We love it. All right welcome to our May 11th meeting of the board of parks and recreation commissioners. Uh, we will be keeping all participants on the call, you know, throughout the meeting, and let's say providing public comments and we ask that gets in the room.
Please refrain from Tom and Alyssa providing comments. comments
Please know, that only board members and parks and rec staff are uncovered during a meeting and this meeting is recorded and we'll be posted on the city's website future reference.
Now, or get started, I'd like to acknowledge and affirm the indigenous Co siliceous the original caretakers for waters and landscape nurtured and shaped today's parkland.
We honor their legacy with gratitude, free nation, and we'll safeguard their knowledge of stewardship as enduring treasures from a community welfare, cultivate inclusive expressions in nature and recreation.
Atlanta acknowledgement for each ensued generation with that, like to introduce the folks in the room. I'm more than I'm Co, chair of the board parts of our commissioners and I represent.
District 2 and a half.
And then I'm going to start, uh, to my right Stanford. Uh, I represent district 7.
Hi, Jessica farmer and I'm an at large number on the court.
Any broadcast represented district 6 uh, 1st of all.
That's what controllers at large member as well.
And then I'll turn it over to AP to introduce the staff tonight.
You so much good evening commissioners. Good evening members of the public. I believe.
In our room tonight we have Paula Hoff who's with us and a little bit we're going to be hearing from all of our as well as Rachel shulkin.
And, of course, you all know Ben who keeps things organized for us. So nice to see you Ben and nice to see everybody tonight.
Wonderful thanks all before we get started we need to prove today's agenda.
Okay. Oh, sorry. Good point. Hey, Phil, I configured something here. I'm sorry I'm starting to build a little bit a little bit late some traffic over the bridge. Um, Philip being, uh, getting gauge commissioner.
Wonderful um, our only consent item is this agenda in front of us. Do I have a motion on the floor?
So moved 2nd all in favor.
Aye, aye any of those. All right with that. I will turn it over to.
All the protocol we do not have anyone signed up for it tonight.
Wow, yeah. Assumption they might be playing out. Fine. You remove that? Yeah. Yes. It's also be involved.
65, so if he, uh, taken away Super Dennis report.
Thank you so much. All right so, as we get this uploaded here, let me know when we're.
Ready to go perfect.
All right, well, here we are may 11th 2023, so just 1st of all want to say happy early summer excited for how quickly things can change in Seattle and how everybody is. So.
Pause and excited for the weather this weekend, and we're just excited to welcome it because it means more park use and preparing for that. We'll talk about that in a.
Little bit, but also an important day on Sunday. So I want to acknowledge.
A happy early mothers day to anyone who.
Is a mom or supporting a mom and also acknowledge that it can also be a difficult day for people too. So we're wishing everyone a fantastic, uh, memorable day. Uh, however, is celebrated on Sunday out in the park.
So, um.
We are definitely shining up for our summer season with the warmer weather that's coming. Um, wanted to talk a little bit about some, uh, park hours, uh, that are going to effect that our beaches.
And so, with the warmer weather, this weekend, we're expecting larger crowds at most of our parks parts, and particularly at our beaches.
And so I just want to remind the general public that each fires are not allowed until Memorial day. So we're almost there. But.
Not quite and only in designated fire pits and of course, any kind of amplified sound alcohol and fireworks are also not permitted in public parks. In addition, beginning, Memorial Day weekend.
We will be conducting a pilot program again this year to shorten the hours at Golden garden.
And archive each during the summer months to address.
Behavior that sometimes is typical and can go on until late evenings at both those parks. And we understand there's a robust desire for.
The community to use our beaches, and we want the public to have fun and to be safe and responsible but we also want to be mindful.
Of our neighbors and traffic, and all of the other, um, attenuated uses that about the parks. So during that time each hours will be between 40 am and 1030.
um, and That'll be in effect may 26 to September 3rd and this year's pilot adds an additional 30 minutes in the evening. in the evening
From last summer's pilot program last year, uh, the parks were closing at 1030.
Instead of 10, um, although I just said that they were going from oh, I see after September 4th, the hours will return to 40 to 1130. let me just make sure with Paula and the room cause I did say the beach hours will be 40. am to 1030.
is that correct for the summer? that correct for the summer
Yes. Okay. Perfect. Um, and then we will, um, we'll bring out the reports actually to you all to the board this fall and kind of give you some feedback and best practices of what we learned.
And look forward to some discussion with you, and we do expect during this time, we will.
Get certain neighbor complaints and issues. We are working with our communications team. Rachel will be here a little bit later tonight to talk about other things, but we have a strategy in place.
To alert neighbors and residents ahead of time and to also remind the public of the best way to get in touch.
Um, with our office, or the police department, depending on the type of.
Conduct that is going on and being recorded and we also just renewed our annual, um.
Contract with, uh, the Seattle police department, who assist us with gate closures and fire suppression and and looking for things at the beaches in the summer.
So That'll be starting this summer to also add an additional layer of public safety want to talk about summer programming. Um, in fact, we also just.
Release today are summer pool and beach schedule, which will talk about in a little bit. Um, but registration for our in person in virtual summer programs. Um, and activities begins on May 23rd. So just a few more days.
days
We're super excited all of our recreation staff and our operation staff, and our parks and environment team have been working really hard to prepare for summer.
And we know that's a sweet window in Seattle and only a few months, although whether it's changing. So, I think we have a few more weeks than months to enjoy this great weather, but we want to be.
Prepared for that as well so.
Um, we are doing, um, concerted steps to make our parks ready, uh, for the summer surge summer camp registration began last month.
If you remember, I reported, and we also are continuing to offer scholarships, which are available, uh, for a variety of activities at W. W. W. dot Seattle.
Dot Gov and, um, under our arcs and we would love for any member of the public.
To learn about scholarships to contact us for more information we want as many kids as possible to be active and healthy and just having fun. We also are moving into some are hiring.
So, as part of the ramp up to summer, we're actively hiring staff to operate outdoor programs and facilities across our.
Beaches spray parks, waiting pools, date camps and ballfields. This is 1 of our busiest times of year where we bring in a lot of.
Seasonal staff to support and show up our programs. So please help us spread the word. We need a variety of workers from cashiers to camp counselors to boat rangers and recreation staff.
To implement a range of programs and what I love about that is 2 things 1, it's a way for people to get employed.
To do meaningful and fun work and be part of our park system and also it's a potential pathway to a future city career. So if something drives for an individual, or they feel like they want to continue down the road, we would love.
To explore that, and there's always opportunities to add on.
Service credit down the road. If you do some work for Seattle government.
So, uh, parkways, Seattle dot Gov is the location for the public to find out about job opportunities and I also wanted to touch upon the Lake City, uh, community center, fire response.
I can't remember if we.
Touched on this at our last meeting if the fire had occurred, I believe it did. So I just want to follow up on some responses to keep you an update.
On what we're doing so right now the entire site has been secured, considering the extent of the damage,
our team has determined that we will need to demolish the building and accelerate our plan to rebuild the facility. So.
We want members of the public to know, and you can definitely share the word if you are asked and we're getting information out to the community that.
Although the site is currently, you know.
In a enclosed restricted manner, it's obviously a burnt down facility and we're going to be demolishing it soon,
but we also have a plan to bring it back and we also are going to continue to work with our partnership with the office of housing to bring an affordable.
Housing elements on the upper parts of the new community center that's something new for the city and something that was decided and has been a part of a process for.
A, while now, and so we're actively working closely with both the mayor's office and the office of housing to revise some plans timelines and funding opportunities to.
Provide that for the city, and I think and excited that once we do that, we'll really have, um, some much needed improvements for the site.
Community and although we were really disheartened about this, as I know all of you are.
We're finding the silver linings in this, and we're going to come back better and stronger and continue to work on public safety. So.
Um, that's what we're doing.
At, like city, and now we'll talk about some of our, um, operational, um, areas and our parks and environments. So.
In addition to all the mowing and regular grounds and facility maintenance, our crews are doing and I still remain so impressed. Um, our, our teams are amazing. They do.
Everything from maintaining the Japanese gardens and those specialties to knowing how to.
Take care of our coastal parks at, and that golden gardens, and also just our urban parks downtown and respond to graffiti and a variety of.
Task it's it's really just amazing. It's a unique park system. I can definitely tell you. And so staff have worked since we've last Matt to improve the running track in the lower woodland park.
We know the community was really looking forward to that and we know running, particularly sometimes around a.
Is also really attractive, because it helps you.
You know, track miles and train and do different things that you can't just do an open street running.
And so we're proud to return that to the woodland park community, um, on Earth day, at the Washington Park arboretum there were more than 180 volunteers that came out. Um, and helped us weed and pull more than 80.
more than eighty
Cards of BlackBerry and IV, um, to beautify this special park and as all of, you know, those things grow quickly and so they always need continuous maintenance.
And it was really great to have so many volunteers out in the park doing work with their hands rolling up. Their sleeves and getting involved.
This event was managed jointly by the arboretum foundation as well as our department, and the Botanic gardens with the support of the student conservation Association,
and always great when we can get students and education and government working together for good as part of our clean city initiative.
Picked up later on the northbound on ramp at Northeast 45th street and, um, did some, uh.
Abatement work there, which was really much needed and want to thank the crews for doing that.
And I also want to give out a shout out to our heavy equipment crew who recently helped remove large plant roots outside of the South Park community center with a large excavator to prepare for new plans. That was much needed work and see some pictures.
Here on the slides, but very difficult work, but needed work. And so, um, we're happy to report on some of the progress that we're making there.
And now turning over to our planning and capital development branch, um.
Gasworks is moving right along in very positive strides.
Um, we've just, um, completed a contracting agreement with all city fence company to repair and replace and enhance the existing fence and Gates around the cracking towers gas work parks to help make it more safer.
And to keep people out of areas that are prohibited.
Uh, as you may recall, I reported early on in my tenure here that we had some.
Really serious safety concerns at this site and so we really have been looking at ways to ensure that the public that we have access to this amazing industrial park.
Um, but we also have to recognize that it is a facility that was built, not for public climbing and as attractive as that may be,
we have a duty to mitigate that nuisance risk. And so we're hoping that this fence, which is a different.
More secure type of fencing is going to make it less penetrate goal and also we're going to come up with some other enforcement strategies here.
Um, we have a continuous project with our graffiti abatement team to look at.
Removing the graffiti getting the towers we painted and doing general improvements to the park in all areas.
As, you know, the continuous project around the restrooms is progressing, and we also are engaged with the community on some of the work that's going to happen around the boat launch. Um.
Area near the lake, so a lot of good things happening at gas works.
But we're definitely committed and focused on, uh, public safety there. Um, we want to look at lighting and we've had unfortunately some public safety concerns, even a shooting that, um.
Occurred at the park and worked with our police department. We believe this was a.
The information we have is that it was a.
Um, a known setback, so it wasn't just someone at large, but unfortunately someone was.
Killed by someone else that knew them and.
Chose the park as a location so we want to look at lighting and enhanced security features. So.
Uh, please know, that that is on the forefront of our mind, um, as well as, um, also addressing some of the other crime that has occurred.
Throughout the community, we've been working with the mayor's office and just responded back to the calendar sync community who was very interested in finding out what is going on there. There was a shooting at Kelly Anderson park that you may have heard about.
And so we're definitely in close contact with the police.
Department about this, the mayor's office is also issued an executive order. The mayor has really stepping up to amplify a crack down on the fentanyl use that's going on in the city.
Um, looking at.
The ties and connections to gun violence that's connected to.
Drug trafficking in our city and has a bevy of partners that he's enlisted.
Um, to really nail in and lean in, I should say on this issue, everyone from the city Attorney's office to state and federal prosecutions to legislatures, all city departments. This is the top priority for the mayor.
And we want everybody has a right to safe and accessible public spaces, and particularly in our parks. And so we want to look at other improvements, such as lighting. We're proud to announce that we're going to be doing a pilot study on naval street.
Um, that's adjacent to the park. I believe I've spoken to the commissioners briefly about that, but do you.
He has agreed to do a pilot study for us to restrict access to that street.
Still make it accessible for residents and hopefully eventually see how that could expand to increased park use. That's a very.
Dark and often dangerous street and so we need to come up with some strategies. And this environmental design strategy is 1, coupled with some additional day and night patrols that the police have committed to.
So, with that, that is our, uh, report for superintendent may 11th. th
Okay, wonderful. Thank you. We have any questions or comments from our colleagues.
Yeah, I got a couple a couple of.
Questions in a couple of comments, let's start with the questions. Um.
Regarding the timeframe that each hires are allowed.
I just find that people tend to.
Follow rules better if they understand the rationale. Why? So I'm just wondering is that, like, a staffing and safety thing? Are there facilities, like firings that aren't in place outside of those.
Periods of time. Yeah. It's also it's a little bit of both. It's definitely, um.
A staffing issue too, because we don't have, um, although we try to provide extra staffing in this summer at the beaches. Um.
But, you know, for to have eyes and ears on the location, you know, should anything happen with the fires if they get out of control? But, um.
And people stay late even beyond ours. So we try to inform the public.
A good amount of time before the actual time to put out the fires. Um, but we also recognize that if we didn't have that in place, um, the fires could go potentially unintended or people would leave.
So, we also need to ensure that we're putting out the fires. Um, not just the public.
Um, so, uh, but there's only a certain amount of time to do that during shifts. So.
It's definitely, um, for staffing reasons and it's also for public safety. Um.
Because we need to again ensure that the, the fires are put out properly before we can close the beach for the night and know that it's.
It'll be safe until the the next day. Okay. Thank you.
I was also wondering about the lease of the community center. Um.
You know, a couple of years ago, when we were hearing about plans for redevelopments.
Um, which everyone was really excited about and then and.
Thrilled to know that that's going to be accelerated. Um.
There was talk about how to serve the community while it would be closed during just the planned redevelopment by.
Increasing programming, I think at nearby community centers.
If I remember right was the main approach there. I just wondered if that's also underway. Now.
Yes, and thank you commissioner for bringing that out, because that gives me an opportunity to let you all know as well as the public. We're definitely working to find alternative spaces for programming.
Um, have we just been on a normal schedule or a couple of years.
We, we would have planned it out now we're, um, looking for and we have found partners. Um, we have some agreements that we're putting together with the schools. Um, that are going to use, let us use some of their facilities.
I want to give a shout out to our Seattle public library and.
Their director who stepped up and immediately was in communication with me to say, you know, if we can support any programs here at the library that's close by in our community rooms, things for seniors. You know, let us know.
We're so they're on board and we're looking at some other alternatives so we absolutely.
Don't want to just have recreation stop in that area and then.
Um, we also will transition to other recreation centers, because obviously the site will be, you know.
Unusable during the, the rebuilding phase, and, and it might take a while, but we definitely want to and our planning for alternative recreational uses for that community.
Great, thank you. Glad to hear it and just a couple of comments that in your latest.
Your internal newsletter that gets shared with us too. I saw all the new hires in the last month.
That was amazing. Um, so I know that hiring has been a challenge for everyone for a long time. And so it was just thrilled to see all the new hires.
Coming up board recently um, and then lastly, the social media.
Uh, work this thing going on when they doing it before and afters of maintenance, just want to give a shout out to the purchase environment division. Um.
My whole neighborhood purpose, victory, Hayes park, and there was a post I think just yesterday that, um.
They cleaned up a whole wheat flour, bad area and plant flowers in there.
I shared it to my neighborhood page and we've had over 50 people, like like the post and a bunch of people comment on it.
Um, and it's just great to see that stuff and it's, it's a little like, neighborhood pocket part. Um.
And people are so thrilled to have that attention and have things would be good. So kudos there.
That's that's awesome. Thank you for sharing that both here. And also with friends on your own dissemination of being part. So we appreciate that. And I'm also sending having our staff send you all.
We just today released on here and now.
Catch it on the radio, but they did a whole segment on this 1, Seattle program, and had a few people ping me from other states. So it's going national and amplifying.
Our Seattle park system, but also this really important project. So that's super exciting and excited to share that with you. So you should be getting that link. Um.
So, it's in your inbox, so there you go.
Thank you. Wonderful. Thank you. Anyone else questions comments.
Maybe just a question, thanks.
There's always a lot going on and extra things for y'all to deal with really appreciate report and so much going to working on when you are the department is leading state highway right? Of ways.
How do you navigate the jurisdictional.
Boundaries and or funding for clean up. Someone's taken away in Seattle.
Yeah, that's that's a a really important question because.
As, you know, it can so quickly change even around, you know, freeway park as an example. You know, you.
Or other parts that are close to the highways, you can literally just be within a few blocks, you're on park property.
And then you're on property or, you know, uh, interstate properties. So it all mingles there. We have good partnerships and relationships and we're working to strengthen those um.
I recently have been in conversation to ask the mayor's office, and they are reaching out to our state partners that, um, you know,
can we get a commitment all areas need to be addressed but particularly the areas around downtown and some of the parks that are closest to the highway.
Um, can you partner with us and our environment team to ensure that we're.
Doing clean ups at the same time that, you know, um, if there's graffiti, like, right now, we can't go and remove that from a wall that's not on our property.
Um, and we have actually developed an alliance um, we're developing better alliances and some jurisdictional support too. So that if it's things that aren't.
To dangerous or risk management wise, we can.
If we're doing a cleaning, we can go on their property and clean a little bit. That's okay. If they need to come on our property, when they're doing it cleaning, we want them to be able to do that as well. So.
Um, but it is definitely a process to navigate, because it very quickly gets into jurisdictional boundaries of this is not our responsibility. This is your responsibility.
But really, at the end of the day, people entering the city.
You know, when you're leaving an on ramp or you're on, you're in Seattle so you don't, you know, it's all we're all in Seattle so we need to be working together, um, and the funding as well. Um, and we have a really good legislative team that's working on.
Getting cross collaboration between all departments so that we're not fighting for funding, but we're actually sharing it.
Hey, thanks. Thanks.
Any other questions comments hearing none. Um, he, would you like to introduce Oliver for the parts that open space metaphor?
Absolutely, it's my pleasure to introduce all of our who is in our, um.
Planning construction or planning capital development branch. He's a treasured member of our team there and he's back tonight to brief you on our progress to update our parks and open space plan.
This is a process led by the planning and capital development branch.
And we're currently in the process of seeking community input.
And would like to invite you to participate in the process as well as.
To share the information with others in your network and, um, although it's a briefing item today, um,
there will be a draft plan that will come back to you later in the year for review and recommendation and will ultimately go to the city council for adoption by resolution, so, at this point, I'm going to hand it over to.
Oliver, and he will explain to you, what's going on here with this plan.
Can everybody hear me? Yep. Mm. Hmm.
Great. Um, and let me.
Share my screen I, I told you, I'd be back.
There we go.
Hello.
Oh, then I got, let's see.
All right do you guys see a PowerPoint presentation here?
Excellent, well, thanks for letting me hop on to the agenda. Um, and letting me join you all virtually this evening.
Um, as AP mentioned, I'm here to provide a short update on the parks and up in space plan.
Update, and also to put in a plug for some of the engagement events that, that we're kicking off next week.
Um, so, 1st, a little bit of context. I I know I went over a lot of this in November, so I'll try to keep it.
Uh, brief, um, the parks and open space plan is a plan that we update every 6 years, and it maintains our eligibility for a number of state grants with the Washington state.
Recreation and conservation office, or our CEO.
Uh, the purpose of the plan is to examine recreation trends and demand in the city and lay out a capital strategy for meeting those demands. So.
In order to do that, RCA requires that the plan include all of the elements listed on the left. So, you know, there's a.
Goals and objectives section and inventory of our existing facilities.
Um, you know, we, we need to do public involvement, um, there's a demand and need analysis that usually includes, um, kind of a demographic analysis as well as often a geospatial analysis.
Um, and and we, we set a.
Certain level of service standard as part of the analysis and then we also provide a full list of our capital improvement program as well.
Um, with a, with a focus on those projects that help us achieve the goals and objectives laid out in the plan, um, especially those that we want to apply for grants from our CEO, um, in the coming years.
Um, and then the last piece is just adoption. That's a little bit more of a, a process element as AP mentioned. Um.
It it'll be brought to you and then also to, to city council.
Um, so many of you were involved in all the engagement and planning work that we've done in the past 2 to 3 years. Um, including the strategic plan, the strategic action plan.
And then I know that you all had a really.
A lot of work in a lot of thought into the park district, financial plan. Um, our intent through through this work is really to showcase what we've learned and prioritized based on that work.
Um, and and how it's informed our, our capital improvement program.
Um, the timing is a little bit strange though. Um, and we realize that, and kicking off this work that, that we'd be doing this plan, basically each 60 year cycle and the year after renewing our largest source of capital funding.
Um, so, this time around, we're focusing on a lighter update again, building off what we heard.
The engagement efforts in the past couple of years, and showing what we planned as a result and then we'll be coming back.
Uh, earlier, um, instead of waiting for the full 6 years to 2030 will be coming back in, uh, probably 2026, 2027 in time for the update to actually inform the next part district, financial plan. Um, another benefit of doing it with, um.
district financial plan um another benefit of doing it with um
Coming back again early is then, um.
In 2026, we will actually be able to use the.
Growth strategy That'll be adopted in the new comprehensive plan, um, that is working on and and will be developing and are finalizing in late 2024.
so, um, there may be new designations for growth beyond existing urban villages that we would want to incorporate into. Uh, our our needs analysis. our our needs analysis
And planning, so, um, where are we on this plan?
Um, here's a high level schedule for the project.
Um, we've, we've kicked it off uh, we have our consultants on board, and we attended the comp plan meetings in November through January with, with boards and we had a survey, uh.
For people to fill an online as well.
Um, we also have a really great internal steering committee that includes representatives from, uh, and, and a, a leadership committee as well to help guide the project.
Um, we're polishing off the walk ability and access analysis right now. And, um, again, the really exciting part is that we're about to kick off a lot of engagement, um, which I'll be talking about in the next slide.
Uh.
After this engagement, period, the 1st open house and workshops that you see there um.
Uh, we're also well, and even during it, we're getting the preparation of the plan itself and we'll be working on developing all of the sections. I, I discussed earlier, um, we'll be coming back to this group.
With a draft around the time of our 2nd, open house and common period, and then again to request your recommendation for adoption.
So, um, you can expect to to see me or a member of our team back here in September.
Uh, and then likely again, uh, hopefully in the beginning or mid October.
Um, so so I'll get to see you again. Um.
So this is a bit of an overview of, um, the engagement events that we have planned in the next, uh, the next few weeks. We have our 1st, public open house next week.
Uh, it's going to be virtual. It's gonna be online. It's gonna be an introduction to the plan.
We're going to include some of our analysis and also showing the ways that the previous engagement has helped inform action items and and capital projects. Um, in our.
Will also be inviting people to attend the workshops, um, which will allow them to.
Which will be a little bit more interactive and we'll allow, um, them to, to be able to talk with our staff and and ask a few more questions. Um, the the online open house is going to be recorded and we're gonna post it online.
So so, if people aren't able to attend the virtual, um, virtually in real time, they can watch it. Um.
We're also working on getting an engagement hub, uh, live on the 18th as well. And so this is gonna be a virtual.
Option for, um, also providing input and, you know, the goal is of that is really to provide an online alternative to comment for those that won't be able to make the workshops and, uh,
people will be able to submit comments that others can see and interact with online, um, and and we're really excited about.
Um, the workshops themselves, um.
Uh, are gonna start on May 22nd, and we're doing a series of 6 of them, uh, at 6 different community centers around the city. Each 1 is gonna have a, a.
A bit of a geographic focus roughly shown by the boundaries, uh, in the image on the right so we've kind of divided the city up into 6 areas and we're going to have, uh.
A large cluttered print out maps of each of those areas of the city that are going to show, uh, the vulnerability analysis,
the access analysis and then we're also planning to show, um, points representing.
Are planned capital projects for the next 6 years um.
Within those areas, so we'll be, we'll have staff there to answer questions. Um, and, uh, will also be recording comments, you know, in in general as well as on specific potentials for, um.
Um, capital projects, and in those areas of the city.
We've been working really hard to get the word out on these so please help us if you can. Um, we've got flyers and community centers and libraries. Um, we're putting ads and ethnic media.
We have a planner that's been making calls to a lot of community partners. Um, to kind of, um, add that personal touch, um.
In addition to, you know, press release, uh, social.
Media and and email blasts.
Um, again, uh, at the, the workshops, um.
I guess I've talked a little bit about some of the things I was planning to talk about on this slide previously we're going to have the maps to show the updated vulnerability analysis. Um, and also the.
And and that's going to be a little bit different from those of you for those of you who, um.
We're kind of with us for the 2017 plan um.
It's gonna be a similar analysis, but we have updated data both for park development projects and and new locations where we have access. And then we also have, um, a better.
Street network dataset that more accurately kind of reflects how, uh.
How pedestrians can move around the city um, and.
And accounts for barriers like arterials and, uh.
Slope so, um.
So That'll be interesting to see, um.
Again, we're also really excited about rolling out this engagement hub. Um.
Where people will be able to to interact with, uh, other people's interact and see other people's comments and, and place points, uh, on the map itself.
So, uh, with that.
Um, I will conclude again by.
What do they say? You say it at least 3 times, right? And then people will.
And absorb, so we hope to see you and your friends and your family there.
Um, here is again, the list of our events, and a link to our website where you can find more information and, and we'll be posting that engagement up once it goes live.
Next week, we'll send you guys that challenges.
Looking forward to it any questions or comments from the commissioners.
Sure, I'm just excited about the engagement of I'm excited to see what that looks like. Um.
Can, can you tell us what platform you're using.
Just out of curiosity, or who you're working with, on that.
Yeah, it's a, it's called citizen lab.
That'll be new to me I'm excited to see it. Thanks.
Yeah, so, um, sorry, I'm just curious.
Since our last update of the parks and open space plan, um, it seems like we hit the projection almost head on population growth. Um, how are we? What's the acreage per? 1000 residents? Are we at right now?
Excuse me a little preview. Oh.
Gosh, that is not something I have at the top. Oh, no worries starts getting way too excited about this, man.
I'm just I'm just really looking forward to see, you know, when we start hitting our bar of having to worry about acquisition because right now it's 2035 in the last plan, and just thinking about how growth has changed. how growth has changed
Last couple years, this will be a fun exercise for those of us who are.
I think that's fine.
That reminds me of the comments. Oh, ID. Yeah.
Yeah, that just reminds me actually, if I asked Paula to remember, maybe at the next meeting, we can put on the agenda. We just got our, the National Recreation and park association released its.
Annual report which ranks.
Park systems for a variety of things, including the, what you were just talking about.
And my understanding is we, we were at 9, and we moved up to 8, which is great for the entire nation. But, um, but I'd love to share that with you. So, just.
You spurred me to think about that and if we could note that Paula and we'll do a update for you all at the next meeting.
Awesome Thank you. Uh.
Oh, yeah, just just a quick question about the public engagement science. It's all very exciting for for the open house for the open house and the events at community centers.
Um, what what are the goals of that engagement? Is it getting feedback from the public? Is it also just.
Showing what the plan looks like, love a little more detail there.
Yeah, so for the open house, it's a little bit more informative. It's kind of.
Introducing people to the idea of the plan and showing them what.
Um, what we have in the work so far, I mean, we've, we've done a lot of, as I mentioned, we've done a lot of engagement.
Um, and work over the past 3 years to kind of lead us to.
The capital project portfolio that that we have planned out for the next next many years. And so, um, I think we want to.
We want to demonstrate that, um.
We want to provide an overview of what we've done and what we've learned and.
And show how that has been reflected in.
Our actions and our capital program so far. Um, but then also, I think, in the workshops again, provide a little bit more of an opportunity for, um.
For people to come and talk to planners that.
Work on projects in the neighborhoods that they are living in and provide their ideas for potential.
Local improvements or feedback on what's working and what's not working in their parks and that sort of thing. I mean, I think we have, um.
We don't have a ton of flexibility to change the capital projects for the next 6 years, but we do have an opportunity to kind of inform the planning direction.
That that could likely.
You know, help set the stage for the next part district cycle right?
Got it thanks part to start planning number ends any other questions or comments.
I'm hearing none Thank you so much. Um.
Would you like to? Oh, no, I'm just say goodbye. Thanks. Bye. Thank you. All over.
Thank you all right next step. I am pleased to introduce Rachel shulkin, um, who was with us a couple of meetings ago.
Uh, I remember, and it was actually rainy that night and how quickly things can change, and now it's getting more beautiful outside. Um, as, you know, Rachel is our.
Affairs director, um, she's part of our superintendent team. She's a.
Valuable partner to me, and our entire staff, and she is working on our downtown activation plan committee.
Mayor Harold recently announced his downtown activation plan with the public with a goal to bring more people back downtown, revitalize our public.
Spaces neighborhoods for residents and visitors and workers, and it's very much a work in progress.
However, Rachel is gonna be briefing you on some of the work we've been doing through the inter departmental task force with other.
City departments and some plans to capture some ideas and how we're gaining input from some of our community partners. And so at this point, I will hand it over to Rachel.
Hi. Hi, I'm Rachel. Shannon I'm the communications manager here. Parks and recreation and I have been representing the department on the downtown activation plan. Um, inter, departmental committee the.
Um, Mary Harold has put together for, uh, in order to kind of start kick off, creating a vision for.
A new downtown.
And so we're at point of this.
Presentation and we're at the midpoint of this plan development and so this is the point which the, uh, group really wanted to do a lot of briefing of stakeholders. And which is why I'm here tonight.
Um, and also to really kick off and get the word out about a larger scale public engagement campaign, in order to bring public engagement into really round out the plan. Um.
And so you'll see kind of a timeline that kind of describes all of that. So.
Um, there's a lot of things that have gone into this plan to date. There were a few consultants on board and did some public opinion research. They did also some.
Um, other kind of informational research about who is coming downtown, what kind of things they're doing what.
Um, what the foot traffic rates are different um, amenities.
And some additional initial thinking also looking at what other cities are doing to bring people back downtown.
Um, this will be said throughout the presentation, but, like, the plan is not finalized. There's definitely a large scale public engagement campaign.
In order to really kind of have ideas that that feel like everybody can get behind.
So this kind of also demonstrates that right now we're doing.
These briefings I couldn't hear with you today um, and there'll be 3 names of listening sessions, and there's a survey which you all should have gotten and I would love it if you could share that with your users,
who have information about the public listening as well. Um, I do think it's important for me to note that other partners.
That Seattle parks and recreation is briefing our free way park Association.
Um, and interim CPA, which is the.
Um, trying to town ID, activation partner that we've worked with around park.
And then the mayor's office is actually briefing.
Timing of square alliance principal waterfront.
Um, and then there's a variety of other partners that other departments are briefing as well. Those are the kind of the ones that, uh, most aligned with the work that we do downtown.
Okay, so that's I did talk about then There'll be the integration that plan should be released in June.
So, the point is to bring people back down tab, but also to kind of capitalize on this idea that we can pause and think about what we want downtown to look like, for the future.
When we talk about downtown, this is what we mean, it's kind of a larger vision of downtown. I think they technically don't consider where we are right now it should be downtown, though. You'll see some initiatives in here that are due captures how they do need a bit.
So, um, so, 1 thing that I think that really started to guide the discussions early on is there was some public.
Opinion research done about who is not feeling represented downtown and 3 groups really showed up, which is families with children, small business owners and working.
Class low income folks, people kind of across the board are feeling like tech workers, office worker and tourists are represented and feel like downtown is for them. So these are kind of 3 groups that the, that the discussions have centered around.
And how do we attract them? So, you'll see still stuff that's being with the other 2 groups as well.
This talks about, like, the pandemic has really given us this opportunity to we imagine downtown and we'll get into some of the details of these goals.
No, so the 7 vision goals are creating a downtown that safe and welcoming. Um, what I'll tell you is that we're not going to talk much about safety in this group. There's a completely separate group.
That is out that is talking about safety as they are kind of complete vision of.
For their group about safety downtown, they've really asked us to kind of wall off from that, and just focus on. Um.
Other aspects of revitalizing downtown, so there's a goal around improving downtown as a residential neighborhood.
Um, really improving downtown's, arts and culture scene.
The improving the kind of green environment downtown of the tree canopy.
Making sure that we have a diversified worker ecosystem.
It was a strong commercial heartbeat and that it's also support to us a great destination for tours and visitors.
So, there's 3 components that will be in the plan. So, 1 is talking about action. Now things we can do right now to revitalize downtown. We'll talk about some of the stuff that's happening now. Then there's this action plan component, which is, like, next 3 years.
And then there's this category called new space, which is, like, envisioning.
What our downtime for really so big old ideas that that might seem partly attainable, but are just really trying to dream up, um, how Seattle could be in the future and how we can really create a downtown that was sustained.
The vision that we talked about, but also kind of put us into the city of the future.
So, taking both action now is what we need. So, this is some of the also just like a look at some of the data that the group has been looking at. This represents the summer to come.
And so you can see that we're going to peak here, um, in July, with a lot of activity, going on downtown with the dealerships swift concert with the will be all star game.
Um, a lot of sporting events and so the idea is like, how do we sustain this level.
Of traffic downtown and not allow it really to just drop off.
You know, 1 of the things that they were digging into with our department is even like.
You know, we're really supportive of a lot of downtime activation in the summer months, but we do kind of.
Create more of like a staple thing, presence kind of backdrop in.
In the off season sorry about that. Um.
Oh, yeah.
Um, like, how what could we do to kind of keep still some, some good foot traffic coming into downtown.
In those other kinds of stuff. So when we talked about some of the things going on right now, these are some of the things you may have already read about in the news. Mayor Harold, put out an executive order around disrupting functional open air drug use recently.
Um, also, he's working on introducing a bill to talk about rezoning and sign code to stimulate some downtime investments. Um, and then, furthermore, there's a lot of talk about returning workers in there.
Obviously Amazon has made a commitment that there's talks with Nordstrom and Microsoft as well. And also talks.
The city of staff around moving up the return work requirements to 3 days a week as well. So, again, all of this is kind of been covered in the news and is all still.
Discussions efficiently, so obviously some employers have made more famous other things that have been happening. You know, the same ballpark is gonna reopen this summer.
Some things that maybe we're less aware of is that there's a mural initiative going on across the city. There's.
Both in parts and a lock downtown um, there's some initiatives around 3rd Avenue improvement 3rd Avenue right now. Um.
At a renewal of the, the mid that's about to come up that have a lot of kind of confusion of.
Approving the cleanliness of downtown and also, I think some.
More talk about kiosks and way finding other things that are going on feeling vacant storefronts.
So, you know, improving the cleanliness of downtown, there's a few things to extend busters into sound transit tunnels.
Yeah, so.
When we talk about the overall goals, um.
Or downtown, we talked about that safe and welcoming, so I want to touch on. I'll just touch on the things that really, um, are kind of parks and rec related across this.
Um, there's not too much here obviously our ranger program, we're kind of fit in a goal like this, but we'll see a significant increase in our ranger program downtown.
There's a residential component, our new Mercer community center fits within this goal.
Um, so kind of be in the action plan categories where I was talking about, there's some things out there, but there's a focus on how do we support things that, um, most neighborhoods have that are currently happening in downtown.
The support ecosystem really talking about childcare facilities, which the Mercer community center will have a childcare facility.
But there's other things in here, like street closures.
To provide more events, downtown and creating other uses of vacant spaces that can support downtown workers.
Reinvigorating the heartbeat, um, has a lot of.
Has some goals around extending outdoor dining spaces.
Creating making it easier and more affordable to lease for small businesses.
You'll see here in the arts and culture, this talk about connector bus that connect between.
Um, different arts and cultural hubs throughout downtown, making it more affordable for artists to rent space.
Um, and then as far as destination, it's like, how do we attract more festivals markets?
The Northwest canoe center that's going to go into the canyon park is captured here as well. I think not written in this plan, but also the renovation of freeway park, is it under this?
Line as well, so improving the, the green canopy downtowns that there's talk a lot about hiring a forester that really takes a cohesive look.
The green spaces downtown also is, um.
This idea that, like, how are we capturing the other kind of public spaces that aren't part so publicly available decks and tops.
And breeding those spaces and also making them more accessible to the public.
There'll be a public dashboard that is used to hold city accountable to the goals that it last year.
And then a little bit of talk about so that that really represented that that 3 year out plan that this is kind of those new needle, new space emails. I talked about kind of bold ideas.
Really looking to stretch our vision of what Seattle could be.
So 1 is idea like, how can we create a street card that connects.
All the arts and cultural districts can we envision vertical neighborhoods around 3rd Avenue? The 1? That is the Seattle parks and rec is, can we envision Westlake to be like a time square?
In Seattle can we envision a park that maybe utilizes.
Virtual reality technology, arts, interactive art.
Um, kind of that cutting edge, feel of having a part like that.
So, again, these are not funded projects. Is it a really stretch category of like, what could we be.
There's an idea around a 24, 7 nightlight, mid market or nightlife. Um.
District downtown again, we talked about the green canopy, but really like, how do we kind of connect this network of greenery throughout downtown another 1 that says Seattle parks and rec.
Stretch goal is around can we have a massive always just place a downtown, so.
I think 1 thing that's kind of been discussed here is all this is like, in that element of, like, there's a lot of vacant space downtown right now. Is there a way that Seattle parks and recreation.
Partner or work with work to create all we just play space, indoor, outdoor. Maybe it has a pickle ball element. Maybe it's a massive into play area that kids can come to year round.
There's an idea about a 5 PoC or like, a sharp part of the city community market.
Maker space that we partnered with flagship colleges.
Um, and then the world's tallest cross landing tumor high rise. So, again, just like a lot of visionary ideas about.
The downtown PG E. so again, as they said.
There's a survey to fill out there's going to be, um.
Opportunities for people to quit listening session with the mayor um.
And then you're going to see some stuff happening this summer already to show really?
For some recommendation we ramped up in the summer, our summer programming already improvements, small improvements to Bell street and to telecom place, in support of this effort.
Um, there's a lot of work going into the.
I'm sorry for your privacy hallmark reopening and how to that's successful. A ton of partnerships are coming to the table to make that successful. Um.
And so I hope that you'll really see the efforts that people are putting into getting back downtown. And again, I encourage you to share this out with folks. So that.
Uh, people can get their input in, in terms of what they want down and it looks like.
So, here to take any, also, I don't know that I can answer all questions. I just want to part of this overall departmental departmental committee, but I'm also taking feedback. You guys have.
There's a place I'm reporting that back to the original, but sure I'd love to start. Um, I live very close to West lake station.
So I've seen a good bit of investment already happened in the region. Um.
My question is with respect to street closures, like, for instance, between 1st and 2nd, along pike.
How much of that I saw permanent closure is as 1 of the longer range ideas.
Some are closures are I saw that earlier in the slide? What what? There is already set in stone and what's still in a discussion phase.
So right now I know what's happening is that they're making their I started making it easier and more accessible for event planners to close down the streets downtown.
That was the charge given to them so I know that they set up this process to make it easier for people to, to have events in the street.
Um, I think they are looking for us to support, like, a proof of concept of that. So we're working with dsa on 1 of their I think it's like a doggy day at Westlake. Um, where it's a bunch of dog. Um.
Like, vendors and stuff will be have those out. I think there might be a dollar cost and fashion Joe and fun stuff like that. It.
It's popular a lot of people have Docs that down so they were asking us, like, can you extend out to the street just kind of shows this proof of concept that, like,
continue to utilize streets as public spaces as well but they're going to be looking to really encourage more to realize the streets for events. I was just talking to the organizer.
On our behalf of the facilitators of this committee about maybe really thinking about this street effort as a way to fill gaps, whether it's not public space, rather than just kind of being like Willy nilly about it.
Um, just maybe thinking, like, well, we don't have as many parts in downtown per se, right? Mm. Hmm. So, like, maybe we pick a few choice streets right there. We really want to direct that kind of activation rather than.
Just kind of forcing the effort where there already is publicly in public space where we would love to host our own. We love to host events in the park rather than industry. So.
We'll see how this 1 of all smart more. Yeah. So are you going to take the same path?
For the city part, as you did for us, we did.
The power clowns um, yes, but like.
I think that wraps it up a little bit. Yeah, we need a lot. I know that there's a lot of great ideas about bringing. There's a lot of bringing a lot of artists in art in. I think they're also going to do some performance for both performance art.
Um, I think they're working with an artist who might be creating art within the park. So that people who watch it, it goes along.
They're trying to work with a lot of the nonprofits and the community organizations, which would draw people in more immediate in here.
Um, there's going to be, um.
We've been talking to you about what can we do screening of the women's World Cup in the park? You know, also people like to get together during those events, and they happen during the path of work day. Like, how do we really draw people in.
Into the space, but yes, it's like, we will have food trucks and busters.
And a ranger presence and concierge presence.
That whole kind of sweet of things, but we're really trying pretty hard to make city hall part.
Um, successful, right? Yeah. Good. Yeah.
Is that scheduled yet? That opening? I think we are aiming for mid June so we, as a department, we've been pushing to make sure that there are.
Our standard range, or core is on board before we reopened and that that kind of coincides the mid June date.
Um, and summarize it easier, it's more successful time for us to get get going if the summer sounds concert series, et cetera. So we're hopeful that can work out.
I believe that June 15th is the theme. Yeah, we have not shared that publicly. Like, as a.
A date, but that's what we're aiming for. I can't see us fall by the way.
Hey, Dave.
Would you like the floor? Sorry I can't see. Okay.
Nope, I was just curious about that idea of a vertical neighborhood. I don't know if you could tell me any more about what that means.
I do remember the portion. I don't remember exactly about the vertical neighborhood as much as I remember that they had talked about that there's a lot of residential development downtown and it's a mismatch for the the.
People looking for housing right now, in terms of pricing.
And so we're headed in this direction where there'll be a ton of vacancy rather than occupation. And so there is a desire for the city to kind of like.
Help change the direction of that. I also know that they've talked a lot again about, like, there's not a lot of residential.
Support standpoint, like grocery stores and farmers, markets and childcare's. And so I think that part of that also is integrating those things within those spaces and trying to get developers to utilize some of this access space.
To actually attract people down with those resources um.
Yeah, I do, I do know the discussion really, really just center on those like, when we have a lot of people in housing, and we have a low income housing.
Here in the city, so it's like, how do we also really.
Which developers into moving there, because we need people to move downtown they need people to move to these buildings.
So, we'll see, that's definitely not our wheelhouse, but but the important 1.
Rachel, just huge depreciation that you're part of this and.
Since they have a lot of good momentum going forward. Yes. Yeah. Okay.
Thank you, it's been a very interesting project and just, like, hearing the synergy of.
All these departments are kind of everyone putting their heads together about, like, how to get people downtown and.
Yeah, it, it's feel a lot like there's a lot riding on it. Right? That's like, there's a lot that we don't want to see dye downtown and.
You know, it's, it's interesting to been thinking about, like, who does kind of at this juncture of, like, what do we do with this downtown space and so people are really thinking, like, how do we bring envision rather than just try to just to, like.
We insert what we had before.
Go ahead, and say, thank you so much. I mean, I'm a resident of burst hill and I work on Chinatown ID.
And for the last 14 days, I was fixing a whole West lake station ceiling there basically, and I've been doing a lot of capacity experience improvements all over the downtown tunnel, and I, being out there every day,
I know the difference it's making and I know the potential, but there's a lot of unused potential downtown.
Like, I said, all the office space and residential space, maybe they can and I think really reimagining it and learning a lesson from our past too. I mean, just urban planning 1 of the 1. I used neighborhoods resilient as no. Yeah, yeah.
Just really looking forward to the Oracle. Yeah, me too.
I haven't clicked through on the email. You sent us yet to do the survey when you like, is this presentation available to get this level of detail and there was some ideas that are I believe there's a website that has this that they popped up. So, I didn't get to that too.
Okay. I know this is available to share.
Yeah, kind of a general question, but, you know, living in downtown, you get the feeling that the social health of different parts of the area.
You know, it, it varies depending on where, and downtime more. Are there any areas that perhaps are a model for, for broader planning around downtown reactivation or.
In some areas that, you know, where things are going well, that that we can learn from them.
Trying to think that there was discussion. I do think that we talked a lot about.
Um, like pioneer square and around the stadiums is doing better than other parts. They talked about, like, the Mariners going to the playoffs created this big bump of sustained, especially because it went into the fall.
It's sustained a lot of foot traffic downtown. That wouldn't have normally been there and then the pioneer Square neighborhood had been.
Benefited from that.
So, I think that there's something there obviously we don't control the Mariners phosphate, invest in the barriers. But, uh, yeah, so I think that they are thinking about that.
I do another thing doing a lot of thinking about they brought a lot of ideas from other cities, like St Louis, and they were San Diego. There's other places that are are doing some really.
Interesting thinking about this too. So there's a waterfront help just to configuration of the yes, yes. I think the waterfront is like, definitely part of what's going to propel the city for especially tourism wise but I think also.
And just, um, the business opportunities that provides a lot of the principles here have been baked into the waterfront to providing spaces for small businesses. How does it become also a residential space? How does it support tourism, et cetera?
Well, that's great. I see. Bus call. You had your hand up 1st.
Yes, um, when it comes to these, um, these efforts is there also a push for, um, any changes around policy, or any anticipated, like, tax credits for those developers who are trying to, um, bridge the, like,
their funding gaps um, from like.
Uh, for trying to bring new residential or a new, uh, new business downtown.
Is it a Co, like a collaborative work with all the other departments to, um, yeah.
That as well, yeah so, I don't know specifics about tax credits I will say, but again, there is a lot of discussion about, like, how to influence the, the developer.
Landscape in order to bring more low income residents downtown, and they know the office of housing.
Um, and some of our other departments are focusing specifically on that.
But I would put that in my notes. Thanks. Well, it's a really good question.
I see your hand, though. Yeah, I was just going to say overall that.
Um, also we're trying to change and influence through this committee through this group of of departments, um, is really beginning to shape downtown.
As a neighbourhood as opposed to a core, you know, a lot of cities, particularly like, in Europe, you'll hear the term CBD right? Like the central business district, or we'll talk about the downtown core.
Um, and that was sort of the.
Sort of older Pre, pandemic model.
Um, but now we're seeing, you know, to the point of, like, having a downtown core is not necessarily going to be filled with just office buildings the way that that gets passed.
And then people would go out into the neighborhoods to live.
And to recreate and to, you know.
Grow and raise their children and all of that, um, the shift now, if we focus on downtown as a neighborhood, um, what will attract people to live.
There is 1 affordability access to schools downtown to a community center downtown recreational opportunity.
So even just kind of reshaping how we think of downtown and thinking what makes the neighborhood thrive.
And, you know, what makes neighborhoods thrives are trader Joe's and places, pet smarts, and, you know, schools, the things that I talked about. So, also looking to create those spaces downtown so that there's really a mix of everything.
But if we just rely on businesses, um, that's not gonna.
Sustain the city, it's gonna it's going to need to be a mix of a little bit of everything younger older.
Um, mixed use, living, working, recreating. Um, so I think that is going to be sort of some of the transformational, uh, process of downtown. Um.
To come through these committees, thank you. I think.
Any final thoughts Thank you, Rachel. Really appreciate your.
Max, the agenda of all the new business, anyone have anything to share.
I just wanted to remind you that we are going to go on the summer schedule soon, which means we will have 1 meeting in June, July and August. So, 28 is the June meeting.
July 13th is the July meeting in August. in august
The August meeting, I believe I was going to take those other ones off your calendar, but we know people like to vacation a little bit and get out of town. So we're trying to be respectful of your time.
Thank you so much anyone have anything else for the good of the order.
Eric meeting adjourned. Hey, thank you. Thanks everyone. Bye. Bye.