General - June 11, 2024

The Seattle City Council's Governance, Accountability, and Economic Development Committee approved **Council Bill 120992**, authorizing the Downtown Seattle Association (DSA) to install up to 80 interactive digital kiosks across downtown and participating Business Improvement Areas (BIAs). The meeting, chaired by **Sara Nelson**, featured four councilmembers present with **Councilmember Solomon excused**. **Key participants included:** - SDOT Street Use Division Director Alyse Nelson - Mayor's Office representative Andrew Myerberg - Central Staff analyst Calvin Chow - Public commenters from Visit Seattle and Downtown Seattle Association **Major outcomes:** - **Bill passed 4-0** with one amendment requiring city revenues be used for citywide business activation - **Up to 80 kiosks authorized** in two phases (30 initially downtown, 50 additional later) - **16.5-year initial term** with option for 13.5-year renewal - **32.5% gross revenue share** to city/BIAs - described as "most favorable terms" IKE has offered - **No cost to city** for installation, maintenance, or operations

### Background Context This digital kiosk program represents a **two-year planning effort** stemming from Mayor Harrell's Downtown Activation Plan. The initiative addresses multiple civic needs: wayfinding for tourists, emergency communications, public art display, and critically - **revenue generation for struggling downtown business districts**. ### Technical Implementation Details The kiosks operate in two modes: - **Passive mode**: Default display showing rotating content (city messaging, public art, commercial ads) - **Engaged mode**: Interactive features including wayfinding, transit information, emergency calling, free Wi-Fi **Physical specifications:** - Urban-hardened design with shatter-proof materials - Placement restricted to "furniture zone" on low-speed streets - **No street tree removal permitted** - Clearance requirements from intersections, bus zones, loading areas - Maximum one kiosk per block ### Privacy and Data Protections **Section 25 of the ordinance** prohibits collecting personally identifiable information except when users consent to Wi-Fi access or photo retrieval. The city worked closely with IT department to establish these restrictions, addressing major public concern themes. ### Revenue Structure Analysis The financial arrangement heavily favors public benefit: - **Phase 1**: DSA receives first $1.1 million annually, excess goes to city - **Phase 2**: Revenue directed to respective BIAs where kiosks are located - **Comparison advantage**: Seattle's 32.5% gross revenue share significantly exceeds San Diego's 50% net revenue arrangement

### Coalition Patterns **Strong support coalition** emerged including: - Visit Seattle (tourism industry) - Downtown Seattle Association (business interests) - Multiple BIAs: University District, SOTO, Ballard, West Seattle - Arts organizations and transit advocacy groups **Opposition voices** in public comment focused on: - Privacy/surveillance concerns - Aesthetic impacts on cityscape - Questions about actual utility versus smartphone ubiquity ### Strategic Positioning **Chair Nelson's leadership** on this issue reflects broader downtown revitalization priorities. Her passionate defense of DSA reveals the **existential stakes** - she views DSA as essential infrastructure that needs revenue support to survive. **Councilmember Kettle's comments** about Third and Pike demonstrate how this connects to larger public safety anxieties. His frustration with ongoing downtown challenges positions kiosks as part of broader safety strategy. ### Interest Group Influence The **Seattle Design Commission's recommendations** were partially incorporated but not fully adopted, suggesting limits to their influence when economic interests align with political priorities.

### Immediate Opportunities - **Full Council vote** scheduled for June 24th (not June 17th as initially planned) - **Site-specific permitting phase** beginning summer 2025 will include public comment periods - **Individual installation reviews** will allow neighborhood-level input ### Key Decision Points - **Phase 2 expansion** requires separate executive approval - future advocacy opportunity - **Annual reporting requirements** create ongoing oversight opportunities - **Revenue allocation decisions** for citywide business activation funds ### Contact Strategies for Maximum Impact - **Focus on implementation details** rather than opposing entire program - **Engage during site-specific permitting** for location-specific concerns - **Monitor revenue reporting** to ensure promised public benefits materialize - **Connect with BIAs** in your neighborhood about Phase 2 participation ### Action Items for Engaged Citizens - Track the **June 24th full Council vote** - Sign up for SDOT notifications about installation permit applications - Engage with local BIAs about kiosk placement priorities - Monitor compliance with privacy protections once operational

### Related Policies and Initiatives - **Downtown Activation Plan** - broader mayoral strategy for downtown recovery - **Seamless Seattle wayfinding program** - SDOT decided against direct implementation due to costs - **FIFA World Cup 2026 preparation** - tourism infrastructure development - **Metropolitan Improvement District operations** - core DSA revenue source ### Upcoming Milestones and Deadlines - **June 24, 2025**: Full Council vote - **Summer 2025**: Site-specific permit applications begin - **Before June 2026**: Target installation completion for World Cup - **Annual reporting**: Ongoing performance monitoring ### Cross-cutting Themes - **Public-private partnership models** for infrastructure delivery - **Tourism economic development** strategy - **Downtown recovery** post-pandemic initiatives - **Technology integration** in public space management

### Budget Implications and Funding Sources - **Zero city capital investment** required - **IKE Smart City bears all costs** for installation, maintenance, operations - **Revenue projections**: Based on 23 other markets with existing installations - **Risk mitigation**: 30-year term allows cost recovery while providing city exit options ### Procedural Insights The **term permit process** bypasses normal street use restrictions through Council authorization. This creates precedent for other public-private infrastructure partnerships but requires legislative approval rather than administrative permitting. **Environmental review completed** with determination of non-significance, including traffic impact analysis and aesthetic considerations. This front-loaded review process should streamline individual installation permits. ### Implementation Challenges and Opportunities **Maintenance and vandalism concerns** addressed through vendor responsibility and urban-hardened design. However, public commenter noted Metro's experience with damaged transit displays suggests ongoing vulnerability. **Privacy enforcement** will depend on city's technical capacity to monitor compliance with data collection restrictions. The ordinance creates requirements but implementation oversight remains question. **Revenue realization** depends on advertising market performance and foot traffic recovery downtown. Economic assumptions may need adjustment based on changing downtown activity patterns. **Coordination with existing infrastructure** requires careful management to avoid conflicts with utilities, transit operations, and pedestrian flow patterns during 80-unit deployment.