CITY OF SEATTLE
ORDINANCE __________________
COUNCIL BILL __________________
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AN ORDINANCE relating to the maintenance and operations for the Waterfront Park and Public Spaces; authorizing the Superintendent of Seattle Parks and Recreation to delegate certain Central Waterfront maintenance, operations, and management to the Seattle Center Department; delegating authority to the Seattle Center Director to enforce Waterfront Park and Public Spaces Rules; and authorizing an extension of the existing Pilot Agreement with Friends of Waterfront Seattle.
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WHEREAS, in January 2011, the Seattle City Council (Council) adopted Resolution 31264, establishing a set of Guiding Principles to inform efforts to create new parks and public spaces on the Central Waterfront, and creating the Central Waterfront Partnerships Committee (CWPC) to advise the City on the development of the waterfront design, ensuring robust and innovative public engagement, identifying public and private funding sources, and establishing the foundation for a lasting civic partnership; and
WHEREAS, in August 2012, the Council adopted Resolution 31399, which endorsed the Central Waterfront Concept Design and Framework Plan developed through broad and inclusive public engagement over two years and also endorsed a Waterfront Strategic Plan, which established a funding plan including a mix of public, private, and philanthropic sources; and
WHEREAS, in 2013, the City established the Waterfront Seattle Program, a series of capital improvements based on the Central Waterfront Concept Plan; the program is a $756 million investment supported by a funding partnership including a $160 million Local Improvement District and a $110 million philanthropic contribution; and
WHEREAS, throughout the design, planning, and construction of the Central Waterfront improvements, the City and the community have prioritized the need to identify and fund operations, maintenance, and a public safety program that protects and enhances this investment and ensures new public spaces will be safe, well-maintained, and inviting to the public over the long term, and memorialized that commitment through Resolution 31399 and subsequent City ordinances; and
WHEREAS, in August 2014, Seattle voters approved creation of the Seattle Park District, and funds collected by the District pay for operations and maintenance of Seattle parks, including an annual budget dedicated to operations and maintenance of the Central Waterfront Parks and Public Spaces; and
WHEREAS, in September 2017, the Council adopted Resolution 31768, in which the City stated its intent to work with Friends of Waterfront Seattle (Friends) to reach an agreement for the long-term provision of high-quality operations and management services commensurate with the quality of programming envisioned in the public planning for the waterfront, and as reflected in the improvements included in the Central Waterfront Improvement Program; and
WHEREAS, in that resolution, the City stated its expectation that any future agreement with Friends would include a scope of work that identifies a standard of care commensurate with the Waterfront Seattle investment and in which all maintenance activities shall be provided by a dedicated and consistent team of City staff working in partnership with Friends; and
WHEREAS, in January 2019, the Council passed Ordinance 125761, authorizing a two-year agreement with Friends to govern the operations, management, and programming services for the completed Pier 62 and stating an intention that following the agreement, the City would enter a long-term management agreement, subject to City Council approval; and
WHEREAS, in the same ordinance, the Council created the Central Waterfront Oversight Committee (“CWOC”), with whom the City and Friends are committed to coordinating with on long-term management of waterfront public spaces, establishing a performance standard for maintenance, programming, and public safety, and following up with regular evaluations and proposing corrections where needed to help ensure the performance standard is being met; and
WHEREAS, in its 2021 Annual Report the CWOC recommended that the City consider transferring maintenance and public safety operations to the Seattle Center Department, which has a proven track record in successfully managing urban public spaces that serve a diverse range of activities and populations; and
WHEREAS, the Seattle Parks and Recreation Superintendent delegating the authority of special functions for Waterfront Operations to Seattle Center will permit Seattle Parks and Recreation to remain focused on providing park services to the broader Seattle parks and recreation system as a whole; NOW, THEREFORE,
BE IT ORDAINED BY THE CITY OF SEATTLE AS FOLLOWS:
Section 1. The Waterfront Park and Public Spaces include the Habitat Bench, the Washington Street Boat Landing, Pier 58, Pier 62, and the Waterfront Park Boulevard established under Ordinance 126444, all as illustrated in Attachment A to this ordinance.
Section 2. The Seattle City Council authorizes Seattle Parks and Recreation Superintendent (the “Superintendent”) to delegate the authority to operate, maintain, and manage Waterfront Park and Public Spaces to the Seattle Center Director (the “SC Director”). All delegations of the Superintendent to the Director shall be made in writing and shall be acceptable to both officials. Notwithstanding any delegation, the Waterfront Park and Public Spaces remain a part of the Seattle parks and recreation system.
At all times, operations, maintenance, and management responsibilities shall be consistent with the requirements of Ordinance 125762 and Attachment C of Ordinance 125761. Seattle Center will be evaluated on park operations and management through the performance standard and park inspections on an ongoing basis.
Section 3. The SC Director or the SC Director’s designee is authorized to adopt, amend, and enforce Waterfront Park and Public Spaces Rules (“Rules”) to help ensure public use, access, and enjoyment, and to ensure the safety and security of the public. Before proposing any modifications or new Rules for public comment, the SC Director will consult with the Central Waterfront Oversight Committee.
Section 4. The Director of the Office of the Waterfront and Civic Projects (“OWCP Director”), the Superintendent, and the SC Director, through their respective designees, shall develop a long-term management agreement with Friends of Waterfront Seattle that shall provide for the operations, management, public safety, and programming services for the Waterfront Park and Public Spaces (the “Management Agreement”). The Management Agreement shall be consistent with the terms for the long-term agreement outlined in Attachment C to Ordinance 125761 and must be reviewed and approved through ordinance by City Council prior to execution. The Superintendent and Office of the Waterfront Director are authorized to extend the existing Pilot Agreement with Friends of Waterfront Seattle, which was first authorized under Ordinance 125761, until the long-term agreement is authorized by the City Council.
Section 5. 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 _________________________, 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 _________________, 2023.
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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 A - Waterfront Park and Public Spaces Map