>>> GOOD AFTERNOON, EVERYONE.
THE DATE IS MAY 8, 2024 MEETING
OF PARKS, PUBLIC UTILITIES, AND
TECHNOLOGY COMMITTEE WILL COME
TO ORDER. IT IS TO:03 TO:OH 3
PM. I AM JOEY HOLLINGSWORTH
CHAIR OF THE COMMITTEE. WILL
OUR CLERK PLEASE CALL ROLLCALL?
>> COUNCILMEMBER KETTLE? HERE.
COUNCILMEMBER RIVERA? PRESENT.
COUNCIL MEMBER STRAUSS?
PRESENT. COUNCIL PRESIDENT
NELSON? PRESENT.
>> FIVE COUNCIL MEMBERS ARE
PRESENT.
>> THANK YOU. AND I AM HERE AS
WELL. WE HAVE 10 ITEMS ON THE
AGENDA . FIRST WE HAVE A
PRESENTATION FROM MOSS ADAMS.
AUDIT OF SEATTLE PUBLIC
UTILITIES. THEN WE WILL ALSO
DISCUSS COUNCIL BILL 120780
WHICH IS IN OR THE NINTH
ORDINANCE AUTHORIZING SPU TO
ACQUIRE SEVEN PARCELS OF LAND
FOR STORM WATER QUALITY
FACILITY. WE WILL ALSO HAVE SIX
APPOINTMENTS TO THE BOARD OF
PARKS AND RECREATION COMMISSION
AND THEN FINALLY WE HAVE TWO
APPOINTMENTS TO THE COMMUNITY
SURVEILLANCE WORKGROUP . IF
THERE ARE NO OBJECTIONS THE
AGENDA WILL BE ADOPTED. HEARING
NO OBJECTIONS WHICH IS MY
FAVORITE , THE AGENDA WILL BE
ADOPTED. WITH THAT WE WILL OPEN
UP THE HYBRID PUBLIC COMMENT.
PUBLIC COMMENT SHOULD BE
RELATED TO ITEMS ON TODAY'S
AGENDA OR BE WITHIN THE PURVIEW
OF THE COMMITTEE. HOW MANY
SPEAKERS ARE SIGNED UP TODAY?
>> CURRENTLY WE HAVE TWO IN
PERSON SPEAKERS AND ONE REMOTE
SPEAKER.
>> EACH SPEAKER WILL GET TWO
MINUTES. WILL YOU PLEASE READ
THE INSTRUCTIONS FOR THE PUBLIC
COMMENT?
>> THE PUBLIC COMMENT PERIOD
WILL BE MODERATED IN THE
FOLLOWING MANNER. I WILL CALL
ON SPEAKERS BY NAME IN THE
ORDER IN WHICH THEY ARE
REGISTERED BOTH ON THE WEBSITE
OR FROM THE SIGN-UP SHEET
AVAILABLE HERE IN COUNCIL
CHAMBERS. 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. GO TO THE
WEBSITE OR SIGN 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 110
SECONDS I LEFT OF THE ALLOTTED
TIME. IF SPEAKERS DO NOT END
THEIR COMMENTS AT THE END OF
THE ALLOTTED TIME, THE
MICROPHONE WILL BE MUTED TO
ALLOW US TO CALL ON THE NEXT
PERSON. PUBLIC COMMENT PERIOD
IS NOW OPEN AND WE WILL BEGIN
WITH THE FIRST SPEAKER ON THE
LIST. THE FIRST SPEAKER FOR IN
PERSON PUBLIC COMMENT IS
CHRISTOPHER STEFAN.
>> WE WILL TURN ON YOUR
MICROPHONE, ONE SECOND.
>> HELLO? GOOD AFTERNOON,
COUNCIL MEMBERS. MY NAME IS
CHRISTOPHER STAPLETON AND I'M
GOING TO TALK ABOUT CB 120780.
I AM THE OWNER AND A TENANT OF
THE PROPERTY LOCATED AT 816
SOUTH CANYON ST. OWNED BY ESS T
BUSINESSA PUUTACQUISITION , MY
COMPANY WILL BE DISPLACED BY
THE ACQUISITION OF THIS
PROPERTY . I WOULD LIKE THE
COMMITTEE TO UNDERSTAND THE
IMPACT THAT OUR COMPANY HAS ON
THE RECYCLING COMMUNITY AND THE
CHALLENGES WE FACE IN BEING
DISPLACED. WE ARE A DRYWALL
RECYCLING COMPANY THAT SERVES
THE CONSTRUCTION AND DEMOLITION
OF THE INDUSTRY LOCATED IN KING
COUNTY AND THE PRIMARY PURPOSE
IS TO DIVER LARGE VOLUMES OF
DRYWALL MATERIALS FROM
LANDFILLS IN KING COUNTY. WE
COLLECT MATERIALS FROM
MANUFACTURERS, CONTRACTORS,
DISTRIBUTORS WHO MAKE SELL AND
INSTALL DRYWALL AND ROUGHLY
2016 - 2017 AND ORDINANCE WAS
PASSED BANNING MATERIALS FROM
GOING TO LANDFILLS. WE WERE
INCLUDED AMONG THOSE MATERIALS
TO BE BANNED FROM THESE
LANDFILLS. DRYWALL IS AN INERT
MATERIAL AND SAFE WHEN IT IS
DIVERTED FROM MATERIAL BUT WHEN
PLACED IN A LANDFILL AND
COMBINED WITH ORGANIC MATERIALS
AND HE, IT CREATES A TOXIC GAS
CALLED HYDROGEN SULFIDE. OUR
COMPANY CAME TO ENHANCE THE
ECONOMY INITIATIVES AND
RECYCLING . OUR COMPANY NEEDED
TO OPERATE ON A SITE THAT WAS
INDUSTRIALLY ZONED AND IN CLOSE
PROXIMITY TO LAND AND WATER TO
DISTRIBUTE REUSABLE GYPSUM TO
OUR CLIENTS. WE HAD THE IDEA WE
WOULD BE ABLE TO OPERATE FOR A
LONG PERIOD OF TIME TO CONTINUE
TO GROW THIS INFRASTRUCTURE.
TODAY THE COMPANY HAS MOVED
250,000 TONS AND GARNERED A LOT
OF SUPPORT FROM THE COUNTY IN
REGARDS TO THIS DIVERSION. OVER
THE NEXT FIVE YEAR PERIOD--
>> THANK YOU, SIR.
>> OUR NEXT IN PERSON SPEAKER
IS ALEX ZIMMERMAN .
>> DEAR KYLE, A DIRTY
FASCIST--. FOR 20 YEAR I SEE
MANY-- AND NEVER UNDERSTAND, IS
NOBODY GUILTY FOR 30 YEAR
GOVERNMENT DOING $1 BILLION AND
EVERYTHING IS SO GOOD? AND
NOBODY FIRED? HOW IS THIS
POSSIBLE? WHY? YOU KNOW WHAT
THIS MEANS?
>> MISTER ZIMMERMAN--
>> CAN YOU ADDRESS SOMETHING
THAT IS ON THE AGENDA ? I AM
NOT TRYING TO INTERRUPT YOU.
>> HOW THIS IS NOT ONLY--? ITS
PRINCIPAL.
>> PLEASE CONTINUE THE TIMER.
GO RIGHT AHEAD .
>> EXACTLY. WHY HAVEN'T YOU
CLOSED ACTION? BECAUSE-- DOES
THIS BRING $200 MILLION?
CLASS-ACTION WHY? YOU NEVER
BUILD-- BECAUSE YOU CONTROL
EVERYTHING. DEMOCRAT, MAFIA,
ONE-PARTY FASCISM, IS EXACTLY
WHAT. WHY? BECAUSE YOU ALL TIME
-- SPEAK TO YOU YOU INTERRUPT
ME. I UNDERSTAND THIS. SO WHERE
IS THE PROBLEM? WHY? BECAUSE
YOU DON'T GIVE CHANCE PEOPLE
SPEAK, FOR THIS I TALKING. ONE
TIME PER WEEK SO WE CAN GO AND
SPEAK FOR THREE-MINUTE ABOUT
EVERYTHING WITHOUT LIMITATION.
IT'S IMPORTANT. YOU DON'T GIVE
PEOPLE CHANCE SPEAK RIGHT NOW
OPENLY . NO ONE NEWSPAPER GO
AGAINST DEMOCRAT MAFIA. NO ONE.
AND I GO FOR SPEAK LIKE THIS
MANY TIMES SO I ASK YOU AGAIN
WHY FOR 10 YEARS I TALKING
ABOUT OPEN-- ROOM AND NO ONE
FROM YOU SUPPORT THIS SIMPLE,
DON'T COST A PENNY PROBLEM OF
FREE SPEECH WHAT IS FOR
EVERYBODY. ONE MINUTE 30
SECONDS, 57, YOU CAN DO THIS.
GIVE PEOPLE CHANCE BE OPEN.
NEED TO BRING SEATTLE BACK TO
NORMAL LIFE. YOU UNDERSTAND?
LIKE WE HAVE BEFORE. -- WHAT
YOU BRING IN 2015. ALEX
ZIMMERMAN, EVERYBODY NOTES
THIS. STAND UP AMERICA, MAKE
SEATTLE GREAT AGAIN.
>> FOR THE RECORD AS YOU LEAVE,
YOU COME AND TALK FOR TWO
MINUTES, THE NAZI SLOGAN MIGHT
BE LEGAL BUT IT'S DEFINITELY
HATE SPEECH IN THIS COMMITTEE
AND I WOULD LIKE TO MARK THAT
FOR THE RECORD. SO THANK YOU.
AND NOW LET'S MOVE ON TO OUR
ONLINE COMMENTOR.
>> WE WILL NOW MOVE TO THE
REMOTE PUBLIC COMMENT. ONCE I
CALL THE NAME OF A REMOTE
SPEAKER STAFF WILL UNMUTE THE
APPROPRIATE MICROPHONE AND AN
AUTOMATIC PROMPT WILL BE THE
QUEUE FOR THE SPEAKER THAT IT
IS THEIR TURN TO SPEAK AND THEN
THE SPEAKER MUST PRESS STAR SIX
STAR 6 TO BEGIN SPEAKING OUR
FIRST REMOTE SPEAKER IS
CYNTHIA.
>> HELLO, MY COMMENT TODAY IS
REGARDING AGENDA ITEM 9.
APPOINTMENT 02871, THE
APPOINTMENT OF ALEX MAESTRETTI
FOR THE COMMUNITY SURVEILLANCE
WORKING GROUP . THANK YOU FOR
YOUR WORK AND TRYING TO FILL
THE SEATS ON THE COMMUNITY
WORKING GROUP . HOWEVER AS I
ALSO SHARED IN MY EMAIL, I
DON'T THINK THE APPOINTMENT OF
ALEX WOULD BE LEGAL UNDER THE
-- ORDINANCE. SPECIFICALLY S
AND C 14.18.0808.3 STATING
QUOTE, AT LEAST FIVE MEMBERS OF
THE WORKING GROUP SHALL
REPRESENT EQUITY FOCUSED
ORGANIZATIONS SERVING OR
PROTECTING THE RIGHTS OF
COMMUNITIES AND GROUPS
HISTORICALLY SUBJECT TO
DISPROPORTIONATE SURVEILLANCE
INCLUDING SEATTLE'S DIVERSE
COMMUNITIES OF COLOR ,
RELIGIOUS MINORITIES, AND
GROUPS CONCERNED WITH PRIVACY
AND PROTESTS. THE MAYOR HAS
ALREADY APPOINTED TWO AT-LARGE
MEMBERS, AND THEIR STATUS AS
AT-LARGE MEMBERS WAS VALIDATED
AT THE MARCH 7 COMMUNITY
WORKING GROUP WHICH MEANS THAT
ALL THREE SEATS APPOINTED BY
CITY COUNCIL MUST REPRESENT
EQUITY FOCUSED ORGANIZATIONS
SERVING OR PROTECTING THE
RIGHTS OF COMMUNITIES AND
GROUPS HISTORICALLY SUBJECT TO
DISPROPORTIONATE SURVEILLANCE.
THE APPOINTMENT PACKET DOES NOT
STATE WHAT EQUITY FOCUSED
ORGANIZATION THEY REPRESENT,
THEREFORE IT SHALL NOT BE LEGAL
UNDER THE ORDINANCE TO APPOINT
THEM TO THE WORKING GROUP. IF
ALEX DOES REPRESENT AN EQUITY
FOCUSED ORGANIZATION, THEN THE
ORGANIZATION SHOULD BE INCLUDED
IN THE APPOINTMENT PACKET GIVEN
HOW CRITICAL IT IS WITHIN THE
WORDING . THANK YOU.
>> THAT IS OUR FINAL REMOTE
COMMENTOR.
>> THANK YOU SO MUCH. NO
ADDITIONAL PEOPLE SIGNED UP
ONLINE TO SPEAK? WE WILL NOW
PROCEED TO ITEMS OF BUSINESS
BUT I WANT TO ADDRESS THE SMALL
BUSINESS OWNER? WHAT IS YOUR
LAST NAME? CHRISTOPHER
STAPLETON. VERY NICE TO MEET
YOU. I KNOW THAT WE HAVE SOME
PRESENTERS FROM SPU HERE TO
TALK ABOUT THIS ISSUE THAT'S
GOING ON SO WE WILL ASK
QUESTIONS AND LOOK FORWARD TO
HEARING MORE ABOUT THIS ISSUE
SO THANK YOU FOR COMING HERE
TODAY. APPRECIATE IT. WILL THE
CLERK PLEASE READ AGENDA ITEM
ONE INTO THE RECORD? SORRY.
>> AGENDA ITEM NUMBER ONE IS
THE MOSS ADAMS SPU PRESENTATION
FOR BRIEFING AND DISCUSSION AND
OUR PRESENTER IS LAURIE TISH
FROM MOSS ADAMS.
>> WE ARE INVITING LAURIE TISH
ABOUT THE AUDIT . THIS IS THE
DEFINITION OF AN AUDIT FOR SPU.
THANK YOU FOR COMING TO HELP
EDUCATE US ON THE FINANCIAL
HEALTH OF SEATTLE PUBLIC
UTILITIES. THANK YOU FOR BEING
HERE. I KNOW WE ARE GETTING SET
UP WITH YOUR PRESENTATION. WE
ALL LOVE PUBLIC UTILITIES AND
DRINKING WATER AS I HEAR ONE OF
MY COLLEAGUES POUR WATER .
WOULD YOU GO AHEAD AND GIVE
YOUR NAME FOR THE RECORD?
>> THANK YOU. MY NAME IS LAURIE
TISH AND I AM A PARTNER WITH
MOSS ADAMS. I AM HERE WITH MY
COLLEAGUE NICOLE WHO WAS THE
MANAGER FOR OUR AUDITS. WE ARE
HERE TODAY TO GIVE A BACKGROUND
ON OUR FIRM AND PURPOSE AND
SCOPE OF THE AUDITS, PRIMARILY
BECAUSE SEVERAL OF YOU WE HAVE
NOT PRESENTED IN FRONT OF SO
I'M GOING TO GIVE A LITTLE
BACKGROUND BEFORE WE GO INTO
OUR AUDIT REPORT. FIRST OF ALL,
OUR FIRM IS MOSS ADAMS. WE ARE
HEADQUARTERED HERE IN SEATTLE
AND ARE THE 11th LARGEST FIRM
IN THE NATION AND THE LARGEST
IN NOT ONLY THE GREATER PUGET
SOUND AREA BUT IN THE STATE OF
WASHINGTON. WE DO SPECIALIZED
BY INDUSTRY GROUPS SO THE TEAM
THAT SERVES SEATTLE PUBLIC
UTILITIES IS COMPRISED OF
SPECIALISTS THAT SERVE
MUNICIPALITIES AND SPECIFICALLY
MUNICIPAL UTILITIES. I WANT TO
TALK A LITTLE BIT ABOUT THE
SCOPE AND AS WE GO THROUGH THE
SCOPE AND THE PURPOSE OF OUR
AUDITS I WILL TRY TO GIVE MORE
BACKGROUND INFORMATION AS WELL
BUT PLEASE STOP ME IF YOU HAVE
ANY QUESTIONS. WE PERFORM THE
FINANCIAL STATEMENT AUDITS FOR
EACH OF THE THREE UTILITIES.
WATER, DRAINAGE AND WASTEWATER,
AND SOLID WASTE. WHILE OUR
RESPONSIBILITY IS TO ACTUALLY
EXPRESS AN OPINION ON THE
FAIRNESS AND PRESENTATION OF
THOSE FINANCIAL STATEMENTS, SPU
MANAGEMENT COMPILES THE
FINANCIAL STATEMENTS, PREPARES
THEM AND ENSURES THEY ARE
COMPLETE AND ACCURATE EVEN
BEFORE WE START WORK. NICOLE IN
A MINUTE IS GOING TO GO INTO A
LITTLE MORE DETAIL ON WHAT AN
AUDIT IS COMPRISED OF BUT I DID
WANT TO STRESS THAT IN ADDITION
TO LOOKING AT ALL THE FINANCIAL
STATEMENT LINE ITEMS THAT YOU
SEE WE ALSO DO A DEEP DIVE INTO
CERTAIN SYSTEMS WITHIN THE
INTERNAL CONTROLS WHICH WE WILL
PROVIDE MORE DETAIL ON IN A
MOMENT. AGAIN, THE PURPOSE OF
OUR AUDIT IS SEVERALFOLD AND I
WANT TO REASSURE THIS COMMITTEE
THAT THERE'S NO DUPLICATION OF
EFFORTS. THE STATE AUDITOR IS
RESPONSIBLE FOR AUDITING THE
CITY OF SEATTLE. THE THREE
UTILITIES ROLL UP INTO THAT
CITY OF SEATTLE ANNUAL
COMPREHENSIVE FINANCIAL REPORT.
WE WORK VERY CLOSELY WITH THE
STATE AUDITOR TO MAKE SURE
THERE'S NO DUPLICATION OF
EFFORTS. FOR EXAMPLE, THEY
AUDIT CASH AND INVESTMENTS OF
THE CITY WHICH ARE THEN
ALLOCATED TO THE THREE FUNDS.
WE RELY ON THEIR WORK. AND THEN
AT THE END OF OUR AUDITS THEY
LOOK AT OUR WORKPAPERS AND OUR
REPORTS SO THAT THEY DON'T
DUPLICATE OR DO ANYTHING AGAIN
THAT WE HAVE ALREADY
ACCOMPLISHED IN THE COURSE OF
THOSE AUDITS SO WE DO VERY MUCH
WORK HAND-IN-HAND. I DID WANT
TO MENTION AGAIN WHAT THESE
REPORTS ARE USED FOR. THEY ARE
FOR THE BENEFIT OF ALL THE
CITIZENS OF THE CITY, FOR THE
RATEPAYERS OF THE THREE
UTILITIES, AND SPECIFICALLY FOR
BONDHOLDERS BECAUSE EACH OF
THESE THREE UTILITIES DO ISSUE
BONDS . NOW, I WANT TO TALK A
LITTLE BIT ABOUT THE REPORTS
THAT WE ISSUE. THERE'S TWO
REPORTS ISSUED FOR EACH
UTILITY. THE FIRST ONE IS A
FINANCIAL STATEMENT OPINION
WHICH RELATES TO THE FACT THAT
THOSE FINANCIAL STATEMENTS ARE
PRESENTED FAIRLY IN ACCORDANCE
WITH US GAAP WHICH STANDS FOR
GENERALLY ACCEPTED ACCOUNTING
PRINCIPLES. SO WE MAKE SURE
THAT ALL THE FINANCIAL
STATEMENT LINE ITEMS, THE
FOOTNOTE DISCLOSURES,
MANAGEMENT DISCUSSION AND
ANALYSIS THAT PRECEDES
FINANCIAL STATEMENTS ARE DONE
PROPERLY IN ACCORDANCE WITH
THOSE STANDARDS. EACH OF THE
REPORTS THAT WE ISSUED WERE
UNMODIFIED WHICH MEANS A CLEAN
OPINION SO THEY ALL WERE FAIRLY
PRESENTED. I WILL NOTE THAT
THERE WAS A PARAGRAPH ADDED TO
OUR REPORT THIS YEAR NOTING
THAT THERE WAS A NEW ACCOUNTING
STANDARD IMPLEMENTED BY THE
UTILITIES SO THAT IS VERY
ROUTINE AND AGAIN WHENEVER
THERE'S A NEW SUBS TENTATIVE--
SUBSTANTIVE TYPE OF ACCOUNTING
MATTER WE DO A-- THAT WE
ACKNOWLEDGE THIS WAS
IMPLEMENTED PROPERLY AND IS
DISCLOSED IN THE FOOTNOTES. WE
FINISHED OUR WORK IN LATE APRIL
AND ALL THREE REPORTS ARE DATED
APRIL 26. THOSE FINANCIAL
STATEMENTS ALONG WITH OPINIONS
HAVE BEEN ISSUED TO MANAGEMENT.
THE NEXT SET OF REPORTS THAT WE
ISSUE IS REALLY CALLED AN
INTERNAL CONTROL AND COMPLIANCE
REPORT . GOVERNMENT AUDITING
STANDARDS REQUIRE THAT WE GO IN
A PRETTY DEEP DIVE INTO THE
INTERNAL CONTROL STRUCTURE AND
AGAIN NICOLE WILL PROVIDE A
LITTLE MORE DETAIL ON EXACTLY
WHAT ACCOUNTS OF THOSE ARE. I
WILL SAY AGAIN, ANOTHER SET OF
CLEAN REPORTS, THERE WERE NO
MATERIAL WEAKNESSES NOTED, NO
SIGNIFICANT DEFICIENCIES WERE
REPORTED AND THOSE REPORTS WERE
ALSO DATED APRIL 26. THIS SLIDE
REALLY COVERS WHAT, AS
AUDITORS, OUR RESPONSIBILITY
IS. I'VE COVERED THAT WE ARE
EXPRESSING OUR OPINION ON THE
FAIRNESS OF PRESENTATION AND
WHEN WE DO AN AUDIT WE ARE
REQUIRED UNDER THE AMERICAN
INSTITUTE OF CPAS STANDARDS,
THAT'S THE ENTITY THAT GIVES
US AUDIT STANDARDS. WE ALSO
FOLLOW GOVERNMENT STANDARDS
WHICH PROVIDES A FEW MORE
REQUIREMENTS THAT WE MUST
FOLLOW WHEN WE CONDUCT OUR
AUDIT AND THAT IS A PRETTY
TYPICAL SET OF STANDARDS THAT
ARE USED FOR GOVERNMENTAL
ENTITIES ACROSS THE UNITED
STATES. I JUST WANTED TO STRESS
ON THIS POINT, WE DESIGNED THE
AUDIT TO OBTAIN REASONABLE
ASSURANCE. SO WE ARE NOT
TESTING EVERY TRANSACTION EVER
ENTERED INTO ALL YEAR LONG. WE
DO VERY MUCH A RISK-BASED
APPROACH AS FAR AS WHICH OF THE
ACCOUNTS WOULD CONTAIN THE MOST
RISK ? WHERE IS OUR TIME BEST
SPENT AUDITING SYSTEMS AND
AUDITING THOSE COMPLEX ACCOUNTS
SUCH AS ACCOUNTS THAT USE
ESTIMATION PROCEDURES WHEN
MANAGEMENT IS COMING UP WITH A
DOLLAR AMOUNT. SO AGAIN WE ARE
GIVING REASONABLE ASSURANCE
THAT THESE FINANCIAL STATEMENTS
ARE FAIRLY PRESENTED. AS I
MENTIONED EARLIER WE DO
CONSIDER INTERNAL CONTROLS AND
ALL OF THE SYSTEMS AND
PROCESSES THAT FEED INTO THOSE
FINANCIAL STATEMENTS. LESLIE,
THAT IS WHAT WE ARE DOING
TODAY. WE ARE COMMUNICATING
THOSE RESULTS TO YOU WHICH WE
VIEW YOU AS THE GOVERNANCE BODY
THAT SITS ABOVE MANAGEMENT THAT
OVERSEES THESE FINANCIAL
STATEMENTS. AT THIS POINT I
WANT TO TURN IT OVER TO NICOLE
WHO WILL TALK A LITTLE MORE IN
DETAIL ABOUT WHERE DO WE SPEND
OUR TIME AND WHAT ARE THE
ACCOUNTS WE SPEND THE MOST
EFFORT AND TIME ON?
>> THANK YOU. AS MENTIONED
EARLIER WE TAKE A RISK-BASED
APPROACH TO THE AUDIT AND SO AS
WE ARE DOING PLANNING AND BASED
ON OUR KNOWLEDGE OF THE
INDUSTRY , WE IDENTIFY KEY
AREAS OF EMPHASIS AND PLAN
PROCEDURES ACCORDINGLY BASED ON
OUR ASSESSMENT. THIS IS NOT A
COMPREHENSIVE LIST BUT WE
WANTED TO HIGHLIGHT SOME OF
THESE AREAS THAT WE PLACE
PARTICULAR EMPHASIS ON DURING
TESTING AND PROCEDURES.
STARTING OFF WITH CASH AND
INVESTMENTS, WE LEVERAGE WORK
FROM THE STATE AUDITOR HERE BUT
WE MAKE SURE THAT ALL OF THEIR
FINDINGS AND THE NUMBERS
THEY'VE TESTED AGREE TO WHAT
HAS BEEN REPORTED TO US . FOR
UTILITY PLANT AND RELATED
ACCOUNTS WE DO EXTENSIVE WORK
AROUND THE WORK ORDER CYCLE
INCLUDING FROM AN INTERNAL
CONTROL PERSPECTIVE AND
DETAILED TESTING WHICH INCLUDES
LOOKING AT WHAT HAS BEEN
RECORDED TO VARIOUS PROJECTS
UNDER DIFFERENT BUCKETS AND
TALKING WITH PROJECT MANAGERS
FOR KEY PROJECTS WE'VE
SELECTED AND A VARIETY OF OTHER
PROCEDURES AROUND INTANGIBLE
RIGHT TO USE ASSETS AND LEASES
WHICH ARE SOME OF THE NEW
STANDARDS WHICH WE WILL TALK
MORE ABOUT AS WELL AS
DEPRECIATION AND OTHER OVERHEAD
CHARGES. WE PERFORM PROCEDURES
AROUND ACCOUNTS AND OTHER
RECEIVABLES WHICH INCLUDE
CONFIRMATION WITH OTHER CITY
FUNDS AND SUBSEQUENT CASH
RECEIPTS AND A VARIETY OF OTHER
ANALYSIS AROUND THOSE
RECEIVABLES. WE DO EXTENSIVE
TESTING AROUND BONDS AND
RELATED ACCOUNTS PARTICULARLY
WHEN THERE HAVE BEEN ISSUANCES.
THERE WERE ISSUANCES FROM ONE
OF THE FUNDS BUT OTHERWISE WE
ARE DOING TESTING OVER INTEREST
EXPENSE AND COMPLIANCE AND ALL
THE OTHER ASPECTS AROUND THOSE
BOND RELATED ACCOUNTS. WE
PERFORM TESTING OVER REGULATORY
ASSETS AND LIABILITIES WHICH
INCLUDE CREDIT AND DEFERRED
ACCOUNTS AND IS LARGELY MADE UP
OF PENSION RELATED ITEMS AND
OTHER SPECIFIC AREAS WITH
POSTEMPLOYMENT BENEFITS AND
THINGS OF THAT NATURE. THE
INTERNAL CONTROL WORK THAT WE
DO SPANS ALL OF THE SIGNIFICANT
AND APPLICABLE BUSINESS CYCLES.
FOR CERTAIN OF THOSE WE TAKE
CONTROL OF RELIANCE AND PERFORM
ADDITIONAL TESTING TO TEST THE
EFFECTIVENESS OF THOSE BUT WE
HAVE A LIST OF SOME OF THE KEY
AREAS BEING RETHE OTHER AREAS
INCLUDING IT AND CUBE COMPUTER
RELATED CONTROLS IN GENERAL.
>> I WILL ADD THAT WE HAVE A
TEAM OF SPECIALISTS WHO ARE
VERY WELL TRAINED , SPECIALIST
IN INFORMATION TECHNOLOGY THAT
HANDLE THAT PART OF THE AUDIT
WE WORK CLOSELY HAND-IN-HAND.
THEY DO THE WORK USUALLY IN
FALL SO WE CAN RELY ON ANYTHING
THEY HAVE NOTED WITHIN THE
SYSTEM. THERE IS A LOT OF
INTEGRATION IN THE INTERNAL
CONTROLS TESTING WITH AUTOMATED
GENERAL COMPUTER CONTROLS OR
WITHIN THE SYSTEM AND THINGS WE
TEST, ARE THROUGH SAMPLING. IT
SEEMS LIKE EVERY YEAR MORE AND
MORE OF OUR AUDIT HOURS ARE
SPENT WITH OUR IT TEAM AS
THINGS GET MORE TECH KNOWLEDGE
HE RELATED.
>> CONTINUING WITH OUR LIST,
CRUDE LIABILITIES IS A
SIGNIFICANT AREA FOR US
PARTICULARLY AROUND
ENVIRONMENTAL REMEDIATION AND
OBLIGATIONS AROUND LANDFILL
CLOSURE AND HOST CLOSURE. WE
MEET WITH THE CITY ATTORNEY AND
PROJECT MANAGERS THAT ARE
KNOWLEDGEABLE ON THE ACTIVITIES
SO WE CAN TEST THE SUFFICIENCY
OF THE LIABILITIES AS THEY HAVE
BEEN RECORDED. GENERAL
OPERATIONS INCLUDING REVENUE
AND EXPENSES , WHICH INCLUDES
BOTH RETAIL, WHOLESALE AND
SALES AS WELL AS CONTRIBUTIONS
AND GRANTS INCOME. WE TEST THE
CLASSIFICATION OF NET POSITION
BETWEEN VARIOUS RESTRICTIONS ,
CAPITAL ASSETS AND UNRESTRICTED
AND THEN THE MANAGEMENT
DISCUSSION AND ANALYSIS, WE
REVIEW ALL THE ITEMS BEFORE THE
FINANCIAL STATEMENTS TO MAKE
SURE THEY ARE CONSISTENT WITH
THE INFORMATION THAT WE HAVE
AUDITED , AND FOOTNOTE
DISCLOSURES.
>> BEFORE WE MOVE INTO WHAT WE
CALL REQUIRED DISCUSSION,
COMMUNICATION WITH THIS BODY,
ARE THERE ANY QUESTIONS ON
AUDIT SCOPE PURPOSE OR THE
ACCOUNTS THAT WE DIVE INTO?
OKAY. I WANT TO RECOGNIZE
COUNCILMEMBER STRAUSS.
>> THANK YOU. -- FROM DISTRICT
6 OFFICE. APOLOGIZE FOR NOT
BEING IN PERSON WITH YOU. WHEN
YOU MENTIONED THIS WAS ROLLED
UP INTO THE OTHER CITY BUDGET
AUDITS, I KNOW THREE AUDITS,
TWO DONE BY THE STATE AND ONE
DONE BY FEDERAL. WOULD YOU SAY
THIS ROSEN TO A CSR OR
ACCOUNTING?
>> THAT ROLLS ON INTO THE
ANNUAL COMPREHENSIVE FINANCIAL
REPORT . THEY ARE FINANCIAL
STATEMENTS, AND THEN THAT IS
THE AUDIT THAT I WAS REFERRING
TO , THE FINANCIAL STATEMENT
AUDITOR THAT THE STATE AUDITOR
PERFORMS.
>> FANTASTIC . THANK YOU SO
MUCH.
>> AS PREVIOUSLY NOTED, UNDER
AUDITING STANDARDS WE HAVE
MATTERS THAT WE COMMUNICATE TO
YOU AS GOVERNANCE FOR THE
UTILITY AND THE FIRST OF THOSE
IS THE SIGNIFICANT ACCOUNTING
PRACTICES AND OUR VIEWS ON WHAT
THOSE ARE WHICH INCLUDES
POLICIES ESTIMATES AND
FINANCIAL STATEMENT
DISCLOSURES. BASED ON OUR AUDIT
WE BELIEVE THAT THESE ARE
SUFFICIENTLY DISCLOSED AND
APPLIED. WE WANTED TO CALL A
FEW OF THOSE KEY ESTIMATES HERE
THAT WE PAY PARTICULAR
ATTENTION TO , SOME OF WHICH
INCLUDE UNBILLED REVENUE,
ALLOWANCE FOR DOUBTFUL
ACCOUNTS, SOME BOND RELATED
ESTIMATES, DEPRECIABLE LIVES OF
ASSETS, ENVIRONMENTAL
LIABILITIES AND OTHER TYPES OF
CONTINGENCIES. THE LANDFILL
CLOSURE AND POST CLOSURE COSTS
AND OTHER POSTEMPLOYMENT
BENEFITS AND COMPENSATED
ABSENCES. WE ARE HAPPY TO
REPORT THAT THERE WERE NO
SIGNIFICANT DIFFICULTIES THAT
WE ENCOUNTERED DURING OUR AUDIT
OR DISAGREEMENTS WITH
MANAGEMENT SO NOT MUCH TO TALK
ABOUT THERE.
>> LUCKILY.
>> NEXT WE REPORT IF THERE ARE
ANY UNCORRECTED STATEMENTS OR
MATERIAL MISSTATEMENTS THAT
WERE CORRECTED, THERE WAS
NOTHING THAT WE IDENTIFIED AS A
RESULT OF OUR AUDIT THAT WERE
EITHER UNCORRECTED OR
CORRECTED.
>> I ALSO WANT TO COMMENT THAT
THAT'S A BIT UNUSUAL. WE
TYPICALLY DO FIND SOME, IF NOT
MATERIAL ADJUSTMENTS WE OFTEN
FIND SMALL AMOUNTS THAT WE
WOULD PASS ON JUST BECAUSE THEY
ARE SO SMALL BUT WE ARE HERE TO
TELL YOU THERE WERE NONE. NO
ADJUSTMENTS, NO PAST
ADJUSTMENTS AT ALL.
>> MANAGEMENT MAKES CERTAIN
REPRESENTATIONS THROUGH US
THROUGH REPRESENTATION LETTERS
FOR EACH FUND WHICH WE
COMMUNICATE TO YOU THAT THERE
ARE CERTAIN THINGS AS PART OF
THE AUDIT ON THE INFORMATION
PROVIDED TO US FOR TESTING
PURPOSES AND THEN LASTLY THIS
GENERAL BUCKET OF OTHER
FINDINGS . THERE WAS A NEW
ACCOUNTING STANDARD THAT WAS
APPLICABLE DURING THE CURRENT
YEAR. 96 IS AROUND
SUBSCRIPTION-BASED INFORMATION
TECHNOLOGY ARRANGEMENTS. THIS
IS SIMILAR TO A STANDARD THAT
WAS EFFECTIVE LAST YEAR THAT
BROUGHT LEASES TO THE BALANCE
SHEET AND THIS IS A SIMILAR
SITUATION BRINGING IT
ARRANGEMENTS ON TO THE BALANCE
SHEET WHERE YOU HAVE A RIGHT TO
USE ASSET AND A CORRESPONDING
LIABILITY FOR FUTURE PAYMENTS
FOR THAT RIGHT TO USE ASSET.
THERE WAS AN IMMATERIAL IMPACT
FOR ALL OF THE UTILITIES. EACH
OF THE THREE FUNDS SO BECAUSE
OF THAT THE PRIOR YEAR 2022
NUMBERS WERE NOT RESTATED FOR
THIS BECAUSE OF THE IMMATERIAL
IMPACT. THERE WERE NO
CONSULTATIONS BY MANAGEMENT
WITH OTHER ACCOUNTANTS , AND
LASTLY THESE COUPLE OF ITEMS,
THERE ARE CERTAIN EXPOSURES IN
THE OVER NERI -- ORDINARY
COURSE OF BUSINESS AND THEN WE
AS A FIRM INDEPENDENT OF
SEATTLE PUBLIC UTILITIES AND I
WANT TO AFFIRM THAT .
>> BEFORE WE CLOSE I WANT TO
SPEND A FEW MOMENTS-- THIS
AUDIT WENT EXTRAORDINARILY,
VERY, VERY WELL. EVERYTHING WAS
EARLY WITH RESPECT TO GETTING
US THE SCHEDULES THAT WE NEEDED
AND THE DRAFTS OF FINANCIAL
STATEMENTS. WE FELT WE HAD VERY
STRONG COMMUNICATION BETWEEN
OUR TEAM AND MANAGEMENT'S
TEAM. WE HAD WEEKLY MEETINGS
THAT STARTED LAST FALL WHEN WE
STARTED OUR INTERIM AND
PLANNING WORK THAT CONTINUED
ALL THE WAY UP UNTIL THE END OF
APRIL WHEN WE ISSUED OUR PORTS.
I ALSO WANTED TO COMMENT.
AUDITS ARE VERY INTRUSIVE. WE
ARE NOT JUST IN THE ACCOUNTING
DEPARTMENT. WE ARE OUT WITH THE
CITY ATTORNEY AND THE
ENVIRONMENTAL SPECIALIST'S. WE
ARE TALKING TO PROJECT
MANAGERS. WE DO A REALLY DEEP
DIVE INTO CAPITAL PROJECTS AND
WORK ORDERS SO WE ARE TALKING
TO MANAGERS OUT IN THE FIELD
THAT HAVE NOTHING TO DO WITH
ACCOUNTING AND JUST GETTING
MORE EVIDENCE FOR HOW THE
PROJECTS ARE BEING ACCOUNTED
FOR. WE ARE OUT AND ABOUT
THROUGHOUT THE ENTIRETY OF THE
OPERATIONS OF SEATTLE PUBLIC
UTILITIES AND I HAVE TO SAY
EVERYBODY'S VERY NICE TO US
AND WELCOMES US WITH OPEN ARMS.
WE KNOW WE ARE BEING INTRUSIVE.
THEY HAVE THEIR NORMAL DAY JOB
AND HAVE TO TAKE TIME OUT TO
PREPARE THINGS FOR US AND TALK
TO US AND ANSWER OUR QUESTIONS.
AND WITHOUT EXCEPTION, VERY
PROFESSIONAL CONDUCT WE NOTE A
VERY STRONG TONE AT THE TOP, IS
WHAT WE CALL IT WHEN WE LOOK AT
THE TOP DOWN NOT ONLY FROM
GOVERNANCE BUT FROM SENIOR
MANAGEMENT. THAT ATTITUDE OF
OPENNESS AND CANDOR AND BEING
WILLING TO OPEN THE BOOKS AND
OPEN THE RECORDS AND BE
AUDITED, THAT GOES ALONG WAY
TOWARD A POSITIVE EXPERIENCE
CERTAINLY FOR US BUT TO JUST
GET RELIANCE ON YOUR INTERNAL
CONTROL STRUCTURE AND
UNDERSTAND WHERE THE ACCOUNTS
COME FROM. I THINK THAT TONE
AND THAT ENVIRONMENT IS WHY WE
HAD NO ADJUSTMENTS. NO MATERIAL
WEAKNESSES OR CONTROL
DEFICIENCIES TO BRING TO YOUR
ATTENTION. EVERYTHING WENT ON
TIME, THE RESULT WAS VERY
POSITIVE AND I JUST WANTED TO
SAY A BIG THANK YOU TO SPU
MANAGEMENT AT EVERY LEVEL AND
THEIR STAFF. IT WAS A VERY GOOD
EXPERIENCE AND COULD NOT HAVE
GONE BETTER.
>> THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR THE
PRESENTATION. IT'S GREAT TO
HEAR THAT THE AUDIT WENT
REALLY, REALLY WELL AND COULD
NOT AGREE WITH YOU MORE FROM
THE TOP DOWN AND WELL RUN. THE
EXPERIENCE I'VE HAD HAS BEEN
PHENOMENAL SO. WOULD LOVE TO
OPEN IT UP TO MY COLLEAGUES IF
THEY HAVE ANY QUESTIONS. I SEE
COUNCILMEMBER RIVERA YOU ARE
RECOGNIZED.
>> THANK YOU, CHAIR. I ECHO
YOUR GRATITUDE. DIRECTOR LEE
AND HIS TEAM HAVE DONE A GREAT
JOB PARTNERING WITH THE FIRM.
THANK YOU FOR ALL YOU ARE
DOING. THIS IS A GREAT EXAMPLE
OF FINANCIAL AUDIT AND IT IS
REALLY AN EXERCISE IN MAKING
SURE THAT OUR BOOKS ARE IN
GREAT SHAPE SO THAT IS REALLY
SOMETHING THAT'S GREAT TO HEAR
AND INSPIRES CONFIDENCE. REALLY
APPRECIATE ALL THE GREAT WORK
THAT YOU DO. AND I ALSO WANTED
TO UNDERSCORE, IT JUST SO
HAPPENS THAT I HAD A
CONVERSATION WITH THE INTERIM
DIRECTOR WITH THE CITY FIND IT
-- CITY FINANCE OFFICE WHO IS
TALKING ABOUT IT AND HOW MORE
AND MORE THE FINANCE TEAMS HAVE
TO WORK WITH IT BECAUSE SO MUCH
OF THIS USED TO HAVE TO BE DONE
MANUALLY AND NOW WE ARE RELIANT
ON COMPUTERS TO DO THE WORK.
SOMETHING THAT SEEMS OBVIOUS
AND YET I HAD NOT REALLY
THOUGHT ABOUT HOW MUCH YOU ALL
HAVE TO DO IN THAT SPACE. SO
IT'S APPLICABLE WITH WHAT YOU
ARE SAYING , REALLY APPRECIATE
YOU FLAGGING THAT BECAUSE THIS
IS AN IMPORTANT PIECE. SO THANK
YOU.
>> THANK YOU, COUNCILMEMBER.
COUNCILMEMBER CATTLE? I SEE YOU
HAVE YOUR HAND UP . NOT HANDS,
HAND.
>> THANK YOU, CHAIR
HOLLINGSWORTH. I JUST WANTED TO
PASS A THANK YOU. THIS IS MY
BASELINE, THIS IS MY FIRST
AUDIT BRIEFING. AS I LOOK AT
OTHER DEPARTMENTS THAT MAY BE
OUT IN THE AUDIENCE, WELL
THERE'S YOUR BENCHMARK AND
HOPEFULLY THEY MATCHUP. FOR ALL
THE OTHER HEADS OF DEPARTMENTS,
THERE'S YOUR STANDARD. NOT
THAT I'M LOOKING AT ANY
OTHERS, BUT THANK YOU.
>> COUNCIL PRESIDENT NELSON?
>> I WILL SIMPLY SAY IF I AM
EVER AUDITED I WANT AN
EXTRAORDINARILY, VERY VERY WELL
GRADE ON MY REPORT CARD. THAT
SOUNDS ABOVE-AVERAGE TO ME SO
THANK YOU VERY MUCH FOR YOUR
DILIGENCE AND SHOUT OUT TO
LEADERSHIP AND EVERYBODY WHO
PARTICIPATED IN THIS. THANK YOU
VERY MUCH. ULTIMATELY IT GETS
TO PUBLIC TRUST IN GOVERNMENT
AND THAT'S WHY IT'S
IMPORTANT.
>> I CAN ECHO THAT. IT'S HUGE.
THE HEALTH OF SPU IS GOOD . SO
FREEWATER NEXT YEAR IS WHAT I
HEAR? NO? JUST PLAYING. THANK
YOU ALL FOR THAT . REALLY
APPRECIATE YOU ALL COMING HERE
AND IF THERE'S NO FURTHER
QUESTIONS WE WILL MOVE TO
AGENDA ITEM NUMBER TWO.
>> AGENDA ITEM NUMBER TWO INTO
THE RECORD?
>> AGENDA ITEM NUMBER TWO IS AN
ORDINANCE RELATED TO SEATTLE
PUBLIC UTILITIES AUTHORIZING
THE ACQUISITION OF REAL
PROPERTY BY NEGOTIATION OR
EMINENT DOMAIN, CONDEMNATION OF
SEVEN SEPARATE ARSENALS OF
LAND, PROPERTIES OR EMINENT
DOMAIN. COMBINATION OF LEASES
LOCATED AT 7760 8th AVE.,
SOUTH, 803 SOUTH CHICAGO ST.,
811 SOUTH CHICAGO ST., 7814 8th
AVE. S., 7808 8th AVE. S., 836
SOUTH CANYON ST., AND 850 SOUTH
CANYON ST. AUTHORIZING THE
GENERAL MANAGER AND CHIEF
EXECUTIVE OFFICER OF SEATTLE
PUBLIC UTILITIES TO EXECUTE ALL
DOCUMENTS AND TAKE OTHER
NECESSARY ACTIONS TO COMPLETE
THE ACQUISITION OF PROPERTIES
INCLUDING THE ACCEPTANCE AND
RECORDING OF THE DEEDS, AND
RATIFYING AND CONFIRMING
CERTAIN PRIOR ACTS THIS IS FOR
BRIEFING, DISCUSSION OF
POSSIBLE VOTE. RESENTING TODAY
ARE GERRY CARUSO AND CHRISTINA
KAPOI FROM SEATTLE PUBLIC
UTILITIES.
>> THANK YOU ALL FOR BEING
HERE. I'M LOOKING FORWARD TO
THE PRESENTATION AND I WOULD
LIKE TO NOTE THAT WE HAVE
COUNCIL STAFF, ONE OF MY
FAVORITE HERE, BRIAN, AND
PROBABLY ESSENTIAL STAFF
WATCHING. ALL OF YOU ALL MY FIT
ARE MY FAVORITE AND I JUST WANT
TO THROW THAT OUT THERE. PLEASE
INTRODUCE YOURSELF FOR THE
RECORD AND YOU CAN BEGIN YOUR
PRESENTATION.
>> THANK YOU, CHAIRMAN. GOOD
AFTERNOON AND WELCOME
CHAIRPERSON. COMMITTEE MEMBERS
AND MEMBERS OF THE PUBLIC, MY
NAME IS GERRY CARUSO ANE
POP PROPERTY MANAGER FOR
SEATTLE PUBLIC UTILITIES. I AM
HERE WITH CHRISTINA KAPOI WHO
IS THE PROJECT MANAGER FOR THE
SOUTH PARK WATER QUALITY
PROJECT AND WE ARE HERE TO
PRESENT AN ORDINANCE ON THE
PURCHASE OF PROPERTY IN THE
SOUTH PARK AREA OF SEATTLE.
GENERALLY WE ARE PURCHASING
PARCELS TO CONSTRUCT THE
FACILITY TO FILTER STORM WATER
. HOW DO I DO IT? I DON'T KNOW.
SORRY. THIS LEGISLATION
AUTHORIZES SPU TO ACQUIRE SEVEN
PARCELS LOCATED AT THE--
WATERWAY IN SOUTHPARK TO
CONSTRUCT FACILITY. CHRISTINA
WILL PROVIDE YOU WITH THE LOGIC
BACKGROUND AND THE NEED AND
FUNCTIONALITY OF THE PROJECT
BUT I WANT TO GIVE YOU A BRIEF
-- A REVIEW OF SOME OF THE
PROJECT MILESTONES. IN 2013
THERE WAS A CONSENT DECREE FOR
COMBINED SEWER OVERFLOWS AND
THE PURCHASE OF THIS PROPERTY
AND THE BUILDING OF THIS WATER
QUALITY FACILITY WILL HELP THE
CITY FULFILL ITS OBLIGATIONS
UNDER THAT CONSENT DECREE BY
ALLOWING FOR AN INTEGRATED PLAN
TO IMPLEMENT STORMWATER
CONTROLS PROJECTS. IN LINE WITH
THE POLICY OF THE CITY OF THE
ACQUISITION OF CITY POLICY
SHOULD BE CONDUCTED IN THE
CONTEXT OF LONG-RANGE VISION,
RESPONSIBLE STEWARDSHIP AND
TAKING INTO ACCOUNT CURRENT AND
FUTURE GENERATIONS. THE PROJECT
TEAM CONDUCT DID AN EXTENSIVE
SITE ANALYSIS AND EVALUATION
PRIOR TO SELECTING IT FOR THE
PROJECT. BETWEEN 2018 AND 2021,
WE VIEWED OTHER PROPERTIES TO
EVALUATE SUITABILITY FOR THE
PROJECT . SOME OF THE CRITICAL
AREAS , SITE EVALUATION, SITE
ANALYSIS AND INCLUDED SIZE. IT
IS A LOCATION ADJACENT TO THE
DUWAMISH AND THE SOUTH
WORKSTATION WHICH THIS PROJECT
WILL WORK IN CONJUNCTION WITH.
AND THE AVAILABILITY , THE CITY
DID NOT WANT TO CONDEMN , AND
PREFERRED A SITE THAT WAS ON
THE MARKET AS OPPOSED TO-- OR A
SITE WHERE THE OWNER WAS
WILLING TO SELL. THE PROJECT
GAINED APPROVAL FROM THE
DRAINAGE AND WASTEWATER
DEPARTMENT ALLOWING FOR THE
LINE OF BUSINESS TO MOVE
FORWARD WITH OPTIONS ANALYSIS
IN 2021. A LETTER OF INTENT WAS
SENT TO SILVER BAY IN 2021 AS
WELL . THE REAL ESTATE --
COMMITTEE, INITIALLY WE CAME IN
2021 AND WITH A REVISED
STRATEGY PLAN THERE WAS AN
UPDATED APPROVAL IN AUGUST
2023. THERE WAS A PHASE 1
ENVIRONMENTAL ASSESSMENT
CONDUCTED AND THE MAYOR'S
OFFICE WAS BRIEF . THE OPTIONS
ANALYSIS, THE FUNDING AND THE
ENVIRONMENTAL REVIEW.
APPRAISALS WERE COMPLETED LAST
FALL AND THIS SPRING AND GRANT
FUNDING WAS RECENTLY APPROVED
THROUGH THE LEGISLATIVE BUDGET
IN MARCH 2024. THE ACTUAL
PARCELS , THE ACQUISITION
INVOLVES PURCHASING PROPERTY
FROM SEVERAL DIFFERENT PROPERTY
OWNERS. SILVER BAY LOGGING OWNS
FOUR PARCELS DEPICTED ON THE
PLAN AND WE HAVE A SIGNED
PURCHASE AND SALE AGREEMENT FOR
THE PURCHASE OF THOSE PARCELS.
STANLEY-- ON THE TWO OTHER
PARCELS SHOWN ON THE PLAN. ONE
CONSISTS OF A WAREHOUSE AND
STORAGE YARD AND THE SMALL
TRIANGULAR PARCEL ON THE BOTTOM
RIGHT IS OWNED INDIVIDUALLY AND
THAT IS A RESIDENTIAL DWELLING.
JUST A NOTE, STAN MOSHIER IS
THE PRINCIPLE OF JAMMA SO WE
ARE IN NEGOTIATIONS FOR HIS
INDIVIDUALLY OWNED PROPERTY AND
HIS LLC OWNED PROPERTY. AND THE
LAST PARCEL IS OWNED BY RJ &
BA. PLEASE NOTE THAT THE
OWNERS OF SILVER BAY ARE THE
PRINCIPAL OWNERS OF RJ & BA. SO
FOR CLARITY, THERE ARE FOUR
SEPARATE PROPERTY OWNERS AND
SEVEN PARCELS BUT THEY ARE ALL
OWNED BY TWO PRINCIPALS. THE
OWNER OF SILVER BAY, AND STAND
MOSHIER. -- AND STANLEY
MOSHIER. I WILL TURN THE
MICROPHONE OVER TO CHRISTINA
AND SHE CAN TELL MORE ABOUT THE
PROJECT BACKGROUND.
>> THE SOUTH WATER FACILITY
PROJECT IS A REGIONAL
STORMWATER QUALITY TREATMENT
FACILITY THAT WILL TREAT STORM
WATER FROM THE 7th AVE., SOUTH
DRAINAGE ACE AND WHICH IS
APPROXIMATELY 238 ACRES. IT IS
IMPORTANT TO NOTE THAT THE
WATER QUALITY FACILITY WILL NOT
BE TREATING ALL OF THE STORM
WATER FROM THIS BASIN. THE
FACILITY WILL TREAT 85 MILLION
GALLONS PER YEAR OF STORM WATER
AND TO HELP PUT THIS IN
PERSPECTIVE BECAUSE THAT'S
HARD TO IMAGINE, THIS IS
APPROXIMATELY EQUAL TO 130
OLYMPIC -SIZED SWIMMING POOLS.
AND THIS IS APPROXIMATELY 35%
OF THE ESTIMATED ANNUAL
STORMWATER RUNOFF WITHIN THIS
BASIN. THE WATER QUALITY
FACILITY WILL REMOVE POLLUTANTS
FROM RUNOFF FROM THIS PRIMARILY
HEAVILY INDUSTRIAL AREA EVEN
THOUGH THE WATER QUALITY
FACILITY IS NOT DESIGNED TO
TREAT ALL OF THE STORM WATER,
IT WILL TREAT WHAT IS CALLED
THE FIRST FLUSH WHICH HAPPENS
DURING THE FIRST RAIN EVENT OF
THE WET SEASON , WHICH IS WHERE
WE SEE A SIGNIFICANT PORTION OF
SEDIMENT AND POLLUTANTS WITHIN
THE STORM WATER ITSELF. THE
WATER QUALITY FACILITY IS
ESTIMATED TO REMOVE BETWEEN 21
AND 27 TONS OF SOLID MATERIAL
OR SEDIMENT WITHIN THE BASIN,
PER YEAR. AND AGAIN TO HELP PUT
THIS IN PERSPECTIVE, A GOOD
FRAME OF REFERENCE IS THAT THIS
IS APPROXIMATELY EQUAL TO FOUR
ELEMENTS. A FULLY LOADED
GARBAGE TRUCK SO IT IS A
SIGNIFICANT AMOUNT OF SEDIMENT
AND POLLUTANTS THAT WOULD BE
REMOVED WITHIN THIS BASIN.
CURRENTLY STORMWATER IS
DIRECTLY DISCHARGED TO THE
LOWER DUWAMISH WATERWAY WHICH
IS A FEDERAL SUPERFUND CLEANUP
SITE THE WATER QUALITY FACILITY
WOULD REMOVE POLLUTANTS BEFORE
IT IS DISCHARGED TO THE RIVER
WHICH WOULD REDUCE THE
POTENTIAL FOR RE-CONTAMINATING
THE RIVER AFTER IT HAS BEEN
CLEANED UP. AS MENTIONED, THIS
PROJECT IS ONE OF THREE
STORMWATER PROJECTS THAT WERE
SELECTED FROM THE INTEGRATED
PLAN IN 2015 WHICH WAS APPROVED
BY THE EPA AND ECOLOGY UNDER
THE COMBINED -- OVERFLOW
CONSENT DECREE. THE MAIN
OBJECTIVE OF THIS PROJECT IS TO
IMPROVE WATER QUALITY BY
REMOVING POLLUTANTS. IN
ADDITION TO THIS BENEFIT THE
PROJECT IS ALSO BALANCING A
NUMBER OF OTHER ADDITIONAL
GOALS INCLUDING PROVIDING SAFE
AND ACCESSIBLE FACILITY THAT
CAN BE EFFECTIVELY OPERATED AND
MAINTAINED AS WELL AS
INTEGRATING A NUMBER OF
COMMUNITY BENEFITS THAT ALIGN
WITH THE DUWAMISH VALLEY ACTION
PLAN WHICH WAS DEVELOPED" CLOSE
COORDINATION WITH THE SOUTH
PARK COMMUNITY SUCH AS
PROVIDING ADDITIONAL ACCESSIBLE
RIVER ACCESS , NEIGHBORHOOD
CONNECTIVITY AND GREEN SPACE.
THIS PROJECT HAS BEEN
DEVELOPING TECHNICAL OPTIONS
FOR TREATING THE STORM WATER
OVER THE LAST FEW YEARS AND WE
ANTICIPATE COMPLETING THIS
EVALUATION AND SELECTING AN
OPTION TO MOVE FORWARD INTO
DESIGN THIS SUMMER. THIS
FACILITY WILL CONSIST OF A
ROBUST MULTI-STAGED TREATMENT
PROCESS THAT ENTAILS CONVEYING
THE STORM WATER FROM THE SOUTH
PARK PUMP STATION TO THE WATER
QUALITY FACILITY SITE WHERE IT
WILL PASS THROUGH A SCREEN TO
REMOVE A LOT OF THE LARGER
MATERIALS BEFORE THE WATER
FLOWS THROUGH THE PRIMARY
TREATMENT ELEMENT WHERE THE
BULK OF THE SEDIMENT AND
POLLUTANTS ARE REMOVED. THE
LAST STEP PROVIDES ADDITIONAL
FILTRATION AND REMOVAL OF
SEDIMENT AND POLLUTANTS BEFORE
THE CLEANER WATER IS THEN
DISCHARGED INTO THE DUWAMISH.
IN SUMMATION, SPU HAS COMPLETED
A ROBUST DUE DILIGENCE PROCESS
TO SELECT THE SITE FOR THE
WATER QUALITY FACILITY AND HAS
DETERMINED THAT THESE SEVEN
PARCELS ARE BEST SUITED FOR THE
LOCATION OF THIS PROJECT IN
PART, DUE TO THE PROXIMITY OF
THE SOUTH PARK PUMP STATION AND
THE DUWAMISH AS AN OUT FALL.
AND AS MENTIONED, IT IS SIZED
APPROPRIATELY TO CONSTRUCT THE
WATER QUALITY FACILITY. IN
ADDITION, ALL OF THE PROPERTY
OWNERS ARE WILLING SELLERS.
THIS IS A MULTI-BENEFIT PROJECT
THAT WILL NOT ONLY PROVIDE
SOURCE CONTROL TO THE DUWAMISH
RIVER BY TREATING AND CLEANING
STORM WATER BEFORE IT IS
DISCHARGED, BUT ALSO PROVIDING
ADDITIONAL COMMUNITY BENEFITS
SUCH AS EXPANDING WATERFRONT
ACCESS AND HABITAT RESTORATION.
IT ALSO ALLOWS US TO MOVE
FORWARD WITH THE DESIGN AND
EVENTUAL CONSTRUCTION OF THIS
PROJECT TO ENSURE THAT WE MEET
THE COMBINED SEWER OVERFLOW
CONSENT DECREE DEADLINE. THANK
YOU. THAT CONCLUDES OUR
PRESENTATION.
>> AND WE ARE OPEN TO
QUESTIONS.
>> I WANT TO OPEN IT UP TO MY
COLLEAGUES BEFORE I ASK SOME
QUESTIONS. I WILL PAUSE AND
WAIT . OKAY. COUNCILMEMBER
STRAUSS.
>> YOU GOT ME, CHAIR. COUNCIL
MEMBER KETTLE IS COMING UP,
HIS FAVORITE PRESENTER MIGHT BE
THE FAVORITE PRESENTER BUT
GERRY CARUSO YOU ARE A THERE IN
MY BOOK. GREAT PRESENTATION
TODAY. THIS MAKES GOOD SENSE TO
ME AND I ALSO WANTED TO TACK ON
COMMENTS TO THE PUBLIC COMMENT.
WE DEPEND ON YOUR BUSINESS TO
ENSURE THAT DRYWALL DOES NOT GO
TO LANDFILLS FOR ALL THE
REASONS YOU MENTION. I WILL
TAKE THIS MOMENT TO PUT IN A
PITCH FOR YOU THAT WE HAVE A
LOT OF GREAT LAND UP HERE IN
THE INDUSTRIAL CENTER IN
DISTRICT 6 AND DISTRICT 7 AND
WE WOULD LOVE TO KEEP BUSINESS
IN SEATTLE AND THERE'S A LOT
OF OPPORTUNITIES UP HERE.
>> COUNCIL MEMBER KETTLE?
>> THANK YOU, CHAIR . I JUST
HAD A QUICK QUESTION. I'VE
BEEN MORE TO THE NORTHERN PART
OF SEATTLE AND I'VE READ
STORIES BUT IN TERMS OF PUTTING
IT INTO CONTEXT, THE OVERALL
NEED, IN TERMS OF THE LOWER
DUWAMISH, WHERE ARE WE TO GET
TO THAT CONSENT DECREE? SOME
CONTEXT IN THAT RESPECT.
>> IN REGARDS TO THIS PROJECT
AND THE CONSENT DECREE
REQUIREMENTS, WE ARE CURRENTLY
IN OPTIONS ANALYSIS AND WOULD
NEED TO MOVE THROUGH DESIGN AND
CONSTRUCTION. I KNOW THAT THERE
ARE RECENT NEGOTIATIONS
REGARDING THE DEADLINE FOR THE
CONSENT DECREE AND I BELIEVE
THAT IT IS GOING TO BE EXTENDED
UNTIL 2030 SO THAT IS OUR
DEADLINE THAT WE ARE WORKING
TOWARDS HAVING THE FACILITY
OPERATIONAL AND ONLINE.
>> SO ONCE THIS IS DONE, WOULD
ANY ADDITIONAL WORK THAT NEEDS
TO BE COMPLETED RELATED TO THE
LOWER DUWAMISH OVERALL?
>> THERE ARE A NUMBER OF OTHER
PROJECTS LISTED WITHIN THE
CONSENT DECREE AND I DON'T
KNOW WHAT THEY ARE OFFHAND.
>> THE SUPERFUND SITE HAS TWO
DIFFERENT PROJECTS RIGHT NOW AT
VARIOUS STAGES. THE UPPER REACH
PROJECT IS BEING LED BY KING
COUNTY AND THEY ARE IN THE
CONSTRUCTION PROCESS WHICH IS
CALLED CLEANUP WHICH IS JUST
STARTING SOMETIME IN THE NEXT
YEAR. I'M NOT ON THAT PROJECT.
THE MIDDLE REACH OF THE
DUWAMISH IS LED BY THE CITY AND
THAT IS CURRENTLY IN THE DESIGN
STAGE. THEY ARE RIGHT NOW
TESTING THE SEDIMENT BOTTOMS.
IT IS THE SECOND YEAR AND AFTER
THEY EVALUATE THOSE TESTS AND
SEDIMENTS THEY MAKE A DECISION
ON HOW TO MOVE FORWARD WITH
CONSTRUCTION AND CLEANUP. I
DON'T KNOW THE EXPECTATION --
I DON'T HAVE A TIMELINE FOR
THAT BUT THERE ARE SEVERAL
OTHER PROJECTS IN THE AREA. AND
THEN THE SOUTH PARK PUMP
STATION IS RECENTLY COMPLETED
THAT THIS WILL BE CONNECTING
TWO. I KNOW THERE ARE OTHER
STREET PROJECTS DEALING WITH
SOME DRAINAGE AS WELL.
DIRECTOR?
>> ANDREW LEE AGAIN, GENERAL
MANAGER FOR SPU. WE ARE IN THE
PROCESS OF NEGOTIATING THE
CONSENT DECREE FOR THE LOWER
DUWAMISH CLEANUP. SO WE DON'T
HAVE A CONSENT DECREE YET AND
WE ARE HOPEFUL THERE WILL BE
ONE PRESENTED TO THIS BODY
SOMETIME THIS YEAR. WE IMAGINE
THAT THE WORK FOR THE ACTUAL
CLEANUP WILL PROBABLY BE
BETWEEN 15 AND 20 YEARS OF
ACTUAL CLEANUP WORK AND WILL
LIKELY NOT CONCLUDE FOR QUITE A
WHILE. THE CONSENT DECREE THAT
CHRISTINA WAS TALKING ABOUT IS
OUR COMBINED SEWAGE OVERFLOW
CONSENT DECREE SO THE WATER
QUALITY PROJECT IS PART OF THAT
CONSENT DECREE. THAT WHEN WE
DID SIGN IN 2013 AND WE ARE IN
THE PROCESS OF NEGOTIATING AN
AMENDMENT WHICH WILL GIVE US
MORE TIME TO COMPLETE THOSE
PROJECTS. THE AMENDMENT WILL
MOST LIKELY GET US THROUGH THE
2030S AND WE WILL BE COMING
BACK TO THIS BODY I BELIEVE
SOMETIME THIS SUMMER AND MAYBE
EVEN LATE SPRING TO DISCUSS
THAT IN TERMS OF WHAT THAT
AMENDMENT IS .
>> THANK YOU. WE GET BRIEFINGS
IN THE 130 DAYS WE BEEN ON
COUNCIL BUT THEN YOU READ NEWS
ARTICLES, THE PUMP STATION AND
FRAMING IT WITH BROADER
CONTEXT. THANK YOU FOR THE
COMBINED ANSWER.
>> CAN YOU ALSO GIVE US, I WAS
READING ABOUT THE GENTLEMAN'S
BUSINESS, I DIDN'T REALIZE
THAT YOU ALL -- FOR SOIL, INTO
FARMERS. IS THAT CORRECT?
UNDERSTOOD. I THOUGHT IT WAS
COOL. I WAS READING THE STORY
ABOUT HOW YOUR FAMILY GOT
STARTED WITH THE BLUEBERRIES,
HOW THEY GREW BIGGER. CAN YOU
WALK US THROUGH THE MITIGATION
FOR THEIR BUSINESS? I KNOW THAT
THEY ARE HERE BUT JUST SO WE
KNOW WHAT THAT LOOKS LIKE FOR
RELOCATION AND ALL THAT STUFF?
>> WE ARE CURRENTLY IN THE
PROCESS OF EVALUATING THE
RELOCATION SERVICES THAT WERE
REQUIRED. THERE'S A STATE
STATUTE AND A CITY STATUTE
ORDINANCE ON RELOCATION
REQUIRING THAT PUBLIC PROJECTS
, IF A TENANT OR AN OWNER IS
FORCED TO MOVE , THE CITY WILL
PAY FOR THE RELOCATION. THERE
ARE CERTAIN RESTRICTIONS ON
THAT AND CERTAIN DEFINITIONS
THAT WE ARE EVALUATING TO MAKE
A DETERMINATION SO WE ARE
GETTING RELOCATION ADVISORY
SERVICES AND DISCUSSIONS WITH
THE LAW THAT IS
UNDER EVALUATION AND WHAT I CAN
SAY IS AMERICAN GYPSUM WILL GET
ALL-- ENTITLED AND WE ARE IN
DISCUSSIONS WITH THEM.
>> I DON'T MEAN TO PUT YOU ON
THE SPOT.
>> I DON'T WANT TO HAVE -- D6.
I KNOW THIS IS TOUGH BECAUSE AS
A SMALL BUSINESS OWNER MYSELF
AND KNOWING THAT THIS IS NEEDED
FOR OUR WATERWAYS AND HOW
CHALLENGING THIS IS , I AM
HOPING THAT YOU CONTINUE TO
STAY IN SEATTLE AND WE WILL
ROLL OUT THE RED CARPET FOR
THAT TO BE ABLE TO HAPPEN. I
REALLY, I WOULD LOVE FOR THAT
TO HAPPEN FOR SMALL BUSINESSES.
AND COUNCILMEMBER NELSON HAS A
QUESTION.
>> OH NO, FINISH YOUR SENTENCE.
>> THAT WAS IT. A JUMBLED MESS.
>> FIRST OF ALL, THANK YOU VERY
MUCH FOR REPRESENTING SMALL
BUSINESS. I DO SHARE YOUR
COMMENTS ABOUT THE PARTICULAR
BUSINESS THAT ADDRESSED US
TODAY. AND I DO HAVE A QUESTION
ABOUT THE FISCAL NOTE , IF YOU
MAY. I AM LOOKING AT THE
APPRAISED VALUE AND THE FUNDING
AMOUNT ALLOCATED FOR THE
ACQUISITION OF SOME OF THESE
PROPERTIES. I AM NOTICING THAT
FOR SILVER BAY LOGGING WHICH IS
FOUR PARCELS, THE APPRAISED
VALUE IS $9.7 MILLION AND THE
FUNDING FROM THE CITY IS
150,000. HOW DO YOU BRIDGE THE
GAP? I ALSO NOTE THAT THE
APPRAISED VALUE HAS AN ASTERISK
THAT BASICALLY SAYS THE VALUE
IS ASSUMED THAT THE PROPERTIES
ARE FREE OF CONTAMINATION SO --
AND THEN GOES ON TO SAY HOWEVER
PREVIOUS INVESTIGATIONS HAVE
IDENTIFIED THE PRESENCE OF
CONTAMINANTS ON SITE. SO I
GUESS THAT LOWERS THE VALUE BUT
TO WHAT? I DON'T KNOW.
>> WE HAVE DONE AN
ENVIRONMENTAL ASSESSMENT AND
REVIEW OF THE LIABILITIES AND
OBLIGATIONS THAT WILL COME WITH
PURCHASING THIS PROPERTY.
SILVER BAY WAS APPRAISED FOR 9+
MILLION DOLLARS AND THEY ARE
DONATING THE PROPERTY. THAT'S
WHY THE APPRAISED VALUE IS HIGH
BUT THE SPU FUNDING FOR THAT
PURCHASE IS MUCH LOWER. OUR
FUNDING IS JUST GOING TO A
CERTAIN SEGMENT
>> THEY ARE GOOD WITH THAT?
>> YES. IT'S BEING DONATED.
AND THEN THE OTHER PROPERTIES,
THE APPRAISED VALUE AND THE
FUNDING VALUE IS THE SAME
AMOUNT?
>> THAT'S CORRECT.
>> OKAY, THANK YOU. ARE THERE
ANY ADDITIONAL QUESTIONS FROM
MY WONDERFUL COLLEAGUES? I SEE
YOUR HAND UP . MUST BE AN OLD
HAND? AWESOME. I ECHO COUNCIL
PRESIDENT 'S COMMENTS ABOUT
SMALL BUSINESSES AND I WANT TO
THANK SPU FOR BRINGING THIS
FORWARD. I AM MOVING THAT THE
COMMITTEE RECOMMENDS PASSAGE OF
BILL 127080.
>> SECOND. DID I HEAR A SECOND?
THANK YOU. IT HAS BEEN MOVED
AND SECONDED. WILL THE CLERK
RECOMMEND PASSAGE OF THE BILL?
ARE THERE ANY COMMENTS?
>> I JUST HAVE ONE THING TO
SAY. THIS IS IMPORTANT WORK. WE
ARE TALKING ABOUT THE HEALTH OF
OUR WATERS IN AND AROUND THE
CITY SO THANK YOU SO MUCH. I
RECOGNIZE WE CAN'T NOT DO THIS
AND ABOVE AND BEYOND THAT, WE
VERY MUCH SHOULD
>> I WANT TO ADD THAT THIS
PURCHASE, WE HAVE A UTILITY
NEXUS IN THIS AREA AND THERE'S
A REAL NEED FOR THIS FACILITY.
IF WE WERE NOT ABLE TO PURCHASE
THIS PROPERTY, THE FUTURE NEXUS
MAY NOT BE UTILITY ORIENTED AND
MAY NOT BE GENERAL FUNDS.
>> COUNCILMEMBER RIVERA?
>> THANK YOU, CHAIR. I WANT TO
UNDERSCORE THAT WE ARE UNDER A
CONSENT DECREE TO CLEAN UP OUR
WATERWAYS FROM THE FEDERAL
GOVERNMENT SO THIS ADDRESSES
THAT . WE HAVE TO ADDRESS THAT.
BUT I ALSO VERY MUCH APPRECIATE
THE EXPERIENCES OF OUR SMALL
BUSINESSES AND THE IMPACTS THAT
THIS HAS. I APPRECIATE THE
MITIGATION EFFORTS THAT WILL GO
TOWARD ADDRESSING THAT BECAUSE
THAT IS IMPORTANT AS WELL. WE
HAVE TO DO THESE THINGS AND
MAKE SURE THAT WE ARE
MITIGATING FOR THE UNINTENDED
CONSEQUENCES THAT HAPPEN, FOR
THINGS THAT WE STILL HAVE TO
DO. SO THANK YOU.
>> THANK YOU COUNCILMEMBER
RIVERA AND PRESIDENT NELSON FOR
THOSE COMMENTS. WILL CLERK
PLEASE CALL THE ROLL ON
COMMITTEE RECOMMENDATION
COUNSEL BILL 120780?
>> COUNCILMEMBER RIVERA?
>> I. COUNCILMEMBER STRESS?
YES. COUNCILMEMBER CATTLE
KETTLE? I. COUNCIL PRESIDENT
NELSON? I.
>> YOU'RE GOING TO READ-- MY
APOLOGIES.
>> FIVE IN FAVOR, AND
UNOPPOSED.
>> I AM NOT ON MY GAME TODAY,
I'M SORRY. MOTION CARRIES AND
COMMITTEE RECOMMENDS THE BILL
PASSES AS AMENDED AND WILL BE
SENT TO OUR CITY COUNCIL
MEETING NOT NEXT WEEK AT THE
FOLLOWING WEEK, SO THANK YOU
ALL SO MUCH. THANK YOU.
COUNCILMEMBER RIVERA?
>> I SHOULD HAVE MENTIONED THIS
EARLIER BUT IS IT POSSIBLE TO
GET AN UPDATE ON THE MITIGATION
EFFORTS TO HELP THE SMALL
BUSINESS THAT IS IMPACTED? FOR
OUR AWARENESS, SINCE IT HAS
COME UP HERE TODAY?
>> YES , ABSOLUTELY. A
FOLLOW-UP UPDATED WITH DIRECTOR
LEE.
>> THANK YOU.
>> WE HAVE A NUMBER OF
APPOINTMENTS BEFORE US. I KNOW
YOU'VE BEEN WAITING. THANK YOU
SO MUCH. I KNOW THAT WE HAVE A
NUMBER OF APPOINTMENTS BEFORE
US AND L HANO HER. I AM GOING TR
ALL OF THE APPOINTMENTS FOR
EACH COMMITTEE AT ONCE SO WE
WILL DO THEM IN GROUPS. WILL
CLERK PLEASE READ AGENDA ITEM 3
THROUGH EIGHT INTO THE RECORD?
>> AGENDA ITEMS NUMBER THREE
THROUGH NUMBER EIGHT ARE THE
APPOINTMENTS OF RYAN BAUM,
TRICIA DIAMOND, STEVE LERER ,
WHITNEY NAKAMURA AND JOHN FLINN
FOR TERMS TO MARCH 31, 2027 FOR
THE BOARD OF PARKS AND
RECREATION COMMISSION'S. AND
THE REINSTATEMENT OF JUSTIN
UMAGAT AS A MEMBER OF THE BOARD
OF PARKS AND RECREATION
COMMISSIONS FOR A TERM TO END
MARCH 31, 2027. THIS IS FOR
BRIEFING DISCUSSION AND
POSSIBLE VOTE. SPEAKING TODAY
IS A PDS, SUPERINTENDENT OF
SEATTLE PARKS AND RECREATION.
>> WITH THAT WE WILL INVITE A
PDS AND PAULA HALF.
SUPERINTENDENT DIAZ , DIRECTOR
LEE YOU ARE MY FAVORITE HEAD OF
THE DEPARTMENT. HE WON'T SEE
THIS UNTIL LATER . ANYWAY,
THANK YOU ALL FOR BEING HERE.
SUPERINTENDENT DIAZ IS GOING TO
GIVE US A QUICK BRIEFING ABOUT
COMMENTS ABOUT THE APPOINTEES.
WE ARE ALWAYS GRATEFUL FOR
APPOINTEES BECAUSE THEY ARE
VOLUNTEERS AND WE ARE GRATEFUL
FOR THEIR SERVICE TO OUR CITY.
I DON'T KNOW IF THERE'S A
PRESENTATION INVOLVED BUT I
ALSO WANT TO TAKE THIS MOMENT
TO RECOGNIZE OUR PHENOMENAL
PARKS DEPARTMENT STAFF FOR --
WE'VE BEEN HAVING , OBVIOUSLY
, ASYLUM-SEEKERS AT POWELL
BARNETT PARK AND YOU ALL HAVE
BEEN PHENOMENAL ON THE GROUND
EVERY DAY MAKING SURE THINGS
ARE FACILITATED CORRECTLY AND I
JUST WANT TO THANK YOU ALL AND
YOUR STAFF FOR BEING ON THE
FRONT LINE TO A LOT OF THOSE
THINGS. THANK YOU.
>> GOOD AFTERNOON, MEMBERS OF
THE COMMITTEE. BEFORE YOU TODAY
ARE FIVE NOMINEES FOR THE PARKS
BOARD OF RECREATION AND
COMMISSIONERS. AS YOU ALL KNOW,
AT PARKS WE WORK REALLY CLOSELY
WITH COMMUNITIES AND GROUPS
THROUGHOUT THE ENTIRE CITY OF
SEATTLE . SO IT'S IMPORTANT
FOR US TO HAVE A BOARD THAT
REFLECTS THE DIVERSITY AND
BREADTH OF OUR CITY WHICH CAN
HELP SHAPE AND ADVISE THE
DEPARTMENT ON HOW TO BEST
PROVIDE PROGRAMS AND SERVICES
FOR THE PUBLIC. OUR PARKS AND
RECREATION COMMISSIONER
CONSISTS OF 15 BOARD MEMBERS.
POSITIONS CONSIST OF THREE
AT-LARGE MEMBERS WHO CAN COME
FROM ANY PART OF THE CITY. ONE
MEMBER FROM THE MAYOR'S GET
ENGAGED PROGRAM WHICH IS
USUALLY A YOUNGER, EMERGING
LEADER WHO PROVIDES GREAT
EXPERIENCE. THREE COMMISSIONER
SEATS WHO ARE MEMBERS AND ALSO
SERVING ON ANOTHER BOARD OR
COMMISSION , AND ONE MEMBER
FROM EACH DISTRICT IS ON THE
BOARD SO THERE WILL BE A
REPRESENTATIVE FROM AT LEAST
ONE OF YOUR COUNCIL DISTRICTS
AND ALL NIGHT INCLUDING THE
AT-LARGE MEMBERS. BOARD MEMBERS
ARE COMMUNITY VOLUNTEERS WHO
USE THEIR LIFE EXPERIENCE AND
CONNECTIONS TO COMMUNITY TO
ADVISE AND MAKE RECOMMENDATIONS
TO THE SUPERINTENDENT ON PARKS
AND RECREATION TOPICS THAT COME
BEFORE THE BPR SEE INCLUDING
PARK DEVELOPMENT PROJECTS,
RECREATIONAL PROGRAMS AND
SERVICES INCLUDING THOSE FUNDED
BY THE SEATTLE PARK DISTRICT.
WE SEEK TO APPOINT MEMBERS WITH
DIVERSITY OF EXPERTISE
EXPERIENCE AND PER SPEC GIVES
INCLUDING BUT NOT LIMITED TO
PARKS MANAGEMENT, YOUTH
DEVELOPMENT, PUBLIC FINANCING,
SOCIAL AND HUMAN SERVICES,
ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT, LAND-USE,
ANTIDISPLACEMENT, URBAN
HORTICULTURE, ART, CLIMATE
RESILIENCY, LANDSCAPE
ARCHITECTURE, AND IN THE
INTEREST OF OUR BIPOC COMMUNITY
MEMBERS, JUST READING THAT
REMINDS ME OF THE BREADTH OF
WORK OF THE PARKS AND
RECREATION DEPARTMENT WHICH IS
WHY I LOVE IT AND FEEL SO
BLESSED TO BE THE DIRECTOR OF
THIS AMAZING ORGANIZATION AS I
KNOW YOU ALL ARE IN THE WORK WE
DO FOR THE CITY. THESE ARE
DEDICATED VOLUNTEERS WHO SERVED
FOR THREE-YEAR TERMS WITH AN
OPTION TO BE REAPPOINTED FOR AN
ADDITIONAL TERM. WE ARE
CONFIDENT THESE VOLUNTEERS WILL
BE A GREAT ADDITION TO THE
BOARD. YOU HAVE THEIR BIOS AND
BACKGROUND INFORMATION BUT
HAPPY TO ANSWER FURTHER
QUESTIONS AND THANK YOU FOR
YOUR CONSIDERATION. SEVERAL ARE
HERE TODAY IN THE AUDIENCE AND
I WANT TO THANK THEM FOR COMING
TO COUNCIL AS WELL AS MEMBERS
ONLINE. I WANT TO THANK THEM
FOR BEING HERE. IS RYAN BAUM
HERE? AWESOME. TRICIA DIAMOND?
STEVE LERER? I'M SORRY. DID I
SAY THAT RIGHT? WHITNEY
NAKAMURA? AND JOHN FLINN.
AWESOME. AND THE REAPPOINTMENT
OF JUSTIN UMAGAT? AWESOME.
THANK YOU ALL SO MUCH FOR YOUR
SERVICE. I KNOW THAT IT'S
VOLUNTEER BUT SO GRATEFUL. WE
NEED A LOT OF THESE COMMITTEES
TO HELP US FORMULATE WHAT'S
GOING ON WITH PARKS AND HELPING
US CONTINUE CIVIL SERVICE.
THANK YOU ALL FOR BEING HERE
AND FOR WAITING AN HOUR AND
EIGHT MINUTES FOR THIS AGENDA
ITEM. REALLY APPRECIATE YOU
ALL. DO ANY OF MY COLLEAGUES
HAVE QUESTIONS? NO? NO
QUESTIONS. I MOVE THAT THE
COMMITTEE RECOMMEND THESE
APPOINTMENTS TO THE SEATTLE
BOARD OF PARKS AND RECREATION
COMMISSIONERS. IS THERE A
SECOND?
>> SECOND. THANK YOU
COUNCILMEMBER RIVERA. MOVED AND
SECONDED TO RECOMMEND
APPOINTMENT OF THESE SIX
INDIVIDUALS. ARE THERE ANY
COMMENTS?
>> WE ARE ROLLING SO FAST I
DIDN'T REALIZE THIS WAS OUR
OPPORTUNITY TO SPEAK TO THE
CANDIDATES BEFORE US RIGHT NOW.
CHAIR, IN YOUR TIME HERE AT
CITY COUNCIL I HAVE BEEN
IMPRESSED WITH HOW MANY PEOPLE
IN THE CITY THAT YOU KNOW ON A
FIRST NAME BASIS IN OUR
CHAMBERS. THIS IS MY
OPPORTUNITY TO CALL OUT WHITNEY
NAKAMURA WHO I GOT TO GO TO
HIGH SCHOOL WITH AND I CAN TELL
YOU SHE HAS BEEN A COMMITTED
PERSON TO OUR FAMILY FOR A VERY
LONG TIME AND I'M HAVING
TROUBLE SEEING THEM IN COUNCIL
CHAMBERS. IS SHE WITH US TODAY?
>> SHE MAY BE REMOTE BUT NOT IN
PERSON.
>> I'M NOT SEEING HER ON ZOOM
SO I WILL SAVE MY QUESTION FOR
NEXT TIME I SEE HER. JUST WANT
TO RAISE HER UP AS BEING A
COMMITTED SEATTLEITE THROUGH
AND THROUGH.
>> THANK YOU, COUNCILMEMBER
STRESS.
>> I JUST WANT TO NOTE, I
ALWAYS SAY THANK YOU FOR YOUR
SERVICE AND DONATING YOUR
EXPERTISE, SO THANK YOU VERY
MUCH. IN 2022 I BELIEVE IT WAS,
THE COUNCIL ACTING AS THE PARK
DISTRICT RENEWED THE SPENDING
PLAN FOR THE PARK 'S LEVY AND
I HAVE TO SAY THAT I TOOK
ADVANTAGE OF THE EXPERTISE AND
KNOWLEDGE OF THE PEOPLE WHO
STOOD ON THIS BOARD. I CALLED
THEM TO ASK FOR THEIR EXPERTISE
AND THINKING ABOUT WHY THERE'S
MONEY HERE BUT NOT HERE ET
CETERA. THIS IS AN IMPORTANT
BOARD TO SIT ON WHEN IT COMES
TO STEWARDING THE RESOURCES OF
PROPERTY OWNERS AND PRETTY MUCH
ANYBODY IN THE TOWN. IT COMES
WITH A LOT OF RESPONSIBILITY
BECAUSE I AM SURE THAT IN SHORT
TIME YOU ARE GOING TO START
STUDYING THE NEXT RENEWAL. IT
TAKES A LONG TIME. SO I JUST
WANT TO NOTE THE BODY OF WORK
THAT YOU TAKE ON REALLY IS
IMPORTANT. PARKS ARE OUR
COMMENTS AND YOU ARE TALKING
ABOUT PEOPLE'S RESOURCES. SO
THANK YOU VERY MUCH.
>> BEFORE WE TAKE A VOTE I AM
SO ROOTED. WOULD ANYONE LIKE TO
SAY A COMMENT AT ALL WHO ARE ON
THE COMMITTEE? IF NOT IT'S
OKAY, I JUST WANTED TO OFFER
THAT AS AN OPPORTUNITY IF YOU
WANTED TO SAY ANYTHING. NO?
YES?
AWESOME, THANK YOU.
>> LAST CHANCE TO GET OUT.
THERE WILL BE A LOT OF WORK.
WILL YOU CALL ROLE ON THE
RECOMMENDATION TO APPOINT?
>> COUNCILMEMBER RIVERA? I.
COUNCILMEMBER STRAUSS? YES.
COUNCILMEMBER KETTLE? I.
COUNCILMEMBER PRESIDENT NELSON?
CHAIR HOLLINGSWORTH? YES.
>> FIVE IN FAVOR, AND
UNOPPOSED.
>> MOTION CARRIES IN THE
COMMITTEE RECOMMENDATION THAT
THE APPOINTMENTS OF RYAN BAUM,
TRICIA DIAMOND, STEVE LERER,
WHITNEY NAKAMURA AND JOHN LY,
THE SCENT TO THE MAY 14 CITY
COUNCIL MEETING. HAVE THAT BE
SENT TO THE MAY 14 CITY COUNCIL
MEETING. THE NEXT PIECE IS THE
COMMUNITY SURVEILLANCE
WORKGROUP AND I'M GOING TO
HAVE US CONSIDER--
>> SINCE IT DOES NOT RELATE TO
THIS I JUST WANTED TO SAY A
THANK YOU TO PARKS. SOUTHLAKE
COMMUNITY COUNCIL MEETING
REGARDING PARKS FOR
REPRESENTATIVES. VERY
KNOWLEDGEABLE AND I JUST WANT
TO SAY THANK YOU FOR THEIR
PARTICIPATION AT LAST NIGHT'S
SOUTH LAKE UNION COMMUNITY
COUNCIL. THREE PARKS AND
CONNECTING THEM TO THE SEATTLE
CENTER , VERY IMPORTANT TO HAVE
THAT KNOWLEDGE ON BASE. I WILL
TAKE A SHOUT OUT TO SAY THANK
YOU FOR YOUR FUTURE SUPPORT FOR
DISTRICT 7 PARKS. THANK YOU.
>> WE HAVE TWO APPOINTMENTS TO
THE COMMUNITY SURVEILLANCE
WORKGROUP AND THEY WERE
APPOINTMENTS TO THE COMMITTEE
AT ONCE. ITEMS NINE AND 10 INTO
THE RECORD.
>> NUMBER NINE AND NUMBER 10
ARE THE APPOINTMENTS OF ALEX
MAESTRETTI AND CAROLYN
RILEY-PAYNE HAS MEMBERS OF THE
COMMUNITY SURVEILLANCE WORKING
GROUP FOR TERMS ENDING DECEMBER
31, 2026. SPEAKING NOW IS THE
CHIEF FOR SEATTLE INFORMATION
TECHNOLOGY DEPARTMENT GINGER
ARMBRUSTER.
>> I KNOW THIS IS THE LAST ITEM
AND I JUST WANT TO THANK YOU
ALL FOR BEING HERE TODAY. DO
YOU MIND GIVING SOME COMMENTS .
>> FOR THE RECORD I AM NOT
GINGER ARMBRUSTER. SHE WISHES
SHE COULD BE HERE TODAY. CHIEF
PRIVACY OFFICER , PRIVACY
PROGRAM MANAGER . JUST WANTED
TO STATE FOR THE RECORD I AM
NOT HER. HELLO COUNCIL MEMBERS.
WE ARE PLEASED TO INTRODUCED
TWO NEW COUNCIL APPOINTMENTS
WORKING GROUP TODAY BUT BEFORE
WE ASK THEM TO INTRODUCE
THEMSELVES AND OFFER A FEW
REMARKS ABOUT WHY THEY ARE
INTERESTED JOINING THE WORKING
GROUP, I WANTED TO GIVE YOU A
QUICK BACKGROUND ON THE WORKING
GROUP ITSELF. SO THE WORKING
GROUP WAS CREATED IN 2018
COUNCIL BILL 119218 . EXECUTIVE
ON MATTERS OF-- FROM A
COMMUNITY PERSPECTIVE. THE
WORKING GROUP CONSISTS OF SEVEN
MEMBERS APPOINTED BY THE MAYOR
AND COUNCIL, FOUR BY MAYOR AND
THREE BY COUNCIL TO BE
SPECIFIC. AT LEAST FIVE MEMBERS
REPRESENT EQUITY FOCUSED
ORGANIZATIONS SERVING OR
PROTECTING THE RIGHTS OF
COMMUNITIES AND GROUPS
HISTORICALLY SUBJECT TO
DISPROPORTIONATE SURVEILLANCE
INCLUDING DIVERSE COMMUNITIES
OF COLOR, IMMIGRANT
COMMUNITIES, RELIGIOUS
MINORITIES AND GROUPS CONCERNED
WITH PRIVACY. THE WORKING
GROUP'S MAIN RESPONSIBILITY IS
DURING STAGE IV OF THE
SURVEILLANCE PROCESS. WHERE
THEY ARE ASKED TO PROVIDE A
PRIVACY AND CIVIL LIBERTIES
IMPACT ASSESSMENT FOR EACH
SURVEILLANCE TECHNOLOGY AND
EACH--. THE IMPACT ASSESSMENT
SHALL INCLUDE A DESCRIPTION OF
THE POTENTIAL IMPACT OF THE
SURVEILLANCE TECHNOLOGY ON
CIVIL RIGHTS AND LIBERTIES AND
POTENTIAL DISPARATE IMPACTS ON
COMMUNITIES OF COLOR AND OTHER
MARGINALIZED COMMUNITIES. IT
WILL PROVIDE THE IMPACT REPORT
IN WRITING WITHIN SIX WEEKS OF
RECEIVING THE FINAL PROPOSED
SURVEILLANCE IMPACT REPORT.
WITH THESE TWO COUNCIL
APPOINTMENTS, THE WORKING GROUP
WILL HAVE SIX OUT OF THE SEVEN
POSITIONS FILLED. ANY QUESTIONS
SO FAR?
>> AWESOME. I KNOW THAT WE HAVE
MISSED CAROLYN RILEY-PAYNE .
WOULD YOU LIKE TO SAY A FEW
WORDS? I KNOW HER, FORMER
PRESIDENT OF NAACP? ABSOLUTELY.
RATE WORK IN THE COMMUNITY. I
JUST WANTED TO THROW THAT OUT
THERE, WE ARE ONE FOR ONE
TODAY.
>> JUST FOR TODAY. I THINK YOU
HAVE ME EAT IN THE OVERALL.
>> MY NAME IS CAROLYN
RILEY-PAYNE AS YOU HEARD. I AM
PAST PRESIDENT OF THE SEATTLE
KING COUNTY NAACP. I AM AN
ACTIVIST , I AM A MOTHER, AN
EX-TEACHER, AND YOU MAY BE
WONDERING WHY WOULD SOMEBODY
THAT HAS NO TECHNICAL , TRUST
ME, ABILITY WOULD WANT TO BE ON
THIS COMMITTEE. I THINK IT'S
IMPORTANT FOR A COUPLE OF
REASONS, THE FIRST BEING THAT
WHEN YOU ARE DOING TECHNICAL
WORK, SOMETIMES THAT IS ALL
YOUR MIND IS ON AND THAT'S THE
WAY YOU GO. THOSE OF US THAT
ARE IN THE PUBLIC DON'T ALWAYS
GET A CHANCE. WE DON'T
UNDERSTAND IT, SOMETIMES. IT'S
CONFUSING ET CETERA AND I THINK
WHAT I WILL BRING TO THIS
COMMITTEE IS A BALANCE , TO
HELP US UNDERSTAND AND BE ABLE
TO GO TO THE COMMUNITY AND GET
SOME BUY-IN BECAUSE THEY
UNDERSTAND WHAT THEY ARE
READING AND SEEING. I AM HOPING
THAT WOULD BE ONE OF THE
QUALITIES THAT I CAN BRING TO
THIS COMMITTEE. THE OTHER ONE
IS, THAT PERHAPS I WILL LEARN
SOMETHING ABOUT TECHNOLOGY. I
AM EXCITED ABOUT WORKING AND
BEING ON THE COMMITTEE, SO
THANK YOU SO VERY MUCH.
QUESTIONS FOR ME?
>> WE ARE SO GRATEFUL FOR YOU ,
WE KNOW YOU'VE BEEN IN THE
COMMUNITY A LONG TIME DOING
SERVICE AND WORK FOR US AND
NAACP . LOOKING FORWARD TO
WORKING WITH YOU AND HEARING
RECOMMENDATIONS AND WE
APPRECIATE YOUR WILLINGNESS TO
BRING YOUR KNOWLEDGE TO THE
COMMITTEE. BUT MOST IMPORTANTLY
CREATING TRANSPARENT ACCESS FOR
OUR COMMUNITY SO THEY CAN BE
CONNECTED TO GOVERNMENT IS
PROBABLY THE MOST IMPORTANT
PIECE, SO THANK YOU.
>> WITH THAT, DO ANY OF MY
COLLEAGUES HAVE ANY QUESTIONS
ABOUT THIS?
>> ARE WE TALKING ABOUT BOTH
APPOINTMENTS?
>> WE ARE, I APOLOGIZE. THAT
AND THE APPOINTMENT OF ALEX
MAESTRETTI. ARE THEY ONLINE AND
HERE?
>> I BELIEVE ALEX IS. I CAN
TAKE IT OVER TO MY COLLEAGUE
WHO IS JOINED ONLINE TO PROVIDE
A LITTLE MORE DETAIL.
>> PLEASE, SORRY. I WENT OUT OF
ORDER.
>> AGAIN I AM THE TECHNOLOGY
ADVISOR FOR THE MAYOR'S OFFICE
. IN ADDITION TO THE
INTRODUCTION THAT WAS PROVIDED,
IN PARTNERSHIP WITH CITY
COUNCIL WE ARE MAKING TWO
RECOMMENDATIONS. WE INTRODUCED
CAROLYN AND THEN THE SECOND
RECOMMENDATION IS ALEX
MAESTRETTI WHO HAS AN EXTENSIVE
BACKGROUND IN IT SECURITY. ALEC
HAS A DECADE OF EXPERIENCE
WORKING WITH THE US FEDERAL
GOVERNMENT, WORKING ON
OPERATIONAL AROUND--
TECHNOLOGY. JUST TO ADDRESS THE
PUBLIC COMMENT PROVIDED IN THE
BEGINNING, ALEX'S POSITION IS
AT LARGE SO COUNCIL HAS ONE AT
LARGE POSITION, THE MAYOR HAS
ONE AT-LARGE POSITION , SO
BECAUSE THE GROUP IS ONLY SEVEN
MEMBERS WE TRY TO APPOINT
APPLICANTS THAT WOULD BRING A
BALANCED MIX OF EXPERIENCE
EXPERTISE AND REPRESENTATION TO
THE GROUP. I THINK WE HAVE TWO
EXCELLENT CANDIDATES. AND ALEX
MAESTRETTI, IF IT'S OKAY WITH
CHAIR I THINK WE CAN ASK ALEX
TO PROVIDE SOME BRIEF REMARKS
IF YOU'D LIKE TO UNMUTE
YOURSELF.
>> I THINK YOU ARE ON MUTE,
ALEX.
>> I CAN HEAR YOU ON ZOOM BUT
YOU ARE VERY LOW.
>> IT IS ZOOM AFTER ALL AND IT
WOULD NOT BE ZOOM WITHOUT
ASKING CAN YOU HEAR ME NOW?
THANK YOU FOR HAVING ME HERE
TODAY. I AM EXCITED TO OFFER MY
SERVICES TO COUNCIL SO AS WAS
MENTIONED, I HAVE A BACKGROUND
IN IT SECURITY AND I CURRENTLY
WORK FOR A LOCAL SET OF COMPANY
THAT HELPS PEOPLE SEND MONEY
OVERSEAS. I HAVE BEEN THERE
CHIEF INFORMATION SECURITY
OFFICER FOR THE LAST 4 1/2
YEARS BUT I'M CURRENTLY
TRANSITIONING OUT OF THAT ROLE.
PREVIOUSLY I WORKED IN SILICON
VALLEY AT APPLE AND NETFLIX AND
THE FIRST 10 YEARS OF MY CAREER
WERE WORKING IN INTELLIGENCE.
SO I HAVE EXPERIENCE WITH THE
OPERATIONAL SIDE OF
SURVEILLANCE TECHNOLOGY THROUGH
TO THE NATIONAL LEVEL. I GOT
THAT JOB AS PART OF A
SCHOLARSHIP PROGRAM SO IN ORDER
TO PAY FOR GRAD SCHOOL , I WENT
TO SCHOOL IN BALTIMORE BUT WENT
TO SCHOOL IN SEATTLE AND MY
PARENTS WERE HIGH SCHOOL
TEACHERS. TOOK ME A WHILE TO
GET BACK HOME BUT NOW THAT I'M
HERE I'M LOOKING TO GIVE THE
THIRD DECADE OF MY CAREER TO
CAUSES THAT I CARE ABOUT AND I
THINK BALANCING THE NEEDS OF
THE GOVERNMENT AND INDIVIDUALS
IS AN INTERESTING AREA SO I
WOULD LIKE TO BE ABLE TO
SUPPORT.
>> THANK YOU, ALEX. REALLY
APPRECIATE YOU BEING HERE AND
DONATING YOUR SERVICE TO THIS
WORKGROUP. AND YOU HAVE A GREAT
HAT . ONE OF
MARINERS HATS. WHEN THEY WERE
KIND OF GOOD. JUST PLAYING.
DOES ANYONE ELSE HAVE ANY
QUESTIONS? COUNCIL PRESIDENT
NELSON?
>> I HAVE TO SAY WE ARE GETTING
REALLY LUCKY WITH THESE TWO
NOMINEES. I WAS HAVING STAFF ,
FOR MY FIRST TWO YEARS IN
OFFICE I KNOW THAT THE
WORKGROUP HAS HAD A DIFFICULT
TIME FINDING PEOPLE TO FILL
THESE VACANCIES FOR AS LONG AS
I CAN REMEMBER. I LOOKED AT THE
MINUTES AND I ONLY SAW FOUR
MEETING MINUTES POSTED FOR THE
PAST COUPLE OF YEARS. THEY ARE
SUPPOSED TO HAVE QUARTERLY
MEETINGS SO PERHAPS SOME OF
THOSE MINUTES HAVE NOT YET BEEN
POSTED ON THE WEBSITE. BUT IN
EACH ONE THEY ARE TALKING ABOUT
DIFFICULTY FILLING VACANCIES.
WE ARE NOT TAKING JUST ANYONE
THAT COMES ALONG OUT OF
DESPERATION HERE. SOMEHOW WE
HAPPENED TO LAND TWO PEOPLE AND
WE WAITED UNTIL THE RIGHT
PEOPLE SHOWED UP I JUST HAVE TO
EXPRESS MY APPRECIATION THAT
THEY ARE BRINGING EXTREMELY
APPLICABLE KNOWLEDGE AND
EXPERTISE TO THIS BODY OF WORK.
IT'S BEEN DIFFICULT TO FIND
FOLKS TO STEP UP AND HERE WE
ARE. I THINK WE SHOULD
DEFINITELY TAKE ADVANTAGE AND A
WHOLEHEARTEDLY APPROVE THIS
NOMINATION.
>> THANK YOU COUNCIL PRESIDENT.
COUNCILMEMBER KETTLE?
>> THANK YOU, CHAIR
HOLLINGSWORTH . THIS IS FALLING
WITHIN THE TECH KNOWLEDGE HE,
THERE'S CLEARLY OVERLAP WITH
THE PUBLIC SAFETY COMMITTEE AS
WELL BUT I JUST WANTED TO NOTE
THAT I APPRECIATE THIS AND I
SAY THIS AS A CAREER NAVAL
INTELLIGENCE OFFICER WHO HAS
BEEN WORKING THESE KINDS OF
ISSUES IN A MUCH BROADER
NATIONAL SENSE BUT HAVE SIMILAR
PARALLELS AT THE MORE LOCAL
LEVEL. I APPRECIATE AND SUPPORT
THE IDEA THAT WE NEED TO BE
PROTECTING CIVIL LIBERTIES , AS
ONE WHO WAS BOUND BY THE
EXECUTIVE ORDER, PRESIDENTIAL
EXECUTIVE ORDER REGARDING
INTELLIGENCE OVERSIGHT. IT'S
VERY IMPORTANT AND SOMEONE
WHOSE LAST TOUR IN THE NAVY WAS
RESPONSIBLE FOR INTELLIGENCE
SURVEILLANCE AND RECONNAISSANCE
WORKING FOR CONGRESS, AGAIN, I
SEE THAT PART IN TERMS OF OVER
-- I WILL BRING THAT EXPERIENCE
AND I SUPPORT THE NOMINATIONS
AND THE WORK THAT THE WORKING
GROUP IS DOING. THANK YOU VERY
MUCH.
>> THANK YOU, COUNCILMEMBER.
NOT GINGER. THANK YOU FOR
RECOMMENDING THESE PHENOMENAL
PEOPLE TO THIS BODY OF WORK. I
NOW MOVE THAT THE COMMITTEE
RECOMMEND THESE APPOINTMENTS TO
THE COMMITTEE SURVEILLANCE
BOARD GROUP. IS THERE A SECOND?
>> SECOND.
>> IT'S BEEN MOVED AND
SECONDED TO RECOMMEND
APPOINTMENT OF THESE TWO
INDIVIDUALS. ARE THERE ANY
FURTHER COMMENTS? SEEING NONE
WILL THE CLERK THESE CALL THE
ROLL?
>> COUNCILMEMBER RIVERA? I.
COUNCILMEMBER STRESS? YES.
COUNCILMEMBER KETTLE? I.
COUNSELED PRESIDENT NELSON? I.
CHAIR HOLLINGSWORTH? YES. 5 IN
FAVOR, NONE OPPOSED. THE MOTION
CARRIES . THE APPOINTMENTS OF
ALEX MAESTRETTI , I APOLOGIZE.
THE GENTLEMAN WITH THE
PHENOMENAL BLUE MARINERS HAT.
AND CAROLYN RILEY-PAYNE TO THE
COMMUNITY SURVEILLANCE BOARD
GROUP BE SENT TO THE MAY 14,
2024 CITY COUNCIL MEETING.
REALLY APPRECIATE YOU ALL AND
CONGRATULATIONS AND THANK YOU
AGAIN. AND GO MARINERS. WITH
THAT WE HAVE NO OTHER AGENDA
ITEMS TODAY. DO ANY OF MY
COLLEAGUES HAVE ANY MORE ITEMS
OF BUSINESS FOR THE COMMITTEE?
SEEING NONE, THIS CONCLUDES OUR
MAY 8 MEETING, 2024 OF PARKS,
PUBLIC UTILITIES, AND
TECHNOLOGY COMMITTEE . THE NEXT
MEETING IS SCHEDULED FOR
WEDNESDAY, MAY 22 AT 2:00 P.M.
IF THERE ARE NO FURTHER
BUSINESS , THIS MEETING IS
ADJOURNED BUT HAPPY WAS HAPPY
MOTHER'S DAY TO MY MOTHER.
BECAUSE IT'S GOING TO BE
MOTHER'S DAY COMING UP BEFORE
MAY 22 AND I KNOW YOU ARE
WATCHING WITH SEVEN OTHER
PEOPLE ON THE SEATTLE CHANNEL.
HEARING NO FURTHER BUSINESS IT
IS 3:20 6 PM AND THIS MEETING
IS ADJOURNED.