>> THE MARCH 31st, 2026 MEETING
OF THE SELECT COMMITTEE ON THE
LIBRARY LEVY WILL COME TO ORDER.
IT'S 9:32 A.M. I'M MARITZA
RIVERA, CHAIR OF THE COMMITTEE.
WILL THE CLERK LEAVES ALL THE
ROLE?
>> COUNCIL MEMBER LIN.
COUNCILMEMBER JENNY.
COUNCILMEMBER SAKA.
COUNCILMEMBER STRAUSS.
COUNCILMEMBER FOSTER.
COUNCILMEMBER KETTLE. CHAIR
HOLLINGSWORTH. CHAIR RIVERA.
SEVEN COUNCIL MEMBERS ARE
PRESENT.
>> PLEASE NOTE FOR THE MEMBER
RECORD THAT COUNCILMEMBER JUAREZ
IS EXCUSED AND COUNCIL PRESIDENT
HOLLINGSWORTH IS EXCUSED UNTIL
SHE CAN JOIN US IN A LITTLE
WHILE TODAY. TODAY WE WILL BE
DISCUSSING THE PROPOSAL TO
AMENDMENT TO THE LIBRARY LEVY.
ERIC FROM THE CENTRAL STAFF WILL
LEAD US THROUGH THAT DISCUSSION.
LET'S MOVE FIRST TO THE
ADOPTION OF TODAY'S AGENDA. IF
THERE IS NO OBJECTION THE AGENDA
WILL BE ADDUCTED-- ADOPTED. WE
WILL NOW OPEN THE PUBLIC HYBRID
COMMENT PERIOD, SHOULD RELATE TO
ITEMS ON THE AGENDA OR WITHIN
THE PURVIEW OF THIS COMMITTEE.
HOW MANY SPEAKERS ARE SIGNED UP
TODAY?
>> WHITE WE HAVE FIVE IN PERSON
AND ONE VIRTUAL.
>> WILL YOU PLEASE READ THE
COMMENT INSTRUCTIONS?
>> MODERATED IN THE FOLLOWING
MANNER. UP TO 20 MINUTES, EACH
SPEAKER WILL HAVE TWO MINUTES.
SPEAKERS WILL BE CALLED IN THE
ORDER IN WHICH THEY REGISTERED.
UNTIL THE PUBLIC COMMENT PERIOD
IS ENDED. THE PUBLIC COMMENT. IS
NOW OPEN. WE WILL NOW BEGIN WITH
THE FIRST SPEAKER ON THE LIST.
>> GOOD MORNING.
>> I'M BRITNEY, BOARD MEMBER OF
THE SEATTLE PUBLIC LIBRARY
FOUNDATION AND CHAIR OF THE
ADVOCACY COMMITTEE AND RESIDENT
OF AND FOR THIS PROCESS OF
GOTTEN TO KNOW MANY OF YOU OR
HAVE SEEN YOU ON MEETINGS AND I
REALLY APPRECIATE YOUR SERVICE.
AS MY FELLOW LIBRARY SUPPORTERS,
NOT JENNIFER AND JASMINE WROTE
IN THE SEATTLE TIMES LAST YEAR
WE HAVE BEEN ADVOCATING FOR A
LARGER LIBRARY LEVY SO I'M
ESPECIALLY APPRECIATIVE OF THE
ASSESSMENT BROUGHT FORWARD TO
REPLACE THE LEVY AND I URGE YOU
TO PASS THEM. SUPPORTING THESE
AMENDMENTS IS THE BEST WAY TO
RESPONSIBLY STEWARD OUR CITY.
THESE INCREASES ARE ESSENTIAL TO
THE LIBRARY AND IN THE CONTEXT
OF PROPERTY TAXES SMALL. I
RECOGNIZE THE CITY NEEDS TO BE
THOUGHTFUL ABOUT ITS LEVY
CAPACITY. BUT WHAT WE ARE
TALKING ABOUT TODAY ARE THINGS
THAT ARE JUST CRITICAL TO
LIBRARY SERVICES. THE ADDITIONAL
$70 MILLION WE ARE ASKING TO BE
ADDED TO THE LEVY IS GOING TO BE
SPREAD OVER SEVEN YEARS. THAT'S
ONLY $10 MILLION A YEAR. FOR THE
AVERAGE PROPERTY OWNER, BOTH
INVESTMENTS WILL INCREASE
PROPERTY TAXES BY LESS THAN
THREE DOLLARS A MONTH BUT THE
BENEFITS TO THE LIBRARY AND
SEATTLE WILL BE SIGNIFICANT.
THESE BENEFITS COULD INCLUDE
MORE BOOKS AND PROGRAMS, SHORTER
OLD TIMES AND MORE WORKING
ELEVATORS MORE REGULARLY. A
VIBRANT LIBRARY SYSTEM IS THE
FOUNDATION OF AN AFFORDABLE CITY
WHERE BOOKS AND KNOWLEDGE BEGIN
TO BELONG TO EVERYONE AND IS THE
CORNERSTONE OF THE DEMOCRATIC
PRINCIPLES BEHIND OUR COUNTRY.
NOW IS THE TIME TO ENSURE THAT
THE LIBRARY HAS THE FUNDING IT
NEEDS FOR SEVEN YEARS. WE VOTE
FOR THESE LOW-COST HIGH-VALUE
AMENDMENTS. THANK YOU.
>> THANK YOU. CAROLYN, ANGELA
CASTANEDA AND THOMAS ARE NEXT.
>> GOOD MORNING. THANK YOU FOR
YOUR TIME. MY NAME IS CAROLINE
AND I AM A RESIDENT OF THANK YOU
FOR YOUR PUBLIC SERVICE. WHEN I
WAS GROWING UP, MY DAD WAS THE
FIRST CELLIST IN THE SAN
FRANCISCO SYMPHONY. WHEN HE
WASN'T PERFORMING AT NIGHT HE
READ BOOKS. MY MOM FROM THE
NETHERLANDS FINISHED HER BOOKS
AT THE END BEFORE EVEN STARTING
THE BEGINNING. MY YOUNGER
BROTHER LEARNED TO READ MUSIC.
ME? I HATED READING. BUT ONCE I
TURNED 10 I WALKED TO MY
DISTRICT LIBRARY OFTEN, SAT ON
THE FLOOR FOR HOURS AND READ
BOOKS. I'VE SINCE GROWN UP A
SECOND TIME AND PROBABLY A THIRD
STARTING IN THE 90s AND SEATTLE
WHERE I DISCOVERED THE FREMONT
LIBRARY. TODAY, I READ 50 BOOKS
A YEAR, ATTEND WORKSHOPS AND
LECTURES AND RESUME ROOMS OR
GATHERINGS. I'VE TAUGHT OTHERS
TO READ IN ESL CLASSES. THANK
YOU COUNCILMEMBER RINCK AND
STRAUSS FOR YOUR AMENDMENTS TO
SUPPORT MORE MATERIALS.
LIBRARIES TRANSFORM PEOPLE AND
THEREFORE COMMUNITIES. WE BECOME
BETTER. PLEASE SUPPORT THE
LIBRARY LEVY. THANK YOU.
>> THANK YOU. ANGEL FOLLOWED BY
ANGELA CASTANEDA AND THEN
THOMAS. IT MORNING.
>> GOOD MORNING. IT'S GREAT TO
SEE YOU AGAIN. I CAN BARELY SEE
YOU BECAUSE I NEED MY READERS
BUT MY NAME IS ANGEL, I LIVE IN
DISTRICT 7. I AM ON THE BOARD OF
THE FRIENDS OF SEATTLE PUBLIC
LIBRARY. I SPOKE A FEW WEEKS AGO
TO ASK YOU TO USE THE
OPPORTUNITY THE 2026 LIBBY
PRESENTED TO ADD EVEN MORE BOOKS
TO THE LIBRARY PHYSICAL AND
DIGITAL SHELVES. I WANTED TO
COME BACK TODAY BECAUSE I AM SO
GRATEFUL TO THE RESIDENCE. YOU
ARE PROPOSING TO PROVIDE MORE
ACCESS TO BOOKS. COUNCILMEMBER
RINCK THANK YOU FOR YOUR
AMENDMENTS TO BOOST THE
COLLECTION OF DIGITAL BOOKS AND
EXPAND THE PROGRAM. AND AS YOU
HAVE HEARD, DIGITAL BOOK PRICES
PRESENT A SERIOUS CHALLENGE FOR
THE LIBRARY TO MEET PATRON
DEMANDS. WE HAVE BEEN WORKING
HARD THE PAST TWO YEARS TO BUILD
MOMENTUM AT THE STATE LEVEL FOR
A LONG-TERM SOLUTION BUT THERE
IS A LONG WAY TO GO. THESE
ADDITIONAL INVESTMENTS WOULD BE
THE MOST MEANINGFUL THING OUR
CITY GOVERNMENT COULD DO TO
EXPAND ACCESS RIGHT NOW AND MORE
PEOPLE CAN EXPERIENCE THE JOY OF
THE LIBBY APP. I ALSO WANT TO
THINK OF THE MEMBER STRAUSS,
THANK YOU FOR YOUR AMENDMENT TO
GROW LIBRARY COLLECTIONS
INCLUDING MORE PRINT BOOKS. JUST
BECAUSE MORE PEOPLE ARE READING
DIGITALLY DOESN'T MEAN PHYSICAL
BOOK CHECKOUTS ARE GOING DOWN.
PEOPLE IN SEATTLE ARE READING
MORE IN EVERY MOMENT. OUR
COMMUNITY ASKS YOU TO RESPOND TO
THEIR READING NEEDS WITH A LEVY
THAT DELIVERS ACCORDINGLY. WITH
THESE PROPOSED ADDITIONS OUR
LIBRARY CAN PROVIDE SEATTLE WITH
THE BOOKS WE NEED. INC. YOU SO
MUCH FOR STEPPING UP FOR THE
LIBRARY.
>> THANK YOU. ANGELA CASTANEDA
FOLLOWED BY THOMAS.
>> THANK YOU CHAIR RIVERA AND
MEMBERS. I LIVE, WORK AND PLAY
IN DISTRICT 2. I'M HERE TO
SUPPORT ADDITIONAL INVESTMENT IN
THE SEATTLE PUBLIC LIBRARY, IN
PARTICULAR THIS WONDERFUL
PROGRAM. I AM THE EXECUTIVE
DIRECTOR OF THE BUSINESS LENS,
TO ADVANCE EQUITABLE DEVELOPMENT
THROUGH COLLABORATIVE
PARTNERSHIPS THAT RECOGNIZE BOTH
TRADITIONAL BUSINESSES AND
CREATIVE ENTREPRENEURS AS VITAL
ECONOMIC DRIVERS CONTRIBUTE INTO
OUR CITIES UNIQUE CHARACTER. WE
REALLY MUST HAVE STRONG
RELATIONSHIPS WITH RESOURCE AND
INFORMATION PARTNERS, THE
LIBRARY TO BUSINESS PROGRAM IS
ONE OF OUR BEST. OVER THE YEARS
WE WORKED CLOSELY WITH
COLLABORATIVE BUSINESSES
ORGANIZING PARTNERS AS ADVOCATES
AND TO GENERALLY SPREAD THE WORD
ABOUT FREE RESOURCES FOR
SEATTLE'S MICRO-ENTREPRENEURS
AND ALL STAGES FROM INCUBATION
TO STABLE. HOPEFULLY STABLE.
SUSTAINABLE. THIS STRONG
PARTNERSHIP WHICH HAS HELPED SO
MANY PEOPLE IN MY COMMUNITY AND
CITYWIDE GET THE INFORMATION
THEY NEED AS THEY LOOK TO
EXPAND, STRENGTHEN OR START A
BUSINESS IS POSSIBLE BECAUSE
LIBRARY TO BUSINESS HAS A
WONDERFUL, DEDICATED PROGRAM
MANAGER DEDICATED PROGRAM STAFF
HAVE THE TIME AND CAPACITY
REQUIRED TO FORM STRONG
RELATIONSHIPS, BUILD TRUST AND
CREATE NEW OPPORTUNITIES FOR THE
OPPORTUNITY. I'M VERY GLAD TO
SEE ADDITIONAL PROGRAM CAPACITY
BUILT INTO THE PROPOSED LEVY,
ALSO ENCOURAGED TO SEE
INVESTMENT IN LIBRARY SPACES
THAT HOST SO MANY PROGRAMS LIKE
LIBRARY TO BUSINESS. WE ARE
EXCITED THAT THE PROPOSAL
INCLUDES FUNDING TO FINALLY
UPDATE THE HISTORIC COLUMBIA
CITY BRANCH AND THANK YOU
COUNCILMEMBERS LIN AND RINCK FOR
YOUR AMENDMENTS ADDING FUNDING
FOR MAINTENANCE NEEDS ACROSS THE
SYSTEM AND OTHER RETROFIT FOR
THE WEST SEATTLE BRANCH. SO THAT
MORE LIBRARY SPACES CAN SAFELY
HOST COMMUNITY PROGRAMS ALL YEAR
LONG. THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR YOUR
WORK.
>> THANK YOU ANGELA. THOMAS DID
AND THEN WE WILL GO TO ONLINE.
>> CAN YOU HEAR ME? THANK YOU
CHAIR RIVERA AND COUNCIL
MEMBERS. MY NAME IS THOMAS, I AM
A SEATTLE BORN AND BASED
NOVELIST. MY MOST RECENT BOOK
SUPERSONIC CAME OUT LAST YEAR,
IT COVERS FOUR FAMILIES OVER 150
YEARS IN A FICTIONAL SEATTLE
NEIGHBORHOOD AND THE CREATION OF
OUR CITY. MY LAST BOOK WAS LATE
CITY, I DID AN EVENT AT THE
SHANTY TAVERN WITH COUNCILMEMBER
JUAREZ AND COUNCIL MEMBER
STRAUSS WAS THERE BEFORE HE WAS
ON THE COUNCIL. BUT YEAH, I
WROTE, I'M HERE TO SPEAK IN
FAVOR OF THE PROPOSED AMENDMENTS
FOR THE LEVY. FROM THE
PERSPECTIVE OF AN AUTHOR. I
WROTE MUCH OF MY MOST RECENT
BOOK AT THE LATE CITY LIBRARY IN
THE NORTHEAST BRANCH. I DID A
TON OF RESEARCH, ESPECIALLY AT
THE LAKE CITY BRANCH, ARCHIVAL
STUFF, MAPS, OLD NEWSPAPER
CLIPPINGS, I WAS ASSISTED BY
EXPERT LIBRARIANS. IT'S NOT ON
THE INTERNET, IT'S NOT ANYWHERE
ELSE. AND IT WAS HUGELY HELPFUL
IN MY PROCESS OF WRITING
SOMETHING THAT WAS VERY
SPECIFICALLY SEATTLE. AND I'M
ALSO THRILLED TO SEE
COUNCILMEMBER RINCK PROPOSED
AMENDMENTS FOR INCREASES TO
COLLECTIONS INCLUDING DIGITAL
MATERIALS, VERY IMPORTANT. AND
STAFFING. AS OF YESTERDAY THERE
WERE SIX COPIES OF MY BOOK
SUPERSONIC AND THEY WERE ALL
CHECKED OUT. OBVIOUSLY FOR
PERSONAL REASONS I WOULD LIKE TO
SEE MORE OF THOSE BUT IT'S ALSO
FOR SUPPORT OF LOCAL AUTHORS FOR
SEATTLE TO BE A PLACE THAT
CREATES ART AND GETS IT OUT INTO
OUR COMMUNITY. I JUST WANT TO
ALSO THANK COUNCILMEMBERS JUAREZ
AND FOSTER FOR THE NEED FOR
MULTILINGUAL PROGRAMMING AND
IT'S IMPORTANT IN A CHANGING
CITY THAT WE HAVE ROBUST AND
HEALTHY INSTITUTIONS LIKE
LIBRARIES .
>> THANK YOU THOMAS. WE WILL GO
TO ONLINE SPEAKERS NOW. WE'VE
GOT DOROTHY DOYLE FOLLOWED BY
DAVID HAYNES. DOROTHY PLEASE
PRESS STAR SIX AND YOU MAY
BEGIN.
>> THANK YOU COUNCILMEMBERS. I
HOPE YOU CAN HEAR ME. MY NAME IS
DOROTHY DOYLE, I LIVE IN WEST
SEATTLE IN DISTRICT 1. I WANT TO
SPEAK IN FAVOR OF ADDITIONAL
INVESTMENT FOR PROGRAMMING
PROPOSED FOR THE 2026 LIBRARY
LEVY. AS A FULL-TIME CAREGIVER
FOR MY HUSBAND I BENEFIT
FIRSTHAND FROM THE VALUABLE
PROGRAMMING PROVIDED. I LEFT MY
CAREER IN 2019 TO SUPPORT MY
HUSBAND. THREE YEARS AGO HE WAS
DIAGNOSED WITH ALZHEIMER'S. I
PARTICIPATE IN ONE OF THE
LIBRARY PROGRAMS THAT YOU MAY
NOT KNOW ABOUT IN PARTNERSHIP
WITH THE MEMORY HUB AND AMERICAN
DISEASE ASSOCIATION. IT'S A
MONTHLY PROGRAM THAT PROVIDES
CAREGIVERS TO FACILITATE A BOOK
DISCUSSION WELL OUR PARTNERS
ENJOY MUSIC ENGAGEMENT PROGRAM
LED BY A CERTIFIED IS A
THERAPIST MUSIC THERAPIST. BOOKS
AND BEATS PROVIDES A SPACE TO
LEARN ESSENTIAL CAREGIVING AND
SELF-CARE STRATEGIES BUT EVEN
MORE SIGNIFICANT HAS BEEN A
MEANINGFUL CONNECTION MADE WITH
THOSE IN SIMILAR CIRCUMSTANCES.
HAVING THE TIME TOGETHER HAS
BEEN CRUCIAL FOR ME AS A
CAREGIVER. SUPPORTING SOMEONE WE
LOVE WHO SUFFERS FROM A
CONDITION THAT DIMINISHES
COGNITIVE ABILITY AND IMPACT
PERSONALITY IS SOMETHING MOST OF
US WILL EXPERIENCE BUT THIS IS
NOT SOMETHING ANY OF US HAS BEEN
TRAINED TO HANDLE. THIS PROGRAM
OFFERS THE SPACE TO SHARE,
BRAINSTORM, HOPE AND QUITE
HONESTLY IS A LIFELINE. ALL OF
THIS IS ONLY POSSIBLE BECAUSE
THE LIBRARY HAS AN AMAZING
PROGRAM MANAGER DEDICATED TO
SERVICES FOR OLDER ADULTS. THIS
CAPACITY ALLOWS THE KIND OF
OUTREACH, PARTNERSHIPS AND
RELATIONSHIP PROGRAMS LIKE BUT
BOOKS AND BEATS REQUIRES. I'M
GLAD TO SEE MORE PUT FUNDING
INCLUDED IN THE LEVY PROPOSAL
AND AN AMENDMENT FROM
COUNCILMEMBER FOSTER AND JUAREZ.
THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR SUPPORTING
MORE ACCESS TO LIBRARY PROGRAMS
FOR PEOPLE LIKE ME.
>> THANK YOU DOROTHY.. DAVID
HAYNES DOESN'T LOOK PRINCIPLED
SO WE HAVE-- PRESENT SO WE HAVE
ONE MORE SPEAKER IN PERSON. GOOD
MORNING.
>> GOOD MORNING. MY NAME IS
SARAH, I AM A RESIDENT OF
DISTRICT 3 AND A LIFELONG
BOOKWORM. I USED THE CENTRAL
LIBRARY AND THE CAPITOL HILL
BRANCHES. RARELY A DAY GOES BY
AND I'M NOT EXAGGERATING WHERE
I AM NOT EITHER AT A LIBRARY OR
ATTENDING AN EVENT AND THESE
REALLY INCLUSIVE COMMUNITY
SPACES AND SERVICES FOR THOSE OF
US WHO ARE HOUSED AND THOSE WHO
ARE UNHOUSED. BECAUSE I CARE SO
MUCH ABOUT THE LIBRARY AND OUR
NEIGHBORS I ATTENDED MY FIRST
HEARING ON THE 2026 LEVY
PROPOSAL AND AM NEW TO ATTENDING
THESE CITY COUNCIL MEETINGS AND
IT WAS SUPER INTERESTING.
ESPECIALLY ABOUT SPL BUDGET
NEEDS IN ORDER TO EXPAND
MULTILANGUAGE SERVICES AND I
LOVED HEARING EACH OF YOUR OWN
LIBRARY STORIES. CLEARLY YOU ALL
VALUE THE LIBRARY. I KNOW IT'S
HARD TO WORK WITH THESE BUDGETS
AND IT'S PROBABLY NICE TO HAVE
SOMETHING THAT IS NOT
PARTICULARLY CONTENTIOUS WHEN
YOU HAVE THIS AUDIENCE. SO I HAD
TO COME BACK TO ADD MY VOICE AND
SAY THANK YOU TO COUNCIL MEMBER
RINCK , COUNCILMEMBER FOSTER,
COUNCILMEMBER LIN AND STRAUSS.
EACH OF YOUR AMENDMENTS ARE JUST
SO IMPORTANT. COUNCILMEMBER
RIVERA FOR YOUR LEADERSHIP IN
THIS PROCESS. I REALLY, TRULY
APPRECIATE YOU HEARING US AND
FOR ALL OF YOU HERE AND THE HARD
WORK ON BEHALF OF OUR LIBRARY
AND CITY THANK YOU SO MUCH.
>> THANK YOU. I DON'T SEE DAVID
HAYNES PRESENT.
>> THAT WAS OUR LAST REGISTERED
SPEAKER.
>> GREAT. THERE ARE NO
ADDITIONAL REGISTERED SPEAKERS
THEN, THE PUBLIC COMMENT PERIOD
IS NOW CLOSED. WE WILL PROCEED
TO OUR ITEMS OF BUSINESS. WILL
THE CLERK PLEASE READ ITEM ONE
INTO THE RECORD?
>> COUNSEL BILL 121181. RELATED
TO PROPERTY TAXES PROVIDING
SUBMISSION TO THE QUALIFIED
ELECTORS OF THE CITY TO BE HELD
ON AUGUST 4th, 2026. AUTHORIZING
THE CITY TO LEVY PROPERTY TAXES
FOR THE PURPOSE OF SUSTAINING
INVESTMENT IN LIBRARY OPERATING
HOURS. TECHNOLOGY, PROGRAMMING
AND MAINTENANCE WHILE EXPANDING
ACCESS TO LIBRARY MATERIALS
TECHNOLOGY AND OTHER RETROFIT OF
ONE LIBRARY FACILITY. FOR
BRIEFING, DISCUSSION AND
POSSIBLE AMENDED.
>> THANK YOU CLERK. COLLEAGUES,
THANK YOU FOR COMING UP TO THE
TABLE. COLLEAGUES AND MEMBERS OF
THE PUBLIC WE ARE HERE IN
PERSON, THANK YOU FOR YOUR
PUBLIC COMMENT. FOR THOSE OF YOU
THAT GAVE PUBLIC COMMENT. AND TO
THE FOLKS ON THE SEATTLE CHANNEL
THANK YOU FOR YOUR TIME TODAY.
THIS LEVY PROPOSAL IS IMPORTANT
IN MANY WAYS AND I APPRECIATE
YOUR ATTENTION. BEFORE WE HEAR
FROM CENTRAL STAFF ON THE
AMENDMENT BEING OFFERED I WANT
TO ACKNOWLEDGE THE LETTER THE
LIBRARY FOUNDATION SENT TO ALL
OF US ADVOCATING FOR INCREASES
TO THE PROPOSED LEVY AND WHICH
FORM THE BASIS FOR MANY AMENDED
AMENDMENTS. I APPRECIATE THE
FOUNDATION WORK TO COLLECT
DONATIONS AND APPLY FOR GRANTS
ON BEHALF OF THE LIBRARY. SOME
OF THE VOTERS THAT SUPPORT THIS
LEVY IN FACT WILL ALSO SEND
PERSONAL DONATIONS TO THE
LIBRARY AND I VERY MUCH
APPRECIATE ALL OF THEIR
CONTRIBUTIONS. THIS IS HOW MUCH
WE ALL CARE FOR OUR LIBRARIES
HERE IN SEATTLE. HOWEVER, WE
ALSO NEED TO ACKNOWLEDGE THAT
THE ADDITIONS REQUESTED BY THE
FOUNDATION WOULD TAKE THIS LEVY
TO ALMOST HALF $1 BILLION. THE
MAYOR THOUGHTFUL PROPOSAL OF 410
MILLION WHICH I SUPPORTED IS
ALREADY 50% LARGER THAN THE 2019
LEVY EVEN AFTER ACCOUNTING FOR
INFLATION. THAT IS A SUBSTANTIAL
AMOUNT AND REALLY SPEAKS TO THE
COMMITMENT AND SUPPORT FOR OUR
LIBRARIES. SHOULD THEY PASS THIS
WRITTEN THESE AMENDMENTS WILL BE
DISCUSSING TODAY WOULD ADD ABOUT
$58 MILLION TO THE MAYOR'S
PROPOSAL FOR A LEVY TOTALING 468
MILLION. AND WE HAVE A COUPLE OF
AMENDMENTS IN FRONT OF US TODAY
THAT DON'T YET HAVE NUMBERS
ATTACHED SO THE TOTAL MIGHT END
UP EVEN LARGER. THIS WOULD BRING
US THAT MUCH CLOSER TO THE LEVY
CAP. WITH THE PROPOSED LEVY OUR
LEVY CAP OVER THE NEXT SEVEN
YEARS WOULD ALLOW FOR 310
MILLION FOR OTHER PURPOSES
INCLUDING FUTURE LEVY RENEWAL.
THIS MEANS FOR INSTANCE THAT IN
2030 WHEN WE HAVE A RENEWAL OF
THE HOUSE AND LEVY WE WOULD ONLY
HAVE 310 MILLION OR LESS TO ADD
TO THAT LEVY AFTER ACCOUNTING
FOR INFLATION. AND THEN WHAT
WOULD BE LEFT FOR THE NEXT LEVY?
AND THE FOLLOWING WHICH IS
TRANSPORTATION AND SO ON AND SO
FORTH UNTIL WE REACH THE LID. IF
WE TACK ON AN ADDITIONAL $58
MILLION NOW TO THIS LEVY BEFORE
US TODAY THE LEVY CAP WOULD BE
REDUCED TO 252 MILLION RATHER
THAN 310 MILLION. ONE CAN SEE
HOW ANY ADDITIONS TRULY DIMINISH
OUR LEVY CAPACITY INTO THE
FUTURE AND BOX US INTO A CORNER.
AT SOME POINT, COLLEAGUES, THE
MUSIC WILL STOP AND SOMEONE
WON'T HAVE A CHAIR. WILL THAT
BE THE HOUSING LEVY, THE THEFT
LEVY, THE TRANSPORTATION LEVY?
THESE ARE ALL IN COMPETITION
WITH EACH OTHER GIVEN OUR
REALITY. WE HAD A THOUGHTFUL
QUESTION LAST WEEK ABOUT THE 10%
RESERVE THAT IS BUILT INTO THE
LEVY CAP AND IF THAT MIGHT BE
OVERLY CAUTIOUS. 10% WAS USED
BECAUSE THAT IS THE MOST
PRONOUNCED DROP IN PROPERTY
VALUES DURING THE GREAT
RECESSION. BEST PRACTICE IS TO
USE THAT NUMBER BECAUSE THAT DID
OCCUR. AS WE ALL KNOW, TODAY OUR
COUNTRY IS IN A VERY VOLATILE
STATE. WE ARE AT WAR. AND THE
FISCAL IMPACT FROM THIS WAR WILL
NOT NECESSARILY BE VISIBLE UNTIL
SOMETIME NEXT YEAR. IF PROPERTY
VALUES DECLINE FOR INSTANCE IN
RESPONSE TO A WAR DRIVEN
RECESSION WE WILL STILL NEED TO
RAISE THE SAME AMOUNT CALLED FOR
IN THIS LEVY. IN ORDER TO RAISE
THE SAME AMOUNT WE WOULD NEED TO
USE MORE OF THE REMAINING LEVY
CAP WHICH WOULD BRING US CLOSER
TO REACHING THAT LIMIT. ALL OF
THESE POINTS WERE TAKEN INTO
CONSIDERATION WHEN THIS PACKAGE
WAS PUT FORWARD. THEREFORE I
CANNOT IN GOOD CONSCIENCE
SUPPORT ANY ADDITIONS TO THIS
LEVY. NOT BECAUSE I DO NOT LOVE
LIBRARIES. BECAUSE I DO. AND
WISH WE COULD GIVE MORE. BUT
BECAUSE AT ALREADY 50% MORE THAN
INFLATION IT IS FISCALLY
IRRESPONSIBLE TO INCREASE THE
PROPOSAL GIVEN THE CITY'S OTHER
NEEDS. IT IS UNFORTUNATE THAT
THIS IS THE CITY'S FINANCIAL
REALITY. AND I TAKE NO JOY IN
BRINGING THIS UP. BUT THIS IS
WHERE WE ARE. NOW LET'S HEAR
ABOUT THESE AMENDMENTS. ERIC,
THANK YOU FOR BEING OUR TRUSTY
CENTRAL STAFF ARE SUPPORTING OUR
WORK. I VERY MUCH APPRECIATE
YOUR SUPPORT OF MY OFFICE DURING
THIS SHEPHERDING OF THE LEVY.
THANK YOU FOR BEING HERE TODAY.
COLLEAGUES, WHAT WE'LL DO IS WE
ARE GOING TO HAVE ERIC INTRODUCE
EACH LEVY AMENDMENT WINTERTIME
AND THEN I WILL RECOGNIZE THE
SPONSOR TO SPEAK TO THEIR
AMENDED AMENDMENT AND THAT WILL
OPEN IT UP TO QUESTIONS FROM
COLLEAGUES AND THEN WE WILL MOVE
ON TO THE NEXT AMENDMENT. ERIC?
>> GOOD MORNING COUNCIL MEMBERS.
JUST FOR THE RECORD I AM COUNSEL
CENTRAL STAFF AND ON THE SCREEN
NOW IS THE LIST OF THE
AMENDMENTS. I WILL JUST DO A
VERY SIMPLE READ FROM A PORTION
OF THE AMENDMENT, THE SAME
PORTION FROM EACH AND THEN STEP
OUT OF THE WAY AND LET THE
SPONSOR SPEAK TO IT. IS THAT ALL
RIGHT?
>> THANK YOU ERIC.
>> THE FIRST AMENDMENT IS THE
CENTRAL LIBRARY RENOVATION
SPONSORED BY COUNCIL MEMBER
FOSTER. THIS WOULD INTEND THAT A
PORTION OF THE LIBRARY LEVY
FUNDING AMOUNT IS TRANSMITTED BY
THE MAYOR AND INCREASED BY 10
MILLION EITHER COUNCIL SHOULD BE
AUTHORIZED TO SUPPORT
MAINTENANCE INCLUDING MAJOR
RENOVATION AT THE CENTRAL
LIBRARY.
>> THANK YOU.
>> WE REALLY APPRECIATE YOU
SPENDING THE TIME TO SHARE WITH
US. I WILL SPEAK TO THIS
AMENDMENT. $10 MILLION FOR THE
CENTRAL LIBRARY TO BE USED FOR
RENOVATION. COLLEAGUES, PART OF
THE REASON I AM BRINGING THIS
FORWARD IS IN RESPONSE TO WHAT
WE'VE HEARD CHIEF LIBRARIANS
SAY IN THIS COMMITTEE SEVERAL
TIMES IN REGARDS TO THE FACT
THAT OUR WHAT WE ALL THINK OF AS
A LANDMARK FOR OUR CITY THE
CENTRAL LIBRARY AND I KNOW THAT
WHEN WE WALK IN THERE WE SEE THE
GLASS AND INCREDIBLE
ARCHITECTURE AND WE THINK OF IT
AS A NEW LIBRARY. AND THE TIME
THAT THIS LIBRARY LEVY ENDS THIS
LIBRARY WILL BE REACHING ITS 30
YEAR MARK. SO IT'S INCREDIBLY
IMPORTANT THAT WE MAKE
INVESTMENTS IN RENOVATION AND
MAINTENANCE FOR THAT LIBRARY
TODAY SO THAT WE ARE NOT LOOKING
BACK AND SEEING A TON OF
DIFFERENT MAINTENANCE AND
ONGOING ISSUES THAT CAN OCCUR
THERE. THE OTHER REASON I WANTED
TO BRING THIS FORWARD IS THAT
THERE IS REALLY JUST A FANTASTIC
SPACE IN THE CENTRAL LIBRARY AS
I'M SURE MANY OF US HAVE
ALREADY BEEN THERE AS PATRONS OR
VISITORS. AND I WILL JUST SHARE
A COUPLE NUMBERS. THERE WERE
67,000 CHECKOUTS JUST FROM THE
CENTER IN THE CENTRAL LIBRARY
AND 84% OF THOSE HAPPENED IN
PERSON. SO THIS IS A REALLY
IMPORTANT LOCATION FOR FAMILIES
IN OUR CITY AND ENSURING WE HAVE
MAINTENANCE INVESTMENTS THERE
AND RENOVATION WILL ALLOW IT TO
CONTINUE SERVING CHILDREN AND
FAMILIES IN OUR CITY.
COLLEAGUES, I'M HAPPY TO BRING
THIS FORWARD AND ASK FOR YOUR
SUPPORT.
>> THANK YOU COUNCILMEMBER
FOSTER. ANY QUESTIONS? THEN
LET'S MOVE ON TO THE SECOND
AMENDMENT PLEASE.
>> THE SECOND AMENDMENT IS
MULTILINGUAL PLAY AND LEARN AND
ENGLISH SPEAKERS OF OTHER
LANGUAGES. THE SPONSOR IS
FOSTER, COSPONSOR IS
COUNCILMEMBER JUAREZ. WOULD
INTEND THAT A PORTION OF THE
LIBRARY AMOUNT IS TRANSMITTED BY
THE MAYOR INCREASED BY $4.5
MILLION SHOULD BE AUTHORIZED FOR
INVESTMENTS TO SUPPORT OPERATING
HOURS AND ACCESS BY EXPANDING
MULTILINGUAL PLAY AND LEARN
PROGRAMS IN ENGLISH FOR SPEAKERS
OF OTHER LANGUAGES. TWO
ADDITIONAL LIBRARY BRANCHES.
>> I WILL BE FIRST READING A
STATEMENT FROM CONSUL MEMBER
JUAREZ WHO WAS UNABLE TO ATTEND
TODAY IT IS A COSPONSOR. THIS IS
IN HER VOICE. TODAY I AM ASKING
YOU TO SUPPORT COUNCILMEMBER
FOSTERS AMENDMENT OF WHICH I AM
A COSPONSOR TO SUPPORT THE
SUSPENSION OF THE KALEIDOSCOPE
PLAY AND LEARN PROGRAM. DISTRICT
5 HAS THREE LIBRARIES, LAKE
CITY, NORTHGATE AND THE
KALEIDOSCOPE PROGRAM IS ONLY
OFFERED AT THE LAKE CITY BRANCH
AND CURRENTLY ONLY IN ENGLISH.
THE LAKE CITY LIBRARY IS NEXT
DOOR TO A SOON TO BE BUILT
COMMUNITY CENTER WITH 113 UNITS
OF FAMILY HOUSING. THAT INCLUDES
A PROGRAM ON SITE. THE LEHIGH
APARTMENTS IS ONE BLOCK AWAY
WITH HOUSING AND A PRESCHOOL ON
THE FIRST FLOOR. THERE ARE SEVEN
OTHER SCHOOLS IN THE AREA
INCLUDING A BILINGUAL ENGLISH
AND MANDARIN PRESCHOOL. NEAR THE
NORTHGATE LIBRARY TO GATES TWO
BLOCKS AWAY WITH A PRESCHOOL ON
THE FIRST FLOOR. NEXT DOOR TO
THE LIBRARY THE EAST AFRICAN
ELDERS COMMUNITY LUNCH AT THE
NORTHGATE COMMUNITY CENTER IS
HELD. AND AT THE BROADVIEW
LIBRARY WHERE IT IS ONE BLOCK
AWAY FROM BROADVIEW THOMPSON
THERE WERE ARE 148 ENROLLED IN
THE ESL PROGRAM AND STUDENTS
SPEAK 32 DIFFERENT LANGUAGES. WE
WELCOME OPPORTUNITIES TO WORK
WITH DIFFERENT DEPARTMENTS AND
OTHER COMMUNITY ORGANIZATIONS
SUCH AS NORTH HELPLINE. DISTRICT
5 IS DIVERSE AND NEEDS DIVERSE
SERVICES TO SUPPORT YOUNG
FAMILIES. THANK YOU FOR YOUR
CONSIDERATION. AS ALWAYS,
COUNCILMEMBER JUAREZ WITH THE
DETAILS. WE APPRECIATE THAT. SO
I'M BRINGING THIS FORWARD TO
ALLOW FOR THE EXPANSION OF THE
KALEIDOSCOPE PLAY AND LEARN
PROGRAM AND SUPPORT EXPANSION
FOR UP TO TWO LOCATIONS AND
AFTER CONVERSATION WITH
LIBRARIES WE KNOW THAT THEY WILL
BE APPLYING THEIR EQUITY
PRIORITIZATION FILTER TO THAT
THAT IT IS LIKELY WE WILL SEE AN
OUTCOME, MORE INVESTMENT IN
SEATTLE WHERE AS YOU HEARD FROM
THOSE TALKING POINTS THERE IS
JUST BEAUTIFUL DIVERSE
COMMUNITIES WHO COULD BE
SUPPORTED BY THIS PROGRAM. THIS
AMENDMENT WOULD ALSO COVER
EXPANSION OF THE ESL PROGRAM
THAT SERVES FAMILIES WHO HAVE
MULTILINGUAL NEEDS. I ASKED FOR
YOUR SUPPORT. THANK YOU.
>> THANK YOU MEMBER FOSTER,
COLLEAGUES. ANY QUESTIONS? I'LL
JUST SAY I WANT TO ASK ERIC.
REALLY JUST TO LEVEL SET AGAIN.
WE ARE ADDING WITH THESE
AMENDMENTS WE WOULD BE ADDING
FUNDING BUT IS THE LIBRARY BOARD
THAT GETS TO DICTATE WHERE THE
FUNDING GOES. I'M ONLY ASKING
BECAUSE THESE ARE VERY SPECIFIC
ADS AND I JUST WANT TO ASK IN
THE REALITY OF WHO IS MAKING THE
DECISIONS. EXPECTATIONS ON
WHETHER OR NOT THE FUNDING HAS
TO BE USED IN THIS WAY.
>> THE WAY THAT THESE ARE
CRAFTED IS TO SHOW INTENTION,
SHOW THE INCREASE TO THE LEVY,
AND THEN SHOW THE COUNCIL
INTENTION FOR HOW THE FUNDS
WOULD BE AUTHORIZED.
>> YES, BUT INTENTION DOESN'T
MEAN WE GET TO DICTATE. WE ARE
LETTING THE LIBRARY BOARD KNOW
WHAT WE WOULD LIKE TO SEE. BUT
ULTIMATELY. THANK YOU FOR
CONFIRMING THAT. AND THEN WITH
THIS PARTICULAR, THESE PROGRAMS
ARE ALREADY IN THE LEVY. THIS
WOULD BE AN EXPANSION OF THOSE.
>> THAT'S CORRECT AND ALSO I
CAN TAKE QUESTIONS TODAY AND
FOLLOW-UP WITH MORE SPECIFICS AS
WE GO ALONG.
>> THANK YOU, ERIC. APPRECIATE
THAT. AMENDMENT NUMBER THREE.
AMENDMENT NUMBER FOUR.
>> SPONSORED BY COUNCIL MEMBER
FOSTER. WITH THIS AMENDMENT
COUNCIL WOULD INTEND THAT A
PORTION OF LIBRARY FUNDING
AMOUNT IS TRANSMITTED BY THE
MAYOR AND INCREASED BY 4 MILLION
BY THE COUNCIL SHOULD BE
AUTHORIZED FOR INVESTMENTS TO
SUPPORT OPERATING OFFERS AND
ACCESS BY EXPANDING RESOURCE
NAVIGATION WITH FOUR ADDITIONAL
FULL-TIME EQUIVALENT COMMUNITY
RESOURCE SPECIALISTS AND
UPGRADING SECURITY BADGE ACCESS
IN THE CENTRAL BRANCH.
>> COUNCILMEMBER FOSTER YOU ARE
RECOGNIZED
>> THANK YOU SO MUCH. I AM
INTRODUCING THIS AS A WAY TO
ENSURE THAT THE LIBRARIES HAVE
ADEQUATE STAFFING FOR COMMUNITY
RESOURCE SPECIALISTS. AS WE HAVE
HEARD EARLIER TODAY, LIBRARIES
ARE IMPORTANT PLACES FOR
FAMILIES AND FOR THE GENERAL
PUBLIC THEY SERVE AS A THIRD
PLACE. AND THAT INCLUDES OUR
NEIGHBORS WHO NEED INFORMATION
ABOUT RELEVANT COMMUNITY
SERVICES, FOOD ACCESS OR OTHER
NEEDS. AND THEY PLAY AN
IMPORTANT ROLE IN ENSURING THAT
INFORMATION IS AVAILABLE TO
MEMBERS OF THE PUBLIC WHO NEED
IT. AND I BELIEVE THAT IS A
CRITICAL PART OF ENSURING BETTER
LIBRARIES ARE THE IMPORTANT
THIRD PLACES THAT WE WANT THEM
TO BE. SO THIS IS AN AMENDMENT
THAT WOULD INCREASE THE STAFFING
CAPACITY FOR THOSE IMMUNITY
RESOURCE SPECIALISTS. THIS WOULD
ALSO ALLOW US TO PROVIDE ACCESS
TO THE DOWNTOWN LIBRARY FOR
MEMBERS OF THE SEATTLE CARE TEAM
TO ENSURE THAT WE HAVE AS WE ALL
KNOW THE CARE TEAM IS ALLOWED TO
OPERATE IN LIBRARIES PER THE
M.O. YOU AND WOULD ALLOW THE
OPPORTUNITY TO EXPLORE DEEPER
PARTNERSHIP WITH OUR COLLEAGUES.
THANK YOU.
>> COLLEAGUES, ANY QUESTIONS OR
COMMENTS? ERIC, I HAVE A QUICK
QUESTION WHICH IS CAN YOU JUST
CONFIRM HOW MANY COMMUNITY
RESOURCE SPECIALISTS THE LIBRARY
CURRENTLY HAS THAT WOULD BE
CONTINUED.
>> WITH YOUR INDULGENCE, BECAUSE
THERE'S A LOT OF NUMBERS IN MY
HEAD. I'M GOING TO FADE BACK TO
KIERSTEN.
>> SO THREE TOTAL.
>> TWO TOTAL AND ONE OF THOSE IS
FUNDED WITH LEVY FUNDS
CURRENTLY.
>> TWO TOTAL. ONE OF THOSE
POSITIONS IS FUNDED WITH LEVY
FUNDS CURRENTLY.
>> SO TWO TOTAL. NOT THREE.
>> CORRECT.
>> THANK YOU FOR CONFIRMING.
MOVE ON TO AMENDMENT FOUR.
>> SPONSORED BY COUNCILMEMBER
LIN. AND THIS AMENDMENT COUNCIL
WOULD INTEND THAT A PORTION OF
THE LIBRARY FUNDING AMOUNT IS
TRANSMITTED BY THE MAYOR
INCREASED BY $15 MILLION BY THE
COUNCIL SHOULD BE AUTHORIZED FOR
INVESTMENTS TO SUPPORT
MAINTENANCE BY ONE COMPLETING
THE REPAIR REPLACEMENT OR
UPGRADE FOR ALL LIBRARY BRANCHES
AND ADDRESSING DEFERRED
MAINTENANCE.
>> THANK YOU ERIC. COUNCILMEMBER
LIN YOU ARE RECOGNIZED TO SPEAK.
I WAS GOING TO SAY FOSTER BUT
IT'S YOUR TURN NOW. JUST
KIDDING. BRINGING LEVITY THIS
MORNING. I'M TRYING.
>> THANK YOU COLLEAGUES AND
THANK YOU TO ALL THE MEMBERS OF
THE PUBLIC AND LIBRARY FOLKS
HERE. AS WE ALL KNOW, WITH
CLIMATE CHANGE EXTREME HEAT ARE
BECOMING MORE SEVERE AND IN OUR
REGION. WE HAVE 27 BRANCHES
WHICH PROVIDE A QUIET, SAFE
REFUGE FOR COMMUNITIES INCLUDING
FROM EXTREME HEAT. SEATTLE
PUBLIC LIBRARIES WORK HARD TO
IMPROVE COOLING SYSTEM ACROSS
MOST WRENCHES BUT WE HAVE SITES
REMAINING AND GIVEN SOME
UNCERTAINTY AROUND FEDERAL
FUNDING WE HAVE SEEN IN THE PAST
THIS AMENDMENT IS MEANT TO
ENSURE THERE WILL BE SUFFICIENT
FUNDS TO COMPLETE THOSE PROJECTS
AND WE KNOW THAT WITH 27
LOCATIONS AND MANY AGING
FACILITIES THE 10 MILLION THAT
WAS INCLUDED IS NOT SUFFICIENT.
FOR THE DEFERRED MAINTENANCE
NEEDS. AND SO WE KNOW THAT THOSE
COSTS TO COMPLETE DEFERRED
MAINTENANCE ARE ONLY GOING TO GO
UP. AND SO I SEE IT AS NECESSARY
AND RESPONSIBLE TO ENSURE THAT
WE HAVE THE FUNDS TO COMPLETE
THOSE SOONER AND AT LOWER COST
EVEN AT 15 MILLION I'M
CONCERNED THAT'S PROBABLY NOT
GOING TO BE ENOUGH TO MEET THE
FULL NEEDS OF THE DEFERRED
MAINTENANCE. AND WITH THAT HAPPY
TO RESPOND TO ANY QUESTIONS.
>> THANK YOU COUNCILMEMBER LIN.
ANY CALLING QUESTIONS, COMMENTS?
I JUST WANT TO CONFIRM, ERIC,
THAT I KNOW THE LIBRARY CHIEF
TOLD US YOU HAVE THE FUNDING TO
DO THE ADDITIONAL LIBRARIES THAT
NEED THE COOLING. THAT NEED THE
HVAC UPGRADES.
>> YEAH, THE CHIEF SHOWED THAT
WITH US AT THE LAST MEETING.
THERE IS SOME UNCERTAINTY AROUND
SOME OF THOSE FUNDS AND SO MY
UNDERSTANDING WITHOUT PUTTING
WORDS IN THEIR MOUTH IS THIS IS
UNDERSTAND TO ADDRESS THAT
UNCERTAINTY AND DEAL WITH
DEFERRED MAINTENANCE. BUT WE ARE
NOW WAITING INTO THE SPONSOR
TERRITORY.
>> THAT'S CORRECT. THANK YOU.
>> I DID NOT HEAR UNCERTAINTY. I
HEARD THAT WE HAD SECURED A
GRANT FOR THOSE LIBRARIES.
>> THAT MAY BE BEST FOR ME TO
FOLLOW UP ALL RIGHT COLLEAGUES.
AMENDMENT NUMBER FIVE.
>> AMENDMENT NUMBER FIVE IS
SPONSORED BY COUNCILMEMBER RINCK
AND THIS AMENDMENT WOULD SHOW
INTENTION WITH A PORTION OF THE
LEVY AMOUNT TRANSMITTED BY THE
MAYOR AND INCREASED BY $15
MILLION BY THE COUNCIL SHOULD BE
AUTHORIZED FOR INVESTMENTS TO
SUPPORT MAINTENANCE BY
RENOVATING HISTORIC LIBRARY
BRANCH, REDUCE THE USE OF FOSSIL
FUEL AND UPGRADE PUBLICLY
AVAILABLE SPACE.
>> THANK YOU ERIC COUNCILMEMBER
RINCK, YOU ARE RECOGNIZED.
>> THANK YOU CHAIR, AND THANK
YOU TO EVERYONE WHO TURNED OUT
TO PROVIDE PUBLIC COMMENT TODAY.
I JUST LOVED HEARING THE
POSITIVITY AND PASSION FOR OUR
LIBRARIES. IT WAS CERTAINLY A
GREAT WAY TO START THE DAY AND
LET ME KNOW IF YOU WANT TO COME
BY FULL COUNCIL AT 2:00.
FANTASTIC TO HEAR FROM YOU.
AMENDMENT NUMBER FIVE IS
PERTAINING TO 15 MILLION FOR A
SEISMIC RETROFIT OF A HISTORIC
BRANCH FOR OUR LIBRARIES. THIS
LEVY GIVES THE CITY AN
OPPORTUNITY TO ENSURE OUR
LIBRARIES CAN CONTINUE TO SERVE
OUR NEIGHBORHOODS FOR
GENERATIONS TO COME. BUT OUR
OLDEST BRANCHES, THE HISTORIC
CARNEGIE LIBRARY ARE DECADES
OVERDUE FOR SEISMIC
RETROFITTING. AND THAT IS A
COMMUNITY SAFETY ISSUE. WE HAVE
CAPACITY TO ADD AT LEAST ONE
ADDITIONAL BRANCH TO THE SLATE
OF LARGE CAPITAL PROJECTS FOR
THIS PERIOD. MY UNDERSTANDING IS
THAT AFTER COLUMBIA CITY LIBRARY
RETROFITTING WHICH IS ALREADY IN
PROCESS THE NEXT LIBRARY IN THE
QUEUE ARE WEST SEATTLE AND THEN
QUEEN AND AND WE KNOW THE BEST
TIME TO SEISMICALLY RETROFIT
MASONRY BUILDINGS IS BEFORE THE
LAST EARTHQUAKE THE SECOND BEST
TIME IS RIGHT NOW. THE LIBRARY
IS READY RIGHT NOW TO PLAN AND
MANAGE ANOTHER PROJECT. OUR
AMAZING LOCAL UNIONS ARE READY
TO BUILD IT AND OUR COMMUNITY IS
READY TO SEE US INVEST IN IT
RIGHT NOW. I LOOK FORWARD TO
WORKING WITH YOU ALL TO MAKE
THIS HAPPEN. LET'S GET OUR
LOCAL BUILDERS TO WORK MAKING
EVERY BRANCH IN EVERY
NEIGHBORHOOD SAFER AS QUICKLY AS
WE CAN.
>> THANK YOU COUNCILMEMBER
RINCK. ANY QUESTIONS OR
COMMENTS? ALL RIGHT. AMENDMENT
SIX.
>> AMENDMENT SIX IS SPONSORED BY
COUNCILMEMBER RINCK. LET ME TRY
THAT AGAIN. I THINK THAT'S WHY
WE SAY E-BOOKS INSTEAD OF
ELECTRONIC BOOKS. KEEPS ME FROM
STUMBLING. ELECTRONIC BOOK
MATERIALS AND STAFFING. THIS
WOULD AMEND A PORTION OF THE
LIBRARY FUNDING AMOUNT AS
TRANSITED BY THE MAYOR AND
INCREASED BY 6 MILLION BY THE
COUNCIL SHOULD BE AUTHORIZED
WITH INVESTMENT TO SUPPORT
COLLECTIONS BY EXPANDING THE
ELECTRONIC MATERIALS E-BOOKS AND
AUDIOBOOKS COLLECTION AND
INCREASING COLLECTION STAFFING.
COUNCILMEMBER RINCK, SORRY FOR
STUMBLING THROUGH THAT BUT THERE
YOU HAVE IT.
>> IN QUEUE ERIC. YOU ARE
RECOGNIZED TO SPEAK TO YOUR
AMENDMENT.
>> I WILL BE REFERRING TO THIS
AS E-BOOKS. WE'VE HEARD LOUD
AND CLEAR FROM THE LIBRARY,
FOUNDATION AND SO MANY OF OUR
AMAZING PUBLIC COMMENT TODAY AND
THOSE WHO CAME LAST WEEK THAT
THE DEMAND ON OUR COLLECTION IS
HIGH, THE DEMAND FOR E-BOOKS AND
DIGITAL MEDIA IS FAR OUTPACING
OUR BELOVED LIBRARY ABILITY TO
KEEP UP. THE LEVY IS TRANSMITTED
ALLOWS US TO MAINTAIN STATUS QUO
BUT AS ADJUSTED FOR INFLATION
THAT IS NOT MEETING THE
PRESSURES OF BOOK INFLATION. WE
ARE ALREADY IN THE TOP 10
WORLDWIDE IN DIGITAL BOOK
CHECKOUTS AND OUR HIGHLY
LITERATE POPULATION IS RAPIDLY
GROWING. SO THIS WOULD GIVE THE
LIBRARY THE FINANCIAL AND HUMAN
RESOURCES NEEDED TO KEEP OUR
DIGITAL COLLECTIONS TO MEET THIS
MOMENT. AND I ASKED FOR YOUR
SUPPORT.
>> ANY QUESTIONS OR COMMENTS?
AMENDMENT EIGHT.
>> I THINK IT'S AMENDMENT
SEVEN, CHAIR.
>> AMENDMENT SEVEN.
>> SPONSORED BY COUNCIL MEMBER
RINCK. THE COUNCIL WOULD INTEND
THAT A PORTION OF THE LEVY
FUNDING TRANSMITTED BY THE MAYOR
AND INCREASED 2.5 MILLION
DOLLARS BY COUNCIL SHOULD BE
AUTHORIZED FOR INVESTMENTS TO
SUPPORT COLLECTIONS BY EXPANDING
THE PEAK TITLES IN THE LIBRARY
E-BOOK COLLECTION.
>> THANK YOU ERIC. YOU ARE
RECOGNIZED TO SPEAK TO YOUR
AMENDMENT.
>> THIS AMENDMENT IS A SMALLER
MORE TARGETED COLLECTIONS
INVESTMENT. THE FIRST THING YOU
SEE WHEN YOU WALK INTO THE
LIBRARY AND JUST ABOUT EVERY
BRANCH IT FEATURES THE BOOKS
THAT EVERYONE IS TALKING ABOUT.
THE NEWEST TITLE REVIEWED BY THE
SEATTLE TIMES, THE LATEST PIECE
FOR HER LOCAL FAVORITE AUTHOR.
CURRENTLY LIMITED TO PHYSICAL
BOOKS, THIS WOULD EXPAND THAT
INCREDIBLE PROGRAM TO E-BOOKS
AND AS I NOTED A FEW MINUTES AGO
SEATTLE PUBLIC LIBRARY IS IN THE
TOP 10 WORLDWIDE IN DIGITAL BOOK
CHECKOUT. WE ARE A CITY OF BOOK
PEOPLE SO LET'S GET PEOPLE
E-BOOKS. THANK YOU.
>> THANK YOU COUNCILMEMBER
RINCK. I THINK WE ARE AT
AMENDMENT EIGHT.
>> AMENDMENT NUMBER EIGHT IS
SPONSORED BY COUNCIL MEMBER
STRAUSS AND TO THIS AMENDMENT
COUNCIL WOULD INTEND THAT A
PORTION OF THE FUNDING AMOUNT AS
TRANSMITTED BY THE MAYOR AND
INCREASED BY A PLACEHOLDER
AMOUNT BY THE COUNCIL SHOULD BE
AUTHORIZED FOR INVESTMENT TO
SUPPORT OPERATING HOURS AND
ACCESS BY EXPANDING LIBRARY
PROGRAMMING MADE AVAILABLE LIVE
AND RECORDED VIA THE SEATTLE
CHANNEL.
>> COUNCILMEMBER STRAUSS YOU ARE
RECOGNIZED TO SPEAK TO YOUR
AMENDMENT.
>> IF I MAY SPEAK TO ALL FOUR OF
MY AMENDMENTS FIRST GENERALLY,
BECAUSE EVERYONE MIGHT NOTICE I
HAVE DOLLAR FIGURE PLACEHOLDERS
IN EACH OF MY AMENDMENTS.
>> SHOULD WE THEN HAVE YOUR RUN
THROUGH THE REMAINDER AND THEN
YOU CAN ADDRESS ALL OF THAT?
>> I WILL JUST GIVE AN OVERVIEW
AS TO WHY I HAVE PLACEHOLDERS IF
THAT'S ALL RIGHT.
>> SORRY, I JUST WANT TO KNOW
THE ORDER. YOU WANT TO SPEAK
HOLISTICALLY TO ALL FOUR AND
THEN HAVE ERIC RUN BY ALL FOUR
AND SPEAK TO THEM INDIVIDUALLY?
>> YES PLEASE.
>> YOU ARE RECOGNIZED AND THEN
WE WILL GO BACK.
>> FANTASTIC. THE AMENDMENT WE
HAVE BEFORE US ALL HAVE DOLLAR
FIGURE PLACEHOLDERS. AND THAT IS
BECAUSE THE WASHINGTON STATE TAX
CODE DOES NOT ALLOW US TO
COLLECT PROPERTY TAX BEYOND 1%.
WHICH MEANS THAT EACH OF OUR
DOLLARS WE COLLECT THROUGH
PROPERTY TAX DO NOT KEEP UP WITH
INFLATION. AND SO WE ARE AT A
MOMENT RIGHT NOW WHERE WE'RE UP
AGAINST THE LEVY LID AND I KNOW
EACH OF THESE PROGRAMS ARE
INCREDIBLY IMPORTANT TO CONTINUE
MOVING FORWARD IN THIS
CONVERSATION. SO THE REASON WE
HAVE HAD TO PUT PHIL IN THE
DOLLAR FIGURE THIS WEEK IS
BECAUSE OF OUR WASHINGTON STATE
TAX CODE. EVERY DOLLAR THAT WE
RECEIVE GOES LESS FAR THAN IT
DID THE YEAR BEFORE AND BECAUSE
1% IS LESS THAN INFLATION. OUR
LIMIT ON THE PROPERTY TAX MEANS
WE ARE EXPECTED TO PROVIDE THE
SAME OR BETTER SERVICES EACH
YEAR WITH DOLLARS THAT DON'T GO
AS FAR AS THEY DID EVEN THE YEAR
BEFORE. IN SEATTLE WE HAVE
CIRCUMVENTED THIS 1% PROPERTY
TAX COLLECTION CAP BY GOING
DIRECTLY TO SEATTLE VOTERS AND
SEATTLE FOR THOSE ADDITIONAL
PROPERTY TAX LEVIES. IN THIS
EXPERIENCE WITH GOING DIRECTLY
TO SEATTLE FOR APPROVAL ON THE
THINGS THAT WE ALL WANT, IT WAS
REALLY ALL CAPITAL FUNDING. BUT
AS THE 1% LIMIT CONTINUED TO
DROP UNDERCUT OUR CITY ABILITY
TO PROVIDE THE BASIC OPERATING
EXPERIENCE, BASIC OPERATING
EXPENDITURES THAT SEATTLEITES
WANT WE STARTED OPERATING INTO
OUR LEVIES. JUST SO THAT WE CAN
KEEP UP WITH INFLATION AND
GROWING POPULATION. AS WE'VE
HEARD, EVEN THESE VOTER APPROVED
LEVIES HAVE A CAP. THAT WE ARE
NOW RUNNING INTO. THE STATE
LEGISLATURE HAS THE POWER TO
RELEASE US FROM THE 1% PROPERTY
TAX LIMIT AND THEY CAN RELEASE
US FROM THE LEVY AS WELL. THEY
HAVE CONSIDERED BEFORE AND THEY
HAVE NOT HELPED US. THEY HAVE
PUT US IN THIS POSITION. I SHARE
THIS OVERVIEW OF ALL FOUR
BECAUSE THIS LEVY IS THE FIRST
TO SUFFER FROM THESE LIMITS AND
THE FAMILIES, THE PEOPLE COMING
THE EVERYDAY SEATTLEITES THAT
RELY ON OUR LEVIES ARE THE FIRST
TO SUFFER FROM THIS TAX CODE
THAT THE STATE LEGISLATURE HAS
PUT UPON US. I SAY THIS BECAUSE
EACH OF MY AMENDMENTS HAVE
DOLLAR FIGURE PLACEHOLDERS
BECAUSE IT'S REALLY IMPORTANT
FOR ME TO PUSH AS FAR AS WE CAN
AND TO BE FISCALLY RESPONSIBLE
TO THE FOLLOWING LEVIES WHO HAVE
TO KEEP UP WITH INFLATION AND
INCREASED SERVICES. I HAVE NEVER
SEEN A LEVY COME BACK TO US THAT
DID NOT ADD SERVICES AND
APPROPRIATELY SO. FROM THE TIME
THAT I WAS LEARNING TO READ AT
THE LIBRARY WE HAVE NEARLY
DOUBLED THE POPULATION OF OUR
CITY. THIS LEVY LID IS REAL AND
HAS REAL IMPACT ON EVERY SINGLE
LEVY WE HAVE. AND RIGHT NOW OUR
LIBRARIES AND FAMILIES OF THE
FIRST TO LOSE OUT BECAUSE OUR
STATE TAX CODE. WITH THAT I AM
HERE TO PUSH AS FAR AS WE CAN
WITH WHAT WE HAVE IN FRONT OF US
SO THAT WE ARE FISCALLY
RESPONSIBLE AND RESPONSIBLE TO
OUR EVERYDAY SEATTLEITES WHO ARE
RELYING ON OUR LEVIES. SO LET'S
COME BACK TO EACH OF MY
AMENDMENTS. ERIC HAS READ MY
FIRST. ABOUT THE SEATTLE CHANNEL
AND.
>> CAN I ADDRESS IT?
>> YOU CAN ADDRESS IT. WHY
DON'T WE GO WITH EIGHT AND THEN
GO BACK TO ERIC. THANK YOU
COUNCIL MEMBER STRAUSS.
>> TALKING ABOUT THE
AWARD-WINNING SEATTLE CHANNEL
SPECIFICALLY, THERE WAS A MOMENT
A FEW YEARS AGO WHERE SEATTLE
CHANNEL FUTURE WAS IN PERIL. AND
NOT A DIFFERENT WAY THAN WHAT WE
ARE EXPERIENCING RIGHT NOW. WE
HAVE BEEN ABLE TO MOVE FROM THAT
MOMENT USING THE BRIDGE FUNDING
THAT WE PROVIDED, I AMENDED THE
BUDGET AND COUNCIL AGREED AND
THAT ALLOWED FOR THE SEATTLE
FUNDING TASK FORCE TO MEET AND
PROVIDE RECOMMENDATIONS. THEY
LANDED ON THE RECOMMENDATION
SEATTLE CHANNEL SHOULD BE
LOCATED WITHIN THE LIBRARY
SYSTEM AND FUNDED THROUGH A
BRANDED SYSTEM THAT HEAVILY
RELIES ON THIS LEVY. COLLEAGUES,
AS YOU MAY REMEMBER FROM THE
COMCAST CONTRACT WE PASSED THAT
CONTRACT IS BRINGING FEWER AND
FEWER DOLLARS BECAUSE THERE ARE
FEWER AND FEWER CABLE USERS, THE
REALITY WHICH LED TO THE SEATTLE
CHANNEL FUNDING ISSUE A FEW
YEARS AGO. THE LIBRARY LEVY WAS
VIEWED AS POTENTIALLY A SINGLE
SOLUTION IF NOT TO BE A MAJOR
PART OF THE SOLUTION FOR
SUSTAINABLE AWARD-WINNING
SEATTLE CHANNEL. AS I MENTIONED
BEFORE OUR STATE TAX CODE
LIMITATIONS CAME INTO PLAY
LIMITING OUR ABILITY TO
SUSTAINABLY FUND THE SEATTLE
CHANNEL. AND THE PICKET WE HAVE
HAD TO MAKE ACROSS-THE-BOARD FOR
ALL OF SEATTLE CHANNEL FUNDING
IS TWO THINGS. LEVERAGING THE
AWARD-WINNING ABILITY TO RECORD,
DOCUMENT, PRODUCE AND SHARE THE
CONTENT THAT WHETHER IT IS FROM
ARTS AND CULTURE, THE WORK
WITHIN THE ZOO OR IN THIS GRACE
CASE THE GREAT WORK THE LIBRARY
IS DOING USING THE ALREADY BUILT
CENTRAL SERVICE TO OUR CITY TO
BE ABLE TO EXPAND THE ACCESS TO
PROGRAMMING. AND SO IF EACH OF
MANY DEPARTMENTS IN OUR CITY ARE
USING SEATTLE CHANNEL SERVICES
MORE IT BECOMES A CENTRAL
SERVICE. AND THE RECIPIENTS ARE
REALLY THE ONES TO WIN. IN THIS
CASE THIS AMENDMENT WOULD EXPAND
THE IMPACT AND AUDIENCE FOR
SEATTLE PUBLIC LIBRARY PROGRAMS
SUCH AS READING, SPEAKER SERIES,
SPECIAL EVENTS. I DON'T KNOW IF
WE ARE GOING TO HAVE AN AUTHOR
HERE THE READING ABOUT LAKE
CITY. OR TALKS OR BOOKS BUT WHAT
STUNS ME IS HOW AMAZING THE
LIBRARY PROGRAM IS AND HOW IF IT
IS NOT RECORDED AND SHARED IT IS
JUST THAT MOMENT IN TIME. SO
THIS AMENDMENT FOREST WOULD
EXTEND THE IMPACT OF THE
PROGRAMS THE LEVY IS ALREADY
PROVIDING. BY USING THE EXISTING
INFRASTRUCTURE OF THE SEATTLE
CHANNEL TO REALLY BROADEN AND
REACH THE LIBRARY'S GREAT
PROGRAMS. I'D LOVE TO EARN YOUR
SUPPORT AND I'LL BE WORKING
WITH EACH OF YOU TO UNDERSTAND.
>> THANK YOU COUNCIL MEMBER
STRAUSS. QUESTIONS OR COMMENTS?
MOVING ON TO AMENDMENT NINE.
>> AMENDMENT NINE IS SPONSORED
BY COUNCIL MEMBER STRAUSS. THIS
WOULD SHOW COUNCIL INTENTION AND
A PORTION OF THE LIBRARY LEVY
FUNDING AMOUNT AS TRANSMITTED BY
THE MAYOR AND INCREASED BY A
PLACEHOLDER AMOUNT BY THE
COUNCIL SHOULD BE AUTHORIZED FOR
INVESTMENTS TO SUPPORT
MAINTENANCE FOR IMPROVING
PHYSICAL ACCESSIBILITY UNDER THE
AMERICANS WITH DISABILITIES ACT
AND REPAIRING OR REPLACING
ELEVATORS AND ESCALATORS.
>> THANK YOU ERIC. COUNCIL
MEMBER STRAUSS, YOU ARE
RECOGNIZED TO SPEAK TO YOUR
AMENDMENT.
>> IF YOU CAN'T ACCESS THE
LIBRARY, YOU CAN'T USE IT.
IT'S JUST THAT SIMPLE. IF THE
ELEVATOR FROM THE PARKING GARAGE
WHERE THE A.D.A. PARKING SPOT IS
CAN'T GET YOU TO THE FIRST
FLOOR, THE ONLY WAY INTO THE
LIBRARY IS THE INTERNET AND IF
YOU DON'T HAVE THE INTERNET, IF
YOU ARE GOING TO GO CHECK OUT
YOUR MOBILE HOTSPOT THAN YOU
REALLY ARE LIMITED IN SO MANY
DIFFERENT WAYS. SO IF WE DID NOT
HAVE THE STATE REGRESSIVE AND
PUNITIVE TAX COURT ON OUR HANDS
THIS WOULD BE AN AREA THAT I
WOULD FUND AT A LEVEL THAT TAKES
CARE OF THE ENTIRE BACKLOG AND
ADDS SOME. BECAUSE WE KNOW THAT
OVER THE LIFE OF THIS LEVY THERE
WILL BE MORE ISSUES BUT IT'S
REALLY IMPORTANT FOR ME THAT WE
DO AS MUCH AS WE CAN TO INCREASE
THE ABILITY FOR PEOPLE TO GET IN
THE FRONT DOOR.
>> THANK YOU FOR COUNCIL MEMBER
STRAUSS. ANY COMMENTS OR
QUESTIONS? I THINK WE ARE AT
AMENDMENT 10.
>> AMENDMENT 10 IS SPONSORED BY
COUNCIL MEMBER STRAUSS. COUNCIL
WOULD INTEND THAT A PORTION OF
THE LIBRARY FUNDING AMOUNT AS
TRANSMITTED BY THE MAYOR AND
INCREASED BY A PLACEHOLDER
AMOUNT SHOULD BE AUTHORIZED FOR
INVESTMENT TO SUPPORT
COLLECTIONS BY INCREASING
ACQUISITION OF NEW TITLES AND
ADDITIONAL COPIES IN VARIOUS
PHYSICAL AND DIGITAL FORMATS.
>> COUNCIL MEMBER STRAUSS YOU
ARE RECOGNIZED TO ADDRESS YOUR
AMENDMENT.
>> IF WE DON'T HAVE BOOKS WE
JUST HAVE A BUILDING. IT'S
REALLY AGAIN, THAT SIMPLE. IF WE
ARE NOT ABLE TO PURCHASE, I KEEP
CALLING IT CIRCULATIONS BUT I
THINK IT IS CALLED COLLECTIONS
AND MAYBE I WAS THE FRONT DESK
CLERK FOR THE LIBRARY BUT IT WAS
IN THOSE MOMENTS GETTING TO
WATCH HOW THAT ONE BOOK WOULD
COME AND GO AND THAT IS A TRUE
FEWER PUBLIC GOOD BECAUSE WE
WERE MAKING A ONE-TIME PURCHASE
FOR THE PUBLIC GOOD THAT IS THEN
SHARED AND SHARED AND SHARED AND
SHARED. THIS IS ANOTHER AREA
THAT IF WE DON'T HAVE BOOKS WE
JUST HAVE A BUILDING.
>> COLLEAGUES, COMMENTS OR
QUESTIONS? I THINK WE ARE AT THE
LAST AMENDMENT. AMENDMENT 11.
>> COUNCIL NEVER STRAUSS IS THE
SPONSOR. WITH THIS AMENDMENT,
THE COUNCIL WOULD INTEND A
PORTION OF THE LIBRARY FUNDING
AMOUNT AS TRANSMITTED BY THE
MAYOR AND INCREASED BY A
PLACEHOLDER AMOUNT BY THE
COUNCIL SHOULD BE AUTHORIZED FOR
INVESTMENT TO SUPPORT OPERATING
HOURS AND ACCESS BY CONTRACTING
FOR SAFETY AMBASSADORS OR
OUTREACH WORKERS TO SERVE ON
SEATTLE PUBLIC LIBRARY PROPERTY.
>> THANK YOU ERIC. COUNCIL
MEMBER STRAUSS, YOU ARE
RECOGNIZED TO ADDRESS YOUR
AMENDMENT.
>> THIS IS REALLY THROUGH
CONVERSATION WITH COUNCILMEMBER
FOSTER WHERE I THINK WE WILL
CONTINUE WORKING TOGETHER TO
MERGE OUR DIFFERENT IDEAS AND
ONLY ONE WOULD MOVE FORWARD BUT
WE ARE CONTINUING WORKING
THROUGH IT. REALLY COUNCIL
MEMBER FOSTERS AMENDMENT REALLY
ADDRESS THE FACT THAT A DECADE
AGO OR EVEN THE LAST TIME THE
LEVY WAS PASSED WAS A TIME WHEN
THE CITY OF SEATTLE WAS DOING A
VERY POOR JOB OF PROVIDING
SOCIAL SERVICES TO THE PEOPLE
EXPERIENCING EMERGENCIES IN THE
CRISIS AND OFTEN TIMES
HOMELESSNESS ON OUR STREETS. IT
WAS AT A TIME WHEN WE RELIED ON
THE NAVIGATION TEAM THAT LED THE
POLICE AND HAD CASEWORKERS
BEHIND. WHEREAS TODAY WE HAVE
THE UNIFIED CARE TEAM THAT LEADS
WITH SOCIAL WORKERS AND THE
POLICE ARE BEHIND. SO JUST
MAKING THAT SHIFT IN HOW WE
PROVIDE CRISIS RESPONSE. WE NOW
HAVE THE CARE TEAM WE DIDN'T
HAVE, AT LEAST IN MANY PARTS OF
THE CITY THAT WE DIDN'T HAVE
BEFORE. WE HAVE THE CRISIS CARE
CENTERS OPENING UP THROUGHOUT
THIS COUNTY, WE HAVE ADDITIONAL
MOBILE CRISIS UNITS THAT ARE
EMPLOYED IN OUR CITY AND
THROUGHOUT OUR COUNTY. THERE ARE
SO MANY WAYS THAT THE FRONT DOOR
OF CITY SERVICES HAVE CHANGED IN
THE LAST DECADE AND I WANT TO
MAKE SURE THE LIBRARY IS KEEPING
UP WITH THAT. AND BEING ABLE TO
BE RESPONSIVE TO THOSE CHANGES.
FOR INSTANCE WE HAVE WHAT IS
CALLED THE SEATTLE IMPACT
FRAMEWORK THAT IS OPERATING IN A
NUMBER OF DIFFERENT
NEIGHBORHOODS IN OUR CITY THAT
TAKE THE HIGHEST LEVEL CASE
SOCIAL SERVICE PROVIDERS AND
CASE CONFERENCES WITH PEOPLE WHO
ARE IN THAT GEOGRAPHIC SPACE. A
GREAT WAY THE LIBRARY COULD BE
INCLUDED AND INTERACTIVE. SORRY
IF MY COMMENTS ARE A LITTLE
JUMBLED. THERE SEEMS TO BE A LOT
OF ACTIVITY IN THE COUNCIL
CHAMBERS AT THE MOMENT. BUT ALL
THAT TO SAY IS THERE MIGHT BE A
WAY WHERE WE UPDATE THE LIBRARY
TO BE ABLE TO FIT INTO THE
EXISTING AND EXPANDED SOCIAL
SERVICE NETWORK THAT WE HAVE
CREATED OVER THE LAST FEW YEARS
RATHER THAN TRYING TO GET THAT
SOCIAL SERVICE NETWORK TO FIT
WITHIN THE CONSTRUCT OF THE
LIBRARY. SO ALL CONVERSATION TO
CONTINUE AND HAPPY TO HAVE THAT
CONVERSATION. THAT'S ABOUT ALL
I'VE GOT .
>> THANK YOU COUNCIL MEMBER
STRAUSS. ANY COMMENTS OR
QUESTIONS? ALL RIGHT.
COLLEAGUES, A COUPLE THINGS. I
WANT TO ACKNOWLEDGE THAT COUNCIL
PRESIDENT HAS BEEN HERE FOR
INSTANCE BEFORE WE STARTED
TALKING ABOUT THE AMENDMENTS SO
I WAS REMISS IN NOT
ACKNOWLEDGING HER EARLIER. AND
THEN I JUST NEED A MINUTE TO
CONFER ON NEXT STEPS FOR
TODAY'S MEETING. SO IF YOU WILL
JUST HANG TIGHT FOR A MINUTE.
APPRECIATE THAT. WE ARE GOING TO
TAKE A FIVE-MINUTE RESET. WE
WILL RECESS TO 10:34. I JUST
NEED TO GET A CONSULT FROM OUR
CLERKS ON NEXT STEPS FOR THE
MEETING. THANK YOU.
WE HAVE SEVEN COUNCIL MEMBERS
PRESENT.
>> THANK YOU EVERYONE FOR YOUR
PATIENCE. THE REASON I RECESSED
WAS JUST TO GET A CONSULT FROM
OUR CLERK. WE HAVE THREE
PROPOSED AMENDMENTS FROM MY
COLLEAGUE AND FRIEND
COUNCILMEMBER SAKA BUT THEY ARE
NOT BEFORE US ON PAPER AND I
WANTED TO MAKE SURE THAT I HAD
THE PROPER INSTRUCTIONS FOR HOW
TO READ THEM INTO THE RECORD AND
HAVE MY COLLEAGUE BE ABLE TO
SPEAK TO THEM. SO WHAT WE WILL
DO IS THEY ARE IN CONCEPT SO
THEY WILL BE BETTER FLUSHED OUT
IN TIME FOR OUR VOTE ON THE
EIGHTH. SO WE WILL HAVE ERIC
SPEAK TO THE CONTEXT FOR EACH OF
THE THREE LIKE WE DID THE LAST,
WE WILL DO ONE AT A TIME AND
HAVE MY COLLEAGUE COUNCILMEMBER
SAKA SPEAK TO HIS AMENDMENT.
THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR THE GRACE
WHILE WE FIGURE THAT OUT. ERIC,
NOW WE ARE AT AMENDMENT 12.
>> THIS IS AMENDMENT 12.
SPONSORED BY COUNCILMEMBER SAKA.
THIS WOULD INTEND THAT A PORTION
OF THE LIBRARY FUNDED AMOUNT AS
TRANSMITTED BY THE MAYOR SHOULD
BE AUTHORIZED FOR INVESTMENTS TO
SUPPORT TECHNOLOGY SERVICES BY
PROVIDING DIGITAL PROGRAMS FOR
TEENS OFFERED AT THE SOUTH ARK
AND HIGH POINT LIBRARY.
>> THANK YOU ERIC. COUNCIL
MEMBER SAKA YOU ARE RECOGNIZED
TO SPEAK TO YOUR AMENDMENT.
>> THANK YOU MADAM CHAIR. FIRST
AND FOREMOST, I WANT TO
APOLOGIZE TO YOU ON THE RECORD
FOR THE LATENCY ON MY AUNT. MY
END. AND SORT OF SURPRISED
NATURE OF THESE. THEY ARE NOT
WALK ON'S BECAUSE WE ARE NOT
VOTING BUT PUTTING YOU UNDER THE
PRESSURE FOR COORDINATING WITH
THE CLERK. THAT'S MY BAD, MY
APOLOGIZE. I OWN THAT, I DID NOT
INTEND ANY OF THAT AND ALSO
APOLOGIES TO PEOPLE WAITING AND
HAD TO TAKE THAT FIVE MINUTE
RECESS. BUT GOOD NEWS IS WE ARE
TRYING TO DO MORE FOR OUR
LIBRARIES. WITH THESE THREE
AMENDMENTS. HIGH LEVEL, I WILL
JUST SHARE OVERVIEW. THESE THREE
AMENDMENTS, NONE OF THESE WOULD
ADD FUNDING OR ADDITIONAL COST
TO A LEVY. JUST CLARIFY COUNCIL
INTENT ON SPECIFIC FUNDING AND
PROGRAMS THAT ARE ALREADY
AVAILABLE. AND SO THE FIRST ONE
HERE WE TALKED ABOUT AND I
SHOULD CLARIFY I WAS PROBABLY
THE FIRST COUNCILMEMBER OFFICE
TO GET MY AMENDMENT CONCEPTS IN
ABOUT A MONTH AGO BUT DUE TO
ADMINISTRATIVE ERROR WAS UNABLE
TO MEET THE PUBLICATION DEADLINE
YESTERDAY AND I OWN THAT. MY
APOLOGIES. IN ANY EVENT, HERE WE
ARE. STARTING FIRST WITH MAKING
SURE THAT WE SUPPORT DIGITAL
SCALING PROGRAMS AND
INITIATIVES. CALLED OUT SOME
SPECIFIC ILLUSTRATIVE EXAMPLES
OF BRANCHES. IN MY DISTRICT THAT
I WOULD LIKE TO SEE SOME OF
THESE PROGRAMS BEING LAUNCHED
FROM BUT THIS IS ILLUSTRATIVE
ONLY. AND THE LIBRARY SYSTEM AND
THE BOARD ARE OBVIOUSLY FREE TO
BUILD UPON THIS LIST AND OTHER
AREAS IN NEED. BUT THE BASIC
NOTION HERE IS THAT SEATTLE
PUBLIC LIBRARIES OFFERS A WIDE
RANGE OF DIGITAL SCALING
OPPORTUNITIES AND TECHNOLOGY
RELATED LEARNING RESOURCES TO
HELP PEOPLE BUILD CONFIDENCE AND
COMPETENCE IN TODAY'S DIGITAL
WORLD. SO THESE OPPORTUNITIES
ARE MOSTLY FREE FOR CARDHOLDERS
AND MANY ARE SELF-PACED ONLINE
RESOURCES AS WELL AS IN-PERSON
CLASSES OR SUPPORT. KNOW THAT IN
MY DISTRICT SOUTH PARK AND HIGH
POINT BRANCHES ARE NEIGHBORHOODS
THAT HAVE LOWER RATES OF HOME
INTERNET ACCESS. CAN PAIR WITH
MORE AFFLUENT AREAS OF SEATTLE.
THIS CREATES BARRIERS TO ONLINE
LEARNING. JOB APPLICATIONS FOR
GOVERNMENT SERVICES, TELEHEALTH
AND OTHER ESSENTIAL DIGITAL
SKILLS, ACTIVITIES AND
INITIATIVES. THAT'S PRECISELY
WHY THIS DIGITAL EFFORT IS
NEEDED AND IN THESE
NEIGHBORHOODS AND PROBABLY MORE.
SO THAT'S WHAT THIS AMENDMENT
PROPOSED AMENDMENT SEEKS TO
ADDRESS AND ACCOMPLISH AND HOPE
TO HAVE YOUR SUPPORT. THANK YOU.
>> THANK YOU COUNCILMEMBER SAKA.
WE WILL GO TO AMENDMENT NUMBER
13.
>> ALSO SPONSORED BY
COUNCILMEMBER SAKA THIS WOULD
INTEND THAT A PORTION OF THE
LIBRARY FUNDING AMOUNT AS
TRANSMITTED BY THE MAYOR SHOULD
BE AUTHORIZED THROUGH INVESTMENT
TO SUPPORT HOURS AND ACCESS AND
COLLECTIONS BY CONTRACTING WITH
THE WASHINGTON STATE BLACK
LEGACY INSTITUTE FOR PROGRAMMING
THAT CELEBRATES AND PRESERVES
THE RICH HISTORY OF WASHINGTON
STATE BLACK COMMUNITIES AND
OFFERS A POWERFUL TRIBUTE TO
BLACK RESILIENCE, LEADERSHIP AND
CULTURAL CONTRIBUTIONS.
>> THANK YOU ERIC. YOU ARE
RECOGNIZED TO SPEAK TO YOUR
AMENDMENT.
>> THANK YOU CHAIR. COLLEAGUES,
IF YOU HAVE NOT YET AND MEMBERS
OF THE PUBLIC IF YOU HAVE NOT
YET HAD THE OPPORTUNITY TO VISIT
THE HISTORIC WASHINGTON STATE
BLACK LEGACY INSTITUTE IN MY
DISTRICT IN WEST SEATTLE IN THE
HISTORIC ADMIRAL DISTRICT
NEIGHBORHOOD PLEASE DO CHECK IT
OUT. WE ARE, IT IS A COMMUNITY
TREASURE. NOT OF WEST SEATTLE
SIGNIFICANCE OR IMPORTANCE, NOT
OF THE CITY OF SEATTLE BUT IT
HAS STATEWIDE SIGNIFICANCE AND
IMPORTANCE AND IMPACT. I'M
PROUD TO HAVE IT IN MY DISTRICT
IN WEST SEATTLE. A STATEWIDE
MUSEUM, INSTITUTION THAT OWNERS
BLACK CONTRIBUTIONS ACROSS OUR
ENTIRE STAY. SO WHAT THIS
AMENDMENT WOULD DO IS IT WOULD
SIGNAL CLARIFY COUNCIL INTENT TO
PROVIDE FUNDING TO SUPPORT HOURS
AND ACCESS AND ELECTIONS BY
CONTRACTING WITH PROGRAMMING
THAT CELEBRATES AND PRESERVES
THE RICH HISTORY OF WASHINGTON
STATE BLACK COMMUNITIES. AGAIN,
A NEWLY ESTABLISHED CULTURAL AND
HISTORIC INSTITUTION LOCATED IN
HISTORIC ADMIRAL DISTRICT IN
WEST SEATTLE. A LITTLE OVER A
YEAR AGO IN FEBRUARY 2025 AFTER
YEARS OF PLANNING. EXISTS TO
COLLECT, PRESERVE, INTERPRET AND
SHARE THE HISTORY AND LEGACY OF
BLACK PEOPLE IN WASHINGTON STATE
INCLUDING THE DESCENDENTS OF
SLAVES. IT'S WORK IS ROOTED IN
THE IDEA THAT UNDERSTANDING AND
HONORING THE PAST STRENGTHENS
THE COMMUNITIES PRESENT AND
FUTURE. SEATTLE PUBLIC LIBRARY
MUSEUM PASS PROGRAM GIVES
CARDHOLDERS FREE ADMISSION TO
CERTAIN MUSEUMS AND CULTURAL
SITES AROUND SEATTLE CURRENTLY
INCLUDING TERRIFIC ORGANIZATIONS
LIKE THE MUSEUM, SEATTLE
AQUARIUM AND OTHERS. COST THERE
IS GENERALLY COVERED SO SUPPORT
FROM THE LEVY WILL ALLOW TO
PROMOTE THEIR MISSION CITYWIDE.
WHILE SECURING NEEDED FUNDING. I
ASK FOR YOUR SUPPORT. THANK YOU.
>> COLLEAGUES, QUESTIONS OR
COMMENTS? ON TO AMENDMENT 14.
>> SPONSORED BY COUNCILMEMBER
SAKA AND WITH THIS COUNCIL WOULD
INTEND THAT PIPER APPROVING THE
LEVY FUNDING SHOULD BE ALLOCATED
TO SUPPORT LET MAINTENANCE TO
SUPPORT THE WEST SEATTLE LIBRARY
BRANCH SEISMIC SAFETY, FOSSIL
FUEL REDUCTION, UPGRADES TO
PUBLICLY AVAILABLE SPACE AND
ACCELERATING IMPROVEMENT TO
PHYSICAL ACCESSIBILITY UNDER THE
AMERICANS WITH DISABILITIES ACT.
>> THANK YOU ERIC. YOU ARE
RECOGNIZED TO SPEAK TO YOUR
AMENDMENT.
>> THIS AMENDMENT AGAIN
CLARIFIES COUNCIL INTENT THAT
FUNDING BE ALLOCATED TO SUPPORT
MAINTENANCE AND RENOVATION OF
THE HISTORIC WEST SEATTLE
LIBRARY BRANCH, FOSSIL FUEL
REDUCTION, UPGRADES TO PUBLICLY
AVAILABLE SPACE AND ACCELERATING
THE IMPROVEMENTS TO PHYSICAL
ACCESSIBILITY UNDER THE A.D.A.
AT THE HISTORIC WEST SEATTLE
BRANCH LIBRARY. THIS IS ONE OF
SEATTLE'S ORIGINAL CARNEGIE
LIBRARIES FUNDED BY
PHILANTHROPIST ANDREW CARNEGIE.
THE BRANCH OPENED IN 1910 MAKING
IT ONE OF THE OLDEST STILL
OPERATING LIBRARY BUILDINGS IN
OUR ENTIRE CITY. IT IS LISTED ON
THE NATIONAL REGISTER OF
HISTORIC PLACES AND IS A
DESIGNATED HISTORIC LANDMARK.
LIKE ALL BUILDINGS OF SIMILAR
AGE THE WEST SEATTLE BRANCH IS
IN DIRE NEED OF UPGRADES AND
RENOVATIONS TO CONTINUE TO SERVE
AS A SAFE, RELIABLE RESOURCE FOR
OUR COMMUNITY. THIS AMENDMENT IS
APPARENTLY COMPLEMENTARY WITH
OTHER PROPOSED AMENDMENTS AS
WELL. JUST SIGNALING WE WANT THE
WEST PRIORITY FOR THESE DIRE
NEED OF UPGRADES. THANK YOU. I
ASK FOR YOUR SUPPORT.
>> THANK YOU COUNCILMEMBER SAKA.
I'M GOING TO GO TO
COUNCILMEMBER FOSTER. I THINK
PERHAPS YOU HAD YOUR HAND UP.
>> THANK YOU SO MUCH. NO WORRIES
AT ALL. AND THANK YOU SO MUCH
COUNCILMEMBER SAKA FOR WALKING
US THROUGH THOSE. I HAD A COUPLE
CLARIFYING QUESTIONS. I'M A
VISUAL PERSON SO THESE BEAR WITH
ME. I JUST FOR THE BLACK LEGACY
INSTITUTE, AM I CORRECT IN
UNDERSTANDING THAT YOUR INTENT
WITH THIS IS TO HAVE THE BLACK
LEGACY INSTITUTE INCLUDED IN THE
PASSPORT PROGRAM? THE MUSEUM
PASS POGROM. THAT IS THE INTENT
BEHIND THAT IS THAT CORRECT?
>> THAT WOULD BE IDEAL, OR OTHER
OPPORTUNITIES THAT WOULD ALLOW
TO BENEFIT FROM 410 CURRENTLY
MILLION-DOLLAR LIBRARY LEVY AS
WELL. WHILE MAKING THE COMMUNITY
TREASURE THAT THEY OFFER MORE
AVAILABLE AND ACCESSIBLE TO ALL.
>> THANK YOU. AND THEN I JUST
WANTED TO MAKE SURE FOR THE
FIRST AMENDMENT. FOR THE FIRST
AMENDMENT THAT YOU WALK THROUGH
IN TERMS OF DIGITAL SCALING DID
YOU SAY THE SOUTH PARK AND HIGH
POINT BRANCHES? THANK YOU. AND
THEN MY OVERALL QUESTION IS
THESE ARE ALL BUDGET NEUTRAL.
YOU DIDN'T SAY YOU HAD A
PLACEHOLDER. THEY WERE BUDGET
NEUTRAL. AND I'M CURIOUS AND
MAYBE THIS IS A FOLLOW-UP FOR
CENTRAL STAFF. IF WE KNOW THAT
ANY OF THESE ARE ALREADY PLANNED
OR WITHIN THE SCOPE OF THE LEVY
OR IF THEY WOULD REQUIRE
SHIFTING OR IMPACTS TO OTHER
PLANNED WORK WITHIN THE LEVY.
>> I HAVE SOME THOUGHTS ON THAT.
I WELCOME CENTRAL STAFF THE
OPPORTUNITY TO WEIGH IN AS WELL.
BUT CERTAINLY ON THE MUSEUM
PASS, AND THE OTHER ONE WHICH IS
THE DIGITAL INITIATIVES THOSE
ARE EXISTING PROGRAMS AND
SERVICES THAT ARE OFFERED TODAY
SO BASED OFF OF MY CONVERSATIONS
WITH THE LIBRARY, OTHER
COMMUNITY STAKEHOLDERS THOSE
WOULD ALREADY BE WITHIN THE
PURVIEW OF SOMETHING THAT IS
AUTHORIZED TO BE COVERED AND SO
THE INTENT OF MY AMENDMENT IS TO
MAKE CRYSTAL CLEAR IN THE CASE
OF THE DIGITAL INITIATIVE WE
WANT THESE BRANCHES AT A MINIMUM
TO BE CONSIDERED, HIGH POINT AND
SOUTH PARK AND THEN AGAIN TO BE
ABLE TO BENEFIT FROM EXISTING
PROGRAM AS WELL.
>> IS THERE A QUESTION THERE?
FOR A FOLLOW-UP ON THAT?
>> I WILL FOLLOW-UP. THANK YOU
SO MUCH COUNCILMEMBER SAKA.
>> COUNCIL MEMBER FOSTER.
COUNCILMEMBER RINCK YOU ARE
RECOGNIZED.
>> THANK YOU CHAIR. AND THANK
YOU COUNCILMEMBER SAKA. I'M
GLAD WE WERE ABLE TO HAVE THESE
HEARD IN COMMITTEE AND CONCEPT
TODAY FOR THE PURPOSES OF MOVING
ON THIS VERY QUICK PROCESS. I'M
WONDERING JUST FOR THE PURPOSES
OF MOVING FORWARD BECAUSE I TOO
AM A VISUAL PERSON. WHEN WILL WE
SEE THESE AMENDMENTS? IN
WRITING.
>> THIS IS A LITTLE BIT NOVEL
BUT MY UNDERSTANDING IS
COMMITTEE WILL ATTACH THEM TO
THE AGENDA AFTER THE MEETING
BECAUSE THAT IS GENERALLY WHAT
WE DO WITH MATERIALS PRESENTED
AT THE MEETING. WE WILL MAKE
THEM AVAILABLE AND THEN GOING
FORWARD TO THE PUBLIC AND
SUBJECT TO DISCUSSION AN ONGOING
COMMITTEE MEETING. DOES THAT
HELP?
>> CERTAINLY.
>> IT WILL BE AVAILABLE STARTING
TODAY AFTER THE MEETING BECAUSE
THEY WILL BE ATTACHED TO THE
AGENDA.
>> THANK YOU CHAIR.
>> OF COURSE. OF COURSE. THANK
YOU FOR THE QUESTION. ALL RIGHT.
AND YOU KNOW, I DID WANT TO MAKE
A COMMENT ABOUT COUNCILMEMBER
SAKA'S ADS. THEY DON'T HAVE
FUNDING ATTACHED TO THEM, I
RECOGNIZE THEM AS YOUR INTENT TO
ENSURE THAT AS THE LIBRARY BOARD
IS MAKING DECISIONS ALONG WITH
CHIEF ABOUT THE LIBRARY BUDGET
AND IF THEY ARE TAKING THE
THINGS THAT YOU HAVE THESE
AMENDMENTS INTO ACCOUNT BECAUSE
AGAIN, IT IS A LIBRARY BOARD
MAKING THE FUNDING DECISIONS SO
THAT IS WHAT I AM UNDERSTANDING
YOUR INTENT TO BE. BUT YOU CAN
CLARIFY. THANK YOU COUNCILMEMBER
SAKA. I THINK IT'S APPROPRIATE
FOR US TO LET THE LIBRARY BOARD
NO FORMALLY AS THEY ARE MAKING
THESE DECISIONS. THE THINGS THAT
ARE CONSTITUENTS CARE ABOUT. AND
THAT WE ALL CARE ABOUT. OKAY. I
THINK THAT IS THE LAST AMENDMENT
UNLESS COLLEAGUES? NO? JUST
KIDDING. WELL, THAT TAKES CARE
OF ALL THE AMENDMENTS.
COLLEAGUES, I WANT TO MAKE A
COUPLE POINTS BEFORE I WRAP UP
TODAY'S MEETING. THANK YOU FOR
STICKING WITH US. MEMBERS OF THE
PUBLIC AND ONLINE. I HEAR IT
HEARD A COUPLE OF THINGS AND I
JUST WANTED TO COMMENT ABOUT THE
REMINDER THAT PROPERTY TAXES ARE
NOT JUST PAID BY HOMEOWNERS,
THEY ARE PAID BY OUR RENTERS AS
WELL BECAUSE PROPERTY TAX
INCREASES GENERALLY GET PAST THE
HOMEOWNERS AND RENTERS AND I
THINK WE DON'T ALWAYS THINK
ABOUT THAT. WE DO HAVE A HUGE
AFFORDABILITY ISSUE IN THE CITY
AND SO WE NEED TO BE MINDFUL OF
THE ADS THAT WE MAKE AS ALSO
IMPACTING RENTERS. AND FOR THE
AFFORDABILITY PIECE, I DON'T
KNOW IF ANYBODY SAW TODAY'S
SEATTLE TIMES ARTICLE ABOUT
SEATTLE BEING THE SIX MOST
EXPENSIVE CITY TO LIVE IN IN THE
UNITED STATES. AND THEN A
SEPARATE ARTICLE ALSO IN
TODAY'S SEATTLE TIMES ABOUT GAS
PRICES HITTING FOUR DOLLARS
NATIONALLY AND OF COURSE I WAS
SURPRISED TO HEAR THAT BECAUSE
IN SEATTLE IT IS CLOSE TO SIX
DOLLARS A GALLON. I SAY ALL
THESE THINGS, THESE ARE
REALITIES AND I THINK SOMEONE
RAISED EARLIER ABOUT THE
POSITIVITY. I'M NOT TRYING TO
CATCH THIS AND A NOT POSITIVE
WAY. I FIND WE ARE AT A PLACE
WITH PUTTING THIS LEVY ON THE
BALLOT IS A VERY POSITIVE THING.
WE ALL CARE ABOUT LIBRARIES AND
WE WANT TO MAKE SURE THAT THIS
CONTINUES. IF THE LEVY DOESN'T
CONTINUE FUNDING WILL BE CUT AND
WE WON'T BE ABLE TO DO ANY OF
THE THINGS. SO I UNDERSTAND
THESE AMENDMENTS ARE REALLY
ADDITIVE TO WHAT WE ARE ALREADY
INCLUDING AND I UNDERSTAND THE
INTENT AND DESIRE TO DO SO AND I
UNDERSTAND THAT THE FOUNDATION
IS A LOBBYING GROUP AND I
UNDERSTAND THAT YOU REALLY WANT
TO SPEAK TO THE INTEREST OF THE
CONSTITUENTS AND I WOULD BE
DOING THE SAME ON THE OTHER
SIDE. SO I UNDERSTAND AND I HOPE
YOU UNDERSTAND WHERE I'M COMING
FROM AND MY COMMENTS AS WELL
BECAUSE AS ELECTED OFFICIALS WE
HAVE TO WORRY ABOUT ALL OF THE
THINGS AND WHILE WE MIGHT SUPER
CARE ABOUT ONE ISSUE IT'S OUR
RESPONSIBILITY TO MAKE SURE ALL
OF THE CITY NEEDS ARE MET NOT
JUST SOME OF THE NEEDS. AND THAT
MAKES IT REALLY CHALLENGING FOR
US. BUT NEVERTHELESS I AM
EXCITED TO GET THIS LEVY TO THE
BALLOT WHETHER IT'S BEFORE 10
INITIALLY PROPOSED OR WHATEVER
AMENDMENTS GET PAST. BECAUSE WE
NEED THE FUNDING TO CONTINUE THE
LIBRARIES WE LOVE. I HOPE THAT
IN THE PROCESS OF ALL THIS THAT
FOLKS DON'T SEE THIS AS, I HOPE
YOU WILL UNDERSTAND THAT WE ARE
GRAPPLING WITH THIS
AFFORDABILITY PIECE IN THE CITY
AND THAT WHETHER OR NOT FOLKS
SUPPORT AMENDMENTS OR SUPPORT TO
KEEP IT AT THE PRICE THAT IT'S
AT THAT PEOPLE UNDERSTAND WRIT
LARGE THAT OUR SUPPORT FOR THE
LIBRARIES IS DEEP AND STRONG AND
WE ARE LIVING SADLY IN THIS
SOMEWHAT STILL THIS CANCEL
CULTURE AND THIS IS NOT ABOUT
THAT. I HOPE THAT PEOPLE
UNDERSTAND THAT BECAUSE IT WOULD
BE UNFORTUNATE TO MOVE FORWARD
WITH WHATEVER LEVY GETS PUT ON
THE BALLOT AND WE DON'T HAVE
STRONG SUPPORT FOR WHATEVER THAT
IS AND THAT EVERYONE UNDERSTANDS
WHAT WE ALL COLLECTIVELY ARE
COMING FROM AND TERMS OF WHAT WE
ARE GOING TO SUPPORT TO PUT
FORWARD. SO THAT IS MY WAY OF
SAYING I LOVE THE LIBRARIES,
I'M EXCITED TO GET A LEVY PUT
ON THE BALLOT FOR VOTERS. I
APPRECIATE WHAT THE VOTERS HAVE
TAXED THEMSELVES TIME AND AGAIN
TO SUPPORT OUR LIBRARIES. AND
ALSO THAT IT'S UNFORTUNATE WE
DO HAVE A LEVY CAP SITUATION
THAT WE ARE DEALING WITH THAT
WILL HAVE FUTURE IMPACT FOR THE
OTHER THINGS THAT WE ARE GOING
TO HAVE TO PASS NOT IN THE VERY
LONG TERM BUT SHORTER-TERM.
THANK YOU SO MUCH. THANK YOU ALL
FOR BEING HERE. IF THERE ARE NO
FURTHER WESTERNS OR COMMENTS AND
I DON'T SEE ANYONE'S HANDS UP,
THIS CONCLUDES THE MARCH 31st
SELECT COMMITTEE ON THE LIBRARY
LEVY. OUR NEXT SELECT COMMITTEE
MEETING IS A PUBLIC HEARING
SCHEDULED FOR THIS THURSDAY,
APRIL 2nd AT 5:30 P.M. FOLLOWING
THAT PUBLIC HEARING WE WILL HAVE
OUR LAST SCHEDULED SELECT
COMMITTEE MEETING NEXT
WEDNESDAY, APRIL 8th. AT 9:30
A.M. WHERE WE WILL VOTE ON ALL
THE AMENDMENTS PRESENTED TODAY
INCLUDING THE LAST THREE THAT WE
JUST HEARD FROM AND THEN WE WILL
TAKE HOPEFULLY A FINAL VOTE ON
THE PACKAGE. AND TO THIS END
I'M ALSO GOING TO SAY
COLLEAGUES, IF THERE ARE ANY
CHANGES TO ANY AMENDMENTS OR
PROPOSALS WE NEED TO SEE THAT
SOONER THAN LATER BECAUSE I DO
NOT WANT TO HAVE APRIL 8th A
SITUATION WHERE WE DON'T KNOW
AHEAD OF TIME WHAT'S GETTING
VOTED ON BECAUSE WE'VE GOT TO
GET THIS ON THE BALLOT BY
AUGUST. WE DON'T HAVE ANY
INTERRUPTIONS TO ANY LIBRARY
SERVICES. THAT IS IMPORTANT,
THAT IS KEY. AND I DO NOT WANT
NOT TO HAVE THIS LEVY BE BEFORE
VOTERS IN AUGUST. I NEED YOUR
COOPERATION TO MAKE SURE WE ARE
CLEAR ON WHAT IS MOVING FORWARD
AND WE DON'T HAVE DELAYS.
REALLY APPRECIATE THAT. IF YOU
NEED TO TALK TO ME I AM ALWAYS
AVAILABLE. ALL RIGHT. SEEING NO
FURTHER BUSINESS, THIS MEETING
WILL ADJOURN. NO FURTHER
BUSINESS, IT IS 10:56 A.M. AND
THIS MEETING IS ADJOURNED. THANK