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Dear Neighbor,

Continuing our series of 2022 Budget spotlights, I’d like to take a moment to thoroughly examine our city’s investments in public spaces and places. This spotlight focuses on my vision for Seattle – a modern city with vibrant neighborhoods that uses its public spaces – streets, parks, water, and land – to make our city more accessible, livable and inclusive. I’m sharing my priorities, what’s happened since last year, and what’s on the table for negotiation.

We are now about three quarters of the way through the Council’s budget deliberation process. Budget Chair Teresa Mosqueda will soon present her proposed balancing package with some, but not all, of the Council’s 192 amendments which total about $270 million of changes councilmembers would like to make to the Mayor’s 2022 proposed budget. After that, councilmembers can put forward additional changes but our ideas have to pay for themselves, i.e. cut funding from somewhere else or increase revenues.

I'm hosting a town hall focusing on behavioral health and the budget tomorrow, Tuesday November 9th. The most important part of the night is hearing from you on your priorities, so please RSVP and join me.

--Dan

My 2022 Budget Priorities

Investing in more vibrant, welcoming public spaces has been one of my top priorities during this budget process. Many of the amendments I have proposed are focused on putting more resources into public spaces:

  • Parks Remediation – I am proposing to add $1 million in funding for remediation work in our parks, which have suffered from increased use and misuse during the COVID-19 pandemic. This would be in addition to $2 million that is already in the Mayor’s Proposed Budget. This funding would be used for replanting, landscaping work, soil remediation, and fixing lighting and irrigation infrastructure in our parks.

  • Ballard Avenue Redesign - When the pandemic began, I worked hard to bring a café street to Ballard Avenue. It quickly became an example for other neighborhoods looking to establish their own outdoor dining experiences that our community has come to value so much. Funding this will allow us to continue our work to redesign Ballard Avenue to facilitate a permanent café street, which will serve as a model for Seattle’s future with outdoor dining and pedestrian-friendly street use. 

  • Comprehensive Plan Major Update Outreach - Seattle is growing and changing. In 2024, the next major update of our Comprehensive Plan will be our best chance to shape how the future of this growth looks and feels. I am proposing to add an additional $745,000 for outreach and environmental analysis work prior to 2024 so we can have a robust and thoughtful conversation with all of Seattle’s communities to inform this important plan. This amendment also includes funding to update our historic resources inventory because part of having unique and vibrant neighborhoods is honoring their individual character, quirks, and histories.

  • Leary Triangle Dog Park – I have been in discussion with community members since last year about how we can establish an active, welcoming space in the Leary Triangle once we’re able to find housing for people currently residing there. This amendment funds a community-led idea to create a unique ‘entryway’ to our city’s brewery district with a dog park and possible food truck corral.

  • Tree Protection – Seattle is called ‘the Emerald City’ for a reason, and we need to do better at preserving and protecting our cherished urban forestry and green spaces. As we continue to push for a long-awaited stronger tree protection ordinance, I am proposing to hire two additional arborists to improve enforcement of our current tree protections and more thoroughly review permit applications to ensure compliance with the tree code.

  • 63rd Street Underpass Mural - The mural on 63rd street under Aurora Ave, where Phinney Ridge meets Green Lake, has been badly defaced over the past year. I am looking for $50,000 to replace and restore this beautiful community asset.

  • Streetlights on NW 48th St. - NW 48th Street between 6th Ave. NW and 8th Ave. NW currently lacks any streetlights, and has experienced repeated public safety incidents in the past year. I’ve proposed $160,000 to add street lighting on this block, as well as the alleyways to the north and south.

  • Playground in Ballard Commons Park – This amendment would create a more engaging experience in the Ballard neighborhood after we’ve found housing for the people currently living in the Ballard Commons Park. The Ballard Alliance had previously received City funding to create a vision for a playground at Ballard Commons, and this amendment would construct it. As more people call a denser Ballard home, providing adequate public parks and playgrounds will ensure that the neighborhood remains a social, inviting home for families and kiddos. 

In addition to the amendments that I have put forward, the Mayor’s Proposed Budget includes a number of important investments in our parks and public spaces. I’m working to protect these critical priorities to ensure they are included in the final budget:

  • $1.25 million from Major Projects Challenge Fund to construct a new Green Lake Small Craft Center to replace the existing, aging building.

  • $1.5 million for Outdoors for All to enrich the quality of life for children and adults of all abilities through outdoor recreation like kayaking, hiking, and cycling.

Working with my colleagues as co-sponsor:

  • $288,000 for the Garfield Superblock to support an important space that integrates art and amenities that reflect the Central Area’s immense cultural diversity and rich history.

  • $414,000 to expand naturally available bike and walking trails in our open areas.

I’m most focused on ensuring our city’s long-range planning is done properly. The City’s Comprehensive Plan is a 20-year vision and roadmap for Seattle’s future. This plan guides many of Seattle’s big-picture decisions on how to manage growth to achieve environmental sustainability, racial equity, shared prosperity, and healthy and vibrant neighborhoods. The next major update will extend the planning period to about 2044. Early planning is already underway in the maritime and industrial station areas that include SODO, Smith Cove, Interbay, and Ballard. I want to ensure our community outreach is well funded to make sure we hear from you and other Seattleites to inform the next major update. We need to responsibly manage Seattle’s transition into the large, modern city it’s becoming, and the Comprehensive Plan update is part of how we do that.

What’s Happened Since Last Year?

In 2020 and 2021, Seattle Parks and Recreation took significant budget cuts in response to revenue losses and economic impacts associated with the COVID-19 pandemic. The 2022 Proposed Budget assumes programming and participation return to pre-pandemic levels and restores funding to resume services and capital improvement projects.

The City has also dealt with the impacts of a nationwide shortage of lifeguards, just as our pools and swimming beaches reopened.

I’m partnering with the new King County Regional Authority which, starting January 1st, will oversee policy, funding, and services for people experiencing homelessness countywide. I look forward to Seattle and King County to begin to collaboratively address our region’s homelessness. I hope the model encourages other municipalities to join in and truly work as a region to address homelessness instead of forcing Seattle to bear the brunt of this emergency.

What’s on the Table Today?

These amendments, and the funding already included in the Mayor’s Proposed Budget, are currently being considered by the Chair of the Select Budget Committee, Councilmember Teresa Mosqueda. Councilmember Mosqueda will be releasing her proposed Balancing Package, which will hopefully include many of these amendments, this week.

Once the Chair’s Balancing Package is released, my colleagues and I will have another chance to propose additional amendments to ensure our priorities are adequately funded.

Hearing from You on Your Budget Priorities

As I have all year, I will continue meeting with District 6 residents and stakeholders to ensure that my budget work reflects your priorities as a district, and that we build a budget that works for you. If you would like to meet with me directly, please sign up here.

In addition to my Town Hall tomorrow night, there will be a public hearing on Wednesday, November 10th. The public comment sign-up sheet opens at 3:30. Please join - it’s crucial for us to hear from the public as we build the 2022 budget.

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If this email was forwarded to you by a friend, I encourage you to sign-up for my newsletter! I send out a regular newsletter about the happenings in our district, updates from City Hall, and progress reports on the work we are doing to make life better for all of us in Seattle.

To stay up to date, sign up for my newsletter here!

Videos on My Website

Every Monday morning, I update the City Council on issues in District 6 and the work my office is doing that week. These updates are a helpful way to follow along with our work. I also post these videos weekly on my website and social media. You can view the latest updates and past videos on my website here.
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