TO ORDER.
IT IS 2:02 P.M.
I'M SARA NELSON, CHAIR OF THE
COMMITTEE.
COUNCIL MEMBER REVERA WILL
BE JOINING US LATER, BUT SHE
DID HAVE AN EXCUSAL FOR THE
FIRST
PART.
WILL THE CLERK PLEASE CALL THE
ROLE?
WE ALSO HAVE
COUNCILMEMBER HAULINGS WRTHD ON
ROLE.
>> COUNCILMEMBER IVERA.
>> COUNCILMEMBER HOLLINGSWORTH.
>> CHAIR NELSON?
>> PRESENT.
>> FOUR PRESENT.
>> THANK YOU VERY MUCH.
OKAY, TODAY WE'VE GOT A MAY
ORAL
APPOINTMENT TO THE
SEATTLE ETHICS COMMISSION
FOR REAPPOINTMENT TO THE
LABOR STANDARDS ADVISORY
COMMISSION AND A ROUNDTABLE
DISCUSSION ABOUT DOWNTOWN
RETAIL.
I KNOW THAT IS NOT CODE FOR
TALKING ABOUT ORGANIZED RETAIL
THEFT, ET CETERA.
RATHER, WE HAVE INVITED
RETAIL TO THE TABLE BECAUSE
THAT'S
HOW WE EXPERIENCE DOWNTOWN.
THANKS.
AND SO RETAIL IS AN EXTREMELY
IMPORTANT SECTOR IN OUR
ECONOMY, WHICH WE WILL DELVE
INTO IN MUCH
MORE RICHNESS LATER ON, BUT
RETAIL IS ALSO WHAT
DIFFERENTIATES ONE DOWNTOWN
FROM ANOTHER, SO IT'S
EXTREMELY IMPORTANT TO RECOGNIZE
ITS IMPORTANCE AND HOW
GOVERNMENT CAN HELP, BECAUSE I
WANTED
TO NOTE THAT EARLIER TODAY,
COINCIDENTALLY, THERE WAS A
RETAIL STUDY WORKSHOP
ORGANIZED BY THE OFFICE OF
ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT WHERE MANY
OF THE
ROUNDTABLE
PANELISTS PARTICIPATED AND I WAS
NOT ABLE
TO ATTEND THAT EVENT, BUT
I REALLY APPRECIATE AND LOVE
HOW THERE'S ALIGNMENT AND
EXCITEMENT BETWEEN THE EXECUTIVE
AND THE
LEGISLATIVE BRANCHES ON
THIS ISSUE ACROSS THE CITY.
SO THIS IS A SIGN THAT WE'RE
JUST BEGINNING TO REALLY
THINK ABOUT AND DELVE
INTO THIS IMPORTANT SECTOR AND
HOW WE CAN
WORK TOGETHER TO IMPROVE IT.
WE SHOP, AFTER ALL, BROWSE,
EAT, DRINK, CONSUME IN RETAIL
ESTABLISHMENTS.
AND WE RATE THEM AND TAKE
PHOTOS AND CELEBRATE IN THEM,
SO THEY'RE A BIG PART OF OUR
LIVES, AND YET, I DON'T KNOW
WHEN WE
HAVE EVER ASKED AS
POLICYMAKERS HOW THEY EXPERIENCE
THE
CUSTOMER ENVIRONMENT.
AND I DON'T KNOW IF WE HAVE
EVER
ASKED THEM WHAT THEY THINK OF
OUR -- OF, WELL, OF OUR HELP
OR LACK THEREOF.
SO WE JUST WANT TO BRING BOTH
SIDES, THE INSIDE AND
OUTSIDE, TOGETHER AT THE SAME
TABLE AND
TALK ABOUT SOME FUN STUFF.
ALL RIGHT.
WE ALL WANT, AFTER ALL, I
THINK, OBVIOUSLY, I'M NOT GOING
TO SPEAK FOR ALL OF US, BUT
I ALWAYS SAY WE WANT A SAFE
AND VIBRANT DOWNTOWN, SO
SUPPORTING
OUR BRICK AND MORTAR
RETAIL SECTOR IS EXTREMELY
IMPORTANT.
THAT'S THE AGENDA.
IF THERE'S NO OBJECTION,
THE AGENDA WILL BE ADOPTED.
HEARING NONE, THE AGENDA IS
ADOPTED.
AND NOW WE'LL MOVE INTO
THE HYBRID PUBLIC COMMENT
PERIOD.
HOW MANY PEOPLE HAVE SIGNED UP
TODAY?
>> CHAIR, WE HAVE ONE IN
PERSON AND THREE ONLINE.
>> OKAY.
WE'LL START WITH THE IN- PERSON
SPEAKER.
EVERYBODY GETS TWO MINUTES,
AND THEN WE'LL MOVE TO THE
ONLINE.
>> OUR FIRST SPEAKER IS ALEX
TSIMERMAN.
>> HELLO, HELLO.
I LOVE SEATTLE.
STALIN FOR SEASON 30,
MUSSOLINI FOR SEASON 25.
SEATTLE, IT CAN GO FOREVER.
25 YEARS WE HAVE.
MY NAME IS ALEX TSIMERMAN.
IT'S ABOUT ACCOUNTABILITY.
MY NAME IS ALEX TSIMERMAN.
PRESIDENT OF SEND UP AMERICA.
I SUPPORT -- I SPOKE IN COUNCIL
CHAMBER 5,000 TIMES, 6,000 DAYS.
FIVE TIMES, AND YESTERDAY,
FASCIST PIG CUT MY STATEMENT FOR
ELECTION TOTALLY.
YEAH.
EXACTLY.
THAT'S EXACTLY.
I LOVE SEATTLE.
EVERYTHING COSTS.
I DON'T SEE FUTURE CAN BE
CHANGED.
NO.
LOOK, NOBODY HERE.
700,000 NEVER COME HERE RIGHT
NOW.
IT'S A GOOD SIGN, MAYBE WE CAN
CHANGE.
I DON'T THINK SO.
BUT WE HAVE GESTAPO.
WE CAN CHANGE HERE.
BUT THESE PEOPLE --
THEY ACCEPT
EVERYBODY. THEY ACCEPT
SOCIALISTS. THEY ASSESSMENT
EVERYTHING,
AND NOTHING CHANGES.
IN THE LAST 25 YEARS, I SAY, MY
GOD, MUSSOLINI, HOW ABOUT 25
YEARS? SO RIGHT NOW, I SPEAK TO
EVERYBODY.
VIVA A NEW AMERICAN REVOLUTION.
>> THAT IS OUR ONLY IN- PERSON
SPEAKER.
>> THANK YOU, PLEASE
PROCEED WITH THE ONLINE
SPEAKERS.
>> THANK YOU.
AND AS A REMINDER FOR THOSE
ONLINE, WHEN YOU HEAR THE CHIME,
YOU HAVE TEN SECONDS LEFT.
IF YOU EXCEED THAT TIME, YOUR
MICROPHONE MAY BE CUT OFF SO
WE CAN MOVE ON TO THE NEXT
SPEAKER.
PLEASE MAKE SURE TO PRESS STAR 6
TO UNMUTE YOURSELF.
OUR FIRST ONLINE SPEAKER IS JOHN
INGBER.
JOHN, YOU CAN GO AHEAD.
>> PRESIDENT NELSON AND
HONORABLE COMMITTEE MEMBERS,
MY NAME IS JOHN AND I LIVE
IN SEATTLE WHERE I'M THE
DIRECTOR OF THE RETAIL INDUSTRY
COALITION OF SEATTLE.
COALITION OF OVER 100
SMALL SEATTLE RETAILERS.
I'M CALLING TO EXPRESS
OUR STRONG SUPPORT FOR THE
RETAIL
ROUNDTABLE.
RETAILERS FACE CHALLENGES
FROM PUBLIC SAFETY PROBLEMS TO
THE HIGH COST OF DOING BUSINESS
IN
SEATTLE.
INCREASINGLY, I'M
FINDING RETAILERS WHO ARE
GREATLY REDUCING OR TOTALLY
ELIMINATING
EMPLOYEE HOURS.
IN SOME CASES, THEIR STORES ARE
ONLY OPEN FOR THE HOURS
THEIR OWNER IS AVAILABLE TO
SERVE
CUSTOMERS. I REALLY APPRECIATE
YOUR
TAKING THE TIME TO LISTEN TO THE
NEEDS OF SEATTLE RETAILERS,
ESPECIALLY
THE SMALL RETAILERS THAT
ARE REALLY THE HEARTBEAT OF OUR
COMMUNITY.
THANK YOU VERY MUCH.
>> THANK YOU.
OUR NEXT VIRTUAL SPEAKER IS
ALBERTO ALVAREZ.
>> THANK YOU.
FOR THE ETHICS BOARD
APPOINTMENT, SEATTLE JUST
FOUGHT BACK AND DEFENDED OUR
VALUES
AGAINST COUNCIL CORRUPTION.
THIS IS A VICTORY TO ALL
WHO DON'T HAVE A MILLION
DOLLAR SAFETY NET OF POLITICAL
INFLUENCE.
THE PAST YEAR AND A HALF HAS
ASKED A LOT FROM THE
ETHICS PANEL AND DIRECTOR WAYNE
BARNETT. MR. BARNETT, IF YOU ARE
THERE, THANK YOU FOR THE MANY
TIMES
YOU HAVE BEEN ASKED TO DO YOUR
JOB, AND THE WORK YOU DO FOR OUR
CITY.
THE DECADES OF KNOWLEDGE AND
PUBLIC SERVICE YOU HAVE ARE
PRECISELY WHAT SEATTLE NEEDS IN
THIS VERY MOMENT OF
RAMPANT CORRUPTION AND CHAOS.
ALSO, OF THE TARIFF
DRIVEN ECONOMIC DOWNTURN GUTS
OUR
CITY, THE BUSINESS TYPES,
RETAIL,
WILL SAY CUT WAGES.
ROLL BACK SAFETY.
LET US EXPLOIT PEOPLE FOR
PROFIT.
FOR THE LABOR BOARD
APPOINTMENTS, YOU MUST
PROTECT OUR WORKING CLASS FROM
BUSINESS
OWNERS.
AND PROVIDE THE STABILITY WE
WILL NEED TO WEATHER THE COMING
STORM.
HOLD STRONG AND DEFEND
EVERY RIGHT WE HAVE AS WORKERS
THAT
KEEP SEATTLE STRONG AND VIBRANT.
THANK YOU ALL AND HAVE A GOOD
DAY.
>> OUR FINAL VIRTUAL SPEAKER
IS DAVID HAYNES.
DAVID, GO AHEAD.
>> HI, THANK YOU.
DAVID HAYNES.
IS THERE ANY WAY COUNCIL
PRESIDENT CAN SHIFT
ONE AVAILABLE COUNCILMEMBER,
PERHAPS HERSELF, TO TAKE OVER
THE
HOUSING AND HUMAN SERVICES
COMMITTEE? BECAUSE THERE SEEMS
TO BE A
LACK OF REAL EFFORT FROM THE
LANDLORDS ON THE COUNCIL
TO SOLVE THE HOMELESS
CRISIS. BECAUSE NOBODY WANTS IT
IN
THEIR DISTRICT, BUT EVERY
DISTRICT
HAS TO MAKE AN EFFORT AND WE DO
NOT
SEE THAT FROM THIS COUNCIL.
AND IT DOESN'T SEEM FAIR YOU
ALL
ARE JUST GOING TO ALLOW FOR
THE HOUSEN HUMAN SERVICES
COMMITTEE TO BE CANCELED BECAUSE
AN
UNELECTED SPECIAL COUNCIL
AND CO- CHAIR MEMBER WHO IS ALSO
A
LANDLORD LYING ABOUT IT
WEAPONIZING A TECHNICALITY
IN THE LAW HAS BETTER THINGS TO
DO THAN SOLVE THE HOMELESS
CRISIS WITH
COMMITTEE ISSUES AND AGENDA.
COUNCIL, BECAUSE THERE IS TOO
MUCH POWER TRIPPING FROM
THE DAIS AND MORE FOCUSED
CAMPAIGN
PROPAGANDA COMING OUT OF A
SENSATIONAL
RACE-BAITING WHITE MAN HATING
SPECIAL COMMITTEE ON
FEDERAL ADMINISTRATION
AND POLICY CHANGES.
EVEN LANDLORD
COUNCILMEMBER MARITZA RIVARIA
COUNCILED HER
MEETING THAT THE LIBRARY
CONTINUES TO SUFFER THE SAME
PUBLIC HEALTH CRISIS
THAT'S IMPACTING THE BUDGET AND
THE ECONOMY CRISIS THAT THE
MAYOR HAS FAILED TO ADDRESS
PROPER. THAT COUNCIL PRAISES AND
DEFERS TO AS IF THAT'S
THE IMAGE CITY HALL WANTS TO
PORTRAY OF GOING
ALONG TO GET ALONG INSAID
OF SOLVING THE PROBLEMS
EXACERBATED BY THE EXECUTIVES
AND
PROGRESSORS ON COUNCIL. THE
HOMELESS CRISIS, THE
HOUSING CRISIS, THE SMALL
BUSINESS
AND WORKERS CRISIS, AS IF
COUNCIL
IS SO PREOCCUPIED AND MOTIVATED
BEHIND THE SCENES LOBBYING
AND QUESTIONING THE ETHICS BOARD
AND APPOINTING A PROGRESSIVE
BOARD, WHILE RUSHING IMPATIENTLY
IN COMMITTEE
MEETINGS. WHILE CONTINUING TO
SABOTAGE
THE COMPREHENSIVE PLAN WITH
RESTRICTIONS AND STATE
BARE MINIMUMS WHILE PLACING
ONE SEATTLE PLAN TO LINE THE
POCKETS OF BUILDING BLOCKS OF
BLACK
LIVES MATTER AND GEORGE FLOYD
PROTESTERS HIDING BEHIND RACE.
>> THANK YOU.
THAT IS THE FINAL COMMENTER.
>> ALL RIGHT.
THANK YOU VERY MUCH.
WILL THE CLERK -- SO WE HAVE
REACHED THE END OF OUR LIST
OF PUBLIC COMMENT SPEAKERS SO
THE PUBLIC COMMENT PERIOD IS NOW
CLOSED.
ALL RIGHT, WE MOVE ON TO
AGENDA ITEM ONE.
WILL THE CLERK PLEASE READ
THE TITLE INTO THE RECORD?
>> AGENDA ITEM ONE, APPOINTMENT
03145, APPOINTMENT OF KAI
SMITH AS MEMBER OF SEATTLE
ETHICS AND
ELECTIONS COMMISSION FOR A
TERM TO DECEMBER 31, 2027.
FOR BRIEFING, DISCUSSION,
AND POSSIBLE VOTE.
>> THANK YOU.
PLEASE INTRODUCE YOURSELVES
AND YOU MAY BEGIN.
>> I'M WAYNE BARNETT,
EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR OF THE
SEATTLE
ETHICS AND ELECTIONS COMMISSION.
>> MY NAME IS KAI SMITH, A
PARTNER AT PACIFICA LAW
GROUP.
>> WELCOME.
HAVE AT IT.
>> ALL RIGHT.
WELL, I'LL JUST INTRODUCE
THE COMMISSION AND TURN IT OVER
TO
KAI.
AS YOU KNOW, THE COMMISSION,
WE ADMINISTER THE ETHIC CODE,
THE
ELECTIONS CODE,
THE WHISTLEBLOWER PROTECTION
CODE.
THAT'S OUR MAIN ROLE, IS
LIKE EDUCATING FOLKS ON THOSE
AND ALSO ENFORCING THOSE.
SO KAI HAS VOLUNTEERED TO
JOIN THE COMMISSION TO HELP ME
DO
THAT.
>> THANK YOU, WAYNE.
I'M HONORED TO BE NOMINATED
AND LOOKING FORWARD TO SERVING
THE SEE OF SEATTLE IN THIS
CAPACITY IF I'M APPROVED.
>> THANK YOU VERY MUCH FOR
YOUR WILLINGNESS TO SERVE.
WOULD YOU LIKE TO SHARE A
LITTLE BIT ABOUT YOUR
BACKGROUND?
>> I WOULD BE HAPPY TO, YEAH.
I HAVE BEEN A PARTNER AT
PACIFIC LAW GROUP FOR EIGHT
YEARS NOW.
MUCH OF
MY PRACTICE IS REPRESENTING
PUBLIC ENTITIES
AND NONPROFITS.
I SEE THIS HOPEFUL ROLE AS A
WAY TO TIN TO SERVE THE PUBLIC
AS
I DO IN MY CURRENT CAPACITY.
I HAVE TWO YOUNG KIDS, VERY
YOUNG KIDS, WHO ARE 2 YEARS OLD
AND 10 MONTHS AT HOME WITH MY
WIFE, AND HAPPY TO, AS I
SAID, HAPPY TO SERVE IN THIS
ROLE.
>> THANK YOU.
IS THERE ANYTHING THAT YOU
WOULD LIKE TO ADD?
>> NO.
>> AND THIS IS A MAYORAL
APPOINTMENT.
I THINK WE LAST
COMMITTEE MEETING OR MAYBE IT
WAS THE ONE
BEFORE, WE ALSO HAD A COUNCIL
APPOINTMENT.
DO MY COLLEAGUES HAVE ANY
QUESTIONS?
AND I'M ALSO LOOKING AT THE --
GO AHEAD, COUNCILMEMBER KETTLE.
>> THANK YOU, COUNCIL PRESIDENT.
WELCOME.
AND I JUST WANTED TO --
MR. SMITH AND DIRECTOR
BARNETT, WELCOME BACK.
A LITTLE QUIETER TODAY THAN LAST
TIME YOU WERE HERE.
I WAS CURIOUS BECAUSE I
HAD -- BECAUSE OF THE EARLIER
TIME,
I HAD SOME MEETINGS
WITH MR. BUKALEs WHO I THINK IF
I REMEMBER RIGHT FROM PACIFIC
LAW GROUP AS WELL.
AND HIS AREA OF FOCUS
DOVETAILED QUITE NICELY IN TERMS
OF EXPERIENCE FOR THIS.
WHAT IS YOUR AREA OF WORK
IN TERMS OF THE LAW?
AND YOUR EXPERIENCE
GENERALLY AND SPECIFICALLY AS IT
RELATES TO THE ETHICS AND
ELECTION
COMMISSION.
>> YEAH, HAPPY TO SPEAK
MORE ABOUT
THAT. I'M A LITIGATOR AND
COUNSELLOR.
MANY OF MY CLIENTS ARE PUBLIC
ENTITIES AND FULL DISCLOSURE,
THE CITY OF SEATTLE IS ONE OF
THEM.
PUBLIC ENTITIES FROM LOCAL
GOVERNMENTS, NONPROFITS, AS
WELL AS PUBLIC INTEREST GROUPS
AND
ADVOCATES.
THAT LITIGATION CAN BE
INCLUDE EVERYTHING FROM
CONSTITUTIONAL CHALLENGES UNDER
THE FEDERAL
AND STATE CONSTITUTION, ALL THE
WAY DOWN TO CONTRACT
DISPUTES BETWEEN VENDORS OR
PARTIES. IN TERMS OF HOW THAT
WORK SPECIFICALLY RATES TO THE
ETHICS COMMISSION, MUCH OF MY
WORK IS
INTERPRETING AND GUIDING AND
LITIGATING STATE STATUTES.
SOMETIMES CITY CODES AS
WELL, CITY ORDINANCES.
SO HAVING THAT CAPACITY TO
ANALYZE SOMETIMES DENSE
AND COMPLICATED ORDINANCE
OR GUIDANCE MATERIAL AND
APPLYING
THAT IN THE REAL WORLD.
SOMETHING I DO DAILY, AND
I BELIEVE I WOULD BE ABLE TO
SERVE THE COMMISSION IN THAT
WAY.
I SHOULD ALSO NOTE, TOO,
MUCH OF MY WORK INVOLVES WORK IN
THE
ELECTION SPACE AS WELL.
REGULARLY LITIGATE BALLOT TITLES
AT THE STATE LEVEL AND ADVISE
CLIENTS ON THE
CONSTITUTIONALITY AND LEGALITY
OF LEGISLATION AND
PROPOSED BALLOT MEASURES.
>> OKAY.
THAT DEFINITELY,
PARTICULARLY THE LAST PART,
DEFINITELY
LINES UP IN EXPERIENCE RELATED
TO THE
COMMISSION.
I WAS JUST CURIOUS, TOO,
IN TERMS OF COMMUNITY
INVOLVEMENT, I SEE THE WORK YOU
HAVE
DONE, FULL DISCLOSURE, MY WIFE
IS AN
ATTORNEY, SO I HAVE SEEN
SHE'S DONE SOME SIMILAR WORK,
SIMILAR
ORGANIZATIONS. I WAS JUST
CURIOUS IF YOU
COULD SPEAK TO YOUR
COMMUNITY INVOLVEMENT AND HOW
IT'S
SHAPING YOUR VIEW GENERALLY OR
YOUR DESIRE TO SERVE ON THIS
COMMISSION.
>> I WOULD BE HAPPY TO.
I CURRENTLY SERVE ON THE
BOARD OF THE WASHINGTON STATE
BUDGET AND POLICY CENTER, WHICH
IS A
NONPROFIT ORGANIZATION THAT
SERVES AS A THINK TANK
AND SOMETIMES ADVOCACY
ORGANIZATION FOR ECONOMIC
JUSTICE.
I SERVED IN THAT ROLE FOR TWO
YEARS AND LOOK FORWARD
TO CONTINUING TO DO SO.
I ALSO SERVE ON THE FEDERAL
WESTERN DISTRICT PRO
BONO COMMITTEE WHICH IS AN
ORGANIZATION OF LAWYERS
THAT HELP TO COORDINATE THE PRO
BONO PROGRAM OPERATED PIE THE
FEDERAL DISTRICT COURT HERE IN
SEATTLE.
OUR ROLE IS TO MAKE SURE
THAT CASES THAT HAVE BEEN
DESIGNATED FOR HOPEFUL PRO BONO
ASSIGNMENT GET ASSIGNED
CORRECTLY TO
MAKE SURE THAT PROGRAM RUNS
SMOOTHLY.
WITH TWO KIDS, VERY YOUNG
KIDS AT HOME, I WOULD LOVE TO
HAVE MORE CAPACITY FOR PUBLIC
SERVICE, AND I AM
LOOKING FORWARD TO TAKING ON
THIS
ROLE AS WELL.
>> YES, YOU GET A PASS WITH
TWO YOUNG CHILDREN.
>> THANK YOU.
>> TRUST ME.
YES.
I'M HALF TEMPTED TO
SAY SOMETHING BUT I WON'T GO
THERE.
THANK YOU, COUNCIL PRESIDENT.
>> I'M SURE THERE IS.
LET'S SEE.
I'M NOT SEEING ANY
FURTHER QUESTIONS OR HANDS
RAISED ON
HERE.
I HAVE A QUESTION.
WE ARE HEADING INTO, IF NOT
ALREADY IN, WHAT SOME
PEOPLE CALL THE SILLY SEASON.
AND SO I HAVE ALWAYS
WONDERED HOW -- HOW THE
COMMISSION'S
DEMANDS CHANGE THROUGHOUT THE
YEAR, EVERY TWO YEARS OR SO.
SO I UNDERSTAND THE MAJOR
BLOCKS OF WORK THAT THE
COMMISSION OPINES ABOUT, BUT
DOES IT
JUST GET REALLY JAMMED AT THIS
TIME OF YEAR?
WITH ELECTIONS?
>> IT DOES.
YES.
I'LL RECEIVE MANY
MORE COMPLAINTS IN THE NEXT
FOUR MONTHS THAN I RECEIVED
PROBABLY THE OTHER TWO YEARS
COMBINED.
YES, IT DOES SPIKE.
>> MM-HMM.
DO YOU MEET QUARTERLY USUALLY?
>> USUALLY MEET MONTHLY.
>> OKAY.
SO THEN I IMAGINE SOMETIMES
YOU HAVE TO CALL FOR A
SPECIAL
MEETING --
>> YES, WE OCCASIONALLY
HAVE SPECIAL MEETINGS AS WELL.
>>
OKAY, THANK YOU. CONFIRMS WHAT I
WAS THINKING.
>> OKAY.
LET'S SEE.
IF THERE ARE NO
FURTHER QUESTIONS -- GO AHEAD,
PLEASE.
>> I WANT TO SAY, YOU HAD ME
AT SEATTLE U, BECAUSE I AM ALSO
AN
ALUM.
>> GO RED HAWKS.
>> WELL, CLEARLY, YOU HAVE THE
EXPERIENCE TO SPEAK OF NOT
JUST THE LOBBYING AND
THE WHISTLEBLOWER COMPLAINTS,
I WOULD IMAGINE, BUT ALSO YOUR
WORK ON BEHALF OF, I
THINK IT WAS THE CHALLENGERS,
TOO, SOME
OF THE INITIATIVES LAST
YEAR DOES MAKE YOU A GREAT
CANDIDATE FOR DEALING WITH OUR
ELECTIONS
QUESTIONS.
SO THANK YOU, AGAIN, FOR YOUR
SERVICE.
AND SEEING NO FURTHER QUESTIONS,
I WOULD LIKE TO SEE, I AM MOVING
UP TO THIS PART.
I WOULD LIKE TO MOVE AGENDA
ITEM 1 AND CALL FOR A VOTE ON
THAT.
UNLESS THERE ARE --
THERE'S FURTHER DISCUSSION.
I MOVE AND I NEED A SECOND.
>> SECOND.
>> OKAY.
GO AHEAD.
IT'S BEEN MOVED AND SECONDED
TO PROCEED WITH A VOTE.
AND LET'S GO AHEAD AND CALL THE
ROLL, PLEASE.
>> COUNCILMEMBER SOLOMON.
>> YAY.
>> COUNCILMEMBER HOLLINGSWORTH.
>> YES.
>> CHAIR NELSON.
>> AYE.
>> FOUR IN FAVOR,
NONE OPPOSED.
>> EXCELLENT.
THE MOTION CARRIES AND WE'LL
RECOMMEND YOUR CONFIRMATION
TO THE FULL COUNCIL.
YOU'RE WELCOME TO COME TO THAT
MEETING.
IT WILL NOT BE THIS
COMING TUESDAY BUT THE FOLLOWING
TUESDAY. THANK YOU VERY MUCH FOR
YOUR WILLINGNESS TO STEP UP AND
SERVE.
THANK YOU.
>> THANK YOU VERY MUCH, CHAIR
AND COUNCILMEMBERS.
I APPRECIATE IT.
>> ALL RIGHT.
OUR NEXT ITEM ON THE
AGENDA IS -- WILL THE CLERK
PLEASE
READ ITEMS 2 THROUGH 5?
AS A SLATE INTO THE RECORD.
AS THEY'RE ALL APPOINTMENTS TO
THE LABOR STANDARDS ADVISORY
COMMISSION.
REAPPOINTMENTS, YES.
>> APPOINTMENT 3212,
APPOINTMENT 3213, APPOINTMENT
3214,
AND APPOINTMENT 3215.
REAPPOINTMENT OF MARISSA
BAKER, GREG RAMIREZ, AMANDA
POWTER,
AND SAMUEL HILBERT AS MEMBERS OF
THE LABOR STANDARD
ADVISORY COMMISSION FOR A TERM
TO APRIL
30, 2027.
FOR BRIEFING, DISCUSSION,
AND POSSIBLE VOTE.
>> THANK YOU VERY MUCH.
WE'RE ALSO JOINED AT THE
TABLE BY DIANA SALAZAR FROM OLS,
THE OFFICE OF LABOR STANDARDS,
AND THREE OF THE FOUR
APPOINTMENTS ARE HERE VIRTUALLY,
SO THANK
YOU VERY MUCH FOR JOINING US
TODAY.
WITH THAT, PLEASE SAY
YOUR NAME FOR THE RECORD AND
THEN YOU MAY
BEGIN.
>> THANK YOU, CHAIR NELSON.
GOOD AFTERNOON.
MEMBERS OF THE COMMITTEE, MY
NAME IS DIANA SALAZAR.
I'M A POLICY ANALYST FOR
THE OFFICE OF LABOR STANDARDS.
I AM ALSO A BOARD LIAISON FOR
THE OTHER BOARD THAT OUR OFFICE
SUPPORTS, THE DOMESTIC
WORKERS CENTERS BOARD, THIS IS
SUPPORTED
BY SHUSHEN WHO WAS SCHEDULED
TO BE OUT OF OFFICE, SO I'M
HERE WILLING TO DO MY BEST
TO REPRESENT THE LABOR
STANDARDS ADVISORY COMMISSION,
SO I HOPE I
CAN ANSWER ALL YOUR QUESTIONS.
I WILL JUST GIVE A BRIEF
INTRODUCTION OF WHAT IS
LSAC, AND WE HAVE THREE MEMBERS
REMOTELY THAT CAN
INTRODUCE THEMSELVES AND ANSWER
ANY QUESTIONS AS WELL.
SO THE LABOR STANDARDS
ADVISORY COMMISSION OR LSAC
WAS ESTABLISHED IN 2016.
IT IS A COMMISSION OF 15 MEMBERS
COMPRISED OF BUSINESS, COMMUNITY
AND LABOR LEADERS, TASKED WITH
ADVISING OUR OFFICE, OLS, THE
MAYOR, CITY COUNCIL, AND
OTHER AGENCIES REGARDING
WAGES, WORKING CONDITIONS,
WORKER
SAFETY, HEALTH, AND OTHER
LABOR STANDARD PROTECTIONS.
THE COMMISSION ALSO PROVIDES
FEEDBACK TO OLS ON THE
IMPLEMENTATION OF
LABOR STANDARDS AND THE ALMOST
20 ORDINANCES THAT OUR OFFICE
ENFORCES.
FINALLY, THE ENABLING
ORDINANCE TASKED LSAC TO
RECOMMEND
EFFORTS TO ACHIEVE WORKPLACE
EQUITY FOR
WOMEN, COMMUNITIES OF COLOR,
IMMIGRANTS, REFUGEES AND OTHER
VULNERABLE WORKERS.
THAT IS MY BRIEF INTRO OF
LSAC AND I WILL PASS IT TO THE
THREE MEMBERS THAT ARE ONLINE
TO INTRODUCE THEMSELVES.
>> COULD YOU PLEASE CALL THEM
IN ORDER SO THEY'RE NOT
WONDERING
WHO IS GOING?
>> YES, LET'S GO WITH GREG.
>> GOOD MORNING.
MY NAME IS GREG RAMIREZ.
DO YOU WANTS ME TO DO A BRIEF
INTRODUCTION ABOUT WHO I AM
OR LET EVERYBODY
INTRODUCE THEMSELVES AND GO FROM
THERE.
>> GO STRAIGHT INTO YOUR INTRO.
>> I CAN DO THAT.
GOOD AFTERNOON, EVERYBODY. MY
NAME IS GREG RAMIREZ.
I SERVE AS DEPUTY DIRECTOR
AND CHIEF OF STAFF OF SIEU 6,
WE REPRESENT 10,000
MEMBERS THROUGHOUT KING COUNTY,
BUT
THE MAJORITY OF THEM WORK IN
SEATTLE.
JANITORS, SECURITY OFFICERS,
AND AGAIN, SOME AIRPORT SERVICE
WORKERS.
YOU KNOW, I HAVE DEDICATED MY
CAREER TO BEING AN ADVOCATE
AROUND WORKERS RIGHTS AND LABOR
STANDARDS.
AND YOU KNOW, WHEN
THIS OPPORTUNITY INITIALLY CAME
ABOUT, I SAW IT AS A WAY TO KIND
OF CONTINUE TO ENGAGE
AROUND WHAT I'M PASSIONATE
ABOUT.
AND REPRESENTING NOT ONLY
LIKE THE MEMBERS I REPRESENT BUT
JUST WORKERS THROUGHOUT THE SEE
OF SEATTLE WHO MAY NOT BE A PART
OF A LABOR UNION.
FOR ME, THE BIGGEST THING WITH
LSAC IS BEING ABLE TO
CONTINUE TO SUPPORT OLS'S
EFFORTS AROUND
EDUCATION, NOT ONLY FOR
WORKERS BUT FOR BUSINESSES
AROUND, YOU
KNOW, WHAT LABOR LAWS EXIST
IN THE CITY OF SEATTLE.
I THINK IT'S VERY IMPORTANT FOR
FOLKS TO KNOW WHAT
THEY'RE ENTITLED TO AS WELL AS
FOR BUSINESSES TO UNDERSTAND
WHAT THEY'RE OBLIGATED TO DO
UNDER THE
LAW. AND INSURING THERE'S A
LEVEL PLAYING FIELD FOR THOSE
BUSINESSES, AND WE'RE NOT
GIVING UNFAIR COMPETITIVE
ADVANTAGE
TO THOSE FOLKS THAT ADHERE TO
THOSE LAWS AND OTHERS THAT MAY
NOT,
SO AGAIN, THIS IS A GREAT
OPPORTUNITY, AND I'M HOPING
TO BE REAPPOINTED AND HAPPY
TO ANSWER ANY QUESTIONS IF YOU
HAVE
ANY.
THANK YOU.
>> THANK YOU, GREG.
CAN WE GO WITH AMANDA NEXT,
PLEASE.
>> HI, THANK YOU.
MY NAME IS AMANDA POWTER.
I'M A RESIDENT OF DISTRICT 6
AND A SMALL BUSINESS OWNER,
PERFECT COPY AND PRINT ON
CAPITOL
HILL AND DISTRICT 3.
I WAS APPOINTED TO LSAC
LAST YEAR AND REALLY EXCITED TO
BRING
MY EXPERIENCE AND PERSPECTIVE
AS A BUSINESS OWNER TO THE
COMMISSION.
AND TO LEARN MORE ABOUT HOW
THE OFFICE OF LABOR STANDARDS
DOES ITS IMPORTANT WORK.
I CONTINUE TO BE NRTD ENERGIZED
TO BRING THE BUSINESS OWNER
PERSPECTIVE AND FOUND THE
FOLKS ON THE COMMISSION AND OLS
OPEN
AND WILLING TO WORK WITH
OUR SHARED GOALS OF A STRONGER
COMMUNITY.
I HAVE APPRECIATED BEING ABLE
TO JOIN THE LSAC BUDGET
SUBCOMMITTEE AND HELP ARTICULATE
THE IMPORTANCE OF OW
OUTREACH AND EDUCATION TO MAKE
IT AS
EASY AS POSSIBLE TO UNDERSTAND
AND IMPLEMENT ORDINANCES ON TOP
OF THE ABUNDANCE OF THINGS WE
HAVE TO CARE ABOUT TO
RUN A BUSINESS. I WAS HAPPY TO
SEE THAT
BUDGET PRESERVES LAST YEAR AND
THANK THE COUNCIL FOR
RECOGNIZING
THAT.
LSAC RECENTLY PARTNERED WITH THE
DOMESTIC WORKER STANDARDS
BOARD AND OTHERS TO HOST A KNOW
YOUR RIGHTS FORUM GEARED TOWARD
BOTH WORKERS AND BUSINESS
OWNERS, UNDERSTANDING THE IMPACT
OF IMMIGRATION ENFORCEMENT AND
HOW LABOR ORDINANCES INTERACT.
THE PRESENTERS
COVERED INFORMATION FOR BUSINESS
OWNERS LIKE THINGS LIKE I- 9
AUDITS
OR DIFFERENT TYPES OF WARRANTS
AND
HOW TO SUPPORT OUR SHARED
VALUES, WORKERS, AND
BUSINESSES IN SEATTLE.
GREAT INFORMATION LIKE
THIS HELPS MINIMIZE THE
DISRUPTION
TO OUR BUSINESSES SO OWNERS CAN
FOCUS ON THE HARD JOB OF
RUNNING THE BUSINESS AND WORKERS
CAN
THRIVE.
AND THEN EARLIER THIS YEAR,
I WAS ELECTED TO CO- CHAIR
LSAC, AND I'M REALLY EXCITED TO
HELP CONTINUE TO ELEVATE AND
INCLUDE BUSINESS OWNER VOICES AS
WE
WORK WITH OLS, THE MAYOR, THE
COUNCIL, AND OTHER
ORGANIZATIONS TO HELP SEATTLE'S
WORKER
AND BUSINESS COMMUNITY BE STRONG
AND GROW AT THIS CRITICAL TIME.
THANK YOU FOR
CONSIDERATION. I WOULD
APPRECIATE TO BE
REAPPOINTED.
THANKS.
>> THANK YOU, AMANDA.
SAMUEL.
>> PERFECT.
HELLO.
I GET TO GO LAST.
SAMUEL HILBERT HERE.
I OWN A CELLAR, THAT'S WHY
I HAVE THE PRETTY BACKGROUND.
WE HAVE LOCATIONS ON CAPITOL
HILL, BALLARD, AND QUEEN ANNE.
YMS ALSO A D- 7 RESIDENT.
I SERVE ON THE BOARD OF
DIRECTORS.
LOVE BEING INVOLVED IN THE
COMMUNITY. HAVE REALLY ENJOYED
MY
SHORT TIME SO FAR ON LSAC,
SIMILAR TO
AMANDA, CAME IN.
THERE WAS A BIG FOCUS TO
MAKE SURE THERE WAS THE VOICES
OF
THE BUSINESS COMMUNITY WERE
ALSO REPRESENTED THROUGH HERE.
REALLY APPRECIATED THAT
BECAUSE LABOR IS VERY IMPORTANT
TO
ALL OF US, BUT ALSO AT THE SAME
TIME, IT'S IMPORTANT TO MAKE
SURE THAT WE TALK ABOUT HOW WE
COMMUNICATE TO THE
BUSINESS COMMUNITY AND ALSO
KEEPING
THE SMALL BUSINESSES IN MIND AT
THAT SAME TIME.
PERSONALLY, THIS IS MORE ON A
STATE LEVEL, BUT I GET MY FIRST
EMPLOYEE GETTING READY TO GO
OUT ON PATERNITY LEAVE AND
I'M THANKFUL FOR PAID LEAVE
BECAUSE HE HAS THE ABILITY TO DO
THAT
AT THE SAME TIME AND GETTING TO
SEE THOSE OPPORTUNITIES FOR MY
EMPLOYEES HAS BEEN EXCITING
IN OUR 8 1/2 YEARS WE HAVE
BEEN RUNNING SO FAR IN THIS
SMALL
MICROBUSINESS AND FINDING THOSE
RESOURCES AND HELPING
WORK THROUGH THOSE RESOURCES.
ON THIS SEATTLE LEVEL AS WELL,
I HAVE BEEN VERY EXCITED TO GET
TO INTRODUCE LSAC TO SOME OF
THE NEWER COUNCIL MEMBERS.
I MET WITH COUNCIL MEMBER
SOLOMON AND RINK.
I'M ALSO FAMILIAR WITH A
FEW MORE OF YOU, SOMETIMES IN
OTHER SITUATIONS AS WELL THAT I
HAVE BEEN WORKING IN.
BUT REAL EXCITED TO BRING
THAT VOICE OF BUSINESS
TO THIS COMMISSION AND GET TO
WORK
WITH AMANDA AS THE NEW CO- CHAIR
THERE
AS WELL.
AS WELL AS BILLY, SINCE THE
VERY BEGINNING.
SO THANK YOU FOR THIS
OPPORTUNITY.
I REALLY HOPE FOR
THE CHANCE TO BE APPOINTED TO
THIS
COMMISSION.
>> THANK YOU, SAMUEL.
WE CAN TAKE QUESTIONS.
>> YES.
DO MY COLLEAGUES HAVE
ANY QUESTIONS OR COMMENTS?
COUNCILMEMBER SOLOMON.
>> THANK YOU VERY MUCH,
COUNCIL PRESIDENT NELSON.
A COUPLE QUICK THINGS.
GREG, I THINK WE HAVE
COME ACROSS EACH OTHER BECAUSE I
SEE IN YOUR BACKGROUND YOU WERE
AT YOUTH
CARE. AND I BELIEVE OUR PATHS
CROSSED BECAUSE I WAS ON THE
BOARD
OF YOUTH
CARE. I KNEW YOUR NAME LOOKED
FAMILIAR.
THANK YOU FOR CONTINUING TO
WANT TO SERVE.
AND THEN SAMUEL, I WAS
LOOKING AT YOUR BACKGROUND,
SEEING
YOU WERE AT THE WINDERMERE
OFFICE
ON CAPITOL HILL.
WERE YOU WORKING WITH PAT
GRAHAM AT ALL?
>> YES, I WAS TEXTING WITH HIM
TODAY, ACTUALLY.
I STILL ACTUALLY WORK AT THAT
OFFICE.
>> INTERESTING.
OKAY, YEAH.
FULL CONFESSION, WE
WERE CLASSMATES AT SEATTLE PREP.
SO TELL HIM I SAID HEY.
AND AMANDA, THANK YOU FOR YOUR
SERVICE, AND YOU CONTINUING TO
SERVE.
THE FACT THAT FOLKS ARE GIVING
OF THEIR TIME TO DO THIS
WORK SPEAKS VOLUMES ABOUT YOUR
COMMITMENT TO HOW WE FUNCTION IN
THE CITY, AND I DO THANK YOU
ALL FOR YOUR SERVICE AND WANTED
TO GIVE YOU THOSE FOLKS
SOME ACKNOWLEDGMENT AND SOME
SHOUT
OUTS.
SO THANK YOU VERY MUCH, MADAM
PRESIDENT.
>> THANK YOU.
AND COUNCILMEMBER KETTLE.
>> THANK YOU, COUNCIL PRESIDENT.
FOR EVERYBODY ONLINE, I
JUST WANTED TO SAY THANK YOU
FOR PUTTING YOUR NAME
FORWARD. I SHOULD HAVE SAID THIS
LAST
TIME, LAST AGENDA ITEM WITH
THE SEATTLE ETHICS AND ELECTION
COMMISSION.
TO VOLUNTEER YOURSELF DOES TAKE
TIME.
IT TAKES EFFORT.
THERE'S TRADE- OFFS SO I
APPRECIATE STANDING UP
AND LOOKING TO SUPPORT OUR CITY
IN THIS WITH LABOR STANDARDS
IN THIS CASE.
REALLY APPRECIATE THE VARIED
BACKGROUND.
WE HAVE A BRICK AND MORTAR
RETAIL COMING UP AND I NOTED,
SAMUEL, THAT MR. HILBERT,
YOU HAVE THAT IN YOUR CASE,
AND DISTRICT 7, WHICH MAY MAKE
YOU MY FAVORITE OF -- SORRY --
OF THE APPOINTMENTS.
SORRY BUT I THINK IT'S
IMPORTANT TO NOTE AND I HAVE
DONE
THIS EACH YEAR.
I HAVE AN ANNUAL MEETING WITH
OLS TO GET A BASELINE IN
TERMS OF HOW THEY'RE SEEING
THINGS, WHAT ARE THE ISSUES IN
TERMS
OF LABOR STANDARDS AND THE LIKE.
AND
I THINK THAT'S IMPORTANT FOR ME
TO GET FROM OLS AND I
SUSPECT IT'S IMPORTANT FOR OLS
AND
THE BROADER ECOSYSTEM TO HAVE
THIS
ADVISORY KIND OF ROLE AND
INPUT, SO I THANK YOU FOR
BRINGING
IT AND I DO APPRECIATE THE
VARIED
BACKGROUNDS.
AND PERSPECTIVES THAT THE
THREE OF YOU BRING.
I ALSO WANTED TO NOTE, TOO,
AND MR. RAMIREZ, YOU SPOKE TO
THIS
A LITTLE BIT, BUT RECENTLY
PASSED A PIECE OF LEGISLATION
RELATED
TO ALGORITHMIC RENT PRICE
FIXING.
AND IN MY REMARKS, I NOTED
THAT IT IS IMPORTANT IN
DIFFERENT
ASPECTS OF THAT, BUT
ALSO IMPORTANT WAS THE IDEA THAT
IN
AMERICA, WE HAVE A LEVEL PLAYING
FIELD.
AND I THINK THAT'S
SOMETHING THAT WE SHOULD BE
MINDFUL
OF, AND THIS AREA AS WELL.
SO I THINK THAT'S A CONCEPT
IN AN AMERICAN KIND OF WAY, YOU
KNOW, A LITTLE BIT OF THE
UNDERDOG, BUT THE IDEAF A LEVEL
PLAYING FIELD.
THE PRICE FIXING
LEGISLATION, BUT I THINK IT
APPLIES HERE TOO.
SO HAVING THIS KIND OF VARIED
BACKGROUND I THINK HELPS
THE ABILITY TO DO THAT, SO THANK
YOU
FOR VOLUNTEERING YOUR
TIME. BY THE WAY, I'M LOOKING
OVER
MY SHOULDER BECAUSE THAT'S
WHERE
I CAN SEE ALL OF YOU AT THE SAME
TIME.
AND THANK YOU FOR VOLUNTEERING.
CHAIR.
>> THANK YOU.
AND I SEE THAT
COUNCILMEMBER HOLLINGSWORTH HAS
HER HAND UP.
GO AHEAD, PLEASE.
>> THANK YOU, COUNCIL PRESIDENT.
JUST THANKING GREG, SAMUEL,
AND AMANDA FOR YOUR SERVICE.
I KNOW THAT IT'S VOLUNTEER.
YOU ALL HAVE JOBS.
SMALL BUSINESSES, ALL THE
THINGS THAT YOU DO, SO TO ADD
THIS
TO YOUR RESUME AND TO THE LIST
OF THINGS YOU'RE DOING JUST
SPEAKS A LOT ABOUT WHO YOU ARE
AS
PEOPLE, AND I ALSO LOVE WHAT YOU
ALL SPOKE ABOUT REGARDING
THE MIX OF THE COUNCIL AND
HAVING JUST DIFFERENT
PERSPECTIVES WHICH I THINK IS
IMPORTANT. I DON'T EVER THINK
BUSINESS
AND LABOR SHOULD BE FIGHTING.
THEY
NEED EACH OTHER, SO TRYING TO
FIGURE OUT HOW THEY ALL
WORK TOGETHER UNIFORMLY AND
FIGURING HOW HOW WE MOVE FORWARD
TOGETHER
I THINK IS ALWAYS A BEAUTIFUL
THING.
SO JUST THANKING YOU
ALL WHOLEHEARTEDLY FOR YOUR
TIME, AND I KNOW THAT YOU ALL
WILL CONTINUE TO DO GREAT WORK.
AND WORK WITH OUR COUNCIL
TO MAKE SURE THAT WE CAN
SUPPORT OUR LABOR, OUR WORK
FORCE,
AND ALSO SUPPORT OUR
SMALL BUSINESSES AS WELL.
SO AND COME OUT WITH SOME GOOD
POLICY.
SO THANK YOU.
>> YES, I WILL SECOND
THAT, THOSE THOUGHTS THAT
IT'S IMPORTANT TO HAVE BOTH
THE MANAGEMENT AND LABOR OR THE
TWO
SIDES TOGETHER BECAUSE THEY CAN
BOTH INFORM WHAT THEY NEED,
AND IT PROVIDES FOR EASIER
DIALOGUE AND WHAT GETS HASHED
OUT ATAT
MEETINGS IS
REALLY IMPORTANT FOR THE STATE
OF SMALL
BUSINESS AND WORKERS RIGHTS IN
SEATTLE.
SO LET'S SEE.
I MOVED.
DID I ALREADY MOVE?
OKAY, GREAT.
ALL RIGHT, IF THE ARE NO
FURTHER QUESTIONS OR COMMENTS
AND
I'M SEEING NONE, I MOVE THAT
THE COMMITTEE RECOMMEND
CONFIRMATION OF APPOINTMENT
03212, 213, 214,
AND 215.
IS THERE A SECOND.
>> SECOND.
>> THANK YOU VERY
MUCH. IT'S BEEN MOVED AND
SECONDED TO
CONFIRM THOSE APPOINTMENTS
AND UNLESS SOMETHING RAISES
THEIR HAND RIGHT NOW, I'M NOT
SEEING
ANY, WE WILL VOTE ON THOSE
APPOINTMENTS.
WILL THE CLERK PLEASE CALL
THE ROLL ON THE PASSAGE
OF APPOINTMENTS 0 THEE 212, 213,
214, AND 215?
>> COUNCILMEMBER RIVERA.
>> AYE.
>> COUNCILMEMBER SOLOMON.
>> AYE.
>> COUNCILMEMBER HOLLINGSWORTH.
>> YES.
>> COUNCILMEMBER KETTLE.
>> AYE.
>> CHAIR NELSON.
>> AYE.
>> FIVE IN FAVOR.
>> THANK YOU VERY MUCH.
THE MOTIONS CARRY AND THE --
THE -- THE APPOINTMENTS HAVE
BEEN CONFIRMED.
SO THANK YOU VERY, VERY MUCH
FOR BEING HERE, FOR ALL OF YOU
FOR TUNING IN.
I'M LOOKING AT THE SCREEN
HERE IN FRONT OF ME.
CONGRATULATIONS ON YOUR
REAPPOINTMENTS AND
YOU'RE WELCOME TO COME A WEEK
FROM TUESDAY IF YOU WOULD LIKE,
BUT IT'S NOT NECESSARY.
THANK YOU AGAIN FOR YOUR TIME
AND EFFORT AND EXPERTISE.
THANKS BYE-BYE.
CONGRATULATIONS.
ALL RIGHT.
MOVING ON TO OUR LAST AGENDA
ITEM, AND I WILL NOTE THAT
WE HAVE BEEN JOINED BY
COUNCILMEMBER RIVERA.
WILL THE CLERK PLEASE READ ITEM
6 INTO THE RECORD?
>> BRICK AND MORTAR RETAIL
ROUNDTABLE DISCUSSION.
>> OKAY.
AND SO I WOULD INVITE FOLKS
TO COME TO THE TABLE.
I GIVE A LITTLE SPIEL BEFORE WE
BEGIN.
SO COME ON UP.
AND FEEL WELCOME.
ALL RIGHT.
SO I THINK THAT IT'S A
TRUISM THAT OR I THINK MOST
PEOPLE BUY
INTO THE NOTION THAT TO BE
A WORLD CLASS CITY YOU HAVE
TO HAVE A WORLD CLASS RETAIL
CORE IN YOUR DOWNTOWN.
AND SINCE THE PANDEMIC WE HAVE
HEARD OVER AND OVER AGAIN
IN DIFFERENT CONTEXT THAT
SEATTLE HAS STRUGGLED A BIT MORE
THAN
OTHER CITIES TO BOUNCE BACK
FROM THE PANDEMIC.
EITHER THE NUMBERS OR THE
LENGTH OF TIME IT'S TAKING TO
GET
TO SOME OF THOSE MILESTONE
NUMBERS.
AND THEN I'M SURE
THERE ARE A LOT OF REASONS FOR
THIS,
BUT MORE TO THE POINT, MORE
SALIENT, I THINK, IS THAT THERE
IS --
YOU HEAR MORE AND MORE AS IF
IT IS OBVIOUS BUT I QUESTION
THIS THAT
BRICK AND MORTAR RETAIL IS DEAD.
THAT'S WHAT YOU HEAR ALL THE
TIME,
THAT E-COMMERCE HAS TAKEN OVER,
BUT WE REALLY DON'T
HAVE TO LOOK FAR TO SEE THAT'S
NOT
TRUE.
IN FACT, BELLEVUE SQUARE, U
VILLAGE, ALDERWOOD MALL ARE ALL
DOING FAIRLY WELL, AND I WOULD
SAY ALSO THAT SO IS
DOWNTOWN, ALTHOUGH IT DEPENDS ON
WHAT METRICS YOU'RE LOOKING AT.
IF YOU'RE LOOKING AT IT FROM A
QUALITY OF LIFE AND A -- WHAT
IT TAKES TO FEEL LIKE ONE
BELONGS TO A CITY, THAT MIGHT
NOT BE
TRUE FOR EVERYONE OR MOST
PEOPLE, BUT THE POINT IS THAT
TO ME, BRICK AND MORTAR MATTERS.
AND THAT IS WHY I WANTED
TO BRING US ALL TOGETHER TO
TALK ABOUT HOW WE CAN STRENGTHEN
THE
RETAIL SECTOR, THE BRICK
AND MORTAR RETAIL SECTOR
DOWNTOWN.
SO THIS IS THE THIRD
CONSTITUENCY SPECIFIC
ROUNDTABLE DISCUSSION I HAVE
HOSTED IN
COMMITTEE.
IN THE ECONOMIC COMMITTEE.
AND YOU DON'T -- THIS
NEW COUNCIL HAS NOT BEEN HERE
FOR THE FIRST TWO.
THE FIRST ONE WAS A
ROUNDTABLE DISCUSSION I CONVENED
AT
MY SECOND COMMITTEE MEETING IN
2022, FEBRUARY.
AND IT WAS WITH SMALL
BUSINESS OWNERS AND
REPRESENTATIVES OF
NEIGHBORHOOD BUSINESS
DISTRICTS THAT I INVITED TO COME
TALK ABOUT THE IMPACTS OF
RISING CRIME ON THEIR STAFF, ON
THEIR
CUSTOMERS, AND ON THEIR
OWN PERSONAL LIVELIHOODS.
THEN THE SECOND
ROUNDTABLE DISCUSSION BROUGHT
TOGETHER SMALL HOUSING PROVIDERS
TO
TALK ABOUT THE RENTAL HOUSING
MARKET
CONDITIONS AND THE
CHALLENGES THAT THEY'RE FACING
THERE.
AND THEY ALSO SPOKE TO SOME
ISSUES REGARDING PERMITTING
THAT ELEVATE THE BURDEN OF THE
INCREASING COST OF RENOVATIONS
AND REPAIRS.
SO THIS, HOWEVER, I BELIEVE
IS THE FIRST TIME IN RECENT
HISTORY
IN SEATTLE, IN SEATTLE
GOVERNMENT, WE HAVE HAD MAJOR
RETAIL VOICES AT THE TABLE
TO TALK ABOUT WHAT THEY'RE
SEEING IN THE RETAIL SPACE
DOWNTOWN,
FROM THE PROBLEMS THEY'RE
FACING TO SOME OF THE GREAT NEW
THINGS THAT ARE HAPPENING.
AND WHAT THE CITY CAN DO TO
HELP AND SUPPORT.
AND WE ALSO HAVE COUNCIL --
WE ALSO HAVE CITY ATTORNEY
ANN DAVISON AT THE TABLE BECAUSE
A LOT OF HER WORK DIRECTLY
IMPACTS
THE RETAIL SECTOR WHEN IT COMES
TO ORGANIZED RETAIL THEFT,
IF THAT IS STILL EXPRESSION.
ANYWAY, MY POINT IS THAT CITY
ATTORNEY DAVISON WILL ADD
SOME THOUGHTS ABOUT HOW SOME OF
HER
OFFICE'S WORK HAS PERHAPS
HELPED THE DOWNTOWN RETAIL
SCENE.
BUT REGARDLESS OF WHO IS
HERE, IT'S VERY IMPORTANT TO
TALK ABOUT HOW CITY GOVERNMENT
CAN
BE AWARE OF AND HELP THE
SECTOR THAT DEFINES THE CITY AS
SEATTLE, WHEN YOU REALLY THINK
ABOUT IT, YOU THINK WHEN
PEOPLE LEAVE FROM A TRIP, THEY
THINK ABOUT WHERE THEY WENT
AROUND
THE CITY, AND EVEN PEOPLE THAT
LIVE AND WORK DOWNTOWN ALSO RE-
CREATE IN THE RETAIL SECTOR.
SO WITH THAT, I WILL SIMPLY
ASK EACH OF OUR GUESTS TO
INTRODUCE
THEMSELVES.
THE LIST OF FOLKS WE HAVE GOT
JOINING US ONLINE INCLUDE
WASHINGTON RETAIL
ASSOCIATION AND WHO WILL
PROVIDE, THIS IS --
WELL, JON SCHOLES AND
ALESHA SHEMWELL WILL REPORT A
GENERAL
PLAY OF VIEW, AND THE
DOWNTOWN ASSOCIATION WORKING
WITH DOWNTOWN WORKS, TALK ABOUT
THEIR, SOME RECENT WORK THEY
HAVE BEEN DOING TO CULTIVATE
RETAIL DOWNTOWN.
SO THAT'S JON SCHOLES AGAIN AND
MIDGE.
AND THEN WE HAVE THE CITY
ATTORNEY ANN DAVISON,
FOLLOWED BY -- IT MIGHT NOT GO
IN THIS
PRECISE ORDER.
REPRESENTING NORDSTROM IS LAURA
BEST, AND BH PROPERTIES, JANEL
JENSEN.
ALSO, AND THAT IS THE GROUP THAT
IS PARENT COMPANY, I BELIEVE, TO
PACIFIC PLACE.
AND THEN FINALLY, I'LL PROVIDE
SOME CLOSING REMARKS IF
YOU'RE NOT SUPER BORED AND
WANTING
TO GET OUT OF HERE BY THAT TIME.
SO WITH THAT, PLEASE INTRODUCE
YOURSELVES.
WE'LL START WITH THE FOLKS
AT THE TABLE AND THEN MOVE TO
THE PEOPLE JOINING US REMOTELY.
>> WELL, GOOD AFTERNOON.
AND THANK YOU, COUNCIL
PRESIDENT, FOR INVITING ME
TO PARTICIPATE IN THIS.
RETAIL HAS BEEN A VERY LARGE
PART OF MY LIFE FOR, I WOULD
SAY, THE LAST 40 YEARS.
AND I AM FOUNDER AND PRINCIPAL
OF A CONSULTING FIRM
CALLED DOWNTOWN WORKS.
AND DOWNTOWN WORKS IS
EXACTLY WHAT IT SAYS.
WE WORK WITH DOWNTOWNS TO
MAKE THE RETAIL WORK.
RETAIL BEING THE MOST VISIBLE
OF ALL LAND USES IN THE CITY OR
IN
A TOWN.
THAT IT'S IMPORTANT THAT WE GET
IT RIGHT AND WE KEEP IT RIGHT.
YEARS AGO, IT WAS THE MALLS WHO
WERE THE IMPORTANT PURVEYORS OF
RETAIL SALES.
AND ALL OF A SUDDEN, PEOPLE
REALIZED, OH, WELL, WE
HAVE THESE WONDERFUL CITIES AND
WE HAVE A LOT OF VACANT STORES.
WHAT ARE WE GOING TO DO WITH
THEM?
AND FORTUNATELY, DOWNTOWN
WORKS WAS AROUND TO HELP THEM
OUT.
I WOULD SAY WE STARTED THIS IN
THE LATE '80s.
WORKING WITH BUSINESS
IMPROVEMENT DISTRICTS AND
WITH CITIES AND WITH SMALL
DEVELOPERS
ON CREATING MERCHANDISE MIXES,
ON WHAT WOULD BE THE BEST
STRATEGY -- WHAT WOULD BE
THE BEST STORES TO POPULATE
THEIR
STREETS, BUT MORE
IMPORTANTLY, HOW DO WE GO ABOUT
GETTING
THESE BEST STORES?
SO THAT WAS, I HAD MANY
CONVERSATIONS WITH JON
SCHOLES OVER THE YEARS, AND HAVE
TALKED TO HIM ABOUT THE NEED FOR
HAVING
A RETAIL ADVOCATE THAT KNOWS
RETAIL, THAT WORKS IN DOWNTOWN
FOR HIS ORGANIZATION,
UNFORTUNATELY, BECAUSE THE
CITY MADE IT POSSIBLE THROUGH
SOME
FUNDING TO PAY TO HAVE A
RETAIL ADVOCATE FOR DOWNTOWN.
>> GREAT.
>> AND WHEN JON TALKED TO
ME ABOUT IT, I SAID, OH, GREAT.
I SAID, I WOULD BE HAPPY
TO TRAIN SOMEONE TO
DO THAT. AND HE SAID NO, I WANT
YOU TO
DO IT.
AND I THOUGHT, WELL, THAT
WILL KEEP ME OFF PLANES AND I
CAN STAY IN SEATTLE.
OUR PRACTICE IS NATIONAL SO
WE HAVE WORKED IN MANY MAJOR
RETAIL MARKETS ACROSS THE
COUNTRY.
AND WHAT WE FOUND WAS THAT IF --
>> HOLD ON, CAN YOU TALK
ABOUT WHAT YOU FOUND A LITTLE
BIT
LATER? I WAS HOPING FOR PEOPLE
TO --
>> JUST AN INTRODUCTION.
>> JUST NAME, AFFILIATION,
AND WE'LL MOVE ON.
>> THAT'S IT.
>> THANK YOU.
THAT WAS A GOOD TEASER.
>> RIGHT.
I HAVE MY COLLEAGUE HERE WITH
ME, TOM BOUDREAU, WHO
HAS COME IN FOR THE DAY.
>> OKAY.
>> I'M JANEL JENSEN, HERE WITH
BH PROPERTIES.
I HAVE WORKED MY ENTIRE CAREER
FOCUSED ON RETAIL IN THE
GREATER DOWNTOWN SEATTLE AREA
FROM
A NUMBER OF DIFFERENT
PERSPECTIVES.
I STARTED MY CAREER AS A
BROKER, REPRESENTING LOCAL
BUSINESS OWNERS AS WELL AS
NATIONAL TENANTS AND OWNERS IN
THE
MARKET. AND THEN WORKED FOR A
PREVIOUS OWNERSHIP GROUP AND
HAVE
TOUCHED EVERY SIDE OF A LOT OF
DIFFERENT TRANSACTIONS, WORKING
WITH
LOCAL BUSINESS OWNERS, WORKING
WITH
LOCAL LANDLORDS, AND NOW
WORKING WITH THE OWNERSHIP GROUP
AT PACIFIC PLACE.
>> THANK YOU.
>> HI, MY NAME IS THOMAS
BOUDREAU.
I'M THE OPERATIONS ADVISER
TO DOWNTOWN WORKS.
AND BASICALLY, I'M THE NUMBERS
GUY.
>> CITY ATTORNEY ANN
DAVISON. THANK YOU.
>> THANK YOU.
>> OKAY.
LET'S GO UP THERE, STARTING
WITH
ALESHA.
>> GOOD AFTERNOON, AND THANK
YOU FOR THE OPPORTUNITY FOR THIS
ROUNDTABLE TODAY.
MY NAME IS ALESHA SHEMWELL,
AND I REPRESENT A NUMBER OF
DIFFERENT ORGANIZATIONS
THAT DEAL WITH RETAIL INTERESTS,
IN
PARTICULAR, WASHINGTON RETAIL
ASSOCIATION, WASHINGTON
BUSINESS PROPERTIES ASSOCIATION,
AND THE
INTERNATIONAL COUNCIL
OF SHOPPING CENTERS.
I HAVE ALWAYS LIVED IN
SEATTLE, AND I LOVE THIS TOWN.
AND RETAIL HAS BEEN A PART OF
MY LIFE SINCE, WELL, I THINK
FOR OVER 25, 30 YEARS.
SO JUST EXCITED THAT WE
HAVE THIS OPPORTUNITY TO BE HERE
TODAY.
>> THANK YOU.
LAURA, PLEASE.
>> GOOD AFTERNOON.
MY NAME IS LAURA BEST AND
I'M THE STORE MANAGER AT THE
FLAGSHIP NORDSTROM, AND I ALSO
REALLY WANT TO THANK YOU FOR
INVITING NORDSTROM TO BE A
PART OF THIS MEETING.
I HAVE BEEN WITH NORDSTROM
FOR 38 YEARS THIS YEAR.
I RECENTLY MANAGED OUR
BELLEVUE STORE FOR THE LAST SIX
YEARS
AND HAVE BEEN DOWNTOWN FOR ABOUT
EIGHT MONTHS NOW, AND I LOVE IT.
I LIVE IN SEATTLE.
I HAVE ALWAYS LIVED IN SEATTLE
SINCE I HAVE BEEN HERE AND PART
OF THE COMMUNITY, AND I'M
VERY APPRECIATIVE OF BEING ASKED
TO
PARTICIPATE.
>> THANK YOU.
>> GO AHEAD, JON.
>> GOOD AFTERNOON,
COUNCILMEMBERS.
JON SCHOLES.
THANKS FOR ORGANIZING
THIS IMPORTANT CONVERSATION
TODAY.
>> ALL RIGHT.
THANK YOU ALL VERY MUCH
FOR BEING HERE.
SO, THE ORDER OF SPEAKERS
THAT WE HAVE WILL BEGIN WITH
ALESHA AND FROM WASHINGTON
RETAIL
ASSOCIATION, WHO WILL BE
JOINED BY JON WITH SORT OF THE
HIGHER LEVEL OVERVIEW OF WHAT
WE'RE GOING TO BE TALKING ABOUT
TODAY.
AND THEN WE'LL PROCEED
WITH MIDGE AND JON, THEN
CITY ATTORNEY DAVISON THEN
NORDSTROM
WITH LAURA BEST, AND
PACIFIC PLACE JANEL JENSEN AND
THEN
CLOSING REMARKS.
LET'S, IF WE CAN, RESIST ASKING
QUESTIONS DURING THEIR REMARKS.
THAT WOULD BE GREAT.
BUT IF YOU HAVE TO HAVE -- ASK
A CLARIFYING QUESTION, PLEASE
FEEL FREE TO DO SO.
ALL RIGHT.
WITH THAT, I LEAVE IT TO
ALESHA AND JON.
GO AHEAD, PLEASE.
>> I WOULD NEVER CUT IN FRONT
OF ALESHA EXCEPT FOR THIS ONE
MOMENT BECAUSE I'M AT
THE AIRPORT AND I'M ABOUT TO
JUMP
ON A PLANE.
OTHERWISE, I WOULDN'T DO THAT.
AND I WOULD BE THERE IN
PERSON, NOT JOINING YOU
VIRTUALLY.
SO SORRY FOR NOT BEING ABLE
TO DO THAT.
I DID WANT TO OFFER A FEW
OPENING COMMENTS FROM THE
PERSPECTIVE OF DOWNTOWN.
THAT IS, ONE, AS MIDGE
NOTED, BRICK AND MORTAR RETAIL
IS
ALIVE AND WELL AROUND THE
COUNTRY, AROUND THE WORLD.
PEOPLE WANT TO HAVE THOSE
IN- PERSON PHYSICAL RETAIL
EXPERIENCES.
YOU CAN SEE THAT IN BELLEVUE, IN
PARTS OF SEATTLE, IN TOKYO.
LONDON, AND OTHER PLACES.
TWO, A HEALTHY
RETAIL ENVIRONMENT FOR
DOWNTOWN IS IMPORTANT FOR A HOST
OF REASONS.
JOB CREATION, STRONG TAX BASE, A
LIVE AND ACTIVE AND SAFE
STREETS.
I WANT TO THANK
COUNCILMEMBER KETTLE AND
COUNCILMEMBER
NELSON AND CITY ATTORNEY DAVISON
FOR CREATING A SAFE OPERATING
ENVIRONMENT FOR OUR
RETAILERS AND EVERYBODY ELSE AND
FOR
THE OTHER COUNCILMEMBERS WHO
HAVE TAKEN A NUMBER OF VOTES TO
DO
THAT.
WE'RE IN A
MUCH BETTER PLACE BECAUSE OF
YOUR EFFORTS TO
IMPROVE SAFETY IN DOWNTOWN
AND
OTHER BUSINESS DISTRICTS. IN A
CITY AND IN A STATE WHERE
SALES TAX IS SO IMPORTANT TO
OUR LOCAL,
REGIONAL, AND STATE BUDGETS A
HEALTHY RETAIL SECTOR
AND CORE IN DOWNTOWN AND IN
BALLARD AND OTHER PARTS OF THE
CITY IS IMPORTANT TO HOW WE FUND
IMPORTANT SERVICES TO OUROUR
CITY.
WE HAVE MADE PROGRESS OVER THE
LAST NUMBER OF YEARS AND WE
HAVE MORE OPENINGS THAN CLOSINGS
BUT
WE STILL HAVE A TON OF WORK TO
DO.
WE HAVE A RECORD NUMBER OF
VACANCIES IN OUR DOWNTOWN
AND THOSE INDEPENDENT
STOREFRONTS MEAN FEWER JOBS AND
FEWER
TAX REVENUE TO THE CITY.
WE'RE GRATEFUL FOR
THE PARTNERSHIP WE HAVE WITH
THE OFFICE OF ECONOMIC
DEVELOPMENT
TO BE ABLE TO BRING MIDGE
ONBOARD TO SUPPORT
ADDITIONAL PROSPECTING AND
RECRUITING, GET CLOSER TO OUR
EXISTING
RETAILERS, MANE OF WHOM
HAVE STRONG STORIES TO TELL
IN ENLISTING THEIR HELP AND
HELPING
US RECRUIT PROSPECTS FOR OTHER
RETAILERS TO COME INTO OUR
DOWNTOWN.
SO WE ARE COMMITTED TO THIS
WORK.
THE HELP
THAT THE CITY CAN PROVIDE IS TO
CONTINUE TO
CREATE A SAFE, PREDICTABLE
OPERATING
ENVIRONMENT, TO INSURE THAT THE
OPERATING COSTS ARE
COMPETITIVE WITH OTHER AREAS.
AND I WILL SAY THE BNO TAX
PROPOSAL THAT WAS
ANNOUNCED YESTERDAY IS NOT A
HELPFUL SELLING POINT TO OUR
EFFORTS
TO ATTRACT RETAILERS TO SEATTLE.
THERE'S A LOT OF LARGE
SPACES THAT ARE VACANT FROM NIKE
TOWN TO MANY OTHERS, 10,000,
20,000,
25,000 SQUARE FOOT SPACES.
THEY'RE NOT EASILY DIVIDED
SO TO SECURE A TENANT INTO THOSE
SPACES, SOMEBODY IS SUBJECT
TO THE NEW BNO TAX.
THAT'S NOT A WELCOME
MESSAGE THAT THEY'RE WANTING TO
HEAR AS THEY CONSIDER LOTS OF
OTHER OPTIONS FOR WHERE THEY CAN
LOCATE, WHETHER IT BE
BELLEVUE OF LIFESTYLE CENTERS OR
OTHER
DOWNTOWN.
WE APPRECIATE THE
PARTNERSHIP WITH THE CITY, TO
CREATE A SAFER
ENVIRONMENT AND TO RECRUIT AND
RETAIN. LOOK FORWARD TO THE
CONVERSATION.
AND WE HAVE SOME OF THE
BEST ASSETS IN OUR DOWNTOWN IN
THE NORDSTROM FLAGSHIP AND
PIKE PLACE MARKET.
THESE ARE TWO ANCHORS THAT ANY
DOWNTOWN WOULD JUST DIE FOR.
WE HAVE A LOT TO WORK WITH AS
WE REBUILD, BUT WE'RE IN A
FRAGILE
PLACE AND WE'RE IN A REBUILDING
PHASE.
AND I THINK THE BEST DAYS ARE
AHEAD OF US, BUT WE
HAVE OUR WORK CUT OUT FOR US,
AND THANKFUL TO HAVE GREAT SET
OF
LEADERS AT THE TABLE, JANEL,
MIDGE, TOM, AND ALESHA AND LAURA
ON THE LINE AS WELL.
SO I'LL BE LISTENING IN,
BUT I'LL LEAVE IT AT THAT,
AND THANK YOU FOR ORGANIZING
THIS IMPORTANT CONVERSATION.
>> ALL RIGHT.
THANK YOU, JON.
>> JUST A SECOND, PLEASE.
THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR
SQUEEZING US IN, AND
PRIORITIZING THIS
EVEN THOUGH YOU'RE ON THE ROAD.
THANK YOU, JON.
>> GO AHEAD, ALESHA.
>> SURE.
NOW, HE COVERED A LOT OF WHAT
I WAS GOING TO SAY, BUT WHAT
IS GREAT ABOUT HAVING THIS IS
THAT I WAS HEARING FROM A LOT OF
OUR
MEMBERS THAT THERE HASN'T
BEEN AN OFFICIAL FORUM OR
THE RETAILERS HAVE NOT BEEN
ASKED TO
BE A PART OF A DISCUSSION,
AND HAVE A PLACE TO GO TO LOOK
AT HOW TO REMOVE OBSTACLES, COME
UP WITH IDEAS, LET'S LOOK AT
THE
FUTURE, LET'S MAKE THOSE
CHANGES. YOU KNOW, THE
BEST WAY TO ATTRACT NEW RETAIL
IS FOR
THE EXISTING RETAIL TO BE PART
OF THAT STORY AND HELP ATTRACT.
AND SO JUST HAVING THIS
FORUM, HAVING
CONVERSATIONS, THINKING ABOUT
WAYS WE CAN, YOU KNOW,
MAKE IT EASIER FOR RETAILERS
TO COME IN AND TO WANT TO COME
IN, I THINK, ARE GOING TO BE
VERY
IMPORTANT.
I LOOK FORWARD TO HEARING FROM
LAURA AND JANEL REGARDING
SOME OF THE IDEAS THEY HAVE
BASED ON
THEIR ACTUAL FACILITIES IN
DOWNTOWN SEATTLE.
>> AND FULL DISCLOSURE, I
HAVE TO SAY THAT THIS -- THAT
J.J.
ARRANGED THIS MEETING
BETWEEN YOU AND ME, AND JUST
THINKING THAT WE SHOULD TALK,
KNOWING
OUR RESPECTIVE INTERESTS.
AND WE REALLY TOOK OFF, AND YOU
CONVINCED ME THAT IT ONLY
MAKES SENSE TO ASK FOR THE
PERSPECTIVE OF THE RETAIL
SECTOR.
AND I JUST WANT TO SAY THAT
THIS IS -- THIS CONVERSATION
TODAY IS
GOING TO -- IS GOING TO
BE HIGHLIGHTING JUST WHAT'S
HAPPENING IN THE RETAIL SECTOR
AND WHAT YOU'RE EXPERIENCING.
IT'S NOT JUST GOING TO BE
ABOUT WHAT IS GOING WRONG.
IT'S ALSO GOING TO BE ABOUT
WHAT IS GOING WELL AND GIVE US
SOME
INSIGHTS BECAUSE YOU ARE
PEOPLE THAT SEE RETAIL ACROSS
THE
BOARD IN OTHER CITIES SO THAT IS
WHY I
VALUE YOUR PERSPECTIVE AND
I'M SURE THAT WE WILL COME OUT
OF THIS MEETING WITH SOME IDEAS
FOR
HOW THIS CAN HELP THAT ARE
PRACTICAL.
SORRY TO INTERRUPT, BUT
PLEASE GO ON.
>> NOW, THAT'S VERY
APPRECIATIVE.
JUST EAGER TO PARTNER WITH
THE CITY AND COME UP, AGAIN,
LOOKING AT HOW TO MOVE FORWARD,
HOW
TO MAKE SEATTLE AS GREAT AS
POSSIBLE, AND
RETAIL, GROUND LEVEL RETAIL AND
HOSPITALITY
IS SO IMPORTANT TO THE VITALITY
OF
A CITY.
IT CREATES THE COMMUNITY.
IT REPRESENTS WHAT WE ARE,
AND SO THIS WHOLE FORUM IS JUST
TO
LOOK AT HOW WE CAN GET THERE.
WE HAVE MADE A LOT OF
PROGRESS COMING BACK.
IT'S JUST HOW DO WE GET THERE
FURTHER.
>> RIGHT, AND WHY DON'T YOU
TELL
PEOPLE WHERE YOU ARE RIGHT
NOW AND THEN WE'LL MOVE ON TO
MIDGE.
>> I AM IN MY HOTEL ROOM.
I'M AT THE WASHINGTON BOARD
RETREAT RIGHT NOW AND HAD
TO STEP OUT FOR THIS, BUT IT
WAS WORTH IT, AND I'M EXCITED
TO BE
HERE.
>> YOU CAN GIVE A REPORT BACK
TO THEM.
THANK YOU.
>> ALL RIGHT.
LET'S SEE.
I THINK ON MY NEXT LIST, GO
AHEAD, PLEASE.
GO AHEAD, MIDGE.
WHY DON'T YOU PROVIDE --
I'M SURE YOU'RE NOT FINISHED
SPEAKING.
>> I'M NEVER FINISHED SPEAKING.
>> YAY.
>> WHEN IT COMES TO RETAIL.
AS I WAS SAYING, EARLIER, AS
I WAS GOING OUT OF TURN HERE
ABOUT
WHAT WE WANT TO TALK ABOUT
RETAIL WISE, I FOUND OUT MANY
YEARS AGO THAT YOU CAN
ORCHESTRATE ON CITY STREETS
THE SAME WAY A MALL DEVELOPER
WOULD
BY CREATING A STRATEGY, WHAT
ARE THE TYPES OF STORES WE NEED
FOR THE CUSTOMERS THAT WE HAVE
HERE
IN OUR MARKET.
AND HOW DO WE GET THE
STORES THAT WE NEED?
AND SO YOU STRATEGIZESTRATEGIZE
IT'S EASIER TO DO WHEN YOU HAVE
A
MALL AND YOU HAVE ONE OWNER.
BUT THAT OWNER ALSO HAS
PROBABLY FINANCIAL PARTNERS THAT
HAVE
TO BE A PART OF THE DECISION
MAKING.
BUT IN A CITY, IT'S %
VERY DIFFERENT BECAUSE YOU HAVE
MULTIPLE LANDLORDS.
AND THEY'RE NOT ALL WORKING
TO MAKE ONE ANOTHER BETTER.
THEY'RE WORKING TO MAKE
THEIR PROJECTS AS GOOD AS THEY
POSSIBLY CAN.
SO I FOUND THAT AFTER I LEFT
WORKING FOR A LARGE SHOPPING
CENTER DEVELOPER THAT IT
WAS ABOUT THE INFANCY, THE TIME
WHEN BIDS WERE IN THEIR INFANCY,
AND NEW YORK CITY HAD SOME OF
THE LARGEST ONES, BUT THEY
WERE PROBABLY PART OF THE FIRST
TEN BUSINESS IMPROVEMENT
DISTRICTS
IN THE COUNTRY WERE RUN BY
DAN BIEDERMANN IN NEW YORK CITY
IN
THE GRAND CENTRAL
PARTNERSHIP, HE HAD BRYANT PARK
RESTORATION AND 34th STREET.
AND THEY WERE -- TWO OF
THOSE THREE WERE VERY LARGE
BIDS.
AND HE NEEDED RETAIL HELP, SO HE
ASKED MY PARTNER AND I IF
WE WOULD COME AND WORK WITH HIM
IN NEW YORK.
SO FOR SEVEN YEARS WE WERE
CONSULTANTS TO THEM.
AND WE HAD 700 DIFFERENT
LANDLORDS.
AND WE FOUND THAT WITH HARD
WORK AND WITH A GOOD STORY TO
TELL, THAT YOU COULD MAKE A
DIFFERENCE, AND YOU COULD
MAKE STORES LOOK BETTER.
YOU COULD BRING IN BETTER MIX
OF STORES.
AND THEY WOULD THEN, AS A
WHOLE, PERFORM BETTER, AND WHEN
THEY
PERFORMED BETTER, THE RENTS
WENT UP.
SO THE LANDLORDS WERE HAPPY.
THE RETAILERS WERE HAPPY.
AND THE PEOPLE, THE
CUSTOMERS WERE HAPPY.
SO WE FOUND OUT THAT, YES,
WITH A WELL ARTICULATED PLAN,
YOU
CAN SELL THINGS TO MULTIPLE
LANDLORDS.
AND THEY WILL WORK TOGETHER AND
REALIZE THAT THEIR PROPERTIES
BECOME MORE VALUABLE.
SO THIS IS KIND OF OUR
THOUGHTSTHOUGHTS
US ACROSS THE COUNTRY
TO WORK IN A VARIETY OF
DIFFERENT
CITIES.
TO CREATE PLANS, BUT WHAT
WAS MISSING IS HOW DO YOU
IMPLEMENT THE PLANS.
AND WHAT WE FOUND IS IF YOU
HAD SOMEBODY WHO WORKED
GENERALLY
IT WAS WITH THE BUSINESS
IMPROVEMENT DISTRICTS,
OFTEN FUNDED BY THE CITY, THAT
THEY, BECAUSE THEY HAD THE
CLOSE RELATIONSHIPS WITH THE
LANDLORDS, THAT YOU COULD
SELL YOUR PLAN, AND WE CALLED
THIS PERSON A RETAIL
RECRUITER BECAUSE THEIR JOB WAS
TO GO
OUT AND FIND RETAILERS.
AND THEY WORKED WITH
BOTH NATIONALS AND LOCALS AND
THE
INDEPENDENTS. AND THE NATIONALS
ARE NOT
PIONEERS.
THEY WON'T BE THE FIRST IN.
THEY FOLLOW GOOD LOCAL
MERCHANTS, SUCCESSFUL LOCAL
MERCHANTS.
WE REALIZED, WELL, WHO IS
THIS PERSON WHO IS GOING TO
SHEPHERD THE PLAN, THE RETAIL
RECRUITER?
SO WE WOULD TRAIN PEOPLE TO GO
OUT AND RECRUIT STORES.
AND THESE WERE PEOPLE WHO
KNEW GOOD RETAIL FROM BAD
RETAIL.
THEY WERE PEOPLE THAT WERE
TENACIOUS.
THEY HAD A PASSION FOR THEIR
DOWNTOWNS.
FOR THE CITIES THEY LIVED IN.
SO I HAVE TRAINED
OVER 60 DIFFERENT ADVOCATES
ACROSS THE
COUNTRY, AND THAT WAS WHEN
JON CAME AND ASKED ME IF I WOULD
DO IT FOR SEATTLE.
SO THAT'S WHAT MY ROLE IS
IN DOWNTOWN RIGHT NOW.
AND IF I HAD AN ASK, IT IS
THAT WHEN MY CONTRACT IS UP, I
DON'T
CARE IF YOU HIRE ME OR SOMEBODY
ELSE, BUT THIS IS A POSITION
THAT YOU NEED -- THANK YOU --
THIS IS A POSITION THAT IS
LONG- TERM IN NATURE.
IT TAKES A LONG TIME FROM THE
TIME YOU MEET A RETAILER TO
ANAN DEAL IS MADE.
THE JOB OF THE RETAIL
ADVOCATE IS NOT TO BE THE DEAL
MAKER BUT
IS A MATCHMAKER.
IS TO BRING PROSPECTS TO
LANDLORDS OR THE
LANDLORDS REPRESENTED IN THE
BROKERS
BAH WE DON'T WANT TO CUT
THE BROKERS OUT OF THE DEAL.
WE WANT TO MAKE THE
BROKER'S LIFE EASIER BECAUSE
THE JOB OF
A RETAIL ADVOCATE IS A
SALARIED POSITION.
SO IT'S NOT BASED ON
COMMISSION OR HOW SPEEDY A DEAL
GETS MADE.
IT'S A LONG- TERM PROPOSITION.
SO THAT'S ONE THING I WOULD
ASK THE CITY, THAT YOU CONTINUE
A ROLE LIKE THIS.
THESE RETAIL ADVOCATES ARE
VERY IMPORTANT TO THEIR
DOWNTOWNS.
AND TO THE SUCCESS OF
RETAIL THROUGH WORKING WITH THE
LANDLORDS, WORKING WITH THE
PROSPECTS, AND WORKING WITH
CITY OFFICIALS, AND PERMITTING
AND GOING THROUGH THE
CONSTRUCTION
PROCESS.
IT'S A VERY IMPORTANT POSITION.
>> THANK YOU.
I'M GOING TO INTERRUPT JUST FOR
MY OWN RULE, JUST ALLOW
OTHER FOLKS TO JOIN IN.
YOU TOLD ME THIS FOUR YEARS
AGO WHEN I MET YOU ON THE
CAMPAIGN TRAIL IN 2021.
AND I REALLY WAS -- IT REALLY
MADE AN IMPACT ON ME THAT
THE BEST CITIES SUPPORT THE
RETAIL SECTOR BY ACTUALLY HAVING
A
PLAN FOR RECRUITMENT.
AND WE HADN'T HAD THAT, SO
I WORKED THAT INTO MY CAMPAIGN
PLAN.
WE CANNOT TAKE FOR GRANTED THAT
WE HAVE A BEAUTIFUL CITY, AND
SO PEOPLE JUST WANT TO COME
HERE.
WE HAVE TO GO PITCH OUR CITY TO
CITY PEOPLE, BUT IT HAS TO
BE THE RIGHT BUSINESSES AND
THE RIGHT LOCATION AND THE
THING THAT I REMEMBER YOU SAYING
IS THAT A RISING TIDE FLOATS ALL
BOATS.
>> YES, AND I THINK I HAVE TO
SAY, AFTER MEETING WITH
A VARIETY OF STAKEHOLDERS,
LANDLORDS, AND RETAILERS IN
DOWNTOWN, THROUGH MY
RESEARCH OVER THE LAST SEVERAL
MONTHS, THAT THERE ARE RETAILERS
THAT ARE EXCELLING IN THEIR
SALES
IN DOWNTOWN RIGHT NOW.
AND ALL THEY'RE ASKING FOR IS
TO HAVE GOOD NEIGHBORS LIKE
THEM.
BECAUSE THE MORE NEIGHBORS LIKE
THEM, THE STRONGER
THE SALES WILL BE, THE STRONGER
THE BUSINESS WILL BE, AND THE
MORE IT WILL ATTRACT.
I WAS TALKING TO SOMEONE WHOSE
JOB IT IS TO RETAIN
BUSINESSES IN THE CITY, AND I
SAID THE
BEST WAY TO RETAIN YOUR RETAIL
IS
TO BRING IN GOOD NEIGHBORS TO
THOSE
RETAILERS.
THAT'S THE BEST WAY TO RETAIN.
>> THANK YOU.
LET'S SEE WHO IS NEXT.
LET'S SEE.
TOM, DID YOU WANT TO
ADD ANYTHING TO THAT?
GO AHEAD, PLEASE.
>> THANK YOU.
THE CITY, I BELIEVE, THROUGH
THE OED, HAS ENGAGED A
CONSULTANCY TO HELP ANALYZE DATA
FOR
THE DOWNTOWN CORE TO FIGURE OUT
EXACTLY WHERE RETAIL SHOULD BE
GOING. AND THIS MORNING, THERE
WAS A
WORKSHOP AT THE DSA THAT
WAS CONDUCTED BY MR. BOBBY BOON,
THE CONSULTANT.
AND MOST
INTERESTING CONVERSATION THAT
WAS UNEXPECTED
BLOSSOMED FORTH FROM THAT, THAT
WORKSHOP.
AND THAT IS THAT THERE SEEMS
TO BE AN UNFORTUNATE LACK
OF COORDINATION AMONGST A
VARIETY OF STAKEHOLDERS.
AND THAT'S EXTREMELY IMPORTANT.
UNFORTUNATE BECAUSE A LOT
OF MONEY AND A LOT OF EFFORT
IS BEING SPENT, YET IT DOESN'T
SEEM TO BE COALESCING THROUGH A
GLUE THAT'S HOLDING EVERYONE
TOGETHER.
SO MIDGE HAD HER ASK OF
HOPING THAT THE CITY OR THROUGH
OTHER
SOURCES WILL CONSIDER A
FULL- TIME RETAIL ADVOCATE,
MY ASK OF THE CITY AND TO ALL OF
THOSE PRESENT IS THAT THERE
BECOME A MORE COORDINATED
EFFORT AMONGST ALL OF THOSE
STAKEHOLDERS TO INSURE THAT
THIS VERY IMPORTANT PROJECT,
THIS
GOAL, IS ACHIEVED.
I THANK YOU.
>> THANK YOU.
SOUNDS LIKE WE NEED A
DOT CONNECTOR AND A SORT OF AN
ENCOURAGER, A PROFESSIONAL
ENCOURAGER.
YES.
THANK YOU VERY MUCH.
AND LET'S -- I WOULD LIKE TO
SPEAK.
DOES IT MAKE SENSE?
I HAVE YOU, CITY ATTORNEY
DAVISON NEXT ON THE LIST, BUT I
CAN MAYBE, SINCE WE'RE
GOING WITH EXTERNAL PARTNERS,
LAURA
BEST, YOU ARE NEXT ON MY
LISTLIST NORDSTROM.
SO PLEASE GO AHEAD.
I'M LOOKING AT THE SCREEN HERE.
>> THANK YOU.
I THINK I'M NOT ADDING A
WHOLE LOT OF DIFFERENCES THAN
WHAT'S BEEN BROUGHT UP BUT I
GUESS
THE ONE THING I WOULD SAY IS
NORDSTROM HAS BEENBEEN LONG PART
OF THE SEATTLE COMMUNITY.
WE HAVE NEXT YEAR,
WE'RE CELEBRATING OUR 125th
YEAR,
AND IT ALL STARTED ABOUT TWO
BLOCKS
AWAY FROM HERE.
SO WE HAVE BEEN HEAVILY
INVOLVED IN THE COMMUNITY DOWN
HERE.
FOR US, THE VIBRANCY OF
DOWNTOWN IS GOING TO REQUIRE US
AS MIDGE
SAID TO HAVE A SURROUNDING
CAST OF RESTAURANTS AND OTHER
RETAILERS THAT BRING PEOPLE
DOWN FOR MORE THAN JUST ONE
TRIP.
IT'S COMING DOWN FOR
AN AFTERNOON OF SHOPPING
OR SPENDING TIME DOWNTOWN.
AND WE NEED HELP WITH
INSURING THAT WE'RE ATTRACTING
NEW RETAILERS BUT ALSO WORKING
TO
KEEP THE RETAILERS THAT ARE
HERE FROM LEAVING.
AND I THINK THERE'S BEEN QUITE
A BIT OF ATTRITION OVER THE
LAST FEW MONTHS AND YEARS,
ACTUALLY.
SO ANY EFFORTS MADE THERE
WOULD BE HELPFUL FOR US TO KEEP
THOSE
PEOPLE IN PLACE.
AND OF COURSE, J█UST THE
CONTINUED FOCUS ON SAFETY
OR EVEN THE PERCEPTION OF SAFETY
DOWNTOWN, I THINK, HAVING
BEEN HERE FOR EIGHT MONTHS, I
FEEL LIKE IT FEELS -- THERE'S
BIB
A LOT OF PROGRESS MADE, BUT
I'M NOT SURE THAT OTHER PEOPLE
SEE THAT OR KNOW THAT.
MAYBE OUTSIDE OF HERE, SO
FAR REACHING IN OTHER PARTS OF
OUR CITY TO MAKE SURE THAT
PEOPLE KNOW IT IS SAFE HERE.
THAT PERCEPTION, I THINK,
WOULD CHANGE A LOT OF FOLKS
FROM MAKING THEIR DECISIONS TO
GO TO
OTHER SHOPPING DESTINATIONS.
IT WOULD GIVE
PEOPLE THAT SECURITY ABOUT
COMING DOWNTOWN.
AND I GUESS, PROBABLY ONE OF
THE BIGGEST THINGS I HEAR
FROM PEOPLE IN THE STORE AND
AROUND IS JUST THE PARKING IS
HARD.
IF YOU'RE GOING TO GO
SHOPPING, YOU KNOW, IF YOU GO TO
BELLEVUE OR ALDERWOOD OR ANY OF
THOSE PLACES, THERE IS OBVIOUSLY
FREE
PARKING, WHICH FOR
CUSTOMERS DECIDING WHERE THEY'RE
GOING TO
SHOP, THAT'S AN IMPORTANT
COMPONENT AND ANY EFFORTS WE
COULD DO SUBSIDIZED PARKING
OR ANYTHING TO MAKE IT EASIER
FOR PEOPLE TO COME DOWN AND SHOP
WOULD BE REALLY IMPORTANT.
AND I THINK FOR -- WE'RE
JUST REALLY APPRECIATIVE OF
THE EFFORTS AND THE ATTENTION TO
THE SUBJECT OF GETTING RETAIL
GOING
DOWNTOWN.
WE ARE OBVIOUSLY HERE,
WE'RE PART OF THIS COMMUNITY,
AND
WE'RE REALLY LOOKING FORWARD TO
PARTNERING WITH EVERYBODY IN
THE COMMUNITY AND EVERYONE IN
THIS COMMITTEE TO SEE WHAT CAN
BE
DONE TO IMPROVE THE TRAFFIC
DOWNTOWN.
>> THANK YOU.
>> OKAY.
GO AHEAD, PLEASE, JANEL.
>> I DON'T KNOW HOW MUCH TIME I
HAVE, BUT I COULD SERIOUSLY
TALK FOREVER ON THIS SUBJECT
BECAUSE I LIVE IN THE CITY, I
HAVE
TWO YOUNG KIDS, I'M A
CONSUMER, I SPEND TONS OF TIME
IN DOWNTOWN
SEATTLE, AND OBVIOUSLY IN ME
CAREER, I SPENT ALL OF MY TIME
KIND OF HELPING TRYING TO
SHAPE AND MOVE FORWARD THE
RETAIL
EXPERIENCE IN DOWNTOWN
SEATTLE, AND I DO
APPRECIATE WHAT EVERYONE SAID.
I THINK WE ARE MOVING IN
THE RIGHT DIRECTION, BUT I WANT
TO
REALLY STRONGLY EMPHASIZE HOW
FRAGILE THAT IS.
AND I THINK IF WE DON'T
CONTINUE TO PUT MORE SUPPORT
AND INFRASTRUCTURE AND EMPHASIS
ON
RETAIL IN DOWNTOWN, WE
COULD VERY QUICKLY GO IN THE
WRONG
DIRECTION.
DOING DEALS AND ATTRACTING
TENANTS ACROSS, LIKE,
EVERY INDUSTRY AND LOCAL,
REGIONAL, AND NATIONAL IS A
REALLY DIFFICULT THING RIGHT
NOW.
THE COST OF DOING BUSINESS
IN SEATTLE IS HIGHER THAN
ANYWHERE IN THE COUNTRY, AND
THAT IS
A HUGE FACTOR IN THE DECISION
MAKING FOR ALL OF
THESE
DIFFERENT GROUPS. THEY COULD GO
OPEN A STORE IN
A LOT OF PLACES AND IT COULD BE
LESS EXPENSIVE, EASIER, ALL
OF THOSE THINGS.
I THINK WE'RE ALL WORKING
REALLY HARD TO DO WHAT WE CAN TO
MAKE
IT MORE COMPELLING FOR THOSE
OPERATORS DESPITE THOSE
THINGS TO OPEN STORES DOWNTOWN
AND SUPPORT THE RETAIL IN
SEATTLE.
AND I MEAN, AGAIN, IT'S A HUGE
COMPONENT OF THE SALES
TAX REVENUE FOR THE SEE SO IT
REALLY SHOULD BE AN IMPORTANT
FOCUS.
AND IT'S ALSO OUTSIDE OF THE
AIRPORT, REALLY THE FIRST
AND SOMETIMES ONLY EXPERIENCE
ANYONE
VISITING SEATTLE HAS IN
OUR REGION SO IT REALLY IS SO
IMPORTANT.
I FEEL OPTIMISTIC AS I'M
HAVING CONVERSATIONS WITH
OPERATORS EVERY DAY, BUT THEY'RE
REALLY, REALLY DIFFICULT
CREATIVE
DEALS THAT WE'RE STRUCTURING SO
I WANT
TO BALANCE OUT THERE'S OPTIMISM
BUT THERE'S STILL A LOT
THAT NEEDS TO BE DONE, AND
MIDGE'S
ASK IS REALLY IMPORTANT.
BECAUSE THERE ARE A LOT OF
US THAT ARE VOLUNTEERING OUR
TIME TO SUPPORT THE EFFORTS AND
JOIN
ROUNDTABLES THIS MORNING AND DO
WHATEVER WE CAN TO CONTINUE TO
LIKE CULTIVATE THIS GRASSROOTS
EFFORT AROUND IT, BUT I THINK IT
DOES NEED TO BE MORE
ORGANIZED AND THOUGHTFUL AND
WITH
SUPPORT FROM THE CITY AND THE
CITY
COUNCIL.
MOST OF US HAVEN'T TOUCHED
ON THE PUBLIC SAFETY
ELEMENT BECAUSE WE FEEL LIKE
IT'S
MOVING IN THE RIGHT DIRECTION,
BUT I
THINK IT'S NOT, AGAIN, IT'S
A VERY FRAGILE THING, AND IF WE
GO, IF THAT CHANGES, IT HAS
A DEVASTATING IMPACT ON
OUR EFFORTS TO CHANGE THINGS
DOWNTOWN.
I WILL SAY IN MY CURRENT
ROLE AND IN PAST ROLES I HAVE
PARTICIPATED WITH THE OFFICE OF
ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT TO
SUPPORT THE SEATTLE RESTORE
PROGRAM,
AND I HAVE HAD THE OPPORTUNITY
TO
DO PROBABLY 12 DIFFERENT DEALS
WITH DIFFERENT OWNERSHIP GROUPS
ON
A LANDLORD SIDE TO SUPPORT THAT
EFFORT, AND I THINK IT'S BEEN
A PRETTY SUCCESSFUL PROGRAM, AND
I HOPE TO SEE IT MOVE FORWARD,
AND
WE'RE HOPING TO SIGN
THREE LEASES WITH THEM
PROBABLY TOMORROW IN PACIFIC
PLACE.
BUT I THINK THERE'S A LOT
MORE OPPORTUNITY WITH THAT
PROGRAM.
BECAUSE THERE IS A LOT OF VACANT
SPACE DOWNTOWN AND I
THINK THERE'S SOME OWNERSHIP
GROUPS THAT HAVEN'T BEEN ABLE
TO EXPERIENCE THE BENEFIT OF IT
AND
THEY COULD BE MOTIVATED IN
OTHER WAYS TO PARTICIPATE, SO I
WOULD PUT THAT OUT THERE AS
SOMETHING TO THINK ABOUT AND TO
ADD TO
THE LIST OF POTENTIAL
OPPORTUNITIES OF WAYS TO IMPROVE
THE
LANDSCAPE AND EXPERIENCE IN THE
SHORT-TERM.
I KNOW THERE'S A LOT OF
EMPHASIS AROUND THAT WITH FIFA
COMING
AND I'M GOING TO SAY, WHICH I
HAVE SAID ON A PANEL, MIDGE,
BEFORE, I THINK WE'RE BEHIND IN
TERMS OF
THE OPPORTUNITY TO IMPROVE
THE GROUND FLOOR LANDSCAPE IN
THE SHORT TERM FOR THAT FIFA
EXPERIENCE, AND SO I THINK
PROVIDING SOME QUICK SHORT
TERM FOCUS ON THAT IN
PARTNERSHIP WITH THE OFFICE OF
ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT AND
POSSIBLY
SEATTLE RESTORE OR WHATEVER THAT
LOOKS
LIKE, THERE'S A LOT
OF OPPORTUNITY THERE.
I THINK THE OTHER OPPORTUNITY
I SEE AS SOMETHING THAT IS A
DIRECT ASK FOR THIS GROUP GOES
HAND IN HAND WITH WHAT LAURA
SAID.
YOU KNOW, FROM A RETAILER
PERSPECTIVE AND A CONSUMER
PERSPECTIVE, A CHALLENGE OF
OPERATING OR CONSUMING IN
A DOWNTOWN URBAN ENVIRONMENT ARE
THE COST OF PARKING AND AS
A RESIDENT IN SOUTH SEATTLE,
I HAVE THE DECISION TO GET ON I-
90 AND DRIVE TO BELLEVUE AND
HAVE
SAFE, FREE PARKING WITH MY
TWO KIDS AND MY STROLLER OR GO
NORTH AND GO TO U VILLAGE, BUT
BECAUSE
I LOVE DOWNTOWN AND I CARE
ABOUT DOWNTOWN, I COME DOWNTOWN,
BUT I
ALWAYS END UP PAYING FOR
PARKING, AND THAT IS A
SIGNIFICANT VARIABLE IN HOW
A LOT OF PEOPLE MAKE DECISIONS.
AND I DON'T KNOW HOW MANY YEARS
AGO, 10 OR 12 YEARS AGO, THE
DOWNTOWN, I DON'T KNOW
HOW IT WAS STRUCTURED BUT THERE
WAS AA
SUBSIDIZED PARK OR RETAIL
PARKER PROGRAM THAT THE CITY
OFFERED
IN CONJUNCTION WITH SOME OF
THESE PARKING LOTS THROUGHOUT
THE CITY
WHICH ARE UNDERUTILIZED IN
OFF HOURS THAT AREN'T, WHEN
OFFICE WORKERS AREN'T THERE,
THERE'S
A PLETHORA OF STALLS IN
THE DOWNTOWN ENVIRONMENT THAT
JUST SIT EMPTY.
SO I THINK THAT THERE'S AN
OPPORTUNITY THERE TO BRING
BACK A PROGRAM LIKE THAT,
THAT ENCOURAGES PEOPLE TO SPEND
THEIR MONEY IN THE
DOWNTOWN ENVIRONMENT AND
THEREFORE SUPPORT RETAIL AND
HELP
US SUPPORT STRONGER SALES, TO
RETAIN A LOT OF THESE
OPERATORS
AND THEN USE THOSE SALES TO
RECRUIT MORE RETAILERS TO THE
DOWNTOWN ENVIRONMENT.
SO I THINK THAT IS
SOMETHING THAT I WOULD HIGHLY
RECOMMEND PUTTING SOME FOCUS
AROUND
AND ALSO JUST KIND OF BACK TO
MIDGE'S ASK, LIKE,
HAVING SOMEONE FOCUSED ON
RETAIL DOWNTOWN HELPS MOVE
INITIATIVES LIKE THAT FORWARD,
AND
THEN BRING MORE OF THOSE DOLLARS
INTO THE CITY OF SEATTLE
VERSUS SENDING THEM TO BELLEVUE
OR OTHER PLACES.
>> YOU'RE TALKING ABOUT
PRIVATE PARKING UNDERNEATH, LIKE
PACIFIC PLACE'S GARAGE, NOT
SURFACE PARKING LOTS?
>> NOT SURFACE PARKING.
I MEAN, THERE'S A LOT OF
OFFICE BUILDINGS IN PROXIMITY TO
ALL THE RETAIL THAT NO ONE
IS UTILIZING THAT PARKING IN OFF
HOURS.
>> YEAH.
>> SORRY, WHAT?
>> YEAH.
>> YEAH, AND I KNOW FROM
WORK WITH PREVIOUS OWNERSHIP
GROUPS, THAT'S ONE WAY THEY CAN
CONTRIBUTE AND HELP
SUPPORT THINGS MOVING IN THE
RIGHT
DIRECTION.
SO I THINK THERE'S JUST -- I
MEAN, I COULD DIVE INTO MORE
DETAIL IN A SMALLER GROUP
ABOUT MY IDEAS OF HOW THAT COULD
FUNCTION.
AND I'M SURE THERE'S PLENTY
OF OTHER PARKING EXPERTS THAT
COULD DO THE SAME, BUT I THINK
IT'S JUST ONE SMALL THING THAT
WE
CAN DO TO SUPPORT RETAILERS
LIKE NORDSTROM AND ALL OF THESE
--
NOT ALL OF THESE, THERE'S
REALLY ONLY KIND OF A HANDFUL OF
SOFT GOOD RETAILERS LEFT IN
THE DOWNTOWN ENVIRONMENT RIGHT
NOW, BUT I THINK THAT'S
SOMETHING
WE CAN DO TO SUPPORT THE EFFORT
AND HELP BUILD BACK MORE OF A
RETAIL
DISTRICT IN THE CORE OF SEATTLE.
>> HUH.
THANK YOU.
OKAY.
NOTED. ALL RIGHT.
GO AHEAD, STATE ATTORNEY
DAVISON.
>> I DON'T WANT TO TURN IT
TO SOME OF THE
PROBLEM IDENTIFICATION BECAUSE I
DO REALLY APPRECIATE BEING ABLE
TO
LISTEN TO ALL OF YOU AND KIND
OF HAVE THE STORY HERE.
I WANT TO SAY THANK YOU BECAUSE
I HAVE LIVED IN SEATTLE FOR
NEARLY 30 YEARS, AND ONE OF
THE FIRST THINGS I NOTICED
AND REALLY RESONATED WITH ME WAS
WOW, PEOPLE LIVE AND WORK AND
RE- CREATE DOWNTOWN.
I HAVE NOT BEEN IN A
DOWNTOWN PLACE THAT HAS THAT, SO
THAT
WAS IN THE LATE '90s.
IT SOUNDS LIKE THE PLAN
WAS ALREADY UNDER WAY AND
TAKEN NOTICE BY ME TO WHERE
THAT'S
WHY I WANT TO BE PART OF THE
CONTINUED REVIVAL.
I AGREE WE HAVE MADE SOME
IMPROVEMENTS BUT IT'S
PRECARIOUS AND WE HAVE TO MAKE
SURE
THAT YOU ALL AND YOUR EXPERTISE
AND THE PLANS THAT MY COLLEAGUES
HERE, THE COUNCIL, CAN PROVIDE
IS PURSUED.
I FULLY AGREE WITH THE
FIFA WORLD CUP PART THAT THIS IS
OUR
COMMUNITY, AND WE PROBABLY ARE
BEHIND A LITTLE FROM
THAT, BECAUSE I DID GO ON MONDAY
TO
THE GAME, AND SO IT
WAS INTERESTING FROM THAT
STANDPOINT.
BUT IF YOU WANT TO PUT UP
THE SLIDE I BROUGHT, PERFECT.
I WANTED TO AT LEAST
HIGHLIGHT SOME OF THE THINGS
THAT
DOES PROVIDE THE LOOK FOR
THE PROGRESS THAT MAYBE
RETAILERS, THE BRICK AND MORTAR
STORES,
HAVE EXPERIENCED OVER THE
PAST COUPLE YEARS, BUT AGAIN,
NOTING THAT WE'RE NOT AT A
PLACE
WHERE I'M SETTLED WHATSOEVER ON
IT.
AND SO REALLY, IT WAS STARTED
IN MARCH OF '22 WITH THE
HIGH ADVISER INITIATIVE WHICH
HELPED US WITH DATA TO PROVIDE
THAT 118
INDIVIDUALS WERE RESPONSIBLE FOR
OVER 3500 POLICE REFERRALS.
SO IT REALLY WAS A SMALL
NUMBER OF PEOPLE TO FOCUS ON WHO
REALLY WERE CAUSING A LOT OF
CHAOS
AND A LOT OF CRIMINAL
ACTIVITY, AND A LOT OF IT WAS
ASSOCIATED WITH
RETAIL
THEFT. SO THAT'S BEEN A
SIGNIFICANT PIECE THAT WE HAVE
BEEN FOCUSED
ON.
AS WE WERE PART OF THAT VIBRANT
CITIES WITH THE NATIONAL
RETAIL INDUSTRY LEADERS
ASSOCIATION
AND WORKING ON THIS PROGRAM THAT
MY OFFICE STARTED.
SO WE CAN START TO SEE HOW
WE CAN SUPPLEMENT SO YOU ALL
CAN STOP WORRYING QUITE SO MUCH
ABOUT PUBLIC SAFETY,
HOPEFULLY, AND GET BACK MORE
INTO THIS
SUBJECT MATTER.
AND IF I STAY FOCUSED ON MY
ROLE, WHICH IS MAKING SURE
THE ENFORCEMENT PIECE AFTER
THE POLICE SEND THINGS TO MY
OFFICE THAT WE PROSECUTE, SO
THAT'S
WHY WE HAVE THE CHARGE RATE
DOWN THERE AT THE BOTTOM, TO
SHOW THAT MY INCREASE FROM '21
WHEN WE PROBABLY ALL RECALL WHAT
IT
WAS LIKE AND NOT A LOT OF
RETAIL ACTIVITY GOING ON, WE'RE
TRYING TO SUPPLEMENT THAT, AND
AS YOU
SAID, BRING IN MORE NEIGHBORS
TO THE RETAILERS THAT ARE THERE
TO HELP THEM.
SO THE INCREASE OF
THE PROSECUTION FOR RETAIL THEFT
HAS
CONTINUED, AND WILL STAY THAT
WAY.
THAT IS A MAIN FOCUS FOR
ME BECAUSE REALLY, IT NOT ONLY
IS THAT IT HARMS, AS PEOPLE WERE
SAYING, FROM THE TAX REVENUE
FOR THE SALES TAX, BUT IT'S
THE SHRINKAGE RATE THAT
THE RETAILERS ARE HAVING TO
JUST SWALLOW THEMSELVES IN THE
FORM
OF IF THERE'S NOT
PROSECUTION FOR THE CRIMINAL
ACTIVITY,
WE'RE NOT GOING TO DEFER IT,
AND
SO THEN THE RETAILERS ARE NOT
GOING TO WANT TO BE THERE
BECAUSE
THEY'RE HAVING SO MUCH
SHRINKAGE FROM RETAIL THEFT
THAT'S NOT
PROSECUTED.
AND THEN THAT LEADS TO THEN
THE LOWER OF THE SALES TAX THAT
WE
ALL HAVE TO RELY UPON
FOR REVENUE STREAM.
SO I SEE THAT MY PART IS REALLY
CRITICAL, AS YOU THEN START
TO DO THIS NEXT PHASE, AND SO
JUST
TO HELP SUPPORT YOU ALL AND
SAY THAT I'M HERE AND HAPPY TO
COME
TO ANY LOCATION AND JUST REALLY
FASCINATED WITH ALL OF THE
PLANS THAT I HEAR YOU ALL DO AS
A
CONSUMER MAINLY MYSELF IN YOUR
SPACE.
IT'S REALLY FANTASTIC TO
KNOW ALL THESE THINGS ARE
THOUGHT THROUGH SO WELL, SO I
REALLY
DO THANK YOU ALL
FOR YOUR EFFORTS TO MAKE OUR
CITY A PLACE THAT IS
VIBRANT AND EXCITING AND PEOPLE
TALK ABOUT AND I JUST DID A
TIMES INTERVIEW ABOUT PEOPLE
WHO JUST TALK ABOUT IT ONLINE,
LIKE WHAT'S IT LIKE IN SEATTLE,
IS
IT REALLY THAT BAD?
WE NEED TO TAKE THAT OPPORTUNITY
TO CHANGE OUR NATIONAL
REPUTATION.
WE ARE ON THE
UPSWING. WE ARE IN A DIFFERENT
DIRECTION, AND WE ARE A PLACE
WHERE
THE LAWS MATTER, AND PEOPLE
SHOULD FEEL THEY CAN COME HERE
AND INVEST AND BE A TOURIST AND
HAVE
THEIR FAMILY MEMBERS COME AND
OUR VIBRANCY DOWNTOWN CORE
IS WHERE WE NEED TO HIGHLIGHT
THAT AND SHOW WE HAVE THINGS
WORKING
WELL.
>> THANK YOU.
>> THANK YOU FOR THAT INPUT.
I'LL SAY TWO THINGS.
NUMBER ONE, I HAVE HEARD
FROM PRECINCT CAPTAINS AROUND
THE CITY THAT YOUR HIGH
UTILIZER LIST IS HELPING THEM
IDENTIFY THE PEOPLE WHO ARE
REPEAT
OFFENDERS AND FOCUS
THEIR ATTENTION ON THOSE FOLKS.
AND GETTING YOU THE INFORMATION
YOU NEED TO FILE CHARGES.
SO I'LL SAY THAT IT IS HAVING A
POSITIVE IMPACT.
AND THE OTHER THING I WOULD
LIKE TO SAY IS THAT AT OUR
NEXT COMMITTEE MEETING, WE WILL
HAVE THE AUDITOR'S OFFICE AT
THE
TABLE TO TALK ABOUT THEIR END OF
YEAR REPORT IN WHICH THEY
WILL BE PROVIDING INFORMATION ON
THE PROGRESS ON THE
IMPLEMENTATION OF ALL OF THEIR
RECOMMENDATIONS, INCLUDING THE
ORGANIZED RETAIL
THEFT, JUST TELL ME WHAT
THE TERM OF ART RIGHT NOW IS.
>> WELL, THERE'S DIFFERENT
LEVELS.
THE ORGANIZED RETAIL THEFT IS
AT A FELONY LEVEL SO THAT'S
NOT WHERE I PROSECUTE.
I'M THE VING, SO THAT STILL
IS AN ITEM YOU SHOULD BE FOCUSED
ON BECAUSE THAT IS
ORGANIZED BUT THEN I'M AT THE
INDIVIDUAL ACTIVITY WHERE IT
DOES MATTER,
BECAUSE AGAIN, WHEN YOU LOOK
AT OUR CHART, THE
NUMBER OF PEOPLE THAT WERE THE
REPEAT
OFFENDERS HAS GONE DOWN BECAUSE
THE MESSAGE HAS GONE OUT THAT
THERE WILL BE PROSECUTION.
YOU JUST CANNOT DO ONE OR TWO
OR THREE THEFTDS AND WE'RE NOT
NOW PAYING ATTENTION TO YOU, AND
IT
BECAME KNOWN THAT THIS
WAS SOMETHING TO AVOID BECAUSE
WE WERE ABLE TO GET AROUND
THE BOOKING RESTRICTIONS THAT
WE PREVIOUSLY HAD AT KING
COUNTY JAIL WITH THAT LIST, AND
SO IT
BECAME KNOWN AND OFFICERS
FREQUENTLY KNEW THESE PEOPLE
ANYWAY, BUT WERE THANKFUL TO
BE ABLE TO HAVE A PARTNER FOR
THE
WORK THAT THEY
DO, AND THEY RESPOND TO RETAIL
LOCATIONS THAT
SOMEONE IS THERE TO PROSECUTE
THAT.
>> GOT IT.
OKAY.
IS THERE ANYTHING THAT ANYBODY
FORGOT TO SAY, WHICH IS WHAT
I ALWAYS DO?
ALL RIGHT.
I WOULD LIKE TO OPEN UP
THE
CONVERSATION TO QUESTIONS AND
COMMENTS TROMMY COLLEAGUES.
COUNCILMEMBER SOLOMON.
>> THANK YOU VERY MUCH
MADAM COUNCIL PRESIDENT.
I WANT TO GET TO THE BOTTOM
LINE.
I'M THINKING ABOUT THE VACANT
STORE FRONTS WE HAVE
DOWNTOWN, I'M THINKING ABOUT
THE
VACANT SPACES WE HAVE AT PACIFIC
PLACE.
IF YOU HAD -- WHAT'S YOUR TOP
THREE?
HOW DO WE GET THESE SPACES
FILLED?
HOW
CAN WE INCENTIVIZE THAT?
>> I DON'T KNOW IF I
CAN NARROW IT DOWN TO THREE, BUT
ONE OF
THE THINGS I DIDN'T TOUCH ON IS
PERMITTING.
THAT'S GOING TO BE HUGE.
SO I HAVE JUST JOINED THE TEAM
AT PACIFIC PLACE TEN WEEKS AGO.
SO I'M NEW TO THE JOB, SO
I'M NOT GOING TO TAKE
RESPONSIBILITY FOR THE PAST, AND
MY COMPANY
HAS ONLY OWNED THE ASSET FOR A
YEAR, BUT I HAVE MADE A LOT OF
EARLY PROGRESS IN THE PAST TEN
WEEKS BASED ON JUST
RELATIONSHIPS
AND KNOWLEDGE OF THE MARKET.
SO I THINK PERMITTING IS HUGE.
STREAMLINING THE
PERMITTING PROCESS ESPECIALLY
FOR A SECOND
GENERATION ENVIRONMENT LIKE
PACIFIC PLACE.
AND I'M HAPPY TO WORK
WITH WHOEVER TO GET INTO
MORE SPECIFICS ABOUT MY
EXPERIENCE WITH THAT AND MY PAST
ROLE,
I WORKED IN A HANDFUL OF
MARKETS AND I WILL SAY THAT IS
ONE THING
PORTLAND DID REALLY WELL,
IS HAVE A DEDICATED PERMIT
REVIEWER FOR SPECIFIC LARGER
ASSETS
TO MAKE THINGS EASIER SO SOMEONE
IS
NOT LEARNING ON THE JOB
AND TRYING TO GET UP TO SPEED.
SO I THINK PERMITTING IS TOP OF
MY LIST.
I THINK, I
MEAN, MIDGE'S ASK AROUND A
SPECIFIC PERSON THAT
IS FOCUSED ON RETAIL IS
PROBABLY NUMBER TWO, BECAUSE IN
ALL OF
MY CONVERSATIONS WITH
RETAILERS, THEY WANT TO
UNDERSTAND
THE SALES VOLUMES AND THE MARKET
TO SUPPORT OPENING A STORE
AND BEING ABLE TO PAY RENT IN
THE
CITY.
AND THAT'S NOT
INFORMATION THAT'S READILY
AVAILABLE.
YOU HAVE TO GO MAKE A MILLION
CALLS TO GET ONE SALES VOLUME
TO HELP THEN CONTINUE
THAT CONVERSATION WITH THE
RETAILER TO SAY, X, Y, AND Z HAS
A
STRONG VOLUME, AND THAT WILL
THEN
HELP YOU SUPPORT YOUR ABILITY TO
FEEL COMFORTABLE THAT YOU CAN DO
THE SALES AND MOVE FORWARD,
AND ESPECIALLY IN A CITY
THAT'S EXPENSIVE TO DO BUSINESS
IN.
SO I THINK THAT WOULD BE VERY
HELPFUL.
>> DO OTHER CITIES HAVE A
PUBLICLY AVAILABLE DATABASE?
>> NO, I DON'T KNOW OF ANY.
SO IT'S NOT AS EASY AS
THAT BECAUSE THOSE ARE THINGS
THAT PEOPLE KEEP CLOSE TO THEIR
VEST FOR ONE REASON OR ANOTHER,
SO
IT IS KIND OF A GRASSROOTS
EFFORT TO GET THE INFORMATION
YOU
NEED TO HAVE TO BE ABLE TO HAVE
THOSE MORE CREATIVE
CONVERSATIONS.
ESPECIALLY BECAUSE A LOT OF THE
DEAL STRUCTURES THAT
ARE HAPPENING RIGHT NOW ARE NOT
A TRADITIONAL STRUCTURE.
IT'S THE ENVIRONMENT HAS
CHANGED, ESPECIALLY IN A
CITY LIKE SEATTLE.
LIKE TENANTS AREN'T LIKE,
YEAH, I'LL COME PAY A TON OF
RENT TO
LEASE YOUR SPACE.
YOU'RE HAVING TO
STRUCTURE REALLY CREATIVE
ECONOMICS
BASED ON SALES, A PERCENTAGE OF
SALES.
SO HAVING THAT INFORMATION
IS REALLY HELPFUL TO SUPPORT
GETTING THEM COMFORTABLE WITH
THAT.
I'M TRYING TO THINK OF
WHAT NUMBER THREE IS.
I MEAN Y DO THINK PROGRAMS --
LIKE INTERIM PROGRAMS
LIKE SEATTLE RESTORED ARE REALLY
HELPFUL, AND I THINK A GREAT
RESOURCE TO START TO MAKE
THESE SPACES FEEL VIBRANT IN THE
SHORT TERM, LIKE THAT IS MY GOAL
IN PARTNERING WITH THEM IN
PAST ROLES AND SPECIFICALLY
AT PACIFIC PLACE, I'M
REALLY EXCITED ABOUT THAT
OPPORTUNITY FOR PARTNERSHIP TO
START TO
GIVE PEOPLE A SAFE ENVIRONMENT
TO
COME AND BRING THEIR KIDS
AND HAVE THINGS TO DO OTHER THAN
THE
COUPLE OF TENANTS WE HAVE
THERE RECOGNIZE
NOW. AND IT ALSO IS A GREAT
INCUBATOR FOR SMALL BUSINESSES
TO TEST
OPERATING IN THE DOWNTOWN
ENVIRONMENT.
AND SHOWCASE THEIR BRAND,
AND YOU KNOW, SOMETIMES IT WORKS
AND
SOMETIMES IT'S NOT WHAT
THEY WANT TO DO, BUT IT WAS A
GREAT OPPORTUNITY FOR THEM TO
TRY DO
THAT, AND IT'S VERY -- A
VERY SYNERGISTIC OPPORTUNITY ON
BOTH SIDES FROM A LANDLORD
PERSPECTIVE AND A TENANT
OR BUSINESS OPERATOR
PERSPECTIVE.
I MEAN, THOSE ARE SOME OF THE
THINGS.
I THINK IT'S A MUCH LONGER
CONVERSATION.
I WAS A PART OF THE
ROUNDTABLE THIS MORNING, AND
THERE'S A
LOT OF OTHER THINGS THAT CAME
UP, AND I DON'T KNOW THAT IT
MAKES SENSE TO GET INTO
THAT MUCH DETAIL RIGHT NOW, BRUT
BUT I
DO THINK CONTINUING
THIS CONVERSATION AND THIS FORUM
TO HELP EVERYONE UNDERSTAND HOW
COMPLEX THAT SITUATION IS RIGHT
NOW.
>> THANK YOU.
IF I COULD JUST DO A FOLLOW-
UP, YOU HAD MENTIONED PARKING
SUBSIDIES.
REALIZED HAVING BEEN TO PACIFIC
PLACE, A LOT, AND HAVING
PARKED THERE A LOT, I ACTUALLY
SEE THAT
PARKING REVENUE AS SOMETHING
THAT BENEFITS THE PROPERTY OWNER
OR COMPANY.
SO IF WE WERE TO
ESSENTIALLY HAVE FREE PARKING,
THAT WOULD
BE A FINANCIAL HIT TO YOUR
FOLKS, WOULDN'T IT?
>> SO I THINK THAT THERE'S A
WAY TO STRUCTURE IT WHERE IT'S
A
PARTNERSHIP.
LIKE IT'S A PARTNERSHIP WITH
THE
CITY AND IT'S A PARTNERSHIP
WITH DIFFERENT BUILDING OWNERS.
BUT I THINK DOING ANYTHING
TO ENCOURAGE GETTING
PEOPLE DOWNTOWN THAT ARE NOT
COMING DOWNTOWN IS A POSITIVE
THING,
RIGHT?
AND THEN BEING ABLE TO GENERATE
THOSE BODIES TO SUPPORT
THE SALES IS A RISING TIDES
SITUATION. LIKE, HAVING A VACANT
BUILDING WITH NO RETAILERS IS
NOT
A POSITIVE SITUATION, AND SO
YOU NEED TO BE ABLE TO GET
THOSE BODIES DOWNTOWN TO THEN BE
ABLE TO BRING IN MORE RETAILERS
IN THE DOWNTOWN ENVIRONMENT.
SO YES, YOU KNOW, THERE COULD
BE -- IT COULD BE
MORE CHALLENGING IF OTHER --
IF THERE'S OTHER GARAGES WHERE
PARKING IS SUBSIDIZED OR
FREE,
BUT I THINK YOU SET UP A
PLATFORM WHERE IT'S A
PARTNERSHIP BETWEEN THE CITY
AND THE DIFFERENT GARAGE OWNERS
SO ANYONE HAS AN OPPORTUNITY
TO PARTICIPATE IF THEY WANT.
IT'S NOT -- DOESN'T
NECESSARILY NEED TO BE FULLY
SUBSIDIZED
BY THE CITY.
THE OWNER OF THE GARAGE HAS
TO BE WILLING TO PARTICIPATE
IN SOME WAY TO BALANCE THAT OUT.
>> THANK YOU VERY MUCH.
>> I'M THINKING THAT WITH
OFFICE TOWERS THAT DON'T HAVE
THE
RETAIL DESTINATIONS ON
THE WEEKENDS OR MAYBE DURING THE
WEEK, WHEN PEOPLE, BECAUSE
OF THE VACANCY RATES ARE NOT
PARKING THERE, A LITTLE BIT
OF MONEY WOULD BE BETTER THAN NO
MONEY.
>> YEAH.
>> I'M SURE THAT ALSO I'M
THINKING ABOUT OUR NIGHT LIFE.
THE COMPONENT OF DOWNTOWN.
YOU KNOW, AND IF THERE WERE --
IF THERE WAS REDUCED COST
PARKING, PEOPLE SHOULD BE
COMING IN ON BUSES AND LIGHT
RAIL,
BUT THE POINT IS THAT THE
BENEFITS WOULD ACCRUE TO OUR ART
SECTOR
DOWNTOWN AS WELL.
>> DEFINITELY, AND THAT
HELPS WITH SECURITY COSTS AND
JUST SAFETY CONCERNS.
HAVING
MORE PEOPLE DOING GOOD THINGS IN
AN
ENVIRONMENT, ESPECIALLY ON
NIGHTS AND
WEEKENDS.
HELPS PUSH AWAY THE NEGATIVE,
SO THERE'S A LOT OF BENEFITS.
>> MM-HMM.
AND LAYERED ON TOP OF THIS,
NOT TO BRING PUBLIC SAFETY
INTO EVERY SINGLE MEETING, BUT
THAT'S WHAT WE DO.
WE KNETHAT THE
CITY'S RESPONSIBILITY IS TO
DO EVERYTHING POSSIBLE TO CREATE
A SAFE ENVIRONMENT FOR PEOPLE
TO WANT TO COME DOWNTOWN, SO WE
ARE NOT AT ALL UNAWARE OF OUR
ROLE, WHICH IS ONE OF OUR
CHARTER
RESPONSIBILITIES.
OKAY.
I SEE COUNCILMEMBER
HOLLINGSWORTH.
GO AHEAD, PLEASE.
>> THANK YOU, COUNCIL PRESIDENT.
I'LL BE SUPER, SUPER QUICK
BECAUSE I JUST HAVE ONE QUICK
QUESTION.
WE ONLY HAVE ONE RETAILER
HERE RIGHT NOW, RIGHT?
WHICH IS NORDSTROM, REPRESENTED.
THANK GOD FOR NORDSTROMS.
I'M GOING TO SAY WHAT WE ALL --
WHAT A LOT OF PEOPLE SAY.
OKAY.
SERIOUSLY, JUST BECAUSE OF I
DO BELIEVE THAT YOU ALL,
THERE'S
A BUNCH OF STORES DOWNTOWN,
BUT YOU ALL ARE REALLY THE
ANCHOR FOR A LOT OF BUSINESSES.
AND THANK YOU FOR
STAYING DOWNTOWN AND BELIEVING
IN
SEATTLE.
I JUST WANTED TO SAY THAT FIRST
OFF.
THE SECOND THING, AND WHAT A
LOT OF UNIVERSITY DISTRICT
AND BELLEVUE AND OTHER PLACES
HAVE IN COMMON, BECAUSE I'M
THINKING
LIFE AFTER THE PUBLIC SAFETY
PIECE, BECAUSE PEOPLE SAID,
HEY, IF YOU MAKE IT SAFE, GREAT.
IT'S INCREDIBLY CLEAN.
UNIVERSITY DISTRICT AND
BELLEVUE.
IT'S WELL LIT.
IT'S CLEAN.
AND I THINK THAT REALLY MAKES A
DIFFERENCE.
AND IT'S A SENSE OF SAFETY AS
WELL.
I KNOW WE TALK ABOUT SAFETY IN
A SENSE OF FIRST RESPONDERS.
MENTAL HEALTH,
CLEANLINESS, LIGHTING IS HUGE.
AND SO MY QUESTION TO YOU ALL
IS, THE OLD DAYS OF, YOU
KNOW, THE DOWNTOWN, SORRY
NORDSTROM,
THE MACY'S AND ALL THOSE
THINGS,
THOSE, YOU KNOW, I KNOW A LOT
OF PEOPLE WHEN I TALK TO
FOLKS, THAT NOSTALGIC, THE '90s,
EARLY 2000s, THAT'S JUST NOT
COMING
BACK.
AND SO WHAT TYPES OF
BUSINESSES CAN WE AS A CITY
COUNCIL DO TO
ENCOURAGE, AND I'M NOT
SAYING IT'S NOT COMING BACK,
BUT
I THINK THERE'S A SHIFT IN THE
ATTRACTION OF MILLENNIALS, GEN
Zs, AND YOUNG PEOPLE.
RIGHT NOW, IF YOU'RE A YOUNG
PERSON, YOUR DOWNTOWN IS
USUALLY CAPITOL HILL.
THERE'S A LOT OF PEOPLE,
WHERE THE NIGHT LIFE IS, CAPITOL
HILL.
OLDER MILLENNIALS WITH KIDS,
YOU GO TO U VILLAGE, BECAUSE
THEY HAVE THE PLACES FOR THE
KIDS, THEY HAVE THE, YOU KNOW,
AREAS,
PARKING, ALL THESE DIFFERENT
THINGS.
BUT WHEN I GO TO VANCOUVER,
BC, WHOSE DOWNTOWN IS VIBRANT
AND
POPPING, AND A LOT OF PEOPLE
AT ALL HOURS OF THE DAY, A LOT
OF THINGS I ALSO SEE DOWN THERE
IS NOT JUST RETAIL, BUT A
MIXTURE OF ACTIVITIES.
IT'S THE ATTRACTIONS.
IT COULD BE A DOG PARK.
IT IS THE MASSIVE THING
THAT THEY HAVE FOR KIDS TO BE
ABLE
TO PLAY INDOORS AND WHAT NOT.
ARE THERE THINGS YOU THINK
THAT THE COUNCIL NEEDS TO LOOK
FOR, FOR DOWNTOWN, TO FIGURE OUT
HOW WE CAN MAKE IT MORE
ATTRACTIVE FOR EVENTS SPACES,
JUST
THINGS THAT STIMULATE
DOWNTOWN IN ADDITION TO THE
SHOPPING PIECE?
THANK YOU.
>> I CAN MAKE ONE
COMMENT RELATED TO THAT BECAUSE
I'M
JUST VERY -- I CAN MAKE ONE
COMMENT RELATED TO THAT AND I
THINK YOU'RE SPOT ON IN
ALMOST EVERYTHING THAT YOU SAID,
AND
YES, NORDSTROM DEFINITELY
NEEDS TO BE ACKNOWLEDGED FOR
KIND
OF CARRYING THE BURDEN OF
BEING THAT SINGLE LARGE FLAGSHIP
OPERATOR IN THE DOWNTOWN
ENVIRONMENT, AND IT'S
SO IMPORTANT TO SUPPORT THEM
IN WHATEVER WAYS WE CAN.
BUT YES, I THINK SHIFTING --
DOWNTOWN IS
SHIFTING. DOWNTOWN IS NOW ITS
OWN
NEIGHBORHOOD. WE HAVE RESIDENTS
THERE AND
THE SOFT GOOD RETAIL IS
IMPORTANT, BUT I THINK, AND THIS
WILL
BE HOPEFULLY REFLECTED IN
THE EFFORTS WE HAVE AT PACIFIC
PLACE, BUT I THINK
IT'S IMPORTANT FOR ALL OF
DOWNTOWN, IS INCORPORATING
DIFFERENT
COMPONENTS FROM A RETAIL
PERSPECTIVE THAT AREN'T
JUST SOFT GOODS BUT SUPPORT
DAILY NEEDS IN DIFFERENT WAYS.
AND I THINK ADDING SOME
ADDITIONAL FOOD AND BEVERAGE
AND LOCAL OPERATORS TO ME ARE
ALWAYS
THE MOST INTERESTING.
I THINK THAT DOES ATTRACT A
LOT OF THE REASON THAT
DEMOGRAPHIC YOU'RE DESCRIBING
IS GOING
TO CAPITOL HILL IS BECAUSE THERE
IS A REALLY DYNAMIC
INTERESTING FOOD AND BEVERAGE
SCENE, SO
I THINK HAVING MORE LOCAL
OPERATORS DOING THAT DOWNTOWN
IS SUPER IMPORTANT.
ALSO, YOU KNOW, RETAIL IS JUST
AN EXPERIENCE THAT'S
JUST CHANGING AND THERE ARE SO
MANY GREAT INTERACTIVE,
INNOVATIVE
CONCEPTS THAT EXIST, AND
ACTUALLY, THERE ARE A LOT OF
THOSE THAT ARE INTERESTED IN
DOWNTOWN, AND IT'S FINDING THE
SPACES THAT FIT
THEIR REQUIREMENTS AND WE'RE
WORKING ON A COUPLE OF THOSE AT
PACIFIC PLACE THAT I'M REALLY
EXCITED
ABOUT.
AND SOME OF THOSE ARE SHORT-
TERM REQUIREMENTS SO I THINK
THAT TIES BACK TO THE
PERMITTING REQUEST BECAUSE
THERE'S THESE
OPERATORS THAT ARE NIMBLE AND
I THINK COULD GET OPEN IN A
CITY BEFORE FIFA AND PACIFIC
PLACE
OR MANY OTHER ENVIRONMENTS, BUT
WE HAVE A SHORT WINDOW OF TIME
TO DO THAT NOW, AND THEY JUST
NEED KIND OF AN OPEN BOX SPACE,
SO
IF WE CAN SUPPORT THOSE EFFORTS
I THINK THAT WILL HELP TO ING A
LOT OF THOSE USERS TO
THE DOWNTOWN ON BOTH A SHORT-
TERM LEASE AND SOME OF THEM
ARE LOOKING AT LONG- TERM
LEASES.
I THINK THAT'S AN AREA OF
FOCUS FOR SURE, AND A GREAT
TENANT GROUP THAT HELPS
REENERGIZE
THE EXPERIENCE DOWNTOWN AS
SOMETHING
NEW AND FRESH AND GIVES
SOMEONE MAYBE FROM THE EAST SIDE
A REASON TO COME TO SEATTLE
AND THEN THEY END UP PAYING
FOR
PARKING AND EATING AND DOING
OTHER THINGS AND
SUPPORTING THOSE OTHER
BUSINESSES
AND HOPEFULLY POP NOTHING
TO NORDSTROM WHILE THEY DO THAT.
>> AND I HAD A THOUGHT ON,
AND THIS MAY NOT BE THE RIGHT
PLACE
TO BE TALKING ABOUT THIS, BUT WE
INCENTIVIZE THE BUILDING OFOF
RETAIL ON THE GROUND FLOORS FOR
MULTI- USE BUILDINGS, FOR
MIXED- USE BUILDINGS.
AND WHILE THAT IS --
DOESN'T REQUIRE THAT YOU PUT
RETAIL
THERE, INCENTIVIZING
IT GENERALLY DOES MEAN THAT
WHAT DEVELOPER IS GOING TO PASS
UP BEING ABLE TO PUT IN AN EXTRA
FLOOR OR TWO ON THEIR
BUILDING IF THEY PUT RETAIL ON
THE
GROUND FLOOR?
WE DON'T NEED RETAIL IN
EVERY BUILDING IN DOWNTOWN.
THERE ARE CERTAINLY OTHER USES.
I THINK RESIDENTIAL PODIUMS AT
THE GROUND LEVEL ARE VERY, VERY
DESIRABLE, AND ONE DOESN'T HAVE
TO GO VERY FAR OR ANY
FURTHER THAN VANCOUVER, BRITISH
COLUMBIA, TO SEE WHERE THAT
WORKS, WHERE THEY ONLY HAVE
RETAIL IN MAYBE TWO MAJOR --
TAKE YALE TOWN, THEY HAVE
TWO STREETS WHERE YOU HAVE
RETAIL.
AND THEN WHERE THE RESIDENTIAL
IS, YOU'RE NOT ALLOWED TO PUT
RETAIL IN THOSE BUILDINGS.
SO RETAIL DOES NOT BELONG
EVERYWHERE IN A DOWNTOWN.
AND WHILE YOU DON'T REQUIRE
IT, YOU DO INCENTIVIZE IT, AND
MOST
DEVELOPERS ARE GOING TO
TAKE ADVANTAGE OF THOSE
INCENTIVES, AND THEY HATE HAVING
TO DO
RETAIL, BUT THEY DO IT
BECAUSE THEY GET MORE APARTMENTS
OR
IT USED TO BE IN THE OLD DAYS
THEY GOT MORE OFFICE SPACE.
>> I REMEMBER TALKING TO YOU
A LONG TIME AGO ABOUT THE
STOOP MODEL IN VANCOUVER, AND
YOU
SAID, YEAH, WE HAVE A GLUT OF
RETAIL SPACE.
MAYBE THINK ABOUT MIXING IT UP
A LITTLE BIT.
>> YES, BECAUSE RETAIL IS, I
MEAN, YOU KNOW, AND
FLOOR PLATES ARE DRINKING.
EXISTING RETAILERS THAT USED TO
BE 7,000 OR 8,000 SQUARE
FEET HAVE DOWNSIZED TO 2,000 OR
3,000.
RESTAURANTS, THE SWEET SPOT FOR
RESTAURANTS THESE DAYS IS
2500 TO 3500 SQUARE FEET, WHERE
IT
USED TO BE 7,000 AND ABOVE.
>> INTERESTING.
COUNCILMEMBER KETTLE.
>> THANK YOU, COUNCIL PRESIDENT.
I JUST WANTED TO THANK
EVERYONE FOR JOINING US TODAY
ACROSS THE
BOARD.
AND ALSO CITY ATTORNEY DAVISON.
I HAVE GOT A COUPLE HATS HERE.
ONE, I'M REPRESENTATIVE FOR
DISTRICT SEVEN, WHICH IS THE
DOWNTOWN AREA, THE GREATER
DOWNTOWN, TO INCLUDE SUFFOLK
UNION, DOWNTOWN, UPTOWN AND THE
REST, AND OTHER AREAS LIKE
KWOOEN ANN QUEEN ANNE AND THE
LIKE.
THEY HAVE NICHES AND
FOCUS, WHICH IS INTERESTING FOR
ME.
AND SEPARATELY, I'M
ALSO CHAIRING THE PUBLIC SAFETY
COMMITTEE, AND COUNCIL
PRESIDENT, THAT'S MY LINE
ABOUT TURNING EVERY MEETING INTO
A PUBLIC SAFETY MEETING, WHICH
IS MNG I DO ON A REGULAR BASIS.
AND WE'RE MAKING GREAT
PROGRESS.
I JUST HAD A MEETING, FUNNY
ENOUGH, WITH ANOTHER --
I GENERALLY HAVE MEETINGS WITH
THE PROPERTY OWNER, PROPERTY
MANAGER, COMMERCIAL REAL ESTATE
PIECE, AS OPPOSED TO THE STORES
THEMSELVES.
EXCEPTION BEING ACTUALLY
NORDSTROM.
AND ONE OF THE PIECES IS
THE PUBLIC SAFETY PIECE.
WITH OUR STRATEGIC FRAMEWORK
PLAN, WE'RE PUTTING IN PLACE
A LOT OF PIECES ACROSS THE
BOARD.
WE HAVE 20 BILLS IN 18 MONTHS.
A LOT OF THEM IN COOPERATION
AND COORDINATION WITH CITY
ATTORNEY SO I THANK HER FOR
THAT.
THAT'S MAKING A DIFFERENCE.
ALTHOUGH I DO MAKE THE POINT
ABOUT EXPECTATION MANAGEMENT.
AS SOME OF YOU NOTED,
WE'RE MOVING IN A POSITIVE
DIRECTION, BUT FOR A LOT OF
THESE PIECES
TO GET FULLY IN PLACE IT'S
GOING
TO TAKE SOME TIME, AND SO
THERE'S LIKE THIS BRIDGING
MOMENT.
I NOTE, BY THE WAY, IN
OUR VISION STATEMENT FOR
THE COMMITTEE THAT WE'RE
LOOKING
FOR A TIME WHEN BUSINESSES
DON'T HAVE TO HAVE PRIVATE
SECURITY.
SO I SHOULD JUST SAY, BY THE
WAY, UP FRONT, THANK YOU TO
THE ENTIRE BUSINESS COMMUNITY
FOR HAVING PRIVATE SECURITY,
BECAUSE IT'S A BRIDGING.
IT'S A BRIDGING FUNCTION.
AND IT GETS US TO THAT POINT.
AND I REALLY APPRECIATE
BECAUSE IT DOES MAKE A
DIFFERENCE.
AND SO WITH THAT SAID,
AND BY THE WAY, I'M HAPPY TO
MEET
WITH ANYBODY IN THIS SPACE
FROM EITHER THE PUBLIC SAFETY
HAT
OR THE DISTRICT SEVEN HAT.
AND DO SO AGAIN WITH LIKE
NORDSTROM, BECAUSE I HAVE MET
WITH THE FORMER GENERAL MANAGER,
I HAVE MET WITH THE
NORDSTROM FAMILY MEMBERS.
IN THE PAST, BUT I'M LOOKING TO
CONTINUE THAT.
AND BECAUSE THERE'S A LOT OF
DIFFERENT ISSUES TOO.
AND AS I AM WRITING NOTES TO
MYSELF LISTENING TO THE
CONVERSATION, THERE'S ALWAYS
THE
IDEA OR QUESTIONS
RELATED DIFFERENT WAYS REGARDING
ANCHOR
TENANTS.
HOW CAN WE DO THAT SMART?
SOMETIMES IT'S RESTAURANTS.
WHATEVER IT MAY BE.
SOUND TRANSIT THREE MITIGATION.
THAT'S A MAJOR ISSUE,
MITIGATING
THE IMPACTS OF SOUND TRANSIT
THREE. I'M AWARE OF THAT.
IT'S NOT COME UP YET.
AND WE NEED TO BE ABLE TO DO
THAT SMART.
WE DO NEED TO
HAVE PARTNERSHIP ON ORGANIZED
RETAIL
CRIME BECAUSE WHAT RETAIL DOES
OR DOES
NOT DO, IT PLAYS INTO HOW THINGS
PLAY OUT IN TERMS OF ORGANIZED
RETAIL CRIME OR SOMEWHAT
UNORGANIZED RETAIL CRIME AS
WELL.
AND HAVING THAT, YOU KNOW,
IT'S KIND OF LIKE A COMMERCIAL
BLOCK
WATCH, KIND OF, OR AS
MY COLLEAGUE IS THE KING OF
CRIME
PREVENTION THROUGH
ENVIRONMENTAL DESIGN, PLACING
THESE PIECES IN
PLAY HELP.
AND EACH OF THESE HELP THE
OVERALL POSTURE, THE
PUBLIC SAFETY POSTURE, SO THAT
KIND
OF COMMUNICATION AND WORK IS
REALLY
HELPFUL.
AND TECHNOLOGY.
YOU'RE GOING TO START
HEARING ABOUT THIS, THE REALTIME
CRIME CENTER IS COMING ONLINE.
IT STARTED ITS INITIAL
OPERATING CAPABILITY WITH CCTV
AND THE
LIKE.
IT IS COMING ONLINE.
AGAIN, PREVIEW, IN THE NEXT
MONTH, TWO MONTHS, YOU'RE
GOING TO START SEEING EXAMPLES
OF
HOW THIS IS MAKING A DIFFERENCE.
TYING IN THE COMMERCIAL PIECE
IN TERMS OF THE PUBLIC FACING
ASPECTS OF COMMERCIAL
CAMERAS THAT THE STREET VIEWS,
THE SIDEWALK VIEWS AND THE
LIKE, WILL ONLY HELP THIS PUSH
TO CREATE A MORE POSITIVE
PUBLIC SAFETY POSTURE.
AND SO THESE ARE THE
PARTNERSHIPS THAT WE NEED
TO HAVE ON THE PUBLIC SAFETY
SIDE.
I THINK IT'S GOING TO MAKE A
BIG DIFFERENCE.
BY THE WAY, I HEAR THE POINTS
ABOUT PARKING, TOO, AND ON
A MORE PRACTICAL SIDE, AND I
WILL
ADMIT, PACIFIC PLACE PARKING,
WE SHOULDN'T TALK ABOUT IT TOO
MUCH
BECAUSE IT'S A LITTLE BIT OF
AN INSIDE SECRET ABOUT WHERE TO
GO.
SO THANK YOU FOR THAT.
AND AGAIN, COUNCIL PRESIDENT, I
THINK IT'S IMPORTANT THAT
WE KEEP PRESSING ON ALL OF
THESE, AND AGAIN, MY DOOR IS
OPEN
TO MEET WITH YOU,
PACIFIC, SPECIFICALLY ABOUT YOUR
ISSUES, PARTICULARLY GIVEN MY
CHAIRMANSHIP OF THE
PUBLIC SAFETY COMMITTEE.
PART OF THIS, TOO, IS HOW
TO CREATE THAT PIECE.
YOU KNOW, THAT MOMENTUM.
NOTHING BUILDS MOMENTUM
MORE THAN MOMENTUM ITSELF.
WE DO HAVE THIS BIG THING
CALLED FIFA WORLD CUP THAT'S
DOING
SOME MOMENTUM PIECES.
AND YOU KNOW, IT'S THE
LITTLE THINGS.
LIKE, IF I SEE FIRST AVENUE
REOPEN AHEAD OF WORLD CUP,
THE IRISH PUB, WHICH IS WHERE I
WENT TO GO SEE THE
2010 WORLD CUP WHEN I WAS
STATIONED IN
BREMERTON, THAT GIVES YOU THE
SENSE, OKAY, HERE WE GO.
IT'S THE SAME THING IN TERMS
OF WHAT'S HAPPENING ON THIRD,
WITH BUMPER SHOOT CANNONBALL AND
THIS ENERGY AND PIECES LIKE
THAT, THE
MORE WE BUILD THAT MOMENTUM,
AND MINDFUL, TOO, SINCE I
SEE NORDSTROM ON THE SCREEN,
TOO.
PROTECT THE CROWN JEWELS OF
RETAIL, SO I'M HERE FOR THAT.
I THINK WE'LL BE IN GOOD STEAD.
SO I'M BULLISH ON RETAIL HERE
IN SEATTLE.
I RECOGNIZE MINDFUL OF ALL THE
CHALLENGES, AND THAT'S A
LONG WAY OF SAYING I'M HERE TO
HELP, EVEN THOUGH I'M FROM THE
GOVERNMENT, SO THANK YOU VERY
MUCH.
>> THANK YOU.
AND WHEN HE'S TALKING ABOUT
THE REAL TIME CRIME CENTER, WHAT
HE
TOUCHED ON THIS, WANT TO MAKE
IT EXPLICIT, THERE WILL BE
INVITATIONS.
CORRECT ME IF I MAKE A BUNCH
OF ERRORS IN WHAT I SAY,
COUNCILMEMBER, BUT I
BELIEVE THERE ARE
INVITATIONS, PRIVATE --
>> COMMERCIAL, YEAH.
>> PRIVATE VIDEO FEEDS WILL BE
INVITED INTO THE RETAIL -- I
MEAN, NOT THE RETAIL BUT THE
REALTIME CRIME CENTER.
THIS IS WHAT EVERY
MODERN AMERICAN CITY,
PROGRESSIVE,
CONSERVATIVE, HAS ALREADY STOOD
UP.
I SAW THEIR IMPRESSIVE ONE IN
D.C. , AND THEY RELY
ON INFORMATION FROM PRIVATE
ENTITIES ACROSS THE CITY.
I HAPPEN TO KNOW THAT
WHEN PEOPLE GET ROBBED AND
THE OFFICERS COME TO THE HOUSE,
IF THEY DO, OFTENTIMES THE
SHOP KEEPER WANTS TO PROVIDE THE
VIDEO FEED, AND YED IT'S KIND
OF CUMBERSOME IN THAT FORM, SO
THAT IS GOING TO BE A REAL
ADVANCE.
>> COUNCIL PRESIDENT, JUST TO
PIGGYBACK ON THAT POINT.
THEY'RE ALREADY THERE TO WORK.
AND IN FACT, BECAUSE LIKE I HAVE
A MEETING TONIGHT,
CONSTANTLY HAVING MEETINGS WITH
LIKE NEIGHBORHOODS WHO ARE BEING
IMPACTED, THE BUSINESSES,
RESIDENTS TOO.
AND THE ENGAGING.
SO FOR EXAMPLE, A PRECINCT
IS WORKING WITH THOSE
BUSINESSES.
WHAT I'LL DOING SOMETIMES IS
ON THE WAY IN, AND I VARY MY
ROUTES
IN THE CITY TO GET A SENSE
OF WHAT'S HAPPENING ON THE
STREET.
I'LL STOP AND CHECK IN WITH
THAT
ONE BUSINESS.
IT COULD BE SERVICES, COULD BE
ANYTHING. AND THEY ARE ENGAGED.
I DID THIS ONCE ON SECOND,
AND I'M LIKE, OH, THEY WERE
LIKE,
HEY.
I GO, HAS THE WEST PRECINCT BEEN
BY?
YEAH.
AND IN ADDITION, DETECTIVES ARE
BEEN AND LOOKED AT OUR
CAMERAS AND SAID YOU NEED TO
TWEAK THIS.
THEY DID THE COORDINATION.
THAT KIND OF COORDINATION IS
REALLY GOING TO MAKE A
DIFFERENCE.
WE NEED THAT PARTNERSHIP TO
REEMPHASIZE THAT.
BY THE WAY, THE MORE WE DEON
THIS, WE ENABLE BETTER,
SMARTER, FASTER PROSECUTION,
WHICH IN
TERM, IT'S MOMENTUM
BUILDS MOMENTUM AND THAT WILL
HELP OUT.
THANK YOU VERY MUCH FOR THAT IN
ADVANCE.
>> WILL IT BE ALSO
RESIDENTIAL, SORT OF THE GROUND
FLOOR
LOBBIES OF APARTMENTS AND CONDOS
AS
WELL?
>> WELL, IT'S PRIMARILY
COMMERCIAL, ALTHOUGH
THE COMMERCIAL REAL
ESTATE SIDE, THERE'S A PIECE OF
THAT,
BUT IT'S NOT AT THIS POINT
DESIGNED FOR THE MORE GENERAL
RESIDENTIAL.
THERE'S A BIG DIFFERENCE
BETWEEN THE GENERAL RESIDENTIAL
VERSUS A
DOWNTOWN BUILDING.
SOMEBODY HAD MENTIONED
THAT POINT ABOUT NOT EVERY
BUILDING HAS RETAIL.
THAT'S A DIFFERENT KIND
OF RESIDENTIAL COMPARED TO THE
SINGLE FAMILY OR THE
MULTIFAMILY, THOSE KINDS.
SO THERE'S RAR DIFFERENCE.
>> PEOPLE BREAKING
INTO COMMERCIAL ESTABLISHMENTS
TO STEAL WHATEVER.
OKAY.
COUNCILMEMBER RIVERA.
>> THANK YOU, COUNCIL PRESIDENT.
SORRY, I NEED TO GO REJOIN
AWC, SO I'M GOING TO MAKE SOME
REALLY
QUICK COMMENTS AND THEN I
NEED TO TAKE OFF.
FIRST, I WANT TO THANK ALL
THE PANELISTS FOR BEING HERE.
AND I WANT TO THANK YOU,
COUNCIL PRESIDENT, FOR CONVENING
THIS REALLY IMPORTANT PANEL.
BECAUSE THIS IS A
REALLY IMPORTANT ISSUE WITH
OUR RETAILERS IN SEATTLE.
I'M GOING TO MAKE THREE QUICK
POINTS.
ONE IS I'M GOING TO
THANK NORDSTROM FOR BEING
DOWNTOWN, FOR STICKING WITH US,
FOR BEING
SUCH A GREAT PARTNER
DOWNTOWN, BUT NOT ONLY ON THE
RETAIL
SIDE, BUT ALSO ALL THE
CONTRIBUTIONS THAT NORDSTROM
MAKES TO
DOWNTOWN, INCLUDING THE
WATERFRONT. THIS IS REALLY
IMPORTANT
BECAUSE OUR RETAIL PARTNERS,
YES,
THEY PROVIDE A SERVICE TO OUR
CONSTITUENTS,
AND THEN THEY HAVE THIS OTHER
SIDE WHERE THEY CARE
ABOUT OUR CITY, AND THEY
REALLY PROVIDE CONTRIBUTIONS IN
OTHER WAYS THAT ARE
REALLY IMPORTANT TO THE CITY,
LIKE THE WATER
FRONT.
SO I WANTED TO SAY THAT.
SEPARATELY, FIFA, FIFA
IS IMPORTANT TO THE CITY.
IT WILL HELP WITH OUR ECONOMY IN
THE
CITY. SO PEOPLE SHOULD WELCOME
IT, WELCOME PEOPLE BECAUSE
IT GENERATES REVENUE FOR THE
CITY, AND ALSO, WE NEED TO NOT
ONLY BE
TALKING ABOUT WAYS THAT WE
CAN HELP RETAIL AS WE ARE
LOOKING
AT FIFA BUT WHAT HAPPENS WHEN
FIFA
LEAVES.
SO LIKE THAT IS EQUALLY
IMPORTANT.
WE'RE LIKE CONSTANTLY POST-
COVID STRUGGLING WITH DOWNTOWN.
AND THEN NOT JUST
DOWNTOWN, WHICH IS MY FINAL
POINT,
WHICH IS WE HAVE RETAIL IN ALL
OF
THE CORRIDORS AND THE
NEIGHBORHOODS ACROSS THE CITY.
DOWNTOWN IS REALLY
IMPORTANT BECAUSE ANY CITY
DOWNTOWNS ARE
IMPORTANT.
IT'S WHERE THE BUSINESS SECTOR
IS.
AND WE REALLY SHOULD HAVE
A VIBRANT DOWNTOWN, IF YOU WANT
TO LOOK AT HOW WELL A CITY IS
DOING, YOU LOOK AT
THEIR DOWNTOWN AND ALSO HOW WELL
THEIR SMALL BUSINESSES ARE
DOING ACROSS THE CITY.
SO WE HAVE, LIKE I SAID, RETAIL
IN OUR COMMERCIAL AREAS IN OUR
NEIGHBORHOODS, INCLUDING THE
D- 4, SO I WOULD LOVE TO ALSO
EXPAND THE CONVERSATION TO TALK
ABOUT, YOU KNOW, HOW WE HELP
OUR RETAIL BUSINESSES IN
THE COMMERCIAL CORRIDORS.
I KNOW OUR BIAs AND WE HAVE
ONE OF THE U DISTRICT DO A GREAT
JOB, AND HOW DO WE ALL
PARTNER TOGETHER TO MAKE SURE
WE'RE ALL
HELPING EACH OTHER.
SO THANK YOU.
THANK YOU, ALL.
>> THANK YOU.
ARE THERE ANY -- IS YOUR HAND
UP?
OKAY, GO AHEAD.
SORRY.
>> YES.
THANK YOU, MADAM PRESIDENT.
I WOULD LOVE TO CONTINUE
HAVING A CONVERSATION WITH YOU
ALL BECAUSE AS A SEATTLE KID,
YOU
KNOW, NATIVE BORN AND RAISED
HERE, HAVING WORKED DOWNTOWN
AT THE PAY AND SAVE AT FOURTH
AND
PIKE, IF ANYBODY REMEMBERS
THAT, AND BEFORE
NORDSTROMS HEADQUARTERS WAS THE
HEADQUARTERS, IT WAS NELSONS
AND I WORKED THERE AS A YOUNG
PERSON.
I REMEMBER JAY JACOBS
BEING RIGHT
ACROSS THE STREET. I HAVE A LOT
OF MEMORIES,
FOND MEMORIES OF WHAT DOWNTOWN
WAS.
AND DREAMS ABOUT WHAT IT CAN
BE
AGAIN. I DEFINITELY WANT TO
PARTNER WITH YOU.
THERE'S SOME EARLIER
LEGISLATION
THAT WE GOT PASSED REGARDING
STOREFRONT OR GROUND LEVEL
RETAIL, AND REPURPOSING
WHAT COULD ACTUALLY GO INTO
THOSE
SPACES.
SO THAT WE COULD ACTIVATE
SOME OF THOSE EMPTY STORE
FRONTS.
LOOKING AT WHAT MORE WE CAN DO,
BRINGING MORE BUSINESSES
DOWNTOWN. I KNOW A A LARGE PART
OF WHAT
I HAVE HEARD FROM THE
HOSPITALITY INDUSTRY IS NOT
NECESSARILY PUBLIC SAFETY
CONCERNS BUT
PERCEPTION ABOUT PUBLIC
SAFETY, WHICH IS DRIVING A LOT
OF
PEOPLE OVER TO THE EAST SIDE
BECAUSE
FOLKS DON'T FEEL THAT DOWNTOWN
IS SAFE. YOU LOOK AT THE
NUMBERS, THE
NUMBERS ARE TRENDING IN
THE RIGHT DIRECTION, BUT IF
PEOPLE DON'T FEEL IT'S SAFE,
THEY'RE GOING TO ACT LIKE IT'S
NOT SAFE.
SO WHAT CAN WE DO TO HELP CHANGE
THAT PERCEPTION THAT IT'S
OKAY TO BE DOWNTOWN?
AT THE SAME TIME, WE DO HAVE
TO RECOGNIZE THAT, YEAH, WHEN
YOU SEE SOMEBODY SHOOTING UP IN
A DOORWAY AT MACY'S, IT'S NOT
A
GOOD LOOK.
SO WE HAVE TO ADDRESS THAT
REALITY AS WELL.
LOOKING AT WHAT CAN WE DO
TO INCENTIVIZE BUSINESSES GOING
INTO THOSE VACANT STORE FRONTS.
THERE ARE IDEAS THAT HAVE BEEN
FLOATED AROUND, EVEN
RECENTLY, TO MAKE IT EASIER.
AND THANK YOU FOR THE IDEA
ABOUT PERMITTING REFORM.
I KNOW PERMIT REFORM
IS SOMETHING THAT'S OF
GREAT INTEREST TO MANY OF US ON
THIS
COUNCIL.
SO HOW CAN WE MAKE IT EASIER FOR
BUSINESSES TO OCCUPY THOSE
SPACES?
WHAT CAN WE DO TO
INCENTIVIZE HIGHER TENANCY.
I MISS THE BARNES & NOBLE'S
THERE, BY THE WAY.
I MISS THE GORDON BRUCE THERE.
SO ALL THAT TO SAY THAT I
DEFINITELY WANT TO WORK
WITH, YOU KNOW, WITH DSA, WITH
THE
MID, WITH THE CHAMBER, WITH
ALL OF Y'ALL TO SEE WHAT WE CAN
DO TO REVITALIZE DOWNTOWN.
AND PARTNER WITH THE REST OF MY
COLLEAGUES, YOU KNOW, AGAIN,
DOWNTOWN MAY BE D- 7,
BUT I'M A SEATTLE KID, SO
DOWNTOWN IS
IN MY BLOOD.
SO THANK YOU VERY MUCH, MADAM
PRESIDENT.
>> THANK YOU.
I HAVE SOME CLOSING COMMENTS
BUT I WANT TO PROVIDE YOU
THE OPPORTUNITY TO SAY ANYTHING
ELSE.
OKAY, SO I JUST WANT TO
HEAR SOME ACTION STEPS THAT I
HEARD HERE AND REMIND ME IF I
HAVE
FORGOTTEN ANYTHING OR PERHAPS
WE CAN GET A DOCUMENT THAT WE
WILL THEN ATTACH TO THE AGENDA
FOR THIS MEETING AS WELL AS
THE INFORMATION THAT CITY
ATTORNEY DAVISON PROVIDED.
WHAT I'M HEARING IS PARKING
CREATIVE WAY TO
SUBSIDIZE PARKING OR PROVIDE FOR
PARKING
IN OTHER LOCATIONS THAT ARE
UNDERUTILIZED WOULD BE A REAL
HELP. SO THANK YOU VERY MUCH FOR
THAT.
I AM ALSO HEARING THAT HAVING
A DESIGNATED PERSON, A RETAIL
CONSULTANT THAT WILL
HELP CONNECT THE DOTS, THAT
WILL RECRUIT AND CURATE
BUSINESSES THAT WOULD WORK
REALLY WELL
DOWNTOWN AND RAISE THE TIDE
FOR THE BOATS OF ALL RETAIL IN
THE
AREA, IN THE CENTRAL BUSINESS
DISTRICT, AND I ALWAYS
THINK ABOUT KAREN TRUE AND HOW
SHE WENT OUT AND GATHERED
GREAT BUSINESSES AND REALLY
ENLIVENED PIONEER SQUARE.
YOU'RE TALKING ABOUT THE SAME
THING, AND SO I
REALLY APPRECIATE THAT.
SO NOTED AGAIN AND AGAIN AND
AGAIN.
THANK YOU.
KEEP THE STOREFRONT REPAIR, NOT
THE STOREFRONT REPAIR, BUT
THE SEATTLE RESTORED PROGRAM
GOING, FIGURE OUT HOW TO MAKE
IT MORE -- IF THERE'S A WAY FOR
THE CITY TO SUPPORT THE PROPERTY
OWNERS, THE GENERAL MANAGERS
OF THOSE SPACES IN A WAY THAT
WOULD MAKE IT EASIER AND FASTER
FOR
SMALLER BUSINESS TO LOCATE
THERE AND INCUBATE, IT'S GOOD
FOR EVERYBODY AND ENLIVENS THE
STREETSCAPE AND ALSO HELPS
THE BUSINESS HAVE A SENSE OF
WHAT
IT MEANS TO BE A BRICK AND
MORTAR AND THEN GROW
ACCORDINGLY.
DEDICATED PERMIT REVIEWER.
I HAVE A
BETTER IDEA. I ACTUALLY DO HAVE
-- I
HAVE TALKED WITH MY COLLEAGUES
A LITTLE BIT AND I HAVE BEEN IN
CONSULTATION.
I AM PUTTING TOGETHER A
PACKAGE OF PERMITTING REFORM
EFFORTS, EVERYTHING FROM
ESTABLISHING
TIMELINES OR ACTUAL
REQUIRING THAT A CERTAIN KIND OF
PROJECT
HAS TO BE FINISHED IN A CERTAIN
AMOUNT OF TIME, 60, 100, 120
DAYS, AND I DIDN'T THINK OF
THIS MYSELF, IT CAME OUT OF
OLYMPIA, AND THE DATE THAT IT'S
SUPPOSED TO BE EFFECTIVE IS JULY
1st.
SO STRAIGHT UP CONFORMING
TO THAT LEGISLATION WOULD BE
A GREAT IDEA.
ANOTHER LAW THAT CAME OUT OF
OLYMPIA A COUPLE YEARS
BEFORE THAT WAS THAT INTERNAL
TRANSFORMATIONS TENDING TO
IMPROVEMENTS THAT ARE
RESTRICTED TO AN INTERIOR OF A
BUILDING
MIGHT NOT HAVE TO GO
THROUGH PERMIT REVIEW.
NOT SURE HOW WE CAN SELL THAT,
BUT ANYWAY, THAT'S A LAW THAT
IS ALSO SUPPOSED TO GO INTO
EFFECT IN JULY.
THEN, I DID BRING TOGETHER
A ROUND -- A GROUP OF
ARCHITECTS WHICH I FORGOT TO
MENTION IN
MY SPIEL ABOUT
ROUNDTABLE DISCUSSIONS AND THE
IMPORTANCE
THEREOF, BUT BASICALLY,
THE POSSIBILITY OF ARCHITECT
SELF-CERTIFICATION.
SO THAT THEY'RE TAKING ON THE
RISK.
YOU KNOW, THEIR LICENSE IS
ON THE LINE IF THEY ARE --
IF THEY'RE NOT -- IF THERE'S
A PROBLEM WITH THEIR PLANS.
OTHERWISE, IT DOES CUT OUT A
LOT OF TIME SXEFRT.
AND TIME IS COST WHEN IT
COMES TO THOSE THINGS.
SO THAT WOULD BE UNDER YOUR
PURVIEW, COUNCILMEMBER
SOLOMON, AS VICE CHAIR OF LAND
USE.
AND THEN FINALLY, LET'S SEE.
I DID WANT TO SAY THAT THE
KIOSKS THAT WERE --
THE LEGISLATION THAT AUTHORIZED
THE
DSA TO INSTALL AND MONITOR
THE -- IN RELATIONSHIP WITH
THE VENDOR OF THESE KIOSKS,
THAT LEGISLATION WAS PASSED ON
TUESDAY. THAT IS SOMETHING THAT
DSA
HAS BEEN WORKING ON FOR YEARS
AND
YEARS.
IT'S SO MANY WIN, WIN, WIN
AFTER EACH OTHER.
BUT IT WILL REALLY, I LIKED
IT BECAUSE IT SUPPORTS THE
SMALL BUSINESSES OR LARGE
BUSINESSES IN OUR CITY, LOCAL,
INDEPENDENT
BUSINESSES, AND IT ALSO
WILL GENERATE REVENUE TO DSA
THROUGH A COST SHARE WITH THE
VENDOR, AND THAT WILL SUPPORT
THEIR
WORK THAT MAKES SEATTLE,
DOWNTOWN
SEATTLE SO MUCH BETTER.
I READ OFF LISTS WHEN THIS
WAS IN MY COMMITTEE OF ALL
THE THINGS THEY COULD DO WITH
$1. 1
MILLION OF REVENUE SHARE.
I WANT TO POINT OUT THAT
I HAVE BEEN READING THE BUZZ
SINCE
THIS PASSED OUT OF FULL COUNCIL
ON TUESDAY AND PEOPLE
THINKING THESE ARE JUST GIANT
CELL
PHONES.
WHY DO WE NEED THESE THINGS ALL
OVER THE
PLACE? HERE'S WHY I WANT TO
TALK
ABOUT SOME OF THE SPECIFIC
BENEFITS THAT RELATE DIRECTLY TO
THE
RETAIL SECTOR.
ONE THINK IS ANY BIA CAN PROMOTE
LOCAL EVENTS LIKE STREET
FAIRS, FESTIVALS OR LOCATION
AJACET ATTRACTIONS THROUGH ONE
OF
THE SHARED ADVERTISING PANELS SO
YOU KNOW, SOMETHING CLOSE TO
PACIFIC PLACE COULD TAKE
ADVANTAGE
OF THAT FEATURE.
THEY ALSO INCLUDE SPECIFIC
APPS TO PROMOTE LOCAL
BUSINESSES.
BERKLEY, FOR EXAMPLE,
THERE WAS AN APP ON THE IKE
KIOSK
THAT PROVIDED MAPS AND
INFORMATION RELATED TO A
HISTORIC
CULTURAL WALKING TOUR OF THE
NEIGHBORHOOD.
WELL, HOW ABOUT A WALKING TOUR
OF LANDMARK OG SEATTLE
RETAIL BUSINESSES THAT PEOPLE
MIGHT WANT TO -- THAT THEY KNOW
WHEN
THEY COME TO SEATTLE THEY
WANT TO GO TO BUT HERE'S A FUN
WAY
OF GETTING TO THEM.
KIOSKS PROMOTE LOCAL ARTISTS
AND IN PASSIVE MODE THEY CAN
SHOWCASE THE WORK OF LOCAL
ARTISTS IN ADDITION TO
ADVERTISING. A LOT OF RETAIL
SPACES DO HAVE
SPACE, CO- LOCATION FOR ART.
AND OF COURSE, KIOSKS
PROVIDE FREE WI- FI WITHIN 85
FEET
OF THESE KIOSKS.
AND THAT'S REALLY GREAT FOR
INTERNATIONAL TRAVELERS
WHO MIGHT NOT HAVE A WI- FI
ENABLED
CELL PHONE ON THEM OR A
SMARTPHONE, SO THAT IS AN
ADDED PUBLIC BENEFIT, AND
PROVIDES INFORMATION --
INFORMATION
IS PROVIDED IN MULTILINGUALS.
AND FINALLY, IMPORTANT NOTE.
THIS IS NOT A BUSINESS
PAY TO TO SYSTEM WHERE
BUSINESSES CAN
HAVE THEIR LOCATION LISTED FIRST
AS WITH OTHER MODELS THAT
ONE MIGHT CARRY AROUND ON A
SMARTPHONE.
INSTEAD, ALL INFORMATION IS
PRESENTED -- IS PRESENTED FAIRLY
BASED ON PROXIMITY TO THAT
KIOSK. AND SO, AGAIN, PEOPLE CAN
TRUST THAT WHEN THEY'RE
STANDING IN
FRONT OF PACIFIC PLACE OR
DOWN TOWARD THE MARKET OR
WHATEVER, THEY CAN HAVE ACCESS.
THEY KNOW WHAT IS CLOSE TO
THEM, AND THEY CAN READ ABOUT IT
RIGHT THERE.
SO THIS, I BELIEVE, WILL
ALSO HELP THE RETAIL SECTOR WHEN
THEY START GETTING INSTALLED AND
THE TIMELINE IS DRIVEN BY THE
WORLD
CUP.
BUT WE COULD MAYBE SEE
THEM BEFORE THAT.
SO THAT IS SOMETHING TO
LOOK FORWARD TO ON A
POSITIVE NOTE THAT CAN HELP YOUR
SECTOR AS
WELL. THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR
COMING
AND SHARING YOUR KNOWLEDGE AND
EXPERTISE.
AND I COMMIT TO YOU TO BE
A STRONG PARTNER FOR
ACTUALLY TAKING SOME REALLY
CONCRETE STEPS TO IMPROVE AND
ENHANCE AND
NURTURE AND LEARN FROM YOU HERE
AT THE TABLE AND BEYOND.
SO THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR
YOUR TIME AND EXPERTISE.
I APPRECIATE IT.
ALL RIGHT.
OKAY. YES.
JUST A SECOND.
I AM THANKING SOMETHING.
HOLD ON.
JUST A MOMENT, PLEASE.
AND OF COURSE.
I AM INCLUDING YOU,
CITY ATTORNEY DAVISON, AS PART
OF
THE SECTOR, BUT IT IS YOUR
WORK, YOUR GROUNDBREAKING WORK,
THAT
HAS ENABLED -- THAT HAS
REALLY REDUCED THE NUMBER ONE
PROBLEM
I HAVE BEEN HEARING EFRK SINCE
I HAVE BEEN IN OFFICE OF, WHAT
DO WE CALL IT?
BLEED, IS IT?
WHAT?
>> SHRINKAGE.
>> YEAH, SHRINKAGE.
THE SHRINKAGE.
THE CURSIONS INTO YOUR
BOTTOM LINE WHICH IS SOMETIMES
THE
REASON PEOPLE LEAVE TOWN.
WE HAVE CITY ATTORNEY DAVISON
FOR AMELIORATING THOSE
DECISIONS.
THANK YOU VERY MUCH.
I DID NOT MEAN TO LEAVE YOU
OUT OF MY GRATITUDE.
>> NOT AT ALL.
CAN I JUST COMMENT ONE THING
ON YOUR KIOSK?
IT'S LIKE IT'S THE INDOOR
VERSION OF THE MALL.
LIKE WHERE TO GO FOR THE MALL
SIGN, AS YOU WERE
JUST DESCRIBING FOR THE
NEIGHBORHOOD.
>> RIGHT.
>> THAT'S HOW YOU ENVISIONED
IT, COUNCIL PRESIDENT.
>> YES.
ALL RIGHT.
THANK YOU VERY MUCH FOR COMING,
EVERYBODY.
LET'S BE IN TOUCH. ALL RIGHT,
THANK YOU.
OKAY, I'M SCANNING TO SEE
IF ANYONE HAS THEIR HAND UP
BECAUSE WE HAVE REACHED THE
OTHER BUSINESS PART OF OUR
AGENDA.
AND I'M NOT SEEING ANYONE.
SO THIS CONCLUDES THE AGENDA
OF THE JUNE 26th MEETING OF
THE GOVERNANCE ACCOUNTABILITY
AND ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT
COMMITTEE,
AND OUR NEXT MEETING
IS SCHEDULED FOR THURSDAY, JULY
10th.
NO MORE FURTHER BUSINESS, SO
WE WILL ADJOURN.
IT IS
4:03 P.M. THANK YOU VERY MUCH.
BYE-BYE.