>> GOOD AFTERNOON, WELCOME BACK
TO MY COLLEAGUES. THE SEPTEMBER
30th, ROBERTS BRUTALLY SENATE
BUDGET COMMITTEE WILL GO BACK TO
ORDER, IT IS 2:30 P.M. PLEASE
CALL THE ROLE? [ ROLL BEING
CALLED ]
>> ALL THE COUNCILMEMBERS WERE
NOT PRESENT OR EXCUSED UNTIL
THEY ARRIVE. THINK YOU ALL FOR
YOUR FLEXIBILITY AS WE RAN A
LITTLE BIT OVER THIS MORNING,
COLLEAGUES, WE HAVE TWO
DEPARTMENTS, TWO AND HALF HOURS
UNTIL 5:00 P.M. WE ARE IN
CONTROL OF OUR OWN DESTINY, WE
CAN BE ON AT 4:00, WE CAN BE OUT
OF YOUR 6:00, IT IS OUR OWN
CHOICE. MOVING RIGHT INTO THIS
WORK, CLERK, PLEASE READ THE
FOURTH ITEM INTO THE RECORD.
>> OFFICE OF ARTS AND CULTURE
FOR BRIEFING AND DISCUSSION.
>> THANK YOU. WE ARE JOINED BY
DIRECTOR KELLY DAVIDSON AND OF
COURSE, CHERNOBYL. LET ME JUST
TURN IT OVER TO YOU ALL IF YOU
WANT TO RUN FOR YOUR
PRESENTATION. WE'RE GOING TO
HOLD QUESTIONS AND THEN WE'LL
DIVE IN.
>> CAN EVERYONE HEAR ME FINE?
GREAT. THANK YOU FOR THE
INTRODUCTION.
>> BRING THAT MICROPHONE AS
CLOSE, MICK JAGGER, AS WE SAY.
>> PERFECT. THANK YOU ALL FOR
BEING HERE, FOR THIS
PRESENTATION ON THE OFFICE OF
ARTS AND CULTURE, 2026 PROPOSED
BUDGET. IN THIS PRESENTATION,
THEY WOULD PROVIDE A HIGH LEVEL
OVERVIEW OF THE DEPARTMENT
SPENDING PRIORITIES, AND HOW OUR
INVESTMENTS WILL WORK TO SECURE
A STRONG, SUSTAINABLE ARTS AND
CULTURAL POLICY LANDSCAPE FOR
SEATTLE'S FUTURE. FOLLOWING
THIS PRESENTATION, WE ARE HAPPY
TO ANSWER ANY QUESTIONS YOU MAY
HAVE. SO, JUST A REMINDER HERE,
AT THE OFFICE OF ARTS AND
CULTURE, OUR MISSION IS SIMPLE,
BUT POWERFUL. TWO ACTIVATE AND
SUSTAIN SEATTLE THROUGH ARTS AND
CULTURE. THE CITY DRIVEN BY
CREATIVITY IF WILL HAVE THE
OPPORTUNITY TO ENGAGE IN DIVERSE
AND MEANINGFUL CULTURAL
EXPERIENCES. WE WORK TO MAKE
THAT VERSION REAL THROUGH GRANTS
, PROGRAMS, PARTNERSHIP, AND
CULTURAL PLANNING THAT WILL HELP
MAKE SEATTLE A VIBRANT AND
INCLUSIVE CITY. SO, THIS SLIDE
HIGHLIGHTS THAT WHILE OVERALL
BUDGET INCREASES MAY APPEAR
SMALL, IT REFLECTS STRATEGIC
INVESTMENTS THAT ALIGN WITH THE
MAYOR'S PRIORITIES, MAJOR
EVENTS, AND COMMUNITY NEEDS. IN
2045, WE'VE ALREADY COMMITTED
2.5 MILLION TO ROUGHLY 60
PROJECTS SUPPORTING DOWNTOWN
ACTIVATIONS, AND WORLD CUP
PREPARATIONS. THESE PROJECTS
WILL BE LAMENTED NEXT YEAR, AND
THEY INCLUDE BLOCK PARTIES,
CULTURAL DANCE AND MUSIC
PERFORMANCES, PUBLIC ART
INSTALLATIONS, NEIGHBORHOOD
WALKING TOURS, AND MUCH, MUCH
MORE. NEXT YEAR YOU WILL SEE
THESE EVENTS THROUGHOUT KING
STREET STATION, UNION STATION,
THE CID, PIONEER SQUARE AND
OTHER DOWNTOWN LOCATIONS. WE'RE
ALSO SUPPORTING MORE THAN A
DOZEN COMMUNITY LED WORLD CUP
CELEBRATIONS ACROSS SEATTLE
NEIGHBORHOODS IN EVERY COUNCIL
DISTRICT. HELPING OUR
COMMUNITIES DEFINE HOW THEY TAKE
PART IN THIS GLOBAL MOMENT.
LOOKING AHEAD, INTO 2026, THE
EXECUTIVE'S PROPOSED BUDGET
INCLUDES CONTINUED INVESTMENTS
IN THE HOPE CORPS, GRAFFITI
INTERVENTIONS, AND A CITYWIDE
CULTURAL PLANNING PROCESS. SO,
HOPE CORPS. THIS PROGRAM WAS
INITIALLY LAUNCHED AS A PANDEMIC
RECOVERY EFFORT TO SUPPORT
CREATIVE WORKERS AND STRENGTHEN
COMMUNITY WELL-BEING THROUGH
ARTS-BASED INTERVENTIONS. IT HAS
SINCE EVOLVED OVER TIME TO PUT
ARTISTS TO WORK ON CIVIC
PRIORITIES. IN 2026, THE MAYOR
PROPOSES TO MAKE THE HOPE CORPS
PROGRAM PERMANENT. WITH
PERMANENT ONGOING FUNDING AT
350,000 A YEAR. THIS FUNDING
WILL SUPPORT A ONE-YEAR
EXTENSION OF TEMPORARY LABOR AND
PROGRAMMING, HELPING US MAINTAIN
MOMENTUM FOR THIS PROGRAM.
WHICH, UP UNTIL NOW HAS OPERATED
ON ONE TIME FUNDING. WHILE
350,000 IS LESS THAN PRIOR YEARS
, WE'RE COMMITTED TO MAKING IT
WORK. THIS WILL REQUIRE US TO
REDESIGN THE PROGRAM IN WAYS
THAT INCREASE IMPACT DESPITE THE
REDUCED FUNDING. SOME OF THE
OPTIONS WE'RE EXPLORING INCLUDE
CONCENTRATING EFFORTS IN
HIGH-TRAFFIC AREAS, REDEFINING
PROGRAMMING SCOPE TO ALIGN WITH
BUDGET CONSTRAINTS, AND
PARTNERING MORE STRATEGICALLY TO
EXTEND OUR REACH. ANOTHER MAJOR
ADDITION IS 200,000 IN ONE TIME
FUNDING TO LAUNCH CITYWIDE
CULTURAL PLANNING. WHY NOW, YOU
MAY ASK? IN 2025, REQUIRES A
STRATEGIC PLAN WHICH WAS
INTERNALLY FOCUSED ON OUR
ORGANIZATION. AND IT
ACKNOWLEDGED THE LONG-TERM
PROGRAMMATIC AND STAFFING
IMPACTS AT THE PANDEMIC,
RESPONDED TO LEADERSHIP
TRANSITIONS AND REORGANIZED AND
STRENGTHENED INTERNAL SYSTEMS.
THIS WORK LAID THE FOUNDATION
FOR A BROADER CULTURAL PLANNING
EFFORT, WHICH IS EXTERNALLY
FOCUSED. AND IT'S MUCH NEEDED,
AS IN 2025, SEATTLE'S ARTS AND
CULTURAL LANDSCAPE CONTINUES TO
EVOLVE AND FACE UNCERTAINTY. FOR
EXAMPLE, FEDERAL CUTS TO ARTS
FUNDING CONTINUED SLOW TICKET
SALES, IMPACTED SIGNIFICANTLY BY
DROPS IN TOURISM, AND THE DOORS
OPEN LEVY WHICH WAS INFORMATIVE
THIS YEAR, HOWEVER, IT DOES
PROVIDE SIGNIFICANT RESOURCES
BUT, WE DO NOT HAVE DATA YET, TO
KNOW WHAT THE IMPACT WILL BE.
WITH ALL THIS IN MIND OUR
CULTURAL PLANNING WILL ENGAGE
STAKEHOLDERS ACROSS SEATTLE.
CONDUCT ASSET MAPPING, CONSIDER
SECTOR NEEDS AND STRATEGIC
OPPORTUNITIES, AND ULTIMATELY
SET OUT A 10 YEAR VISION FOR
ARTS AND CULTURE IN SEATTLE.
THIS PLAN WILL ACT AS A POLICY
AND INVESTMENT GUIDE, ALIGNING
OUR CULTURAL RESOURCES WITH
BROADER CIVIC GOALS AND ECONOMIC
DEVELOPMENT STRATEGIES. AS WE
MOVE FORWARD WE LOOK FORWARD TO
PARTNERING WITH EACH OF YOU TO
MAKE SURE YOUR DISTRICT, YOUR
CONSTITUENTS AND PRIORITIES ARE
PART OF SHAPING THIS PLANNING
PROCESS. MOVING ON TO GRAFFITI
PREVENTION. THE CITY'S 2026
PROPOSED BUDGET INCLUDES A 1.6
MILLION AND TO SUPPORT THE ONE
SEATTLE GRAFFITI PLAN. THIS IS A
CITYWIDE INITIATIVE FOCUSED ON
GRAFFITI REMOVAL ENFORCEMENT ,
COMMUNITY SUPPORT AND
BEAUTIFICATION. THIS INVESTMENT
SUPPORTS STAFFING AND RESOURCES
FOR GRAFFITI ABATEMENT AND
PREVENTION ACROSS MULTIPLE
DEPARTMENTS, INCLUDING SEATTLE
PARKS AND RECREATION, SEATTLE
DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION,
AND THE OFFICE OF ARTS AND
CULTURE. WITHIN OUR OFFICE, THE
PROPOSED BUDGET ALLOCATES
160,000 FOR A ONE-TIME EXTENSION
OF A TEMPORARY GRAFFITI
SPECIALIST POSITION. THIS
POSITION IS CENTRAL TO THE
CITIES GRAFFITI PREVENTION WORK,
AND IT FOCUSES ON DEVELOPING
CREATIVE STRATEGIES TO DETER
GRAFFITI, CONNECTING WITH
SEATTLE'S GRAFFITI COMMUNITY ,
AND MENTORING AND ENGAGING YOUTH
TO CHANNEL THEIR CREATIVITY IN
POSITIVE, CONSTRUCTIVE WAYS.
THIS ALSO ENHANCES
BEAUTIFICATION EFFORTS THAT
EMBRACE THE ARTISTIC VALUE OF
GRAFFITI WHILE HELPING REDUCE
VANDALISM IN PUBLIC SPACES. THIS
COLLABORATION WITH THE MAYOR'S
OFFICE HAS BEEN UNIQUE AND
EFFECTIVE. THE ARTIST IN THIS
POSITION OPERATES WITHIN OUR
OFFICES AT KING STREET STATION
AND IS ABLE TO COLLABORATE WITH
OUR PUBLIC ART DIVISION AND
ACCESS RESOURCES AND SUPPORT
FROM ART STAFF WHILE WORKING ON
DOWNTOWN GRAFFITI STRATEGIES
WITH THE MAYOR'S OFFICE. THIS
WORK DIRECTLY SUPPORTS THE GOALS
OF THE ONE SEATTLE INITIATIVE BY
IMPROVING LIVABILITY,
STRENGTHENING, AND COMMUNITY
TIES AND PROMOTING CREATIVE
EXPRESSION AS PART OF PUBLIC
SAFETY. IN CLOSING, I WANT TO
THANK YOU , AND TO EMPHASIZE
THAT WHILE THIS PROPOSED BUDGET
MAY NOT CONTAIN SWEEPING
INCREASES, IT'S STRATEGIC AND
FORWARD-LOOKING. WE'RE
INVESTING IN WHAT MATTERS,
CONTINUING WORKFORCE SUPPORT
THROUGH HOPE CORPS AND
SUPPORTING WORLD CUP
CELEBRATIONS AS WELL AS
DEVELOPING A CULTURAL ROAD MAP
FOR SEATTLE'S FUTURE. THANK YOU
ONCE AGAIN, AND WE'RE VERY HAPPY
TO ANSWER ANY QUESTIONS YOU MAY
HAVE.
>> THANK YOU, DIRECTOR, AND
COUNCILMEMBER RINCK IN THE
DEPARTMENT, YOU ARE RECOGNIZED.
>> THANK YOU, CHAIR. COLLEAGUES,
AS WE ALL KNOW SEATTLE'S
CULTURAL SECTOR IS LARGELY
RESPONSIBLE FOR PUTTING OUR CITY
ON THE MAP, AND HAS KEPT OUR
CITY ON THE FOREFRONT OF
CULTURAL INNOVATION IN EXCHANGE
FOR DECADES, NATIONALLY AND
GLOBALLY. FROM THE 62 WORLD FAIR
TO STARTING THE NATIONS FIRST,
AND IN MY OPINION, STILL BEST
PERCENT FOR ART PROGRAM TO
FOSTERING GENERATIONS OF GLOBAL
TALENT IN MUSIC, LETTERS, FILM,
DANCE, VISUAL ART, OUR CITY
GOVERNMENT HAS LONG BEEN A
CATALYST FOR AND A STRONG
PARTNER TO THE CULTURAL SECTOR.
THAT PARTNERSHIP GOES FAR BEYOND
OUR FINANCIAL CONTRIBUTIONS TO
ORGANIZATIONS AND CULTURE
WORKERS , THOSE INVESTMENTS HAVE
RESULTED IN MASSIVE RETURNS TO
THE CITY IN TERMS OF ECONOMIC
DEVELOPMENT, AND SEATTLE'S PLACE
IN GLOBAL CONSCIOUSNESS, AND
SEATTLE'S SENSE OF BELONGING,
IDENTITY, AND PRIDE IN PLACE.
THE OFFICE OF ARTS AND CULTURE
HAS DRIVEN THESE INVESTMENTS FOR
DECADES, COORDINATING THE
EFFORTS OF SEVERAL CITY
DEPARTMENTS AND FILLING A
CRITICAL ROLL OF CONNECTING
LOCAL GOVERNMENT WITH THE
THOUSANDS OF CULTURE WORKERS
ORGANIZATIONS , PATRONS AND
CREATIVE YOUNG FOLKS THAT GIVE
THE CITY ITS FLAVOR. IN RECENT
YEARS THE CULTURAL SECTOR OF
SEATTLE HAS BEEN HIT BY THE
MASSIVE CHALLENGES AFFECTING ALL
SECTORS , NAMELY THE COVID
PANDEMIC AND SEATTLE'S ONGOING
AFFORDABILITY CRISIS. THE OFFICE
OF ARTS AND CULTURE HAS SEEN A
NUMBER OF CHALLENGES IN RECENT
YEARS AS WELL, WITH SIGNIFICANT
STAFF TURNOVER AND PROGRAM FOCUS
AND DELIVERY DRIVEN BY DECISIONS
FROM PAST LEADERSHIP INTO THIS
UNPRECEDENTED ERA, DIRECTOR WAS
HIRED TO TURN THINGS AROUND AND
GET OURS BACK ON TRACK, THIS IS
BEEN A MONUMENTAL LIFT AND WHILE
THERE IS STILL A WAY TO GO TO
GET WHERE WE NEED TO BE TO ME
THIS MOMENT I WANT TO THANK THE
DIRECTOR FOR HER EFFORTS TO
DATE, AND FOR THE THOUGHTFUL
APPROACH TO BUILDING BACK BETTER
BE A DIRECT ENGAGEMENT WITH ALL
CORNERS OF OUR CULTURE,
COMMUNITY, AND LISTENING TO THE
NEEDS OF STAKEHOLDERS.
SEATTLE'S CULTURAL AND LEGAL
SYSTEM IS AS CRITICAL AND IN
MANY WAYS AS IMPERILED AS OUR
NATURAL ECOSYSTEM, AND EVERY
DOLLAR WE INVEST NOW IN
RESTORING AND ADVANCING THE
SECTOR WILL COME BACK TO US IN
WAYS BIG AND SMALL. AS WE LOOK
AT THIS BUDGET, I WANT TO FLAG
THAT I APPRECIATE THE THOUGHT
AND CARE ARTS IS PUTTING INTO
THAT WORK, AND I WANT TO STRESS
THE URGENT NEED FOR LEADERSHIP
AND CLEAR RESULTS FROM CITY
DEPARTMENTS THAT ARE CULTURE
WORKERS AND ORGANIZATIONS RELY
ON. THEY DEMAND AND DESERVE NO
LESS. WITH THAT, I'LL MOVE INTO
SOME OF THE QUESTIONS I HAVE
ABOUT OUR PROPOSED BUDGET THAT
WE'RE LOOKING AT TODAY, MOVING
INTO THE CARE GRANT PROGRAM.
WE'VE HEARD FROM A NUMBER OF
ORGANIZATIONS ABOUT THE ROCKY
ROLLOUT OF CENTERING ART AND
RACIAL EQUITY GRANT PROGRAM FOR
ARTS ORGANIZATION OPERATIONAL
SUPPORT, WE KNOW THAT THE
TRANSITION PREDATED YOUR TENURE,
BUT AS YOU LOOK TO THE NEXT
ITERATIONS, WHAT IS YOUR VISION
FOR THE PROGRAM AND HOW LARGE OF
A POOL OF FUNDS ARE YOU
ANTICIPATING WILL GO TO HOW MANY
ORGANIZATIONS?
>> THANK YOU COUNCILMEMBER FOR
THAT QUESTION. WE'RE REVIEWING
THAT PROGRAM AT THE MOMENT, WE
HAVE JUST LAUNCHED A SURVEY
SENDING IT TO ALL OF OUR
GRANTEES WITHIN THAT PROGRAM,
ASKING THEM ABOUT HOW WELL IT'S
WORKING FOR THEM. OBVIOUSLY THE
PROGRAM BEGAN HIGHER TO THE
PANDEMIC, THEN THE PANDEMIC HIT,
AND CONDITIONS ARE DIFFERENT
NOW. WE ARE RECONSIDERING IT AND
ALSO OF COURSE AS I MENTIONED,
WHICH PROVIDES SIGNIFICANT
RESOURCES FOR ARTS AND CULTURAL
ORGANIZATIONS, AND IN SOME WAYS
ALSO OVERLAPS WITH OUR
INVESTMENTS. WE BELIEVE THAT
GENERAL OPERATING SUPPORT SHOULD
CONTINUE FROM THE CITY, BUT THE
QUESTION IS HOW? WHEN YOU SPEAK
ABOUT MY VISION, I'M LOOKING
FOR THE COMMUNITY TO HELP SHAPE
THAT VISION. ONCE WE HAVE THE
SURVEY RESULTS BACK WILL BE ABLE
TO BE CLEAR ABOUT WHAT DIRECTION
WE GO IN, WE WANT TO LISTEN TO
WHAT THEY HAVE TO SAY FIRST,
WHAT THEIR EXPERIENCE IS WITH
THE PROGRAM BEFORE HE MAKE
CHANGES.
>> THANK YOU FOR THAT.
INTERESTED TO SEE THE RESULTS OF
THAT AS WELL. MOVING INTO ARTS
OPERATES THE LANGSTON HUGHES
PERFORMING ARTS INSTITUTE
FACILITY AND PARTNERSHIP WITH
PARKS AND COMMUNITY BASED
ORGANIZATIONS, HAVE YOU
IDENTIFIED NEEDED CAPITAL
IMPROVEMENTS THAT ARE NOT
CURRENTLY ADDRESSED IN THE
PROPOSED 2026 CAPITAL
IMPROVEMENT PROGRAM?
>> YES, THANK YOU FOR THAT
QUESTION AS WELL. I'M GOING TO
INVITE DEPUTY DIRECTOR DAVIDSON
TO ALSO CHIME IN ON THIS,
BECAUSE SHE'S BEEN CLOSELY
TRACKING THE WORK THAT WE'VE
BEEN DOING AT THE FACILITIES, AS
YOU KNOW, IT'S A COLLABORATION
WITH THE PARKS DEPARTMENT
OURSELVES, AND THE NONPROFIT
LANGSTON. KELLY, WOULD YOU
PROVIDE THE DETAILS?
>> SURE, WE'VE BEEN WORKING
WITH THE PARKS DEPARTMENT RIGHT
NOW, WORKING ON THEIR PROJECT
MANAGEMENT STAFF, AND THEY ARE
CURRENTLY CREATING AN RFQ FOR
DESIGN CONSULTANT, PARKS HAS
JUST OVER $2 MILLION COMING AND
THE LANGSTON ORGANIZATION
RECEIVED A KING COUNTY GRANT FOR
$500,000, AND WE'VE BEEN
COLLECTIVELY PRIORITIZING WHICH
PROJECTS, THE CAPITAL PROJECTS,
ARE NEEDED TO MOVE FORWARD IN
THAT WORK. WE CAN DEFINITELY GET
A LIST OF THOSE TO YOU, BECAUSE
WE HAVE A LIST OF SOME OF THE
PIECES THAT ARE NOT GOING TO
MAKE THAT. THAT CONTINUED
FUNDRAISING EFFORTS, ARE
UNDERWAY AND WE ARE CONTINUING
TO WORK WITH LANGSTON. AND ANY
EFFORTS TO SEEK ADDITIONAL
DOLLARS OR RESOURCES FOR THOSE
OTHER PIECES THAT ARE NEEDED.
>> I WANT TO ALSO ADD THAT I'VE
BEEN VERY AWARE OF THE DEFERRED
MAINTENANCE TO THE FACILITY, AND
AT THAT HAS REQUIRED
COLLABORATION. BECAUSE OF THE
VARIOUS PARTNERS AND OUR
INVOLVEMENT, IT GETS VERY
COMPLICATED. WHILE YOU'RE NOT
SEEING IT IN THE BUDGET WE'RE
THE RELATIONSHIPS WE HAVE
ANOTHER RESOURCES OUT THERE TO
ENSURE THAT WE'RE WORKING
TOGETHER, AND THAT HAS PROVED
SUCCESSFUL RIGHT NOW.
>> LAST WEEK WE WERE AT THE
FACILITY, THEY NOW HAVE HVAC
WHICH IS HUGE, AND WE HAVE A NEW
ROOF AND THEATER SEATS ARE OTHER
LARGE PRIORITIES.
>> LANGSTON IS A CRITICAL
INSTITUTE FOR OUR COMMUNITY.
WANTED TO MAKE SURE WE FOLLOWED
UP ON THAT, AND I'M EXCITED TO
SEE THE CULTURAL PLANNING EFFORT
IS UNDERWAY, I KNOW THAT YOUR
INTERNAL WORK WITH THE STRATEGIC
PLAN, WE ARE READY TO DO
EXTERNAL WORK OF STAKEHOLDER
ENGAGEMENT ACROSS THE CITY AND I
KNOW MY COLLEAGUE COUNCILMEMBER
RIVERA VIA FIRST LIE LAST YEAR
HAD YOU OUTLINED THE BREADTH OF
CULTURAL WORK HAPPENING ACROSS
CITY DEPARTMENTS, HOW WILL YOUR
CULTURAL PLANNING BETTER ALIGNED
WITH THE WORK ACROSS DEPARTMENTS
TO MEET OUR COMMUNITY NEEDS?
>> WE WORK WITH DEPARTMENTS IN
VARIOUS WAYS, ONE OF, WE WILL BE
COLLABORATING WITH DEPARTMENTS
WHERE IT MAKES SENSE. IN TERMS
OF CONSULTING WITH THEM, I'LL
GIVE YOU ONE EXAMPLE, OUR PUBLIC
ART PROGRAM WORKS CLOSELY WITH
UTILITIES AND UTILITIES WE
CONSIDER AS A CUSTOMER, SO TO
SPEAK. WE WILL BE TIGHTLY
CONNECTING WITH THEM AROUND THE
FUTURE OF THE WORK THAT WE'RE
DOING, SO WE CAN MAP OUT HOW WE
CAN MAKE THE WORK MORE
SUSTAINABLE, AND SURE THAT THE
PRIORITIES OF THOSE DEPARTMENTS
ARE REFLECTED IN THE PROGRAMS
THAT WE OFFER, SO THAT'S ONE
EXAMPLE. EACH DEPARTMENT HAS A
DIFFERENT RELATIONSHIP TO US, SO
THAT WILL BE EXAMINED CLOSELY,
AND WHEN WE DID DO STRATEGIC
PLANNING INTERNALLY, WE BEGAN
THOSE CONVERSATIONS. ASKING MORE
ABOUT HOW THE PROGRAMS ARE
WORKING, WHAT ADJUSTMENTS WE
MIGHT NEED TO MAKE INTERNALLY,
WE'RE AWARE RIGHT NOW OF SOME
OF THE ADJUSTMENTS WE MAKE, BUT
THE EXTERNAL DISCUSSION IS MORE
ABOUT , IS THERE AN EFFORT FOR
YOUTH ENGAGED WORK IN, LET'S
SAY, CITY, IS THAT SOMETHING
YOU'RE INTERESTED IN PURSUING
FOR THE NEXT FIVE, 10 YEARS? IF
SO, LET'S SET THE STRUCTURE SO
WE CAN ACHIEVE THAT. THOSE ARE
SOME OF THE THINGS WE'LL BE
TALKING ABOUT.
>> MY LAST QUESTION FOR TODAY,
IN RECENT YEARS THE SIGNIFICANT
AMOUNT OF TAX REVENUE HAS BEEN
DIVERTED FROM ARTS TO FUND ART
AND CULTURAL PROGRAMS , PROGRAMS
THAT WERE PREVIOUSLY FUNDED BY
THE GENERAL FUND OR OTHER
REVENUE STREAMS, AND AT THE SAME
TIME ARTS HAS BEEN ASKED TO SEND
OF NEW PROGRAMS WITH LIMITED
REVENUE TO MURALS, GRAFFITI AND
ACTIVATIONS, KNOWING THAT YOU
COMPLETED A STRATEGIC PLAN AND
ARE HEADING INTO A COMMUNITY
CULTURAL PLANNING EFFORT, CAN
YOU SPEAK TO ANY INITIAL
INSIGHTS YOU HAVE INTO
REALIGNING CITY RESOURCES TO
BEST MEET THE VISION AND MISSION
OF ARTS AND MEET THE NEEDS OF
OUR CONSTITUENCY?
>> DIRECTOR, WOULD YOU LIKE TO
TAKE THAT ONE?
>> YEAH, JUST A LITTLE BIT OF
HISTORY. LAST YEAR WE PROPOSED
THE ADMINISTRATION PROPOSED A
POLICY CHANGE THAT WOULD HAVE
ALLOWED FOR ADMISSIONS TAX
REVENUES TO BE SPENT ON ARTS AND
CULTURAL ACTIVITIES. OUTSIDE OF
THE OFFICE OF ARTS AND CULTURE.
SO, THAT PROPOSAL WAS NOT
APPROVED, SO, WE HAVE NOT
PROPOSED TO DO SO AGAIN IN THIS
YEAR'S BUDGET. WE ARE STEADY AS
SHE GOES, CONTINUING TO FUND
THINGS ALONG THE LINES THAT THE
CURRENT FINANCIAL POLICIES CALL
FOR AND WE'RE NOT PROPOSING
CHANGES IN THIS BUDGET.
>> UNDERSTOOD, THANK YOU FOR
CLEARING THAT POINT, AND I'LL
CLOSE TO STATE ON THE RECORD, I
KNOW WE'VE HAD A FEW
DISCUSSIONS AND A FEW OF OUR
DEPARTMENT PRESENTATIONS RELATED
TO GRAFFITI AND GRAFFITI
ABATEMENT. STATING FOR THE
RECORD, MY INTEREST IN
UNDERSTANDING HOLISTICALLY ALL
OF OUR INVESTMENTS INTO
GRAFFITI, WHAT OUR STRATEGIC
VISION IS, WHAT KIND OF OUTCOMES
ARE WHIZZING ACROSS OUR
DEPARTMENTS. WITH THAT I WILL
YIELD THE REST OF MY TIME IF I
HAVE TIME. CHAIR, THANK YOU.
>> LET ME ADDRESS THIS, EVERYONE
HAS AS MUCH TIME TO ASK AS MANY
QUESTIONS AS THEY WANT.
COUNCILMEMBER WAR IS LIKES TO
GIVE ME GRIEF FOR TALKING TOO
MUCH WHICH IS ACCURATE. IF FOLKS
HAVE QUESTIONS AND WERE DIGGING
INTO SUBJECT MATTER, THERE'S
ENOUGH TIME FOR ALL OF US. IF
WE'RE UP HERE TALKING ABOUT A
TOPIC THAT IS NOT BUDGET
RELATED, THERE'S NO TIME FOR
THAT. THAT'S THAT. WITH THAT,
WE HAVE GOT COUNCILMEMBER KETTLE
AND COUNCILMEMBER RIVERA, TAKE
IT AWAY.
>> THANK YOU. I WANT TO TAKE
TIME TO WISH YOUR FATHER A VERY
HAPPY BIRTHDAY. REALLY
APPRECIATE HAVING ARTS AND
CULTURE, HERE, DAVIDSON, THANK
YOU SO MUCH AND OF COURSE WITH
THE DUELING BOOK DIRECTORS OF
EDER AND NOBLE, THANK YOU FOR
BEING HERE. JUST RUNNING THROUGH
YOUR PRESENTATION, AND I
APPRECIATE THE CONVERSATIONS
WE'VE HAD OVER THE COURSE OF
THE YEAR, OBVIOUSLY SO VITAL,
ARTS AND CULTURE FOR OUR CITY,
SO VITAL FOR DISTRICT 7 AS WELL.
WHICH IS THE CENTER OF THE ARTS
AND CULTURE, WHERE IT'S MAKING
A DIFFERENCE, TOO, GOING TO MY
COLLEAGUES QUESTION TOWARD THE
END, THERE. HOPE CORE , I THINK
THIS IS FANTASTIC, I WANTED TO
KNOW YOU HAVE A GREAT PICTURE,
THERE, FOR THE PEOPLE WHO DON'T
KNOW, THIS WORK IS STARTING TO
TAKE ON , I TALK ABOUT IN THE
PUBLIC SAFETY SENSE MOMENTUM,
BUILDING MOMENTUM, WE ARE
STARTING TO HAVE A COALESCING
MURALS IN THAT AREA AND OTHER
PARTS OF THE CITY THAT IS
CREATING ITS OWN MOMENTUM IN
TERMS OF I'M SEEING IT ALL THE
TIME, NOW, EVEN ON PERSONAL
PROPERTIES WHERE HENRY, I'M
SEEING THIS POP UP ALL OVER THE
PLACE, NOW. IT'S CREATING THIS
NIGHT -- NICE COALESCING FOCUS
ON THE ARTS, THAT HAS A PUBLIC
SAFETY PIECE, OBVIOUSLY, FOR THE
GENERATIONS IN TERMS OF WHAT
WE'RE TRYING TO DO INACTIVATING
NEIGHBORHOODS AND THE LIKE,
IT'S ALSO NOT JUST ABOUT PUBLIC
SAFETY, TO MY COLLEAGUES POINT
IT'S ABOUT THE QUALITY OF LIFE,
IT'S ABOUT IN YOUR BEAUTIFUL
CITY. IT'S ESTABLISHING ITSELF,
IT'S BECOMING A THING AND A
POSITIVE, BEAUTIFUL THING. I
WANTED TO NOTE THAT, AND WITH
HOPE CORE IS IMPORTANT TO THAT
AND VITAL TO THAT. I LOVE
RAISING THE CULTURAL PLANNING,
YOU COULD TALK TO YOUR
COLLEAGUE, DIRECTOR WINKLER,
I'VE BEEN TALKING ABOUT SEATTLE
HOUSING PLAN FOREVER AND A DAY,
BUILDING ON THE GREAT SEAL
TRANSPORTATION PLANS HAVE BEEN
THERE, BUT NOW I CAN SPREAD IT
BEYOND THAT, AND WE'RE TALKING
ABOUT THE SEATTLE CULTURAL PLAN,
AND I WILL LOOK FORWARD TO
SEEING WHAT COMES OUT OF THAT,
AND LEARNING MORE ABOUT WHAT
YOU'RE LOOKING TO GET OUT, WHAT
YOU PUT IN, IN TERMS OF WHAT YOU
GET OUT, AND THE PIECES THAT
YOU'RE LOOKING TO DO. I BRING
THIS UP BECAUSE I BELIEVE THAT
FUNDING BEING CENTERED IN ARTS
AND CULTURE, THIS GOES TO YOUR
QUESTION, IS IMPORTANT, AND IT
SHOULD BE THERE WITHIN ARTS AND
CULTURE, THE DISSENTERS IN ARTS
AND CULTURE, THEN WE CAN HAVE AN
APPROACH THAT IS CENTERED IN THE
ARTS, THAT HAS A RATIONALE
ACROSS THE CITY IN THE DIFFERENT
AREAS, AND A UNIFIED APPROACH, I
DON'T KNOW EXACTLY WHAT YOU'RE
INTENTIONS ARE WITH FOR CULTURAL
PLANNING, BUT A CULTURE PLAN
COULD BE VERY HELPFUL IN TERMS
OF THE IDEA OF THE ARTS AND
CULTURE FUNDING REMAINING WITH
ARTS AND CULTURE WHICH I
SUPPORT. AND THEN, HAVING SOME
COALESCING, A RHYTHM TO IT. IN
TERMS OF WHAT WE'RE LOOKING TO
DO. I THINK THAT'S VERY
INTERESTING, I LOOK FORWARD TO
READING THE CULTURAL PLAN. AND
THEN, I WANTED TO NOTE, I NOTE
YOU WROTE TO MYSELF ABOUT THE
GRAFFITI WORK, THIS GOES TO THE
MURALS. THIS WORK IS SO
IMPORTANT, AND AGAIN, I
RECOGNIZE THERE'S DIFFERENT
ELEMENTS OF THE CITY GOVERNMENT
WAS WORKING. IT'S CENTERED IN
TERMS OF OVERSIGHT IN THE
MAYOR'S OFFICE, WHICH GOES FOR
HIS PRIORITIES WHICH, I'M IN
SUPPORT OF, IT'S SUCH AN
IMPORTANT ISSUE ACROSS THE
BOARD, AGAIN, NOT JUST PUBLIC
SAFETY THAT I FOCUS ON, AND,
THANK YOU FOR YOUR SUPPORT OF
THIS, I RECOGNIZE YOU COMING
FROM AN ANGLE IN ARTS AND
CULTURE, AND AGAIN, THAT'S WHAT
MAKES OUR NEIGHBORHOODS MORE
BEAUTIFUL. AND IT'S ALSO VERY
IMPORTANT FOR FIFA WORLD CUP,
BECAUSE IT IS COMING SO FAST.
I'VE HAD CONVERSATIONS WITH
PARKS, FREEWAY PARK, WESTLAKE
PARK, LAKE UNION PARK, SOUTH
LAKE UNION PARK, ALL OF THESE
THINGS ARE COMING. WE HAVE TO BE
READY. ANYTHING THAT YOU CAN DO,
BECAUSE IT IS AN ALL HANDS ON
DECK EFFORT, AS I TALKED TO
SOMEBODY TODAY, IT'S TAKEN ON A
BIGGER STATUE BECAUSE WE NEED TO
SHOW THE COUNTRY THAT OUR CITY
IS A SQUARED AWAY, WELL-RUN WEST
COAST BLUE CITY, CONTRARY TO ALL
THE GAS LIGHTING THAT'S BEEN
GOING ON ON A DAY WHERE OUR
PRESIDENT SAYS WE SHOULD USE OUR
DANGEROUS CITIES AS TRAINING FOR
MILITARY, WHICH IS ABSOLUTELY
SHOCKING, ABSOLUTELY WRONG. YOU
KNOW HOW YOU COUNTER THAT? BY
SHOWING SEATTLE WE ARE. ACROSS
THE BOARD. AND YOU HAVE A PLAY
IN THAT. SO THANK YOU. I WANTED
TO THANK THE ACTIONS OF
EVERYBODY THAT PLAY INTO THIS. I
WAS DOWN AT THE SEATTLE ART
MUSEUM AND THE WORK THAT THEY'RE
DOING, THEY OPEN UP THEIR
ACCESS, REIMAGINING THEIR AREA
IF THEY GO UP THE HILL, THE
SYMPHONY AND WHAT THEY'RE
DOING, THERE, IF YOU ADD THESE
PIECES UP, WHAT'S GOING ON WITH
THE REP AND ALL THOSE PIECES,
MORE BROADLY WITH SEATTLE
CENTER, YOU ADD THESE PIECES UP,
IT'S GREAT MOMENTUM. AND IT
REALLY SHOWS THAT WE'RE TRYING
TO PUT OUR BEST FOOT FORWARD AS
A CITY. THIS TURNED INTO A LONG
MONOLOGUE, I DIDN'T ASK ANY
QUESTIONS. I SPOKE TO THE
QUESTION THAT COUNCILMEMBER
RINCK GAVE, PRETTY DEFINITIVELY.
I SUPPORT DIRECTOR READERS
POSITION ON THAT, AND I CEDE THE
REST OF MY TIME.
>> THANK YOU, THANK YOU.
COUNCILMEMBER RIVERA FOLLOWED BY
HOLLINGSWORTH.
>> THANK YOU, CHAIR, THANK YOU
FOR BEING HERE. I HAVE A COUPLE
QUESTIONS AND A COUPLE NOTES.
I'LL START WITH THE NOTES, JUST
THAT COLLEAGUES , WE ALL KNOW
THAT THE OFFICE OF ARTS AND
CULTURES, ONE OF THE FEW
DEPARTMENTS THAT'S FUNDED
THROUGH A DEDICATED FUND SOURCE,
THAT MEANS IN SOME WAYS IT'S
PROTECTED FROM SOME OF THE CUTS
THAT SOMETIMES THE CITY HAS TO
MAKE, ALTHOUGH I KNOW AS OF LATE
WE HAVEN'T MADE MANY CUTS.
THERE IS A DEDICATED FUND SOURCE
FOR THE DEPARTMENT WHICH MEANS
WE REALLY, IT GOES TO OUR
COMMITMENT TO THE ARTS AND HOW
IMPORTANT THEY ARE IN OUR CITY.
WE LOVE THE ARTS, SO WANTED TO
SAY THAT. TO MY QUESTIONS, THANK
YOU FOR RESPONDING TO THE SLIDES
I PUT IN LAST YEAR, IT WAS A TWO
PART, I'M WONDERING IF ON ONE
OF THE REPORTS IT WAS THE
MUNICIPAL ART PLAN, AND I SHOULD
BACK UP AND SAY, ON TOP OF THE
AD TAX THAT GOES DIRECTLY TO THE
DEPARTMENT, THE DEPARTMENT HAS A
MUNICIPAL ART FUND WHICH IS HOLY
PAID FOR, NOT THROUGH THE TAX
MONEY, BUT THROUGH THE MUNICIPAL
ART MONEY, WHICH IS THROUGH OUR
CAPITAL DEPARTMENTS , HAVE 1% OF
THEIR CAPITAL PROJECTS GO TO
FUND THIS PROGRAM, AND THEN THE
DEPARTMENT USES IT TO PLACE ART
AT THOSE PARTNERS, LIKE CITY
LIGHTS AND SEATTLE PUBLIC
UTILITIES AT THEIR FACILITIES.
AND PARKS, FOR THAT MATTER.
IT'S A REALLY GREAT WAY TO MAKE
SURE WE ARE PROVIDING ART, AND
SOME OTHER PLACES IN THE CITY ,
AND BECAUSE IT'S COMING FROM
THOSE DEPARTMENTS, THE MONEY HAS
TO GO BACK THERE, THAT THIS HAS
BEEN THE LEGAL ISSUES WITH THAT,
AND THAT'S WHY IT'S DONE THAT
WAY. SO, I SAY ALL THAT TO SAY,
COLLEAGUES, THE ARTS DEPARTMENT
DOES A LOT OF WORK, IN THE
VARIOUS ART SPACES, BECAUSE THE
CITY CARES SO MUCH ABOUT THE
ARTS, AS DO I. WITH THE
MUNICIPAL ART PLAN, THE
DEPARTMENT HADN'T DONE A FORMAL
ONE IN A NUMBER OF YEARS. I
UNDERSTAND THERE WAS A
SPREADSHEET THAT THE DEPARTMENT
WAS SAYING WAS YOUR MUNICIPAL
ART PLAN, A SPREADSHEET ISN'T A
PLAN, THIS IS WHY I WANTED TO
SEE A PLAN. THANK YOU FOR THE
DRAFT. MY QUESTION IS, ARE WE
GOING TO GET AN UPDATED VERSION
? WHAT WAS SUBMITTED WAS IN
DRAFT FORM, SO WOULD LOVE TO GET
THAT.
>> WE EXPECT TO GIVE YOU AN
UPDATED VERSION BY THE END OF
THE YEAR. WOULD THAT BE CORRECT?
>> YES.
>> WE CONSIDER THAT A WORK PLAN,
IT ONLY SPREADS FOR ONE YEAR.
THAT'S THE PLANNING PIECE OF
IT. AND IN THE CULTURAL PLANNING
PROCESS WE'LL BE EXAMINING
PUBLIC ART, MULTIPLE YEARS. THAT
WAY YOU CAN HAVE YOUR UPDATES
GOING ON, WHILE YOU HAVE YOUR
LONG-TERM TRAJECTORIES SET OUT.
THROUGH THE CULTURAL PLANS. I
THINK THAT'S WHAT THAT IS,
IT'S A WORK PLAN, IT'S NOT,
IT'S NOT A PLAN AS ONE WOULD
CONSIDER FOR LONG-RANGE
PLANNING.
>> UNDERSTOOD, DIRECTOR, THANK
YOU. I WANT TO MAKE SURE WE HAVE
A FORMAL PLAN THAT CAN LIVE ON
YOUR WEBSITE. AND IF YOU'LL,
WHERE ALL THE ART IS, THAT THIS
PLAN AND THESE FUNDS PAY FOR,
BECAUSE THAT'S REALLY IMPORTANT
TO SEE, AND THAT I'M GOING TO
BRING UP ONE THING THAT I, IN MY
DISTRICT, I WOULD LOVE TO SEE.
MAY BE THIS BUDGET, THAT'S WHY
I'M RAISING IT NOW, IS THERE
WAS A STATUE AT PEASE PARK THAT
WAS STOLEN OF A CHILD, IT WAS A
STATUE EMBODYING THE STORY , A
JAPANESE CHILD AFFECTED BY THE
ATOMIC BOMB DROPPED IN HIROSHIMA
DURING WORLD WAR II. HER IMAGE
CAME TO SYMBOLIZE THE PEACE
MOVEMENT, THIS WAS IT WAS
STOLEN, AND THIS HAS BEEN
WRITTEN ABOUT ACROSS THE UNITED
STATES AND INTERNATIONALLY,
JAPAN OF COURSE, IT IS MY
INTEREST TO MAKE SURE THAT WE
ARE ABLE TO REPLACE THAT, AND I
CAN THINK OF NO BETTER SOURCES
FOR FUNDING, FROM YOUR
DEPARTMENT, TO DO THAT, I KNOW
IT'S ON PARKS PROPERTY SO I
DON'T KNOW WHETHER THIS CAN BE
PAID FOR WITH THE MUNICIPAL ART
MONEY, BECAUSE THAT'S AN ARTS
THING, IF NOT I WOULD LOVE TO
SEE HOW WE CAN , HOW THE
DEPARTMENT CAN HELP WITH THAT,
AND HELP THE COMMUNITY WITH
THAT.
>> I CAN SPEAK TO THAT, OUR
PUBLIC ART DIRECTOR HAS BEEN
WORKING VERY CLOSELY WITH THE
COMMUNITY. IT WAS A COMMUNITY
FUNDED PIECE, SO, IT WAS NOT
ACTUALLY , I WILL FOLLOW UP WITH
THE SPECIFIC DETAILS, BUT I
DON'T THINK IT'S FORMERLY
OWNED BY US, THEY ARE CURRENTLY
WORKING ON PROPOSALS WITH THE
COMMUNITY GROUP HAS HIRED
CONSULTANTS, AND THEY ARE
WORKING ON NEW DESIGNS RIGHT NOW
THAT THEY HOPE MIGHT BUILD UPON
IT, AND ARE LOOKING AT HOW CAN
WE SAFEGUARD IT, SO IT'S NOT
DAMAGED, VANDALIZED . SO WE ARE
ACTIVELY INVOLVED IN THOSE
CONVERSATIONS WITH THE
COMMUNITY, AND WE'RE HAPPY TO
PROVIDE A MORE FORMAL UPDATE ON
WHERE WE ARE WITH THAT. I KNOW
THAT WE HAD CONVERSATIONS WITH
THEM AS EARLY AS LAST WEEK
HELPING THEM REVIEW THAT. SO,
YEAH.
>> THANK YOU, KELLY, IT'S TRUE
THAT IT WAS NOT PAID FOR WITH
MUNICIPAL ART FUND MONEY, I KNOW
THAT IT'S AT THE PARK AND I
KNOW THAT COMMUNITY IS
DEVASTATED AT THIS LOSS , SO,
CAN THE CITY , THIS IS AN AREA
WHERE I SEE THE OFFICE OF ARTS
AND CULTURE DOING WITH
COMMUNITY, BEING ABLE TO BRING
THAT BACK.
>> I'LL FOLLOW UP WITH DETAILS
OF WHAT WE'VE BEEN WORKING WITH
AND WHAT WE CAN AND CAN'T
PROVIDE. WE'VE BEEN VERY
ENGAGED, LIKE I SAID, WE'RE AT
THE CEREMONY WHERE THEY HAD A
CEREMONY AFTER IT WAS STOLEN.
>> IT'S BEEN, LIKE I SAID, A
REALLY SAD FOR COMMUNITY, AND
PARTICULARLY IN JAPANESE
COMMUNITY HERE IN TOWN. IT WAS A
GREAT SYMBOL, SO THANK YOU, AND
I'LL FOLLOW UP WITH YOU. I
DON'T WANT THIS TO BE A THING
OF, YOU KNOW, LET'S DO IT,
LET'S NOT FIND EXCUSES FOR WHY
WE CAN'T HELP COMMUNITY, LET'S
FIGURE OUT HOW WE CAN HELP
COMMUNITY WITH THIS. THANK YOU
FOR THAT, AND THE LAST THING
I'LL SAY IS AS PART OF THIS
BUDGET PROCESS, I HAVE NOT, THE
OFFICE OF ARTS AND CULTURE HAS
NOT REACHED OUT TO MY OFFICE IN
A COUPLE YEARS THAT I'VE BEEN
HERE TO TALK ABOUT PROJECTS IN
THE DISTRICT, I WOULD LOVE AN
OPPORTUNITY TO HAVE AN
OPPORTUNITY OF WHAT IS HAPPENING
IN OUR DISTRICT SPECIFIC TO
ARTS. SO I CAN GET THAT
INFORMATION BACK TO COMMUNITY,
MORE IMPORTANTLY IF YOU ARE
PLANNING PROJECTS, THAT THE
DISTRICT IS REPRESENTING AS
WELL. THANK YOU, JERRY.
>> THANK YOU, COUNCILMEMBER
RIVERA, ANYTHING TO SHARE?
>> TO THAT QUESTION,
COUNCILMEMBER RIVERA, OBVIOUSLY
WE MENTIONED THAT THERE'S
FUNDING COMING TO YOUR COMMUNITY
THROUGH THE WORLD CUP
INVESTMENTS, SO THAT'S
SOMETHING WE CAN FOLLOW UP WITH
YOU ON.
>> I'M NOT AWARE OF ANYTHING IN
THE WORLD CUP, THAT WOULD BE
GREAT. I'D WELCOME THAT
INFORMATION.
>> WE HOPE LATER IN OCTOBER TO
BE ABLE TO MAKE AN ANNOUNCEMENT
ABOUT THAT, WE'RE STILL
FINALIZING THE SELECTION PROCESS
AND MAKING SURE THE SELECTED
ENTITIES ARE GOING TO ACCEPT.
>> GREAT, THANK YOU SO MUCH. I
LOVE IT, LOVE TO HEAR IT, THANK
YOU SO MUCH.
>> WONDERFUL. COUNCILMEMBER
HOLLINGSWORTH FOLLOWED BY
SOLOMON.
>> THANK YOU, AND YOU CAN CALL
ME COUNCILMEMBER I'LL BE FIVE
MINUTES OR LESS. I JUST WANTED
TO SEE YOU LAUGH, THERE. THANK
YOU , DIRECTOR AND KELLY
DAVIDSON, FOR BEING HERE, AND
YOUR PRESENTATION, REALLY
GRATEFUL FOR THE WORK THAT YOU
ALL DO, THE ONE THING I
APPRECIATE IS THAT SOME OF YOUR
GRANTS ARE MULTI-YEAR WHEN I'M
TALKING TO PEOPLE, AND COMMUNITY
GROUPS THAT ARE LIKE BUT HEY,
IT'S A LIFESAVER TO KNOW THAT
WE HAVE THIS ONGOING FUNDING WE
DON'T HAVE TO REAPPLY FOR IT
EVERY YEAR, KNOWING THAT WE GOT
THIS INVESTMENT. I WANTED TO
HIGHLIGHT THAT, AND ALSO, THE
PROGRAMS WHERE YOU HAVE SMALL
INVESTMENTS, WHERE IT'S LIKE,
THERE'S A PHOTOGRAPHER THAT
NEEDS TO BUY A NEW CAMERA AND WE
CAN GIVE HIM A GRANT FOR A SMALL
AMOUNT TO DO THAT. UPWARDS TO
YOUR LONG-TERM INVESTMENT, LIKE
COUNCILMEMBER RINCK WAS
REFERRING TO. AND CERTAIN
INVESTMENTS. I WANTED TO
HIGHLIGHT THAT. AND ALSO, TO
REITERATE THE FACT THAT IF YOUR
BUDGET COULD BE DOUBLE AND
TRIPLE WHAT IT IS, I TOTALLY
WOULD VOTE FOR THAT. I THINK
OTHER COUNCILMEMBERS, TOO, I
BELIEVE ARTS AND CULTURE WITH A
LOT OF MY COLLEAGUES , IT'S
MENTAL HEALTH, IT'S EDUCATION,
IT'S WELLNESS, IT'S PUBLIC
SAFETY, IT'S ALL THESE THINGS
AND I'VE NEVER BEEN TO AN ARTS
AND CULTURE EVENT WHERE THERE
WAS A PUBLIC SAFETY THREAT, AND
THAT'S PREDOMINANTLY BECAUSE
IT'S THE GRANDMA, IT'S THE
DAD, THE MOM, WHATEVER FAMILIES
LOOK LIKE, MULTIGENERATIONAL,
FOR PEOPLE TO UNDERSTAND, SOME
OF THE FUNDING FOR SEATTLE
PUBLIC SCHOOLS OBVIOUSLY IS ON
THE ROCKS, AND THE FIRST THING
TO GO IS ARTS AND CULTURE. I'VE
BEEN TALKING TO THE PEOPLE AT
WASHINGTON MIDDLE SCHOOL ABOUT
THEIR BAND DIRECTOR, AND SOME OF
THESE POSITIONS THAT ARE UP,
THAT ARE BEING NOT RENEWED, AND
HOW CRITICAL THAT IS, WHEN THE
BAND STUFF WAS GOING ON AT
GARFIELD, THANK GOD FOR THE
PEOPLE STEPPING IN AND
PARTICULARLY THE QUINCY JONES
FAMILY AS WELL, AND FUNDING A
LOT OF THOSE, CHILDREN AND THE
INSTRUMENTS, CAN YOU JUST
HIGH-LEVEL SPEAK TO WHAT YOUR
COORDINATION IS, IF ANY, IN
SEATTLE PUBLIC SCHOOLS THAT YOU
HAVE IF THERE'S PROGRAMMING,
PEOPLE REACHING OUT, AND
SUPERHIGH LEVEL.
>> THANK YOU FOR THAT QUESTION,
WE HAVE SIGNIFICANT RELATIONSHIP
WITH SEATTLE PUBLIC SCHOOLS. OUT
OF OUR OFFICE OPERATES A
COLLABORATIVE PROJECT CALLED
CREATIVE ADVANTAGE. IT IS A
COLLECTIVE IMPACT MODEL WHERE WE
PLACE TEACHING ARTISAN TO EVERY
SEATTLE PUBLIC SCHOOL. LAST
YEAR, I BELIEVE, WE COUNTED
ARTISAN EVERY SCHOOL, INVEST
AROUND $500,000 FROM OUR OFFICE,
AND SEATTLE PUBLIC SCHOOLS
APPLIES FOR GRANTS AND INVESTS
AROUND $100,000. UNFORTUNATELY,
FEDERAL CUTS HAVE LED TO THAT
MONEY GOING DOWN FROM THE
SEATTLE PUBLIC SCHOOL SIDE OF
THINGS. THAT IS THE PROGRAM, WE
ARE EXCITED TO PARTNER WITH YOU
IN TRYING TO SOLVE FOR THESE
ISSUES. 500,000 MAY SOUND A LOT,
BUT WHEN YOU'RE IN EVERY SINGLE
PUBLIC SCHOOL AND TRYING TO
SERVE THAT MANY STUDENTS, IT CAN
BE A CHALLENGE.
>> ABSOLUTELY. THANK YOU FOR
THAT, I KNOW THAT A LOT OF
PROGRAMS ALSO PARTNER WITH THE
COUNTY FOR CULTURE, AND YOU SEE
PEOPLE , ARTS OF CULTURE IF
THEY'RE DOING AN EVENT FOR CITY
SEATTLE, CULTURE WITH COUNTY, WE
KNOW THAT THERE IS A LOT OF ,
THERE'S A LOT OF DIFFERENT
AVENUES THAT PEOPLE TRIED TO GO
THROUGH. JUST, THAT'S ALL MY
TIME, JUST WANTED HIGH-LEVEL SO
PEOPLE KNOW THAT WE ARE
PARTNERING WITH SEATTLE PUBLIC
SCHOOLS ON SOME FRONT.
>> IT'S A 10 YEAR RELATIONSHIP.
>> THANK YOU, AND UP NEXT IS
COUNCILMEMBER SAKA, FOLLOWED BY
MYSELF AND COUNCILMEMBER RINCK,
IF WE ALL SPEAK FOR 10 MINUTES
WE WILL BE HERE UNTIL 3:50
LEAVING 70 MINUTES FOR S BCI.
OVER TO YOU.
>> THANK YOU DIRECTOR, FOR BEING
HERE TODAY, PRESENTING A
PROPOSED BUDGET. LOVE THE WORK
YOU ALL DO TO SUPPORT OUR
VIBRANT ARTS AND CULTURAL SCENE,
IMPORTANT NOW MORE THAN EVER FOR
A NUMBER OF REASONS. JUST WANT
TO CENTER AND UPLIFT THE VITAL
WORK YOU ALL DO, COUNCILMEMBER
HOLLINGSWORTH MENTIONED, THE
WORK THAT YOU DO TOUCHES EVERY
SINGLE POLICY AREA AND TOPIC,
AND I KNOW IT WASN'T INTENDED
TO BE AN EXHAUSTIVE LIST, BUT I
WOULD ADD ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT,
STIMULATING OUR ECONOMY TO THAT
AS WELL. AMONGST OTHER THINGS,
OF COURSE. BUT, MY QUESTION
PERTAINS TO THE GRAFFITI
INVESTMENT THAT WAS HIGHLIGHTED
IN, I THINK, SLIDE FIVE. FIRST
OFF I WILL SAY I'M EXCITED ABOUT
THE BROADER SUITE OF INVESTMENTS
TO BETTER ABATE PROBLEM GRAFFITI
IN OUR CITY, WILL ALSO
SIMULTANEOUSLY PROVIDE PLATFORM
AND AVENUE FOR STREET MURALS AND
ARTS, WHICH I THINK ADDS TO
BENEFITS THE VIBRANCY OF OUR
BROADER CITY, AND CREATES, IT'S
JUST COOL. BUT, IT HAS TO BE
MUTUALLY AGREED TO, RIGHT? SO, I
NOTE THE $1.6 MILLION BROADER
SUITE OF INVESTMENTS ACROSS
MULTIPLE CITY DEPARTMENTS AND
AGENCIES, YOU TALKED ABOUT THAT.
BUT WOULD LOVE TO BETTER
UNDERSTAND WHAT'S CURRENTLY
PLANNED IN TERMS OF YOUR
DEPARTMENT SPECIFIC
IMPLEMENTATION OF THAT. WHAT'S
IN SCOPE, FOR YOUR DEPARTMENT TO
ENABLE THE BROADER EFFORT?
>> TO BE CLEAR, THIS EFFORT IS
LED OUT OF THE MAYOR'S OFFICE,
ARE DEPARTMENT HOSTS THE
INDIVIDUAL WHO WORKS ACROSS
PROGRAMS. WE DO NOT GUIDE THE
WORK, IT'S THE MAYOR'S OFFICE
THAT GUIDES THE WORK AND PLANS
FOR THE WORK. I'M WONDERING IF
YOU COULD PROVIDE SOME CONTEXT.
>> THERE IS A $6 MILLION LEVEL
OF EFFORT HERE, 1.6 IS WHAT WAS
ADDED IN THE PROPOSED BUDGET.
WHAT I WOULD PROPOSE, BECAUSE
IT'S TOO COMPLEX TO DO JUSTICE
TO THE TABLE IS THAT WE
FOLLOW-UP IN MORE INFORMATION OF
WHAT THE BIG PICTURE LOOKS LIKE
AND WHAT ARE AFFECTED, BOTH THE
BUDGET AND THE ADDED BUDGET. IF
THAT'S ACCEPTABLE TO YOU.
>> THANK YOU, DIRECTOR, YES.
THAT WOULD BE HELPFUL FROM MY
PERSPECTIVE, I'M CURIOUS TO
LEARN MORE ABOUT LIMITATIONS, I
LOVE THE BROADER INVESTMENT AND
THE CONCEPT, BUT I'M CURIOUS TO
LEARN MORE ABOUT HOW THAT WOULD
BE OPERATIONALIZED AND EXECUTED.
IT SOUNDS LIKE COUNCILMEMBER
RINCK AND OTHERS MIGHT HAVE
QUESTIONS. PLEASE DO FOLLOW UP
ACCORDINGLY. MY FINAL QUESTION
PERTAINS TO PREPARATION AND
PLANNING, YOU MENTIONED A COUPLE
TIMES, YOU MENTIONED THERE IS A
PENDING ANNOUNCEMENT OF SOME
SORT FOR NEXT MONTH. YOU GOT US
ALL AT THE EDGE OF OUR SEATS,
SO, HOPEFULLY IT'S, 80% OF THE
PROJECTS WILL BE IN DISTRICT 1,
BUT, IN ANY EVENT, CAN YOU TALK
MORE ABOUT RESPECTING THE
PENDING ANNOUNCEMENT THAT WE
HAVE COMING, CAN YOU TALK MORE
ABOUT HOW THIS BUDGET, THIS
PROPOSED BUDGET WOULD SUPPORT
THE UNIQUE THAT WE HAVE COMING
UP?
>> THIS PARTICULAR BUDGET
DOESN'T HAVE DIRECT
INVESTMENTS, THAT HAPPENED LAST
YEAR, THE $2.5 MILLION WAS
COMMITTED LAST YEAR AND THE
REASON FOR THAT IS BECAUSE WE
NEEDED TO CONTRACT WITH FOLKS
THIS YEAR, SO THAT THEY COULD
DELIVER IN 2026. SO, THAT'S WHY
I TALKED ABOUT THAT, SO THAT YOU
KNOW THAT THOSE INVESTMENTS ARE
COMING. AND ONE OF THE EXAMPLES
WILL BE THE ANNOUNCEMENTS THAT
WE'RE ABOUT TO MAKE. WE WORK ON
COMMUNITY ENGAGED PROCESSES IN
OUR OFFICE WHEREBY WE'RE NOT
JUST HANDING OUT CONTRACTS,
WE'RE SITTING AND GOING THROUGH
A PROCESS WHEREBY WE'RE
SELECTING ARTISTS AND
COMMISSIONING ARTWORKS, SO IT'S
LONGER THAN OTHER PROCESSES, SO
I HOPE THAT MAKES SENSE TO YOU.
THAT'S WHY WE NEED SOME RUNWAY
IN ORDER TO GET THE INVESTMENTS
OUT THE DOOR. IN THIS BUDGET,
THERE'S REALLY NO FEE FOR
INVESTMENTS AT ALL, IT'S LAST
YEAR'S BUDGET.
>> GOT IT, THANK YOU FOR THAT
CLARITY. AND THE FINAL COMMON
FOR THE GOOD OF THE ORDER +1 TO
COUNCILMEMBER RIVERA'S EARLIER
PLUG, AND REQUEST FOR A BRIEFING
AND UPDATE ON D1 SPECIFIC
PROJECTS, IF YOU'RE AMENABLE,
WOULD LOVE THAT. THANK YOU, NO
FURTHER QUESTIONS.
>> THANK YOU, COUNCILMEMBER
SOLOMON, YOU ARE RECOGNIZED.
>> THANK YOU VERY MUCH, MR.
CHAIR. THANK YOU FOR BEING HERE,
THANK YOU FOR THE PREVIOUS
CONVERSATIONS THAT WE HAVE HAD,
ABOUT ART, BUT I LOOK AT THE
SCHEMA AND THE ACTIVATION AROUND
TO THAT EXTENT, THE MURAL ON
SLIDE FIVE, WHERE'S THAT
LOCATED?
>> I BELIEVE THIS IS WEST
SEATTLE. RIGHT AT THE END OF
WEST SEATTLE BRIDGE.
>> GREAT, BECAUSE ONE OF THE
THINGS I TALK ABOUT WHEN I TEACH
IS, USING PUBLIC ART AS A DRAW,
TO BRING MORE EYES INTO THAT
SPACE, NOT ONLY AS AN EFFECTIVE
DRAW, IT ALSO IS AN EFFECTIVE
ANTI-GRAFFITI PROGRAM. SEEING
OTHER CITIES USING THIS TO
ACTIVATE THE SPACE, AUBURN AS AN
EXAMPLE OF ANOTHER COMMUNITY
THAT'S USED. PUBLIC ART AS A
WAY TO DETER GRAFFITI, AND I
THINK ABOUT THE PUBLIC ART THAT
I'VE SEEN ON CERTAIN BUILDINGS
WHERE THERE'S THE MLK MURAL,
RIGHT THERE, OR THAT'S ON THE
SIDE OF THE BUILDING, ON CAPITOL
HILL. SO, WITH EACH ONE OF THOSE
THAT I'VE SEEN INCLUDING THE
ONE THAT'S ON THE SIDE OF THE
SAFEWAY ON OTHELLO STREET, IN
THE SOUTH END, BECAUSE THOSE
WERE DONE BY LOCAL ARTISTS THEY
ARE NEVER INTACT. WONDERFUL TO
SEE MORE OF THOSE PUBLIC ART,
COMING ONLINE. AS WELL AS NOT
ONLY USING THE MURALS ON WALLS
INSIDE BUILDINGS, BUT ALSO
SEEING HOW JUNCTION BOXES HAVE
THE ARTISTIC WRAPS AROUND THEM
CREATIVE ONES I'VE SEEN ARE IN
D1. BRUCE LEE IS ON 35th AND
MORGAN, FOR EXAMPLE. SO, AGAIN,
LOOKING AT THOSE SUPPORTS FROM
YOUR OFFICE TO THE COMMUNITY
ORGANIZATIONS IN TO FOSTER THOSE
KINDS OF PROJECTS. ONE QUESTION
THAT WE HAD TALKED ABOUT, IN THE
PAST WAS THE IDEA THAT GRAFFITI
PARK FOR EXAMPLE, THAT PALM
SPRINGS DOES, WITH THEIR
THURSDAY NIGHT NIGHT MARKETS.
THEY HAVE A CERTAIN PARK SET
ASIDE FOR PEOPLE TO COME AND ,
CREATE THEIR ART. IS THERE A
PLAN OR A CONSIDERATION FOR
SOMETHING SIMILAR FOR US TO DO
HERE IN SEATTLE?
>> I'M NOT AWARE OF ANY
CONVERSATIONS IN OUR OFFICE
AROUND THAT BUT IT'S CERTAINLY
INTERESTING TO CONSIDER. AGAIN,
THIS TYPE OF THING WOULD BE
CONSIDERED THROUGH A CULTURAL
PLANNING PROCESS , WHEREBY WE
WOULD LOOK AT WHAT THE
COMMUNITY'S INTERESTS ARE, WHAT
THE PRIORITIES OF YOUR OFFICE IS
AND WHAT CONSTITUENTS ARE
LOOKING FOR THROUGH OUR
PROGRAMS. SO WE'LL BE ALSO
LOOKING AT OTHER CITIES AND HOW
THEY IMPLEMENT THEIR PUBLIC ART
PROGRAMS, INCLUDING GRAFFITI
PREVENTION OR GRAFFITI
MITIGATION STRATEGIES. I THINK
THAT'S WHAT YOU'RE SPEAKING TO
HERE IS A GRAFFITI MITIGATION.
SO, THAT'S SOMETHING WE WOULD
CONSIDER WITHIN THAT STRUCTURE.
>> GREAT, THANK YOU, NO FURTHER
QUESTIONS, CHAIR.
>> THANK YOU, COUNCIL NUMBER
SOLOMON. JUST MARKING MYSELF
DOWN AT 3:18. READING FROM THE
SIX YEAR BUDGET LOOK BACK,
BETWEEN 2019 AND 2025, BY $10.5
MILLION, A 70% INCREASE. AND
WHILE CENTERED INFLATIONARY
FACTORS SUCH AS ANNUAL WAGE
ADJUSTMENT AND RUNNING -- RISING
BENEFIT COSTS AFFECTED ARTS AS
THEY HAVE ALL CITY DEPARTMENTS,
THE GROWTH AND ARTS BUT IT WAS
MOSTLY DRIVEN I THE INCREASED
REVENUE FROM THE CITY'S
ADMISSION TAX AND THE CITIES 1%
ART FUND. ARTS PROGRAM. LAST
YEAR'S POLICY CONVERSATION ABOUT
HIS ALL ARTS FUNDING IN YOUR
HOUSE, OR WE SUPPORTING EVENTS
LIKE WHAT'S GOING ON AT THE
SEATTLE CENTER, IS THAT
COMFORTABLE OR NOT, WITHOUT THE
CONVERSATION WE HAD LAST YEAR
THAT WE MADE THE DECISION TO
CONTINUE FUNNELING IT THROUGH
THE ARTS DEPARTMENT TO THESE
OTHER ORGANIZATIONS, I THINK YOU
FOR THAT, FROM A DEDICATED FUND
THIS HELPS US CONTINUE MAKING
PLACES LIKE SEATTLE CENTER
VIBRANT. WE HAD SEATTLE CENTER
EARLIER, THEY'RE MERELY ABLE TO
KEEP THE LIGHTS ON MUCH LESS ADD
FUNDING TO PROGRAMS. SO, RIGHT
HERE IS TO START YOU OFF WITH A
THANK YOU, FOR BEING FLEXIBLE,
NIMBLE, PARTNERING WITH THE
OTHER DEPARTMENTS IN THE CITY, I
KNOW THAT IT'S NOT JUST WITH
THE SEATTLE CENTER, IT'S WITH
NOT EVEN ORGANIZATIONS WITHIN
OUR OWN CITY THAT YOU'RE
PARTNERING WITH TO INCREASE THE
VIBRANCY OF OUR CITY. THE MURALS
ARE CRITICAL FOR PLACE MAKING,
I'M SEEING THAT HAPPEN, I'M
SEEING THAT ON CAPITOL HILL,
JUST, STARTING TO TAKE NOTES
ABOUT DISTRICT 1. THE NEWEST
FIRE ENGINES, THE NEWEST LADDER
TRUCK, THE MOST DOG PARKS, ALL
RIGHT, COUNCIL NUMBER. I SEE
YOU. I'M GOING TO ASK YOU ABOUT
OUR STRUCTURAL BUDGET DEFICIT,
HERE, SINCE THIS IS A DEPARTMENT
THAT HAS DEDICATED FUNDING FROM
DEDICATED FUNDING SOURCE, NO
GENERAL FUND, HOW DOES THIS PLAY
INTO OUR STRUCTURAL BUDGET
DEFICIT? THAT'S FOR DIRECTOR
NOBLE.
>> ONE OF THE ISSUES THAT WAS OF
LIMITED LAST YEAR, ANTICIPATED,
ONE OF THE APPROACHES THAT WAS
LIMITED LAST YEAR AND INTENDED
FOR THE FUTURE IS TO USE SOME OF
THAT DEDICATED ADMISSIONS TAX
FUNDINGS TO SUPPORT WHAT HAD
PREVIOUSLY BEEN GENERAL FUND
SUPPORTED ACTIVITIES. IN THAT
WAY, WE'RE HELPING TO MITIGATE
THE GENERAL FUND DEFICIT BY
BEING MORE INTERNALLY DIRECTIVE,
OF THESE DEDICATED FUNDING
SOURCES. IF YOU TRY TO UNDO
THAT, YOU WILL BE DOING THAT
DEFICIT AGAIN, POLICY
PERSPECTIVE THAT MIGHT BE A
DESIRE TO GET MORE OF THE MONEY
WITH THE OUTSIDE ARTS COMMUNITY,
INSIDE THE CITY ARTS COMMUNITY,
WILL PUT PRESSURE ON THE GENERAL
FUND AND EXPAND THE DEFICIT, AT
THE MOMENT WE'RE USING THESE
RESOURCES TO HELP MITIGATE, THIS
WON'T BE A POPULAR THING TO SAY
BUT IT'S NOT MY JOB RIGHT NOW,
YOU COULD DIRECT YET MORE OF THE
ADMISSIONS TAX MONEY TOWARD
INTERNAL THINGS THAT ARE ARTS
RELATED, AND FURTHER RELIEVE THE
GENERAL FUND. AS YOU APPROACH
2027, THE DEFICIT YOU'RE
LOOKING AT THERE, YOU MIGHT BE
FORCED TO DO THAT OR MIGHT WANT
TO CONSIDER THAT, AND IT'S
SOMETHING YOU COULD DO THIS YEAR
AS WELL. THAT WOULD BE A
TRADE-OFF OF OUTSIDE FUNDING FOR
INSIDE FUNDING, IF YOU WILL.
>> THANK YOU, DIRECTOR, ANY
THOUGHTS HERE? IT'S AN
UNCOMFORTABLE CONVERSATION BUT
WE LOVE EVERYTHING THAT WE DO. I
THINK OF ALL OF US HAVE THE
MONEY IN THE WORLD WE HAVE
MURALS ON EVERY BUILDING.
>> IT IS TRICKY BECAUSE WE VERY
MUCH WANT TO SUPPORT OUR SISTER
DEPARTMENTS, WHO ARE STRUGGLING
TO PAY FOR SERVICES, ULTIMATELY
IT'S YOUR DECISION, ONE THING
TO NOTE IS THAT AD TAX IS VERY
VOLATILE, WE'VE SEEN DECREASES
THIS YEAR, DUE TO DECLINING
TOURISM. NOT JUST US, BUT
ORGANIZATIONS AS WELL ARE
EXPERIENCING TICKET SALES GOING
DOWN, SO THE REVENUES THAT COME
TO US HAVE STAGNATED. IN TERMS
OF THINKING THROUGH A FUTURE OUT
YEARS, OUR ABILITY TO BUILD ON
OUR BUDGET, OR BUILD PROGRAMS
SUCH AS , ARE VERY LIMITED. AS
YOU MAKE THESE DECISIONS, KNOW
THAT WE'RE GOING TO HAVE TO
ADJUST INTERNALLY, AND CUT SOME
THINGS OR RETHINK SOME THINGS IN
ORDER TO MAKE IT FEASIBLE. THOSE
ARE THE TRADE-OFFS IN TERMS OF
THE VOLATILITY IN THAT RESOURCE.
ALSO WE DO NOT HAVE ANY OTHER
WAY TO RAISE REVENUE. WE ARE
NOT, WE DON'T HAVE A FOUNDATION
TO GO OUT AND GET PRIVATE
DOLLARS TO SUPPORT THE WORK WE
DO, THAT MAY BE SOMETHING TO
CONSIDER IN THE FUTURE.
>> THANK YOU. COUNCILMEMBER
RIVERA, I SEE YOU HAVE ANOTHER
HAND, WE ARE RUNNING OUT OF
TIME, DO YOU WANT A READER
QUESTION INTO THE RECORD?
>> YES.
>> FAIR ENOUGH.
>> THANK YOU, CHAIR. WHAT YOU
JUST MENTIONED, DIRECTOR, IT'S
NOT MY UNDERSTANDING THAT THIS
YEAR'S BUDGET IS BEING IMPACTED
BY ANY CUTS. THAT'S GREAT. GOOD
TO HEAR. UNDERSTOOD, UNDERSTOOD.
MY QUESTION IS ABOUT THE SECOND
PART OF THE SLIDE WHICH IS, AS
THE MAIN ARTS DEPARTMENT, WAS
REQUESTING YOU TO WORK WITH YOUR
SISTER DEPARTMENTS TO MAKE SURE
THAT WE NEED INSIGHT AS TO ALL
THE ARTS THINGS THAT ARE
HAPPENING IN THE CITY AND IT
SEEMED LIKE YOU WOULD BE THE
BEST REPOSITORY FOR THAT, SINCE
IT WOULD BE THE OFFICE OF ARTS
AND CULTURE, THAT'S WHAT THIS
LIE WAS GETTING TOWARD. I HOPE
THAT THE DEPARTMENT WILL
CONTINUE TO BE THAT REPOSITORY,
BECAUSE OTHERWISE IT'S REALLY
HARD TO KNOW WHAT ALL THE ARTS
THINGS THAT ARE HAPPENING ACROSS
THE CITY , IF WE DON'T HAVE ONE
ORGANIZATION THAT IS TRACKING
THAT. SO, THANK YOU FOR PUTTING
THAT LIST TOGETHER, AND I HOPE
THAT THERE IS SOME DATABASE OR
SOME WAY TO CONTINUE TO TRACK SO
THAT IF WE GET ASKED OR IF WE
WANT TO KNOW IN OUR DISTRICT
WHAT MAY BE HAPPENING, WE HAVE
ONE CENTRAL PLACE, SO THAT WAS
THE POINT, SO WE CAN TALK MORE
ABOUT THAT LATER. THANK YOU,
CHAIR.
>> SORRY, WHAT WAS THE QUESTION?
>> WHETHER THEY'RE GOING TO
CONTINUE TO UPDATE THIS
SPREADSHEET OVER TIME, OR WAS
THIS JUST A ONE TIME? I WOULD
LIKE TO IT TO BE CONTINUED.
CONTINUATION.
>> THE SLIDE THAT WE DID LAST
YEAR, YOU'D LIKE TO DO IT
AGAIN.
>> THE INFORMATION THAT THE
SLIDE ASKED FOR, IT DIDN'T, THE
INFORMATION THAT THE SLIGH ASKED
FOR DIDN'T GIVE AN END DATE,
I'M HOPING THAT IT WILL BE
ONGOING I GUESS IS WHAT I'M
TRYING TO SAY. THE CLARITY I'M
TRYING TO BRING.
>> WE CAN FOLLOW UP INDIVIDUALLY
ON THAT, COUNCILMEMBER.
>> FANTASTIC. AND COUNCILMEMBER
RINCK, LAST WORD AND I'LL PASS
IT BACK TO THE DIRECTOR AND THE
ARTS DEPARTMENT FOR THEIR LAST
WORD.
>> THANK YOU, I SADLY WANT TO
THANK DIRECTOR AND YOUR TEAM FOR
THE INCREDIBLE WORK THAT YOU DO,
TURNING THINGS AROUND, SETTING
THE STAGE FOR THE CULTURAL
PLANNING EFFORT, THAT WILL
DELIVER ON THE PROMISE OF WHAT
THIS DEPARTMENT CAN BE FOR OUR
COMMUNITY, I WANT TO THANK YOU
AND COMMEND YOU FOR YOUR WORK.
>> THANK YOU, COUNCIL MEMBERS.
>> ANYTHING TO CLOSE?
>> I APPRECIATE ALL THE
QUESTIONS AND WE'LL BE
FOLLOWING UP WITH EACH OF YOU TO
ENSURE THAT WE'VE CAPTURED ALL
OF YOUR QUESTIONS AND CONCERNS.
>> FANTASTIC, THANK YOU FOR
MAKING OUR CITY MORE VIBRANT.
WE'RE GOING TO TRANSITION TO
THE NEXT PRESENTATION AND I'LL
FILIBUSTER A LITTLE BIT AS WE'RE
MAKING THAT TRANSITION, TO SAY I
REALLY ENJOYED GETTING TO ENGAGE
IN ONE OF THE GRAFFITI EVENTS AT
THE FIRESTONE, AND SHOUT OUT TO
SIRE AND MY APOLOGIES FOR
PAINTING OVER YOUR FACE. DID NOT
REALIZE THAT WAS YOUR FACE
BEFORE I STARTED PAINTING.
THAT'S A GOOD STORY FOR ANOTHER
DAY. WE HAVE SEATTLE DEPARTMENT
OF CONSTRUCTION INSPECTION UP
NEXT, THE POWERPOINT
PRESENTATION UPLOADED. AND WE
HAVE ONE HOUR 33 MINUTES BEFORE
CLOSE OF BUSINESS. COLLEAGUES,
I'LL CONTINUE SHOWING HOW MUCH
TIME WE HAVE REMAINING, MUCH
LIKE GOOGLE CHANGES YOUR TIME
WHEN THERE IS INCREASED TRAFFIC.
WITH THAT, WILL THE CLERK PLEASE
READ ITEM FIVE INTO THE RECORD.
>> AGENDA ITEM FIVE, SEALED THE
CONSTRUCTION AND INSPECTIONS FOR
BRIEFING AND DISCUSSION.
>> THANK YOU VERY MUCH. AND, I
AM PULLING UP, JUST WANT TO
THANK INTERIM DIRECTOR KAYLEE
AND I'M GOING TO LET YOU SAY
YOUR LAST NAME ON YOUR OWN. AS
WELL AS DIRECTOR EATER AND
DIRECTOR NOBLE, OVER TO YOU,
DIRECTOR LEE AND WILL HOLD
QUESTIONS UNTIL THE END.
>> GOOD MORNING, CHAIR STRAUSS
AND COUNCIL MEMBERS, THANK YOU
FOR THE OPPORTUNITY TO PRESENT
THE SEATTLE DEPARTMENT OF
CONSTRUCTION INSPECTIONS 2026.
PROPOSED BUDGET, MY NAME IS
KATIE LEE, I'M THE INTERIM
DIRECTOR SINCE JULY. I WILL LET
SHANE INTRODUCE HIMSELF.
>> I'M SHANE MUCHOW, I'M THE
FINANCE DIRECTOR.
>> WE'RE JOINED HERE TODAY, BY
OUR COLLEAGUES JEFF TALENT, OUR
CODE COMPLIANCE DIRECTOR, RST CI
ECONOMIST, AND YOU MAY HAVE
ALREADY HEARD BUT WE ANNOUNCED
THIS MORNING THAT BROOKE BOWMAN
, WHO SERVED IN A VARIETY OF
ROLES AT TRANSIT INCLUDING
DEPUTY CEO AND INTERIM CEO, WILL
BE STARTING TOMORROW, AS THE
INTERIM DIRECTOR . TODAY IS MY
LAST DAY. JUST WANT TO SAY IT
HAS BEEN AN HONOR TO SERVE AND
TO WORK ALONGSIDE SUCH A
COMMITTED AND TALENTED GROUP OF
COLLEAGUES IN THIS DEPARTMENT.
SO, PLAYS A CENTRAL ROLL IN
ENSURING OUR BUILDINGS ARE SAFE
AND COMMUNITY'S ARE HEALTHY,
EACH YEAR WE REVIEW MORE THAN
55,000 PERMITS , CONDUCT NEARLY
A QUARTER MILLION INSPECTIONS
AND RESPOND TO ABOUT 40,000
COMPLIANCE CONTACTS. THIS BUDGET
REFLECTS MAYORS ONCE YOU
ENVISION BALANCING FISCAL
STEWARDSHIP WITH ESSENTIAL
SERVICES, ADVANCING EQUITY AND
PREPARING FOR MAJOR PROJECTS
LIKE SOUND TRANSIT EXPANSION.
WITH THE PROPOSED INVESTMENTS WE
WILL IMPROVE THE ABILITY AND
SPEED THROUGH THE MAYORS
PROMOTING ACCOUNTABILITY AND
CUSTOMER TRUST INITIATIVE,
SUSTAIN OUR CORE SERVICES AND
STRENGTHEN CUSTOMER SERVICE
WHILE KEEPING SEATTLE RESILIENT
AND SUSTAINABLE. JUST AS A
REMINDER, AS DCI IS MOSTLY
FUNDED BY PERMIT FEES, SO STATE
LAW RESTRICT PERMIT FEES THAT WE
CHARGE TO PAY FOR THE RELATED
SERVICES THAT WE PROVIDE. THE
2026 BUDGET IS ABOUT BALANCING
THREE CORE NEEDS , ONE
DELIVERING ON THE MAYORS
INITIATIVE WHICH WILL SIMPLIFY
THE PERMITTING PROCESS, REDUCE
BACK AND FORTH BETWEEN STAFF AND
APPLICANTS, AND CUT REVIEW
CYCLES IN HALF. THAT MEANS
APPLICANTS WILL GET A FASTER
CLEAR ANSWER FROM THE CITY.
PREPARING FOR THE MAJOR VOLUME
OF SOUND TRANSIT EXPANSION WORK,
WE EXPECT NEARLY SIX PERMITS
RELATED TO THE WEST SEATTLE
BALLARD LINK EXTENSION, THIS IS
ONE OF THE MOST COMPLEX
RESEARCHER PROJECTS IN THE
CITY'S HISTORY, AND WE MUST BE
STAFFED TO HANDLE IT WITHOUT
SLOWING DOWN OTHER WORK.
INSPECTIONS, TENANT PROTECTIONS
WHILE MEETING THE CITYWIDE
REQUIREMENTS TO REDUCE GENERAL
FUND SPENDING. THE RESULT IS A
FISCALLY BALANCED PLAN THAT
SUSTAINS CORE SERVICES, INVESTS
IN PROCESS MODERNIZATION AND
POSITIONS AS DCI FOR LONG-TERM
STABILITY. ONE THING TO NOTE IN
THIS SLIDE IS THE ACCOUNTS FOR
2026 IS ACTUALLY DUE TO
AGGREGATED SUNSET POSITIONS FROM
THE 2025 ADOPTED BUDGET EXTENDED
SIX MONTHS BY COUNCIL LAST YEAR.
I'LL BE TALKING ABOUT THE
IMPLICATIONS OF THE SLIDE LATER
ON, MASTER USE PERMITS HAVE
DROPPED OFF SIGNIFICANTLY SINCE
AROUND 2019, THIS IS MAINLY DUE
TO THE MARKET AND ECONOMIC
CONDITIONS AND CHANGES AT THE
STATE LEVEL THAT EXEMPT MANY
PROJECTS FROM DESIGN REVIEW. THE
BUILDING PERMIT SIDE, VOLUMES
HAVE BEEN PROJECT VALUATIONS
HAVE BEEN LOWER BECAUSE WE'VE
BEEN MOVING MORE TOWARD SMALLER
LESS COMPLEX CONSTRUCTION
PROJECTS, WHILE THE WORKLOAD
HASN'T DROPPED REVENUES ARE
DOWN, BECAUSE THERE ARE FEWER,
MORE EXPENSIVE PROJECTS. DUE TO
THESE FACTORS WE ARE PROPOSING
AN 18% INCREASE TO MOST
CONSTRUCTION AND MASTER USE
PERMIT FEES. A FULL 35% INCREASE
WOULD ACTUALLY BE NEEDED TO
COVER CURRENT COSTS, BUT WE ARE
TAKING A PHASED APPROACH TO
AVOID A SUDDEN BURDEN ON
APPLICANTS, AND GIVE OPTIONS TO
GET TO THAT IF PRODUCTIVITY
INCREASES SUDDENLY. THE
LEGISLATION ALSO SIMPLIFIES FEED
TABLES, INTRODUCES INCENTIVES
FOR SEISMIC RETROFITS, AND
ENSURES COSTS OR DISTRIBUTE IT
EQUITABLY. SO, HERE WE SHOW
THREE SPECIFIC EXAMPLES OF
COMMON PROJECTS IN SEATTLE AND
THE IMPACT OF THESE FEE
INCREASES. THE FIRST EXAMPLE IS
A 500 SQUARE-FOOT ADU, YOU'LL
SEE THAT THE AVERAGE CHANGE IS
ABOUT $543 PER UNIT. FOR A FOUR
UNIT TOWNHOUSE, THAT'S ABOUT
$560 PER UNIT. 4230 UNIT
APARTMENT, WE ARE TALKING ABOUT
$219 OF AN INCREASE PER UNIT.
THIS SLIDE SHOWS TWO SCENARIOS
TO OUR CORE REVIEW RESERVES. AS
DCI SET ASIDE FUNDS TO RETAIN
TRAIN STAFF DURING ECONOMIC
DOWNTURNS AND ENSURING EXPERTISE
IS AVAILABLE WHEN THE ECONOMY
REBOUNDS. THIS PREVENTS DELAYS
CAUSED BY HIRING AND TRAINING
NEW STAFF AND SUPPORTS STRONG
CUSTOMER SERVICE AND TIMELY
PERMIT REVIEWS. AS DCI KEEPS
THESE RESERVES SO WHEN THE
RECESSION HITS AGAIN WE ARE ABLE
TO MAINTAIN SERVICES AND BE
READY FOR ECONOMIC RECOVERY.
WE DIDN'T DO THIS ONE. TO
REDUCE THIS FEE BURDEN WE ARE
EXPECTING TO DEFUND TWO VACANT
POSITIONS, A STRATEGIC ADVISER
AND AN I.T. PROFESSIONAL HAVE
BEEN UNFILLED SINCE 2024. THE
RESPONSIBILITY IS AUTHORITY BEEN
ABSORBED BY CURRENT STAFF SO
THERE WILL BE NO IMPACT CORE
SERVICES OR CUSTOMER FACING
WORK. THIS IS AN EXAMPLE OF
RIGHTSIZING OUR STAFF TO REDUCE
PRESSURE ON FEES AND ALIGN
RESOURCE ACTUAL WORKLOAD, AND
THIS WOULD STILL MAINTAIN OUR
POSITION AUTHORITY TO HIRE BACK
THESE POSITIONS IF THEY ARE
NEEDED IN THE FUTURE. THE BUDGET
ALSO INCLUDES 500,000 ONE TIME
AD AND A 250,000 ONGOING FOR
A.I. PERMITTING SOFTWARE. THIS
TECHNOLOGY WILL HELP APPLICANTS
SUBMIT STRONGER, MORE COMPLETE
APPLICATIONS UP FRONT WHICH
REDUCES ERRORS, SHORTENS REVIEW
TIMES AND IMPROVES CONSISTENCY.
IT WILL GET CLEAR GUIDANCE AND
HAVE A BETTER OVERALL CUSTOMER
SERVICE EXPERIENCE , FOR STAFF
IT MEANS MORE TIME SPENT ON
HIGHER VALUE WORK LIKE
ONE-ON-ONE COUNSELING RATHER
THAN FIXING MISTAKES OR FINDING
SMALL ERRORS. ANOTHER NOTEWORTHY
ADDITION IS THE INCLUSION OF
100,000 TO DESIGN A PROGRAM THAT
INCENTIVIZES PROPERTY OWNERS TO
PRESERVE LARGE TREES THROUGH
CONSERVATION EASEMENTS. THIS
SUPPORTS AN UPCOMING
PRESERVATION ORDER RECOGNIZING
TREES VALUE AND DIRECTING
POLICIES TO PRESERVE SIGNIFICANT
AND PRIVATE PROPERTY. THIS IS
ANOTHER TOOL THAT WILL HELP
REACH THE CITY'S CLIMATE AND
SUSTAINABILITY GOALS AS AN
EXAMPLE OF WORKING WITH
COMMUNITY PARTNERS TO PRESERVE
LARGE TREES. CLOSING THIS BUDGET
SUSTAINS CORE FUNCTIONS,
MODERNIZES HOW WE WORK WITH
APPLICANTS AND PREPARES US FOR
ONCE IN A GENERATION PROJECT
LIKE SOUND TRANSIT EXPANSIONS.
BY PHASING IN FEES, RIGHTSIZING
STAFFING AND INTRODUCING
INNOVATIONS LIKE A.I. PERMITTING
AND PRESERVATION INCENTIVES
WE'RE NOT ONLY MANAGING
TODAY'S CHALLENGES BUT
INVESTING IN A STRONGER, MORE
RESILIENT FUTURE. THIS PROPOSAL
GIVE APPLICANTS PREDICTABILITY,
EQUIPPED STAFF WITH THE TOOLS TO
SUCCEED AND ENSURES OUR
COMMITTEES ARE IN SAFE, HEALTHY,
AND SUSTAINABLE. THANK YOU FOR
YOUR TIME. I'M HAPPY TO OPEN UP
TO ANY QUESTIONS.
>> THANK YOU, DIRECTOR LEE,
CONGRATULATIONS ON YOUR LAST
DAY, I WISH WE COULD KEEP YOU
LONGER BUT, I KNOW THAT THE
INCOMING INTERIM DIRECTOR HAS
CHANGED THE WAY OUR REGION ,
BUILD ENVIRONMENT OF OUR REGION
IN POSITIVE WAYS. I'M EXCITED
FOR THEM. WITH THAT,
COUNCILMEMBER SOLOMON AS CHAIR
OF THE COMMITTEE, THE DEPARTMENT
REPORTS TO, YOU ARE RECOGNIZED.
>> THANK YOU VERY MUCH, CHAIR, I
WANT TO THANK YOU I DO HAVE A
FEW QUESTIONS , I'VE GOT A LOT
OF QUESTIONS. IN THE INTEREST OF
TIME, I WON'T USE THEM ALL.
FIRST I WANT TO ASK, HOW MAY THE
UPDATED CONFERENCE OF PLANT
AFFECT DEMAND OR WORK
RESPONSIBLY FOR STI STAFF?
>> I DIDN'T HEAR THE LAST PART
OF IT.
>> REGARDING THE COMPREHENSIVE
PLAN, HOW IS THAT, HOW IS THAT
GOING TO , WHAT DO YOU ENVISION
HOW THAT MIGHT AFFECT THE WORK
OF SDCI STAFF?
>> IT COULD BRING IN SOME NEW
PERMITS, I GUESS, WE ARE LOOKING
AT ORBITAL HOUSING. WE ARE
PREPARED FOR ANY JUMP IN
PERMITTING ACTIVITY, WE HAVE
STAFF THAT ARE TRAINED UP AND
READY TO GO. MORE THAN WE
ANTICIPATE COMES IN WE HAVE
CONTINGENT BUDGET AUTHORITY TO
HIRE RAPIDLY, NEW STAFF, UNIQUE
MAYBE IN THE SENSE THAT OUR
DEPARTMENT HAS THE CONTINGENT
BUDGET AUTHORITY TO DO THIS AND
HIGHER , BE ABLE TO HIRE QUICKLY
TO BRING ON MORE PEOPLE.
>> WHICH LEADS TO THE SECOND,
THE SECOND PART OF THAT. WHAT
WOULD HAPPEN IF DEMAND FOR SDCI
STAFF TIME EXCEEDS STAFF
CAPACITY IN LIGHT OF THE
PERMITTING REFORM WE RECENTLY
PASSED.
>> I THINK THAT'S SIMILAR . WE
WANT TO KEEP ENOUGH STAFF SO
THAT WE CAN PROCESS THE PERMITS
EFFECTIVELY AND QUICKLY. WE
DON'T WANT TO REDUCE STAFF
QUICKLY, RIGHT NOW WITH OUR
REVENUE SHORTFALLS THAT WE HAVE,
WE WANT TO BE ABLE, THE STAFFING
RESERVE IS TO KEEP STAFF TRAINED
AND WORKING, WHILE WE HAVE TIPS
AND BE ABLE TO COME UP QUICKLY
WHENEVER THE PERMIT VOLUMES
START TO RISE AGAIN. RIGHT NOW
IT'S NOT THE BUSIEST TIME OF
YEAR, SO WE DO SEE THE INCREASE
OF PERMIT VOLUMES TRENDING
UPWARD. WHILE WE SEE THE VALUES
AND THE PERMIT FEES DROPPING AT
THE SAME TIME. THAT'S ONE
REASON WHY WE HAVE THIS FEE
INCREASE.
>> GREAT, THANK YOU. I KNOW FOR
MY OWN PERSONAL EXPERIENCE, YOU
HAVE HEARD ME TALK ABOUT THIS,
AND HAVING THAT FORWARD FACING
CUSTOMER SERVICE THAT COULD HAVE
TALKED TO TO HELP ME NAVIGATE
THE SYSTEM AS TO HOW TO DO THE
PERMITTING, WHAT WAS ACTUALLY
REQUIRED. AS OPPOSED TO ME
SUBMITTING THINGS AND GETTING
CORRECTIONS THAT I HAD TO
ADDRESS, SUBMITTING AND GETTING
MORE CORRECTIONS, HAVING THAT
TECHNICAL ASSISTANCE UP FRONT ,
TO WALK THROUGH THAT. IT'S
GOING TO BE CRITICAL, ESPECIALLY
BECAUSE I ALSO SEE THAT AS
DECREASING THE TIME TO GET A
PERMIT THROUGH, SO WE CAN GET
PROJECTS GOING IN A MORE QUICK
MANNER. THAT CUSTOMER SERVICE
FOCUS UP FRONT AS OPPOSED TO ON
THE BACK END
>> REMEMBER, IF WE HAVEN'T
ALREADY I DIRECTED STAFF TO
REACH OUT TO YOUR OFFICE AND TO
YOU, TO FIND OUT A LITTLE BIT
MORE ABOUT YOUR EXPERIENCE SO
THAT WE CAN DO A CASE STUDY ON
WHAT HAPPENED IN YOUR CASE, AND
FIND OUT IF THERE ARE WAYS WE
CAN MAKE IMPROVEMENTS TO THAT.
>> AND A FINAL THING FROM ME IS
SOMETHING I TALKED TO DIRECTOR
AT OR ABOUT, AS WE ARE CODIFYING
SEPTET INTO WE HAVE AN AMENDMENT
FROM COUNCILMEMBER KETTLE THAT
INSERTED INTO THE CONFERENCE A
PLAN, WE GOT IT MIXED INTO THE
INTERIM DESIGN REVIEW
LEGISLATION WILL BECOME
PERMANENT, IN ORDER FOR SDCI TO
WITH CONFIDENCE BE ABLE TO DO
THOSE REVIEWS SO THAT WHEN THOSE
TRAINING DOLLARS FOR STI STAFF,
TO GET SEPTET CERTIFIED.
DIRECTOR, IS THAT ALREADY IN
THEIR IS THAT A SUPPLEMENTAL
ASK?
>> I DON'T KNOW THE ANSWER TO
YOUR QUESTION, BUT I'LL LOOK
INTO THAT AND NEED AN ANSWER.
>> THANK YOU. I DON'T HAVE ANY
FURTHER QUESTIONS AT THIS TIME.
I YIELD THE REST OF MY TIME,
THANK YOU.
>> COUNCILMEMBER KETTLE FOLLOWED
BY COUNCILMEMBER MORRIS.
>> THANK YOU, OR STRAUSS. FROM
SDCI, ONCE AGAIN, OUR BOOKEND
DIRECTORS , NOBLE, JUST
PIGGYBACKING OFF OF WHAT COUNCIL
AMBER SOLOMON SAID, HE'S NOT
THE ONLY SEPTET PERSON ON THE
DAIS, THROUGH ENVIRONMENTAL
DESIGN, THE POINT THAT HE WAS
MAKING, I RECOGNIZE THERE MIGHT
BE CHALLENGES TO SETTING THAT
UP, BUT BIGGER PICTURE AS IT
RELATES TO PUBLIC SAFETY AND
QUALITY OF LIFE AND SO FORTH,
INCLUDING SEPTET AS PART OF THE
PROCESS EARLY, AS IT EQUATES TO
AN OUNCE OF PREVENTION IS WORTH
A POUND OF CURE. IN TERMS OF THE
CONCEPT OF OUNCE OF PREVENTION
IS WORTH A POUND OF CURE, THAT
MIGHT BE, MIGHT BE WORTH IT. MY
INTERACTION WITH SDCI OVER THE
LAST 21 MONTHS IS SOME BIG
PROJECT OR SOME ISSUE, SOME CODE
THAT'S GOING ON HERE, AND VERY
POSITIVE IN TERMS OF WORKING
WITH THE DEPARTMENT, BY THE WAY.
JUST WANT TO THROW THAT OUT
THERE AS WELL. THEN I ALSO GET
FOLKS COMING AT ME SAYING, WHAT
IS THE CITY DOING? AND I'M SURE
YOU'VE GOT YOUR VERSIONS OF
THIS, BUT, I KNOW THESE PEOPLE
AND A LOT OF THEM, NOT ALL OF
THEM, IT MAKES ME WONDER IF
THERE'S SOMETHING THERE, I GOT
AN EMAIL RECENTLY, FROM ONE OF
THESE FOLKS, AND HE WRITES ,
LET'S BREAK THE LOGJAM AND HIRE
FOLKS AT SDCI THAT ARE
PROFESSIONALS AND OF THE CITY OF
SEATTLE IS GOING TO HIRE OTHERS
WITHOUT PROFESSIONAL TRAINING,
OR THOSE THAT HAVE THE EDUCATION
AND DO NOT HAVE THE PRACTICAL
EXPERIENCE, PAY THEM TO WORK
WITH REAL CONTRACTORS FOR SIX
MONTHS AS PART OF THEIR
TRAINING. HE ADDS, MOST OF OUR
LOANS ARE ON SOUTH OF THE CITY
OF SEATTLE LIMITS, WE ARE
THRIVING IN OTHER AREAS WHILE
ALL OF OUR SMALL BUILDERS
TRIGGERED TO MAKE HOMES IN
SEATTLE. GO TO THE JOBSITE. I
WANTED TO ASK IN TERMS OF
BRINGING ON PEOPLE, YOUR
REACTION, AND YOUR THOUGHTS
BASED ON YOUR EXPERIENCE, I
GUESS THE SECOND PART IS, DO WE
COMPARE HOW WE'RE DOING TO THE
OTHER JURISDICTIONS IN THE
REGION? EASTSIDE, AS WE
MENTIONED, TO THE SOUTH AND
NORTH? TO SEE, DO THEY HAVE A
COMPARATIVE ADVANTAGE BECAUSE
THEY'RE DOING SOMETHING
DIFFERENT? IS THERE ANY KIND OF
UNDERSTANDING IN TERMS OF
WHAT'S BEING IMPLIED THAT
THINGS ARE BETTER, SMOOTHER,
FASTER, IN OTHER JURISDICTIONS?
>> THAT'S A BIG QUESTION,
THERE, SEVERAL THINGS, THAT I
CONSIDER RESPOND TO THAT. FIRST
OFF I WOULD SAY THAT I'VE BEEN
IN THIS ROLL FOR A FEW MONTHS,
NOW, AND I WOULD SAY THAT ONE OF
THE THINGS THAT I FOUND AS SOON
AS I JOINED THE DEPARTMENT, I'VE
BEEN WORKING WITH THESE FOLKS IN
MY PREVIOUS ROLL IN THE MAYOR'S
OFFICE, THEY GET A LOT, OUR
DEPARTMENT GETS A LOT OF
CRITICISM FROM THE PUBLIC. SOME
OF IT IS WELL-DESERVED
CRITICISM, BUT ALSO I WOULD SAY
THAT SOME OF IT IS NOT SO
WELL-DESERVED. WE HAVE A LOT OF
COMMITTED HIGHLY EXECUTED,
HIGHLY TRAINED STAFF MEMBERS AT
THE DEPARTMENT, A LOT OF THEM
ARE WORKING VERY HARD TO HELP
OUR APPLICANTS GET THROUGH THE
PERMITTING PROCESS WHICH IS NOT
SOMETHING THAT FOLKS GENERALLY
WANT TO DO OR LIKE TO DO. I'LL
SAY THAT, I THINK THERE'S
ALWAYS ROOM FOR MORE TRAININGS,
MORE ON SIDE OPPORTUNITIES TO GO
SEE THESE, IF WE HAD MORE TIME
IT WOULD BE GREAT TO HAVE MORE
OF THESE SITE VISITS, AND TO SEE
MORE OF THESE PRODUCTS IN
PERSON, AND WE TRY TO DO THAT AS
MUCH AS WE CAN. WHAT I WILL SAY
THAT IT IS SOMETHING THAT WE ARE
CONTINUING TO LOOK AT IN TERMS
OF STAFF CAPACITY AND WHAT WE'RE
ABLE TO DO. THE SECOND QUESTION
WAS AROUND COMPARING WITH OTHER
CITIES. I WILL SAY THAT WE DO
OUR STAFF IN COMMUNICATION WITH
OUR SURROUNDING JURISDICTION
AROUND BEST PRACTICES, WE ARE
ALSO SHARING DATA CONSTANTLY, I
KNOW THAT WE TEND TO GET SILOED
IN THE WORK THAT WE DO AT THE
CITY, WE'VE GOT OUR WORK AND
OUR WORKLOAD THAT WE'RE HAVING
TO GET THROUGH, IT'S SOMETHING
THAT WE ARE, WE CAN DO A BETTER
JOB AT COORDINATING, WE KNOW
THAT WE TALKED TO FOLKS WHO ARE
NOT ONLY JUST IN THE LOCAL
JURISDICTION BUT WE COMPARE DATA
TO PEER CITIES LIKE SAN
FRANCISCO, PORTLAND, L.A., ET
CETERA. DO YOU HAVE ANY?
>> WE'VE HAD SAN FRANCISCO AND
PORTLAND REACH OUT TO US FOR
ADVICE AND HELP IN CERTAIN
SITUATIONS WHEN IT COMES TO
FEES, AND, EVERYTHING FROM CBA
THAT WE HAVE, SOME OTHER
QUESTIONS THAT WE'VE HAD. AND
WE CONSTANTLY LOOK AT HOW THEY
WORK, HOW THEY'RE STRUCTURED. I
THINK SEATTLE IS PRETTY UNIQUE
IN THE WAY WE REVIEWED PERMITS
AND LAND USE, COMPARED TO SOME
OTHER CITIES. IT'S HARD TO
COMPARE APPLES TO APPLES TO
OTHER CITIES, BUT, THERE IS
LESSONS TO BE LEARNED FROM OTHER
JURISDICTIONS, AND VICE VERSA,
THEY LEARN FROM US AS WELL.
>> OKAY. I JUST ASKED, IT'S
HELPFUL FOR YOU TO KNOW WHAT WE
HEAR, AND I'M MORE THAN HAPPY
TO SET UP A COFFEE MEETING IF
ANYBODY ON THE STAFF WOULD LIKE
TO MEET, AND HEAR DIRECTLY. I
THINK YOU WOULD WELCOME THAT ,
AGAIN, JUST TO PUT IT OUT THERE,
I WAS CURIOUS ABOUT THE
COMPARISON TO OTHER
JURISDICTIONS, THANK YOU FOR
SPEAKING TO THAT. TWO MORE QUICK
QUESTIONS, ONE IS ON A.I., I'VE
HAD MEETINGS WITH MICROSOFT AND
AMAZON, I'VE BEEN WITH MR.
LLOYD, MR. SEATTLE I.T.,
MEETINGS IN I.T., AND THE GOOD
AND THE BAD OF A.I. HOW DO YOU
FEEL IN TERMS OF BRINGING A.I.
INTO THE WORLD OF SDCI?
>> SURE. I'M VERY OPTIMISTIC,
AND EXCITED ABOUT BRINGING IN
A.I. ESPECIALLY IN A PERMITTING
SYSTEM. THIS IS ONE OF THOSE
AREAS WHERE WE COULD REALLY SEE
EXCITING INNOVATIONS, THERE.
BOTTOM LINE IS, IT'S NOT GOING
TO SOLVE ALL OF OUR PROBLEMS,
THIS IS A HUMAN IN THE LOOP
PROBLEM, WE ARE GOING TO MEET
OUR FOLKS TO UTILIZE A.I. IN A
WAY THAT HELPS THEM DO THEIR
WORK MORE EFFICIENTLY, AND
BETTER. BUT, I'M VERY EXCITED
ABOUT THE PILOT PROGRAMS THAT WE
ARE CURRENTLY RUNNING RIGHT NOW,
WE GOT TWO GOING WITH SEVERAL
MORE THAT ARE IN THE HOPPER. WE
ARE BEING MORE CAREFUL ABOUT HOW
WE ROLL THEM OUT, BUT SO FAR THE
INITIAL RESULTS ARE VERY
PROMISING.
>> THANK YOU.
>> I WANTED TO ADD THAT, ALONG
WITH THE PACKED I.T. INVESTMENT
THAT WE HAVE IS GOING TO HELP A
LOT FOR THE CUSTOMER TO FILL
LIKE THEY'RE BETTER PREPARED
COMING INTO IT. THAT'S THE GOAL.
TO HELP THEM SUBMIT A COMPLETE
APPLICATION AND NOT BE AS
CONFUSING.
>> THANK YOU. I WANTED , ONE
LAST POINT IS, COUNCILMEMBER
SOLOMON BROUGHT IT UP, WE
HAVEN'T VOTED ON IT YET, BUT,
THE COVER HAS A PLAN WHICH I
CALLED THREE ORDINANCE 1.5. I
WANTED TO SAY THANK YOU FOR THE
SIGNIFICANT SLIDE NUMBER TWO,
AND I RECOGNIZE THE CHALLENGES
THAT WE HAVE IN THIS FRONT, BUT,
THE OLD ADAGE SINCE THE MARINERS
ARE IN THE PLAYOFFS, TIE GOES TO
THE RUNNER, TIE GOES TO THE
TREES. SO I APPRECIATE IN THIS
PROGRAM THAT YOU HAVE IN TERMS
OF BEING MORE FORWARD LEANING
WITH RESPECT TO OUR TREES AND
YOUR ENGAGEMENT ON THESE ISSUES,
I WANT TO SAY THANK YOU AS WELL,
THINKING ABOUT SOME BIG CEDARS
IN MEDICINE. IN DISTRICT 3, I
BELIEVE, ANYTHING THAT WE CAN
DO, SO I LIKE THIS PIECE, HERE,
THANK YOU VERY MUCH. CHAIR,
HOPEFULLY THAT WASN'T TOO LONG.
>> THANK YOU, FOLLOWED BY SAKA
AND RINCK.
>> THANK YOU, CHAIR. THANK YOU,
DIRECTOR LEE FOR THIS
INFORMATION AND SORRY TO SEE YOU
GO, BUT THANK YOU VERY MUCH. I
WANT TO GO TO SLIDE FIVE,
THAT'S A MISNOMER BECAUSE IT'S
JUST FEE INCREASES. CORRECT?
WHEN I LOOK AT PERMIT FEE
ADJUSTMENTS OF THE 18%, WHAT
YOU'RE READING TO THESE
INCREASES WITH THE REDUCED
REVENUE FROM THE PRODUCT MIX,
AND THEN YOUR TEAM STATES POLICY
SHIFTS, SO WHAT ARE THESE POLICY
SHIFTS THAT CONTRIBUTE TO AN 18%
INCREASE?
>> THE POLICY SHIFTS ARE CITY
AND STATE CHANGES TO DESIGN
REVIEW.
>> SUCH AS?
>> THAT'S, A LOT OF PRODUCTS
DON'T NEED TO GO THROUGH THE
DESIGN REVIEW ANYMORE, IT SAVES
TIME. BUT IT ALSO SAVES THEM
MONEY, AND IS LESS REVENUE FOR
US THAT COMES IN FOR THAT. WE
MADE A CHANGE LAST YEAR, TO THE
LAYOFFS FOR PLANNED YOUTH STAFF
BECAUSE OF THAT REASON. BUT NOW,
THE REST OF IT IS JUST THE
PRODUCT MIX THAT WE HAVE, THERE
IS NO LARGE COMPLEX PROJECTS IN
THE PIPELINE, IT'S MOSTLY SMALL
MIDSIZE PROJECTS. BECAUSE OF
THAT WE STILL HAVE THE VOLUME,
THE REVENUE DOESN'T COME IN
FROM THE SMALLER MIDSIZE
PROJECTS, BECAUSE THEY WERE
BEING SUBSIDIZED BY THE LORD
PROJECTS IN THE PAST. WE HAD
INCREASED FEES.
>> JUST ADDING THAT THOSE
CHANGES WERE MADE AT THE STATE
LEVEL, EXEMPTING INCLUDE
HOUSING.
>> CAN YOU GIVE ME AN EXAMPLE?
MR. EDER IS LOOKING AT ME,
>> THERE WERE SOME PRODUCTS THAT
WERE IMPORTANT, OTHERS THAT WE
AS A CITY EXEMPTED AFFORDABLE
HOUSING PROJECTS ARE EXEMPTED
FROM CERTAIN KINDS OF DESIGN
REVIEW PROCESS. AS A COUPLE OF
EXAMPLES. I CAN'T GIVE YOU
EXAMPLES OF WHAT CHANGED AT THE
STATE LEVEL. ARE YOU ABLE TO?
>> WE CAN GET THAT INFORMATION
TO YOU.
>> I'LL HAVE ONE MORE QUESTION
AFTER THIS ON SLIDE SIX, POLICY
SHIFTS, WHAT DID SEATTLE CITY
COUNCIL DO TO MAKE INCREASE OF
18%, IT'S MAINLY ON THE
STATESIDE. OKAY. FAIR TO SAY.
THAT'S A GREAT SEGUE INTO MY
LAST QUESTION ON SLIDE DECK SIX,
THIS IS PERFECT, YOU SET ME UP
FOR A GREAT SEGUE, HERE, DO YOU
PERCEIVE THESE, THE INCREASE IN
THESE FEES HINDERING THE
PENCILING OR CURRENT FUTURE
DEVELOPMENT? IT SOUNDS LIKE
PERHAPS IT DOES. OR WILL IT?
>> THE QUESTION IS,
>> I ACTUALLY HAVE IT, DO YOU,
DEVELOP THESE QUESTIONS, I WAS
CONCERNED ABOUT THE 18%
INCREASE. DO YOU PERCEIVE THESE
FEES HINDERING THE PENCILING OF
CURRENT OR FUTURE DEVELOPMENT?
DOES THIS 18% INCREASE , IS THIS
GOING TO HURT US IN CURRENT AND
FUTURE DEVELOPMENT?
>> THAT'S A GREAT QUESTION. I
WOULD SAY THAT THIS IS A SMALL
DROP IN THE BUCKET FOR A LOT OF
PRODUCTS, I THINK WHAT THEY'RE
LOOKING FOR A REDUCED INTEREST
RATES, BETTER ECONOMIC
CONDITIONS, MORE MACROECONOMIC
CHANGES THAT CAN HELP DRIVE THE
DEVELOPMENT, I DON'T THINK THAT
THIS IS GOING TO AFFECT THAT.
>> SO THE ANSWER IS NO.
>> I DON'T THINK SO. I DO THINK
THEY'RE GOING TO STOP THE
PROJECT FOR A 4500 SQUARE FOOT
FOUR UNIT TOWNHOUSE, IS IT'S
GOING TO COST $2000 MORE IN A
PERMIT FEE.
>> IT MIGHT IF YOU'RE WILLING
TO 30 UNITS AND YOU GO FROM A
274,000 GROWTH RATE OF 24,000.
CORRECT?
>> WE ALSO HAVE A TABLE CALLED
THE D1 TABLE IS A VALUATION
TABLE THAT SHOWS THE VALUE HOW
WE GET TO THESE NUMBERS. AND WE
VALUE THESE PROJECTS VERY LOW
COMPARED TO WHAT THE MARKET RATE
VALUE IS. WE'RE NOT EVEN CLOSE
TO MARKET RATE VALUE, THE
PROPERTY TAX VALUE, IT'S REALLY
JUST A BOX THAT WE'RE VALUING.
THAT IS, WE'RE VALUING THESE
PROJECTS LOW TO BEGIN WITH.
>> WHEN YOU SAY A DROP IN THE
BUCKET, THE BIG PICTURE IS,
IT'S MAINLY WHAT ONE OF THE
OUTSIDE PRESSURES IS THE
MACROECONOMICS. IS THAT REALLY
WHAT YOU'RE SAYING?
>> THE VACANCY RATES, THE
INTEREST RATES. MACROECONOMIC.
THE THINGS THAT ARE BEYOND OUR
CONTROL.
>> THE REASON I'M SAYING THIS,
I'M NOT TRYING TO PICK ON YOU,
WHEN WE TALK TO DEVELOPERS FOR
PROFIT, NONPROFIT, THIS IS FOR
PUBLIC CONSUMPTION WHEN THEY SEE
THIS. I CAN IN NORMAL LAY TERMS
SAY, IT'S NOT AS BAD AS YOU
THINK. BECAUSE AS YOU SAID, A
DROP IN THE BUCKET, A BIGGER
PICTURE HIS INTEREST RATES,
MACROECONOMICS, ALL THAT BIG
STUFF. THESE ARE ALREADY RANKED
LOW AS IT IS, CORRECT? IS THERE
SOMETHING YOU WANTED TO ADD TO
THAT? DIRECTOR?
>> YOU'RE ABSOLUTELY RIGHT, IT
IS AN INCREASE, AND WILL HAVE AN
IMPACT ON THE BOTTOM LINE, BUT
AS SHANE MENTIONED, I'M NOT
SURE THAT IT WOULD ACTUALLY MAKE
A DIFFERENCE IN TERMS OF A
PROJECT ACTUALLY PRESSING GO OR
NOT. BUT IT WILL CERTAINLY HAVE
AN IMPACT, AND WE WILL
DEFINITELY BE HEARING FROM
BUILDERS ON THIS.
>> AND I SAY THAT TWO IN
CONJUNCTION WITH A
HOLLINGSWORTH, ON THE COMP PLAN,
SHANE IS A MAN OF FEW WORDS. I
LIKE THAT, YES, NO. WE WOULD
PREFER NOT TO HAVE INCREASE THE
FEES. WE WOULD ALSO PREFER NOT
TO INCREASE, OR HAVE ANY TAXES ,
IT'S THE PRICE OF DOING
BUSINESS ON SOME LEVEL. AS
UNWELCOME AS IT WILL BE IN THE
DEVELOPMENT COMMUNITY, THEY ARE
AS YOU'VE BEEN HEARING FROM THE
DEPARTMENT STAFF, RELATIVELY
SMALL DOLLAR AMOUNTS. THAT ARE
PROBABLY NOT THE DRIVING FORCE
IN A GO NO GO DECISION ON ALMOST
EVERY PROJECT.
>> I WANTED TO PUT THAT IN
CONTEXT, IF YOU'RE A NONPROFIT
DEVELOPING 230 UNITS, YOU CAN
EXPLAIN WHY THE 18% INCREASE , I
DON'T WANT TO BE FLIPPANT,
HERE, THAT BIG OF A DEAL. AS YOU
WERE SAYING. YOU WERE GOING TO
SAY SOMETHING.
>> WE NEED, WE'RE AN ENTERPRISE
FUND, RCW IS A STATE LAW, WHICH
WE LIVE BY AND EXIST BY WHICH
MEANS WE HAVE TO RECOVER THE
COST OF THE SERVICES WE PROVIDE.
>> YOU CAN'T GENERATE REVENUE
FROM THIS TYPE OF FEE. THAT'S A
STATE LAW.
>> WE CAN GENERATE THE REVENUE.
>> BUT IT HAS TO GO BACK. FOR
THE SERVICES.
>> THE ALTERNATIVE IS TO LAY OFF
A LOT OF STAFF, AND HAVE
DEGRADED SERVICES. AND WILL TAKE
MUCH LONGER, IT WOULD BE A VERY
INEQUITABLE WAY OF DEALING WITH
THE SITUATION, I BELIEVE.
>> I UNDERSTAND THAT.
>> I UNDERSTAND THAT BALANCE
FROM SUING THE STATE FOR TAX FOR
REVENUE-GENERATING TAXES THAT
DON'T GO BACK TO THE FEE FOR
THE SERVICE THAT'S PROVIDED.
YOU'RE NOT SUPPOSED TO TAX TO
MAKE MONEY, YOU'RE SUPPOSED TAX
TO SUPPORT THE UNDERLYING ACT OF
THE AGENCY OR THE GOVERNMENT, I
GOT THAT. THANK YOU, CHAIR.
>> THANK YOU, COUNCILMEMBER
MORRIS, FOLLOWED BY RINCK AND
RIVERA.
>> THANK YOU, CHAIR, THANK YOU
FOR DIRECTOR LEE AND SHANE FOR
BEING HERE TODAY, APPRECIATE
YOUR SELFLESS SERVICE OF THE
CITY IN THIS CAPACITY, OVER THE
LAST FEW MONTHS. DESPITE THE
FACT THAT TODAY IS YOUR LAST
OFFICIAL DAY AND ROLLED,
APPRECIATE ALL THE WORK STEPPING
UP TO THE PLATE, HERE. FIRST
OFF, LET ME NOTE THAT YOUR
COMMENT EARLIER ABOUT SOME OF
THE PERMITTING CHALLENGES, AND
SOME OF IT BASED IN TRUTH AND
SOME OF IT BASED IN PERCEPTIONS
OR MISPERCEPTIONS, I THINK THERE
IS AN OPPORTUNITY FOR US TO
BETTER STREAMLINE OUR PERMITTING
PROCESSES, AND IMPROVE THE
EFFICIENCIES OF PERMITTING HERE
IN OUR CITY, AND MANY CITIES
ACROSS OUR STATE. I THINK THE
LEGISLATURE AND THE STATE
LEGISLATURE AND EVEN HIS BODY
TAKING STEPS TO DIRECTLY ADDRESS
THAT, VIA LEGISLATION AND ON TOP
OF OTHER INVESTMENTS, TO BETTER
SUPPORT THAT. THAT SAID, I THINK
SOMETIMES YOUR DEPARTMENT GETS A
BAD RAP IN CERTAIN CASES, IT'S
LIKE THE CATCHALL, BLAME ALL FOR
THINGS THAT MIGHT NOT
NECESSARILY BE PERMITTING
CHALLENGES, CASE IN POINT, MY
OFFICE RECENTLY LEARNED OF A
PURPORTED PERMITTING ISSUE THAT
WAS BLOCKING THE OPENING OF A
SMALL BUSINESS IN MY DISTRICT,
THEY HAD A LOT OF CONSTITUENTS
THAT WERE EXCITED ABOUT, AND
THEN WE ENGAGE DIRECTLY WITH THE
IMPACTED SMALL BUSINESS, AND
LEARNED MORE ABOUT WHAT WAS
HAPPENING, AND TURNS OUT THE
BUSINESS, THEY WERE FACING
$30,000 IN PLUMBING COSTS. THAT
WAS ULTIMATELY PREVENTING THEM
FROM OPENING , CERTAINLY IN A
TIMELY MANNER, AND THAT IS A
SIGNIFICANT SUM OF MONEY
ESPECIALLY FOR A SMALL BUSINESS.
AND AGAIN, LESS OF A PERMITTING
THING, MORE OF A BUSINESS
OPERATIONAL CHALLENGE . POLICY
CHOICE, ARE WE GOING TO CREATE
ONE OFF EXCEPTIONS AND REVISE
OUR BUILDINGS, STANDARDS,
HABITABILITY STANDARDS? NO? BUT,
WE DO NEED WITH RESPECT TO THE
STUFF WE CAN DIRECTLY CONTROL,
WE NEED TO STREAMLINE THAT. SO,
I LOVE, LOVE, LOVE THE WORK THAT
YOU DO, IT HELPS BRING TO LIFE
HOUSING, FOR ALL, IT HELPS TO
BRING TO LIFE IN THIS CASE, THE
CASE THAT I MENTIONED, SMALL
BUSINESS SUPPORT. IT ULTIMATELY
HELPS TO BRING TO LIFE
OPPORTUNITY. SO, REALLY LOVE
WHAT YOU ALL ARE DOING, AND I
APPRECIATE THE PARTNERSHIP I'M
WORKING WITH COMMUNITY GROUPS,
AND AN INVESTOR RIGHT NOW TO
OPEN A FOOD TRUCK PARKED IN MY
DISTRICT, REALLY EXCITED ABOUT
THIS TRYING TO BROKER, THERE'S
AN SDCI PLAY, MAYBE A FEW OTHER
CITY DEPARTMENTS THAT JUST SHOWS
THE GLIMPSE THAT YOU ALL DO AND
ARE INVOLVED WITH TWO SEE
OPPORTUNITY. ON , ON THE SMALL
BUSINESS SUPPORT SIDE, THE SDCI
AS A SMALL BUSINESS, AND
CULTURAL PERMIT ADVISER TO HELP
SMALL BUSINESSES NAVIGATE THE
PERMITTING PROCESS, WHICH IS
VERY CHALLENGING, AND GIVEN THE
SCALE AND COMPLEXITY OF
PERMITTING, CHALLENGES
ESPECIALLY FOR INDIVIDUALS,
ORGANIZATIONS, SMALL BUSINESSES,
LESS SOPHISTICATED ADVISORY
TEAMS THAT CAN CONSULT ON THESE
KIND OF THINGS. IS A SINGLE
POSITION FOR THIS SUFFICIENT? TO
SCALE ACROSS THE ENTIRE CITY.
>> SO, I WILL SAY, WE COULD
PROBABLY USE MORE RESOURCES THAN
THAT, IN THAT AREA. NOT JUST FOR
SMALL BUSINESSES BUT PERMITS IN
GENERAL WOULD BE NICE TO HAVE
ONE OR TWO MORE PERMIT,
EXPEDITERS. I WILL SAY THAT, OUR
SMALL BUSINESS PERMIT EXPEDITER
DOES A WONDERFUL JOB, IN AN
IDEAL WORLD, THOUGH, WE WOULD
NOT NEED PERMIT EXPEDITERS, WE
WOULD BE ABLE TO NOT HAVE TO
UTILIZE ANOTHER PERSON TO HELP
BUSINESSES , HOWEVER COMPLEX
THEY ARE , AT THE SAME TIME I
WOULD SAY IT WOULD BE GREAT TO
HAVE ANOTHER , IN OUR
DEPARTMENT, AND SOMETHING WE CAN
CERTAINLY TAKE A LOOK A█T,
DEPENDING ON HIS LOOKING AT HIS
WORKLOAD, I KNOW THAT HE'S ,
HE'S GOT A LOT ON HIS PLATE,
BUT I WOULD ALSO SAY THAT WE AT
THE SAME TIME NEED TO BE WORKING
TOWARD A PROCESS WHERE WE DON'T
NEED TO ACTUALLY RELY ON A
PERMIT EXPEDITER, THAT WE HAVE
FOLKS IN THE DEPARTMENT AS PART
OF THEIR JOBS THAT ARE HELPING
APPLICANTS GET THROUGH AS
QUICKLY AS POSSIBLE.
>> THANK YOU. AND MY INTEREST IS
JUST TO ENSURE THAT SMALL
BUSINESSES CAN OPEN THEIR DOORS
WITHOUT UNNECESSARY DELAYS
CAUSED BY NAVIGATING THE
PERMITTING PROCESS. MY SENSE IS
IF WE DID A STRAW POLL IT WOULD
BE A SHARED PRIORITY ACROSS THE
DAIS BUT, JUST WANT TO THANK YOU
AGAIN FOR THE WORK YOU ALL DO, I
THINK MY OFFICE HAS BEEN ENGAGED
WITH SOME FOLKS WITHIN THE
DEPARTMENT ON THE FOOD TRUCK
THING, BUT, APPRECIATE YOUR
EXECUTIVE LEVEL SPONSORSHIP TO
ENSURE WE GET THAT ACROSS THE
LINE, AND EXPEDITE OUR OWN
INTERNAL CITY REVIEWS. THANK
YOU. NO FURTHER QUESTIONS.
>> THANK YOU, JUST TAKING NOTES,
MOST DOG PARKS, FOOD TRUCK,
WHAT'S NEXT? YOU ALREADY GOT
THAT. OVER TO YOU, COUNCILMEMBER
RINCK, AND THEN RIVERA.
>> THANK YOU ALL FOR BEING HERE
TODAY. JUST ABOUT THE 18%
INCREASE, AND CERTAINLY SPARKED
A BIT OF HEARTBURN IN ME, I WANT
TO ASK A COUPLE OF QUESTIONS
ABOUT THIS, TO DIG IN A LITTLE
BIT DEEPER UNDERSTANDING I HAD
SIMILAR QUESTIONS ABOUT HOW THIS
MAY CHILL HOUSING DEVELOPMENT,
BUT, UNDERSTANDING THAT SHIVA
PLAYS A ROLL BUT ALSO THAT MUCH
OF THE STAFFING FOR THE
DEPARTMENT FUNDING COMES FROM
PERMIT FEES , I'M WONDERING HOW
THIS COMPARES TO OUR PARTNERS IF
THEY HAVE A SIMILAR KIND OF
MODEL, FOR REVENUE COMING INTO
THE DEPARTMENT, OR IF THEY HAVE
A GENERAL FUND MODEL FUNDING,
THERE.
>> FROM WHAT I KNOW, KING COUNTY
HAD A MAJOR INCREASE. FEE
INCREASE WAS CLOSE TO 50%. FOR
THEIR BUILDING PERMITS. THAT
STARTED THIS YEAR. AND A LOT OF
THAT WAS A REACTION TO, I THINK
IT'S THE STATE LAWS THAT THEY
HAD. I DON'T REMEMBER THE
NUMBERS PRECISELY. IT WAS
PROCESSING PERMITS FASTER.
>> SOAKING COUNTY WENT THROUGH A
PROCESS BY ABOUT 50%. WE CAN
FOLLOW UP ON THIS PLAN, JUST
CURIOUS.
>> PORTLAND ON THE OTHER HAND,
THEY LAID OFF 70 PEOPLE.
>> WOW.
>> JUST AS A REMINDER, THAT IS
THE APPROACH THAT WE TOOK LAST
YEAR, WHEN WE HAD , I DON'T
KNOW, SECOND OR THIRD YEAR OF
SLOWING PERMITS. PRIMARILY
BECAUSE OF RISING INTEREST
RATES. PANDEMIC, RISING COSTS OF
GOODS AND SERVICES. WE LAID OFF
A NUMBER OF SDCI PERMIT
REVIEWERS, WE CHOSE NOT TO GO
THAT ROUTE THIS TIME. AND WE
THINK THAT'S THE RIGHT ANSWER
FOR THIS YEAR.
>> IF I MIGHT IN THE
SPECULATION, THESE GENTLEMEN CAN
PERHAPS RESPOND. PART OF THE
ISSUE HERE, UNDERSTANDING THE
UNDERLYING ECONOMICS IS THAT WE
HAVE AN OPERATION THAT HAS A
CERTAIN SCALE, AND IT CAN BE
SCALED BACK. IT HAS A CERTAIN
LEVEL OF OVERHEAD, AND
CENTRALIZED FUNCTION REGARDLESS
OF HOW MANY PERMITS ARE ISSUED,
SO, AS THE STATE REDUCES THE
NUMBER OF PERMITS THAT ARE
REQUIRED AND THE NUMBER OF FOLKS
INTERESTED IN PURSUING PERMITS,
THE TOTAL NUMBER OF PERMITS
COMING THROUGH THE SYSTEM IS
LOWER FOR POLICY REASONS AND
ECONOMIC REASONS. WE CAN LAY OFF
SOME OF THE FOLKS, AND WE HAVE,
AT SOME POINT THE TOTAL COST OF
THE OPERATION INCLUDING ITS
FIXED COST IS OVERHEAD, IS STILL
THERE. THE SYSTEM SO THAT SDCI
IS ENTIRELY SELF-FUNDED. WE'RE
NOT IN A POSITION TO PUT GENERAL
FUND THERE. IT COMES THE
QUESTION OF HOW THEY SCALE THIS
OPERATION, THEY BROUGHT IT DOWN
TO SOME LEVEL OF SCALE BUT IF
THEY BRING IT DOWN TOO FAR, YOU
GET FEWER AND FEWER PEOPLE
REVIEWING PERMITS AND YOU'RE
NOT GENERATING REVENUE. THIS IS
A CLASSIC ROCK AND HARD PLACE
BUT IT IS THE ACTUAL VOLUME OF
PERMITS, THIS IS THE IRONY, ONE
OF THE PRESSURES ON INCREASING
THE ACTUAL PERMIT COST, BECAUSE
WE HAVE THE SAME EVEN THOUGH WE
STILL HAVE SOME OF THE SAME
OPERATION TO RUN. YOU GET
RETURNS TO SCALE WHEN THINGS GET
BIGGER, YOU GET LOSS OF SCALE
WHEN THINGS GET SMALLER. I THINK
SUFFERING A LOSS OF SCALE AND AS
PART OF WHAT'S DRIVING THIS
COST. IT'S WELL ABOVE INFLATION.
I DON'T KNOW THIS, BUT I FEEL
LIKE THERE'S A PIECE WE'VE NOT
TALKED ABOUT THAT IS WORTH
DESCRIBING.
>> I'M TRYING TO UNDERSTAND OUR
ALTERNATIVES ON THIS POINT,
THERE'S THE MATTER OF WE
RECEIVED FUNDING FROM
DEVELOPMENT BUT, WHAT WAS 18%
INCREASE, THEN DISSUADE FOR THE
DEVELOPMENT AND BECOMES A
SELF-FULFILLING PROPHECY AND
THAT'S WHAT WE'RE TRYING TO
AVOID. I UNDERSTAND OUR
ALTERNATIVES HERE, A FULL SLATE
OF THE ALTERNATIVES. IF THERE'S
ANYTHING THAT HASN'T BEEN
SPOKEN TO I DON'T KNOW WHO THIS
IS A QUESTION, I LIKE TO
UNDERSTAND WHAT ALL OF OUR
ALTERNATIVES MAY BE IN THIS
SITUATION.
>> I MIGHT JUMP IN, HERE, I'LL
TAKE A RUN AT IT, BECAUSE I GOT
INVOLVED LAST YEAR. I'M GOING
TO ASK QUESTIONS. WHICH IS,
COUNCILMEMBER RINCK, YOU'RE
ASKING WHAT ARE THE LEVERS WE
HAVE RIGHT NOW. WE CAN FIRE
STAFF, WE CAN RAISE THE PERMIT
FEE, ARE THERE ANY OTHERS? WE
CAN ADD GENERAL FUND, AND THAT
WOULD INCREASE THE STRUCTURAL
DEFICIT OR DECREASE THE
STRUCTURAL DEFICIT? INCREASE.
ARE THERE ANY OTHERS?
>> THE ONLY OTHER LEVER THAT
I'M THINKING OF ARE THE ONES
THAT DIRECTION AND, INVESTMENTS
AND CHANGES IN POLICY, THE
PACKED EFFORTS. TO SIMPLIFY AND
MAKE PERMITS FASTER. ALSO, THE
AIA INVESTMENT, AND HOPEFULLY
ESTABLISHING CLEAR EXPECTATIONS
SO THAT PEOPLE CAN MOVE MORE
QUICKLY THROUGH FEWER REVIEWS.
>> GOOD. HOW DID I DO?
>> I SEE WHAT YOU'RE SAYING.
THANK YOU.
>> I GOT ONE BACK TODAY.
>> I DON'T WANT TO PLAY POKER
WITH DIRECTOR LEE.
>> BACK TO YOU, COUNCILMEMBER
RINCK.
>> I APPRECIATE THE ASSISTANCE,
AS A FOLLOW UP TO THIS POINT
UNDERSTANDING INCREASING GENERAL
FUND AND THE INCREASE TO THE
STRUCTURAL DEFICIT, DO WE KNOW
BY WHAT AMOUNT? IT WOULD
INCREASE IT BY? AT THIS TIME.
>> WHAT AMOUNT? THE AMOUNT OF
REVENUE? THAT WE WOULD GET FROM
THIS? I BELIEVE IT'S AROUND 9
MILLION. SO, IT'S ROUGHLY 9
MILLION. JUST TO CALCULATE $9
MILLION. WOULD EQUATE TO 60
POSITIONS AT $150,000.
>> THANK YOU, THANK YOU. FOR
LETTING ME UNPACK THAT. I WANTED
TO HAVE A BETTER UNDERSTANDING
OF OUR OPTIONS ON THE TABLE AND
THE PREDICAMENT WE ARE FINDING
OURSELVES IN. BUILDING ON THAT
POINT, CAN YOU TOUCH ON YOUR
CORE STAFFING RESERVE AND HOW
IT'S LOOKING IN THE COMING
YEARS?
>> RIGHT NOW WE HAVE, AND
OVERALL FUND BALANCE, THE BLUE
AND THE GREEN, THE BLUE IS THE
BUILDING FUND, POOR STAFFING,
THE LAND-USE CORE STAFFING IS
GREEN. WE HAVE CORE STAFFING FOR
THE CYCLICAL COST CENTERS THAT
WE TRACK BUILDING PERMITS, LAND
USE, WHICH IS MASTER USE
PERMITS. SITE REVIEW AND SITE
DEVELOPMENT AND ELECTRICAL,
THOSE ARE ALL CYCLICAL. THOSE
ARE WHAT ARE MOST AFFECTED IN A
DOWNTURN ECONOMICALLY AND
RECESSION. THOSE ARE THE GROUPS
THAT WE HAVE THE CORE STAFFING
FOR, SO, RIGHT NOW ELECTRICAL IS
OKAY, REVIEW AND DEVELOPMENT IS
OKAY, THEY'RE NOT DIPPING INTO
THE STAFFING RESERVES BUT
BUILDING AND LAND USE ARE
DEFINITELY LAND-USE, OVER
HALFWAY INTO THEIR RESERVE OF
ABOUT 7 MILLION, AND, THE
BUILDING WHERE I PROJECTED TO
BE, THEY HAVE $21 MILLION IN THE
BUILDING PERMIT CORE STAFFING
RESERVE, AND BY THE END OF THE
YEAR WE'RE THINKING IT'S GOING
TO BE , WE'RE GOING TO EAT INTO
THAT BETWEEN 7:00 TO 9 MILLION .
THAT'S JUST AN ESTIMATE. SO,
THE 18% IS TO HELP SLOW THAT
DOWN AND HOPEFULLY WE'LL SEE
SOME RECOVERY IN THE ECONOMY,
INTEREST RATES COME DOWN AND
PEOPLE START BUILDING AGAIN.
>> WE'RE ALL HOPING FOR
RECOVERY IN THE ECONOMY, I'M
GOING TO SHIFT GEARS A LITTLE
BIT, TO TAKE A MOMENT TO CLARIFY
SOME POINTS AND DRAW A
CONNECTION TWEEN PREVIOUS
PRESENTATIONS BECAUSE I KNOW MY
COLLEAGUE COUNCIL MEMBER SAKA,
COUNCIL MEMBER SOLOMON AND I
HAVE ASKED A COUPLE QUESTIONS OF
OTHER DEPARTMENTS RELATED TO
TENANCY SERVICES. I WANT TO TAKE
A MOMENT TO BRING CLARIFICATION
TO THE RECORD, AND ASK A
QUESTION OF THE DEPARTMENT. THE
PROPOSED BUDGET MAINTAINS OUR
CURRENT LEVELS FOR TENANT
SERVICES. AS WE DISCUSSED. THE
SERVICES WERE CUT BY 40%, AROUND
1 MILLION LAST YEAR. BUT HAVE
BEEN MAINTAINED SINCE THEN. I
WANTED TO RAISE THIS POINT
BECAUSE IT'S MY UNDERSTANDING
THAT THIS LIVES WITHIN SDCI, NOT
HST, AND WANTED TO CHAT ABOUT
THAT, AND TAKE A MOMENT TO
EXPLAIN FOR THE RECORD, SINCE
THERE'S BEEN SOME CONFUSION
BETWEEN RENTAL ASSISTANCE AND
TENANT SERVICES, RENTAL
ASSISTANCE IS EXACTLY WHAT IT
SOUNDS LIKE HELPING INDIVIDUALS
WHO ARE STRUGGLING TO PAY RENT,
TO ENSURE THAT THEY CAN COVER
THE COST IN TIME, BUT TENANT
SERVICES IS A FAR BROADER
CATEGORY WHICH INCLUDES RIGHT TO
LEGAL COUNCIL DURING EVICTION
PROCEEDINGS, LEGAL CLINIC FOR
INDIVIDUALIZED SUPPORT TO
PREVENT IN THE FIRST PLACE AS
WELL AS GUIDANCE AND COUNSELING
ON HOW TO DEAL WITH COMMON
ISSUES FACING RENTERS LIKE
CONFLICT MEDIATION, PAYMENT
NEGOTIATION AND THAT DEFENSE.
THAT WAS LEARNING FOR ME, AND IT
MIGHT BENEFIT THE BODY SINCE
IT'S COME UP IN A FEW DIFFERENT
PRESENTATIONS, AND UNDERSTANDING
THIS CONTRACT IS ADMINISTERED BY
SDCI TO BRING TO THE DISCUSSION
AND OPEN IT UP TO ASK THE
DEPARTMENT IS THERE ANYTHING YOU
CAN SHARE WITH THE BODY ABOUT
THE TENANT SERVICES WHO HAS A
LOT MORE BACKGROUND ON THIS.
JEFF, YOU'RE ADDING TO
COUNCILMEMBER RINCK'S ACCOUNT
OF TIME, HURRY, HURRY. ANY
CHAIR, ANY MICROPHONE, JUST JUMP
RIGHT IN.
>> GOOD AFTERNOON, CODE
COMPLIANCE DIRECTOR. SO, THE
QUESTION WAS CLARIFYING THE
DIFFERENT FUNDING SOURCES. SDCI
HOLDS TENANT SERVICES FUNDING
FOR EXACTLY THE PURPOSES YOU
TALKED ABOUT EVICTION DEFENSE,
EDUCATION OUTREACH, A CASE WORK
IN SUPPORT, STAFFING HOTLINES
FOR TENANT SERVICES. WE ALSO GOT
A ONE TIME, APPROPRIATION OF
RENT ASSISTANCE TIED TO EVICTION
DEFENSE TWO YEARS IN A ROW. WE
WERE PART OF THE RENT ASSISTANCE
PUZZLE THERE FOR A COUPLE YEARS.
AND THOSE FUNDS WERE INTENDED TO
BRING THAT TO THE DEFENSE
ATTORNEY SO THEY CAN BRING MONEY
TO THE TABLE IN AN ADDICTION
CASE, AND HEADED OFF WHERE THAT
WAS APPROPRIATE. THAT WAS
TRANSFERRED TO HST THIS LAST ,
THIS YEAR, THE FUNDING WAS,
WE'RE ADMINISTERING IT FOR THEM
THROUGH A CONTINUATION OF OUR
EXISTING CONTRACTS, BUT IT IS
HST FUNDING, AND FOR 2026 THE
PROPOSED BUDGET TAKES THAT AND
EXPANDS IT EVEN MORE TO $4
MILLION IN HST FOR EXPANSION OF
EMERGENCY RENTAL ASSISTANCE
WHICH WILL INCLUDE THAT EVICTION
DEFENSE RELATED ASSISTANCE AND
OTHER PURPOSES.
>> THANK YOU FOR THAT. I KNOW
THERE'S BEEN A LOT OF CURIOSITY
ABOUT THE PROGRAM SINCE YOU WERE
HERE TODAY, WANTED TO BRING IT
UP. AND ON A FINAL POINT ITEM,
MY COUNCILMEMBER KETTLE ASKED
PROGRAM ABOUT A.I. AND IF I'M
UNDERSTANDING THE ATTENTION OF
THE APARTMENT CORRECTLY ,
CORRECT ME IF I'M WRONG, IT
SOUNDS LIKE THE INTENTION OF THE
INVESTMENT IS TO HELP IN
SPEEDING UP EXISTING PROCESSES,
MAKES FOR MORE EFFICIENCIES, I
HOPE IT'S NOT COMING AT THE
EXPENSE OF WORKERS. AND
REPLACING ROLES, IS THERE
ANYTHING YOU WANT TO EXPAND ON
ON THAT POINT?
>> THAT'S CORRECT. THE TOOL
THAT WE'RE LOOKING AT IS TO
HELP STRENGTHEN APPLICANT
PERMITS AS THEY'RE COMING IN,
THEY ARE MORE COMPLETE , HAVE
LESS MISTAKES, THAT LOOKS TO
HAVE AS MUCH BACK AND FORTH WITH
THE APPLICANTS FOR MINOR
CORRECTION, PAPERWORK THEY MAY
HAVE MISSED, SOMETHING THAT THEY
SUBMITTED ON THE FRONT-END,
THROUGH THE EDIFICATION THAT THE
A.I. SOFTWARE WOULD BE ABLE TO
HELP WITH. IT DOES NOT TAKE ANY
HUMANS OUT OF THAT LOOP.
>> ARE WE LEARNING FROM OTHER
JURISDICTIONS ON HOW THEY'RE
DEPLOYING A.I. IN FROM A REVIEW?
>> WE ARE, THIS IS A NEW
TECHNOLOGY, THERE AREN'T A LOT
OF JURISDICTIONS THAT ARE DOING
THIS. WE HAVE BEEN WORKING WITH
JURISDICTIONS LIKE DENVER,
HONOLULU, A COUPLE OF CITIES
THAT HAVE REALLY EMBRACED THIS
TECHNOLOGY. WE ARE BEING
CAUTIOUS ABOUT HOW , OUR
INVESTMENTS AND WE WANT TO MAKE
SURE THAT WHATEVER MONEY WE PUT
INTO THIS TECHNOLOGY, IT'S
TECHNOLOGY THAT WILL HELP AS
OPPOSED TO SOMETHING THAT WE CAN
IMPLEMENT, AND HAVE , WE WANT TO
BE ABLE TO SEE THE RETURN ON
INVESTMENT.
>> THANK YOU, I THINK WHAT ISSUE
THEY COULD UNITE THE CITY IS
GETTING A PERMIT TURNAROUND, AT
A FASTER TIME. THANK YOU FOR
YOUR WORK AND YOUR TIME TODAY.
>> THANK YOU, CHAIR.
COUNCILMEMBER RIVERA.
>> THANK YOU FOR BEING HERE,
I'LL ADD MY VOICE TO THE
GRATITUDE DIRECTOR LEE FOR
JUMPING IN, AND DOING THE JOB,
HOLDING THE SEAT FOR SOMEONE
ELSE, IT IS APPRECIATIVE THAT
PEOPLE WILL JUMP IN AND SAY YES,
I'LL DO IT. I'LL DO WHAT I
NEED TO DO, SO I APPRECIATE
THAT, TOO, SO THANK YOU. YOU
HAVE A HARD JOB. MY QUESTION IS,
THE FEE INCREASES , MY COLLEAGUE
COUNCILMEMBER SUAREZ STARTED THE
CONVERSATION , DIRECTOR NOBLE,
WEIGHED IN, TO ALL THE THINGS
THAT FEED INTO WHY THINGS ARE
NOT CURRENTLY GETTING BILLED.
RIGHT NOW IT SEEMS, IT'S WE'RE
DOING WELL ON OUR PERMITTING, IF
PROJECTS START TO PICK UP AGAIN,
MY QUESTION IS THEN, WILL WE
HAVE, DO YOU THINK THE CAPACITY
TO BE ABLE TO CONTINUE TO DO THE
PERMITTING IN A WAY THAT'S NOT
GOING TO CAUSE DELAYS IN THE WAY
THAT WE'VE SEEN IN THE PAST? WE
KNOW THE PERMITTING DELAYS ARE
THE ISSUE IF WE'RE GOING TO
INCREASE FEES. I WANT TO MAKE
SURE THAT IT'S GOING INTO THE
SERVICE BEING BETTER OR MAKING
SURE WE ARE NOT , IT'S NOT
GOING TO LEAD TO DELAYS MADE
LATER IF THE PRODUCTS KICK UP
THAT KIND OF THING.
>> AND THAT IS THE PURPOSE OF
THIS FEE INCREASE IS TO MAKE
SURE THAT WE ARE UPGRADED, WE
WANT TO MAKE SURE PERMIT
APPLICATION START PICKING UP
THAT WE HAVE THE STAFFING LEVELS
AND THE EXPERTISE TO CONTINUE TO
MOVE PERMITS THROUGH AS QUICKLY
AS POSSIBLE.
>> I KNOW THAT THAT IS WHAT THE
WAITING AROUND FOR THE
PERMITTING IS WHAT CAUSES A LOT
OF THE INCREASE IN THE PROJECTS,
IN THE MEANTIME, THINGS INCREASE
IN PRICE, MATERIALS, LABOR, ALL
OF IT. I UNDERSTAND THERE'S A
LOT OF FORCES GOING INTO IT. MY
OTHER QUESTION IS, SORRY, WITH
THE PERMITTING EXCEPTION,
EXEMPTION, I DO NOT KNOW HOW
THIS WORKS, WE'VE CREATED MORE
EXEMPTIONS FROM PERMITTING TO
TRY TO HELP PRODUCTS ALONG
FASTER, I'M WONDERING WHEN THAT
HAPPENS, DO THE DEVELOPERS , DO
THEY ARE THEY CONSULTING WITH
SDCI AT ALL ON WHETHER THEY
PERMIT OR NOT, HOW DOES THAT
WORK YOU MARK
>> SO, THERE'S A NUMBER OF
DIFFERENT WAYS IN THE CITY AND
IT DEPENDS ON THEIR LEVEL OF,
SOPHISTICATION IS THE WRONG WORD
BUT THE AMOUNT OF EXPERIENCE
THEY'VE HAD WITH THE CITY. ONE
OF THE THINGS WE'RE LOOKING AT
IS, WHAT IS THE FRONT DOOR OF ,
THERE ARE A NUMBER OF DIFFERENT
WAYS THAT THEY CAN COME IN AND
THE WAY THEY COME IN, IT TAKES
THEM INTO DIFFERENT DIRECTIONS
AND COULD LEAD TO
MISUNDERSTANDINGS AROUND WHAT
TYPE OF PERMITS THEY NEED OR
WHAT THEY DON'T NEED, THAT'S
SOMETHING THAT WE ARE CONTINUING
TO LOOK AT THROUGH PACKED. I'M
SORRY, I'M TRYING TO REMEMBER
THE ORIGINAL QUESTION YOU HAD,
>> IF I'M GOING TO DEVELOP A
PROJECT EVEN IF I THINK I MIGHT
QUALIFY FOR AN EXEMPTION OF A
PERMIT, DO I GO OFF AND DO MY
PROJECT AND DON'T CONSULT WITH
YOU ALL? DO I HAVE TO CONSULT
WITH YOU AND YOU LET ME KNOW,
NO, YOU DON'T NEED THAT PERMIT,
YOU'RE GOOD TO GO. DO YOU SIGN
OFF ON THAT TYPE OF THING? WHAT
I'M GETTING TO IS, DO I STILL
NEED TO GO TO SDCI TO GET A SIGN
OFF, YOU DON'T NEED THE PERMIT,
THAT REQUIRES SOMEONE AT SDCI TO
HELP THAT DEVELOPER. WITH THAT
PROJECT. EVEN IF WE DON'T NEED
TO REVIEW IT FOR GIVING THE
PERMIT.
>> THE PERMITS THAT ARE NOT
NEEDED FOR CERTAIN PROJECTS, THE
LAND USE PERMITS, THEY STILL
NEED, CORRECT ME IF I'M WRONG,
ALL PERMITS NEED A BUILDING
PERMIT TO BE ABLE TO CONSTRUCT,
EVEN IF THEY DON'T , WHICH ARE
INTAKE FOLKS CAN EASILY EXPLAIN
THAT TO AN APPLICANT, AND MOST I
WOULD SAY FREQUENT FLYERS IF YOU
WILL, UNDERSTAND WHAT THE
REGULATIONS ARE AT THIS POINT.
THEY'LL KNOW AT THIS POINT THAT
IF THERE PROJECTS NEED THEM OR
NOT THEY CAN GO STRAIGHT TO
BUILDING PERMIT AT THAT POINT.
IT'S TYPICALLY NOT AN ISSUE BUT
WE HAVE A TEAM THAT HELPS
APPLICANTS SORT THAT OUT WHEN
THEY COME IN FROM THE DOOR.
>> SO, YOU STILL NEED THAT
CAPACITY EVEN IF WE'RE EXEMPT
IN SOME PERMIT.
>> YES.
>> SO YOU WILL NEED FOLKS, THAT
WARNS THE INCREASE IN FEES TO
EVEN DO THAT. THANK YOU, CHAIR.
>> THANK YOU, COUNCILMEMBER
RIVERA. AND PUT MYSELF DOWN. GOT
LAST SET OF QUESTIONS IF YOU GOT
OTHER QUESTIONS, PUT YOUR HAND
UP NOW, SO I CAN KNOW TO MANAGE
MY TIME BETTER, I WANT TO KEEP
DIGGING INTO THE CORE STAFFING.
I WANT TO REFRAIN FROM WHERE WE
WERE A MINUTE AGO, WE ARE SEEING
LESS REVENUE, SO, I'LL RESTATE
FROM THE BEGINNING. ALL OF OUR
PERMITTING STAFF ARE FUNDED BY
OUR ENTERPRISE FUND WHICH ARE
FEES RECOVERED FROM PERMIT
APPLICATIONS. IF WE CAN
VERBALIZE BECAUSE THE CAMERA IS
NOT ON YOU AS WELL.
>> THANK YOU VERY MUCH. AND
THOSE FUNDS ARE REDUCING BECAUSE
THE NUMBER OF PERMITS HAVE GONE
DOWN AS WELL AS THE STREAMLINING
OF STATE POLICY, CORRECT?
>> IT'S THE NUMBER , YOU LOOK
AT THE MORE COMPLEX PROJECTS. IF
YOU LOOK AT , GO BACK.
>> DON'T FORGET THE MICROPHONE,
WE'RE HAVING TROUBLE HEARING
YOU.
>> IF YOU LOOK AT THIS SLIDER
RIGHT HERE YOU CAN SEE THE
PERMIT VOLUME IS INCREASING.
IT'S NOT THAT IT'S , PERMITS
THE NUMBERS ARE DECREASING,
IT'S THE TYPE OF PRODUCTS THEY
ARE DECREASING AND WHAT'S
AFFECTING THE AMOUNT OF MONEY
THAT'S COMING IN.
>> YOU'RE TELLING ME WE SHOULD
GET DEBORAH WAR IS TO BUILD
ANOTHER ARENA. EXACTLY. THAT'S
RIGHT. AND SO, WE ARE HAVING
MORE SMALL PROJECTS , FEWER
LARGER PROJECTS, WE HAVE SOUND
TRANSIT ON THE HORIZON FOR THEIR
PERMITS ARE STARTING TO COME IN,
WE'RE AWARE OF THEIR AWAKE BUT
IN THIS MOMENT, WE HAVE FEWER
DOLLARS COMING INTO THE
ENTERPRISE FUND THEN, FEWER
DOLLARS THAN THE TOTAL AMOUNT OF
MONEY THAT WE NEED TO PAY OUR
STAFF. IS THAT A FAIR ESTIMATE?
SO, WHEN WE HAVE FEWER DOLLARS
COMING INTO THE ENTERPRISE FUND
THEN WE HAVE EXPENDITURES FOR
STAFF SALARY, THAT IS WHEN WE
USE THE CORE STAFFING RESERVE.
IS THAT CORRECT? AND SO, AS I
PULLED OUT LAST YEAR BECAUSE ON
THAT TYPE OF BUDGET SURE WHERE I
GOT LAST YEAR'S BUDGET AND THIS
YEAR'S BUDGET UNDERNEATH, LAST
YEAR THIS WAS PAGE 710 FOR YOUR
PLANNING RESERVES CORE STAFFING
IN 2023, YOUR CORE STAFFING WAS
AT 38 MILLION 381,000. IS THAT
CORRECT?
>> IT IS.
>> 38 MILLION, IN YOUR CORE
STAFFING IN 24, THAT DROPPED TO
22,000. YOU ARE BURNING $16
MILLION A YEAR.
>> ARE YOU LOOKING AT THE SIX
YEAR FINANCIAL PLAN?
>> I'M LOOKING AT YOUR
INSPECTION FUND, UNDER YOUR
PLANNING RESERVES FOR STAFFING.
>> THIS MIGHT BE EASIER TO
EXPLAIN IN A WRITTEN RESPONSE.
SO,
>> LET ME HELP YOU WITH WHERE
I'M GOING.
>> I KNOW THAT REPORT, IT SHOWS
.
>> IT'S OKAY, I KNOW WHAT IT
IS. SO, THAT FINANCIAL PLAN, IT
ASSUMES THE RESERVES THAT WE
HAVE OUR COMMITMENTS ALREADY
MADE. WHICH IS SOMETHING FUNNY
WITH THAT VERSION OF THAT
REPORT. WE HAVE THESE RESERVES,
STILL.
>> YOU'RE JUMPING AHEAD OF
WHERE I'M GOING. I'M ASKING
YOU ONE QUESTION OF THE TIME.
LET ME GET WHERE I'M GOING.
TAKE A LITTLE HEAT OFF YOUR
SHOULDERS, HERE. BETWEEN 23 AND
24, WE WENT FROM HAVING 38
MILLION TO 22 MILLION WHICH WAS
A RATE OF ABOUT 16 MILLION, IS
THAT RIGHT? AND THEN, MOVING
INTO THE 2024, THIS IS LAST
YEAR'S PROJECTIONS, IN 24 AND
25 WE HAD A PLANNING RESERVE AT
22 MILLION, DROPPING TO 18 AND
15 AND 26, 27, 15 AND 28, THAT
WAS LAST YEAR'S PROJECTIONS.
FROM THERE, THAT WAS A HARD
DECISION TO LAY OFF STAFF. WHICH
IS A VERY HARD DECISION, EACH OF
THOSE PEOPLE HAS A FAMILY, HAS
COMMITMENT TO THEMSELVES AND
OTHERS. I'M NOT PUTTING THIS ON
YOU, I'M PUTTING THIS ON ME, I
PASSED THE BUDGET. AND THAT WAS
REALLY CHALLENGING FOR ME. I PUT
THIS, YOU HAD A BURN RATE OF $60
MILLION A YEAR. IN THIS YEAR'S
BUDGET WE HAD A PLANNING RESERVE
PLANNED AT $18 MILLION IN CORE
STAFFING BUT NOW I'M SEEING IN
THE 26 REVISED THAT IT'S DOWN TO
12. WE'RE BURNING MORE THAN
ANTICIPATED LAST YEAR, IS THAT
CORRECT?
>> WE ARE. SO, IN THE 27 AND 28
PROJECTED, I'M SEEING $7 MILLION
IN THE PLANNING RESERVE FOR CORE
STAFFING.
>> SO, IN THIS CHART YOU CAN SEE
THE RESERVES, THE CORE STAFFING
RESERVES, BLUE AND GREEN.
THEY'RE BASICALLY DISAPPEARING
, WITHOUT A FEE INCREASE. WITH
THE FEE INCREASES SLOWS DOWN BUT
THEY ARE STILL GOING DOWN. SO,
THAT'S WHY, TO FULLY RECOVER IT
WOULD BE 35% BUT THAT'S A LOT.
WE WERE GOING TO DO HALF. THIS
YEAR.
>> IN OTHER WAYS TO INCREASE THE
AMOUNT OF REVENUE THAT WE'RE
RECEIVING IS IF WE STARTED
HAVING THESE LARGE, MORE COMPLEX
PROJECTS.
>> DURING THE BOOM THAT WE HAD
THE LAST ROUGHLY 10 YEARS FROM
THE LAST GREAT RECESSION UNTIL
THE EARLY 20s, THE CITY
BUILDABLE LOT. THERE ARE LOT OF
LARGE TRAINS IN THE SKY, A LOT
OF LARGE BUILDINGS COMING UP
THOSE ARE COMPLEX, THEY'RE BIG.
THEY REQUIRE A LOT OF WORK, THEY
BRING IN A LOT OF REVENUE AND WE
BUILD UP OUR FUND BALANCE DURING
THAT TIME. IT GOT PRETTY HIGH, I
KNOW THAT HAD CONCERNS ABOUT IT
THAT ONE TIME. BEING A LITTLE
HIGH, BUT, IT CAN CHANGE QUICKLY
WHEN THE ECONOMY CHANGES. OUR
BURN RATE CAN REALLY INCREASE
QUICKLY.
>> THAT'S THE POINT THAT I'M
TRYING TO ILLUSTRATE WITH MY
LINE OF QUESTIONING. I WASN'T
GOING IN ON YOU WHICH IS JUST TO
SAY, THAT, AFTER 2008 RECESSION,
WE AS THE CITY, I WASN'T HERE
AS AN ELECTED OFFICIAL, WE MADE
THE DECISION TO LAY OFF A LARGE
NUMBER OF PERMIT REVIEWERS.
WHICH TOOK AWAY OUR
INSTITUTIONAL KNOWLEDGE FROM
BEING ABLE TO PROCESS PERMITS,
SO THAT WHEN THE ECONOMY CLICKED
BACK ON, WE WERE BEHIND THE
CURVE IN A SIGNIFICANT FASHION.
SO THIS MANAGING OF THE CORE
STAFFING RESERVE HAS BEEN
ESSENTIAL FOR US, DO NOT FIND
OURSELVES IN THE SAME PLACE EVEN
THOUGH WE ARE NOW FIVE YEARS,
SIX YEARS INTO BUILDING, WE WENT
FROM THE FASTEST GROWING CITY IN
THE NATION TO WE'RE NOT
DECREASING BUT, WE DON'T HAVE
AS MANY CRANES IN THE SKY AS WE
DID. THIS IS SOMETHING THAT IS
DRIVING OUR STRUCTURAL BUDGET
CHALLENGE ACROSS THE BOARD,
BECAUSE OF THE LACK OF PROPERTY
TAX +1 , 1% PLUS NEW
CONSTRUCTION PROPERTY TAX. THE
SALES TAX ET CETERA, I JUST,
I'M PULLING THESE NUMBERS OUT
OF THE BACK OF THE BOOK TO
ILLUSTRATE WHY WE HAD TO MAKE
SUCH DIFFICULT DECISIONS LAST
YEAR, REGARDING STAFFING, AND, I
APPRECIATE THE PERSPECTIVE ABOUT
WHAT REAL IMPACT DOES THIS HAVE
ON ESPECIALLY NONPROFITS. NONE
OF THESE DECISIONS ARE BEING
MADE LIGHTLY. AND COLLEAGUES, IF
YOU NEED TO SEE WITH THE SKYLINE
LOOKED LIKE BEFORE THE YEAR
2000, GO BACK AND WATCH 10
THINGS I HATE ABOUT YOU. IT
LOOKED COMPLETELY DIFFERENT.
REALLY, OUR CITY HAS CHANGED SO
IMMEASURABLY IN 26 YEARS. WITH
THAT, WANT TO CHECK IN EARLIER
THIS YEAR I WORKED ON
LEGISLATION TO BAN ALGORITHMIC
PRICE FIXING, DO YOU HAVE THOSE
RESOURCES WE REQUESTED A REPORT
WITHIN THERE, ARE YOU FEELING
COMFORTABLE THAT YOU'RE ABLE TO
PRODUCE THAT REPORT? I DON'T
WANT TO GIVE YOU UNFUNDED
MANDATES.
>> YEAH, SO, THERE WERE A COUPLE
OF EXPECTATIONS, ONE WAS TO HELP
GET THE WORD OUT TO THE LANDLORD
COMMUNITY, AND WE DID THAT. WE
HAVE A LIST THAT GOES TO 25,000
LANDLORDS AND PROPERTY MANAGERS.
WE HELP GET THAT OUT ON OUR
WEBSITE, BUILD IT INTO OUR
LANDLORD TRAINING CURRICULUM TO
GET THE WORD OUT. AND THEN, WE
HAVE A REPORT, WE KNOW WE'RE
TRACKING IT, WE HAVE ONLY JUST
BEGUN , I BELIEVE IT IS A FAIRLY
MANAGEABLE REPORT BY THE END OF
THE YEAR.
>> THANK YOU. I SEE
COUNCILMEMBER KETTLE'S GOT HIS
ADDITIONAL HAND, JUST REMINDING
THE BODY WE'RE ALMOST OUT OF
HERE.
>> THANK YOU, CHAIR STRAUSS, I
HAVE ASKED THE QUESTION, THIS
CAN BE FOR DIRECTOR. ONE OF THE
THINGS LAST YEAR, RIGHT SIZING,
WITH DEPARTMENTS, THIS IS THE
SEATTLE DEPARTMENT OF
CONSTRUCTION AND INSPECTION.
WHEN IT COMES TO RENTAL HOUSING,
IT MAKES SENSE TO BE THERE FOR
CONSTRUCTION, INSPECTION, TO
MAKE SURE THAT IT'S SAFE. FOR
THE RESIDENTS, IN THE BUILDING,
RENTAL ASSISTANCE, AND THE LEGAL
FEES AND ALL THESE OTHER
ELEMENTS BELONG TO THE HUMAN
SERVICES DEPARTMENT. TODAY WE
HEAR THAT THE MONEY HAD BEEN
SHIFTED BUT IN REALITY,
NOTHING'S CHANGED. THE PEOPLE
WHO ARE DOING THE WORK ARE STILL
IN SDCI, IS THERE A MOVE TO
EVENTUALLY GET THOSE PEOPLE TO
HST WHERE THE MONEY IS?
>> I AM NOT ABLE TO ANSWER THE
QUESTION ON THE FLY, HERE. I
KNEW THAT THE MONEY IS ADDED, I
THINK MOST OF THE MONEY IS GOING
OUT TO HELP PEOPLE WHO ARE
STRUGGLING WITH PAYING RENT,
LATE PAYMENTS, OR THEY HAVE
BUILT UP BALANCE, SO MOST OF THE
MONEY GOES OUT TO PAY RENT.
>> THE PEOPLE WHO ARE OVERSEEING
THAT PROCESS, ARE THEY RESIDING
IN HSD YOUR SDCI?
>> I THOUGHT THEY WERE AT HSD,
BUT, ON THE RENT ASSISTANCE,
SDCI ONLY GOT A SMALL PIECE OF
THE PUZZLE FOR TWO YEARS. WE
DIDN'T STAFF UP, WE USED OUR
CURRENT GRANT PROGRAM
ADMINISTRATOR TO ADD THOSE TO
THE WORK LOAD FOR THE TWO YEARS.
IT'S NOW BACK AT SDCI, BACK AT
HSD, I DON'T KNOW THEIR NUMBERS
BUT IT WAS SOMETHING LIKE $6
MILLION. THE MAYOR'S ADS THIS
YEAR.
>> THAT BODY OF WORK IS WITH
HSD, INCLUDING THE PEOPLE, IT'S
NOT LIKE, I UNDERSTAND.
>> WE HAVE SOMETHING LIKE 11 1/2
MILLION DOLLARS FOR RENTAL
ASSISTANCE. I THINK THAT WORK IS
BEING OVERSEEN AT HSD.
>> THE WAY THAT WAS PRESENTED
EARLIER, IT SEEMS LIKE IT WAS
LIKE A PASS-THROUGH. I WANTED TO
DOUBLE CHECK.
>> THE CLARIFICATION WOULD BE
JUST FOR THIS YEAR WHEN THE
MONEY GOT TRANSFERRED TO HSD,
THEY DIDN'T HAVE TIME TO PICK
IT UP AND RUN WITH IT. SO, WE
JUST ENTERED INTO AN AGREEMENT
WITH THEM TO ADMINISTER THEIR
CONTRACTS FOR ONE MORE YEAR.
THAT IT'S ALL FULLY GOING TO
HSD STARTING IN 2046.
>> OKAY, THAT'S CLEAR THE WAY
IT WAS SAID EARLIER, I WAS LIKE
OKAY, THANK YOU, CHAIR, WANTED
CLARIFICATION ON THAT. WE'RE
ALL GOOD.
>> THANK YOU, COUNCILMEMBER
KETTLE. JUST WANT TO NOTE, SDCI
CLOSING COMMENTS, SERIOUSLY,
DIRECTOR, SUCH A PLEASURE TO GET
TO WORK WITH YOU. THANK YOU FOR
TAKING THE HELM IN THIS MOMENT
AND WE'RE LOOKING FORWARD TO
MEETING WHEN SHE GETS HER YOUR.
ANY CLOSING COMMENTS FROM YOUR
TEAM?
>> THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR YOUR
TIME, I APPRECIATE IT. WE WILL
FOLLOW-UP WITH YOU WITH ANY
QUESTION THAT WE WEREN'T ABLE
TO ANSWER TODAY.
>> FANTASTIC. YOU SO MUCH. A
FINAL THANK YOU TO ALL OF YOUR
INSPECTORS WHO ARE OUT THERE IN
THE FIELD, HAVING TOUGH
CONVERSATIONS WITH PEOPLE WHO
ARE OFTEN TIMES NOT HAPPY DOING
THIS IT IS WORK TO MAKE SURE
THAT THE BUILDINGS ARE BUILT
CORRECTLY, SAFELY, AND WILL BE
HERE FOR THE LONGEVITY, BECAUSE
BACK TO MY EDITORIAL ABOUT THE
60s AND 70s, HORRIBLE DESIGN.
THANK YOU TO ALL OF YOUR STAFF.
COLLEAGUES, THIS DOES CONCLUDE
OUR SEPTEMBER 30th, 2025 ROBERTS
BIRTHDAY COMMITTEE MEETING. JUST
LOOKING AT NEXT WEEK, WE HAVE A
TUESDAY PUBLIC HEARING, VIRTUAL
SESSION AT 1:00 P.M. IN PERSON
SESSION AT 5:00 P.M., THE
WEDNESDAY MEETING REGARDING THE
.1% PUBLIC SAFETY SALES TAX. SO,
THAT'S WHAT'S ON DECK FOR NEXT
WEEK. AGAIN, MEET WITH YOUR
STAKEHOLDERS, TO CONTINUE
DEVELOPING YOUR BUDGET PROPOSALS
. DIRECTOR EDER, DIRECTOR NOBLE,
FINAL REMARKS BEFORE WE CLOSE
THE FIRST SECTION OF THIS BUDGET
PROCESS?
>> JUST WANT TO THANK YOU FOR
YOUR ATTENTION AND FOCUS
EFFORTS, REVIEWING THE BUDGET,
AND CONSIDERING THE FINAL
VERSION THAT YOU WILL ULTIMATELY
PASS.
>> THANK YOU SO MUCH. JUST TO
NOTE, COUNCILMAN FOR SOLOMON AND
COUNCILMEMBER WAR IS TIED FOR
MOST FOCUSED QUESTIONS BUT
COUNCILMEMBER MORRIS WAS SMARTLY
GOT ME AND COUNCIL PRESIDENT
NELSON TO ASK QUESTIONS. WINNER
GOES TO COUNCILMEMBER SOLOMON,
THANK YOU ALL. THERE IS NO
FURTHER BUSINESS BEFORE THE
COMMITTEE, WE'LL BE ADJOURNED.
COUNCILMEMBER SOLOMON.
>> AGAIN, WANT TO THANK YOU FOR
YOUR SERVICE, I WANT TO GIVE A
SHOUT OUT TO THE SDCI STAFF,
I'VE WORKED REALLY CLOSELY WITH
THE CODE ENFORCEMENT FOLKS, THE
VACANT BUILDING FOLKS, AND IN MY
PREVIOUS ROLL DOING IN THE SOUTH
END, A LOT OF THE SUCCESS THAT
WE HAD IN ADDRESSING COMMUNITY
CONCERNS IS THE PARTNERSHIP THAT
I'VE HAD WITH FOLKS LIKE
ELLIOTT AND HINCH, AND ALL THOSE
FOLKS, AND WANTED TO SHOUT THAT
OUT. AND FINALLY, HAPPY
BIRTHDAY, PAPA STRAUSS.
>> THANK YOU, COUNCIL FOR
SOLOMON. SEEING NO FURTHER
BUSINESS TO COME BEFORE THE
COMMITTEE, WE ARE ADJOURNED, SEE
YOU NEXT WEEK.