Anything else.
PKS_Boardroom: Excellent! Welcome! Welcome! It is 6 30, so we will go ahead and get started Welcome to the
PKS_Boardroom: we're being on this night. And so let's go ahead and review the ground. Robin of introductions.
PKS_Boardroom: we start online with Commissioners
PKS_Boardroom: Andre.
Andrea Stuart-Lehalle: I hop in. Good evening, Andrea Stort Lahall, she her pronouns. I am a chief of staff at sound transit of our safety department, and involved in a lot of cultural arts things in the region so thrilled to be here again.
Andrea Stuart-Lehalle: I'll pass it to you.
Andy Sheffer: Thank you. I'm Andy chef for deputy superintendent of operations. He is him pronouns grateful to be here excited.
Andy Sheffer: and I'll pass it to this call.
Pasqual Contreras: and they're passport controls. member at large, the Board of Commissioners.
Pasqual Contreras: and then I think we're back to the room. Right?
PKS_Boardroom: Excellent. Thank you. let me start off on the right staff with me. we're Commissioner District 7.
PKS_Boardroom: Philip man, get engaged, Commissioner.
PKS_Boardroom: Any robots, commissioner or districts
PKS_Boardroom: Commissioner at large.
PKS_Boardroom: and Bergen's administrator specialists with
PKS_Boardroom: in the seeds as well with you.
PKS_Boardroom: I
PKS_Boardroom: good evening.
PKS_Boardroom: Excellent! Well, welcome, and thank you, for I'll be joining us as well. we appreciate you showing up in the Forth and comments with me tonight.
PKS_Boardroom: So going from there into our land. Acknowledgment, you know, parks and recreation acknowledges that, and the original caretakers of our waters and landscape nurtured in shape today's parkland.
PKS_Boardroom: We honor their legacy, gratitude, and appreciation, and we'll safe for their knowledge of stewardship as enduring treasures to promote community welfare, cultivate inclusive expressions of nature and recreation, and admit the land acknowledging for each ensuing generation.
PKS_Boardroom: All right. So those 2 items closed.
PKS_Boardroom: we have a few items for the consent agenda which are the meeting minutes from our last meeting on June eighth. as well as the meeting agenda for today.
PKS_Boardroom: So at this point I'd like to entertain a motion for approval of those in separate agenda items.
PKS_Boardroom: Yeah.
PKS_Boardroom: very much question has been. hey? And seconded.
PKS_Boardroom: Oh, yes, so so all in favor the same. And a
PKS_Boardroom: upstate. Yeah. that's
PKS_Boardroom: alright Paul, let's keep it over to you. I'm calling great. So we have quite a few public comments participants today. So everyone gets 2 min, we're gonna try and fit everybody in. So when you hear the buzzer.
PKS_Boardroom: we're gonna move to the next person. So everybody gets their time. And first step is Peter. Right?
PKS_Boardroom: Okay? And I appreciate just a little bit of understanding is this is our first meeting with the new system. so it's a learning experience for everybody myself, myself, especially So, Peter, I'm gonna go ahead and and give you permission to unmute here.
Peter Breyfogle: My, I am here now.
Peter Breyfogle: Yes, all right, thank you.
Peter Breyfogle: I'm learning, too.
Peter Breyfogle: My name is Peter Brifle. I'm calling in to provide an update on the communication. And Mike. I'm hoping I can say his name right? I have some appreciation swindeller. He's interim deputy superintendent of Planning and capital Development and me since the last board meeting.
Peter Breyfogle: Mike email me and then call it at the direction of Ap. D. As based in my public comment during the June meeting
Peter Breyfogle: might confirm that the current estimate to make the necessary pairs was a million dollars, and this is all in regards to the Burke Gill and trail if you don't remember and there's only $300,000 of budget for it work this year.
Peter Breyfogle: These funds are going to be used to make 2 repairs, the first, which is underway with a call to replacement, some service repair in the sector. And it's going to be a schedule in August. quoting Mike's email, we realized that our current budget for Burke, Gilman trail repairs and triage approach is not ideal.
Peter Breyfogle: Nope, that you can understand the constraints that we're working with in
Peter Breyfogle: Mike and I had a very good conversation about this.
Peter Breyfogle: but I really just don't understand, though all the best funding park systems can continue to allow a key regional acid to be seriously underfunded for maintenance while exposing, sit into lawsuits.
Peter Breyfogle: There are no viable returns from bicycles to this area of Seattle. The number of bone riding depressions, tree rits and poor edge conditions is hard to explain unless you experience them from the seat of a bicycle.
Peter Breyfogle: I know much of the management. The state of Seattle parks and records do their roles
PKS_Boardroom: sort of eyes and ears can deliver a more ideal approach to fixing the Burke going.
Peter Breyfogle: In my opinion, the Park Board of Commissioners, and these requests, you know, parks and recommendation to do a Update on the board on a cost to get this thing fixed correctly next year
Peter Breyfogle: and then make the necessary budget adjustments to make this happen. There are many other bicycles that are very in with the section of the Burke Gilman Trail.
Peter Breyfogle: I have over 64 following me on Facebook at this point in time, and could easily rally many more to this cause
Peter Breyfogle: I would. That's my accounts.
PKS_Boardroom: Alright. Thank you.
PKS_Boardroom: Kim gold, though. Okay, you wanna stand up there.
PKS_Boardroom: So the Green Lake Community Center table tennis program has been a treasure in Seattle for 28 years
PKS_Boardroom: the program has been sustained to count as volunteer hours
PKS_Boardroom: together. We have produced 5 major tournaments. One included an exhibition by former mayor again, and members of parks and recreation management.
PKS_Boardroom: We provided free coaching to kids and adults. We created one of 6 programs sponsored by the Us. Olympic Committee and Seattle adaptive sports to provide opportunities for players with disabilities.
PKS_Boardroom: Players come from all over Seattle and beyond
PKS_Boardroom: our players are 70 to 80% people of color or immigrants. Just the demographic that Spr. Claims to want to support
PKS_Boardroom: Seattle. Parsley reporation announced in September 2021, during the COVID-19 shutdown that the Glcc. We, that community center could no longer provide weekend off hours table tennis because it violated cash handling regulation.
PKS_Boardroom: This cut has reduced our average evening hours from about 13 to slightly under 5 h the gym. Not since since ile on Saturday and Sunday evenings, when we were playing
PKS_Boardroom: the remaining 2 evening time slots are join between 50 and 65 players each. The Greenland Community Center gym can only hold 14 tables, so players often spend more time waiting for a table than playing.
PKS_Boardroom: We are asking parks management and our elected officials to step in to restore our weekend out. We've partnered with Seattle. the Parks Foundation and have asked set up a petition, and we've had over 280 people signed the petition to restore our weekend hours.
PKS_Boardroom: Okay, thank you. next up, Kathy.
PKS_Boardroom: okay, are you guys going to use your that's together, or, okay, Scheduler. So greetings. I'm Ted to call on my pron house that she, her and I have to them in the Beacon of Council supports renaming the Jefferson golf course to the right, to their all complex
PKS_Boardroom: recognizing our former local regiment and bureau in the long revenue process process which we have been committed to the past 3 years and the last 9 months with Parks
PKS_Boardroom: by reading the golf complex for Bill, we are honoring his efforts with an impressive white. Only sport to achieve this goal, and we'll also provide an opportunity for our to witness recognition for someone who looks like them as well as other. To know that Seattle is an inclusive well.
PKS_Boardroom: Bill Wright, Jr. Was a resident of the South End of Franklin High school graduate. A Western Washington graduate, was someone who worked hard to achieve the impossible.
PKS_Boardroom: Being the first African American golfer to one of the public things. Alternate 1929.
PKS_Boardroom: We're proposing that the Jefferson Park golf course, which is a public golf course since 1,915, and it consists of an 18 full regulation golf course and 9 whole Par. 3, course.
PKS_Boardroom: golf practice range, modest size of house and support facilities to be renamed in honor of Bill, right Junior.
PKS_Boardroom: You have a list of Canadian supporters in front of you over 24 September 20, such as myself. I'm a long time community member of 40 plus years, a public school educator, raising 4 boys who now are part of the South End community and the golfing community, and we would like to see our public golf complex reading, to honor a golfer of color who works in an impressive way. System.
PKS_Boardroom: Yeah, he achieved winning the Usga amateur public links championship in 1,959.
PKS_Boardroom: And I would like to pass the rest of my time to Derek. My, now, who is the family member who is going to speak more about why renaming is so important to our South End community.
PKS_Boardroom: Thank you to the committee for the time this morning, and I want to kind of lay out the path of why, we think this is important from the perspective and the community. Robert Wood. It is a past president of first, a golf club, and They had to petition for the right for Bill and other blacks, and either disadvantaged minorities to play so Bill to us with a pioneer but, as you mentioned, he won the Usga. But he also took the city of Seattle task.
PKS_Boardroom: So all golfers to participate in this great sport, he was an ally he didn't just do it for so
PKS_Boardroom: he did it for the community. So you could see a picture there of the kids of columns play field who Bill, you know, associated with. So this wasn't just black offers with a whole community. He was a teacher Bill moved to La to be closer to Son so he could golf more often. But he always came back to Jefferson, and every night, and we went right up to Jefferson. Something he teach? He brought first
PKS_Boardroom: T. To Washington with Robert, and was very participated in all of growing the game of golf, and and he was a hero. So you'll see these articles here from the New York Times, Seattle Times newspapers from Portland to the Usga. Or how for Bill right was, and we want this to be known in the city of CIO
PKS_Boardroom: this is his home. And we, we want it to be a place where we can always kind of grow up in the call
PKS_Boardroom: with that. So I hope you all understand why this is important. What we're asking for. Is there any questions, all of our contact information, and it out. I have some more. is there any questions? So we look forward to talking more about this and and actually working with the remaining committee to kind of
it.
PKS_Boardroom: Then, Roberts, that you want to speak as well.
PKS_Boardroom: What I like to say is that, even being a long time member of the community.
PKS_Boardroom: I went from high school graduate of 61 on all. As Bill is communicated with me over the years from Los Angeles, still trying to do things, working with me to start first tea even, and first state seed. At first T. When it first got started here. It was 3 years after that that happened, but I'm going to see my time, if you don't mind, back to Kathy and them, because
PKS_Boardroom: there's a little short on. We. We just believe that this is long overdue, and we're really asking that the remaining committee step up and provide an opportunity for the remaining of the complex hopefully, by the fall on Bill right, which is October tenth, and hope that you will all come and join in the celebration. Thank you for your time.
PKS_Boardroom: and if you have any
PKS_Boardroom: next up we have Karen Cruz
PKS_Boardroom: and up, and you move me around. So hand. Second
PKS_Boardroom: and, Karen, I'm giving you permission to unmute.
PKS_Boardroom: Okay, go ahead.
karin crews: Hi, I wasn't actually speaking today. I just was coming in
karin crews: support of the bill right renaming of the Jefferson
karin crews: for him. He's my godfather. So I've been just working in conjunction with these guys and say, I'm going to say the same thing they did, so I can pass my 2 min back to somebody else if they want to speak. But I was just here kind of in support of the whole
karin crews: Endeavor to rename the
karin crews: golf course to his name.
PKS_Boardroom: Thank you. Thank you.
PKS_Boardroom: Thomas H.
PKS_Boardroom: Correctly. Okay, so I'm I'm going to give you a okay? And
Tom Veatch: okay, can you hear me?
Tom Veatch: Yeah, awesome. So yeah, I'm driving on my way toward you. So I've thought I'd catch you while I'm
Tom Veatch: still not physically there, so my name is Tom V. I'm a retired plumber. I moved to Seattle in 98, and I bought my house in North Seattle in O. 2 in 98 I came into the green like table tennis center and was welcomed and have had a
Tom Veatch: you know, with like bunch of surgeries in my knees. My sport is table tennis and I wanted to just put in a few words for Saturday hours and Sunday hours. So healthy aging requires fun exercise. There are some grinders in in our species who don't mind sitting on a treadmill or going back and forth in a swimming lane. you know, board to tears and suffering with every stroke. But a lot of us really like to exercise in a way that's fun
Tom Veatch: and table tennis. Well, Dr. Aim says that out of his 65,000 brain scans, the people that live the longest are the ones with that play the racket sports among the racket sports. The one that's the best is the one that's the fastest
Tom Veatch: for that being a table tennis. So I find that
Tom Veatch: you know table tennis is kind of looked down upon by the general population as a parlor game, which, if you get better and better at it. It it begins to approximate the sweating fast Olympic sport that it can be, and then it is if you
Tom Veatch: devote yourself to it, and many do. Actually. So we have a population, though, that's really interested in this sport, especially full of Mike immigrants.
Tom Veatch: Asian Americans.
Tom Veatch: you know.
Tom Veatch: people. Actually, they don't. I don't know. I'm trying to figure out. Why is this table? 10 is sort of a disregarded stepchild. We I mean the culture sort of thinks of it as a parlor game.
Tom Veatch: but it is a sport, and it's like these disregard of pop regardable populations. We don't really need to serve them that much if we give them a few hours here and there. That's fine, but we'll move the children out of the way for them, or they'll them out of the way for the children, them out of the way for basketball them out of the way whenever we have anything else to do with our systems. And if they don't fit our bureaucratic requirements, we're just gonna like, Hey, that's too bad.
Tom Veatch: So I kind of object to this, and I think that.
Tom Veatch: Well, let me put it this way. the the city.
Tom Veatch: There's 2 issues. One is that the like? I mentioned the disregardability of table tenants? It's it's kind of wrong.
Tom Veatch: But the other one is this idea that the community center must serve. It's it's kind of walking radius residential population. That's who you're there to serve. No, that's not true. Table tennis is especially a regional magnet thing where people come from long distances, and that's really the value you don't want to just play your sister in your garage. You want to play the best players all around who congregated a that that place which is what we have a green link. So I just wanted to say those positive things in support of
Tom Veatch: this amazing resource that we have, and hope you will support its, you know. Return to the Saturday and Sunday hours that we have formerly had. Thank you.
PKS_Boardroom: All right, thank you, Tom. Next up, Sir
PKS_Boardroom: Aisha. Sorry my mouse is not the handing itself
PKS_Boardroom: and go ahead, and you should have to mention the talk.
PKS_Boardroom: Sarah Misha.
PKS_Boardroom: Sara.
PKS_Boardroom: are you online?
PKS_Boardroom: I can see you unmuting and ming yourself. So you should be able to speak. Now.
PKS_Boardroom: if not, we can always come back.
PKS_Boardroom: Okay, we're going to come back
PKS_Boardroom: Terence. I,
PKS_Boardroom: but even my name is Terrence I I'm an advisor in the National district.
PKS_Boardroom: But then I'm here to talk about.
PKS_Boardroom: I discovered really
PKS_Boardroom: given kind of this program on the weekend when I walk around like, I have a hard operation.
PKS_Boardroom: So, and that was in 2,005.
PKS_Boardroom: So I'm a little
PKS_Boardroom: I also like to supplement
PKS_Boardroom: on out there.
PKS_Boardroom: We in the early center also had a swimming pool
PKS_Boardroom: and also had a tolery open and a private
PKS_Boardroom: to what they'.
PKS_Boardroom: I hate to do.
PKS_Boardroom: So I would like to
PKS_Boardroom: to increase the upgrade of suddenly for to email on weekends
PKS_Boardroom: we, we should have 50'clock to
PKS_Boardroom: 90'clock on Sunday 4 to 9 on Sunday.
PKS_Boardroom: So
PKS_Boardroom: I have thought to the parks. But when I come up with a mob to the past.
PKS_Boardroom: What is the budget that I need to ask for funding per year?
PKS_Boardroom: And they told me today that they
PKS_Boardroom: so I can only request that it increase where the funding is required
PKS_Boardroom: to stop. Person zoom
PKS_Boardroom: open. Click.
PKS_Boardroom: Well, 5 to 9, 7.
Okay.
thank you.
PKS_Boardroom: All right. And we're going to come back, Sarah. We're going to try again.
PKS_Boardroom: and I'm going to go ahead and give you all right. You should have permission to talk and go ahead.
Saurabh Mishra: yeah. Can you hear me now?
Saurabh Mishra: Yes, okay, thank you so much. So I mean, I would like to add to what Kim, Tom and Terrence have spoken So you know, I've been playing table tennis at the Green Lake Community Center since March this year.
Saurabh Mishra: I think it's one of the best public table tennis facilities in the Seattle metro area. I've been to a few table that is, facilities in Bellevue, Redmond and Federal way.
Saurabh Mishra: but they are nowhere near as good as the Green Lake. facility. What's good about Green Lake table tennis center is that it has a lot of tables and a much bigger playing area.
And people of all skill levels, you know, take, you know. Come here on juices and Fridays, and you know, play you know, for for the time that we are allocated
I but I've noticed a few things, you know, on weekdays, you know. So it's currently only open on users and 5 days. So that is that there are a lot of players you know that that are participating
Saurabh Mishra: and practicing, and because of the limited playing time that we have, everybody ends up waiting a lot, and playing and and and playing a lot less
Saurabh Mishra: So if you were allocated if you are allocated more time, especially on weekends, you, you know. Of course, we would be able to play longer, and also everybody would be able to enjoy playing table tennis So I mean, if you were to visit, or at the Green, like facility on any day or Tuesday, Friday, you will actually see the the amount of rush.
Saurabh Mishra: the number of people that are over there. So it's it's actually very tough to I mean, it's not. It's not an enjoyable experience. So we I I would actually request along with Kim Tomm intends to, you know, to restore the we can ask for Green Lake tabled in the center.
Saurabh Mishra: Thank you.
PKS_Boardroom: Thank you.
PKS_Boardroom: Yeah.
but
PKS_Boardroom: that's it for public promise.
PKS_Boardroom: Oh, yes, so sorry.
PKS_Boardroom: Alright.
PKS_Boardroom: hey? I'm Charlie, that's my So I'm here today to speak about the proposed renovation almost 11 and 12. so there's a call for my cell phone as up to Cs in a municipal call in Seattle.
PKS_Boardroom: But as a neighbor, I'm really concerned that 16 story cutting. Is this not like the right approach? so, Johnson. Part, of course, is a Cornish one of the home set parks. I am the basis of design, for this is to provide peace and respect for people of all walks of life and attractive open spaces.
PKS_Boardroom: and you know nothing that this is so tall. You you can see it. W. That really seems to like go in opposition to this.
PKS_Boardroom: so I I really think that that pursuing this approach to the it's any possibility of other alternatives like reforestation along the course perimeter to restore the natural barrier that used to prevent golf balls from actually the
PKS_Boardroom: And
PKS_Boardroom: furthermore, the netting is going to be surrounded by endemic invasive blackberry species which have already destroyed a lot of the netting of the fencing and existing golf course setting in that proposed project site. So it's going to create a significant increase in the maintenance for the course
PKS_Boardroom: and also, as was admitted in the last community meeting, it's inevitably going to lead to higher prices on in sales currently cheapest golf course.
PKS_Boardroom: And so I'm just asking as as folks of the community.
PKS_Boardroom: if we can find a middle ground where we can still invest in Jefferson Park, it restored to a part 70. But it not
PKS_Boardroom: require 16 story thating along extensive predators of the of course. So, for example, one such middle ground would be moving forward all 11 30, 40 yards.
PKS_Boardroom: so it doesn't go quite to the 420 plus or part where it used to be. But it's so like an exciting part for But then, with this reduced length of the head, we can leverage the existing trees that exist, and not need to build such extensive net, if not any, that they at all
PKS_Boardroom: And as part of the money saved. we can
PKS_Boardroom: re for us, that is, of the course and support community led efforts to restore the perimeter trail and and build the missing of the jumps apart from it.
PKS_Boardroom: I don't know that it was.
PKS_Boardroom: So it looks like the next agenda I have now is the superintendent for?
Okay.
PKS_Boardroom: yeah.
PKS_Boardroom: okay.
PKS_Boardroom: really important. And for me to know. And so I will work really close with my staff to.
PKS_Boardroom: and that's good fact. And then I wanted to mention also for the table top tenants, and again, thank you for coming out another opportunity for me to get out to also try one of our sports as popular. So I look forward to coming out and playing with you all sometime, that I wanted to let the Commissioners know that and the public that on July 19
PKS_Boardroom: we're going to be having a listening session at Green Link to
PKS_Boardroom: all of these issues with the community, if they're more from other members and so forth. And then it also asks our recreation. It's set up on an online question there. But they're actually not, you know, in public. So
PKS_Boardroom: so wanted to thank you. And then, lastly, sir, thanks for calling me to speak. I was just an upbringing about. Oh, this yesterday, so we will. We're contain any work on it, and trying to find the best understanding any of us who live right there. And
PKS_Boardroom: okay, thank you.
PKS_Boardroom: All right, Commissioner. Well, here we are with the superintendent's report. So I have 13. So this was a big week for me and and our department. I was truly honored on Tuesday to be sworn in as the 26 Superintendent of Seattle parts and recreation.
PKS_Boardroom: Thank you very much. And I learned in the process. You know, that we, a tenor park system, actually.
PKS_Boardroom: the city was incorporated in 1,869. But Daniel Denny donated the first parcel of land that we're actually on right now as a very first part in Seattle, Denny Park, so dating back to 1,864. But what I did say at my swearing in one of acknowledged. There again is that we all know that before a 26 superintendent there were many original caretakers of our land and our seascape
PKS_Boardroom: way before there's 26 superintendents from 1,969 to the present. And so I'm just really honored to be in that place and to be caretakers with you. All this part of the parkland. So I'm really excited to be here.
PKS_Boardroom: as you know, we have. just concluded all-star meet
PKS_Boardroom: here in Seattle hopefully, our baseball fans, if any in the room had a wonderful time watching baseball, either in person or on television, or maybe even participating in some of the great events, community events that were around town.
PKS_Boardroom: Our staff worked really hard, along with the entire city family, to ensure that our park system was as safe and welcoming as possible that there were open avenues, and the road bears to get to the gain walking and using transportation, and that that were safe ways to do that with
PKS_Boardroom: a lot of our downtown park spaces lit up that we need to ensure safety, and what was really exciting was on Sunday I tried to represent our department down in South Seattle at the Rainier Ball Fields, where the mariners and the entire Mlb. Leadership, including the Commissioner of Mlp. Baseball was on hand
PKS_Boardroom: to do a groundbreaking with us as part of the legacy of the all-star game and a commitment investment back to the community. The mayor's office was able to negotiate an investment for Seattle parts and recreation, and for
PKS_Boardroom: the children of all the city, but also South Seattle, or 1.3 million dollars investment by Mlb. To convert our rainier play fields with much needed upgraded turf and state of the art baseball facilities and practice field facilities that can be used for a variety of sports, and they're doing other investments. But it was a combined investment of our own. Our very own mariners
PKS_Boardroom: and Mlb. And it was really great to be with the community and children and families that are going to be receiving the legacy of
PKS_Boardroom: the 3 Day Star studded Festival which will continue for many generation. Then I was reminded at that event that the last final city hosted the all-star game. which was, I can't remember a couple of decades ago, or maybe at least over 10 years ago. but Mlp. Did an investment there at the lower with and field. And it's still bright in today that legacy. So this is another one to add. So I'm really excited about that
PKS_Boardroom: also, for our annual report. it has been released the 2,022 Park District Annual Report. It's available online. You can see the cover there, I believe at in a park in the international Chinatown district of some type sheet
PKS_Boardroom: classes. But it's really a great report and a snapshot of all the amazing work that our parks department does every year. And you can get it online.
PKS_Boardroom: that, you're up your Ls out there. It's also available by Googling, Seattle parks and recreation and we're happy to share it with anyone if you'd like a hard copy, please let us know but we're excited to share that with the public in this spirit of transparency, and just to demonstrate the good work that we've been doing
PKS_Boardroom: And then, just to give you some summer updates. we are, of course, in full summer swing here in Seattle 77 and signing. I just saw down there. I see. Andrea, maybe you're outside somewhere beautiful. And it's such, I know when amazing thing we should have summer commission meetings outdoors. Right? Let's figure out a way we're gonna to figure out a way
PKS_Boardroom: but we are. we're in full swing now. It's a time when our part system really arrives for children, especially
PKS_Boardroom: and adults to get out and play. Our 2 outdoor pools are now open, Coleman, and longer and the community. Thank you for being patient with me. I've been dealing a lot with a lot of community members, particularly in Western Seattle, waiting for Pullman
PKS_Boardroom: to open up, asking us for as many extended hours as possible, and we are working on that potentially for later on in the summer. But all of those pools are now open. Daily we have 6 life started. Swim beaches that are open daily, and 11 spray parks where you can take your young ones out and just have the splash pad experience and the great parts which are really fun. And then all around the city there are smaller waiting pools, as you can see in a picture there in the Powerpoint
PKS_Boardroom: and those schedules vary by location. But all of the details are listed on parkways.
PKS_Boardroom: and so we're excited about summer. It's a great time, and now I know why everyone was telling me to wait for the summer. So it's beautiful, and I'm excited to be here for my first
PKS_Boardroom: summer and many more to come. really, an important part of what we do every year is our free summer lunch program. So, recognizing that children are out of school during the summer time, and don't have some of the normal protections of the school.
PKS_Boardroom: in a school system. we're proud to again be launching the free summer lunch program. where we provide free summer meals to children. throughout the summer time since school is not in session. And that's really an important and proud thing that we do.
PKS_Boardroom: And just wanted to highlight that. It's also our summer of safety program is going on in full force, where we work really closely with to have extended park hours. at many locations, one. Because again, kids are not in school, and the summer nights go long time in Seattle, where it's laid out, and we want to make sure that our parks are activated as much as possible.
PKS_Boardroom: and that children have places to go and to ride and to do things and have activities. So we have a variety of locations where summer safety is going on. This is a free program and and it will operate it up, operating at 7 community center locations throughout the summer. So again, those locations are available on our website as well as all of the information I'm talking about tonight
PKS_Boardroom: as a reminder to our proud Seattle citizens who are dog lovers and parents and caretakers to for babies. Just a remind reminder that no dogs are allowed on aesthetic fields.
PKS_Boardroom: and really important to remember that unless you're in a sanctioned off-leash area, you must keep your dog on a leash for the dog's protection as well as the public one.
PKS_Boardroom: So many athletic teams and community members use the field during the summer. They Some of them are booked and paid for some of them. We just want to keep in good conditions. And so, if it's not, it sanctioned off like area jobs, and and unfortunately provides a lot of wear and tear or athletic field. So we just want to remind our public to help us in that endeavor as much as possible. So
PKS_Boardroom: I think going on to operations. Now I know everybody loves the before and after size. and here's some examples of some remediation work that we have done over at Wallingford. And you can see some grading. leveling. That's been done by our amazing crew.
PKS_Boardroom: teams. Also out in the field. we continuously monitor our part signs. And I'm working with our signature also to look at it.
PKS_Boardroom: These are the right types of signs. Not that we would be changing our rainbow signs. We love our radio signs. but ensuring that we're using the right material. that can be. that's as correct. Be resistant as possible, or scrap the assistance. but we are, replacing them as much as possible. We might remind the public. If you see, assign we have a find it, fix it. App.
PKS_Boardroom: that anybody in Seattle can download on your phone. You can upload a picture and it for anything that you see in the park, you see a broken screenplay, you see. and I'm even a pavement. You see a light that's out. We encourage the public to
PKS_Boardroom: report that I'm trying to fix it. Upload a picture, it will automatically go into our system. And you'll also get response updates. If you would like And you can do this for writing things, not just part issues, but others see issues throughout the city. So just wanted to highlight that.
PKS_Boardroom: And then some of our planning and capital development
PKS_Boardroom: events that have been going on up there on the right is finally the reopening of Magnus and Community Center.
PKS_Boardroom: That was a big list for our capital planning team, and we were so excited to return this community center to the public. it's been open now for at least a couple of weeks. But we have the official ceremony, and if you haven't seen the new Magazine Community Center, if you happen to be driving up there. It's worth going in. It's a beautiful site. It's retained a lot of. It's historical
PKS_Boardroom: exterior portions that are
PKS_Boardroom: nice and and part of the area, but completely renovated basketball, for it's a brand new community kitchen, community meeting rooms that we use for dancing and gathering and all kinds of events. And so the public was really excited to do that. And I want to point out to that, Magnus, and we work a lot. And we're an area to improve. It's also to do more community outreach with the public housing
PKS_Boardroom: that is around the Magnus, and we have great opportunity to lean into this, we do there so that we ensure all the children in the community. can be using Magnus and and some really regional. So it's for everyone in Seattle, as all parts are. it serves a broad base, but also we want it to be accessible, and a welcoming space for those who live
PKS_Boardroom: literally just across the street. So we're happy to do that. I was also at a little Saigon park.
PKS_Boardroom: groundbreaking in international Chinatown district, and it's right across from lands seafood, if you know that location. It was an old parking lot, and many, many years in in the works, from property acquisition into studies and serving
PKS_Boardroom: And we're finally, we've broke ground on it. It's going to be a beautiful part. It's gonna have amazing art installation. from a local I believe.
PKS_Boardroom: I may have this wrong side. I'm not sure if she's Vietnamese, or may even be bring in. But a local Asian artist who want a design competition and has a beautiful rendering of gates. and there's going to be terrorist steps. So it's going to be a place structure that's going to be community spaces beautification. And then when you go up this set, it's very close against where at terrorists. And so it's a nice connection, just really a commitment to improve
PKS_Boardroom: that area along team street, and to bring more greenery to that part of the city which needs it. So we're excited about that. And then at Screw Street, mini-part we did some investments, and we were able to return those to the public in collaboration again, with office of arts and culture.
PKS_Boardroom: to create in the Seattle Central District. spruce up play area. And it's pretty more part. So some updates there on.
PKS_Boardroom: and then some upcoming events that are coming up to the community. We have our
PKS_Boardroom: continuous native indigenous presentations will be called at City Hall Park. If you haven't been by sitting all Park at night. It's really great.
PKS_Boardroom: It's well, it's it's great. During the day as to what a transformation! And a real work and progress Andy Scheffer is on the line, our deputy superintendent.
PKS_Boardroom: we're really really hard as well as a lot of people on our staff, but we finally returned that part to the city and to downtown residents, and the key to that part right now is activation during the day. Food trucks at busters and all kinds of games new chairs, lighting and then using the community space at night.
PKS_Boardroom: for a variety of things right now, we're doing this indigenous presentations. and that's really exciting. So it's a great space, and then until, like Fourteenth, twenty-first and 28, there will be movies at Kell Anderson Park, which is really fine right there in
PKS_Boardroom: Central district, or cap on the cusp of capital Capitol Hill in the app. which is great. And then one thing that's not on here. But we also, I volunteer part. the summer concert in the Park series starts tonight and I believe there will be about 6 or 7 more every Thursday, and I want to check those out. So that's super exciting. And
PKS_Boardroom: and the superintendent's report.
PKS_Boardroom: But thank you. So
PKS_Boardroom: thank you. Ap.
PKS_Boardroom: Going down a list here. It looks like we have a presentation of staff maybe center ours expansion. If we did, you guys in a few months for that. no, I just want to invite up Daisy.
PKS_Boardroom: our recreation division Director T. Scott and they're going to talk about briefing to the board that's coming tonight standard hours, which is really important and always on the minds of our community. And so just to share with you a little bit about what we're thinking about community center, our expansion and how we're approaching that. So I welcome to
PKS_Boardroom: stage here. Thank you.
PKS_Boardroom: Oh, sorry. Got it. Okay, we will do this together. Alright. Thank you. Everyone for allowing some time for us tonight. we are voice providing on using work our team has done again is ready for some plan expanded out for our community centers
PKS_Boardroom: next slide
PKS_Boardroom: got it driving all right. So this slide is giving us some background contacts in regards to what the testing is capturing.
PKS_Boardroom: Again, this is about expansion, public access to community centers and aligned public operational hours, so that we can increase evening and we get access and response to community preferences.
PKS_Boardroom: this is a representation of about 2.1 million. It will also come with some staff increase, as you can see on the screen and also represents a total of 8% increase in city wide. And we've got some operating covers.
PKS_Boardroom: Sorry.
PKS_Boardroom: So I want to again just level, set, and share with everyone in the room. How we got to this in regards to stakeholder and community engagement. There was a lot of work that the Department had done to get to the space which really influence and shape, how they said it was going to be executed
PKS_Boardroom: pre-pandemic during the pandemic and post pandemic. So I just want to be able to just highlight all the efforts that the Department did get us here. first starting off with the amazing work that was beginning with the strategic plan that I heard. as you can see to the bottom left. That is a capture that the report is to plan that also created some space for communication and and stakeholders to share their opinions, comments and so forth.
PKS_Boardroom: In addition to that, we also worked with an organization called Berke and Burke did an actual evaluation that was conducted on the Recreation division. Not only did it do an evaluation of our programs, but it also revisited our staffing models and just some comparisons to other peer departments that this similar type of work.
PKS_Boardroom: In addition to that, we also did some action plan work. And this is really what occurred during the pandemic. And so we pivoted as we were responding to what was happening globally, and we still create a space to really get the work moving along with the strategic plan. And again, that was another subset of experiences where the community was able to do some engagement which again was shaping us in regards to how we wanted to use this investment.
PKS_Boardroom: Coming out of the pandemic, we again brought back some listening sessions, you know a lot has happened Post Cree pandemic. And so we wanted to be able to just reinforce that this is still something that is aligned to the community. So not only did we do 6 community in person, listening sessions, we also did the virtual. And we also did an online survey commitment. So we were doing our best to ensure that we gathered as many different voices. And then a lot of variety of different accessibility to make that happen.
PKS_Boardroom: And then, just on top of that advisory account, we always use those as another platform to encourage.
PKS_Boardroom: All right. Next, I'm going to pass it on to tea. And she's going to talk about how we're operationalizing this. Okay? So some things that we wanted to level, said was the common language that we're using as we're describing our roll out of the expansion hours, but also with our real line. It. within all of our community centers. City. Why? So we've got a standard operating hours, which are the hours that the community is open to the general public.
PKS_Boardroom: our goal is to make sure that we have consistent hours quarterly. So we'll see some consistency between our fall hours and our spring hours, and we will shift ours based on our expanded programming with our which our superintendent talked about. We stand in the summer for some day. Camps, activity camps are summer safety and summer food, so we will usually balance those out by bringing staff in and opening our doors for
PKS_Boardroom: so that we can make sure that we have the building open to satisfy the need with all of our activities going on.
PKS_Boardroom: We've got our staffing hours which are the hours that staff are on site for administrative and programming needs. Those hours are in aligned with our operating hours, but we do bring them in in advance to do some administrative work, but also to get the building ready. And we do also have some program support within a half hour or so to our operating hours that you bring staff on.
PKS_Boardroom: We also have our community center models, which I references, the hours of operations that we have and the services that those sites may provide. So we've got our regional hours, our regional sites for 70 plus operating hours, and those sites are over 7 days a week. We have our neighborhood with 50 to 69 operating hours, and those generally are operating 6 days a week in some may also to 7, and then our community hours that are 50 or less hours during the week.
PKS_Boardroom: Okay, she was playing right? Click. sure.
Oh.
PKS_Boardroom: just a second. I also want to just make note, and I know you all can see this. that our morning hours are defined as centers that open before noon, our afternoon our censorship open between 12 and 5 Pm. In our evening hours our centers get close after fire.
PKS_Boardroom: Okay. January first, 2,023. We realigned from 4 geographical areas to 3 operating zones and one of the tools that we use. And looking at how we're going to do this realignment was the city's race and social equity. Index map. And what you'll see is our zone. One sites are the sites that are in green, and they in the equity have the highest equity priority need.
PKS_Boardroom: Our orange sites were more in the middle, and they are second highest equity, priority need, and the blue sites which represents sites at the north end were at the lowest equity priority. A. So we did successfully re align from 4G. Practical areas that represented south, east, south, west, northwest to 3 operational.
PKS_Boardroom: What I do want to highlight with this slide is given that the screen, the slide you seen before in regards to the hours with this allows us, as a division to do is really programmatically and do our approach
PKS_Boardroom: in a global setting. So when you think about its own. And you've got a variety of the 3 different models you could really program and maximize how we want to service that community. So I just want to make sure that we're kind of highlighted, that that's a different way of how we're looking for in the September.
PKS_Boardroom: And it's north, central, South, right? It aligns to that. When you look at the map you do see some outliers, you'll see there's an orange up north that's representing North K, which does have an equity priority need. So we did align that with the zone. 2, and you'll see it surrounding some of the these on 3 sides, but it does naturally align to south.
PKS_Boardroom: central and north.
PKS_Boardroom: Okay, so the hours allocation these are the proposed hours that you will be able to highlight the gain. And I know, with doing virtual. So it's a little bit hard to see So just walking me through
PKS_Boardroom: the proposed hours. Also, we want to make sure that we honor some existing partnerships with sound generations. Asian counseling referral services which does our fitness programs with our seniors Seattle housing authority and our preschool programs. We do have a lot of preschool. Sorry just to real quick tech. You can actually grab it now. So you grab that top toolbar a little bit down
PKS_Boardroom: that there we go. And then, yeah, if you go on that, there you go
cool.
PKS_Boardroom: Oh, I know that.
PKS_Boardroom: Alright. Look at that
PKS_Boardroom: zoom by use. Yeah. for those of you on the screen. stuff is happening, I promise you can't really see it.
Okay. yes.
PKS_Boardroom: Well, that's better.
PKS_Boardroom: Okay, so When we look at the proposed schedules, and how we're going to be expanding ours at some sites, we did want to make sure that we honored some the existing programming that we have going as well as the existing partnerships. also the implementation for standard hours while we have started.
PKS_Boardroom: it takes effect. September eleventh. And these are our plan hours extension. And the implementation is dependent on us meeting the appropriate staffing levels which we are actively hiring to fill vacancy, so that we have staff on site that can help execute this expansion.
PKS_Boardroom: There was a perception of losing hours, and we just want to make sure that we're clear that we did take all those things into consideration. And the altogether it's expand hours to increase community access to our community centers Some of those perceptions were with lifelong recreation the reception that we are losing morning hours and that we're
PKS_Boardroom: with this chart, you'll see Delbridge Community Center as our highest gain. And just to give you an idea of the planned hours historically beveraged. Community Center operated Monday through Friday 9 Am. To 6 pm.
PKS_Boardroom: So I'm proud to announce that now they'll be operating 6 days a week, opening 9, 30, and closing at 9 pm. So that's providing the community more access to Dell Ridge to recreate, and giving them more choices as to when they're going to, when they are able to recreate and join us at the community center.
PKS_Boardroom: and then just going back to the original slide. At the beginning the investment was really catching the fact that there was a need for more dropping
PKS_Boardroom: programs in the evenings, particularly making sure that we provide programs accessible to working families. And so that's really kind of captioning those things that are happening after 5 pm.
PKS_Boardroom: All right. So
PKS_Boardroom: so just to note that we've got a lot of capital improvement projects. And I was, you know it was great to hear some of the things that are already happening with some other lines of business. This is this, but come, fall 2,023, we have 6 sites that will not be operating, and it's worth noting. How about? In South Park we have Mongolia and map Mont Lake and moral person. Unfortunately, Lake City was, in addition to this devastating fire that occurred not too long ago.
PKS_Boardroom: A couple of notes about our cip closures is that those hours are not going to be reallocated to other sites.
PKS_Boardroom: we do have an expectation of salary savings as a part of our goal. with our base budget. But also those staff may need to support offsite programming during the closure. And there's still a lot of work that's involved with the IP. Users that coordinators and sites that will have to do so. We are expecting that we will have some staff that are going to be reassigned to the fill. Some
PKS_Boardroom: one of those business needs to include helping us meet the goal with the sites that are expanded. with the fall, 2,023 planning staff are going to be assigned to rebuild vacancies. due to leads and etc. And also we're going to address some staffing needs across the city and also make rent rooms, support some other programs or other aligned with this is like long recreation and specialized programs.
PKS_Boardroom: all right.
PKS_Boardroom: So just to further break down the expanded hours zone, one which is the zone that represents the majority of the South, East and Southwest community centers, has the most total hours come, fall 2,023, and that represents 39% overall of all of our our city wide zone 2 is right behind at 405 h. Zone 3 at 482.5
PKS_Boardroom: we've got C, it's C, it closures across all those spread out evenly, and just to break down where we are, with how many days a week our sites are going to be open zone, one come, fall. We have 5, 6 day sites and 2 7 day sites. Zone 2 will have 2, 5 day sites and 3 6 day sites.
PKS_Boardroom: and I'm having to announce that with zoom to obviously is on the plan and on the agenda it will be built. But yes, for community centers, one to represent zoom to an expanding or to cover 7 days, so that we do have a 7 in site in the central area. so that families can get to the community centers on Sundays to to recreate.
PKS_Boardroom: zone 3 has 1, 5 day site 4, 6 bay sites and 2 Saturday sites
PKS_Boardroom: alright. So we're closing this out our briefing, but just wanted to share our next steps. after today's this group we will be moving forward by sharing this information with our advisory councils.
PKS_Boardroom: we will also be leaning into a public announcement. so we're gonna be communicated to some community engagements. to share our planned hours, and we will also do some internal work to ensure that we've got a stack all out of hurry, and we are doing all this to ensure that we are ready to go as best as we can by September eleventh.
Alright.
PKS_Boardroom: And we just need that last click and
PKS_Boardroom: awesome. Thank you, Daisy? And yeah, I I was actually able to send a listing session as Deller. And I just want to get through this because we all did a really good job of being really comprehensive to that community input. Process. So that's just kind of my comments there, any questions or
PKS_Boardroom: feedback from the Commissioners.
PKS_Boardroom: Just so. Thank you. People are really excited.
PKS_Boardroom: Thank you. Means a lot
PKS_Boardroom: up. Next, we have a presentation on our environment division update that it's
PKS_Boardroom: as well as. And
PKS_Boardroom: I think the treaty did you have any really great work? And we mentioned we have so much, so much of the pride of our part system is based on. We're in our Operations Division and our hard working crews that And if you all remember and Marquis recently been promoted to director of our Parks and environment division. And
PKS_Boardroom: he's in Andy's shop. And so they're gonna do a presentation today about some of the
PKS_Boardroom: the work that we've been doing in that division, and
PKS_Boardroom: hey, great
Andy Sheffer: I'm sorry I can't be there in person. I'm Andy Sheffer. I first wanted to thank Paula. Hop from Benjamin Burt. So for creating such a welcoming and comfortable environment for these meetings.
Andy Sheffer: it's a great pleasure to introduce our parks and environment leadership team. They'll be presenting on a proactive approach to being stewards of our parks lands.
Andy Sheffer: It's one thing to be able to address emerging issues, but is far better to be strategic with resources, and ahead of the 8 ball by hats off to the new leadership team of parks in the environment. Their passion for the work is fired up, Staff, and I am hopeful that you will see that through this presentation, Mark Keith.
Markeith Blackshire: Quick! Well, good evening, everyone, and thank you for allowing us to present this evening. Our first presenter
Markeith Blackshire: is going to be Jordan. Maria Jordan is the grounds
Markeith Blackshire: maintenance manager for the north unit.
Jordan Merriam: Hi, thanks for having me
Jordan Merriam: So this slide shows ours invested on some of our most common maintenance tasks, highlighting the
Jordan Merriam: quarterly increase in turf maintenance hours, mainly mowing and irrigation, and also litter and garbage collection
Jordan Merriam: well, maintaining civil similar levels invested on other high priority tests like graffiti in shrub and maintenance. some of this shift is seasonal to, you know, spring is turf maintenance season, but this is also an increase in all areas from quarter to 2022, due to hiring
Jordan Merriam: quarter to alone.
Jordan Merriam: Sp our district maintenance crews filled 29 permanent positions, and hired 28 temporary employees to staff up for peak season
and
Jordan Merriam: go to the next side, please.
Jordan Merriam: So you see here our conversation cleaning hours, and the hours we spent on beach fires.
Jordan Merriam: we hired
Jordan Merriam: 12 new labors in quarter one of this year in February, and they've been providing increase conversation cleaning during the evening. When people are out in the parks.
Jordan Merriam: the new evening shift. Labor is also resume responsibility for locking the comfort stations that used to fall on our beach fire staff that allows our beach fire staff to spend time at the beach during the evening hours when it's busy, and that shows the increase in hours
Jordan Merriam: this year compared to last year in
Jordan Merriam: yeah, huge increase in conversation. Cleaning hours Nearly doubled the hours in quarter 2 this year, compared to last year spent on compensation cleaning.
Come on
Jordan Merriam: next slide.
Jordan Merriam: So just want to quickly highlight the conversation d dashboard that was developed by Kristy. Darcy's very, very talented. It's not here to talk about it, but just want to acknowledge her.
Jordan Merriam: this lists all our comfort stations by district tracks, whether they're open or close in there.
Jordan Merriam: The dashboard is currently used internally to coordinate between work groups. We're working on developing a public facing dashboard to provide transparency and information on public restrooms.
Jordan Merriam: That's all I have. Thank you, everybody.
Markeith Blackshire: Thank you, Jordan.
Markeith Blackshire: I'm going to present. and a place for Stephanie Sheldon.
Markeith Blackshire: Stephanie is the manager of our natural resource unit.
Markeith Blackshire: So this slide consists of the
Markeith Blackshire: various. the visions or sections or units that she manages. Our natural resource unit within parts of the environment includes our 4 specialty garden sites
and 6 unique programs that provide citywide
Markeith Blackshire: park support. This includes urban forestry
Markeith Blackshire: trails, ecology.
Markeith Blackshire: heavy equipment turf, and our horticulture program.
Markeith Blackshire: We are highlighting the quarterly updates from 3 of our programs today.
Markeith Blackshire: kicking off with our urban Forster team. our urban forestry team. Excuse me, our urban forestry team provides tree care
Markeith Blackshire: and arbor services across our parks and natural areas
Markeith Blackshire: in 2,023 in Are you
Markeith Blackshire: has been building staff capacity in both our urban forest, your team, our ecology team to address 3 can be lost
Markeith Blackshire: on our forestry team and late quarter one we hired an onboarded for new employees to form a dedicated tree crew.
Markeith Blackshire: Their sole focus is to plant new trees and provide 5 years of care
Markeith Blackshire: to address tree loss specifically in our developed parts. The program considers multiple factors to find location for treat for new trees.
Markeith Blackshire: including areas in map equity zones.
Markeith Blackshire: areas experiencing high summer heat impacts
Markeith Blackshire: and areas of low existing tree can be
Markeith Blackshire: in the past winter planning seasons, we've planted 172 trees.
Markeith Blackshire: 75% in high need areas.
Markeith Blackshire: And we have been busy
Markeith Blackshire: incense, spring motion
Markeith Blackshire: watering and planning ahead for fall and winter of 2,024, 3 planning work.
Markeith Blackshire: Our annual target is 300 trees annually in developed parks.
Markeith Blackshire: and we work with the ecology team to provide post planet tree care in natural areas.
Markeith Blackshire: Our ecology team consists of the Green Seattle partnership natural area crews
Markeith Blackshire: and our wildlife and I, Pm. Lead
Markeith Blackshire: working citywide to provide these services
Markeith Blackshire: and quarter one and 2. This year the Gsp. Team and program has planted over 3,800 or 38,000 trees, shrubs, and ground covers with active, with activity, recorded at a hundred 11 parts. That's approximately 7,000 trees.
Markeith Blackshire: Also to date this year Gsp. Has performed 21 new acres
Markeith Blackshire: of restoration.
Markeith Blackshire: These are natural areas that have not seen prior Gsp restoration efforts.
Markeith Blackshire: Gsp. Funding has also supported programming
Markeith Blackshire: efforts in 2,023, with 15 partner organizations, including 2 bipoc lead organizations.
Markeith Blackshire: and to mention those organizations. They are serve Ethiopians, Washington and future rising restoration and co-creation. Llc.
Markeith Blackshire: And then the look ahead
Markeith Blackshire: kicking off in quarter 3. We are enthusiastic that this year we have 6 youth, career, exposure and job training programs.
Markeith Blackshire: These programs will serve 71 participants this spring and summer.
Markeith Blackshire: Many have just started this week. So we're seeing many young people in our hallways.
Markeith Blackshire: and it's really energized.
Markeith Blackshire: And third in the lower center
Markeith Blackshire: quarterly updates from our trails program.
Markeith Blackshire: which is fully staffed for the first time since its inception they have been over achieving their annual work plan targets to date.
Markeith Blackshire: This team has a strong focus on equity. Equity needs areas for maintenance
Markeith Blackshire: in the first half of the year of this year they provided maintenance to 6 miles of trails. built 3 bridges and made 14 trail access improvements to schools and neighborhoods
Markeith Blackshire: next slide.
Markeith Blackshire: Okay. our next line of business is security and emergency operations. I want to take this opportunity to highlight our part range of programs, efforts
Markeith Blackshire: in recruiting and hiring.
Markeith Blackshire: and the second quarter we hire 8 new Rangers given us a total of 13 Rangers, all 13 rangers, which started approximately around April 20 Fourth participated in 4 a 4 week training Academy
Markeith Blackshire: before being deployed into our downtown areas.
Markeith Blackshire: The current Ranger team has rapidly made positive adjustments to the new body of work. So far they've given out a total of 121 warnings in quarter 2. For various reasons which are highlighted here in our bar graph.
Markeith Blackshire: The highest reason for verbal warnings being issue, is related to the liquor fits followed by smoking in parks
Markeith Blackshire: off leash activity, and illegal camping.
Markeith Blackshire: We have a great group of rangers, and they are doing a great job in helping keeping our parks safe.
Markeith Blackshire: Next slide, please.
Markeith Blackshire: Special maintenance and encampments. So our special maintenance and encampment team
Markeith Blackshire: provide supportive services, city-wide. Currently, our team supports the mayor's unified care team.
Markeith Blackshire: Their role is to assist in addressing the crisis of unsheltered
Markeith Blackshire: community to do so.
Markeith Blackshire: They've created neighborhood team zones
Markeith Blackshire: with the hopes of improving collaboration, response time and service delivery to our unselfish population.
Markeith Blackshire: This year we've hired 20 new employees to support the success of these services.
Markeith Blackshire: These positions include 13 maintenance laborers
Markeith Blackshire: for lead workers and 3 strategic advisor positions that are identified as fill coordinators. The field coordinators and our labor teams have supported the development of these stacks that we see in our bar graph.
Markeith Blackshire: A quarter to there was an increase in planning, conducting inspections
Markeith Blackshire: and assessments of this of of instructions and encampment sites also trash mitigation collection has increased in Port 2,
Markeith Blackshire: so has it. The the the obstructions have reduced, which is a good sign
Markeith Blackshire: and showing positive results. In quarter 2. There's been 612 encampment removals throughout the city.
Markeith Blackshire: Our special maintenance and encampment teams are doing a great job and making the adjustments needed to continue to support the efforts and finding solutions to our homeless crisis throughout the city.
Markeith Blackshire: Next slide.
Markeith Blackshire: So this slide is to simply highlight the reopening
Markeith Blackshire: ballot commons and City Hall Park. it's it's showing photos of our teams, our maintenance teams getting the sites ready
Markeith Blackshire: for the opening. Also, there's a couple here that we want to highlight Ap. Out at the ballot Commons with our staff.
Markeith Blackshire: and also at City Hall Park. Given a speech with the Mayor.
Markeith Blackshire: So our next slide presentation is going to be
Markeith Blackshire: our special projects park inspection program, our our South resource manager, Travis.
Travis Buell: Good evening, guys. Travis. Fuel as mentioned, South District Parks and resource manager. I'm excited. They get to speak on a few of our special projects that we have going on. these are.
Travis Buell: you know, special units within our departments and programs and opportunities that we have seen over the few years
Travis Buell: a personal. But I would also like to thank Andy and Mark Keith and Jordan the whole team for for being welcoming, and
Travis Buell: bring me on board here in the last few weeks to be a part of the team. They transitions been
Travis Buell: smooth and really exciting. So I'm happy to be a part of the group.
Travis Buell: What you see here is our Parks inspection program. And this is a program that began in 2,017. And this being
Travis Buell: I mean, it's by Joe and my Craig
Travis Buell: Chapburn. And so what he does is takes certain number of parks every month and brings out a group of citizens and volunteers
Travis Buell: and goes through list of criteria where they're able to
Travis Buell: review the parks and give input on how they see it, or how public attendee might see our parks. What you see on the right hand side is the number of parks that were
Travis Buell: inspected again in 2,017,
Travis Buell: and we got up to 2,01819, numbers of 80, which was pretty close to our Max capacity, which was 3 in the North Division, 3 in the South Division
Travis Buell: but the obviously that had to back off in 2,020 and 21
Travis Buell: that I do to Covid, where we got down to one part, and he's in his district.
Travis Buell: and so we're now ramping that back up, as you can see. 38 and 22, and then 21. So far, now, in 2,023, so we can be moving forward
Travis Buell: the graph on the left shows you.
Travis Buell: parks rated over 89% and parks rated below 69% in each district.
Travis Buell: That's also there's a line there that addresses how many staff we have for acre? Each of those districts
Travis Buell: you can see the North Division has.
Travis Buell: but generally more staff per acre, but also have a lot more high visibility programs and parks to be aware of.
Travis Buell: Southwest has some some places to grow, but this does show us that we do have some root for improvement. This provides us as a baseline for me, setting goals and standards for moving forward. So we look forward to increasing these numbers and making improvements across the board.
Travis Buell: Next slide, please
Travis Buell: another area. We feel like we're making strides. And you know, setting the bar nationally is our Rs ji, our race and social justice initiatives and our training programs.
Travis Buell: As you can see, we have almost 3,000 h. So praise, social justice trainings taking place.
Travis Buell: We've started out with our leadership gave 840 h. That's 35 staff getting 24 h of training last year.
Travis Buell: And so we're excited about that matters, then transition it to 300 of our total staff, getting at least 2 h each, first to of 600 h. So we're we're putting our our money, our our mouth is, and
Travis Buell: prior people the opportunity to
Travis Buell: get this training we do this on the clock. and it's something we feel very important.
Travis Buell: You'll see that we started out with microaggressions and team buildings, and we'll move on to more subjects as we get down the line.
Travis Buell: You can see there are other accomplishments there.
Travis Buell: but we're very excited to be rolling this out and being a a nationwide leader in this department.
Travis Buell: Next slide, please.
Travis Buell: And finally, just a brief recap. As you know, we're transitioning away from the electric blower, or I'm sorry I from gas blowers to electric
Travis Buell: with the Mayoral Directive that 50% replacement by 2,025,
Travis Buell: the 75% by 26, and having a complete inventory replacement
Travis Buell: by 2,027.
Travis Buell: we have been through the inventory process. We have 252 gas-powered blowers.
Travis Buell: and we've done the product testing. We've done a research, we have access to changes and charges. We've calculated the cost. And we're now in the time of transition. Our goal is to meet 30% reduction. By October 23, putting it as well in in place to have our
Travis Buell: 2,025 bull myth, and exceeded. So we look forward to Bingo stores of our land in our environment moving forward.
Travis Buell: That's it for me. Thank you.
Markeith Blackshire: Okay.
Markeith Blackshire: that's our presentation this evening. thank you again for having us
Markeith Blackshire: floor is open for questions. If you have any.
PKS_Boardroom: you guys, yeah, that's incredible. I just, I just want to give you a huge kudos. I mean, this is kind of my
PKS_Boardroom: jam.
PKS_Boardroom: so just a couple of notes.
PKS_Boardroom: you know, Marquis, that appreciate that that whole overview and all the work that the team is doing. Jordan. What your group's doing is what makes people feel comfortable and safe in the parts that some farming and seeing that dramatic change this year. It's just really meaningful.
PKS_Boardroom: Stephanie. I'm a plant. I'm plant person. So like 38,000 plants in the natural areas, and 7,000 trees and 300 trees and then develop parks.
PKS_Boardroom: Very exciting. The job training programs are super exciting to hear about
PKS_Boardroom: and Travis. I want to let you know that there has been in the past interest expressed by the board of Park Commissioner's team on joining in some park inspections. So that doesn't add too much
PKS_Boardroom: burden to your planning. I'm sure there's folks here could be happy to to join and help out in the field.
Travis Buell: exciting but incredibly welcome. We love to have you. And we enjoy the opportunity to bring you guys even to our park, see most of inspections just to do it to, or whatever maybe that
Travis Buell: may it make you feel more comfortable with what we're doing
PKS_Boardroom: alright.
PKS_Boardroom: And anything I didn't say was also awesome. But it's just taking a lot of that over here because it's it's really exciting here about all of it. Thank you.
PKS_Boardroom: Any other comments from our commissioners in person online. Okay.
Andrea Stuart-Lehalle: mit Ctl. And Andrea. Thanks, Marlon. Thank you so much for the presentation. Thank you so much for involving so much of your team and in presenting the work that they're doing. I really appreciate that 250
Andrea Stuart-Lehalle: I'm very excited about the data congratulations to your team for achieving so much. And I was curious of first. if we have any kind of first documented feedback from the community on the Ranger program, I'm I'm basically hearing that it's it's landing. Well, but I love if we have any, you know, concrete feedback from either community stakeholders or community members. and then a just as a point of
Andrea Stuart-Lehalle: curiosity. I appreciate you detailing really in such detail the different kind of tasks that the various groups in your department are involved in. and just having heard so much on the news of the camp cleanups that were done to prepare for the all-star game. If just a point of curiosity. If those were our parts teams or other teams that the city can deploy to to do that work.
Andrea Stuart-Lehalle: Thanks a lot again.
Markeith Blackshire: Look!
Markeith Blackshire: I've I've heard nothing but a positive feedback about having to reach this out into the parts. So
Markeith Blackshire: it kind of helps with the welcoming atmosphere that we're trying to present create safe environments for our user groups on the returned
Markeith Blackshire: to these parks, such as West Lake and City Hall Park has been great folks who loved it, and our ranchers have been present.
Markeith Blackshire: Our our parts team, our entertainment team. So the leads the effort and removals. So We play a huge part in in that process. So we have the largest amount of field coordinators. These are the folks that go out and lead the obstructions and move.
Markeith Blackshire: Yeah, we were. We were out in full force.
PKS_Boardroom: Andy.
Andy Sheffer: Yes, I'd add, from the public comment standpoint on the Rangers. one comment is the visibility of the Rangers and they have a lot of sites downtown. It's surprising how many sites they visit
Andy Sheffer: and so we're working on increasing visibility. Looking at bicycles so that they're just constantly visible right? Not just in a not getting in and out of the vehicle. There's a couple of hurdles we're working on along those lines. But
Andy Sheffer: basically, the comment is more, more and more so. The other thing I just wanted to mention is that I had mentioned the proactive
Andy Sheffer: kind of strategy-driven leadership of parks in the environment, and they develop that comfort, station, dashboard, and very, very short timeframe and immediately reduce the number of Senate cans
Andy Sheffer: to under a hundred that were not needed, and continue to use that dashboard, as was mentioned, on a daily basis and then update it on a weekly basis
Andy Sheffer: to make sure that we're all on the same page with how many comfort stations are in need of repair, and we've actually reduced. There was a constant number of about 8 that we're in need of repair. And now it's down to one or 2, and that's been consistent for over 6 weeks. So we're hoping to
Andy Sheffer: maintain that threshold, baseline.
PKS_Boardroom: So
PKS_Boardroom: well, I want to actually what everyone has said, that this is really spectacular, really spectacular work, and very cool to see. I I have a particular question about the the comfort stations. I love the Comfort station dashboard, and I imagine it could be useful to visitors to is the dashboard accessible by the public.
Andy Sheffer: We're working on that We anticipate. Within 2 weeks we'll have a public facing a dashboard. and it's in power Bi, and we can transfer power bi now directly into the public website. So we don't anticipate there being any problems launching that within 2 weeks
Andy Sheffer: part of the reason I say 2 weeks is just because we want to scrub it very carefully and make sure that all the comments are really consistent and appropriate for public facing.
PKS_Boardroom: Great, very exciting. All right. Thank you for that any any more questions or thoughts from the group.
PKS_Boardroom: I just want to give a shout out to all the staff there on on the presentation, Marquis, your entire crew, and Andy your entire crew. you know, when you see that Powerpoint just a reminder of how much major things that are going on in that one division. that's really that touch point for a lot of the pride that we take in our park system.
PKS_Boardroom: Jessica and I were talking before the meeting about some beautiful parks that I had visited, and we were just both talking about what an amazing park system we had in Seattle, but a lot of it is
PKS_Boardroom: because of the work that's done by the hardworking folks in that division, and I always say you know, they work when it's hot, and they work when it's rainy and when it's cold and all year round. And that's the part of our part system. So you're handling a lot, and you're doing an excellent job, and we're just all very proud of you. So thank you so much for that hard work. Keep it up because it's noticeable. And your what make the part system shine?
PKS_Boardroom: And Jessica, to answer your question. I I can reach out to Craig, but we have had board members to out before and do the parking section program. And it's really a really neat opportunity that we go through. So I will see if we can figure out a way to make that happen for those of you that are interested.
Okay.
PKS_Boardroom: looking at the tide, and we're getting close to it. Clock, which means we are running on schedule. So that's great. All the new business. Anyone have anything for that?
PKS_Boardroom: How wait? Does that volunteer park concert go to night to put Google search. By the way, it's 2,001, the last all-star game here. Oh, to American link 1, 4 to one. You're one, right? Okay, that wasn't the kingdom. So let's say it go And it was each rose first year in the Mariner.
PKS_Boardroom: All right. So I guess we're all set and done. with that. Thank you, everybody for coming, and we're going to give the gift of time back to everyone which is great. Go out, be safe, enjoy the sun meeting.
Markeith Blackshire: thank you.
PKS_Boardroom: and they're on.