F0
>>> THANK YOU VERY MUCH.
THE JULY 18, 2022 PARK MEETING
WILL COME TO ORDER.
I'M ANDREW LEWIS, PRESIDENT OF
THE BOARD.
WILL THE CLERK PLEASE CALL THE
ROLE?
>> NELSON?
>> HERE.
>> HERBOLD?
-- MORALES.
>> HERE.
>> PEDERSEN.
HERE.
>> BOARDMEMBER SAWAN, T?
STRAUSS?
RENT.
>> MOSQUEDA?
>> PRESENT.
>> AND PRESIDENT LEWIS?
>> PRESENT.
>> DO YOU WANT TO CALL, WAS
BOARDMEMBER NELSON PRESENT IN
YOUR ROLL CALL?
>> HE WAS IN CHAMBERS.
>> EXCELLENT.
OKAY, EXCELLENT.
>>> OKAY, LET US GO AHEAD AND
PROCEED WITH THE APPROVAL OF
THE AGENDA.
IF THERE'S NO OBJECTION, IT
WILL BE ADOPTED.
HEARING NO OBJECTION, ADOPTED.
APPROVAL OF THE MINUTES, NO
MINUTES PRESENTED FOR APPROVAL
TODAY.
I ACTUALLY -- MY SCRIPT IS NOT
INDICATING A PUBLIC COMMENT
PERIOD, BUT I WILL NOW OPEN UP
A PUBLIC COMMENT PERIOD.
>> BOARD PRESIDENT LEWIS, IF
YOU WOULD NOT MIND, WE DO HAVE
MINUTES OF JUNE 24th TO
APPROVE.
>> OH, THE SCRIPT I HAVE DOES
NOT INDICATE THAT, BUT THAT
DOES MAKE SENSE.
SO APPROVAL OF THE MINUTES.
ANY OBJECTION TO THE APPROVAL
OF THE MINUTES REFERENCED BY
THE CLERK?
>> THOSE ARE JUNE 24, 2022,
MINUTES, THANK YOU.
>> HEARING NO OBJECTIONS,
MINUTES ARE APPROVED.
PUBLIC COMMENT, NO NEED TO PLAY
THE PUBLIC COMMENT VIDEO.
I WILL JUST QUICKLY GIVE THE
GUIDANCE.
WE WILL NOW ENTER INTO A PUBLIC
COMMENT SESSION.
THE CLERK WILL MODERATE THE
PUBLIC COMMENT SESSION
ALTERNATING BETWEEN FIRST
IN-PERSON SPEAKERS AND SECOND
VIRTUALLY-SIGNED UP SPEAKERS.
ARE SIGNED UP FOR PUBLIC OPLE
COMMENT?
>> WE HAVE ONE IN CHAMBERS, AND
MY APOLOGIES, I'M NOT LOCATING
CURRENTLY THE ONLINE PUBLIC
FORM AT THIS VERY SECOND.
>> ONE REMOTE, I.T.
IS INDICATING.
WHY DON'T WE TAKE THE IN-PERSON
PUBLIC COMMENTER FIRST, AND
THEN THE VIRTUAL PUBLIC
COMMENTER.
COMMENTERS WILL HAVE TWO
MINUTES, AND MADAME CLERK, YOU
MAY MODERATE THE PUBLIC COMMENT
SESSION.
>> OUR FIRST PUBLIC COMMENTER
WILL HAVE TWO MINUTES, THE
FIRST IS ALEX TSIMERMAN.
>> WHO SPEAK TO US FROM THE
HEAVEN.
I WON'T SPEAK ABOUT PARK MONEY.
I LOVE YOU.
YOU WANT TO MAKE A LIVING FROM
$50 MILLION TO $150 MILLION FOR
ANOTHER COUPLE OF YEARS.
IT'S VERY GOOD.
IT WOULD BE MORE AND MORE
PLEASURE TO EVERYBODY.
15MILLION OR 150 MILLION LEVY,
IT'S GOOD.
I GIVE YOU CLASSIC EXAMPLE.
I GO TO GREEN LAKE A COUPLE OF
TIMES PER WEEK FOR WALKING, AND
YOU KNOW WHAT IT IS FOR PEOPLE,
AND I SEE THERE'S 200 DUCK
DOING VERY GOOD JOB.
YEAH, SO I SAID $50 MILLION IN
200 DUCK IN SIGHT LAKE.
SO $150 MILLION, THREE TIMES
MORE, THERE WILL BE 600 DUCK IN
GREEN LAKE, INTELLIGENT DUCK
LIKE YOU GUYS.
LIKE COUNCIL MAYOR HARRELL.
YOU KNOW, WATER, AND FIND
TOILET IN CITY WATER.
ALL OF THIS 200 DUCK, VERY
INTELLIGENT, LIKE YOU, AND THEY
GO TO CITY WALK, AND ENSURE
IT'S A GREEN, GREEN, GREEN
DIFFICULTY OR SOMETHING LIKE
THE NORMAL ENGLISH.
NOT GOOD.
YES, THIS HAPPEN EVERY DAY, AND
YOU WALK IN, AND YOU CAN SEE
THE GREEN DIFFICULTY, AND YOU
ARE HAPPY, HAPPY.
I'M HAPPY.
YOU HAPPY, EVERYBODY HAPPY.
ONLY CONGRESS NOT HAPPY WHO
CANNOT GO TO PARK, YOU KNOW
WHAT I MEAN?
STAY LIKE TO CIVILIZED PEOPLE.
THEY HAVE 200, ONLY 200 DEAD
EVERY YEAR.
THAT'S EXACTLY DIFFERENT FROM
DUCK.
DUCK 200, VERY HAPPY.
NOT TOO MUCH HAPPY BECAUSE THEY
DIE AND THEN DIE IN THE STREET,
AND THOUSAND AND THOUSAND.
I LOVE YOU.
SPEAK TO ME, JOSEPH, FROM THE
HEAVEN.
>> OUR NEXT PUBLIC COMMENTER IS
A REMOTE SPEAKER, AND THE NEXT
SPEAKER'S NAME IS ANN KNIGHT.
ANN KNIGHT?
I'M NOT -- OH, I HEAR HER NOW.
>> THIS IS ANN KNIGHT.
I AM HERE TO PROVIDE MORE
DETAIL ABOUT FUNDING FOR TREES
AND DEVELOPED PROJECTS.
AS YOU LOOK AT THE BUDGET
DETAILS, YOU WILL SEE 8.7
MILLION FOR RESTORING AND
INCREASING TREE CANOPY IN THE
CONTINUED BASELINE FUNDING AND
WONDER WHY MORE IS NEEDED.
WHAT WE HAVE LEARNED DURING THE
STUDY WE HAVE UNDERTAKEN WITH
SPR IS THAT THE EXISTING
FUNDING FOR TREES AND PRIMARILY
FOCUSED ON RESTORING THE FOREST
AND GREEN BELTS AND NATURAL
AREAS, WHICH IS, OF COURSE, A
VERY IMPORTANT INVESTMENT TO
HAVE A RESILIENT URBAN FOREST
IN THE CITY.
THE FOCUS THAT IS MISSING IS
THE FUNDING FOR PLANTING TREES
AND DEVELOPED PARKS.
THESE ARE THE TREES THAT
PROVIDE SHADE IN THE MOST
IMPORTANT CIVIC SPACES WHERE
PEOPLE COME TOGETHER TO FIND
RESPITE FROM THE HEAT FROM
CLIMATE CHANGE.
AS WE HAVE PROVIDED IS
SUBMITTED INFORMATION, SPR HAS
A BACKLOG OF DEAD AND DYING
TREES IN THE DEVELOPED PARKS
WITH MORE DYING EVERY YEAR.
THE LOSS OF TREE CANOPY AND
NEED FOR MORE TREES IN
DEVELOPED PARKS NEEDS TO BE
ADDRESSED NOW WITH SUSTAINED
FUNDING OF $2 MILLION ANNUALLY
TO REACH THE BASELINE THRESHOLD
OF THE LOSS IN ONE TO TWO
DECADES.
WE ARE ASKING THE CITY TO
PROVIDE $1 MILLION IN FUNDING
ANNUALLY TO ADDRESS THE ISSUE
IN THE DEVELOPED PARKS.
CURRENTLY $97,000 SOMES FROM
L.E.A.P., ANOTHER NEW 266,000
IDENTIFIED COMING FROM THE SPD
TREE CANOPY BUDGET
RECOMMENDATION OF 400,000 YOU
ARE CONSIDERING.
TO TACKLE JUST HALF OF THE
FUNDING NEED FOR TREES AND
DEVELOPED PARKS, SPR NEEDS
ANOTHER 637,000 ANNUALLY.
WE ARE HOPE TO LEVERAGE THE
REQUESTED CITY FUNDING OF $1
MILLION WITH THE MATCH FROM
PRIVATE DONORS TO BRING THE
TOTAL TO $2 MILLION ANNUALLY,
BUT WE NEED THE CITY AS AN
EQUAL PARTNER IN THE EFFORT FOR
TREES FOR SEATTLE PARKS IF WE
HOPE TO ATTRACT PRIVATE
DOLLARS.
IT'S A SMALL INVESTMENT IN WHAT
WOULD BE A LASTING LEGACY FOR
GENERATIONS TO COME.
THANK YOU.
>> THAT CONCLUDES PUBLIC
COMMENTERS.
>> THANK YOU, MADAM CLERK.
NOW OUR IDEMS OF BUSINESS.
WE HAVE ONE ITEM OF BUSINESS
TODAY.
WILL THE CLERK PLEASE READ ITEM
ONE INTO THE RECORD.
>> DISCUSSION OF PROPOSED CYCLE
2 FUNDING PLAN FOR BRIEFING AND
DISCUSSION.
>> THANK YOU, MADAM CLERK.
WE ARE JOINED BY OUR COUNCIL
CENTRAL STAFF.
ERIC McCONAGHY AND TRACI
RATZLIFF.
I WOULD ASK BOARD MEMBERS HOLD
THEIR QUESTIONS UNTIL THE END
OF THE PRESENTATION.
AND NOTE THE SLIDE NUMBER FOR
OUR DISCUSSION FOLLOWING THE
END OF THE CENTRAL STAFF
PRESENTATION.
I THINK THERE'S A SLIDE DECK.
I DON'T KNOW IF IT'S ERIC OR
TRACI WHO WILL CUE THAT UP.
>> GOOD MORNING, PARK DISTRICT
PRESIDENT LEWIS.
I WILL BE SHARING THE
PRESENTATION.
THIS IS ERIC McCONAGHY WITH
COUNCIL CENTRAL STAFF.
>> AND I'M TRACI RATZLIFF.
>> WE WILL GO OVER THE
COMPONENTS DESCRIBED ON THE 6-
24 PARK DISTRICT MEETING
CONSIDERED BY THE MAYOR FOR
INCLUSION IN THE NEXT SIX-YEAR
SPENDING PLAN.
THE HOPE IS THAT COUNCILMEMBERS
WILL PROVIDE FEEDBACK ON THE
AREAS OF THE COMPONENTS
INFORMING NOT ONLY THE MAYOR AS
HE PREPARES A PROPOSED SPENDING
PLAN, BUT FOR YOUR COLLEAGUES
ULTIMATELY ADOPTING THE
SPENDING PLAN AFTER
CONSIDERATION OF THE MAYOR'S
SPENDING PLAN WE ANTICIPATED
SUBMITTED THE SIXTH OF
SEPTEMBER, AND THE HOPE THAT
THE DISTRICT BOARD WILL ADOPT
THAT WITH ANY REVISIONS OR
MODIFICATIONS BY THE 19th OF
SEPTEMBER.
TO REMIND YOU, THE ANTICIPATED
ELEMENTS OF THE FUNDING PLAN
INCLUDE, ONE, CONTINUED -- NEXT
SLIDE PLEASE.
>> OH, YES, OF COURSE.
YES.
>> ELEMENTS INCLUDE CONTINUED
FUNDING OF CYCLE 1 INITIATIVES.
NEW INVESTMENT PROPOSALS
RECOMMENDED BY THE BOARD OF
PARKS AND REC COMMISSIONERS.
PRE-COMMITMENT PROJECTS
RECOMMENDED, AND THEN COVID AND
ECONOMIC RECOVERY FUNDING.
WE WILL GO INTO MORE DETAILS
ABOUT EACH ONE OF THOSE
COMPONENTS IN A FEW MINUTE.
>> THIS SLIDE SHOWING THE
COMPONENTS IN ONE STACKED BAR
WITH THE $58 MILLION OF
CONTINUED CYCLE 1 INVESTMENTS
ON THE BOTTOM, AND THEN THE $30
MILLION OF NEW INVESTMENTS, AND
WE WILL BE CALLING THOSE CYCLE
2 INVESTMENTS.
THAT'S THE WAY TO REFER TO THE
NEXT SPENDING PLAN FOR THE
PARKS DISTRICT.
AND THEN, $10 MILLION EACH FOR
DEBT SERVICE FOR PRECOMMITMENT
PROJECTS AND FOR COVID-19 AND
ECONOMIC RECOVERY FUNDING.
ALL TOGETHER, IT WOULD COME TO
$108 MILLION.
THIS IS THE AMOUNT OF MONEY
THAT CAME OUT OF THE PARKS
BOARD AND
RECREATION COMMISSION
RECOMMENDATIONS.
THIS NEXT SLIDE WE SEE MIDWAY
THROUGH THE CHART, SEVERAL
NUMBERS HERE.
YOU WILL SEE THE $108 MILLION
IN 2023, RISING TO 131 IN 2028.
THAT'S ASSUMING THERE'S NO
CHANGES TO WHAT WAS RECOMMENDED
BY THE BOARD.
WE KNOW THAT THE MAYOR IS
TAKING A LOOK AT THE SPENDING
PLAN NOW AND WILL MAKE
RECOMMENDATIONS, BUT THAT SHOWS
THE LINE FROM 108 TO 131 WITH A
4% ANNUAL INCREASE FOR
INFLATION.
TO THE LEFT OF THE CHART, YOU
CAN SEE THE ACTUAL NUMBERS FROM
2016 THROUGH 2022.
RUNNING FROM ABOUT $48 MILLION
TO ABOUT $56 MILLION OF ACTUAL
MPD FUNDING, AND IN THE MIDDLE
YOU WILL SEE THE TRANSITION OF
56 TO 108.
THAT'S THE JUMP FROM 2022 TO
2023 IF THE CURRENT PROPOSAL
THAT WE HAVE, RECOMMENDATIONS
FROM, WOULD GO FORWARD.
THIS SLIDE IS STRAIGHTFORWARD.
IT SHOWS US THE GREEN LINE THAT
IS THE CEILING FOR WHAT YOUR
STAFF AND THE EXECUTIVE STAFF
HAVE DONE THE MATH ON THIS AND
SORTED OUT WHAT WOULD BE THE
CEILING, THE CAP THAT MPD COULD
GO TO FOR THE LEVY WITHOUT
HAVING TO GO TO THE VOTERS FOR
PERMISSION TO DO MORE.
SO IF WE WORK BACKWARDS FROM
NOT PUNCHING THROUGH THE
CEILING IN 2028, $145 MILLION,
AND BACKWARDS AT 4% PER YEAR,
$119 MILLION IN 2023.
THIS IS JUST A REAL
STRAIGHTFORWARD LINE TO HELP
YOU UNDERSTAND WHERE THAT IS,
WHERE WE NEED TO GO TO VOTERS,
WHERE THE LINE WOULD BE.
YOU CAN SEE THAT 2023, 119 IS
ABOUT $10 MILLION OR $11
MILLION MORE THAN WHAT WE HAVE
IN THE
CURRENT SET OF RECOMMENDATIONS.
>> MOVING ON TO -- I'M SORRY.
DID SOMEONE SPEAK?
>> I WAS JUST GOING TO SAY
HANDING OFF TO YOU, TRACI.
>> THANK YOU, ERIC.
MOVING TO THE SPECIFIC
COMPONENTS OF THE VARIOUS
PROPOSALS WE HAVE IN FRONT OF
US.
THE FIRST WOULD BE THE
CONTINUED FUNDING OF CYCLE 1
INITIATIVES.
THAT'S ALL OF THE INITIATIVES
THAT WERE FUNDED IN THE FIRST
SIX-YEAR SPENDING PLAN.
AGAIN, THEY WOULD TOTAL IN 2023
ABOUT $58.2 MILLION, AND THIS
TABLE JUST SHOWS YOU WHAT THOSE
INITIATIVES WERE.
THEY INCLUDE THINGS LIKE
COMMUNITY CENTER
REHABILITATION, SAVING OUR CITY
FOREST, OUR COMMITMENTS TO THE
AQUARIUM AND ZOO, AND
INCREASING PREVENTIVE
MAINTENANCE.
MAKING PARKS SAFER, IMPROVING
OFFLEASH AREAS, REJUVENATING P-
PATCHES, AND VARIOUS COMMUNITY
RECREATIONAL PROGRAMS SUCH AS
BETTER PROGRAMS FOR YOUNG
PEOPLE, RECREATIONAL FOR ALL,
AND GET MOVING PROGRAM AS WELL
AS THE PARKLAND ACQUISITION AND
WATER FRONT PARK DEVELOPMENT
MAINTENANCE.
THAT IS JUST THE LIST OF THE
THINGS THAT HAVE BEEN FUNDED IN
THE FIRST SIX-YEAR SPENDING
PLAN.
YOU HAVE THE MATERIALS AND THE
ACTUAL COST REACH FOR ONE OF
THE INITIATIVES IN THE MEMO
THAT ERIC AND I SENT TO YOU ON
THE TENTH OF JUNE IF YOU WANT
TO LOOK AT THE SPECIFIC
AMOUNTS.
GOING TO THE NEXT SLIDE.
SO THIS IS THE BEGINNING OF THE
NEW INVESTMENT PROPOSALS
RECOMMENDED BY THE BOARD PARKS
AND RECS COMMISSION.
$30MILLION ON AN ANNUAL BASIS.
THE HIGH-LEVEL STRATEGY AREA
THAT THEY FALL INTO.
I WILL KIND OF WALK THROUGH,
AGAIN, THE INDIVIDUAL
INVESTMENT PROPOSALS TO GIVE
YOU A SENSE OF WHAT THEY ARE TO
REMIND YOU OF WHAT THEY ARE THE
FUNDING LEVEL.
MOVING TO THE NEXT SLIDE.
JUST TO ORIENT YOU TO THE
TABLE, THE PROPOSED INVESTMENT,
BASELINE FUNDING, EXISTING
FUNDING, WHAT WAS THE
RECOMMENDED FUNDING WAS AND IF
THERE'S NEW FTEs, YOU CAN SEE
THE NEW FTEs RECOMMENDED.
THE FIRST, GROUPING INCLUDING
THE BUILDING COMMUNITY CAPACITY
STRATEGY AREA, AND IT INCLUDES
ADDITIONAL $1 MILLION IN
FUNDING FOR THE COMMUNITY
PROPOSED EQUITY FUND.
THIS WAS THE FORMER MAJOR
CHALLENGE PROJECT FUND THAT HAS
BEEN REORIENTED NOW TO BE
CALLED AN EQUITY FUND TO
PROVIDE A GREATER OPPORTUNITY
FOR ALL COMMUNITIES TO ACCESS
THE FUNDING FOR COMMUNITY-BASED
PROJECTS, AND THE INCLUSIVE
OUTREACH ENGAGEMENT ADDING
ADDITIONAL FUNDING IN PART TO
GET ADDITIONAL FUNDS FOR GET
MOVING AND RECREATIONAL FOR ALL
PROGRAMS, AND ALSO TO PROVIDE
ADDITIONAL STAFF WITH OUTREACH
AND ENGAGEMENT WITH COMMUNITIES
TO HELP THEM ACCESS THE
PROGRAMS, AND ADDITIONAL
FUNDING WOULD BE ADDED FOR THE
SEATTLE CONSERVATION CORPS TO
INCREASE
THE TRAINEES FROM 50 TO 60 A
YEAR.
IT WOULD ALLOW FOR THE
EXPANSION OF THE PROGRAM.
$700,000 PROVIDED TO ESTABLISH
A DEDICATED STAFF THAT WOULD BE
INVOLVED IN MAINTAINING,
HARVESTING, AND DISTRIBUTING
FOOD FROM THE 20 ORCHARDS AND 8
GARDENS THAT EXIST ON SPR
PROPERTY.
CURRENTLY THERE'S NO EXISTED
DEDICATED STAFF TO THE EFFORT.
MOVING ON TO THE NEXT SLIDE.
CONTINUING TO FIX IT FIRST,
ADDITIONAL FUNDS ADDED TO DO
SOME MAJOR MAINTENANCE PROJECTS
AT MAGISON PARK.
ADDITIONAL FUNDING FOR
ADDITIONAL PLAY AREA
IMPROVEMENTS.
THERE'S A LIST OF CANDIDATE
PROJECTS INCLUDED IN THE
MATERIALS, AND THIS WOULD HELP
TO ACCELERATE THE RATE AT WHICH
PARKS IS ABLE TO DO PLAY AREA
RENOVATIONS.
WE HAVE 150 PLAY AREAS, MOVING
ALONG THE LIST OF RENEWALS.
ADDITIONAL FUNDING OF $1
MILLION ADDED TO MAKE MAJOR
CRITICAL MAINTENANCE
IMPROVEMENTS AT CITY POOLS.
THAT INCLUDES THINGS LIKE ROOF
REPLACEMENT, LOCKER ROOM
IMPROVEMENTS, MECHANICAL SYSTEM
UPDATES, AND THAT KIND OF
THING.
ADDITIONAL FUNDING OF $186,000
PLUS 1.6 MILLION ONE-TIME FUNDS
FOR THE RESTORATION OF OUTDOOR
TENNIS COURTS.
WE HAVE 142 COURTS IN NEED OF
CARE AND TENDING, AND THIS
WOULD HELP TO ACCELERATE THE
ACTIVITY ON RENEWING THOSE, AND
IT WOULD ALSO ADD THE FUNDS
NECESSARY FOR TWO NEW PICKLE
BALL COURTS, AND THIS FUNDING
WOULD HELP ESTABLISH THAT AS
WELL.
MOVING ON TO DEVELOPING AND
ENHANCING PARK ACCESS.
$50,000 ADDED TO ADDITIONAL
ACQUISITION OF OPEN SPACE AND
LAND FOR FUTURE PARK
DEVELOPMENT, AND THIS WOULD
LEVERAGE, HOPEFULLY, THE
CONSERVATION AND FUTURE FUNDING
FROM KING COUNTY, WHICH WE HAVE
BEEN FAIRLY SUCCESSFUL IN
LEVERAGING AT 1.3 MILLION A
YEAR IN ADDITION TO THE
BASELINE FUNDING, IS ON THE
LEVY BEING RENEWED.
LAND BANK SITES AND EARLY
DESIGN WORK FOR ADDITIONAL
PARKS, AND, AGAIN, THE LIST OF
CANDIDATE PROJECTS IS IN THE
MATERIALS INCLUDING A NUMBER OF
DIFFERENT
ONES THAT COUNCILMEMBERS KNOW
ABOUT AND HAVE INTEREST IN.
MOVING ON, ADDITIONAL FUNDING
WOULD BE ADDED TO DO BACKLOG OF
OUR ADA IMPROVEMENTS NECESSARY
AT PARKS TO ADDRESS ADA
REQUIREMENTS THIS FUNDING IS
NEEDED TO BEGIN TO WORK TO
CONTINUE TO WORK DOWN THE LIST
OF DOJ IDENTIFIED IMPROVEMENTS
NEEDED FOR PARKS FACILITIES.
$625,000 USED TO PROVIDE
ADDITIONAL FUNDING FOR LIFE
GUARDS FOR ADDITIONAL STAFF
DURING SWIM LESSONS AND OTHER
CLASSES, AND STAFF TO
COORDINATE THE TRAINING AND
STAFFING OF THE LIFEGUARDS AT
BEACHES AND POOLS DURING THE
SUMMER.
$977,000 WOULD BE USED TO DO
FURTHER SCHEDULED PREVENTIVE
MAINTENANCE AND ADDRESS
EMERGENT REPAIRS AND
MAINTENANCE, INCLUDING SPECIFIC
REPAIRS AT FACILITIES THEY ARE
TRYING TO HOLD OFF HAVING TO
MOVE INTO MAJOR MAINTENANCE
ITEMS INCLUDING THINGS LIKE
SOME OF THE REPAIRS NEEDED AT
POOLS AND OTHER PARKS
FACILITIES.
$335,000 WOULD BE ADDED TO
IMPLEMENT MORE ROBUST SAFETY
PROGRAMS.
IT MAY INCLUDE THE NEW SOFTWARE
SYSTEM TO DO A BETTER JOB OF
TRACKING THE SAFETY ISSUES AND
INCIDENTS THAT HAPPENED, AND
ALSO ON A PARTICULAR CALL FOR
ADDITIONAL TRAINING FOR STAFF,
WHO ARE DEALING WITH A VARIETY
OF CHALLENGING SITUATIONS AT
PARKS AND COMMUNITY CENTERS FOR
THIS DAY AND AGE.
$1.5MILLION WOULD BE PROVIDED
TO FUND ASSESSMENTS AND TO
BEGIN REPAIRS OF SPR --
BUILDINGS AND SPR THINKS THEY
HAVE ABOUT 25 BUILDINGS THAT
ARE IN ACTIVE USE THAT WILL
LIKELY NEED TO BE ASSESSED AND
LIKELY NEED REPAIRS ONCE SDCI
ISSUES THE FINAL GUIDELINES ON
WHAT THE UMR REPORT
REQUIREMENTS WILL BE.
MOVING ON TO ENHANCING REC
FACILITIES AND PROGRAMMING.
ADDITIONAL FUNDS WOULD BE
PROVIDED TO CREATE A
CENTRALIZED CUSTOMER SERVICE
GROUP TO PROVIDE BETTER
CUSTOMER SERVICE RESPONSES TO
THINGS LIKE REFUND REQUESTS,
SCHEDULING FACILITIES, PROGRAM
REGISTRATION AND SO FORTH.
ADDITIONAL FUNDS, $3.7 MILLION
REQUESTED FOR COMMUNITY CENTER
HOURS TO BE EXPANDED AT SOME
COMMUNITY CENTERS INTO THE
EVENING AND WEEKENDS, THE
SPECIFIC REQUEST OF SOME
COMMUNITIES.
IT WOULD ALSO PROVIDE
MAINTENANCE AND RECLASS THE
FRONT DESK STAFF WHOSE
POSITIONS ARE RECLASSED FOR
EXPANDED JOB RESPONSIBILITIES.
ADDITIONAL FUNDING WILL BE
PROVIDED FOR CUSTODIAL SUPPORT
TO ADDRESS INCREASED DEMAND FOR
THOSE SERVICES AT SITES WITH
SPECIFIC INCREASED HIGH
UTILIZATION, AND IT MAY INCLUDE
COMMUNITY CENTERS WITH SHOWER
PROGRAMS FOR THE HOMELESS, AND
OTHER FACILITIES WHO DON'T HAVE
DEDICATED STAFF TO DO THAT KIND
OF INCREASED DEMAND MOUNT BAKER
ROWING, AND GOLDEN GARDENS
BATHHOUSE, AND JAPANESE GARDEN.
ADDITIONAL FUNDING IS PROVIDED
TO INCREASE SUPPORT FOR THE REC
IN THE STREETS PROGRAM, AND
THIS IS THE PROGRAM THAT
DELIVERS RECREATIONAL PROGRAM
IN NEIGHBORHOOD PARKS VIA A
MOBILE RECREATIONAL UNIT.
MY UNDERSTANDING, THE FUNDING
WOULD HELP TO FOCUS ON SOME
AREAS THAT HAVE BEEN REQUESTING
ADDITIONAL RECREATIONAL
ACTIVITIES INCLUDING
GEORGETOWN.
MOVING ON TO EXPANDING YOUTH
EMPLOYMENT AND MENTORSHIP
PROGRAM.
THE ADDITIONAL FUNDING USED TO
EXPAND TEEN PROGRAMMING ON
MONDAYS AT TEEN LIFE CENTERS AT
GARFIELD, MEADOWBROOK, AND
COMMUNIY SOUTH.
ADDITIONAL PROGRAMS IN
SOUTHEAST, WHICH DOES NOT HAVE
A TEEN LIFE CENTER RIGHT NOW,
AND WE WOULD ALSO PROVIDE
FUNDING FOR EXPANDED MENTORSHIP
PROGRAMMING.
ADDITIONAL FUNDING OF ABOUT
$400,000 WOULD BE USED TO FUND
WAGES FOR 40 YOUTH EMPLOYED BY
SPR AND ALSO TO FUND THE STAFF
TO COORDINATE NOT ONLY SPR'S
YOUTH EMPLOYMENT PROGRAMS BUT
ALSO THE PROGRAMS OPERATING IN
OTHER CITY DEPARTMENTS RELATED
TO THE YOUTH EMPLOYMENT
PROGRAM.
MOVING ON TO IMPROVING PARK
SAFETY, THIS FUNDING, SOME
ADDITIONAL FUNDING ALLOCATED TO
PROVIDE THE RESOURCES AND STAFF
TO WORK WITH THE COMMUNITY
PARTNERS TO ACTIVATE THE
NEIGHBORHOOD PARKS FOR SAFER,
MORE INVITING PARKS, AND THAT'S
THE PARK COMMENTS PROGRAM.
THIS AREA WOULD BE TARGETED TO
MANY NEIGHBORHOOD PARKS LOCATED
OUT OF THE DOWNTOWN AREA.
ADDITIONAL FUNDING PROVIDED FOR
THE PARK CONCIERGE PROGRAM TO
SUPPORT THE EXISTING PROGRAM
FOR EIGHT PARKS INCLUDING
BALLARD, COMMONS, VICTOR, CAL
ANDERSON, AND PIONEER SQUARE,
AND CITY HALL PARK.
ADDITIONAL FUNDING PROVIDED FOR
THE PARK SAFETY PROGRAM.
IT WOULD DO A NUMBER OF THINGS,
ONE ADD TWO ADDITIONAL CONTROL
OFFICERS SPECIFICALLY DEDICATED
TO SPR PROPERTY.
THE REMAINING FUNDING WOULD
SUPPORT ADDITIONAL COMMUNITY
CENTER PROGRAMMING TO INCREASE
ACTIVATION AT THE AREAS OR IN
THOSE COMMUNITY CENTERS TO
ADDRESS BEACH CLOSURES AND DO
GENERAL PARK AND CODE
COMPLIANCE.
FUNDING ALSO USED TO SUPPORT
THE RECOMMENDATIONS FOR A PARK
SAFETY PLAN THAT IS BEING
DEVELOPED BY SPR NOW THAT MIGHT
INCLUDE SOMETHING RELATED TO
UNIFORMED PARK PRESENCE BEING
PROPOSED.
SOMETHING SIMILAR TO THE PARK
RANGER PROGRAM, BUT NOT LIKE
THE PARK RANGER PROGRAM, BUT
THAT CONSULT WORK IS UNDERWAY
RIGHT NOW.
THAT WOULD HELP TO INFORM HOW
THE FUNDS WOULD BE SPENT GOING
FORWARD.
INCREASING ACCESS TO RESTROOMS,
SO ABOUT $174,000 USED TO
SUPPORT AND INSTALL AUTO LOCKS
ON SPR RESTROOMS AND PROVIDE
THE STAFFING NECESSARY TO
OPERATE, MANAGE, AND FACILITY
THE REPAIR OF THE LOCKING
MECHANISMS IN THE RESTROOMS.
$1.2MILLION ADDED TO SUPPORT
STATIONS EVERY YEAR. MFORT
WE HAVE 90 COMFORT STATIONS AND
30 SHELTER HOUSES, AND THIS
WOULD HELP FOR ADDITIONAL
REPAIRS OR RENOVATIONS AT TWO
PER YEAR ADDED ON TO THE TWO
NOW PROVIDED BY BASE FUNDING.
AND THEN THE LAST ITEM ADDING
THE FUNDING NECESSARY TO CREATE
TWO NEW EVENING AND SECOND
SHIFT MAINTENANCE TEAMS THAT
WOULD PROVIDE YEAR-ROUND, SEVEN-
DAY COMFORT STATION MAINTENANCE
INCLUDING GARBAGE AND LITTER
AND RECYCLING PICKUP ON THE
GROUNDS SURROUNDING THE
RESTROOMS.
>> I WILL JUMP IN HERE AND TALK
UNDER THE CATEGORY OF
RESPONDING TO CLIMATE CHANGE.
THE FIRST CAPTION WOULD COVER
CLIMATE CONSCIOUS BUILDINGS,
ADDING $2 MILLION TO ADVANCE
THE WORK TO MAKE SOME PARKS
FACILITIES MORE GREEN, ADDING
ON TO THE RENOVATIONS AND
THINGS THAT WERE UNDERWAY.
THE SECOND ONE, COMMUNITY
CENTER PREELECTRIFICATION IS
CHANGING OUT INTO L.E.D.s AND
CONTROLS.
THE THIRD CATEGORY REPLACING
FOSSIL FUELS IN SMALL
MECHANICAL SYSTEMS, REPLACING
HEATING IN A SMALL BUILDINGS IN
A NUMBER OF PARKS THAT USE OIL
HEAT, AND THIS WOULD ALLOW FOR
CHANGING A NUMBER OF THOSE OUT
OVER THE COURSE OF THE SPENDING
PLAN.
THE FOURTH CATEGORY RESTORING
AND INCREASING URBAN CANOPY
ADDING $400,000 TO THE BASELINE
FUNDING, AND IT WOULD BE FOR
PLANTING NEW TREES AND ALSO
FTEs TO DO THE WORK OF
PLANTING, MULCHING, WATERING,
AND MAINTAINING THE TREES ALONG
WITH THE FOLKS WHO DO THE WORK
NOW.
THE NEXT CATEGORY WITH
SUSTAINABLE IRRIGATION.
THIS WOULD ADD MONEY TO WHAT
PARKS DOES NOW TO DEAL WITH THE
POTENTIAL -- POTENTIALLY
FINDING LEAKS AND IMPROVING
IRRIGATION SYSTEMS SO THAT THE
PARKS DEPARTMENT USES WATER
MORE EFFICIENTLY, AND THIS, OF
COURSE, HAS ECONOMIC
CONSEQUENCES BECAUSE THE PARK
DOES PAY THE BILL TO THE PUBLIC
UTILITIES AND ALSO THE
IMPORTANT ECONOMICAL COMPONENT,
AND THEN THE WATER REUSE
PARTNERSHIPS.
USING RAIN WATER IN PARKS AND
PROPERTIES, AND IT WOULD
COORDINATE WITH THE FOLKS AT
SEATTLE PUBLIC UTILITIES AND
OTHERS.
>> MOVING ON TO RESTORING PARKS
AND FACILITIES.
$269,000 TO PROVIDE FUNDING TO
MAKE HIGHLY-TRAFFICKED PARKS
MORE APPEALING INCLUDING THE
HANGING BASKET PROGRAM IN
DOWNTOWN AND THE WEEDING AND
GROOMING OF THE FLOWER BEDS AND
ALSO THE SERVICES PROVIDED UP
TO TWO PARKS IN DISTRICTS
OUTSIDE
OF THE DOWNTOWN.
$633,000 PROVIDED FOR CREATING
A NEW CREW TO RESPOND TO
REPAIRS AND MAINTENANCE FOR
VANDALISM INCLUDING GRAFFITI
ABATEMENT.
$352,000 ADDED TO CREATE
FUNDING AND STAFF TO SUPPORT
THE PRESERVATION AND
MAINTENANCE OF FIVE SPRs
DESIGNATED VIEWPOINTS.
WE HAVE 14 OF THE VIEWPOINTS
WITH NO DEDICATED STAFF OR
RESOURCES TO MAINTAINING THOSE.
IT WOULD ALSO SUPPORT THE
DEVELOPMENT OF THE ACTUAL
MANAGEMENT PLAN FOR ALL 16
DESIGNATED VIEWPOINTS.
MOVING TO RESTORING TRAILS.
$650,000 WOULD BE PROVIDED TO
DO LARGE-SCALE TRAIL
RESTORATION PROJECTS, AND THAT
REQUIRES CAPITAL INVESTMENT TO
REPAIR THINGS SUCH AS STEPS,
BRIDGES, ELEVATED WALKWAYS,
THOSE MAJOR REPAIRS THAT WOULD
BE NECESSARY ON THE CITY
TRAILS.
THEN $400,000 ADDED TO PROVIDE
DEDICATED STAFF TO HELP
MAINTAIN AND PRESERVE OVER 116-
MILES OF TRAILS THAT EXIST IN
CITY PARKS.
MOVING ON TO THE NEXT CATEGORY
úOF PROPOSALS, AND THIS IS THE
PRECOMMITMENT PROJECTS, AND THE
ESTIMATE IS A TOTAL OF $135
MILLION, CONSISTING OF $110
MILLION IN DEBT FINANCING.
THAT WOULD BALLPARK AT $10
MILLION A YEAR IN TERMS OF
COST.
THE INVESTMENT PROPOSALS HERE,
INCLUDING A NUMBER OF THINGS,
AND ONE, THEY RELATE TO
PROJECTS THAT WERE NOT
COMPLETED IN CYCLE 1, AND THOSE
WERE DUE TO THE PANDEMIC AND
THE NEED TO REDIRECT FUNDS, AND
THAT SPECIFICALLY RELATES TO
THE SIX LANDBANK PARK
DEVELOPMENT PROJECTS.
PROJECTS INTENDED TO BE FUNDED
WITH MPD FUNDS BUT COST
ESCALATED BEYOND WHAT WAS
AVAILABLE FOR FUNDING, AND THAT
APPLIES FOR THE TENNIS CENTER
AND THE LOYAL HEIGHTS COMMUNITY
CENTER.
IT ALSO INCLUDES PROJECTS
ALWAYS TALKED ABOUT AS BEING
CONSIDERED AS CANDIDATES FOR
SPENDNG IN THE NEXT SIX-YEAR
SPENDING PLAN INCLUDING LAKE
CITY COMMUNITY CENTER, GREEN
LAKE COMMUNITY CENTER AND
TENANT IMPROVEMENTS AT THE NEW
EIGHTH COMMUNITY CENTER.
YOU CAN SEE THE RECOMMENDED
AMOUNTS FOR EACH ONE OF THE
PROJECTS TO BE INCLUDED IN
FINANCING FOR THOSE, IN BOND OR
IN PART CASH FINANCING.
THERE IS -- I'M SORRY.
AS IT RELATES TO PRECOMMITMENT
PROJECTS, ALSO ONGOING AND
MAINTENANCE COSTS OF 2 TO $2.5
MILLION NEEDING TO BE FUNDED
WITH PARK DISTRICT FUNDS OR
OTHER FUNDS.
MOVING TO THE LAST CATEGORY,
OUR BUCKET OF PROPOSALS, AND
THIS INCLUDES THE FUNDING TO
MITIGATE FOR ONGOING IMPACTS OF
THE PANDEMIC TO CITY AND SPR
RESOURCES INCLUDING GENERAL
FUND ON THE CITY SIDE AND FEES
AND CHARGES FROM PARKS-RELATED
ACTIVITIES.
TO REMIND COUNCILMEMBERS, THE
PARKS DEPARTMENT DOES GENERATE
FEES FROM THE PROGRAMS AND
BUILDINGS IT LEASES OUT, AND IT
CAN RANGE FROM 30 MILLION PLUS
IN TERMS OF THE FUNDS THAT
SUPPORT THE PARKS DEPARTMENT
AND ITS SERVICES AND
OPERATIONS, AND IT WAS, OF
COURSE, IMPACTED BY THE
PANDEMIC, AND IT IS, IN FACT,
IN RECOVERY AS WELL AS THE
CITY.
THAT IS IN PART WHAT THE
FUNDING COULD HELP TO MITIGATE
FOR AS THOSE REVENUES,
SPECIFICALLY RECOVER AS WELL.
IT IS RESPONSIBLE THAT THIS
ADDITIONAL FUNDING IS ONLY
NEEDED FOR THE FIRST TWO YEARS
OF THE SPENDING PLAN.
THAT COMPLETES OUR RUN-THROUGH
OF THE VARIOUS PROPOSALS.
WE ARE MORE THAN HAPPY TO
ANSWER QUESTIONS.
>> GREAT.
THANK YOU SO MUCH.
AND TO ERIC FOR RUNNING THROUGH
THE SLIDE DECK WITH US.
YOU KNOW, A LOT OF REPETITION
OF THEMES FROM SOME OF THE
PREVIOUS MEETINGS OF THE BOARD,
AND IT'S GOOD TO REALLY BE
DRILLING INTO THE OFFICIAL SET
OF RECOMMENDATIONS.
WHY DON'T WE START, I HAVE A
FEW QUESTIONS.
GOING TO THE IMMEDIATE PREVIOUS
SLIDE.
TO CLARIFY THINGS ABOUT THE
PLANTING REQUESTS.
NOT INCLUDED IN THIS SLIDE, BUT
DISCUSSED AT A PREVIOUS
HEARING.
CAN WE HAVE A REMINDER FROM
CENTRAL STAFF OF WHAT THE
BASELINE FUNDING CURRENTLY IS
FOR PARKS?
AND HOW MUCH WE HAVE BUDGETED
IN THE CURRENT BUDGET ABOVE THE
BASELINE FOR THE PARKS
DEPARTMENT?
>> FOR THE 2022 BUDGET, THE
GENERAL FUND PROVIDED $109
MILLION, AND THAT WAS ABOUT
$3.3 MILLION OVER WHAT WOULD
HAVE BEEN REQUIRED FOR THE ILA
IN 2022.
>> OKAY.
I JUST WANTED TO REMIND US AS A
STARTING POINT AS WE HAVE THIS
CONVERSATION ABOUT THE
RECOMMENDATION FROM THE BOARD
OF PARKS AND RECREATIONS
COMMITTEE TO CONSIDER UP TO $10
MILLION IN GENERAL FUND SUPPORT
FOR PARKS THAT WE ARE CURRENTLY
FUNDING PARKS AT A LEVEL, IN
EXCESS OF THE PREVIOUS
IDENTIFIED BASELINE, AND I
THINK THAT CONTEXT IS GOING TO
BE IMPORTANT AS WE CONSIDER HOW
MUCH SUPPORT WOULD BE
APPROPRIATE OR IF IT IS EVEN
APPROPRIATE, AND AS I HAVE SAID
BEFORE ON THIS TOPIC, I
CONTINUE TO BE LEANING TOWARDS
NOT WANTING TO GO DOWN A PATH
OF USING MONEY FROM THE
METROPOLITAN PARK DISTRICT AS
PART OF THE BALANCING EQUATION
FOR THE GENERAL FUND, AND SO
THAT'S A TOPIC I WANT TO FLAG.
I THINK IT WOULD BE AN
APPROPRIATE REMINDER AT THE
FRONT OF THE DISCUSSION THAT
MOSTLY FOR MEMBERS OF THE
PUBLIC AND I KNOW BOARDMEMBERS
ARE AWARE OF THIS, BUT MOST OF
THE THINGS WE ARE DISCUSSING
TODAY, ALL OF THE THINGS WE
HAVE BEEN DISCUSSING ARE
RECOMMENDATIONS FROM THE BOARD
OF PARKS AND RECREATIONS
COMMISSION AND TO A CERTAIN
EXTENT THE SEATTLE PARKS AND
RECREATIONS DEPARTMENT.
THE ISSUES HAVE BEEN
IDENTIFIED, BUT IT'S NOT
NECESSARILY THE PARKS DISTRICT
SPENDING PLAN.
I THINK IT'S IMPORTANT CONTEXT
AS WE DIVE INTO THE BIGGER
DISCUSSION.
I HAVE A FEW MORE QUESTIONS,
BUT I WOULD LIKE TO MAKE SPACE
FOR BOARD MEMBERS.
BOARDMEMBER STRAUSS HAS HIS
HAND UP.
I WILL HOLD MINE AND LET OTHER
BOARDMEMBERS ASK ABOUT THE
AREAS OF INTEREST.
BOARDMEMBER STRAUSS?
>> THANK YOU PRESIDENT LEWIS.
JUST CONFIRMING, RIGHT NOW IN
THE PROPOSED PLAN THAT IS BEING
CREATED, THERE'S ONLY $10
MILLION WORTH OF GENERAL FUND
REVENUE BEING USED FOR THE
GENERAL FUND, IS THAT A CORRECT
UNDERSTANDING OR MORE THAN $10
MILLION OVER THOSE YEARS?
>> TO BE CLEAR, I THINK THE $10
MILLION COULD BE BACK FILL FOR
THE GENERAL FUND AND ALSO AND
OR FOR THE FEES THAT PARKS
GENERATIONS TO SUPPORT ITSELF,
BUT THE TOP AMOUNT WE HAVE
HEARD MENTIONED BY THE
EXECUTIVE IS $10 MILLION,
COUNCILMEMBER.
>> VERY HELPFUL.
THANK YOU SO MUCH.
GREAT WORK.
>> OKAY, TRACI, I THINK I WILL
JUMP BACK IN.
BOARDMEMBER NELSON FOLLOWED BY
PEDERSEN.
>> I WAS GOING THROUGH
MATERIALS TRYING TO FIND OUT
WHAT THE TOTAL SPENDING WAS
ANTICIPATED TO BE IN THE FIRST
CYCLE, BUT WHAT IS DRIVING THAT
QUESTION IS THAT WE HAVE GOT
$58 MILLION WORTH OF CARRYOVER
PROJECTS IN THIS PROPOSAL, AND
SO I'M WONDERING WHAT
PERCENTAGE OF THE TOTAL IS 58
MILLION?
THE QUESTION THAT I GET, WHAT
DID THEY DO WITH ALL THE MONEY
IN THE FIRST CYCLE?
I'M TRYING TO GET AN
UNDERSTANDING OF THINGS THAT
WERE PROPOSED THAT WERE NOT
COMPLETED IN THE ORIGINAL, THAT
THIS 58 MILLION REPRESENTS, AND
IS THAT A TREND THAT WE CAN,
PERHAPS, ANTICIPATE WILL HAPPEN
IN THIS CYCLE AS WELL?
>> SO THE 58 MILLION, IF WE
WERE TO ASSUME THAT THE WHOLE
$108 MILLION WAS ACCEPTED WOULD
BE ABOUT 53% OF THE TOTAL
FUNDING THAT WOULD BE
CONSIDERED, PRESUMING YOU KEPT
AT THE $108 MILLION LEVEL, THE
TOTAL.
IN TERMS OF THE THINGS THAT
WERE NOT DONE IN CYCLE ONE,
THOSE PRIMARILY WERE THE SIX
LANDBANK SITES FOR WHICH
FUNDING HAD TO BE REDISTRIBUTED
BECAUSE OF THE PANDEMIC.
I BELIEVE IN THE REPORT THE
DEPARTMENT OF PARKS DID FOR THE
PUBLIC ACCESS COMMITTEE ON THE
CYCLE 1 REPORT, I THINK
OTHERWISE THEY HAD ACHIEVED ALL
OF THE OTHER OUTCOMES THAT THEY
HAD EXPECTED TO ACHIEVE WITH
THE CYCLE 1 INVESTMENTS.
IT WAS THOSE THINGS THAT HAD TO
BE PAUSED BECAUSE OF THE
PANDEMIC.
I THINK WE ALL HOPE WE WILL NOT
FACE ANOTHER SIMILAR SITUATION
IN THE FUTURE.
>> YEAH, I MIGHT JUST ADD,
EXCUSE ME, I'M SORRY,
COUNCILMEMBER, THE $58 MILLION
THIS YEAR AND THE SIMILAR
AMOUNT CONTINUING, IN THE
PROPOSAL COVERING THE ONGOING
COSTS AS YOU KNOW, AND I JUST
WANT TO STICK TO THAT.
PROJECTS THAT DIDN'T GET
COMPLETED, BUT THERE'S ONGOING
COSTS THAT CONTINUE THAT'S THAT
THE PARK DISTRICT DOES HELP TO
MAINTAIN.
THANK YOU.
>> THANK YOU.
>> YEAH.
>> I DO HAVE A FOLLOWUP
BOARDMEMBER NELSON?
>> NO.
>> PEDERSEN?
>> THANK YOU.
THANK YOU FOR THE PRESENTATION
THIS MORNING THAT INCLUDES SOME
OF THE SLIDES WE SAW
PREVIOUSLY, AND JUST FOR
CONTEXT, IT'S MY UNDERSTANDING
THAT TO PAY FOR ALL OF THE
THINGS ON THE SLIDE, TOO, WOULD
REQUIRE DOUBLING OF THE
PROPERTY TAX PORTION FOR THE
PARKS DISTRICT THAT PEOPLE
CURRENTLY PAY.
DOUBLING THE PROPERTY TAX.
I'M CONCERNED ABOUT THAT.
ESPECIALLY FOR PEOPLE ON FIXED
INCOMES, AND ESPECIALLY FOR THE
FACT THAT THE LAND LORDS CAN
PASS THE COSTS ON TO RENTERS IF
THE MARKET WILL BEAR IT, AND I
APPRECIATE COUNCILMEMBER LEWIS
RAISING QUESTIONS ABOUT THE $10
MILLION THAT WOULD BE
SUPPLEMENTED THROUGH THE FUND.
I'M NOT INCLINED TO SUPPORT
THAT.
I DO WANT TO SUPPORT THE
EXISTING PROJECTS, SEVERAL OF
THE PRECOMMITMENT PROJECTS, AND
I'M GLAD TO SEE THAT YOU'RE
PROPOSING DEBT FINANCING TO
LEVERAGE THOSE NEEDS SUCH AS IN
GREEN LAKE AND LAKE CITY AND
ELSEWHERE.
I DID HAVE A QUESTION ABOUT THE
MERCIER COMMUNITY CENTER.
I WANTED TO BETTER UNDERSTAND,
SO THAT IS PART OF THE MERCER
MEGA BLOCK REAL ESTATE DEAL,
AND WAS IT ALWAYS ANTICIPATED
THAT THE PROPERTY TAXPAYERS
THROUGHOUT THE CITY WOULD BE
PICKING UP THE TAB FOR THE
TENANT IMPROVEMENTS FOR THE
MERCER COMMUNITY CENTER?
THAT WAS NOT PART OF THE PUBLIC
BENEFIT?
>> I THINK THE PUBLIC BENEFIT
SPECIFIC TO PARKS AND REC WAS
THE SPACE BEING CREATED IN THE
BUILDING, AND THEN THE CITY
BEING ON THE HOOK FOR THE COST
OF THE IMPROVEMENTS TO
BASICALLY OUTFIT THE COMMUNITY
CENTER, AND THEN THE OPERATING
AND MAINTENANCE COST.
>> OKAY.
ALL RIGHT, THANKS.
THANK YOU.
>> YEP.
>> BOARDMEMBER MOSQUEDA.
>> THANK YOU, MR. PRESIDENT,
AND THANK YOU TO CENTRAL STAFF
FOR WALKING US THROUGH THIS.
I DO ACTUALLY HAVE A FEW
QUESTIONS, BUT COUNCILMEMBER
PEDERSEN'S LAST QUESTION GOT ME
THINKING.
IT ALSO COMES WITH DOUBLING THE
PROPERTY TAX ON A CERTAIN LINE,
AND THEN PUTTING IT INTO
CONTEXT.
IF IT WAS A DOUBLING OF THE
PROPERTY TAX, HOW MUCH ON,
AVERAGE, WOULD THAT BE FOR YOUR
AVERAGE HOUSEHOLD?
SEATTLE?
CAN YOU REMIND ME?
>> YEAH, THE MPD AMOUNT WOULD
GO FROM ABOUT $155 TO ABOUT
$307.
>> OKAY.
>> GO AHEAD, TRACI.
>> ON AN ANNUAL BASIS.
>> THANK YOU.
>> AND IN THE CLIMATE WHERE
MORE OF US ARE RECOGNIZING THAT
PARKS ARE THE BACKYARDS TO OUR
COMMUNITIES AND THAT THE
DENSITY IS OVER THE PARKS, IT
GOES HAND IN HAND, AND I WANT
TO UNDERSCORE THE IMPORTANCE OF
THAT COST BENEFIT ANALYSIS,
RIGHT?
WE ARE GOING TO BE TALKING A
LOT MORE IN COUNCILMEMBER
STRAUSS' COMMITTEE ABOUT THE
PLAN, AND IN MY COMMITTEE ABOUT
HOUSING DENSITY, AND I DON'T
WANT TO DECOUPLE THE INVESTMENT
WITH WHAT WE ARE TRYING TO DO
IN THE CITY, CREATING MORE
WALKABLE, LIVABLE
NEIGHBORHOODS, AND CREATING
ACCESS TO PARKS IS VERY
IMPORTANT THIS IS SOMETHING
THEY THINK RENTERS AND
HOMEOWNERS BENEFIT FROM, AND I
JUST WANTED TO SORT OF EXPLAIN
WHY I THINK THAT THE CONTEXT IS
HELPFUL.
CAN WE GO BACK TO SLIDE 12,
TRACI?
SO I'M INTERESTED IN
UNDERSTANDING A LITTLE BIT MORE
ABOUT THE TOTAL INVESTMENTS
HERE IN PERSONNEL.
THERE'S BEEN A LOT OF TALK
LATELY ABOUT THE USE OF
BONUSES, PROPOSALS FOR CERTAIN
DEPARTMENTS TO HAVE A SPECIAL
TREATMENT IN THAT REGARD, AND
WHEN WE DON'T HAVE KIDS ABLE TO
HAVE THE PROTECTION OF
LIFEGUARDS, LIFESAVERS IN THAT
REGARD, WHAT IS THE OVERALL
INVESTMENT THAT WE ARE MAKING
IN PERSONNEL HERE, AND IS THERE
ANY LATERAL TRANSFER DOLLAR
AMOUNTS WE ARE BEING ASKED TO
CONSIDER AT THIS JUNCTURE,
RELATED TO RECRUITING OTHER
PERSONNEL FROM OTHER
JURISDICTIONS?
IS THERE A HIRING BONUS IN THE
PROPOSAL TO DATE.
>> COUNCILMEMBER S THIS RELATED
TO THE AQUATIC STAFFING
INFORMATION, SPECIFICALLY.
>> JUST GENERALLY.
WE HAVE ALL PUT IN OUR NEWS
ALERTS THANKS TO THE GOOD
CHAIR, THE REMINDER THAT PARKS
IS IN NEED OF PERSONNEL, AND WE
HAVE PUT IN A LOT OF
INFORMATION ABOUT THE
OPPORTUNITY TO APPLY FOR A
PARKS JOB.
>> OKAY.
>> I THINK SPECIFICALLY THERE'S
A LOT OF CONCERN AROUND THE
LACK OF LIFEGUARDS, AND HOW
MANY AQUATIC OPPORTUNITIES HAVE
BEEN SHUT DOWN BECAUSE OF THE
LACK OF LIFEGUARDS, BUT MORE
GENERALLY, TRACI, IF WE HAVE
DETAILS TO DATE.
>> I DON'T, BUT WE CAN
CERTAINLY ASK.
WE HAVE A NUMBER OF QUESTIONS
ABOUT MORE DETAILS OF A NUMBER
OF THE INVESTMENT PROPOSALS
THAT WE ARE IN DISCUSS WITH THE
EXECUTIVE ABOUT GETTING ANSWERS
TO.
WE WILL ANSWER THIS QUESTION
SPECIFICALLY.
TO MY KNOWLEDGE, I DON'T
BELIEVE THERE'S HIRING BONUSES
INCLUDED IN THE PROPOSALS, BUT
WE WILL MAKE SURE OF THAT THAT
THERE IS NOT SOMETHING IN THERE
WE DON'T KNOW ABOUT AND
PROVIDING LATERAL -- EXPLAIN TO
ME ABOUT THE LATERAL TRANSFERS,
WHAT YOUR THINKING OF THAT IS.
>> I THINK IT'S BUILDING OFF
THE EXECUTIVE'S INITIAL
PROPOSAL FOR LATERAL TRANSFER
RECRUITS FROM OTHER POLICE
DEPARTMENTS, AND SO, I'M
WONDERING IF THE SAME
METHODOLOGY IS BEING APPLIED TO
OTHER DEPARTMENTS WHERE WE SEE
SERIOUS DEFICITS IN THE NUMBER
OF PEOPLE WHO ARE AVAILABLE TO
SERVE THE PUBLIC, AND
ESPECIALLY WHEN IT RELATES TO
LIFE-SAVING PERSONNEL, YOU
KNOW, JUST WOULD BE INTERESTED
TO HEAR IF THERE'S THOUGHT
AROUND THAT.
>> I'M GUESSING NOT, BUT
THOUGHT I WOULD INQUIRE.
EXCUSE ME.
SLIDE NUMBER 15, IF I MIGHT,
MR. CHAIR, AND THEN I WILL
STOP.
RESPONDING TO CLIMATE CHANGE
HERE, AND THIS IS OBVIOUSLY
SOMETHING THAT WE ARE REALLY
EXCITED IS BEING HIGHLIGHTED,
AND EXPLICITLY IN THE PROPOSAL
HERE, AND I WANT TO THANK THE
CENTRAL STAFF AND THE
COUNCILMEMBERS WHO HAVE BEEN
PRIORITIZING MAKING SURE THAT
OUR PUBLIC FACILITIES HAVE
ACCESS TO ADDITIONAL REVENUES,
SO THAT WE CAN UPGRADE THE HVAC
SYSTEM, ELECTRIC HEAT PUMPS,
AND INSTALLATION OF SOLAR
MICROGRIDS, AND LAST YEAR,
PEDERSEN WAS PRIORITIZING THE
COOLING CENTERS, AND EXPANDING
TWO LIBRARIES TO BE USED AS
COOLING CENTERS, BUT SOME
PROJECTS ARE CURRENTLY ON HOLD.
AS WE LOOK AT GLOBAL WARMING
BROADLY AND WHO HAS BEEN
IMPACTED BY CLIMATE CHANGE,
BEING DISPROPORTIONATELY BY
COMMUNITY, CAN YOU TALK A
LITTLE BIT MORE ABOUT HOW THE
INVESTMENTS ARE AT THIS POINT
LOOKING TO PRIORITIZE THE
COMMUNITIES OF COLOR, FOLKS WHO
ARE DISPROPORTIONATELY BEING
AFFECTED BY HEAT WAVES,
POLLUTION, AND OTHER
ENVIRONMENTAL JUSTICE ISSUES?
IF WE ARE NOT TO THE LEVEL OF
IDENTIFYING CERTAIN
NEIGHBORHOODS YET S THAT PART
OF THE PROPOSAL AS WE GET INTO
MORE DETAILS?
>> I WILL SAY THAT JUST VERY
QUICKLY, PART OF THE RANKING
PROVIDED WAS THE RECENT SOCIAL
JUSTICE RANKING, AND I CAN
FOLLOW UP WITH MORE DETAILS
ABOUT THAT, BUT THAT WAS PART
OF THE CATEGORIES THEY LOOKED
AT.
I THINK THAT THE NOTION OF THE
COOLING CENTERS FALLS MOSTLY
INTO THE CLIMATE CONSCIOUS
BUILDINGS OPTION OR THE FIRST
ONE IN TERMS OF MAKING THE
BUILDINGS BOTH CLIMATE
CONSCIOUS AND IN TERMS OF HOW
THEY USE ENERGY AND ALSO
PROVIDE FOR HEATING AND
COOLING.
I CAN FOLLOW UP WITH MORE
DETAILS ABOUT THAT, AND
UNDERSTANDING VERY CLEARLY THAT
YOUR KEEN IN UNDERSTANDING ON
HOW THE DOLLARS WOULD GO AND
HOW IT WOULD BE PROGRAMMED.
>> THANK YOU SO MUCH.
>> SORRY, GO AHEAD.
>> THANK YOU FOR ANSWERING
THAT, AND I SEE THAT THERE IS
AN ACTUAL HAND BEING RAISED,
BUT I DO HAVE A FOLLOWUP
QUESTION, MR. CHAIR, AND I
THINK THAT ERIC, THANK YOU FOR
THE FOLLOWUP.
I THINK SPECIFICALLY WE WOULD
BE INTERESTED IN THE
GEOGRAPHICAL ANALYSIS OF WHERE
SITES SHOULD BE PRIORITIZED IF
WE HAVE NOT DONE THAT AND
WORKING THAT IN.
>> BOARDMEMBER NELSON?
>> JUST FOLLOWING UP ON WHAT
ERIC JUST SAID, CLIMATE
CONSCIOUS BUILDINGS, AND THAT
IS $2 MILLION IT LOOKS LIKE BUT
NO FTEs.
WOULD THAT BE A STUDY?
>> NO, EXCUSE ME.
NO, THE $2 MILLION WOULD ADD ON
SO THAT IN GENERALLY SPEAKING,
THE WORK THAT IS DONE ON THE
BUILDINGS COULD ADVANCE AND GO
DEEPER INTO MAKING THEM
GREENER, AND IT WOULD ACTUALLY
BE DOLLARS SPENT ON CHANGES AND
IMPROVEMENTS TO BUILDINGS.
>> GOT IT, THANKS.
>>> MOSQUEDA, JUST SO YOU KNOW,
PARKS AS, AS ERIC SAID, APPLIED
THE EQUITY LENS TO ALMOST ALL
OF THE INVESTMENTS THEY
CONSIDERED FOR PROPOSALS, AND I
THINK THEY HAVE MENTIONED HIGH
POINT AND ASPHALT AS CANDIDATE
PROJECTS TO BE CONSIDERED FOR
THE CLIMATE-CONSCIOUS BUILDING
ACTIVITY IN SPECIFICS, SO,
YEAH.
>> SO BEFORE WE GET OFF THIS
TOPIC, I ACTUALLY HAVE FOLLOWUP
QUESTIONS ON THIS SLIDE BECAUSE
IT SEEMS LIKE, ESPECIALLY IN
THE EXCHANGE YOU JUST HAD WITH
BOARDMEMBER NELSON, TRACI.
SORRY, I THINK IT WAS ERIC.
THESE ARE ESSENTIALLY CAPITAL
IMPROVEMENTS TO THE STRUCTURES,
AND SO MY QUESTION WOULD BE, IS
IT ENVISIONED TO USE ANY DEBT
FINANCING TO EXPAND THE SCALE
AND SCOPE OF THE IMPROVEMENTS?
ARE THEY IMPROVEMENTS BEING
RECOMMENDED EXPECTED TO HAVE 20-
YEAR TO 30-YEAR LIFE
EXPECTANCIES TO BE CANDIDATES
FOR BONDING?
IT SEEMS 2 MILLION IN AND OF
ITSELF IS NOT GOING TO
SIGNIFICANTLY CHANGE A LOT OF
OUR COMMUNITY CENTERS, BUT IF
IT WAS BONDED, I WOULD IMAGINE
IT WOULD HAVE A CONSIDERABLE
IMPACT.
>> THE SHORT ANSWER IS YES.
TRACI AND I HAVE STARTED TO
LOOK AT THE KINDS OF THINGS IN
THE RECOMMENDATIONS WE HAVE NOW
AND CONSULTING WITH OUR
COLLEAGUES AND FOLKS IN LOOKING
AT A PREVIOUS BOND MEASURE,
JUST TO KIND OF GET CALIBRATED,
BUT AS YOU MENTIONED, PROJECTS
IN GENERAL THAT HAVE A 20-YEAR
LIFESPAN ARE GOOD CANDIDATES
FOR BONDING AND USING DEBT
FINANCING TO PAY FOR, AND JUST
FOR THE FOLKS TUNING IN.
THE NOTION BEING IF YOU'RE
GOING TO PAY OFF AN INVESTMENT
OVER 20 YEARS, THE INVESTMENT
SHOULD STILL BE ALIVE AND
KICKING WHEN YOU FINISH PAYING
OFF THE DEBT.
THAT'S THE NOTION AS YOU KNOW,
BUT JUST TO ADD THE CONTEXT TO
THE CONVERSATION.
WE WILL TAKE A LOOK AT THAT,
AND WE WILL HOPEFULLY HAVE --
NOT HOPEFULLY, WE WILL HAVE
MORE SPECIFIC INFORMATION ABOUT
BONDABLE INVESTMENTS.
TRACI, DO YOU WANT TO ADD
ANYTHING TO THAT?
>> A COUPLE MORE POINTS.
ONE, WE ARE VERY WELL AWARE,
AND I BELIEVE YOU ARE ALL WELL
AWARE THE GREEN NEW DEAL ISSUED
RECOMMENDATIONS FOR FUNDING,
AND THIS IS AN AREA THEY HAVE
PRIORITIZED, AND IT IS CREATING
CLIMATE-CONSCIOUS BUILDINGS
INCLUDING PARKS BUILDINGS, AND
ALSO COULD INCLUDE LIBRARIES,
AND MY UNDERSTANDING THE
SEATTLE SCHOOL DISTRICT HAS
INCLUDED FUNDING IN THE RECENT
BOND MEASURE FOR MAKING CLIMATE-
FRIENDING SCHOOL BUILDINGS, AND
I THINK THERE MAY BE SOME
ADDITIONAL PLANNING THAT MAY BE
HELPFUL FOR US IN TERMS OF
COORDINATING WHERE THE
INVESTMENTS MAY HAPPEN AND HOW
MANY COMMUNITY CENTERS AND HOW
MANY LIBRARIES AND OTHER
FACILITIES THAT MEET THE NEED
FOR US TO HAVE THE BUILDINGS.
NOT THAT WE DON'T WANT ALL
BUILDINGS TO BE CLIMATE
FRIENDLY, BUT WHERE YOU MAY
PRIORITIZE THE INITIAL DOLLARS.
I BELIEVE THE EXECUTIVE IS
DOING SOME OF THE WORK AS WELL
WITH THE CONVERSATIONS WE HAVE
HAD.
>> GREAT.
THANK YOU SO MUCH.
I'M REALLY LOOKING FORWARD TO
THAT.
IT'S A REALLY BIG OPPORTUNITY,
AND I THINK, REALLY ONLY
UNLOCKED WITH A ROBUST AND
CREATIVE FINANCING PLAN, GIVEN
THE COST.
SO REALLY LOOKING FORWARD, AND
THIS WAS A BIG AREA OF INTEREST
IN OUR PUBLIC HEARING THAT WE
HELD LAST WEEK, TOO.
OKAY, A FEW MORE QUESTIONS I
WANT TO JUMP INTO, AND THEN I
WILL PIVOT BACK TO
BOARDMEMBERS.
BATHROOMS.
SORT OF SIMILAR TO THE
CONVERSATION WE JUST HAD
REGARDING IMPROVING THE
COMMUNITY CENTERS.
I THINK THAT WE CAN SAFELY SAY
THAT BATHROOMS IN OUR PARKS AND
OPEN SPACES, PARTICULARLY
DURING THE PANDEMIC HAVE NOT
BEEN CONSISTENTLY OR RELIABLY
MAINTAINED TO A BIG EXTEND WHEN
THEY WERE NEEDED THE MOST.
ONE OF THE METRICS I WOULD LIKE
TO REALLY SEE COME OUT OF THE
PROCESS IS THAT PEOPLE CAN
MATERIALLY COUNT ON BATHROOMS
IN OUR PARKS AND OPEN SPACES
BEING CLEAN, SAFE, AND OPEN ON
A RELIABLE BASIS.
MY QUESTIONS ABOUT THE CATEGORY
ARE WHETHER THE INVESTMENTS ARE
ANTICIPATED TO GET US THERE.
LIKE I WOULD LIKE TO KNOW THE
METRICS OF WHAT AN ADDITIONAL
$794,300 GETS.
IS THAT A SUFFICIENT INVESTMENT
FOR PARK BATHROOMS TO BE CLEAN,
SAFE, AND OPEN?
OR IS THAT AN INVESTMENT TO
MAKE THEM MARGINALLY MORE THAN
THEY CURRENTLY ARE?
I WANT TO MAKE SURE WE ARE
FUNDING A PLAN WHERE SEATTLE
PARKS AND OPEN SPACES DEVELOP A
REPUTATION FOR HAVING
DEPENDABLE AND RELIABLE COMFORT
STATIONS WHICH HAS CERTAINLY
NOT BEEN THE CASE AND REALLY
IMPACTED A LOT OF COMMUNITIES
AND THEIR ABILITY TO MAKE FULL
USE OF THE PARKS AND OPEN
SPACES, SO, FOR THESE THREE
CATEGORIES, MAYBE TRACI OR
ERIC, IF YOU WOULD LIKE TO JUMP
INTO THIS, THIS IS A PLACE I
WOULD LIKE TO DRILL DOWN WITH
THE DEPARTMENT ON WHAT THE
INVESTMENTS WILL DO AND WHAT
LEVEL THE INVESTMENTS NEED TO
BE TO MAKE THE GUARANTEES ON
BATHROOM ACCESS.
>> COUNCILMEMBER, WE HAVE
SIMILAR QUESTIONS AS YOU DO
ABOUT WHAT IT IS THAT THIS
FUNDING WILL ACTUALLY BUY US,
IN TERMS OF OPEN COMFORT
STATIONS, YEAR-ROUND COMFORT
STATIONS AND CLEAN STATIONS.
WE ARE FOLLOWING UP WITH THE
EXECUTIVE ON THE VERY
QUESTIONS.
VERY GOOD ONES, VERY
APPROPRIATE, AND I HAVE
SIGNALED IT'S AN AREA OF
INTEREST FOR COUNCILMEMBERS,
AND WE WILL ALSO DO SO RELATED
TO THE METRICS TO HELP US GET
TO THE PUBLIC HAVING A SENSE
OF, ARE WE MEETING THE GOAL?
>> THANK YOU SO MUCH.
SIMILARLY, I DON'T REMEMBER
WHICH SLIDE IT WAS ON, BUT THE
GRAFFITI ABATEMENT SLIDE AND
THE $600,000 FOR VANDALISM.
SIMILARLY, I WOULD LIKE
GUIDANCE FROM THE DEPARTMENT IN
TERMS OF PROGRAM AND WHAT THE
NUMBER DOES.
DOES THAT DO ALL OF THE
GRAFFITI OR JUST MARGINALLY
MORE THAN WE CURRENTLY DO?
JUST TO SORT OF PUT A FINER
POINT FOR FELLOW BOARD MEMBERS
AND THE PUBLIC.
I JUST THINK THAT
FOUNDATIONALLY THE INVESTMENTS
ON THE RENEWAL ARE FOCUSED ON
WHAT WE WANT TO SEE FOR THE
PARKS AND OPEN SPACES BEING
SAFE, CLEAN, AND OPEN, BUT I
WANT TO MAKE SURE THAT GOING
FORWARD, WE ARE MAKING THE
INVESTMENT THAT IS SUFFICIENT
TO REALIZE THOSE GOALS INSTEAD
OF ESSENTIALLY GETTING HALFWAY
THERE AND HAVING THE PUBLIC NOT
BE ABLE TO SEE A MATERIAL
DIFFERENCE IN THE PARKS AND
OPEN SPACES, AND FOR THIS
CATEGORY AS WELL, THAT
VANDALISM RESPONSE, A LITTLE
BIT MORE CONTEXT ON EXACTLY
WHAT THAT INVESTMENT GETS US,
IN TERMS OF THE MATERIAL
IMPROVEMENT THAT PEOPLE WILL
SEE.
WITH THAT, I, WELL, ACTUALLY, I
WILL GO INTO ONE AREA,
BOARDMEMBER MOSQUEDA KICKED
OFF, TOO, BASED ON THE HEARING
TWO WEEKS AGO, REGARDING
LIFEGUARDS.
AND AQUATIC SAFETY.
ONE THING I FLAGGED AS AN AREA
OF POTENTIAL INTEREST, AND I
WOULD LIKE TO WORK WITH THE
DEPARTMENT ON IT, WE DO NOT
CURRENTLY PAY PERSPECTIVE
CANDIDATES THROUGHOUT FOR THE
CERTIFICATION PROCESS.
THAT MIGHT BE AN INCENTIVE
STRATEGY THAT WE COULD EXPLORE.
IT TAKES ABOUT 35 HOURS OF
CERTIFICATION TIME TO GET A
LIFEGUARD CREDENTIAL
ESSENTIALLY, AND WHILE WE ARE
ABLE TO, WHAT IS MY
UNDERSTANDING, COVER THE FEES
AND COVER ALL OF THE COSTS
ASSOCIATED WITH THE PROCESS, WE
ARE NOT COMPENSATING THEM FOR
THE SIGNIFICANT TIME
OBLIGATIONS TO COMPLETE THE
CERTIFICATIONS.
THAT MAY BE A POTENTIAL AREA OF
INCENTIVE THAT WOULD BE AN
APPROPRIATE AREA FOR THE
METROPOLITAN PARK DISTRICT TO
SQUARE THE CIRCLE AROUND THE
ONGOING AQUATIC SAFETY
CHALLENGES THAT WE ARE
EXPERIENCING EVERY SEASON NOW,
AND, IN DEED, AS WE DISCUSS IN
THE HEARING THE OTHER DAY,
OTHER CITIES ARE EXPERIENCING.
PHEONIX, ARIZONA, CLOSING HALF
OF ITS POOLS THIS SEASON.
IT'S SOMETHING WE ARE ALL
FACING AS MAJOR CITIES.
ONE DISCREET AREA THAT COULD BE
ATTRACTIVE, PAYING PEOPLE FOR
THE CERTIFICATION PERIOD.
I WANTED TO FLAG THAT AS A
POTENTIAL AREA OF INTEREST
GIVEN THE CONVERSATION.
BOARDMEMBER MORALES?
>> THANK YOU.
THANK YOU SO MUCH, ERIC AND
TRACI FOR THIS.
I FIRST WANTED TO REITERATE MY
-- OR STATE MY SUPPORT FOR TWO
THINGS THAT COUNCILMEMBER
MOSQUEDA WAS MENTIONING.
ONE WAS THE ISSUE OF WATER
SAFETY.
AS SOMEONE WITH A LOT OF
WATERFRONT AREA IN MY DISTRICT,
AND ONE OF THE BEACHES THAT IS
NOT LISTED TO HAVE A LIFEGUARD
FOR THE SUMMER, I DO THINK IT'S
REALLY IMPORTANT THAT WE ANSWER
THIS QUESTION AND WE FIGURE OUT
HOW WE MAKE SURE THAT YOUNG
PEOPLE HAVE A LIFEGUARD AT
THEIR BEACHES, AND SO IF IT
MEANS FIGURING OUT HOW TO PAY
THEM A WAGE IN ADDITION TO
PAYING FOR THEIR CERTIFICATION
PROCESS, I THINK IT'S
IMPORTANT.
AND THEN, ALSO, THE ISSUE
AROUND MAKING AND CONNECTING
THE DOTS BETWEEN OUR INCREASED
DENSITY THAT WE KNOW IS COMING,
OUR NEED FOR HEALTHY, WALKABLE
NEIGHBORHOODS, AND THE
CONNECTION FOR THE INCREASED
GREEN SPACE, PARTICULARLY IN
THE SOUTH END, WHERE WE DON'T
HAVE ENOUGH TREE CANOPY OR
ENOUGH PARKS, AND I THINK
THAT'S GOING TO BE REALLY
IMPORTANT.
ONE OF THE SORT OF HIGHER LEVEL
QUESTIONS I HAVE IS, THE
CONCERN ABOUT DRAMATICALLY
INCREASING THE LEVY REQUEST
WHILE WE ARE EXPERIENCING AND
HEARING A LOT OF CHALLENGES
FROM OUR COMMUNITY RIGHT NOW
ABOUT MAINTENANCE ISSUES, LACK
OF BATHROOMS, AND OUR BATHROOM
ACCESS, AND, YOU KNOW, AS I AM
LOOKING AT THE PROPOSED
CONTINUED FUNDING, I'M THINKING
PARTICULARLY ABOUT PREVENTIVE
MAINTENANCE AND MAINTAINING THE
LAND BANK SITES IN ONE OF THE
BI-WEEKLY MEETINGS I HAVE WITH
FOLKS, FOR EXAMPLE, IN LITTLE
SAIGON, THERE'S A PARKS-OWNED
PARKING LOT NEAR THE 12th AND
JACKSON INTERSECTION THAT
NEIGHBORHOODS HAVE REPEATEDLY
ASKED QUESTIONS ABOUT,
REPEATEDLY ASKED FOR SUPPORT
FROM THE DEPARTMENT IN
MAINTAINING, AND I'M JUST
TRYING TO UNDERSTAND THE
CONNECTION BETWEEN, YOU KNOW,
WHAT WE ARE ABLE TO DO NOW AS
IT RELATES TO THE MAINTENANCE
OF THE EXISTING PARKS, AND HOW
WE WILL USE ADDITIONAL FUNDING
TO REALLY TAKE CARE OF SOME OF
THE BASELINE THINGS BEFORE WE
START TO MAKE NEW AND
ADDITIONAL INVESTMENTS.
>> ANY RESPONSE FROM ERIC OR
TRACI TO THOSE POINTS FROM
BOARDMEMBER MORALES?
>> FOR CLARIFICATION IS THE
SPACE YOU'RE REFERRING IN
LITTLE SAIGON A PARKING LOT OR
A PARK?
>> IT'S PARKLAND ADJACENT TO A
PARKING LOT, AND THERE'S SORT
OF SOME, YOU KNOW, CLEANING
ISSUES, MAINTENANCE ISSUES,
THAT THE COMMUNITY HAS BEEN
ASKING THE PARKS DEPARTMENT
ABOUT FOR SOME TIME.
>> OKAY, I CAN GET MORE
INFORMATION ABOUT THE SPECIFIC
ADDRESS ON THAT AND FOLLOW UP
ON THAT.
>> THANK YOU.
ANY OTHER BOARDMEMBER
QUESTIONS?
OKAY, COUNCILMEMBER -- OR
BOARDMEMBER MOSQUEDA?
>> THANK YOU, BOARD CHAIR OR
MR. PRESIDENT.
ACTUALLY OF THE FOLLOWUP
QUESTION I HAD, MY LAST
QUESTION ABOUT THE HYGIENE
CENTERS, AND YOU CLEARLY
ARTICULATED MY CONCERNS, AND I
WONDER IF WE HAVE THE DATA TO
SHOW WHAT THE TOTAL AMOUNT
WOULD BE IF EVERY CLOSED
BATHROOM WERE TO OPEN, AND IF
EVERY BATHROOM THAT NEEDED
MAINTENANCE AND UPGRADES WAS
INCLUDED IN THE LIST, WHAT
WOULD THE TOTAL BE COMPARED TO
THE AMOUNT THAT WE CURRENTLY
HAVE FOR THE PROPOSAL.
I KNOW IT'S A SHARED AREA OF
INTEREST WITH THE EXECUTIVE.
I APPRECIATE THE MAYOR HAS ALSO
CONTINUED TO BRING UP THE NEED
TO OPEN UP MORE BATHROOMS, AND
I'M HOPING TO GET A BETTER
SENSE OF WHAT PERCENTAGE OF
BATHROOMS WE ARE ACTUALLY
TALKING ABOUT OPENING HERE WITH
THE AMOUNT BEING INVESTED, AND
HOW FREQUENTLY, LIKE AN UPDATE
IN REALTIME, ANY TECHNOLOGY OR
OVERSIGHT THAT THE PARKS
DEPARTMENT NEEDS TO REPORT
SITUATIONS SO THEY CAN QUICKLY
BE ADDRESSED?
I THINK I MENTIONED BEFORE, YOU
KNOW, OUT HERE AT NORTH
DELLRIDGE, WE HAVE THREE TO
FOUR PLAY FIELDS, A PLAYGROUND,
A KIDDIE POOL, A SKATE PARK,
AND TENNIS COURT AND PICKLE
BALL AREA, AND TWO BATHROOMS,
AND THE SIGN MOST RECENTLY ON
IT SAID CLOSED DUE TO
VANDALISM.
WELL, IF IT'S CLOSED DUE TO
VANDALISM, HOW FAST ARE WE
WORKING TO TRY TO OPEN IT?
WHAT DOES THE PARKS DEPARTMENT
NEED IN ADDITION TO STAFF TO
MAKE SURE THEY NEED TO OPEN IT
QUICKLY.
IT'S WHAT IS CLOSED NOW, AND
WHAT DO WE NEED FOR A REALTIME
RESPONSE FOR SITUATIONS THAT
NEED TO BE ADDRESSED?
>> WE CAN PUT THOSE QUESTIONS
TO THE EXECUTIVE AND WHAT WE
HAVE ASKED ABOUT IN TERMS OF
WHAT IT GETS US FOR OPENED
RESTROOMS, YEAR ROUND AND
PARTIAL, AND FREQUENCIES OF
CLEANINGS AND SO FORTH.
>> BOARDMEMBER MOSQUEDA, I WILL
SAY I AM VERY INTERESTED IN THE
CONVERSATIONS THAT WE WILL
ALMOST CERTAINLY HAVE AS A
BOARD THROUGHOUT THE REST OF
THE SUMMER ABOUT HOW TO ATTACH
OUR INVESTMENTS TO ONGOING
PERFORMANCE METRICS AND
MONITORING STRATEGIES IN ORDER
TO REALLY HONE IN ON EXACTLY
THESE KINDS OF QUESTIONS, AND
YOU KNOW, JUST TO EDITORIALIZE
FOR A MOMENT, I WAS A LITTLE
FRUSTRATED TO READ AS PART OF A
SEATTLE TIMES EDITORIAL A FEW
WEEKS AGO THAT THE PARKS
DEPARTMENT AT LEAST IN RESPONSE
TO THE INQUIRIES DIDN'T
IMMEDIATELY HAVE A DETAILED
ANSWER ON HOW MUCH IS INVESTED
IN MAINTAINING BATHROOMS OR I
THINK THE QUOTE WAS WE DON'T
TRACK INVESTMENTS AT THAT LEVEL
OF SPECIFICITY OR SOMETHING TO
THAT EFFECT.
I WANT TO MAKE SURE WE USE THE
METROPOLITAN PARK DISTRICT NOT
AS A VEHICLE TO MAKE
INVESTMENTS BUT THEY ARE
METRICS-DRIVEN INVESTMENTS AND
WE KNOW THERE WILL BE TANGIBLE,
ROGRAMATIC GUARANTEE TO ACCESS
TO THINGS LIKE BATHROOMS, AND
WE ARE MAKING AN INVESTMENT
FITTED TO THE SERVICE WE WANT
AT THE LEVEL ANTICIPATED TO
MAKE IT HAPPEN.
ANYWAY, MOVING ON TO
BOARDMEMBER NELSON.
>> WELL, I GROW WITH YOU,
PRESIDENT LEWIS, AND ALSO VICE
PRESIDENT MOSQUEDA.
THE VERY FACT THAT WE ARE EVEN
TALKING ABOUT BATHROOMS THAT
ARE NOT OPEN SIGNALS A PROBLEM.
I MEAN, THE PARKS ARE A BASIC
SERVICE, AND WE NEED TO BE ABLE
TO USE THE ASSETS WE ALREADY
HAVE, AND WITH THE POPULATION
HAVING INCREASED SINCE THE
FIRST CYCLE, MAKING SURE THAT
WE CAN ACTUALLY ACCOMMODATE
EXISTING AND GROWING SEATTLE
POPULATION IN OUR PARKS, AND
THAT IS EXTREMELY IMPORTANT.
I RAISED MY HAND BEFORE YOU
MENTIONED THE TIMES EDITORIAL,
BUT IT IS IMPORTANT FOR US TO
BE ABLE TO ENSURE THAT WE ARE
TAKING CARE, NOT JUST IMPROVING
THESE FACILITIES, BUT KEEPING
THEM CLEAN AND SAFE AS YOU HAVE
ALREADY SAID, AND WHAT I'M
WONDERING, AND I DO HAVE A
QUESTION HERE.
DOES THE PARKS DEPARTMENT HAVE
AN OVERALL BUDGET THAT
INDICATES WHETHER OR NOT, WHERE
THE MAINTENANCE DOLLARS COME
FROM, IF THAT'S FROM PRIMARILY
THE GENERAL FUND OR LEVY OR
OTHERWISE?
IF IT'S SILOED IN A POT OF
MONEY, IT'S DIFFICULT TO SEE
OVERALL WHAT IS -- HOW ARE WE
-- HOW WELL ARE WE TAKING CARE
OF OUR PARKS AS THEY EXIST
RIGHT NOW?
SO, AND WHEN WE ARE GOING TO DO
SOMETHING NEW LIKE AUTOLOCKING
OF BATHROOMS, WHICH I THINK IS
A GOOD IDEA, HOWEVER, IT DOES
REQUIRE ONE NEW FTE TO ENSURE
THAT THE AUTO LOCKS ARE
MANAGED, WHICH SEEMS TO
UNDERMINE THE IDEA OF AUTO, BUT
I THINK IT'S AN IMPORTANT
POINT.
THESE ARE THE ISSUES I'M
LOOKING AT GOING FORWARD AS WE
ARE LOOKING AT THE PROPOSALS.
THANKS.
>> AND --
>> BUT, AGAIN, I MEAN -- THERE
WAS A QUESTION IN THERE FOR
CENTRAL STAFF.
I AM ASSUMING YOU'RE ON THIS,
AND YOU ARE TRYING TO IDENTIFY
THE OVERALL MAINTENANCE BUDGET
FOR PARKS AND WHERE THAT COMES
FROM, AND WHAT THESE NEW
INVESTMENTS MAY ADD TO THAT TO
MAKE SURE EVERYONE CAN USE THE
PARKS.
>> YES, WE ARE, AND TO RESPOND
TO THE ONE QUESTION WE CAN'T
ANSWER, IT'S A MIX OF REVENUE
SOURCES THAT SUPPORT THE
MAINTENANCE OF THE BATHROOMS
AND PARKS, NOT JUST MPD.
THAT'S VIRTUALLY THE CASE WITH
ALL EXISTING INITIATIVES AND
PROPOSED INITIATIVES.
THEY ARE SUPPORTED BY PARKS
FEES FROM THE RECREATIONAL
DEPARTMENT AND THE MPD.
>> OKAY.
>> OVERALL FOR THE PAST FUNDING
CYCLE AND THE YEAR WE ARE IN
NOW, THE MPD FUNDING IS ABOUT
20%, 19% OR 20% OF THE TOTAL
BUDGET, AND THAT BEING THE CASE
IS THE METRICS THAT
COUNCILMEMBERS ARE INTERESTED
IN AND THE PARKS DEPARTMENT IS
LOOKING TO DEPLOY IN AN ONGOING
WAY TO MEASURE HOW THE DOLLARS
ARE SPENT, AND EVEN IF THEY ARE
MIXED, IT'S STILL GOOD TO KNOW,
RIGHT?
SO IN SOME CASES MPD DOLLARS
MAY BE A LARGER PROPORTION OF
THE FUNDING GOING TO A
PARTICULAR SERVICE.
IT'S AN OVERALL NUMBER, AND WE
MAY FIND IN DIGGING IN, MPD IS
A SIGNIFICANT SUPPORTER OF THE
INITIATIVE FOR PARKS.
THAT LITTLE DETAIL PROBABLY
MATTERS TO THE PARK DISTRICT
SITTING ON THIS WITH MPD, BUT
I'M GUESSING IT ALL MATTERS TO
YOU ALL AS COUNCILMEMBERS
LOOKING AT THE PARKS BUDGET
OVERALL.
THAT'S MY COLOR COMMENTARY TO
THE IDEA OF METRICS, YEAH.
>> AND ONE THING THAT TRACI
JUST SAID, IT REMINDED ME THAT
OUR PARKS AND COMMUNITY CENTERS
ARE NOT SIMPLY GENERATORS OF
COST.
THEY ARE ALSO ASSETS, AND WHEN
WE THINK OF ASSET MANAGEMENT,
THERE'S A POSSIBILITY, I THINK,
OF RECOVERING SOME OF THE FUNDS
THROUGH FEES, AND SO, THIS IS A
SLIGHTLY DIFFERENT TOPIC, BUT I
DON'T KNOW IF THERE'S BEEN AN
ASSET MANAGEMENT STUDY DONE
BEFORE ON THE PARKS, BUT WE DO
HAVE COMMUNITY CENTERS THAT
COULD MEET A GREATER COMMUNITY
NEED IF THEY WERE OPEN LONGER
OR IF THEY HAD DIFFERENT KINDS
OF PROGRAMMING, ET CETERA, AND
SOME OF THE COSTS COULD BE
RECOOPED BY FEES.
WE WILL TAKE THAT OFFLINE.
>> YEAH, AND I DO APPRECIATE
THOSE LINES OF INQUIRY.
JUST FOR THE BOARD MEMBERS, THE
MEMO DISTRIBUTED BY CENTRAL
STAFF IN ADVANCE OF THE MEETING
INCLUDING A HELPFUL CHART THAT
OUTLINES ALL OF THE DIFFERENT
FUND SOURCES THAT CONNECT INTO
THE PARKS DEPARTMENT.
SO THAT CAN BE ANOTHER POINT OF
REFERENCE FOLLOWING THIS
CONVERSATION.
ARE THERE ANY OTHER BOARD
MEMBER QUESTIONS?
OKAY, I DON'T SEE ANY
ADDITIONAL QUESTIONS, AND THIS
WAS A GOOD INITIAL DISCUSSION
ABOUT THE ENTIRE SWEEP OF
THINGS, AND I THINK THAT WE
HAVE IDENTIFIED AS A BOARD
SEVERAL AREAS OF INTEREST, AND
YOU KNOW, I'M GLAD THERE'S ALSO
THIS CONVERSATION AROUND --
THEY HAVE SORT OF HAD FOR THE
FIRST TIME WITH BOARD MEMBERS,
BUT SOUNDS LIKE A LOT OF SHARED
INTEREST ABOUT THE KIND OF
ACCOUNTABILITY METRICS AND
MEASURES ATTACHED TO THE
INVESTMENTS, SOMETHING WE HAVE
NOT REALLY TALKED ABOUT YET,
BUT I KNOW I HAVE EXPRESSED
SIGNIFICANT INTEREST IN TO
CENTRAL STAFF TO UP DUOING.
WE MIGHT COUNT ON CHARTING OUT
A LITTLE BIT OF TIME TO DISCUSS
THAT AS A BOARD IN THE COMING
WEEKS, AND I WILL WORK WITH
CENTRAL STAFF ON HOW WE MIGHT
DO THAT IN ADDITION TO THE WORK
OF IDENTIFYING INVESTMENTS AND
WHAT WE WANT TO PUT
METROPOLITAN PARK DISTRICT
INVESTMENTS TOWARDS.
SO THE NEXT MEETING IS GOING TO
BE ON THE 25th.
THAT IS GOING TO SIMILARLY BE
AN EXERCISE IN COUNCILMEMBERS
IDENTIFYING AREAS OF INTEREST.
I DON'T KNOW IF CENTRAL STAFF
WANTS TO FORESHADOW THAT
MEETING A LITTLE BIT BEFORE WE
SIGN OFF.
YOU KNOW, TRACI IS NODDING.
I WILL HAND IT OVER TO TRACI.
>> THANK YOU.
>> AND THEN WE CAN END THE
MEETING.
>> THAT'S GREAT.
AS YOU INDICATED, WE ARE HOPING
NEXT MONDAY WOULD BE A SPECIFIC
CONVERSATION ABOUT
COUNCILMEMBERS' OPTIONS THAT
THEY WANT TO SEE FOR INCLUSION,
IT COULD BE ENTIRELY NEW
OPTIONS WE HAVE NOT SEEN FROM
THE PROPOSALS WE HAVE GONE
THROUGH, MODIFYING SOME OF
THOSE PROPOSALS, AND EITHER UP
OR DOWN, AND REALLY WANT TO
HEAR FROM YOU AND BEGIN THE
PUBLIC CONVERSATION OF THE
THINGS THAT YOU WANT TO BE
CONSIDERED FOR THE NEXT SIX-
YEAR SPENDING PLAN TO INFORM,
NOT ONLY THE DISTRICT BOARD'S
ULTIMATE DECISION AND THE
MAYOR, WHO IS, OF COURSE, IN
THE PROCESS, HIMSELF OF PUTTING
TOGETHER THE SPENDING PLAN.
GOOD FOR HIM TO POTENTIALLY
HEAR THE ITEMS OF INTEREST IN
PARTICULAR FROM THE
COUNCILMEMBERS, JUST LIKE
TODAY, A HELPFUL CONVERSATION
TO HIGHLIGHT THOSE AREAS THAT
HAVE A PARTICULAR INTEREST AND
CONCERN BY THE COUNCIL.
SO CENTRAL STAFF SENT OUT AN E-
MAIL ON FRIDAY, ASKING IF
COUNCILMEMBERS COULD FORWARD TO
US VIA E-MAIL BY TOMORROW,
TUESDAY, CLOSE OF BUSINESS,
THOSE OPTIONS THAT THEY WOULD
LIKE TO TEE UP FOR FURTHER
CONVERSATION NEXT MONDAY, AND
THAT WOULD BE REALLY HELPFUL IF
WE COULD GET THOSE ITEMS FROM
THE COUNCILMEMBERS BY CLOSE OF
BUSINESS TOMORROW, AND THEN WE
CAN HELP PREPARE OUR
PRESENTATION TO HELP FACILITATE
THE IMPORTANT CONVERSATION
AMONG THE DISTRICT BOARD
MEMBERS.
>> EXCELLENT.
THANK YOU SO MUCH.
ANY FINAL COMMENTS FROM BOARD
MEMBERS?
GIVEN THE NEXT STEPS?
SEEING NONE, I AM GOING TO GO
AHEAD AND ADJOURN THE MEETING,
THE METROPOLITAN PARK DISTRICT
BOARD MEETING OF JULY 18, 2022,
IS HEREBY ADJOURNED AT 10:43
A.M.
THANK YOU SO MUCH.