.
>>> THE COMMITTEE WILL COME TO
ORDER.
IT IS 9:32 A.M.
I'M TAMMY
MORALES CHAIR OF THE COMMITTEE.
PLEASE CALL THE ROLL.
>> COUNCIL MEMBER JUAREZ.
>> MERE.
>> COUNCIL MEMBER PEDERSEN.
>> HERE.
>> COUNTERMEMBER LIEU BIS.
CHAIR MORALES.
>> HERE..
>> THREE PRESENT.
>> I WANT TO NOTE FOR THE RECORD
COUNCIL MEMBER SAWANT IS
EXCUSED.
>> HEY, COUNCIL MEMBER MORALES,
THIS IS COUNCIL MEMBER LEWIS ON
THE PHONE.
I'M TRYING TO GET IT TO WORK ON
THE COMPUTER.
SO IN THE MEANTIME, I'LL BE
ON THIS WAY WHILE I'M TRYING TO
WORK THAT OUT.
>> APPRECIATE IT.
THANK YOU FOR JOINING US,
COUNCIL MEMBER LEWIS.
>> YEAH.
>> WE HAVE ONE ITEM ON THE
AGENDA.
WE'LL DO A PUBLIC HEARING AND WE
WILL DISCUSS AMENDMENTS.
WE WILL APPROVE THE AGENDA FOR
THE COMMITTEE MEETING.
IF NO OBJECTION, THE AGENDA WILL
BE ADOPTED.
HEARING NO OBJECTION, IT IS
ADOPTED.
WOULD YOU READ THE SHORT VERSION
OF THE ITEM INTO THE RECORD.
.
>> COUNCIL BILL 119779.
AN ORDINANCE ESTABLISHING A NEW
UNIVERSITY DISTRICT PARKING AND
BUSINESS IMPROVEMENT AREA, B.I.
A. PUBLIC HEARING AND
DISCUSSION.
>> THANK YOU.
OKAY.
AT THIS TIME, WE WILL OPEN THE
REMOTE PUBLIC HEARING FOR THE U
DISTRICT B.I.A.
REAUTHORIZATION.
IF TIME ALLOWS, CENTRAL STAFF
WILL PRESENT THE AMENDMENTS FOR
DISCUSSION ONLY.
THE OFFICE OF ECONOMIC
DEVELOPMENT WILL BE PRESENT FOR
TECHNICAL PURPOSES.
BEFORE WE BEGIN THE PUBLIC
HEARING, I ASK EVERYONE BE
PATIENT AS WE LEARN TO OPERATE
THE NEW SYSTEM IN REALTIME AND
WE NAVIGATE THE INEVITABLE
GROWING PAINS OF THIS PROCESS.
WHILE IT REMAINS OUR STRONG
INTENT TO HAVE PUBLIC COMMENT
REGULARLY INCLUDED, THE CITY
COUNCIL RESERVES THE RIGHT TO
END OR ELIMINATE THE PERIODS IF
WE DEEM THE SYSTEM IS ABUSED OR
UNSUITABLE FOR ALLOWING THE
MEETINGS TO BE CONDUCTED
EFFICIENTLY AND IN A MANNER TO
CONDUCT THE BUSINESS.
MY STAFF AND I WILL MODERATE THE
PUBLIC COMMENT PERIOD IN THE
FOLLOWING MANNER.
EACH SPEAKER GIVEN ONE MINUTE TO
SPEAK.
I'LL CALL ON EACH SPEAKER BY
NAME IN THE ORDER ON THIS APPEAR
ON THE REGISTERED COUNCIL
WEBSITE.
IF YOU HAVE NOT REGISTERED AND
WOULD LIKE TO SPEAK, PLEASE DO
SO.
SIGN UP BEFORE THE END OF THE
PERIOD ON THE CITY COUNCIL
WEBSITE.
THE PUBLIC LINK IS ON THE
AGENDA.
ONCE I CALL THE SPEAKER'S NAME,
STAFF WILL UNMUTE THE
APPROPRIATE MIC AND AN AUTOMATIC
PROMPT OF "YOU HAVE BEEN
UNMUTED" WILL BE THE CUE IT'S
YOUR TURN TO SPEAK.
BEGIN BY STATING YOUR NAME AND
THE ITEM YOU ARE ADDRESSING.
SPEAKERS WILL HEAR A CHIME WHEN
10 SECONDS ARE LEFT.
WRAP UP THE COMMENTS.
IF YOU DO NOT END THE COMMENTS,
THE SPEAKER WILL BE MUTED AFTER
10 SECONDS TO ALLOW US TO MOVE
ON TO THE NEXT SPEAKER.
AFTER YOUR PUBLIC COMMENT, WE
ASK YOU THAT PLEASE DISCONNECT
FROM THE LINE.
IF YOU PLAN TO CONTINUE
FOLLOWING THE MEETING, PLEASE DO
SO ON THE SEATTLE CHANNEL OR THE
LISTENING OPTIONS ON THE AGENDA.
SO THE PUBLIC HEARING IS
NOW OPEN AND WE WILL BEGIN WITH
THE FIRST SPEAKER ON THE LIST.
THE FIRST SPEAKER IS CORY
CROCKER.
CORY, GO AHEAD.
.
>> I'M CORY CROCKER, A 30-YEAR
RESIDENT AND LOCAL SMALL
BUSINESS OWNER.
I STRONGLY SUPPORT THE THREE
AMENDMENTS TO MAKE THE B.I.A.
REPRESENTATIVE OF THE DIVERSE
COMMUNITY AND MORE RESPONSIVE TO
THE ECONOMIC HARDSHIPS OF THIS
PANDEMIC.
WE MUST HAVE GOOD LEADERSHIP AND
YOUR VOTE WILL HELP.
AS PROGRAM MANAGER, THE
PARTNERSHIP IS THE GREATEST
CONCERN AND HERE'S WHY.
HE DID NOT ASK THOSE THEY SERVED
IF THE EXPERIMENT WAS SUCCESSFUL
AND REMOVED BOARD MEMBER TERM
LIMITS.
THEY TOLD SMALL BUSINESSES THEY
DID NOT REPRESENT THEM AND
REMOVED FUNDS ALLOCATED FOR
THEM.
AND LAST WEEK, 81% OF THE PUBLIC
PEEK SPEAKERS REPRESENTED BOARD
MEMBER PERSPECTIVES.
WE HAVE A COORDINATED CAMPAIGN
BY A SPECIAL INTEREST GROUP AND
SPEAKER NOTES PREPARED BY PAID
CONSULTANTS.
IT IS NOT FOR ME.
PLEASE SUPPORT A COMPETITIVE BID
PROCESS BY THE PROGRAM MANAGER.
AND AS PROPOSED BY COUNCIL
MEMBER PEDERSEN FOR THE SUCCESS
OF THE DISTRICT.
THANK YOU.
>> THANK YOU, CORY.
THE NEXT SPEAKER IS STEVEN.
>> HELLO.
GOOD MORNING.
MY NAME IS STEVEN.
FOR MORE THAN 25 YEARS I'VE
LIVED IN THE DISTRICT AS A
HOMEOWNER AND CHAIR OF THE
FARMER'S MARKET ALLIANCE.
WE NEAT CONTINUITY AND FOCUS AND
A 12-YEAR TERM.
NOT SHORTER.
THAT'S WHAT PETITIONERS
SUPPORTED AND IT WOULD SET A BAD
PRECEDENT.
DO NOT HAVE ACT RFP PROCESS OF
SHORTER THAN FIVE YEARS.
THAT WOULD BE AN INEFFICIENT USE
OF CITY'S TIME AND RESOURCES.
I SEE THE DIFFERENCE BETWEEN
HELPING THE COMMUNITY'S
VULNERABLE IN THE TIME OF
CRISIS.
THIS IS ESSENTIAL TO HELP THE
SMALL BUSINESSES SURVIVE AND
RECOVER FROM THE CRISIS.
THE COLLABORATION IS BETTER THAN
ANYTHING TRIED OVER MANY, MANY
YEARS.
I KNOW.
.
>> OKAY.
THANK YOU, STEVEN.
THE NEXT SPEAKER IS DON.
>> HI.
MY NAME IS DON AND I JOIN
YOU TO SUPPORT THE RENEWAL OF
THE U DISTRICT B.I.
A. I WORK
FROM THE D.S.A.
AND YOU MAY
REMEMBER MEETING ME WHEN I WAS
EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR AND I
WITNESSED THE IMPORTANCE
RELATIONSHIPS THE B.I.A.
FOREST
R FOSTER.
PLEASE CONSIDER THE IMPORTANCE
OF THE STABILITY AND THE
UNINTENDED IMPACT OF THE RFB
PROCESS COULD HAVE.
FOR EXAMPLE, WE DON'T ASK THE
PIKE PLACE MARKET TO GO FOR ONE.
THEY HAVE A COUNCIL OVERSIGHT
AND A BOARD TO GUIDE THEM.
AND THE SAME IS TRUE FOR
BIA.
PLEASE HONOR TO SUPPORT OF THE
PROGRAM, A 12-YEAR TERM, A
DIVERSE RATE PAYER BOARD, AND NO
ADDITIONAL RFP PROCESS.
THANK YOU.
.
>> THANK YOU, DON.
THE NEXT SPEAKER IS MILES
RICHARDSON.
>> THANK YOU.
VICE PRESIDENT OF AUDI
SEATTLE UNIVERSITY VOLKSWAGEN
AND A BOARD MEMBER OF THE
UNIVERSITY DISTRICT BOARD
MEMBER.
VERY, VERY PROUD OF THIS
ORGANIZATION.
THIS IS THE BOOTS ON THE GROUND
ORGANIZATION THAT HAS MADE
SIGNIFICANT IMPROVEMENTS IN OUR
AREA.
I JUST STRONGLY SUPPORT THE
RENEWAL OF THE B.I.A.
AND ASK
YOUR SUPPORT TO RENEW THE B.I.
A. I ALSO WANT TO VOICE
AGAIN A VERY STRONG OPINION THAT
EVERYBODY THAT HAS DONE THE HARD
WORK IN THIS AREA COMPLETELY
SUPPORTS, AND THAT IS A 12-YEAR
TERM.
AND PLEASE DO NOT HAVE A
COUNTERPRODUCTIVE, POORLY
INFORMED RFP PROCESS THAT IS NOT
NECESSARY FOR THE UNIVERSITY
DISTRICT PARTNERSHIP.
THEY HAVE DONE SIGNIFICANT WORK.
OUR BUSINESS IS A HUGE
CONTRIBUTOR TO THE UNIVERSITY
DISTRICT.
AND WE WILL CONTINUE TO
SUPPORT IT.
THANK YOU VERY MUCH.
>> THANK YOU, MILES.
THE NEXT SPEAKER IS
CAROLINE.
>> HI.
I AM THE PROGRAM DIRECTOR AT
ST. TROY ARTS CENTER AND WE WORK
WITH YOUNG ADULTS 13 TO 25 THAT
ARE HOMELESS AND UNDERSERVED.
WE HAVE JOB READYNESS
OPPORTUNITIES.
THE U.D.P.
HAS BEEN AN PART OF
DEVELOPING THE HEALTHY
RELATIONSHIPS WITH THE YOUNG
ADULTS AND PUTTING THEM IN JOB
TRAINING AND OUT IN THE
COMMUNITY.
WE'RE WORKING WITH MULTIPLE
BUSINESS OWNERS.
WE HAVE HAD OVER 30 YOUTH PASS
THROUGH THE PROGRAM AND HAVE
GONE TO HOUSING AND FULL-TIME
EMPLOYMENT.
THEY LEARN COMMUNICATION,
DEPENDABILITY, TEAM WORK SKILLS,
PROBLEM INVOLVING.
THE UDP HAS A HUGE PART IN THE
COMMUNITY.
I'VE BEEN HERE 15 YEARS.
THEY HELP BIND ALL OF US
TOGETHER.
AND THEY HELP PROVIDE JOBS
FOR THESE YOUNG ADULTS AND
BELIEVE IN THE FUTURE.
I SECOND EVERYBODY'S VOTE WITH
RENEWING THE B.I.
A. THANK YOU.
>> THANK YOU, CAROLINE.
THE NEXT SPEAKER IS MARY DAVIS.
>> I AM HERE IN SUPPORT OF
LONG-TERM RENEWAL OF THE B.I.
A.
I REPRESENT THE CHRISTIAN
SCIENCE CHURCH AND HAVE SEEN
FIRSTHAND THE GOOD THE U.D.P.
HAS DONE TO THE COMMITTEE AND IN
OUR CASE, THE CLEAN AND SAFE
COMMITTEE AND INCREASED
POLICING, WHICH HAS REDUCED DRUG
TRAFFICKING AND PROVIDED A SENSE
OF SECURITY IN THE AMBASSADOR
PROGRAM.
TO THE MENTAL HEALTH WORKER WHO
HAS BEEN A DIRECT HELP TO US.
AND COMPASSIONATE HELP TO THE
HOMELESS FINDING SERVICES TO
MEET THE NEEDS AND HELPING THEM
GET OFF THE STREET?
CONSTRUCTIVE WAYS.
THE STREET AND SIDEWALK
CLEANING, THE MONTHLY MEETINGS
THAT ARE INFORMATIVE AND PROVIDE
A FORM FOR COMMUNITY MEMBERS TO
SPEAK TOGETHER.
AND TO BE UPDATED BY POLICE.
I AM WHOLEHEARTEDLY IN FAVOR OF
RENEWING THE B.I.A.
FOR LONG
TERM FOR THE HEALTH AND THRIVING
OF THE UNIVERSITY DISTRICT.
IT HAS BEEN A TREMENDOUS BENEFIT
TO THE COMMUNITY.
.
>> THANK YOU, MARY.
THE NEXT SPEAKER IS ANSTON LYNN.
>> HELLO.
I'M HERE TOO SPOKE IN
SUPPORT OF THE RENEWING OF THE U
DISTRICT B.I.
A. I'M A RESIDENT
AND A BUSINESS OWNER.
WE ARE A LOCAL DEVELOPER AND
PROPERTY OWNER OF MULTIFAMILY
BUILDINGS.
I GREW UP HERE.
AND I SHARE MANY OF THE
POINTS FROM THE RESIDENTS AND
CONCEIVE THE UDP IN WORKING TO
ADDRESS THEM.
WE NEED YOUR SUPPORT.
THIS IS ONE OF THE ONLY THINGS
KEEPING THE U DISTRICT HEALTHY.
THE EXPANSION IS VITAL FOR MANY
OF THE RESIDENTS AND BUSINESSES.
I CAN SEE THE DIFFERENCES WHEN
THERE ARE GRA IF ITY ON THE
BUILDINGS.
THEY PUT ON EVENTS AND PROVIDE
MARKETING TO ATTRACT THE
VISITORS TO THE U DISTRICT.
I ENJOY THE EVENTS AND MY
TENANTS DO AS WELL.
WE NEED THE SUPPORT OF THE
GOVERNENS IN PLACE.
I SUPPORT THE 12-YEAR TERM TO
ALLOW THE GOALS.
AND I BELIEVE THAT THE RFP
OF LESS THAN FIVE YEARS DOES NOT
MAKE SENSE AT THIS POINT.
THANK YOU FOR YOUR TIME.
>> THANK YOU.
THE NEXT SPEAKER IS AARON
GOODMAN.
>> I'M THE EXECIVE DIRECTOR FOR
THE BUSINESS IMPROVEMENT AREA.
I AM HERE TODAY IN SUPPORT OF
THE U DISTRICT B.I.A.
REAUTHORIZATION AND URGE YOU TO
PASS THE LEGISLATION SO THE U
DISTRICT PARTNERSHIP CAN
CONTINUE TO SUPPORT BUSINESSES
DURING THE TRYING TIMES.
I ALSO WANTED TO SHARE CONCERNS
THAT I HAVE REGARDING AMENDMENTS
TO THE LEGISLATION THAT ARE
BEFORE YOU TODAY.
I AM CONCERNED ABOUT THE
PROPOSED RFP PROCESS AND THE
UNNECESSARY PRECEDENCE IT SETS.
IT'S DESIGNED TO BE A PROCESS
THAT ENSURES RATE PAYERS HAVE A
SAY IN WHO MANAGES THE FUNDS TO
OBTAIN SERVICES.
DURING THE PROCESS, OVER 66% OF
THE RATE PAYERS IN THE DISTRICT
SIGNED A PETITION THAT THE
ASESSIONMENTS CONTINUE FOR 12
YEARS AND THE PARTNERSHIP IS THE
MANAGER OF THE FUNDS.
PLEASE IN ADDING AN ADDITIONAL
RFP WOULD DENY THE WILL OF THE
RATE PAY HERBS.
SUPPORT THE WILL OF THE RATE
PAYERS BY PASSING THE ORDINANCE
AS PRESENTED.
>> THANK YOU.
THE NEXT SPEAKER IS KIM TRIMMER.
>> GOOD MORNING.
I'M HERE TO SPEAK IN
SUPPORT OF RENEWING THE U
DISTRICT B.I.
A. I RESPECT
INSIDE OUT YOGA, A STUDIO I OWN
ON THE NRTH END OF THE AVENUE.
AND THE B. I.A.
PROVIDED SUPPORT
TO ME AS THE BUSINESS OWNER
CERTAINLY THROUGH THE COVID-19
CRISIS.
EVEN BEFORE THAT IN NETWORKING
PROGRAMS, THE CLEAN AND SAFE
PROGRAM, AND THE FOCUS ON
KEEPING BUSINESSES ALIVE, SMALL
BUSINESSES ALIVE, WHICH IS
ALREADY DIFFICULT, BUT EVEN
EXAGGERATED WITH THE COVID-19.
I TOTALLY SUPPORT THE LONGER
TERM RENEWAL OF 12 YEARS PLUS.
AND IT TAKES TIME TO BUILD
RELATIONSHIPS AND TO GET THE
GOOD WORK THEY'RE DOING GOING.
SO RFP OF LESS THAN FIVE YEARS
DOESN'T MAKE ANY SENSE.
>> THANK YOU, KIM.
THE NEXT SPEAKER IS
JENNIFER.
.
>> GOOD MORNING.
I AM HERE TODAY TO SPEAK IN
SUPPORT OF RENEWING THE U
DISTRICT B.I.
A. I TRUST
THERE ARE EFFORTS IN THE
INTEREST OF THE GREATER
UNIVERSITY DISTRICT.
I'M THE EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR OF
THE NEIGHBORHOOD FARMERS MARKET
AND WE'VE OPERATED THE U
DISTRICT MARKET IN THE HEART OF
THE NEIGHBORHOODS SINCE 1993.
THE UDP HAS BEEN A CRITICAL
PARTNER FOR US IN OUR SHARED
MISSION.
TOGETHER WE SHARE IN OUR EFFORT
TO PROVIDE ECONOMIC
OPPORTUNITIES FOR BUSINESS
OWNERS, PROMOTE PUBLIC HEALTH,
AND BRING A DIVERSE NEIGHBORHOOD
TOGETHER.
MORE SO, TO CREATE ACTIVE PUBLIC
SPACES THAT HELP US EXPAND
ACCESS TO FRESH FOOD IN THE U
DISTRICT.
PLEASE SUPPORT THE ORDINANCE TO
RENEW THE U DISTRICT B.I.
A.
IT'S CRITICAL TO KEEP UP THE
WORK IN THE FACE OF THE
PANDEMIC.
WE NEED TO CONTINUE TO EXPAND
AND CONTINUE THE PROGRAMS.
AND PLEASE SUPPORT THE GOOD
GOVENANCE ALREADY IN PLACE.
THANK YOU FOR YOUR TIME AND THE
OPPORTUNITY TO SPEAK IN SUPPORT
OF THE B.I.A.
RENEWAL.
>> THANK YOU, JENNIFER.
CURT IS THE NEXT SPEAKER.
>> HI, I REPRESENT THE ACADEMY
FOR PROSITUATION LEARNING IN THE
UNIVERSITY DISTRICT IN THE NEW
HEIGHT CENTER WHERE I'M AN
EMPLOYEE.
AS WELL AS THE UNIVERSITY
DISTRICT ROTARY CLUB WHERE I'M A
MEMBER AND BOARD OFFICER.
FROM THE PERSPECTIVE OF BOTH OF
THE ORGANIZATIONS, I STRONGLY
SUPPORT THE LONG-TERM RENEWAL OF
THE BUSINESS IMPROVEMENT AREA.
I'VE SEEN THE PARTNERSHIPS MADE
POSSIBLE BY THE B.I.A.
STRENGTH
IN BUSINESSES AND NONPROFITS
UNDER THE U DISTRICT
PARTNERSHIP.
A. P.L.
IS AN INDEPENDENT SCHOOL
SERVING STUDENTS ACROSS THE
SPECTRUM.
AND THE U DISTRICT ROTARY
ADDRESSED SERVICE CHALLENGES AND
PROMOTING BUSINESS GROWTH IN THE
NEIGHBORHOOD.
I SEE THE VALUE OF THE
PARTNERSHIP IN SUPPORTING THE
COMMUNITY FOR OUR STUDENTS AND
TO ADDRESS THE BROADER NEEDS.
I HOPE THIS DOES NOT CHANGE TO
REQUIRE A NEW RFP PROCESS WITH A
SHORTER TIME LINE SO WE CAN
CONTINUE TO BUILD EFFECTIVE
NEIGHBORHOOD PARTNERSHIPS.
>> THANK YOU.
THE NEXT SPEAKER IS LINCOLN
JOHNSON.
>> GOOD MORNING.
MY NAME IS LINCOLN JOHNSON, A
PROUD RESIDENT AND COUNCIL
MEMBER.
I WORK WITH STUDENT LEADERSHIP
AND ENGAGEMENT.
I'VE VOLUNTEERED FOR SEVERAL U
DISTRICT SERVICE PROVIDERS AT
HOMELESS AND STREET INVOLVED
YOUTH.
I SPEAK IN SUPPORT OF RENEWING
AND EXPANDING THE B.-IA.
FOR THE
SUGGESTED 12-YEAR TERM.
THE LIFE OF THE STUDENT EXPANDS
BEYOND THE CAMPUS AND THE
SAFETY, SECURITY, CLEANLINESS,
AND CONTINUITY OF THE
NEIGHBORHOOD IS CRITICAL.
THE B.I.A.
HAS A PROVEN SUCCESS
RECORD AND PROVIDED GOVERN FOR
THE DISTRICT AND A WIDE
DIVERSITY OF RESIDENTS.
THIS HAS BEEN ESPECIALLY
INSTRUMENTAL DURING THE
PANDEMIC.
THANK YOU.
>> THANK YOU, LINCOLN.
THE NEXT SPEAKER IS LOUISE
LITTLE.
>> I'M CALLING IN TO SUPPORT THE
RENEWAL OF THE U DISTRICT B.I.
A. I AM A PROUD EMPLOYEE AT
UNIVERSITY BOOKSTORE FOR 40
YEARS.
I'VE SEEN THE DISTRICT THROUGH
GOOD TIMES AND BAD.
SINCE THE B.I.A.
WAS ESTABLISH
#ED, THE NEIGHBORHOOD IS SAFER.
I AM ASKING YOU TO SUPPORT THE
12-YEAR TOMORROW AND NOT REQUIRE
AN RFP.
IT'S ARBITRARY AND UNJUST.
RFPs REQUIRE TIME AND MONEY FOR
THE CITY AND SERVICE PROVIDER
STAFF, WHICH MEANS THE RESOURCES
ARE NOT SPENT ON KEEPING THE
DISTRICT SAFE AND CLEAN.
THE U DISTRICT PARTNERSHIP
HAS BUILT EFFECTIVE
RELATIONSHIPS WITH THE
NEIGHBORHOOD ACROSS A BROAD
SPECTRUM OF INTERESTING,
INCLUDING THE REACH PROGRAM.
THANK YOU FOR THE TIME AND
OPPORTUNITY TO SHARE MY VIEWS.
>> THE NEXT SPEAKER IS RANDY.
>> GOOD MORNING.
I'M THE VICE PRESIDENT FOR
EXTERNAL AFFAIRS' AT THE UW.
THE UNIVERSITY STRONGLY SUPPORTS
RENEWAL.
WE'VE BEEN A LONG-TIME SUPPORTER
OF THE PARTNERSHIP.
AND WE NEED THE CONTINUED
LEADERSHIP OF THE PARTNERSHIP
WHICH HAS BUILT EFFECTIVE
RELATIONSHIPS WITH THE
NEIGHBORHOOD.
WE DO NOT SUPPORT SHORTENING THE
TERM.
AND WE DO NOT SUPPORT THE RFP
PROCESS SOONER THAN FIVE YEARS.
THESE ARE COSTLY PROCESSES THAT
WE DON'T NEED.
WE NEED CONTINUITY AND SERVICE.
GIVEN THE BUDGET CHALLENGES WE
FACE AT THE UNIVERSITY, PASSAGE
OF THE AMENDMENTS WOULD CAUSE
THE UNIVERSITY TO RE-EVALUATE IN
THE B.I.A.
IS THE BEST WAY TO
INVEST IN THE NEIGHBORHOOD.
THANK YOU FOR YOUR TIME.
>> ERIC LAWSON IS THE NEXT
SPEAKER.
.
>> I AM SPEAKING IN SUPPORT OF
THE 12-YEAR RENEWAL OF THE U
DISTRICT B.I.
A. I AM AN
ASSISTANT DEAN AT UW AND LIVE BY
THE DISTRICT AND SERVE ON THE
BOARD OF DIRECTORS.
I HAVE A TESTIMONY ABOUT THE
AWESOME WORK OF THE B.I.
A. MY
APPEAL IS THAT YOU PLEASE NOT
CONSIDER AN RFP PROCESS OF LESS
THAN FIVE YEARS IN LENGTH.
THE PROCESS IS TIME AND RESOURCE
INTENSIVE.
AND THERE'S ALREADY AN EFFECTIVE
ANNUAL MECHANISM BY WHICH THE
RATE PAYERS CAN EVALUATE AND
RECOMMEND A PROGRAM MANAGER TO
THE CITY.
THE VAST BULK OF THE WORK IS
RELATIONSHIP BASED.
A FUNCTION THAT'S NOT EASILY
REPLACED.
THERE IS STRONG RELATIONSHIPS
WITH THE NEIGHBORHOOD OVER TIME
ACROSS A BROAD SPECTRUM OF
INTERESTING.
THE DISTRICT NEEDS THE CONTINUED
COLLABORATION WITH THE UDP AND
THE CITY TO ENSURE THE COMMUNITY
THRIVES.
THANK YOU.
>> THANK YOU, ERIC.
LET'S SEE.
MASON IS THE NEXT SPEAKER.
>> I AM SPEAKING IN SUPPORT OF
THE U DISTRICT B.I.A.
DIRECTOR.
I FREQUENTLY INTERACT WITH THE
B.I.
A. AND THE PARTNERSHIP.
THE UDP IS AN AVID SUPPORTER AND
QUICK TO PROMOTE THE ACTIVITIES
AND ATTEND THE EVENTS AND MAKE
OUR WORK STRONGER.
I WORKED ON A COMMITTEE TO
CREATE A MARKETING CAMPAIGN FOR
THE CHERRY BLOSSOM FESTIVAL THAT
UNITED BUSINESSES TO BRING
BLOSSOM SEEKER TO THE
NEIGHBORHOOD FOR THE DAY.
THE COVID-19 CRISIS PUT THE
PLANS ON HOLD.
I'VE APPRECIATED THE SUPPORT OF
THE REACH PROGRAM.
DAVID HAS DONE TREMENDOUS WORK
THROUGH THE UDP AND HELPED THE
HOMELESS FIND IS SERVICES THEY
NEED.
THEY HAVE BEEN A STRONG
ALLY AND RESPONSIVE WHEN WE
ENCOUNTERED SECURITY ISSUES.
AND MARCUS JOHNSON WROTE THE
ORGANIZATION FOR A SECURITY
PLAN.
I FULLY SUPPORT THE RENEWAL TO
CONTINUE IS GREAT WORK FOR THE
UDP.
THANK YOU.
>> THANK YOU, MASON.
OKAY.
MAUREEN IS THE NEXT
SPEAKER.
>> GOOD MORNING.
I SUPPORT THE RENEWAL OF
THE U DISTRICT B.-I A. I'M A
ROTARY BOARD MEMBER AND
EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR OF U HEIGHTS.
WE RELY ON THE SERVICES TO
ENSURE THE NEIGHBORHOOD IS SAFE
AND CLEAN FOR THE 3,000 CHILDREN
WE SERVE.
WE ARE SUPPORTIVE OF THE 12-YEAR
TERM.
AND WE HAVE A ROBUST MODEL IN
PLACE WITH TWO BOARDS.
AND EVERY RATE PAYER HAS THE
OPPORTUNITY TO CAST A VOTE TO
DETERMINE THE PROGRAM MANAGER
ANNUALLY.
WE URGE YOU NOT TO HAVE THE RFP
PROCESS EARLIER THAN THE FIVE
YEARS.
THIS WILL HAVE DIRE CONSEQUENCES
DURING A GLOBAL PANDEMIC.
WE NEED YOUR SUPPORT TO
REAUTHORIZE THE B.I.A.
TO ENSURE
WE CONTINUE TO SERVE SMALL
BUSINESSES AND THE REOPENING
EFFORTS AS WELL AS THE MOST
VULNERABLE NEIGHBORS.
THANK YOU FOR YOUR TIME AND FOR
YOUR WORK DURING THE COVID-19
CRISIS.
>> THANK YOU.
NEXT SPEAKER IS JOAN HORN.
.
>> HELLO.
I'M CALLING TO SUPPORT THE
RENEWAL OF THE B.I.
A. I'M A
36-YEAR RESIDENT OF THE
UNIVERSITY DISTRICT AND A BOARD
MEMBER AT UNIVERSITY HEIGHTS.
OVER THE YEARS, I'VE SEEN A LOT
OF CHANGES IN MY NEIGHBORHOOD
AND I AM GLAD TO SAY THAT EVEN
THOUGH IT INCREASED THE DENSITY
OVER THE YEARS, IT'S CLEANER AND
SAFER.
LIVING A COUPLE OF BLOCKS FROM
UNIVERSITY HEIGHTS, I WALK
ALMOST DAILY TO MY PEA PATCH
THERE OR THE MAILBOX.
I FEEL COMFORTABLE AND SAFE IN
WALKING THE AREA AND IT'S
PLEASANT TO WALK WHERE THERE'S
NO TRASH.
I OFTEN SEE THE AREA BEING
CLEANED UP BY INDIVIDUALS OR
GROUPS.
I FEEL WE NEED YOUR SUPPORT OF
THE ORDINANCE TO CONTINUE THE
EXPANDED CLEAN AND SAFE PROGRAM.
AND AS WELL, SMALL
BUSINESSES NEEDS THIS BOARD NOW
MORE THAN EVER.
AND THANK YOU.
WE NEED YOU THE PASS THIS
WITHOUT THE AMENDMENT.
THANK YOU.
>> THANK YOU, JOAN.
NEXT SPEAKER IS RICK.
>> HELLO.
I OWN BIG TIME BREWERY ON
THE AVENUE.
AND I'M PRESIDENT OF THE I
DISTRICT SMALL BUSINESS
ASSOCIATION AND A U HEIGHTS
BOARD MEMBER.
I AM IN FULL SUPPORT OF THE
AMENDMENTS AND THE IDEA THAT TEN
YEARS INSTEAD OF 12 YEARS IS A
THREAT AT ALL TO AN ORGANIZATION
IS LAUGHABLE.
TEND OF THE DAY, WE'RE TRYING TO
GET STUFF DONE AND HAVE THE
ORGANIZATIONS BE ACCOUNTABLE.
THE BEST WAY IS THROUGH
COMPETITIVE BID PROCESSES LIKE
RFPs.
THE IDEA IT'S A NEGATIVE OR A
HINDERENS OF THE NEIGHBORHOOD TO
MAKE SURE THAT OUR TAX DOLLARS
ARE SPENT EFFECTIVELY IS
LAUGHABLE, IN MY OPINION.
WE NEED MORE COMPETITION.
WE NEED, YOU KNOW, BETTER
RESOURCES FOR SMALL BUSINESSES
AND NONPROFITS IN THE AREA AND
RESIDENTS.
AND YOU KNOW, THERE'S NO
REASON TO NOT DO THIS.
THANK YOU FOR YOUR TIME.
>> THANK YOU, RICK.
DAWN PERRY IS THE NEXT
SPEAKER.
>> I OWN AND OPERATE I BREWERY.
AND I AGREE WITH RICK THAT
COMPETITION IS A GREAT THING.
ANYTHING MORE FREQUENT THAN FIVE
YEARS SEEMS EXCESSIVE AND
COUNTERPRODUCTIVE.
WE EMPLOYEE FOUR PART-TIME FOLKS
AND I SUPPORT THE RENEWAL.
I NEED IT.
THE CLEAN AND SAFE PROGRAM
FUNDED BY THE B.I.A.
HELPS ME
EVERY DAY TO MANAGE THE TRASH,
THE FECES, THE MENTALLY ILL
FOLKS ON THE BLOCK.
AND THE B.I.A.
DOESN'T JUST FIX
ISSUES LIKE THOSE, IT
PROACTIVELY BILL BUILDS A SENSE
OF COMMUNITY WITH THE EVENTS.
THEY ARE CREATING A FOUNDATION
FROM THE FUTURE AND A SENSE OF
PRIDE IN THE NEIGHBORHOOD, WHICH
IS THE STRONGEST PROTECTION FROM
CRIME AND VANDALISM.
THEY NEED THE CONTINUITY AND THE
12-YEAR TERMS WE SUPPORTED AS
RATE PAYERINGS.
PLEASE SUPPORT WHAT MY BUSINESS
NEEDS TO SURVIVE.
>> OKAY.
THANK YOU, DAWN.
LET'S SEE.
ALFRED IS THE NEXT SPEAKER.
.
>> HELLO.
CAN YOU HEAR ME?
.
>> YES.
>> HI, COUNCIL MEMBERS.
MY FAMILY OWNS A MINORITY OWNED
BUSINESS AND WE ARE ONE OF THE
OLDEST SURVIVING BUSINESSES AND
BEEN OPERATING THERE SINCE 1965.
I'M HERE TO SPEAK IN MY
SUPPORT OF THE RENEWAL OF THE
B.I.
A. MY FAMILY HAS A
LONG HISTORY OF COMMUNITY
SERVICE IN THE DISTRICT AND I
HAVE SPENT MY LIFE OF THE AV.
I PARTICIPANT IN THE UDP AND THE
B.I.A.
SINCE THE FORMAKE.
I CAN ATTEST TO THE WORK AND THE
VITAL ROLE THE B.I.A.
HAS IN THE
BUSINESSES AND RESIDENTS AND
VISITORS.
ESPECIALLY GIVEN THE STRESSES WE
HAVE BECAUSE OF COVID-19.
THE WORK WILL BE CRITICAL TO
ENSURE THE SURVIVAL.
AND I WOULD LIKE TO NOTE THAT WE
NEED LONGER RENEWAL TERMS FOR
THE BIA.
I WOULD ENCOURAGE -- AND
TIME AND MONEY WOULD BE BETTER
SPENT ON STREET CLEANING AND
SOCIAL PROGRAMS VERSUS THE RFP
PROCESS TO BE A WASTE OF MONEY
AND TIME.
THANK YOU VERY MUCH FOR YOUR
CONSIDERATION.
>> THANK YOU, ALFRED.
STEVEN LUCK IS THE NEXT SPEAKER.
>> AS A LANDLORD IN THE U
DISTRICT, I REPRESENT THE
HUNDREDS OF SMALL LANDLORDS FOR
MINORITY AND IMMIGRANT FAMILIES,
WHICH ARE THE PRIMARY SOURCE OF
AFFORDABLE HOUSES FOR STUDENTS,
PROFESSIONALS, AND RESIDENTS.
THE U DISTRICT NEEDS THE
CONTINUED LEADERSHIP OF THE
PARTNERSHIP TO CONTINUE TO
IMPLEMENT THE MANY PROGRAMS AND
PROCESSES THAT HAVE MADE A
SIGNIFICANT DIFFERENCE TO OUR
COMMUNITY.
ANY DISRUPTION TO THE CURRENT
ORGANIZATION MANAGEMENT WILL BE
A MAJOR SETBACK FOR OUR
COMMUNITY.
THE U DISTRICT B.I.A.
HAS
HELPED TO KEEP THE BUSINESSES
AND RESIDENTIAL COMMUNITY CLEAN
AND SAFE.
AND MOST NOTABLY, THEIR
PARTNERSHIP WITH S.P.D.
HAS BEEN
INSTRUMENTAL IN HELPING THE
COMMUNITY TO DEAL WITH THE
PROPERTY CRIME AND VANDALISM
FROM THE AREA'S HOMELESS AND
DRUG ADDICTS.
BY ENGAGING THE COMMUNITY,
B.I.A.
IS WELL CONNECTED.
THANK YOU.
>> THANK YOU.
JENNIFER IS THE NEXT SPEAKER.
>> HI.
I'M HERE IN SUPPORT OF THE
RENEWAL OF THE U DISTRICT B.I.
A. I'M THE EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR AT
THE ACADEMY FOR PRECISION
LEARNING.
WE ARE A K THROUGH 12 SCHOOL
SERVING KIDS ACROSS THE AUTISM
SPECTRUM AND THE TYPICALLY
DEVELOPING PEERS.
AND I AM REPRESENTING BROADWAY
BOUND CHILDREN'S THEATER WHERE I
AM A BOARD MEMBER.
I REALLY APPRECIATE ALL THE
CLEAN AND SAFE PROGRAMS.
THEY'RE IMPORTANT TO US.
WE NEED THE CONTINUED SUPPORT OF
THE PARTNERSHIP FOR THEM TO
IMPLEMENT THE B.I.A.'S PROGRAMS,
THE DAILY CLEANING AND FUNDING
OF THE U HEIGHTS AND ALONG THE
AV.
WE SPEND A LOTS OF TIME WITH THE
STUDENTS IN THE COMMUNITY
SUPPORTING THE LOCAL BUSINESSES
AND WE WANT FOR THE FAMILIES AND
KIDS TO FEEL SAFE.
THIS HAS BEEN SUCCESSFUL IN
MAKING THE FAMILIES FEEL THIS
WAY.
THAT'S ONE OF THE CONCERNS ABOUT
ATTENDING OUR PROGRAMS.
WE WANT TO BE RESPECT.
OF THE
RESOURCES NEEDED AND REQUEST
12-YEAR TERM AND THE RFP PROCESS
OF NOT LESS THAN FIVE YEARS.
THANK YOU FOR YOUR SUPPORT.
.
>> THANK YOU.
DAVID IS THE NEXT SPEAKER.
.
>> GOOD MORNING.
I'M HERE TODAY TO SPEAK IN
SUPPORT OF RENEWS THE B.-I A.
WE'RE LONG-TERM STAKE HOLDERS
AND WE HAVE A DEEP CONNECTION TO
THE DISTRICT.
WE ARE IN SUPPORT OF THE
ORDINANCE TO RENEW THE B.I.
A.
IT'S CRITICAL TO KEEP UP THE
WORK TO ENSURE THAT THE
PARTNERSHIP AND B. I.A.
HAVE THE
RESOURCES NECESSARY TO CONTINUE
AND EXPAND THE CLEAN AND SAFE
PROGRAMS.
THEY'RE CRUCIAL FOR THE SMALL
BUSINESSES TO FOCUS ON THE
OPERATIONS.
THIS IS MORE IMPORTANT THAN
EVER.
WE NEED SUPPORT OF THE GOOD
GOVERN ANCE IN PLACE AND
CONTINUITY AND FOCUS OF THE B.I.
A. WE DO NOT NEED AN RFP PROCESS
OF LESS THAN FIVE YEARS.
THIS IS NOT WHAT THE PETITIONERS
SUPPORTED.
As A MEMBER OF THE BOARD, I SEE
TOO MUCH TIME SPENT ON PETITION
ACTIVITY AHEAD OF THE RENEWAL
INSTEAD OF DOING OUR ACTUAL
WORK.
WE DO MUCH MORE AND MORE
EFFECTIVE WORK.
THANK YOU FOR YOUR TIME.
.
>> THANK YOU.
LILY IS THE NEXT SPEAKER.
LILY, ARE YOU
THERE?
>> HI.
CAN YOU HEAR ME?
>> YES.
GO AHEAD.
>> OKAY.
I'M SPEAKING IN SUPPORT OF
RENEWING OF THE B. I. A: I'M
THE OWNER OF A WOMAN-OWNED
BUSINESS.
I HAVE BEEN DOING BUSINESS IN
THE STRICT FOR FIVE YEARS.
THE B.I.A.
IS IMPORTANT TO THE
SMALL BUSINESS.
THE DISTRICT IS A DENSE
POPULATION AREA.
WE CAN FOCUS ON THE BUSINESS AND
NOT LOSE THE STRUGGLE TO
SURVIVE.
AND WE HELP ARE THE EVENTS AND
THE MARKETING THAT ATTRACT
PEOPLE TO THE AREA.
AND WE NEED TO CONTINUE TO
FOCUS WITH THE B.I.A.
AND NEED A
12-YEAR TERM.
PLEASE DON'T HAVE THE RFP
PROCESS LESS THAN FIVE YEARS.
THANKS FOR YOUR TIME.
>> THANK YOU, LILY.
DAVID IS THE NEXT SPEAKER.
>> HELLO?
>> YES.
>> CAN YOU HEAR ME?
>> YES, WE CAN.
GO AHEAD.
>> GOOD MORNING CITY COUNCIL
PEOPLES.
I'M HERE TODAY IN SUPPORT
OF THE UNIVERSITY DISTRICT
NEIGHBORHOOD OUTREACH PROGRAM.
MY NAME THE DAVID AND I'M THE
SOCIAL WORKER FOR THE PROGRAM.
I TALKED ABOUT THE BENEFITS OF
HAVING A SOCIAL WORKER WITH THE
ABILITY TO ADDRESS THE CONCERNS
AND IS SKILL SETS FOR UNHOUSED
NEIGHBORS.
I CONTINUE TO ANXIOUS CALLS FROM
THE S.P.D.
AND RESIDENTS AND
BUSINESSES ABOUT PEOPLE
EXPERIENCING MENTAL HEALTH
CRISES AND FIND WAYS TO ADDRESS
THE ISSUES WHILE RESPECTING THE
INDIVIDUAL NEEDS.
MOST TIMES, I FIND A WIN, WIN
WHEN IT COMES TO COMMUNITY
CONCERNS THAT WITHOUT A B.I.A.
OUTREACH WORKER IN THE U
DISTRICT NORMALLY AMOUNTS TO A
911 CALL.
IF I'M ADDRESSING ANYWHERE
BETWEEN TWO AND FIVE CALLS A
WEEK, I KNOW MY POSITION IS
FREEING UP THE 911 SYSTEM.
AND MOST OF THE TIMES, THE
SOCIAL WORKERS ARE ADDRESSING
THE CONCERNING.
AND WE'RE HELPING THEM LEARN THE
ROPES OF THE NEIGHBORHOOD AND
HELPS WITH RESOURCES.
.
>> THANK YOU, DAVID.
DOUG IS THE LAST SPEAKER.
SO WE WILL WRAP UP AFTER
DOUG UNLESS SOMEBODY SIGNS UP
BEFORE THEN.
GO AHEAD, DOUG.
>> HI.
I FOUNDED AND HAVE OPERATED
BULLDOG NEWS ON THE AVE SINCE
1983.
I AM HERE TO SUPPORT THE
AMENDMENTS.
DESPITE WHAT YOU'RE MARING FROM
OTHER SPEAKERS, THERE ARE
IMPORTANT WAYS THE CURRENT
B.I.A.
IS NOT SUCCESSFUL AT
RESTORING US TO BEING AN
INVITING RETAIL SHOPPING
DISTRICT.
THIS IS THE MOST CRITICAL FACTOR
FOR THE BUSINESSES.
AND YET WE ARE STILL IN SHABBY
STATE AND WE NEED TO CONSCIOUS
THE FACT THAT THE UDF BOARD HAS
ABOLISHED THE TERM LIMITS AND A
THIRD OF THE BOARD IS STANDING
FOR RE-ELECTION HAVE TERMS THAT
SHOULD HAVE EXPIRED.
THERE'S A CASE FOR THE SHINY NEW
UP ZONE FAVORED BY THE CORE
GROUP OF THE BOARD AND WILL NOT
SUPPORT THE LIVELIHOODS OF MANY
OF THE CURRENT RETAILERS.
I SUPPORT THE NEW B.I.
A. ONLY A
SUCCESSFUL ONE CAN TURN THINGS
AROUND THROUGH THE MARKETS AND
SERVICES.
WE MUST RECOGNIZE WHY THE
CURRENT BIA IS PARTIALLY
FAILING.
THANK YOU.
>> THANK YOU, DOUG.
OKAY.
I DID NOT SEE ANY OTHER SPEAKERS
SIGNED UP.
SO WE WILL CONCLUDE THE
PUBLIC COMMENT PORTION OF THE
HEARING.
AND MOVE ON TO DISCUSSION
OF THE U DISTRICT B.I.A.
AND THE
AMENDMENTS WE'VE BEEN HEARING
ABOUT.
>>> SO WE'VE GOT YOLANDA TO WALK
US THROUGH THE AMENDMENTS.
AND WE DO HAVE, I BELIEVE,
PHILLIP SIP FROM O.A.
D. AND
YOLANDA, PLEASE INTRODUCE
YOURSELF AND PROCEED.
>> COUNCIL CENTRAL STAFF.
SO I WILL BE WALKING
THROUGH FIRST, THE SUBSTITUTE
BILL ATTACHED TO THE MEMO AND
DESCRIBE THE THREE AMENDMENTS.
AS FOR THE AMENDMENTS, I WILL DO
A BRIEF DESCRIPTION AND THEN
GIVE THE FLOOR TO COUNCIL MEMBER
PEDERSEN TO SPEAK TO THE
AMENDMENT IF THAT SOUNDS GOOD TO
YOU ALL.
OKAY.
SO THE BILL IS A TECHNICAL
CLARIFYING CHANGES.
THE INTENT WAS TO CLEAN UP THE
LEGISLATION.
I'LL NOTE SOME OF THE MORE
NOTABLE CHANGES WERE ADDITIONAL
COUNCIL FINDINGS REGARDING THE
COVID-19 EMERGENCY RECOMMENDED
BY THE LAW DEPARTMENT.
WE WANTED TO CLARIFY SOME
OF THE TERMOLOGY USED TO
CALCULATE THE ASSESSMENT SO IT'S
CLEARER IN THE LEGISLATION.
AND ALSO CHANGE THE
RESPONSIBILITY FOR CONTRACTING
WITH THE PROGRAM MANAGER FROM
THE DEPARTMENT OF FINANCE AND
ADMINISTRATIVE SERVICES TO THE
OFFICE OF ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT
AS PER OUR CITY POLICIES THAT
WERE ADOPTED IN 2016.
AND CONSOLIDATED THE SEATS HELD
BY BUSINESS TENANTS SO THERE'S A
TOTAL OF THREE SEATS FOR
BUSINESS TENANTS.
TWO OF WHICH ARE TENANTS SUBJECT
TO A TRIPLE NET LEASE.
SO THAT'S JUST A QUICK OVERVIEW
OF THE SUBSTITUTE BILL.
AS FOR AMENDMENT ONE, THIS WOULD
REDUCE THE DURATION OF THE U
DISTRICT B.I.A.
FROM 12 YEARS TO
10 YEARS.
.
>> CHAIR MORALES, I CAN ADDRESS
THE AMOUNTS AT THE END OF
YOLANDA'S PRESENTATION, IF
THAT'S ALL RIGHT, TO PRESENT
THEM WHOLISTICALLY.
>> THAT'S FINE.
SURE.
GO AHEAD.
>> OKAY.
ALL RIGHT.
SO AMENDMENT TWO, THERE ARE TWO
OPTIONS KIND OF DEPENDING ON
WHETHER AMENDMENT ONE, WHICH
SHORTENS THE TERM OF THE B.I.A.
IS DEVELOPMENTED.
IF AMOUNT ONE IS DEVELOPMENTED,
CONSIDER AMENDMENT 2A TO LIMIT
THE CONTRACT TERM OF THE INITIAL
PROGRAM MANAGER WHICH IS
DISTRICT PARTNERSHIP TO ONE
YEAR.
THE OFFICE OF ECONOMIC
DEVELOPMENT WILL CONDUCT A
PROCESS FOR THE PROGRAM MANAGER,
WHICH WOULD BE FOR A FIVE-YEAR
CONTRACT.
FORWARD THE END OF THE CONTRACT,
THEY WILL RUN THE PROCESS AGAIN
TO SELECT THE PROGRAM MANAGER
FOR THE FOUR REMAINING YEARS OF
THE B.I.A.
SHOULD IT BE
REAUTHORIZED THE PERSON SEB
SERVING AS THE PROGRAM MANAGER
AT THE TIME WOULD BE ALLOWED TO
SERVE FOR A YEAR.
SO TWO FIVE-YEAR TERMS,
DEPENDING ON IF THE B.I.A.
IS
REAUTHORIZED.
AND THIS IS IF THE B.I.A.
IS FOR TEN YEARS.
SO IF AMENDMENT ONE IS NOT
ADOPTED, THE COMMITTEE SHOULD
THEN CONSIDER AMENDMENT 2B,
PROGRAM MANAGER OPTION TWO.
SIMILAR TO OPTION ONE, THIS
WOULD LIMIT THE CONTRACT TERM OF
THE INITIAL PROGRAM MANAGER TO
ONE YEAR.
THE SUBSEQUENT PROGRAM
MANAGER CONTRACT TERMS ARE
ADJUSTED TO SIX YEARS FOLLOWED
BY FIVE YEARS.
AND AGAIN, THE PROVISION THE
ORGANIZATION SERVING AS THE
PROGRAM MANAGER AT THE TIME OF
REAUTHORIZATION WOULD BE ALLOWED
TO SERVE AS THE INTERIM PROGRAM
MANAGER FOR ONE YEAR.
SO IN THIS CASE, WE WOULD
HAVE TWO SIX-YEAR TERMS.
AND AMENDMENT THREE WOULD
LIMIT THE NUMBER OF SEATS HELD
BY UNIVERSITY OF WASHINGTON ON
THE B.I.
A. ADVISORY BOARD TO
35% OF THE BOARD OR A MAXIMUM OF
FIVE SEATS, WHICHEVER NUMBER IS
LOWER.
I WILL NOTE THE VERSION OF
AMENDMENT THREE ATTACHED TO THE
MEMO WAS INCORRECT.
SO THERE IS A NEW VERSION, A
VERSION TWO, THAT DOES NOT -- SO
THE AMENDMENT THAT WAS ATTACHED
TO MY MEMO INCORRECTLY ADJUSTED
THE PERCENTAGE OF RATE PAYERS
FROM 80% THAT HELD SEATS ON THE
BOARD FROM 80% TO 75%.
THAT WAS INCORRECT.
IT SHOULD ONLY BE THE SEATS FOR
UNIVERSITY OF WASHINGTON.
SO JUST AS A NOTE, THE
UNIVERSITY OF WASHINGTON
CURRENTLY HOLDS FIVE SEATS ON
THE B.I.A.'S CURRENT BOARD.
WITHOUT THIS LIMIT, THE
UNIVERSITY COULD HOLD UP TO
SEVEN SEATS BASED ON THE 35% CAP
I DISCUSSED LAST WEEK DURING OUR
COMMITTEE BECAUSE OF THE OTHER
PROVISIONS OF THE BOARD.
SO DUE TO THE FACT THAT THERE
WOULD BE A MINIMUM OF 20 SEATS
ON THE BOARD, UW COULD HAVE
SEVEN SEATS.
THAT IS A QUICK WALK THROUGH OF
THE AMENDMENTS.
.
>> THANK YOU, YOLANDA.
OKAY.
COUNCIL MEMBER PEDERSEN.
.
>> THANK YOU.
AND I WANT TO TAKE A STEP BACK
FOR THE AUDIENCE.
WE HAVE MORE PEOPLE VIEWING
TODAY.
I WANT TO TAKE A STEP BACK AND
PROVIDE HIGHI WANT TO THANK THEL
BUSINESSES WHO TOOK THE TIME TO
SPEAK TODAY ABOUT THE B.I.
A. A
STUDY COMPLETED BY PETER
CONFIRMED THAT 65%, NEARLY 2/3
OF BUSINESSES ALONG THE MAIN
STREET OF THE AVE OWNED BY WOMEN
AND PEOPLE OF COLOR.
I WAS HAPPY TO SEE THE DURKAN
ADMINISTRATION PUT FORWARD THE
LEGISLATION WITH THE SCOPE THAT
INCLUDES PREVENTING
DISPLACEMENT.
PREVENTING DISPLACEMENT IS PART
OF THE ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT
MISSION OF THIS B. I.A.
IF
REAUTHORIZED TO GO FORWARD.
THE U DISTRICT IS A VERY
SPECIAL PLACE.
WE HAVE THE WORLD CLASS
UNIVERSITY THERE.
A LIGHT RAIL STATION IS OPENING
UP.
WE HAVE THE MOST DIVERSE, ONE OF
THE MOST DIVERSE BEST
INTERNATIONAL SELECTIONS OF FOOD
IN SEATTLE.
THERE'S A LOT OF NATURALLY
OCCURRING LOW INCOME HOUSING IN
THE DISTRICT ALONG WITH RENT
RESTRICTED LOW INCOME HOUSING.
MANY YOUTH IN THE DISTRICT
EXPERIENCING HOMELESSNESS.
THERE'S A LOT GOING ON IN THE
UNIVERSITY DISTRICT.
THIS IS ONE OF THE REASONS I'M A
SUPPORTER OF THE BUSINESS
IMPROVEMENT AREA BEING
REAUTHORIZED.
BUSINESS IMPROVEMENT AREAS
WITH POSITIVE TOOLS THAT KEEP
DISTRICTS CLEAN AND SAFE
THROUGHOUT OUR CITY.
THE U DISTRICT B.I.A.
FUNDS
THE CLEAN AND SAFE PROGRAM.
THEY HAVE THE REACH PROGRAM
ASKING UNSHELTERED AND HIGH
BARRIER INDIVIDUALS.
DURING THE COVID CRISIS, THE
B.I.A.
HAS BEEN LINKING MANY OF
THE SMALL BUSINESSES TO RELIEF
PROGRAMS.
AND DESPITE THE
BENEFITS, THERE HAS BEEN OVER
THE LAST FIVE YEARS A PERCEIVED
IMBALANCE OF VOICES ON THE
B.I.A.
RATE PAYER ADVISORY
BOARD.
PARTICULARLY THOSE SMALL
BUSINESS OWNERS THAT HAVE TRIPLE
NET LEASES.
THAT MEANS THEY ARE PAYING THE
TAXES, INSURANCE, AND COMMON
AREA MAINTENANCE.
IT'S PASSED THROUGH TO THE SMALL
BUSINESS OWNER.
MANY OF THE SMALL BUSINESSES
WORKED HARD TO ADVOCATE FOR
THEIR COMMUNITY INSIDE AND
OUTSIDE THE B.I.
A. I WANTED TO
MAKE SURE THAT B.I.A.
HONORS
SOME OF THESE CONCERNS THAT HAVE
BEEN RAISED OVER THE LAST FIVE
YEARS.
WE NEED GOOD GOVERNANCE AND
BETTER REPRESENTATIVE IN
PREVENTS DISPLACEMENT.
I WAS HAPPY TO SEE THE
LEGISLATION FROM MAYOR DURKAN
HAD PREVENTS DISPLACEMENT ADDED
TO THE MISSION.
REINSTITUTING
TERM LIMITS OF THE MEMBERS OF
THE ADVISORY BOARD.
ADDING REPRESENTATION OF THOSE
TRIPLE NET LEASE BUSINESSES.
AND
A REQUIRING A COMPETITIVE
REQUEST FOR PROPOSAL PROCESS FOR
THE PROGRAM MANAGER.
THE EXISTING PROGRAM MANAGER FOR
THE B.I.A.
IS CURRENTLY THE
UNIVERSITY DISTRICT PARTNERSHIP.
THEY HAVE HAD THIS PROGRAM
MANAGER CONTRACT FOR THE LAST
FIVE YEARS.
SO IT'S ESSENTIALLY BEEN A
SOLE SOURCE CONTRACT TO THE U
DISTRICT PARTNERSHIP.
LET'S TALK ABOUT THE AMENDMENTS.
SO THE FIRST -- I SUPPORT
THE SUBSTITUTE BILL.
THANK YOU, YOLANDA, FOR
EXPLAINING THAT.
IT IS PRIMARILY TECHNICAL IN
NATURE.
THE FIRST AMENDMENT WOULD ALTER
THE LENGTH OF THE B.I.A.
TERM.
RIGHT NOW, IT'S FIVE YEARS.
SO MY AMENDMENT WOULD TAKE IT TO
12 YEARS.
IT WOULD DOUBLE IT.
THERE IS A LOT OF DISCUSSION
TODAY IN THE COMMENTS ABOUT WE
NEED LONG-TERM B.I.
A. SO THIS
WOULD BE ACCOMPLISHING THAT.
IT'S NOT THE 12 YEARS, BUT
IT'S TEN YEARS.
IT'S DOUBLING THE LENGTH OF THE
TERM.
WE HAVE HEARD CONCERNS FROM SOME
OF THE COMMUNITY THAT THINK THE
B.I.A.
SHOULD NOT BE RENEWED OR
THE TERMS SHOULD BE ANOTHER FIVE
YEARS.
I THINK THAT DOUBLING IT IS MORE
THAN REASONABLE.
THE SECOND AMENDMENT IS
ABOUT THE RFP.
SO A LOT OF THE TALKING POINTS I
HEARD FROM MEMBERS AT THE PUBLIC
HEARING WERE SAYING WE NEED RFP
PROCESS EVERY FIVE YEARS.
THAT'S WHAT THESE AMENDMENTS ARE
DOING.
FIVE YEARS AND FIVE YEARS.
HOWEVER, WE NEED TO GET STARTED
ON THE RFP TO ACTUALLY HAVE THE
OFFICE OF ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT
DO A REQUEST FOR PROPOSALS.
WE HAVE AN EXPANDED MISSION,
WHICH INCLUDES PREVENTING
DISPLACEMENT.
PREVENTING DISPLACEMENT IS VERY
IMPORTANT TO ME AND I KNOW OTHER
COUNCIL MEMBERS AS WELL.
SO THIS IS ESSENTIALLY
GRANDFATHERING IN THE UNIVERSITY
DISTRICT PARTNERSHIP WHICH WILL
HAVE THE SOLE SOURCE CONTRACT
FOR SIX YEARS.
THE PAST FIVE, PLUS ANOTHER
YEAR, SO THE OFFICE OF ECONOMIC
DEVELOPMENT CAN ISSUE THE RFP.
AND THEY CAN COMPETE FOR THAT.
AND THEN WHOEVER WINS THAT WILL
HAVE THAT CONTRACT FOR THE NEXT
FIVE YEARS.
THEY ARE FIVE-YEAR INCREMENTS.
AND IT BUILDS IN THE
GRANDFATHERING THE NEXT TIME WE
REAUTHORIZE TEN TO 12 YEARS FROM
NOW SO THAT THERE IS THE
CONTINUITY.
THE LAST AMENDMENT IS SIMPLY THE
UNIVERSITY OF WASHINGTON MAKES A
VOLUNTARY CONTRIBUTION TO THE
B.I.
A. AND HAS A REPRESENTATION
ON THE RATE PAYER ADVISORY
BOARD.
THIS AMENDMENT SIMPLY PRESERVES
THE EXISTING SITUATION WHERE
THEY WOULD CONTINUE TO HAVE
THEIR FIVE SEATS ON THE BOARD.
WHICH IS SIGNIFICANT
REPRESENTATION FROM THE
UNIVERSITY ON THIS BUSINESS
DISTRICT BOARD.
AND SO THEY WOULD CONTINUE
TO HAVE THAT.
IT JUST CLARIFIES BECAUSE THE
B.I.A.
BOARD MIGHT GROW, IT
CLARIFIES IT WOULD BE THE LOWER
OF THE 35% OF THE TOTAL FOR
UNIVERSITY OF WASHINGTON OR FIVE
MEMBERS.
AND HAPPY TO ANSWER QUESTIONING
ABOUT THE AMENDMENTS.
THANK YOU, CHAIR MORALES.
.
>> MADAME CHAIR, IF I MAY.
>> YES, PLEASE.
>> I'M HOPING THAT -- I DON'T
KNOW HOW YOU WANT ME TO DO THIS,
TO TELL YOU I HAVE QUESTIONS OR
CONCERNS.
I DON'T WANT TO INTERRUPT YOU.
THAT'S WHAT I'M TRYING TO SAY.
>> I WILL CALL ON YOU NOW
COUNCIL MEMBER JUAREZ.
>> THANK YOU.
IN THE FUTURE, I'LL TEXT YOU
LIKE I DO WITH THE OTHERS AND
SAY I HAVE A QUESTION SO I CAN
GET IN THE QUEUE.
>> OKAY.
>> FIRST OF ALL, THANK YOU
COUNCIL MEMBER PEDERSEN IN AND
THE COMMUNITY THAT CAME OUT WITH
THE CONCERNS.
I TOOK DETAILED NOTES AT THE
HEARING ON MAY 20TH ABOUT WHO IS
SUPPORTING, WHO WASN'T, WHAT THE
CONCERNS WERE.
THANK YOU COUNCIL MEMBER
PEDERSEN FOR PARING DOWN THE
CORE ISSUES THAT WEREN'T THERE
AND WE'VE PARED THEM DOWN TO THE
REAL ISSUES.
WHAT I COULD GATHER FROM TODAY
OF THE OVER 25 PEOPLE THAT
SPOKE, I THINK WE HAD THREE
PEOPLE, TWO OF THEM BUSINESS
OWNERS, THAT SUPPORT ALL THREE
AMENDMENTS.
I UNDERSTAND THAT ISN'T
REFLECTIVE OF EVERYBODY IN THE
DISTRICT.
I GUESS WHAT MY CONCERN IS I
WANT TO START OFF WITH IT'S
CLEAR EVERYBODY SUPPORTS THE
RENEWAL OF THE B.I.
A. AND
WHERE WE HAVE THE RUB, IF YOU
WILL, IS THE THREE AMENDMENTS.
AND SOME OF THESE
AMENDMENTS I CAN'T SUPPORT, AT
LEAST AT THIS JUNCTURE, UNTIL WE
LEARN MORE AND WE VOTE.
I DON'T SEE THE PURPOSE OF --
I'LL START WITH THE RFP.
I'M OLD SCHOOL.
IF IT'S NOT BROKE, DON'T FIX IT.
AND SOME PEOPLE BELIEVE, I
THINK THEY USED THE WORD SHABBY
AND SOME FELT IT DIDN'T GOOD
GOVERNANCE AND THE SYSTEM
DOESN'T WORK.
WHAT I KNOW, I SUPPORT INTENSE
LOCAL CONTROL.
I DON'T LIKE ANOTHER LAYER OF
BUREAU SI.
AND PLEASE CORRECT ME IF I'M
WRONG, I DON'T KNOW OF ANOTHER
ONE THAT HAS AN OVERLAY OF THE
INTERVENTION OF HAVING AN RFP.
I DON'T SEE THE PURPOSE OF IT.
AND I WANT TO THANK, I THINK IT
WAS PHIL WHO DID THE POWER POINT
ON THE B.I.A.
AND THE HISTORY
AND WHAT THEY PROVIDE.
I DON'T SEE A NEED FOR INCURRING
OR ADDING ANOTHER GOVERNMENT,
CITY, IF YOU WILL,
PARTICIPATION, WHEN O.A.
D. HAS
A STAFF PERSON DEDICATED AND
THEY'RE WORKING WITH COMMUNITY
MEMBERS ON THE ISSUES THAT WE
HEARD LAST WEEK AND THIS WEEK
FOR THE PURPOSE OF THE B.I.
A.
I CAN'T SUPPORT ANOTHER LEVEL OF
GOVERNMENT PARTICIPATION OR
INTERVENTION, IF YOU WILL, FOR
AN RFP.
I DON'T SEE THE PURPOSE OF THAT.
AND I DON'T HAVE A POSITION
YET ON LIMITING THE BOARD WITH
THE UNIVERSITY OF WASHINGTON.
I HAVE SOME IDEA SOME OF THE
NUMBERS AND THE MONEY THEY
CONTRIBUTE WHETHER IT'S FIVE
MEMBERS OR FIVE SEATS OR 35%.
I'LL PROBABLY LOOK TO COUNCIL
MEMBER PEDERSEN OFF LINE FOR
MORE INFORMATION.
AND THE FIRST
AMENDMENT, THE 12 TO 10, GOING
BACK TO WHAT I KNOW FORMALLY AS
LEGAL COUNSEL AS WELL WHY THE
PURPOSE OF HAVING THE B.I.A.'S,
INTENSE LOCAL CONTROL FOR PEOPLE
ON THE GROUND.
AND I KNOW THE B.I.A.
FOR THE
UNIVERSITY OF WASHINGTON I
BELIEVE HAS BEEN AROUND SINCE
1996.
AND I KNOW HOW MUCH MONEY,
WHERE THE MONEY GOES, WHAT
THEY'RE DOING WITH IT.
I KNOW THAT AT ITS CORE, SOME OF
THE LOWEST B.I.A.'S STARTED
SEVEN YEARS AND SOME TO
PERPETUITY.
I DON'T THE MAGIC BETWEEN 10 OR
12.
I KNOW YOU TALKED ABOUT WHAT
YOU'VE DONE IS TAKEN FIVE AND
DOUBLED IT AND YOU PICKED TEN.
SO I DON'T SEE THE NEED FOR
THAT.
I FEEL LIKE IT SHOULD STAY
WHERE IT'S AT AND IT'S WORKING.
I KNOW YOU HAVE A COUPLE OF
BUSINESS OWNERS WHO STOOD UP
TODAY AND SHARED THAT THEY
WEREN'T HAPPY WITH AND HAVE
SUPPORTED THE AMENDMENT AND FEEL
THAT THIS ORGANIZATION ISN'T
ACCOUNTABLE.
I DON'T KNOW IF THAT'S AN AUDIT
OR SOMETHING DIFFERENT.
I DON'T WANT TO POLITICIZE THE
ISSUE FOR THREE PEOPLE OR GROUPS
OR BUSINESSES.
I KNOW THERE'S A LOT OF ISSUES
ABOUT UPZONING FROM THE FORMER
COUNCIL AND WHAT WE DEALT WITH.
I'M REALLY SKEPTICAL OF THE
TYRANNY OF THE MINORITY,
PARTICULARLY IF YOU HAVE AN
INSTITUTION STANDING SINCE 1996
AND IS WORKING.
WE HAVE ROOM FOR IMPROVEMENT,
BUT I NEED TO KNOW WHERE THE
FLAWS ARE.
NOT JUST I'M NOT HAPPY.
THAT'S WHERE I STAND NOW.
I DON'T SEE MYSELF SUPPORTING
AMENDMENT ONE.
I DON'T SEE MYSELF SUPPORTING,
LET'S SEE, THE RFP.
AND I'M NOT SURE WHERE I'M AT ON
THE UNIVERSITY OF WASHINGTON
BOARD SEAT.
AND AGAIN, I CAN
TALK TO COUNCIL MEMBER PEDERSEN
OFF LINE.
THANK YOU FOR BEING OPEN AND
SHARING COMMENTS WITH ME AND
YOUR CONCERNS.
AND I LOOK FORWARD TO WORKING
WITH YOU ON THIS.
THANK YOU.
.
>>> THANK YOU, COUNCIL MEMBER
JUAREZ.
COUNCIL MEMBER LEWIS HAS A
QUESTION.
I WOULD LIKE JUST A LITTLE
CLARITY.
I DON'T KNOW IF THIS IS A
QUESTION FOR YOLANDA OR PHILLIP.
BUT MY UNDERSTANDING IS
THAT IT IS TYPICALLY THE
ADVISORY BOARD THAT MANAGES THE
PROCESS OF PROGRAM MANAGER
CONTRACTING.
AND THIS IS THE ONLY PROGRAM
MANAGER WE HAVE HAD FOR THIS
B.I.
A. IN OTHER SITUATIONS IF
RATE PAYERING ARE DISSATISFIED
OR WANT A DIFFERENT PROGRAM
MANAGER, WHAT IS THE PROCESS FOR
THEM.
?
AND WHAT WOULD IT MEAN FOR
O.E.D.
TO BECOME RESPONSIBLE FOR
THE PROCESS?
AND THE REASON I'M ASKING IS
BECAUSE WHAT I'M WONDERING
SUBSEQUENTLY IS IF SETS A
PRECEDENT FOR O.E.D.
MANAGING A
SIMILAR PROCESS FOR OTHER
B.I.A.S.
>> SURE THING.
CAN YOU GUYS HEAR ME.
>> YES.
>> GREAT.
TO ANSWER THE FIRST PART OF THE
QUESTION.
I CITED IN THE POLICIES THE RATE
PAYER ADVISORY BOARD IS REQUIRED
TO HOLD AN ANNUAL RATE PAYERS
MEETING, A PUBLIC MEETING.
THEY ARE OBLIGATED TO VOTE ON
THE WORK PLAN AND THE BUDGET FOR
THE FOLLOWING YEAR, ALONG WITH
THE STATUS AND RECOMMENDATION OF
THE PROGRAM MANAGER.
THOSE THREE ELEMENTS ARE VOTED
UPON BY THE RATE PAYERS AND THAT
SERVES AS A RECOMMENDATION TO
THE CITY TO ENTER INTO THE
CONTRACT WITH THE PROGRAM
MANAGER IDENTIFIED.
SO THAT PROCESS HAPPENS
ANNUALLY FOR ALL THE B.I.A.'S IN
SEATTLE.
>> OKAY.
AND SO THERE IS ALREADY A
PROCESS, BUT IT IS NOT MANAGED,
YOU KNOW, THERE'S NOT AN RFP
ISSUED BY O.E.D.
TO MANAGE THE
PROCESS, IT'S HANDLED BY THE
BOARD?
>> THAT'S CORRECT.
AND O.E.D.
AND F.A.
S. SERVES AS
PROVIDING OVERSIGHT AND WE
ATTEND THE PUBLIC MEETINGS TO
TALLY THE VOTES AND HEAR PUBLIC
COMMENTS.
AT THAT TIME WE COME BACK AND
AGREE OR DISAGREE TO ENTER INTO
THE AGREEMENT.
.
>> THANK YOU.
COUNCIL MEMBER LEWIS?
>> THANK YOU SO MUCH MADAME
CHAIR.
SO, YOU KNOW, I WANTED TO SAY
GENERALLY HERE THAT THE
UNIVERSITY DISTRICT WHILE IT'S
NOT IN DISTRICT SEVEN IS THE
COMMUNITY I AM EXTREMELY
FAMILIAR WITH AS A FORMER UNDER
GRAD AT THE UNIVERSITY OF
WASHINGTON.
I PATRONIZED MANY OF THE
BUSINESSES AND CONTINUE TO.
IT'S A VERY UNIQUE AND DYNAMIC
BUSINESS DISTRICT THAT IS FACING
A LOT OF THE CHALLENGES THAT A
LOT OF THE BUSINESS DISTRICTS
AROUND THE CITY ARE SEEING IN
TERMS OF THE DISPLACEMENT OF
SMALL BUSINESSES IN TERMS OF
CHALLENGES AROUND CRIME,
CHALLENGES AROUND JUST THE
GENERAL KIND OF CLEANLINESS OF
THE NEIGHBORHOOD, WHICH IS A
CRITICAL SERVICE THE B.I.A.
PROVIDED.
I WANT TO REALLY CRITICALLY
ENGAGE ON THESE AMENDMENTS THAT
COUNCIL MEMBER PEDERSEN HAS
BROUGHT FORWARD.
WE NEED A CONVERSATION IN MAKING
SURE IN CONSTITUTING A NEW
B.I.A.
WE ARE CARVING OUT THE
SPACE FOR THE VOICES OF THE
LEASEHOLDERS AND SOME OF THE
OTHER LEGACY BUSINESSES ON THE
AVE.
THESE BUSINESSES MAY NOT BE
THERE IN A DECADE OR IN EVEN
FIVE YEARS.
AND WE NEED TO MAKE SURE
EVEN THOUGH THE B.I.A.
IS NOT A
BE ALL, END ALL, TO PREVENT
DISPLACEMENT AND PRESERVE THE
CHARACTER OF THE BUSINESS
DISTRICT, THERE ARE MECHANISMS
THE B.I.A.
CAN USE AND DO TO
ENHANCE THE COMMON VALUES ALL OF
US HOLD.
I GUESS WHAT I'M
SIGNALLING RIGHT NOW IS I DON'T
KNOW EXACTLY WHERE THE GOAL
POSTS ARE GOING TO BE SET, BUT
I'LL KEEP AN OPEN MIND AND I
WANT TO WORK WITH COUNCIL MEMBER
PEDERSEN NOW THAT THE AMENDMENTS
ARE OUT THERE OVER THE COURSE OF
THE NEXT WEEK AND BEYOND TO
REALLY MAKE SURE THAT WE'RE
BUILDING SOMETHING TOGETHER THAT
IS GOING TO ADVANCE OUR VALUES
AND ALSO RESPECT, PROTECT, AND
EXPAND THE SERVICES THAT THE
B.I.A.
HAS ALREADY BEEN
PROVIDING.
AND I THINK THAT WE CAN DO THAT
BY ALL COMING TOGETHER.
AND YOU KNOW, I RESPECT COUNCIL
MEMBER PEDERSEN'S LEADERSHIP ON
THIS AND THE ISSUES HE HAS PUT
ON THE TABLE AND FORCED THIS
COMMITTEE AND THE COMMUNITY TO
TAKE UP AND DISCUSS.
AND I THINK IT'S AN OVERDUE
CONVERSATION AND A WELCOME ONE.
I'M SIGNALLING MY INTENT TO KEEP
AN OPEN MIND AND CONTINUE TO
WORK WITH YOU ON THIS OVER THE
NEXT WEEK OR SO AND SEE WHAT WE
CAN COME UP WITH AS A COMMITTEE.
>> THANK YOU, COUNCIL MEMBER
LEWIS.
COUNCIL MEMBER PEDERSEN, DO
YOU WANT TO RESPOND?
>> THANK YOU.
THANK YOU COLLEAGUES FOR THAT
INPUT.
YOU KNOW, HAVING -- AS THE
REPRESENTATIVE OF DISTRICT FOUR,
WHEN I WAS AN AIDE, I WORKED ON
ONE OF THE PRIOR RENEWALS OF THE
B.I.
A. AND IT WAS VERY SMALL
ORIGINALLY.
IT WAS JUST PART OF THE AVE AND
THAT IS IT.
NOW THE B.I.A.
IS ALMOST ALL OF
THE UNIVERSITY DISTRICT.
IT'S A $1 MILLION ANNUAL BUDGET.
SO I THINK IT DESERVES TO
HAVE -- AND WITH THE EXPANSION
OF THE MISSION TO PREVENT
ECONOMIC DISPLACEMENT, I THINK
THAT'S IT'S BENEFICIAL FOR
EVERYBODY TO HAVE A PROCESS
WHERE THE PROGRAM MANAGER IS
HAVING TO BE CHOSEN AMONG RATHER
THAN JUST A SOLE SOURCE CONTRACT
FOR THE RFP.
IN TERMS OF, YOU KNOW, THE RFP
PROCESS IS ALREADY IN THE
MAYOR'S LEGISLATION.
SO THERE WAS SUPPORT FROM THE
EXECUTIVE.
YOU KNOW, I DON'T KNOW WHAT
THE MAGIC IS TO THE 12 YEARS.
I DON'T KNOW WHERE THAT CAME
FROM.
THAT'S COMPLETELY UNIQUE.
DOUBLING IT SEEMS REASONABLE TO
TEN YEARS.
I LOOK FORWARD TO HEARING MORE
FROM MY COLLEAGUES IF THEY HAVE
MORE DATA ON WHAT'S GOING ON IN
DISTRICT FOUR.
I WOULD LOVE TO HEAR THAT.
A LOT OF THE SPEAKERS -- THEY
ARE ON THE ADVISORY BOARD
ALREADY.
I WANT TO BE CLEAR IT'S HARD FOR
PEOPLE TO CALL IN, YOU KNOW, AT
9:30 IN THE MORNING.
THEY'RE RUNNING THEIR BUSINESSES
RIGHT NOW, MOST OF THEM.
SO I DO HOPE THAT THERE'S
SOME UNDERSTANDING THAT I DO
UNDERSTAND MY DISTRICT.
I UNDERSTAND WHAT THE NEEDS ARE
THERE IN TERMS OF WHAT THE
PROCESS COULD BE THAT'S
REASONABLE.
AND I THINK AGAIN, WITH THE
ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT MISSION
BEING EXPANDED TO
PREDISPLACEMENT, THAT'S WHAT WE
WANT TO FOCUS ON AND MAKE SURE
THE ORGANIZATIONS ARE POISED TO
DO THAT.
I THINK THAT'S A HEALTHY
PROCESS.
I APPRECIATE THE COMMENTS AND
LOOK FORWARD TO TALKING MORE
ABOUT IT.
>> THANK YOU, COUNCIL MEMBER
LEWIS.
COLLEAGUES, ARE THERE ANY
OTHER QUESTIONS OR COMMENTS FOR
COUNCIL MEMBER PEDERSEN OR FOR
THE PRESENTERS?
>> YES.
>> GO AHEAD.
>> MY QUESTION IS FOR COUNCIL
MEMBER PEDERSEN.
AND AGAIN, THANK YOU.
I UNDERSTAND HOW PASSIONATE YOU
ARE ABOUT REPRESENTING YOUR
DISTRICT.
FROM DISTRICT FIVE TO DISTRICT
FOUR, I GET IT.
LET ME ASK YOU AND JUST BE
CANDID.
I DON'T WANT TO GO ON AND ON
ABOUT WHETHER OR NOT I'M A
HUSKY.
I'M NOT.
LET ME ASK YOU THIS.
EXPLAIN TO ME WHY YOU PHRASE
THIS OR TALK ABOUT THIS BEING IF
IT'S EVEN NEFARIOUS TO SOME
DEGREE, AND CORRECT ME IF I'M
WRONG, FROM MY NOTES AND MY
RESEARCH, ABOUT THIS BEING A
SOLE SOURCE CONTRACT.
TELL ME WHAT THAT CONCERN IS
BESIDES OBVIOUSLY THERE'S THE
OBVIOUS CONNOTATION, ONLY ONE
PERSON IS GETTING THE CONTRACT
ALL THE TIME AND THAT'S BAD
GOVERNANCE AND NOT REPRESENTING
EVERYBODY.
CAN YOU EXPAND ON THIS
PARTICULAR CONCERN THAT YOU
HAVE?
AND I UNDERSTAND THAT IT IS A
MILLION DOLLAR BUDGET AND WE ARE
LOOKING AT THE ECONOMIC
DISPLACEMENT.
WE KNOW THAT THAT'S BEING MORE
CAUDIFIED IN POLICY.
CAN YOU GIVE ME A LITTLE BIT
MORE INFORMATION ABOUT YOUR
CONCERN AND WHAT YOU'VE BEEN
HEARING IN YOUR DISTRICT AND
BUSINESSES?
ALSO, THIS DOESN'T JUST STAY IN
DISTRICT FOUR.
THIS WILL BE CITY WIDE AND
OTHERS LOOKING AT THIS.
AND I THINK THAT MADAME CHAIR
BROUGHT THIS UP TOO.
WHAT WOULD BE THE EFFECT OF THE
FIVE OTHER B.I.A.'S OUT THERE.
CAN YOU FOCUS ON THAT AND MAYBE
WHAT THE EFFECT IS CITY WIDE,
NOT JUST YOUR DISTRICT?
>> SURE.
HAPPY TO.
YOLANDA, IS YOLANDA STILL
THERE TO ANSWER --.
>> YES.
I'M HERE.
AND PHILLIP IS HERE TOO TO HELP
ANSWER QUESTIONS.
>> SO ONE OF THE UNIQUE THINGS
ABOUT THE AREA IS THE
INVOLVEMENT OF THE UNIVERSITY OF
WASHINGTON.
ARE THEY ATRADITIONAL RATE
PAYER, OR IS THERE SOMETHING
DIFFERENT ABOUT THEIR -- HOW
THEY'RE DEFINED IN THIS?
>> YEAH.
THE UNIVERSITY OF WASHINGTON,
AND PHILLIP, CORRECT ME IF I'M
WRONG, BUT IT IS A VOLUNTARY
RATE PAYER.
THEY DO NOT HAVE TO PAY IN.
THEY ARE SPECIFICALLY CITED IN
THE ORDINANCE, IN THE
LEGISLATION, AS A UNIQUE RATE
PAYER.
AND SO THEY HAVE ELECTED TO PAY
A CERTAIN AMOUNT, I THINK AROUND
35% OF THE TOTAL ASSESSMENT.
AND THEY HAVE SELECTED THE
AMOUNT THAT THEY ARE
CONTRIBUTING TO THE B.I.
A.
WHEREAS OTHER RATE PAYERS ARE
ASSESSED ACCORDING TO A SPECIFIC
FORMULA THAT IS DESCRIBED IN THE
LEGISLATION.
>> AND THEN THE STATE LAW
REQUIRES THAT RATE PAYERS WHO
WANT TO PETITION FOR A B.I.A.
THAT IT'S 60% OF THE RATE PAYERS
IN TERMS OF THE ASSESSED VALUE
IS HOW MUCH OF THAT 60% OR 65%
NOW, HOW MUCH OF THAT IS THE
UNIVERSITY OF WASHINGTON
APPROXIMATELY?
>> PHILLIP, DO YOU WANT TO TALK
ABOUT THE PETITIONS?
>> SURE.
THE CURRENT PROCESS AS STATED BY
THE C.R.C.W.
IS 60% OF THE
IMPACT OF THE RATE PAYERS ARE
HIGHER.
IN THE CASE OF A SINGLE ENTITY
REPRESENTS MORE THAN 25% OF THE
PETITION, THE THRESHOLD AT THE
LOCAL LEVEL INCREASES TO 65% OF
SUPPORT.
IN THE CURRENT AUTHORIZATION,
THE UNIVERSITY OF WASHINGTON
REPRESENTS 34.89% OF THE
PETITIONS.
THAT'S THE TOTAL.
KEEP IN MIND, ALSO, GOVERNMENT
ENTITIES LIKE THE UNIVERSITY OF
WASHINGTON, THE PORT OF SEATTLE,
FOR EXAMPLE, ARE GENERALLY
EXEMPT FROM B.I.A.
ASSESSMENTS,
UNLESS THEY'RE IN A COMPETITIVE
MARKETPLACE.
IT WAS DETERMINED THROUGH THE
MOST RECENT CREATION OF THE
2015U DISTRICT BIA GIVEN THE
SIZE AND THE MAGNITUDE OF THE
BENEFIT AND IMPACTS THE
UNIVERSITY CREATES, THEY SHOULD
BE A RATE PAYER IN THE DISTRICT.
THAT'S HOW THEY WERE CRAFTED
INTO THE ORIGINAL ORDINANCE.
>> SO THERE ARE TEN B.I.A.'S IN
SEATTLE CURRENTLY?
>> SO THE UNIVERSITY OF
WASHINGTON MAKES UP HALF OF THE
65% OF SUPPORT THAT'S REQUIRED?
>> YES.
BASED BY PAYMENT, YES.
>> SO THE REASON I'M ASKING THE
QUESTIONS IS CLARIFYING THAT.
THAT DOES MAKE THE B.I.
A. IN
THE UNIVERSITY DISTRICT UNIQUE.
THE GENEROUS INVOLVEMENT AND
CONTRIBUTION VOLUNTARILY OF THE
UNIVERSITY OF WASHINGTON THAT
GIVES THEM A CERTAIN NUMBER OF
BOARD SEATS ON THE RATE PAYER
ADVISORY BOARD.
SO HAVING THE PROGRAM MANAGER,
HAVING IT COMPETE, IT JUST MAKES
MORE SENSE IN THIS CONTEXT.
.
>> SO I DO WANT TO THANK YOU FOR
THAT THIRD AMENDMENT.
YOU KNOW, I APPRECIATE -- IT'S
IMPORTANT TO ACKNOWLEDGE THE
ROLE THAT INSTITUTIONS PLAY IN
THE CITY.
THEY PROVIDE JOBS AND IMPORTANT
SERVICES TO OUR COMMUNITY.
BUT THEY SHOULDN'T HAVE A
DISPROPORTIONATE INFLUENCE OF
WHAT HAPPENS AND HOW OUR
DECISIONS ABOUT HOW THE
NEIGHBORHOODS CHANGE AND GROW.
NRZ SO I'M EAGER TO TALK TO YOU
ABOUT THAT PARTICULAR AMENDMENT
AND MAKE SURE THAT, YOU KNOW,
B.I.A.'S ARE SET UP WITH THE
PURPOSE OF GIVING SMALLER
BUSINESSES A COLLECTIVE VOICE.
SO I THINK THAT'S SOMETHING I'LL
WANT TO TALK TO YOU ABOUT.
COUNCIL MEMBER JUAREZ, DID
YOU GET YOUR QUESTION ANSWERED?
>> NO.
WHAT I'M GETTING AT IS
NUMBER ONE, HOW THIS WOULD
AFFECT THE OTHER B.I.A.S, BUT
FOR THE FACT THE UW IS UNIQUE.
AND COUNCIL MEMBER PEDERSEN, IF
YOU COULD WALK ME THROUGH WHAT
THE WHOLE -- WHAT I'M GUESSING
AT, I'LL BE CANDID, IS YOU
BELIEVE A SOLE SOURCE CONTRACT
IS GIVING THE UNIVERSITY OF
WASHINGTON AS THE CHAIRWOMAN
SUGGESTED, A DISPROPORTIONATE
AMOUNT OF REPRESENTATION.
THEREFORE, IF YOU HAVE AN RFP
PROCESS, THIS WOULD NEGATE THAT.
CAN WE FOCUS ON THAT SOLE SOURCE
CONTRACT, UW'S PARTICIPATION AND
WHETHER OR NOT THEY HAVE
DISPROPORTIONATE REPRESENTATION.
AND SECONDLY, WHICH I THINK WE
SHOULD THINK ABOUT, AND I DON'T
CARE ONE WAY OR ANOTHER.
COULD THIS MEAN THAT THE
UNIVERSITY OF WASHINGTON SINCE
THEY'RE PARTICIPATING
VOLUNTARILY WITHDRAW FROM THE
B.I.A.?
IF THAT'S THE CONCERN, THEN IF
IT'S $1 MILLION, DOES THAT MEAN
THAT THE UW IS CONTRIBUTING
ANYWHERE BETWEEN 3 AND $400,000?
>> NO.
THANK YOU FOR THE QUESTION.
I THINK THE CONCERN IS SETTING A
PRECEDENT.
I WAS TRYING TO ADDRESS THE
CONCERN ABOUT SETTING A
PRECEDENT FOR THE OTHER B.I.A.S.
THE U DISTRICT IS UNIQUE BECAUSE
OF THE UNIVERSITY OF
WASHINGTON'S INVOLVEMENT.
WHICH IS APPRECIATED.
AND PHILLIP CAN TALK ABOUT THIS
BECAUSE I'M FOCUSED ON WHAT'S
HAPPENING IN DISTRICT FOUR.
BUT I THINK THAT UNIVERSITY OF
WASHINGTON'S INVOLVEMENT MAKES
IT UNIQUE.
IN TERMS OF THE COMPETITIVE
PROCESS, I DO ALSO WANT TO
EMPHASIZE THAT I DO THINK THAT
THERE SHOULD BE COMPETITIVE
PROCESS WHEN AWARDING THESE
DOLLARS.
AT THE BEGINNING OF YOUR
REMARKS, YOU MENTIONED THAT.
THAT IS AN IMPORTANT PRINCIPLE I
BELIEVE AND I BELIEVE THAT'S WHY
IT'S PUT IN THE LEGISLATION TO
BEGIN WITH FROM THE EXECUTIVE.
BUT PHILLIP FROM O.E.D.
COULD
PERHAPS ADDRESS HOW PRECEDENTS
ARE SET WITH THE LEGISLATION.
I THOUGHT EACH PIECE OF
LEGISLATION WOULD BE UNIQUE IN
HOW IT'S REAUTHORIZED.
BUT WE HAVE A STRONG CASE TO
MAKE THAT THE INVOLVEMENT OF A
LARGE INSTITUTION IS WHAT MAKES
IT UNIQUE IN DISTRICT FOUR.
>> SO WE DO BELIEVE THAT A
CREATION OF A NEW RFP PROCESS IN
SEPARATION OF THE ANNUAL PUBLIC
MEETING COULD CREATE PRECEDENT.
EACH IS DESIGNED FOR THE LOCAL
NEEDS AND THE LOCAL DESIGN
PROCESS.
IN THE CASE OF A FUTURE RENEWAL
OF A CREATION OF A NEW B.I.A.
ONE CAN MAKE THE CASE THE
OPPOSITION CAN CITE IS U
DISTRICT EXAMPLE WHERE IT CAN BE
FORMED AND A YEAR LATER AN RFP
PROCESS WILL BE ENACTED.
I THINK THAT THAT PRECEDENT
COULD OCCUR BASED ON THE VERSION
OF THE LEGISLATION PASSED.
.
>> BUT ISN'T IT UP TO THE CITY
COUNCIL, DUNCE THE CITY COUNCIL
ULTIMATELY APPROVE THE
LEGISLATION?
>> CORRECTED.
IN TERMS OF THE PROPOSED
LANGUAGE AS TRANSMITTED TO
O.E.D.
FOR REVIEW FOR
LEGISLATION TO BE DRAFTED, THEY
COULD DESIGN AT THAT INITIAL
STAGE TO REQUEST THE RFP
LANGUAGE TO BE INSERTED.
OR IT COULD BE THAT A SEPARATE
GROUP REQUESTS THE COUNCIL TO
SUBMIT THE LANGUAGE CITING THE U
DISTRICT B.I.A.
PRECEDENT.
>> OKAY.
THANK YOU PHILLIP.
OTHER QUESTIONS OR COMMENTS
ABOUT THE PROPOSAL?
>> I HAVE ONE LAST FOLLOW-UP,
MADAME CHAIR.
>> OKAY.
>> PHILLIP, FIRST OF ALL, THANK
YOU.
I LOVED YOUR POWER POINT LAST
WEEK.
ONE OF THE BEST I'VE SEEN IN A
LONG TIME AND I'M BIG ON POWER
POINTS WITH INFORMATION.
AND YOU TOO, BOBBY LEE.
HOW MUCH DOES THE UNIVERSITY OF
WASHINGTON CONTRIBUTE TO THE
B.I.A.?
>> IF I AM LOOKING AT MY NOTES
CORRECTLY, I THINK IT'S
SOMEWHERE SLIGHTLY NORTH OF
$430,000.
.
>> THANK YOU.
.
>> ANY OTHER QUESTIONS,
COLLEAGUES?
OKAY.
COUNCIL MEMBER PEDERSEN,
ANY FINAL COMMENTS YOU WANT TO
MAKE ABOUT THIS?
>> THANK YOU, CHAIR MORALES.
I WANT TO THANK, AGAIN, CENTRAL
STAFF, OFFICE OF ECONOMIC
DEVELOPMENT, ALL THE PEOPLE WHO
TOOK THE TIME OUT OF THEIR DAY
TO TESTIFY AT THE PUBLIC
HEARING.
WE'RE ALSO GETTING A LOT OF
E-MAILS AS WELL.
PEOPLE WITH E-MAIL THE U
DISTRICT B.I.
A. AND WE'LL
LOOK FORWARD TO THE DISCUSSION
ON JUNE 3rd.
.
>> OKAY.
GREAT.
THANK YOU VERY MUCH.
YES, AS COUNCIL MEMBER
PEDERSEN SAID, THE NEXT
COMMITTEE MEETING ON THIS TOPIC
IS JUNE 3rd AT 2:00.
SIGN UP ON THE WEBSITE TO
COMMENT.
BEFORE WE ADJOURN, THANK
YOU TO YOLANDA AND PHILLIP FOR
BEING HERE AND PROVIDING
ASSISTANCE TO US TO HELP US
UNDERSTAND THIS.
THANK YOU, COLLEAGUES.
YESTERDAY, MY STAFF CIRCULATED A
PROCLAMATION RECOGNIZING PRIDE
ASIA DAY.
AND SO AS CHAIR OF THE ECONOMIC
DEVELOPMENT COMMITTEE, I WANT TO
ASK FOR YOUR SUPPORT BEFORE WE
ADJOURN IN SIGNING THIS
PROCLAMATION.
I WILL DO THAT NOW.
I WANT TO STAND WITH THE CITY TO
RAISE THE PRIDE FLAG.
I'LL BE DOING THAT ON MONDAY.
AND I WOULD LIKE TO BRING FROM
THE COUNCIL A PROCLAMATION FOR
PRIDE MONTH.
I'M HONORED TO STAND WITH
MY NEIGHBORS IN MY COMMUNITY TO
CELEBRATE AND REMEMBER THE
CONTINUING STRUGGLE FOR
VISIBILITY JUST LIKE THE FIGHT
FOR VISIBILITY AND AGAINST
CRIMINALIZATION AT STONE WALL IN
1969 SPARKED WITH THE RESISTANCE
FROM BLACK, BROWN, AND TRANS
MEMBERS OF THE PRIDE COMMUNITY.
AS A FORMER MEMBER OF THE
SEATTLE HUMAN RIGHTS COMMISSION,
IT'S IMPORTANT TO RECOGNIZE THE
DIVERSITY IN THE COMMUNITIES AND
NOT MERELY RECOGNIZE THE
COMMUNITIES AT A MONOLITH.
WE WERE ELECTED TO BRING THE
VOICES AND PERSPECTIVES OF OUR
COMMUNITIES TO CITY HALL TO
CORRECT THE HISTORICAL WRONGS
AND NOT PERPETUATE THEM.
I'M ASKING MY COLLEAGUES TO JOIN
ME IN RECOGNIZING MAY 31TH AS
PRIDE ASIA DAY TO CELEBRATE,
EMPOWER, AND NURTURE THE
DIVERSITY OF THE COMMUNITY
THROUGH THE ASIAN PACIFIC
ISLANDER LENS.
BEFORE I ASK FOR THE ROLL
ACT AFFIXING YOUR SIGNATURE, DO
YOU HAVE QUESTIONS OR COMMENTS
ABOUT THE PROCLAMATION?
OKAY.
PLEASE CALL THE ROLL AND
COLLEAGUES, IF YOU INDICATE,
PLEASE, IF YOU WOULD LIKE YOUR
SIGNATURE ADDED TO THE
PROCLAMATION.
>> COUNCIL MEMBER JUAREZ?
>> YES.
>> COUNCIL MEMBER PEDERSEN?
>> YES.
>> COUNCIL MEMBER LEWIS?
>> YES.
>> CHAIR MORALES?
>> YES.
TERRIFIC.
THANK YOU VERY MUCH,
COLLEAGUES.
I APPRECIATE IT.
AND I'M LOOKING FORWARD TO
HELPING RAISE THE FLAG ON
MONDAY.
AND I WANT TO THANK THE
COMMUNITY FOR BRINGING THE
PROCLAMATION AND LOOK FORWARD TO
SHARING THAT WITH YOU.
OKAY.
>> THANK YOU.
>> YES.
THIS CONCLUDES THE MAY 27TH,
2020 MEETING OF THE COMMUNITY
ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT COMMITTEE.
THANKS FOR COMING AND SHARING
YOUR COMMENTS.
WE ARE ADJOURNED.
>> THANK YOU, MADAME CHAIR.
>> THANK YOU COUNCIL MEMBER
PEDERSEN.