IS 9:30 A.M., I'M DAN STRAUSS,
CHAIR OF THE COMMITTEE. CAN WE
HAVE THE QUORUM -- GOOD MORNING.
GOOD MORNING. MEETING HAS
STARTED. WILL THE CLERK PLEASE
CALL THE ROLL?
>> COUNCILMEMBER RIVERA?
COUNCILMEMBER SAKA?
>> MORNING, HERE.
>> COUNCILMEMBER SOLOMON?
>> HERE.
>> COUNCILMEMBER HOLLINGSWORTH?
>> PRESENT.
>> COUNCILMEMBER JUAREZ?
>> HERE.
>> COUNCILMEMBER KETTLE?
>> HERE.
>> COUNCIL PRESIDENT NELSON?
>> PRESENT.
>> COUNCILMEMBER RINCK?
>> PRESENT.
>> AND CHAIR STRAUSS?
>> PRESENT.
>> EIGHT PRESENT.
>> THANK YOU. THOSE NOT PRESENT
WILL BE EXCUSED UNTIL THEY
ARRIVE. GOOD MORNING. WE HAVE
FIVE PRESENTATIONS -- LET'S
START THE MORNING. IT'S GREAT
TO HAVE YOU ALL HERE TODAY ON
TIME. IT'S MY FATHER'S
BIRTHDAY. HAPPY BIRTHDAY, DAD.
>> HAPPY BIRTHDAY, DAD.
>> GOT A QUORUM WITH FOLKS HERE
SAYING HAPPY. WITH THAT, WE HAVE
FIVE PRESENTATIONS ON THE AGENDA
TODAY. DURING OUR FIRST SESSION,
WE'LL HAVE OFFICE OF HOUSING,
SEATTLE CENTER, OFFICE OF
ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT, AND THIS
AFTERNOON, THE OFFICE OF ARTS
AND CULTURE, AND SEATTLE
DEPARTMENT OF CONSTRUCTION AND
INSPECTIONS. BEFORE WE BEGIN, IF
THERE'S NO OBJECTION, THE
AGENDA WILL BE ADOPTED. HEARING
NO OBJECTION, THE AGENDA IS
ADOPTED. COLLEAGUES, THIS BRINGS
US TO OUR FINAL DAY OF
DEPARTMENT PRESENTATIONS.
DIRECTOR EDER, I'D LIKE TO
CONFIRM WITH YOU, WE WILL BE OR
WE HAVE RECEIVED THE
PRESENTATIONS FROM THE
DEPARTMENTS THAT HAVE NOT
PRESENTED. IS THAT CORRECT? YOUR
MIC'S NOT HOT TODAY.
>> THEY'VE BEEN RECEIVED, AND
THEY'VE BEEN POSTED FOR COUNCIL
STAFF.
>> FANTASTIC. THANK YOU VERY
MUCH. COLLEAGUES, OUR NEXT TIME
COMING TOGETHER HERE IS NEXT
TUESDAY, OCTOBER 7, FOR OUR
PUBLIC HEARING DAY, AS WE'RE
TAKING NOTE OUT OF COUNCILMEMBER
HOLLINGSWORTH'S BOOK. WE WILL
START AT 1:00 P.M. WITH REMOTE
TESTIMONY. 5:00 P.M. IN-PERSON
TESTIMONY. WE WILL BE SENDING
OUT GUIDANCE THAT YOU ALL CAN
SHARE OUT WITH YOUR NEWSLETTERS
AND YOUR RESIDENTS SHORTLY. THEN
WE WILL BE MOVING INTO A MEETING
ON THE 8th, WHERE WE MAY
CONSIDER BUDGET LEGISLATION THAT
NEEDS TO GO OUT OF SYNC WITH ALL
OTHER 25 PIECES OF LEGISLATION.
FOLLOWED BY THE WEEK AFTER,
OCTOBER 15, THE CENTRAL STAFF
PRESENTATIONS ON THEIR POLICY
CONSIDERATIONS. COLLEAGUES, I
SHARE THIS REMINDER OF WHERE WE
ARE IN THE BUDGET PROCESS WITH
YOU TODAY BECAUSE IT IS A GOOD
REMINDER AS WE'VE SEEN THESE
PRESENTATIONS FROM DEPARTMENTS,
AMENDMENT, IDEAS HAVE HOPEFULLY
GENERATED. IF YOU HAVE NOT MET
WITH STAKEHOLDERS --
COUNCILMEMBER JUAREZ'S RULE,
STAKE HOLDERS HAVE TO GET THE
BUDGET REQUEST BEFORE AUGUST.
FOR THE REST OF THE US, THIS IS
OUR LAST WEEK, AND NEXT WEEK
WILL BE, YOU KNOW, THE LAST TIME
WE GOT BREATHING ROOM TO CHECK
IN WITH STAKEHOLDERS ABOUT WHAT
BUDGET REQUESTS ARE OUT THERE.
SO THAT'S AN ORIENTATION OF
WHERE WE ARE. THE NEXT TIME WE
WILL BE HERE RECEIVING
PRESENTATIONS WILL BE FROM
CENTRAL STAFF REGARDING THEIR
POLICY CONSIDERATIONS. I WANT TO
JUST TAKE A MOMENT TO CHECK TO
SEE IF THERE ARE ANY QUESTIONS.
I SEE COUNCILMEMBER JUAREZ?
>> THANK YOU, MR. CHAIR. DO I DO
THIS NOW TO ASK TO BE EXCUSED ON
TUESDAY? CAN I BE EXCUSED?
>> THAT IS A GOOD QUESTION FOR
THE CLERK.
>> IF IT'S THE TUESDAY PUBLIC
HEARING, YOU JUST NEED TO MAKE A
REQUEST TO THE CHAIR.
>> AND YOU ARE SO EXCUSED.
>> THANK YOU, SIR. AND HAPPY
BIRTHDAY TO YOUR DAD.
>> YEAH. HAPPY BIRTHDAY, DAD.
IT'S A GOOD DAY. WITH THAT,
I'M GOING TO TURN IT OVER --
WILL THE CLERK PLEASE READ THE
FIRST ITEM INTO THE RECORD?
>> OFFICE OF HOUSING FOR
BRIEFING AND DISCUSSION.
>> AND WE ARE JOINED BY DIRECTOR
MAIKO WINKLER-CHIN, KELLI
LARSEN, REBECCA GUERRA, AND AS
ALWAYS, DIRECTOR DAN STRAUSS AND
DIRECTOR BEN NOBLE. WITH THAT,
I'M GOING TO PASS IT OVER TO
YOU. TAKE IT AWAY. WE'LL HOLD
QUESTIONS UNTIL THE END, AND GO
FROM THERE.
>> IN THE INTEREST OF TIME, I'LL
TURN IT DIRECTLY OVER TO THE
OFFICE OF HOUSING, WHO WILL
BEGIN THEIR PREPARED
PRESENTATION.
>> THANK YOU.
>> GOOD MORNING, COUNCIL
MEMBERS. WE'RE PLEASED TO BE
HERE THIS MORNING. I'M MAIKO
WITH THE OFFICE OF HOUSING AND
HERE WITH ME IS KELLI LARSEN,
OUR DIRECTOR OF POLICY AND
PLANNING, AND JOINING US
REMOTELY IS REBECCA GUERRA, OUR
DIRECTOR OF FINANCE AND
ADMINISTRATION, WHO HAS BEEN
WORKING WITH THE CITY OF SEATTLE
FOR 18 YEARS. SHE'S LEADING US
THROUGH THIS PROCESS. SO FIRST
SLIDE, PLEASE. OKAY. THANK YOU
VERY MUCH. SO MAYOR BRUCE
HARRELL'S BUDGET PRIORITIZES
AFFORDABLE HOUSING INVESTMENTS.
IN 2026 THESE RESOURCES ARE
NEEDED TO ACHIEVE THE SEATTLE
HOUSING LEVY UNIT PRODUCTION
GOALS, SUPPORT A STABLE,
AFFORDABLE HOUSING SECTOR AND
WORK FORCE, AND AFFIRMATIVELY
FURTHER FAIR HOUSING AND ADVANCE
OUR CITY'S EQUITY GOALS.
>> THE CITY IS MAKING RECORD
INVESTMENTS IN AFFORDABLE
HOUSING AS SHOWN IN THIS CHART.
I'VE ADOPTED AND PROPOSED
REVENUES FROM 2015 THROUGH 2026.
AFFORDABLE HOUSING HAS LONG BEEN
A PRIORITY FOR THE CITY OF
SEATTLE. OVER THE LAST DECADE,
THERE'S BEEN A 550% INCREASE IN
THE OFFICE OF HOUSING BUDGET
WITH GREATEST ESCALATION
OCCURRING IN THE LAST THREE
YEARS, PRIMARILY DUE TO
DEDICATED PAYROLL EXPENSE TAX
REVENUES AND THE SUCCESSFUL
RENEWAL OF THE SEATTLE HOUSING
LEVY. TOGETHER WITH THE
MANDATORY HOUSING AFFORDABILITY
PROGRAM AND A VARIETY OF OTHER
SOURCES, THE CITY USES THESE
RESOURCES FOR BOLD, EFFECTIVE,
AND PROVEN SOLUTIONS TO MEET THE
SCALE AND URGENCY OF OUR
HOUSING.
>> MAYOR HARRELL'S PROPOSED
BUDGET AND INVESTMENTS OF OVER
$349 MILLION FOR AFFORDABLE
HOUSING. THIS INCLUDES $344
MILLION IN THE OFFICE OF HOUSING
BUDGET, AND THEN $5 MILLION IN
FINANCE AND GENERAL. AS YOU SEE
ON THE CHART, WE CONTINUE TO
OPERATE WITHOUT THE GENERAL
FUND. WE HAVE A PROPOSED $137
MILLION IN PAYROLL EXPENSE TAX
REVENUES. AND THE OTHER FUNDS
ROW REPRESENTS PRIMARILY THE
VOTER APPROVED SEVEN-YEAR
HOUSING LEVY, THE MANDATORY
HOUSING AFFORDABILITY PROGRAM,
AND TEN HAD VARIOUS FEDERAL
STATES AND LOCAL GRANTS. THERE
IS ONE CHANGE OF SIGNIFICANCE IN
THE 2026 PROPOSED BUDGET. $5
MILLION TO PAYROLL EXPENSE TAX
WILL REMAIN AS HOUSING
INVESTMENT, BUT SHIFT FROM THE
BUDGET INTO FINANCE GENERAL.
THIS FUNDING IS PROPOSED TO BE
USED FOR AN INITIAL INVESTMENT
IN THE NORTHGATE COMMERCE
PROJECT. SHIFTING THE FINANCIAL
GENERAL WOULD ALLOW FOR A DIRECT
INTERGOVERNMENTAL TRANSACTION
FROM THE CITY TO THE SEATTLE
HOUSING AUTHORITY FOR THIS
PROJECT. ALL OTHER CHANGES FROM
THE 2026 ENDORSED TO THE 2026
PROPOSED ARE TECHNICAL AND
MINOR. BUT AS A REMINDER, THE
2026 ENDORSED BUDGET INCLUDED AN
AD TO RESTORE $3.4 MILLION OF
PAYROLL EXPENSE TAX IN
HOMEOWNERSHIP CAPITAL. THIS IS
MAINTAINED AS ORIGINALLY
INTENDED IN THE 2026 PROPOSED.
>> IF IT IS OKAY TO JUMP IN, I
JUST WANT TO TIE BACK TO THE
OVERVIEW PRESENTATION THAT I
MADE ON THURSDAY. I REFERENCE
$349.5 MILLION FOR THE RECORD
LEVEL OF INVESTMENT. BUT IN
AFFORDABLE HOUSING, MY FIGURE
INCLUDED THAT $5 MILLION THAT
YOU'RE HEARING ABOUT HERE.
>> SEATTLE HOUSING VISION IS
THAT ALL PEOPLE HAVE A SAFE AND
AFFORDABLE HOME. THE 2026 BUDGET
ENSURES THE OFFICE OF HOUSING
WILL CONTINUE ITS CORE FUNCTION
AND SERVICES TO ACHIEVE THIS
VISION. FIRST, YOU SEE THE
RENTAL HOUSING PROGRAM, WHICH IS
THE LARGEST PART OF OUR BUDGET.
OFFICE OF HOUSING SUPPORTS THE
PRESERVATION AND PRODUCTION OF
AFFORDABLE RENTAL HOUSING
THROUGH LONG-TERM LOANS TO
MULTI-FAMILY DEVELOPERS IN
SEATTLE. ALL BUILDINGS THAT
RECEIVE FUNDING ARE MONITORED BY
OUR ASSET MANAGEMENT TEAM TO
ENSURE ONGOING QUALITY, HEALTH,
AND SAFETY FOR THOSE INVESTMENTS
FOR 55 PLUS YEARS. THIS INCLUDES
OVERSIGHT OF KEY OPERATIONAL AND
FINANCIAL METRICS. NEXT,
HOMEOWNERSHIP AND HOME
IMPROVEMENT PROGRAMS. THE OFFICE
OF HOUSING ASSISTS FIRST-TIME
HOME BUYERS IN ACHIEVING THEIR
DREAM THROUGH OUR HOMEOWNERSHIP
PROGRAM. AND FOR EXISTING INCOME
QUALIFIED HOMEOWNERS, WE PROVIDE
LOANS AND GRANTS FOR THEM TO
IMPROVE AND MAINTAIN THEIR HOMES
THROUGH THE HOME REPAIR PROGRAM.
FINALLY, WE HAVE LEADERSHIP AND
ADMINISTRATION SERVICES, WHICH
WILL INCLUDE PLANNING AND
POLICY, FINANCING, AND
CONTRACTING UNITS. THESE STAFF
AND OPERATING COSTS ARE NEEDED
FOR MANAGING AFFORDABLE HOUSING
PROGRAMS SUCH AS MANDATORY
HOUSING AFFORDABILITY, MHA, AND
THE MULTI-FAMILY TAX EXEMPTION,
MFTE, AND FOR HOUSING POLICY
WORK LED BY THE OFFICE OF
HOUSING. OKAY. SO I'D LIKE TO
TAKE A MOMENT TO ADDRESS
QUESTIONS THAT MY OFFICE
RECEIVES ABOUT OH CASH BALANCE.
AND I'M SHARING THIS
ILLUSTRATION THAT WE WOULD USE
IN A RECENT PRESENTATION. ON
ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT. THIS HELPS
TO EXPLAIN THE PROCESS FOR
PROJECTS, FROM THE TIME THE
OFFICE OF HOUSING WILL MAKE A
FUNDING AWARD TO WHEN WE LEGALLY
COMMIT FUNDING IN LOAN CLOSINGS
AND IN THE DRAWING DOWN OF
FUNDS. WHAT'S IMPORTANT TO NOTE
IS IT CAN TAKE THREE, FOUR, OR
MORE YEARS FROM THE TIME THE
PROJECT RECEIVES A FUNDING AWARD
TO THE TIME IT STARTS
CONSTRUCTION IN BILLING. OH
TRACKS PROJECTS AND ALL
ASSOCIATED FUNDING, NOT JUST THE
CITY FUNDING, BUT OTHER PUBLIC
AND PRIVATE FINANCING AS
PROJECTS MOVE THROUGH THIS
PROCESS. OKAY. AND THIS IS A
RELATIVELY NEW SLIDE TO THE
SLIDE DECK. THIS IS THE STAGES
OF THE HIGH LEVEL OVERVIEW,
SHOWING HOW THEY OVERLAP FROM
YEAR TO YEAR AND THE FUNDING OF
AVAILABILITY. AND PROJECTS THAT
ARE BUILT, OPEN, AND AS THEY
WELCOME NEW RESIDENTS HOME AND
ACHIEVE FINAL STAGE IS ALL
FINANCING THAT'S CLOSED OUT AND
CONVERTED TO A PERMANENT
MORTGAGE. THIS IS OUR STANDARD
PRACTICE. IT'S DESIGNED TO BE
PREDICTABLE AND TO ACHIEVE THE
MOST BANG FOR OUR BUCK. EVERY
YEAR, WE ISSUE NEW FUNDS FOR
COMPETITION, PROJECTS REQUIRE
ABOUT SIX YEARS TO ACHIEVE FULL
CLOSE OUT, AND THEN WE'LL BEGIN
THE CYCLE ALL OVER AGAIN. AT ANY
POINT IN TIME, WE'RE COLLECTING
NEW REVENUE, WE'RE ADMINISTERING
PRIOR FUNDS, AND ALL STAGES OF
THE DEVELOPMENT PROCESS ARE
UNDERWAY AT ONCE. SO IF YOU LOOK
AT THE 2025 COLUMNS, CIRCLED IN
RED, YOU CAN SEE THE OH STAFF
AND THE COMMUNITY PARTNERS ARE
VERY BUSY. WE ARE WORKING ON
EVERY STAGE OF THE FUNDING
HOUSING AND DEVELOPMENT CYCLE AT
ONCE, MOVING PROJECTS FORWARD TO
THE GRAND OPENINGS WE ALL LOVE
TO CELEBRATE. AT COUNCIL'S
REQUEST, WE PROVIDED A LIST OF
THE CURRENT OH FUNDED PROJECTS,
ALONG WITH DATA POINTS FOR EACH
OF THE PROJECTS INCLUDING
PROJECT NAME AND LOCATION,
NUMBER OF APARTMENTS AND HOMES
TO BE BUILT, THE AMOUNT OF CITY
COMMITMENT, AND THE TOTAL
PROJECT COST, ANTICIPATED
TIMELINE FOR WHEN THE PROJECT
WILL SPEND CITY FUNDS, AND
ANTICIPATE THE COMPLETION OF THE
PROJECT. THIS SLIDE SHOWS THE
DEVELOPERS AND UNITS THAT ARE
CURRENTLY IN AWARD PHASES,
WORKING TO SECURE FUNDING FROM
OTHER PUBLIC AND PRIVATE
SOURCES, BEFORE OH LEGALLY
OBLIGATES THESE FUNDS. OH
POLICIES ENABLE THE DIRECTOR TO
REDUCE THE REVOKE FUNDING UNDER
CERTAIN CIRCUMSTANCES RELATED TO
SUBSTANTIAL PROJECT CHANGES OR
DELAYS. THOUGH THIS IS VERY
RARE, IT HAS OCCURRED TWICE IN
THE LAST FEW YEARS. YOU CAN SEE
OH IS AWARDING FUNDING THAT WILL
CREATE MORE THAN A THOUSAND NEW
RENTAL HOMES IN 143 PERMANENTLY
AFFORDABLE FOR SALE HOMES.
AWARDING THESE FUNDS, BUT
DEVELOPERS ARE NOT ABLE TO SPEND
CITY FUNDS AT THIS STAGE IN OUR
PROCESS. THIS MEANS OUR PROJECT
SPONSORS ARE CARRYING ALL THE
FINANCIAL RISK, HAVING EXPANDED
HUNDREDS OF THOUSANDS OF DOLLARS
ISSUES FOR EACH PROJECT AND
PRE-DEVELOPMENT COST, SUCH AS
EARNEST MONEY DEPOSITS,
ARCHITECTURAL AND ENGINEERING
FEES, SURVEYS, APPRAISALS, AND
ENVIRONMENTAL REVIEWS. OH
GENERALLY IS THE FIRST INVESTOR
IN PROJECTS. DEVELOPERS CAN MOVE
TO THE NEXT STEP OF DESIGN AND
PERMITTING WITH CONFIDENCE ONCE
CITY FINANCING IS SECURED.
PROJECTS WOULD NOT BE AS VIABLE
IN OTHER INVESTORS WITHOUT THIS
EARLY INVESTMENT FROM THE CITY
OF SEATTLE. OH STAFF ARE
TENACIOUS IN WORKING WITH OTHER
PUBLIC OFFENDERS TO PRIORITIZE
THE SEATTLE PROJECTS AS THEIR
LIMITED RESOURCES FROM OTHER
SOURCES, WHICH WE DO NOT
CONTROL. SO IT THIS SLIDE SHOWS
PROJECTS WITH AWARDS AND CITY
FUNDING THAT HAVE BEEN
INCOMBERRED. THIS MARKS THE TIME
WHEN PROJECT DEVELOPERS AND
OWNERS SECURE ALL PROJECT
FINANCING, SO THEY CAN BEGIN
CONSTRUCTION. THOUGH
ORGANIZATIONS SHOWN ON THIS
SLIDE ARE DELIVERING PROJECTS
ACROSS THE CITY, CREATING MORE
THAN 3,700 RENTAL APARTMENT
HOMES AND 300 PERMANENTLY
AFFORDABLE FOR SALE HOMES. THESE
DEVELOPMENTS ARE IN VARIOUS
STAGES THAT RANGE FROM
PERMITTING TO CONSTRUCTION, AND
LACING UP WITH RESIDENTS MOVING
IN BEFORE THE FINAL DEVELOPMENT
PHASE THAT THEY CALL PROJECT
CLOSE OUT. IT'S DIFFICULT,
ESPECIALLY WITH MULTIPLE
INVESTORS INVOLVED. TO OUR
DEVELOPING PARTNERS, ENSURING
ALL EXPENDITURES ARE PROPERLY
DOCUMENTED AND MEET FUNDER
REQUIREMENTS. CORRESPONDING
GROWTH OF THE OFFICE OF HOUSING
BUDGET, OUR SERVICES ARE
MAINTAINED WITH MINIMAL IMPACT
TO EXTERNAL STAKEHOLDERS. THEY
WILL CONTINUE TO DO OUR WORK, AS
WE HAVE, SINCE OUR INCEPTION
ALMOST 40 YEARS AGO. BUT
ADJUSTING TO THE NEEDS OF THE
TIMES TO MEET THE MOMENT. WE
WILL CONTINUE TO AFFIRMATIVELY
FURTHER FAIR HOUSING AND ADVANCE
THE EQUITY GOALS THROUGH THE
REDEVELOPMENT OF LAKE CITY
COMMUNITY CENTER WITH MERCY
HOUSING, THE MOUNT BAKER
PROPERTY WITH EL CENTRAL. THE
SOUTH PARK HENDERSON STREET
SITE. AND THROUGH THE CREATION
OF HOUSING FUND, TO SUPPORT THE
COMMUNITIES MOST IMPACTED AND AT
RISK OF DISPLACEMENT TO REMAIN
ROOTED IN PLACE. WE WILL
CONTINUE TO ACHIEVE THE SEATTLE
HOUSING LEVY UNIT PRODUCTION
GOALS, CREATING NEW AFFORDABLE
HOMES, CENTRAL TO OUR CITY
SUCCESS. AT THE SAME TIME, WE
MUST PAY ATTENTION TO
MAINTAINING OUR ASSETS AND MAKE
INVESTMENTS TO MEET AFFORDABLE
HOUSING NEEDS ACROSS THE CITY.
WE WILL SUPPORT OUR HOUSING
SECTOR AND WORK FORCE,
CONSISTENT WITH WHAT WAS
APPROVED BY THE LEVY, PROVIDING
INFLATIONARIED A JUSTMENTS FOR
PROVIDERS RECEIVING OPERATING
MAINTENANCE AND SERVICES
FUNDING. AND WE CANNOT ENJOY --
IGNORE THE SERIOUS CHALLENGES
THAT AFFORDABLE HOUSING
PROVIDERS ARE FACING IN
OPERATING AND MAINTAINING STABLE
PROPERTIES AND PROMOTING A
HEALTHY AND SAFE ENVIRONMENT FOR
THEIR RESIDENTS AND THEIR WORK
FORCE. THE OFFICE OF HOUSING
NEVER DOES ITS WORK IN
ISOLATION. WE'D LIKE TO
ACKNOWLEDGE AND THANK COUNCIL
MEMBER JUAREZ AND SOLOMON
ISSUING OUR HOUSING AND HUMAN
SERVICES COMMITTEE CHAIRS FOR
YOUR LEADERSHIP AND PARTNERSHIP
WITH THE OFFICE OF HOUSING TO
SEEK SUSTAINABLE HOUSING
SOLUTIONS. THANKS FOR YOUR
INTEREST IN OUR OFFICE, AND I'M
HAPPY TO ANSWER ANY QUESTIONS.
>> THANK YOU, DIRECTOR AND,
COUNCILMEMBER JUAREZ, WOULD YOU
LIKE TO KICK IT OFF?
>> YES, THANK YOU. I'D LIKE TO
DEFER TO COUNCILMEMBER SOLOMON
IF HE HAS FIG, AND I CAN FOLLOW
UP AFTER YOU. I DON'T MEAN TO
PUT YOU ON THE SPOT, BUT YOU'VE
BEEN DOING THIS. SO I WAS GOING
TO LET YOU SPEAK FIRST, PERHAPS
IF THAT IS OKAY, CHAIR, THEN I
COULD FOLLOW UP?
>> YES. ALL RIGHT, THANK YOU
VERY MUCH, MR. CHAIR. THANK YOU
COUNCILMEMBER JUAREZ. I JUST
APPRECIATE THE PARTNERSHIP THAT
I'VE HAD WITH THE OFFICE OF
HOUSING AND LOOKING AT THE
VARIOUS THINGS, YOU KNOW,
GETTING LAKE CITY ACROSS THE
LINE WAS REALLY KEY FOR ME. I
WAS HOPING WE COULD DO MORE WITH
REGARDS TO THE TIME THAT I'M
HERE. BUT AGAIN, GOT A LITTLE
BIT OF TIME ON THE CALENDAR. THE
LET'S SEE WHAT WE COULD GET
DONE. SO WITH THOSE OPENING
REMARKS, JUST EXPRESSING MY
APPRECIATION IN WORKING WITH
YOU, I WILL NOW DEFER TO CHAIR
JUAREZ ON THAT.
>> TWO THINGS, FIRST OF ALL, I
LOVE SLIDE SEVEN. I WAS LOOKING
AT THIS MORNING SAYING THIS IS
HOW YOU DO IT. THIS IS A GREAT
POWER POINT BECAUSE YOU'VE
ANSWERED ALL THE QUESTIONS OF
WHERE THEY'RE AT IN THE
DEVELOPMENT CYCLE, WHICH I'M A
VISUAL LEARNER AND I SAID THAT
BEFORE, SO I COULD ACTUALLY SEE
WHAT YOU'VE DONE FROM NOTICE OF
THE AWARD TO FINAL, THAT'S
PHENOMENAL AND GREAT TO SEE. BUT
I HAVE TWO QUESTIONS TEED UP.
ONE WAS GOING BACK TO WHEN WE
WOULD TALK ABOUT, AND I THINK
I'M LOOKING AT MY PAGES HERE.
ON THE SHIFTING OF THE FUNDS ON
PAGE FOUR FOR NORTHGATE COMMONS,
YOU HAVE SHIFTING FIVE MILLION.
SO WHAT IS THAT? IS THAT
SHIFTING TO -- THAT'S NOT FAS
ON PAGE FOUR?
>> THOSE FUNDS ARE MOVED TO, I
BELIEVE IT IS TO FAS.
>> OKAY, YOU HAVE FINANCE
GENERAL ON THE SLIDE, SO THAT IS
WHAT I ASSUMED. YEAH, LOOK AT
FOUR. IT SAYS SHIFTING THE
FINANCE GENERAL.
>> I BELIEVE I MISSPOKE. SO
FINANCE GENERAL IS WHERE IT
SITS, AND WE ARE PLANNING ON
SPENDING IT. IT IS NOT IN A
RESERVE, IT IS APPROPRIATED IN
FINANCIAL CHANNEL, SO IT COULD
BE SPENT ON THE NORTHGATE
COMMONS PROJECT.
>> SO FINANCE GENERAL IS WHERE?
I'M SORRY.
>> IT IS ESSENTIALLY A SEPARATE
CHECKING ACCOUNT.
>> OKAY.
>> THAT IS ADMINISTERED
EFFECTIVELY BY THE BUDGET OFFICE
IN FINANCE. IT'S A PLACE FROM
WHICH WE COULD WRITE CHECKS
THAT'S NOT ANY GIVEN
DEPARTMENT.
>> THANK YOU, DR. NOBLE FOR
BREAKING IT DOWN FOR ME. THAT'S
WHERE THE CHECKBOOK IS. THANK
YOU. SO WHEN I SAW THAT TERM, I
THOUGHT WHAT THE HECK IS FINANCE
GENERAL? GOT IT. THE OTHER
QUESTION THAT I HAVE IS ON THE
-- LAKE CITY COMMUNITY CENTER,
ON PAGE 10, THE COMMUNITY
CENTER, YES, WE WANT TO MOVE AND
TURN DIRT AS SOON AS WE CAN. AND
IF WE COULD JUST HAVE A LITTLE
BIT MORE INFORMATION, WHERE WE
ARE AT THERE AND ALSO -- I'M
SURE COUNCILMEMBER STRAUSS IS
GETTING CALLS FROM PARTICULAR
ORGANIZATIONS AND THE DAYBREAK
STAR FOLKS UNITED OR THE
DAYBREAK STAR AND THE FOLKS. IF
I COULD HAVE A LITTLE BIT MORE
INFORMATION FOR THE RECORD, THAT
WOULD BE GREAT. STARTING WITH
MAYBE LAKE CITY, WHERE WE ARE
AT. ALL TIME, IF I COULD
REMEMBER OUR MEETING WITH PARKS
YESTERDAY. WE WERE TALKING ABOUT
THE LEGISLATIVE SCHEDULE AHEAD
FOR 2026 ON LAKE CITY. THERE ARE
A NUMBER OF PIECES THAT WILL
HAVE TO OCCUR, INCLUDING GOING
TO KING COUNTY COUNCIL, THERE IS
A BUNCH OF PAPERWORK WE WOULD
HAVE TO MOVE FORWARD. WE'RE
GOING TO BRING FORWARD TO YOU,
DETAILED SCHEDULE, ONCE WE
CONFIRM THAT WITH OUR PARKS
COLLEAGUES, SO YOU COULD SORT OF
SEE THE PATH AHEAD. THERE'S BIG
WORK THAT HAS TO HAPPEN AND
FOLKS ARE TRYING TO HIT THE MOST
AMBITIOUS OF TIMELINES TO
ATTEMPT TO CLOSE BY THE END OF
NEXT YEAR, SO WE COULD OPEN,
BEGIN CONSTRUCTION AND OPEN AS
SOON AS POSSIBLE. SO WE WILL
COME BACK TO YOU WITH THE VERY
DETAILED SCHEDULE IN THE COMING
MONTH OR TWO FOR NEXT YEAR. SO
YOU'RE NOT LOOKING AT QUARTER
ONE FOR ANYTHING IN PARTICULAR,
YOU'RE LOOKING AT QUARTER FOUR
FOR NEXT YEAR ABOUT ACTUALLY
MOVING DIRT, SO I'M TRYING TO
GET BASICS WITH ME, SORRY.
>> DIRT, 2027.
>> OKAY.
>> NEXT YEAR IS A LOT OF WORK ON
THE LEGISLATIVE SIDE. WE ARE
HOPING TO BRING IT FORWARD IN
THE MIDDLE OF THE WORK, BUT ALL
THE GROUND WORK IS BEING LAID,
STARTING NOW. SO WHO AT KING
COUNTY COUNCIL?
>> THAT'S A DETAIL THAT IS A
LEAD POINT, SO I'M NOT SURE.
THEY HAVE TO GO FORWARD, I
CAN'T REMEMBER THIS, I'M
SORRY. IT'S RELATED TO THE
PARKS PIECE AND THE LAND
TRANSFER, WRITTEN, AND THE
LEASE, AND THERE ARE SO MANY
COMPLICATED --
>> THE REASON WE'RE ASKING
BECAUSE WE GET SO MANY PEOPLE
FROM THE NORTH END WHO WANT TO
KNOW WHAT'S HAPPENING BECAUSE
WE'VE BEEN WORKING ON THIS
SINCE 2015. SO WE WOULD GLADLY
PARTNER WITH YOU AND
COUNCILMEMBER WHO REPRESENTS THE
OVERLAP WITH D5, SO WE CAN HAVE
SOME -- WE'RE JUST NOT ABLE TO
ANSWER SOME BASIC QUESTIONS. SO
IF WE COULD HAVE THAT DETAIL,
THEN YOU COULD PARTNER WITH US
IN OUR OFFICE. I'M ONLY HERE
FOR 14 MORE MONTHS. I'M REALLY
TRYING TO GET THIS STUFF DONE AS
MUCH AS I CAN BEFORE I LEAVE.
THE SECOND QUESTION I HAD, SO
CAN WE TALK ABOUT THAT A LITTLE
BIT?
>> WHERE WE ARE WITH FORT LAWTON
RIGHT NOW, WE'RE THROUGH THE
ENVIRONMENTAL PROCESS RIGHT NOW
HAD. SO WE HAVE A RESPONSE FROM
THE U.S. DEPARTMENT OF URBAN
HOUSING THAT THEY HAVE ACCEPTED
OUR SUPPORTIVE HOUSING PORTION
OF THE PLAN, AND THAT WAS THE
MOST IMPORTANT THING. THEN
EVERYTHING ELSE WILL GET TO FALL
IN LINE BEHIND THAT. WE ARE
WORKING THROUGH THE
ENVIRONMENTAL IMPACT STATEMENT.
WE HAVE SELECTED THE DEVELOPERS
TO WORK ON THE PROJECT. SOME OF
THAT WAS SELECTED MANY YEARS
AGO. AND COUNCILMEMBER JUAREZ,
I'M TRYING TO REMEMBER WHEN
SOME OF THIS MAY BE REPETITIVE
FOR THE OTHER MEMBERS OF
COUNCIL, BUT JUST TRYING TO
ACKNOWLEDGE YOU WERE NOT HERE
FOR A LITTLE BIT OF TIME DURING
THAT.
>> 18 MONTHS TO BE EXACT.
>> 18 MONTHS IS NOTHING POST
PANDEMIC. IT IS ALL A BLUR TO
ME. SO THE DEVELOPERS ON THE
PROJECT, HABITAT FOR HUMANITY TO
DO WHAT THE FEDERAL GOVERNMENT
CALLS SELF-HELP HOUSING, WHAT WE
CALL PERMANENTLY AFFORDABLE
HOMEOWNERSHIP. UNDER THE CURRENT
ZONING, THEY COULD DO UP TO 200
UNITS THERE.
>> OKAY.
>> THE CATHOLIC HOUSING SERVICES
WILL BE PROVIDING MULTI-FAMILY
RENTAL. AND KELLI, I THINK
THAT'S ABOUT UP TO 200 UNITS.
AND THE PERMANENT, THE
SUPPORTIVE HOUSING, WE HAD TO GO
THROUGH A SHIFT THERE AND
THROUGH AN RFP PROCESS, WE HAVE
SELECTED CHIEF SEATTLE CLUB TO
DO UP TO -- JUST 100 UNITS OF
HOUSING THERE.
>> OKAY.
>> FOR THEIR COMMUNITY. SO RIGHT
NOW, WE ARE JUST WORKING THROUGH
THE ENVIRONMENTAL PROCESS AT
THIS TIME.
>> I HAVE ONE MORE QUESTION, MR.
CHAIR. MY LAST QUESTION IS THE
NORTHGATE COMMONS WITH SEATTLE
HOUSING AUTHORITY. WHERE ARE WE
AT WITH THAT BECAUSE WE'VE BEEN
WORKING ON THAT IN THE BLUEPRINT
SINCE 2023, 2022, WHEN WE
BROUGHT THE PROPERTY. CAN YOU
GIVE US AN UPDATE ON THAT? I'M
TRYING TO MOVE THAT PROJECT
FORWARD. I WANT TO FIND OUT
WHAT'S GOING ON WITH YOU FOLKS.
>> I WOULD SAY THE DOLLARS THAT
ARE BEING COMMITTED OUT OF THIS
BUNGLE REALLY HELPS MOVE THEM
FORWARD IN THIS PROCESS. FROM
WHAT I UNDERSTAND FROM THE
HOUSING AUTHORITY, THEY HAVE
DONE THEIR PREPLANNING WORK.
THEY HAVE GOTTEN ALL THAT. THEY
HAVE CHECKED ON THE UTILITIES.
THERE DOESN'T HAVE TO BE A LOT
OF UTILITY WORK THERE. SO I
THINK THIS COMMITMENT IS THE ONE
THAT WILL HELP MOVE THEM FORWARD
IN THIS. THE ACTUAL DETAILS OF
THE TIMING, I'LL HAVE TO GET
BACK TO YOU ON THAT.
>> THAT WOULD BE PERFECT WITH
NORTHGATE COMMONS, LAKE CITY
COMMUNITY CENTER, AND FORT
LAWTON. THANK YOU SO MUCH. THANK
YOU, CHAIR.
>> THANK YOU.
>> THANK YOU, COUNCILMEMBER
JUAREZ. COUNCILMEMBER KETTLE?
>>
>> THANK YOU, CHAIR STRAUSS.
WELCOME, DIRECTOR. MAIKO
WINKLER-CHIN AND PLUS MS. GUERRA
AND LARSEN, THANK YOU FOR
COMING. OF COURSE, AS CHAIR
STRAUSS SAID, CHAMPIONS HERE,
DIRECTOR EDER AND DIRECTOR NOBLE
FOR SITTING THROUGH THESE DAYS.
CHAIRS NOT AS GOOD AS OURS, SO I
REALLY WANT TO THANK YOU FOR
YOUR ENDURANCE, DIRECTOR EDER
AND DIRECTOR NOBLE. I JUST WANT
TO FIRST SAY THANK YOU. I DO
HAVE THE SLIDE RESPONSE. I'M
DIGESTING IT, SO THANK YOU. I
APPRECIATE IT. FOR THE VIEWING
PUBLIC, THIS IS THE HOUSING
INVESTMENT PLAN. THIS WAS THE
SLIDE. I REALLY APPRECIATE IT
BECAUSE IT'S BEEN A LEARNING
EXPERIENCE. I'VE HAD MORE
INTERACTIONS WITH OH AND OHD IN
THE LAST THREE MONTHS, BUT IT'S
BEEN GREAT. AS I MENTIONED
YESTERDAY WITH DIRECTOR KEMP TO
LEARN THE DIFFERENT PIECES. SO I
LIKE THIS. OBVIOUSLY, I WAS
COSPONSOR, BUT THIS IS DRIVEN BY
COUNCILMEMBER MOORE. SO I'M
LOOKING AT THIS, AND I WANT TO
ENGAGE WITH YOU IN TERMS OF, YOU
KNOW, THE OTHER PIECES BECAUSE
IT IS IMPORTANT. THIS IS A VERY
COMPLICATED TOPIC, PARTICULARLY
BECAUSE, YOU KNOW, YOU HAVE, AS
WE'VE TALKED ABOUT, LAST WEEK,
I THINK ON THE SIDE BARS FROM
THE TRIBAL SUMMIT, YOU KNOW, WE
HAVE PERMANENT SUPPORTIVE
HOUSING. THEY'RE DOING THEIR
THING. THEN WE HAVE NOW SOCIAL
HOUSING PDA WHO WILL BE DOING
THEIR THING. SEATTLE HOUSING
AUTHORITY, AND ALL THESE
DIFFERENT PIECES. HOW DO THEY
COME TOGETHER? DOES ANYBODY KEEP
THE BIG PICTURE AND ALL THESE
KINDS OF QUESTIONS? THAT'S KIND
OF DRIVING MY THOUGHTS AND MY
INTEREST ON THIS. EVENTUALLY
IT'S ABOUT, YOU KNOW, HELPING
THOSE THAT ARE IN NEED. AND SO I
JUST WANT TO SAY THANK YOU. I
RECOGNIZE WE ARE TALKING SOME
BIG DOLLAR AMOUNTS, AND SO THAT
WILL BRING A LOT OF ATTENTION.
SO THANK YOU FOR THE BRIEFING
THAT HITS THESE POINTS.
OBVIOUSLY WITH THE ATTENTION, IT
WAS WITH DIRECTOR KIM YESTERDAY
TOO, YOU KNOW, THE
ACCOUNTABILITY PIECES THAT ARE
GOING TO BE SO IMPORTANT. I
TRUST THAT WE HAVE ROBUST
PROCESSES THERE BECAUSE AS IT
WAS NOTED YESTERDAY, I'M THE
ONE WHO WILL KEEP TALKING ABOUT
THE KING COUNTY AUDIT. IT IS
JUST ABOUT DOING THAT RIGHT.
REGARDING MULTI-FAMILY HOUSING,
RENTAL HOUSING AS YOU TALKED
ABOUT AND THESE PIECES, IT IS
INTERESTING TOO BECAUSE FUNDING
SOURCES ALSO HIT THE IMPACT WITH
EACH OF THESE THINGS. THAT WILL
KIND OF GO THROUGH THE STRATEGY
TOO. IT BRINGS IN REVENUE, IT
VARIES, BUT ALSO INFLUENCES THE
DEVELOPMENT TOO. AND SO IT IS AN
INTERESTING DYNAMIC. SOMETHING
THAT I WANTED TO DIG INTO OVER
TIME. BUT RELATED TO THE
MULTI-FAMILY HOUSING PIECES, I
SAW LIKE IN THE SLIDE THAT HAS
DEVELOPING PLANS, WHICH IS SLIDE
SIX. IN THOSE PLANS, WHEN YOU'RE
ENGAGING WITH THE PROVIDERS.
I'M GOING TO BE MENTIONING
DIRECTOR KIM ON THE REGULAR
BASIS, I THINK DURING THIS
BRIEFING. WE WERE TALKING ABOUT
GOOD NEIGHBOR AGREEMENTS, AND
HOW I WAS LOOKING AT IT AS A WAY
TO FOSTER COMMUNICATION AND
COLLABORATION, NOT AS A PUNITIVE
PIECE, BUT IT IS REALLY
IMPORTANT TO HAVE THE STRONG
RELATIONSHIP WITH NEIGHBORHOOD
AND COMMUNITY FOR THE LONG TERM.
AS YOU DEVELOP PLANS, IS THAT A
PART OF ANY CONSIDERATION? IS
THAT A PART OF THE DISCUSSIONS
THAT YOU HAVE WITH THE
DIFFERENT, YOU KNOW, BELL
WEATHER, CATHOLIC HOUSING? YOU
KNOW, ALL THESE DIFFERENT
GROUPS, PLYMOUTH HOUSING? WHEN
YOU'RE GOING THROUGH THESE
PROJECTS, IS THAT A PART OF THE
DISCUSSION EARLY ON IN TERMS OF
LIKE WHEN YOU WOULD TAKE THESE
ONLINE, AND YOU HAVE PEOPLE
COMING ON TO HAVE, YOU KNOW, A
RELATIONSHIP WITH A COMMUNITY.
NOT A PUNITIVE THING. IS THAT
SOMETHING THAT WILL BE A PART OF
A DISCUSSION?
>> IF WE ARE GOING BACK TO THIS.
IT'S THE DEVELOPER STANDPOINT.
THE DEVELOPERS WILL COME TO US
TO ASK US TO DIFFERENT PROJECTS,
THEY WILL TELL US KIND OF LIKE
HEY, THIS IS WHAT WE'VE DONE.
OF COURSE, AS PART OF OUR
APPLICATION PACKET, THEY'RE
REQUIRED TO GO OUT AND DO SOME
LEVEL OF COMMUNITY NOTIFICATION.
KELLY, I THINK THAT'S A
TECHNICAL PART THAT YOU COULD
TOUCH ON. BUT AS PART OF THE
REVIEW OF THAT, WE WOULD LOOK
AND MAKE SURE THE PLANNING DOES
INCLUDE COMMUNITY NOTIFICATION
AND PARTNERS ARE REQUIRED TO
KEEP PEOPLE INFORMED THROUGH THE
DEVELOPMENT PROCESS BECAUSE
CONSTRUCTION PROJECTS CAN BE
QUITE DISRUPTIVE.
>> YES.
>> TO THE SURROUNDING
NEIGHBORHOOD. THAT PEOPLE
ACTUALLY -- WE ALWAYS HOPE THAT
THE DEVELOPMENT BECOMES A PART
OF THE COMMUNITY BECAUSE THEY
ARE THERE TO SERVE THE
COMMUNITY. SO THERE IS A
REQUIREMENT. WE'LL REVIEW THOSE
PLANS. DURING THE NOTIFICATION
OF FUNDING AVAILABILITY PROCESS,
AND THAT IS HOW WE -- THAT IS A
PART OF THE REVIEW PROCESS FOR
NEW PROJECTS. KELLI, DO YOU HAVE
ANYTHING TO ADD TO THAT?
>> DO YOU WANT ANYTHING TO ADD?
>> IT IS ALL ACCURATE. WE HAVE
STRONG POLICY GUIDANCE TO
ENCOURAGE AND SUPPORT A
COMMUNITY ENGAGEMENT FOR OUR
PROVIDERS WHEN THEY'RE GOING
INTO THE COMMUNITY. IT'S
REQUIRED AS PART OF APPLYING FOR
FUNDING. AND THEN IT IS ALSO
IMPORTANT TO ACKNOWLEDGE IT
WORKS BETTER FOR THE RESIDENTS,
FOR THE STAFF, AND FOR THE
OWNERS OF THE HOUSING TO ENGAGE
WITH COMMUNITY LONG TERM, AND
THEY UNDERSTAND THAT. SO FROM
SPD TO FIRE TO NEIGHBORS AND
BUSINESSES, IT WORKS FOR
EVERYBODY BETTER WHEN THERE'S
STRONG COMMUNITY ENGAGEMENT. WE
HAVE THIS EXPECTATION UPFRONT.
PROVIDERS WILL TAKE THIS ON
THEIR OWN AS WELL TO MAKE SURE
THEIR HOUSING PROJECTS AND THEIR
RESIDENTS AND STAFF ARE
SUCCESSFUL IN THE NEIGHBORHOOD
AS POSSIBLE.
>> THAT'S A GREAT ANSWER. ONE
REASON I'M BRINGING THIS UP
BECAUSE AS I MENTIONED, YOU
KNOW, WHATEVER, YESTERDAY, I'VE
BEEN GETTING A LOT OF E-MAILS,
I'VE BEEN GETTING LETTERS
RELATED TO LAST YEAR'S SLIDE
AND GOOD NEIGHBORS. I WANT TO
SAY AT LEAST FOR MYSELF, AGAIN,
THIS IS JUST EXACTLY WHAT YOU'RE
SAYING. TO FURTHER THIS POINT,
YESTERDAY, WE HAD CHIEF SCOGGINS
TALKING ABOUT -- BECAUSE THEY
HAD THEIR HIGH RESPONSE
LOCATIONS. I MEAN, IT'S
INCREDIBLE IF YOU LOOK AT THE
DATA. THEY'RE HAVING THIS
ENGAGEMENT. EVERYBODY TAKES A
DEEP BREATH. AGAIN, THIS IS
ABOUT, YOU KNOW, HAVING THE
COMMUNICATION AND SAYING HEY,
WHAT LITTLE THINGS COULD BE DONE
TO HAVE BIG IMPACTS? AND THAT IS
WHERE THIS COMES FROM. I'M
PARTLY SAYING THIS OUT LOUD
BECAUSE I DID GET SO MANY
E-MAILS AND SO MANY LETTERS.
I'VE GOTTEN SIDE BARS WHERE IT
IS A LITTLE POINTED. BUT HEY,
IT'S ABOUT HAVING THE
RELATIONSHIP. SO THANK YOU FOR
THAT RESPONSE. IT PIGGYBACKS
NICELY WITH WHAT CHIEF SCOGGINS
SAID YESTERDAY. NEXT, I JUST
WANT TO NOTE ON YOUR
HOMEOWNERSHIP AND SUSTAINABILITY
POINT. I REALLY APPRECIATE THAT
WORK. I WOULD SAY, YOU KNOW, LOW
INCOME IN TODAY'S SEATTLE WORLD
MAY NOT BE ENOUGH. THERE IS A
LOT OF ELDERLY FOLKS WHOSE
HOMES, BUT THEY DON'T
NECESSARILY QUALIFY. BUT BECAUSE
IT COSTS, I MEAN, YOU COULD BUY
-- YOU COULD BASICALLY ALMOST
BUY -- I WAS GOING TO NAME THE
BRAND, BUT A VERY EXPENSIVE CAR
FOR HOW MUCH IT COSTS TO PAINT A
HOUSE OR TO, YOU KNOW, HAVE A
SWAP OUT OF ALL YOUR HEATING
SYSTEMS THAT WENT OUT, YOU KNOW.
I KNOW THAT THERE'S PROGRAMS
OUT THERE TO HELP THOSE THAT ARE
LOW INCOME. BUT THE PROBLEM IS,
EVEN IF YOU'RE MIDDLE INCOME
BECAUSE OF THE AFFORDABILITY
CHALLENGES, PEOPLE GET CRUNCHED.
I'VE BEEN HEARING THAT ON A
REGULAR BASIS. I'M JUST SAYING
THAT OUT LOUD, SO I APPRECIATE
THESE PIECES. I ALSO WANT TO SAY
ON THE WORD OF FUNDING SIDE, I
DO UNDERSTAND AND ACKNOWLEDGE
THE AWARDS AND THEN THE
CONTRACTING PROCESS AND ALL
THAT, I GET IT, I'M ON BOARD.
AT THE SAME TIME, GOING BACK TO
EARLIER BIG DOLLAR AMOUNTS, [
INAUDIBLE ]
>> ON THE HOUSING INVESTMENT
PLAN. I THINK THE BIG THING HERE
IS, YOU KNOW, HAVING A STRATEGY.
AS I DIG INTO THIS, LIKE THE 60%
AMI WORLD, YOU KNOW, IT IS VERY
DIFFERENT FROM THE 0 TO 30. YOU
KNOW, WE ARE HAVING THESE
MISMATCHES. THEN WHEN YOU THROW
THESE DIFFERENT POTS OF MONEY
AND DIFFERENT ORGANIZATIONS,
AGAIN, I JUST WANTED TO WORK IN
PARTNERSHIP WITH YOU IN TERMS
OF, YOU KNOW, STRATEGY. FROM MY
ROLE, I CAN ENGAGE THESE OTHER
ORGANIZATIONS, AND I'M HAPPY TO
DO SO, BY THE WAY, AS YOU SAW
YESTERDAY. YOU TALK ABOUT TWO
TINY HOME VILLAGES TO HELP OUT.
ULTIMATELY IT'S ABOUT, YOU
KNOW, SHOW OF FUNCTIONING
GOVERNMENT, AND THIS PLAYS INTO
THE PUBLIC SAFETY PIECE TOO,
WHICH IS OBVIOUSLY MY MAIN
MISSIONARY, SO THANK YOU,
DIRECTOR.
>> COUNCILMEMBER, IF I COULD
RESPOND DIRECTLY TO THE QUESTION
ON THE HOUSING INVESTMENT PLAN
RELATED TO PERMANENT SUPPORT OF
HOUSING. THE FUNDING THAT GOES
THROUGH THE FEDERAL CONTINUUM OF
CARE, WHICH THE CASE
ADMINISTERS. 4PSH IS
ADMINISTERED BY THE COUNTY.
INVESTING IN EVERY SINGLE ONE OF
THOSE PROJECTS, SO WE'VE MADE
CAPITAL AWARDS, AND IN SOME
CASES, OPERATING AWARDS THAT
PAIR WITH THE FEDERAL COC
DOLLARS THAT ARE ADMINISTERED
THROUGH KING COUNTY, FOR THE
PERMANENT SUPPORTIVE HOUSING IN
THAT ENTIRE FUND SOURCE.
>> THANK YOU. I'M LEARNING
THAT. I'VE HAD DISCUSSIONS WITH
THE DEPUTY EXECUTIVE AT THE
COUNTY. MULTIPLE COUNCIL MEMBERS
AT THE COUNTY LEVEL, SO FORTH. I
APPRECIATE THAT. AGAIN, IT'S A
LEARNING PROCESS. OBVIOUSLY I
COME FROM A DIFFERENT LENS,
DIFFERENT PERSPECTIVE. BUT I
JUST WANT TO LOOK FORWARD TO
ENGAGING WITH OH. THANK YOU.
>> THANK YOU, COUNCILMEMBER
KETTLE. I'VE GOT COUNCILMEMBER
RIVERA, COUNCILMEMBER RINCK,
COUNCILMEMBER NELSON, AND MYSELF
IN THE QUEUE. COUNCILMEMBER
RIVERA?
>> THANK YOU, CHAIR, GOOD
MORNING. THANK YOU FOR BEING
HERE. JUST FOR THE RECORD, I WAS
ONLINE BEFORE I ENTERED
CHAMBERS, SO I HEARD THE
PRESENTATION. THANK YOU FOR
THAT. I ALSO WANT TO THANK YOU
FOR THE RESPONSE TO THE SLIDES
BECAUSE THAT IS REALLY IMPORTANT
TO GET THE INFORMATION THAT
WE'RE LOOKING FOR AND OFTEN
WILL PUT IN A SLIDE THAT'S OUR
ABILITY TO GET INFORMATION. I
FOUND THE SLIDE RESPONSES TO BE
VERY HELPFUL, BOTH RELATED TO
THE GOOD NEIGHBOR AGREEMENT AND
THE VACANCIES. SO I HAVE SOME
QUESTIONS ABOUT THAT. I WANT TO
CLARIFY ON YOUR SLIDES, WHERE
YOU PUT A NUMBER OF HOMES. SO
WHEN IT SAYS RENTAL HOUSING,
THAT'S 50 UNITS OF HOUSING? NOT
58 PROJECTS, RIGHT? I MEAN, I
IMAGINE, SO OTHERWISE IT WOULD
HAVE BEEN MORE EXPENSIVE, BUT I
JUST WANTED TO -- I DON'T LIKE
TO ASSUME. SO THANK YOU FOR
THAT. IS THIS OVERALL IN THE
LAST, HOWEVER MANY YEARS OR IS
THIS JUST -- WELL, LET ME BACK
UP AND JUST SAY, I DID ASK IN
THE TRACKER, I ASKED FOR
INFORMATION FROM 2015, YOUR
SLIDE, THAT GOES BACK TO 2515.
HOW MUCH HOUSING EVERY YEAR HAVE
WE ADDED BOTH ON THE RENTAL AND
THE HOMEOWNERSHIP? AND I KNOW
YOU GUYS ARE WORKING ON THAT. I
WANT TO THANK YOU IN ADVANCE FOR
THAT. I WILL JUST WAIT TO GET
THAT INFORMATION THEN, SO IT IS
NOT TO TAKE UP MORE TIME. ON THE
GOOD NEIGHBOR AGREEMENTS, I
AGREE WITH MY COLLEAGUES ABOUT
THIS. IT IS NOT MEANT TO BE
PUNITIVE. MY INTEREST IS WE
DON'T WANT TO BE IN A SITUATION
WHERE OUR HOUSING PROVIDERS ARE
IN CONFLICT WITH THE NEIGHBORS
-- SURROUNDING NEIGHBORS. I
DON'T THINK THAT'S A WAY TO
SET UP ALL OF OUR RESIDENTS FOR
SUCCESS. I THINK THAT WE'VE
SEEN A LOT OF ISSUES COME UP.
AND A LOT PUBLIC SAFETY RELATED.
I'M NOT SAYING THE FOLKS IN THE
HOUSING ARE CREATING THE
PROBLEMS FOR WHATEVER REASON THE
PROBLEMS ARE OCCURRING NEARBY.
AND THEN WITHOUT THAT,
COMMUNICATION POINT WITH THE
SURROUNDING NEIGHBORS, IT JUST
LEAVES A VOID. IT'S AN
UNFORTUNATE VOID. SO MY INTEREST
IN THE GOOD NEIGHBOR AGREEMENT,
HOW DO WE ENSURE WE ARE
FOSTERING RELATIONSHIPS WITH ALL
THE RESIDENTS THERE, REGARDLESS
OF WHERE THEY'RE LIVING? AND
WITH THE GOOD NEIGHBOR
AGREEMENTS, I UNDERSTAND AS THE
PROJECT IS BEING BUILT, THE
EXPECTATION IS AND THE POLICY IS
THEY ARE GOING TO WORK WITH THE
NEIGHBORS TO LET THEM KNOW THE
PROJECT IS GOING UP AND SO
FORTH. BUT THERE IS NO
REQUIREMENT IN THE CONTRACT TO
KEEP SOME LEVEL OF ENGAGEMENT
HAPPENING. I THINK THAT'S
UNFORTUNATE BECAUSE, YOU KNOW, I
UNDERSTAND WE LEAVE IT UP TO THE
HOUSING PROVIDERS, BUT THEY WERE
ALL DOING DIFFERENT THINGS. AND
I DON'T KNOW WHAT IS HAPPENING.
I DON'T ACTUALLY SEE IT
HAPPENING ON THE GROUND. I HAVE
SPOKEN WITH SOME HOUSING
PROVIDERS THAT ALSO FEEL LIKE WE
RESTRICT OUR DOLLARS TO THE
ACTUAL BUILDING OF THE HOUSING,
BUT, YOU KNOW, THEIR ABILITY TO
BE ABLE TO USE SOME OF THIS
FUNDING FOR THINGS LIKE MORE
CASE MANAGERS OR SECURITY WOULD
BE HELPFUL TO THE RESIDENTS
THERE, THAT WOULD THEN IN TURN
BE HELPFUL TO THE NEIGHBORHOOD
IN GENERAL. YOU KNOW, I THINK
THAT WHEN YOU'RE TALKING ABOUT
AFFORDABLE AND SAFE HOUSING, IT
WILL GO BEYOND JUST THE
CONSTRUCTION OF THE HOUSING. I
MEAN, IT GOES TOWARDS THE
COMMUNICATION AND THE RELATION
WITH THE NEIGHBOR. IT GOES INTO
MAKING SURE THE RESIDENTS WHO
WERE LIVING THERE HAVE A SAFE
PLACE THAT THEY'RE LIVING IN.
HOW DO WE MAKE SURE THAT'S ALL
FOSTERED AS PART OF THIS
INVESTMENT? BECAUSE I DON'T SEE
IT AS WE ARE GIVING YOU DOLLARS
TO CREATE HOUSING. WE NEED TO
MAKE IT SAFE FOR THE PEOPLE THAT
ARE LIVING THERE. WE NEED TO
MAKE SURE THE NEIGHBORS ARE
WELCOMING FOLKS THAT ARE NEWLY
COMING, REGARDLESS OF WHETHER
THEIR MARKET READ OR LOW INCOME
OR WHATEVER THE CASE MAY BE. SO
JUST KNOW THAT IS WHERE MY
INTEREST IN THIS GOOD NEIGHBOR
AGREEMENT PIECE IS COMING FROM.
I THINK THERE IS A LOT OF ROOM
IN MY CONVERSATION WITH THE
HOUSING PROVIDER ON THINGS, THE
SUPPORT THEY COULD HAVE TO MAKE
SURE THOSE RELATIONSHIPS ARE
BEING FOSTERED BETTER IN THOSE
COMMUNITIES AND THOSE
NEIGHBORHOODS. SO I WOULD LIKE
TO SEE SOME, SOMETHING, SOME
CHANGE, TO HELP HOUSING
PROVIDERS DO SOME OF THESE
THINGS THAT HAVE BECOME
CHALLENGING FOR THEM, SO WE ARE
HELPING THEM TO BE ABLE TO
MAINTAIN AND PROVIDE THAT
AFFORDABLE SAFE SPACE FOR FOLKS,
IS THAT IS NOT A QUESTION, BUT A
COMMENT. BUT WHEN I THINK ABOUT
THE GOOD NEIGHBOR AGREEMENTS,
HOW CAN WE BETTER SUPPORT OUR
HOUSING PROVIDER TO THEN SUPPORT
THEIR RESIDENTS, AND HOW DO WE
FOSTER ENGAGEMENT WITH THOSE
COMMUNITIES BEYOND JUST LETTING
FOLKS KNOW THE PROJECT IS GOING
UP, SO EVERYBODY IS SET UP FOR
SUCCESS? I WOULD LIKE TO SEE
THAT. SO THAT NEIGHBORS ARE
TAKING CARE OF EACH OTHER VERSES
AT ODDS WITH EACH OTHER. THAT'S
UNFORTUNATE, AND THAT DOES NOT
HAVE TO BE. AND I'M TELLING YOU
THE SYSTEM THAT GREW UP IN LOW
INCOME HOUSING, WHERE WE ALL
TOOK CARE OF EACH OTHER. IT WAS
AN APARTMENT BUILDING. EVERYBODY
WILL WATCH OUT FOR EACH OTHER'S
KIDS. WHEN YOU WATCH HOME FROM
SCHOOL AND NOT JUST MY BUILDING,
ALL OF THE APARTMENTS FROM THE
TEN BLOCKS I WOULD HAVE TO WALK
TO SCHOOL. IF YOU STEPPED OUT OF
LINE, MY MOM KNEW IT BY THE TIME
YOU GOT HOME. SOMEONE SAW YOU
AND CALLED, SOMETHING IS
HAPPENING, AND WE WOULD TAKE
CARE OF EACH OTHER. IN THE SAME
WAY, WE SHOULD BE FOSTERING, HOW
DO WE GET THESE COMMUNITIES AND
NEIGHBORS TO TAKE CARE OF EACH
OTHER? CHAIR, WE HAVE ONE MORE
QUESTION RELATED TO THE VACANCY
SLIDE. A PART OF IT, I
UNDERSTAND THERE ISN'T, THERE
SEEMS TO BE A NEED OR YOU
INDICATED IN HERE, YOU KNOW,
SOME TECHNICAL SUPPORT TO CREATE
SOME TYPE OF DATA BASE BECAUSE I
KNOW THE STATE, WE DON'T GET
THINGS IN REAL TIME AND IT MAKES
IT CHALLENGING. I SAW THAT YOU
NOTED, YOU KNOW, SOMETHING ABOUT
A $2 MILLION THING TO CREATE
SOMETHING. I'M THINKING THAT
THERE USED TO BE IN THE
INNOVATION AND PERFORMANCE
OFFICE THAT THERE WAS A PROGRAM,
A PARTNERSHIP WITH SOME PRIVATE
PARTNERS OR THEY WOULD HELP THIS
CITY CREATE SOMETHING LIKE A
DATA BASE IF THEY NEEDED IT. I
DON'T KNOW IF THAT PROGRAM
STILL EXISTS. BUT THE POINT
BEING WE LIVE IN ONE OF THE TECH
CAPITALS OF THE UNITED STATES,
AND CAN'T WE DO A
PRIVATE-PUBLIC PARTNERSHIP TO
CREATE SUCH A THING FOR THE
CITY, SO YOU DON'T HAVE TO RELY
ON THE BIGGER SYSTEM? ALSO, I'M
SENSITIVE AND MINDFUL TO THE
FACT THAT, YOU KNOW, WHEN
VACANCIES HAPPEN, WE NEED TO BE
ABLE TO UTILIZE THOSE VACANCIES,
OBVIOUSLY. AND HOW QUICKLY CAN
WE HELP FOLKS CONNECT FOLKS? I
JUST, FROM EXPERIENCE, I HAVE A
CONSTITUENT WHO WAS GETTING
EVICTED, AND MY OFFICE WAS
CALLING. HERE, THERE, EVERYWHERE
TO TRY TO FIND A SPOT FOR THIS
PERSON, AND THEY'RE ABOUT TO
GET EVICTED ON ALL THE THINGS.
SO IT SEEMS LIKE THERE IS A VOID
IN THIS SYSTEM AND HOW DO WE --
WHAT DO WE DO TO SOLVE FOR THAT?
I'M INTERESTED IN HEARING THAT.
IF IT IS A DATA BASE THAT IS
NEEDED, THEN I DON'T SEE WHY WE
CAN'T ACCOMPLISH THAT. IF IT IS
$2 MILLION, WHETHER WE DO A
PRIVATE-PUBLIC PARTNERSHIP, SO
THAT SOMEONE IS DONATING THAT
CREATION OF THE DATA BASE OR
WHETHER WE COULD USE SOME OF THE
HOUSING FUND TO CREATE THE THING
THAT IS ACTUALLY SUPPORTING THE
HOUSING THAT WE ARE CREATING.
WOULD LOVE TO SEE THAT HAPPEN,
SO WE'RE IN A BETTER SPACE.
WHETHER THAT IS IT, I DON'T
KNOW, BUT THAT'S THE POINT. IT
SEEMS A LITTLE BIT THAT WE
DON'T KNOW WHO IS DOING WHAT
AND WHO IS THE BEST TO BE DOING
WHAT NEEDS TO BE DONE.
>> THANK YOU, KELLI OR DIRECTOR
WHITE?
>> I APPRECIATE THESE TWO LINES
OF QUESTIONING. THEY ADDRESS A
SIMILAR NEED, I BELIEVE, WHICH
IS REALLY CAPACITY STAFFING AND
SERVICES IN AFFORDABLE HOUSING.
FOR THE LONGEST TIME, AFFORDABLE
HOUSING WAS REALLY FUNDED TO BE
JUST THAT. HOUSING, AFFORDABLE
TO PEOPLE WHO HAVE LOW INCOMES.
MUCH OF THE AFFORDABLE HOUSING,
THE MAJORITY OF WHAT WE INVEST
IN THE OFFICE OF HOUSING HAS
MINIMAL STAFFING. THE ISSUE IS
THE STAFF PROVIDER ACROSS THE
CITY, HAVING THE CAPACITY TO
UPDATE DATA ON THE REGULAR BASIS
INTO THAT SYSTEM, PARTICULARLY
FOR THE SMALL OPERATORS. SO WHAT
WE HAVE DONE THIS YEAR, FOR THE
VACANCY RATE REPORTING IS TO
FOCUS ON THE SIX LARGEST
PROVIDERS WHO HAVE MORE CAPACITY
TO PROVIDE THIS TYPE OF
REPORTING, PARTICULARLY THE
SUPPORTIVE HOUSING PROVIDER WHO
ARE ACCUSTOMED TO INPUTTING
DATA, THE HOMELESS MANAGEMENT
SYSTEMS ON THE REGULAR BASIS. SO
THEY HAVE A DIFFERENT TYPE OF
REPORTING CAPACITY. IT'S ONE OF
OUR TOP PROVIDERS. THEY ALSO
HAVE A DIFFERENT TYPE OF
CAPACITY. AND SO WHEN WE ARE
RESPONDING TO THE SLIDE, THE
LARGEST CONCERN REALLY IS AROUND
CAPACITY FOR THE PROVIDERS.
CONNECTED TO THAT, SOME OF THE
QUESTIONS YOU RAISED AROUND GOOD
NEIGHBOR AGREEMENTS ARE ALSO
SORT OF CONNECTED TO THIS
STAFFING CONCERN. I BELIEVE YOU
ARE ALSO AT THE BELLWEATHER
LUNCHEON. WE HEARD THE STORY,
THE GRANDMOTHER WHO HAD THE
PLAYGROUND NAMED AFTER HER.
CONNECTIONS THAT THEY FORMED IN
THAT COMMUNITY, THERE ARE MANY
STORIES ACROSS THE CITY. WE'RE
FOCUSED ON CHALLENGES WITH A LOT
OF GOOD STORIES THAT ARE
HAPPENING IN AFFORDABLE HOUSING
AND SUPPORTIVE HOUSING EVERY
DAY. SO A LOT OF THE COMMUNITY
DOES EXIST THROUGHOUT THE
SECTOR. BUT THERE ARE NEEDS FOR
MORE INVESTMENT, ABSOLUTELY. THE
LAST SEVERAL YEARS, WE HAVE
INCREASED OUR INVESTMENT IN
REVENUE SERVICES. WE HAVE
INCREASED OUR INVESTMENTS IN THE
WORK FORCE STABILIZATION FOR THE
PERMANENT SUPPORTING HOUSING
SUPPORTERS. WE HAVE ALSO MADE
ONE-TIME INVESTMENTS IN
OPERATING STABILIZATION, WHERE
WE ARE CURRENTLY EXAMINING WHAT
TYPE OF FUTURE INVESTMENTS CAN
BE MADE TO BETTER STABILIZE
OPERATORS AND PROVIDERS IN THIS
VERY CHALLENGING TIME THAT WE'RE
IN. SO WE ARE HOPING TO HAVE
SOME ANNOUNCEMENTS TO MAKE IN
THE NEAR FUTURE ABOUT MORE
INVESTMENTS THAT WILL HELP
SUPPORT SOME OF THESE EFFORTS. I
DON'T KNOW IF WE COULD DO ALL
THINGS, BUT WE APPRECIATE
HEARING FROM ELECTIVES, FROM
NEIGHBORS, TO HELP INFORM THESE
INVESTMENTS, AND WE'RE
COMMITTED TO DOING THAT.
>> THANK YOU, KELLY. I KNOW WE
HAVE A LOT OF GREAT PROJECTS.
HOUSING DEVELOPMENT, I MEAN, AND
LIKE BELLWEATHER AND ROOSEVELT,
THEY'VE DONE A GOOD JOB IN
WORKING WITH THE NEIGHBORS. BUT
THEN I HAVE SOME OTHER HOUSING
PLACES THAT JUST THEY NEED HELP.
THEY ARE MY CONSTITUENTS AS
WELL, AND I WANT TO MAKE SURE
WE'RE PROVIDING THE HELP THAT
THEY NEED. SO THIS ISN'T FOR ME
TO SEE ALL, YOU KNOW, ALL THE
HOUSING THAT WE INVEST IN IS NOT
DOING WELL. SOME OF THEM THOUGH
ARE NOT. I'M FOCUSED ON HOW DO
WE HELP THEM? SO PLEASE KNOW
THAT IS WHERE THIS IS COMING
FROM. I OFTEN GO TO HOW CAN WE
SOLVE THE SOLUTIONS ORIENTED? I
MIGHT GO TO THAT PROBLEM THAT I
SEE IN MY DISTRICT FIRST, AND
HOW DO I SOLVE FOR THAT? I KNOW
THAT IS NOT ALL IN THE HOUSING
THAT WE PROVIDE, BUT IT IS A
CHALLENGE. IT HAS BEEN A
CHALLENGE JUST NOT IN MY
DISTRICT PARTICULARLY WITH
PUBLIC SAFETY AND WITH THE FOLKS
LIVING IN THOSE UNITS. IT IS OUR
CONSTITUENTS TOO, AND IT IS OUR
JOB TO HELP THEM ENSURE WHERE
THEY ARE LIVING IS SAFE. SO
THANK YOU. I LOOK FORWARD TO
ENGAGING ON HOW WE HELP OUR
FOLKS ALONG IN REGARDS TO THE
SAFETY ISSUES, THEN THE VACANCY
PIECE. THAT'S REALLY IMPORTANT
BEING ABLE TO RAPIDLY REHOUSE
SOMEONE IS IMPORTANT, AND IT
SHOULDN'T BE AS CHALLENGING AS
I HAVE EXPERIENCED BECAUSE THAT
PERSON IS FACING HOMELESSNESS.
ANY WAY, THANK YOU. THANK YOU,
CHAIR.
>> THANK YOU. DIRECTOR KELLI,
ANYTHING TO SHARE IN RESPONSE?
THANK YOU. MOVING ON, WE HAVE
COUNCILMEMBER RINCK, FOLLOWED BY
NELSON, SAKA, AND THEN MYSELF.
COUNCILMEMBER RINCK? THE FLOOR
IS YOURS.
>> THANK YOU, CHAIR, AND THANK
YOU WINKLER-CHIN, KELLI,
REBECCA, THANK YOU ALL FOR BEING
HERE. THANK YOU FOR YOUR WORK IN
THE OFFICE OF HOUSING, AS WE'RE
CONFRONTING A TREMENDOUS
HOUSING, I THINK WE SHOULD BE
PROUD THE CITY OF SEATTLE HAS
TAKEN STEPS TO REBUILDING MORE
HOUSING, CREATING MORE
AFFORDABLE HOMEOWNERSHIP
OPPORTUNITY, AND CONTINUING OUR
WORK TO TRY TO ADDRESS
DISPLACEMENT IN OUR COMMUNITY. I
BRING THOSE THINGS UP TO SAY IT
CAN'T BE UNDERSTATED HOW
IMPORTANT THE WORK OF OFFICE OF
HOUSING IS. SO I HAVE A COUPLE
OF QUESTIONS. I WANT TO THANK MY
COLLEAGUE, COUNCILMEMBER JUAREZ
FOR ASKING THAT CLARIFYING PIECE
AROUND THE NORTHGATE PROJECT. I
HAVE A COUPLE OF ADDITIONAL
CLARIFYING PIECES, JUST SO I'M
FOLLOWING CORRECTLY. I HAD A
SIMILAR READ. WHEN I READ THIS
SLIDE, I WAS UNDER THE
IMPRESSION THIS WAS A FUN
TRANSFER TO FIS, AND IT SOUNDS
LIKE I'M MISUNDERSTANDING THAT
IT GOES TO FINANCE GENERAL. CAN
I JUST UNDERSTAND A LITTLE BIT
MORE, WHY IS THIS CHANGE
HAPPENING? IS THERE ANY IMPACT
TO COMPETITIVE BIDDING PROCESS
THAT IS GOING ON WITH THIS?
COULD YOU UNPACK THIS CHANGE A
LITTLE BIT MORE?
>> I DON'T KNOW IF DIRECTOR
EDER WANTS TO ANSWER THAT?
>> I DO NOT. THERE'S NOTHING IF
YOU WILL. JUST A QUESTION, THE
WAY THE CONTRACTING WORKS TO
MAKE SENSE TO GO OUT OF FINANCE
GENERAL. I DON'T ACTUALLY HAVE
MORE DETAIL THAN THAT, BUT WE'RE
TALKING ABOUT THE NORTHGATE
COMMONS PROJECT?
>> CORRECT.
>> I JUST DIDN'T WANT TO ANSWER
IT BECAUSE I'M SORRY, I HADN'T
BEEN TRACKING WHAT THE QUESTION
WAS. BUT YEAH, THE POLICY WILL
REQUIRE THAT WE DO COMPETITIVE
BIDS, AND THIS WAS A DECISION
THAT WAS MADE OUTSIDE OF THE
COMPETITIVE BID PROCESS. SO
WE'RE PROPOSING TO MOVE THE
MONEY TO FINANCE GENERAL, SO WE
CAN SPEND THE MONEY ON THE
PROJECT THAT THE CITY LEADERS
HAVE DECIDED IS THE BEST
ALLOCATION OF THE SCARCE
RESOURCES. IT IS THE LAST MONEY
THAT WILL ALLOW THE PROJECT TO
MOVE FORWARD. I DON'T KNOW THE
NUMBER OF UNITS, BUT IT'S A BIG
HOUSING PROJECT, AND WE HAVE
PROPOSED THIS BE THE LAST
DOLLARS IN EFFECTIVELY TO MAKE
THE PROJECT FINANCING WORK.
>> THANK YOU FOR THAT, DIRECTOR
EDER. THANK YOU FOR KIND OF
CLARIFYING THAT POINT. I WAS A
LITTLE BIT CONFUSED THERE. I
KNOW WE'VE HAD A LITTLE BIT OF
DISCUSSION JUST NOW IN GOOD
NEIGHBOR AGREEMENTS, AND IT'S
MY UNDERSTANDING MANY PARTIES
ARE INVOLVED IN NOT ONLY
TRANSACTIONS ASSOCIATED WITH
DIFFERENT PROJECTS, BUT ALSO
ONGOING OPERATIONS. I THINK WE
ALL HAVE AN INTEREST IN MAKING
SURE WE ARE SETTING UP PROGRAMS,
PROJECT FOR SUCCESS. BUT OH,
HAVING AN INTEREST IN MAKING
SURE THE PROPERTIES OPERATE
SUSTAINABILITY FROM SUSTAINABLY
FROM A FINANCIAL PERSPECTIVE,
BUT ALSO FROM A COMMUNITY
NEIGHBORHOOD PERSPECTIVE. AND I
KNOW YOU SPOKE TO SOME OF THESE
PIECES AROUND WORK FORCE
DEVELOPMENT AND STAFFING, BUT
CAN YOU PLEASE HELP US
UNDERSTAND SOME OF THE
ADDITIONAL EXISTING MEASURES IN
PLACE THAT ENSURE BOTH RESIDENTS
AND COMMUNITY IS ATTENDED TO?
>> I'LL START WITH THAT. I
THINK KELLY JUST MENTIONED SOME
OF THE DOLLARS THAT WE'VE SEEN
GOING INTO AFFORDABLE HOUSING IN
THE MORE RECENT YEARS. THE LOWER
THE INCOME THE UNIT IS, THE MORE
SUPPORT IT NEEDS JUST TO MEET
THEIR BASIC COST OF THE
ELECTRICITY, THE INSURANCE, ALL
THE OTHER COSTS THAT ARE
ASSOCIATED WITH JUST OPERATING A
UNIT. WE HAVE ALSO SEEN MORE
RECENTLY, ESPECIALLY THE
PERMANENT SUPPORTIVE HOUSING
SPACE. THE FACT THE PROPERTIES
NEEDED MORE RESOURCES TO HELP
FUND STAFF. SO A FEW YEARS AGO,
WHEN WE WERE DOING THE LEVY
PLANNING, WE REALIZED THAT
PEOPLE WERE WORKING AT SOME OF
OUR SUPPORTIVE HOUSING COULD
MAKE MUCH MORE. I THINK IT WAS
THE SEATTLE AQUARIUM BARISTA,
MAKING $7 MORE AN HOUR. SO IN
ORDER TO KEEP PEOPLE, AND IT IS
REALLY THOSE RELATIONSHIPS ON
SITE THAT WILL KEEP THE PLACE
OPERATING WELL, THAT THEY NEEDED
MORE RESOURCES TO MAKE SURE THE
PEOPLE THERE WERE FEELING
SUPPORTED. IN PARTICULAR, IT'S
A 24/7 OPERATION. WE DID A
STABILIZATION GRANT PROCESS LAST
YEAR, I THINK THAT WAS $14
MILLION. TO REALLY THINK ABOUT
HOW COULD WE RESPOND IN THAT
MOMENT TO SOME OF THE CHANGING
DYNAMICS TO MEET THAT NEED, AND
ALSO AS WE START LOOKING MORE
LONG TERM AT OUR HOUSING AND HOW
WE DO OUR INVESTMENTS. I THINK
THE TECHNICAL TERM IS
UNDERWRITING. BUT WHAT THAT IS,
ONCE THE BUILDING IS BUILT, WHAT
DO WE NEED TO MAKE IT OPERATE?
WHAT ARE OUR BUDGET ASSUMPTIONS
GOING FORWARD? AND HOW IS THAT
ALL WORKING? TO BE HONEST, AS
WE'VE SEEN OVER 20 OR 30 YEARS,
THE UNITS THAT WE INVESTED AT
THAT TIME, THE UNDERWRITING
ASSUMPTIONS HAVE CHANGED OVER
TIME. SO RIGHT NOW IN OUR MOST
RECENT NOTIFICATION OF FUNDING
AVAILABILITY, WE DID WHAT WE
CALL THE STABILIZATION LOAN,
WHICH IS JUST REALLY LOOKING AT,
OKAY, THE PROJECTS ARE IN A VERY
DIFFERENT PLACE NOW THAN PERHAPS
WHEN THEY OPERATED. WHAT ARE
YOUR ASSUMPTIONS? HOW CAN WE
SUSTAIN IN BRINGING THOSE
DOLLARS TO YOU TO HELP ADJUST
FOR THAT GOING FORWARD? FOR US,
IF HOUSING IS THE PLACE THAT
EVERYBODY WILL DESERVE, WE ALSO
VIEW IT AS KIND OF THE BASELINE
FOR WHAT IT IS THAT PEOPLE
SHOULD BE ABLE TO PARTICIPATE IN
THEIR COMMUNITIES? WE WANT THE
BUILDINGS AND THE PEOPLE WHO
LIVE THERE TO FULLY ENGAGE WITH
THEIR COMMUNITIES. SO HOW DO WE
SUPPORT THAT? AND THAT IS
THROUGH THE BUILDING OPERATIONS.
AND I UNDERSTAND THAT PEOPLE,
THEY REALLY THINK OF OUR DOLLARS
GOING IN, BUT IN THE PRESUMPTION
OF THE CAPITAL, IT IS REALLY HOW
DO THEY MAINTAIN THEIR OPERATING
EXPENSES? IF YOU THINK YOU'RE
COMING IN AT A CERTAIN DOLLAR
AMOUNT, YOU SHOULD HAVE DOLLARS
TO PAY YOUR MORTGAGE. IF IT IS
NOT PERFORMING THAT WAY, YOU'RE
NOT GOING TO HAVE YOUR DOLLARS
TO PAY THE MORTGAGE TO ADJUST IT
APPROPRIATELY. THAT MIGHT HAVE
GOTTEN WAY MORE TECHNICAL
COUNCIL MEMBER, THAN WHAT YOU
WERE HOPING FOR, SO I APOLOGIZE.
>> NO, I THINK IT'S IMPORTANT
TO HAVE THAT INFORMATION ON THE
RECORD. I'M ALSO KIND OF
DRAWING A DOTTED LINE BETWEEN
THIS DISCUSSION THAT WE ARE
HAVING AND ALSO ABOUT STAFFING
IN THE DISCUSSION THAT WE WOULD
HAVE YESTERDAY, WHEN THE HUMAN
SERVICES DEPARTMENT WAS AT THE
TABLE, WHEN WE WERE TALKING
ABOUT WAGE EQUITY FOR HUMAN
SERVICES RECORDS. SOMETIMES IT
COMES DOWN TO THE ABILITY TO
DEPLOY A PROGRAM AS IT IS
INTENDED TO BE DESIGNED AND
INTENDED TO BE DEPLOYED. IT IS
DEPENDING ON THE STAFFING. AS WE
HAVE NOTED, OUR HUMAN SERVICES
WORKERS ARE UNDERPAID AS THEY
FOUND STUDY AFTER STUDY. I WANT
TO PIVOT IN A SECOND JUST TO OUR
ECONOMY BECAUSE I WANT TO
UNDERSTAND HOW OUR BROADER PICK
IMPACTS, SUCH AS INTEREST RATES,
TARIFFS, HIGH COST OF LABOR, AND
OTHER ISSUES ARE IMPACTING THE
OH PROJECTS? SHOULD WE EXPECT TO
SEE LESS AFFORDABLE HOUSING
COMING IN? LESS AFFORDABLE
HOUSING IN THE COMING YEARS?
WHAT SHOULD WE CONSIDER TO
REMEDY THIS AT THE CITY LEVEL?
>> SO I THINK THAT IS A TWO-PART
QUESTION. HOW HAS THE GENERAL
ECONOMIC, HOW DOES THE ECONOMY
IN ITS VARIOUS THINGS IMPACT
AFFORDABLE HOUSING? IT WILL MAKE
IT MORE EXPENSIVE TO BUILD. SO
INTEREST RATES ARE A LITTLE BIT
HIGHER THAN WHAT I THINK WE HAVE
MODELED IN THE LEVY. THE COST OF
MATERIALS AND THE COST OF LABOR
ARE PROBABLY HIGHER THAN WHAT WE
ANTICIPATE IN THE LEVY.
>> AT LEAST 15%.
>> AT LEAST 15%. AND THERE IS A
DESIRE AND, I THINK, A NEED TO
DO LARGER SIZE UNITS. WE ALWAYS
DO THIS UNIT COUNT IN THE LEVY
MODELING, BUT WE WERE CLEAR IN
THIS LAST LEVY THAT WE WERE
GOING TO DO LARGER UNITS. SO OF
COURSE, THE COST PER UNIT WILL
GO UP. YOU MAY SEE IN FUTURE
ROUNDS OF WHEN WE DO OUR WORK,
WE ARE ALSO STARTING TO TALK
ABOUT THE NUMBER OF BEDROOMS
PRODUCED BECAUSE A UNIT COULD BE
A STUDIO, A UNIT COULD BE A FIVE
BEDROOM UNIT, RIGHT? SO THE
COSTS ARE GOING UP. AS WE ALL
SEE FROM JUST DAY-TO-DAY LIVING.
IN MEETING THE LEVY GOALS AND
THAT THEN MEANS, AND I THINK IT
WILL BE IN THE HOUSING
INVESTMENT PLAN THAT WE WILL
HAVE TO MAKE SURE MORE RESOURCES
WILL GO TOWARDS THE CRIUATION OF
AFFORDABLE HOUSING. OUR GOAL IS
TO MEET THE GOAL.
>> CERTAINLY, THANK YOU FOR
THAT. THE COST OF MATERIALS HAS
GONE UP 15% ABOVE WHAT WE
ORIGINALLY MODEL LED IN THE
LEVY?
>> YES. SO FOR THE HOUSING
INVESTMENT PLAN, WE DID AN
UPDATE OF THE HOUSING LEVY
MODEL. AND OUR MODELING OF THE
USE OF PAYROLL EXPENSE TAX TO
CATCH UP TO CURRENT CONDITIONS.
THE COST OF CONSTRUCTION ALONE
HAS INCREASED 15%. INTEREST
RATES ARE MUCH HIGHER THAN WE
ANTICIPATED IN OUR HOUSING LEVY
MODEL. A NUMBER OF FACTORS HAVE
CHANGED THAT REALLY IMPACTED THE
MODELING OF THE NUMBER ONE
IMPACT WAS THE COST OF
CONSTRUCTION. I BELIEVE NUMBER
TWO IS INTEREST RATES. WE
BELIEVE IT IS STILL GOING TO
TAKE SOME TIME TO SETTLE, BUT
THERE WILL BE SOME SETTLING IN
FUTURE YEARS OF THE LEVY, BUT
THEY DID REQUIRE AN UPDATE TO
THE MODEL. CONSEQUENCE OF THAT
INCREASED COST IS THAT WE
REQUIRE MORE TO MEET THE LEVY
GOALS. THAT IS WHAT WAS
PRESENTED IN THE HOUSING
INVESTMENT PLAN THAT YOU CAN SEE
THAT. WE'RE HAPPY TO TALK TO
YOU ABOUT THAT MORE LATER.
>> I THINK THAT IT MIGHT BE
WORTH VENTURING IN TO THIS POINT
OF THE CONVERSATION, AND JUST
REMIND EVERYONE THAT WE'RE ONE
OF THE FUNDING SOURCES, BUT NOT
THE ONLY FUNDING SOURCE FOR
THESE AFFORDABLE HOUSING
PROJECTS THAT ARE BEING DONE BY
DEVELOPERS. I'M PROUD AND
PLEASED THAT WE CONTINUE TO BE A
MAJOR PART OF THE PUZZLE, BUT WE
ARE NOT THE ONLY PART.
>> THANK YOU FOR THAT. GOOD
REMINDER, DIRECTOR EDER. WE HAVE
A LOT OF OTHER PUBLIC FUNDERS TO
PROVIDE MONEY FOR A NUMBER OF
THESE PROJECTS. WHEN IT COMES TO
ONE-TIME CAPITAL FUNDING AND
ONGOING OPERATIONS FUNDING, HOW
HAS OH BEEN WORKING TO BALANCE
THESE TWO NEEDS? AND HOW MUCH OF
A PRIORITY WILL WORK FORCE
STABILIZATION FUND BE IN THE
COMING BUDGET CYCLE FOR OH?
>> THE OFFICE OF HOUSING HAS
TAKEN THE STANCE DURING THESE
INTERESTING TIMES TO REALLY
FOCUS ON KEEPING WHAT'S OPEN
AND OPERATING OPEN AND
OPERATING, VERSES THE BUILDING
OF NEW. WE'VE ALSO STARTED TO
LOOK MORE AT DOING MORE OF WHAT
WE CALL PRESERVATION. THAT'S
DEFINED AS REINVESTING AND
PREEXISTING PRODUCT. OUR
PREEXISTING INVESTMENTS THAT ARE
DOING WELL, RIGHT? AND MEET THE
OPERATORS' GOALS AND OUR GOAL
AS AN INVESTOR. SO THAT IS KIND
OF HOW WE ARE PRIORITIZING THAT.
WE HAD MODELED IN THE WORK FORCE
IN ALL OF OUR OPERATING
SUPPORTS, I THINK WE'VE
MODELED, OH, KELLI, WHAT IS IT?
INCREASES EVERY YEAR?
>> YES, CERTAINLY. BECAUSE WE
UNDERSTAND THE COSTS RARELY GO
DOWN. COSTS TYPICALLY JUST GO
UP. SO WE HAD ACTUALLY DONE THAT
AS PART OF THE LEVY MODELING.
>> IT'S BEEN A HISTORIC
PRACTICE FOR THE OFFICE OF
HOUSING OVER THE LAST 40 YEARS
OF OPERATING AND MAINTENANCE
FUNDS TO ALLOW AN ANNUAL
ESCALATOR ON THE FUNDS. SO WE
SUPPORT AND ACKNOWLEDGE THE COST
INCREASE EVERY YEAR. WE HAVE
BUILT THAT IN TO OUR BUDGET
ASSUMPTIONS. OPERATING EXPENSES
ARE A HIGH PRIORITY. THE
PERMANENT SUPPORTIVE HOUSING FOR
WORK FORCE FUND IS A VERY HIGH
PRIORITY. IT'S FUNDING WORKERS
TODAY. SO IT'S AN INCREDIBLY
HIGH PRIORITY FOR THE BUDGET.
>> GOOD TO HEAR. THANK YOU. MY
LAST QUESTION FOR TODAY, I'M
SURE WE'LL HAVE FOLLOW-UP
DISCUSSIONS. I WAS EXCITED TO
SEE THE ANNOUNCEMENT FUND. I'M
WONDERING IF YOU CAN ELABORATE
ON THE FUND AND THE GOAL, AND A
QUESTION FOR DIRECTOR'DER. IS
THIS FUNDING COMING FROM OTHER
PROGRAMS OR WHICH FUND SOURCES?
ANY OVERLAP WITH EXISTING
PROGRAMS? ANYTHING YOU COULD
UNPACK FOR US TODAY?
>> I DON'T HAVE A READY ANSWER
FOR YOU, BUT I CAN FOLLOW UP
WITH YOU.
>> THANK YOU.
>> SO I THINK WHAT THE OFFICE OF
HOUSING WOULD SAY OR WHAT I AM
GOING TO SAY. WE CONTINUE TO
WORK WITH OUR COLLEAGUES TO
PROMOTE INVESTMENTS THAT MEET
THE INTENT OF THIS POLICY. SO I
BELIEVE THERE'S THREE PARTS OF
THIS. FIRST IS THE OFFICE OF
CIVIL RIGHTS, DOING AN ANALYSIS.
THE SECOND IS THE OFFICE OF
PLANNING AND COMMUNITY
DEVELOPMENT TO DO THEIR STUDY AS
WELL, AND WE WILL WORK WITH
THEM. AS THEY'RE GOING THROUGH
THEIR EARLY STAGE PLANNING
AROUND THESE INVESTMENTS. I JUST
WANT TO REMIND PEOPLE THAT WE
HAVE, AT THE OFFICE OF HOUSING,
BEEN DOING SOME WORK IN THIS
AREA ANY WAY. LIKE BEFORE THIS
INTENT. WE HAVE DONE OUR
COMMUNITY, OH, KELLI, WHAT DO WE
CALL THAT? THE COMMUNITY? DO WE
HAVE THE COMMUNITY
SELF-DETERMINATION FUND, AND
ALSO THE COMMUNITY PREFERENCE
COMMUNITY THAT WE HAVE DONE.
HONESTLY FOR ME, IT IS MORE OF
AN INTENTIONAL FOCUS ON THIS
AREA, AND WE'VE BEEN TALKING
ABOUT RACE AND SOCIAL JUSTICE
FOR QUITE A FEW YEARS. THIS IS
ACTUALLY MOVEMENT TOWARDS THAT
INTENT. IT IS NOT NEW FUNDS, BUT
IT'S AN INTENTIONAL FOCUS ON
DOING THAT WORK.
>> WHAT DIRECTOR WINKLER-CHIN
SAID, I APOLOGIZE. I THOUGHT YOU
WERE ASKING ABOUT THE TOPIC THAT
YOU WERE FINISHED ON RATHER THAN
MOVING ON TO THE FUND, BUT I
FULLY AGREE WITH WHAT DIRECTOR
WINKLER-CHIN JUST SAID.
>> OKAY, THANK YOU FOR THAT
CLARIFICATION AND THANK YOU FOR
THE TIME AND THE COMMUNITY
TODAY. THANK YOU, CHAIR.
>> THANK YOU COUNCILMEMBER
RINCK. WE HAVE COUNCILMEMBER
NELSON, SAKA, THEN MYSELF. THIS
IS A REALLY GOOD CONVERSATION.
COUNCILMEMBER NELSON? COUNCIL
PRESIDENT NELSON?
>> HI, EVERYBODY, GOOD MORNING.
SO I WAS GOING TO ASK A QUESTION
ABOUT SLIDES EIGHT AND NINE, BUT
THEN I GOT SIDETRACKED IN MY
MIND, WHEN THE CONVERSATION
TURNED TOWARDS THE GOOD NEIGHBOR
POLICY, AND HOW WE TRACK VACANCY
RATES. SO I THINK THAT IS IN
RESPONSE TO EITHER COUNCILMEMBER
RIVERA OR KETTLE. BUT ANY WAY,
KELLI, WHEN YOU WERE EXPLAINING
WHY IT IS HARD FOR REAL-TIME
VACANCY RATES AND ENFORCE GOOD
NEIGHBOR POLICIES, I THINK THAT
WAS THE SECTION OF THE
CONVERSATION WE WERE IN. OUR
PARTNERS HAVE MINIMAL STAFF.
THAT'S A RED FLAG FOR ME
BECAUSE WE HAVE BEEN EMBRACING
THIS HOUSING FIRST MODEL THAT
WILL COME WITH WRAPAROUND
SERVICES. THAT'S THE KEY TO
REALLY HELPING THESE VULNERABLE
PEOPLE GET BACK ON THEIR FEET,
AND ADDRESS WHATEVER BEHAVIORAL
HEALTH ISSUES THEY MIGHT HAVE,
PHYSICAL HEALTH ISSUES, ETC. SO
CAN YOU TELL ME -- IF THAT IS
NOT HAPPENING, THEN IS THERE ANY
WAY, CAN YOU PLEASE RESPOND TO
THAT?
>> YES, THANK YOU, COUNCIL
PRESIDENT. THE COMMENT I MADE
WAS REALLY FOCUSED ON THE
SMALLEST ORGANIZATIONS IN OUR
PORTFOLIO, WHICH ARE MANY AND
AFFORDABLE HOUSING PROVIDERS
EXCLUSIVELY. PERMANENT
SUPPORTIVE HOUSING PROVIDERS
HAVE A UNIQUE AND ROBUST
STAFFING MODEL, WHICH THE OFFICE
OF HOUSING HELPS TO INVEST IN
WITH SUCH THINGS AS THE
OPERATING MAINTENANCE AND FUND,
AS WELL AS WORK FORCE
STABILIZATION. SO ANY COMMENT
THAT I HAVE MADE ABOUT THAT IS
ONLY RELATED TO SMALLER
ORGANIZATIONS, LOWER CAPACITY
AFFORDABLE HOUSING PROVIDERS IN
THE OH PORTFOLIO.
>> OKAY, THANK YOU VERY MUCH.
YOU MENTIONED WORK FORCE
STABILIZATION IN THAT, THAT IS
ALSO ON MY MIND TOO. THAT IS NOT
REALLY A SERVICE THAT THE
RESIDENTS GET. THIS IS A WAGE
EQUITY, A 2% BUMP ON TOP OF THE
WAGE, I MEAN, CONTRACT
ADJUSTMENT EVERY YEAR. I
REMEMBER THIS CONVERSATION, IT
IS TO REDUCE TURNOVERS, SO STAFF
WILL STAY IN THEIR JOBS AND
PROVIDE FOR CONTINUITY. AND I'M
JUST -- DO WE KNOW IF IT IS
WORKING? IS TURNOVER GOING DOWN?
I'LL TELL YOU SOMETHING. WHAT I
HEAR, IT'S NOT NECESSARILY THE
LOW WAGES THAT UNFORTUNATELY,
YES, I ACKNOWLEDGE OUR LOW, YOU
KNOW, BECAUSE OF THE SECTOR. BUT
ARE WE SURE IT IS THE WAGE THAT
IT IS PRODUCING TURNOVER BECAUSE
I'VE HEARD IT'S SAFETY WITHIN
THESE BUILDINGS. THERE HAVE BEEN
ARTICLES IN THE PAPER THAT WILL
TALK ABOUT THE VACANCY RATES
THAT ARE BEING LINKED TO SOME
DIFFICULTY WITH SOME TENANTS
INSIDE. SHARON LEE HAS BEEN OUT
PRETTY OPEN ABOUT THAT. HAVE WE
STUDIED WHETHER OR NOT IT IS
WORKING? HAVE THERE BEEN ANY
SURVEYS OF THE ACTUAL WORKERS TO
SAY WHAT DO YOU NEED TO KEEP YOU
IN YOUR JOB?
>> THANK YOU, DIRECTOR EDER.
>> COUNCIL PRESIDENT, THE 2%
MARKET ADJUSTMENT YOU'RE
REFERRING TO IS HAPPENING FOR
HUMAN SERVICES DEPARTMENT
CONTRACTORS.
>> YEAH. THE FOLKS FROM OH HAVE
SOME CONTRACTORS WHO HAVE
INCREASES THAT ARE HAPPENING
THAT ARE BASED ON INFLATION. AS
YOU JUST HEARD, BUT NOT A MARKET
INCREASE. I DON'T KNOW IF WE
CAN SOLVE ALL OF THE PROBLEMS IN
ONE SWOOP, BUT THE CONTRACTOR
MARKET INCREASE IS A SMALL STEP
THAT WE COULD DO THAT COSTS
MILLIONS OF DOLLARS. IT IS NOT
SMALL IN DOLLARS, BUT IT IS
SMALL IN THE BIG PICTURE.
FOLLOWING THE CITY LAW TO
PROVIDE THE INFLATIONARY
INCREASE AND THEN ALSO RECOGNIZE
THAT THERE IS TURNOVER AND A
NUMBER OF LOW WAGE JOBS THAT
COULD USE A LITTLE HELP. THIS IS
OUR WAY OF DOING WHAT WE CAN IN
THE NEAR TERM TO HELP STABILIZE
THE WORKERS AND THE CONTRACTORS
WHO ARE DOING THIS WORK.
>> OKAY, THANK YOU. I WAS, I
DON'T CARE ABOUT THE COST OF
THIS 2%, I WASN'T EVER GOING TO
FOCUS ON IT. I'M JUST CONCERNED
ABOUT THE WORKERS. YOU KNOW,
THEIR WELL BEING AT THEIR
WORKPLACE, AND ALSO THE PEOPLE
THAT ARE INSIDE, THE TENANTS
THAT ARE LIVING INSIDE, WHETHER
IT WILL BE A PERMANENT
SUPPORTIVE HOUSING FACILITY OR
LOW INCOME. AND SO CLEARLY THAT
IS RELATED TO, YOU KNOW, THE
GOOD NEIGHBOR POLICY. THE
PARTNERS HAVE THE RESOURCES TO
MAKE SURE THEY'RE NOT ONLY
DELIVERING A ROOF OVERHEAD, BUT
THE SERVICES NECESSARY TO HELP
PEOPLE NOT NECESSARILY GET WELL,
BUT, YOU KNOW, GET THEM ON THEIR
FEET. THEY MIGHT BE LIVING THERE
FOR MANY YEARS OR FOREVER. POINT
IS WE'RE SUPPOSE TO BE HELPING
THEM, YOU KNOW, HAVE BETTER
LIVES. OKAY, I'M GOING TO SKIP
THE OTHER QUESTION ABOUT SLIDES
EIGHT, NINE. CAN YOU PLEASE
EXPLAIN TO ME, DO NON-PROFIT
HOUSING PROVIDERS RECEIVE A
DEVELOPER'S FEE, LIKE PRIVATE
DEVELOPERS DO? IF SO, WHAT IS
THE PERCENTAGE OF THE PROJECT?
>> COUNCIL PRESIDENT, I WANTED
TO ADDRESS ONE THING THAT YOU
ASKED PREVIOUSLY. YOU HEARD THAT
THE WORK FORCE STABILIZATION
FUNDS ARE NOT GETTING THE
POSITIONS FILLED.
>> I WANTED TO MAKE SURE IT WAS
HAVING A POSITIVE IMPACT. IT HAS
ACHIEVED THE OPENING IN THOSE
POSITIONS.
>> IT HAS. OTHER THING THAT WILL
HELP PEOPLE STAY HOUSED IS
TARGETED MORE AT OUR NONHOUSING
PROJECTS. IT IMPROVES THE
ENVIRONMENT FOR RESIDENTS AND
STAFF TO SAY THEY'RE MAKING
THIS APARTMENT MORE OF THEIR
HOME. THEY THEN GET CONNECTED TO
OTHER NEIGHBORHOOD PROGRAMS AND
AMENITIES AS WELL. THERE ARE
MANY FACTORS THAT WILL PLAY IN
THE ENVIRONMENTS IN AND AROUND
OUR HOUSING. COUNCIL MEMBER, YOU
HAD A QUESTION ABOUT THE
DEVELOPER FEE? AFFORDABLE,
PEOPLE WHO DEVELOP AFFORDABLE
HOUSING DO COLLECT A DEVELOPER
FEE. IT IS A PERCENTAGE. KELLI,
HELP ME HERE. I THINK IT'S 10%,
AND I THINK IT COULD GET PAID
OUT OVER -- THE DEVELOPER FEE
HELPS PAY FOR THE DEVELOPER'S
EXPENSES IN BUILDING THE
HOUSING, AND THEY TYPICALLY GET
PAID OUT FOR THE TEN YEARS AFTER
A HOUSING PROJECT IS BUILT.
>> IT IS A COMPLICATED POLICY
WITH AN INITIAL FEE UPFRONT, BUT
MOST OF THE FEE DEFERRED IN
ORDER TO ENCOURAGE GOOD
DEVELOPMENT PROCESS AND
OPERATING PROCESS, SO THOSE
FUNDS ARE RELEASED OVER TIME AS
THE PROJECT IS COMPLETED AND
MOVES FORWARD.
>> SO IT IS 10% PER YEAR, AND
THEY CAN TAKE IT EVERY YEAR OR
THEY COULD TAKE IT TOWARDS THE
END OR SOMETHING? IS THAT WHAT
YOU'RE SAYING?
>> IT IS ACTUALLY 10% OF THE
TOTAL DEVELOPMENT COST, AND YOU
EARN THOSE FUNDS AND THOSE
DOLLARS. TYPICALLY OVER A
TEN-YEAR PERIOD. SO YOU WOULD
GET CHUNKS ALONG THE WAY, AS THE
PROJECT IS DEVELOPING, BUT YOU
WOULD LOAN BACK, I'VE SEEN
UPWARDS OF OVER 50% OF WHAT
YOU'VE EARNED TO BE PAID BACK
OVER THE TEN YEARS AND IT WILL
HELP FINANCE THE BUILDING.
>> OKAY. IS THAT -- I WAS TRYING
TO HELP WITH THEM LAST YEAR,
WHENEVER THEY HAD SOMETHING TO
DO WITH THE DEVELOPER FEE. AND
THEN IS THAT 10% SIMILAR TO
PRIVATE DEVELOPERS BASICALLY
WORKING THE SAME WAY?
>> COUNCILMEMBER MEMBER, I
DON'T REALLY KNOW THE PRIVATE
DEVELOPMENT PROCESS BECAUSE I
HAVEN'T WORKED ON THAT WITH
THAT SET OF FUNDERS, SO I'M
UNABLE TO RESPOND TO THAT, YEAH.
>> AND I'M JUST ALWAYS HOPING
PRIVATE DEVELOPERS WILL BUILD
AFFORDABLE HOUSING, THAT'S IT.
>> JUST TO BE CLEAR, WE DO HAVE
PRIVATE DEVELOPERS WHO DO
DEVELOP AFFORDABLE HOUSING. THEY
JUST WORK UNDER OUR RULES VERSES
OTHERS.
>> OKAY, THANK YOU. THAT'S IT.
>> THANK YOU. THANK YOU, COUNCIL
PRESIDENT NELSON. ANYTHING ELSE
TO SHARE AT THIS TIME?
COUNCILMEMBER SAKA, FOLLOWED BY
COUNCILMEMBER HOLLINGSWORTH AND
COUNCILMEMBER SOLOMON.
>> THANK YOU, CHAIR. THANK YOU
DIRECTOR WINKLER-CHIN, MS.
GUERRA, JOINING US ONLINE, AND
THEN MS. LARSEN AS WELL.
APPRECIATE YOUR PRESENTATION
TODAY ON THE PROPOSED BUDGET. IN
THE INTEREST OF TIME, IN
BREVITY, I'LL PAIR DOWN MY
SCOPE OF QUESTIONS TO TWO, AND
THEN EITHER READ THE REST INTO
THE RECORD OR FOLLOW UP VIA THE
SHARE POINT. SO TWO QUESTIONS
ABOUT ONE PERTAINING TO THE
SUBSTATION, AFFORDABLE
HOMEOWNERSHIP PROJECT IN
DISTRICT ONE AND OTHER POTENTIAL
HOMEOWNERSHIP OPPORTUNITIES OR
AFFORDABLE HOMEOWNERSHIP
OPPORTUNITIES OR PROJECTS IN
DISTRICT ONE. AND THE OTHER
QUESTION IS ABOUT FEDERAL
WITHHOLDING, FEDERAL DOLLARS
WITHHOLDING IMPACTS. BUT FIRST,
LET ME JUST STATE, I APPRECIATE
NOT JUST THE FACT YOU ARE ALL
HERE TODAY, BUT THE WORK YOU ALL
DO EVERY DAY TO HELP US BRING
ABOUT TRULY AFFORDABLE HOUSING
FOR ALL. I ALSO APPRECIATE SOME
OF YOUR DEPARTMENT'S SLIDES,
THIS YEAR, INCLUDING SOME OF THE
RECENT ONES. THAT IS OUR POWER
HERE ON THIS FLOOR, IN THIS
BODY. IT'S THE APPROPRIATE
RESOURCES, YOU KNOW, AS A PART
OF THAT, WE REQUEST REPORTS AND
INFORMATION. AND SO I'LL SAY,
YOU KNOW, SOME OF THE DEPARTMENT
RESPONSES TO CERTAIN SLIDES ARE
MORE DIRECTLY ON POINT THAN
OTHERS, AND MORE KIND OF HELPFUL
TO THE ORIGINAL GOAL PURPOSE AND
INTENT OF THE SLIDE AND VISION
OF THE SLIDE AND OTHERS. BUT
FROM MY PERSPECTIVE AT LEAST,
SOME OF THE ONES I'VE SEEN OF
THIS YEAR AND IN PARTICULAR,
THEY HAVE BEEN VERY ON POINT. SO
THANK YOU FOR THAT INFORMATION.
AND MORE TO COME. BUT FIRST
QUESTION, YOU KNOW, WE TALKED A
LITTLE BIT ABOUT SOME OF THE
IMPACTS OF THE MACRO ECONOMICS
SITUATION. WHAT THAT MEANS FOR
YOUR DEPARTMENT, A LOT TO LEARN
A LITTLE BIT MORE ABOUT THE
THREAT OF WIELDED HAD FEDERAL
DOLLARS ACROSS A NUMBER OF
DEPARTMENTS, SPECIFICALLY YOURS,
SO CAN YOU SPEAK TO THE THREAT
OF WITHHELD FEDERAL DOLLARS AS
THEY WILL RELATE TO YOUR
DEPARTMENT AND WHAT IS THE
MITIGATION APPROACH OR STRATEGY
FOR THAT?
>> I'M HAPPY TO SPEAK TO THIS A
BIT. WE ARE FORTUNATE THAT
FEDERAL FUNDS REPRESENT A VERY
SMALL PORTION OF OUR BUDGET. WE
HAVE THE HOME INVESTMENT
PARTNERSHIP, WHICH REPRESENTS
ABOUT THREE MILLION OF OUR $350
MILLION BUDGET. WE HAVE THE
COMMUNITY DEVELOPMENT BLOCK
GRANT. WE HAVE ABOUT 160,000. SO
VERY SMALL AMOUNTS THERE, WHERE
IT DOES IMPACT OUR WORK AND OUR
HOME REPAIR PROGRAMS. THOSE DO
RELY ON FEDERAL AND STATE
GRANTS. AND AS OF YET, THERE HAS
NOT BEEN ANY WITHHOLDING OR
CHANGE IN THOSE. BUT I WOULD NOT
BE SHOCKED IF THAT CHANGED IN
THE NEAR FUTURE. WHERE THEY DO
IMPACT OUR WORK, AND I WILL LET
THE OTHERS SPEAK TO IS THE
INDIRECT WAY THAT OUR HOUSING
PROVIDERS EXPERIENCE THE LOSS OF
FEDERAL FUNDS AND HOW WE THEN
STRATEGIZE ABOUT HOW TO SUPPORT
THEM CORRECTLY.
>> CHAIR, IF I MAY?
>> PLEASE, DIRECTOR EDER?
>> A CLOSELY RELATED TOPIC IS
RENTAL ASSISTANCE AND THE
MAYOR'S PROPOSED BUDGET WILL
ADD $4 MILLION OF ONGOING
FUNDING TO HELP BACKFILL THE
REDUCTIONS AT HUD, THE HOUSING
AND URBAN DEVELOPMENT FEDERAL
HOUSING PROGRAM. THAT'S A PART
OF THE BUDGET RELATED TO
HOUSING. IT'S IN THE HUMAN
SERVICES DEPARTMENT.
>> I APPRECIATE THE QUESTION.
THIS IS AN AREA WE ARE WATCHING
VERY CLOSELY, AND WE ARE
WATCHING REALLY CLOSELY WITH OUR
PARTNERS AT KING COUNTY, AND MY
COLLEAGUE IN HSD, TO HAVE VERY
REGULAR CONVERSATIONS ABOUT
WHAT'S HAPPENING WITH THE
FEDERAL ENVIRONMENT. THE PRIMARY
CONCERNS WE HAVE RELATED TO
PERMANENT SUPPORTIVE HOUSING ARE
THE COC FUNDS, THE CONTINUUM OF
CARE THAT WILL COME THROUGH HUD,
AS WELL AS WHAT MIGHT HAPPEN AT
THE HOUSING AUTHORITIES. THOSE
ARE REALLY, THEY RELY ON ALL
THESE FEDERAL FUNDS, AND THEY
HELP TO BUILD THE FOUNDATION OF
PERMANENT SUPPORTIVE HOUSING
ACROSS THE CITY. SO WE'RE
WATCHING THAT VERY CLOSELY. WE
DO HAVE A BACKSTOP AS DIRECTOR
EDER JUST MENTIONED. WE WILL
HAVE TO WATCH FOR THE YEARS
AHEAD.
>> THAT BACKSTOP IS THE $9.35
MILLION THAT WE ARE HOLDING ALSO
IN HSD TO BACKFILL A PORTION OF
THE CONTINUUM OF CARE, FEDERAL
DOLLARS.
>> ALL RIGHT, THANK YOU FOR THE
ADDITIONAL CLARITY THERE. I
APPRECIATE THAT. MOVING ON TO
THE D1 SPECIFIC PROJECTS. SO IN
2024 LAST YEAR, MY UNDERSTANDING
IS AFFORDABLE HOMEOWNERSHIP
PROJECT FOR 21 AFFORDABLE HOMES
AT THE SUBSTATION WAS FUNDED IN
PART THROUGH OH. CAN YOU SHARE
AN UPDATE ON THIS PROJECT? ARE
THERE ANY OTHER AFFORDABLE
HOMEOWNERSHIP OR RENTAL PROJECTS
LIKE IN THE PIPELINE, LIKE THE
GENERAL SCOPE AND NATURE OF ANY
OTHER POTENTIAL AFFORDABLE
HOMEOWNERSHIP OR RENTAL PROJECTS
IN THE PIPELINE FOR DISTRICT
ONE, ESPECIALLY WEST SEATTLE IN
THE VALLEY? SO SOUTH PARK AND
GEORGETOWN, ARE MINDFUL THAT
THERE ARE QUITE A FEW HABITAT
PROJECTS UNDERWAY IN SOUTH PARK.
THAT'S MY UNDERSTANDING. CAN
YOU TALK ABOUT THE D1 SPECIFIC
INVESTMENTS ALONG WITH THE
UPDATE ON THE SUBSTATION?
>> THANKS FOR THE QUESTION,
COUNCILMEMBER. WE'RE GOING TO
HAVE TO GET BACK TO YOU ON THE
SPECIFICS. I BELIEVE WE HAVE
SELECTED A DEVELOPER, BUT
THAT'S ABOUT ALL THAT COMES TO
MIND RIGHT NOW. WE'LL HAVE TO
GET BACK TO YOU ON THE SPECIFICS
FOR THAT. AS FOR D1 SPECIFIC
HOMEOWNERSHIP PROJECTS, YOU ARE
CORRECT WITH HABITAT HAVING AT
LEAST TWO PROJECTS IN SOUTH PARK
THAT ARE HOMEOWNERSHIP. WE ALSO
HAVE FOR HOUSING RENTAL, DOING A
PROJECT RIGHT NOW. AND WE HAVE A
HENDERSON STREET, THE OFFICE OF
HOUSING OWNS PROPERTY ON
HENDERSON STREET. WE'LL BE
DOING AN RFQ SHORTLY, SOME TIME
IN EARLY 2026 TO SELECT THE
DEVELOPER FOR THAT SITE. WE ARE
ANTICIPATING BETWEEN, I THINK 85
AND 100 FAMILY-SIZED UNITS,
MEANING TWO, THREE, FOUR-BEDROOM
UNITS IN HENDERSON, SO WE'LL
HAVE THAT COMING UP. WEST
SEATTLE IS A PRIORITY
NEIGHBORHOOD FOR US. WE ARE
LOOKING FOR POSSIBLE FUTURE
OPPORTUNITY SITES. OF COURSE, WE
ALWAYS HAVE AN EYE, LOOKING
FORWARD TO SOME OF THE SOUND
SITES. FINGERS CROSSED.
>> GOT IT. THANK YOU FOR THE
ADDITIONAL CLARITY THERE. THANK
YOU, CHAIR, NO FURTHER QUESTION.
I DO NOTE MY Q&A EXCHANGE WAS ON
THE SHORTER END. THANK YOU.
>> MARK DOWN, MARK DOWN.
COUNCILMEMBER HOLLINGSWORTH, HOW
ARE YOU?
>> MR. CHAIR, IT'S GOOD TO SEE
YOU TOO. I'LL BE FAST, AND I
MEAN THAT. YOU KNOW THAT BECAUSE
I'VE TIMED OTHER COUNCIL
MEMBERS TO MAKE SURE.
>> WHY ARE YOU LOOKING AT ME?
>> BECAUSE I TIMED YOU YESTERDAY
WHEN YOU SAID FIVE MINUTES. I
GOT YOU, COUNCILMEMBER SAKA. YOU
SAID IT. THANK YOU, DIRECTOR. I
JUST HAVE A QUICK COMMENT. I
DON'T HAVE ANY QUESTIONS. THE
FIRST ONE IS I REALLY APPRECIATE
THE SLIDE EIGHT AND NINE THAT
SHOWS THE HOUSING PROJECT THAT
COMES ON. WE TALK ABOUT THE
HISTORIC INVESTMENT OF SEATTLE,
WHICH SHOWS THE HISTORIC
OUTCOMES. THAT'S WHAT PEOPLE
REALLY WANT TO KNOW AND SEE. I
APPRECIATE THAT. ON YOUR
WEBSITE, I KNOW YOU ALWAYS HAVE
DATA AND INFORMATION AND MAPS
AND REPORTS. SUPER HELPFUL TO GO
THROUGH AND KIND OF UNDERSTAND,
YOU KNOW, WHERE THE MONEY IS
GOING, THEN ALSO TO PIGGYBACK ON
WHAT COUNCILMEMBER JUAREZ WAS
SAYING, TO SEE WHERE WE WERE IN
THE TIMELINE OF PROJECTS. JUST
BECAUSE WE FUND SOMETHING THIS
YEAR DOESN'T MEAN IT COMES
ONLINE. THERE ARE A TON OF
EXTERNAL FACTORS THAT YOU ALL
DON'T HAVE, THAT YOU ARE ALL
NOT IN CONTROL OF, WHETHER IT IS
FINANCING, CONSTRUCTION COSTS,
WHETHER, YOU KNOW, A PERMIT.
THERE ARE SO MANY DIFFERENT
COMPONENTS IN THIS. SO WHEN
SOMETHING DOES COME ONLINE,
IT'S GREAT TO SEE THAT PROJECT
STARTED YEARS AGO WITH THE
INVESTMENTS. SO KNOWING THAT WE
ARE KIND OF IN OUR INFANCY
STAGES OF THESE HISTORIC
INVESTMENTS, AND WE WILL BE ABLE
TO SEE SOME OF THESE PROJECTS
COME ONLINE WITHIN THE NEXT
COUPLE OF YEARS IS HELPFUL TO
SEE THE TIMELINE. THE SECOND
THING THAT I JUST WANTED TO
HIGHLIGHT, AND I KNOW THE
MAJOR'S OFFICE IS GOING TO SEND
DOWN THEIR PROPOSAL, LOOKING
FORWARD TO WORKING WITH THEM ON
THE REPARATION FUND. I KNOW
IT'S FOUR YEARS, $80 MILLION.
THERE IS DATA, AND I KNOW SOME
PEOPLE HAD ASKED, WELL, YOU
KNOW, WHERE IS THE DATA? THERE
IS ALREADY DATA OUT THERE. KING
COUNTY DATA REPORTS ABOUT THE
BILLIONS OF DOLLARS THAT WAS
EXTRACTED FROM THE BLACK
COMMUNITY THAT THEY WERE LOST
BASED ON HOUSING REDLINING, AND
I ALWAYS TELL THE STORY, WHERE
MY GRANDMA WENT TO BUY A HOUSE,
WHICH THOSE HOUSES ARE WORTH
MILLIONS OF DOLLARS. THE REALTOR
TOLD HER, I CAN SELL IT TO YOU,
BUT YOU CAN'T LIVE IN IT. THOSE
WERE THE RESPONSES THAT PEOPLE
HAD WHEN THEY WOULD TRY TO GO
NORTH OF MADISON TO BUY HOMES
AND IN PLACES. THE SECOND THING
IS ALSO THE INFORMATION FROM
REPRESENTATIVE TAYLOR. THE
LANGUAGE THAT'S IN THERE. THE
INFORMATION, I ALWAYS SAY THE
SEED THAT WAS PLANTED, BUT THE
PROOF OF CONCEPT THAT YOU CAN
HAVE THESE POSITIVE OUTCOMES.
I'VE KNOWN PEOPLE THAT HAVE
BEEN ABLE TO PURCHASE HOMES,
PARTICULARLY BECAUSE OF MONEY,
THEY HAVE BEEN ABLE TO PURCHASE
HOMES OUTSIDE OF SEATTLE BECAUSE
SEATTLE IS VERY EXPENSIVE, BUT
THAT'S ANOTHER STORY. AND THEN
ALSO A LOT OF PEOPLE DON'T KNOW
THE COMMUNITY REINVESTMENT FUND
THAT WAS GIVEN BECAUSE OF
CANNABIS TAX DOLLARS. THAT
MONEY, THAT WAS ONLY ONE TIME. I
JUST WENT TO A GROUND BREAKING
FOR MYRON CURRY WHO LIVES IN THE
CENTRAL DISTRICT, WHO IS ABLE TO
BUILD TO KEEP HIS FAMILY HOME,
THEN GOT MONEY FROM THE STATE TO
BE ABLE TO DO THAT AND OTHER
PLACES. AND SO I JUST WANTED TO
HIGHLIGHT THAT THERE IS A PROOF
OF CONCEPT THAT WORKS. IT IS
REALLY IMPORTANT BECAUSE I HEARD
PEOPLE TALK ABOUT THE RISE IN
TAXES, OBVIOUSLY HOMEOWNERSHIP
OPPORTUNITY TO HAVE THAT. THE
TECHNICAL ASSISTANCE. I'VE SEEN
PEOPLE LOSE THEIR FAMILY HOMES.
THEY DON'T KNOW HOW TO TRANSFER
IT OVER AND THEY NEED THAT
ASSISTANCE TO FIGURE OUT HOW TO
NAVIGATE THAT AND WHAT THAT EVEN
MEANS. AND ALSO FUNDING FOR
REPAIRS. HOW THEY'RE GOING TO
AGE IN PLACE. LAST, BUT NOT
LEAST, I'M READING OFF PAPER
BECAUSE I'M TRYING TO BE AS
FAST AS POSSIBLE BECAUSE I KNOW
WE'RE OVER TIME. THANK YOU,
CHAIR STRAUSS. THEN LAST, BUT
NOT LEAST, THE ADDITION OF
ADDING HOME, MULTI-FAMILY HOME
TO THEIR LOT, WHETHER IT IS
CREATING A DUPLEX OR TRIPLEX
ORED A ADUs. THERE'S
OPPORTUNITIES FOR US. THERE'S
STUFF WE CAN'T DO AS A CITY, I
GET IT, FOR OTHER NON-PROFITS,
COMMUNITY GROUPS, TO FIND
ADDITIONAL FUNDING, MAYBE IT'S
PRIVATE DOLLARS TO BE ABLE TO
SUPPORT SOME OF THE EFFORTS THAT
PEOPLE ARE WANTING TO DO. SO
LOOKING FORWARD TO THAT. THERE
IS A BLUEPRINT OUT THERE. I
WOULD LOVE TO SEE THIS EXTENDED
BEYOND FOUR YEARS. IT'S JUST A
START, BUT LOOKING FORWARD TO
FIGURING OUT, WANTING TO
HIGHLIGHT YOUR DEPARTMENT HAS
BEEN DOING A LOT OF THAT WORK AS
WELL. IT'S JUST THE MAIN PIECE
IS PEOPLE HAVING, AND I ALWAYS
SAY THIS WORD, TRANSPARENT
ACCESS TO THE RESOURCES. IT IS
NOT JUST A TWEET ONLINE, IT'S
NOT JUST HEY, COME DOWN TO CITY
HALL. WE LITERALLY HAVE TO DO IT
BY THE WORD OF MOUTH, GOING OUT
INTO THE COMMUNITIES, GOING INTO
CHURCHES, THE COMMUNITY CENTERS,
LIKE KNOCKING ON PEOPLE'S DOOR,
TELLING THEM ABOUT THESE
FUNDING, THEN PROVIDING
OPPORTUNITIES FOR THEM TO BE
ABLE TO DO THAT. ONE EXAMPLE IS
THAT THERE IS A NON-PROFIT THAT
PROVIDES A PERSON FOR TAX RELIEF
TO SHOW A LOT OF THE SENIORS IN
OUR CITY, HOW TO GET TAX RELIEF
THROUGH KING COUNTY. THEY
LITERALLY GO IN SOMEONE'S HOME
BECAUSE A LOT OF THE SENIORS, IT
IS HARD FOR THEM TO USE, AND
DON'T KNOCK ON OUR SENIORS ON
THE COUNCIL. SHOUT OUT, THE
OTHERS. BUT THE TECHNOLOGY PIECE
IS A BARRIER, RIGHT? AND IT IS
VERY HARD. JUST BEING ABLE TO DO
THAT AND THAT SIMPLE INVESTMENT
OF SAYING HEY, WE'RE GOING TO
PAY FOR A FULL-TIME PERSON TO GO
SIT AT YOUR HOUSE TO SHOW YOU
HOW TO BE ABLE TO DO YOUR TAXES.
AND FILE FOR THAT RELIEF. I
THINK IT IS HUGE. SO JUST WANTED
TO HIGHLIGHT THOSE THINGS. I
DON'T HAVE ANYMORE COMMENTS.
>> CAN WE TOUCH ON A LITTLE BIT
ON THAT? SO I WANTED TO
ACKNOWLEDGE THAT WE HAD RECEIVED
WHAT WE'RE CALLING A PRO
HOUSING GRANT FROM U.S.
DEPARTMENT OF HOUSING AND URBAN
DEVELOPMENT. THAT'S TO FURTHER
SUPPORT LEGACY HOMEOWNERS AND TO
EXPLORE CONVERSION TO
HOMEOWNERSHIP. YOU MENTIONED
MYRON, AND MYRON HAD WORKED WITH
HIS GRANDFATHER IN GETTING SOME
OF OUR WEATHERIZATION DOLLARS
INTO HIS GRANDFATHER'S HOME,
AND NOW WITH THE ADDITION OF
ADUs, THAT'S JUST GREAT, RIGHT?
WHICH IS GREAT. IT IS AFFORDABLE
HOUSING CONFERENCE, AND YOU CAN
BE SURE THE BLACK HOME
INITIATIVE WAS VERY DIRECT WITH
ME LIKE HEY, LIKE THIS IS THE
THING, BUT IN PARTICULAR, WAS
VERY POINTED ABOUT LOOKING
FORWARD TO WORKING WITH US IN
THIS SPACE. AND SO REALLY
LOOKING FORWARD TO LEANING IN ON
THAT.
>> THANK YOU, MR. CHAIR, THOSE
WERE ALL MY COMMENTS.
>> AND I'LL MARK THE TIME. BUT
I DO WANT TO SAY, WE KEEP TIME
ONLY BECAUSE WE TALK TOO MUCH,
RIGHT?
>> SPEAK FOR YOURSELF.
>> I TALK TOO MUCH.
>> THANK YOU.
>> AS DO A COUPLE OF OUR OTHER
FRIENDS UP HERE. COUNCILMEMBER
JUAREZ, YOU CLOCKED IN AT EIGHT
MINUTES THIS MORNING AND HAD
DIRECT QUESTIONS TO EACH. THAT
WAS FULL OF INFORMATION. BUT THE
REASON THAT I SHARE THIS IS
BECAUSE COUNCILMEMBER
HOLLINGSWORTH, I WANT TO JUST
PAUSE AND COME BACK TO WHAT YOU
JUST SAID BECAUSE YOU WERE GOING
REALLY FAST. TRYING TO MAKE
TIME, BUT THIS IS A GOOD
CONVERSATION TO HAVE. YOU SAID
YOUR GRANDMOTHER OR YOUR
GRANDMOTHER WAS ALLOWED TO
PURCHASE A PIECE OF PROPERTY,
BUT NOT ALLOWED TO LIVE IN IT?
IS THAT CORRECT?
>> THAT IS CORRECT.
>> AND SO IF YOUR FAMILY HAD
BEEN ABLE TO BUY THAT PIECE OF
PROPERTY, THAT WOULD HAVE BEEN
MILLIONS OF DOLLARS IN MONEY
THAT COULD HAVE BEEN CREATED
GENERATIONALLY BY DOING NOTHING?
>> CORRECT.
>> AND THAT IS AN OPPORTUNITY
THAT IS AFFORDED TO SO MANY
PEOPLE IN OUR CITY,
GENERATIONALLY. AND THE FAMILY
THAT ENDED UP BUYING THE HOUSE
MAY STILL BE A
MULTI-GENERATIONAL SEATTLE
FAMILY THAT WE KNOW SO MANY OF.
I HIGHLIGHT THAT BECAUSE AS
WE'RE TALKING ABOUT REPARATION
AND DEFENDANTS OF SLAVES, AND
THE LEGAL REASONS WHY THAT'S
ALLOWED TO BE ABLE TO
FINANCIALLY SUPPORT IS BECAUSE
OF THIS EXACT EXPERIENCE THAT
YOU'RE DESCRIBING RIGHT NOW. I
WANT TO SHARE THAT BECAUSE ON
THE JEWISH SIDE OF MY FAMILY,
THERE ARE PORTIONS OF MY FAMILY
THAT ACTUALLY HAD TO HIDE THE
FACT THEY WERE JEWISH TO BE ABLE
TO PURCHASE THE HOMES THAT THEY
WANTED TO. SO I JUST WANTED TO
TAKE THE PAUSE BECAUSE YOU
SHARED SOMETHING REALLY
IMPORTANT WITH US JUST NOW.
>> THANK YOU, MR. CHAIR. I'M
GLAD YOU MADE THE CONNECTION
WITH JEWISH BECAUSE THE CENTRAL
DISTRICT USED TO BE A JEWISH
COMMUNITY. LANGSTON HUGHES WAS A
SYNAGOGUE. SO NOW THERE IS A LOT
OF HISTORY AND INTEGRATION
THERE, AND THE LAYERS. SO I
APPRECIATE YOU BRINGING THAT UP.
>> THANK YOU. YOU SAID THE
LANGSTON HUGHES FUNDING WILL BE
DISCUSSED IN ARTS AND CULTURE? I
THINK THAT'S WHAT WAS SAID
EARLIER THIS WEEK? WITH THAT,
COUNCILMEMBER SOLOMON, I'M
GOING TO GIVE YOU LAST WORD.
APPARENTLY I'M ALREADY EATING
INTO MY TIME. I'M GOING TO
BREAK THIS TEN MINUTES,
UNFORTUNATELY. I JUST WANT TO
READ IT HAD TENURE LOOK BACK FOR
THE RECORD, AND DIRECTOR NOBLE,
I'VE GOT A QUESTION ABOUT THE
STRUCTURAL BUDGET DEFICITS. SO
AS WE LOOK BACK TO 2019, BETWEEN
2019 AND 25, THE BUDGET FOR
OFFICE AND HOUSING INCREASED BY
$275 MILLION, WHICH IS A 396%
INCREASE. THE MAIN DRIVERS OF
GROWTH WERE IN 2022, JUMPSTART
PAYROLL EXPENSE TAX, AS WELL AS
MANDATORY HOUSING AFFORDABILITY
AND THE LEVY, VOTERS THEN
APPROVE AN UPDATED LEVY IN 2023.
IT GOES INTO TALKING A LITTLE
BIT MORE ABOUT MANDATORY HOUSING
AVAILABILITY. IN THE SLIDES WE
HAVE TODAY, DIRECTOR NOBLE, WE
HAVE NO GENERAL FUND IF THIS
DEPARTMENT, HOW WOULD THAT
INCREASE, DECREASE, OR HAVE NO
CHANGE TO OUR STRUCTURAL DEFICIT
PROJECTIONS FOR 27?
>> SOME OF THE GENERAL FUND, SO
TO THE EXTENT, IT COULD BE USED
TO RELIEVE THE GENERAL FUND
SIDE. OF $140 MILLION IS A
GENERAL FUND DEFICIT. ONE OF THE
WAYS TO MAKE IT UP IS INCREASE
IT, SO IT IS NOT DIRECTLY
CONTRIBUTING TO DEFICIT. FUNDING
FOR HOUSING, BUT IT COULD
ACTUALLY BE POTENTIAL SOLUTION
THAT WOULD REQUIRE LESS FUNDING
FOR HOUSING.
>> THANK YOU. JUST NOTING AGAIN
IN 2019, THERE WERE $56 MILLION.
TODAY, WE HAVE -- I WANT TO MAKE
SURE WE GOT THIS CORRECT. $344
MILLION. IS THAT INCLUSIVE OF
THE $5 MILLION FOR NORTHGATE
COMMONS? I'VE GOTTEN THE SIX
YEAR?
>> IT IS JUST IN THE OFFICE OF
HOUSING.
>> THAT IS $349.5 MILLION. THIS
IS $344.5 MILLION ROUNDED, AS
COMBINING WITH THE FIVE.
>> THANK YOU. JUST WANTED TO SIT
ON THAT. SO COLLEAGUES, I BRING
IT THROUGH THE HISTORY OF HOW DO
WE GO FROM $56 MILLION TO $349
MILLION IN THE OFFICE OF
HOUSING? AND THAT IS BECAUSE THE
ORIGINAL HOUSING LEVY WAS PASSED
AS OUR CITY WAS BECOMING MORE
EXPENSIVE. I'LL SAY THE CITY IN
GENERAL WAS SLOW TO REACT.
THAT'S WHAT MADE THE URGENCY
AND FOCUS ON HOUSING DOLLARS SO
INTENSE OVER THE LAST NUMBER OF
YEARS. CREATING TAX REVENUE FOR
HOUSING BECAUSE OF THE SITUATION
WE FIND OURSELVES IN. IN 2019 WE
HAD $56 MILLION. IN 2020, WE
STARTED COLLECTING MANDATORY
HOUSING AFFORDABILITY DOLLARS.
IN 2022, WE STARTED COLLECTING
JUMPSTART FUNDS. THEN IN 2023,
WE RENEWED THE LEVY AT A HIGHER
LEVEL. SO THIS IS HOW IN SIX
YEARS, WE CHANGED $296% WITH AN
INCREASE OF $279 MILLION. THIS,
FOR ME, IS A CHANGE OF A
START-UP COMPANY TO A
CORPORATION. WE'RE NOT DEALING
WITH SMALL AMOUNTS OF MONEY
ANYMORE. AND THE QUESTIONS FROM
COUNCILMEMBER JUAREZ, THE ONES I
HAVE AS WELL. THANK YOU FOR
ASKING THOSE. THEY'RE
DESCRIPTIVE OF HOW THE SMALL
AMOUNTS ALONG THE WAY OF THE
PROJECT TO HAVE IT ACCESSIBLE
AND EASY FOR MEMBERS OF THE
PUBLIC TO DIGEST IS THE WORK
THAT WILL NEED TO BE IMPROVED
BECAUSE YOU'RE DOING GOOD WORK.
BUT IF PEOPLE DON'T KNOW THE
WAY OF THE PROJECT, IT DOESN'T
MATTER, FRANKLY. BECAUSE CAN YOU
PLEASE GO TO SLIDE NUMBER SEVEN?
THE WHOLE PUBLIC IS LOSING IF WE
DON'T UNDERSTAND WHERE THINGS
ARE ALL ALONG. THIS IS A REALLY
HELPFUL SLIDE. MANY OF US HAVE
BEEN ASKING FOR THIS FOR A
NUMBER OF YEARS. COLLEAGUES, I
SHARE THIS SLIDE WITH YOU
BECAUSE IF SOMEBODY RECEIVED A
NOFA IN 2020, IT MIGHT OPEN THIS
YEAR. THIS IS DESCRIBING IT AS
OPEN. WITH ONE DELAY WITH ONE
CERTIFICATE OF OCCUPANCY DELAY
FROM OUR PERMITTING DEPARTMENTS,
IT DOESN'T. I KNOW THIS,
COLLEAGUES. MY FIRST WEEK, I
STARTED WORKING WITH AN
ORGANIZATION, AND THEY RECEIVED
A NOFA IN 2020, AND THEY STILL
HAVE NOT OPENED. THIS SAYS TO ME
WITH OUR AFFORDABLE HOUSING
DOLLARS, THE PROJECTS WILL LAST
LONGER THAN OUR COUNCIL TERMS.
IT WILL REQUIRE US TO BE THERE
TO SEE IT THIS THROUGH. AND THAT
IS MAKING THIS A VERY DIRECT
POINT. THAT IS WHY WE NEED
BETTER INFORMATION, MORE READILY
AVAILABLE AND ABLE TO SHARE WITH
CONSTITUENTS BECAUSE WHY DO WE
NOT HAVE ENOUGH AFFORDABLE
HOUSING? IT IS BECAUSE THERE IS
A FIVE-YEAR GAP. WE ARE FIVE
YEARS TO TEN YEARS BEHIND. WHILE
WE'RE ON TRACK TO GET INTO A
BETTER PLACE, PEOPLE DON'T KNOW
IT BECAUSE WE ARE NOT SHARING
THE INFORMATION READILY. SO I
REALLY APPRECIATE THE REPORT
THAT YOU'RE PUTTING TOGETHER
AND THIS WILL HELP PRODUCE. ON
SLIDE SIX HERE, WHAT WOULD BE
HELPFUL I KNOW IN THE NEXT TWO
SLIDES, YOU HAVE NUMBERS OF
UNITS PER BUILDING AND RENTAL
HOUSING AT 101,000 NEW HOMES,
ETC.,EST. IT WILL BE HELPFUL FOR
ME TO KNOW IN THESE DIFFERENT
COLORED BRACKETS, HOW MANY UNITS
ARE IN EACH BRACKET. I DON'T
NEED THAT RIGHT NOW. WHAT THAT
DOESN'T TELL ME IS HOME MORE
YEARS IT'S GOING TO TAKE FOR
EACH OF THOSE PROJECTS TO COME
ONLINE, AND THAT IS THE HELPFUL
PART OF YOUR COLORED BRACKET.
>> I BELIEVE THAT INFORMATION
WAS SENT OVER IN THE CASH
BALANCE SEAT. BUT TO YOUR POINT,
WE ARE TRYING TO GET TO PUBLIC
REPORTING OF THIS INFORMATION,
AND THAT IS A GOAL FOR THE
OFFICE FOR THE NEXT YEAR, YES.
>> KELLY, YOU DO AMAZING WORK.
YOU DO AMAZING WORK. I DON'T
THINK OUR CITY REALIZES HOW MUCH
THIS DEPARTMENT HANGS IN THE
WORK THAT YOU DO. BUT THE ANSWER
THAT YOU JUST PROVIDED IS
EXEMPLARY OF THE PROBLEMS THAT
WE'RE EXPERIENCING. THAT I'M
LOOKING FOR A VERY CLEAR, YOU
GOT A GREAT POWER POINT
PRESENTATION HERE. AND I'M
LOOKING FOR JUST BASIC NUMBERS,
AND I'M BEING ASKED TO GO LOOK
AT A CASH BALANCE SHEET IN THE
BUDGET. AND SO THIS IS THE HELP
THAT I'M ASKING FOR TODAY. JUST
LAST MONTH ABOUT AFFORDABLE
HOUSING UNITS BEING ALMOST ON
PAR WITH MARKET RATE UNITS. THE
FACT WE'VE OVERBUILT STUDIOS
AND ONE BEDROOMS. THAT WE HAVE
IN THE PAST USED METRICS THAT
WILL LOOK AT COUNTS AND NOT
FAMILY-SIZED UNITS. HOW ARE WE
GETTING OUT OF THIS? AND ARE WE
CHANGING THESE METRICS? IT
SOUNDS, I HEARD EARLIER IN THIS
PRESENTATION THAT WE ARE. BUT
AGAIN, THAT'S ONE OF THE FIRST
TIMES THAT I'M HEARING IN. IF
I'M NOT HEARING IT AND
DIGESTING IT AND THE SEATTLE
TIME ISN'T REPORTING IT, THIS
IS THE SITUATION THAT WE FIND
OURSELVES IN.
>> WE WILL MAKE SURE TO
HIGHLIGHT THAT WE HAVE PROVIDED
THE INFORMATION AS PART OF THE
BUDGET SUBMITTAL, BUT WE'LL
HIGHLIGHT WHERE THAT IS. I
DON'T BLAME YOU FOR NOT HAVING
READ LITERALLY EVERY SINGLE
THOUSAND PAGES OF INFORMATION
THAT WE WOULD HAVE PROVIDED YET.
AND I KNOW YOU'RE HEADING
THERE. WE WOULD HIGHLIGHT WHERE
THAT INFORMATION IS. THAT IT IS
NOT SUFFICIENT.
>> THANK YOU. JUST WANTED TO
LOOK AT IN THE ONE REAL DIRECT
QUESTION IS HERE, YOU KNOW,
ABOUT THAT SEATTLE TIMES ARTICLE
FROM LAST MONTH. WE'VE TALKED
ABOUT HIGH VACANCY RATES AND
AFFORDABLE HOUSING. WHAT IS THE
PLAN TO READJUST INSTEAD OF
DOING UNIT COUNTS TO DO SIZE OF
UNIT? AND THEN HOW ARE WE MAKING
ADJUSTMENTS, SO WE ARE NOT IN
THIS SITUATION, AS WE EXPAND OUR
NEW DOLLARS?
>> THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR THE
QUESTIONS. FIRST OF ALL, TO WORK
IN THE PLANNING AND POLICY SHOP,
WHO DOES DATA. SO ONE, WE HAVE
SOMEBODY WHO ACTUALLY CAN MANAGE
DATA. TWO, WE ARE STILL WORKING
TOWARDS GETTING THE DATA BASE
UP, WHERE WE SHOULD HAVE A NEW
DATA BASE BY APRIL OF NEXT YEAR.
WE ARE GETTING TO MICROSOFT
ACCESS. THAT IS THE FIRST THING.
SECOND THING AS WE WERE DOING
OUR LEVY PLANNING, BACK IN 2022,
AND EMBEDDED IN 2023, WHERE
CONVERSATIONS THAT WE WOULD HAVE
WITH OUR STAKEHOLDERS FOR WHAT
UNITS ARE LEASING. WHAT ARE THE
UNITS THAT ARE AVAILABLE? THAT
WE ALL HEARD THROUGH THE OTHER
CONVERSATIONS THAT THE CITY IS
HAVING, A DESIRE FOR FAMILY
SIZED UNITS. SO THAT IS A
PRIORITY. IF YOU WERE TO GO LOOK
AT THE NOTIFICATION OF FUNDING
AVAILABLE, WE WOULD HAVE
PRIORITIES IN PLACE. ONE OF
WHICH IS FAMILY-SIZED UNITS, ONE
IS TOWARDS THE LOWER INCOME
UNIT. AND THAT IS WHAT OUR LEVY
MODELING IS DONE. WHEN THE
PROJECTS ARE COMING IN TO APPLY
TO US AS WE'RE LOOKING AT IT,
WE ARE MAKING SURE WE PRIORITIZE
FAMILY SIZED UNITS BECAUSE THOSE
ARE NOT BEING PROVIDED BY THE
MARKET IN THE SAME WAY, AND
LOWER AMI UNITS AS WELL. THOSE
ARE THE ADJUSTMENTS THAT WE ARE
MAKING, AS WELL AS OUR
STABILIZATION GRANT THAT I
MENTIONED EARLIER. THE REALITIES
OF THE CURRENT TIMES WE'RE IN.
SO WE ARE MUCH MORE DATA DRIVEN
IN OUR WORK, WORKING WITH THE
OTHER PARTNERS TO TRY TO FIGURE
OUT WHAT IS HAPPENING IN THE
RENTAL MARKET. WHAT IS BEING
PROVIDED BY THE PRIVATE MARKET
RATE DEVELOPERS? WHAT ARE THE
THINGS THAT WE NEED TO DO? AND
WHAT IS OUR UNIQUE ROLE? HOW DO
WE INVEST OUR DOLLARS WISELY TO
CREATE WHAT IS NEEDED TO HELP
PROVIDE A RANGE OF HOUSEHOLDS IN
SEATTLE? AND AS I SAID EARLIER
IN THE START OF THE
PRESENTATION, WE WANT EVERYBODY
TO HAVE SAFE AND AFFORDABLE
HOUSING, REGARDLESS, WHERE IT
SHOULD BE AVAILABLE THROUGHOUT
THE CITY. THAT IS WHAT FAIR
HOUSING MEANS THROUGHOUT THE
CITY. SO THEN PEOPLE WOULD HAVE
A CHOICE AND AN OPTION. SO WHEN
I WAS YOUNGER, I MIGHT HAVE
WANTED TO LIVE IN THAT
NEIGHBORHOOD, MAYBE A DIFFERENT
HOUSING STYLE. PEOPLE SHOULD
HAVE CHOICE. AMEN.
>> THANK YOU FOR ALL THE WORK.
AND SO IT SOUNDS LIKE I'M GOING
TO PUT THIS ON THE RECORD RIGHT
NOW. YOU WILL HAVE A BETTER
DASHBOARD BY APRIL. I'M GIVING
IT APRIL 15, TAX PAY, PUTTING IT
ON THE RECORD. THAT IS WHEN WE
EXPECT TO SEE SOMETHING NEW.
>> YES. I'LL JUST END WITH
BEFORE PASSING IT OVER TO
COUNCILMEMBER SOLOMON AND
COUNCILMEMBER JUAREZ, IF SHE
WANTS, AGAIN, WHICH IS JUST TO
SAY THANK YOU. WE RECOGNIZE THE
IMPORTANCE OF YOUR WORK, WHICH
IS WHY WE FUNDED IT AT SUCH A
HIGH LEVEL. THANK YOU FOR
EVERYTHING THAT YOU DO AND THE
INTENSITY THAT YOU'RE RECEIVING
FROM US IS JUST BECAUSE WE WANT
MORE OF IT NOW AND FASTER. WE
ARE HAVING THAT IN OUR
COMMUNITY, AND WE NEED MORE
INFORMATION. THANK YOU FOR
EVERYTHING THAT YOU'RE DOING.
>> COUNCILMEMBER SOLOMON, IF
THEY DON'T WANT ANYTHING. I
CLOCKED IN AT 15 MINUTES. SORRY
FOR THAT.
>> THANK YOU VERY MUCH, CHAIR.
THE QUESTION THAT I HAVE, SORT
OF REGARDING THE FEDERAL FUNDING
THAT COUNCILMEMBER SAKA ASKED
ABOUT. AND THE CONVERSATION THAT
YOU JUST HAD WITH CHAIR STRAUSS,
REGARDING THE NUMBER AND THE
TYPE OF UNITS. YOU KNOW, VACANCY
RATES. THANK YOU FOR ADDRESSING
THAT. ONE OF THE CONCERNS THAT I
HAVE, AND I THINK IT WILL BE
REFERRED TO ON PAGE -- GETTING
TO THE BUDGET FUNDING, THE
MULTI-FAMILY RENTAL HOUSING. ONE
OF THE CONCERNS I HAVE, SOME OF
MINE ARE SELLING OFF ASSETS TO
MEET OPERATIONAL COSTS. I KNOW
THERE'S PROVISIONS OF THE
MAYOR'S OFFICE FOR RENTAL
ASSISTANCE. I ALSO KNOW SOME OF
OUR HOUSING PROVIDERS ARE
LOOKING TO THE CITY FOR
BASICALLY FUNDING TO HELP OFFSET
THEIR OPERATIONAL LOSSES. IS
THAT IN YOUR BUDGET? IS THAT
INCLUDED IN THIS $302 MILLION?
TO HELP OFFSET SOME OF THOSE
COSTS FOR THE HOUSING PROVIDERS?
>> YES, IT IS. WE HAVE A
COLLECTION OF AGENCY SUPPORT
FUNDING THAT IS -- THAT INCLUDES
OPERATIONAL STABILIZATION,
WORKFORCE STABILIZATION,
RESIDENCE SERVICES, AND
OPERATION MAINTENANCE AND
SERVICES SUBSIDIES.
>> OKAY, GREAT. ONE OF THE
THINGS WE'VE ALSO HEARD FROM
HOUSING PROVIDER SAYS WHEN
THEY'RE DOING A UNIT TURN. IF
THEY HAVE A UNIT THAT'S BEEN
DAMAGED BY THE PREVIOUS TENANT.
YOU KNOW, THAT'S AN ADDED
EXPENSE. IS THERE FUNDING SET
ASIDE FOR REPAIR REHAB OF THOSE
UNITS THAT ARE BASICALLY
DESTROYED BY A PREVIOUS TENANT?
IS THAT IN THIS BUCKET AS WELL?
OR DO YOU HAVE A BUCKET FOR
THAT?
>> THERE ARE SEVERAL BUCKETS FOR
THAT, COUNCILMEMBER. THERE'S
THE STATE URGENT REPAIR FUND
THEY'VE ESTABLISHED IN THE PAST
FEW YEARS. ALL OH PROPERTIES ARE
REQUIRED TO HAVE A REPLACEMENT
RESERVE AND AN OPERATING RESERVE
AT THE PROPERTY. REPLACEMENT
RESERVE LEVEL, I THINK, RIGHT
NOW IS $350 PER UNIT. YOU BUILT
THAT UP. BUT ALSO AT THE FRONT
END, WHEN YOU DEVELOP THE
BUILDING, YOU PUT DOLLARS INTO
RESERVE FUNDS FOR THAT. WE HAVE
ALSO -- FOR SOME OF THE
LONGER-TERM ISSUES THAT YOU
MENTIONED ABOUT OPERATING COSTS.
THAT'S WHY WE SET UP THE
STABILIZATION TO HELP THEM
READJUST THEIR PROPERTIES TO THE
REAL REALITIES OF WHAT IT'S
LIKE TO OPERATE RIGHT NOW. THEN
IF YOU WERE IN THE PERMANENT
SUPPORTIVE HOUSING WORLD, YOU DO
HAVE YOUR OPERATION MAINTENANCE
AND SUPPORT DOLLARS AND SOME
STABILIZATION DOLLARS THERE.
>> ALL RIGHT, THANK YOU VERY
MUCH. THAT CLOCKS IN AT 2:52. SO
I APPRECIATE YOU.
>> COUNCIL MEMBER, DOES MY TIME
TALKING BACK TO YOU GET INCLUDED
IN THAT TIME?
>> YES, IT DOES.
>> OH, MY APOLOGIES. I'LL START
TALKING FASTER THEN. [ LAUGHTER
]
>> I THINK THAT WAS TECHNICALLY
THREE. THAT WAS TECHNICALLY
THREE. GOOD ON YOU,
COUNCILMEMBER SOLOMON.
>> ANY OTHER QUESTION IN THERE?
>> CAN I ADD ONE THING? I THINK
I FORGOT TO MENTION --
>> NO, I'M RESPONDING BACK TO A
QUESTION YOU HAD ASKED EARLIER.
>> HANG TIGHT. COUNCILMEMBER
SOLOMON JUST CLOSED US OUT, SO
I'M GOING TO TURN IT OVER TO
YOU FOR FINAL COMMENTS, AND THEN
WE'RE GOING TO SWITCH
PRESENTATIONS. THIS IS THE LAST
WORD.
>> I'M DONE, THANK YOU.
>> NO, REALLY. OKAY.
>> THANK YOU. WELL, WITH THAT,
COLLEAGUES, WE HAVE WRAPPED UP
OFFICE OF HOUSING AT 11:20 A.M.
WE ARE NOW GOING TO SWITCH
PRESENTATIONS. SO IF FOLKS WANT
TO START SWITCHING NOW, AND WE
WILL HAVE THE CLERK READ THE
ITEM NUMBER 2 INTO THE RECORD.
COLLEAGUES, IF YOU NEED TO USE
THE RESTROOM, NOW IS A GOOD
TIME.
>> AGENDA ITEM 2, SEATTLE CENTER
FOR BRIEFING AND DISCUSSION.
>> THANK YOU.
FRIENDS, THIS IS COUNTING INTO
MARK SOLOMON'S TIME. [ LAUGHTER
]
>> I'M KIDDING, IT'S NOT.
>> I LIKE TO GET TO THE POINT.
>> WE ARE BRINGING UP SEATTLE
CENTER. SEATTLE CENTER IS THE
NEXT DEPARTMENT TO SPEAK WITH US
RIGHT NOW. WE HAVE COUNCILMEMBER
JOY HOLLINGSWORTH AS THE CHAIR
OF THE COMMITTEE OVERSEEING THE
DEPARTMENT. AND WE HAVE MARSHALL
FOSTER.
AND I'M GOING TO SAY IT WRONG,
MR. WINSTON. I'LL LET YOU
INTRODUCE YOURSELF, SO I DON'T
MISPRONOUNCE YOUR NAME. DIRECTOR
FOSTER, THE FLOOR IS YOURS.
>> GOOD MORNING, CHAIR STRAUSS,
COUNCILMEMBERS, GREAT TO BE WITH
YOU. THANK YOU FOR THE
INVITATION TO SHARE OUR PROPOSED
2026 BUDGET WITH YOU TODAY, THE
MAYOR'S PROPOSED 2026 BUDGET. I
SHOULD HAVE INTRODUCED MYSELF
FIRST, MARSHALL FOSTER, DIRECTOR
OF SEATTLE CENTER. AND I'M HERE
TODAY WITH DIAMATRIS WINSTON,
OUR DEPUTY DIRECTOR, AND
DIRECTOR OF FINANCE AND
ADMINISTRATION. SO FIRST OFF,
VERY QUICK OVERVIEW OF SEATTLE
CENTER WHERE WE ARE. I HOPE YOU
ENJOY THE MANY THINGS WE OFFER
OUR COMMUNITY. IN A NUTSHELL,
OUR MISSION IS TO CREATE
EXCEPTIONAL EVENTS, EXPERIENCES,
AND ENVIRONMENTS THAT INSPIRE
THE HUMAN SPIRIT AND BUILD
STRONG COMMUNITIES. I'M VERY
HAPPY TO BE A PART OF AN
ORGANIZATION THAT IS IN THE
BUSINESS OF INSPIRING THE HUMAN
SPIRIT. 74-ACRE PUBLIC CAMPUS,
PART OF SEATTLE SINCE THE
WORLD'S FAIR IN 1962. 40 ACRES
THAT SERVES THE CITY AS A WHOLE
AND OF UPTOWN, BELLTOWN, QUEEN
ANNE AMONG OTHERS. ONE THING A
LOT OF PEOPLE DON'T KNOW, WE
ARE BACK TO RECORD LEVEL
ATTENDANCE IN PARTICIPATION AT
SEATTLE CENTER. $11.5 MILLION
ANNUAL VISITOR, THAT PUT US
RIGHT BACK TO WHERE WE WERE
PRIOR TO THE PANDEMIC. IT WILL
MAKE US THE LARGEST ATTENDANCE
FOR ANY CULTURAL DESTINATION IN
THE STATE OF WASHINGTON. FROM AN
ECONOMIC PERSPECTIVE, I THINK
WE'VE ALL TALKED A LOT OVER THE
LAST FEW YEARS ABOUT THE
IMPORTANCE OF CULTURE, ART, THE
EXPERIENCE OF DOWNTOWN TO OUR
DOWNTOWN RECOVERY. WHAT WE'RE
FINDING IS SEATTLE CENTER IS A
HUGE ECONOMIC ENGINE FOR THE
ARTS IN OUR CITY, AND IT IS ALSO
A HUGE PART OF WHAT'S DRIVING
OUR DOWNTOWN RECOVERY, BRINGING
PEOPLE BACK FOR INCREDIBLE
SPORTING EVENTS, INCREDIBLE
PERFORMANCES, PUBLIC FESTIVALS.
YOU CAN SEE THERE ARE SOME
NUMBERS IN TERMS OF OUR ECONOMIC
BENEFITS THAT WE SEE FROM ALL
THE ACTIVITIES ON OUR CAMPUS.
WHAT REALLY MAKES US UNIQUE, AND
I THINK IN MANY WAYS, THE SOUL
OF THE SEATTLE CENTER ARE THE
CULTURAL PARTNERS. THE 35
INDEPENDENT ORGANIZATIONS THAT
THEY CALL SEATTLE CENTER HOME.
FROM THE BIG ONES LIKE OBVIOUSLY
THE SEATTLE KRAKEN AND THE
SEATTLE STORM TO THE SMALL ONES
LIKE SKATE LIKE A GIRL, WHICH
CREATE INCREDIBLE PROGRAMMING
ACROSS THE SPECTRUM. PUBLIC,
FREE, DIVERSE IN TERMS OF HOW
PEOPLE ENJOY OUR CAMPUS AND THE
WAY WE SERVE OUR COMMUNITY.
ANOTHER THING, WHICH IS NOT
WIDELY KNOWN IS THAT WE ARE
LARGELY SELF-FUNDED. SO SEATTLE
CENTER DOES RECEIVE SOME GENERAL
FUND, BUT ABOUT 70% OF OUR TOTAL
EXPENSES ARE COVERED WITH
REVENUE THAT WE GENERATE ON
CAMPUS. WE CAN, OF COURSE, TALK
MORE ABOUT THAT COMMERCIAL
EVENTS, RENTALS, PARKING,
ARMORY, REVENUE FROM OUR VENDORS
IN THE ARMORY ARE A FEW OF THE
SOURCES. AND THEN, OF COURSE,
WE'RE A VERY LARGE OPERATING
DEPARTMENT. WE HAVE ABOUT 230
FULL-TIME STAFF. WE ALSO HAVE A
VERY LARGE INTERMITTENT STAFF OF
SEASONAL AND TEMPORARY
EMPLOYEES. AS I THINK YOU KNOW,
I WILL TALK MORE ABOUT WE
RECENTLY TOOK OVER THE
OPERATIONS OF WATERFRONT PARK ON
BEHALF OF THE CITY. SO THAT'S
BEEN A BIG GROWTH AREA FOR US.
YOU KNOW, JUST TO FOCUS ON A
COUPLE OF KEY PRIORITIES. THIS
ISN'T EVERYTHING WE DO, BUT
THIS IS A HUGE FOCAL POINT FOR
OUR DEPARTMENT RIGHT NOW. AS
WE'VE BEEN COMING OUT OF THE
PANDEMIC, IS REALLY BUILDING ON
SUCCESSES. SO YOU SEE THERE, THE
IMAGE OF OBVIOUSLY A HUGE THING
FOR US IS WE ARE NOW UNDERWAY
WITH THE REDEVELOPMENT OF
MEMORIAL STADIUM. I HAVE TO GIVE
A SHOUT OUT TO COUNCILMEMBER
JUAREZ WHO WAS OUR PARTNER IN
CRIME ON A LOT OF THAT, WHEN WE
WERE DOING THOSE AGREEMENTS.
EXPANDING INTO PARTNERSHIPS.
SOMETHING THAT HAS MEANT A LOT
TO THE DEPARTMENT OF SEATTLE
CENTER IS OUR HISTORY WITH
PARTNERING, YOU KNOW, WHETHER
IT'S WITH THE SPACE NEEDLE
HISTORICALLY, WITH WHAT WE DID
WITH CLIMATE PLEDGE ARENA, MORE
RECENTLY, WE'RE GROWING ON
THAT. WE'RE FOCUSED ON THE
SPECIFIC SCIENCE CENTER, WHICH
IS A NON-PROFIT, SEPARATELY
MANAGED ORGANIZATION, KIND OF
BUILDING A DEEPER PARTNERSHIP
WITH THEM TO HELP SUPPORT THEIR
INCREDIBLE ACTIVITIES AND TO
MAKE THEIR PORTION OF OUR CAMPUS
FULLY ACCESSIBLE TO THE PUBLIC.
BEAUTIFUL COURTYARDS AND ARCHES
THERE WILL BE MADE PUBLICLY
ACCESSIBLE, LATER IN OCTOBER FOR
THE FIRST TIME SINCE THE
WORLD'S FAIR. AND THEN LASTLY,
SHAPING OUR FUTURE. SOMETHING
THAT WILL JUST TOUCH ON, BUT
WE'RE HAPPY TO COME BACK AND
TALK MORE WITH THE COUNCIL.
WE'VE REALIZED OVER THE PAST
TWO YEAR, THIS IS REALLY A
CRITICAL MOMENT TO STEP BACK AND
LOOK AT THE NEXT TEN YEARS OF
SEATTLE CENTER AND WHAT ARE OUR
NEEDS? I MENTIONED A FEW TIMES
HOW THE WORLD HAS CHANGED SINCE
THE PANDEMIC. WE BELIEVE OUR
ROLE IN SUPPORTING OUR CULTURAL
PARTNERS ON CAMPUS WILL NEED TO
BE DEEPER. WE NEED TO EXPLORE
MORE WAYS. WE SUPPORT THOSE
ORGANIZATIONS. WE NEED TO FIND A
STRATEGY TO REINVEST IN THE
PHYSICAL CAMPUS. SEATTLE CENTER
AS A WHOLE NEEDS A REINVESTMENT.
THEN WE NEED TO WORK WITH YOU,
WITH THE HARRELL ADMINISTRATION,
OUR CITY PARTNERS TO CONTINUE TO
STRENGTHEN OUR FINANCIAL
SUSTAINABILITY AS A DEPARTMENT.
SO THAT'S JUST A HIGH LEVEL
KIND OF SUMMARY OF SOME OF THE
MAJOR THINGS WE'RE FACING. I'M
GOING TO HAND IT OVER NOW TO
DIAMATRIS, WHO WILL WALK YOU
THROUGH THE SPECIFICS OF THE
PROPOSED 20206 BUDGET.
>> GOOD MORNING, DIAMATRIS
WINSTON, DIRECTOR OF FINANCE AND
ADMIN. I'M GOING TO PROVIDE A
BRIEF OVERVIEW OF OUR 2026
BUDGET FOR YOU. I'LL START OFF
BY SAYING WE HAVE THREE
DIFFERENT BUDGETS AT SEATTLE
CENTER. WE HAVE A CAMPUS BUDGET,
WE HAVE A BUDGET, AND A
WATERFRONT BUDGET. ALL THOSE
BUDGETS, YOU KNOW, PUT TOGETHER,
AND YOU'LL SEE ON THE SLIDE
THERE, THE TOTAL ABOUT $59
MILLION THERE ON OPERATING SIDE.
SO YOU'LL SEE ON THE PROPOSED
2026 BUDGET, OFF TO YOUR RIGHT
THERE, WE HAVE ABOUT $17.5
MILLION OF GENERAL FUND FUNDING
PROPOSED IN THE 2026 BUDGET AND
ABOUT $41 MILLION OF OTHER
FUNDS, WHICH MAJORITY OF THAT IS
EARNING REVENUE. DIRECTOR FOSTER
MENTIONED HOW WE EARN THAT
REVENUE, SPONSORSHIPS,
CONCESSIONS, AND ALSO MONORAIL
FAIRS. OUR BUDGET IS COMPRISED
OF THE EARNED REVENUE, AND ALSO
PARKS DISTRICT FUNDING. PAYROLL
EXPENSE TAX, OPERATIONS, AND
THEN THEY HAD A TAX THROUGH THE
OFFICE OF ARTS AND CULTURE. NEXT
SLIDE. AND SO THIS FIRST SLIDE
BUDGET REALIGNMENT IS A GENERAL
FUND REDUCTION OF ABOUT $500,000
IN EXPENDITURES THAT WILL SHIFT
FROM THE GENERAL FUND BUDGET,
ONTO OUR CAMPUS OPERATING FUND,
WHICH IS OUR EARNED REVENUE
BUDGET. WE DON'T EXPECT ANY
SERVICE LEVEL REDUCTION HERE.
NEXT SLIDE. OKAY, THE FIRST
SLIDE, SIGNIFICANT ADDITIONS.
THIS IS AN INCREASE IN OUR
BUDGET FOR PEDESTRIAN SAFETY
BARRIERS. THIS IS A PART OF THE
CITY'S EFFORTS TO SEPARATE
PEOPLE AND VEHICLES FOR PUBLIC
SAFETY. SO THIS ONE-TIME
INVESTMENT REPLACES AGING,
SAFETY BARRIERS, AND INSTALLS
NEW BARRIERS AND CRITICAL AREAS
ACROSS THE CAMPUS FOR EVERYDAY
VISITORS OR VISITORS AT LARGE
EVENTS LIKE THE FIFA WORLD CUP
CELEBRATION UPCOMING NEXT YEAR.
EARLIER THIS YEAR WE HAD A
FAILURE IN OUR FIRE SYSTEM,
RESULTING IN OPERATING COST.
PRETTY SIGNIFICANT OPERATING
COST TO US. SO THIS IS PART OF
THE CITY'S OVERALL EFFORT TO
KEEP OUR BUILDINGS SAFE, KEEP
PEOPLE SAFE. SO THIS INVESTMENT
REPLACES THE FIBEROPTICS THAT
RUNS OUR FIRE SYSTEM. IT'S A
BIG INVESTMENT FOR US, NOT JUST
A COST STANDPOINT, BUT A RISK IN
AVOIDANCE AND A SAFETY
STANDPOINT. NEXT SLIDE. OKAY. SO
THIS IS OUR WATERFRONT BUDGET
RIGHT HERE. SO THIS IS AN
INCREASE IN ONE-TIME SPENDING
AUTHORITY, DERIVED FROM UNSPENT
RESOURCES FROM LAST YEAR IN
2024. SO THAT IS ABOUT $1.65
MILLION WILL BE USED IN '26. WE
FULLY ANTICIPATE SPENDING OUT
ALL OF OUR CARRY FORWARD BETWEEN
NOW AND THE RENEWAL OF THE MPD
FUND. NEXT SLIDE.
>> LET ME GET THAT BACK ON. SO I
KNOW ONE QUESTION, THERE WAS
INTEREST IN TO SAY A LITTLE BIT
MORE ABOUT HOW THE WATERFRONT
OPERATION IS GOING AND SOME OF
THE CONTEXT THERE. SO I'LL JUST
SPEND A MOMENT ON THAT CONTEXT.
AS I THINK YOU KNOW, COUNCIL
MEMBERS, WE HAVE A DEEP PUBLIC
PARTNERSHIP ON THE WATERFRONT.
IT'S FASCINATING AND UNIQUE.
SEATTLE CENTER IS WORKING DAILY
WITH FRIENDS OF WATERFRONT PARK.
THE ESSENTIAL ROLES HERE,
SEATTLE CENTER MANAGES THE
WATERFRONT ON BEHALF OF THE
CITY. WE PROVIDE OPERATIONS,
WHICH IS GROUNDS KEEPING,
MAINTENANCE, CLEANING, ALL THE
THINGS THAT MAKE THE WATERFRONT
LOOK GREAT, ALL THE LANDSCAPE
MAINTENANCE, AS WELL AS PUBLIC
SAFETY. WE DO THE PUBLIC SAFETY
THROUGH A FOUR-TIERED STRATEGY,
WHICH INCLUDES WHAT WE CALL OUR
EMERGENCY SERVICES UNIT, ESU,
WHICH HAS BEEN WITH SEATTLE
CENTER ON OUR CAMPUS THERE SINCE
OUR INCEPTION. WE'VE BROUGHT
THAT SAME APPROACH TO THE
WATERFRONT. I'LL TELL YOU A
LITTLE BIT MORE ABOUT HOW WE'VE
BEEN DOING. WHERE SHE A SIX-YEAR
AGREEMENT WITH FRIENDS OF
WATERFRONT PARK, WHICH WILL TAKE
US THROUGH THE YEAR-END 2028.
THAT IS VERY INTENTIONAL. THAT
TIME FRAME LINES UP WITH THE
ANTICIPATED RENEWAL CYCLE FOR
THE METROPOLITAN PARK DISTRICT.
SO FOR OUR WATERFRONT
MAINTENANCE WILL COME FROM THE
METROPOLITAN PARK DISTRICT, AND
THAT IS WHY WE WOULD HAVE THAT
ALIGNMENT. WE HAVE A CRITICAL
THING CALLED A PERFORMANCE
STANDARD, WHICH WE DEVELOPED.
YOU PROBABLY REMEMBER, WE DID A
LOCAL IMPROVEMENT DISTRICT TO
CREATE THE WATERFRONT AND TO
HELP FUND IT. AND AS PART OF OUR
COMMITMENTS TO THE DOWNTOWN
COMMUNITY IN THAT AGREEMENT, WE
COMMITTED TO A LEVEL OF QUALITY
IN THE MAINTENANCE AND THE
PROGRAMMING OF THE WATERFRONT
PARK. THIS PERFORMANCE STANDARD
IS HOW WE ENSURE WE ARE MEETING
OUR COMMITMENTS, AND IT IS
OVERSEEN BY THE CENTRAL
WATERFRONT OVERSIGHT COMMITTEE,
WHICH IS A PUBLIC OVERSIGHT
COMMITTEE, WHICH WAS CREATED AS
PART OF THAT LOCAL IMPROVEMENT
DISTRICT IN THE MEMBERSHIP
THERE, APPOINTED BY THE MAYOR
AND THE CITY COUNCIL. SO ALL
THOSE PIECES ARE IN PLACE.
THEY'VE BEEN WORKING QUITE
WELL. HERE IS JUST A LITTLE
SUMMARY OF WHERE WE ARE. YOU CAN
SEE SOME OF OUR INCREDIBLE TEAM.
WE BUILT THAT TEAM OUT. WE
STARTED IN 2023. THEY HAVE BEEN
OPERATING SINCE JULY OF 2023, SO
WE'RE A LITTLE OVER TWO YEARS
INTO THE WORK. YOU CAN SEE JUST
A FEW HIGHLIGHTS FROM '24, PARK
INSPECTIONS, 24 FULL INSPECTIONS
OVER 24 WITH THAT OVERSIGHT
COMMITTEE. 1,200 GRAFFITI TAGS
REMOVED, OVER 300 WORK ORDERS
COMPLETED. AND THIS ONE IS
ESPECIALLY INTERESTING. OUR
SECURITY TEAM, OUR PUBLIC SAFETY
TEAM WITH ESU. ALMOST 25,000
PUBLIC INTERACTIONS. ESSENTIALLY
ALL OF THOSE, NEARLY ALL OF
THEM, 93% ARE HELPING PEOPLE GET
INFORMATION, HELPING THEM GET TO
THE MARKET, HELPING THEM FIND
THE PROGRAMMING ON THE
WATERFRONT. A MUCH SMALLER
PROPORTION ARE ACTUALLY DEALING
WITH ANY KIND OF BEHAVIOR ISSUES
OR, YOU KNOW, NOT FOLLOWING PARK
RULES. SO THEY'RE REALLY THERE
AS AMBASSADORS WHO CAN ALSO HELP
PEOPLE FOLLOW OUR PARK RULES.
WHAT'S NEXT? NOW THAT THE PARK
IS FULLY OPEN, I HOPE MANY OF
YOU, I KNOW MANY OF YOU WERE
ABLE TO JOIN US AT THE GRAND
OPENING RECENTLY. WE ANTICIPATE
RAMPING UP TO FULL STAFFING OF
38 FTE. THAT'S BETWEEN ALL OF
OUR MAINTENANCE AND OPERATIONS,
THAT'S OUR PUBLIC SAFETY TEAM
WITH ESU. THAT IS ALSO OUR
MANAGEMENT OF THE WATERFRONT
OPERATION. WE ARE, THANKS TO
SUPPORT FROM THE DEPARTMENT OF
TRANSPORTATION, GOING TO BE
ADDING TWO ADDITIONAL GARDENERS,
WHICH WILL HELP US EXPAND OUR
SCOPE TO ALSO SUPPORT SOME OF
THE SDOT OWNED ASSETS ON THE
WATERFRONT WITH, I THINK WE HAVE
BECOME KNOWN FOR DOING VERY
HIGH-QUALITY WORK TO KEEP THAT
WATERFRONT LOOKING GREAT. WE'LL
BE HELPING THEM WITH THAT AS
WELL. AND THEN THE LAST THING I
WANTED TO CALL OUT IS IT THIS
BUDGET ALSO ADVANCES FUNDING FOR
THE ACQUISITION AND IMPROVEMENT
OF A WATERFRONT OPERATIONS AND
TRIBAL HERITAGE CENTER. THIS
WOULD BE IN A BUILDING THAT THE
CITY ACQUIRED A FEW YEARS AGO AT
THE FOOT OF THE PIKE STREET HILL
CLIMB. THE BUILDING CALLED THE
BACK END BUILDING. IT'S
HISTORIC, AND YOU'RE PROBABLY
FAMILIAR WITH IT. WE HAVE BEEN
UNDERWAY WITH THAT PROJECT. THIS
WOULD ALLOW US TO CONTINUE TO
HAVE FULL FUNDING TO ADVANCE
THAT PROJECT IN PARTNERSHIP WITH
THE TRIBE. AND JUST A QUICK
PICTURE OF OUR INCREDIBLE TEAM,
WE'RE VERY PROUD OF HOW THEY
BROUGHT SEATTLE CENTER'S
VALUES, SEATTLE CENTER'S
EXPERIENCE AND KNOW HOW DOWN TO
THE WATERFRONT. IT'S THE FIRST
TIME WE'VE FRANKLY BEEN TASKED
WITH MOVING FORWARD WITH OUR
74-ACRE CAMPUS IN OUR EXISTENCE,
SO WE'RE VERY PROUD IT IS GOING
PRETTY WELL. ALL RIGHT. THANK
YOU. I THINK THATTEN OCCLUDES
OUR PRESENTATION, AND WE'RE
HAPPY TO ANSWER QUESTIONS.
>> ALL RIGHT, THANK YOU IN
RECORD TIME. JOKING.
COUNCILMEMBER HOLLINGSWORTH, THE
CHAIR OF THE COMMITTEE
OVERSEEING THE DEPARTMENT, YOU
ARE RECOGNIZED.
>> THANK YOU, CHAIR STRAUSS. AND
I WILL TALK SLOWER THIS TIME. I
KNOW I TALKED FAST BEFORE, SO
I'LL BE ABLE TO PACE MYSELF.
THANK YOU, DIRECTOR FOSTER, AND
DEPUTY DIRECTOR WINSTON. I'M
GOING TO JOKE ABOUT HOW I LOVE
YOUR NEW BACKGROUND, IT'S
SEATTLE. THE LAST TIME YOU CAME,
DEPUTY DIRECTOR WINSTON HAD A
TACOMA BACKGROUND, AND WE GAVE
HIM A LITTLE HEAT FOR IT JUST A
LITTLE BIT. SO I'M GLAD TO SEE
YOUR BACKGROUND IS SEATTLE
TODAY. NO KNOCK. I JUST HAD TO
THROW THAT IN THERE. I
APPRECIATE ALL THE WORK YOU ALL
DO. IT'S REALLY BEEN A
PRIVILEGE TO BE ABLE TO STEWARD
SOME OF THE WORK THAT YOU ALL DO
THROUGH COMMITTEE, BUT ALSO A
LOT OF THE PROJECTS THAT BEEN
HERE WITH YOUR PREVIOUS PARTNER
IN CRIME, COUNCILMEMBER JUAREZ
OR COUNCILMEMBER STRAUSS WHEN HE
WAS ON COUNCIL. HE SON COUNCIL,
BUT YOU KNOW WHAT I MEANT, LIKE
BEFOREHAND, YOU KNOW, SOME OF
THE WORK THE PREVIOUS COUNCIL
MEMBERS, THE WORK THAT THEY DID
AND TO SEE MEMORIAL STADIUM
THROUGH, THAT PROJECT, AND HOW
EXCITED WE ARE ABOUT THOSE
PIECES AND THE WATERFRONT
OPERATIONS, AND THE WORK YOU ALL
HAVE DONE THERE, WITH JUST THE
OPERATING PIECE. AND THEN ALSO
REALLY BEEN PROUD OF THE
PARTNERSHIPS YOU HAVE ALL FORMED
WITH OBVIOUSLY MAKING SURE THE
PEOPLE ON YOUR CAMPUS HAVE BEEN
SUPPORTED DURING, YOU KNOW,
TROUBLING FINANCIAL ISSUES OFTEN
WITH THE PANDEMIC AND THEN JUST
GETTING PEOPLE BACK TO THE
PRE-PANDEMIC LEVELS OF
PARTICIPATION. BUT ALSO THE NEW
PARTNERSHIP OR THE EXTENDING OF
THE PARTNERSHIP WITH THE SEATTLE
SCIENCE CENTER, PACIFIC SCIENCE
CENTER, AND HAD A CHANCE TO GO
DOWN THERE AND TOUR THAT, AND
JUST TO SEE THE POTENTIAL
POSSIBILITIES AND WHAT THAT
LOOKS LIKE. AND THEN ALSO, THE
KING COUNTY CLINIC THAT YOU ALL
HOST EVERY YEAR, JUST THOSE
PROJECTS THAT ARE REALLY, REALLY
EXCITING. I DON'T HAVE ANY
QUESTIONS AT THIS MOMENT JUST
BECAUSE WE TALK SO OFTEN, AND WE
HAVE OUR MONTHLY MEETINGS AND SO
FORTH. I KNOW THAT I WILL HAVE
SOME QUESTIONS OFFLINE, AND
WE'LL PUT THEM IN THE TRACKER.
BUT I JUST WANTED TO SET THE
STAGE WITH THAT PIECE REGARDING
THE SEATTLE CENTER. I KNOW THE
OTHER PEOPLE WILL HAVE
QUESTIONS, BUT I APPRECIATE ALSO
TO LAST, BUT NOT LEAST, THE
FORETHOUGHT OF THINKING ABOUT
OTHER REVENUE SOURCES FOR THE
SEATTLE CENTER AND NOT JUST A
GENERAL FUND PIECE, BUT THINKING
ABOUT OTHER WAYS TO DIVERSIFY
THE REVENUE WITH EVENTS. THE
CONTRACT WE WOULD PASS THIS YEAR
WITH VERIZON, BRINGING DIFFERENT
TECHNOLOGY PIECES TO THE CENTER
OR OTHER OPPORTUNITIES THAT YOU
HAVE SEEN AND HAVE STATED IN OUR
COMMITTEE, BUT JUST THAT PIECE
IS REALLY IMPORTANT TO FIGURE
OUT HOW WE'RE GOING TO CONTINUE
TO GET BETTER AT THE SEATTLE
CENTER. SO I WILL STOP THERE
BECAUSE I KNOW MY COLLEAGUES
HAVE QUESTIONS, THANK YOU.
>> COUNCILMEMBER KETTLE FOLLOWED
BY SAKA AND JUAREZ.
COUNCILMEMBER KETTLE, YOU'RE
RECOGNIZED.
>> THANK YOU, CHAIR STRAUSS. I
FEEL UNDER THE GUN RIGHT NOW.
BUT WE'VE BEEN WORKING THROUGH
THESE ISSUES. THANK YOU FOR YOUR
ENGAGEMENT. ONE THING THAT
PEOPLE DON'T RECOGNIZE OR MAY
NOT HAVE APPRECIATED, THE
DIFFERENT EFFORTS LIKE
COUNCILMEMBER HOLLINGSWORTH WAS
SPEAKING TO THIS A BIT AND THE
FINANCING, THE DIFFERENT THINGS
TO CHANGE THINGS UP TO ALLOW
MONEY TO BE AVAILABLE. THESE
EFFORTS OVER THE LAST COUPLE OF
YEARS, I THINK THEY HAVE BEEN
ILLUMINATING, THE HIGHLIGHTS,
BEING CREATIVE, BUT ALSO LOOKING
TO ADDRESS THE MAINTENANCE
ISSUES THAT WE WOULD HAVE ON THE
CAMPUS, AND THAT IS VERY
IMPORTANT, AND I THINK THAT IS
SOMETHING THAT IS, YOU KNOW,
GOOD. WE HAVE TO FOCUS ON THOSE
IN THE LONG TERM AND THE SCIENCE
CENTER, WHICH IS INDEPENDENT,
BUT STILL A PART OF THE FAMILY
IF YOU WILL. THANK YOU FOR YOUR
WORK ON THAT BECAUSE IT IS SO
IMPORTANT AS WE MOVE FORWARD.
AND MEMORIAL STADIUM, MEMORIAL
WALL, I'M DEFINITELY FOLLOWING
THAT, ALTHOUGH MY BIGGEST THANK
YOU, I SHOULD ADD, IS ADDING
SEATTLE STORM AFTER MENTIONING
SEATTLE KRAKEN, BECAUSE I
REMEMBER THIS TIME LAST YEAR,
HELLO, I RECOGNIZED THE
CONTRACTING PIECES. BUT STILL,
THANK YOU VERY MUCH. GO STORM, I
HAD TO BEAT COUNCILMEMBER JUAREZ
TO THAT POINT. SPEAKING OF
SPORTS, ARE WE READY?
>> WE ARE IN THE PROCESS OF
BECOMING READY. WORK IS UNDERWAY
FOR NINE MONTHS NOW ON PLANNING
FOR THAT. THANK YOU FOR THE
SUPPORT TO GET SOME ADDITION
FALL STAFF CAPACITY TO DO THAT.
FUNDAMENTALS OF THE EVENT WERE
100% READY FOR IT. THERE ARE
SOME CRITICAL INVESTMENTS, ONE
OF WHICH THEY DESCRIBED THE
PEDESTRIAN SAFETY BARRIERS, THE
PUBLIC SAFETY IS ABSOLUTELY
PARAMOUNT. UNFORTUNATELY, THE
WORLD HAS GOTTEN MORE
COMPLICATED IN THE LAST FEW
YEARS. SO WE ARE VERY FOE
CUSHIONED ON KEEPING THE CAMPUS
SAFE AND SECURE, WE'RE FOCUSED
ON KEEPING ALL THE RESOURCES TO
STAFF AN EVENT OF THAT SCALE
WELL. WE KNOW IT'S GOING TO BE,
IN ALL LIKELIHOOD, THE LARGEST
EVENT WE WOULD HAVE ON CAMPUS
SINCE THE WORLD FAIR IN TERMS OF
ALL THE VIEWING THAT THEY ARE
ANTICIPATING WITH THE FAN
CELEBRATION. THERE ARE SOME
THINGS, YOU KNOW, WHICH ARE
CHANGING AND WE'RE WATCHING
LIKE VISITATION OF SEATTLE. WE
ARE SEEING THAT DROP OFF AS OUR
MAJOR ATTRACTION IN THE CITY.
AND SO HOW WILL THAT AFFECT, YOU
KNOW, VISITATION AS A QUESTION,
BUT YEAH, WE'RE DOING
EVERYTHING THAT WE NEED WITH OUR
LOCAL PARTNERS TO BE READY FOR
THAT FAN CELEBRATION.
>> AND BY THE WAY, THIS IS
VITAL, THIS IS VITAL. WE'RE IN
A NEW WORLD RIGHT NOW, THIS
MORNING, THEY'RE TALKING ABOUT
USING DANGEROUS CITIES AS
TRAINING GROUNDS FOR OUR
MILITARY. THIS MORNING, I WROTE
A STATEMENT ON THAT. THAT'S ONE
OF THE THINGS I WAS WORKING ON
THIS MORNING. I'M SHOCKED, SO
IT IS EVEN MORE IMPERATIVE THAT
WE DO THINGS RIGHT IN THIS CITY.
IT'S FUNNY BECAUSE YOU SPOKE TO
THESE ISSUES. I WAS GOING TO
BRING UP THE EMERGENCY SERVICES
UNIT, WHICH I KNOW ABOUT, AND I
KNEW ABOUT THE LIKE FROM MY MANY
SOURCES I WOULD HAVE THROUGHOUT
THE DISTRICT THAT WILL SURROUND
THE SEATTLE CENTER. BUT THEY
WERE ALSO THERE IN THE DOWNTOWN
SCHOOL, DEALING WITH PUBLIC
SAFETY ISSUES AND THEY WERE WELL
REPRESENTED. THEY'RE READY AND
WHAT IS NEEDED AND IF THERE IS
ANYTHING NEEDED FOR THEM, THEN
I'M SURE YOU HAVE OBVIOUSLY
WORKED WITH THE CHIEF OF POLICE
AND THE CHIEF OF FIRE, AND CHIEF
SCOGGINS AND THE REST, BUT WE
WILL HAVE TO ENSURE THAT THE
EMERGENCY SERVICES UNIT IS RIGHT
THERE, AND THANK YOU FOR THE
FIRE ALARM SYSTEM TOO. THAT WILL
KIND OF GO TO MAINTENANCE THAT
YOU WOULD TALK ABOUT THAT WE
NEED TO TAKE CARE OF JOB ONE, SO
THANK YOU. ON THE WATERFRONT,
YOU ALSO BEAT ME TO IT AND
BECAUSE OF THE SECURITY PIECES
THERE TOO. THEY'RE THERE TOO,
WHERE YOU SPOKE TO GRAFFITI. I
HAVE QUESTIONS HERE, AND YOU
PRETTY MUCH SPOKE TO THEM. SO I
APPRECIATE YOUR EFFORT BECAUSE
IT IS BASICALLY LEADING BY
EXAMPLE. I KNOW WE HAVE THE, YOU
KNOW, GRAFFITI TEAM AND SO
FORTH, BUT THAT'S REALLY
HELPFUL. ALSO PEDESTRIAN SAFETY.
I KNOW WE HAVE A BEAUTIFUL BIKE
LANE THAT WILL NEED TO BE
TWEAKED A LITTLE BIT FROM THE
SAFETY PERSPECTIVE. THAT'S A
DIFFERENT TOPIC. BUT
DIFFERENTIATING THE BIKE LANE
FROM THE WATERFRONT ITSELF.
ENSURING THAT E-SCOOTERS, THAT
WE'RE SAFE, THEY MIGHT BE
GEOFENCING IN THAT AREA AND ALL
THOSE ISSUES ARE THERE, SO WE
NEED TO ENSURE WE'RE SAFE FROM
A PEDESTRIAN SAFETY PERSPECTIVE.
IS THERE ANYTHING TO ADD TO
THAT? THE GRAFFITI, THE
PEDESTRIAN SAFETY PIECES?
>> WILL MENTION SINCE YOU
BROUGHT UP THE SCOOTERS. WE DID
HAVE A GOOD FOCUSED EFFORT WITH
SDOT'S HELP FOR THE GRAND
OPENING. TO GET A MORE COMPLETE
PLAN IN PLACE. TO KEEP OUR ADA
PATHWAYS OPEN. THEY'VE THIS
BEEN MAKING A GOOD EFFORT ON
THAT, AND ALSO SDOT HAS LEANED
IN. WE ARE IMPLEMENTING A
GEOFENCE AND A SLOW DOWN TO SORT
OF BRING THOSE THINGS, BRING THE
SCOOTERS DOWN TO A SLOW PACE ON
THE PROMENADE. AND REALLY WHAT
WE WANT TO DO IS SEE THEM IN THE
BIKE LANE IN THE CYCLE TRACK
THAT WE WOULD HAVE ALONG THE
WATERFRONT.
>> THANK YOU. IT IS A BEAUTIFUL
BIKE LANE. I THINK THAT'S VERY
GOOD. YOU MENTIONED THE GRAND
OPENING. I HAVE TO APOLOGIZE FOR
NOT ATTENDING EVEN THOUGH IT'S
IN MY DISTRICT. MY OTHER
SCHEDULE IS DOMINATED BY SOCCER
AND BASKETBALL GAMES, AND I WAS
NOT ABLE TO, WHATEVER ELSE I GET
SCHEDULED FOR DURING NIGHTS AND
WEEKENDS. SO I ALL POW JAZZ FOR
NOT BEING THERE. MY LAST
QUESTION -- QUICK QUESTION,
PARTNERSHIP WITH THE MARKET IS
STILL ON THE WATERFRONT AREA.
ENGAGING WITH THEM. HAVE YOU
DONE ANY OF THAT?
>> OH YEAH. AND RACHEL IS
FABULOUS. I'M SURE YOU HAVE ALL
MET RACHEL, THE NEW ED, YOU
KNOW, THEY HAVE A LONG, LONG
HISTORY AS A CORE PARTNER ON THE
WATERFRONT. THEY HAVE BEEN AT
THE TABLE. THEY'RE A PART OF
THE OVERSIGHT COMMITTEE I
MENTIONED. ACTUALLY, THEY HAVE A
PERMANENT SEAT ON THE OVERSIGHT
COMMITTEE, AS DOES THE HISTORIC
WATERFRONT ASSOCIATION, THE
SEATTLE AQUARIUM, AND THE
ALLIANCE FOR PIONEER SQUARE. SO
YES, THEY'RE VERY ACTIVELY
INVOLVED AND OUR SECURITY AND
GROUNDS TEAMS ARE LITERALLY
TALKING AND WORKING DAY-TO-DAY
ON HOW PEOPLE FLOW IN BETWEEN
THE OVERLOOK WALK AND THE
MARKET. IT'S INTERESTING. MARKET
HAS TOLD US HOW MUCH THEY
CHANGED THE FLOW OF PIKE PLACE
MARKET. THAT NEW HUGE SHIFT OF
PEOPLE ARRIVING FROM THE WEST IS
VERY NEW, AND IT'S CHANGING HOW
PEOPLE EXPERIENCE THE MARKET.
>> THEY ALSO HIGHLIGHT, BY
THUATION THE CONNECTIONS OF THE
WATERFRONT, PIONEER SQUARE
TOWARDS THE STADIUM'S NEW
CONNECTIONS. WE JUST TALKED
ABOUT THE OVERLOOK WALK, AND
ALSO THE BELL STREET PROJECT,
AND ALL THESE KINDS OF
CONNECTIONS. I APPRECIATE YOUR
SUPPORT AND WHATEVER WAY THAT
COMES OUT OF THE WATERFRONT SIDE
OF YOUR PORTFOLIO. MY LAST
QUESTION, CHAIR, HOPEFULLY I'M
STAYING SHORT. TRIBAL HERITAGE
CENTER. MY UNDERSTANDING, IF I
REMEMBER RIGHT, IT'S FOCUSED, A
LOT OF THIS IS REGARDING
EARTHQUAKE RETROFITTING,
EMERGENCY PREPAREDNESS ANGLE TO
THIS. HOW IS THE BUILDING
ITSELF? YOU MENTIONED SOME
FUNDING. IS THERE ANYTHING
SPECIFICALLY RELATED TO THE
BUILDING ACROSS FROM THE
AQUARIUM THAT WE NEED TO BE UP
AND RUNNING?
>> YEAH. I'LL GIVE YOU THE HIGH
LEVEL. THIS IS A PART OF THE
BUDGET IN TERMS OF THE DETAIL OF
WHAT IS BEING REQUESTED. WE
APPRECIATIVE THEY TOOK ON THE
PROJECT ON BEHALF OF THE
WATERFRONT TO GET TO THIS CENTER
OPEN. I THINK THE FUNDAMENTALS
ARE IN THAT DEVELOPMENT OF THE
SCHEMATIC DESIGN THAT WE HAVE
COME TO THE CONCLUSION THAT WE
NEED TO MAKE A BUILDING. THE
INITIAL HOPE IS TO DO MORE OF A
LIGHT UPGRADE, OBVIOUSLY
SUPPORTING OUR TRAVEL PARTNERS
IN GETTING IN THERE. WE ARE
STILL ON A GREAT PATH, BUT WE
NEED TO PUT MORE RESOURCES INTO
AND IT WILL TAKE A LITTLE
LONGER. THAT WILL INCUR SOME
ESCALATION AND THOSE TYPES OF
THINGS.
>> THE EXTRA COSTS WILL BE
SUPPORTED WITH LONG-TERM DEBT
THAT WE WOULD PAY BACK WITH A
SLICE OF ANTICIPATED REAL ESTATE
EXCITE TAX.
>> THANK YOU, DIRECTOR EDER. I
WAS ELUDING TO ABOUT FINANCING
AND IF YOU DO THAT RIGHT, THAT
COULD BE A MAJOR BUDGET PLUS, SO
THANK YOU. CHAIR?
>> THANK YOU, COUNCILMEMBER
KETTLE, COUNCILMEMBER SAKA,
FOLLOWED BY RIVERA, JUAREZ, AND
SOLOMON.
>> THANK YOU, CHAIR, THANK YOU
DIRECTOR FOSTER, MR. WINSTON AS
WELL, FOR BEING HERE. APPRECIATE
YOUR OVERVIEW BUDGET
PRESENTATION. MORE IMPORTANTLY,
THE WORK YOU DO EVERY DAY ON
OUR, IN THE SEATTLE CENTER, AND
NOW ON OUR WATERFRONT AS WELL.
SPECIAL SHOUTOUT TO YOUR WORK TO
IMPLEMENT CERTAIN SLOW ZONES IN
THE CENTER. MY OFFICE RECENTLY
WORKED WITH THE OPERATORS OF
THOSE SCOOTERS OURSELVES BECAUSE
OF SOME -- BECAUSE OF A LOT OF
THE WATER WITH KIDS GOING SUPER
FAST ON THE SCOOTERS AND THE
HIGH POINTS AND THE CARS
EVERYWHERE, AND THEY ARE RIDING
WITH TODDLERS ON THEM TOO, SO WE
WOULD WORK DIRECTLY WITH THEM TO
IMPLEMENT THE SLOW ZONES. I
STRONGLY SUPPORT THOSE SCOOTERS
AND DEPLOYMENT AND USE FOR HELP
FACILITATING THE CONNECTIONS. WE
SHOULDN'T HAVE A ONE-SIZE FITS
ALL ZONE, COMPLETELY ALLOWED TO
GO THE MAX SPEED AND FULL
THROTTLE. SO SHOUT OUT TO THAT
WORK TO KEEP PEOPLE SAFE AND
CONNECTED. TWO QUICK QUESTIONS
AS CHAIR OF OUR CITY
TRANSPORTATION COMMITTEE, AND
THE INTERSECTION AND THE OVERLAY
THAT DEPARTMENT HAS WITH YOUR
WORK, FIRST AND FOREMOST AT THE
OUTSET OF THIS PRESENTATION, IT
WAS NOTED THAT AMONG OTHER SORT
OF REVENUE SOURCES, YOUR
DEPARTMENT RECEIVES A PORTION OF
THE SEATTLE MONORAIL PROCEEDS.
IN SEATTLE, WE OPERATE WHAT WE
OWN TWO LINES OF TRANSIT.
STREETCAR AND THE MONORAIL IN
KING COUNTY METRO. WE CONTRACT
WITH KING COUNTY METRO TO
OPERATE THOSE ON OUR BEHALF. BUT
JUST CURIOUS TO BETTER
UNDERSTAND. CAN YOU TALK MORE
ABOUT THE REVENUE SHARE
ARRANGEMENT THAT YOU HAVE FOR
MONORAIL? WHAT SPECIFIC
PERCENTAGE OF THE MONORAIL FARES
DOES YOUR DEPARTMENT RECEIVE?
>> YES, SO I'M GLAD YOU ASKED.
MONORAIL IS A FASCINATING PART
OF WHO WE ARE, HOPING TO OVERSEE
THE MONORAIL SYSTEM. IT'S OWNED
BY SEATTLE CENTER, OPERATED BY
SEATTLE MONORAIL SERVICES. THEIR
ROUTE, THEY ARE MOVING ABOUT
$2.4 MILLION PASSENGERS A YEAR.
THEY'RE BACK UP BEYOND WHERE
THEY WERE PRIOR TO COVID. AND
THEY OPERATE WITH ZERO PUBLIC
SUBSIDY. THEY'RE THE ONLY FORM
OF TRANSIT IN OUR REGION THAT
DOES THAT. VERY UNIQUE BECAUSE
THEY ARE FOCUSED ON AN EVENT
CLIENT. PEOPLE COMING TO THE
CLIMATE PLEDGE ARENA, COMING TO
EVENTS AT THE ARMORY. THE
ARRANGEMENT WE HAVE WITH THEM IS
A CONCESSION AGREEMENT. THIS IS
CREATED A NUMBER OF YEARS AGO,
WHERE THEY TAKE ALL
RESPONSIBILITIES FOR MAINTENANCE
AND OPERATIONS AND AN UPKEEP OF
THE MONORAIL SYSTEM. WE HAVE A
REGULATED PRICING STRUCTURE WITH
THEM THAT IS WRITTEN INTO THAT
CONCESSION AGREEMENT. THE
DEPARTMENT DOESN'T TAKE A
PORTION OF EACH FARE, BUT WE
TAKE A CERTAIN CONCESSION
AGREEMENT EVERY YEAR. IT'S PART
OF COUNCILMEMBER KETTLE
MENTIONED MAKING MONEY ON THE
ONE HAND TO FUND PUBLIC
PROGRAMMING. WE USE THOSE FEES
TO FUND WINTER FEST, OTHER FREE
PUBLIC PROGRAMS THAT WILL HAPPEN
ON THE CAMPUS.
>> THANK YOU. IS THAT CONCESSION
PAYMENT A FLAT FEE? IS IT PEGGED
TO A SPECIFIC THRESHOLD OR
TARGET?
>> IT IS BASICALLY, IT VARIES
DEPENDING ON HOW MUCH ATTENDANCE
AND HOW MUCH REVENUE THEY'RE
GENERATING. IT'S A PERCENTAGE
OF THEIR TOTAL REVENUE.
>> OKAY, THANK YOU FOR THE
INITIAL OVERVIEW. WOULD
APPRECIATE FOLLOWING UP WITH
THOSE SPECIFICS LOOK LIKE.
>> HAPPY TO.
>> AWESOME. AND SECOND QUESTION
PERTAINS TO SLIDE NINE, THE
WATERFRONT OPERATION SLIDE,
SPECIFICALLY THAT SECOND KIND OF
CATEGORY OF THINGS, WHAT'S
NEXT. THE TWO FTEs, FOR
LANDSCAPING PURPOSES. CAN YOU
TALK MORE ABOUT THAT ARRANGEMENT
AND SORT OF THE RATIONAL BEHIND,
YOU KNOW, SDOT LANDSCAPING, YOU
KNOW, SITTING WITHIN YOUR
DEPARTMENT?
>> YES. SO WHAT THIS WOULD DO IS
BASICALLY PROVIDE SOME
MAINTENANCE FUNDING FOR US TO
TAKE RESPONSIBILITY FOR SOME OF
THE SCOPE OF THE WATERFRONT,
WHICH IS CURRENTLY UNDER THEIR
RESPONSIBILITY. WE HAVE THE
BENEFIT OF THE SEATTLE OPS TEAM
OF HAVING A DEDICATED TEAM THAT
WILL THINK ABOUT NOTHING OF THE
MAINTENANCE AND THE UPKEEP OF
THEIR WATERFRONT. THEY REPORT TO
WORK EACH DAY THERE, THEY'RE
FOCUSED ON THAT, THEY'RE
MANAGING A SYSTEM ACROSS THE
ENTIRE CITY. SO IN OUR
CONVERSATIONS WITH DIRECTOR
EMORY, HER MAINTENANCE TEAM,
WITH THE MAYOR'S OFFICE, WE
CONCLUDED THE BEST WAY TO HELP
THEM MEET THE COMMITMENT THEY
HAVE AS A PART OF THAT
WATERFRONT, THAT LARGER
MAINTENANCE COMMITMENT THAT I
ELUDED TO IN THE PRESENTATION.
INSTEAD OF PULLING THEIR TEAM TO
TRY TO COME IN AND GIVE THAT
EXTRA FOCUS ON THE WATERFRONT,
PROVIDE A PORTION OF FUNDING TO
SEATTLE CENTER, WE DID A COST
ESTIMATE OF WHAT THEY WERE AND
WE FOUND IT IS LESS EXPENSIVE
FOR SEATTLE CENTER TO DO THAT
WORK THAN IT WOULD BE FOR SDOT.
WE TEN HAD BASICALLY ARE IN THE
PROCESS, WE HAVEN'T WORKED OUT
ALL THE DETAILS. WE'RE IN THE
PROCESS OF NEGOTIATING THE
FUNDING. TO BE CLEAR, THESE
WOULD BE SEATTLE CENTER
EMPLOYEES, REPRESENTED, DOING
THIS WORK, SO IT WILL BE SEATTLE
CENTER STAFF DOING THAT WORK.
>> THANK YOU. SO THE EMPLOYEES
WHO ARE IMPLEMENTING CARRYING
OUT RESPONSIBILITIES THAT WILL
LIE WITHIN SDOT?
>> YES. SO THINGS LIKE WHAT A
LOT OF THIS HAS TO DO WITH OUR
TREES AND THE GROUND COVERS YOU
SEE, YOU'VE PROBABLY SEEN THE
LARGE PLANTERS ALONG THE
SIDEWALKS. THOSE ARE, IT'S
EASIER AND A LITTLE MORE COST
EFFECTIVE FOR US TO DO THAT
BECAUSE WE'RE DOWN THERE WITH
GARDENERS AND LABORERS, DOING
THE PORTIONS ON THE WEST SIDE.
>> YES, YES. I HAVE MY OWN
THOUGHTS ON THAT. I COULD HAVE
SHARED THOSE FIRST, BUT WHAT
I'M ABOUT TO SAY IS MOSTLY
CONSISTENT WITH WHAT THE
THINKING THAT WENT BEHIND THIS
IS. I'M ACTUALLY GLAD THESE
WORKERS SIT WITHIN YOUR
DEPARTMENT FOR A NUMBER OF
REASONS. ONE, AS YOU NOTED
EARLIER, YOUR DEPARTMENT HAS A
LOT OF EXPERTISE ALREADY IT IN
HOUSE WITH THIS SPECIFIC TYPE OF
WORK. TWO, YOU KNOW, YOU NOTED,
I WASN'T AWARE OF IT BEFORE,
BUT YOU SAID THERE ARE COST
SAVINGS ASSOCIATED WITH YOUR
DEPARTMENT IN DOING IT VERSES
SDOT. TO OUR BROADER INITIATIVES
ON THE FLOOR AND TO STREAMLINE
AND CONSOLIDATE SERVICES AND
AVOID SORT OF DUPLICATION
SERVICES, I THINK IT MAKES SENSE
OF ALL THAT PERSPECTIVE. BUT
IMPORTANTLY, AS CHAIR OF THE
DEPARTMENT THAT OVERSEES SDOT,
SDOT IS, IN MY MIND AND SHOULD
ALWAYS BE PRINCIPALLY AN
ENGINEERING AND SAFETY
ORGANIZATION. IT SHOULD BE AN
ENGINEERING AND SAFETY. WHAT I
MEAN BY A THAT IS, WELL, WE HAVE
ROUGHLY 27% OF THE AVAILABLE
SPACE FOR VEGETATION AND TREE
CANOPY IS IN PUBLIC RIGHTS OF
WAY. SO WE NEED TO BALANCE THE
NEED TO ADD TREE CANOPY. WHILE
ALSO MAINTAINING SAFE, EFFICIENT
ROUTES OF TRAVEL FOR, YOU KNOW,
PEOPLE. BUT AT THE SAME TIME,
SD, O T USED TO ACTUALLY BE
NAMED THE DEPARTMENT OF
ENGINEERING UP UNTIL ABOUT 30
YEARS AGO WHEN IT WAS ONE
ORGANIZATION, THE DEPARTMENT OF
ENGINEERING WITH THEIR CURRENT
ROLE AND SPU'S CURRENT ROLE.
ALL HOUSED INTO ONE, CALLED THE
SEATTLE DEPARTMENT OF
ENGINEERING, WHICH WENT AWAY,
THERE WAS A SPLIT, AND THE COURT
CASE WAS INVOLVED IN THAT AND IN
ANY EVENT. THEY HAVE ALWAYS BEEN
THE ENGINEERING ORGANIZATION,
AND I ALWAYS WANT THEM TO BE AN
ENGINEERING ORGANIZATION AND
SAFETY ORGANIZATION. MORE FTE
AND RESOURCES THAT WE WOULD ADD
TO ALLOW THEM TO MAINTAIN AND
PLAN FOR ALL THE VEGETATION AND
GROWTH. IT WILL ULTIMATELY
DETRACT FROM WHAT I BELIEVE
SHOULD BE THEIR CORE MISSION OF
ENGINEERING AND SAFETY. SO THANK
YOU FOR THINKING ABOUT THAT, AND
I WOULD ENCOURAGE YOU AND OTHER
DEPARTMENTS TO FIND CREATIVE
WAYS TO WORK WITH SDOT IN
PARTICULAR TO, YOU KNOW, MAKE
SURE THESE FUNCTIONS ARE
APPROPRIATELY HOUSED, IN THIS
CASE, I DON'T THINK IT WOULD BE
IN SDOT. THANK YOU, CHAIR.
>> THANK YOU HAD, COUNCILMEMBER
SAKA. COUNCILMEMBER RIVERA?
COLLEAGUES THERE, ARE SNACKS IN
THE GREEN ROOM IF YOU NEED THEM.
>> THANK YOU, CHAIR. THANK YOU
FOR BEING HERE AND FOR THIS
PRESENTATION. I'LL START WITH
THE WATERFRONT, AND I ALWAYS
FEEL WHEN WE WOULD TALK ABOUT
THE WATERFRONT THAT I NEED TO
GIVE A SHOUT OUT TO MAGGIE
WALKER, FRIENDS OF THE
WATERFRONT, AND THE LATE CHARLIE
FOR ALL THE WORK LEADING UP TO
THIS AMAZING PROJECT OPENING. IT
JUST MADE OUR CITY ALL THE MORE
AMAZING, AND I KNOW IT IS, I
NAMED THOSE THREE, BUT IT IS A
WHOLE TEAM AND HOST OF PEOPLE
THAT CONTRIBUTED TO MAKING IT
HAPPEN, AND NOW TO OPERATING IT.
I JUST WANT TO REALLY SHOUT OUT
THOSE FOLKS AND ALSO JUST THE
GRATITUDE FOR EVERYONE WHO HAS
BEEN WORKING ON IT AND WHO
CONTINUES TO MAINTAIN IT. IT
WILL BE A TREASURE FOR MANY
YEARS TO COME, WHERE IT IS JUST
SO AMAZING FOR THOSE OF US THAT
LIVE HERE AND FOR OUR VISITORS
BECAUSE I HEARD A LOT OF TALK
FROM VISITORS ABOUT HOW AMAZING
THE WATERFRONT IS. FOR ALL OF
YOU WHO HAVE BEEN HERE AND KNEW
WHAT THE WATERFRONT LOOKED LIKE
BEFORE, I'M STILL STUNNED WHEN
I LOOK AT IT AT HOW BEAUTIFUL IT
IS. SO ANY WAY, I COULD GO ON
AND ON ABOUT THE WATERFRONT, SO
THANK YOU FOR YOUR STEWARDSHIP
OF THE WATERFRONT. I'LL SAY
ALSO ON THE MONORAIL, I GET
ASKED ON THE REGULAR BASIS,
BELIEVE IT OR NOT, IS IT SAFE?
SO I WILL ASK THE QUESTION TO
YOU IN TERMS OF YOUR PARTNERSHIP
AGREEMENT WITH THIS OR THE
COMPANY THAT RUNS IT, YOU KNOW.
I ASSUME THERE IS SOME
MAINTENANCE THINGS? IN THE
ARRANGEMENT?
>> YES, MY ANSWER TO YOU WOULD
BE YES. MONORAIL IS SAFE AND IT
IS VINTAGE, NO QUESTION. IT IS
VERY CAREFULLY MAINTAINED, AT
OUR REQUEST WITH CAPITAL
MAINTENANCE PROGRAM, WHERE WE
OVERSEE THAT ON THE QUARTERLY
BASIS. WE'RE VERY INVOLVED IN
ENSURING THEY DO WHAT THEY NEED
TO DO, BUT I HAVE TO BE REALLY
HONEST, THEY'RE AN INCREDIBLY
GOOD STEWARD. TEAM THERE, THEIR
PASSION FOR THE MONORAIL IS
AMAZING. THEY ARE USUALLY THREE
STEPS AHEAD WITH WHAT NEEDS TO
GET DEALT WITH, WHETHER IT IS
THE VEHICLES, AND THEY DO
REQUIRE, I'M NOT GOING TO
PRETEND. BUT IT IS REALLY AN
ART, THE MAINTENANCE OF THOSE
VEHICLES. THE GOODWAY SYSTEMS,
THE ADA ACCESSIBILITIES TO THE
SYSTEM, WHICH
and what that will do for the
monorail and we are starting to
plant some seeds for the future
OF WESTLAKE AND A BIGGER
TRANSFORMATION THERE WHICH WOULD
REALLY IMPROVE THE CONNECTION TO
LIGHT RAIL. LIGHT RAIL IS
ALREADY CHANGING THE MONORAIL IN
INCREDIBLE WAYS. WE ARE SEEING
RIDERSHIP JUST SPIKED BECAUSE
YOU CAN RIDE THE LIGHT RAIL AND
YOU CAN TRANSFER WESTLAKE ON TO
THE MONORAIL. LOOK FOR MORE FROM
US ON THE MONORAIL. BUT IT IS
VERY SAFE .
>> RIDERSHIP AT THE MONORAIL IS
UP 5% THIS YEAR .
>> AWESOME. I KNOW I TAKE IT --
GO AHEAD .
>> MY BIKE ROUTE TO WORK PASSES
UNDER THE MONORAIL EVERY
MORNING. JUST THE OTHER DAY,
THERE WAS AN UNUSUAL LITTLE CAR
ON THE TRACKS DOING SOME
INSPECTION OR REPAIR. THEY WERE
OUT THERE DOING THE MAINTENANCE.
>> THANK YOU DIRECTOR NOBLE.
AND I RIDE IT WHEN I GO TO THE
SEATTLE KRAKEN GAME AND I'M A
BIG FAN. ALSO CONCERTS AT THE
SEATTLE CENTER. AND WHEN MY KIDS
WERE LITTLE, WE RODE THE
MONORAIL JUST FOR FUN AND IT IS
REALLY COOL. KIDS LOVE THE
MONORAIL. SO THANK YOU FOR THAT.
MY OTHER QUESTION IS ABOUT , YOU
SPOKE BRIEFLY ABOUT THE
ORGANIZATIONS AND TENANTS AT THE
SEATTLE CENTER AND THE
ORGANIZATIONS THAT YOU HAVE
PARTNERSHIPS WITH THERE AND ARE
BUSINESSES AND RESTAURANTS AND
SUCH. AND JUST HOW ALL OF THAT
IS GOING, GIVEN THE CHANGES AND
THE IMPACT . THERE ARE A LOT OF
IMPACTS TO THE FOOD VENDORS
BECAUSE EVERYTHING IS GETTING
MORE EXPENSIVE AND SOME OF IT
UNFORTUNATELY, DUE TO OUR
FEDERAL SITUATION. SO WHAT ARE
YOU SEEING IN TERMS OF THAT ?
>> GREAT QUESTION, FIRST OFF.
AND IT IS VERY TOP OF MIND FOR
THE TEAM. SOME OF THE OTHER
QUESTIONS YOU ASKED ABOUT, THE
COST OF BUILDING HOUSING, WE ARE
SEEING A MACROECONOMIC TREND
THAT AS THINGS ARE COSTING MORE,
PEOPLE ARE BEING MORE CAREFUL
ABOUT HOW THEY SPEND THEIR
MONEY. AS A RESULT, PEOPLE'S
WILLINGNESS TO SPEND
DISCRETIONARY INCOME IS
DROPPING. PEOPLE ARE NOT
SPENDING AT THE SPACE NEEDLE.
THEY ARE NOT SPENDING ON THE
FESTIVALS IN THE SAME WAY.
BUMBERSHOOT DATA HARDIER.
ARMORYVENDORS ARE OFF A LITTLE
BIT THIS YEAR. WATERFRONT PARK
IS EXPLODING AS A FREE PUBLIC
EXPERIENCE WHERE YOU CAN GET OUT
AND ENJOY. ATTENDANCE ON THE
CAMPUS GROUNDS IS SPIKING AROUND
THE FOUNTAIN AND THOSE KINDS OF
THINGS. WHAT WE ARE SEEING IS
THAT PEOPLE ARE OUT TO ENJOY THE
CITY BUT THEY'RE LOOKING FOR
FREE EXPERIENCES A LITTLE MORE.
THAT IS LEADING US TO LEAN INTO
WINTERFEST WHICH IS THE BIG
BRIEF PUBLIC HOLIDAY EXPERIENCE
THAT WE DO IN THE ARMORY AND NEW
YEAR'S EVE AND THE LIKE. WE
KEEP ADAPTING TO THAT. AND
OBVIOUSLY, WE DON'T LIKE SEEING
THE NUMBERS GO DOWN. BUT THAT IS
PART OF WHAT WE DO. WE TRY TO
STAY VERY NIMBLE AND FRANKLY,
HELP THOSE PARTNERS SUCCEED. WE
ARE DOING THINGS NOW WHERE WE
ARE LOOKING AT SOME PROMOTIONS
AND LOOKING AT DISCOUNTS AND
LOOKING AT BUNDLING PARKING WITH
A TICKET TO AN EVENT AT MCCALL.
THANKS THAT KIND OF HELP,
ESPECIALLY FOR FAMILIES AND
OTHERS WHO MIGHT BE LOOKING
CAREFULLY. AND IF THEY HAVE THE
DISCRETIONARY INCOME, WE MAKE IT
EASIER TO COME AND ENJOY THE
SEATTLE CENTER .
>> THE HOLIDAYS ARE COMING UP
WHICH IS A BIG TIME FOR YOU ALL.
SO IT REMAINS TO BE SEEN. AND
WE CAN KEEP TALKING ABOUT THE
IMPACTS THAT WE WILL SEE. I HAVE
CONCERNS ABOUT THE LONG-TERM
IMPACT ON THE SUSTAINABILITY OF
THE CAMPUS AND ALL THE VARIOUS
TENANTS AND PARTNERS THERE
BECAUSE WE WANT TO MAKE SURE
THAT IT CONTINUES TO THRIVE . IT
IS ANOTHER GEM OF THE CITY. AND
I WANT TO MAKE SURE OUR CULTURAL
INSTITUTIONS AND ART
INSTITUTIONS AND THE THEATER AND
THE BALLET AND THE CHILDREN'S
MUSEUM AND THE VENDORS THERE AND
THE SMALL BUSINESSES THAT ARE
THERE CONTINUE TO THRIVE. SO I
WANT TO KEEP TALKING ABOUT THIS
PARTICULAR PIECE. IT IS
IMPORTANT .
>> IF I MIGHT ADD ONE MORE
THOUGHT TO WHAT YOU ARE SAYING.
>> OF COURSE.
>> ANOTHER DRIVER WE ARE RIDING
-- RUNNING INTO WHICH IS IMPORT
TO BE AWARE OF, AS SEATTLE
CENTER HAS DIFFERENT EQUIPMENT
AND SYSTEMS FAIL, WHICH
UNFORTUNATELY IS HAPPENING MORE
AND MORE OFTEN, GIVEN THE AGE OF
OUR CAMPUS , IT CREATES OUTAGES.
IT CREATES LOSS OF REVENUE , NOT
ONLY FOR THE DEPARTMENT BUT FOR
PARTNERS. AND IT IS BECOMING A
MORE PRONOUNCED ISSUE. SO WE
JUST DESCRIBE THE FIRE PANEL
INVESTMENT. THAT IS AN EMERGENCY
INVESTMENT BECAUSE THE FIRE
PANEL SYSTEM FAILED EARLIER THIS
YEAR. WE HAVE HAD MULTIPLE POWER
OUTAGES ON THE CAMPUS WHICH WERE
LAST-MINUTE, TO AVOID IMMINENT
FAILURE SITUATIONS. I COULD
CONTINUE. I COULD GO ON A LIST
OF DIFFERENT SYSTEMS. WE WILL BE
TALKING TO YOU MORE ABOUT, HOW
DOES THE CITY START TO ORGANIZE
AND DEAL WITH THIS MORE
COMPREHENSIVELY ? THIS IS A
MAJOR ASSET. WE HAVE HAD IT FOR
63 YEARS. WE ARE AT A POINT
WHERE WE HAVE TO MAKE LARGER
SCALE INVESTMENTS AND IT. AND I
REALIZE THAT IS HARD. WE HAVE A
LOT OF THINGS WE NEED TO DO AS A
CITY. AND THIS IS BECOMING
URGENT AND DRIVING COST FOR OUR
PARTNERS AS WELL .
>> IT IS CONTINUING TO DEVELOP
OVER TIME. WE HAVE SOME REALLY
GREAT PARTNERS. I WOULD MENTION
THE CHILDREN'S THEATER. I
DON'T WANT TO LEAVE ANYONE OUT.
AND OF COURSE CLIMATE PLEDGE
ARENA. AND WE HAVE GREAT
PARTNERS THERE. ESPECIALLY WITH
ONE ROOF. THERE ARE A LOT OF
AMAZING THINGS HAPPENING THERE
THAT WE WANT TO CONTINUE
LONG-TERM. SO THANK YOU FOR YOUR
STEWARDSHIP . BOTH OF YOU AND
YOUR ENTIRE TEAM AT SEATTLE
CENTER. THANK YOU, CHAIR.
>> THANK YOU COUNCILMEMBER
RIVERA. COUNCILMEMBER SOLOMON
AND NELSON. NOTABLY, WE ARE AT
12:05 P.M..
>> I COULD TALK NOSTALGICALLY
ABOUT MY EXPERIENCES AT SEATTLE
CENTER FROM SEEING THE OLD
VAMPIRES AND THE OLD DAYS WHEN
THEY HAD NIGHTMARE THEATER GOING
ON -- I COULD GO NOSTALGIC. AND
I MISS THE FUN FOREST. I WANT TO
SAY THAT TOO. BRING IT BACK. AND
I WANT TO ACKNOWLEDGE AND THANK
YOU FOR THE INVESTMENTS IN THE
TRAVEL CENTER ON THE WATERFRONT.
I KNOW THAT WAS VERY IMPORTANT
TO MUCKLESHOOT WHEN I SPOKE TO
THEM MONTHS AGO ABOUT GETTING
THAT AND MAKING IT HAPPEN. THANK
YOU FOR THAT. I WAS AT THE
OPENING FOR THE WATERFRONT. ONE
OF THE THINGS I NOTICED WAS -- I
THINK IT WAS A PUBLIC RESTROOM
SET UP THAT I BELIEVE IS IN
FRONT OF PIER57, 58. BEAUTIFUL
DESIGN. I WOULD LOVE TO SEE THAT
REPLICATED IN OTHER PARTS OF THE
CITY . AS YOU KNOW, WE HAVE A
LACK OF PUBLIC RESTROOM
FACILITIES. AND IF WE CAN HAVE
MORE FACILITIES TO PROVIDE FOR
PEOPLE PEOPLE'S BASIC HUMAN
NEEDS AND ALSO DESIGNED TO BE IN
SUCH A WAY THAT IT DOESN'T LEAD
TO UNINTENDED OR UNWANTED
BEHAVIORS. THAT WOULD BE GREAT.
SO , TWO QUICK QUESTIONS. THE
FIRST ONE IS, DO YOU STILL HAVE
THE SPD SUBSTATION AND ARMORY?
>> YES, WE DO .
>> AND I WANT TO ACKNOWLEDGE
SLIDES LINE GAUCHE NINE UNTIL
LOOKING AT THE SECURITY TEAM .
SO IF MOOSE IS STILL WITH YOU,
TELL HIM I SAID HELLO.
>> MOOSE IS AMAZING. HE IS ON
THE WATERFRONT NOW .
>> THANK YOU. THANK YOU
COUNCILMEMBER SOLOMON. COUNCIL
NELSON .
>> ALLOW ME TO GUSH. I WANT TO
THANK YOU FOR THE PRESENTATION .
THE WATERFRONT IS SPECTACULAR.
AND I FIND MYSELF SOMETIMES
FOCUSED ON WHAT IS NOT WORKING
IN SEATTLE THAT I FORGET TO LOOK
UP AND RECOGNIZE THE AMAZING
THINGS GOING ON AROUND ME AND
THE WATERFRONT STANDS OUT AND IN
ITS BEAUTY AND ALSO THE WORK AND
COLLABORATION THAT IT REPRESENTS
ACROSS MANY YEARS. THANK YOU
COUNCILMEMBER RIVERA, FOR
CALLING OUT MAGGIE WALKER AND
HER PERSISTENCE. I JUST WANTED
TO ALSO -- I'M ALL ABOUT GIVING
PEOPLE CREDIT. THE EMERGENCY
SERVICE CREDIT UNION IS
PHENOMENAL. I HAD GUESSER LAST
WEEKEND AND THEY SAID THEY WERE
ON THE WATERFRONT AND RAN INTO
SOMEBODY AND THEY HAD A GREAT
INTERACTION. SHOUT OUT TO THE
NOW FAMOUS JAMIE SMITH WHO IS
THE LEADER DOWN THERE AND JUST
WHATEVER HAS GONE INTO THEIR
TRAINING. THEY ARE WELCOMING AND
REASSURING AND HELP PEOPLE STAY
SAFE AND FEEL SAFE. WE SHOULD
SEE THAT REPLICATE -- OBLIGATED
MANY TIMES FOR PART OF THE
SECURITY THAT IS NOT PART OF OUR
POLICE DEPARTMENT OUT THERE. NOT
SAYING ANYONE ELSE IS LACKING.
HERE'S THE THING. I'M STARTING
TO HEAR A HINT OF A NEW FUNDING
MODEL FOR THE SEATTLE CENTER. SO
A REQUEST TO TALK SOONER RATHER
THAN LATER ON THAT. AND, TO THE
POINT ABOUT THE MONORAIL, YES, I
WAS ABLE TO GET A TOUR . RIGHT
AFTER I WAS ELECTED. MY OFFICE
WHEN ON A TOUR OF THE MONORAIL
AND I ACTUALLY GOT TO DRIVE IT.
AND DID NOT BREAK IT. THE REAL
LIMITING FACTOR THERE IS THE
EQUIPMENT. SOME OF THE PARTS,
THEY DON'T MAKE THEM ANYMORE.
I'M NOT SURE HOW TO GET -- I
DON'T KNOW WHAT THE FIX FOR
THAT IS. WE HAVE TO MAKE SURE
THAT THEY HAVE THE RESOURCES TO
DO SO AND GET IT FIXED AND GET A
HOLD OF THE PARTS SO THAT THIS
IS A TREASURE FOR A LONG TIME
GOING INTO THE FUTURE. THAT IS
IT. THANKYOU.
>> THANK YOU COUNCIL PRESIDENT.
>> REALLY QUICKLY, I WANTED TO
MENTION A COUPLE OF COMMENTS.
ONE, WE WOULD BE HAPPY TO COME
BACK. WEARE ANTICIPATING COMING
BACK IN THE EARLY PART OF 26 TO
TALK ABOUT THE NEW STRATEGIC
PLAN AND 10 YEAR VISION WHICH
DOES TALK ABOUT REVENUE. IT DOES
TALK ABOUT FUNDING MODELS FOR
THE DEPARTMENT. NOTHINGURGENT.
BUT WE WOULD BE HAPPY TO DISCUSS
THAT MORE AT THAT TIME. AND
THEN, YES, YOU ARE RIGHT. THE
MONORAIL, ONE OF THE CRITICAL
CHALLENGES IS HAVING REPLACEMENT
PARTS BECAUSE THEY JUST DON'T
MAKE THEM ANYMORE FOR THE
MONORAIL. WE ACTUALLY HAVE A
WHOLE PROGRAM WITH THEM TO
IDENTIFY THE SPECIFIC MOST
FREQUENTLY FAILING ELEMENTS AND
STARTING TO GET THOSE FABRICATED
AND BUILD UP SOME INVENTORY
AHEAD WHICH SOUNDS OBVIOUS TO DO
BUT IT IS REMARKABLY HARD TO GET
THE FUNDING. AND FRANKLY, THE
EXPERTISE . THE CRAFTSMANSHIP,
TO BE ABLE TO BUILD THOSE PARTS
FROM SCRATCH. BUT WE ARE WORKING
ON THAT WITH THE MONORAIL
OPERATOR .
>> I'M STARTING TO HEAR THAT AN
INCUBATOR PROJECT, MAYBE FOR A
SMALL LOCAL BUSINESS. SHOP, ET
CETERA. ANYWAY, TO BE CONTINUED.
>> THANK YOU COUNCIL PRESIDENT
NELSON. I WILL ROUND US OUT AND
TURN IT BACK TO COUNCILMEMBER
HOLLINGSWORTH IF THERE ARE
FURTHER QUESTIONS. I WILL NOTE
THAT BECAUSE YOU HAVE THREE
DIFFERENT BUDGET PAGES IN THE
APPENDIX, YOU HAVE THE MACKALL
FUND. YOU HAVE THE SEATTLE
CENTER FUND AND THE WATERFRONT
FUND. I WILL PROBABLY RESERVE
MOST OF MY QUESTIONS FOR
SHAREPOINT SO THAT I DON'T
CONFUSE US ALL IN, WHAT DOES
THIS MEAN AND WHAT DOES THAT
MEAN ? I WILL JUST SAY THAT, AT
SOUND TRANSIT, AS A BOARDMEMBER
OF SOUND TRANSIT, THE AGENCY IS
ADJUSTING THE BUDGETING
PRACTICES TO MORE CLEARLY
IDENTIFY THE PREVENTATIVE
MAINTENANCE AND REGULAR
MAINTENANCE THAT IS REQUIRED .
AS I'M LOOKING FOR THE SEATTLE
CENTER BUDGET PAGE, WHICH IS
ONLY ONE OF THREE , I'M NOT
SEEING THIS AS CLEARLY CALLED
OUT. JUST SPEAKING TO WHAT I
HEARD ABOUT THE FIRE AND THE
ONGOING MAINTENANCE . WHAT I'M
READING IS JUST A CAMPUS BUDGET
LINE AND IS THAT A CORRECT
READING ? MAYBE DIRECTOR NOBLE .
>> I WOULD SAY ATTENTION TO THE
CIP DOCUMENT WILL HAVE MORE
DETAIL THAN THE OPERATIONAL
BUDGET BOOK BUT I NEED TO GO
LOOK MYSELF TO SEE IF IT
PROVIDES THE KIND OF INFORMATION
YOU ARE LOOKING FOR .
>> JUST READING HERE, CONFIRMING
YOU ARE MAKING ABOUT $10 MILLION
OFF OF PARKING. AND THAT IS
PUBLICLY OWNED PARKING GARAGE.
IS THAT CORRECT?
>> AND THEN WE ARE MAKING ABOUT
13.9 MILLION OFF OF THE EVENT
RENTALS, ET CETERA. IS THAT
CORRECT?
>> YES.
>> BUT THAT DOES NOT INCLUDE
ANY FUNDING TO SUPPORT THE
VIBRANCY . IT IS LITERALLY
KEEPING THE HEAT ON WINDOWS,
REPAIRS, DOORS OPENING. YOU ARE
NOT ADDING ANY PROGRAMMING TO
THAT .
>> SOME OF THAT REVENUE GOES
BACK TO THE PROGRAMMING AND THEN
BACK -- THE BACK OFFICE
FUNCTIONS AND MAINTENANCE . BUT
IF YOU ARE ASKING IF THERE IS
ENOUGH TO GROW THE PROGRAMMING,
NO.
>> OKAY. THANK YOU . WITH THAT,
I WANT TO SHARE WITH YOU,
GRATITUDE FOR GETTING THE
FUNDING MOVING A LITTLE FASTER.
THERE IS GREAT APPRECIATION AT
THE TRIBAL NATION SUMMIT FROM
LAST WEEK. I WANT TO THANK YOU
FOR THAT. WITH THAT,
COUNCILMEMBER HOLLINGSWORTH, DO
YOU HAVE ADDITIONAL ITEMS TO
CLOSE US OUT?
>> I DO NOT .
>> WESTWARD, DIRECTOR FOSTER OR
MR. WINSTON ?
>> [ INAUDIBLE ]
>> WITH THAT, COLLEAGUES, WE ARE
AT 12:14 P.M. AND I WANT TO ASK
-- I THINK WE CAN GET THE -- GET
THROUGH THE OFFICE OF ECONOMIC
DEVELOPMENT IN 45 MINUTES TO AN
HOUR IF WE WANT TO PUSH RIGHT
NOW . THUMBS UP OR THUMBS DOWN ?
>> WE ARE GOING TO KEEP MOVING .
IF YOU NEED TO USE THE RESTROOM,
PLEASE TAKE A BREAK . WE HAVE
SNACKS.
>> CLERK.
>> OFFICE OF ECONOMIC
DEVELOPMENT, FOR BRIEFING AND
DISCUSSION, AGENDA ITEM THREE.
>> COLLEAGUES, I WILL BE A
LITTLE MORE TIMELY. I WILL GIVE
US UNTIL 1:15 P.M. THAT IS 60
MINUTES. AGAIN, WE ARE IN
CONTROL OF OUR OWN DESTINY. SO
IF WE WANT TO GET OUT AT 1:00,
WE HAVE THAT CHOICE.
>> AND AS YOU WILL SEE IN THIS
SIX YEAR LOOK BACK, THE OFFICE
OF ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT HAD A
VERY LARGE BUDGET INCREASE OVER
THE LAST SIX YEARS. WE WILL GET
TO THE DETAILS IN JUST A MINUTE.
AS COUNCIL PRESIDENT NOTED
YESTERDAY, AS A SPONSOR OF THE
1.1% SALES TAX FOR PUBLIC
SAFETY, SHE HAD A LARGE HAND IN
DIRECTING HOW THE FUNDING WAS
USED . ASCOUNCILMEMBER RINCK
SHARED EARLIER THIS WEEK, BEING
IN PARTNERSHIP WITH THE BNO
SHIELD PROPOSAL GAVE HER A LOT
OF INFLUENCE INTO HOW THE MONEY
IS SPENT. SIMILARLY, ONE OF THE
ORIGINAL FOUR COSPONSORS OF THE
JUMPSTART TAX, MY PRIORITY IS
THE OFFICE OF ECONOMIC
DEVELOPMENT. AND SO WE CAME TO
THAT TABLE AND THAT IS THE
HISTORY OF HOW WE GOT TO WHERE
WE ARE TODAY WITH SUCH A FAST
GROWING BUDGET. FILIBUSTER IS
OVER. WE ARE JOINED BY DIRECTOR
MARK MCINTYRE AND JOE REGIS AND
AS WELL AS DIRECTOR NOBLE AND
DIRECTOR READER. WITH THAT, OVER
TO YOU, DIRECTOR MCINTYRE. TAKE
US AWAY AND WE WILL HOLD
QUESTIONS UNTIL THE END OF THE
PRESENTATION.
>> THANK YOU COUNCILMEMBER. THAT
AFTERNOON. THANKYOU FOR JOINING
US. I'M THE DIRECTOR OF THE
OFFICE OF ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT
JOINED BY JOE REGIS, THE FINANCE
DIRECTOR AND WE ARE HERE TO TALK
TO YOU ABOUT THE OED PROPOSED
2026 BUDGET. AS A REMINDER, OUR
CORE PURPOSE IS A LEADING
PROJECTS AND MAKING INVESTMENTS
THAT OPEN UP ACCESS TO ECONOMIC
OPPORTUNITIES THAT REDUCE THE
RACIAL WEALTH GAP AND ENCOURAGE
INNOVATION AND GROWTH . THIS IS
ALL CONSISTENT WITH THE
RESOLUTION THAT COUNSEL PAST
WITH THE FUTURE FRAMEWORK. WE DO
THIS TRYING TO STRIKE A BALANCE
BETWEEN ACTIONS THAT HELP OUR
LOCAL ECONOMY AND ACTIONS THAT
HELP US MAKE -- HELP MAKE US
GLOBALLY COMPETITIVE. MEANWHILE,
WE ARE ALWAYS TRYING TO KEEP IN
MIND SOME OF THE CITY'S
PRIORITIES PRIORITIES.
PARTICULARLY RIGHT NOW, THROUGH
AFFORDABILITY. AS WE TALK ABOUT
OUR -- TO OUR STAFF, IT IS ALL
ABOUT RESULTS IN THE ECONOMY. IT
IS NOT WHAT IS HAPPENING IN THE
CITY. IT IS, WHAT ARE THE
RESULTS FROM THE BUSINESSES AND
WORKERS IN SEATTLE? WE HAVE BEEN
FILLING VACANT STOREFRONTS AND
POSITIONING OURSELVES ON AI AND
THE CLEAN ENERGY SECTORS AND WE
HAVE BEEN FOCUSED ON REVILING
THE NEW -- THE NEWER BUSINESS
DISTRICT. THROUGHOUT SEATTLE AND
EACH DISTRICT, YOU CAN SEE THE
POSITIVE EFFECTS OF THE OED WORK
. THAT IS EXACTLY WHAT THIS
MOMENT CALLS FOR. RIGHT NOW, WE
ARE FACING TREMENDOUS ECONOMIC
UNCERTAINTY . MONEY IS
EXPENSIVE. GLOBAL TRADE IS
MESSY. COSTS ARE GOING UP ACROSS
THE BOARD. CONSUMER BEHAVIOR IS
CHANGING. THROUGHOUT IT ALL, AI
IS DISRUPTING PRETTY MUCH EVERY
INDUSTRY WE LIKE TO THINK THAT
IN THE TURMOIL, THERE IS PLENTY
OF OPPORTUNITY THAT STILL EXISTS
TO TAKE ADVANTAGE OF AND WE NEED
TO HAVE A KEEN UNDERSTANDING OF
WHAT THE KEY ECONOMIC PROBLEMS
ARE AND WORK TOWARD SHARED GOALS
WITH THE PRIVATE AND
PHILANTHROPIC SECTORS. WE ALSO
HAVE TO BE VERY CLEAR ABOUT WHAT
THE CITY'S RULE IS. WE CANNOT
DO EVERYTHING. WE CANNOT PEANUT
BUTTER THE RESOURCES. WE NEED TO
BE SMART AND STRATEGIC. WHICH
LEADS TO THE PRIORITIES FOR THE
2026 BUDGET. WE WILL STILL USE
THE FUTURE OF SEATTLE ECONOMY
FRAMEWORK THAT YOU CODIFIED. WE
REALLY NEED TO FOCUS ON
IMMEDIATE SUPPORT FOR SMALL
BUSINESSES . WE JUST ANNOUNCED A
PACKAGE OF INVESTMENTS WE MADE
AND POLICY CHANGES THAT YOU WILL
PASSED INTO LAW . THANK YOU FOR
YOUR SUPPORT IS ALWAYS FOR OUR
SMALL BUSINESSES. AND WE HAVE
SOME ACUTE ISSUES RELATED TO
GROCERY STORES AND PHARMACIES.
THESE ARE NECESSARY FOR OUR
RESIDENTS. THEY ARE ALSO ANCHORS
FOR THE NEIGHBORHOOD BUSINESS
DISTRICTS AND RIGHT NOW IT IS
REALLY HARD FOR THEM TO SUSTAIN
AND OPERATE IN SEATTLE. LATER
ON, I'M GOING TO TALK TO ABOUT
THE NEW THEORY OF CHANGE WE ARE
PROPOSING . THROUGHOUT IT ALL,
WE ARE TRYING TO THINK ABOUT,
NOT JUST WHAT IS IN FRONT OF US
BUT WHAT IS AHEAD AND AROUND THE
CORNER. WE HAVE TREMENDOUS
OPPORTUNITY WITH AI AND ANOTHER
OPPORTUNITY WITH CLEAN ENERGY
AND THOSE TWO HAVE OF AN DIAGRAM
APPROACH. ONE OF THE THINGS I'M
EXCITED ABOUT IS WE WILL DO A
CONTINUED ASSESSMENT OF THE
BUSINESS LANDSCAPE AND THE
ECONOMIC POSITIONING, SO THAT WE
ARE REALLY SMART AND ON TOP OF
WHAT WE ARE DOING BUT ALSO WHAT
SOME OF OUR COMPETITORS ARE
DOING AND LEARN FROM THEM AND
ADAPT.
>> AS COUNCILMEMBER STRAUSS
MENTIONED, WE WANT TO GIVE
CONTEXT AWARE OED HAS BEEN. YOU
CAN SEE IN 2022 WHEN THE
JUMPSTART FUNDS STARTED COMING
INTO PLAY. FOR ME, A LOT OF
THIS IS TRYING TO MEET THE
MOMENT. THE NEED IS GREAT IN OUR
ECONOMY. THE CITY HAS A CLEAR
ROLE TO PLAY AND WE HAVE TRIED
TO STRUCTURE OURSELVES TO BE
VERY RESPONSE EARL --
RESPONSIBLE STEWARDS OF THOSE
PUBLIC DOLLARS AND TRYING TO
PUSH THE ENVELOPE OF THE ROLE
THAT THE CITY CAN PLAY TO MAKE
SURE WE ARE BENEFITING
BUSINESSES AND WORKERS ACROSS
THE CITY. IF YOU LOOK AT WHAT WE
ARE PROPOSING FOR 2026, RELATED
AGAINST THE ENDORSED BUDGET ,
THERE IS A 30% INCREASE FOR
MAINTAINING THE FTE COUNT. SO A
LOT OF THE BASELINE ACTIVITIES
WILL STAY CONSISTENT WITH WHAT
THEY WERE THIS YEAR AND THEN
WHAT I'M ABOUT TO WALK THROUGH
ARE THE CHANGES, WHICH INCLUDE A
SIGNIFICANT NUMBER OF ADDS TO
THE BUDGET , FOR SOME NEW
INITIATIVES. FIRST, I WILL TURN
IT OVER TO JOE TO TALK ABOUT THE
BUDGET REALIGNMENT PIECE.
>> YOU SAID --
>> JOE, GREENLIGHT MEANS GO. YOU
HAVE TO GET REALLY CLOSE LIKE
MICK JAGGER.
>> THANK YOU.
>> OED HAD ONE SIGNIFICANT
BUDGET REDUCTION THAT I WANT TO
HIGHLIGHT AND THAT IS THE
ABANDONMENT OF THE REMAINING
$500,000 IN COMMUNITY
DEVELOPMENT BLOCK CURRENT
FUNDING THAT WAS OED'S 2026
PROPOSED BUDGET . THIS IS
DESCRIBED AS A BUDGET
REALIGNMENT AND NOT A NET BUDGET
REDUCTION BECAUSE ESSENTIALLY WE
ARE REDIRECTING THE FUNDS BACK
TO HST.
>> WE WILL HAND IT BACK TO
DIRECTOR MCINTYRE.
>> THE NEW ONE IS CALLED SALES.
STABILIZE,ACTIVATE AND INVEST
LOCALLY. I'M EXCITED ABOUT
THIS. YOU WILL SEE THE PROBLEM
STATEMENT ON THE SCREEN. AND IT
IS SOMETHING THAT I KNOW EACH OF
YOU DEAL WITH AS YOUR OUT AND
ABOUT IN THE COMMUNITY. WE HAVE
THESE PERSISTENT INTERCONNECTED
PROBLEMS RELATED TO PUBLIC
SAFETY, ECONOMIC DEVELOP AND AND
NEIGHBORHOOD VIBRANCY. AND YET,
THE CITY HAS ATTEMPTED TO
ADDRESS THESE THROUGH A
FRAGMENTED APPROACH WHICH HAS
NOT RESULTED IN A SUSTAINABLE
POSITIVE CHANGE THAT WE WANT TO
SEE . DESPITE THE LEVEL OF
INVESTMENT WE HAVE PUT ON THE
TABLE. AND THE LITTLE SAIGON IS
KIND OF EMBLEMATIC OF THIS ISSUE
WERE THE CITY HAS OVER 25 FTE'S
WORKING AROUND THE DISTRICT LIKE
LITTLE SAIGON. WE CONSISTENTLY
FACED SOME SIMILAR VACCINE
PROBLEMS.
>> THEY HAVE HAD MULTIPLE
INITIATIVES SET UP AND THEY HAVE
ALL BEEN RUNNING PARALLEL
TOGETHER. BUT FRANKLY, IT IS NOT
WORKING. IT IS NOT DELIVERING
THE CHANGE WE WANT. WHAT WE NEED
IS A NEW THEORY OF CHANGE. AND
SO THAT IS WHAT THE SALE
INITIATIVE PROPOSES. THAT
INSTEAD OF WORKING DEPARTMENT BY
DEPARTMENT, WE NEED TO TAKE A
CITYWIDE APPROACH WHERE WE ARE
WORKING TOWARD SHARED OUTCOMES .
ANDTHE SHARED OUTCOMES, IF THEY
CAN MOVE ACROSS PROGRESSION
TOWARD MORE SUSTAINABLE CHANGE.
FIRST, WE MUST STABILIZE AN AREA
BEFORE WE CAN ACTIVATE IT, WHICH
WILL LEAD TO FUTURE INVESTMENTS.
AND YOU CAN SEE HERE THAT WHAT
THIS IS TRYING TO DO IS ACTUALLY
MERGE TOGETHER SOME OF THOSE
PARALLEL INITIATIVES. SO THE
DOWNTOWN ACTIVATION TEAMS AND
THE DOWNTOWN ACTIVATION PLAN AND
THE FUDUP INITIATIVE, TRYING TO
COME TOGETHER AND LOOK AT WHAT
IS COMMON ACROSS THOSE AND
WORKING IN A COORDINATED FASHION
TO TRY TO DELIVER THE CITY
SERVICES AND DELIVER THOSE
RESULTS. WE ARE OPERATING WITH A
HYPOTHESIS METHODOLOGY. THAT IS
HOW WE WILL REACH THE SHARED
GOALS. IF WE CAN DRIVE DOWN
CERTAIN BEHAVIORS, WE WILL SEE
POSITIVE BEHAVIORS BY TAKING
THESE CERTAIN ACTIONS. WE ONLY
HAD A COUPLE OF MEETINGS TO GET
STARTED. ALREADY THE RESULTS ARE
ENCOURAGING JUST TO SEE THE
DEPARTMENT IS NOT JUST SHARING
INFORMATION AND COORDINATING BUT
ALIGNED AROUND COMMON GOALS. IT
CAN BE PRETTY POWERFUL. THAT IS
WHAT LEADS US TO THE BUDGET
PROPOSAL. ADDING $4 MILLION TO
THE OED BUDGET. A LOT OF THE
OPERATIONS WILL STILL CONTINUE
TO THE OTHER DEPARTMENTS. THIS
MONEY WOULD GO TOWARD SOME OF
THESE NEW ACTIONS COMING OUT OF
THE SALE INITIATIVE THAT WE
WOULD BE DETERMINING. RELATEDLY,
OED WILL HAVE AN ADDITIONAL
$200,000 WHICH WAS ORIGINALLY
THROUGH THE INITIATIVE BUT
BECAUSE IT IS BEING MERGED INTO
THE NEW SALE EFFORT, THAT WOULD
BE OED HAVING ADDITIONAL
RESOURCES TO SPECIFICALLY
SUPPORT BUSINESSES AND THE
LITTLE SAIGON NEIGHBORHOOD. IN
2026, WE WILL START BY FOCUSING
ON THE LITTLE SAIGON
NEIGHBORHOOD AND THEN ADDING
ADDITIONAL NEIGHBORHOODS AS WE
GO. LIKELYINCLUDING LAKE CITY AS
THE [ INAUDIBLE ] THAT THE --
WOULD FOCUS ON. THE SECOND
ADDITION TO THE BUDGET AS THE
BACK TO BUSINESS PROGRAM. THIS
IS THE EVOLUTION OF THE
STOREFRONT REPAIR PROGRAM THAT
YOU ALL KNOW AND LOVE. WITH SOME
NEW PROGRAMMATIC ELEMENTS. WE
STILL HAVE THE STOREFRONT REPAIR
FUNDS . SOMEONE A BUSINESS HAS
DAMAGE TO THE STOREFRONT, THEY
CAN APPLY TO THE CITY TO GET
FUNDING COME UP TO $3000,
REIMBURSED FOR THE DAMAGE. WHAT
WE ARE ADDING IS A PROACTIVE
SECURITY FUND AND THEN
NEIGHBORHOOD BUSINESS DISTRICT
PREVENTS.
>> I WANT TO GIVE A SHOUT OUT TO
COUNCILMEMBER SOLOMON WHO HAS
BEEN A DEPARTMENT HEAD CHAMPION
FOR A LONG TIME. THAT IS WHERE A
LOT OF THE THINKING IS FOR THOSE
PROACTIVE INVESTMENTS.
INVESTMENTS WE CAN MAKE TO
EITHER INDIVIDUAL BUSINESSES OR
BUSINESS DISTRICTS THAT WILL
MAKE IT SAFER AND MORE WELCOMING
FOR CUSTOMERS AND WORKERS. WE
ARE EXCITED ABOUT THIS. WE
LAUNCHED IT IN JULY. WE HAVE HAD
85 BUSINESSES ALREADY TAKE
ADVANTAGE OF IT. WE HAVE BEEN
WORKING WITH THE BUSINESS
DISTRICTS. ESPECIALLY THOSE WHO
HAVE ALREADY HAD SOME KIND OF
ANALYSIS. THIS FUNDING WILL HELP
THEM MAKE SOME OF THOSE CHANGES.
>> AND THAT IS THE CRIME
PREVENTION THROUGH ENVIRONMENTAL
DESIGN.
>> THANK YOU, DIRECTOR. ONCE WE
HAD COUNCILMEMBER SOLOMON HERE,
NONE OF US CAN FORGET THAT.
>> YES.
>> AS I MENTIONED, WE HAVE AN
ACUTE PROBLEM WITH GROCERY
STORES. WHAT WE INTEND TO HAVE
HERE IS A DEDICATED FUND THAT
WOULD RUN SIMILAR TO THE BACK TO
BUSINESS FUND SO ON THE SAME
PRINCIPLES AND THEORY. BUT A
FUND DEDICATED FOR GROCERY
STORES. WE ARE ALREADY SETTING
UP MEETINGS WITH A NUMBER OF
GROCERY STORES AND DIFFERENT
TYPES, SIZES AND LOCATIONS TO
UNDERSTAND THE NATURE OF THEIR
SAFETY AND SECURITY ISSUES. BUT
THE INTENT IS TO MAKE IT MORE
SAFE AND WELCOMING FOR CUSTOMERS
TO GET FOOD ACCESS. RELATEDLY,
WE ARE PROPOSING TO HAVE AN
ADDITIONAL FUND TO HELP THINK
ABOUT, HOW ARE WE HELPING
SUPPORT THOSE GROCERY STORES AND
FOOD BUSINESSES . HOW CAN WE
HELP THEM SCALE? HOW ARE WE
MAKING SURE WE ARE ADDRESSING
ACUTE ISSUES IN FOOD DESERTS
BOOKS WE STILL WANT TO FIGURE
OUT WHAT WE CAN DO AS A CITY TO
MAKE IT EASIER AND MORE
AFFORDABLE TO OPERATE A GROCERY
STORE IN SEATTLE MAKE SURE WE
ARE PROVIDING FOOD ACCESS AS
WELL AS APPROPRIATE GROCERY
ITEMS TO DIFFERENT COMMUNITIES.
>> AND WE WANT TO GET SMARTER
ABOUT WHAT IS HAPPENING IN THE
CURRENT ECONOMY AND WHERE WE
THINK IT IS GOING. WE ARE GOING
TO WORK ESSENTIALLY ON THAT YOU
CAN THINK OF IT AS THE FUTURES
OF THE SEATTLE ECONOMY 2.0. WE
DID THAT STUDY IN 2022 AND THAT
ESTABLISH THE FRAMEWORK WE HAVE
BEEN OPERATING SINCE THEN . A
LOT HAS CHANGED SINCE 2022. THIS
ISA GREAT TIME TO FIGURE OUT,
WHAT ARE WE DOING NEXT? AND TO
BRING EXPERTS AND LOCALLY AS
WELL AS LOOK AROUND THE COUNTRY
AND AROUND THE WORLD TO TRY TO
SEE WHAT IDEAS WE MIGHT WANT TO
ADAPT FOR OURSELVES. WE ARE
EXCITED ABOUT THIS BEING THE
NEXT PHASE FOR THE STRATEGIES.
>> THE NEXT ITEM WOULD BE
CONTINUING $500,000 TO CONTINUE
INVESTING IN THE WATERFRONT
SHUTTLE . THISIS NOT ACTUALLY A
NEW THING. THE MONEY WAS PRIVATE
-- WAS PREVIOUSLY GOING THROUGH
SDOT AND I WOULD GO THROUGH OED
TO THE WATERFRONT. THIS IS A BIG
PART OF THE DOWNTOWN ACTIVATION,
ESPECIALLY AS WE THINK ABOUT THE
WORLD CUP AND THE WATERFRONT.
YOU WERE TALKING ABOUT HOW
IMPORTANT THAT IS AND WHAT A
JEWEL IT IS FOR THE CITY. THIS
WATERFRONT SHUTTLE WOULD
CONTINUE THAT SERVICE FOR THAT.
>> CORRECT. THAT IS ONE TIME
FUNDING, THE WATERFRONT SHUTTLE.
THE NEXT ONE-TIME EDITION IS
SUPPORT FOR A COMMUNITY
WORKFORCE TRADING CENTER
OPERATED BY UPLIFT NORTHWEST. WE
DO A LOT OF WORK WITH UPLIFT
NORTHWEST ON A VARIETY OF
DIFFERENT TOPICS . ONE OF WHICH
IS AROUND THE CID. I'M THINKING
ABOUT SOME OF THE GRAFFITI
ABATEMENT WORK . THE BUILDINGS
ARE PRIVATELY OWNED. AND BECAUSE
IT IS A HISTORIC DISTRICT,
REQUIRES SPECIAL ATTENTION AND
UPLIFT HAS BEEN AN IMPORTANT
PARTNER. HOW WE DO VIDEO
ABATEMENT THERE WHILE ALSO
PROVIDING JOB TRAINING
OPPORTUNITIES. IS A GREAT
ORGANIZATION. THEY ARE
ATTEMPTING TO BUILD A NEW
TRAINING CENTER. THEY HAVE A
CAPITAL CAMPAIGN GOING ON. THIS
WOULD BE A CITY INVESTMENT IN
THE CAMPAIGN TO HELP THEM. WITH
THAT, I WANT TO QUICKLY TOUCH ON
THE CITYWIDE WORKFORCE
DEVELOPMENT. THIS IS SOMETHING
WE HAVE TALKED ABOUT PREVIOUSLY
DURING PRIOR BUDGET
PRESENTATIONS. IT IS SOMETHING
WE HAVE BEEN WORKING ON KIND OF
BEHIND-THE-SCENES WITH ABOUT 12
OTHER DEPARTMENTS. REALLY
THINKING ABOUT, WHERE SHOULD THE
CITY BE PRIORITIZING ITS
WORKFORCE DOLLARS ? PREVIOUSLY,
WE HAD SPLIT ALMOST 50/50
BETWEEN INTERNAL INVESTMENTS, SO
THE WORKFORCE INVESTMENTS
SUPPORTING CITY LINES OF
BUSINESS OR EXTERNAL INVESTMENTS
SUPPORTING OTHER INDUSTRY
SECTORS OR OTHER BUSINESSES
OUTSIDE THE CITY LINES OF
BUSINESS. WHAT WE ARE PROPOSING
IS THAT THE CITY SHOULD BE
SHIFTING MOST OF ITS WORKFORCE
DOLLARS TOWARD INTERNAL FOCUS .
YOU CAN SEE THAT SOME OF THAT
WOULD BE GOING TOWARDS SYSTEMS
CHANGE SUCH AS ESTABLISHING
STANDARD DATA AND EVALUATION
METHODS ACROSS DIFFERENT
DEPARTMENTS AS WELL AS
ORGANIZING YOUTH IMPLEMENT
SERVICES BECAUSE THOSE ARE
REALLY KIND OF SCATTERED NOW. IT
IS GREAT WORK WE DO. AND WE HAVE
CREATED A PIPELINE. SECOND,
INVESTING IN CITY JOBS . WE HAVE
GREAT CITY JOBS. WE SHOULD BE
PROUD OF THEM. ESPECIALLY AND
OUR UTILITIES, WHICH IS CRUCIAL
WORK FOR THE ECONOMY TO
FUNCTION. THEY PERFORM OF YOUR
UNIQUE SERVICE IN TERMS OF CITY
LIGHT AND PUBLIC UTILITIES. THEY
HAVE TREMENDOUS WORKFORCE NEEDS.
THEY REQUIRE A CERTAIN LEVEL OF
SKILL BUILDING. AND SOME OF THE
SKILLS ARE HIGHLY TRANSFERABLE,
BOTH WITHIN THE PUBLIC SECTOR
BUT ALSO THE PRIVATE SECTOR.
THESE ARE AUTOMATION PROOF JOBS,
PROVIDING A HIGH-QUALITY SERVICE
TO THE CITY OF SEATTLE THAT IS
NECESSARY FOR OUR ECONOMY AND WE
THINK WE SHOULD BE INVESTING
MORE HEAVILY IN THOSE CAREERS .
THE EXTERNAL DOLLARS WOULD
LARGELY BE PUT TOWARD EXTERNAL
PARTNERSHIPS ACROSS THE REGION
TO HELP DRIVE THOSE INTERNAL
LINES OF BUSINESS. WE CAN TALK
MORE ABOUT THAT AT A SEPARATE
MEETING. I JUST DID WANT TO
HIGHLIGHT THAT WE DO HAVE A
CITYWIDE WORKFORCE PLAN . WE
THINK THAT IT IS THE SMART WAY
TO GO FOR THE CITY AND BY US
HAVING CLARITY AROUND OUR ROLE,
IT WILL HELP SOME OF THE OTHER
PLAYERS IN THE REGIONAL
WORKFORCE DEVELOPMENT SYSTEM
MAKE THEIR CHOICES ALONGSIDE OF
US AND IN ALIGNMENT WITH OUR
PLAN. WITH THAT, I WILL PAUSE
FOR QUESTIONS.
>> COUNCILMEMBER NELSON,
OVERSEEING THE COMMITTEE, YOU
ARE RECOGNIZED .
>> THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR YOUR
PRESENTATION. ARE MEMBER IN
PREVIOUS YEARS, I WAS A LITTLE
BIT NERVOUS ABOUT COUNCIL
PERHAPS WANTING TO REDUCE OED'S
BUDGET AND I WOULD ALWAYS START
OUT WITH KIND OF BASICALLY
SAYING, WE DON'T CUT THE BUDGET
OF THE DEPARTMENT WHOSE FUNCTION
IS TO HELP GROW OUR REVENUE BY
HELPING SMALL BUSINESSES START
AND THRIVE AND GROW IN OUR CITY.
I ALWAYS DO WANT TO REMIND
PEOPLE THAT IT IS VERY UNIQUE
FUNCTION OF OED, THAT YOU ARE
HELPING , NOT JUST OUR TAX BASE,
REVENUE OR KEEP THE PROGRAMS
GOING OR THE GOVERNMENT RUNNING,
BUT YOU ARE ALSO HELPING PEOPLE
GENERATE WEALTH AND THAT IS
ESPECIALLY IMPORTANT BECAUSE SO
MANY PEOPLE, ESPECIALLY
IMMIGRANT PEOPLE, GET THEIR FOOT
IN THE DOOR OF THE AMERICAN
ECONOMY THROUGH SMALL BUSINESS
FRANCHISE, ET CETERA. SO THANK
YOU VERY MUCH FOR ALL OF YOUR
WORK AND DIRECT BUSINESS SUPPORT
FOR SMALL BUSINESSES ESPECIALLY.
OF COURSE I WILL BE -- OR I AM
VERY SUPPORTIVE OF THE EXPANDED
-- AND REBRANDED STOREFRONT
REPAIR FUND TO THE BACK TO
BUSINESS FUND. AS A REMINDER FOR
FOLKS , WHEN I STARTED AS THE
ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT CHAIR IS A
SMALL BUSINESS OWNER MYSELF, I
THOUGHT -- I THOUGHT MY JOB
WOULD BE ALL ABOUT HELPING SMALL
BUSINESSES ACCESS CAPITAL OR
FIGURE OUT THE PERMITTING
SYSTEM, ET CETERA. BUT NO .
WHEN I STARTED IN JANUARY OF
2022, WHAT WAS WORRYING AND
OCCUPYING SMALL BUSINESS OWNERS
AND ANYONE WHO HAD A
BRICK-AND-MORTAR BASICALLY, WAS
THE IMPACT OF CRIME . MY SECOND
COMMUNITY MEETING AND FEBRUARY
OF 2022 , AT THE SUGGESTION OF
THE COLLECTION OF EI APP CAP
DIRECTORS, WE HAD THEM AROUND
THE TABLE TALKING ABOUT HOW THE
PUBLIC SAFETY SITUATION HAD BEEN
IMPACTING THEIR STAFF, CUSTOMERS
AND LIVELIHOODS. AND SO WAS VERY
SERIOUS. AND THEY PUT TOGETHER
-- THEY DIDN'T JUST FETCH BUT
PUT TOGETHER A LIST OF
RECOMMENDATIONS AND DOES WHAT
THEY CALL IT? THEY HAD -- THEY
WANTED US TO DEVELOP -- JUST A
SECOND. BROKEN WINDOW AND
DAMAGED STOREFRONT FUN. AND SAID
WHEN MAJOR BUSINESS DISTRICTS
ARE SEEING MAJOR INCREASES IN
VANDALISM, BROKEN STOREFRONT
WINDOWS AND DOORS AS WELL AS A
LATE NIGHTS MESH AND GROW
BURGLARIES, THE CITY SHOULD PLAY
A ROLE IN FUNDING REPAIRS. SO
THAT IS IN FACT WHAT WE HAVE
BEEN DOING THE LAST COUPLE OF
YEARS . I SENT RECOMMENDATIONS
TO THE MAYOR'S OFFICE AND THEN
SIX MONTHS LATER, IT WAS
FUNCTIONING. WHEN IT RAN OUT
LAST YEAR, I PUT MORE MONEY BACK
IN THE BUDGET. AND SO I'M GLAD
TO SEE IT EXPANDED AND
REBRANDED.
>> COUNSEL -- COUNCILMEMBER,
THE CLERK IS ASKING YOU TO SPEAK
INTO THE MICROPHONE .
>> THANK YOU.
>> IN ANY CASE, GO FORTH AND
CONTINUE THAT WORK AND PROACTIVE
SECURITY IS EXACTLY WHAT IS
NEEDED. HOW MANY BUSINESSES
HAVE ASKED FOR BOLLARDS IN FRONT
OF THEIR STOREFRONTS AND ET
CETERA? UNTIL WE CAN DRASTICALLY
REDUCE OR ELIMINATE THE PUBLIC
SAFETY AND SECURITY PROBLEMS
THAT ARE THE FUNCTION OF A STILL
REBOUNDING STUFF IS -- STAFFING
CRISIS AT SPD -- UNTIL WE CAN DO
THAT, I THINK IT IS THE LEAST WE
CAN DO. THANK YOU FOR THAT.
>> AND ONE OTHER THING I WILL
TOUCH ON HERE IS THE CLUSTER.
THE -- OF COURSE, LET ME JUST
SAY AND ASK THE QUESTION. IF YOU
DIDN'T SEE IT, I WANTED TO
KNOW. EXPANDING THE DOWNTOWN
ACTIVATION TEAM AND THE WORK TO
OTHER NEIGHBORHOODS. ALL
NEIGHBORHOODS DESERVE -- AND WE
SHOULD BE TARGETING
NEIGHBORHOODS THAT NEED THE MOST
HELP RIGHT NOW. I KNOW THAT LAKE
CITY IS ONE OF THE THREE . CAN
YOU REMIND ME WHAT THE OTHERS
ARE AND I WILL GO BACK TO THE
COMMENTS.
>> THE DAT TEAM MULTIPLE --
OPERATES AT MULTIPLE LOCATIONS
DOWNTOWN. THAT INCLUDES PIONEER
SQUARE AND LITTLE SAIGON. AND
THEN -- THE KEY THING IS THEY
CAN'T OPERATE IN A VACUUM.
AFTER THEY HAVE STABILIZED AN
AREA, WE NEED TO HAVE A PLAN FOR
INVESTING IN THE ACTIVATION AND
FUTURE INVESTMENT. THAT IS HOW
WE ARE LINKING THOSE TWO
TOGETHER. IT'SNOT LIKE DAT IS
GOING AWAY BUT IT WILL BE PART
OF A NEW INITIATIVE THAT HAS AN
EXPANDED PURVIEW AND MORE
DEPARTMENTS INVOLVED IN THE
INVESTMENTS. SO LITTLE SAIGON
AND WE WILL STAY FOCUSED ON
LITTLE SAIGON. WE NEED TO
DELIVER FOR LITTLE SAIGON. WE
HAVE OVERPROMISE AND UNDER
DELIVERED FOR TOO MANY YEARS AND
IT LOOKS LIKE IT IS TIME TO
FOLLOW THROUGH THEIR AND THEN
IDEALLY MOVING TO LAKE CITY AND
WE WILL HAVE A PROCESS FOR
EVALUATING WHAT NEIGHBORHOOD
WILL COME AFTER THAT .
>> THANK YOU. LITTLE SAIGON,
LET IT NOT SUFFER FROM BEING
GLORIOUS [ INAUDIBLE ] OUT OF
NEGLECT [ INAUDIBLE ] ONE .
>> ANYTHING US TO SHARE?
>> COUNCIL PRESIDENT, YOU STILL
HAVE THE FLOOR.
>> I THOUGHT DAN WAS SPEAKING TO
-- I STOPPED MYSELF BECAUSE I
DIDN'T KNOW IF YOU WANTED TO
SAY ANYTHING .
>> WE WERE JUST CONFIRMING WHAT
I WAS SAYING.
>> LASTLY, THE -- GROWING A
COUPLE SECTORS. AI, AND CLEAN
ENERGY, I THINK YOU CALL IT
HERE. GREENENERGY.
>> YES .
>> 100%. I HAVE BEEN SAYING WE
HAVE A CLUSTER OF STARTUP, SMALL
MODULAR REACTORS GOING ON. WE
HAVE THE LAB AND SELF LIKE UNION
AND WE HAVE R&D AROUND FUSION.
THIS IS A GROWING AREA AND WE
DEFINITELY HAVE TO REMOVE -- WE
HAVE TO GO THROUGH AN EXERCISE
OF REMOVING REGULATORY BARRIERS
SO THAT WE WILL BE ABLE TO TAKE
ADVANTAGE OF THE TECHNOLOGY WHEN
IT IS PERFECTED IN THOSE
SECTORS. SO THAT IS A GOOD
CLIMATE PROTECTION MANEUVER. AND
THEN AI, OF COURSE THERE ARE
BARRIERS I SUPPOSE. I DO WANT TO
TELL PEOPLE THAT UNTIL YOU GET
OUTSIDE OF SEATTLE AND SEE WHAT
OTHER CITIES ARE DOING AND
MINUTES OF POLITIES, THE ACTUAL
GOVERNMENT ENTITY WITH AI , IT
IS HARD TO UNDERSTAND , NOT HOW
FAR BACK WE ARE BUT HOW WE HAVE
WITHHELD OUR UPTAKE AND USE OF
IT. AND THERE ARE A LOT OF GREAT
THINGS OTHER CITIES ARE DOING.
SO I'M EXCITED TO SEE THAT OED
IS TAKING LEADERSHIP ON THAT. SO
THANK YOU VERY MUCH.
>> WE HAVE 22% OF AI ENGINEERS
IN THE CITY OF SEATTLE, SECOND
ONLY TO THE BAY AREA. ONE OF THE
POTENTIAL THINGS WE SEE IS A LOT
OF THE ENGINEERS HAVE IDEAS FOR
THEIR OWN COMPANIES THAT IS PART
OF THE REASON WHY WE SET UP THE
[ INAUDIBLE ] GET BETTER AT PIER
70. THEY ARE HELPING THE
ENGINEERS THINK ABOUT WHAT THEIR
BUSINESS FORMATION POTENTIAL
COULD BE. SO TECHNOLOGIES AND
NEW WAYS TO APPLY IT IN A UNIQUE
AND INNOVATIVE PUBLIC AND
PRIVATE PARTNERSHIP .
>> THOSE ARE ALL OF MY COMMENTS.
I THINK IT WAS LAST YEAR -- IT
MIGHT HAVE BEEN THE YEAR BEFORE,
WE ENDORSE THE FUTURE OF SEATTLE
ECONOMY AND JUST TAKE MY
COMMENTS TODAY IN THE SPIRIT OF
CONTINUED ENDORSEMENT OF WHAT
YOU ARE DOING OVER THERE.
>> THANK YOU COUNCIL PRESIDENT.
COUNCILMEMBER SOLOMON.
>> THANK YOU MR. CHAIR AND
THANK YOU FOR THE SHOUT OUT
REGARDING THE STOREFRONT
IMPROVEMENT LAND AND BACK TO
BUSINESSES -- AND THE FUNDING
AVAILABLE FOR THOSE BUSINESSES
TO MAKE SECURITY AND PREVENTS
BEFORE THEY SUFFER A LOSS. ONE
OF THE QUESTIONS I ASKED THE
DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION WAS
RELATED TO BOLLARDS AND TRAFFIC
BOXES . IF THOSE BUSINESSES
WOULD NEED TO GET A VARIANCE TO
INSTALL THEM ON THE
RIGHT-OF-WAY. AGAIN, THROWING
THAT OUT FOR YOU AS WELL. AND I
DID ALSO ASKED THEM ABOUT
FUNDING TO OFFSET THE COST OF
INSTALLING PLANTERS OR BOLLARDS
. THIS FUND WOULD HELP THE SMALL
BUSINESSES WITH THE FUNDING.
BECAUSE PROPERLY INSTALLED
BOLLARDS, DEPENDING ON HOW YOU
PUT IT, COULD BE A COUPLE OF
GRAND JUST FOR ONE. SO MANY
BUSINESSES CAN ABSORB THE
INITIAL OUTLAY. IT IS GOOD TO
KNOW THAT THE PROGRAM IS THERE
AND THE FUNDING IS AVAILABLE FOR
THEM. I APPRECIATE IMAGINING THE
REPORT -- REIMAGINING THE
APPROACH WILL LITTLE SAIGON.
WHAT WE HAVE BEEN DOING, IT IS
WORKING. LETS STOP BUT WE HAVE
BEEN DOING THAT DOESN'T WORK
AND TRY SOMETHING DIFFERENT. AND
I APPRECIATE THAT EMPHASIS AS
WELL AS REALIZING THAT, IN ORDER
FOR THE EFFORTS TO BE
SUSTAINABLE, THEY CAN'T
NECESSARILY BE GOVERNMENT
DRIVEN. THEY HAVE TO BE
COMMUNITY LED. SO AGAIN, WE ARE
GRATEFUL YOU PUT THOSE PIECES IN
PLACE AND ARE THINKING ALONG
THOSE LINES. THAT IS REALLY ALL
I WANTED TO COMMENT ON. I
DIDN'T HAVE ANY QUESTIONS FOR
YOU. I JUST WANTED TO THANK YOU
ALL FOR THE WORK YOU ARE DOING
AND THANK YOU FOR DOING THE
BUSINESS PROGRAM. IT IS
SOMETHING THAT I SEE AS AN
INVESTMENT. IS A PUBLIC SAFETY
INVESTMENT WITHOUT SPENDING MORE
PUBLIC SAFETY DOLLARS. SO THANK
YOU VERY MUCH, CHAIR .
>> THANK YOU COUNCILMEMBER .
ANYTHING TO SHARE?
>> I WANT TO TALK ABOUT --
LITTLE SAIGON. MY POINT IS NOT
TO THROW SHADE . MY POINT IS
WHEN YOU ADDED UP, DOES NOT
RESULT IN A SUSTAINABLE CHANGE.
IT IS HAPPENING IN A COORDINATED
FASHION WHERE WE ARE SHARING
INFORMATION. IT IS NOT
HAPPENING IN A FASHION WHERE WE
WORK TOWARD SHARED GOALS AND
THAT IS THE DIFFERENCE BETWEEN
THIS INITIATIVE AND THE CURRENT
STATE.
>> THANK YOU. TO STATE AGAIN,
THAT IS THE COORDINATED AND
ALTOGETHER FASHION OF WHAT WE
WILL BE WORKING ON TO PUT ALL
THE PIECES TOGETHER THAT HAVE
ALREADY BEEN BUDGETED FOR AND
IMPLEMENTED.
>> CORRECT.
>> SO WE WILL TAKE IT UP A
NOTCH, IS ANOTHER WAY TO SAY IT.
>> WE WILL ALIGN AROUND THE
SHARED GOALS BUT NOT JUST SHARE
INFORMATION.
>> FANTASTIC.
>> COUNCILMEMBER SAKA, YOU ARE
RECOGNIZED.
>> THANK YOU CHAIR AND THANK YOU
DIRECTOR MCINTYRE AND MR. REGIS
AS WELL FOR YOUR PRESENTATION
TODAY. APPRECIATE THE WORK THAT
EVERYONE AT OED DOES ON A DAILY
BASIS . THIS IS VITALLY
IMPORTANT WORK AND COULDN'T BE
MORE THANKFUL THAT THIS OFFICE
ON THIS CAPABILITY EXISTS.
QUESTION ON -- AND A SPECIAL
SHOUT OUT TO OED TEAMMATE,
EDUARDO ROJAS, WHO MY OFFICE IS
WORKING VERY CLOSELY WITH AND
MORE IMPORTANTLY, DIRECTLY
IMPACTING CONSTITUENTS , THE
WENATCHEE JEWELERS IN WEST
SEATTLE, AS MANY OF US MAY
RECALL IN AUGUST, WAS THE VICTIM
OF A BRAZEN, SMASH AND GRAB
ROBBERY THAT ACTUALLY MADE
NATIONAL HEADLINES BECAUSE IT
WAS SO BRAZEN AND HAPPENED IN
BROAD DAYLIGHT. IT WAS A
SOPHISTICATED AND COORDINATED
EFFORT AND THE VICTIM WAS A
SMALL LOCAL BUSINESS. BUT
ANYWAY, THANK YOU TO EDUARDO FOR
WORKING SO CLOSELY AND HELPING
TO CONNECT THIS SMALL BUSINESS
WITH APPROPRIATE RESOURCES AND
I'M GLAD TO SEE THE BACK TO
BUSINESS PROGRAM EXPANSION AND
THE LATEST ITERATION OF IT FROM
THE LEGACY STOREFRONT REPAIR
FUND . BECAUSE EVER SINCE I HAVE
BEEN IN OFFICE NOW, FOR JUST
UNDER TWO YEARS, THAT IS
ALLOWING AN INVESTMENT TO FOCUS
MORE ON PREVENTION AND ON
PROACTIVE EFFORTS IS EXACTLY
WHAT I HAVE BEEN ADVOCATING FOR.
AND ABSOLUTELY, WE NEED TO HAVE
SOME INVESTMENT OPPORTUNITY TO
ALLOW SMALL BUSINESSES TO BETTER
RESPOND WHEN SOMETHING IS
ALREADY HAPPENING. BUT WHEN
SOMETHING -- A BETTER APPROACH
, OR AN APPROACH THAT WORKS I
THINK IN SYNERGY WITH THAT , IS
TO FOCUS HEAVILY ON PREVENTION
AS WELL AND BEING PROACTIVE AND
LESS REACTIVE. AND SO, I HAVE
BEEN ADVOCATING FOR THAT. GOOD
TO SEE THE LATEST ITERATION OF
THAT COMING TO LIFE. AND I NEVER
THOUGHT THE WHOLE CONSTRUCT OF
BOLLARDS WOULD BE SO TOP OF
MIND. A FEW OF MY COLLEAGUES
MENTIONED IT ALREADY. AND
BECAUSE BOLLARDS ARE IMPORTANT.
AND THEY ARE VERY IMPORTANT
ESPECIALLY FOR PREVENTION AND
NOT ONLY HAVE I BEEN ADVOCATING
FOR THIS KIND OF AN INVESTMENT
FOR A LONG TIME BUT JUST FULL
TRANSPARENCY, MY OFFICE IS
TAKING STEPS TO WRITE
LEGISLATION. I'M LOOKING AT
DIRECTOR NOBLE , TO BETTER
ADDRESS THIS AS WELL BECAUSE MY
DISTRICT SUFFERS A LOT OF SMASH
AND GRAB TYPE INCIDENTS. AND
THIS EXPANSION I HAVE BEEN
ADVOCATING A LONG TIME FOR , I
GUESS A LOT MORE FLEXIBILITY IN
THE TIMING OF THAT. IN ANY
EVENT, THIS IS REALLY IMPORTANT
WORK . I JUST WANT TO MAKE
CLEAR, OR CLARIFY RATHER , THAT
IT IS CONSISTENT WITH MY INTENT
AND GOALS OF THE PROGRAM , AS IT
CURRENTLY EXISTS. DOES IT ALLOW
FOR INSTALLATION OF BOLLARDS ON
BOTH PUBLIC RIGHT-OF-WAY
RIGHT-OF-WAY? MAYBE NOT. BUT
ALSO PRIVATE PROPERTY AS WELL ?
THE BACK TO BUSINESS PROGRAM .
>> THIS IS WHY WE HAVE BOTH OF
THE NEW FUNDS . BOTH OF THE
SECURITY FUND AND THE DISTRICT
FUND. WE WANT TO HAVE OPTIONS
FOR HOW WE ARE INSTALLING SOME
OF THESE BUILT ENVIRONMENT
IMPROVEMENTS AND THINK ABOUT
WHAT IS ACTUALLY GOING TO BE
PREVENTATIVE. IT MIGHT HAPPEN
WITH AN INDIVIDUAL -- AN
INDIVIDUAL BUSINESS OR MIGHT
HAPPEN MORE AS A DISTRICTWIDE,
NEIGHBORHOOD OR STREET APPROACH.
IS COUNCILMEMBER SOLOMON
MENTIONED, WE ARE GOING TO WORK
WITH SDOT. IT IS NOT SOMETHING
THAT WILL OPERATE OUTSIDE OF THE
CITY'S CURRENT GUIDELINES BUT
WILL HELP TO FREE THE COST .
>> THANK YOU. MOVING ON TO MY
NEXT QUESTION, REGARDING THE
STABILIZED, ACTIVATE AND INVEST
LOCALLY FUND SA IL. RATE
ACRONYM. I SEE THE [ INAUDIBLE ]
TO HOLISTICALLY SUPPORT
NEIGHBORHOODS IN THE CITY. LAKE
CITY AND LITTLE SAIGON HAVE BEEN
IDENTIFIED . BUT ALSO CURIOUS ,
I KNOW THERE ARE OTHER AREAS OF
NEED INCLUDING MY OWN DISTRICT.
LIKE PIONEER SQUARE. ARE THERE
OTHER NEIGHBORHOODS BEING
CONTEMPLATED FOR THIS INVESTMENT
?
>> YES. BUT I DO WANT TO BE
CLEAR THAT I DON'T WANT TO
OVERPROMISE AND UNDER DELIVER.
AND WE HAVE TO PROVE THIS
CONCEPT , THIS NEW WAY OF
OPERATING AND LITTLE SAIGON AND
SHOW THE WE CAN MAKE THE CHANGE
THAT WE SAY WE WANT TO SEE,
BEFORE WE START PROMISING TO
OTHER NEIGHBORHOODS THAT THIS IS
COMING. THAT IS ESSENTIALLY WHAT
WE ARE ASKING FOR, SOME TIME TO
GET THIS UP AND DEMONSTRATE THE
PROGRESS AND HAVE CLEAR CRITERIA
FOR HOW WE ARE SELECTING THE
NEXT NEIGHBORHOODS .
>> THANK YOU.
>> MY UNDERSTANDING IS THAT THE
DOWNTOWN ACTIVATION TEAM ARE
ALREADY IN AT LEAST PORTIONS OF
PIONEER SQUARE . I THINK YOU ARE
ASKING ABOUT AN EXPANSION TO
OTHER AREAS THAT PIONEER SQUARE
AND THAT IS SOMETHING WHICH
COULD BE PART OF THE 4
MILLION-DOLLAR INVESTMENT. BUT
AS DIRECTOR MCINTYRE MENTIONED,
WE WILL FOCUS FIRST ON THOSE TWO
[ INAUDIBLE ]
>> THANK YOU. AND I APPRECIATE
THE CANDOR ABOUT BEING MINDFUL
OF NOT TO OVERPROMISE AND UNDER
DELIVER. THAT IS ALWAYS MY
STRONGEST PREFERENCE AND I'D
RATHER UNDER PROMISE AND OVER
DELIVER AND I WOULD RATHER HAVE
YOU ALL DO THE SAME AND JUST BE
REALISTIC. AND SO APPRECIATE
THE CANDOR THERE AND HAPPY TO
SUPPORT THAT IN ANY WAY THAT I
CAN. FINAL QUESTION PERTAINS TO
STARTUP SUPPORT OF OUR BROADER
STARTUP ECOSYSTEM. THE
DEPARTMENT, NECESSARILY IN MY
VIEW, FOCUSES HEAVILY ON OUR
SMALL BUSINESSES WHO ESSENTIALLY
SERVE AS THE BACKBONE OF OUR
ECONOMY . WE NEED MORE OF THEM.
WE NEED TO MAKE SURE THEY ARE
VIBRANT AND THRIVING ENTERPRISES
AND TODAY , SMALL BUSINESSES
COME TOMORROW'S MEDIUM-SIZE
BUSINESSES WHICH BECOME LARGE
BUSINESSES AND SOMETIMES
MULTINATIONAL CORPORATIONS. BUT
THERE ALSO A LOT OF STARTUPS
THAT AREN'T NECESSARILY
BUSINESS TO CONSUMER LIKE A LOT
OF THE TRADITIONAL SMALL
BUSINESSES. BUT OPERATE MORE OF
THE BUSINESS-TO-BUSINESS MARKET
AND ARE ALSO WORTHY OF SOME
INVESTMENT AND SUPPORT FROM THE
CITY TO MAKE SURE THAT THEY GROW
TO BECOME MEDIUM-SIZED
BUSINESSES AND MAYBE LARGER
BUSINESSES. SO WHAT KIND OF
START UP SUPPORT FOR THE BROADER
STARTUP ECOSYSTEM DOES YOUR
OFFICE PROVIDE ? AND I MINDFUL
OF A PARTICULAR INITIATIVE . I
KNOW THE DEPARTMENT PREVIOUSLY,
LIKE EIGHT YEARS AGO, BECAUSE I
WAS A COACH -- A STARTUP MENTOR
COACH FOR SOME PREVIOUS ACTIVITY
IN MY ROLE AS A TECH LAWYER. I
KNOW THAT THERE IS SOME HISTORY
FOR THAT . BUT ANYWAY, I'M
CURIOUS TO UNDERSTAND THE
DEPARTMENT'S CURRENT ACTIVITIES
AND INVESTMENTS TOWARD
SUPPORTING STARTUPS HERE IN
SEATTLE.
>> SURE. THIS IS WHY WE DO A LOT
OF THE INDUSTRY LEVEL WORK
LOOKING AT DOCTORS, AND WHAT CAN
THE CITY DO TO SUPPORT CERTAIN
INDUSTRIES SECTORS. THAT IS WHY
I CALLED OUT ARTIFICIAL
INTELLIGENCE AND CLEAN ENERGY IS
TWO THAT WILL CUT ACROSS A LOT
OF SECTORS. PRETTY MUCH THE
FUTURE ECONOMIC PROSPERITY WILL
BE LINKED TO A REGION'S ABILITY
TO GENERATE WONDERFUL,
AFFORDABLE CLEAN ENERGY. AND HOW
THEY ARE SHAPING ARTIFICIAL
INTELLIGENCE. THAT IS PART OF
THE REASON WE ARE MARKING THOSE
TWO AS OPPORTUNITIES WHERE WE
ARE WELL-POSITIONED GLOBALLY AND
I THINK THAT THERE ARE HUGE
OPPORTUNITIES TO BENEFIT LOCAL
RESIDENTS AND ALSO DEVELOP THE
TECHNOLOGIES AND SELL THOSE TO
THE WORLD . HOWEVER, THE CITY IS
NOT NECESSARILY THE ONE THAT
KNOWS EXACTLY HOW TO SUPPORT
THOSE BUSINESSES. YOU KNOW THAT
AS A PERSON WHO HAS WORKED WITH
THE STARTUPS. IT IS COMPLEX. IT
MOVES QUICKLY. AND YOU NEED SOME
SPECIAL TIME AND ATTENTION. THAT
IS WHY WE LOOK AT PARTNERSHIP,
AS A WAY TO SUPPORT THOSE
STARTUPS. THE [ INAUDIBLE ]
REALLY FOCUSED ON ARTIFICIAL
INTELLIGENCE. THEY HAVE ALREADY
SCALED UP COMPANIES THAT ARE
LOOKING AT -- MOVING ON FROM THE
AI HOUSE AND THAT IS WHERE WE
CAN HOPEFULLY HELP THEM FIND
SPACE DOWNTOWN SEATTLE OR ONE OF
THE OTHER NEIGHBORHOODS. AND I
MENTIONED THE PARTNERSHIP WITH
THE UW COMPANY MOTION. THAT IS
THE ARM THAT BASICALLY TAKES THE
RESEARCH AND TECHNOLOGY AND
BRIDGES IT TO COMMERCIAL
APPLICATION. WE WORKED WITH THEM
TO SET UP THE CLIMATE INNOVATION
HUB ALSO AND DOWNTOWN, IN THE UW
METRO TRACT . BECAUSE THEY
ACTUALLY HAVE THE DEDICATED
SUPPORT AND SOPHISTICATED STAFF
TO HELP THOSE STARTUPS GROW AND
EXPAND SCALE AND HOPEFULLY STAY
HERE IN SEATTLE AND IN THE
REGION. I ALSO MENTIONED IT IS
BEYOND THOSE TWO SECTORS WHERE
WE HAVE A ROBUST SUPPORT FOR THE
MARITIME MANUFACTURING AND
LOGISTICS BUSINESSES IN THE
INDUSTRIAL MARITIME LANDS. JOHN
[ INAUDIBLE ] DOES AN EXCELLENT
JOB SUPPORTING THOSE BUSINESSES
THAT ARE STARTING UP LIKE IN THE
MAST CHAMBER WORK AND THOSE THAT
ARE MATURE AND FORM THAT KIND OF
FOUNDATIONAL INFRASTRUCTURE FOR
A LOT OF OUR BUSINESSES TO
SURVIVE AND THRIVE HERE IN THE
CITY .
>> THANK YOU DIRECTOR. I
APPRECIATE THE WORK THAT YOU ALL
DO EVERY DAY .
>> THANK YOU, CHAIR.
>> THANK YOU COUNCILMEMBER SAKA.
COLLEAGUES, WE HAVE FIVE SITTING
COUNCIL PRESIDENTS AND SIX
PEOPLE LEFT TO SPEAK. IF WE ALL
SPEAK FOR FIVE MINUTES, WE WILL
BE HERE UNTIL ABOUT 1:20. I WILL
CALL ON COUNCILMEMBER KETTLE AND
THEN HOLLINGSWORTH WHICH I'M
HOPING WILL TAKE US TO ABOUT
1:00 P.M. WE CAN EITHER CHOOSE
AS A GROUP TO READ QUESTIONS
INTO THE RECORD OR WE CAN BRING
OED BACK AT 2:00 P.M. I JUST
WANT TO SET US UP FOR THAT IN
ABOUT 10-15 MINUTES FROM NOW.
COUNCILMEMBER KETTLE, YOU ARE
RECOGNIZED.
>> THANK YOU, CHAIR STRAUSS AND
THE TEAM. I JUST WANT TO
HIGHLIGHT . I REALLY APPRECIATE
A COUPLE MAIN POINTS. THE
SEATTLE BUSINESS ECOSYSTEM FROM
THE SUMMARY. POLITICIANS OFTEN
TALK ABOUT SMALL BUSINESSES. I
DON'T CONSIDER MYSELF A
POLITICIAN. I THINK BIG, SMALL
AND MEDIUM, THE ECOSYSTEM NEEDS
TO BE THE FOCUS . I NOTED ON THE
PRIORITIES BULLET, THE FUTURE OF
THE SEATTLE ECONOMY FRAMEWORK ,
HAD MORE GROCERY STORES AND
PHARMACIES AND THEN ASSESSING
BUSINESS LANDSCAPE. I NOTE THAT
BECAUSE WITH ALL THE CHANGES AT
THE STATE LEVEL, IN TERMS OF
TAXES AND WHAT WE HAVE BEEN
DOING AND PREPARING TO DO, WHAT
IS THE STATE? AND WE NEED TO
UNDERSTAND IT. IT'S LIKE, WHAT
IS HAPPENING RIGHT NOW WITH
STARBUCKS ? IT IS NOTHING
COMPARED TO GROCERIES AND
PHARMACIES. WE ARE STARTING TO
HAVE THE STARBUCKS DESERT. I
ONLY BRING IT UP BECAUSE, WHAT
DOES THAT TELL US? IS AT THE
CANARY IN THE COAL MINE FOR
BROADER BUSINESS ISSUES? I
THINK WE NEED TO THINK ABOUT
THAT. WE CAN'T JUST BE THINKING
OF ONE PIECE. APPRECIATE THE
BULLETS THERE AND THE WORK YOU
DO BECAUSE I THINK IT IS
IMPORTANT. THE GREATER -- THE
DOWNTOWN PIECES, THE DOWNTOWN
ACTIVATION PLAN AND ACTIVATION
TEAM , LITTLE SAIGON, FIRST I
WOULD SAY, GREATER DOWNTOWN.
DOWNTOWN [ INAUDIBLE ] , SOUTH
OF UPTOWN -- UPTOWN AND SOUTH
LAKE UNION IN PIONEER SQUARE.
THE GREATER DOWNTOWN REALLY
CAPTURES THE ABILITY TO FLEX.
THAT IS THE LESSON I SEE WITH
THE TEAM ON A PUBLIC SAFETY
SIDE, THINGS SHIFT . THE TEAM
AND THE PLAN NEED TO SHIFT WITH
IT. HAVING THAT FLEXIBILITY IS
KEY. I JUST KNOW THAT I REALLY
LIKE THE SALE PIECE. THANK YOU
. AND ALSO, ON THIS POINT, I
WANTED TO SAY THANK YOU TO THE
BUSINESSES THAT HAVE PRIVATE
SECURITY . THAT IS REALLY
IMPORTANT. OBVIOUSLY WE ARE
DOING A LOT WITH THE MAYOR AND
THE EXECUTIVE FRAMEWORK , THE
STRATEGIC FRAMEWORK PLAN ON OUR
SIDE. WE ARE MOVING FORWARD BUT
WE ARE KIND OF IN THIS BRIDGING.
WE HAVE DONE A LOT OF WORK BUT
IT WILL TAKE TIME TO COME ABOUT
AND PRIVATE SECURITY IS SO
IMPORTANT AND THAT BRIDGING
MOMENT. I WANTED TO TAKE THE
OPPORTUNITY TO GIVE A SHOUT OUT
WITH YOUR SUPPORT TO THIS, WHICH
IS A NICE LEAD INTO THE BACK TO
BUSINESS STOREFRONT. IF I HAD A
QUESTION, I WOULD SAY, HOW CAN
WE EXPAND THE UNDERSTANDING OF
THAT TO MORE PARTS OF THE CITY
HOOKS I GUESS THAT IS PART OF
OUR JOB TOO, IN TERMS OF GETTING
THE WORD OUT . AND I LOVE THE
WATERFRONT SHUTTLE. WE ALSO NEED
TO FIRST AVENUE SHUTTLE, OR A
TRANSIT SERVICE. SOMETHING WE
HAVE BEEN TALKING ABOUT IF WE
CAN DO ANYTHING ON THAT FRONT,
THAT WOULD BE GREAT. I LOVE
UPLIFT NORTHWEST. THEY DO GREAT
WORK. THANK YOU FOR THE SHOUT
OUT. AND WORKFORCE RELEVANT TASK
FORCE, GREAT NEWS. OKAY, CHAIR.
>> THANK YOU COUNCILMEMBER
KETTLE.
COUNCILMEMBERHOLLINGSWORTH.
>> I WILL BE FAST BEFORE 1:00.
THE ONE THING I WANTED TO
HIGHLIGHT SUPERQUICK IS A REALLY
APPRECIATE THE NEIGHBORHOOD
GROCERIES INVESTMENT AND SLIDE
NUMBER 14. A PRIME EXAMPLE OF ,
NOT THAT INVESTMENT BUT A MODEL
. AND THEY WOULDN'T MIND ME
USING THEM AS A MODEL. PCC
OPENED UP DOWNTOWN. THEY HAD A
LARGER FOOTPRINT. THEY CLOSED .
THE FOOTPRINT WAS ABOUT 10,000
SQUARE FEET. THEY CAME BACK AND
THEY TAKE UP 5000 SQUARE FEET.
THEY ARE NOT A FULL GROCERY
STORE BUT THEY DO THE BASICS
LIKE THE MILK, EGGS, CHEESE AND
BREAD. WHEN I WAS TALKING TO
THEIR CEO, THEY SAID THEY WANT
TO TAKE THIS MODEL AND EXPANDED
THROUGHOUT THE CITY BECAUSE IT
IS A MODEL THAT WORKS. AND I
THINK THAT IS A PRIME EXAMPLE.
AND THEY PRAISED OED AND THE
CITY FOR ALL THE RESOURCES TO
HELP THEM COME BACK WHICH I HAVE
HEARD NOTHING BUT GREAT THINGS
ABOUT. THEY TWEAK TO THEIR HOURS
AND THE OPERATIONAL COST OF THAT
REALLY HELPED WITH THE
SUSTAINABILITY OF IT AND I THINK
THAT IS A MODEL THAT CAN BE
THROUGHOUT THE CITY. LAST THING
I WILL HIGHLIGHT HIS GROCERY
STORES DO SPEND UP TO $360,000
FROM ONE STORE FOR GREETERS.
THOSE OF THE PEOPLE THAT OFTEN
CHECKED RECEIPTS ARE GREAT
PEOPLE. THEY OFTEN PAY FOR THE
BUS STOPS TO BE CLEANED TWICE A
DAY AND THE TRASH MITIGATION.
THEY SPEND A LOT THAT GOES INTO
OPERATIONAL COST THAT THEN GET
PAST DOWN UNFORTUNATELY TO THE
CONSUMER BECAUSE OF THE
OPERATIONS. I KNOW THERE WILL BE
SOME MITIGATION . I KNOW THE
INVESTMENT WILL BE WELL RECEIVED
FOR A LOT OF THE GROCERIES IN
OUR CITY. THANK YOU MR. MR.
CHAIR. THANK YOU COUNCILMEMBER
HOLLINGSWORTH. DO YOU HAVE
ANYTHING TO RESPOND TO ON THAT?
>> THANK YOU. COUNCILMEMBER
RINCK AND THEN COUNCILMEMBER
RIVERA.
>> THANK YOU, CHAIR. FIRST OF
ALL, THANK YOU FOR BEING HERE
TODAY. I HAVE A COUPLE QUESTIONS
PRIMARILY PERTAINING TO THE SALE
FUND AND UNPACKING THAT A LITTLE
BIT MORE . UNDERSTANDING THAT
THESE FUNDS ARE SUPPORTING
ACTIVITIES EXECUTED ACROSS
MULTIPLE APARTMENTS, CORRECT?
>> WHAT TYPE OF STAKEHOLDER AND
LOCAL NONPROFIT CONVERSATIONS
HAVE YOU HAD TO ENSURE THERE IS
COMMUNITY ALIGNMENT WITH THOSE
PROPOSED INVESTMENTS ?
>> GOOD QUESTION. AGAIN, I
THINK THIS IS PART OF THE REASON
WE ARE STARTING WITH LITTLE
SAIGON. THE COMMUNITY HAS BEEN
VERY CLEAR WITH WHAT THEY LIKE .
I DON'T KNOW THAT WE NEED MORE
PLANS FROM THE COMMUNITY. I
THINK THEY HAVE BEEN PRETTY
CLEAR WITH WHAT THEY WOULD LIKE
THE CITY TO DELIVER. IT IS NOW
ON US TO ACTUALLY DO THAT. THAT
GIVES US A REALLY GOOD GROUNDING
WHERE WE HAVE HAD A LOT OF THE
OUTREACH AND WE HAVE BUILT A LOT
OF THE RELATIONSHIPS. WE WILL BE
WORKING WITH FRIENDS OF LITTLE
SAIGON AND THE CIDBA AND OTHER
ORGANIZATIONS ON THE GROUND
WORKING THERE SO WE STAY ALIGNED
AROUND SHARED GOALS. I DON'T
THINK IT IS A MOMENT WHERE WE
NEED TO DO FURTHER OUTREACH TO
UNDERSTAND. I DO THINK WE NEED
MEASUREMENTS OF PROGRESS AND
HAVE EVERYONE UNDERSTANDING WHAT
THOSE ARE AND AGREE TO THOSE. AS
WE ARE TRACKING WHAT HAPPENS
WITH THE ACTION, WE CAN
IDENTIFY, ARE WE SEEING THE
RESULTS WE WANT TO SEE OR NOT ?
IF NOT, TO COUNCILMEMBER
KETTLE'S POINT, WE HAVE TO BE
FLEXIBLE AND ADAPT AND CHANGE
COURSE. I THINK IT IS MORE ABOUT
US HAVING CLEAR MEASUREMENTS AND
COMMUNICATING WHAT WE ARE DOING
AND WHAT WE AREN'T DOING. AND
SEEING IF THAT WORKS OR NOT.
THAT WOULD BE MY ANSWER ON
LITTLE SAIGON.
>> APPRECIATE THAT. I WOULD WANT
TO MAKE SURE WE ARE MAKING
PROGRESS. UNDERSTANDING THERE IS
A BIT OF INTERPLAY BETWEEN THE [
INAUDIBLE ] INITIATIVE AND WHAT
IS OUTLINED IN THE SALE. CANYOU
DETAIL WHAT TECHNICAL ASSISTANCE
OR ACTIVATION OF VACANT SPACES
AND LITTLE SAIGON ARE DISCUSSED
IN THE PROGRAM? I KNOW COMMUNITY
LEADERS HAVE BEEN TALKING ABOUT
THE ACTIVATION OF THE [
INAUDIBLE ] PARKING LOT AS WELL
AS THE APARTMENT BUILDING. WILL
THESE INVESTMENTS WORK WITH
FOLKS WITH THE CID SMALL
BUSINESS AND RELIEF TEAM ?
>> WE ARE LOOKING AT THE SAME
OPPORTUNITIES. HONESTLY , UNTIL
WE HAVE STABILITY IN THE
NEIGHBORHOOD , AND THAT INCLUDES
THE PERCEPTION OF STABILITY FOR
WORKERS AND BUSINESSES
THEMSELVES , WE CAN SPEND A LOT
OF MONEY ON ACTIVATION THAT
WOULD FAIL. THAT WOULD BE POOR
STEWARDSHIP OF PUBLIC DOLLARS.
THAT IS WHAT WE WANT TO HAVE THE
SYSTEM WE ARE WORKING TOWARD
ACROSS DIFFERENT DEPARTMENTS
WHERE WE CAN FOCUS ON GETTING AN
AREA STABLE AND THEN MAKING THE
ACTIVATION INVESTMENTS WHICH CAN
THEN LEAD TO FURTHER
INVESTMENTS. WE ARE LOOKING AT
THOSE AND PLANNING THOSE. WE
WANT TO DO AND IN SEQUENCE SO WE
ARE NOT GETTING OUT AHEAD OF
OURSELVES AND PROMISING THINGS
THAT THEN. THAT IS NOT WHAT WE
NEED -- NOT WHAT WE NEED AT THE
SMALL AND LITTLE SAIGON. THE
PROPERTIES YOU MENTIONED ARE THE
SAME ONES WE ARE LOOKING AT.
THERE IS OPPORTUNITY. WE MADE
PRIOR INVESTMENTS INTO SOME OF
THOSE BUSINESSES AND WANT TO
CONTINUE LOOKING FOR THEM BUT WE
HAVE TO DO IT IN SEQUENCE .
>> IF I CAN ADD ON TO THAT, I
THINK THE OFFICE OF ECONOMIC
DEVELOPMENT IS THE RIGHT PLACE
FOR THE MONEY TO SIT . I WANT TO
ASSURE YOU IT ALSO HAS THE
ATTENTION OF THE MAYOR'S OFFICE
IN THE CBO AND WE WILL BE
WORKING COOPERATIVELY WITH
COUNCIL TO MAKE SURE WE SPEND
THESE LIMITED DOLLARS TO THE
MAXIMUM AFFECT .
>> UNDERSTOOD. AND I UNDERSTAND
THE APPROACH YOU JUST LAID OUT.
I THINK IT PROMPTS THE QUESTION
TO ME AND, HOW ARE WE
EVALUATING? WHEN HAVE WE REACHED
STABILITY TO THE POINT WHERE WE
ARE MOVING TOWARD ACTIVATION?
WHAT DOES THAT LOOK LIKE ?
>> I'M SO GLAD YOU ASKED. THAT
IS A GREAT QUESTION. THAT IS
WHAT WE LOOK AT THIS AS A BEEN
DIAGRAM. IT IS ONE OF MY
FAVORITE THINGS. THERE IS
ALMOST NEVER A CLEAR -- THIS
STOPS AND THIS STARTS. THAT GETS
TO YOUR POINT ABOUT THE
ACTIVATION. THAT IS WHAT WE
WANT TO BE IN THOSE
CONVERSATIONS WITH SPD AND FIRE
AND SDOT, AS THEY ARE DOING
STABILITY WORK. WE NEED TO
UNDERSTAND HOW THINGS ARE
CHANGING SO WE CAN BE
OPPORTUNISTIC AND FORWARD
THINKING ABOUT WHAT KIND OF
ACTIVATIONS MAKE SENSE AND WE
CAN START -- START WEAVING IN
THERE AS THEY CONTINUE THE
STABILITY WORK THAT LEADS TO
THAT SUSTAINED PROGRESS WHERE WE
CAN GET INTO THE DEEP ACTIVATION
WORK. WE ARE STILL WORKING THAT
OUT WITH THE INNOVATION AND
PERFORMANCE TEAM. WHAT ARE THE
METRICS AND MEASUREMENTS WE WILL
USE THAT ARE BOTH LEADING AND
LAGGING TO GIVE US THE
INFORMATION ABOUT WHEN WE START
SWITCHING INVESTMENTS OVER .
THAT IS WHY THE ALIGNMENT IS SO
IMPORTANT AND WE NEED TO BE IN
THE SAME ROOM KIND OF WORKING
THIS THROUGH AND WORKING IN
REALTIME SO WE CAN SIT IN THE
MIDDLE PORTION ON THE VENN
DIAGRAM AND START TRYING NEW
THINGS THAT WILL LEAD TO THAT
SUSTAINED CHANGE.
>> THANK YOU FOR BREAKING THAT
DOWN FOR ME. AND I HAVE ANOTHER
QUESTION RELATED TO THIS
PARTNERSHIP WITH THE AI HOUSE
AND UNDER YOUR FUTURE BUSINESS
SECTION AS WELL . AI BEING
STATED AS A PRIORITY IN THE 2026
BUDGET . NOTING THAT AI HAS
ACCELERATED THE USAGE OF POWER
AND WATER AND ALSO CREATING A
DEEPER DIVIDE AND DIGITAL EQUITY
CONCERNS. CAN YOU WALK US
THROUGH WHAT THIS PARTNERSHIP
AND PRIORITIZATION MEANS FOR OUR
CITY?
>> THAT IS PART OF THE REASON
THE PARTNERSHIP WAS SO
IMPORTANT. WITH THE INK EVADERS
AND THE DEVELOPER COMMIT --
ACADEMY. THERE IS A WORKFORCE
COMPONENT TO THIS. WE ARE REALLY
TRYING -- AS IT SAYS, LEADING
INVESTMENTS THAT WILL OPEN
ACCESS TO ECONOMIC OPPORTUNITIES
AND REDUCE THE RACIAL WEALTH GAP
AND ENCOURAGE GROWTH. BOTH AI
AND CLEAN ENERGY PRESENT THOSE
OPPORTUNITIES. IT IS WHAT WE DO
. -- IF WE LET THAT HAPPEN TO
US, IT OUTWEIGHS IF WE ARE MORE
ACTIVE IN SHAPING THE EPIDEMIC
FUTURE, WHICH IS WHY WE MADE
THOSE INVESTMENTS. I THINK IT IS
US PLANTING A FLAG AT SEATTLE TO
SHAPE THE FUTURE OF ARTIFICIAL
INTELLIGENCE AND FIND THE
POSITIVE EFFECTS WHILE TRYING TO
MITIGATE SOME OF THE NEGATIVE
IMPACT. THAT IS WHY WE ARE EARLY
AND ON THIS. IT IS IMPORTANT
THAT WE LEARN AND UNDERSTAND
WITH THE RISKS AND OPPORTUNITIES
ARE AND POSITION OURSELVES TO
TAKE ADVANTAGE OF THEM .
>> ONE LAST QUESTION RELATED TO
GROCERY STORES. GROCERY STORES
BEING A HOT TOPIC. AS SOMEONE
WHO HAS PERSONAL EXPERIENCE ,
LOSING MY GROCERY STORE A FEW
YEARS BACK, THE ONE ON QFC AT 15
, REST IN PEACE, IT CAN BE
TRAUMATIZING FOR A NEIGHBORHOOD.
IT IS HARD TO SEE THINGS ROLLING
SLOWLY UP THE SHELVES. MY HEART
IS ALSO WITH LAKE CITY WHO IS
GOING TO THIS REALITY NOW AND WE
DON'T WANT TO SEE MORE GROCERY
STORES CLOSING. I KNOW WE ARE
TAKING A MYRIAD OF EFFORTS TO
TRY TO ADDRESS THIS AND I'M ALSO
MINDFUL THAT THERE IS A GROCERY
STORE TRYING TO STAND UP IN THE
WEDGEWOOD AREA THAT IS MEANT --
MIDSTREAM AND JUST WENT THROUGH
THE DESIGN REVIEW LAST NIGHT. I
BRING THIS EXAMPLE OF BECAUSE I
FOLLOWED SOME OF THE DISCUSSION
ABOUT THIS. DISCUSSION ABOUT THE
PARTICULARS FOR CURB CUTS AND
SOMEONE. I BRING UP THE EXAMPLE
OF DESIGN REVIEW BECAUSE I KNOW
OUR SMALL BUSINESSES SEEM TO
JUMP THROUGH A LOT OF HOOPS ON
THE CITY END TO BE ABLE TO STAND
UP. I WOULD HATE IF WE WERE
STANDING IN THE WAY OF GETTING A
NEW GROCERY STORE IN THE CITY.
WONDERING, FROM AN OAD
PERSPECTIVE, HOW ARE YOU WORKING
ON THAT FRONT ? AND OTHERS
FUNDING FOR SUPPORTING THE
ACTIVATION AND STAND UP OF MORE
NEIGHBORHOOD GROCERY STORES,
WHICH I THINK IS GREAT. FROM THE
FRONT OF OE D, DO YOU DO WORK IN
HELPING BUSINESSES NAVIGATE OUR
OWN BUREAUCRACY, WORKING THROUGH
PERMITS AND ANY ADVICE YOU WOULD
GIVE ON THIS FRONT WOULD BE
HELPFUL.
>> GREAT QUESTION. THE QFC AND
15TH IS WHERE I HAD MY FIRST
JOB. I WAS A BAG BOY. I WAS ALSO
SAD TO SEE IT GO. WHAT YOU
DESCRIBED IS EXACTLY THE WORK.
THE FUNDING IS NICE OF COURSE.
THAT WOULD BE USEFUL AND WILL
DEPLOY THAT TO TRY TO
INCENTIVIZE HOW WE CAN DO
GROCERY STORES. THE WORK YOU ARE
DESCRIBING ABOUT, HOW DO WE MAKE
IT EASIER AND MORE AFFORDABLE TO
OPERATE A BUSINESS IN SEATTLE IS
EXACTLY WHAT OED WANTS TO DO.
THAT IS THE REASON WE WORKED
WITH YOU ALL ON THAT PERMANENT
REFORM LEGISLATION TO MAKE IT
EASIER AND CHEAPER FOR
BUSINESSES TO GET INTO VACANT
STOREFRONTS. WHAT YOU ARE
DESCRIBING DOWN -- AROUND HOW TO
NAVIGATE, WE WANT TO HAVE A GOOD
CUSTOMER SERVICE FOR THE
BUSINESSES SO WE CAN EXPEDITE
THAT AS MUCH AS POSSIBLE. WE
ALSO WANT TO THINK ABOUT
POTENTIAL POLICY CHANGES ARE
WAYS WE CAN ELIMINATE BARRIERS
FOR BUSINESSES TO DO BUSINESS. I
THINK WHAT YOU ARE DESCRIBING IS
THE WORK AHEAD AND
UNDERSTANDING, WHAT ARE THE
ROADBLOCKS? ARE THEY NECESSARY?
AND IF NOT, LET'S FIGURE OUT
HOW TO STREAMLINE THEM AND MAKE
IT EASIER TO OPERATE .
>> THANK YOU, DIRECTOR. THANK
YOU FOR BEING HERE TODAY.
>> THANK YOU COUNCILMEMBER
RINCK. COUNCILMEMBER NAY FOR,
MYSELF AND NELSON, WE ARE AT
1:07 P.M. HOPING WE CAN GET OUT
BY 1:15 P.M. THAT IS IN SEVEN
MINUTES.
>> THANK YOU, CHAIR AND THANK
YOU FOR BEING HERE AND FOR ALL
THE WORK YOU DO IN SUPPORT OF
OUR SMALL BUSINESSES ACROSS THE
CITY INCLUDING THE DISTRICT AM
HONORED TO REPRESENT, D4. I HAVE
HAD A SERIES OF NEIGHBORHOOD
WALKS, BUSINESS, SAFETY WALKS ,
AND THE DISTRICT. AND YOU-ALL
HAVE ALWAYS PARTICIPATED . AND I
VERY MUCH APPRECIATE THAT.
DIRECTOR MCINTYRE. AND I WOULD
SAY, COUNCILMEMBER RINCK, RAISED
THE PROJECT AND WEDGEWOOD. IT IS
A DEVELOPMENT PROJECT THAT
INCLUDES HOUSING AND A GROCERY
STORE TO TAKE UP THE PLACE WHERE
QFC WAS AND LOST THAT GROCERY
STORE A WHILE AGO. SO THERE HAS
BEEN A BIT OF A FOOD DESERT
THERE IN THAT NEIGHBORHOOD AND
SO YESTERDAY WAS A PUBLIC
HEARING THAT THE DESIGN REVIEW
BOARD -- THIS IS THEIR THIRD AND
LAST TOUCH POINT WITH COMMUNITY.
IT IS A REALLY IMPORTANT PROJECT
. BECAUSE OF THE GROCERY STORE
FUNCTION, THE FOLKS IN WEDGEWOOD
SUPPORT -- MAJORITY OF THE FOLKS
SUPPORT THE PROJECT BECAUSE OF
THE GROCERY STORE FUNCTION THERE
BUT THERE ARE OTHER SMALL
BUSINESSES THAT ARE IN THAT --
CURRENTLY IN THAT AREA. AND THIS
PARTICULAR DEVELOPER HAS WORKED
WITH THOSE SMALL BUSINESSES WHO
WILL GET DISPLACED AS WELL. I
APPRECIATE THE DEVELOPER DOING
THE WORK WITH THOSE BUSINESSES
TO SEE IF THERE IS OPPORTUNITY
TO BRING THEM BACK AND THINGS OF
THAT NATURE. THAT IS ANOTHER
PIECE TO THE PUZZLE ON THE
PRIVATE SIDE AND NOT JUST --
NOT NECESSARILY ON THE PUBLIC
SIDE. AND EQUALLY IMPORTANT.
>> I VERY MUCH APPRECIATE THE
ATTENTION TO DOWNTOWN DOWNTOWN.
IT IS THE COMMERCIAL AND
ECONOMIC DRIVER OF MANY CITIES.
SO THAT IS IMPORTANT. AND AND
THEN BEFORE COVID, THE AREA WAS
STRUGGLING. AND THEN OF COURSE
COVID MADE THINGS A MILLION
TIMES WORSE. I DROVE BY THERE
EARLIER IN THE WEEK. BY LITTLE
SAIGON. AND IT IS HEARTBREAKING
WHAT IS HAPPENING . AND I HAVE
FELT LIKE, WHAT CAN WE DO AS A
CITY? WE ARE NOT DOING ENOUGH.
WE NEED TO DO SOMETHING. AND FOR
THE FOLKS THAT ARE UNHOUSED
THERE AND FOR THE FOLKS THAT
CLEARLY HAVE SOME ADDICTION OR
MENTAL HEALTH ISSUES, AND THEN
FOR THE SMALL BUSINESSES THAT
ARE IN THAT AREA. AS WELL. I
GLATT -- I'M GLAD TO SEE THERE
IS A BIG PUSH AND EFFORT. AND I
AGREE WITH YOU, DIRECTOR
MCINTYRE. WE NEED TO STABILIZE
THE SITUATION AND THEN GO IN AND
PROVIDE SUPPORT TO SMALL
BUSINESSES. SO IF WE NOT
STABILIZE TO THAT POINT,
WHATEVER WE DO WILL NOT WORK IN
TERMS OF PROVIDING THAT
ACTIVATION . PARTICULARLY
ACTIVATION ON THE SMALL BUSINESS
SIDE. I WILL SAY -- IN ADDITION
TO DOWNTOWN AT LITTLE SAIGON,
OBVIOUSLY , LAKE CITY I KNOW HIS
NAME. TOO. THERE ARE
NEIGHBORHOODS, COMMERCIAL AREAS
AND THE NEIGHBORHOODS LIKE
WEDGEWOOD, THAT ARE SUFFERING
FROM A LOT OF THE PUBLIC SAFETY
ISSUES LIKE BREAK-INS AND SUCH.
AND THE UNIVERSITY DISTRICT. AND
SO I WOULD LOVE TO SEE, AS PART
OF THE OED WORK, WHAT WILL WE DO
FOR THE OTHER NEIGHBORHOODS.
COUNCILMEMBER NAY --
HOLLINGSWORTH, YOU SAID, AS WE
ARE DOING WORK DOWNTOWN, SOME OF
THE WORK IS SPREADING INTO THE
COMMERCIAL ISSUES OF ALL THE
DISTRICTS. HOW CAN WE MAKE SURE
WE ARE HELPING AT THE SAME TIME?
IT IS A TALL ORDER. AND I'M HERE
WITH MY PARTNERS AND TO FIGURE
OUT HOW WE CAN MAKE SURE WE ARE
GIVING ATTENTION TO THE SMALL
BUSINESSES IN THE DISTRICT. SO
.
>> I KNOW THE PARTNERS HAVE AN
ANSWER MENTAL WITH THAT AS WELL
AS PARTNERING WITH YOU. ON THE
BUSINESS DISTRICT INVESTMENT,
WOULD LOVE TO KNOW WHAT KIND OF
COMMUNICATION YOU WILL BE DOING
TO DISTRICT SO THEY KNOW THAT IT
IS AVAILABLE. THE BACK TO
BUSINESS PROGRAM. SOMETIMES I
THINK IT IS A MATTER OF
COMMUNICATION. THEY DON'T KNOW
ABOUT IT , SO I WANT TO MAKE
SURE I'M DOING MY PART TO GET
THE WORD OUT. AND WHAT IS OED
GOING TO DO TO MAKE SURE THE
COMMITTEE KAISHA'S ARE ROBUST
ACROSS THE DISTRICT SO THAT
FOLKS KNOW THESE SUPPORTS ARE
AVAILABLE TO THEM . SAME WITH
NEIGHBORHOOD GROCER'S
INVESTMENT. REALLY APPRECIATE
THAT. I HAVE TALKED ABOUT
MAGNUSON PARK. THERE IS A FOOD
DESERT FOR FOLKS LIVING AT THE
PARK THERE . I KEEP TALKING
ABOUT, WHAT CAN WE DO TO SUPPORT
THEM? WITH THIS NEIGHBORHOOD
GROCER'S INVESTMENT, DOES THAT
MEAN YOU WILL BE DOING OUTREACH
TO FOLKS ? I DON'T KNOW ALL THIS
LOOKS . AND NOT -- YOU DON'T
HAVE TO SAY TODAY. I KNOW WE ARE
RUNNING OUT OF TIME. WHO ARE WE
ENGAGING THAT MIGHT WANT TO
START A BODEGA OR SOMETHING OF
THAT NATURE THERE? SUPPORT THE
WATERFRONT SHUTTLE. I KNOW THEY
HAD IT RUNNING THIS SUMMER. SO
THE CONTINUATION OF THAT I KNOW
IS SOMETHING THAT FRIENDS OF THE
WATERFRONT AND OTHER FOLKS
INVOLVED IN THE PROJECT WOULD
LIKE TO SEE . SOTHANK YOU FOR
THAT. LOVE UPLIFT NORTHWEST.
EARLIER THIS YEAR, -- MAYBE IT
WAS LAST YEAR I TALKED TO THE
MAYOR'S OFFICE ABOUT UPLIFT
NORTHWEST AND GETTING HELP .
WHAT CAN WE DO TO HELP THEM GET
THE WORKFORCE -- WORKFORCE
CENTER OPEN? THIS PROVIDES --
IT HELPS FOLKS WITH JOBS, WHICH
IS WHAT WE NEED. SO HOW CAN WE
GET THAT DONE ? THANK YOU TO THE
TREND -- OED AND THE MAYOR'S
OFFICE TO MAKE SURE THAT WAS IN
THE BUDGET I WANT TO TAKE MY
COLLEAGUE, COUNCIL PRESIDENT
NELSON FOR HER GREAT LOADER --
HER GREAT LEADERSHIP WITH OED.
I KNOW YOUR CONSUL ENGAGED WITH
OED ALL OF THESE EFFORTS. AND WE
HAVE SHARED A LOT OF
CONVERSATIONS. THANK YOU FOR
YOUR CONTINUED LEADERSHIP
THROUGHOUT THE CITY WITH ALL THE
SMALL BUSINESSES THAT ARE
FEELING THE HEAT PARTICULARLY
POST- PANDEMIC. WE KNOW THAT IF
WE WANT OUR CITY TO BE VIBRANT,
WE ALSO NEED TO SUPPORT OUR
SMALL BUSINESSES. THANK YOU FOR
WHAT YOU DO .
>> THANK YOU, CHAIR.
>> ANYTHING YOU WANT TO SHARE?
>> NO .
>> I WILL TRY TO BE BRIEF . IS
USING THE SIX YEAR LOOK BACK
THAT CENTRAL STUFF HAS PROVIDED,
I RECORDED SOME FILIBUSTER AT
THE BEGINNING . THEOFFICE OF
ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT, AND NO
MISTAKE, AND VERY INTENTIONAL
WAYS, GREW , BY $20 MILLION IN
THE LAST SIX YEARS. THAT IS 192%
INCREASE. YOUR SLIDES SAID IT
BETTER THAN MY WORDS CAN. I
HEARD COLLEAGUES SHARE CONCERNS
THAT WE WILL BE CUTTING ECONOMIC
DEVELOPMENT MONEY. WE DID THE
OPPOSITE. WE PUT A LOT MORE
MONEY INTO IT . THE IMPORTANCE
IS THAT ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT IS
NOT ABOUT GIVING BUSINESSES
MONEY. IS ABOUT CREATING
VIBRANCY . SUPPORTING COMMUNITY
AND PLACE MAKING. THAT IS THE
WORK THAT I SEE YOU DOING. YOUR
WORK CUTS ACROSS AND STITCHES
TOGETHER DEPARTMENTS AND
DIFFERENT SECTORS. ONE OF THE
CONVERSATIONS WE HAD IN THE
TRIBAL NATION SUMMIT LAST WEEK
WAS ABOUT DOING AN ECONOMIC
DEVELOPMENT FORUM, TRIBAL
ECONOMIC FORUM HERE .
COUNCILMEMBER JUAREZ TAPPED ME
IS THE DEPUTY. I WILL BE HELPING
HER , RECOGNIZING WE MADE THE
COMMITMENT LAST WEEK, FOR NEXT
YEAR. THAT WAS WAY AFTER THE
MAYOR ASKED -- DID YOU SUMMIT
YOUR BUDGETS AND ALL THAT.
DIRECTOR PETER AND DIRECTOR
MCINTYRE, HAVE WE BUDGETED FOR
THIS? DO WE NEED A BUDGET? I
DON'T WANT TO SET THIS UP, LIKE
LITTLE SAIGON, WHERE WE MAKE THE
COMMITMENT AND WE UNDER DELIVER.
TO BE HAVE A BUDGET OR DO WE
NEED TO MAKE A BUDGET?
>> WE DON'T HAVE A BUDGET LINE
ITEM FOR THAT BECAUSE IT IS
DEVELOPING RIGHT NOW. I'M
PRETTY CONFIDENT WITH CURRENT
RESOURCES THAT WE CAN MAKE IT
HAPPEN.
>> FANTASTIC. I APPRECIATE THAT.
I WILL ASK A COUPLE MORE
QUESTIONS IN THE SHAREPOINT IN
THE INTEREST OF TIME TO SAY THE
FREE WATERFRONT SHUTTLE GIVES US
BETTER TRANSIT ACCESS -- WITHOUT
IT, WE COULD HAVE BETTER TRANSIT
ACCESS TO THE TRAILHEAD THAN WE
DO TO THE WATERFRONT. THE LAST
PRESENTATION, WE ASK QUESTIONS
ABOUT WHY THERE ARE SO MANY
SCOOTERS. THAT IS BECAUSE WE
DON'T HAVE TRANSIT THERE. WITH
THAT, COUNSEL PRESIDENT, LAST
WORD AT 1:16 P.M. ?
>> A COUPLE TIE UP THINGS. I
WILL NOTE THAT ALONG WITH
COUNCILMEMBER RIVERA AND MANY
PEOPLE ARE SAYING, SMALL
BUSINESSES ARE THE ONES THAT
CREATE THE JOBS IN THIS TOWN.
THE VAST MAJORITY. I DON'T KNOW
THE ACTUAL PERCENTAGE. I THINK
IT IS MORE THAN 78% BUT IT
DEPENDS ON HOW YOU DEFINE A
SMALL BUSINESS. BUT THAT IS
WHERE THE JOBS ARE AND THAT IS
WHERE THE INNOVATION COMES FROM
AND IT IS AT THE FABRIC OF OUR
COMMUNITIES. SO I THINK IT IS
NOTHING SHORT OF A PUBLIC
BENEFIT, PUBLIC SERVICE, TO
INVEST IN THEM AND THIS FUNDING
PROPOSAL YOU HAVE , IT IS
COMPLETELY WITHIN -- IT IS GOOD
GOVERNANCE TO MAKE SURE THE
INSTITUTIONS OF OUR
NEIGHBORHOODS ARE HEALTHY AND
THE PEOPLE THAT DEPEND ON THE
JOBS , WE WANT TO KEEP THEM IN
SEATTLE. SO COUPLE OF QUESTIONS.
ONE FROM MY NEIGHBOR HERE. SLIDE
14. HOW DO SMALL AND NEW BODEGAS
AND BUSINESSES ACCESS THIS
FUNDING ? WE HAVE ALLOWED FOR A
BUNCH MORE OF THEM. AND ALLOWING
FOR THE BODEGAS IN THE MIDDLE OF
THE BLOCK. YOU CAN ANSWER THAT
QUESTION.
>> WE ARE WORKING WITH OBCD, WHO
DRAFTED THE LAND USE CHANGES TO
ALLOW FOR MORE BODEGAS AND WE
ARE WALKING -- WORKING WITH THE
FOOD ACCESS PLANS . SOACROSS
DEPARTMENT TO WORK TO FIGURE
OUT, WHAT IS THE PLAN HERE? AND
WE ARE SPEAKING WITH A LOT OF
CURRENT GROCER'S TO UNDERSTAND
WHAT THEIR NEEDS ARE AND THAT
WILL HELP SHAPE HOW WE DEPLOY
THOSE FUNDS. WE WILL SPEND THE
REST OF THE YEAR FIGURING THAT
OUT SO WE CAN BE READY AT THE
TOP OF THE YEAR WITH HOW WE WILL
DEPLOY THEM.
>> I'VE HURT A LOT OF TALK
ABOUT BALLER -- I HAVE HEARD A
LOT OF TALK ABOUT BOLLARDS. THE
OWNER OF DOCKSIDE CANNABIS FIRST
BROUGHT THIS UP WITH MY SMALL
BUSINESS ROUNDTABLE IN 2022 OF
FEBRUARY. WANTING TO PUT
BOLLARDS IN FRONT OF HIS SHOP
AND SDOT SAID NO AND SUGGESTED
INSTEAD SOME PLANTERS THAT YOU
CAN MOVE THAT ARE NOT PERMANENT.
I JUST WANT TO WARN THAT WHEN I
FLOATED THAT WITH PEOPLE AT
PIONEER SQUARE, -- A LOT OF
CONCERN ABOUT THAT BECAUSE IT
REQUIRES MAINTENANCE. AND SO
ANYTHING YOU PUT A PLANT AND HAS
TO BE KEPT UP. SO I WANT TO MAKE
SURE WE ARE THINKING AS BROADLY
AS POSSIBLE WHEN WE ARE TALKING
ABOUT WHAT SECURITY MEASURES ARE
BEST FOR SMALL BUSINESS OWNERS.
AND THE LAST THING I WILL SAY IS
THAT THERE HAS BEEN TALK ABOUT,
WE WANT TO INVOLVE THE COMMUNITY
ABSOLUTELY A CID. ESPECIALLY
LITTLE SAIGON HAS BEEN REALLY
FOCUSED ON GENERATING THIS
15-POINT PLAN THAT WAS RELEASED
LAST WEEK. THEY ARE ALREADY
ACTIVATED. FRIENDS OFLITTLE
SAIGON. MANY OF THE DIFFERENT
ORGANIZATIONS. LEHIGH. THE
15-POINT PLAN IS THE PRODUCT OF
MANY MONTHS OF WORK. I THINK IT
IS A GREAT TIME TO HARNESS THAT
ENERGY AND ALIGNED WITH AND
ADOPT MAYBE SOME OF THEIR GOALS
AS WELL. THAT IS ALL I WANTED TO
SAY. THANK YOU VERY MUCH FOR
YOUR PRESENTATION .
>> THANK YOU.
>> THANK YOU COUNCIL PRESIDENT .
LAST WORD AT THE COMMITTEE
TABLE, DIRECTOR MCINTYRE .
>> DEEPLY APPRECIATE YOUR
CONTINUED COMMITMENT TO ECONOMIC
DEVELOPMENT AND YOUR
PARTNERSHIP.
>> SO THANK YOU.
>> THAT BRINGS US TO THE END OF
ITEM THREE . COLLEAGUES, WE ARE
ABOUT TO GO INTO A RECESS FOR
LUNCH. I'M GOING TO TAKE A GUT
CHECK FROM COLLEAGUES THAT WE
HAVE SPENT FOUR HOURS ON THREE
DEPARTMENTS. WE HAVE TWO MORE
DEPARTMENTS TO GO. AND WE CAN
EITHER COME BACK AT 2:00 AND
HAVE THREE HOURS FOR THOSE
DEPARTMENTS OR COME BACK AT 2:30
P.M. AND HAVE TWO AND HALF HOURS
FOR THOSE TWO DEPARTMENTS. WANT
TO WARN YOU THAT ONE OF THAT
APARTMENT IS SDCI. IT WILL TAKE
AS LONG AS IT GETS TO YOU TO
PERMIT IN THE CITY TO GET
THROUGH THE PRESENTATION AND WE
WILL BE HERE UNTIL MIDNIGHT.
JUST FLAGGING THAT . HOW ARE
FOLKS FEELING? 2:30, OR 2:00.
>> WHICH ONE?
>> 2:30, FOR THUMBS UP AND 2:00
THUMBS DOWN.
>> ALMOST UNANIMOUS CONSENT .
>> THIS SEPTEMBER 30TH,
ROBERT'S BIRTHDAY COMMITTEE
MEETING WILL GO INTO RECESS
UNTIL 2:30 P.M. THANK YOU,
COLLEAGUES.