CITY OF SEATTLE
ORDINANCE __________________
COUNCIL BILL __________________
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AN ORDINANCE relating to the City Light Department; authorizing the Chief Executive Officer and General Manager to execute a long-term lease and operating agreement with the Georgetown Steam Plant Community Development Authority for the use and occupancy of the City's Georgetown Steam Plant property, a National Historic Landmark; allowing the Authority to assume regular public programming in the Georgetown Steam Plant for the purposes of historical interpretation as well as education in the areas of science, technology, education, arts, math, and related events, and also to provide continual general upkeep and stewardship of the Georgetown Steam Plant, including the addition of amenities enabling more and better community access.
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WHEREAS, the Georgetown Steam Plant was built in 1906 to fuel Seattle's growing electric streetcar system and houses two of the only remaining Curtis vertical steam turbine generators left in place in the world; and
WHEREAS, the City Light Department has owned the Georgetown Steam Plant since 1951 and maintained its operation status as a power generating station for stand-by needs until 1974; and
WHEREAS, the Georgetown Steam Plant is listed on the National Register of Historic Places and has been designated a National Historical Mechanical Engineering Landmark, a National Historic Landmark and a Seattle Landmark; and
WHEREAS, City Light began providing free open houses and public guided tours of the Georgetown Steam Plant in October 2014 and has welcomed over 10,000 visitors since then; and
WHEREAS, the Georgetown Steam Plant has much more value as a museum and community resource for the public for the arts, education, and historic interpretation; and
WHEREAS, the Georgetown Steam Plant serves as a visual landmark within the Georgetown, Seattle neighborhood; and
WHEREAS, City Light has invested grant and other funds towards the preservation of the G...
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