>>> OMANA, EVERYONE. THE
DECEMBER 8th , 2023 MEETING OF
THE NEIGHBORHOODS, EDUCATION,
CIVIL RIGHTS AND CULTURE
COMMITTEE. WILL THE CLERK
PLEASE CALL THE ROLL.
>> [ ROLL BEING CALLED ] THREE
PRESENT.
>> THANK YOU. OKAY. IF THERE'S
NO OBJECTION TO THIS AGENDA, IT
WILL BE ADOPTED. HEARING NO
OBJECTION , TODAY'S AGENDA IS
ADOPTED. ON THE AGENDA -- ON
THE AGENDA TODAY WE HAVE -- MY
MIKE IS REALLY LOUD. WE CAN
TURN THAT DOWN JUST A NOTCH,
THANKS. WE HAVE SEVERAL
APPOINTMENTS WE WILL HAVE ON
THE CONSENT AGENDA FOR BOARDS
AND COMMISSIONS. WE HAVE TWO
APPOINTMENTS FOR EXECUTIVE
POSITIONS . THE DEPARTMENT OF
NEIGHBORHOODS. THE OFFICE OF
ARTS AND CULTURE. WE HAVE ONE
AT -- ADDITIONAL AGENDA ITEM.
WE WILL BEGIN WITH PUBLIC
COMMENTS. I SEE ONE PERSON
ONLINE. I AM NOT GOING TO READ
THROUGH THE ENTIRE PUBLIC
COMMENT PERIOD. FOLKS WILL HAVE
TWO MINUTES , AND I WILL CALL
YOUR NAME . WE WILL START WITH
THE PERSON ONLINE. YOU WILL
HAVE TWO MINUTES, YOU WILL HEAR
A CHIME WHEN YOU HAVE 10
SECONDS LEFT. PLEASE BEGIN TO
WRAP UP YOUR COMMENTS SO WE
CAN MOVE ONTO THE NEXT PERSON.
THE PUBLIC COMMENT PERIOD IS
NOW OPEN. WE WILL START ONLINE
WITH KATIE. KATIE, PLEASE
PRESS STAR SIX TO UNMUTE.
>> GOOD MORNING, COUNCILMAN IS
-- CAN YOU HEAR ME NOW?
AWESOME. I AM KATIE. I FIRST
MET JENIFER CHAO AS PART OF
THE -- I SUBSEQUENTLY GOT TO
WORK WITH HER WHEN SHE WAS
LEADING THE RACIAL EQUITY
TOOLKIT FOR THE DISTRICT THE
CITY WAS LEADING. I'M SORRY I
CANNOT BE THERE IN PERSON. I
WANTED TO SAY THAT SPEAKING
FOR MYSELF, AND I THINK OTHER
PEOPLE, WE ARE AMAZED AND
DELIGHTED THAT JENNIFER IS
GOING TO BE THE DIRECTOR OF
THE DEPARTMENT OF
NEIGHBORHOODS. SHE IS FABULOUS.
AND WILL BE A GREAT BENEFIT TO
OUR COMMUNITIES WE SERVE .
THANK YOU.
>> THANK YOU SO MUCH. THE
FIRST IN SPEAKER -- IN PERSON
SPEAKER IS ALAN BRUCE, FOLLOWED
BY KATHLEEN BARRY-JOHNSON.
>> THANK YOU VERY MUCH. FULL
DISCLOSURE, I AM A CITY
EMPLOYEE AT WORK IN THE
DEPARTMENT OF NEIGHBORHOODS.
TODAY IS MY DAY OFF, SO YOU
CAN'T HOLD IT AGAINST ME. I
FIRST MET JENNIFER A FEW YEARS
AGO WHEN SHE CAME TO WORK WITH
THE DEPARTMENT OF NEIGHBORHOODS
PROGRESS ALWAYS GOOD TO GET TO
KNOW PEOPLE BEFORE THEY GET TO
THE NEXT STAGE. SHE STARTED US
ON A PATH OF DISCUSSING RACIAL
EQUITY, RACIAL JUSTICE. I THINK
IT'S A GOOD TIME FOR HER TO
COME BACK AND CONTINUE THAT
WORK. I WOULD SAY, THIS IS YOUR
VILLAGE. IT IS INTERESTING FOR
ME TO BE IN THE SPACE BECAUSE I
HAD A MOMENT LIKE THIS WHEN MY
MOTHER COULD SAY, THAT'S MY
BABY. WHEN I CAME TO WORK AT
THE CITY COUNCIL, BLACK PEOPLE
DIDN'T WORK AT THE CITY
COUNCIL. THEY WEREN'T
LEGISLATIVE ASSISTANCE. NO
MATTER HOW I SCREWED UP, MY
MOTHER SAID, THAT'S MY BABY .
WHEN I MESSED UP MY FIRST
BUDGET, SHE SAID, THAT'S MY
BABY. WHEN THINGS WENT WELL, I
WAS STILL HER BABY. BEFORE I
WENT HOME EVERY DAY I VISITED
MY MOM. HAD TO TELL HER WHAT I
DID EVERY DAY. I HAD TO SHOW
HER MY PERFORMANCE EVALUATION.
IT MATTERED TO HER HOW I DID
MY WORK. NOT HOW WELL I DID IT
BUT THE EFFORT I PUT INTO IT. I
REALIZED IN MY 49 YEARS OF
SERVICE I NEVER STRAYED VERY
FAR THE VALUES OF THE PEOPLE
WHO RAISED ME. I SAY TO YOU,
STAY WITH YOUR VILLAGE. THIS IS
A MOMENT FOR YOUR MOTHER. FOR
YOUR MOTHER, NOT FOR YOU. THIS
IS HER MOMENT, TOO. AS A MOTHER
AND HER GRANDMOTHER, IT'S
ALWAYS GOOD TO SEE YOUR
CHILDREN ADVANCE AND PUT INTO
THE WORLD THE THINGS YOU PUT
INTO THEM. CONGRATULATIONS,
JENNIFER. I WILL TELL YOU THE
ONE THING MY MOTHER ALWAYS TOLD
ME. ANYONE WHO WON'T TELL YOU
WHEN YOU'RE WRONG, YOU'RE
RIGHT. CONGRATULATIONS.
>> THANK YOU. THE NEXT SPEAKER
IS KATHLEEN BARRY-JOHNSON,
FOLLOWED BY -- MITCHELL.
>> A MORNING, I'M THE EXECUTIVE
DIRECTOR OF HISTORIC SOUTH
DOWNTOWN. IT'S A STATE CREATED
ORGANIZATION THAT WORKS IN
CHINATOWN INTERNATIONAL
DISTRICT AND PIONEER SQUARE. I
FIRST MET JENNIFER IN THE
COURSE OF THAT WORK AROUND 2018
WITH THE GRACE AND SOCIAL
JUSTICE INITIATIVES. WHEN I
FOUND HER SHE WAS GOING TO BE
NOMINATED FOR THE HEAD OF
DEPARTMENT OF NEIGHBORHOODS I
WAS THRILLED. I WAS THRILLED
FOR YOU, BUT I WAS ALSO
THRILLED FOR THE PEOPLE OF THE
CITY. THIS IS A CITY OF
NEIGHBORHOODS. I CANNOT THINK
OF A BETTER CANDIDATE FOR YOUR
POSITION. THE WORK SHE HAS BEEN
DOING SINCE SHE WAS APPOINTED
ABSOLUTELY BEARS THIS OUT.
JENNIFER POSSESSES SUPERHUMAN
QUALITIES. LET'S BE HONEST,
HER ENERGY LEVEL IS SOMETHING
I'VE NEVER SEEN. IT DOES NOT
SEEM TO FLAG. THAT'S AMAZING.
SHE PRESENTS HER AUTHENTIC
SELF EVERY TIME. SHE HAS
ENORMOUS CAPACITY FOR EMPATHY.
SHE SEES WHERE PEOPLE ARE. SHE
SEEKS TO UNDERSTAND THEIR STORY
SO SHE CAN UNDERSTAND THEIR
CONTEXT AND HELP TO HELP THEM
SEE THEIR POTENTIAL THROUGH.
THESE ARE GIFTS THAT NOT
EVERYBODY POSSESSES. YOU
POSSESS THEM IN ABUNDANCE. THE
ACTION THE COUNCIL WILL TAKE
TODAY TO CONFIRM JENIFER CHAO
WILL COME FROM THE SUPERHUMAN
EFFORTS FOR THE PEOPLE OF
SEATTLE. I'M HONORED TO SPEAK
TODAY IN FERVENT SUPPORT OF
YOUR CONFIRMATION OF JENNIFER.
I KNOW YOU WILL DO EVERYTHING
YOU CAN TO SUPPORT YOUR PEOPLE
OF THE CITY. I AM SO PROUD TO
KNOW YOU.
>> THANK YOU. NEXT IS MARY
MITCHELL, FOLLOWED BY TESSA
HALL.
>> GOOD MORNING, MY NAME IS
MARY MITCHELL. I AM A 31 YEAR
EMPLOYEE WITH THE CITY OF
SEATTLE. TODAY I AM HERE AS A
-- I SAID I WASN'T GOING TO
CRY, BUT I'M PROBABLY GOING TO
CRY. AS A BORN SEATTLEITE, I AM
HERE TO SHARE WITH YOU MY
SUPPORT FOR JENNIFER AS THE
DIRECTOR OF DEPARTMENT OF
NEIGHBORHOODS. OUR WORK
RELATIONSHIP, NOW OUR
SISTERHOOD WAS FORMED THROUGH
TRANSITIONS. IN MID-2019,
JENNIFER JOINED FAS AS A
DEPUTY DIRECTOR OVER POLICY . I
TRANSITIONED ON A FOUR MONTH
HIATUS. DURING THIS TIME,
JENNIFER STEPPED RIGHT INTO THE
RACIAL EQUITY TOOLKIT , AND
WORKED WITH THE TEAM AND
BROUGHT HER WISDOM AND
EXPERIENCE AND COMMUNITY
ENGAGEMENT. SHE HELPED THE TEAM
TO ENGAGE IN THE COMMUNITY
AROUND CANNABIS EQUITY.
SPECIFICALLY THE LACK OF
BUSINESS OWNERSHIP FOR BLACK
MEMBERS WHO WERE OVER
INCARCERATED DURING THE WAR ON
DRUGS. SOME OF THAT WORK IS
NOW IN THE ORDINANCE. THE
NEXT TRANSITION IS ALSO THE
MURDER OF GEORGE FLOYD.
JENNIFER STEPPED UP AS A LEADER
TO SUPPORT LIKE PEOPLE
EXPERIENCING TRAUMA, AND USE
HER VOICE TO BRING TOGETHER
AND UNITE US AROUND WHAT
UNDERSTANDING WHAT RACIAL
OPPRESSION IS. JENNIFER ALSO
WAS INSTRUMENTAL IN FORMING
LEARNING TEAMS IN THE CONSUMER
PROTECTION DIVISION THAT IS
STILL GOING ON TODAY TO HELP
THE TEAM UNITE AROUND LEADING
WITH GRACE AND HAVING A DEEPER
UNDERSTANDING. IT'S MY HONOR
TODAY TO KNOW THE DEPARTMENT
OF NEIGHBORHOODS WILL HAVE A
COMPASSIONATE PERSON TO LEAD
THROUGH DIFFICULT TRANSITIONS.
THANK YOU.
>> THANK YOU. NEXT IS TESSA
HALL, FOLLOWED BY AMY.
>> HI, EVERYONE, GOOD MORNING.
MY NAME IS TESSA. I AM WITH A
SMALL BUSINESS SUPPORT AND
COMMUNITY BUILDING -- I JUST
WANTED TO -- WE ARE SO PROUD
OF YOU. JENNIFER HAS BEEN , IN
HER TIME HERE, SHE SPENDS A LOT
OF TIME IN LAKE CITY. THAT'S
NOT SOMETHING WE'VE HAD BEFORE.
I APPRECIATE YOU AND THANK YOU
FOR THIS. WE HAD AN EVENT LAST
WEEK THAT SHE BROUGHT HER
FAMILY TO. YOU CAN TELL SHE
HAS HER WHOLE HEART INTO THIS.
WE LOOK FORWARD TO MORE
COORDINATED EFFORTS UP IN THE
NORTH AND AND REALLY APPRECIATE
YOU AND JUST WANT TO WISH YOU
THE BEST OF LUCK. THANK YOU.
>> AMY FOLLOWED BY TOM.
>> GOOD MORNING COUNCIL
MEMBERS, MY NAME IS AMY. I WAS
INTRODUCED TO JENNIFER EARLIER
THIS YEAR. WHEN HER NAME COMES
UP, PEOPLE ONLY SPEAK WELL OF
HER. ACROSS VARIOUS
ORGANIZATIONS , TO HER COLLEGE
PROFESSORS. I DON'T KNOW IF YOU
KNOW THIS, THIS IS AN EXTREMELY
RARE QUALITY. IN FOUR SEPARATE
MEETINGS THIS YEAR , WITH
COMPLETELY UNRELATED
ORGANIZATIONS, WHEN ASKED WHO
IS THE BEST PERSON IN THE CITY,
WHO DOES OUR COMMUNITY TRUST?
IT IS ALWAYS JENIFER CHAO. SHE
IS A CREDIT TO HER DEPARTMENT
AND HER FAMILY. AS AN ACTIVE
MEMBER OF THE CHINATOWN
DISTRICT AND ORGANIZER, I
WHOLEHEARTEDLY SUPPORT HER
EMPLOYMENT AS EXECUTIVE
DIRECTOR TO THE DEPARTMENT OF
NEIGHBORHOODS.
>> THANK YOU.
>> DEAR ESTEEMED COUNCIL
MEMBERS. I'M A SOCIAL PROFESSOR
, AND THE BOARD PRESIDENT OF
LITTLE SAIGON. SOMEONE WHO
VOLUNTEERS FOR TIME IN THE
NEIGHBORHOOD, WHO HAS A FAMILY
FREQUENTING THE BOAT , MANY
RESTAURANTS, CAFES AND IN THE
INTERNATIONAL DISTRICT ON THE
REGULAR BASIS. IN REGARDS TO
THE APPOINTMENT AND
CONFIRMATION OF JENIFER , AS A
DEPARTMENT OF NEIGHBORHOODS
DIRECTOR, I WOULD LIKE TO
SUBMIT THE COMMUNITIES LETTER
OF SUPPORT TO THE RECORD. I
WOULD LIKE TO USE MY TIME HERE
TO EXPRESS MY GRATITUDE TO THE
MAYOR, HIS STAFF, AND SELECTION
COMMITTEE FOR TAKING THE
COMMUNITIES LETTERS OF SUPPORT
INTO SERIOUS CONSIDERATION.
WE'VE TO LONG HAVE HAD --
AUTHENTIC COMMUNITY ENGAGEMENT.
SOMEONE WITH LIVED EXPERIENCE
AND STRONG TIES TO THE
NEIGHBORHOOD. WE LOOK FORWARD
TO THE COUNCIL'S CONTINUAL
SUPPORT OF LITTLE SAIGON. WE
ASK THAT YOU URGENTLY INVEST
IN OUR COMMUNITY, ADDRESS OUR
PUBLIC SAFETY CONCERNS, AND
ADVANCE THE WORK WE ARE DOING
TO REVITALIZE THE NEIGHBORHOOD.
WE ASK THAT YOU CONTINUE TO
CONFIRM LEADERS THAT REFLECT
IDENTITY, VALUES AND HISTORY
OF THE COMMUNITY. LEADERS LIKE
JENIFER CHAO. THANK YOU FOR
YOUR SERVICE AND DEDICATION TO
THE LITTLE SAIGON NEIGHBORHOOD.
>> MARIE FOLLOWED BY MATT.
>> THE MORNING, COUNCIL MEMBERS
AND COMMUNITY MEMBERS. I HAD
THE PLEASURE OF MEETING JENIFER
AT A MAJOR LEAGUE BASEBALL
ALL-STAR LEAGUE. THE ROOM WAS
PACKED. COMMUNITY LEADERS,
CITY OFFICIALS. THERE WERE NO
MERCIES OF THE TABLE. JENIFER
ACTUALLY TOOK TIME TO MOVE OUT
OF THE WAY SO MYSELF AND MY
COLLEAGUES COULD BE INCLUDED
AND HAVE A SEAT AT THE TABLE. I
KNOW AT THAT MOMENT I MET
SOMEONE SPECIAL. AS A FELLOW
COMMUNITY ENGAGEMENT LEADER, A
FIRST GENERATION SEATTLEITE, A
CHILD OF THE CENTRAL DIADVISER
OF WATERFRONT SEATTLE, IT'S
BEEN AN HONOR TO MEET YOU TOO
DATE TO KNOW YOU BETTER. I
LOOK FORWARD TO OUR FRIENDSHIP
AND WHAT WE BUILD IN THE
FUTURE. CONGRATULATIONS. WE
HAVE MATT FOLLOWED BY --
>> THE MORNING. MATT WITH
HEADWATER PEOPLE., PRINCIPAL
CONSULTANT THERE. I WANTED TO
SPEAK IN SUPPORT OF JENIFER.
SOME OF THE WORK WE HAVE BEEN
DOING WITH THE CITY INVOLVES
A GENERATIONAL WEALTH BUILDING
INITIATIVE THAT STARTED . NOW
IT IS TRANSITIONING ACROSS THE
CITY. IT IS A SPECIAL THING
WHEN A PROJECT LIKE THAT THAT
HAS BEEN ROOTED AND LED FROM
BLACK AND BROWN LEADERS IN THE
COMMUNITY WITH INCREDIBLE STAFF
. HOW DO YOU HELP NAVIGATE THE
CITY'S WATERS? IN TRANSITIONS
LIKE TO THINK IT'S BEEN , AS A
NEUTRAL OBSERVER, IT'S BEEN
EXEMPLARY. THE LEADERSHIP
JENIFER AND HER TEAM , WHO I
THINK IS HERE, IS SUPER AND
APPRECIATIVE AMONG THE
COMMITTEE. WE'VE HAD A REALLY,
REALLY STRIKING SENSE OF
LEADERSHIP THAT IS GROUNDED
NOT IN THE INSTITUTIONS
INTEREST, BUT THE COMMUNITY'S
INTEREST. WHEN THOSE THINGS
MAY BE CONFUSING. I WANT TO
RISE UP AND SAY, I REALLY
APPRECIATE THAT. THANK YOU.
>> THANK YOU.
>> A MORNING. I AM THE
EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR FOR SEATTLE
NEIGHBORHOOD GROUP. A NONPROFIT
FOCUSED ON CRIME PREVENTION
AND COMMUNITY SAFETY. I'M HER
TO SUPPORT THE NOMINATION OF
JENIFER CHAO FOR THE DEPARTMENT
OF NEIGHBORHOODS. WE MET HER A
FEW MONTHS AGO. RIGHT AWAY SHE
JUMPED IN , GETTING TO KNOW OUR
TEAM AND THE PEOPLE WE SERVE.
SHE SHOWED UP TO OUR EVENTS.
EVERYTHING WE MIGHT DO , SHE
CAN. HER PASSION, ENTHUSIASM,
AND COMMITMENT FOR THIS WORK IS
PALPABLE. WE ENTHUSIASTICALLY
SUPPORT HER NOMINATION FOR
DIRECTOR OF THE DEPARTMENT OF
NEIGHBORHOODS. THANK YOU.
>> THANK YOU VERY MUCH. LOOKS
LIKE WE HAVE ONE MORE PERSON
THAT JUST SIGNED UP. AND I DO
HAVE ONE MORE PERSON ONLINE. I
WILL START WITH LIZ WALTERS.
LIZ, IF YOU WILL PRESS STAR SIX
TO UNMUTE. OH, YOU JUST
SIGNED UP HERE. COME ON UP.
>> THIS IS MY FIRST TIME,
SORRY.
>> THAT'S OKAY. I AM LIZ
WALTERS. I JUST WANTED TO SAY
MY PIECE REALLY FAST. A HIGHLY
UNEXPECTED FINDING FROM THE
COVID LOCKDOWNS IS THAT WE DO
NOT NEED A FOSTER CARE SYSTEM
WHEN CHILDREN WERE SUPPOSEDLY
GOING TO EXPERIENCE
UNPRECEDENTED LEVELS OF ABUSE
AND WE WERE WERE FLOODED WITH
REPORTS WHEN SCHOOLS WERE
OPEN. CPS WAS FORCED TO STEP
OUT OF HOMES DUE TO
RESTRICTIONS. SINCE LAST
REPORTS WERE BEING MADE SOCIAL
WORKERS ACTUALLY HAD
AVAILABILITY TO INVESTIGATE
CASES OF SEVERE ABUSE WHICH LED
TO A DECREASE IN FATALITIES.
THIS PROVES WE DO NOT NEED TO
RELY ON TEACHERS , TYPICALLY
MIDDLE-CLASS WOMEN . WE CAN AND
MANDATED REPORTING WHICH ONLY
KEEPS PARENTS FROM SEEKING THE
REPORTS THEY NEED. REGULAR
ASSISTANCE LIKE THAT COULD
REALLY PARENTAL STRESS AND
IMPROVING OVERALL HEALTH,
ACADEMIC PERFORMANCE EYE ON .
CASH ASSISTANCE ALLOWS PARENTS
A CHOICE TO SPEND CARING FOR
THEIR CHILD, ALLOWS -- WE
NEED TO ESTABLISH MINIMUM
BENEFITS . PUT AN END TO WORK
REQUIREMENTS. TIME LIMITS ON
RECEIVING BENEFITS .
CONSIDERING OVER 75% ARE FOR
NEGLECT, WHICH IS OFTEN JUST
THE EFFECTS OF POVERTY, WHICH
COULD EFFECTIVELY NEED -- AND
THE NEED FOR FOSTER SYSTEM. IT
CAN UNDO GENERATIONS OF THE
SYSTEM IN THE WELFARE SYSTEM.
THERE WAS ALSO A HUGE
RESURGENCE OF A PEER
COMMUNITIES WERE HELPING WITH
THINGS LIKE CHILDCARE. THIS
REMOVES STRUGGLING FAMILIES
OF NONPROFITS AND CHARITIES. WE
KNOW FAMILIES THRIVE WITHIN
COMMUNITIES. WE NEED TO DO VEST
FROM THE POLICING SYSTEM.
IMAGINE A WORLD WHERE WE ARE
-- APPARENTLY COME TO THE
SCHOOL AND HAVE RESOURCES LIKE
CASH, FOOD, ASSISTANCE AND
CHILDCARE ASSISTANCE. THANK
YOU. I WANTED TO SAY, LASTLY,
WE CANNOT SPEAK ABOUT KEEPING
AMERICAN CHILDREN SAFE WITHOUT
ACKNOWLEDGING NEARLY 10,000
PALESTINIAN CHILDREN MURDERED
AND THE COUNTLESS MORE LEFT
AT THE HANDS OF THE ISRAELI
GOVERNMENT FUNDED BY OUR TAX
DOLLARS. WE CALL FOR AN
IMMEDIATE AND PERMANENT
CEASE-FIRE. THANK YOU.
>> OKAY. THANK YOU. I DON'T SEE
ANYONE ELSE SIGNED UP. I WILL
CLOSE PUBLIC COMMENT. WE WILL
MOVE TO OUR FIRST LEGISLATIVE
AGENDA ITEM. WE WILL START
WITH THE COMMITTEE'S CONSENT
AGENDA. WHICH CONSISTS OF A
POINT -- APPOINTMENTS .
COLLEAGUES CAN PULL ITEMS FOR
INDIVIDUAL DISCUSSION IF THEY
CHOOSE, OTHERWISE ITEMS ARE
VOTED ON AS A PACKAGE. WILL
YOU PLEASE READ ITEMS ONE
THROUGH 21 INTO THE RECORD?
>> ONE THROUGH 21.
APPOINTMENTS TO THE HISTORIC
SEATTLE PRESERVATION
DEVELOPMENT AUTHORITY, HUMAN
RIGHTS COMMISSION, SEATTLE
HUMAN RIGHTS COMMISSION,
COMMUNITY INVOLVEMENT
COMMISSION. PIKE PLACE.
SEATTLE WOMEN'S COMMISSION FOR
BRIEFING ON POSSIBLE VOTES.
>> COLLEAGUES, ARE THERE ANY
INDIVIDUAL ITEMS YOU WOULD LIKE
TO HAVE PULLED FOR DISCUSSION?
I AM NOT SEEING ANY.
COLLEAGUES, I MOVE THE
COMMITTEE RECOMMENDED THE
APPOINTMENTS. IS THERE A
SECOND? CAN I HAVE A SECOND
PLEASE?
>> YES, SORRY, CHAIR, SECOND.
>> IT HAS BEEN MOVED AND
SECONDED TO RECOMMEND APPROVAL
OF THESE APPOINTMENTS. YOU
PLEASE CALL THE RULE?
>> [ ROLL BEING CALLED ] THREE
IN FAVOR.
>> THANK YOU. THE MOTION
CARRIES. THE COMMITTEE
RECOMMENDATION THAT THE COUNCIL
APPROVED THESE APPOINTMENTS
WILL BE SENT TO THE DECEMBER
12th SEATTLE CITY COUNCIL
MEETING. YOU PLEASE READ ITEM
22 INTO THE RECORD.
>> AGENDA ITEM 22. APPOINTMENT
02734. APPOINTMENT OF JENIFER
CHAO AS DIRECTOR OF THE
DEPARTMENT OF NEIGHBORHOODS,
FOR A TERM TO DECEMBER 31,
2025. FOR BRIEFING,
DISCUSSION, AND POSSIBLE VOTES.
>> THANK YOU. I BELIEVE DEPUTY
WONG IS HERE, ALONG WITH
JENIFER. GOOD MORNING. WHILE
YOU ARE SETTLING IN, I WILL
JUST SAY I AM PLEASED TO
PRESENT THE APPOINTMENT FOR
CONSIDERATION. IN THE SEVERAL
MONTHS I HAVE BEEN WORKING WITH
JENIFER, SHE HAS PROVEN TO HAVE
A KEEN UNDERSTANDING OF THE
IMPORTANT RULE THAT COMMUNITY
ENGAGEMENT PLAYS IN SUPPORTING
THE EFFORTS TO ACHIEVE OUR
RACIAL EQUITY GOALS. I SEE YOU
AT COMMUNITY EVENTS , ALL OVER
THE CITY AND THE COUNTY. I
UNDERSTAND HER DEEP COMMITMENT
TO ENSURING OUR NEIGHBORS HAVE
AN UNDERSTANDING OF THE RULE OF
LOCAL GOVERNMENT, AND TO
FINDING WAYS FOR THEM TO BE
PART OF OUR PROCESSES. I KNOW
MY COLLEAGUES HAVE HAD A CHANCE
TO READ HER ANSWERS TO OUR
QUESTIONS. I'M LOOKING FORWARD
TO HEARING FROM YOU, JENIFER,
AND DEPUTY MAYOR WONG. I WILL
HAND IT OVER TO YOU BOTH.
>> FIGURE. GOOD MORNING. THANK
YOU FOR HAVING US HERE TODAY.
IT IS MY GREAT PLEASURE TO
INTRODUCE MAYOR HAROLD'S
NOMINEE FOR THE DIRECTOR OF
DEPARTMENT OF NOMINEE. WHETHER
IT'S BRINGING PEOPLE TOGETHER
TO THE IDEAS, DIVERSIFYING ,
PRESERVING OUR DISTRICTS, OUR
OPENING OPPORTUNITY , THE MAYOR
IS PROWLED TO NOMINATE THIS
MORE THAN CAPABLE LEADER TO
CHAMPION THESE AND MORE.
MAYOR HARRELL SELECTED , AFTER
CONDUCTING A PROCESS, AND HE
WAS PARTICULARLY IMPRESSED IN
HER COMMUNITY. SHE IS A SMALL
BUSINESS OWNER. EXPERIENCE IN
THE NONPROFIT SECTOR, AND HAS
LONG WORKED IN THE PUBLIC
SECTOR FOR THE PEOPLE OF
SEATTLE. IT IS FITTING,
ACTUALLY, THAT THE DEPARTMENT
OF NEIGHBORHOODS NOMINEES OF
PEOPLE AT THE SEATTLE
NEIGHBORHOOD HOUSE. HELPING
THEM ACHIEVE LONG-TERM
EDUCATION AND EMPLOYMENT GOALS.
AS A LONGTIME PUBLIC SERVANT,
SHE HAS WORKED IN OUR OFFICE OF
CIVIL RIGHTS, ON THE DEPARTMENT
OF NEIGHBORHOODS OUTREACH AND
ENGAGEMENT TEAM, AND AS DEPUTY
DIRECTOR OF STRATEGY IN THE
FINANCE AND SERVICES
DEPARTMENT. BUILDING AND
SUPPORTING COMMUNITY HAS ALWAYS
BEEN A VITAL AND INTEGRAL
APPOINTMENT AND WHO JENIFER
IS. SHE WORKS TIRELESSLY TO
LIFT THE VOICES OF OUR
RESIDENTS. ARTICULATE DIVERSE
COMMUNITIES WHO HAVE BEEN
HISTORICALLY MARGINALIZED. AS A
FORMER INTERIM DIRECTOR OF THE
DEPARTMENT OF NEIGHBORHOODS,
MYSELF, AS MOST FOLKS KNOW, I
WOULD LIKE TO THINK I HAVE A
LITTLE INSIGHT INTO WHAT IT
TAKES TO BE SUCCESSFUL. I WILL
SAY THAT, AS YOU HEARD IN THE
PUBLIC TESTIMONY TODAY, THERE
IS WIDESPREAD SUPPORT FOR
JENIFER. SHE HAS BEEN OUR
INTERIM FOR ONLY NINE MONTHS.
SHE'S ALREADY GONE OUT TO 65
DIFFERENT COMMUNITY GATHERINGS
THROUGHOUT ALL OF SEATTLE.
FROM THE NORTH TO THE SOUTH
END. SHE GOES TO COMMUNITY,
SHE LIVES COMMUNITY, SHE
BELIEVES IN COMMUNITY. THAT'S
THE MOST VALUABLE OPPONENT WE
LOOK FOR FOR OUR DEPARTMENT OF
NEIGHBORHOODS DIRECTOR. SHE
HAS DONE THIS ALL OF HER LIFE ,
AS DEMONSTRATED BY THE PUBLIC
COMMENT. IT'S A UNIQUE AND
SPECIAL TRAITS. I'M CONFIDENT
SHE WILL STRENGTHEN THE CITY'S
RELATIONSHIP WITH COMMUNITY
MEMBERS, AND HELP US DRIVE
TOWARD MAYOR HARRELL'S VISION
OF AN INCLUSIVE SEATTLE. WITH
THAT, I WILL TURN THINGS OVER
TO JENIFER TO OFFER HER
OPENING REMARKS BEFORE TAKING
YOUR QUESTIONS TODAY.
>> THANK YOU VERY MUCH, DEPUTY
MAYOR WONG. THEY GET SO MUCH
COUNCIL CHAIR MORALES. THANK
YOU, COUNCIL MEMBERS, FOR THE
OPPORTUNITY TO BE CONSIDERED
TO SERVE AS THE DIRECTOR OF
DEPARTMENT OF NEIGHBORHOODS. MY
LIFE'S WORK HAS LED ME TO THIS
POSITION. I'M HUMBLED AND
HONORED TO BE HERE TODAY. WHEN
I STARTED THIS JOURNEY AS
INTERIM DIRECTOR IN MARCH, I
COMMITTED TO VISITING ALL THE
NEIGHBORS ACROSS THE CITY OF
SEATTLE BY THE END OF THE YEAR,
TO BUILD AND STRENGTHEN
RELATIONSHIPS. AS DEPUTY MAYOR
WONG MENTIONED, SO FAR, I HAVE
ATTENDED 65 COMMUNITY
GATHERINGS ACROSS ALL
NEIGHBORHOODS IN EACH OF THE
SEVEN COUNCIL DISTRICTS. I'VE
RUN INTO A FEW COUNCIL MEMBERS
AND COMMUNITY ALONG THE WAY. TO
NAME A FEW, I JOINED
COUNCILMEMBER STRAUSS ,
CELEBRATED THE FIRST CULTURAL
FESTIVAL WAS COUNCILMEMBER
MORALES. HONORED THE
ANNIVERSARY WITH COUNCILMEMBER
PEDERSEN . BEING IN COMMUNITY
IS THE HIGHLIGHT OF MY JOB.
IT'S WHAT BRINGS ME JOY IN THIS
RULE. DURING MY COMMUNITY
VISITS I'VE LISTENED TO EACH
COMMUNITY AS THEY SHARE THEIR
NUANCES AND UNIQUE NEEDS THAT
WILL ALLOW THEIR COMMUNITIES TO
THRIVE THERE ARE DIFFERENT
APPROACHES BASED ON THE NEEDS
OF THE NEIGHBORHOOD, BUT
THEY'LL WANT TO CREATE
BELONGING, VISIBILITY AND
ACTIVATION. I KNOW THERE'S
STILL MUCH WORK TO DO TO
CONNECT IMMUNITIES TO EACH
OTHER IN GOVERNMENT. I LOOK
FORWARD TO WORKING WITH MY
COLLEAGUES AND ACROSS CITY
DEPARTMENTS TO GROW OUR CIVIC
ENGAGEMENT PROGRAM, TO BRING
COMMUNITY TOGETHER IN
CELEBRATION OF THEIR DIVERSITY
AND SHARED HUMANITY.
COMMUNITIES HAVE TO THRIVE .
WHEN COMMUNITIES CAN SEE EACH
OTHER AS NEIGHBORS, IT'S
POSSIBLE TO BRIDGE ACROSS
CULTURAL DIFFERENCES AND MEET
THE NEEDS OF EACH COMMUNITY. I
WANT TO THANK MY AMAZING
LEADERSHIP TEAM AND THE STAFF
FOR THEIR CONSTANT LOVE , THEIR
BRILLIANCE, AND COMMITMENT TO
MAKE THINGS BETTER FOR
COMMUNITY. THEIR SUPPORT IS
INVALUABLE. I'M TOUCHED TO SEE
THEM HERE TODAY TO SHARE MY
JOURNEY. I'M ALSO GRATEFUL FOR
THE COLLABORATION WITH COUNCIL,
AS WE WORK TOWARDS ONE SEATTLE,
WHERE EVERYONE IS INCLUDED AND
CAN THRIVE. I WOULD NOT BE
HERE WITHOUT THE SUPPORT AND
TRUST FROM THE COMMUNITY. I
TAKE MY RULE SERIOUSLY. THIS
WORK IS CLOSE TO MY HEART. AS A
WOMAN OF COLOR , FROM SOUTHEAST
ASIA, WHO CALL SEATTLE HOME. I
UNDERSTAND HOW CRITICAL IT IS
TO CULTIVATE THIS , BELONGING
AND ACCESS. I WILL BE PERFECT,
BUT I'M COMMITTED TO PROGRESS A
MOMENT SO WE CAN DO BETTER FOR
COMMUNITY. IN CLOSING, THE
DEPARTMENT OF NEIGHBORHOOD
ACHIEVES ITS VISION OF
COMMITTEE AND POWER MEANT BY
CENTRALLY RACIAL EQUITY AND
INVESTED IN COMMUNITIES. BY
LEADING WITH OUR CORE VALUES OF
RELATIONSHIPS, INVESTMENTS AND
CAPACITY BUILDING, WE CAN
CREATE A HEALTHY AND WHOLE
EQUAL CYST -- ECOSYSTEM . THANK
YOU FOR THE OPPORTUNITY TO
SHARE. I'M HAPPY TO ANSWER ANY
QUESTIONS YOU MAY HAVE.
>> GREAT, THANK YOU SO MUCH TO
BOTH OF YOU. COLLEAGUES , I
DON'T HAVE QUESTIONS, BUT I DID
WANT TO START WITH THREADING
SOME OF THE THINGS WE TALKED
ABOUT, PARTICULARLY WITH THE
DEPARTMENT OF NEIGHBORHOODS. I
REALLY APPRECIATE THE ANSWERS
TO OUR QUESTIONS. WE DID SUBMIT
A DOZEN OR SO QUESTIONS TO
DIRECTOR CHOW . ONE OF THE
THINGS YOU TALKED ABOUT WAS
THAT WE HAVE A RACIAL AND
SOCIAL INJUSTICE INITIATIVE.
YOU SAID THERE'S A MISSING
ELEMENT AND HOW TO EMBED
RACIAL EQUITY ASSESSMENTS AS
PART OF THE CITY'S PRACTICE
WHEN DEVELOPING OUR PROCESSES
AND PROCEDURES. I WILL SAY, I
SIT ON THE BOARD OF THE
ASSOCIATION OF WASHINGTON
CITIES, WHICH IS DOING A LOT OF
WORK TO TRY TO HELP OUR
COMMUNITIES ACROSS THE STATE
UNDERSTAND WHY DIVERSITY AND
RACIAL EQUITY IS SO IMPORTANT.
IN SOME COMMUNITIES THAT'S A
HARD CONVERSATION TO HAVE.
HARDER THAN OTHERS. ONE OF THE
THINGS WE TALKED ABOUT AT THE
MEETING YESTERDAY WAS, EVEN
WITH THE TOOLS, AND SEATTLE'S
AHEAD OF SO MANY COMMUNITIES.
EVEN DESPITE THAT, IT'S HARD
FOR US TO MEASURE THE IMPACT OF
THAT WORK. I THINK IT WAS
REALLY IMPORTANT FOR YOU TO
RAISE THAT ISSUE, AND TALK
ABOUT HOW WE ARE LAYING THE
FOUNDATION FOR US TO MOVE
FORWARD IN THE WAY OF THE CITY.
WE HAVE A LOT OF WORK TO DO,
STILL, TO BE ABLE TO MEASURE
THE IMPACT OUR PROCESSES ARE
HAVING SO WE CAN INCREASE
EQUITY ACROSS THE CITY. I THINK
THE RULE THE DEPARTMENT OF
NEIGHBORHOODS PLAYS IS
CRITICAL TO THIS MISSION. WHAT
YOU DO IS HELP ALL OF OUR
NEIGHBORS UNDERSTAND WHAT THESE
LOCAL GOVERNMENT PROCESSES ARE.
THAT ENGAGEMENT IS A CRITICAL
PIECE OF HELPING US AS A CITY
MOVE FORWARD. I APPRECIATE
HAVING ALL THESE FOLKS HERE
THROUGHOUT THE CITY AND
DEPARTMENT TO SUPPORT YOU IN
YOUR WORK . IT'S A TESTAMENT TO
YOUR UNDERSTANDING OF HOW
CRITICAL THE WORK IS, AND HOW
THE DEPARTMENT OF NEIGHBORHOODS
PLAYS AN IMPORTANT RULE IN
ACHIEVING OUR GOALS. THANK YOU.
THANKS TO ALL OF YOU.
COLLEAGUES, ARE THERE ANY
QUESTIONS FOR DIRECTOR CHOW?
>> THANK YOU, CHAIR. NOT AT
THIS TIME. I'M VERY EXCITED AND
PROUD OF JENIFER FOR BECOMING
THE NEXT DIRECTOR OF DEPARTMENT
OF NEIGHBORHOODS.
>> GREAT. OKAY. IF THAT IS
ALL, THEN I WILL GET BACK TO
MY SCRIPT. I WILL MOVE THAT THE
COMMITTEE RECOMMEND APPROVAL OF
THE APPOINTMENT. IS THERE A
SECOND?
>> SECOND.
>> THANK YOU VERY MUCH. WILL
YOU PLEASE CALL THE RULE?
>> [ ROLL BEING CALLED ] THREE
IN FAVOR.
>> THE MOTION CARRIES. THE
COMMITTEE RECOMMENDATION THAT
COUNCIL APPROVED THE
APPOINTMENT WILL BE SENT TO THE
DECEMBER 12th FULL COUNCIL
MEETING. YOU DO NOT NEED TO BE
THERE, BUT YOU ARE WELCOME TO
ATTEND. THANK YOU VERY MUCH.
CONGRATULATIONS.
>> THANK YOU SO MUCH. WILL YOU
PLEASE READ ITEM 23 INTO THE
RECORD?
>> AGENDA ITEM 23. APPOINTMENT
2693. APPOINTMENT OF GULGUN
KAYIM AS DIRECTOR OF THE OFFICE
OF ARTS & CULTURE. FOR
BRIEFING, DISCUSSION, POSSIBLE
VOTE.
>> THANK YOU. WE ARE JOINED
AGAIN BY DEPUTY MAYOR WONG. I
AM EXCITED ABOUT THE
APPOINTMENT OF THE DIRECTOR OF
ARTS AND CULTURE. I WAS PART OF
THE SELECTION TEAM THAT
INTERVIEWED HER. WE
INTERVIEWED CANDIDATES FROM
NEAR AND FAR TO FIND THE RIGHT
PERSON WHO COULD SUPPORT THE
ARTS COMMUNITY, EXPAND OUR
CREATIVE SECTOR, AND REALLY
FIND NEW WAYS TO ACKNOWLEDGE
THE CRITICAL RULE THAT
CREATIVE'S PLAY IN OUR
COMMUNITY AND THE FABRIC OF OUR
ECONOMY. I AM EXCITED TO HAVE
YOU HERE . WE WILL HAND IT OFF
TO BOTH OF YOU.
>> THANK YOU AND GOOD MORNING.
I'M REALLY HONORED THAT TWO
ARE BEFORE YOU TODAY. WE HAVE
TWO INCREDIBLY QUALIFIED
CANDIDATES HERE. THE PANDEMIC
PEAK BROUGHT US COUNTLESS
CHALLENGES. WE ARE REALLY
STILL FEELING THE IMPACTS OF
THAT. WE KNOW THAT KING COUNTY
JUST ADOPTED A FINANCIAL
INVESTMENT THAT WILL BRING
COUNTLESS OPPORTUNITIES. IT'S
IN THIS PERIOD OF A NOTABLE
TRANSITION , AND REALIGNMENT,
THAT OUR ARTS COMMUNITY
DESERVES A LEADER , WITH A
PROVEN TRACK RECORD TO GUIDE
OUR OFFICE OF ARTS AND CULTURE
INTO THE FUTURE. MAYOR HARRELL
HAS IDENTIFIED THAT IN GULGUN
KAYIM, AND IT'S MY PLEASURE TO
INTRODUCE HER TODAY. SHE
JOINS THE SEATTLE FAMILY FROM
THE CITY OF MINNEAPOLIS, WHERE
SHE WAS FOUNDING DIRECTOR OF
THE OFFICE OF ARTS, CULTURE AND
CREATIVE ECONOMY.
MULTIDISCIPLINARY ARTIST
HERSELF. SHE ASSISTS ARTIST TO
CREATE AND GROW AND EVOLVE
THEIR CAREER PATHS WITH THE
HELP OF LOCAL GOVERNMENT. THE
MAYOR CONDUCTED A RIGOROUS
NATIONAL SEARCH , LED BY OUR
DEPARTMENT OF HUMAN RESOURCES.
SHE WAS THE CLEAR CHOICE.
COUNCILMEMBER MORALES, YOU WERE
A MEMBER AND THANK YOU FOR
BEING PART OF THAT. I TRUST YOU
RECOGNIZE WHAT THE MAYOR DID.
GULGUN CENTERS STRATEGIC
PLANNING AND KNOWS THE
LONG-TERM SUCCESS IS ROOTED IN
THOUGHTFUL INVESTMENT AND
CAPACITY BUILDING. IT ALL
COMES DOWN TO PLANNING.
INTERIM DIRECTOR HAS TAKEN A
GRID APPROACH. SHE WILL HELP
FOSTER RELATIONSHIPS BETWEEN
ARTISTS, PARTICULARLY IN
UNDERSERVED COMMUNITIES, TO
GROW ARTISTICALLY WELL
SIMULTANEOUSLY ADDING TO OUR
THROUGHOUT OUR ENTIRE CITY. HER
EXPERIENCE, PASSION, AND
CREATIVITY MAKE HER THE IDEAL
CHOICE. THE MAYOR THINKS YOU
FOR YOUR CONSIDERATION OF HIS
NOMINEE TODAY. WITH THAT I WILL
TURN THINGS OVER TO OFFER HER
REMARKS AND FOR TAKING YOUR
QUESTIONS TODAY.
>> THANK YOU , DEPUTY MAYOR
WONG. IT'S A DELIGHT TO BE
HERE, CHAIR MORALES AND
COUNCIL MEMBERS. I'M HONORED TO
BE BEFORE YOU. I AM OVERWHELMED
BY THE RECEPTION AREA , AS
WELL. I WANT TO SAY I AM A
NEWCOMER TO SEATTLE. I ARRIVED
IN SEPTEMBER. I HAVE
APPRECIATED THE WARM WELCOME I
HAVE RECEIVED FROM THE
COMMUNITY, FROM THE CITY, FROM
COLLEAGUES, FROM STAFF. IT HAS
MEANT A GREAT DEAL TO ME TO GET
TO KNOW THE COMMUNITY , TO
BUILD RELATIONSHIPS. THE
FOUNDATION OF THE WORK I DO IS
CENTERED ON RELATIONSHIPS. IT
IS REALLY CRITICAL THAT I GET
OUT INTO THE COMMUNITY AND MEET
EVERYBODY. SINCE I ARRIVED, I
HAVE BEEN RESPONSIVE TO
INVITATIONS, SEEKING OUT
RELATIONSHIPS , GETTING TO MEET
THE PEOPLE WE TYPICALLY WORK
WITH IN THE OFFICE. GETTING TO
KNOW OUR WORK, AND GETTING TO ,
FRANKLY, NO MY JOB. I'VE MET
WITH ORGANIZATIONS SUCH AS
LANGSTON, THE MUSEUM, CULTURAL
SPACE AND SAY, FRIENDS OF THE
WATERFRONT, THE SEATTLE ART
MUSEUM, THE NORDIC MUSEUM. I
HAVE ATTENDED SEATTLE
INTERNATIONAL FILM EVENTS. THE
SYMPHONY. I'VE HAD
CONVERSATIONS WITH THEIR BOARD,
AS WELL AS THEIR LEADERSHIP.
FIFTH AVENUE THEATER.
PARAMOUNT THEATER. INSPIRE
WASHINGTON, AND MANY MORE. I'VE
SPOKEN TO GALLERY OWNERS IN
PIONEER SQUARE. STATION SPACE.
ORGANIZATIONS WE ARE IN
RELATIONSHIP WITH. READ EAGLE
SOARING IN THE CITY PROJECT,
JUST TO NAME A FEW. IT'S BEEN
QUITE OVERWHELMING FOR ME TO
SEE THE REACH AND IMPACT OF THE
WORK THE OFFICE OF ARTS HAS
ALREADY BEEN DOING. IT'S AN
HONOR FOR ME TO BE CONSIDERED
AS THE NEW DIRECTOR. THE OTHER
RELATIONSHIPS I'VE HAD MADE
OUR CONNECTING WITH COLLEAGUES
FOR STRATEGIC REASONS IN THE
CULTURAL FUNDING COMMUNITY,
SUCH AS FOR CULTURE AND ARTS
FUND, AND GOVERNMENT AGENCIES,
SUCH AS THE SEATTLE
INTERNATIONAL AIRPORTS. AT THE
STATE AND COUNTY LEVEL. IT'S
CRITICAL FOR THE CITY TO
CONSIDER THESE PARTNERSHIPS AS
THE GREAT TRANSFORMATIONS
HAPPEN. NOT ONLY BECAUSE OF THE
CHALLENGES THAT ARE FACED
POST-PANDEMIC, BUT ALSO BECAUSE
THERE'S NEW LEGISLATION JUST
PASSED. WE NEED TO CONSIDER,
AS DEPUTY MADE COMMENTS
AROUND IT, WE NEED TO MAKE
POLICIES AS THE BIG
TRANSFORMATION IS HAPPENING.
WHAT'S THE RULE OF THE ARTS AND
CULTURE AS WE LOOK FORWARD TO
THE NEW INVESTMENT? WHAT ARE
THE GAPS IN INVESTMENT THAT WE
CAN BE WORKING ON OURSELVES?
THESE ARE THE QUESTIONS I HAVE.
I KNOW MY STAFF IS THERE TO
SUPPORT THOSE QUESTIONS. WE
WILL BE GOING OUT INTO THE
COMMUNITY AND SEEKING TO ANSWER
THEM. FINALLY, AS NOTED, I
COME TO YOU WITH A BACKGROUND
IN CREATIVE ECONOMY RESEARCH,
SPACE COMMUNITY DEVELOPMENT,
SUPPORTING ASSETS TOWARD
SOCIAL AND ECONOMIC GROWTH. I
AM EXCITED TO APPLY MY SKILLS
AND KNOWLEDGE AND SERVICE IN
THE COMMUNITY. THANK YOU VERY
MUCH. I LOOK FORWARD TO YOUR
QUESTIONS.
>> THANK YOU. THANKS SO MUCH.
I WILL SAY, I AM A LITTLE
BIASED, BECAUSE INTERIM
DIRECTOR AND I HAVE HAD
SEVERAL FANTASTIC CONVERSATIONS
ABOUT THE INTERSECTION OF ARTS
AND LAND-USE. AS A
NEIGHBORHOOD PLANNER MYSELF.
REALLY, THE IMPORTANT WAYS ART
CONTRIBUTES TO THE PUBLIC REALM
AND WHAT WE CAN DO IN THAT
REGARD. I'M REALLY LOOKING
FORWARD TO CONTINUING TO WORK
WITH YOU. YOU BOTH REFERENCE
THE COUNTIES DOORS OPEN
LEGISLATION THAT JUST ASKED. I
WONDER IF YOU CAN ADDRESS THAT
SINCE IT HAPPENED THIS WEEK.
AND HOW IT WILL IMPACT OUR
ABILITY OR RELATIONSHIP WITH
FUNDING ORGANIZATIONS.
>> IT'S RESOURCES INTO THE
COMMUNITY THAT IS MUCH NEEDED.
IT RINGS SEATTLE UP ALMOST TO
THE NATIONAL AVERAGE OF
INVESTMENT. BEFORE THE
LEGISLATION WAS INVESTING $.68
PER CAPITA . THE NATIONAL
AVERAGE IS TWO DOLLARS. IT WILL
BRING US UP TO $1.50 PER
CAPITA, WHICH IS A GOOD FIRST
STEP. I WANT TO EMPHASIZE, IT'S
AN IMPORTANT FUSION OF
RESOURCES, THOSE RESOURCES DO
NOT COME ONLINE. IT'S ROUGHLY
$100 MILLION UNTIL THE MIDDLE
OF NEXT YEAR. AND THEN THE
CULTURE THAT WILL BE
DISPERSING THOSE RESOURCES,
THEY WILL SPEND YOUR THINKING
ABOUT HOW TO INVEST. IN THE
MEANTIME, ELECTED OFFICIALS
WILL BE MAKING DECISIONS ABOUT
DISPERSING THOSE RESOURCES.
WHAT DOES IT MEAN TO US? I
THINK THAT'S THE QUESTION WE
ARE ASKING. WE ARE GOING TO
LOOK CLOSELY AT HOW IT'S
INVESTING, WORKING WITH THEM
TO UNDERSTAND WHERE THEY'RE
PUTTING THE STRATEGIC
INVESTMENTS IN. GENERAL
OPERATING SUPPORT, PROGRAM
DEVELOPMENT. WE WILL SEEK TO
EITHER COLLABORATE AND
REINFORCE WHAT THEY ARE DOING,
OR BE IN PLACES AND AREAS THEY
ARE NOT. I'M GOING TO NOT TRY
TO GUESS , BECAUSE THAT WORK IS
STILL TO COME. I'M VERY EXCITED
ABOUT THE INVESTMENT. I THINK
IT'S A GAME CHANGER FOR KING
COUNTY. I THINK IT'S REALLY
IMPORTANT THAT WE CELEBRATE,
BUT NOT THE -- TO THINK THAT
SOLVES ALL OF OUR PROBLEMS.
>> SURE. TO THAT POINT, I KNOW
ONE OF THE THINGS YOU DID IN
MINNEAPOLIS WAS TO HIS DO A
STUDY OF THE SECTOR TO HELP
UNDERSTAND WHAT GAPS THERE ARE.
CAN YOU TALK A LITTLE BIT ABOUT
THE PROCESS?
>> TAKING RACIAL EQUITY LENSES
TO LOOK AT DATA, WE WERE THE
FIRST CITY IN THE UNITED STATES
TO ASK FOR DISAGGREGATED DATA
IN OUR LOOK AT JOBS. IN THE
COUNTY AS WELL AS THE CITY. BY
DOING THAT WE LEARNED MORE
ABOUT EMPLOYMENT AND PAY FOR
CREATIVE'S OF COLOR AND WOMEN ,
AND LOOKING ACROSS DIFFERENT
DISCIPLINES , TO SEE WHO HAS
IMPLIED , AS MUCH AS THE PAY
SCALES. THERE WAS A BIG
DISPARITY IN EMPLOYMENT AND
PAY. WE DID NOT MEET THE
NATIONAL AVERAGE. THE
EMPHASIZE WHERE GOVERNMENT
SHOULD GO. I'VE ALWAYS BEEN A
BELIEVER THAT GOVERNMENT SHOULD
BE WHERE THE PRIVATE SECTOR HAS
FAILED. THAT'S WHEN THE WORK OF
MY OFFICE SHIFTED . THAT'S ONE
EXAMPLE OF LONG-TERM USE OF
DATA , IN ORDER TO INFORM
DECISION-MAKING AND POLICIES.
>> RATES. IS THAT SOMETHING
YOU ANTICIPATE DOING HERE, OR
SOMETHING SIMILAR?
>> THOSE ARE THE QUESTIONS I'M
ASKING AS WE SPEAK.
>> THAT IS DISAGGREGATED DATA ,
THE KEY TO LEARNING.
>> THANK YOU.
>> COLLEAGUES, ANY OTHER
QUESTIONS?
>> THANK YOU, CHAIR, NO, NOT AT
THIS TIME. SHE SAID, IT WAS
VERY NICE TO TOUR THE MUSEUM
WITH HER. I AM LOOKING FORWARD
TO TAKING MANY MORE TOURS
AROUND OUR CITIES, AND ARTS
AND INSTITUTIONAL BUILDINGS
WITH YOU.
>> I APPRECIATED.
>> OKAY. SEEING NO MORE
QUESTIONS, I MOVE THE COMMITTEE
RECOMMENDS APPROVAL OF THE
APPOINTMENT. IS THERE A SECOND?
>> SECOND PERIOD
>> IT'S BEEN MOVED AND
SECONDED. WILL YOU PLEASE CALL
THE RULE ?
>> [ ROLL BEING CALLED ] THREE
IN FAVOR.
>> TERRIFIC. MOTION CARRIES.
THE APPROVAL OF THE APPOINTMENT
WILL BE SENT TO THE DECEMBER
12th MEETING. THANK YOU VERY
MUCH. LOTS OF CLAPPING
HAPPENING IN CHAMBERS. GREAT.
THANK YOU VERY MUCH . OKAY.
CONGRATULATIONS TO BOTH OF YOU.
WE WILL MOVE ON TO AGENDA ITEM
NUMBER 24. WILL YOU PLEASE READ
THAT INTO THE RECORD?
>> COUNCIL BILL 120729. AN
ORDINANCE RELATING TO HISTORIC
PRESERVATION, IMPOSING CONTROLS
UPON THE ELEPHANT CAR WASH
SIGN, A LANDMARK DESIGNATED BY
THE LANDMARKS PRESERVATION
BOARD. FOR BRIEFING,
DISCUSSION AND POSSIBLE VOTES.
>> THANK YOU. SARA, ARE YOU
PRESENTING?
>> I AM.
>> GREAT, PLEASE GO AHEAD.
>> GOOD MORNING CHAIR FOR SIX
AND COUNCIL MEMBERS. WOULD YOU
LIKE ME TO SHARE MY
PRESENTATION NOW?
>> SORRY, IT'S A LITTLE LOUD IN
HERE. I CANNOT HEAR YOU YET.
>> OKAY. OH, SURE THE SCREEN,
YES, PLEASE, GO AHEAD. HERE WE
GO.
>> ALL RIGHT. ARE YOU ABLE TO
SEE IT OKAY?
>> WE CAN SEE IT, YES.
>> THIS ORDINANCE IS TO CODIFY
THE CONTROLS AN AGREEMENT THAT
WAS SIGNED BY THE PROPERTY
OWNER . JUSTIN IS HERE WITH ME
TODAY ONLINE. THE NOMINATION
WAS MADE BY THE OWNER . THIS IS
FOR THE ELEPHANT CAR WASH SIGN.
I WILL QUICKLY READ OVER THE
DESIGNATION STANDARDS FOR
FOLKS, JUST AS A REMINDER. IN
ORDER TO BE DESIGNATED, THE
RESOURCE MOST MEET AT LEAST
ONE OF THE FOLLOWING CRITERIA.
LOCATION OF OR ASSOCIATED IN
AND SIGNIFICANT WAY WITH A
HISTORIC EVENT, WITH A
SIGNIFICANT EFFECT ON THE
COMMUNITY, STATE, CITY, OR
NATION. IT'S ASSOCIATED IN A
SIGNIFICANT WAY WITH A LIFE OF
PERSON IN IMPORTANCE. IT IS
ASSOCIATED IN A SIGNIFICANT WAY
WITH THE CULTURAL, POLITICAL,
ECONOMIC HERITAGE. IT EMBODIES
THE DISTINCTIVE CHARACTERS OF
THEM ARCHITECTURAL STYLE OR
METHOD OF CONSTRUCTION. IT'S AN
OUTSTANDING WORK OF DESIGNER OR
BUILDER. BECAUSE OF ITS
PROMINENT SPATIAL LOCATION,
CONTRACT AGE OR SCALE, IT'S
EASILY IDENTIFIABLE. AND
CONTRIBUTES TO THE DISTINCTIVE
QUALITY OR IDENTITY. FOR THE
ELEPHANT CAR WASH SIGN, IT WAS
DESIGNATED IN AUGUST OF 2022
UNDER STANDARD C, D, E. IT IS
AS DEFINED. ANY MAINTENANCE
THAT NEEDS TO BE MADE TO THE
SIGN DOES NOT REQUIRE A
CERTIFICATE OF APPROVAL. THERE
IS ADMINISTRATIVE REVIEW
AVAILABLE IF THERE'S ANY CHANGE
THAT NEEDS TO BE MADE TO THE
INTERNAL MECHANISM OF THE SIGN,
OR IF THE PROPERTY OWNER
WISHES TO MOVE THE SIGN TO
ANOTHER LOCATION THAT IS
VISIBLE FROM THE PUBLIC RIGHT
AWAY. AND ISN'T TOO FAR OUT OF
THE CURRENT CONTEXT. THE SIGN
WAS DESIGNED AND BUILT IN 1956.
IT WAS DESIGNED BY BEATRICE ,
ONE OF THE CITIES WORLD
PREEMINENT DESIGNERS. CALLED
THE QUEEN OF NEON. THE SIGN IS
ASSOCIATED WITH THE ELEPHANT
CAR WASH BUSINESS OPENED BY THE
ANDERSON FAMILY IN THE EARLY
1950s. THE CONCEPT OF THE
ELEPHANT IS ATTRIBUTED TO --
BUT THE DESIGN WAS REALLY
DESIGNED BY BEATRICE, AND THEN
WAS FABRICATED IN 1956. HER
EARLY WORK INCLUDES
WATERFRONT CAFE, PIER 54. THE
CHUBBY AND TUBBY STORE SIGN ON
RAINIER AVENUE SOUTH. THE
OVERLOOKED SOUTH SEATTLE. SHE
IS ALSO RESPONSIBLE FOR THE
NEON SIGN HATS AND BOOTS. IN
THE ORIGINAL SIGN AT
PARAMOUNT, AND SHE ALSO
DESIGNED THE SIGN FOR THE
SUMMER -- AND AROMA THEATER
AND MANY OTHERS. THIS IS
IMPORTANT TO ME BECAUSE I DON'T
THINK MANY PEOPLE KNOW SHE HAS
SUCH A IMPACT ON SIGNAGE DESIGN
THROUGHOUT THE CITY. THE SIGN
WE ARE LOOKING AT TODAY WAS
ORIGINALLY LOCATED AT SIXTH
AND -- BUT IT HAS BEEN
REPAIRED AND RESTORED BY
WESTERN NEON , AND THE SIGN HAS
NOW BEEN INSTALLED WITH
APPROVAL FROM THE LANDMARK
PRESERVATION BOARD IN THE OPEN
PLAZA AT SEVENTH AND
BLANCHARD. APPROXIMATELY TWO
BLOCKS TO THE SOUTH OF THE
ORIGINAL LOCATION. IT'S
ESSENTIALLY NOW STANDING WITH
A PIECE OF PRIVATELY OWNED
PUBLIC ART. YOU CAN SEE BY THE
PHOTOS I PROVIDED , I TOOK THE
CONTEMPORARY PHOTO . I REALLY
WANTED TO SHOW THE CONTEXT HAS
NOT CHANGED SIGNIFICANTLY OVER
TIME . YOU CAN STILL SEE THE
SPACE NEEDLE IN THE BACKGROUND.
THAT IS MY PRESENTATION.
>> GREAT, THANK YOU. THIS
CONTEMPORARY PHOTO IS AT THE
SEVENTH AND BLANCHARD LOCATION?
>> THAT'S CORRECT.
>> DID YOU SEE THE OWNER IS
HERE?
>> YES, JUSTIN. HE HAS JOINED
ONLINE.
>> JUSTIN, WOULD YOU LIKE TO
MAKE ANY REMARKS?
>> I WOULD LIKE TO THANK THE
COUNCIL AND EVERYONE TAKING THE
TIME TO VOTE ON THIS. I
APPRECIATE EVERYONE'S EFFORTS
ON THIS. OTHERWISE I AM EXCITED
TO GET THIS GOING. AND HAVE
THIS WRAPPED UP FOR EVERYBODY.
>> RATES. THANK YOU VERY MUCH.
THANK YOU, SARA. COLLEAGUES,
ARE THERE ANY QUESTIONS ABOUT
THIS DESIGNATION, OR THE
CONTROLS?
>> CHAIR, THANK YOU, NOT AT
THIS TIME. I'M VERY EXCITED
THAT THIS ICONIC SIGN I'VE GONE
TO LOOK AT MY ENTIRE LIFE, AS I
GOT OFF OF AURORA AVENUE IS
STILL IN SOUTH LAKE UNION.
ALTHOUGH, IF I TRY TO GIVE
DIRECTIONS IS DONNA, I'M GOING
TO GET SOMEBODY LOST.
>> I DO APPRECIATE A LITTLE
BIT OF THE HISTORY. ALL OF THE
SIGNS YOU MENTIONED, SARA, ARE
QUITE ICONIC IN THE CITY. I HAD
NO IDEA IT WAS ONE PERSON WHO
DESIGNED THEM ALL. THANK YOU
FOR THE HISTORY LESSON. OKAY,
COLLEAGUES. IF THERE ARE NO
FURTHER QUESTIONS OR REMARKS ,
I MOVE THE COMMITTEE RECOMMENDS
PASSAGE OF THE LEGISLATION. IS
THERE A SECOND.
>> SECOND.
>> THANK YOU, IT'S BEEN MOVED
AND SECONDED. NO FINAL COMMENTS
. ANYTHING ELSE , SARA? OKAY.
WILL YOU PLEASE CALL THE RULE?
>> COUNCILMEMBER LEWIS?
>> YES.
>> COUNCILMEMBER STRAUSS?
>> YES.
>> CHAIR MORALES ?
>> YES.
>> THREE IN FAVOR.
>> RATES. THE MOTION CARRIES.
THE COMMITTEE RECOMMENDATION
WILL BE SENT TO THE DECEMBER
12th CITY COUNCIL MEETING.
THANK YOU VERY MUCH , SARA. I
APPRECIATE IT.
>> THANK YOU.
>> OKAY. IF THERE ARE NO
FURTHER COMMENTS OR QUESTIONS ,
THAT CONCLUDES OUR AGENDA .
THE MEETING OF THE DECEMBER 8th
NEIGHBORHOOD EDUCATION , CIVIL
RIGHTS, AND CULTURE COMMITTEE
IS ADJOURNED. THANK YOU VERY
MUCH, COLLEAGUES. I WANT TO
THANK MY COMMITTEE MEMBERS,
THIS IS THE LAST COMMITTEE OF
THE YEAR. THE COMMITTEE MEETING
OF THE YEAR. I WANT TO THANK
COMMUNITY MEMBERS WHO HAVE
ATTENDED, PRESENTED, AND
DEPARTMENT COLLEAGUES WHO HAVE
JOINED US . IT IS 10:24, AND WE
ARE ADJOURNED. THANK YOU VERY
MUCH.