>> GOOD AFTERNOON, EVERYONE. THE
FEBRUARY 26, 2025 MEETING OF THE
PARKS AND TECHNOLOGY MEETING
WILL COME TO ORDER . IT IS 3:00
P.M. CLERK, WILL YOU PLEASE CALL
THE ROLL.
>> CHAIR, THERE ARE FOUR
COUNCILMEMBERS PRESENT.
>> THANK YOU. COUNCILMEMBER
NELSON HAS BEEN EXCUSED. WE HAVE
A FULL AGENDA FOR TODAY. WE WILL
HEAR ABOUT THE STATE OF OUR
PARKS PUBLIC RESTROOMS FROM OUR
AUDITOR'S OFFICE INCLUDING
RECOMMENDATIONS FOLLOWED BY A
PRESENTATION FROM PARKS IN
RESPONSE TO THE OTHER THAN THEIR
STRATEGIES MOVING FORWARD. IN
OUR LAST COMMITTEE, PARKS CAME
TO US WITH A BRIEFING ON THE
PROJECTS AND GRANT FUNDING
ASSISTANCE THROUGH THE STATE
RECREATION AND CONSERVATION
OFFICE. I LOOK FORWARD TO
CONTINUING THE DISCUSSION TODAY
AND LASTLY, WE HAVE A CENTRAL
WATERFRONT OVERSIGHT COMMITTEE
APPOINTEE WE WILL VOTE TO AFFIRM
THEIR APPOINTMENT. I ALSO WANTED
TO POINT OUT WE WILL ALSO BE
CANCELING OUR MARCH 12th
COMMITTEE AND CANCELLATION
NOTICE WILL BE SENT OUT SOON. WE
WILL NOW CONSIDER THE AGENDA,
AND IF THERE IS NO AGENDA --
OBJECTIONS, THE AGENDA WILL BE
ADOPTED. HEARING NONE AND SEEING
NO SIGNS, THE AGENDA IS ADOPTED.
WITH THAT WE ARE GOING TO DO MY
WHICH IS OUR HYBRID PUBLIC
COMMENT PERIOD. CLERK, HOW MANY
SPEAKERS DO WE HAVE SIGNED UP
TODAY?
>> CURRENTLY WE HAVE FOUR IN
PERSON SPEAKERS SIGNED UP. THERE
ARE NO REMOTE SPEAKERS.
>> AWESOME. WE WILL GIVE EACH
SPEAKER TWO MINUTES. PLEASE READ
THE INSTRUCTIONS FOR PUBLIC
COMMENT.
>> THE PUBLIC COMMENT PERIOD
WILL BE MODERATED IN THE
FOLLOWING MANNER. I WILL CALL ON
THE SPEAKERS BY NAME IN THE
ORDER IN WHICH THEY REGISTERED .
WE WILL START WITH IN PERSON
SPEAKERS FIRST. IF YOU HAVE NOT
REGISTERED TO SPEAK BUT WOULD
LIKE TO YOU CAN SIGN-UP BEFORE
THE END OF THE PUBLIC COMMENT
PERIOD. YOU CAN GO TO THE
COUNCIL'S WEBSITE OR SIGN UP ON
THE SIGN-UP SHEET IN THE PUBLIC
COMMENT MICROPHONE. THE ONLINE
LINK IS LISTED ON TODAY'S'S
AGENDA, AS WELL. WHEN SPEAKING
PLEASE BEGIN BY STATING YOUR
NAME OF THE ITEM YOU'RE
ADDRESSING. SPEAKERS WILL HEAR A
CHIME WHEN 10 SECONDS ARE LEFT
IN THE ALLOTTED TIME. IF
SPEAKERS DO NOT AND THEIR
COMMENTS AT THE END OF THE
ALLOTTED TIME PROVIDED, THE
SPEAKER'S MICROPHONE WILL BE
MUTED TO ALLOW US TO CALL ON THE
NEXT PERSON.
>> AWESOME. WE WILL JUMP INTO
OUR IN-PERSON SPEAKERS. THANK
YOU, BEST CLERK IN THE WORLD.
>> THE FIRST SPEAKER IS MAGGIE
JOHNSON TOLD BY ALEX ZIMMERMAN.
>> HELLO, MAGGIE JOHNSON.
WELCOME. AND, START WHENEVER
YOU'RE READY.
>> HELLO, AND THANKS FOR LETTING
US TALK. MY NAME IS MAGGIE. I AM
ONE OF ABOUT 100 ACTIVE
VOLUNTEERS WHO ARE APPALLED AND
HEARTBROKEN BY PARKS' DECISION
TO ELIMINATE ENVIRONMENTAL
EDUCATION PROGRAMMING THAT IS
CURRENTLY SERVING OVER 80,000
SEATTLEITES PER YEAR. THIS SEEMS
LIKE A SENSELESS FIASCO .
COUNCIL APPROVED OUR FUNDING
THROUGH 2025 AND YOU WILL BUT
YOU HAD A YEAR TO DISCUSS
FINDING 1 MILLION PER YEAR
NEEDED A SOME OF YOU INDICATED
YOU WERE INTERESTED IN DOING BUT
PARKS HAS ALREADY OFFERED THE
ENTIRE STAFF UNRELATED
REPLACEMENT JOBS WITH A
ONE-MONTH ACCEPTANCE DEADLINE.
WHEN THE STAFF DWINDLES, THE
VOLUNTEER CORPS WILL NO LONGER
FUNCTION. WHAT BECOMES OF OUR
ONGOING PROGRAM? HAS ANYONE
THOUGHT THIS THROUGH? HERE'S
WHAT IS BEING CUT. IN 2024, OVER
4000 SCHOOLKIDS FROM 80 AREA
SCHOOLS PARTICIPATED IN FIELD
TRIPS INCLUDING 21 TITLE I
SCHOOLS . IN CLEVELAND AND CHIEF
SELL HIGH SCHOOLS, CHILDREN
ATTENDED A PROGRAM WITH A RANGE
OF MENTAL AND HEALTH BENEFITS.
THEY ARE USING THIS EXPERIENCE
ON COLLEGE APPLICATIONS.
PARTNERSHIPS WITH COMMUNITY
PROGRAMS SUCH AS LIFELONG
LEARNING AND PARK WATERSHED
ALLIANCE, DISCOVERY PARK VISITOR
CENTER SHAFT AND VOLUNTEERS TO
BRING THE ACCESSIBILITY BUS TO
THE BEACH, NATURE KIDS PRESCHOOL
OVER 900 YOUTH CAMPUS,
PROGRAMMING THAT HAS BEEN HONED
OVER DECADES INCLUDING A
HIGH-QUALITY TRAINING PROGRAM
FOR VOLUNTEERS ALL TO BE CUT.
PLEASE GET THIS ON YOUR AGENDA.
DRAFT THE BUDGET AMENDMENT
RESTORING THESE PROGRAMS AND ASK
PARKS TO STOP DISPERSING OUR
STAFF. THANK YOU.
>> UP NEXT WE HAVE ALEX
ZIMMERMAN FOLLOWED BY BILL
FARMER. [ SPEAKING IN A GLOBAL
LANGUAGE ] I COME TO THIS PLACE
FOR MANY TIMES A DOZEN TIMES TO
TALK ABOUT THIS. NO NEED TO
SPEND 1 MILLION AND MILLION
HUNDRED MILLION DOLLARS FOR
PARK. DON'T HAVE SENSE. TOO
MANY VOLUNTEERS ARE AROUND.
HUNDREDS WHO CAN DO THIS FOR
FREE. BE HAPPY. 1000
PEOPLE [ INAUDIBLE ] $100
MILLION IS STUPIDITY. GOVERNMENT
TOTALLY CORRUPT IS NOT
CORRUPTION. THEY STEAL MONEY SO
I ASK YOU WHEN WE HAVE 20,000
HOMELESS 500 DYING FOR YOUR YOU
KNOW WHAT THIS MEANS. WE HAVE
100,000 SOCIAL SECURITY LOW
INCOME WHEN YOU SPEND THOUSAND
PEOPLE FOR PARK I LIVE HERE FOR
40 YEARS . SEATTLE MY CITY. [
INAUDIBLE ] AND MATCH YOUR CITY
EMPLOYEE BECAUSE YOU CONTROLLING
BY MAFIA BY DEMOCRAT FASCIST
MAFIA WHO DON'T TOUCH PEOPLE
MORE PEOPLE VOTED FOR GOVERNMENT
MORE PEOPLE WILL WORK FOR YOU.
YOU UNDERSTAND WHAT THIS MEAN
EVERYBODY RIGHT NOW START DOING
THIS AGAIN YOU KNOW. POVERTY IS
IMPORTANT. SO STAND UP AMERICA
FOR ETERNAL STOP AND SPEND THIS
MONEY FOR NOTHING YOU ARE
KILLING.
>> THANK YOU AND FOR THE RECORD
JUST FOR EDUCATIONAL PURPOSES,
THE REMARK THAT MR. ZIMMERMAN
ALWAYS DOES IS ANTI-SEMITIC AND
IT IS IS A SALUTE AND I WILL SAY
THAT EVERY TIME I AM CHAIR OF
THE COMMITTEE HE DOES THAT IN
THIS COMMITTEE TO REMIND PEOPLE
THAT IS VERY ANTI-SEMITIC. THANK
YOU.
>> UP NEXT WE HAVE BILL FARMER .
>> HELLO, CITY COUNCIL. WE ARE
BACK TO CITY HALL REMIND YOU
ONCE AGAIN ENVIRONMENTAL
EDUCATION PROGRAM IS AT RISK OF
DISAPPEARING THIS YEAR. WE HAVE
REACHED OUT TO THE MAYOR'S
OFFICE , TO SEATTLE PARKS AND
REC MANAGEMENT AND ALL OF YOU
HAVE GOTTEN ALL MY EMAILS AND
MANY OTHERS. SO FAR SOME OF YOU
HAVE BEEN POLITE ENOUGH TO REPLY
AND WE'VE BEEN TOLD THAT FOLKS
ARE GETTING UP TO SPEED. SO FAR
WE HAVE BEEN -- THERE HAS BEEN
NO RESPONSE FROM THE MAYOR'S
OFFICE. WE'VE REACHED OUT TO
DEPUTY MAYOR FARRELL WHO HAS
TAKEN ON THAT PARKS ISSUE . WITH
OUR SUPERINTENDENT DIAZ AND
OTHERS IN THE PARKS DEPARTMENT
TO HAVE A MEETING WHICH WAS
RECOMMENDED TO HAVE A DIFFERENT
VENUE THEN COMMENTING IN PUBLIC
MEETINGS. SO FAR NO RESPONSE. AS
WE UNDERSTAND IT, THE EE PROGRAM
IS FULLY FUNDED IN 2025. ALL THE
STAFF WERE GIVEN ANOTHER
OPPORTUNITY TO TAKE ANOTHER
POSITION BY THE END OF JANUARY
BUT HAD TO DECIDE WHERE THEY
WOULD RISK NOT HAVING A JOB AT
THE END OF THE YEAR. IF THEY ARE
FULLY FUNDED IN 2025 WHAT IS THE
URGENCY? SOMETHING DOESN'T SOUND
RIGHT TO ME. COUNCIL MEMBER
KETTLE AND COUNCIL MEMBER
STRAUSS, YOU'VE MENTIONED THAT
YOU'RE WILLING TO LOOK AT
ALTERNATIVE FUNDING AND COME UP
WITH 1 MILLION BUCKS. SO FAR
GETTING NO RESPONSE IT'S
DISRESPECTED SO IT DOESN'T MAKE
US FEEL GOOD SO MAYBE ASK FOR A
MEETING .
>> THANK YOU. UP NEXT WE HAVE
JANE .
>> I AM A VOLUNTEER. THERE ARE
LOTS OF US THAT HAVE GRAY HAIR.
SOME OF US HAVE VERY LITTLE
HAIR. I THINK THERE ARE ABOUT
100 PEOPLE THAT ARE GOING TO
COME TO TESTIFY. BUT, THERE ARE
A BUNCH OF YOUNG PEOPLE THAT
VOLUNTEER, TOO. WE HAVE A
CHEMISTRY PROFESSOR WHO IS 32.
WE HAVE A ROCKET SCIENTIST TO IS
31 AND RETIRED TEACHERS AND
COUNSELORS BUT THERE ARE 100+
VOLUNTEERS LIKE ME AND WE ARE
TRAINED BY SEATTLE STAFF AND IT
IS FREE LABOR FOR THE CITY. IT
IS A PRETTY GOOD INVESTMENT. WE
HAVE ONE THING IN COMMON. WE
WANT TO SHARE THE BEAUTY AND
WONDER AND IMPORTANCE OF NATURE
IN SEATTLE PARKS WITH KIDS AND
ADULTS. SEATTLE KIDS IN SEATTLE
PARKS. IT'S A WONDERFUL
SITUATION. WE CONDUCTED 570
SCHOOL FIELD TRIPS WITH
THOUSANDS OF SEATTLE
SCHOOLCHILDREN ABOUT INSECTS,
TREES, PONDS, SALTWATER AND THE
KIDS ARE BUSSED TO THE PARKS
FROM THE SCHOOLS ALL OVER
SEATTLE AS PART OF THIS BUDGET.
BELIEVE IT OR NOT A LOT OF KIDS
HAVE NEVER BEEN TO A SEATTLE
PARKA MAY HAVE NEVER EXPERIENCED
NATURE EXPERIENCE. THEY HAVE
THEIR PHONES AND THEY HAVE ALL
THAT STUFF BUT THIS IS NEW TO
THEM AND THEIR EYES REALLY GET
WIDE. SEATTLE VOTERS JUST PAST
THE TRANSPORTATION LEVY. WE
PASSED AN OPERATING BUDGET FOR
SEATTLE SCHOOLS IN THE PAST
CAPITAL BUDGET YOU KNOW AND
HUNDREDS OF MILLIONS SO THIS IS
KIND OF AN EXTENSION OF THE
EDUCATION FOR THESE KIDS. GIVES
HIM SOMETHING THEY DON'T GET IN
THE SCHOOLS. AS FOUR TO SEVEN
FULL-TIME EQUIVALENTS I THINK
IT'S DOWN TO ABOUT FOUR NOW BUT
GIVE SOME HANDS-ON EXPERIENCE.
ALSO THIS BUDGET KEEPS DISCOVERY
PARK OPEN. NOT THE PARK, THE REC
CENTER, WHICH IS NICE TO HAVE
RESTROOMS AND TOURISTS, SO.
DON'T LET THIS 30-YEAR-OLD
PROGRAM DIE. THE BRAIN TRUST
THAT IS IN PLACE CAN EASILY BE
DISPLACED. THE SMALL DEDICATED
STAFF ARE SUPER QUALIFIED. I
KNOW IT'S HARD DURING A BUDGET
YOUR BUT THIS IS A GOOD
INVESTMENT, SO. THANK YOU.
>> THANK YOU.
>> THANK YOU. ARE THERE MORE
SPEAKERS SIGNED UP? NO, SO THE
PUBLIC COMMENT PERIOD THAT WAS
OPEN IS NOW CLOSED. THANK YOU
ALL. I WANT TO THANK THE
SPEAKERS WHO CAME TO TALK ABOUT
THE ENVIRONMENTAL PROGRAM. YOU
WILL GET RESPONSE FROM US, MR.
FARMER, AND I NEVER LIE WHEN I
COMMIT ON CAMERA. YOU WILL GET A
RESPONSE. WE WILL FOLLOW UP WITH
YOU. I ALSO , WILL THE CLERK
PLEASE READ AGENDA ITEM NUMBER
ONE INTO THE RECORD.
>> AGENDA ITEM ONE THE OFFICE OF
CITY AUDITOR'S REPORT AND
BRIEFING ON SEATTLE DEPARTMENT
OF PARKS AND RECREATION
RESTROOMS FOR BRIEFING AND
DISCUSSION PRESENTING FROM THE
OFFICE OF DAVID JONES, CITY
AUDITOR AND MELISSA ALDERSON ,
OFFICE OF CITY AUDITOR.
>> THE AUDITOR'S OFFICE. I KNOW
YOU ALL ARE THE FAVORITE OFFICE
IN THE CITY OF SEATTLE. PLEASE
INTRODUCE YOURSELF AND THEN
PLEASE JUMP RIGHT INTO YOUR
PRESENTATION WHENEVER YOU ARE
READY.
>> I AM CITY AUDITOR DAVID
JONES.
>> MELISSA ALDERSON, ASSISTANT
CITY AUDITOR.
>> GO AHEAD AND PRESS YOUR MIKE.
PRESS THE LITTLE GREEN BUTTON.
>> IB OSUNTOKI. ASSISTANT CITY
AUDITOR .
>> WE WILL PROCEED WITH THE
CHAIR'S PERMISSION AND THANK
YOU FOR INVITING US TO BE HERE
TO MAKE A PRESENTATION ON PARKS,
AND SEATTLE. THIS WAS REQUESTED
BY THE PARKS DISTRICT BOARD
WHICH IS COMPOSED OF THE MEMBERS
OF THE SEATTLE CITY COUNCIL AND
MEMBERS OF THE VIEWING AUDIENCE
WHO MIGHT WANT TO READ THE
REPORT WHO MIGHT BE INTERESTED
IN IT CAN GO TO OUR OFFICE'S
WEBSITE AND SEE A COPY OF THE
REPORT . IT IS AT
WWW.SEATTLE.GOV/CITY AUDITOR.
THAT IS ONE WORD. /REPORTS. THE
FOLKS WHO DID THE WORK ON THIS,
SOME OF THEM ARE SITTING BESIDE
ME, MELISSA ALDERSON AND IB
OSUNTOKI AND SARAH BLAND. WHO
COULD NOT BE HERE. THEY WERE THE
TEAM. THEY DID THE WORK. I JUST
WANT TO SAY FROM THE BEGINNING
WE MADE SIX RECOMMENDATIONS IN
THE REPORT AND AS WE DO WITH ALL
RECOMMENDATIONS WE ARE MAKING A
REPORT WE WILL FOLLOW UP ON THEM
AND REPORT BACK TO YOU, THE CITY
COUNCIL AND THE PUBLIC. WE DO
THIS ANNUALLY AND FOLLOW UP ON
RECOMMENDATIONS UNTIL THEY HAVE
EITHER BEEN IMPLEMENTED OR IT IS
OBVIOUS THAT THEY ARE NOT GOING
TO BE IMPLEMENTED SO WE WILL BE
DOING THAT IN THE CASE OF THE
RECOMMENDATIONS MADE IN THIS
AUDIT REPORT. I DO WANT TO SAY
THE PARKS DEPARTMENT WAS VERY
COOPERATIVE DURING THIS AUDIT. I
JUST WANT TO THANK THEM FOR
THAT. IT TOOK A LOT OF
ARRANGEMENTS AND A LOT OF WORK
ON BOTH SIDES AND ALSO THIS IS
IMPORTANT CONTEXT FOR YOU, THE
COUNSEL AND FOR THE PUBLIC TO
KNOW. THE PERIOD WE WERE LOOKING
AT WAS A PARTICULARLY
CHALLENGING ONE FOR THE PARKS
DEPARTMENT IN TERMS OF ITS
ABILITY TO KEEP RESTROOMS CLEAN,
SAFE, AND OPEN. THERE WERE THREE
PRIMARY REASONS. FIRST, THE
PARKS DEPARTMENT WAS COPING WITH
THE AFTERMATH OF THE PANDEMIC
WHEN THERE WAS A REALLY
INCREASED USE OF PARK BATHROOMS
BY ALL KINDS OF USERS. THE
SECOND THING THE PARKS
DEPARTMENT WAS COPING WITH A
HIRING FREEZE DUE TO THE CITY'S
HIRING FREEZE, THE DEFICIT WE
WERE FACING, AND STRENGTHS IN
THE CITY'S POSIT -- BUDGET AND
THIS LED TO PARKS NOT BEING ABLE
TO HIRE ENOUGH EMPLOYEES TO HELP
WITH CLEANING AND REPAIRING
BATHROOMS AND THIRD FINALLY, AND
I FIND THIS PERSONALLY
DISTURBING, THERE IS AN INCREASE
IN VANDALISM OF PARKS RESTROOMS.
SOME RESTROOMS IN PARTICULAR
WERE REAL PROBLEM CHILDREN, SO
TO SPEAK. THIS ALL GOES BY WAY
OF SAYING IT IS NOT AN EASY
THING TO KEEP 129 PARK RESTROOMS
IN GOOD OPERATING ORDER AND WE
WANT TO ACKNOWLEDGE THAT BECAUSE
IT IS EASY TO COME IN AND BE AN
ARMCHAIR QUARTERBACK AND
CRITIQUE THINGS BUT AGAIN OUR
JOB IS TO LOOK FOR WAYS WE CAN
IMPROVE AS A CITY BUT I DID WANT
TO SET THE STAGE FOR MELISSA AND
I BE -- IB WILL ALSO TALK ABOUT
THAT. THE PARKS DEPARTMENT
GENERALLY AGREED WITH THE
RECOMMENDATIONS WE HAD MADE IN
THE AUDIT AND AFTER US THEY'RE
GOING TO BE TALKING MORE TO YOU,
THE COUNCIL MAKING A
PRESENTATION ON WHAT THEY'RE
GOING TO BE DOING TO RESPOND TO
THE AUDIT RECOMMENDATIONS. NOW
LET ME TURN IT OVER TO MELISSA
ALDERSON WHO WAS THE AUDITOR IN
CHARGE OF THIS PROJECT AND SHE
WILL TAKE YOU THROUGH THE REPORT
ALONG WITH DRY B.
>> ALSO WE HAVE COUNCILMEMBER
SOCCER JOINING US TODAY.
>> GOOD AFTERNOON. THANK YOU,
COUNCILMEMBERS. THIS REQUEST
CAME TO US FROM A RESOLUTION
FROM THE PARK DISTRICT BOARD
WHICH ASKED US TO EVALUATE THE
CLEANING AND MAINTENANCE OF
PUBLIC RESTROOMS WHICH WE KNOW
IS SOMETHING SEATTLE RESIDENTS
CARE A LOT ABOUT. IN SURVEYS,
PEOPLE CONSISTENTLY MENTIONED
PARK RESTAURANT CLEANLINESS IS A
CONCERN. OUR OBJECTIVE FOR THIS
AUDIT WAS TO DETERMINE IF PARK
RESTROOMS ARE OPEN, CLEAN, AND
SAFE FOR THE PUBLIC TO USE. THE
RESTROOMS WE LOOKED AT ARE THE
ONES LOCATED WITHIN CITY OF
SEATTLE PARKS, AND THERE ARE 129
OF THEM IN THE CITY. THE TIME
PERIOD FOR OUR AUDIT WAS 2024
AND THE RIDE ALONG'S WE WENT ON
TOOK PLACE IN THE SUMMER OF
2024. BEFORE WE GET INTO THE
FINDINGS AND RECOMMENDATIONS I
WANT TO SAY A BIT MORE ABOUT
SOMETHING THAT DAVID MENTIONED
ABOUT VANDALISM AND RESTROOMS.
VANDALISM IS ONE OF THE BIG
CHALLENGES THE PARKS DEPARTMENT
IS DEALING WITH AND AS DAVID
MENTIONED, SOME RESTROOMS ARE O
VANDALISM THAT THE PARKS
DEPARTMENT IS DEALING WITH. THIS
FIRST PHOTO THERE IS OF A BURNED
TOILET. THE SECOND ONE IS OF A
SIGNIFICANT AMOUNT OF GRAFFITI .
THAT THIRD MEDAL PHOTO , THE
DIVIDER STALL HAS BEEN CUT AWAY
AND THE STALL DOORS ARE MISSING
AND THEN THE LAST TWO PHOTOS,
THE SOAP DISPENSERS HAVE BEEN
RIPPED FROM THE WALL WHICH
UNFORTUNATELY IS A COMMON FORM
OF VANDALISM. SOME OF THESE LIKE
THE BURNED TOILET IS A MORE
EXTREME EXAMPLE. RESPONDING TO
VANDALISM ACCOUNTED FOR 21% OF
PARKS DEPARTMENT FACILITY'S TIME
SPENT ON RESTROOM MAINTENANCE
WHICH YOU CAN IMAGINE TAKES AWAY
FROM THE OTHER IMPORTANT WORK
THAT THEY DO. SO NOW, IB AND I
WILL TAKE YOU THROUGH THE
FINDINGS. THE FIRST FINDING IS
ABOUT HOW OFTEN RESTROOMS ARE
GETTING CLEANED. WE WANTED TO
SEE IF RESTROOMS WERE GETTING
CLEANED AS OFTEN AS THEY SHOULD
BE. PARKS SENT US THEIR RESTROOM
CLEANING PLAN WHICH SHOWED US
THAT THEIR GOAL WAS TO CLEAN
EVERY RESTROOM TWO TO THREE
TIMES PER DAY AROUND . THEY ALSO
SHARED THIS EXPECTATION IN THE
2023 ANNUAL REPORT. WE INITIALLY
TRIED TO GET DATA TO COMPARE
THEIR ACTUAL RESTROOM VISITS TO
THIS GOAL BECAUSE -- BUT,
BECAUSE OF SOME DATA ISSUES
WHICH WE WILL TALK ABOUT LATER,
WE WERE UNABLE TO DO THAT
ANALYSIS. SO, INSTEAD WE WENT ON
RIDE ALONG'S AND WE INTERVIEWED
EVERY CLEANING CREW IN THE CITY
AND WE INTERVIEWED ALL OF THE
CREW CHIEFS. ALTOGETHER, THE
AUDIT TEAM VISITED 90 OF THE 129
PARK RESTROOMS, WHICH IS 70%.
BASED ON OUR OBSERVATIONS AND
INTERVIEWS, WE FOUND THAT THE
PARKS DEPARTMENT HAS NOT BEEN
ABLE TO KEEP UP WITH THIS
RESTROOM CLEANING PLAN , AND
SOME OF THIS, AS DAVID MENTIONED
EARLIER, IS LIKELY DUE TO
STAFFING LEVELS. 2024 WAS A
DIFFICULT BUDGET YEAR AND PARKS
DID NOT HAVE THE LEVEL OF
RESOURCES THAT THEY WERE USED
TO. SO, WE RECOMMEND THAT PARKS
EITHER ADJUST THEIR RESOURCES SO
THAT THEY CAN MEET THIS TWO TO
THREE TIMES PER DAY CLEANING
GOAL OR CHANGE THEIR GOAL SO
THAT IT CAN BE MET WITH CURRENT
RESOURCES.
>> MY FINDINGS ARE ABOUT THE
QUALITY OF CLEANING. WE
PARTICIPATED IN RIDE ALONG'S
WITH THE CLEANING CREWS IN EACH
OF THE MAINTENANCE DISTRICTS AND
JUST A QUICK SHOUT OUT TO THE
CLEANING CREW, THEY DO VERY
IMPORTANT WORK AND WE ARE VERY
APPRECIATIVE THAT THEY RESPONDED
TO A LOT OF THE QUESTIONS WE ASK
THEM WHEN WE DID OUR RIDE
ALONG'S, SO WHAT WE FOUND IS
THAT THE CLEANING PRACTICE WAS
NOT CONSISTENT ACROSS THE CITY.
BUT WE ALSO SAW WERE DIFFERENT
FROM WHAT ACTS HAVE BEEN
IMPLEMENTED AND THESE WERE
LIKELY DUE FROM EXPECTATIONS AND
OVERSIGHT. WE ARE RECOMMENDING
PARKS DEPARTMENT REVIEW CLEANING
EXPECTATIONS AND MAKE SURE THEY
ARE CONSISTENT ACROSS THE CITY
THEN ROUTINELY MONITOR TOMATHEY
STANDARDS.
>> GREAT. THIS NEXT FINDING HAS
TO DO WITH DATA. AS I MENTIONED
EARLIER, WE FOUND THAT THE DATA
THE DEPARTMENT HAD ON WHICH
RESTROOM STAFF VISITED EACH DAY
WAS UNRELIABLE, MEANING THAT
THEY COULD NOT SAY WITH
CERTAINTY WHICH RESTROOMS WERE
GETTING CLEANED AND HOW OFTEN
AND THIS IS IMPORTANT FROM AN
EVALUATION PERFORMANCE
MANAGEMENT PERSPECTIVE . TO
THEIR CREDIT, PARKS WAS AWARE OF
THIS ISSUE, VERY FORTHCOMING
ABOUT THE DATA LIMITATIONS AND
AT THE TIME OF OUR AUDIT, THEY
WERE WORKING TO TRY TO MAKE
IMPROVEMENTS TO THEIR DATA
SYSTEM AND HOW THEY ENTER DATA
TO TRY TO IMPROVE THE ACCURACY
OF THEIR DATA, AND THE CHANGES
THAT THEY WERE WORKING ON WORK
GOING ON AT THE TIME OF THE
AUDIT AND HAD NOT BEEN
IMPLEMENTED LONG ENOUGH FOR US
TO EVALUATE IF THEY WERE GOING
TO BE EFFECTIVE, SO OUR
RECOMMENDATION IS THAT YOU KNOW,
WHATEVER PARKS CHOOSES AS THEIR
PERFORMANCE METRIC, THEY FIGURE
OUT A WAY TO COLLECT ACCURATE
DATA SO THEY CAN EVALUATE IF
THEY ARE MEETING THEIR RESTROOM
CLEANLINESS GOALS.
>> OUR LAST FINDING IS ABOUT HOW
OFTEN RESTROOMS ARE OPEN AND IF
THEY ARE OPEN WHEN THEY'RE
SUPPOSED TO BE. THE PARKS
DEPARTMENT HAS AN ATTACHMENT ON
THE WEBSITE THAT SHOWS RESTROOM
HOURS WHICH AS YOU CAN IMAGINE
IS GOOD FOR ANYONE WHO IS USING
ANY OF THE PARKS IN THE CITY BUT
WHAT WE HAVE FOUND WAS THAT THE
[ INAUDIBLE ] IS NOT AS RELIABLE
AS IT COULD BE AND NOT CURRENT
WITH UP-TO-DATE INFORMATION
ABOUT RESTROOMS THAT ARE OPEN OR
CLOSED. WE FOUND INCONSISTENCY
IN ONE OF THE FINDINGS RELATING
TO AVAILABILITY ALSO THE
INCONSISTENCY IN RESTROOM'S LOCK
AND STRATEGY. PARKS LOCK SOME
RESTROOMS AT NIGHT TO DISCOURAGE
INAPPROPRIATE USE AND PREVENT
VANDALISM BUT WE DID NOT SEE A
WELL-EXECUTED LOCKING STRATEGY
DURING THIS AUDIT. THERE WAS
CONFUSION AS TO WHICH RESTROOMS
WERE SUPPOSED TO BE LOCKED AND
WHO WAS SUPPOSED TO BE DOING
THAT LOCKING SO SOME RESTROOMS
THAT WERE SUPPOSED TO BE LOCKED
OVERNIGHT WERE NOT LOCKED
CONSISTENTLY. SO, WHAT WE ARE
RECOMMENDING IS THAT PARKS
DEPARTMENT SHOULD DETERMINE WHAT
LOCKING STRATEGY THEY WANT TO
PUT IN PLACE AND COMMUNICATE
THAT LOCKING PLAN TO THEIR STAFF
SO THAT THEY ARE AWARE AND KNOW
WHO IS RESPONSIBLE FOR DOING
WHAT.
>> THIS FINDING IS ABOUT
MAINTENANCE AND KEEPING
RESTROOMS IN GOOD WORKING ORDER.
THE PARKS DEPARTMENT FACILITY'S
DIVISION HAS A GOAL OF WANTING
TO SPEND 60% OF THEIR TIME ON
PREVENTIVE MAINTENANCE AND 40%
FOR ON-DEMAND OR REACTIVE WORK
AND THIS IS A GOOD GOAL TO HAVE
BECAUSE IT IS USUALLY CHEAPER,
EASIER TO FIX THINGS BEFORE THEY
BREAK, HAVE A PREVENTIVE
APPROACH. PREVENTIVE WORK FOR
RESTROOMS ARE DOING THINGS LIKE
REPLACING GASKETS BEFORE THEY
FAIL OR INSPECTING A ROOF TO
CHECK FOR DAMAGES BEFORE IT
LEAKS, SO WE ANALYZE THE
FACILITY'S MAINTENANCE LABOR
HOURS SPENT ON RESTROOMS AND
FOUND THAT PARKS DID NOT MEET
THEIR 60% PREVENTIVE
MAINTENANCE: THIS IS NOT FOR
LACK OF TRYING. THE VANDALISM,
THE STAFFING LIMITATIONS
MENTIONED EARLIER ARE MAKING IT
CHALLENGING TO PUT TIME TOWARD
PREVENTIVE MAINTENANCE WORK. WE
RECOMMEND THAT THE PARKS
DEPARTMENT DETERMINE THE RIGHT
AMOUNT OF STAFFING AND RESOURCES
THAT THEY NEED TO MEET THEIR
PREVENTIVE MAINTENANCE GOAL THEN
SHARE THAT INFORMATION WITH THE
PARK DISTRICT BOARD.
>> OUR FINAL RECOMMENDATION IS
ABOUT THE RISKS AND CHALLENGES
THE PARKS DEPARTMENT IS FACING
AS IT RELATES TO MAINTENANCE
GOALS. THE DEPARTMENT HAS DONE
SOME COMMENDABLE WORK IN
ADDRESSING SOME OF THE RISKS TO
THE RESTROOM INNOVATION PROJECTS
LIKE ADDRESSING INFLATION AND
SETTING UP A REVIEW COMMITTEE TO
ENSURE IT IS GOING ALONG AS
PLANNED BUT SOME IDEAS INCLUDE A
CONDITION ASSESSMENT OF
RESTROOMS TO BETTER OVER --
UNDERSTAND THE OVERALL CONDITION
OF RESTROOMS IN THE CITY AND WE
ARE SUGGESTING THAT THEY SHOULD
BE MORE STRATEGIC ABOUT PLANNING
AND BUDGET ALLOCATION [
INAUDIBLE ] THE COST OF
VANDALISM AND THEY SHOULD [
INAUDIBLE ] TO GET AS MUCH AS
POSSIBLE SO THEY CAN SAVE SOME
TIME AND MONEY. IN ADDITION TO
OUR FINDINGS AND THE SIX
RECOMMENDATIONS , THERE WERE
SOME THINGS WE OBSERVED RELATED
TO RESTROOMS BUT WE CONCLUDED
THEY WERE BEYOND THE SCOPE OF
THIS AUDIT. WE INCLUDED THOSE
OBSERVATIONS IN A REPORT SO THAT
MANAGEMENT IS AWARE OF THEM BUT
WE DID NOT ISSUE ANY FORMAL
RECOMMENDATION . RECOMMENDATIONS
INCLUDE THE PARK PROGRAM ASSIST
WITH RESTROOM SAFETY AND ASSIST
THE CLEANING CREW AS THEY GO
ALONG THE ROUTE. OTHER MATTERS
WE IDENTIFIED WITH THE LACK OF
PORTABLE RESTROOMS AND WE ALSO
IDENTIFIED [ INAUDIBLE ] THAT
SOME HAVE OVER EMPLOYEE
MANAGEMENT AT SAFETY AND ALSO
DESIGNED TO IMPACT MAINTENANCE
AND SAFETY. WE WOULD BE HAPPY TO
ANSWER ANY QUESTION YOU MAY
HAVE. I THINK THAT CONCLUDES OUR
PRESENTATION.
>> YES, WE ARE DONE TALKING SO
IF YOU HAVE ANY QUESTIONS WE
WOULD BE HAPPY TO TRY AND ANSWER
THEM AND AGAIN WE THANK YOU FOR
THE REQUEST TO DO THIS AUDIT.
>> SOME. FIRST OFF I WANT TO SAY
THANK YOU ALL FOR TAKING THE
TIME TO DO THE AUDIT AND THANK
YOU ALSO FOR SETTING THE TABLE,
UNDERSTANDING LIKE JUST THE
CHALLENGES THAT WE HAVE WITH
SOME OF OUR PUBLIC RESTROOMS AND
THE CONDITIONS AND ALSO THE
ENVIRONMENT WE ARE IN THAT HELP
NAVIGATE THE CONVERSATION HELP
US BE BETTER PREPARED SO I WANT
TO THANK YOU ALL FOR THE
PRESENTATION AGAIN ONE OF MY
FAVORITE CITY DEPARTMENTS. RIGHT
NOW I WOULD LOVE TO SEE IF ANY
OF MY COLLEAGUES HAVE ANY
QUESTIONS, GO AHEAD AND RAISE
YOUR HAND. I SEE COUNCIL MEMBER
STRAUSS HAS A QUESTION AND FOR
THE RECORD, WE HAVE BEEN JOINED
BY COUNCIL PRESIDENT NELSON.
>> THANK YOU, CHAIR. THANK YOU
TO THE AUDIT TEAM FOR COMPLETING
THIS WORK. I THINK I HEARD YOU
CORRECTLY, THIS WAS A REQUEST
MADE DURING THE LAST SIX-YEAR
BUDGET PLAN WITHIN THE
METROPOLITAN PARKS DISTRICT. IS
THAT CORRECT OR CAN YOU REMIND
ME HOW DID THIS AUDIT WORK
ORIGINATE?
>> IT CAME THROUGH A RESOLUTION
FROM THE PARK DISTRICT BOARD.
THE YEAR OF THAT RESOLUTION I
DON'T HAVE OFF THE TOP OF MY
HEAD.
>> AND THEN I WOULD BE 99%
CERTAIN THAT THIS IS A PRODUCT
OF THE LAST SIX-YOUR FUNDING
SCOPE OF THE METROPOLITAN PARK
DISTRICT BOARD FOR THAT PLAN .
YOU NOTED SOME VERY IMPORTANT
CONTEXT WHICH WAS THAT THE
PANDEMIC WAS VERY DIFFICULT AND
FOR THE PARKS DEPARTMENT, IN A
WAY THAT OTHERS DID NOT
EXPERIENCE, WHICH WAS THERE USE
PARKS DURING THE PANDEMIC WHEN
MANY OTHER CITY FUNCTIONS WERE
ON THE DOWNTICK AND SO BEYOND
THAT, STAFFING BECAME VERY
DIFFICULT. MAINTENANCE,
EVERYTHING AND THEN WE ALSO
ASKED THE PARKS DEPARTMENT TO GO
ABOVE AND BEYOND WHAT WE HAD
ORIGINALLY SET OUT IN 2019 FOR
THAT TWO-YOUR BIENNIUM SO PARKS
DEPARTMENT WAS STRETCHED PRETTY
THIN ACROSS OUR CITY. I HAVE
DIRECT EXPERIENCE THERE. IN
ADDITION, THERE HAD BEEN A VERY
LONG TIME , A LONG-STANDING
CONVERSATION ABOUT PUBLIC
HANDWASHING STATIONS. CAN WE PUT
PUBLIC HANDWASHING STATIONS IN
OUR CITY? THE SHORT ANSWER IS WE
COULD. THE LONG ANSWER IS IT
REQUIRES PLUMBING BECAUSE WE
LIVE IN A CITY AND SO WE CAN'T
JUST PUT GRAY WATER OUT INTO A
PARKING STRIP, ET CETERA. THAT
IS NOT WHAT WE ARE HERE TO TALK
ABOUT. THE SOLUTION HERE REALLY
IS THE PARKS DEPARTMENT BECAUSE
THEY HAVE RESTROOMS THAT ARE
PLUMBED INTO OUR SEWER SYSTEM,
THAT ARE PLUMBED WITH WATER. IT
REALLY SOLVES A LOT OF PROBLEMS.
I SAY THAT BECAUSE IN THE LAST
SIX-YOUR FUNDING PLAN, WE
INCREASE THE FUNDING FOR
RESTROOM RENOVATIONS AND I
BELIEVE RESTROOM RENOVATIONS AND
MAINTENANCE, AS WELL, AND THE
AUDIT THAT YOU ARE SEEING
PRESENTED TODAY IT WAS ONE OF
THE ACCOUNTABILITY METHODS THAT
WERE USED DURING THAT SIX-YOUR
FUNDING TO ENSURE THAT WE
UNDERSTOOD WHAT THE BASELINE WAS
AS WE WERE IMPLEMENTING THOSE
SIX YEARS OF FUNDING TO IMPROVE
OUR RESTROOMS SPECIFICALLY. IF I
GET ANY OF THIS WRONG JUST LET
ME KNOW BECAUSE I'M GOING OFF
OF MEMORY HERE IS THE RESIDENT
HISTORIAN. AND SO, THE NEWS IS
UNFORTUNATE. I WILL JUST SAY
THAT, AND THERE'S A LOT OF
CONTEXT THAT EXPLAINS HOW AND
WHY WE ARE HERE AND I PAID THIS
PATHWAY FORWARD THAT WE HAVE
ANOTHER FEW YEARS OF RESTROOM
FUNDING THAT IS ABOVE AND BEYOND
WHAT PROBABLY COULD'VE BEEN
IMPLEMENTED BEFORE THE AUDIT
BEGAN ON SO THERE ARE THINGS
THAT NEED TO BE ADDRESSED AND I
APPRECIATE THAT YOU HAVE LAID
OUT THE ROAD MAP FOR SOLVING
SOME OF THESE ISSUES IN THE
PARKS DEPARTMENT I KNOW HAS BEEN
SET UP FINANCIALLY AT LEAST IN
SOME SENSES AND THAT SIX-YOUR
FUNDING PLAN SO WITHOUT ASKING
MORE WORK TO BE DONE TODAY ,
MUCH LIKE THE PERMITTING AUDIT
I'VE ASKED FOR A COUPLE OF
YEARS AGO, WE HAVE NOW ENGAGED
IN THE SECOND ROUND OF AUDITING
TO SEE NEXT STEPS FROM THERE. I
MIGHT SUGGEST THAT IN A YEAR OR
TWO FROM NOW, WE DO THIS
EXERCISE AGAIN TO SEE WHAT HAS
CHANGED IN THE TIME THAT
SIX-YOUR FUNDING COULD BE
IMPLEMENTED BUT I JUST YOUR THAT
FOR CONTEXT. WE HAVE GOT A LOT
OF WORK TO DO HERE AND AS WE
WERE PREPARING MY OFFICE FOR
THIS CONVERSATION I JOKED WITH
MY TEAM BECAUSE THERE ARE TWO
RESTROOMS IN PARTICULAR IN MY
DISTRICT THAT I REQUESTED TO BE
CALLED OUT BY NAME IN THE
SIX-YEAR FUNDING PLAN, GILMAN
PARK AND SAME IN BAY PARK IN
PARTICULAR BECAUSE THOSE
RESTROOMS ARE IN THE SAME
CONDITION AS WHEN I PLAYED
LITTLE LEAGUE. ALSO SAY WE HAVE
WORK TO DO AND WE HAVE THE
FUNDING IN THE BUDGET TO DO IT
AND NOW WE JUST NEED TO GO AND
DO IT, SO THANK YOU, COLLEAGUES.
I DON'T HAVE ANY QUESTIONS. I
JUST WANTED TO SHARE THAT
CONTEXT.
>> THANK YOU, COUNCIL MEMBER
STRAUSS. HE PLAYED LITTLE LEAGUE
LAST YEAR . SO YOU'RE NOT TOO
-- JUST PLAYING. SO IT HASN'T
BEEN THAT OLD, RIGHT? JUST ONE
YEAR.
>> JUST ONE YEAR NO, BUT I ONLY
PLAYED LITTLE LEAGUE FOR ONE
YEAR. SORRY, WE ARE DIGRESSING.
>> NO WORRIES, I WILL BE
SEARCHING. THANK YOU, COUNCIL
MEMBER STRAUSS. COUNCIL MEMBER
KETTLE.
>> THANK YOU, CHAIR
HOLLINGSWORTH. I WILL BRING UP
LITTLE LEAGUE OR ANYTHING LIKE
THAT. I WILL START OFF WITH TWO
THINGS I WILL BRING UP. ONE IS A
WEEK AND HALF AGO ON A FRIDAY
THE KO W THIS WEEK IN REVIEW I
JOINED THE PANEL FOR A HOST OF
TOPICS TO DISCUSS AND AS THINGS
BOUNCED FROM THE COMMUNITY,
GUESS WHAT WAS ONE OF THEM?
PUBLIC RESTROOMS. AND SO THAT IS
A TOPIC ON THE TOP OF MIND FOR
EVERYONE SO IT IS NOT REALLY
JUST A PARKS ISSUE. IN A LOT OF
WAYS IT IS LIKE WATERFRONT PARK
AND SO FORTH BUT IT IS A TOP OF
MIND ISSUE AND OF COURSE, LIKE
EVERYTHING ELSE I SAID YES, VERY
IMPORTANT ISSUE THEN I SAID TO
HIM. FIFA WORLD CUP 2026 WE NEED
TO BE READY SO IN TERMS OF
MOTIVATION AND ALSO MEANS TO
ASSIST SO I WANT TO START BY
NOTING THAT THIS TOPIC IS NOT
JUST FOR FOLKS WHO LIKE TO COME
TO THE CHAMBERS AND THE LIKE.
THIS IS SOMETHING OF INTEREST
BASED ON HOW THAT CAME UP DURING
WEEK IN REVIEW. THE SECOND THING
I WANTED TO BRING UP WAS IN MY
PREVIOUS LIFE AS A CIVIC
VOLUNTEER IN QUEEN ANNE, ONE OF
THE ISSUES WE WERE HAVING FON'S
WAS ONE PERSON IN CHARGE OF OUR
PARKS AND HE WAS FANTASTIC. HE
CAME TO COMMITTEE MEETINGS
TALKING ABOUT THE CONDITIONS OF
THE PARK AND REALLY TO INCLUDE
THE BATHROOMS, AND RESTROOMS, AS
WELL AND ONE OF THE THINGS,
IT'S KIND OF LIKE BUSES AND BUS
STOPS. YOU HAVE A LOT OF
SECURITY SAFETY ISSUES FOR BUSES
AND BUS STOPS BUT PART OF IT IS
THE ENVIRONMENT AROUND THAT BUS
STOP, AROUND THAT BUS LINE THAT
PLAYS INTO THE CONDITIONS OF
WHAT IS HAPPENING ON THE BUSES
AND SAME THING WITH THESE
RESTROOMS IN THE PARKS. WHAT IS
HAPPENING IN THE PARKS, AND ONE
OF THE THINGS WE DID WAS REALLY
WORK ON EACH OF THESE PARKS AND
I WISH I REMEMBERED HIS NAME,
WITH THE PARKS DEPARTMENT FOR
CRIME PREVENTION THROUGH
ENVIRONMENTAL DESIGN BECAUSE WE
STARTED OFF WITH VANDALISM AND
WE WERE HAVING A LOT OF OTHER
ISSUES IN THE PARKS AND WE
REALLY HIT THIS HARD. CLEANING
ABOUT, SIGHT LINES, ALL THE
KINDS OF THINGS YOU CAN DO AND
IT WAS VERY BENEFICIAL. I KNOW
YOU DON'T MENTION CPTED IN
HEAD, THE CHAIR IS PROBABLY
NOTICING THAT I'M TURNING THIS
INTO A PUBLIC SAFETY COMMITTEE
MEETING AGAIN BUT I THINK THAT
IS IMPORTANT IN TERMS OF
APPROACH AND THE LITTLE THINGS
THAT CAN HAVE POSITIVE SECOND
AND THIRD ORDER EFFECTS AS
RELATES TO THESE KIND OF THINGS
THAT HAPPEN TO OUR RESTROOMS SO
I JUST WANTED TO NOTE THAT. IN
MY PREVIOUS LIFE, TOO, WORKING
WITH A LOT OF ISSUES, LITTLE
HOW, BIG HOWE, DAVID ROGERS PARK
AND THE LIKE, THINGS FROM
GRAFFITI TO ACROSS-THE-BOARD
TRYING TO FIX IT AND YOU NOTED
IN YOUR REPORT ABOUT DATA AND I
WAS CURIOUS IN TERMS OF
MODIFYING, TRYING TO FIX IT
BECAUSE AS YOU ARE PRESENTING
THAT I WAS LIKE OH, INTERESTING.
HOPEFULLY I DID HAVE FIND IT FIX
IT ON MY PHONE AND THERE IS
NOTHING FOR RESTROOMS BUT THERE
IS PARKS AND REC'S MAINTENANCE
AND THERE'S ONE FOR GRAFFITI.
THERE IS ONE FOR NUISANCE DOGS
WHICH I THINK COULD BE A PARKS
ISSUE, AS WELL SO THERE IS
ABILITY THROUGH PARKS AND REC'S
MAINTENANCE TO GO TO NEXT STEP
AND DO THAT BUT IN TERMS OF DATA
SETS AND MAKE IT EASY FOR PEOPLE
TO REPORT, DID YOU LOOK AT THE
OPTION OF LIKE A FIND IT FIX IT
FIX TO THE DATA CHALLENGE WE MAY
HAVE?
>> NO, WE DID NOT.
>> I THINK IT COULD BE A GREAT
OPPORTUNITY WITH PARKS
MAINTENANCE THAT COULD OFFER
RESTROOMS JUST TO MAKE IT CLEAR
BECAUSE THE DATA SET IS DRIVING
BECAUSE WE SEE THIS WITH UNIFIED
CAROTENE. FIND IT FIX IT HAS
BEEN FANTASTIC IN TERMS OF THAT
OLD PHRASE, DATA-DRIVEN DECISION
MAKING, WHICH I AM TIRED OF IN A
WAY, BUT AT THE SAME TIME THERE
IS A LOT OF DATA LIKE
ENCAMPMENTS THAT ECT IS USING IN
TERMS OF PRIORITIZING WHERE WE
ARE GOING AND ENGAGING WITH
THOSE THAT ARE IN NEED SO I VIEW
IT AS A POTENTIAL PIECE TO SOLVE
THE DATA IN GETTING THAT
PRIORITIZATION AND SO FORTH SO I
JUST WANTED TO RAISE THAT AND
THAT IS IT. I JUST WANTED TO
HIGHLIGHT CPTED IF YOU USED IT
OR NOT AND HOW WE COULD DO DATA
BETTER LIKE FIND IT FIX IT.
>> I USED IT LAST WEEK TO REPORT
A PARKS BATHROOM THAT WAS IN
NEED OF REPAIR SO THAT IS A
VALUABLE TOOL WE CAN USE IN THE
MORE THE CITY CAN DO TO MAKE
PEOPLE AWARE THAT IS PRETTY
USER-FRIENDLY, BUT I TAKE YOUR
POINT. ON THE CPTED WE DO
MENTION IN OUR REPORT, IT IS ON
THE LAST SECTION ON PAGE 20, IN
REGARDS TO, WE DID NOT HAVE --
WE WERE FOCUSED ON LOOKING AT
THE STATE OF PARKS RESTROOMS AS
THEY ARE RIGHT NOW, BUT ONE OF
THE THINGS WE CAME UP WITH, THE
TEAM FOUYOU MENTIONED,
COUNCIL MEMBER KETTLE, OF DESIGN
ON HELPING TO PROMOTE SAFETY AND
YOU KNOW, JUST GOOD BEHAVIOR YOU
KNOW, THE TEAM JUST IN THEIR
WORK THEY DID AND THE PEOPLE
THEY TALKED TO BROUGHT THAT UP
AS SOMETHING TO THINK ABOUT AND
WE KNOW PARKS IS REALLY WELL
AWARE OF IT BUT WE WANTED TO
MENTION IN THE REPORT THAT
THINGS LIKE LIGHTING CAN MAKE A
GREAT DEAL OF DIFFERENCE, YOU'RE
ABSOLUTELY RIGHT TO MAKE THINGS
>> --
>> WHAT IS GOOD FOR THIRD AVENUE
IS ALSO GOOD FOR OUR PARKS.
EXACTLY. THANK YOU . THE LAST
THING IS I WANT TO STATE MY
STRONG SUPPORT FOR THE CITY
AUDITOR. IT IS REALLY IMPORTANT,
THE WORK YOU DO IN DEVELOPING
THIS REPORT SO THANK YOU AND
YOUR TEAM FOR DOING THAT. I
APPRECIATE IT.
>> WE APPRECIATE THAT AND I JUST
WANT TO SAY HOW HARD THE TEAM
WORKED. THEY GOT ME OUT ON A
SUNDAY MORNING AT 6:00 A.M. TO
WATCH BATHROOM CLEANINGS IN THE
GREEN LAKE AREA AND I JUST DID
PART OF THAT BUT PART OF IT IS
GETTING OUT IN THE FIELD AND
OBSERVING THE WORK THAT IS BEING
DONE SO MY HAT IS OFF TO THE
FOLKS IN OUR OFFICE WHO ACTUALLY
DO THE WORK.
>> THANK YOU , COUNCIL MEMBER
KETTLE. COUNCIL MEMBER RIVERA.
>> THANK YOU, CHAIR AND THANK
YOU, CITY AUDITOR, FOR BEING
HERE AND THE GREAT WORK THAT YOU
DO REVIEWING THESE ISSUES THAT
THE CITY IS EXPERIENCING AND
TRYING TO COME UP WITH
RECOMMENDATIONS AND SOLUTIONS. I
AM NOT SURE IF YOU ARE GOING TO
BE ABLE TO ANSWER MY QUESTION
BUT WHEN YOU TALK ABOUT THE FACT
THAT THERE IS MORE VANDALISM
HAPPENING, IS THERE A SENSE OF
WHY OR WHAT MIGHT BE CAUSING IT
? I UNDERSTAND IT IS PROBABLY
SOMETHING HARD TO MEASURE, BUT
I'M TRYING TO UNDERSTAND
BECAUSE IT SEEMS WHAT I AM
HEARING, AND CORRECT ME IF I AM
WRONG, IS THAT DURING THE
PANDEMIC AND POST-PANDEMIC YOU
ARE SEEING MORE OF IT TO OUR
PARKS IS SEEING MORE OF IT AND
I'M JUST WONDERING IF THERE IS,
YOU KNOW, A GUESS AS TO WHAT
MIGHT BE CAUSING IT SO WE CAN
FIGURE OUT SOLUTIONS ,
PREVENTATIVE SOLUTIONS, IF YOU
WILL.
>> JUST A QUICK MARK. PARKS
MIGHT BE IN THE BEST POSITION TO
SPEAK ABOUT THAT. I DON'T
BELIEVE WE KNOW WHY. I MEAN,
SOME OF IT MAY HAVE TO DO WITH
-- IF YOU TALK TO PARKS FOLKS,
YOU KNOW, PEOPLE ON SUBSTANCE
ABUSE AND THAT CAUSING THEM TO
DO THINGS THEY SHOULD NOT DO BUT
THERE COULD BE OTHER REASONS.
AGAIN, PARKS IS DOING SOME
THINGS, YOU KNOW, IN THE CPTED
ARENA. ONE OF THE THINGS THEY
HAVE DONE, ONE OF THE BATHROOMS
THAT REALLY GETS HIT BADLY I
THINK THIS IS IN YOUR DISTRICT,
CHAIR HOLLINGSWORTH, IS CAL
ANDERSON AND PARKS KIND OF USES
THAT AS A LABORATORY, LIKE HOW
CAN WE DESIGN LOCKS OR DOORS
THAT ARE REALLY HARD TO
VANDALIZE, SO, AND COUNCIL
MEMBER RIVERA, I KNOW PARKS IS
ACTIVELY WORKING TRYING TO COME
UP WITH THINGS TO MAKE IT HARDER
TO DAMAGE THE BATHROOMS. I THINK
THEY PROBABLY ARE IN A BETTER
POSITION THAN US TO TALK ABOUT
ANY WHY S THAT THEY MAY KNOW BUT
I DO WANT TO TURN TO THE TEAM
AND SEE IF YOU WANT TO OFFER
ANYTHING IN RESPONSE TO THE
QUESTION.
>> WE DID LOOK INTO THE WHY, BUT
SOME OF THE FREQUENT EXAMPLES
THAT WE SAW WERE RIPPED SOAP
DISPENSERS, INTENTIONALLY
CLOGGING TOILETS, GRAFFITI, OF
COURSE. BREAKING LOCKS OFF THE
DOORS, SO JUST THINGS THAT
SEEMED DEFINITELY INTENTIONAL.
>> THANK YOU.
>> JUST A LITTLE STATISTIC THE
KIND OF GETS THAT THIS AND
CORRECT ME IF I GOT THIS WRONG
BUT I WROTE IT DOWN SO I
WOULDN'T . IT IS LIKE THERE ARE
20 BATHROOMS AND PARKS THAT ARE
RESPONSIBLE FOR ABOUT 60% OF
FACILITY MAINTENANCE, THEIR
WORKLOAD, SO
BATHROOMS, A SMALL PERCENTAGE
REALLY GET HIT REPEATEDLY . DID
I SAY THAT RIGHT, GUYS? YOU
PROBABLY HAVE A MORE NUANCED WAY
OF SAYING IT BUT A FEW BATHROOMS
GETTING USED COMPARED TO OTHERS.
>> AND, IS THAT LIST AND THE
REPORT OF THOSE 20? SORRY, I
HAVEN'T HAD A CHANCE TO LOOK.
>> THE LIST IS NOT IN THERE BUT
WE ARE HAPPY TO PROVIDE THAT TO
YOU.
>> GREAT. THANK YOU.
>> AWESOME AND I DON'T KNOW IF
THERE ARE ANY OTHER QUESTIONS
FROM MY COLLEAGUES, LOOKING LEFT
AND RIGHT BECAUSE WE ARE GOING
TO HEAR THE RESPONSE FROM PARKS
AND WHAT THEY ARE DOING SO WE
ARE REALLY EXCITED TO HEAR THAT
SO MR. JONES AND MS. ALDERSON
AND MR. OSUNTOKI . THANK YOU ALL
FOR YOUR WORK , FOR BEING AT THE
TABLE FOR US. I APPRECIATE THAT
A LOT OF TIME WHEN INTO THIS. WE
LOVE DATA AND THE INITIATE THE
REPORT IN THE AUDIT THAT YOU ALL
DID SO THANK YOU SO MUCH.
>> YOU ARE WELCOME. THANKS FOR
HAVING US.
>> THANK YOU. WITH THAT, WILL
THE CLERK PLEASE READ AGENDA
ITEM NUMBER TWO INTO THE RECORD.
>> AGENDA ITEM TWO, SEATTLE
PARKS RESTROOM AUDIT RESPONSE
BRIEFING FOR BRIEFING AND
DISCUSSION. PRESENTING TODAY
WILL BE SUPERINTENDENT AP DIAZ,
JUSTIN HELLIER, JACOB DALEY,
MARKEITH BLACKSHIRE AND KIM
BALDWIN FROM THE SEATTLE PARKS
AND RECREATION.
>> SOME. SO EXCITED TO HAVE YOU
ALL , AND TO HAVE OUR FAVORITE
COUNCIL LIAISON, JACOB THORPE,
IN THE AUDIENCE. CHOSE THE
TURTLENECK TODAY. LIKE THAT.
>> JACOB DOES LOOK SHARP IN HIS
TURTLENECK. WELL,
COUNCILMEMBERS, THANK YOU FOR
THE OPPORTUNITY TO HAVE THE
PARKS DEPARTMENT COME BEFORE YOU
TO DISCUSS THIS IMPORTANT AUDIT.
MY NAME IS AP DIAZ,
SUPERINTENDENT OF SEATTLE PARKS
AND RECREATION DONE BY SOME
STELLAR STAFF HERE IF YOU JUST
WANT TO INTRODUCE YOUR NAME AND
YOUR TITLE WITHIN THE
ORGANIZATION BEFORE WE START.
>> JUSTIN HELLIER, POLICY
ADVISER.
>> KIM BALDWIN, DIRECTOR OF
PLANNING AND DEVELOPMENT.
>> MARKEITH BLACKSHIRE, PARKS
AND ENVIRONMENT.
>> JACOB DALEY, FILLING IN IS
FACILITIES DIRECTOR.
>> GREAT. THANK YOU VERY MUCH
AND BEFORE WE GET STARTED, TOO,
WANT TO THANK THE CITY AUDITOR
FOR DOING THEIR WORK AND MORE
IMPORTANTLY FOR ACTUALLY SHOWING
UP IN THE FIELD A LOT WITH OUR
STAFF TO VISIT SO MANY
BATHROOMS. IT IS ALWAYS GOOD I
THINK FOR PEOPLE TO GET
FIRSTHAND KNOWLEDGE BECAUSE I
THINK AS BOTH AUDITORS AND
RESIDENTS, THEY CAN SEE
FIRSTHAND SOME OF THE THINGS
THAT WE DEAL WITH IN PUBLIC
SPACES, AND I ALWAYS SAY THE
PROVISION OF PUBLIC PARKS,
PUBLIC SPACES IS NOT EASY IN A
CITY, AND TO GET THAT REAL-WORLD
DATA IS IMPORTANT AND I ALSO
WANT TO THANK THEM FOR THE
PURPOSE OF THEIR AUDIT , TO
FOCUS IN ON AREAS OF
IMPROVEMENT. THAT IS WHAT AN ODD
IT DOES . THEY MENTIONED TO US
SEVERAL TIMES, TOO, THE THINGS
WE ARE DOING WELL AND THE CLEAN
BATHROOMS THAT THEY SAW SO WE
MAY NOT ALWAYS SEE THOSE
PICTURES TODAY BUT WE KNOW THAT
THERE ARE SEVERAL GREAT, SHINING
EXAMPLES OF A PARKS SYSTEM
WORKING REALLY WELL SO LET'S
TALK ABOUT THE REPORT AND SOME
OF THE THINGS AND AREAS THAT WE
ARE GOING TO DO TO ADDRESS SOME
OF THE FINDINGS, THE THINGS THAT
WE CAN DO IN PARTNERSHIP TO BE
BETTER-SERVING FOR THE PUBLIC. I
JUST WANT TO POINT OUT RESTROOMS
ARE REGULARLY CITED IN PUBLIC
FEEDBACK AS AN AREA FOR
IMPROVEMENT BOTH IN TERMS OF
CLEANLINESS AND A NEVER-ENDING
CALL FOR MORE RESTROOMS AND MORE
ACCESS TO THEM. THIS IS TRUE
HERE IN SEATTLE. WE SEE THIS
EVERY YEAR IN RESPONSE CALLS
FROM THE PUBLIC. IT WAS ALSO
TRUE OF MY TIME IN LOS ANGELES.
MANY OF YOU KNOW THAT I CAME
FROM THE L.A. CITY PARKS AND
RECREATION DEPARTMENT AND THIS
WAS AMONG THE TOP CONCERNS EVERY
YEAR. IN FACT, OUR OWN L.A. CITY
CONTROLLER DID A SIMILAR AUDIT A
FEW YEARS AGO AND FOUND THAT
RESTROOMS WERE THE NUMBER ONE
FEATURE DRIVING DOWN THE OVERALL
ASSESSMENT OF PARKS, SO HOW
PEOPLE VIEW THEIR PARKS, HOW
THEY GRADE AND SCORE THEM IS
USUALLY GOING TO BE TIED BACK TO
THE USER EXPERIENCE IN THE
PUBLIC PARK RESTROOM SETTING.
THIS IS ALSO TRUE MONKS THE
NATION SO I SERVE ON THE PARKS
AND RECREATION ASSOCIATION AND
FREQUENTLY IN CONVERSATION WITH
OTHER PARKS DIRECTORS AROUND THE
NATION WE TALKED ABOUT THE
CHALLENGES THAT WE HAVE WITH
STAFF IN OUR PUBLIC RESTROOM
USE. SO, BECAUSE OF THIS
FEEDBACK, WE HAVE INCLUDED
MAKING RESTROOM IMPROVEMENTS AS
A STRATEGIC PART OF OUR MOST
RECENT STRATEGIC PLAN WHICH YOU
CAN SEE UP ON THE BOARD AND WE
HAVE INVESTED SIGNIFICANT
RESOURCES INTO IMPROVING THE
USER EXPERIENCE OF RESTROOMS AS
PART OF THAT SIX-YEAR CYCLE TO
PARK DISTRICT FINANCIAL PLAN
COUNCIL MEMBER STRAUSS WAS
TALKING ABOUT. WE WILL SPEAK
MORE TO THIS THROUGHOUT THE
PRESENTATION BUT WE INCREASED
FUNDING TO CAPITAL RENOVATION,
WEATHERIZATION TO MAKE MORE
RESTROOMS AVAILABLE YEAR-ROUND
RATHER THAN HAVING TO CLOSE
THEM, AND ALSO INVESTMENTS IN
INCREASED MAINTENANCE. WE
WELCOME THE OPPORTUNITY TO GET
THE AUDITOR'S PERSPECTIVE ON
HOW TO DO THIS IMPORTANT WORK
AND WE APPRECIATE THEIR
COMMITMENT TO MEETING STAFF THAT
I MENTIONED FIRSTHAND SO THEY
CAN PROVIDE THE RECOMMENDATIONS.
JUST TO SAY RIGHT OUT THE GATE
IN GENERAL WE CONCUR WITH AUDIT
FINDINGS AND ARE JUMPING INTO
IMPLEMENTING OUR RESPONSE. I
TAKE THE APPROACH THAT WE CAN
ALWAYS LEARN FROM AUDIT FINDINGS
AS THEY HELP US IDENTIFY WHAT WE
ARE DOING WELL AND WHERE WE
MIGHT BE ABLE TO IMPROVE AS A
CITY. IN THIS PRESENTATION WILL
TAKE THE OPPORTUNITY TO PROVIDE
BROADER CONTEXT ABOUT OPERATING
PARK RESTROOMS AND SOME OF THE
CHALLENGES WE FACE. WE WILL ALSO
SHOW YOU THE ACTIONS WE ARE
TAKING TO IMPROVE PARK RESTROOMS
FOR OUR SEATTLE PUBLIC, SOME OF
WHICH ARE ALREADY UNDERWAY AND
SOME OF WHICH WE ARE UNDERTAKING
IN DIRECT RESPONSE TO AUDIT
RECOMMENDATIONS. TODAY WE WILL
NOTE ACTION WE ARE TAKING
RELATED TO AUDIT RECOMMENDATIONS
WITH A LITTLE MAGNIFYING GLASS
ICON THAT YOU WILL SEE UP ABOVE.
IF YOU WOULD LIKE TO SEE A POINT
BY POINT RESPONSE TO AUDIT
RECOMMENDATIONS YOU CAN FIND
THAT IN APPENDIX A AND B OF THE
AUDIT REPORT OR YOUR STAFF CAN
FIND THOSE FOR YOU IN THE
APPENDICES AND WE CAN ALWAYS
HAVE AN OPEN DIALOGUE AND COME
BACK TO BRIEF YOU EITHER
ONE-ON-ONE OR IN PUBLIC BUT TO
SUMMARIZE HERE WE BELIEVE OUR
RESPONSE PLAN WILL IMPROVE THE
USER EXPERIENCE OF RESTROOMS. IT
IS FEASIBLE WITHIN CURRENT
RESOURCES AND OPERATIONALIZE AS
MANY OF THE RECOMMENDATIONS
WITHIN A TWO-YEAR TIMEFRAME. THE
AUDITOR HAD RECOMMENDATIONS
RELATED TO RESTROOM RENOVATION
FOR CAPITAL PROJECTS,
PREVENTATIVE MAINTENANCE, DAILY
CLEANING AND DATA TRACKING SO WE
WILL ORDER A PRESENTATION ALONG
THOSE LINES. IN ADDITION TO
THOSE EFFORTS WILL NEED THE
PUBLIC CHICKS HELP IN TREATING
PUBLIC SPACES WITH RESPECT. WE
ALSO APPRECIATE THE PUBLIC'S
EFFORTS TO LET US KNOW WHEN THEY
SEE MAINTENANCE ISSUES LIKE ON
THE FIND IT FIX IT UP AND
SOMETIMES THEY ARE THE FIRST TO
KNOW. WE ENCOURAGE CONTINUED USE
OF THAT FIND IT FIX IT APP AND
TO CALLING OUR MAINTENANCE
REQUEST LINE DIRECTLY AND THANK
THE CITY AUDITOR. HE SAW THE
PARK RESTROOM AS HE MENTIONED
THIS PAST WEEKEND AND GOT INTO
HIS APP TO LET US KNOW SO THAT
IS FANTASTIC. WE WILL START BY
PROVIDING SOME CONTEXT ABOUT HER
WORK PROVIDING PARK RESTROOMS
AND SOME OF THE CHALLENGES WE
EXPERIENCED. WE HAVE 129
RESTROOMS IN OUR PUBLIC PARKS,
EITHER AS STANDALONE BUILDINGS
LIKE THIS ON THE EC IN DISCOVERY
PARK WERE PERHAPS ATTACHED TO A
SHELTER HOUSE OR COMMUNITY
CENTER. MANY CLOSE SEASONALLY
GENERALLY BECAUSE OF THE
POTENTIAL FOR FROZEN PIPES, YOU
KNOW, LIVING IN SEATTLE, THAT IS
A REALITY IN OUR HOMES. THAT IS
SOMETHING WE HAVE TO BE VALUABLE
TOO. ACTUALLY IT WAS COUNCIL
MEMBER STRAUSS WHO TAUGHT ME
WHEN I MOVED UP HERE RIGHT
BEFORE THE FIRST WINTER AND I
THINK WE WERE TALKING ABOUT THIS
AND OTHER THINGS AND HE SAID DID
YOU TAKE CARE OF YOUR FAUCETS
AND DISCONNECT YOUR FAUCETS AND
PUT THOSE LITTLE THINGS OVER THE
FAUCET HOLES IN MYSELF OR OF
THOSE LITTLE THINGS AND HE SAID
BECAUSE OF FROZEN PIPES AND I
SAID I'VE NEVER DEALT WITH THAT
BEFORE SO COUNCIL MEMBER STRAUSS
HELP ME TO QUICKLY GET INTO MY
HOUSE AND OF COURSE OUR STAFF
ALSO LEFT AT THAT WHEN I TOLD
THEM MY OWN STORY FROM HER HOME
BECAUSE THEY DO THAT EVERY DAY
WITH HER BATHROOMS AND PREPARE
FOR WINTER BUT GENERALLY BECAUSE
OF THE POTENTIAL FOR FROZEN
PIPES WE HAD TO CLOSE DOWN OUR
RESTROOMS. HOWEVER WE ARE IN THE
PROCESS OF WEATHERIZING THESE
FACILITIES TO ALLOW THEM TO
REMAIN OPEN FOR YOUR-ROUND USE
AND HAVE BETTER INFRASTRUCTURE
AND SUPPORT THAT DOES NOT
REQUIRE US TAKING THEM OFF-LINE.
NOTE MANY OF OUR RESTROOMS ARE
OLDER FACILITIES LIKE THE TWO
YOU MENTIONED, COUNCIL MEMBER
STRAUSS. MAJOR IMPROVEMENTS ARE
IN THE LOOK AND OUR REPORTS FOR
MAJOR RENOVATIONS COMING UP. WE
ARE IN THE PROCESS OF DOING THAT
AND TALK MORE ABOUT RENOVATION
IN A MOMENT. ALSO THE DESIGN OF
OUR FACILITIES IS VARIED OVER
TIME AS WELL BASED ON WHAT THE
PUBLIC IS ASKING FOR, AND OTHER
INNOVATIONS LIKE THE PORTLAND
LOO OR SELF-CLEANING RESTROOMS
ARE SOMETHING WE WANT TO KEEP AN
EYE ON IT SOMETHING I ASKED OUR
DEPARTMENT TO LOOK AT WHEN I
CAME UP FROM LOS ANGELES BECAUSE
AS A RESULT OF THOSE AUDIT
FINDINGS WE STARTED TO LOOK AND
IMPLEMENT MORE SELF-CLEANING
TYPE RESTROOMS. THEY CAN
OFTENTIMES BE EFFICIENT, MORE
COST-EFFECTIVE. IT IS VERY
EXPENSIVE TO BUILD A RESTROOM IN
A PARK. I MEAN, EXTREMELY
EXPENSIVE AND THOSE OF YOU ON
BUDGET COMMITTEE OR IF YOU HAVE
EVER ASKED THIS QUESTION OF US
BEFORE YOU'LL SOMETIMES BE
SHOCKED WHEN YOU THINK A SIMPLE
RESTROOM COULD EASILY SOMETIMES
BE $750,000 BECAUSE OF THE
PLUMBING, A.D.A. AND ALL OF THE
OTHER THINGS REQUIRES WE WANT TO
CONTINUE TO LOOK AT MAYBE
SOMETIMES INAPPROPRIATE SPACES,
PREFAB, SELF-CLEANING RESTROOMS
WE CAN PUT IN . THEY CAN CLEAN.
THEY CAN LOCK ON THEIR OWN AND
THEY PROVIDE DATA ON HOW MANY
PEOPLE USE THEM, WHAT TIMES
THEY'RE USED, HOW MANY TIMES
THROUGHOUT THE DAY TO BETTER
INFORM HOW WE PLAN FOR THE
FUTURE SO WE FACE A VARIETY OF
CHALLENGES IN MAINTAINING THE
SYSTEM RELATED TO LARGEST
CITY-WIDE ISSUES AND WE WANT TO
MAKE SURE YOU REVIEW THE AUDIT
FINDINGS WITH THIS IN MIND. OUR
SYSTEM OF RESTROOMS WAS DESIGNED
WITH PARK USERS IN MIND. THINK
OF KIDS AT A SOCCER GAME OR
FAMILY PICNIC OR FRIENDS AT A
CONCERT IN THE PARK. BECAUSE OF
THE DOCUMENTED SHORTAGE OF
RESTROOMS ACROSS THE CITY, OUR
FACILITIES CEUS WELL BEYOND JUS
RESTROOMS SEE HIGHER USE THAN
THEY WERE DESIGNED FOR. PARK
RESTROOMS ARE ALSO GREATLY
IMPACTED BY THE CITY-WIDE MENTAL
HEALTH AND DRUG ABUSE CRISIS
THAT WE SEE IN OUR CITY WITH
RESTROOM CLOSURES DUE TO THE
UNPRECEDENTED LEVELS OF
VANDALISM AND ARSON. COUNCIL
MEMBER RIVERA, YOU ASKED, DO WE
HAVE ANY UNDERSTANDING OR MAY BE
REASONS WHY THIS IS HAPPENING? I
CAN ONLY POINT TO I THINK WE
HAVE SEEN THROUGHOUT THE NATION,
ALSO IN OUR CITY THAT WHEN WE
HAVE HAD A LOT OF IMPROVEMENTS
POST-PANDEMIC AND WE ARE GETTING
BACK ON TRACK IN A LOT OF AREAS
I THINK WE HAVE SEEN A LOT OF
POST-PANDEMIC SOCIAL NORMS
INCREASE SO YOU KNOW, THE MASS
SHOPLIFTING YOU SEE OR EVEN POOR
DRIVING OR PEOPLE NOT
RESPECTING, AND SPACE, WE ARE
SEEING THAT SO IT IS SOMETHING
WE ARE TRYING TO GET AN ISSUE ON
BUT I CAN TELL YOU THAT YOU
KNOW, IT IS NOT RARE THAT I HEAR
UNFORTUNATELY ABOUT THE PARK
RESTROOM THAT HAS BEEN BURNED
DOWN, TAGGED LIKE YOU SEE IN THE
PICTURES WERE VANDALIZED. AND SO
AGAIN, THAT IS WHY WE WANT TO
HIGHLIGHT THAT. IT IS A LENS WE
NEED TO LOOK THROUGH BUT
SOMETHING WE WANT TO TRY TO
PREVENT IF POSSIBLE. EVERY TIME
A PARK RESTROOM IS DAMAGED BY
VANDALISM OR ARSENATE DIVERTS
RESOURCES FROM THE PROACTIVE
WORK, THE PREVENTATIVE
MAINTENANCE AND DAILY CLEANING
THAT KEEP THE RESTROOMS USABLE.
IT ALSO SOMETIMES MEANS
LONG-TERM CLOSURES WHILE WE
REPAIR OR REBUILD. SO, WHEN YOU
SEE A PICTURE LIKE THIS
SOMETIMES THIS IS THE
UNEXPECTED. CHRIS WILL SHOW UP
AND ALL OF A SUDDEN BE
CONFRONTED WITH SOMETHING LIKE
THIS, AND AS YOU CAN IMAGINE,
THEY HAVE TO DEAL WITH SOMETHING
LIKE THIS WHICH THEN WILL ALTER
THE PLANS FOR THE DAY OR PERHAPS
A REGULAR ROUTE THAT IT WOULD'VE
GONE TOO. WE ARE MAKING A
VARIETY OF EFFORTS TO MITIGATE
VANDALISM BY USING DIFFERENT
MATERIALS AND CHANGING OUR
HARDWARE. MORE ON THAT IN A
MOMENT BUT I DON'T THINK YOU
CAN UNDERESTIMATE THE IMPACT OF
THESE BIGGER ISSUES IN OUR
MANAGEMENT OF RESTROOMS. THESE
ARE REAL CHALLENGES AND NOW I
WILL HAND IT OFF TO OUR AUDIT
LIAISON, JUSTIN HELLIER, WHO
WORK CLOSELY WITH THE AUDITOR ON
THIS. WE ALSO HAVE OUR AMAZING
TEAM HERE OF DIRECTORS IS THE
REAL SUBJECT MATTER EXPERTS ON
THIS TO ANSWER ANY QUESTIONS
THAT MAY COME UP ABOUT CAPITAL
DESIGNS, RENOVATIONS, HARDWARE
OR SOME OTHER QUESTIONS THAT YOU
MIGHT HAVE TOP OF MIND. OF
COURSE I'M HERE TO POP IN IF
NECESSARY, SO THANK YOU.
>> BEFORE YOU START, REAL QUICK,
I WANT TO INVITE MY COLLEAGUES
IF YOU WILL HAVE QUESTIONS,
PLEASE TRY YOUR HAND UP AND I
WILL RECOGNIZE YOU. I KNOW IT'S
A LOT OF INFORMATION. COUNCIL
MEMBER STRAUSS.
>> I WILL JUST JUMP IN HERE IF
WE COULD GO BACK TO SLIDE FIVE.
I WILL ALSO ACKNOWLEDGE THAT
BEFORE MAYOR HARRELL CAME IN
WITH HIS INNOVATION AND
PERFORMANCE TEAM, FIND IT FIX IT
WAS SENDING REQUEST TO
DEPARTMENTS IN A VERY STRANGE
WAY SO SOME REQUEST GOT REALLY
QUICK ATTENTION. I FOUND IN MY
PERSONAL LIFE, STOP SIGNS AND
PLUMBING ISSUES AT THE PARKS
DEPARTMENT GOT THE FASTEST
RESPONSE EVEN BEFORE FIND IT FIX
IT WAS IMPROVED. WE HAVE
IMPROVED IT NOW. MAYOR HARRELL
PUT A LOT OF ATTENTION THERE. I
JUST WANT TO HIGHLIGHT THAT EVEN
WHEN THAT PROGRAM WAS NOT
WORKING WELL THERE WERE A NUMBER
OF TIMES IN 2020, 2021 I
SUBMITTED FIND IT FIX ITS
REGARDING ISSUES IN RESTROOMS
AND THEY WERE QUICKLY FIXED. CAN
YOU CONFIRM THAT THIS IS IN FACT
ONE OF THE PUBLIC RESTROOMS IN
DISCOVERY PARK AND IF SO, IS IT
THE SOUTH BLUFF RESTROOM?
>> IT IS DISCOVERY, DOWN CLOSE
TO THE BEACH. UP -- YES, UP ON
TOP OF THE SOUTH END.
>> WHICH, COLLEAGUES, I WILL
REMAIN CONSISTENT. THIS IS THE
CLOSEST PUBLIC RESTROOM TO THE
SITE THAT TEMPLE THE DOGS DON'T
HUNGER STRIKE. THAT'S ALL,
CHAIR. THANK YOU.
>> THANK YOU. I THINK WE ARE
GOOD. OH, I'M SORRY. I GUESS
COUNCIL MEMBER KETTLE HAS A
QUICK QUESTION.
>> YES. WELL, A QUICK COMMENT OR
A QUICK THANK YOU BUT YOU KNOW,
TO FOLLOW THAT UP, I DON'T MIND
TAKING TIME HERE TO ASK OR MAKE
A STATEMENT.
>> WE KNOW.
>> BUT, THE STATEMENT IS --
SORRY, THAT GOES TO THE LYRICS
OF THE SONG WE WERE REFERRING TO
BUT I JUST WANTED TO SAY THANK
YOU, SUPERINTENDENT DIAZ ,
BECAUSE RESPONSE TO COUNCIL
MEMBER RIVERA'S QUESTION WAS
PERFECT AND DISLIKE THE PERFECT
EXAMPLE OF PERMISSIVE
ENVIRONMENT AND IT IS SOMETHING
WE NEED TO ADDRESS ACROSS THE
BOARD AND I JUST WANT TO SAY
THANK YOU BECAUSE THE WAY YOU
SAID IT, I MAY HAVE TO CLIP IT
AND USE IT IN THE FUTURE . IT
REALLY DOES GO TO THE CHALLENGES
WE ARE FACING IN OUR CITY, SO
THANK YOU.
>> THANK YOU, COUNCILMEMBER
CATTLE. I'M SORRY, GO AHEAD,
COUNCIL MEMBER RIVERA.
>> THANK YOU, CHAIR. I WILL JUST
SAY THANK YOU FOR ADDRESSING MY
QUESTION, SUPERINTENDENT. I WILL
SAY I HEAR FROM CONSTITUENTS
ABOUT THE RESTROOMS AND YOU
KNOW, BEING OPEN OVERNIGHT OR
THE ISSUES WITH THE SELF-LOCKING
BATHROOMS AND I KNOW I HAVE
SPOKEN WITH YOUR TEAM ABOUT THE
FACT THAT THERE ARE SOME FOLKS
WHO HAVE SPENT THE NIGHT IN THE
BATHROOM, WHO KIND OF GET LOCKED
OR IT SOUNDS LIKE PERHAPS MAYBE
EVEN PURPOSEFUL BUT MAYBE
GETTING LOCKED IN THE BATHROOM
OVERNIGHT SO THE SELF LOCKS I
KNOW ARE NOT -- YOU KNOW, ALL
THESE SOLUTIONS HAVE SOME
CHALLENGES. THE REASON I WAS
ASKING TO SEE THE LIST OF 20 IS
JUST TO SEE WHERE WE ARE SEEING
MOST OF THE ISSUES AND ALSO TO
FIGURE OUT IN TERMS OF
SOLUTIONS, YOU KNOW, HOW CAN WE
THINK ABOUT THE HUNDRED AND 29
BATHROOMS , WHERE WE ARE SEEING
THE MOST ISSUES, HOW CAN WE
TACKLE THOSE , AND WHAT IS
NEEDED THERE TO MAKE A
DIFFERENCE? WHAT DO COMMUNITIES
NEED TO ENSURE THAT WE ARE
ADDRESSING THE ABILITY TO KEEP
BATHROOMS OPEN FOR FOLKS AND NOT
HAVE THEM BE VANDALIZED, ET
CETERA. I APPRECIATE AND I THINK
I'M LOOKING FORWARD TO YOUR
SLIDES. YOU HAVE SOME SOLUTIONS
YOU ARE GOING TO TALK ABOUT BUT
THANK YOU FOR ADDRESSING THAT
AND ALL THAT TO SAY THAT I THINK
WE ARE ALL HEARING FROM
CONSTITUENTS. I CAN'T BE THE
ONLY ONE, ABOUT THE ISSUES WITH
THE BATHROOMS.
>> GREAT. WE WILL START WITH THE
RESTROOM RENOVATION PIECE, GIVEN
THE AGE OF OUR FACILITIES. THE
NUMBER ONE RING WE COULD DO TO
MAKE RESTROOMS A LITTLE NICER
FOR THE PUBLIC IS JUST REBUILD
THEM WHEN WE HAVE THE CHANCE. WE
HAVE 129 RESTROOMS BUT WE HAVE A
LOT OF OTHER ASSETS LIKE
PLAYGROUNDS, ATHLETIC FIELDS,
PICNIC SHELTERS AND WE TAKE THE
SAME ASSET-MANAGEMENT APPROACH
AND THAT IS REPRESENTED IN OUR
CONCEPTUAL IMAGE ON THE LEFT
THERE WHICH IS REALLY THAT WE
ARE AIMING TO MAXIMIZE THE
AMOUNT OF TIME THE ASSET IS IN
SERVICE FOR THE PUBLIC. WE DO
REGULAR ASSET MANAGEMENT
PLANNING SO THINK CONDITION
ASSESSMENTS, VARIOUS KINDS OF
ANALYSIS TO FIGURE OUT WHEN WE
NEED TO PULL ASSETS OUT OF
SERVICE AND PUT THEM INTO A
CAPITAL PROJECT TO RENOVATE OR
REPLACE THEM OR DO MAJOR REPAIRS
. COMMISSION THE ASSET THEN PUT
IT BACK INTO PUBLIC USE, SO THIS
IS OUR APPROACH TO RESTROOMS AND
TO EVERYTHING ELSE. TO GIVE YOU
SOME CYCLE TWO CONTEXT, AS WAS
MENTIONED, AS A PART OF THE 2023
TO 2028 FINANCIAL PLAN WE HAVE
COMMITTED TO THE MAJOR CAPITAL
RENOVATION OF 27 RESTROOMS. THAT
IS NOT JUST PARK DISTRICT
FUNDING BUT REPRESENTS LEVY
FUNDING AND ALL THOSE DIFFERENT
SLICES OF THE PIE. RENOVATION
MEANS WE ARE CLOSING THE
FACILITY, COMPLETELY REBUILDING
OR RENOVATING IT TO BRING IT UP
TO CODE AROUND ACCESSIBILITY ,
RENOVATION STANDARDS AND BEST
PRACTICES. WE ARE EXCITED TO SAY
AS OF EARLIER THIS MONTH THAT WE
HAVE COMPLETED FIVE RESTROOMS
SINCE THE START OF 2023 AND
THREE MORE ARE CURRENTLY UNDER
CONSTRUCTION. I DID WANT TO NOTE
THE PHOTO HERE IS GAS WORKS PARK
AND REPRESENTS TWO INNOVATIONS.
ONE, THE PUBLIC REQUEST FOR
SINGLE FIVE INSTALL RESTROOMS
AND THEN SECOND, AUTO LOCKING.
JUST TO TELL YOU A LITTLE BIT
MORE ABOUT RESTROOM RENOVATIONS.
OUR APPROACH IN CYCLE TWO IS TO
BUNDLE TOGETHER PROJECTS FOR
TIME EFFICIENCY AND THEY
REVIEWED AND EVALUATED THIS IS A
STRATEGY AND WE ARE MAKING SOME
PROGRESS ON IT. IN 2024 WE
INITIATED PLANNING ON A PACKAGE
OF FIVE SITES THAT ARE GOING TO
BE PUT OUT TO BID TOGETHER AND
THIS YEAR WE WILL INITIATE
PLANNING ON ANOTHER THREE SITES.
ESSENTIALLY WHAT THIS MEANS IS
WE ARE ASKING ONE CONTRACTOR TO
BE PREPARED TO WORK ON THE WHOLE
BUNDLE OF SITES AND DOING THAT
ALLOWS US TO SAVE SOME MONEY ,
BUT ALSO TO COORDINATE THE WORK
GEOGRAPHICALLY SO NO SINGLE PART
OF THE CITY HAS TOO MANY
RESTROOMS DOWN ON TIME. HAVE IT
SAY THAT GILMAN AND SALMON BAY
WERE PUT INTO PLANNING AND
DESIGN LAST YEAR , SO THAT IS
EXCITING.
>> I THOUGHT WE TOOK THOSE OUT.
DID WE KEEP THEM IN? OKAY.
>> WE ARE ALSO BUNDLING
RESTROOMS WITH OTHER SITE
IMPROVEMENTS, SO FOR EXAMPLE,
THERE MAY BE A SITE WHERE WE ARE
GOING TO DO A BUNCH OF OTHER
SITE WORK LIKE GARFIELD
SUPERBLOCK AND OFFICIALLY, THE
BATHROOM IS A COUPLE DOWN THE
LINE ON WHEN IT MIGHT NEED TO BE
REPLACED, WE WILL JUST DO IT AT
THE SAME TIME FOR COST
EFFICIENCY AND ALSO TO BE LESS
DISRUPTIVE TO THE PUBLIC OVER
TIME. THAT IS ALL STUFF WE WERE
WORKING ON AND PLANNING FOR
ALREADY. ON THE RIGHT SIDE ARE
SOME THINGS WE ARE DOING
DIRECTLY IN RESPONSE TO THE
AUDIT, ONE OF WHICH WAS THE
AUDITOR RECOMMENDED MORE
FREQUENT CONDITION ASSESSMENTS
AND THAT MAKES A LOT OF SENSE
AND WE ARE GOING TO ALIGN
CONDITION ASSESSMENTS A SIX-YEAR
PARK DISTRICT PLANNING
PROCESSES. YOU SHOULD EXPECT
WHEN WE COME BACK IN A FEW YEARS
WITH THE PARK DISTRICT PLANNING
PROCESS THAT WE HAVE REALLY
ROBUST CONDITION ASSESSMENTS AND
RESTROOMS AND OTHER ASSETS TO
HELP INFORM THOSE INVESTMENTS.
WE ARE ALSO FORMALLY UPDATING
DESIGN STANDARDS TO INCORPORATE
LESSONS AROUND VANDALISM
PREVENTION, DURABILITY AND
MAINTENANCE. WE HAVE BEEN DOING
THAT WORK IN AN INFORMAL WAY BUT
I AGREE WITH THE AUDITOR THAT IT
MAKES SENSE TO REALLY DO IT IN A
MORE FORMAL WAY. PREVENTIVE
MAINTENANCE, WHICH IS REALLY
ABOUT THE WORK OF OUR SKILLED
CRAFT FOLK. THINK PLUMBERS,
ELECTRICIANS, CARPENTERS. JUST A
KIND OF ONE-ON-ONE YOU DID HEAR
A LITTLE BIT FROM THE AUDITORS
IT IS REALLY JUST FIXING THINGS
BEFORE THEY ARE BROKEN, DOING
THE ROUTINE PREVENTATIVE STUFF
IN ANTICIPATION SO THEY DON'T
BREAK. WHAT THIS MEANS IN
RESTROOMS IS REPLACING ANY
COMPONENTS YOU MAY NEED, LOOKING
FOR LEAKS, MAKING SURE THE PIPES
DON'T FREEZE, WORKING ON THE
LIGHTING AND OTHER ASPECTS. THIS
IS AN IMPORTANT PART OF THE BLUE
CHUNK OF OUR CIRCLE OF KEEPING
RESTROOMS IN SERVICE FOR THE
PUBLIC. THE AUDITOR NOTED THAT
HIGH RATES OF VANDALISM AND
OTHER FORMS OF DEMAND
MAINTENANCE ARE MAKING IT
DIFFICULT TO REACH THAT
PREVENTIVE MAINTENANCE GOAL. WE
HAVE TRADITIONALLY HAD -- YOU
HEARD SALMON BAY AND GILMAN . WE
HAVE TRADITIONALLY HAD A GOAL OF
60% TO 40%, THAT WAS
TRADITIONALLY THE GOAL OF DOING
OUR WORK ON PREVENTIVE AND
GENERALLY WE MET THAT IN PRIOR
YEARS. SINCE THE PANDEMIC, AND
ESPECIALLY IN THE LAST COUPLE OF
YEARS WE HAVE BEEN UPSIDE DOWN
ON THAT. THE AUDITOR NOTED THAT
DIFFERENCE AND SAID HEY,
ADDITIONAL PLUMBING AND OTHER
SKILLED CRAFT STAFF MAY BE
WARRANTED AND WE AGREE. AS A
PART OF CYCLE TWO WE MADE AN
INVESTMENT OF ADDITIONAL SKILLED
CRAFT POSITIONS, BUT THESE HAVE
ACTUALLY BEEN PRETTY CHALLENGING
TO HIRE. I THINK THE MAIN ISSUE
IS A WAGE COMPETITIVENESS ISSUE.
IN 2024, HAPPY TO SAY THAT IN
ADDITION TO THE ANNUAL WAGE
INCREASE THAT ALL CITY EMPLOYEES
GOT -- PLUMBING, ELECTRICIANS,
CARPENTERS, THESE TRADE
POSITIONS IN PARTICULAR GOT WHAT
WE CALL MARKET-RATE ADJUSTMENTS
OR CITY'S DEPARTMENT OF HUMAN
RESOURCES LOOKED OUT ACROSS THE
FIELD AND REALIZED THAT TO BE
COMPETITIVE WE NEEDED TO
INCREASE WAGES SO WE ARE HOPEFUL
THAT WILL CHANGE THE DYNAMIC
HERE. WE ARE REALLY PRIORITIZING
FILLING THESE VACANCIES.
>> I SEE COUNCILMEMBER SOCCER,
YOU HAVE YOUR HAND UP.
>> THANK YOU, MADAM CHAIR AND
THANK YOU, SUPERINTENDENT DIAZ
AND WOW, THE CITY AUDITOR'S TEAM
IS STILL IN THE CHAMBER. I WANT
TO THANK THEM AND EXPRESS MY
APPRECIATION AND GRATITUDE FOR
THE WORK . IT IS IMPORTANT WORK
SHEDDING THE BRIGHT LIGHT OF
TRANSPARENCY ONTO THE IMPORTANT
UNDERPINNINGS OF CITY GOVERNMENT
AND HOW WE OPERATE IN THESE
CRITICAL SERVICES SO IN ANY
EVENT THANK YOU ALL, PARKSTON,
FOR BEING HERE. LET ME JUST
QUICKLY SAY I HAVE A REPUTATION
APPARENTLY OF BEING VERBOSE,
WHICH IS FINE, BUT AFTER HEARING
A FEW OF MY COLLEAGUES SPEAK
TODAY AND I'M LOOKING OVER TO
MY RIGHT IN PARTICULAR, I AM
REMINDED THAT THERE IS ALWAYS A
ONE UPPER IN EVERY GROUP. IN ANY
EVENT, THE THANK YOU,
DISTINGUISHED OMEN FROM QUEEN
ANNE. CAN WE GO BACK TO THE
RESTROOM RENOVATIONS LIGHTS
HERE. I WOULD BE INTERESTED TO
SEE THAT TOP 20 HOTSPOT LIST OF
RESTROOMS. I KNOW AND YOU KNOW
THAT THERE ARE FIVE RESTROOMS
LISTED TOWARD THE GOAL OF
RENOVATION, THERE ARE THREE IN
CONSTRUCTION. 27 ON THE LIST AND
THERE IS A NUMBER PROBABLY IN
THE QUEUE. HOW MANY OF THOSE 27
ON THE LIST ARE CONTAINED OR
INCLUDED IN THE TOP 20 HOTSPOTS?
PROBLEM RESTROOMS THAT WE KNOW?
I WOULD NOT NECESSARILY EXPECT
YOU TO HAVE A PRECISE ANSWER
RIGHT NOW. IF YOU HAVE AN
INITIAL RESPONSE, THAT IS
WELCOME, BUT WOULD APPRECIATE
FOLLOW-UP.
>> I THINK WE WOULD LIKELY NEED
TO DO SOME CROSS CHECKING ON
THAT, BUT WE CAN DO THAT.
>> AND NOW THAT WE KNOW THAT
THERE ARE NO PROBLEM TOP 20
HOTSPOTS, IF YOU WILL, HOW HAS
THAT INFORMED THE UNPLANNED FOR
BUDGETED, FUNDED BUT OTHERWISE
UNPLANNED FOR AND THEN
CONSTRUCTED YET PROJECTS THAT
REMAIN TO BE RENOVATED ON THAT
LIST OF 27?
>> I CAN RESPOND TO THAT. THE
PROJECTS WHEN VANDALISM OCCURS,
ARSON OCCURS , A RESTROOM THAT
WE DID NOT PLAN ON ADDRESSING IN
A CERTAIN YEAR, WHEN THAT
BECOMES A HIGH NEED AND A HIGH
PRIORITY, WE LOOK TO OUR LIST OF
PRIORITIZED WORK, SO LOOKING UP
AT THIS CHART , AT THE
ASSESSMENT PLANNING, WITH THAT,
WE ARE ABLE TO PRIORITIZE ALL OF
OUR RESTROOMS BASED ON NEED AND
SO IF THERE IS A NEED THAT RISES
TO THE TOP, WE JUST HAVE TO
SHIFT DOWN BASED UPON THE AMOUNT
OF FUNDING THAT WE HAVE
AVAILABLE IN EACH YEAR. DOES
THAT ANSWER YOUR QUESTION?
>> YEAH, KIND OF. MY ULTIMATE
POINT I WAS GETTING AT IS THAT
NOW WE KNOW IT IS DOCUMENTED,
THESE PROBLEM HOTSPOTS, THAT
LIST OF 27 PRESUMABLY WAS
AUTHORIZED BY PREVIOUS COUNCIL
ACTION OR PARKS METROPOLITAN
DISTRICT BOARD ACTION, WHATEVER
IT WAS, AND FUNDED, BUT NOW WE
KNOW THERE ARE 20 HOTSPOTS . IT
SEEMS LIKE IT IS A GOOD
OPPORTUNITY TO REVISIT THAT
LIST, PARTICULARLY FOR THOSE
PROJECTS THAT HAVE NOT YET BEEN
DEVELOPED OR STARTED AS ONE
CRITERIA AMONGST OTHERS THAT YOU
ARE CONSIDERING, OF COURSE.
>> I AGREE. I AGREE THAT IT IS A
GREAT OPPORTUNITY AND I AM
CURIOUS TO ALSO SEE THAT LIST OF
20 AND SEE HOW MANY WE ARE GOING
TO BE ADDRESSING IN OUR UPCOMING
LIST BUT IN ADDITION ON THE NEXT
SLIDE, WE ARE SHARING THAT WE
ARE REALIGNING OUR RESTROOM
ASSESSMENTS WITH THE SIX-YEAR
PARK DISTRICT CYCLE AND OUR GOAL
FOR THIS YEAR IS TO, IN Q3 OF
2025, IS TO COMPLETE ASSESSMENTS
ON ALL OF OUR RESTROOMS AND THIS
IS PART OF THE RECOMMENDATIONS
COMING FROM THE AUDITORS ON ALL
OF OUR RESTROOMS THAT WE HAVE
NOT RENOVATED IN THE LAST 10
YEARS, AND ONES THAT YOU HAVE A
HIGH NEED THAT WE ARE AWARE OF
AND FIND IT FIX-IT AND CALLING
IN WORK ORDERS GIVES US A GOOD
IDEA, GOOD INDICATION OF
RESTROOMS THAT ARE A NEED
BECAUSE THEY HAVE BEEN
VANDALIZED OR THEY JUST KEEP
GETTING CALLS BECAUSE JUST A LOT
IS HAPPENING THERE, SO I AGREE
WITH YOU AND SO I ALSO HAVE A
CURIOSITY TO SEE EXACTLY WHICH
20 ARE ON THAT LIST AND TO
CROSS-REFERENCE THOSE WITH THE
WORK WE ARE DOING IN PLANNING. A
LOT OF THEM ARE ON THERE BUT
MAYBE SOME ARE NOT AND THAT WILL
INFORM US.
>> ABSOLUTELY. THANK YOU FOR
SHARING. THAT IS JUST MY OWN TWO
CENTS AND IT IS ONE WAY WE CAN
LEVERAGE SOME OF THE LEARNINGS
AND INSIGHTS AND AUDIT FINDINGS
BUT MORE BROADLY, HOW ARE THE
AUDIT FINDINGS THEMSELVES
INFORMING THE PLANNING AND
ULTIMATELY DELIVERING
CONSTRUCTION OF THE REMAINING
PROJECTS ON THAT LIST OF 27 FOR
RESTROOM RENOVATIONS? SO,
WHETHER IT IS NEW MATERIALS,
BETTER INCORPORATING ACCEPTED
DESIGN PRINCIPLES , ANY NUMBER
OF THINGS, CROSS-REFERENCING,
MAKING SURE THAT THIS IS THE
BEST LIST OR MAYBE WE NEED TO
UPDATE THE LIST OF REMAINING
PROJECTS THAT NEED TO BE
DELIVERED AMONGST OTHER THINGS.
THOSE ARE A NONEXHAUSTIVE LIST
OF POTENTIAL WAYS IT COULD
INFORM, BUT HOW ARE YOU THINKING
ABOUT THAT JUST RIGHT NOW? HOW
ARE YOU INITIALLY THINKING ABOUT
THAT NOW?
>> I THINK ONE OF THE THINGS WE
ARE DOING, FOR INSTANCE WITH THE
LIST THAT WE TALKED ABOUT , HOW
WE HAVE COMPLETED FIVE AND THERE
ARE THREE MORE IN CONSTRUCTION,
YOU KNOW, THAT LIST IS ALWAYS
MOVING BECAUSE WE HAD COMPLETE
BURNED DOWN OF THE PARK RESTROOM
AT SOUNDVIEW PLAYFIELD , SO THAT
MIGHT'VE BEEN ON OUR LIST FOR
PARK RENOVATION AND WE HAD ONE
OVER IN DISTRICT 4 , SO THEN OUR
LIST HAS TO ADJUST BECAUSE THEN
WE OBVIOUSLY HAVE TO COMPLETELY
REPAIR THAT. IT JUST HAPPENS
THAT WE WOULD'VE DONE IT
QUICKER BUT WE ARE ACTUALLY
DOING A FIELD RENOVATION AT
SOUNDVIEW THAT IS STARTING IN A
COUPLE OF WEEKS SO WE ARE GOING
TO COMBINE THOSE TWO SO THAT IS
AN AREA THAT IS NOT ALWAYS
REPORTED AS A HOTSPOT BECAUSE IT
IS LIKE AN UNKNOWN HOTSPOT BUT
IT BECOMES A HOTSPOT BECAUSE WE
HAVE A COMPLETE ARSON BURNED SO
WE KIND OF WANT TO LOOK AT THAT.
ON THE CROSS-REFERENCING WE WANT
TO LOOK AT THE AREAS. YOU KNOW,
THE HOTSPOTS WILL INDICATE WHICH
BATHROOMS ARE BEING TREATED THE
WORST , BUT WE MAY NOT ALWAYS
KNOW WHY, BUT IF WE LOOK AT THAT
TO SEE WAS IT BECAUSE OF
SOMETHING, PERHAPS A LACK OF
LIGHTING, THE SITE LOCATION, IS
IT REALLY BACK FAR BEHIND TREES
AND THINGS LIKE THAT? THAT
INFORMS AND GIVES US
OPPORTUNITIES AND SOME OF THE
THINGS WE ARE GOING TO BE
LOOKING AT, WHAT THE AUDITOR
FINDINGS ARE, ARE THERE SOME
AESTHETIC THINGS WE CAN DO TO
IMPROVE IT OR PREVENT MAYBE
SOMETHING. WE CAN'T ALWAYS
PREVENT THINGS BUT IF THERE ARE
EASY SITE SITUATIONS, WE COULD
BE DOING THAT IN CONJUNCTION
WITH CONTINUING ON TRACK WITH
OUR PARK RENOVATION SO SOME OF
THAT IS GOING TO BE A COMBINED
EFFORT OF GOING OUT AND LOOKING
AT WHEREVER THE AREAS WERE
IDENTIFIED THAT NEED THE MOST
NEED AND WHAT ARE SOME OF THE
THINGS WE CAN DO BECAUSE NOT ALL
OF THEM ARE A COMPLETE PARK
RENOVATION OR BATHROOM
RENOVATION. SOMETIMES YOU COULD
DELIVER A BRAND-NEW BATHROOM BUT
IF YOU HAVE NOT ADDRESSED THE
OTHER THINGS YOU'RE JUST
SETTING UP YOURSELF FOR NOW A
NEW PARK RESTROOM HAVING THAT
VANDALISM SO IT DOES NOT ALWAYS
CORRELATE BUT SOMETIMES IT DOES
BUT SOMETIMES IT IS LOOKING AT
YOU KNOW, COULD THERE BE BETTER
LIGHTING AND ONE OF THE THINGS
WE ARE PILOTING THAT WE ARE
GOING TO BE LOOKING AT FOR
INSTANCE, MAYBE AT CAL ANDERSON,
IS AN ATTENDANT SYSTEM. THAT WAS
NOT NECESSARILY A FINDING OF THE
AUDIT BUT IT IS SOMETHING WE ARE
THINKING ABOUT IS PERHAPS THE
SOLUTION IN SOME OF THESE
HOTSPOTS AS WE REDEVELOP
WESTLAKE, AS WE LOOK AT
OCCIDENTAL, AS WE LOOK AT PLACES
LIKE CAL ANDERSON THAT ARE HIGH
USE. SHOULD WE PERHAPS PILOT AND
LOOK AT WHAT A PARK RESTROOM
ATTENDED MIGHT LOOK LIKE WHERE
THERE ARE ACTUALLY PEOPLE THERE.
RIGHT NOW THERE IS NOBODY NEAR
OR AT BATHROOMS. THIS WORKS IN
OTHER PLACES, SOME PLACES AROUND
THE COUNTRY THEY ARE DOING THIS
IN NEW YORK. THEY DO THIS IN
PARTS OF EUROPE OR IN LATIN
AMERICA AND SOMETIMES AN ACTUAL
PERSON THERE MIGHT REDUCE. THAT
WOULD REQUIRE NEW JOB
CLASSIFICATIONS FUNDING, ET
CETERA, BUT WE BELIEVE THAT
MIGHT BE A SOLUTION AND A NEED
FOR THESE MOST HOTSPOT AREAS SO
THAT IS JUST ONE APPROACH.
>> ANYONE WANTS TO ADD ANYTHING?
>> ALSO I WANT TO JUST -- THEN
WE WILL CONTINUE IN OUR
PRESENTATION. LOCKING MECHANISMS
ON BATHROOMS, AND I LEARNED
THIS, TOO, IN MY PAST
EXPERIENCE. AT FIRST I THOUGHT
THAT'S THE BEST IDEA. WHY
DON'T WE DO THAT ON ALL OF OUR
BATHROOMS THAT WE SOLVE A
PROBLEM AND IT REALLY IS A
NUANCED -- IT WORKS IN SOME
AREAS. YOU SAW THEM AT THE GAS
WORKS. WE ARE GOING TO TRY IT
THERE. WE HAVE TO BE CAREFUL
THOUGH IN SOME OF THESE AREAS IT
LEADS TO INCREASED VANDALISM
WHERE PEOPLE WANT TO BREAK OFF
THE LOCK OR TRY TO BREAK IT.
SOMETIMES PEOPLE CAN GET INSIDE
AND BE THERE ALL NIGHT, OR NOT
GET OUT I THINK IT WAS POINTED
OUT SO WE HAVE TO BE CAREFUL
WHERE WE PUT SELF-LOCKING
BATHROOM LOCKS. IT IS GOOD IN LS
T SOTIES, .
>> THANK YOU.
>> PREVENTIVE MAINTENANCE. ONE
OF THE THINGS WE ARE DOING IN
ADDITION TO HIRING ADDITIONAL
PLUMBERS AND SKILLED CRAFT
FOLKS. WE ARE MOVING FROM THE
60-40 GOAL TO ACTUALLY -- AND
THESE ARE SOME ITEMS WE ARE
DOING IN DIRECT RESPONSE TO THE
AUDIT, SETTING CLEAR OPERATIONS
AND MAINTENANCE STANDARDS. WHAT
ARE THINGS WE SHOULD BE DOING IN
RESTROOMS AND A PERFORMANCE GOAL
IS DID WE DO IT, SO THAT IS SOME
OF THE ACTION WE WILL BE TAKING.
ONE OF THE THINGS WE SAID WE
WOULD DO FOR THE PUBLIC AS A
PART OF CYCLE TWO WAS TO
INCREASE ACCESS TO RESTROOMS
YEAR ROUND. AS WE MENTIONED,
ABOUT HALF HOUR RESTROOMS CLOSED
OVER THE WINTER MAINLY DUE TO
FREEZING PIPES ISSUES, SO OUR
FACILITIES DIVISION IS WORKING
TO WEATHERIZE AROUND 60
RESTROOMS BY THE END OF CYCLE
TWO. THEY, IN COMBINATION WITH
CAPITAL PROJECTS, HAVE DONE 18
SITES IN THE FIRST COUPLE OF
YEARS AND YOU CAN SEE THEM ON
THE MAP THERE AND THEY ARE ON
TRACK FOR COMPLETION BY 2028.
THEY HAVE LEARNED SOME LESSONS
ALONG THE WAY. SOME OF THESE ARE
EASY TO DO AND SOME OF THEM,
BASED ON FACILITY DESIGN, ARE A
LOT MORE DIFFICULT TO DO. GIVEN
SOME OF YOUR QUESTIONS YOU HAVE
HAD ON WHAT WE ARE DOING ABOUT
THIS REALLY PROBLEMATIC SITES
AND WHAT WE ARE DOING TO
MITIGATE VANDALISM IN GENERAL I
WANT TO GIVE A SHOUT OUT TO OUR
SKILLED CRAFT FOLKS WHO ARE
SUPER CREATIVE AND THEY ARE
LITERALLY DESIGNING AND
INVENTING NEW WAYS TO PREVENT
AND MITIGATE VANDALISM BASED ON
OUR EXPERIENCE. ON THE FAR LEFT
YOU SEE LAKE RIDGE PLAYGROUND
AND WAYS WE ARE USING REALLY
DURABLE STRUCTURES. AND FIXTURES
IN THE MIDDLE , AND THEN THE
OTHER THING YOU SEE IN THAT FAR
LEFT IS THAT IS AN OPEN DOOR.
THAT BATHROOM DOES NOT SHUT
DOWN. THERE IS NO DOOR TO CLOSE
IT UP SO IMAGINE TRYING TO KEEP
THOSE PIPES WARM AND AND FROZEN
IN THE WINTER TAKE SOME CREATIVE
THINKING THAT IS THE REALITY OF
THE WIDE VARIETY OF BATHROOM
FACILITIES WE HAVE OUT THERE,
TAKES SOME CREATIVITY. IN THE
MIDDLE YOU SEE OUR METAL
FABRICATORS DESIGNING AND
CREATING NEW HARDWARE TO
MITIGATE VANDALISM. THE LOCK IN
PARTICULAR, THE LOCKS ARE ONE OF
THE MORE POPULAR THINGS TO
VANDALIZE, YOU KNOW, SO THEY
HAVE HAD TO BE CREATIVE ABOUT
COMING UP WITH WAYS TO REDUCE
THAT. ONE OF THE THINGS I THINK
YOU KNOW, THE LITTLE STRUCTURE
THEY HAVE CREATED THEIR IS
EFFECTIVE AT MITIGATING
VANDALISM. IT ALSO MAKES IT
HARDER FOR THE GROUNDS
MAINTENANCE PERSON TO LOCK AND
UNLOCK THE DOOR SO I THINK THAT
IS ANOTHER EXAMPLE OF HOW WE ARE
DOING OUR BEST TO MITIGATE
VANDALISM BUT THAT HAS FURTHER
EFFECTS DOWN THE LINE ON
EVERYDAY MAINTENANCE. ON THE FAR
RIGHT YOU SEE A NEW GATE AND
LOCK COVER INSTALLED AT CAL
ANDERSON PARK SO THAT RESTROOM
IS CERTAINLY NUMBER ONE ON THE
LIST OF 20 THAT WAS REGULARLY
VANDALIZED AND REPEATEDLY CLOSED
DOWN FOR LONG PERIODS OF TIME SO
THIS IS ONE OF THE MORE CREATIVE
THINGS OR FOLKS OF BEEN UP TO
TRYING TO KEEP THAT BATHROOM
OPEN. NOW MOVING ON TO DAILY
CLEANING, KIND OF THE REGULAR
DAILY MAINTENANCE OF RESTROOMS
TO KEEP THEM GOING FOR USERS.
AGAIN THIS IS AN ESSENTIAL PART
OF KEEPING US IN THAT BLUE ASSET
AND SERVICE CATEGORY. OUR
GENERAL APPROACH TO CLEANING
RESTROOMS COMES IN TWO FORMS.
ONE, FIRST THING IN THE MORNING,
THE STAFF RUN A RESTROOM ROUTE
WHERE THEY MAKE SURE RESTROOMS
AND PRIORITY PARKS READY FOR THE
DAY SO THE SHIFT STARTS AT 6:00
A.M. AUDITOR STAFF SIX OR SEVEN
DIFFERENT TIMES ONE AND RESTROOM
ROUTES AT 6:00 A.M. TO OBSERVE.
WE ALSO HAVE GENERAL PARK
MAINTENANCE ROUTES, SO THERE IS
THAT FIRST RESTROOM ROUTE IN THE
MORNING THAN PARK MAINTENANCE
ROUTES IN GENERAL ARE OUT
PICKING UP GARBAGE, KEEPING THE
PARK LOOKING GOOD AND THEY WILL
PERFORM RESTROOM MAINTENANCE AS
NEEDED MAKING SURE IT IS
STOCKTON CLEAN. ONE THING WE
WANT TO SAY ABOUT OUR PARK LABOR
IS WE ASK THEM TO CLEAN
EFFICIENTLY BUT WE ARE ALSO
ASKING THEM TO KEEP AN EYE ON
THE BROADER PART,: WORK ORDERS,
USE THEIR DISCRETION TO IDENTIFY
PRIORITIES AND HELPING THE
PUBLIC AS NEEDED SO WHEN THESE
FOLKS ENTER A RESTROOM THEY
MIGHT FIND A HAZARD. THEY MIGHT
FIND FOLKS IN DISTRESS. NO
ENCOUNTER IS EXACTLY THE SAME SO
WE HIRE OUR GROUNDS MAINTENANCE
LABOR IS NOT BECAUSE THERE
PERFECTLY TECHNICALLY EFFICIENT
CLEANING ALTHOUGH THEY ARE VERY
GOOD AT THAT BUT BECAUSE WE WANT
THEM TO USE THEIR DISCRETION TO
BE ABLE TO PERFORM THESE BROADER
FUNCTIONS FOR OUR PARK BENEFITS.
SO BASED ON PUBLIC FEEDBACK AS
WE HAVE SAID, KEEPING RESTROOMS
CLEAN AS A TOP PRIORITY. AS A
PART OF CYCLE TWO WE COMMITTED
TO HIRING 12 NEW LABOR POSITIONS
TO FOCUS ON INCREASING SERVICE
LEVELS. WE LAUNCHED THESE TEAMS
IN 2023 . AS THE AUDITOR NOTED
HOWEVER, SYSTEM-WIDE ISSUES
IMPACTED OUR STAFFING LEVELS IN
2024. I MERRILY THIS WAS DUE TO
THE HIRING FREEZE AND VACANCY
HOLDS DUE TO BUDGET
DELIBERATIONS AND BECAUSE SPR
NEEDED TO ABSORB SOME UNBUDGETED
COST IN 2024. NOW WE HAVE JUMPED
INTO HIRING LABORERS AND OUR
INTENTION IS TO HIRE AS MANY
VACANT LABOR POSITIONS AS
POSSIBLE THIS ROUND AND WE AIM
TO HIRE TEMPORARY SEASONAL
EMPLOYEES IN A TYPICAL YEAR SO
WE ARE HOPEFUL THAT THIS WILL
BRING TOTAL MAINTENANCE LEVELS
BACK UP TO MORE TYPICAL LEVELS.
WE ALSO HAVE SOME NEW TECHNOLOGY
COMING ONLINE, HOT PRESSURE
WASHING WHICH GIVES A
SIGNIFICANTLY CLEANER FEEL TO
THE BATHROOM. IT LETS YOU GET
THE WHOLE THING CLEAN MORE
EFFECTIVELY, FASTER AND WITH
LESS CHEMICAL REQUIRED. SOME OF
THE THINGS WE ARE DOING IN
DIRECT RESPONSE TO THE AUDIT. TO
MAKE DAILY CLEANING EXPECTATIONS
CLEAR AND TRANSPARENT WE ARE
DEVELOPING A CLEANING PLAN THAT
LAYS OUT WHAT KIND OF CLEANING
HAPPENS, HOW OFTEN, BY WHICH
STAFF ON WHICH ROUTES AND IT
SCALES BASED ON RESOURCE
AVAILABILITY. WE ARE ALSO
FORMALLY REVAMPING OUR CLEANING
STANDARDS AND PROVIDING TRAINING
ANNUALLY AND WE ARE GOING TO
UPDATE CRITERIA FOR PRIORITIZING
RESTROOM LOCKING. THE LAST THING
WE GET TO TELL YOU ABOUT IS HOW
DO WE MAKE SURE ALL OF THIS IS
WORKING AND THAT THE THING WE
REALLY CARE ABOUT, WHICH IS THE
PUBLIC EXPERIENCE OF RESTROOMS ,
ARE WE GETTING THERE? SO, THE
AUDITOR AS NOTED HERE TODAY AND
NOTED IN THE REPORT, THEY
ENCOURAGED US TO SET A GOAL
AROUND RESTROOM CLEANLINESS AND
TRACK DATA ACCORDINGLY AND SO
RATHER THAN TRYING TO TRACK
INPUT AND ACTIVITY MEASURES LIKE
HOW MANY HOURS OF CLEANING DID
WE DO AND HOW MANY TOUCHES DID
WE GIVEN A DAY, WE ARE FOCUSED
ON THE OUTCOME OF PUBLIC
SATISFACTION, SO HOW ARE WE
GOING TO MEASURE THAT? LET'S
START BY TELLING YOU HOW WE
THINK ABOUT SATISFACTION IN
GENERAL. PRIMARILY WE THINK IF
PEOPLE ARE HAPPY WITH OUR PARKS
WE THINK WE ARE DOING A GOOD
JOB. WE MEASURE THAT THROUGH A
BIENNIAL STATISTICALLY BALANCED
SURVEY, THROUGH FIND IT FIX-IT,
SOCIAL MEDIA, WE ALSO HAVE A
PARK INSPECTION PROGRAM THAT
USES TRAINED VOLUNTEERS TO
INSPECT OUR PARKS AGAINST
MAINTENANCE STANDARDS. WE REPORT
THIS DATA PUBLICLY AND USE IT TO
MAKE MAINTENANCE CHOICES. JUST
TO GIVE YOU AN EXAMPLE OF WHAT
THAT LOOKS -- AND ONE THING I
WILL SAY IS COUNCILMEMBERS ARE
ALWAYS WELCOME TO COME ON A PARK
INSPECTION SO TALK TO JACOB IF
YOU ARE INTERESTED IN JOINING
SOME OF OUR TRAINED VOLUNTEERS
ON REVIEWING A PARK INSPECTION.
IT IS A PRETTY RIGOROUS PROCESS
IN WHICH VOLUNTEERS WHO HAVE
BEEN TRAINED WILL GO TO A PARK
AND RATE IT AGAINST OUR
MAINTENANCE STANDARDS. YOU CAN
SEE MAINTENANCE STANDARDS ON THE
LEFT THERE AND THEN YOU SEE THE
APP THAT THEY RATED ON, ON THE
RIGHT SO IF YOU WALKED INTO A
BATHROOM FOR EXAMPLE YOU WOULD
BE MEASURING IS THERE SOAP AND
PAPER SUPPLIES AVAILABLE AND IF
THERE WERE NOT, YOU WOULD LOSE A
POINT. IS THERE GRAFFITI IN
THERE? YOU WOULD LOSE A POINT
AND WHAT WE CAN SAY IS IN 2024,
THIS PROGRAM INSPECTED ABOUT 40
PARKS. 20 OF THOSE HAD RESTROOMS
AND ACROSS ALL THE RESTROOMS
MEASURED, THEY RATED 3.9 OUT OF
FIVE ON THESE MAINTENANCE
STANDARDS SO NOT TERRIBLE BUT
NOT GREAT. THAT IS WHAT WE ARE
LOOKING TO USE IN RESPONSE TO
THE AUDIT. WE ARE GOING TO TAKE
THAT DATA SOURCE AND A FEW OTHER
DATA POINTS AND BUILD OUT A
RESTROOM-SPECIFIC GOAL WHERE WE
ARE TAKING FEEDBACK FROM THE
PUBLIC ON HOW ARE OUR RESTROOMS
DOING AND WE LOOK AT THAT ON A
REGULAR BASIS WITH CREW CHIEFS
AND STAFF. ANOTHER THING WE ARE
DOING AT THE RECOMMENDATION OF
THE AUDIT IS INCORPORATING
SUPERVISORY MONITORING INTO OUR
PROGRAMS ARE GETTING CLEAR AND
CONSISTENT ACROSS MAINTENANCE
DISTRICTS HOW OFTEN SHOULD
SUPERVISORS BE OUT VALIDATING
WORK THAT IS BEING DONE. SO,
THAT IS WHAT WE HAVE THAT FOR
YOU. WE APPRECIATED THE
OPPORTUNITY TO WORK WITH THE
AUDITOR AND GETS AN OUTSIDE
PERSPECTIVE AND GIVE YOU SOME
LINKS FOR PLACES TO GO FOR A
LITTLE MORE INFORMATION IF YOU
WOULD LIKE.
>> AWESOME. THANK YOU, THANK
YOU, THANK YOU. SO APPRECIATE
THE IN-DEPTH KNOWLEDGE AND ALSO
THE ASSESSMENT OF WHAT PARKS IS
DOING, WHAT THE IMPROVEMENTS CAN
MEAN AND ALSO, I'M GOING TO
READ BACK WHAT I HEARD DURING
THIS PRESENTATION THAN I KNOW I
WILL RECOGNIZE COUNCIL MEMBER
RIVERA FOR THE QUESTION THAT
SEATTLE PARKS IS ADDRESSING THE
AUDIT HEAD ON, SO UNDERSTANDING
LIKE HEY, THIS IS WHERE WE ARE.
THIS IS THE PLAYING FIELD AND
THESE ARE THE IMPROVEMENTS WE
NEED TO HAVE. YOU ALREADY HAVE A
DETAILED ASSET INVENTORY PROCESS
WHERE YOU UNDERSTAND WHAT ASSETS
ARE IMPORTANT, HOW THEY NEED TO
BE REPAIRED, MAINTAINED, AND
KEEPING TRACK, THAT YOU ALSO,
WHICH IS ONE OF THE MOST
IMPORTANT PIECES, THAT YOU
UNDERSTAND HOW IMPORTANT
RESTROOMS ARE THAT YOU HEARD IT
IS A PUBLIC SAFETY ISSUE BUT
ALSO A HEALTH ISSUE AND MAKING
SURE PEOPLE HAVE ACCESS TO
RESTROOMS AND KNOWING THAT PARKS
ARE ALREADY PLUMBED FOR THIS
TYPE OF USAGE. AND THEN ALSO,
UNDERSTANDING THAT YOU'RE TRYING
NEW THINGS AND TRYING TO FIGURE
OUT WHAT IS WORKING, WHAT IS NOT
WORKING. WE'RE KIND OF IN A
DIFFERENT ERA IN OUR SOCIETY AND
I ALSO WANT TO POINT OUT THAT
ALL THIS IS ON YOU. IT IS ALSO
ON US IN THE COMMUNITY AS WELL
TO MAKE SURE THAT WE KEEP AND
PROTECT A LOT OF THE PARKS AND
THE ASSETS CLEAN AND SAFE AND US
AS A COMMUNITY. THAT IS WHAT I
HAVE BEEN TRYING TO SPREAD SO
MUCH DURING MY TIME, ESPECIALLY
IN DISTRICTS THREE, THAT WE AS A
COMMUNITY HAVE A RESPONSIBILITY
TO KEEP, YOU KNOW, OUR PLACE IS
CLEAN AND SAFE AND ACCESSIBLE.
YOU KNOW, IT TAKES ALL OF US,
NOT JUST OUR PARKS DEPARTMENT
BUT THAT THERE IS A ROLE FOR
EVERYONE TO PLAY, SO. WITH THAT
BEING SAID, COUNCIL MEMBER
RIVERA.
>> THANK YOU, CHAIR AND THANK
YOU FOR THIS FULL PRESENTATION
AND REALLY APPRECIATE YOU
WORKING WITH THE AUDITOR TO ,
YOU KNOW, TRY TO IMPLEMENT SOME
OF THOSE RECOMMENDATIONS AND FOR
ALL THE WORK THAT YOU ARE DOING.
I MEAN YOU KNOW, PARKS HAS --
THERE ARE A LOT OF ISSUES AND
YOU ALL HAVE A WORK PLAN AND I
WANT TO ACKNOWLEDGE AND
RECOGNIZE THAT YOU OFTEN HAVE TO
VEER OFF THE WORKPLAN BECAUSE OF
UNEXPECTED THINGS THAT COME UP
AND SOME UNINTENDED CONSEQUENCES
OF SOME OF THE THINGS THAT WE
ARE DOING AS A CITY AND SOME OF
THE POLICIES THAT WE ARE TAKING,
SO THAT TAKES, YOU KNOW, IT
TAKES YOU OFF YOUR SCHEDULED
WORKPLAN AND IT TAKES RESOURCES
THAT SOMETIMES YOU HAVE TO
REDIRECT FROM SOME OF YOUR OTHER
WORK SO I WANT TO ACKNOWLEDGE
THAT BECAUSE THAT IS HARD , AND
IT REALLY HAS A BIG IMPACT ON
YOUR ABILITY TO PROVIDE THE
SERVICE CITYWIDE. I DO WANT TO
REITERATE THERE HAS BEEN A BIG
FOCUS ON THE 20 HOTSPOTS.
ADMITTEDLY, I DID NOT KNOW THERE
WERE 20 HOT SPOTS , SO THAT IS
REALLY GOOD TO KNOW AND LIKE I
SAID, I LOOK FORWARD TO GETTING
THE LIST AND SEEING HOW WE CAN
PARTNER TOGETHER TO FIGURE OUT
SOLUTIONS FOR THOSE ON BEHALF OF
OUR RESIDENTS. I WILL SAY THE
RELIABILITY PIECE IS IMPORTANT ,
SO SUPERINTENDENT, YOU KNOW, I
AM CONSTANTLY TRYING TO PARTNER
WITH PARKS AND HOW DO WE GET THE
WORD OUT TO CONSTITUENTS ON WHAT
THE SCHEDULE IS, CLOSER OF THE
BATHROOMS, THE PARK, ET CETERA
BECAUSE I ALSO HEAR FOLKS DON'T
KNOW WHEN THEY'RE GOING TO BE
CLOSED, YOU KNOW. THEY EXPECT
THEM TO BE OPEN AND THAT
RELIABILITY PIECE IS IMPORTANT
TO MAKE PEOPLE FEEL LIKE THEY
ARE BEING HEARD AND ALSO TO KNOW
WHAT THEY CAN EXPECT AS A
SERVICE, SO HOWEVER WE CAN HELP
IN GETTING COMMUNICATIONS OUT TO
OUR CONSTITUENTS AND WHEN
BATHROOMS IN THE PARKS THAT THEY
FREQUENT ARE GOING TO BE OPEN OR
CLOSED IS REALLY IMPORTANT AS A
RELIABILITY PIECE IN THE MUSLIM
GOING TO ASK ABOUT SO, WHEN I
WAS AT THE OFFICE OF ARTS AND
CULTURE, PARKS HAD WERE HAS A
PARTNERSHIP WITH THE OFFICE OF
ARTS AND CULTURE TO DO THESE
MURALS AT COMFORT STATIONS. WE
WERE CALLING RESTROOMS COMFORT
STATIONS AT THE TIME, AND THERE
WERE SOME CERTAIN NUMBER OF
COMFORT STATIONS THAT WERE GOING
TO GET MURALS. WE KNOW THERE IS
ONE IN MY DISTRICT THAT IS
REALLY TERRIFIC AND I'M
WONDERING WHAT -- I THINK THOSE
OF ALL COMPLETED NOW. I WANT TO
SAY, OR THEIR 20?
>> 17 OR 18.
>> 17 OR 18, YEAH, AND I'M
WONDERING HOW THOSE -- HAS THAT
HELP? HAS IT HELPED TO KEEP
THOSE COMFORT STATIONS
GRAFFITI-FREE? BECAUSE THAT WAS
PART OF THE POINT, RIGHT? LET'S
DO MURALS AND HOPEFULLY THAT
WILL ADDRESS SOME OF THE
GRAFFITI ISSUES.
>> YEAH, SURPRISINGLY I THINK
THAT IS CANDIDLY HONESTLY WAS
REALLY SURPRISED HOW WELL , BY
PAINTING A BATHROOM, A PUBLIC
BATHROOM IN A PARK CAN ACTUALLY
REALLY DETER GRAFFITI AND THE
KEY IS THAT I HAVE LEARNED,
USING LOCAL ARTISTS THAT COME IN
AND IT DOES THE SAME THING
AGAIN, I WAS REALLY SURPRISED IN
SEATTLE WHEN I FIRST CAME HERE.
ALL THE BEAUTIFUL MURALS IN OUR
CITY AND I DON'T KNOW THE EXACT
PERCENTAGE BUT I WOULD SAY LIKE
NINE OUT OF 10 MURALS, IF IT IS
BUILT BY A LOCAL PERSON, IT IS
RESPECTED AND HONORED. THERE IS
A PICTURE IN OUR PRESENTATION AT
TOSHIBA PARK WHERE WE DID THIS
FIRST MERRILL AND I REMEMBER
VISITING THAT AND THEN I
REMEMBERED IT WAS A LOCAL
ARTIST. WE SANCTIONED IT AND I
SAID DOES ANYONE TAG THIS AND
THEY SAID THEY DON'T. YOU KNOW,
MAYBE SOME MINOR THINGS HERE OR
THERE AND WE KNOW HOW TO REPAIR
IT. THAT PARTNERSHIP WITH ARTS
AND CULTURE IS SOMETHING WE
SHOULD ROW SO WHY NOT HAVE 129
RESTROOMS AND SOME OF THE
CHALLENGES SOME PEOPLE WILL SAY
YOU KNOW, DO THEY HAVE TO LOOK
LIKE THEY USE THE TERM LIKE A
JAIL-TIGHT BATHROOM BECAUSE OF
THE INDUSTRIAL NATURE AND PUBLIC
USE. YOU CAN'T MAKE IT LIKE A
HOME BATHROOM BUT YOU CAN
CERTAINLY DO THE OUTSIDE OF IT.
MY GOAL, MY DREAM WOULD BE TO
CONTINUE THAT NEVER RESTROOMS
LOOK LIKE THAT AND ANOTHER THING
IS GREEN ROOFING . BECAUSE THAT
IS ALSO AESTHETICALLY BEAUTIFUL
A BIT TO YOUR MAIN POINT, I DO
THINK IT IS A WAY TO PREVENT
GRAFFITI BECAUSE IT'S LIKE OH,
THIS ALREADY LOOKS LIKE AN ART
STRUCTURE. I BETTER NOT MESS IT
UP. THAT MIGHT NOT COMPLETELY
BUT TO YOUR POINT, I THINK IT IS
A GREAT DETERRENT.
>> I MEAN WE WERE HOPING IT
WOULD DO THAT. NOW THAT IT HAS
BEEN TWO YEARS OUT I JUST
WONDERED WHETHER IT HELD UP AND
I WANTED TO GIVE A SHOUT OUT TO
OUR FORMAL -- FORMER DIRECTOR AT
ARTS, ALLIE BARNES. THIS WAS THE
BRAINCHILD OF HERS AND THEN
WORKING WITH YOUR STAFFING TO
MAKE IT HAPPEN AND I WILL SAY,
COLLEAGUES, ARTS AND CULTURE HAD
A PROGRAM DURING COVID THAT WAS
GETTING ARTISTS TO WORK, BUT IT
WAS FUNDS THAT WERE ONE-TIME
ORIGINALLY FEDERAL FUNDING THAN
FUNDING THIS PARTICULAR YEAR
ONE-TIME FUNDING TO DO THOSE 17
TO 18 COMFORT STATIONS SO IT IS
NOT ONGOING FUNDING BUT THESE
ARE REALLY IMPORTANT
PARTNERSHIPS AND SOMETHING TO
THINK ABOUT MOVING FORWARD.
THANK YOU.
>> AWESOME. COUNCIL MEMBER SAKA.
>> THANK YOU, MADAM CHAIR AND
THANK YOU ONCE AGAIN TO
SUPERINTENDENT DIAZ AND THE TEAM
HERE FOR WORK AND REFLECTING A
GROWTH MIND-SET AND
ACKNOWLEDGING THE OPPORTUNITY
THAT WE ALL HAVE TO MAKE BETTER
PROGRESS IN THIS AREA . REALLY
AN URGENT OPPORTUNITY I THINK
FOR US ALL AND I HAVE LEARNED AS
PART OF THIS AND INCLUDING AS
PART OF YOUR OPENING COMMENTS
THAT PEOPLE, MEMBERS OF THE
PUBLIC ALWAYS WANT TO EXPAND THE
NUMBER OF RESTROOMS, NOT JUST IN
SEATTLE BUT IN L.A. AND ACROSS
THE COUNTRY. PARKS DEPARTMENT
AGAIN ACROSS THE COUNTRY AND
I'M NOT SURE THAT IS THE BEST
APPROACH HERE IN SEATTLE AT THIS
POINT, AT THIS JUNCTURE. UNLESS
AND UNTIL WE ARE IN A BETTER
POSITION TO MAKE BETTER PROGRESS
ON ADDRESSING THE CLEANLINESS
AND ACCESSIBILITY, PROPERLY
MAINTAINING OUR EXISTING
RESTROOMS AND YOU KNOW, AFTER
READING THE THIRTYSOMETHING PAGE
AUDIT REPORT READ IT, THANK YOU,
GUYS. WE READ THESE THINGS. I
READ THEM AND LISTENING TO THAT
PRESENTATION AND HEARING YOUR
RESPONSE HERE ON THE DEPARTMENT
SIDE , THE OPPORTUNITY THAT I
LEARNED IS THAT GENERALLY WE
NEED TO SAY WHAT WE ARE GOING TO
DO AND DO WHAT WE SAY AND THE
OPPORTUNITY IS THAT WE HAVE AN
OPPORTUNITY TO ACTUALLY LIVE UP
TO THAT A LITTLE BETTER AND SOME
OF THAT MIGHT BE EXPECTATIONS
MANAGEMENT . I DON'T KNOW, BUT
I AM PLEASED TO SEE IN THE TAIL
END OF YOUR SLIDE THERE , YOUR
SPECIFIC PLAN AND SCHEDULE AND
TIMEFRAME TO REMEDIATE SOME OF
THESE ON SLIDE NUMBER 18 THERE ,
YOUR FUTURE ACTIONS, SO I ALSO
AGREE WITH COUNCILMEMBER STRAUSS
THAT I THINK LATER THIS YEAR OR
MAYBE NEXT YEAR SOMETIME WE
OUGHT TO INVITE YOU ALL BACK TO
JUST CHECK IN ON THE PROGRESS
BECAUSE I KNOW YOU ARE COMMITTED
TO DOING THAT AND I WANT TO
THANK CHAIR HOLLINGSWORTH FOR
HER GREAT COMMENTS EARLIER. IT
IS NOT JUST ON THE DEPARTMENT.
IT IS OUR RESPONSIBILITY TO MAKE
SURE YOU WILL HAVE THE TOOLS AND
RESOURCES YOU NEED TO BE
SUCCESSFUL IN DIRECTIONAL
GUIDANCE FROM THE LEGISLATIVE
PERSPECTIVE. YOU NEED TO BE
SUCCESSFUL. GOVERNMENT PLAYS AN
IMPORTANT ROLE IN SOME OF THESE
BROADER CHALLENGES BUT IT IS NOT
THE ONLY ROLE AND SO INDIVIDUALS
AND COMMUNITIES ALSO NEED TO
STEP UP. IT IS A SHARED
RESPONSIBILITY THAT WE ALL HAVE
SO I JUST WANT TO SAY THAT THANK
YOU FOR THE WORK AND YOUR
COMMITMENT TO REMEDIATING THESE
ISSUES AS QUICKLY AS POSSIBLE. I
LOOK FORWARD TO ROLLING UP MY
SLEEVES AND PARTNERING TOGETHER
AND MAKING SURE AGAIN YOU WILL
HAVE WHAT YOU NEED TO BE
SUCCESSFUL . I MENTIONED BEFORE
AND I MEAN IT , BUT I HAVE NV
FOR NOT BEING ON THIS COMMITTEE.
THIS IS A WONDERFUL COMMITTEE
AND IT IS SUCH A WONDERFUL
COMMITTEE BECAUSE OF YOUR
DEPARTMENT IN LARGE PART BECAUSE
OF YOUR DEPARTMENT AND SO
APPRECIATE THE WORK YOU WILL DO.
SO, WHEN YOU GO IN AND DO THESE
MAJOR CAPITAL IMPROVEMENT
PROJECT RENOVATIONS TO THESE
RESTROOMS, DO YOU ALSO ENDEAVOR
TO ADDRESS THE DRINKING FOUNTAIN
AND UPDATE AND IMPROVE THE
WEATHERIZATION'S OF THE
DRINKING FOUNTAIN? DRINKING
FOUNTAIN ACCESS IS REALLY
IMPORTANT. I HAVE SENT -- I HAVE
INQUIRED ABOUT THIS DIRECTLY ,
BUT WE HAVE AN OPPORTUNITY, I
THINK AN EQUALLY IMPORTANT
OPPORTUNITY TO MAKE SURE THAT
WHATEVER DRINKING FOUNTAINS WE
DO HAVE IN OUR CITY PARKS ARE
ALWAYS FUNCTIONING 24/7/365.
THAT IS EQUALLY IMPORTANT, IN MY
VIEW, AS MAKING SURE THAT OUR
RESTROOMS ARE CLEAN, SAFE
ACCESSIBLE AND MAINTAINED. ARE
THOSE DRINKING FOUNTAINS, ARE
THEY ALSO UPDATED AS PART OF THE
RENOVATION PROCESS? , BUT I HAVE
ENVY FOR NOT BEING ON THIS
COMMITTEE. THIS IS A WONDERFUL
COMMITTEE AND IT IS SUCH A
WONDERFUL COMMITTEE BECAUSE OF
YOUR DEPARTMENT IN LARGE PART
BECAUSE OF YOUR DEPARTMENT AND
SO
>> THE DRINKING FOUNTAINS ARE
OFTEN INCLUDED. THEY'RE NOT
ALWAYS INCLUDED. WE DO IS MUCH
AS WE POSSIBLY CAN WITH THE
FUNDING THAT IS AVAILABLE. WE DO
ALWAYS INCLUDE ACCESSIBILITY, SO
THAT WOULD BE THE SITE OF A
RESTROOM BUILDING, PATHWAY TO A
STREET OR PLAY AREA SO THERE ARE
ACCESSORY ITEMS OUTSIDE OF A
BUILDING THAT ARE INCLUDED.
DRINKING FOUNTAINS, WHEN WE ARE
ABLE TO, WE DO IT. IF THERE IS A
NEED, YES, AND WE DO WEATHERIZE
THE BUILDING ITSELF WHEN WE DO A
RENOVATION PROJECT.
>> AWESOME.
>> I WAS JUST GOING TO SAY ONE
THING, AND WE CAN EXPLORE THIS
MORE WITH YOU OR THE COUNCIL. I
AM NOW GOING TO REACH OUT TO MY
COUNTERPARTS WHO WORK IN THE
UTILITIES, BUT ONE SOLUTION IN
LOS ANGELES WE DID WAS WORK WITH
OUR PUBLIC UTILITY, THE WIZARD
RATE PAYER-BASED SYSTEM. THEY
RECEIVE MONEY. THEY HAVE ACCESS.
WE DID AN INNOVATIVE PARTNERSHIP
WHERE WE PARTNERED WITH THEM TO
INSTALL HYDRATION STATIONS
BASICALLY SO IT IS LIKE THE
MODERN WATER FOUNTAIN. YOU CAN
USE A REUSABLE BOTTLE AND IT
SOMETIMES WORKS BETTER. IT'S A
LITTLE BIT MORE HYGIENIC AND
THROUGH REBATES AND THINGS THAT
THEY NEEDED TO SPEND MONEY ON
FOR GOOD FOR THE PUBLIC, THIS
WAS A WAY TO USE THAT MONEY FOR
GOOD AND SO I WOULD LOVE TO
EXPLORE THAT MORE WITH THE
COUNCIL AND OUR UTILITY PARTNERS
TO SEE WHO PROVIDES WATER TO THE
CITY, TO SEE IS THERE AN
INNOVATIVE USE OF FUNDING, MAYBE
SOMETHING THEY NEED TO
ACCOMPLISH IS A METRIC OR GOAL.
IN PARKS WE HAVE THE SPACE. WE
WOULD LOVE TO OPEN THAT UP AND
PROVIDE MORE HYDRATION STATIONS
AGAIN, IF THERE IS THE FUNDING
AND ABILITY TO DO IT. WE HAVE
THE LAND, SO LET'S WORK ON
THAT. THAT WOULD BE FANTASTIC.
>> THANK YOU. TELL US WHAT YOU
NEED TO ROLL THAT OUT AND
DEFINITELY CONSIDER IT. IT IS A
HUGE PRIORITY OF MINE . DRINKING
FOUNTAIN ACCESS, RELIABILITY BUT
ALSO PROPERLY MAINTAINING AND
ADDRESSING THE CLEANLINESS OF
OUR RESTROOMS AND TO YOUR POINT
EARLIER, SUPERINTENDENT DIAZ, IS
THAT IT IS A HUGE , VERY
INFLUENTIAL FACTOR IN
DETERMINING THE PUBLIC
PERCEPTION OF OUR PARKS SYSTEM
AT LARGE AND THEY CAN GO IN THE
QUALITY OF THEIR EXPERIENCE OR
LACK THEREOF YOU KNOW, PEOPLE,
MEMBERS OF THE PUBLIC CAN GO TO
ONE OF OUR MANY WONDERFUL PARKS
THAT WE HAVE IN OUR CITY AND IT
COULD BE VERY WELL-KEPT AND
PROPERLY MAINTAINED, GRASS
FRESHLY CUT. THE TRASH TAKEN
OUT, HEDGES TRIMMED AND
EVERYTHING AND THEN HAVE AN
UNFORTUNATE EXPERIENCE IN A
RESTROOM AND COMPLETELY GOT ALL
THE PERCEPTIONS OF GREAT THINGS
AND SO THAT IS WHY IT IS
IMPORTANT I THINK FROM MY
PERSPECTIVE THAT WE GET THIS IN
ORDER AND DO IT AS QUICKLY AS
POSSIBLE AND SO I JUST
APPRECIATE YOUR COMMITMENT TO
DOING THIS WORK AND I STAND WITH
YOU ALONGSIDE YOU BECAUSE IT IS
A SHARED RESPONSIBILITY, SO THAT
WAS ALL. I WILL SAY FROM THERE,
I NOTICED THAT COUNCIL MEMBER
KETTLE DID NOT HAVE HIS HAND UP
HERE AND TWO MEMBERS OF THE
PUBLIC, WE HAVE GREAT
RELATIONSHIPS. I HAVE GREAT
RELATIONSHIPS WITH ALL MY
COLLEAGUES, COUNCIL MEMBER
KETTLE INCLUDED. THAT WAS JUST
FRIENDLY BETTER -- BANTER. HE IS
FAIRLY VERBOSE. I DON'T WALK
AWAY FROM THAT, BUT THE GOOD
NEWS IS HE IS ON POINT. HE SAYS
A LOT OF GOOD THINGS BUT I HOPE
I DID NOT STYMIE YOUR ENGAGEMENT
THERE. THANK YOU, MADAM CHAIR.
>> THANK YOU. I SEE COUNCIL
MEMBER STRAUSS.
>> THANK YOU, MADAM CHAIR. THOSE
ARE FIGHTING WORDS. I WAS JUST
GOING TO NOTE I HAVE A HARD STOP
IN 11 MINUTES.
>> THANK YOU. I APPRECIATE THAT.
THANK YOU, PARKS DEPARTMENT. WE
KNOW THE WORK YOU DO IS
PHENOMENAL SO THANK YOU ALL FOR
THE PRESENTATION TODAY, THANK
YOU. AND THEN NOW WE ARE GOING
TO READ ITEM AGENDA THREE INTO
THE RECORD.
>> AGENDA ITEM THREE RESOLUTION
32164, A RESOLUTION RELATING TO
SEATTLE PARKS AND RECREATION
AUTHORIZING THE SUPERINTENDENT
OF PARKS AND RECREATION TO ACT
AS THE AUTHORIZED REPRESENTATIVE
AND AGENT ON BEHALF OF THE CITY
OF SEATTLE AND TO LEGALLY BIND
THE CITY OF SEATTLE WITH RESPECT
TO CERTAIN PROJECTS . FOR
BRIEFING, DISCUSSION ON POSSIBLE
VOTE.
>> REALLY EXCITED TO HAVE THIS
COME TO A VOTE AND WE KNOW WE
ARE GOING TO BE LOSING
COUNCILMEMBER -- WE HAVE HARD
STOPS FOR FOLKS, SO YEAH.
COUNCIL MEMBER STRAUSS.
>> THANK YOU, CHAIR. I WILL JUST
GIVE MY PUBLIC APPRECIATION TO
MOSHE HECHT IN THE PARKS TEAM. I
MET WITH THEM EARLIER THIS WEEK
AND HAD ALL OF MY FOLLOW-UP
QUESTIONS ANSWERED SO IN THE
INTEREST OF BREVITY JUST WANTED
TO SAY THANK YOU. GREAT WORK. WE
WOULD BE IN A FINANCIALLY MORE
DIRE POSITION WITHOUT PEOPLE
LIKE HIM WORKING FOR OUR CITY.
>> I APPRECIATE PARKS FOLLOWING
UP WITH YOU ABOUT THOSE
QUESTIONS. I APOLOGIZE. I KNOW A
COUPLE OF COUNCILMEMBERS HAD
SOME BRIEFING SO WHATEVER THE
SPEEDY PRESENTATION IS, THAT
WOULD BE PHENOMENAL. I
APPRECIATE THAT, SUPERINTENDENT
DIAZ.
>> THANK YOU. I THINK WE ARE
HERE TO ANSWER QUESTIONS. WE
DON'T HAVE A FORMAL
PRESENTATION ON THIS ITEM SO
I'M SORRY, I MISSED YOUR
QUESTION.
>> I APOLOGIZE. WHAT I WAS
SAYING WAS IF THERE WAS AN
EXPEDITED PRESENTATION TO IT, TO
THIS, IT WOULD BE PHENOMENAL
THEN I KNOW IF MY COLLEAGUES HAD
ANY QUESTIONS. I DON'T WANT TO
LOSE QUORUM BECAUSE I KNOW THIS
IS IMPORTANT WE VOTE ON THIS
BECAUSE THERE IS ALSO A STATE
TIMELINE DEADLINE. IF I'M
CORRECT.
>> OKAY, SO THIS PRESENTATION
WAS SHOWN ALREADY. YOU ALL ARE
HERE TO ANSWER QUESTIONS WE HAVE
IS WHAT I'M TOLD. AWESOME.
THANK YOU, MY APOLOGIES.
ABSOLUTELY. COUNCIL MEMBER
RIVERA.
>> IT WOULD BE HELPFUL MAYBE FOR
ANYONE WATCHING. WE DID HAVE
THIS PRESENTATION BUT PERHAPS
SUPERINTENDENT DIAZ CAN JUST DO
A ONE-MINUTE SET UP OF WHAT WE
ARE VOTING ON TODAY.
>> ABSOLUTELY. THANK YOU ,
COUNCIL MEMBER RIVERA. THAT
WOULD BE GREAT.
>> WE ARE TALKING ABOUT OUR
STATE RECREATION AND
CONSERVATION OFFICER THIS IS AN
UPDATE TO WILL ON THE 2025 GRANT
APPLICATIONS THAT WE HAVE MADE
ON BEHALF OF PARKS FOR RCO .
MOSHE HECHT WAS THE HEAD OF OUR
GRANTS TEAM. HE CAN GIVE A QUICK
SUMMATION .
>> IT IS. THERE RECREATION
CONSERVATION OFFICE, WASHINGTON
STATE ADMINISTERS BOTH STATE AND
FEDERAL FUNDING FOR GRANTS FOR
PARKS. THESE ARE FOR OUTDOOR
RECREATION PURPOSES . WE ARE
GOING TO BE APPLYING FOR A
NUMBER OF DIFFERENT PROJECTS
THROUGHOUT THE CITY, INCLUDING
EVANS POOL, DISCOVERY PARK AND A
NUMBER OF OTHER LOCATIONS. THIS
FUNDING IS CRITICAL TO HELP US
NOT ONLY BUILD SOME OF THESE
PROJECTS BUT ALSO TO INCLUDE
VERY IMPORTANT AMENITIES TO THE
PROJECTS THAT THE COMMUNITY HAS
ASKED US TO PROVIDE. IF YOU
COULD REMIND US OF A COUPLE OF
THE PROJECTS BEING CONSIDERED
TODAY THAT WOULD BE GREAT THEN I
WILL SEE IF ANY OF MY COLLEAGUES
HAVE ANY QUESTIONS.
>> SURE. FIRST TEE IS ONE OF THE
PROJECTS OUT AT BILL WRIGHT GOLF
COMPLEX. THEY'RE GOING TO MAKE
SOME IMPROVEMENTS TO THE
NINE-WHOLE COURSE THERE TO JUST
MAKE IT SAFER AND BETTER FOR
PROGRAMMING FOR YOUTH IN
PARTICULAR. DISCOVERY PARK SOUTH
BEACH TRAIL IS A PROJECT THAT WE
NEED TO REROUTE AND REBUILD . IT
IS ONE OF THE MOST POPULAR
TRAILS IN THE CITY. EVANS POOL
OUT OF GREEN LAKE IS PROBABLY
THE MOST VISITED PARK IN THE
CITY. THE POOL IS AT THE END OF
ITS USEFUL LIFE AND WE ARE GOING
TO APPLY FOR FUNDING TO HELP
REBUILD THAT POOL. DR. HAS A
RESULT -- JOSE RIZAL PARK IS A
PARK THAT NEEDS IMPROVEMENT. WE
ARE LOOKING AT RESTROOM
RENOVATIONS AND ADDITIONAL
IMPROVEMENTS THROUGHOUT THE
PARK, PRIMARILY TO THE
PLAYGROUND AND ACCESSIBILITY IN
THE PARK. DEPENDING ON WHETHER
OR NOT WE MOVE FORWARD WITH THE
EXISTING BID FOR THE NORTHWEST
NATIVE CANOE CENTER , WE COULD
BE APPLYING FOR ADDITIONAL
FUNDING TO HELP SUPPORT THE
PROJECT SO WE CAN MOVE FORWARD
AND BUILD THAT PROJECT. I'M
TRYING TO REMEMBER IF I AM
MISSING ANY OF THEM. THE
SLIDESHOW IS NOT ADVANCING, SO.
>> NO WORRIES. I KNOW WE ARE
HAVING TECHNOLOGY ISSUES.
>> AND, WE ARE JUST VOTING TODAY
TO AUTHORIZE SUPERINTENDENT DIAZ
TO ACT AS AN AGENT FOR THE CITY
FOR THESE PROJECTS AS WE APPLY
FOR FUNDING.
>> THERE WE GO, THE LIST.
>> THANK YOU, MADAM CLERK. NOW
WE GO BACK TO THE LIST THAT JUST
HAD THE AMOUNT AND THE PROGRAMS.
>> I AM PREPARED TO VOTE.
>> OKAY, SORRY. THE BOAT
LAUNCHES ANOTHER PROJECT. THIS
IS ONE WE ARE JUST ABOUT DONE
WITH DESIGN AND EXCITED ABOUT
MOVING FORWARD WITH THIS
PROJECT. I THINK THAT IS ALL OF
THEM.
>> AWESOME, THANK YOU. GREAT
OVERVIEW. I KNOW WE HAD THIS. IT
WAS A GREAT REFRESHER SO THANK
YOU ALL AND I KNOW A LOT OF US
HAD BRIEFINGS BEFORE SO JUST
WANTED TO THANK YOU.
THAT THE COMMITTEE RECOMMENDS
ADOPTION OF RESOLUTION 32164. IS
THERE A SECOND?
>> THANK YOU. IT HAS BEEN MOVED
AND SECONDED TO RECOMMEND THE
ADOPTION OF THE RESOLUTION. ARE
THERE ANY FURTHER COMMENTS?
OKAY. CLERK, WILL YOU PLEASE
CALL THE ROLE FOR THE
RECOMMENDATION THAT COUNSEL
ADOPT RESOLUTION 32164.
>> COUNCIL MEMBER KETTLE
>> AYE
>> COUNCIL MEMBER RIVERA
>> AYE
>> COUNCIL MEMBER STRAUSS
>> YES
>> COUNCIL PRESIDENT NELSON
>> AYE
>> CHAIR HOLLINGSWORTH
>> YES.
>> FIVE IN FAVOR.
>> MOTION CARRIES ON THE
COMMITTEE RECOMMENDATION TO
ADOPT A RESOLUTION WILL BE SENT
TO THE MONTFORT COUNCIL MEETING.
IF THERE ARE NO FURTHER
QUESTIONS WE ARE GOING TO MOVE
ON TO THE LAST AGENDA ITEM,
THANK YOU, SUPERINTENDENT DIAZ
AND MOSHE. THANK YOU BOTH FOR
BEING HERE. REALLY APPRECIATED
AND ALL YOUR WORK. PLEASE READ
ITEM NUMBER FOUR INTO THE
RECORD.
>> ITEM NUMBER FOUR, APPOINTMENT
30 90, APPOINTMENT OF RYAN SMITH
AS A MEMBER, CENTRAL WATERFRONT
OVERSIGHT COMMITTEE FOR A TERM
TO DECEMBER 31, 2025.
>> AS I MENTIONED LAST
COMMITTEE, THIS WAS OUR 13th
APPOINTEE. THE PACKET WAS
ACCIDENTALLY NOT INCLUDED DUE TO
A CLERICAL ERROR. WE HEARD ABOUT
THE DEDICATION OF ALL OF OUR
EMPLOYEES , APPOINTEES,
INCLUDING RYAN SMITH AND WITH
THAT BEING SAID I WOULD LIKE TO
MOVE THE COMMITTEE MOVE FORWARD
WITH APPOINTMENT 3090. IT HAS
BEEN MOVED AND SECONDED TO
RECOMMEND CONFIRMATION OF THE
APPOINTMENT TO CENTRAL
WATERFRONT OVERSIGHT COMMITTEE.
ARE THERE ANY OTHER COMMENTS?
OKAY, CLERK, PLEASE CALL THE
ROLL TO THE COMMITTEE
RECOMMENDATION TO AFFIRM
APPOINTMENT 3090.
>> COUNCIL MEMBER KETTLE
>> AYE
>>
>> AYE
>> COUNCIL MEMBER STRAUSS
>> YES
>> COUNCIL PRESIDENT NELSON
>> AYE
>> CHAIR HOLLINGSWORTH
>> YES.
>> FIVE IN FAVOR.
>> AWESOME. THANK YOU, THIS WILL
BE SENT TO THE MARCH 4th MEETING
OF CITY COUNCIL MEETING. THANK
YOU, EVERYONE. WITH THAT, I KNOW
WE HAVE TWO MINUTES BEFORE SOME
OF US HAVE A HARD STOP. I WANTED
TO TAKE THIS TIME REALLY QUICK.
MOM, HAPPY BIRTHDAY. YOU TURNED
70 ON FRIDAY. THANK YOU FOR THE
GIFT OF LIFE. YOU WERE BORN IN
NEW ORLEANS, LOUISIANA. YOU WERE
HAD SCOLIOSIS AS A YOUNG CHILD
AND SPENT MOST OF YOUR CHILDHOOD
IN A BODY CAST. UP TO YOUR NECK,
TO FIX YOUR CURVE. YOU OVERCAME
MANY CHALLENGES. YOU GRADUATED
BOOKER T. WASHINGTON HIGH
SCHOOL, WENT TO XAVIER NEW
ORLEANS LOUISIANA HISTORICALLY
BLACK COLLEGE AND UNIVERSITY.
MAJORED IN ENGLISH, MOVED TO
SEATTLE IN 1975 WHEN UNCLE BRUCE
WAS DRAFTED TO THE SEATTLE
SONICS. YOU ARE A TEACHER'S
AIDE, NONPROFIT ORGANIZER UNTIL
YOU GOT A JOB WITH KING COUNTY
HOUSING AUTHORITY CONNECTING
PEOPLE TO HOUSING LONG-TERM.
DURING OUR TIME WORKING YOU DID
NIGHT SCHOOL TO GET YOUR
MASTER'S DEGREE. YOU ARE ALSO A
PROUD MEMBER OF THE ALPHA KAPPA
ALPHA SORORITY INCORPORATED. THE
HOUSE ALWAYS HAD PINK AND GREEN
IN IT. YOU WOULD DRIVE TO THE
ENDS OF THE EARTH FOR A
BASKETBALL GAME, HELP ME WITH MY
ORATORY SKILLS, CORRECT
INCREDIBLE MEALS, PRAYED WITH
ME, SUPPORTED ME LOVE ME
UNCONDITIONALLY. MOM, THERE ARE
NO WORDS TO DESCRIBE HOW I FEEL
ABOUT YOU BUT I WILL USE THE
WORDS FROM OUR FAVORITE STEVIE
WONDER SONG, WHICH IS FROM THE
SONGS IN THE KEY OF LIFE WHICH
IS I WILL ALWAYS LOVE YOU. THANK
YOU. HAPPY BIRTHDAY.
>> HAPPY BIRTHDAY.
>> AND, THAT WILL CONCLUDE --
HAPPY BIRTHDAY, MOM. THAT WILL
CONCLUDE THE FEBRUARY 26 MEETING
OF THE PARKS, PUBLIC UTILITIES
AND TECHNOLOGY COMMITTEE. OUR
NEXT COMMITTEE MEETING IS
SCHEDULED FOR WEDNESDAY, MARCH
26th AT 2:00 P.M. THE MEETING IS
ADJOURNED. THANK YOU.