>>> ALL RIGHT. GOOD AFTERNOON,
EVERYONE. THE MAY 13, 2026,
MEETING OF THE HOUSING, ARTS,
AND CIVIL RIGHTS COMMITTEE WILL
COME TO ORDER. IT'S 2:02. I'M
DIONNE FOSTER. WILL THE CLERK
PLEASE CALL THE ROLL?
>> HOLLINGSWORTH?
>> HERE.
>> JUAREZ?
>> HERE.
>> COUNCILMEMBER RINCK?
>> PRESENT.
>> VICE CHAIR LIN?
>> PRESENT.
>> CHAIR FOSTER.
>> THANK YOU, CLERK. CLERK, WILL
YOU PLEASE CALL VICE CHAIR LIN
ONE MORE TIME?
>> VICE CHAIR LIN?
>> PRESENT.
>> FOUR MEMBERS ARE PRESENT.
>> THANK YOU. IF THERE'S NO
OBJECTION, THE AGENDA WILL BE
ADOPTED. HEARING NO OBJECTION
THE AGENDA IS NOW OPEN. WE WILL
NOW OPEN THE PUBLIC COMMENT
PERIOD. THEY SHOULD RELATE TO
THE AGENDA OR WITHIN THE PER
VIEW OF THE COMMITTEE. HOW MANY
ARE SIGNED UP TODAY?
>> WE CURRENTLY HAVE EIGHT
IN-PERSON SPEAKERS AND TWO
REMOTE SPEAKERS.
>> FANTASTIC. SO WITH THAT
NUMBER OF SPEAKER, EACH WILL
HAVE TWO MINUTES. WE WILL START
WITH IN-PERSON FIRST. CLERK, CAN
YOU PLEASE READ THE PUBLIC
COMMENT INSTRUCTIONS?
>> THE PUBLIC COMMENT PERIOD IS
UP TO 60 MINUTES. SPEAKERS WILL
BE CALLED IN WHICH THEY ARE
REGISTERED. WE WILL BEGIN WITH
IN-PERSON AND THEN REMOTE.
SPEAKERS WILL HEAR A CHIME AT
TEN SECONDS. MICS WILL BE MUTED
AT THE END OF THE TIME TO ALLOW
US TO CONTINUE WITH PUBLIC
COMMENT. THE FIRST SPEAKER ON
THE LIST IS SHARON WILLIAMS
FOLLOWED BY MELISSA.
>> GOOD AFTERNOON. THANK YOU FOR
HAVING ME. SO MANY FRIENDLY
FACES. HI, AUNTIE JUAREZ.
>> HEY, GIRL.
>> I WOULD LIKE TO SPEAK ON
BEHALF OF THE ARTS AND CULTURAL
DISTRICTS IN GEORGETOWN AND
COLUMBIA HILLMAN AS WELL. I HAVE
BEEN A -- I AM THE LEADER,
COCHAIR OF THE HISTORIC CENTRAL
AREA, ARTS AND CULTURAL
DISTRICT. I DON'T HAVE TO TELL
YOU. YOU KNOW THAT ARTS IS
EVERYWHERE, AND WE DO
EVERYTHING. BUT WE ARE ALSO THE
HOLDERS AS ARTS AND CULTURAL
DISTRICTS OF THE PAST AND THE
PRESENT. THE CENTRAL DISTRICT
WAS STARTED, THE ARTS AND
CULTURAL DISTRICT FOR THE
CENTRAL AREA WAS STARTED IN THE
MIDST OF GENTRIFICATION.
EVERYBODY WAS MOVING OUT. WE
WERE ASKED TO HOLD ON TO THE
SPACE TO HOLD ON TO THE PAST
WHILE MOVING INTO THE FUTURE.
COLUMBIA, YOU COULD SAY THEY ARE
NOT ALREADY AN ARTS AND CULTURAL
DISTRICT. WHEN YOU HIT THE
BLOCK, COME ON NOW, WHEN YOU HIT
COLEMAN AND COLUMBIA CITY
ANDHILLMAN, YOU LIKE, WAIT A
MINUTE, THIS IS NOTHING BUT ARTS
AND CULTURE. ON BEHALF OF THE
DISTRICT, PLEASE VOTE YES FOR
THESE DISTRICTS BECAUSE IT'S
NOT JUST ABOUT MAKING ART OR
CREATING ART. IT'S ABOUT
BRINGING COMMUNITY TOGETHER IN
DIFFERENT KIND OF WAYS, BRINGING
ARTS, BRINGING BUSINESS, BEING
THE LIAISON BETWEEN THE ARTS OF
OFFICE AND CULTURE TO OUR
DISTRICT AND SAVING WHAT WE KNOW
MAKES SEATTLE THE BEST PLACE IN
THE WORLD TO LIVE. THAT'S ARTS
AND CULTURE AND PEOPLE AND
COMMUNITY. THANK YOU VERY MUCH.
I WILL GIVE BACK THE LEGISLATION
OF -- REST OF MY TIME. HOW ABOUT
THAT? SEE YOU LATER.
>> AMEN.
>> ALL RIGHT, MELISSA IS OUR
NEXT SPEAKER, FOLLOWED BY KIERRA
JANE ROBSON.
>> MY NAME IS MELISSA. I'M HERE
REPRESENTING WATERSHED COMMUNITY
DEVELOPMENT. WE ARE A PROJECT TO
ESTABLISH MORE THAN 600 UNITS OF
HOUSING IN THE GEORGETOWN
NEIGHBORHOOD OVER THE NEXT TEN
YEARS, SO HERE TO SPEAK FIRMLY
IN SUPPORT OF THE ARTS DISTRICT.
IT WILL HELP US DO OUR WORK. WE
NEED TO FOCUS ON CREATING
HOUSING IN A DISTRICT WHERE
THERE ARE ABOUT 2900 UNITS FOR A
WORKFORCE OF 29,000, SO WE ARE
VERY MUCH AN ARTS FORWARD
ORGANIZATION, SEEKING TO CREATE
HOUSING THAT ARTISTS CAN AFFORD
AS WELL AS THE WORKERS WHO ARE
ALREADY IN GEORGETOWN.
ESTABLISHING THIS DISTRICT WILL
HELP US ACCOMPLISH OUR WORK AND
HOPE YOU WILL, OF COURSE,
SUPPORT IT. THANK YOU.
>> ALL RIGHT, NEXT SPEAKER IS
KIE RA FOLLOWED BY VIRGINIA
WRIGHT.
>> GOOD AFTERNOON. MY NAME IS
KIERA JANE ROBSON THE PRESIDENT
AND COFOUNDER OF THE GEORGETOWN
ARTS AND CULTURAL. I'M A STONE
CARVER MYSELF AND RUN A STONE
CARVING STUDIO OUT OF
GEORGETOWN'S STUDIOS. MY WORK
IS IN HOMES ACROSS THE PACIFIC
NORTHWEST. I FOUND MY CREATIVE
HOME IN GEORGETOWN 15 YEARS AGO
AS A COLLECTIVE BLACKSMITH
GROUP. I HAVE LIVED ALL OVER THE
CITY, GEORGETOWN IS WHERE I
CHOOSE TO WORK AND VOLUNTEER,
BECAUSE IT'S A NEIGHBORHOOD
FULL OF PEOPLE WHO SHARE MY
DEDICATION TO THE ARTS, PEOPLE
WHO WORK HARD, PUSH THEMSELVES,
AND ARE PASSION ABOUT ABOUT THE
ARTS AND ITS ABILITY TO UPLIFT
THE CITY. IT'S ONE OF THE ONLY
PLACES WITH AFFORDABLE STUDIOS
TO WORK AND A CULTURE THAT
SUPPORTS THE ARTS. BECAUSE OF
THIS, OUR DISTRICT IS GROWING.
HOME TO A HUGE NUMBER OF
GALLERIES, CREATIVE SCHOOLS, AND
SPECIALTY SUPPLY STORES, MORE OF
THESE BUSINESSES ARE MOVING TO
GEORGETOWN EVERY YEAR. WE ARE
ALSO CLOSE TO BREAKING GROUND ON
THE WATERSHED PROJECT, THE
AFFORDABLE HOUSING PROJECT
GEARED TO ARTS AND INDUSTRY
WORKERS. THE SIGNIFICANT INFLUX
OF ARTISTS AND CREATIVE
BUSINESSES PROVIDES US WITH THE
OPPORTUNITY TO BUILD A MORE
SOLID, CREATIVE ECONOMY,
CONSERVE TO SUPPORT AND PRESERVE
GEORGETOWN'S UNIQUE CULTURE AND
HELP IT THRIVE AS AN AFFORDABLE
PLACE FOR US TO LIVE AND WORK.
THE GEORGETOWN ASSOCIATION OF
ARTS AND CULTURE IS DEDICATED TO
WORKING WITH THE OFFICE OF ARTS
AND CULTURE, OTHER CITY
DEPARTMENTS, AND OUR FELLOW
NEIGHBORHOOD ASSOCIATIONS
THROUGH THIS PROCESS. WE ARE
BUILDING WORKING RELATIONSHIPS
WITH THE OTHER ARTS AND CULTURAL
DISTRICTS AS WELL, CONTRIBUTING
TO THE ARTS FOR SEATTLE. I
SUPPORT THE DESIGNATION OF
GEORGETOWN AS ONE OF THE ART
DISTRICTS AND LOOK FORWARD TO
OUR CONTINUED COLLABORATIONS.
THANK YOU VERY MUCH.
>> ALL RIGHT, NEXT SPEAKER IS
VIRGINIA WRIGHT .
>> JUST A REMINDER, BRING THE
MIC CLOSER TO MAKE SURE WE ARE
CATCHING YOU FOR SEATTLE
CHANNEL. THANK YOU.
>> IS THAT BETTER?
>> YEAH, IT'S CLOSER THAN YOU
MAY THINK, THANK YOU.
>> MY NAME IS VIRGINIA WRIGHT.
I'M AN ART GALLERY OWNER IN
GEORGETOWN, AND I HAVE BEEN
ASSOCIATED WITH THE GEORGETOWN
ASSOCIATION OF ARTS AND CULTURE
FOR THE LAST COUPLE OF YEARS AND
WORKING ON THIS WHOLE PROJECT,
AND I'M VERY EXCITED TO SEE US
REACH THIS POINT. AND I
APPRECIATE THE SUPPORT AND THE
RECOGNITION AND I'M LOOKING
FORWARD TO HOW THIS CAN MOVE US
FORWARD AS AN ORGANIZATION AND
AS A NEIGHBORHOOD AND TO SEE HOW
WE CAN GROW AND SUSTAIN AND BE
OUR UNIQUE ARTS AND CULTURAL
AREAS WITHIN THE CITY OF
SEATTLE. THANK YOU.
>> ALL RIGHT, OUR NEXT SPEAKER
IS HEATHER CARNEY FOLLOWED BY
NATHAN WALL.
>> HI, MY NAME IS HEATHER
CARNEY. I LIVE IN GEORGETOWN FOR
EIGHT YEARS NOW. I'M COMING
HERE TODAY TO BE A
REPRESENTATIVE FOR THE
GEORGETOWN COMMUNITY COUNCIL. SO
THE GCC. I SERVE AS THE CHAIR,
AND OUR ORGANIZATION IS MADE UP
OF NEIGHBORS AND COMMUNITY
MEMBERS WHO REALLY CARE DEEPLY
ABOUT GEORGETOWN AND ITS FUTURE.
WE ARE SO EXCITED TO SUPPORT THE
DESIGNATION OF GEORGETOWN AS AN
OFFICIAL ARTS DISTRICT BECAUSE
THE ARTS ARE ALREADY DEEPLY
WOVEN AS YOU JUST HEARD INTO THE
IDENTITY OF OUR NEIGHBORHOOD.
GEORGETOWN HAS LONG BEEN
WELCOMING -- A WELCOMING HOME
FOR ARTISTS, MUSICIANS,
PERFORMERS, CREATIVE SMALL
BUSINESSES, MAKERS, ALL TYPES OF
PEOPLE, AND CREATIVITY IS NOT
SOMETHING THAT IS ADDED TO
GEORGETOWN. IT'S SOMETHING THAT
ALREADY EXISTS, HERE EVERY DAY
IN OUR STREETS, BUSINESSES,
MURALS, COMMUNITY SPACES, AND I
CAN JUST GO ON. WHAT MAKES
GEORGETOWN SPECIAL IS THE
AUTHENTICITY YOU FEEL THERE.
IT'S A PLACE WHERE DIFFERENT
ARTISTIC DISCIPLINES COEXIST
ALONGSIDE INDUSTRIAL BUSINESS,
HISTORIC SPACES, AND A STRONG
SENSE OF COMMUNITY. THE ART
REALLY HELPS TO CREATE
CONNECTION, BRINGS PEOPLE
TOGETHER, AND CONTRIBUTES TO THE
UNIQUE CHARACTER THAT BOTH
RESIDENTS AND VISITORS VALUE. WE
BELIEVE THIS DESIGNATION WILL
PROVIDE IMPORTANT RECOGNITION
FOR THE CREATIVE CULTURE THAT
HAS EXISTED IN GEORGETOWN FOR
DECADES. IT ALSO CREATES
OPPORTUNITIES FOR FUTURE
PARTNERSHIPS, CULTURAL
INVESTMENT, TOURISM, ECONOMIC
SUPPORT, AND PRESERVATION OF THE
NEIGHBORHOOD'S CREATIVE SPIRIT
AS SEATTLE CONTINUES TO GROW AND
CHANGE. ON BEHALF OF THE
GEORGETOWN COMMUNITY COUNCIL, WE
RESPECTFULLY ENCOURAGE THE
HOUSING, ARTS, AND CIVIL RIGHTS
COMMITTEE TO SUPPORT THIS
PROPOSAL AND OFFICIALLY
DESIGNATE GEORGETOWN AS AN ARTS
DISTRICT. THANK YOU.
>> ALL RIGHT, OUR NEXT SPEAKER
IS NATHAN WALL, FOLLOWED BY
TIFFANY McCOY.
>> I'M NATHAN WALL IN THE 37th
DISTRICT NOW. IT'S THE BEST LD
IN THE STATE, DION, EDDIE, AND
JOY WOULD PROBABLY AGREE WITH ME
ON THAT, TOO. OKAY, SO IN MY
NEIGHBORHOOD, IT'S REALLY
DANGEROUS FOR KIDS. A LOT OF
KIDS END UP RIDING ON ELECTRIC
SCOOTERS BECAUSE THERE'S
NOTHING TO DO. I DON'T NEED TO
TELL YOU THAT'S REALLY
DANGEROUS. WE ACTUALLY HAD A
10-YEAR-OLD DIE IN MY
NEIGHBORHOOD, AND THAT'S REALLY
DIFFICULT TO THINK ABOUT. SO I
THINK SOMETHING LIKE THIS -- I
DON'T WANT TO SAY IT WOULD HAVE
PREVENTED THIS, BUT WE NEED MORE
THINGS TO DO IN THE SOUTH END. I
WOULD POINT OUT FROM NEW HOLLY,
BOTH OF THE CULTURAL CENTERS
WOULD BE WALKABLE. I CAN WALK TO
GEORGETOWN AND HILLMAN CITY FROM
MY HOUSE. JUST IN GENERAL, THE
SOUTH END NEEDS MORE INVESTMENT,
AND WE NEED TO -- LIKE ALL
ACROSS THE SOUTH END, AND I
THINK WE WOULD AGREE ON THAT.
SORRY, I'M NOT REALLY TALKING
INTO THE MIC REALLY WELL.
SOMETHING ELSE THEY THINK IS IN
THE OF THE COMMITTEE, WE NEED TO
REMEMBER AN IMPORTANT CIVIL
RIGHT IS THE RIGHT TO ENGAGE IN
PROTECTED SPEECH AT GOVERNMENT
MEETINGS. THAT SPEECH CAN BE
CRITICAL, AND THAT SPEECH CAN BE
TARGETED, BUT AS LONG AS IT IS
-- DOES NOT VIOLATE THE BOUNDS
OF WHAT CONSTITUTES FREE SPEECH,
HARASSMENT, THREATS OF VIOLENCE
IT SHOULD BE PROTECTED. IF WE
ARE BANNING -- IF WE ARE GOING
TO BE TALKING ABOUT PEOPLE BEING
DISRESPECTFUL AND MAKING
PERSONAL ATTACKS, WE WOULDN'T
BE ALLOWING DAVID TO SPEAK, AND
HE'S ALLOWED TO SPEAK,
UNFORTUNATELY. I FEEL MR. HOWARD
GAIL WAS DISCRIMINATED AGAINST
BECAUSE OF HIS VIEWS YESTERDAY
BY COUNCILMEMBER STRAUSS, AND I
WOULD LIKE TO SEE MORE
CONSISTENCY FROM COUNCILMEMBER
STRAUSS FOR THE MEMBERS HE
STANDS UP FOR. FREE SPEAK IS
PROTECTED SPEAK. THANK YOU.
>> NEXT SPEAKER IS TIFFANY
McCOY, FOLLOWED BY JEFF PAUL.
>> GOOD AFTERNOON. I'M TIFFANY
McCOY, THE INTERIM CEO FOR THE
SOCIAL HOUSING DEVELOPER HERE TO
SPEAK IN FAVOR OF THE CHARTER
CHANGES COMING BEFORE YOU. I
JUST WANT TO SAY THERE'S STILL
TREMENDOUS SUPPORT IN THE CITY
OF SEATTLE FOR PERMANENTLY
AFFORDABLE PUBLICALLY OWNED
SOCIAL HOUSING. WE ARE GOING TO
BE BRINGING FORWARD TO YOU ALL
16 CHARTER CHANGES, AND THE
MAJORITY OF THOSE ARE TECHNICAL
CHANGES, BUT THERE ARE A FEW
BUCKETS THEY DO WANT TO
HIGHLIGHT FOR THE PUBLIC. THERE
ARE FOUR I'M GOING TO GO INTO
FOR THE BIGGEST CHANGES. ONE IS,
WE NEVER INTENDED FOR US NOT TO
BE ABLE TO PUT UP OUR BUILDINGS
AS COLLATERAL FOR DEBT
FINANCING, BUT APPARENTLY
THAT'S WHAT IS IN THE CHARTER,
SO WE WANT TO CLARIFY THAT TO
PUT THE BUILDINGS UP TO
ACCELERATE THE PRODUCTION OF
SOCIAL HOUSING. BUCKET TWO,
GIVEN COMMUNITY INPUT SINCE I
HAVE BEEN THE INTERIM CEO, WE
WANT TO HAVE THE ABILITY FOR
PRIVATELY-OWNED COMMERCIAL CONDO
SPACE FOR COMMUNITY-BASED
ORGANIZATIONS ON THE BOTTOM
FLOOR. WE ARE STILL LOOKING TO
BAKE IN SOME SAFEGUARDS SUCH AS
THE RIGHT OF FIRST REFUSAL. WE
WOULD BE ABLE TO BUY THAT. ALSO,
POTENTIALLY PUTTING IN INDEX
PRICING SO WE ARE ALSO NOT
BAKING IN SPECULATION TO THE
COMMERCIAL SPACE BEING SOLD. THE
THIRD IS WE WANT TO ENSURE THAT
THE CURRENT RENTERS APPOINTED BY
THE SEATTLE RENTERS COMMISSION
GET TO SERVE OUT THEIR TERM
PRIOR TO RESIDENTS HAVING
ELECTIONS. AND THEN THE FOURTH I
WOULD SAY IS WE WANT SOME TIME
TO CREATE A STRONG CONTAINER FOR
RESIDENT GOVERNANCE BEFORE WE
LAUNCH OUR RESIDENT CONSTITUENCY
AND OUR RESIDENT GOVERNANCE
COUNCIL. WE WANT TO PASS BYLAWS
FOR THEM PRIOR TO THOSE TAKING
EFFECT. I WANT TO THANK YOU
LAWRENCE AND COUNCILMEMBER
FOSTER'S OFFICE AND JENNIFER
FOR YOUR PARTNERSHIP THE LAST
FEW MONTHS WHILE WE NAVIGATED
THE CHARTER CHANGES AND
DISCUSSIONS, AND THANK YOU
COUNCILMEMBER FOSTER FOR YOUR
PARTNERSHIP AND OPENING UP THE
SPACE IN THE COMMITTEE FOR THE
NEEDED CHANGES. THANK YOU, ALL.
LET ME KNOW IF YOU HAVE ANY
QUESTIONS.
>> ALL RIGHT, THE NEXT SPEAKER
IS JEFF PAUL, FOLLOWED BY OUR
FIRST ONLINE SPEAKER, DEBORAH
BRAS.
>> GOOD AFTERNOON, COUNCIL, I'M
THE INTERIM COEXECUTIVE DIRECTOR
OF HOUSE OUR NEIGHBORS TO TALK
ABOUT THE CHARTER CHANGES. AS
YOU KNOW HOUSE OUR NEIGHBORS RAN
TWO INITIATIVES. WE WROTE THE
CHARTER WE ARE TALKING ABOUT
TODAY, AND WE CARE ABOUT IT A
LOT. IT'S WHERE WE BAKED IN OUR
OF OUR VALUES OF WHAT SOCIAL
HOUSING MEANS IN SEATTLE. WE
TAKE THE PROCESS SERIOUSLY.
THAT'S WHY WE HAVE BEEN EXCITED
TO WORK WITH YOUR OFFICE,
COUNCILMEMBER FOSTER, AND WITH
THE SOCIAL HOUSING DEVELOPER TO
COME UP WITH A SET OF CHARTER
CHANGES THAT WILL REALLY SUPPORT
OUR VISION AND MAKE SURE WE CAN
DELIVER SOCIAL HOUSING TO THE
PEOPLE OF SEATTLE QUICKLY AND
GET THIS DONE WELL SO WE CAN
SHOW PEOPLE THAT SOCIAL HOUSING
IS AN INCREDIBLE TOOL THAT
SEATTLE HAS AT ITS DISPOSAL TO
ADDRESS OUR HOUSING
AFFORDABILITY CRISIS. HOUSING
OUR NEIGHBORS FULLY SUPPORTS
THESE, AND WE LOOK FORWARD TO
GETTING THIS DONE. THANK YOU SO
MUCH.
>> ALL RIGHT, WE WILL NOW MOVE
ON TO OUR FIRST REMOTE SPEAKER,
PLEASE PRESS STAR SIX WHEN YOU
HEAR THE PROMPT THAT YOU HAVE
BEEN MUTED. OR UNMUTED I SHOULD
SAY. DEBORAH, ARE YOU UNMUTED?
CAN YOU HEAR US? NOT HEARING
YOU. WE WILL JUMP TO THE NEXT
SPEAKER AND THEN COME BACK TO
YOU. MY NEXT SPEAKER IS DAVID
PAINES, AND YOU'RE NOW UNMUTED,
AND PRESS STAR SIX.
>> HI, WE'RE NOT SUPPOSED TO
USE TAX DOLLARS TO PAY
POLITICALLY CONNECTED HOUSING
SPECULATORS LOOKING TO DUMP
THEIR DELAP DATED INFLATED REAL
ESTATE ON THE SOCIAL HOUSING
DEVELOPER. THE SOCIAL HOUSING
DEVELOPER IS SUPPOSED TO BE
DEVELOPING NEW HOMES, NOT RULES
AND LAWS GUARANTEEING CERTAIN
PRIVILEGES -- REAL ESTATE --
DOES THE SOCIAL HOUSING
DEVELOPER LITERALLY ACTUALLY
THINK THAT SOMEBODY MAKING A
SIX-FIGURE SALARY WANTS TO PAY
30% OF THEIR RENT TO COVER
EVERYBODY ELSE LIVING NEXT TO
TRANSIT-ORIENTED HOUSING THAT
HAS BEEN PURCHASED BY THE
HOUSING DEVELOPER BECAUSE THEY
ARE NOT QUALIFIED TO BUILD
ANYTHING? DO YOU THINK THEY WANT
TO LIVE THERE AND TURN IN TO
TRANSIT? YOU'RE LYING TO
YOURSELVES. THE SOCIAL HOUSING
DEVELOPER COULD BE LITERALLY
GETTING LIKE 20 PIECES OF LAND
OFF OF THE FIRE CHIEF'S LIST OF
ALL OF THOSE CONDEMNED
BUILDINGS. YOU ALL COULD BE
DEVELOPING, LIKE, REALLY FAST,
IF YOU REALLY PUT FORTH THE
EFFORT AND HAD QUALIFIED
DEVELOPERS, BUT INSTEAD Y'ALL
WANT TO CHANGE THE LAWS, WITH
GUARANTEES FOR CERTAIN COMMUNITY
ON THE COMMERCIAL REAL ESTATE
FLOOR, AND YET WE ARE NOT GOING
TO GET ANY 21st CENTURY FIRST
WORLD QUALITY HOUSING WITH THE
ACTUAL AMENITIES THAT MAKE LIFE
ENJOYABLE INSIDE OF THE
BUILDING. IT'S GOING TO BE, OH,
WE HAVE GOTTEN ALL OF THIS
HOUSING WE HAVE PURCHASED FROM
POLITICALLY CONNECTED DEVELOPER
LOOKING TO FLIP THEIR RUN-DOWN
REAL ESTATE ON EVERYBODY ELSE SO
WE CAN PUT SIX-FIGURE SALARIES
ON THE SIDE OF THE ROAD
LISTENING TO THE BUS AND THE
TRAIN NONSTOP. I'M TELLING YOU,
THERE'S A WHOLE BUNCH OF LAND
TO BE BANKED FROM THE BUILDINGS
THAT HAVE BEEN LIKE ABANDONED,
AND IT'S ON THE FIRE CHIEF'S
LIST. WHY CAN'T McCOY GO TO THE
FIRE CHIEF AND SAY GIVE ME THE
LIST, WITH ARE GOING TO
CONFISCATE THE LANDS AND BUILD
HOUSING? YOU ARE ALL LOOKING TO
CHANGE THE RULES ON THE ORIGINAL
INTENT SO NO OFFENSE, BUT
COUNCILMEMBER FOSTER CAN HELP
HER ASSOCIATES, AFFILIATES, AND
SUPPORTERS GET THIS SOCIAL
HOUSING MONEY -- REAL ESTATE AND
RUN IN REAL ESTATE, AND YOU'RE
LOOKING TO COME -- OF
POLITICALLY CONNECTED -- AND
THESE BUILDINGS, AND THAT'S AN
ABOMINATION.
>> OUR NEXT SPEAKER IS DEBORAH
BRAS. YOU'RE UNMUTED. PRESS
STAR SIX WHEN YOU HEAR THE
PROMPT.
>> CAN YOU HEAR ME?
>> YES.
>> CAN YOU HEAR ME?
>> YEP.
>> WONDERFUL. IT DIDN'T WORK
LAST TIME. GREAT, THANK YOU.
I'M CALLING TO VOICE MY SUPPORT
FOR DESIGNATING THE GEORGETOWN
NEIGHBORHOOD AS AN ARTS AND
CULTURAL DISTRICT. I'M THE
DIRECTOR OF THE GEORGETOWN
BUSINESS ASSOCIATION, AND I'M
ALSO A SCULPTOR AND ART RESTORER
MYSELF WITH A STUDIO IN
GEORGETOWN. I KNOW THE ECONOMIC
AND SOCIAL IMPACTS THE ARTS HAVE
IN MAKING GEORGETOWN THE
THRIVING NEIGHBORHOOD WE SEE
TODAY. THE CREATIVE SPIRIT IN
THE NEIGHBORHOOD HAS LONG BEEN
THE HEART OF IT, AND THIS
DESIGNATION WOULD BOTH RECOGNIZE
ALL OF THE PAST WORK OF THE
ARTISTS AND CULTURAL
PRACTITIONERS AND ENSURE THE
FUTURE HEALTH AND GROWTH OF THE
ECONOMY IN GEORGETOWN.
GEORGETOWN IS A HISTORICALLY
UNDERSERVED COMMUNITY WHERE THE
ARTS HAVE THRIVED IN THE FACE OF
MANY CHALLENGES, AND IT ONLY
MAKES SENSE THAT GEORGETOWN BE
OFFICIALLY NAMED AS AN ARTS AND
CULTURAL DISTRICT. OUR ARTISTS
HAVE SUSTAINED THE NEIGHBORHOOD
AND MADE IT A WONDERFUL, UNIQUE
PLACE TO LIVE AND WORK, AND WE
DESERVE THIS RECOGNITION. I
WOULD ALSO LIKE TO RECOGNIZE THE
WORK MY COLLEAGUES AT THE
GEORGETOWN ASSOCIATION OF ARTS
AND CULTURE HAVE PUT INTO THIS
INITIATIVE TO BRING US HERE
TODAY. SO PLEASE GIVE US THIS
DESIGNATION. IT'S SUCH A
WONDERFUL NEIGHBORHOOD, AND I
ENCOURAGE YOU TO COME VISIT
GEORGETOWN. WE HAVE OUR ANNUAL
CARNIVAL COMING UP ON JUNE 13th.
YOU CAN COME AND CHECK OUT ALL
OF THE ARTS AND CULTURE IN OUR
NEIGHBORHOOD WE HAVE TO OFFER.
THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR YOUR TIME.
>> ALL RIGHT, OUR FINAL ONLINE
SPEAKER IS SARA EVERETT. PLEASE
PRESS STAR 6 WHEN YOU HEAR THE
PROMPT.
>> HELLO. CAN YOU HEAR ME?
>> YEP, YOU'RE GOOD TO GO.
>> EXCELLENT. I'M SARA EVERETT,
AND I AM CALLING IN TO SUPPORT
MY -- MANY COMMENTS OF SUPPORT
FOR GEORGETOWN BEING OFFICIALLY
DESIGNATED AS A SEATTLE ARTS
DISTRICT. I'M ALSO IN SUPPORT
OF COLUMBIA HILLMAN GETTING THAT
OFFICIAL DESIGNATION AS WELL. I
CURRENTLY SERVE AS THE TREASURER
ON THE BOARD FOR THE UPTOWN ART
DISTRICT. I'M AN ARTIST AND
ORGANIZER MYSELF. I HAVE A
HISTORY OF ALSO HAVING A STUDIO
IN GEORGETOWN IN MY PAST. IT'S
A NEIGHBORHOOD CLOSE TO MY
HEART. GEORGETOWN HAS LONG BEEN
A RICH AND DIVERSE EPICENTER FOR
ARTISTS, FABRICATORS, AND
MUSICIANS. GEORGETOWN HAS -- I
WON'T REPEAT -- THERE'S BEEN
SO MANY GREAT COMMENTS ALREADY.
I WON'T REPEAT THE THINGS THAT
PEOPLE HAVE ALREADY MADE. THE
POINT I WOULD LIKE TO ADD IS
THAT GEORGETOWN HAS ALREADY BEEN
AN ACTIVE PARTICIPANT IN THE
ALL-DISTRICT ART MEETINGS. WE
HAVE BEEN GATHERING ABOUT ONCE A
QUARTER FOR A NUMBER OF YEARS AS
A COLLECTIVE OF REPRESENTATIVES
OF ALL OF THE DISTRICTS, TO COME
TOGETHER AND TALK ABOUT CROSS
PROMOTION AND OPPORTUNITIES AND
WAYS THAT WE CAN LIFT EACH OTHER
UP, AND GEORGETOWN HAS ALREADY
BEEN PARTICIPATING FOR SEVERAL
YEARS, AND SO THEY HAVE ALREADY
BEEN BRINGING THEIR EXPERIENCE,
INGENUITY, AND GRASS ROOTS
CREATIVITY TO THE TABLE. I
BELIEVE ACKNOWLEDGING THE
OFFICIAL DISTRICT WILL ONLY
ENRICH AND EXPAND THE PROGRAM,
ENSURING FURTHER OPPORTUNITIES
AND ACCESS FOR THE ARTS IN
SEATTLE AT LARGE. THAT'S ALL.
THANK YOU.
>> ALL RIGHT, THERE'S NO
ADDITIONAL REGISTERED SPEAKERS.
>>> THANK YOU. ALL RIGHT, THANK
YOU SO MUCH, CLERK, AND THANK
YOU TO OUR PUBLIC COMMENTERS FOR
JOINING US IN CHAMBERS TODAY OR
ONLINE. WE ARE NOW GOING TO MOVE
ON TO OUR FIRST ITEM OF
BUSINESS. WILL THE CLERK PLEASE
READ ITEM ONE INTO THE RECORD?
>> AGENDA ITEM ONE. ROSE CUSHION
32201. RESOLUTION CREATING AN
ARTS AND CULTURAL DISTRICT IN
THE GEORGETOWN NEIGHBORHOOD OF
SEATTLE. BRIEFING, DISCUSSION,
AND POSSIBLE VOTE.
>> FANTASTIC. WE ARE WELCOMING
UP TO THE TABLE, KELLY DAVIDSON
AND PINKY ESTELLE. AS THEY ARE
GETTING SETTLED, I WILL TAKE A
QUICK MOMENT TO SPEAK ON THIS
ITEM. TODAY WE ARE CONSIDERING
RESOLUTION 32001. AFTER THAT WE
WILL BE HEARING RESOLUTION
32000. THE FIRST, WHICH WOULD
FORMALLY ESTABLISH GEORGETOWN
ARTS AND CULTURAL DISTRICT AND
THE SECOND WHICH WOULD RECONFIRM
THE COLUMBIA HILLMAN ARTS AND
CULTURAL DISTRICT. WE HEARD A
LOT FROM OUR PUBLIC COMMENTERS
TODAY, AND THANK YOU FOR
SHARING, SO MANY ARTISTS,
CULTURAL WORKERS, BUSINESS
OWNERS, GEORGETOWN RESIDENTS,
ABOUT YOUR EXPERIENCE. I GOT A
FANTASTIC E-MAIL FROM A
CONSTITUENT THAT SAID GEORGEDOWN
ISN'T JUST FOR ARTISTS, IT WAS
BUILT BY ARTISTS. I THINK IT'S
A REALLY EXEMPLARY TO THE SOCIAL
FABRIC IN THE COMMUNITY BETWEEN
THE FOLKS WHO LIVE THERE, FOLKS
WHO WORK THERE, AND THOSE OF US
WHO COME AND VISIT BECAUSE IT'S
SUCH A FANTASTIC PLACE FOR ARTS
AND CULTURE. IT'S A DISTINCT
NEIGHBORHOOD WHERE WE HAVE SO
MANY ELEMENTS THAT COME TOGETHER
IN A WAY THAT IS UNIQUE TO OUR
CITY. THE COLUMBIA HILLMAN ARTS
AND CULTURAL DISTRICT, THIS IS A
RECONFIRMATION OF THE WORK
HAPPENING SINCE 2016, ENSURING
WE MAKE AN IMPACT FOR SOUTHEAST
SEATTLE, SO I WANT TO FIRST
THANK AND ACKNOWLEDGE THE WORK
OF GEORGETOWN ASSOCIATION OF
ARTS AND CULTURE, AS WELL AS THE
OFFICE OF ARTS AND CULTURE
BRINGING THESE RESOLUTIONS AND
THIS WORK FORWARD. I AM LOOKING
FORWARD TO HEARING MORE ABOUT
WHAT THIS DESIGNATION WILL MEAN
IN PRACTICE, HOW WE CAN SUPPORT
THE IMPLEMENTATION, AND WHAT
LESSONS THIS PROCESS OFFERS FOR
THE BROADER DISTRICTS CITYWIDE.
WITH THAT, WELCOME TO THE TABLE.
WE LOOK FORWARD TO HEARING FROM
YOU. PLEASE INTRODUCE
YOURSELVES.
>> KELLY DAVIDSON, THE DEPUTY
DIRECTOR OF THE OFFICE OF ARTS
AND CULTURE. WITH ME IS OUR
PROJECT MANAGER.
>> I'M PINKY ESTELLE, THE
PROJECT MANAGER, AND WE ARE
EXCITED TO BE HERE TODAY.
>> OKAY, WE ARE HERE TODAY TO
REVIEW CULTURAL DISTRICTS THAT
REQUIRE LEGISLATIVE ACTION FOR
DESIGNATED APPROVAL, GEORGETOWN,
COLUMBIA HILLMAN NEIGHBORHOODS.
>> IT'S NOT JUST A LABEL. IT
CREATES STRUCTURE FOR
COLLABORATION AND MAKES IT
EASIER FOR THE CITY TO RESPOND
TO NEIGHBORHOOD-SPECIFIC
CULTURAL NEEDS. THE KEY FEATURES
OF THE CULTURAL DISTRICTS,
COMMUNITY LED WITH DISTINCT
COALITION. A CITY PARTNERSHIP
WITH VISIBILITY, HAVE ACCESS TO
PLANNING AND ADVOCACY RESOURCES
AND THERE ARE OPPORTUNITIES FOR
SPECIAL FUNDING AND PROGRAMS.
DISTRICTS WORK BEST WHEN THEY
ARE COMMUNITY DEFINED,
GEOGRAPHICALLY SPECIFIC THAT
PROGRAM GIVES THE NEIGHBORHOOD A
PLATFORM AND THE LOCAL COALITION
GIVES THE PLATFORM MEANING.
>> THESE DISTRICTS CREATE A
CITYWIDE NETWORK SUPPORTING THE
ECONOMY AND CULTURE TO THE CITY.
-- ENCOURAGING TOURISM AND LOCAL
VISITATION, SUPPORTING SMALL
BUSINESS CONNECTED TO ARTS
ACTIVITY, ACTIVATING PUBLIC
SPACES THROUGH EVENTS,
PERFORMANCES AND EXHIBITIONS.
>> SAN FRANCISCO IS A USEFUL
EXAMPLE BECAUSE THE CULTURAL
DISTRICTS ARE A CITY-SPONSORED
STRATEGY TO PRESERVE CULTURAL
COMMUNITIES FACING DISPLACEMENT
AND GENTRIFICATION. THERE ARE
TEN TOTAL. ONE OF THE MAJOR
DIFFERENCES, THE ALLOCATION OF
$3 MILLION TO THE DISTRICTS
ANNUALLY, AND SEATTLE PROVIDES
ONLY 110,000. SAN FRANCISCO,
300,000. ANOTHER IMPORTANT
FEATURE OF THEIR MODEL IS THAT
DISTRICTS PREPARE THEIR OWN
PLANS SPECIFICALLY AROUND
CULTURAL HISTORY, HOUSING, AND
ECONOMIC SUSTAINABILITY. THE
OFFICE IS LOOKING TO SEE HOW
THIS COULD BE PART OF OUR MODEL
AS WELL.
>> OKAY. WE WOULD LIKE TO SHARE
SOME OF THE EXCITING WORK FOR
THE DISTRICTS COMING TO YOU FOR
REVIEW TODAY STARTING WITH THE
GEORGETOWN NEIGHBORHOOD.
>> GEORGETOWN, HOME TO A LOT OF
THINGS, SIX ASSOCIATIONS, 11
DESIGN STUDIOS AND CENTERS, 7
CREATIVE FABRICATION COMPANIES,
5 PERFORMANCE AND VENUE SPACES,
13 ANNUAL FESTIVALS,
CONTRIBUTING TO THE CULTURE,
ECONOMIC, AND VITALITY OF THE
NEIGHBORHOOD. DISTINCT LANDMARKS
INCLUDE THE BRICK CORRIDOR ON
AIRPORTWAY HAT AND BOOTS
SCULPTURE, AND THE STEAM PLANT
AND BOEING FIELD.
>> THERE WERE NUMEROUS
INDIGENOUS VILLAGES IN THE AREA.
COMMUNITIES LIVED ALONG THE
RIVER FOR A MILLENNIUM. WE
REACHED OUT TO THE LONGHOUSE
WITH AN INVITATION TO ENGAGE
THEY NOT RECEIVED A RESPONSE,
BUT THERE WILL BE FUTURE
PROGRAMMING THAT THE DISTRICT
WILL DOING AND WILL CONTINUE TO
SEEK OUT CONNECTIONS. GEORGETOWN
WAS ANNEXED TO THE CITY OF
SEATTLE IN 1910, BECOMING A
MAJOR INDUSTRIAL CENTER. THE
NEIGHBORHOOD HAS A SMALL
RESIDENTIAL POPULATION OF
APPROXIMATELY 1500 RESIDENTS
WITH ABOUT 37% OF THAT AS PEOPLE
OF COLOR. THE NEIGHBORHOOD WAS
RECOGNIZED AS A KING COUNTY
COMMUNITY OF OPPORTUNITY.
GEORGETOWN IS HOME TO A STRONG
ARTS ECONOMY INCLUDING STUDIOS,
FABRICATION SHOPS, GALLERIES,
AND DESIGN FIRMS IT HOSTS THE
ART ATTACK ART WALKS EVERY
SECOND SATURDAY OF THE MONTH
ATTRACTING VISITORS YEAR ROUND.
MAJOR FESTIVALS INCLUDE THE
GEORGETOWN CARNIVAL, HONK FEST,
AND RAINIER DAYS.
>> THE COMMUNITY HAS SPENT THE
LAST SIX YEARS WORKING TOWARDS
THIS DESIGNATION. FORMED IN
2023, EARLIER THIS YEAR, THEY
GOT THEIR FULL DESIGNATION AS A
NONPROFIT STATUS. THEY SERVE AS
THE NEIGHBORHOOD WIDE COALITION
OF CREATIVE ENTITIES,
REPRESENTING GEORGETOWN IN THE
ARTS AND CULTURAL PROGRAM. IT
WAS GUIDED BY STAKE HOLDER
INPUT, ENSURING STRATEGIES
REFLECT THE COMMUNITY'S
PRIORITIES STRENGTHENING
GEORGETOWN'S CREATIVE NETWORK.
THEY ARE GOVERNED BY A BOARD OF
DIRECTORS COMPRISED OF ARTISTS,
CURATORS, RESIDENTS, CREATIVE
BUSINESS OWNERS WHO MEET
MONTHLY, LEAD COMMUNITIES, AND
PARTICIPATE IN COMMUNITY EVENTS.
>> ACCORDING TO THE 2025 BUDGET
REPORT ISSUED FROM ARTS FUND,
THE CREATIVE SECTOR, WITHIN THE
ZIP CODES ENCOMPASSING
GEORGETOWN GENERATED MORE THAN 6
MILLION IN EARNED REVENUE AND
RECEIVED JUST OVER 13 MILLION IN
CONTRIBUTED REVENUE,
UNDERSCORING THE ECONOMIC AND
COMMUNITY IMPACTS OF ARTS AND
CULTURAL ACTIVITY IN THE
DISTRICT. AFFORDABLE HOUSING
UNITS PLANNED FOR THE AREA ARE
BEING DRIVEN BY THE NEIGHBORHOOD
CREATIVE SECTOR. THE UP AND
COMING DEVELOPMENT HAS OWNERSHIP
OF 18 PROPERTIES ALONG 4th
AVENUE WITH PLANS TO DEVELOP
INTO AFFORDABLE HOUSING STORE
FRONTS AND COMMUNITY SPACE. WE
DISCOVERED THE HILLMAN DOCUMENTS
FOR REVIEW WERE NOT CONFIRMED
FOR THE LEGISLATION WAS NEVER
FORMALLY APPROVED THROUGH THIS
PROCESS. THE GROUP HAS BEEN
OPERATING AS A CULTURAL DISTRICT
SUCCESSFULLY AND RECEIVING
RESOURCES AS A FORMALIZED
DISTRICT, AND WE ARE SEEKING TO
FORMALIZE THE LEGISLATION.
>> SINCE 2018, THE DISTRICT HAS
BEEN ACTIVELY COMMITTED TO
PROGRAMMING AND ADVOCACY FOR THE
NEIGHBORHOOD. THERE'S WORK
TOWARDS ACQUISITION OF
BUILDINGS, HAVING SECURED ONE,
AND LOOKING TO SECURE ANOTHER
SOON IN THE SAME NEIGHBORHOOD.
THE PROCESS IS TURNING THE BLOCK
OF RAINIER AVENUE INTO A
CREATIVE HUB FOR THE ACQUISITION
OF THE BUILDINGS. THEY ARE
CURRENTLY IN THE SAME AREA
WORKING ON ALLEYWAY ACTIVATION.
IF YOU WANT DISTRICTS TO
PRESERVE -- SUSTAINED
IMPLEMENTATION AND SUPPORT. THE
DEVELOP OF SUPPORTING POLICIES
AND INCREASED FINANCIAL
INVESTMENT TO EMPOWER THE
DISTRICTS FURTHER.
>> THE OFFICE OF ARTS AND
CULTURAL WILL BE WORKING TO
DEVELOPING POLICY, SEEKING
RESOURCES, AND ESTABLISHING
TOOLS TO SUPPORT THE DISTRICTS
IN MEETING THEIR GOALS. WE
BELIEVE IT CAN ADDRESS LARGER
ISSUES THE COMMUNITIES ARE
FACING. OUR DEPARTMENT IS HAVING
A FULL-TIME CULTURAL SPACE
MANAGER THAT WILL RESIDE IN THE
NEW DIVISION. WE APPRECIATE YOUR
TIME TODAY, AND WE WELCOME ANY
QUESTIONS.
>> THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR THAT
FANTASTIC PRESENTATION. I HAVE
TO JUST START OFF BY SAYING,
THIS IS ACTUALLY THE SECOND TIME
IN COUNCIL CHAMBERS TODAY THAT
HAT AND BOOTS HAS BEEN
MENTIONED. I DON'T KNOW IF
THAT'S HAPPENED BEFORE, BUT I
JUST WANT TO SAY TWICE ONE DAY.
SHOUTOUTTO GEORGETOWN AND HAT
AND BOOTS FOR GETTING A SHOUTOUT
TWICE IN ONE DAY.
>> I WORKED ON IT WITH THE PARKS
DEPARTMENT.
>> FANTASTIC. WE KNEW KELLY, THE
DEPUTY DIRECTOR, HAD A DEPTH OF
EXPERIENCE, BUT NOW THREE TIMES
FOR HAT AND BOOTS. WITH MAY HAVE
TO COME BACK NEXT YEAR AND DO A
PROCLAMATION FOR HAT AND BOOTS
DAY. FOR FOLKS WHO DON'T KNOW
WHAT I'M TALKING ABOUT, IT'S A
FANTASTIC SCULPTURE, PIECE OF
ART IN GEORGETOWN THAT IS FUN TO
VISIT. THANK YOU FOR THAT
PRESENTATION, AND REALLY LOVE
THE MENTION OF ALL OF THE
FANTASTIC GALLERIES AND
FESTIVALS AND REALLY EXCITED TO
HAVE THE OPPORTUNITY TO MAKE
SURE WE ARE NOT JUST CREATING
THE FORMAL ARTS DISTRICT IN
GEORGETOWN, BUT THE PROPER
RECOGNITION FOR THE HILLMAN CITY
OR COLUMBIA HILLMAN. THEY HAVE
RECENTLY STARTED 98118 ART FEST,
IN ADDITION TO THE CULTURAL
EVENTS WE HAVE HERE IN SEATTLE.
OKAY, WITH THAT, I WILL TURN TO
MY COLLEAGUES TO ASK IF YOU HAVE
QUESTIONS FOR OUR PANELISTS
TODAY. SEEING NONE, WHAT DOES
THE CITY COMMIT TO WITH THIS
DESIGNATION, AND WHAT REMAINS
COMMUNITY LED? PINKY, YOU SPOKE
ABOUT THE DIFFERENCE IN THE
APPROACH FROM SEATTLE TO SAN
FRANCISCO, BUT I WANT TO
HIGHLIGHT THAT FOR FOLKS'
AWARENESS.
>> YEAH, SO RIGHT NOW, AND HOPES
TO GROW MORE SUPPORT, WE DO
PROVIDE FUNDING, AND WE PROVIDE
A STAFF PERSON TO SUPPORT THEM,
AND ESPECIALLY WHEN THEY RUN
INTO A DIFFERENT PERMIT. GIVING
THEM THE GUIDELINE TO HAVE A
STAFF PERSON TO CONNECT AND LINK
TO AND GIVING THEM THE GUIDE
RAILS ON WHAT TO PAY ATTENTION
TO. RELATIVELY BEYOND THAT,
IT'S ABOUT UPLIFTING THEIR
VOICES AND MAKING SURE THEY ARE
IN THE RIGHT ROOMS, AND WHETHER
THAT IS PRIVATE OR PUBLIC.
>> I WILL JUST ADD, THIS IS
DEFINITELY A PROGRAM THAT WE
HAVE HAD A LOT OF CONVERSATIONS
WITH OUR NEW DIRECTOR NGUYEN,
ABOUT HOW WE CAN GROW THIS TO
REALLY PROVIDE EVEN MORE
CONNECTS, RESOURCES, AROUND
WORKING THROUGH CITY PROCESSES.
SO IT IS DEFINITELY SOMETHING WE
HOPE TO CONTINUE TO BUILD ON
WHAT THE COMMUNITIES THAT ARE
ENGAGED IN THIS PROGRAM HAVE
ACCESS TO.
>> FANTASTIC. THANK YOU. I WILL
JUST ASK ONE MORE QUESTION
BEFORE I TAKE US TO A VOTE. CAN
YOU REMIND US AGAIN, I KNOW WE
TALKED ABOUT THE SUPPORT TO THE
CULTURAL DISTRICTS K YOU REMIND
US AGAIN THE LEVEL OF SUPPORT
GIVEN ALL -- I MEAN, YOU SPOKE
TO THIS DEPUTY DIRECTOR
DAVIDSON, THE ECONOMIC
GENERATION THAT COMES FROM SOME
OF THE COMMUNITIES? AND I THINK
IT'S A RELATIVELY MODEST LEVEL
OF SUPPORT THAT IS PROVIDED TO
THE ARTS AND CULTURAL DISTRICTS
FOR THE OUTPUT THEY CREATE. CAN
YOU REMIND US OF THAT?
>> THE AMOUNT?
>> YEAH.
>> THE AMOUNT, ANNUALLY WE
CONTRIBUTE $110,000. WE TRY TO
GIVE 25 TO EACH DISTRICT WITH
ADDING GEORGETOWN, THAT MEANS WE
WILL BE IN A DEFICIT. WE DO HAVE
PLANS TO HOW WE WILL NAVIGATE
THAT IN THE BUDGET CYCLE, BUT WE
WILL HAVE TO ADDRESS THAT AS WE
MOVE FORWARD.
>> FANTASTIC. THANK YOU. ALL
RIGHT, COMMITTEE MEMBERS, JUST
ONE MORE CHECK TO SEE IF
THERE'S ANY QUESTIONS FOR THE
COMMITTERS. COMMITTERS? I MEAN
PRESENTERS. OTHERWISE, I WILL
TAKE US TO A VOTE. OKAY, THANK
YOU SO MUCH. CLERK, CAN I ASK
THAT YOU, WHERE AM I -- I MOVE
THAT THE COMMITTEE RECOMMEND
ADOPT OF RESOLUTION 32201, IS
THERE A SECOND?
>> SECOND.
>> IT IS MOVED AND SECONDED TO
RECOMMEND ADOPTION OF THE
RESOLUTION. ARE THINK ANY
FURTHER COMMENTS? WILL THE CLERK
PLEASE CALL THE ROLL ON THE
RECOMMENDATION TO ADOPT
RESOLUTION 32201.
>> PRESIDENT HOLLINGSWORTH?
>> YES.
>> COUNCILMEMBER JUAREZ?
>> COUNCILMEMBER RINCK?
>> VICE CHAIR LIN?
>> YES.
>> CHAIR FOSTER?
>> YES.
>> FIVE IN FAVOR. NONE OPPOSED.
>> THE COMMITTEE RECOMMENDATION
WILL BE SENT TO THE MAY 19,
2026, SEATTLE CITY COUNCIL
MEETING. WE WILL NEXT MOVE ON TO
OUR NEXT ITEM OF BUSINESS, THE
VOTE ON THE RESOLUTION CREATING
AN ARTS AND CULTURAL DISTRICT IN
COLUMBIA CITY. WILL THE CLERK
PLEASE READ ITEM TWO IN THE
RECORD.
>> RESOLUTION 32200 RESOLUTION
CREATING AN ARTS AND CULTURAL
DISTRICT IN THE COLUMBIA HILLMAN
CITY NEIGHBORHOOD OF SEATTLE.
>> DO MEMBERS HAVE ANY QUESTIONS
ARTING THE COLUMBIA HILLMAN CITY
NEIGHBOR DISTRICT? SEEING NONE,
I RECOMMEND THE MOVE. IS THERE A
SECOND?
>> SECOND.
>> IT'S MOVED AND SECONDED TO
RECOMMEND ADOPT OF THE
RESOLUTION, ARE THERE ANY
FURTHER COMMENTS? WILL THE CLERK
PLEASE CALL THE ROLL ON THE
RECOMMENDATION TO ADOPT 32200?
>> HOLLINGSWORTH?
>> YES.
>> JUAREZ?
>> AYE.
>> RINCK?
>> YES.
>> VICE CHAIR LIN.
>> YES.
>> CHAIR FOSTER.
>> YES.
>> FIVE IN FAVOR, NONE OPPOSED.
>> CARRIES. THE COMMITTEE
RECOMMENDATION THAT IT BE
ADOPTED WILL BE SENT TO THE MAY
19th CITY COUNCIL MEETING. THANK
YOU SO MUCH FOR JOINING US
TODAY.
>> THANK YOU FOR HAVING US.
>> WITH THAT, WE WILL NOW MOVE
ON TO AGENDA ITEM THREE. WILL
THE CLERK PLEASE READ ITEM THREE
INTO THE RECORD.
>> AGENDA ITEM THREE, SOCIAL
HOUSING DEVELOPER CHARTER CHANGE
FOR BRIEFING AND DISCUSSION.
>> FANTASTIC. SO FOR THIS
CONVERSATION AS WE MOVE ON TO
DISCUSSION OF THE SEATTLE SOCIAL
HOUSING DEVELOPER CHARTER
CHANGE, WE ARE GOING TO BE
JOINED BY JEN LABRECK THERE
COUNCIL CENTRAL STAFF WHO IS
JOINING US VIRTUALLY. BEFORE I
PASS IT OVER TO JEN, I'M GOING
TO SAY A FEW WORDS ABOUT WHAT WE
ARE BRINGING FORWARD. WE ARE
BRINGING THIS FORWARD FOR
DISCUSSION TODAY. SO I AM REALLY
EXCITED TO BE DISCUSSING THESE
CHANGES, TO THE CHARTER OF THE
SOCIAL HOUSING DEVELOPER. AS
THEY ARE WORKING QUICKLY TO
DELIVER ON THE PROMISE OF
PERMANENTLY AFFORDABLE HOUSING
AND PLANNING TO MAKE
ACQUISITIONS, AND AS WE HAVE
ALREADY HEARD FROM SOME OF OUR
PUBLIC COMMENTERS TODAY, THESE
ARE CHANGES THAT MY OFFICE HAS
BEEN WORKING CLOSELY WITH THE
DEVELOPER ON TO MAKE SURE THEY
HAVE ALL OF TOOLS NECESSARY AT
THEIR DISPOSAL TO BRING FORWARD
SOCIAL HOUSING. THE NEED WAS
FIRST IDENTIFIED BY THE PREVIOUS
CEO, AND WAS REINFORCED AS A
NECESSARY CHANGE BY INTERIM CEO
TIFFANY McCOY AND HER TEAM.
AFTER IDENTIFYING THE NEED FOR
THIS UPDATE AND ENGAGING CLOSELY
WITH POTENTIAL LEADERS, THE
SEATTLE SOCIAL HOUSING DEVELOPER
IDENTIFIED SEVERAL CHANGES TO
THE CHARTER THAT ARE NECESSARY
TO SUCCESSFULLY ALIGN WITH THE
VALUES AND GOALS THAT VOTERS
APPROVED WHEN THEY
OVERWHELMINGLY VOTED IN SUPPORT
OF INITIATIVE I-135. AS WE HAVE
THIS DISCUSSION TODAY, WE WILL
TALK A LITTLE BIT ABOUT THE
PROCESS, REGARDING APPROVING
THESE CHANGES, AND WE WILL BE
VOTING ON A -- IN THE FUTURE, MY
OFFICE WILL BE BRINGING FORWARD
A RESOLUTION TO AFFIRM THE
CHANGES THAT THE CEO OF THE
SOCIAL HOUSING DEVELOPER HAS
ALREADY BROUGHT TO THE SOCIAL
HOUSING DEVELOPER BOARD. A BIT
OF A DIFFERENT PROCESS FOR MY
COLLEAGUES, SO YOU WILL BE
HEARING FROM JEN ON THERE, AND I
WANT TO MAKE SURE WE UNDERSTAND
THAT. JEN GOING TO TALK US
THROUGH THAT PROCESS, AND WE
JUST WANT TO MAKE SURE THAT
FOLKS UNDERSTAND, BOTH THE
CHANGES THAT WE ARE TALKING
ABOUT AS WELL AS THE PROCESS
THAT WE WILL BE MOVING FORWARD.
SO WITH THAT, I'M REALLY
EXCITED. I BELIEVE THAT WHAT WE
ARE TALKING ABOUT ARE JUST
SMART, TECHNICAL CHANGES FOR THE
DEVELOPER. I WILL BE HANDING IT
OVER TO JEN.
>> THANK YOU. HI, I'M JENNIFER
LABRECK. MY VIDEO SEEMS FUNKY. I
THINK I'M GOING TO TURN THAT
OFF. I'M CITY COUNCIL CENTRAL
STAFF. I AM GOING TO GO AHEAD
AND SHARE THIS PRESENTATION FOR
YOU TODAY. OKAY, CAN EVERYONE
SEE THAT?
>> WE CAN SEE. THANK YOU, JEN.
>> GREAT. ALL RIGHT. SO TODAY'S
PRESENTATION IS ON PROPOSED
CHANGES TO THE SEATTLE SOCIAL
HOUSING DEVELOPMENT CHARTER,
DEVELOPER CHARTER, AND CHAIR
FOSTER JUST ELUDED TO THIS, BUT
THIS -- THE PROPOSED CHANGES AND
THE ACCOMPANYING RESOLUTION ARE
ON THE AGENDA AS AN INFORMATION
ITEM. THEY HAVEN'T BEEN
INTRODUCED YET. THAT'S BECAUSE
WE ARE WAITING FOR THE SOCIAL
HOUSING DEVELOPER BOARD TO
APPROVE ONE FINAL TECHNICAL
TWEAK TO THE CHARTER BEFORE WE
GO FORWARD AND INTRODUCE IT. I
WILL TALK MORE ABOUT WHY THAT IS
AND WHY THAT'S IMPORTANT LATER
ON IN THIS PRESENTATION. JUST A
LITTLE BIT OF BACKGROUND.
INITIATIVE MEASURE 135 OTHERWISE
KNOWN AS I-135 WAS PASSED IN
NOVEMBER 2023 AND CREATED THE
SEATTLE SOCIAL HOUSING
DEVELOPER. THE MISSION IS TO
DEVELOP, ACQUIRE, AND OPERATE
SOCIAL HOUSING IN THE CITY OF
SEATTLE I-135 INCLUDED A CHARTER
FOR THE SOCIAL HOUSING
DEVELOPER, ESSENTIALLY EXHIBIT
A. TO I-135. UNDER THAT CHARTER,
THE SOCIAL HOUSING DEVELOPER
BOARD CAN RECOMMEND CHANGES TO
THE CHARTER, BUT CITY COUNCIL
APPROVAL IS NEEDED TO MAKE ANY
FINAL REVISIONS TO THE CHARTER.
THE SOCIAL HOUSING DEVELOPER
BOARD DID VOTE LAST WEEK TO
RECOMMEND ALL OF THE PROPOSED
CHANGES TO THE CHARTER THAT YOU
SEE, ESSENTIALLY THE CHARTER
ATTACHED TO THE AGENDA AS AN
INFORMATION ITEM. THERE'S ONE
SMALL EXCEPTION THAT WE NEED TO
MAKE ONE MORE SMALL TWEAK TO THE
DEFINITION SECTION. REALLY A
TECHNICAL CHANGE, AND THE SOCIAL
HOUSING DEVELOPER BOARD WILL BE
VOTING NEXT WEEK TO MAKE THAT
TECHNICAL CHANGE, AND SO THE
VERSION THAT IS ATTACHED TO THE
AGENDA, ESSENTIALLY ASSUMES THAT
THE BOARD WILL MAKE THE
TECHNICAL CHANGE NEXT WEEK AND
ALREADY REFLECTS IT. I'M NOW
GOING TO TALK THROUGH THE
PROPOSED CHANGES TO THE CHARTER
AND THEIR PURPOSE. I THINK JUST
TAKING A STEP BACK. OVERALL THE
PURPOSE OF THE CHANGES ARE TO
HELP THE SOCIAL HOUSING
DEVELOPER TO BE ABLE TO
ACCOMPLISH ITS MISSION OF
ACQUIRING, DEVELOPING, AND
OPERATING SOCIAL HOUSING IN THE
CITY OF SEATTLE, ESPECIALLY IN
SOME CASES TO FACILITATE THEM
BEING ABLE TO DO REAL ESTATE
TRANSACTIONS. THE FIRST CHANGE
ALLOWS THE SOCIAL HOUSING
DEVELOPER TO FORM A SINGLE
PURPOSE ENTITY, SUCH AS A
LIMITED LIABILITY CORPORATION.
BUT I THINK A KEY THING HERE,
THE SEATTLE SOCIAL HOUSING
DEVELOPER WOULD HAVE TO RETAIN
CONTROL OVER THE HOUSING, EVEN
IF IT WAS OWNED BY A SINGLE
PURPOSE ENTITY. I'M SORRY. THE
SEATTLE SOCIAL HOUSING DEVELOPER
WHO RETAIN CONTROL OVER THE
HOUSING BY HAVING TO BOTH OWN
AND CONTROL THE SINGLE PURPOSE
ENTITY. THIS IS A FAIRLY COMMON
THING IN REAL ESTATE, YOU SET UP
AN LLC IN ORDER TO DEVELOP A
PROPERTY IN ORDER TO PROVIDE
SOME PROTECTION IF SOMETHING
HAPPENED AGAINST OTHER ASSETS OF
THE SOCIAL HOUSING DEVELOPER
MIGHT OWN. ANOTHER CHANGE,
RENTAL RATES WOULD BE BASED ON
MORE THAN JUST THE COST OF THE
BUILDINGS. FOR EXAMPLE, MAYBE
ONE BUILDING HAS FOR AFFORDABLE
UNITS, ANOTHER BUILDING THAT HAD
HIGHER MARKET RATE RENTS COULD
BE USED TO CROSS SUBSIDIZE THE
BUILDINGS WITH LOWER RENTS OR
ALLOW THE SUPPORT OF BOND
PAYMENTS. THE SOCIAL HOUSING
DEVELOPER WAS CONCERNED AS THE
CHARTER IS CURRENTLY WRITTEN, IT
WAS A LITTLE TOO RESTRICTIVE. IT
WOULDN'T ALLOW THEM TO
ACCOMPLISH SOME OF THE OTHER
OBJECTIVES THEY HAD. THE CHANGES
FACILITATE THE SEATTLE SOCIAL
HOUSING DEVELOPER BEING ABLE TO
USE PROPERTIES AS COLLATERAL FOR
DEBT. THIS IS A KEY CHANGE.
THERE'S LANGUAGE IN THE CHARTER
THAT SAYS THE PROPERTIES MUST BE
OWNED IN PERPETUITY OF THE
SOCIAL HOUSING DEVELOPER, AND
THEY FOUND THE LANGUAGE
PROBLEMATIC BECAUSE ESSENTIALLY
IT MEANT THEY COULDN'T
FORECLOSE ON A PROPERTY, SHOULD
THE DEBT NOT -- YOU KNOW, SHOULD
THE SOCIAL HOUSING DEVELOPER GO
INTO FORECLOSURE. THIS
ESSENTIALLY ALLOWS THE SOCIAL
HOUSING DEVELOPER TO USE A
PROPERTY AS COLLATERAL AND EASES
THE CONCERN PREVENTING THEM FROM
BEING ABLE TO TAKE ON DEBT. IT
ALSO ALLOWS THE SOCIAL HOUSING
DEVELOPER TO EXECUTE REGULATORY
AGREEMENTS, ONE EXAMPLE FOR
THAT, FOR EXAMPLE MAY BE THE
MANDATORY HOUSING AFFORDABILITY
AGREEMENT IF THAT'S A PATH THEY
WANTED TO GO DOWN. ANOTHER KEY
CHANGE, AND I THINK ELUDED TO
DURING PUBLIC COMMENT IS THAT
ESSENTIALLY THE CHARTER CHANGES
ALLOW THE SOCIAL HOUSING
DEVELOPER TO CONDOIZE A
PROPERTY. TO FORM A CONDO TO
HAVE A RESIDENTIAL PORTION OF
THE CONDO THEY CONTINUE TO OWN.
THEY HAVE TO CONTINUE TO OWN THE
RESIDENTIAL PORTION OF THE
BUILDING, BUT THEY COULD SELL
THE COMMERCIAL PORTION. THIS
WOULD ALLOW THEM TO PARTNER WITH
THE COMMUNITY OR ORGANIZATION
WHO MIGHT BE INTERESTED OR MIGHT
OWN LAND FOR EXAMPLE, AND MIGHT
BE INTERESTED IN WORKING WITH
THE SOCIAL HOUSING DEVELOPER TO
DEVELOP THE PROPERTY BUT WANT TO
OWN FOR THEIR OWN USES. ELUDED
TO DURING PUBLIC COMMENT,
THERE'S PROTECTIONS AROUND THE
PORTION. THE SOCIAL HOUSING
DEVELOPER WOULD HAVE A RIGHT OF
FIRST REFUSAL FOR THE COMMERCIAL
PORTION OF THE BUILDING, WERE IT
TO BE SOLD, AND THERE WOULD BE A
LIMIT TO THE -- ESSENTIALLY TO
THE RESELL PRICE THAT THE OWNER
COULD MAKE OFF ANY SALE. WHETHER
IT WENT TO THE SOCIAL HOUSING
DEVELOPER OR THEY WERE
INTERESTED AND IT WENT TO A
PRIVATE PARTY, THERE WOULD BE A
LIMIT ON THE PROFIT THAT COULD
BE MADE. CONTINUING ON,
CURRENTLY 7 OUT OF THE 13 BOARD
POSITIONS ARE APPOINTED BY THE
RENTERS COMMISSION. UNDER THE
CHARTER, AS THE SOCIAL HOUSING
DEVELOPER BEGINS TO OWN AND
OPERATE BUILDINGS, THEY WILL
HAVE A CONSTITUENCY, COMPRISED
OF RESIDENTS LIVING WITHIN THE
SOCIAL HOUSING DEVELOPMENTS.
UNDER THE CHART IT'S THE
CONSTITUENCY THAT WILL APPOINT
THE BOARD MEMBERS, REPLACING THE
BOARD MEMBERS CURRENTLY
APPOINTED BY THE RENTERS
COMMISSION. PREVIOUSLY THE
CHARTER HAD BEEN SILENT WHAT THE
PROCESS WOULD LOOK LIKE, AND IF
THE BOARD MEMBERS APPOINTED BY
THE RENTERS COMMISSION WOULD
FINISH OUT THEIR TERMS, SO THIS
JUST ADDS CLARITY TO THE
PROCESS, INCLUDING STATING THERE
DOES HAVE TO BE CONSTITUENCY
RULES AND REGULATIONS IN PLACE
BEFORE ANYONE -- ESSENTIALLY
BOARD MEMBERS WILL BE APPOINTED
BY THE CONSTITUENCY. IT
ELIMINATES THE REQUIREMENT THAT
THE CONSTITUENCY SELECTS AN
INDEPENDENT AUDITOR. IT HAS TO
BE AUDITED BY THE STATE AUDITOR,
AND THERE'S NO CHOICE IN THE
SELECTION OF AN INDEPENDENT
AUDITOR. I WANT TO NOTE THAT THE
SOCIAL HOUSING DEVELOPER IS
STILL REQUIRED TO PROVIDE
AUDITED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS TO
THE CITY CLERK ANNUALLY. IT ADDS
A NEW SECTION RELATED TO
DEFINITIONS, AND THEN THERE ARE
JUST OTHER MISCELLANEOUS CHANGES
FOR THE PURPOSE OF CLARITY. I
WANT TO TAKE A MOMENT TO TALK
ABOUT TIMELINE AND ALSO WHY THIS
PARTICULAR PIECE OF LEGISLATION
IS A LITTLE UNIQUE IN TERMS OF
AMENDMENTS. I WILL TALK ABOUT
TIMELINE FIRST. WE ARE HERE
TODAY. JUNE2nd, THE RESOLUTION
AND ATTACHED CHARTER WILL BE ON
THE IRC, THE INTRODUCTION AND
REFERRAL COMMITTEE. SORRY,
THAT'S A TYPO. JUNE10th,
ANOTHER DISCUSSION AND POTENTIAL
VOTE AT COMMITTEE. JUNE16th, THE
FIRST AVAILABLE DATE AT COUNCIL.
THIS IS WHERE I JUST WANT TO
TALK ABOUT THE UNIQUE POSITION
WE ARE IN. AFTER THE BOARD VOTES
NEXT WEEK, THE SOCIAL HOUSING
DEVELOPER VOTES NEXT WEEK ON THE
ONE TECHNICAL CHANGE,
ESSENTIALLY THE CHANGES THAT ARE
ATTACHED TO THIS RESOLUTION THAT
ARE IN THE PROPOSED CHARTER WILL
MATCH EXACTLY WHAT THE BOARD HAS
RECOMMENDED. BECAUSE THERE'S A
MATCH THERE, ESSENTIALLY BECAUSE
COUNCIL IS ADOPTING EXACTLY THE
CHANGES THE BOARD RECOMMENDED,
WE CAN DO THIS THROUGH A
RESOLUTION WHICH IS CURRENTLY
HOW IT IS BEING DONE. IF COUNCIL
WANTED TO MAKE FURTHER CHANGES,
MORE THAN THE BOARD WANTED TO
DO, WE WANT TO MAKE OTHER
CHANGES TO THE CHARTER, AN
ORDINANCE WOULD ACTUALLY BE
NECESSARY INSTEAD THAT WOULD
ESSENTIALLY REQUIRE A DIFFERENT
AND NEW PIECE OF LESSON. I'M
GOING TO STOP THERE AND SEE IF
THERE ARE ANY QUESTIONS.
>> YOU'RE RECOGNIZED
COUNCILMEMBER JUAREZ.
>> I HAD A QUESTION. I WANT TO
MAKE SURE IT'S NOT ME. ELDER
STATUS HERE. IN THE BEGINNING,
YOU HAVE THE RESOLUTION WOULD
AMEND THE SOCIAL HOUSING
DEVELOPER CHARTER PROPOSED
CHARTER CHANGES RECOMMENDED BY
THE SEATTLE SOCIAL HOUSING
DEVELOPER BOARD AT THEIR MAY
5th, AND MAY 21st , 2026,
MEETING, I'M GUESSING THAT'S
NOT CORRECT ON THE 21st ,
BECAUSE IT'S NOT HAPPENED YET?
>> THANK YOU FOR CALLING THAT
OUT. THAT IS -- ON MAY 21st,
THEY WILL BE MAKING THE SOCIAL
HOUSING DEVELOPER BOARD WILL BE
MAKING A TECHNICAL TWEAK IN
ORDER TO ALIGN THE PROPOSED
CHANGES THAT ARE ATTACHED TO THE
RESOLUTION TO WHAT THEY
RECOMMENDED. YOU ARE CORRECT.
THAT HAS NOT HAPPENED YET. WE
ARE NOT ANTICIPATING ANY ISSUES.
I'M WORKING CLOSELY TO
COORDINATE THAT. BUT YOU ARE
CORRECT.
>> I JUST WANT TO MAKE SURE
BECAUSE I THOUGHT IF THEY HAD
TWO BOARD MEETINGS, BUT YOU SAID
ONE AND ANTICIPATING THE 21st TO
MAKE IT FINAL?
>> YES.
>> ALL OF THE CLARIFICATION I
NEED. THANK YOU MADAM CHAIR.
>> THANK YOU, COUNCILMEMBER
JUAREZ. COLLEAGUES, I WILL PAUSE
TO SEE IF THERE'S ANY OTHER
QUESTIONS. HOLLINGSWORTH?
>> THANK YOU, CHAIR. THANK YOU
FOR BRINGING THIS. A QUICK
QUESTION, JENNIFER, SORRY. NOW I
SPEND ALL OF MY TIME TELLING
PEOPLE TO SPEAK INTO THE MIC,
THE FACT THAT YOU HAD TO TELL ME
IS VERY EMBARRASSING. CAN YOU GO
TO PAGE FOUR PLEASE JENNIFER. I
WANT TO GET THE TIMELINE DOWN.
SO JUST TO REITERATE, WHEN WOULD
AMENDMENTS BE DUE? THERE'S NO
AMENDMENTS?
>> THERE'S NO AMENDMENTS. AS
THE RESOLUTION, COUNCIL CAN ONLY
ADOPT EXACTLY WHAT THE BOARD
RECOMMENDED.
>> SO IT CAN BE A YES OR A NO?
>> YES, EXACTLY.
>> OKAY.
>> SO UP OR DOWN VOTE, AND THAT
IS -- OKAY GOOD TO KNOW. THANK
YOU. THAT'S MY ONLY QUESTION.
SO THERE'S NO CHANGES THAT CAN
BE MADE?
>> IF A COUNCILMEMBER WANTED TO
MAKE CHANGES ABOVE AND BEYOND
WHAT THE BOARD RECOMMENDED, THEY
WOULD HAVE TO INTRODUCE A NEW
PIECE OF LEGISLATION, AND IT
WOULD HAVE TO BE AN ORDINANCE
RATHER THAN A RESOLUTION. I WANT
TO BE CLEAR, COUNCIL ALWAYS HAS
THE AUTHORITY AND ABILITY TO
MAKE CHANGES ABOVE AND BEYOND
WHAT THE SOCIAL HOUSING
DEVELOPER BOARD RECOMMENDS. THEY
CAN DO THAT AT ANY TIME. THEY
ARE NOT DEPENDENT ON THE BOARD
TO INITIATE CHANGES. WE JUST
NEED A DIFFERENT VEHICLE IF
COUNCIL DOES THAT, AND THE
VEHICLE IS AN ORDINANCE COMPARED
TO A RESOLUTION.
>> UNDERSTOOD. THAT'S GOOD
CLARITY. THANK YOU. THANK YOU,
CHAIR.
>> THANK YOU SO MUCH, COUNCIL
PRESIDENT. COLLEAGUES, OTHER
PRESIDENTS FOR COMMITTEE MEMBERS
FOR THE BOARD AT THIS TIME
REGARDING THE PROPOSED CHANGES
TO THE CHARTER? OKAY. AND I WILL
JUST QUICKLY ASK JEN, CAN YOU
JUST ELABORATE FOR US ABOUT THE
TECHNICAL CHANGES THAT THE BOARD
IS GOING TO BE CONSIDERING AT
THEIR LATER MEETING ON THE 21st?
I JUST WANT TO MAKE SURE THE
COLLEAGUES HERE KNOW WHAT TO
EXPECT AND HAVE A SENSE THESE
ARE RELATIVELY MINOR TWEAKS.
>> OH, SURE. THEY ARE ALREADY
REFLECTED IN THE VERSION THEY
SHARED. IT'S ALL TO DO WITH THE
DEFINITION SECTION. I THINK WHAT
THE BOARD ORIGINALLY VOTED ON, A
COUPLE OF THINGS. ONE, THEY ARE
CHANGING THE DEFINITION OF
RESTORATIVE JUSTICE, BUT WHAT
THE BOARD VOTED ON ACCIDENTALLY
REFERENCED A PART OF THE CHARTER
THAT DOESN'T EXIST. WE ARE JUST
MAKING SURE THE NEW DEFINITION
OF RESTORATIVE JUSTICE ENDS UP
IN THE DEFINITION SECTION THAT
IS A PART OF THE CHARTER, AND
THEN THERE WAS A LITTLE BIT OF
CLARITY ABOUT, LACK OF CLARITY,
ABOUT THEY RESTATED A COUPLE OF
DEFINITIONS, SO THEY ARE
DIFFERENT THAN WHAT IS IN I-135.
WE ADDED CLARITY THAT THE
DEFINITIONS ARE RESTATED FOR THE
PURPOSES OF THE CHARTER, BUT WE
ARE NOT TRYING TO AMEND AND
WHICH DEFINITIONS TAKE
PRECEDENCE IN WHAT SITUATION.
TRULY TECHNICAL.
>> THANK YOU FOR THAT, JEN. JUST
REITERATING WHAT WE PUT FORWARD
IN -- WE UPLOADED AND WHAT
COLLEAGUES HAVE IN FRONT OF US
REFLECTS THE CHANGES THAT WE
ANTICIPATE THE BOARD VOTING ON
IN THAT MEETING LATER ON THIS
MONTH, WHICH IS ALSO PART OF THE
REASON WHY, AS YOU KNOW NOTED
COUNCILMEMBER JUAREZ WHO CATCHES
EVERY DETAIL WITH A TINE-TOOTH
COMB SAYING IT'S NOT MAY 21st
YET, WE WANTED TO REFLECT THE
VERSION WE ANTICIPATE THE BOARD
VOTING ON SO COLLEAGUES YOU HAVE
THE OPPORTUNITY IN THIS BRIEFING
AND DISCUSSION TO BE READING AND
ENGAGING AND ASKING QUESTIONS
ABOUT THAT VERSION. THAT IS WHY
THAT DATE CHANGES THERE, AND WE
WANT TO MAKE SURE THAT WAS
REFLECTED CLEARLY. I WILL JUST
SAY, I KNOW THERE'S NOT A TON
MORE QUESTIONS FROM THE
COMMITTEE, AND YOU KNOW, SAGE
FROM MY OFFICE HAS BEEN WORKING
WITH THE DEVELOPER ON THIS. IF
THERE'S ANY QUESTIONS ABOUT THE
CHANGES OR IMPLEMENTATION, OUR
OFFICE OR JEN IS HAPPY TO WORK
CLOSELY WITH FOLKS. JEN, WE
REALLY APPRECIATE ALL OF THE
HARD WORK YOU DID AND THE HARD
WORK FROM THE DEVELOPER AND THE
PARTNERSHIP TO FIGURE OUT HOW WE
CAN MAKE THESE TECHNICAL TWEAKS
TO ENSURE THE DEVELOPER CAN BE
SUCCESSFUL IN THE COMING MONTHS
AND YEARS.
>> CHAIR?
>> OH, SORRY. I DIDN'T SEE YOUR
HAND. YES, COUNCILMEMBER RINCK?
>> CHAIR, I JUST WANTED TO -- I
DON'T HAVE ANY QUESTIONS FOR
TODAY. I HAVE HAD A CHANCE TO
REVIEW AND GET MY QUESTIONS
ANSWERED AHEAD OF THE MEETING. I
WANTED TO TAKE A MOMENT TO THANK
YOU AND YOUR OFFICE FOR THE WORK
WITH THE SOCIAL HOUSING
DEVELOPER AND OFFER COMMENTS FOR
THE MOMENT WE ARE IN BECAUSE I
THINK IT'S IMPORTANT TO NOTE
THAT SEATTLE VOTERS CONTINUE TO
AFFIRM THEIR SUPPORT FOR THE
SOCIAL HOUSING DEVELOPER, PROP
1A PASSING WITH 63% OF THE VOTE.
I BELIEVE THE ACTIONS FROM THE
DEVELOPER, SINCE THAT VOTE,
REALLY SPEAK TO THE INTENT TO
MAKE SURE THAT THE SOCIAL
HOUSING DEVELOPER AS A BODY
DELIVERS, INCLUDING THE BOARD
TAKING NECESSARY ACTION FOR
IMPORTANT LEADERSHIP CHANGES
INCLUDING THE HIRING OF HOUSING
DEVELOPMENT EXPERTS AND YOU HAVE
BROUGHT INTO COMMITTEE TO HEAR
DIRECTLY FROM, AND NOW PROPOSING
THESE TECHNICAL CHANGES TO THE
CHARTER, WHICH I BELIEVE WILL
HELP ENABLE THE DEVELOPER TO
DELIVER ON SOCIAL HOUSING. I
OFFER THAT CONTEXT AS A REMINDER
THAT WE ARE ENGAGING IN
SOMETHING NEW, AND WHEN MY
OFFICE HOSTED A LOCAL PROGRESS,
JUST ABOUT A MONTH AGO, WE HAD
FOLKS FROM OTHER CITIES AROUND
THE COUNTRY COMING TO LEARN FROM
US ON HOW OUR SOCIAL HOUSING
DEVELOPER IS DOING AND HOW WE
HAVE DONE THIS. IT IS REALLY A
LEARNING OPPORTUNITY. WE ARE
FIGURING THINGS OUT AS WE GO,
AND I WANTED TO TAKE A MOMENT TO
VOICE MY SUPPORT FOR THE
TECHNICAL AMENDMENTS AND CHANGES
TO THE CHARTER AS WE ARE REALLY
CARVING OUT A NEW PATH FORWARD,
AND FOLKS ARE EAGER TO LEARN
FROM US AND HOW WE ARE DOING
THIS. I WANTED TO OFFER THE
COMMENTS FOR TODAY, AND THANK
YOU, AGAIN, FOR BRINGING THIS
BEFORE US.
>> FANTASTIC, THANK YOU SO MUCH,
COUNCILMEMBER RINCK. I
APPRECIATE THAT. SEEING NO
FURTHER QUESTIONS OR COMMENTS
FROM COLLEAGUES, THANKS, AGAIN,
JEN, FOR YOUR TIME AND
LEADERSHIP ON THIS. IS THERE ANY
FURTHER BUSINESS TO COME BEFORE
COMMITTEE TODAY? ALL RIGHT,
SEEING NONE, THIS CONCLUDES THE
MAY 13, 2026 MEETING OF THE
HOUSING, ARTS, AND CIVIL RIGHTS
COMMITTEE. THE NEXT SCHEDULED
MEETING IS MAY 27th . THANK YOU
FOR ATTENDING. IT'S 3:00, AND
WE ARE ADJOURNED.
>> THANK YOU.
>> THANK YOU, MADAM CHAIR.
>> THANK