CITY OF SEATTLE
ORDINANCE __________________
COUNCIL BILL __________________
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AN ORDINANCE authorizing The City of Seattle, through Seattle Parks and Recreation, to enter into an agreement with the Arboretum Foundation for support of the Seattle Japanese Garden consistent with the Non-Government Agreement in Attachment 1 to this ordinance.
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WHEREAS, Seattle Parks and Recreation (“SPR”) desires to develop the Seattle Japanese Garden (“Garden”), located within the Washington Park Arboretum (“Arboretum”), to ensure its long-term sustainability and preserve the cultural connection the Garden provides; and
WHEREAS, in 2014 SPR and the Japanese Garden Society undertook an Optimal Operations Study (“Study”) to determine how best to operate and support the Garden, and the Study concluded that operation by a nonprofit entity would best serve the Garden’s long-term needs; and
WHEREAS, the Arboretum Foundation (“Foundation”), a Washington nonprofit corporation, was selected in 2016 to support the Garden through programming, marketing, membership support, event delivery, marketing, and fundraising; and
WHEREAS, SPR’s Superintendent was authorized to enter into an agreement with the Foundation via Ordinance 124979; and
WHEREAS, the Foundation, in partnership with SPR, has worked since 2016 to provide high quality educational and culturally relevant community programs and events, and significantly fundraise for capital projects, at the Garden in an effort to leverage resources and to expand access and improve the user experience at the Garden; and
WHEREAS, at the conclusion of the initial agreement the Foundation was selected by SPR through a Letter of Interest application process to continue fundraising, event, and program support for the Garden and has committed to providing substantial public benefits in the new agreement; and
WHEREAS, the City desires to enter into a new agreement to continue its productive working relationship with the Foundation to enhance the operations and sustainability of the Garden as authorized by the attached Non-Government Agreement; NOW, THEREFORE,
BE IT ORDAINED BY THE CITY OF SEATTLE AS FOLLOWS:
Section 1. The Superintendent of Parks and Recreation or the Superintendent’s designee is authorized for and on behalf of The City of Seattle to negotiate an agreement with the Arboretum Foundation for support of the Seattle Japanese Garden operation that is consistent with the terms and conditions contained in Attachment 1 to this ordinance.
Section 2. 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 10 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 _________________________, 2023, and signed by me in open session in authentication of its passage this _____ day of _________________________, 2023.
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President ____________ of the City Council
Approved / returned unsigned / vetoed this _____ day of _________________, 2022.
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Bruce A. Harrell, Mayor
Filed by me this ________ day of _________________________, 2023.
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Elizabeth M. Adkisson, Interim City Clerk
(Seal)
Attachments:
Attachment 1 - Non-Government Agreement for the Support and Development of the Seattle Japanese Garden between The City of Seattle Acting By and Through Seattle Parks and Recreation and the Arboretum Foundation