City Council Special Meeting · Monday, May 5, 2025 · City Council Digest

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0:04 ↗ Not my

0:06 ↗ style. Good evening everyone. I am

0:10 ↗ calling the May 5th city council meeting

0:12 ↗ to order. And as a reminder, we do

0:14 ↗ continue to have a remote aspect to our

0:16 ↗ meetings. Both staff and members of the

0:18 ↗ public may be participating in tonight's

0:20 ↗ meeting remotely via WebEx. And it is

0:24 ↗ proclamation month. So, I warn you all

0:27 ↗ to be patient as we go through some

0:28 ↗ wonderful, wonderful groups in our

0:30 ↗ community that we would like to

0:32 ↗ acknowledge this evening. The first item

0:34 ↗ on our agenda is the pledge of

0:35 ↗ allegiance. And I welcome you all to

0:37 ↗ join.

0:40 ↗ I pledge allegiance to the flag of the

0:42 ↗ United States of America and to the

0:45 ↗ republic for which it stands, one nation

0:48 ↗ under God, indivisible, with liberty and

0:52 ↗ justice for all.

0:57 ↗ meaningful meaningful words. So, under

1:00 ↗ special business this evening, we will

1:02 ↗ start first with

1:04 ↗ ID1812, economic development week

1:06 ↗ proclamation. And I'd like to invite

1:08 ↗ economic development manager Jen Davis

1:10 ↗ Hayes to the lectern and council member

1:13 ↗ Ray will be doing the presentation.

1:15 ↗ Welcome Jen.

1:16 ↗ Come on.

1:19 ↗ Yay.

1:21 ↗ Um whereas the International Economic

1:24 ↗ Development Council created Economic

1:26 ↗ Development Week to increase awareness

1:28 ↗ of local programs and economic

1:30 ↗ development professionals that create

1:32 ↗ jobs, enhance career development

1:34 ↗ opportunities, and improve the quality

1:36 ↗ of life in communities across the globe.

1:39 ↗ And whereas econ isqua's economic

1:41 ↗ development

1:42 ↗ professionals promote uh economic

1:45 ↗ well-being, high quality of life in for

1:47 ↗ Isqua by creating, retaining, and

1:49 ↗ expanding jobs that facilitate growth,

1:51 ↗ enhance wealth, and provide stable tax

1:53 ↗ base. And whereas Isiqua's economic

1:56 ↗ development

1:59 ↗ professionals incumbent entrep

2:03 ↗ entrepreneurialism in order never give

2:06 ↗ me big words like that. in or order

2:08 ↗ order to help establish the next

2:11 ↗ generation of new businesses which is

2:13 ↗ the hallmark of the American economy.

2:15 ↗ And whereas Isiqua's economic

2:17 ↗ development professionals work in a wide

2:20 ↗ variety of settings and topics across

2:21 ↗ the community including arts, culture,

2:24 ↗ sustainability transportation

2:25 ↗ redevelopment, public safety, human

2:27 ↗ services, outdoor recreation, and

2:29 ↗ others. And whereas Isqua's economic

2:33 ↗ depart economic depart development

2:35 ↗ professionals work collaboratively with

2:37 ↗ city staff, community organizations,

2:40 ↗ entrepreneurs to implement the economic

2:43 ↗ development action plan to increase

2:44 ↗ access to opportunities, convene and

2:47 ↗ catalyze and leverage Isiqua's assets.

2:51 ↗ Therefore, Marylu Pauli, the mayor of

2:53 ↗ Isiqua, does hereby proclaim May 11th

2:56 ↗ through 17th to be economic development

2:58 ↗ week in the city of Isiqua. And we

3:01 ↗ invite the community to join me us in

3:03 ↗ thanking Isiqua's economic development

3:06 ↗ staff for their service and an

3:08 ↗ outstanding contributions. And I think

3:11 ↗ um since today is the 5th and we're not

3:13 ↗ starting till the 11th, can we start

3:15 ↗ economic development week a little

3:16 ↗ early? Oh, two weeks. Yeah. So, um words

3:20 ↗ there. Yes, I it was almost going to

3:22 ↗ take me till then to finish the

3:24 ↗ proclamation. Anyway, Jen, would you

3:26 ↗ like to say a few words? Sure. So, thank

3:28 ↗ you, U, Council Member Ray, and the rest

3:31 ↗ of the council and mayor. Um, I would

3:33 ↗ just like to say that economic

3:34 ↗ development week isn't just about

3:35 ↗ economic development profession

3:37 ↗ professionals and staff. We work with

3:39 ↗ lots of people within the city who we

3:41 ↗ coordinate with, including um Kelly

3:44 ↗ Diane, who with the farmers market. We

3:46 ↗ just launched our homegrown retail

3:48 ↗ program to help small homebased

3:50 ↗ businesses get access to um customers

3:53 ↗ directly and test their branding, etc.

3:56 ↗ We work with lots of organizations

3:58 ↗ throughout the community to uh implement

4:00 ↗ our economic development strategy. So,

4:02 ↗ this is for everybody.

4:04 ↗ Thank you, Jen. Thank you, Council

4:06 ↗ Member Redd. Love for Wally to get a

4:11 ↗ picture.

4:15 ↗ Couldn't have said it better myself.

4:18 ↗ Council member,

4:20 ↗ [Applause]

4:24 ↗ the next item on our agenda this evening

4:26 ↗ is ID1813, the Jewish American Heritage

4:29 ↗ Month Proclamation. And I'd like to

4:31 ↗ invite Rabbi Barry Fkash from the

4:33 ↗ Shabbad of Central Cascades to the

4:35 ↗ lectern to join me.

4:44 ↗ and his lovely

4:45 ↗ wife.

4:48 ↗ Welcome. Where's Jewish American

4:50 ↗ Heritage Month is celebrated every May

4:53 ↗ to honor the significant contributions

4:55 ↗ and rich history of Jewish Americans to

4:58 ↗ the fabric of our nation. Whereas Jewish

5:01 ↗ Americans have played a vital role in

5:03 ↗ shaping the cultural, economic,

5:05 ↗ scientific, and social landscape of the

5:07 ↗ United States, contributing to the

5:09 ↗ advancement of arts, education,

5:12 ↗ business, medicine, and public service.

5:15 ↗ And whereas the Jewish community in

5:16 ↗ Isiqua has been an integral part of our

5:19 ↗ city's diverse and vibrant culture,

5:21 ↗ bringing with them a deep commitment to

5:23 ↗ family, faith, and community. And

5:26 ↗ whereas while anti-semitism has been

5:28 ↗ rising at an alarming rate in our

5:31 ↗ country and our community, we must let

5:34 ↗ it be known that anti-semitism has no

5:36 ↗ place in Isiqua, nor anywhere in the

5:39 ↗ United States. And we must continue to

5:41 ↗ create an environment that fosters

5:43 ↗ mutual understanding of tolerance and

5:46 ↗ respect for everyone. And whereas the

5:49 ↗ celebration of Jewish American Heritage

5:51 ↗ Month provides an opportunity to reflect

5:54 ↗ on the historical struggles and

5:56 ↗ achievements of Jewish Americans and to

5:58 ↗ celebrate the enduring spirit of the

6:00 ↗ Jewish community in Isiqua and beyond.

6:02 ↗ Now therefore, I Mary Lupali, mayor of

6:05 ↗ the city of Isqua, do hereby proclaim

6:07 ↗ the month of May 25th to be Jewish

6:09 ↗ Heritage Month. And I'd like to invite

6:11 ↗ the rabbi to share a few words.

6:16 ↗ Thank you, mayor. Thank you, city

6:18 ↗ council. And the past 22 years, Isiqua

6:21 ↗ has been our home, a very safe home, a

6:25 ↗ home that we only knew

6:27 ↗ um a sense of community, love, the

6:31 ↗ beautiful minoras during Kaneka, the lit

6:34 ↗ on front street was initiated by Mayor

6:37 ↗ Viqua, Eva Fryinger, and ever since

6:41 ↗ every year, including last Kaneka, Mayor

6:44 ↗ Py came and lit the monora for us. And

6:46 ↗ the Jewish community feels in this area

6:50 ↗ right here in Isiqua as a wonderful

6:54 ↗ embrace, especially in the last year and

6:56 ↗ a half since October 7th. Lots of

7:00 ↗ connections of love and support, knowing

7:05 ↗ that we're going to be here for the rest

7:08 ↗ of the future, knowing that our

7:11 ↗ community will fill us will will

7:12 ↗ continue keeping us safe in here. The

7:14 ↗ Jewish community is contributed to the

7:17 ↗ prosperity of the city of Isiqua.

7:19 ↗ They've contributed to the education.

7:22 ↗ Many of our members are teachers,

7:23 ↗ educators in the Isqua school district.

7:26 ↗ And the influence of the Jewish

7:28 ↗ community around this area has been

7:31 ↗ instrumental and always always

7:34 ↗ positive. And knowing that this

7:37 ↗ proclamation was just given um gives us

7:40 ↗ a boost of energy and support. And we

7:44 ↗ would like to really extend the thanks

7:46 ↗ in behalf of the entire Jewish community

7:48 ↗ that we represent. And we hope to

7:51 ↗ continue working together to make this

7:53 ↗ place safe for Jews, Muslims,

7:56 ↗ Christians, any other

7:58 ↗ denomination all

8:00 ↗ mankind under God. God bless you all.

8:04 ↗ Thank you.

8:18 ↗ Thank you so much for coming this

8:27 ↗ evening. The next item under special

8:29 ↗ business is ID 1831, Public Service

8:32 ↗ Recognition Week Proclamation. And I'd

8:35 ↗ like to invite assistant to the city

8:37 ↗ administrator Dale Marky Crimp to the

8:39 ↗ lect turn with deputy council president

8:41 ↗ DM

8:45 ↗ Michelle you thank you mayor

8:49 ↗ Paulolly so whereas the city of Isiqua's

8:53 ↗ employees elected and appointed

8:55 ↗ officials and volunteers are

8:57 ↗ instrumental to making our community

8:59 ↗ more sustainable vibrant connected and

9:01 ↗ safe and whereas by celebrating Public

9:04 ↗ Service Recogn Recognition Week, a

9:08 ↗ nationally celebrated event since

9:10 ↗ 1985. We honor the public servants who

9:13 ↗ serve the community and its residents,

9:15 ↗ businesses, and visitors.

9:18 ↗ And whereas the Isiqua community

9:20 ↗ receives service every day by public

9:22 ↗ employees who serve in a variety of

9:24 ↗ valuable roles including administration,

9:28 ↗ parks and community services, community

9:30 ↗ planning and development, public works,

9:34 ↗ police, fire, municipal court, finance,

9:37 ↗ executive administrative services. And

9:41 ↗ whereas the creativity and diversity of

9:43 ↗ perspectives of our elected and

9:45 ↗ appointed officials inform and advise

9:47 ↗ the work of the city and are integral to

9:49 ↗ the quality of service and life in our

9:51 ↗ community. And whereas the effectiveness

9:54 ↗ and efficiency of government depends

9:56 ↗ largely on public employees and

9:57 ↗ volunteers who serve Isiqua community.

10:01 ↗ And whereas city of Isiqua public

10:03 ↗ servants strive to provide excellent and

10:06 ↗ timely customer service to the

10:08 ↗ residents, businesses, and visitors in

10:10 ↗ the city of Isiqua and City of Isiqua

10:13 ↗ employees, elected and appointed

10:15 ↗ officials and volunteers work every day

10:17 ↗ to make our community more sustainable,

10:20 ↗ vibrant, connected, and safe. Now

10:23 ↗ therefore, I on behalf of Mayor Mary

10:27 ↗ Lupali do hereby proclaim May 4th to

10:30 ↗ 10th to be public service recognition

10:32 ↗ week in the city of Isiqua. And we

10:35 ↗ invite the community to join in thanking

10:37 ↗ public servants, employees, elected and

10:40 ↗ appointed officials and volunteers for

10:42 ↗ their service and outstanding

10:44 ↗ contributions. in witness whereof, Mayor

10:47 ↗ Paulie has here onto set her hand and

10:49 ↗ seal of the city of Isiqua on the 5th

10:51 ↗ day of May,

10:53 ↗ 2025. And we have so many employees who

10:56 ↗ are exemplars of public service and we

11:00 ↗ do thank all of them. And Dale, you are

11:03 ↗ really important and uh exemplary

11:07 ↗ exemplary symbol of that public service.

11:09 ↗ So, I'm very happy to present this to

11:11 ↗ you. And would you like to say a few

11:13 ↗ words? There you go.

11:17 ↗ As uh council member D. Michelle just

11:19 ↗ pointed out, there are many other people

11:20 ↗ in the room tonight that could be

11:22 ↗ standing up here to accept this. Um and

11:24 ↗ in fact, I was a late late sub. Um but I

11:28 ↗ would like to on behalf of our entire

11:31 ↗ employee population, um accept this pro

11:34 ↗ proclamation. Uh it's an incredibly

11:36 ↗ meaningful acknowledgement of the hard

11:38 ↗ work, the dedication, the

11:41 ↗ professionalism of our staff and the

11:45 ↗ effort they bring every single day to

11:47 ↗ the work that they do. Uh public service

11:50 ↗ is a calling um one that demands

11:54 ↗ compassion, integrity, and a steadfast

11:57 ↗ commitment to community. Our team here

12:00 ↗ at the city uh serve as you just pointed

12:03 ↗ out in a wide range of roles often

12:06 ↗ behind the scenes ensuring that

12:08 ↗ essential services are delivered

12:10 ↗ efficiently that our neighborhoods

12:13 ↗ remain safe and welcoming and that

12:16 ↗ Isiqua continues to thrive as a place

12:18 ↗ where people want to live, work, and

12:21 ↗ visit. I'd also like to recognize you

12:24 ↗ members of the city council um for your

12:26 ↗ service. You are also public servants.

12:29 ↗ Um, and this week also should

12:31 ↗ acknowledge the service that you have uh

12:33 ↗ dedicated here to the

12:35 ↗ city. Your support and collaboration is

12:38 ↗ what makes the work that we do possible.

12:41 ↗ So on behalf of uh my colleagues, I'd

12:44 ↗ like to um appreciate this uh this

12:49 ↗ proclamation. Thank you for affirming

12:51 ↗ the work that our staff does. It

12:53 ↗ encourages all of us to continue

12:55 ↗ striving for excellence um on behalf of

12:58 ↗ the city of Isqua. So, thank you so

13:00 ↗ much. Thank you, Dale.

13:14 ↗ Thank you, Deputy Council President.

13:16 ↗ Thank you, Dale. The next uh

13:18 ↗ proclamation this evening is

13:20 ↗ ID1832 professional municipal clerk's

13:23 ↗ week proclamation. I'd like to invite

13:25 ↗ our city clerk Tisha Geyser to the

13:27 ↗ lecture. And Tisha, do you know if Chris

13:30 ↗ is joining us remotely? We also have our

13:32 ↗ deputy uh with us remotely, Chris

13:35 ↗ Grabowski. So, welcome to you both.

13:38 ↗ Presented by council member Jen. Great.

13:41 ↗ Whereas the office of the professional

13:43 ↗ municipal clerk, a time-honored and

13:45 ↗ vital part of local government, exists

13:46 ↗ throughout the world and is the oldest

13:48 ↗ profession amongst public servants, and

13:50 ↗ it is public servant week. Whereas the

13:53 ↗ office of the professional municipal

13:54 ↗ clerk provides a professional link

13:56 ↗ between the citizens, local governing

13:58 ↗ bodies, and agencies of government at

13:59 ↗ other levels. And whereas municipal

14:02 ↗ clerks have pledged to be ever mindful

14:03 ↗ of their neutrality and impartiality,

14:06 ↗ rendering equal service to all. And

14:08 ↗ whereas the professional municipal clerk

14:10 ↗ serves as the information center on

14:11 ↗ functions of local government and

14:12 ↗ community. And whereas municipal clerks

14:15 ↗ continually strive to improve the

14:17 ↗ administration of the affairs of the

14:18 ↗ profession through participation in

14:20 ↗ education programs, seminars, workshops,

14:22 ↗ and the annual meetings of their state,

14:24 ↗ provincial, county, and international

14:26 ↗ professional organizations. And whereas

14:28 ↗ it is most appropriate that we recognize

14:30 ↗ the accomplishments and contributions of

14:31 ↗ the press professionals who serve in

14:33 ↗ Isiqua's city clerk's office. Now

14:35 ↗ therefore, I, Council Member Kelly Jeng,

14:38 ↗ on behalf of Mayor Lu Pauli, Mayor of

14:39 ↗ the City of Isiqua, do recognize the

14:42 ↗ week of May 4th through 10th as

14:44 ↗ Professional Municipal Clerk's Week in

14:46 ↗ the city of Isiqua. And I invite the

14:48 ↗ community to join me in thanking the

14:49 ↗ city clerk's office for their service

14:51 ↗ and outstanding

14:53 ↗ contributions. Um, and I'll hand it over

14:56 ↗ to Tisha to say a few

14:58 ↗ [Applause]

14:59 ↗ words. Thank you, council member. Uh, so

15:03 ↗ Chris is joining us virtually. Uh Chris

15:05 ↗ got his certified municipal clerk

15:06 ↗ certification just a few weeks ago,

15:08 ↗ which means all three of those of us uh

15:11 ↗ in the clerk's office are now certified

15:13 ↗ municipal clerks, which we're very proud

15:14 ↗ of, and we take a lot of pride in our

15:16 ↗ work, supporting uh our public meetings,

15:18 ↗ taking care of the city's records and

15:21 ↗ responding to public disclosure. We

15:23 ↗ really do a lot to help ensure access to

15:25 ↗ government and transparency in

15:26 ↗ government in our jobs. And I think I

15:28 ↗ speak for uh Chris, Tammy, and our

15:30 ↗ part-time records assistant uh Amanda

15:34 ↗ when I say that we um consider it an

15:36 ↗ honor to be doing this work for the city

15:37 ↗ of Isiqua. So, thank you so much. Thank

15:40 ↗ you for all the work that you

15:41 ↗ [Applause]

15:51 ↗ do. Thank you, council member. Thank

15:53 ↗ you, city clerk. And thanks for joining

15:56 ↗ us, Chris. and congratulations on your

15:58 ↗ upcoming retirement this year. We're

16:00 ↗ going to miss you. The next item under

16:02 ↗ special business is ID 1833, drinking

16:05 ↗ water proclamation uh week. And I'd like

16:07 ↗ to invite public works director Emily

16:09 ↗ Moon to the lecture.

16:18 ↗ Welcome. This proclamation is really

16:20 ↗ important to me. Um, I'm a public works

16:23 ↗ director giving it to a public works

16:25 ↗ director. So, I have spent many, many

16:28 ↗ years both professionally and personally

16:30 ↗ on this topic, on this issue because

16:32 ↗ safe drinking water is one of the best

16:34 ↗ things that we do for this community.

16:36 ↗ And I'm so proud of the work that our

16:38 ↗ public works team does to make sure this

16:40 ↗ is who we are. Whereas for more than 40

16:44 ↗ years, the American Waterworks

16:45 ↗ Association and its members have used

16:47 ↗ drinking water week as a unique

16:49 ↗ opportunity for both water professionals

16:52 ↗ and the communities and the communities

16:54 ↗ they serve to recognize the vital role

16:56 ↗ water plays in our daily lives. And

16:58 ↗ whereas water is the most valuable

17:00 ↗ natural resource and drinking water

17:02 ↗ serves a vital role in daily life,

17:04 ↗ serving an essential purpose to health,

17:06 ↗ hydration, and hygiene. And whereas tap

17:09 ↗ water delivers public health protection,

17:11 ↗ fire protection, and support for our

17:13 ↗ economy. And whereas the hard work

17:16 ↗ performed by the entire water sector is

17:18 ↗ vital to maintaining and protecting this

17:21 ↗ essential resource. And Isiqua's public

17:23 ↗ works department staff and operators

17:25 ↗ work to ensure the safety and quality of

17:28 ↗ drinking water and maintain the

17:30 ↗ infrastructure we all rely on. And

17:33 ↗ whereas we're all stewards of the water

17:34 ↗ infrastructure upon which current and

17:36 ↗ future generations depend

17:38 ↗ on. And whereas the Isiqua community is

17:42 ↗ called upon to help protect our source

17:44 ↗ waters from pollution and to practice

17:46 ↗ water conservation. Now therefore, I

17:49 ↗ Mary Lupali, the mayor of the city of

17:50 ↗ Isqua, do hereby proclaim the week of

17:52 ↗ May 4th to 10th to be drinking water

17:54 ↗ week. And I would love to give director

17:56 ↗ Moon an opportunity to say a few words.

18:00 ↗ Thank you very much for this

18:01 ↗ proclamation. It is important to our

18:03 ↗ staff. We have folks that work both on

18:06 ↗ the engineering side of the house and

18:09 ↗ operations side of the house. In

18:10 ↗ engineering, we have engineers that are

18:12 ↗ of course responsible for the design,

18:15 ↗ the construction and bigger maintenance

18:17 ↗ projects of our infrastructure. We also

18:20 ↗ have environmental science folks who

18:22 ↗ work to make sure that we are doing all

18:25 ↗ we can to pro protect our aquafer and uh

18:29 ↗ the sources of water for our wells and

18:32 ↗ work with our business community and our

18:35 ↗ residents to make sure that our

18:36 ↗ practices are also in lock step with

18:39 ↗ those objectives. And then on operations

18:41 ↗ side, we have a fantastic team of water

18:45 ↗ quality technicians who are daily at

18:49 ↗ work analyzing our water and making sure

18:51 ↗ that we have clean, safe drinking water.

18:55 ↗ And we also have a whole bunch of

18:57 ↗ operations, maintenance, facility folks

18:59 ↗ who take care of our infrastructure and

19:02 ↗ make sure that the delivery is efficient

19:05 ↗ and effective. So I want to say thank

19:07 ↗ you very much for supporting our team

19:10 ↗ and supporting safe clean drinking water

19:12 ↗ in Isqua. Thank

19:15 ↗ you. Thanks for coming.

19:24 ↗ Thank you. Thanks Emily.

19:35 ↗ The next one I have is corrections

19:36 ↗ officer.

19:38 ↗ You were right. Okay.

19:42 ↗ ID1834 corrections officers week

19:44 ↗ proclamation. I have an additional

19:46 ↗ person coming up as well. Um and I'd

19:50 ↗ like to invite invite police commander

19:51 ↗ Casey Alred to the lectern. And Casey,

19:53 ↗ did you bring anyone else with you this

19:55 ↗ evening? Sergeant here. Come on up.

20:00 ↗ Welcome Sergeant.

20:04 ↗ So, this is quite appropriate that I'm

20:06 ↗ reading this proclamation. I have spent

20:08 ↗ some time in the jail. Um, as your

20:11 ↗ municipal court judge, in prior years,

20:13 ↗ uh, we would have, uh, forced

20:16 ↗ appearances down to jail. So, um,

20:18 ↗ defendants would come in and we'd make

20:19 ↗ sure that they, um, knew all their

20:21 ↗ rights and were, uh, had a good

20:24 ↗ opportunity to get bail and other

20:26 ↗ opportunities for due process along the

20:28 ↗ way. So, this proclamation has some deep

20:30 ↗ meaning for me. So I'm very honored to

20:32 ↗ be reading it tonight. Whereas the city

20:35 ↗ of Isiqua dedicated correction officers

20:38 ↗ as essential to our justice system and

20:41 ↗ whereas much is expected from the men

20:42 ↗ and women who everyday supervise

20:45 ↗ offenders in correctional facilities and

20:47 ↗ without whose daily hard work and

20:49 ↗ sacrifices we could not operate. And

20:53 ↗ whereas corrections officers are skilled

20:55 ↗ professionals who must act as

20:56 ↗ counselors communicators educators

20:59 ↗ and experts at crisis intervention and

21:02 ↗ must protect our safety while

21:04 ↗ maintaining their professional de

21:06 ↗ demeanor, often in a challenging

21:08 ↗ environment. And whereas corrections

21:10 ↗ officers must possess the intuitive

21:12 ↗ sense to resolve conflict and support

21:14 ↗ restorative activities while housing

21:17 ↗ offenders in a humane environment, often

21:20 ↗ to the risk of their own well-being. And

21:22 ↗ whereas all are committed to a common

21:25 ↗ goal, the secure, safe, and humane

21:28 ↗ operation of our jail facility where

21:31 ↗ employees work to reduce future crime

21:33 ↗ and change an individ individual's

21:35 ↗ criminal behavior. Now therefore, Mayor

21:38 ↗ Paulie, mayor of the city of Isiqua,

21:40 ↗ does hereby proclaim the week of May 4th

21:42 ↗ through the 10th to be corrections

21:44 ↗ officers week in the city of Isiqua. And

21:47 ↗ we all invite the community to join us

21:49 ↗ in thanking the city's corrections

21:50 ↗ officers for their service and

21:52 ↗ outstanding contributions.

21:55 ↗ [Applause]

21:59 ↗ I appreciate your service in the jail,

22:01 ↗ but I'm serving 20 to life, so it's all

22:04 ↗ right.

22:06 ↗ Um, thank you, mayor, and thank you,

22:08 ↗ city council and, uh, community. Uh,

22:11 ↗ good evening. On behalf of the dedicated

22:12 ↗ men and women working in our

22:13 ↗ correctional facility, I'm honored and

22:15 ↗ humbled to accept this proclamation in

22:17 ↗ recognition of National Corrections

22:18 ↗ Officers Employees Week. This week

22:21 ↗ serves as an opportunity to pause and

22:22 ↗ recognize those who work behind the

22:24 ↗ scenes of public safety, often often

22:26 ↗ unnoticed. Correctional staff face

22:27 ↗ unique challenges daily, operating

22:29 ↗ environments, and demand vigilance,

22:31 ↗ professionalism, and compassion. Our

22:33 ↗ mission is simple but profound. To

22:35 ↗ protect the public by operating safe,

22:37 ↗ secure, humane correctional facilities

22:40 ↗ and to pro provide rehabilitation

22:42 ↗ opportunities that support successful

22:44 ↗ reintegration into society. It is a

22:46 ↗ mission we fulfill not just through uh

22:49 ↗ policy and procedure but through

22:50 ↗ character. It is our values that give

22:52 ↗ life to that mission and we strive um

22:55 ↗ for those values every day. We start

22:58 ↗ with service. We serve our communities

23:00 ↗ with humility and we serve those in our

23:02 ↗ custody with a commitment to fairness,

23:04 ↗ dignity, and opportunity for change. We

23:06 ↗ hold ourselves account uh to

23:08 ↗ accountability to one another, to those

23:10 ↗ we supervise, and to the public we

23:12 ↗ protect. In a field where integrity is

23:14 ↗ tested daily, we take ownership of our

23:16 ↗ actions, and uphold the highest

23:18 ↗ standards. This accountability is

23:20 ↗ essential in our line of work. We must

23:22 ↗ evaluate situations fairly, make

23:23 ↗ decisions without bias, and ensure that

23:25 ↗ our actions are guided by truth, not

23:27 ↗ emotion or assumption.

23:29 ↗ We show leadership not just through our

23:31 ↗ rank or title, but through example.

23:32 ↗ Every correctional employee, whether

23:34 ↗ doing a security check, leading a team,

23:36 ↗ providing healthcare, or teaching and

23:37 ↗ coaching or mentoring, has the power to

23:39 ↗ lead by doing what is right, even when

23:41 ↗ it's hard. We strive to do the job well,

23:43 ↗ to build trust through performance, and

23:45 ↗ improve ourselves and our systems every

23:47 ↗ day. And finally, we practice treating

23:50 ↗ every individual, no matter their past

23:51 ↗ or circumstance, by being firm and fair

23:54 ↗ with equal respect and dignity. This

23:56 ↗ proclamation is a sincere

23:57 ↗ acknowledgement that our communities see

23:59 ↗ us, value us, and support us. To the

24:02 ↗ leadership of the city of Isiziqua,

24:04 ↗ thank you for recognizing corrections

24:05 ↗ week and affirming your support for the

24:07 ↗ professionals in one of the most

24:08 ↗ challenging environments imaginable. And

24:10 ↗ to my fellow correctional professionals

24:12 ↗ at home or working tonight, thank you

24:14 ↗ for your commitment to the mission, your

24:16 ↗ embodiment of the salmon values, and

24:17 ↗ your tireless efforts to make our

24:18 ↗ facilities safer for uniform staff and

24:20 ↗ those we serve. Thank

24:23 ↗ you. Would you hold this while we get

24:25 ↗ the picture?

24:27 ↗ [Applause]

24:44 ↗ Thank you both for coming and thank you

24:45 ↗ council member

24:47 ↗ Joe. Next we are moving on to

24:50 ↗ ID1835 water safety month proclamation

24:53 ↗ and I'd like to invite aquatics

24:55 ↗ recreation supervisor Zack Listen to the

24:58 ↗ lectern and council member Hall. All

25:01 ↗ right, come on up Zach. Well um this

25:04 ↗ one's very special because we're both

25:05 ↗ Zachs and it's hard to find find other

25:07 ↗ Zachs and then also um grew up here in

25:09 ↗ Isiqua and learned to swim here at the

25:11 ↗ Julius Palm School myself. So this one's

25:13 ↗ very special. So whereas uh National

25:16 ↗ Water Safety Month is celebrated

25:18 ↗ annually through the efforts of several

25:20 ↗ key organizations including the American

25:22 ↗ Red Cross and the National Recreation

25:24 ↗ and Park Association. And whereas the

25:26 ↗ city of Isqua is committed to promoting

25:28 ↗ healthy lifestyles and providing

25:30 ↗ opportunities for community members,

25:31 ↗ community members to engage in safe and

25:33 ↗ enjoyable recreation activities while

25:36 ↗ actively working to create a more

25:37 ↗ diverse, equitable, and inclusive

25:39 ↗ community. And whereas swimming and

25:42 ↗ aquatic related activities play a vital

25:44 ↗ role in improving the physical and

25:46 ↗ mental health in enhancing the quality

25:47 ↗ of life for people's all ages,

25:50 ↗ abilities races ethnicities genders

25:52 ↗ sexual orientations, and social economic

25:55 ↗ background. And whereas the Julius Bone

25:58 ↗ Pool and aquatic programs offered by the

26:00 ↗ city of Isiqua provide a valuable

26:01 ↗ resource for our community. And whereas

26:04 ↗ the parks and community services

26:05 ↗ aquatics team support a variety of

26:07 ↗ programming, swim lessons, drop-in

26:09 ↗ activities, lap and public swim,

26:12 ↗ facility rentals, a lifeguard and CPR

26:14 ↗ classes, and other special activities.

26:16 ↗ And whereas the city's well-trained

26:18 ↗ staff who deliver these programs are

26:20 ↗ essential to the promotion of water

26:22 ↗ safety by providing aquatic activities

26:24 ↗ in a safe and responsible and inclusive

26:26 ↗ manner that respects the dignity and

26:29 ↗ worth of all individuals. So now

26:31 ↗ therefore, I, Zach Hall, on behalf of

26:33 ↗ Mary Lupali, the mayor of the city of

26:34 ↗ Isqua, do hereby proclaim the month of

26:37 ↗ May to be water safety month in the city

26:39 ↗ of Isqua. And we invite you all to join

26:41 ↗ us in thanking Isqua's aquatic staff for

26:43 ↗ their service and outstanding

26:45 ↗ contributions to this community. So

26:47 ↗ thanks, Zach, and everyone else who does

26:51 ↗ that. Would you like to say anything?

26:53 ↗ Sure.

26:54 ↗ I just want to say thank you on behalf

26:56 ↗ of the 60 plus hardworking lifeguards

26:58 ↗ and swim instructors at the pool who do

27:01 ↗ this work every day. Thank you so much

27:03 ↗ for the recognition. Thank you, Zach.

27:05 ↗ Thank you, Council Member Hall.

27:14 ↗ The next item on our agenda this evening

27:16 ↗ is ID 1837, Affordable Housing Week

27:19 ↗ Proclamation. I'd like to invite Sophie

27:21 ↗ Glass, government affairs, policy and

27:23 ↗ communications manager of a regional

27:25 ↗ coalition for housing, otherwise called

27:27 ↗ ARCH, to the lectern to join our council

27:30 ↗ president. Thank you. And this is an

27:33 ↗ area where we are very glad to have a

27:35 ↗ member of ARCH here. Um for those who

27:38 ↗ don't know, ARCH is um our regional

27:41 ↗ affordable housing group. And so it

27:43 ↗ provides us an opportunity to not just

27:46 ↗ fund projects in Isiqua but around the

27:48 ↗ region and kind of collaborate on the

27:50 ↗ east side. So whereas all people should

27:54 ↗ have access to safe, healthy and

27:56 ↗ affordable homes within communities that

27:59 ↗ provide opportunity. And whereas the US

28:02 ↗ Department of Housing and Urban

28:03 ↗ Development, HUD, defines affordable

28:06 ↗ housing as housing on which the occupant

28:09 ↗ is paying no more than 30% of gross

28:12 ↗ income for housing costs, including

28:14 ↗ utilities. And whereas the Department of

28:17 ↗ Commerce projects that by 2044, King

28:20 ↗ County needs nearly

28:22 ↗ 200,000 net new housing units for

28:24 ↗ households at or below 80% of area

28:28 ↗ median income. And whereas studies have

28:31 ↗ found that each $100 increase in median

28:34 ↗ rent results in a 15% increase in

28:37 ↗ homelessness in metro areas and a 39%

28:41 ↗ increase in homelessness in nearby

28:42 ↗ suburbs and rural areas. And whereas the

28:46 ↗ CDC recognizes safe, healthy, and

28:48 ↗ affordable housing within communities of

28:51 ↗ opportunity as key social determinants

28:53 ↗ of health. And whereas everyone benefits

28:56 ↗ from affordable housing, including the

28:57 ↗ people who reside in those properties,

28:59 ↗ their neighbors, businesses, employers,

29:02 ↗ and the community as a whole. And

29:03 ↗ whereas united to raise public

29:05 ↗ awareness people organizations and

29:08 ↗ communities throughout King County are

29:10 ↗ participating in local affordable

29:11 ↗ housing week activities to elevate the

29:13 ↗ critical need to create healthy

29:15 ↗ communities with ample affordable

29:17 ↗ housing. Now therefore, Mary Lou Paulie,

29:20 ↗ mayor of the city of Isiqua, does here

29:22 ↗ hereby proclaim May 12th to 16th to be

29:25 ↗ affordable housing week in the city of

29:26 ↗ Isiqua. The city of Isiqua endorses the

29:29 ↗ goals, objectives, and purposes of

29:31 ↗ affordable housing week and in doing so

29:33 ↗ recommits itself to ensuring that our

29:36 ↗ community thrives with opportunity and

29:38 ↗ that all people in it live with dignity

29:40 ↗ in safe, healthy, and affordable homes.

29:43 ↗ Would you like to make comments?

29:47 ↗ I think you said it really well. So,

29:49 ↗ I'll just add a few more remarks here.

29:51 ↗ So, I Isa joined ARCH in 1996 and has

29:55 ↗ been a very important member of the

29:56 ↗ coalition ever since uh together with uh

30:00 ↗ 15 King County cities and the county

30:03 ↗ itself. Isiqua works with its partners

30:06 ↗ to build more affordable housing faster.

30:09 ↗ So, this unique regional coalition has

30:11 ↗ pulled its resources and funded 11

30:13 ↗ affordable housing projects right here

30:15 ↗ in Isiqua. Some of them rentals, some of

30:17 ↗ them for home ownership. Um, in

30:20 ↗ addition, ARCH has helped Isiqua create

30:22 ↗ some really great local policies and

30:24 ↗ development agreements to further

30:26 ↗ affordable housing in your community.

30:28 ↗ And there's more progress underway. I

30:31 ↗ hear on your agenda later tonight,

30:32 ↗ there's going to be discussion about the

30:34 ↗ Trail Head Transit oriented development

30:35 ↗ project, which is very exciting. And

30:37 ↗ then uh Arch is wrapping up securing

30:40 ↗ some affordable home ownership

30:41 ↗ opportunities at Tippets Crossings. So

30:44 ↗ there's a lot of great work happening

30:45 ↗ here at Esqua, but we know that the

30:47 ↗ crisis we're in around affordable

30:48 ↗ housing is great. Uh Arch's mailing list

30:52 ↗ where people are express interest in

30:53 ↗ getting an affordable unit is 11,000

30:56 ↗ people and it grows by the day. Um and

30:59 ↗ here in Isiqua, one in four residents

31:01 ↗ are costbururdened. Um, so this

31:03 ↗ affordable crisis is regional and

31:05 ↗ demands a regional response and ARCH is

31:07 ↗ just really grateful to work with

31:08 ↗ Isiqua, your community, your developers,

31:11 ↗ your elected officials here uh, to

31:13 ↗ really kind of move the needle on

31:15 ↗ affordable housing in East King County.

31:17 ↗ And we're really grateful to be here

31:18 ↗ tonight. So, thank you. Thank you,

31:20 ↗ Sophie. Thank you, Council President.

31:31 ↗ So, in case you haven't been counting,

31:33 ↗ we have two more to go. We're at number

31:35 ↗ 12. Uh,

31:37 ↗ ID1838 is Police Week Proclamation. And

31:40 ↗ I'd like to invite police commander

31:42 ↗ Travis Nice, Officer Bertis and Warner,

31:46 ↗ and anyone else that is still here

31:48 ↗ because there are many people with us

31:50 ↗ tonight, come on up. And, uh, this one

31:53 ↗ is going to be presented by Council

31:54 ↗ Member Marks. Thank you, Madam Mayor.

31:57 ↗ Whereas in 1962, President Kennedy

32:00 ↗ proclaimed May 15th as National Peace

32:02 ↗ Officers Memorial Day and the calendar

32:04 ↗ week in which May 15th falls as National

32:06 ↗ Police Week. And whereas the members of

32:08 ↗ the law enforcement agency of the city

32:10 ↗ of Isiqua play an important role in

32:12 ↗ safeguarding the rights and freedoms of

32:14 ↗ our community members. And whereas it is

32:16 ↗ important for Isiqua residents to know

32:18 ↗ and understand the duties and

32:20 ↗ responsibilities of our police

32:21 ↗ department as well as the problems they

32:23 ↗ face in in the line of duty. And whereas

32:27 ↗ that all members of our police

32:28 ↗ department recognize their duty to serve

32:30 ↗ the people by safeguarding life and

32:32 ↗ property, protecting them against

32:34 ↗ violence or disorder, and protecting the

32:36 ↗ innocent against deception and the weak

32:38 ↗ against oppression or

32:40 ↗ intimidation. And whereas the Isiqua

32:42 ↗ Police Department has grown to be a

32:44 ↗ modern and scientific law enforcement

32:46 ↗ agency which unceasingly provides a

32:48 ↗ vital public service. Now therefore,

32:51 ↗ Mary Lu Paulie, mayor of the city of

32:53 ↗ Isiqua, does hereby proclaim the week of

32:55 ↗ May 11th to 18th to be police week in

32:58 ↗ the city of Isiqua and invites the

33:00 ↗ community to join us in thanking the

33:01 ↗ Isiqua Police Department for their

33:03 ↗ outstanding service and contributions to

33:05 ↗ the Isiqua community. In witness

33:07 ↗ whereof, she set her hand and seal of

33:09 ↗ the city of Isiqua this fifth day of

33:12 ↗ May,

33:13 ↗ 2025. Commander, do you wish to say a

33:16 ↗ couple words?

33:19 ↗ Uh thank you council members, madame

33:20 ↗ mayor. Um to piggyback a little bit on

33:22 ↗ what uh Commander Allard had said, um we

33:24 ↗ are all one big law enforcement

33:26 ↗ community, whether the corrections or

33:27 ↗ law enforcement. Um police week is for

33:29 ↗ honoring those officers who made the

33:31 ↗ ultimate sacrifice and to honor those

33:33 ↗ who serve our community each and every

33:35 ↗ day. our current 38 sworn officers and

33:37 ↗ our civilian staff are all of our

33:39 ↗ community uh are grateful for the

33:41 ↗ opportunity to serve the city of Isqua

33:43 ↗ and appreciate the council's recognition

33:44 ↗ of police week as we continue to provide

33:46 ↗ exceptional service to our community.

33:47 ↗ So, thank you very much for this

33:48 ↗ proposition. Thank you all. Um bigger

33:50 ↗ group as well, would you like to come

33:52 ↗ and do the picture in front of the DA

33:53 ↗ council members? Maybe that would be

33:54 ↗ fun. Get all the council in. Thank you

33:57 ↗ so

33:59 ↗ much. You want to go down up? Okay.

34:02 ↗ Down.

34:05 ↗ Okay.

34:06 ↗ So many of you

34:36 ↗ [Applause]

34:45 ↗ Oh,

34:48 ↗ and our last special business item this

34:50 ↗ week, but not the least, is

34:52 ↗ ID1840, travel and tourism week

34:55 ↗ proclamation. And I'd like to invite

34:56 ↗ executive director Christy Gerrard and

34:58 ↗ staff from V isqua to the

35:13 ↗ lectern. Whereas the travel industry

35:16 ↗ fuels every industry and will continue

35:18 ↗ continue to be an essential part of

35:20 ↗ Isiqua's economy, development, and

35:23 ↗ workforce. And whereas travel is an

35:26 ↗ economic powerhouse for every state and

35:28 ↗ destination across the country with an

35:31 ↗ economic output of 2.9

35:34 ↗ trillion supporting 15 million American

35:37 ↗ jobs. And whereas travel spending

35:39 ↗ supports vibrant and safe communities in

35:41 ↗ Isiqua and across the state by

35:44 ↗ generating 3.3 billion in state and

35:46 ↗ local tax revenue to support essential

35:49 ↗ services such as education, emergency

35:51 ↗ response, public safety and more. And

35:55 ↗ whereas travel enables success for all

35:57 ↗ industries including manufacturing,

36:00 ↗ agriculture, defense, healthcare and

36:02 ↗ more by driving sales growth,

36:04 ↗ innovation, education and operate

36:07 ↗ operations that move our economy, our

36:10 ↗ nation and Isiqua forward. And whereas

36:13 ↗ the travel industry cannot recover

36:15 ↗ without the full return of leisure,

36:17 ↗ business, and international inbound

36:19 ↗ travelers, increasing travel to and

36:21 ↗ within the United States drives America

36:24 ↗ forward to a more prosperous future. And

36:27 ↗ whereas the travel industry success will

36:29 ↗ grow Isiqua's economy and workforce.

36:31 ↗ Since prior to the pandemic, small

36:34 ↗ businesses have accounted for 60% of

36:36 ↗ leisure and hospitality employment. And

36:39 ↗ whereas travel is an essential industry

36:41 ↗ and we must continue to communicate that

36:43 ↗ growing travel leads to economic growth,

36:46 ↗ benefits businesses, and fosters mutual

36:49 ↗ understanding. Now, therefore, I, Mary

36:51 ↗ Lupali, mayor of the city of Isqua, do

36:53 ↗ hereby proclaim May 4th to 10th to be

36:56 ↗ travel and tourism week. And I'd like to

36:58 ↗ offer Christie a moment at the

37:01 ↗ mic. Thank you, Mayor Paulie, honorable

37:04 ↗ council members, city staff leadership,

37:06 ↗ and community members. Um uh on behalf

37:09 ↗ of our hospitality and visitor

37:12 ↗ experience small businesses, it's an

37:14 ↗ honor to be before you and accept this

37:16 ↗ proclamation on uh their behalf. I'm

37:19 ↗ very proud of this emerging uh part of

37:22 ↗ our um economic uh growth and uh just

37:26 ↗ thank you

37:27 ↗ again. Let's take a picture together.

37:32 ↗ [Applause]

37:53 ↗ Thus ends Proclamation Extravaganza for

37:57 ↗ the mayor and her seven

38:00 ↗ standins. Well done. This is the month

38:03 ↗ of May. This is what May is like. Very

38:06 ↗ grateful for all of those we got to

38:08 ↗ recognize today. We've come to that time

38:10 ↗ in our meeting which is audience

38:11 ↗ comments and members of the public may

38:13 ↗ address the council at this time in

38:15 ↗ person or virtually. Those who signed up

38:17 ↗ in advance to make comments will be

38:19 ↗ called on first. If you're joining us

38:21 ↗ virtually and would like to make

38:22 ↗ comments, please raise your virtual hand

38:24 ↗ or send the host a chat

38:26 ↗ message. If you're in the room and you

38:28 ↗ did not sign up, I will ask for other

38:30 ↗ speakers before closing this portion of

38:32 ↗ the meeting. City clerk, has anyone

38:34 ↗ signed up to speak for general audience

38:36 ↗ comments this evening? Yes. Thanks. So,

38:40 ↗ if you're making comments, you're

38:41 ↗ invited to address the council regarding

38:43 ↗ matters that are directly related to

38:45 ↗ Isiqua's programs, projects, services,

38:47 ↗ or events. Comments related to political

38:50 ↗ campaigns are not permitted. Please

38:53 ↗ direct comments to the whole council and

38:55 ↗ not individuals. And while it's not a

38:57 ↗ question and answer session, we will

38:58 ↗ contact you to follow up if needed. So

39:01 ↗ if you are online, when you are

39:02 ↗ recognized, please unmute your

39:04 ↗ microphone. If you're in the room,

39:06 ↗ please step up to the lectern in the

39:08 ↗ center of the room and press the button

39:10 ↗ to get the red light. State your name

39:12 ↗ and address or relationship to the city.

39:15 ↗ Speak clearly and pause frequently and

39:17 ↗ limit your comments to 5 minutes. If

39:19 ↗ you're attending virtually and you do

39:20 ↗ not respond after your name or phone

39:22 ↗ number is called or if you lose your

39:24 ↗ connection, the meeting will still need

39:26 ↗ to proceed and we encourage you to

39:28 ↗ rejoin. Personal attacks, obscene

39:30 ↗ language, derogatory remarks, and

39:31 ↗ disruptive behavior will not be

39:33 ↗ permitted. Public comments, written and

39:35 ↗ verbal, are an important aspect to the

39:37 ↗ public process. The city takes comments

39:39 ↗ seriously, and we thank all of you for

39:41 ↗ taking time to address us this evening.

39:43 ↗ City clerk, who's the first person who

39:45 ↗ signed up to speak this evening? Kaihan.

39:47 ↗ Kihung, come on

39:49 ↗ up. Thank you. Thank you, mayors, and

39:52 ↗ thank you, councelor Mes. I'm really

39:54 ↗ appreciate your time to speak to me. I

39:56 ↗ feel way better. I talked to police

39:58 ↗ commanders and then right after this

40:00 ↗ meeting, I going to police offices. So,

40:03 ↗ I talked to him directly. So this matter

40:05 ↗ is I I was here yesterday last week you

40:09 ↗ held a video meeting about emergency

40:12 ↗ emergency budget and some counelor said

40:15 ↗ looking for some volunteers. Some

40:17 ↗ counselor said maybe we raising taxes.

40:19 ↗ Some councelor says FEMA my background

40:22 ↗ is a business background. I developed

40:24 ↗ this style. I've been working with the

40:26 ↗ city numeral of times. I work with the

40:28 ↗ county. I work for the state. I work for

40:30 ↗ the federal government. if you need my

40:32 ↗ background, I will volunteer. So she got

40:35 ↗ my information. I'm willing to support

40:38 ↗ this community because I'm a resident

40:40 ↗ here over 10 years. I was in the local

40:42 ↗ rent and technical college. Isakua is

40:45 ↗ always high standard. If you need my

40:48 ↗ background, experiences I will volunteer

40:50 ↗ my time and energy to make system work

40:54 ↗ better. And then I look at the one more

40:55 ↗ time because you have a budget for the

40:57 ↗ the police officer cameras camera

41:00 ↗ extremely well. They ask for 35,000 and

41:03 ↗ she ask how many camera unit they don't

41:06 ↗ have answer but I know who pay for the

41:09 ↗ camera anytime is cost accounting what

41:12 ↗ driving cost that person is pay me or

41:16 ↗ the other guy I will swear if I break

41:19 ↗ the law I will give $2 million for this

41:22 ↗ community plus less time of my time in

41:25 ↗ jail and I talked to the police

41:27 ↗ commanders and I told him please charge

41:30 ↗ him if If you charge that person, that

41:33 ↗ person is using police as a personal

41:35 ↗ bodyguard. Isaka police never going to

41:38 ↗ be one person's personal guard. Police

41:40 ↗ officer is run by the public funding.

41:44 ↗ Public funding means everybody has a

41:46 ↗ equal opportunity to use the public not

41:49 ↗ my own private god. So I will very clear

41:52 ↗ who pay for the camera and I will make

41:55 ↗ sure he going to charge it. And I talked

41:57 ↗ to the prosecutors and then I told him I

42:00 ↗ look at the all the vide tape they have

42:02 ↗ a four different statement. One is a

42:04 ↗ police statement. Police said I touch

42:07 ↗ him so hard so he can open the window.

42:09 ↗ And the cost to manager said no physical

42:13 ↗ contact. One said I touching his hand.

42:16 ↗ The other said touch my arm. I'm a

42:18 ↗ snowboard instructor. I'm very aware

42:21 ↗ about I'm a martial art guy. I'm a

42:23 ↗ military guy. I'm a soldier to scholars.

42:26 ↗ I will never touch anybody. Anybody is

42:29 ↗ lying to the

42:30 ↗ police in written in America that crime

42:35 ↗ whoever crime subjects to justice. So I

42:39 ↗ thank you for the counselors and thanks

42:41 ↗ for the meeting and I'm going to the

42:43 ↗ police department and tomorrow I have a

42:45 ↗ meeting. I going to do same thing.

42:47 ↗ Police of prosecutors please do not

42:51 ↗ intimidated or insulting old Asian men

42:55 ↗ because the police prosecutor say that

42:57 ↗ I'll pay $150 fine plus 10 hours anger

43:02 ↗ management and then some volunteer time

43:05 ↗ not the money anger management anybody

43:08 ↗ raised by if you got a handicap in the

43:10 ↗ public place 15 minute without your fall

43:12 ↗ and then you got criminal charging

43:15 ↗ anybody smiling Oh, everybody angry. No,

43:18 ↗ I'm innocent. I'm

43:20 ↗ innocent. Am I anger management problem?

43:23 ↗ No, I'm raising Turkey very nicely. My

43:25 ↗ background is very clear. I went to the

43:27 ↗ Rent Technical College. I went to City

43:29 ↗ University. I worked with the University

43:30 ↗ of Washington. I built up this this

43:33 ↗ property. I'm angry because system apply

43:38 ↗ inequally. First time I talked to the

43:40 ↗ police department many times, charge

43:42 ↗ him, charge him. They never listen to

43:44 ↗ me. And I come here, I talk to the mayor

43:46 ↗ and then oh is this different district.

43:48 ↗ I told the council where no is I can't

43:51 ↗ do finally somebody hear my voices. So

43:55 ↗ I'm going to the police department.

43:57 ↗ Thank you very much. Tomorrow I going to

44:00 ↗ trial tell same things. If a prosecutor

44:04 ↗ has evidence put me in jail I'll pay $2

44:07 ↗ million deposit. I'm clear. I'm swear of

44:10 ↗ God. Bible says so. Do not lying to the

44:14 ↗ judges. Do not lie to the public. Lying

44:16 ↗ is big problem. Emergency has a modern

44:19 ↗ nature and the human factors. Human

44:22 ↗ factor is big problem. Mother nature,

44:25 ↗ storming flowing winding electric

44:27 ↗ structure. Emergency come from not one

44:30 ↗ direction, all different complete

44:32 ↗ direction. I know I've been in business

44:34 ↗ 20 years. I built this this part. So if

44:38 ↗ you need my background or I am a counter

44:42 ↗ I'm happy to support the city and then

44:45 ↗ my time is out. Thank you very much and

44:47 ↗ thank you. Thank you city clerk. Is

44:49 ↗ there anyone else desiring to speak this

44:51 ↗ evening?

44:55 ↗ We do have a few members of the public

44:56 ↗ with us

44:58 ↗ virtually but I'm not seeing that any of

45:00 ↗ them are wishing to speak at this time.

45:03 ↗ Would anyone joining here us in chambers

45:05 ↗ today like to speak?

45:08 ↗ Not seeing any

45:09 ↗ indication. Well, I want to uh thank um

45:13 ↗ our commentator tonight talking about

45:15 ↗ council conversations, volunteering

45:17 ↗ operations, and police court

45:20 ↗ operations. Um and just want everybody

45:22 ↗ to know that you can always submit your

45:25 ↗ comments uh written comments at any time

45:27 ↗ to your city council by using the city

45:29 ↗ council is.gov email address. We're

45:33 ↗ going to move on to the consent

45:34 ↗ calendar. I do not have any remarks on

45:37 ↗ the consent calendar, but I'd like to

45:38 ↗ know if any of the committee chairs

45:40 ↗ would like to report on any of the

45:42 ↗ calendar

45:43 ↗ items. I am not seeing an indication.

45:45 ↗ So, the consent calendar was distributed

45:48 ↗ to council in advance and if authorized,

45:50 ↗ the items on the consent calendar will

45:51 ↗ be considered together and approved by

45:53 ↗ one motion. Have the payables and

45:55 ↗ payrolls been reviewed? They have. They

45:57 ↗ have. Thank you. Does any council member

46:00 ↗ desire to remove any item from the

46:01 ↗ consent calendar and consider it under

46:03 ↗ regular business?

46:04 ↗ I'm not seeing an indication. Is there a

46:07 ↗ motion? Council President, I move we

46:10 ↗ approve the consent calendar as

46:12 ↗ distributed.

46:14 ↗ Second. Thank you. It's been moved and

46:16 ↗ seconded. All uh all those in favor

46:18 ↗ signify by saying I. I. I. Those

46:22 ↗ opposed. That carries seven and0

46:24 ↗ unanimously. We're going to move into

46:26 ↗ our regular business. Uh this evening we

46:29 ↗ will be having a couple

46:31 ↗ offormational

46:32 ↗ presentations and u one action item. The

46:36 ↗ first item is

46:37 ↗ ID1878 transitorient development

46:40 ↗ opportunity center housing cooperation

46:42 ↗ agreement. Andrea, that's a mouthful. Uh

46:44 ↗ the council will be asked to make a

46:46 ↗ recommendation this evening. Um before

46:48 ↗ inviting the presentate presenters up,

46:50 ↗ I'd like to clarify that this item and

46:52 ↗ the next agenda item, social and

46:54 ↗ community connection initiatives are not

46:57 ↗ before the city council for action

46:59 ↗ tonight. Instead, feedback is requested

47:02 ↗ on a few policy questions and normally

47:04 ↗ we would take these agenda items to a

47:06 ↗ committee of the whole meeting for

47:08 ↗ feedback. However, due to the timing,

47:10 ↗ your input is requested at tonight's

47:12 ↗ regular council meeting instead. Uh,

47:15 ↗ Deputy City Administrator Andrea Snyder

47:17 ↗ is going to introduce the item. Welcome,

47:19 ↗ Andrea. Thank you so much, Mayor. Good

47:22 ↗ evening, council. I'm Andrea Snyder,

47:24 ↗ deputy city administrator. With me is

47:27 ↗ Dan Landis from the King County Housing

47:28 ↗ Authority. He'll be presenting on the

47:31 ↗ project in a little bit. Um, also, I'd

47:33 ↗ like to thank the staff who are on the

47:35 ↗ line with us, who have made themselves

47:36 ↗ available this evening to answer

47:38 ↗ questions. Um we have a number of

47:40 ↗ planning staff including our um

47:42 ↗ community planning and development

47:43 ↗ director Mini Dollywal as well with us.

47:45 ↗ So thank you for having us. Uh tonight

47:49 ↗ we have we want to talk to you about the

47:51 ↗ housing cooperative

47:53 ↗ agreement. Let me there we go. Uh the

47:57 ↗ purpose, as the mayor said, is to

47:59 ↗ introduce to you what this concept is,

48:01 ↗ the housing cooperative agreement and

48:03 ↗ receive any feedback that council may

48:06 ↗ have on this agreement or any changes

48:07 ↗ that you'd like to make. We're not

48:09 ↗ asking for adoption at this time. Um

48:12 ↗ pending council's feedback, we would be

48:15 ↗ asking for adoption at a subsequent city

48:17 ↗ council meeting in June.

48:21 ↗ So, a housing cooperation agreement is

48:24 ↗ something that is enabled by its own

48:26 ↗ RCW, the housing cooperation law, and it

48:31 ↗ serves as an agreement between a local a

48:33 ↗ local government and a housing um

48:37 ↗ authority. So, it's very limited and

48:40 ↗ tailored into who can enter into this

48:42 ↗ agreement. In that way, it's unlike a

48:44 ↗ development agreement um that has its

48:46 ↗ own enabling legislation. And this can

48:48 ↗ only occur between a city like ours and

48:52 ↗ um a housing authority. So it's very

48:54 ↗ tailored in that way. It must be

48:56 ↗ approved by the governing bodies of the

48:58 ↗ local jurisdiction and the housing

48:59 ↗ authority. Um and KCHA has recently

49:02 ↗ entered into something similar housing

49:04 ↗ cooperative agreement with the city of

49:05 ↗ Black Diamond.

49:09 ↗ So again, the direction needed for you

49:11 ↗ tonight is does the council agree with

49:13 ↗ the administration's recommendation to

49:15 ↗ approve the HCA and are there any

49:17 ↗ changes that council would like to make

49:20 ↗ to this draft of the HCA? And Dan is

49:24 ↗ going to go over a lot more in terms of

49:26 ↗ a little bit of history of the project,

49:28 ↗ the specific aspects of the HCA that

49:31 ↗ we're bringing for you tonight, and um

49:34 ↗ happy to answer any other questions that

49:35 ↗ you have.

49:43 ↗ Good evening, mayor and members of

49:45 ↗ council. I'm Dan Landis, vice president

49:48 ↗ of development for King County Housing

49:50 ↗ Authority. It's good to come back to you

49:52 ↗ and report on our transit oriented

49:54 ↗ development collaboration and to seek

49:57 ↗ your further assistance on this project

49:59 ↗ in the form of a housing cooperation

50:01 ↗ agreement and hopefully provide you with

50:03 ↗ a tangible way of celebrating affordable

50:05 ↗ housing

50:07 ↗ week. Before diving into this proposed

50:12 ↗ agreement, I wanted to give you a a

50:15 ↗ quick overview of the history of this

50:17 ↗ project. We started working on this when

50:20 ↗ we submitted a proposal to the city of

50:21 ↗ Isiqua in

50:23 ↗ 2016. Just for reference, Barack Obama

50:26 ↗ was president in 2016 and Fred Butler

50:29 ↗ was the mayor of

50:30 ↗ Isiqua. Uh the song Closer by the Chain

50:33 ↗ Smokers was at the top of the charts.

50:36 ↗ Remember that? Cuz I

50:38 ↗ don't. Anyway, KCHA partnered with

50:41 ↗ Spectrum Development Solutions to submit

50:43 ↗ a proposal that featured all of the

50:45 ↗ things that you can see on the slide and

50:48 ↗ including 124 units of affordable

50:50 ↗ housing which increased to 155 units

50:53 ↗ subsequent to that and 200 units of

50:56 ↗ market rate

50:59 ↗ housing. The site for the TOD project

51:02 ↗ was at that time owned by Century Link,

51:04 ↗ now called Lumen. and we assumed the

51:07 ↗ acquisition cost would be $3

51:10 ↗ million. Through many years of difficult

51:13 ↗ negotiations and twists and turns and

51:16 ↗ the loss of our market rate partner, we

51:19 ↗ finally were able to acquire the site in

51:21 ↗ 2022, but at a cost over five times

51:24 ↗ higher than what we had originally

51:31 ↗ hoped. Many other things have changed

51:34 ↗ since 2016. including construction costs

51:38 ↗ increasing by 86%, higher borrowing

51:41 ↗ rates on the bond market, and lower tax

51:43 ↗ credit

51:45 ↗ pricing. The development capacity of the

51:48 ↗ site has also

51:54 ↗ changed. What

51:57 ↗ um this slide shows what we originally

52:00 ↗ thought we were buying, which was the

52:02 ↗ site as described in the deed's legal

52:05 ↗ description and also how the site was

52:07 ↗ developed. However, in this process, we

52:11 ↗ learned that a short plat had been

52:12 ↗ recorded in 1980 that used a different

52:14 ↗ legal

52:16 ↗ description. This slide shows you the

52:18 ↗ difference.

52:22 ↗ To avoid a protracted title dispute and

52:25 ↗ facilitate a faster sale, Lumen quick

52:28 ↗ claimed the eastern 30 feet of the

52:31 ↗ parcel to the neighboring property

52:33 ↗ owner, which shifted the site boundaries

52:36 ↗ 30 ft to the west, replacing what had

52:39 ↗ been developable land with a wetland.

52:45 ↗ The 2023 land use code amendments that

52:49 ↗ were passed by the city also impacted

52:51 ↗ the development capacity of the site.

52:53 ↗ This image shows the allowable wetland

52:56 ↗ buffer and setback before the

53:02 ↗ change. This shows the wetland buffer

53:05 ↗ now required after the code amendments

53:07 ↗ with the difference highlighted in the

53:09 ↗ bright red. The combined impact of the

53:11 ↗ changes to the legal description and the

53:14 ↗ increased wetland buffer dropped the

53:16 ↗ maximum development width from 228 ft to

53:20 ↗ 178 ft. So a 28%

53:25 ↗ reduction. There were also some

53:27 ↗ additional impacts of the Isiqua code

53:30 ↗ amendments which I want to quickly go

53:31 ↗ over. Um, one of them was the code, the

53:35 ↗ new code eliminated discretion in

53:37 ↗ addressing the required stepback above

53:41 ↗ the fifth floor. Our construction team

53:44 ↗ estimates that the cost, the added

53:45 ↗ structural costs of doing a step back in

53:48 ↗ the middle of the woodframe construction

53:50 ↗ would cost $1.2 million, and we would

53:53 ↗ lose six units total and have to replace

53:56 ↗ 12 three-bedroom family-sized apartments

53:58 ↗ with smaller units above the stepback.

54:05 ↗ The ability to mix and match private and

54:08 ↗ community amenity spaces was also

54:09 ↗ eliminated by the code changes which

54:12 ↗ require that 48 square ft of private

54:15 ↗ outdoor space per unit would be

54:18 ↗ provided. And having to do all of that

54:22 ↗ all of that private amenity space would

54:24 ↗ add cost as uh adding balconies is

54:26 ↗ really the only affordable way of doing

54:28 ↗ that. But even that adds

54:31 ↗ costs. So the where are we now? The

54:34 ↗ current prop to

54:38 ↗ development with the help of the

54:40 ↗ waiverss that have been identified in

54:42 ↗ the housing cooperation agreement. This

54:44 ↗ is what we can do. 154 units of

54:47 ↗ low-income housing tax credit housing.

54:49 ↗ Again, 40 and and are still 40 and 60%

54:52 ↗ of area median income. Approximately 200

54:55 ↗ market rate housing units. We have not

54:58 ↗ yet in identified the developer for

55:01 ↗ that, but we'll be doing so soon. uh

55:05 ↗ 3,600 ft² to provide housing for six

55:08 ↗ individuals with developmental

55:10 ↗ disabilities that will be owned by LEO

55:14 ↗ and a 10,000 foot opportunity center

55:17 ↗ that will be owned by the city of Isiqua

55:20 ↗ and uh continuing to have a public plaza

55:23 ↗ and a midblock

55:26 ↗ crossing. This is the timeline that

55:29 ↗ we're on right now. So you can see we

55:31 ↗ acquired in 2022. Uh we began our design

55:35 ↗ in July of 2024. The cell tower finally

55:39 ↗ was removed from the site in February

55:41 ↗ this year. Uh we submitted our site

55:44 ↗ development permit application shortly

55:47 ↗ thereafter. We'll be we anticipate

55:50 ↗ submitting our building permit

55:51 ↗ application in August and starting

55:53 ↗ construction in June of 2026 and

55:56 ↗ finishing up in in June of 2028.

56:01 ↗ So now we would like to go into the

56:04 ↗ details of what we're asking in the

56:06 ↗ housing cooperation agreement. And for

56:08 ↗ this I'm going to invite uh our

56:11 ↗ architect Maggie Carson from Weber

56:13 ↗ Thompson to to lead this discussion.

56:16 ↗ So Maggie.

56:19 ↗ Sure. Thanks Dan and thanks everybody

56:22 ↗ for meeting tonight to talk through

56:24 ↗ this. Um next

56:27 ↗ slide. Below are the five requests under

56:30 ↗ consideration as part of the housing

56:32 ↗ cooperation agreement. Some apply

56:34 ↗ strictly to the affordable building

56:36 ↗ while others apply to both buildings. We

56:38 ↗ want to walk through each of them so

56:40 ↗ that it's clear what we're asking for

56:42 ↗ and what the benefit is. I should also

56:44 ↗ add that none of the requests decrease

56:46 ↗ or adjust the wetland buffers. And it's

56:48 ↗ partly because we are respecting the new

56:50 ↗ wetland requirements that the requests

56:52 ↗ of the HCA uh HCA are so important. Next

56:56 ↗ slide.

56:58 ↗ To kick us off, the code requires

57:00 ↗ buildings over five stories tall to step

57:02 ↗ back at least 5 feet above the fifth

57:05 ↗ floor. We are requesting that the

57:07 ↗ affordable building not need to comply

57:09 ↗ with this because of cost,

57:11 ↗ constructability, quantity, and quality

57:13 ↗ impacts. The market rate building will

57:15 ↗ incur the same challenges, but would and

57:18 ↗ would benefit from a deviation on this

57:19 ↗ as well. But tonight's proposal is just

57:22 ↗ for the affordable building where the

57:23 ↗ exemption is really imperative for

57:25 ↗ maintaining project viability. Next

57:29 ↗ slide. The diagram at the top shows

57:32 ↗ building code required construction

57:34 ↗ types with three levels of concrete and

57:36 ↗ steel construction at the base of the

57:38 ↗ building and five levels of wood

57:40 ↗ construction above. Isqua stepback code

57:43 ↗ requires a step back to occur within the

57:45 ↗ wood structure of the building which

57:47 ↗ creates a problem. Wood construction

57:50 ↗ relies on stacking walls to support the

57:52 ↗ building. When you change the perimeter

57:54 ↗ and interior of the building within the

57:56 ↗ wood structure, these changes need to be

57:59 ↗ accommodated by additional beams and

58:01 ↗ transitions, all of which add cost to

58:03 ↗ the building. The diagram at the bottom

58:06 ↗ shows a segment of a typical affordable

58:08 ↗ housing plan. The apartments are

58:10 ↗ designed to be efficient and compact.

58:12 ↗ That red stripe along the side shows

58:15 ↗ what you lose with the 5-ft step back.

58:17 ↗ The loss of space renders the apartments

58:20 ↗ unusable. To handle this, the building

58:22 ↗ either needs to oversize apartments

58:24 ↗ below, which adds superolous space and

58:27 ↗ cost, or dramatically reconfigure the

58:30 ↗ upper floors with less units, which

58:32 ↗ worsen structural plumbing and other

58:34 ↗ systematic challenges, which rely on

58:37 ↗ stacking to be cost-effective. Next

58:41 ↗ slide. These are wall sections

58:43 ↗ illustrating the stepback condition. On

58:45 ↗ the left is the code required stepback.

58:48 ↗ In that section, the building is eight

58:50 ↗ stories tall and the bulk of the massing

58:52 ↗ looms a full five stories above the

58:54 ↗ sidewalk. The right two sections

58:56 ↗ illustrate proposed condition for the

58:58 ↗ affordable building. In many locations,

59:01 ↗ the building still provides a 5-ft step

59:03 ↗ back, but does so at the trans

59:05 ↗ transition between concrete and wood

59:08 ↗ construction, which alleviates the

59:10 ↗ structural complications. Providing the

59:12 ↗ step back lower on the building also

59:15 ↗ brings the bulk of the massing down to

59:16 ↗ pedestrian scale and increases solar

59:19 ↗ access improving the pedestrian

59:21 ↗ experience. In limited locations

59:24 ↗ primarily on the south facade the

59:26 ↗ affordable building is co-planer without

59:28 ↗ a step back and that's what you see in

59:30 ↗ that far right section. This condition

59:33 ↗ has an express datam that enhances the

59:35 ↗ appearance. When located on the south

59:37 ↗ facade, the co-planer relationship does

59:40 ↗ not block additional sunlight since it's

59:42 ↗ coming from a different angle. Next

59:45 ↗ slide. And finally, here are renderings

59:48 ↗ showing the visual impact of the step

59:50 ↗ back. The left images illustrate a code

59:53 ↗ compliant design while the right shows

59:56 ↗ our current proposed design. And I'll

59:58 ↗ point out that the proposed design

1:00:00 ↗ includes an express datam at the top

1:00:02 ↗ floor. And while there's not a step back

1:00:04 ↗ in that location, it does help to

1:00:06 ↗ fulfill the visual intent of the code.

1:00:09 ↗ Next

1:00:11 ↗ slide. I want to talk about the second

1:00:13 ↗ and third requests of the HCA together

1:00:16 ↗ because they're they're very closely

1:00:18 ↗ related. Um, code requires parking be

1:00:21 ↗ separated from certain public spaces

1:00:24 ↗ like streetscapes by 20 ft of

1:00:26 ↗ residential or commercial use. On this

1:00:29 ↗ project, all four sides of both

1:00:31 ↗ buildings front public areas with this

1:00:33 ↗ requirement. The f the facades of at

1:00:36 ↗ Maple and Newport Way, the new core

1:00:38 ↗ street, the required throughblock

1:00:40 ↗ passage, or the public plaza. As such,

1:00:43 ↗ the code requires parking to be

1:00:45 ↗ separated from the building frontage on

1:00:47 ↗ all four sides. We are requesting a

1:00:50 ↗ portion of the facades be excused from

1:00:52 ↗ this

1:00:53 ↗ requirement. Next slide.

1:00:56 ↗ On a related note, Isiqua's code

1:00:59 ↗ requires 40% transparency on the same

1:01:01 ↗ types of frontages, which again in this

1:01:04 ↗ development applies to all the sides of

1:01:06 ↗ both buildings. To meet the code, the

1:01:08 ↗ buildings would need to provide

1:01:10 ↗ transparency into trash rooms, loading

1:01:12 ↗ areas, and similar utilities or bury

1:01:15 ↗ those spaces within the center of the

1:01:17 ↗ building. We are requesting some

1:01:19 ↗ frontages be excused from the 40%

1:01:21 ↗ transparency requirement. Next slide.

1:01:26 ↗ Below is the first floor plan of the

1:01:29 ↗ affordable building. In any building,

1:01:31 ↗ some uses just require vehicular access.

1:01:34 ↗ For example, you must have a way for

1:01:35 ↗ cars to enter your parking garage. There

1:01:38 ↗ must be a way for trash to be picked up.

1:01:40 ↗ There must be clear and easy access to

1:01:42 ↗ your transformer vault. Also, it's

1:01:44 ↗ critical to provide an interior

1:01:46 ↗ circulation loop for cars to connect to

1:01:48 ↗ upper levels of parking. You can see in

1:01:51 ↗ the plan below that even with one side

1:01:53 ↗ of that circulation loop dedicated

1:01:55 ↗ exclusively to compact stalls, the

1:01:58 ↗ parking can't be separated from

1:01:59 ↗ frontages by 20 ft of other uses on all

1:02:02 ↗ sides. In the proposed design, we've

1:02:05 ↗ prioritized more engaging uses for

1:02:07 ↗ places with heavy pedestrian activity

1:02:10 ↗ and tucked the less exciting, albeit

1:02:12 ↗ necessary, uses to isolated places.

1:02:15 ↗ Maple Street, which is to the left, is a

1:02:18 ↗ wellestablished street within Isukqua,

1:02:19 ↗ and the proposed design responds by

1:02:21 ↗ fronting it with the main lobby and

1:02:23 ↗ opportunity center. The west frontage

1:02:26 ↗ along the bottom of the screen fronts

1:02:28 ↗ the new throughblock connection. This

1:02:30 ↗ passage links pedestrians and cyclists

1:02:33 ↗ from Maple to the crosswalk at Tibbitz

1:02:35 ↗ Park and is likely to be highly used.

1:02:37 ↗ The proposed design lines this with

1:02:40 ↗ residential uses, apartments, and

1:02:42 ↗ amenity spaces. The amenity space at the

1:02:45 ↗ southwest corner wraps onto the south

1:02:47 ↗ facade where it can engage the communal

1:02:49 ↗ plaza. That's the right side of the

1:02:51 ↗ screen. We have focused the necessary

1:02:53 ↗ utility features in the southeast corner

1:02:55 ↗ of the building away from the main

1:02:57 ↗ entries and primary pedestrian activity.

1:03:00 ↗ The design plans for landscaping and art

1:03:02 ↗ against the waste and loading rooms to

1:03:03 ↗ enhance the plaza. We are asking for

1:03:06 ↗ leniency with transparency on the south

1:03:08 ↗ and east

1:03:09 ↗ facads. Next slide.

1:03:13 ↗ The market rate building encounters the

1:03:15 ↗ same challenges and handles them with

1:03:17 ↗ the same strategy. The market rate

1:03:19 ↗ program does not include the large

1:03:20 ↗ opportunity center, which creates a more

1:03:23 ↗ efficient parking layout, which is good

1:03:25 ↗ because more parking is required for

1:03:27 ↗ this building. The increase in parking

1:03:29 ↗ results in more frontage for parking

1:03:31 ↗ along the new core street, but we are

1:03:33 ↗ able to provide transparency into the

1:03:35 ↗ parking with decorative screens that add

1:03:37 ↗ to the streetscape. Again, residential

1:03:40 ↗ and active uses are prioritized along

1:03:42 ↗ the established street frontage, in this

1:03:45 ↗ case, Newport Way, which is on the

1:03:47 ↗ right, along the throughblock passage

1:03:49 ↗ connecting to Tippets Park at the

1:03:50 ↗ bottom, and fronting the plaza, which is

1:03:53 ↗ to the left. Here we are asking for

1:03:55 ↗ leniency with the transparency on the

1:03:57 ↗ north and east

1:03:58 ↗ facads. Next

1:04:01 ↗ slide. The fourth request in the HCA

1:04:04 ↗ revolves around types of residential

1:04:06 ↗ amenity space. Isqua's code requires 100

1:04:09 ↗ square feet of shared outdoor amenity

1:04:11 ↗ space for each apartment and also 48

1:04:15 ↗ square feet of private outdoor amenity

1:04:17 ↗ space for each apartment. It's the

1:04:19 ↗ private privatization, not the amount of

1:04:22 ↗ area that creates the challenge.

1:04:25 ↗ Essentially, the code requires every

1:04:26 ↗ apartment to have a balcony or deck.

1:04:29 ↗ Providing a deck on every apartment is

1:04:31 ↗ way beyond market demand, even for

1:04:33 ↗ high-end apartments, and they also come

1:04:35 ↗ at a cost premium. We are requesting

1:04:38 ↗ that the affordable building be allowed

1:04:39 ↗ to provide outdoor amenity space at a

1:04:42 ↗ rate of 148 square ft per apartment with

1:04:45 ↗ the flexibility for that to either be

1:04:47 ↗ private or common area or a mix of both

1:04:50 ↗ to avoid the costs and wall penetrations

1:04:52 ↗ required for installing decks at every

1:04:55 ↗ apartment. Next slide.

1:04:59 ↗ These diagrams and calculations on the

1:05:01 ↗ screen um are for our proposed design

1:05:04 ↗ show that uh there is more than enough

1:05:07 ↗ area at grade and in the uh at grade and

1:05:10 ↗ in the fourth floor courtyards to meet

1:05:13 ↗ 148 square ft per apartment. These

1:05:15 ↗ spaces are designed to foster community

1:05:17 ↗ within each building and also

1:05:19 ↗ collectively on site. They meet the

1:05:21 ↗ requirements for shared amenity spaces

1:05:23 ↗ and create an enjoyable gathering space

1:05:25 ↗ for residents. Oftentimes in affordable

1:05:28 ↗ buildings, because apartments larger

1:05:30 ↗ families, private decks are used for

1:05:32 ↗ storage for things like trikes and

1:05:34 ↗ sports gear and beach chairs rather than

1:05:37 ↗ enjoyed as an amenity. Next

1:05:41 ↗ slide. Our last request um is code

1:05:45 ↗ requires that the project be certified

1:05:47 ↗ lead platinum. The affordable building

1:05:50 ↗ will also be required to meet ESDS just

1:05:52 ↗ to receive funding. ESDs or evergreen

1:05:56 ↗ sustainable development standards was

1:05:58 ↗ created by Washington state to ensure

1:06:01 ↗ all publicly funded housing is

1:06:03 ↗ sustainable. It is based on the

1:06:05 ↗ nationally recognized green community

1:06:07 ↗ standards with modifications to reflect

1:06:10 ↗ Washington state sustainability

1:06:11 ↗ priorities and building codes. ESDs

1:06:14 ↗ contains criteria that safeguard health

1:06:17 ↗ and safety, increase durability, promote

1:06:19 ↗ sustainable living, preserve the

1:06:21 ↗ environment, and increase energy and

1:06:24 ↗ water efficiency. Requiring the

1:06:26 ↗ affordable building to be certified

1:06:28 ↗ under both programs adds cost without

1:06:30 ↗ adding value. We are requesting the

1:06:33 ↗ affordable building be allowed to

1:06:34 ↗ substitute ESDs in place of lead

1:06:38 ↗ platinum. Uh, next slide.

1:06:42 ↗ And and that concludes my walkthrough of

1:06:44 ↗ the items we're asking for. Thank you

1:06:46 ↗ again for your time and thoughtful

1:06:48 ↗ consideration on these requests. Uh

1:06:50 ↗ we're really excited about this project

1:06:52 ↗ and what it has to offer and all that it

1:06:53 ↗ can be. And with that, I'm going to pass

1:06:55 ↗ it back to Andrea to talk through next

1:06:57 ↗ steps. Thank you very much.

1:07:04 ↗ I'd also like to provide the note that

1:07:06 ↗ the administration has worked hard with

1:07:08 ↗ KCHA on bringing forward these requests.

1:07:11 ↗ There's been a lot of negotiations of

1:07:14 ↗ some of the things that we've been uh

1:07:16 ↗ talking through this evening and um we

1:07:19 ↗ really wanted to prioritize

1:07:21 ↗ uh waving of requirements in support of

1:07:24 ↗ the affordable housing building

1:07:25 ↗ especially and um also trying to be

1:07:28 ↗ flexible as we have new standards now

1:07:31 ↗ and some of this uh this project is

1:07:34 ↗ pointing out that um some of these

1:07:36 ↗ standards are hard are hard to make

1:07:38 ↗ happen. uh when we talk about

1:07:39 ↗ transparency requirement and certain

1:07:41 ↗ site situations. So um we've really

1:07:45 ↗ looked at all of these requests and have

1:07:47 ↗ negotiated um on a number of these

1:07:49 ↗ points and so happy to answer any

1:07:52 ↗ questions that you have. Um

1:07:58 ↗ um did you want to walk through the next

1:08:00 ↗ steps and then go to questions? I

1:08:02 ↗ certainly can if you prefer me to do

1:08:03 ↗ that. I think it's fine. I think we do.

1:08:05 ↗ Do you want that the next steps first?

1:08:07 ↗ Okay, go ahead. Great. Okay. So, um, one

1:08:10 ↗ of the reasons for the timing of this

1:08:12 ↗ request for the HCA is because it's tied

1:08:14 ↗ to the site development permit. So, they

1:08:17 ↗ have applied for their site development

1:08:18 ↗ permit before they're able to be issued

1:08:21 ↗ that permit. Um, the staff need to

1:08:24 ↗ understand where council sits on a

1:08:26 ↗ number of these items. So, um, before

1:08:28 ↗ that they can apply for their building

1:08:30 ↗ permit, we need to settle these items.

1:08:32 ↗ Are some of these requirements waved or

1:08:34 ↗ some of them not? What does that look

1:08:35 ↗ like? So that's one of the key points in

1:08:38 ↗ timing of the HCA with what you see on

1:08:40 ↗ the timeline tonight for the site

1:08:41 ↗ development permit.

1:08:43 ↗ Um in uh so this is a little incorrectly

1:08:48 ↗ labeled. We're here for you tonight not

1:08:50 ↗ for a decision on the HCA but rather

1:08:52 ↗ your feedback and guidance. We would be

1:08:54 ↗ coming back in June um for any potential

1:08:57 ↗ adoption

1:08:59 ↗ um pending your comments tonight. Then

1:09:02 ↗ uh looking at the site development

1:09:04 ↗ permit issuance um hopefully in October

1:09:07 ↗ of this year. Building permit still

1:09:09 ↗ would be happening in

1:09:11 ↗ August. Um and then construction would

1:09:15 ↗ be occurring June of 2026 and with the

1:09:19 ↗ opportunity center up and operational

1:09:22 ↗ hopefully in 2028.

1:09:27 ↗ So again, uh the policy questions before

1:09:30 ↗ you this evening are um are there

1:09:33 ↗ changes that you would like to make to

1:09:34 ↗ the HCA? Um and do you agree with the

1:09:38 ↗ council recommendation to approve the

1:09:40 ↗ HCA?

1:09:42 ↗ And And Andrea, if I could get you to

1:09:44 ↗ just add a little bit more information,

1:09:46 ↗ a conversation that I had with you and

1:09:48 ↗ staff about um the lessons that we are

1:09:52 ↗ learning from these negotiations and how

1:09:55 ↗ having a project partner test drive our

1:09:57 ↗ code has been very

1:10:01 ↗ helpful. Yes. Yes. I think one of the

1:10:04 ↗ examples and I don't know that I know

1:10:06 ↗ the the all the diagrams here to flip

1:10:08 ↗ back to the most helpful one. Um this

1:10:11 ↗ one will do I think um is looking at the

1:10:14 ↗ transparency requirement I think is a

1:10:16 ↗ great example. So when we think about

1:10:18 ↗ redevelopment in the central Isiqua area

1:10:20 ↗ a lot of that redevelopment is going to

1:10:22 ↗ happen on a maybe a larger scale that

1:10:25 ↗ might take up a whole block. And so when

1:10:28 ↗ you have a building that has fronts on

1:10:30 ↗ three sides and then the other side is a

1:10:33 ↗ wetland basically um but also a a main

1:10:37 ↗ um passageway uh for pedestrian traffic.

1:10:40 ↗ Uh it's really hard to meet those

1:10:41 ↗ transparency requirements and also uh

1:10:44 ↗ meet utility requirements, access,

1:10:46 ↗ loading, moving vans, all that kind of

1:10:49 ↗ stuff at the same time. And so um you

1:10:52 ↗ know as they were saying it's difficult

1:10:54 ↗ to provide that transparency. there's

1:10:56 ↗ some things that they can do, some

1:10:57 ↗ things that they plan to do. And as we

1:10:59 ↗ look at that and our codes into the

1:11:01 ↗ future, that's one of the things I think

1:11:02 ↗ we want to continue looking at. Another

1:11:04 ↗ thing that's before um I believe it's

1:11:07 ↗ PPC coming up soon is um looking at the

1:11:10 ↗ idea of public space and the public or

1:11:12 ↗ the community space uh requirements. So

1:11:16 ↗ where uh Maggie had talked about having

1:11:18 ↗ the balcony requirement for every unit,

1:11:21 ↗ thinking about are there different ways

1:11:23 ↗ to meet that outdoor space requirement.

1:11:25 ↗ In this case, it's a plaza. Um but what

1:11:28 ↗ are the other ways so that it can be

1:11:30 ↗ flexible and um something that is

1:11:33 ↗ supportive, especially in this case with

1:11:35 ↗ the HCA of affordable housing.

1:11:37 ↗ Fantastic. Thank you. I think it was

1:11:39 ↗ council member Mertz followed by council

1:11:40 ↗ member Hall. Thanks. Oh, uh council

1:11:43 ↗ member Joe after. Sorry. Oh, Jen,

1:11:47 ↗ thanks. Um, before we get to the HCA, I

1:11:50 ↗ have a couple of questions around the

1:11:51 ↗ general update. Um, when did Spectrum

1:11:54 ↗ leave this

1:11:59 ↗ project? Spectrum left this project

1:12:02 ↗ um I want to say in

1:12:06 ↗ 20. And that was primarily because uh

1:12:10 ↗ the person that from Spectrum that had

1:12:12 ↗ been working with us, Hal Ferris left

1:12:14 ↗ Spectrum himself and the remaining

1:12:16 ↗ partners felt like it had been going on

1:12:19 ↗ too long and they didn't see a finish

1:12:21 ↗ line and so they didn't want to

1:12:22 ↗ continue. Okay. So I saw in your

1:12:24 ↗ presentation that you don't currently

1:12:26 ↗ have a partner for the market rate side.

1:12:29 ↗ So that's a five-year running problem.

1:12:32 ↗ talk talk to me about how you bifurcate

1:12:34 ↗ this project given it sounds like you're

1:12:37 ↗ you're pretty much ready to go on the

1:12:40 ↗ the uh workforce housing side of it, but

1:12:42 ↗ you don't have a partner on the market

1:12:44 ↗ rate. How how do we how is a for

1:12:47 ↗ permitting and for everything? How do

1:12:49 ↗ how do you move forward? So, this this

1:12:52 ↗ site is one parcel. It's not divided.

1:12:55 ↗ And so, we have to have a a design for

1:12:59 ↗ both buildings to proceed with a site

1:13:00 ↗ development permit. Um, and so that's

1:13:02 ↗ what we're doing. We have a design that

1:13:05 ↗ works. We have talked with market rate

1:13:07 ↗ developers and they prefer 200 plus uh

1:13:11 ↗ units in their development. So we we

1:13:14 ↗ made sure to save enough development

1:13:15 ↗ capacity for that building to have a

1:13:18 ↗ marketable product. Uh part of the

1:13:22 ↗ um some of we wanted to see how we could

1:13:26 ↗ get through this process and what sort

1:13:27 ↗ of benefits that we could offer to the

1:13:30 ↗ market rate developer. for example, the

1:13:32 ↗ transparency benefit uh and taking some

1:13:34 ↗ of the um site development challenges

1:13:37 ↗ off their plate and hopefully be able to

1:13:39 ↗ benefit from that. We're into this uh

1:13:42 ↗ for quite a bit of money and we really

1:13:44 ↗ want to sell the market rate site uh and

1:13:46 ↗ recoup as much of that money that as we

1:13:48 ↗ can. Uh and so we wanted to uh wait and

1:13:52 ↗ see what kind of

1:13:54 ↗ um work we could do for them before

1:13:56 ↗ bringing them on board. They may choose

1:13:58 ↗ to redesign the building within the

1:14:00 ↗ parameters of our site development

1:14:02 ↗ approval, but our architects are very

1:14:04 ↗ familiar with market rate development.

1:14:05 ↗ So, they tried to design with that in

1:14:07 ↗ mind. So, is the plan to sub to make a

1:14:10 ↗ build permit submission even if you

1:14:13 ↗ don't have a market rate partner because

1:14:15 ↗ that's in 3 months, right? A building

1:14:17 ↗ permit submission? Yes, we we plan on

1:14:19 ↗ moving forward. Our goal is to get a

1:14:21 ↗ partner on um but not at any at any

1:14:25 ↗ price. And so if we cannot uh find if if

1:14:30 ↗ the market just isn't there right now to

1:14:32 ↗ find a partner, then we're willing to

1:14:34 ↗ incur the holding costs and proceed with

1:14:36 ↗ the the work that we need to do for our

1:14:39 ↗ property.

1:14:41 ↗ Um but we will continue to to be seeking

1:14:44 ↗ partners until we find one. But you said

1:14:47 ↗ it's all one property. It's all one

1:14:49 ↗ property. The goal is to divide it by

1:14:51 ↗ condominium. So there will be a twounit

1:14:53 ↗ condominium. One of which is to uh to be

1:14:56 ↗ sold to the market rate and the other

1:14:58 ↗ for the affordable.

1:15:01 ↗ All right. I I may have questions later

1:15:02 ↗ about HCA depending on what other

1:15:04 ↗ questions get asked by others. Thank

1:15:06 ↗ you. Customer.

1:15:08 ↗ Great. Okay. I have a lot of questions

1:15:10 ↗ so bear with me. So first off, um I saw

1:15:12 ↗ the price tag of 73.5 million

1:15:15 ↗ construction costs. Is that just for the

1:15:16 ↗ affordable building or is it for both

1:15:18 ↗ affordable and market rate buildings? Uh

1:15:20 ↗ just the affordable building. Okay. Um

1:15:23 ↗ that's an quite an eye popping number.

1:15:25 ↗ Um I have a lot of questions about the

1:15:26 ↗ financing. So I'm assuming this is a 4%

1:15:29 ↗ LITC project. Is that correct? That's

1:15:30 ↗ correct. Um and so there's you know the

1:15:34 ↗ with the bonding capacity or whatever.

1:15:36 ↗ So is King County Housing Authority

1:15:38 ↗ issuing the bonds and is there going to

1:15:39 ↗ be any issue with that being over like

1:15:41 ↗ the state bond cap at all? Uh no. So, we

1:15:45 ↗ will be I mean, yes, we will be uh King

1:15:47 ↗ County Housing Authority will be issuing

1:15:48 ↗ the bonds and all of the public housing

1:15:50 ↗ authorities and the Washington State

1:15:52 ↗ Housing Finance Commission meet month uh

1:15:55 ↗ quarterly to make sure that housing

1:15:57 ↗ authorities have the bond cap that they

1:15:59 ↗ need to complete their project. So, this

1:16:01 ↗ project has actually been on that list

1:16:02 ↗ for a number of years and and we have a

1:16:04 ↗ pretty firm reservation for getting the

1:16:06 ↗ bond cap we need next year. Okay, great.

1:16:09 ↗ Thank you. Um okay, so another question.

1:16:12 ↗ Um so on the piece about the uh green

1:16:18 ↗ building certification so uh the staff

1:16:21 ↗ analysis said that um the ESDS which is

1:16:24 ↗ similar to it's basically like

1:16:26 ↗ Washington state's version of the

1:16:28 ↗ enterprise green communities

1:16:30 ↗ certification. So the staff analysis

1:16:32 ↗ said it's analogous to lead silver which

1:16:35 ↗ just based on my you know experience in

1:16:36 ↗ the industry is probably about accurate.

1:16:40 ↗ There is also a version of Enterprise

1:16:42 ↗ Green Communities called Enterprise

1:16:43 ↗ Green Communities Plus. Um, which is,

1:16:46 ↗ and I actually don't have a super good

1:16:48 ↗ understanding of what the difference is

1:16:50 ↗ between, you know, ESDS versus

1:16:52 ↗ Enterprise Green Communities. Um, but

1:16:54 ↗ I'm curious if that's something you've

1:16:55 ↗ looked into is like, you know, if since

1:16:57 ↗ those are similar, but then the, you

1:16:59 ↗ know, EGC+ is one step above that kind

1:17:02 ↗ of gets and my understanding is that

1:17:04 ↗ EGC+ is more analogous to lead platinum.

1:17:08 ↗ um is that something that you've looked

1:17:10 ↗ into because then you know you could go

1:17:11 ↗ through getting one certification but

1:17:13 ↗ still kind of get that higher level of

1:17:14 ↗ building performance that you know is

1:17:16 ↗ the quad through what we said in our

1:17:18 ↗ code and everything that we've said is

1:17:19 ↗ what we're looking for. So my

1:17:22 ↗ understanding is that um ESDS was based

1:17:25 ↗ originally on the enterprise standard

1:17:27 ↗ but it has we're now up to version 4

1:17:30 ↗ something of the state and it's

1:17:32 ↗ continued to evolve uh in response to

1:17:35 ↗ what's happening with Washington code

1:17:37 ↗ and and you know new technologies and

1:17:39 ↗ things none of our public funders would

1:17:42 ↗ accept an enterprise or a lead

1:17:45 ↗ certification in lie of of uh the ESDS.

1:17:48 ↗ So, we will have to follow the ESDS. Um,

1:17:52 ↗ I'm not enough familiar with the

1:17:54 ↗ Enterprise Plus standard to to be able

1:17:57 ↗ to comment on that. Do you want to

1:18:00 ↗ I think um we still have some ongoing uh

1:18:04 ↗ questions and discussions with KCHA

1:18:06 ↗ about sustainability standards. Um so

1:18:10 ↗ you know we were talking about what um

1:18:13 ↗ particular they are what amenities

1:18:15 ↗ they're putting in for um achieving the

1:18:18 ↗ point system through their certification

1:18:20 ↗ system but also what are some of those

1:18:22 ↗ things that we can go a little bit above

1:18:24 ↗ that kind of in that plus mentality that

1:18:26 ↗ you were talking about. So I know we've

1:18:27 ↗ talked about things like solar panels

1:18:29 ↗ we've talked about things like how many

1:18:31 ↗ EV ready and EV capable spots there

1:18:33 ↗ would be um no natural gas for example.

1:18:37 ↗ So, I think we would love to come back

1:18:39 ↗ and talk about what those things um are

1:18:41 ↗ in addition as we continue to have these

1:18:43 ↗ conversations. But certainly if council

1:18:45 ↗ has particular feedback in that area, we

1:18:47 ↗ we welcome that. Okay, great. Yeah. And

1:18:51 ↗ um just in general like the way that

1:18:54 ↗ it's written in the code picking only

1:18:55 ↗ lead platinum and not giving options for

1:18:57 ↗ other similar levels of certification I

1:18:59 ↗ think is something we should definitely

1:19:00 ↗ revisit especially because we require

1:19:03 ↗ lead platinum for mixed use and bill

1:19:05 ↗ green fourstar for residential which are

1:19:07 ↗ like two different companies of

1:19:09 ↗ certification. Um and also uh lead

1:19:11 ↗ platinum is more similar to Bill Green

1:19:12 ↗ fivestar but uh okay anyway. Um, okay.

1:19:15 ↗ So, on the transparency piece, I think

1:19:17 ↗ it seems I mean, this request seems

1:19:20 ↗ reasonable. I'm curious if, you know,

1:19:22 ↗ just in terms of for me, when I'm

1:19:24 ↗ walking around town, I actually don't

1:19:27 ↗ I'm like, if it's just a window into

1:19:28 ↗ someone's apartment, I don't want to

1:19:30 ↗ look in there. I would much rather see

1:19:31 ↗ like an art installation or some plants.

1:19:33 ↗ So, to the extent that we could put art,

1:19:35 ↗ you know, on like the loading garage

1:19:36 ↗ doors or stuff like that, that's

1:19:38 ↗ something that I'd definitely um be in

1:19:40 ↗ favor of as well. So is that something

1:19:41 ↗ that you know is and I s see in the

1:19:44 ↗ design there's you know areas where

1:19:46 ↗ there's um you know spaces to put art.

1:19:49 ↗ So are there more areas that you think

1:19:52 ↗ we could like push for having more of

1:19:54 ↗ that in terms of just you know interest

1:19:55 ↗ in the streetscape for pedestrians.

1:19:59 ↗ We're certainly willing to look into

1:20:00 ↗ that. Uh that's a little bit beyond

1:20:02 ↗ where we are in our design right now.

1:20:04 ↗ But I I think we're interested in art.

1:20:07 ↗ We've done art in many of our new

1:20:09 ↗ construction projects and uh it it

1:20:11 ↗ always is wellreceived. So great. Thank

1:20:14 ↗ you.

1:20:16 ↗ Great questions. Council Ray and then

1:20:18 ↗ deputy council president and then

1:20:19 ↗ council president. So two things I want

1:20:22 ↗ to go back to and this is really fun to

1:20:24 ↗ see this because I think it was the

1:20:26 ↗ first vote I took on the city council

1:20:28 ↗ was was approving this in uh 2018. So

1:20:32 ↗ yeah. So, um it is indelibly impressed

1:20:34 ↗ on my mind, but um opportunity center,

1:20:38 ↗ we kind of bruised by it. What's the

1:20:40 ↗ cost to the city of the opportunity

1:20:42 ↗ center going to be in the revised?

1:20:44 ↗ Because it looks like costs have

1:20:45 ↗ escalated quite a bit. They have and so

1:20:48 ↗ our most recent estimate and our

1:20:50 ↗ estimates right now are based on

1:20:52 ↗ schematic design. We have been doing

1:20:54 ↗ work to bring down the cost since then,

1:20:56 ↗ but we don't yet have updated cost

1:20:57 ↗ estimates. But at that point all include

1:21:01 ↗ well all of the shell and core was

1:21:03 ↗ between8 and $9 million. I'm sorry that

1:21:06 ↗ includes the the TI. So okay or or some

1:21:10 ↗ amount of TI. So a bit more than we were

1:21:12 ↗ uh thinking last time around. Yeah. And

1:21:15 ↗ I would just um I'd like to remind

1:21:16 ↗ council that originally with that first

1:21:19 ↗ vote, we talked about um setting aside

1:21:21 ↗ 5.05 05 million for the shell and some

1:21:24 ↗ amount of tenant improvements that our

1:21:26 ↗ tenants would not take over. Um so since

1:21:29 ↗ then uh we have also um had council

1:21:32 ↗ determine that they wanted to set aside

1:21:34 ↗ an additional 5 million to that original

1:21:37 ↗ 5.05 million. And so between the state

1:21:40 ↗ grant of three million and um money that

1:21:43 ↗ council has set aside, we have about 10

1:21:46 ↗ million uh dollars towards the the um

1:21:50 ↗ opportunity center set aside.

1:21:53 ↗ Cool. Um original design had a daycare

1:21:56 ↗ center and a kidney center or what I

1:21:57 ↗ would call just generically commercial

1:21:59 ↗ space that wasn't uh residential. Um

1:22:02 ↗ looks like where we don't have that

1:22:03 ↗ anymore. Is that true? Yes, that's true.

1:22:07 ↗ That makes me really unhappy. So both of

1:22:11 ↗ I mean before Spectrum left both of

1:22:14 ↗ those um entities had had withdrawn and

1:22:18 ↗ were no longer interested. So that would

1:22:20 ↗ have been a challenge even I mean the

1:22:22 ↗ one of the issues I guess the primary

1:22:24 ↗ issue we have with the market rate

1:22:26 ↗ building is including that would reduce

1:22:28 ↗ the amount of units there and and the

1:22:29 ↗ attractiveness to potential partners.

1:22:32 ↗ I'll I'll save my comments to comments,

1:22:34 ↗ but thanks uh deputy council president.

1:22:39 ↗ Okay, this question may be uh too

1:22:41 ↗ complicated or irrelevant, but I'm going

1:22:43 ↗ to throw it out there anyway. So, I was

1:22:46 ↗ uh so when I was reading the what an

1:22:48 ↗ ESDS is and compared that to a lead, uh

1:22:51 ↗ it looked to me like the ESDS is focused

1:22:54 ↗ more on how the building is located

1:22:56 ↗ within the community and lead is more

1:22:59 ↗ focused on the building's environmental

1:23:01 ↗ impact. it it there was a lot in ESDs

1:23:04 ↗ that was about where it was and how

1:23:06 ↗ close it was to transportation or to

1:23:09 ↗ recreation or to business districts so

1:23:12 ↗ people could walk and so forth. And so

1:23:15 ↗ I'm just wondering if there's been any

1:23:17 ↗ analysis about how locating the building

1:23:20 ↗ um can reduce its environmental impact

1:23:24 ↗ and especially when it's a TOD project.

1:23:27 ↗ So theoretically uh over time there

1:23:31 ↗ should be a reduction in greenhouse gas

1:23:33 ↗ emissions if people are using transit

1:23:35 ↗ rather than their own vehicles. And also

1:23:38 ↗ it's close enough to the business

1:23:39 ↗ district so people could walk uh to

1:23:42 ↗ purchase food and and other amenities.

1:23:44 ↗ And so I'm just wondering if if um if in

1:23:48 ↗ that case and with the checkpoints that

1:23:51 ↗ they have for ESDs for location if if it

1:23:54 ↗ would actually actually be even better

1:23:57 ↗ than a lead because so it was it was

1:24:00 ↗ just a thought that um we need to kind

1:24:03 ↗ of look at the long-term environmental

1:24:04 ↗ impact as well as the the building

1:24:08 ↗ impact. So and I know that's not a

1:24:10 ↗ question you can answer tonight

1:24:11 ↗ probably.

1:24:13 ↗ So the specific analysis of what that

1:24:16 ↗ impact might be we haven't done. There

1:24:19 ↗ are studies like that have looked at to

1:24:22 ↗ projects and and what their sort of

1:24:24 ↗ reduction in greenhouse gases are be

1:24:26 ↗ because of people choosing to um take

1:24:29 ↗ public transit instead of driving the um

1:24:33 ↗ but I I can't cite one right now. I'm

1:24:36 ↗ I'm happy to share some of those with

1:24:38 ↗ you all if you think that would be

1:24:41 ↗ advantageous. Council President,

1:24:47 ↗ fantastic. Um, with the housing

1:24:51 ↗ cooperation agreement, um, are we only

1:24:54 ↗ able to apply that to the affordable

1:24:58 ↗ building or can we also make related

1:25:02 ↗ adjustments and changes to the market

1:25:04 ↗ rate building?

1:25:08 ↗ we can make some adjustments to the

1:25:09 ↗ market rate building since it's a

1:25:11 ↗ negotiation that's an agreement that's

1:25:13 ↗ entirely with the housing authority and

1:25:15 ↗ the property is owned by them. So for

1:25:18 ↗ the for the cooperation agreement we do

1:25:20 ↗ have some of the points in there are um

1:25:23 ↗ cover both buildings um but we um wanted

1:25:26 ↗ to focus on supporting the affordable

1:25:28 ↗ housing. So yes, the next question then

1:25:33 ↗ which of these adjustments specifically

1:25:35 ↗ for the five big adjustments which are

1:25:39 ↗ is staff proposing only for the

1:25:42 ↗ affordable building and which are both

1:25:44 ↗ and

1:25:47 ↗ why? Um I might need some of of Maggie's

1:25:50 ↗ detailed brain so that I don't misspeak.

1:25:53 ↗ Um if Maggie you can talk about which

1:25:55 ↗ ones are specifically for the affordable

1:25:57 ↗ housing building. Um, and then I can

1:26:00 ↗ chime in with why and what the

1:26:02 ↗ administration's reasoning is.

1:26:07 ↗ You're muted. I'm sorry, Maggie. I think

1:26:09 ↗ you might be muted.

1:26:13 ↗ Thank you. I was double muted on my

1:26:15 ↗ phone and the and the computer. Um,

1:26:19 ↗ absolutely. Uh, there are five items.

1:26:22 ↗ All of the items apply to the affordable

1:26:24 ↗ building. The only ones under what how

1:26:27 ↗ it's written right now that apply to the

1:26:30 ↗ market rate building um are the

1:26:32 ↗ transparency and uh frontage

1:26:36 ↗ requirements. So um yes, this this

1:26:39 ↗ section right here about the ground

1:26:40 ↗ level transparency and the the buffering

1:26:43 ↗ of the parking, those are the only two

1:26:45 ↗ that we're asking for at this moment for

1:26:48 ↗ um the market rate building. So the

1:26:51 ↗ exclusive to the affordable building is

1:26:53 ↗ the five- foot step back and where that

1:26:55 ↗ in how that comes about. Um the swap to

1:27:00 ↗ ESDs from lead that's just for the

1:27:02 ↗ affordable building and the change in

1:27:05 ↗ how the amenity space is calculated is

1:27:08 ↗ just for the affordable building at this

1:27:09 ↗ point in

1:27:11 ↗ time. And one of the primary reasons for

1:27:14 ↗ the step back um the waving of the one

1:27:18 ↗ of the stepback requirements uh was

1:27:21 ↗ because we were concerned about

1:27:23 ↗ preserving affordable units. One of the

1:27:26 ↗ things that KCHA came to us was that if

1:27:28 ↗ we were to require that step back on the

1:27:31 ↗ upper floors that that would not only

1:27:32 ↗ affect unit size, as Maggie pointed out

1:27:36 ↗ in her presentation, but it would cause

1:27:38 ↗ us to perhaps lose some of the

1:27:40 ↗ three-bedroom units. And uh the

1:27:42 ↗ three-bedroom units are something this

1:27:44 ↗ administration believes to be really

1:27:46 ↗ special and important about this

1:27:47 ↗ project. you don't always get

1:27:48 ↗ three-bedroom units in an affordable

1:27:50 ↗ housing project and that provides

1:27:52 ↗ families a real opportunity to attend

1:27:54 ↗ our excellent school system. So, um, so

1:27:57 ↗ that was something we wanted to preserve

1:27:58 ↗ in this project and that was one of the

1:28:00 ↗ compelling reasons for considering a

1:28:03 ↗ waiver of that upper floor stepback

1:28:05 ↗ requirement. I think we've already

1:28:06 ↗ talked about the lead certification

1:28:09 ↗ versus um the the certification that

1:28:12 ↗ KCHA is required to do for the

1:28:13 ↗ affordable housing building. Um and kind

1:28:17 ↗ of motivations for the other ones unless

1:28:18 ↗ you have more specific questions. My

1:28:19 ↗ bigger question is why are you not

1:28:21 ↗ recommending those changes also to the

1:28:24 ↗ market rate building given we have a

1:28:26 ↗ developer who

1:28:28 ↗ has told us what the costs are to these

1:28:31 ↗ and how much they would increase the

1:28:33 ↗ cost and potentially put that

1:28:35 ↗ development at risk of even finding a

1:28:38 ↗ developer who's willing to take it.

1:28:41 ↗ Yeah, great question. I think um the

1:28:43 ↗ administration believes that the market

1:28:45 ↗ dynamics are different for developing a

1:28:48 ↗ market rate building versus an

1:28:49 ↗ affordable rate building that um perhaps

1:28:52 ↗ those costs to the units can be absorbed

1:28:55 ↗ more easily in a market uh rate

1:28:58 ↗ building. And so that's the reason why

1:29:00 ↗ we are looking at trying to um consider

1:29:04 ↗ the public benefit uh with the

1:29:07 ↗ affordable housing building and

1:29:08 ↗ preserving that in this agreement.

1:29:11 ↗ Andrea, thank you for um answering that.

1:29:14 ↗ I some provide a little more context.

1:29:16 ↗ You know, in the recent update of title

1:29:18 ↗ 18, there was so many comm community

1:29:21 ↗ conversations about what the community

1:29:24 ↗ expected the outcomes to be in these

1:29:26 ↗ projects. Um but we really believe that

1:29:28 ↗ in some cases when there is a

1:29:30 ↗ significant public benefit and there's

1:29:31 ↗ no doubt a size the p the project and

1:29:34 ↗ the rates for this affordable housing

1:29:36 ↗ building go way beyond what we are

1:29:37 ↗ getting offered from any private

1:29:39 ↗ developer anywhere that we may need to

1:29:41 ↗ make accommodations to work with a

1:29:44 ↗ nonprofit partner like King County

1:29:45 ↗ Housing. And so I appreciate the the

1:29:48 ↗ amount of um cooperation and

1:29:52 ↗ consideration these two groups have put

1:29:54 ↗ into trying to figure out what would

1:29:56 ↗ make it work for our housing partner pro

1:29:59 ↗ housing part public housing partner. Um

1:30:03 ↗ however I think there's larger

1:30:05 ↗ conversations to be had if the council

1:30:07 ↗ and the community decides that standards

1:30:08 ↗ themselves need to be changed.

1:30:12 ↗ Go ahead. Um, you've mentioned you are

1:30:15 ↗ willing to deal with the holding costs

1:30:18 ↗ if you don't find a private developer.

1:30:22 ↗ Can you give us a sense of what those

1:30:24 ↗ costs are and whether or not that risks

1:30:27 ↗ the development capabilities for KCHA on

1:30:31 ↗ this project?

1:30:34 ↗ So the primary holding costs would be

1:30:36 ↗ the the costs that we've put into the uh

1:30:38 ↗ site development permit or at least the

1:30:40 ↗ share of those costs that are applicable

1:30:42 ↗ to that site. The and the acquisition

1:30:44 ↗ costs. So those are costs that for the

1:30:47 ↗ most part we've already incurred or will

1:30:49 ↗ be incurring and uh having to incur in

1:30:51 ↗ order to get to our our project um or

1:30:55 ↗ our permits. Um, so we are, uh, I mean,

1:30:59 ↗ I can't say we'll do this project no

1:31:01 ↗ matter what because there's a lot of

1:31:02 ↗ what's that, um, are still unknown

1:31:05 ↗ around tariffs and and tax cuts and

1:31:08 ↗ things like that that that are going to

1:31:10 ↗ have impacts on both the cost and the

1:31:12 ↗ financing of our project, but we are

1:31:15 ↗ determined. I mean, we we have, you

1:31:18 ↗ know, been with this project for so

1:31:20 ↗ long, we're really determined to see it

1:31:22 ↗ through. And we we have also mentioned

1:31:24 ↗ in the past and um we haven't thought it

1:31:27 ↗ would be necessary recently, but it we

1:31:29 ↗ we also would consider developing market

1:31:32 ↗ rate housing ourself uh if the uh if we

1:31:35 ↗ just don't find a market out there and

1:31:37 ↗ could probably get that financed easier

1:31:39 ↗ than a market rate developer could.

1:31:44 ↗ So looking around the table, we have a

1:31:45 ↗ little bit more on the discussion to go.

1:31:47 ↗ Oh, council member um Hall, I forgot. Go

1:31:49 ↗ ahead, Council Member Hall.

1:31:55 ↗ Um, thank you. Um, some of the questions

1:31:58 ↗ that have been asked I had, um, um, I I

1:32:01 ↗ just want to piggyback off council

1:32:02 ↗ president for a second. I mean, one

1:32:04 ↗ thing we had talked about at the outset

1:32:05 ↗ was the value of having these buildings

1:32:08 ↗ look similar, look and feel similar,

1:32:10 ↗ right, between the affordable and market

1:32:11 ↗ rate buildings. So, did we did we

1:32:14 ↗ consider it from that perspective? Not

1:32:16 ↗ just that, well, the market rate

1:32:17 ↗ building could absorb these costs better

1:32:19 ↗ than the affordable building, but we

1:32:21 ↗ wanted to create an atmosphere on the

1:32:23 ↗ parcel where they look similar. I'm just

1:32:24 ↗ wondering if that's something we've

1:32:26 ↗ thought about. It is something that we

1:32:28 ↗ considered and is a conflict in some of

1:32:32 ↗ of these um requirements that we're

1:32:34 ↗ proposing to wave. So, if we have

1:32:37 ↗ balconies on one building but not

1:32:38 ↗ balconies on another building, that

1:32:40 ↗ might be some inconsistencies in the

1:32:42 ↗ design. what um if one has stepbacks at

1:32:46 ↗ the upper floors but another the

1:32:48 ↗ affordable building has um art treatment

1:32:51 ↗ or facade treatments that are you know

1:32:54 ↗ visually interesting but not quite the

1:32:56 ↗ same as a step back that's going to be

1:32:58 ↗ some differences in the design and I

1:33:00 ↗ think what the administration um is

1:33:02 ↗ recommending is that um those

1:33:06 ↗ inconsistencies we felt were acceptable

1:33:09 ↗ in order to support the affordable

1:33:10 ↗ housing project and maintain the number

1:33:12 ↗ of units

1:33:13 ↗ um and also support the financial

1:33:16 ↗ viability of that project.

1:33:20 ↗ Okay, thank you. That's a good answer.

1:33:23 ↗ Um anything we need to be worried about

1:33:25 ↗ in terms of change of parking

1:33:28 ↗ legislation at the state level? Is any

1:33:29 ↗ of that applicable to the project as we

1:33:31 ↗ know it today, the TOD project,

1:33:36 ↗ or maybe we're still figuring that out?

1:33:38 ↗ I I think we're in part still figuring

1:33:40 ↗ it out. I think one of the tensions that

1:33:42 ↗ maybe Dan can speak to better than I can

1:33:45 ↗ is um while there are local requirements

1:33:48 ↗ on parking or state requirements that

1:33:50 ↗ may be superseding local requirements on

1:33:52 ↗ parking, there's also what the funders

1:33:55 ↗ will finance and invest in. And those

1:33:57 ↗ are different standards. And so, so I

1:34:01 ↗ think we're still trying to figure out

1:34:03 ↗ what those um those parking changes

1:34:05 ↗ might mean for us and our regulations as

1:34:07 ↗ a city, but I don't know if Dan wants to

1:34:09 ↗ speak to that issue further.

1:34:13 ↗ So, uh I think Isaakqua is still in a

1:34:17 ↗ transition and that it's it's hard. I

1:34:20 ↗ mean, it's not just outside parties, but

1:34:22 ↗ also our asset managers who have been

1:34:24 ↗ pushing us on the parking because

1:34:26 ↗ they're concerned about the ability to

1:34:27 ↗ lease units in the next number of years.

1:34:30 ↗ I think eventually uh when light rail

1:34:33 ↗ runs here, when it's uh the some more of

1:34:36 ↗ the t to style development happens in

1:34:39 ↗ central Isiqua, that that we'll see a

1:34:42 ↗ lot more people interested in living

1:34:44 ↗ without a car here. But that's not

1:34:46 ↗ currently what the market seems like it

1:34:48 ↗ wants. And so we have uh not I mean we

1:34:52 ↗ are doing the parking minimum but we

1:34:54 ↗ think the parking minimum is is what we

1:34:56 ↗ need to market the units.

1:35:00 ↗ Great questions. Council member Hall.

1:35:02 ↗ Thank you. Council member Joe. Oh, one

1:35:04 ↗ more. I have more of it. I just did you

1:35:05 ↗ have a followup to that or not. Okay. Is

1:35:08 ↗ it okay? Um so when I was reading the

1:35:11 ↗ memo, I had a hard time following the

1:35:13 ↗ public uh common amenity space um issue.

1:35:18 ↗ Can you kind of just walk us through

1:35:21 ↗ exactly what how that would show up in

1:35:22 ↗ reality? Is it is it really that one

1:35:24 ↗ building likely wouldn't have any

1:35:26 ↗ balcony space and all of it would be

1:35:28 ↗ more common space but still add up to

1:35:31 ↗ 148 ft per unit or we might see like the

1:35:34 ↗ 80% AMI units have balcony space but not

1:35:37 ↗ the other ones or is that still to be

1:35:39 ↗ determined? So, I

1:35:42 ↗ um I might ask Maggie to jump in on

1:35:44 ↗ this, but I there will be some private

1:35:48 ↗ uh amenity space associated with units

1:35:51 ↗ that either have a uh a a balcony above

1:35:55 ↗ the third floor um or or on the fourth

1:35:58 ↗ floor um have have some private space on

1:36:01 ↗ the fourth floor uh courtyard or between

1:36:05 ↗ the in the middle of the building.

1:36:07 ↗ I I can speak to this a little bit. So

1:36:09 ↗ we have eight floors for this building

1:36:12 ↗ total and we have

1:36:14 ↗ um level four the floor of level four is

1:36:19 ↗ a transition between the three levels of

1:36:23 ↗ concrete and then the wood structure

1:36:25 ↗ above and that's also where the parking

1:36:27 ↗ stops. So, we have a a lid, if you will,

1:36:31 ↗ across level four floor um where the

1:36:35 ↗ parking is underneath that. And so, we

1:36:37 ↗ have a big plaza opportunity on level

1:36:39 ↗ four. Um what we've done right now is

1:36:43 ↗ there are some units that have private

1:36:45 ↗ amenity space. Um but we've placed it in

1:36:48 ↗ places where it doesn't add uh

1:36:51 ↗ significant additional cost or

1:36:53 ↗ construction challenges for the

1:36:55 ↗ building. So that floor where we have

1:36:57 ↗ that transition and we have that big

1:36:59 ↗ common amenity space, all of the units,

1:37:02 ↗ all of the apartments that are on that

1:37:04 ↗ level that face that common amenity

1:37:06 ↗ space also have a private amenity space

1:37:09 ↗ um because it's an easy place to put it

1:37:11 ↗ in because they you just have a door, we

1:37:14 ↗ already have the surface there, we

1:37:15 ↗ already have landscaping going on and

1:37:17 ↗ all of that. So those units do get um a

1:37:20 ↗ private amenity space uh associated with

1:37:23 ↗ their apartment, with their home. Um and

1:37:26 ↗ in some ways that's a really nice

1:37:27 ↗ trade-off as well because it gives them

1:37:30 ↗ buffer from the common area because as

1:37:33 ↗ you might imagine there are windows into

1:37:34 ↗ bedrooms into those into those

1:37:36 ↗ apartments and you wouldn't really want

1:37:38 ↗ common amenity space coming right up to

1:37:40 ↗ your bedroom window. So having that

1:37:42 ↗ private space in front gives you some

1:37:44 ↗ amount of buffer between the activity of

1:37:46 ↗ everybody gathering and what's going on

1:37:48 ↗ inside your individual apartment. Um we

1:37:52 ↗ also have uh private amenity spaces for

1:37:55 ↗ the units that are at grade. So the ones

1:37:57 ↗ that are at the ground level because

1:37:59 ↗ again it it's an easy cost-effective

1:38:02 ↗ place to provide them. Um, and so we

1:38:06 ↗ we've provided space there as well,

1:38:08 ↗ which again also acts as like a buffer

1:38:10 ↗ between the more public spaces and your

1:38:13 ↗ actual residential unit. So they're

1:38:14 ↗ serving sort of dual purpose and

1:38:16 ↗ providing more to those units than just

1:38:19 ↗ the space itself. They're also

1:38:20 ↗ functioning in sort of a security

1:38:23 ↗ feature or just um some visual security

1:38:26 ↗ and buffering between what's going on

1:38:29 ↗ publicly and what's going on privately.

1:38:31 ↗ Um, where we've avoided them are on

1:38:34 ↗ places where they would be what we call

1:38:36 ↗ bolt-on balconies, where they would be

1:38:38 ↗ just hanging off the side of the

1:38:39 ↗ building.

1:38:41 ↗ Um, largely because the balconies

1:38:44 ↗ themselves cost money, but also the

1:38:46 ↗ installation of them everywhere you want

1:38:48 ↗ to put one. You need at least two,

1:38:50 ↗ usually three places of penetrations

1:38:52 ↗ through your exterior walls. So, it

1:38:54 ↗ creates complications from a

1:38:55 ↗ construction standpoint, waterproofing

1:38:58 ↗ and everything. it it opens you up to

1:38:59 ↗ more liability and places for leaks and

1:39:03 ↗ things to go wrong. So, it's it's

1:39:05 ↗ a a safer or more assured construction

1:39:09 ↗ if you don't have to have all of those

1:39:11 ↗ coming out of the side of the building.

1:39:14 ↗ Um, and I think part of your question

1:39:16 ↗ was would the buildings look different

1:39:19 ↗ and and yes, so there'd be a few, you

1:39:22 ↗ know, private spaces in these locations

1:39:25 ↗ where there where it's easy to apply

1:39:27 ↗ them, but there would be no bolt-on

1:39:28 ↗ balconies. Um, and right now without an

1:39:31 ↗ exception for the market rate buildings,

1:39:34 ↗ they would be required to provide all

1:39:36 ↗ those balconies.

1:39:39 ↗ Okay. Thank you very much both of you

1:39:41 ↗ for walking me through that. makes a lot

1:39:43 ↗ more sense. And then my last point of

1:39:45 ↗ confusion when reading the memo was

1:39:46 ↗ around the um decorative screening and

1:39:50 ↗ and material variation and what that

1:39:52 ↗ really means in reality cuz I think I

1:39:55 ↗ mean I think if someone asked me I would

1:39:58 ↗ rather like to see like someone stoop

1:40:00 ↗ like some residential or commercial

1:40:02 ↗ spaces right on the street right so what

1:40:04 ↗ exactly would it look like in reality if

1:40:07 ↗ it was this material variation instead

1:40:11 ↗ I'm I'm just hope I guess I'm assurance

1:40:13 ↗ that it wouldn't be like um a flat wall

1:40:16 ↗ with artwork which would look nice but

1:40:18 ↗ still flat would would would feel weird

1:40:21 ↗ as a pedestrian walking next to you. So

1:40:23 ↗ can you walk me through what those mean?

1:40:26 ↗ Yeah. So uh the code also has

1:40:29 ↗ requirements for modulation and material

1:40:32 ↗ transitions and things like that which

1:40:34 ↗ we're not asking for exceptions on. So

1:40:37 ↗ you won't have long flat facades of

1:40:40 ↗ absolutely nothing going on.

1:40:42 ↗ Um, in the facades that face the public

1:40:47 ↗ plaza, that's where we have probably

1:40:50 ↗ arguably our flattest facades, but large

1:40:52 ↗ portions of that are amenity space in

1:40:55 ↗ both buildings. And so we would have

1:40:57 ↗ large amounts of glazing into all those

1:40:59 ↗ amenity spaces. Actually, more like

1:41:01 ↗ storefront glazing into those amenity

1:41:03 ↗ spaces. Um, we have canopies planned

1:41:06 ↗ over top of entries for those. Um, and

1:41:09 ↗ those amenity spaces are also

1:41:11 ↗ highlighted, at least right now in the

1:41:13 ↗ design, with masonry, with brick. Um, so

1:41:16 ↗ that's what we mean by you'd have

1:41:17 ↗ material transitions um, and sort of an

1:41:20 ↗ expressed cadence along those places.

1:41:23 ↗ places where we felt like the facade was

1:41:25 ↗ looking um more flat or more mundane,

1:41:28 ↗ right up against that trash uh room in

1:41:31 ↗ particular, the trash and loading,

1:41:33 ↗ that's where we were proposing

1:41:34 ↗ additional landscape andor art um to

1:41:36 ↗ help soften that edge and and uh engage

1:41:40 ↗ the plaza. As for the streetscape, the

1:41:43 ↗ core streetscape, um there's actually

1:41:45 ↗ quite a bit of modulation on both

1:41:47 ↗ buildings along that frontage. So, it's

1:41:49 ↗ not just a continuous flat frontage.

1:41:51 ↗ It's a frontage that steps back and

1:41:54 ↗ forth. Um, in some cases, it's so that

1:41:57 ↗ we can provide sight triangles. There's

1:41:58 ↗ very large sight triangles uh required

1:42:01 ↗ for vehicles exiting both the loading

1:42:03 ↗ spaces and the uh the garage itself. And

1:42:07 ↗ so, you have to have kind of a wider

1:42:09 ↗ burst there that's set in so that as a

1:42:11 ↗ car goes to exit, they can look left and

1:42:13 ↗ look right and really see where

1:42:15 ↗ pedestrians are and make sure that you

1:42:17 ↗ have a safe exit. Um and then in some

1:42:19 ↗ cases it's just to help with modulation

1:42:21 ↗ and variety to the streetscape. In terms

1:42:24 ↗ of decorative screening,

1:42:27 ↗ um the parking for the market rate

1:42:31 ↗ building is kind of up against that

1:42:33 ↗ frontage, but we do have the ability to

1:42:35 ↗ mimic the size and scale of windows up

1:42:38 ↗ above. So, we've planned for openings

1:42:41 ↗ that would allow for air circulation in

1:42:44 ↗ and out of the garage, which might

1:42:45 ↗ actually ultimately help from a

1:42:47 ↗ sustainability standpoint in terms of

1:42:49 ↗ naturally ventilating the garage instead

1:42:52 ↗ of having to mechanically ventilate

1:42:54 ↗ everything in the garage. Um, so they'd

1:42:56 ↗ be porous, you'd be able to see through

1:42:58 ↗ them, but we could, for security

1:43:00 ↗ reasons, you'd want something there. You

1:43:01 ↗ wouldn't want it where someone could

1:43:03 ↗ crawl through it. And so, um, you know,

1:43:05 ↗ we we've been planning for a decorative

1:43:08 ↗ screen, something that had a pattern,

1:43:10 ↗ likely metal, but some sort of pattern

1:43:12 ↗ to it. Um, you know, and there's a lot

1:43:14 ↗ of different options out there. We

1:43:15 ↗ haven't gotten into that level of detail

1:43:17 ↗ for the design, but there's a lot of

1:43:19 ↗ options in terms of, you know, what kind

1:43:22 ↗ of pattern you have and how interesting

1:43:23 ↗ and intricate the pattern is. Does that

1:43:26 ↗ help answer question? Yeah, it does.

1:43:28 ↗ And, and thank you. I totally forgot to

1:43:30 ↗ even think about like massing and

1:43:31 ↗ modulation. So, it's not going to be a

1:43:33 ↗ blank wall no matter what. So, okay. And

1:43:35 ↗ Council Member Hall, from a city process

1:43:37 ↗ standpoint, I'd also like to point out

1:43:38 ↗ that the development commission, this is

1:43:40 ↗ something we would anticipate them

1:43:42 ↗ reviewing and looking at what are the

1:43:44 ↗ city requirements for modulation and

1:43:46 ↗ materials and providing some

1:43:48 ↗ recommendations

1:43:50 ↗ um for the design if they felt that the

1:43:53 ↗ proposed design doesn't really meet our

1:43:55 ↗ standards. And so there's still a public

1:43:57 ↗ process as um they apply for their

1:43:59 ↗ building permit and we get into more of

1:44:01 ↗ the details of design that the

1:44:03 ↗ development commission would help

1:44:04 ↗ oversee.

1:44:06 ↗ Good point. Thank you very much. Thanks,

1:44:08 ↗ Council Member Joe.

1:44:11 ↗ Thank you, Mayor Paulie.

1:44:12 ↗ [Music]

1:44:14 ↗ Um Dan, first I'd like to thank you for

1:44:17 ↗ uh your years of dedication to this

1:44:19 ↗ project. It has been a long process and

1:44:21 ↗ I was quite disappointed when Hal Harris

1:44:24 ↗ moved from his firm and it it did signal

1:44:27 ↗ to me that the market rate project was

1:44:29 ↗ going to be in some

1:44:31 ↗ uh you know difficulty and it did turn

1:44:34 ↗ out that way. My question I guess to you

1:44:36 ↗ is is um

1:44:38 ↗ um for many years I've served on the the

1:44:41 ↗ PSRC regional transit oriented

1:44:44 ↗ development committee uh through my

1:44:46 ↗ other day work and uh we always talk

1:44:49 ↗ about the legislation that could be

1:44:50 ↗ possible. The question I have for you

1:44:52 ↗ is, has there been anything that has

1:44:54 ↗ been considered in the last two or three

1:44:56 ↗ sessions or that you would like to see

1:44:58 ↗ out there that we possibly could work on

1:45:01 ↗ between now and when this project comes

1:45:03 ↗ to fruition that could help make this

1:45:05 ↗ project more viable and more possible

1:45:07 ↗ for ultimate construction. Um, and I may

1:45:11 ↗ not have the answer right here and now,

1:45:13 ↗ but if you could work with the

1:45:14 ↗ administration and talk about that and

1:45:16 ↗ we can work it into our legislative

1:45:18 ↗ agenda and try to um do other things

1:45:21 ↗ that can help. And I know the

1:45:22 ↗ administration's thinking about this

1:45:23 ↗ every day, but we'd like to be a

1:45:25 ↗ collaborator and a team member to help

1:45:27 ↗ you with that. But if you have any

1:45:29 ↗ comments right now, certainly like to

1:45:30 ↗ hear it, but um that question can be on

1:45:32 ↗ passed on to the administration, too.

1:45:37 ↗ Sorry, I understand that or I saw that

1:45:40 ↗ this year there was some legislation

1:45:42 ↗ that passed around affordable housing

1:45:44 ↗ which uh limits local jurisdictions

1:45:48 ↗ ability to require stepbacks above the

1:45:50 ↗ fifth floor and and modulation of

1:45:52 ↗ affordable projects. But that was only

1:45:54 ↗ for affordable projects. And that's not

1:45:55 ↗ I think what you're you're talking about

1:45:57 ↗ more just kind of

1:45:59 ↗ uh any any housing projects and

1:46:02 ↗ especially ones that might benefit the

1:46:04 ↗ the um our market rate building. So

1:46:10 ↗ uh I don't know of anything that has

1:46:12 ↗ been proposed that hasn't gotten

1:46:14 ↗ anywhere or anything that that did get

1:46:15 ↗ passed other than that one affordable

1:46:17 ↗ bill.

1:46:19 ↗ Okay. And I know you live and breathe

1:46:21 ↗ this. So, if anything does come up or

1:46:24 ↗ ideas develop in uh you know your 2:00

1:46:29 ↗ a.m. waking hours, please let us know

1:46:32 ↗ and and help the administration help you

1:46:36 ↗ try to find legislative solutions that

1:46:37 ↗ we can advocate for if at all possible.

1:46:40 ↗ Thank you because we'll be up as well.

1:46:43 ↗ Thank you, Council Member Joe. Everybody

1:46:45 ↗ has had uh round one of questions. I

1:46:48 ↗ want to check in and see if there's any

1:46:49 ↗ following questions. And if not, what we

1:46:52 ↗ could do is move around the table and um

1:46:56 ↗ provide general comments that you want

1:46:58 ↗ to have, but also take a chance at or

1:47:01 ↗ take some time to answer the two

1:47:02 ↗ questions. Does council agree with the

1:47:04 ↗ administration's recommendation to

1:47:05 ↗ approve the HCA? And are there changes

1:47:07 ↗ to the HCA that council would like to

1:47:09 ↗ make? So, do we have any additional

1:47:10 ↗ questions first? Otherwise, I'm just

1:47:12 ↗ going to pick a random name out of a

1:47:13 ↗ hat. Yeah, there I see. Didn't even have

1:47:16 ↗ to pick a name. Oh, question. And dang.

1:47:17 ↗ Okay. H last. Yeah. Sorry. Um so the

1:47:23 ↗ rationale behind why the fifth floor

1:47:27 ↗ step back um was unaffordable seemed

1:47:31 ↗ um like perfectly reasonable almost like

1:47:33 ↗ why didn't we think of that? Like if it

1:47:35 ↗ is at that transition level like is is

1:47:37 ↗ the fifth floor here's my question. Is

1:47:39 ↗ the fifth floor step back a common

1:47:41 ↗ element of city codes like in King

1:47:43 ↗ County?

1:47:45 ↗ like perhaps this is something we need

1:47:47 ↗ to look at. I'm just curious. Is this

1:47:48 ↗ common? And Minnie may be able to speak

1:47:50 ↗ to this better than I can. I know

1:47:52 ↗ director Dollywal is on the line to

1:47:54 ↗ answer questions cuz we she has looked

1:47:56 ↗ at this recently. Um it's my

1:47:59 ↗ understanding that some cities have that

1:48:01 ↗ requirement. Not all cities have that.

1:48:04 ↗ And the goals would be aesthetic design,

1:48:07 ↗ what um makes the character of the the

1:48:12 ↗ neighborhood. um as well as preserving

1:48:14 ↗ view corridors, things like that. And so

1:48:17 ↗ I think that was compelling for the most

1:48:19 ↗ recent public process where this was

1:48:21 ↗ considered. But perhaps many can speak a

1:48:23 ↗ little bit better to how many cities

1:48:25 ↗ have that requirement versus how many

1:48:26 ↗ cities don't.

1:48:29 ↗ Thank you, Andrea. Good evening, council

1:48:31 ↗ members and mayor Paulie. um you know I

1:48:34 ↗ don't have the exact number of how many

1:48:36 ↗ cities have it but we did take our

1:48:38 ↗ planning and policy commission members

1:48:40 ↗ and are um on a tour uh and they looked

1:48:44 ↗ at uh various m you know buildings in

1:48:46 ↗ Kirkland and Redmond uh and there's a v

1:48:50 ↗ variety and mix of uh things it comes

1:48:52 ↗ it's you know most of these requirements

1:48:54 ↗ stem from reducing the scale of the

1:48:55 ↗ building and we we figured you know most

1:48:59 ↗ the feedback we received from that tour

1:49:02 ↗ was the stepbacks actually breaks down

1:49:04 ↗ the scale of the building and creates

1:49:06 ↗ more interest. And so the city code

1:49:09 ↗ requirements have been in the books

1:49:11 ↗ since the city adopted the architectural

1:49:13 ↗ design manual. So these were not changed

1:49:15 ↗ with the latest title 18 update. Um and

1:49:18 ↗ that's something that has come, you

1:49:20 ↗ know, was carried forward. Uh there are

1:49:22 ↗ a couple of uh regulations. one, you

1:49:24 ↗ know, when you're transitioning from

1:49:26 ↗ your large open um um parking lots,

1:49:30 ↗ surface parking lots, you do want some

1:49:32 ↗ building height along the street edge.

1:49:35 ↗ So, there's a street wall concept and

1:49:37 ↗ then you have this step back on the

1:49:39 ↗ upper floors which really adds to the uh

1:49:43 ↗ the top of the building. So, you have a

1:49:44 ↗ base, middle, and the top of the

1:49:46 ↗ building. Uh but in Isiqua's context,

1:49:48 ↗ you know, you have beautiful views and

1:49:50 ↗ so having those stepbacks at the upper

1:49:52 ↗ floors do lend to taking advantage of

1:49:54 ↗ the setting that the city has in terms

1:49:57 ↗ of getting um the Esqua Alps, you know,

1:50:00 ↗ so for folks to enjoy that. But most of

1:50:02 ↗ these requirements come from reducing

1:50:04 ↗ the scale of the building. Um, if you're

1:50:06 ↗ out and about, you can look at Redmond's

1:50:08 ↗ where they don't have underground

1:50:10 ↗ parking, which is sort of the situation

1:50:12 ↗ here, which adds to the bulk of the uh

1:50:15 ↗ the building and the midsize scale. Uh,

1:50:17 ↗ and having that straight wall. Uh, but

1:50:20 ↗ having that transition at the third

1:50:22 ↗ floor helps, but it doesn't provide a

1:50:24 ↗ top to the building. So, uh, we can add

1:50:26 ↗ it this to the list for future look more

1:50:29 ↗ in depth with some urban design help. uh

1:50:32 ↗ but we're not tackling this uh change

1:50:34 ↗ with this current annual updates to

1:50:37 ↗ title 18. We have uh added uh discussion

1:50:40 ↗ with planning and policy commission to

1:50:42 ↗ add flexibility for um a private and

1:50:45 ↗ open space. So they'll be looking at

1:50:47 ↗ that this year.

1:50:50 ↗ Great.

1:50:51 ↗ Thank you. Okay, Kelly, are you ready to

1:50:55 ↗ go? Is that why you're looking at me

1:50:56 ↗ like that? Okay. Um not seeing any other

1:50:59 ↗ microphones for questions. So we have

1:51:01 ↗ volunteer council member Jen is going to

1:51:03 ↗ start. Comments and answers to the two

1:51:05 ↗ questions would be helpful. Great. Um

1:51:08 ↗ yeah, so in terms of generally agreeing

1:51:11 ↗ with approving the housing cooperation

1:51:13 ↗ agreement, um I think you know there's

1:51:16 ↗ definitely like we need to make this

1:51:18 ↗ project happen and I think most of these

1:51:21 ↗ amendments are fairly minor. So overall

1:51:23 ↗ I'm okay with it. you know, if ESD if it

1:51:26 ↗ really is like super super ownorous to

1:51:29 ↗ get an additional certification that's

1:51:30 ↗ not ESDS, I think it's probably okay.

1:51:34 ↗ It's not great, but definitely support

1:51:36 ↗ the administration continuing to work

1:51:37 ↗ with them on, you know, going above and

1:51:39 ↗ beyond the minimum requirements of ESDS

1:51:41 ↗ even if there's not a specific

1:51:43 ↗ certification. Um, in addition, so on

1:51:46 ↗ this whole setback thing, I must say

1:51:49 ↗ that when I looked at it, I thought the

1:51:51 ↗ proposed design looked better than the

1:51:53 ↗ code minimum design. And I surveyed

1:51:56 ↗ multiple friends as well. I was like, do

1:51:57 ↗ you think this one looks better? And

1:51:58 ↗ everyone's like, "Yeah, this one where

1:52:00 ↗ it's like five floors straight and then

1:52:01 ↗ back that, you know, cuz most of the

1:52:04 ↗ time when you're experiencing the

1:52:05 ↗ streetscape, it's you're like on the

1:52:07 ↗ street." So if you look up, you know,

1:52:08 ↗ it's like having the top floor setback.

1:52:11 ↗ You know, I understand that it kind of

1:52:12 ↗ decreases the amount of shade in the

1:52:14 ↗ street, but it doesn't matter if the

1:52:15 ↗ setback is at the fifth floor, at the

1:52:17 ↗ third floor. And ultimately, honestly, I

1:52:19 ↗ think having like the third floor be

1:52:21 ↗ what you see from the street and the

1:52:22 ↗ rest of it be setback does feel more

1:52:24 ↗ human scale. And truly, I was like,

1:52:27 ↗ wait, this one looks better than the

1:52:28 ↗ code. So, I definitely think that

1:52:30 ↗ there's ways that we could amend the

1:52:32 ↗ code to, you know, give folks more

1:52:34 ↗ optionality. And um in this specific

1:52:36 ↗ case, I think for the affordable

1:52:38 ↗ building that makes a ton of sense. I

1:52:39 ↗ would even say because this proposed

1:52:41 ↗ design looks better, maybe we should

1:52:42 ↗ consider doing it for the market rate

1:52:43 ↗ building too cuz again like the whole

1:52:45 ↗ point of these design standards in the

1:52:47 ↗ code is to make things look better and

1:52:49 ↗ if it doesn't look better then maybe we

1:52:51 ↗ should think hm are there ways that we

1:52:52 ↗ can change it to get the desired

1:52:53 ↗ outcome. Um other than that I think you

1:52:56 ↗ know the transparency thing again like

1:52:59 ↗ in this situation I think it's totally

1:53:01 ↗ reasonable and that's something we

1:53:02 ↗ should probably revisit. I do think like

1:53:04 ↗ when I've been to other cities, you

1:53:06 ↗ know, in Bend, Oregon, there's all these

1:53:07 ↗ cool murals everywhere. There's like a

1:53:09 ↗ totally flat wall, but they have these

1:53:10 ↗ beautiful murals with like multi

1:53:12 ↗ multicolored like beautiful quotes and

1:53:15 ↗ stuff like that. And I think that's

1:53:17 ↗ something where I I've never looked at

1:53:19 ↗ that and thought, "Wow, I wish I had a

1:53:21 ↗ window to see into the back of this

1:53:22 ↗ coffee shop to see where they're brewing

1:53:24 ↗ coffee." Like, I've literally never had

1:53:25 ↗ that thought. Um, and so I think, you

1:53:27 ↗ know, there are there's different things

1:53:29 ↗ that make a street engaging. Art can be

1:53:31 ↗ one of them. I honestly like I know that

1:53:33 ↗ transparency is a big thing for urban

1:53:35 ↗ design or whatever, but personally I

1:53:38 ↗ it's I don't know. I'm not that into

1:53:40 ↗ like looking into people's front doors

1:53:42 ↗ or whatever. Um and then I think the

1:53:46 ↗ other the other pieces

1:53:49 ↗ um uh the common outdoor uh you know

1:53:53 ↗ amenity space I would concur that like I

1:53:56 ↗ mean I have one of those tiny decks. I

1:53:58 ↗ never use it. And so I think having it

1:54:00 ↗ as, you know, common space where

1:54:01 ↗ possible is probably better. Um, and

1:54:04 ↗ then uh yeah, and then on the

1:54:10 ↗ um Oh, and I think that was it. But

1:54:12 ↗ generally, I'm okay with all of these

1:54:14 ↗ amendments and would recommend

1:54:15 ↗ potentially doing the setback thing on

1:54:17 ↗ the market rate building as well. Thank

1:54:19 ↗ you, Council Member Jen. We had a long

1:54:21 ↗ conversation about the market rebuilding

1:54:24 ↗ because we didn't want to take away PPC

1:54:26 ↗ and the community's opportunity to agree

1:54:28 ↗ with you that it's a better look. So

1:54:31 ↗ rather than offer it in for one market

1:54:33 ↗ rate building in one agreement, we

1:54:35 ↗ wanted to pull that conversation out.

1:54:37 ↗ And so I think if it's not in this

1:54:40 ↗ agreement, there is the potential for it

1:54:41 ↗ to be included in a citywide change

1:54:43 ↗ because I have a feeling that many

1:54:45 ↗ people liked the alternative. So, so if

1:54:49 ↗ it doesn't show up in here, it's very

1:54:50 ↗ likely to be possible once it's gone

1:54:52 ↗ through like planning policy and some

1:54:54 ↗ community comments. But I agree with you

1:54:56 ↗ 100%. Uh, Council Marts, thank you,

1:55:00 ↗ Madam

1:55:02 ↗ Mayor. This whole conversation makes me

1:55:04 ↗ want to

1:55:05 ↗ cry. Uh, this is a project that has been

1:55:08 ↗ incredibly near and dear to my heart for

1:55:11 ↗ nine plus years now. I think it is

1:55:14 ↗ unbelievably important for our

1:55:15 ↗ community. We need workforce housing. We

1:55:18 ↗ need transit oriented development. We

1:55:20 ↗ need services for our working

1:55:22 ↗ families. Uh I don't have any problems

1:55:26 ↗ with the individual details of the

1:55:28 ↗ elements, the facets of this HCA. I

1:55:30 ↗ think the administration has done a good

1:55:32 ↗ job explaining them. I just have more

1:55:35 ↗ existential strategic level questions.

1:55:38 ↗ Um I do have I do have concerns about

1:55:40 ↗ applying different standards to these

1:55:41 ↗ two different buildings. Um, I think

1:55:44 ↗ that it could create uh a a really weird

1:55:47 ↗ feeling. Um, I'm nervous that the

1:55:49 ↗ marketing rate market rate building will

1:55:51 ↗ ever be built. I'm nervous that the

1:55:52 ↗ opportunity center will ever be built.

1:55:55 ↗ Uh, it's been 5 years since Spectrum

1:55:57 ↗ left. We haven't found a partner by

1:56:00 ↗ then. You know, I don't know how you

1:56:03 ↗ possibly go forward with a building

1:56:05 ↗ permit submission in 3 months without

1:56:07 ↗ having the the the market rate building.

1:56:11 ↗ I mean, there's just existential

1:56:13 ↗ questions like, what happens if that

1:56:14 ↗ building never gets built? And I don't

1:56:16 ↗ know what the answers are to that

1:56:18 ↗ question. I don't know what it means for

1:56:20 ↗ us as a city. Maybe you'll tell me it

1:56:22 ↗ doesn't mean anything and it's all on

1:56:23 ↗ KCHA. And Dan, you have a super tough

1:56:26 ↗ job. And every time you come here and

1:56:28 ↗ talk to us, I appreciate it. But I I

1:56:31 ↗ just I just have existential questions

1:56:33 ↗ about where this project is going and

1:56:36 ↗ you know how it gets built um to get us

1:56:40 ↗ because we we need the market rate um on

1:56:42 ↗ these apartments as much as we need the

1:56:44 ↗ the building that Dan is going to build,

1:56:46 ↗ right? Because the market rate in a

1:56:47 ↗ situation like this one, two, and

1:56:49 ↗ three-bedroom apartments, that's

1:56:51 ↗ workforce housing, too. And so, um, you

1:56:55 ↗ know, you know, you're asking about

1:56:57 ↗ these these HCA facets, and like I said,

1:57:00 ↗ fine. Um, the administration's done a

1:57:02 ↗ good job explaining it. Um, it all makes

1:57:04 ↗ sense. Um, I appreciate Kelly's

1:57:07 ↗ analysis. Um, sorry, Council Member

1:57:10 ↗ Jang's uh, analysis of the, um,

1:57:13 ↗ standards involved, but uh, I'm just

1:57:16 ↗ super nervous. We need this. We need

1:57:17 ↗ this to succeed. And I'm just miserable

1:57:20 ↗ that in the five years since Spectrum

1:57:22 ↗ has left, we haven't found a a market

1:57:24 ↗ rate partner, you know, and I don't I'm

1:57:26 ↗ not here to kick you, Dan, but if if

1:57:28 ↗ KCHA can do the market rate side, do it.

1:57:32 ↗ Like, we need that building as well. And

1:57:34 ↗ and that development will be a failure

1:57:37 ↗ if there's a nice building on the

1:57:38 ↗ northern half and a and a hole in the

1:57:41 ↗ ground on the southern half or vice

1:57:42 ↗ versa. So, that's that's my thoughts.

1:57:44 ↗ Thank you.

1:57:46 ↗ Council

1:57:49 ↗ President, thank you. Um, first of all,

1:57:54 ↗ I think this idea of the housing

1:57:58 ↗ cooperation

1:57:59 ↗ agreement testing out our code is a

1:58:03 ↗ wonderful

1:58:04 ↗ opportunity and it's very effective to

1:58:09 ↗ have it come from an affordable housing

1:58:11 ↗ developer who, you know, we have a

1:58:14 ↗ relationship with and trust and all of

1:58:16 ↗ that. So, I am 110% behind making

1:58:21 ↗ changes.

1:58:23 ↗ Um, I definitely want this to feed into

1:58:27 ↗ our code review because we have heard

1:58:30 ↗ over and over again from community

1:58:32 ↗ members who are very concerned about

1:58:34 ↗ housing costs that, you know, I if we

1:58:38 ↗ don't get this right, if we continue to

1:58:40 ↗ make housing more expensive that, you

1:58:44 ↗ know, our kids aren't going to be able

1:58:46 ↗ to live here, people won't be able to

1:58:47 ↗ downsize, all of those things.

1:58:50 ↗ Um,

1:58:51 ↗ so I've also heard, you know, what

1:58:55 ↗ council member Martz has said about

1:58:57 ↗ being very concerned about the market

1:58:58 ↗ rate building. I also am very concerned

1:59:00 ↗ about that. I recognize that the profits

1:59:03 ↗ that you get from either selling this

1:59:06 ↗ parcel, this condoization, are going to

1:59:08 ↗ feed into the ability to make that

1:59:11 ↗ affordable housing work. And so I think

1:59:15 ↗ for those

1:59:16 ↗ reasons including

1:59:19 ↗ these fairly benign I would say

1:59:22 ↗ adjustments to the code in order to be

1:59:26 ↗ able to encourage a market rate

1:59:29 ↗ developer to take on that project and

1:59:31 ↗ move this forward is really in our

1:59:35 ↗ benefit. Um, and I think toward that

1:59:37 ↗ same

1:59:38 ↗ end, working in a way that quickly makes

1:59:41 ↗ the same modifications to the market

1:59:43 ↗ rate side also more likely ensures that

1:59:46 ↗ the two buildings will happen closer to

1:59:49 ↗ the same time and look more similar. Um,

1:59:52 ↗ which I know we've heard we're we've got

1:59:55 ↗ some concerns that we're going to create

1:59:58 ↗ one building

1:59:59 ↗ that maybe is going to look a little bit

2:00:02 ↗ more basic and then the other one is

2:00:05 ↗ required to have patios when we've also

2:00:09 ↗ heard that, you know, not even market

2:00:11 ↗ rate buildings. In fact, I looked around

2:00:14 ↗ in Isiqua and um Belleview and there are

2:00:18 ↗ very few of the new buildings that have

2:00:21 ↗ um have balconies on them. So, I I think

2:00:25 ↗ we should heed this advice and make the

2:00:28 ↗ changes to both of the buildings.

2:00:31 ↗ Council Ray,

2:00:34 ↗ uh thanks so much. I think that the

2:00:37 ↗ modifications that have been uh offered

2:00:40 ↗ all seem very reasonable. I think the

2:00:42 ↗ discussion we've had up here kind of

2:00:44 ↗ supports that. I also love the idea of

2:00:46 ↗ taking advantage of it to get take the

2:00:49 ↗ the title 18 code out for a test drive

2:00:51 ↗ and kick the tires and we're finding,

2:00:53 ↗ you know, maybe some opportunities for

2:00:54 ↗ improvement. I think that's that's uh

2:00:56 ↗ super cool. Um I have a hobby horse. I

2:00:59 ↗ get on this hobby horse whenever I get

2:01:00 ↗ an opportunity and it's about commercial

2:01:02 ↗ space because not only is it affordable

2:01:04 ↗ housing week, but it is economic

2:01:06 ↗ development week and we just heard uh at

2:01:09 ↗ our committee the whole last week that

2:01:11 ↗ the number one issue identified by our

2:01:14 ↗ businesses um that they are facing is

2:01:16 ↗ lack of space in the city of Isiqua. And

2:01:19 ↗ so when I see the commercial space which

2:01:21 ↗ was the kidney center and the daycare

2:01:23 ↗ and I don't I mean those would have been

2:01:25 ↗ cool but I don't care that that we have

2:01:27 ↗ those amenities there but I really feel

2:01:30 ↗ very strongly that there are some there

2:01:32 ↗ is some commercial space built into this

2:01:35 ↗ and I am frustrated beyond belief that

2:01:38 ↗ we put in much of our downtown

2:01:41 ↗ um 5 over1 housing with no commercial

2:01:44 ↗ space and it's biting us in the you know

2:01:46 ↗ whatever now and So, I I don't want to

2:01:50 ↗ be that to be the barrier to make this

2:01:52 ↗ thing work, but there's got to be a way

2:01:55 ↗ to make this work and also get those

2:01:58 ↗ amenities because it's important to our

2:01:59 ↗ community that we have commercial space.

2:02:01 ↗ So, council member, can you take that

2:02:03 ↗ one one thought further? You've heard

2:02:06 ↗ tonight about the conflicting interests

2:02:08 ↗ and so I think your points on including

2:02:10 ↗ commercial are super relevant. Would you

2:02:13 ↗ do that if the building community told

2:02:15 ↗ you that they cannot do it and you have

2:02:17 ↗ to wait 10 years for market conditions

2:02:19 ↗ to change for them to add it or would

2:02:22 ↗ you propose going forward with

2:02:23 ↗ residential without commercial? Because

2:02:25 ↗ those are exactly the challenges and

2:02:27 ↗ conundrums that you're up against.

2:02:28 ↗ That's why you heard the 200 units from

2:02:30 ↗ Dan Dep. So just take that storyline

2:02:33 ↗ further because you have been really

2:02:35 ↗ good at telling that story for eight

2:02:36 ↗ years. Yeah. And and it and it doesn't

2:02:38 ↗ matter. I mean, it does work and the

2:02:40 ↗ differences are I mean, it doesn't work

2:02:43 ↗ as well. I get that. But it works. And

2:02:46 ↗ and what we're seeing right now and what

2:02:48 ↗ we saw in the data um from last uh

2:02:50 ↗ Monday's meeting, the the uh rentals

2:02:54 ↗ cost per square foot of commercial now

2:02:56 ↗ is higher than the rental cost per

2:02:58 ↗ square foot of residential. So, the

2:03:01 ↗ argument starts to break down for me.

2:03:03 ↗ So, um, it's easier to just do all

2:03:07 ↗ residential, but part of building

2:03:09 ↗ residential in our community is meeting

2:03:11 ↗ the larger community needs, which

2:03:13 ↗ includes commercial

2:03:15 ↗ space. Hobby horse off. Your voice will

2:03:17 ↗ be missed. Um, there's a couple people

2:03:19 ↗ that indicated they wanted to speak. I

2:03:21 ↗ think it was Deputy Council President,

2:03:22 ↗ Council Member Hall, Council President,

2:03:25 ↗ and then back to Council Member Jang.

2:03:29 ↗ Okay. So overall um uh I the five

2:03:33 ↗ suggested uh changes uh I am supportive

2:03:36 ↗ of. Um I did want to focus on one area

2:03:40 ↗ that Andrea also referred to and that

2:03:42 ↗ this the step back uh to me uh uh to me

2:03:46 ↗ it's more important that we conserve

2:03:48 ↗ those threebedroom apartments. Um and

2:03:51 ↗ you talked about that as well. But um we

2:03:55 ↗ we have a changing demographic in our

2:03:57 ↗ community and three-bedroom apartments

2:03:59 ↗ are very important from a cultural

2:04:01 ↗ standpoint. Uh in some cultures it's

2:04:04 ↗ very important to have

2:04:05 ↗ multi-generational opportunities. Um and

2:04:08 ↗ then also for larger families, very hard

2:04:11 ↗ to find three bedrooms. Um and so to me

2:04:14 ↗ the higher need is is that three

2:04:17 ↗ bedrooms and not the the step back. So,

2:04:20 ↗ um, and also, uh, the Together Center,

2:04:24 ↗ uh, project in Redmond has three

2:04:26 ↗ bedrooms, and those are highly, highly

2:04:28 ↗ priced. Uh, those were, I think, rented

2:04:30 ↗ out almost immediately. So, it would be

2:04:33 ↗ it'll it will be something that will be

2:04:34 ↗ a great amenity for our community. Um, I

2:04:37 ↗ wanted to agree with Council Member Jen.

2:04:39 ↗ I also have a balcony. Yes, we hardly

2:04:42 ↗ ever use it. So yeah, it's a secret uh a

2:04:46 ↗ little secret about older uh buildings

2:04:48 ↗ where nobody uses those balconies. Um

2:04:51 ↗ and then and then then I wanted to bring

2:04:53 ↗ up something we haven't talked about and

2:04:55 ↗ that is um the uh we had hoped to have

2:04:59 ↗ Health Point and Valley Cities as the

2:05:02 ↗ residents in the opportunity center. And

2:05:05 ↗ I just want to point out if we have 40%

2:05:08 ↗ AMI and below, we will have some people

2:05:11 ↗ who will need uh those on-site services.

2:05:14 ↗ And that has been one of the success

2:05:16 ↗ points at the Together Center in Renmond

2:05:19 ↗ uh is that uh they have a whole building

2:05:21 ↗ that is 30% AMI uh and below. Um and uh

2:05:26 ↗ the great success there is that people

2:05:28 ↗ can walk down the stairs and go to their

2:05:31 ↗ health appointments and their counseling

2:05:32 ↗ appointments. Um, and so for the 40% AMI

2:05:36 ↗ that we are hoping to have in this

2:05:38 ↗ building, uh, we really have to be

2:05:40 ↗ thinking about what amenities are going

2:05:42 ↗ to be there. Um, and so I know that's

2:05:45 ↗ something that we're going to discuss

2:05:46 ↗ later on. Um, and unfortunately, Health

2:05:49 ↗ Point withdrew. Um, and I understand

2:05:52 ↗ completely the situation that, uh,

2:05:54 ↗ health providers are in right now due to

2:05:57 ↗ the federal turmoil. Uh but that's

2:06:00 ↗ something that later on we need to be

2:06:02 ↗ thinking about is is uh what kind of

2:06:05 ↗ supports are going to be necessary in

2:06:06 ↗ our um in our affordable housing uh

2:06:11 ↗ building uh to support the people that

2:06:13 ↗ are in that building uh at that rate. So

2:06:16 ↗ at any rate um I think we should call

2:06:18 ↗ this the Andrea Snider

2:06:21 ↗ uh

2:06:21 ↗ project. We should have a big banner.

2:06:25 ↗ Snider Landis. Yes. Yes. Yes.

2:06:28 ↗ Absolutely. uh because the two of you

2:06:30 ↗ have just worked on this uh relentlessly

2:06:34 ↗ and we would not be here. I think we all

2:06:36 ↗ acknowledge we would not be here without

2:06:38 ↗ the work that's been done and

2:06:40 ↗ consistently been done uh to get this to

2:06:42 ↗ where we are right now. So I hope we can

2:06:45 ↗ move forward and I will support all of

2:06:47 ↗ the proposed changes. Thank you. And I

2:06:50 ↗ think it

2:06:51 ↗ was

2:06:53 ↗ Hall Jen. Council President. Okay.

2:06:56 ↗ Council member Hall.

2:07:00 ↗ He's

2:07:05 ↗ okay. Um, well, echo all the thanks and

2:07:09 ↗ the Snider Lantis.

2:07:11 ↗ Um, sounds like Yeah, what was it you

2:07:14 ↗ said? That sounds like an excellent law

2:07:16 ↗ firm right

2:07:18 ↗ there. Um, anyways, a couple things. So,

2:07:21 ↗ agree definitely a great opportunity to

2:07:23 ↗ test our code and kick the tires as was

2:07:25 ↗ said. um agree we need to make these

2:07:27 ↗ changes um to make the project happen to

2:07:30 ↗ make this important project happen. Um I

2:07:32 ↗ am concerned that we're moving you know

2:07:34 ↗ away from our goal which was to keep the

2:07:36 ↗ look and feel of the and the experience

2:07:38 ↗ of both building of both buildings um

2:07:41 ↗ similar. So the experience of being in a

2:07:44 ↗ market unit and affordable unit felt the

2:07:46 ↗ same and we're bringing people together

2:07:47 ↗ and there's kind of unity and equity

2:07:49 ↗ there. Um, but I agree with the comment.

2:07:53 ↗ I I agree with the comment that we

2:07:54 ↗ really need to have a deeper

2:07:56 ↗ conversation with the community if we

2:07:57 ↗ want to do that. Um, if we want these

2:08:00 ↗ changes to live kind of in market rate

2:08:01 ↗ housing, too. I think my initial

2:08:03 ↗ reaction would have been, oh well, if

2:08:05 ↗ developers are saying that this is what

2:08:07 ↗ they need in order to make things pencil

2:08:09 ↗ out, maybe we consider that. But then

2:08:10 ↗ director Dollywal came in and was

2:08:12 ↗ talking about how it's kind of a mix in

2:08:14 ↗ the in the region. Also, the stepback

2:08:16 ↗ was created in order to decrease the

2:08:18 ↗ scale to make it easier for developers,

2:08:20 ↗ too. So, we're having some kind of

2:08:22 ↗ conflicting things that we're going to

2:08:24 ↗ have to work through as a community with

2:08:25 ↗ the developer community with us as a

2:08:27 ↗ council like there's a lot of policy

2:08:29 ↗ questions there. So, um I feel as if we

2:08:32 ↗ don't have a choice on what we're going

2:08:33 ↗ to have to wait and have those

2:08:34 ↗ conversations more intentionally. Um but

2:08:37 ↗ I do agree with moving forward with the

2:08:39 ↗ changes that need to be made for the

2:08:40 ↗ affordable building. So, and if I'm

2:08:42 ↗ hearing correctly, you are saying that

2:08:44 ↗ if there is a potential to clarify

2:08:47 ↗ something in this agreement to emphasize

2:08:50 ↗ the importance of compatibility to the

2:08:53 ↗ greatest extent possible, you would like

2:08:54 ↗ to see that or not that far?

2:09:00 ↗ I mean, if we feel like there would be

2:09:02 ↗ any value in that perhaps, but I think

2:09:06 ↗ the reality is there's going to be some

2:09:09 ↗ visual differences. noticeably visible

2:09:12 ↗ differences between the buildings. So we

2:09:14 ↗ might be past that. Um I mean if if uh

2:09:17 ↗ staff thinks that that that would be

2:09:18 ↗ valuable addition somewhere um where we

2:09:21 ↗ you know working towards the spirit of

2:09:23 ↗ kind of sameness and and pull some of

2:09:26 ↗ the language that we've been using

2:09:27 ↗ tonight then all for it. Yeah.

2:09:29 ↗ Complimentary not us and them type

2:09:32 ↗ stuff. Yeah. Council member Jen. Um,

2:09:35 ↗ thanks to I would just want to give a

2:09:37 ↗ shout out to Council Member Ray for

2:09:39 ↗ beating the hobby horse of the

2:09:40 ↗ commercial space because I do think this

2:09:42 ↗ is really really important. You know, in

2:09:44 ↗ terms of like when you think about what

2:09:47 ↗ makes a city a city and what are the

2:09:49 ↗ things that people love about it, it is

2:09:50 ↗ the small businesses and I think I mean

2:09:52 ↗ there's just not enough commercial

2:09:54 ↗ spaces on you know on Front Street,

2:09:56 ↗ Gilman Village and there you know the

2:09:59 ↗ opportunity to have like five over ones

2:10:01 ↗ with businesses is something that we

2:10:02 ↗ should actually take seriously. Um, so I

2:10:04 ↗ looked into, you know, in this in this

2:10:08 ↗ uh presentation, it seems like currently

2:10:09 ↗ the market rate building is designed for

2:10:11 ↗ 205 apartments. There's supposed to be

2:10:14 ↗ eight on the ground floor. So that would

2:10:15 ↗ reduce the number to 197, which is not

2:10:18 ↗ that big of a difference in my opinion.

2:10:20 ↗ Um, the other thing is what I've heard

2:10:22 ↗ from developers is that you can't

2:10:25 ↗ underwrite income from commercial space

2:10:27 ↗ unless it's an anchor tenant. So even if

2:10:29 ↗ you know basically it's like even if

2:10:32 ↗ they are like oh yeah we could totally

2:10:33 ↗ rent this out easily the bank's like I

2:10:35 ↗ don't know. Um and so that that's

2:10:37 ↗ essentially what it comes what the issue

2:10:39 ↗ comes down to. However seeing that King

2:10:41 ↗ County Housing Authority hasn't found a

2:10:42 ↗ market rate partner and has signaled

2:10:43 ↗ openness to doing the market rate

2:10:45 ↗ development themselves. Is that perhaps

2:10:47 ↗ an opportunity for us to say hey you

2:10:49 ↗ know for you 197 versus 205 maybe that's

2:10:52 ↗ not that big of a difference. Are you

2:10:53 ↗ open to potentially, you know, having

2:10:55 ↗ commercial space? And is that something

2:10:57 ↗ that we could, you know, put into the

2:10:59 ↗ agreement? Cuz it's not like if

2:11:01 ↗ someone's not going to take a 205 unit

2:11:04 ↗ like residential development, but you

2:11:07 ↗ know, then it's just seeing that we

2:11:09 ↗ haven't like giving up the concession of

2:11:12 ↗ like, oh, we're not going to have any

2:11:13 ↗ commercial space. We're not getting a

2:11:14 ↗ developer anyway. then maybe this could

2:11:17 ↗ be an opportunity for us to uh you know

2:11:19 ↗ say hey maybe can county housing

2:11:20 ↗ authority if you want to develop some

2:11:22 ↗ commercial spaces in what would have

2:11:24 ↗ instead been eight uh residential units

2:11:27 ↗ actually make more money from renting

2:11:29 ↗ out the commercial space. Um I think

2:11:31 ↗ that's definitely something that we

2:11:32 ↗ should consider. Council member Ray,

2:11:34 ↗ you're going to lose a partner here. Are

2:11:36 ↗ you sure you don't want to stay? Council

2:11:38 ↗ President. Well, I was going to also

2:11:41 ↗ jump in on that um arena. Um, I believe

2:11:46 ↗ some housing developments are um that

2:11:50 ↗ couldn't be sold as mixed use originally

2:11:53 ↗ are being developed or being required to

2:11:55 ↗ have taller firstf floor ceilings so

2:11:58 ↗ that they could transition over to um

2:12:01 ↗ commercial. And so I wonder whether we

2:12:04 ↗ might look at something like that which

2:12:06 ↗ would allow them to sell it as housing

2:12:10 ↗ um to the financial market and then

2:12:13 ↗ transition if they do have that um

2:12:16 ↗ availability of commercial renters and

2:12:19 ↗ so whether that might be a possibility.

2:12:22 ↗ That is a great point because up in the

2:12:23 ↗ Highlands you can go buy these townhouse

2:12:26 ↗ residences that have first floor

2:12:27 ↗ businesses in them. It's a fantastic

2:12:29 ↗ model. So, lots and lots of ideas. Who

2:12:32 ↗ have we not heard from? Council member

2:12:34 ↗ Joe, are you the last? Yes, you are.

2:12:37 ↗ Thank just on the policy questions, I I

2:12:40 ↗ think the administration's done a great

2:12:42 ↗ job trying to find a great job trying to

2:12:44 ↗ find the the uh the middle ground and

2:12:47 ↗ and ideas that can move this HCA

2:12:50 ↗ forward. Um, I I compliment the

2:12:53 ↗ administration and um the all the

2:12:57 ↗ parties there for trying to find a way

2:12:58 ↗ to move this forward. And I don't really

2:13:01 ↗ have any changes to the agreement for us

2:13:04 ↗ to consider other than just for my

2:13:08 ↗ fellow council members. Um, this will

2:13:11 ↗ not be the last change we're going to be

2:13:13 ↗ making to this. And um you know we

2:13:17 ↗ there's great flexibility from all eight

2:13:21 ↗ of us up here to try to get this project

2:13:23 ↗ through. Um but we need to be prepared

2:13:25 ↗ to be making some uh more difficult

2:13:28 ↗ decisions as we go forward to make this

2:13:30 ↗ project uh go forward. Um, just from the

2:13:34 ↗ National Association of Homebuilders,

2:13:36 ↗ the tariffs on a single family home are

2:13:38 ↗ raising the price of a house by their

2:13:40 ↗ estimation if they all go through by

2:13:42 ↗ $9,200 per unit. Okay? So, it's a little

2:13:45 ↗ different for, you know, buildings like

2:13:47 ↗ like this, but that just gives you an

2:13:49 ↗ idea in terms of scale. And for every

2:13:51 ↗ $1,000 increase in a price of a home,

2:13:54 ↗ uh, new numbers came out that indicated

2:13:56 ↗ that 1,000 about 1,025 families are

2:13:59 ↗ priced out of being able to get that

2:14:01 ↗ home based on 10% down and the current

2:14:04 ↗ interest rate. So, what we're doing here

2:14:06 ↗ is trying to keep the price of the units

2:14:08 ↗ down and trying to make the project

2:14:11 ↗ feasible and built. Those are all great

2:14:13 ↗ things in this environment with the

2:14:15 ↗ other things going on at the other

2:14:16 ↗ levels. You know, it it puts more

2:14:19 ↗ pressure on us. So, we need to be

2:14:20 ↗ prepared to be working with our partners

2:14:22 ↗ to make it happen. I appreciate all the

2:14:24 ↗ hard work that's been done here tonight.

2:14:25 ↗ Thank you. Thank you, Council Member

2:14:26 ↗ Joe. Council member Mertz, one follow up

2:14:29 ↗ on the subject of patios because patios

2:14:31 ↗ are fascinating. Um, I have a I have a

2:14:33 ↗ data point where I can tell you exactly

2:14:35 ↗ what a patio is or is not worth because

2:14:38 ↗ I have a 24y old King County Sheriff's

2:14:40 ↗ Office uh 911 operator kid uh who

2:14:43 ↗ recently moved into a development in a

2:14:45 ↗ neighboring city. And that development,

2:14:47 ↗ he had the choice between air

2:14:49 ↗ conditioning and no patio or a patio and

2:14:53 ↗ sorry uh a patio and no air conditioning

2:14:55 ↗ or air conditioning and no patio. And he

2:14:58 ↗ absolutely chose air conditioning and no

2:15:00 ↗ patio. There you go. Thank you.

2:15:03 ↗ Great. Well, thank you for all these

2:15:05 ↗ comments. I'm going to look at Andrea to

2:15:07 ↗ see if she has everything she has needs.

2:15:10 ↗ I believe so. So, what I have heard is

2:15:13 ↗ um to continue negotiations with KCHA on

2:15:17 ↗ environmental certification items and

2:15:20 ↗ sustainability for the project. Um to um

2:15:24 ↗ look at commercial space and what we can

2:15:27 ↗ negotiate there. Um, and um, I've heard

2:15:31 ↗ a couple of different things on whether

2:15:33 ↗ we should require um, or wave these

2:15:36 ↗ requirements for both buildings. Um, so

2:15:40 ↗ I've I've kind of heard yes and no from

2:15:43 ↗ council on that, but general support for

2:15:45 ↗ the um, agreement as it stands. Thank

2:15:49 ↗ you. Um, great conversation tonight.

2:15:52 ↗ This is very unusual one for you to have

2:15:53 ↗ because we're not in a development

2:15:55 ↗ agreement. We're in a housing agreement.

2:15:57 ↗ Most of these details were usually hash

2:15:59 ↗ hashed out at the development commission

2:16:00 ↗ and with city staff. So, thank you for

2:16:02 ↗ all your participation tonight and your

2:16:04 ↗ great comments. Dan and Andrea, I just

2:16:07 ↗ amazed that we are all still married

2:16:09 ↗ together. There's not been a project

2:16:11 ↗ that we have had that has had more

2:16:13 ↗ bumps, hiccups, and reasons to just

2:16:15 ↗ throw the towel in than this one. And

2:16:18 ↗ so, thank you both so much for all of

2:16:20 ↗ your work on this and the fantastic

2:16:22 ↗ explanation provided in the staff

2:16:24 ↗ presentation uh from King County

2:16:26 ↗ Housing. And Andrea, you're the life's

2:16:30 ↗ off your year, the years off your life

2:16:32 ↗ for all the effort that you have put

2:16:34 ↗ into this. I'm very confident it's going

2:16:36 ↗ to happen. I do agree with Council

2:16:37 ↗ Member Joe. There's probably a few more

2:16:39 ↗ little twists, but we're going to get

2:16:40 ↗ through them. It's a super strong team.

2:16:42 ↗ Very excited about this project. Just to

2:16:44 ↗ let you know, these projects are not

2:16:46 ↗ happening all over the place. There's

2:16:47 ↗ one that's going to happen in Isiqua.

2:16:49 ↗ That's a huge big deal. So, thank you

2:16:52 ↗ very much for coming tonight. Thank you,

2:16:53 ↗ Dan. And thank your team. Thank you,

2:16:56 ↗ Mayor Py. Thank you, council. The next

2:16:59 ↗ item on our

2:17:01 ↗ agenda, since my computer

2:17:06 ↗ died, is ID 1875, Social and Community

2:17:11 ↗ Connection Initiative. And the action

2:17:13 ↗ before council tonight is to make a

2:17:15 ↗ recommendation. Um while Dale, our deput

2:17:18 ↗ our city assistant to the city

2:17:20 ↗ administrative presenting, I do want to

2:17:23 ↗ add a little introduction to this item.

2:17:26 ↗ While this is um not usually something

2:17:30 ↗ we talk about on council disases, it is

2:17:32 ↗ an issue within communities around the

2:17:34 ↗ country and within Isiqua that people

2:17:37 ↗ are feeling disconnected from their

2:17:39 ↗ communities. It's come for a bunch of

2:17:41 ↗ different reasons. that's come over a

2:17:42 ↗ long period of time. And from the

2:17:45 ↗ different um meetings I do with clubs,

2:17:48 ↗ homeowners associations, and just

2:17:50 ↗ individuals at Coffee, I hear about this

2:17:52 ↗ more than anything else. I hear about

2:17:54 ↗ people desiring to find more

2:17:56 ↗ opportunities to enrich our community

2:18:00 ↗ bonds. And so, just for example, um

2:18:04 ↗ Council Member D. Michelle and I are

2:18:05 ↗ hosting another convening this week with

2:18:08 ↗ our service providers who are in a

2:18:11 ↗ really difficult situation right now and

2:18:14 ↗ the difference it makes for them to know

2:18:16 ↗ that they're being listened to, that

2:18:17 ↗ things are happening, that people want

2:18:19 ↗ to know what's going on in their world.

2:18:21 ↗ Um, it's it's uplifting even though

2:18:25 ↗ we're not ourselves responsible for some

2:18:28 ↗ of the federal changes that are causing

2:18:30 ↗ all the grief. So, I'm very excited

2:18:32 ↗ about this. I think we have a

2:18:34 ↗ wonderfully engaging community. I think

2:18:35 ↗ we have a community who's desirous of

2:18:38 ↗ some um special effort being put in to

2:18:42 ↗ address uh the feelings that folks are

2:18:44 ↗ having now um of being alone and being

2:18:46 ↗ lonely in a community of 42,000 people.

2:18:50 ↗ So, I'm going to ask uh Dale to give us

2:18:53 ↗ a presentation and and work with the

2:18:55 ↗ council on some discussion. Absolutely.

2:18:57 ↗ Thank you, Mayor Paulie. And good

2:18:58 ↗ evening, council members. uh Dale Marky

2:19:01 ↗ Crimp, assistant to the city

2:19:02 ↗ administrator. Um coming off a first

2:19:05 ↗ meeting with our community connection

2:19:07 ↗ action group earlier today, which I'll

2:19:08 ↗ share more about a little bit later in

2:19:10 ↗ the presentation, but thrilled to be

2:19:13 ↗ taking us into the 9:00 hour here. Um,

2:19:17 ↗ so the purpose of tonight's presentation

2:19:19 ↗ is to provide the city council with an

2:19:21 ↗ update on the 2025 citywide priority of

2:19:24 ↗ nurturing connections and building

2:19:26 ↗ strong community bonds, as well as to

2:19:29 ↗ collect your feedback on the

2:19:31 ↗ administration's recommended approach

2:19:32 ↗ for this

2:19:34 ↗ priority. Tonight, the direction that

2:19:37 ↗ we're requesting is your review of the

2:19:40 ↗ administration's proposed vision,

2:19:42 ↗ mission, goals, strategies, all that

2:19:45 ↗ live within the attached action plan.

2:19:48 ↗ And specifically, these two questions.

2:19:51 ↗ Does the city council agree with the

2:19:52 ↗ overarching vision, city mission, and

2:19:55 ↗ goals of this initiative? And do you

2:19:57 ↗ have feedback on the aligned strategies

2:19:59 ↗ and actions within the

2:20:02 ↗ plan? First, I'll start off with a

2:20:04 ↗ little bit of background. Mayor Paulie

2:20:05 ↗ just offered some, but I want to provide

2:20:07 ↗ a little bit more. In 2023, the US

2:20:11 ↗ surgeon general VC Murthy issued an

2:20:14 ↗ advisory entitled Our Epidemic of

2:20:16 ↗ Loneliness and isolation.

2:20:18 ↗ This report described decades of

2:20:21 ↗ observation and research on the impacts

2:20:24 ↗ of loneliness and isolation on

2:20:27 ↗ individuals physical and emotional

2:20:30 ↗ health and the impacts that those on

2:20:34 ↗ individuals have on their community more

2:20:36 ↗ broadly.

2:20:38 ↗ Noted in the report was that nearly 50%

2:20:41 ↗ of adults across the country report

2:20:43 ↗ experiencing loneliness on a regular

2:20:45 ↗ basis and this was prior to the co 19

2:20:49 ↗ pandemic as many of us I think ourselves

2:20:52 ↗ experienced the the pandemic worsened

2:20:55 ↗ that experience for many um and we saw

2:20:57 ↗ declines in civic engagement and

2:21:01 ↗ volunteerism. We also saw increases in

2:21:04 ↗ online activity and technology use over

2:21:07 ↗ in-person connection and an erosion of

2:21:09 ↗ the skills to engage socially with the

2:21:12 ↗ people in our community, our neighbors

2:21:15 ↗ um and folks that we would see out in

2:21:17 ↗ the

2:21:18 ↗ world. The report talks about that this

2:21:21 ↗ is most acutely experienced by young

2:21:23 ↗ people and those 65 and older or as one

2:21:26 ↗ of our equity board members would say 65

2:21:28 ↗ and better. Um,

2:21:30 ↗ and I, you know, I think that's the the

2:21:33 ↗ data bears that out that it's most most

2:21:35 ↗ frequently experienced in our youth, um,

2:21:37 ↗ as well as our older um,

2:21:40 ↗ residents. So, Isiqua, um, what does

2:21:44 ↗ this national report have to do and what

2:21:47 ↗ does it mean for Isiqua?

2:21:49 ↗ We believe that Isiqua is not immune to

2:21:53 ↗ these national trends and in fact we

2:21:56 ↗ might be as a community more susceptible

2:21:58 ↗ to these nationwide trends given a few a

2:22:01 ↗ few elements that are true here in the

2:22:03 ↗ community. I think it's important to

2:22:05 ↗ note our behavioral health team has

2:22:06 ↗ shared that they've seen this that

2:22:08 ↗ almost every single day uh they

2:22:10 ↗ encounter someone who is acutely

2:22:12 ↗ experiencing loneliness and isolation.

2:22:16 ↗ your young people. I was uh able to

2:22:18 ↗ recently attend a PTA meeting at the

2:22:20 ↗ middle school uh last month. Um and we

2:22:23 ↗ hear from teachers and parents and

2:22:25 ↗ service providers that work with our

2:22:27 ↗ youth that they are struggling. They're

2:22:29 ↗ struggling to build healthy

2:22:31 ↗ relationships with each other. We also

2:22:34 ↗ know that Isqua has above average tech

2:22:36 ↗ sector um and teleawwork population that

2:22:39 ↗ can lead to a level of isolation for

2:22:41 ↗ many folks in those businesses. Um, and

2:22:43 ↗ also not noted on the slide, but I think

2:22:45 ↗ important to note is the increasing

2:22:47 ↗ diversity within our community. Language

2:22:50 ↗ barriers and cultural barriers can often

2:22:52 ↗ provide um increased loneliness and

2:22:55 ↗ isolation, especially for newcomers to a

2:22:58 ↗ community. Now, the image on the left

2:23:01 ↗ side of your screen is a little hot

2:23:02 ↗ preview um of something we'll talk about

2:23:04 ↗ next week. Um, but the preliminary

2:23:06 ↗ results from our 2025 community survey

2:23:09 ↗ also indicate that there are some trends

2:23:11 ↗ that are alive and well here in our

2:23:13 ↗ community. While 77% of residents feel

2:23:16 ↗ say they feel they belong in Isiqua,

2:23:18 ↗ which is really is positive and

2:23:20 ↗ compelling, um 55, so just about half of

2:23:24 ↗ residents say they feel connected to

2:23:26 ↗ their neighbors. 43% less than half feel

2:23:30 ↗ that it's easy to meet and connect with

2:23:32 ↗ folks in the community. and

2:23:34 ↗ unfortunately 28% feel connected to

2:23:37 ↗ their broader community here in

2:23:42 ↗ Isiqua. In 2024, as you all remember

2:23:45 ↗ well, um the administration led an

2:23:48 ↗ update of the Isiqua strategic plan,

2:23:51 ↗ working with a community task force that

2:23:52 ↗ also included members of our city

2:23:54 ↗ council um and city staff to update the

2:23:57 ↗ objectives and actions within the

2:23:59 ↗ strategic plan to guide our work for the

2:24:01 ↗ next 5 years.

2:24:03 ↗ Two actions were added within the social

2:24:05 ↗ and economic vitality section that

2:24:07 ↗ explicitly refer to this epidemic of

2:24:11 ↗ loneliness and the need and commitment

2:24:13 ↗ to building social connection and a

2:24:16 ↗ sense of belonging here in Isiqua. And

2:24:19 ↗ Mayor Paulie made uh nurturing

2:24:21 ↗ connections and building strong

2:24:23 ↗ community bonds a priority, a top five

2:24:25 ↗ priority for 2025.

2:24:29 ↗ Following the mayor's prioritization of

2:24:32 ↗ this initiative, staff um got right to

2:24:35 ↗ work. We wanted to act quickly um to

2:24:38 ↗ make sure that we could take steps

2:24:39 ↗ immediately to start planning for how we

2:24:41 ↗ would

2:24:42 ↗ approach building um building some

2:24:45 ↗ initiatives that would support uh this

2:24:48 ↗ effort. First, we had a leadership

2:24:50 ↗ discussion. um our department leaders,

2:24:52 ↗ supervisors, and managers across the

2:24:54 ↗ city came together in January and shared

2:24:57 ↗ about the way they see this epidemic

2:24:59 ↗ show up both in their work um with

2:25:02 ↗ community members and and with staff

2:25:04 ↗ members directly.

2:25:06 ↗ At the same time, executive department

2:25:08 ↗ staff, which is a fancy way of saying

2:25:10 ↗ me, um, and our human services division

2:25:13 ↗ staff, we reached out to some local

2:25:15 ↗ organizations um homeowners

2:25:17 ↗ associations, and community members who

2:25:19 ↗ were already actively engaged in the

2:25:21 ↗ work of building social connection and

2:25:24 ↗ belonging. to learn more about the work

2:25:26 ↗ they were doing, what they were seeing

2:25:29 ↗ as successes in that work, what they

2:25:31 ↗ were seeing as challenges in that work,

2:25:33 ↗ and what they felt that the city might

2:25:34 ↗ be able to do to support in the ongoing

2:25:38 ↗ work. We then in February, March, and

2:25:41 ↗ April assembled a core city team of

2:25:43 ↗ staff members from all departments to

2:25:46 ↗ develop the action plan, the draft

2:25:48 ↗ action plan in the packet for tonight.

2:25:50 ↗ And then as it says on this timeline, um

2:25:54 ↗ just today we had the first meeting of

2:25:56 ↗ our community connection action group um

2:25:59 ↗ which will convene again in the next

2:26:01 ↗ month or so to finalize its charter

2:26:03 ↗ mission and

2:26:07 ↗ objectives. The focus of the core city

2:26:10 ↗ group uh was developing an a clear

2:26:13 ↗ aspirational vision.

2:26:15 ↗ what would a future look like in

2:26:19 ↗ which all members of our community felt

2:26:22 ↗ like they belonged? And so after some

2:26:25 ↗ iteration, the proposed vision here on

2:26:27 ↗ the screen and in your packet, all Isqua

2:26:29 ↗ community members feel they belong here

2:26:31 ↗ through social connection and strong

2:26:32 ↗ community bonds. We know from the survey

2:26:34 ↗ right now about 77% of folks feel that

2:26:37 ↗ way. Um not the 100% the aspiration

2:26:40 ↗ we're headed towards.

2:26:42 ↗ And then after developing that vision,

2:26:44 ↗ uh, city staff worked on a city mission.

2:26:48 ↗ So a clear, compelling, and most

2:26:51 ↗ importantly feasible statement of what

2:26:54 ↗ the city's contribution to achieving

2:26:56 ↗ that vision could be knowing the city is

2:26:59 ↗ but one actor in the effort of achieving

2:27:02 ↗ that vision. It is certainly not

2:27:03 ↗ something that we would go alone and in

2:27:05 ↗ fact probably not even something that we

2:27:07 ↗ would be at the lead or the helm

2:27:10 ↗ of. Following the development of that

2:27:13 ↗ city mission, we sought as a group to

2:27:16 ↗ develop goals aligned to the mission

2:27:19 ↗ that I think important to emphasize felt

2:27:22 ↗ within the scope and skill and capacity

2:27:25 ↗ of city staff. And you can see these

2:27:28 ↗ four goals here on the screen.

2:27:30 ↗ empowering community leaders, enhancing

2:27:32 ↗ behavioral health support, raising

2:27:34 ↗ awareness and encouraging engagement,

2:27:37 ↗ and strengthening neighborhood and

2:27:38 ↗ community

2:27:41 ↗ ties. And then from that point, uh the

2:27:44 ↗ the group worked on aligning to each

2:27:47 ↗ goal strategies and actions that would

2:27:50 ↗ in the near term get us closer to each

2:27:53 ↗ of those defined goals. They might not

2:27:54 ↗ in the next two years. We might not

2:27:56 ↗ achieve those goals, but they will be

2:27:58 ↗ the first steps in pursuit of those

2:28:00 ↗ goals. These strategies and actions

2:28:03 ↗ largely describe

2:28:04 ↗ enhancements to current city work

2:28:06 ↗ streams and activities that staff are

2:28:09 ↗ already engaged in with the exception of

2:28:12 ↗ the first strategy around forming con

2:28:14 ↗ and convening a community action group.

2:28:18 ↗ The theory um that underpins a lot of

2:28:21 ↗ this work is that by building staff

2:28:23 ↗ knowledge and skill as well as community

2:28:25 ↗ member knowledge and skill about the

2:28:28 ↗ need to foster connection around our

2:28:31 ↗ community that over time we'll take

2:28:34 ↗ we'll be able to take a a proconnection

2:28:36 ↗ lens to our work in the same way one

2:28:39 ↗ might provide an equity lens to their

2:28:41 ↗ work and that that lens can be taken to

2:28:44 ↗ all elements of work. I think a great

2:28:46 ↗ example of this um our parks planning

2:28:50 ↗ department is represented on our core

2:28:52 ↗ city team and we've talked a lot about

2:28:54 ↗ the activation around the senior center

2:28:57 ↗ plaza and what it would look like rather

2:29:00 ↗ than just you know to cut a ribbon and

2:29:02 ↗ say we're open for business to really

2:29:04 ↗ think strategically about how to

2:29:06 ↗ activate the space in a way that brings

2:29:08 ↗ people to it constantly and repeatedly

2:29:11 ↗ in the first months to really make sure

2:29:13 ↗ that it becomes a place that people are

2:29:15 ↗ gathering and connecting with each

2:29:17 ↗ other. So I think that's one example of

2:29:20 ↗ how we're thinking this is something

2:29:22 ↗ coming down the line. It's already a

2:29:24 ↗ project in motion. It's already

2:29:25 ↗ something we're going to do. How do we

2:29:27 ↗ enhance that experience to make it a

2:29:30 ↗ proconnection event or a proconnection

2:29:35 ↗ space? The action plan outlines a

2:29:38 ↗ biionial scope. Um I think there is a

2:29:41 ↗ lot of opportunity to modify and adjust

2:29:44 ↗ our strategies as we go. Um really the

2:29:47 ↗ the plan here is to be ambitious but

2:29:51 ↗ feasible. We do not want to overpromise

2:29:53 ↗ and underdel on this and we want to be

2:29:55 ↗ really cognizant of the limitations on

2:29:58 ↗ staff capacity um given what this group

2:30:01 ↗ knows very much so our true limitations

2:30:04 ↗ on our ability and time um to deliver on

2:30:08 ↗ some of these promises. And so you can

2:30:10 ↗ see here in 2025, the real focus has

2:30:13 ↗ been on forming the team, launching this

2:30:16 ↗ community action group, collecting

2:30:18 ↗ baseline data, activating key city-owned

2:30:21 ↗ spaces, and conducting initial rounds of

2:30:24 ↗ community outreach, some of which were

2:30:26 ↗ discussed in the community action group

2:30:27 ↗ today. And then in 2026, continuing to

2:30:31 ↗ focus on expansion of programming,

2:30:33 ↗ supporting the programming of our

2:30:34 ↗ community partners, um launching a

2:30:37 ↗ campaign, an educational campaign around

2:30:41 ↗ this epidemic of loneliness and how to

2:30:43 ↗ intervene. Um and then continuing to

2:30:45 ↗ convene and conduct ongoing meetings of

2:30:47 ↗ the community connection

2:30:51 ↗ group. The administration is not

2:30:54 ↗ presenting distinct options tonight. Um,

2:30:57 ↗ instead we wanted to share some guiding

2:30:59 ↗ questions that have been used at

2:31:01 ↗ multiple decision points and I think

2:31:03 ↗ highlight the real focus of the planning

2:31:05 ↗ effort

2:31:06 ↗ here. What is within our sphere of

2:31:09 ↗ influence? What can we actually impact?

2:31:11 ↗ What is the city or one of our partners

2:31:15 ↗ best positioned to do in service of the

2:31:18 ↗ goal or the outcome? and do we have the

2:31:21 ↗ staff capacity, knowledge, and skill to

2:31:24 ↗ commit to anything that we've outlined

2:31:25 ↗ in this plan? If the answers to that

2:31:28 ↗ last question was no, it didn't go in

2:31:30 ↗ the plan as of right

2:31:32 ↗ now. In terms of impacts um with this

2:31:35 ↗ action plan, there's no expected

2:31:37 ↗ financial impact of this in this current

2:31:40 ↗ bienium. Um in terms of policy, not

2:31:43 ↗ really any expected notable policy

2:31:46 ↗ impacts here. Instead, it's really a

2:31:47 ↗ focus on, as I said, implementing

2:31:50 ↗ current pro programs and projects with a

2:31:53 ↗ proconnection lens. And then the place

2:31:55 ↗ we do expect impact is in this last

2:31:57 ↗ piece. Um, impact within the community.

2:32:00 ↗ A lot of the groups and individuals,

2:32:01 ↗ especially the folks that I had the

2:32:03 ↗ opportunity to meet with today, um,

2:32:05 ↗ they're working really hard in their own

2:32:07 ↗ silo. And for some of them just being in

2:32:10 ↗ the same room with other folks doing the

2:32:11 ↗ work, it was really incredible to watch

2:32:14 ↗ the connections that were flying and

2:32:15 ↗ saying, "Oh, I didn't know about that.

2:32:17 ↗ Can can I get invited to that?" Um, we

2:32:20 ↗ really think that bolstering the

2:32:22 ↗ capacity of our partner organizations

2:32:25 ↗ here already doing this work is going to

2:32:27 ↗ be a huge boon for the community. We

2:32:30 ↗ also think the city can help connect,

2:32:31 ↗ amplify, and scale current ongoing

2:32:34 ↗ efforts. um and also connect

2:32:35 ↗ organizations and individuals with each

2:32:37 ↗ other to share resources and coordinate

2:32:40 ↗ efforts. So the recommendation tonight

2:32:43 ↗ is to support the administration's plan

2:32:46 ↗ um and to provide feedback specifically

2:32:48 ↗ on the vision, mission, and action plan.

2:32:51 ↗ Um following tonight's meeting, uh we'll

2:32:54 ↗ implement feedback from you all. Uh and

2:32:58 ↗ it says launch here already literally

2:33:00 ↗ today. It was a it was a doodle when I

2:33:01 ↗ first put these materials together. So,

2:33:03 ↗ it could have been a next week, but uh

2:33:05 ↗ we will be reconvening that group in the

2:33:06 ↗ next two to four weeks to finalize their

2:33:08 ↗ charter. And then throughout uh quarter

2:33:10 ↗ 2 through quarter 4, finalizing a

2:33:13 ↗ collection plan for behavioral health

2:33:15 ↗ and support services, especially the

2:33:16 ↗ data, so we understand where we're

2:33:18 ↗ starting um and ongoing meetings of our

2:33:21 ↗ core city team to continue to coordinate

2:33:23 ↗ efforts. The plan will be to come back

2:33:25 ↗ to city council um late in the year or

2:33:28 ↗ early in 2026 to provide you an update

2:33:31 ↗ on how efforts are

2:33:33 ↗ going. So with that again the direction

2:33:36 ↗ needed tonight. Does the city council

2:33:37 ↗ agree with the overarching vision,

2:33:39 ↗ mission, and goals? Um and does the city

2:33:42 ↗ council have feedback on the aligned

2:33:44 ↗ strategies act and actions within the

2:33:46 ↗ plan?

2:33:49 ↗ Thank you Dale. Um, so let's uh do

2:33:53 ↗ questions before we go into the

2:33:55 ↗ feedback. Are there any just Oh, wow.

2:33:56 ↗ It's a race tonight. Okay. Um, Council

2:34:00 ↗ Member Joe followed by Council Member

2:34:01 ↗ Hall. Thank you. I just wanted to be

2:34:05 ↗ Council Member Hall there. Hate playing

2:34:08 ↗ second fiddle to a tall, handsome young

2:34:10 ↗ person. Darn it. All right.

2:34:12 ↗ Um, I really appreciate the comment that

2:34:15 ↗ you made uh concerning the uh way that

2:34:19 ↗ we could best engage our seniors with

2:34:22 ↗ the new park that's going to be

2:34:23 ↗ developing. Um, that got me to think uh

2:34:28 ↗ how how else can we engage our other

2:34:30 ↗ volunteers? One of the points that you

2:34:32 ↗ made early in your presentation was that

2:34:34 ↗ volunteerism is down. One of the

2:34:36 ↗ experiences that that I've had that um

2:34:38 ↗ I've noticed is that when volunteers are

2:34:40 ↗ not used, when volunteers are not

2:34:42 ↗ engaged, they become disengaged and then

2:34:44 ↗ are not volunteering anymore. So, as I

2:34:48 ↗ was thinking about this project, um we

2:34:51 ↗ have a number of systems already in

2:34:53 ↗ place in our city such as our C

2:34:56 ↗ volunteers. It's an organization that

2:34:58 ↗ the volunteers are preparing for

2:35:00 ↗ emergencies mostly, but they're supposed

2:35:02 ↗ to be embedded in the neighborhood to

2:35:04 ↗ help in an emergency. So, one of the

2:35:06 ↗ thoughts that I had that perhaps could

2:35:08 ↗ be duplicated with other U volunteer

2:35:10 ↗ groups that we have is to have our CERT

2:35:12 ↗ members perhaps go and visit one or two

2:35:16 ↗ neighbors that they have never met or a

2:35:18 ↗ neighbor that has just moved into the

2:35:19 ↗ neighborhood and um tell them what they

2:35:23 ↗ do as a volunteer and the resources that

2:35:25 ↗ they have available to help in an

2:35:28 ↗ emergency. so that the person that is

2:35:29 ↗ new to the neighborhood or the person

2:35:31 ↗ that they've never met can feel engaged,

2:35:33 ↗ protected, supported um as a way to help

2:35:37 ↗ this work. And there may be other ways

2:35:39 ↗ that we can use our other volunteer

2:35:41 ↗ boards and commissions to do that or the

2:35:43 ↗ Kuanas or the Rotary uh club, etc. But

2:35:47 ↗ that's just an idea that I had that um I

2:35:49 ↗ hope could be explored and I wanted to

2:35:51 ↗ hear your thoughts on that. I love that

2:35:53 ↗ idea. uh emergency manager Jared

2:35:55 ↗ Schneider is part of our um ongoing

2:35:58 ↗ internal conversation and C both our C

2:36:00 ↗ volunteers and our uh partners that are

2:36:04 ↗ running resilience hubs around the city

2:36:06 ↗ are have already been uh tapped uh to be

2:36:10 ↗ participants in whatever the ultimate

2:36:12 ↗ some of the ultimate initiatives

2:36:13 ↗ outgoing out outward facing initiatives

2:36:15 ↗ look like. So yeah, absolutely. That's

2:36:18 ↗ great. That's great to hear. Thank you.

2:36:19 ↗ Thank you, Council Member Joe. Council

2:36:21 ↗ member Hall.

2:36:23 ↗ Uh, thanks. I have two questions. Um,

2:36:25 ↗ and I'm really, really, really happy

2:36:27 ↗ that we're here. So, thank you for the

2:36:29 ↗ work that you've put into this. This is

2:36:30 ↗ outstanding. Um, first question is just,

2:36:35 ↗ um, we can't be the only city in the

2:36:37 ↗ region thinking about this. So, I'm just

2:36:39 ↗ curious how your conversations what

2:36:41 ↗ they've been like when when you talk to

2:36:43 ↗ other cities when we're like engaged in

2:36:44 ↗ this work. Is this something that other

2:36:46 ↗ people are thinking about as well here?

2:36:49 ↗ Yes. They want us well. They're thinking

2:36:51 ↗ about it and they're thinking, "Hey,

2:36:52 ↗ Isiqua, figure it out and come tell us

2:36:55 ↗ how to do it." Of course, every time.

2:36:57 ↗ Yeah. In fact, you know, there was there

2:36:59 ↗ was an invitation actually to speak at a

2:37:01 ↗ local city manager's conversation last

2:37:04 ↗ month and I had to say, "We're not quite

2:37:06 ↗ ready to come and talk to you yet." Um,

2:37:08 ↗ and then of course we see some some

2:37:12 ↗ nonprofit andor private initiatives. So,

2:37:14 ↗ I know um in Seattle there's a group

2:37:17 ↗ called the Chamber of Connection. Uh

2:37:19 ↗ that's a not the city supports it, but

2:37:22 ↗ it's not run by the city. Um I think one

2:37:26 ↗ of the challenges with some of these

2:37:27 ↗ programs is they're really seeking out

2:37:29 ↗ the people who are already really

2:37:31 ↗ actively looking for connection and

2:37:33 ↗ maybe not the folks that maybe most

2:37:35 ↗ acutely need support. Um but still a ton

2:37:39 ↗ of great stuff to learn from them.

2:37:40 ↗ Highly recommend checking out their

2:37:41 ↗ website. um they have a resource on sort

2:37:44 ↗ of the six points of connection that

2:37:46 ↗ they encourage every community member to

2:37:48 ↗ have um that overlaps big time with

2:37:50 ↗ emergency. One of the first ones is

2:37:52 ↗ who's who's the pro who's your neighbor

2:37:54 ↗ that's your sort of emergency touch

2:37:56 ↗ point person. Um and so learning a lot

2:37:59 ↗ from not just necessarily other

2:38:01 ↗ jurisdictions but other actors in the

2:38:04 ↗ space. And then I would say

2:38:05 ↗ internationally there's a ton that

2:38:07 ↗ cities are doing. A lot of it is around

2:38:10 ↗ uh public infrastructure design. So you

2:38:12 ↗ read about sort of like high- five

2:38:14 ↗ zones. And I know that's something that

2:38:16 ↗ uh Robin Spear and I have talked about

2:38:18 ↗ like what does a high- five zone along

2:38:19 ↗ the Reineer Trail look like? Or as we're

2:38:21 ↗ installing um benches, you know, benches

2:38:25 ↗ can be labeled as sort of conversation

2:38:26 ↗ benches. So there there are a lot of

2:38:29 ↗ Europe has a lot of ideas about how to

2:38:31 ↗ how to build this unsurprisingly. Um and

2:38:33 ↗ so that's definitely entered a lot of

2:38:35 ↗ the conversations we've been having.

2:38:38 ↗ Thank you. Yeah. And um in my comments

2:38:40 ↗ letter I have some book recommendations

2:38:42 ↗ that include some of the the things that

2:38:44 ↗ that you've mentioned. Um so okay good

2:38:46 ↗ to know. Um and of course everyone's

2:38:48 ↗ looking for us to take that first step.

2:38:50 ↗ Okay interesting. Um second question is

2:38:52 ↗ around data. So it's really good

2:38:54 ↗ especially because we have to

2:38:57 ↗ acknowledge right that this is a long

2:38:59 ↗ problem like this is a long-term

2:39:01 ↗ solution. It's going to take a long time

2:39:02 ↗ to really measure success here. And so

2:39:05 ↗ measuring success, we need good

2:39:07 ↗ metrics. Belonging,

2:39:10 ↗ uh inclusion loneliness isolation

2:39:12 ↗ these are super subjective things,

2:39:14 ↗ right? It's very difficult to capture

2:39:16 ↗ that. If someone feels like they don't

2:39:19 ↗ or that they do belong, maybe they also

2:39:21 ↗ feel like they're lonely as well. And so

2:39:23 ↗ like that might have an impact on the

2:39:25 ↗ data. Maybe someone feels like they

2:39:28 ↗ don't belong and so they don't answer

2:39:29 ↗ the survey. And so our data is already

2:39:32 ↗ skewed. How should we think about like

2:39:34 ↗ measuring success in the long run? I'm

2:39:36 ↗ curious what you think since that's your

2:39:37 ↗ your mindset is always that's the other

2:39:39 ↗ thing I think about all the time. Yeah,

2:39:41 ↗ we we had actually a really robust

2:39:42 ↗ conversation about this today at the

2:39:44 ↗ community action group was sort of

2:39:46 ↗ thinking about the different levels of

2:39:48 ↗ how are we going to how are we going to

2:39:49 ↗ know if we're succeeding. Um I do think

2:39:51 ↗ we have to put some level of trust in

2:39:52 ↗ the tools that we already have at our

2:39:54 ↗ disposal. So, you know, we'll continue

2:39:56 ↗ to ask those questions by bianially on

2:39:59 ↗ the survey. um taking into account that

2:40:02 ↗ we're going to miss people. Uh though I

2:40:04 ↗ will say that when folks are

2:40:05 ↗ dissatisfied, they tend to fill out

2:40:07 ↗ surveys more often. Um but if you're say

2:40:10 ↗ in a really difficult mental health

2:40:12 ↗ crisis, you're not going to fill out

2:40:13 ↗ that survey. And that's where we rely on

2:40:15 ↗ our behavioral health data to get a

2:40:16 ↗ better sense of who's truly in need

2:40:18 ↗ knowing that even with that um we're

2:40:21 ↗ we're still missing folks. And so

2:40:22 ↗ there's some questions around one of the

2:40:24 ↗ reasons why behavioral health data is

2:40:26 ↗ one of the priorities for this year and

2:40:28 ↗ shoring that data up is really to get a

2:40:30 ↗ better sense of who are we missing? Um

2:40:33 ↗ because we're certainly missing

2:40:35 ↗ folks. Super subjective, right? We even

2:40:38 ↗ talked a lot today about you know this

2:40:41 ↗ idea of like you feel that you belong.

2:40:43 ↗ Different people have different

2:40:44 ↗ thresholds for what that means for them

2:40:46 ↗ and diff different people want different

2:40:47 ↗ things. So we talked about oh should we

2:40:50 ↗ be ga how should we be asking folks at

2:40:52 ↗ an event um you know how should we be

2:40:55 ↗ gathering data on the success of an

2:40:56 ↗ event to engage and or build connection

2:40:59 ↗ uh

2:41:00 ↗ when event level success is really hard

2:41:03 ↗ to determine um and so I think we are

2:41:05 ↗ going to have to re rely on

2:41:08 ↗ long-term sort of long-term bianial

2:41:12 ↗ survey level indicators um and trust

2:41:15 ↗ that because those are questions that

2:41:16 ↗ are asked regularly you know we

2:41:18 ↗ replicated questions on the survey that

2:41:20 ↗ have been asked in research nationally.

2:41:24 ↗ Um rather than trying to invent our own

2:41:26 ↗ questions, we use the ones that we can

2:41:27 ↗ then benchmark against sort of national

2:41:30 ↗ data as well. So I think I think there's

2:41:32 ↗ still a lot of room. Um I guess my

2:41:34 ↗ answer is we're still thinking about it.

2:41:35 ↗ We know we're going to use our community

2:41:37 ↗ survey data. Uh we know we're going to

2:41:39 ↗ use our behavioral health data. And then

2:41:41 ↗ there's some

2:41:42 ↗ conversation happening already about

2:41:44 ↗ what does event level success look like

2:41:46 ↗ and how would we measure that um in the

2:41:48 ↗ more immediate term. Great. Thank you.

2:41:52 ↗ Great questions. Okay, now that the race

2:41:54 ↗ is over between Hall and Joe, who else

2:41:56 ↗ would like to ask some questions before

2:41:58 ↗ we kind of move into the comment?

2:42:01 ↗ Uh, no, no, no. Okay.

2:42:06 ↗ So, are you kidding? No. Oh, I'm

2:42:09 ↗ serious. I want to give everyone else a

2:42:11 ↗ chance. There you go.

2:42:13 ↗ Before going on. Okay. So,

2:42:17 ↗ um, in terms of metrics for how to tell

2:42:19 ↗ if an event is success, you know,

2:42:22 ↗ Eventbrite has these metrics. So, number

2:42:25 ↗ of tickets sold. Sure. Was it Sure. You

2:42:28 ↗ know, how many people bought the product

2:42:30 ↗ on the way out during the presentation,

2:42:32 ↗ things like that? Y do you know, you're

2:42:34 ↗ the our prime data person. Thank you so

2:42:36 ↗ much for bringing everything to us. Are

2:42:39 ↗ you aware of any kind of metrics that

2:42:41 ↗ are for events that might be out there?

2:42:43 ↗ Just to follow up on the great question

2:42:45 ↗ that my fellow council member had.

2:42:47 ↗ They're they're all kind of incomplete,

2:42:49 ↗ right? They are they they are asking

2:42:50 ↗ similar questions and we're not trying

2:42:53 ↗ to sell anything. So, it it does get

2:42:55 ↗ difficult. Um, I also think about this a

2:42:57 ↗ lot through the lens of my of my being a

2:42:59 ↗ former middle school teacher where sort

2:43:01 ↗ of the first way I would teach

2:43:03 ↗ something, it maybe work for 50% of my

2:43:05 ↗ class and then I would try a slightly

2:43:07 ↗ different tactic to teach the same thing

2:43:09 ↗ and it would work for another 10%. And

2:43:11 ↗ then I'd try another tactic and it would

2:43:13 ↗ work for the next maybe 20%. And at that

2:43:15 ↗ point, you know, you've got the majority

2:43:17 ↗ of your class, but you're still missing,

2:43:19 ↗ you know, five kids. And for those five

2:43:21 ↗ kids, they need one-on-one support. And

2:43:25 ↗ so I think that's we we had a good

2:43:26 ↗ conversation. Amy Duk's um our arts uh

2:43:30 ↗ manager is part of this group and we

2:43:31 ↗ talked a lot about how one of the the

2:43:34 ↗ ongoing performance measures we ask is

2:43:36 ↗ about how many people participated in an

2:43:38 ↗ artsfunded event. When we used to fund

2:43:42 ↗ um concerts on the green, it was

2:43:43 ↗ thousands and thousands of people. And

2:43:46 ↗ then we changed our strategy because we

2:43:48 ↗ wanted to start funding smaller uh

2:43:51 ↗ smaller arts grantees and that led to

2:43:54 ↗ smaller numbers, but that doesn't

2:43:57 ↗ necessarily mean it was less successful.

2:43:59 ↗ You know, there's a quality quantity

2:44:00 ↗ aspect there. So, I think I I I love

2:44:03 ↗ your question. It's something I'm going

2:44:04 ↗ to look into, but it's it's also one of

2:44:07 ↗ those things where we just have to

2:44:07 ↗ accept there's no there's probably not

2:44:09 ↗ going to be a perfect measure given the

2:44:12 ↗ human nature of the challenge we're

2:44:14 ↗ trying to address. Absolutely. But if

2:44:16 ↗ there is someone that can find a good

2:44:17 ↗ measure, uh I'm looking right at them

2:44:19 ↗ right now. Thank you. I'll be on the

2:44:20 ↗ hunt. That's right. The last question I

2:44:22 ↗ had uh is

2:44:24 ↗ um I I spoke to a person that that uh

2:44:27 ↗ works with um u our Hispanic population

2:44:32 ↗ and um they're not going to school or if

2:44:35 ↗ the kids are going to school, they're

2:44:37 ↗ going late because they think that ice

2:44:40 ↗ comes by in the morning usually.

2:44:43 ↗ Um, how are we thinking about connecting

2:44:47 ↗ when you say everyone in the community

2:44:48 ↗ in that last 10% or what have you, how

2:44:51 ↗ are we thinking about our immigrant

2:44:52 ↗ community communities in in this in this

2:44:54 ↗ kind of scenario in this project? It

2:44:57 ↗ came up today in our conversation. Um,

2:44:59 ↗ one of the questions that we entertained

2:45:01 ↗ was sort of what are the what are the

2:45:02 ↗ current challenges and barriers that

2:45:04 ↗ folks are facing when it comes to

2:45:06 ↗ overcoming loneliness and isolation. And

2:45:08 ↗ one of the things that came up was

2:45:11 ↗ current federal um environment executive

2:45:14 ↗ orders um the fear that that a lot of

2:45:16 ↗ things have struck into folks folks's

2:45:19 ↗ experience in everyday life. And so I

2:45:21 ↗ know it's something our human services

2:45:22 ↗ team which is well represented they're

2:45:24 ↗ thinking a lot about that but also we

2:45:26 ↗ had many providers in the meeting today

2:45:28 ↗ that it's on their minds as well. So, I

2:45:31 ↗ don't have an answer currently, but no,

2:45:32 ↗ but it is currently something we're

2:45:34 ↗ we're thinking about um what it means

2:45:36 ↗ for our immigrant community, our

2:45:38 ↗ newcomer community. Um yeah, great. I I

2:45:42 ↗ really appreciate the deep dive you're

2:45:45 ↗ taking on this issue and and I believe

2:45:47 ↗ it's in good hands. So, keep up the good

2:45:48 ↗ work. Thank you. Looking for more

2:45:51 ↗ questions and if not, I'm just going to

2:45:53 ↗ make council member Joe go first.

2:45:56 ↗ Uh, Council Member Joe,

2:46:00 ↗ I am so glad that the mayor saw this as

2:46:03 ↗ a concern and decided to put a plan into

2:46:06 ↗ action and uh I, as I said, I think we

2:46:09 ↗ have the right personnel in the

2:46:12 ↗ administration, you uh, working on this

2:46:14 ↗ as a sole person that's kind of heading

2:46:16 ↗ it. But it you you have uh brought to

2:46:19 ↗ the table so many different people that

2:46:21 ↗ are addressing it from so many different

2:46:23 ↗ angles and directions that I think the

2:46:25 ↗ approach is is great. Um I would

2:46:27 ↗ encourage again trying to just find the

2:46:30 ↗ things that we already have at our at

2:46:31 ↗ our disposal in terms of our volunteers

2:46:33 ↗ and the organization structure that we

2:46:35 ↗ have and how can we make those little

2:46:38 ↗ extensions that can make a big

2:46:39 ↗ difference. And I also appreciate that

2:46:41 ↗ you realize that there's no one clear

2:46:43 ↗ metric to determine success for this and

2:46:46 ↗ um I hope that we're able to um find

2:46:49 ↗ success on many different levels so that

2:46:51 ↗ our community community will benefit.

2:46:53 ↗ Thank you. Thank you very much. Thank

2:46:54 ↗ you, Council Member Hall.

2:46:58 ↗ Um thank you. Um echo echoing thanks

2:47:01 ↗ here. Um, you know, I I was worried that

2:47:04 ↗ we just weren't going to have time to be

2:47:05 ↗ able to fit this into the strategic plan

2:47:08 ↗ um when it came back for kind of our

2:47:09 ↗ feedback. And of course, I had no reason

2:47:11 ↗ to worry. Um, I feel I just want to say

2:47:15 ↗ like I feel very heard. I remember

2:47:17 ↗ bringing this up and and I was worried.

2:47:18 ↗ So, I feel very heard like you've made

2:47:21 ↗ immediate progress on this. Um, there

2:47:23 ↗ are community members that I work with

2:47:26 ↗ every week um that are very deep in this

2:47:29 ↗ work that also feel very heard. So,

2:47:31 ↗ thank you there. Some of you know I I've

2:47:33 ↗ been on the board of a community

2:47:34 ↗ building organization here in Isqua for

2:47:36 ↗ 5 years. Um, we studied the surgeon

2:47:39 ↗ general's report quite a bit in graduate

2:47:41 ↗ school at the Evans School. So, anyways,

2:47:43 ↗ thank you. Thank you very much. And I'm

2:47:44 ↗ thrilled that we're here. Um,

2:47:47 ↗ uh, at a high level, I think the vision

2:47:49 ↗ and the mission statements hit the mark

2:47:51 ↗ in terms of what we should be focused

2:47:52 ↗ on, right? And focusing on like what's

2:47:54 ↗ actually in our wheelhouse of influence.

2:47:56 ↗ Um, I have a lot of kind of random

2:47:58 ↗ thoughts I just want to throw out there.

2:47:59 ↗ So, um, by the way, proconnection lens,

2:48:02 ↗ I love that I wrote that down. Um, so I

2:48:04 ↗ love that that kind of that's where

2:48:06 ↗ we're headed, right? Is to have this

2:48:07 ↗ lens that can be applied at every level,

2:48:10 ↗ um, here. Um, so love to see that. Love

2:48:13 ↗ to see the emphasis on empowering, uh,

2:48:15 ↗ community leaders and organizations who

2:48:16 ↗ are involved in this work today. Um,

2:48:18 ↗ love the focus on activating public

2:48:20 ↗ spaces to bring people together. Um,

2:48:22 ↗ love the data. Um, couple other

2:48:26 ↗ thoughts. Um there is a strong emphasis

2:48:29 ↗ on mental health here, which is a really

2:48:32 ↗ important part of this work, right?

2:48:33 ↗ Don't get me wrong. Um and I but I also

2:48:36 ↗ recommend that our communications and

2:48:38 ↗ our outreach focus on the benefits to

2:48:40 ↗ physical health, too, because those are

2:48:42 ↗ plenty in the literature, right? Risk of

2:48:44 ↗ stroke, risk of heart disease, risk of

2:48:47 ↗ um um type 2 diabetes and dementia, the

2:48:51 ↗ list goes on. Um so I just worry that

2:48:55 ↗ and I know it's not going to be like

2:48:57 ↗ this but I worry that if if the focus is

2:48:59 ↗ solely on mental health you know there

2:49:02 ↗ are people who think oh mental health is

2:49:04 ↗ not for me I don't have to worry about

2:49:05 ↗ that whether that's true or not right

2:49:06 ↗ and so they might not think about this

2:49:08 ↗ issue more in depth as they should have

2:49:10 ↗ and then of course there are the other

2:49:11 ↗ benefits right like getting more people

2:49:13 ↗ civically engaged the city benefits from

2:49:15 ↗ that of course and then also living a

2:49:16 ↗ more fulfilling life right like that's

2:49:18 ↗ an individual benefit as well so just

2:49:21 ↗ that there are a lot of different things

2:49:22 ↗ to include in messaging. Um already

2:49:25 ↗ asked questions about data. So I'm just

2:49:26 ↗ glad we're thinking really deeply and uh

2:49:28 ↗ intentionally around how are we going to

2:49:30 ↗ measure success here.

2:49:34 ↗ Um I think that this community

2:49:36 ↗ connection action group is a great idea.

2:49:38 ↗ Bringing you know staff and community

2:49:40 ↗ members um together is good. Um I would

2:49:44 ↗ just make sure everyone in that group

2:49:45 ↗ has read the surgeon general's warning

2:49:47 ↗ and um okay that's great. and um kind of

2:49:50 ↗ other writings on the subject like I

2:49:53 ↗ think too it'd be interesting to even

2:49:55 ↗ bring in like subject matter experts

2:49:57 ↗ like is it possible to have speakers is

2:49:59 ↗ it possible to have case studies from

2:50:02 ↗ other communities across the country and

2:50:03 ↗ and like you you mentioned Europe I mean

2:50:05 ↗ there are case studies everywhere in

2:50:06 ↗ Europe about this right so um I you know

2:50:09 ↗ even could this be an opportunity to

2:50:11 ↗ bring in an Evans school student

2:50:12 ↗ consulting team to help do a literature

2:50:14 ↗ review for us or something like that

2:50:17 ↗ um another thought, you know, we're in a

2:50:19 ↗ challenging time when it comes to

2:50:20 ↗ budget. Um, but I would love to see more

2:50:23 ↗ of a focus on like city investment in

2:50:25 ↗ public spaces um for connection as well.

2:50:27 ↗ We do acknowledge, right, promoting uh

2:50:30 ↗ and activating public spaces that we

2:50:32 ↗ have right now. Um, but I do think that

2:50:35 ↗ we should be thinking about how

2:50:37 ↗ upgrading and building new spaces fits

2:50:39 ↗ into our long-term strategy. Um, and I

2:50:41 ↗ think that thinking seems like a

2:50:43 ↗ short-term action,

2:50:46 ↗ though. I think giving the team some

2:50:49 ↗ space to to figure out where that fits

2:50:52 ↗ in our this bianium or next bianium

2:50:54 ↗ thinking um makes sense. Perhaps we just

2:50:57 ↗ don't have the staff capacity or this

2:50:59 ↗ action group capacity to be thinking

2:51:02 ↗ about how even our CIP update this year

2:51:04 ↗ aligns with our future investments in

2:51:07 ↗ social connection and stuff like that.

2:51:08 ↗ Anyways, I just wanted to throw that out

2:51:10 ↗ there um because one of the books I

2:51:12 ↗ wanted to me uh to mention um uh is

2:51:17 ↗ called Palaces for the People. And if

2:51:18 ↗ you haven't read this book, this is a

2:51:19 ↗ really interesting one um that talks

2:51:22 ↗ about the importance of social

2:51:23 ↗ infrastructure, but also just how the

2:51:25 ↗ act of building new spaces or activating

2:51:28 ↗ old spaces um brings people together and

2:51:30 ↗ makes people feel like there's actual

2:51:32 ↗ data that shows that people feel like

2:51:34 ↗ they're investing in them, not just

2:51:36 ↗ like, oh, that neighborhood park on the

2:51:37 ↗ quarter like, oh, they actually care

2:51:38 ↗ about us. I'm going to go there. So, you

2:51:40 ↗ go there for the ribbon cutting,

2:51:41 ↗ whatever, and you meet someone you

2:51:42 ↗ didn't know. So, anyways, um that's a

2:51:44 ↗ good one. um when it comes to outreach

2:51:47 ↗ and in events

2:51:49 ↗ um which seems like it's part of this

2:51:51 ↗ first bianium um I feel like the people

2:51:55 ↗ who already feel connected to community

2:51:58 ↗ are going to be the first people to show

2:51:59 ↗ up right so um also just number one

2:52:02 ↗ recognizing that and then just knowing

2:52:04 ↗ that we're going to need to be really

2:52:05 ↗ intentional about how we reach out to

2:52:06 ↗ community uh and put this front and

2:52:08 ↗ center over the next couple years. Maybe

2:52:10 ↗ even these people who are already

2:52:13 ↗ engaged who show up to this, we turn

2:52:15 ↗ these into like ambassadors on behalf of

2:52:17 ↗ us, right? To like go out and and share

2:52:20 ↗ out this messaging on our behalf to

2:52:22 ↗ bring more people to the next event.

2:52:24 ↗ Your task is to bring three people to an

2:52:27 ↗ event over the next year or something

2:52:28 ↗ like that. Um again, now I'm getting

2:52:30 ↗ into pro programmatic stuff, but um

2:52:32 ↗ there's a lot of opportunity there. Um

2:52:33 ↗ and then finally, I said this earlier,

2:52:36 ↗ just an acknowledgement, right? this

2:52:37 ↗ takes time like lots of time and effort.

2:52:40 ↗ Um the surgeon general himself even at

2:52:42 ↗ the time in that report even mentioned

2:52:44 ↗ tell like this is going to take a long

2:52:45 ↗ time people working together across lots

2:52:47 ↗ of different governments and and

2:52:49 ↗ nonprofit groups for a long time. Um so

2:52:52 ↗ perhaps some sort of recognition of kind

2:52:53 ↗ of our long-term commitment in maybe the

2:52:56 ↗ introduction of um the action plan or or

2:52:59 ↗ something there um could be helpful. Um,

2:53:02 ↗ so again, just super happy and pumped

2:53:04 ↗ that we're being so intentional about

2:53:05 ↗ this and I think we're starting from a

2:53:06 ↗ really, really good place. So, thank you

2:53:08 ↗ for all your work. Great comments.

2:53:10 ↗ Council member Jen, I want to thank you

2:53:12 ↗ for your email today. Kelly put a lot of

2:53:15 ↗ information including questions,

2:53:17 ↗ comments, and suggestions in a lengthy

2:53:19 ↗ email and I believe you were able to

2:53:21 ↗ connect with Dale after that. So, if you

2:53:23 ↗ want to summarize for um our group here,

2:53:25 ↗ that'd be great. Yeah, definitely. Yeah,

2:53:27 ↗ and thanks Dale for reaching out earlier

2:53:29 ↗ about it. Um yeah, so I wanted to kind

2:53:32 ↗ of go summarize my earlier points in my

2:53:34 ↗ email and then also add on a couple

2:53:35 ↗ things that came up during our

2:53:36 ↗ conversation. So first off on the

2:53:38 ↗ mission and vision I think it's you know

2:53:40 ↗ generally fine but I think there should

2:53:42 ↗ be an acknowledgement of you know the

2:53:44 ↗ sense of belonging social connections

2:53:46 ↗ and community bonds you know what we're

2:53:47 ↗ trying to do it goes beyond that right

2:53:49 ↗ like civic engagement and bring people

2:53:51 ↗ together is I mean there's uh this paper

2:53:54 ↗ called social connection as a public

2:53:55 ↗ health adaptation to extreme heat events

2:53:57 ↗ basically you know if you feel connected

2:53:59 ↗ to your community then if and there's

2:54:02 ↗ studies where it's like oh you know in

2:54:03 ↗ different neighborhoods of Chicago where

2:54:05 ↗ they experienced a heat wave areas where

2:54:07 ↗ people typically, you know, you'd see

2:54:08 ↗ someone sitting out on their stoop and

2:54:10 ↗ then if you didn't see them one day,

2:54:11 ↗ you'd go in and check on them to be

2:54:12 ↗ like, "Oh, they, you know, suffered from

2:54:14 ↗ extreme heat." And that's the kind of

2:54:16 ↗ thing that we should kind of strive for

2:54:17 ↗ in our community where it's like

2:54:18 ↗ neighbors checking on each other. I've

2:54:20 ↗ also seen in Isiqua, there's definitely

2:54:22 ↗ different neighborhoods that have more

2:54:24 ↗ of that sense of community. Where I live

2:54:26 ↗ in Talis, there like I honestly I know

2:54:28 ↗ my one next door neighbor that lives

2:54:29 ↗ like right next to me and I don't I

2:54:31 ↗ don't really know anyone else. Like even

2:54:33 ↗ like my friend, I think we knew each

2:54:36 ↗ other before. Yeah, Chris. Okay. I I

2:54:39 ↗ know you, but I've never seen you

2:54:41 ↗ walking around in when I'm walking

2:54:43 ↗ around in the neighborhood. So, I'm I'm

2:54:44 ↗ just saying like even though I know

2:54:46 ↗ people in the neighborhood, it doesn't

2:54:47 ↗ necessarily lend itself to, you know,

2:54:50 ↗ just talking to people. Whereas um I was

2:54:54 ↗ at Isiqua Valley Elementary just like

2:54:56 ↗ hanging out in the field and then just

2:54:58 ↗ randomly started talking to this other

2:55:00 ↗ couple who was there with their dog and

2:55:01 ↗ they like invited us over to their house

2:55:03 ↗ and that and so that's kind of you know

2:55:07 ↗ that's an area where just the culture of

2:55:10 ↗ the place is more you know welcoming and

2:55:13 ↗ lends itself more towards you know

2:55:14 ↗ community and how do we get that sense

2:55:17 ↗ in different neighborhoods is something

2:55:19 ↗ that I I don't know if that's something

2:55:20 ↗ I mean I really No, no. Um, and anyway,

2:55:24 ↗ so getting back to my actual points. Um,

2:55:27 ↗ so I think another point on the mission

2:55:30 ↗ statement was I think it said, you know,

2:55:31 ↗ the city will create social bonds or

2:55:34 ↗ whatever. I think the job of the city is

2:55:36 ↗ more to facilitate that through, you

2:55:37 ↗ know, the work that we do and working

2:55:39 ↗ with community groups. Um, and then the

2:55:42 ↗ one other piece on the mission statement

2:55:44 ↗ or vision or whatever it was was um

2:55:45 ↗ shared values and experiences. I think

2:55:48 ↗ actually one of the big problems we face

2:55:49 ↗ is that we hang out too much with people

2:55:52 ↗ who have the same values as us. And part

2:55:54 ↗ of what we should do is, you know,

2:55:56 ↗ figure out how to facilitate connections

2:55:57 ↗ with people who might have different

2:56:00 ↗ values and come from different

2:56:01 ↗ backgrounds, but maybe it's like mutual

2:56:03 ↗ understanding and shared experiences

2:56:05 ↗ that can help bring people together.

2:56:07 ↗ Um I think so on the goal strategies and

2:56:10 ↗ actions um Dale mentioned this earlier.

2:56:12 ↗ You know some of the people by

2:56:14 ↗ definition who have the most social

2:56:15 ↗ isolation are unlikely to be connected

2:56:18 ↗ with existing groups. So how do we reach

2:56:20 ↗ out to them proactively? Um I really

2:56:22 ↗ liked the point that council member Joe

2:56:23 ↗ made about you know having serve

2:56:25 ↗ volunteers you know reach out to people

2:56:26 ↗ in the neighborhood. Um and that could

2:56:28 ↗ be something that you know people could

2:56:30 ↗ sign up to do.

2:56:32 ↗ Um and um another point was on goal four

2:56:37 ↗ there was something around third spaces

2:56:39 ↗ and I think the third spaces what I

2:56:41 ↗ found is that it actually goes beyond

2:56:42 ↗ just what you would traditionally

2:56:43 ↗ consider as a third space like you know

2:56:45 ↗ a brewery or a cafe although those are

2:56:48 ↗ really important. I think you know some

2:56:51 ↗ of these like commercial spaces and

2:56:52 ↗ small stores can actually be great

2:56:53 ↗ places for community. For example, I

2:56:55 ↗ used to go to this um knitting group at

2:56:57 ↗ the Nifty Knitter and that was like a

2:56:59 ↗ really great place. And so I think that

2:57:01 ↗ gets back to what we were saying earlier

2:57:02 ↗ about, you know, the importance of

2:57:03 ↗ commercial spaces for a community and

2:57:06 ↗ from a community connection perspective

2:57:09 ↗ as well. Um but overall, I think this is

2:57:12 ↗ definitely something that's really

2:57:13 ↗ important, you know, for just quality of

2:57:15 ↗ life in the city. It's not just, you

2:57:18 ↗ know, the infrastructure and everything.

2:57:20 ↗ It's do people feel like it's a nice

2:57:22 ↗ place to live and they have, you know,

2:57:24 ↗ their people around and their community.

2:57:26 ↗ And I think there's only so much that,

2:57:30 ↗ you know, a city government can do,

2:57:32 ↗ right? I like I'm actually really

2:57:33 ↗ hesitant as the city government to be

2:57:36 ↗ like, "Hey, make sure you hang out with

2:57:38 ↗ your friends because otherwise that's

2:57:40 ↗ bad for your physical health and your

2:57:41 ↗ mental health." I think that could come

2:57:44 ↗ off as overly preachy. whereas for like,

2:57:46 ↗ hey, look, you know, there's all these

2:57:47 ↗ fun things and here's a story about how

2:57:49 ↗ someone, you know, found connection

2:57:51 ↗ through like city programming. I feel

2:57:53 ↗ like that, you know, more more of those

2:57:55 ↗ like inspiring messages could be better.

2:57:59 ↗ Thank you, Council Member Jen. Another

2:58:01 ↗ one of my priorities this year is to

2:58:02 ↗ learn from the lessons of the bomb

2:58:04 ↗ cyclone. And so this whole thing about

2:58:06 ↗ these are all interconnected themes of

2:58:08 ↗ making people feel like they can reach

2:58:10 ↗ out when they need help or they have

2:58:11 ↗ somebody to talk to when an emergency

2:58:13 ↗ comes. So, thank you for sharing. I

2:58:15 ↗ believe it's Council Member Ray, Council

2:58:17 ↗ President, Deputy Council President.

2:58:19 ↗ Great. Um, thank you. Um, going to start

2:58:21 ↗ with I really like the mission and I

2:58:23 ↗ particularly like pathways for community

2:58:25 ↗ members to connect and I want to put

2:58:27 ↗ emphasis under the word pathways and I

2:58:29 ↗ think this goes to Council Member Jang's

2:58:31 ↗ point about it's about uh creating a

2:58:34 ↗ path of least resistance and maybe not

2:58:37 ↗ legislating. Um, but I also am struck by

2:58:39 ↗ belonging and wanting to belong varies

2:58:41 ↗ person to person. I have a sister. I

2:58:43 ↗ actually have three of them, but I have

2:58:44 ↗ one in particular um who really likes um

2:58:47 ↗ her privacy a lot. She's she's very um

2:58:51 ↗ uh private person. And so what would be

2:58:55 ↗ um belonging for her is very different

2:58:57 ↗ than would be belonging for somebody

2:58:58 ↗ else. And so that's the thing I I keep

2:59:01 ↗ binding up on a bit is it's not a

2:59:03 ↗ one-sizefits-all. It's more of a a salad

2:59:07 ↗ bar um where there's a many things to

2:59:10 ↗ choose from at the salad bar. um also

2:59:13 ↗ agree with council member Jang on I'm

2:59:15 ↗ not sure it's government's um role to

2:59:18 ↗ legislate thou shalt connect um but I

2:59:21 ↗ think there are things we can do to to

2:59:23 ↗ facilitate and I think there's things we

2:59:25 ↗ can do to promote our businesses uh to u

2:59:28 ↗ facilitate community connections and I

2:59:30 ↗ was just went to flashing to cheers the

2:59:33 ↗ the TV show maybe without the beer but

2:59:36 ↗ um but it really is a place where people

2:59:39 ↗ um where everybody knows your name right

2:59:40 ↗ that was their team. Um, and then I

2:59:43 ↗ think our challenge is are there things

2:59:45 ↗ that we're doing that create barriers to

2:59:48 ↗ connection? So, it's it's it's flipping

2:59:50 ↗ it around and saying, "Yeah, yeah, yeah.

2:59:51 ↗ What can we do? What can we do?" But

2:59:53 ↗ what are we doing right now that we

2:59:54 ↗ should stop doing um that that create

2:59:57 ↗ barriers? um love the phrase uh and the

3:00:00 ↗ intent of the proconnection lens because

3:00:02 ↗ I think that's that's how we get value

3:00:05 ↗ is everybody in Isqua city government is

3:00:08 ↗ doing their job and looking at the job

3:00:09 ↗ they're doing through a proconnection

3:00:11 ↗ lens. So it's like the the guy from

3:00:14 ↗ public works who's coming out to check

3:00:15 ↗ on my water meter has got a you know hey

3:00:18 ↗ um uh um looking for ways to connect me

3:00:21 ↗ to uh other parts of my community.

3:00:23 ↗ That's a true story. That is a true

3:00:25 ↗ story. Um, and then of course it's about

3:00:27 ↗ community partnerships and it's about

3:00:29 ↗ supporting the efforts of the

3:00:31 ↗ neighborhoods to create communities and

3:00:34 ↗ and they're all trying to do that uh too

3:00:37 ↗ on their own scale. And some of the

3:00:40 ↗ bigger neighborhoods, you know, like the

3:00:41 ↗ the uh the villages um have more

3:00:44 ↗ capacity than some of the smaller

3:00:46 ↗ neighborhoods. And so what can we do to

3:00:47 ↗ help them with maybe just a playbook

3:00:50 ↗ about how do you engage your community

3:00:53 ↗ because community starts small. Um

3:00:56 ↗ anyway, and then I think this came up

3:00:58 ↗ earlier. Loneliness is not uh limited to

3:01:00 ↗ city boundaries. So it's probably can't

3:01:02 ↗ be an isqua only thing, right? So we got

3:01:03 ↗ to look uh look broader. Those are those

3:01:07 ↗ are great comments. Kind of like the how

3:01:08 ↗ to do business in in Isiqua, right? What

3:01:11 ↗ can we do for neighborhoods to help them

3:01:13 ↗ with their connection strategies? Also,

3:01:15 ↗ I'm sure you're not following me on

3:01:17 ↗ Twitter, but I did post today about a

3:01:19 ↗ restaurant that not only has the

3:01:21 ↗ standard e Twitter. Okay. X. Okay. X. Um

3:01:27 ↗ the standard activities of uh trivia

3:01:30 ↗ nights and uh karaoke, but they're

3:01:33 ↗ planning a Mother's Day thing that

3:01:35 ↗ starts with a walk. So, it starts at

3:01:37 ↗ their restaurant, it's a walk through

3:01:39 ↗ the park, around the park, and ends up

3:01:41 ↗ back at the restaurant on Mother's Day

3:01:44 ↗ for some other festivities. And I

3:01:45 ↗ thought adding those kinds of elements

3:01:47 ↗ is what our business community can

3:01:50 ↗ really step up and fantastic events. uh,

3:01:54 ↗ council president and then deputy

3:01:55 ↗ council president. Thank you. I know

3:01:57 ↗ it's late, so I'm not going to chime in

3:02:00 ↗ and agree with everybody with specific

3:02:02 ↗ points, but I do agree. Um, Dale, I

3:02:06 ↗ thought the data on the community survey

3:02:09 ↗ really showed the huge decline in

3:02:13 ↗ connectedness. Um, looking at it in

3:02:15 ↗ 2021,

3:02:17 ↗ uh, it's easy to meet and connect with

3:02:20 ↗ others in my neighborhood or the

3:02:21 ↗ community. 59% agreed or strongly

3:02:24 ↗ agreed. Now we're down to 43% and that

3:02:28 ↗ is a huge drop in only four years. Um,

3:02:33 ↗ just a few things to highlight here. Um,

3:02:38 ↗ I have concerns about whether we can

3:02:39 ↗ truly be successful here without with

3:02:43 ↗ the lack of city resources. Um, I agree

3:02:46 ↗ with Council Member Hall that investment

3:02:47 ↗ in spaces is an important element. Um,

3:02:51 ↗ and then really being able to create or

3:02:54 ↗ facilitate the events that bring people

3:02:57 ↗ together. Um, I also agree that looking

3:02:59 ↗ at other cities across the country and

3:03:02 ↗ across Europe, um, would provide some

3:03:04 ↗ really good case studies. Um it really

3:03:07 ↗ is those casual connections in those

3:03:10 ↗ third spaces that Europe does so well um

3:03:15 ↗ that create that sense of belonging. And

3:03:18 ↗ I do agree that businesses can be a huge

3:03:21 ↗ part of this. Um you know I think down

3:03:24 ↗ to Reton has some areas on their

3:03:27 ↗ beachfront um that aren't just you know

3:03:31 ↗ beach and boats but also businesses down

3:03:35 ↗ there. You can see the same thing in

3:03:37 ↗ many of Europe cities where they have

3:03:39 ↗ small cafes in their parks that activate

3:03:41 ↗ that space and encourage people to use

3:03:44 ↗ it. And so I would say that we

3:03:47 ↗ really shouldn't just be working with

3:03:51 ↗ HOAs and community partners, but also

3:03:54 ↗ looking at our businesses for ways that

3:03:57 ↗ we can work together to activate those

3:04:00 ↗ spaces and utilize it. We have a

3:04:03 ↗ fantastic downtown and being able to

3:04:07 ↗ bring more people in there creates that

3:04:10 ↗ idea um and builds on this concept of

3:04:14 ↗ belonging and

3:04:16 ↗ inclusiveness but also brings revenue to

3:04:18 ↗ our businesses and sales tax to the city

3:04:22 ↗ which I think is a win in all kinds of

3:04:25 ↗ areas because then people who are

3:04:26 ↗ belonging are also contributing in that

3:04:28 ↗ way. Deputy Council President

3:04:33 ↗ Well, I'm I'm really glad that we're um

3:04:36 ↗ tackling this. This is really an

3:04:38 ↗ important and

3:04:40 ↗ deep issue. So, I I do belong to this

3:04:44 ↗ little little club here in town and uh

3:04:47 ↗ we are in the process of looking at uh

3:04:51 ↗ our operations in total. And we did

3:04:53 ↗ recently did a SWAT uh project

3:04:56 ↗ strengths weaknesses opportunities

3:04:59 ↗ threats. We just did it a week and a

3:05:00 ↗ half ago. uh overwhelmingly um what are

3:05:04 ↗ the strengths? It's the connection. It's

3:05:06 ↗ the friendships. It's the camaraderie.

3:05:08 ↗ It's the the shared experiences uh and

3:05:11 ↗ so forth. Um and yet over and over

3:05:15 ↗ here's a group of people that really do

3:05:17 ↗ feel connected. Over and over they are

3:05:20 ↗ saying the old ways of fundraising don't

3:05:23 ↗ work anymore. The old ways of recruiting

3:05:25 ↗ members don't work doesn't work anymore.

3:05:28 ↗ the old ways of um you know our

3:05:31 ↗ traditions and uh some of the ways that

3:05:33 ↗ we run meetings and and none of that

3:05:35 ↗ works anymore. And so and so we really

3:05:39 ↗ are having to uh step back. We're having

3:05:41 ↗ that uh we're having that uh discussion

3:05:44 ↗ starting Thursday morning um and you

3:05:47 ↗ know really looking at things. So uh I

3:05:50 ↗ would encourage us as a city to be doing

3:05:53 ↗ the same things. Uh cell phones are not

3:05:55 ↗ going to go away. Digital gaming is not

3:05:57 ↗ going to go away. Zoom is not going to

3:06:00 ↗ go away. Um, and there's some other

3:06:03 ↗ barriers that we are really um unique to

3:06:06 ↗ this time in our history. Um, and that a

3:06:10 ↗ lot of it is the pressure of of time

3:06:12 ↗ itself. People don't have time to donate

3:06:16 ↗ to uh projects that don't have time to

3:06:18 ↗ get together. They feel very pressured.

3:06:21 ↗ There's just this high intensity

3:06:22 ↗ pressure going on. um the fact that so

3:06:26 ↗ many people that are in isqua have to

3:06:28 ↗ commute have long commutes the people

3:06:30 ↗ that go out every day have to have a

3:06:32 ↗ long commute coming in and then they

3:06:34 ↗ don't have the time to participate um

3:06:36 ↗ and and there's all kinds of things that

3:06:38 ↗ I think we need to identify what are the

3:06:40 ↗ barriers and what is unique to this time

3:06:42 ↗ that is different from the way things

3:06:44 ↗ have been done for years and years and

3:06:47 ↗ decades and maybe this group that's

3:06:49 ↗ working together can tackle some of

3:06:51 ↗ those bigger issues uh and the fact that

3:06:54 ↗ we are very multicultural uh group as

3:06:56 ↗ well. How do we go across those barriers

3:06:59 ↗ and really start talking to each other

3:07:01 ↗ and bringing in people from all

3:07:03 ↗ different kinds of backgrounds. So

3:07:05 ↗ that's that's one that's one thing that

3:07:07 ↗ I think um would be very valuable. What

3:07:09 ↗ is the role that the city could play in

3:07:11 ↗ that? I think is creating that dialogue,

3:07:15 ↗ the ability to step back and do a meta

3:07:17 ↗ look at what's going on and how can we

3:07:20 ↗ be a leader in identifying new ways of

3:07:23 ↗ bringing people in and engaging people.

3:07:26 ↗ Okay. And then just from my the just a

3:07:29 ↗ life lesson,

3:07:32 ↗ sorry I will play the older card right

3:07:35 ↗ now. The older but better card. But

3:07:37 ↗ just, you know, connection is a like a

3:07:40 ↗ byproduct. It's it's like happiness.

3:07:43 ↗ Happiness is not a goal. Happiness is a

3:07:46 ↗ byproduct of a well-lived life. You

3:07:49 ↗ know, connection is a byproduct to me of

3:07:52 ↗ purpose. And that is the word that I

3:07:55 ↗ feel is missing from the the mission.

3:07:57 ↗ The city of Isiqua identifies and

3:07:59 ↗ creates pathways for community members

3:08:01 ↗ to connect and build a deeper sense of

3:08:02 ↗ belonging through shared purpose,

3:08:05 ↗ values, and experiences. So, in a really

3:08:08 ↗ good example of shared purposes are

3:08:10 ↗ PTAs. Uh they come together because

3:08:13 ↗ they've all got kids in common. This is

3:08:15 ↗ their purpose. Um you know, purpose

3:08:17 ↗ could be teaching somebody how to do u

3:08:20 ↗ to play a game or it could be helping a

3:08:24 ↗ poor person. And it doesn't have to be

3:08:26 ↗ an altruistic purpose. It just has to be

3:08:29 ↗ what is the purpose of my engagement?

3:08:31 ↗ And through that purpose, you connect

3:08:34 ↗ with people. So I really think if we can

3:08:37 ↗ um identify um purposes and maybe when

3:08:41 ↗ we have a purpose as a city, can we

3:08:44 ↗ reach out to our community and say, can

3:08:46 ↗ you engage with us in solving this

3:08:48 ↗ problem or this purpose that the city

3:08:50 ↗ has a need for? And that's and then the

3:08:53 ↗ people that come around that purpose

3:08:55 ↗ connect and you know and we hope because

3:09:00 ↗ I I totally agree we can't mandate this.

3:09:03 ↗ This is something that has to come from

3:09:05 ↗ people's hearts and uh you know their

3:09:08 ↗ their feeling of this is some way that I

3:09:11 ↗ can make a difference. So okay end of

3:09:14 ↗ rant. No that was great. Zach, have you

3:09:17 ↗ already had a chance to talk? I don't

3:09:19 ↗ know that council member Mertz has had a

3:09:20 ↗ chance to talk. You're okay. Council

3:09:22 ↗ member Hall. Okay. Yeah. I'm sorry. I

3:09:24 ↗ just had to add add one more thing

3:09:25 ↗ because I

3:09:27 ↗ also I'm not calling anyone out here

3:09:30 ↗ too. Um I also think that we shouldn't

3:09:32 ↗ legislate thou shalt thou must connect,

3:09:35 ↗ right? It just doesn't make sense to do

3:09:36 ↗ this. But I also just don't in the way

3:09:38 ↗ we talk about it in the action plan and

3:09:40 ↗ here I want to make and with the

3:09:41 ↗ community. I want to make sure that we

3:09:43 ↗ acknowledge the seriousness of this.

3:09:46 ↗ This is a federally like a

3:09:49 ↗ federal epidemic of loneliness. This is

3:09:52 ↗ a public health emergency that has been

3:09:54 ↗ designated by the federal government.

3:09:55 ↗ Yeah, exactly. Um um so I just want to

3:09:58 ↗ make sure that that we're taking

3:10:00 ↗ seriously that that is like we have to

3:10:03 ↗ really mention that headon as well

3:10:05 ↗ because it's very serious. Anyways,

3:10:08 ↗ thanks.

3:10:09 ↗ Good. Um any other comments? Council

3:10:12 ↗ member Jen, did you have something? Um I

3:10:13 ↗ just wanted to second all the points

3:10:15 ↗ that uh council member D that sorry

3:10:17 ↗ deputy council president Dm Michelle

3:10:19 ↗ said around shared purpose. I mean for

3:10:20 ↗ me you know volunt just even seeing like

3:10:23 ↗ the city volunteer days for arbor day or

3:10:25 ↗ all the you know work parties that is

3:10:28 ↗ qual trails club does where we plant

3:10:29 ↗ trees or like rip out ivy those are I

3:10:32 ↗ mean to me some of it's I mean for me as

3:10:35 ↗ you know a part of a group that

3:10:36 ↗ organized it it's super rewarding to see

3:10:37 ↗ people like meet each other from those

3:10:39 ↗ events and you know as they come to

3:10:40 ↗ those over and over again you know build

3:10:42 ↗ a deeper connection and I think those

3:10:44 ↗ are the types of things where it's you

3:10:45 ↗ know we're fulfilling the purpose of you

3:10:48 ↗ know meeting our city's envirment

3:10:50 ↗ enironmental sustainability goals and

3:10:51 ↗ also we get the byproduct of connection.

3:10:53 ↗ So I think that goes to what Dale was

3:10:55 ↗ saying about you know applying a

3:10:56 ↗ community lens and you know getting

3:10:59 ↗ volunteerism and getting folks to feel

3:11:01 ↗ because I think feeling connected to the

3:11:03 ↗ community also it's like you have to

3:11:05 ↗ have some skin in the game of the

3:11:06 ↗ community right you feel like you're

3:11:07 ↗ invested in the community because you've

3:11:08 ↗ spent your time and effort um engaging

3:11:10 ↗ in it.

3:11:12 ↗ Great comments. Did you get enough or

3:11:14 ↗ should we go on for another hour? Uh,

3:11:16 ↗ you know, as I I'm excited to ring in

3:11:18 ↗ Midnight together, but I I think I I

3:11:20 ↗ have what I need. Um, I heard

3:11:22 ↗ overarching support for the plan with

3:11:25 ↗ some some great suggestions around some

3:11:27 ↗ minor word changes that I think are

3:11:29 ↗ really purposeful. Um, activating and

3:11:32 ↗ supporting businesses. I know I didn't

3:11:33 ↗ say businesses explicitly. Absolutely.

3:11:36 ↗ Invite it. We the chamber DIA um visit

3:11:40 ↗ isqua have all been on the list serve to

3:11:42 ↗ be invited to our ongoing community

3:11:44 ↗ action group. Um, and I I really love

3:11:46 ↗ this push on um whether we call it a

3:11:49 ↗ SWAT analysis or we just get real about

3:11:50 ↗ the question of what are we currently

3:11:52 ↗ doing that might actually be creating

3:11:54 ↗ barriers um and get real with ourselves

3:11:56 ↗ about how we might need to change some

3:11:58 ↗ of the ways that we're doing what we're

3:11:59 ↗ doing to um even if we've done it for a

3:12:01 ↗ long time to better promote um

3:12:04 ↗ connection amongst our everchanging

3:12:05 ↗ community. So, and great example on that

3:12:07 ↗ was street parties. is when communities

3:12:09 ↗ wanted to have street parties. We had a

3:12:11 ↗ lot of rules in place, but the team did

3:12:13 ↗ a really good job revisiting that a few

3:12:14 ↗ years ago. It should be easy to have

3:12:16 ↗ your neighborhood party. Super easy.

3:12:18 ↗ Well, thank you, Dale. Uh, great

3:12:21 ↗ presentation. Fabulous

3:12:22 ↗ conversation. Um, we are now moving into

3:12:27 ↗ Madame Mayor. Oh, sorry, Council

3:12:29 ↗ Council.

3:12:31 ↗ City Administrator Buckets. Uh, the hour

3:12:33 ↗ is late. We have one final item. We'd be

3:12:36 ↗ happy to put that on a future meeting if

3:12:38 ↗ you'd like. It's it's not timesensitive.

3:12:42 ↗ The council is all nodding that we will

3:12:44 ↗ not do our

3:12:45 ↗ AB9009 tonight and move into committee

3:12:48 ↗ and regional reports and we'll start

3:12:49 ↗ with council member Chang.

3:12:52 ↗ Uh I don't have any report today.

3:12:57 ↗ Go ahead. Madame Mayor, thank you. Um

3:12:59 ↗ the Eltech committee had a meeting this

3:13:01 ↗ afternoon and uh we covered a number of

3:13:05 ↗ topics. Uh we had a great meeting with

3:13:07 ↗ Visit Isiqua and talking about the the

3:13:09 ↗ program that they're doing particularly

3:13:11 ↗ in getting ready for the um FIFA World

3:13:14 ↗ Cup in 26. Um starting to talk about

3:13:17 ↗ that. There are a lot of rules and

3:13:19 ↗ regulations that are associated with it

3:13:20 ↗ that we'll have to adhere to. But um the

3:13:23 ↗ conversation's been interesting in terms

3:13:25 ↗ of what we can innovate and do here in

3:13:27 ↗ Isiqua that might make it uh a shared

3:13:29 ↗ experience for for everybody. Um we're

3:13:32 ↗ also talking about creating a reserve

3:13:33 ↗ fund or at least having a certain amount

3:13:35 ↗ uh in reserve to handle additional um

3:13:39 ↗ drawbacks and funding from other sources

3:13:42 ↗ and uh any kind of future pandemic type

3:13:46 ↗ situation in the future. So, um just an

3:13:48 ↗ interesting conversation there. Uh going

3:13:50 ↗ forward, uh as you know, I'm the

3:13:52 ↗ liazison for the Chamber of Commerce

3:13:54 ↗ board. They're going to be doing a um

3:13:57 ↗ training for new board members. So, they

3:14:00 ↗ have uh cancelled our uh presentation to

3:14:03 ↗ them for the next meeting on May 16th.

3:14:05 ↗ Uh May 14th, the mobility infrastructure

3:14:08 ↗ committee is scheduled to meet. There

3:14:10 ↗ hasn't been an agenda set, but uh please

3:14:13 ↗ keep an eye out for that. uh Cascade

3:14:16 ↗ Water Alliance. Quickly, the public

3:14:17 ↗ affairs committee for May 7th was

3:14:19 ↗ cancelled, but the May 28th Cascade

3:14:22 ↗ Water Alliance board meeting is still

3:14:24 ↗ being held 3:30 in the afternoon. And

3:14:26 ↗ that concludes my report. Thank you.

3:14:28 ↗ Thank you, Council Member Hall. Uh thank

3:14:31 ↗ you. A couple of quick ones. So, our

3:14:34 ↗ next planning, development, and

3:14:35 ↗ environment committee meeting is

3:14:37 ↗ tomorrow, and our only item on the

3:14:39 ↗ agenda is our first touch with the CIP.

3:14:42 ↗ So, um that's that. Um Eastside Fire and

3:14:46 ↗ Rescue, our next board meeting is this

3:14:48 ↗ Thursday. Um we actually have a packed

3:14:51 ↗ um agenda. Um we've got some engineering

3:14:53 ↗ promotions to start us off. Our annual

3:14:55 ↗ awards banquet is usually at the

3:14:57 ↗ Snowqualami Casino, not this year

3:14:59 ↗ because they're con they've got

3:15:00 ↗ construction of the new hotel there. Um

3:15:03 ↗ and so it will be here at the board

3:15:04 ↗ meeting. So there will be quite a few

3:15:06 ↗ people present at the beginning. Um um

3:15:09 ↗ Council President Walsh, I know you're

3:15:10 ↗ going to be joining, so I would

3:15:12 ↗ recommend that we get there a little

3:15:13 ↗ early, but there will be spots, reserve

3:15:16 ↗ spots for us. Um anyway, so once that's

3:15:20 ↗ finished, we'll get updates on fire

3:15:21 ↗ chief recruitment and changes to our ILA

3:15:23 ↗ that should help us um with debt

3:15:25 ↗ financing for apparatus. Um we're going

3:15:28 ↗ to have an update to our board policies

3:15:29 ↗ that would allow for advisory seats for

3:15:32 ↗ contract cities. Um um so we'll be

3:15:35 ↗ voting on that then. So, if you have any

3:15:37 ↗ questions or any thoughts about that,

3:15:38 ↗ please be sure to reach out to us before

3:15:40 ↗ Thursday. Um, and we haven't asked to

3:15:43 ↗ use some equipment replacement fund

3:15:45 ↗ dollars that came in from surplusing old

3:15:48 ↗ vehicles on updating the suspension of

3:15:51 ↗ our reserve ladder truck. Right. So,

3:15:53 ↗ Epher operates two ladder trucks. We

3:15:54 ↗ have one in Isqua, we have one in

3:15:55 ↗ reserve. The one in reserve suspension

3:15:57 ↗ is kind of shot. We've been trying some

3:15:59 ↗ things for quite a long time. We just

3:16:00 ↗ need to invest like $30,000 in it. So,

3:16:02 ↗ we're going to use some surplus funds

3:16:04 ↗ for that. Um, so that's Epher. Um, and

3:16:08 ↗ then the public safety civic facilities

3:16:10 ↗ task force is this

3:16:12 ↗ Thursday and we are going to break down

3:16:15 ↗ the community survey results. Um, so

3:16:17 ↗ that's going to be fun. And then we have

3:16:18 ↗ kind of a priorities discussion and

3:16:20 ↗ exercise. And in our last meeting, we

3:16:22 ↗ talked about kind of visualizing what

3:16:24 ↗ city hall space needs would look look

3:16:25 ↗ like. So anyways, we're we're starting

3:16:27 ↗ to move along there. And that concludes

3:16:29 ↗ my report. I love task forces. Okay.

3:16:32 ↗ Council member Ray. Uh, no report this

3:16:34 ↗ evening. Council member Mertz. Thank

3:16:36 ↗ you. Thank you, Madam Mayor. Um, Sound

3:16:38 ↗ Cities Association uh public issues

3:16:40 ↗ committee will be meeting on uh

3:16:42 ↗ Wednesday, May 14th. Uh, there's going

3:16:44 ↗ to be a couple discussions u but there's

3:16:47 ↗ no uh planned action, which is good

3:16:49 ↗ because neither of isqua's uh reps will

3:16:51 ↗ be able to be there. That's right. Uh

3:16:53 ↗ but I will uh review the minutes when

3:16:56 ↗ they are published and see if there's

3:16:57 ↗ anything that I should report back to

3:16:59 ↗ council when I get back. Um, services,

3:17:02 ↗ safety, and parks met on Tuesday, April

3:17:05 ↗ 29th. We got a great presentation from

3:17:07 ↗ Jen Davis Hayes on uh, economic

3:17:10 ↗ development metrics. It led to a really

3:17:12 ↗ good conversation. Uh, comp council

3:17:14 ↗ member Ray and Deputy Council, President

3:17:16 ↗ D. Michelle. Um, had really dug in some

3:17:20 ↗ really good uh, questions with Jen. So,

3:17:22 ↗ I would encourage everybody to take a

3:17:24 ↗ look at that video. I don't often say

3:17:25 ↗ that with um, services, safety, and

3:17:28 ↗ parks. I usually say, "Well, we'll we'll

3:17:30 ↗ do the heavy lifting on some stuff and

3:17:31 ↗ we'll just come back and report." But it

3:17:33 ↗ was a really um it was a a really um

3:17:37 ↗ illuminating conversation about economic

3:17:39 ↗ development in the city. Wow. This

3:17:41 ↗ concludes my report. One book

3:17:43 ↗ recommendation, one video

3:17:44 ↗ recommendation. Awesome. Good homework.

3:17:47 ↗ Deputy Council President.

3:17:50 ↗ Thank you, Mayor Polly. Uh no report

3:17:52 ↗ tonight. Uh, East Side Human Services

3:17:54 ↗ Forum meets this Thursday and East Side

3:17:58 ↗ Transportation Partnership is meeting on

3:18:00 ↗ Friday. Fantastic. Council President,

3:18:04 ↗ thank you. Um, both my regional

3:18:06 ↗ committees met last Thursday, May 1st.

3:18:09 ↗ King County affordable housing

3:18:11 ↗ committee. Um, we continued our

3:18:13 ↗ discussion around the committee

3:18:15 ↗ structure, how we fit in under GMPC,

3:18:19 ↗ um, whether we want to be land use or

3:18:22 ↗ some sort of financial capacity. Um,

3:18:24 ↗ still trying to figure out where our

3:18:26 ↗ heart is. Um, and then Puget Sound

3:18:29 ↗ Regional Council's um, growth management

3:18:32 ↗ policy board. Um, we went through and

3:18:36 ↗ reviewed and recommended certification

3:18:38 ↗ for 14 different cities comp plans. Um,

3:18:41 ↗ we also discussed what they're calling a

3:18:44 ↗ new missing

3:18:45 ↗ middle, which is the disappearance of

3:18:48 ↗ moderatesized housing and ownership

3:18:50 ↗ houses. And so they're presenting

3:18:52 ↗ another potential problem for us um to

3:18:55 ↗ discuss. And that concludes my report.

3:18:58 ↗ Thanks for the mayor's report this

3:19:00 ↗ evening. There will not be an executive

3:19:02 ↗ session. U just wanted to mention

3:19:04 ↗ quickly a couple of upcoming events. So,

3:19:06 ↗ there's a fresh flower market this

3:19:08 ↗ weekend uh going to open at the historic

3:19:10 ↗ Shell Station where you can select

3:19:12 ↗ bouquets to celebrate spring. The fresh

3:19:15 ↗ flowers are from Leah's garden and it's

3:19:17 ↗ available from 9 to 2 both Saturday and

3:19:19 ↗ Sunday. And if you don't know, the

3:19:21 ↗ farmers market's already open. Great

3:19:23 ↗ statistics shared with you all this

3:19:25 ↗ evening. Um so, stop by the Pickering

3:19:28 ↗ Barn every Saturday 9 to 2 for your

3:19:30 ↗ selection of local produce and products.

3:19:32 ↗ It's going to be running through

3:19:33 ↗ September 27th, rain or shine, and uh

3:19:37 ↗ Asian-American and Pacific Islander

3:19:38 ↗ Heritage Month celebration. So, join in

3:19:41 ↗ on the celebration of the Asian-American

3:19:43 ↗ and Pacific Islander community hosted by

3:19:45 ↗ The Circle this Saturday, May 10th, from

3:19:48 ↗ 5:00 p.m. to 7:00 p.m. There will be

3:19:50 ↗ hands-on activities for the whole family

3:19:52 ↗ to enjoy, including a paper cutting art

3:19:54 ↗ workshop by Mary Wang. Don't forget to

3:19:57 ↗ try all of the delicious snacks

3:19:59 ↗ available. It's a free event. It's open

3:20:01 ↗ to all at the Isiqua Community Center

3:20:03 ↗ and you can register for free for

3:20:05 ↗ tickets for free at the circle's

3:20:07 ↗ website. Moving into the good of the

3:20:11 ↗ order, I do have a couple of meetings

3:20:13 ↗ and does any I have one quick item. Does

3:20:15 ↗ anybody have any items for good of the

3:20:17 ↗ order? Uh, council president, just

3:20:19 ↗ wanted to remind you to check your

3:20:21 ↗ emails. Um, Deputy Council President D.

3:20:23 ↗ Michelle like last week somewhere around

3:20:26 ↗ there sent an email about um board and

3:20:30 ↗ commission thank yous and um signing up

3:20:33 ↗ for particular meetings and so just

3:20:37 ↗ looking through figuring out when you

3:20:39 ↗ might be available to join one of those

3:20:42 ↗ meetings and thank our dedicated

3:20:44 ↗ volunteer board and commission members.

3:20:46 ↗ That's great. Um just wanted to tell the

3:20:50 ↗ group here tonight that um deputy

3:20:52 ↗ council president is going to be hosting

3:20:53 ↗ this meeting with our human services

3:20:56 ↗ providers in town. Um it'll be the

3:20:59 ↗ second convening we've had. We're

3:21:00 ↗ collecting information that we can share

3:21:02 ↗ with our state

3:21:04 ↗ um sorry county, state and federal

3:21:07 ↗ partners to let them know what uh is

3:21:10 ↗ happening within the system of care and

3:21:12 ↗ the da d d d d d d d d d d d d d d d d d

3:21:13 ↗ d d d d d d d d d d d d d d d d d d d d

3:21:13 ↗ d d damaging impacts so far, but also

3:21:15 ↗ what is expected. We're quite concerned

3:21:18 ↗ that this network that people rely on

3:21:20 ↗ for these these basic human services

3:21:23 ↗ needs is is really going to struggle in

3:21:25 ↗ the next two quarters um and some may

3:21:28 ↗ disappear. So, we're collecting that

3:21:30 ↗ information and we're going to be

3:21:31 ↗ sharing it with elected officials and

3:21:33 ↗ also back with the the group just to

3:21:36 ↗ understand exactly what is happening in

3:21:38 ↗ this group. And I really appreciate um

3:21:40 ↗ Council Member Joe and Deputy Council

3:21:42 ↗ President D. Michelle for wanting to do

3:21:44 ↗ these kinds of check-ins. They're great.

3:21:46 ↗ Um so, a couple meetings coming up. Uh

3:21:49 ↗ the well, first the Buddhist holiday

3:21:52 ↗ vesc is next Monday. So, next week's

3:21:54 ↗ committee of the whole meeting will be

3:21:55 ↗ held on Tuesday, May 13th instead. The

3:21:58 ↗ anticipated agenda items will include

3:22:00 ↗ the community survey, jail operations,

3:22:02 ↗ financial analysis, information update,

3:22:04 ↗ 2024 citywide performance measures, and

3:22:07 ↗ on Monday, May 19th, 2025, uh there is a

3:22:10 ↗ city council meeting with anticipated

3:22:12 ↗ agenda items, including the sewer plan

3:22:14 ↗ adoption and middle housing draft

3:22:17 ↗ regulations. There is no executive

3:22:19 ↗ session this evening. So, we are

3:22:21 ↗ adjourned at 10:23. Great meeting.

Approved minutes

Extracted from the next meeting's packet, where this meeting's minutes were approved as a consent-calendar attachment.

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Attendance

Council / Members (7)

Barbara de Michele

Zach Hall

Kelly Jiang

Russell Joe

Tola Marts

Chris Reh

Lindsey Walsh

Staff (4)

Wally Bobkiewicz, City Administrator, Andrea Snyder

Deputy City Administrator

Ann Marie Soto, Deputy City Attorney

Tisha Gieser, City Clerk

Motions and votes (1)

approve the consent agenda as presented. . a)

Moved by Council President Walsh · seconded by Deputy Council President de Michele

Carried 7-0

In favor: Barbara de Michele, Zach Hall, Kelly Jiang, Russell Joe, Tola Marts, Chris Reh, Lindsey Walsh