>>> GOOD MORNING, EVERYONE. THE
JULY 12, 2023, MEETING WILL COM
TO ORDER. IT'S 9:30. I'M SARA
NELSON. PLEASE CALL ROLL.
>> JUAREZ.
>> AYE. OR HERE.
>> SAWANT. STRAUSS?
>> PRESENT.
>> HERBOLD? CHAIR NELSON.
>> PRESENT.
>> THREE PRESENT, TWO ABSENT.
>> LET'S GET STARTED. WE HAVE
TWO ITEMS ON THE AGENDA. THE
FIRST THE FINAL APPOINTMENT TO
THE NEW SEATTLE FILM COMMISSION
THE SECOND IS A ROUND TABLE
DISCUSSION WITH THE DIRECTORS O
THE CITY'S BUSINESS IMPROVEMENT
AREAS. WE WILL TALK ABOUT THE
OPERATIONAL BARRIERS TO SMALL
BUSINESSES THESE DAYS. LET'S
SEE, WE WILL NOW MOVE INTO
PUBLIC COMMENT ON THE ITEMS
LISTED ON THE AGENDA, AND WE
WILL START WITH THE IN-PERSON
COMMENTERS. PEOPLE WILL HAVE TW
MINUTES TO SPEAK. FOR PEOPLE
CALLING REMOTELY, WHEN YOU HEAR
YOUR NAME CALLED, PLEASE PRESS
STAR SIX, AND YOU WILL BE
UNMUTED. LET'S SEE. MAY I PLEAS
HAVE THE SIGNUP SHEET?
>> THERE'S NO IN-PERSON SPEAKER
SIGNED UP.
>> OKAY. NO IN-PERSON
COMMENTERS. IF ANYONE WOULD LIK
TO BE ADDED AS YOU COME IN, FEE
FREE. WE HAVE ONE COMMENTER ON
THE REMOTE LIST. I WILL HOPE IT
UP TO THE REMOTE COMMENTERS.
THAT IS, LET'S SEE B.J. NO LAST
NAME. GO AHEAD, B.J. YOU HAVE
TWO MINUTES.
>> GOOD MORNING --
>> OH, LAST.
>> YEP. EXCUSE ME.
>> LOOKS WEIRD ON FORMS. GOOD
MORNING. I'M B.J. LAST, A
BALLARD RESIDENT AND FORMER
SMALL BUSINESS OWNER AT THIS
POINT. I WAS CALLING TO GIVE
WHAT I FOUND THE LARGEST
BARRIERS TO BEING A NEW SMALL
BUSINESS OWNERS BASED ON MY
EXPERIENCE. LARGELY OTHER
BUSINESSES. BIG THINGS, THOSE
BUSINESSES NOT PAYING EMPLOYEES
AND THE CITY TAKING A RELATIVEL
LAZY APPROACH THROUGH THE LABOR
STANDARDS. BUSINESSES KNOW IF
THEY DON'T PAY, THEY, YOU KNOW,
AT WORST, IF THEY GET DINGED,
END UP HAVIN TO PAY A PORTION
OF WHAT THEY HAD NOT PAID
PEOPLE. SO I WAS IN A POSITION
OF HAVING TO COMPETE WITH PEOPL
WHO WERE NOT ACTUALLY PAYING
THEIR WORKERS, GIVING THEM A
SIZABLE ADVANTAGE OVER ME. THAT
WAS A LARGE BARRIER.
ADDITIONALLY, OTHER ISSUES WITH
REGULATIONS. THERE'S A LOT OF
BUSINESSES DROPPED IN A BUNCH O
ECO BLOCKS, LIMITING PARKING AN
PEOPLE'S ABILITY TO GET TO
BUSINESS WITHOUT ANYTHING USEFU
LIKE BIKE INFRASTRUCTURE OR
OUTDOOR SEATING OR ANYTHING TO
IMPROVE ACCESS TO THE AREA. IT'
REALLY REMOVING ACCESS. THOSE
ITEMS WERE THE BIGGEST BARRIERS
TO ME. THANK YOU. I YIELD THE
REST OF MY TIME.
>> THANK YOU VERY MUCH. SEEING
NO OTHER SPEAKERS LISTED ON THE
REMOTE SIGNUP SHEET, THE PUBLIC
COMMENT PERIOD IS NOW CLOSED.
WILL THE CLERK PLEASE READ ITEM
ONE INTO THE RECORD?
>>> AGENDA ITEM NUMBER ONE,
APPOINTMENT 02596, APPOINTMENT
OF BUDI MULYO AS MEMBER OF THE
SEATTLE FILM COMMISSION FOR A
TERM JULY 2023 TO 2025.
BRIEFING, DISCUSSION, AND
POSSIBLE VOTE.
>> THANK YOU VERY MUCH. WHY
DON'T YOU COME UP TO THE TABLE
WHILE I PROVIDE THE CONTEXT
HERE. SO THIS IS THE FINAL
MEMBER OF THE FILM COMMISSION I
POSITION 11, REPRESENTING
IMMERSIVE TECHNOLOGY, SUCH AS
AUGMENTED, EXTENDED, AND
EMERGING TECHNOLOGY BUSINESSES.
POSITIONS ONE THROUGH TEN
NOMINATED BY THE MAYOR AND CITY
COUNCIL AND CONFIRMED IN APRIL.
BILL 120412, THE FILM
COMMISSION'S -- THAT IS THE FIL
COMMISSION'S AUTHORIZING
POSITION. POSITION 11 SELECTED
BY THE SEATED FILM
COMMISSIONERS. THEY HAVE MET A
FEW TIMES AND HAVE PUT A NOMINE
BEFORE US, AND WE WILL HEAR FRO
ALICIA TEEL FROM THE OFFICE OF
ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT, THE NEW
EXTERNAL AFFAIRS DIRECTOR, AND
USUALLY WE HAVE CHRIS SWINSON,
THE FACE OF SEATTLE FILM. HE'S
OUT. WE ARE LUCKY TO HAVE YOU
TODAY. I WILL HAVE EVERYONE ELS
INTRODUCE THEMSELVES. THANK YOU
SO MUCH, MR. MULYO FOR COMING
TOGETHER AND BEING AVAILABLE FO
US TO GET TO KNOW YOU A BIT. GO
AHEAD. BY THE WAY, BEFORE YOU
START, COUNCILMEMBER HERBOLD
JOINED A FEW MINUTES AGO.
>> GREAT. THANK YOU,
COUNCILMEMBERS, THANK YOU FOR
HAVING US HERE TODAY.
COUNCILMEMBER NELSON, THANK YOU
FOR THE WARM WELCOME. AT THE
CITY'S OFFICE OF ECONOMIC
DEVELOPMENT, WE ARE COMMITTED T
BUILDING AN INCLUSIVE ECONOMY
WHERE INDIVIDUALS, BUSINESSES,
AND COMMUNITY CAN BUILD WEALTH,
SHARE IN THE PROSPERITY, AND
UNLEASH THEIR PROSPERITY FOR
GROWTH AND INNOVATION. ONE
IMPORTANT PART IS THE CREATIVE
ECONOMY. REPRESENTING ALL JOBS
WITH CREATIVE SKILLS AND
PRODUCING CREATIVE RESULTS
ACROSS ALL INDUSTRIES. TODAY WE
CELEBRATE THE NEW OPPORTUNITIES
WITHIN OUR LOCAL FILM INDUSTRY,
A FOUNDATIONAL PART OF THE
ECONOMY. THE GROUP OF 11 FILM
SECTOR VOLUNTEER REPRESENTATIVE
TO ADVISE AND MAKE
RECOMMENDATIONS TO THE CITY OF
SEATTLE ON THE DEVELOPMENT OF
POLICIES AND PROCEDURES THAT
ENHANCE THE FILM INDUSTRY,
PROVIDE GROWTH OPPORTUNITIES FO
LOCAL FILM INDUSTRY, BUSINESSES
AND WORKERS AND PROMOTE THE
SUSTAINABLE GROWTH FOR WORKERS
WHO HAVE BEEN HISTORICALLY
UNDERREPRESENTED IN THE
INDUSTRY. THE SEATTLE FILM
COMMISSION IS A CONDUIT TO THE
LOCAL FILM INDUSTRY AND A KEY
THOUGHT PARTNER TO THE CITY TO
DESIGN KEY POLICY TO GROW THE
INDUSTRY, CONNECT TALENT, AND
KEEP SEATTLE A KEY LOCATION FOR
PRODUCTION. I'M EXCITED FOR THE
APPOINTMENT FOR 11. I WILL TURN
IT OVER FOR THE SELECTION FOR
THE SEAT, BUDI MULYO. WE WOULD
BE HAPPY TO TAKE QUESTIONS AFTE
CHAMP AND BUDI MULYO REPRESENT
THEMSELVES.
>> I'M CHAMP ENSMINGER WITH
POSITION SIX ON THE COMMISSION.
AS FAR AS THE CONNECTIONS WE
HAVE BETWEEN BUDI AND I AS FAR
AS THE SLICE OF PRODUCTION WE
EXPERIENCED, WE ARE BOTH
TECHNOLOGISTS. WE REPRESENT THE
PEOPLE IN THE COMMUNITY USING A
LOT OF EMERGING TECHNOLOGIES AN
ADVANCING TECHNOLOGIES FOR THE
PROCESS OF PRODUCTION. AS AN
EDITOR MYSELF, IT'S A LOT OF
TRYING TO GO THROUGH ALL OF THE
FUN AT PRODUCTION, AND THEN THE
DEFINING CHARACTERISTIC OF THE
COMMUNITY THAT DUBI REPRESENTS
AS FAR AS IMMERSIVE TECHNOLOGY,
IT'S THE PRODUCTION AND
POST-PRODUCTION AT THE SAME
TIME. ALL OF THE KIND OF
INTERESTING THINGS HAPPENING IN
THE SPACE ARE ABLE TO HAPPEN ON
THEIR OWN IN KIND OF A VACUUM.
SEATTLE IS A GREAT PLACE TO FIL
THINGS, BUT IN THE DAYS SEATTLE
GIVES US A CURVE BALL FOR
WEATHER, IMMERSEIVE TECHNOLOGY
AND MIXED REALITY, THEY CAN ALL
BE CREATED STANDALONE, AND IT
DOESN'T NEED TO RELY ON FAIR
WEATHER. THAT'S GREAT FOR
PRODUCTIONS. SO AS ONE OF THE
TEN CITYING MEMBERS OF THE
COMMISSION, WE ARE VERY EXCITED
TO INCLUDE THIS VOICE IN THE
COMMISSION. THROUGH PUBLIC
NOMINATION AND APPLICATION IN
MARCH, THE CITY RECEIVED 170
APPLICATIONS FOR THE 11 SEATTLE
FILM COMMISSION POSITIONS, AND
POSITIONS ONE THROUGH FIVE
SELECTED BY THE MAYOR. SIX
THROUGH TEN BY THE CITY COUNCIL
POSITION 11 IS SELECTED BY THE
SITTING MEMBERS OF THE
COMMISSION. WE DELIBERATED
THOUGHTFULLY. BUDI'S NAME CAME
UP MANY TIMES AS SOMEONE WORKIN
IN THE SPACE AND WHOSE PASSPORT
ALIGNS WITH THE MISSION OF THE
COMMISSION AS IT STANDS NOW. WE
ARE VERY EXCITED FOR HIM TO JOI
US. THE POSITION SEATS, AS I
SAID, THE FILM INDUSTRY LEADER
IN IMMERSIVE TECHNOLOGY,
AUGMENTED, EXTENDED, MIXED, AND
VIRTUAL REALITY AS WELL AS
EMERGING TECHNOLOGY BUSINESSES
THAT SURROUND THESE FIELDS. THI
POSITION IS SELECTED BY THE TEN
SEATED MEMBERS OF OUR
COMMISSION, AND IT HAS A
TWO-YEAR TERM WHICH WILL END
JULY 23, 2025. I AM VERY EXCITE
AND HONORED TO INTRODUCE BUDI
MULYO FOR THE 11th POSITION.
>> THANK YOU. HAPPY TO HEAR FRO
YOU. GO AHEAD.
>> SO THANK YOU SO MUCH. THIS I
AN HONOR FOR ME TO BE NOMINATED
FOR THE SEATTLE FILM COMMISSION
I'M SO EXCITED ABOUT THIS
POSITION BECAUSE OF MY PAST
EXPERIENCE BEING AN ASIAN, AND
IT'S LIKE THE ONLY WAY TO GET
AHEAD IS TO LEARN CUTTING-EDGE
TECHNOLOGY SO THEY CAN ACTUALLY
CONTINUE WITH THE FILM
PRODUCTION. YOU PROBABLY HEARD,
THERE'S SOMETHING CALLED OSCARS
SO WHITE, AND THIS IS PART OF
THE THING, LIKE WHERE I GOT INT
THE FILM PRODUCTION AS WELL,
IT'S LIKE A LONG TIME AGO AND
DOING THIS. I DID NOT GET INTO
BECOMING AN ACTOR, AND I STARTE
WITH THE P.A., AND THEN
EVENTUALLY USING THEY LEVERAGED
MY 15 YEARS OF EXPERIENCE IN
I.T., AND I ACTUALLY LEARNED
MORE ABOUT THE REALITY
TECHNOLOGY. WE DO 48-HOUR EVENT
WHERE PEOPLE COME TOGETHER AND
THEN COOK, EAT, AND THEN SHARE
OUR RESOURCES AND THEN THE WAY
WE TELL THE STORY IS DIFFERENT
FROM THE WAY WE TELL STORY NOW.
WE JUST PROBABLY GOING TO BE TH
FUTURE BECAUSE LIKE HOW MUCH TH
CORPORATIONS IN SEATTLE, LIKE
FACEBOOK, MICROSOFT, AND APPLE,
THEY ARE JUST THROWING BILLIONS
OF DOLLARS IN THE TECHNOLOGY
ALREADY. THEY HAVE A LOT OF
RIGHTS ON THE TECHNOLOGY ALONE,
BUT IN MY PERSPECTIVE, WE CAN'T
GET THE UNDERREPRESENTED AND,
YOU KNOW, THE UNDERPRIVILEGED
THAT DIDN'T HAVE ACCESS TO THE
TECHNOLOGY IN THE FIRST PLACE.
THEY WERE NOT ALLOWED TO BE PAR
OF THIS EMERGING TECHNOLOGY. I
COFOUNDED A NONPROFIT,
EVENTUALLY TO MAKE SURE THAT
THIS HAS EQUAL OPPORTUNITY FOR
EVERYONE. SO SIXTH HOUR IS THE
NAME THE NONPROFIT I COFOUNDED.
RIGHT NOW WE NOW ACTUALLY HAVE
TWO TRAINING MODULES. ONE IS TH
A.I. AND HOW IT CAN BE
INCORPORATED INTO BUSINESS AND
VISUAL INCORPORATION, LIKE YOU
SAY, BUILDING THE SET, BUT NOT
ACTUAL SET. IT'S A DIGITAL SET.
IT'S LIKE THE START OF THAT. I
ALSO HAVE VISITED FALSLEY STUDI
IN KIRKLAND. THAT WAS AN
EXCELLENT EXAMPLE IN HOW WE CAN
LEVERAGE THE TECHNOLOGY IN TO
THE PRODUCTIONS. IT WAS LIKE A
REALLY GOOD WAY TO THINK ABOUT
IT, JUST LIKE YOU CAN BRING IN
THE ENVIRONMENT TO US INSTEAD O
US GOING TO THE ENVIRONMENT. SO
ONE THING I FELT WOULD BE GOOD
ALSO, I EXPERIENCED ANOTHER VR
BEING USED AS A MENTAL HEALTH
CARE PRODUCT. YOU CAN ACTUALLY
BE EXPOSED TO, FOR EXAMPLE,
BULLYING, BUT WITH THE
PSYCHIATRIST OR SOMEONE NEXT TO
YOU TO GUY YOU, AND SOME OF THE
ARE BEING USED FOR THERAPY LIKE
FOR VETERANS WHO CAME BACK WITH
LIKE TRAUMA OF PTSD AND THINGS
LIKE THAT. ANOTHER ONE WAS BEIN
USED AS A HEALING PROCESS FOR
THE BURN VICTIMS, AND SOMEONE
LIKE A PARAPLEGIC. IT HAS A LOT
OF POTENTIAL WHEN YOU START
THINKING ABOUT THIS CAN BE USED
FOR OTHER THAN FILM, BASICALLY.
I ALSO RECOGNIZE THAT PEOPLE WH
ARE REFUGEES, LIKE PEOPLE WHO
DOESN'T HAVE A MEAN TO GET THIS
I WAS ALSO TRYING TO ADVANCE
THAT AGENDA A LITTLE BIT.
DIVERSITY WITHIN THE FILM
INDUSTRY AS WELL. SO THAT IS ON
OF THE THINGS I'M PASSIONATE
ABOUT. AT THE SAME TIME ALSO, I
HAS THE BENEFIT OF ENGAGING AND
LEVERAGING THE CORPORATION TO B
PART OF THE COMMUNITY BY SHOWIN
THE EXAMPLE OF HOW WE CAN
ACTUALLY WORK TOGETHER. SO THAT
IS A LITTLE BIT OF WHAT I AM
PASSIONATE ABOUT, AND I'M, YEAH
HERE FOR THAT TO ADVISE THE
CITY.
>> THANK YOU VERY MUCH FOR
TELLING US WHAT, BASICALLY, WHA
THE SECTOR IS AND ALSO THE
APPLICABILITY TO FILM. THIS IS
THE PERFECT EXAMPLE OF WHAT I
HAVE BEEN SAYING ALL ALONG,
WHICH IS FILM IS ENCOMPASSING
SUCH A BROAD RANGE OF
DISCIPLINES. YOU MENTIONED THAT
ACTOR, BUT IT DIDN'T QUITE WORK
OUT. HERE YOU ARE IN FILM. YOU
ARE AN EXAMPLE OF HOW FILM IS A
CROSSOVER INDUSTRY. THE
DISCIPLINES THAT ARE OPERATIONA
IN FILM ARE ALSO, OF COURSE, TH
BASIS FOR MANY OTHER SECTORS AN
VICE VERSA. I REALLY APPRECIATE
THAT BIO. I NOTICED THAT, SO CA
YOU TELL ME A LITTLE BIT MORE
ABOUT -- HAVE YOU EVER STUDIED
FILM? YOU SAID YOUR LOVE OF
FILM, THAT WAS A LONG TIME AGO.
I JUST WANTED TO NOTE THAT YOU
ALSO HAVE A PASSION FOR CARS, I
SEEMS, AND SO, FOR CARS --
>> YEAH. GREW UP, YES, I DID
WORK ON THE AUTONOMOUS VEHICLES
AND I COMPETE ON THE SEATTLE
ROBOTICS SOCIETY COMPETITION AN
WON THAT COMPETITION. YEAH, THA
WAS ALSO ANOTHER PASSION OF
MINE. I STARTED A COMPANY IN
WEST AFRICA. IT'S CHALLENGING
FOR OBVIOUSLY REASONS.
LOGISTICALLY IT'S HARD TO SEND
PARTS FROM CHINA TO AFRICA, BUT
THAT'S CARS, YES. IT'S NOT QUIT
THE PASSION FOR CARS, BUT MORE
FOR FABRICATIONS AND ELECTRONIC
AND ELECTRICAL BECAUSE I, IN TH
LONG RUN, THIS IS LIKE ANOTHER
THING I'M JUGGLING, TOO,
BUILDING A FLOATING ISLAND
SCHOOL. IT'S LIKE PEOPLE BE
LAUGHING AT ME WHENEVER LIKE I'
IN THE ROOM, ONLY TAKE FIVE OR
TEN MINUTES BEFORE THAT COMES
UP. IT'S CALLED AQUADEMY. WE
LEARN ACCESSIBILITY, BUT IT'S A
LOT OF TIME WHERE I START. I
DON'T KNOW ANYTHING ABOUT IT. I
DON'T HAVE RESOURCES IN THE
NETWORK TO DO IT, BUT I DO IT
ANYWAY SO I CAN ACTUALLY START
THE MOMENTUM GOING. I DON'T KNO
HOW AND WHEN, YOU KNOW, TO BUIL
THIS FLOATING ISLAND SCHOOL. I
JUST START WITH ELECTRONICS AND
FABRICATION. THAT'S WHERE THE
CAR IS COMING FROM, YOU KNOW?
>> I UNDERSTAND. THANK YOU.
>> I AM LOOKING AT MY SCREEN TO
SEE IF ANY OF MY COLLEAGUES HAV
QUESTIONS OR COMMENTS? OKAY,
SEEING NONE, I JUST WANT TO SAY
THEY AM DELIGHTED AND EXCITED
ABOUT YOUR PARTICIPATION BECAUS
I THINK WE WILL LEARN A LOT FRO
YOU, AND YOU WILL BE A GREAT
CONTRIBUTION TO THE MISSION OF
ADVANCING FILM AND THE CREATIVE
SECTOR IN SEATTLE. SO WITH THAT
LET'S GO AHEAD, AND I WILL MOVE
THIS LEGISLATION. HEARING NO
OTHER QUESTIONS FROM COMMITTEE
MEMBERS, EXCUSE ME, I MOVE THE
COMMITTEE RECOMMENDS
CONFIRMATION OF APPOINTMENT
02596. IS THERE A SECOND?
>> SECOND.
>> THANK YOU. IT'S BEEN MOVED
AND SECONDED TO RECOMMEND
CONFIRMATION OF THE APPOINTMENT
I AM NOT SEEING ANY OTHER HANDS
UP, SO WILL THE CLERK PLEASE
CALL THE ROLL ON THE
RECOMMENDATION THAT 02596 BE
CONFIRMED.
>> PRESIDENT JUAREZ?
>> AYE.
>> COUNCILMEMBER STRAUSS?
>> YES.
>> COUNCILMEMBER HERBOLD?
>> YES.
>> CHAIR NELSON?
>> AYE.
>> FOUR IN FAVOR, ZERO OPPOSED.
>> THANK YOU VERY MUCH. THE
MOTION CARRIES, AND THE
COMMITTEE RECOMMENDATION THAT
APPOINTMENT 02596 BE CONFIRMED
WILL BE FORWARDED TO THE CITY
COUNCIL FOR FINAL CONSIDERATION
AT COUNCIL'S NEXT MEETING ON
TUESDAY, JULY 18th. YOU ARE
WELCOME TO BE PRESENT EITHER IN
PERSON OR ONLINE, BUT YOU DON'T
NEED TO BE THERE. SO THANK YOU
VERY, VERY MUCH I APPRECIATE IT
>> EXCELLENT, THANK YOU SO MUCH
>> THANK YOU.
>> WILL THE CLERK PLEASE CALL
THE NEXT ITEM, ITEM TWO INTO TH
RECORD.
>> AGENDA ITEM NUMBER TWO,
ADDRESSING SMALL BUSINESS
BARRIERS IN SEATTLE.
>> OKAY, WHILE WE ARE WAITING
FOR THE CHANGE OF GUARD AT THE
TABLE, YOU CAN ALL COME UP AND
SIT DOWN. I JUST HAVE TO SAY I'
EXCITED TO WELCOME BACK THE
PANEL OF BUSINESS
REPRESENTATIVES FROM ACROSS THE
CITY. FOR THE VIEWING PUBLIC,
THIS IS THE SECOND ROUND TABLE
DISCUSSION THAT THE ECONOMIC
DEVELOPMENT TECHNOLOGY AND CITY
LIGHT COMMITTEE HAS HOSTED. THE
FIRST ONE WAS IN I THINK
FEBRUARY 8, 2022, SHORTLY AFTER
I TOOK OFFICE, AND IT FOCUSED O
THE IMPACTS OF CRIME ON SMALL
BUSINESSES, AND THE QUESTION AT
THE TIME WAS WHY ARE WE LOOKING
AT CRIME IN THIS COMMITTEE? IT
WAS BECAUSE PUBLIC SAFETY WAS A
CORE PRECONDITION FOR ECONOMIC
RECOVERY AND GROWTH. I JUST
WANTED TO INVITE THE SMALL
BUSINESS REPRESENTATIVES TO THE
TABLE TO TALK ABOUT THE REALITY
BEHIND THE STATISTICS AND PUT
FORWARD SOME RECOMMENDATIONS
THAT THE CITY COULD DO IN THE
SHORT-TERM TO REALLY HELP. IT
WAS PRODUCTIVE. THERE WERE
SEVERAL RECOMMENDATIONS THAT
WERE PUT FORWARD AND ONE, FOR
EXAMPLE, IMPLEMENTED, WAS THE
STORE FRONT REPAIR FUND IN WHIC
SMALL BUSINESSES CAN APPLY
THROUGH THE OFFICE OF ECONOMIC
DEVELOPMENT FOR UP TO $2,000 TO
REIMBURSE THEMSELVES FOR
PAYMENTS THAT THEY HAD TO MAKE
TO REPAIR STORE FRONTS, YOU
KNOW, BROKEN DOORS, WINDOWS, ET
CETERA. THAT IS ONE EXAMPLE.
THERE'S ALSO CASE CONFERENCING,
AND I WILL NOT GO INTO DETAIL
ABOUT THAT. THE POINT IS, IT
DOES WORK TO BRING PEOPLE WITH
THE FIRST-HAND KNOWLEDGE TO THE
TABLE, TO EDUCATE COUNCIL AND
ALSO ADVOCATE FOR THEMSELVES. S
CRIME IS STILL AN ONGOING ISSUE
TO SMALL BUSINESS SUCCESS, BUT
WE HAVE INVITED YOU ALL HERE AT
YOUR REQUEST, I MUST NOTE TO
TALK ABOUT OTHER CHALLENGES THA
SMALL BUSINESSES ARE FACING, AN
ALSO TO SHOWCASE SOME OF THE
GREAT WORK YOU ALL ARE DOING TO
PROMOTE YOUR MEMBERS AND YOUR
BUSINESS DISTRICTS. SO BEFORE
PASSING IT OFF TO OUR FIRST
SPEAKER, WHO IS ALLIANCE FOR
PIONEER SQUARE EXECUTOR LISA
HOWARD. WHY DON'T YOU INTRODUCE
YOURSELF.
>> LISA HOWARD, THE EXECUTIVE
DIRECTOR.
>>
>> GOOD MORNING, MIKE STEWART,
THE EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR FOR THE
BALLARD ALLIANCE.
>> I'M MONISHA SINGH FROM THE
CHINATOWN INTERNATIONAL DISTRIC
BUSINESS IMPROVEMENT AREA.
>> I'M QUYNH PHAM, THE EXECUTIV
DIRECTOR OF THE FRIENDS OF
LITTLE SAIGON.
>> GOOD MORNING. CHRIS MACKAY.
>> DON BLAKE FROM THE U DISTRIC
PARTNERSHIP.
>> HELLO, EVERYBODY. GO AHEAD.
THANK YOU FOR COMING AND GIVING
UP YOUR TIME TO BE HERE TODAY.
GO AHEAD.
>> ALL RIGHT, THANK YOU. I WILL
KICK IT OFF. GOOD MORNING, AND
THANK YOU TO COUNCILMEMBER
NELSON AND THE COMMITTEE FOR
INVITING US HERE TODAY TO
DISCUSS THE SMALL BUSINESS
BARRIERS IN SEATTLE. A LOT HAS
CHANGED OVER THE LAST YEAR SINC
WE PRESENTED TO YOUR COMMITTEE,
AND WE WANT TO TACKLE THE
REMAINING OBSTACLES WITH THE
COUNCIL. WE WOULD LIKE TO
HIGHLIGHT THE OFFICE OF ECONOMI
DEVELOPMENT IN THEIR CONTINUED
WORK WITH US AND SEATTLE
BUSINESSES. OUR PANEL, AS YOU
CAN SEE, CONSISTING OF
REPRESENTATIVES FROM SEVEN
DISTRICTS ACROSS SEATTLE. WE
WILL EACH TAKE A FEW MINUTES OF
WHAT IS GOING WELL, AND WHAT
CHALLENGES OUR SMALL BUSINESS
OWNERS, AND WE WILL CONCLUDE
WITH RECOMMENDATIONS FOR MOVING
FORWARD. WE HOPE IT WILL GIVE
YOU A HIGH-LEVEL OVERVIEW OF
WHAT IS HAPPEN ON THE GROUND AN
HELP YOUR DECISION MAKING
THROUGH 2024. OVERALL, WE SEE A
CONTINUED INVESTMENT IN THE
DISTRICT THROUGH PUBLIC AND
PRIVATE PROJECTS. COMING OFF TH
ALL STAR WEEK, WE CAN HIGHLIGHT
THE EVENTS COMING BACK IN FULL
FORCE FROM THE RECENT U DISTRIC
STREET FAIR TO THE UPCOMING
BALLARD SEAFOOD FEST AND WEST
SEATTLE SUMMER FEST AND OTHERS.
WE CONTINUE TO DRIVE TRAFFIC TO
OUR NEIGHBORHOODS WITH FUN AND
ENGAGING ACTIVITIES FOR REGIONA
VISITORS. WE ARE WELCOMING NEW
BUSINESSES. PIONEER SQUARE SAW
THE INFLEX OF LEASING IN Q1 AND
Q2 WITH 18 NEW BUSINESSES
OPENED. WE CONTINUE TO ENSURE
GREEN SPACE IS AVAILABLE TO THE
NEIGHBORHOODS AND SURROUNDING
RESIDENTS WITH THE REOPENING OF
CITY HALL PARK, BALLARD COMMONS
AND RECENT GROUND BREAKING OF
THE LITTLE SAIGON PARK. WE
REMAIN COMMITTED TO GROWING THE
SUSPECTED BOOKS OF WORK AROUND
DIVERSITY, EQUITY, AND INCLUSIO
INCLUDING HIRING, OPERATIONS AN
PROGRAMMING. AS THINGS ARE
MOVING FORWARD, WE NEED THE
CONTINUED SUPPORT OF THE CITY T
ENSURE THE CITY'S BUSINESS
DISTRICTS AND SMALL BUSINESSES
CONTINUE TO FLOURISH.
>> OKAY.
>> THANK YOU.
>> NEXT SLIDE, PLEASE.
>> THAT IS AN OVERVIEW OF THE
PANELISTS. NEXT ONE. OKAY, WE
ARE ACTUALLY GOING TO START WIT
THE UNIVERSITY DISTRICT.
>> GREAT, HAPPY TO KICK US OFF
HERE. THANK YOU FOR HAVING US
HERE. I'M DON BLAKENEY. THE
5013C NONPROFIT FUNDED BY THE
BUSINESS IMPROVEMENT AREA,
RENEWED IN 2020. RIGHT NOW WE
ARE SEEING IN THE U DISTRICT, A
TALE OF A FEW DIFFERENT STORIES
HERE. UNPRECEDENTED INVESTMENT,
AND THE OTHER ONE HAPPENING IN
2017, A WHOLE HOST OF INVESTMEN
AND LIGHT RAIL IN 2021. THOSE
TWO THINGS HAVE CHANGED THE
SHAPE OF THE U DISTRICT. HUGE
INVESTMENT IN HOUSING,
ESPECIALLY IS STUDENT HOUSING
COMING THROUGH AND COMMERCIAL
PROPERTIES COMING. THAT IS, YOU
KNOW, EXPECTED TO ADD 7,000
RESIDENTS OVER THE NEXT FIVE
YEARS, GOING TO HAVE A HUGE
IMPACT ON THE SMALL VITALITY OF
THE SMALL BUSINESSES IN OUR
DISTRICT. WE HAVE HAD GREAT
PARTNERS WITH THE CITY
GOVERNMENT AND STATE GOVERNMENT
THIS YEAR, AND THE LAST COUPLE
OF YEARS, THE OFFICE OF ECONOMI
DEVELOPMENT HAS BEEN VERY
HELPFUL IN WORKING CLOSELY WITH
US AND FIRST ON A GRANT TO HELP
US DO SOME BEAUTIFICATION ACROS
THE NEIGHBORHOOD. WE DID A WHOL
TREE LIGHTING INITIATIVE THAT
BASICALLY BROUGHT THE TREE
LIGHTS FROM NORTHEAST 41st
STREET TO 50th STREET, CHANGIN
THE WAY THE NEIGHBORHOOD FELT A
NIGHT. ALSO A BROKEN WINDOWS
GRANT WE PILOTED TURNING INTO
THE STORE FRONT RENOVATION
PROGRAM THAT THE CITY IS
LEADING. IT WAS A HUGE BENEFIT
TO SMALL BUSINESS OWNERS WHO
DURING THE PANDEMIC DIDN'T HAVE
THE RESOURCES TO KEEP UP WITH
THE BROKEN WINDOWSEN A REGULAR
BASIS. WE GOT A $5 MILLION GRAN
FROM THE DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE
AT THE STATE OF WASHINGTON TO
GIVE BASICALLY RECOVERY GRANTS
TO SMALL BUSINESSES TO INVEST I
THE SMALL BUSINESSES. A LOT OF
THE SMALL BUSINESSES HAVE SHORT
LEASES. IT'S HARD TO MAKE
LONG-TERM INVESTMENTS IN THEIR
SPACES, AND THE GRANT UNLOCKED
LOT OF POTENTIAL FOR
IMPROVEMENTS. 140 GRANTS ACROSS
THE NEIGHBORHOOD WHO HAVE MADE
BIG IMPACT ON THE DISTRICT. AS
LISA MENTIONED EARLIER, WE DID
HAVE THE EVENT SEASON THIS
SPRING, AND IT WAS EXCITING. TH
CHERRY BLOSSOM FESTIVAL, BOBA
FEST, AND THE DISTRICT FESTIVAL
ALL IN QUICK SUCCESSION. THEY
REALLY BROUGHT THE VITALITY.
PUBLIC WORKS PROJECTS ARE GOING
ON, AND NEW BUSINESSES ARE
OPENING. I WANT TO SAY ALL OF
THAT BEFORE I SAY WE HAVE MAJOR
ISSUES TO DEAL WITH. A COUPLE O
UNADDRESSED DRUG MARKETS HOLDIN
ON TO CERTAIN PARTS OF OUR
NEIGHBORHOOD THAT RESULT IN
SHOOTINGS AND A LOT OF PUBLIC
SAFETY ISSUES THAT WE HAVE TO
GET AFTER AS A CITY. WE HAVE AN
EXTREME SITUATION WITH PEOPLE
SUFFERING THERE UNADDRESSED
BEHAVIORAL HEALTH ISSUES. WE
HAVE BEEN WORKING ON A CASE
CONFERENCING PROGRAM LIKE
BALLARD, AND IT'S BEEN
MEANINGFUL, HAVING PERSONALIZED
APPROACHES TO THE FOLKS WITH
HIGH NEEDS IS AN IMPORTANT
INTERVENTION TO MAKE A
DIFFERENCE AND LOWER THE IMPACT
ON OUR NEIGHBORHOOD. I WILL STO
THERE AND KICK IT OVER TO I
BELIEVE BALLARD?
>> YEAH. MIKE, THANK YOU.
>>> TERRIFIC, AGAIN MIKE STEWAR
FOR BALLARD ALLIANCE. WE ARE AN
ORGANIZATION REPRESENTING
HUNDREDS OF BUSINESSES IN
BALLARD AND RESIDENTS AS WELL.
WE ARE HERE TODAY TO TALK ABOUT
THE BUSINESSES. I WILL FOLLOW
SUIT AND TALK A LITTLE BIT ABOU
WHAT IS GOING REALLY WELL AND
HIGHLIGHT A COUPLE OF THE THING
WE WOULD LOVE TO WORK WITH YOU
ALL TO ADDRESS. I THINK THE
FIRST THING, ESPECIALLY OUT OF
THE PANDEMIC, AND BALLARD HAS
DONE WELL. I THINK THAT WE HAVE
HAD LOW TURNOVER OF THE
BUSINESSES, AND THE VACANCIES W
DO HAVE SEEM TO FILL QUICKLY.
THERE'S CERTAINLY A COUPLE OF
PROBLEM SPOTS WITH LONGER TERM
VACANCIES, BUT MORE THE
EXCEPTION THAN THE NORM. I WILL
DEFINITELY CREDIT THAT IN LARGE
PART TO THE STREET CAFE PROGRAM
THAT WE WORKED ON A LOT WITH
COUNCILMEMBER STRAUSS,
COUNCILMEMBER NELSON, AND THE
MAYOR'S OFFICE OVER THE LAST
COUPLE OF YEARS. BALLARD IS A
THRIVING RESTAURANT AND RETAIL
DISTRICT, AND TO REALLY PROP UP
THE RESTAURANT ECONOMY DURING
THE PANDEMIC, TO KEEP THE
BUSINESSES THERE AND THRIVING
THROUGH STREET CAFES, I THINK I
LARGE PART HELPED US OVERALL.
THAT PROGRAM CONTINUES TO GROW
AND EVOLVE. THAT IS DEFINITELY
HUGE POSITIVE, AND I WILL ECHO
THE STORE FRONT REPAIR FUND THA
HAS BEEN SUCCESSFUL, AND
CONTINUING THAT INTO THE FUTURE
I THINK THAT WOULD BE A GREAT
BENEFIT TO ALL NEIGHBORHOOD
BUSINESSES WHO CROSS THE CITY.
PUBLIC ART PROJECTS ARE
FLOURISHING, IN BALLARD SINCE
2019, AND WE HAVE BEEN ABLE TO
DO, NOT JUST US, BUT THROUGH
OTHER PARTNERSHIPS, AND WITH
BUSINESS OWNERS, ARTS GROUPS,
THE CITY, ET CETERA, OVER 75,00
SQUARE FEET OF PUBLIC ART IN
BALLARD. IT'S BEEN REALLY
IMPRESSIVE, AND IT'S BEEN A
GREAT DISPLAY. THEN, THE OTHER
PIECE, GOING BACK TO OUR
MEETING, A LITTLE OVER A YEAR
AGO, AND WE TALKED ABOUT THE
NOTION OF PUBLIC SAFETY
COORDINATORS AND SAFETY HUB
COORDINATORS, AND CITY FUNDING
FOR THE POSITION THIS YEAR, AND
WE HAVE BROUGHT THAT POSITION O
BOARD. IT'S BEEN ABOUT FOUR
MONTHS, AND I THINK THAT IT IS
BEGINNING TO MAKE A DIFFERENCE.
IT TAKES A LITTLE WHILE TO
ONBOARD, BUT I THINK THAT THE
MOST IMPORTANT THING IS HAVING
THAT DEDICATED INDIVIDUAL WITHI
THE DISTRICT WHO CAN LIASE WITH
BUSINESSES AND THEN THE CITY OR
OTHER LEVELS OF GOVERNMENT ON
CRIME RELATED OR GENERAL SAFETY
RELATED ISSUES. NOT EVERYTHING
CAN HAVE A PERFECT SOLUTION AT
THE END, HOWEVER, HAVING THE
CONTACT AND THAT PERSON THAT IS
DEDICATED TO WORKING WITH THE
BUSINESS OWNER, AND REMEMBER
THESE ARE SMALL BUSINESSES THAT
ARE WORKING IN THEIR BUSINESSES
MANAGING STAFF, AND PAYROLL AND
ALL OF THOSE THINGS. TO HAVE TO
DEAL WITH INSURANCE AGENTS AND
SPD REPORTS AND FOLLOW IT ALL
UP, IT'S VERY CHALLENGING.
HAVING THAT INDIVIDUAL TO ASSIS
WITH THAT, THAT IS, IN DEED,
COMFORTABLE AND A GREAT SUPPORT
WE ARE BIG SUPPORTERS OF THAT.
THAT COULD BE SOMETHING THAT
COULD BE CARRIED FORWARD INTO
OTHER DISTRICTS AS WELL. IN
TERMS OF BARRIERS, FOR US, I
THINK THE KEY BARRIERS REALLY D
CENTER AROUND THE PUBLIC SAFETY
REALM. HITTING A COUPLE OF
POINTS. CLEARLY REPEATED
VICTIMIZATION OF BUSINESSES WIT
PROPERTY DAMAGE AND THEFT. IN
THIS PARTICULAR INSTANCE, NOT
TALKING ABOUT THE $100,000
THEFT. I WILL GET TO THAT IN A
MOMENT, BUT JUST THE REPEATED,
YOU KNOW, BREAK-INS, SMASH AND
GRABS, AND THEFTS, AND IT JUST
REALLY BECOMES TIME CONSUMING,
AND IT CREATES THIS SENSIBILITY
OF THINGS BEING UNSAFE, AND AS
BUSINESS OWNER, YOU ARE REALLY
LOOKING OUT FOR THE SAFETY OF
YOUR EMPLOYEES AND CUSTOMERS
FIRST, AND THEN YOURSELF AS
WELL. SO THOSE THINGS REPEATEDL
HAPPENING CONTINUING TO BE A
CHALLENGE. AT A HIGHER LEVEL,
ORGANIZED THEFT AT SMALL AND
INDEPENDENT BUSINESSES, WE TALK
A LOT ABOUT RETAIL THEFT AND
ORGANIZED RETAIL THEFT, AND WHE
WE THINK ABOUT IT, WE THINK OF
MAJOR RETAILERS, MAYBE DOWNTOWN
MAYBE NORTH GATE CORRIDOR OR
ELSEWHERE, BUT I DO WANT TO
MENTION IT'S HAPPENING IN
NEIGHBORHOOD BUSINESS DISTRICTS
WITH SMALL BUSINESSES. AND I
WILL GIVE YOU AN EXAMPLE OF HOW
ORGANIZED IT IS. THERE'S A SMAL
ICE CREAM SHOP, AND THEY HAVE A
BRINKS SECURITY TRUCK COMING
EVERY DAY, AND THE INDIVIDUAL
STAKED WAS
COMING, THE DAY BEFORE, BROKE
IN, DRILLED THROUGH THE SAFE,
AND TOOK NEARLY $10,000, AND
THERE'S ALSO A BIKE SHOP WITH A
BREAK-IN, I DON'T KNOW IF IT WA
A U-HAUL, BUT JUST A BIG BOX
TRUCK, PULLED UP IN THE MIDDLE
OF THE NIGHT, SMASHED AND TOOK
$60,000 WORTH OF BICYCLES. THOS
THINGS ARE OUT THERE, AND THEY
ARE HAPPENING, TOO, AND YOU
KNOW, THAT'S A LITTLE LESS
PREVALENT, BUT IT'S STILL OF
CONCERN. WHEN THAT IMPACT
HAPPENS, IT'S REAL AND
MEANINGFUL. I THINK THE LAST
THING I WILL HIT ON AND THEN
TURN IT OVER TO MY COLLEAGUES,
JUST THINKING ABOUT ENCAMPMENTS
IN THE PUBLIC RIGHTS-OF-WAY. I
THINK WE HAVE HAD GOOD
IMPROVEMENT ON THAT, BUT THE
PROBLEMS PERSIST. ONE QUICK
EXAMPLE, AN ALLEYWAY BETWEEN
MARKET STREET AND 56th , AND
IT'S BEHIND MAJESTIC BAY
THEATER. IT'S THE ACCESS POINT
FOR ALL OF THE COMPOST, RECYCLE
AND TRASH BINS FOR THE SMALL
BUSINESSES AND A RESIDENTIAL
BUILDING. WE HAVE HAD PERSISTEN
ENCAMPMENTS THERE IN THE
RIGHT-OF-WAY, AND IT CREATE AS
COUPLE OF PROBLEMS, AND ONE, TH
SAFETY AND SECURITY OF THE
INDIVIDUALS, THE EMPLOYEES WHO
ARE MINIMUM WAGE OR A TOUCH
ABOVE AND HAVE TO GO OUT THERE
AND USE THOSE DUMPSTERS TO DO
THEIR JOB AND GET THINGS DONE.
WE HAVE HAD FIRES OUT THERE, AN
VERY UNCLEAN AND UNSANITARY
SITUATIONS, AND THEN REALLY A
KIND OF PEAK WITH WASTE
MANAGEMENT WHO HAS STOPPED
SERVICE FOR FEAR OF SAFETY OF
THEIR EMPLOYEES THAT ARE OUT
THERE PICKING UP THE WASTE. WE
WORK IT DAY BY DAY AND IN THE
CASE CONFERENCING MEETINGS, BUT
THE PERSISTENCE OF THAT IS
CLEARLY STILL AN ISSUE THAT WE
NEED TO KEEP DOING A BETTER JOB
ON.
>> ALL RIGHT. I'M NEXT. OKAY, S
YOU KNOW, THIS YEAR IS REALLY
THEMED A TALE OF TWO CITIES. IN
OUR CASE, A TALE OF TWO
NEIGHBORHOODS. WE ARE FINDING I
PIONEER SQUARE, THE HIGHS ARE
HIGH AND THE LOWS ARE LOW. IT
CONTINUES ON. LOOKING TO MAKE
MORE PROGRESS ON THAT IN 2023
AND 2024. I THINK ONE OF THE
BEST STORIES ABOUT PIONEER
SQUARE, PEOPLE ARE COMING BACK,
AS I MENTIONED IN MY OPENING, A
NUMBER OF NEW BUSINESSES. 18
SINCE THE BEGINNING OF THE YEAR
AND MANY OF THOSE ARE ASIAN,
BLACK, AND WOMEN OWNED. IT'S
REALLY EXCITING TO SEE A NEW
GROUP OF PEOPLE INVESTING IN TH
DISTRICT AND PLANTING ROOTS
THERE. WE WERE THE RECIPIENT OF
AN RCO GRANT THROUGH THE STATE
OF WASHINGTON FOR THE REDESIGN
PROJECT FOR PIONEER PARK, AND
STILL LOOKING FORWARD TO KICKIN
THE WORK OFF TO BE ABLE TO
IMPROVE ONE OF OUR MAJOR
GATEWAYS TO THE NEIGHBORHOOD,
AND IT'S AN IMPORTANT SPACE.
THIS YEAR WE ALSO HAD THE
REOPENING OF CITY HALL PARK, AN
WE CONTINUED TO WORK TO ENSURE
THE SAFE, INVITING URBAN REALM.
THERE'S A LOT OF WORK TO DO UP
THERE TO ENSURE THE 600
RESIDENTS HAVE EVERYTHING THEY
NEED TO LIVE A QUALITY, SAFE
LIFE IN OUR CITY, AND PRIVATE
AND PUBLIC INVESTMENTS CONTINUE
PEOPLE CONTINUE TO BET ON
PIONEER SQUARE. WE HAVE SIX
DEVELOPMENTS, EITHER SLATED OR
UNDERWAY AND AS WELL AS A NUMBE
OF PUBLIC INVESTMENTS COMING IN
TO DO IMPROVEMENTS ON STREET
IMPROVEMENT PROJECTS AND OTHER
PROJECTS. LAST HIGHLIGHT I WILL
SAY, WE FINALLY HAVE THE PIONEE
SQUARE HABITAT BEACH THAT IS
OPEN. IF YOU HAVEN'T BEEN DOWN
THERE, PLEASE TAKE A SECOND AND
WALK DOWN. IT'S SUCH A UNIQUE
OPPORTUNITY TO BE ABLE TO TOUCH
THE WATER FRONT PIONEER SQUARE,
SHOWING THE PROGRESS WE HAVE
MADE AS A CITY AND OUR FUTURE T
THE CONNECTION OF THE WATER
FRONT AND THE PROJECT FOR
SEATTLE AS A WHOLE. MOVING ON T
BARRIERS, I THINK THE MAIN ONE,
AND THIS IS SOMETHING THAT WE
ARE REALLY FOCUSING ON,
NEIGHBORHOOD OCCUPANCY CONTINUE
TO BE A CHALLENGE. RECENT
REPORTS SHOWING THE VACANCY RAT
AT ONE OF THE HIGHEST IN THE
CITY, 25%, BACK TO 2008 AND 200
LEVELS. THERE'S MANY FACTORS FO
THIS. SOME OF IT IS PANDEMIC
RELATED, AND SOME OF IT IS
REDEVELOPMENT. IT'S A
COMBINATION OF THINGS LEADING T
THAT LEVEL OF VACANCY RATES AND
THE LEASES IN FLUX POST
PANDEMIC. A LOT OF PEOPLE HAVE
LEASE TERMS OF FIVE TO EIGHT
YEARS. WE ARE NOT DONE SEEING
THE 2020 IMPACT.
>> CAN YOU REPEAT THE RATE?
>> 25%.
>> WE WILL CONTINUE TO SEE THAT
OVER THE NEXT COUPLE OF YEARS A
PEOPLE DECIDE WHAT THEY WILL DO
WITH THEIR LEASES ASSIGNED
PREAND DURING THE EARLY DAYS OF
THE PANDEMIC. NEXT, REALLY
EXCITING WITH THE EAST AND WEST
CONNECTIONS COMING ONLINE, WE
WILL HAVE THE CONSTRUCTION
IMPACTS THIS FALL ACROSS THE
DISTRICT, MAKING ACCESSIBILITY
AND OPERATIONS EVEN MORE
CHALLENGING. ONE OF THE OTHER
LARGE THINGS WE ARE HEARING FRO
BUSINESSES, PERMITTING
CHALLENGES FOR SMALL BUSINESS
INCLUDE A LACK OF CLARITY AND
CONFUSION WITHIN THE SYSTEM AS
WELL AS DELAYS, ESPECIALLY ONCE
THAT STARTS TO DELAY THE OPENIN
DATES. A LOT FOR SMALL
BUSINESSES INVESTING LIFE
SAVINGS TO TRY TO INVEST IN THE
CITY. THE NEXT ONE,
INFRASTRUCTURE CHALLENGES, AREA
WASTE ISSUES, IMPACTFUL TO THE
DAY-TO-DAY OPERATIONS. WE HAVE
HAD A COUPLE OF FAILURES
IMPACTING THE ACCESSIBILITY FRO
A PEDESTRIAN STANDPOINT, AND
ALSO LONG-TERM HIGH-COST
IMPLICATIONS FOR THE
NEIGHBORHOOD AS A WHOLE AND
REALLY JUST INFRASTRUCTURE AND
TRANSPORTATION PLANNING. WE ARE
LOOKING FOR CONNECTIVITY FOR
PIONEER SQUARE. I DON'T FEEL
LIKE WE ARE QUITE THERE WITH TH
CURRENT PLANNING AND WHERE WE
ENDED UP AFTER THE MULTIPLE
YEARS OF IMPACT ON THE DISTRICT
LAST BUT NOT LEAST, LOOPING BAC
TO THE THEME MIKE JUST BROUGHT
UP IS CRIMINAL ACTIVITY
INCLUDING PROPERTY CRIME. WE DI
A RECENT SURVEY ASKING
BUSINESSES ABOUT THEIR
EXPERIENCE IN THE DISTRICT OVER
THE LAST YEAR. A GROUP OF 40
BUSINESSES REPORTING $221,000 I
DAMAGE, COLLECTIVE, DUE TO
PROPERTY DAMAGE, THE DIRECT
IMPACT TO THEIR BOTTOM LINE.
LOOKING FOR WAYS TO BE ABLE TO
HELP THOSE BUSINESSES SURVIVE A
WELL AS LESSEN THAT IMPACT. I'M
GOING TO PASS IT OVER TO MONISH
SINGH WITH THE CHINATOWN
INTERNATIONAL DISTRICT BIA.
>> THANK YOU. MONISHA SINGH.
CHINATOWN INTERNATIONAL DISTRIC
BIA. SMALLER BIA COVERING WHAT
WE CONSIDER WEST OF I-5,
INCLUDING CHINATOWN AND
JAPANTOWN. HIGHLIGHTS, SUMMER I
SEATTLE IS SO DYNAMIC. WE ARE
SEEING A LOT OF GREAT ACTIVITIE
IN THE CID. WE HAVE BEEN
INVESTED IN DOING CONSISTENT
MARKETING ACTIVITIES OVER THE
SUMMER, AND A LOT OF OUR SMALLE
NEIGHBORHOOD EVENTS ARE COMING
BACK. THIS IS REALLY HIGHLIGHTE
WITH OUR ACTIVATIONS INCLUDING
OUR CID FOOD WALK, AND WE ARE
FINDING THE CONSISTENT EFFORT
OVER A LONGER PERIOD OF TIME HA
BEEN MORE IMPACTFUL TO THE
BUSINESSES AS OPPOSED TO THE
LARGER EVENTS. WE HAVE ALSO
SEEN, ESPECIALLY SINCE THE
PANDEMIC, A VERY STRONG
VOLUNTEER BASE THAT IS
SUPPORTING US IN OUR
NEIGHBORHOOD, AND WE LEARNED AT
THE HEIGHT OF THE PANDEMIC,
PEOPLE'S EMOTIONAL CONNECTION T
THE CID IS VERY STRONG, AND A
LOT OF FOLKS CONSIDER THIS THEI
CULTURAL HOME. WE ARE SEEING A
LOT OF VOLUNTEER ENGAGEMENT, AN
WE DO THE NEIGHBORHOOD CLEANING
EVENTS MONTHLY, AND WE HAVE DON
THE LARGE SPRING CLEANING THIS
YEAR, AND THE ONE SEATTLE DS
SERVICE, AND ENGAGEMENT WITH
VOLUNTEERS. WE ARE CONTINUING T
SEE THAT THIS YEAR AND THE YEAR
AHEAD. IT HAS BEEN REALLY
BENEFICIAL TO OUR SMALL BIA TO
HAVE THE VOLUNTEER SUPPORT TO
HELP THE BEAUTIFICATION OF THE
NEIGHBORHOOD. EXCITING THINGS,
SEVERAL NEW BUSINESSES, SIMILAR
TO BALLARD. WE ACTUALLY, OUR
TURNOVER RATE WAS PRETTY HIGH A
THE HEIGHT OF THE PANDEMIC, BUT
WE ARE SEEING A LOT OF BACKFILL
REALLY QUICKLY. IT'S EXCITING T
SEE THE NEW BUSINESSES IN THE
NEIGHBORHOOD OVER THE LAST
SEVERAL MONTHS. THROUGH OUR
SUPPORT OR THROUGH PARTNERSHIP
WITH THE OFFICE OF ECONOMIC
DEVELOPMENT, WE HAVE HAD TWO
REALLY EXCITING PROJECTS OVER
THE LAST ALMOST TWO YEARS NOW.
ONE IS WHAT WE CALL THE WINDOW
REPAIR PROJECT. WE HAVE NOW
SUPPORTED OVER 100 BUSINESSES I
PROVIDING SECURITY FILM TO BE
PLACED ON TOP OF THEIR WINDOWS
TO PREVENT FUTURE BREAK-INS. IN
ADDITION, WE HAVE BEEN ABLE TO
PROVIDE WINDOW REPAIRS FOR
BROKEN WINDOWS OVER THE LAST
YEAR OR SO FOR FREE TO
BUSINESSES. OUR OFFICE, IN
PARTICULAR, IS DOING WHAT WE
CALL A PRESSURE WASHING PROJECT
AS PART OF THIS. WE HAVE BEEN
ABLE TO PRESSURE WASH ALMOST TH
ENTIRETY OF THE DISTRICT LAST
YEAR, LAST SUMMER, AND THEN WE
PAUSED FOR THE WINTER SEASON,
AND WE ARE PICKING THAT BACK UP
THIS SUMMER. THIS IS OUR EFFORT
TO GET THE NEIGHBORHOOD TO A
BASELINE LEVEL OF CLEANLINESS A
IT WAS PRIOR TO THE PANDEMIC.
IT'S BEEN REALLY GREAT TO SEE
THIS CLEAR AND VISIBLE
IMPROVEMENT. HIGHLIGHTING SOME
OF OUR BARRIERS THAT WE ARE
EXPERIENCING, AS OTHER FOLKS
MENTIONED, WE ARE STILL
CONTINUING TO SEE SOME PUBLIC
SAFETY ISSUES, PARTICULARLY
AROUND PROPERTY DAMAGE AND
GRAFFITI, BROKEN WINDOWS AND
DOORS AND FIRES. BEING A
HISTORIC DISTRICT, A LOT OF
THESE COSTS TO OUR BUSINESSES
INTO OUR BIA IS VERY COST
PROHIBITIVE. TO REPAIR A WINDOW
IN A HISTORIC DISTRICT IS
CHALLENGING, NOT JUST FROM THE
COST, BUT A LOT OF THE
BUSINESSES ARE NOT INSURED OR
UNDERINSURED, PLUS GOING THROUG
THE HISTORIC REVIEW PROCESS TO
GET THAT BACK UP IS QUITE A
PROCESS. IN ADDITION TO THAT, W
ARE STILL SEEING SOLID WASTE
MANAGEMENT ISSUES. THE CID IS
HOME TO ONE OF SEVERAL BUSINESS
DISTRICTS THAT HAS THE CLEAR
ALLEY PROGRAM. THE CLEAR ALLEY
PROGRAM WAS IMPLEMENTED IN THE
EARLY 2000s TO SUPPORT MORE
PUBLIC SAFETY MEASURES IN OUR
SERVICE ALLEYS. WITH THAT, IT
REMOVED THE DUMPSTERS FROM THE
ALLEYS AND REPLACED THEM WITH
BAG SERVICES THAT WERE INTENDED
TO BE CLEARED MORE FREQUENTLY.
OVER THE LAST SEVERAL YEARS WE
HAVE SEEN A DIFFERENT SHIFT
SERVICE LEVELS, BUT I THINK WE
GOT BACK TO WHAT IT WAS PRIOR T
THE PANDEMIC. HOWEVER, THE
PROGRAM AS A WHOLE IS
PROHIBITIVE FOR THE BUSINESSES
TO PARTICIPATE IN. IT'S VERY
EXPENSIVE FOR THE BUSINESSES TO
HAVE A MONTHLY PAYMENT PLUS THE
COST OF BAGS PLUS UNDERSTANDING
THE RULES AND REGULATIONS OF
HAVING THIS PROGRAM. ONE OF THE
OTHER MAJOR BARRIERS TO THE
SUCCESS OF THE PROGRAM IS THE
RESIDENTIAL POPULATION ADJACENT
TO THE ALLEYS. A LOT OF THE
RESIDENTIAL BUILDINGS ARE
LOW-INCOME BUILDINGS, AND THE
PRESSURE THAT IS ON RESIDENTS
THEMSELVES TO PARTICIPATE IN TH
BAG PROGRAM IS VERY COST
PROHIBITIVE. THEY ARE NOT ABLE
TO PARTICIPATE. AS A LARGE AND
DENSE RESTAURANT DISTRICT, WE
ARE SEEING A LOT OF TRASH
GENERATED AND NOT A GOOD AVENUE
FOR FOLKS TO GET RID OF THEIR
TRASH. WE ARE CONSISTENTLY
SEEING LARGE TRASH ISSUES IN TH
ALLEYS AND PUBLIC CANS, AND IT
PUTS A LOT OF PRESSURE ON THE
BIA TO SERVICE OUR PUBLIC AREAS
AND BUSINESSES TO PARTICIPATE
AND MAKE THE PROGRAM SUCCESSFUL
ANOTHER AREA WE ARE SEES
CHALLENGES IN ARE EVENTS. WE AR
REASSESSING WHAT THE EVENTS LOO
LIKE FOR OUR DISTRICT. WE HAVE
HISTORICALLY DONE THREE LARGE
FESTIVALS. WE ARE FINDING FROM
BUSINESSES THEY ARE NOT
NECESSARILY COMPLIMENTARY TO
THEIR BUSINESS OR HELPING THEIR
BUSINESS. UNFORTUNATELY THEY AR
NOT ABLE TO PARTICIPATE IN A LO
OF THE EVENTS BECAUSE OF THE
PERMITTING ISSUES WITH EITHER
PERMITTING OR COMING OUT INTO
THE STREET TO SELL FOOD, AND IT
HASN'T BEEN SOMETHING THEY HAVE
REALLY BEEN ABLE TO BE A PART
OF, AND THEY HAVEN'T BEEN ABLE
TO REAP THE BENEFITS OF EITHER.
THE OTHER LARGE ISSUE IS AROUND
SOUND TRANSIT AND THE FUTURE
STATION IN OR AROUND THE CID AN
FUTURE CONSTRUCTION IMPACTS
RELATED TO THAT STATION
LOCATION. WITH THAT, I WILL PAS
IT OFF TO QUYNH WITH FRIENDS OF
LITTLE SAIGON.
>> QUYNH WITH LITTLE FRIENDS OF
SAIGON, AND AS YOU CAN TELL,
THERE ARE TWO OF US HERE FROM
THE CID. LITTLE SAIGON IS IN TH
CHINATOWN INTERNATIONAL
DISTRICT, BUT NOT IN THE BIA
ASSESSMENT. THE FRIENDS OF
LITTLE SAIGON, WE FILL IN SOME
OF THE GAPS THAT ARE PRESENT
BECAUSE WE DON'T HAVE A BIA. WE
HOPE TO IN THE FUTURE WITH YOUR
SUPPORT. AS MONISHA MENTIONED,
WITH THE EVENTS BECAUSE OF THE
SMALL CAPACITY, SMALLER
CELEBRATIONS LIKE CELEBRATE
LITTLE SAIGON, A SMALL BLOCK
PARTY AND WORKING WITH ARTISTS
AND AUTHORS TO DO EVENTS
TAILORED TO THE NEEDS OF THE
COMMUNITY MEMBERS, AND THOSE
HAVE BEEN FANTASTIC. WHAT I
SPEAK ON MORE IS THE
INFRASTRUCTURE IN LITTLE SAIGON
BECAUSE THE NEIGHBORHOOD HAS
MULTIPLE CHALLENGES BEING FAIRL
YOUNGER THAN THE REST OF THE
CHINATOWN CORE, OUR
INFRASTRUCTURE IS NOT BUILT TO
SUSTAIN OR REALLY SUPPORT
LONG-TERM BUSINESSES AND
ACADEMIC ACTIVITY. I THINK LISA
MENTIONED THEY HAVE HAD SEVEN
DEVELOPMENTS IN THE PIONEER
SQUARE AREA WE HAVE SEVEN IN TH
LITTLE SAIGON AREA, OR MAYBE
MORE. THIS NEIGHBORHOOD IS
DRASTICALLY CHANGING, AND YOU
CAN SEE THAT VISIBLY IN THE NEX
FEW YEARS. ON OUR PART, WE ARE
WORKING REALLY CLOSELY WITH THE
OFFICE OF ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT
ON SMALL BUSINESS T.A. AND OTHE
SUPPORT PROGRAMS MENTIONED
TODAY. THEY HAVE BEEN PART OF
OUR COLLABORATION TO REALLY
BUILD OUT SUPPORT SERVICES THAT
ARE WRAP AROUND FOR BUSINESSES.
WHEN WE SAY BUSINESS T.A. AND
SUPPORT, IT'S NOT JUST ABOUT TH
TECHNICAL BUSINESS PLANNING, BU
IT'S ADDRESSING PUBLIC SAFETY,
THINKING ABOUT SUCCESSION
PLANNING AND FILLING VACANCIES
THAT HAVE BEEN AROUND FOR A VER
LONG TIME. SOME OTHER GOOD NEWS
THAT IS HAPPENING IN THE
NEIGHBORHOOD, YOU HEARD THAT WE
JUST BROKE GROUND ON THE LITTLE
SAIGON PARK THAT WAS UNDERWAY
FOR OVER TEN YEARS. IT'S A
LITTLE RIDICULOUS, BUT WE ARE
REALLY EXCITED FOR THAT TO
HAPPEN. THAT BRINGS ON THE
OPPORTUNITIES FOR MORE EVENTS I
THE NEIGHBORHOOD, JUST PUBLIC
OPEN SPACE FOR EMPLOYEES AND
RESIDENTS TO COME AND GATHER AN
HANG OUT OUTSIDE. WE ALSO ARE
WORKING WITH SDOT ON SEVERAL
PUBLIC IMPROVEMENTS AND ART IN
THE NEIGHBORHOOD. WITH WE HAVE
SEVEN ELECTRICAL BOXES BEING
DESIGNED AND WRAPPED, COMING
LIVE THIS FALL, AND WE ALSO HAV
SMALL IMPROVEMENTS LIKE TREE
PITS, GETTING, WHAT IS IT?
>> FLEX SOMETHING SO IT'S EASY
TO CLEAN UP AND MAINTAIN. THOSE
ARE SIMPLE THINGS WE HOPE TO SE
THE DRAMATIC IMPACTS FROM. OTHE
THINGS ARE WORKING WITH THE
OFFICE OF PLANNING AND COMMUNIT
DEVELOPMENT. I'M A HUGE ADVOCAT
FOR THE EDI PROGRAM BECAUSE IT
LOOKS AT COMMUNITY OWNERSHIP AN
SMALL BUSINESS OWNERSHIP,
ESPECIALLY IN THE NEIGHBORHOOD
THAT HAS LITTLE TO NO CONTROL O
THEIR BUSINESS BASIS, AND THE
CHANGEOVER AND THE REDEVELOPMEN
THAT IS HAPPENING, BUSINESSES
FEEL LIKE THEY JUST DON'T KNOW
WHAT TO DO AND WHERE TO INVEST
THEIR TIME AND MONEY, AND SO
PROGRAMS LIKE THIS CAN HELP US
SECURE THEIR POSITION AND CREAT
MORE OPPORTUNITIES FOR BUILDING
LEGACY BUSINESSES THAT WE HAVE
CURRENTLY BUT ARE SLOWLY
VANISHING IN SEATTLE. SOME OF
THE CHALLENGES, I WILL NOT TALK
TOO MUCH ABOUT THIS BECAUSE THE
HAVE TALKED ABOUT THOSE, LITTLE
SAIGON, IT'S PUBLIC SAFETY. DON
MENTIONED IN THE U DISTRICT
AROUND THE BLACK MARKETS AND
DRUG MARKETS, IT'S STILL ALIVE
IN LITTLE SAIGON. IT CONTINUES
TO MOVE AROUND THE DISTRICT. WE
HEAR A LOT ABOUT 12th AND
JACKSON, BUT IT REALLY IS NOT
JUST 12th AND JACKSON. IT
CONSTANTLY MOVES BECAUSE THERE
HAVE BEEN ONLY SHORT-TERM
SOLUTIONS TO SOME OF THOSE
CHALLENGES WE ARE DEALING WITH.
I ALSO WANT TO APPLAUD BALLARD
FOR THE HEALTH COORDINATOR
PROGRAM. WE ARE ALSO LOOKING AT
A POTENTIAL PROGRAM LIKE THAT O
SOMETHING SIMILAR TO THE
AMBASSADOR PROGRAMS IN OTHER
NEIGHBORHOODS. AND LASTLY, WITH
SOME OF THE REDEVELOPMENTS THAT
ARE HAPPENING, THERE IS -- THER
COULD BE MORE TO BE DONE WITH
SOME OF OUR ENGAGEMENT PROCESSE
WITH NEW DEVELOPERS. I THINK
THERE'S AN INTENT IN THE
BEGINNING TO WORK WITH THE
COMMUNITY, BUT WHEN IT ACTUALLY
PANS OUT, WE ARE DEFINITELY
PUSHED TO THE SIDE. THE GROUND
FLOOR USE IS REALLY A CRITICAL
PART OF THE NEW DEVELOPMENTS
THAT WE HAVE PROVIDED A LOT OF
INPUT AND STRATEGIES FORTH TO
THE DEVELOPERS, BUT OFTEN TIMES
IT FALLS FLAT, AND WE ARE SEEIN
INCREASED VACANCIES IN EVEN OUR
NEW DEVELOPMENTS, SO THAT IS
SOMETHING THAT WE CONSTANTLY AR
THINKING ABOUT. I WILL PASS IT
TO ERIN.
>> THANK YOU, QUYNH.
>> I DO WANT TO NOTE THAT
COUNCILMEMBER SAWANT HAS JOINED
THE MEETING.
>> THANK YOU.
>> I'M ERIN GOODMAN,
REPRESENTING SODO BIA. SODO IS
LARGE DISTRICT. WE ENCOMPASS
NEARLY 1200 BUSINESSES OVER 950
ACRES, STRETCHING FROM THE
STADIUMS ALL THE WAY DOWN INTO
THE GEORGETOWN AREA, RIGHT NORT
OF GEORGETOWN, AND SODO HAD A
VERY DIFFERENT EXPERIENCE DURIN
THE PANDEMIC THAN MANY OTHER
NEIGHBORHOODS. SO MANY OF OUR
BUSINESSES WERE ESSENTIAL, AND
SO MANY OF OUR WORKERS DID NOT
HAVE THE PRIVILEGE OF WORKING
FROM HOME. THEY HAD TO BE THERE
EVERY DAY, SO THE REST OF THE
CITY COULD HAVE FOOD AND PPE
AND, YOU KNOW, EVERYTHING MOVIN
AROUND, AND SO WHAT WE SEE, WHA
IS GOING WELL IN SODO RIGHT NOW
WE ARE VERY EXCITED. IN THE LAS
WEEK WE HAVE LAUNCHED OUR CLEAN
TEAM. THAT IS OUR CLEANING
AMBASSADOR PROGRAM. THIS IS
SOMETHING THAT WE ARE SO EXCITE
ABOUT. WE RECEIVED FUNDS THROUG
THE CITY THROUGH FEDERAL FUNDS
TO LAUNCH THIS, AND NOW WE HAVE
PRESSURE WASHING ADDED TO OUR
OTHER CLEANING SERVICES SUCH AS
ILLEGAL DUMPING REMOVAL AND
SIDEWALK CLEANING AND STREET
SWEEPING, AND THIS IS GOING TO
ALLOW US TO BE MORE NIMBLE AND
TO RESPOND TO SMALLER THINGS
THAT ARE REALLY IMPACTFUL. WE
HAVE TEAMS THAT DO SIDEWALK
CLEANING, BUT THAT'S FOR BIG
STUFF OR ILLEGAL DUMPING ON
DEMAND. FOR CALLS OF HUMAN
WASTE, WE HAVE NEVER BEEN ABLE
TO RESPOND BECAUSE SMALL TO THE
CONTRACTOR, BUT HUGE TO THE
BUSINESS THAT IS IMPACTED. SO W
ARE REALLY EXCITED FOR THAT
LAUNCH, AND I WILL TELL YOU, TH
RESPONSE HAS BEEN OVERWHELMING,
AND THE CLEAN TEAM CAME IN, AND
THE SECOND DAY, A HUGE BOX OF
DONUTS, AND THEY SAID LITERALLY
PEOPLE ARE TRYING TO FEED THEM
AS THEY WORK BECAUSE THEY ARE S
EXCITED TO HAVE THEM IN THE
NEIGHBORHOOD. ANOTHER PART THAT
IS REALLY EXCITING, THANKS TO A
GRANT FROM OED, WE HAVE LAUNCHE
A GREEN SPACE PLANNING PROCESS.
WE HAD OUR FIRST MEETING BACK I
MAY. WE ARE LOOKING FOR THE NEX
MEETING IN AUGUST TO GO IN TO A
COMMUNITY PLAN. REALLY THIS IS,
WE KNOW SODO IS UNDER TREED. WE
HAVE A 3% TREE CANOPY. THAT'S
VERY LOW. WE ALSO KNOW THERE AR
OPPORTUNITIES TO ADD GREEN SPAC
IN LESS TRADITIONAL MANNERS
THROUGH GREEN WALLS, GREEN
ROOFS, AND THROUGH SMALL SPACES
AS WELL AS LARGE SPACES. WE HAV
SOME LARGE AREAS THAT ARE GRASS
IN SODO THAT COULD HAVE A
WALKING TRAIL OR COULD HAVE, YO
KNOW, ADDITIONAL TREES ADDED. W
ALSO WANT TO MAKE SURE THAT THE
PLAN TAKES INTO CONSIDERATION
SODO NEEDS AND PREFERENCES, AND
SO TRYING TO FIGURE OUT WHAT
TYPES OF TREES GROW WELL IN AN
AREA WHERE YOU HAVE A LOT OF
TRAFFIC, COLUMNAR TREES THAT
GROW UP RATHER THAN OUT.
HOPEFULLY IT WILL BE A PLAN WHE
WE LOOK TO THE FUTURE OF
IMPLEMENTATION FOR GRANTS, WE
WILL HAVE THIS IN PLACE FOR
PEOPLE TO REFER TO AND ALSO WIL
HELP TO GUIDE OUR PERSONAL FOCU
ON GREEN SPACE IN THE COMING
YEARS. ANOTHER THING THAT WE
HAVE DONE THIS YEAR, THEY HAVE
BEEN REALLY EXCITED ABOUT IS
THAT WE BROUGHT TOGETHER A GROU
IN SODO THAT WE CALL THE
ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT STAKEHOLDE
GROUP. WE DO A LOT OF ADVOCACY,
BUT WE CHANNEL WHAT WE HEAR FRO
OUR BUSINESSES. WHEN WE STARTED
THE GROUP, WE HAD A PRECONCEIVE
NOTION OF WHAT WE WOULD HEAR
WERE THE BIGGEST BARRIERS TO
STARTING AND OWNING A BUSINESS.
WE DID HEAR SOME OF THE THINGS
WE EXPECTED TO HEAR LIKE PUBLIC
SAFETY, BUT WE ALSO HEARD A LOT
ABOUT INFRASTRUCTURE, ELECTRIC
INFRASTRUCTURE, SEWER, ROAD, AN
ALSO ABOUT PERMITTING. SO WE
PARTNERED AGAIN WITH THE OFFICE
OF ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT TO DO A
SERIES OF ROUND TABLES WHERE WE
HAD THE FIRST ONE INCLUDING
DEBORAH SMITH FROM THE CITY
LIGHT. RICO FROM OPCD AND THE
DIRECTOR OF OED, SITTING
TOGETHER TO HEAR FIRSTHAND FROM
OUR BUSINESSES AND PROPERTY
OWNERS WHAT WERE THE CHALLENGES
AROUND ELECTRIC INFRASTRUCTURE,
WHICH SOME OF YOU MAY NOT
REALIZE, BUT WE ARE AT A POINT
WHEN WE ARE ELECTRIFYING, AND
I'M NOT SURE THE GRID CAN KEEP
UP. WE HAVE HAD SIGNIFICANT
FAILURES THIS YEAR, BOTH PLANNE
OUTAGES, UNPLANNED OUTAGES. WE
HAVE HAD BUSINESSES WAITING TWO
YEARS FOR ELECTRICITY. WE DIDN'
SOLVE THE PROBLEMS, BUT WE
DEVELOPED GOOD LINES OF
COMMUNICATION THAT HAVE BEEN
SIGNIFICANT IMPROVEMENT IN THIS
YEAR, AND WE HAD A POWER OUTAGE
WHERE EARLIER BEFORE THE
MEETING, UPS WAS WITHOUT POWER
FOR ALMOST 24 HOURS. THAT'S
DIFFERENT THAN A REGULAR
BUSINESS. THAT MEANS PACKAGES
ARE NOT GOING OUT. AFTER THIS
MEETING, SEATTLE CITY LIGHT WEN
TO UPS AND GOT TO UNDERSTAND
THEIR OPERATIONS AND WHERE THE
ISSUES ARE, AND WE HAD ANOTHER
PLANNED OUTAGE WHERE THAT
COMMUNICATION CONNECTION WAS
MADE, AND IT WAS MUCH LESS
IMPACTFUL TO UPS AS WELL AS TO
THE NEIGHBORHOOD AS A WHOLE. WE
DID A SIMILAR MEETING WITH THE
DIRECTORS OF SPU, STCI AND ODI
TO TALK ABOUT PERMITTING
CHALLENGES. IT'S NOT JUST NEW
BUILDINGS AND BRINGING NEW NEW
DEVELOPMENT. IT'S ABOUT
ADDRESSING THE ISSUES FROM THE
PAST. THERE'S AREAS OF SODO THA
HAVE LONG CHEMICAL AND
BIOLOGICAL ISSUES IN TERMS OF
HAZARDOUS MATERIALS. ONE
PROPERTY OWNER SHARED THE
FRUSTRATION OF GOING THROUGH TH
INSURANCE PROCESS TO GET THEIR
PERMIT TO REMOVE A 1950s ERA
CHROMIUM DIP TANK. I'M NOT SURE
WHAT IT IS, BUT IT SOUNDS REALL
BAD. THEY ARE PREPARED AND
FUNDED TO DO IT, BUT THEY HAVE
BEEN WAITING TWO YEARS FOR THE
DEMOLITION PERMIT FOR THE
CORRUGATED METAL SHACK ABOVE IT
THESE WERE THE ISSUES.
>> JUST NOTED IT. GO ON, SORRY.
>> ONCE AGAIN, WE DID NOT SOLVE
ALL OF THE PERMITTING ISSUES
DURING THE MEETING, BUT WE
DEVELOPED LINES OF COMMUNICATIO
AND AN OPPORTUNITY AND NOW WE
HAVE ACCESS TO A PERMIT
NAVIGATOR. NEW BUSINESSES AS
FOLKS COME IN, YOU KNOW,
PERMITTING WILL STILL TAKE A
LONG TIME. WE HAVE THE ABILITY
TO ROUTE PEOPLE TO SOMEONE WHO
CAN HELP THEM MAKE SENSE OF THE
PROGRESS. WE HAVE NEW
DEVELOPMENT COMING IN. WE HAVE
THE FOOD INNOVATION CENTER, AND
WHEN IT OPENS SOON, IT WILL
EMPLOY 190 PEOPLE IN A FOOD
MANUFACTURING FACILITY, AND WE
HAVE A NEW CLEAN ENERGY
MANUFACTURING SITE UNDERWAY, AN
THERE'S EXCITING NEW STUFF
COMING TO SODO. IN TALKING ABOU
WHAT IS GOING WELL, I ALSO
PRETTY MUCH ADDRESSED THE BIG
BARRIERS AROUND INFRASTRUCTURE
AND PERMITTING, BUT I DO WANT T
ADDRESS INSURANCE. WE BROUGHT
THIS UP WHEN WE CAME TO SPEAK T
YOU LAST YEAR, AND WE UNDERSTAN
THAT INSURANCE IS NOT SOMETHING
THAT THE CITY COUNCIL CONTROLS
OR MANAGES, BUT I THINK IT'S
VERY IMPORTANT THAT THE CITY
BEGIN TO UNDERSTAND THE IMPACT
THAT SOME OF THE EVENTS AND
PUBLIC SAFETY ISSUES AND SOME O
THE DECISIONS THAT THIS BODY
MAKES HAVE ON THE ABILITY FOR
BUSINESSES TO GET INSURANCE AND
ALSO FOR THE COST OF THE
INSURANCE. WE ALL HAVE STORIES.
THE BUSINESS SAYING THEY HAD TH
CHOICE OF 10 OR 15 COMPANIES,
AND NOW CHOOSING BETWEEN 3.
THEIR DEDUCTIBLE IS $30,000.
THEY ARE EATING ANY DAMAGE UNDE
30,000, AND WHEN YOU HAVE TRUCK
VANDALIZED ON A REGULAR BASIS,
AND MAYBE THEY ARE GETTING $300
WORTH OF FUEL, BUT IT'S $8,000
TO REPAIR THE TRUCK AND THE
TRUCK OUT OF COMMISSION FOR A
NUMBER OF DAYS TO WEEKS BECAUSE
OF THE LINE AT THE TRUCK REPAIR
SHOP THAT IS LONG, THAT'S AN
IMPACT TO BUSINESS, AND ALSO AN
IMPACT TO EMPLOYEES WHEN THERE'
NOT A TRUCK TO DRIVE AND YOU'RE
NOT PULLING IN EMPLOYEES. SO
WHEN YOU LOOK AT THAT, THE COST
IS BOTH TO THE PROPERTY AND TO
THE BUSINESS, AND ALSO TO THE
ECONOMY AS A WHOLE, AND THE
ABILITY BUSINESSES CANNOT
OPERATE WITHOUT INSURANCE. THE
ABILITY TO GET AND MAINTAIN
AFFORDABLE COMMERCIAL INSURANCE
THAT REALLY SUPPORTS A BUSINESS
IS REALLY IMPORTANT. . I WILL
STOP THERE. THANK YOU.
>> OVER IN WEST SEATTLE, WE ARE
STILL THRILLED ABOUT THE BRIDGE
[ LAUGHTER ] WE ARE. EVERY TIME
I DRIVE ACROSS IT, I SMILE. I
WANT TO START ON THE GOOD NOTE
AS WELL. IN WEST SEATTLE, WE DO
LOVE OUR FESTIVALS. WE THROW
ABOUT 24 A YEAR WITH DIFFERENT
EVENTS AND FUN THINGS, AND WE
JUST HAD OUR FIRST EVER PRIDE
FEST LAST MONTH, INCREDIBLE,
WELL ATTENDED, AND BROUGHT A LO
OF PEOPLE INTO THE JUNCTION.
SUMMER FEST IS THIS WEEKEND,
COMPETING WITH SEAFOOD FEST IN
BALLARD. THANK YOU VERY MUCH,
MIKE.
>> NO PROBLEM. [ LAUGHTER ]
>> WE HAVE BETTER MUSIC. JUST
KIDDING. WE ARE BRINGING BACK A
FEW THINGS TO BRING MORE PEOPLE
IN AS WELL. WE ARE ALSO STARTIN
NEW THINGS LIKE THE GLASS FLOAT
HUNT. WE ARE HIDING 100
BEAUTIFUL GLASS FLOATS ALL OVER
WEST SEATTLE SO PEOPLE CAN COME
AND FIND THEM FROM ALL OVER THE
CITY. WE ARE ALSO DOING
SOMETHING NEW. I HAVE CREATED A
ARTIFICIAL INTELLIGENCE
COMMUNITY GENERATED LIGHT SHOW
WE WILL DO ON A SEVEN-STORY
BUILDING AT CHRISTMAS. I THINK
IT'S GOING TO BE A LOT OF FUN.
IT'S NEW. I'M EXCITED ABOUT IT.
ALSO ON THE GOOD FRONT, ONLY
THREE VACANT BUILDINGS RIGHT
NOW, AND I FEEL LIKE IN A LOT O
WAYS, IT'S NOT DUE TO ANYONE NO
WANTING TO COME IN. I'M HAPPY
ABOUT THAT. I ALSO THANK THE
CITY FOR THE BROKEN WINDOW FUND
LIKE EVERYONE ELSE, MY
BUSINESSES ARE TAKING ADVANTAGE
OF THAT. IT CERTAINLY TAKES THE
STING OUT OF A BROKEN WINDOW. W
HAD THREE THIS WEEK. WE DO RELY
A LOT ON GRANTS FROM OED AND
FROM THE NEIGHBORHOOD MATCHING
FUND AND THE OFFICE OF ARTS AND
CULTURE. THEY MAKE MY JOB
EASIER, BRINGING EVENTS AND
BEAUTIFICATION. I'M GRATEFUL FO
THAT. WE EXPERIENCE THE SAME
NEGATIVE ISSUES EVERYONE ELSE I
IN TERMS OF PUBLIC SAFETY, AND
THINK ONE OF THE BIG ONES, JUST
THE PERSISTENT OF THE
INDIVIDUALS WHO ARE CHALLENGED
MENTALLY OR WITH SUBSTANCE ABUS
AND REFUSE SERVICE. THEY JUST
HANG OUT IN OUR POCKET PARK AND
MAKE THINGS VERY DIFFICULT, BUT
IN ADDITION TO THAT, I WANT TO
TOUCH ON PERMITTING. I HEAR
ABOUT THAT THE MOST FROM
BUSINESS OWNERS AND JUST MET
WITH TODD CARDON TWO DAYS AGO.
HE SAID I APPLIED ON FEBRUARY
1st FOR MY STREET CAFE PERMIT
AND JUST GOT IT THREE DAYS AGO.
THAT'S A LOT OF WAIT TIME THERE
THAT'S INCREDIBLY FRUSTRATING
FOR THEM. I HAVE HEARD
FRUSTRATIONS WITH THE LIQUOR
CONTROL BOARD AND PERMITTING
THERE AND VERY, VERY
CHALLENGING. I DID HAVE A PERSO
LINED UP TODAY, BEYA AND MARK
NEXT TO NATURE IN WEST SEATTLE,
TRYING TO OPEN UP THE PLACE
CALLED THE HYDRANT. SHE WANTED
TO SPEAK TODAY, BUT FOR SOME
REASON HAD A LITTLE DIFFICULTY
GETTING ON. SHE SHOT ME OVER
SOMETHING I WOULD LIKE TO READ
TO YOU. FOR BACKGROUND. THE
SPACE AT 4541 CALIFORNIA THE
HYDRANT CONVERTED TO RESTAURANT
USE IN '88. THERE'S A SERIES OF
SUCCESSOR RESTAURANTS AND CAFES
THE BUTCHERY TOOK OVER THE SPAC
AND ALTERED USE TO MIXED RETAIL
RESTAURANT. WE TOOK OVER IN 201
EXPECTING TO CONTINUE THE
RESTAURANT ASSEMBLY USAGE.
UNBEKNOWNST TO US, DCLU RETIRED
THE MIXED RETAIL CLASSIFICATION
AND MOVED THE SPACE INTO FULL
RETAIL SO THAT WHEN WE APPLIED
TO PERMIT FOR THE HYDRANT, THEY
TOLD US WE WERE CHANGING THE US
AND NEEDED TO DO SIGNIFICANT
ALTERATIONS TO THE FACILITY
INCLUDING ADDING A SPRINKLER
SYSTEM, FIRE RESISTANT WALLS,
AND ALL PRIOR MENTIONED
BUSINESSES HAD A FULL-SIZED
GRILL HOOD AND OTHER KITCHEN
THINGS. SHE SAID WE HAVE ONLY
REFRIGERATION, AND WE WILL DO N
FOOD PREP ON SITE. WE HAVE BEEN
TRYING TO RESOLVE THIS EVER
SINCE. OUR TALKING POINTS ARE W
ARE FRUSTRATED WITH SEEMINGLY
ARBITRATION AND FACELESS
DECISIONS WITH NO RECOURSE. WE
ARE FRUSTRATED WITH BUREAUCRACY
AND LACK OF SINGLE POINT OF
CONTACT FOR ESCALATIONS. WE ARE
BEING PRICED OUT BY IMPROVEMENT
REQUESTED BY THE CITY. I'M SURE
I'M NOT THE ONLY BIA DIRECTOR
HEARING THOSE COMPLAINTS, BUT
PERMITTING IS REALLY
CHALLENGING, AND WHAT I ALWAYS
HEAR FROM CITY OFFICIALS, WE AR
BUSINESS FRIENDLY, BUT IT
DOESN'T FEEL LIKE THAT TO THE
BUSINESSES. THANK YOU VERY MUCH
>> WELL, THANK YOU ALL FOR
SHARING YOUR PERSPECTIVES AND
STORIES FROM YOUR INDIVIDUAL
DISTRICTS. I WOULD LIKE TO DO A
QUICK SUMMARY AND OPEN IT UP FO
THE DISCUSSION WITH THE
COUNCILMEMBER. COUNCILMEMBER
NELSON, THANK YOU FOR HAVING US
HERE TODAY. I FEEL WEIRD READIN
THIS WAY, BUT I'M SURE THE
DIGITAL E-MAIL WORKS IN
HOLLYWOOD. AS A THEME, I JUST
WANT TO BRING OUT THREE THEMES
AS I HEARD COLLEAGUES TALK
TODAY. ONE THAT, YOU KNOW, SEED
FUNDING IN NEIGHBORHOODS HAS A
HUGE IMPACT TO UNLOCK THE
MOMENTUM AND PROSPERITY.
THINKING OF HOW THE CITY CAN
PLAY A ROLE. THE BROKEN WINDOWS
GRANT IS AN EXAMPLE OF THAT.
OTHER GRANTS HAVE BEEN IMPORTAN
AS WELL. THE ONE I MENTIONED
EARLIER WITH A HUGE IMPACT.
PUBLIC SAFETY IS KEY TO SMALL
BUSINESS DISTRICTS. EVERYTHING
ELSE GETS WAY HARDER WITHOUT
THAT. A WELL-ORGANIZED SET OF
GOVERNMENT PARTNERS IS KEY TO
SUCCESS. YOU HEARD SUCCESS
STORIES AROUND THE TABLE, AND W
HAVE FOUND SUCCESS IN TALKING T
YOU COUNCILMEMBER NELSON. WE
WANT TO BUILD ON THAT TODAY. A
COUPLE OF NEEDS WE HAVE
IDENTIFIED TOGETHER AS A GROUP,
AND THEN I WILL TALK ABOUT
SOLUTIONS WE HAVE FOR THOSE
NEEDS, AND ONE IS THERE NEEDS T
BE A GREATER SAFETY PRESENCE IN
NEIGHBORHOODS, AND THAT USED TO
BE POLICE FOOT PATROLS, BUT IT'
BEEN GONE FOR A DECADE NOW. WE
ARE TRYING TO FIGURE OUT WHAT I
COULD LOOK LIKE. SOME
NEIGHBORHOODS LIKE THE U
DISTRICT HAVE AMBASSADORS. MAYB
WE COULD EXTEND TO OTHER
NEIGHBORHOODS FOR THE PRESENCE.
WE FIND THERE'S BUSINESSES WHO
NEED NOT A 911 CALL, BUT SOMEON
THERE TO HELP WITH A VERY SMALL
ISSUE, BUT IF YOU'RE SITTING IN
A SMALL BUSINESS BY YOURSELF AN
YOU'RE THERE, AND THERE'S
SOMEONE WHO IS INTIMIDATING YOU
IT'S NOT A 911 CALL. IT COULD B
SOMEONE ASKING CAN YOU STEP
HAPPENING ABOUT OUTSIDE THAT YO
MAY NOT UNDERSTAND OR THE SAFET
AMBASSADOR DOES. WE WOULD LIKE
TO SEE THOSE SOLUTIONS IN OTHER
NEIGHBORHOODS. WE BROUGHT IT
FORWARD IN 2021 AS AN UNARMED
CIVILIAN FOOT PATROL. WE WOULD
LIKE TO PUT IT BACK ON THE TABL
TO MAKE SURE IT'S MEANINGFUL AN
NOT NECESSARILY A 911 CALL. ONE
LAST THING ON THAT, THEY CAN
WORK VERY CLOSELY AND DO IN THE
U DISTRICT WITH SOCIAL SERVICE
PROVIDERS TO IDENTIFY NEED AND
THEN HELP TO REALIZE WHERE
THERE'S AN IMPACT. THE SECOND
NEED IS THE INSURANCE ISSUE.
ERIN BROUGHT UP THE ISSUE. IT'S
VERY IMPORTANT TO SMALL
BUSINESSES TO BE ABLE TO GET
INSURANCE. IT UNLOCKS THE OTHER
THINGS THEY NEED TO DO AS A
SMALL BUSINESS. THE BARRIERS
NEED TO BE BETTER UNDERSTOOD. W
ARE NOT EXPERTS IN INSURANCE,
AND WE CANNOT TRANSLATE THE
STORIES INTO WHAT SHOULD BE
DONE. I THINK WHAT WE ASKED FOR
BACK IN 2021 WAS THE IDEA OF A
STUDY AT THE STATE LEVEL OR CIT
LEVEL TO REALLY UNLOCK WHAT IS
GOING ON THERE AND WHAT COULD B
DONE TO HAVE INSURANCE BE LESS
EXPENSIVE AND MORE AVAILABLE.
THE PERCEPTIONS OF SEATTLE, IT
JUST -- WE ARE TOLD IT'S HIGH
RISK. INSURANCE IS NOT EASY TO
GET, AND IT'S EXPENSIVE.
>>> ANOTHER NEED THAT WE HAVE I
BETTER SOLID WASTE MANAGEMENT.
WE HEARD IN THE CID ABOUT THE
ISSUES WITH WASTE MANAGEMENT,
AND NOT THE COMPANY,
NECESSARILY, BUT JUST THE IDEA
OF MANAGING SO MUCH SOLID WASTE
AND TO PUT IT IN CONTEXT, WE
HAVE A HANDFUL OF NEIGHBORHOODS
WITH HISTORIC BUILDINGS AND HIG
CONCENTRATIONS OF RESTAURANTS.
THAT MEANS WITH A NEW BUILDING,
THERE'S GARBAGE REQUIRED TO BE
STORED INSIDE. ALL DUMPSTERS AR
INSIDE, AND THERE'S ALLEYS OPEN
AND YOU CAN USE FOR OTHER
THINGS. IN CID OR THE U
DISTRICT, WE HAVE 130
RESTAURANTS WITHIN 10 BLOCKS,
AND ALL OF THE GARBAGE IS STORE
OUTSIDE ON A REGULAR BASIS. THE
OVERSIGHT OF THE GARBAGE IS
DEPENDING ON IT GETS REALLY
WONKY QUICK. RESIDENTIAL IS
DIFFERENT FROM COMMERCIAL, AND
OVERSIGHT IS DIFFERENT. THAT
LEAVES A LOT OF ROOM FOR
SLIPPAGE. WE HAD 40 DUMPSTER
FIRES AGAINST THE BUILDINGS IN
THE U DISTRICT IN ONE YEAR. WE
ALMOST LOST A COUPLE OF
RESIDENTIAL BUILDINGS, AND SO
HAVING A PROCESS TO STUDY AND
KIND OF UNDERSTAND THE ISSUES,
AND MAYBE HAVING A TEAM COMING
BY TO HELP DEAL WITH THE
OVERFLOWING DUMPSTERS THAT
HAPPEN, WE HAVE A LOT OF ILLEGA
DUMPING THAT COMES. PEOPLE FROM
AROUND THE REGION KNOW THEY CAN
COME TO A CERTAIN NEIGHBORHOOD
AND DUMP THEIR STUFF. NO ONE
WILL KNOW OR CARE. WE FIND
RECEIPTS AND BOX LABELS FROM
KIRKLAND, PEOPLE COMING IT USE
IT BECAUSE THEY KNOW IT'S A
TARGET. THERE'S NO WAY TO DEAL
WITH IT. PERHAPS THERE'S A WAY
TO HAVE SOMETHING WITH THE CITY
CONTRACT TO HAVE AN EXTRA TEAM
DEALING WITH THE FEW
NEIGHBORHOODS WITH THE ISSUE.
THAT WILL PROBABLY RESOLVE IN
100 YEARS WHEN BUILDINGS CHANGE
AND THINGS DEVELOP, BUT WE ARE
STUCK WITH THIS FOR 50 YEARS. I
WOULD ALSO SAY THE PERMITTING
TIME IS A BIG ISSUE. LOOKING AT
THAT AS A CITY AND DOING THE
STUDY TO FIGURE OUT HOW WE CAN
CREATE THE PORTAL FOR SMALL
BUSINESSES AT THE CITY TO
ADDRESS THESE AND HAND HOLD
PEOPLE THROUGH THE LEARNING
CURVE. A NEW BUSINESS IS
OPENING UP, AND THE PERMITS, AN
IT'S LIKE IF YOU DON'T
UNDERSTAND AT THE FRONT END, YO
CAN DELAY YOURSELF BY ACCIDENT,
AND HAVING SOMEONE WHO CAN WALK
YOU THROUGH THE PROCESS AND ALL
OF THE INFORMATION YOU NEED TO
HAVE AT THE FRONT END OF THE
PROCESS IS REALLY IMPORTANT.
THAT'S WHERE THE CITY AND
PARTNERS COME IN. GREAT PARTNER
WITH OED. I DON'T WANT TO SAY
THAT'S NOT THERE. I THINK WE
NEED TO CONTINUE TO THINK ABOUT
IT. IT'S INTERDEPARTMENTAL. IT'
LIQUOR CONTROL BOARD, AND ALL
THE OTHER THINGS THAT HAVE TO
FALL IN PLACE FOR A QUICK
SUCCESSION TO GET YOUR BUSINESS
OPEN. LASTLY, I JUST WANTED TO
GIVE A KIND OF A -- I WANTED TO
RAISE THIS AGAIN AS AN ISSUE
THAT WE ARE ALL SEEING IN OUR
NEIGHBORHOODS. PUBLIC SAFETY
ISSUES ARE NOT A ONE DEPARTMENT
ISSUE. THEY ARE COMPLEX AND
REQUIRE AN ISSUE RESOLUTION
ACROSS THE DEPARTMENTS. I WILL
USE NOT A U DISTRICT EXAMPLE BU
CAPITOL HILL. A LOT OF PUBLIC
SAFETY ISSUES. I LIVE ON CAPITO
HILL. WE HAVE BEEN WORKING WITH
THE CITY TO ADDRESS THE PUBLIC
SAFETY ISSUES AROUND THE PARK,
AND WHAT WE FOUND, IT REQUIRES
FIVE CITY DEPARTMENTS TO DEAL
WITH THE PUBLIC SAFETY ISSUE.
SPU OWNING A LOT OF THE STUFF
THERE. SDOT WITH REAL ESTATE UP
THERE. THE PARKS DEPARTMENT WIT
REAL ESTATE UP THERE. SPD IS
INVOLVED, AND THE COMMUNITY
COLLEGE IS INVOLVED AND OF
COURSE THE PARKS DEPARTMENT. IT
COMES TOGETHER, AND THEN THE HS
LAYER WITH THE SOCIAL SERVICE
PROVIDING SERVICE. TO HAVE A
STRONG PARTNER WITHIN THE
MAYOR'S OFFICE AND THE CITY TO
NAVIGATE AND QUARTERBACK THE
CONVERSATION, SUPER IMPORTANT.
WE REALLY APPRECIATE ALL OF THE
WORK GOING ON WITH THE HARRELL
ADMINISTRATION FOR THAT KIND OF
COMPLEX RESOLUTION, BUT IT'S
IMPORTANT THE CITY STEPS IN TO
PLAY THE ROLE FOR THE BUSINESS
DISTRICTS LIKE OURS WHERE NOT
EVERYTHING IS A QUICK PHONE CAL
TO A PARTICULAR AGENCY. YOU
REALLY DO NEED TO HAVE IT FIXED
>> THAT'S QUITE THE LIST. THANK
YOU SO MUCH. JUST GETTING CAUGH
UP HERE. I WANT TO START BY
REMINDING OUR LISTENERS AND OUR
VIEWERS ON NOT HOLLYWOOD, THE
AWARD WINNING SEATTLE CHANNEL,
WHAT IS A BIA? BUSINESS
IMPROVEMENT AREAS ARE FUNDING
MECHANISMS FOR BUSINESS DISTRIC
REVIE TILLIZATION AND
MANAGEMENT. LOCAL STAKEHOLDERS
OVERSEE THE MAINTENANCE AND
IMPROVEMENT OF THEIR COMMERCIAL
DISTRICT, AND WE JUST RENEWED
THE M.I.D., AND THAT'S AN
EXAMPLE OF THE BUSINESS
IMPROVEMENT AREA. THEY ARE
INTENDED TO PROVIDE SUPPLEMENTA
SERVICES TO ENSURE THE SUCCESS
OF THE BUSINESSES THAT ARE
LOCATED IN NEIGHBORHOOD BUSINES
DISTRICTS AND ALSO RESIDENTS, E
CETERA, AND WHAT WE ARE HEARING
AND I HAVE SAID BEFORE, THEY AR
NOT SUPPLEMENTAL SERVICES. THEY
ARE ESSENTIAL SERVICES, IF THEY
WERE NOT PROVIDED BY THE BIAs,
OUR CITY WOULD BE QUITE
DIFFERENT. SO THANK YOU, AGAIN,
FOR THAT. I JUST WANTED TO MAKE
SURE THAT PEOPLE UNDERSTOOD WHA
WE ARE TALKING ABOUT WITH BIA.
THERE'S 11 IN THE CITY. SO NEXT
TIME I WILL -- NEXT MEETING I
WANT TO SAY I'M HEARING A LOT
ABOUT -- I'M JUST RESPONDING TO
MAJOR THINGS. I AM HEARING ABOU
COORDINATION IN THAT BUSINESSES
NOT JUST INDIVIDUAL BUSINESSES,
BUT BIAs THEMSELVES WOULD LIKE
TO HAVE A CROSS DEPARTMENTAL
RESPONSE OF SOME SORT BECAUSE
PROBLEMS ARE NOT SIMPLE USUALLY
BACK IN THE DAY, OED DID HAVE A
INFORMAL TEAM CALLED THE BACK
TEAM, WHICH BASICALLY WERE GO-T
PEOPLE IN DEPARTMENTS THAT A
BUSINESS OWNER COULD -- BUSINES
OWNER MAKES ONE CALL TO OED, AN
IF THERE'S A COMBINATION OF A
PROBLEM, THAT PERSON WOULD HELP
NAVIGATE THE COMMUNICATION
ACROSS DEPARTMENTS. THE GOOD
NEWS IS THE OED IS WORKING ON
REVAMPING AND FORMALIZING THAT,
AND WE WILL HEAR ABOUT THAT AT
THE NEXT MEETING. I DO HAVE GOO
NEWS ON THAT FRONT. THERE WILL
BE A LOT OF WHAT YOU -- THE
NEEDS YOU'RE TALKING ABOUT FOR
STREAMLINE PROBLEM SOLVING IN
ESSENCE. IT IS BEING ADDRESSED
AND I LOOK FORWARD TO HEARING
MORE DETAILS ABOUT THAT. I WILL
STOP TALKING NOW, AND I HEARD
THE NEEDS, AND BEFORE WE END
THIS MEETING, I WANT TO MAKE
SURE THAT MY LIST IS CORRECT,
BUT FIRST OF ALL, I WOULD LIKE
TO OPEN IT UP TO MY COLLEAGUES
FOR ANY QUESTIONS THEY MAY HAVE
OR COMMENTS.
>> SURE.
>> SORRY.
>> I WANTED TO THANK THE PANEL.
I KNOW THIS WAS THE SECOND TIME
WE HAVE DONE THIS TO HAVE SMALL
BUSINESSES. I KNOW THE PEOPLE
FROM I.D. AND SODO AND PIONEER
SQUARE, WE GET A LOT OF YOUR
CONSTITUENT LETTERS AND
CONCERNS, AND WE HAVE BEEN
PAYING ATTENTION TO THIS. I WAN
TO THANK THE CHAIR AND ALSO THE
OPPORTUNITY TO HEAR FROM THE
BUSINESSES THAT ARE DOWNTOWN.
WHAT WE ARE TRYING TO DO AND
HOPEFULLY WE CAN DO MORE,
OBVIOUSLY SMALL BUSINESSES ARE,
YOU KNOW, THE LIFE BLOOD OF WHA
MAKES THE COMMUNITY AND A CITY
HEALTHY. JUST WHAT THEY DO IN
ANY COMMUNITY IS SO IMPORTANT.
JUST WANT TO THANK YOU FOR THE
OPPORTUNITY AND THANK YOU FOR
BEING HERE THIS MORNING AND
THANK YOU, CHAIR, FOR YOUR
LEADERSHIP ON THIS.
>> THANK YOU VERY MUCH FOR
RECOGNIZING THE IMPORTANCE AND
IN PREVIOUS MEETINGS YOU HAVE
NOTED THAT NORTH SEATTLE COULD
USE A BIA. SORRY, ANYWAY. GO
AHELD COUNCILMEMBER HERBOLD.
>> THANK YOU SO MUCH. I JUST
WANTED TO SAY A FEW WORDS ON TH
PLUG FOR SAFETY FRONT. FOR
SAFETY AWARENESS, COUNCILMEMBER
LEWIS AND I AT THE BEGINNING OF
2023, WE WORKED WITH THE SEATTL
AUDITOR TO REQUEST AN ORGANIZED
RETAIL THEFT AUDIT, EXCUSE ME -
THE TRANSMISSION AND COMPLETION
OF THE AUDIT WAS DELAYED. WE --
THE AUDITOR HAD RECEIVED THE
FEEDBACK FROM SEVERAL EXTERNAL
BODIES INCLUDING THE STATE
ATTORNEY GENERAL, THE KING
COUNTY PROSECUTOR, HOMELAND
SECURITY, AND SEVERAL BUSINESS
GROUPS, FEEDBACK AS OF WHEN WE
ORIGINALLY SCHEDULED IT FOR THE
COMMITTEE BRIEFING AND HAD NOT
YET BEEN RECEIVED FROM THE
EXECUTIVE DEPARTMENTS, AND I
BELIEVE THE CITY AUDITOR HAS
RECEIVED THE FEEDBACK AND ARE
STILL WAITING FOR THE FINAL
COMMENT FROM THE EXECUTIVE. WE
ARE AIMING TO HAVE A BRIEFING A
THE NEXT COMMITTEE MEETING, THE
PUBLIC SAFETY AND HUMAN SERVICE
COMMITTEE MEETING IN JULY, ON
THE 25th AT 9:30. WE ARE
INCLUDING SEVERAL EXTERNAL
STAKEHOLDERS, GOVERNMENTAL
STAKEHOLDERS I MENTIONED EARLIE
AND THE WASHINGTON RETAIL
ASSOCIATION JOINING US AS WELL.
I ALSO WANTED TO LIFT UP THE
FACT THAT COUNCILMEMBER NELSON
AND I ARE STILL SEEKING AN
UPDATE FROM THE EXECUTIVE ON TH
SEATTLE POLICE DEPARTMENT'S
RECRUITMENT AND RETENTION PLAN
AND THE USE OF FUNDS THAT THE
COUNCIL PROVIDED, NOT ONLY IN
2022 BUT ALSO IN THE 2023 BUDGE
FOR A RECRUITMENT AND RETENTION
PLAN FOR THE SEATTLE POLICE
DEPARTMENT. AS SOON AS WE LEARN
MORE ABOUT THAT PLAN AND THE US
OF THE FUNDS THAT COUNCIL
PROVIDED, I WILL BE DISTRIBUTIN
THAT INFORMATION OUT. THEN
LASTLY, JUST WANTED TO EXTEND A
OFFER TO THE DISTRICT ONE SMALL
BUSINESS OWNER WHO IS HAVING
SOME PROBLEMS WITH THE PERMITS
AT STCI. IF THERE'S ANYTHING I
CAN DO, FEEL FREE TO SEND THEM
MY WAY. I'M HAPPY TO TRY MY
BEST, NO PROMISES, BUT I WILL
TRY MY BEST TO DO SOME
TROUBLESHOOTING. THANK YOU.
>> THANK YOU.
>> THANK YOU, COUNCILMEMBER
HERBOLD, AND ALSO THANK YOU VER
MUCH FOR MENTIONING OUR
EAGERNESS TO HEAR MORE ABOUT TH
POLICE OFFICER RECRUITMENT. WHA
I'M HEARING FROM EVERYBODY HERE
IT LOOKS LIKE IT'S AN ISSUE,
YES, BUT I BELIEVE THAT WHAT I
HEARD -- WHAT I HEARD IS THE
BENEFIT OF THE NEIGHBORHOOD
AMBASSADORS OR THE CASE
CONFERENCING IS THAT THERE ARE
RELATIONSHIPS THAT ARE BEING
BUILT, THROUGH THE FAMILIARITY
OF THE PROGRAMS THAT YOU TOUCHE
ON, AND THAT IS WHAT AN
ADEQUATELY STAFFED POLICE
DEPARTMENT DOES PROVIDE, THE
BEAT COP OR THE REGULAR PRESENC
THAT JUST GETS TO KNOW EACH
OTHER, YOU KNOW, PEOPLE IN THE
DISTRICT AND CAN BUILD TRUST AN
ALSO PREVENT THINGS FROM
ESCALATING INTO MAJOR
DISTRICT-WIDE PROBLEMS, AND
NOTED AND, YOU KNOW, LOOKING
FORWARD TO THE UPDATE.
COUNCILMEMBER STRAUSS?
>> CHAIR, THANK YOU. I JUST HAV
TO FIRST SAY THANK YOU. IT'S
GREAT TO SEE YOU ALL. THANK YOU
FOR YOUR PARTNERSHIP. I HAVE
BEEN TAKING NOTES THROUGHOUT TH
PRESENTATION. I WILL TICK
THROUGH THEM. THEY ARE NOT IN A
ORGANIZED FASHION BECAUSE I
THINK EVERYONE TOUCHED ON SOME
OF THE SIMILAR POINTS. I REALLY
SEE EVERYONE HERE AS A PARTNER
THIS WORK IS AN ECOSYSTEM OF
PARTNERSHIP. A LOT OF WHAT YOU
DO IS A GOVERNMENT RELATIONS. I
REMEMBER WALKING WITH STCI MOST
IMPORTANTLY AND ALSO WITH THE
FIRE DEPARTMENT AND THE POLICE
DEPARTMENT, AND WE WERE JUST
TRYING TO FIGURE OUT WHAT CAN A
PARKING GARAGE DO TO SECURE
THEIR BUILDING, AND IT WAS
REALLY WONDERFUL TO SEE MIKE IN
A PUBLIC OR GOVERNMENT RELATION
ROLE TRANSLATING AND ADVOCATING
FOR A PROPERTY OWNER WHO DOESN'
UNDERSTAND DEPARTMENT SPEAK.
MIKE AND I, OUR RELATIONSHIP
BEING ABLE TO COORDINATE ON THE
GROUND IN REALTIME AND WORKING
WITH THE APARTMENTS, THAT TYPE
OF GOVERNMENT RELATIONS IS NOT
SOMETHING THAT COMES NATURALLY
TO SMALL BUSINESS OWNERS WHO AR
FOCUSING ON JUST MEETING THEIR
BOTTOM LINE AND CREATING THEIR
PRODUCT AND MOVING FORWARD. SOM
OF THE PARTNERSHIP ALSO LOOKS
LIKE THE STREET CAFE THAT WE
HAVE. SDOT DID THE WORK, AND
BALLARD ALLIANCE IS MAINTAINING
THE PLANTERS. IT'S IMPORTANT.
THE PUBLIC SAFETY COORDINATOR
POSITION WE HAVE FUNDED AND HOW
HIRED IN BALLARD. THAT'S VERY
IMPORTANT. WE TOOK THAT IDEA
FROM THE U DISTRICT BIA. IT'S
SOMETHING -- I THINK THAT
POSITION IS SOMETHING NEEDED
ACROSS ALL NEIGHBORHOODS,
FRANKLY, BECAUSE IT REALLY IS
BOTH TRIAGE AND PROBLEM SOLVING
AND QUICK WINS.
>> NODS AROUND THE TABLE.
>> SAY AGAIN?
>> NODS AROUND THE TABLE FOR TH
PEOPLE.
>> ABSOLUTELY. YOU KNOW, EVEN
DOWNTOWN, THIRD AVENUE. THIRD
AND PYKE COULD USE SOMEONE
SPECIFICALLY WITH THE ROLE OF
TAKING THE DAY-TO-DAY ISSUES,
TRIAGING, AND FINDING SOLUTIONS
SOME OF WHAT WE HAVE DONE OVER
THE LAST YEAR WAS TAKING A PAGE
FROM YOU LAST YEAR, AND IT WAS
LAST YEAR'S PRESENTATION YOU
WERE TALKING ABOUT THE SAFETY
COORDINATORS, AND WE DID IT IN
BALLARD, FINDING SUCCESS. I'M
GOING TO EVENTUALLY GET BACK TO
YOUR ASKS, BUT I THINK THEY ARE
SPOT ON. JUST WHAT MIKE SAID
ABOUT ORGANIZED CRIMINAL
ACTIVITY, I CAN CONFIRM THAT. I
IS A DIFFERENT LEVEL THAN THE
SMASH AND GRABS. I WILL NOT GO
INTO THE STORIES I HAVE HEARD,
BUT THEY ARE SIMILAR TO WHAT
MIKE SHARED. SOME OF THE
PARTNERSHIP IS ALSO ABOUT
DEALING WITH THE PERSISTENCE.
THINGS GET BETTER AND THEN THEY
GET WORSE. THEN THEY GET BETTER
AND THEY GET WORSE. THE ALLEYWA
THAT MIKE BROUGHT UP, I MEAN,
THAT THING HAS BEEN GOOD, BAD,
GOOD, BAD, GOOD, BAD, AND I
THINK IT MAY BE TIME WE LOOK
BACK AT SOME OF THE EARLIER
SOLUTIONS WE THOUGHT, WELL,
MAYBE WE DON'T NEED TO DO THIS
BECAUSE, YOU KNOW, IT'S BEEN
HANDLED, BUT NOW IT COMES BACK,
RIGHT? AND JUST THE ABILITY TO
WORK WITH MIKE AND TO WORK WITH
SPU TO GET THE TRASH SERVICE
RETURNED. TO WORK WITH HSD, AND
THAT PARTNERSHIP IS IMPORTANT,
ESPECIALLY AROUND PERSISTENT
ISSUES. THERE ARE THINGS THAT W
HAVE DONE ON THE LEGISLATIVE
SIDE THAT MAYBE DON'T ALWAYS --
THEY ARE NOT AN IMMEDIATE FELT
IMPACT. JUST THIS WEEK, WE
PASSED THE PIONEER SQUARE
ROOFTOP LEGISLATION TO HOPEFULL
REDUCE THE VACANCY RATE IN
PIONEER SQUARE. I WAS DOWN IN
OXEN SQUARE HAVING LUNCH, AND I
WAS FABULOUS. REMINDED ME OF
PREPANDEMIC AFTER WAREHOUSER
CAME IN, AND SOME OF THE
PARTNERSHIP, TOO, GOING AROUND
THE TABLE, WHERE PREPANDEMIC, I
WORKED WITH DON ABOUT CITY HALL
PARK, AND THAT, WHAT YOU SAID,
UNDERSTAND IT IS TOTALLY TRUE.
THE CITY HALL PARK, WE HAD SPU
AND WE HAD THE COUNTY, SOUND
TRANSIT, PARKS, AND SDOT. AND T
BE ABLE TO CREATE THE SOLUTION
THAT WAS BEFORE THE PANDEMIC
THAT WORKED, PANDEMIC CLOSED AL
OF THE GREAT WORK DOWN, BUT THE
THAT TRANSLATED TO US DOING THE
SAME THING IN BALLARD WITH THE
BALLARD COMMONS PARK, USING THE
REOPENING ADDS THE PILOT FOR TH
PARKS DEPARTMENT TO REOPEN CITY
HALL PARK. I THINK THEY WERE
MORE SUCCESSFUL AT CITY HALL
PARK WITH THE REOPENING THAN
OURS. THAT'S THE BENEFIT OF
GETTING TO DO IT MULTIPLE TIMES
JUST GOING THROUGH. PERMITTING.
BOY, OH, BOY. ARE YOU SPOT ON.
ASKED THE CITY AUDITOR TO AUDIT
EVERY PERMIT REVIEW DISK. IT WA
SUPPOSED TO BE DELIVERED IN
JUNE. IT'S GOING TO BE DELIVERE
IN AUGUST OR SEPTEMBER. I'M
EXCITED FOR THIS. IT DOES NOT,
UNFORTUNATELY, TALK ABOUT THE
STREET CAFE PERMITTING OR THE
LIQUOR CONTROL BOARD OUTSIDE OF
THE CITY. IT'S FOCUSING ON
BUILDING PERMITS. IT'S GOING TO
BE THE FIRST ROUND, AND WHILE
THE LAND USE COMMITTEE WILL NOT
HAVE THE TIME TO TAKE UP THE
RECOMMENDATIONS FROM THIS
PERMITTING AUDIT THIS YEAR, THA
IS SOMETHING WE ARE GOING TO DO
NEXT YEAR. RIGHT? BECAUSE YOU
SHOULDN'T HAVE A LONGER WAIT
TIME FROM PERMIT APPLICATION TO
ISSUANCE TO KER IS CERTIFICATE
OF OCCUPANCY. IT SHOULD NOT TAK
LONGER THAN IT TOOK TO BUILD. I
IS MORE THAN BUILDING THE
BUILDINGS. IT'S ADDRESSING THE
ISSUES OF PAST. THE CERTIFICATE
OF OCCUPANCY. IT'S ABOUT
SIGNIFICANT ALTERATIONS, LIKE I
THERE WAS A MISTAKE MADE IN WES
SEATTLE, AND YOU KNOW,
COUNCILMEMBER HERBOLD, I'M HAPP
TO HELP IF YOU RUN INTO
CHALLENGES GETTING TO THE BOTTO
OF HOW YOU -- WHAT DESIGNATION
IS THE BUILDING? WHAT DOES 51%
CHANGE MEAN? IF YOU'RE IN AN
AREA SUBJECT TO CPA, YOU HAVE T
GO THROUGH CPA FOR THE
SIGNIFICANT ALTERATION. THAT'S
LONGER. THAT'S PART OF WHY I
PUSHED THE CPA THRESHOLD CHANGE
FOR DOWNTOWN. WE SHOULD NOT HAV
SIGNIFICANT ALTERATIONS. SORRY,
I'M GOING ON A REALLY LONG
TANGENT, BUT I HAVE THE NOTES
FROM WHAT YOU WERE TALKING
ABOUT. I THINK IT'S SPOT ON.
ANOTHER PIECE OF LEGISLATION
THEY WILL BE BRINGING SOON,
VACANT BUILDINGS. I KNOW FOR
ERIN GOODMAN, IN SODO, IF YOU
HAVE A VACANT INDUSTRIAL
BUILDING, THAT'S A PROBLEM. WE
HAVE HAD THAT IN BALLARD IN OUR
INDUSTRIAL AREA, TOO. WE ARE
GOING TO BE CHANGING HOW VACANT
BUILDING MONITORING WORKS AND I
ENFORCED TO HOPEFULLY BRING
BETTER RESULTS. ONE OF THE IDEA
STEMMING FROM U DISTRICT LAST
YEAR, ABOUT BROKEN WINDOWS
TURNING INTO A REAL PROGRAM, I
THINK WAS SUCCESSFUL, VERY
SUCCESSFUL. I THINK IT IS
SOMETHING WE NEED TO EXPAND THE
FUNDING FOR AND EXPAND THE
ELIGIBILITY OR HAVE SOMETHING
THAT IS TIED FOR SOME OF THE
SMALLEST BUSINESSES. ONE
EXAMPLE, I WAS -- MY OFFICE WAS
WORKING WITH A SMALL BUSINESS
THAT IS LOCATED IN BALLARD, AND
THEY HAVE TWO BUSINESSES SO THE
COULD NOT APPLY. RIGHT? BUT WE
HAVE GOT OTHER LOCAL COMPANIES
WHO I LOVE AND THEY DINE AT, NO
SHADE HERE, BUT IT'S JUST IT'S
PARENT COMPANY THAT IS ABLE TO
HAVE MULTIPLE RESTAURANTS OF TH
SAME PARENT COMPANY, BUT BECAUS
THEY ARE FILED DIFFERENTLY, THE
ARE THEIR OWN COMPANIES, AND
EACH OF THE BUSINESSES GET TO
HAVE THEIR WINDOWS REPLACED, BU
THE SLIGHTLY SMALLER BUSINESS
THAT HAS ONLY TWO LOCATIONS,
LIKE WE NEED TO FIGURE OUT A
SOLUTION FOR THEM AS WELL. THE
PRESSURE WASHING, I THINK THAT
IS EXACTLY SPOT ON. I KNOW
WORKING THROUGH THE UNIFIED CAR
TEAM, THAT IS SOMETHING THAT AS
THE NEIGHBORHOOD BASE
HOMELESSNESS RESPONSE TEAMS ARE
STANDING UP AND BEING EXPANDED
THROUGHOUT THE CITY, THE DESIRE
IS TO HAVE A TRUCK THAT ALSO HA
A PRESSURE WASHER SO YOU DON'T
HAVE TO RELY ON THE CONTRACTORS
BUT AS THAT IS STILL EXPANDING,
ABSOLUTELY. LIKE WE ARE ALSO
RELYING ON THIS PARTNERSHIP
AGAIN. I MEAN, WHETHER BALLARD
BROUGHT UPLIFT NORTHWEST INTO
BALLARD, IT WAS A GAME CHANGER.
THERE'S ALL THESE LITTLE THINGS
THAT USBIA'S, ARE DOING WITHIN
YOUR SPECIFIC ASSESSMENT AREA.
IT'S SHOCKING HOW MUCH OF A
DIFFERENCE IT MAKES. YOU STOP
TRIPPING ON THE ROOTS. THERE'S
NOT TRASH. MOST OF THE TIME
PEOPLE STOP LETTING THEIR DOGS
POOP THERE AND LEAVING IT THERE
AND THIS IS SOMETHING THAT, IT'
ALMOST AS IF THERE NEEDS TO BE
STANDARDIZED PLAN FOR DOWNTOWN
-- LIKE NEIGHBORHOOD DOWNTOWNS.
WHEN YOU HAVE THIS BUSINESS
DISTRICT, THERE ARE CERTAIN
THINGS THAT THE CITY DOES. LIKE
FLEXIBLE PAVING. IT'S SHOCKING
HOW MUCH OF A DIFFERENCE SUCH A
LITTLE THING CAN MAKE. AND THIS
BEAUTIFUL COOPERATATION, IF
YOU WILL. MIKE, I WILL ADMIT, I
DID PARTICIPATE IN AN EATING
CONTEST LAST NIGHT.
>> I'M GLAD YOU'RE ACTUALLY HER
TODAY.
>> YEAH, I WOULD SAY THAT WAS
GROSS. AS ANY GOOD NORWEGIAN
WOULD SAY ABOUT LUDIFISK.
GETTING TO SOME OF THE ASKS
ABOUT PUBLIC SAFETY. HOW DO WE
HAVE THESE DAILY BEATS RIGHT
AWAY? AND NOW I WAS REALLY
SUPPORTIVE OF THE MID, EXPANSIO
IN DOWNTOWN, AND MAYBE THAT'S
SOMETHING THAT HAPPENS IN THE
BIA'S AS WELL.
>> CHAIR STRAUSS, CAN THEY
RESPOND TO ANYTHING?
>> SURE, JUST INTERRUPT. JUST
INTERRUPT ME. WE HAD UPLIFT
NORTHWEST, AND JUST HAVING
PEOPLE ON THE STREET REGULARLY
WALKING AROUND, I THINK IT IS
IMPORTANT THAT WE HAVE SOME SOR
OF NEIGHBORHOODAMBASSADOR. I
KNOW IN BALLARD, WE'VE HAD
WALKING PATROLS. AND THAT HAS
HAD A POSITIVE IMPACT. DON, I
SEE YOU WANT TO SAY SOMETHING.
>> JUST REAL QUICK ABOUT THE
CSIO'S, I THINK IT'S A DIFFEREN
PROGRAM THAN WHAT WE WERE
ENVISIONING. THE SEE TO THE
SUCCESS OF THESE PROGRAMS ARE
GEOGRAPHICALLY SPECIFIC, AND
MOST OF OUR HOURS WE GET THERE
AT 7:00 A.M. AND LEAVE AT 11:00
P.M. OUR PROGRAM TO DO THAT
COSTS A LOT. BUT IT'S CHEAPER
THAN COPS, RIGHT? NOT EVERY
NEIGHBORHOOD HAS THE RESOURCES
TO DO THAT. I THINK IT'S THE
SPECIFIC PEOPLE THERE OVER TIME
THAT CAN COLLECT THAT KNOWLEDGE
>> I THINK IT WAS ABOUT A MONTH
AND A HALF AGO WHEN I FIRST
FOUND OUT ABOUT THE CSO'S. I ME
THEM, AND SAID THEY WERE GREAT.
THEY SAID THEY WOULD HAVE
REGULAR PATROLS IN WEST SEATTLE
AND I SAW THEM FOR THE FIRST
TIME YESTERDAY. THEY'RE GREAT
PEOPLE, BUT THERE'S NO
CONSISTENCY, TO DON'S POINT, AN
GETTING TO KNOW THE KIND OF
CHARACTERS HANGING OUT IN OUR
OWN UNIQUE NEIGHBORHOODS AND
GETTING TO BE ABLE TO MOVE
THINGS ALONG IS GOING TO BE KEY
TO THIS PROGRAM AND THE SUCCESS
OF IT. BUT I CAN'T BELIEVE WHAT
HE SPENT. I DON'T HAVE THAT KIN
OF MONEY.
>> WHEN WE WERE TALKING ABOUT
THE PRESENCE, PART OF THE KEY T
THAT IS THE COMMUNECATION
BUSINESS DISTRICTS AND
ORGANIZATIONS WITHIN, BECAUSE W
HAVE A HUGE AMOUNT OF
INFORMATION COMING IN, AND IF W
CAN HELP PASS ALONG THAT
INFORMATION TO HELP TROUBLESHOO
AND SHOOT IT BACK OUT TO THE
NEIGHBORHOOD, THAT'S WHEN IT AL
COMES TOGETHER. I THINK THE
PRESENCE IS IMPORTANT, BUT IF
THERE'S NO RELATIONSHIPS THERE,
WE'RE NOT GOING TO BE SUCCESSFU
IN THAT FUNCTION.
>> IS THAT -- SORRY. IS THAT --
YOU MENTIONED THIS LAST TIME. I
THAT WHAT YOU MEAN BY A
QUARTERBACK IN THE MAYOR'S
OFFICE?
>> THERE'S TWO THINGS. YOU
REALLY NEED SOMEONE WHO IS A
QUARTERBACK AT THE NEED TO PULL
BACK TOGETHER DEPARTMENTS. SO
IT'S AN OFFICE JOB. SOMEONE
WHO'S AN EXPERT WITH BLACK BELT
AND CITY DEPARTMENTS. THEN
THERE'S THE ON THE STREETS,
PEOPLE WHO GO OUT THERE AND WAL
AND CHECK IN WITH BUSINESSES.
VERY DIFFERENT ROLE, BUT IT'S A
PART OF THAT SAME EQUATION,
WHERE THAT INFORMATION IS
COLLECTED. THEN WE CAN USE THAT
TO DEPLOY SOCIAL SERVICES, OR
THE NEIGHBORHOOD INVESTMENTS.
THAT ON THE GROUND PERSON OR SE
OF PEOPLE, RIGHT NOW, I THINK W
HAVE ABOUT EIGHT AMBASSADORS
THAT DO THAT WORK OVER THE
COURSE OF THE WEEK. THAT'S WHAT
MAKES THAT INFORMATION GATHERIN
LIKELY, AND THE LINES OF
COMMUNICATION OPEN.
>> I THINK I AGREED WITH
EVERYTHING THAT WAS SAID THERE.
AND YOU KNOW, WHEN I CAME INTO
OFFICE, I'M GOING TO USE CSO'S,
COMPARING TO HOW WE USED TO DO
HOMELESSNESS OUTREACH. WHEN I
CAME INTO OFFICE, WE DIDN'T HAV
ANY HOMELESSNESS OUTREACH IN OU
CITY. WE DO NOW. THERE'S STILL
ROOM FOR IMPROVEMENT, BUT AT
LEAST WHAT WE WERE SAYING ABOUT
THE REGULARITY, THE CONSISTENCY
AND WHAT YOU WERE ALSO SAYING,
JUST NEEDING TO KNOW EVERY DAY.
YEAH, I'LL SEE YOU EVERY DAY.
WE'RE OPEN TO SUGGESTIONS. I
HEAR THAT AS THE REQUEST OF THA
NEIGHBORHOOD CONSISTENCY. AND
EVERY DAY IN CERTAIN HOURS,
BECAUSE -- I JUST SEE WHAT THE
COMMUNITY SERVICE OFFICERS IN
BALLARD, I SEE THEM BECAUSE I
SHARE MY DISTRICT OFFICE WITH
WHERE THE NORTH PRECINCT HAS
THEIR SUBSTATION AND THE CSO'S
ARE IN THERE AS WELL. SO I THIN
I PROBABLY SEE THEM A LITTLE
MORE, BECAUSE THEY'RE DOING THA
PAPERWORK AND GETTING READY TO
GO OUT AND DO THEIR NEXT THING.
>> THE DEPARTMENT OF
NEIGHBORHOODS HAS REALLY HANGED
ALSO OVER TIME. BACK IN THE
NEIGHBORHOOD, THERE USED TO BE
REGULAR PRESENCE, AND COMMUNITY
COUNCIL'S, ET CETERA.
>> I, AS A DISTRICT OFFICER USE
MY DISTRICT OFFICE TO TRY TO
SUPPORT WHAT DEPARTMENTS AND
NEIGHBORHOODS USED TO DO. THERE
USED TO BE A DEPARTMENT
NEIGHBORHOOD SPACE AND NOW IT'S
FINANCE OF SERVICES, IT'S BY
USING THAT SPACE TO CREATE THE
HUB BETWEEN POLICE, BETWEEN
CSO'S, AND ME JUST HAVING THAT
FRONT PRESENCE AND BEING ABLE T
LOOK ACROSS THE STREET TO SEE
MIKE. ERIN, YOU'VE GOT
SOMETHING.
>> I THINK WHAT YOU'RE SAYING
MAKES TOTAL SENSE AND I THINK W
NEED TO LIFT UP WHAT QUINN SAID
EARLIER ABOUT WANTING TO BE BIA
AND THE FACT THAT THIS ENABLES
DISTRICTS TO INCREASE THEIR
CAPACITY TO SUPPORT. AND SO, AS
YOU KNOW, WE LOOK FORWARD ONE
THING THAT THE CITY CAN LOOK AT
OTHER NEIGHBORHOODS THAT MIGHT
BE PRIME TO BECOME A BIA, TO,
YOU KNOW, WORK WITH THE CITY AN
HELP THAT PROCESS, BUT THAT
SEEMS LIKE SOMETHING THAT WOULD
BE A GOOD ROLE FOR THE CITY TO
TAKE.
>> AGAIN, THIS IS AGREEMENT
HERE. BECAUSE EVEN -- IT'S
INTERESTING, LIKE I REPRESENT
NORTHWEST SEATTLE, BUT I'VE
WORKED WITH ERIN ABOUT VEHICLE
RESIDENCY OUTREACH. WE USE
UNIVERSITY HEIGHTS, WHICH IS NO
A BIA, BUT IT IS ASSOCIATED.
AGAIN, WITH THIS ECOSYSTEM THAT
WE'RE WORKING IN, FRANKLY, WE'V
ALSO GOT THE PHINNEY
NEIGHBORHOOD ASSOCIATION.
>> I'D LIKE TO MOVE ON TO A
LITTLE, CAN I ASK A QUESTION
WHEN YOU'RE DONE?
>> SURE, LET ME JUST FINISH THI
THOUGHT AROUND I'LL PASS IT BAC
TO YOU. MUCH LIKE LITTLE SAIGON
WE'VE GOT THE PHINNEY
NEIGHBORHOOD ASSOCIATION DOING
LOT OF THIS WORK. AND EVEN NOT
IN PHINNEY, IN GREENWOOD. IN
PHINNEY-WOOD. WHERE IT'S
IMPORTANT TO BE ABLE TO SUPPORT
YOU TO BECOME A BIA, BECAUSE
KIND OF GOING BACK TO WHERE I
FIRST SET GOING BACK TO
GOVERNMENT RELATIONS, FOR YOU T
HAVE THAT CONSISTENT FUNDING TO
BE ABLE TO DO THE WORK EVERY
DAY, IS WHAT SETS YOU UP TO DO
THIS.
>> WE'RE EXPLORING OPTIONS TO
EXPAND THE CIBDA INTO LITTLE
SAIGON.
>> I WANTED TO PICK UP ON THE
INSURANCE ISSUE. I REMEMBER THI
BEING A SMALL BUSINESS OWNER
MYSELF, NUMBER ONE, PEOPLE DON'
REPORT CRIME, BECAUSE THEY DON'
RECALL SUBMITTING A CLAIM. THE
CRIME STATISTICS ARE NOT A
REFLECTION OF REALITY. NUMBER
TWO, THERE ARE INSURANCES,
INSURANCE COMPANIES THAT HAVE
PULLED OUT OF THIS MARKET AND
THE REMAINING POLICIES ARE
EXTREMELY EXPENSIVE. SO I
UNDERSTAND THE DIFFICULTY, AND
WHEN YOU ASKED FOR A STUDY LAST
YEAR, I LOOKED INTO IT A LITTLE
BIT. I DID SOME PROVISIONAL
PRICING AND I WAS THINKING, GOS
WHAT GOOD WOULD A STUDY BE TO
SIMPLY SURFACE WHAT EVERYBODY
KNOWS. I AM HEARING THAT THIS I
TOP OF YOUR LIST, STILL. AND
THERE'S GOT TO BE SOMETHING
MAYBE THAT WE CAN DO, OR I DON'
KNOW, I'M JUST SAYING THAT I'M
HEARING YOU, AND I NEED TO FIND
OUT IN PARTNERSHIP WITH YOU GUY
WHAT THE NEXT STEP SHOULD BE.
BECAUSE IT IS A PROBLEM. AND WE
CAN'T HAVE THAT BEING THE THAT
THE REASON BEING WHY BUSINESSES
ARE LEAVING TOWN. THAT IS AN
INCREDIBLY IMPORTANT ISSUE.
COUNCILMEMBER NELSON.
>> HOLD ON, PLEASE.
>> GO AHEAD. DO YOU HAVE A
MOMENT ON INSURANCE?
>> EXACTLY JUST THAT. SOMETHING
THAT I'VE NOTICED IS I'VE BEEN
LOOKING INTO THIS ISSUE AS WELL
WITH OUR CURRENT INSURANCE
COMMISSIONER BEING A BIT ASLEEP
AT THE WHEEL --
>> SO OIR DOES PLAY A ROLE HERE
>> AND WE HAVE THE ABILITY
BECAUSE OF THE CURRENT INSURANC
COMMISSIONERS NOT RUNNING FOR
REELECTION, I THINK THAT IT'S
GOING TO BE IMPORTANT THAT WE
HAVE AN INSURANCE COMMISSIONER
THAT REALLY FIGHTS BACK ON
INSURANCE COMPANIES. BECAUSE
WHEN INSURANCE COMPANIES JUST
HAVE FREE REIGN TO DENY CLAIMS,
IT'S NOT EVEN ABOUT BUSINESS
INSURANCE, THERE ARE HOMES IN
EASTERN WASHINGTON THAT AREN'T
ABLE TO GET HOME INSURANCE,
BECAUSE THEY'RE IN A FIRE ZONE.
AND THIS IS BECOME OUR INSURANC
COMMISSIONER HAS NOT BEEN UP TO
PAR. SO --
>> YEAH. THERE'S THAT AND ALSO
WHAT YOU SAID, ERIN, WHICH WAS
THAT THE CITY HAS CONTRIBUTED T
THE PROBLEMS WHY IT'S DIFFICULT
TO GET INSURANCE. SO IT'S A
WHOLE BIG THING THAT WE HAVE TO
ADDRESS. BUT DEFINITELY MAKING
SURE THAT WE UNDERSTAND BETTER
THE LANDSCAPE, I THINK WOULD BE
HISTORICALLY HOW MANY COMPANIES
OPERATED HERE. HOW MANY ARE NOW
ET CETERA, ET CETERA, I THINK
THAT IS A VALUABLE AVENUE OF
INQUIRY. AND ALSO, LEADERSHIP A
THIS STATE, AND WE CAN ENGAGE
OUR, LIKE I SAID, OUR OFFICE OF
INTERNATIONAL RELATIONS. SO
DAWN, WOULD YOU LIKE TO -- SO
BASICALLY, I'VE GOT A WHOLE LIS
OF ITEMS THAT I DON'T FEEL LIKE
I NEED TO RESPOND TO. YOU'VE
RAISED THEM. PERMITTING,
PERMITTING, PERMITTING. PUBLIC
SAFETY, PUBLIC SAFETY, PUBLIC
SAFETY. NEW ISSUE FOR ME IS
SOLID WASTE. THAT I WAS NOT
AWARE. THAT SEEMS PERHAPS LIKE
FIXABLE THING. EVERYTHING IS
COMPLEX. BUT I REALLY APPRECIAT
NOW UNDERSTANDING WHAT IS GOING
ON. THIS IS THE BEGINNING OF A
CONVERSATION ON THESE ISSUES.
NOT THE END, OF COURSE. SO GO
AHEAD, DON.
>> COMMERCIAL DISTRICTS JUST
HAVE A REALLY INTERESTING LENS
TO BE APPLIED SO THESE PROBLEMS
GET MORE COMPLICATED WHEN YOU
LOOK AT A COMMERCIAL DISTRICT
AND THE GARBAGE IS ONE OF THOSE
EXAMPLES. I THINK LAND USE, WIT
PERMITTING, THAT ALSO IS ANOTHE
LENS OF LIKE, WHEN YOU APPLY IT
TO A COMMERCIAL DISTRICT,
THERE'S IMPACTS TO SMALL
BUSINESSES THAT NIGHT NOT A PLY
IF YOU'RE LOOKING AT A DIFFEREN
NEIGHBORHOOD. YOU HAVE TO SET
THESE LAWS UP TO KIND OF WORK
FOR THE WHOLE CITY. I APPRECIAT
HAVING THE ENTREE TO COME TO
THIS CONVERSATION AND BE ABLE T
KIND OF ZOOM IN ON SOME OF THES
ISSUES, SO THANK YOU.
>> A COUPLE OF POSITIVE THINGS
HEARD, WHICH WAS LOW TURNOVER.
LOVE THOSE TWO WORDS PUT
TOGETHER. SO THAT WAS GOOD TO
HEAR ABOUT. I ALSO HEARD HIGH
VACANCY RATE. I UNDERSTAND THAT
WELL, YOU'VE GOT HIGHER VACANCY
RATE THAN DOWNTOWN. DOWNTOWN'S
WAS 22%, OR AT LEAST IT WAS IN
MAY. THAT WAS UP 2% FROM THE
SAME TIME LAST YEAR. SO THESE
ARE NOT GOOD TRENDS. WE'VE GOT
TO GET OFFICE WORKERS BACK IN
THE OFFICE, ET CETERA. BUT
NOTING THEY CAN SEE IT AS AN
ISSUE, BUT IT'S GOOD TO HEAR
THERE IS SOME STABLE TENDENCY
AMONGST BUSINESSES AS WELL. I
THINK CHRISTY, YOU WANTED TO SA
SOMETHING, AND MAYBE -- DID YOU
RAISE YOUR HAND? NO? OKAY, I
WILL OPEN IT UP TO ANY OF MY
COLLEAGUES FOR FURTHER QUESTION
OR DISCUSSIONS, AND THEN I AM
NOT -- I WOULD LIKE YOU TO, IF
WE HAVE MISSED ANYTHING OR IF
YOU HAVE ANY LAST WORDS, PLEASE
GO AHEAD AND SPEAK UP NOW,
BECAUSE THIS IS AN IMPORTANT
CONVERSATION.
>> CHAIR --
>> WE JUST WANT TO THANK YOU FO
HAVING US, AND HAVING THIS
ONGOING CONVERSATION, THAT IT'S
NOT JUST THAT WE CAME ONCE AND
PRESENTED, BUT THAT WE'RE
BUILDING THAT ONGOING
CONVERSATION GOES A LONG WAY
TOWARDS THE COMMUNICATION
CHALLENGES AND COORDINATION
CHALLENGES WE'VE DISCUSSED. SO
THANK YOU.
>> THANK YOU.
>> COUNCILMEMBER STRAUSS.
>> I'M EXCITED TO CONTINUE THE
PARTNERSHIP. THROUGH ALL OF THI
DIFFERENT WORK. AND ONE THING
THAT I REALLY AM HEARING, AND I
THINK IS A FAST SOLUTION, IS
JUST HAVING THOSE HUB
COORDINATORS IN EVERY
NEIGHBORHOOD BECAUSE HAVING ONE
PERSON TO THEN KNOW WHO EVERYON
IN THE CITY IS TO TALK TO, AND
TO WORK WITH THE DISTRICT
COUNCILMEMBER, ET CETERA, IT'S
SMART DECISION. AND I'M EXCITED
TO WORK WITH YOU ON ALL OF THES
ISSUES.
>> THANK YOU.
>> AND WE ARE COMING UP TO THE
MID-YEAR SUPPLEMENTAL, AND THE
FALL BUDGET DELIBERATIONS. WE
ALL KNOW WHAT OUR BUDGET
SITUATION IS, BUT PART OF THIS
CONVERSATION, FOR ME AT LEAST
WAS TO FOCUS OUR ATTENTION ON
YOUR NEEDS. AND AS I SAID, NEXT
TIME, WE WILL HAVE A
PRESENTATION FROM THE OFFICE OF
ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT, WHICH WIL
TALK ABOUT SOME OF THEIR
INTENTIONAL INVESTMENTS THAT,
THEY TOUCH ON A LOT OF WHAT YOU
ALREADY ADDRESSED. YOU ALL KNOW
HOW TO REACH ME. I JUST HAVE TO
SAY THANK YOU, VERY, VERY MUCH.
THIS IS HOW I LEARN WHAT I NEED
TO KNOW TO HELP YOU. SO THANK
YOU VERY MUCH. I APPRECIATE IT.
>> THANK YOU.
>> THANK YOU. OKAY. NOW IS THE
TIME IN THE MEETING WHERE I SAY
IS THERE ANY OTHER BUSINESS
BEFORE US? AND I AM NOT SEEING
ANY OTHER HANDS. SO THIS
CONCLUDES THE AGENDA OF THE JUL
12th MEETING OF THE ECONOMIC
DEVELOPMENT TECHNOLOGY AND CITY
LIGHT COMMITTEE. OUR NEXT
MEETING IS SCHEDULED FOR
WEDNESDAY, JULY 24th, 2023 AT
9:30 A.M. AND RIGHT NOW, WE'VE
TENTATIVELY GOT SCHEDULED THE
OFFICE OF ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENTS
FUTURE OF SEATTLE ECONOMY
PRESENTATION, A RESOLUTION ABOU
-- THAT IS ASSOCIATED WITH THAT
AND FUTURE INVESTMENTS THAT ARE
GOING TO BE COMING UP THIS FALL
AND THEN A GENERATIONAL WEALTH
PRESENTATION FOR MUSIC
COMMISSION REAPPOINTMENTS AND A
SEATTLE OF CITY LIGHT ANNUAL
AUDIT PRESENTATION. SO THAT'S
COMING UP.
>> MADAM CHAIR --
>> NOPE, I'M SEEING --
>> I THINK THE 24th IS A MONDAY
>> THAT IS CORRECT. AND MY STAF
IS -- YES, I DO MEAN THE 26th.
SO IT IS JULY 26th. THANK YOU
VERY MUCH. ALL RIGHT, JULY 26th
WEDNESDAY. OKAY, EVERYBODY.
THAT'S A WRAP. THANK YOU VERY
MUCH, BYE.
>> THANK YOU.