>>> TODAY IS MARCH 13th, 2024.
THIS IS THE MEETING OF THE
PUBLIC UTILITIES AND TECHNOLOGY
COMMITTEE. THE MEETING WILL
COME TO ORDER. IT IS EXACTLY
2:05. GETTING STARTED A LITTLE
TARDY. I'M JOY HOLLINGSWORTH,
COMMITTEE CHAIR. CAN THE CLERK
PLEASE CALL ROLL.
>> COUNCILMEMBER RIVERA.
>> PRESENT.
>> COUNCILMEMBER STRAUSS.
>> PRESENT.
>> COUNCILMEMBER NELSON.
>> PRESENT.
>> THREE COUNCIL MEMBERS ARE
PRESENT.
>> WE HAVE A QUORUM. WE WILL
GET STARTED. THERE ARE THREE
ITEMS ON THE AGENDA. FIRST AN
OVERVIEW BY OUR PHENOMENAL
SEATTLE PARKS AND RECREATION.
SUPER HAPPY TO HAVE THEM HERE
SO WE CAN HEAR ABOUT ALL THE
EXCITING THINGS GOING ON IN THE
CITY AND IN THE GREEN SPACES
AND JUST EVERYTHING WITH PARKS
AND HOW MUCH A LOT OF PEOPLE
LOVE THEM. AND THE SECOND, AND
OVERVIEW PRESENTATION FROM OUR
CITY SURVEILLANCE TECHNOLOGY
PROCESS FROM THE INFORMATION
TECHNOLOGY DEPARTMENT. SO WE
HAVE TWO AMAZING THINGS. WE
WILL NOW CONSIDER THE AGENDA.
IF THERE IS NO OBJECTION TO THE
AGENDA, IT WILL BE ADOPTED.
>> HEARING NONE, THE AGENDA IS
ADOPTED. WITH THAT, WE WILL
OPEN UP THE HYBRID PUBLIC
COMMENT PERIOD. PUBLIC COMMENTS
SHOULD RELATE TO TODAY'S
AGENDA ITEMS TO BE WITHIN THE
PURVIEW OF THE COMMITTEE.
CLERK, HOW MANY SPEAKERS TO BE
HAVE SIGNED UP?
>> WE HAVE NO IN PERSON
SPEAKERS AND TWO REMOTE
SPEAKERS.
>> AWESOME. WE WILL GIVE EACH
SPEAKER TWO MINUTES. CLERK, CAN
YOU PLEASE READ THE
INSTRUCTIONS FOR THE PUBLIC
COMMENT. BEFORE WE GO, I WANT
TO NOTE THAT COUNCIL PRESIDENT
NELSON IS PRESENT.
>> I'M SORRY, CHAIR
HOLLINGSWORTH.
>> NO WORRIES AT ALL. YOU ARE
ALL GOOD. NO NEED TO
APOLOGIZE. TWO MINUTES. CLERK
CAN YOU PLEASE READ THE
INSTRUCTIONS FOR PUBLIC
COMMENT?
>> WHEN I CALL THE REMOTE
SPEAKER'S NAME, STEPH WILL
UNMUTE THE APPROPRIATE
MICROPHONE AND AN AUTOMATIC
PROMPT WILL BE THE SPEAKER'S Q
THAT IT IS THEIR TURN TO SPEAK
AND THE SPEAKER MUST PRESS STAR
SIX TO BEGIN SPEAKING. THAT IS
STAR SIX.
>> THE FIRST SPEAKER IS
CYNTHIA'S PIECE SPICE .
>> HELLO. MY COMMENTS ARE
REGARDING AGENDA ITEM TWO.
SOME COMMITTEE MEMBERS ARE NEW
TO THE SURVEILLANCE PROCESS ON
IT I WANTED TO BRING TWO THANKS
YOUR ATTENTION. FIRST, THE
IMPACT REPORTS APPROVED BY CITY
COUNCIL ARE PROCESSED THROUGH
THE CITY COUNCIL COMMITTEE
COVERING TECHNOLOGY. THIS
INCLUDES ALL 16 SPD
SURVEILLANCE IMPACT REPORTS AND
SPD UPDATES APPROVED LAST YEAR.
IT IS FOUR OF THE THREE
REPORTS GOING TO THE PUBLIC
SAFETY COMMITTEE. I STRONGLY
SUGGEST YOU RECONSIDER THIS IN
THE USUAL PROCESS. AS SOMEONE
WITH A DECADE OF EXPRESS
WORKING IN TECH WITH DIFFERENT
GOALS AND INITIATIVES SPANNING
DIFFERENT SECTORS, I CAN TELL
YOU THE IMPACT REPORTS TO
DIFFERENT COMMITTEES RESULT IN
INCONSISTENCIES OF APPLICATION
OF THE ORDINANCE AND RESULTING
IN (INDISCERNIBLE) BY COUNSEL.
INSTEAD THEY SHOULD BE
CONSISTENT ACROSS THE STATE.
ONE OF THE UPCOMING
SURVEILLANCE IMPACT REPORTS IS
FOR CPD. SDOT WAS PROCESS TO
THE TECHNOLOGY COMMITTEE AND
SPD SHOULD BE HELD TO THE SAME
BAR. REPORTS FROM THE WORKING
GROUP WILL BE DELIVERED TO THIS
COMMITTEE AS WELL ANY
(INDISCERNIBLE) TO KEEP
APPRAISED OF THE STATUS. ANY
FUTURE PROPOSED AMENDMENTS
WOULD ALSO GO THROUGH THE
COMMITTEE WHICH IS THE SAME
COMMITTEE THAT PASSED THE
SURVEILLANCE ORDINANCE. IT IS
UNWISE FOR THE LARGELY NEW CITY
COUNCIL TO ABRUPTLY CHANGE THE
PROCESSING OF SURVEILLANCE
IMPACT REPORTS FROM WHAT HAS
WORKED THE LAST SIX YEARS
SPANNING ALL PRIOR TECHNOLOGY
AND DEPARTMENTS INCLUDING THE
POLICE AND COUNCIL TURNOVER.
IF NOT REVERTED TO THE STANDARD
HANDLING BY THE TECHNOLOGY
COMMITTEE, YOU WILL BE SETTING
A PRECEDENT THAT WILL IMPACT
ANY FUTURE COUNCILMEMBERS FOR
REVIEWING SURVEILLANCE
TECHNOLOGY AND THAT THE CURRENT
COUNSEL DID NOT CREATE THE MESS
WISHING. AND REMOVAL FROM THE
MASTER LIST, THE DEPARTMENT
SHOULD FILE A REPORT FROM THE
CITY CLERK AND TESTING THAT ALL
SENSORS ARE HARDWARE HAVE BEEN
REMOVED AND ANY RELATED
SOFTWARE. OTHERWISE, THE
TECHNOLOGY COULD BE UNUSED BY
THE CITY BUT STILL COLLECTING
DATA ABOUT RESIDENTS THAT THE
VENDOR WOULD THEN HAVE ACCESS
TO. I JUST ASK THAT THE
SITUATION BE TIDIED UP. THANK
YOU.
>> NEXT, WE HAVE DAVID HEINZ.
>> HELLO. NORMAL USE OF
TECHNOLOGY. I THOUGHT THIS WAS
GOING TO BE ABOUT IMPROVING THE
DIGITAL DISPLAY MONITORS AROUND
THE BUS SYSTEM IN THE TUNNEL TO
LET YOU KNOW WHAT TIME THE
BUSES ARE COMING THROUGH. BUT
I SEE THAT IT IS MAINLY ABOUT
LEFTOVER POLICE RESTRAINT
POLICIES. AND I'M NOT SAYING
THAT YOU SHOULDN'T SERVE VAIL
THE POLICE WHEN IT COMES TO
BODY CAMERAS. BUT I AM SAYING
THAT IF YOU ARE GOING TO ONLY
FOCUS ON THE SURVEILLANCE OF
THE POLICE, GIVEN THE FACT THAT
WE HAVE A SOCIETAL IMPLOSION
AND ALL OVER -- KING COUNTY,
WE HAVE CRIME. WE NEED
SURVEILLANCE HELP THE CRIME
FIGHTERS VERIFY WHO KEEPS
DESTROYING THEIR FELLOW MAN
PATIENTS LIVES RIGHT IN FRONT
OF ALL OF THESE PEOPLE WHO LOOK
THE OTHER WAY WHEN ALL OF THESE
CRIMINALS ARE CONDUCTING AN
UNCIVIL WAR ON THIRD AVENUE AND
AROUND THE CORNER FROM THE
TUNNEL ENTRANCE TO WEST LAKE
AND ALL THROUGHOUT THE COUNTY.
WE NEED AN IMPROVEMENT TO
VERIFY WHO KEEPS SUPPLYING THE
DRUGS AND SHUTTING THEM DOWN.
QUITE FRANKLY, WHEN YOU HAVE
YOUR PARK RANGERS, IF THEY ARE
NOT TRAINED PROPERLY TO
COMMUNICATE TO THE POLICE WHEN
THERE IS A DIFFERENCE BETWEEN
SOME EVIL CRIMINALS SELLING
DRUGS VERSUS SOME INNOCENT WHO
IS READING A BOOK AND CLOSES
THEIR EYES FOR FIVE MINUTES AND
ALL OF A SUDDEN GETS HARASSED,
WHEN ARRANGER COMES UP AND
SWEEPS EVERYBODY WHO THEY DEEM
VIOLATING THE RULES, THEY ARE
JUST PUSHING THAT ALONG. THAT
IS WHAT HAS ALREADY TAKEN PLACE
WHERE PEOPLE REALIZE THERE IS
REALLY NO REPERCUSSION FOR
COMMITTING CRIMES AGAINST
HUMANITY AND DESTROYING THEIR
FELLOW MAN PATIENTS LIVES WITH
DRUGS. SO IF YOU TAP INTO THE
VIDEO CAMERAS IN CERTAIN
HOTSPOTS, YOU CAN EXPEDITE THE
CONCERNS THAT MAKE IT UNSAFE
FOR THE RESIDENTS AND STILL
HOLD THE PEOPLE AND VENDOR
HONEST AND FORTHRIGHT AND
DILIGENT AND KEEP TABS ON THEM
SO THEY DON'T ABUSE THE
PRIVILEGE OF VERIFYING WHO THE
PROBLEM -- WHO THE CRIMINALS
ARE. I GET TREATED LIKE A
TERMINAL EVERY TIME I GET
(INDISCERNIBLE) AND IT IS
ANNOYING. YOU CAN FEEL THAT
STUFF HIT YOU PRETTY HARD.
>> IF THERE ARE NO ADDITIONAL
PEOPLE SIGNED UP FOR PUBLIC
COMMENT, THE PUBLIC COMMENT IS
NOW CLOSED. WILL THE CLERK
PLEASE READ AGENDA ITEM NUMBER
ONE INTO THE RECORD?
>> AGENDA ITEM NUMBER ONE,
OVERVIEW BY SEATTLE PARKS AND
RECREATION FOR BRIEFING AND
DISCUSSION. THE PRESENTERS ARE
SUPERINTENDENT AP DIAZ, MR.
WILLIAMS AND MICHELE FINNEGAN
FROM PARKS AND.
>> I WOULD LIKE TO INVITE THE
PARKS AND WRECKED TO THE TABLE.
WHILE YOU ALL WERE COMING, I'M
SO HAPPY YOU ARE HERE, I WILL
TELL YOU A STORY. WHEN I WAS A
LITTLE KID, MY DAD WORKED FOR
THE PARKS DEPARTMENT FOR 35
YEARS WHO SOME OF YOU HAVE MET.
EVERY TIME I SAW A WHITE TRUCK
WITH THE SEATTLE PARK SLOW-GO,
I ALWAYS THOUGHT IT WAS MY DAD
COMING THROUGH. ANY TIME IN THE
CITY I SAID, THERE IS MY DAD,
EVEN THOUGH I DIDN'T SEE WHO
IT WAS. SO TO SEE THE WHITE
TRUCK WITH THE LOGO ON THE
SIDE, I SAID THERE IS MY DAD.
SO I WANTED TO SHARE THAT WITH
YOU ALL. PLEASE INTRODUCE
YOURSELVES FOR THE RECORD.
HAPPY TO HAVE YOU ALL AND YOU
CAN GO AHEAD AND GET STARTED
WITH YOUR PRESENTATION.
>> THANK YOU CHAIR WIN. GOOD
AFTERNOON COUNCIL. MY NAME IS
AP DIAZ AND I HAVE THE PLEASURE
OF SERVING AS A 26
SUPERINTENDENT FOR THE SEATTLE
PARKS AND RECREATION. AND I'M
JOINED BY CHRISTOPHER WILLIAMS,
THE CHIEF DEPUTY SUPERINTENDENT
AND CHIEF OF STAFF AND MICHELE
FINNEGAN, THE DEPUTY
SUPERINTENDENT OVER POLICY AND
FINANCE. AND ALSO PART OF MY
TEAM AND THE AUDIENCE IS PAULA
HOFF WHO SERVES AS THE COUNCIL
LIAISON TO ALL OF YOU. DAVID
TO CALL ME, A STRATEGIC ADVISOR
AS WELL AS JACOB PORT WHO IS
THE SPECIAL ADVISOR AND THE
SUPERINTENDENT'S OFFICE. WE
ARE PLEASED TO BE HERE WITH YOU
TODAY TO GIVE YOU A SNAPSHOT
AND AN OVERVIEW OF OUR
DEPARTMENT SINCE YOU HAVE
DIRECT OVERSIGHT ON YOUR
COMMITTEE OF THE DEPARTMENT. I
THINK WE CAN ALL AGREE HOW MUCH
WE LOVE THE PARK AND RECREATION
SYSTEM. BECAUSE THE
CONSTITUENTS LOVE THEM. THE
RESOUNDING THING I HEAR
THROUGHOUT THE COMMUNITY AND IN
MY TIME AND TENURE HERE IN
SEATTLE DOESN'T MATTER WHETHER
I'M AT THE MARKET OR A
BARBERSHOP OR EVEN THE
DOCTOR'S OFFICE. WHEN PEOPLE
FIND OUT WHAT I DO, THEY LIGHT
UP. BECAUSE THEY HAVE SOME
GREAT STORY TO TELL ABOUT HOW
THEY USE OUR PARK SYSTEM AND
HOW MUCH IT TOUCHES THEIR LIVES
AND HOW MUCH IT IS AN IMPORTANT
PART OF WHAT THEY DO. WE HAVE
AN OVER SHOT, SNAPSHOT OF THE
HIGH RATINGS THAT WE CONTINUE
TO RECEIVE IN THE DEPARTMENT.
AND I WOULD LIKE TO POINT OUT
THAT EVERY YEAR, THE TRUST FOR
PUBLIC LAND RANKS ALL PUBLIC
PARK AGENCIES THROUGHOUT THE
NATION AND LAST YEAR, WE MOVED
FROM THE NUMBER NINE POSITION,
TO NUMBER EIGHT. SO THE CITY
OF SEATTLE IS NOW THE NUMBER
EIGHT RANKED PARK SYSTEM IN THE
UNITED STATES. AND WE ARE VERY
PROUD OF THAT.
>> TODAY'S PRESENTATION, I'M
GOING TO WALK YOU THROUGH AND
THEN WE WILL ALLOW TIME FOR
QUESTIONS OR COMMENTS THAT YOU
MIGHT HAVE OF ME OR MY STAFF.
WE WANT TO WALK YOU THROUGH HOW
WE ORGANIZE THE DEPARTMENT AND
THE MISSION AND AFFIRMATIONS
AND THE LAND ACKNOWLEDGMENT AND
THE SYSTEM OVERVIEW AND THE
RSJI COMMITMENT, THE DEPARTMENT
MOTTO, LEADERSHIP AND
ORGANIZATION, BUDGET AND
FINANCING AND JUST KIND OF
SHARE WHAT WE DO AND THE PEOPLE
THAT WE DO IT WITH, WHICH IS
OUR TREMENDOUS COMMUNITY
PARTNERS.
>> OUR MISSION AT THE SEATTLE
PARKS AND RECREATION DEPARTMENT
IS TO EQUIP TO BOTH EMPLOYEES
AND THE PUBLIC FOR WELL-BEING
AS WE SUPPORT HEALTHY PEOPLE
AND A THRIVING ENVIRONMENT AND
A VIBRANT COMMUNITY. AND I WANT
TO STRESS HERE, A POINT THAT I
WANTED TO MAKE SURE WAS
IMPORTANT WHEN I WAS APPOINTED
TO THIS POSITION BY THE MAYOR.
AND THAT WAS THAT MY
RESPONSIBILITY IS TO UPHOLD THE
CITY CHARTER AND TO BE A
CARETAKER AND STEWARD TO THE
PUBLIC LAND. I ALSO FEEL THAT I
HAVE A DUTY TO TAKE CARE OF OUR
EMPLOYEES IN THE DEPARTMENT AND
TO ENSURE THAT THEY REMAIN AS A
NORTHSTAR OF WHAT I DO. LIKE
ALL CITY WORKERS, THEY WORKED
TIRELESSLY IN PUBLIC SERVICE TO
SERVE OUR CITY AND OUR PUBLIC.
A LOT OF OUR MISSION AND VALUES
ARE ALSO FOCUSED AROUND
SUPPORTING OUR EMPLOYEES IN
THIS MANNER AND I THINK THAT IT
IS A DIFFICULT TASK TO ASK CITY
EMPLOYEES OR TO ASK STANDARDS,
TO SET STANDARDS FOR THE PUBLIC
AS CITY OFFICIALS AND LEADERS
IF WE ARE NOT ALSO ENSURING
THAT WE ARE ABIDING BY OUR
EMPLOYEES IN THE SAME WAY. SO
WE MAKE A DISTINCTION TO
INCLUDE EMPLOYEES IN MUCH OF
THE MISSION THAT WE DO. AS I
MENTIONED, WE FOCUS AROUND
THESE THREE ENVIRONMENTS OF THE
HEALTHY PEOPLE WHICH YOU CAN
SEE IS REFLECTED THROUGH ALL OF
OUR PUBLIC RECREATION. WHAT I
LOVE TO ALWAYS TELL PEOPLE IS
THAT WE SERVE THREE CONSTITUENT
BODIES TO PARKS AND RECREATION
AND WE SERVE CHILDREN. WE
SERVE ADULTS AND WE HAVE A DUTY
TO TAKE CARE OF OUR AGING
POPULATION. SO THAT IS WHEN WE
TALK ABOUT HEALTHY PEOPLE, THE
WORLD WE SERVE TO ENSURE THAT.
WE ALSO HAVE A RESPONSIBILITY
TO THE ENVIRONMENT AND TO THE
LAND THAT HAS BEEN HERE SINCE
THE TIME OF MEMORIAL. AND THE
DUTY TO ENSURE THAT THERE IS A
THRIVING ENVIRONMENT. SO
MITIGATING THE IMPACT OF
CLIMATE CHANGE AND BEING A
GOOD PARTNER WITH OUR OTHER
DEPARTMENTS LIKE OSE AND THE
MAYOR'S OFFICE IN THE CITY
COUNCIL THAT ALL SHARE THESE
GOALS TO MAKE OUR CITY MORE
EQUITABLE, LESS DEPENDENT ON
TRADITIONAL SOURCES OF ENERGY
AND TO BE GOOD. CARETAKERS OF
THE ENVIRONMENT. SO NO BETTER
PLACE TO DEMONSTRATE THAT AT
THE NEARLY 500 PARKS IN THE
CITY OF SEATTLE. AND LASTLY, WE
WANT TO CREATE VIBRANT
COMMUNITY. THIS IS WHERE THE
CITY COMES ALIVE, THROUGH THE
FESTIVALS AND THROUGH THE ART
PROGRAMS AND COLLABORATIONS
WITH OUR SISTER CITY
DEPARTMENTS AND THE FACT THAT
WE ARE IN EVERY SINGLE
NEIGHBORHOOD THROUGHOUT THE
CITY IS A WONDERFUL BLESSING
AND EACH NEIGHBORHOOD IS UNIQUE
AND WE WANT TO HIGHLIGHT AND
AMPLIFY THE UNIQUENESS OF EACH
COMMUNITY. EACH COUNCIL
DISTRICTS SO THAT WE ARE AGAIN
DEMONSTRATING THAT SEATTLE IS
DIVERSE AND VIBRANT, ALIVE AND
THRIVING. I REALLY WANT TO
POINT OUT HERE, ALTHOUGH
SOMETIMES WE BECOME ROUTINE IN
THE LAND ACKNOWLEDGMENT HERE IN
THE CITY OF SEATTLE. FIRST OF
ALL, I WANT TO EXPRESS TO YOU,
AS CITY LEADERS AND MUCH LONGER
RESIDENTS OF THE PACIFIC
NORTHWEST, THAT I WAS SO
IMPRESSED WHEN I MOVED TO THE
CITY OF SEATTLE. LEAPS BEYOND
OTHER CITIES AND GIVING
RECOGNITION AND SUPPORT OF OUR
INDIGENOUS COMMUNITIES EVEN
THOUGH WE HAVE MUCH MORE WORK
TO DO IN THIS SPACE. I REALLY
WANT TO ACKNOWLEDGE THE CITY OF
SEATTLE. BECAUSE OF THAT, IT
CAN'T GO UNNOTICED AGAIN THAT
-- ALTHOUGH, I AND MY STAFF
ARE CARETAKERS AND STEWARDS.
WE ARE NOT THE ORIGINAL
CARETAKERS AND STEWARDS. IN
FACT, IT IS AN ENSUING LEGACY
THAT CONTINUES AND WE HAVE
GREAT RELATIONS WITH OUR TRIBAL
PARTNERS. LAST YEAR, THE CITY
OF SEATTLE HOSTED ITS FIRST
EVER TRIBAL SUMMIT WITH THE
ACTUAL TRIBAL NATIONS IN
SEATTLE AND WE WERE ONE OF THE
FIRST, OR THE FIRST CITY
DEPARTMENT TO THEN HOST OUR OWN
TRIBAL SUMMIT WITH OUR TRIBAL
PARTNERS AND REPRESENTATIVES OF
THE DIFFERENT COUNCILS AND WE
HAVE A LOT OF GREAT WORK AND
PARTNERSHIP PLANNED WITH THEM,
BUILDING ON SOME OF THE THINGS
WE DO ALREADY. BUT MAKING SURE
THAT WE ACKNOWLEDGE AND
RECOGNIZE THAT WE WILL CONTINUE
TO COMMIT TO SHARING THEIR
LEGACY FOR FUTURE GENERATIONS
TO COME. BECAUSE IT IS SO
UNIQUE AND IMPORTANT,
PARTICULARLY IN SEATTLE AND IN
THIS PART OF THE COUNTRY THAT
WE INHABIT. IT IS A GREAT
LEGACY. WE WANT YOU TO KNOW WE
ARE COMMITTED TO THAT. I WANT
TO SHOW YOU THE SYSTEM OVERVIEW
OF YOUR WONDERFUL PARK SYSTEM.
IT IS SOME 644, 4100 ACRES AND
GROWING. 12% OF THE CITY LAND
AREA IS PARKLAND. I WANT TO
SHARE THE STORY THAT THE FIRST
TIME I FLEW UP TO SEATTLE,
GOING THROUGH THE CENTRAL COAST
OF CALIFORNIA WHICH IS BROWN
AND A LOT OF FARM FIELDS, MUCH
LIKE EASTERN WASHINGTON, AND
COMING INTO NORTHERN
CALIFORNIA. YOU CAN SEE THE
TREES AND THE GREENERY. POP
INTO OREGON AND THE TREES SHINE
ON YOU AND THE GREENNESS. AND
THEN YOU GET TO THE BORDER WITH
WASHINGTON AND YOU GET THE
MAJESTY OF THESE VOLCANOES AND
THE MOUNTAINS AND THE TREES
EVEN MORE. AS YOU LANDON, IT
ALWAYS REMINDS ME THAT, SEATTLE
IS REALLY JUST ONE BIG PARK IN
MY OPINION. WASHINGTON IS ONE
BIG PARK AND ALL THE
NEIGHBORHOODS ARE LITTLE
VILLAGES IN THE PARK. IT IS A
WONDERFUL BLESSING. AND WE ARE
THE EVERGREEN STATE AND THE
EMERALD CITY. THIS IS JUST A
SNAPSHOT. WE ARE PROUD OF THE
FACT THAT 99% OF OUR CITIZENS
LIVE WITHIN A 10 MINUTE WALK TO
A PARK. THAT IS SOMETHING TO BE
PROUD OF AS CITY LEADERS. THAT
IS THE STANDARD THAT MANY
CITIES ACROSS THE NATION, MY
COLLEAGUES AND MY TRADE
ORGANIZATIONS THAT I'M PART
OF, THAT IS THE GOLD MEDAL
STANDARD. THAT WE HAVE PEOPLE
LIVING WITHIN A 10 MINUTE WALK
FROM THE PARK AND WE ARE VERY
PROUD OF THAT. THIS IS A LONG
LIST OF THE THINGS WE DO FROM
ATHLETIC FIELDS, TENNIS COURTS,
PICKLE BALL, GOLF, COMMUNITY
CENTERS, AQUATIC CENTERS AND
ENVIRONMENTAL EDUCATION CENTERS
AS WELL AS SPECIAL SITES AND
FACILITIES. AS YOU KNOW, OUR
AQUARIUM AND ZOO ARE PART OF
THE PARK PORTFOLIO AS WELL AS
OUR PARTNERSHIPS AT THE
WASHINGTON PARK ARBORETUM AND
MANY OF THE SPECIALTY GARDENS
LIKE THE JAPANESE GARDEN AND
THE KUBOTA GARDENS AND ET
CETERA. THE DEPARTMENT IS ALSO
VERY COMMITTED TO SUPPORT
RACIAL AND SOCIAL JUSTICE
INITIATIVES, BOTH FROM THE CITY
MANDATE PERSPECTIVES AND ALSO
HOW WE ARE SHOWING UP IN OUR
DEPARTMENT AND IN THE
COMMUNITY. WE WORK WITH SO MANY
DIVERSE GROUPS. AND IT IS
IMPORTANT THAT OUR PARK SYSTEM
REFLECT WHAT IS THE BROADER
GOAL HERE AT THE CITY OF
SEATTLE AS WELL AS SEATTLE
PARKS AND RECREATION. AND WE
HAVE MANY EXAMPLES AND WE HAVE
LEARNED ALONG THE PROCESS LIKE
MANY OF THE CITY DEPARTMENTS
AND WE ARE IN A PERIOD OF
GROWTH WHERE WE WANT TO LOOK AT
HOW WE HAVE IMPLEMENTED RSJI,
BUT WHAT ARE THE NEXT STEPS TO
ENSURE THAT WE ARE MOVING WITH
PURPOSE AND WITH HEALTHY
OBJECTIVES FOR OUR EMPLOYEES
AND THE WORKFORCE AND TO
CONTINUE TO GROW THEM AND
EQUIPPED THEM? AND WE ARE
GIVING BACK IN HOW WE DO A LOT
OF THE PARK PROJECTS AND
PLANNING. WE WILL TALK ABOUT
THAT IN A LITTLE BIT. THERE ARE
A LOT OF HISTORICAL PRACTICES
THAT HAVE OCCURRED THROUGHOUT
THE COMMUNITY AND THE WAY THE
CITY WAS FORMED AND WE ARE THE
DEVELOPMENT SHOWED UP FIRST.
AND WE HAVE A LOT OF
INTENTIONALITY IN THAT SPACE.
WE ALSO WANT TO SUPPORT OUR
COMMUNITY THROUGH SCHOLARSHIPS,
PROGRAMS THAT AFFECT THE MOST
DISADVANTAGED AND MAKE SURE
EVERYONE HAS A SEAT AT THE
TABLE. ONE OF THE THINGS I
ALWAYS LOVE TO QUOTE, ONE OF MY
FAVORITE QUOTES FROM MAYOR
BRUCE HARRELL, HE TOLD ME HE
HAS BEEN BLESSED WITH MUCH
OPPORTUNITY IN HIS LIFE. HE
GREW UP HERE IN SEATTLE AND
THEN HE WOULD NEVER WANT ANY
CHILD TO HAVE TO FEEL LIKE THEY
NEEDED TO LEAVE SEATTLE TO FIND
OPPORTUNITIES WHEN THERE IS SO
MUCH ABUNDANCE AROUND US IN
TERMS OF OUR BUSINESS. BUT
SOMETIMES, IT IS ABOUT EXPOSURE
AND ACCESS. SO WE REALLY WORK
HARD TO IMPLEMENT. WE WILL
TALK ABOUT SOME SPECIAL
PROGRAMS. SCHOLARSHIP PROGRAMS
AND EXPANDING THE COMMUNITY
CENTERS, WHETHER THROUGH
OPERATIONAL HOURS, CAPITAL
IMPROVEMENTS, AND MAKING THEM
SAFE AND ACCESSIBLE. SO IT IS
REALLY IMPORTANT.
>> WE HAVE AN INTERNAL
DEPARTMENT MOTTO THAT WE HAVE
CREATED SINCE I HAVE BEEN HERE
CALLED SEATTLE SHINES. AND SOME
EXAMPLES HERE THROUGH
PHOTOGRAPHS OF SOME OF OUR
BEAUTIFUL SKY THAT
ILLUMINATES. ONE OF THE THINGS
THAT I LOVE ABOUT THIS, THESE
ARE PHOTOS I HAVE TAKEN, BY THE
WAY, THROUGHOUT MY TIME HERE.
BUT WE BELIEVE THAT WE ARE A
REMINDER THAT WE ARE SHINING
SOURCES OF STRENGTH FOR THE
COMMUNITY AND EVEN IN OUR
DARKEST DAYS, WE SHOW UP FOR
THE COMMUNITY. OUR MAINTENANCE
STAFF IS THERE 365 DAYS A YEAR,
WHETHER THE SUN IS OUT OR
WHETHER IT IS CLOUDY AND GRAY.
WE HAVE A FEW OF THOSE DAYS IN
SEATTLE. WHETHER IT IS COLD.
SOMETIMES IT IS SNOWY THE
CHARLOTTE. THE RECREATION STAFF
SHOWS UP. WE SHOW UP FOR
PEOPLE. AND WE REALLY SHINE,
THE SERVICES. WEEK COME ALONG
AND SHINE OF COURSE IN THE
BEAUTIFUL SUMMER AND SPRING
WHEN THE SUN IS OUT IN SEATTLE.
IT IS A REMINDER THAT WE CAN
BE A PROUD SOURCE OF LIGHT AND
IN SOMETIMES A DARK OR COMPLEX
CITY. SO WE WANT TO JUST WALK
YOU THROUGH THE BUDGET SYSTEM.
MOST OF OUR LINES OF BUSINESSES
ARE SUPPORTED BY MULTIPLE
FUNDS. THIS SLIDE PROVIDES AN
OVERVIEW OF THE OVERALL 2024
BUDGET. YOU CAN SEE HERE THAT
THE 2024 BUDGET INCLUDES BOTH
OPERATING AND CAPITAL AT
APPROXIMATELY $320 MILLION
ACROSS ALL FUNDS WITH THE
GENERAL FUND AND THE
METROPOLITAN PARK DISTRICT OR
THE PARK LEVY PROVIDING ALMOST
EQUAL AMOUNTS AND MAKING UP
NEARLY 70%, 75% OF THE TOTAL
BUDGET. MOVING TO THE BLUE
CHART ON THE TOP RIGHT, IS
SHOWING THE 2024 PROPOSED
OPERATING BUDGET WHICH IS ABOUT
228 MILLION, 70% TOTAL. AND
APPROXIMATELY 30% IS SUPPORTED
BY THE PARK DISTRICT ALONG WITH
THE GENERAL FUND. A LITTLE OVER
HALF. AND THE PARK FUND AT 18%,
WHICH IS WHERE THE EARNED
REVENUES GO TO SUPPORT A LIKE
AMOUNT OF EXPENSES. THE GREEN
CHART ON THE BOTTOM RIGHT IS
THE 2024 PROPOSED CAPITAL
BUDGET WHICH IS ABOUT 93
MILLION, SUPPORTED MOSTLY BY
THE PARK DISTRICT AND THE REAL
ESTATE EXCISE TAX. THE
WATERFRONT IS A BIG CHUNK OF
THE PIE FOR NEXT YEAR BASED ON
THE TIMING OF THE PROJECT WHICH
YOU ALL KNOW IS ON TIME AND
DOING AMAZING THINGS FOR THE
CITY. AND SIGNIFICANT
CONSTRUCTION PLANNED FOR THE
OPENING OF THAT IN 2025. THIS
IS A SNAPSHOT OF THE BUDGET. AS
MENTIONED, IT IS MADE UP OF
MANY DIFFERENT SOURCES. BUT WE
ARE THANKFUL FOR THE
OPPORTUNITIES THAT WE HAVE AND
THE WAY THAT OUR COUNSEL, THE
WAY OUR MAYOR AND CITIZENS HAVE
STEPPED UP FOR PARKS BY
INSTITUTING THE PARK LEVY
SYSTEM IN SEATTLE, WHICH IS
ANOTHER GOLD MEDAL DESIRE OF
MANY PARK AGENCIES THROUGHOUT
THE NATION. SO WE CAN BE VERY
PROUD OF THAT HERE IN SEATTLE.
>> THE NEXT SNAPSHOT FOR YOU IS
JUST AN OVERVIEW OF HOW I HAVE
ORGANIZED THE DEPARTMENT HERE
IN THE PARKS AND RECREATION
DEPARTMENT. I'M SUPPORTED BY A
WONDERFUL TEAM. I WAS JUST
TELLING STAFF MEMBERS TODAY AND
AN EXPANDED BUDGET MEETING THAT
WE HAVE, NO DIRECTOR OF ANY
DEPARTMENT CAN TRULY BE A
SUBJECT MATTER EXPERT IN EVERY
SINGLE LINE OF BUSINESS THAT A
DEPARTMENT DOES. WE ARE MANY
CORPORATIONS HERE IN THE CITY
OF SEATTLE IN THE DEPARTMENT
AND MY FELLOW DIRECTOR IS
HERE. WE WERE ON ORGANIZATIONS.
TO DO THAT, WE NEED THE
ASSISTANCE OF REALLY TALENTED
PEOPLE. UNFORTUNATE --
FORTUNATELY, I WAS BLESSED WITH
AN AMAZING TEAM. CHRISTOPHER
WILLIAMS HAS BEEN HERE FOR OVER
30 YEARS AND HAS SERVED AS THE
SUPERINTENDENT, PROBABLY SEVEN
OR EIGHT TIMES IN HIS TENURE
HERE. HE BRINGS A WEALTH OF
INSTITUTIONAL KNOWLEDGE AND IS
A GREAT PARTNER TO ME. AND HAS
BEEN A GODSEND IN TERMS OF HIS
KNOWLEDGE AND SUPPORT AND HIS
ABILITY TO PROVIDE ME SOME
DISCERNMENT IS REALLY GREAT. HE
IS THE CHIEF DEPUTY
SUPERINTENDENT. I'M SUPPORTED
BY THREE DEPUTY
SUPERINTENDENTS. MICHELE
FINNEGAN TO MY RIGHT, WHO ALSO
BRINGS A TREMENDOUS WEALTH OF
EXPERIENCE HERE TO THE
DEPARTMENT. AND OVERSEEING A
VERY COMPLEX UNIT FOR FUNDING
SOURCES, BUDGET, PERSONNEL AND
CONTRACTS. AND PERFORMANCE
MANAGEMENT AND PROPERTY
MANAGEMENT. SO MICHELLE AND
HER TEAM KEEP OUR OPERATIONS
RUNNING WHICH IS REALLY
FANTASTIC. MANY OF YOU MAY KNOW
ANDY SCHIFFER, THE DEPUTY
SUPERINTENDENT. I SEE HEADS
NODDING. HE OVERSEES THE
PLANNING AND CAPITAL
DEVELOPMENT TEAM AND CHARGED
WITH ENSURING THAT ALL OF OUR
CAPITAL PROJECTS, MOSTLY THAT
ARE FUNDED THROUGH THE MPD PARK
LEVY COME IN ON TIME AND THAT
THEY ARE ORGANIZED WELL AND WE
WILL BE TALKING ABOUT THAT
MORE. BUT ANDY IS A SUBJECT
MATTER EXPERT IN THE AREA AND
AS A PLANNER AND AN OVERSEAS
ARCHITECTS, ENGINEERS,
DESIGNERS AND A PLANNING TEAM.
AND THIS IS HIS PORTFOLIO.
WHICH IS PROMOTED RECENTLY, A
LONGTIME SEATTLE PARKS AND
RECREATION EMPLOYEE. SHE GREW
UP IN RECREATION . LIKE
COUNCILMEMBER HOLLINGSWORTH,
USING OUR FACILITIES AND
GROWING UP IN THE COMMUNITY
ALONGSIDE COMMUNITY CENTERS.
DAISY KENTUCKY AND WE JUST
PROMOTED HER TO BE A
SUPERINTENDENT OVER THE PARKS
AND RECREATION SERVICES BRANCH.
THIS IS WHERE A LOT OF THE
FRONT LINE OPERATIONS OCCUR AND
THE COMMUNITY CENTERS AND PARKS
AND ENVIRONMENT DIVISION WHICH
IS WHERE THE MAINTENANCE
WORKERS ARE AND THE FACILITIES
DIVISION, THE FOLKS THAT TAKE
CARE OF OUR FACILITIES AND DO
ALL THE REPAIRS AS WELL AS OUR
PARK RANGERS AND PARK
CONCIERGES. THESE ARE THE
PEOPLE THAT ARE ACTIVATING THE
PARK SPACES FOR GOOD AND
MAINTAINING THEM. AND WE ALSO
HAVE, IN THE SUPERINTENDENT'S
OFFICE, THE PUBLIC AFFAIRS
DIVISION, RACHEL WHO IS
WONDERFUL AND EXCELLENT IN THE
WORK SHE DOES AS WELL AS
DESIREE TAVAREZ WHO OVERSEES
THE HUMAN RESOURCES DIVISION
AND IS ALSO A WONDERFUL PERSON
WHO HAS A REAL HEART FOR PEOPLE
AND SERVICE. SO I WANT TO TALK
QUICKLY ABOUT THE SEATTLE PARK
DISTRICT. YOU HEAR FROM TIME TO
TIME AND THIS IS REFERRED TO AS
THE MPD WHICH IS A BIG TERM FOR
US IN PARKS. IT IS THE SEATTLE
PARKS DISTRICT. IT IS INTEGRAL
TO ALMOST ALL OF OUR LINES OF
BUSINESS AND SUPPORTS ENHANCED
OPERATIONS SUCH AS MORE
COMMUNITY CENTER HOURS ,
ADDITIONAL PARK CLEANING, MAJOR
MAINTENANCE OF VALUABLE ASSETS
SUCH AS RESTROOM RENOVATIONS,
PLAY AREA IMPROVEMENTS AND ALSO
WE ARE AGAIN THE MAJORITY OF
OUR PARK CAPITAL PROJECTS COME
OUT OF. IN FACT, IN JUNE OF
2024, THE PARK DISTRICT BOARD,
WHICH IS MADE UP OF CITY
COUNCILMEMBERS, ALL THE CITY
COUNCILMEMBERS, RIGHT. ALL THE
CITY COUNCILMEMBERS PIERCE ALL
OF YOU WILL HEAR MORE ABOUT THE
2023 ACCOMPLISHMENTS AND WE
WILL TALK ABOUT THE DIFFERENT
CYCLES. SO RIGHT NOW, WE ARE IN
CYCLE TWO WHICH WILL BE COMING
UP AND WE WILL BE TALKING ABOUT
THAT. SO WE WILL GO TO THE
NEXT SLIDE.
>> AS I MENTIONED, WE ARE
CURRENTLY IN THE SECOND CYCLE.
H CYCLE IS SIX YEARS. SOME OF
THE INVESTMENT HIGHLIGHTS,
THESE ARE THINGS THAT YOU WILL
AND YOUR PREDECESSORS HAVE
VOTED ON AND WE WILL CONTINUE
TO OVERSEE AND SHEPHERD AND
VOTE AND GUIDE ON. SOME OF THE
THINGS THAT ARE UNDERWAY ARE
MAKING PARKS SAFE AND WELCOMING
THROUGH EXPANDED PARK RANGER
PROGRAMS AND INCREASE
ACTIVATION IN THE CENTER CITY
AND THE NEIGHBORHOOD PARKS. THE
PARK RANGER PROGRAM DIRECTLY
CAME FROM A CYCLE TO
ALLOCATION. AND THE MONIES
THAT WERE ALLOCATED THROUGH THE
FUNDING ALLOWED US -- WHEN I
CAME HERE, THERE WERE TWO PARK
RANGERS AND TWO SUPPORT STAFF
IN THAT UNIT. WE GOT AUTHORITY
FROM THE COUNCIL IN THE CYCLE
TO RAMP UP HIRING TO
APPROXIMATELY 26, WE HAVE
HIRED AN INITIAL
(INDISCERNIBLE) OF ABOUT 14 AND
HAD A VERY SUCCESSFUL CAMPAIGN.
WE ARE NOW IN THE SECOND PHASE
OF HIRING AND WE ARE GOING TO
BE DOING THAT. AND FORTUNATELY,
THE PARK RANGER HIRING WILL NOT
BE IMPEDED BY THE TEMPORARY
HIRING FREEZE, SO WE WILL BE
ABLE TO MOVE THROUGH THAT. I
WANT TO POINT OUT THAT AFTER
SOME LONG LABOR NEGOTIATIONS,
WE WERE ABLE TO REMOVE A
RESTRICTION THAT PREVIOUSLY
ONLY ALLOWED THE RANGERS TO DO
DUTIES IN THE DOWNTOWN AREA OF
SEATTLE. THAT GEOGRAPHIC
RESTRICTION HAS BEEN LIFTED.
AND WHEN WE HIRE THE SECOND
ROUND OF PARK RANGERS, WE ARE
WORKING ON A CITYWIDE PROGRAM
OF HOW WE CAN DEPLOY THE PARK
RANGERS THROUGHOUT ALL OF OUR
SEATTLE NEIGHBORHOODS TO TRY TO
BE PARK AMBASSADORS FOR THE
COMMUNITY AND THE COUNCIL
DISTRICTS AND THE ENTIRE CITY.
AND WE WERE ABLE TO IMPROVE
RESTAURANT ACCESS AND
CLEANLINESS, A HUGE CONCERN YOU
KNOW DUDLEY WILL HEAR MANY
TIMES ON THE COUNCIL. BECAUSE
OF THE CYCLE TO INVESTMENT, WE
HAVE BEEN ABLE TO INCREASE OUR
DAILY MAINTENANCE. WE HAVE
BEEN ABLE TO DO WINTERIZING
PROJECTS TO REDUCE SEASONAL
CLOSURES AND HAVE INCREASED
FREQUENCY OF MAJOR RENOVATIONS
AS WELL AS LAUNCHED A CITYWIDE
DASHBOARD FOR OUR RESIDENTS TO
BE ABLE TO GET REALTIME
INFORMATION ABOUT WHICH PARK
RESTROOMS ARE CLOSED AND WHICH
ONES ARE OPEN AND WHICH ARE
DOWN FOR REPAIR. THAT HAS BEEN
A GREAT THING WE HAVE BEEN ABLE
TO GIVE THE SEATTLE CITIZENS.
AND WE ALSO ARE USING THE
MONIES TO COMBAT SOME OF THE
CLIMATE CHANGE ISSUES I WAS
TALKING ABOUT, PREPARING FOR A
TEA CARBON ICING FACILITIES AND
ENSURING THAT FUTURE FACILITIES
ARE BUILT IN A WAY THAT ADAPT
TO CLIMATE AND MEET THE
STANDARDS SET BY THE CITY. AND
WE ARE RESTORING OUR NATURAL
AREAS AND A WONDERFUL WAY. WE
HAVE A WONDERFUL PARTNERSHIP
WITH THE GREEN SEATTLE
PARTNERSHIP AS WELL AS SOME OF
OUR AMAZING STAFF. WE HAVE AN
ECOLOGIST ON STAFF WHICH IS
AMAZING. AGAIN, ANOTHER ONE OF
THESE GOLD MEDAL STANDARDS THAT
WE HAVE IN THE CITY OF SEATTLE.
BECAUSE OF SOME OF THE WORK WE
ARE DOING HERE FOR FOREST
REGENERATION, LAST YEAR, WE
PLANTED AND NOW I DON'T WANT TO
GET THE NUMBER WRONG -- I
CAN'T REMEMBER. DO YOU
REMEMBER HOW MANY TREES WE
PLANTED? UNWILLING TO SAY 9000.
I COULD BE WRONG. WITH GREEN
SEATTLE PARTNERSHIP, WE PLANTED
NEARLY 9000 TREES IN THE CITY
OF SEATTLE. AND I JUST SAW A
STATISTIC THAT WE PLANTED OVER
60,000 PLANTS AND THESE ARE
OBVIOUSLY THINGS TO REGENERATE
AND TO ADAPT TO CLIMATE HERE
TOO. WE ARE WORKING WITH THE
UNIVERSITY OF WASHINGTON AND
OTHER PEOPLE TO KEEP AN EYE ON
THE FUTURE. WHAT ARE THE BEST
TYPES OF TREES AND PLANTS WE
NEED TO BE PLANTING TODAY SO
THAT THEY CAN GROW INTO ANY
CLIMATE CHANGES AND BECAUSE OF
THIS WORK, WE WERE JUST
RECOGNIZED BY THE UNITED
NATIONS AS A ROLE MODEL CITY.
THE ONLY NORTH AMERICAN CITY TO
GET THIS DESIGNATION WAS THE
CITY OF SEATTLE.
>> CONGRATULATIONS.
>> THANK YOU.
>> WE SERVE THE COMMUNITY
THROUGH A VARIETY OF WAYS. TO
PARKS AND RECREATIONAL
SERVICES, THIS IS SOME OF THE
HEART AND SOUL OF THE
DEPARTMENT. THE STAFF THAT
WORKS IN RECREATION. AND WE DO
SO MANY WONDERFUL THINGS AND
THERE IS A SNAPSHOT ON THE
SLIDE OF ALL THE THINGS WE DO.
I WANT TO CALL OUT A FEW
PROGRAMS THAT WE STARTED AND
LAUNCHED SINCE MY TENURE HERE.
ONE OF THEM IS THE SWIM SEATTLE
INITIATIVE. WE ARE CONTINUING
TO MAKE IT A PRIORITY OF OURS
TO MAKE SURE EVERY CHILD IN THE
CITY OF SEATTLE KNOWS HOW TO
SWIM. THAT WE ARE CITY OF
WATER. IT IS STAGGERING AND
DISPROPORTIONATE, THE NUMBER OF
CHILDREN STILL DROWNING TODAY
BECAUSE OF NOT KNOWING HOW TO
SWIM AND THE STATISTICS ARE
EVEN MORE FRIGHTENING AMONG
CHILDREN OF COLOR ARE STILL
THE HIGHEST NUMBER OF KIDS
DROWNING. WE ARE IN A CITY OF
WATER AND WE HAVE A DUTY TO
REMOVE BARRIERS AS MUCH AS
POSSIBLE TO GET KIDS TO LEARN
HOW TO SWIM. WE HAVE LAUNCHED
THE SWIM SEATTLE PROGRAM. IT IS
SOMETHING THAT IS A PRIORITY OF
OURS. THE MAYOR'S OFFICE. THE
COUNCIL HAS BEEN ON BOARD WITH
THIS AS WELL. AND WE WILL
CONTINUE TO LEAN INTO THAT WITH
SOME OF OUR PARTNERS LIKE THE
YMCA. THIS IS THE PRESIDENT OF
THE KING C█OUNTY YMCA. WE WILL
CONTINUE TO GROW THE
PARTNERSHIP EVEN STRONGER. AND
WE ARE DOING A LOT OF WORK IN
THE COMMUNITY SERVICE AS WELL
AS WITH THE PLANNING CAPITAL
TEAM TO ENSURE THAT WE BUILD A
FACILITY AND IMPROVE THE PARKS
AND ALL PARTS OF SEATTLE SO
THAT WE ARE MEETING THE NEEDS.
THE PARKS AND RECREATION
DIVISION . HOPEFULLY YOU HAVE
NOTICED IN THE LAST COUPLE OF
YEARS HOW IMPROVED THE PARK
SYSTEM HAS BECOME AND WE ALWAYS
CAN DO BETTER AND WE HAVE GOALS
TO IMPROVE GROUND MAINTENANCE
IN THE NATURAL AREAS. ONE THING
WE ARE PROUD OF IS HOW THE
PARKS SHOW UP FOR THE COMMUNITY
IN TERMS OF THEIR WELL
MANICURED CLEANLINESS . WE
HAVE SO MANY EXPERTS. WE EVEN
HAVE SPECIALTY STAFF THAT WORK
AT THE JAPANESE GARDEN AND THEY
KNOW HOW TO TAKE CARE OF THOSE
TYPES OF PLANS, WHICH IS DONE
IN A VERY SPECIALIZED WAY.
AGAIN, THE NATURAL AREAS ON THE
FORRESTER DIVISION AND THE
HORTICULTURAL EXPERTS AND
ECOLOGISTS, AS WELL AS THE
NEIGHBORHOOD PARKS. I'M ALWAYS
KEEPING AN EYE OUT FOR THE
RAINBOW SIGNS. AND IF YOU SEE
THEM TOO, LET ME KNOW IF YOU
SEE A PARK NOT LOOKING HEALTHY
OR CLEAN OR NEEDS EXTRA LOVE
AND ATTENTION, THE STAFF IS
ALWAYS ON TRACK TO DO THAT. WE
DO SPECIALIZE RECREATIONAL
PROGRAMMING. WE DO AQUATICS AND
WE DO PROGRAMMING FOR CHILDREN.
WE DO PROGRAMMING FOR ADULTS
AND YOUTH. AND I JUST WANT TO
SHOW YOU HOW WE ARE SHOWING UP
IN THE COMMUNITY HERE AND I
MENTIONED THE FACILITIES TEAMS
AND THE GROUND MAINTENANCE AND
THEY ARE WORKING HARD. AND
WITH NEARLY 500 PARKS, YOU CAN
IMAGINE HOW MANY THINGS GO
WRONG OR BREAK DOWN. AND WE
HAVE THE ASSET MANAGEMENT PLANS
IN PLACE AND THERE IS ALWAYS
THE UNEXPECTED CALL AND THE
TEAMS ARE OUT THERE TO REMOVE
GRAFFITI, FIX LIGHTS, FIX
POTHOLES, FIX THINGS THAT NEED
TO BE FIXED. IN THE FACILITIES
DIVISION IS ALSO A POINT OF
PRIDE. WE WORK WITH THE SEATTLE
CONSERVATION CORPS WHICH YOU
MAY HAVE HEARD OF, WHICH IS THE
PARTNERSHIP WE DO RUN BY THE
DEPARTMENT TO HELP PEOPLE
TRANSITIONING OUT OF
INCARCERATION OR OTHER
DIFFICULT CIRCUMSTANCES AND
OFTEN FIND JOBS IN THE
FACILITIES DIVISION TO GAIN
EMPLOYMENT AND SKILLS AND
REFERENCES AND I CAN'T TELL YOU
HOW MANY PEOPLE I HAVE MET IN
THAT PROGRAM THAT HAVE TURNED
THEIR LIVES AROUND AND IT IS
REALLY WONDERFUL. WE ARE PROUD
OF THAT.
>> THE PLANNING CAPITAL AND
DEVELOPMENT DIVISION, WE ARE
DOING A LOT OF WORK. THIS IS
WHERE WE OVERSEE A LOT OF OUR
STRATEGIC PLANNING, OUR ASSET
MANAGEMENT, OUR ENGINEERING AND
DESIGN. THESE ARE THE THINGS
THAT WE PLAN FOR AND THAT WE
BUILD FOR THE FUTURE AS WELL AS
EXISTING FACILITIES. I ALWAYS
INVITE THE COUNCILMEMBERS AND
PAUL WILL CONTINUE TO WORK WITH
STAFF TO LET YOU KNOW IF WE ARE
HAVING GROUNDBREAKING, OPENING
OR A COMMUNITY EVENT IN THE
DISTRICT. AND WE WOULD ALWAYS
LOVE TO HAVE YOU THERE. AND I
DID AN INTRODUCTORY MEETING
YESTERDAY WITH COUNCILMEMBER
TAMMY WOO WHO IS A DISTRICTWIDE
COUNCILMEMBER AS YOU ALL KNOW
AND EQUALLY TOLD HER THAT SHE
IS INVITED TO ANYTHING IN THE
CITY THAT SHE WANTS TO SEE AND
BE PART OF. WE ARE ALL IN THIS
TOGETHER. THE MAYOR HAS A
WONDERFUL PHRASE OF "ONE
SEATTLE." AT THE END OF THE
DAY, OUR JOB IS SUPPORT AND
EQUIP YOU AS A COUNCIL TO SHINE
THE GOOD WORK WE ARE DOING. IN
THE NEXT SLIDE, YOU WILL SEE
SOME OF THE COMPLETED COMMUNITY
PROJECTS. WE WERE AT DEARBORN
PARK PLAY AREA. I WAS THERE
WITH COUNCILMEMBER RIVERA, IF
YOU REMEMBER. WHEN WE UNVEILED
THIS BEAUTIFUL MURAL THAT WAS A
COMBINED EFFORT WITH THE
DEPARTMENT OF CULTURAL AFFAIRS.
THIS IS ACTUALLY THE SIDE OF
THE HOMEOWNER'S BACKWALL,
CINDERBLOCK WALL THAT ABUTS TO
THE PARK. THEY DIDN'T HAVE TO
SAY YES BECAUSE IT WAS A
PRIVATE PROPERTY. BUT THROUGH
SOME REALLY WONDERFUL COMMUNITY
DIALOGUE, SINCE THE WALL FACES
THE PARK, WE WERE ABLE TO
INCORPORATE THIS BEAUTIFUL
COMMUNITY LED COMMUNITY
DESIGNED ART MURAL WHICH JUST
ADDS SO MUCH COLOR AND
WONDERFULNESS TO THE PARK. AND
WE ARE LOOKING AT OTHER JOINT
OPPORTUNITIES TO BRING MORE ART
AS WELL. WE HAVE A PARTNERSHIP
WITH DCA TO LOOK AT DEVELOPING
SOME OF OUR PARK RESTROOMS
INSTEAD OF JUST BEING
CINDERBLOCK WALLS. WHY NOT
CREATE THEM AS ART SPACES IN
PARKS? AND SEE -- AND THESE
ARE SOME OF THE OTHER PROGRAMS
WE CONTINUE. SOME PLAY AREAS
AND LIGHTING PROJECTS AND
COMMUNITY EVENTS WE HAVE DONE.
WE ARE DOING A LOT OF
SYNTHETIC FIELD CONVERSION
PROJECTS WHICH IS REALLY
IMPORTANT. NOT ONLY IS IT
SUSTAINABLE BUT IT PROVIDES FOR
MORE YEAR-ROUND PLAYING AND WE
HAVE SOME OF THAT IN
CONSTRUCTION AS WELL AS A TREND
WE ARE TRYING TO MOVE THE
PATHWAYS. THE PATHWAYS PARK IS
UNDER CONSTRUCTION AND WHEN IT
OPENS, I WOULD INVITE AS MANY
OF YOU TO COME OUT AS POSSIBLE
BECAUSE IT WILL BE IN ALL
ACCESSIBLE PLAYGROUND AND WHAT
WE SOMETIMES CALL UNIVERSALLY
ACCESSIBLE. BUT IT IS GETTING
AWAY FROM TRADITIONAL WOOD
CHIPS OR SOMETIMES THINGS THAT
IMPEDE FAMILIES WITH CHILDREN
WITH DISABILITIES. WE WENT OUR
PARKS TO BE MORE ACCESSIBLE.
THIS IS A GREAT PROJECT THAT IS
A PUBLIC-PRIVATE PARTNERSHIP
WITH THE PARKS FOUNDATION AND
COMMUNITY PARTNERS AND I JUST
WANTED TO POINT OUT SOME OF THE
THINGS WE ARE DOING THERE.
>> AS WE WRAP UP, I JUST WANT
TO REITERATE THAT WE HAVE A BIG
DEPARTMENT AND WE ARE BLESSED
WITH COMMUNITY PARTNERS IN
SEATTLE. ANOTHER THING THAT I
REALLY FELL IN LOVE WITH IN THE
CITY IS HOW MUCH PEOPLE ARE
WILLING TO ROLL UP THEIR
SLEEVES IN SEATTLE. AND SO AS
PUBLIC SERVANTS, THEY WILL HOLD
US TO THE TEST. WE HAVE AN
EDUCATED AND INFORMED PUBLIC
WHICH IS A GOOD THING. BUT
ALSO, WHAT IS EQUALLY ADMIRABLE
IS THAT THE PUBLIC DOESN'T
JUST TALK, OR TALK AT US, BUT
THEY ARE WILLING TO GET
INVOLVED AND ROLL UP THEIR
SLEEVES. THIS IS JUST A
SNAPSHOT OF SOME OF THE AMAZING
PEOPLE THAT WORK WITH US . THE
ASSOCIATED RECREATION COUNCIL,
THE PARKS AND RECREATION
COMMISSIONERS, THE SEATTLE
PARKS FOUNDATION, OUR SISTER
CITY DEPARTMENT DOES A LOT OF
EDUCATION WITH US . AND OUR
PUBLIC FACILITIES. THE SEATTLE
PUBLIC LIBRARY, THE DOWNTOWN
SEATTLE ASSOCIATION. THE ZOO,
THE AQUARIUM AND THE GREEN
SEATTLE PARTNERSHIP. WE HAVE
OVER 31,000 INDIVIDUAL
VOLUNTEERS TOUCHING THE PARKS
EVERY YEAR. IT IS IMPORTANT TO
RECOGNIZE THE PARTNERSHIPS ARE
WHAT HELP ENSURE SUCCESS FOR
ALL. AND I WANT TO END BY
SAYING THAT, AS WE LEAN INTO
WHAT WILL BE SOME DIFFICULT AND
CHALLENGING TIMES FOR OUR CITY,
WE ALL KNOW THAT IN TERMS OF
THE BUDGET, WE WILL CONTINUE TO
SHOW UP FOR THE PUBLIC THROUGH
PARKS AND RECREATION. IT IS TOO
IMPORTANT OF AN ASSET AND WE
ARE PLANNING FOR THAT. WE KEEP
REMINDING OUR STAFF AND THE
PUBLIC THAT WE HAVE BEEN HERE
BEFORE AS A CITY. WE WILL GET
THROUGH THIS. ALTHOUGH IT
PRESENTS AN IMMEDIATE CHALLENGE
. WE HAVE A LOT OF DEDICATED
AND TALENTED AND SMART PEOPLE
WORKING IN THE CITY, BOTH ON
THE CITY COUNCIL AND THE
DEPARTMENT'S OFFICE AND THE
MAYOR'S OFFICE AND WE WANT TO
CONTINUE TO SHINE OUR LIGHT SO
THAT WE ARE MEETING THE NEEDS
OF OUR CITIZENS. AND SO WE ARE
NOT GOING TO LET DOWN ON THAT.
WE ARE GOING TO DO IT IN A WAY
THAT IS CONSTRUCTIVE AND
POSITIVE. AND THAT MEETS THE
CHALLENGE AND THE NEED THAT WE
NEED TO MEET GOING FORWARD BUT
ALSO THAT WILL PROVIDE A
SURETIES FOR THE PUBLIC THAT AT
THE END OF THE DAY, THE SEATTLE
PARKS AND RECREATION SYSTEM
WILL CONTINUE TO BE THE
CORNERSTONE OF OUR SOCIETY
WHICH, NOW MORE THAN EVER, I
THINK WE NEED TO AMPLIFY THE
IMPORTANCE OF PARKS. WE ALL
LEARNED THAT OUT OF THE
PANDEMIC. THAT THE ONE PLACE
THAT THE ENTIRE WORLD COULD GO
TO, WHETHER YOU LIVED IN
SEATTLE OR ROME, WAS A PUBLIC
PARK SYSTEMS AND THANK GOD FOR
THESE WONDERFUL PLACES THAT
PROVIDE HEALTH AND WELLNESS TO
SOCIETY. WITH THAT, I WANT TO
THANK YOU FOR YOUR LEADERSHIP
AND THAT WILL END OUR
PRESENTATION FOR YOU TODAY.
>> AWESOME. THANK YOU SO MUCH
SUPERINTENDENT DIAZ. THAT WAS
PHENOMENAL. I WANT TO OPEN IT
UP TO MY COLLEAGUES IF THEY
HAVE QUESTIONS. I MISSED
COUNCILMEMBER STRAUSS BEFORE
THE PRESENTATION STARTED. I
WANT TO RECOGNIZE YOU,
COUNCILMEMBER STRAUSS.
>> THANK YOU, CHAIR. I AM
HERE LIVE FROM DISTRICT SIX.
COMING TO YOU FROM THE DISTRICT
OFFICE TODAY. I HAVE BEEN
WORKING IN THE OFFICE FIVE DAYS
A WEEK FOR TWO YEARS SNOW. I
COULD PROBABLY TALK FOR TWO
HOURS ABOUT ALL THE AMAZING
THINGS YOU DO. I'M NOT GOING
TO DO THAT. I'M EXCITED TO
HAVE GAINED DISCOVERY PARK IN
THE REDISTRICTING THAT HAPPENED
LAST YEAR. I CAN SEE BALLARD
COMMENTS PARK FROM HERE KNOWING
THAT GREEN LAKE IS THE CENTER
OF THE NORTH END AND IS THE
HIGHEST USED PARK IN THE CITY.
WE CAN'T GET TO THAT
RIBBON-CUTTING NEXT MONTH
WITHOUT YOU AND THE CHIEF
DEPUTY SUPERINTENDENT,
CHRISTOPHER WILLIAMS. AND HIS
FOLKS, LIKE TOM -- I DON'T
KNOW IF HE IS WITH ARC OR WOULD
RULE -- I'M BLINKING ON HIS
LAST NAME BUT TOM WAS HELPFUL
MAKING THE COMMENTS PARK
SUCCESSFUL. FOLKS LIKE RYAN
DOLE AS WELL. THE LIST COULD
GO ON AND ON. JUST TO SAY, SO
MANY PEOPLE'S FIRST JOB WAS
WITH THE PARKS DEPARTMENT. A
REAL WAY INTO THE CITY. AND AS
I SAID, I COULD TALK FOR HOURS
ABOUT MY ELEMENTARY SCHOOL ,
BALLARD. A PLACE THAT PROVIDES
REFUGE, EARLY LEARNING,
RECREATION AND THE IMPACT ON
THE COMMUNITY IS INCREDIBLY
IMPORTANT BECAUSE IT IS WHERE
PEOPLE GO TO REST, PLAY AND
REJUVENATE. I JUST WANTED TO
SAY A HUGE THANK YOU
SUPERINTENDENT DIAZ AND TO
MICHELLE AND CHRISTOPHER
WILLIAMS.
>> THANK YOU, SIR.
>> THANK YOU COUNCILMEMBER
STRAUSS. I WANT TO OPEN IT UP
WITH MY COLLEAGUES HAVE ANY
QUESTIONS. COUNCIL PRESIDENT.
>> FIRST OF ALL, I WANT TO SAY
THANK YOU FOR THE PRESENTATION.
AND I WANT TO GET ON THE
RECORD THAT I HAVE BEEN
EXTREMELY IMPRESSED IN THE TWO
YEARS I HAVE BEEN AN OFFICE.
THE STATE OF THE PARKS HAS
CHANGED SO MUCH AND I KNOW THAT
YOU HAVE DONE A LOT ON THE
MAINTENANCE FRONT AND THERE WAS
A BIG CHALLENGE COMING OUT OF
THE PANDEMIC AND I RECOGNIZE
THE PROGRESS YOU MADE TOOK A
LOT OF PLANNING AND WORK TO GET
ON THE SCHEDULE SO THAT OUR
PARKS AND FACILITIES WERE
USABLE BY PEOPLE. SO THANK YOU
FOR THAT. I HAD TWO QUESTIONS.
ON PAGE 17, YOU MENTIONED --
MAYBE I'M JUST READING INTO
IT, BUT I BELIEVE YOU ARE
TALKING ABOUT INTERNSHIPS AND
DIFFERENT EDUCATIONAL PROGRAMS.
SKILLED TRADES. CARPENTERS AND
ELECTRICIANS. I THINK YOU ARE
TALKING ABOUT WORKING WITH THE
TRADES. I ALSO KNOW THAT YOU
HAVE GOT INTERNSHIP PROGRAMS
AND YOUTH PROGRAMS. CAN YOU
TALK ABOUT THOSE A LITTLE BIT?
AND ARE THERE ANY OPPORTUNITIES
FOR THE PEOPLE THAT GO THROUGH
THE PROGRAMS, HAVE YOU THOUGHT
ABOUT CREATING PATHWAYS TO
ACTUAL PAID EMPLOYMENT WHEN
THEY ARE DONE AND OF AGE?
>> NO. THANK YOU FOR BRINGING
THAT UP. ON THIS PAGE, WE ARE
TALKING ABOUT SOME OF OUR SKILL
TRADES WHICH ARE OFTEN TIMES AN
ENTRÉE FOR CITY WORK. BECAUSE
CITY WORK, ESPECIALLY A TRADE,
CAN BE A GREAT CAREER AND
PROVIDE THE OPPORTUNITY. WE
ALSO DO HAVE EXPANDED
INTERNSHIPS ON OUR RECREATION
SIDE. A LOT OF OUR EMPLOYEES --
AND FACT, I WAS TALKING TO
SOMEONE TODAY THAT HAS WORKED
FOR THE DEPARTMENT FOR 35 YEARS
AND STARTED AS A LIFEGUARD. AND
WE HAVE A LOT OF THOSE THAT WE
ARE RECRUITING AND WE NEED MORE
LIFEGUARDS. ALWAYS DO A PLUG
FOR THAT. WE LOOK FOR
OPPORTUNITIES WHERE WE CAN
BRING IN PEOPLE, WHETHER IT IS
TO THE PARTNERSHIP WITH ARC OR
WITH, THROUGH THE CITY, TO
BRING IN PEOPLE. BUT ALWAYS
TRYING TO CAPTURE THEM IN A WAY
WHERE IF THEY WANT TO STAY IN
THE CITY, THERE SHOULD BE
OPPORTUNITY FOR THEM TO DO THAT
BECAUSE THEY CAN START TO EARN
CITY CREDIT AND SERVICE AND
BEGAN, PROVIDE AN ENTRÉE TO
WHAT COULD BE A WONDERFUL
CAREER. WE VERY MUCH HAVE
EITHER DEDICATED PROGRAMMING
SET UP FOR THAT THROUGH THE MPD
SPECIFICALLY AS WELL AS
EXPANDING THE PARTNERSHIPS AS
MUCH AS POSSIBLE.
>> MY SECOND QUESTION IS THAT
PARTNERSHIPS LEADS RIGHT INTO
THAT. SO YOU HAVE A
PARTNERSHIP WITH SEATTLE PUBLIC
SCHOOLS. I'M SURE THAT THAT IS
A VERY VARIED PARTNERSHIP. ONE
OF THE THINGS I'M THINKING
ABOUT IS LAND SHARE. THEY HAVE
OWNED PROPERTY WE HAVE BEEN
USING FOR YEARS AND I IMAGINE
THERE ARE MANY OTHER ONES. I
JUST CAME TO REALIZE -- NOT
JUST CAME TO REALIZE BUT ONE OF
MY PROPERTIES IS THE HOME OF
THE C THOUGHT CAP PANTHERS
PANTHERS. AND I LEARNED THAT
IT IS NOT CITY PROPERTY BUT
SCHOOL DISTRICT PROPERTY. DOES
IT HAPPEN THAT YOU MAKE CO-
IMPROVEMENTS OR ANYTHING? HOW
DOES THAT WORK?
>> THAT IS AN EXCELLENT
QUESTION. IT IS SOMETHING THAT
I WAS GOING TO END ON AND I
ENDED UP ON MY TANGENT. ON THAT
POINT, ALSO NOW MORE THAN EVER,
WITH SOME OF THE BUDGET
CHALLENGES WE HAVE, THAT WE ALL
HAVE TO BE CREATIVE IN THE CITY
AS WELL AS THE SEATTLE PUBLIC
SCHOOLS THAT FACE THEIR OWN
ECONOMIC CHALLENGES. AT THE END
OF THE DAY, TO YOUR POINT, THE
PUBLIC, WE DO A LOT OF
FINGER-POINTING AND GOVERNMENT.
LIKE THAT IS NOT MY
RESPONSIBILITY. THAT IS THE
SCHOOL PATIENTS. THAT IS D.O.T.
PARK SANDRA ACT. THE THAT IS
CITY LIGHT. THAT FRUSTRATES
CONSTITUENTS BECAUSE THEY WANT
THINGS DONE. SPECIFICALLY WITH
THE SCHOOL DISTRICT, WE HAVE
BEEN WORKING VERY CLOSELY WITH
THEM AND WE HAVE JUST
REINSTITUTED AN IN-PERSON
MEETING TO LOOK, WHERE DO WE
HAVE CROSSOVER? WHERE CAN WE
ACTIVATE SPACES , PERHAPS JOINT
USE PROGRAMS WHERE IF WE NEED
TO INVEST IN THE FIELD, CAN YOU
GIVE US ACCESS TO THE FIELD?
OR CAN YOU PROVIDE AFTER SCHOOL
STAFFING THROUGH YOUR PROGRAMS
AND WE WILL PROVIDE THE KIDS
FOR THAT? IT IS NEGOTIATED.
SOMETIMES IT IS CHALLENGING
BECAUSE IT IS A DIFFERENT
INTERGOVERNMENTAL DISTRICT.
BUT WE HAVE A VERY GOOD WORKING
RELATIONSHIP WITH OUR PARTNERS
IN THE SCHOOL DISTRICT AND
REPROGRAM ALL THE FIELDS FOR
SEATTLE PUBLIC SCHOOLS. SO
THERE IS A MUTUAL GOAL OF
WANTING TO MAKE SURE THAT THE
KIDS IN PROGRAMS ARE MEETING
THE PROGRAMS. I ALSO THINK
THAT ALSO ON THAT POINT, WE
NEED TO LEAN INTO MORE
PUBLIC-PRIVATE PARTNERSHIPS IN
GENERAL, FOR OUR CITY. AND
WITH THE BUDGET CHALLENGES WE
HAVE COMING UP, IF THERE ARE
PEOPLE THAT NEED ACCESS, WE CAN
STILL CONTROL PARAMETERS AND WE
CAN STILL ADHERE TO OUR PUBLIC
RESPONSIBILITIES AND MAKE SURE
THERE IS ACCESS. WE CANNOT MESS
UP OPPORTUNITIES. SO THAT WE
CAN CONTINUE TO GROW IN THIS
TIME OF CHALLENGE AND ALSO
LIMITED SPACE. WE HAVE A LOT
OF TALENTED PARTNERS IN THE
CITY OF SEATTLE. A LOT OF
PRIVATE ORGANIZATIONS THAT WANT
TO BE GOOD, CORPORATE CITIZENS
AND INVEST IN THE PARK LAND,
KIDS IN PROGRAMS. I'M A BIG
PROPONENT OF MAKING SURE WE DO
NOT MISS OUT ON THOSE
OPPORTUNITIES. COUNCILMEMBER
RIVERA.
>> THANK YOU CHAIR
HOLLINGSWORTH. I'M GLAD TO
HEAR YOU SAY THAT . I'M
THINKING OF LINCOLN HIGH
SCHOOL. THEY DON'T HAVE A
FIELD. THEY HAVE A LOT OF
STUDENTS AND KIDS INVOLVED IN
ATHLETIC ACTIVITIES AND THEY
RELY ON THE CITY'S, THE
FIELDS. AND I WOULD LOVE A
CONVERSATION ABOUT HOW YOU ALL
GO ABOUT PRIORITIZING THE
FIELDS BECAUSE I'M HEARING
THERE ARE SOME ISSUES WITH
STUDENTS HAVING ACCESS TO THOSE
FIELDS. I KNOW THERE ARE ALSO
ADULT INTRAMURAL PROGRAMS. AND
IN SOME WAYS, IT IS A GOOD
PROBLEM TO HAVE. AS YOU
STARTED THE PRESENTATION, WE
ARE A CITY THAT LOVES OUR
PARKS. FOLKS ARE ENGAGED.
EVERYONE WANTS TO USE THE
FIELDS. KNOWING HOW TO
PRIORITIZE THE FIELDS AND YOUR
PARTNERSHIP WITH SPS IS REALLY
CRITICAL. AND IN TERMS OF
OPPORTUNITIES FOR PRIVATE USE
OF PRIVATE LAND, THAT WOULD BE
SOMETHING I WOULD LOVE TO HEAR
MORE ABOUT BECAUSE THE STUDENTS
DO NEED SPACES TO PLAY AND SO I
WOULD LOVE TO HEAR MORE ABOUT
THAT. JUST IN GENERAL, I WANT
TO COMPLEMENT YOU AND YOUR
STAFF BECAUSE THEY DO AN
EXCELLENT JOB WITH PARKS ACROSS
THE CITY AND YOU ALL DO A GREAT
JOB WITH CUSTOMER SERVICE. I
KNOW THAT WHENEVER I HAVE
REACHED OUT, YOUR STAFF HAS
BEEN VERY RESPONSIVE. I WANT TO
COMPLEMENT YOU THERE AND ON ALL
THE HARD WORK I HAVE SEEN GOING
INTO THE VARIOUS PARKS ACROSS
-- NOT ONLY THE DISTRICT BUT
ACROSS THE CITY. ONE THING I
REALLY APPRECIATE, THE SEATTLE
SWIM PROGRAM, THESE ARE
PROGRAMS THAT SPEAK TO ME AS A
LOW INCOME KID. I GREW UP LOW
INCOME. I DIDN'T LEARN TO
SWIM AS A KID AND THAT IS A BIG
DEAL. BECAUSE THERE WAS NO
ACCESS. I APPRECIATE THE GOAL
OF HAVING ALL KIDS, NOT JUST
SOME KIDS, HAVE ACCESS AND
LEARN. AND THAT IS NOT
SOMETHING REALLY THAT -- WE
SHOULD HAVE THAT AS A GOAL
REGARDLESS OF ABILITY OR
ACCESS. SO THANK YOU FOR
PRIORITIZING PROGRAMS OF THAT
NATURE AND I KNOW THAT YOU AND
I HAVE TALKED ABOUT, IN
GENERAL, HOW DO WE BRING MORE
ACCESS TO FAMILIES ACROSS THE
CITY THAT MIGHT NOT KNOW ABOUT
THE PROGRAMS AT PARKS . SO I
VERY MUCH APPRECIATE YOUR
ATTENTION TO THAT. ONE LAST
QUESTION I HAVE, IF I MAY,
CHAIR, IS WHAT IS THE NUMBER OF
THE FTE EMPLOYEES WHO HAVE AT
THE PARKS? YOU TALKED ABOUT
THE OPERATING BUDGET BUT IT
WOULD BE GREAT TO SEE OR HEAR
ABOUT EMPLOYEES AT PARKS.
>> AT PARKS AND RECREATION, WE
CURRENTLY HAVE 1131 FTE
EMPLOYEES.
>> THANK YOU .
>> I HAVE TWO QUESTIONS. AND I
WILL BE SUPERQUICK. I KNOW THAT
YOU WILL INSTALL THE LIGHTS AT
JUDKINS WHICH WAS GREAT.
BECAUSE IN OUR DISTRICT, I
DON'T KNOW IF A LOT OF PEOPLE
KNOW THAT WE HAVE A TON OF
HOUSING COMING ALONG REINDEER.
NORTH OF THERE. 400 UNITS OF
AFFORDABLE HOUSING. SOUTH.
LAKE WASHINGTON UNION PARTNERS
BUILDING 1000 UNITS. THE URBAN
LEAGUE JUST BOUGHT THE LOT
WHICH IS WHERE THE OLD BURGER
KING WAS THAT BURNED DOWN.
THAT WILL BE THE NEW
HEADQUARTERS WHERE THEY WILL
BUILD A TON OF HOUSING. AND SO
AS WEIRD GROWING AS A CITY,
BECAUSE WE SEE DENSITY
EVERYWHERE, WE ARE GROWING UP
SO A LOT OF PEOPLE DON'T HAVE
FRONT YARDS OR BACKYARDS. HOW
DO YOU ALL PRIORITIZE WHICH
FIELDS, DEPENDING WHERE HOUSING
IS GOING AND YOU KNOW THEY WILL
GET EXTRA USE, UNDERSTANDING
SCHEDULING. DO YOU PRIORITIZE
OR PROJECT THAT WE WILL
PROBABLY HAVE TO TAKE CARE OF
THIS PARK A LITTLE BIT MORE OR
ANTICIPATE THE USAGE OF CERTAIN
AREAS BECAUSE OF GROWTH?
>> IT THAT IS A VERY GOOD
POINT. IT IS SOMETHING WE DO
THINK ABOUT. BECAUSE THE MORE
DENSE THE CITY BECOMES OR THE
MORE HOUSING , LIKE YOU
MENTIONED, SOMETIMES THE
TRADITIONAL ONE SAYS MODEL
DOESN'T FIT WELL. SO THE VERY
FACT THAT WE JUST PUT 77 LIGHTS
AND A NEW STAIRCASE AT HIAWATHA
JUDKINS PARK AND YOU ARE
TALKING ABOUT THE PLAYGROUND,
IS THE FOOTPRINT OF THE
PLAYGROUND IS BEING REPLACED
1-1 GOING TO SUPPORT THE
ADDITIONAL FAMILIES COMING IN.
SO WE HAVE TO LOOK AT THAT.
FIRST AND FOREMOST, THE
PRIORITY, HIGHEST PRIORITY
USUALLY WITH FIELD
PRIORITIZATION, ALTHOUGH PEOPLE
HAVE QUESTIONS ABOUT THAT AND
WE ARE DOING MORE COMMUNITY
SURVEYING ON THAT TO MAKE SURE
WE ARE RESPONSIVE. BECAUSE WE
HAVE THIS RESPONSIBILITY TO THE
SCHOOLS. WHEN THE SCHOOLS ARE
IN SESSION. THAT IS THE
PRIORITY. BUT THERE ARE MANY
NEEDS FOR THAT. AND SO WE NEED
TO BE CREATIVE IN THE APPROACH
AND AT SOME POINT, WE NEED TO
HAVE CONVERSATION ABOUT WHEN
BUILDING PROJECTS ARE COMING
INTO THE CITY. DO WE LOOK AT
EVEN ASKING DIFFERENT CITIES
HAVE DONE. YOU ASK A DEVELOPER
TO SET ASIDE A CERTAIN AMOUNT
OF PUBLIC LAND. IT HAS TO BE
PUBLIC AS PART OF THE PROJECT
TO SUPPORT THE RECREATIONAL
PURPOSE. SO WHETHER IT IS AN
EXTRA FIELD OR AN EXTRA
PLAYGROUND OR THE DEVELOPMENT
FOOTPRINT AND IMPROVES THE
PRICE OF PROPERTY. AND IT
ALLEVIATES SOME OF THE
RESPONSIBILITIES SO WE CAN BE
CREATIVE IN THOSE AREAS TOO.
AND ALSO LOOKING AT
NONTRADITIONAL PARK SPACES. WE
TALKED A LOT ABOUT THIS IN THE
DOWNTOWN ACTIVATION CORE. WE
HAVE A LOT OF THESE BIG
BUILDINGS THAT ARE BEING
ABANDONED OR NOT OCCUPIED FOR
TRADITIONAL . LET'S LOOK AT
OPPORTUNITIES TO CREATE MORE
INDOOR PARK SPACE, ESPECIALLY
IN A CITY THAT SOMETIMES HAS
CHALLENGING WEATHER IN THE
WINTERTIME. HAVING PLACES
WHERE PEOPLE CAN COME AND
RECREATE OR DO RECREATION
INSIDE. THAT COULD BE REALLY
VALUABLE TOO. OR USING SOME
ABANDONED ROOFTOP PARKING
STRUCTURES. THERE COULD BE
PICKLE BALL PLACES OR OTHER
FORMS OF RECREATION. WE ARE
TRYING TO LOOK AT ALL OF OUR
SPACES. BECAUSE WE ARE LIMITED,
AS YOU KNOW, IN THE CITY OF
SEATTLE. WE ARE GROWING BUT WE
HAVE LIMITED AMOUNTS OF LARGE
AREAS OF LAND FOR THE
TRADITIONAL PARKS THAT WE HAVE.
WE HAVE MAGNETS AND AND
DISCOVERY. HOW MANY OF THOSE
FUTURE BIG SITES WILL BE HAVE
AGAIN? WE HAVE TO BE REALLY
CREATIVE AND MAXIMIZE OUR
SPACE.
>> I LOVE THAT. THE LAST
QUESTION I HAVE. THE OFFICE OF
ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT REALLY
WANTS TO HAVE A WHOLE BUNCH
MORE OF BUSINESS IMPROVEMENT
AREAS. I KNOW FOR THE PARKSIDE,
AND I HAVE MET A TON OF THEM,
THEY ARE LITTLE GROUPS THAT
TAKE CARE OF PARKS. THEY ARE
FRIENDS OF THE PARK. LIKE THE
GARFIELD SUPERBLOCK. OR THEY
HAVE DIFFERENT GROUPS, WHICH I
REALLY APPRECIATE BECAUSE YOU
HAVE NEIGHBORHOODS TAKING
OWNERSHIP OF THE PARK. IF
THERE IS TRASH THERE. IT'S
NOT JUST THE CITY HAS TO CLEAN
THAT UP. NO. WE NEED TO. IT
IS OUR NEIGHBORHOOD AND JUST
TAKING SOME RESPONSIBILITY. IS
THERE A PROGRAM WHERE YOU ARE
ENCOURAGING CERTAIN PARKS TO
HAVE SOME COMMUNITY GROUP OR
OWNERSHIP WITH IT AS WELL ?
>> YOU MENTIONED THE FRIENDS
PROGRAM. WE HAVE A FRIENDS
PROGRAM AND OFTEN TIMES, WE
CANNOT BE IN ALL PLACES ALL THE
TIME. BEING OPEN TO THE FACT
THAT WE NEED COMMUNITY PARTNERS
IS REALLY IMPORTANT. SO WE
USUALLY TRY TO HAVE IT
ORGANIZED AROUND SOME KIND OF
AN ORGANIZED PROGRAM. BECAUSE
FOR INSTANCE, WITH THE GREEN
SEATTLE PARTNERSHIP, WE HAVE
WHAT IS CALLED PARK STEWARDS OR
PARK FOREST STEWARDS AND WE
PROVIDE THE MATERIALS AND THE
SUPPLIES. THEY HAVE DROP BOXES
WHERE WE CAN DELIVER MATERIALS
IN A SAFE SPACE. THEY HAVE THE
KEYS. I SEE THEM WORKING THERE
ALL THE TIME. THERE IS ONE
NEAR WHERE I LIVE. AND I THINK,
THAT IS THE SEATTLE PARKS
PEOPLE OUT HERE? IT IS SO
LATE. IT MIGHT BE A SUNDAY AT
10:00. AND IT'S LIKE THE
STAFF WORKS ALL THE TIME, WHICH
THEY DO. THESE ARE COMMUNITY
MEMBERS THAT HAVE SAID, WE WANT
TO TAKE CARE OF THE PARK AND IF
YOU PROVIDE US THE PLANS AND
TEACH US AND GIVE US THE
MATERIALS, WE WILL ORGANIZE THE
GROUPS. AND I THINK IT IS ONE
OF THE BEST THINGS THAT WE CAN
DO. WE WANT TO SUPPORT THAT.
THAT IS ONE THING, THAT PEOPLE
LOVE TO BE IN NATURE AND THE
GARDEN. AND WE HAVE A VARIETY
OF COMMUNITY GARDENS AND
PATCHES WHERE PEOPLE CAN COME
AND WORK THE LAND WHICH IS
REALLY GREAT. I WANT TO
ENCOURAGE MORE OF THAT. BECAUSE
AGAIN, IN THESE TIMES, THAT IS
WHERE WE CAN BE CREATIVE AND
HAVE OTHER OPPORTUNITIES WHERE
IF PEOPLE WANT TO ORGANIZE A
CLEANING, THEIR OWN CLEANING
SYSTEM AND COME UP AND HELP US
AND REPORT THINGS TO THE
MAINTENANCE TEAMS, THOSE ARE
THE FIRST THINGS. THEY NOTICE
THINGS QUICKER. WE HAVE THE
FIND IT AND FIX IT APP. AND
UPLOAD IT DIRECTLY. I LOVE
ANY KIND OF COMMUNITY
PARTNERSHIP WHERE PEOPLE CAN
COME IN AND FEEL SOME OWNERSHIP
AND PRIDE IN THE NEIGHBORHOOD
PARK. IT JUST MAKES IT A
BETTER EXPERIENCE FOR EVERYONE.
>> ARE THERE ANY MORE
QUESTIONS FROM MY COLLEAGUES?
>> COUNCIL PRESIDENT NELSON,
GO AHEAD.
>> WE HAVE TALKED ABOUT THIS
BEFORE. WE ARE FORTUNATE
ENOUGH TO HAVE YOU HERE FROM LA
. YOU HAVE DONE SOME CREATIVE
THINGS WITH PARKS DOWN THERE
AND THE PUBLIC LAND AND
PUBLIC-PRIVATE PARTNERSHIPS. ON
THE RECORD, THE PLUG FOR
ENCOURAGING THE USE OF OUR
PARKS FOR FILM AS SETS BECAUSE
THAT IS OFTEN IN DEMAND TO MAKE
IT EASIER OR HARDER BUT WE CAN
CONTINUE THAT. THANK YOU.
>> I THINK IT IS GREY'S
ANATOMY. I THINK IT IS FILMED
IN VANCOUVER AND NOT SEATTLE.
>> VERY DISAPPOINTING.
>> AND THERE IS ANOTHER SHOW
THAT IS SEATTLE-BASED AND THE
PUBLIC SAFETY. THANK YOU
SUPERINTENDENT DIAZ AND
MICHELLE. WE APPRECIATE YOUR
PRESENTATION. THANK YOU FOR
COMING.
>> CAN THE CLERK REID AGENDA
NUMBER TWO INTO THE RECORD.
>> OVERVIEW ON SURVEILLANCE
TECHNOLOGY BY THE SEATTLE
INFORMATION TECHNOLOGY
DEPARTMENT. THE PRESENTATION --
THE PRESENTERS ARE JIM LOTER
AND GINGER ARMBRUSTER FROM THE
INFORMATION TECHNOLOGY
DEPARTMENT.
>> THANK YOU. WELCOME BACK TO
THE HOT SEATS. JUST PLAYING. I
WOULD LOVE FOR YOU ALL TO
INTRODUCE YOURSELF AND YOU CAN
JUMP RIGHT INTO THE
PRESENTATION. I KNOW YOU WILL
NEED A LITTLE BIT OF TIME TO
GET IT LOADED BUT LOOKING
FORWARD TO HEARING THE
PRESENTATION TODAY. THANK YOU.
>> I THINK THAT WE ARE
PROJECTING. THERE GOES. ONCE
AGAIN, WE FROM THE BEAUTIFUL I
HAVE KEPT APARTMENT ARE HAPPY
TO BE HERE. THE LAST TIME WE
WERE HERE, CHAIR HOLLINGSWORTH,
IT WAS YOUR MOTHER PATIENTS
BIRTHDAY AND TODAY WE LEARNED
ABOUT YOUR FATHER PATIENTS
BACKGROUND AND PARKS. BY THE
END OF THE YEAR, I EXPECT TO BE
SURROUNDED BY YOUR FAMILY
MEMBERS AT THE TABLE SHARING A
MEAL.
>> THEY WILL ALL BE HERE.
THANK YOU.
>> THANK YOU FOR WELCOMING US
TO PRESENT TO YOU. I AM CLERK
BA, THE INTERIM CHIEF
TECHNOLOGY OFFICER FOR THE CITY
AND JOINING ME IS GINGER
ARMBRUSTER WHO IS THE CITY'S
CHIEF PRIVACY OFFICER AND THE
DIVISION DIRECTOR FOR DATA
PRIVACY ACCOUNTABILITY AND
COMPLIANCE. BEFORE GINGER TAKES
US OFF WITH HER PRESENTATION, I
WANT TO, BY WAY OF PREFACE,
JUST SAY THAT WE ARE HERE TO
PROVIDE AN OVERVIEW OF THE
ADMINISTRATION OF THE CITY'S
SURVEILLANCE TECHNOLOGY
COORDINATES. SINCE THE ADOPTION
OF THE ORDINANCE, SEATTLE IT
HAS BEEN RESPONSIBLE FOR
IMPLEMENTING THE PROCESSES
REQUIRED TO MEET THE CITY'S
OBLIGATIONS UNDER THE LAW.
GINGER WILL STEP YOU THROUGH
WHAT THAT ENTAILS. BUT I DO
WANT TO SAY THAT TODAY'S FOCUS
IS TO BRIEF YOU ON HOW THE
ORDINANCE IS ADMINISTERED AND
WE ARE NOT PLANNING TO PRESENT
ANYTHING ABOUT SPECIFIC
TECHNOLOGIES. BUT IF YOU HAVE
QUESTIONS ABOUT THAT, WE HAVE
TO CONSULT WITH THE
DEPARTMENTAL PARTNERS TO GET
ANSWERS. AND WE WILL ANSWER
ANYTHING WE CAN. THE PRIMARY
FOCUS IS ON THE ADMINISTERED
PROCESSES AND THE MANAGEMENT OF
THAT ORDINANCE. WITH NO FURTHER
ADO, GINGER.
>> THANK YOU. I CAN'T THINK
OF A MORE DIFFERENT TRANSITION
FROM PARKS TO IT AND
SPECIFICALLY TO THE KIND OF IT
WE DO AROUND COMPLIANCE. I
WILL SAY THAT PARKS IS A
TERRIFIC PARTNER. WE HAVE
WORKED ON A LOT OF PROJECTS
WITH THEM. I HAVE SEEN SOME OF
MY FRIENDS THAT I HAVE WORKED
ON IT WITH IN THE PAST. THAT IS
ONE OF THE INTERESTING THINGS.
I WANT TO TAKE A MOMENT TO
POSITION, WHO ARE WE AND HOW
DID SURVEILLANCE END UP THERE?
AND THE DIVISION DIRECTOR WERE
DATA PRIVACY ACCOUNTABILITY AND
COMPLIANCE. THERE 18 OF US AND
WE WORK WITH FIVE DIFFERENT
PROGRAMS THAT TOUCH ABOUT EVERY
DEPARTMENT. I HAVE PROBABLY
WORKED WITH EVERY CITY
DEPARTMENT OR MY TEAM HAS COME
ON A VARIETY OF PROJECTS
TOUCHING OPEN DATA. WE WERE ONE
OF THE FIRST CITIES TO OPEN UP
FOR ENTREPRENEURIAL OR
TRANSPARENCY OR ACADEMIC
REASONS, TO OPEN DATA. WE HAVE
LIKE TWO TERABYTES OF LINES OF
DATA AVAILABLE FOR FOLKS. WE
OFFERED AND BUILT THE FIRST
PRIVACY PROGRAM, MUNICIPAL
PRIVACY PROGRAM IN THE NATION.
AND WE ARE CONTINUING TO
CONSULT WITH FOLKS DOING THAT
KIND OF WORK ACROSS THE
COUNTRY. SURVEILLANCE, WE WILL
TALK ABOUT IN A MOMENT.
SURVEILLANCE COMPLIANCE IS ONE
OF THAT. THE CLIENTS --
COMPLIANCE GROUP IS RESPONSIBLE
FOR LETTING US TAKE THE PAYMENT
CARDS. WE HAVE RESPONSIBLE IS
AROUND PAYMENT CARD COMPLIANCE
TO KEEP THE INFORMATION SECURE.
PUBLIC RECORDS SUPPORT 70 ODD
PUBLIC DISCLOSURE OFFICERS
ACROSS THE CITY INCLUDING THE
ONES WHO ANSWER YOUR REQUESTS.
SO THEY KEEP THEM TRAINED AND
KEEP THE TECHNOLOGY RUNNING.
IT IS A BIG JOB TO KEEP
EVERYBODY COORDINATED ON MULTI-
DEPARTMENT REQUESTS AND WE HAVE
A RESPONSIBLE AI PROGRAM
BRINGING ARTIFICIAL
INTELLIGENCE IN A RESPONSIBLE
WAY TO THE CITY. WE HAVE OVER
20 PETABYTES OF DATA WE HAVE
COLLECTED. THAT WAS A FEW YEARS
AGO. I CAN ONLY IMAGINE WHAT
IT IS NOW AND THAT TRANSLATES
TO ABOUT 20 MILLION FILE
CABINETS WORTH OF INFORMATION.
WE HAVE A LOT OF DATA. ALMOST
ALWAYS AVAILABLE BY PUBLIC
REQUEST. THAT IS WHAT WE DO.
WE HOPE THE DEPARTMENTS DO THE
RIGHT THING AROUND GUIDANCE TO
BUILD TRUST AND CONFIDENCE ON
HOW WE MANAGE THE PUBLIC'S
TRANSPORTATION. WE CONNECT
AROUND TRANSPARENCY OF DATA AND
ETHICAL USE OF DATA AND DATA
STEWARDSHIP AND CIVIL LIBERTIES
IMPACT AND THAT IS THE
SURVEILLANCE DATA WE WILL SPEAK
ABOUT. OR BEING COMPLIANT WITH
OBLIGATIONS WE HAVE. THE LEGAL
MANDATES RANGE FROM COUNCIL
RESOLUTION, EXECUTIVE ORDER,
LEGISLATIVE INTENT, TO CITY
ORDINANCE, STATE OR FEDERAL LAW
AND REGULATORY MANDATES. THAT
IS WHERE WE CONNECT TOGETHER.
THE NEXT SLIDE PLEASE. AND I
WILL DIVE RIGHT INTO
SURVEILLANCE. THAT IS MY TEAM.
THEY ARE A LITTLE FUSSY BUT I
WANTED YOU TO KNOW WHO THE
FOLKS ARE. 18 HARD-WORKING
PEOPLE FOR THE GROUPS TRYING TO
KEEP THIS GOING.
>> ALONG SLIDE AND A LOT OF
INFORMATION. I WANTED TO GIVE
YOU A BRIEF HISTORY OF THE
SURVEILLANCE ORDINANCE AND WHY
WE ARE WHERE WE ARE TODAY AND
WHAT IT LOOKS LIKE. THIS ALL
STARTED OVER 10 YEARS AGO WITH
AN ORDINANCE THAT WAS VERY
SPECIFIC ABOUT ACQUISITION AND
USE OF SPECIFIC TECHNOLOGIES
FOCUSING ON DRONES AND ON
SOCIAL MEDIA ANALYSIS TOOLS AND
A COUPLE OF OTHER ITEMS. WE
WERE CALLED OUT SPECIFICALLY
ABOUT SURVEILLANCE AND THAT
WORKED FOR A WHILE UNTIL THE
REALIZATION THAT THERE IS A
MORE BROAD RANGE OF
TECHNOLOGIES COMING UP. A LOT
OF DIFFERENT WAYS AND
INFORMATION IS BEING COLLECTED.
SO THE ORDINANCE WAS REVISED TO
ADDRESS THE USE AND INTENTIONAL
USE OF TECHNOLOGY. SO BEYOND
JUST DRONES. DRONES DON'T HAVE
TO JUST BEFORE SURVEILLANCE BUT
CAN BE USED FOR OTHER REASONS.
LET'S LOOK AT THE WIDE RANGE
BY DEFINITION OF WHAT
SURVEILLANCE MAY BE. SO THE
LAW WAS REVISED IN 2017 AND WE
HAD ABOUT SIX WEEKS TO LOOK AT
EVERYTHING THE CITY DID THAT
MIGHT POSSIBLY MEET THAT
DEFINITION. YOU CAN IMAGINE HOW
CRAZY IT WAS. WE WENT FROM
THOUSANDS AND THOUSANDS OF
POTENTIAL CANDIDATES DOWN TO
ABOUT 28 TECHNOLOGIES. HAVE
FOR POLICE AND OTHERS WERE
EITHER CITY LIGHT, THE OFFICE
OF TRANSPORTATION WORK OR THE
FIRE DEPARTMENT. AND A FEW
REVISIONS ALONG THE WAY TO MAKE
SURE THE LIST OF TECHNOLOGIES
WAS ACCURATE. SOME
TECHNOLOGIES ARE NO LONGER IN
USE BUT THAT IS WHAT WE LANDED
ON. IN 2018, WE HAD ANOTHER
AMENDMENT TO THE ORDINANCE
ADDING A COMMUNITY SURVEILLANCE
WORKING GROUP. AND THIS IS A
GROUP OF FOLKS APPOINTED BY
COUNSEL AND BY EXECUTIVES TO DO
AN OVERSIGHT OF WHAT THESE
TECHNOLOGIES ARE AND PROVIDE A
PUBLIC AND PUT IN PERSPECTIVE
OUTSIDE OF PUBLIC COMMENT. THAT
CAME TOGETHER. THAT WE ARE
WORKING WITH VERSIONS OF THAT.
WE STARTED IN 2019 TO LOOK AT
AND IMPROVE THE FIRST GROUP OF
TECHNOLOGIES. IT LOOKED AT
CLOSED-CIRCUIT TV AND LICENSE
PLATE READERS AND FROM THERE,
WE WORKED ON OTHER TECHNOLOGIES
AS THEY CAME UP. IN 21, WE
SPOKE SPECIFICALLY ABOUT FACIAL
RECOGNITION TECHNOLOGY AS A
SURVEILLANCE TOOL AND BEGAN
FROM 20, TO 23, SUBMITTING
ADDITIONAL COUNSEL BILLS FOR
APPROVAL FOR RETROACTIVE
TECHNOLOGIES ALREADY IN USE IN
THE CITY TO GET APPROVED
THROUGH THE CITY COUNCIL. THAT
WAS THE WORK OF THOSE TWO OR
THREE YEARS. WE FINALLY DID
ANOTHER UPDATE LOOKING AT
POLICY PLAYBOOKS AND DID WORK
IN 22, AND 23, PUTTING
TEMPLATES IN PLACE SO THAT
APARTMENTS WERE A LITTLE MORE
SELF SERVICED ON DOING THE
WORK. AS WE LOOKED AT THIS
YEAR, WE HAVE COMPLETED FINALLY
THE REVIEW OF THE STUFF IN USE
BEFORE, OLD STUFF AND LOOKING
AT POSSIBLE NEW TECHNOLOGIES
FOR CONSIDERATION OR ANY
CHANGES TO THE TECHNOLOGIES
COUNSEL HAS ALREADY REVIEWED
AND APPROVED. THAT IS A SHORT
VERSION OF A LOT OF WORK THAT
HAPPENED OVER TIME. AND I HAVE
BEEN HERE FOR MOST OF THIS. WE
STARTED OFF WITH THE BROADVIEW
AND NOW WE ARE LOOKING TO THE
FUTURE AND WHAT WE WILL DO
NEXT. NEXT SLIDE PLEASE.
>> WHAT ARE THESE SURVEILLANCE
IMPACT REPORTS QUICK SOME OF
THEM ARE BIG. WE ARE LOOKING
AT DIFFERENT ASPECTS OF
TECHNOLOGY USE AND
CONSIDERATION. WE HAVE
SUBMITTED FOR ALL TECHNOLOGIES
THAT WERE ALREADY IN USE AND
NOW LOOKING FOR ANY NEWLY
PROPOSED TECHNOLOGIES THAT MEET
THE DEFINITION AND THE CRITERIA
OF SURVEILLANCE. WE WILL HIT ON
THAT IN A MOMENT. AND THESE ARE
CREATED BY DEPARTMENTS WITH
TECHNOLOGY USE SAYING, WE NEED
TO START GOING TO THE PROCESS
FOR COUNCIL APPROVAL. THESE
SEVEN ITEMS ARE IN OF
SURVEILLANCE IMPACT REVIEW.
PRIVACY IMPACT ASSESSMENT,
FINANCIAL INFORMATION TO
UNDERSTAND FINANCIALLY HOW
THESE TOOLS RANK AND RATE. AND
THERE IS A VERSION OF THE
TOOLKIT THAT MIGHT BE FAMILIAR.
PROPUBLICA ENGAGEMENT AND
PUBLIC ANALYSIS OF MEMBERS OF
THE PUBLIC HAVE THE OPPORTUNITY
TO TELL US WHAT THEY THINK. AND
THE WORKING GROUP COMES UP WITH
AN IMPACT ASSESSMENT THAT THE
CTO CAN HAVE A RESPONSE TO AND
THEN OTHER APPENDICES OR
POLICIES OR SUPPORTING
DOCUMENTS. WE HAVE DONE THIS
FOR 28 TOTAL. THEY ARE
PUBLISHED AND NOW REVIEWED. I
THINK THE LAST TWO ARE COMING
IN FRONT OF COUNSEL IN THE NEXT
FEW WEEKS. NEXT SLIDE PLEASE.
>> WHAT ARE WE TALKING ABOUT
WHEN WE SAY SURVEILLANCE?
IMAGINE IF I SAID SURVEILLANCE
TO EVERYONE IN THE ROOM, YOU
WOULD HAVE A DIFFERENT
DEFINITION OF WHAT THAT MEANT.
WE HAD TO LAND ON ONE. AFTER A
LOT OF COMMUNICATION EXTERNALLY
AND AND SAID THE CITY, THAT WAS
THE DEFINITION IN THE LAW.
TECHNOLOGY WHOSE PRIMARY
PURPOSE IS TO OBSERVE OR
ANALYZE THE MOVEMENTS, BEHAVIOR
AND ACTIONS OF IDENTIFIABLE
INDIVIDUALS IN A MANNER THAT IS
REASONABLY LIKELY TO RAISE
CONCERNS ABOUT CIVIL LIBERTIES,
FREEDOM OF SPEECH, RACIAL
EQUITY OR SOCIAL JUSTICE. ALSO
INCLUDED IN THE DEFINITION ARE
LICENSE PLATE DATA THAT CAN BE
COMBINED WITH OTHER RECORDS TO
GET YOU TO THE SAME PLACE.
THERE ARE EXCLUSIONS TO THOSE
TECHNOLOGIES. ANYTHING THAT YOU
GET A CONSENT FOR. CAN I
COLLECT THE INFORMATION? YOU
MAY. IT DOES NOT COUNT AS
SURVEILLANCE. IF YOU COULD OPT
OUT AND HAVE THE DATA
COLLECTED, THAT ALSO ISN'T
SURVEILLANCE. BODY WORN CAMERAS
AND POLICE VEHICLE CAMERAS ARE
HANDLED UNDER DIFFERENT
LEGISLATION SO THEY WERE
EXEMPTED FROM HAVING TO GO
THROUGH THE PROCESS BECAUSE
THEY HAVE THEIR OWN PROCESS AND
CAMERAS INSTALLED FOR TRAFFIC
VIOLATIONS LIKE RED LIGHT
CAMERAS ARE ALSO EXEMPT FROM
THIS. THEY HAVE A DIFFERENT SET
OF LEGAL OBLIGATIONS AROUND
THEM. SECURITY CAMERAS WHICH
ARE SIGNED AND SAY THAT THERE
ARE SECURITY CAMERAS IN THE
BUILDING ARE ALSO NOT INCLUDED.
ANY INFRASTRUCTURE PROTECTION
CAMERAS. SO CRITICAL
INFRASTRUCTURE, PLACES WE WANT
TO KEEP AN EYE ON BUT LOOKING
AT THE STRUCTURE. FINALLY, ANY
TECHNOLOGY THAT MONITORS JUST
CITY EMPLOYEES. IF WE HAVE A
CAMERA OVER A PAY STATION OR
SOME PLACE WHERE MONEY IS BEING
COLLECTED OR OTHER SENSITIVE
INFORMATION, THAT DOESN'T
COUNT FOR EMPLOYEES. AND THE
INCLUSIONS REALLY ARE WHAT THE
LAW WANTED TO GET TO WHICH OR
ANY TECHNOLOGIES THAT
DESPERATELY IMPACT
DISADVANTAGED GROUPS. ANY
PERSONALLY IDENTIFIABLE
INFORMATION THAT IS SHARED
OUTSIDE OF THE CITY THAT CAN BE
USED FOR PURPOSES OTHER THAN
WHAT WE AGREED TO COLLECTED FOR
IN THE FIRST PLACE. ANY DATA
THAT CAN BE PERSONALLY
IDENTIFIABLE, EVEN IF IT IS
OBSCURED OR IDENTIFIED AFTER.
SO TAKING A PICTURE AND IT IS
FUSSY LATER STILL COUNTS AS
SURVEILLANCE BECAUSE I HAVE THE
ORIGINAL COPY. AND ANYTHING
THAT RAISES REASONABLE CONCERNS
ABOUT IMPACTS TO CIVIL LIBERTY,
FREEDOM OF SPEECH OR
ASSOCIATION, RACIAL EQUITY OR
SOCIAL JUSTICE. THAT IS WHAT
WE HAVE. THAT IS THE
DEFINITION. THAT IS HOW WE
LOOK AT EVERY TECHNOLOGY THAT
COMES IN THE COULD POSSIBLY HIT
THOSE MARKS. NEXT SLIDE PLEASE.
THIS IS SOMETHING OF A
TIMELINE. IT CAN TAKE SEVERAL
MONTHS TO GET THROUGH THIS
PROCESS. WE HAVE A LOT OF
DISCUSSION BUILT INTO IT. AFTER
THE DRAFT OF THE STAFF OF THE
DEPARTMENT REQUESTING THE
TECHNOLOGY COMPLETING THE
TEMPLATES WE CREATED, THIS IS
WHAT IT LOOKS LIKE. WE ARE
EXPLAINING WHAT THE DATA IS IN
THE DATA COLLECTION, USE,
MANAGEMENT AND SECURITY AND WE
MOVE ON TO THE PUBLIC COMMENT
PERIOD WHERE THE INITIAL DRAFT
IS MADE PUBLIC TO A VARIETY OF
PLACES, PUBLIC MEETINGS WERE
ONLINE FOR THE COLLECTION OF
DATA. WE ARE IN THE PROCESS OF
THAT RIGHT NOW. AND THEN WE GO
THROUGH AN ANALYSIS OF WHAT
CAME UP, WHAT THEMES WE ARE
LOOKING AT, STAFF AND THE FOLKS
INVOLVED IN THE TECHNOLOGY AND
ACQUISITION LOOK AT THAT AND
THEN THE WORKING GROUP WE
MENTIONED BEFORE HAS AN
OPPORTUNITY, SIX LIKE A EIGHT
WEEKS, TO LOOK OVER THE
INFORMATION AND DECIDE WHAT
THEIR TAKE ON THIS MIGHT BE
AROUND CIVIL LIBERTY IMPACTS
AND FINALLY, THE CTO HAS THE
OPPORTUNITY TO ANSWER ANY
QUESTIONS, CONCERNS OR ISSUES
THAT MIGHT COME UP AND THE
EXECUTIVE OVERVIEW IS CREATED
SO WE CAN PRESENT THAT AND GIVE
YOU AN IDEA OF WHAT THE
TECHNOLOGY IS BEFORE YOU DELVE
INTO THE DEEP DIVE AND THEN THE
COUNCIL GETS TO DECIDE AND VOTE
ON THE USE ON ANY POLICIES OR
CHANGES OF POLICIES SURROUNDING
THE TECHNOLOGIES. AND I CAN
TAKE 6-9 MONTHS. THE PUBLIC
COMMENT PERIOD USUALLY RUNS
60-90 DAYS AND THE WORKING
GROUP HAS ANYWHERE FROM SIX MAC
-- SIX LIKE A WEEKS TO REVIEW.
SO THAT IS KIND OF BUILT INTO
THE PROCESS. SO WE HAVE THE
PROCESS OF APPROVING A NEW
TECHNOLOGY OR EXISTING
TECHNOLOGY. THE COMPLIANCE
BEYOND THAT IS THAT CITY STAFF
MUST SUBMIT A PRIVACY OR
SURVEILLANCE ASSESSMENT BEFORE
ANY NONSTANDARD TECHNOLOGY CAN
BE ACQUIRED. THIS MEANS WE LOOK
AT EVERYTHING THAT COMES IN
THAT MIGHT HAVE A TOUCH ON
SURVEILLANCE OR PRIVACY AND WE
DETERMINE IF THE CITY, IF THIS
MEETS THE DEFINITION OR IT GOES
THROUGH THE PROCESS. AND PRIOR
TO ACQUISITION, COUNSEL NEEDS
TO APPROVE THROUGH THE
ORDINANCE, THE USE OF THE
TECHNOLOGY, LOOKING AT ANY
IMPACT, CIVIL LIBERTY IMPACTS.
BEYOND THAT, WE HAVE A
QUARTERLY SURVEILLANCE
TECHNOLOGY DETERMINATION REPORT
FOR ANYTHING THAT GOES THROUGH
A REVIEW, WHETHER IT IS
DETERMINED TO BE SURVEILLANCE
OR NOT BECAUSE COUNSEL HAS THE
ABILITY TO TAKE A LOOK AND MAKE
A CHANGE OR ASK FOR ADDITIONAL
INFORMATION. THAT COMES OUT IN
A QUARTERLY BASIS ONE MONTH
AFTER THE QUARTER ENDS. THERE
ARE TWO ANNUAL REPORTS. ONE IS
COMING OUT OF IT WHICH IS THE
QUALITY IMPACT ASSESSMENT. TO
LOOK AND SEE IF WE ARE DOING
WHAT WE THOUGHT WE WERE WITH
THE LAW OR ARE THERE ANY
SUGGESTIONS, CHANGES OR
CONSIDERATIONS WE SHOULD HAVE?
AND THERE IS AN AUTO REPORT OF
THE APPROVED TECHNOLOGIES TO
MAKE SURE THEY ARE BEING USED
THE WAY THEY WERE SUPPOSED TO
BE. THE OFFICE OF GENERAL
MANAGER MANAGES FOR POLICE AND
THE CITY AUDITORS FOR ALL NON-
SPD TECHNOLOGIES THAT GO
THROUGH THIS.
>> THE NEXT SLIDE PLEASE.
>> FINALLY, WHAT IS COMING UP.
THE NEW TECHNOLOGIES AND
THINGS COMING UP FOR 2024.
THERE IS COUNCIL COMMITTEE
ACTION FOR TWO REMAINING
RETROACTIVE SERVICES. ONE IS A
HOSTAGE NEGOTIATION THROW PHONE
AND COLYO WHICH IS A RECORDING
TECHNOLOGY FOR CELL PHONE USE I
CAN BE USED WITH OR WITHOUT
CONSENT AND THE HOSTAGE
NEGOTIATION THROW PHONE IS USED
FOR HOSTAGE SITUATIONS. THERE
ARE COUNCIL APPOINTMENTS FOR
COMMUNITY SURVEILLANCE WORKING
GROUP MEMBERS AND I THINK WE
ARE STILL FINALIZING. WE HAVE
BEEN RUNNING LOW ON CORAM FOR
THAT GROUP AND WITH ALL THE
OPPORTUNITIES TO PARTICIPATE IN
VARIOUS THINGS AND WE HAVE BEEN
WORKING HARD TO RECRUIT AND
THAT IS UP TO THE COUNCIL AND
EXECUTIVES AND WE HELP GUIDE
THAT. AND FINALLY, WE ARE
LOOKING TO CLEAN UP THE MASTER
LIST OF SURVEILLANCE
TECHNOLOGY. SOME ARE NO LONGER
IN USE. SOME HAVE CHANGED AND
SOME ARE UPDATED. SO WE HAVE
CLEANUP TO DO. THE PUBLIC
SAFETY COMMITTEE WILL LOOK AT
SEVERAL NEW TECHNOLOGIES THAT
ARE PART OF THE TECHNOLOGY
ASSISTED CRIME PREVENTION
PILOT. THE CLOSED-CIRCUIT
TELEVISION ACOUSTIC GUNSHOT
LOCATION SYSTEM AND REALTIME
CRIME CENTER AS WELL AS THE
AUTOMATED LICENSE PLATE
RECOGNITION, FLEETWIDE USE OF
ALPR AND THAT WILL BE UPDATED
TO REFLECT A CHANGE, A MATERIAL
CHANGE AND HOW WE ARE USING THE
TECHNOLOGY. THOSE ARE COMING
UP TO THE PUBLIC SAFETY
COMMITTEE IN THE NEXT FEW
MONTHS. FINALLY, THERE ARE
MATERIAL UPDATES TO SOME TURS
OR ANYTHING COUNCIL ALREADY
APPROVED OR IF THERE IS A
CHANGE OR A SERIOUS SIGNIFICANT
CHANGE -- CHANGE TO HOW WE ARE
USING OR THE ABILITY OF THE
TECHNOLOGY. SO THAT IS A WHOLE
LOT OF INFORMATION AND THAT IS
SURVEILLANCE. AND I THINK THAT
IS IT. WE COULD ANSWER ANY
QUESTIONS. ANYTHING THAT
BROUGHT OUT FOR YOU ALL.
>> I WILL OPEN IT UP TO MY
COLLEAGUES THAT THEY HAVE ANY
QUESTIONS.
>> COUNCILMEMBER STRAUSS AND
THEN COUNCILMEMBER RIVERA.
>> THANK YOU, CHAIR AND THANK
YOU DIRECTOR JIM LOTER AND
GINGER. I HAVE TO SAY THAT YOUR
EXPLANATION OF THE PROCESS WAS
CRYSTAL CLEAR AND ALMOST EASIER
TO UNDERSTAND THAN SOME OF THE
PORTS WE RECEIVE NOT FOR ANY
OTHER REASON BUT THAT
TECHNOLOGY CAN BE CONFUSING AND
THOSE OF US NOT ON THE BACK
END. SO HAVING BEEN THROUGH A
NUMBER OF THESE, I WANT TO
THANK YOU FOR THE CLARITY IN
THE PRESENTATION PROVIDED. AND
THANK YOU TO BEN FOR THE
MAINTENANCE HAPPENING. AND
WITHOUT YOU, I WOULD NOT BE
ABLE TO BE IN MY DISTRICT
OFFICE DOING MY JOB SO I
APPRECIATE YOU ALL.
>> WE ALL APPRECIATE YOU.
>> THANK YOU, CHAIR AND THANK
YOU FOR THAT VERY COGENT
PRESENTATION.
>> I HAVE TWO QUICK QUESTIONS.
JUST ABOUT THE REPORTS. BOTH
THE ANNUAL SURVEILLANCE
TECHNOLOGY COMMUNITY EQUITY
IMPACT ASSESSMENT AND THE AUDIT
REPORTS. WHEN ARE THOSE
RELEASED USUALLY? AND I IMAGINE
THEY ARE ON YOUR WEBSITE.
>> THEY CAN BE ACCESS TO
THERE. THE DATE ON THEIR --
WHEN THEY ARE DUE IS SEPTEMBER
15TH OF EACH YEAR. SOME OF THE
TECHNOLOGIES THAT WERE NOT
APPROVED IN TIME TO HIT THE
DEADLINE WILL BE COMING UP IN
THE NEXT REVIEW FOR THE AUDITS
AND THAT IS HAPPENING THROUGH
THE OFFICE OF THE INSPECTOR
GENERAL OR THE AUDIT DEPARTMENT
AND THE OTHER REPORT WE CREATED
IS THE CTO REPORT AND THOSE ARE
ONLINE AND AVAILABLE.
>> THANK YOU. MY OTHER
QUESTION IS ABOUT THE COMMUNITY
SURVEILLANCE WORKING GROUP.
THAT IS, YOU SAID SEVEN
INDIVIDUALS SIT AND AND ARE
THEY ALL COMMUNITY MEMBERS
BECAUSE IT IS A COMMUNITY
WORKING GROUP?
>> YES. THERE ARE TWO
POSITIONS I BELIEVE THAT ARE AT
LARGE. SO FROM ANY KIND OF
INTEREST. THE INTENTION OF THE
ORDINANCE WAS TO LOOK FOR
REPRESENTATIVES FROM
COMMUNITIES WITH USE OF
SURVEILLANCE POTENTIALLY SO
THAT THEY MAY BE INCLUDED IN
THE CONVERSATION AROUND NEW
TECHNOLOGIES OR EXISTING
TECHNOLOGIES AND HOW THEY DO OR
DO NOT MEET THE NEED FOR THEIR
USE. THAT HAS BEEN PART OF THE
CHALLENGE I THINK IN MAKING
SURE WE ARE REACHING OUT
APPROPRIATELY AND FINDING THE
RIGHT FOLKS TO PARTICIPATE.
>> AND HOW OFTEN DO THEY MEET?
HOW DO YOU INTERACT?
>> THERE IS A QUARTERLY
MEETING AND THAT BECOMES
INTERESTING AFTER WE HAVE DONE
THIS RETROACTIVE REVIEW. IT
IS DEPENDENT ON HOW MUCH NEW
TECHNOLOGY IS COMING UP OR
BEING CONSIDERED. IT IS A
QUARTERLY MEETING BY ORDINANCE
AND THEN THEY CAN MEET IN
BETWEEN TIMES AS WELL. THEY
HAVE THEIR SET OF BYLAWS AND
HOW THEY OPERATE. WE PROVIDE
THE ADMINISTRATIVE SUPPORT,
ASSISTANCE AND TECHNOLOGY SO
THEY CAN DO THE MEETINGS IN
PERSON OR REMOTELY.
>> THANK YOU.
>> ANYONE ELSE HAVE A QUESTION.
>> COUNCIL PRESIDENT.
>> SO THIS IS THE TWO
REMAINING SIR COUNSEL BILLS.
THAT IS THE LAST RETROACTIVE
TECHNOLOGY, RIGHT? THE WINDOWS
ARE DONE, I UNDERSTAND T█HERE IS
A PACKAGE OF TECHNOLOGY TAKEN
TO A DIFFERENT TRACK. BY THE
WAY, THAT WAS DEFINED IN THE
LEGISLATION THAT WAS SENT OUT
WITH THE BUDGET I BELIEVE. THAT
WASN'T THE CLOSED-CIRCUIT TV
SYSTEM, ACOUSTIC GUNSHOT AND
REALTIME CRIME CENTER. I
BELIEVE IT WAS DEFINED IN THE
MAYOR'S PROPOSED BUDGET AND
APPROVED BY COUNCIL. SO IT
WASN'T A DECISION MADE BY US
TO HAVE THE PUBLIC SAFETY
COMMITTEE PROCESS THAT.
>> NO.
>> I JUST WANT TO GET THAT ON
THE RECORD. HERE IS MY
QUESTION. LET'S SAY A
DEPARTMENT, NOT NECESSARILY THE
SPD, DOES WANT TO ACQUIRE
TECHNOLOGY THAT HAS A
SURVEILLANCE CAPABILITY. SAY
A DRONE. A LOT OF DEPARTMENTS
COULD PROBABLY TAKE ADVANTAGE
OF THAT. AND THEN WHAT WOULD
THE PROCESS BE?
>> THEY WOULD FILL OUT, LOOK AT
THE TEMPLATES WE HAVE AROUND
THE PRIVACY IMPACT ASSESSMENT
AND GO TO THE PUBLIC COMMENT
PERIOD FOLLOWED BY THE WORKING
GROUP HAVING AN OPPORTUNITY TO
LOOK AT THE PROPOSED USE OF THE
TECHNOLOGY. GOING THROUGH THAT
PROCESS.
>> THE SAME PROCESS.
>> PROBABLY MUCH QUICKER. IT
DOESN'T HAVE HISTORY AROUND IT
OR HOW WE HAVE USED IN THE
PAST. IT IS MORE LIKE BUILDING
POLICY AND PROCESS THAN LOOKING
WHAT WE DID IN THE PAST USES IF
THAT MAKES SENSE.
>> SO STILL THE SAME PROCESS.
WE HAVE THE PUBLIC COMMENT
PERIOD IN PERSON AND ONLINE WE
HAVE THE WORKING GROUP
EVALUATION, THE TECHNOLOGY AND
THE COUNCIL WOULD THEN VOTE.
>> THANK YOU.
>> I DEFINITELY WANTED TO ECHO
COUNCILMEMBER STRAUSS'
COMMENTS ON MAKING THIS CRYSTAL
CLEAR BECAUSE A LOT OF PEOPLE
HAVE ASKED, WHAT IS THE
PROCESS? HOW DO WE ENGAGE? AND
I THINK COME TO HAVE SLIDE
SEVEN, TO HAVE ONE THROUGH
SEVEN, FOR PEOPLE TO
UNDERSTAND, THIS IS WHERE WE
ARE IN THE PROCESS AND IT IS
EASY TO FOLLOW ALONG. BECAUSE
PEOPLE WANT TO GET ENGAGED WITH
GOVERNMENT. A LOT OF PEOPLE
DON'T KNOW THERE IS A
SURVEILLANCE IMPACT REPORT AND
IT GOES THROUGH AN EXTENSIVE
PROCESS AND I JUST WANT TO
THANK YOU ALL FOR PUTTING THIS
TOGETHER ON PAPER. THIS IS
SOMETHING THAT I WOULD REFER TO
WHEN TALKING TO PEOPLE AND
BEING ABLE TO ARTICULATE
INFORMATION TO FOLKS SO THEY
CAN UNDERSTAND THE PROCESS AS
WELL AND GET ENGAGED. RIGHT NOW
WE ARE ACCEPTING PUBLIC COMMENT
FOR CERTAIN ITEMS THAT PEOPLE
KNOW ABOUT. SO, THANK YOU.
>> THANK YOU. AND IF I MAY
OFFER A LITTLE MORE INFORMATION
TO COUNCIL PRESIDENT NELSON'S
QUESTION, THE PROCESS, THE
EXAMPLE I ALWAYS USE, THE
THOUGHT FOR THE CONTACT EXAMPLE
IS THE MYTHICAL PICTURE TAKING
ROBOT. THERE ARE CERTAIN
TECHNOLOGIES YOU CAN LOOK AT
AND ON THEIR FACE, THERE IS
SURVEILLANCE TECHNOLOGY AND IF
THE DEPARTMENT COMES AND SAYS
THEY WANT TO BUY A PICTURE
TAKING ROBOT TO ROAM AROUND
DOWNTOWN, WE WOULD QUICKLY
LABEL THAT AS SURVEILLANCE TECH
BUT NOT EVERY TECHNOLOGY CAN BE
DETERMINED TO BE SURVEILLANCE
TECHNOLOGY ACCORDING TO THE
DEFINITION. WE HAVE TO LOOK AT
EVERYTHING THAT ANYBODY WANTS
TO BUY IN THE CITY WHICH IS WHY
IT IS CRITICALLY IMPORTANT THAT
WE HAVE A CENTRALIZED
TECHNOLOGY ACQUISITION AND
PROCUREMENT PROCESS MANAGED BY
SEATTLE IT. WE ARE ABLE TO DO
THAT PRETTY QUICKLY. WE HAVE
DISTILLED THE CRITERIA THAT
GINGER OUTLINED DOWN TO A FEW
KEY QUESTIONS THAT EMPLOYEES
CAN ANSWER AND SAY, NO, THIS
TECHNOLOGY DOES NOT COLLECT
INFORMATION ABOUT PEOPLE IN THE
PUBLIC OR DOESN'T DO THIS OR
THAT. THE REPORT THAT WE SUBMIT
TO COUNSEL QUARTERLY INCLUDES
EVERYTHING WE HAVE IDENTIFIED
AS SURVEILLANCE BUT ALSO
EVERYTHING WE IDENTIFIED THAT
IS NOT SURVEILLANCE. SO YOU CAN
GO THROUGH THE LIST AND PICK
SOMETHING OUT AND SAY, WAIT A
MINUTE. I THINK A PICTURE
TAKING ROBOT IS SURVEILLANCE SO
WISE AND THAT ON THE LIST? I
JUST WANT TO ACKNOWLEDGE THAT
IS SORT OF BELOW THE WATER
WHERE THE LARGER PART OF THE
ICEBERG IS AND THERE IS A LOT
OF WORK GOING ON. AS PART OF
THE PROCESS TOO, ONE OF OUR
FOCUSES IN THE PROGRAM IS TO
WORK WITH THE DEPARTMENT, TO
MITIGATE PREEMPTIVELY ,
SURVEILLANCE IMPACTS THAT THE
TECHNOLOGY ACQUISITION MIGHT
BRING. FOR EXAMPLE, IF A
DEPARTMENT WANTS TO IMPLEMENT
CAMERAS TO COUNT PEOPLE MOVING
IN AND OUT OF A PARKLAND OR
BUSINESS IMPROVEMENT DISTRICT
FOR COMPLETELY LEGITIMATE
PURPOSE IS TO UNDERSTAND HOW
MANY PEOPLE ARE USING THE AREA,
WE CAN INTERVENE AND SAY, A
CAMERA IS THE EASY BUTTON. YOU
CAN PUT A CAMERA UP THERE AND
MACHINE LEARNING CAN TELL YOU
HOW MANY PEOPLE ARE MOVING BUT
WE WILL HELP YOU DO RESEARCH TO
IMPLEMENT A TECHNOLOGY THAT
DOESN'T OR CAN'T
INADVERTENTLY BE USED TO
SURVEILLED PEOPLE. AND SO THAT
IT NEVER GOES THROUGH THE
PROCESS AND IT NEVER HAS TO GO
THROUGH THE PROCESS. SO THAT IS
ALSO PART OF THE WORK THAT
GINGER'S PROGRAM DOES AND
WOULD CONTINUE TO DO EVEN IF WE
NEVER FLAG ANOTHER PIECE OF
SURVEILLANCE TECHNOLOGY AGAIN
IN THE CITY.
>> I WAS THINKING OF ONE ALL
THE PARKS FOLKS WERE HERE THAT
WE WORKED ON. THEY NEEDED A
RESOURCE REQUIREMENT AT THE
COMMUNITY CENTERS. THE FIRST
VERSION OF THAT, NOT ONLY
COUNTED PEOPLE BUT IT FOLLOWED
THEM THROUGHOUT THE BUILDING,
GAVE THEM AN ASSIGNED NUMBER
AND HAD REALTIME PHOTOS. SO
THAT MIGHT BE SURVEILLANCE. WE
ENDED UP COMING UP WITH THE
VERSION THAT WAS JUST BLOBS OF
EITHER CHILD SIZED BLOBS OR
ADULT SIZED BLOBS WITHIN 3 FEET
OF THE DOOR GOING IN OR OUT.
THAT WOULD BE AN EXAMPLE.
MITIGATING A TECHNOLOGY THAT
DOES WHAT YOU NEEDED TO DO AND
TELLS YOU HOW MANY PEOPLE ARE
IN OR OUT OF THE BUILDING AND
THEN PUTS IT THROUGH IN THE
SURVEILLANCE SITUATION.
>> THE MARKETPLACE IS SUCH THAT
OVER COLLECTING DATA IS OFTEN A
FEATURE OF TECHNOLOGY OFFERED
AND IT BECOMES QUITE A
CHALLENGE TO FIND TECHNOLOGY OR
WORK WITH VENDORS TO GET
TECHNOLOGY TO WORK IN A
PARTICULAR WAY WHERE IT
DOESN'T COLLECT ALL THE DATA
BECAUSE FRANKLY, SOME OF OUR
VENDORS ARE SHOCKED THAT WE
DON'T WANT TO COLLECT ALL THE
DATA . AND WE ALSO HAVE BEEN
VERY SUCCESSFUL IN FINDING
PARTNERS THAT SHARE OUR
PRINCIPLES AND OUR VALUES IN
THE CITY SO THAT HAS BEEN GOOD
TOO.
>> I WANT TO UNDERSCORE THE
POINT YOU MADE ABOUT TECHNOLOGY
THAT PRETTY MUCH DOESN'T HAVE
SURVEILLANCE CAPABILITY BUT HAS
TO -- YOU HAVE TO CHECK THE
PRODUCTS. I REMEMBER MY FIRST
YEAR, COLLEAGUES, I WANTED TO
GET MY LA'S BETTER EARPHONES
WITH NOISE CANCELING
CAPABILITY. SO I PICKED THEM
OUT AND I SAID, CAN YOU USE MY
OFFICE (INDISCERNIBLE) AND WE
CANNOT DO THAT BECAUSE THERE
ARE APPROVED HEADPHONES ON THE
LIST. SO IT DIDN'T HAVE TO
END UP ON ONE OF YOUR REPORTS.
I JUST PICKED FROM THE LIST.
SO THAT IS AN EXAMPLE.
>> SOMETIMES IT CAN FEEL
RIDICULOUS WHEN SOMEBODY WANTS
TO BUY A SPECIFIC KIND OF
PRINTER AND WE HAVE TO ASK
THEM, IS IT SURVEILLANCE
TECHNOLOGY? WE HAVE GOTTEN
THAT DOWN TO A FEW KEY
QUESTIONS WHAT IS NOT TOO
PAINFUL THE PROCESS FOR PEOPLE
TO ANSWER AT THAT VERY FIRST
LEVEL.
>> ANY MORE QUESTIONS ?
>> COUNCILMEMBER RIVERA.
>> I WANT TO UNDERSCORE THE
IMPORTANCE OF THE WORK THAT YOU
DO BECAUSE, AS MORE AND MORE
TECHNOLOGY COMES -- LIKE AI
FOR INSTANCE, THERE ARE SO MANY
ISSUES THAT HAVE COME UP AND I
THINK THE WORK THAT YOU ALL ARE
DOING IS REALLY IMPORTANT AND
TIMELY AND IS EVER-CHANGING.
WE APPRECIATE THE WORK THAT YOU
ARE DOING AND WHAT IS
APPRECIATED ABOUT THIS IS, IT
IS CLEAR AND ON POINT OBVIOUSLY
BECAUSE WE ARE HAVING THESE
CONVERSATIONS AND THE COUNCIL
PRESIDENT ALLUDED TO SOME
PACKAGE COMING. BUT WITH AI, IT
IS ON EVERYBODY'S MIND, HOW DO
WE KEEP PRIVACY WELL WE HAVE
THESE NEW TECHNOLOGIES THAT ARE
EXPOSING US.
>> THANK YOU SO MUCH.
>> I THOUGHT THERE WAS A NEW
TECHNOLOGY. AI.
>> I THOUGHT THAT WAS
SOMETHING NEW.
>> I SPEAK SPANISH AND I'M
WAYS TRANSPOSING.
>> THAT IS GOOD TO KNOW.
>> JUST TO EXPLAIN WHY I MIGHT
DO THAT AGAIN.
>> YOU ARE ALL GOOD. WE KNEW
WHAT YOU ARE SAYING. IT COULD
HAVE BEEN A NEW TECHNOLOGY.
>> ARTIFICIAL INTELLIGENCE.
>> YOU ARE ALL GOOD. I WANT
TO THANK JIM LOTER AND GINGER
ARMBRUSTER FOR YOUR
PRESENTATION TODAY. AND IF
THERE ARE NO FURTHER ISSUES FOR
THE COMMITTEE, WE WILL ADJOURN.
THE TIME RIGHT NOW IS 3:36 P.M.
THANK YOU.
>> HAVE A GREAT REST OF YOUR
DAY.
>> THANK YOU.