>>>
>>> THANK YOU.
GOOD AFTERNOON OR EVENING.
IT'S OCTOBER 18th, 2021
MEETING OF THE SEATTLE PARK
STRICT BOARD.
WE'LL NOW COME TO ORDER.
I'M DEBORAH JUAREZ, PRESIDENT
OF THE BOARD.
CLERK, CAN YOU PLEASE CALL THE
ROLE.
>> GONZALEZ?
HERBOLD?
>> HERE.
>> LEWIS.
>> PRESENT.
>> MORALES?
>> HERE.
>> PETERSON?
>> HERE.
>> SAWANT?
>> PRESENT.
>> STRAUSS?
>> PRESENT.
>> PRESIDENT JUAREZ?
>> PRESENT.
>> EIGHT PRESENT.
>> THE AGENDA IS ADOPTED
HEARING NO OBJECTION.
WE'LL MOVE ON TO APPROVAL OF
THE MINUTES.
THE MINUTES OF THE
JUNE 21st, 2021 SEATTLE PARK
DISTRICT BOARD MEETING HAVE
BEEN REVIEWED.
IF THERE'S NO OBJECTION, THE
MINUTES WILL BE SIGNED.
HEARING NO OBJECTION, THE
MINUTES ARE BEING SIGNED.
WILL THE CLERK PLEASE AFFIX MY
SIGNATURE TO THE LEGISLATION
ON MY BEHALF.
AT THIS TIME WE'RE GOING TO GO
ON OUR AGENDA INTO PUBLIC
COMMENT.
WE WILL OPEN THE REMOTE PUBLIC
COMMENT PERIOD.
IT REMAINS THE STRONG INTENT
OF THE SEATTLE CITY COUNCIL
AND PARK DISTRICT BOARD TO
HAVE PUBLIC COMMENT REGULARLY
INCLUDED ON MEETING AGENDAS,
HOWEVER THE SEATTLE PARK
DISTRICT BOARD RESERVES THE
RIGHT TO END OR ELIMINATE THE
PUBLIC COMMENT PERIOD AT ANY
POINT IF WE DEEM THE SYSTEM IS
BEING ABUSED OR UNSUITABLE TO
ALLOW OUR MEETINGS TO BE
CONDUCTED EFFICIENTLY OR IN A
MANNER WE'RE ABLE TO CONDUCT
NECESSARY BUSINESS.
THERE'S ALSO A SEPARATE PUBLIC
HEARING ON THE REVENUE SOURCES
FOR THE 2022 OPERATIONS AND
CAPITAL BUDGET IN A POTENTIAL
PROPERTY TAX INCREASE IN 2022,
WHICH WILL BEGIN AS THE LAST
ITEM ON THIS AGENDA, WHICH IS
ITEM NUMBER TWO.
SO ITEM ONE IS A PRESENTATION
AND ITEM TWO IS THE PUBLIC
HEARING.
OUR CITY CLERK WILL MODERATE
THIS GENERAL PUBLIC COMMENT
PERIOD, SO I'LL NOW HAND IT
OFF TO OUR WONDERFUL CLERK,
JODIE.
YOU WANT TO GO AHEAD AND READ
IN AND START THE PUBLIC
COMMENT PERIOD?
>> I WILL.
THE PUBLIC COMMENT PERIOD FOR
THIS MEETING IS UP TO 20
MINUTES AND EACH SPEAKER WILL
BE GIVEN TWO MINUTES TO SPEAK.
THE CLERK WILL CALL ON TWO
SPEAKERS AT A TIME, AND THE
ORDER IN WHICH REGISTERED ON
THE ONLINE SIGN UP LIST.
IF YOU HAVE NOT REGISTERED TO
SPEAK BUT WOULD LIKE TO, YOU
CAN SIGN UP BEFORE THE END OF
THIS PUBLIC COMMENT PERIOD BY
GOING TO THE SEATTLE WEBSITE.
THE PUBLIC COMMENT LINK IS
ALSO LISTED ON TODAY'S AGENDA.
ONCE THE SPEAKER'S NAME IS
CALLED, STAFF WILL UNMUTE THE
APPROPRIATE MICROPHONE, AND AN
AUTOMATIC PROMPT THAT YOU HAVE
BEEN UNMUTED WILL BE YOUR CUE
TO SPEAK.
THE SPEAKER MUST ALSO TOUCH
STAR 6 ON THEIR PHONE TO
UNMUTE THEMSELVES AFTER THEIR
NAME IS CALLED.
PLEASE BEGIN SPEAKING BY
STATING YOUR NAME AND THE ITEM
YOU'RE ADDRESSING.
AS I REMINDER, PUBLIC COMMENT
SHOULD RELATE TO AN ITEM ON
TODAY'S AGENDA.
SPEAKERS WILL HEAR A CHIME
WHEN TEN SECONDS ARE LEFT OF
THE ALLOTTED CHIME.
WE ASK THEN YOU BEGIN TO WRAP
UP PUBLIC COMMENT.
IF SPEAKERS DO NOT END THEIR
PUBLIC COMMENTS AT THE END OF
THE TIME ALLOTTED, THE
SPEAKER'S MICROPHONE WILL BE
MUTED TO ALLOW US TO CALL ON
THE NEXT SPEAKER.
ONCE YOU HAVE COMPLETED YOUR
PUBLIC COMMENT, WE ASK YOU
PLEASE DISCONNECT FROM THE
LINE, AND IF YOU PLAN TO
CONTINUE FOLLOWING THIS
MEETING, PLEASE DO SO VIA
SEATTLE CHANNEL OR THE
LISTENING OPTIONS LISTED ON
THE AGENDA.
THE PUBLIC COMMENT PERIOD IS
NOW OPEN AND WILL BEGIN WITH
THE FIRST TWO SPEAKERS SIGNED
UP ON THE LIST FOR OUR REGULAR
PUBLIC COMMENT.
THOSE SPEAKERS ARE REBECCA
BEAR AND MURIEL LOTTE.
REBECCA?
IF YOU'VE HEARD YOU'VE BEEN
UNMUTED, YOU ALSO NEED TO HIT
STAR 6.
AND REBECCA HAS DROPPED OFF,
SO WE'LL MOVE ON TO MURIEL
UNLESS REBECCA CALLS BACK.
MURIEL LOTTE.
>> I SEE HER NAME.
>> OKAY.
>> HEY, MURIEL.
>> THIS IS MURIEL.
HI.
SO I WROTE THIS OUT BECAUSE
I'M HAVING DIFFICULTY
SPEAKING.
I'LL TRY TO READ IT TO YOU.
I ALSO SENT IT BY E-MAIL IN
CASE I LOSE THE CONNECTION
HERE.
SO THIS IS ABOUT THE GENERAL
FOR COMMUNITY CENTERS. ETING
THIS IS ABOUT THE NEW LAKE
CITY COMMUNITY CENTER.
I'M 77 YEARS OLD.
I HAVE HEALTH PROBLEMS, BUT I
PREFER TO BE ACTIVE WORKING ON
IMPROVING OUR COMMUNITY RATHER
THAN SITTING AROUND AND
COMPLAINING.
I PREFER TO THANK PEOPLE,
ESPECIALLY OFFICIALS LIKE
YOURSELVES.
I WANT TO THANK, ESPECIALLY
THANK YOU FOR DISCUSSING
THINGS IN ADVANCE AND FOR
LISTENING TO ME TODAY.
I ALSO WANT TO THANK COUNCIL
MEMBER JUAREZ AND HER STAFF
OR HELPING US GET OUR PLANS
FOR THE NEW LAKE CITY
COMMUNITY CENTER GOING.
I HOPE YOU CONTINUE TO WORK
WITH US TO GET THINGS MOVING
FORWARD.
BUT RIGHT NOW IT SEEMS PLANS
FOR THE NEW CENTER ARE AT A
STAND STILL.
$5 MILLION OF OUR PROMISED
16 MILLION SEEMED TO DEFERRED
TO NEXT YEAR'S FUNDING CYCLE.
THERE'S NO MENTION OF OUR
EFFORTS, OUR COMMUNITY
NEIGHBORHOOD GROUPS MADE TO
GET THINGS GOING.
WERE WE WASTING OUR TIMES WHEN
WE GOT ALL THE LETTERS AND
PETITIONS SIGNED?
WHEN I SIGNED UP FOR NEWS
LETTERS, THERE'S MENTION OF
GREEN LAKE REDEVELOPMENT, BUT
NO MENTION OF LAKE CITY
REDEVELOPMENT, SO WE HAVE NO
WAY OF KNOWING EXACTLY WHAT'S
PLANNED FOR US.
I'M AGAIN WORKING WITH
COMMUNITY MEMBERS TO FIND OUT
WHAT HAS BEEN DONE SO FAR AND
HOW TO MOVE THINGS FORWARD.
EXCUSE ME.
I DON'T NEED TO REMIND YOU
THAT LAKE CITY IS ONE OF THE
MOST UNDERSERVED COMMUNITIES
IN THE CITY.
WE'VE BEEN NEGLECTED AND WE
FEEL LIKE THIS IS CONTINUING.
I WANT YOU TO DISCUSS THIS AND
VOTE TO PUT THE $5 MILLION
BACK INTO THIS YEAR'S BUDGET
AND HELP US FIND OUT WHAT HAS
BEEN DONE SO FAR AND WHAT'S
BEING PLANNED FOR OUR
COMMUNITY CENTER.
>> THANK YOU, MURIEL.
WE GOT OUR E-MAIL AND HAVE
BEEN IN CONTACT WITH YOU, SO
WE'LL TALK TO YOU OFF LINE
ABOUT THAT, OKAY?
MURIEL?
OKAY.
JODIE, IS THERE ANYONE ELSE?
>> IT LOOKS LIKE REBECCA IS
BACK, SO REBECCA BEAR FOLLOWED
BY SARAH JANE ZEIGFRIED.
>> HELLO, THIS IS REBECCA
BEAR.
I'M HOPING YOU CAN HEAR ME.
I GOT CUT OFF.
GOOD EVENING PARK DISTRICT AND
PRESIDENT JUAREZ.
THANK YOU VERY MUCH FOR TAKING
THE TIME.
I'M THE CEO OF THE SEATTLE
PARKS FOUNDATION, AND I'M HERE
REPRESENTING OVER 80 COMMUNITY
NEIGHBORHOOD-BASED
ORGANIZATIONS THAT CARE DEEPLY
ABOUT OUR PUBLIC PARKS.
I'D LIKE TO START BY THANKING
THE MAYOR FOR THE SIGNIFICANT
RETURN OF INVESTMENT INTO OUR
PARKS FOR 2022.
IN PARTICULAR WE WANT TO
SUPPORT THE RETURN OF BASELINE
FUNDING WITH THE SEATTLE PARK
DISTRICT.
WE'RE ALSO PARTICULARLY
EXCITED ABOUT FUNDING FOR LAND
SCIENCE AND DEVELOPMENT OF NEW
PARKS AND THE ADDITIONAL FUNDS
FOR THE LAKE CITY COMMUNITY
CENTER.
WE ALSO SUPPORT A STRONG FOCUS
ON EQUITY IN THIS BUDGET, IN
PARTICULAR THE $1 MILLION
SHIFT FROM THE LAND BAKE SITES
TO SUPPORT EQUITY STAFFING,
THE TRANSITION OF THE MAJOR
PROJECT CHALLENGE FUND TO
COMMUNITY RESPONSE AND
EQUITABLE DEVELOPMENT FUND,
AND ADDITIONAL FUNDING FOR
COMMUNITY RECREATION AND
ACTIVATION.
WE HAVE CONCERN, HOWEVER, THAT
THE NPD IS BEING USED TO
ADDRESS A SHORTFALL IN THE
GENERAL FUND AND ADDRESS
AVERAGE WAGE INCREASES.
THE CURRENT BUDGET PROPOSES A
4.1 REDIRECT FROM THE
MAINTENANCE BACKLOG TO COVER
THE COMPOUND COST OF SALARIES.
WE ENCOURAGE THE COUNCIL AND
PARK DISTRICT BOARD TO
CONSIDER WE NEED TO FUND THESE
BOTH.
THERE WAS A SIGNIFICANT IMPACT
DURING THE PANDEMIC, AND IT'S
SHOWING IN THE PARKS EVERY
DAY.
MAJOR MAINTENANCE LOST
11.4 MILLION FROM THE BUDGET
LAST YEAR, THE LARGEST
REDUCTION IN THE ENTIRE
BUDGET.
THAT'S A LOT OF BROKEN PARK
ASSETS AND UNFULFILLED
COMMITMENTS IN 2021.
BY TYING THE AVERAGE WAGE TO
THIS FUND, WE'RE SETTING A BAD
úPRECEDENT FOR FUTURE YEARS AND
NOT FULFILLING THE ORIGINAL
INTENT OF THE PARK DISTRICT.
THE GENERAL FUND SHOULD FUND
OUR AVERAGE WAGE INCREASES
ACROSS THE BOARD.
WE'RE RECOMMENDING WE KEEP THE
4.1 MILLION FOR MAJOR
MAINTENANCE AND INCREASE THE
1.4 MILLION IN THE GENERAL
FUND TO ADDRESS WAGE
INCREASES.
THANK YOU FOR YOUR
CONSIDERATION.
>> THE NEXT SPEAKER IS SARAH
JANE ZEIGFRIED FOLLOWED BY
BETH PURCELL.
SARAH JANE IS NOT PRESENT, SO
WE'LL MOVE ON TO BETH PURCELL.
>> GOOD EVENING, SEATTLE PARK
DISTRICT BOARD.
I'M BETH PURCELL AND SPEAKING
ON BEHALF OF THE PARKS AND
RECREATION BUDGET.
I WANT TO THANK YOU FOR THIS
OPPORTUNITY AND THANK THE
SUPERINTENDENT FOR DEVELOPING
A BUDGET FOR 2022 THAT WILL GO
A LONG WAY IN RESTORING THE
FUNDING CHALLENGES FOR THE
DEPARTMENT OF PARKS AND
RECREATION.
AS YOU KNOW, OUR PARKS AND
PUBLIC SPACES ARE VITAL TO THE
HEALTH AND WELL BEING OF
EVERYONE IN OUR CITY.
YEARS OF INVESTMENT AND
PLANNING HAVE GONE INTO MAKING
OUR URBAN OUTDOOR SPACES AS
SAFE AND WELCOMING FOR ALL.
UNFORTUNATELY THE PARKS AND
PUBLIC SPACES IN PIONEER
SQUARE ARE EXPERIENCING A
SAFETY CRISES THAT REQUIRE
URGENT ACTIONS.
WE WORK CLOSELY WITH PARTNERS
SUCH AS THE ALLIANCE FOR
PIONEER SQUARE FOR THE
BETTERMENT OF THE PIONEER
SQUARE HISTORIC DISTRICT, AND
I'M WRITING TO SHOW SUPPORT
FOR THE FOLLOWING ITEMS
CURRENTLY UNDER CONSIDERATION
IN THE BUDGET PROPOSAL WITH A
FUNDING ON INCREASED FUNDING
AND STAFF CAPACITY TO MAINTAIN
SAFE AND CLEAN SPACES IN BOTH
PARK AND RIGHT OF WAY AREAS.
THE QUEEN CITY FUNDING
CONTINUATION THROUGH THE END
OF 2022, THE RESTORATION OF
PARK RESOURCES TO THE
INITIATIVE INCLUDING SOLE
RESTORATION OF FUNDS FOR THE
URBAN PARKS PARTNERSHIP.
PLANS TO MAINTAIN CLEAN AND
ACCESSIBLE PARKS AND RIGHTS OF
WAY, THE OBSTRUCTION REMOVAL
EXPENDITURES, AND ONE TIME
FUNDING FOR RESTORATION.
WHILE THESE FOCUS ON
ADDRESSING PUBLIC HEALTH AND
SAFETY IN THE PARKS, I ALSO
SUPPORT RESTORATION OF THE
COVID-19 REDUCTION TO THE
GENERAL FUND AND PARK DISTRICT
FUNDS AS PROPOSED IN THE 2022
BUDGET FOR PARKS AND
RECREATION.
THANK YOU FOR OUR TEAM.
>> THE NEXT SPEAKER IS SEAN
MCCORKLE FOLLOWED BY SYLVIE
REYNOLDS.
>> HELLO, I'M SEAN MCCORKLE,
PRESIDENT OF THE GREEN LAKE
ROWING ADVISORY COUNCIL.
I'M HERE TO SPEAK ON BEHALF OF
THE NEW GREEN LAKE COMMUNITY
BOAT HOUSE.
WE'VE SPOKEN IN THE PAST THAT
THE EIGHT YEAR EFFORT TO
REPLACE THE PUBLIC BOATING
FACILITIES ON THE LAKE HAD
STALLED AND WARNED WITHOUT
DECISIVE ACTION WE WERE AT
RISK OF LOSING THE PROJECT ALL
TOGETHER.
I'M PLEASED TO REPORT THAT A
PATH TO THE FINISH HAS BEEN
DEFINED FINALLY, AND WITH YOUR
SUPPORT WE CAN BEGIN A LONG
OVERDUE PROCESS OF CORRECTING
úSO MANY SAFETY ISSUES THAT
PLAGUED OUR FACILITY,
EXPANDING OUR CAPACITY TO
REACH UNDERSERVED YOUTH AND
LAUNCH THE FIRST PARA AND
ADAPTIVE ROWING AND PADDLING
PROGRAM TO ENSURE
OPPORTUNITIES FOR ALL YOUTH.
I FIRST WANT TO THANK THE
SUPERINTENDENT FOR PROPOSING
USAGE OF 2022 NPCF DOLLARS
CURRENTLY IN THE BUDGET BEFORE
THE COUNCIL.
ALSO I WANT TO THANK COUNCIL
MEMBER STRAUSS TO PROPOSING AN
AMENDMENT TO BE MATCHED DOLLAR
FOR DOLLAR BY PRIVATE FUNDS.
ALSO COUNCIL MEMBERS JUAREZ
AND LEWIS FOR CO-SPONSORING
THIS VITAL AMENDMENT.
WE ALSO WANT TO THANK THE
STATE OF WASHINGTON RCO AND
STATE SENATOR ALONG WITH KING
COUNTY FOR THEIR SUPPORT OF
THIS PROJECT OVER THE YEARS.
FINALLY WANT TO THANK THE MANY
PATIENT, PRIVATE DONORS LARGE
AND SMALL WHO HAVE GENEROUSLY
GIFTED TO THIS PROJECT AND THE
CITY OVER $2.5 MILLION TOWARDS
SEEING THIS VISION TO
COMPLETION.
THIS TRULY HAS BEEN A
COMMUNITY EFFORT LEVERAGING
PRIVATE AND PUBLIC FUNDING.
THE GREEN LAKE COMMUNITY BOAT
HOUSE WILL BE A CENTER FOR ALL
YOUTH REGARDLESS OF
BACKGROUND, CIRCUMSTANCE, OR
PHYSICAL ABILITY TO THRIVE ON
SEATTLE'S BLUE SPACE.
WE ASK FOR OUR SUPPORT OF THE
BUDGET NOW BEFORE YOU AND YOUR
UNIFIED SUPPORT OF THE BUDGET
AMENDMENT FROM STRAUSS,
JUAREZ, AND LEWIS.
THANK YOU.
>> THE LAST SPEAKER IS LISTED
AS SYLVIE REYNOLDS, BUT
THEY'RE LISTED AS NOT PRESENT.
I'LL ASK TO CONFIRM THAT WITH
IT.
SYLVIE REYNOLDS?
>> THAT IS CORRECT.
>> THERE ARE NO FURTHER --
>> CALLER NUMBER SIX HAS
RETURNED THOUGH.
>> OKAY, SYLVIE IS BACK?
>> NO, CALLER NUMBER SIX,
SARAH JANE.
>> OH, SARAH JANE.
>> THANK YOU, SARAH JANE?
>> STAR 6, SARAH JANE.
>> HI, THIS IS SARAH JANE.
I'M A COMMUNITY ADVOCATE IN
LAKE CITY, AND THE BUILDING
THAT WE KNOW AS THE LAKE CITY
COMMUNITY CENTER WAS BUILT IN
1947, AND IT WAS NOT OPERATED
AS A COMMUNITY CENTER FOR MANY
YEARS.
IN OTHER WORDS THERE WAS
REALLY NO CITY PROGRAMMING
UNTIL JUST BEFORE THE
PANDEMIC.
IN THE MEANWHILE, LAKE CITY
HAS CHANGED.
IN THE 2010 CENSUS IT WAS 25%
BIPOC AND IT'S ONLY CONTINUED
THAT DIRECTION.
WE HAVE MANY MORE PEOPLE OF
COLOR, ESPECIALLY IMMIGRANT
COMMUNITIES HERE.
WE'RE THE POCKET OF POVERTY IN
NORTH SEATTLE, ESPECIALLY WITH
OUR IMMIGRANTS.
WE ALSO HAVE NO SENIOR CENTER
HERE IN LAKE CITY, AND WE HAVE
BOTH HUD PROJECTS AND A
VETERANS PROJECT HERE, AND
THEY RESIDE HERE DUE TO THE
LOW COST OF LAND, BUT THERE'S
NO PLACE FOR THEM TO GO.
WE NEED MEALS AND ACTIVITIES
FOR SENIORS AND YOUR YOUTH.
THE ARRAY APARTMENTS AT
143rd AND LAKE CITY WAY HAVE
LOTS OF KIDS AND IS ESPECIALLY
IN NEED OF TEEN PROGRAMMING AT
A COMMUNITY CENTER.
THE CITY HAS FUNDED ABOUT HALF
OF THIS PROJECT AS MURIEL SAID
EARLIER WITH HELP FROM THE
LEGISLATURE WHICH WE
APPRECIATE GREATLY, BUT FOR
SOME REASON OUR PROJECT HAS
TAKEN A BACKSEAT TO THE GREEN
LAKE COMMUNITY CENTER, AND
THEY ALREADY HAVE A FULLY
FUNCTIONAL COMMUNITY CENTER,
WHILE WE DO.
IT'S CLOSED.
AND AGAIN IT'S BEEN BEEN
PUSHED OFF UNTIL 2023.
SO WE NEED AN UPDATED NEEDS
ASSESSMENT IN 2022, AND WE'RE
ASKING YOU TO PUT THAT IN THE
BUDGET SO WE CAN LOOK AT THIS
FAST CHANGING COMMUNITY AND
FIGURE OUT WHAT'S REALLY
NEEDED HERE.
THANK YOU.
>> AND IT LOOKS LIKE OUR LAST
SPEAKER IS NOW PRESENT.
SYLVIE?
>> HI, THANK YOU.
THIS IS SYLVIE REYNOLDS.
I'M CALLING TO ADVOCATE FOR A,
UM, LOOK AT THE BUDGET AND HOW
IT'S BEEN ESPECIALLY IN
REGARDS TO GREEN LAKE KEEP
MOVING STREET WHICH ACCORDING
TO SDOT'S RSJ IS IN A HIGHLY
NOT UNDERSERVED COMMUNITY AND
THE PARKS DEPARTMENT MAY HAVE
PLANS TO ADD MORE BIKE LANES
TO, UM, THE KEEP MOVING STREET
WITH BUDGET OF UPWARDS OF
$1 MILLION, AND I'M ASKING
THEM TO PLEASE CONSIDER THE
EQUITY OF THIS INVESTMENT AS
WE'VE HEARD FROM MANY OTHER
PEOPLE ON THIS CALL, THERE ARE
MANY OTHER NEEDS IN THE CITY
AND UNDERSERVED AREAS.
THANK YOU FOR YOUR TIME AND
CONSIDERATION.
>> PRESIDENT JUAREZ, WE HAVE
NO FURTHER SPEAKERS FOR
GENERAL PUBLIC COMMENT.
>> OKAY.
SO WE WILL CLOSE PUBLIC
COMMENT.
THAT'S DIFFERENT.
WE'LL COME BACK LATER FOR THE
PUBLIC HEARING PIECE.
THANK YOU FOR YOUR COMMENTS
HERE TODAY, AND LIKE I SHARED
EARLIER, A COUPLE OF YOU HAVE
E-MAILED US, AND WE HAVE YOUR
E-MAIL ADDRESSES AND COMMENTS
AS WELL, WHICH WE'LL RESPOND
TO AGAIN.
LET'S GO TO ITEMS OF BUSINESS.
CLERK, PLEASE READ ITEM ONE
INTO THE RECORD.
>> AGENDA ITEM ONE, SEATTLE
PARK DISTRICT PROPOSED 2022
BUDGET FOR BRIEFING AND
DISCUSSION.
>> LET'S HAVE OUR PRESENTERS
GO AHEAD AND INTRODUCE
THEMSELVES, AND THEN I HAVE A
FEW REMARKS I NEED TO MARK.
GO AHEAD, JESUS.
>> I'M THE SUPERINTENDENT OF
SEATTLE PARKS AND RECREATION.
>> MICHELLE FINNEGAN, POLICY
DIRECTOR WITH SEATTLE PARKS
AND RECREATION.
>> THAT'S ALL YOU BROUGHT WITH
YOU TODAY?
>> AMY WILLIAMS IS HERE AS
WELL.
>> IS TRACEY HERE?
OKAY, I THINK TRACEY RADCLIFFE
IS HAVING TECHNICAL
DIFFICULTIES BUT WILL BE HERE
IN A MOMENT.
JESUS, THE LAST 20 MINUTES
WE'VE BEEN INTERRUPTED WITH
THE SIX-YEAR PLAN BECAUSE OF
COVID, SO I JUST WANT TO KIND
OF ORIENT US BEFORE WE
ACTUALLY GET GOING.
BEFORE US TODAY WE HAVE
RESOLUTIONS THAT WE'RE LOOKING
AT THAT ARE ALREADY POSTED
ONLINE.
NUMBER 44 REGARDING --
>> TRACEY, I DON'T KNOW IF YOU
CAN HEAR ME.
>> YES, WE CAN.
WE'LL START AGAIN.
SO WE HAVE RESOLUTION 44 WHICH
IS ADOPTION OF THE BUDGET.
THIS IS THE INTRO ONE YEAR,
THE BRIDGE YEAR.
THERE ARE TWO ATTACHMENTS.
A IS A SUMMARY OF THE
OPERATING CAPITAL BUDGET, AND
ATTACHMENT B IS A MORE
DETAILED ACCOUNT OF THE
OPERATION AND MANAGEMENT IN
CAPITAL BUDGET FROM 2015 TO
2022.
RESOLUTION 45 TALKS ABOUT THE
INCREASE, IF THERE IS GOING TO
BE AN INCREASE.
WE VOTE ON THAT FROM THE TAXES
FROM 2021.
AND RESOLUTION 46 IS OF COURSE
FIXING THE RATES.
AND RESOLUTION 47 IS MORE
TECHNICAL.
IT WILL JUST BE ABOUT US GOING
FORWARD ABOUT THE NEXT PARK
BOARD MEETING DETAILS IN
JUNE 2022.
FOR AT THAT TIME'S PURPOSE,
THE FOCUS IS ON RESOLUTIONS
44, 45, 46 AND THE ATTACHMENTS
POSTED ONLINE FOR THOSE OF YOU
VIEWING.
SOME OF THE QUESTIONS AND
COMMENTS MADE DURING PUBLIC
COMMENT CAN ACTUALLY, IF YOU
LOOK AT THE DOCUMENTS, YOU'LL
SEE THE ANSWERS TO SOME OF THE
ISSUES, PARTICULARLY THE LAKE
CITY COMMUNITY CENTER AND A
FEW OTHER ITEMS.
IN ORDER TO GIVE YOU SOME
LEGISLATIVE HISTORY, WHICH
WE'LL HAVE ANOTHER HAND OUT
WHEN WE HAVE OUR VOTE, WE
STARTED BACK IN NOVEMBER OF
2020.
WE PASSED RESOLUTION 36.
THAT WAS OUR ORIGINAL LEGAL
AUTHORITY TO DELAY THE SIX
YEAR PLANNING BECAUSE OF
COVID.
WE DID IT AGAIN IN NOVEMBER,
OR HAD THE SAME IN
NOVEMBER 2020 RESOLUTION 37,
WHICH OF COURSE DELAYED THE
START OF THE SIX YEAR PLAN.
THEN IN JUNE 2021 WE PASSED
RESOLUTION 42 WHICH DELAYED
THE START OF THE SIX-YEAR PLAN
FROM 2022 TO 2027.
NOW, I SHARE THAT WITH YOU,
AND WE'LL HAVE ANOTHER SLIDE
AT SOME OTHER POINT, SO WE CAN
NOT ONLY HAVE THE LEGISLATIVE
HISTORY, BUT TO UNDERSTAND WHY
WE HAVE THE DELAY AND NOW WHAT
WE'RE GOING TO PUT IN PLACE IS
THIS, UM, BRIDGE YEAR AND ONE
YEAR BUDGET.
I'M GUESSING THAT'S WHAT THE
POWER POINT WILL GO OVER
TODAY.
AND WE'RE NOT VOTING TODAY.
I DON'T WANT PEOPLE TO THINK
TODAY IS THE DAY THAT WE'RE
ACTUALLY PASSING THE BUDGET
AND SPENDING PLAN AND ALL
THAT.
WE'RE GETTING IT ALL ONLINE.
WE HAD PUBLIC COMMENT.
WE'LL HAVE ANOTHER PUBLIC
HEARING AFTER THIS.
I WANT TO GIVE PARKS THE
OPPORTUNITY TO GO THROUGH THE
PROPOSED 2022 BUDGET.
SO WITH THAT, DID I MISS
ANYTHING SUPERINTENDENT?
>> NO, THANK YOU PRESIDENT
JUAREZ AND MEMBERS OF THE
GOVERNING BOARD.
AS YOU SAID, COUNCIL MEMBER
JUAREZ, WE'LL GO THROUGH AND
GIVE AN OVERVIEW OF THE 2022
PROPOSED BUDGET.
OF COURSE, BACK ON
OCTOBER 1st WE PROVIDED A
DETAILED UPDATE ON THE MAYOR'S
PROPOSED 2022 BUDGET FOR THE
ENTIRE DEPARTMENT, WHICH OF
COURSE INCLUDES MANY FUNDING
SOURCES INCLUDING THE PARK
DISTRICT, WHICH IS OBVIOUSLY A
CRITICAL PART OF OUR FUNDING.
TODAY WE'LL TALK ABOUT JUST
THIS ONE FUND SOURCE AND GIVE
YOU SOME TAKE AWAYS HERE.
NEXT SLIDE, PLEASE.
OVERALL THE MAYOR'S 2022
PROPOSED BUDGET FOR SEATTLE
PARKS AND RECREATION AS WE
DISCUSSED PREVIOUSLY REALLY
FOCUSES ON ECONOMIC RECOVERY,
RESTORING PANDEMIC RELATED
REDUCTIONS MADE AS PART OF THE
2021 BUDGET ACROSS ALL OUR
FUNDS INCLUDING THE PARK
DISTRICT.
THE MAYOR'S BUDGET ALSO
REALIGNS RESOURCES TO SUPPORT
OUR COMMITMENT TO EQUITY,
SUPPORT RISING COST DUE TO
INFLATION AND CHALLENGING BID
CLIMATE, AS WELL AS PROVIDING
SAFE AND WELCOMING PARKS AND
OPEN SPACES FOR EVERYONE.
LOOKING AT TOTAL RESOURCES
HERE, I'D LIKE TO POINT OUT
THAT THE GENERAL FUND NOW, UM,
IS PROVIDING $109 MILLION TO
OUR TOTAL BUDGET, WHICH UNLIKE
THE LAST COUPLE OF YEARS OF
THE PANDEMIC, THIS BUDGET
RESTORES THE FUNDS TO BE IN
LINE WITH THE AGREEMENT
BETWEEN THE CITY AND PARK
DISTRICT.
YOU CAN ALSO SEE HOW IMPORTANT
OUR PARK DISTRICT IS TO OUR
TOTAL PARKS AND REC BUDGET
THAT REPRESENTS ABOUT A FIFTH
OF OUR TOTAL RESOURCES.
NEXT SLIDE.
AND HERE YOU CAN SEE BOTH
AGAIN ON THE OPERATING SIDE AS
WELL AS THE CAPITAL SIDE, THE
PARK DISTRICT PLAYS A
SIGNIFICANT ROLE REPRESENTING
18% OF OUR OPERATING BUDGET,
AND ON THE CAPITAL SIDE 22% OF
THE TOTAL BUDGET.
NEXT SLIDE, PLEASE.
OF THE OTHER FUNDS. XT FOR ALL
LOOKING JUST AT THE PARK
DISTRICT, AS YOU MENTIONED
BOARD PRESIDENT JUAREZ, OUR
2022 PROPOSED BUDGET IS YET
ANOTHER BRIDGE YEAR BETWEEN
THE CYCLE ONE FINANCIAL PLAN
AND THE NEXT CYCLE THAT STARTS
IN 2023.
THIS INTERIM YEAR, WE'RE USING
THE PLANNING ASSUMPTIONS FOR
THE FIRST CYCLE IN TERMS OF
HOW WE'RE BUDGETING REVENUES
AND EXPENDITURES.
SPECIFICALLY THE PROPERTY TAX
REVENUES WERE INCREASED IN
EACH OF THE YEARS BY 2.5%, AND
WE DID IT DURING THE BRIDGE
YEARS AS WELL.
THE PROPERTY TAX RATE HAS GONE
FROM 2 CENTS 1 CENTS.3 4 CENTS
DOWN TO 27.4 CENTS DUE TO THE
ASSESSED VALUE OF PROPERTIES
IN SEATTLE GOING UP.
AND TO COMPARE THAT TO 2016 IT
WAS 29.27 CENTS, OUR 22
SPENDING PLAN CONTINUES TO BE
WELL BELOW THIS AMOUNT FOR
NEXT YEAR PROPOSED.
AND WITH THE REVENUE SIDE, THE
2.5% INCREASE, WE'RE ALSO
INCREASING OUR EXPENDITURES AT
2.5%.
LOOKING AT THE CHART HERE, THE
REVENUES DO EXCEED OUR
EXPENDITURES BY THE
$1.5 MILLION PLUG WHICH IS
THERE TO MEET THE PLANNING
RESERVE RELATED TO PENDING
LABOR NEGOTIATIONS.
NEXT SLIDE, PLEASE.
THIS IS A MUCH MORE DETAILED
VERSION THAN THE PREVIOUS
SLIDE, AND YOU'LL SEE AN EVEN
MORE DETAILED VERSION IN
NOVEMBER.
WE MENTIONED THE 22 PROPOSED
PARK DISTRICT BUDGET ET IS
2.5% ON THE REVENUE AND
EXPENDITURE SIDE CONSISTENT
WITH THE PRACTICE THAT WE DID
IN THE ENTIRE FIRST CYCLE OF
THE PARK DISTRICT.
IT'S IMPORTANT TO NOTE THAT
SOME OF THE, UM, YOU KNOW,
WE'LL GO THROUGH SOME OF THE
CHANGES, BUT IT'S IMPORTANT TO
NOTE SOME OF THESE INITIATIVES
YOU'LL SEE THEY'RE INFLATING
IT DIFFERENT THAN THE OVERALL
2.5%.
SOME ARE HIGHER, SOME ARE
LOWER.
1.6 HERE, THE THIRD LINE
ONGOING UTILITY FUNDING, THAT
INCREASES ABOUT $1.3 MILLION,
WHICH IS THE ACTUAL INCREASE
IN THE WATER AND SEWER COST,
WHICH IS WELL ABOVE THE 2.5%
INCREASE EACH YEAR.
ANOTHER EXAMPLE, THE ZOO
SUPPORT WAS SIGNIFICANTLY
DECREASED AS THE GENERAL FUND
WAS RESTORED.
IF YOU HAVE ANY SPECIFIC
QUESTIONS AFTER TODAY ON THE
DETAILS IN TERMS OF THE
INFLATIONARY PIECE, WE'RE
HAPPY TO FOLLOW UP AND ANSWER
QUESTIONS THERE.
NEXT SLIDE, PLEASE.
WE CAN PIVOT TO THE DETAIL
CHANGES.
AS WE DISCUSSED ON OUR OCTOBER
1 BRIEFING, PART OF
THE BUDGET HERE WAS OBVIOUSLY
TO RESTORE SOME OF THE CUTS
MADE IN THE BUDGETS BEFORE,
AND WE'RE GRATEFUL WE HAD THE
SEATTLE PARK DISTRICT THAT
SUPPORTED OUR BASE OPERATIONS
DURING THIS INCREDIBLY
DIFFICULT TIME.
AND, EXCUSE ME, AS WE
MENTIONED THE LAST TIME, WE'RE
HAPPY TO REPORT THERE WAS A
$7.7 MILLION RESTORATION FROM
THE GENERAL FUND BACK INTO THE
PARK DISTRICT RESOURCES AS
PART OF THE CAPITAL BUDGET.
THESE ARE PUT BACK INTO THE
ORIGINAL ACTIVITIES, THE
PARKLAND ACT ACQUISITION FUND
AND
MAJOR MAINTENANCE BACKLOG AND
ASSET MANAGEMENT.
AS WE DISCUSSED PREVIOUSLY,
THE PROPOSED BUDGET
REALLOCATES THE $5.4 MILLION
OF THE 7.7 IN WAYS THAT ARE
SUPPORTING OUR, UM, OUR
ACTIVITIES HERE AS SHOWN ON
THE NEXT SLIDE --
>> JESUS, I THOUGHT THE
GENERAL FUND OWED US
10 MILLION, NOT 7.
>> YOU'RE CORRECT.
IT WAS ACTUALLY A
10 MILLION-DOLLAR OR ACTUALLY
$11 MILLION REDUCTION.
7.7 WAS GENERAL FUND, AND THE
REST WAS MADE UP WITH COST
SAVINGS AND EFFICIENCIES
WITHIN THE DEPARTMENT.
SO SPENDING AND HIRING FREEZES
COVERED THE REST.
>> ALL RIGHT, GOT IT, THANK
YOU.
>> SO ON THIS SLIDE, UM,
SHOWING SOME OF THE
REALIGNMENTS.
THE PROPOSED BUDGET REALIGNS
5.4 MILLION TO SUPPORT OUR
EQUITY GOALS TO COVER
INFLATIONARY COSTS AS WELL.
THESE INCLUDE INVESTMENTS,
LINE TWO TALKS ABOUT WORK
FORCE EQUITY INVESTMENTS
ALLOWING US TO REALLY INCREASE
SUPPORT TO OUR STAFF WITHIN
THE HUMAN RESOURCES
DEPARTMENT.
BOTH TO GIVE US MORE SUPPORT
FOR STAFF AND ALSO ALLOW US TO
FOCUS ON WORK FORCE EQUITY ON
TRAINING AND MEETING THE
DEMANDS AND THE NEED OF OUR
OPERATING DIVISIONS.
LINE THREE SUPPORTS OVERALL
EQUITY WORK, SO IT CREATES A
CENTRALIZED EQUITY TEAM IN
SUPPORT OF THE PATHWAY TO
EQUITY WORK.
OF COURSE THIS IS OUR
COMMITMENT TO THE RACE AND
SOCIAL JUSTICE INITIATIVE AND
REALLY CALLS ON THE DEPARTMENT
TO CONTINUE TO CHALLENGE
OURSELVES AND CHANGE THE
INSTITUTIONAL BARRIERS THAT
PERPETUATE HARM.
THE DEPARTMENT RECOGNIZES THAT
WE HAVE A TON OF WORK TO DO ON
THIS AS WE POSITION OURSELVES
TO BE A LEARNING ORGANIZATION
AND CONTINUING TO BE IN A
STATE OF ACTION.
FOR THAT WE NEED ADDITIONAL
RESOURCES.
THIS WORK REQUIRES, EXCUSE ME,
THIS WORK ALLOWS US TO BRING
TO BEAR ADDITIONAL RESOURCES.
IT ESTABLISHES A BASE BUDGET,
FOR EXAMPLE, FOR OUR EQUITY
AND CHANGE TEAM.
AND THE PROPOSED CHANGE YOU
SEE HERE, THE PROPOSED BUDGET
HERE IS A $600,000 -- IS A
CHANGE THAT
INCLUDES $300,000 FROM THE
BUDGET AND OTHER OPERATING
COSTS AS WE CONTINUE TO FOCUS
RESOURCES ON THIS INCREDIBLY
IMPORTANT PART OF OUR WORK.
LINE ITEM FOUR TALKS ABOUT THE
EQUITABLE PARK DEVELOPMENT
FUND.
THIS IS OUR WAY OF EVOLVING
THE MAJOR PROJECTS CHALLENGE
FUND PART OF THE SIX-YEAR
CYCLE WITH THE PARK DISTRICT.
WE GOT A LOT OF FEEDBACK IN
THE IMPLEMENTATION OF THE
PROGRAM, PARTICULARLY FROM A
TASK FORCE THAT INCLUDED
OVERSIGHT COMMITTEE MEMBERS
AND OTHER REPRESENTATIVES.
AND THE NEW FRAMING FOR THIS
IMPORTANT INITIATIVE WILL
FOCUS ON OUR ABILITY TO
PARTNER WITH COMMUNITIES AND
COMMUNITY GROUPS TO MAKE
IMPROVEMENTS TO FACILITIES AND
FOCUS ON NEIGHBORHOODS WITH A
HISTORY OF RACIAL DISPARITIES
AND ACCESS TO GREEN SPACE.
THE CHANGE FOR 2022 CREATES
TWO POSITIONS TO BUILD
CAPACITY, SO AS WE LAUNCH INTO
THE NEXT SIX YEAR CYCLE OF THE
PARK DISTRICT THAT STARTS IN
23, WE'LL HAVE THE CAPACITY
AND INFRASTRUCTURE TO CONTINUE
WITH THAT WORK FORWARD.
FINALLY LINE FIVE, ONE THING
WE TALKED A LOT ABOUT SO FAR
IS INFLATION.
AS I STATED, THE FIRST FUNDING
CYCLE OF THE PARK DISTRICT HAD
THE 2.5 INCREASE, BUT 2021 AND
2022 WERE BRIDGE YEARS.
IN THOSE YEARS, BECAUSE THE
COSTS WERE HIGHER THAN
ANTICIPATED, WE USED ONE TIME
INTERESTS LIKE DELAYING
PAYMENT OF LOANS TO COVER SOME
OF THE COSTS WHICH INCLUDE OUR
ANNUAL WAGE INCREASES AND
UTILITIES, BUT OBVIOUSLY THE
ONE TIME STRATEGIES ARE NOT
SUSTAINABLE.
BUT WE STILL WANTED TO KEEP
THE PROPERTY TAX REVENUE AT
THE PLANNED 2.5% INFLATIONARY
CAP.
SO IT INCLUDES THE ONGOING
REDIRECTION OF RESOURCES TO
COVER THE INFLATIONARY COSTS
OVER THE 2.5% INCLUDING THE
UTILITY RATE INCREASES, ET
CETERA.
THE NET CHANGE YOU SEE HERE ON
THE SLIDE IS $1 MILLION FOR
THE UTILITY COST INCREASES
THAT'S COVERED BY THE MAJOR
MAINTENANCE REALLOCATED
FUNDING.
THE REMAINING $3.1 MILLION
REQUIRED TO COVER THE
OPERATING COSTS ARE INCLUDED
ALREADY IN THE BASIC
EXPENDITURES AND ARE ALREADY
APPROPRIATED.
I THINK THAT WAS MY LAST
SLIDE.
HAPPY TO ANSWER ANY QUESTIONS.
AMY WILLIAMS IS OUR BUDGET
DIRECTOR ALONG WITH MICHELLE
TO HELP ANSWER QUESTIONS TOO.
>> SO LET ME SEE, DO I HAVE
ANY QUESTIONS FROM MY
COLLEAGUES?
NOT SEEING ANY.
THE ONLY THING I WANT TO FOCUS
ON, AND I SAID THIS EARLIER,
BUT I THINK IT'S REALLY
HELPFUL AND I WANT TO THANK
YOU.
I HAD A CHANCE TO GO THROUGH
ALL FOUR OF THE RESOLUTIONS,
BUT IN PARTICULAR RESOLUTION
44.
WITH THE TWO ATTACHMENTS YOU
PROVIDED TO THAT RESOLUTION,
UM, ATTACHMENT A IS THE
GENERAL ONE.
THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR THAT.
I WISH WE HAD A SLIDE FOR THAT
BECAUSE THE FACT YOU BROKE IT
UP INTO OPERATING AND CAPITAL
IN THE TOTAL AMOUNT FOR THIS
BUDGET IS 54 MILLION.
I THINK THAT'S WHAT IT IS FOR
THE NPD, CORRECT?
>> YES, 54 ON THE EXPENDITURE
SIDE.
WELL, ON BOTH.
REMEMBER THERE'S A CBO
PLANNING RESERVE OF
1.5 MILLION.
>> RIGHT, RIGHT ABOUT THERE.
SO ATTACHMENT A IS GREAT
BECAUSE IT'S A GREAT SUMMARY
TO TELL YOU HOW WE GOT TO
54535.
AND ATTACHMENT B, FOR YOU MORE
WONKIER PEOPLE DOES THE LINE
BY LINE FROM 2015 TO 2020 AND
OF COURSE THE 2021 AND 2022
BRIDGE YEARS.
SO SOME OF THE QUESTIONS I
THINK MY COLLEAGUES MAY, I
THINK THEY'LL NEED SOME TIME
TO WRAP THEIR HEAD AROUND HOW
THE TWO THINGS WORK AND HOW
THEY CAN RESPOND TO THEIR
CONSTITUENTS AND SOME OF THE
PEOPLE THAT CALLED IN TODAY.
AS I SHARED IN THE COUNCIL
BRIEFING THIS MORNING, WE HAVE
FIVE WEEKS TO GET TO THAT.
BUT I WANT TO THANK YOU AND
YOUR TEAM FOR MAKING IT SO
EASY FOR US TO GO THROUGH IT
AND WORKING WITH TRACEY AND
YOUR STAFF TO PUT IT TOGETHER
SO WE CAN UNDERSTAND IT AND I
THINK WE'RE STILL JUST KIND OF
GOING THROUGH IT.
>> THANK YOU.
>> IS THAT FAIR TO SAY?
OKAY, NOT HEARING ANYTHING.
SINCE I AM THE PRESIDENT.
IS THERE ANYTHING ELSE YOU
WANT TO ADD, SUPERINTENDENT?
>> NO, I JUST WANT TO THANK
YOU AND THE REST OF THE BOARD
AND DON'T WANT TO PASS UP ANY
OPPORTUNITY I CAN IN A PUBLIC
SETTING TO THANK ALL OF OUR
STAFF AT SEATTLE PARKS AND
RECREATION FOR THE GREAT WORK
THEY DO DAY IN AND DAY OUT AND
THE TREMENDOUS AMOUNT OF WORK
THEY'VE DONE THE LAST TWENTY
SOMETHING MONTHS IN THIS
UNPRECEDENTED CRISES.
>> AND WE RESPONDED TO SOME
E-MAILS TODAY.
ONE WAS TO THE PARK BOARD
FOLKS, AND THEY SENT A GREAT
LETTER.
I THINK THE LAST PARAGRAPH OF
THE LETTER, WHICH IS ONLINE
AND YOU CAN LOOK AT IT, BUT
THEY REALLY EMPHASIZED WHAT
WE'VE BEEN TALKING ABOUT THE
LAST 20 MONTHS WITH THE CLEAN
CITIES INITIATIVE AND HOW
PARKS AND SDOT, BUT
PARTICULARLY PARKS HAVE GONE
ABOVE AND BOND WHAT'S NORMALLY
REQUIRED OF PARK EMPLOYEES.
I DON'T KNOW IF PEOPLE OUT
THERE REALLY UNDERSTAND WHAT
THAT MEANS WITH THE COMMUNITY
CENTERS, THE CLEAN CITIES
INITIATIVE, THE AMBASSADOR
PROGRAM, PICKING UP THE
ENCAMPMENTS AND NEEDLES AND
GARBAGE, NOT THAT, I KNOW YOUR
TEAM PULLED IT TOGETHER, AND I
REALLY WANT TO THANK YOU FOR
THAT.
>> THANK YOU.
>> NOW LET'S GO INTO ITEM
NUMBER TWO.
JODIE, DO I JUST SAY IT OR YOU
SAY IT OR WE JUST SAY PUBLIC
HEARING AND I READ MY SCRIPT?
>> I'M GOING TO READ THE TITLE
AND YOU CAN READ YOUR SCRIPT
AND I'LL CALL NAMES.
>> GREAT.
>> OKAY, AGENDA ITEM TWO, A
PUBLIC HEARING TO ACCEPT
COMMENT ON THE REVENUE SOURCES
FOR THE 2022 OPERATIONS AND
CAPITAL BUDGET AND A POTENTIAL
PROPERTY TAX INCREASE IN 2022.
>> SEE THAT WHOLE TITLE WAS
NOT IN MY SCRIPT.
WITH THAT, AS PRESIDING
OFFICER, I NOW OPEN THE PUBLIC
HEARING ON THE REVENUE SOURCES
FOR THE 2022 OPERATIONS AND
CAPITAL BUDGET AND A POTENTIAL
PROPERTY TAX INCREASE IN 2022.
THE ONLINE REGISTRATION TO
SIGN UP TO SPEAK OPENED AT
3:30 TODAY, AND I'LL CALL ON
SPEAKERS IN THE ORDER OF
REGISTRATION.
ONLINE REGISTRATION WILL
REMAIN OPEN UNTIL THE
CONCLUSION OF THIS PUBLIC
HEARING.
THE RULES APPLY TO THE PUBLIC
COMMENT PERIOD ALSO APPLY TO
THIS PUBLIC HEARING.
EACH SPEAKER WILL BE PROVIDED
TWO MINUTES AND A 10 SECOND
WARNING TO WRAP UP COMMENTS.
HONOR THE TEN SECOND WARNING,
PEOPLE.
SPEAKERS ARE ASKED TO BEGIN
THEIR COMMENTS BY STATING
THEIR NAME AND NOW I'LL HAND
IT OFF BACK OVER TO JODIE, AND
JODIE WILL TELL US HOW MANY
PEOPLE ARE SIGNED UP AND SHE
WILL CALL THE NAMES.
>> YES, WE HAVE FIVE SIGNED
UP.
OUR FIRST TWO SPEAKERS FOR THE
PUBLIC HEARING ARE TIM MOTZER
AND REBECCA BEAR.
TIM?
>> TIM!
AND IF YOU'RE UNMUTED ON OUR
END, THEN FOR YOUR END JUST
HIT STAR 6 AND GIVE IT A COUPLE
OF SECONDS.
>> IF WE CAN'T GET TIM, WE CAN
COME BACK TO TIM.
>> YEAH, LET'S MOVE ON, OH,
HERE'S TIM.
I'M SORRY, HERE'S TIM.
>> WE CAN HEAR YOU.
HEY, TIM.
>> OKAY, MY NAME IS TIM
MOTZER.
I'M HERE AS A CONCERNED LAKE
CITY RESIDENT ABOUT THE
$5 MILLION OF FUNDING NEEDED
FOR OUR AGING COMMUNITY
CENTER.
HERE ARE MY REASONS WHY YOU
SHOULD FUND THIS IN 2022.
THIS ALLOCATION WOULD NOT
INCREASE WHAT OUR COMMUNITY
THOUGHT WAS OUR CURRENT
COMMITMENT.
SECONDLY, MAYOR DURKAN
PROMISED THE LAKE CITY
COMMUNITY SHE'D RESTORE THE
$5 MILLION ALLOCATION THAT'S
BEEN DEFERRED THREE TIMES FROM
2021 TO 2022 AND NOW TO 2023
WHEN SHE WILL NO LONGER BE IN
OFFICE.
THREE, ONE OF THE REASONS FOR
THE MAYOR'S DEFERRAL IS THERE
ARE MORE URGENT NEEDS
REQUIRING FUNDING IN 2022.
THE FACT IS SHE'S RECOMMENDED
ONLY $396,000 IN PARK DISTRICT
PROPERTY TAX FUND IN 2022 AND
IS RECOMMENDING LESS THAN
300,000 ANNUALLY THROUGH 2027,
FUNDING OUR $5 MILLION SEEMS
MORE THAN APPROPRIATE.
FOUR, THE MAYOR'S DEFERRAL
IMPLIES THAT FUNDING THE
$5 MILLION IN 2023 WILL BE
EASIER THAN IN 2022.
THIS IS NOT SUPPORTED BY THE
FOLLOWING.
THE NEW SPENDING CYCLE WILL
REQUIRE MORE FUNDING SINCE THE
FIRST CYCLE UNDERFUNDED THE
NEED.
INCREASE DEMANDS FOR PARK
FACILITIES AND SERVICES DUE TO
IMPACT TO GROWTH HAS NOT BEEN
ADDRESSED, AND THE LOSS OF
REVENUE DUE TO COVID-19 WILL
BE NEEDED TO BE REPLACED.
THE LAST ITEM, THE PROPERTY
TAX RATE IS BEING REDUCED IN
2022 FROM 21.3 CENTS TO 20.7
CENTS.
THIS IN CONJUNCTION WITH THE
PROJECTED $11 BILLION INCREASE
IN PROPERTY TAX WOULDN'T ALLOW
THE $5 MILLION ALLOCATION WITH
A PROPERTY TAX INCREASE TO
22.5 CENTS.
I'M CONFIDENT THAT I HAVE
PROVIDED THE PARK DISTRICT
WITH ENOUGH REASONS TO CHANGE
THE MAYOR'S RECOMMENDATION AND
FUND THE $5 MILLION ALLOCATION
FOR THE LAKE CITY COMMUNITY
CENTER IN 2022.
I WANT TO THANK THE BOARD OF
PARK COMMISSIONERS FOR
CONSIDERING MY COMMENTS AND
MAKING THIS CHANGE TO THE 2022
PARK DISTRICT BUDGET.
>> THANK YOU, TIM.
>> THE NEXT SPEAKER IS REBECCA
BEAR.
>> HELLO, THANK YOU AGAIN FOR
THE OPPORTUNITY TO COMMENT.
WHILE WE RECOGNIZE THAT 2.5
INFLATION CAP ON THE PARKS
DISTRICT CLEARLY AS THE
SUPERINTENDENT MENTIONED, IT
IS NOT ENOUGH.
WHILE THE SEATTLE PARKS
FOUNDATION APPRECIATES THE
SIGNIFICANT REBOUND IN THE
BUDGET, WE ARE CONCERNED THAT
THE PARKS DISTRICT IT WILL
LEVY CONTINUES TO DECLINE OVER
TIME AS ASSESSED VALUE
INCREASES BY 1%.
IN 2016 THE TAX RATE WAS 30
CENTS PER 1,000 ASSESSED
PROPERTY.
IN 2020 IT DROPPED TO 21 CENTS
PER THOUSAND AVERAGE VALUE.
AND IN 2021, THE RATE SLIGHTLY
úINCREASED, BUT THEN THIS YEAR
THE PROPOSAL IS TO REDUCE IT
TO 20 .7 CENTS.
IF IT HAD BEEN IMPLEMENTED,
THERE WOULD HAVE BEEN AN
ADDITIONAL $30 MILLION
ANNUALLY TO SUPPORT PARKS.
GIVEN THE LARGE AMOUNT OF
BACKLOG AND CAPITAL PROJECT
NEED, SOME OF WHICH TIM JUST
MENTIONED, THE DISINVESTMENT
OVER THE LAST YEAR DUE TO THE
PANDEMIC, IT SEEMS WISE FOR
THE PARK DISTRICT BOARD TO
CONSIDER A LARGER INCREASE TO
ADDRESS THIS NEED.
OUR CITIZENS HAVE
OVERWHELMINGLY ASKED FOR
ATTENTION TO OUR PARKS.
WE ENCOURAGE THE BOARD TO
CONSIDER THIS MOMENT AS AN
OPPORTUNITY TO RESPOND.
THANK YOU.
>> THANK YOU.
>> OKAY, THE LAST THREE
SPEAKERS ARE REGISTERED BUT
LISTED AS NOT PRESENT.
I'M GOING TO CALL OUT THEIR
NAME AND JUST DOUBLE CHECK.
I SHOW SUSAN HELM, ELIZABETH
RIGGS, AND SYLVIE REYNOLDS.
THEY'RE ALL REGISTERED, BUT I
DON'T SEE THAT ANY OF THE
THREE INDIVIDUALS ARE PRESENT.
>> WHAT WAS SUSAN'S LAST NAME?
>> HELF.
>> OKAY, SO WE HAVE NO FURTHER
PUBLIC HEARING SPEAKERS.
>> ALL RIGHT.
SO WE DON'T HAVE SUSAN,
ELIZABETH OR SYLVIE.
>> CORRECT.
>> IF THERE ARE NO MORE
SPEAKERS THAN I WILL MOVE THAT
WE HAVE NO MORE -- WHAT?
YES, I KNOW THAT, THANK YOU.
SINCE WE HAVE NO MR. SPEAKERS,
I MUST CLOSE THE HEARING.
THANK YOU.
WITH THAT I'LL NOW CLOSE THE
PUBLIC HEARING ON THIS MATTER.
HEARING IS NOW CLOSED.
THANK YOU.
BEFORE WE MOVE ON AND BEFORE I
ADJOURN, LET ME, UM, SO THE
PUBLIC HEARING IS NOW CLOSED.
PUBLIC COMMENT WILL BE
ACCEPTED VIA E-MAIL AT
COUNCIL.SEATTLE.GOV.
WE'RE SCHEDULED TO TAKE FINAL
ACTION ON THE BUDGET AT THE
NOVEMBER 22nd BOARD MEETING
WHICH IS RIGHT AFTER THE FULL
CITY COUNCIL MEETING AFTER WE
VOTE ON THE BUDGET.
THE NEXT MEETING OF THE PARK
DISTRICT GOVERNING BOARD WILL
BE HELD ON NOVEMBER 22nd.
ARE THERE ANY FINAL QUESTIONS?
I'M GUESSING NOT.
I DON'T SEE ANY HANDS RAISED.
ALL RIGHT, WITH THAT, BEING NO
FURTHER BUSINESS, THANK YOU
EVERYBODY, WE STAND ADJOURNED.