Category Archives: parks

parks

Understanding the Key Arena RFP

This morning, as promised, the City announced a Request for Proposals (RFP) for redevelopment of Key Arena at Seattle Center.

There have been reports that the city has found more than one organization interested in at least discussing renovating the Key Arena as an alternative to Chris Hansen’s plan to build a new arena in the SODO district. This is an attempt by the Mayor to actively and formally explore that option. The RFP asks for proposals to redevelop it into a “world-class civic arena” for music, entertainment and sports events, including possibly an NHL or NBA franchise.

Let’s dig into the details or what the city is looking for — and what constraints they are placing on the project.

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homeless, human services, parks

The homeless encampment legislation impasse, or “city hall was crazy town today”

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On a day when everyone in City Hall was supposed to be working on the budget, apparently no one was working on the budget. Instead, all attention was on competing efforts to craft an ordinance specifying when, where and how to clear unsanctioned homeless encampments around the city. When the dust cleared at the end of the day, there were two separately authored versions of the bill, plus a vague promise from the Mayor for his ideas on how to reform the current process.  But equally important — and in the end probably more valuable — some people were finally willing to talk on the record about what has been happening behind the scenes since the bill was first introduced. Get ready for some serious legislative sausage-making.

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parks

Parks Department goes under the microscope

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When the Parks District Levy passed in the fall of 2014, the City Council committed to investing in a performance review and management of the Department of Parks and Recreation to ensure that levy funds would be spent well. They allocated $317,000 in the 2015 budget, and in the fall of 2015 Matrix Consulting was hired to perform a review. Last Thursday, Matrix delivered their draft report to the Council’s Parks, Seattle Center, Libraries and Waterfront Committee. (presentation here)

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committee, council briefing, election, environment, full council, human rights, labor, parks, police, public safety, tax, this week, utilities, zoning

This week: I hope you caught up on your sleep this weekend

For the past several weeks the Monday afternoon Full Council meetings have been pretty tame affairs, with not a lot of legislation of substance up for approval. That streak ends tomorrow.  Oh, and the committee meetings this week are equally full of important legislation and presentations.

Continue reading This week: I hope you caught up on your sleep this weekend →