International Festival Wrap Up: Wonderful weather was a contributing factor to the success of the 2006 International Festival. High temperatures seemed to increase festival attendance to approximately 6,200 people. Festival goers were treated to outstanding entertainment, craft booths, and a variety of food. In addition, children had a fun time riding the train through Angle Lake Park and climbing in the many bouncy toys. The annual skateboard competition was at Valley Ridge Park and was the place to be. Boarders showed off their skills to the judges and participants walked away with armloads of prizes donated by a variety of sponsors. There were 60 entries in this year’s parade ranging from drill teams, the pink toe truck, vintage cars, and our own Fire Department vehicles. The second annual car show brought in 18 beautiful cars that were displayed at Angle Lake Park. The Japanese Garden dedication was well attended and included a miniature kite making workshop. Additionally, the electric model hydroplanes entertained a large crowd by having hydroplane races throughout the afternoon on Angle Lake the last day of the festival.

SeaTac Hotels: 2006 is shaping up to be a great year for SeaTac hotels. Lodging tax receipts show that collections year to date through June are up 12% over last year’s receipts in the same time period. The City is on track to demonstrate full recovery from the decline in proceeds experienced after September 11, 2001.

Future Improvement to the Highline SeaTac Botanical Garden: During last year’s decision card process, the City Council allotted money to install an irrigation system in Phase 3 of the Highline SeaTac Botanical Garden. The original plan for the irrigation system was in an area that in 2007 will become a Wildlife Habitat Garden. The Highline Botanical Foundation thanked the City of SeaTac for their continued and generous support of the garden. The capital improvements to the garden through the City’s Park and Recreation Department have had a significant, positive impact to the garden growth and the number of visitors. The most recent addition, the Japanese Garden, has impacted the order of implementation of the Master Plan. Staff supports a proposal from the Highline SeaTac Botanical Garden to use the funds allotted to improve the existing Garden elements and will use those funds to add ADA accessible gravel to the pathways and purchase some Monet arches to complete presentation elements in the Formal Rose Garden.

Mixed-Use Development Proposal Update: At the July 25th City Council Meeting, the two mixed-use development proposals were presented by the respective development teams and staff provided the Council with recommendations on how to proceed from the Evaluation Task Force and City staff. Ultimately, Council directed staff to continue negotiations with the Cassan-Huseby development team for a mixed-use development at the corner of 176th Street and International Boulevard. Council also directed staff to use a consultant to conduct a study of the feasibility of a City owned training center as part of the McConkey-McCracken development proposal at the corner of 170th Street and International Boulevard. Council has preliminarily appropriated $18.3 million in development subsidies to incentivize mixed-use development on International Boulevard and provide public benefits to serve our citizens, businesses, and guests.

Police to Get Red Light Cameras Soon: The City Council has given approval for the City to enter into contract negotiations with Redflex for red light runner enforcement in the City of SeaTac as the chosen vendor for this service. The Police Department is looking forward to adding this system to our safety program, in the hope that it will help to further protect the residents of SeaTac in the area of traffic safety. Redflex has also just finalized large contracts in the cities of El Paso, Texas, and Albuquerque, New Mexico, in addition to a local contract with the City of Auburn. The status of this program will be updated as the contact is finalized.