CITY OF SEATTLE
ORDINANCE __________________
COUNCIL BILL __________________
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AN ORDINANCE relating to the Seattle Center Department; authorizing the Seattle Center Director to execute a facility use agreement with Force 10 Hoops, LLC, for use and occupancy of KeyArena and adjacent areas at the Seattle Center; making findings of fact about the value provided by professional women’s basketball in Seattle; exempting the agreement from the requirements of Chapter 20.47 of the Seattle Municipal Code; and superseding an earlier agreement authorized by Ordinance 122907.
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WHEREAS, in 1999 the Women’s National Basketball Association (WNBA) selected Seattle as the location for one of four expansion teams to begin play in the 2000 season; and
WHEREAS, KeyArena has been the home court of the WNBA team Seattle Storm (“Storm”) since its inaugural season in 2000; and
WHEREAS, the Storm contributes to civic pride and community spirit; and
WHEREAS, in February 2008, Force 10 Hoops, LLC (“F10H”), a locally owned company, purchased the Women’s Basketball Club of Seattle (WBCOS) and the Storm from the owners of the Seattle Supersonics; and
WHEREAS, in February 2008, with the Mayor’s concurrence, the Seattle City Council unanimously adopted Resolution 31039 requesting that the Seattle Center work collaboratively with the new local owners of the Storm to negotiate a long-term lease that would enable the Storm to remain viable playing at KeyArena, while requiring the Storm to provide certain public benefits to the City, the taxpayers, and the residents of Seattle; and
WHEREAS, in February 2009, as authorized by Ordinance 122907, the Seattle Center Director and WBCOS executed a ten-year agreement for use and occupancy of KeyArena for the playing of Storm home games and the provision of certain public benefits to the City and the public; and
WHEREAS, the City and F10H mutually desire for KeyArena to continue to be the home court of the Storm in the event KeyArena is redeveloped; and
WHEREAS, the City and F10H wish to enter a new agreement to allow the Storm to use and occupy KeyArena for playing its home games, while giving the City additional flexibility to pursue future redevelopment of KeyArena; NOW, THEREFORE,
BE IT ORDAINED BY THE CITY OF SEATTLE AS FOLLOWS:
Section 1. The City finds that women’s professional basketball provides a valuable contribution to the civic pride and social and economic environment of Seattle, that women’s professional basketball teams have a long history in Seattle and attract an ardent group of fans, and that the women’s professional basketball team Seattle Storm (“Storm”) is a valued tenant at KeyArena.
Section 2. The City finds that an agreement that allows for continued sustainable local ownership of the Storm provides a significant benefit to the City because it ensures that KeyArena continues to be a venue for the playing and viewing of professional women’s basketball; enhances the value of the facility to advertisers and sponsors; and supports the vitality of Seattle Center as a place to delight and inspire the human spirit.
Section 3. As requested by the Seattle Center Director and recommended by the Mayor, the Seattle Center Director or the Director’s designee is authorized to execute for and on behalf of The City of Seattle a facility use agreement with Force 10 Hoops, LLC, substantially in the form of the agreement attached hereto as Attachment A and identified as “Facility Use Agreement between The City of Seattle and Force 10 Hoops, LLC for the Use of KeyArena for Professional Women’s Basketball” (the “Facility Agreement”).
Section 4. The City Council finds that F10H’s obligations under the Facility Agreement provide sufficient and fair value to the City. As a result, the requirements of Seattle Municipal Code Chapter 20.47, as shown in Attachment B to this ordinance, shall not apply to the Facility Agreement authorized by this ordinance.
Section 5. Once the Facility Agreement authorized by Section 3 of this ordinance is fully executed and becomes effective, it shall supersede the agreement previously authorized by Ordinance 122907.
Section 6. This ordinance shall take effect and be in force 30 days after its approval by the Mayor, but if not approved and returned by the Mayor within ten days after presentation, it shall take effect as provided by Seattle Municipal Code Section 1.04.020.
Passed by the City Council the ________ day of _________________________, 2017, and signed by me in open session in authentication of its passage this _____ day of _________________________, 2017.
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President ____________ of the City Council
Approved by me this ________ day of _________________________, 2017.
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Edward B. Murray, Mayor
Filed by me this ________ day of _________________________, 2017.
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Monica Martinez Simmons, City Clerk
(Seal)
Attachments:
Attachment A - Facility Use Agreement between The City of Seattle and Force 10 Hoops, LLC for the Use of KeyArena for Professional Women’s Basketball
Attachment B - Seattle Municipal Code Chapter 20.47