Seattle mayor signs legislation to renew, expand Metropolitan Improvement District

SEATTLE — Mayor Bruce Harrell on Thursday signed legislation to renew and expand the Metropolitan Improvement District (MID) for 10 years as part of Harrell's downtown revitalization plan.

Harrell was joined by Seattle City Council members Andrew Lewis and Sara Nelson, the Downtown Seattle Association (DSA), Seattle Office of Economic Development (OED) and small business, civic and community leaders after the law unanimously passed by the Seattle City Council.

The MID will collect $18 million in "ratepayer assessments" and increase "cleaning services, funds greater investments for unarmed security and downtown ambassador salaries, and maintains critical existing services," according to the mayor's office. The expansion will now include the stadium area in SODO.

According to the mayor's office, in the last year, MID has accomplished the following:

• Collected more than 1.2 million gallons of trash from downtown sidewalks, curb lines and alleys
• Removed more than 37,000 graffiti tags and stickers from public and private property
• Helped nearly 29,000 people with directions
• Conducted more than 6,800 welfare checks on unsheltered individuals
• Welcomed more than 421,000 visitors to Occidental Square and Westlake Parks

“The Metropolitan Improvement District and our partners at the Downtown Seattle Association are absolutely essential to ensuring downtown is a welcoming, friendly, safe, and activated destination for residents and visitors,” Harrell said in a statement. “When something works, we embrace it, we recommit to it, and we expand it – and that’s what this effort is about and why it’s a key element of our Downtown Activation Plan. The expanded MID will support workers and small businesses, uplift vibrant events and dynamic activities for all ages, create a clean and beautified urban setting, and showcase what makes this neighborhood special – reconfirming that our downtown is a place for everyone.”