>> HEY, GOOD AFTERNOON. THE
DECEMBER 11th, 2024 MEETING OF
PARKS, PUBLIC UTILITIES, AND
TECHNOLOGY WILL COME TO ORDER.
IT IS 2:04 P.M. I'M THE CHAIR
OF THE COMMITTEE. WITH THE
CLERK PLEASE CALL THE ROLL.
>> [ ROLL BEING CALLED ]
>> FOR COUNCIL MEMBERS ARE
PRESENT.
>> THANK YOU. I WAS GOING TO
SAY CHAIR. THANK YOU, CLARK.
PLEASE NOTE COUNCILMEMBER
STRAUSS IS EXCUSED FOR TODAY.
WE HAVE FIVE ITEMS ON THE
AGENDA. THIS IS LAST-MINUTE --
NOT LISTED -- LAST-MINUTE BUT
ENDED THE YEAR STUFF WE HAVE TO
ADDRESS. WE HAVE INTRODUCTION
TO MOSS ADAMS OF SEATTLE PUBLIC
UTILITIES. SECOND WE WILL
DISCUSS AND VOTE ON THE
EXECUTION OF A WIRELESS NETWORK
INFRASTRUCTURE AGREEMENT WITH
VERIZON WIRELESS ON THE SEATTLE
CENTER CAMPUS. THIRD, FOLLOWING
WE WILL VOTE ON THE RENEWAL OF
THE GARDEN AND GLASS EXHIBIT AT
THE SEATTLE CENTER. AFTER THAT,
WE WILL VOTE ON THE ACQUISITION
OF TWO PARCELS OF FUTURE
PARKLAND ON BEACON HILL TO MEET
THE GREEN SPACE REQUIREMENTS
FOR URBAN VILLAGES. LAST BUT
NOT LEAST, WE WILL LOOK TO
AMEND THE CONSERVATION FEATURES
LEGISLATION TO PURCHASE BEACON
HILL ACQUISITION AND REIMBURSE
A RECENT ACQUISITION . THAT WAS
A LOT OF ACQUISITION WORDS. WE
WILL NOW CONSIDER THE AGENDA.
IF THERE IS NO OBJECTIONS, THE
AGENDA WILL BE ADOPTED. SEEING
AND HEARING NONE, THERE IS NO
OBJECTION. THE OBJECTION --
AGENDA WILL BE ADOPTED. NOW WE
GET TO MOVE INTO OUR FAVORITE
PART. PUBLIC COMMENT. WE ARE
GOING TO OPEN THE HYBRID PUBLIC
COMMENT PERIOD. PUBLIC COMMENT
SHOULD RELATE TO ITEMS ON THE
AGENDA WITHIN THE PURVIEW OF
THIS COMMITTEE. CLERK, HOW MANY
SPEAKERS ARE SIGNED UP TODAY?
>> CURRENTLY WE HAVE THREE
IN-PERSON SPEAKERS AND THREE
REMOTE SPEAKERS.
>> JUST TO CLARIFY, YOU SAID
THREE?
>> THREE IN PERSON, THREE
REMOTE. SPIT --
>> THREE IN PERSON, THREE
REMOTE. EACH SPEAKER WILL HAVE
TWO MINUTES. CLERK, PLEASE READ
INSTRUCTIONS FOR THE PUBLIC
COMMENT.
>> THE COMP -- PUBLIC COMMENT
PERIOD WILL BE MONITORED. I
WILL CALL ON SPEAKERS AND THE
ORDER AND WITH A REGISTERED
BOTH ON THE WEBSITE OR THE SIGN
UP SHEET AVAILABLE HERE IN
COUNCIL CHAMBERS. WE WILL START
WITH A IN-PERSON SPEAKERS
FIRST. IF YOU HAVE NOT
REGISTERED TO SPEAK BUT WOULD
LIKE TO, YOU CAN SIGN UP BEFORE
THE END OF THE PUBLIC COMMENT
PERIOD. JUST GO TO THE
COUNCIL'S WEBSITE OR BY
SIGNING UP ON THE SIGN UP SHEET
NEAR THE PUBLIC COMMENT AT
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 TIME WHEN 10
SECONDS ARE LEFT AT THE
ALLOTTED TIME. IF SPEAKERS DO
NOT END THEIR COMMENTS AT THE
END OF THE ALLOTTED TIME
PROVIDED THE SPEAKERS
MICROPHONE WILL BE MUTED AND
ALLOW US TO CALL ON THE NEXT
PERSON. THE PUBLIC COMMENT
PERIOD IS NOW OPEN AND WE WILL
BEGIN WITH THE FIRST SPEAKER ON
THE LIST WHO IS CHRISTIAN.
>> HI, CHRISTIAN. GOOD TO SEE
YOU, AGAIN.
>> YOU CAN GO EITHER ONE. YOU
CAN GO THAT WANT TO PULL A
DOWNER THAT ONE AS WELL.
>> THAT'S OKAY.
>> ALL RIGHT. AWESOME.
>> MY NAME IS CHRISTIAN. I'M
THE EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR OF THE
MOTOR VESSEL FOUNDATION AT THE
SEATTLE SOUTH LAKE UNION PARK.
HISTORIC CHEFS FOUR. AND I
WOULD LIKE TO PROVIDE COMMENT
ON THE CURRENT ISSUE AT THE
HISTORIC THERE AT LAKE UNION
PARK. IT IS A WONDERFUL
ATTRACTION THAT IS THE ONLY
LIVING MUSEUM TO SEATTLE'S
MARITIME HISTORY. WE ARE SIX
SHIPS ALL WASHINGTON STATE
KNOWN PROFITS. OUR NONPROFIT
FOUNDATION, AS I MIGHT'VE
ALREADY SAID, OPERATES THE
BEAUTIFUL 1909 CRAFTSMAN STYLES
BUILT IN SEATTLE 93 FOOT YACHT.
NAMED LOTUS AND WE HAVE BEEN
WARD IN THAT FOR THE PAST 13
YEARS. DURING THE PAST MONTHS
FEW MONTHS ANYWAY, ALL OF THE
HISTORIC SHIPS HAVE HAD A BRIEF
DISCUSSION. SOME HAVE HAD
ACTUAL MEETINGS ON SITE AND
OTHER SHIPS HAVE ONLY BEEN ABLE
TO EXCHANGE EMAILS WITH THE
SEATTLE PARK AND RECREATION
FOLKS AND OR [ INAUDIBLE ] AND
THAT WAS TO VERIFY OUR
NECESSARY STATE AND LOCAL
CREDENTIALS AND INSURANCE AND
WITH NO FURTHER EXPLANATION, WE
HAVE BEEN INFORMED BY EMAIL
THAT WE MUST VACATE THE
HISTORIC SHIPS A WHARF AS OF
JANUARY 2nd, 2025. ALL THE
SHIPS GOT THAT NOTICE. JOY
HOLLINGSWORTH VISITED WITH SOME
OF THE SHIPS LAST WEEK AND WE
WOULD SO WELCOME YOUR VISIT,
MR. CADDELL, TO THE SHIPS AND
ESPECIALLY TO LOTUS. WE
RECENTLY LEARNED THAT THE
REASONS FOR CONCERN MAY LIE
WITH THE WASHINGTON NATIONAL
RESOURCES. YOU ARE PERHAPS
AWARE OF THIS BUT IN CASE YOU
WEREN'T WE WANTED TO CLARIFY
THIS POINT WE ARE ADVOCATING
FOR FURTHER DISCUSSION AND
CLARIFICATION ON THIS ISSUE
WITH SEATTLE PARKS AND
RECREATION. ALL OF THE SIX
SHIPS ON THE HISTORIC SHIPS
WHARF ARE PART OF THE NEW
MARITIME WASHINGTON NATIONAL
MARITIME AREA AND I BELIEVE --
[ INAUDIBLE ].
>> TIMES UP. NO WORRIES. YOU
CAN ALWAYS WRITE US, THE
COUNCIL AS WELL. YOU CAN WRITE
US AT THE COUNCIL. YOU CAN
WRITE IN YOUR COMMENTS TO THE
COUNCIL FOR YOUR FULL COMMENTS
SO WE ALL HAVE THEM. IT IS.
YES. TIME IS UP. NO WORRIES.
AND I DID VISIT AND YOU ALL
SERVE THE BEST TEA ON SOUTH
LAKE UNION. YES.
>> [ LAUGHTER ]
>> NEXT IS ALEX ZIMMERMAN
FOLLOWED BY ANDREW.
>> MR. ZIMMERMAN, BEFORE YOU
START, PLEASE, LISTEN
CAREFULLY, CAN YOU REFRAIN FROM
NOT CALLING ANYONE NAMES OR
JUST INAPPROPRIATE LANGUAGE,
JUST SO WE CAN JUST KEEP IT
CLEAN TODAY, PLEASE. THIS IS MY
LAST MEETING. THIS IS MY LAST
MEETING OF THE YEAR. CAN YOU
HELP ME OUT, FOR CHRISTMAS?
>> OH. FORGIVE ME. I'VE READ
THIS ANIMAL FARM FROM AMERICAN
WRITING.
>> UNDERSTOOD. OKAY. WE ARE
GOING TO START THE PUBLIC
COMMENT. WE'RE GOING TO START
THE COMMENT -- TIMER. I JUST
WANT TO MAKE SURE. YOU KNOW
I'VE ASKED VERY NICELY. YOU
CAN DO WHAT YOU WANT TO DO. TWO
MINUTES. GO AHEAD.
>> BECAUSE I READ THE AMERICAN
WRITER BOOK ANIMAL FARM FOR 50
YEARS. 50 YEAR AGO YOU ARE LIKE
A SIX-YEAR-OLD OR
SEVEN-YEAR-OLD. IT'S COME TO
MY BRAIN. [ INAUDIBLE ]. SO,
FORGIVE ME , I'M AN OLD STUPID
MAN. FORGIVE ME. YEAH, BUT,
I'M ALWAYS NICE HERE. I'M
ALWAYS NICE. I'M ALWAYS NICE.
YEAH, I'M ALWAYS NICE. I TRIED
TO BE NICE. I WILL BE NICE.
WHEN YOU STOP INTERRUPTING ME.
SO, HUMOR ME. [ SPEAKING IN A
NON-ENGLISH LANGUAGE ], MY
LOVELY SEATTLE, COCKROACHES. [
INAUDIBLE ] AMERICA IN -- I
LIKE PARK. THIS LOOKS LIKE A
BIG, NICE, BEAUTIFUL PARK.
MAYBE. SIMILAR TO THE SEATTLE
ZOO OR SOMETHING. YOU KNOW WHAT
I MEAN? INSIDE THIS PARK I SEE
TOO MANY ANIMAL BUT IT MAKES
LIFE MISERABLE FOR OUR PEOPLE.
MAYBE FOR BOSSES IT'S
DIFFERENT FOR UNITED PEOPLE I
SEE TOO MANY COCKROACHES
AROUND. THIS MAKES LIFE
MISERABLE. MY PROPOSITION, HOW
WE CAN CLEANSE US PARK AND MAKE
LESS COCKROACHES IN SIGHT, YOU
KNOW WHAT I MEAN? IT'S VERY
DANGEROUS. YES. MY PROPOSITION
IS VERY SIMPLE, YOU KNOW? WE
NEED SOMETHING DOING ABOUT
THIS. FREEDOM OF SPEECH IS VERY
IMPORTANT, YOU KNOW, BECAUSE
WHEN YOU CAN COMMUNICATE MAY BE
DIFFERENT LIKE EXAMPLE --
DIFFERENT OPINION [ INAUDIBLE
]. MAYBE START BY OPEN [
INAUDIBLE ]. PEOPLE WITH
DIFFERENT OPINIONS CAN COME AND
TALK. TRUMP. TRUMP IDIOT. [
INAUDIBLE ].
>> NEXT SPEAKER.
>> NEXT PUBLIC COMMENT OR IS
ANDREW.
>> HI, ANDREW. WELCOME. THANK
YOU.
>> HI. SO, YEAH, MY NAME IS
ANDREW. I'M HERE TO EXPRESS MY
STRONG SUPPORT ON BEHALF OF
MANY OF MY NEIGHBORS FOR ITEMS
C, B1 -- SORRY. 120922 RELATING
TO THE ACQUISITION OF PROPERTY
17th AVENUE SOUTH AND SOUTH
WALKER STREET. I'M REALLY
PLEASED TO SEE THIS ON THE
AGENDA. WE WORKED REALLY HARD
OVER THE LAST 15 YEARS NOW TO
GET THAT PLOT OF LAND PRESERVED
AND MADE ACCESSIBLE AS A PARK
FOR THE BENEFIT OF THE
RESIDENCE AND ALSO OF SEATTLE.
THE AREA THAT WE ARE IN IS
UNDERSERVED BY PARKS. THERE IS
A LACK OF ACCESSIBLE PARKS AND
IT REALLY AFFECTS PEOPLE WITH
SMALL CHILDREN AND MOBILITY
ISSUES AND WE ARE GETTING A LOT
OF IN THE MEANTIME, SO, IT'S
ALWAYS BEEN AN ISSUE IN TERMS
OF HAVING ACCESSIBLE PARKS. IN
THE MEANTIME, WE HAVE HAD RAPID
DENSIFICATION. JUST ON MY BLOCK
ALONE , 6000 OR EIGHT IN THE
PAST FEW YEARS. DENSITY IS
GREAT. IT'S FANTASTIC. I THINK
WE REALLY NEED IT FOR THE CITY
BUT WE ALSO NEED PARKS FOR THE
PRIMARY POPULATION. SO, I
STRONGLY URGE YOU TO VOTE IN
FAVOR OF ACQUISITION AND I
APPRECIATE YOUR TIME.
>> THANK YOU, ANDREW. THANK YOU
FOR ALL OF YOUR WORK DURING
THIS PROCESS AS WELL. 15 YEARS
IS A LONG TIME. SO, THANK YOU.
ALL RIGHT. WE WILL GO TO
ONLINE.
>> YET. WE WILL NOW MOVE TO THE
REMOTE PUBLIC COMMENT. ONCE I
CALL REMOTE SPEAKERS NAME,
STAFF WILL UNMUTE THE
APPROPRIATE MICROPHONE AND AN
AUTOMATIC PROMPT OF YOU HAVE
BEEN UNMUTED WILL BE THE
SPEAKER SKU THAT IT IS THEIR
TURN TO SPEAK. THEN THE SPEAKER
MUST PRESS STAR SIX TO BEGIN
SPEAKING. OUR FIRST REMOTE
SPEAKER IS A SIMON. APOLOGIES
ON THE LAST NAME.
>> HELLO. THANK YOU FOR
INCLUDING US REMOTELY TODAY. I
AM ALSO -- I'M SORRY. MY NAME
IS SIMON. HE/AND PRONOUNS. AND
I SERVE ON THE BEACON HILL
COUNCIL BOARD OF DIRECTORS AND
I'M AN NEIGHBOR OF THE 17th
AND WALKER PROPERTY THAT ANDREW
JUST SPOKE ABOUT AND I WOULD
LIKE TO SECOND HIS REMARKS. I
AM ALSO CALLING IN SUPPORT OF
CB 120922 . WE REALLY ARE IN A
PARKS DESERT OVER IN THIS
CORNER OF BEACON HILL PARTIALLY
BECAUSE WE ARE ON SUCH DEEP
SLOPES. EVEN IF YOU ARE LOOKING
AT AN AERIAL MAP IT LOOKS LIKE
WE ARE CLOSER TO PARKS THAN WE
FUNCTIONALLY ARE BECAUSE OF THE
STEEP HILLS, GOING UPSTAIRS,
AND ESPECIALLY DIFFICULT WITH
STROLLERS AND BIKES AND THAT
SORT OF THING. SO, HAVING A
PARK HERE IN OUR CORNER OF THE
UNIVERSE WOULD REALLY MAKE A
BIG DIFFERENCE FOR A LOT OF
NEIGHBORS. THIS PROPERTY IS
VERY UNIQUE. THERE IS A HOUSE,
A GARAGE, AN OUTBUILDING WITH
THE GRASSY YARD AREA BUT THE
MAJORITY OF THE PROPERTY IS
PHIL OF MATURE TREES AND
HASN'T BEEN DEVELOPED. IT'S A
WHOLE CITY BLOCK WITH ONLY ONE U
BIODIVERSITY THAT IS THERE
INCLUDING A LOT OF NATIVE
SPECIES THAT WE DON'T SEE MUCH
OF IN OUR NEIGHBORHOOD
INCLUDING [ INAUDIBLE ]. WE SEE
BIRDS OF PREY COMING AND GOING
FROM THE PROPERTY AND THERE ARE
THREE SCHOOLS IN OUR IMMEDIATE
AREA PLUS THE CHILDCARE
PROGRAM. SO, IN ADDITION TO THE
RESIDENCE OF THE NEIGHBORHOOD,
A LOT OF KIDS WILL BE ABLE TO
COME AS PART OF THEIR SCHOOL
PROGRAMS TO LEARN ABOUT THE
PLANS OF THE PACIFIC NORTHWEST
OR TO HAVE RECREATION THERE.
AND IT IS ALSO ON A
NEIGHBORHOOD GREENWAY. BIKERS.
VERY MUCH. PLEASE VOTE IN
SUPPORT OF THE ACQUISITION AND
THE RELATED ITEMS. THANK YOU.
>> AWESOME. THANK YOU, SIMON.
>> OUR NEXT SPEAKER IS DAVID
HAYNES.
>> K, MR. HAYNES. YOUR TIME
STARTS WHEN YOU CAN TALK.
>> HI. THANK YOU. DAVID HAYNES.
I WOULD LIKE COUNCIL TO ADDRESS
THAT THE PUBLIC UTILITIES
REGARDING THE DUMPSTER PICKUPS
NEEDS TO NOT NEGATIVELY IMPACT
SO MUCH AS IT IS BECAUSE THERE
IS TOO MANY DAYS AND TOO MANY
DIFFERENT DISCOMBOBULATED HOURS
EARLY MORNINGS, LATE.
UNSUSPECTING IN THE AFTERNOONS.
OR THERE IS TRASH PICKUP AND
SOME OF IT DISGRUNTLED
EMPLOYEES ARE REVVING THE
ENGINE'S TOO MUCH AND THEN
THEY ARE SHIFTING THE SHANK AND
BENDING AND CLANGING OF THE
DUMPSTERS WAY TOO MANY TIMES
AND IT'S RIGHT OUTSIDE, LIKE,
RESIDENTIAL UNITS, LIKE,
ECHOING ACROSS, YOU KNOW, THE
NEIGHBORHOOD AND STARTLINGLY
WAKING PEOPLE UP TOO EARLY.
IT'S A REMINDER THAT WE HAVE,
LIKE, SOMETIMES, LIKE, 20th
CENTURY WATERED-DOWN INTEGRITY
OF THE BUILDING CODES THAT MAKE
US HAVE TO HEAR THAT BUT ALSO
WE HAVE A BAD INFRASTRUCTURAL
DESIGN AND INTERPRETATION OF
WHAT CONSTITUTES A RESIDENTIAL
NEIGHBORHOOD WHICH, VERSUS THE
GOVERNMENT TELLING YOU THAT YOU
HAVE SERVICE ROAD RUNNING IN
BETWEEN EVERY BUILDING
JUSTIFYING GOING HIGHER IN THE
LEVELS AND MAKING IT MORE
LIVABLE WITHIN THE, LIKE, AREA
THAT YOU ARE LIVING IN THAT
HAS, LIKE, YOU KNOW, A REPRIEVE
FROM CUTTING DOWN ANY MORE
TREES COULD EVEN GO HIGHER TO
GET AWAY FROM IT BUT WITHOUT
THE DUMPSTER BEING RIGHT NEXT
TO THE WRONG AREA WHERE, LIKE,
THE TRASH GETS PICKED UP ON
MONDAY. THE RECYCLING GETS
PICKED UP ON TUESDAY AND THEN
ON WEDNESDAY THE COMMERCIAL
MIXED-USE SITE GETS PICKED UP
ONLY ON THE RECYCLING AND THEN
ON THURSDAY THERE IS, YOU KNOW,
COMMERCIAL SIDE OF THE TRASH
PICKUP AT FRIDAY HAVE TO START
BACK OVER WITH THE RESIDENTIAL
TRASH PICKUP. A FIVE DAY A WEEK
TIME WHICH SEEMS TO BE THE
DOMINANT REMINDER OF THE BINDER
OF HAVING TO WORK FROM HOME
AND, YOU KNOW, ENJOY AND GET A
REPRIEVE FROM THE FIVE DAY WORK
WEEK NEGATIVE IMPACT OF THE
PUBLIC UTILITIES DUMPSTERS,
VIOLATIONS OF THE NOISE
ORDINANCES.
>> ALSO APPEARED FINAL SPEAKER.
>> OUR LAST SPEAKER IS DENISE .
IS DENISE PRESENT? LOOKS LIKE
DENISE IS NOT PRESENT AND THAT
WAS OUR LAST SPEAKER.
>> ALL RIGHT. THAT WILL NOW THE
PUBLIC COMMENT PERIOD IS CLOSED
AND WE ARE GOING TO JUMP INTO
HER ITEMS OF BUSINESS. WITH THE
CLERK PLEASE READ AGENDA ITEM
NUMBER ONE TO THE TABLE AND THE
PRESENTERS, PLEASE MAKE YOUR
WAY TO THE TABLE.
>> AGENDA ITEM ONE IS A MOSS
ADAMS AUDIT INTRODUCTION FOR
BRIEFING AND DESTRUCTION. --
DISCUSSION.
>> THANK YOU, ALL, FOR COMING.
REALLY APPRECIATE YOU ALL. WE
ARE LOOKING FORWARD TO YOUR
PRESENTATION TODAY AND WE WILL
GET YOU ALL SET UP WITH THE
PRESENTATION AND PLEASE GO
AHEAD AND INTRODUCE YOURSELF
FOR THE RECORD AND THEN YOU CAN
JUMP IN WHENEVER YOU ARE READY.
ALSO, TAKE A QUICK MOMENT TO
THANK EVERYONE WHO CAME FOR
PUBLIC COMMENT TODAY REGARDING
PARKS AND THE LOTUS AND
EVERYONE WHO CAME TO SPEAK
ABOUT ISSUES WITH OUR
COMMUNITY.
>> OKAY. GOOD AFTERNOON. SO, WE
ARE HERE IS THE EXTERNAL
FINANCIAL STATEMENT AUDITORS
FOR SEATTLE PUBLIC UTILITIES
AND IN CASE SOME OF YOU ARE NOT
FAMILIAR WITH THAT, WE WORK
VERY CLOSELY WITH THE STATE
AUDITOR. THE STATE AUDITOR IS
THE AUDITOR FOR THE CITY
FINANCIAL STATE AS A WHOLE.
SEATTLE PUBLIC UTILITIES
FINANCIAL STATEMENTS ROLL UP
INTO THOSE FINANCIAL STATEMENTS
AS COMPONENT UNITS BUT THEY DO
RECEIVE THEIR OWN SEPARATE
AUDITS. ONE OF THE REASONS THAT
AN EXTERNAL CPA FIRM IS ENGAGED
TO PERFORM THAT AUDIT IS THAT
OUR REPORTS IS INCLUDED IN THE
BOND ISSUANCES FOR THE UTILITY.
SO, WE ARE ABLE TO GET IN AND
CONDUCT OUR AUDIT AND ISSUE OUR
REPORTS BEFORE THE STATE AUDIT
DOES FINISH THEIR OWN CITYWIDE
FINANCIAL STATEMENTS BUT I DID
WANT TO ASSURE YOU THERE IS NO
DUPLICATION OF EFFORTS. WE WORK
VERY CLOSELY WITH THEM AND
SHARE OUR WORKPAPERS AND
ACTUALLY WE RELY ON THEM TO
AUDIT THE CASH BALANCES AND
THEN WE GET INFORMATION FROM
THEM. SO, IT IS A VERY
SYMBIOTIC RELATIONSHIP. SO, WE
ARE HERE TODAY TO PRESENT THE
AUDIT PLAN AND TO LEARN IF ANY
OF YOU HAVE AREAS OF CONCERN OR
ANYTHING THAT YOU WANTED TO
COMMENT ON REGARDING THE AUDIT
PLAN BECAUSE YOU ARE THE GROUP
CHARGED WITH GOVERNANCE OVER
THE SEATTLE PUBLIC UTILITIES
MANAGEMENT. SO, WE DO HAVE A
DUTY AS AUDITORS TO REPORT TO
YOU. AGAIN, MY NAME IS LORI.
I'M A PARTNER FOR THE
ENGAGEMENT. TO MY RIGHT IS
CASSIDY. SHE IS IN CHARGE OF
RUNNING THE FIELD WORK WHEN WE
ARE CONDUCTING OUR AUDIT AS
WELL AS A SUPERVISING OUR
STAFF. SO, I WILL START BY
EXPLAINING OUR SCOPE OF
SERVICES. WE WILL BE ISSUING
SEPARATE AUDIT REPORTS ON THE
WATER FUND, THE DRAINAGE AND
WASTEWATER FUND AND THE SOLID
WASTE FUND. AND THOSE REPORTS
WILL INDICATE THAT THE
FINANCIAL STATEMENTS ARE
PRESENTED FAIRLY IN ACCORDANCE
WITH GENERALLY ACCEPTED
ACCOUNTING PRINCIPLES. NOW,
BECAUSE WE ALSO PERFORM THE
AUDIT IN ACCORDANCE WITH
GOVERNMENT STANDARDS, YOU WILL
GET AN ADDITIONAL REPORT ON THE
INTERNAL CONTROLS, SO, THAT
DOES REQUIRE US TO DO
ADDITIONAL PROCEDURES LOOKING
AT THE INTERNAL CONTROL SYSTEMS
GOVERNING EACH OF THE
UTILITIES. SO, WE WILL BE
LOOKING AT COMPLIANCE AND
CONTROLS RELATED TO THE
FINANCIAL STATEMENTS. AND THEN,
THE LAST ITEM, WE ARE GOING TO
COME BACK TO YOU IN LATE APRIL,
EARLY MAY, AFTER OUR REPORTS
HAVE BEEN ISSUED AND WE WILL
REPORT OUT TO YOU THE RESULTS
OF OUR AUDIT AND ANY FINDINGS
THAT WE MAY HAVE. ONE THING I
AM REQUIRED TO EXPLAIN IS WHAT
AN AUDIT IS AND WHAT IT IS NOT.
WE WILL BE FORMING AND
EXPRESSING AN OPINION ON
WHETHER THE FINANCIAL
STATEMENTS, AGAIN, AS I
MENTIONED, ARE PREPARED AND
REPORTED IN CONFORMITY WITH
GENERALLY ACCEPTED ACCOUNTING
PRINCIPLES AND WE WILL BE
COMING BACK TO COMMUNICATE
THAT. IN AUDIT -- AND AUDIT IS
DESIGNED SOLELY TO PRESENT ON
THE FAIRNESS OF PRESENTATION OF
FINANCIAL STATEMENTS. WE ARE
NOT DOING A FORENSIC AUDIT. WE
ARE NOT IN THERE ACTUALLY
TESTING AND PINING ON INTERNAL
CONTROLS BUT RATHER THAT FOCUS
ON THE FAIRNESS OF PRESENTATION
OF THE FINANCIAL STATEMENTS OF
I'M TURN IT OVER TO CASSIDY
NOW. SHE IS GOING TO EXPLAIN
THE AUDIT TIMELINE, SOME THE
AREAS WE SPEND THE MOST TIME ON
IN THE AUDIT AND THEN WE WILL
GET BACK TO SOME OF THE
COMMUNICATIONS.
>> THANK YOU, LORI. HERE WE
HAVE A HIGH LEVEL TIMELINE OF
OUR AUDIT STARTING FROM OCTOBER
WHEN WE DO OUR AUDIT PLANNING
ALL THE WAY UP INTO OUR
ISSUANCE OF AUDIT REPORTS AND
OUR EXIT TO MEETINGS. PRIOR TO
THIS POINT, IN DECEMBER, WE ARE
DOING OUR ENTRANCE CONFERENCE
BUT PRIOR TO THIS POINT WE'VE
CONDUCTED OUR AUDIT PLANNING
WHICH CONSISTS OF SENDING
MATERIALITY, FORMING RISK
ASSESSMENT OF OUR MAJOR
ACCOUNTS AND THEN WE ALSO
PARTNER WITH OUR I.T. TEAM AND
THEY PERFORM TESTING OVER SPU
SYSTEMS, GENERAL COMPUTER
CONTROLS AND THEN OUR TEAM
SPECIFICALLY GOES IN AND WALKS
THROUGH TEST OF CONTROLS WITH
PERSONNEL AND COMPLETE TESTING
OVER THE OPERATING
EFFECTIVENESS OF THOSE CONTROLS
AND AFTER THIS POINT WILL COME
BACK IN MARCH AND APRIL. WE
WILL PERFORM OUR FINAL
PROCEDURES. THIS IS WHERE WE
WILL PERFORM OUR PROCEDURES
INCLUDING TESTS OF DETAILS OR
ANALYTICAL REVIEW. WE WILL
OBTAIN THE FINANCIALS, PERFORM
A REVENUE OVER THOSE AND THEN
ISSUE BY APRIL 30th AND THEN WE
WILL SEE YOU BACK IN MAY AS WE
EXPLAIN OUR CLOSING COMMENTS
AND ANY AUDIT FINDINGS. ALL
RIGHT. AND BRING IT BACK TO OUR
AUDIT PLANNING. WE ARE REQUIRED
TO PERFORM RISK ASSESSMENT OVER
AUDIT ACCOUNTS AND THESE ARE A
LIST OF SEVERAL AREAS WHERE WE
HAVE DEEMED THEM TO BE
SIGNIFICANT RISKS. THESE ARE
WHERE WE WILL BE FOCUSING A
MAJORITY OF OUR TIME AND
PLACING A LOT OF EMPHASIS. SO,
JUST TO NAME A FEW FIRST IS
UTILITY PLANT AND CONSTRUCTION
AND PROGRESS. UTILITY HAS VERY
SIGNIFICANT CONSTRUCTION
PROGRESS ON GOING OVER MULTIPLE
YEARS. A LOT OF COST ROLLED UP
INTO THOSE. SO, WE PERFORM
TESTING DIRECTLY OVER THOSE
COSTS AS WELL AS MEETING WITH
THE PROJECT MANAGERS DIRECTLY
TO ENSURE THAT, YOU KNOW,
WHAT'S GOING ON THEIR PROJECT
ACCURATELY IS REFLECTED IN THE
ACCOUNTING BOOKS. IF THERE HAS
BEEN A PROJECT COMPLETED,
MAKING SURE THAT IS NO LONGER
SITTING IN CONSTRUCTION WORK IN
PROGRESS. SO, MULTIPLE
PROCEDURES PERFORMED THERE TO
ENSURE THE BALANCE IS ACCURATE.
THE UTILITY ALSO HAS ON SPIRIT
WE PERFORM PROCEDURES TO ENSURE
THAT THE BOND BALANCE IS
ACCURATELY STATED. IF THERE AT
THE NEW ISSUANCES OR PAYOFFS,
WE ANALYZE THOSE AND MAKE SURE
SPU HAS PERFORMED THEIR
CALCULATIONS CORRECTLY. THE
UTILITY IS ALSO PARTY TO
SEVERAL ENVIRONMENTAL
REMEDIATION SITES. SO, WE MAKE
USE OF THE ATTORNEY. WE REVIEW
ANY NEW FINDINGS OR NEW
CIRCUMSTANCES DURING THE YEAR
OR ANY EPA ESTIMATES TOO, KIND
OF, COME TO A CONCLUSION THAT
THE LIABILITIES ARE REASONABLY
SATED -- STATED. WE ALSO
PERFORM PROCEDURES OF
REGULATORY ACCOUNTS. THIS IS A
DEFERRAL OF INCOME OR EXPENSE
TO A FUTURE PERIOD. CAPITALIZED
INTEREST ON BONDS, BONDS FEES
THAT THE UTILITY HAS CHOSEN TO
AMORTIZE. YOU WILL LOOK AT THE
ACTIVITY OF THOSE AND THEN WE
ALSO LOOK AT OPERATING REVENUES
SEVERAL TYPES OF EXPENSES AND
THEN TO REITERATE OUR I.T. TEAM
DOES COME IN AND PERFORM
PROCEDURES FOR GENERAL
CONTROLS. SO, ALL TO SAY OUR
AUDIT PLAN IS VERY FLUID.
DEFINITELY DEPENDS ON THE
RESULT OF THESE PROCEDURES BUT
THESE ARE WHAT WE HAVE DEEMED
AS SIGNIFICANT RIGHT NOW. AND
THEN, TO BRING IT BACK TO OUR
AUDIT RESPONSIBILITY , WE ARE
PROVIDING REASONABLE ASSURANCE
OF THE FINANCIAL STATEMENTS AND
THEIR FREE FROM MATERIAL
STATEMENT WHETHER CAUSED BY
FRAUD OR ERROR. THE KEY HERE IS
REASONABLE. WE ARE NOT GIVING
ABSOLUTE ASSURANCE. I'M NOT A
FORENSIC AUDIT BUT WE DO DESIGN
PROCEDURES TO AT LEAST CONSIDER
FRAUD. WE PERFORM ENGAGEMENT
TEAM DISCUSSIONS TO MAKE SURE
IT IS RISK-BASED. JUST TO NAME
A FEW COMMON PROCEDURES WE
PERFORMED JOURNAL ENTRY SCANS
FOR ANYTHING UNUSUAL. ANY MAJOR
MANUAL ENTRIES THAT MANAGEMENT
HAS RECORDED. AT THE END OF THE
DAY, THERE ARE INHERENT
LIMITATIONS AS WE ARE NOT
LOOKING AT EVERY SINGLE
TRANSACTION. THERE'S A RISK
THAT SOME MATERIAL STATEMENTS
MAY NOT BE DETECTED BUT WE DO
DESIGN TO AT LEAST CONSIDER THE
RISK.
>> CASSIDY MENTIONED
MATERIALITY A FEW TIMES WHEN
SHE WAS SPEAKING AND I WANTED
TO EXPLAIN A LITTLE BIT WHAT
THAT MEANS. IT MEANS WE ARE NOT
DOING 100% TESTING OF EVERY
TRANSACTION THAT HAS OCCURRED
DURING THE YEAR. WE DO FOCUS,
AS CASSIDY MENTIONED, ON RISKS
AND THE ACCOUNTS THAT SEEM TO
POSSESS THE MOST RISK. WE ALSO
SET DOUR -- DOLLAR AMOUNT
THRESHOLDS WHERE WE LOOK INTO
CERTAIN ITEMS WHEN THEY EXCEED
THE DOLLAR AMOUNT BUT WHAT I
WOULD LIKE TO EXPLAIN TO MY
PUBLIC SECTOR CLIENTS IS
ESPECIALLY FOR YOU, IT IS NOT
JUST A QUESTION OF WHAT IS THE
DOLLAR THRESHOLD THAT YOU COULD
ABSORB , A JOURNAL ENTRY THAT
COULD MAYBE BE POSTED NEXT YEAR
INSTEAD OF THIS YEAR BUT WE
ALSO LOOK AT QUALITATIVE
FACTORS BECAUSE , AS A PUBLIC
UTILITY, YOUR RATEPAYERS, THE
CITIZENS OF SEATTLE ARE VERY
IMPORTANT AND THEY MAY HOLD
DIFFERENT VIEWS ON WHAT IS
IMPORTANT THAT HAS NOTHING TO
DO WITH THE DOLLAR AMOUNT. SO,
WE DO MAKE SURE WE ARE REALLY
LOOKING AT THE ACCOUNTS FROM A
QUALITATIVE ASPECT AS WELL.
WHAT WOULD BE IMPORTANT TO A
GREAT PAYER? WHAT WOULD BE
IMPORTANT TO A TAXPAYER?
WHAT'S IMPORTANT TO THE
BONDHOLDERS? SO, THE UTILITIES
HAVE A LOT OF DIFFERENT
STAKEHOLDERS AND WE REALLY
SPENT QUITE A LOT OF TIME
LOOKING AT EACH ACCOUNT SAYING,
ALL RIGHT, THE BOND ACCOUNTS
ARE GOING TO BE VERY IMPORTANT
TO THOSE BOND STAKEHOLDERS.
CERTAIN OF THE REVENUE AND
EXPENSE ACCOUNTS ARE GOING TO
BE IMPORTANT TO THE RATEPAYERS.
SO, WE DO TAKE SOME TIME TO
REALLY LOOK AT WHAT IS
IMPORTANT FROM A QUALITATIVE
STANDPOINT. YOUR BOND
COVENANTS, YOUR EXPECTATION OF
YOUR STAKEHOLDERS AND OTHER
INDUSTRY FACTORS THAT WE TAKE
INTO ACCOUNT IN THE UTILITY
INDUSTRY. SO, I JUST WANT TO
ASSURE YOU, IT IS NOT A MAGIC
NUMBER THAT IS APPLIED. IT IS
REALLY A COMBINATION OF
QUALITATIVE AND QUANTITATIVE
FACTORS. ANOTHER AREA THAT WE
WANTED TO ADDRESS IS IF THERE
ARE OTHER DOCUMENTS THAT
CONTAIN OUR AUDIT REPORT WE DO
REQUEST AND IT IS REQUIRED
UNDER AUDITING STANDARDS THAT
WE HAVE A CHANCE TO READ THAT
DOCUMENT TO MAKE SURE THAT THE
OPINION THAT WE HAVE GIVEN IS
APPROPRIATE TO BE INCLUDED IN
THAT DOCUMENT AND I CAN GIVE
YOU THE MAIN EXAMPLE THAT WE
RUN ACROSS THIS AT SEATTLE
UTILITIES AND THAT IS THE BOND
ISSUANCES. SO, WHEN THERE IS A
NEW BOND, TYPICALLY OUR OPINION
ON THE FINANCIAL STATEMENTS
INCLUDED WITH THAT BONDS ARE IN
THE APPENDIX. SO, WE DO GET AN
ADVANCED COPY OF THE BOND
OFFICIAL STATEMENT. WE DO READ
IT TO MAKE SURE THERE IS
NOTHING THAT WOULD BE CONTRARY
TO WHAT HAVE BEEN IN OUR
OPINION TYPICALLY THAT WOULD'VE
BEEN ISSUED MONTHS BEFORE. SO,
WE DO A CHECK ON THAT BEFORE
THE BOND ISSUANCE GOES OUT WITH
OUR OPINION INCLUDED. THAT IS
THE MAIN EXAMPLE. SOMETIMES
ENTITIES HAVE ANNUAL REPORTS OR
OTHER TYPES OF POPULAR REPORTS
THAT THEY ISSUE THAT WOULD
CONTAIN THAT BUT I WOULD SAY IN
RECENT YEARS IT HAS TRULY JUST
BEEN THE BOND ISSUANCES WHERE
WE SEE THE SITUATION WHERE OUR
AUDIT OPINION IS INCLUDED. WE
ARE GOING TO CONCLUDE, I KNOW
YOU PROBABLY DON'T CARE, BUT
WE ARE GOING TO CONCLUDE BY
TALKING ABOUT THE RECENT
ACCOUNTING PRINTOUTS THAT HAVE
BEEN ISSUED. JUST SO YOU ARE
WELL VERSED ON THAT. THERE ONLY
TWO THAT ARE EFFECTIVE FOR THE
CURRENT YEAR THAT WE ARE IN
THAT WE ARE AUDITING AND THE
FIRST ONE LIKELY WILL HAVE NO
IMPACT BECAUSE IT REALLY JUST
ADDRESSES IF YOU HAVE AN
ACCOUNTING CHANGE OR CORRECTION
OF A PRIOR PERIOD STATEMENT. WE
ARE NOT EXPECTING TO SEE THIS
ONE. THE SECOND ONE, GAS PEDAL
101. GOVERNMENTAL ACCOUNTING
STANDARDS BOARD. THEY SET THE
ACCOUNTING PRINCIPLES FOR THE
CITY OF SEATTLE. THERE IS A NEW
ONE CALLED COMPENSATED
ABSENCES. I DON'T THINK IT'S
GOING TO HAVE A BIG IMPACT
BECAUSE THE CITY AND THE
UTILITIES HAVE BEEN ACCRUING
FOR THE COMPENSATED ABSENCES
AND THEIR FINANCIAL STATEMENTS
AND NO DISCLOSURE BUT THIS
STANDARD, KIND OFKS TO HOW THE T
I KNOW THAT SPU
MANAGEMENT IS WORKING WITH THE
CITYWIDE ACCOUNTING DEPARTMENT
TO ENSURE THAT THOSE TWEAKS
HAVE BEEN INCORPORATED INTO THE
OVERALL CITYWIDE COMPENSATED
ABSENCES WHICH IS WHERE THEY
DRAW THEIR DOLLAR AMOUNT FROM.
SO, I THINK THEY ARE WELL ON
THEIR WAY TO GETTING THIS
IMPLEMENTED. WE WILL BE
CHECKING IT PROBABLY EVEN
BEFORE WE COME BACK IN MARCH
BUT I DON'T ANTICIPATE THERE
WILL BE MUCH CHANGE DOLLARWISE
OR EVEN DISCLOSURE WISE ON THIS
ONE. THEN, IN THE NEXT FEW
YEARS, THERE ARE A FEW MORE. I
WON'T GO THROUGH THEM IN
DETAIL. THEY REALLY, ALL THREE
OF THEM, RELATE TO CLARIFYING
EXISTING STANDARDS AND IN SOME
CASES, ADDING SOME MORE TWEAKS
TO THE FOOTNOTE DISCLOSURES. WE
ARE HOPING THAT THE 103 THERE
IN THE MIDDLE IS ACTUALLY GOING
TO REDUCE SOME OF THE
REQUIREMENTS IN THE MANAGEMENT
DISCUSSION AND ANALYSIS. THAT
HAS GROWN INTO SOMETHING VERY
LARGE AND HOPEFULLY WILL HAVE
MORE CLARITY AND MORE CONCISE
AND THE LAST ONE THE SAME
THING. JUST SOME TWEAKS ON HOW
THE DISCLOSURES AROUND THOSE
CAPITAL ASSETS ARE LISTED IN
THE FOOTNOTES. I DON'T
ANTICIPATE THERE IS GOING TO BE
MAJOR CHANGES EVEN GOING INTO
'25 AND '26 FOR THIS BUT
THERE WILL BE SOME TWEAKS TO
THE NOTES TO THE FINANCIALS AND
THE MANAGEMENT DISCUSSION THAT
PRECEDES THE FINANCIAL
STATEMENTS. SO, NOW WE JUST
WANTED TO OPEN UP FOR QUESTIONS
AND ALSO TO GET ANY COMMENTS
THAT YOU MAY HAVE. YOU CAN SEE
A COUPLE OF QUESTIONS HERE FOR
YOU AS FAR AS DO YOU HAVE ANY
ITEMS OF CONCERN THAT YOU WOULD
LIKE US TO BAKE INTO OUR AUDIT
APPROACH. DO YOU HAVE ANY
DIFFERENT VIEWS OR OBJECTIVES
OR AREAS THAT YOU WOULD LIKE TO
HAVE US BE AWARE OF RELATED TO
THE INTERNAL CONTROL STRUCTURE
OR TO THE RISK THAT WE ASSESS
DURING OUR AUDIT PROCEDURES?
>> THANK YOU, LORI AND CASSIDY.
REALLY APPRECIATE THE
PRESENTATION. SUPER HELPFUL. I
KNOW WE HAVE RECEIVED WHEN YOU
ARE PRESENTED ABOUT THE 2023 --
WAS A 2023 AUDIT? YES. OKAY.
AND IT WAS REALLY GREAT. I WILL
PAUSE HERE AND ASKED MY
COLLEAGUES IF THEY HAVE ANY
QUESTIONS AND YOU CAN EITHER
GIVE ME A NOD OR THROW YOUR
YELLOW HAND UP ON THE ZOOM.
WHATEVER IS BEST. YEAH. OKAY.
AWESOME. COUNCIL PRESIDENT?
NELSON?
>> I USED TO CHAIR CITY LIGHT
AND I ASKED THIS QUESTION
FOLLOWING THE FIRES ON MAUI
BECAUSE THERE HAD BEEN COMMENTS
OR THERE HAD BEEN CONCERN THAT
PUBLIC UTILITY -- I DON'T KNOW
IF HIS PUBLIC UTILITY. THE
UTILITIES FOCUS ON CLIMATE
CHANGE RESILIENCE WAS COMING AT
THE EXPENSE OF BASIC
INFRASTRUCTURE MAINTENANCE AND
THAT COULD HAVE CONTRIBUTED TO
THE RAPIDITY OF THE FIRE
SPREADING. SO, WHAT I WANTED TO
KNOW IS YOUR -- DOES YOUR AUDIT
LOOK AT HOW RESOURCES SHIFT
FROM ONE LINE OF BUSINESS TO
ANOTHER AND DO YOU EVER NOTICE
TRENDS. NOT JUST WITH THIS
UTILITY, BUT WITH OTHERS?
BECAUSE IT SEEMS LIKE
EVERYTHING IS URGENT AND YET
THERE IS THE DAY-TO-DAY RUNNING
OF THE UTILITIES AND THE BASICS
THAT HAVE TO GET DONE ALL OF
THE TIME AS WELL.
>> THANK YOU FOR THE QUESTION.
I WILL TAKE IT FROM THE
VIEWPOINT OF, YOU KNOW, THOSE
ARE REALLY OPERATIONAL AND
MANAGEMENT MANAGERS BUT WE DO
TAKE THE TIME TO UNDERSTAND
THOSE OPERATIONAL MATTERS AND
THOSE RISKS THAT ARE BEHIND THE
FINANCIAL STATEMENTS. SO,
REALLY UNDERSTANDING THE
INDUSTRY. WE DO STAFF OUR
ENGAGEMENT WITH INDIVIDUALS
THAT SERVE OTHER UTILITIES, FOR
EXAMPLE, THAT SERVE OTHER
GOVERNMENTAL ENTITIES SO THAT
WE HAVE GOT THAT INDUSTRY
EXPERTISE AND A LOT OF WHAT YOU
WERE SPEAKING OF THOSE ROLLUP
INTO THE FINANCIAL STATEMENTS
IN THE FORM OF AS CASSIDY
MENTIONED THE ENVIRONMENTAL
LIABILITY SECTION OR JUST
PROJECTS THAT THEY HAVE THAT
WILL BE COMING IN THE FUTURE.
SO, THOSE ARE OFTEN CAPITALIZED
EVEN BEFORE THEY BECOME
PROJECTS BECAUSE THEY DO THE
PLANNING FOR THOSE. WE DO TAKE
THE TIME TO UNDERSTAND WHAT THE
MANAGEMENT POSITION IS, WHAT
OPERATIONS ARE, BUT WE ARE
REALLY LOOKING AT IT FROM IS
EVERYTHING ACCOUNTED FOR
PROPERLY? WE ARE CERTAINLY NOT
GOING TO BE JUDGE MENTAL OR
ABLE TO EVALUATE IF IT IS
APPROPRIATE FOR THE UTILITY TO
DO THAT OR NOT, BUT WE WILL
ENSURE AN AUDIT THAT THOSE
COSTS ARE BEING ACCUMULATED IN
THE APPROPRIATE BUCKET. THEY'RE
BEING LABELED APPROPRIATELY IN
THE FINANCIALS AND, AS
NECESSARY, DISCLOSED IN THE
NOTES SO THAT THE READER CAN
SEE WHAT THOSE ACCOUNTS ARE
COMPRISED OF.
>> THANK YOU. AND I SHOULD
KNOW, FOR THE PUBLIC, IN THE
RECORD THAT I WAS SATISFIED
WITH THE ANSWERS THAT I
RECEIVED FROM THE CITY ON THAT
QUESTION. I DON'T THINK IT
APPLIES TO OUR PUBLIC UTILITY.
THANK YOU VERY MUCH FOR
ANSWERING MY QUESTION.
>> AWESOME. WELL, THANK YOU. I
DON'T HAVE ANY QUESTIONS BUT I
KNOW IF I DO I CAN FOLLOW UP
WITH YOU ALL DIRECTLY WITH ANY
CONCERNS. I REALLY APPRECIATE
YOUR THOROUGHNESS AND KEEPING
US ABREAST OF WHAT WE HAVE TO
LOOK FORWARD TO FOR 2025.
>> OKAY. THANK YOU SO MUCH. WE
APPRECIATE THE TIME TODAY.
>> THANK YOU SO MUCH.
>> WILL THE CLERK PLEASE READ
AGENDA ITEM NUMBER TWO INTO THE
RECORD?
>> AGENDA ITEM NUMBER TWO IS
COUNSEL BILL 120917. AN
ORDINANCE RELATING TO THE
SADDLE CENTER DEPARTMENT
AUTHORIZING THE EXECUTION OF A
WIRELESS NETWORK INFRASTRUCTURE
PROVIDER LICENSE AGREEMENT WITH
VERIZON WIRELESS TO DESIGN,
INSTALL, OPERATE, MAINTAIN, AND
OPERATE A WIRELESS
COMMUNICATION SYSTEM AT SEATTLE
CENTER. THIS IS FOR BRIEFING
DISCUSSION AND POSSIBLE VOTE.
PRESENTING TODAY, OUR DIRECTOR
MARSHALL FOSTER AND MARK JONES
FROM SEATTLE CENTER AND AT THE
TABLE WE ALSO HAVE ERIC FROM
COUNCIL CENTRAL STAFF.
>> AWESOME. THANK YOU, DIRECTOR
FOSTER AND MARK AND THEN OUR
PHENOMENAL CENTRAL STAFF. ONE
OF MY FAVORITES. ERIC? I SAID
ONE. I WOULD MAKE ANYONE MAD.
I'M LOOKING FORWARD TO HEARING
ABOUT -- OF COURSE. I'M
LOOKING FOR TO -- WOULD YOU
ALLSTATE YOUR NAME FOR THE
RECORD AND JUMP RIGHT INTO THE
PRESENTATION? THANK YOU.
>> DIRECTOR OF SEATTLE CENTER.
>> MARK JONES. DIRECTOR OF
MARKETING STRATEGIC
PARTNERSHIPS.
>> ERIC, COUNCIL CENTRAL STAFF
AND FOR THE RECORD THE CHAIRS
FAVORITE.
>> [ LAUGHTER ]
>> PRETTY SURE WE ARE THE
FAVORITE DEPARTMENT. MAYBE.
>> PARKS YEAR.
>> [ LAUGHTER ]
>> WELL, GOOD AFTERNOON,
COUNCILMEMBERS, CHAIR
HOLLINGSWORTH. IT'S GREAT TO
BE BACK WITH YOU. WE HAVE TWO
PIECES OF IMPORTANT BUSINESS
FOR SEATTLE CENTER TODAY. BOOFHE
D ARE EXCITED TO
HAVE THEM IN FRONT OF YOU. THE
FIRST ITEM IS A VERIZON
WIRELESS NETWORK AGREEMENT .
THIS WILL, IN A NUTSHELL, ALLOW
US TO EXTEND A 5G WIRELESS
CONNECTIVITY TO OUR ENTIRE 74
ACRE CAMPUS WHICH WILL BE A
TREMENDOUS IMPROVEMENT IN
WIRELESS ACCESS FOR THE PUBLIC
AND FOR OUR PATRONS AND FOR ALL
OF THE GREAT CAMPUS
ORGANIZATIONS THAT WE SERVE.
MARK JONES, OUR DIRECTOR OF
MARKETING AND STRATEGIC
PARTNERSHIPS IS GOING TO TAKE
YOU THROUGH A SUMMARY OF THE
AGREEMENT.
>> THANK YOU FOR HAVING US HERE
TODAY. WE ARE EXCITED TO JUMP
IN AND RUN THROUGH SOME OF THE
HIGH POINTS OF THE PROPOSED
LEGISLATION. MARSHALL ALREADY
SET UP SOME OF THE AREAS PAID
OF EASILY THE BIGGEST IS
IMPROVING THE VISITOR
EXPERIENCE AT SEATTLE CENTER.
WE WANT TO MAKE SURE PEOPLE ARE
VISITING THE CAMPUS AND THEY
ARE ABLE TO GET ONLINE, SHARE
THEIR IMAGES, AND FUN
ACTIVITIES, UPLOAD THEIR VIDEOS
WHEN THEY ARE THERE. WHO WANT
TO MAKE SURE WE ENHANCE THE
CENTER'S INFRASTRUCTURE FROM A
TECHNOLOGY STANDPOINT. NOT ONLY
5G BUT WHAT IS THE FUTURE
OPPORTUNITIES FROM WIRELESS
CONDUCTIVITY ON CAMPUS? SO,
THIS WILL ALSO SET US UP FOR
FUTURE PROOFING SOME OF THOSE
NEEDS FOR OUR BIG EVENTS THAT
ARE COMING, GETTING PREPARED,
OF COURSE, FOR THINGS LIKE THE
FAN CELEBRATION WHICH IS COMING
IN 2026. SO, WE ARE VERY
EXCITED TO MOVE THIS FORWARD. I
WILL STEP TO THE NEXT PIECE.
SOME OF THE KEY TERMS OF THE
AGREEMENT. THE REASON WE NEED
TO COME TO YOU TODAY. THE
DIRECTOR ONLY HAS AUTHORITY FOR
FIVE YEAR AGREEMENTS. THIS
ACTUALLY NEEDS TO BE A LITTLE
BIT LONGER SO WE GET THE RETURN
ON INVESTMENT THAT VERIZON IS
MAKING INTO THE CAMPUS. WE WILL
HAVE AN INITIAL 12 YEAR TERM
AND I WILL BE WALKING THROUGH
SOME OF THE BENEFITS OF THAT
AND THERE IS ADDITIONAL TOO,
FOR YOUR OPTIONS FOR RENEWAL.
SO, OTHER KEY ELEMENTS. VERIZON
IS COVERING ALL OF THE COSTS TO
DESIGN AND MAINTAIN THE SYSTEM.
IT IS ALSO GOING TO BE A
CARRIER NEUTRAL ENVIRONMENT.
SO, VERIZON IS TAKING THE LEAD
TO BUILD OUT THE SYSTEM FOR
BOTH AT&T, T-MOBILE WILL BE
ABLE TO JOIN THROUGH
PARTNERSHIP IN THE REGIONS THAT
THEY HAVE AND NEGOTIATIONS THEY
WILL BE ENTERING ON OUR BEHALF.
SO, GOING THROUGH, OBVIOUSLY,
ONE OF THE BIG BENEFITS OF
SEATTLE CENTER WE HAVE AN
OPPORTUNITY WITH THE VALUE OF
THE 12 MILLION VISITORS THAT
COME EVERY YEAR. IT DOES
INCREASE THE VALUE OF HAVING A
SYSTEM LIKE THIS ON CAMPUS. WE
ARE ABLE TO CHARGE LAND RENTS
THROUGHOUT THE TERM OF THE
AGREEMENT WHICH IS A
SUBSTANTIAL AMOUNT THAT COMES
BACK TO SEATTLE CENTER OF ABOUT
$6 MILLION OVER THE FIRST 12
YEAR TERM. GENERAL BENEFITS,
OBVIOUSLY, THE ENHANCED
CONNECTIVITY WE ARE TALKING OUT
TO BUILD OUT AND IT'S INTENDED
TO SERVE THE 5G IN THE FUTURE
NEEDS OF THE WIRELESS. ALSO,
OTHER OPERATIONAL EFFICIENCIES
THAT COME WITH VERIZON TAKING
THE LEAD. RIGHT NOW WE HAVE
SEPARATE AGREEMENTS WITH ALL OF
THE CARRIERS. WE ARE NOT
NECESSARILY EXPERTS IN THIS
FIELD AND THIS WILL HELP OUR
STAFF CREATE THOSE EFFICIENCIES
AND WE ALREADY TALKED ABOUT THE
REVENUE GENERATION BUT ALSO
THERE IS A SUBSTANTIAL
INVESTMENT FROM VERIZON TO
BUILD OUT THE SYSTEM ON THE
CAMPUS THAT IS AT THEIR COST
ALSO. SO, JUMPING, KIND OF,
INTO WHAT IS THIS GOING TO LOOK
LIKE . THIS SLIDE IS ACTUALLY
DIFFICULT TO SEE THE ANTENNA IN
HERE AND THAT IS A GOOD THING.
WE WANT TO HAVE THESE ANTENNAS
OBSCURED AND PART OF THE
NETWORKS OF SYSTEMS THAT YOU
JUST DON'T REALLY NOTICE. THIS
IS AN EXAMPLE OF A LIGHT POLE
THAT WE ARE GOING TO
RECONFIGURE TO HAVE THE ANTENNA
ON BASICALLY THE TOP PORTION OF
THE WHOLE POLL. WE WILL HOUSE
WHAT IS NEEDED TO DELIVER THE
SIGNAL ON CAMPUS. THIS IS ONE
EXAMPLE OF WHAT WE ARE GOING TO
BE DOING ON THE CAMPUS. AND
OVERALL, ONCE WE HOPEFULLY GET
YOUR SUPPORT TO MOVE THIS
FORWARD AND GET THE LEGISLATION
APPROVED WE ENTER INTO THIS
AGREEMENT WHICH IS INCLUDED IN
THE PACKAGE. VERIZON WILL BE
ABLE TO MOVE FORWARD.
OBVIOUSLY, THEY ARE GOING TO BE
FOLLOWING ALL THE LOCAL STATE
LAWS, ALL THE ENVIRONMENTAL
IMPACT ISSUES. AS I MENTIONED,
NOT ONLY ARE THEY GOING TO
DEVELOP AND BUILD THE SYSTEM,
THEY ARE GOING TO BE REQUIRED
TO MAINTAIN AND UPGRADE IT AND
AGAIN, THE ENGAGEMENT REQUIRED
WITH OTHER CARRIERS WAS
IMPORTANT TO MAKING SURE ALL OF
OUR VISITORS HAVE ACCESS TO A
GOOD, STRONG, WIRELESS NETWORK.
SO, ONCE WE ARE ABLE TO EXECUTE
THE AGREEMENT WE WILL GO
QUICKLY INTO THE DESIGN PROCESS
PERMITTING INSTALLATION AND
THEN AND THERE WILL BE ONGOING
COORDINATION WITH VERIZON ON
THE MAINTENANCE OF THE NETWORK
AND REPORTING BACK ABOUT THE
PERFORMANCE. SO, THERE IS A
LITTLE URGENCY AS I MENTIONED
WITH FIFA COMING UP. OUR PLAN
IS TO HIT THE ROAD IMMEDIATELY
ON FINALIZING DESIGN AND START
THE CONSTRUCTION AND HAVE IT
HOPEFULLY COMPLETE BY THE END
OF THE YEAR IN TIME FOR THE BIG
FAN CELEBRATIONS. SO, IN
CONCLUSION, WE ARE HERE TO ASK
FOR YOUR SUPPORT TO GIVE US THE
AUTHORITY TO ENTER INTO THIS
AGREEMENT SO WE CAN ACCOMPLISH
THE ENHANCEMENTS OF THE VISITOR
EXPERIENCE AND THIS NEW
PARTNERSHIP.
>> I'LL JUST OFFER ONE OR TWO
QUICK COMMENTS. THANK YOU,
MARK. YEARS IN THE MAKING. THIS
IS A VERY EXCITING
INFRASTRUCTURE UPGRADE FOR US
FOR A BUNCH OF REASONS. WE HAVE
ABOUT 12 MILLION ANNUAL
VISITORS NOW TO SEATTLE CENTER.
IT'S ONE OF THE BIGGEST
DESTINATIONS IN THE CITY AND IN
THE STATE AS A WHOLE AND, AS
YOU KNOW, THIS TYPE OF
CONNECTIVITY IS INCREASINGLY A
BASELINE STANDARD FOR THE
PUBLIC EXPERIENCE. WE HAVE A
LOT OF EVENT PRODUCERS WHO USE
SEATTLE CENTER, WHETHER IS
FOLKLIFE OR BUMBERSHOOT OR ONE
OF OUR COMMERCIAL PARTNERS AND
THEIR OFTEN BRINGING IN
ADDITIONAL WI-FI INFRA
STRUCTURE, WIRELESS
INFRASTRUCTURE TO MEET THE
EXPECTATIONS OF EVERYONE
STREAMING LIVE VIDEO, POSTING
LIVE VIDEO TO THE VARIOUS
PLATFORMS. SO, THIS IS VERY
MUCH ABOUT SERVING THE PUBLIC.
IT IS ABOUT ENHANCING AND
MAINTAINING OUR COMPETITIVENESS
AS AN EVENTS DESTINATION AND,
THIRD, WHICH I REALLY THANK
MARK FOR HIS NEGOTIATING OVER
SEVERAL YEARS WITH OUR PARTNER,
GREAT REVENUE ENHANCEMENT FOR
SEATTLE CENTER. ABOUT 70%
SELF-FUNDED THROUGH EARNED
REVENUE THAT WE BRING IN FROM
THE CAMPUS WHICH KEEPS PRESSURE
OFF THE CITY'S GENERAL FUND
AND WE NEED TO BE ABLE TO
LEVERAGE PARTNERSHIPS LIKE THIS
TO KEEP THAT REVENUE IN THE
PICTURE. SO, THANK YOU VERY
MUCH, AND WE LOOK FORWARD TO
ANY QUESTIONS.
>> I JUST WANTED TO SHOUT OUT
TO OUR FRIENDS AT VERIZON IN
THE AUDIENCE HERE WE HAVE BEEN
WORKING WITH AND THINK ALL THE
CITY STAFF THAT WORKED ON THIS,
ATTORNEYS AND ALL OF OUR TEAM,
IT WAS A LOT OF WORK TO GET
THIS IN PLACE. SO, JUST WANTED
TO THANK THEM.
>> AWESOME. THANK YOU, VERIZON,
FOR BEING HERE. I'VE GOT TO
TALK TO YOU ALL ABOUT MY CELL
SERVICE AFTER THE MEETING. ERIC
FROM CENTRAL STAFF, MY
FAVORITE, WOULD YOU LIKE TO
GIVE US YOUR COMMENT?
>> I DON'T HAVE ANY OTHER
COMMENTS OTHER THAN I WANTED TO
NOTE THAT THIS IS BEFORE YOU
BECAUSE THE CENTER , THEY HAVE
THE AUTHORITY TO DO THIS FOR
FIVE YEARS. THIS IS A 12 YEAR
AGREEMENTS. IN THAT PATTERN,
THAT IS FROM STRUCTURE IN THE
CITY'S CODE. IT'S PRETTY
COMMON FOR DEPARTMENT HEADS TO
BE ABLE TO DO FIVE YEAR
AGREEMENTS AND NEED PERMISSION
FOR LONGER LEASES. SO, HAVING
FLAGGED THAT, I WILL LEAVE IT
TO ALL TO ASK QUESTIONS. I'M
HAPPY TO WORK WITH YOU ALL TO
FOLLOW UP WITH THE DEPARTMENT.
IF THERE'S ANYTHING LIKE THAT
THAT I CAN HELP WITH,
OTHERWISE, THAT'S WHAT I HAVE
TO ADD.
>> AWESOME. THANK YOU. I
APPRECIATE THIS. I KNOW I HAD
GOTTEN A BRIEFING ABOUT THIS
BEFORE THE MEETING. SO, I
REALLY APPRECIATE THAT AND I
DID MY DUE DILIGENCE AND
RESEARCH AND ASK QUESTIONS BUT
IT WAS PRETTY STRAIGHTFORWARD
TO ME. I'M GOING TO PAUSE HERE
AND SEE IF MY COLLEAGUES HAVE
ANY QUESTIONS. COUNCILMEMBER
KETTLE?
>> THANK YOU, CHAIR
HOLLINGSWORTH. I LIKE CHAIR GOT
THE PRE- BRIEF THANK YOU. I
THINK IT'S, YOU KNOW, GREAT TO
INCREASE THE CAPACITY AND THE
CAPABILITIES OF SEATTLE CENTER.
I WAS CURIOUS, BY THE WAY, I DO
APPRECIATE THE CARRIER
NEUTRALITY. I THINK THAT IS
IMPORTANT TOO. SO, I APPRECIATE
YOU , VERIZON, IN TERMS OF THE
KEY TERMS OF THE AGREEMENTS,
THOSE PIECES, IT'S REALLY
IMPORTANT. SO, THANK YOU FOR
YOUR INVESTMENT IN THE SEATTLE
CENTER. I WAS CURIOUS IN TERMS
OF, YOU KNOW, AND IT'S A
LONGER-TERM, AND I RECOGNIZE
THE TIMELINES ARE STILL LIKE
ST3, YOU KNOW, DOING THIS, IS
THERE ANY CONSIDERATION RELATED
TO S3 FOR THOSE THAT DON'T
KNOW AND , YOU KNOW, DOES THAT
PLAY INTO PLANNING
CONSIDERATIONS AT ALL? OR IS IT
INDEPENDENT?
>> THIS PROJECT IS NOT
DEPENDENT ON THAT AND WE ARE
SETTING IT UP IN A WAY THAT IT
WILL HOPEFULLY NOT INTERFERE
WITH THAT BUT IF WE DO HAVE TO
MAKE A RELOCATION OF AN
ANTENNA, THAT'S ALL BUILT INTO
THE AGREEMENT AND WE HAVE AN
UNDERSTANDING GOING IN IF
THERE'S GOING TO BE FUTURE
CONSTRUCTION BUT WE ARE GOING
TO THE DESIGN PROCESS, THE
BEGINNING OF IT, TO LOCATE THE
POLLS . RIGHT NOW THE ANTENNAS
AND WE ARE TRYING TO KEEP THEM
OUT OF THE PATHWAY. FOR
EXAMPLE, MEMORIAL STADIUM
CONSTRUCTION IS COMING UP SO WE
ARE TRYING TO ALSO MAKE SURE
THAT IS NOT IMPEDED BY ANY OF
THE SITE LOCATIONS.
>> YOU BEAT ME TO MY SECOND
QUESTION. I WAS GOING TO ASK
ABOUT MEMORIAL STADIUM MR.
FOSTER IS WELL AWARE, SO, I
APPRECIATE THAT AND YOU KNOW,
THE LAST ONE TOO IS BECAUSE OF
THE GREAT WORK SEATTLE CENTER
HAS DONE RELATED TO PUBLIC
SAFETY, AND YOU THINK OF
SEATTLE CENTER, YOU DON'T
NECESSARILY THINK OF THE
CURRENT MEMORIAL STADIUM AND
YOU ALSO DON'T THINK OF MERCER
BUT THIS CAPACITY IS NOT
GEO-FENCED IN SUCH A WAY, I
MEAN, IT'S PART OF A BROADER
SEATTLE CENTER ENVELOPE,
BASICALLY, IS THAT CORRECT?
>> THE GOAL IS TO HIT THE
PUBLIC OUTDOOR SPACES OF THE 74
ACRE CAMPUS. BASICALLY WHERE WE
SEE THE BIG PEAKS FOR FESTIVALS
AND SUCH BUT ALSO WE WILL BE
TAKING ADVANTAGE OF SOME OF THE
OPEN PUBLIC SPACES LIKE THE
FOOD AND EVENT HALL, THERE WILL
BE IMPROVEMENTS THERE. FISHER
PAVILION, EXHIBITION HALL, SO,
ANYWHERE WHERE THE PUBLIC
GATHERS. EVEN SOME OF THE
ENTRANCES TO OUR PARKING
GARAGES FOR FUTURE PROOFING
SYSTEM NEEDS WE MAY HAVE IN
THERE AND TECHNOLOGY FOR THE
FUTURE. SO, THAT IS, KIND OF,
THE MAIN CORE OF IT. YOU KNOW,
THE CLIMATE PLEDGE ALSO HAS A
VERIZON LED HIS SYSTEM IN IT
THAT WAS DONE AS PART OF THE
PROJECTS. WE HAVE A LOT OF
EXPERIENCE WORKING WITH THEM
ALREADY THROUGH THAT
PARTNERSHIP AND THE WE SAID HOW
SUCCESSFUL THEY WERE THERE.
>> AHEAD.
>> ONE OTHER THING IS GOING TO
ADD. SEATTLE CENTER, IN THE
EVENT OF A MAJOR DISASTER AND
WHETHER IT IS EXTREME HEAT,
EXTREME COOL, WE PROVIDE A
SHELTERING LOCATION. A CITY
PRIMARY SHELTERING LOCATION IN
THE EVENT OF AN EARTHQUAKE, A
MUCH LARGER SCALE TRIAGE AND
RESPONSE. HAVING THIS TYPE OF
WIRELESS INFRASTRUCTURE,
RELIABLE, BUILT-IN,
STATE-OF-THE-ART. IT REALLY
SUPPORTS OUR EMERGENCY
RESPONSE. YOU KNOW, ALL THE
SYSTEMS THAT WE USE, THAT THE
PUBLIC IS USING TO REPORT
INFORMATION TO FIND LOVED ONES
AND THEY ARE ALL RELIANT ON
THAT NETWORK. THIS ALLOWS US TO
HAVE A STATE-OF-THE-ART SYSTEM
TO SUPPORT THOSE MOMENTS AS
WELL AS THE FUN MOMENTS ON OUR
CAMPUS.
>> EXACTLY. I HAVE THE OFFICE
OF EMERGENCY MANAGEMENT IN MY
MIND AND SEATTLE CHANNEL BEING
THE LEADER WITHIN THE CITY
GOVERNMENT PLUG FOR THE CITY ,
MR. MAHER AND IT BEGS THE
QUESTION, LIKE, WHERE ELSE CAN
WE LOOK TO REPLICATE THIS
CAPACITY, YOU KNOW, AND OTHER
PARTS OF THE CITY AND I'M NOT
SURE IF THERE'S ANY VERSION OF
THAT, LIKE, AN EARLIER
GENERATION OR ANYTHING LIKE
THAT, BUT IT SEEMS LIKE THIS
BEGS THE QUESTION , WATERFRONT.
>> WE DID ACTUALLY IMPLEMENT
THIS ON THE WATERFRONT. YOU MAY
HAVE NOTICED A WHOLE ARRAY OF
NEW POLLS ON THE WATERFRONT. I
WILL SAY IT'S IN THE
RIGHT-OF-WAY. THIS GETS COMPLEX
BUT WE HAVE THE BENEFIT AT
SEATTLE CENTER THAT WE ARE ABLE
TO INTEGRATE THEM ALL INTO ONE
SYSTEM UNDER VERIZON WITH THE
CARRIER NEUTRALITY. OTHER
PLACES, YOU KNOW, WE ARE
REQUIRED BY FEDERAL LAW TO
ESSENTIALLY ACCOMMODATE EACH
CARRIER SEPARATELY WHICH TAKES
UP A LOT MORE SPACE AND A LOT
MORE INFRASTRUCTURE. I THINK
WITH SEATTLE CENTER WE ARE
GETTING A STREAMLINED
INFRASTRUCTURE WHERE IT IS NOT
GOING TO BE TOO MUCH CLUTTER.
IT'S NOT GOING TO BE TOO
VISUALLY APPARENT AND WE ARE
ABLE TO GET ALL THE CARRIERS
COVERED UNDER THIS PARTNERSHIP
WITH VERIZON. WHETHER YOU ARE
USING T-MOBILE OR WHICHEVER
CARRIER YOU WILL HAVE THE
BENEFIT OF THE 5G.
>> YOU CAN ONLY MENTION LOCAL
ONES.
>> I WAS NOT GOING TO NAME THEM
ALL BUT.
>> THANK YOU, CHAIR.
>> AWESOME. I SEE COUNCILMEMBER
RIVERA? YES, COUNCILMEMBER RIVE
THANK YOU, CHAIR. AND THANK YOU
FOR BEING HERE, SEATTLE CENTER.
AND, SORRY, HAD TO STEP OUT FOR
A SECOND SO I MISSED THE FIRST
PART. APOLOGIES IF YOU ADDRESS
THIS BUT I MISSED IT, IF SO,
SO, I'M GOING TO ASK IT AGAIN.
SO, HOW DID YOU -- I GUESS I
HAVE TWO QUESTIONS. ONE, WHAT
DOES VERIZON GET THIS FOR THIS
ARRANGEMENT AND WHY VERIZON
VERSUS A DIFFERENT CARRIER? AND
THEN, ERIC, I DON'T KNOW IF
YOU REMEMBER, PRE-COVID I KNOW
THERE HAD BEEN A CONVERSATION
WITH ONE OF THE CARRIERS ABOUT
PROVIDING SERVICE AT THE
SEATTLE CENTER AND THERE WAS
SOME BACK AND FORTH AND I
DON'T KNOW IF YOU REMEMBER
THAT AND IF YOU DON'T, WE CAN
TAKE THAT PART OFF-LINE BUT I
FEEL LIKE IT IS A PART OF THIS
CONVERSATION. I WANT TO MAKE
SURE THAT WE ADDRESS IT. I KNOW
THERE WAS SOME CONSIDERATION AT
THE TIME AND I WANT TO MAKE
SURE WHETHER THOSE OF GOTTEN
ADDRESSED, IS THIS DIFFERENT
FROM THAT? OR THE SAME? WERE WE
ABLE TO WORK OUT WHATEVER THE
ISSUES WERE AT THE TIME?
>> I THINK FOR THIS SPECIFIC
EXPERIENCE WE DID A LITTLE MORE
BACKGROUND. WE DID A
COMPETITIVE RFP PROCESS TO
SELECT THAT VERIZON WAS THE
WINNER OF THE RFP BUT IT WAS AN
OPEN COMPETITIVE PROCESS WHERE
WE HAD MULTIPLE BIDS. IT WAS AN
EXTENSIVE PROCESS TO MAKE SURE
WE WERE FINDING THE BEST
PARTNER TO BE THE NEUTRAL
PARTNER MOVING FORWARD AND IT
IS NOT UNIQUE FOR THE CARRIERS
TO GO INTO DIFFERENT
AGREEMENTS. SOMETIMES AT&T
LEADS, SOMETIMES T-MOBILE DOES,
SOMETIMES VERIZON DOES LIKE I
SAID ABOUT THAT OTHER PROJECT.
SO, WE DID GO THROUGH THAT
PROCESS TO MAKE SURE IT WAS
FAIR AND EQUITABLE AND WE WERE
MAKING SURE WHAT WAS FAIR FOR
US AND SEATTLE CENTER AND FEAR
FOR THE CITIZENS. SO, IT WAS A
MUTUALLY BENEFICIAL PROCESS
THAT LED TO THE EVENTUAL
NEGOTIATIONS AND THE AGREEMENT.
SO, I DON'T KNOW THAT ANSWER
YOUR QUESTION EXACTLY.
>> I WILL ADD TO THAT.
FUNDAMENTALLY THE THINGS WE ARE
LOOKING AT HOW IMPACTFUL WOULD
IT BE TO THE CAMPUS, THEY WERE
ON THAT PIECE. THE LEVEL OF
SERVICE. CARRIER NEUTRALITY WAS
VERY IMPORTANT IN TERMS OF
MAKING SURE THAT THOSE
DIFFERENT PLATFORMS WOULD BE
SERVED BY THIS 5G AND
ULTIMATELY, AND THIS IS
IMPORTANT, THE REVENUE. VERIZON
HAD THE MOST APPEALING REVENUE
PACKAGE TO SEATTLE CENTER. I
THINK YOU SAW THOSE NUMBERS
EARLIER IN TERMS OF THE REVENUE
THAT IT BRINGS. AND YOUR OTHER
QUESTION IN TERMS OF WHAT IS
THE VALUE TO THEM, SO, I THINK
IT'S A COUPLE OF THINGS. FIRST
OFF, THIS LEVEL OF SERVICE FOR
THEIR CUSTOMERS IS VERY
ATTRACTIVE AND INCREASINGLY,
LIKE I WAS SAYING, THE INDUSTRY
STANDARD. THIS IS WHAT PEOPLE
EXPECT IN TERMS OF THE LEVEL OF
SPEED WITH WHICH THEY CAN USE
THEIR DEVICES. THE SECOND IS IT
IS A REVENUE STREAM TO THEM
FROM THE OTHER CARRIERS. THE
OTHER CARRIERS WILL PAY VERIZON
FOR ACCESS TO THIS HIGHER-LEVEL
5G SERVICE. SO, THERE IS A
REVENUE CENTER FOR THAT.
>> THANK YOU, MARSHALL. AND
WHAT IS THE REVENUE STREAM THAT
THEY GET VERSUS WHAT WE ARE
GETTING? I SEE WE ARE GETTING
$5 MILLION, IT LOOKS LIKE, A
YEAR. IS THAT RIGHT? NO. TOTAL.
$5.9 MILLION BETWEEN '24 AND
PETE 35. WHAT IS -- WHAT ARE
THEY GETTING?
>> SO, TWO PARTS. ONE IS WHAT
MARSHALL EXPLAINED ABOUT THEIR
TICKET ONTO THE SYSTEM. VERIZON
IS MAKING A MULTIMILLION DOLLAR
INVESTMENT TO BUILD UP THE
SYSTEM. SO, THEY NEED A LONGER
TERM. THEY NEED THE RENT ALSO
TO CHARGE THROUGH TO THE OTHER
CARRIERS. THEY'RE GETTING THAT
PLUS, AGAIN, THE SERVICE LEVER
WHICH WE ARE ALL PAYING FOR
INDEPENDENTLY TRAIN THE
DIFFERENT CHARACTERS --
CARRIERS. THEY'RE GETTING THE
CUSTOMERS TO PAY FOR THE
SERVICE. THAT'S WHAT THEY'RE
GETTING OUT OF IT. THE
EXPECTATION IS MARSHALL SAID
THAT LEVEL OF SERVICE THAT WE
ARE PAYING FOR. I'VE AT&T. YOU
KNOW, I PAY MY ANNUAL THING. I
HAVE AN EXPECTATION WHEN I GO
TO SEATTLE CENTER IT'S GOING
TO WORK. THE SYSTEM WILL
BENEFIT ALL OF THE CARRIERS
FROM THAT STANDPOINT TO PROVIDE
SERVICE BUT ALSO TO GET THE
REVENUE FROM THEM AS CUSTOMERS.
>> ARE THE CARRIERS PAYING THEM
FOR THIS ADDITIONAL SERVICE?
>> I WAS JUST GOING TO ADD MY
RECOLLECTION REVIEWED, THE
AGREEMENT DOES NOT ENCOMPASS
THE FEES PAID FROM OTHER
CARRIERS TO VERIZON.
>> YEAH. THAT IS PROPRIETARY
BETWEEN THOSE COMPANIES. WE
DON'T HAVE ACCESS TO WHAT
THEIR BUSINESS RELATIONSHIPS
ARE.
>> SO, WE DON'T KNOW HOW MUCH
THEY'RE GETTING VERSUS WHAT WE
ARE GOING TO GET?
>> CORRECT.
>> THANK YOU. I WILL FOLLOW UP.
I MORE QUESTIONS BUT I WILL
FOLLOW UP WITH YOU. THANK YOU.
>> YES. SORRY DON'T HAVE THE
PRE-COVID HISTORY INFORMATION
HANDY BUT WE CAN TALK, FOR
SURE. YEAH.
>> AWESOME. THANK YOU,
COUNCILMEMBER. COUNCIL
PRESIDENT NELSON?
>> FOR MY BRIEFING EARLIER THIS
WEEK OR LAST WEEK, I CAN
REMEMBER BUT ONE OF THE
IMPRESSIONS THAT I CAME AWAY
WITH IS THAT THIS AGREEMENTS IS
UNIQUE BECAUSE THE DESIGN AND
THE CONSTRUCTION AND THE
INSTALLATION OF THESE TOWERS IS
BEING PAID BY THE CARRIER AND
NOT THE CITY WHEREAS WHEN
WIRELESS INFRASTRUCTURE IS IN
THE PUBLIC REALM IT IS OFTEN ON
LIGHT POLES AND OTHER THINGS
THAT THE CITY ALREADY OWNS AND
MAINTAINS AND PUTS IN AND
SWITCHES OUT AND ALL THAT
STUFF. IS THAT THE CASE?
>> YEAH, THAT IS CORRECT AND
ACTUALLY IT IS A LOT CHEAPER
FOR THE CARRIERS TO ACCESS
THOSE POLES DUE TO THEM BEING
IN THE RIGHT-OF-WAY AND THE
FEDERAL RULES AROUND THAT USE.
>> RIGHT.
>> THIS IS MUCH MORE LUCRATIVE
TO SEATTLE CENTER.
>> RIGHT. AND BECAUSE YOU ALSO
EXPLAINED THAT THE SHORTER
POLES PROVIDE BETTER SERVICE.
SO, THEREFORE, THEY MIGHT NEED
TO BE MORE. SO, THAT IS A COST
AND ALSO THEY HAVE TO BE
SUPERIOR LOOKING. ET CETERA ET
CETERA.
>> EXACTLY. AND THE UNIQUENESS
OF TRYING TO CREATE AN ANTENNA
THAT CAN HOUSE ALL THE CARRIERS
INTO ONE VERSUS EVERYONE HAVING
THEIR OWN. THAT COULD CREATE A
PROLIFERATION OF ANTENNAS AND
POLLS WHICH WE ARE TRYING TO
AVOID.
>> RIGHT. THANK YOU.
>> AWESOME. I DON'T SEE
ANYMORE -- I REALLY APPRECIATE
YOU ALL PUTTING TIME AND
ATTENTION AND TAIL INTO THIS.
I KNOW IT WAS HARD AND JUST TO
CLARIFY, IT WAS AN RFP PROCESS
WITH WHOEVER COULD PROVIDE THIS
SERVICE AND THE BEST PERSON WAS
CHOSEN . SORRY. THE BEST
COMPANY WAS CHOSEN. AND FOR THE
PACKAGE. SO, WE REALLY
APPRECIATE THE ATTENTION TO
DETAIL. LOOKING FORWARD TO
PROVIDING THE SERVICE TO
PEOPLE. ONE THING I WANTED TO
HIGHLIGHT TOO IS THAT THE
SEATTLE CENTER, THE COUNTY
CLINIC AND I SAW DURING THAT
TIME A LOT OF PEOPLE, A LOT OF
WIRELESS SERVICE NEEDED DURING
THE MEDICAL EXAMS OR DOCTORS
UPLOADING INFORMATION OR PEOPLE
WERE MAKING, YOU KNOW, THEY
COULD MAKE A CROWN , RIGHT?
THEY NEEDED MORE OF THE
SERVICE. IT WAS THE CRAZIEST,
COOLEST THING EVER. JUST TO SEE
HOW MUCH TECHNOLOGY IS NEEDED
FOR THESE MASSIVE, BIG EVENTS
AND HOW MANY IT BRINGS TO THE
SEATTLE CENTER. I COULD TOTALLY
SEE WHY UPGRADING OUR WIRELESS
NETWORK IN SEATTLE IS NEEDED.
US BEING THE TECHNOLOGY HUB, IT
WOULD BE A SHAME IF WE WERE,
YOU KNOW, IT WAS TRAGIC IN SO
MANY WAYS. I JUST WANTED TO
THROW THAT OUT THERE.
COUNCILMEMBER RIVERA?
>> JUST AS A FOLLOW-UP, I THINK
ACCESS TO THE SERVICES
IMPORTANT AND FOLKS BEING AT
THE CENTER AND BEING ABLE TO
ACCESS THE INTERNET IS REALLY
CRITICAL. AT THE SAME TIME, WE
WANT TO MAKE SURE THAT WHAT THE
CITY IS GETTING INCONSIDERATION
IS, YOU KNOW, GIVEN THE
ADVANTAGE THAT A CELLULAR
COMPANY WILL GET BY BEING AT
THE CENTER IS A MUTUALLY
BENEFICIAL TO US IN A ROBUST
WAY, OBVIOUSLY.
>> TOTALLY GRAY. FULLY AGREE.
OKAY, I NOW MOVE THE COMMITTEE
RECOMMEND PASSAGE OF COUNSEL
BILL 120917. TO HAVE A SECOND?
>> SECOND.
>> IT HAS BEEN MOVED AND
SECONDED. THANK YOU, COUNCIL
PRESIDENT, TO RECOMMEND THE
PASSAGE OF THE BILL. ARE THERE
ANY FURTHER COMMENTS? SEEING
NONE, CLERK, WILL YOU CALL THE
ROLL ON THE PASSAGE THAT THE
COMMITTEE RECOMMEND COUNSEL
BILL 120197.
>> [ ROLL BEING CALLED ] FOR IN
FAVOR, NONE OPPOSED. NONE OF
STAINED.
>> MOTION CARRIES. COMMITTEE
WILL RECOMMEND THE BILL PASSED
BE SENT TO DECEMBER 17th, 2024
COUNCIL MEETING. IF THERE IS NO
FURTHER QUESTIONS, WE ARE GOING
TO MOVE TO AGENDA ITEM NUMBER
THREE. PLEASE READ THE SHORT
TITLE FOR AGENDA ITEM NUMBER
THREE INTO THE RECORD.
>> AGENDA ITEM NUMBER THREE.
COUNSEL BILL 120918. AN
ORDINANCE RELATING TO THE
SEATTLE CENTER GLASS AND
GARDENS EXHIBITION LEASE.
AUTHORIZING THE SEATTLE CENTER
DIRECTOR TO EXECUTE AN
AMENDMENT TO LEASE AGREEMENT
BETWEEN CENTER ART LLC AND THE
CITY OF SEATTLE TO PROVIDE THE
TENANT ADDITIONAL OPTIONS TO
EXTEND THE LEASE TERM AND
ADJUSTING RENT AND OTHER LEASE
PROVISIONS. THIS IS FOR
BRIEFING DISCUSSION AND
POSSIBLE VOTE. STILL AT THE
TABLE WE HAVE DIRECTOR MARSHALL
FOSTER AND MARC JONES FROM
SEATTLE CENTER AS WELL AS ERIC
FROM COUNSEL CENTRAL STAFF.
>> AWESOME. THANK YOU. I
REALIZE THERE IS NO SHORT TITLE
TO THAT. APPRECIATE IT.
>> [ LAUGHTER ]
>> WELCOME BACK. STATE YOUR
NAME FOR THE RECORD AND JUMP
RIGHT IN.
>> MARSHALL FOSTER DIRECTOR OF
SEATTLE CENTER.
>> MARK JONES. DIRECTOR OF
MARKETING.
>> ERIC. COUNSEL CENTRAL STAFF.
>> ALL RIGHT. THANK YOU SO MUCH
FOR HAVING US TODAY. OUR SECOND
ITEM, AN AMENDMENT TO OUR
EXISTING LEASE FOR THE SEATTLE
CENTER GLASS AND GARDENS
EXHIBIT. WE ARE VERY EXCITED TO
BE ABLE TO BRING THIS PROPOSAL
TO YOU. THIS WOULD EXTEND THE
TERMS OF THE EXISTING EXHIBIT.
I WANT TO EMPHASIZE, THIS DOES
NOT CHANGE ANYTHING ABOUT
GARDENS AND GLASS. WHAT IT DOES
IS DEEPEN OUR PARTNERSHIP AND
EXTEND WHAT HAS BEEN A VERY
SUCCESSFUL PARTNERSHIP BOTH TO
SEATTLE CENTER IN TERMS OF THE
PUBLIC'S ENJOYMENT AND USE,
THE REVENUE THAT IT GENERATES
FOR SEATTLE CENTER, THE
ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT VALUE
FRANKLY THAT THE NAME BRINGS TO
THE CITY OF SEATTLE AND ALLOWS
US TO EXTEND THAT AGREEMENT
FROM 2040 TO 2072 AND PART OF
WHY WE ARE DOING THAT IS TO
PROVIDE CLARITY THAT THAT YOU
TRULY COLLECTION, THIS IS A
VERY VALUABLE COLLECTION OF
GLASS AT THE EXHIBIT AND IT
WILL HAVE A VERY LONG-TERM,
BORDERING ON CALLING IT
PERMANENT HOME AT SEATTLE
CENTER AS PART OF THESE
AMENDMENTS. SO, IT PROVIDE
CERTAINTY TO ALL PARTNERS THAT
IT WILL REMAIN A MUCH LOVED
PART OF SEATTLE CENTER AND I
WILL TURN IT OVER TO MARK.
>> GREAT. THANK YOU. JUST WANT
TO JUMP IN A LITTLE BIT.
SUMMARY BACKGROUND. DARN GLASS
EXECUTED THE LEASE IN 2011.
OPEN SOON AFTER IN 2012. WE
HAVE HAD THAT SIGNIFICANT
CULTURAL ATTRACTION RINGING
HUNDREDS OF THOUSANDS OF PEOPLE
ANNUALLY. THEY'VE BEEN AN
AMAZING PARTNER AND THE UNIQUE
PARTNERSHIPS THAT THEY BRING TO
THE COMMUNITY, THE COMMUNITY
OUTREACH AND ALL THAT. AS
MARSHALL SAID, ALL THAT WE
WOULD WANT TO CONTINUE ALL OF
THOSE REQUIREMENTS IN THE
CURRENT LEASE. THE OTHER BIG
PIECE IS EXTENDING THE TERMS
AND ADJUSTING SOME OF THE
FINANCIAL TERMS TO BENEFIT
SEATTLE CENTER BUT ALSO THE
CAPITAL INVESTMENT BACK INTO
THE OPERATION AND THE FACILITY
AND THE SEATTLE CENTER GROUNDS.
SO, JUST JUMPING RIGHT INTO
THAT, OBVIOUSLY, THERE IS A
THEME WITH US TODAY BUT ONE OF
THE BIG PIECES HERE IS THE
INCREASED REVENUE FROM RENT. I
ALSO MENTIONED THE CAPITAL
IMPROVEMENTS THAT WILL GO
THROUGH A BREAKDOWN ON AND IN
GENERAL, THE GOAL, AS MARSHALL
SAID, TO RETAIN THE GARDEN
EXHIBIT FOR A LONG TIME TO
COME. SO, SOME OF THE KEY
PROVISIONS. SO, THERE ARE
OPTIONS FOR THREE SUCCESSIVE
TENURE EXTENSIONS BEYOND THE
INITIAL TERM. WE ARE ALSO
LOOKING AT EACH OF THOSE 10
YEAR TERMS TO DO A FAIR MARKET
VALUATION OF THE LEASE TO MAKE
SURE WE ARE GETTING THE
SUBSTANTIAL VALUE OR THE MARKET
-- FAIR MARKET VALUE OF THAT.
WE ARE ALSO LOOKING AT MAKING
ADJUSTMENTS TO THE CPI CAPS
THROUGHOUT THE TERM. THERE ARE
SOME INCREASES THERE AND WE ARE
LOOKING AT ADDITIONAL RENT
STARTING IN 2025. SO, ANOTHER
REASON WHY WE ARE HAPPY YOU
INVITED US TO THIS LAST MEETING
OF THE YEAR BECAUSE THIS IS A
BUDGET DEPENDENT ITEM FOR US IN
THE '25 '26 BUDGET AND
BEYOND. FINALLY, WILL GET INTO
MORE DETAIL BUT THERE IS
IMMEDIATE CAPITAL REINVESTMENT
THAT HAPPENS. CENTER ART LLC
WAS WORKING WITH US TO NOT ONLY
HAVE SOME DEDICATED FUNDING ,
THIS IS ASSUMING THAT ALL THE
EXTENSIONS HAPPEN BUT 21
MILLION IN CAPITAL THAT COULD
BE USED FOR THE EXHIBIT ITSELF
BUT ALSO DIRECTED BY THE
SEATTLE CENTER TO THE SEATTLE
CENTER GROUNDS. SO, A BIG
NUMBER HERE AND YOU CAN SEE THE
BREAKDOWN BETWEEN THE CAPITAL
ON THAT PIECE. AND THEN,
ADDITIONAL RENT. THIS IS ALSO A
TOTAL THAT ASSUMES ALL THE
OPTIONS EXTEND THROUGHOUT THE
TERMS. WE ARE LOOKING AT ABOUT
18+ MILLION DOLLARS OF
ADDITIONAL RENT THROUGH THE TWO
IMPROVEMENTS, THE THREE
DIFFERENT IMPROVEMENTS THAT I
TALKED ABOUT IN THOSE
ADJUSTMENTS. AGAIN, THE
CULTURAL IMPACT I THINK, IT'S
ONE OF THE TOP ATTRACTIONS IN
THE CITY. THE ECONOMIC BENEFITS
THAT WE HAVE JUST OUTLINED ALSO
JUST BACK TO THE ADMISSION TAX
AND OTHER BENEFITS TO THE CITY
WE MAINTAIN THE ATTRACTIVENESS
OF THE FACILITY ITSELF. THIS
WILL HELP US TO MAINTAIN THAT
AND HELP THEM MAINTAIN THROUGH
THE COMMITMENTS THAT THEY ARE
MAKING IN THE FACILITY ON THE
GROUNDS AROUND SEATTLE CENTER.
AGAIN, THE COMMUNITY ENGAGEMENT
THAT THEY DO SO WELL AND THE
PARTNERSHIP THAT THEY BRING TO
THE CAMPUS WITH ALL THE
RESIDENT ORCS IN THE COMMUNITY
THAT THEY BRING INCLUDING THEIR
DEDICATION TO BRING A BUNCH OF
MIDDLE SCHOOLS EVERY YEAR, FOR
EXAMPLE, DOWN TO THE EXHIBIT.
SO, ALSO, NEXT STEPS. THIS IS
SOMETHING WE WILL NEED
AUTHORITY BECAUSE IT GOES
BEYOND DIRECTORS AUTHORITY AS
WE DISCUSSED EARLIER WITH THE
PREVIOUS AGREEMENT WE
DISCUSSED. WE HAVE A WHOLE
PROCESS FOR THE NOTIFICATION OF
THE EXTENSIONS WHICH WE EXPECT
WOULD CONTINUE AND HAPPEN. WE
ALSO ARE WORKING ON THE
PLANNING TO LOOK AT THE
FIVE-YEAR CAPITAL INVESTMENTS
AND THEN THEY WILL BE ONGOING
FINANCIAL REPORTING ABOUT THE
TICKET SALES FROM WHICH BENEFIT
THE CITY. SO, IN CONCLUSION, WE
ARE BRINGING THIS PROPOSED
AMENDMENT TO SECURE THIS
EXHIBIT AND THE LEGACY THAT IS
HERE WHICH HAS BEEN AN
IMPORTANT ASSET TO SEATTLE
CENTER AND ALL THE OTHER GREAT
BENEFITS FOR THE CITY.
>> I CAN'T RESIST JUST ADDING
A COUPLE OF EXCLAMATION POINTS
ON A FEW THINGS. SO, YOU KNOW,
THIS AMENDMENT , IN TERMS OF
THE VALUE FOR SEATTLE CENTER,
WE HAVE AN ASSET HERE WHICH HAS
BEEN EXTREMELY HIGH PERFORMING
ALREADY IN TERMS OF THE
PUBLIC'S ENJOYMENT, THE PUBLIC
BENEFIT, IN TERMS OF FREE
ACCESS TO THE EXHIBIT THAT IT
PROVIDES, GARDENS AND GLASS IS
ALREADY RESPONSIBLE FOR ALL THE
MAINTENANCE AND CAPITAL
REINVESTMENT IN THE MUSEUM
BUILDINGS ITSELF. THEY HAVE
BEEN A GREAT TENANT TO THE
DEPARTMENT. WITH THIS
AMENDMENT, WE ARE ADDING A $21
MILLION CAPITAL FUND THAT WILL
SUPPORT THE DEPARTMENT IN THE
MUSEUM. 50-50 WHICH DOES NOT
EXIST TODAY. THEY CONTINUE TO
PAY THE EXISTING TERMS OF THE
LEASE AND THEN $18 MILLION IN
ADDITIONAL RENT THAT THEY WILL
PAY WHICH WILL START NOW. SO,
WE ARE NOT WAITING FOR THE
FIRST EXTENSION IN 2042. THAT
WOULD START NOW. IN ADDITION,
WE WILL HAVE THE ABILITY WITH
THOSE AMENDMENTS TO DO A FAIR
MARKET VALUE ADJUSTMENT. IF THE
VALUE OF THE MUSEUM HAS
INCREASED SIGNIFICANTLY ,
SEATTLE CENTER WILL HAVE AN
OPPORTUNITY TO PARTICIPATE.
THIS IS THE ENTREPRENEURIAL
APPROACH TO LEVERAGING THESE
PARTNERSHIPS THAT HELPS US FUND
OUR PUBLIC PROGRAMMING. IT
HELPS US KEEP THE CAMPUS
GROUNDS IMMACULATE. IT HELPS TO
SUPPORT PUBLIC SAFETY AT
SEATTLE CENTER AND WATERFRONTS.
THIS IS JUST ONE OF THE MOVES
WE ARE MAKING TO HELP FEED THAT
WHOLE CYCLE OF HOW WE DO WHAT
WE DO AND WE ARE EXCITED ABOUT
IT BECAUSE IT'S GOING TO BRING
SIGNIFICANT REVENUE TO THE
CENTER.
>> ERIC, DO YOU HAVE ANY --
CENTRAL STAFF?
>> I DON'T HAVE ANYTHING TO
ADD. IT IS INTERESTING TO NOTE
THAT, FOR EXAMPLE, THERE ARE
DIFFERENT HISTORIES BUT WITH
THE SEATTLE REP THERE IS A
SIMILAR AGREEMENT BETWEEN THE
CENTER AND THE REP TO
CONTRIBUTE TO THE CAPITAL
FACILITY. THERE ARE SOME
PARALLELS ON CAMPUS WITH OTHER
LONG-STANDING TENANTS TO DO
THAT SORT OF THING. SO, I'M
JUST RECOGNIZING THEM AS A
PARALLEL STRUCTURE THERE. IT'S
OF INTEREST.
>> AWESOME. THANK YOU. AGAIN, I
HAD GOTTEN THIS BRIEFING AND
REALLY APPRECIATE THE ATTENTION
TO DETAIL AND ALSO, MORE
REVENUE FOR OUR CITY AND I ALSO
WANT TO RECOGNIZE, I DO
APPRECIATE MY COLLEAGUE,
COUNCILMEMBER RIVERA BECAUSE,
YOU KNOW, THE POINT OF WANTING
TO MAKE SURE WE ARE ALWAYS, YOU
KNOW, HAVING THE BEST CONTRACT
FOR THE CITY AND DOING OUR DUE
DILIGENCE TO MAKE SURE WE HAVE
THE BEST BENEFIT FOR THE CITY
AND THAT ACCOUNTABILITY AND
THAT GOOD GOVERNANCE, OKAY? I
JUST WANT TO THROW THAT OUT
THERE. ANYWAYS. I WILL PAUSE
HERE. I SEE COUNCILMEMBER
RIVERA HAS A QUESTION AND
WHATEVER, COLLEAGUES, JUMP IN.
>> THANK YOU, CHAIR. ALONG THE
LINES OF WHAT YOU JUST SAID,
YOU ALLUDED TO THIS, BUT JUST
WANT TO MAKE SURE THAT OF THE
OTHER TENANTS ON THE CAMPUS
THAT THERE WON'T BE -- THIS IS
A SIMILAR ARRANGEMENT OR THAT
FOLKS WON'T FEEL LIKE ,
SOMEHOW, I AM SUPPORTIVE OF
THIS GENERALLY BUT JUST MAKING
SURE FOLKS AREN'T FEELING LIKE
SOMEHOW THE MUSEUM IS GETTING
SOMETHING . I'M JUST MINDFUL
THERE ARE A LOT OF TENANTS ON
YOUR CAMPUS AND I -- OBVIOUSLY.
>> WE HAVE 33 RESIDENT
ORGANIZATIONS ON OUR CAMPUS.
OUR RELATIONSHIPS WITH ALL OF
THEM ARE VERY DIFFERENT. THIS
ONE IS UNIQUE IN THAT THIS IS
ONE OF OUR COMMERCIAL PARTNERS.
SO, SOME OF THE FOCUS YOU ARE
HEARING FROM US ON REVENUE IS
UNIQUE. WE DON'T APPROACH OUR
NONPROFIT PERFORMING ARTS
TENANTS IN THE SAME WAY BUT WE
ARE REALLY LOOKING AT
LEVERAGING. WE CAN LEVERAGE
THIS PARTNERSHIP AND I WILL SAY
I WANT TO GIVE GARDENS AND
GLASS AND THEIR LEADERSHIP SOME
KUDOS. THEY HAVE BEEN WILLING
PARTNERS. THIS IS NOT BEEN AN
EASY NEGOTIATION. WE HAVE ALL
STRETCHED OUR COMFORT ZONE BUT
THEY BELIEVE IN SEATTLE CENTER
AND PART OF HOW THEY GOT
SUPPORTIVE OF SOME OF THESE
NUMBERS WAS KNOWING THAT THEY
WERE REINVESTING IN THOSE OTHER
ORGANIZATIONS. TO YOUR POINT,
WE DO NOT HAVE THESE REVENUE
EXPECTATIONS OF ALL OF OUR
PARTNERS. THIS IS UNIQUE
BECAUSE IT IS A COMMERCIAL
ENTERPRISE. SO, VERY DIFFERENT
FOR THE SEATTLE WRAPPER THE
SEATTLE OPERA OR SKATE LIKE A
GIRL OR THEATER PUGET SOUND.
THAT'S PART OF WHAT IS SO
GREAT ABOUT SEATTLE CENTER. ALL
OF THE DIFFERENT WAYS PEOPLE
SUPPORT THE PLACE.
>> SUPPORT EACH OTHER.
>> EXACTLY. SUPPORT EACH OTHER.
>> AND IT IS LOCAL. SO, THAT IS
NICE TOO. THANK YOU, CHAIR.
>> THANK YOU, COUNCILMEMBER.
COLLEAGUES, I LOOKED TO MY
RIGHT. ARE THERE ANY QUESTIONS?
NO. AWESOME. OKAY. WELL, THANK
YOU FOR KEEPING THIS ICONIC
ATTRACTION, OBVIOUSLY, AT THE
SEATTLE CENTER WE BELIEVE IN
THE SEATTLE CENTER WE THINK IT
IS GREAT AND WE ARE GLAD THAT
WE CAN CONTINUE THESE
PARTNERSHIPS, ESPECIALLY WHEN
THEY ARE LOCAL PARTNERSHIPS AND
INVESTING IN OUR COMMUNITY IS
PHENOMENAL. SO, I'M GOING TO
NOW MOVE THAT THE COMMITTEE
RECOMMENDS PASSAGE OF COUNSEL
BILL 120918. DO I HAVE A
SECOND?
>> SECOND.
>> THANK YOU, COUNCILMEMBER
RIVERA. MOVED AND SECONDED TO
RECOMMEND PASSAGE OF THE BILL.
ARE THERE ANY FINAL COMMENTS?
SEEING NONE, CLEAR, WE PLEASE
CALL THE ROLL FOR THE PASSAGE
OF COUNSEL THERE 120918.
>> [ ROLL BEING CALLED ] FOR IN
FAVOR. NONE OPPOSED. NO
EXTENSIONS.
>> THANK YOU. THE MOTION
CARRIES. THE COMMITTEE
RECOMMEND THE BILL PASSES BE
SENT TO DECEMBER 17 CITY
COUNCIL MEETING. IF THERE'S NO
FURTHER QUESTIONS, WE MOVED TO
AGENDA ITEM NUMBER FOUR AND
FIVE. THANK YOU, ALL. REALLY
APPRECIATE YOU. I WANT TO THANK
PARKES FOR WAITING FOR SO LONG.
WE REALLY APPRECIATE YOU.
PLEASE READ BOTH AGENDA ITEMS,
NUMBER FOUR AND FIVE INTO THE
RECORD AND WE WILL BE VOTING ON
EACH BILL SEPARATELY.
>> AGENDA ITEM NUMBER FOUR IS
COUNSEL BILL 120922 AN
ORDINANCE RELATING TO THE
DEPARTMENT OF PARKS AND
RECREATION AUTHORIZING THE
ACQUISITION OF REAL PROPERTY
COMMONLY KNOWN AS 17th AVENUE
SOUTH AND SOUTH WALKER STREET
SEATTLE, WASHINGTON.
AUTHORIZING ACCEPTANCE OF A
RECORDING OF THE DEED FOR OPEN
SPACE PARK AND RECREATION
PURPOSES AND RATIFYING AND
CONFIRMING CERTAIN PRIOR ACTS.
FOR BRIEFING DISCUSSION AND
POSSIBLE VOTE, AGENDA ITEM
NUMBER FIVE IS CONSTABLE 120921
AN ORDINANCE RELATING TO KING
COUNTY CONSERVATION FUTURES
LEVY PROCEEDS AUTHORIZING THE
MAYOR OR DESIGNEE TO ENTER INTO
AMENDMENT FIVE TO THE
CONSERVATION FUTURES INTERLOCAL
COOPERATION AGREEMENT BETWEEN
KING COUNTY AND THE CITY OF
SEATTLE FOR OPEN SPACE
ACQUISITION PROJECTS. THIS IS
ALSO FOR BREATHING DISCUSSION
AND POSSIBLE VOTE. PRESENTING
TODAY ARE CHRISTOPHER WILLIAMS
AND WARD FROM SEATTLE PARKS AND
RECREATION AS WELL AS BRIAN
GOODNIGHT FROM COUNCIL CENTRAL
STAFF.
>> OKAY. THEY HAVE LEFT. SOME
OF MY FAVORITE CITY DEPARTMENT
AND MY FAVORITE CENTRAL STAFF.
PERSON. GOOD NIGHT. ALL RIGHT.
ANYWAYS. GO AHEAD AND STATE
YOUR NAME FOR THE RECORD AND
YOU CAN GO AHEAD AND START.
THANK YOU. I THINK YOUR
MICROPHONE NEEDS TO BE ON,
CHRISTOPHER.
>> OKAY. CHRISTOPHER WILLIAMS.
CHIEF OF STAFF. SEATTLE PARKS
AND RECREATION.
>> INTERAGENCY ADVISORY SEATTLE
PARKS.
>> BRIAN GOODNIGHT. I'M
PINCHHITTING FOR MY COLLEAGUE.
>> CHAIR. QUICK QUESTION.
>> YES. ABSOLUTELY.
>> CHAIR, WHO IS YOUR FAVORITE
LEGISLATIVE LIAISON FROM THE
DEPARTMENTS?
>> [ LAUGHTER ]
>> NO,. THANK YOU.
>> SOFTBALL.
>> I'M JUST PLAYING.
OBVIOUSLY, JACOB IS. HE CAME IN
A SUIT TODAY. LOOKING DAPPER.
THANK YOU, MY FRIEND. JACOB IS.
THANK YOU.
>> ALL RIGHT.
>> THANK YOU FOR TAKING THE
TIME TODAY TO STICK WITH US. WE
ARE HERE TO PROPOSE TWO PIECES
OF LEGISLATION WHICH ARE
INTERTWINED. ONE A.I.D.S. AND
ABETS THE OTHER. THE FIRST PART
OF THE LEGISLATION IS TO GET
AUTHORIZATION TO ACQUIRE THE
17th AND WALKER PROPERTY . YOU
HAVE HEARD FROM THE PUBLIC
TESTIMONY ABOUT THE ACUTE NEED
FOR A PUBLIC OPEN SPACE IN THE
BEACON HILL NEIGHBORHOOD. THIS
IS SUCH A UNIQUE OPPORTUNITY
THAT ONCE YOU HEAR AFTER YOU
GET A BRIEFING ON THE GRANT YOU
WILL UNDERSTAND THAT WE ARE
ESSENTIALLY GETTING 10 PARCELS
OF PROPERTY FREE. JUST WASHING
OUT THE KEY COUNTY CONSERVATION
FUTURES GRANT. THE OTHER PART
OF THE LEGISLATION TODAY IS TO
AUTHORIZE US TO ACCEPT THE KING
COUNTY FUTURE TAXES GRANT TO
ACTUALLY PAY FOR THESE
TRANSACTIONS. LISA IS GOING TO
WALK US THROUGH IT AND WE CAN
PROBABLY DO IT IN LESS THAN THE
15 MINUTES WE HAVE ALLOCATED
FOR EACH PIECE OF LEGISLATION.
>> GOOD AFTERNOON,
COUNCILMEMBERS. I WANT TO START
OUT BY SAYING WHAT I'M
PRESENTING IS THE RESULT OF A
LOT OF STAFF EFFORT, NOT JUST
ME. THERE IS A WHOLE PROPERTY
TEAM BACK IN THE OFFICE
PROBABLY WATCHING THIS
PRESENTATION RIGHT NOW. SO, I
WOULD LIKE TO SEND A SHOUT OUT
TO THEM AND THANK THEM FOR ALL
OF THEIR HELP. IT HAS BEEN A
LONG ODYSSEY AND WE ARE HAPPY
TO BE HERE WITH THIS TEAM
TODAY. THERE TWO PIECES OF
LEGISLATION. SO, THE OVERVIEW
HERE IS THE OBJECTIVE IS TO
COMPLETE A LAND ACQUISITION,
HOPEFULLY IN EARLY 2025, FOR A
HUGE PARK AT 17th AVENUE SOUTH
WALKER STREET. CHRISTOPHER
MENTIONED 10 PARCELS. OUR
TYPICAL MINIMUM PARK SIZE IS
10,000 SQUARE FEET. THIS IS AN
ENTIRE BLOCK TOTALING 1.3 ACRES
AND PLUS OR MINUS 60,000 SQUARE
FEET. IT IS SIX TIMES THE
TYPICAL SIZE AND WE ARE REALLY
HAPPY TO HAVE THE OPPORTUNITY
TO ACQUIRE IT. SO, IN ORDER TO
COMPLETE THIS ACQUISITION, WE
HAVE TWO PIECES OF LEGISLATION
BEFORE YOU. THE ORDINANCE
AUTHORIZING THE ACQUISITION AND
AN ORDINANCE AMENDING OUR KING
COUNTY CONSERVATION FUTURES TAX
AND OUR LOCAL AGREEMENT WITH
AMENDMENT FIVE WHICH WOULD
PROVIDE FUNDS FOR THIS
ACQUISITION. IF THE CFT
ORDINANCE LANGUAGE SOUNDS
FAMILIAR, IT'S BECAUSE WE WERE
HERE IN SEPTEMBER FOR
AMENDMENTS TWO, THREE, AND FOUR
AND NOW WE ARE COMING BEFORE
YOU WITH AMENDMENT FIVE.
PURCHASING THIS PROPERTY WOULD
ADDRESS HUGE GAPS IN THE BEACON
HILL NORTH AREA AND I LIKE TO
SAY WE ARE GETTING A BIGGER
BANG FOR THE BUCK HERE. ONE
PARK SITE WILL FILL SIGNIFICANT
SERVICE GAPS IN TWO ADJOINING
URBAN VILLAGES. NORTH BEACON
HILL AND NORTH RAINIER. SO, IN
SPEAKING ABOUT THE ACQUISITION
ORDINANCE, AGAIN, THIS IS A
1.38 ACRE PROPERTY. AN ENTIRE
BLOCK AT THE JUNCTION OF
ADJOINING URBAN VILLAGES. IF
YOU LOOK AT THE TOP MAP THERE,
THE RED STAR DESIGNATES THE
APPROXIMATE LOCATION. YOU CAN
SEE SEWER PARK. THE GREEN
FIGURE STICKING OUT AT THE
BOTTOM. THIS IS NORTH OF THAT.
AGAIN, IN THE BEACON HILL,
NORTH RAINIER AREA. A MAP BELOW
IS FROM OUR 2024 PARK AND OPEN
SPACE PLAN GAP MAP AND YOU CAN
SEE THE OUTLINES OF THE TWO
URBAN VILLAGES. THE YELLOW
CIRCLE IS THE APPROXIMATE AREA
OF THE SITE. THE LARGER RED
CIRCLE ARE -- IT'S THE
APPROXIMATE BOUNDARY OF THE
FIVE MINUTE WALKING DISTANCE
WITHIN URBAN VILLAGES, OUR
SERVICE IS SOMEONE SHOULD BE
ABLE TO WALK TO A PARK WITHIN
FIVE MINUTES INSIDE AN URBAN
VILLAGE. SO, THE ORANGE
REPRESENTS SERVICE GAP AREAS.
THIS ACQUISITION WOULD GO FAR
IN GETTING RID OF THE ORANGE
THERE ON THAT MAP. BOTH URBAN
VILLAGES ARE THE SECOND HIGHEST
PRIORITY FOR HEALTH AND EQUITY
GOALS AND FIRST PRIORITY FOR
POPULATION DENSITY . I WILL
TALK ABOUT THIS LATER BUT
BECAUSE OF THESE DEMOGRAPHICS,
WE WERE ABLE TO SUCCESSFULLY
APPLY FOR CONSERVATION FUTURES
FUNDING WITH A MATCH WAIVER
MEANING THERE IS NO MATCH
REQUIRED AND THAT IS WHY WE ARE
ESSENTIALLY GETTING A FREE PARK
HERE. SO, THE PICTURE WILL COME
LATER BECAUSE I COULD NOT FIT
IT ALL IN ONE SLIDE. [ LAUGHTER
] THE BLOCK IS COMPRISED OF 10
LOTS BIFURCATED BY 16 FOOT
ALLEY. SEVEN OF THE LOTS ARE
VACANT WITH CANOPY COVER.
THERE'S ONE SINGLE FAMILY HOME
ON THE SITE WITH -- ON THE
THREE ADDITIONAL LOTS IT IS ONE
SINGLE FAMILY HOME WITH SOME
OUTBUILDINGS . THE SITE HAD
BEEN PURCHASED SEVERAL YEARS
AGO BY A DEVELOPER WHO SOUGHT
PERMITS FOR 44 UNITS AND THE
STORY IS THE COMMUNITY ACTUALLY
BROUGHT THE SITE TO OUR
ATTENTION AND THE FIRST TIME WE
APPROACHED THE SELLER THERE WAS
NOT A WILLINGNESS TO SELL. WE
THOUGHT OH, DARN. AND THEN,
LATER ON, THE ECONOMIC CLIMATE
CHANGED IN 2023 AND THE SELLER
SUDDENLY BECAME WILLING TO
SELL. SO, WE WERE ABLE TO START
OUR ACQUISITION PROCESS AND GET
TO THESE POINTED TODAY. THE
PURCHASE PRICE IS $5.5 MILLION
WHICH IS A SLIGHT VARIATION OF
THE APPRAISED VALUE OF $5.3
MILLION. HOWEVER, IT IS WITHIN
ACQUISITION GUIDELINES. WE HAVE
STARTED DUE DILIGENCE. WE HAVE
A SIGNED LETTER OF INTENT. WE
ARE ALMOST FINISHED WITH THE
PURCHASE AND SALE AGREEMENT AND
HOPE TO FINALIZE THE
ACQUISITION IN EARLY 2025. SO,
THESE ARE PICTURES OF THE SITE.
SO, YOU CAN SEE THE ENTIRE
BLOCK THERE WITH THE PARCELS .
THE WEST HALF IS VIRTUALLY
VACANT WITH SIGNIFICANT TREE
COVER AND THEN YOU CAN SEE THE
SINGLE-FAMILY HOUSE IN THE
SOUTHEAST CORNER WITH THE
OUTBUILDINGS AND THE OTHER TWO
LOTS ON TOP OF THAT. CLOSE-UP
OF THE HOUSE AND THE GROUNDS.
OUR PLAN WOULD BE TO GET THE
HOUSE REMOVED AS SOON AS
POSSIBLE AFTER CLOSING TO
REDUCE THE LIKELIHOOD OF AN
ATTRACTIVE NUISANCE IS
CURRENTLY VACANT AND NOT REALLY
IN A POSITION TO BE RENTED AT
THIS TIME. SO, WE'RE JUST
GOING TO GO AHEAD AND REMOVE IT
TO PROVIDE A BLANK CANVAS TO
THE PLANNING AND DEVELOPMENT
FOLKS SO THEY CAN EVENTUALLY
START THE PLANNING AND
DEVELOPMENT PROCESS FOR THE
PARK. THE COMMUNITY THAT
GENERATED THIS PROPOSAL ,
SIGNIFICANT BEACON HILL
COUNSEL. YOU HEARD FROM ANDREW
EARLIER FROM THE NEIGHBORHOOD.
RIDGE IMPROVEMENT COMMUNITY,
BUSINESS ALLIANCE AT 17th AND
WALKER . THEY HELPED US WITH
THE GRANT APPLICATION TO THE
COUNTY. THE ORGANIZATION
SUBMITTED . THE COMMUNITY HAS
BEEN VERY INTERESTED AND
PARTICIPATORY IN THE
ACQUISITION PROCESS . IN TERMS
OF PARK DEVELOPMENT, THE
CURRENT CANOPY COVERAGE
PROVIDES AN OPPORTUNITY FOR
FOREST RESTORATION . THERE IS,
KIND OF, A SEA OF HOUSES AROUND
THIS SITE. SO, IT COULD PROVIDE
A LOT OF RESPITES AND QUIET
SPACE. SO, IT IS A GOOD SITE TO
LAND BANK WHILE WE ARE PURSUING
DEVELOPMENT OF FUNDS, COMMUNITY
WANTS TO COLLABORATE ON
PEDESTRIAN AND BIKE
CONNECTIONS, WAYFINDING TO THE
BEACON HILL LIGHT RAIL STATION,
ET CETERA. IT IS A SLIGHTLY
UPSLOPE OF THE PROTECTED BIKE
LANES ON 15th AVENUE SOUTH. THE
SECOND ITEM BEFORE YOU IS THE
CFT AMENDMENT TO THE LOCAL
ORDINANCE THAT WILL FUND THIS
ACQUISITION AND IT ACTUALLY
CONTAINS FUNDING FOR TWO SITES.
ONE WE PURCHASED IN SEPTEMBER
OF 2023. I'M SORRY. THE WRONG
YEAR APPEARED THERE. IN WEST
SEATTLE. JUST NORTH OF ROXBURY.
IT'S IN THE WESTWOOD HIGHLAND
PARK RESIDENTIAL URBAN VILLAGE
AND THAT REIMBURSEMENT AMOUNTS
TO $3.25 MILLION AND, AGAIN,
THE GRANT AMOUNT OF THE 17th
AND WALKER ACQUISITION WAS $5.5
MILLION. SO, THIS IS THE CHART
FROM THE INTERLOCAL AGREEMENT
ORDINANCE. IT LOOKS A LITTLE
BIT FUNNY DUE TO KING COUNTY
SEPARATING OUT BONDED FUNDS
VERSUS NON-BONDED FUNDS BUT IT
TOTALS $8,750,000 FOR TWO PARK
SITES THAT EACH RECEIVED MATCH
WAIVERS. SO, ESSENTIALLY GOT
TWO FREE PARKS. THANKS TO
SUCCESSFUL APPLICATIONS TO KING
COUNTY FOR CONSERVATION FUTURES
FUNDING. QUESTIONS?
>> BRIAN, CENTRAL STAFF, THANK
YOU FOR THE PRESENTATION.
SORRY. I'M JUST JUMPING IN.
MR. GOOD NIGHT?
>> THANK YOU. I DON'T HAVE ANY
SUPERSENSITIVE COMMENTS. I
WOULD JUST NOTE THAT WE WERE
INFORMED EARLIER THIS WEEK THAT
KING COUNTY DID APPROVE THE
ORDINANCE. THE SLIDE MENTIONS ,
THAT DID OCCUR.
>> AWESOME. THANK YOU. AND I'M
GOING TO PAUSE BECAUSE I KNOW
I'VE BEEN GIVEN THIS
PRESENTATION AHEAD OF TIME. SO,
I WANT TO TOSS TO MY COLLEAGUES
TO SEE IF THEY HAD ANY
QUESTIONS ABOUT THE
ACQUISITION. I WILL SAY THAT I
LOVE A COMMUNITY SUPPORT BEHIND
THE ACQUISITIONS. ONE OF THE
QUESTIONS, I KNOW IT'S SUPER
HELPFUL BECAUSE WE ARE ADDING
MORE PARKS AND SOMETIMES
MAINTENANCE, LIKE, I KNOW THAT
IS, LIKE, SOME OF THE BASELINE
THINGS FOR FOLKS, I LOVE WHEN
WE HAVE PARENS OF BLANK PARK,
YOU KNOW? BECAUSE THEY ALWAYS
DO A GREAT JOB OF MAINTAINING
THE PARKS AND STUFF. WITH THIS
PARK POTENTIALLY, SOME OF THE
COMMUNITY ADVOCACY, WOULD PARKS
BE ABLE TO HELP FORM SOME TYPE
OF FRIENDS OF WHATEVER THIS
PARK NAME IS GOING TO BE TO
HELP, YOU KNOW, JUST STEWARD --
I THINK STEWARDING THE PARK AND
SOME OF THE BEST WAYS TO START
TAKING CARE OF OUR PARKS AND
OUR COMMUNITY. ANYWAYS, JUST
WANTED TO THROW THAT OUT THERE.
IT HAS A LOT OF COMMUNITY
SUPPORT AND I THINK IT WOULD BE
GREAT.
>> WE HAVE A GREAT BASE OF
COMMUNITY ACTIVISTS THAT HAVE
HELPED SHEPHERD THIS
ACQUISITION ALONG AND I'M
ASSUMING THEY'RE GOING TO BE
HERE FOR A WHILE AND SEE IT
THROUGH TO THE ACTUAL
CONSTRUCTION OF THE PARK AND
BEYOND. THE NEIGHBORHOOD GETS A
LOT OF TRAFFIC . I'M CONFIDENT
THERE WILL BE A LOT OF EYES ON
THE SITE.
>> ABSOLUTELY.
>> IT WOULD BECOME A COMMUNITY
TREASURE.
>> IT WILL. AND I KNOW THERE IS
A LOT OF CONSTRUCTION GOING ON
IN THAT AREA AND A LOT OF
APARTMENTS COMING UP. IT'S
JUST GREAT TO HAVE MORE GREEN
SPACES FOR PEOPLE TO BE ABLE TO
PLAY. I WILL PAUSE HERE AND
STOP TALKING. THE SUN IS COMING
IN. FOR THE SUNSET, I WILL
PAUSE TO SEE IF ANY OF MY
COLLEAGUES HAVE ANY QUESTIONS.
COUNCILMEMBER RIVERA?
>> THANK YOU, CHAIR. NOT A
QUESTION, BUT WE HAVE HEARD ALL
YEAR THROUGHOUT THE YEAR THE
IMPORTANCE OF MORE GREEN SPACES
ON THE SOUTH END OF THE CITY
AND, DEFINITELY, WE ARE LACKING
TREE CANOPY , YOU KNOW, ACROSS
THE CITY BUT ESPECIALLY ON THE
SOUTH END AND WE HAVE HEARD
ABOUT THAT. SO, THIS IS SUCH A
GREAT WAY TO ADDRESS THAT AND,
SO, YOU KNOW, IN FULL SUPPORT.
I'M NOT SURPRISED. COMMUNITY
IS SUPPORTIVE OF IT. SO HAPPY
TO BE ABLE TO DELIVER THIS TO
COMMUNITY. SO, THANK YOU FOR
ALL OF THE GREAT WORK AT PARKS
THAT HAS GONE ON IN THIS
ACQUISITION AND TO EVERYONE
INVOLVED. TO THE PARK STAFF WHO
ARE WATCHING AT THE SEATTLE
CHANNEL, THANK YOU FOR ALL OF
YOUR HARD WORK. REALLY, AND FOR
THE COMMUNITY PARTNERS WHO ARE
SUPPORTIVE OF THIS EFFORT
BECAUSE IT DOES TAKE A VILLAGE
TO DO SOMETHING LIKE THIS. BUT
THE INTENTION AND THE
PRIVATIZATION OF THIS IS REALLY
CRITICAL. SO, I REALLY AM
GRATEFUL TO OUR PARKS STAFF
INTO OUR COMMUNITY MEMBERS FOR
WORKING TOGETHER TO MAKE THIS A
REALITY. THANK YOU.
>> THANK YOU, COUNCILMEMBER.
COUNCIL PRESIDENT NELSON?
>> ANOTHER COMMENT, IT WAS
CLEAR THAT THIS IS BEEN IN THE
MAKING FOR A LONG TIME AND, SO,
IT'S WONDERFUL TO SEE THIS
COME TO FRUITION. I ALSO
REALIZE THAT SOMETIMES THERE
ARE OPPORTUNITIES THAT HAPPEN
ALL OF THE SUDDEN, THAT THERE
IS LAND THAT WOULD MAKE SENSE
TO ACQUIRE FOR VARIOUS REASONS,
YOU KNOW, BY PARKS AND I AM
WONDERING, AND YOU CAN ANSWER
THIS OFF-LINE, BUT, I SEEM TO
REMEMBER THAT THERE WAS AN
AMENDMENT OR AN ACTION BY
COUNSEL THAT -- AND PERHAPS
THIS WAS A DIFFERENT DEPARTMENT
BUT THAT REALLOCATED FUNDING
FOR THE ACQUISITION OF NEW
SPACE. AM I REMEMBERING
CORRECTLY?
>> THAT WAS LAST SEPTEMBER AND
THE CFT AMENDMENTS TWO, THREE,
FOUR, I FORGOT IT WAS TWO,
THREE, OR FOUR BUT, TYPICALLY,
IN THE ANNUAL KING COUNTY
APPLICATION PROCESS PRIOR
PROJECTS ARE REVIEWED AND FOR
VARIOUS REASONS THE MONEY IS
NOT USED. EITHER THE APPRAISAL
CAME IN LOW OR THE DEAL DIED OR
SOMETHING HAPPENS AND KING
COUNTY COUNCIL HAS CREATED ,
WELL, THE CFT COMMITTEE UNDER
THE AUSPICES OF THE KING COUNTY
COUNCIL CREATED A PROCESS FOR
REALLOCATING FUNDS TO OTHER
ESTABLISHED PROJECTS WITHIN THE
GRANT POOL. SO, SOMEBODY'S
APPRAISAL CAME IN LOW, OTHER
JURISDICTIONS, THE APPRAISAL
CAME IN HIGH, THERE IS A LITTLE
BIT OF SHUFFLING THERE. SO,
KING COUNTY ULTIMATELY CAN BE
SUCCESSFUL IN SEEING THE GRANTS
THAT IT HAS APPROVED COME TO
FRUITION IN THE FORM OF
PROPERTY ACQUISITION.
>> I WOULD ALSO ADD TO THAT
THAT WE GENERALLY TAKE AN
OPPORTUNISTIC APPROACH TO LAND
AND PROPERTY ACQUISITION BUT WE
HAVE A FOCUS ON CLOSING THE GAP
AND ACCESS TO PARK AND FOCUS ON
OUR OWN VILLAGES. WE WILL NOT
ALLOW AN OPPORTUNITY FOR LANCE
TO LAPSE.
>> THERE ARE SEVERAL. IN
AMENDMENT FIVE, THE OTHER
PARCEL IN AMENDMENT FIVE WAS
THAT OPPORTUNITY. BECAUSE OF
THE ACQUISITION IN 2023 WHEN
THE ECONOMIC CLIMATE CHANGED
AND I BELIEVE THAT WAS ONE OF
OUR QUICKEST ACQUISITIONS EVER.
IN THE SPACE OF JUST A FEW
SHORT MONTHS AND WE THANK YOU
FOR THE AUTHORITY THAT WE WERE
GIVEN TO BE ABLE TO GO AHEAD
AND GET THAT PROPERTY WE FEEL
FORTUNATE THAT WE WERE ABLE TO
BACKFILL THAT IN THE CFT GRANT.
>> THANK YOU.
>> AWESOME. WELL, THANK YOU,
PARKS. THANK YOU TO ALL THE
PARKS DEPARTMENT FOLKS WHO
MIGHT BE WATCHING FROM
ACQUISITIONS AND LAND. THANK
YOU, CHRISTOPHER WILLIAMS.
ALWAYS A PLEASURE TO SEE YOU.
THANK YOU TO MY FAVORITE
CENTRAL STAFF PERSON AT 332 AND
THANK YOU TO MY FAVORITE
COUNCIL LIAISON, JACOB THORPE
IN THE FRESH SUIT TODAY. THANK
YOU. SO, WITHOUT FURTHER ADO,
I'M GOING TO MOVE -- SORRY. I
LOST MY PLACE. I NOW MOVE THAT
THE COMMITTEE RECOMMENDS
PASSAGE NUMBER COUNSEL BILL
120922. IS THERE A SECOND?
>> SECOND.
>> MOVED AND SECONDED. OTHER
ANY FURTHER COMMENTS? THANK
YOU. SEEING ON, CLERK, WE
PLEASE CALL THE ROLL FOR
RECOMMENDATION OF COUNSEL BILL
120922?
>> COUNCILMEMBER KETTLE?
>> AYE.
>> COUNCILMEMBER RIVERA?
>> AYE.
>> COUNCIL PRESIDENT NELSON?
>> AYE.
>> CHAIR HOLLINGSWORTH?
>> AYE.
>> FOR IN FAVOR, NONE OPPOSED,
NO ABSTENTION.
>> MOTION CARRIES. COMMITTEE
RECOMMENDATION, THAT IT WILL
PASS WILL BE SENT TO DECEMBER
17th 2024 COUNCIL MEETING.
ALSO, EXCUSE ME. YEAH. I SAID
THAT RIGHT. I ALSO MOVE THAT
THE COUNCIL COMMITTEE
RECOMMENDS PASSAGE OF COUNSEL
BILL 120291. NO. 120921.
>> SECOND.
>> THANK YOU. I APOLOGIZE. I,
NUMBERS MIXED UP. IT'S BEEN
MOVED AND SECONDED TO RECOMMEND
PASSAGE OF THE BILL. ARE THERE
ANY FURTHER COMMENTS? SEEING
NONE, CLERK, WILL YOU PLEASE
CALL THE ROLL FOR THE
RECOMMENDATION THAT THE CITY
COUNCIL PASS 120921.
>> COUNCILMEMBER KETTLE?
>> OTTOMAN RIVERA? CHAIR
HOLLINGSWORTH? FOR IN FAVOR,
NONE OPPOSED. NO ABSTENTION'S.
>> MOTION CARRIES. THE
COMMITTEE RECOMMENDATION
COUNSEL BILL 120921 WILL BE
SENT TO DECEMBER 17th 2024.
BEFORE WE ADJOURN, I WANT TO
GIVE PARKS A SHOT UP AND I WENT
TO THE PARKS COMMUNITY FUND
OFFENSE. I MISSED THE
LATE-NIGHT AWARDS EVENT AND I
APOLOGIZE BUT THE COMMUNITY
FUND EVENT TO SEE THE PROJECTS,
PHENOMENAL AND LOOKING FORWARD
TO SEEING THOSE PROJECTS COME
TO FRUITION. JUST WANTED TO
THROW THAT OUT THERE THAT THERE
WAS A LOT OF EXCITED PEOPLE.
THANK YOU, EVERYONE. WITH THAT,
THERE ARE NO FURTHER ITEMS ON
THE AGENDA TODAY. IF THERE IS
NO FURTHER BUSINESS, THE
MEETING WILL ADJOURN AND THAT
CONCLUDES OUR DECEMBER 11th
MEETING. PARKS, PUBLIC
UTILITIES AND TECHNOLOGY WHICH
IS 3:34 -- WELL, WHEN WE FINISH
OUR NEXT MEETING IS SCHEDULED
FOR WEDNESDAY, JANUARY 8th AT
2:00 P.M. I WANT TO MAKE SURE
EVERYONE HAS A GREAT HOLIDAY
SEASON. I REALLY APPRECIATE THE
WORK THAT OUR COMMITTEE HAS
DONE THIS YEAR AND FROM MY
COLLEAGUES, YOUR QUESTIONS FOR
YOUR ENGAGEMENT, YOUR
CONNECTION TO MAKING SURE THAT
OUR COMMITTEE IS RUNNING
SMOOTHLY. I REALLY APPRECIATE
IT. AND ALL THE CITY
DEPARTMENTS, PARKS, TECHNOLOGY,
THANK YOU, ALL, FOR BEING GREAT
STEWARDS OF OUR COMMUNITY AND
OUR SERVICES. I JUST WANTED TO
GIVE A SHOUT OUT AND, ALWAYS,
HI, MOM, YOU ARE THE PERSON
THAT WATCHES THAT SEATTLE
CHANNEL. ALL RIGHT. SO, THAT
CONCLUDES OUR MEETING. IT IS
3:35 P.M. THE MEETING IS
ADJOURNED. THANK YOU.