January 25, 2019
MEMORANDUM
To:
From:
Subject:

Seattle City Council
Eric McConaghy, Central Staff Analyst
Appearance of Fairness regarding Waterfront Local Improvement District
Legislative Package

On January 28 the City Council is scheduled to vote on three Council Bills (C.B.) that, if adopted,
would (1) form the Waterfront Local Improvement District (LID) to fund the specific aspects of
the Central Waterfront Improvement Program; (2) commit Friends of the Waterfront Seattle
(FOWS) to raise additional funds for capital costs, authorize an agreement between the City and
FOWS for certain ongoing operations, maintenance, safety and security of the Waterfront park
and public spaces, and establish a new Central Waterfront Oversight Committee; and (3)
approve a protest waiver agreement between the City and LID property owners. The legislative
package includes the following:
C.B. 119447
C.B. 119448
C.B. 119449

Waterfront LID formation ordinance
Central Waterfront operations and maintenance ordinance
Waterfront LID protest waiver agreement ordinance

Attachment 1 to this memorandum discloses communications by the Office of the Waterfront
and Civic Projects and FOWs with Councilmembers that may be subject to the Appearance of
Fairness Doctrine 1. Attachment 2 to this memorandum discloses personal correspondence to
Councilmember Johnson that referenced the LID. This memorandum will be attached to the
agenda for the Council meeting on Monday, January 28th.
Attachments:
1. Office of the Waterfront and Civic Projects 2018-2019 LID Legislative Briefings
2. Disclosure of personal correspondence to Councilmember Johnson

cc:

Kirstan Arestad, Central Staff Director
Dan Eder, Deputy Director

1

Chapter 42.36 Revised Code of Washington, https://app.leg.wa.gov/RCW/default.aspx?cite=42.36. Last accessed
January 24, 2019.
Page 1 of 1

 Attachment 1: Office of the Waterfront and Civic Projects 2018-2019 LID Legislative Briefings

Office of the Waterfront and Civic Projects
2018-2019 LID Legislative Briefings
Council Briefings: Civic Development, Public Assets and Native Communities
Meeting
Date
May 2, 2018
May 16,
2018
May 21,
2018
September
18, 2018
January
16th, 2019
January 24,
2019
January 28,
2019

Briefing & Discussion
Intent to form LID resolution/Friends pledge briefing [May 2] CPNa Committee @ 2p
Briefing to the Civic Development, Public Assets and Native Communities Committee (CPNa) on the proposed LID legislation,
including the purpose of the resolution, a summary of the special benefit results, deferral options, and next steps.
Intent to form LID resolution/Friends pledge briefing and potential action [May 16] Committee @ 2p
Second briefing to the CPNa committee on the Resolution of Intent to Form LID. Friends of Waterfront Seattle provided a
philanthropic update on $28.8 million funding progress to date, surpassing September 2018 goal of $25 million. The resolution
was approved to move to full council.
Potential action intent to form LID resolution/Friends pledge [May 21] Full Council @ 2p
City Council voted 8-0, with CM Bagshaw recusing, to approve the Resolution of Intent to Form, initiating mailing and posting
requirements and public hearings.
LID Formation briefing on Hearing Summary from Hearing Examiner and staff [September 18] Full Council @ 10a
Briefing by Ryan Vancil, Seattle Hearing Examiner, who was hired by City Council to administer the Public hearings for the LID.
Mr. Vancil reported on four public hearings, which varied in day and time to make them widely accessible to constituents, and his
summary of oral and written testimony.
LID Formation ordinance + Friends O&M briefing [January 16] Committee @ 1:30p
First briefing to CPNa committee on Waterfront legislative package, including LID Formation ordinance; Funding, Operations and
Maintenance ordinance; and LID Protest Waiver Agreement ordinance.
LID Formation ordinance + Friends O&M briefing and potential action [January 24th]Committee @ 10a
Potential action on LID Formation ordinance + Friends O&M [January 28th] Full Council @ 2p

 Attachment 1: Office of the Waterfront and Civic Projects 2018-2019 LID Legislative Briefings
Individual Briefings: Over the course of July 2018 – January 2019, the Office of Waterfront and Civic Projects (OWCP) held a series of briefings
for individual Councilmembers and/or their staff and also to Central Staff.

December 20, 2018 – January 17, 2019
The following briefings to Councilmembers centered on the Waterfront Legislative Package, which includes the LID Formation ordinance; the
Funding, Operations and Maintenance ordinance; and the LID Protest Waiver Agreement Ordinance. Specific topics included:
•
•
•
•

The revision of the total LID amount from $200 million to $160 million and funding plan to address the additional $40 million not
covered by the LID;
Friends’ new funding commitment, contribution schedule, and due date for Fundraising Plan;
O&M framework, pilot agreement, long-term agreement, budget, and Oversight Committee;
LID Protest Waiver Agreement commitments from City and property owners.
Meeting Date
1/17/2019
1/15/2019
1/11/2019
1/11/2019
1/8/2019
12/28/2018

Councilmember
CM Gonzalez
CM Mosqueda
CM Johnson
CM O’Brien
CM Juarez
CM Bagshaw

 Attachment 1: Office of the Waterfront and Civic Projects 2018-2019 LID Legislative Briefings

November 6 – 15, 2018
The following briefings to Councilmembers centered on the Waterfront Legislative Package, which includes the LID Formation ordinance; the
Funding, Operations and Maintenance ordinance; and the LID Protest Waiver Agreement Ordinance. At the time, the LID Protest Waiver
Agreement had not been completed and the briefings focused on the concept of the agreement, commitments from property owners, and
potential commitments from the City.
Meeting Date
11/15/2018
11/6/2018
11/6/2018
11/6/2018
11/6/2018

Councilmember
CM Sawant’s staff
CM Gonzalez
CM Bagshaw
CM Mosqueda
CM O’Brien/CM Johnson

July 27 – August 16, 2018
OWCP provided briefings to Councilmembers on the progress of LID public hearings being held by Councilmembers. The briefing also included
updates on voluntary outreach efforts, including briefings to property owners on the next phases of the LID formation process and review of the
City’s operations and management plans and capital costs.
Meeting Date
8/16/2018
8/2/2018
7/27/2018

Councilmember
CM O’Brien
CM Juarez & CM Bagshaw
CM O’Brien/CM Johnson

 Attachment 2: Disclosure of personal correspondence to Councilmember Johnson
Shown on this attachment is the scanned copy of personal correspondence to Councilmember Johnson.
Transcribed, the note says:
During the 2017/2018 timeframe I received a note of personal correspondence from my friend
Roger Bass. In that note he referenced his frustrations with the possible L.I.D. assessment. I no
longer have that note but am disclosing that correspondence.

Rob