>> GOOD AFTERNOON. THE DATE IS
JULY 10th, 2024 MEETING OF
PARKS, PUBLIC UTILITIES, AND
TECHNOLOGY COMMITTEE WILL COME
TO ORDER. IT IS TO: 02 P.M.
I'M JOY HOLLINGSWORTH, WILL
THE CLERK PLEASE CALL THE ROLE?
>> [ ROLL BEING CALLED ]
>> THANK YOU. WE HAVE FOUR
ITEMS ON THE AGENDA TODAY. WE
HAVE ONE APPOINTMENT NOMINATION
TO THE BOARD OF PARKS AND
RECREATION COMMISSION ,
FOLLOWING THAT WE HAVE AN
INFORMATIONAL PRESENTATION FROM
OUR SEATTLE PARKS DEPARTMENT
RECREATION ON ATHLETIC FIELDS
AND NEXT WE WILL HAVE A
BRIEFING DISCUSSION AND
POSSIBLE VOTE ON COUNCIL BILL
120807 WHICH IS AN ORDINANCE
THAT WOULD AUTHORIZE AN
AGREEMENT BETWEEN SPU AND THE
KING COUNTY FLOOD CONTROL
DISTRICT IN SOUTH PARK. WE HAVE
OUR SECOND OF THREE BRIEFINGS
OF SPU 2025 2030 STRATEGIC
BUSINESS PLAN AND THREE-YEAR
PATH RATE WITH INPUT FROM A
CUSTOMER REVIEW PANEL AND ALSO
BRIAN GOODNIGHT FROM CENTRAL
STAFF. WE WILL NOW PAUSE AND
CONSIDER THE AGENDA, IF
THERE'S NO OBJECTIONS THE
AGENDA WILL BE ADOPTED. HEARING
NO OBJECTION THE AGENDA WILL BE
ADOPTED. LET'S GO STRAIGHT TO
OUR HYBRID PUBLIC COMMENT
PERIOD . PUBLIC, IT SHOULD BE
RELATED TO ITEMS ON TODAY'S
AGENDA WITHIN THE PURVIEW OF
THE COMMITTEE. HOW MANY
SPEAKERS DO WE HAVE SIGNED UP
TODAY?
>> CURRENTLY EIGHT IN PERSON
SPEAKERS SIGNED UP AND ONE
REMOTE SPEAKER.
>> THE MOST WE'VE EVER HAD IN
OUR COMMITTEE MEETING. I FEEL
VERY HAPPY ABOUT THE PUBLIC
COMMENTS TODAY. EACH SPEAKER
WILL HAVE TWO MINUTES. PLEASE
READ THE INSTRUCTIONS FOR THE
PUBLIC COMMENT.
>> PUBLIC COMMENT PERIOD WILL
BE MODERATED IN THE FOLLOWING
MANNER. I WILL CALL ON SPEAKERS
BY NAME IN THE ORDER IN WHICH
THEY REGISTERED BOTH ON THE
COUNCIL'S WEBSITE OR FROM THE
SIGN UP SHEET AVAILABLE HERE.
WE WILL START WITH IN PERSON
SPEAKERS FIRST. IF YOU HAVE NOT
REGISTERED TO SPEAK BUT YOU
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 MICROPHONE. THE ONLINE
LINK IS LISTED ON TODAY'S
AGENDA. WHEN SPEAKING BEGIN BY
STATING YOUR NAME AND THE ITEM
YOU'RE ADDRESSING. SPEAKERS
WILL HEAR A CHIME WHEN 10
SECONDS ARE LEFT OF THE
ALLOTTED TIME. IF SPEAKERS DO
NOT AND THEIR COMMENTS AT THE
END OF THE ALLOTTED TIME
PROVIDED THE SPEAKERS
MICROPHONE WILL BE MUTED TO
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.
>> BEFORE WE START LET THE
RECORD REFLECT WE ARE JOINED BY
COUNCILMEMBER DAN STRAUSS, WE
HAVE A FULL COMMITTEE.
>> THANK YOU, APOLOGIES FOR
BEING LATE. I WAS SEEING THE
FACILITY IN MY DISTRICT.
>> LET'S START WITH PUBLIC
COMMENT.
>> THE FIRST SPEAKER FOR IN
PERSON PUBLIC COMMENT ARE SULA,
DELIA BLACK AND CAITLIN
WASHINGTON AS A GROUP .
FOLLOWING WILL BE JOE ROSIE.
>> AWESOME. YOU ALL ARE THE
BARFIELD GIRLS SOFTBALL TEAM.
LOOKING FORWARD TO IT.
>> HELLO. MY NAME IS DELIA AND
WE ARE MEMBERS OF GARFIELD HIGH
SCHOOL'S VARSITY SOFTBALL
TEAM. WE ARE HERE TODAY TO
ADVOCATE FOR A TURF SOFTBALL
FIELD. THE G3 FIELD WE PRACTICE
ON GETS REALLY MUDDY WHEN IT
RAINS WHICH MAKES IT ALMOST
IMPOSSIBLE TO PRACTICE AND PLAY
GAMES. IT RAINS A LOT. THE
BASEBALL FIELD IN THE OTHER
CORNER OF THE PARK HAS TURF SO
THE BASEBALL TEAM IS ABLE TO
PLAY ON ALLOTTED DAYS WHEN THE
SOFTBALL TEAM HAS TO GO INTO
THE GYM. THIS IS IN ANY QUALITY
ISSUE THAT NEEDS TO BE CHANGED.
WE FINISHED FOURTH IN STATE
THIS YEAR AND WAS ONLY LOSING
ONE SENIOR WE ARE CONFIDENT WE
WILL HAVE AN EVEN STRONGER
SEASON IN 2025. ALL THE PLAYERS
IN OUR SOFTBALL PROGRAM HAVE
WORKED EXTREMELY HARD, MANY OF
WHOM HAVE BEEN PLAYING SOFTBALL
SINCE THEY WERE LITTLE GIRLS
AND WE THINK WE DESERVE A
PLAYING FIELD THAT IS EQUAL TO
WHAT THE BASEBALL TEAM HAS.
>> IN ADDITION TO THIS
RENOVATION AND WILL ALSO GIVE
US ALL THE TEAMS THAT USE THIS
AS WELL. THIS CHANGE IS WELL
PLAYED IN SEATTLE SOFTBALL
PLAYERS IN BASEBALL PLAYERS
ALIKE. GARFIELD'S AWFUL IN
BASEBALL IS TRYING TO RAISE
AWARENESS AND FINDING FUNDING
TO HELP PAY FOR A NEW FIELD.
WE'VE ARTIE TAKEN THE FIRST
STEPS OF HIRING A SPECIALIST TO
DO A STUDY ON THE FIELD IN
ADDITION TO ALREADY BEGINNING
TO RAISE MONEY FOR THE PROJECT.
INDETERMINATE WOULD COST $1.4
MILLION.
>> WE UNDERSTAND THIS IS A LOT
OF MONEY AND THIS PROCESS WILL
TAKE TIME BUT WE THINK IT IS
IMPORTANT TO GET THIS DONE NOW
SO THAT FUTURE GENERATIONS OF
GARFIELD HIGH SCHOOL AND LITTLE
LEAGUE SOFTBALL PLAYERS HAVE
BENEFITS OF A TURF FIELD. WE
ALSO HAVE SO MUCH LOVE FOR THE
GAME OF SOFTBALL AND WANT TO
WORK AS HARD AS POSSIBLE TO BE
THE BEST WE CAN BE. WE CAN ONLY
BE SO GREAT AT MULTIPLE TIMES A
WEEK COMBINED TO THE GYM WITH
SQUISHY SOFTBALLS BECAUSE THE
THING WE NEED TO PLAY THE GAME
IS A MUD PIT. THANK YOU SO MUCH
FOR CONSIDERING THIS
RENOVATION.
>> ARE NEXT IN PERSON PUBLIC
COMMENT OR IS JOHN ROSSI
FOLLOWED BY ANGELYN.
>> HOPE I DON'T GET OFF TOPIC.
THERE IS A PUSH UP TO RETURN.
LET ME PREFACE THIS BY SAYING
THE COACH PLAYED AND LITTLE
LEAGUE , ALL-STAR TEAMS , SO
I'M TOTALLY FOR PLAYING LITTLE
LEAGUE. WHAT I DON'T LIKE IS
THERE IS A MOVE TO MOVE A DOG
PARK TO GET RID OF ALL THE DOGS
TO THE PLAYFIELD. LET ME SAY
THIS. THERE IS NO RESPECT .
LITTLE HAL IS POSTED WITH NO
DOGS. WE CALLED MANY TIMES. MY
CONCERN IS THAT NOW LITTLE HAL
IN THE MIDDLE OF A QUIET
RESIDENTIAL NEIGHBORHOOD -- I
LIVED ON ALL MY LIFE AND
THERE'S NO PARKING THERE.
NOTHING IS MITIGATED. RIGHT NOW
THE DOGS WILL COME UP. THERE'S
AN AREA WHERE KIDS PLAY. THEY
RUN THE KIDS OFF THE FIELD. I
POINT IS THIS, I THINK A DOG
PARK IS A DISASTER AND REAL
QUICKLY, I WAS RAISED IN
ACTIVISM. WE CREATED FORWARD
THRUST THE NEW FIELD . I WAS
ALSO INVOLVED AT A YOUNG AGE OF
GETTING THE SWIMMING POOL.
OTHER THINGS LIKE USSR , SO
WE'VE HAD LOSSES, WE HAVE HAD
WINS BUT THIS WILL BE FINE. IT
WILL BE FOUGHT FAIRLY. WE ARE
ALREADY HAVING A PETITION
SIGNED . THERE IS GREAT CONCERN
OF THE NEIGHBORHOOD AND I TRUST
THE COUNCILMEMBERS WILL
CONSIDER EVERYBODY IS INVOLVED
IN THIS. SO, THE ARGUMENT THAT
A VERY LAWFUL ARGUMENT. THANK
YOU.
>> OUR NEXT PUBLIC COMMENTARY
IS ANGELYN OR GAYLA FOLLOWED BY
RICO.
>> HI. MY NAME IS ANGELYN. I AM
A MOM OF TWO FEMALE ATHLETES IN
SEATTLE PUBLIC SCHOOLS AND I'M
HERE TO TALK ABOUT FIELD
CONVERSIONS. I'M HERE TO
ADDRESS THE GENDER INEQUITY
ISSUE AND ACCESS TO
SYNTHETICALLY TURF FIELDS IN
SEATTLE PUBLIC SCHOOLS. 93% OF
BOYS BASEBALL TEAMS HAVE ACCESS
TO TURF FIELDS WHILE ONLY 53%
OF GIRLS TEAMS DO. THIS RESULTS
IN GIRLS MISSING MORE PRACTICES
, HAVING WARGAMES CANCELED OR
MOVED AND MISSING MORE SCHOOL.
THIS IS A TITLE IX VIOLATION
AND WITH PARTS AND SEATTLE
PUBLIC SCHOOLS SHARING
RESOURCES THIS REALLY NEEDS TO
BE ADDRESSED. SPECIFICALLY,
GIRLS AND FIVE NORTH AND
NORTHEAST SCHOOLS ARE BURDENED
THE MOST. OF THE SEVEN SCHOOLS
WITH ACCESS TO TURF FIELDS ONLY
TO LIE NORTH OF DOWNTOWN. AS AN
EXAMPLE, ROOSEVELT GIRLS ONLY
PLAYED ONE HOME GAME AT THEIR
FIELDS THIS PAST SEASON. MOVED
GAMES FOR THESE HIGH SCHOOLS
HAVE AN AVERAGE OF 12 TO 15
MILES TO DRIVE. IT REQUIRES
CHILDREN TO CREATE CARPOOLS
DRIVEN BY CHILDREN FROM NORTH
OF DOWNTOWN TO WEST SEATTLE OR
TO THE CENTRAL DISTRICT. DURING
TRAFFIC IN THE RAIN. SEATTLE IS
ONE CAR ACCIDENT AWAY FROM A
MASSIVE LAWSUIT. YOU KNOW WHO
DOESN'T DEAL WITH THIS? THE
BOYS. LONG DISTANCE ALSO
REQUIRES GIRLS TO MISS MORE
SCHOOL. THEY HAVE TO GET OUT IN
FOURTH. INSTEAD OF FIFTH OR
SIXTH PERIOD. YOU KNOW WHO
DOESN'T MISS THIS MUCH SCHOOL?
THE BOYS. THESE ISSUES FOR
GIRLS ARE ALSO COMPOUNDED
BECAUSE THE GIRLS USE THE SAME
FIELDS TWICE. USE THEM IN THE
FALL FOR SLOW PITCH AND USE
THEM IN THE SPRING. BOYS ONLY
HAVE ONE SEASON. THE FUTURE
PROJECTS IN THE PLANS YOU SHOW
ADDRESS NONE OF THESE EQUITY
ISSUES. THEY SHOULD BE SCRAPPED
AND LOWER WOODLAND SHOULD BE
THE PRIORITY. TURF RING MEANS
MORE FIELDS WOULD ERASE GENDER
INEQUITY AND SAFETY ISSUES AS
WELL AS PROVIDE A REVENUE
STREAM FOR SEATTLE TO GET US
INTO TITLE IX COMPLIANCE.
GENDER INEQUITY IS A REAL --
>> OUR NEXT PUBLIC COMMENT OR
IS RICO FOLLOWED BY ALEX
ZIMMERMAN.
>> HI. MY NAME IS RICO AND I AM
A SOFTBALL PLAYER FOR LINCOLN
HIGH SCHOOL. I REPRESENT ALL
THE FEMALE ATHLETES WHO USE THE
PUBLIC PARKS THAT ARE CURRENTLY
NOT TURF. SINCE APRIL 13th OF
THIS YEAR THE PETITION THAT I
STARTED HAS GOTTEN ABOUT 1300
SIGNATURES, 479 SHARES AND
ABOUT $1000 IN CONTRIBUTIONS.
OUR CAUSE HAS BEEN FEATURED IN
THE SEATTLE TIMES AND I'M
REALLY GRATEFUL FOR ALL THE
SUPPORT AND THIS IS JUST THE
BEGINNING. YEAR AFTER YEAR WE
ARRIVE AT OUR FIELDS, EVEN IF
IT'S NOT RAINING THAT DAY OUR
FIELDS ARE UNPLAYABLE AND WE
HAVE TO EITHER RESCHEDULE OR
CANCEL THE GAMES WHICH
DISCOURAGES A LOT OF PLAYERS
AND IS REALLY DISAPPOINTING AND
HARD TO CREATE A BETTER
FOUNDATION FOR OUR TEAMS. OF
COURSE THERE IS SOME TURF
FIELDS IN THE CITY BUT TITLE IX
AND WASHINGTON STATE LAW
MANDATE EQUAL ATHLETIC
OPPORTUNITIES FOR MALE AND
FEMALE STUDENTS YET ONLY HALF
OF THE FIELDS -- GIRLS ONLY
HAVE LIKE HALF THE AMOUNT OF
TURF FIELDS AS BOYS TEAMS DO.
WE MUST ADDRESS THIS DISPARITY
TO ENSURE ALL MEMBERS OF THE
COMMUNITY OF STUDENTS, LITTLE
LEAGUE AND ADULT BALLPLAYERS
REGARDLESS OF GENDER OR
ECONOMIC STATUS HAVE EQUAL
OPPORTUNITIES TO PLAY.
ACCESSIBLE PUBLIC FIELDS CAN
UNLOCK POTENTIAL, FOSTER
COMMUNITY AND CREATE A
HEALTHIER VIBRANT SEATTLE FOR
EVERYONE. AS A HIGH SCHOOL
ATHLETE I'VE FELT THE
FRUSTRATION AND LOST MOTIVATION
. I'M DETERMINED TO ENSURE
FUTURE GENERATIONS DON'T
ENDURE THE SAME FATE. WE CAN'T
CHANGE THE WEATHER BUT WE CAN
ADJUST OUR SALES SO WE SHOULD
WORK TOGETHER TO PROVIDE
ACCESSIBLE PLAYING FIELDS THE
CITY DESERVES.
>> OUR NEXT PUBLIC COMMENTOR IS
ALEX ZIMMERMAN FOLLOWED BY
LAUREN HILL.
>> MY NAME ALEX AND --
BECAUSE I RESPECT YOU , I'LL
BE HONEST WITH YOU. YOU POSTED
FOR MANY YEAR .
>> CAN WE PAUSE ? WE ARE
PAUSING THE TIME. YOU HAVE TO
ADDRESS SOMETHING ON THE
AGENDA.
>> I'M NOT PLAYING STUPID. CAN
WE HAVE HIM REMOVED? YOU'RE
NOT ADDRESSING ANYTHING.
>> THIS IS NOT PERMISSION.
>> I AM JUST ASKING -- YOU CAN
PUT PUBLIC COMMENT IN THERE. I
APPRECIATE YOU COMING. YOU'RE
NOT ADDRESSING ANYTHING ON THE
AGENDA. I WILL ASK YOU VERY
NICELY TO LEAVE. THANK YOU.
THANK YOU, SIR.
>> THIS IS DISRUPTIVE BEHAVIOR.
>> THANK YOU.
>> THAT HIS ABUSIVE LANGUAGE.
>> OUR NEXT COMMENTOR IS LAUREN
HILL FOLLOWED BY BILL FARMER.
>> THANK YOU FOR THE
OPPORTUNITY TO SPEAK. MY NAME
IS LAUREN HILL. I TOLD MY
DAUGHTER I WAS COMING DOWN HERE
AND I NEEDED TO GET -- TELL HIM
GRASS FIELDS ARE JUNK. I HAVE A
BIT MORE TO SAY. FIELD USERS
ARE ONE OF THE BIGGEST USERS OF
SEATTLE PARKS AND THEY HAVE SO
MUCH MORE OF THEIR FAIR SHARE.
WE ARE CHARGED SO MUCH IN FEES
COMPARED TO OTHER PARTS USERS
YET WE DON'T GET VERY MUCH
OVER THE LAST 10 YEARS THE
SEATTLE POPULATION HAS GROWN
+100,000 AND WE HAVE MAYBE ONE
FIELD CONVERSION FROM GRASS IN
THAT TIME PERIOD. I READ THE
AGENDA TODAY LOOKING AT CURRENT
PROJECTS. THIS OPPORTUNITY JUST
SURFING THE INFIELD WHERE IF
YOU TURF THE WHOLE THING NOT
ONLY DOES THAT MAKE THAT FIELD
USABLE FROM NOVEMBER 1st
THROUGH MARCH 1st BUT IT'S NOT
REALLY USABLE MARCH 1st. ALSO
BALLER PLAYING FIELD, SAME
THING. SO MUCH GROWTH IN THAT
NEIGHBORHOOD YET THEY ARE
CHIRPING IN FIELDS WHERE IT'S
ALREADY LIT. IF WE TURF THE
WHOLE THING, SYNTHETIC.
SOUNDVIEW. THIS PROJECT WAS
FULLY SHOVEL READY IN 2019,
FULLY FUNDED IN 2020 YET NO
FUNDING NOW. IF IT'S NOT BUILT
SOON THE PERMITS WILL GO OUT
AND IT'S ANOTHER COUPLE
HUNDRED THOUSAND TO GET IT
GOING AGAIN? THAT AREA IS
TOTALLY DESERVING. WE TRIED TO
RAISE A BUNCH OF MONEY. WE HAVE
500 K IN THE BANK AND TRY TO
GET A RAMP WITH THE CITY. THEY
SAID DO A FEASIBILITY STUDY. WE
GOT REDESIGN AND THAT WAS ALSO
FUNDED IN 2020, MONEY STOLEN,
NOW I DON'T KNOW, 2018.
>> YOU HAVE EIGHT SECONDS.
>> I WILL EMAIL YOU THE REST.
>> ARE YOU THE ORIGINAL LAUREN
HILL? YOU'RE THE ORIGINAL,
OKAY.
>> OUR NEXT PUBLIC COMMENTOR IS
BILL FARMER FOLLOWED BY MONICA
SHARMA.
>> HELLO. I'M ON THE BOARD OF
FRIENDS OF ATHLETIC FIELDS.
WE'VE DONE ATHLETIC FIELDS
ADVOCACY FOR 25+ YEARS. TWO
MINUTES, LET'S GO. ONE THING
IN THE PRESENTATION, MAYBE I
MISSED IT, THE JOINT ATHLETIC
FACILITY DEVELOPMENT PROGRAM IS
THE GUIDING DOCUMENT FOR
ATHLETIC FIELD DEVELOPMENT IN
THE CITY. I DIDN'T SEE IT IN
THERE BUT KEEP IN MIND THAT
WHAT SYNTHETIC PROVIDES THREE
TIMES THE PLAYTIME OVER LIT
PRESS FIELDS THAT'S BEEN THE
FOCUS OF THE UPGRADES OVER THE
YEARS. WHERE YOU GOT SYNTHETIC
TURF, ADD LIGHTS. THAT'S ONLY
ONE OF THE PARKS INVENTORY. WE
HAVE LIGHT, AND SYNTHETIC. LOTS
OF PROJECTS HAVE BEEN PROPOSED
IN QUEEN AND PLAINFIELD, SOUTH
MAGNOLIA , MANY OTHERS THAT
HAVE LIGHT AND GRASS THAT GETS
SYNTHETIC. WE ARE NOT BUILDING
NEW FIELDS. WE NEED TO MAKE THE
BEST USE OUT OF THE INVENTORY
WE HAVE. REALLY BIG PICTURE, I
CALL INTO QUESTION THE
COMMITMENT OF COUNCIL, THE
MAYOR AND PARKS FOR FOLLOWING
THROUGH ON ALL THESE PROJECTS
THAT HAVE BEEN IDENTIFIED OVER
THE YEARS. MASTER PLAN, 2004.
NINE FEELS PROPOSED AND FIVE
HAVE BEEN BUILT. STRATEGIC PLAN
2008, OLD ONE NEW FIELD ,
HASN'T BEEN DONE. CIP HAS
FUNDED SOUTH MAGNOLIA, 12, 13 .
MONEY GETS YANKED AWAY AND
IT'S REFERRED 5 TO 8 YEARS.
OUR LAST SYNTHETIC CONVERSION
WAS BRIGHTON, 2019. I JUST WISH
OUR DECISION-MAKERS WILL GET
THINGS DONE. I KNOW THERE'S A
BIG BUDGET CRUNCH COMING.
ANYTHING YOU CAN DO TO PROVIDE
FOR US WOULD BE APPRECIATED.
>> OUR FINAL IN PERSON
COMMENTOR IS MONICA SHARMA.
>> HELLO. I AM HERE
REPRESENTING KING COUNTY PLATE
EQUITY COALITION , WE ARE A
NETWORK OF A -- OVER 120 ORCS
DEDICATED TO CHALLENGING AND
CHANGING SYSTEMS SO ALL YOUTH
ACCESS TO SPORTS PLAY AND
OUTDOOR RECREATION. IN SEATTLE
INCOME CONTINUES TO BE A
PREDICTOR FOR PAST ACCESS TO
SPORTS. 85% OF YOUTH FROM HOMES
HAVE PARTICIPATED IN ORGANIZED
SPORTS WHILE ONLY 70% OF YOUTH
FROM LOWER INCOME HOUSEHOLDS
HAVE CONSISTENTLY WORKED TO
ADDRESS THAT . COALITION
MEMBERS RAISE ISSUES OF FIELD
ACCESS AS A PRIMARY CHALLENGE
TO RUNNING YOUTH FROM
MARGINALIZED SPORTS. THE
PARTICULAR CHALLENGES INCLUDE
FIELD FEES ARE TOO HIGH LEADING
TO COST THAT MUST BE PASSED ON
TO PARTICIPANTS OR REDUCTION IN
PROGRAMMING TO BUDGETARY
ISSUES. HISTORIC USE POLICY
LIMITS THE ACCESS OF NEW
PROGRAMS SERVING INCOME AND
BIPOC YOUTH. WE REVIEW THE
FIELD OVERVIEW PRESENTATION AND
98% OF CITI FIELD USERS ARE
HISTORIC USERS. THIS MUST BE
ADDRESSED. WE ARE GRATEFUL FOR
THE DATA COLLECTION YOU STARTED
TO UNDERSTAND LIZ ACCESSING
FIELDS AND HOW THAT MEETS CITY
EQUITY GOALS BUT WE HEAR FROM
OUR MEMBERS THAT SMALLER BIPOC
ORGANIZATIONS AND THOSE IN
NEWER TRADITIONAL SPORTS ARE
EXCLUDED DUE TO HISTORIC USE
POLICIES. THE FAILURE TO ADHERE
TO THE SCHEDULE TIMELINE FOR
THE CONVERSION OF GRASS FIELDS
MEANS THAT MANY FIELDS ARE
INACCESSIBLE FOR MUCH OF THE
YEAR AND FAMILIES HAVE TO DRIVE
ACROSS TOWN FOR PRACTICES AND
COMPETITIONS ON SYNTHETIC
FIELDS. THIS CREATES A BARRIER
FOR MANY SEATTLE FAMILIES.
LASTLY, THE HIGH USAGE RATE
MEANS THERE IS LIMITED
OPPORTUNITY FOR FREE PLAY ON
NEIGHBORHOOD FIELDS. IN ORDER
TO UTILIZE FIELDS YOUNG PEOPLE
HAVE TO JOIN TEAMS OR PROGRAMS
THEIR FAMILIES MAY NOT BE ABLE
TO AFFORD. MORE FIELDS ARE
NEEDED TO MEET THE NEEDS OF A
GROWING POPULATION AND ENSURE
YOUTH CAN BE HEALTHY AND
ACTIVE. WE URGE YOU TO CONSIDER
TO CENTER AFFORDABILITY,
ACCESSIBILITY AND EQUALITY AND
TO REGULARLY --
>> OUR REMOTE COMMENTOR IS NOT
PRESENT.
>> IF NO ADDITIONAL PEOPLE WHO
SIGNED UP ONLINE WE WILL NOW
PROCEED TO ITEMS OF BUSINESS. I
DEFINITELY WANT TO TAKE A
MOMENT . I APPRECIATE THE
ADULTS COMING TO DO PUBLIC
COMMENT BUT WANT TO THINK OUR
KIDS AND YOUTH FOR SHOWING UP.
I KNOW IT'S A LOT TO COME DOWN
HERE. TO PRESENT PUBLIC
COMMENT, TO GET IN FRONT OF
PEOPLE AND SPEAK AND ADVOCATE
AND THIS IS WHERE IT ALL
STARTS. LOCAL GOVERNMENT IS ONE
OF THE MOST IMPORTANT THINGS
BECAUSE IT AFFECTS YOUR
DAY-TO-DAY LIFE SO I WANT TO
THANK STUDENTS FROM ROOSEVELT,
LINCOLN AND GARFIELD , THE ONLY
HIGH SCHOOL THAT -- THERE'S TWO
HIGH SCHOOLS IN DISTRICT 3.
THERE'S NOVA AND GARFIELD. I
DON'T WANT TO DOG NOVA. I LIKE
THEM AS WELL. I WANT TO THANK
YOU ALL FOR COMING AND REALLY
APPRECIATE YOU ADVOCATING FOR
THAT AND CONGRATULATIONS ON
GETTING FORTH IN STATE. THAT'S
IMPRESSIVE.
>> YES. ABSOLUTELY.
>> I WANT TO THANK THE
GROWN-UPS FOR COMING BUT I
ESPECIALLY WANT TO THANK THE
YOUNG PEOPLE. YOU ARE OUR
FUTURE AND SOMEDAY MAYBE ONE OF
YOU WILL BE SITTING UP HERE AND
I APPRECIATE YOU TAKING TIME OF
YOUR SUMMER TO COME DOWN HERE
AND ADVOCATE FOR GENDER EQUITY
AND OUR PLAY FIELDS ACROSS THE
CITY. I WANT TO GIVE A SHOUT
OUT TO ROOSEVELT AND LINCOLN
WHO ARE BOTH IN DISTRICT 4. I
WANT TO CONGRATULATE GARFIELD .
WE GROWN-UPS ARE SO PROUD OF
ALL OF OUR STUDENTS WHO WORK
REALLY HARD AND WHO ARE PART OF
SPORTS TEAMS ACROSS THE CITY .
KNOW THAT WE SUPER SUPPORT YOU
AND THAT WE ARE JUST SO
GRATEFUL FOR YOUR COMING HERE
TODAY AND TELLING US HOW YOU
FEEL. I HOPE YOU CONTINUE TO
COME TO COUNCIL AND WE ARE HERE
TO SUPPORT AND REPRESENT YOU AS
WELL , THE YOU CAN'T DO THAT
TODAY YOU ARE CONSTITUENTS OF
THE CITY AND YOU ARE VERY MUCH
-- WE VERY MUCH REPRESENT YOU
AS WELL. JUST KNOW THAT I'M
SUPER APPRECIATIVE AND LOOK
FORWARD TO HEARING THE
PRESENTATIONS AND MAYBE SEEING
YOU AGAIN SOMETIME IN THE
SUMMER.
>> THANK YOU, ALL GOOD.
>> WILL THE CLERK PLEASE READ
ITEM AGENDA 1?
>> AGENDA ITEM ONE IS THE
APPOINTMENT OF AMMANUEL
HAILE-LEUL AS A MEMBER OF THE
BOARD OF PARKS AND RECREATION
COMMISSIONERS FOR A TERM TO
MARCH 2026. THIS IS FOR
BRIEFING DISCUSSION AND
POSSIBLE VOTE. RESENTING IS
CHRISTOPHER WILLIAMS FROM
SEATTLE PARKS AND REC.
>> THANK YOU FOR BEING HERE.
YOU CAN STATE YOUR NAME FOR THE
RECORD AND JUMP RIGHT IN.
>> CHRISTOPHER WILLIAMS, CHIEF
OF STAFF SEATTLE PARK AND
RECREATION PARKING. WE ARE HERE
TO PRESENT AMMANUEL HAILE-LEUL
WHO GREW UP ATTENDING PROGRAMS
AT COMMUNITY CENTERS ALL OVER
TOWN AND HAD HIS FIRST JOB AT
BITTER LAKE COMMUNITY CENTER AS
THE SUMMER WADING POOL
ATTENDANT. THROUGH THESE
EXPERIENCES, AMMANUEL SAW THE
LIFE ALTERING IMPACTS THAT
RECREATION COULD HAVE FOR KIDS
AND FAMILIES. AS A RESULT, HE
HAS DEDICATED HIS LIFE TO THE
BETTERMENT OF THIS COMMUNITY AS
PROFESSIONAL WORK AS A PUBLIC
HEALTH EXPERT AND HOUSING
ADVOCATE . HE WORKS ON CREATING
SOLUTIONS TO THE HOMELESSNESS
CRISIS IN KING COUNTY. HE
MAINTAINS AN EXTRAORDINARY
LEVEL OF COMPASSION FOR
INDIVIDUALS HE SERVES WHILE
DEFTLY NAVIGATING FUNDING AND
ADMINISTRATIVE CHALLENGES.
AFTER WORK YOU CAN FIND HIM
BACK AT BITTER LAKE COMMUNITY
CENTER VOLUNTEERING HIS TIME
WITH YOUTH BASKETBALL, FASHION
PROGRAMS OR OFFERING
AFTERSCHOOL TOOTH TUTORIAL
SUPPORT OR SIMPLY HELPING
WHEREVER HELP IS NEEDED. IF
APPOINTED TO THE BOARD OF PARKS
AND RECREATION COMMISSIONERS
HAILE-LEUL WILL BE A STEADFAST
ADVOCATE FOR YOUTH , RECREATION
AND EQUITY IN PARKS SPACES AND
HAS DEMONSTRATED A COMMITMENT
TO HIS NEIGHBORHOOD AND TO THE
WHOLE CITY OF SEATTLE. HE WILL
BE AN OUTSTANDING ADDITION TO
THE BOARD. WE ARE CONFIDENT
THAT AMMANUEL WILL BRING A
UNIQUE AND IMPORTANT
PERSPECTIVE TO THE WORK OF THE
BOARD. THE OTHER THING I WOULD
SAY ABOUT PEOPLE WHO CHOOSE TO
VOLUNTEER TO SERVE ON THE PARK
AND RECREATION COMMISSION IS
THEY ARE CHOOSING TO DEVOTE A
SIGNIFICANT AMOUNT OF THEIR
TIME TO VOLUNTEER PUBLIC
SERVICE, THE PARK BOARD IS
MAYBE ONE OF THE MOST TIME
INTENSIVE VOLUNTEER
OPPORTUNITIES. THERE'S A FAIR
AMOUNT OF READING. THERE'S A
FAIR AMOUNT OF SHOWING UP AT
MEETINGS, SO WE JUST APPLAUD
EMMANUELLE FOR HIS DESIRE TO
MAKE THAT SORT OF CONTRIBUTION
TO OUR CITY BY SERVING ON THE
BOARD OF PARKS AND RECREATION
COMMISSIONERS.
>> THANK YOU. I WOULD LOVE TO
OPEN UP TO MY COLLEAGUES IF
THEY HAVE ANY QUESTIONS?
AWESOME. SEEING NONE, JUST
DOUBLING DOWN ON WHAT HE SAID I
KNOW IT'S A LOT FOR SOMEONE TO
VOLUNTEER THEIR TIME ESPECIALLY
FOR PARKS AND I READ THE RESUME
AND I'M GOING TO BUTCHER HIS
NAME AND I APOLOGIZE, MR.
HAILE-LEUL . I WILL SAY
AMMANUEL. I READ HIS RESUME,
VERY IMPRESSIVE AND YOU CAN
TELL HE'S PASSIONATE ABOUT
PARKS. WE WILL MOVE TO VOTE ON
AN APPOINTMENT. I MOVE THE
COMMITTEE RECOMMEND CON --
CONFIRMATION OF APPOINTMENT OF
AMMANUEL HAILE-LEUL TO THE
PARKS AND RECREATION
COMMISSIONERS, IS THERE A
SECOND? THANK YOU. IT HAS BEEN
MOVED AND SECONDED TO RECOMMEND
CONFIRMATION OF APPOINTMENT,
ARE THERE ANY FINAL COMMENTS?
IS HE HERE TODAY? HE IS NOT.
OKAY, THANK YOU. WILL THE CLERK
PLEASE CALL THE ROLL?
>> [ ROLL BEING CALLED ]
>> FIVE IN FAVOR COME IN
UNOPPOSED.
>> THE MOTION CARRIES IN THE
APPOINTMENT BE CONFIRMED. I
WOULD ALSO LIKE TO NOTE WE ARE
JOINED BY COUNCILMEMBER SOCCER
, THANK YOU FOR BEING HERE. WE
KNOW YOU'RE PASSIONATE ABOUT
PARKS AND YOUR KIDS ARE PLAYING
ALL AROUND THE CITY AND YOUR
DAUGHTER RECENTLY WON THE
CENTRAL DISTRICT IN THE HEART
FROM WEST SEATTLE BUT WE WILL
GIVE YOU THAT. RECENTLY WON THE
CHAMPIONSHIP SO WE WANTED TO
GIVE YOU THAT SHADOW. IT'S THE
ONLY TIME YOU'LL WIN AGAINST
ME. I'M JUST PLAYING. I'M A
LITTLE COMPETITIVE.
>> WILL THE CLERK PLEASE READ
ITEM AGENDA NUMBER TWO INTO THE
RECORD?
>> AN OVERVIEW OF ATHLETIC
FIELDS. THIS IS FOR BRIEFING
AND DISCUSSION AND PRESENTING
TODAY IS CHRISTOPHER WILLIAMS.
>> CHRISTOPHER WILLIAMS, LISA
NIELSEN , MARKEITH BLACKSHIRE ,
ANNIE HINDENLAND , LAURA
LOCKLEAR. SEATTLE PARKS. I JUST
LISTED ALL THE NAMES ON THE
AGENDA.
>> WE HAVE DAVID, VERY CAPABLE
DAVID GRAVES STANDING IN FOR
ANNIE.
>> PLEASE INTRODUCE YOURSELF
FOR THE RECORD AND YOU CAN GO
AHEAD AND JUMP IN ON YOUR
PRESENTATION.
>> CHRISTOPHER WILLIAMS, CHIEF
OF STAFF.
>> LISA NIELSEN .
>> DAVID GRAVES , STRATEGIC
ADVISER .
>> MARKEITH BLACKSHIRE , PARKS
AND REC , PARKS AND ENVIRONMENT
DIVISION DIRECTOR.
>> MAYBE I WILL JUMP IN AND
KICK US OFF. I FIRST WANT TO
ACKNOWLEDGE THE YOUNG LEADERS
HERE TO TESTIFY ON BEHALF OF
THEIR INTEREST IN OUR ATHLETIC
FIELD CAPACITY AND I JUST WANT
TO RESPOND ON BEHALF OF SEATTLE
PARKS CREATION DEPARTMENT THAT
WE WILL AGGRESSIVELY LEAN INTO
OPPORTUNITIES TO EXPAND THAT
ACCESS TO GIRLS SOFTBALL FIELDS
WHEN THE FUNDING OPPORTUNITIES
BECOME AVAILABLE . WE ARE
COMPELLED BY THE TESTIMONY.
THANK YOU FOR THAT. THIS
PRESENTATION TODAY IS THE
RESULT OF YOUR ASKING US TO
COME BACK SEVERAL WEEKS AGO, TO
COME BACK WITH A COMPREHENSIVE
PRESENTATION ON OUR ATHLETIC
FIELD PRACTICES, POLICIES ,
PROCESSES FOR SCHEDULING ,
ROUTINE MAINTENANCE, CAPITAL
MAINTENANCE AND WE HOPE TO
COVER ALL OF THOSE AREAS TODAY.
WE HAVE AN INVENTORY OF MORE
THAN 200 ATHLETIC FIELDS SPREAD
OUT ACROSS THE CITY. EVERYONE
WANTS MORE FIELD TIME. IT IS A
PRECIOUS COMMODITY. I THINK
WHEN YOU THINK ABOUT ATHLETIC
FIELDS YOUTHS AND AVAILABILITY
OF FIELDS IT'S A TEMPORAL
PROBLEM MEANING THAT GROUPS
WANT TO USE THESE FIELDS EITHER
FROM THE HOURS OF 3 TO 8 OR ALL
ON THE WEEKEND. IT SUGGESTS WE
MAY NOT HAVE ENOUGH FIELDS
DURING THOSE HOURS BUT IF
YOU'RE WILLING TO USE THE
FIELD OUTSIDE OF THOSE HOURS WE
HAVE PLENTY OF ATHLETIC FIELDS
ACROSS THE CITY. WE ALSO ARE
GOING TO STRESS TODAY THE VALUE
OF THE JOINT USE AGREEMENT WITH
THE SEATTLE SCHOOL DISTRICT. WE
HAVE HAD A 104 YEAR AGREEMENT
WITH SEATTLE PUBLIC SCHOOLS.
THIS AGREEMENT ALLOWS US TO
SHARE EACH OTHER'S FIELDS. IT
GOES BEYOND THAT. IT ALSO
ALLOWS US TO USE INTERIOR
SCHOOL SPACES FOR PROGRAMMING .
I ALSO WANT TO MENTION WE ARE
WORKING WITH BILL FARMER WHO
SPOKE EARLIER TODAY ON AN
ANNUAL ATHLETIC SUMMIT MEETING.
WHAT THIS IS IS AN OPPORTUNITY
TO BRING ALL OF OUR ATHLETIC
FIELD ADVOCATES COACHES, LEADS,
TEAMS TOGETHER IN ONE ROOF TO
TALK ABOUT CHALLENGES FACING
ATHLETIC FIELD ACCESS ,
MAINTENANCE , IT REALLY IS
DEVOTED TO ALL OF THE ATHLETIC
FIELD INTERESTS AND JUST BY WAY
OF EXTENDING AN INVITATION WE
WILL MAKE SURE THAT THIS GROUP
RECEIVES AN INVITATION TO
PARTICIPATE IN THE ATHLETIC
FIELDS SUMMIT MEETING WHICH
WILL OCCUR ON OCTOBER 10th.
OKAY. TODAY WE WILL COVER THE
ART OF SCHEDULING. I HAVE NEXT
TO ME THE VERY CAPABLE LISA
NELSON AND I SAY ART BECAUSE
IT'S KIND OF LIKE JUGGLING
UPSIDE DOWN. MAYBE YOU HAVE AN
AQUARIUM AND TORCH IN ONE HAND
BUT SCHEDULING ATHLETIC FIELDS
IS NOT AN EXACT SCIENCE. I
DON'T KNOW HOW LISA DOES IT
BUT SHE IS ABLE TO FIND FIELD
TIME FOR GROUPS AND LEADS AND
TEAMS, BABY NOT ALWAYS DURING
THE TIME THEY WANT, BUT NO ONE
IS DENIED ACCESS TO THE FIELDS.
WE WILL COVER TWO TYPES OF
FIELDS IN OUR INVENTORY. I'VE
MENTIONED BEFORE WE HAVE AN
INVENTORY OF SYNTHETIC TURF
FIELDS AND WE HAVE GRASS FIELDS
IN OUR INVENTORY. THEY BOTH
REQUIRE DIFFERENT LEVELS OF
MAINTENANCE. WE WILL DISCUSS
TURF CONVERSION PROJECTS WHICH
ARE PERHAPS THE MOST EXPENSIVE
ATHLETIC FIELD CONVERSION
PROJECT THAT WE DO. WE DO
CONVERSIONS IN MOST CASES WHERE
WE ALSO HAVE LIGHTING AND LISA
WILL GET INTO THAT. WE WILL
WANT TO DISCUSS OUR ROUTINE
MAINTENANCE PRACTICES AS WELL
AS OUR LONG-TERM CAPITAL
MAINTENANCE PROGRAM. THE
CONTEXT I MENTIONED EARLIER IS
THE JOINT USE AGREEMENT DATING
BACK OVER 100 YEARS, IT TAKES
BACK TO THE 1920S WHEN WE
ESTABLISH A JOINT USE AGREEMENT
WITH THE SEATTLE SCHOOL
DISTRICT. WE WERE ONE OF THE
FIRST CITIES AND SCHOOL
DISTRICTS TO ESTABLISH A JOINT
USE AGREEMENT IN THE UNITED
STATES. THE AGREEMENT PROVIDES
FOR COORDINATION ON LARGE
CAPITAL PROJECTS . WE SHARE
RESOURCES , THE ATHLETIC FIELD
AT CLEVELAND HIGH SCHOOL IS A
GREAT EXAMPLE OF WHERE THE PARK
DEPARTMENT AND SCHOOL DISTRICT
GOT TOGETHER AND SHARED OUR
FINANCIAL RESOURCES AND REALLY
ASKED THE QUESTION HOW CAN WE
MAKE THIS SPACE WORK FOR THE
ENTIRE COMMUNITY? WE CONTINUE
TO LEAN INTO OPPORTUNITIES FOR
THE DISTRICT AND OF DISCUSSIONS
OVER THOSE OPPORTUNITIES EXIST.
WITH THAT I WILL TURN IT OVER
TO LISA.
>> MY TEAM HAS THE JOY OF
UPHOLDING THE JOINT USE
AGREEMENT BETWEEN OUR
ORGANIZATIONS SPS AND SPR. OUR
ATHLETIC FIELD OFFICE DOES ALL
THE PERMITTING AND SCHEDULING
FOR BOTH SPR FIELDS AND SEATTLE
PUBLIC SCHOOLS FIELDS. WE HAD
SPR HAS 89 FIELD SITES THAT'S
NOT FIELDS IN PARTICULAR. I'LL
GET INTO THOSE A LITTLE BIT
LATER BUT THE JOINT USE
AGREEMENT ALLOWS PRIORITY
SCHEDULING UNTIL 545 P.M. AND
THEN SPS HAS ABOUT 43 FIELD
SITES AND SPS HAS PRIORITY ON
THOSE FIELDS UNTIL 7 P.M. AND
AFTER THAT IT KIND OF OPENS UP
FOR COMMUNITY USERS TO JUMP ON
THOSE FIELDS AND MAXIMIZE THE
USE OF FIELDS ACROSS OUR
SYSTEM. IN ADDITION TO TEAM
SCHEDULING THE FIELD AND
PROVIDING PERMIT WE ALSO
COLLECT ALL THE RESERVATION
FEES WHICH WE THEN REMIT TO SPS
QUARTERLY FOR ANY REVENUE
GENERATED ON THEIR FIELDS IN
THE SYSTEM. LIKEWISE, THEY THEN
REIMBURSE SPR FOR THE STAFF
TIME OF DOING THE SCHEDULING
FOR THE FIELDS. DOWN BELOW YOU
WILL SEE THE OUTLINE OF OUR
FIELDS FEES AND CHARGES
SCHEDULE FOR YOUTH AND THE
DIFFERENCE BETWEEN WHAT THE
YOUTH PAY FOR SYNTHETIC FIELDS
AND GRASS FIELDS 16 AN HOUR,
1050 AN HOUR VERSUS WHAT THE
ADULTS IN PRIVATE SCHOOLS PAY
FOR SYNTHETIC USE AND THE GRASS
FIELD USE OBVIOUSLY A LOT
HIGHER IN THOSE CHARGES THERE.
I DO ALSO WANT TO COMMEND THE
SOFTBALL PLAYERS HERE TODAY FOR
THEIR ADVOCACY BECAUSE FRANKLY
AS SOMEBODY THAT IS RESPONDING
TO THE QUESTIONS WE GET FROM
MEDIA IN SEATTLE TIMES WHEN
ADVOCACY OF THAT NATURE ARISES
AND IS BROUGHT TO OUR ATTENTION
IT WAS ACTUALLY REALLY FUN FOR
OUR TEAM TO BE ABLE TO DIVE
INTO THE NITTY-GRITTY DATA OF
THESE QUESTIONS ARE BEING ASKED
, WHAT IS THE DATA SAY AND WHAT
IS THE REALITY OF HOW THIS
FUNCTIONS? A LITTLE BIT ABOUT
THE RELATIONSHIP AND OUR
ATHLETIC SCHEDULING OFFICE IS
OBVIOUSLY SPS IS MANAGING A TON
OF PROGRAMS AND A TON OF FIELDS
AND HAVING TO NAVIGATE WHAT
SITES OF THEIR OWN HAVE
FACILITIES ON SITE AND WHICH
FACILITIES DON'T HAVE THAT AND
WHERE THEY NEED TO THEN
RELOCATE THOSE PROGRAMS
ACCORDINGLY ACROSS THE OTHER
DISTRIBUTION OF FIELDS IN THE
SYSTEM. OUR SCHEDULING TEAM
RECEIVE WHAT SPS IS WANTING AS
FAR AS WHO GOES WHERE IN THAT
SYSTEM AND CERTAINLY THEY ARE
NAVIGATING TRANSPORTATION COSTS
AND PROXIMITY AND SO FORTH AND
THAT PUZZLE PIECE OF THEIRS. AS
IT RELATES TO BASEBALL AND
SOFTBALL WE GOT TO DIVE INTO
THAT DATA AND SYNTHETIC VERSUS
GRASS FIELDS FOR US ACTUALLY
REVEALED OUR SYSTEM HAS 17
SYNTHETIC HIGH SCHOOL-BASED
PATH DISTANCE SOFTBALL FIELD
MEANING THOSE ARE 60 FOOT BASE
PATH FIELDS WITH 17 OF THOSE
SYNTHETIC IN OUR SYSTEM AND AS
FAR AS 90 FOOT BASE PATH FIELDS
WHICH IS WHAT IS HIGH SCHOOL
REGULATION FOR BASEBALL. WE
HAVE 10 SYNTHETIC FIELDS FOR
BASEBALL SO, ALTHOUGH WE HAVE
SYNTHETIC FIELDS WE HAVE HOUSED
SOFTBALL FROM A HIGH SCHOOL
STANDARD LEVEL WE AREN'T
NECESSARILY THE ONES DICTATING
WERE SPS PLACES THOSE PROGRAMS
THAT KIND OF BOILS DOWN TO
WHERE THEY GO. IF WE HAVE
CONSTRUCTION PROJECTS IN OUR
PLACEMENT PROJECTS OR FIELDS
ARE DOWN FOR ANYONE OF THOSE
TYPES OF PROJECTS OUR TEAM
DEFINITELY USES OUR KNOWLEDGE
AND EXPERTISE TO HELP RECOMMEND
OR SUGGEST ALTERNATIVE SITES
FOR DISPLACEMENT OF THOSE FIELD
PROGRAMS WHILE THE FIELD IS
OFF-LINE. DOING THAT RELOCATION
IS SUGGESTED ALTERNATIVES BY
OUR TEAM. OTHERWISE WE TEND TO
DO WHEN PEOPLE COME TO US THEY
SAY I WANT THIS FIELD, HERE'S
WHERE FOLKS GO AND WE KIND OF
BOOK THOSE RESERVATIONS AS IS.
A GENERAL OVERVIEW OF
SCHEDULING AND HOW THIS
FUNCTIONS IN OUR SYSTEM IN THE
FALL AND SPRING ARE THE
HEAVIEST SCHEDULED FIELD
SEASONS FOR US. WE HAVE FALL,
FOOTBALL, SOCCER, ULTIMATE AND
IN THE WINTER IT SLOWS DOWN BUT
OBVIOUSLY SPORTS , SOCCER AND
ULTIMATE CAN CONTINUE IN THE
PACIFIC NORTHWEST WEATHER UP
HERE. THOSE SPORTS CONTINUE IN
THE WINTER MONTHS AND THEN
SPRING WHERE WE GET OUR
BASEBALL AND SOFTBALL,
LACROSSE, TRACK ULTIMATE SPRING
BEING OUR MOST HEAVILY
PROGRAMMED SEASON ACROSS OUR
SYSTEM ON OR FIELDS AND THEN
SUMMER BRINGS ABOUT SOFTBALL,
CRICKET, SOCCER , SO THE DEMAND
IS DEFINITELY THERE. THE HIGHER
DEMAND OBVIOUSLY FOR SYNTHETIC
FIELDS MOST POPULAR IN OUR
SYSTEM AROUND YEAR-ROUND PLAY
ARE COMPLEXES THAT HOUSE FIELDS
AT ONE SITE OBVIOUSLY IN HIGHER
DEMAND AS WELL AS SOME
STANDALONE TURF FIELD SUCH AS
MILLER AND WASHINGTON PARK. OUR
GRASS FIELDS PARTICULARLY LIT
GIVE MORE HOURS IN THE EVENINGS
FOR FOLKS TO PARTICIPATE AND
PLAY ALLOWING THAT EXTENDED OUR
AND SOME OF THOSE SITES ARE
LOWER WOODLAND. GREEN LAKE IS
OBVIOUSLY A VERY POPULAR FIELD
IN OUR SYSTEM AS WELL.
>> IF YOU HAVE A QUESTION
PLEASE JUMP IN.
>> MILLER FIELD IN SYNTHETIC
BUT IT HAS A SOCCER FIELD AND
IT HAS DIAMOND SOFTBALL . ARE
THEY INTERCHANGEABLE?
>> THERE IS A DISCREPANCY. I'M
DEFINITELY GOING TO GET INTO
SOME LATER ON THAT BUT WE CAN
TALK ABOUT IT.
>> IS THE SPRING ONE FOR SOCCER
, IS THAT BOYS OR GIRLS SOCCER?
>> BOYS IS IN THE SPRING HERE.
>> WHO WOULD GET PRIORITY OVER
A FIELD AT MILLER FOR
SCHEDULING FOR SOCCER GAMES?
SOCCER OR SOFTBALL TEAM TO BE
ABLE TO GET THAT.
>> ARE YOU TALKING ABOUT
SPECIFICALLY HIGH SCHOOL SPS
YOUTH, ARE YOU TALKING
COMMUNITY YOUTH?
>> HOW DO YOU DETERMINE THAT? I
HEAR YOU SAY WE HAVE THIS MANY
SOFTBALL FIELD AVAILABLE LIKE
TURF AND BASEBALL FIELDS. I'M
TRYING TO FIGURE OUT WHO WOULD
GET PRIORITY OVER THAT FIELD ,
WOULD IT BE A SOFTBALL TEAM,
BOYS SOCCER?
>> PERSONALLY WITHIN THE JUA
TIME IF MILLER IS OBVIOUSLY AN
SPR FIELD SO SPS HAS PRIORITY
OF SCHEDULING ON THAT FIELD UP
UNTIL 5:45 P.M. HOW SPS
DETERMINES TO UTILIZE THAT JUA
TIME IS REALLY UP TO THEM AND
THEY ARE TRYING TO WORK WITH
PRACTICES VERSUS GAMES AND
FITTING THAT IN WITHIN THE JUA
TIME ACROSS THE SYSTEM. THAT
DOESN'T NECESSARILY COME DOWN
TO US IN TERMS OF DETERMINING
PRIORITY.
>> WE ARE NOT TRYING TO THROW
OUR PARTNERS UNDER THE BUS, BUT
THE DECISIONS WHERE TEAMS GET
SCHEDULED IS SEATTLE'S PUBLIC
SCHOOL DISTRICT DECISION.
>> YES?
>> TO THE COMMENT JUST MADE ,
YES , SEATTLE PUBLIC SCHOOLS IS
SEPARATE AND TITLE IX IS THE
EDUCATION AREA TOPIC BUT I
THINK WE AS A CITY HAVE A
RESPONSIBILITY TO BE MINDFUL OF
WHAT THE SCHOOL DISTRICT IS
DOING AS IT RELATES TO TITLE
IX. WE SHOULD BE DOING AS IT
RELATES TO WASHINGTON STATE LAW
BECAUSE THIS KIND OF GOES TO
THE TESTIMONY EARLIER OF PUBLIC
COMMENT. WE HAVE TO HAVE THIS
BALANCE AND THE FIELDS REFLECT
THAT IN BALANCE WE HAVE NOW IN
TERMS OF SOFTBALL VERSUS
BASEBALL. I THINK WE SHOULD BE
LOOKING AT THIS IN TERMS OF SPS
EVEN THOUGH THERE IS DIRECT
RESPONSIBILITY WITH SPR. WE
NEED TO LEAD ON THIS. LEAD BY
EXAMPLE. WE ALSO NEED TO BE
MINDFUL ON THE PROFESSIONAL
SIDE. SEATTLE READING AND
SEATTLE STORM AND I RECOGNIZE
THAT'S DIFFERENT FROM SOME
LEGAL PIECES BUT WE HAVE
RESPONSIBILITIES THERETO. THANK
YOU FOR HIGHLIGHTING THIS. I
THINK THAT'S SOMETHING WE
SHOULD FOLLOW UP ON,
UNDERSTANDING YOUR POINT OF NOT
THROWING ANYBODY UNDER THE BUS.
AT THE SAME TIME THESE NEED TO
BE BROUGHT OUT AND WE HAVE THAT
OPPORTUNITY TO HIGHLIGHT WHAT
IS HAPPENING AS IT RELATES TO
GENDER EQUITY TITLE IX AS IT
RELATES TO SPS AND MORE
GENERALLY FOR SPR.
>> THANK YOU.
>> THANK YOU. I AGREE WITH YOUR
COMMENTS. THE THING THAT ALWAYS
FRUSTRATES ME IS WHEN
CONSTITUENTS COME TO ASK
QUESTIONS IT'S NOT ALWAYS
CLEAR WHO IS ON DECK AND WE GET
THIS SORT OF IT'S NOT US IT IS
THEM, IT'S NOT THEM, IT'S US.
AT THE END OF THE DAY I WANT
CONSTITUENTS TO HAVE CLARITY ,
WHO SHOULD THEY BE ADVOCATING
WITH? ARE YOU SAYING YOU HAVE
THIS JOINT USE AGREEMENT BUT
REALLY ALL WE ARE IN CHARGE OF
IS THE SCHEDULING PIECE FOR
THEM THAT WE REALLY HAVE NO
CONTROL OR ABILITY TO
PRIORITIZE HOW , WHAT IS IT
THAT IS CONTAINED IN THE
AGREEMENT? TO COUNCILMEMBER
KENDALL'S POINT ABOUT WE
CAN'T SAY IT'S SPS DO WE HAVE
AN ABILITY TO AMEND AN
AGREEMENT WE HAVE WITH SPS SO
THEY ARE IN COMPLIANCE WITH
TITLE IX? AT THE END OF THE DAY
JUST BECAUSE WE HAVE BEEN DOING
IT THIS WAY THE ENTIRE TIME
DOESN'T MEAN WE CONTINUE TO DO
SO IF IT IS TO THE DETRIMENT OF
OUR CONSTITUENTS. I WOULD LOVE
TO HEAR MORE CONVERSATION OR
GUIDANCE FROM YOU ALL ON WHAT
WE CAN DO TO RECTIFY THIS
SITUATION WITHIN THE BOUNDS OF
WHAT IS UNDER OUR CONTROL.
>> WE HAVE A QUARTERLY JOINT
USE AGREEMENT IN THE DISTRICT
AND THIS WILL BE RIGHT AT THE
TOP OF OUR NEXT AGENDA WITH
THEM TO RAISE THIS QUESTION.
>> THANK YOU, CHRISTOPHER.
>> HANG ON. IN THE EARLY PART
OF 2023 AS A PART OF OUR
STRATEGIC ACTION PLAN WE
PERFORMED A FIELD YOU STUDY TO
GAIN A BETTER UNDERSTANDING OF
THE UTILIZATION OF OUR FIELDS,
OUR USE OF HISTORICAL USERS AND
MORE DEMOGRAPHICS OF WHO THE
PARTICIPANTS ARE MAKING UP THE
FIELD USER GROUPS TAKING UP A
LOT OF OUR TIME ON OUR FIELD.
WHAT YOU'RE SEEING ON THE SIDE
HERE IS KIND OF A SNAPSHOT IN
TIME. THE CAVEAT THIS IS
SPECIFIC TO COMMUNITY USE OURS.
THIS ISN'T ACCOUNTING FOR ANY
SPS USE. THIS IS KIND OF AFTER
THE HOURS OF SPS USE AND
COMMUNITY USE SO IN PARTICULAR
SPRING IS OUR HEAVIEST UTILIZE
FIELD SEASON. WE TOOK A
SNAPSHOT BETWEEN MARCH AND MAY
OF 2022 SPRING. WEEKDAY HOURS
OF FIELD USE BETWEEN 4:00 AND 9
P.M. SEATTLE PARKS LIGHTED
SYNTHETIC PLAY FIELDS. THE
UTILIZATION THERE IS KIND OF
BROKEN DOWN PER DAY AT 83% ,
91, 85. ON AVERAGE OUR FIELDS
ARE UTILIZED ABOUT 87% RATE
ACROSS OUR SYSTEM DURING SPRING
SEASON. ONE OF THE THINGS TO
NOTE IS THAT 10 TO 12% THAT
ISN'T UTILIZED IS TYPICALLY A
15 MINUTE SLOT IN BETWEEN
BOOKINGS. IT'S NOT NECESSARILY
AN HOUR OF FIELD AVAILABLE TIME
THAT IS GOING TO BE THERE WEEK
AFTER WEEK. OUR FIELDS ARE VERY
HEAVILY UTILIZED. WE FEEL IT
ACROSS OUR SYSTEM DUE TO THE
NATURE OF OUR HISTORICAL USE OF
THE FIELDS AND THE BOOKING AND
SCHEDULING PROCESS OUR TEAMS GO
THROUGH. IN ADDITION YOU CAN
SEE FIELD UTILIZATION HAS
INCREASED OVER THE COURSE OF
THE LAST DECADE. WE HAVE A 27%
INCREASE FROM 2013 TO 2023 .
THOSE HOURS ARE LISTED THERE
114,000 HOURS IN 2013 AND
145,000 HOURS IN 2023. JUST TO
NOTE THOSE HOURS ARE SPECIFIC
TO OUR PLAY FIELDS. THAT
DOESN'T ACCOUNT FOR SPS FIELD
AND VOLLEYBALL COURTS OR
ANYTHING LIKE THAT THAT IS IN
PARTICULAR OUR PLAY FIELDS. AS
A PART OF THAT PROCESS WE
LEARNED THE HEAVIEST
UTILIZATION OF OUR FIELDS IS
YOUTH WHICH IS VERY VALIDATING
OBVIOUSLY. WE WANT OUR FIELDS
TO BE UTILIZED HEAVILY BY OUR
YOUTH AND ACCESSIBLE TO OUR
YOUTH SO 78% YOUTH USE , 88%
YOUTH USE ON OUR GRASS FIELDS
THROUGHOUT OUR SYSTEM. AS
SOMEONE ALLUDED TO IN PUBLIC
COMMENT WE DID IDENTIFY OF THE
COMMUNITY USER GROUP PRIME TIME
HOURS OF BOOKINGS ARE USUALLY
BETWEEN 10 OR 11 P.M. DEPENDING
ON HOW LATE WE CAN HAVE THE
LIGHTS ON OF THE BOOK FIELDS
AND BOOK HOURS ON OUR FIELDS,
98% OF THOSE ARE BOTH BY THE
HISTORICAL USER GROUPS. THERE
IS AN INHERENT RIGIDITY THAT IS
BUILT INTO OUR SYSTEM DUE TO
THE HISTORIC USE PRECEDENCE OF
SCHEDULING PROCESS AND POLICY
BUILT OVER TIME. IT'S
CHALLENGING WHEN WE HAVE THE
ROLLOVER HISTORICAL NATURE OF
SCHEDULING BECAUSE IF SOMEONE
HAS THAT SAME FIELD TIME FOR
ONE SEASON , TWO SEASONS IN A
ROW KIND OF SPRING OF 21,
SPRING OF 22 THEN THAT
ESTABLISHES AS WE CALL IT
HISTORICAL USE SO THEY ARE KIND
OF ENTITLED TO THE SAME RATES
AND TIMES IN THAT SEASON AT
THAT FIELD. WE MIGHT MAKE SOME
MANIPULATIONS DEPENDING ON THE
CALENDAR AND HOW THAT LANDS
YEAR-TO-YEAR BUT THAT TIME IS
INHERENTLY KIND OF LOCK-IN FOR
THAT USER GROUP. THAT REALLY
HANDCUFFS OUR TEAM A LITTLE BIT
IN TERMS OF WHAT TIME WE HAVE
AVAILABLE OUTSIDE OF THAT
HISTORICAL USE. WHEN WE HAVE
NONHISTORICAL USERS COMING TO
LOOK FOR FIELDS IN OUR SYSTEM
OUR TEAMS ARE TRYING TO SLOT
THEM IN TO SOME OF THOSE GAPS
FOR CANCELLATIONS MIGHT'VE
OCCURRED. THAT KIND OF MAKES IT
CHALLENGING FOR OUR TEAM TO
SLIDE IN AND PROVIDE ACCESS TO
FIELD USERS. A LITTLE BIT MORE
ON THE HISTORICAL USER FRONT,
AS A PART OF OUR ANALYSIS WE
DID TAKE A LOOK AT HOW MANY
HISTORICAL USERS AND
ORGANIZATIONS DO WE SERVE AND
WORK WITH ANNUALLY RUSTY MARK
IN 2023 YOU CAN SEE WE HAVE
ABOUT 365 ORGANIZATIONS THAT
BOOK OUR PLAY FIELDS. OF THOSE
276 OF THOSE ARE HISTORICAL
USER GROUPS AND ORGANIZATIONS.
276 ORGANIZATIONS HAVE
RECURRING TIME ON OUR FIELD
ANNUALLY. THAT IS WHO WAS
MAKING UP THE 98% OF BOOK HOURS
ON HER FIELDS. ON THE
RIGHT-HAND TABLE YOU CAN SEE
PRIMARY USERS BY FIELD TYPE.
FOR BASEBALL FIELDS IT TENDS TO
BE COMMUNITY YOUTH, HIGH SCHOOL
PROGRAMS , FOOTBALL IS
COMMUNITY YOUTH. LACROSSE
COMMUNITY USE AND HIGH SCHOOL
RUGBY COMMUNITY AND ADULT
PROGRAMS AND SOCCER IS
COMMUNITY YOUTH, HIGH SCHOOL
PROGRAMS AND ADULT LEAGUES .
SIMILAR IS YOUTH LITTLE
LEAGUE'S CLUBS, HIGH SCHOOLS
AND ADULT SOFTBALL AS WELL AS
OUR ULTIMATE FRISBEE HAS
COMMUNITY YOUTH AND ADULT
LEAGUES. THE OPPORTUNITY THAT
WE KIND OF IDENTIFIED AS A PART
OF OUR FIELD USE STUDY IS WHEN
WE HAVE THESE FIELD CONVERSIONS
FROM GRASS TO SYNTHETIC THAT
REALLY OPENED UP OUR EYES TO
ONLY OPPORTUNITY WE FEEL WE
HAVE IN OUR SYSTEM TO BE ABLE
TO GRANT NEW USER ACCESS TO A
FIELDS. THE RIGIDITY OF
HISTORICAL USE REALLY HANDCUFFS
OUR TEAM TO BE ABLE TO BRING
NEW USERS IN AND ACTUALLY GIVE
VALUABLE AND QUANTIFIABLE TIME
RECURRING WEEKLY TIME DURING A
SPECIFIC SEASON. WHAT WE WERE
ABLE TO NOTICE IS WHEN WE
CONVERT A FIELD FROM GRASS TO
SYNTHETIC THAT OPENS UP NEW
FIELD TIME FOUR MONTHS INTO THE
YEAR. IN NOVEMBER WE START TO
SHUT DOWN THE GRASS BECAUSE OF
THE WEATHER IN THE PACIFIC
NORTH WEST AND WANTING TO
PROTECT DURING THAT TIME OF
YEAR AND WE OPEN BACK UP IN
MARCH. WHEN WE CONVERT A FIELD
FROM GRASS TO SYNTHETIC THAT
GIVES US FOUR MONTHS OF
BRAND-NEW FIELD TIME THAT IS
ENTITLED TO NO ONE. THAT REALLY
STOOD OUT TO OUR TEAM AS WE
WERE GOING THROUGH THE STUDY AS
THE OPPORTUNITY TO EITHER GIVE
NEW USERS ACCESS INTO OUR FIELD
SYSTEM TO START A NEW LEAGUE
AND HAVE RECURRING TIME THEY
CAN COUNT ON AND OR IDENTIFY
TIME FOR FOLKS IN OUR SYSTEM
BUT KIND OF HAVE A BARRIER TO
GROWING AND TO EXPANDING UPON
WHAT THEIR LEAK MIGHT HAVE AND
BEEN ABLE TO SAY NOW WE HAVE A
NEW FIELD, NEW TIME, IT'S NOT
PROMISED TO ANYONE SO WE ARE
CURRENTLY IN THE PROCESS OF
LOOKING AT HOW TO BUILD THAT
POLICY OUT AS FAR AS CREATING
AN RFP FOR THAT FIELD TIME AS
WE CAN IDENTIFY AHEAD OF TIME
WHEN THOSE ARE HAPPENING, WHEN
LIGHTING AND FIELD CONVERSION
PROJECTS ARE COMING INTO THE
FOLD AND BE ABLE TO ASK FOR A
REQUEST FOR INTEREST AND HOW
FOLKS WOULD UTILIZE THAT TIME
AND CREATING A CRITERIA OF
EVALUATION FOR FOLKS A PART OF
UNDERSERVED AND HISTORICALLY
BARRIER OUT OF OUR SYSTEM OF
GAINING ACCESS TO FIELD TIME.
>> THANK YOU, YOU'RE GREAT.
COUNCILMEMBER KETTLE AND THEN
COUNCILMEMBER STRAUSS.
>> YOU WERE TALKING ABOUT THE
USERS BUT I WAS ALSO INTERESTED
IN THE FIELD TYPES TO BE
HONEST. I WAS SURPRISED TO SEE
RUGBY. AS AN SON OF ENGLISH
IMMIGRANTS BY THE WEIGHT THE
ENGLAND BEAT NETHERLANDS TODAY
IN THE FINALS , SIDE NOTE. I'M
LOOKING AT THIS LIST AND
REMARKING THE CROSS DOESN'T
REALLY HAVE THE SAME STATE SET
UP OTHER SPORTS DO. WE JUST HAD
THE NEW CONSULATE STOOD UP FOR
INDIA. GOING BACK TO MY ENGLISH
ROOTS WHAT HAPPENS IF THERE IS
A DEMAND SIGNAL FOR A CRICKET
FIELD? WITH RUGBY IN THERE I'M
CURIOUS IF YOU SPEAK TO THE
FIELD TYPE AND HOW THAT EBBS
AND FLOWS AND HOW A NEW SPORT
MAY BE ABLE TO COME INTO PLAY?
>> IT TURNS OUT WE HAVE TWO
CRICKET FIELD IN SEATTLE AND WE
HAVE ONE THAT LIVES AT MAGNUSON
PARK AND ONE THAT LIVES AT
JEFFERSON PARK. WE DO HAVE A
VARIETY OF FIELDS ACROSS THE
SYSTEM THAT HOUSES VARIOUS
SPORTING ACTIVITIES. WE HAVE
TALKED ABOUT THE DIAMOND FIELD,
RECTANGLE FIELDS AS FAR AS
SHAPES BUT AS WE START TO TALK
ABOUT SPORT SPECIFIC FIELDS WE
HAVE A RUG THE FIELD . THERE'S
NOT MANY OF THEM. THAT IS THE
ONE SPECIFICALLY IDENTIFIED FOR
THAT SPORT SO DURING THAT
SEASON WE TEND TO PRIORITIZE
THE USE OF THAT FIELD IN
PARTICULAR FOR RUGBY GIVEN
THERE'S NO CONSTRAINTS OF
HAVING ANY OTHERS AVAILABLE IN
THE SYSTEM. SIMILARLY, WE HAVE
ABOUT A DOZEN LACROSSE LINE
FIELDS IN OUR SYSTEM. WE TRY TO
PRY IT -- PROTECT THE
PRIORITIZATION WHEN WE ARE
TRYING TO CONTINUE TO ALLOW OUR
SYSTEM . WE WILL ATTEMPT TO GET
OUR LACROSSE TEAMS ON THE
ACROSS LINE FIELDS ALTHOUGH
THEY CAN PRACTICE CERTAINLY ON
OTHER TURF FIELDS THAT AREN'T
OUTLINED FROM ACROSS THAT CAN
ONLY HELP TO A CERTAIN EXTENT
JUST LIKE SENDING GARFIELD INTO
THE GYM AS OPPOSED TO HAVING
THEM PLAY ON THE FIELD. WE
DEFINITELY HAVE A VARIETY OF
DIFFERENT SPORT FIELDS IN OUR
SYSTEM. SOME A LOT MORE THAN
OTHERS. DOES THAT ANSWER YOUR
QUESTION?
>> IT DOES. I GUESS YOU'LL
HAVE TO UPDATE YOUR SLIDE ABOUT
CRICKET.
>> TRUE.
>> IN SOCCER YOU CAN
PUT/FOOTBALL SO EVERYBODY
UNDERSTANDS WHAT THAT IS.
>> THANK YOU FOR GIVING US THE
SOCCER UPDATE. I'M GOING TO
STAY ON TRACK. I WANT TO THANK
YOU ALL FOR YOUR PRESENTATION.
I'VE GOTTEN THE OPPORTUNITY TO
WORK WITH YOU OVER THE YEARS
BECAUSE IT'S REALLY IMPORTANT
TO OUR COMMUNITY. I'M GOING TO
HIGHLIGHT SOME THINGS SOME
FOLKS IN PUBLIC COMMENT SHARED
AND ALSO SAY GOOD JOB DURING
2020 -2021. I KNOW A LOT OF
PROGRAMS AND CONSTRUCTION WAS
PUT ON PAUSE AND WE HAVEN'T YET
GOTTEN THAT RESTARTED AND WE
WERE ALL DOING THE BEST JOB WE
POSSIBLY COULD DURING THAT
TIME. I'M STILL CONFIDENT WE
CAN STAY ON TRACK WITH SOME
PROGRAMS. BILL FARMER IN 2019
TOLD ME IF IT IS TURF, LIGHT
IT. THANK YOU FOR EDGING THAT
INTO MY MEMORY. I CAN NEVER
UNSEAT A PLAYING FIELD AGAIN. I
KNOW IN 2020 AS IT WAS
MENTIONED ABOUT THE PLAYFIELD
I'M NOT SURE WE HAVE GOTTEN
THERE YET. THERE WAS THIS
CONVERSATION WE ARE TURF IN THE
INFIELD, WHY NOT THE OUTFIELD?
I KNOW THERE'S BEEN A
CONVERSATION ABOUT SOUNDVIEW
AND I GUESS THAT WAS A LITTLE
BIT OF A REMINDER ABOUT THE
PERMIT AND WE ARE ABOUT TO
EXPIRE WITH OUR PERMIT. HOW IS
THAT SHIFT? A REAL BIG SHOUT
OUT TO THE GARFIELD SOFTBALL
TEAM BEFORE WE HAD A DISTRICT
COUNCILMEMBER FROM DISTRICT 3
AND BEFORE WE HAD I WAS THE ONE
LOOKING OUT FOR GARFIELD
SUPERBLOCK SO I DIDN'T TRACK
YOUR STUFF. I'M EXCITED TO
HAVE YOU HERE TODAY. LET ME GET
BACK DOWN TO MY QUESTION OF
WHAT ARE THE BARRIERS TO TURF
IN A LIT FIELD OR LIGHTING A
TURF FIELD? WHAT IS THE BARRIER
TO TURF RING THE WHOLE FIELD
INSTEAD OF JUST THE INFIELD? IF
YOU NEED TO GET BACK TO ME I
WOULD ALSO BE INTERESTED. I
DIDN'T GIVE YOU THAT AWARENESS
I WAS GOING TO ASK THAT LEVEL
OF SPECIFICITY. WHAT ARE THE
BARRIERS? IS IT JUST MONEY?
>> IN MOST CASES. THAT IS THE
EASY ANSWER.
>> I WOULD CHIME IN THAT IN
SOME CASES THERE IS A TURF
FIELD I THINK HISTORICALLY
COMMUNITY HAS RALLIED AROUND
NOT HAVING LIGHTS DUE TO
SPILLOVER AND THE IMPACT ON THE
SURROUNDING RESIDENTIAL AREA SO
THERE IS THAT ASPECT TO BE
CONSIDERED. YES, AGREED. LET'S
TURF FIELDS AND LIGHT TURF
FIELDS BECAUSE THAT ABSOLUTELY
ADDS WAY MORE HOURS TO OUR
SYSTEM AS FAR AS BEING ABLE TO
SCHEDULE FIELDS.
>> THE STATE OF LIGHTING HAS
CHANGED SO MUCH SO THOSE ARE
WORTH REVISITING.
>> I MIGHT OFFER IF A COMMUNITY
DOES NOT WANT THEIR FIELD LIT
THAT SHOULD BE THE LOWEST LEVEL
OF PRIORITY FOR TURF IN. WHAT
WE ARE LOOKING AT HERE IS HOW
DO WE LEVERAGE OUR RESOURCES?
HOW DO WE GET THE MOST BANG FOR
OUR BUCK? IT WOULD BE HELPFUL
IF YOU NEED TO FOLLOW UP
OFF-LINE I KNOW WE DID HAVE A
MEETING BEFORE THIS SO YOU GET
MY QUESTIONS LIVE AND ON TV
WHICH IS WHEN WE ARE TURF IN AN
INFIELD WHY AREN'T WE LOOKING
AT THE OUTFIELD? WHAT IS THAT
BARRIER? IT MIGHT BE MONEY ,
BUT IT REALLY COMES DOWN TO THE
ECONOMY. I KNOW CHRISTOPHER AND
DAVID HAVE HAD A LOT OF
CONVERSATIONS ABOUT PHASING OF
PROJECTS AND HOW THAT CAN
ACTUALLY -- THAT CAN MAKE THE
PROJECT COST MORE AND EXTEND
THE COMMUNITY. I WOULD LOVE TO
KNOW MORE.
>> I KNOW THE FIELD AT ALLARD
IS MASSIVE. IT IS A HUGE FIELD.
DOING THE INFIELD AT THE
SOFTBALL DIAMONDS IS ON ORDERS
OF MAGNITUDE LESS MONEY THAN
DOING THE ENTIRE FIELD. I THINK
IT CAME DOWN TO RESOURCES.
>> COUNCIL PRESIDENT NELSON.
>> I HEAR THE DIFFERENTIAL
BETWEEN TURF AND GRASS IS A BIG
FACTOR. I NEED TO UNDERSTAND IF
THE ONGOING MAINTENANCE OF
GRASS FIELDS IS FACTORED INTO
THAT DELTA? LET ME BETRAY MY
IGNORANCE ON THE COMPLEXITIES
OF TURF. THAT IS AN UP FRONT
EXPENSE AND SEEMS AS THOUGH
ONGOING MAINTENANCE IS LESS BUT
I ALSORECOGNIZE THERE IS
DESIGN WORK THAT GOES INTO THE
CHIRPING OF FIELDS. WHEN YOU
COMBINE ONGOING MAINTENANCE
WITH THE COST OF DESIGN AND
MATERIALS FOR TURF THAT IS THE
ISSUE I WOULD LIKE TO BETTER
UNDERSTAND.
>> I THINK WHEN YOU TALK ABOUT
ONGOING MAINTENANCE THERE IS
DAILY, WEEKLY, QUARTERLY
MAINTENANCE FOR EITHER YOUR
GRASS FIELDS OR SYNTHETIC TURF
. THE COST ASSOCIATED WITH IT
YOU CAN ENGAGE THAT BY THE
HOURS IN OUR STAFF. WHEN WE GET
TO MY PART OF THE PRESENTATION
I CAN SHARE THOSE HOURS WITH
YOU TO GIVE AN EXAMPLE . THEY
SHOULD BE SIGNIFICANTLY LOWER
BECAUSE THE WAY WE MAINTAIN OUR
NATURAL AREA FIELDS IT'S
DAILY. YOU HAVE EQUIPMENT
INVOLVED. YOU HAVE MORE USAGE,
MORE TRASH, MORE LETTER TO PICK
UP BECAUSE OF WHAT THE STAFF
WOULD LEAVE BEHIND. I THINK YOU
ARE SPOT ON WHEN YOU THINK
ABOUT LONG-TERM VERSUS HOW DO
WE BETTER INVEST AND REDUCE
COSTS ? I BELIEVE THE SYNTHETIC
TURF WAVES IS THE WAY TO GO.
>> IN ADDITION TO EVERYTHING
ACCURATE THE OPPORTUNITY COST
OF A FIELD THAT HAS TO BE
CLOSED FOR MAYBE 6 TO 8 MONTHS
OUT OF THE YEAR THERE IS NO
COMPARISON TO THE VALUE OF A
SYNTHETIC TURF FIELD. ON THE
OTHER HAND WE HAVE GROUPS,
LEAGUES AND TEAMS THAT LIKE TO
PLAY ON GRASS FIELDS AND THEY
CAN CREATE A HIGH QUALITY GRASS
FIELD WITH DRAINAGE, IRRIGATION
. I THINK IT DOES COST MORE TO
DO THAT BUT TURF FIELDS AREN'T
FREE. THERE IS AN AVERAGE
REPLACEMENT COST FOR TURF THAT
HAS ABOUT A $2 MILLION WAY AT
THE END OF A 10 YEAR CYCLE FOR
REPLACING . IT'S KIND OF ONE
OF THESE. WE WOULD LIKE TO HAVE
MORE TURF FIELDS BECAUSE WE
THINK THEY ARE, IN THE LONG
RUN, LESS EXPENSIVE TO MAINTAIN
FROM A DAILY, WEEKLY, MONTHLY
MAINTENANCE PUBLICATION.
>> WHAT I'VE HEARD FROM
COACHES AND PARENTS OF PLAYERS
WITH THE PANTHERS STILL WAITING
FOR THAT PROJECT TO COME FOR
THERE'S ALSO TWISTED ANKLES .
THE GOPHERS UNDER THE GRASS
THAT CAUSES PROBLEMS. WE HAVE
TO LOOK AT ALL THE COSTS IN THE
SHORT AND LONG-TERM WHEN WE
THINK ABOUT THE TRADE-OFFS OF
EACH.
>> COUNCILMEMBER?
>> THANK YOU ALL FOR THIS
PRESENTATION. HONORED TO BE
HERE TODAY. I WANTED TO CARVE
OUT TIME TO JOIN THIS SPECIFIC
PORTION OF THIS COMMITTEE. JUST
BECAUSE IT IS AN ISSUE THAT IS
NEAR AND DEAR TO ME PERSONALLY.
IT'S IMPORTANT TO ME AND MY
OFFICE, MY CONSTITUENTS THAT
REPRESENT IN DISTRICT ONE WHICH
INCLUDES SEATTLE SOUTH PARK AND
GEORGETOWN. AS A PROUD GIRL
DAD, TRANSPORTS DAD OF THREE
YOUNG KIDS WHO PLAY SPORTS AND
CHAIR HOLLINGSWORTH YOU
CORRECTLY NOTED THAT MY
DAUGHTER PLAYS IN THE ALL-STARS
OF WEST SEATTLE LITTLE LEAGUE .
THE TEAM BEAT THE SEATTLE
CENTRAL TEAM LITTLE LEAGUE FOR
THE DISTRICT SEVEN CHAMPIONSHIP
A WEEK OR TWO AGO AND ARE
HEADED TO STATE AND WILL
COMPETE LIKE THE STATE TURNING
OR TITLE BUT THEY PLAY IT IN
WHICH IS A HYBRID FIELD. IT'S
THE PUBLIC PRIVATE SHIP
SEPARATELY WOULD LIKE TO
EXPLORE HOW WE CAN BETTER
AMPLIFY. HOW DO WE DO THE MOST
WE CAN IN THE LIMITED RESOURCE
ENVIRONMENT? WE NEED MORE
MARINERS PARTNERSHIPS. THERE'S
OTHER ORGANIZATIONS, OTHER
SPORTS. WE NEED MORE OF THOSE
PRIVATE DOLLARS TO HELP AMPLIFY
EXISTING CITY INVESTMENTS AND
STRATEGY. MY PERSONAL POLICY
GOAL EVEN THOUGH I WILL SAY I
GET A LITTLE BIT OF COMMITTEE
ENVY FOR EVERY LAST ONE OF OUR
COMMITTEES I DON'T SIT ON.
THIS ONE IN PARTICULAR IS TOP
OF MIND FOR ME TODAY. THIS IS
COOL STUFF. IN ALL SERIOUSNESS
ONE OF MY POLICY GOALS IS TO
CONVERT AS QUICKLY AND
EFFICIENTLY AND EFFECTIVELY AS
POSSIBLE AND KEEPING IN MIND
THE LIMITED RESOURCE
ENVIRONMENT WE ARE UNDER
CONVERT AS MANY OF OUR GRASS
FIELDS TO TURF. I LIKE THE IDEA
OF HAVING A HYBRID KIND OF
FIELD APPROACH BECAUSE IT
ALLOWS US TO STRETCH OUR DOLLAR
MORE. SOME OF THE MOST
EGREGIOUS CONCERNS IS BEING A
DAD AND I SEE THIS ALL THE TIME
AND THE INFIELD IS PRIMARILY
WHEN WE TALK ABOUT SOFTBALL,
BASEBALL THAT'S WHAT YOU ARE
CONCERNED ABOUT IN TERMS OF
PLAYABLE CONDITIONS AND THAT
KIND OF THING. MY POLICY AS
QUICKLY AS POSSIBLE CONVERT AS
MANY TO GET TO YOUR POINT IF
SOMEONE HAD THE BRIGHT IDEA TO
CONVERT CERTAINLY BOTH OF THE
PLAY FIELDS TO TURF THERE WOULD
BE PITCHFORKS , COACHES AND
PARENTS AND MANAGERS DOWN HERE
AT CITY HALL. THERE ARE STILL A
LOT OF FIELDS THAT ARE READY
FOR CONVERSION WHETHER IT IS
FOR TITLE IX COMPLIANCE
PURPOSES , GENDER EQUITY
PURPOSES, ACCESSIBILITY
PURPOSES FOR THE SCHEDULING.
THERE'S SO MANY DIFFERENT
DIMENSIONS. IT IS IMPORTANT WE
CONVERT AS BEST WE CAN BUT I
WOULD LIKE TO BETTER UNDERSTAND
I KNOW THE THRUST OF THE
PRESENTATION SO FAR HAS BEEN
FOCUSED ON SCHEDULING BUT I
WOULD LOVE TO BETTER UNDERSTAND
HOW WE APPROACH THOSE DECISIONS
FOR MAKING THOSE CONVERSION
DECISIONS? WHAT IS OUR
PRIORITIZATION PROJECT OR
FRAMEWORK PARTICULARLY WITH
RESPECT TO SOFTBALL AND
BASEBALL FIELDS WHICH IS REALLY
TOP OF MIND FOR ME RIGHT NOW?
WHERE ALSO ENDING THAT SEASON
AS WELL. I NOTE THAT THERE'S A
LOT OF STAKEHOLDERS INVOLVED IN
DISTRICT ONE FOR EXAMPLE ON THE
YOUTH RECREATION AND COMMUNITY
BASEBALL AND SOFTBALL FRONT. I
REPRESENT WEST SEATTLE LITTLE
LEAGUE, SOUTHWEST LITTLE
LEAGUE, THE SEATTLE BASEBALL,
SOUTHWEST LITTLE LEAGUE, RAYNOR
DISTRICT LITTLE LEAGUE. FOR
FAMILIES WITH KIDS, A CERTAIN
AMOUNT PLAY IN SEATTLE CENTRAL
LITTLE LEAGUE. THERE'S A LOT
OF STAKEHOLDERS INVOLVED.
HATTIE YOU APPROACH THOSE
PRIORITIZATION DECISIONS AND
MAKING THOSE CONVERSIONS?
>> THAT IS PART OF OUR ASSET
MANAGEMENT AND PLANNING WORK WE
WILL GET TO IN A COUPLE SLIDES.
IT IS A LONGER THING BUT I
THINK WE WILL GET THERE.
>> I WANT TO SAY IT'S ON SLIDE
19. PERFECT. GO AHEAD.
>> CONTINUING ON INTO THE USER
SHIP AND ARE HISTORICAL USERS
AS PART OF OUR FIELD STUDY WE
WERE ABLE TO DRAW THESE
CONCLUSIONS FROM OUR HISTORICAL
USERS AND WHAT USAGE THEY DO
HAVE AS FAR AS HOURS ON HER
PLAY FIELDS . OF THESE TOP 10
USER GROUPS YOU CAN SEE THEY
TAKE UP 51% OF THE HOURS ON OUR
PLAYFIELD WHICH IS A
SIGNIFICANT AMOUNT OF TIME FOR
10 USER GROUPS ALONE. YOU'LL
NOTICE SEATTLE YOUTH SOCCER
ASSOCIATION IS NOT BROKEN OUT
INTO NEIGHBORHOODS SUCH AS THE
LITTLE LEAGUE DISTRICTS ARE. IF
IT WAS THEY WOULD HAVE A
DIFFERENT HISTORY PATIENT
SIMILAR TO LITTLE LEAGUE
ALTHOUGH THERE ONE UMBRELLA
ORGANIZATION , BUT OUR TOP 10
USER GROUPS TAKE UP 51% AND ALL
OF OUR HISTORICAL USER GROUPS
TAKE UP 98% OF THE TIME THAT
LEADS 46 PERCENT FOR ALL OF THE
OTHER 200 SOME HISTORICAL USER
GROUPS MAKING UP THE REST OF
THAT PERCENTAGE OF TIME ON OUR
FIELD. I'LL CONTINUE TO MOVE
THROUGH THE SLIDES BUT ONE OF
THE THINGS OBVIOUSLY WE ARE
HEARING ABOUT BY WAY OF
ADVOCACY FOR HIGH SCHOOL SPORTS
SOFTBALL TEAMS IS THE WEATHER
IMPACTS ON OUR PLAYFIELD AND
CERTAINLY WE LIVE IN THE
PACIFIC NORTHWEST SO THOSE ARE
VERY REAL HERE. THE LEAST
IMPACTED OUR FULL SYNTHETIC
FIELDS THAT ARE CONVERTED .
THEY DON'T HAVE THE IMPACTS OF
WEATHER CONSTRAINTS AND DOING
ANY SORT OF CANCELLATIONS ON
THOSE FIELDS IN PARTICULAR
OBVIOUSLY ARE HYBRID,
SYNTHETIC, BALL FIELD DIAMONDS,
THEY ARE RARELY IMPACTED BY
RAIN ALTHOUGH IT DOES HAPPEN.
THAT WILL HAVE SOME
CANCELLATIONS ON THE SYNTHETIC
FIELD THERE BECAUSE OF THE CLAY
MOUNT BUT BY AND LARGE THE
HYBRID INFIELD SYNTHETIC VERSUS
GRASS OUTFIELD COMBO ALLOW FOR
MORE PLAYING OF BASEBALL AND
SOFTBALL WHICH IS OBVIOUSLY A
VERY HUGE VALUE IN OUR SYSTEM.
OUR GRASS RECTANGLE FIELDS ARE
NOT REALLY IMPACTED BY RAINY
WEATHER IN OUR SYSTEM. SOCCER
FOOTBALL ARE ALL SPORTS THAT
CAN CONTINUE TO SAFELY PLAY IN
RAINY CONDITIONS AND CONTINUE
TO DO SO. IT'S RARE THAT OUR
STAFF CALLED RAINOUT ON ANY OF
OUR GRASS RECTANGLE FIELDS DUE
TO THE NATURE OF THE ACTIVITY
THERE AND BEING ABLE TO
CONTINUE ON. THE MOST IMPACTED
IS OUR DIRT INFIELD PRESS
OUTFIELD BALL FIELDS. THOSE ARE
SIGNIFICANTLY IMPACTED WHEN WE
HAVE RAINY WEATHER. THE
INTERESTING THING ABOUT RAINOUT
IS WE HAVE OUR STAFF OUT IN THE
FIELD, ARMY AND STAFF WILL CALL
IN, DO THE ROUNDS IN THEIR
DISTRICT AND CHECK OUT THE
FIELDS, REPORT IT TO ATHLETIC
SCHEDULING OFFICE, SEND OUT A
BULLETIN AT 12:30, WET FIELDS
ARE PLAYABLE WHICH ARE NOT.
THEY WILL SEND ANOTHER ONE AT
330 IN THE AFTERNOON TO TRY TO
DECIDE WHETHER WE ARE CLOSING
THOSE FIELDS ARE NOT. WE DON'T
MAKE THE CALL IN THE EVENING OR
ON THE WEEKENDS. THAT IS REALLY
UP TO THE COMMUNITY USER GROUP
TO GET OUT TO THAT FIELD AND
MAKE THAT JUDGMENT CALL ON
THEIR OWN. IF AND WHEN THAT
FIELD IS UNPLAYABLE WE
OBVIOUSLY TRIED EITHER
RESCHEDULE AND FIND TIME FOR
MAKEUP OR REFUND THEM FOR THAT
USE. IF THEY WERE ABLE TO USE
THE FIELD AS PAID FOR SOME OF
THE FIELDS MOST IMPACTED WHEN
WE DO THESE CONVERSIONS WHEN WE
HAVE TO TAKE FIELDS OFF-LINE
DUE TO PROJECTS OF THAT NATURE
THE FIELD IS OFF-LINE DURING
THAT STRETCH OF TIME IT TAKES
TO COMPLETE FROM THAT NOTICE TO
PROCEED UNTIL THAT SUBSTANTIAL
COMPLETION OF THE FIELD. THAT
IS A MAJOR IMPACT TO
COMMUNITIES, ESPECIALLY THOSE
THAT HAVE A LARGE AMOUNT OF
HISTORICAL USE ON THAT FIELD IN
PARTICULAR UNDERGOING
RENOVATION. AS WE ARE WIDELY
AWARE OFF LEASH DOGS ARE
WREAKING HAVOC ON OUR GRASS
FIELDS AND IT'S MAKING A MAJOR
HEADACHE AND CHALLENGE FOR OUR
DISTRICT STAFF TO KEEP UP TO
FILL HOLES , REPAIR,
REHABILITATE GRASS AND SO FAR
THAT IS A SIGNIFICANT CHALLENGE
IN THE WAY OUR GRASS FIELDS ARE
IMPACTED BY THAT THEY ARE. IN
ADDITION TO OUR JOINT USE
AGREEMENT WE DO HAVE A FEW
OTHER SEATTLE PARKS AND
RECREATION ACTIVITIES THAT DO
ALLOW PRIORITY SCHEDULING AT
CERTAIN LOCATIONS. WE HAVE
CONTRIBUTED ALMOST $1 MILLION
AND REPLACE THAT TURF EVERY 10
YEARS. THERE ARE SOME COMMUNITY
BENEFITS ASSOCIATED WITH THAT
FIELD IN TURF IN OUR SYSTEM. IT
IS NOT LIT TURF FIELD BUT IT
DOES PROVIDE ADDITIONAL
COMMUNITY USE HOURS THERE AS
PART OF THAT. ACADEMY ARTS AND
SCIENCES SOUTH PARK FULLY
FUNDING THE PROJECT OUT THERE.
AND RECTANGLE FIELDS SO 25 YEAR
AGREEMENT THERE FULLY FUNDING
THE STADIUM AND AMENITIES
ALONGSIDE THAT FACILITY AND
THEIR USE THERE THROUGHOUT THE
SCHOOL CALENDAR YEAR. ARTHRITIC
FIELD SCHEDULING OFFICE IS
TRYING IN MANY WAYS IN WHICH WE
CAN TO ELEVATE EQUITY AND
ACCESS TO OUR PLAY FIELDS WHERE
WE CAN MAKE THAT AVAILABLE. IT
WAS ALLUDED TO EARLIER IT'S
CHALLENGE WHEN YOU HAVE THESE
FIELDS IN YOUR NEIGHBORHOOD
NEARBY AND THEY ARE SCHEDULED
TO THE MINUTE. HOW YOU'RE ABLE
TO GET OUT THERE AND ACCESS
THEM, ONE HIGHLIGHT IS IN THOSE
LOWER USE SEASONS SUCH AS
SUMMER AND WINTER WE DO HAVE A
DROP IN FIELD USE WHERE WE
LEAVE OUR FIELDS INTENTIONALLY
UNSCHEDULED AND UNPROGRAMMED SO
WE HAVE SPONTANEOUS ORGANIC USE
ALLOWED TO GO OUT THERE AND GO
OUT AND GET ON THE FIELD. WE
HAVE 10 FIELDS THROUGH THOSE
TWO SEASONS WE PROGRAM OR
SCHEDULE FOR UNSCHEDULED USE SO
TO SPEAK. AS I MENTIONED WE ARE
CONTINUING TO EVALUATE THE
FIELD STUDY DATA WE GATHERED
BACK IN EARLY 2023 IDENTIFYING
OPPORTUNITIES FOR ACCESS FOR
FOLKS TO GET INTO THE SYSTEM IF
THEY HAVE BARRIERS TO GET IN,
GET THEIR FOOT IN THE DOOR OR
EXPAND UPON WHAT KIND OF USE
THEY HAVE IN OUR SYSTEM. ONE
LAST HIGHLIGHT I WILL CALL OUT
IS WE HAVE A FEW REDUCTION
WAIVER APPLICATIONS SO IF THERE
ARE USER GROUPS TRYING TO GAIN
ACCESS TO OUR FIELDS AND
FILLING THE BARRIER WITH THE
FEES AND CHARGES THEY CAN FILL
OUT AN APPLICATION AND THAT
GETS EVALUATED INTERNALLY TO
SEE IF WE CAN REDUCE THE COSTS
ASSOCIATED WITH OUR FIELDS IN
THAT WAY.
>> THANK YOU. JUST RIGHT BEFORE
THESE USE AGREEMENTS FOR THESE
FIELDS IS THE SAME AS SPF WITH
A CERTAIN TIME THEY HAVE
PRIORITY? WHAT ARE THE HOURS? I
SEE THE TERM.
>> IT KINDA VARIES FOR EACH OF
THESE. THEY ARE UNIQUE. I CAN
GATHER SPECIFICS AND WE CAN
SEND THOSE OVER TO IDENTIFY
WHAT THOSE MIGHT BE.
>> THESE ARE SEATTLE PARKS WE
ARE TALKING ABOUT?
>> YES. THE STADIUM BILLED --
>> SIMILAR AGREEMENTS AS SPS ?
SIMILAR TYPE OF USE AGREEMENT?
>> THESE HAVE MORE OF A PUBLIC
BENEFIT REQUIREMENT THAN I
THINK WHAT YOU WOULD FIND IN
THE SEATTLE PUBLIC SCHOOL
AGREEMENT. EVERYTHING THEY DO
IS THEORETICALLY PUBLIC BENEFIT
BUT THESE HAVE A MORE SPECIFIC
PUBLIC BENEFIT COMPONENT.
>> I WOULD LOVE TO KNOW THE
HOURS, THANK YOU. BECAUSE THEY
ARE PRIVATE SCHOOLS THEY HAVE
TO GIVE MY PUBLIC BENEFIT AND
SPS IS PUBLIC. THANK YOU.
>> YES, I WANTED TO NOTE WHEN
YOU MENTION INTERBAY STADIUM IT
REMINDED ME AND THEN I CHECKED
THROUGH THE AGENDA THE MEMORIAL
STADIUM WAS NOT ADDRESSED. I
UNDERSTAND IT COMES FROM A
DIFFERENT ANGLE BUT I WAS
WONDERING IF YOU COULD SPEAK TO
THAT A LITTLE BIT. I DIDN'T
MENTION ON THE PREVIOUS SLIDE
BUT OFF LEASH DOGS ARE SUCH A
MAJOR PROBLEM. ANY IDEAS,
STRATEGIES RELATED TO OFF LEASH
DOGS IS A MAJOR PROBLEM AS YOU
HEARD IN PUBLIC COMMENT.
>> CAN YOU CLARIFY YOUR
QUESTION ABOUT MEMORIAL
STADIUM?
>> HOW DOES THAT -- IT'S AN
ATHLETIC FIELD, YOU MENTION
INTERBAY'S STADIUM. WHEN I
WENT THROUGH THE BRIEFING ON
THE AGENDA SHEET I DIDN'T SEE
IT ADDRESSED. I WAS WONDERING
IF YOU COULD SPEAK TO MEMORIAL
STADIUM, ITS UNIQUE PIECES IN
TERMS OF PARTNERSHIP SPS ?
IT'S PART OF SEATTLE CENTER.
WE ARE OBVIOUSLY FUNDING THE
NEW STADIUM THAT SHOULD BE
STARTING UP SOON. HOW WILL THAT
PLAY IN? RELATIVE TO WHAT
YOU'RE SAYING HERE.
>> THIS IS A VERY COMPLICATED
KIND OF RESPONSE. A LOT OF
MOVING PARTS. AS YOU ACCURATELY
POINT OUT THE SCHOOL DISTRICT
IS SLATED TO RENOVATE MEMORIAL
STADIUM . THAT'S NOT BEEN PART
OF OUR HISTORIC USE AGREEMENT
WITH THE DISTRICT. THE
CONNECTION BETWEEN MEMORIAL
STADIUM AND SAY LINCOLN HIGH
SCHOOL IS THE SCHOOL DISTRICT
IS LOOKING FOR A PLACE TO
RELOCATE THE LINCOLN HIGH
SCHOOL FOOTBALL TEAM SO THEY
DON'T HAVE TO TRAVEL DOWN TO
MEMORIAL STADIUM. THEY WANT TO
FIND AN ATHLETIC FIELD LOCATION
IN THE LINCOLN PARK
NEIGHBORHOOD. WE ARE WORKING
CLOSELY WITH THEM TO LOOK AT
VARIOUS SITES IN NORTH SEATTLE
APPROXIMATE TWO LINCOLN HIGH
SCHOOL. THERE WAS ANOTHER PART
OF YOUR QUESTION I WANTED TO
RESPOND TO. DOGS. WE RECENTLY
BROUGHT ON 25 PARK RANGERS AND
WE THINK THAT PARK RANGERS ARE
GOING TO BE PART OF A MORE
COMPREHENSIVE STRATEGY WORKING
WITH ANIMAL CONTROL , FAS TO
GET A BETTER HANDLE ON OFF
LEASH DOGS. THESE STRATEGIES
MIGHT INVOLVE SIDING MORE OFF
LEASH DOG OWNERS. THESE
STRATEGIES HAVE SOME HIGHER
LEVEL OF ENFORCEMENT BUT IT IS
SOMETHING WE ARE ACUTELY AWARE
OF AND HOW TO MOVE FORWARD ON .
>> I THINK THAT'S A GREAT
IDEA, THANK YOU ON THE OFF
LEASH DOG'S POINT. I
UNDERSTAND MEMORIAL STADIUM IS
UNIQUE AND WE JUST NEED TO BE
ENGAGED AS IT CONTINUES TO MOVE
FORWARD SINCE IT IS A
PARTNERSHIP BETWEEN SBS BUT WE
ARE A MAJOR PARTNER IN IT. WE
NEED TO MAINTAIN THIS KIND OF
OVERSIGHT SO THANK YOU.
>> SORRY, A TIME CHECK. I KNOW
WE HAD ONLY SCHEDULED 20
MINUTES FOR THIS AND I'M NOT
CUTTING ANYONE OFF BUT IF I
WOULD ASK MY COLLEAGUES IF WE
HOLD QUESTIONS TO THE END , LET
OUR DEPARTMENT GET THROUGH THE
PRESENTATION AND WE CAN ASK AT
THE END IF THAT IS OKAY. GO
RIGHT AHEAD. WE ARE REALLY
PASSIONATE.
>> HOW MANY FIELDS DO WE HAVE?
I THINK A LOT OF THAT IS PART
OF THE QUESTIONS HERE IT MIGHT
FEEL LIKE A SIMPLE QUESTION BUT
IT IS IN FACT PRETTY COMPLEX.
DO YOU WANT TO KNOW HOW MANY WE
HAVE MY FIELD SHAPE, RECTANGLES
OR DIAMONDS? DO YOU WANT TO
KNOW HOW MANY WE HAVE A SPORT ?
AS YOU CAN SEE WE HAVE LISTED
HERE VARIOUS MORE COMMON SPORTS
PLAYED ON OUR FIELDS BUT AS WE
SAW EARLIER WE DIDN'T HAVE ALL
OF OUR SPORTS LISTED HERE.
ADDING UP THOSE NUMBERS MIGHT
BE A LITTLE BIT DECEIVING. YOU
WANT TO KNOW BY HIGH SCHOOL
FIELD SUPPORT STANDARDS OR
LITTLE LEAGUE SUPPORT
STANDARDS? HIGH SCHOOL BASE
PADS FOR SOFTBALL ARE 60 FOOT
BUT THAT IS THE LITTLE LEAGUE
BASEBALL ALSO. IT REALLY STARTS
TO DEPEND UPON WHAT KIND OF
CRITERIA WE ARE ASKING AND HOW
WE DEFINE ANSWERING THOSE
QUESTIONS. WE HAVE A BRIGHTON
PLAYFIELD ALLUDED TO EARLIER WE
HAVE TWO BALL FIELD DIAMONDS
AND A RECTANGLE OVERLAPPING
THAT. HOW DO WE REFER AS ONE
FIELD OR ONE SITE? ALL THAT TO
BE SAID IS WHEN WE ARE TALKING
ABOUT DEFINING THAT CRITERIA
FOR SAKE OF NUMBERS WE HAVE 124
BALL FIELD DIAMONDS WHICH IS
BASEBALL SOFTBALL T-BALL. 38 OF
THOSE ARE LATE. WE HAVE 87
RECTANGLES FOR ADULT SOCCER,
FOOTBALL, LACROSSE . 29 OF
THOSE ARE LIT. AS YOU SEE RIGHT
HERE YOU'LL SEE THAT BIG
NUMBER 13 OVER THERE AT
MAGNUSON IN THE CENTRAL WEST
DISTRICT. WE HAVE WEST MAGNOLIA
PLAYFIELD THERE. I WILL KIND OF
USE THOSE AS A COUPLE EXAMPLES
OF DRILLING DOWN ROAD QUICKLY.
WE KIND OF TALK ABOUT THESE IN
TERMS OF TWO DIFFERENT SITES.
WE HAVE THE SITE OF ABOVE WITH
A GROUP OF FIVE PLAYFIELD UP ON
THE MEADOW THERE AND THOSE ARE
GRASS AND THEN WE HAVE KIND OF
A COLLECTION OF REMAINING SEVEN
FIELDS HERE THERE WHICH ARE
SYNTHETIC TURF RECTANGLES, A
COUPLE IN FIELD THAT ARE TURFED
FOR FACEBOOK SOFTBALL AND A
COUPLE OTHER DIRT BALL FIELDS
THERE. THE OTHER EXAMPLE HERE
IS WEST MAGNOLIA . WE HAD FIVE
BALL FIELD DIAMONDS, THREE
RECTANGLE SPORT FIELDS AND NONE
OF THESE HOUSE HIGH SCHOOL
BASEBALL. THEY ARE DECEIVING
SOMETIMES IN TERMS OF HOW MANY
FIELDS DO WE REALLY HAVE? IF WE
TALK ABOUT 90 FOOT BASE PATH
FIELDS FOR BASEBALL THAT STARTS
TO DETERMINE A VERY DIFFERENT
NUMBER OF WHAT WE WOULD SAY
BASEBALL FIELDS ARE IN THE
SYSTEM. IF YOU WANT LITTLE
LEAGUE BASEBALL THAN THAT
NUMBER SKYROCKETS. HERE AGAIN
IS A SNAPSHOT OF OUR GRASS
FIELDS. AS WE MENTIONED WE HAVE
ABOUT 10 GRASS SITES THAT ARE
LIT AS COUNCILMEMBER STRAUSS
SAID . WE WANT TO LIGHT ARE
SYNTHETIC FIELDS. WE WANT TO
TURF ARE LIT FIELDS. WE HAVE
THOSE CONVERSATIONS WITH
CAPITAL DEVELOPMENT TEAM IS
TRYING TO PRIORITIZE AND
IDENTIFY WHICH FIELDS SHOULD GO
FORTH AS FAR AS THIS PROJECT.
HERE IS ANOTHER MAP QUICKLY OF
OUR SYNTHETIC FIELDS ACROSS OUR
SYSTEM. AS YOU'LL SEE CENTRAL
WEST DISTRICT IS REALLY LACKING
IN TERMS OF ITS SYNTHETIC
FIELDS THERE AND AS WE
MENTIONED IT IS UNLIT IN THEIR
IN THE SOUTH CENTRAL WEST
DISTRICT AND INTERBAY STADIUM
IS OVER THERE IN CENTRAL WEST.
LOTS OF FIELDS, LOTS OF
CONVERSATION. THANK YOU FOR
HAVING US TO CONTINUE THIS
CONVERSATION. WITH THAT I WILL
PASS IT ALONG TO DAVID GRAVES,
A COLLEAGUE FROM PLANNING AND
CAPITAL DEVELOPMENT TO TALK
MORE ABOUT ASSET MANAGEMENT OF
OUR FIELDS.
>> THANK YOU. THIS GRAPHIC IS
AN ATTEMPT TO SIGNIFY WHAT IS
REALLY COMPLICATED AND ONGOING
CAPITAL PLANNING PROCESS. EVERY
ASSET CLASS IN OUR SYSTEM FROM
IRRIGATION LINES TO PLAY FIELDS
HAS A LIFECYCLE WE HAVE TO
MONITOR FOR RENEWAL. THE
FOUR-PART RENEWAL PROCESS INTO
ASSET MANAGEMENT PLANNING
PHASE, THE CAPITAL RENEWAL
PHASE WHERE PRIORITY PROJECTS
ARE FUNDED , DESIGNED. THE
COMMISSION PHASE WHERE IS THIS
ARE INSTALLED TO REPLACE AND
FINALLY EVERYONE'S FAVORITE
PHASE THE ASSET USE WHEN IT'S
READY TO BE USED AND OPEN TO
THE PUBLIC. THE MAIN OBJECTIVE
OF THE PLANNING WORK WE DO IN
THE FIRST PHASE IS TO KEEP OUR
ASSETS IN THE FINAL PHASE AS
MUCH AS POSSIBLE. TRY TO
SCHEDULE MAINTENANCE SO WE
AVOID ANY UNPREDICTABLE
CLOSURES. ASSET MANAGEMENT
PLANNING PHASE IS ITSELF
DEFINED UP TO THREE PHASES.
THERE'S A CONDITION ASSESSMENT
. WE USE THAT TO PRIORITIZE
PROJECTS AND ONCE WE HAVE A
PLAN FOR THESE PROJECTS WE
START TO IDENTIFY A SCOPE
ASSOCIATED THAT ARE ASSIGNED
FOR PROJECTS IN UPCOMING YEARS.
WE PRIORITIZE THESE PROJECTS
USING COMPARATIVE ANALYSIS
ASSESSMENT RELATIVE TO THE
ASSETS CONDITION AND SAFETY AND
THEN ALSO FACTOR IN OTHER
SIGNIFICANT CRITERIA. THERE'S
EQUITY, REGULATORY, AND
OPPORTUNITY AND EFFICIENCY. AN
EXAMPLE IF SEVERAL SITES APPEAR
TO BE A TIE IN LESS GOOD
CONDITIONS WE MIGHT GIVE MORE
WEIGHT TO PROJECTS THAT HELP US
MEET OUR SOCIAL JUSTICE GOALS ,
MORE EFFICIENTLY USE RESOURCES,
ADDRESS OUTSTANDING REGULATORY
REQUIREMENTS, ACCESSIBILITY OR
PROVIDE TIME SENSITIVE
OPPORTUNITY , A GRANT ABOUT TO
EXPIRE OR THE MARINERS COME TO
US AND SAY WE WANT TO WORK ON A
FIELD SO WE TRY TO BE SOMEWHAT
FLEXIBLE AS THESE COME UP.
>> YOU'VE SEEN THESE BEFORE.
THESE GIVEN OPPORTUNITY TO
PRIORITIZE OUR DISTRIBUTION.
WHERE DO WE NEED FIELDS? WHERE
ARE THE GAPS THAT HELP US
IDENTIFY OUR PRIORITIES?
>> THIS TALKS ABOUT OUR GRASS
FIELD RENOVATION PROJECT . IT
SHOWS RECENTLY COMPLETED,
CURRENT AND FUTURE PRIORITY
PROJECTS . WHEN WE RENOVATE A
FIELD WE DO A COMPLETE
RENOVATION SO WE LOOK AT
IRRIGATION SYSTEMS, DRAINAGE,
TOPSOIL, THE FIELD ITSELF AND
MAKING SURE WE ARE ADDRESSING
ANY INFRASTRUCTURE NEEDS ,
DUGOUTS AND MAKING SURE ALSO
ANY ACCESSIBILITY IMPROVEMENTS
ARE NECESSARY AND WE WANT OUR
FIELDS TO BE ACCESSIBLE FOR
FOLKS OF ALL AGES MAKING SURE
WE COMPLY WITH AMERICANS WITH
DISABILITIES ACT. THIS WORK IS
PRIMARILY FUNDED BY PARK
DISTRICT FUNDING. THIS GIVES A
SNAPSHOT OF OUR SYNTHETIC FIELD
RENOVATION PROGRAM. THERE'S A
LITTLE MORE PREDICTABILITY. WE
KNOW FIELD CARPETS NEED TO BE
REPLACED EVERY 10 YEARS. THESE
REPLACEMENTS GIVE US A CHANCE
TO UPGRADE TO THE LATEST
STANDARDS AND BEST PRACTICES,
LOOK AT CHANGING THINGS LIKE
CONVERTING FROM RUBBER FIELD TO
THE SAND CORK MAKES . WE HAVE
BEEN GOING THROUGH A LOT OF
REPLACEMENTS IN THE LAST FEW
YEARS DRIVEN BY THE FACT THAT
WE DID A BUNCH OF FIELDS IN A
RELATIVELY SHORT AMOUNT OF TIME
SO THEY ARE ALL COMING DUE AT
THE SAME TIME. WE ARE STARTING
TO STAGGER REPLACEMENTS. YOU
CAN SEE THE 2026 TO 2029
TIMEFRAME WE ARE A LITTLE BIT
MORE QUIET . WE PICK UP THE
NEXT CYCLE OF REPLACEMENT. THIS
SHOWS A LIST OF RECENTLY
COMPLETED CURRENT PROJECTS AND
PLANNING DESIGN. THERE'S
FUTURE NEEDS, FUTURE PROJECTS.
I THINK THE COUNCILMEMBER WAS
TALKING ABOUT YOUR POINT OF
SYNTHETIC TURF CONVERSIONS. WE
CONVERT TO INCREASE CAPACITY. A
BIG DRIVER FOR HOW WE
PRIORITIZE THESE IS THE JOINT
ATHLETIC FACILITIES DEVELOPMENT
PLAN WHICH WE DEVELOPED IN
PARTNERSHIP WITH SEATTLE PUBLIC
SCHOOLS IN 2019 . WE ANALYZED
THIS SCHEDULED FIELD USAGE IN A
NUMBER OF SPORTS. THE GOAL OF
THE PROGRAM IS TO PROVIDE
QUALITY DURABLE FACILITIES,
INCREASE CAPACITY AND RESPOND
TO DEMANDS. THE CHALLENGES TO
THESE PROJECTS ARE BOTH INITIAL
COST AND ONCE YOU'VE MADE THAT
COST THERE IS A LONG-TERM
COMMITMENT FOR FUTURE
REPLACEMENTS. THIS PROGRAM
HELPS US PRIORITIZE OUR FUNDING
FOR ATHLETIC FIELDS AND CREATE
OPPORTUNITIES TO USE OUTSIDE
FUNDING TO CONVERT FIELDS.
FUNDING FOR THIS IS GRANT HER
DONATIONS TO ACHIEVE THIS WORK
AND WE'VE BEEN ABLE TO
LEVERAGE PRIVATE PARTNERSHIP
WHETHER IN YOUR PLAYFIELD. OUR
PLAN INVESTMENTS THAT COVER THE
YEARS UP UNTIL THE LAST YEAR OF
OUR CURRENT FUNDING CYCLE WHICH
IS 29. THEY ARE SPLIT BETWEEN
MAINTAINING AND NEWS TO EXPAND
CAPACITY OR CREATING ADDITIONAL
HOURS FOR PLAY. FOR EXAMPLE,
CONVERTING AN INFIELD TO
BASEBALL, SOFTBALL AND FIELD TO
SYNTHETIC REDUCES RAINOUTS AND
PRODUCES QUALITY PLAY BUT
DOESN'T NECESSARILY ADD HOURS.
WE SPENT ABOUT 20 MILLION IN
THE LAST SIX YEARS AND WE WILL
SPEND AN ADDITIONAL 15 MILLION
THE NEXT X YEARS TO REMAIN WHAT
WE HAVE. WE HAVE ADDITIONAL
PLANNED MAINTENANCE FOR
SWITCHING OUT THE WOODEN POLES
THAT SUPPORT THE LIGHTING TO
METAL ONES. ALSO CONVERTING OUR
EXISTING LIGHTING TO L.E.D.
WHICH HELPS MAINTAIN AN
INCREASED AMOUNT OF PLAYABLE
HOURS CONVERTING TO L.E.D.
SAVES ENERGY, MONEY AND REDUCES
THE IMPACT FROM GLARE ON FOLKS.
>> I KNOW OBVIOUSLY A LOT OF
WESTERNS AROUND RAINOUT AND SO
FORTH SO THIS TABLE IDENTIFIES
A BIT OF OUR RAINOUT DATA FROM
2022 AND 2023. THAT SAID, THESE
ARE RAINOUTS THAT SPR CALLED
FROM OUR OFFICE FROM OUR
DISTRICT SO THAT DOESN'T
NECESSARILY ACCOUNT FOR
RAINOUTS THAT USER GROUPS
THEMSELVES ACCOUNT FOR AND SEND
IN TO US AS FAR AS REQUIRING A
REFUND FOR NOT BEEN ABLE TO USE
THE FIELD DURING THAT TIME SO
THAT CHART OUTLINES WHAT THE
NUMBERS LOOK LIKE FOR 90
FOOTBALL FIELD WHICH WOULD BE A
HIGH SCHOOL BASEBALL SYNTHETIC
AND GRASS AND 60 FOOT HIGH
SCHOOL SOFTBALL/LITTLE LEAGUE
SYNTHETIC AND GRASS.
>> THANK YOU. THE NEXT FEW
SLIDES JUST TO ADDRESS HOW WE
MAINTAIN THESE FIELDS ARE
ROUTINE MAINTENANCE PROGRAMS
AND PREVENTATIVE MAINTENANCE
PROGRAMS. AS YOU ALL KNOW, WE
MAINTAIN NATURAL SYNTHETIC TURF
FIELDS AS WELL AS HYBRID
FIELDS. THESE ARE THE SYNTHETIC
INFIELD AND USUALLY THE NATURAL
PART OF THE FIELD IS IN THE
OUTFIELD. EACH OF THESE REQUIRE
DIFFERENT METHODS OF
MAINTENANCE AND DIFFERENT TYPE
OF EQUIPMENT TO MAINTAIN THESE
FIELDS. WE PROVIDE THESE
ROUTINE MAINTENANCE SCHEDULES
TO KEEP THE FIELDS SAFE AND THE
SURROUNDING AREAS FOR THE
PLAYERS AND SPECTATORS. THIS
INCLUDES TRASH COLLECTION, HARD
SURFACE CLEANING, PRESSURE
WASHING , THE BLEACHERS,
CONCRETE PADS, DUGOUTS ,
GRAFFITI REMOVAL , TREE AND
SHRUB , THE PRUNING AND CARE OF
THE LANDSCAPE AROUND THE
FIELDS. THIS IS WHAT WE
CONSIDER GENERAL MAINTENANCE
AND REPAIRS. IN 2023 WE
CONTRIBUTED 5050 HOURS TO JUST
GENERAL MAINTENANCE JUST TO
KEEP THE FIELD SAFE. I JUST
WANT TO MAKE THE COMPARISON AND
HIGHLIGHT THE HOURS USED .
COUNCILMEMBER NIELSEN, YOU WILL
SEE YOU ARE SPOT ON WHEN WE
TALK ABOUT HOW MUCH TIME IS
USED TO MAINTAIN THE NATURAL
FIELDS VERSUS SYNTHETIC FIELDS.
OUR NATURAL SURFACE FIELD WE
HAVE 125 NATURAL SURFACE FIELDS
WE MAINTAIN. THERE'S DAILY,
WEEKLY AND MONTHLY MAINTENANCE
TASKS. WE HAVE SEASONAL TASKS
ON THESE NATURAL SURFACE
FIELDS. WE PREP THE INFIELDS
FOR SCHEDULE GAINS AND THESE
INCLUDE REMOVING OR ADDING
WATER DEPENDENT ON CONDITIONS.
UPSETTING THE BASES TO THE
APPROPRIATE DISTANCES AND
LINING THE FIELDS FOR THE
SCHEDULED GAIN. OUR WEEKLY TASK
INCLUDES STOCKING THE BOXES .
WE STOCK THOSE FOR VOLUNTEERS ,
THE VOLUNTEERS CAN COME OUT.
THEY ALSO HAVE THE SAME
MATERIAL WE USE TO LINE THE
FIELDS. THEY HAVE THE CHALKING
MACHINES, THE CHALK IN THE
BOXES , THE STREAMLINED TO MAKE
SURE THE LINES ARE STRAIGHT AND
IN OUR MONTHLY TASK ON THESE
REMOVING WHAT WE CALL THE WING
FENCE IS GRASS THAT GROWS ALONG
THE FENCE LINE THAT IS
PROTECTING OUR SPECTATORS AND
PLAYERS FROM FOUL BALLS AND
STUFF LIKE THAT. ALSO ALONG THE
LIP LINE . SEASONAL TASKS
INCLUDE TILLING OF THE SOIL AND
ADDING MATERIAL. IF YOU SEE IN
THE PHOTO YOU SEE THE TRACTOR
AND THAT MACHINE BEHIND IT IS
WHAT WE USE TO HELP TILL THE
SOIL. THIS HAPPENS ON A
SEASONAL BASIS WITH THE
CONDITION OF THE INFIELDS TO
KEEP THEM SAFE AND SMOOTH. ARE
NATURAL TURF AREAS WE HAVE 141
ACRES OF GRASS. ATHLETIC
FIELDS, DAILY ROUTINE , WEEKLY
MOWING AND LINING THE FOUL
LINES WE USE PAINT TO DO THAT.
BY ANNUALLY WE FERTILIZE. IN
OUR SEASONAL TASK FOR
IRRIGATING THE FIELDS THAT IS
WINTERIZING AND REACTIVATING
WHEN THE SEASON BEGINS. YOU CAN
SEE OUR LABOR HOURS FOR TAKING
CARE OF JUST A NATURAL SURFACE
ON THE INFIELD IS 6802 HOURS IS
WHAT WE CONTRIBUTED IN 2023 AND
FOR OUR NATURAL GRASS FIELDS
TURF , THE MOWING, LINE
PAINTING WE CONTRIBUTED 11,212
HOURS TO THOSE TASKS. FINALLY,
THE SYNTHETIC FIELD TURF
MAINTENANCE. WE MAINTAIN 50
ACRES OF SYNTHETIC TURF .
DAILY, WEEKLY, MONTHLY TASKS
ARE AS FOLLOWS. LITTER PICKUP
AND REINSPECT THE FIELD TO
ENSURE THE SURROUNDING AREAS
ARE SAFE FOR PLAY. WEEKLY WE
BELOW THE SURFACE, REMOVE
ORGANIC DEBRIS LIKE LEAVES,
PINE CONES DEPENDING ON WHERE
THE FIELDS ARE LOCATED. WE
ADDRESS HAZARDS SUCH AS THESE
TRIP HAZARDS, TEARS AND
SPLITTING OF THE TURF AND
CONTACT OUR CONTRACTORS IF
IT'S SOMETHING BIGGER THAN
WHAT WE CAN HANDLE IN OUR
DIVISION TO COME OUT TO TAKE
CARE OF THE WARRANTY ISSUES.
OUR MONTHLY TASKS INCLUDE
BRUSHING THE FIELDS, TOP
DRESSING THE AREAS THAT ARE
HIGH USE AREAS LIKE THE
GOALMOUTH WHEN YOU PLAY SOCCER,
HOME PLATE FOR MOST PEOPLE THE
BASEBALL PLAYER LIKE TO DIG IN
SO OUR FOLKS TO COME OUT ON A
WEEKLY BASIS AND REPLENISH
THOSE AREAS TO MAKE SURE THEY
ARE SAFE AND BY ANNUALLY WE
REMOVE THE DEBRIS USING THE
SPORTS CHAMP WHICH IS WHAT YOU
SEE IN THE PHOTO. THIS MACHINE
DIGS DEEPER INTO THE TURF
SURFACE. IT REMOVES THE DEBRIS
AND REDISTRIBUTES THE CORK OR
RUBBER DEPENDING ON MATERIAL
USED FOR THE SYNTHETIC FUEL.
YOU CAN SEE THE REDUCTION AND
HOURS IS TREMENDOUS, OVER 75%.
2078 HOURS CONTRIBUTED IN 2023.
>> THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR THE
PRESENTATION. NOW I WOULD LOVE
-- I KNOW MY COLLEAGUES HAVE
QUESTIONS AND WOULD LOVE TO
OPEN IT UP. I SEE COUNCILMEMBER
SAKA.
>> THANK YOU FOR ANSWERING A
FEW OF MY QUESTIONS THERE. IT
WAS RATE TO SEE PRIORITIZATION
FRAMEWORK OR CRITERIA USED TO
SELECT THESE CANDIDATE PROJECTS
IN TERMS OF CONVERSION. I HAVE
A COUPLE OTHER QUESTIONS ON
THESE SAME POINTS ALONG THE
SAME LINES. FIRST OFF, WHEN
MAKING THESE DECISIONS ON
CONVERTING FROM GRASS TO TURF
WHAT KIND OF STAKEHOLDER IN DO
YOU DO? WHAT KIND OF COMMUNITY
ENGAGEMENT? WHAT DOES THAT LOOK
LIKE? IT'S NOT JUST SPS. IT'S
ALL THESE VARIOUS COMMUNITY
YOUTH RECREATIONAL SPORTS
TEAMS, WHAT IS YOUR COMMUNITY
ENGAGEMENT PROCESS FOR
INFORMING THOSE DECISIONS?
>> WE HAVE A COMMUNITY
ENGAGEMENT POLICY SO WE MAKE
ANY CHANGES. WE GO OUT AND TALK
TO THEM SPECIFICALLY . THIS IS
OUR GUIDING DOCUMENT AND LIST
OUT THE FIELDS THAT ARE
SCHEDULED. A LOT OF THAT THE
ADOPTION OVER A COUPLE YEARS
HIGHLIGHTS THOSE FIELDS THAT
ARE GOING TO BE CONVERTED IN
THE FUTURE. SOUNDVIEW IS THE
NEXT ON OUR PRIORITY LIST.
THERE'S A WHOLE BUNCH OF
PLANNING WORK ASSOCIATED WITH
THAT THAT HAPPENS 6 TO 8 YEARS
AGO SCHEDULED IN 2020 AND
LOOKING FORWARD IN 2025. IT'S
A PRETTY LONG LEAD TIME. THERE
IS A FAIR AMOUNT OF
COORDINATION WITH THE
COMMUNITY. CONVERTING A FIELD
FROM NATURAL GRASS TO SYNTHETIC
TURF IS NO SMALL THING. IT
BRINGS ADDITIONAL TRAFFIC TO
THE NEIGHBORHOOD. IT BRINGS ALL
THOSE THINGS THAT FOLKS AREN'T
NECESSARILY USED TO SO THERE IS
A LOT OF WORK UP FRONT AND
PLANNING THAT HAPPENS AS WE
START TO IDENTIFY.
>> THANK YOU. I WILL SHARE
THERE ARE A FEW SPECIFIC
PROJECTS OR OPPORTUNITIES IN MY
DISTRICT I'M AWARE OF AS
HAVING TALKED WITH VARIOUS
STAKEHOLDERS WHERE IT'S THE
PRESIDENTS OF THESE VARIOUS
COMMUNITY YOUTH RECREATIONAL
SPORTS LEAGUES OR OTHER PARENTS
OR COACHES. FAIRMONT PARK.
THERE ARE BASEBALL FIELDS AND
SOFTBALL FIELD. EC HUGHES
PLAYFIELD. THOSE ARE RIPE , I
WILL SHARE THAT NOW. COMMUNITY
ENGAGEMENT AND STAKEHOLDER RING
IS VERY IMPORTANT. I HAVE A
QUESTION OR WANT TO EXPAND UPON
COUNCILMEMBER STRAUSS EARLIER
QUESTION ABOUT PUBLIC PRIVATE
PARTNERSHIPS AND THAT SPECIFIC
OPPORTUNITY. THIS IS A LIMITED
RESOURCE ENVIRONMENT AND YOU
CAN'T DO EVERYTHING OVERNIGHT.
WE NEED TO STRETCH OUR DOLLARS
AS FAR AS WE CAN WHICH IS WHY I
SUPPORT INCREMENTAL APPROACH
AND THAT MEANS LET'S TAKE CARE
OF THESE INFIELDS FIRST AND WE
WILL WORRY -- APPRECIATE THE
MARINERS FOR STEPPING UP AND
THAT RAINIER PLAYFIELD. HOW CAN
WE BEST EXPAND PUBLIC PRIVATE
PARTNERSHIP OPPORTUNITIES TO
GET MORE OF THOSE IN TERMS OF
SPECIFIC CONVERSIONS?
>> ONE THING WE OUGHT TO
CONSIDER DOING AND I DON'T
THINK WE HAVE DONE THIS VERY
MUCH BUT YOU RAISE AN
INTERESTING QUESTION. THAT IS
HOW DOES THE RFP PROCESS OR RFI
PROCESS BID INTO AN EQUATION
WHEN WE ARE GETTING READY TO
REDEVELOP A FIELD? IS THAT A
LEGITIMATE WAY TO SEEK OUT
PARTNERS? WE'VE HAD A LOT OF
SUCCESS WITH DIFFERENT
PARTNERS. THE SEATTLE ARTS AND
SCIENCE ACADEMY CONTRIBUTED
OVER $4 MILLION TO THE FIELD
REDEVELOPMENT AT SOUTH PARK. WE
WANT TO THINK AND LEARN IN
PUBLIC TO FIGURE OUT IF THERE
ARE SOME STRATEGIES TO INVITE
MORE INTEREST INTO THESE
PARTNERSHIP IDEAS. ONE OF THE
CHALLENGES WE HAVE FACED IN THE
PAST WHICH WE CAN MITIGATE IT
IS THIS IDEA THAT IF THERE IS A
PRIVATE INVESTMENT IT COMES
ACROSS AS OVER
COMMERCIALIZATION. WE THINK
THERE IS A TASTEFUL WAY TO DO
THAT. IT MITIGATES THAT CLAIM
AND WE JUST BE OPEN TO
EXPLORING THAT. I THINK HITTING
THE WORD OUT THAT WE HAVE THESE
OPPORTUNITIES IS ONE OF THE
MAIN AREAS. WE WOULD WELCOME
ANY PARTNERSHIP RECOMMENDATIONS
YOU THINK WE SHOULD PURSUE.
>> I MIGHT HAVE A FEW, LET'S
TALK OFF-LINE. WHAT IS THE
AVERAGE COST OF CONVERSION?
LET'S SAY WE WANT TO CONVERT
AND ACQUIRE ENTIRE SOFTBALL
FIELD? WHAT IS THE COST OF
CONVERSION OF GRASS TO TURF?
>> I GOT A NUMBER THAT WAS
RIGHT AROUND $2.2 MILLION.
THOSE ARE AMONG THE MOST
EXPENSIVE ATHLETIC FIELD
PROJECTS IN OUR SYSTEM.
>> THANK YOU FOR THAT. I
APPRECIATED THE EXPLANATION ON
SOME OVERHEAD AND OPERATIONAL
PLANNING COSTS ASSOCIATED WITH
STANDARD NATURAL GRASS VERSUS
SYNTHETIC TURF. WHAT I WOULD
REALLY LOVE TO SEE AND FURTHER
EXPLORE WOULD BE A SIDE-BY-SIDE
COMPARISON OF THE ACTUAL COST
OF THOSE. THERE'S OBVIOUSLY
ONGOING MAINTENANCE COSTS
ASSOCIATED WITH WHATEVER YOU
CHOOSE. IT'S NOT CLEAR TO ME
THAT ONE IS MORE COST EFFICIENT
OR EFFECTIVE THAN THE OTHER
OVER A TEN-YEAR PERIOD FOR
EXAMPLE. IT SEEMS LIKE YOU NEED
TO HAVE IT ON A REPLACEMENT
SCHEDULE. IS THERE ONE AS A
GENERAL PROPOSITION THERE WILL
BE CUSTOM EXCEPTIONS, BUT IS
THERE ONE GENERALLY IS MORE
COST-EFFECTIVE THAN THE OTHER?
YOUR ANSWER -- I'M STAYING
TRUE TO MY POLICY PRIORITY I
MENTIONED EARLIER. WE DO NEED
TO CONVERT MORE TO TURF BUT IS
THERE ONE THAT IS MARGINALLY
MORE COST-EFFECTIVE THAN THE
OTHER?
>> THE CHALLENGE IS WE DO THINK
MAYBE IN THE SHORT RUN GRASS
FIELDS HAVE SOME BENEFIT. HOW
MANY DO WE HAVE NOW?
>> IT DEPENDS IF YOU WANT TO
KNOW BY SPORT. WE HAVE ABOUT 42
SYNTHETIC FIELDS.
>> THERE IS A FINANCIAL WAVE OF
THE MORE SYNTHETIC FIELDS YOU
GET MORE FINANCIAL LIABILITY
YOU ARE BUYING. WITH 42 FIELDS
WE KNOW EVENTUALLY WE HAVE AT
LEAST $42 MILLION BASELINE FOR
THE FUTURE COST. THAT DOESN'T
COUNT INFLATION OR CPI . I
THINK THAT ANALYSIS YOU
MENTIONED IS PROBABLY A GOOD
PIECE OF WORK WE NEED TO GO
BACK INTO.
>> WE ALWAYS ENDEAVOR A BIG
RESOURCE ALLOCATION DECISION.
THAT WOULD HELP GUIDE OUR
DECISION-MAKING. WHEN YOU MAKE
A DECISION AS A CITY TO CONVERT
FROM GRASS TO SYNTHETIC TURF
YOU ARE SIGNING UP FOR FUTURE
EXPENSES. AT THE SAME TIME WHEN
WE HAVE GRASS THERE IS A LOT OF
OVERHEAD ASSOCIATED WITH THAT
NOT ONLY MAINTENANCE HOURS AND
LABOR BUT WEAR AND TEAR ON THE
EQUIPMENT. I WOULD LOVE TO
BETTER UNDERSTAND THAT. THIS IS
VERY HELPFUL.
>> HOW DO WE VALUE THE COST AND
COMMUNITY BENEFIT ASSOCIATED
WITH CONVERSIONS AND GRASS
VERSUS SYNTHETIC? IT'S ABOUT
COMMUNITY VALUE AND ADDED HOURS
FOR USER SHIP WHICH I THINK
NEEDS TO ALSO BE A PART OF THAT
CONVERSATION.
>> COUNCIL PRESIDENT NELSON.
>> ARE ANY FIELDS GOOD
CANDIDATES FOR CONVERSION BE
PAID FOR BY UNDER SPENDS IN THE
PARK DISTRICT FUNDING PLAN ? IF
THERE IS MONEY LEFT OVER FROM
2023 CUT THAT PAY FOR THE
DESIGN OR SOMETHING LIKE THAT?
I APPRECIATE PUBLIC PARTNERSHIP
THAT I DON'T LIKE SPENDING THE
MONEY WE ARE COLLECTING FROM
TAXPAYERS ON A YEARLY BASIS.
COULD THAT BE USED TOWARDS
THAT?
>> EASILY TOUCHED ON SYNTHETIC
FIELDS THAT NEED TO BE
CONVERTED TO COURT. I RAISE
THIS BECAUSE VERY RECENTLY WE
RAISED THE ISSUE OF THE HEALTH
CONCERNS WITH THE SYNTHETIC
FIELDS. I KNOW THAT IS
SOMETHING YOU'RE LOOKING AT
AND WOULD LOVE TO HEAR MORE ON
TYPE TABLE THAT NEED TO BE
CONVERTED TO COURT BECAUSE THAT
IS A MAINTENANCE COST. I
MENTIONED AN EXPENSIVE ONE. I
BELIEVE THAT THERE. I WOULD
LOVE TO HAVE YOU GET BACK TO ME
ON THAT INFORMATION. I SUPER
SUPPORT CONVERSIONS AND
APPRECIATE ALL THE EXPENSE
INVOLVED AND VERY MUCH WOULD
LOVE TO EXPLORE. YOU AND I HAVE
TALKED ABOUT HOW WE CAN GET
CREATIVE TO FIND MORE MONEY FOR
FIELDS. ALL OF THAT I'M ON
BOARD. I DO WANT TO TAKE THIS
BACK TO TEMPORARY SOLUTIONS
WHILE WE GET THE CONVERSIONS
BECAUSE IT STILL STANDS THAT
RIGHT NOW WE HAVE KIDS PLAYING
AND GETTING BACK TO THE EQUITY
ISSUE THAT BECOMES MORE WE HAVE
THE SYNTHETIC FIELDS WE DO
HAVE. THE BOYS ARE GETTING MORE
PLAYTIME THAN THE GIRLS. THAT
IS JUST A FACT . IN THE INTERIM
UNTIL WE CAN DO MORE
CONVERSIONS AND FIGURE OUT THE
COST FOR THAT WHAT CAN WE DO TO
MAKE SURE THAT WE ARE GIVING
GIRLS EQUAL PLAYTIME WITH THOSE
SYNTHETIC FIELDS AND WHAT CAN
WE DO WITH OUR PARTNERS AT SPS
TO HOLD THEM TO THE TITLE IX
REQUIREMENTS AND MAKE SURE THIS
IS HAPPENING TODAY? I THINK
THIS IS MORE OF A RESHUFFLING
OF PRIORITIES ON THE FIELD
ASSIGNMENTS CURRENTLY AND I
THINK THAT IS SOMETHING WE
COULD DO TODAY VERSUS THE FIELD
WILL TAKE HOWEVER MANY YEARS
FOR CONVERSIONS. I WANT TO MAKE
SURE WE ARE NOT LOSING SIGHT OF
THAT TODAY BECAUSE THERE'S
SOME THINGS WE CAN DO TAKE A TO
MITIGATE FOR WHAT'S HAPPENING.
I'VE HEARD FROM FOLKS IN MY
DISTRICT AND IT'S ADDRESSED A
LITTLE IN HERE BUT JUST TO
TRASH MITIGATION AT THE FIELD
I'VE HEARD A LOT ABOUT DEBRIS
AND SUCH ESPECIALLY AFTER IT
RAINS OR IF WE HAVE HAD MORE
WIND RECENTLY IN THE LAST
HANDFUL OF YEARS AND I REMEMBER
FROM 23 YEARS AGO WHEN I MOVED
HERE. THAT'S CAUSING A LOT
MORE DEBRIS AT THE PLAYFIELD.
HOW DO WE MAKE SURE WE ARE ABLE
TO DO THE MAINTENANCE AND MAKE
SURE THE KIDS AREN'T IMPACTED?
IN SOME CASES THEY ARE CLEANING
UP THEMSELVES , WHICH IS FINE,
BUT IT IS A SERVICE WE PROVIDE
AS A CITY AND WE NEED TO MAKE
SURE WE DO THAT ROBUSTLY SO I
WOULD LOVE TO HEAR MORE ABOUT
THAT.
>> I WILL SAY WE AS A CITY NEED
TO DO MORE OF CLEANING UP AFTER
OURSELVES. I SEE PEOPLE TRASH
OUR PARKS ALL THE TIME AND 15
YEARS AGO HE WOULD THROW LITTER
IN THE PARK SOMEONE WOULD CUSS
YOU OUT. NOW IT'S LIKE ALL THE
TIME. ANYWAYS I WILL SAY I
AGREE. WE NEED TO DO A BETTER
JOB. COUNCILMEMBER KETTLE WITH
THE LAST QUESTION AND WE WILL
MOVE ON TO ITEM AGENDA NUMBER
THREE BECAUSE WE HAVE A VOTE
AND I DON'T WANT TO LOSE
QUORUM AND I KNOW PEOPLE HAVE
TO LEAVE.
>> THANK YOU VERY MUCH FOR
HIGHLIGHTING THE PLAYFIELD. I
APPRECIATE THE WORK OF THE
TEAMS. THAT PROJECT IS KEY TO
START OFF BECAUSE THE MAIN
PIECE OF THIS IS THE SYNTHETIC
FIELD , THE LIGHTING BEING
THROWN IN AND THAT GOES TO THE
GENDER EQUITY PIECE AND TO
COUNCILMEMBER SAKA THE UPPER
LEVEL PUBLIC PRIVATE TO WORK ON
THE BASEBALL FIELD. IT IS A
GREAT EXAMPLE OF MOVING FORWARD
STARTING IN JANUARY ON ALL
THESE DIFFERENT PIECES WE HAVE
BEEN TALKING ABOUT SO THANK YOU
FOR HIGHLIGHTING THAT AND
HAVING IT ON TOP OF YOUR LIST,
I APPRECIATE IT. THANK YOU.
>> THANK YOU COUNCILMEMBER
KETTLE. I DON'T KNOW IF YOU
HAVE ANY FINAL WORDS AT ALL FOR
ANYTHING. WE HAVE A LOT OF
QUESTIONS APPEAR SO WE REALLY
APPRECIATE YOUR TIME IN COMING.
I KNOW YOU FOLLOW-UP WITH
COUNCILMEMBERS SO THANK YOU
ALL. CLERK, WOULD YOU PLEASE
READ ITEM AGENDA NUMBER THREE
INTO THE RECORD?
>> COUNCIL BILL 120807 AND
ORDINANCE RELATING TO SEATTLE
PUBLIC UTILITIES AUTHORIZING
THE GENERAL MANAGER AND CHIEF
EXECUTIVE OFFICER OF SEATTLE
PUBLIC UTILITIES TO EXECUTE AN
AGREEMENT BETWEEN SEATTLE
PUBLIC UTILITIES AND THE KING
COUNTY FLOOD CONTROL ZONE
DISTRICT FOR THE SOUTHPARK
INTERIM FLOOD PREPAREDNESS AND
RESPONSE PROGRAM AMENDING
ORDINANCE 126955 WHICH ADOPTED
THE 2024 BUDGET CHANGING
APPROPRIATIONS TO SEATTLE
PUBLIC UTILITIES AND RATIFYING
AND CONFIRMING CERTAIN PRIOR
ACTS ALL BY THREE FOURTH BOAT
OF THE CITY COUNCIL. THIS IS
FOR BRIEFING DISCUSSION AND
POSSIBLE VOTE PRESENTING TODAY
ARE ANDREW LEE, CHRIS HILTON
AND TRACY TACKETT.
>> THANK YOU TO OUR PARKS
DEPARTMENT . LOOKING FORWARD TO
THE PRESENTATION TODAY.
>> THANK YOU MEMBERS OF THE
COMMITTEE. WE HAVE BEFORE YOU A
VERY SHORT ITEM AUTHORIZING TO
ENTER INTO AN AGREEMENT WITH
THE KING COUNTY FLOOD CONTROL
DISTRICT TO RECEIVE
APPROXIMATELY $2 MILLION TO PAY
FOR ACTIVITIES UNDERTAKEN AS
EMERGENCY RESPONSE PLAN. AT OUR
LAST MEETING WERE PRESENTED ON
STRATEGIC BUSINESS WE TALKED
ABOUT -- I DESCRIBED INTENSE
EFFORTS TO SECURE NONUTILITY
FUNDING TO KEEP OUR RATES AS
LOW AS POSSIBLE. THIS IS
ACTUALLY A GREAT EXAMPLE OF
THAT. IN RESPONSE TO REPETITIVE
KING TIDE FLOODING INCIDENTS IN
THE SOUTHPARK OVERHEAD
INCLUDING THE DECEMBER 22 KING
TIDE FLOODING EVENT SP
DEVELOPED AN EMERGENCY RESPONSE
PLAN TO PREPARE FOR THE
INCREASED RISK IN THE
COMMUNITY. THE PLAN INVOLVES
ANNUAL CONSTRUCTION OF A
TEMPORARY FLOOD BARRIER ,
ACTIVATING AN EMERGENCY
PREPAREDNESS AND RESPONSE
STAFFING PLAN AS WELL AS
COMMUNITY OUTREACH AND
ENGAGEMENT. WITH ME THIS
AFTERNOON ARE CHRIS HILTON FROM
OUR PORTRAIT POLICY PLANNING
DIVISION WHO WILL DESCRIBE THE
KEY PROVISIONS OF THE AGREEMENT
AND TRACY TACKETT WHO MANAGES
OUR CAPITAL PORTFOLIO.
>> THANK YOU. AS ANDREW
MENTIONED WE ARE HERE TODAY TO
INTRODUCE AN ORDINANCE THAT
AUTHORIZES SPU TO ENTER AN
INTERLOCAL AGREEMENT WITH KING
COUNTY FLOOD CONTROL DISTRICT
TO SUPPORT FLOOD PREPAREDNESS
IN THE SOUTHPARK NEIGHBORHOOD.
THE INTERLOCAL AGREEMENT IS IN
RESPONSE TO THE DO AMISH RIVER
FLOODING EVENT THAT OCCURRED IN
DECEMBER OF 2022. AS YOU LIKELY
RECALL AT THAT TIME A
COMBINATION OF EXTREME HYPE
LOW-PRESSURE WIND AND WINTER
CONDITIONS RESULTED IN THE
RIVER OVER TOPPING ITS BANKS
CAUSING DAMAGE TO 49 HOMES AND
BUSINESSES. IN THE FOLLOWING
DAYS AND WEEKS SPU AND MANY
DEPARTMENTS PROVIDED
SIGNIFICANT SUPPORT TO THE
COMMUNITY INCLUDING HOUSING FOR
20 FAMILIES , LAUNDRY, SHOWER
AND TOILET FACILITIES AND
TRAILERS IN THE NEIGHBORHOOD,
ADDITIONAL SOLID WASTE
COLLECTION AND IN-HOME SUPPORT
FOR CLEANUP AND REMEDIATION. AS
A RESULT OF THAT BODY OF WORK
AND IN RECOGNITION OF THE LOWER
DUWAMISH VALLEY HAS EXPERIENCED
FREQUENT WINTER FLOODING FROM
HIGH TIDES AND HEAVY RAIN WHICH
IS NOW BEING EXACERBATED BY SEA
LEVEL RISE SPU REQUESTED
FUNDING FROM THE KING COUNTY
FLOOD CONTROL DISTRICT TO
SUPPORT OUR ONGOING FLOOD
PREPAREDNESS AND RESPONSE
PROGRAM IN THE SOUTHPARK
NEIGHBORHOOD. FLOOD CONTROL
DISTRICT APPROVED OUR REQUEST
AND IS LOOKING TO ALLOCATE
FUNDING VIA THIS INTERLOCAL
AGREEMENT. THE AGREEMENT
CURRENTLY PROVIDES SLIGHTLY
OVER $2 MILLION TO SUPPORT
FLOOD PREPAREDNESS FOR 2023 SO
HISTORICAL AND 2024. THE
AGREEMENT ALLOWS SEATTLE PUBLIC
UTILITY TO SEEK REIMBURSEMENT
FOR EXPENSES BACK TO JULY OF
2023 WHICH IS WHEN THE FLOOD
CONTROL DISTRICT BOARD APPROVED
THE FUNDING ALLOCATION. THE
TERMS OF THE AGREEMENT ARE FIVE
YEARS FOLLOWING MUTUAL
EXECUTION OF THE AGREEMENT.
THIS SLIDE OUTLINES SOME OF THE
USES OF THE FUNDING IN THE
AGREEMENT. ACTIVITIES INCLUDE
FLOOD PREPAREDNESS AND
PREVENTION , INCLUDING
CONSTRUCTION AND MAINTENANCE OF
THE TEMPORARY SEAWALL, THE
SANDBAG WALL WHICH COVERS
APPROXIMATELY 12 CITY BLOCKS
AND PROTECTS THE NEIGHBORHOOD
FROM THE RISING TIDES IN THE
DUWAMISH. IT ALSO PROVIDES
FUNDING FOR SOME ONE-TIME
EXPENSES SUCH AS PUMPS FOR A
PUMP SYSTEM TO REMOVE WATER
FROM THE NEIGHBORHOOD AND AN
EMERGENCY SUPPORT TRAILER THAT
CAN BE PUT IN THE NEIGHBORHOOD
IN THE FACE OF AN EMERGENCY.
THERE'S ALSO SOME FUNDING
ALLOCATED TO BUILD COMMUNITY
CAPACITY AMONG OUR NONPROFIT
PARTNERS IN THE SOUTHPARK
NEIGHBORHOOD AND COMMUNICATIONS
AND OUTREACH TO THE
NEIGHBORHOOD. WITH THAT, WE
LEAVE YOU WITH A SLIDE OF THE
SOUTHPARK NEIGHBORHOOD AND IN
THE REDLINE MAP YOU CAN SEE THE
EXTENT OF THE SANDBAG WALL
WHICH HAS BEEN CONSTRUCTED TO
SUPPORT THE RESIDENTS AND
BUSINESSES IN SOUTHPARK AREA
WITH THAT, WE ARE HAPPY TO TAKE
ANY QUESTIONS.
>> COLLEAGUES, ANY QUESTIONS? I
SEE COUNCILMEMBER STRAUSS.
>> I'LL BE QUICK . YOU HAD A
GENTLEMAN THAT WAS PART OF YOUR
EMERGENCY RESPONSE LEADING A
CREW AND I KNOW HE HAD COME OUT
TO DISTRICT 6 AND ASSISTED WITH
THE SITUATION. CAN YOU REMIND
ME HIS NAME?
>> PROBABLY WALTER.
>> THAT'S RIGHT. THE WORK THAT
WALTER DID AND CONTINUES TO DO
FOR OUR CITY IS AMAZING. THIS
IS A PERSON THAT IS ACTION
ORIENTED , WANTS TO SERVE AND
MEET THE NEEDS OF ALL
SEATTLEITES AND DOES SO WITH
COMPASSION, URGENCY AND A FIRM
BOUNDARY OF WHAT IS AND IS NOT
POSSIBLE AND WHAT IS AND IS NOT
ACTUALLY THE CITY'S
RESPONSIBILITY . IT STUNNED ME.
SO MUCH SO THAT I REMEMBER IT
RIGHT NOW. I DON'T HAVE ANY
QUESTIONS ABOUT THIS, THAT'S A
LONG SANDBAG WALL AND WE REALLY
NEED TO HAVE A MORE PERMANENT
SOLUTION. I WILL BE VOTING YES.
>> THANK YOU. I DO WANT TO
RECOGNIZE BRIAN GOODNIGHT FROM
CENTRAL STAFF. DO YOU HAVE YOUR
OVERVIEW?
>> ONE QUICK COMMENT TO NOTE IN
ADDITION TO APPROVING TO
EXECUTE THE ILA THE ORDINANCE
DOES ADD NEW APPROPRIATION
AUTHORITY WHICH IS NECESSARY
FOR THEM TO ACTUALLY EXPEND THE
FUNDS THIS YEAR. IT'S NOT THE
FULL AMOUNT OF 2 MILLION
BECAUSE SOME WAS ALREADY SPENT
IN 2023. BECAUSE IT'S A
PROBATION AUTHORITY WHEN IT
GETS TO FULL COUNCIL IT WILL
REQUIRE A 3/4 MAJORITY TO PASS.
>> THANK YOU.
>> THANK YOU. BRIAN, THAT IS
RATEPAYER MONEY, NOT GENERAL
FUND?
>> ITS MONEY FROM THE FLOOD
CONTROL DISTRICT. COUNCIL
DOESN'T AUTHORIZE RECEIPT OF
IT BUT WE DO AUTHORIZE
APPROPRIATION.
>> THANK YOU FOR CLARIFYING.
>> GREAT QUESTION.
COUNCILMEMBER KETTLE DO YOU
HAVE A QUESTION? I'M SHOCKED.
>> NO QUESTIONS. THE ONLY THING
I'M THINKING ABOUT IS I HAVE A
MAP IN MY OFFICE THAT SHOWS
WATER SPACES IN OUR CITY AND
REGION. PRE-ARRIVAL OF SETTLERS
FROM THE TIME MEMORIAL AND
IT'S REALLY INFORMATIVE AS YOU
LOOK AT THESE KIND OF THINGS
PARTICULARLY WITH CLIMATE
CHANGE AND THE IMPACT OF THAT
ON TOP OF THE TRADITIONAL FOR
THE GLAMIS RIVER AND SOME THAT
NEEDS TO BE INFORMING OUR
DECISIONS. THAT SAID, I SUPPORT
THIS EFFORT WE HAVE HERE.
>> THANK YOU. FOR THE RECORD
THIS DOES CROSS OVER INTO
PUBLIC SAFETY KEEPING OUR
COMMUNITY AND SOUTHPARK SAFE.
NOW I WOULD LIKE TO MOVE THE
PASSAGE OF COUNCIL BILL 120807.
DO I HAVE A SECOND? HANK YOU.
IT'S BEEN MOVED AND SECONDED
TO RECOMMEND PASSAGE OF THE
BILL. ARE THERE ANY COMMENTS?
SEEING NONE, WILL YOU PLEASE
CALL THE ROLL?
>> [ ROLL BEING CALLED ]
>> FOUR IN FAVOR, AND
UNOPPOSED.
>> THE BILL PASS WILL BE SENT
TO JULY 16th. WE WILL MOVE ON
TO AGENDA ITEM NUMBER FOUR AND
TO THE RECORD. WILL YOU PLEASE
READ IT?
>> AGENDA ITEM NUMBER FOUR IS
RESOLUTION 32126, A RESOLUTION
RELATING TO SEATTLE PUBLIC
UTILITIES ADOPTING A 2025-2030
STRATEGIC BUSINESS PLAN FOR
SEATTLE PUBLIC UTILITIES AND
ENDORSING A THREE-YEAR 2025 TO
2027 RIGHT PATH AND A
SUBSEQUENT THREE-YEAR 2028 TO
2030 RATE FORECAST TO SUPPORT
THE STRATEGIC BUSINESS PLAN
UPDATE. THIS IS FOR BRIEFING
DISCUSSION AND PRESENTING TODAY
ARE NOEL MILLER FROM THE
SEATTLE PUBLIC UTILITIES REVIEW
PANEL. BRIAN GOODNIGHT FROM
COUNCIL CENTRAL STAFF.
>> I WANT TO THANK THE PREVIOUS
GROUP FOR BEING HERE. I DIDN'T
WANT YOU TO THINK I'M LIVING ON
FAST. THANK YOU ALL FOR THE
PRESENTATION. PLEASE STATE YOUR
NAME FOR THE RECORD AND JUMP
RIGHT IN.
>> MY NAME IS NOEL MILLER. I'M
THE CHAIR OF THE CUSTOMER
REVIEW PANEL AND HAVE BEEN AN
SPU CUSTOMER SINCE 1979. I
CURRENTLY LIVE IN DISTRICT 6.
I'VE LIVED ALSO IN DISTRICT
ONE AND THREE. I'VE HAD A 35
YEAR CAREER AS A LICENSED CIVIL
ENGINEER SPECIALIZING IN
ENGINEERING AND TRANSPORTATION
INFRASTRUCTURE. I AM A PAST
DIRECTOR FOR THE CITY. I WANTED
TO INTRODUCE AMANDA RICK HER
WHO IS THE VICE CHAIR . SHE HAS
AN INTERESTING BACKGROUND AS A
COMMUNITY LEADER AND ADVOCATE
FOR SOLUTIONS TO END
HOMELESSNESS , LOCALLY,
REGIONALLY AND NATIONALLY. SHE
WAS A COFOUNDER AND ALL
VOLUNTEER NONPROFIT
ORGANIZATION. LET'S GO TO THE
NEXT SLIDE. THE CUSTOMER REVIEW
PANEL WAS ORIGINALLY AUTHORIZED
BY THE CITY COUNCIL IN A
RESOLUTION OF MARCH 2013 TO
BETTER ENGAGE SPU CUSTOMERS.
THERE ARE 11 MEMBERS APPOINTED,
FIVE POSITIONS REPRESENTING THE
CITY COUNCIL AND SIX
REPRESENTING THE MAYOR'S
OFFICE. THE MEMBERS WHO ARE
SELECTED HAVING A DIVERSE
CUSTOMER BACKGROUND INTEREST .
THIS IS THE THIRD TIME WHICH
THE CRP INVOLVEMENT REGARDING
THE EIGHT OF THE STRATEGIC
BUSINESS PLAN . ONTO THE NEXT
SLIDE. PANELS PROCESS AND TASKS
WERE TO UNDERSTAND THE MISSION
AND VALUES OF SPU, REVIEW
ASSUMPTIONS, DEVELOP CORE
VALUES , STRATEGIC PRIORITIES,
ARTICULATE VALUES AND KEY
INVESTMENTS. REPRESENT THE
COMMUNITY AND OUTREACH EFFORTS
, PREPARE A LETTER OF FINDINGS
AND RECOMMENDATIONS TO THE
MAYOR AND CITY COUNCIL. WE HAVE
HAD A TOTAL OF 18 TIMES FROM
JUNE 2022 TO FEBRUARY 2024
USING A COMBINATION OF HYBRID
AND IN PERSON MEETING FORMATS.
A TYPICAL MEETING WAS FROM 2
1/2 TO 3 HOURS IN LENGTH. ONTO
THE NEXT SLIDE. UNDER
DEVELOPING CORE VALUES
UTILIZING A SKILLED FACILITATOR
PANEL MEMBERS INDEPENDENTLY
DEVELOPED AND ARTICULATED OUR
COLLECTIVE CORE VALUES. THESE
ARE LEARNING IN EQUITY,
CONNECTION AND REPRESENTATION
IN THE COMMUNITY,
SUSTAINABILITY , SUSTAINABLE
DEVELOPMENT, RESPONSIVENESS AND
TRUST. THESE VALUES PROVIDED
ALIGNMENT WITH SPU'S GUIDING
VALUES AND PRINCIPLES. UNDER
STRATEGIC PRIORITY AREAS AS A
RESULT OF MANY DISCUSSIONS AND
USING OUR CORE VALUES AS A
GUIDE WE WERE ABLE TO ESTABLISH
THE FOLLOWING STRATEGIC
PRIORITIES ALONG UNDERLYING
INITIATIVES. THESE WERE
AFFORDABILITY AND ACCESSIBILITY
, ASSET MANAGEMENT AND
INFRASTRUCTURE , SPU WORKFORCE
AND CLIMATE RESILIENCY. UNDER
THESE PRIORITY AREAS WE
SUPPORTED THE 21 INVESTMENTS
AND INITIATIVES UNDER THE
PROPOSAL IN THE STRATEGIC
BUSINESS PLAN . SPECIFIC
INVESTMENTS AND INITIATIVES
IMPORTANT TO THE CRP INCLUDED
CUSTOMER AFFORDABILITY PROGRAMS
AND IN BREVITY I'M GOING TO
NAME SOME OF THESE ITEMS AND
MOVE ON TO SOME OTHER IMPORTANT
MESSAGES FOR THE COUNCIL.
CUSTOMER AFFORDABILITY ,
SUPPORT SERVICES FOR THE
UNSHELTERED , SITE SEWER
FINANCIAL ASSISTANCE PROGRAMS ,
AND ALTERNATIVE FUNDING AND
FINANCING. THERE WAS ONE MORE ,
THE NEXT SLIDE. LET'S SEE.
ALTERNATIVE FUNDING AND
FINANCING AND UNDER ASSET
MANAGEMENT AND INFRASTRUCTURE
THESE PROGRAMS WERE VERY
STRONGLY SUPPORTED BY THE CRP.
THE CAPITAL INVESTMENTS NEED TO
BE INCREASED TO PRESERVE THESE
AGING ASSETS AND BUILD
REDUNDANCIES TO BETTER PREPARE
IN CASE OF A SEISMIC EVENT OF A
MAJOR EMERGENCY. COMPLIANCE
WITH FEDERAL WALLET QUALITY IS
EXTREMELY IMPORTANT AND AN
EXAMPLE OF THAT IS OF COURSE
THE SHIP CANAL OF WATER QUALITY
PROJECT. ONTO THE NEXT SLIDE.
ASSET MANAGEMENT. THE OTHER
INITIATIVE IS THE ADVANCED
METER INFRASTRUCTURE PLANNING
OR AMI. WE UNDERSTAND SPU HAS
OVER 200,000 AGING MECHANICAL
METERS AND REPLACING THESE
METERS WILL IMPROVE ACCURACY ,
AND HELP WITH WATER LEAK
DETECTION , REDUCE CONSUMPTION
ESTIMATES AND APPROVE
TIMELINESS . IT'S AN EXPENSIVE
PROGRAM AND WHAT WE SUPPORTED
WAS A BUSINESS CASE TO BE
DEVELOPED OVER THE NEXT COUPLE
YEARS AND BRING FORTH OPTIONS
BEFORE UNDERTAKING THIS VERY
COSTLY INVESTMENT BECAUSE IT
DOES INCREASE THE RATE PATH.
NEXT SLIDE. SPU WORKFORCE ,
THEY ARE AN EMPLOYEE LIFECYCLE
INITIATIVE AND THESE ARE REALLY
IMPORTANT TO SUPPORT SPU IN
ADVANCING THE NEEDED WORK OF
THE UTILITY. ONGOING EFFORTS TO
VACANCIES AND FRONTLINE
SECTIONS ARE A TOP PRIORITY.
WORKFORCE RECRUITMENT PROGRAMS
SHOULD BE EXPANDED TO INCLUDE
MORE ROBUST TRAINING AND
APPRENTICESHIP PROGRAMS TO
CLEAR PATHWAYS TO GOOD PAYING
JOBS AND WELL-DEFINED CAREER
LADDERS. THE NORTH ONE WATER
OPERATIONS FACILITY THAT ANDREW
MENTIONED IN HIS LAST
PRESENTATION IS A VERY CRITICAL
AND SIGNIFICANT INVESTMENT AND
REPLACES TWO SUBSTANDARD
FACILITIES . REPLACEMENT IS
NEEDED TO ADEQUATELY SUPPORT
THE FRONTLINE WORKFORCE AND
DAILY OPERATIONS SERVICE AS AN
OPERATIONS CENTER AND BE
RESILIENT TO REMAIN IN
OPERATION AFTER A MAJOR
EARTHQUAKE. FINALLY, CLIMATE
RESILIENCY AND STRATEGIC
PRIORITIES. THERE IS THE
DUWAMISH VALLEY RESILIENCE AND
THE PREVIOUS ITEM SPOKE TO
THAT. THE OVERALL INVESTMENT IS
TO FOSTER FLOOD MITIGATION,
WATER QUALITY AND SALMON
HABITAT ALONG WITH PROTECTING
THE RESIDENCE IN THE GEORGETOWN
AND SOUTHPARK AREAS. LONG-TERM
WATER SUPPLY PLANNING . IT IS
SO IMPORTANT WE HAVE A
SUFFICIENT WATER SUPPLY TO
SUSTAIN OUR POPULATION AND
DEVELOPING AN ADDITIONAL WATER
SOURCE CAN BE VERY EXPENSIVE.
EVERYTHING WE CAN DO TO AVOID
THAT WOULD HELP THE RATE.
CLIMATE CHANGE AND EXPECTED
CHANGES IN WEATHER TYPES AND
TIMING ARE MAJOR FACTORS
DRIVING THIS IMPORTANT NEED.
UNDER WASTE PREVENTION AND
IMMERSION THERE'S FIVE
PROGRAMS SPECIFIED UNDER THIS
IN THE PLAN AND TO DIVERT SOLID
WASTE FROM LANDFILLS AND WASTE
PREVENTION IS IT REALLY
IMPORTANT. THIS IS KEY TO
ACHIEVING ZERO WASTE GOALS AND
REDUCING THE NEED FOR RAW
MATERIALS AND REDUCING THE
CARBON FOOTPRINT. ONTO THE NEXT
SLIDE. THERE WERE THREE OTHER
INVESTMENTS IMPORTANT TO THE
CRP AND THOSE ARE THE SEEDS OF
RESILIENCE IMPACT INVESTMENT
FUND, EQUITY AND CONTRACTING
AND 2030 CARBON NEUTRALITY AND
SUSTAINABLE OPERATIONS. IN
TOTAL, THE CRP WAS VERY
SUPPORTIVE OF ALL 21
INVESTMENTS AND INITIATIVES AND
THEY ARE DETAILED IN THE PLAN.
GENERAL COMMENTS ON THE NEXT
SLIDE. REGARDING THE RATE PATH
WE APPRECIATE EFFORTS TO FOR
INCREASES DURING COVID-19 . WE
ARE DEALING WITH ECONOMIC AND
HEALTH UNCERTAINTIES. COVID-19
CREATED CHALLENGES TO PROGRESS
ON KEY INVESTMENTS SUCH AS THE
SHIP CANAL WATER QUALITY
PROJECT AND NORTH WATER
FACILITY. DIFFERENT RATE PATH
OPTIONS WERE PRESENTED TO THE
PANEL IN REGARDS TO WHAT COULD
BE SPENT AND WHAT INITIATIVES
COULD BE PUT FORWARD AND WHAT
INITIATIVES COULD BE DEFERRED.
ONTO THE KING COUNTY WASTEWATER
RATE INCREASES THEY ARE MUCH
HIGHER THAN SPU AND FACTORED
INTO THE OVERALL RATE PATH.
APPROXIMATELY 56% OF SPU
WASTEWATER RATE GOES FOR KING
COUNTY WASTEWATER TREATMENT. AS
YOU ARE AWARE, THE COUNTY HAS A
SIGNIFICANT AMOUNT OF PROJECTED
CAPITAL EXPENDITURES OVER THE
NEXT EIGHT YEARS. AROUND $10
BILLION TO COMPLY WITH CLEAN
WATER REGULATIONS UNDER THEIR
CONSENT ALONG WITH RENOVATING
AND UPGRADING ITS OWN AGING
INFRASTRUCTURE. MONITORING AND
INFLUENCING KING COUNTY VIA THE
WATER QUALITY COMMITTEE IS VERY
IMPORTANT WORK. IN ADDITION WE
NOTE THAT HIGH UTILITY TAXES ON
THE UTILITY BILLS ARE
REGRESSIVE AND CREATE
AFFORDABILITY CHALLENGES. IF
THERE'S AN OPPORTUNITY TO
LOWER THEM PLEASE DO SO. THE
CRP AND DOOR SAYS THE 4.7
AVERAGE ANNUAL RATE PATH. THIS
ALIGNS WITH THE PREVIOUS PLAN
RATE PATH WHICH RANGES FROM 4.2
TO 5.2% IN SUPPORT TO CUSTOMERS
DESIRE FOR PREDICTABLE ANNUAL
RATE INCREASES. BASE ON THE 4.7
ANNUAL RATE PATH THE CRP
ENDORSES ALL 21 INVESTMENTS AS
LISTED IN THE PLAN. THIS
INCLUDES THE DEFERRAL OF THE
IMPLEMENTATION OF THE ADVANCED
METER INFRASTRUCTURE INVESTMENT
TO ALLOW MORE PLANNING TO
OCCUR. CONCLUSION AND FINAL
COMMENTS FROM THE CRP , SPU CAN
CONTINUE TO BE LEADING UTILITY
IN THE NATION BY TARGETING
INVESTMENT IN THE STRATEGIC
PRIORITY AREAS OF AFFORDABILITY
AND ACCESSIBILITY. ASSET
MANAGEMENT AND INFRASTRUCTURE ,
SOLIDIFYING AND SUPPORTING ITS
WORK WORSE AND FUNDING
PROACTIVE CLIMATE RESILIENCY
EFFORTS. IN CLOSING AND ON
BEHALF OF THE PANEL I WANT TO
EXPRESS SPU'S DEDICATION TO
CONTINUALLY PROVIDING RELIABLE
AND HIGH-LEVEL SERVICES TO ITS
CUSTOMERS. THE STRATEGIC
BUSINESS PLAN UPDATE PROCESS
WAS EXTREMELY COLLABORATIVE
WITH EVERYONE DEDICATED TO THE
TASK AND WE APPRECIATE THE
PARTNERSHIP WE ESTABLISHED WITH
GENERAL MANAGER LEIGH AND HIS
ENTIRE TEAM. AGAIN, THANK YOU
FOR YOUR TIME.
>> THANK YOU. BRIAN GOODNIGHT ,
WAS IT A COMMENT OR YOUR
EXPERTISE? WHAT WOULD I CALL
THAT? YOUR STATEMENT?
>> A MEMO. SHOULD I FLIP TO
THAT NOW?
>> YOU SHOULD'VE ASKED OUR
HISTORIAN, COUNCILMEMBER
STRAUSS. HE KNOWS EVERYTHING.
THE MEMO FROM CENTRAL STAFF.
THANK YOU. THAT WAS GREAT. WE
WILL GO TO BRIAN AND OPEN IT UP
FOR QUESTIONS.
>> MR. GOODNIGHT GETS HIS
PRESENTATION I WANT TO
HIGHLIGHT WORK OVER THE LAST
NUMBER OF YEARS. I REMEMBER
WHEN COUNCILMEMBER PETERSON
APPOINTED TO BE CORRECT. I
APPRECIATE THE WORK IN THOSE
SLIDES. THERE'S NO SLIDE
NUMBERS ON THEM BUT TWO OF THE
LAST THREE SLIDES WERE
CONDENSING DOWN. I WILL ASK
AFTER ESTHER GOODNIGHT'S
ANALYSIS HERE WHICH IS IF YOU
COULD SUMMARIZE IN THREE
SENTENCES FOR AN AVERAGE
RATEPAYER WHY WE SHOULD BE
PUTTING FORWARD THIS RATE PATH
WHAT WITH THOSE THREE SENTENCES
BE? WE WILL COME BACK.
>> THANK YOU. AS YOU KNOW,
SINCE THIS IS THE SECOND
PRESENTATION IT WILL COME BACK
TO THE AUGUST 14th MEETING FOR
YOUR CONSIDERATION AND VOTE IN
LOOKING THROUGH THIS THE
INFORMATION I PRESENTED A IS
LARGELY PULLED FROM MY MEMO
SENT OUT TO COMMUNITY MEMBERS
ON MONDAY AND WAS POSTED TO THE
AGENDA. I CAN STEP SOME SLIDES
AND HIT ON A COUPLE KEY ONCE
AND MOVED TO THE POLICY
CONSIDERATIONS. DOES THAT MAKE
SENSE? GREAT. I WILL SKIP
THROUGH THE SUMMARY SINCE THEY
ARE DUPLICATE IF OF WHAT YOU'VE
ALREADY HEARD. THIS SLIDE IN
THE PRESENTATION DECK . THEY
ARE COMBINED INTO AN AVERAGE
WEIGHTED RATE AT THE BOTTOM AND
THEY CAN SEE IN THE LOWER
RIGHT-HAND CORNER . WE DO ONE
LINE OF BUSINESS EACH YEAR AND
IT'S KIND OF A ROLLING
AVERAGE. THIS ONE, YOU'VE SEEN
THE NUMBERS AT THE TOP WHICH IS
THE IMPACT TO SINGLE-FAMILY
HOUSES AND MULTIFAMILY UNITS .
. IF THE COUNCIL WANTED TO MOVE
. THE TEXT AT THE BOTTOM AND
WHAT YEAR THE ADJUSTMENT
HAPPENED IN BUT THAT AT LEAST
GIVES A SENSE OF HOW LARGE OF
AN ADJUSTMENT IT WOULD TAKE. .
THAT IS ONE SLIDE. I'M GOING
TO SKIP THE NEXT TWO AND GO TO
THE THIRD ONE WHICH IS THE
COMBINED ANNUAL RATE SLIDE.
THIS CHART IS SOME OF THE SAME
THAT'S SHOWN BEFORE BUT IT'S
DISPLAYED DIFFERENTLY. THE BLUE
BARS SHOW THE 2021 STRATEGIC
BUSINESS PLAN . THE PANDEMIC
MESSED IT UP A LITTLE BIT SORE
CADENCES OFF. THE BLUE BARS
SHOW EACH YEAR OF THE PROJECTED
AT THE TIME AND THAT BLUE LINE
IS THE AVERAGE. THE GRAY BAR
SHOWS THE RATES WERE ACTUALLY
ADOPTED BY COUNCIL
LEGISLATIVELY AND IT SHOWING
THE AVERAGE OF THOSE FOUR YEARS
. THE DASHED LINE SHOW THE
RATES IN THE PROPOSED. THE
ADOPTED RATES OF THE GRAY BARS
FOR 21 TO 24 ARE GENERALLY
LOWER THAN IT WAS ANTICIPATED
IN 2021 SBP. THEY ACTUALLY CAME
IN AT ABOUT 3.5%. IT FLIPS IN
2024. THE ADOPTED RATES WERE
HIGHER THAN THE SBP. WHY DOES
THIS MATTER? ALTHOUGH IT'S A
HIGHER AVERAGE ANNUAL RATE THE
ACTUAL RATES ARE ADOPTED BY
COUNCIL IN EACH YEAR ARE WHAT
WOULD BE EXPERIENCE BY
CUSTOMERS. THIS IS A PLANNING
DOCUMENT FOR THREE YEARS OF THE
RATE PATH BUT THINGS CHANGE
OVER TIME. THAT IS KIND OF THE
POINT OF THAT SLIDE. ONTO THE
POLICY CONSIDERATIONS THERE'S
TWO OF THEM IN THE MEMO. THE
FIRST RELATES TO THAT UTILITY
DISCOUNT PROGRAM OR UDP. IT
PROVIDES A CREDIT ON THE BILLS
FOR INCOME QUALIFYING CUSTOMERS
AND IT'S A 50% CREDIT ON SPU
BILLS AT A 60% CREDIT ON
SEATTLE CITY LIGHT BILLS. IN
2023 A LITTLE MORE THAN 29,000
SPU CUSTOMERS WERE ENROLLED AND
SPU PROVIDED ABOUT $26.6
MILLION OF CREDITS TO THOSE
CUSTOMERS. ON THE NEXT SLIDE I
WILL SHOW A CHART WILL BE ABLE
TO SEE WITH THE EXCEPTION OF
2020 WHICH WAS IMPACTED BY THE
PANDEMIC AND THE CITY ROLLED
OUT RELAXED REQUIREMENTS.
ENROLLMENT FOR THE LAST EIGHT
YEARS HAS BEEN QUITE MODERATE.
THIS CHART SHOWS HISTORICAL UDP
ENROLLMENT IN THE BLUE BARS AND
AN ORANGE PART IT'S THE
ENROLLMENT PROJECTIONS INCLUDED
IN THE PROPOSED BUSINESS PLAN.
AS YOU CAN SEE, BASED ON THE
ANGLE OF THE CHART IT ASSUMES
THE UTILITY DISCOUNT PROGRAM IS
GOING TO GROW MUCH MORE QUICKLY
THAN IT HAS IN THE PAST. THE
ESTIMATE IS IT WILL INCREASE BY
2500 CUSTOMERS PER YEAR . IF
THE PROJECTION IS ACCURATE IT
WOULD RESULT IN SPU HAVING
APPROXIMATELY 46,500 CUSTOMERS
ENROLLED IN THE PROGRAM BY THE
END OF THE SIX YEAR PERIOD IN
2030. THE NEXT SLIDE . IN TERMS
OF FINANCIAL IMPACT , SPU
ESTIMATES UDP CREDITS IN 2025
WILL BE ABOUT $35 MILLION AND
CREDITS WILL INCREASE BY $2.8
MILLION A YEAR BRINGING THE
CREDIT TOTALING 2030 TO $49
MILLION. UDP PARTICIPATION IS
IMPACTFUL ON RATES IS THE
STANDARD RATES NEED TO BE SET
HIGHER IN ORDER TO ACCOUNT FOR
THE REVENUE REDUCTION
ASSOCIATED WITH THE CREDITS. IF
WE ARE OVERESTIMATING UDP
ENROLLMENT PUTS PRESSURE ON THE
PROPOSED RATE. IF THE UDP WAS
UNDERESTIMATED THEN FUTURE
LEGISLATION OF THE COUNCIL WE
RECEIVE WHAT HAVE RATES HIGHER
THAN WHAT WOULD BE IN THE SBP.
A COUPLE OPTIONS FOR THIS
ISSUE, NO CHANGE. WE CAN LEAVE
UDP AT THE LEVELS PROPOSED .
THE SECOND ONE WE CAN REQUEST
IT EXPLORE THE FINANCIAL RATE
IMPACTS OF DIFFERENT LEVELS OF
UDP ENROLLMENT OVER THE
PLANNING PERIOD. IF COUNCIL
BELIEVES THE PROPOSED SHOULD
ASSUME SLOWER OR FASTER GROWTH
WE CAN ASK TO MODEL THOSE
FINANCIAL IMPACTS. IF THERE'S
NO QUESTIONS I'LL MOVE ON TO
THE SECOND ONE. IT DOESN'T
LOOK LIKE ANY QUESTIONS. THE
SECOND POLICY CONSIDERATION IS
CAPITAL IMPROVEMENT PROGRAM OR
CIP ACCOMPLISHMENT RATE. THIS
EIP ACCOMPANIMENT RATE
DESCRIBES THE PERCENTAGE OF
BUDGETED CAPITAL RESOURCES
EXPENDED IN THE YEAR IN WHICH
THEY ARE PLANNED TO BE SPENT.
DURING 2018 THE COUNCIL LEADER
REQUESTED THEY ADJUST THE RATE
DOWN TO 97 1/2%. CONSIDERATION
OF 2021 SBP SPU LOWER THE RATE
FOR ALL THREE FUNDS FURTHER TO
BETWEEN 85 AND 90%. IN TERMS OF
THE IMPACT TO THE RATE, WHEN
SPU PROPOSED RATES BETWEEN 85
AND 90% THEY ESTIMATED THE
CHANGE WOULD REDUCE THE
REVENUES NEEDED OVER THE
SIX-YEAR PERIOD BY
APPROXIMATELY $222 MILLION. IF
YOU ASSUME LESS OF THE BUDGET
WAS ACTUALLY ACCOMPLISHED YOU
NEED LESS REVENUE TO SUPPORT
THAT WORK. IN TURN, IF YOU
REDUCE THE REVENUE NEEDED FOR
THE WORK AND THEIR SAVINGS IN
THE TERM FOR RATEPAYERS THE
RATES THEN CAN BE LOWERED.
HERE'S THE CHART OF THE CIP
ACCOMPLISHMENT RATES FOR SPU BY
LINE OF BUSINESS BETWEEN 2014
AND 2023. A QUICK NOTE ON
ABBREVIATIONS, THE BLUE BARS
ARE WATER FUND, ORANGE IS DRAIN
AND RAY IS SOLID WASTE AND
YELLOW BAR IS A NON-WEIGHTED
AVERAGE. IT WOULD BE POSSIBLE
TO WEIGHTED BASED ON THE SIZE
OF PROGRAMS AS WELL. AS YOU CAN
SEE, SPU OVERALL ACCOMPLISHMENT
RATE HAS DECREASED OVER THE
PAST DECADE AND THE AVERAGE
RATE HAS BEEN BELOW 80% SINCE
2017. THERE WAS A NOTICEABLE
DIP IN 2020 BUT THAT WAS THE
PANDEMIC IMPACT THAT YEAR. THE
PROPOSED SBP INCLUDES FURTHER
REDUCTION DOWN TO 80% FOR ALL
THREE OF THE FUNDS . THERE IS
AN EXCEPTION WITH THE SHIP
CANAL WATER QUALITY PROJECT
WHICH IS AT 95% CONSISTENT WITH
2021 STRATEGIC BUSINESS FUND AS
WELL. THIS LOWER RATE IS
APPROPRIATE IF THE DEPARTMENT
CONTINUES TO DELIVER CAPITAL
PROJECTS AT OR BELOW 80% OF THE
LEVELS OVER THE NEXT SIX YEARS.
WITH INTENTION BEING YOU DON'T
COLLECT FUNDS FROM RATEPAYERS
UNTIL THEY ARE NEEDED. THE RISK
OF LOWERING ACCOMPLISHMENT RATE
IS SBP NO LONGER PROVIDE AN
ACCURATE DEPICTION OF WHAT THE
FUTURE RATE INCREASES WILL BE
IF THE CAPITAL, SCHMIDT IS
HIGHER. IF THE CAPITAL SPENDING
OUTPERFORMS THE BILLS COME TO
COUNCIL THAT ARE READY TO HIRE
A RELATED CONCERN IS IF THE
LOWER COMPASS MATES ARE INDEED
ACCURATE, IF IT'S BEEN A
DECADE OR SO THE DEPARTMENT IS
CONSISTENTLY DELIVERING I THINK
IT RAISES THE QUESTION
REGARDING WHETHER THE CAPITAL
BUDGET SHOULD BE ADJUSTED TO
MORE ACCURATELY REFLECT THE
AMOUNT OF WORK WE ACTUALLY
THINK SHOULD BE ACCOMPLISHED. [
CAPTIONERS TRANSITIONING ]
DELIVERY PROCESSES. THEY WILL
BE INCREASING THE
ACCOMPLISHMENT RATE OVER TIME.
AND, THAT IS THE END AND I AM
HAPPY TO TAKE QUESTIONS.
>> THANK YOU . I WAS PRETTY
IMPRESSED WITH YOU BEING A
CUSTOMER SINCE 1978 . DO YOU
STILL HAVE BILLS FROM 1978 ?
>> I HAVE THEM SOMEWHERE.
>> OKAY , THAT IS PRETTY
IMPRESSIVE .
>> I WILL SHARE THE BRIEFING SO
WE CAN END THE COMMITTEE .
>> YOU HAVE QUESTIONS?
>>
>> --
>> I TAKE IT BACK BECAUSE I
ALREADY ASKED ONE QUESTION .
>> ABSOLUTELY, I REMEMBER THE
QUESTION.
>> IS IT POSSIBLE FOR YOU TO
TURN ON YOUR MICROPHONE?
>> YES.
>> ENHANCE WATER QUALITY OF OUR
RECEIVING BODIES OF WATER AND
OTHER ENVIRONMENTAL PROTECTIONS
. THE REPLACEMENT OF AGING
INFRASTRUCTURE AND MITIGATION
EFFORTS TO ADDRESS CLIMATE
CHANGE AND EARTHQUAKE RISK .
>> THANK YOU, THAT IS VERY
HELPFUL .
>> THAT IS VERY IMPRESSIVE,
THANK YOU. THANK YOU SO MUCH
COUNCILMEMBERS . I KNOW IF YOU
HAVE FOLLOW-UPS THAT YOU WILL
CONTACT DIRECTLY FOR DISTRICT 7
.
>> YES.
>> THANK YOU.
>> THANK YOU BOTH FOR BEING
HERE. THANK YOU NOEL AND BRIAN
AND THANK YOU DIRECTOR FOR YOUR
LEADERSHIP. I SAW HENNESSY AND
I KNOW HE LEFT. MY FAVORITE.
THANK YOU ALL . AND, I GUESS IF
THERE IS NO FURTHER QUESTIONS,
AND OUR MEETING IS GOING TO
COME TO A CLOSE. I HAVE SET THE
RECORD TO CLOSE THE PUBLIC
SAFETY MEETING WITH 2.5 HOUR
LONG MEETINGS . THANK YOU, BOB.
>> IT WAS 2 1/4.
>> NO AGENDA ITEMS TODAY, DO MY
COLLEAGUES HAVE OTHER BUSINESS?
>> THIS CONCLUDES THE MEETING
OF THE PARKS UTILITY TECHNOLOGY
MEETING. THE NEXT MEETING IS
SCHEDULED WEDNESDAY, JULY 24th
AT 2:00 P.M. . IF THERE IS NO
FURTHER BUSINESS, THIS MEETING
IS ADJOURNED AT 4:30 5 PM ON
THE DOT. THANK YOU AND HAVE A
GREAT WEDNESDAY.