROCESS OF THIS BILL.
PLEASE INTRODUCE YOURSELVES AND
JUMP RIGHT INTO YOUR
PRESENTATION. THANK YOU.
>> BRIAN GOODKNIGHT, COUNCIL
CENTRAL STAFF.
>> HELLO, I'M AMY LaBARGE,
WATER MANAGEMENT DIVISION
DIRECTOR.
>> HELLO, I'M ROLF GERSONDE,
I'M FOREST ECOLOGIST IN THE
WATERSHED MANAGEMENT DIVISION.
>> OKAY. SO THANK YOU FOR
HAVING US TODAY. WE'RE VERY
PLEASED TO BE HERE. I BELIEVE
THAT THIS IS THE FIRST AGENDA
ITEM FOR THIS COMMITTEE FOR THE
YEAR. SO WE ARE GOING TO BE
TALKING WITH YOU TODAY ABOUT
STEWARDSHIP IN SEATTLE'S
MUNICIPAL WATERSHEDS, WHICH ARE
THE SOURCE OF SEATTLE'S
DRINKING WATER. SO I DO THINK
IT'S APPROPRIATE TO HAVE THIS
MEETING TODAY AS THE FIRST ITEM
STARTING OFF THE YEAR. SO
SEATTLE OWNS 100,000 ACRES OF
FORESTLAND IN THE CASCADE
MOUNTAINS THAT PROVIDE HIGH
QUALITY DRINKING WATER FOR
REGION, PROVIDE FISH AND
WILDLIFE HABITAT FOR MANY
SPECIES AND SIGNIFICANT
CULTURAL RESOURCES. THE CITY
ACQUIRED THESE LANDS OVER A
CENTURY. BOTH SOURCE SUPPLY
WATERSHEDS ARE MANAGED UNDER
LONG-TERM PLANS TO MEET
REGULATORY COMMITMENTS AND
STEWARD RESOURCES FOR
RESILIENCE. THE CEDAR RIVER
MUNICIPAL WATERSHED IS MANAGED
UNDER A 50-YEAR HABITAT
CONSERVATION PLAN, AS YOU'VE
HEARD, THAT WAS APPROVED IN
2000. ROLF WILL TALK ABOUT THAT
A LITTLE BIT MORE. THE FOREST
-- THE FOREST MANAGEMENT PLAN
UNDER THE HABITAT CONSERVATION
PLAN ADVANCES THOSE GOALS AND
INCORPORATES NEW GOALS OF
CLIMATE CHANGE ADAPTATION,
TRIBAL WILDLIFE HABITAT
PROVISION, AND WILDFIRE HAZARD
REDUCTION. SO WE HAVE DEVELOPED
THIS PLAN IN COLLABORATION WITH
OUR REGULATORS, WITH THE
MUCKLESHOOT INDIAN TRIBE,
ENVIRONMENTAL STAKEHOLDERS, AND
THE RESEARCH COMMUNITY, SOME OF
WHOM YOU'VE HEARD FROM TODAY
OR IN ADVANCE OF THIS MEETING.
SO OUR REQUEST TODAY IS COUNCIL
BILL 120725 TO IMPLEMENT THE
FOREST MANAGEMENT PLAN AND
PROVIDE ORDINANCE AUTHORITY TO
SELL TIMBER AS SURPLUS PROPERTY
FROM ECOLOGICAL THINNING
PROJECTS THAT ARE COMPLETED AS
PART OF THIS PLAN. SO THANK YOU
FOR HAVING, AND ROLF WILL WALK
US THROUGH THE PRESENTATION.
>> THANK YOU. EXCITED TO BE
HERE. THANK YOU VERY MUCH FOR
THE INTRODUCTION, AMY. SO TO
STEP RIGHT IN, IF THIS
FORWARDS. MIGHT NEED SOME HELP.
OH, THERE WE GO. THERE WE GO.
TO STEP RIGHT IN WITH THE
PURPOSE OF OUR REQUEST HERE, IT
IS TO GIVE SEATTLE PUBLIC
UTILITIES ORDINANCE AUTHORITY
TO SELL TIMBER AS SURPLUS
PROPERTY FROM ECOLOGICAL
THINNING PROJECTS IN THE CEDAR
MUNICIPAL WATERSHED. THIS WOULD
ALLOW SPU TO CONDUCT ECOLOGICAL
THINNING ON UP TO 600 ACRES OF
SECOND GROWTH FOREST OVER THE
NEXT FIVE YEARS. THE REVENUE
FROM THE SALE OF THE SURPLUS
LOGS WOULD BE DEPOSITED INTO
THE WATER FUND TO OFFSET THE
COST OF IMPLEMENTING THE
HABITAT CONSERVATION PLAN.
SIMILAR ORDINANCES HAVE BEEN
GIVEN -- ORDINANCE AUTHORITY
HAS BEEN GIVEN SEATTLE PUBLIC
UTILITIES IN THE PAST SEVERAL
TIMES, AND WE DO PROVIDE AN
ANNUAL REPORT TO CITY COUNCIL
AND THE MAYOR'S OFFICE ABOUT
OUR ACTIVITIES AND THE AMOUNT
OF TIMBER SOLD. SO THAT'S -- I
START OUT WITH THE REQUEST
HERE, AND WANT TO GIVE YOU SOME
BACKGROUND INFORMATION AS WELL
HERE. SO THE CEDAR RIVER
WATERSHED, AS YOU SEE HERE ON
THE MAP IN GREEN, IS PART OF
SEATTLE'S MUNICIPAL SOURCE
WATER SYSTEM. TOGETHER WITH THE
SOUTH BROOK WATERSHED, ABOUT
100,000 ACRES OF PROTECTED
WATERSHEDS, OF FORESTS, RIVERS,
AND LAKES. AND THEY'RE OWNED
BY THE CITY OF SEATTLE AND
MANAGED BY SEATTLE PUBLIC
UTILITIES. TOGETHER THESE
WATERSHEDS PRODUCE WATER FOR
ABOUT 1.5 MILLION CUSTOMERS IN
SEATTLE AND THE SURROUNDING
URBAN AREAS. NOTION THAT, THE
WATERSHEDS PROVIDE REALLY
IMPORTANT ECOSYSTEM SERVICES
THAT INCLUDE WILDLIFE HABITAT
AND CULTURAL RESOURCES. AND
WHILE FOREST MANAGEMENT OCCURS
IN BOTH WATERSHEDS, OUR REQUEST
TO HERE ONLY PERTAINS TO THE
CEDAR RIVER WATERSHED ON THIS
MAP IN GREEN AT THE BOTTOM. SO
AS WE MENTIONED BEFORE, THE
CEDAR RIVER WATERSHED IS
MANAGED PRIMARILY AS THE SOURCE
FOR MUNICIPAL WATER SUPPLY IN
OUR AREA. AND TO ALLOW SPU TO
WITHDRAW WATER FROM THE CEDAR
RIVER, WHICH IS HABITAT FOR
THREATENED SALMON SPECIES, THE
CITY IMPLEMENTED THE PLAN IN
THE YEAR 2000. THIS PLAN SERVES
AS THE INCIDENTAL TAKE PERMIT
UNDER THE ENDANGERED SPECIES
ACT AND ALLOWS THE SPU TO
MANAGE THE CEDAR RIVER AS WATER
SUPPLY AT THE SAME TIME SETTING
ASIDE THE WATERSHED AS AN
ECOLOGICAL RESERVE AND
LITERALLY ENDING A CENTURY OF
COMMERCIAL TIMBER HARVEST IN
THE WATERSHED. WITH THE HCP,
THE CITY HAS MADE A LONG-TERM
COMMITMENT REALLY FOR WATERSHED
MANAGEMENT THAT INCLUDES ACTIVE
FOREST RESTORATION IN THE
WATERSHEDS. TO BETTER
UNDERSTAND THE NEED FOR ACTIVE
FOREST MANAGEMENT OR
RESTORATION IN THE WATERSHED,
IT'S REALLY GOOD TO LOOK BACK
AT THE LAND MANAGEMENT HISTORY
IN THE WATERSHEDS. THE CITY
PURCHASED THE LANDS IN THE
WATERSHED FROM PRIVATE
LANDOWNERS FOLLOWING LARGE
SCALE TIMBER HARVEST AND SLASH
BURNING. YOU SEE HERE A PHOTO
OF THE WATERSHEDS ON THE RIGHT.
TODAY THESE FORESTS, THESE
LANDS HAVE REGROWN CONTINUOUS
CANOPY OF FOREST, YOUNG, DENSE
FORESTS THAT ARE GROWING WELL.
THEY PROTECT THE WATER SOURCE
FROM EROSION AND LANDSLIDES,
BUT AT THE SAME TIME, THEY
PROVIDE RELATIVELY LITTLE
WILDLIFE HABITAT. A CONTINUOUS
FOREST CANOPY. THEY CREATE A
CONTINUIOUS WILDFIRE FUEL
POTENTIALLY AND HAVE RELATIVELY
LOW RESILIENCE TO RECOVER FROM
CLIMATE IMPACTS AND NATURAL
DISTURBANCES. I WANT TO ALSO
MENTION THAT THE PROGRAM IN THE
HCP WAS SPECIFICALLY DESIGNED
TO HELP THESE YOUNG SECOND
GROWTH FORESTS DEVELOP INTO
STRUCTURALLY DIVERSE, MORE
FUNCTIONAL OLD FOREST HABITAT
OVER TIME. THAT IS A KEY
ELEMENT OF THE HCP THAT WE
CONTINUE ON. NOW, WHAT WE MEAN
WHEN WE TALK ABOUT THINNING
PROJECTS WITH ECOLOGICAL
OBJECTIVES IS IT'S IMPORTANT
TO UNDERSTAND THAT THE THINNING
SEEKS TO FURTHER OR TO PROMOTE
DEVELOPMENT OF THESE OLDER,
STRUCTURALLY DIVERSE FORESTS BY
REDUCING THE AMOUNT OF TREES IN
THESE FORESTS AND OPENING UP
CREATING COMPLEX FOREST
CANOPIES WITH GREATER SPECIES
DIVERSITY. IT ALSO INCREASES
INDIVIDUAL TREE GROWTH AND
VIGOR AND OVER TIME ACTUALLY
INCREASES THE HEALTH AND
DEVELOPMENT OF THESE FORESTS.
ON THE IMAGE ON THE RIGHT HERE,
YOU SEE A TYPICAL SECOND GROWTH
FOREST THAT WE SAW OFTEN TIMES
IN THE WATERSHEDS. VERY LITTLE
UNDERSTORY VEGETATION THAT
CREATES POOR FOREST HABITAT FOR
WILDLIFE. THE RESULTING FOREST,
THE THIN FOREST WILL OVER TIME,
OVER A LONG PERIOD OF TIME,
DEVELOP IN WHAT WE CONSIDER
RICH, FUNCTIONAL HABITAT AS YOU
SEE HERE ON THE RIGHT-HAND
SIDE. THAT IMAGE HAVING LARGER
TREES, HAVING YOUNG AND OLD
TREES GROWING SIDE BY SIDE.
GREATER SPECIES DIVERSITY, AND
OVERALL IMPROVED ECOSYSTEM
HEALTH AND RESILIENCE TO
RECOVER FROM NATURAL
DISTURBANCES.
>> CHAIR?
>> ABSOLUTELY.
>> MAY I? THANK YOU, THIS IS A
GREAT PRESENTATION. I'M GOING
TO ASK YOU SOME QUESTIONS. I
ADMIT, COLLEAGUES, I ALREADY
KNOW THE ANSWER TO. BUT TO HELP
US HAVE THIS CONVERSATION. CAN
YOU HELP ME UNDERSTAND WHAT IS
A SECOND GROWTH FOREST COMPARED
TO FIRST GROWTH OR ARE THERE
MORE ITERATIONS AFTER A SECOND
GROWTH FOREST?
>> I APPRECIATE THE QUESTION.
SORRY, I SHOULD HAVE MAYBE LED
WITH THAT. SECOND GROWTH FOREST
WE CALL FORESTS THAT WERE
PREVIOUSLY HARVESTED. SO FOUR
LAND MANAGEMENT HISTORY, WE
CONSIDER MANY OF THE REALLY OLD
FORESTS PRIMARY FORESTS THAT
HAVE NEVER BEEN HARVESTED
BEFORE. ONCE THEY GET
HARVESTED, GET REGROWN, WE
CONSIDER THEM SECOND GROWTH AS
A SECOND GENERATION FOLLOWING
THE PRIMARY FOREST THAT NEVER
GOT HARVESTED. THEORETICALLY,
YOU COULD TALK ABOUT THIRD
GROWTH AND FOURTH GROWTH
FORESTS TOO, BUT IN THE
WATERSHED WE ONLY DEAL WITH
SECOND GROWTH FORESTS.
>> BECAUSE WE HAVE PROTECTED
THAT LAND AND WE'VE BEEN
MANAGING IT.
>> THAT'S CORRECT.
>> AND PRIVATE LAND, WE COULD
SEE THIRD, FOURTH, FIFTH
GROWTH.
>> ABSOLUTELY.
>> AND WHEN YOU SAY HARVESTED,
DO YOU ALSO, BY SAYING THAT,
MEAN THAT THE TREES HAVE BEEN
CUT DOWN?
>> THAT'S CORRECT. A LOT OF
TIMES THE FOREST HARVESTING WAS
EITHER HIGH GRADING THE BEST
TREES AND BURNING THE REST OR
HARVESTING THE ENTIRETY OF THE
FOREST BIO MASS AND BASICALLY
EXPORTING IT FOR -- TO THE
TIMBER MARKET.
>> THANK YOU. AND ON SLIDE
FIVE, YOU SAY THE FORESTS ARE
YOUNG AND DENSE WHICH CREATES
POOR WILDLIFE HABITAT. ON YOUR
SLIDE SIX I THINK WE'VE GOT
SOME VISUALIZATION THERE. CAN
YOU SPEAK MORE ABOUT, NUMBER
ONE, HOW DOES A FOREST -- HOW
DOES SECOND GROWTH BECOME LIKE
THIS?
>> ALL RIGHT.
>> AND THEN WHY IS IT BAD.
>> THAT'S A GREAT QUESTION.
THAT MIGHT REQUIRE A LONGER
ANSWER, BUT ABSOLUTELY CORRECT.
AFTER THE HARVESTING, AND
PARTICULARLY AFTER BURNING THE
AREA AND REMOVING ALL THE SLASH
OF THE FOREST WE GENERATE
EVENLY, INDUSTRIAL FOREST
MANAGERS PREFER REGROWING A
DENSE FOREST THAT HAS A LOT OF
CARBON ACCUMULATION FAST.
GROWING THE FOREST RELATIVELY
DENSE MAXIMIZES WOOD
PRODUCTIVITY. WHAT WE DON'T
SEE IN THOSE FORESTS IS THE
DIVERSITY OF SPECIES AND THE
DIVERSITY OF LIFE FORMS AND
DIFFERENT STRUCTURAL ELEMENTS
TO MAINTAIN. THAT PARTICULAR
DIVERSITY THAT WE SEE IN SOME
YOUNG FORESTS THAT NATURALLY
GENERATE WITHOUT TIMBER HARVEST
HAS A MUCH GREATER OPPORTUNITY
FOR DIFFERENT SPECIES TO
SURVIVE AND TO THRIVE ON IT.
SPECIES DIVERSITY IS IMPORTANT.
AS THESE STANDS GROW UP, THEY
START COMPETING FOR THE LIMITED
RESOURCES AVAILABLE ON THE
LAND. AND THAT RESOURCE
COMPETITION REALLY CREATES A
VERY COMPETITIVE ENVIRONMENT IN
WHICH ONLY FEW SPECIES SURVIVE.
AND THEY OUT COMPETE EVERYTHING
ELSE BELOW THESE TREES. SO WHAT
WE SEE VIRTUALLY IS A VERY
DILUTED FOREST FLOOR BECAUSE OF
THE VERY COMPETITIVE TREES
GROWING ABOVE IT. FOR US THAT
IS -- WE HAVE LEARNED OVER TIME
THAT THAT CONSTITUTES
RELATIVELY POOR WILDLIFE
HABITAT FOR LARGER WILDLIFE NOT
HAVING FORAGE OF THE FOREST
FLOOR, FOR OTHER SPECIES NOT
HAVING THE VERTICAL DIVERSITY
OF HABITAT NATURES THAT WE SEE
IN SOME OLD FORESTS, AS YOU SEE
HERE IN THE PHOTO ON THE RIGHT.
SO IT IS A NATURAL DEVELOPMENT.
THERE'S NOTHING UNNATURAL
ABOUT IT. BUT IF YOU SEE IT
ACROSS THE LANDSCAPE, IT'S A
DETRIMENT TO THE OVERALL
SPECIES COMPOSITION AND
COMMUNITIES ON THE LANDSCAPE.
>> THANK YOU. I'VE GOT ONE
LAST TWO-PART QUESTION, AND IF
YOU COULD SLIDE BACK TO THE
PREVIOUS SLIDE AND THEN SLIDE
FORWARD TO THE NEXT ONE ONCE
YOU'RE LIKE IN YOUR -- DURING
YOUR ANSWER. THIS PICTURE ON
SLIDE SEVEN, WHAT I'M HEARING
YOU SAY IS A HERD OF ELK WILL
HAVE A HARD TIME OF GETTING
THROUGH THIS FOREST, BUT THEY
WOULD NOT HAVE A HARD TIME
GETTING THROUGH THE OTHER
PICTURE. AND THEN COULD YOU
EXPLAIN TO ME WHY OR HOW THIS
PICTURE OF A FOREST IS MORE
DANGEROUS FOR FIRE AS COMPARED
TO THE OTHER PICTURE.
>> ABSOLUTELY.
>> AND THAT'LL BE ALL FOR NOW,
CHAIR.
>> YES. IN TERMS OF WILDLIFE
HABITAT, WE CONSIDER WILDLIFE
HABITAT FOR OVER 80 SPECIES IN
THE WATERSHED. AND MANY OF
THOSE REQUIRE MUCH MORE
VERTICALLY DIVERSE FOREST
CANOPY TO THRIVE, HAVING
DIFFERENT HABITAT NATURES. BUT
FOR LARGER ANIMALS SUCH AS UNG
LATS, ELK AND DEER, THESE
FORESTS PROVIDE NOT A BARRIER
TO NECESSARILY MOVE THROUGH,
BUT THEY FIND RELATIVELY LITTLE
FORAGE OPPORTUNITIES IN THEM.
CONSIDERING THAT THEY MIGHT
NEED SOME SHELTER AT SOME
POINT, THEY DO LIKE RELATIVELY
DENSE FOREST STRUCTURES IN SOME
PLACES, BUT IN OTHER PLACES
THEY DO REQUIRE OPENINGS WHERE
THEY HAVE FORAGE OPPORTUNITIES
IN THE SUMMER AND IN THE
WINTER. SO THAT STRUCTURAL
DIVERSITY IS REALLY IMPORTANT
FOR MOST OF THE SPECIES THAT WE
ARE CONCERNED WITH IN THE
WATERSHEDS. THE SECOND POINT I
WANT TO ADDRESS HERE RELATIVELY
QUICKLY IS THE CONCERN ABOUT
WILD FYRE FUELS. AND THE ISSUE
THAT WE SEE TODAY IN THE DENSE
-- RELATIVELY DENSE YOUNG
FOREST IS THAT THEY PROVIDE
FUELS FOR GROUND FIRES THAT ARE
CONTINUED THROUGHOUT THE
WATERSHED. SO IF YOU CONSIDER
WILDFIRES MOVING INTO THE
WATERSHED OR THROUGH THE
WATERSHED, WHAT WE ARE
CONCERNED ABOUT IS THAT THE
FUEL IS -- CONTINUES AND
DOESN'T HAVE BREAKS OR PLACES
WHERE FIRE COULD STOP OR FIRE
BEHAVIOR COULD STOP.
PARTICULARLY CONCERNED ABOUT
THIS CONTINUOUS COVER AND ARE
INTERESTED IN THE FOREST
MANAGEMENT PLAN TO CREATE
DEFENSIBLE SPACE, PARTICULARLY
AROUND WATER MANAGEMENT
INFRASTRUCTURE WHERE WE CAN LET
FIREFIGHTERS TO THOSE
STRUCTURES AND HAVE THEM DEFEND
THEM RATHER THAN ON THE
LANDSCAPE LEVEL. SO THAT'S
REALLY THE POINT ABOUT THE
CONTINUOUS FUEL COVER IN THE
WATERSHED AND WHERE WE WANT TO
MAKE A DIFFERENCE AROUND
INFRASTRUCTURE.
>> I UNDERSTAND YOU WANTED TO
TALK ABOUT THE SECOND IMAGE
HERE TOO. THIS IS ACTUALLY AN
IMAGE OF AN OLDER FOREST, AND
IT'S PRETTY CLEAR THAT
THERE'S A VERY BIG STRUCTURAL
DIFFERENCES BETWEEN THESE TWO.
I HOPE THAT ANSWERED YOUR
QUESTIONS.
>> YES, AND THANK YOU. I WAS
JUST MAKING THE POINT THAT THE
PREVIOUS PICTURE LOOKS LIKE
KINDLING AND THIS LOOKS LIKE
LARGE LOGS. KINDLING LIGHTS UP
REAL QUICK.
>> CHAIR HOLLINGSWORTH,
COUNCILMEMBER STRAUSS, THIS IS
LIKE A PERFECT OPPORTUNITY. YOU
LOOK AT THESE SLIDES, IF YOU'RE
TAKING ADVANTAGE OF THE FACT
THAT WE HAVE THE OLYMPIC
NATIONAL FOREST, MOUNT RAINIER,
NATIONAL HERITAGE TRUST, IF YOU
HIKE THESE AREAS, YOU ALREADY
KNOW WHAT THESE TWO SLIDES ARE
POINTING OUT. AND SO THAT'S MY
RECOMMENDATION TO EVERYBODY IS
TO GO HIKING IN THOSE AREAS.
YOU REALLY GET THE SENSE OF
THIS. IT'S NOT JUST SLIDES ON
A POWERPOINT.
>> THANK YOU. PROCEED.
>> THANK YOU FOR THOSE
COMMENTS. I WOULD ALSO JUST
ENCOURAGE YOU TO MAYBE COME
VISIT THE WATERSHED BECAUSE
IT'S THIS PUBLICLY OWNED CITY
WATERSHED AND YOU'RE ALL
WELCOME TO TAKE A LOOK AT THOSE
FIRSTHAND. BUT I'LL CONTINUE
HERE. SO JUST TO KEEP GOING,
SINCE THE IMPLEMENTATION OF THE
HABITAT CONSERVATION PLAN IN
THE YEAR 2000, SEVERAL NEW
OBJECTIVES HAVE EMERGED. AND
THOSE INCLUDE IMPACTS FROM
CLIMATE CHANGE, THE CONCERNS BY
THE MUCKLESHOOT INDIAN TRIBE
ABOUT DEER AND ELK POPULATIONS,
AND AS I SAID, THE RISK OF
WILDFIRE TO THE WATERSHEDS.
THOSE FUNCTIONS WERE ONLY
MINIMALLY ADDRESSED IN THE
HABITAT CONSERVATION PLAN, AND
WE HAVE PLACED MUCH GREATER
IMPORTANCE ON THOSE TODAY. SO
IN THE YEAR 2018 WE BEGAN TO
UPDATE OUR GUIDANCE DOCUMENTS
FOR FOREST MANAGEMENT TO
ADDRESS THIS BROAD LIST OF
GOALS, BASICALLY, FOR THE
WATERSHED. THEY INCLUDE OUR
PRIMARY GOALS, WATERSHED
HYDROLOGY, SO SOURCE WATER,
FOREST HABITAT RESTORATION, OR
THE DEVELOPMENT OF OLD FORESTS
AND LANDSCAPE, AND INTEGRATING
INTO THOSE CLIMATE ADAPTATION
HABITAT FOR SPECIFIC WILDLIFE
AND WILDFIRE RISK MITIGATION. I
WOULD LIKE TO POINT OUT THREE
THINGS ABOUT THE DEVELOPMENT OF
THIS FOREST MANAGEMENT PLAN. I
THINK THAT'S IMPORTANT TO
UNDERSTAND. WE COMPLETED THE --
THIS FOREST MANAGEMENT PLAN IN
THE YEAR 2023, LAST YEAR. AND
IT INTEGRATES THE NEW
OBJECTIVES INTO THE PREVIOUS
OLDER OBJECTIVES, NOT REPLACING
THEM. AND I THINK THAT'S
REALLY IMPORTANT TO UNDERSTAND
THAT WE WANT TO SECURE OUR
COMMITMENT TO SOURCE WATER
PROTECTION AND DEVELOPING A
LANDSCAPE OF OLD FOREST
HABITAT. THAT'S THE FIRST
PART. SECOND PART IS THAT THE
PLAN DEVELOPMENT HAD A REALLY
INCLUSIVE PROCESS, AND IT
BROUGHT TO THE TABLE THE
DIVERSE VOICES OF THE
STAKEHOLDER THAT WE HAVE AND
THE MUCKLESHOOT INDIAN TRIBE.
THE STAKEHOLDER ALSO INCLUDED
THE SIGNATORY PARTIES TO THE
PLAN, INCLUDING THE U.S. FISH
AND WILDLIFE SERVICE, THE
SIERRA CLUB, AS A
REPRESENTATIVE OF OUR
ENVIRONMENT COMMUNITY, THE
UNIVERSITY OF WASHINGTON
REPRESENTING THE SCIENTIFIC
COMMUNITY, PRIVATE CITIZENS,
AND THE WASHINGTON DEPARTMENT
OF NATURAL RESOURCES. LASTLY,
REALLY IMPORTANT FOR US WAS
ACKNOWLEDGING THAT WE WORK ON A
LARGE LANDSCAPE WITH MULTIPLE
OBJECTIVES AND LIMITED
RESOURCES. SO THIS PLAN REALLY
TRIED TO AVOID MANAGEMENT
CONFLICTS OF THE OBJECTIVES,
FIND SYNERGY WHERE IT'S
POSSIBLE BETWEEN ACTIONS AND
OBJECTIVES, AND PRIORITIZE
THOSE ACTIONS TO LET US ACHIEVE
THOSE GOALS THAT ARE MOST
IMPORTANT FOR US TO ACHIEVE FOR
NOW AND INTO THE FUTURE. HERE
ON THE -- ACTUALLY, I WANTED TO
POINT OUT THAT THE COPY OF THE
FOREST MANAGEMENT PLAN WAS
INCLUDED IN THE SUPPORTING
MATERIAL. YOU CAN DOWNLOAD IT
THERE AND TAKE A LOOK FOR
YOURSELF. SO TO COME BACK TO
THE ECOLOGICAL THINNING PROBLEM
-- PROJECT, THAT'S WHY WE'RE
HERE. IT IS AN IMPORTANT PART
OF THE FOREST MANAGEMENT PLAN.
THESE -- THESE PROJECTS COST US
ABOUT -- THE PROGRAM COSTS
ABOUT $80,000 A YEAR, WHICH IS
PROVIDED THROUGH THE WATER
FUND. AND IT IS REALLY A
COMMITMENT TO WATERSHED
MANAGEMENT THROUGH THE HCP THAT
WAS MADE IN THE YEAR 2000. THE
REVENUE FROM LOG SALE FROM SOME
OF THESE PROJECTS IS EXPECTED
TO BE VARIABLE DEPENDING ON THE
TIMBER MARKETS, BUT WE EXPECT
TO PUT THAT MONEY BACK INTO THE
WATER FUND TO OFFSET THE COST
OF THE IMPLEMENTATION OF THE
PROGRAM. ON THIS MAP HERE ON
THE RIGHT YOU SEE THE OUTLINE
OF THE WATERSHED. AND ON IT IN
DIFFERENT COLORED DOTS OR
POLYGONS YOU SEE THERE, THE
PROPOSED THINNING AREAS FOR THE
NEXT FIVE YEARS MEETING
DIFFERENT MANAGEMENT
OBJECTIVES. THAT'S ABOUT
ROUGHLY 600 ACRES IN THIS
92,000-ACRE WATERSHED. SO
RELATIVELY SMALL AMOUNT FOR THE
NEXT FIVE YEARS. SO -- AND I
WANT TO END HERE, GOING BACK TO
OUR REQUEST REALLY QUICK.
THERE'S AN IMAGE OF THE
WATERSHED, INVITING YOU AGAIN
TO COME AND TAKE A LOOK AT THAT
FOR YOURSELF. BUT AGAIN, THE
PURPOSE OF OUR REQUEST IS TO
GIVE SEATTLE PUBLIC UTILITIES
ORDINANCE AUTHORITY TO SELL
TIMBER AS SURPLUS PROPERTY FOR
ECOLOGICAL THINNING IN THE
CEDAR RIVER WATERSHED OVER THE
NEXT FIVE YEARS. AND AGAIN, IT
WOULD ALLOW US TO CONDUCT
FOREST THINNING FOR MULTIPLE
OBJECTIVES, ECOLOGICAL
OBJECTIVES, ON UP TO 600 ACRES
AND FELL UP TO 600 BOARD FEET
OF TIMBER FOR THAT PERIOD OF
TIME. AND AGAIN, THE REVENUE
FROM THAT SALE OF LOGS AS
SURPLUS PROPERTY WOULD BE
DEPOSITED INTO THE WATER FUND
TO OFFSET THE COST OF THE PLAN.
THANK YOU VERY MUCH FOR YOUR
ATTENTION. I'M HAPPY TO ANSWER
ANY QUESTIONS YOU MAY HAVE.
>> AWESOME. THANK YOU, ROLF AND
AMY. I'D LIKE TO PASS IT TO
BRIAN, WHO'S GOING TO EXPLAIN
-- REMEMBER, WE'RE NOT VOTING
ON THIS, BRIAN IS GOING TO
EXPLAIN THE PROCESS.
>> THANK YOU, CHAIR.
COUNCILMEMBERS, SO YEAH, IN
TERMS OF NEXT STEP, STATE LAW
REQUIRES THE COUNCIL TO HOLD A
PUBLIC HEARING BEFORE TAKING
ACTION ON THIS BILL. IT HAS TO
DO WITH DISPOSING OF SURPLUS
PROPERTY THAT'S OVER A CERTAIN
VALUE, IN A SENSE IT'S OVER
$50,000, REQUIRES A PUBLIC
HEARING. THE PUBLIC HEARING
NOTICE FOR THIS ITEM WILL BE
ISSUED THIS WEEK. IT WILL BE IN
-- IT'LL BE PUBLISHED, AND
THAT WILL ALLOW THE COMMITTEE
TO HOLD A PUBLIC HEARING ON
FEBRUARY 28th. IF THE COUNCIL
SO CHOOSE, AFTER THE PUBLIC
HEARING, IT COULD DECIDE TO
TAKE ACTION ON THE ITEM AND
REFER TO THE FULL COUNCIL.
>> AWESOME. AND I ALSO WANT TO
RECOGNIZE THE MUCKLESHOOT
TRIBE. THEY WROTE A LETTER IN
SUPPORT. YOU KNOW, ENSURING
THAT THE ORIGINAL CARETAKERS OF
OUR -- THIS LAND IS ON BOARD IS
IMPORTANT AND ALL THE WORK THAT
THEY'VE BEEN DOING TO MAKE
SURE THAT THE CEDAR RIVER AND
THE WATERSHED IS PROTECTED. AND
THANK YOU ALL FOR ALL YOUR HARD
WORK. I WOULD LIKE TO OPEN UP
TO MY COLLEAGUES IF YOU ALL
HAVE ANY QUESTIONS.
COUNCILMEMBER STRAUSS?
>> MAY I -- SORRY, IF I'M
TALKING TOO SUCH, JUST SAY SO.
>> YOU'RE GOOD.
>> JUST A BECAUSE WE HAVE YOU
HERE, AMY, IF YOU COULD SPEAK
TO WHY CHESTER MORRIS AND THE
CEDAR RIVER WATERSHED ARE
UNIQUE AND SPECIAL. I MIGHT
JUST PROMPT, MY COLLEAGUES WERE
HEARING THAT ROLF SAID WE ONLY
HAVE SECOND GROWTH FOREST.
WE'VE GOT OLD GROWTH FOREST UP
THERE, BUT I WAS HOPING YOU'D
TALK A LITTLE BIT ABOUT
FILTRATION AND ACCESS. AND I'LL
PROMPT YOU WITH THE ACCESS
WHERE THERE'S CERTAIN PARTS OF
THE FOREST WHERE ONLY THE
MUCKLESHOOT ARE ALLOWED TO GO.
>> THANK YOU, COUNCILMEMBER
STRAUSS. IT'S GREAT TO SEE YOU
TODAY. I LOVE ALL YOUR
QUESTIONS TO HELP US HAVE A
RICH CONVERSATION HERE. YOU ARE
RIGHT. THE CEDAR RIVER
MUNICIPAL WATERSHED IS AN
INCREDIBLY SPECIAL PLACE. THIS
IS A LANDSCAPE THAT HAS BEEN
USED SINCE TIME IMMEMORIAL, AND
I WILL JUST SHARE THAT THERE
ARE REGISTERED ARCHAEOLOGICAL
SITES IN THE WATERSHED THAT
DATE BACK TO 9400 YEARS AS
EVIDENCE OF THE LONG, LONG
HISTORY OF USE IN THIS
LANDSCAPE. SO AS WE MENTIONED,
IT -- THE CITY OF SEATTLE
STARTED ACQUIRING LANDS IN THE
MUNICIPAL WATERSHED AFTER THE
GREAT SEATTLE FIRE OF 1889. SO
IT REALLY DID TAKE A CENTURY
FOR THE CITY TO ACQUIRE THE
91,500, ROUGHLY, ACRES OF LAND
THAT WE KNOW IS 99.7% OF THE
AREA THAT IS THE DRAINAGE
BASIN. THERE ARE A COUPLE
LITTLE PIECES HERE AND THERE
THAT SEATTLE STILL DOES NOT OWN
ON THE BORDERS, BUT NEARLY
100%. AND SO WE TAKE VERY
SERIOUSLY THE RESPONSIBILITY OF
STEWARDING THESE LANDS FOR THE
PRIMARY MISSION OF PROVIDING
HIGH QUALITY DRINKING WATER SUP
FLY THE REGION AS OUR LARGER
SOURCE SUPPLY WATERSHED, NOT
FORGETTING THE SOUTH FORK TOLT
RIVER MUNICIPAL WATERSHED WHICH
IS SMALL AND MIGHTY PROVIDING
ABOUT A THIRD OF OUR DRINKING
WATER SUPPLY. BUT THE CEDAR,
BACK TO THE CEDAR, IT'S A
LARGE LANDSCAPE WITH A VERY
RICH ARRAY OF RESOURCES,
DIFFERENT TYPES OF FORESTS THAT
ROLF HAS BEEN TALKING ABOUT,
WETLANDS AND STREAMS AND VERY
RICH HISTORY OF HUMAN PRESENCE.
SO IN 1996 IS WHEN SEATTLE
COMPLETED, ROUGHLY, ITS CURRENT
OWNERSHIP OF THIS WATERSHED,
AND THAT IS WHEN WE DID A LAND
EXCHANGE WITH THE FOREST
SERVICE AND ACQUIRED ABOUT
16,000 ACRES FROM THE FOREST
SERVICE. MOST OF THOSE LANDS
THAT WE ACQUIRED FROM THE
FOREST SERVICE IN THE MID-90s
HAVE OLD GROWTH OR PRIMARY
FOREST THAT HAS NOT BEEN
LOGGED, AND SO THOSE ARE REALLY
IMPORTANT NATURAL RESOURCES IN
THE WATERSHED LANDSCAPE. THE
MUNICIPAL WATERSHEDS HAVE BEEN
CLOSED TO PUBLIC ACCESS FOR
OVER A CENTURY. AND THAT IS FOR
THE PURPOSE OF PROVIDING HIGH
QUALITY DRINKING WATER. AND
THAT APPLIES TO THE CEDAR,
WHICH WE'VE OWNED FOR ANG
LORE, AND THE TOLT, WHICH WE
STARTED ACQUIRING IN THE LATE
'50s, EARLY '60s, 1960s, THAT
IS. SO THE CEDAR IS VERY UNIQUE
IN THE NATION IN TERMS OF BEING
AN UNFILTERED SURFACE WATER
SUPPLY. SO IN TERMS OF THE LACK
OF FILTRATION, WE DO PRACTICE
FILTRATION AVOIDANCE ON THE
CEDAR. IT IS A TREATED SUPPLY,
BOTH WITH ROUGH FILTRATION AS
IT LEAVES THE CEDAR RIVER AND
HEADS OVER TO THE YOUNGS
RESERVATION. WE FILTER OUT THE
CHEWABLE CHUNKS, IF YOU WILL,
AND ADD CHLORINE AND FLUORIDE.
THE WATER IS THEN TREATED WITH
UV AND CHLORINATED AGAIN BEFORE
IT GOES INTO THE SYSTEM FOR
DRINKING WATER. SO WE MAINTAIN
ON THE CEDAR A LIMITED
ALTERNATIVE TO FILTRATION. AND
THIS IS A VERY UNIQUE STATUS
THAT IS UNDER THE SAFE DRINKING
WATER ACT. EPA HAS DELEGATED TO
WASHINGTON DEPARTMENT OF HEALTH
TO MONITOR OUR LIMITED
ALTERNATIVE TO FILTRATION, SO
WE ARE INSPECTED EVERY YEAR.
THIS, I'LL CALL IT LAF, HAS
CERTAIN REQUIREMENTS. AND THOSE
INCLUDE CONSOLIDATED OWNERSHIP,
WHICH WE HAVE IN THE CEDAR. IT
INCLUDES CONTROLLED ACCESS AND
ACTIVITIES. SO WE DO MAINTAIN A
SECURE, CLOSED WATERSHED AND
MONITOR ALL ACTIVITIES THAT
HAPPEN WITHIN THE WATERSHEDS.
IT REQUIRES NO DEVELOPMENT, NO
HABITATION, AND A HOST OF WATER
QUALITY CRITERIA THAT NEED TO
BE MET. SO THOSE ARE THE --
THOSE ARE THE PIECES THAT FEED
INTO LAF WHICH PLAYS INTO THE
AFFORDABILITY OF THE WATER THAT
SEATTLE PROVIDES TO CUSTOMERS
AND COMMUNITIES. I THINK I
TOUCHED ON FILTRATION AND
ACCESS.
>> YEP.
>> HOPEFULLY I ANSWERED YOUR
QUESTIONS.
>> AND IF YOU COULD JUST
ELABORATE A LITTLE BIT ABOUT
CULTURAL ACCESS INTO AREAS THE
REST OF US AREN'T ALLOWED.
>> YEAH, SO WE DO GRANT ACCESS
BASED ON BUSINESS NEED. SO WE
MAY HAVE CONTRACTORS OR
RESEARCHERS IN, BUT WE VET WHAT
THAT BUSINESS NEED IS AND THEN
PROVIDE ACCESS. WE ALSO HAVE AN
AGREEMENT WITH THE MUCKLESHOOT
INDIAN TRIBE THAT WAS SETTLED
IN 2006. AND THAT AGREEMENT
ALLOWS MUCKLESHOOT INDIAN
TRIBAL MEMBERS AND STAFF ACCESS
INTO THE CEDAR RIVER MUNICIPAL
WATERSHED FOR THE PURPOSES OF
FULFILLING THEIR RESERVE TREATY
RIGHTS IN THE AREA FOR HUNTING
AND GATHERING. SO WE WORK WITH
THE MUCKLESHOOT EVERY WEEK AND
REALLY CONSIDER THEM GREAT
COLLABORATORS AND SO THEY DO
COME IN AND MONITOR WILDLIFE
AND MANAGE WILDLIFE. THEY
CONDUCT AN ANNUAL SUBSISTENCE
HUNT, USUALLY IN THE FALL. THEY
HAVE AN ABILITY TO CONDUCT
CEREMONIAL HUNTS IN THE
WATERSHED AS WELL WITH LIMITED
NOTICE. AND SO WE HAVE REALLY
GOOD COMMUNICATION FLOW AT THIS
POINT WITH THE TRIBE. AND WE
ARE EXTREMELY HAPPY THAT THEY
WERE EAGER TO PARTICIPATE ON
THIS FOREST MANAGEMENT PLANNING
PROCESS. LARGELY THE PLAN --
THE PLANNING PROCESS WAS
INITIATED BECAUSE MUCKLESHOOT
HAD SOME CONCERNS ABOUT HOW
MUCH ACTIVE MANAGEMENT THAT WE
WERE DOING, AND WE REALIZED WE
REALLY NEEDED TO HAVE A
CONVERSATION ABOUT THAT AND
BRING ALL OF OUR COLLABORATORS
TOGETHER IN ONE CONVERSATION
AND DEVELOP THIS PLAN. SO AS
ROLF SAID, THAT STARTED IN
2018. IT DID TAKE US THROUGH
COVID, FIVE YEARS, TO COMPLETE
THE PLAN, AND WE'RE JUST
EXTREMELY HAPPY TO BE ABLE TO
PRESENT IT TODAY WITH THE
SUPPORT FROM MUCKLESHOOT INDIAN
TRIBE, WITH THE SUPPORT FROM
THE SIERRA CLUB, AND ALL OF
YOU. THANK YOU.
>> THANK YOU. COUNCIL PRESIDENT
NELSON.
>> THANK YOU VERY MUCH FOR THIS
PRESENTATION. I AM -- I'M VERY
FAMILIAR WITH HCP. AND I AM
GLAD TO SEE THAT THERE'S
DEEPER FOCUS ON FOREST HEALTH
THROUGH THIS -- THESE EFFORTS.
THE FISCAL NOTE SAYS THAT THIS
ORDINANCE WOULD AUTHORIZE THE
ECOLOGICAL THINNING FOR ANOTHER
FOUR YEARS. SO IT SEEMS LIKE
ORDINANCES, LET'S SEE, ONE,
TWO, FOUR, AUTHORIZED
ECOLOGICAL THINNING THROUGH,
WELL, I DON'T KNOW, ONE OF
THOSE ALLOWED IT FROM 2016 TO
2022. SO THIS IS BASICALLY A
CONTINUATION OF A PROGRAM THAT
ALREADY EXISTS, RIGHT?
>> YES, IT IS. WITH THE
UNDERSTANDING THAT WE HAVE A
NEW FOREST MANAGEMENT PLAN THAT
BRINGS IN THESE ADDITIONAL
GOALS OF CLIMATE ADAPTATION,
HABITAT IMPROVEMENT FOR
WILDLIFE SPECIES THAT ARE
IMPORTANT TO THE MUCKLESHOOT
INDIAN TRIBE, AND ALSO STEPPING
FORWARD INTO THE WILDFIRE
HAZARD MITIGATION SPACE.
>> SO THOSE ARE NEW, BUT I
FIRST CAME TO SEATTLE CITY
COUNCIL IN 2002 AS A NEW
EMPLOYEE TO PRESENT THE FIRST
ECOLOGICAL THINNING ORDINANCE
ALONG WITH THE HCP
IMPLEMENTATION ORDINANCE, SO
YEAH, WE'VE BEEN DOING THIS
FOR A WHILE.
>> OKAY. AND NO COMPLAINTS SO
FAR. AND I'M GLAD THAT CHAIR
HOLLINGSWORTH DID MENTION THE
MUCKLESHOOT TRIBE'S APPROVAL
AND WE DID GET A LETTER AND
THEY HIT THE SAME POINTS. IT'S
BENEFICIAL FOR THE FOREST AND
BIODIVERSITY. NOW, I HAVE A
QUESTION. WHERE DO -- WHERE DO
THESE LOGS GET SOLD?
>> I COULD ANSWER TO THAT. SO
WE DO SELL LOGS TO LOCAL MILLS
IN OUR AREA, ANYWHERE BETWEEN
SHELTON AND SEDRO-WOOLLEY. THEY
ARE ALL SOLD ON THE DOMESTIC
MARKET, SO NONE OF THE LOGS
THAT WE SELL ARE ALLOWED TO BE
MARKETED INTERNATIONALLY.
THAT'S VERY IMPORTANT. THE
SECOND IMPORTANT ITEM IS THAT
WE ARE -- THAT OUR MANAGEMENT
IN THE TWO WATERSHEDS IS
CERTIFIED UNDER THE FOREST
STEWARDSHIP COUNCIL, WHICH
ALLOWS US TO MARKET
FAC-CERTIFIED LOGS, WE KNOW OF
ONE MILL WE CAN SEND IT TO AND
PRODUCE HIGH QUALITY, CERTIFIED
PRODUCTS AND FOR OUR LOCAL
INFRASTRUCTURE NEEDS. SO WE TRY
TO BE RELATIVELY LOCAL IN THE
LOG MARKETS, BUT IT REALLY
DEPEND ON WHERE OUR CONTRACTORS
WILL SELL THOSE TO. THEY'RE
ALL DOMESTIC AND ALL IN THE
PUGET SOUND REGION, SO IT'S A
LOCAL MARKET. THANK YOU.
>> THANK YOU. THAT SOUNDS LIKE
THEY'RE BEING USED TO THE
HIGHEST AND BEST USE LOCALLY.
>> ABSOLUTELY. THAT'S OUR
GOAL. WE WERE TRYING TO BE IN
THE CERTIFIED LOG MARKET AS
MUCH AS WE CAN.
>> WE'RE NOT WOOD CHIPPING OR
SOMETHING LIKE, THAT PULPING.
THANK YOU. COUNCILMEMBER
KETTLE.
>> JUST A QUICK QUESTION ON THE
CLIMATE ADAPTATION PIECE.
OBVIOUSLY, IN THE NEWS WE HEAR
A LOT ABOUT SNOW PACK AND
CONCERNS ABOUT THE DWINDLING
SNOW PACK. IS THERE ANY
FLEXIBILITY, YOU KNOW, NATURAL
ABILITY FOR LIKE RAINWATER
CATCH AND HOLD? IS THERE A
FLEXIBILITY THERE THAT JUST
HAPPENS TO BE UNIQUE TO THE
CEDAR RIVER, OR IS THERE ANY
CONCERNS ON THOSE IN THAT FRONT
REGARDING THE, BASICALLY THE
CLIMATE ADAPTATION AND THE
QUESTION AROUND SNOW PACK?
>> SO IF I UNDERSTAND THE
QUESTION CORRECTLY, IT'S HOW
DO WE MANAGE THE RAIN THAT'S
FALLING AS OPPOSED TO RELYING
ON THE SNOW PACK?
>> YES. YOU CAN -- YES, THAT
GOES TO THE ADAPTATION POINT.
>> OKAY, SO THIS IS IN THE
WATER MANAGEMENT SPACE. AND I
WILL SAY THAT WE HAVE OBSERVED
LESS SNOW PACK OVER THE LAST
DECADE. IT'S BEEN A LITTLE
MORE NOTICEABLE WITH 2015 BEING
A VERY MEMORABLE YEAR AS A SNOW
DROUGHT. AND SO OUR WATER
MANAGERS ARE REALLY LEARNING
ABOUT MORE DYNAMIC MANAGEMENT
OF OUR WATER SUPPLY AND
CAPTURING RAIN WHERE THEY ARE
ABLE TO WHILE ALSO ADDRESSING
FLOOD HAZARD REDUCTION DURING
THE RAINY TIME OF YEAR. SO 2015
WAS A REMARKABLE YEAR WITH THAT
SCENARIO WHERE WE DIDN'T HAVE
SNOW BUT WE DID HAVE SOME VERY
SIGNIFICANT RAINSTORMS IN THE
SPRING AND WERE ABLE TO FILL
THE RESERVOIRS AND THEN MANAGE
FROM THERE. SO I HOPE THAT
ANSWERS YOUR QUESTION. ROLF
MIGHT WANT TO ADD A LITTLE BIT
IN TERMS OF FOREST AND WATER
CYCLE REGULATION IF YOU WISH.
>> JUST AN ASIDE, I WOULD SAY
OVER THE LAST 15 YEARS WE'VE
STARTED LEARNING ABOUT FOREST
AND WATER INTERACTION MORE AND
MORE. AND IT'S REALLY
INTERESTING FOR US TO SEE THAT
OUR APPROACH OF DEVELOPING
OLDER FORESTS ACTUALLY GOES
REALLY WELL IN LINE WITH
WATERSHED MANAGEMENT. WE'VE
LEARNED OVER THE PAST 10, 15
YEARS THAT THE OLDER FORESTS
ACTUALLY USE LESS WATER THAN
THE YOUNGER FORESTS, THE
THRIFTY GROWING YOUNG FORESTS
CAN USE UP TO THREE TIMES AS
MUCH WATER IN THE SUMMER WHEN
WE HAVE THE GREATEST DEFICIT OF
PRECIPITATION. SO WE ARE REALLY
INTERESTED IN SEEING THAT OLD
FOREST DEVELOPMENT ACROSS THE
ENTIRE WATERSHED IN ORDER TO
HAVE MORE BASE FLOWS IN THE
SUMMER AND RELY LESS ON THE
SNOW PACK. THAT IS REALLY AN
INTERESTING DEVELOPMENT THAT
WE'VE ONLY COME AROUND TO
LEARNING OVER THE PAST TEN
YEARS MAYBE. SO I THINK WE HAVE
A REALLY GOOD CASE TO BE MADE
HERE TO KEEP THAT WATERSHED FOR
WATER QUALITY, THE AMOUNT OF
WATER, AND FOR WILDLIFE
HABITAT.
>> THANK YOU.
>> COUNCILMEMBER RIVERA.
>> AND THANK YOU FOR THIS
PRESENTATION. THIS WORK IS SO
IMPORTANT, PARTICULARLY WITH
THE IMPACTS OF CLIMATE CHANGE.
SO VERY APPRECIATIVE OF ALL
YOUR EFFORTS AND I WILL ECHO MY
COLLEAGUES' SENTIMENTS
REGARDING THE WORK WITH THE
MUCKLESHOOT TRIBE IN THIS WORK.
I'LL SAY NOT PART OF THE
ECOLOGICAL THINNING PROGRAM,
BUT YOU ALL, THE WATERSHED
MAINTAINS AN EDUCATION CENTER
THAT I SAY I HAVE VISITED WITH
MY CHILDREN WHEN THEY WERE
YOUNGER, AND I ACTUALLY VISITED
WITH WHEN I WAS HERE WITH
COUNCILMEMBER RASMUSSEN, WE HAD
A RETREAT THERE VERY MANY YEARS
AGO. I SAY ALL THAT TO SAY THAT
YOU ALL DO A GREAT JOB
EDUCATING THE PUBLIC AND
ENCOURAGE PEOPLE TO LEARN MORE
TANT WORK SPU'S DOING AT THE
WATERSHED. SO THANK YOU FOR
THAT.
>> THANK YOU. AND WE DO HAVE A
NEW MANAGER AT THE WATERSHED
EDUCATION CENTER WHO JUST CAME
TO US FROM SEATTLE PARKS AND
REC. AND THERE MAY BE A
CONVERSATION THAT WE WANT TO
HAVE THERE AT ANOTHER TIME. AND
I DO WANT TO REITERATE ROLF'S
INVITATION TO COME OUT TO THE
WATERSHED EDUCATION CENTER P WE
CAN GIVE YOU A TOUR INTO THE
WATERSHED AND SEE THE
RESERVOIRS AND FORESTS THAT
WE'VE BEEN TALKING ABOUT.
>> IF THERE ARE NO FURTHER
QUESTION, WE WANT TO THANK AMY,
ROLF, AND BRIAN FOR YOUR
PRESENTATION TODAY. AND LOOKING
FORWARD TO WORKING WITH YOU ON
THIS, PROTECTING OUR WATERSHED
AND ALL THAT GOOD STUFF. WILL
THE CLERK PLEASE READ AGENDA
ITEM TWO FOR THE RECORD.
>> AGENDA ITEM TWO, OVERVIEW
PRESENTATION BY THE SEATTLE
CENTER.
>> THANK YOU FOR BEING HERE
DIRECTOR FOSTER AND DIAMATRIS.
I HAD A WONDERFUL TIME VISIT A
COUPLE WEEKS AGO WITH YOU ALL
ON CAMPUS. THE SEATTLE CENTER
IS NEAR AND DEAR TO A LOT OF US
AS IT IS SEATTLE'S REC ROOM,
AS WE LIKE THE CALL IT, WITH
ALL OF THE WONDERFUL EVENTS
THAT YOU ALL HOST. A PLUG, THIS
WEEKEND IS THE HEALTH CLINIC
THAT YOU ALL ARE HOSTING, AND I
WILL BE THERE ON SATURDAY
VISITING WITH THE MAYOR LOOKING
AT AND VISITING WITH YOU ALL
AND OUR HEALTH CLINIC. SO
REALLY EXCITED ABOUT THAT.
PLEASE INTRODUCE YOURSELVES FOR
THE RECORD. I KNOW YOU ALL ARE
GETTING SET UP, SO I DON'T
WANT TO RUSH YOU AT ALL. AND
THEN YOU CAN BE ABLE TO JUMP
INTO YOUR PRESENTATION. THANK
YOU, DIRECTOR FOSTER.
>> I THINK WE ARE THERE.
>> AWESOME.
>> GOOD AFTERNOON, CHAIR
HOLLINGSWORTH, COMMITTEE
MEMBERS. IT'S A REAL PLEASURE
TO BE WITH YOU AND TO BE WITH
YOU IN PERSON IN THIS CHAMBER.
MY NAME IS MARSHALL FOSTER,
I'M THE DIRECTOR OF SEATTLE
CENTER, AND I HAVE WITH ME
TODAY --
>> DIAMATRIS WINSTON. IT'S A
PLEASURE TO BE HERE TOO. I'VE
BEEN AT THE SEATTLE CENTER FOR
ABOUT A MONTH, A LITTLE UNDER A
MONTH, AND CHAIR HOLLINGSWORTH,
IT WAS A PLEASURE MEETING YOU
AND YOUR STAFF THE OTHER DAY
AND HEARING ABOUT YOUR EARLY
EXPERIENCES AT SEATTLE CENTER.
AND YEAH, WE'VE GOT, I THINK A
GOOD PRESENTATION TODAY. AND
I'LL JUST SAY, I BRING, YOU
KNOW, A WEALTH OF EXPERIENCE
WITH FINANCIAL MANAGEMENT
OPERATIONS. I'VE WORKED IN THE
PUBLIC SECTOR AND AT NONPROFITS
DOING THOSE ITEMS, INCLUDING
STRATEGIC PLANNING. AND SO I
LOOK FORWARD TO WORKING WITH
ALL OF YOU TO SHAPE THE FUTURE
OF SEATTLE CENTER IN TERMS OF
THE ART AND THE CULTURE AND THE
ECONOMIC VIBRANCY OF THE
CENTER. THANK YOU.
>> I WANT TO APOLOGIZE. I
BUTCHERED YOUR NAME, DIAMATRIS.
THAT IS MY BAD. I APOLOGIZE.
>> TOTALLY UNDERSTANDABLE. NO
WORRIES.
>> ALL RIGHT, BUT WE HAVE AN
INFORMATIONAL PRESENTATION FOR
YOU TODAY. THIS IS OUR
OPPORTUNITY TO KIND OF HELP DO
SOME STAGE SETTING, SHARE SOME
CONTEXT FOR SEATTLE CENTER WITH
YOU. LET'S SEE. I THINK WE
NEED TO GET THE -- ACTUALLY, I
THINK SHARE SCREEN ON THE ZOOM
MEETING, AND THEN WE SHOULD BE
ALL SET. YEAH, THERE YOU GO.
THANK YOU.
>> IF MY COLLEAGUES HAVE TIME,
GO VISIT THE SEATTLE CENTER. I
KNOW YOU'VE ALL BEEN THERE
PLENTY OF TIME, I DON'T NEED
TO TELL YOU ALL, BUT IT'S A
FUN PLACE TO GO TO.
>> A VERY BIG WEEKEND FOR US.
WE'LL, ACTUALLY, WE'LL COME
BACK TO THE CLINIC, THE SEATTLE
KING COUNTY CLINIC HAPPENING
STARTING TOMORROW, SO. WE'RE
JUST ABOUT THERE. WE'RE ALL
GETTING OUR IN-PERSON, YOU
KNOW, LEGS BACK HERE.
EXCELLENT. OKAY, SO THANK YOU
AGAIN. WE'RE DELIGHTED TO KIND
OF GIVE YOU AN OVERVIEW. NEXT
SLIDE. SO LET ME JUST START BY
KIND OF LAYING OUT THE
FUNDAMENTALS OF SEATTLE CENTER.
AND BEAR WITH ME, I KNOW A LOT
OF YOU KNOW SEATTLE CENTER WELL
BUT ALSO FOR THE AUDIENCE AT
HOME, ET CETERA, VERY UNIQUE
PLACE. SEATTLE CENTER'S
MISSION IS VERY -- IT'S VERY
UNIQUE FOR CITY DEPARTMENTS.
I'VE HAD THE OPPORTUNITY TO
WORK IN VARIOUS PARTS OF THE
CITY FAMILY, AND THIS IS THE
ONLY PLACE I'VE WORKED WHERE
DELIGHT AND INSPIRE IS IN OUR
MISSION STATEMENT. WE CREATE
EXCEPTIONAL EXPERIENCES,
EVENTS, AND ENVIRONMENTS TO
DELIGHT AND INSPIRE THE HUMAN
SPIRIT AND BUILD STRONGER
COMMUNITIES. AND WE DO LIVE
THAT ON A DAY-TO-DAY BASIS. AND
WE'LL TALK MORE ABOUT THAT.
SEATTLE CENTER IS A 74-ACRE
CAMPUS CREATED AS PART OF THE
1962 WORLD'S FAIR. WITH 40
ACRES OF GREEN SPACE AT THE
HEART OF THAT. IT IS A VERY
ECLECTIC MIX OF 30 PLUS
CULTURAL, ARTS, SPORTS,
ENTERTAINMENT ORGANIZATIONS WHO
CALL SEATTLE CENTER HOME. WE
HAVE A HUGE ANNUAL VISITATION,
AND I'LL TALK MORE ABOUT THIS,
BUT THIS -- IN 2023 WE SAW 10
MILLION I VISITORS ON THE
CAMPUS AGAIN, WHICH IS A HUGE
RETURN OF PUBLIC EXCITEMENT OF
BEING AT SEATTLE CENTER. THAT
RESULTS IN ECONOMIC ACTIVITY
FOR THE CITY OF SEATTLE. ONE OF
THE THINGS THAT'S ALSO UNIQUE
ABOUT OUR DEPARTMENT IN THE
CITY FAMILY IS WE ARE -- WE'RE
NOT TECHNICALLY AN ENTERPRISE
DEPARTMENT, BUT WE'RE IN THE
BUSINESS OF GENERATING OUR OWN
REVENUE THROUGH COMMERCIAL
EVENTS, THROUGH OUR LEASES,
THROUGH THE ACTIVITY IN THE
ARMORY FOOD HALL, ET CETERA. WE
DO RELY ON CITY FUNDING AS
WELL. IN ORDER TO DO THAT, WE
PLAY A RANGE OF ROLES WHERE A
BUSINESS PARTNER AND SPONSOR,
WE HELP FINANCE THE WORK OF OUR
RESIDENT ORGANIZATIONS, WE'RE
OBVIOUSLY A LANDLORD AND A
CUSTODIAN, WE'RE ALSO AT AN
VENT PRODUCER AND PROMOTER.
I'M SURE MANY OF YOU HAVE BEEN
TO OUR FESTAL COMMUNITY EVENTS,
WINTER FEST. THOSE EVENTS WE
ACTUALLY PRODUCE AS SEATTLE
CENTER. IN ADDITION TO THE
EVENTS WE DO WHERE WE INVITE
PARTNERS ON CAMPUS, BITE OF
SEATTLE, FOLK LIFE, EVENTS LIKE
THAT. WE PLAY A LOT OF
DIFFERENT ROLES. WE EMPLOY
ABOUT 230 PERMANENT STAFF AS
WELL AS HUNDREDS OF
EVENT-RELATED INTERMITTENT
STAFF. FOLKS WHO ARE ON THE
CAMPUS HELPING PEOPLE FIND
THEIR WAY, USHERS AT McCALL
HALL, THOSE ARE INTERMITTENT
STAFF WHO COME ON ON A
TIME-LIMITED BASIS. NEXT SLIDE.
JUST SOME FUNDAMENTALS OF THE
CAMPUS ITSELF, AT ITS HEART ARE
A WHOLE SERIES OF
THE ARMORY IS THE BEATING
HEART. ARTISTS AT PLAY THE
GROUND, McCAW HALL, I WON'T
GO DOWN THE LIST. THOSE ARE
ACTIVELY MANAGED DIRECTLY BY
STAFF. WE HAVE A NUMBER OF
SEATTLE CENTER ARE ACTUALLY
PRIVATELY OWNED. MEMORIAL
STADIUM. THAT IS A 9 ACRE SITE
WHICH IS OPERATED BY THE
SEATTLE SCHOOL DISTRICT . WE
ARE IN A PARTNERSHIP FOR THE
FUTURE OF THE STADIUM THAT I
WILL COME BACK TO. THE PACIFIC
SCIENCE CENTER AND THE SEATTLE
SPACE NEEDLE ARE ALL PRIVATELY
OWNED.
>> LOOKING BACK AT 23 I
MENTIONED ATTENDANCE IS REALLY
BACK IN FULL FORCE. WE SAW
FOLKLIFE, PRIDE, BITE OF
SEATTLE, BUMBERSHOOT, AND
IT'S A HUGE RESURGENCE OF
PUBLIC INTEREST. WE BROUGHT A
VARIETY OF NEW EVENTS, LAST
FEST, WHICH WAS AN INCREDIBLE
EVENT WE HAVEN'T DONE BEFORE
FOCUSED ON AFTER BEATS MUSIC
AND BRINGING A NEW AUDIENCE TO
THE CAMPUS. THE CHRISTMAS
MARKET AS WELL AS BROADENING
OUR FESTAL EVENTS. IT'S
INTERESTING, WHEN WE TALK ABOUT
VISITATION AND WHY THE 10
MILLION VISITORS IS IMPORTANT
IS BECAUSE IT DRIVES EVERYTHING
ELSE ON CAMPUS. THE MONORAIL,
SALES IN THE ARMORY, PARKING
REVENUE WHICH IS AN IMPORTANT
PART OF HOW WE FUND EVERYTHING
FOR SEATTLE CENTER. AT THE
SAME TIME AS YOU KNOW WE ARE
DEALING WITH A CHALLENGING
BUDGET ENVIRONMENT SO HOW ARE
WE GOING TO REDUCE COSTS AND
INCREASE REVENUE AS WE LOOK
FORWARD TO HELP MANAGE THE
FUTURE? AND LASTLY JUST
ACKNOWLEDGING THIS HAS BEEN A
MAJOR TRANSITION YEAR. I'M
SURE YOU KNEW MY PREDECESSOR
ROBERT. HE WAS A CLOSE FRIEND
AND A REAL INSPIRATION AND WAS
IN THAT ROLE FOR I BELIEVE, 17
YEARS. FOR STAFF THAT HAS BEEN
A BIG TRANSITION. I THINK WE
ARE ALL ABOUT GETTING THE
FUNDAMENTALS RIGHT,
STRENGTHENING MANAGEMENT AND
SETTING THE STAGE FOR THE
FUTURE. LOOKING AHEAD, THIS IS
A SNAPSHOT OF MAJOR PRIORITIES
FOR 2024. FIRST AND FOREMOST IS
BUILDING ON OUR RECENT SUCCESS
WITH MAJOR EVENTS. THE OTHER
THING THAT WE WILL COME BACK TO
IS, WE HAVE NOW TAKEN ON THE
ROLE OF OPERATING THE NEW
WATERFRONT PARK SO AS OF LAST
JULY, SEATTLE CENTER IS
PROVIDING THE OVERALL
OPERATIONS LEADERSHIP FOR THE
CITY FAMILY INCLUDING
MAINTENANCE AND PUBLIC SAFETY
ON THE WATERFRONT . WE DO THAT
IN PARTNERSHIP WITH FRIENDS OF
WATERFRONT SEATTLE WHICH WE
WILL TALK ABOUT. THE SECOND
MAJOR PRIORITY IS PLANNING FOR
THE FUTURE OF SEATTLE CENTER.
THIS IS A MOMENT TO ARTICULATE
THE FUTURE VISION FOR THE
CENTER TO LOOK AT HOW WE PLAN
STRATEGICALLY FOR THAT, HOW WE
PLAN OUR BUDGET AND PLAN WELL
FOR FUNDING AND REVENUE IN THE
FUTURE. I'M HAPPY TO HAVE
DIAMATRIS WITH US TO WORK ON
OUR STRATEGIES THERE. AND THEN
WE STEPPED IN AS A PARTNER WITH
A HOST OF CITY DEPARTMENTS ON
THE DOWNTOWN ACTIVATION PLAN
RECOGNIZING THAT ARTS AND
CULTURE IS AN ENORMOUS DRIVER
OF THE RETURN TO DOWNTOWN. AND
LASTLY IS EXPANDING INTO
PARTNERSHIPS. SEATTLE CENTER
HAS ALWAYS BEEN DRIVEN BY
PARTNERSHIPS AND WE ARE AT A
MOMENT WHERE WE ARE PREPARED TO
BRING FORWARD AGREEMENTS TO
CITY COUNCIL OVER THE NEXT FEW
MONTHS REGARDING THE FUTURE
MEMORIAL STADIUM. WE ARE
LOOKING AT KEY SPACES LIKE
THOMAS STREET WHICH IS A MAJOR
GATEWAY THAT THE PUBLIC
EXPERIENCES TO THE CAMPUS, AND
THEN SOME VERY IMPORTANT
SETTING THE STAGE FOR THE
FUTURE. THE FIFTH AND MERCER
PROPERTY IS KEY WHICH WAS
FORMER HOME TO CASEY TS AND
CASCADE PUBLIC MEDIA WHICH AS
YOU KNOW HAVE JUST MOVED INTO
A NEW HOME ON CAPITOL HILL AND
WE JUST TOOK THE KEYS TO THAT
BUILDING AT THE BEGINNING OF
THIS MONTH SO WE ARE THINKING
ABOUT HOW THE FUTURE OF THAT
PROPERTY PLAYS INTO THE FUTURE
OF SEATTLE CENTER. NOW WHAT WE
ARE GOING TO DO IS TAKE A QUICK
MOMENT TO WALK THROUGH MAJOR
DIVISIONS AND LINES OF BUSINESS
AND I'M GOING TO TURN THIS
OVER TO DIAMATRIS TO TALK ABOUT
HIS PEACE WHICH IS FINANCE AND
ADMINISTRATION.
>> ALL RIGHT, THANK YOU. FIRST
OFF I WOULD LIKE TO POINT OUT
THAT THE SEATTLE CENTER
GENERATES TWO THIRDS OF ITS OWN
REVENUE THROUGH EARNED REVENUE
AND THE OTHER ONE THIRD COMES
FROM THE CITY SO I THINK THAT
IS A VERY IMPORTANT THING TO
SHARE EARLY ON. CAMPUS REVENUE
COMPRISES ABOUT 36 1/2 MILLION
DOLLARS OF THAT REVENUE SO IN
TERMS OF CAMPUS REVENUE WE ARE
LOOKING AT PARKING REVENUE
WHICH LAST YEAR WAS ABOUT $8.4
MILLION SO A PRETTY
SIGNIFICANT NUMBER AND THE
EVENTS AND THINGS HAPPENING
AROUND CAMPUS REALLY DRIVE THAT
REVENUE. SECONDLY WE HAVE
SPONSORSHIP REVENUE WHICH IS
ABOUT $1.2 MILLION LAST YEAR.
AND THEN OF COURSE LEASES,
EVENTS IN THE ARMORY SPACE ,
AND OUTDOOR FOOD HELPS COMPRISE
CAMPUS REVENUE. SECONDLY,
McCAW HALL IS THE SECOND LINE
OF BUSINESS, ABOUT 6 1/2
MILLION DOLLARS WORTH OF
REVENUE SO THAT'S BALLET,
OPERA, AND THIRD-PARTY RENTAL
REVENUE AT McCAW HALL WHICH IS
A SIGNIFICANT PORTION OF THE
REVENUE THERE. THE THIRD LINE
OF BUSINESS BEING THE
WATERFRONTS, A NEWER ADDITION
TO THE SEATTLE CENTER'S WORK ,
$7.8 MILLION AND MUCH OF THAT
FUNDING COMES FROM THE PARK
DISTRICT. THIS NEXT SLIDE
REALLY SHOWS THE CAPITAL
BUDGET. IN TOTAL IT'S ABOUT
$5.1 BILLION ALLOCATED TO FOUR
DIFFERENT AREAS, THE FIRST
BEING McCAW HALL, SECOND AREA
BEING CAMPUS FOR VARIOUS
THINGS. I WAS TALKING WITH
MARSHALL EARLIER AND HE
MENTIONED ROOF REPLACEMENT . IT
IS AN AGING CAMPUS SO THE NEED
IS THERE AND IS SUBSTANTIAL.
SECONDLY THERE'S THE MONORAIL.
AND LAST, MEMORIAL STADIUM AND
MUCH OF THAT FUNDING, THE CITY
HAS A MUCH LARGER COMMITMENT
BUT MUCH OF THE FUNDING YOU SEE
IN THE 2024 BUDGET IS
CONSULTING AND PLANNING AND
SOME STAFFING RELATED TO
GETTING THAT PROJECT GOING AND
CONTINUING THE PROJECT.
>> I'M GOING TO TAKE US
THROUGH OUR OTHER MAJOR
DIVISIONS. THE SECOND IS WHAT
WE CALL FACILITY PLANNING AND
OPERATIONS. THIS IS THE AREA WE
REALLY FOCUS ON BOTH STRATEGIC
CAPITAL PLANNING BUT ALSO THE
DAY-TO-DAY OPERATIONS OF THE
CAMPUS. THANKS. SO WE HAVE
THE LARGEST BODY OF WORK IN
TERMS OF STAFF AT SEATTLE
CENTER GOING INTO THE DAILY
OPERATING OF OUR FACILITIES AND
GROUNDS AND THAT INCLUDES A
RANGE OF DIFFERENT EXPERTISE
AND TRADES WORK FROM
JANITORIAL TO CARPENTRY,
PLUMBING, ELECTRICAL.
EVERYTHING IT TAKES TO OPERATE
THAT CAMPUS ON A DAILY BASIS
AND THAT IS THE BACKBONE OF
THIS DIVISION OF SEATTLE
CENTER. THE SECOND KEY AREA
WHICH IS A MAJOR PRIORITY RIGHT
NOW IS THAT WE ARE DOING A
COMPREHENSIVE FACILITY
CONDITIONS ASSESSMENT WHERE WE
ARE LOOKING AT THE CONDITION OF
OUR ASSETS ON CAMPUS. AS
DIAMATRIS MENTIONED, SEATTLE
CENTER HAS BEEN THE LITTLE
ENGINE THAT COULD FOR A LONG
TIME. IT IS AN AGING CAMPUS
AND WE HAVE DONE SEVERAL MAJOR
NEW PROJECTS. McCAW HALL,
CLIMATE PLEDGE ARENA ,
DIFFERENT PIECES, BUT IT HAS
BEEN QUITE SOME TIME SINCE
THERE HAS BEEN A COMPREHENSIVE
ASSESSMENT OF THE OVERALL
CONDITION OF FACILITIES. WE ARE
IN THE PROCESS OF THAT AND WE
DO ANTICIPATE SIGNIFICANT
CAPITAL NEEDS DOWN THE ROAD TO
REINVEST IN THE QUALITY OF OUR
FACILITIES ON CAMPUS. THAT WORK
IS UNDERWAY. WE ARE ALSO VERY
INVOLVED IN LOOKING AT
OPPORTUNITIES TO D CARBON ICE
THE CAMPUS AND LOOK AT HOW WE
CAN POTENTIALLY LEARN FROM OUR
EXPERIENCE WITH CLIMATE PLEDGE
ARENA WHICH WAS A COMMITMENT TO
BUILDING THE WORLD'S FIRST
CARBON NEUTRAL SPORTS ARENA AND
EXPAND THAT CONCEPT TO THE
LARGER CAMPUS AND LOOK AT, WE
ARE FORTUNATE TO HAVE A
DISTRICT ENERGY SYSTEM THAT
OPERATES OUR CAMPUS SO IT IS
NETWORKED AND WHATEVER ¿
WHETHER WE CAN LEVERAGE THAT TO
MOVE AWAY FROM FOSSIL FUELS.
HERE YOU SEE A LIST OF MAJOR
CAPITAL PROJECTS ON OUR PLATE.
DIAMATRIS MENTIONED THE ROOF
REPLACEMENT AT THE SEATTLE
REPERTORY THEATER WHICH IS A--
PROJECT. WE HAVE A NICE FTA
GRANT TO REBUILD THE MONORAIL
PLATFORM WHICH IS UNDER DESIGN
RIGHT NOW AND TEEING UP SOME
OTHER MAJOR PROJECTS AS WE LOOK
OUT TO THE FUTURE. THE NEXT
AREA IS MARKETING AND STRATEGIC
SHIPS. I MENTIONED WE DO A LOT
OF DIFFERENT THINGS. SEATTLE
CENTER IS VERY ACTIVELY
INVOLVED IN SUPPORTING NOT ONLY
THE MARKETING OF WHO WE ARE AND
OUR BRAND BUT ALSO SUPPORTING
ALL OF OUR RESIDENT
ORGANIZATIONS. WHEN MAJOR
EVENTS HAPPEN ON CAMPUS WHETHER
IT'S A FESTAL EVENT OR
BUMBERSHOOT WE ARE ACTIVE
MARKETING PROMOTION PARTNERSHIP
WITH THOSE ORGANIZATIONS. WHEN
YOU TALK TO THE PUBLIC ABOUT
PERCEPTIONS OF DIFFERENT SPACES
IN SEATTLE THE TWO TOP OF THE
LIST IN TERMS OF POSITIVE
ASSOCIATIONS ARE SEATTLE CENTER
AND PIKE PLACE MARKET WHICH IS
KIND OF A YEAR OVER YEAR
ASSOCIATION AND WE WORK HARD TO
KEEP THAT PERCEPTION THAT WAY.
YOU CAN SEE SOME OF THE
DIFFERENT THINGS THAT WE DO IN
TERMS OF SOCIAL MEDIA, CUSTOMER
SERVICE, DIGITAL CONTENT AND
THEN STRATEGIC PARTNERSHIPS
WITH THESE MAJOR CAMPUS
PARTNERS. CLIMATE PLEDGE ARENA
IS AN ENORMOUS ONE. WE REALLY
WORK WITH THEM TO NOT ONLY HELP
MARKET THEIR EVENTS BUT REALLY
TO MARKET THE CAMPUS AND
WHAT'S HAPPENING ON CAMPUS.
COME TO THE FOOD HALL BEFORE
THE CRACK IN GAME FOR THE
PREGAME SHOW. DID YOU KNOW THIS
WEEK AND WE ARE GOING TO BE
HAVING A FESTAL EVENT PRIOR TO
THE GAME? TRYING TO LEVERAGE
ALL OF THOSE PARTNERSHIPS TO
GROW VISIBILITY FOR THE SEATTLE
CENTER COMMUNITY.
>> CAN I ASK A QUICK QUESTION?
PARTICULARLY WITH CHAIR
HOLLINGSWORTH I THINK YOU
WOULD AGREE WITH ME, AS I TOLD
THE KRAKEN TEAM, I AM BIG ON
HOCKEY BUT THE KETTLE FAMILY
IS A SEATTLE STORM FAMILY SO
EACH TIME I SEE THIS I'M LIKE,
IS THERE A REASON WHY THE STORM
IS NOT INCLUDED?
>> THANK YOU, I COULDN'T AGREE
MORE. MY FAMILY ARE HUGE STORM
FANS AS WELL AND WE SPENT A LOT
OF TIME AT THE GAMES. THEY ARE
ABSOLUTELY CENTRAL TO THAT AS
WELL, YES. THEY ARE PART OF
THAT PARTNERSHIP AND WE DO THE
SAME TYPE OF COLLABORATION WITH
THE STORM THAT WE DO WITH THE
KRAKEN.
>> PARTLY TO MAKE A POINT AND
OUT OF CURIOSITY, I ALWAYS SEE
KRAKEN BUT NEVER SEE STORM AND
I'M WONDERING WHY THAT COMES
ABOUT.
>> THEIR LEASE AGREEMENT IS
BASICALLY WITH THE KRAKEN FOR
THE BUILDING SO THE CITY HELD
THE ORIGINAL AGREEMENT AND
THEN THAT WAS BASICALLY
TRANSFERRED TO THEM. SO IN
TERMS OF THE PRIMARY
PARTNERSHIP IT IS WITH THE
KRAKEN BUT THAT IS NOT TO
SUGGEST THERE'S NOT AS MUCH
COMMITMENT.
>> OKAY GREAT, THANK YOU.
>> AND THE SEATTLE STORM ARE
THE MOST WINNINGEST TEAM IN
CITY HISTORY, ARGUABLY THE
WINNINGEST AT LEAST
PROFESSIONALLY.
>> SO LAST AREA IN TERMS OF
MARKETING AND STRATEGIC
OWNERSHIPS IS BUSINESS
INTEGRATION. THIS IS THE SIDE
OF SEATTLE CENTER THAT MANAGES
THOSE PARTNERSHIPS SO WHEN YOU
ARE ON CAMPUS YOU SEE SOME OF
THE SIGNAGE AND WE GENERATE
ABOUT $1.2 MILLION IN ANNUAL
REVENUE THAT SUPPORTS ALL THE
PUBLIC PROGRAMS, THE FOOD HALL,
AND TRANSPORTATION AND PARKING.
>> IMAGERY OF, I'M SURE YOU'VE
SEEN THIS, THE KIND OF
MARKETING MATERIAL THAT WE PUT
OUT THERE. LAST BUT NOT LEAST,
THE PROGRAMS AND EVENTS TEAM AT
SEATTLE CENTER, THIS IS WHERE
YOU SEE-- THANK YOU. A LOT OF
THE PROGRAMS AND EVENTS THAT
PEOPLE THINK OF WHEN THEY
THINK OF SEATTLE CENTER. THIS
TEAM DOES ALL OF OUR BOOKING
AND SALES AND WORKING WITH
FOLKS WHO COME IN TO DO EVENTS
AND RENTALS. WE DIRECTLY MANAGE
EVENTS WITH OUR STAFF, MANAGE
PRODUCTIONS, WE HAVE A VERY
SKILLED STAGE AND SOUND TEAM
WHO DO ALL OF THE EVENT
SUPPORT. WE SEE A GREAT EVENT
AT SEATTLE CENTER, GUEST
SERVICES AND THEN EMERGENCY
SERVICES, AS WELL SO WE
MAINTAIN PUBLIC SAFETY STAFF ON
CAMPUS WHO KEEP THE CAMPUS
SAFE AND WELCOMING. PUBLIC
PROGRAMS, THAT'S ALL OF OUR
FESTAL, WINTERFEST, EVENTS THAT
ARE FREE TO THE PUBLIC . 4
JULY NATURALIZATION CEREMONY
WHICH YOU MAY HAVE BEEN TO AND
THEN COMMERCIAL PROGRAMS WHICH
IS THE REVENUE-GENERATING SIDE
OF THE OPERATION. JUST A FEW
IMAGES OF SOME OF THE HIGH
POINTS OF BEING ON CAMPUS AND
THE DIFFERENT TYPES OF THINGS
THAT THAT GROUP OF PEOPLE DOES.
THIS IS OUR 2024 SCHEDULE
WHICH JUST KICKED OFF TWO
WEEKENDS AGO IN SEATTLE AND
WILL GO ALL THE WAY THROUGH TO
NOVEMBER. AS WE MENTIONED
EARLIER, THIS WEEKEND IS OUR
FREE SEATTLE KING COUNTY CLINIC
SO IF YOU HAVE NOT HAD A TOUR,
I KNOW SEVERAL OF YOU ARE
COMING OUT FOR A TOUR THIS
WEEKEND. IT IS WELL WORTH IT.
AN INCREDIBLE OPERATION,
COMPLETELY FREE TO THE PUBLIC,
DENTAL, MEDICAL, VISION,
EVERYTHING PEOPLE NEED AND WE
WILL SERVE TENS OF THOUSANDS OF
PEOPLE IN THE PROCESS. I'M
GOING TO CLOSE WITH A LITTLE
FOCUS ON TWO MAJOR NEW PARTS
OF SEATTLE CENTER. VERSUS OUR
PARTNERSHIP WITH THE SEATTLE
SCHOOL DISTRICT FOR MEMORIAL
STADIUM. AS YOU MAY REMEMBER
LAST MARCH, WE HAD AN RFP
PROCESS, A REQUEST FOR
PROPOSALS WITH THE SCHOOL
DISTRICT WHICH RESULTED IN THE
SELECTION OF THE ONE ROOF
PARTNERSHIP WHICH IS A VERY
INTERESTING ORGANIZATION. IT'S
A NONPROFIT MISSION TO ASSIST
THE CITY AND SCHOOL DISTRICT IN
REDEVELOPING AND OPERATING THE
NEW STADIUM. THAT ORGANIZATION
HAS BEEN IN TALKS WITH THE
DISTRICT AND THE CITY SINCE
THEN , SINCE JUNE AND WE ARE
RIGHT ON THE PRECIPICE OF
HAVING AN AGREEMENT ON KEY
TERMS FOR THE REDEVELOPMENT OF
MEMORIAL STADIUM. I WON'T GO
INTO THE DETAILS OF THAT NOW
BUT WE DO ANTICIPATE BRINGING
AGREEMENTS TO COUNCIL IN THE
NEXT FEW MONTHS. WE THINK
PROBABLY MAY OR JUNE WE WILL BE
TALKING IN MORE DEPTH. AND
ALSO IN PARTNERSHIP WITH THE
DISTRICT WE WILL BE TALKING
WITH THE SEATTLE SCHOOL BOARD
ABOUT THOSE AGREEMENTS AS WELL.
THIS HAS BEEN DECADES IN THE
MAKING. A LOT OF YOU HAVE BEEN
DIRECTLY INVOLVED AND IT
INVOLVES A LOT OF REALLY
CRITICAL OPPORTUNITIES BOTH FOR
SEATTLE PUBLIC SCHOOL STUDENTS
IN TERMS OF HAVING A NEW
FACILITY , FOR GRADUATIONS,
PERFORMANCE, AND SEATTLE
CENTER TO ENHANCE OUR ABILITY
TO BE A DESTINATION FOR EVENTS.
LOTS MORE TO COME ON MEMORIAL
STADIUM. NEXT SLIDE. AND AS I
MENTIONED, THIS IS REALLY
EXCITING. IT'S THE FIRST TIME
WE'VE BEEN LOOKING AT DOING
SOMETHING BEYOND THE CAMPUS. IN
22, FINALIZED IN THE EARLY
PART OF LAST YEAR, THEY ASKED
THE MAYOR TO STEP INTO THE
PRIMARY OPERATING ROLE FOR
WATERFRONT PARK AND OVER THE
FIRST SIX MONTHS OF LAST YEAR
WE BASICALLY BROUGHT ON 23 NEW
STAFF WHO ARE OUR LANDSCAPE,
MAINTENANCE AND PUBLIC SAFETY
TEAM ALONG WITH THE MANAGEMENT
GROUP WHO ARE NOW OVERSEEING
ALL OF THE ASPECTS OF
MAINTENANCE AND PUBLIC SAFETY
ON THE WATERFRONT. THIS IS ONE
OF MY FAVORITE PICTURES, ONE
OF OUR EVENTS AT PIER 62. IF
YOU HAVE NOT BEEN TO THAT SPACE
AND HAS BECOME A MAGNET FOR ALL
KINDS OF INTERESTING CULTURAL
EVENTS. WE ARE BLESSED TO HAVE
A STRONG PARTNER IN FRIENDS OF
WATERFRONT SEATTLE WHO ARE
HELPING TO FUND THE COMMUNITY
COMING TOGETHER IN THAT SPACE.
>> SOME OF THE KEY ASPECTS. I
MENTIONED THE MAJOR ROLES THAT
SEATTLE CENTER IS PLAYING THERE
AND WE ALSO WORK AS YOU WOULD
IMAGINE, CLOSELY WITH THE
OFFICE OF WATERFRONT AND CIVIC
PROJECTS AND OUR LONGTIME
PARTNERS THERE. FRIENDS OF
WATERFRONT SEATTLE AND DAILY
PROGRAMMING. WE HAVE AN
IMPORTANT OVERSIGHT COMMITTEE
CREATED BY THE SEATTLE CITY
COUNCIL CALLED THE OVERSIGHT
COMMITTEE WHICH IS COMMITTED
TO ENSURING THAT THE CITY DOES
A GREAT JOB OF MAINTAINING THIS
NEW WATERFRONT. YOU CAN SEE
SOME OF THE OTHER KEY PARTNERS
WHO ARE PART OF THAT
PARTNERSHIP. ONE VERY UNIQUE
THING IS THAT IN ADDITION TO
STATE AND CITY FUNDING, I
WOULD PHILANTHROPY, WE ALSO
HAVE A WATERFRONT LOCAL
IMPROVEMENT DISTRICT WHICH IS
AN ASSESSMENT OF DOWNTOWN
PROPERTY SUPPORTING ABOUT $160
MILLION OF CAPITAL COSTS SO
THEY ALSO HAVE A SEAT AT THE
TABLE TO ENSURE THE PROJECT IS
WELL-MANAGED.
>> I HAVE A QUESTION. IS THAT
PART OF THE 12% LISTED UNDER
THE WATERFRONT PARK 7.8
MILLION? WHERE IS THAT LISTED
ON THE SOURCE OF REVENUE?
>> THAT SLIDE WAS TALKING ABOUT
OPERATING COSTS.
>> REVENUE SOURCES, ON THIS
PAGE.
>> THE NUMBERS I WAS QUOTING
ARE PART OF THE CAPITAL SO WE
HAVE $160 MILLION IN AND $160
MILLION ON THE CAPITAL SIDE.
THE METROPOLITAN PARK DISTRICT
FUNDS THE OPERATIONS OF
MAINTENANCE AND PUBLIC SAFETY
STAFF ALONG WITH A VERY
GENEROUS FIVE YEAR CONTRIBUTION
FROM FRIENDS TO SUPPORT THE
PUBLIC SAFETY AND WE ARE
OPERATING UNDER THAT MODEL,
UNDER A FIVE-YEAR AGREEMENT
BETWEEN FRIENDS AND SEATTLE
CENTER AND THE PARKS
DEPARTMENT.
>> FOR FOLKS IN THE VIEWING
PUBLIC, THE METROPOLITAN PARK
DISTRICT FUND IS PAID FOR BY
SEATTLE PROPERTY TAXPAYERS.
>> THAT'S CORRECT. THANK YOU
FOR THAT QUESTION. THAT'S WHERE
I WILL END. WE ARE EXCITED,
2024, IF MY COLLEAGUE WERE HERE
SHE WOULD TELL US THIS IS THE
YEAR FOR THE WATERFRONT. WE
WILL SEE A LOT OF NEW PARK
OPENED AND IT WILL BE
COMPLETED IN EARLY 2025 SO WE
ARE EXCITED TO BE PARTNERS IN
THAT. I'M GOING TO STOP
THERE. THANK YOU FOR LETTING US
WALK THROUGH THAT AND WE ARE
HAPPY TO ANSWER QUESTIONS.
>> THANK YOU DIRECTOR FOSTER
AND DIAMATRIS , REALLY
APPRECIATE YOUR TIME TODAY.
ALSO I WAS VISITING AND I NOTED
THIS AND TOLD YOU ALL HOW
INCREDIBLY IMPECCABLE THE
CAMPUS WAS, THE CLEANLINESS OF
IT AND THE SAFETY OF IT. IT
JUST FELT INCREDIBLY MANICURED
AND YOU SPOKE HIGHLY OF YOUR
STAFF THAT KNOW EVERY SQUARE
INCH OF THAT CAMPUS AND I THINK
THAT REALLY MAKES A DIFFERENCE
ESPECIALLY WHEN PEOPLE IN
SEATTLE CENTER, WE TALKED ABOUT
DOWNTOWN BEING THE FRONT PORCH
AND SEATTLE CENTER IS INCLUDED
IN THAT. AND THAT IS THE FIRST
IMPRESSION OF OUR CITY. IT
SPEAKS HIGHLY TO YOUR
COMMITMENT. WE ALSO TALKED
ABOUT AFFORDABILITY FOR YOUNG
FAMILIES AND ALL OF THE FREE
FESTIVALS THAT YOU ALL DO TO
DRIVE PEOPLE THERE. AND THEN
THE YOUTH ENGAGEMENT PIECE YOU
ARE COMMITTED TO AND THE
LEARNING AND CONNECTIVITY.
JUST REALLY APPRECIATED THAT
BEING ONE OF YOUR VALUES. I
WOULD LIKE TO OPEN IT UP TO MY
COLLEAGUES IF THEY HAVE ANY
QUESTIONS AND I SEE
COUNCILMEMBER CATTLE ¿ KETTLE
WITH HIS HAND UP .
>> I HAVE TWO QUESTIONS, THANK
YOU CHAIR. AHEAD OF THE SCHOOL
LEVY RELATED TO THE STADIUM I
STARTED ENGAGING ON THE STADIUM
PIECE WITH YOUR PREDECESSOR
AND OTHERS , PRIMARILY RELATED
TO THE MEMORIAL WALL AND NOW I
NO LONGER DO THAT WITH MY VFW
HAT ON. I WILL ASK AS A
COUNCILMEMBER, YOU MENTIONED
MEMORIAL STADIUM. CAN YOU
SPEAK TO THE MEMORIAL WALL ?
>> YES, THANK YOU. THAT'S A
GREAT QUESTION AND I
APPRECIATED ALL OF YOUR
ADVOCACY IN THE EARLY PHASES
OF THIS ON BEHALF OF THE VFW.
I'M HAPPY TO SAY THE MEMORIAL
WALL IS NOT ONLY PRESERVED IN
THE CURRENT DIVISION BUT IS
REALLY ELEVATED. ONE OF THE
THINGS THAT THE NEW DESIGN
CONCEPTS FOCUS ON IS HOW TO
REALLY GIVE THAT A PLACE OF
HONOR AND TO IMPROVE ON THE
CURRENT SETTING WHICH IS
ESSENTIALLY AT THE END OF THE
SCHOOL DISTRICT ARCING LOT.
MAKE IT A GATHERING PLACE AND A
CENTRAL POINT OF ARRIVAL TO THE
NEW STADIUM SO THAT PEOPLE CAN
REALLY APPRECIATE THE SERVICE
AND THE HISTORY THAT THAT
REPRESENTS. AGAIN, THE DESIGN
IS IN PROCESS AND WE WILL BE
BACK TO TALK ABOUT IT IN MORE
DETAIL BUT WHAT YOU WILL SEE IS
THAT IT'S REALLY ELEVATED IN
ITS PROMINENCE AS A PLACE OF
HONOR.
>> THANK YOU FOR THAT. I
APPRECIATE THAT. IT'S VERY
IMPORTANT. SECONDLY WITH MY
DISTRICT HAT ON , THIS
BRIEFING IS GREAT. A LOT OF BIG
PIECES, I'VE BEEN DOWN THERE 1
MILLION TIMES AND I KNOW THE
DIFFERENT PARKS YOU ARE TALKING
ABOUT. WE HAVE THESE BIG THINGS
GOING ON BUT SOMETIMES IT'S THE
LITTLE THINGS. SO I WANT TO
CHANNEL ONE OF MY CONSTITUENTS,
AN ELDERLY LADY WHO, PRIOR TO
THE PANDEMIC WOULD GO TO THE
ARMORY AND THERE WAS LIKE A
SENIORS DANCE EVENT OR
OPPORTUNITY WHICH WAS VERY
POPULAR WITH SENIORS. IT WAS A
GREAT WAY TO HAVE SOME CULTURAL
LIFE ENRICHMENT , WHICH IS
REALLY IMPORTANT FOR OUR
ELDERLY TO COMBAT ISOLATION . I
RECOGNIZE WITH THE PANDEMIC A
LOT OF THINGS ENDED AND SOME
THINGS HAVE NOT RESTARTED, BUT
IN THE FOCUS OF ALL THE BIG
THINGS I THINK IT WOULD BE
GREAT TO LOOK AT SOME OF THE
LITTLE THINGS IN TERMS OF WHAT
WE CAN BRING BACK FOR
SEATTLEITES. I'M JUST THROWING
THAT OUT ON BEHALF OF DOLORES
ROSSMAN , IS HER NAME, AND USE
IT AS AN EXAMPLE OF LITTLE
THINGS THAT WE CAN DO FOR
SEATTLE RESIDENTS.
>> THANK YOU FOR THAT. IT'S
FUNNY YOU BRING THAT UP BECAUSE
ONE OF OUR SENIOR GUEST
SERVICES STAFF WHO HAS BEEN
WITH THE SEATTLE CENTER FOR A
LONG TIME AND WORKED EVERY
CORNER OF CAMPUS BROUGHT THAT
UP WITH ME RECENTLY AS WELL. I
THINK THERE'S A RICH HISTORY
OF A LOT OF DIFFERENT PUBLIC
PROGRAMS AT THE CAMPUS, SOME OF
WHICH, FRANKLY HAVE STOPPED
BECAUSE OF FUNDING SO ONE OF
THE THINGS WE ARE INTERESTED
IN, IS HOW CAN WE BE MORE
ENTREPRENEURIAL? ARE THERE
PLACES WE CAN GROW REVENUE AND
WILL ALLOW IT , AND WILL ALLOW
US TO BRING SOME OF THOSE
PLACES BACK? IF THERE'S
OPPORTUNITIES TO BRING THAT
EVENT BACK WE ARE HAPPY TO LOOK
AT IT AND IT WAS A BELOVED PART
OF WHAT WE USED TO DO WHEN IT
WAS CALLED THE CENTER HOUSE.
THANK YOU FOR SHARING THAT.
>> THAT LEADS ME TO A QUICK
QUESTION. I FORGOT THE STATS
BUT COULD YOU SHARE WITH US THE
PERCENTAGE OF PEOPLE THAT ARE
IN SEATTLE THAT UTILIZE THE
SEATTLE CENTER? YOU GAVE ME
STATS, I CAN'T REMEMBER AND
IT'S OFF THE TOP OF YOUR HEAD.
>> I'M PRETTY SURE I WILL GET
THIS RIGHT AND I KNOW MARK
JONES WHO OVERSEES PARTNERSHIPS
WILL CORRECT ME IF I GET IT
WRONG. 50% IN SEATTLE, 25%
REGIONAL AND 25% MORE BROAD
THAN THE REGION TO GIVE YOU A
ROUGH SENSE.
>> THANK YOU. THAT WAS GOOD
BECAUSE I WOULD'VE GOTTEN THAT
WRONG. COUNCILMEMBER RIVERA?
>> THANK YOU COUNCILMEMBER
HOLLINGSWORTH. I WANT TO THANK
YOU BOTH FOR THIS GREAT
PRESENTATION. IT'S EXCITING
TO HEAR ALL THE THINGS
HAPPENING AT THE CENTER. I
THINK WE'VE ALL BEEN THERE 1
MILLION TIMES AND HAVE REALLY
ENJOYED ALL THE PARKS THAT
THE CENTER HAS TO OFFER. IT'S
EXCITING TO HEAR THAT YOU ARE
NOW AT SEATTLE CENTER HAVING
WORKED , DONE SO MUCH WORK AT
THE WATERFRONT SO THANK YOU
FOR YOUR WORK TO MAKE THE
WATERFRONT AND PARTNERSHIP WITH
FRIENDS OF THE WATERFRONT THE
REALITY THAT IT IS TODAY. IT'S
REALLY EXCITING AND GREAT TO
SEE THIS POINT OF CONNECTION
BETWEEN THE SEATTLE CENTER AND
THE WATERFRONT RATHER THAN
HAVE TWO SEPARATE THINGS.
REALLY, I HAD NOT REALIZED THAT
THE SEATTLE CENTER WAS GOING TO
BE DOING THAT POINT OF
OVERSIGHT SO THAT'S REALLY
GREAT. I DO HAVE A QUICK
QUESTION ABOUT FESTAL IN TERMS
OF REVENUE. I KNOW THAT IT HAD
BEEN RECEIVING SOME TAX FROM
THE ARTS DEPARTMENT AND I
WONDERED IF THAT WAS STILL THE
CASE OR IF THAT HAS BEEN
SHIFTED OUT OF YOUR BUDGET.
>> THAT IS CORRECT AND
DIAMATRIS FEEL FREE TO JUMP IN
IF IT DOESN'T SOUND RIGHT BUT
I BELIEVE WE HAVE $700,000 IN
THE CURRENT BUDGET FROM
ADMISSIONS TAX WHICH IS
SUPPORTING THE FESTAL PROGRAM.
>> SOUNDS CORRECT.
>> WE CAN GET YOU A PRECISE
NUMBER FOR THAT IF YOU'D LIKE.
>> THANK YOU SO MUCH.
>> COUNCIL PRESIDENT NELSON?
>> TWO COMPLEMENTS. NUMBER ONE
ON THE REBOOT OF BUMBERSHOOT,
I WAS NOT ABLE TO GO THIS PAST
YEAR BUT I WAS PROUD TO
SUPPORT THE YOUTH PROGRAM AS A
BUDGET ITEM THE PAST COUPLE OF
YEARS AND FOR EVERYTHING I
HEAR, IT'S FABULOUS GREAT NEW
PRODUCTION COMPANY RUNNING IT.
NAME IS ESCAPING ME BUT SOME
LEGENDS. SO THANK YOU FOR THAT.
AND ALSO THE WINTER, WHAT DID
YOU CALL THAT? THE WINTER
MARKET.
>> THE CHRISTMAS MARKET.
>> I UNDERSTAND THERE WAS SOME
GROUSING ABOUT THE ADMITTANCE
FEE BUT I ASSUME THAT REVENUE
WAS IMPORTANT AND THAT WAS AN
ADDED BENEFIT AND A GREAT USE
OF SPACE DURING THIS , DURING
THE HOLIDAY SEASON SO THANK YOU
FOR THAT. I GOT A LOT OF
CHRISTMAS PRESENTS THERE.
ANYWAY I HAVE A QUESTION. YOU
WENT THROUGH THE MARKETING AND
IT'S CLEAR THAT THERE IS A
CERTAIN LOOK TO THE MATERIALS
AND I DON'T NEED TO KNOW IF
THAT IS IN-HOUSE OR OUT OF
HOUSE. I'M ASSUMING THERE'S
A COMPANY THAT YOU WORK WITH
BUT IS THERE PARTNERSHIP WITH
VISIT SEATTLE? OBVIOUSLY THEY
GENERATE REVENUE FROM HOTEL
STAYS BUT THEY MARKET THE WHOLE
CITY OF SEATTLE AND THE
WATERFRONT AND BEING SO CENTRAL
TO OUR IDENTITY, I WAS
WONDERING IF THERE WAS ANY KIND
OF WORK TOGETHER. ALIGNING OF
MESSAGING OR -- YEAH.
>> THANK YOU PRESIDENT NELSON.
A COUPLE DIFFERENT THINGS. WE
DO WORK CLOSELY WITH VISIT
SEATTLE AND WE HAVE A GREAT
PARTNERSHIP BETWEEN OUR
MARKETING TEAM AND THEIR
MARKETING TEAM. WE LOOK FOR
EVERY OPPORTUNITY TO COORDINATE
AND COLLABORATE WITH THEM.
THEY ARE NOT DIRECTLY FUNDING
ANY OF THAT WORK OR VICE VERSA
BUT WE ARE PART OF THAT
TIGHTKNIT GROUP OF PEOPLE IN
THE CONVENTION AND VISITORS OF
VISIT SEATTLE TO LOOK AT HOW WE
ARE TELLING SEATTLE'S STORY
AND BRINGING PEOPLE NOT ONLY TO
CAMPUS BUT TO THE LARGER
DOWNTOWN. WE ARE TRYING TO
THINK OF IT AS PART OF DOWNTOWN
TO HELP SUPPORT THE RECOVERY
OF THIS SECTOR OF THE CITY SO
THOSE RELATIONSHIPS HAVE GOTTEN
EVEN MORE IMPORTANT OVER THE
PAST YEAR OR TWO WORKING SO
HARD FROM RECOVERY. I JUST
WANT TO BRING UP WHAT YOU
BROUGHT UP ABOUT BUMBERSHOOT
AND RECOGNIZE NEW RISING SUN
AND I WANT TO THANK COUNCIL
FOR, YOU'VE DECIDED THE PROGRAM
WHICH IS A YOUTH DEVELOPMENT
AND APPRENTICESHIP, WORK
DEVELOPMENT PROGRAMS THAT THEY
LEAD WHICH IS FOCUSED ON
BIPOC YOUTH AND HAS BEEN
SUCCESSFUL GROWING YOUTH INTO
WHAT WE ARE DOING WITH
BUMBERSHOOT. IT WAS INCREDIBLE
TO SEE FOLKS THEY WERE ABLE TO
BRING IN AND MAKE PART OF THE
FESTIVAL THIS YEAR. WE WERE
HAPPY WITH THE FEEL OF THE
FESTIVAL. IT FELT ACCESSIBLE
AND OPEN TO THE COMMUNITY. IT
WAS SUPER DIFFERENT THAN IT
USED TO BE WHEN IT WAS JUST
ABOUT THE MUSIC AND TO BE ABLE
TO GROW THAT THANKS TO SOME
FUNDING IN THIS YEAR'S BUDGET.
JUST WANTED TO RECOGNIZE THAT.
WE DO USE AN OUTSIDE PARTY FOR
THE MARKETING MATERIALS THAT
YOU SAW BUT THEY WORK CLOSELY
WITH OUR GRAPHICS TEAM SO IT IS
VERY CONNECTED AND THEY'VE
WORKED WITH US FOR A LONG TIME.
THIS HAS BEEN THE LOOK FOR A
LONG TIME AND IT HAS WORKED
WELL.
>> COUNCILMEMBER STRAUSS?
>> THANK YOU CHAIR AND
DIAMATRIS. GREAT TO MEET YOU.
DIRECTOR FOSTER, ALWAYS A
PLEASURE TO MEET YOU. LET'S
TAKE THIS IN THE WAY BACK TIME
MACHINE FIVE YEARS. FEBRUARY
14, 2019, THE VIADUCT WAS
STANDING, THE TUNNEL HAD JUST
OPENED, CLIMATE PLEDGE WAS NOT
QUITE UNDER CONSTRUCTION.
CONSTRUCTION WAS ABOUT--
>> IT WAS GETTING STARTED BUT
WE WEREN'T THROUGH IT BY ANY
STRETCH.
>> I REMEMBER GOING TO VIEW THE
CONSTRUCTION HALL IN THE
PANDEMIC AND IT WAS MY FIRST
SITE TOUR DURING THE PANDEMIC.
THE VIADUCT WAS STILL
STANDING. MEMORIAL STADIUM WAS
STILL AN UNKNOWN BALL OF WAX .
SAME SITUATION, WE DIDN'T KNOW
WHERE IT WAS GOING. THE
MONORAIL DID NOT RUN AS
FREQUENTLY AS IT DID TODAY AND
THEY DID NOT ACCEPT . A PASSES.
SEE IF I HAD ANY OTHER NOTES.
ALSO, THE SKATE PARK THAT WAS
AT CLIMATE PLEDGE ARENA HAD TO
BE MOVED. THOMAS STREET WAS
JUST AN IDEA OF A PEDESTRIAN
CORRIDOR. I SAY ALL OF THESE
THINGS BECAUSE IN FIVE SHORT
YEARS, OUR CITY HAS TRANSFORMED
ON BOTH THE WATERFRONT AND
SEATTLE CENTER BECAUSE JUST
WITH CLIMATE PLEDGE ARENA
OPENING, THAT VITALITY WE WERE
TALKING ABOUT IS THE SAME
VITALITY THAT I FEEL MAYBE DID
NOT EXIST 10 YEARS AGO AND NO
FAULT OF ANYONE BUT HAVING
OUR COLISEUM, KEY ARENA ,
CLIMATE PLEDGE ARENA BEING
AS-- I MEAN, I LOVE GOING TO
CONCERTS AT KEY ARENA BECAUSE
YOU COULD HEAR THE SONG FOUR
TIMES BOUNCING OFF THE WALLS
AND THE ACOUSTICS ARE SO MUCH
BETTER. I DON'T HAVE A
QUESTION BUT I'M MAKING A
POINT THAT IN THIS SHORT TERM
WE HAVE TURNED A CORNER IN A
BIG WAY AND I JUST WANT TO
THANK YOU DIRECTOR FOSTER
BECAUSE SOME OF MY FAVORITE
MEMORIES IN LIFE ARE IN THE
SEATTLE CENTER. I SUBSCRIBED --
I SURVIVED AN EARTHQUAKE, I'VE
SEEN A TRIBE CALLED QUEST AND
SO MANY OTHER, GOING TO
CHILDREN'S THEATER FOR ACTING
CLASSES AND SO MANY OTHER
THINGS . WE DIDN'T EVEN TALK
ABOUT THAT THERE'S A SCHOOL
THERE. SO I THINK YOU FOR THE
LEADERSHIP YOU PROVIDED. YOU
BEEN CENTRAL TO THE DOWNTOWN
ACTIVATION PLAN EVEN THOUGH YOU
ARE ADJACENT TO DOWNTOWN SO
THANK YOU FOR TEEING UP SOME OF
THE CONVERSATIONS ABOUT THE
BUDGET BECAUSE IN NEXT WEEK'S
MEETING WE ARE GOING TO BE
GOING THROUGH SOME OF THESE
DIFFERENT REVENUE SOURCES AND
TAKING A HIGH LEVEL LOOK AT
WHAT THE TRADE-OFFS ARE. IN
SHORT, YES, WE COULD EITHER
NOT HAVE AN ENTRY FEE TO THE
CHRISTMAS MARKET BUT THAT
WOULD REQUIRE MORE GENERAL
FUND, RIGHT? WE WILL SAVE THE
BUDGET CONVERSATION FOR NEXT
WEEK . REALLY GREAT TO SEE YOU,
DIRECTOR FOSTER. AND I KNOW
THAT IT WAS NOT JUST ON YOUR
OWN. ANGIE BRADY, JOSHUA
CURTIS,--
>> SO MANY PEOPLE. IT'S BEEN
INCREDIBLE TO SEE HOW SO MUCH
HAS HAPPENED AND SO MANY
PEOPLE, WE ACTUALLY JOKE ABOUT
THE PARTY THAT NEEDS TO HAPPEN
AROUND ALL OF THESE THINGS TO
GET PEOPLE TOGETHER AND
ACTUALLY BE ABLE TO BREAK BREAD
AND RECOGNIZE THIS BECAUSE IT
IS AN INCREDIBLE LINEAGE . CITY
STAFF, ORGANIZATIONS, PARTNERS,
PEOPLE OUT IN THE COMMUNITY
HAVE BEEN FIGHTING TO MAKE IT
HAPPEN AND I WILL JUST SAY
BECAUSE I CAN'T RESIST, ALL
THE THINGS YOU ALLUDED TO, I'M
EXCITED TO COME BACK TO YOU AS
WE GET DEEPER INTO THIS WORK
TOGETHER AND TALK ABOUT THE
FUTURE OF SEATTLE CENTER AND
HOW WE ARE GOING TO POSITION IT
FOR THE FUTURE AND SET IT UP
FOR LONG-TERM SUCCESS IN TERMS
OF BUDGET BUT ALSO HOW WE ARE
MANAGED AND HOW WE EMBRACE SOME
OF THESE OPPORTUNITIES TO
REINVEST IN ACCESS, AND YOUTH,
AND HOW WE GET THE SENSE THAT
PEOPLE ALWAYS HAVE A PLACE
WHERE THEY FEEL WELCOMED AND
THEY BELONG. THE CITY CAN BE
ENTREPRENEURIAL AND LEVERAGE
PARTNERSHIPS TO REINVEST. I
DON'T WANT TO GO ON TOO LONG
BUT I'M VERY EXCITED. IT'S
REALLY A GREAT MOMENT FOR
SEATTLE CENTER.
>> WHEN I GOT TO WORK WITH YOU,
WORKING WITH TIFFANY WAS SO
CRUCIAL. SHE IS REALLY THE GLUE
THAT KEEPS EVERYTHING
TOGETHER.
>> I WILL MAKE SURE AND SHARE
THAT WITH HER.
>> LAST QUESTION, IN YOUR
PRESENTATION YOU TALKED ABOUT
REVENUE FROM PARKING AND I
KNOW THAT WE ARE SHIFTING TO
WHERE THERE ARE DIFFERENT
TRANSPORTATION MODELS. I'M
CURIOUS HOW MANY PEOPLE ARE
COMING TO SEATTLE CENTER AND
WHAT ARE YOUR TRANSPORTATION
MEANS. AND WHEN WE ARE SHIFTING
PEOPLE OUT OF CARS, HOW DOES
THAT AFFECT YOUR OVERALL
REVENUE?
>> THAT IS A GREAT QUESTION. I
WILL TELL YOU IT'S A
DOUBLE-EDGED THING FOR US
BECAUSE AS PART OF THE CITY
FAMILY WE ARE IN THE BUSINESS
OF ENCOURAGING, TAKE THE
MONORAIL. TAKE TRANSIT. WALK
TO CAMPUS. WE ARE SO FORTUNATE
TO BE IN A VERY URBAN CAMPUS
WITH GREAT ACCESS. AT THE SAME
TIME, THE WAY THAT WE HAVE SET
UP SEATTLE CENTER IS THAT WE
ARE VERY MUCH RELYING ON THE
REVENUE FROM OUR PARKING
STRUCTURES. THE KEY THING IS
THAT WE TRY TO MAKE SURE THAT
REVENUE IS NOT AT THE EXPENSE
OF ACCESS. HOW DO WE STRIKE
THAT BALANCE? I WON'T PRETEND
IT'S AN EASY ONE BECAUSE I
THINK ESPECIALLY WITH BUDGETS
LOOKING MORE AND MORE AT
REVENUE SOURCES, WE HAVE TO
START THINKING OF NEW IDEAS AS
WE MOVE TOWARDS TRANSIT. WE
NEED PEOPLE TO NOT DRIVE AS
MUCH. SO AT SOME POINT WE ARE
GOING TO HAVE TO REALLY LOOK AT
THAT QUESTION.
>> COUNCILMEMBER KETTLE?
>> MY ESTEEMED COLLEAGUE AT THE
OTHER END HIGHLIGHTED ALL OF
THOSE, GOING THROUGH ALL OF
THOSE HISTORICAL PIECES. I WENT
THROUGH ALL OF THOSE AS WELL
BUT WHEN I WAS ON THE BOARD OF
THE QUEEN AND COMMUNITY
COUNCIL, IT WAS A REMINDER TO
HIGHLIGHT HOW IMPORTANT IT IS
FOR SEATTLE CENTER TO CONTINUE
TO WORK WITH ALL OF THE VARIOUS
NEIGHBORHOOD ORGANIZATIONS TO
GET THAT INSIGHT, GIVE INSIGHT
BUT ALSO GAIN INSIGHT. YOU TALK
ABOUT TRANSPORTATION,
TRANSPORTATION ISSUES WITH
MERCER AND A LOT OF THINGS THAT
PLAY INTO THAT AND WE ARE
GOING TO START UP A DISTRICT
NEIGHBORHOOD COUNCIL. I
ENCOURAGE YOU TO CONTINUE TO
WORK WITH THE QUEEN AND
COMMUNITY COUNCIL, UPTOWN
ALLIANCE, BELLTOWN, DON'T
FORGET THEM ON THE SOUTHERN
BORDER THERE. TO ENCOURAGE
THAT OUTREACH. A LITTLE
ENGAGEMENT WITH THESE
NEIGHBORHOOD COMMUNITY
ORGANIZATIONS WILL REALLY PAY
OFF WHAT WE'VE SEEN WITH THE
PORT WITH THE NEIGHBORHOOD
ADVISORY COUNCIL THAT THE PORT
HAS WITH MAGNOLIA AND QUEEN IN.
IT PAYS DIVIDENDS.
>> THANK YOU. WE WILL
DEFINITELY MAKE SURE AND
CONTINUE TO FOCUS ON THAT
ASPECT OF WHAT WE DO.
>> I JUST WANT TO HIGHLIGHT
WHAT COUNCILMEMBER KETTLE
SAID. WE'VE RECEIVED A COUPLE
OF EMAILS FROM THE UPTOWN
ALLIANCE AND ONE THING I NEVER
THOUGHT ABOUT BEFORE WAS THE
FACT THAT WHEN PEOPLE ARE GOING
TO CLIMATE PLEDGE ARENA THEY
ARE DEPOSITING THINGS IN
GARBAGE CANS GOING IN, AND
RECYCLING, IN AND OUT OF
CAMPUS. SO IT'S JUST THOSE
TINY LITTLE THINGS ABOUT HOW
ARE WE MAY BE INCREASING PICKUP
AMONG THOSE?
>> THAT IS A KEY THING. ONE
THING THAT HAPPENED, UPTOWN
HAS ALWAYS BEEN SUCH AN
IMPORTANT AREA FOR MAKING SURE
WE ARE MANAGING THE IMPACTS
FROM BIG CAMPUS EVENTS BECAUSE
IT IS SO RIGHT THERE WITH QUEEN
ANNE AND EVERYTHING AROUND US.
WE SET UP A REGULAR COMMUNITY
COORDINATING ROLE ON CAMPUS
WHICH IS FOCUSED ON MAKING SURE
NOT ONLY ARE WE DOING A GOOD
JOB OF MANAGING TRASH,
MANAGING ALL THE THINGS THAT
HAPPEN AROUND LARGE EVENTS BUT
THAT CLIMATE PLEDGE ARENA AND
THE OTHER BIG PLAYERS ON CAMPUS
ARE DOING THAT, SO THAT HAS NOW
BECOME A TRADITION. I THINK WE
HAVE A PRETTY STRONG FOUNDATION
OF RELATIONSHIPS THAT WE ARE
CONTINUING TO REINVEST IN AS WE
GO FORWARD.
>> AND WHEN IT LEAVES CAMPUS,
THAT LIMINAL SPACE.
>> THIS IS VERY MUCH ABOUT
NEIGHBORHOODS AROUND CAMPUS.
>> DOES ANYONE HAVE ANY MORE
QUESTIONS? IF THERE ARE NONE
WE WILL MOVE TO ADJOURN THIS
MEETING . THIS CONCLUDES
VALENTINE'S DAY, FEBRUARY 14
MEETING OF PARKS, PUBLIC
UTILITIES, AND TECHNOLOGY
COMMITTEE. OUR NEXT MEETING IS
SCHEDULED ON WEDNESDAY,
FEBRUARY 28 AT 2:00 P.M. IF
THERE'S NO FURTHER BUSINESS,
THIS MEETING WILL ADJOURN.
HEARING NONE, NO FURTHER
BUSINESS, IT IS 3:38 AND THIS
MEETING IS ADJOURNED. THANK
YOU.