[MUSIC]
-- YES. ALL RIGHT. GOOD MORNING.
THE AUGUST 6th, 2026 MEETING OF
THE SAFETY, TRANSPORTATION
ENGINEERING PROJECT. SPORTS AND
EXPERIENCES COMMITTEE WILL COME
TO ORDER. FORMERLY KNOWN AS
TRANSPORTATION, WATERFRONT AND
SEATTLE CENTER COMMITTEE, IT IS
A. 9:32 A.M. I AM ROB SAKA,
CHAIR OF THE COMMITTEE. WILL THE
COMMITTEE CLERK PLEASE CALL THE
ROLL?
-- COUNCILMEMBER FOSTER
COUNCILMEMBER KETTLE.
COUNCILMEMBER. LIN. HERE VICE
CHAIR. RINCK. HERE. CHAIR SAKA.
HERE. CHAIR. THERE ARE THREE
MEMBERS PRESENT.
-- THANK YOU. LET THE RECORD
REFLECT THAT. COUNCILMEMBER
FOSTER IS EXCUSED. AND
COUNCILMEMBER KETTLE IS EXCUSED
UNTIL HE ARRIVES. ALL RIGHT. IF
THERE IS NO OBJECTION, THE
AGENDA WILL BE ADOPTED HEARING
AND SEEING NO OBJECTION, THE
AGENDA IS HEREBY ADOPTED. ALL
RIGHT. GOOD MORNING AGAIN,
COLLEAGUES. MEMBERS OF THE
PUBLIC, WELCOME. THANK YOU FOR
JOINING US AT TODAY'S MEETING.
BEFORE WE GET STARTED TODAY, I
DO WANT TO SHARE A FEW THOUGHTS
ON THE RECENT TRAGEDY THAT
OCCURRED ON SUNDAY, JULY 26th,
AT THE SEATTLE CENTER. LIVES
WERE SENSELESSLY LOST AND
INNOCENT PEOPLE WHO SIMPLY
WANTED TO ENJOY A FOOD FESTIVAL
WERE FOREVER TRAUMATIZED AND
IMPACTED. IN THE AFTERMATH, WE
SAW BOTH THE BEST AND WORST OF
OUR CITY BRAVE POLICE OFFICERS,
FIRST RESPONDERS, FIREFIGHTERS,
CARE DEPARTMENT, CALL CENTER
OPERATORS IMMEDIATELY RESPONDED
AND SPD APPREHENDED A SUSPECT
AND FURTHER AND ULTIMATELY
PREVENTED FURTHER VIOLENCE.
FIREFIGHTERS AND PARAMEDICS
RISKED THEIR OWN SAFETY TO TREAT
VICTIMS, SHOPKEEPERS AND VENDORS
OFFER SHELTER TO TO ATTENDEES
WHO DIDN'T KNOW WHAT WAS
HAPPENING. THEIR BRAVERY IN THE
FACE OF GRAVE DANGER DESERVES
OUR DEEPEST GRATITUDE, AND WE'VE
ALSO SEEN THE BEST OF COMMUNITY
AS WELL. KUDOS TO AMAZON FOR
THEIR $350,000 INVESTMENT TO
SUPPORT SOME OF THE FOOD VENDORS
AND RECOVERY FROM. IN THE
AFTERMATH OF THOSE EVENTS.
HOWEVER. HOWEVER, THERE WERE
ALSO SERIOUS SYSTEM FAILURES FOR
EXAMPLE, ALERT SEATTLE, OUR
CITY'S OFFICIAL EMERGENCY
NOTIFICATION SYSTEM, WAS NOT
USED. INITIAL INFORMATION
RELEASED TO THE PUBLIC WAS
INACCURATE AND NOT TIMELY, AND
THE PRESS CONFERENCE WAS HELD
FIVE HOURS AFTER THE SHOOTING.
THE PUBLIC WAS LEFT IN THE DARK.
LATER THAT WEEK, OF COURSE,
CHIEF BARNES RESIGNED AT THE
REQUEST OF MAYOR WILSON. MY
COLLEAGUES ON THE CITY COUNCIL
AND I LEARNED OF THIS THROUGH
LOCAL MEDIA. MOST OF US. AND WE
STILL HAVE NOT BEEN GIVEN A
FULL, CLEAR EXPLANATION FOR THE
DECISION. THIS LACK OF
COMMUNICATION FURTHER DAMAGES
PUBLIC TRUST AND TRUST. THAT
WILL TAKE TIME AND SUSTAINED,
FOCUSED EFFORT TO REBUILD. MY
OFFICE HAS BEEN IN CONTINUOUS
CONTACT AND COMMUNICATION WITH
THE SEATTLE CENTER AND LOOKS
FORWARD TO THEIR AFTER ACTION
BRIEFING ON PUBLIC SAFETY. IN
THE MEANTIME, LET'S SUPPORT ONE
ANOTHER AND WORK TO ENSURE THAT
OUR. THE VERY BEST OF OUR CITY,
OUR COURAGE, COMPASSION, AND
SOLIDARITY REMAINS VISIBLE AT
ALL TIMES ALL RIGHT. WE HAVE A
FAIRLY STACKED AGENDA TODAY
WE'LL BEGIN WITH A REVIEW OF
TWO PROPOSED NOMINEES FOR THE
CENTRAL WATERFRONT OVERSIGHT
COMMITTEE AND FIVE NOMINEES FOR
THE SEATTLE CENTER ADVISORY
COMMISSION. BOTH ESSENTIAL
BODIES THAT HELP STEWARD SOME OF
SEATTLE'S MOST SIGNIFICANT
PUBLIC SPACES. NOW, AS YOU KNOW,
THE CITY OF SEATTLE'S BOARDS AND
COMMISSIONS PLAY A VITAL ROLE IN
OUR CIVIC GOVERNANCE. THEY
HARNESS THE EXPERTISE AND LIVED
EXPERIENCES OF DEDICATED
COMMUNITY VOLUNTEERS APPOINTED
BY THE MAYOR AND CITY COUNCIL TO
ENSURE THAT OUR POLICIES AND
PROGRAMS REFLECT DIVERSE
PERSPECTIVES AND INFORMED,
COMMUNITY DRIVEN INPUT. THEIR
WORK STRENGTHENS TRANSPARENCY,
ACCOUNTABILITY, AND
COLLABORATION ACROSS DEPARTMENTS
AND PARTNERS CITYWIDE. THE
CENTRAL WATERFRONT OVERSIGHT
COMMITTEE AND THE SEATTLE CENTER
ADVISORY COMMISSION, IN
PARTICULAR, DEMONSTRATE JUST HOW
IMPACTFUL THESE BODIES CAN TRULY
BE. THEY SERVE AS CONDUITS FOR
COMMUNITY CONCERNS, HELP US
OVERSEE PUBLIC INVESTMENTS, AND
PROVIDE VALUABLE GUIDANCE TO
KEEP OUR CIVIC AND CULTURAL
ASSETS THRIVING OUR COMMITTEE'S
ROLE IN REVIEWING THESE NOMINEES
IS AN ESSENTIAL STEP IN
CONFIRMING THAT THESE ADVISORY
BODIES HAVE THE EXPERTISE,
CAPACITY AND DIVERSITY OF
PERSPECTIVES NEEDED TO
EFFECTIVELY SERVE AND REPRESENT
SEATTLE WELL. AFTER WE COMPLETE
OUR REVIEW AND CONSIDERATION OF
THESE APPOINTMENTS, WE'LL
RECEIVE AN OVERVIEW PRESENTATION
ON WATERFRONT PARK A NEW ISH OR
NEWER ADDITION TO THE PURVIEW
AND SCOPE OF THIS COMMITTEE.
EARLIER THIS YEAR, AFTER WE
REVISED AND RESTRUCTURED OUR
COMMITTEE ASSIGNMENTS. SO
EXCITED TO HAVE THE OPPORTUNITY
TO HEAR DIRECTLY FROM OUR
PARTNERS AT THE WATERFRONT. AND
I ANTICIPATE THIS WILL BE THE
FIRST OF MANY UPDATES WE'LL
RECEIVE FROM OUR PARTNERS AT
WATERFRONT ON THIS CRITICAL WORK
AS IT CONTINUES TO EVOLVE.
FINALLY, THE EVERYDAY, ORDINARY
COURSE OF BUSINESS. WE HAVE A
REQUEST FROM SWEDISH HEALTH
SERVICES TO MODIFY CONDITIONAL
APPROVAL OF THEIR PETITION TO
VACATE AN ALLEY IN THE FIRST
HILL NEIGHBORHOOD. THIS IS AN
IMPORTANT ITEM THAT REQUIRES
CAREFUL CONSIDERATION, AND I
APPRECIATE EVERYONE'S ENGAGEMENT
AS WE MOVE THROUGH IT ALL RIGHT.
THANK YOU. WE WILL NOW MOVE ON
TO THE HYBRID PUBLIC COMMENT
PERIOD. PUBLIC COMMENT SHOULD
RELATE TO ITEMS ON TODAY'S
AGENDA AND WITHIN THE PURVIEW OF
THIS COMMITTEE CLERK. HOW MANY
SPEAKERS ARE SIGNED UP TODAY?
-- CHAIR, WE CURRENTLY HAVE TWO
IN-PERSON SPEAKERS AND ZERO
REMOTE SPEAKERS.
-- THANK YOU. EACH SPEAKER WILL
HAVE APPROXIMATELY TWO MINUTES.
WE WILL START WITH THE IN-PERSON
SPEAKERS FIRST. CLERK CAN YOU
PLEASE READ THE PUBLIC COMMENT
INSTRUCTIONS?
-- PUBLIC COMMENT PERIOD WILL BE
MODERATED IN THE FOLLOWING
MANNER. SPEAKERS WILL BE CALLED
IN THE ORDER IN WHICH THEY
REGISTERED. SPEAKERS WILL
ALTERNATE BETWEEN SETS OF
IN-PERSON AND REMOTE SPEAKERS
UNTIL THE PUBLIC COMMENT PERIOD
HAS ENDED. SPEAKERS WILL HEAR A
CHIME WHEN 10 SECONDS ARE LEFT
OF THEIR TIME. SPEAKERS MICS
WILL BE MUTED IF THEY DO NOT END
THEIR COMMENTS WITHIN THE
ALLOTTED TIME TO ALLOW US TO
CALL ON THE NEXT SPEAKER. THE
PUBLIC COMMENT PERIOD IS NOW
OPEN. WE WILL BEGIN WITH THE
FIRST SPEAKER ON THE LIST, GINA
KARABA.
-- HELLO. I AM A 20 YEAR VENDOR
AT THE PIKE PLACE MARKET. THANKS
FOR RINGING THE BELL YESTERDAY.
I'M ALSO ON THE COUNCIL AT THE
PDA, AND I'M A CONSTITUENCY
REPRESENTATIVE FOR THE PIKE
PLACE MARKET CONSTITUENCY. I'M
ON A ACCESSIBILITY COMMITTEE FOR
THE WATERFRONT, AND I HAVE BEEN
INVOLVED IN THE WATERFRONT
DEVELOPMENT SINCE 2006 ON
STAKEHOLDER COMMITTEES. I WOULD
REALLY LOVE TO SEE. I'M WATCHING
THE SHUTTLE OF WATERFRONT AND
HOW SUCCESSFUL IT IS. AND I KNOW
THERE WAS A PLAN TO DO A TROLLEY
ON FIRST AVENUE, WHICH SEEMS
VERY, VERY EXPENSIVE AND HAVING
A LOT OF PROBLEMS WITH ACTUALLY
GETTING TO BUSINESSES. BUT I
WOULD LOVE TO SEE A SHUTTLE FOR
THE MARKET THAT GOES FROM THE
STADIUMS. PIONEER SQUARE THE
MARKET, AND POSSIBLY EVEN TO THE
SPACE NEEDLE AND POINTS THAT
THEY CAN CONNECT TO THE
WATERFRONT SHUTTLE. THERE'S A
LOT OF PROBLEMS WITH
ACCESSIBILITY, WITH HANDICAP
ACCESS AND PEOPLE TRYING TO GET
AROUND THE CITY IS I HEAR A LOT
OF FRUSTRATION, AND I REALLY
THINK, YOU KNOW, A SHUTTLE BUS
THAT LOOKS LIKE A TROLLEY WOULD
BE AMAZING FOR OUR CITY AND FOR
GETTING PEOPLE BACK AND FORTH TO
ALL THESE AREAS THAT THEY REALLY
WOULD LOVE TO GO TO, BUT THEY
JUST DON'T HAVE THE TIME TO
WALK. THEY CAN'T AFFORD AN
UBER. ALL THESE DIFFERENT
REASONS. THANK YOU.
-- THANK YOU MA'AM.
-- OUR NEXT SPEAKER WILL BE
CLIVE HAYWARD.
-- MY NAME IS CLIVE HAYWARD.
I'M A MAGICIAN. I PERFORMED ON
THE SEATTLE WATERFRONT FOR 11
YEARS. THE FREE SPEECH BOX
SYSTEM MAY LOOK GOOD ON PAPER.
IT IS BROKEN. IT MANUFACTURES
CONFLICT. 20 ACRES OF PARKLAND,
FIVE BOXES FOR PERFORMERS. NO
OTHER COMPARABLE PUBLIC SPACE IN
NORTH AMERICA HAS SO FEW. WHEN
THEY'RE TAKEN, THERE'S NOWHERE
FOR ME TO STAND. EVEN ON AN
EMPTY PROMENADE. SO I CAN'T WORK
OR AN OFFICER MOVES ME THAT THAT
ENDS IN EXCLUSION. A CRIMINAL
TRESPASS CHARGE FROM A PUBLIC
SPACE. AT LEAST SIX PERFORMERS
HAVE BEEN EXCLUDED. NONE FOR
SAFETY REASONS. IT WAS BUILT
WITHOUT US. THE. THEY WILL SAY
THAT THEY WALKED THE PROMENADE
WITH THEM ONCE A MONTH AFTER I
WAS. I ASKED AFTER THE BOX
SYSTEM ALREADY EXISTS AND ONLY
AFTER EXTREMELY EMBARRASSING
INCIDENT WAS CAUGHT ON CAMERA. A
SECURITY OFFICER TOLD ME ON
CAMERA, QUOTE, WE DON'T LIKE TOO
MANY BUSKERS ANYMORE. HE SAID,
IT COMES FROM ABOVE AND IT GOES
COUNTER TO THE FIRST AMENDMENT
AND CASE LAW, AND HE NEEDS HIS
NAME OFF. IT. CONSIDERING WHO
ENFORCES THIS. LAST AUGUST, THE
SECURITY HANDCUFFED A PEDICAB
DRIVER ON THE PROMENADE. WHEN
POLICE ARRIVED, HE WAS ASKED
WHAT LEGAL AUTHORITY THEY HAD.
THEY COULDN'T ANSWER. HE HAD
HIS CUFFS TAKEN OFF AND
RELEASED. THEIR OWN SERGEANT WAS
SERIOUSLY INJURED AND HAD
APPARENTLY HIS KNEECAP BROKEN
AND GONE FOR MORE THAN NINE
MONTHS OFF WORK THREE MONTHS
BEFORE THAT, THEY ASSAULTED ME
AND PUSHED ME ONTO THE TRAFFIC
ON ALASKAN WAY. NOTHING TODAY.
ASKED WHETHER THIS IS LAWFUL,
THE NINTH CIRCUIT ALREADY STRUCK
DOWN SEATTLE CENTERS DESIGNATED
PERFORMANCE LOCATIONS IN BURGER
VERSUS CITY OF SEATTLE. I HAVE
MULTIPLE UNANSWERED NOTICES OF
CLAIM LETTERS TO SEATTLE CENTER
MAYOR, CITY ATTORNEY, INSPECTOR
GENERAL, AND THE OFFICE OF CIVIL
RIGHTS.
-- THANK YOU SIR
-- CHAIR, THAT WAS OUR FINAL
SPEAKER.
-- ALL RIGHT. THANK YOU. IF
THERE ARE NO ADDITIONAL
REGISTERED SPEAKERS WILL NOW
PROCEED TO OUR ITEMS OF BUSINESS
LET'S SEE. WILL THE CLERK
PLEASE READ ITEMS ONE AND TWO
INTO THE RECORD.
-- AGENDA ITEM ONE BRIEFING,
DISCUSSION AND POSSIBLE VOTE
APPOINTMENT OF BENJAMIN COHEN AS
MEMBER. CENTRAL WATERFRONT
OVERSIGHT COMMITTEE FOR A TERM
TO EXPIRE DECEMBER 31st, 2027.
AGENDA ITEM TWO BRIEFING,
DISCUSSION AND POSSIBLE VOTE.
APPOINTMENT OF EPHRAIM SAHAR AS
MEMBER CENTRAL WATERFRONT
OVERSIGHT COMMITTEE FOR A TERM
TO DECEMBER 31st, 2027.
-- ALL RIGHT. EXCELLENT. LOOKS
LIKE OUR PRESENTERS HAVE JOINED
US AT THE TABLE. WELCOME. WHEN
YOU'RE READY, PLEASE DO
INTRODUCE YOURSELVES AND BEGIN
YOUR PRESENTATION.
-- RANDY ENGSTROM, ACTING
DIRECTOR, SEATTLE CENTER.
-- TIFFANY MILWAUKEE WATERFRONT
PARK OPERATIONS MANAGER, SEATTLE
CENTER.
-- THANK YOU FOR THE TIME TODAY,
AND WE LOOK FORWARD TO
INTRODUCING OUR NEW ADVISORS. TO
YOUR POINT, CHAIR SAKA. THEY DO,
AND THEY PLAY AN INCREDIBLE ROLE
IN SUPPORTING OUR WORK, BOTH AT
THE CAMPUS AND AT THE
WATERFRONT. GIVEN WHAT WE'VE ALL
BEEN THROUGH THE LAST COUPLE OF
WEEKS, I JUST WANTED TO SORT OF
NAME SOME OF THE SOME OF THE
ELEPHANT IN THE ROOM FROM THE
PERSPECTIVE OF OUR OF OUR 800
STAFF, THE LAST TEN DAYS HAVE
BEEN SOME OF THE MOST DIFFICULT
IN SEATTLE CENTER'S HISTORY.
AND WHILE WE CONTINUE TO GRIEVE
ALONGSIDE THE FAMILIES, THE
VICTIMS, AND EVERYONE AFFECTED
BY THIS TRAGEDY, I'VE ALSO
WITNESSED THE VERY BEST OF OUR
COMMUNITY. I'M DEEPLY GRATEFUL
FOR THE EXTRAORDINARY COURAGE OF
OUR FIRST RESPONDERS AND THE
BRAVERY, COMPASSION AND
PROFESSIONALISM SHOWN BY SEATTLE
CENTER EMPLOYEES WHO RAN INTO
DANGER AND RENDERED FIRST AID.
RESIDENT ORGANIZATIONS, EVENT
STAFF, VOLUNTEERS, VENDORS,
ARTISTS AND COMMUNITY PARTNERS
ALL STEPPED FORWARD TO CARE FOR
OTHERS IN THE MIDST OF AN
UNIMAGINABLE SITUATION. AS WE
MOVE FORWARD, OUR FOCUS REMAINS
ON SUPPORTING THOSE IMPACTED AND
LEARNING FROM WHAT HAPPENED. AS
COUNCILMEMBER SAKA REFERENCED,
WE ARE COMMITTED TO TO CAREFULLY
AND FULLY COLLABORATING WITH OUR
PUBLIC SAFETY PARTNERS AND
IDENTIFYING OPPORTUNITIES TO
STRENGTHEN OPERATIONS WHILE
PRESERVING WHAT HAS ALWAYS MADE
SEATTLE CENTER SPECIAL A
WELCOMING PLACE FOR OUR
COMMUNITY COMES TOGETHER TO
CELEBRATE, CONNECT, HEAL, AND
BELONG. AND THANKS TO THE
COUNCILMEMBERS WHO CAME DOWN TO
THE VIGILS THAT HAPPENED AT THE
CAMPUS AND HAVE BEEN IN TOUCH
WITH US, WE APPRECIATE THE
SUPPORT.
-- OKAY, I'M GOING TO LEAD US
INTO THE TWO APPOINTMENTS FOR
THE CENTRAL WATERFRONT OVERSIGHT
COMMITTEE. WE FIRST WANT TO GIVE
YOU A BROAD OVERVIEW OF THE
OVERSIGHT COMMITTEE. THERE ARE
20 APPOINTED MEMBERS THAT ARE
MAYOR AND COUNCIL. WE HAVE SIX
AT LARGE, EIGHT LEAD LOCAL
IMPROVEMENT DISTRICT TENANT AND
OWNER POSITIONS, FIVE NONPROFIT
AND ONE PORT. THIS COMMITTEE IS
A WORKING COMMITTEE. THEY REALLY
PUT A LOT OF HEART AND SOUL AND
HARD WORK INTO WHAT THEY'RE
DOING EVERY YEAR WITH SEATTLE
CENTER AND THE WATERFRONT 2021,
THEY WERE ASKED BY CITY COUNCIL
TO DEVELOP A PERFORMANCE
STANDARD THAT THE PARK WOULD BE
ASSESSED ON ON AN ANNUAL BASIS
TO MAKE SURE WE WERE MEETING OUR
EXPECTATIONS FOR PROGRAMING,
ACTIVATION, MAINTENANCE AND
PUBLIC SAFETY. THIS COMMITTEE
PROVIDES A REPORT TO MAYOR AND
COUNCIL AT THE END OF EVERY
YEAR. AFTER DOING KIND OF A DEEP
DIVE WITH SEATTLE CENTER AND
FRIENDS OF WATERFRONT PARK ON
WHAT THE OPERATIONS FOR THE YEAR
HAVE BEEN. A LITTLE BIT OF
HISTORY. WE JUST WE STARTED OUR
COMMITTEE WORK IN 2020. WE WERE
ESTABLISHED IN 2019, COVID HIT.
WE ENDED UP WITH A LITTLE BIT OF
A HIATUS FROM COMMITTEE WORK.
JUST GIVEN THE NATURE OF WHAT
WAS GOING ON. SO WE CAME BACK IN
2023 AND AMENDED OUR TERMS THAT
WE HAD SET IN THE ORIGINAL
LEGISLATION, WHICH WERE AT THREE
YEARS TO A FOUR YEAR TERM, TO
EXTEND ALL OF OUR APPOINTMENTS.
WE AT THAT TIME ADDED THE PORT
OF SEATTLE FRIENDS OF WATERFRONT
PARK IN SEATTLE CENTER AS
OPERATIONS HAD MOVED TO SEATTLE
CENTER FROM SEATTLE PARKS AND
RECREATION, AND WE THEN MADE THE
TERMS TWO YEAR TERMS. AND SO ALL
OF OUR 20 POSITIONS ARE ON A TWO
YEAR TERM CYCLE NOW ENDING AT
THE END OF 2027. AND THIS GROUP
MEETS QUARTERLY. AND WE'RE
REALLY EXCITED TO RECOMMEND
BENJAMIN COHEN AND EPHRAIM
FISHER FOR CONSIDERATION OF
JOINING OUR COMMITTEE. I'D LIKE
TO JUST SAY A COUPLE WORDS ABOUT
EACH OF THEM. BENJAMIN BRINGS
OVER 20 YEARS OF EXPERIENCE IN
HOSPITALITY AND OPERATIONS,
INCLUDING HIS CURRENT ROLE
LEADING THE SEATTLE MARRIOTT
WATERFRONT. HE KNOWS THE
WATERFRONT WELL AND HAS A STRONG
TRACK RECORD OF IMPROVING GUEST
EXPERIENCE, STRENGTHENING TEAMS
AND DELIVERING SOLID FINANCIAL
RESULTS. HIS PRACTICAL, ON THE
GROUND UNDERSTANDING OF HOW
PEOPLE USE WATERFRONT MAKES HIM
A GREAT FIT FOR THE OVERSIGHT
COMMITTEE. THIS IS A REALLY
CRITICAL POSITION AS A LEAD
HOTEL PROPERTY OWNER ON OUR
COMMITTEE, AS WE HAVE SEVERAL
POSITIONS THAT ARE SPECIFIC TO
OUR LOCAL IMPROVEMENT DISTRICT.
EPHRAIM IS A LONGTIME CEO AND
FINANCIAL ANALYST WHO BUILT
COFFEE INTO A MULTI-LOCATION,
COMMUNITY FOCUSED BUSINESS. HE
BRINGS AN ENTREPRENEURIAL
PERSPECTIVE, STRONG FINANCIAL
SKILLS, AND A COMMITMENT TO
SUSTAINABILITY AND SOCIAL
IMPACT. HIS EXPERIENCE GROWING
MISSION DRIVEN PROJECTS
POSITIONS HIM WELL TO BE TO
CONTRIBUTE THOUGHTFUL, COMMUNITY
CENTERED INSIGHT TO THE
WATERFRONT COMMITTEE. WE'VE
ALREADY SEEN VERY POSITIVE
CONTRIBUTIONS FROM EPHRAIM SINCE
HE OPENED UP A CAFE ON OVERLOOK
WALK
THANK YOU FOR YOUR
CONSIDERATION.
-- ALL RIGHT. THANK YOU.
APPRECIATE THE THE PRESENTATION
HERE AT THIS POINT, I WILL TURN
IT OVER TO MY COLLEAGUES FOR ANY
COMMENTS, QUESTIONS, FEEDBACK
YOU MIGHT HAVE FROM YOUR
PERSPECTIVE, STARTING FIRST WITH
VICE CHAIR RINCK, IF YOU HAVE
ANY.
-- THANK YOU. CHAIR SAKA. NO
FEEDBACK FOR TODAY. THANK YOU.
-- ALL RIGHT. THANK YOU, VICE
CHAIR AND ANY ANY OTHER
COMMENTS? QUESTIONS, HEARING
SEEING NONE. I'LL JUST SHARE
FROM MY PERSPECTIVE BECAUSE WE
DON'T HAVE THE NOMINEES HERE
TODAY. BUT HAVING REVIEWED THE
APPLICATION MATERIALS FOR THE
PROPOSED NOMINEES ACTUALLY MET
RECENTLY WITH WITH EPHRAIM AS
WELL I THINK THIS SLATE IS
INCREDIBLY OR EXCEPTIONALLY
QUALIFIED AND UNIQUELY
POSITIONED TO SERVE IN THESE
CAPACITIES, IN THIS IMPORTANT
CAPACITY HERE. SO REALLY EXCITED
TO BE ABLE TO, TO PUT THEM
FORWARD AND, AND HAVE OUR CITY
BENEFIT FROM THEIR TIME, TALENTS
ON, ON THIS IMPORTANT COMMITTEE.
SO, AND, AND EPHRAIM IN
PARTICULAR, COFFEE AS NOTED,
OPENED UP A NEW RETAIL LOCATION
ON THE WATERFRONT. SO SHOUT OUT
TO THAT. THEY'RE ALSO A
SUPPLIER OF A LOT OF OUR
FAVORITE LOCAL COFFEE SHOPS AS
WELL. SO FOR EXAMPLE, HUGO'S
HOUSE AND DELRIDGE AND WEST
SEATTLE, MAYBE EVEN CAP COFFEE
IN WEST SEATTLE. DON'T QUOTE ME
ON THAT ONE THOUGH. AND SO DO A
LOT OF GREAT WORK AND HAVE
IMPORTANT PERSPECTIVES. BOTH OF
THESE, THESE INDIVIDUALS. SO.
ALL RIGHT. WELL, IF THERE ARE NO
FURTHER COMMENTS OR QUESTIONS, I
MOVE THAT THE COMMITTEE
RECOMMEND CONFIRMATION OF THESE
TWO APPOINTMENTS. IS THERE A
SECOND?
-- SECOND.
-- THANK YOU. IT IS MOVED AND
SECONDED TO RECOMMEND
CONFIRMATION OF THESE TWO
APPOINTMENTS. IS THERE ANY
FURTHER DISCUSSION HEARING AND
SEEING? NONE. WILL THE CLERK
PLEASE CALL THE ROLL ON THE
RECOMMENDATION OF THE
APPOINTMENTS?
-- COUNCILMEMBER LIN YES. VICE
CHAIR RINCK.
-- YES.
-- CHAIR SAKA. I CHAIR, THERE
ARE THREE VOTES IN FAVOR AND
ZERO OPPOSED.
-- THANK YOU. THE MOTION CARRIES
AND THE COMMITTEE RECOMMENDATION
THAT CITY COUNCIL CONFIRMED THE
APPOINTMENTS OF BENJAMIN COHEN
AND EPHRAIM SAHAR. I BUTCHERED
THAT LAST NAME EVERY TIME. MY
BAD. EPHRAIM TO THE CENTRAL
WATERFRONT OVERSIGHT COMMITTEE
WILL BE SENT TO THE AUGUST 11th,
2026 CITY COUNCIL MEETING WILL.
WE WILL NOW MOVE ON TO OUR THIRD
THROUGH SEVENTH. ITEMS OF
BUSINESS. WILL THE COMMITTEE
CLERK PLEASE READ ITEMS THREE
THROUGH SEVEN INTO THE RECORD.
-- AGENDA ITEM THREE BRIEFING,
DISCUSSION AND POSSIBLE VOTE
APPOINTMENT OF MICHAEL JOHNSON
AS MEMBER. SEATTLE CENTER
OVERSIGHT. SEATTLE CENTER
ADVISORY COMMISSION FOR A TERM
TO SEPTEMBER 28th, 2029. AGENDA
ITEM FOR BRIEFING, DISCUSSION
AND POSSIBLE VOTE. APPOINTMENT
OF ASHLEY MCLAREN AS MEMBER.
SEATTLE CENTER ADVISORY
COMMISSION FOR A TERM TO
SEPTEMBER 28th, 2029. AGENDA
ITEM FIVE BRIEFING, DISCUSSION
AND POSSIBLE VOTE REAPPOINTMENT
OF ERIK BERLIN AS A MEMBER.
SEATTLE CENTER ADVISORY
COMMISSION FOR A TERM TO
SEPTEMBER 28th, 2029. AGENDA
ITEM SIX BRIEFING, DISCUSSION
AND POSSIBLE VOTE REAPPOINTMENT
OF JON OLINSKI AS MEMBER.
SEATTLE CENTER ADVISORY
COMMISSION FOR A TERM TO
SEPTEMBER 28th, 2029 AND AGENDA
ITEM SEVEN BRIEFING, DISCUSSION
AND POSSIBLE VOTE REAPPOINTMENT
OF SARAH C RICH AS MEMBER,
SEATTLE CENTER ADVISORY
COMMISSION FOR A TERM TO
SEPTEMBER 28th, 2029.
-- THANK YOU AND OUR PRESENTERS
FROM THE LAST AGENDA ITEMS ARE
AT THE TABLE. SO WELCOME AGAIN,
NO NEED TO REINTRODUCE
YOURSELVES, BUT WHEN YOU'RE
READY, PLEASE DO BEGIN YOUR
PRESENTATIONS FOR THIS SLATE.
-- THANK YOU AND THANK YOU FOR
THE TIME. SIMILAR TO WHAT
TIFFANY DID WITH THE WITH THE
OVERSIGHT COMMITTEE. JUST WANT
TO GIVE A LITTLE BACKGROUND ON
THE SEATTLE CENTER ADVISORY
COMMISSION. THEIR MISSION IS TO
PRESERVE, PROTECT AND ENHANCE
SEATTLE CENTER AS A CIVIC
GATHERING SPACE HUB OF CULTURAL
CELEBRATION AND PUBLIC GREEN
SPACE IN THE HEART OF THE CITY,
ENSURING THE LONG TERM
SUSTAINABILITY OF SEATTLE CENTER
FOR FUTURE GENERATIONS. THE
COMMISSION WORKS IN CLOSE
PARTNERSHIP WITH OUR LEADERSHIP
TO ENSURE EQUAL ACCESS TO FOR
ALL COMMUNITIES, ESPECIALLY
THOSE HISTORICALLY
UNDERREPRESENTED, TO ADVOCATE
FOR THE CHANGING VALUES AND
NEEDS OF THE COMMUNITY AND
PIONEER WAYS TO DELIVER PUBLIC
GOOD. THE COMMISSION PROVIDES A
LONG VIEW, PERSPECTIVE, AND
CONTINUITY THROUGH ELECTORAL
POLITICS AND LEADERSHIP CHANGES.
THERE ARE 15 COMMISSIONERS PLUS
ONE GET ENGAGED MEMBER. EACH
COMMISSIONER SERVES A THREE YEAR
TERM. GET ENGAGED MEMBERS SERVE
A ONE YEAR TERM. THEY MEET EVERY
FIRST THURSDAY FROM 12 TO 130.
SO WE WILL MEET IN A FEW HOURS
AT THE SEATTLE CENTER. I WANT TO
ACKNOWLEDGE OUR CHAIR, LONGTIME
CHAIR, ACTUALLY, MARK DIETER,
WHO'S WITH US HERE IN THE ROOM
TODAY. THANK YOU SO MUCH, MARK,
FOR YOUR PARTNERSHIP AND YOUR
LEADERSHIP, ESPECIALLY THESE
LAST FEW WEEKS. AND ONE OF OUR
TWO NOMINEES, OUR GOOD FRIEND
MICHAEL JOHNSON FROM FRIENDS OF
FRIENDS OF WATERFRONT PARK, IS
ALSO HERE IN PERSON IN THE ROOM
TODAY. THANK YOU, MICHAEL, FOR
MAKING TIME. WE HAVE TWO NEW
APPOINTEES THAT WE'RE EXCITED
TO WELCOME INTO THE FOLD.
MICHAEL IS, AS I MENTIONED,
HE'S THE DIRECTOR OF PARK
EXPERIENCE AT FRIENDS OF
WATERFRONT PARK, ONE OF THE
CLOSEST PARTNERS WE HAVE. THE
RELATIONSHIP BETWEEN OUR
WATERFRONT PARK OPERATIONS TEAM
THAT TIFFANY LEADS AND FRIENDS
OF WATERFRONT PARK, OF WHICH
MICHAEL IS ON THE LEADERSHIP
TEAM, IS ONE OF OUR CLOSEST, AND
HE HAS A LONG HISTORY OF OF WORK
IN THE CITY WITH THE DOWNTOWN
SEATTLE ASSOCIATION AND OTHERS.
WE'RE REALLY EXCITED TO HAVE
HIM ON THE COMMISSION AND REALLY
EXCITED TO HAVE THEM AS A
PARTNER. ASHLEY MCLAREN IS A
CAPITAL PROGRAM ADVISOR. SHE'S
INVOLVED IN A FEW DIFFERENT OF
THE REDEVELOPMENT PROJECTS THAT
ARE HAPPENING ON CAMPUS. SHE'S
ALSO THE MOTHER OF A STUDENT OF
THE CENTER SCHOOL. SHE BRINGS A
PERSPECTIVE OF BOTH A PLANNER
AND A PARENT. AND AS WE LOOK AT
PRETTY LARGE SCALE RENOVATION OF
THE CAMPUS, WE THINK THAT HER
PERSPECTIVE WILL BE SUPER
VALUABLE. ASHLEY AND MICHAEL
HOPEFULLY WILL BE JOINING THREE
FOLKS THAT WE'RE EXCITED TO
REAPPOINT. ERIC BERG, WHO'S A
LONG SEATTLE RESIDENT WITH
EXTENSIVE EXPERIENCE IN
COMMUNITY AND COMMERCE FOCUSED
LEADERSHIP. HE CURRENTLY SERVES
AS THE VICE PRESIDENT OF PROGRAM
MANAGEMENT AT TORC ROBOTICS. HE
HAS SERVED TWO TERMS AND IS IN
HIS TIME SUPPORTING SEATTLE
CENTER, AND WE'RE EXCITED TO
HAVE HIM JOIN FOR A THIRD. JOHN
WOLINSKY IS A LICENSED ARCHITECT
AND BUILDING ENVELOPE CONSULTANT
WITH MORE THAN 25 YEARS OF
EXPERIENCE REHABILITATING
HISTORIC AND EXISTING BUILDINGS
ACROSS THE U.S. THAT WILL COME
IN HANDY IN THESE NEXT SEVERAL
YEARS. HE HAS TWO TERMS. SO FAR
AND APPRECIATES THE OPPORTUNITY
TO COLLABORATE WITH THE TEAM,
CONTRIBUTING TO SEATTLE CENTER
SUCCESS. AND. SARAH RICH IS A
FORMER DIGITAL MARKETING
PROFESSIONAL WHO'S NOW A FULL
TIME PARENT AND ACTIVE SCHOOL
VOLUNTEER. WE'RE VERY PROUD OF
SEATTLE CENTER BEING A PLACE FOR
FAMILIES, AND SO WE'RE EXCITED
TO HAVE A FULL TIME PARENT AS
PART OF OUR ADVISORY GROUP. SHE
SERVED FIVE TERMS. SHE ACTUALLY
STARTED AS A GET ENGAGED MEMBER
MANY YEARS AGO AND BRINGS A
WEALTH OF EXPERIENCE AND A LONG
STANDING COMMITMENT TO THE
COMMISSION. AND AS SOME OF OUR
LONG TERM COMMISSIONERS PREPARE
TO CYCLE OFF, IT'LL BE GREAT TO
HAVE SOMEONE WITH THAT HISTORY
AND CONTINUITY TO GROUND US
TOGETHER. I THINK THESE FIVE
WILL HELP GUIDE SEATTLE CENTER
IN ADVANCING ITS MISSION. AND
FOR THIS CRITICAL PERIOD THAT'S
IN FRONT OF US. AND WE HOPE THE
COMMITTEE WILL CONSIDER THEIR
APPOINTMENT.
-- THANK YOU SO MUCH. APPRECIATE
THAT ACTING DIRECTOR ENGSTROM
AND AND THANK YOU FOR PRESENTING
ON THE PROPOSED SLATE BEFORE US.
I WASN'T PREVIOUSLY AWARE THAT
ANY OF THE PROPOSED NOMINEES
WERE ACTUALLY GOING TO BE
JOINING US TODAY. SO I'M GOING
TO ACTUALLY CALL AN AUDIBLE
COLLEAGUES, IF YOU'LL INDULGE
ME FOR FOR THOSE I HEARD MR.
MICHAEL JOHNSON IS IN THE ROOM.
SO YOU, SIR, AND AND ANY OTHER
OF THE PROPOSED NOMINEES THAT
ARE IN THE ROOM TODAY, PLEASE
JOIN US AT THE TABLE. AND JUST
TO BRIEFLY INTRODUCE YOURSELVES
AND APPEAR BEFORE US, WHICH IS
TYPICALLY CUSTOMARY WHEN WE HAVE
THE THE NOMINEES ABLE TO
ACTUALLY ATTEND IN PERSON OR
REMOTELY. AND WHILE AYE. SO ONE,
ONE OF THE MEMBERS OF THE SLATE,
MR. JOHNSON AND THEN I'M ALSO
GOING TO INVITE THE. THE CHAIR
AS WELL, JUST TO COME UP AND SAY
A FEW FEW WORDS, INTRODUCE
YOURSELF AS WELL. SO WELCOME. I
HOPE I GAVE YOU ENOUGH TIME TO
THINK, BUT WOULD REALLY JUST
LOVE FOR YOU TO KIND OF
INTRODUCE YOURSELVES AND, YOU
KNOW, IN THE CASE OF YOU, MR.
JOHNSON, JUST SHARE YOUR INITIAL
THOUGHTS AND OBSERVATIONS ABOUT
KIND OF WHAT EXCITES YOU THE
MOST ABOUT THIS WORK, ABOUT THIS
OPPORTUNITY. AND THEN MAYBE YOU
AS CHAIR OF THE COMMISSION, YOU
KNOW, KIND OF KIND OF SHARING
WHAT ARE THE BIGGEST KIND OF
CHALLENGES AHEAD THAT YOU THAT
YOU CURRENTLY SEE THAT WOULD BE
HELPFUL? SO I WANT TO INTRODUCE
YOURSELVES AS A STARTING POINT.
-- WELL, THANK YOU FOR HAVING
ME. COUNCILMEMBER. MY NAME IS
MICHAEL JOHNSON. AS I MENTIONED
BEFORE, I LEAD THE PARK
EXPERIENCE TEAM FOR FRIENDS OF
WATERFRONT PARK. I'M A LONG
SEATTLE RESIDENT, WENT TO A
MIDDLE SCHOOL, WENT TO CLEVELAND
HIGH SCHOOL, GRADUATED COLLEGE
FROM WASHINGTON STATE
UNIVERSITY, HAVE BEEN DEEPLY
ROOTED IN THE COMMUNITY SINCE I
WAS BORN. SO REALLY HAVE STRONG
COMMITMENTS TO EVERYTHING THAT
IS SEATTLE. I HAD JOINED THE
DOWNTOWN SEATTLE ASSOCIATION
BACK IN EARLY 2020, AND SO IN A
KNEE DEEP OF COVID AND HAD SOME
REALLY GOOD EXPERIENCE AND KIND
OF LEADING WATER, WESTLAKE PARK
OXFORD SQUARE, AND THEN ALSO
BELL STREET PARK, AND THEN HAD
AN OPPORTUNITY TO JOIN FRIENDS
IN 2024 TO HELP OPEN UP BRAND
NEW WATERFRONT PARK, WORKING
ALONGSIDE TIFFANY, WHICH IS A
GREAT PARTNER, REALLY EXCITED
ABOUT ALL OF THE WONDERFUL
OPPORTUNITIES THAT OUR
PARTNERSHIP HAS DAN AND
STRENGTHENING THOSE BONDS AND
RELATIONSHIPS, AND REALLY
EXCITED TO BRING MY EXPERTISE
AND MY INSIGHT INTO HOW WE CAN
IMPROVE AND BETTER SUIT THE
CITY. AND A KEY ASSET THAT'S IN
THE CITY THAT I'VE BEEN A PART
OF FOR MY WHOLE LIFE. SO REALLY
EXCITED ABOUT THE WORK THAT CAN
HAPPEN THERE, AND WORKING
ALONGSIDE RANDY AS WELL, BECAUSE
I THINK THERE'S A LOT OF GOOD
WORK THAT NEEDS TO HAPPEN. AND I
THINK THAT HAVING THAT INSIGHT
FROM MY LIVED EXPERIENCE
THROUGHOUT THE YEARS IS GOING TO
BE VITAL TO HELPING MOVE THINGS
FORWARD.
-- ABSOLUTELY. WELL SAID. THANK
YOU SO MUCH. AND THEN NOW I'LL
TURN IT OVER TO THE CHAIR TO
INTRODUCE YOURSELF. AND GOOD
MORNING.
-- MY NAME IS MARK DIETER AND
YES, I AM THE CHAIR OF THE
SEATTLE CENTER COMMISSION. I AM
A LOCAL BOY LIKE MICHAEL. I GREW
UP HERE AND SEATTLE CENTER HAS
BEEN A PART OF MY FAMILY SINCE
WAY BEFORE I WAS BORN. MY
GRANDFATHER WAS ACTUALLY ONE OF
THE GUYS THAT HELPED PUT THE
WORLD'S FAIR TOGETHER. AND SO
EVERY TIME I WALK THROUGH, I
HAVE A SENSE OF PRIDE. EVEN IF I
WASN'T ON THE COMMISSION,
ALWAYS DID I AM IN CORPORATE
PHILANTHROPY, SO I WORK WITH A
LOT OF NONPROFITS, AND WE HAVE
MANY RESIDENT ORGS ON CAMPUS
THAT THAT I'VE WORKED WITH. AND
CONTINUE TO HELP SUPPORT. AS FAR
AS WHAT I SEE GOING FORWARD, I
MEAN, WE'VE GOT CHALLENGES
AHEAD, BUT A LOT OF IT IS IS
KIND OF STRUCTURAL. IT'S THINGS
THAT YOU CAN'T SEE AND IT'S
MUCH NEEDED. BUT I THINK THE
PROGRESS THAT WE'VE MADE SO FAR,
IF YOU THINK ABOUT MEMORIAL
STADIUM. YOU THINK ABOUT ARTISTS
AT PLAY. THERE ARE SO MANY
POSITIVES WITH THE SEATTLE
CENTER, AND I HAVE NO DOUBT IN
MY MIND, WITH NOT ONLY RANDY,
HIS STAFF AND THE COMMISSIONERS
THAT WE'RE GOING TO CONTINUE TO
MAKE SURE THAT SEATTLE CENTER IS
A BEAUTIFUL PLACE, OPEN TO THE
PUBLIC, THAT PEOPLE WILL ENJOY
FOR FOR YEARS TO COME, LONG
AFTER I'M GONE. THANK YOU.
-- AWESOME. THANK YOU VERY MUCH.
REALLY APPRECIATE YOUR YOUR
COMMENTS AND SELF-REFLECTIONS
VERY, VERY HELPFUL AND
INSIGHTFUL. SO AT THIS POINT, I
WILL TURN IT OVER TO MY
COLLEAGUES FOR ANY COMMENTS,
QUESTIONS, FEEDBACK DIRECTLY
FROM YOUR PERSPECTIVE, IF ANY,
STARTING CUSTOMARILY WITH VICE
CHAIR RINCK.
-- THANK YOU. CHAIR SAKA. WELL,
I WANT TO BE COGNIZANT. I KNOW
YOU WEREN'T EXPECTING TO BE AT
THE TABLE THIS MORNING, SO I
DON'T WANT TO THROW ANY
QUESTIONS YOUR WAY, BUT RATHER
WANT TO USE THIS AS AN
OPPORTUNITY TO THANK YOU FOR
YOUR WILLINGNESS TO STEP UP AND
SERVE IN THIS CAPACITY. I WAS
REALLY EXCITED TO HEAR ABOUT THE
EXPERTISE THAT YOU'RE GOING TO
BE BRINGING TO THE BOARD. AND SO
I JUST WANT TO THANK YOU FOR NOT
JUST FOR STEPPING UP FOR THIS
ROLE, BUT FOR YOUR CONTINUED
SERVICE TO OUR CITY. SO VERY
EXCITED TO BE VOTING YES ON YOUR
APPOINTMENT TODAY. THANK YOU.
THANK YOU.
-- EXCELLENT. WELL SAID, VICE
CHAIR. THANK YOU. ANY OTHER
FINAL COMMENTS? QUESTIONS,
COLLEAGUES? ALL RIGHT. IF NONE,
I HAVE A FEW MORE COMMENTS.
QUESTIONS. SO. FIRST OFF, I WANT
TO ECHO THE SENTIMENT. JUST
EXPRESSED A MOMENT AGO BY VICE
CHAIR RINCK. I WANT TO THANK
YOU, MR. JOHNSON. THE WHOLE
ENTIRE SLATE FOR SO GENEROUSLY
AND GRACIOUSLY STEPPING UP TO
DEVOTE YOUR TIME AND TALENTS TO
TO SERVE OUR CITY IN THIS IN
THIS WAY, TRULY IMPACTFUL. I'VE
DONE THIS WORK BEFORE. SIMILAR
WORK, GOVERNMENT COMMISSIONS
BEFORE AND, AND I PERSONALLY
LEARNED A LOT. AND, YOU KNOW, I
HOPE THE BODY OF WORK WAS BETTER
AS A RESULT OF SOME OF THE
CONTRIBUTIONS FROM ME AND MY
COLLEAGUES AT THE TIME. SO VERY,
VERY IMPORTANT, IMPACTFUL WORK.
I THERE'S ALMOST 200
COMMISSIONS, BOARDS AND
COMMISSIONS CITYWIDE, I THINK.
DON'T QUOTE ME ON THE NUMBERS,
BUT THEY ALL PLAY AN ESSENTIAL
ROLE IN ADVISING POLICY MAKERS.
THE DEPARTMENTS, YOUR WORK IS
APPRECIATED. I, I DO DIVE DEEP
AND PERSONALLY, YOU KNOW, REVIEW
REPORTS AND RECOMMENDATIONS AND
SOMETIMES ASK PROBING OR
CLARIFYING QUESTIONS OF BOARD
CHAIRS AND COMMITTEE MEMBERS,
SOMETIMES. SO IT'S NOT THAT THE
WORK ITSELF IS NOT LOST UPON US
AND CERTAINLY NOT LOST UPON ME
AS CHAIR OF THE COUNCIL
COMMITTEE THAT OVERSEES THIS AS
PART OF ITS PORTFOLIO. SO REALLY
APPRECIATE YOU ALL. A QUESTION,
AND I'M JUST GOING TO GO DOWN
THE LINE, STARTING FIRST WITH
ACTING DIRECTOR ENGSTROM. AND
IT'S ABOUT THE AS AS THE
DIRECTOR NOTED A MOMENT AGO
ALLUDED TO, WE HAVE AN EFFORT
ACTIVE UNDERWAY RIGHT NOW TO
COMPLETELY RENOVATE AND REVAMP
AND REFRESH AND MODERNIZE THE
SEATTLE CENTER CAMPUS AND
ADDRESS SOME OF THESE CORE
INFRASTRUCTURE NEEDS THAT ARE.
MOST PEOPLE CAN'T READILY
OBSERVE WHEN THEY WALK IN THE
CAMPUS, BUT YOU OBSERVE IT WHEN
YOU. WHEN THE HVAC SYSTEM IS
BUSTED, WATER PIPE ISSUES,
HEATING, COOLING ISSUES. AND SO
WE'RE GOING TO DO ALL THAT. AND
WE'RE ALSO GOING TO ADD SOME
COOL NEW FEATURES AS WELL. SO
REALLY EXCITING OPPORTUNITY
THROUGH A LIKELY CAPITAL BOND
PROPOSAL NEXT YEAR. SO REALLY
COOL INITIATIVE. AND A FEW
MONTHS AGO THIS COUNCIL PASSED A
JOINT RESOLUTION IN PARTNERSHIP
WITH THE MAYOR TO DO EXACTLY
THAT AND REAFFIRMING OUR
COMMITMENT TO DOING EXACTLY
THAT, STARTING WITH YOU, ACTING
DIRECTOR, WHAT ROLE DO YOU SEE
FOR THE COMMISSION AND KIND OF
HELPING TO GUIDE OR ADVISE UPON
THAT, THAT CRITICAL BODY OF WORK
AND HELP SHAPE IT AND INFORM OUR
DECISIONS?
-- YEAH. I MEAN, I THINK AS IS
NOTED IN THEIR CHARTER, THE
COMMISSION IS REALLY A LONG TERM
STRATEGIC PARTNER. SO THEY'RE
LOOKING OUT FOR THE HEALTH AND
WELL-BEING OF THE SEATTLE
CENTER. BEYOND NEWS CYCLES AND
POLITICAL CYCLES AND MOMENTS IN
TIME. SO I THINK BRINGING ONE IS
JUST BRINGING THAT LONG TERM
LENS TO HOW WE THINK ABOUT A
REDEVELOPMENT PROJECT THAT WILL
PROBABLY TAKE SOMEWHERE IN THE
RANGE OF 10 TO 15 YEARS. THE
OTHER IS THERE'S A NUMBER OF
FOLKS WITH LIVED EXPERIENCE
THAT'S GOING TO BE CRITICAL TO
ASSESSING HOW WE ENSURE THE PARK
MEASURES UP TO OUR VALUES. AND
THERE'S FOLKS WITH A LOT OF
PROFESSIONAL EXPERIENCE IN THE
ARCHITECTURE, PLANNING,
ENGINEERING SPACE WHERE, YOU
KNOW, WE'RE GOING TO BE
DECARBONIZING A 74 ACRE CAMPUS.
WE'RE GOING TO BE GOING INTO
INFRASTRUCTURE THAT PREDATES THE
WORLD FAIR IN MANY CASES. AND SO
FOLKS WHO HAVE THAT EXPERTISE
AND CAN HELP US ASSESS AND
EVALUATE THAT IS GOING TO BE
CRITICALLY IMPORTANT.
-- THANK YOU. SO I'LL GO DOWN
THE LINE, STARTING FIRST WITH
THE CHAIR, WHO ACTUALLY HAS, YOU
KNOW, MORE TENURE EXPERIENCE ON
THE COMMISSION. FIRST AND, YOU
KNOW, BUYING TIME FOR MR.
WILLIAMS TO, TO, TO THINK
THROUGH. BUT GIVEN THAT THIS
THIS EFFORT IS UNDERWAY AND THE
SORT OF STRATEGIC LONGER TERM
PLANNING ADVISORY FOCUS OF THE
COMMISSION ITSELF AND THE FACT
THAT AS A PRACTICAL MATTER, YOU
ALL MEET SOUNDS LIKE QUARTERLY.
SO MAYBE THE ABILITY TO SHAPE A
PACKAGE IS IS LIMITED. AND. BUT
I ALSO THINK MAYBE HELPING TO
SHAPE THE CONTOURS OF WHAT
EFFECTIVE IMPLEMENTATION OVER
STRATEGIC IMPLEMENTATION LOOKS
LIKE OVER THE COURSE OF MANY
YEARS MIGHT BE HELPFUL. WHAT DO
YOU WHAT DO YOU VIEW AS THE
COMMISSION'S ROLE IN THIS IN
THIS WORK?
-- THAT'S A BIG QUESTION. SO WE
ACTUALLY MEET MONTHLY. THE ONLY
MONTH WE TYPICALLY DON'T MEET IS
JULY. BUT AS FAR AS THE
COMMISSION ITSELF, I THINK WHAT
I'VE SEEN OVER THE YEARS, NOT
ONLY IS THEIR COMMITMENT AND
BELIEF IN THE CENTER, AND AS WE
MOVE FORWARD WITH THIS BOND AND
EVERY. EVERYTHING WILL CHANGE AT
THE CENTER THE ONE THING THAT WE
AS VOLUNTEERS SOMETIMES STRUGGLE
WITH IS THAT WE DON'T HAVE AS
MANY OPPORTUNITIES TO REALLY
MAKE A FULL DECISION. NOW WE'RE
JUST VOLUNTEERS AND WE MAKE
RECOMMENDATIONS. AND I THINK
OVER THE COMING YEARS, THERE
SHOULD PROBABLY BE MORE TIME
WITH JUST HELPING MAKE THE
DECISIONS THAT HAPPEN ON CAMPUS,
RATHER THAN JUST A
RECOMMENDATION OR REFLECTION.
AND THEN I GUESS THE OTHER THING
IS WHAT I'D LOVE TO SEE MORE OF
IS EVERYBODY ON COUNCIL COMING
DOWN AND VISITING AND, YOU KNOW,
EVERY FIRST THURSDAY OF THE
MONTH, GENERALLY SPEAKING, WE
HAVE OUR MEETING AND IT'S AN
OPEN INVITATION FROM MYSELF AND
FROM THE REST OF THE COMMISSION.
WE'D LOVE TO HAVE YOU COME DOWN
AND COME TO A MEETING OR TAKE A
TOUR ON CAMPUS, EVEN IF YOU
HAVEN'T BEEN THERE FOR A COUPLE
OF MONTHS. AND I THIS IS WHERE
THE COMMISSIONERS ACTUALLY
REALLY KIND OF THEY SHINE AND
THEY'RE REALLY EXCITED BECAUSE
THEN THEY FEEL LIKE THEY'RE
REALLY HELPING OUT NOT ONLY THE
CITY, BUT THE COMMUNITY. I KNOW
YOUR QUESTION WAS A LITTLE
BROADER, BUT THAT'S ABOUT THE
BEST I CAN GIVE YOU AT THIS
MOMENT.
-- FAIR ENOUGH. I REALLY
APPRECIATE THAT PERSPECTIVE WELL
SAID. AND CERTAINLY DON'T
ANTICIPATE OR DIDN'T INTEND TO
PUT ANYONE ON THE SPOT,
ESPECIALLY THE NOMINEES HERE.
BUT SO I'M NOT GOING TO
ACTUALLY ASK A QUESTION TO MR..
MR. JOHNSON HERE ABOUT THAT, BUT
I WILL GIVE YOU, YOU KNOW, FINAL
COMMENT OR OPPORTUNITY TO SHARE
ANY FINAL COMMENTS OR
REFLECTIONS ABOUT ANY OF THE
CONVERSATION TODAY OR THE WORK
OR, YOU KNOW, ANY ANYTHING MORE
BROADLY, IF YOU HAVE ANY.
-- YEAH, I THINK THE BIGGEST
THING THAT I'M LOOKING FORWARD
TO IS BEING PART OF THIS
COMMISSION IS REALLY HOW WE CAN
SHAPE AND STRUCTURE THINGS
MOVING FORWARD IN A LARGE SCALE.
DOWN AT THE WATERFRONT. YOU
KNOW, WE'VE DONE A LOT OF BIG
THINGS FROM OUR GRAND OPENING TO
ALL THE WORLD CUP ACTIVATIONS
THAT HAPPENED THROUGH OUR, YOU
KNOW, BLOCK PARTY THAT'S GOING
TO BE HAPPENING UP THERE. AND I
THINK IT'S REALLY IMPORTANT TO
TAKE SOME OF THE LEARNINGS THAT
WE'VE USED IN THOSE TYPES OF
LARGER SETTINGS. ALSO, HOW WE
HAVE OUR FORWARD TIERED APPROACH
TOWARDS PUBLIC SAFETY, WHERE WE
ENGAGE WITH ETS REACH AND HAVING
A HUMANE APPROACH IN HOW WE DEAL
WITH UNHOUSED INDIVIDUALS
THROUGHOUT THE PARK, I THINK IS
ALSO A KEY ASSET THAT WE CAN
HELP BRING TO THE TABLE AND
REALLY FOCUS ON, AGAIN, CREATING
A SPACE FOR EVERYBODY THAT'S
WELCOMING AND SAFE. AND I THINK
THAT'S VERY IMPORTANT AS WE
KIND OF GO THROUGH AND LOOK AT
HOW NOT ONLY JUST INFRASTRUCTURE
THINGS, WHICH ARE KEY IN ORDER
TO HAVE VIABLE SPACE FOR PEOPLE,
NINE TIMES OUT OF TEN, A LOT OF
THE THINGS THAT HAPPEN IN
CERTAIN CIVIC THINGS ARE BECAUSE
OF THE INFRASTRUCTURE ISN'T
FULLY ADEQUATE TO SUPPORT MODERN
FUNCTIONS. I THINK THAT'S GOING
TO BE A KEY DELIVERABLE THAT THE
COMMISSION IS GOING TO HAVE TO
DO MOVING FORWARD, TO MODERNIZE
THE CAMPUS SO IT CAN BE VIABLE
IN THE FUTURE.
-- YES ABSOLUTELY. AND VERY WELL
SAID. AGAIN, APPRECIATE YOUR
PERSPECTIVES, YOUR WILLINGNESS
TO SERVE IN THIS MANNER. IT'S
TRULY IMPACTFUL AND CAN'T THANK
YOU ENOUGH. ALL RIGHT. AND I'LL
ALSO NOTE THAT THIS IS ANOTHER
VERY WELL QUALIFIED SLATE OF, OF
INDIVIDUALS. SO I'M EXCITED TO
VOTE TODAY AND, YOU KNOW,
HOPEFULLY BE ABLE TO BENEFIT
SOON FROM YOUR YOUR TALENTS. ALL
RIGHT. I MOVE THE COMMITTEE
RECOMMEND CONFIRMATION OF THE.
OKAY. START OVER. I MOVE THAT
THE COMMITTEE RECOMMEND
CONFIRMATION OF THE FIVE
APPOINTMENT FIVE APPOINTMENTS
AND OR EXCUSE ME, TWO
APPOINTMENTS AND THREE
REAPPOINTMENTS. IS THERE A
SECOND?
-- SECOND.
-- THANK YOU. WILL THE CLERK.
OKAY, LET'S START THAT OVER.
MULLIGAN. WE'RE. CLARITY FOR
CLARITY, I MOVE THAT WE
RECOMMEND CONFIRMATION OF THE
TWO APPOINTMENTS AND THE THREE
REAPPOINTMENTS IS THERE. IS
THERE A SECOND? SECOND. THANK
YOU. IT HAS BEEN MOVED AND
SECONDED. IS THERE ANY FINAL
DISCUSSION HEARING. SEEING NONE.
WILL THE COMMITTEE CLERK PLEASE
CALL THE ROLL ON THE
RECOMMENDATION?
-- COUNCILMEMBER LIN.
-- YES.
-- VICE CHAIR RINCK.
-- YES.
-- CHAIR SAKA. I CHAIR, THERE
ARE THREE VOTES IN FAVOR AND
ZERO OPPOSED.
-- THANK YOU. THE MOTION CARRIES
AND THE COMMITTEE RECOMMENDATION
THAT CITY COUNCIL CONFIRM THE
APPOINTMENTS TO THE COMMISSION
OR THE COMMITTEE WILL BE SENT TO
THE AUGUST 11th, 2026 CITY
COUNCIL MEETING. THANK YOU. ALL
RIGHT. WE WILL NOW MOVE ON TO
OUR EIGHTH SUBSTANTIVE ITEM OF
BUSINESS. WILL THE CLERK PLEASE
READ ITEM EIGHT INTO THE RECORD.
-- AGENDA ITEM EIGHT BRIEFING
AND DISCUSSION. OVERVIEW OF
WATERFRONT PARK.
-- ALL RIGHT. AND LET'S SEE IF
THERE'S ANY NEW PRESENTERS
JOINING US AT THE TABLE. THINK
THINK SAME HOLDOVERS. SO GOT A
LOT OF CONTINUITY OF OPERATIONS
HERE AT THE COMMITTEE TABLE THIS
MORNING. SO GREAT. WELCOME
AGAIN. NO NEED TO REINTRODUCE
YOURSELVES. BUT WHEN YOU'RE
READY PLEASE BEGIN YOUR
PRESENTATION
-- OKAY. THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR
HAVING US TODAY. WE'RE REALLY
EXCITED TO BE ABLE TO TALK TO
YOU ABOUT WATERFRONT PARK
OPERATIONS AND ALL THE AMAZING
THINGS THAT WE DO TO MAKE MAGIC
HAPPEN DOWN ON THE WATERFRONT.
AS YOU KNOW, THE WATERFRONT HAS
BEEN A LONG TIME IN THE MAKING.
OPERATIONS OF THE PARK STARTED
IN 2020 WITH THE OPENING OF PIER
62 AND EXPANDED OVER FIVE YEARS
AS CONSTRUCTION COMPLETED IN
DIFFERENT SECTIONS OF THE PARK.
OPEN, CULMINATING IN THE FINAL
OPENING OF THE PARK LAST
SEPTEMBER THIS YEAR IS OUR FIRST
FULL YEAR OF OPERATING THE PARK
IN ITS ENTIRETY. SEATTLE CENTER
TOOK OVER PARK OPERATIONS IN
2023 AS THE LEAD CITY
DEPARTMENT. IT HAS A REALLY
UNIQUE OPERATING MODEL THAT
COMBINES MAINTENANCE,
PROGRAMING, ACTIVATION AND
PUBLIC SAFETY AS THE THREE
PILLARS FOR SUCCESS. WE HAVE A
UNIQUE AND STRONG PARTNERSHIP
WITH FRIENDS OF WATERFRONT PARK,
WHO PROVIDES THE PROGRAMING AND
ACTIVATION IN THE PARK. WHILE
THE CITY PROVIDES A DEDICATED
MAINTENANCE TEAM, AND THERE'S A
JOINT RESPONSIBILITY FOR PUBLIC
SAFETY. AS THROUGH OUR OPS TEAM
ON THERE, BECAUSE I LIKE TO SHOW
OFF HOW HOW COOL THEY LOOK IN
THEIR THEIR BLUE THAT YOU CAN
SEE OUT IN THE PARK. OKAY. WE
HAVE A DEDICATED TEAM THAT
PROVIDES DAILY AND PREVENTIVE
MAINTENANCE OF THE PARK AND
TAKES CARE OF THE LANDSCAPING
WE'VE REMOVED OVER 600 GRAFFITI
TAGS IN 2025 WITH A HIGHER
NUMBER SO FAR IN 2026. TRACKING
CURRENTLY AT 528. TAGS REMOVED.
WE'VE SEEN AN UPTICK IN
GRAFFITI SINCE THE PARK FULLY
OPENED, AS IT'S HEAVILY USED.
MOST OF THE GRAFFITI IS NOT
HARMFUL GRAFFITI. IT'S MORE
PEOPLE DRAWING LOVE HEARTS AND
LITTLE DOODLES ON DIFFERENT
PARTS OF THE PARK. IN 2025, WE
HAD OVER 450 WORK ORDERS THAT
WERE ON TOP OF OUR DAILY TRASH
REMOVAL AND LITTER PICKING, AND
WE'RE TRACKING THAT FOR 2026.
WE HAVE A UNIQUE PUBLIC SAFETY
MODEL ON THE WATERFRONT. AS
MICHAEL ALLUDED TO, IT IS A FOUR
TIERED RESPONSE WITH OUR GOAL
BEING AS HUMANISTIC APPROACH AS
POSSIBLE. THE FIRST TIER IS
SOCIAL SERVICES. OUR PARTNERS,
FRIENDS OF WATERFRONT PARK,
CONTRACT WITH ETS REACH. OUR
FIRST STEP IS HELPING SOMEBODY
EXPERIENCING CRISES OR
EXPERIENCING ANY KIND OF NEED IN
THE PARK. OUR SECOND TIER IS
PARK AMBASSADORS, WHICH ARE
FRIENDS, STAFF THAT ARE OUT IN
THE PARK ON A DAILY BASIS. THEY
ARE UNIFORMED AND BRIGHT PINK
SUITS OUR TEAM IN BRIGHT BLUE.
THEY'VE GOT BRIGHT PINK ON, AND
THEY CAN REMIND FOLKS OF PARK
RULES. OUR THIRD TIER IS OUR ESU
MODEL, WHICH IS EXPANDED FROM
THE SEATTLE CENTER CAMPUS. IT'S
A 24/7 SAFETY TEAM THAT CAN
ENFORCE PARK RULES. AND OUR
FOURTH TIER IS THE SEATTLE
POLICE DEPARTMENT, SEATTLE FIRE
DEPARTMENT FOR ANYTHING CRIMINAL
OR LIFE THREATENING. IN 2025,
LESS THAN 2% OF OUR INCIDENTS
WENT TO SEATTLE POLICE
DEPARTMENT. SEATTLE FIRE
DEPARTMENT. WE HAD 2885
INCIDENTS OVERALL AND 44 THAT
WENT TO THE POLICE AND 36 THAT
WENT TO THE FIRE DEPARTMENT.
OKAY, SO AGAIN, A 247 TEAM THAT
IS ABLE TO ENFORCE PARK RULES,
ANYTHING THAT IS CRIMINAL OR
LIFE THREATENING GOES TO SPD AND
IS NOT DEALT WITH BY OUR PUBLIC
SAFETY EMERGENCY SERVICE UNIT
TEAM. WE HAVE PARK RULES THAT
WERE ESTABLISHED IN 2023. THEY
WENT THROUGH A INCLUSIVE AND
PUBLIC PROCESS WHERE WE HAD A
PUBLIC MEETING AND WE WENT
THROUGH THE THE SEATTLE PARKS
AND RECREATION PUBLIC PROCESS
FOR CREATING PARK RULES. A
MAJORITY OF THE RULES, I'D SAY
ABOUT 90% OF THEM WERE ALREADY
IN EXISTENCE BETWEEN SEATTLE
PARKS AND RECREATION AND SEATTLE
CENTER. AND WE CREATED ABOUT 10%
NEW RULES THAT WERE SPECIFIC TO
THE WATER AND PROMENADE SAFETY
ONE REALLY COOL THING THAT OUR
PUBLIC SAFETY TEAM DOES IS THEY
TRACK ALL THEIR INTERACTIONS
WITH THE PUBLIC. IN 2025, THEY
HAD OVER 43,000 PUBLIC
INTERACTIONS. THIS CAN BE
SOMETHING AS CASUAL AS, HI, HOW
ARE YOU DOING TO WHERE'S THE
BATHROOMS? WHO ARE YOU? WHAT DO
YOU DO TO. ALSO ENFORCING PARK
RULES THAT WE HAVE TO GOVERN THE
PARK. LESS THAN 1% OF OUR PUBLIC
INTERACTIONS IN 2025 WERE IN
RELATION TO PARK RULE
VIOLATIONS. SO WE'RE SEEING A
LOT OF POSITIVE PUBLIC
ENGAGEMENT WITH OUR EMERGENCY
SERVICE UNIT TEAM AND THE
PUBLIC. AND THEN ONE THING WE'RE
REALLY, REALLY PROUD OF WITH OUR
PUBLIC SAFETY TEAM IS WE HAVE
HAD ZERO ENCAMPMENTS ESTABLISHED
IN THE WATERFRONT PARK BOUNDARY
SINCE 2023. WE WANTED TO TOUCH
BASE REALLY QUICK ON THE
PROGRAMING AND ACTIVATION PIECE
OF OUR THREE TIER KIND OF PILLAR
OF SUCCESS MODEL WITH FRIENDS OF
WATERFRONT PARK. WE DO ALL THE
PROGRAMING AND ACTIVATION. THEY
DO ALL THE PROGRAMING,
ACTIVATION, AND WE ARE WE'RE
SUPPORTING ENTITY TOGETHER. WE
DID THE SEATTLE WORLD CUP, WHICH
WAS PHENOMENAL AND AN AMAZING
EXPERIENCE. AND I HOPE YOU MADE
IT DOWN TO ACTUALLY KIND OF LIVE
IN THAT MOMENT THAT SEATTLE HAD
OF, OF JOY IN THE PARK. WE
WELCOMED OVER. WE'RE ESTIMATING
OVER 100,000 PEOPLE ON THE JULY
6th DATE AND WE HAD WELL OVER
85,000 PEOPLE ON OUR JUNE 19th
DATE. DURING THIS TIME, WE
ACTIVATED PIER 62 ON TEN
SEPARATE DAYS. THE SIX SEATTLE
MATCH DAYS, PLUS FOUR ADDITIONAL
DAYS THAT CANADA, US AND MEXICO
WERE PLAYING. THEIR FLOATING
BARGE CAME IN. AS YOU MAY HAVE
SEEN, HOPEFULLY MADE IT OUT
THERE. IT WAS PRETTY AMAZING
EXPERIENCE TO BE ON A BARGE
FLOATING AND THEN WE DID PIER 58
ACTIVATIONS ON JUNE 19th AND
JULY 6th, AND THERE WERE SEVERAL
DATES THAT HAD MARCHED TO THE
MATCHES.
-- MY FAVORITE BEING BOSNIA,
WHERE THEY KIND OF JUST TOOK
OVER. YOU COULD SEE IN THAT
PICTURE BY THE AQUARIUM, THE
ENTIRE PARK. IT WAS REALLY,
REALLY COOL TO SEE. WE JUST
FINISHED UP ON A SUCCESSFUL
TORCHLIGHT PARADE. THIS IS OUR
SECOND YEAR HOSTING TORCHLIGHT.
WE ANTICIPATE THAT WE SAW HIGHER
NUMBERS OF ATTENDANCE THAN WE
SAW LAST YEAR. THE RUN HAD A
HIGHER REGISTRANTS IN THE. THE
RUN AND THE PARADE WAS OVERALL
VERY SUCCESSFUL. WE HAD A GREAT
TIME HOSTING TORCHLIGHT AND WE
LOOK FORWARD TO WHAT 2027 HOLDS
FOR US WITH THEM. AND THEN
THERE'S SO MUCH MORE GOING ON
THIS SUMMER. WE'VE BEEN ASKED A
LOT ABOUT HOW WE'RE CREATING
ENERGY AROUND THE WATERFRONT,
ESPECIALLY FOLLOWING WORLD CUP
AND TORCHLIGHT AND WHAT
ACTIVITIES ARE GOING ON. FRIENDS
HAS WORKED REALLY, REALLY HARD
ON A REALLY COMPREHENSIVE
ENGAGING PROGRAM FOR THE PUBLIC.
AND THEY'VE GOT A WHOLE BUNCH
OF THINGS HOSTED. WE'VE INCLUDED
THE LINK TO THE TO THEIR LIST OF
ACTIVITIES. SOME OF THE THINGS I
WANT TO NOTE ARE THE SPOTLIGHT
SERIES, THEIR YOGA, ZUMBA.
THEY'VE GOT RENTALS THAT ARE
HAPPENING WITH COMMUNITY
PARTNERS LIKE PARK JETTA, AND WE
HAVE SALMON HOMECOMING, AS WELL
AS THE BLOCK PARTY COMING UP SO
BLOCK PARTY IS OUR NEXT BIG
THING. IT IS ON SATURDAY, AUGUST
29th FROM 1 TO 8 P.M. IT WILL
MIMIC A LITTLE BIT OF THE GRAND
OPENING WHERE THE ENTIRE PARK
WILL BE ACTIVATED, AS OPPOSED TO
JUST PIER 62, WHICH IS WHAT'S
BEEN IN THE PAST, AS WE HAVE
NOW. THE FULL CONTROL OF THE
PARK. SO WE'RE REALLY LOOKING
FORWARD TO OUR PUBLIC SPACES.
PIER 58 OVER THE PIER 62 BEING
ACTIVATED DURING WATERFRONT
BLOCK PARTY, AND WE HOPE YOU
WILL JOIN US. AND WITH THAT,
AYE. ANY I'M OPEN TO ANY
QUESTIONS THAT YOU MIGHT HAVE
ABOUT WATERFRONT PARK.
-- EXCELLENT. THANK YOU VERY
MUCH FOR THE PRESENTATION TODAY.
REALLY ENJOYED THE FIFA
EXPERIENCE IN PARTICULAR, BUT
IT'S TRULY A A GEM, A CIVIC AND
CULTURAL GEM FOR OUR ENTIRE CITY
YEAR ROUND, WHETHER WE'RE
WELCOMING THE WORLD FOR A
SPECIFIC SET OF GAMES OR NOT. SO
THANK YOU FOR THAT. BUT THANK
YOU FOR THE PRESENTATION TODAY.
AT THIS POINT, I'LL TURN IT
OVER TO MY COLLEAGUES FOR ANY
QUESTIONS. COMMENTS, FEEDBACK,
IF ANY. FROM YOUR PERSPECTIVE,
STARTING FIRST WITH VICE CHAIR
RINCK.
-- THANK YOU, CHAIR SAKA, AND
THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR THE
OVERVIEW PRESENTATION. I THINK
WE CAN ALL AGREE THAT WATERFRONT
PARK IS A TREMENDOUS ASSET TO
OUR CITY. I HEAR FROM VISITORS
ALL THE TIME. SOMETIMES I WALK
THE STREETS AND TRY AND
OVERHEAR. WHEN WE HAVE TOURISTS
AROUND TOWN AND AYE. IT'S A
REAL PLEASURE, ESPECIALLY WHEN
I'M WALKING DOWNTOWN AND I
OVERHEAR TOURISTS WHO ARE LIKE,
OH MY GOSH, THE WATERFRONT LOOKS
INCREDIBLE. IT'S SO BEAUTIFUL
HERE. AND IN SO MANY WAYS, I
FOUND MYSELF ALSO SPENDING FREE
TIME AT THE WATERFRONT PARK AS
WELL. AND I THINK ACTUALLY ON
SLIDE 12, IF YOU SQUINT, YOU CAN
SEE ME THERE CHEERING ON TEAM
USA. BUT I WANTED TO DIVE IN A
LITTLE BIT JUST ON SLIDE. LET'S
SEE SLIDE NINE, JUST WITH SOME
OF THE DATA, PARTICULARLY AROUND
PUBLIC SAFETY. AND I APOLOGIZE
IF I MISSED THIS DETAIL, BUT
I'M WONDERING WITH THIS CHART
AND SOME OF THE DATA POINTS ON
SOME OF THE PARK RULE
VIOLATIONS, WHAT IS CAPTURED BY
THE OTHER CATEGORY? WHAT ARE THE
KINDS OF VIOLATIONS THAT ARE
CAPTURED IN THAT CATEGORY
-- YEAH. SO IN THE OTHER
CATEGORY, IT IS JUST PEOPLE THAT
ARE DOING THINGS THAT ARE NOT A
PARK RULE VIOLATION, BUT ARE
VIOLATION OF PUBLIC SPACE. THAT
WE DON'T NECESSARILY HAVE AS,
AS A PARK RULE. AND I DON'T
WANT TO EXPLICITLY GO INTO SOME
OF THE DETAIL OF LIKE, WHAT SOME
OF THOSE RULES ARE, BUT LIKE IF
SOMEBODY WAS URINATING ON THE
SIDE OF THE BUILDING, THAT WOULD
BE CAPTURED AS ANOTHER, WE HAVE
PEOPLE WHO ARE DOING VENDING
ACROSS THE STREET THAT IS
UNPERMITTED. AND THAT WOULD BE
CONSIDERED UNDER OTHER. IT
DOESN'T FALL WITHIN OUR PARK
BOUNDARY, BUT WE CAPTURE THAT
DATA AS IT COMES IN. OTHER
VIOLATIONS COULD BE RELATED TO
OTHER PORTIONS OF THE PARK THAT
PEOPLE HAVE EITHER JUST KIND OF
DEFACED OR DONE DAMAGE TO.
THAT'S NOT CAPTURED UNDER ONE
OF OUR PARK RULES.
-- OKAY. UNDERSTOOD. SO PERHAPS
THINGS THAT ARE CAPTURED IN
SEATTLE MUNICIPAL CODE, BUT NOT
EXPLICITLY STATED IN PARK RULES.
OKAY. THANK YOU. ALWAYS CURIOUS
WITH THOSE KIND OF MISCELLANEOUS
CATEGORIES, WHAT THOSE
REPRESENT. AND I AM CURIOUS,
JUST BECAUSE WE DID RECEIVE A
PUBLIC COMMENT TODAY, JUST ABOUT
THE MATTER OF DESIGNATED
EXPRESSION SPACES, I'M WONDERING
IF YOU COULD UNPACK A LITTLE BIT
WHAT THOSE ARE. I THINK WE ALL
FEEL A SHARED COMMITMENT TO
UPHOLD FIRST AMENDMENT RIGHTS.
AND THERE'S A CLEAR POLICY AS A
PART OF WATERFRONT PARK AROUND
DESIGNATED EXPRESSION SPACES. SO
I'M WONDERING IF YOU CAN SPEAK
TO THAT A LITTLE BIT MORE AND
UNPACK IT.
-- ABSOLUTELY SO WATERFRONT
PARK, FIRST AND FOREMOST, WE
SUPPORT THE CREATIVITY OF
ARTISTS AND WELCOME THE
DIFFERENT CULTURAL EXPERIENCES
THAT IT BRINGS TO WATERFRONT
PARK. WE HAVE SIX DESIGNATED
LOCATIONS WITHIN THE PARK THAT
ARE FREE SPEECH ZONES. THESE ARE
WITHIN THE PARK RULES. THIS
EXISTS WITHIN SEATTLE CENTER
PARK RULES. WE DO HAVE OUR
TEMPORARY ZONES THAT WE PUT IN
PLACE WHEN WE SEE A HIGH USE OF
THESE SPACES, AND THEY'RE NOT
AVAILABLE TO EVERYBODY AT ANY
GIVEN TIME. SO WITHIN THE PARK
RULES, THE SUPERINTENDENT HAS
THE ABILITY TO DIRECTOR ENGSTROM
HAS THE ABILITY TO CREATE
ADDITIONAL SPACES, WHICH HE'S
ENFORCED. OUR TEAM TO BE ABLE TO
DO. WE REALLY USE THESE ZONES
FOR SIX PEOPLE OR LESS. AND IF
THERE IS A IF IT IS A GREATER
NEED THAN SIX PEOPLE, WE MOVE
FOLKS INTO DIFFERENT AREAS OF
THE PARK. WE WERE REALLY
INTENTIONAL ABOUT HOW WE PICKED
THESE SPACES. WE WERE THINKING
ABOUT PUBLIC SAFETY. WE WERE
THINKING ABOUT PEDESTRIAN
PASSAGE ON THE PROMENADE. WE
WERE THINKING ABOUT THE AUDITORY
ABILITY TO HEAR THE STREET AND
SIGNALS AND WHAT IS GOING ON IN
THE PARK. SO WE WERE VERY
INTENTIONAL ABOUT THE SPACES
THAT WE PICKED TO GIVE ENOUGH
ROOM FOR A PERFORMER TO BE SAFE,
AS WELL AS THE PUBLIC. AND LIKE
I SAID, WE WE'VE ESTABLISHED
ADDITIONAL TEMPORARY ZONES AS
NEEDED. WE SEE THAT MORE ON
FRIDAY, SATURDAYS WHERE WE STAND
UP SOME TEMPORARY ZONES AND THEN
THEY THEY GO AWAY DURING THE
WEEK OR THEY FLUCTUATE DEPENDING
ON WHAT THE NEED IS. THEY DO
HAVE TO BE ESTABLISHED BY OUR
PUBLIC SERVICE TEAM. SO IT'S NOT
JUST ANYBODY DECIDING THAT
THEY'RE GOING TO BE ANYWHERE IN
THE PARK THAT THEY WANT TO BE.
AND WE REALLY KIND OF WORK WITH
OUR BUSKERS AND OUR PERFORMERS
AND ARTISTS TO, TO PUT THEM IN A
SAFE PLACE
-- THANK YOU FOR UNPACKING THAT.
AND JUST AS A FOLLOW UP TO THIS
POINT, IS THERE, CAN YOU WALK
THROUGH WHAT VIOLATIONS LOOK
LIKE FOR NOT BEING IN A FREE
SPEECH SPACE?
-- WHAT VIOLATIONS ARE FOR NOT
BEING IN A FREE SPEECH.
-- ANY TYPE OF ENFORCEMENT
AROUND THIS?
-- YEAH. SO OUR PUBLIC SERVICE
TEAM WILL GO AND ENGAGE WITH
INDIVIDUALS AND LET THEM KNOW
THAT WE HAVE THE BLUE BOXES. AND
I JUST WANT TO BE LIKE, REALLY
TRANSPARENT THAT THE BLUE BOXES
ARE A NEW THING. AS OF LAST
SUMMER, BECAUSE THE PARK WAS
OPENING IN ITS ENTIRETY AND WE
DIDN'T HAVE CONTROL OF THE
PROMENADE FULLY BEFORE THAT. AND
SO AS WE STARTED PARK OPERATIONS
AND TOOK OVER THE PARK AS IT
FULLY OPENED, THE BLUE BOXES
CAME INTO PLAY. EVEN THOUGH
RULES WERE ESTABLISHED IN 2023.
SO OUR PUBLIC SAFETY TEAM WILL
ENGAGE WITH FOLKS AND THEY WILL
LET THEM KNOW ABOUT THE BLUE
BOXES. IF THERE IS NOT A BLUE
BOX AVAILABLE, THEY WILL WORK ON
HELPING FIND THE TEMPORARY ZONE
FOR THAT INDIVIDUAL OR SMALL
GROUP. AND IF THERE IS NOT
COMPLIANCE WITH THAT AND
SOMEBODY DOES NOT WANT TO BE
WITHIN THAT DESIGNATED AREA,
THEN WE DO LEAN ON OUR
PARTNERSHIP WITH THE POLICE
DEPARTMENT.
-- SO THANK YOU FOR UNPACKING
THAT. AND CERTAINLY, I THINK,
AGAIN, WE ALL HAVE A
RESPONSIBILITY TO REALLY MAKE
SURE WE'RE PROTECTING PEOPLE'S
FIRST AMENDMENT RIGHTS. AND SO I
WANT TO THANK YOU FOR ANSWERING
MY QUESTIONS JUST RELATED TO TO
THIS POINT, WOULD LIKE TO
CONTINUE THE CONVERSATION TO, TO
MAKE SURE THAT RESPONSIBILITY.
SURE. IF IT'S ALL RIGHT, I'D
LIKE TO GIVE TIME FOR OTHER
COMMITTEE MEMBER TO ASK SOME
QUESTIONS. I MIGHT JUMP IN WITH
ANY ADDITIONAL FOLLOW UP THAT
COMES TO MIND, BUT THANK YOU FOR
THE OPPORTUNITY, AND THANK YOU
AGAIN FOR THE PRESENTATION.
-- THANK YOU.
-- SURE. THANK YOU, VICE CHAIR
COUNCILMEMBER LIN. YOU ARE
RECOGNIZED.
-- THANK YOU. CHAIR, AND I JUST
WANT TO FIRST START WITH A. ALSO
SPEAKING TO THE TRAGEDY AND YOU
KNOW, ALSO JUST WANT TO SPEAK. I
MEAN, IT WAS WAS DEVASTATING TO
HAVE IT AT SUCH A YOU KNOW, AT
SUCH A CHERISHED LOCATION AT THE
SEATTLE CENTER. IT'S SUCH AN
IMPORTANT EVENT FOR OUR
COMMUNITY AND, AND ALSO JUST
WANT TO SPEAK TO. JUST THE, THE
CRISIS OF YOUTH GUN VIOLENCE,
WHICH I MEAN, THE DETAILS ARE
STILL WE DON'T KNOW, BUT IT
APPEARS TO HAVE BEEN RELATED.
YOU KNOW, IT'S ANOTHER INSTANCE
OF YOUTH GUN VIOLENCE. AND I
THINK, YOU KNOW, WE OBVIOUSLY
NEED TO MAKE SURE THAT SEATTLE
CENTER, WATERFRONT, THAT WHEN WE
HAVE LARGE EVENTS, THAT WE HAVE
APPROPRIATE SECURITY MEASURES
AND OTHER PROTOCOLS IN PLACE. AT
THE SAME TIME, I THINK WE IT
JUST HIGHLIGHTS ONCE AGAIN, THAT
WE NEED TO DO BETTER AND SPEND
MORE ATTENTION AND RESOURCES ON
THE CRISIS AROUND YOUTH GUN
VIOLENCE. AS WE SEE IT
IMPACTING, YOU KNOW, WE LOST TWO
HIGH SCHOOLERS AT RAINIER BEACH
IN JANUARY. WE'VE LOST, YOU
KNOW, AT THE VIGIL, WE HEARD
FROM MAURA MURPHY, PAYNE'S
FATHER, WHO LOST HIS SON, YOU
KNOW, JUST TRYING TO BREAK UP A
FIGHT. SO, YOU KNOW, WE WE WE
SEE YOUTH GUN VIOLENCE. I MEAN,
PARTICULARLY IN SOUTHEAST
SEATTLE, BUT IT'S DEVASTATED
YOUR DISTRICT CHAIR. YOU KNOW,
WE SEE IT AT OUR COMMUNITY
CENTERS, AT OUR HIGH SCHOOLS, AT
SEATTLE CENTER. IT IS. BUT MOST
OF ALL, YOU KNOW, IT IS IT IS
OUR YOUTH WHO, YOU KNOW, WHO GO
TO HIGH SCHOOL SCARED AND YOU
KNOW, WHO DON'T FEEL SAFE. YOU
KNOW THAT PEOPLE, KIDS NEED TO
FEEL THAT THEY NEED A RIDE TO
AND FROM SCHOOL BECAUSE THEY
DON'T FEEL SAFE WALKING TO
SCHOOL. THEY DON'T FEEL SAFE
TAKING THE BUS. AND SO I JUST, I
THINK AGAIN, ABSOLUTELY, IT IS A
BOTH AND THING WE NEED TO LIKE,
WE NEED TO MOURN THE FOLKS WHO
WERE INJURED OR KILLED AND, AND
DO EVERYTHING WE CAN TO MAKE
SURE THAT THESE LARGE EVENTS AND
OUR LARGE PUBLIC SPACES ARE
SAFE. AND WE NEED MORE ATTENTION
TO, TO ADDRESS THIS CRISIS. SO I
JUST WANT WANT TO MAKE THAT
CLEAR. REGARDING TO FOLLOW UP ON
VICE CHAIRS, COMMENTS AROUND
PERFORMING ARTISTS, I DO JUST,
YOU KNOW, I THINK ABOUT OUR OWN
OUR OWN MAYOR WHO TALKED ABOUT
BEING A BUSKER AT AT THE MARKET.
AND I THINK IT, YOU KNOW,
PERFORMING ARTISTS ARE ONE.
IT'S IMPORTANT FOR PEOPLE'S
LIVELIHOODS AS WE THINK ABOUT
AFFORDABILITY IN OUR IN OUR
CITY. I THINK I DON'T KNOW, THE
MAYOR'S OWN EXPERIENCE, BUT I
THINK, YOU KNOW, PROBABLY HELPED
HER PAY THE RENT WHEN SHE WAS
NEW TO SEATTLE BUT IT ALSO ADDS
TO THE EXPERIENCE. RIGHT? IT'S A
MEANINGFUL WAY FOR OUR DIVERSE
COMMUNITY TO INTERACT WITH EACH
OTHER AND TO HAVE ENJOYABLE. AND
SO I GUESS MY, ONE OF MY
QUESTIONS WOULD BE, AND I'M
HAPPY TO TAKE THIS OFFLINE
LATER, BUT I'M JUST WONDERING
HOW YOU TAKE FEEDBACK,
INCORPORATE, YOU KNOW, WE JUST
APPOINTED SOME OVERSIGHT
COMMITTEE MEMBERS, WHICH IS
WONDERFUL. AND THANK YOU FOR,
FOR STEPPING UP TO SERVE. I JUST
WONDER ABOUT HOW DO WE MAKE SURE
THAT THERE'S A VOICE OF
PERFORMING ARTISTS EITHER WITHIN
THE OVERSIGHT COMMITTEE OR
WITHIN SORT OF AS YOU DEVELOPED
RULES AND REGULATIONS, HOW DO
YOU GET ONGOING TAKE INTO
CONSIDERATION ONGOING FEEDBACK
FROM FROM FOLKS WHO ENGAGE IN
PERFORMING ARTISTS ON, IN OUR
DIFFERENT PUBLIC SPACES.
-- SO FIRST, I, I DEFINITELY
AGREE THAT THE EXPERIENCE OF THE
BUSKERS, ENTERTAINERS THAT WE
HAVE ON THE WATERFRONT, IT MAKES
AN EXPERIENCE FOR PEOPLE. AND WE
DEFINITELY SEE THAT AS FOLKS ARE
DOWN THERE PARTICIPATING IN
DIFFERENT MAGIC SHOWS AND
ENTERTAINMENT AND PHOTOGRAPHY
AND IT REALLY ADDS TO THE, THE
LIFE OF WHAT THE WATERFRONT IS
SO WE AS, AS A DEPARTMENT, WE
WELCOME ANY FEEDBACK THAT COMES
OUR WAY FOR HOW WE CAN DO ALWAYS
HOW WE CAN DO THINGS BETTER. OUR
OVERSIGHT COMMITTEE WAS VERY
DEEPLY ENGAGED IN THE PROCESS OF
MAKING THE PARK RULES, AND IT
WAS REALLY IMPORTANT TO THEM
THAT WE DID HAVE SPACES THAT
WERE FOR FREE SPEECH AND THAT WE
WERE ACCOMMODATING GROUPS THAT
WE COULD AS BEST AS WE COULD, AS
LONG AS THERE WASN'T A PROGRAM
THAT WAS ALREADY IN PLACE IN THE
PARK. FRIENDS OF WATERFRONT PARK
DOES A PHENOMENAL JOB WITH THEIR
PROGRAMING AND ACTIVATION, WHERE
THEY HAVE A PROCESS FOR FOLKS IF
THEY WANT TO DO ACTIVITIES IN
THE PARK, THEY CAN APPLY FOR
THAT. AND IT'S A VERY IT'S AN
ANNUAL PROCESS THAT THAT FOLKS
GO THROUGH WITH AN APPLICATION
THAT WE ALSO ENCOURAGE OUR
BUSKERS AND ENTERTAINERS, IF
THEY'RE LOOKING FOR MORE
PERMANENT WAY TO DO SOMETHING
LIKE MORE STABLE THREE MONTH,
FOUR MONTH SUMMER BEING ABLE TO
DO AN ACTIVATION, WE ENCOURAGE
THEM TO GO THROUGH FRIENDS OF
WATERFRONT PARK BUT WE, WE
DEFINITELY CONTINUE TO TAKE
PUBLIC FEEDBACK ON ON HOW THINGS
ARE WORKING. OUR PUBLIC SAFETY
TEAM HAS A REALLY GOOD
RELATIONSHIP WITH OUR, OUR
STREET PERFORMERS AND OUR
ENTERTAINERS AND OUR ARTISTS.
AND, YOU KNOW, MOST OF THEM ON A
FIRST NAME BASIS AND ARE
ENGAGING WITH THEM AND THEY GET
FEEDBACK ON A DAILY BASIS FROM
THEM. AND WE TRY WE'VE TAKEN
FEEDBACK, WE'VE TAKEN FEEDBACK
FROM, FROM DIFFERENT ARTISTS AND
ACTUALLY EXPANDED OUR FREE
SPEECH ZONES THAT WE HAD. AND WE
ADDED FREE SPEECH ZONES BASED ON
FEEDBACK. SO WE WERE LISTENING.
-- THANK YOU. AND AGAIN, HAPPY
TO CHAT MORE OFFLINE. I JUST
THINK IT IS. THANK YOU FOR THAT.
I THINK IT'S IMPORTANT TO, TO,
TO GET THAT FEEDBACK. AND I KNOW
THAT SOME FOLKS MIGHT HAVE HAD
DIFFERENT EXPERIENCES WITH
SECURITY THAN OTHERS. AND SO I
THINK IT'S IMPORTANT TO, TO
MAKE SURE THAT WE ARE LISTENING
TO SORT OF THE RANGE OF VOICES
THERE ALSO, YOU KNOW, WAS GLAD
TO HEAR ABOUT SORT OF THE, THE
IDEA OF LIKE, WHEN THERE'S A
HIGHER DEMAND, HAVING TEMPORARY
SPACES, I WOULD LIKE TO LEARN
MORE ABOUT THAT. THAT'S ALL.
-- CHAIR THANK YOU.
COUNCILMEMBER LIN AND EXCELLENT
QUESTIONS FROM VICE CHAIR AND
COUNCILMEMBER LIN HERE. REALLY
APPRECIATE THAT BECAUSE YOU YOU
ANSWERED A LOT OF OR YOU ASKED A
LOT OF MY QUESTIONS AND AND SO
ALL. BUT THIS IS ACTUALLY A VERY
IMPORTANT TOPIC. AND SO I DO
WANT TO TAKE A MOMENT TO DOUBLE
CLICK ON IT FOR JUST A MOMENT
AND MAYBE POTENTIALLY OFFER A
DIFFERENT, SLIGHTLY DIFFERENT
DIMENSION TO THE CONVERSATION
HERE. SO CLEARLY THERE ARE
FOUNDATIONAL FREE SPEECH RIGHTS,
YOU KNOW, POTENTIALLY AT ISSUE
WHEN, WHEN WE SEEK TO REGULATE
PUBLIC SPACES LIKE THIS AND
WE'VE, WE'VE HEARD CONCERNS
THIS COMMITTEE AND THIS COUNCIL
AND THIS ADMINISTRATION. YOU
KNOW, I KNOW YOU ALL HAVE HEARD
CONCERNS FROM VARIOUS MEMBERS OF
THE COMMUNITY ABOUT THE ADEQUACY
AND SUFFICIENCY. WHAT ALL
CHARACTERIZES THE ADEQUACY AND
SUFFICIENCY OF THE ZONES, THE
ENFORCEMENT APPROACH, ET CETERA.
INDEED, YOU KNOW, WHEN ONE
MEMBER OF THE COMMUNITY, MR.
CLIVE HAYWARD, IS IS IN THE
AUDIENCE TODAY. THANK YOU FOR
SHARING YOUR PERSPECTIVE AND
FEEDBACK. BUSKERS ARE VERY
IMPORTANT PERFORMING ARTISTS,
BUSKERS, ENTERTAINERS, WHATEVER
YOU WANT TO LIKE. THEY'RE VERY
IMPORTANT AND THEY CONTRIBUTE TO
THE THE CULTURAL VIBRANCY AND
THE OVERALL EXPERIENCE OF, OF,
YOU KNOW, GUESTS, YOU KNOW, AS
THEY TRAVERSE THE WATERFRONT.
AND SO REALLY APPRECIATE THEM
BEING THERE. AND, YOU KNOW, THAT
SAID TO, TO THE EARLIER POINT,
ALSO HAVE A INTEREST TO KIND OF,
YOU KNOW, MAKE SURE THE SPACE IS
NAVIGABLE, SAFE, ACCOMMODATING
FOR ALL. I JUST DON'T WANT TO I
JUST DON'T WANT US TO BE DOING
THAT, YOU KNOW, AT THE EXPENSE
OF OTHERWISE LAWFUL FREE SPEECH
CONDUCT AND SO I, AND I ALSO
APPRECIATE THE INFORMATION, THE
CENTER AND THE WATERFRONT HAVE
HAVE SO GRACIOUSLY SHARED WITH
MY OFFICE OFFLINE AND BRIEFINGS
ABOUT THIS TOPIC. IT'S REALLY
IMPORTANT. AND I RECOGNIZE THAT
THERE ARE NO EASY ANSWERS, YOU
KNOW, IN ANY OF THIS. BUT I ALSO
DO WANT US TO TO DO OUR BEST TO
ADDRESS ALL THE CONCERNS, ALL
THE COMMUNITY CONCERNS AND
FEEDBACK. EVEN IF WE CAN'T FULLY
AND FAITHFULLY IMPLEMENT EVERY
SPECIFIC ASPECT OR FEATURE OF,
OF A SPECIFIC REQUESTS, BUT THAT
IS MISSION CRITICAL WORK. AND
THAT'S, BY THE WAY, THE SAME
EXPECTATION THAT I HAVE FOR ALL
DEPARTMENTS. AND SO WHEN WE TALK
ABOUT. EVALUATION CRITERIA, WHAT
EVALUATION CRITERIA? SO THERE
ARE SIX CURRENT ZONES. YOU HAVE
THE AUTHORITY CAPACITY TO ADD
TEMPORARY ZONES AS NEEDED. SO
WHAT ARE EVALUATION CRITERIA.
DOES THE DEPARTMENT USE TO GUIDE
YOU KNOW POTENTIAL FUTURE
EXPANSION DECISIONS OR YOU KNOW,
EVEN THE TEMPORARY EXPANSION OF
OF THESE FREE SPEECH ZONES.
-- THANK YOU FOR THE OPPORTUNITY
TO SPEAK ON THAT A LITTLE BIT
MORE. WE HAVE MET WITH
PERFORMERS AND HAVE DONE WALKS
OF THE PARK AND EXPANDED OUR
ZONES BASED ON FEEDBACK THAT WE
ARE GIVEN, AND ADDED ZONES BASED
ON THAT. WE DON'T HAVE A.
CRITERIA OR MEASURING TOOL FOR.
THAT'S LIKE PERFORMATIVE THAT
WE USE TO GO OUT AND. AND
ACTUALLY DO ANY KIND OF
ENGAGEMENT. STAKEHOLDER BUSKER,
ARTIST KIND OF FEEDBACK. BUT WE,
WE HAVE GONE OUT WITH BUSKERS
AND PERFORMERS AND SOLICITED
FEEDBACK BASED ON THEIR
EXPERIENCE IN THE PARK AND BASED
ON SOME OF THE NEGATIVE
EXPERIENCES IN THE PARK TO HELP
MAKE IT A MORE POSITIVE
EXPERIENCE. OUR GOAL IS FOR
EVERYONE TO FEEL WELCOME AT
WATERFRONT PARK, AND THAT
INCLUDES OUR OUR BUSKERS,
PERFORMERS AND ARTISTS. AND THAT
IS THAT IS VITALLY IMPORTANT TO
US. AND ALTHOUGH WE DON'T HAVE A
TOOL RIGHT NOW TO MEASURE, WE'RE
HAPPY TO TO HAVE DISCUSSIONS
ABOUT WHAT TOOL COULD LOOK LIKE
FOR EVALUATION OF THOSE ZONES.
-- THANK YOU. YEAH. LET'S
CONTINUE THE CONVERSATION
OFFLINE EVALUATION, OBJECTIVE
EVALUATION CRITERIA, OR, YOU
KNOW, MORE REGULAR PERIODIC
REVIEW. YOU KNOW, OF THAT. BUT
LET'S CONTINUE THE CONVERSATION
OFFLINE. BUT I'LL ALSO SAY IS
REALLY APPRECIATE THE WORK AND
THE, THE THOUGHT THAT WENT INTO
THIS PRESENTATION. AND, YOU
KNOW, SOME OF THE MORE DELICATE,
NUANCED TOPICS AS WELL. SO.
LET'S SEE HERE. FINAL QUESTION
ON A SEPARATE TOPIC SO IN THE
CITY, WE HAVE A WE HAVE A MAJOR
CHALLENGE WITH THE USE OF
AMPLIFIED NOISE TECHNOLOGIES,
PARTICULARLY WHEN WE HAVE
CAPPED. AND THE PROBLEM IS NOT A
PLEASANT EXPERIENCE FOR ANYONE
INVOLVED. AND I'M SURE THE
PEOPLE YELLING IN A MEGAPHONE,
LIKE I FEEL LIKE HALF OF THEM
ARE WEARING EAR PROTECTION.
IT'S IT'S AN AWFUL, HORRIBLE
EXPERIENCE. NOT AT ALL CONDUCIVE
TO A WARM, WELCOMING, SAFE, YOU
KNOW, INVITING ENVIRONMENT. AND
THE CHALLENGE WITH AMPLIFIED
NOISE IS PARTICULARLY PRONOUNCED
IN THE STADIUM DISTRICT FOR BIG
EVENTS. ALSO, THE SEATTLE CENTER
FOR SIMILAR REASONS. AND WHAT
SOME OF MY CONSTITUENTS IN THE
STADIUM DISTRICT, FOR EXAMPLE,
HAVE BEEN VERY VOCAL ABOUT, AND
I APPRECIATE THEIR PERSPECTIVE.
IT'S NOT LIKE. MANY OF THESE
INSTANCES, PEOPLE ARE JUST
WAITING IN LINE OR TRYING TO GET
INTO AN EVENT OR VENUE, OR MAYBE
ON THE IN THE WATERFRONT
CONTEXT, WAITING TO, YOU KNOW,
WATCH ONE OF THE WORLD CUP GAMES
ON THE SCREEN OR WHATEVER IT IS.
AND SO YOU HAVE A CAPTIVE
AUDIENCE. OFTENTIMES IT DOESN'T
MATTER REALLY IF THERE'S KIDS,
BUT THERE'S KIDS. SOMETIMES
SENIORS DOESN'T MATTER. NO ONE,
NO ONE SHOULD EXPECT THAT. AND,
AND HAVE THAT HAPPEN. SO AGAIN,
WE KNOW THE PROBLEM IS
PARTICULARLY PRONOUNCED IN THE
STADIUM DISTRICT. AND SEATTLE
CENTER. TO WHAT EXTENT IS THIS
SAME CHALLENGE SHOWING UP? TO
WHAT EXTENT SEVERITY IS IT
SHOWING UP IN THE WATERFRONT?
AND BY THE WAY, I'VE READ THE
CODE. THERE'S THE CODE IS
SUFFICIENTLY CLEAR. I SAW IT.
I'VE SEEN THEIR CITY SIGNS.
IT'S IT'S EXPRESSLY CITE THE
CODE AND I'VE DIVE DEEP INTO
THE CODE. I DON'T THINK
THERE'S ANY MORE LEGISLATIVE
TWEAKS THAT ARE NEEDED FROM MY
PERSPECTIVE. THAT SAID, IF THE
EXECUTIVE, YOU KNOW, THINKS
THERE'S A BETTER APPROACH AND,
AND LEGISLATIVE FIXES ARE
NEEDED, I'D BE OPEN TO SEEING
THAT PROPOSAL. BUT THE CODE IS
SUFFICIENTLY CLEAR. YOU CAN'T
USE AMPLIFIED TECHNOLOGY ABOVE A
CERTAIN DECIBEL. HOW PROLIFIC.
BUT BACK TO MY QUESTION. HOW
PROLIFIC IS THAT CHALLENGE IN
ALONG THE WATERFRONT
-- SO AMPLIFIED SOUNDS NOT
ALLOWED IN THE PARK UNLESS
YOU'RE IN A FREE SPEECH ZONE,
WHICH THEN YOU NEED TO BE WITHIN
THE CODE WHERE OUR CHALLENGE IS,
IS THE WATER REVERBERATES UP
THROUGH THE DOWNTOWN CORE, AND
WE SEE FOLKS THAT ARE WITHIN THE
NORMAL SOUND DECIBELS ON THE
GROUND LEVEL AS THEY SHOULD BE.
BUT AS IT REVERBERATES UP, IT
ACTUALLY INCREASES IN SOUND. AND
SO WE'VE GOT FOLKS THAT LIVE IN
APARTMENTS AND CONDOS THAT ARE
EXPERIENCING HIGHER VOLUMES OF
NOISE THAN WE ARE EXPERIENCING
ON THE GROUND LEVEL, WHICH MAKES
IT REALLY HARD FOR US TO BE ABLE
TO DO SOMETHING. I WOULD SAY, IN
RELATION TO SOMEBODY WAITING TO
GET INTO SOMETHING ON THE
WATERFRONT, WAITING TO GET ONTO
ARGOSY. WE'RE NOT SEEING THE
LARGE MEGAPHONE KIND OF ISSUES
THAT WE'RE SEEING IN OTHER
PARTS OF THE CITY. YEAH.
-- OKAY. NO, THAT'S HELPFUL.
AND I, IT MAKES SENSE. THE THE
AMPLIFICATION ALONG THE WATER
AND THE IMPACT THAT THAT HAS.
BUT THE, THE LAWS AND ORDINANCES
ARE SUFFICIENTLY CLEAR. SO, YOU
KNOW, LOOKING FORWARD TO
CONTINUED PARTNERSHIP WITH OUR
EXECUTIVE ON, ON HOW WE CAN
BETTER IMPLEMENT AND EXECUTE
THOSE LAWS AND ENFORCE THEM.
BECAUSE SITUATION FROM A
CITYWIDE PERSPECTIVE IS, IS OUT
OF HAND. AND WE NEED TO DO
BETTER, ESPECIALLY IF WE TALK
ABOUT WE WANT TO MAINTAIN OUR
DOMINANT LEADING GLOBAL STATUS
AS A, AS A, AS A SAFE,
WELCOMING, INVITING CITY.
PRELIMINARY CONVERSATIONS.
ACTING DIRECTOR, AS YOU KNOW
ABOUT, YOU KNOW, US POTENTIALLY
RUNNING IT BACK FOR FIFA WITH
WELCOMING THE, THE 2031 WOMEN'S
WORLD CUP AS PART OF THE HOST
LIKE, AND THERE'S MORE STUFF
WE'RE TRYING TO DO AND THIS
DOESN'T MAKE OUR CASE EASY. SO
WE NEED TO GET A HANDLE HANDLE
THIS. THANK YOU FOR THAT. FINAL
NOTE. MUCH MORE LIGHT HEARTED BY
SIR, DID I HEAR YOU SAY THAT YOU
ARE ARE FEATURED IN SLIDE 12
THERE IN THAT IN THE PICTURE.
-- ONLY IF YOU SQUINT.
-- I DID SO I, I SQUINTED AND
KIND OF SORT OF TILT MY HEAD,
YOU KNOW, SIDEWAYS. AND I THINK
I SAW YOU WHERE'S WALDO? ACTION.
SORRY, BAD DAD JOKE, BUT. ALL
RIGHT, WELL THANK YOU. ANY ANY
FINAL QUESTIONS, COLLEAGUES? NO.
ALL RIGHT. THANK YOU ALL. REALLY
APPRECIATE YOUR PRESENTATION.
TODAY'S PRESENTATIONS PLURAL
AND YOUR PARTNERSHIP IN THIS
WORK. AND LOOKING FORWARD TO
HAVING YOU BACK AT A FUTURE DATE
TO KEEP US ABREAST. SO THANK
YOU.
-- THANK YOU.
-- AWESOME. WE WILL NOW MOVE TO
OUR NINTH AND FINAL ITEM OF
BUSINESS. WILL THE CLERK PLEASE
READ ITEM NINE INTO THE RECORD.
-- AGENDA ITEM NINE BRIEFING,
DISCUSSION AND POSSIBLE VOTE
REQUEST FOR MODIFICATION OF
CONDITIONAL APPROVAL OF A
PETITION OF SWEDISH HEALTH
SERVICES TO VACATE THE ALLEY AND
BLOCK 95 TERRACE. SECOND
ADDITION TO THE CITY OF SEATTLE.
THESE WILL BE CLERK FILES
1314304 AND 314477.
-- THANK YOU. LOOKS LIKE OUR
PRESENTERS HAVE JOINED US AT THE
TABLE, SO WELCOME. WHEN YOU'RE
READY, PLEASE INTRODUCE
YOURSELVES AND BEGIN YOUR
PRESENTATIONS. AND I'LL NOTE
THAT THIS COLLEAGUES IS A IS A
FAIRLY UNIQUE, SOMEWHAT
NONSTANDARD ITEM THAT'S BEFORE
US. BUT WE'LL LEARN MORE ABOUT
IT HERE TODAY.
-- THANK YOU. CHAIR, THIS IS
REBECCA MASKIN, COUNCIL CENTRAL
STAFF. AND JOINING ME.
-- HELLO. I'M ELISE NELSON. I'M
THE STREET USE DIVISION DIRECTOR
FOR SDOT.
-- HELLO. I'M AMY GRAY AND I
WORK FOR THE SEATTLE DEPARTMENT
OF TRANSPORTATION
-- OKAY, SO WHAT'S BEFORE US
TODAY IS CLERK FILE 314550. THIS
PROPOSES TO MODIFY THE
CONDITIONS OF APPROVAL FOR AN
ALLEY VACATION ON SWEDISH FIRST
HILLS CAMPUS. FOR A PROPERTY
NAMED BLOCK 95. CONDITIONAL
APPROVAL FOR THIS WAS ORIGINALLY
GRANTED FOR THAT ALLEY VACATION
BACK IN 2016, AND THAT WAS CLERK
FILE 314 304 IN 2021. THE
CONDITIONAL APPROVAL WAS
EXTENDED UNTIL 2029 TO ALLOW THE
PROPONENTS MORE TIME TO
CONSTRUCT THEIR DEVELOPMENT, AND
THAT WAS CLERK FILE 314477 A
TUNNEL AND SKYBRIDGE ARE ALSO
APPROVED FOR THIS SITE, BUT THAT
IS NOT THE SUBJECT OF OUR
CONVERSATION TODAY. JUST WANTED
TO NOTE THAT FOR YOUR
UNDERSTANDING, SWEDISH IS
REQUESTING REVISIONS TO THE
CONDITIONS OF APPROVAL THAT
WOULD GRANT ADDITIONAL
FLEXIBILITY IN. WHEN THE
VACATION OR THE VACATION MAY BE
GRANTED. AND CONSTRUCTION ON
THIS PROPOSED PROJECT HAS BEEN
FURTHER DELAYED. BUT SWEDISH
DOES HAVE THE CAPACITY TO
DEVELOP THE PUBLIC BENEFITS
RELATED TO THE VACANCY OR THE
VACATION. SOONER, SO THE SCOPE
OF THE PUBLIC BENEFITS THAT ARE
CONDITIONED IN THIS CONDITIONAL
APPROVAL ARE NOT CHANGING AT
ALL. THE PUBLIC BENEFITS WILL
STILL BE PROVIDED PER THE PLANS,
BUT WHAT IS CHANGING POTENTIALLY
IS THE SPEED AT WHICH THEY WOULD
BE DELIVERED IN THE
NEIGHBORHOOD. SO THE EFFECT OF
THESE PROPOSED MODIFICATIONS
WOULD BE TO RELATE THE VACANCY
OR EXCUSE ME, RELATE THE
VACATION TO THE REDEVELOPMENT OF
THE PLANNED SWEDISH FIRST HILL
MAJOR INSTITUTION MASTER PLAN,
AND THIS ALSO ALLOWS SWEDISH TO
SEEK APPROVAL FOR. AFTER ALL OF
THE BENEFITS HAVE BEEN
DELIVERED, THE FEES HAVE BEEN
PAID AND A PROPERTY USE AND
DEVELOPMENT AGREEMENT WAS
SUCCESSFULLY NEGOTIATED. THIS IS
A BIT UNUSUAL COMPARED TO PAST
PRACTICE ON ALLEY AND STREET
VACATIONS, BUT WE FEEL THAT THE
MASTER, THE MASTER PLAN FOR THE
SWEDISH CAMPUS AND THE MAJOR
INSTITUTION OVERLAY INHERENT IN
THERE ADD SOME CONTROL TO FUTURE
REDEVELOPMENT OF THE SITE. SO IF
THESE MODIFICATIONS SEEM
REASONABLE TO YOU, THE COMMITTEE
CAN VOTE TO APPROVE THE MODIFIED
CONDITIONS OF APPROVAL AND ADD
THEM TO THE CLERK FILE AND THEN
SEPARATELY VOTE TO APPROVE THAT
CLERK FILE LATER ON DOWN THE
ROAD. THIS WOULD COME BACK
BEFORE THE FINAL VACATION IS
GRANTED, AND A FINAL ORDINANCE
WOULD GRANT THAT AS WELL. WE
HAVE FOLKS FROM SDOT HERE TODAY.
IF YOU ALL HAVE QUESTIONS ABOUT
THE DIRECTOR'S LETTER TO YOU,
WE WERE PLANNING TO HAVE FOLKS
FROM SWEDISH JOINING US, BUT
THEY ARE NOT PRESENT TODAY, SO I
WON'T BE ABLE TO ANSWER. OH
THEY ARE. OH MY,
-- [LAUGHTER]
-- MY MISTAKE.
-- [LAUGHTER]
-- WE DIDN'T SEE. HELLO. I'M
SORRY. YOU KNOW, WHEN YOU SEE
PEOPLE ONLINE ONLY, I DON'T
ALWAYS RECOGNIZE THEM IN THE
FUTURE. SO WE DO HAVE PROPONENTS
FROM SWEDISH TO ANSWER DETAILED
QUESTIONS ABOUT DETAILS OR THE
NEED FOR THE THE MODIFICATIONS.
SO IF MY COLLEAGUES FROM SDOT
HAVE COMMENTS, I'D INVITE THEM
TO SAY SOME. AND WE CAN ALSO
INVITE. IF YOU CHOOSE TO INVITE
SWEDISH UP TO ANSWER ANY
QUESTIONS.
-- YEAH, ABSOLUTELY. THANK YOU.
REBECCA. SO CUSTOMARILY DO LIKE
THE REQUESTER. SO COME ON DOWN.
WELCOME.
-- MY APOLOGIES.
-- AND A IN A MOMENT WE'LL HAVE
YOU INTRODUCE YOURSELVES AND
THEN WE'LL TURN IT OVER TO OUR
PARTNERS AT SDOT TO TO SHARE
THEIR PERSPECTIVE. AND THEN
WE'LL TURN IT OVER TO SWEDISH
SWEDISH TEAM HERE TO HEAR ANY
OTHER THOUGHTS FROM YOUR
PERSPECTIVE. SO FIRST OFF, IF
YOU WOULDN'T MIND JUST BRIEFLY
INTRODUCING YOURSELVES
-- DO YOU HAVE THINK YOU'RE
GOOD.
-- HELLO, HELLO. HI. THANK YOU
FOR HAVING ME. I'M DR. ELIZABETH
WACO. I'M THE CEO AT SWEDISH
HEALTH SERVICES. AND WE ARE VERY
EXCITED TO PRESENT TO YOU TODAY
-- ANDREW DAVIS. I LEAD OUR REAL
ESTATE FACILITIES AND
CONSTRUCTION TEAMS FOR SWEDISH.
-- AWESOME. WELCOME. THANK YOU
FOR JOINING US. ALL RIGHT. S DOT
FOR IS YOURS.
-- ALL RIGHT. WELL THANK YOU. I
JUST WANT TO KIND OF REITERATE
WHAT WE'VE HEARD FROM COUNCIL
CENTRAL STAFF. THIS IS A BIT
UNUSUAL, BUT WE ARE SUPPORTIVE
OF THE REQUEST AND THINK THAT WE
HAVE ADEQUATE CONTROL ON THE
FUTURE OF THE PROJECT. AND
SWEDISH HAS BEEN A REALLY GOOD
PARTNER AND ALREADY IS WORKING
ON CONNECTING THEIR THEIR
PROPERTY ACROSS THE STREET TO
THIS ONE. SO WE THINK THAT THIS
WILL ALLOW US TO GET THE PUBLIC
BENEFITS IN THE NEIGHBORHOOD
SOONER, AND THAT WILL BE A GOOD
BENEFIT AND OUTCOME FOR THE
PUBLIC ANYTHING TO ADD, AMY?
-- I DO NOT THANK YOU
-- AWESOME. UNIQUE COLLEAGUES.
AS I MENTIONED A MOMENT AGO,
BECAUSE IT WAS A PREVIOUSLY
APPROVED REQUEST. AND NOW
THERE'S A PENDING PROPOSAL
BEFORE US THAT WOULD MODIFY
THAT. AND SO UNIQUE INSOFAR AS
MODIFICATION ON A PREVIOUSLY
APPROVED EFFORT. AND SO. AT THIS
POINT, I'LL TURN IT OVER TO ANY
COMMENTS. QUESTIONS FROM YOU ALL
COLLEAGUES, IF YOU HAVE ANY,
STARTING FIRST WITH VICE CHAIR
RINCK, IF YOU HAVE ANY.
-- NO QUESTIONS FOR TODAY,
CHAIR.
-- THANK YOU. THANK YOU, VICE
CHAIR. ALL RIGHT. ANY OTHERS?
LOOKS LIKE HEARING SEEING NONE.
I'LL JUST ASK ONE QUESTION. SO
APPRECIATE AGAIN THE OVERVIEW OF
THE PROPOSAL BEFORE US. WHAT
GUARDRAILS HAS THE CITY BAKED IN
AND PROPOSING AS PART OF THIS
MODIFICATION REQUEST TO ENSURE
THAT, YOU KNOW, WE WE PROTECT
THE ORIGINAL INTENT, GOALS,
PUBLIC BENEFITS, ET CETERA.
-- YEAH, I'LL SAY THAT ONE OF
THE MAIN MODIFICATIONS THAT WE
DID IN, IN REVISING THESE
CONDITIONS WAS TO RELATE THE
GRANTING OF THE ALLEY VACATION
TO THE PROJECT AS IT IS PROPOSED
WITHIN THE SWEDISH FIRST HILL
CAMPUS, MAJOR INSTITUTION MASTER
PLAN. SO THE PLAN SPECIFICALLY
IDENTIFIES A PROJECT FOR THIS
BLOCK BLOCK 95 AND IDENTIFIES
THE ALLEY VACATION POTENTIAL
OTHER TERM PERMITS THAT WOULD GO
WITH IT. AND SO IN THE PLAN,
IT'S VERY SPECIFIC ABOUT THE
USES THAT WOULD BE BUILT UPON
THIS SITE. EVEN IF THE PROJECT
ITSELF DIFFERS. THERE ARE
SUPPOSED TO BE SUPPORTIVE
HOSPITAL USES THAT WOULD BE
LOCATED ON THE SITE, AS WELL AS
OFFICE SPACES FOR MEDICAL OR
RESEARCH. SO RELATING THAT TO
THE MASTER PLAN AND STATING THAT
NO OTHER PROJECT THAT DOESN'T
MEET THOSE CRITERIA SPECIFIED IN
THE PLAN WOULD BE ALLOWED TO BE
CONSTRUCTED ON THAT SITE, IT HAS
BEEN CONTINUED. IT CONTINUES TO
BE IN THE DOCUMENT.
-- THANK YOU. VERY HELPFUL FUN
FACT ABOUT SWEDISH. ALL THREE OF
MY KIDS WERE BORN AT SWEDISH
FIRST HILL, AND I KNOW A LOT OF
BABIES BORN THERE. AND SO REALLY
APPRECIATE THE THE CARE THAT
THEY PROVIDE FROM A PUBLIC
HEALTH STANDPOINT FOR OUR
COMMUNITY ACROSS THE REGION.
FRANKLY BUT NOW THAT WE HAVE OUR
GOVERNING PARTNERS FROM SWEDISH
HERE AT THE TABLE, BEYOND JUST
MERE INTRODUCTIONS, WOULD YOU
MIND KIND OF SPEAKING A LITTLE
BIT TO SORT OF LIKE THE BUSINESS
AND OPERATIONAL RATIONALE AND
IMPERATIVE DRIVING THIS SORT OF
MODIFICATION REQUEST AND WHAT
THIS, YOU KNOW, FOR EXAMPLE,
COULD POTENTIALLY HELP UNLOCK IN
TERMS OF NEW CAPABILITY FOR, FOR
THE CAMPUS
-- I THINK I'LL GO AHEAD AND
START AND THEN PROBABLY HAND IT
OFF TO ANDREW. SO JUST A LITTLE
BIT OF A BACKGROUND, I THINK YOU
SAID IT, SWEDISH HAS BEEN
PROVIDING CARE FOR THIS
COMMUNITY SINCE 1910. AND WITH
PROVIDENCE SWEDISH, WE PROBABLY
PROVIDE ALMOST 30% OF THE CARE
FOR THE PUGET SOUND. AND IF YOU
THINK ABOUT DURING COVID, IT
REALLY BECAME APPARENT HOW
ESSENTIAL THE ORGANIZATION IS TO
PROVIDING CARE FOR WASHINGTON
STATE. SO WE ARE ESSENTIAL TO
HEALTH CARE DELIVERY FOR THIS
MARKET. AND I WOULD SAY THAT
ANDREW AND MYSELF ARE INCREDIBLY
DEDICATED. ALSO, I MYSELF, AS A
NURSE, STARTED MY PRACTICE ON
MINOR AND THEN DID MY RESIDENCY
AND WORKED AS AN ATTENDING AT
HARBORVIEW AND THEN CAME TO
SWEDISH. SO MY ENTIRE PRACTICE
HAS BEEN ON FIRST HILL. SO WE
ARE COMMITTED TO THIS CITY. SO I
THINK YOU'VE SEEN THAT HEALTH
CARE HAS HAD SOME PRETTY
SIGNIFICANT FINANCIAL
CHALLENGES, AND WE ARE WORKING
THROUGH THOSE BOTH FEDERALLY AND
THROUGH OUR STATE. BUT YET WE
CONTINUE TO REMAIN COMMITTED TO
PROVIDING HEALTH CARE FOR THIS
COMMUNITY. AND REALLY, IT'S BEEN
THROUGH OUR LEADERSHIP AND
PARTNERSHIP WITH LOCAL AND STATE
GOVERNMENT THAT WE HAVE BEEN
ABLE TO IMPLEMENT THE
REDEVELOPMENT OF THE FIRST HILL
CAMPUS, AND THAT IS THROUGH THE
HUGHES TOWER. SO THE HUGHES
TOWER IS A NEW TOWER THAT'S
BEING BUILT. HOPEFULLY YOU'VE
NOTICED IT, AS YOU MAY HAVE
DRIVEN BY THE CAMPUS, IT IS
QUITE LARGE. IT IS A $1.4
BILLION TOWER. SO IT IS AN
INCREDIBLE INVESTMENT IN SEATTLE
AND IN THIS COMMUNITY. HUGHES
TOWER IS IN MANY WAYS. A
REPLACEMENT OF THE FIRST HILL
CAMPUS. IT CARRIES THE CRITICAL,
MOST CRITICAL ASPECTS OF CARE
THAT WE PROVIDE, MEANING OUR
OPERATING ROOMS, INTERVENTIONAL
SUITES FOR. IMAGINE CARDIAC AND
NEURO CASES. IT HAS ICUS BUILT
INTO IT. AND MOST IMPORTANTLY, I
WOULD SAY IS OUR EMERGENCY ROOM.
I THINK REALLY EXCELLENT
EMERGENCY CARE ACCESS IN
REPLACING FACILITIES THAT WERE
HISTORICALLY FROM THE 1950s. SO
IT IS AMAZING. AND JUST AS A
LITTLE SIDEBAR FOR OUR EDDIE, MY
BACKGROUND IS PSYCHIATRIC
NURSING. BEFORE I BECAME A
PHYSICIAN, AND OUR EDDIE IS VERY
SPECIAL IN THAT IT HAS AN ENTIRE
WING FOR PSYCHIATRIC SERVICES,
THAT CREATES ROOMS THAT ARE SAFE
AND ABLE TO CARE FOR THOSE
PATIENTS, AND IN A MUCH BETTER
WAY THAN WE DO CURRENTLY. SO
THIS TOWER ALSO ALLOWS US TO
CONSOLIDATE THE CHERRY HILL
CAMPUS INTO THE FIRST HILL
CAMPUS, WHICH FOR US, PROVIDING
CLINICAL CARE IS ESSENTIAL
BECAUSE IT REALLY ALLOWS US TO
CONNECT. WHAT I LIKE TO SAY, THE
HEART AND THE BRAIN TO THE REST
OF THE BODY, RIGHT? BECAUSE
CHERRY HILL REALLY WAS A CARDIAC
AND NEURO HOSPITAL. SO WE'RE
INCREDIBLY INVESTED. THAT IS THE
HUGHES TOWER. AND THEN I WILL
HAND IT OFF TO ANDREW TO MAYBE
SPEAK A LITTLE BIT ABOUT BLOCK
95.
-- YEAH.
-- HELLO AGAIN. ALWAYS TOUGH TO
FOLLOW DR. WACO ABOUT TALKING,
BUT HERE I AM. SO YOU KNOW,
COUNCILMEMBER SAKA TO YOUR TO
YOUR QUESTION ABOUT BLOCK 95 AND
KIND OF THE THE ROOT OF THIS
REQUEST TO TAKE TO DIVE A LITTLE
BIT DEEPER ON WHAT DR. WACO JUST
EXPLAINED IS, YOU KNOW, HUGHES
TOWER AND BLOCK 95, BLOCK 95
BEING THE MEDICAL OFFICE AREA
THAT WE'RE LOOKING TO BUILD.
BOTH OF THOSE WERE PART
ORIGINALLY OF WHAT WE REFER TO
AS THE FIRST HILL TRANSFORMATION
PROJECT. IT ENCOMPASSED BOTH
BUILDINGS. THAT INITIATIVE
STARTED BACK IN 2014 AT A PRICE
OF $1.2 BILLION. AS DR. WACO
JUST MENTIONED, THE NEW HUGHES
TOWER, WHICH WE WANTED TO
ACCELERATE AND GET THAT DONE
QUICKLY FOR THE AGING
INFRASTRUCTURE, SURPASSED THE
1.2 AND IS $1.4 BILLION. SO
INSTEAD OF, YOU KNOW, WHAT? WE
HAD PLANNED FOR $1.2 BILLION TO
DELIVER BOTH PROJECTS, WE'RE NOW
AT 1.4 TO DELIVER THE HUGHES
TOWER. AND SO WITH THAT, YOU
KNOW, IT COMES WITH, YOU KNOW,
OUR ABILITY TO DIGEST THAT
CAPITAL INVESTMENT AND THE
CURRENT STATE OF BLOCK 95 AND
THE ALLEY VACATION TIES US
DELIVERING BLOCK 95 IN TOTALITY
IN 2029. AND THAT IS SOMETHING
THAT WE JUST CAN'T DELIVER ON AT
THIS POINT. FROM A CAPITAL
PERSPECTIVE, WITH THE ONGOING
INVESTMENT BEING MADE INTO THE
HUGHES TOWER. THAT BEING SAID,
THERE IS A DESIRE, OBVIOUSLY
FROM THE FIRST HILL COMMUNITY AS
FAR AS US, TO STILL DELIVER ON
THE COMMUNITY BENEFIT PACKAGE
THAT WAS A PART OF THE ALLEY
VACATION, AND SO WE STILL WOULD
LIKE TO MOVE FORWARD WITH THAT.
BUT AGAIN, IT ALLOWS US TO
DIGEST THE THE SUBSTANTIAL
CAPITAL IMPACT OF HUGHES TOWER
AS WE CONTINUE TO EVALUATE AND
PLAN FOR HOW WE'RE GOING TO
DELIVER BLOCK 95 IN THE FUTURE.
BUT WE ARE STILL COMMITTED TO
THAT.
-- THANK YOU VERY MUCH.
APPRECIATE THE THE OVERVIEW AND
KIND OF EXPLANATORY COMMENTS
PROVIDING APPROPRIATE CONTEXT
HERE FOR THIS THIS REQUEST.
APPRECIATE THAT FEEDBACK. I JUST
HAVE AN ASIDE QUESTION. JUST
CURIOUS. SO I KNOW SWEDISH HAS
SOME CLINICS HOUSED IN WEST
SEATTLE AND REALLY EXCITED ABOUT
YOUR FIRST HILL CAMPUS, BUT YOU
KNOW, WEST SEATTLE IS SEATTLE'S
LARGEST NEIGHBORHOOD BY
POPULATION AND LAND MASS. SO
WHAT ARE YOUR EXPANSION PLANS TO
OPEN UP THE NEXT MAJOR CAMPUS IN
WEST SEATTLE?
-- WELL, WE DO ACTUALLY HAVE
CLINIC EXPANSION PLANS FOR WEST
SEATTLE, BUT BUT IT IS ON OUR
STRATEGIC PLAN. WHEN THAT
HAPPENS.
-- THERE'LL BE A LOT OF WEST
SEATTLEITES HAPPY WITH THAT. BUT
IN ANY EVENT, THANK YOU FOR THE
THE PRESENTATION. ADDITIONAL
BACKGROUND TODAY. WELCOME. ANY
FINAL COMMENTS QUESTIONS FROM MY
COLLEAGUES, IF ANY HEARING.
SEEING NONE, I MOVE. THE
COMMITTEE RECOMMENDS
MODIFICATION OF THE CONDITIONAL
APPROVAL OF THE PETITION OF
SWEDISH HEALTH SERVICES TO
VACATE THE ALLEY IN BLOCK 95
TERRACE. SECOND ADDITION TO THE
CITY OF SEATTLE. IS THERE A
SECOND?
-- SECOND.
-- THANK YOU. IT IS MOVED AND
SECONDED TO RECOMMEND
MODIFICATION OF THE CONDITIONAL
APPROVAL OF THE PETITION OF THE
SWEDISH HEALTH SERVICES TO
VACATE THE ALLEY AND BLOCK 95.
TERRY. SECOND ADDITION TO THE
CITY OF SEATTLE. IS THERE ANY
FINAL DISCUSSION, HEARING AND
SEEING? NONE. WILL THE COMMITTEE
CLERK PLEASE CALL THE ROLL ON
THE RECOMMENDATION
-- COUNCILMEMBER LIN.
-- YES.
-- VICE CHAIR. RINK.
-- YES.
-- CHAIR SAKA. I CHAIR, THERE
ARE THREE VOTES IN FAVOR AND
ZERO OPPOSED.
-- THANK YOU. THE MOTION CARRIES
AND THE COMMITTEE RECOMMENDATION
THAT CITY COUNCIL MODIFY THE
CONDITIONAL APPROVAL OF THE
PETITION OF SWEDISH HEALTH
SERVICES TO VACATE THE ALLEY AND
BLOCK 95 TERRY. SECOND EDITION
TO THE CITY OF SEATTLE WILL BE
SENT TO THE AUGUST 11th, 2026
CITY COUNCIL MEETING. THANK YOU.
ALL RIGHT. WE HAVE REACHED THE
END OF TODAY'S MEETING AGENDA.
OUR NEXT MEETING WILL BE HELD ON
AUGUST 20th, 2026 AT 9:30 A.M..
IS THERE ANY FURTHER BUSINESS TO
COME BEFORE THE COMMITTEE?
BEFORE WE ADJOURN HEARING AND
SEEING NO FURTHER BUSINESS, WE
ARE HEREBY ADJOURNED. IT