Seattle City Council Committee on Economic Development, Technology & City Light 3/23/22
>> GOOD MORNING. >> GOOD MORNING, EVERYONE. MARCH 23 MEETING OF THE SEATTLE CITY COUNCILS ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT, TECHNOLOGY, COMMITTEE WILL COME TO ORDER. IT IS 9:34, I AM SARAH NELSON, CHAIR OF THE COMMITTEE. THE CLERK PLEASE CALL THE ROLE.
>> COUNCILMEMBER SAWANT. COUNCILMEMBER STRAUSS. COUNCILMEMBER HERBOLD . COUNCILMEMBER JUAREZ . COUNCILMEMBER NELSON.
FIVE PRESENT. >> ALL RIGHT, IF THERE IS NO OBJECTION THE AGENDA WILL BE ADOPT DID. HEARING NO OBJECTION, THE AGENDA IS ADOPTED.
AT THIS TIME WE WILL OPEN THE REMOTE PUBLIC COMMENT PERIOD FOR ITEMS ON THE AGENDA. I WANT TO REMIND PEOPLE THAT THERE IS A PUBLIC HEARING ON THE SEATTLE TOURISM IMPROVEMENT AREA AND SO IF YOU ARE SIGNED UP FOR PUBLIC COMMENT BUT REALLY WANT TO TALK ABOUT THAT AGENDA ITEM, PLEASE WAIT AFTER THE FIRST AGENDA ITEM AND WE WILL OPEN THE PUBLIC HEARING AFTER THAT. ALL RIGHT,I THANK EVERYONE FOR THEIR ONGOING PATIENCE AND COOPERATION AS WE CONTINUE TO OPERATE THIS REMOTE PUBLIC COMMENT SYSTEM. IT REMAINS THE STRONG INTENT OF THE CITY COUNCIL TO HAVE REMOTE PUBLIC COMMENT REGULARLY INCLUDED ON MEETING AGENDAS. HOWEVER, AS A REMINDER, THE CITY COUNCIL RESERVES THE RIGHT TO END OR ELIMINATE THESE PUBLIC COMMENT PERIODS AT ANY POINT I WILL MODERATE THE PUBLIC COMMENT PERIOD IN THE FOLLOWING MANNER: THE PUBLIC COMMENT PERIOD FOR THIS MEETING IS 20 MINUTES AND EACH SPEAKER WILL BE GIVEN PLEASE NOTE THIS IS DIFFERENT FROM THE GENERAL MEETING LISTEN LINE. IF YOU DID
NOT RECEIVE AN EMAIL CONFIRMATION PLEASE CHECK YOUR SPAM AND JUNK EMAIL FOLDERS. AGAIN, I WILL CALL ON EACH SPEAKER BY NAME IN THE ORDER IN WHICH THEY REGISTERED ON THE WEBSITE. IF YOU HAVE NOT YET REGISTERED TO SPEAK BUT WOULD LIKE TO YOU CAN SIGN UP BEFORE THE END OF PUBLIC COMMENT BY GOING TO THE WEBSITE.
THE PUBLIC COMMENT LINK IS LISTED ON TODAY'S AGENDA. ONCE I CALL A SPEAKER'S NAME, STAFF WILL UNMUTE THE APPROPRIATE MICROPHONE AND AN AUTOMATIC PROMPT OF YOU WILL BE UNMUTED WILL BE THE QUEUE THAT IT'S THEIR TURN TO SPEAK. AND THEN THE SPEAKER MUST PRESS STAR SIX TO BEGIN SPEAKING. PLEASE BEGIN SPEAKING BY STATING YOUR NAME AND THE ITEM THAT YOU ARE ADDRESSING. AS A REMINDER, PUBLIC COMMENT . ONCE YOU COMPLETE YOUR COMMENT PLEASE DISCONNECT IN THE LINE AND IF YOU PLAN TO CONTINUE FOLLOWING THE MEETING PLEASE DO SO VIA THE LISTING OPTIONS LISTED ON THE AGENDA.
THE PUBLIC COMMENT PERIOD IS NOW OPEN AND WE WILL BEGIN WITH THE FIRST SPEAKER ON THE LIST. PLEASE REMEMBER TO PRESS STAR SIX AFTER HERE THE PROMPT OF YOU HAVE BEEN UNMUTED. OUR FIRST SPEAKER IS JASON FOLLOWED BY JEREMY. GO AHEAD, JASON. >> MY NAME IS JASON.
'S IS THE PUBLIC COMMENT. I WAS RECENTLY FIRED FOR NOT GETTING THE EXCREMENTAL EMERGENCY USE GENE THERAPY KNOWN AS THE COVID VACCINE AT SEATTLE CITY LIGHT'S. MY CLASSIFICATION OF INSIDE WIREMAN HAS BEEN STAFFED FOR THE LAST 10 YEARS AND FIGHTING QUALIFIED HIGH-VOLTAGE WORKERS IS NOT AN EASY PATH. SEATTLE CITY LIGHT LET GO OVER 10% OF MY DEPARTMENT FOR NOT GETTING THE SHOT. THIS IS PUT IN INCREASED STRAIN ON THE UTILITY AND HAS NEGATIVELY AFFECTED WORKER MORALE AND PRODUCTIVITY.
-- >> JASON COME ON GOING TO INTERRUPT. THE INSTRUCTIONS FOR THIS PUBLIC COMMENT PERIOD ARE THAT PEOPLE SPEAK TO ITEMS ON THE AGENDA. ARE YOU SPEAKING TO AN ITEM ON THE AGENDA? >> THIS IS THE CITY LIGHT MEETING, RIGHT? >> THIS ITEM IS NOT IN THE AGENDA. YOU'RE WELCOME TO SUBMIT COMMENTS IN WRITING. TO ME AND THE LEADERSHIP CITY LIGHT.
THANK YOU. >> THANK YOU. >> THE NEXT SPEAKER WILL BE JEREMY ROWAN. JEREMY, PLEASE PRESS STAR SIX. >> MY NAME IS JEREMY.
I BELIEVE YOU'RE GOING TO DIRECT ME IN THE SAME DIRECTION. THIS IS CONCERNING THE SAME ISSUE. >> I WILL REQUEST, I'M SORRY TO INTERRUPT.
I DO ASK THE PEOPLE SPEAK TO ITEMS ON THE AGENDA. BECAUSE OFTEN WE HAVE A VERY FULL AGENDA AND A HAVE TO BE CONSISTENT IN PUBLIC COMMENT. SO THANK YOU VERY MUCH.
MY EMAIL IS SARA.NELSON AT SEATTLE.GOV. YOU CAN SUBMIT YOUR COMMENTS TO ME AND LEADERSHIP. IN WRITING. >> THIS WILL BE ADDRESSED TO YOU.
THANK YOU. >> THE NEXT SPEAKER IS KRISTI AND THAT IS OUR LAST SPEAKER SIGNED UP FOR THE GENERAL PUBLIC COMMENT PERIOD. >> GOOD MORNING. MY NAME IS KRISTI.
I AM UNDERSTANDING THAT THE OVERALL GENERAL BUSINESS PROPRIETY AND WELFARE OF CITY LIGHTS AND THE SAFETY IS PART OF THE DAILY GENERAL AGENDA EVEN IF THERE ISN'T A SPECIFIC -- >> I'M SORRY TO INTERRUPT, BUT, THE INSTRUCTIONS ARE, AT THIS TIME WE OPEN THE REMOTE PUBLIC COMMENT PERIOD FOR ITEMS ON THE AGENDA. >> WINNER THE GENERAL COMMENTS TO BE ABLE TO SPEAK? IS A PLACE TO SPEAK AT A MEETING IN FRONT OF YOU FOR A GENERAL COMMENT? >> NO. THAT IS NOT ALLOWED IN THIS COMMITTEE. THANK YOU VERY MUCH. >> IS THAT THE GENERAL CITY COUNCIL MEETING I CAN SPEAK A GENERAL COMMENT? >> I'M NOT A COUNCIL PRESIDENT. >> WHO IS THE COUNCIL PRESIDENT? >> THE COUNCIL PRESIDENT DETERMINES THE RULES FOR HOW FULL COUNCIL MEETINGS ARE CONDUCTED.
IN THIS COMMITTEE ITEMS FOR PUBLIC COMMENT ARE LIMITED TO ITEMS ON THE AGENDA. SO AGAIN, I ENCOURAGE YOU TO PLEASE SEND YOUR THOUGHTS AND COMMENTS TO ME PERSONALLY AND TO THE REST OF THE COMMITTEE IF YOU WISH. >> I DID THAT, THANK YOU SO MUCH. I LOOK FORWARD TO HEARING FROM YOU. I ALREADY EMAILED. >> THANK YOU FOR THE NUDGE AND I WILL READ YOUR EMAIL.
THANK YOU. >> OKAY, SEEING NO ONE ELSE LISTED ON THE AGENDA FOR PUBLIC COMMENT, THE PUBLIC COMMENT PERIOD IS NOW CLOSED. I THANK YOU VERY MUCH FOR EVERYBODY WHO EXPRESSED AN INTEREST IN ATTENDING AND SPEAKING TODAY. SEEING THAT THERE IS NOBODY ELSE HERE, EVERYONE ELSE SIGNED UP, PLEASE HOLD TIGHT FOR THE PUBLIC HEARING AND WE WILL NOW PROCEED TO ITEMS OF BUSINESS. WILL THE CLERK PLEASE READ ITEM NUMBER ONE INTO THE RECORD. >> APPOINTMENT 02122.
APPOINTMENT OF MICHELLE MITCHELL-BRANNON AS A MEMBER OF THE CITY LIGHT REVIEW PANEL FOR A TERM TO APRIL 11, 2024. BRIEF DISCUSSION AND POSSIBLE VOTE. >> THANK YOU VERY MUCH.
THIS IS OUR FIRST APPOINTMENT IN THIS COMMITTEE. I'M HAPPY TO SUPPORT THE APPOINTMENT OF MICHELLE MITCHELL-BRANNON TO THE SEATTLE CITY LIGHT REVIEW PANEL. WILL THE PRESENTERS PLEASE INTRODUCE THEMSELVES AND MICHELLE MITCHELL-BRANNON? >> THANK YOU COUNCILMEMBER NELSON AND THE REST OF THE COMMITTEE. WE ARE SUPER EXCITED TO BE HERE TODAY. I HAVEN'T MET YOU, I AM DEBRA SMITH THE GENERAL MANAGER AT SEATTLE CITY LIGHT. ALTHOUGH I'M NOT TO TALK ABOUT HER BECAUSE I THINK LEE IS GOING TO DO THAT, AS I WAS REVIEWING THE RESUME COMING INTO THIS MEETING, ONE OF THE THINGS I AM MOST EXCITED ABOUT MICHELLE IS THAT NOT ONLY ARE YOU LOW INCOME REPRESENTATIVE, AND THAT WILL BE COVERED HOW PEOPLE IDENTIFIED AND WHAT THE COMMUNITY'S OF INTEREST ARE THE WE ATTEMPT TO HAVE REPRESENTED ON THE REVIEW PANEL, BUT MICHELLE ALSO HAS THE OPPORTUNITY TO REALLY REPRESENT I THINK SOME OF THE NEEDS.
A LOT OF HER WORK HAS BEEN FOCUSED ON YOUTH IN VARIOUS WAYS. HAVING THE ADDITIONAL PERSPECTIVE ON THE REVIEW PANEL, WHICH ISN'T IDENTIFIED COMMUNITY OF INTEREST BUT AS WE ARE IN THIS TRANSITION ABOUT SO MANY THINGS, I THINK THAT WILL BE INCREDIBLY IMPORTANT. I AM REALLY EXCITED ABOUT THIS APPOINTMENT AND I WANTED TO INTRODUCE LEIGH BARRECA , YOU GUYS BY NOW KNOW I STRUGGLE WITH TITLES. LEIGH IS THE MASTER OF OUR REVIEW PANEL. SHE KEEPS IT GOING. SHE DIRECTS IT. SHE DOESN'T
AMAZING JOB WITH CONTENT. OF COURSE SHE IS RESPONSIBLE FOR ENSURING IT IS FULLY POPULATED WITH JUST THE RIGHT PEOPLE. I'M GOING TO TURN THIS OVER TO LEIGH. >> THANK YOU. AS DEBRA SAID, I WORK WITH THE REVIEW PANEL AND I MANAGE THE PLANNING PROCESS. LIKELY I WILL BE WITH DEBRA AND COMPANY AGAIN.
I JUST HAVE A COUPLE OF SLIDES THAT MAURA BRUEGER IS GOING TO RUN TO GIVE A QUICK OVERVIEW OF THE CITY LIGHT REVIEW PANEL. YOU CAN GO FORWARD. JUST A REMINDER ABOUT WHAT THE REVIEW PANEL IS. THE REVIEW PANEL WAS CREATED IN 2010 PER CITY ORDINANCE. CITY LIGHT PREVIOUSLY HAD A CITY LIGHT ADVISORY BOARD AND ALSO A RATE ADVISORY COMMITTEE.
THE CITY LIGHT REVIEW PANEL COMBINED THE DUTIES OF BOTH GROUPS. IN 2015 THERE WERE SOME MINOR ADJUSTMENTS MADE TO THEIR SCOPE AND PROCESS TO THEIR CHARTER AND THAT WAS PASSED WITH YET ANOTHER ORDINANCE. PER CHARTER ORDINANCE, THE REVIEW PANELS ACTIVITIES OR ROLE ARE ADVISORY TO CITY LIGHT ON OUR STRATEGIC PLAN, THE DEVELOPMENT AND PLAN ITSELF AS WELL AS THE ACCOMPANYING PATH. THE REVIEW PANEL, EACH TIME A PLAN IS SUBMITTED, THEY PROVIDE AN OPINION TO THE CITY COUNCIL ON THE MERITS OF THE PLAN, TO THE CITY COUNCIL AND MAYOR. AND 420 22, RIGHT NOW WE ARE WORKING ON AN UPDATE TO THE STRATEGIC PLAN, TO THE 2022 PLAN.
THAT WOULD BE DELIVERED TO THE COUNCIL IN JUNE. SO THE PANEL IS WORKING, WE ARE WORKING VERY CLOSELY WITH THE PANEL THROUGH THE DEVELOPMENT OF THAT UPDATE. EXCUSE ME.
NEXT SLIDE, PLEASE. WE HAVE NINE MEMBERS ON THE PANEL. FOUR APPOINTED BY THE MAYOR, FIVE APPOINTED BY THE MAYOR, EXCUSE ME, AND EACH SERVES A STAGGERED THREE-YEAR TERM ALTHOUGH AT THE CONCLUSION OF THEIR THREE-YEAR TERM, PANEL MEMBERS ARE ELIGIBLE TO SERVE A SECOND TERM. AS YOU CAN SEE THE NINE MEMBERS ARE INTENTIONALLY DIRECTED TO SERVE CERTAIN PARTS OF OUR CUSTOMER BASE. WE HAVE AN ECONOMIST, FINANCIAL ANALYST, NONPROFIT ENERGY EFFICIENCY REPRESENTATIVE, COMMERCIAL CUSTOMER REP, RESIDENTIAL REP, INDUSTRIAL, A MEMBER AT LARGE AND A REPRESENTATIVE FROM ONE OF OUR UBURBAN TRENCH I CITIES.
POSITION NUMBER SEVEN -- WE ARE SO HAPPY RIGHT NOW WITH THIS APPOINTMENT, WE WILL HAVE A FULL PANEL WHICH IS SOMETHING WE HAVE BEEN WORKING ON FOR QUITE SOME TIME. POSITION NUMBER SEVEN IS THE LOW INCOME CUSTOMER REPRESENTATIVE. WITH THAT, I AM PLEASED TO ANNOUNCE, TO INTRODUCE MICHELE TO SPEAK WITH YOU. THANK YOU. >> I AM SO EXCITED TO BE HERE AND BE PART OF THIS APPOINTMENT.
A LITTLE ABOUT ME, I AM BORN AND RAISED IN SEATTLE IN THE CENTRAL DISTRICT. GRANDMOTHER WAS IN THE CITY AS WELL AS MY GRANDFATHER WE STARTED SERVITUDE VERY EARLY ON IN AGE. TO WORK WITHIN THE AFRICAN- AMERICAN AND LOW-INCOME COMMUNITIES IS DEFINITELY A PRIVILEGE AND AN HONOR FOR ME.
I AM EXCITED TO BE ABLE TO LEND THE VOICE OF THE COMMUNITY TO THIS POSITION AND TO THE WORK SO WE ARE INFORMED ABOUT MAKING THE BEST DECISIONS FOR THOSE THAT WILL BE IMPACTED. AGAIN, I AM EXCITED. I HAVE BEEN DOING THIS FOR OVER 20 YEARS. AND YES, I CAN'T EXPLAIN TO YOU THAT I CAN'T WAIT TO GET TO WORK ON THIS WHOLE PANEL AND DEFINITELY GIVE, AGAIN, VOICE TO A COMMUNITY I'M SO PRIVILEGED AND LOVE TO SERVE.
THANK YOU. >> THANK YOU VERY MUCH, MICHELLE. IT IS WONDERFUL TO MEET YOU. YOU FOR YOUR SERVICE.
FOR THOSE THAT HAVEN'T READ YOUR RESUME COULD YOU JUST LET FOLKS KNOW WHAT YOU DO RIGHT NOW IN YOUR DAY JOB? >> WILL DO. I AM A DIRECTOR OF EDUCATION AND YOUTH DEVELOPMENT EDUCATION SUPPORT AT ATLANTIC STREET CENTER WHICH IS AN ORGANIZATION THAT HAS BEEN AROUND JUST A FEW YEARS. 112. WORKING IN THE CENTRAL DISTRICT AND SOUTH END OF SEATTLE. SOME OF THE PROGRAMS I AM PRIVILEGED TO RUN OUR YOUTH AFTERSCHOOL PROGRAMS WHICH IS THE PREVENTATIVE SUPPORTS OF YOUTH THAT ARE AT RISK. ALSO TEEN PARENTS.
AND FOR THOSE OF YOU THAT HAVEN'T SEEN IT IN THE SEATTLE TIMES, SIX YEARS WE HAVE BEEN IN THE SEATTLE TIMES ABOUT THE WORK I HAVE BEEN FORTUNATE TO BE ABLE TO DO WITH THE TEEN AS PARENTS PROGRAM. ALSO I HAVE THE KINSHIP CARE PROVIDERS WHICH ARE KINSHIP PROVIDERS TAKING CARE OF THEIR GREAT-GRANDCHILDREN OR RELATIVE KIDS. THAT IS A PROGRAM I RUN. AND A HUGE YOUNG PARENT PROGRAM WERE WE GOING TO THE HOMES AND REMOVE ANY BARRIERS AROUND PEOPLE GETTING CONNECTED TO SUPPORTS AND EMPLOYMENT.
HOUSING. A LOT OF THE FAMILIES WE WORK WITH OUR 100% LOW INCOME. SOME ARE, 65% ARE HOMELESS OR AND STABLY HOUSED. THAT IS THE WORK I DO EVERY DAY THAT I AM PRIVILEGED TO DO AND WORK ALONGSIDE PARTNERING WITH FAMILIES SO THAT THEY CAN CHANGE THE TRAJECTORY OF THEIR LIVES. ALLOWING THEM TO INFORM US. SO THE PROGRAMS ARE DESIGNED TO MEET THEIR NEEDS.
THAT IS WHAT I DO ON MY DAY TODAY. >> THANK YOU VERY MUCH FOR THAT. YOU ARE A VERY BUSY PERSON. AND IN SERVING ON THIS PANEL, IT IS A GREAT RESPONSIBILITY. SO THANK YOU VERY MUCH FOR GIVING OF YOUR TIME IN SERVICE AND EXPERTISE. ERIC, DO YOU HAVE ANY COMMENTS OR ADDITIONS? >> JUST TO SAY IT HAS BEEN GREAT OVER THE PAST FEW YEARS TO ATTEND THE MEETINGS. I
KEEP AN EYE ON THINGS FOR COUNCIL TO INTERACT WITH COUNCIL MEMBERS ABOUT THE REVIEW PANEL TO INFORM WITH THE REVIEW PANEL BRINGS RECOMMENDATIONS TO THE KID COMMITTEE AND COUNCIL, AND I'M CONSISTENTLY IMPRESSED WITH PEOPLE WILLING TO STEP UP AND DO THIS WORK BECAUSE IT IS A BIG COMMITMENT. OVERALL, I THINK THE CITY AND THE REST OF US FOLKS LIKE THAT ME THAT LIVE HERE AND CUSTOMERS ARE WELL SERVED BY THEM. I APPRECIATE IT. >> THANK YOU, ERIC. COLLEAGUES, DO YOU HAVE ANY THOUGHTS, QUESTIONS OR COMMENTS? >> OKAY. SEEING THEN I MOVE THE COMMITTEE RECOMMENDS CONFIRMATION OF APPOINTMENT 2122.
IS THERE A SECOND? >> SECOND. >> THANK YOU VERY MUCH. IT HAS BEEN MOVED AND SECONDED TO RECOMMEND CONFIRMATION OF THE APPOINTMENT.
ARE THERE FURTHER COMMENTS? ALL RIGHT. HEARING NONE, THE CLERK PLEASE CALL THE ROLE ON THE COMMITTEE RECOMMENDATION THAT THE APPOINTMENT BE CONFIRMED? COUNCILMEMBER SAWANT >> YES. >> COUNCILMEMBER HERBOLD >> YES. >> COUNCILMEMBER JUAREZ >> YES. FIVE FAVORED.
>> THE MOTION CARRIES IN THE COMMITTEE RECOMMENDATION THAT THE POINTMAN BE CONFIRMED WILL BE FORWARDED TO THE CITY COUNCIL ARCH 29th, 2022 FOR FINAL CONSIDERATION. THANK YOU FOR ATTENDING THIS MEETING AND CONGRATULATIONS FROM THE CHAIR OF THE COMMITTEE. THANK YOU. MOVING ONTO HER SECOND AGENDA ITEM, WILL THE CLERK PLEASE READ THE ITEM INTO THE RECORD. >> COUNCIL BUILT 120273.
AN ORDINANCE RELATING TO THE SEATTLE TOURISM IMPROVEMENT AREA, DEFYING THE ASSESSMENT RATE AND AMENDING ORDINANCE 123714. PUBLIC HEARING, DISCUSSION AND POSSIBLE VOTE. >> THANK YOU. AS A REMINDER, LAST COMMITTEE MEETING WE HAD A DISCUSSION OF THIS LEGISLATION. TODAY WE WILL CONTINUE THAT DISCUSSION OF THE PROPOSED RATE CHANGE FOR THE SEATTLE TOURISM IMPROVEMENT AREA.
AND FIRST WE WILL HOLD A PUBLIC HEARING ON THIS ISSUE. AND AFTERWARDS HAVE ADDITIONAL TIME FOR DISCUSSION AND POSSIBLY VOTE AND A LITTLE BACKGROUND ABOUT THE LEGISLATION. FIRST WE WILL GO INTO THE PUBLIC HEARING. AT THIS TIME WE WILL OPEN PUBLIC HEARING FOR ITEM NUMBER TWO. COUNCIL BILL 120273.
I WILL MODERATE THE PUBLIC HEARING IN THE FOLLOWING MANNER. EACH SPEAKER WILL HAVE UP TO TWO MINUTES TO SPEAK. THE PUBLIC HEARING WILL AND ONCE ALL OF THOSE WHO ARE SIGNED UP AND ARE ABLE TO SPEAK HAVE DONE SO. SPEAKERS ARE CALLED UPON IN THE ORDER IN WHICH THEY REGISTERED ONLINE TO PROVIDE COMMENT. EACH SPEAKER MUST CALL IN FROM THE PHONE NUMBER PROVIDED WHEN REGISTERING AND USE THE ID AND PASSCODE EMAILED UPON CONFIRMATION. PLEASE NOTE THIS IS DIFFERENT FROM THE GENERAL MEETING ID LISTED ON THE AGENDA.
IF YOU DID NOT RECEIVE AN EMAIL CONFIRMATION PLEASE CHECK YOUR SPAM AND JUNK MAIL FOLDERS. AGAIN I WILL: EACH SPEAKER BY NAME IN THE ORDER IN WHICH THEY REGISTERED ON THE COUNCIL WEBSITE. IF YOU HAVE NOT YET REGISTERED BUT WOULD LIKE TO YOU CAN SIGN UP BEFORE THE END OF PUBLIC COMMENT BY GOING TO THE COUNCIL WEBSITE.
THE PUBLIC COMMENT LINK IS ALSO LISTED ON TODAY'S AGENDA. ONCE I CALL A SPEAKER'S NAME, STAFF WILL UNMUTE THE APPROPRIATE MICROPHONE AND AN AUTOMATIC PROMPT WILL BE THE Q THAT IT IS THEIR TURN TO SPEAK AND THE SPEAKER MUST PRESSED STAR SIX TO SPEAK. SPEAKERS WILL HEAR A CHIME WHEN THERE'S 10 SECONDS LEFT.
ONCE YOU HEAR THE CHIME WE ASK YOU BEGIN TO WRAP UP YOUR POLITICAL COMMENT. IF SPEAKERS DO NOT AND COMMENTS AT THE END OF THE TIME THE MICROPHONE WILL BE MUTED TO ALLOW US TO CALL ON THE NEXT SPEAKER. WHAT YOU HAVE COMPLETED YOUR COMMENT WE ASK YOU PLEASE DISCONNECT FROM THE LINE AND IF YOU PLAN TO CONTINUE FOLLOWING THIS MEETING PLEASE DO SO VIA THE SEATTLE CHANNEL OR THE LISTENING OPTIONS. THE PUBLIC HEARING IS NOW OPEN AND WE WILL BEGIN WITH THE FIRST SPEAKER ON THE LIST.
RIGHT NOW THERE ARE FOUR LISTED SPEAKERS. THE FIRST ONE WILL BE MIKE STEWART FOLLOWED BY MARY. PLEASE GO AHEAD, MIKE. >> GOOD MORNING, CHAIR NELSON AND COUNCIL MEMBERS. MY NAME IS MIKE STEWARD EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR OF BALLARD ALLIANCE BUSINESS IMPROVEMENT AREA THAT REPRESENTS HUNDREDS OF BUSINESSES THAT FOCUS ON AMONG OTHER THINGS MARKETING AND TOURISM TO DRIVE VISITORS TO SEATTLE AND THE BALLARD NEIGHBORHOOD.
I'M HERE TODAY TO VOICE SUPPORT FOR THE SEATTLE TOURISM IMPROVEMENT AREA AND THE RATE CHANGE THAT WILL ALLOW THE CITY TO THRIVE AND MAINTAIN COMPETITIVE POSITION AMONG OTHER DESTINATIONS. FEES GENERATED BY PAID GUESTS IN DOWNTOWN HOTELS, MARKETING EFFORT CELEBRATE THE DIVERSITY ACROSS THE CITY AND REGION INCLUDING NEIGHBORHOOD BUSINESS DISTRICTS LIKE BALLARD. SUPPORTING CAMPAIGNS AND EVENTS, THAT REALLY HELP ILLUSTRATE HOW PEOPLE ARE INSPIRED TO EXPLORE VIA NEIGHBORHOODS. MANY OF OUR ALLIANCE MEMBERS AND PARTNER BUSINESSES HAVE BEEN FEATURED IN CAMPAIGNS WHICH SERVE AS A ADVERTISING ONTO THEIR BUSINESS FOR NEIGHBORHOOD. THE BALLARD ALLIANCE HAS ALSO DEVELOPED ITS PARTNERSHIP WITH SEATTLE OVER THE PAST SEVERAL YEARS AND OUR LOCAL INDEPENDENT SMALL BUSINESSES FROM HIGH-END RESTAURANTS, CULTURAL ORGANIZATIONS TO CRAFT BREWERIES HAVE GREATLY BENEFITED FROM COLLABORATIVE MARKETING PROGRAMS AND EVENTS.
REALLY IS A SYMBIOTIC RELATIONSHIP BETWEEN CENTRAL VISIT DISTRICT AND THE OTHERS. HAVING A THRIVING TOURISM INDUSTRY WITH THE SEATTLE CENTRAL BUSINESS DISTRICT WILL IN TURN HELP ENSURE THAT BALLARD IS IS IS AND ATTRACTIONS ALSO THRIVE. INCREASE FUNDING CAN BENEFIT OUR SMALL BUSINESSES THAT HAVE BEEN HIT THE HARDEST THROUGHOUT THE PANDEMIC. AT A TIME WHEN IT'S NEEDED MOST. THANK YOU FOR YOUR TIME TODAY AND I STRONGLY ENCOURAGE YOUR APPROVAL.
>> THANK YOU VERY MUCH. GO AHEAD, MARY. >> >> GOOD MORNING. CAN YOU HEAR ME? >> YES I CAN. >> SORRY ABOUT THAT.
I FEEL LIKE I SHOULD KNOW TO DO THIS. WE HAVE OUR OWN COUNCIL MEETINGS. THIS IS MARY, EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR OF THE PIKE PLACE ORCHID PDA. I REPRESENT OVER 500 SMALL BUSINESSES WITHIN THE PIKE PLACE MARKET COMMUNITY.
AS YOU KNOW IT IS ONE OF SEATTLE'S MOST RECOGNIZABLE AND POPULAR POINTS OF INTEREST. IT IS HEAVILY IMPACTED BY THE IS A's OF THE REGION. IT HELPS US THRIVE WITH THE VISITORS. AS YOU KNOW IT WAS VERY DEVASTATED BY THE PANDEMIC AND THE LOSS OF THOSE VISITORS TO THE REGION THE LAST COUPLE OF YEARS. AS WE FIND OURSELVES GETTING OUT OF THE PANDEMIC AND HOPEFULLY STARTING TO MOVE INTO RECOVERY THIS ABILITY TO BOLSTER OUR DESTINATION ADVERTISING, MARKETING AND PUBLIC RELATION EFFORTS IS VERY CRITICAL RIGHT NOW. THE STIA IS A POWERFUL TOOL AND HAS BEEN IN SEATTLE'S LONG-TERM RECOVERY.
IT SUPPORTS THE SMALL BUSINESS COMMUNITY THAT HAS BEEN SO DEVASTATED THROUGHOUT THE PANDEMIC. WE REALLY HAVE BEEN STRUGGLING TO COME THROUGH AND IT LOOKS LIKE THERE IS A LIGHT AT THE END OF THIS TUNNEL. AND THEY REALLY ENCOURAGE YOU TO SUPPORT THIS.
WHILE ALREADY IT'S A PROVEN SUCCESS AT ITS EXISTING RATE, THE ABILITY TO INCREASE THIS ASSESSMENT TO DRIVE TOURISM WHERE IT'S NEEDED MOST DOESN'T COME TO THE COST OF THE CITY OF SEATTLE. OUR SMALL BUSINESS COMMUNITY IN THE PIKE PLACE MARKET BRICKLEY BENEFITED FROM THE STIA AND WAS SUPPORTED BY CAMPAIGNS LIKE, I KNOW A PLACE, VISIT SEATTLE, ALL THE PROGRAMS REALLY INSPIRE VISITORS TO EXPLORE THE ARTISANS, BUSKERS, FARMERS, SMALL BUSINESSES AND CRAFTERS. OVER 500 OF THEM, THAT BY THE WAY WERE OPEN THROUGH THE ENTIRE PANDEMIC, MOST THROUGHOUT THE PANDEMIC, THIS MAKES THE PIKE PLACE MARKET THE SOUL OF SEATTLE.
I ASK YOU TO APPROVE THE STIA LEGISLATION SO WE CAN DRIVE TOURISM AND ECONOMIC IMPACT THROUGHOUT SEATTLE IN AN EQUITABLE WAY. THANK YOU FOR YOUR TIME. >> THANK YOU VERY MUCH FOR YOUR COMMENTS. >> OUR LAST SPEAKER IS JOSHUA. PLEASE GO AHEAD. >> GOOD MORNING.
CAN YOU HEAR ME? >> YES. >> WONDERFUL. MY NAME IS JOSHUA, AND THE DEPUTY DIRECTOR.
THANK YOU FOR THE OPPORTUNITY TO SPEAK IN SUPPORT OF THE SEATTLE TOURISM IMPROVEMENT AREA. FOR CULTURE IS KING COUNTY'S CULTURAL DEVELOPMENT AUTHORITY. OUR MISSION IS TO SUPPORT A VIBRANT CULTURAL SECTOR.
WE DO THIS BY PROVIDING GRANT FUNDING PROGRAMS TO OVER 500 CULTURAL INSTITUTIONS ACROSS THE ARTS, HERITAGE AND HISTORIC PRESERVATION. WE ALSO SUPPORT INDIVIDUAL ARTISTS AND CULTURE PRODUCERS THROUGH OUR NATIONAL PUBLIC ART PROGRAM. WE ARE SUPPORTED, ALL THIS WORK IS SUPPORTED THROUGH COUNTY LODGE AND TAX PROCEEDS AND 1% FOR THE ARTS. AND TODAY I AM SPEAKING IN SUPPORT BECAUSE OF THE REVENUE IT GENERATES WE KNOW WILL HELP THE CITY AND REGION RECOVER FASTER. ALREADY, STIA PROGRAMS ARE VITAL TO SEATTLE'S CULTURAL INSTITUTIONS. IN FACT, FOR YEARS AN ADDITIONAL GRANT SUPPORT TO VISIT SEATTLE SPECIFICALLY FOR THE SEATTLE NEWSEUM PROGRAM WHICH HAS BEEN A STAPLE PROGRAM THAT SHINES A LIGHT ON THE INCREDIBLE CULTURAL TREASURES WE HAVE TO OFFER AND INSPIRES VISITORS TO EXPLORE OUR VAST CULTURAL COMMUNITIES.
NOT ONLY IN DOWNTOWN SEATTLE BUT THROUGHOUT THE COUNTY. AS WE BEGIN TO MOVE PAST THE HEIGHT OF THE PANDEMIC AND INTO RECOVERY, THE ABILITY TO BOLSTER THE ARTS, HAS NEVER BEEN MORE CRITICAL. AND STIA HAS PROVEN TO BE A TOUGH VEHICLE IN SEATTLE'S LONG-TERM RECOVERY BECAUSE IT PROVIDES THE SUPPORT THAT ARTISTS AND CULTURAL INSTITUTIONS NEED AT THE VERY TIME WE NEEDED THE MOST. OUR RESEARCH SUGGESTS THAT THE CULTURAL SECTOR JUST IN 2020 ALONE EXPERIENCED NEARLY $200 MILLION OF REVENUE LOSSES. SO WHEN WE WORK TOGETHER TO INCREASE VISITATION TO GREATER SEATTLE HUNDREDS OF CULTURAL ORGANIZATIONS AND THOUSANDS OF CULTURAL PRODUCERS ACROSS KING COUNTY BENEFIT. PLEASE APPROVE THE STIA LEGISLATION SO WE CAN RADICALLY DRIVE TOURISM AND ECONOMIC VIBRANCY DROUGHT SEATTLE AND THROUGHOUT THE ENTIRE COUNTY.
THANK YOU. >> THANK YOU VERY MUCH. THANK YOU ALL. THAT WAS OUR LAST REGISTERED COMMENTOR IN THE PUBLIC HEARING IS CLOSED. THANK YOU VERY MUCH FOR COMING. STAY TUNED.
WE DID HAVE PRESENTATIONS ON THIS ISSUE AT OUR LAST COMMITTEE MEETING AND THOSE ARE LINKED TO THE AGENDA IF ANYBODY WANTS TO LOOK AT THOSE AS WE PROCEED. AND, WE HAVE ASKED THE PRESENTERS FROM LAST TIME, TOM AND ALLIE TO RETURN AS A RESOURCE CASE COUNCIL NUMBERS HAVE WESTERNS GOING FORWARD. BUT THANK YOU FOR COMING. IT'S NOT QUITE STANDARD PROCEDURE.
AND, I WILL HAND IT OVER TO YOU TO PROVIDE US SOME BACKGROUND FOR THIS ISSUE. THANK YOU VERY MUCH. >> YOLANDA FOR COUNCIL CENTRAL STAFF. I'M GOING TO PROVIDE THE PROCESS OVERVIEW.
IT IS GOVERNED BY STATE LAW AND TO KNOW WHERE WE ARE IN THE PROCESS. THERE ARE SEVERAL PROCEDURAL REQUIREMENTS INCLUDING TWO PLACES OF LEGISLATION THERE IS A RESOLUTION THAT STATES THE CITY'S INTENT TO CHANGE THE RATES. AND DESCRIBES THE PROPOSED CHANGE AND SETS THE DATE AND LOCATION FOR HEARING. THE PROPOSAL MUST BE OPTED AT LEAST 15 DAYS IN ADVANCE OF THE HEARING. THAN THERE IS ALSO SEPARATELY AN ORDINANCE THAT WOULD CHANGE THE ASSESSMENT RATE. MARCH 1 THE COUNCIL ADOPTED RESOLUTION 32043 STATING THE CITY'S INTENT TO MODIFY SEATTLE TOURISM IMPROVEMENT AREA ASSESSMENT RATES.
AND SET THE DATE AND LOCATION FOR THE PUBLIC HEARING FOR TODAY MARCH 23, A REMOTE PUBLIC HEARING. ALSO REQUIRED BY STATE LAW, THE CITY MUST MAIL ALL RATEPAYERS A COPY OF THE ADOPTED RESOLUTION AND PUBLISH A NOTICE IN THE DAILY JOURNAL OF COMMERCE AT LEAST 10 DAYS IN ADVANCE OF THE PUBLIC HEARING. ON MARCH 8 THE DJ SEE NOTICE WAS PUBLISHED AND CITY STAFF MAILED THE RESOLUTION TO RATEPAYERS. THEY SHOULD'VE ALL RECEIVED THAT WELL IN ADVANCE OF THIS PUBLIC HEARING. COUNCIL BILL 120 272 WAS RECORDED TO THIS COMMITTEE AND IS THE SUBJECT OF DISCUSSION TODAY.
AND POSSIBLE VOTE. UNLESS ANYONE HAS QUESTIONS ABOUT THE PROCESS I WILL HAND IT BACK TO THE CHAIR. >> THANK YOU VERY MUCH. I WANTED TO NOTE THAT TOM NORWALK AND ALI DANIELS ARE WITH US TODAY.
WE ALSO HAVE PHILIP THE ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT OFFICE. YOU HAVE FURTHER COMMENTS OR INFORMATION YOU WOULD LIKE TO SHARE? >> NOT AT THIS TIME. >> ALL RIGHT. DO MY COLLEAGUES HAVE ANY QUESTIONS BEFORE WE MOVE ON? COUNCILMEMBER STRAUSS? >> THANK YOU, CHAIR NELSON AND THINK YOU TOM AND ALI FOR JOINING US TODAY. WHAT HAS HAPPENED BETWEEN THE LAST COMMITTEE MEETING IN TODAY'S COMMITTEE MEETING WAS DOWNTOWN SEATTLE ASSOCIATION IN TOWN, DURING THAT CONFERENCE THERE WERE PLACES THAT WE NEED TO IMPROVE DOWNTOWN AND THE WERE SOME STRONG HIGHLIGHTED. IT'S INTERESTING TO SEE I BELIEVE HIS NAME WAS MR.
FLORIDA WHO CAME AND SPOKE ABOUT HAVING BEEN DOWNTOWN 25 YEARS AGO AND BEING HERE TODAY. WE ARE STRONGER TODAY THAN WE WERE 25 YEARS AGO. WE HAVE THE BONES IN PLACE TO MAKE A DESTINATION, NOT ONLY FOR SEATTLEITES, NOT ONLY FOR THE REGION, BUT FOR THE ENTIRE COUNTRY AND INTERNATIONAL. WE DO HAVE SOME THINGS WE NEED TO WORK ON. THAT INCLUDES PUBLIC SAFETY.
I JUST WANTED TO RAISE THIS BECAUSE I THINK THAT THE STATE OF DOWNTOWN REALLY SPOKE TO THIS COMMITTEE MEETING AND TO STIA INFLUENCE. AND SO TWO POINTS, ONE I KNOW YOU SPOKE ABOUT THE I KNOW A PLACE AND I KNOW I NEED TO COME INTO MY VIDEO WITH YOU TO SHOW YOU MY PLACES. BUT, TWO QUESTIONS FOR YOU, HOW ARE YOU USING THESE DOLLARS TO SHOW THE WORLD THAT SEATTLE IS IN FACT THRIVING? AND, HOW ARE YOU PARTNERING WITH THE REGIONAL HOMELESSNESS AUTHORITY, BECAUSE FOR THE REGIONAL HOMELESS AUTHORITY TO BE SUCCESSFUL WE ALL HAVE TO DO A LITTLE BIT. IT WAS INTERESTING CEO DOAN'S NOTED THEY ARE NOT THE COUNTY, THEY'RE NOT THE CITY, AND THAT IS WHY THEY NEED EVERYONE TO PARTICIPATE IN THE SUCCESS. THOSE ARE THE TWO KIND OF FRAMINGS OF QUESTIONS. HOW ARE YOU SHOWING SEATTLE IS THRIVING AND HOW ARE YOU PARTNERING TO HELP ADDRESS THE HOMELESSNESS ISSUES? >> THANK YOU, COUNCILMEMBER.
LIKE YOU AND I THINK ALL OF US, I WAS INCREDIBLY INSPIRED LAST WEEK AT THE EVENT. CONGRATULATIONS COUNCILMEMBER NELSON ON YOUR WORK ON THE PANEL. I THINK ALL OF US LEFT THAT MEETING KNOWING AND FEELING THE OPTIMISM AND EXCITEMENT OF THE CITY AND WHAT IS AHEAD OF US AS WE COME THROUGH RECOVERY INTO THE NEXT NUMBER OF YEARS. SINCE 2011 COUNCIL MEMBERS, AS YOU KNOW, THE STIA HAS PROMOTING TRAVEL TO THE CITY AND REGION. WE TOOK A DIFFERENT APPROACH SEVEN OR EIGHT YEARS AGO AS WE LOOKED AT EXPLORING DEEPER NEIGHBORHOODS IN THE CITY, SMALL BUSINESS, BUSINESS IS OWNED BY BIPOC OWNERS, MINORITY, WOMEN OWNED BUSINESSES, CELEBRATING EVERYTHING WE HAVE WITH A SLANT TOWARDS ARTS AND CULTURE, FOOD CERTAINLY, AND ATTRACTIONS AND MUSEUMS. SO WE FEEL REALLY GOOD ABOUT THE WORK WE'VE BEEN DOING.
CERTAINLY WE KNOW RIGHT NOW THE NEED IS MORE CRITICAL THAN EVER. TO CONTINUE THAT WORK. AND TO DO IT IN A MUCH STRONGER WAY. AS I HAVE SAID A NUMBER OF TIMES, WE ARE GOING TO NEED TO WORK VERY HARD AS A CITY TO EARN TOURISM RECOVERY. I THINK ESPECIALLY IF YOU LOOK THE LAST COUPLE OF YEARS WITH NEGATIVE PUBLICITY AND THINGS THAT ARE SOMETIMES DESERVED, OFTEN NOT DESERVED, WE ARE WORKING VERY HARD IN ALL AREAS TO DO THAT. WE ARE PROUD OF THE WORK WE HAVE DONE AND I KNOW YOU HAVE SEEN A LOT OF THE WORK WE HAVE DONE.
LAST WEEK I WAS INSPIRED BY THE PANEL AND MARK'S COMMENTS FROM THE RHA, I HAVE NOT MET MARK, WE SUPPORT THE WORK OF THAT. WE KNOW THAT HAS BEEN A MISSING LINK IN OUR STRUGGLES WITH HOW WE TREAT ALL OF THE ELEMENTS AROUND UNSHELTERED PEOPLE. I DO THINK, AND I AM PROUD OF THE WORK THAT THE LODGING COMMUNITY HAS DONE, DIRECTLY AND INDIRECTLY, THROUGH TAXES AND TOURISM AND LODGING TAXES THAT HAD BEEN GOING FOR HOUSING.
WE KNOW THAT IS A CRITICAL ELEMENT IN THE EQUATION TO GET US FURTHER AHEAD IN HOMELESSNESS. I'M VERY PROUD FROM CONVENTION CENTER MONEY BEING SPENT TO THE KING COUNTY TAX IN THE CITY AND LODGING FOR A LARGE AMOUNT, HUNDREDS OF MILLIONS OF DOLLARS TO HOUSING. AND CERTAINLY THE SHORT-TERM RENTAL TAX AS YOU KNOW WELL IN THE LAST COUPLE OF YEARS HAS BEEN DIRECTLY APPROPRIATED TO THE CITY FOR USE IN DIFFERENT LEVELS OF HOUSING. SO, AM EXCITED TO MEET MARK, I HAVE NOT DONE THAT YET. WE SUPPORT THE WORK AND KNOW THAT THAT IS THE MOST CRITICAL THING YOU COULD BE DOING AS A CITY. WE ARE ALL IN THAT WAY.
>> WONDERFUL, THANK YOU, TOM. JUST NOTING OVER THE LAST 25 YEARS, YOU PLAYED A VERY LARGE ROLE IN A LOT OF THE MARKETING FOR OUR CITY IN HELPING TO GROW SEATTLE AS A DESTINATION WHICH THEN HELPS US GROW AS A CITY AND AS YOU SAY, INDIRECTLY EVERYTHING IS TIED. CONGRATULATIONS AND THANK YOU FOR ALL OF YOUR WORK.
I'M NOT GOING TO WISH YOU A HAPPY RETIREMENT IT. >> THANK YOU, SIR. CHAIR NELSON, THOSE ARE ALL MY QUESTIONS. >> THANK YOU VERY MUCH FOR BRINGING THAT UP. I THINK IT IS IMPORTANT TO SEE THE BIG PICTURE THAT IN ADDITION TO SUPPORTING VISIT SEATTLE AND STIA , HOTEL AND LODGING TAXES TO SUPPORT A LOT OF CRITICAL NEEDS DIRECTLY AND INDIRECTLY. I DO HAVE SOME NUMBERS, AND I'M GOING TO PUT THEM FORWARD, JUST BECAUSE I FEEL A SENSE OF URGENCY OF GOING AHEAD AND ACTING ON THIS TODAY.
I WILL HAVE TO SUSPEND THE RULES TO DO SO. JUST WHAT WE ARE TALKING, THE SHORT-TERM RENTAL TAX WE'RE TALKING ABOUT TAX ON AIRBNB'S, IT FUNDS INVESTMENT IN AFFORDABLE HOUSING PROGRAMS AND COMMUNITY INITIATIVE EQUITABLE DEVELOPMENT PROJECTS AS DETERMINED BY THE CITY OF SEATTLE. PRE-COVID IN 2019 IT GENERATED $9.4 MILLION. IN 2020 IT
DROPPED TO $3.8 MILLION AND IN 2021 IT WAS THAT $6.1 MILLION. THEN THERE IS THE KING COUNTY 2% LODGING TAX WHICH FUNDS AFFORDABLE HOUSING AND ARTS AND CULTURE AT A RATE OF $37.5
MILLION EACH FOR AFFORDABLE HOUSING. AND ARTS AND CULTURE. FOR AFFORDABLE HOUSING IT IS PROJECTED $559 MILLION OVER THE NEXT 25 YEARS AND FOR ARTS AND CULTURES, SAME AMOUNT. $559 MILLION OVER 25 YEARS.
FINALLY THE WASHINGTON STATE CONVENTION CENTER SUMMIT BUILDING PROJECT IS $93 MILLION IN COMMUNITY INVESTMENTS INCLUDING NEARLY $40 MILLION FOR AFFORDABLE HOUSING. THEN I WILL GO ON TO NOTE THAT THE ABILITY FOR US TO PROMOTE SEATTLE AS A DESTINATION FOR LEISURE TOURISM IS IMPORTANT FOR DOWNTOWN RECOVERY BUT ALSO FOR THE WHOLE CITY AS WE LEARNED LAST TIME, THE VISIT SEATTLE PROMOTES ALL NEIGHBORHOODS OF THE CITY AND, IN DOING SO HELPS THOSE BUSINESSES ALL OVER THE CITY STAY IN BUSINESS, GROW, SERVER NEIGHBORHOODS AND GENERATE TAXES FOR THE CITY'S GENERAL FUND. AND THEN WE GO AHEAD AND SUPPORT , OBVIOUSLY, MANY SERVICES THAT ARE NEEDED BY MANY AGENCIES. AND WE DO CONTRIBUTE TO THE REGIONAL HOMELESS AUTHORITY. SO, ANYWAY, I JUST WANTED TO MAKE SURE THAT WAS PART OF THIS DISCUSSION. AND, I WANTED TO KNOW IF THERE ANY OTHER QUESTIONS OR COMMENTS ON THIS SEGMENT? IF NOT, THE RULES WILL NEED TO BE SUSPENDED BEFORE WE MOVE ON TO A COMMITTEE RECOMMENDATION.
IF THERE IS NO OBJECTION THE COUNCIL RULES WILL BE SUSPENDED TO ALLOW THE COMMITTEE TO VOTE ON A RECOMMENDATION ON THE SAME DAY A HEARING WAS HELD. THAT IS STANDARD PROTOCOL. SEEING NO OBJECTION, THE RULE IS SUSPENDED AND THE COMMITTEE WILL PROCEED WITH THE VOTE. I MOVE THAT THE COMMITTEE RECOMMENDS PASSAGE OF COUNCIL BILL 120273. IS THERE A SECOND? IT HAS BEEN MOVED AND SECONDED TO RECOMMEND PASSAGE OF THE BILL.
OTHER ANY FURTHER COMMENTS OR QUESTIONS? ALL RIGHT. WILL THE CLERK CALL THE ROLE? I'M SORRY, I ALWAYS DO THAT. I AM READING MY SCRIPT AND NOT LOOKING AT THE SCREEN. COUNCILMEMBER HERBOLD ? >> I WAS SLOW ON THE FIND THE RAISE HAND FUNCTION. I WILL OWN THAT ONE.
THANK YOU. I JUST WANTED TO SAY AM REALLY HAPPY TO SUPPORT THE INCREASE. OUR SPENDING ON PUTTING OURSELVES TO TRAVELERS TO HER CITY AS WE KNOW IS BEHIND OTHER CITIES. I APPRECIATE THAT VISIT SEATTLE PRESENTED DATA SHOWING THAT FOR EXAMPLE OUR SISTER CITY, PORTLAND, HAS MORE THAN 2.5 TIMES THE ANNUAL BUDGET USED TO SUPPORT ITSELF IN PROMOTING VISITORS TO ITS CITY. AND, AGAIN, I JUST WANTED TO SAY, IT HAS BEEN WELL SAID BY OTHERS, BUT WE KNOW HOW THE HOSPITALITY AND ENTERTAINMENT AND CULTURAL SECTORS HAVE BEEN THE HARDEST HIT DURING THE PANDEMIC.
AND THE RECOVERY IS EXPECTED TO TAKE LONGER THAN OTHER ECONOMIC SECTORS. AND THE FUNDING HERE IS SO IMPORTANT BECAUSE THE ESTIMATED ADDITIONAL $3.5 MILLION FOR MARKETING AND PROMOTION WILL FUEL EXTRA SPENDING AND SPECIFICALLY THE HARD-HIT INDUSTRIES THROUGH EFFORTS COMING UP THAT I LOOK FOR TO PARTICIPATING IN. THANK YOU.
>> THANK YOU, COUNCILMEMBER HERBOLD . I APPRECIATE THAT. ALL RIGHT, WILL THE CLERK CALL THE ROLE ON THE COMMITTEE RECOMMENDATION THAT THE BILL PASSED?>> COUNCILMEMBER SAWANT. COUNCILMEMBER STRAUSS.
COUNCILMEMBER HERBOLD . COUNCILMEMBER JUAREZ . CHAIR NELSON. FOUR IN FAVOR.
>> THE COMMITTEE RECOMMENDATION THAT THE BILL PASS WILL BE FORWARDED TO THE CITY COUNCIL FOR FINAL CONSIDERATION. THANK YOU VERY MUCH. CONGRATULATIONS. >> THANK YOU VERY MUCH. ALL RIGHT, THIS CONCLUDES THE MARCH 23 MEETING OF THE ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT, TECHNOLOGY, . OUR NEXT MEETING IS SCHEDULED FOR APRIL 18th AT 9:30 AM.
IF THERE ARE NO QUESTIONS THIS MEETING WILL ADJOURN. HEARING NO FURTHER QUESTIONS THIS MEETING IS ADJOURNED THANK YOU, GOODBYE.
2022-03-25 02:33
