Yeah, yeah, I'll just come back and forget about it. Yeah.
Good evening, everyone. Welcome. To the August 14th meeting of the Board of Parks and Recreation Commissioners.
Obviously, just wanted to briefly do, uh, introductions for the commissioners and, uh, staff.
Um, I'm Ryan Vong, I'm one of the co-chairs of the board.
I'm Elise Chisholm-Clair for District 4. Stafford Maze for District 7.
Apds, Superintendent Parks. Brian Judd, Strategic Advisor, filling in for Paula Ha.
Ben Bertzas with Seattle Parks and Recreation. Commissioners online?
I'm Commissioner Tricia Diamond from Boards and Commissions appointee.
Yes.
Uh, Steve Lehrer. At large, Commissioner, traveling home from the airport.
Thanks, Steve, for joining. Um… Wanted to start with a land acknowledgement. Uh, Seattle Parks and Recreation acknowledges and affirms the Indigenous Coast Salish people.
As original caretakers of our waters and landscape. We nurtured and shaped today's parkland. We honor their legacy with gratitude and appreciation, and will safeguard their knowledge and stewardship as enduring treasures.
Promote community welfare, cultivate inclusive expressions of nature and recreation. Commit to that acknowledgement for each ensuing generation.
Um… Uh, we will defer to thank Adams, as we don't have a quorum.
Commissioner Jet, um, and, uh, let's go ahead and we can get started with public comment a few minutes early.
All right. All right. Um, so first up on our list for public comment is Josh Morris, just reminding everybody giving a public comment, you do have 2 minutes.
And I have a timer here, and… We'll be gently reminding you when your time is up.
So, first up is Josh Morris. Okay, and reminder to folks who are online, I will be giving you permission to unmute yourself. You will still need to do that, and then your two minutes will start after that.
Ryan, I also want to point out Philip is on the line here, and so I'm gonna keep inviting him to, uh… Oh, hi, Philip! Thank you.
All right.
But I'm checking. I hope you just wanted to… Unmute yourself and do a real quick induction before Polly Kylan starts.
Olympia.
Can y'all hear me? Sorry about that. Uh, Phillip Maine Commissioner, District 7. Good seal.
Yep.
All right, so Josh, I'm going to give you permission to unmute yourself.
And you'll have 2 minutes.
Thank you, and good evening, everybody. My name is Joshua Morris. I'm the Conservation Director of Birds Connect Seattle. I'd like to respectfully address some points that were raised in public comment at your June meeting regarding the Magnuson Park wetlands.
A commenter suggested that we were spreading falsehoods about the sound levels produced by Pickleball.
Our claim of 120 decibel pickleball noise is based on peer-reviewed research from the American Journal of Ontolarinology, which documented quartzite peak sound levels reaching 120 decibels.
They've emailed a copy of this study to your staff liaison to share with you for your reference.
A commenter suggested that pickleball noise would be inaudible in the wetlands, proposing a test of standing near the ponds while a friend hits a pickleball in the parking lot.
That is a false analogy that doesn't reflect the project's actual scale.
The proposed 25 courts could accommodate 100 players at peak times, generating hundreds of pickleball strikes per minute.
I've personally heard noise from a single pickleball court at Miller Park from over a thousand feet away.
25 active courts would create significantly greater impact. A commenter suggested that we haven't named any noise-sensitive species in our concerns because none exist at the wetlands.
In fact, all species with hearing can experience negative impacts from noise disturbance.
Depending on the magnitude, duration, and location of the noise. The question is whether noise-sensitive species are present, or rather how noise exposure will alter the behavior or habitat use of hearing species.
A commenter suggested that the wetlands are not a rare or unique ecological asset.
Within Seattle's context, these wetlands represent a critical resource. Seattle has lost most of its historic weapons over the past century, more than 90% in some estimates.
The Magnuson Park wetlands are now the third largest freshwater emergent and forested wetland system in our city, making them locally significant, even if they're not globally rare.
Thank you for allowing me to address these points, and thank you for your service to our parks and the people and wildlife who need them.
Okay, thank you so much. All right, next up on the list for public comment is Ann Paul.
All right, and… You have permission to unmute yourself?
Yes.
Hi, can you hear me? My name is Ann Paul. I'm a member of Birds Connect Seattle. I want to share my concern about the current plan to build an outdoor pickleball facility.
Directly adjacent to the restored wetlands at Magnuson Park. The wetlands cost Seattle taxpayers, like myself, more than $3 million to build.
They're a major investment in habitat enhancement and nature access. They are, so far, relatively quiet for those of us who seek just that in our parks.
You hear in public comment at your park's meetings from users who engage in team activities and sports.
They advocate for more space to address their focus. For those of us who do not necessarily use the park as a large, organized group, it's difficult to make our many voices heard in an orchestrated fashion.
I would argue that our voices are reflected on your own most recent survey, where, as I read it.
The majority of the respondents overwhelmingly cite enjoyment of nature as their main reason to visit the park.
The wetlands are a visible dedication to our priorities and enable us to actively enjoy Magnuson Park.
I hear the pickleball enthusiasts prompting you to address a demand for pickleball courts, and they prompt you to move toward an ambitious number of courts and stadium seating capabilities.
I suggest that is not something for which the public parks in Seattle should be striving.
My ask is that you not focus on or prioritize pickleball to the detriment of others who use the park for access to nature and quiet.
Okay, thank you. All right, next on the list, uh, Greg Lebegu.
Hey. Correct, you have… Two minutes, and you have, uh, permission to unmute yourself.
Thank you, I'm unmuted. Can you hear me? Thank you. I'm Dr. Breck Lebegue with Washington Physicians for Social Responsibility.
Yes.
An airshow Climate Action Coalition. Asking you to deny a permit for the Blue Angels to fly a seafare.
I'm a retired Air Force flight surgeon. I love airplanes when they're needed, but they can hurt our health.
Although some call fighter jet noise, the sound of freedom. It harms hearing. Autistic kids are terrified of that noise they can't bear.
The Super Hornets are especially loud. I measured F-18 growlers at 110 decibels in Genesee Park last year and this year.
Osha requires earplugs and muffs for work sites at that level.
Seafair provides no air protection, so WPSR gave out hundreds of free earplugs the past two years.
Although the rules regulate the level of PA sound systems in parks.
The Blue Angels defy that reasonable health noise limit every year.
And jet fuel exhaust harms lungs, hearts, even brains. The Blue Angels burned 77-0, 1,000 gallons a weekend.
To make a lot of noise, and PM2.5 particles. The Department of Ecology identified South Seattle as a Washington Health Disparities community.
Highly impacted by air pollution. They fly right over that community every year, causing more direct harm to people that we are required by law to protect.
But don't. We regulate other health harms in public areas, such as smoking, drinking, drug use.
Why not just smoke? We ask you to follow the law and the science.
Conduct a formal health risk assessment of the Blue Angels at our seafare.
Stop the noise and fossil fuel pollution. Help us transform Seafair into a community celebration that improves, not harms, our physical and mental health.
It's at the charter. Thank the Blue Angels for their service, and their shows, say goodbye.
And move on to quiet, clean, maritime activities at Seafair. Thank you.
Thank you. Next up is Martha Taylor.
Great. Martha, you have permission to unmute yourself, and you'll have 2 minutes.
Hello, my name is Martha Taylor. I frequently walk in the wetlands and the other undeveloped areas of Magnuson Park, and I am concerned about the 25 pickleball courts FPR wants to build in the.
Magpark E5 parking lot adjacent to the federally protected wetlands for many reasons.
Tonight, I want to address SPR's inadequate understanding of parking issues.
The current plan would reduce available parking in E5 to 100 spaces, primarily for pickleball players, ignoring the fact that nature seekers.
And baseball, softball, and Little League players currently use E5, as well as people attending all sorts of other events in the park.
Spr seems to think that there's adequate overflow parking for E5 users somewhere in the park.
However, the E5 lot is the overflow parking lot for park events, particularly in the spring and summer seasons.
For example, boat launch E1 and 2 lots are now almost exclusively designated.
For cars with boat trailers, and there's overflow parking to E5 from E1 and 2 on busy days, not the other way around.
Spr is promising that a new baseball field will be built at Build 11 along Sports Field Drive, since it won't be.
In E5, where the E5 pickleball facility will be. So there will be more park patrons and less parking.
In addition, there will be frequent turnover of cars as pickleball players come and go.
I'm busy days, this will result in people driving around looking for parking, thus increasing emissions and increasing pollution that drains into the wetlands.
There will be more illegal parking. Magnuson Park is a wonderful park that provides recreation for a wide range of park patrons, but it can't do everything.
The 25 pickleball courts should be built in a different location away from the wetlands.
Um, we need to protect the nature that we have there.
Okay, thank you very much. Thank you, Martha. Next up is Carrie Christensen.
Jenny Lane Park. 727. Friends of Denny Blaine have a smart party.
Not posted on SPR's volunteer calendar. They trim things they weren't supposed to.
Who from SPR is monitoring these work parties? Friday, two males on the beach at 10.54 AM, dry humping each other.
Lots of people around. They said they would call SPD.
For me, harassing them by taking their photo without permission. I said, good luck.
Saturday and Sunday, there was a puppet show with Amplified Sound.
19 PERS in the fire lanes. Uh, the Red Truck Masturbator made an appearance for the puppet show.
Monday, 2.11pm, two males on a paddleboard 3 yards from the beach.
Lots of people around. Stroking penises, oral sex.
Knees on shoulders. Nobody said anything. Spd never showed for the two indecent exposure incidents.
I eventually spoke with officers hours later. Wednesday, one hour after screens and new signage went up.
In the park. This happened. This was their protest to being, uh.
Having to stay naked. Behind the screen that was put up.
Specifically, so you could be naked in the park. So, I would request an SPR get together with the City of Seattle.
Do something, you have 60 days. Per the judge, closer for you guys to…
So, the police have… Thank you.
All right. Next on the list is Mary… Patterson.
And I've never done this for the public. Yes, please, please.
Thank you, you're welcome. Thank you, um, Mary Patterson, um, actually, I'm just… I'm with 350 Seattle, which is a climate justice organization.
Um, and we are one of the members of the Airshow Climate Action Coalition.
Dr. Labeth Breck referred to in his comments. And this year, we… the third year that we've been trying to raise.
Public awareness of. Um, those who… I'll find the Blue Angels.
Absolutely not enjoyable. The noise is dangerously loud. As Dr. Lamex, uh, said.
The, um, the jet exhaust. And in time of climate crisis, why would we be.
You know, just for entertainment, burning so much jet fuel. And contributing, uh, hundreds of metric tons of carbon dioxide into the atmosphere. It's just the tip of the spear.
But it's significant. Why do we continue? Has the Office of Sustainability and Environment.
Is it consistent with Seattle's? Uh, all the missions, homes, and standards.
Uh, lastly, the time of so much warmer. And what is very likely a genocide in Gaza.
Why would we be making a look pretty? Why would we be making military? Even if you support all the U.S. Military does globally.
And some of us are critics overreach. Otherwise known as terrorism, but even if you do support it, why do you want it to look pretty? Why not say.
U.s. Military is necessary. Um, but it is violent, and it is harmful.
So, for those reasons, health. Climate and militarism.
We say, please, next year. Do not, uh, sign that contract.
And in the meantime, we will work with CFA as well.
And, uh, all the living communities are selling, too. Try to bring that long-term.
To your attention. Um, my last forecast is that, could we sometimes make a more.
Formal presentation today. We would like to do that, and I'll reach out to… an email address that I have to try to reach.
Hi, thank you. Next on the list, Denise Don.
Hello, my name is Judy Pan, and I'm speaking on behalf of Seattle Nature Alliance.
I'm here to urge you to protect the wetlands at Magnuson Park.
And to find a different location. Calls through the fall courts.
The restored wetlands in Magnuson are one of Seattle's most visionary achievements.
Park was designed to offer both active sports and natural areas.
Careful siting and buffers to keep it welcoming. For everyone.
That balance worked. The wetlands came alive. Home to a stunning diversity of wildlife.
Including songbirds, dragonflies, and frogs. One of those frogs, the Pacific chorus frog, is famous for its evening concerts.
At sunset, males sing to retrod females. Creating what Seattle's Child magazine called.
An utter symphony of frog song. Sopranos, altos, and tenors.
It's magical for kids, families, and anyone who needs peace and wonder.
But that magic is now at risk. The sound of frogs, birds, and quiet footsteps on the trails.
Could be drowned out by a wall of noise from 8 to 25 pickleball courts.
That constant, chaotic sound doesn't belong next to a fragile ecosystem.
Frogs may not breathe. Herbs may lead. And here's the irony.
The goal is to, quote, build a welcoming space for pickleball.
But that would make the space far less welcoming for everyone else, including 170 species of wildlife.
We're not against pickleball. We're for smart planning.
And citing a high-impact sport. Next, one of the city's most biodiverse areas is neither smart nor rare.
Please keep the promise of a truly multi-use park. That welcomes everyone, including wildlife.
Cite the courts elsewhere. Do it for the frogs.
The kids that love them. Birds, quiet.
Future generations. We all need nature in the city. Thank you.
And that is the end of the list I have. Okay.
Ryan, before we move on… I did, uh… I've been informed that there were a few emails that may have gotten lost in the spam.
For public comment, so I will defer to you as to whether or not to honor those comments.
Oh, ugh. Uh… running on schedule, I'm fine with that. I would actually prefer to accept the comment.
Go ahead and mute.
Thank you, you're welcome. Appreciate it. Um, and you're sitting at time, right? I've got it right here. Two minutes, please. My name is Kimberly Larson.
I am a resident of Seattle. I live in the central area, specifically Madison Valley, live there for 12 decades now.
Um, I am parents who also ask you to deny the permit and end the contract with the.
Better jets for the Blue Angels. Uh, we're… I'm not against Seafair, uh, we're not against Seafair, but it is… I'm here at Associated to just, uh, point out that mental health.
There are thousands of people. I started a petition at the end. When they came back.
In 2022, after 2 years of not being here. Uh, it was especially, you know, everybody kind of re-remembered.
And at the very end of the show, I was in town, I usually leave town, and I started a petition, and we now have over 6,000 people on it.
And we want to… we will send it to you. And so, just to really demonstrate that thousands of people are agreeing for a whole host of reasons.
Whether they agree and they love them, they want to belong, for all the reasons we've heard already.
I represent a set of folks who, especially, I can't speak for veterans.
But we have Veterans for Peace as part of our coalition, and they.
Were profiled in a King 5 story this year about their trauma they experienced. You can see that because of the two if you want, as far as the clinicals.
And also present to you later. I was in DC on 9-11, had fighter jets super low.
Um, I can speak about it today, and I can actually take the risk to put out a petition and get all the bullies back.
But there are a lot of trolls, there's a lot of hatred for people who want to end them.
Um, and we really feel like it's very uninclusive thing. As far as trying to encourage on parks, like, people… See the comments. First responders want to sleep?
It's people who work the night shift, it's people like you hear from, suffer from autism.
It's veterans and refugees and immigrants who have moved here who suffer war trauma.
It's, like, significant for thousands of people, and I've also spoken to the Office of Refugee and Immigrant Services for the city.
If they've ever looked into doing a survey of the population you serve and they're interested.
Um, and I mention that to the Special Events Committee, and this, too.
And they just had to talk to Seafair. Seafair has already said.
That they're coming back. And we don't think that has to be true.
And we don't think your group of rubber stampers, and really feel like you probably have agents.
To really hear, and you have authority to say no, because we've been seeking out, who is the authority to say no?
So, we'd love for you, too. Thank you. Okay.
Hopefully I can move public comment? Uh, one more. Uh, last on the list is Noelle River.
Okay. Alright.
Okay. And again, I do see some hands in the digital room, but barring any kind of evidence that we have to kind of move on from there, so…
I do want to emphasize to everybody, kind of in the digital room, I will look for those emails. Please do send written comments to both the PKS underscore BPRC.
At Seattle.gov email address, and also my email address, benjamin.bertozos at seattle.gov. Those are both listed on tonight's agenda.
And I will forward those to the commissioners as soon as I receive those. Can you just repeat the, uh, cutoff?
I actually received comment. Yes, and the cutoff time for these, uh, public comments is 4 o'clock PM on the day of the meeting.
Thank you. Um, and the reason why we have that is to actually allow the commissioners a chance to.
Reading last-minute comments that come in. We do… try and read all the comments that come in.
Community. Um, and obviously we're not able to do that if there's.
A large amount of comment coming at the last minute, so please submit your comments.
Uh, people coming early, um, and we will do our best as commissioners to try to read through all of them. That's why we have that problem in place.
Um, thank you. Uh, want to do one brief housekeeping. Uh, I know before we turn it over to, uh, AP.
Um, we have two items on our consent agenda. Uh, the meeting minutes, um, from July 10th.
Um, and our meeting agenda for today, um… Do you want to have a motion to…?
For the consent items? Motion?
Drew? Uh, we're… All in favor of approving the consent agenda? Say aye. Raise your hand.
Any opposed? Any abstentions? All right, motion passed. Consent items are approved.
Thank you. Anything? Thank you, Commissioners. Thank you, members of the public and staff. Um, I just wanted to briefly respond while the.
Participants are here. I saw you were going to get ready to leave, and so I just wanted you to hear. You asked if we would be, uh, the department would be welcome.
To a further or more substantial conversation, so I wanted to say the answer is yes.
I saw that you were getting from Ben our information, so, um… I would love to hear from the department, and… I'm telling the commissioners here that, um, very much open to hearing more about these topics that you raised and some of these.
Specific points, which I think are important to be heard and discussed, so… Um, part of our pillar is a thriving environment at Parks, and so it's an important discussion to have, so…
Just wanted you to know, and then I think the doctor that will be when you can share that information, too.
Um, we can continue this conversation. Thank you very much for coming, and advocating.
Um, for that. And, um, Andy just left. I was gonna have him give a little bit of an update on, uh, the magnets that I.
I think we mentioned last time our staff takes those concerns very seriously as well.
And we've been working with, um. Our consultants, as well as other people, the number of pickleball courts still is not yet determined, and it probably won't be that large to mitigate impacts, but we.
Really do take these considerations, and we're working on that, um, to try to mitigate as much environmental impact as possible at Magnuson, because again, those are important comments that were raised by individuals.
And then just very high level, thank you again for advocating for Denny Blaine Park.
Um, as, uh… the, uh, um, public commenter mentioned.
Nus, you may have read in the paper, we are in a, uh.
Were ordered by the court to come up with a plan.
To try to mitigate the public nuisance that is occurring there.
We have, um, started that plan, and we have 60 days to come back to court to demonstrate.
Whether our plan is working, and to give a progress update on that, so… Um, we appreciate this comments and information that you provided today.
And we'll continue to work on. Plan that we have to get back.
Just want to take… get those follow-up, so… recessions.
Okay, um, we will get into our August 14th update. Um, for you all, I'm… report out on what we've been doing before we get to our agenda.
Thank you so much. So, wanted to give some staff changes, um, and updates on some of our executive team. So, um.
You all know to the left, Christopher Williams. Um, he is after 33 years of service to the City of Seattle, is finally, um, retiring.
And his last date will be in October. We'll be sharing much more accolades and appreciation and providing you all information.
Um, about how we plan to celebrate him, and maybe some time with the commissioners before he goes, but we wanted to.
Announced that. We also, uh, in the middle, you will see Alex Vaughn, who's our incoming Chief of staff. Um, Alex comes to us with.
A wealth of knowledge, um, from work in the federal government. It has policy backgrounds, he's worked on the environment.
Um, and other legislative issues, and will be coming in. Um, as an incoming, uh, chief of staff, and then Michelle Finnegan, who you all know, who is currently the Deputy Superintendent over Policy and Finance.
Continuing that role, but we're elevating her to the senior deputy superintendent.
And she will help me and the other E-Team members with oversight of some of our more significant and important policy and finance matters, um, and particularly as we need to.
The next cycle of the MPD. So… really stellar team, um, and at some point, you all know Michelle and Christopher, and at some point, you'll get to meet Alex, and so we're just really excited about that.
Um, next slide. Oh, yeah, we can just stay there. I also wanted to announce we have a, um, in the planning and capital development branch, which Andy oversees, we've, um, hired a new division director. Her name is Jessica Murphy.
She comes from the city of Seattle. She was working, most recently, um, handling some of the major projects at the Office of the Waterfront.
For the development of the new waterfront Park. And so, as that's wrapping up, uh, we were able… excuse me, we were able to offer her a job.
Um, to come help shepherd some of our major capital projects. She has a wealth of experience, and we really need that to continue.
Deliver these, uh. Projects under the Park District, and so she's a longtime City of Seattle employee, as well as her family.
Um, and her dad worked for the Parks Department, so we're excited to do that.
And then lastly, and the two individuals who just spoke, uh, left, they would have liked to have heard this.
But we have created and are developing an environmental stewardship division for our department.
Um, that will continue to live in our parks and Environment Division, um, and.
The emphasis and focus of this department will be to elevate and amplify some of the work.
Our many talented people are doing in this space with our, uh, a lot of our open space development, our natural areas, our Green Seattle partnership program, but also doing a real focused, um, elevation of work that we can be doing in parks to support.
Or, you know, climate mitigation and adaptation. Um, the best practices for environmental stewardship. We're also gonna do some more stronger tribal.
Relations through this new director to shore up, um, the work that we need to be doing with our tribal affairs, the original.
And tribal nations, the original caretakers of our parkway. Um, and also just, uh, other things about tree planting, stormwater management, um.
This is the first time, I think I may have said this last time, but the mayor is now launching a new 5-year climate action plan.
The current one is expiring. And this is the first time Parks has been invited to be part of this process, in addition to OSE.
Fleets and the utility companies, and so we're really excited about that, and wanting to make our mark, and so, um, we're going to be advertising for that soon.
Uh, an external as well as an internal opportunity, and so, um.
We'll share that with you, and hope that you disseminate it with your networks, too.
Great opportunity to come work in the Parks Department. So, legislation highlights, um, first, I want to just, uh, we just yesterday in Council approved through committee in September will be a final.
Of a long-term concession. At a kite cafe that's in Golden Gardens.
Um, for those of you who know it, uh, there, and these… this is one of two.
Uh, I was gonna say brothers, but they're lifelong friends. I thought they were brothers, but they're partners that have come together at.
We grew up in Seattle. I grew up at Golden Gardens, and then Ballard, and they've developed their own concession program, and uh…
Developed the Kite Cafe, where you can rent kites and get food, and so they are now operational at, um, Golden Gardens, right, as part of the bathhouse.
And, um, they will have a 5-year agreement, and we're really excited about that. Really great people and doing good stuff for.
Kids and community. In the middle, you'll see the Magnuson Brewery Cafe and Brewery.
Um, this is a… renewal of a contract and another 10-year concession agreement to continue with the operator. This is the only place in the park.
System where you can get an adult beverage. Um, and we're… and we have a local brewery there, as well as serving great food, um, which is a nice compliment to Magnuson.
And great partners, they do a lot of community work. Part of the contract.
All of these contrasts all of our parks. Contracts. Um… have public benefit in addition to just.
The public benefit of operating a business in a park. So, Magnuson, um, has certain, um.
Thresholds they've agreed to support, like, for instance, the new community center at Magnuson, and we have events there, or we want to do things for the public.
They have, um, a certain amount of money that we can draw on that they would provide for food.
Um, and help support that. They also are really good about supporting any local.
Organization that wants to do some sort of fundraiser where they'll donate, like, a dollar or two of every drink to whatever to support that cause, and so… They're just really great partners and people, and that also was passed.
Excuse me, through, um… Council yesterday. And then, um, the proposed Westlake Improvement Project.
Uh, as you may remember, we are partnering with the Seattle Parks Foundation.
To, um… do some initial work at Westlake Plaza in preparation for the World Cup, and those improvements include removal of the fountain and arch, renovation of electrical infrastructure.
Installation of more planting areas, paving restoration, and some other things that have really just needed to be done, but.
Most importantly, too, we are… installing a perimeter, a vehicle crash mitigation bollards. So, um…
We need to be, uh, mindful and cognizant of our public plazas and spaces in Seattle, and so this is something that we were able to budget for, and we're excited that that is moving forward as well, and.
Seattle Parks Foundation for their partnership. Um, we were just talking about Seafair, so much more to come on that. As I mentioned earlier, we're gonna.
Have some conversations with community members about. Impact to this area, but this is an example of Seafair, as you know, is a huge operation that happens throughout many parts of Seattle and touches Genesee Park, and so.
Some of our crews prepare annually to receive a lot of guests, and a lot of people throughout the weekend, and so that's just some of our.
Hardworking crew, uh, preparing for that permit. We also were able to celebrate the one Seattle Day of Service, um, which is put on every day.
Uh, through, uh, the mayor and his office, and really inspires people in all parts of Seattle, um, to come out.
And volunteer, and many of those volunteer opportunities, in fact, the majority of them, I think, occur at parks for opportunities to do.
Cleanup, to do, um, service, planting, so here's some events at Home White Park.
Hosted in collaboration with Friends of Little Saigon. The Rangers also played a central role in keeping everyone safe and welcoming, and.
Really, we were just thankful that the mayor underscored his commitment and importance to community partnership.
And shared responsibility for public space care. And so, um… Also, just really thankful that we have so many wonderful day.
Love to volunteer. Next is a play area renovation project. Um, this.
Excuse me, my glasses. Um, we issued a notice for seed to Kessel and Association for construction of a three-play area renovation package.
At View Ridge Playfield in Northeast Seattle. Towards spraying at Queen Anne.
And the Bryant Neighborhood Playground in Northeast Seattle. This type of bundled packaging is something that, um, Andy Scheffer and his team have been working on, um, to come up with creative ways to deliver.
Projects quicker and sooner, and so… Sometimes in the past, you know, we may have, like, 5 bathrooms that need renovations, and so we issue 5 independent.
You know, proposals and request contractors. Here we had 3 play areas that we needed to renovate, and normally we would issue 3 separate.
Rfps, and we think that with the economy and as an incentive that perhaps a contractor would want to have an opportunity to do a bundle of packages, and it makes sense, and holds people accountable, and so this is an example of some.
Innovative ways, uh, that we're trying to deliver, uh, community assets quicker.
Public. Over at the Garfield Superblock Project.
Ooh, what do we? Okay. Um, which we all affectionately call GSP.
Uh, SPR has also issued a notice to proceed to A1 Landscaping and Construction for the GSP project.
Contracted work addresses the unfinished portion of a 2005 Garfield. Block master plan, and the scope of the work includes .34 miles of accessible lutes, a prominent.
Loops, excuse me, promenade. Playfields, um, earthwork.
Footings and future artworks, tree protection, and a whole host of really.
Community-led, inspired, uh, designs, a multi-use sport court for tennis, basketball.
And a climate adaptive garden will also be added, um, on an existing site, Memorial Boulder, that will be removed and reinstalled. So, this is a really transformative space, um, for the Garfield Superblock, just to the south of that is Barfield.
Teen Life Center and Garfield High School, and then our community center is just to the west of that, and then there's another school across the street just to the north of that. So.
It really is an area for youth, and really needed love and attention, and very much community-led and driven initiatives, um, that's been long-standing.
And we're really, um, excited about this project. So, many people are excited about it, and us too.
I wanted to give you an update on our Swim Seattle. If you remember, Swim Seattle is an initiative that we started with the mayor when I first came here.
It's a water safety and equity initiative, um, meant to reduce barriers for children learning to swim in the City of Seattle.
Um, at low to zero cost, um, recognizing that swimming is a life skill, particularly in a city of water.
And sadly, disproportionately, um, the kids that drown every single year, um, tend to be children of color.
Um, swimming or drowning is actually the number one cause of death among, uh.
Children as well, so, uh, really important for us to. Continue to advance this initiative.
We, um, are in partnership with, uh, some really great people, including the YMCA, our Associated Recreation Council, AHRQ, and then No More Under, um, which is an organization, uh.
Here in Seattle that is also committed. To reducing, um, child deaths by drowning. So, to date.
Uh, we've… or this year, we've had… we've offered, um, over a thousand.
Scholarships for eligible participants to take free. Swim lessons, and I have a series, um, that they can become sports swim proficiency.
We've had 951 people sign up during early access and priority registration period that we offered for, uh.
Areas in the most need. We had 188 participants that mastered all swim competency skills to move on to the advanced lessons.
And over 1,000 parade teen swims during our teen late-night programs have been offered.
Just can't tell you how important it is, um, obviously, as we all know. And again, we're in a city of water, so I feel we have an extra duty to protect our kids and get them.
Swimming about, so, um… Yeah, I'm really excited about that program.
Um, here's some of our fall programming that's coming up and already under, uh, gear for registration, so on our citywide.
Uh, recreation, uh, programs, uh, began this past Tuesday, August 12th, where the public can sign up for.
Classes, and, um, you can see a variety. Of places in our various.
Our community centers are divided into zones, so we have 3 different zones.
Basically is sort of the West and South areas, the north areas, as well as the central parts of our city, and we have a lot of wonderful and varied, uh, things that go on.
Um, and then also want to give a shout out to our lifelong Recreation, where we really are committed to taking care of our aging population and providing opportunities.
For people to continue to have social interaction and abilities to do art and fitness and all kinds of.
Recreational activities, and you can see some of our group there pictured in West Seattle at the.
Thomas Dambo. Um… troll, maybe it's a troll. The troll? The troll.
Which is pretty fantastic, so… That was also that troll was supposed to, you know.
Uh, they said, you know, would you take it for a year? And we said, sure, that would be a great heart installation.
But we were also like, if you would like to leave it, it would be great too, because people love it, so… Um, this Saturday is a huge day for our recreation Division and our department. One of the biggest days we look forward to every year, it's called the Big Day of.
Okay? And, um, it's this Saturday, we are… Hoping and praying for no rain, but we have staff told me today some contingency plans that are, uh, being made.
Just in case. So, it's 12 to 5 p.m, it's all ages, and literally.
The largest thing you can see, hence the name, Big Day of Play. All kinds of activities. Every single thing is free.
Um, there's music, there's dancing, there's art classes, there's cooking, we showcase local businesses, um, and it's just a fantastic celebration, and also an introduction.
To what SPR is about. So, like, even, um, people from our.
Forest Land Management come out with their cherry pickers and educate the.
Kids there about what they do and how we take care of the land, but more importantly, they, you know, they get to inspire people, like, maybe I want.
Would like to do that career, or how can I become a summer lifeguard, or how could I get involved? And so it's up.
It's a pipeline way to develop. Um, take these opportunities for youth in Seattle for Parks and Recreation.
And with that, that is the… Or… or… since we last met, so…
Happy to answer any questions from anyone. If you have any.
Folks on, uh, online, Steve? Hello, Trisha?
Any other questions for AP, or follow-up? I do.
No, I don't. Thank you, sorry.
Go, Trisha.
It's okay, I don't have any questions, I'm sorry.
Okay. Sorry, Lisa. Okay, I was just wondering about the, um, swim program.
Do we feel like the lifeguard shortage is totally alleviated now, that we experienced previous years?
I would say it's definitely… I wouldn't say it's totally alleviated, but it's definitely better.
And not as daunting or concerning as it was. Yeah. I know there were some incentives and some changes we made to the program to make it work.
Yeah. Tasting and easy. Get in the pipeline, right? Exactly. Good. Yeah.
I just had, uh, one comment. I'm sure there's a lot of thank yous coming to the Christopher, but… Obviously, the board would like to.
Have a chance to extend your gratitude as well, so… He's gonna be at an upcoming meeting, that would be great. Absolutely, yeah. And if not, because he's retired, there's too many things going on there to celebrate him, that's fine, too. We'll make a next comment. We'll make sure, and we'll invite you to some…
Kind of things that we're planning, too. Yeah, very excited for her.
Well, thank you, AP, for the report. What? I'm lowering a little bit of that schedule, move under our…
Uh, next, uh, item. Elizabeth? Oh, great! Yeah. Uh…
Do you have an intro for… Uh, looks familiar to Foundation.
Oh! That's good. I would just say more generally, um. Uh, the board is delighted to have had these partner spotlights.
To come and educate us more about what. Our partner Lazy Parks and Rec, are doing, and wonderfully informative, so we appreciate everyone's.
I'm greatly coming and educating the commissioners more about. The partnership. So, look forward to hearing about Barbara.
So, thanks, Commissioners. It's great to be here. My name is Peter Reese, I'm a board member.
So I know a little bit of what's going on. Not everything, but as commissioners, you know.
Real stuff gets sent by staff. Um, so I'd like to introduce.
Ooh.
For the first introduction, I don't know how many of you know how much about.
Relationship between the foundation. Expand that knowledge a little bit, um, and leave you with.
Some questions, and some things look important. Thank you, and I will also show you the pita works.
Far harder than I do, and probably puts in more hours.
Um, thank you all for having us, and for this opportunity, um, to share with you a little bit.
About one small corner of the city. Um… As a resident of Seattle, Seattle Parks.
So important to… my life here in the city.
How I hang out with my family or friends. So many different ways, um, and that's been very clear with the presentations.
Uh, earlier today, I think it might have been in the first big day of play.
It's still memorable, but we did everything. Um, and because of that.
Valued parts to all of us, eh? We're gonna have some appreciation for that.
Information here for the time that… y'all put in as volunteers and support.
Um… That… that… as somebody who works for the nonprofit and relies on communities.
And engagement, I know how much. That public support, I think… a difference, um, in…
The quality of the experiences we have, and… our ability to, to protect.
Enhance them where possible. Um, um…
For your service to parks. I want to talk a little bit about the Arboretum, Washington Park Arboretum.
Call it the art parade, I mean for short. Um, it is… About 240 acres of…
Mostly forest land, and Arboretum is… a living museum of trees and gardens.
But it is also a park. So it is a place of… Um, refuge, and…
Beauty, but also… Um, a place that people go to…
Experience each other, and to experience nature. They come with their family.
They call with their dogs. They come to walk, to enjoy.
Um, and… We're very fortunate to have this little.
Packet of greenery. It would set aside almost 100 years ago.
Um, forward. Um.
And our vision and what we've been working for for 100 years has been to… keep that as a treasured place.
And that is still very much what it is today. And I would say that what we are looking at.
As we look to the future, is… thinking about how to make sure that continues to serve the public and to be relevant to.
The entire community of Seattle, particularly as we. Change and grow as a city, as we respond to increasing.
Interest and demand in our parks. Um, and as we try to protect the things that.
And it's value, and… Um…
Peter's going to talk a little bit more about things going on.
Um, currently in the park, I'll talk a little bit about.
Of art history, briefly. And we'll talk about what we're looking for.
Um, the Arboretum Foundation exists and has for almost 100 years.
Assisted to support the Washington Park operator. So we are… a nonprofit, we fundraise, we advocate, we build community engagement.
To basically… love the Washington Park everywhere. That's why I'm here.
Um, and the arboretum is… Many things to many people.
It is… there's the Seattle Japanese Garden, the southern end, that's a… You need space that you can enter into and.
Walk through…
Another world of… exquisite care, and…
Quiet, and stillness in a way that. It's very hard to find.
In the abundance of the rest of our parks. Um, we have, throughout the rest of the Arboretum.
What too many people might look like trees and plants. That is another way of looking at it, would be to say it's a living museum.
Have over 40,000 different. Plant species from around the world.
That we are growing, some of which have been fed here.
To be cultivated and grown. Basically to… to have them in a library available.
For study and research. To Bacques around the world.
Um. We are also an outdoor classroom.
We have an outdoor preschool that. Uh, teaches year-round.
Rain, snow, shine. In the Arboretum, we have field trips throughout the year.
Of, um, 5,500 students coming through. Most of them from public schools throughout the region.
Coming to study the outdoors and the study nature, um. Through our programs there that we run in.
Partnership with the University of Washington. We'll talk more about that partnership.
10 minutes. Um, all of that… is work that we get to do in partnership with Seattle Parks.
And as Peter said, staff do a lot of work. Value those relationships with those professionals that we get to engage with.
Um, from the gardeners who are… interfacing with the public, and very much the face of the people that are working in the park.
Um, to others who are working on. Developing projects.
Throughout the parks. Okay, next.
So, a few examples of how we… support parks, um… In different ways. There is a 2001 Master Plan that was drafted for the Washington Park Arboretum, and this.
Is… I pulled it off the shelf 3 days ago. It's not very dusty, it gets a lot of use, and…
Um, we have made some progress on many of the projects.
They're working with Seattle Parks. Um, since 2001, some of those highlights included.
Restoration of Death Bay to destroy the shoreline and better manage.
Do so long there. Um, the Pacific Connection Gardens, if you've been up to the top of the hill in the Arboretum.
It's like stepping into another world. The plants at the very top are from Swind.
And you feel like you… travel. It's a beautiful pavilion there.
Hughes looking out of, let's say… And that… that is part of a series of gardens here.
In the middle of developing. That, um, safeguarding showcase plants from around the spectrum.
One of the things that makes the algorithm so special is that this is a great place to grow.
He had the plotter, the maritime climate. We can be a really good repository for others.
And we're very happy to show them off, share it with the public.
The Japanese Garden has a new gatehouse and restroom facility. We helped.
Put that in, um, working to… very dedicated volunteers. Joseph's there wanted a better visitor experience.
We helped raise money and work for Seattle Parks to build that.
And then most recently, we saw the… Um, construction of the Arboretta Loop Trail, which.
Now goes the length of the park, and can introduce a whole new way of experiencing the upper denim.
For people, particularly those, uh. Ability challenges who might be on fights.
Um, it's… wonderful new amenity for people.
In addition to these supporting, um, capital projects, we work on building visitor connections. We work with the UW Botanic Gardens.
Education and horticultural programs, supporting the gardeners in parks. Supporting the preschool teachers.
And the teachers organizing field trips, as well as adult education programs.
That connect people to the… Um, trees and plants and experiences.
Out there, and we… Through our membership days and our outreach.
Um, do our best to find entry points to people coming in who, again.
People come for the experience of the Arboretum. But then many of them.
Happy to learn a little bit more about what they're seeing.
And through that, to develop a deeper appreciation for what goes into a park.
Um, and the treasures that they are. At the Japanese garden, uh, we have a revenue sharing agreement for Seattle Parks around the gatehouse that we take.
A portion of that revenue and invest that in cultural programming, so that.
We do 3, uh, first Thursdays and Family Saturdays. New friends, um, programming that…
Highlights the cultural connections that we have here in Seattle. Which accounts, so this weekend, for example, we have a Family Saturday coming up, and we'll be doing programs.
Recognizing, um, the recent anniversary of the. Atomic bombs, and doing an activity.
To promote peace, and think about what that. Means to us, um.
In this page. Coming up, we have moon viewing. I've had some emoji, which is your maple viewing time in October.
Those draw huge crowds. Japanese Garden gets about. 12,000 visitors.
On an average weekend now, the use is really… really gone up. Um, it's tremendously popular, and…
Firm, but happy, happy, happy for that, but we also want it to be a place.
That provides community and cultural connection, in addition. And we have a tea house there that is, um, used for tea ceremonies by local time.
Groups throughout the year. And here I'm going to turn it over to Peter, because he's going to talk about the.
Somewhat convoluted and arcane partnership that we have. That fortunately yields amazing results.
Let's talk about that, too. Thank you, and um…
You know, I've been practicing this for a few years, but… Explain what goes on here, but this is at the Arboretum, um, there's really three entities.
University of Washington. Trees. City of Seattle Parks.
Owns the land, the foundation provides support for programming. Fundraising and through the outreach to support.
All of that. This dates back now to the first year it was in, uh, our freedom was mentioned.
The foundation was formed in the next year. One of the things that happened, as you can see here, we have these kind of overlapping circles.
Who does what where. So, AP and his crew are out there on the class.
Watering the lawns and doing that. Folks from the, uh, University of Washington are trimming trees.
And funding from the foundation goes into. In both of those directions.
1934, there was. Group formed called the ABGC.
As the kind of governing board. For that area. So that piece of land.
Um, initially it consisted of people. From the city.
Tutorial of the 1992 to two members.
This three-legged stool. So, three-legged stools are stable. Except one of the legs kind of hits a little short, or one of them is going outside of the direction, so…
Over the years, there's been kind of a dynamic going on.
How… who does what when, who's paradigm. I hear tales from before, long before I was on the floor, it's not an easy…
Easy relationship from there, but… Um, certainly in the last 5 years since AP arrived.
Hosting our Director of America, Jane Stoneside. Um, and a, uh, director of the question.
Has made a really terrific comp. A stable, uh, cooperative environment, which has allowed projects in the.
Cloud, really staffed, controlled in a way that. Experience as you go into town, it's far better than what you've seen in years past. So, all upward.
Outward, uh, fireball. Um, so… Certain examples of that, it's hard to kind of put that in perspective, but one of the things that brought it home to me was a couple.
Years ago, our nation was honored as a presidential warrior of the year.
Over the years to. It's really not a whole University of Washington entity.
But also, it's a city park. These various entities, and all serves, uh, serves the most.
Our residents in Seattle.
So, um, to kind of… uh… push on that a little bit farther. Um, over the past, starting maybe 5 years ago, but…
With historical perspective. Foundation of this question, but then in discussions about how to make our relationship.
A little more seamless, a little stronger, as I say, we support, um, uh.
People who do work in the field there through contributions, they go through the university and then back to.
Sort of the arena. We're looking at ways now to make that more correct.
For a couple of reasons. One, um, again, the kind of affections that we had.
Centralized control. It also allows us to reach out.
Fundraising of the projects of wine. As a 501c3 avenues.
That are not available due to the Risk Washington are not available to city parks, and that will allow us to leverage that.
You've had that experience with the Friends of water project. Um, it's something that is one.
Consequences of having a public. Partnership in that way.
Those discussions are heating up, have been heating up for a while. We expect to have some.
Good, um, feedback and conclusions, uh, within the next month. So, we'll be very warm about that.
Yeah, real, real plus as we go forward for… for all communities.
Top partners. Next up, just a few things that are going on, um, and Andy's probably the first thing to know about this.
Anyway, first off, something is scheduled to get underway next summer on the, uh.
Parkland Trail Restoration Project. This started, uh, getting permitted.
Thanks for the Army Corps of Engineers. Suspended animation here.
5 years, 6 years. Finally, it'll get underway, um. Oh, there you go. What we call, kind of, salmon window next summer, which is a time.
Building, recurrent areas.
So, very excited about that. Um, second one is, in the Japanese garden, um.
We've talked for a number of years about. Filling its final design, fulfilling parts of its original design.
Which consists of a million at the north end of it.
For taking the first steps of that now, which is building this kind of support wall for that.
Shin hockey wall. Plan is to have.
15th generation capitalist stonemason. Come to visit us next summer.
Team of local. California still makes this as well, coming in.
Strike this thing, which is basically, you know, you can see there's a repair project, the original installation.
But it's not the right access to under itself. So this is a repair project.
So that's been a really, uh. Citing its, um… uh, going into its 90% overview.
Just in parts of the review process. In 3 weeks, and.
Who's scheduled for, and going next summer. Um, and the last one over here is Civic Pathways Accessible Trail. This goes up to the Pacific Connections.
Bargains that those has been talking about. I wanted to… kind of gives some, uh… flavored one thing she said about, uh, just being a worldwide resource.
And there was these huge wildfires in Chile last year. Were tree species.
Were decimated through there. Our freedom.
Programs were developed at the University of Washington at Samus. We were able to then transfer some of that genetic stock.
So, really, that's a wonderful. This was wonderful to have the resources and better opportunities.
So, the accessible trail will be a way of getting to the main.
Avenue through the Arboretum, which follows every way up to those positions.
This is an example of what the foundations of 501C created advocate.
We were able to… I mean, from the… state capital budget this year.
Close to a million dollars.
Talking about projects, this… this is kind of the big one. I'm hopeful that you all will be around long enough to… see this come to fruition, huh?
He tried to clearly argument on Lake Washington Boulevard Park at about 520.
Big construction sector you've seen in the last 7 or 8 years.
12 years. And, uh, WSDOT has been using that as a staging area for work on.
Um, according to the agreement that was made with them in.
2013. Now, we revert to the Arboretum. Um, when you're finished.
Initially, it was 2000… I'm kind of thinking in 2031 is still an optimistic view of that, but in any case, it's within our immediate.
To see that happen. Um, 28 acres as an additional park, there's no place else here where that.
It's also been a place where. New transit, coming over 5.8 landing year.
Transit . My, you know, stadium.
To the top end. So this is something we're really excited about happening.
This was, uh… Another example, I think, of the role that PBGC is.
Wouldn't be an organization is able to. Contribute, um… kudos to Andy for being in the middle of all that. Um, it was this long negotiation with Washtag.
Our leader provided some, uh, negotiating expertise. We were able to, um, secure $22 million.
And that, in addition to some money, which is, um. Designated by parks.
Bill what the initial budget for that was. Will be a start. It's going to be a much bigger project.
By order of magnitude. One of the things that's important in looking at a project basket, and again, I refer back to you.
Park. When you look at something on scale, you really need to have.
It'd be really exciting. Next step?
Not going to be the API of the Royal Park. So that, I'm going to turn it back over to you.
Just a clarifying question on, uh… the timing you're speaking of?
So, that wouldn't… be under this… parks levy. It would be possibly a next.
Discussion for the next levy, correct? So… Every levy, is what I'd like to see. I mean, when you say, so the property is scheduled to come back.
Of the 2030 launch. Um, maybe it's 2032 or 33, yeah.
Given the kind of history we've had lived. Creating processes. Really… And then, as we've started already doing preliminary work.
Surveys and wetland delineations, all that sort of stuff. So the project, even though it's not.
Officially our land until then. Project's starting now. So, we would love to be in discussions about that.
Yeah, so I was just trying to understand. I don't think there was anything in this levy cycle.
For the current one, no. Yeah, thank you. So, to close us out, I wanted to sort of pull back a little bit.
Give some perspective about. Some of the things we've been thinking about learning.
Um, since this project sort of first came on our radar screen, um.
We've had plenty of time to think about it as hot.
And we were able to secure some funding from the legislature.
Um, two or three years ago to do a community survey.
Go out and ask people. What they think, what they… value currently about the Arboretum, and what they want to see.
In the future? And we also asked specifically about the Motley Peninsula, what would be important to them.
Um, and what we heard back. Was that… People… most people visit the social experience in a beautiful place.
I hear this hovering over all the time. That's what people… That's what people come to us for.
They get that, they value that, they want that. Form what we do, um, in the future. It's about those connections.
Took place in the context of the connections that we have with each other.
Um, but thinking… Forward to the next slide.
In terms of what we could be doing differently, what we could be doing better.
To serve the community, particularly as we look at. Something like a monthly meeting?
Vanessa, what we heard. Was people want to see us create internship sense of.
Vision and belonging. The Arboretum is a park. That is open to everybody.
Um, many arboretums and botanic gardens have fences and gates. We do not. We offer this to whoever.
Walks in, and we want that to be available and attractive to.
The entire city. Redacts will happen. We recognize we are challenged by something.
In a big way. And the proximity of the 28 acres gives us some options.
To be a little bit closer to bus service and live rail.
And provide a pathway. Um, for people to come in and have that.
Welcoming experience, that gateway experience. Right there. Um, people want more active and social programming.
Some of this we're doing at the Japanese Garden, some of this we're looking at doing in other places throughout the Arboretum.
And it comes down to that experience, which is a combination of both.
A place, a beautiful place. Social and scary is our connections to our community.
And what can we do to cement all of that together?
Find all of this together. Um, and, um, finally.
People wanted to make sure that we were really thinking deeply about our relationship took place in the context.
At the First Peoples when we work here, we have. With Seattle Parks, reached out to the four treaty tribes.
We've got conversations with them around. Not just the 28 acres on the peninsula, but also the Arboretum.
And the Center for Urban Horticulture brought new job into those conversations about.
What we can do… Now, in the moment, to be in better relationship.
Those tribes, build connections. Help the public understand that history there.
Um, and there, as I'm sure many of you know, is a long-term investment.
In building those relationships and repairing harm. Um, as we're able to.
All of those things, we see a tremendous opportunity to lean into.
On the Montlake Peninsula, but also throughout all of our other work that is ongoing today.
Pacific Pathways and the… Japanese Garden Project.
Dimensions of both of those projects are building accessible trails. I'm making the Japanese garden, for example, something to truly be an intergenerational one.
Experience. So, someone, regardless of their mobility. Do that entire loop trail, which is not…
Currently available to them right now. So we are looking at every day.
How we can live into those, and we are super excited.
Should go big on them with the Peninsula project as that develops.
Um, parks has been a really important partner to the Arboretum for almost 100 years.
And we are gearing up and getting excited about the next century, and.
Happy to continue to strengthen that partnership overcome currency.
So, finally, you see up there, join us. How's going on? Yeah, it's not all talk. And we have.
And you're more than welcome to. We had, um… A concert at the Arboretum last night, um…
Extraterrestrials? Oxon, we had 300 people packed in with blankets and…
Popsicles, and we're gonna have… One of the gardeners of the Japanese garden.
Jose Gonzalez is gonna bring his band next Wednesday at the 4.
Um, so come to that, or if those days don't work for you, book us up, and we will find a way to take you around and show you.
Why are we looking at our burrito?
Um, and Gordy's retired. By the way. I was about to say.
I expected it to be beautiful, but this is really gorgeous. Um, wish there's any… Oh, sorry about my phone. That wasn't my fault.
Um, so when I was at the UW, this is in 1976.
The way to get to the east side, or the way to get to 520.
Was to go through the Arboretum. Since then, have you… I've heard of people complaining they can't visit the Arboretum because there's so much traffic.
Coming from the neighborhoods. Over there through to get to 520.
Yeah, interesting point. So, part of this, when I said that we, as part of the.
Preliminary work that's, um. Peninsula. Perfect. I'm actually at the traffic.
Done to kind of analyze what was… what was going on now, where it was coming from.
You know, the mess of poem after the Mont Lake corner there is, uh… impossible at the moment. Yeah, so we will be looking to resolve at SDOT.
What was really interesting to see that the numbers of the.
Prep numbers have actually dropped significantly since. And then the on-ramp 520 is through there.
Um, so, to see those numbers, I was a little bit surprised by that, because it's… It's a slow walk through there sometimes.
But the numbers are actually down. One of the things that we're looking at as part of the.
On my project, uh, which will be… There you go, and we'll come back and talk more about it, but is to, right now, the Arboroon Creek.
Those underground into a pipe, and then it comes out. Looking, uh, to daylight that all the way, which means rearranging the voting pattern.
Bridge structures that are covered. In a roundabout, the end of that was just really, I think, going to help.
All that. Also is a good way to… Southbound trucking bridge.
Yeah, because that bridge is, what, 14 feet high? Yeah, yeah, yeah.
Right, right. So, um, so that's, you know, it's been interesting to see the traffic changes since then.
Um, and that was really part of the total of, uh.
The rearrangement on maps. And mitigate.
Thank you. No questions. I just want to say I visit often, and I think y'all are doing amazing jobs.
And I'll just close out by saying this truly is one of our best.
Partnerships, and my favorite thing is always to ask people in Seattle, oh, what's your favorite part, you know? And invariably.
The Arboretum is up there in the top 3 of. Places that people, uh, in Seattle, and it's…
Just so idyllic, and really this amazing natural forest in the middle of our city. I'm really committed people to on the board.
They're just representing staff and the entire board, but there are.
Gosh, so many people I've met in the past couple of years that just truly love the Arboretum with all their heart and soul, and.
Volunteer to make it the best place possible, and so, um, it's infectious, and we just want to say thank you, and yes, looking forward to the next iteration of what this.
Three-legged stool, maybe becoming two-legged stool might look like, and the good things that.
Thank you so much, and thank you for welcoming me, too, when you did, to the board as well.
I'm excited for the Waterfront Trail. That used to be one of my favorite things to recommend to people. Yeah. In Seattle to go explore, and I had to stop.
Recommending it, just because it's… Not particularly safe or easy to walk. That would be absolutely.
Wonderful. Did you know people come this way. Idea this existed, why did it existed in carbon.
Important to that next follow-up. Thanks again, thank you, Sydney.
All right. Thank you to Arboretum. I think our next agenda item is, uh, golf management. So, Andy… Perfect.
Thank you. I just wanted to say a funny story. I picked my daughter off at camp.
Today at Seward Park. I always ask her questions about Kim.
And, uh, one of the questions I asked her was. Who are you buddying up with? Who do you know, you know?
She told me, and why. Then she asked me, Daddy, who your buddies at work?
And… because of my work so much. And I start to think about it, and…
You know? Patrick came to mind. It is an honor and a privilege to work with Patrick on golf. Why?
And what defines a buddy? A buddy is somebody that makes you grow.
I know nothing about call. Patrick has educated me, educates me and pushes me in every meeting we do once a week.
Patrick has taken golf to a new place, and just really grateful.
We, as a city, are fortunate that Patrick is the director of.
And you'll see in this presentation where he's going with it, with his small but mighty team.
Patrick Merritt.
Um, so today's presentation, the house for this presentation is recent legislation.
To accept the new golf contract. Um, with the operator being Premier Trim. However, I want to thank every opportunity to elevate golf cart rations.
Than I do. So we're going to interject. Um, in this presentation with some of the new stuff, uh, Patrick's team's working on.
I will give you a quick overview, we'll go over the contract and run ahead.
And so, please, go into Snapchat. We're going to be able to report, of course.
Yeah, so my Seattle is an 18-horn course. It's very busy using the city.
It's a demand. Bill Wright Golf Course, formerly Jefferson. As an 18-year-old course, I'm…
9-hole part, 3 ports. Driving range, uh, cafe, restaurant, auto events.
Jackson is similar, it has 9 holes. That's, uh, 18 home restaurants, a lot of events, and…
Is very successful. Interbe Golf Center down here.
On the 15th, this, uh… It's a 9-hole course that's, uh, broke non-stop.
And as a 90-day driving range, what they call top tracer, if you're not familiar with Top Tracer.
And go and hitting them by any portion of the world.
A computer and data shot. As mini golf.
A lot of camps, boot camps, uh… feel right, I'm sorry, yeah, Bill Wright, Jackson, and Interbin are on the first team.
I don't know how to work. Another aspect is all…
Is the Environmental Service is these courses. Provide to the public from the standpoint of trees, canopy.
Water quality, and recreation for the public, walking pets, walking loops are the number one recreation element in the.
Country, and in most demand for our parks. So, one of our priorities is to get continuous.
And, uh. Um, but these are kind of the four focus areas, um.
Yeah, so the course enhancements, we're working currently. Or red golf courses.
10 years ago, uh, through the Bold Trespass on the east side, we had to go.
How it's claimed. Now we're getting ready for our pedal preventable trespass to go back to the full R70 capacity.
Shavers are about… community up there.
It's very excited that it's finally happening. We're also working on a project at Milwright.
To add AEH… Souls, the range tea stalls.
And wheelchairs. And we'll have automatic calls.
We'll be able to hit polls. Right now, the only place that supports that is in Lakewood.
Washington? Um… We've added cells, so we will call and make a reservation, so you know when you get very hot. Easy access.
Oh, maybe… should be… We're doing Zoom. We're adding disc golf to Jackson.
Par 3, so it's going to integrate with R3 Go. You broke it, like, a few times.
So that's another win for the… historic community within that space.
The unsustainable, uh, operation is… working hard at the same beds, you have fun parks.
That infrastructure. Our success and capital.
And be able to do this soon. Also working and transitioning all of our golf cart fans.
All of our small business equipment. And power isn't currently an option.
We're transitioning our range. Halogen life.
And, uh, can you go ahead and… on an application to our irrigation, you can turn it on and off. Save a lot of time running around.
You gotta set me trained on. Um, shut up.
Done a lot of work to shrink the edge. Go buy a good sale of all portion of those.
Large brown spots and some green spots. Only watering target areas?
Serve water, not watering properly. Conserve hundreds of thousands of gallons of water doing this.
Very little. A community, uh, partnerships.
We're working currently to have late nights. Come in, get on our ranges.
Starting talks about creating community center leagues. These are… these will be, uh.
No fees, so… each roof. So, your community center seems to put on our car trees and.
We have, uh… We do, uh, non-golf stuff.
Jackson Trail. Snow, when it snows, we open for supplies.
So, uh, sledding… So, that's normal bills.
So we have jazz nights outside. People, you don't have to know to show up at the end.
So there's all kinds of non-golf activities, cross-country. We're starting to advertise.
Be available for people to use space on our golf cart? Is that accurate?
Technology, uh… working, so you can walk up with your phone and pay at the range, you don't have to stand in line.
You get your balls on the ball machine, but we're not gonna… move to a point where people who don't have that technology.
Aren't able to participate. So… and… Technology's gone every day.
Can you, uh, touch on your problem a little bit? And… Yeah, we're, uh…
Trying to, uh… we work under the… we have a golf operator shroom here.
Been from here forever now, stream from here. And uh… I've been working to get our own scale parks and Recreation grant.
So people know that it's the same expectation that goes, of course, as a community center pool.
We welcome all. I think we're inviting you to take anybody who wants your feedback. You're a part of what we do, so…
I don't want to be recognized as streaming or Premier, I want to be recognized as Seattle customer.
It's working well. You know, people are receiving it.
So this is about the affordability of our courses. We've been rated as some of the most affordable golf.
Washington State. This, uh, this is based on tee times from.
5.30 a.m. Last one to go is 6.30 p.m. Throughout the day, there's fluctuation in prices, but there's some part of every day.
You can get a reduced rate by go super senior rate, so 75 and over.
We have senior rates. We have early bird crates for… 6 a.m. To 8 a.m, and we have Twilight.
I think it's 5 to 7, and then 7 until dark.
We also have Youth on Courts. We host Youth on Course, which is for kids up to 17 years old.
Pay $5 to play 18 holes ago. That's a phenomenal deal. It's a 4-hour, 5-hour endeavor for kids in a safe place.
Uh, we support Thirsty in their rounds of golf on the far free and EHP models.
University students pay for $20. And without chill.
Golf courses are allowed at 14 high schools that don't have teams.
Practice strange goals. Practiced on course, so…
Just a quick comparison, 18 holes are golf, roughly $21.50. Depending on the time of day.
And tennis is $10 an hour. 18 holes ago is a 4-hour.
Yeah. She threw all our rounds of golf in a bucket at the end of the year, we averaged 28 hours.
So that's pretty affordable. Other courses locally or 60-1800.
25.
So the way we worked, I mentioned the vendor premier printing.
Currently, we're, uh, we just designed to deal with them 15 years.
And, um… 5-year extension. Spr, our team, we're in charge of all the maintenance.
They don't manage the maintenance that's on our part. We do that so we can control.
Fertilizers, pesticides, water use. I'm sure that's how we do our public system.
The operators, they do all the time. Lessons, banquets, events… you know, alcohol licensing, golf construction, all the inside.
So, they manage all that. So, Premier collects all the fees on behalf of the city.
For everything that goes on. And, uh, they're required now as part of a new deal in the contract.
Maintain their own PCI compliance to perform. The city's PCI compliance.
And if anyone was in violation of Old City. Shut down now. They have to provide their own only vacations.
They use all the money to pay any expenses, right? They get a management fee and incentive fee, and then… It's millions of dollars, not many fingers of the world.
Put out all the money to shoot it back, so… Very fortunate there.
Uh, the staffing models, they're responsible for all their own staff training.
And the city has their own thing. Who are all trained.
So this is, uh… This was a goal of mine, and I took this job.
2020 is, uh, just because we're affordable doesn't mean it shouldn't be quality.
We spent a lot of time… Uh, limited resources.
Restacking, targeting areas of play. Golfers enjoy.
We got articles in a couple magazines. About how it's just, uh.
Good experience, portable rate. Conditions. That's hard to get.
Asking officer.
Um, so revenue is increasing, particularly post-COVID. Um, you can see, uh… a steady increase, uh, particularly a jump in 2021.
2023, um, is beginning to plateau a little bit. Um, we have a lot of new opportunities at the courses, particularly our capital projects.
At, uh, Jefferson, so we perceived. Um, an increase of T times.
Trying to keep the courses relevant so that we continue to.
Increased revenue, the revenues critical to feed capital improvements. Developing an asset nation.
Specific to go. So that we can… right now, we have a sustainable.
There's no dollars coming from the city. But we do have a backlog of…
Um, bank advance. So the more revenue we can add in.
Um, the more balanced aspect. That's really how the goal.
But in order to do that. They do have to drive revenue.
We do need to try new things. We're looking at the… Um, short courses…
Uh, um, Jefferson and Jackson as potential opportunities. I could more relevant, make a more attractive.
For our youth, community players, um… as, you know, potential… Um, also…
Also, it's good to point out that, uh. Last year, it was an $19.1 million growth rate.
So people that live here. Playing here and utilizing these courses.
Almost capacity. That's great.
So, uh, we went over most of this. But the changes in the contract.
From our previous contract with Premier through our current contract. And I want to point out, I also want to point out how rigorous.
This process was, this RFP process. So the Premier's original contract ended.
After several extensions. And we engage the public.
And all sectors of the city. About an RFP process that we would be running.
They collected input. We advertise.
I could met with the bidders. We receive… 5 proposals from across the country.
They were soft, which is pretty phenomenal for a big operation like this.
We, um… Premier Trune was…
Um, arms and shoulders. Ahead of the, uh, you know, these very clear, both in the.
Proposals, end of the interviews. Um, in the interviews particularly, they spoke to the mission, Seattle Parks mission, didn't.
The new agreement… Uh, the prior agreement was 10 years.
New agreement is 15 with a 5-year extension. We had originally asked for.
Um, a million dollar capital investment. Unfortunately. Weren't able to pursue that.
Contract, because they're… We still are paying off bonds.
For the Golf Master Plan, if that will be completed in 2 years.
Barn Council said that we couldn't… ask for a capital investment, that amount of money.
Um, with… still haven't had a response. So what we did is we separated that capital investment to.
Um, $100,000 annually. So, we're developing an improvement plan if.
Collaboration with Trim for that $100,000. Yes. Um… And then, as Patrick mentioned, they have to be PCI compliant, they have to run their own compliance, so it's not…
Previously, the city paid for that, and it's very expensive. And then, um, the management fee increases.
2%, 2.5% a year after the first year. Um, to keep up with inflation. Previously, there weren't increases.
Um, fee. And then, um… the, um, consented fee is slightly different.
And that, um, it's a 10… it's 10%. Of the difference between the goal.
And what in the actuals in revenue. But, um, they get.
Um, which is a little slightly different than our current arrangement.
Um, the current rampant had no trouble. So, we're looking at, uh, the city not having to contribute as much.
From, uh, Lake, you know, administrative standpoint.
$1.5 million, $100,000 a year, a lot. That was a lot of money.
In my world, $100,000. They have to use, and I hope it goes a long way.
It's a big win, you know.
And so this just describes some of the, uh. Non-golf uses, uh…
All of the stuff I described earlier wasn't contract or anything.
Review our request. Everything we're doing with the first team.
You know, non-golf use. We put in the contract required, and we can reserve to it if it's not happening.
St. Cream has been more than willing the whole time. But we didn't know who was gonna be in contracts for International.
It's really serving the community well. People to observe anything.
They've been really receptive to new emerging events, like Bill Layton had.
Chapters.
There's a lot of people in this category that wouldn't be able to experience golf.
We don't care if they continue to play, or they love the game.
We just want everyone to know that there's no barrier to try.
If you don't like it, walk away. You can try it. We got freeway, we got you.
There's also a lot to do there other than… There's all sorts of practice opportunities, and I was…
Just at, uh, federal rate, uh, in our account, whether it be destroyed.
That's not cause.
Blow it ahead. Forget we… are planning on increasing rounds of.
You know, by making the courses more relevant. And that is one of the main things the $100,000 a year is going towards.
Making the golfer experience better. Um, and looking at ways of being more efficient.
Yeah, more people out there, yeah, more. Particularly at the beach hours.
Um, land investment, and of course, upgrades. We, like I said, we're building an asset management plan.
And then also, according to True, frankly, is easy. Um, coordinating on what.
The best investment is… Um, both from a player standpoint, an accessibility standpoint, interpreter standpoint.
They've got to manage a lot of courses. So, a lot of improvements, so I really understand that.
How to structure the dollar. Um, and then Patrick touched on the expansion of youth programs.
Jefferson Community Center has had a really successful youth program. African-american youth.
17 years of age. It falls into range, we feel right, and then they play a par 3 the first year starter.
Next year is 25, I think.
These are… folks that, you know, getting exposed to gold for free, deciding whether or not.
Then naturally, there's been a lot of studies of the. Local economy and the impact of golf on the local economy. You're out on the course for 4 hours, you're gonna hit.
Closest place for… Uh, food and beverage, and uh…
And that's something we want to investigate more, uh, locally to demonstrate.
Um, how golf courses are bringing dollars into those local communities.
And frankly, the clubhouse is, uh… Some of the clubhouses that you kind of, that me helps for eating.
And trivia nights, and showing up at night. Yeah.
Financial trends, so this is really interesting, and this is reflecting what's saying.
Um, increase in revenue. Um, from 2018 to today.
And these are the different courses. This is Inner Bay. Inner Bay started at the highest, continued.
Be the highest revenue. Uh, mainly because it's like a fun setting, right? 78 golf, it's got…
More family-oriented. Opportunities, and then the Bill Wright Golf Course is catching up.
It'll be interesting to see what happens after the deadline. And those homes are restored.
It's also very centrally, look. Easy to get, easy to get.
Yeah, it's been down since the… Since the project 9 years ago has been down $250,000 a year.
Jackson and West Seattle. And I think there's a, you know, we're looking at opportunities for enhancements.
I think, uh, decarbonizing. I'm facing a golf cart plates.
And then, where's, uh, revenue going? Obviously, labor on both health maintenance side.
And, uh, the operations side. And first, uh, goes to Capital Improvement.
3.5% to 4% goes back to the parks fund. Um, that covers all the accounting work, um, behind-the-scenes administrative costs that aren't captured in.
Um, our contract… Um, and then, you know… just purchasing…
Merchandise, food and beverage, and then golf classes. That's it, that's the whole kind of the needle. Just wanted to say, though, let me pass…
3 years or so, we've had older… People are using our facilities.
Covid got credit for this call. Firing up nationally to start it, but…
Continuing enough. National numbers, 40% of the growth in gold.
Forms, I mean… There's a lot of online goals, like, people go out and play enforcement.
Around on YouTube. And they play against someone else in another state. The whole technology.
Varying demand is…
Right? Okay, good. I do have a couple quick questions. Thank you for that. That's really interesting.
I didn't see equipment rentals mentioned in there. Are rentals accessible and affordable for youth? Had all these.
Yes, with that. They are currently portable.
And, uh, there's two things. The first few program. $175 for all the training provided. You don't have the money to get anything.
The $100,000, uh. Capital investment?
We're going to use some of that by UCET, so when people arrive at our sites, we can provide them with that.
Probably from 1927, and they can actually get so much close.
Cheers. Good. Yeah. Great, and I love the idea about branding as part of the parks network, because I was not aware that, uh, Interbay, for example, was.
Affiliated with the parks. Has that already… come into play? Is that now being reflected, or is that…
In the ideation stage. It's being reflected. It is. It's going on the signage, I've got a… our staff in our own gear when I go to our courses.
Spr gear. I go to meetings representing us, not true. Contact for social concerns and compliance.
I don't know what I've been calling them and calling me with bigger problems. So, us diving in has helped them, and they've been very helpful.
And that app? We own the properties. We should… we say we are youth programs?
Everybody should benefit. Yeah, I think it makes it much more accessible to folks across the city. I think being SPR takes that, all that career… Right. I go to the community center, and they're good people.
Right. Great, thank you. Thank you.
I think so. I had a couple… just real quick questions.
Um, but first I want to say thank you for, uh, the plug around, uh, how to make our golf assets.
Uh, broadly utilizable. It's important, walking trails.
I may have cross-country skied on West Seattle Golf Course in the past, and I'm delighted.
To see that there's actually now going to be an official use, because I know that has been… John Moore, uh, testing paps.
Yeah, um, and uh… I would love to see more opportunity to drive some more revenue at West Seattle. I was sort of surprised it's such a large facility.
Uh, see that. Um, and then I just had… I think one question for… Andy, um… do… do we have an idea of what is the deferred capital maintenance? If you try to sort of analyze that and do an annuity?
What you're actually missing? 20 million. That's what I call it, right? So…
We're way behind. I mean, that is being very conservative, right? Like, saying the bare bones.
And the clubhouse was… Once we know renovation, the staff quarters, um.
So, yeah, I would encourage you in telling a wonderful story about the contract and concessions and not.
Shy away from pulling out. But, hey, there are some deficiencies in the capital.
Skewed because it doesn't have the PAR 3 to range. Yeah, it's just… Everybody else is doing all the revenue they can.
We're trying… next thing I'm gonna pose to… executive team is a player.
Setting fee? I charge $2 to $3. A course enhancement. Hmm.
Great. So it comes directly to on-course Improvements, not into… Yeah, man, inside of the office.
Because we're… our rates are pretty good, and I think people would be willing.
Yeah, I love that style of thinking, right? There's wonderful assets, you want to see the… capital assets community, maintained and updated as well.
Steve had a question on that. Oh, Steve, yeah.
Oh, I can ask it here, sorry. Um, I saw… I had two questions. I saw the first, I think, was answered, that there are golf summer camps.
For the kids, but then my second question I saw on the pie chart, the 9% excess goes towards capital investment. I don't know, I might have missed it if you gave a… could give a real dollar amount for that.
Um, I'm just wondering how much the $100,000 investment from Premier.
Adds to that pot, like, percentage-wise.
So the 9% are… It's based every year on the amount of money we make.
Yeah, but what was that in 2024?
And, uh, there was… Yeah, that was for us to use, it's $16.5 million. We used it on the hatchment the year before it was almost 3 million.
Okay. Okay.
Depends on the revenue expense, how much. And anything excess we get to put back into the port.
Courses with, like, 20 to 30 years of deferred maintenance. It's been helpful to have it. We've done a lot of…
Good work like the Jackson Ranch we just renovated it. So I'm in that volume you see at the ranges.
All the, you know. Fraser everything up and put in, it's all based on revenue.
And you said earlier, our program costs the taxpayer zero. A revenue driven.
At some point, y'all's gonna fail.
Great, thanks.
Randy, thank you. Thank you. Thank you both. Um.
That concludes the presentation. I have one item, just really quickly, to cover under the Old New Business piece.
Um, I believe we would be scheduled to revert to 6.30.
In the fall? In the fall. Um, and I was just sort of seeking opinions.
Um, from those who are here, uh. You have a preference to stay at 6, I'm…
Largely neutral, Whitney has had a preference, uh, for 6 o'clock. I don't know if there's… Uh, any preferences either way?
Um, but the default would be we would revert to 6.30 unless we wish to maintain it, so that's why I was sort of… calling out if there's an interest in maintaining this next.
I would vote for 6. You vote for 6? I know Whitney would. 6?
I continue to vote for 630.
Same.
Me too, as well.
Okay.
Yeah, 6.30 as well, especially after September.
Well, we will, we'll, uh, barring a clear consensus, then I think we'll end up reverting… 6.30 now, so I guess it's on the schedule for right now. Yeah, and, you know, we're missing some folks, so we can try to do some communication here, and just see if there is a clearer consensus, but, you know, if there's not, then it sounds like maybe we'll do that. And maybe 6.15, although I don't like working hours.
Um, so yeah. I tried it in the summer, um, see if it would help. Um, I'm always… willing to adjust, but I do want to make sure that we're fine.
Adequate public notice, and so… Yeah. I appreciate everybody being willing. This is the hottest topic we have to deal with.
We're doing wonderful. We'll cover some much more difficult, uh, I'm sure, things in the future, so appreciate everyone's time.
Um, and I believe that, uh, is it for today, so… Do you have further comments from the Commissioners?
Yeah, meeting as a church. Thanks, thank you. Thank you guys.
Thank you, Harold.
You know.